Schadenfreude and Jerry Brown

California Governor Jerry Brown decided back in 2015 that he was going to live in the original Governors Mansion in downtown Sacramento, located at 1526 H Street between 15th and 16th Streets — where his father Edmund G. “Pat” Brown used to live as governor in the 1960s.

The mansion issues are, well, fairly obvious. There is no real fence per se, anyone can hop the thing. The portico on the west side provides the real security — plus other CHP DPS (Dignitary Protection Section) fixes and features that you might guess are present on the grounds.

Figure 1: CHP utilizing genetically-modified giant horses to guard the capitol area in downtown Sacramento. This is a real photograph and not Photoshopped (okay, I’ll spill: it’s a Clydesdale acquired from Budweiser in Vallejo at a reduced rate).

With that orientation and background in mind, let’s get into the gist of the story, from KFIAM640.com:

Homeless Man Arrested After Walking into Gov. Jerry Brown’s Residence

by RJ Johnson

A 51-year-old homeless man is in jail today after he allegedly walked into Gov. Jerry Brown’s mansion on H Street in Sacramento.

According to the CHP, Steven Seeley was arrested for trespassing “on the executive residence property, breaking a side window on the first floor of the residence.”

Seeley told the Sacramento Bee that he entered the history governor’s mansion without any interference from Brown’s security detail (that was apparently on site through the entire incident). The homeless man told reporters that he had spotted some wild animals, possibly lions or cougars, on the streets of midtown Sacramento. He says he walked through the door of the mansion to warn Brown’s security detail because he knew they had “big guns.”

Seeley is partially correct. CHP’s DPS have guns; perhaps not “big” like .50 caliber “big” just clanking about the hallways, but certainly of sufficient size and heft to perform an adequate task at the mansion.

Here’s where it becomes interesting.

Seeley says he entered Brown’s residence to help prevent the governor from being attacked. 

“I was looking for the security staff, but I didn’t see anybody,” Seeley said Thursday. “I thought the governor was in trouble, I thought he was in danger of being attacked by the wild animals, so I walked in. I yelled ‘Jerry.'”

Seeley says that after he walked inside and didn’t see anyone, he heard muffled roaring and hid inside a small room or closet. He then left through a window in the room that led to a fenced-in yard, breaking the window and cutting himself in the process.

He did it out of love for our governor. Now that’s one selfless act, if you ask me. He tells us so, here.

But wait, there’s more.

He walked back out into the street, looking for help, asking multiple passers-by for help calling 911. Eventually, a couple pulled over and took him to the hospital where he underwent surgery and later arrested. 

Yeah. Two days later.

You see, there’s just a wee bit of schadenfreude involved for any number of reasons.

  • First: it was a homeless man. California loves its homeless. Wait. Until it doesn’t and they actually threaten someone important to the state — certainly not you or me;
  • Second: it was a mentally unhinged individual who felt compelled to enter the mansion due to the presence of lions or cougars (the four-footed variety; shame on you!) outside. California loves its unhinged. Wait. Until it doesn’t and they actually threaten someone important to the state — certainly not you or me;
  • Third: Governor Brown became apoplectic himself, threw camshafts and went 210/190 when he discovered his wife, Anne Gust, was present in the mansion when the incident occurred on April 19th — to the point that he demanded the man be arrested for a felony and that he do prison time.

Hang on; it gets better.

  • Fourth: — and you’re gonna love this one — that didn’t happen. Remember: the homeless nutcase was officially arrested for trespassing, which is a misdemeanor in California. Just above an infraction, which is what you have when an officer issues you, say, a traffic ticket.
  • Fifth: up to a few years ago this man could have been charged with 459 PC, burglary, a felony in the state. But because of measures and propositions (Brown’s lovingly-inspired Propositions 47 and 57 in this case) voted upon by politicians and the electorate, authorities know that, in today’s California environment, the intake DA will larf his or her arse off but upon seeing that report cross their desk.

Hence the misdemeanor charge of “trespassing,” 602 PC. All because of Jerry Brown-sponsored Leftist initiatives and laws to adjudge arrestees much less harshly because of the challenging environments they encountered as harmless and innocent children.

“Governor Brown and Schadenfreude, table for two, your table is ready.”

Drink up, Jerry.

BZ

 

BDR529, the Radio Show, Saturday, 3-31-2018

BDR529, the radio show where the stories aren’t real and the points don’t matter. This is an exhibition and not a competition: please, no wagering. Member FDIC, batteries not included, no leak to basement, marcas registradas, removal of label is punishable by law, and some contents may have settled during shipping.

Tonight: the introduction of the show by the inimitable BZ who is frequently imitated but never duplicated. Tangy, but never incendiary. After all: what’s in the bag, Goose?

Listen to the show in Spreaker:

Listen to “BDR529, the Radop Show” on Spreaker.

(Truth in advertising: there truly isn’t all that much radop in the show. Only the minimum amount of radop as prescribed by law. If an erection occurs for more than four hours, please consult your physician before application.)

Watch the show on YouTube:

Click here to watch the show on Facebook.

Whither the show BDR529?

No one knows.

And into what will it transmogrify?

No one knows that either.

BZ

 

CHP purchases V6 Dodge Chargers

From having been shamed whilst driving Mommy’s SUVs, the CHP finds itself going back to sedans.

The newly-styled Dodge Charger.

I helped my department purchase and upfit its five 2004 Dodge Chargers as test beds with the Hemi V8. We learned a lot about the Charger. It understeered like a big dog, lacked trunk room, lacked rear seat prisoner room and constricted the passenger officer because of the upfitting issues involving vertical long gun mounts and laptop mount.

The other thing I discovered is that my Toyota RAV4 V6 SUV, chipped to 300 HP, could take the Charger’s 340 HP Hemi until it reached 3,400 RPM. Then the Charger simply said “buh-bye.”

California Highway Patrol officer Florentino Olivera stands in front of all three cars being used in Santa Ana, CA on Monday, March 20, 2017. The former mainstay is the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor by Ford Motor Co., left, The new Dodge Charger Pursuit and a Ford Explorer Explorer Police Interceptor. (Photo by KEN STEINHARDT,Orange County Register/SCNG)

Trust me, the new Dodge Chargers haven’t much changed. There are still issues. Also, the more airbags placed into a vehicle = the fewer airbag pathways that can be obstructed by equipment demanded in today’s technology-packed cop cars such as computers, laptops, electronic chargers, dash cams and speed tracking devices.

From MercuryNews.com:

CHP is switching from SUV-style patrol cars to sleek Chargers

by Alma Fausto

California Highway Patrol officers have begun hitting the road in sleek black-and-white Chargers as the agency starts replacing their SUV-style patrol cars.

The Dodge Charger Pursuit is moving into the agency’s fleet as the older cars retire, namely the prevalent Ford Explorer and on occasion the iconic, and now rare, Crown Victoria.

Of Orange County’s 80-plus CHP black-and-whites, five are Chargers.

“I really like the look of the Charger,” said Officer Florentino Olivera, who is based at the Santa Ana headquarters. “It just looks like a cop car.”

Right. Instead of Mommy’s SUV.

Once, the Crown Victoria – referred to by cops as the “Crown Vic” or CVPI – ruled the streets when it came to many police fleets, including the CHP. When Ford stopping making them in 2011, many agencies opted for other sedans.

Much as I hate to admit it, the Ford CVPI was one of the most forgiving vehicles law enforcement has driven in the past and will ever drive. I had a love/hate relationship with the CVPI as an EVOC Supervisor and instructor. But, truthfully, sigh, well, yeah, more love than hate. It only took 25,000 years for the car to ramp up to 250 HP from its unchanged 4.6 liter small block V8 at 210 HP. The prior generation 351-engined Crown Vics sported a jaw-dropping 180 HP.

When production of Ford’s CVPI halted in 2011, other manufacturers stepped in, including Dodge with its Charger and Chevrolet with its Caprice PPV — an actual vehicle borne in Australia via Holden and imported into the US. At no small cost.

Which is why it never succeeded. Costly import fees and parts access made the overall experience more expensive for agencies. That and Chevrolet/Holden halted Caprice production.

In 2013, the CHP went with the Ford Police Interceptor Utility, based on the Ford Explorer SUV. It could carry the Highway Patrol’s large load of equipment and is all-wheel drive. Other police agencies have also chosen the vehicle.

But when the CHP’s contract was up for renewal last year, the state decided to go back to a sedan. The California Department of General Services weighed performance, price and load capacity. The rear-wheel-drive Dodge Charger Pursuit met the CHP’s specifications, and was slightly less expensive and better on gas than the Ford.

Because it was a V6. Like the Ford Explorer. Let’s make some things clear.

Fran Clader, a CHP spokeswoman in Sacramento, said 588 Chargers have been purchased, with 122 on the road. They are being distributed across California when an existing car is inoperable or sometimes when one reaches 100,000 miles, if it isn’t running real well.

In all, the agency has 2,900 black-and-whites.

CHP ended up purchasing the 27A RWD package with the 5-speed transmission and  3.7L V6 engine rated at 292 HP, less than the Ford Explorer 3.7L V6 (304 HP) but more than the final production years of the Crown Vic. The 2016 Chargers were $27,140 per unit.

Once upfitted, Ford Explorers were damned near impossible to see out of when backing because of the rear seat cage, roll bar, lights and equipment. Most were spec’d with backup cameras in the rear view mirror and, had they not, there would be many more damaged law enforcement Explorers as well as other vehicles, buildings, fences and the like. Ergonomically, they were more comfortable and larger than Chargers. The Explorers were also plagued with transmission problems.

Frankly, the Charger fleet purchase was purely fiscal. Officers like the looks but, I sense, will come to be unimpressed overall, particularly with the anemic V6 and the limited interior room.

Conversely, CHP transitioned from the BMW R1200RTP authority motor to the Harley-Davidson FLHTP Electra Glide in 2014 which, at $28,381.00, has a base price more than the Charger. However, a 3 year/60,000 mile warranty covering all service and repairs makes the purchase price more palatable, something BMW did not offer.

Officers are of two minds about the bikes. Leggy officers enjoyed the BMW (a damned tall motorcycle) and its smoother engine. Shorter officers like the lower Harley but some are not keen on having their fillings vibrated for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for years.

CHP is also transitioning from their standard issue Smith & Wesson 4006 TSW stainless handgun in .40 caliber, to the Smith & Wesson M&P (military and police) in .40 caliber with their own CHP serial numbers, from CHP1018 – CHP908A. I have no current photo of this issue weapon, but will shortly.

So when you looked in your rearview and surmised “it’s just a V6 SUV,” you can do the same thing, only different. “It’s just a V6 Dodge Charger.” Different frame, different manufacturer, less horsepower.

Heads-up.

BZ

 

BZ’s radio show: the Berserk Bobcat Saloon, Thursday, 2-23-17

My thanks to the SHR Media Network for allowing me to broadcast in their studio and over their air twice weekly, as well as appear on the Sackheads Radio Show each Wednesday evening.

Listen to “BZ’s Berserk Bobcat Saloon, Thursday, 2-23-17” on Spreaker.

On Thursday night’s show, “The Aftermath,” I did something heretofore unencountered: I went into overtime. In order to fit all the information applicable, the show ran to 2.5 hours instead of the standard two. We covered:

  • Marine Le Pen destroys Angela Merkel and Francois Hollande;
  • Maxine Waters destroys herself;
  • California kills cops;
  • Local CHP officer killed;
  • The Swamp Strikes Back;
  • John McCain disgusts thinking people

I quantify The Aftermath as “all the stuff I couldn’t fit into the Tuesday show.”

Please join me, the Bloviating Zeppelin (on Twitter @BZep and on Gab.ai @BZep), every Tuesday on the SHR Media Network from 11 PM to 1 AM Eastern and 8 PM to 10 PM Pacific, at the Berserk Bobcat Saloon — where the speech is free but the drinks are not.

Also check @BZep on Twitter and Gab to see if The Aftermath is scheduled for each Thursday at the same bat time, the same bat channel.

My guest, Pat Dollard, couldn’t make it tonight but we’ve rescheduled the show for next Tuesday, February 28th, at 11 PM Eastern and 8 PM Pacific. Come listen to the eclectic and irascible Pat Dollard — he’ll open your mind like a bad can of cat food.

As ever, thank you so kindly for listening, commenting, and interacting in the chat room or listening via podcast.

BZ