Captain's Quarters -

'The most amazing part of the story is the fact that none of the witnesses called the police, not even after the stabbing.'

Hey, it Is the Left Coast. It is all about Freedom, and to Hell with Responsibility. Acting responsibly would likely get one sued.

Good thing it didn't happen in Texas or they'd be preemptively locking up all plantains AND the bananas.

Clearly you haven't spent much time in New York City. Far worse than this goes unreported. The truly sad part is that it becomes so common that it's no longer even that shocking if you live with it.

Were the bystanders who didn't report it Somali?

It's not illegal to use a cell phone in a car in California.

After July 1 of next year, you'll have to use a hands free device, like a headset or a speakerphone.

Captain, since I have been known to complain about the amount of red meat on the menu here, it's only fair that I commend you for providing vegetables today ;-)

Seriously I hope you are having a wonderful vacation and mightily recharging your batteries (or getting lots of wind in your sails?) I think this is the most substantial and entertaining political blog to be found anywhere.

I know something about how draining it can be to have to sit down and produce a couple thousand words every day, whether inspiration is flowing or not. But I can't imagine performing that feat daily in front of a demanding and critical audience, as you do.

Bask in the sunshine, eat well, drink lots of wine and enjoy your family for these two weeks. You deserve it.

C'mom Ed, I'm glad you're getting a chance to visit family here, but is this the best you can do? Did ya miss this little tid-bit of Cal news:

As expected, Schwarzenegger — just before a midnight deadline — rejected SB 924, which would have allowed voters to call for the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq. The bill was authored by Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland.

Schwarzenegger called the war a federal issue and also cited his opposition to nonbinding advisory legislation. The measure would have appeared on the Feb. 5 ballot with the presidential primaries.

"Placing a nonbinding resolution on Iraq on the same ballot," Schwarzenegger wrote in his veto message, "when it carries no weight or authority, would only further divide voters and shift attention from other critical issues that must be addressed."

Perata is miffed cause he didn't get to have his Cindy Sheehan-leftwing-hate-Bush moment. Boo Hoo!

Of course there are some good ol' conservatives up in Nor Cal that have to put up with the wackos down south. (And I do mean north of SF)

Rov in Eureka

Of course there are some good ol' conservatives up in Nor Cal...

You mean the marijuana farmers?

Regarding the fight at the grocery store, obviously these guys were amateurs. Plaintains? Cucumbers? Hah! Everyone knows that brussels sprouts are the deadliest vegetable around.

Every name mentioned in the story, including the name of the supermarket, is Hispanic. And it's Southern California. My guess is that both men, all the other workers AND all of the customers are all illegals, and the very last thing any of them would ever do under any circumstances is call the policia. Ever so much better to leave a dead body lying in the alley for the next guy to trip over and report.

Hey, it Is the Left Coast.

No, it's Mexico.

Flensex, NahnCee, you Called it. I'm surprised fillistro didn't bring up the 'red meat' part of the article.

And what's wrong with brussel sprouts? ...except for what is sprouting in Brussels these days...

'The most amazing part of the story is the fact that none of the witnesses called the police, not even after the stabbing.'

What Nahncee said.

It's common practice here in what was formerly California, now Mexico's northernmost state.

The same thing happened to a family member, they had to be the ones to call in an illegal who had been stabbed and left bleeding by a dumpster.

Plenty of people around to see what happened, but no one wanted to call it in.

There's a reason that neighborhood is known as "Little Tiajuana".

It used to be a part of a nice, peaceful little California ag town.

Not anymore.

I thought the problem was with TOMATOES and cucumbers. Now the whole plant kingdom is getting in on the act.

If you outlaw vegetables only outlaws will have vegetables.

You can take my vegetables when you pry them from my, aw heck, take them right now.

Captain,

If that behavior "amazed" you, you have not been paying attention. I would remind you that a commander may be forgiven for losing a battle, but is never excused for being surprised.

Rovin, sounds like you're ready to back my little partition plan for California.

Just have to get about ten million California voters to agree, and 3/5 of the Senate, shouldn't be too hard . . .

As far as not reporting this crime, this is an example of why the whole 'sanctuary city' designations in urban areas is such a dangerous fallacy. No matter how often cities and counties like Orange and Los Angeles force police and other agencies to turn a blind eye to immigration status, the vast majority of illegals fear getting any official attention or help. The only ones who will are the ones who trust their fake IDs, and are probably more adept at other types of identity fraud.

Sanctuary status is supposed to protect victims and allow them to report crimes, but instead it does more to protect criminals as their immigration status isn't forwarded to federal agencies.

The OC Register goes along with it, too, they don't raise any questions as to the immigration status of the attacker or the victim, even though finding this out would be relevant in explaining this story.

The solution should be obvious -- Veggie Sensitivity Training for all. A hefty fine for the supermarket owner and, if the owner's a U.S. citizen, we should see about deporting him to his ancestral home unless he's here illegally then we drop the fine.

Of course, we'll need a new state agency and we'll have to raise an army of Sensitivity Trainers fluent in different languages to mandate the proper cuke-stacking method but it's a small sacrifice when a wholesome foodgroup is on the line.

I believe these men can be reformed -- emphatic gesturing with a steak knife shows at least one of them has the necessary passion for veggies. The shlub with the knife hole in his arm might not have what it takes but we shouldn't give up on anyone. Leave no produce worker behind!

Welcome back to socal, Cap'n. A week earlier and you would have been baking in a nasty heat wave. Gorgeous weather now.

Hey Rov in N. CA. most of California is RED. It's just those pesky coastal parts that are heavily populated and blue.

Maybe the San Andreas will cooperate and create the Blue Isle of California as a new socialist republic (shame our state capital is located inland)

I am a native S. Cal gal of Japanese/German descent who grew up in John Bircher Society of OC. my sibs and i were definitely the rare children of "colour" through out our school years at the time. I attended college inland and never returned to reside in OC. My return visits to OC always amazed me how balkanized it was becoming in the '90's and how extreme it is now.

mrobvious :) i also thought it was TOMATOS and CUCUMBERS in the same bag that are so deadly!

LilTrixter

Can you imagine a Real American fighting over a plantain? How many Americans outside of SoCal even know what a stupid plantain is?

Well, I have you all beat. First of all I live close enough to La Carreta market to actually shop there - and yes, I do shop there. Coming from the San Gabriel valley - Orange County was a bit of an adjustment. Very few hispanics I observed here seemed to be more than peasants. Mostly nice, pleasant people, but peasants. It is not their race - it is that they were likely their race's version of red-necks/white trash. I would refrain from using the spanish words my grandmother would use on such persons as such terms are usually too harsh for delicate ears. (not curse words, but powerful enough that if white-looking me were to bark them at the brawlers they would likely stop and be too stunned to attack me)(When I was stupid enough to say something to stop an altercation years ago, that was the response then - of course I would think better of intervening now...)

P.S. La Carreta has great produce - I had no idea the employees were so passionate about it! [ Hey! Don't bleed on the produce! Ewwwww! Maybe I'll wash it twice.]

Is is insensitive to ask if the celery of these disputing employees was off the books?