@Spirit Fingers: And then do nothing when they disrespect it? I'd like to know what recourse is available for suspects who become physical that doesn't involve more violence? Do you think they were about to sit quietly while he waited for back up? Considering that his other options are club, taser, and gun, this outcome wasn't so terrible.
@matttrick: "maybe she broke the law. that doesnt mean much."
Sorry, that means EVERYTHING. The person who committed the crime doesn't get to decide how seriously the police should take it.
If we pilloried every rookie for their "rookie" mistakes, no one would ever become a veteran. He threw one punch. This outrage is completely overblown.
@pseudorocket: My point is that the big oil companies were big oil companies long before Dick Cheney and George Bush came along. This didn't start or end with them.
And companies drill because Americans demand cheap oil (more wells and more pumping actually drive down the price) and all politicians have always done their best to oblige.