Albert Lea is Really, Really Tough on Crime

Back in May, it was revealed just how "tough" on crime they can be in Albert Lea.

If you're the former mayor of Albert Lea, and if you get caught shoplifting in another town, you can keep your job for as long as you want until people start to pay attention.

If you're the new city manager of Albert Lea, don't make a mistake with a credit card given to you by the city because only certain employees are punished when they make unauthorized purchases.

If you're a known dirtbag who tries to have sex with teenage girls and if you assault them in public, and if you are already known to be a high-risk predatory sex offender, well, you get a fine of $80.

Paul Arthur Berg, 61, 121 1/2 N. Broadway, Albert Lea. Count 1: Solicit child to engage in sexual conduct. Sentenced 25 months, stay for three years. Fined $80. Count 2: Fifth-degree assault. Dismissed.

The dismissal of the "fifth-degree assault" is the most troubling part of all of this:

In the most recent offense, he reportedly walked up to a 15-year-old girl in downtown Albert Lea in May 2012 and asked her to have sex. 

The girl reportedly called her father, who arrived and chased Berg down Broadway toward Sterling Drug. When officers arrived, the girl’s father had him pinned down to the ground.

Why didn't they charge him with something more substantial? In the act of committing a predatory sexual offense, this man was so out of control he had to be restrained.

And they let him go? They only fined him $80? He's out in society, doing his thing?

You would think that the judge would have more at his disposal in order to rule properly and in the interest of public safety. Apparently not.

And people wonder why high-risk sex offenders keep relocating to Albert Lea...

-Norman Rogers

Racist Swill From the Albert Lea Tribune Once Again

The racism and the ignorance that finds a welcome audience at the Albert Lea Tribune continues unabated. Paul Westrum is the shame of Albert Lea and the people who should be even more ashamed are the editors and publishers who let this man spread his bigotry, hatred, intolerance, and nonsense.

Note how he talks about unemployment among the races--who does that except the most virulent racists? What sickening bullshit.

And on top of all of that, a quote from the Bible? Really?

Did Jesus tell us to kick the poor and segregate the races and deny people their rights? If he did, I hope he remembered to shoot lightning bolts and fire into the asses of whomsoever opposed his Father who is not art in Heaven.

Racist, racist, racist. The whole damned thing is just racist as hell and no one will admit it. What a disgrace.

The first "biracial" president? Who talks like that? Who allowed this to be published?

Filth.

-Norman Rogers

All You Have to Do is Wave the Flag and Cry

Let's parse a little nuttiness and examine the modern "patriot" as personified by Katie Jacobsen. If you are easily brought to tears, read no further.

Putting bumper stickers on your car relieves any and all responsibility for being an American citizen. As long as you maintain the superficial stance of being a flag-waving ninny, you are all right. Actually voting and participating in the affairs of the country, and looking at something other than Fox News is what lessens the buzz of being able to slap a cheap, Chinese-made emblem on your car and show those neighbors what you are made of.

Admitting you are sloppy and fat, well, how does that make me feel sorry for you? How does your inability to rise above flag waving and eating too much rate a comment in the newspaper? Let's see--is there an opportunity to link the Obama Administration to the Nazis? Yes! We have a winner.

If you really love America, always link a Democrat to the Nazis. That's the way to elicit a response from people. Never mind that Miss Jacobsen has food dribbling from her chin as she maniacally waves her flag and cries because Baby Jesus wrote the Constitution for a Republican to use as his own personal piece of toilet paper when it is time to take us into a war of choice where thousands of American veterans will be killed. She's there to remind everyone not to take freedom for granted because, well, have another piece of pie, I guess.

America is full of these people. They have no idea how the world works but they damned sure know that the Albert Lea Tribune will print their letter to the editor as long as they are white, conservative, and can adequately link a Democrat to the Nazis.

-Norman Rogers

You Cannot Be This Stupid, Mr. Dettle

Jerrold, my old friend, you look to be about my age and I think we have a lot in common. You and I consider ourselves Republicans, but I'm the kind of Republican that doesn't have my picture taken while standing on an American flag. I don't know why you associate with such folks, but there it is. If you can let me know which one of you idiots decided it was a good idea to stand on the flag and kick it around like a liberal on drugs, let me know.

Anyone who can read can figure out that this whole thing with the surveillance of our citizens is a lot of things, but it is not illegal. It is overseen by our Congress (they have received regular updates on the programs, both Democrats and Republicans) and it is overseen by a FISA court. The law has not been broken, but trust has been broken.

The problem with your opportunistic column is this--it was Nixon who broke the law, it was Reagan who broke the law, and it was Bush who broke the law in order to defend America. When a President breaks the law to defend America, I know one thing in my heart of hearts. Somewhere, a liberal is crying out of his or her butthole about it, all sad and depressed and full of indignation. To hell with them and their squishiness about making absolutely certain that every enemy of America is on the receiving end of lightning and a quick death.

Liberal presidents who break the law typically do so in order to get high or get a woman to slobber all over their crotch. I don't care about them. They are a dime a dozen and they will be gone before you know it. You are correct in assessing what has gone wrong but you forget one important thing--a Republican will be in charge before too long and we want them to have unlimited power to incinerate anyone who raises a hand to American interests.

This Obama fellow is about done anyway. I don't spend any time thinking about him. When President Trump or President Hannity are running things, I want them to be able to keep an eye on America's enemies, especially the ones who go on MSNBC or Al Gore's old TV network and spout off about their nonsense. I want them under the thumb of a surveillance apparatus that is second to none and run like clockwork.

Can't you...won't you...could you please just shut the hell up, Jerrold? You're ignorance is embarrassing. And take your foot off the flag, sir. Or chuck that fellow on the chin and have him step off. Buffoons.

-Norman Rogers