Homeless Man Behind Viral NYPD Photo Now Shoeless Again, Demanding ‘Piece of the Pie’
NYPD officer Lawrence DePrimo purchased boots for this homeless man who had blisters on his feet. (Image: NYPD Facebook)
NEW YORK (The Blaze/AP) — The New York City homeless man – whose gift of boots from an NYPD police officer became an online sensation last week – is back on the streets with no shoes.
The New York Times found him Sunday night wandering barefoot in Manhattan. The paper identified him as Jeffrey Hillman, formerly of South Plainfield, N.J.
Asked about the $100 all-weather boots Officer Larry DePrimo gave him on Nov. 14, Hillman says he’s hidden them because “they are worth a lot of money.”
He says he’s grateful for the gift, but he wants “a piece of the pie” because the photo was posted online “without permission.”
“I was put on YouTube, I was put on everything without permission,” he added. “What do I get?”
Still, he was grateful.
“I appreciate what the officer did, don’t get me wrong,” he said. “I wish there were more people like him in the world.”
“I want to thank everyone that got onto this thing,” he continued to the Times. “I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart. It meant a lot to me. And to the officer, first and foremost.”
So who, exactly, is Hilman? He told the Times he’s a veteran with two kids and is coy about how he got to this point in life:
Mr. Hillman said he was from South Plainfield, N.J. He said he joined the Army in 1978 and served as a “food service specialist” in the United States and Germany.
He produced a worn veteran’s identification card that confirmed his service.
Mr. Hillman said that he was honorably discharged after five years and that before he became homeless he worked in kitchens in New Jersey.
He has two children — Nikita, 22, and Jeffrey, 24 — but has had little contact with them since a visit three years ago, Mr. Hillman said.
He was reluctant to talk about how he ended up on the streets, staring blankly ahead when asked how his life went off course.
After a long pause, he shook his head and said, “I don’t know.”
Hillman, however, isn’t without family. The New York Post caught up with his relatives over the weekend who, despite knowing about the story and seeing Hillman’s picture — didn’t even realize it was him:
His brother, Kirk Hillman, looked stunned as he saw a copy of The Post with his youngest brother on the front page — and was left speechless.
Hillman’s wife told The Post she followed the story on TV — but never recognized the bedraggled beggar as her own brother-in law, Jeffrey Hillman.
“The last time we heard from him was maybe a year ago on New Year’s Day,” said Tish Hillman, who lives with Kirk in Allentown, Pa., where they’re leaders at Greater Shiloh Church.
[...]
How Jeffrey — the brother of a college professor and a church administrator — wound up sitting shoeless on that cold sidewalk remains a mystery.
An Arizona tourist snapped the photo of the officer presenting new boots to Hillman. It went viral after it was posted on the NYPD’s Facebook page.
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Comments (406)
ares338
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:48amWell what do you know. He made a sows ear out of a silk purse.
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Proverbs17-12NLT
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:13amThis proves handouts, handups and bottom up….. never work.
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BreeZee
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:14amA perfect example of whats wrong with the people in America…”You owe me…..”
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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:22am.
If only the South had won, he’d have a job and shoes………………
conniehorne
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:24amAmazing how he figured out how to ask for more than what he had gotten. Sort of sounds like another branch of society we have heard about for the last 50 years doesn’t it? I notice that his relatives think he is a waste of time too.
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OldSurfRat
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:31amThat is his problem but it does not take away from the kind act of the young cop.
It is up to us to do the right thing and if we get taken then that is the takers burden to carry.
Dont stop helping just because you get burned you just never know.
However God will see all.
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rangerskippy
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:36amBy the Grace of God, I am not homeless and in need of shoes.
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proantisocialist
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:09amwant to know why no one else sent you money? if the blind guy that Jesus healed had poked his own eyes out after being healed, Jesus would have said.we will be waiting for you to come to us brother.he would not have healed him again..
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MsMonsoon
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:15amDid he hide the boots or sell them. My bet is they’ve been sold and the money spent on booze or drugs.
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apexmoon
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:27am“I was put on YouTube, I was put on everything without permission,” he added. “What do I get?”
This is what is wrong with this country (and others). People do nothing and just assume someone else owes them. This is as bad as people who “slip” in the grocery store then sue.
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Sig Sauer Guy
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:29amI believe the whole story was a set-up to soften the police department’s image to begin with; I could be wrong though. On the other hand, if the man wants to go without shoes; fine, leave him alone. Maybe he’s more comfortable going barefooted!
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darkknight91
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:36amMsmonsoon, that’s exactly what I was thinking. Where is he going to hide them in NYC without them being found? When I first read this story, I was wondering how it would play out. Now I know. Even the bums on the street feel entitled in this country. Unbelievable.
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ltb
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:37amIf ever there was a life lesson to be learned about the difference between liberalism and Conservativism, this would be it. Teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime, give a man a fish and he’ll start demanding a piece of the pie.
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Dr Vel
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:50amOldSurfRat, great post.
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ThatsJustCrazyTalk
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:52amI live in Minnesota. About 8-10 years ago I was commuting by bus everywhere. I my route from St. Paul to Minnetonka would take me thru downtown Minneapolis. I can’t tell you how many times I had a “homeless” person come up to me and ask me for money. Well, let me rephrase, some would ask and some would say “give me a dollar.” One time, a vagrant came approached me right around Christmas time shivering, saying he needed money for a jacket. I just had received a Christmas bonus from work which was a gift card for target worth $50. I gave the person the gift card and he looked at me like I was crazy. He eventually walked away after I looked at him a little confused as well. Low and behold, I went inside an entrance to a mall (to warm up) and on the floor was a jacket. That was the spot the gentleman first came from.
I’m not saying that this happens all the time, or all homeless people are going to use the money for frivolous items (like cigarettes, drugs, or alcohol), I’m just saying some of my experiences. I don’t give handouts to individuals, I give to organizations that are held accountable.
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apexmoon
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:54am“Teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime”
Only if he wants to learn. Some people won’t let you teach them. We should leave them go, more for the rest of us, they can rejoin society when they are ready and someone will be glad to teach them then.
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TEXASGRANNY73
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:05am@Proverbs17-12 According to this comment you then would be one of those passing him by on the freezing night? Luke25-37. “Love your neighbor as yourself. Read Proverbs23:7. A parable.
@Ares338 Seems to me you made a sow’s ear out of a silk purse. This was a great story of a good man with a good heart, a good Samaritan, a cop and a role model.
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midwesthippie
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:09am…sunday morning: an african-unamerican congressman described this as a “public employee” doing something above and beyond his job…i guess rodney king was beaten by a bunch of “public employees”…what about “public employee” brutality?…children when asked “what do you want to be when you grow up”? answer: “a public employee”. not policeman or firefighter…
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ltb
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:18amApexmoon, I’m not saying we shouldn’t take care of the poor by any means. We have an obligation to take care of the poor, BUT when we turn that responsibility over to a corrupt, bloated government we are propagating evil, because such governments are only concerned with their own survival and the way they ensure their own survival is by teaching the poor to demand help. The net result is a very wicked symbiosis. If charity was turned back over to churches, as was the case during America’s early history, the poor would be fed while being taught personal responsibility through shame.
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Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:23amTo Wango,
THAT is why “we” lost the election.
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apexmoon
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:36am@LTB, Sorry, wasn’t trying to say that you were advocating not helping. My comment was meant as an extension of yours and not a competing view. I love the “teach a man to fish” philosophy, but some people don’t want to learn. At some point we have to let these people be and focus on those that want to be helped.
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grimmster
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:43amThis is one reason i refuse to help the “homeless” like this guy. He is obviously a boozer, and a user (of his so called plight).How about those in NY, try helping Harry Stewart of the movie Cadence. Seems all the liberal actors that starred in it, Martin Sheen, his son Charie and the ever vocal, Lawrance Fishburne.Never ceases to amaze me when someone “helps” another, that its merely a publicity stunt,and those like Stewart,are passed over………Look this man up,and listen to his song “End of my journey”,my guess is, he is close to his by now…..
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rangerskippy
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:43amI had an old hunting jacket i used to keep behind the seat in my truck. On a cold morning, I gave it to a homeless fellow that I use to see roam the streets.
From that day on, he could spot me a mile away, and would always smile and wave.
I have been suckered a few times by pan handlers. You will know they suckered you, when you see the same one six months later, selling the same story they gave you, but telling it to someone else.
As a young enlisted soldier back when Fort Benning was an open post, I picked up a fellow who was hitchhiking on post. He was a big African American fellow, and he claimed to be a Vietnam vet, and had a story about his car being broke down, and something about his kids that were in school. He asked if I could spare a few bucks. I gave him a five or a ten, and dropped him off. About a year and a half later, I saw the same guy, and picked him up. When he started his deal about being a Vietnam vet, I told him that his car was broke down, and repeated the specifics about his kids in school. he laughed real hard. He called me “boss man”, and asked why I had picked him up again. I gave him five bucks, and told him to have a nice day.
I think I would rather give someone a few bucks or a jacket who did not need it from time to time, then to know someone did really need it, but that I was to stingy to give it to them.
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eagledown
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:47amNot an act of kindness; an act of purging his own guilt and self-worth.
35-40% of homeless are mentally ill cr@ping on the streets and should be in a mental institution. (I know, that’s another topic) 50% are alcoholic drug addict’s and out right dangerous criminals and should be in Jail. Maybe 10% are truly down and out and are worthy of my charity. I know, how heartless of me, but hey, we now live in Obama’s Utopia; let his F’ing government take care of them…. Stupid Cop. Now he what’s something for his “15 min. of fame”… Dude, that is NOT unconditional giving.. sorry, your a dumba$$.
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GrayPanther
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:55amYUP! He should have stayed in the Army as a “food service specialist”. He would be retired with a good pension now and free VA health care. Stupid is as stupid does.
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armyofnibiru
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:14pmjust goes to show you that povety is a state of mind
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francisco
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:21pmDid everyone not get it look in the background of the picture and look at the shoe display, he is in front of a shoe store SHOELESS. What do you think he wanted to happen he is probably taking these shoes and selling them. I commend the Officer for what he did, not all of the homeless are this low.
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Kalish
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:23pm“what do I get” should have seen that coming, based on his ethnicity
Silversmith
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:37pmWell said ARES338 — I guess that’s the problem with handouts. It’s never enough.
Silversmith
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LasVegasRon
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:38pmYikes, we know more about this man and his family in one week then we know about bammie in 5 years.
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forthepeople
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:39pmWe can give
We can legislate
Sadly it will never make / change a human to be smarter nor energetic and hard working !
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eagledown
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:55pm@EAGLEDOWN Ya, me. I’m idiot!! I so miss read this. I thought the Cop wanted a Piece of the Pie. I wish I could delete my post. Cr@p.My apologies to the Cop…. better man than I am…
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johnsnare
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:02pmHe brings the boots home, because they were very expensive.? He probably had his Cadillac, parked around the corner. Let him freeze his big ass.
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MIBUGNU2
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:15pmBama’s 47%,(Takers) will be the first to riot,burn and brake stuff..
when the Free Shi* run’s out !! Bad thing about this is the numbers
will be well over 47% with O’Blamer at the helm for 4 more years..
Hang On America, we are on HIS “Bumpy Road”.. He doesn’t give
a shi*, he’s going to Hawaii for three weeks….NICE, HUH ?? just
ask the People from RI and NJ what they think !!
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kryptonite
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:20pm@EAGLEDOWN
Spot on. This guy is mentally ill. Buying stuff for him won’t help one iota. He can’t reason like a normal human being. If he’s a vet, he should have been provided with mental health treatment BEFORE he became a vagrant. The gubbermint ain’t looking out for our soldiers.
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Sean In LI
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:29pmI told everybody I knew when I heard this story that I’d give 10-to-1 odds that in a day or two, those shoes would be gone and he’d have a fifth of his favorite spirit.
They all booed and hissed at me. I can’t wait to go rub this in their faces.
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ChildOfTheKing
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:39pmMy answer to this fellow who claims that no one asked him for his permission is:
YOU ARE WALKING THE STREETS HOMELESS, THEREFORE YOU ARE PART OF THE PUBLIC, WHICH MEANS, YOUR PHOTO IS PART OF THE PUBLIC, WHICH MEANS, THERE IS NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT ON THIS TYPE OF PHOTOGRAPHY.
Sitting or standing on a taxpayer-paid sidewalk means: WE CAN TAKE YOUR PICTURE WITHOUT YOUR PERMISSION. He is lucky he has not been killed by those crazies in NYC.
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kryptonite
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:43pm@MIBUGNU2
just ask the People from RI and NJ what they think !!
—-
Well, I’m going to borrow Rhett Butler’s famous phrase so the atheists get it:
=> Frankly, “my dears,” I don’t give a d@mn.
You handed America over to a commie. Go cry on his shoulder.
To Christians, don’t shoot me, please. I’ll state it in Biblical terms:
=> The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ (Matt. 25:8)
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blackyb
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:50pmWhere did his boots go? Booze, dope, or did someone smack his azz and get his boots?
IF Obama had a son….
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PCDoctors4u2
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:51pm“News Flash” Homeless man assaults reporter with piece of Pumpkin Pie!
This homeless guy is exercising his entrepreneurial spirit with the only asset he has, His 15 minutes of Fame! Random acts of kindness happen everyday from the hearts of Good Men and Women,
So do random acts of insanity happen in this fallen world. We are all victims of our choices.
“The Last Shall be First and the First shall be last in my father’s house”
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Jaycen
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:03pm$100 Pair of Boots = Couple Bags of Dope/Several Bottles of Booze
Why do you think he’s in that position in the first place?
If that cop really wanted to help that poor man, he would have filled out a job application for him, or found someone who would give a job to a “down on my luck” kind of guy, or let the man use his bathroom to shower and prepare for his new job for a few months.
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Jaycen
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:05pm@apexmoon
Light a fire for a man, and he’ll stay warm for a while. Light a man on fire, and he’ll stay warm for the rest of his life.
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banjarmon
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:12pmI will teach you how to stand, but if you fall down again IT IS your own FAULT!!!
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rickc34
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:13pmHe said he was grateful and appreciated the officer. But here we have a homeless vet so what happened? How about helping him get his self worth back, he was a cook so anyone out there need a cook? he sounds like he needs a hand up and not a slap in the face.
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apexmoon
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:13pm@JAYCEN
I like it!
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AvengerK
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:52pmI’m willing to ber anyone here at that the blaze that the boots get sold for money for drugs or booze.
Anyone want to take me up on that?
This is man is the perfect illustration of how liberal policies don’t work.
Liberals are all about “good intentions”. Handouts, support, compassion, understanding, inclusiveness, protected classes…and so on. And so here were are today when a 31 year old student at an expensive university can demand free contraception, sterilants and abortions from the government and she can be Time Magazine’s “Person of the Year” and a highlighted speaker at the democrat convention.
Conservatives though say that the best help you can give someone is the ability to help themselves.
But unfortunately liberals have brought this ideal to the point where you must be an old white male to believe this sort of stuff. Additionally..you’re a bigot, you’re religious and you’re backward to boot when you say these kinds of things. You have no place in modern society with these kinds of values.
And so we come to this gentleman’s plight. Down and out on the street. An act of charity is misused. He won’t admit to his failings and how they got him into the state he is in today. He believes he’s entitled to much, much more because of this act of charity. He is grateful however..of course. What a perfect encapsulation of liberal policy and it’s consequences.
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Mil Mom
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:59pmSounds like we have a “Prodigal Son” here, I hope he too comes to his senses and returns for the better life.
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Mil Mom
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 3:10pm@Sig Sauer Guy
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:29am
I believe the whole story was a set-up to soften the police department’s image to begin with; I could be wrong though. On the other hand, if the man wants to go without shoes; fine, leave him alone. Maybe he’s more comfortable going barefooted!
****
But isn’t that the libertarians reasoning for doing drugs? Worked past tense, but not in NYC and not with obamacare in America. If you can’t eat butter popcorn because you might have a heart problem someday, can’t buy a soft drink over 16 ounces because you might gain weight, THEN, you sure can’t go shoeless in NYC, you might cut your feet and need healthcare, or get frostbite and become a greater burden on the health system. I vote the mayor’s office assign somebody to follow him around 24/7 and put his shoes and socks on him everytime he takes them off. I know the city can’t afford it but it could come out of their budgeted obamacare funds as “Preventive Care” !
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R-Paulson
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 3:23pm“Goldline specifically targets vulnerable consumers with sales tactics designed to pressure those consumers into buying products that would often result in the consumer losing over one-third of his or her investment the instant the purchase is made meaning that, even when the price of the precious metals increases, because these consumers were deceived into purchasing coins with mark-ups exceeding 50 percent, it could be years, if ever, before the consumer recoups, much less makes any profit on, the investment.”
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xenolith
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 4:31pmJohn Stossel – Freeloaders
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9cWCRn64Ak
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Bluebonnet
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 4:35pmWow! Have things changed. Remember when people who needed a helping hand, went home? When preg. girls stayed with the family? Now, they get welfare, apartments, food stamps and all medical paid by “we the people” It’s no wonder we pay the 49% things their own families should be providing them.
Thanks to LBJ and his give away program, The Great Society, we have what’s going on now. No one is responsible for themselves as long as the Gov”t pays their way. And when they all learned they could get all the goodies from the gov’t: welfare/food stamps, medical, living expenses, why go home? In fact, I think they’re encouraged to live this way.
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Jerry1800
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 5:13pmOfficer should have bought $15.- shoes, not $100.- shoes for this guy.
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Beck_Art_-_Obama_In_Pee-Pee
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 5:33pm“Asked about the $100 all-weather boots Officer Larry DePrimo gave him on Nov. 14, Hillman says he’s hidden them because “they are worth a lot of money.” ”
Hey, People, will you stop cuttin’ into his business? He’s there because he WANTS to be!
Now, altogether, sing the Monty Python “S̶p̶a̶m̶ Scam” song:
S̶p̶a̶m̶ Scam, s̶p̶a̶m̶ scam, s̶p̶a̶m̶ scam , s̶p̶a̶m̶ scam.
S̶p̶a̶m̶ Scam, s̶p̶a̶m̶ scam, s̶p̶a̶m̶ scam , s̶p̶a̶m̶ scam.
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flrick
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 5:33pmTen bucks says the guy is on the street because of drugs or alcohol abuse. Abother ten bucks says the boots were sold for drugs or alcohol. The cop was nice to do what he did, but stupid.
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Mil-Dot
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 5:42pmProverbs,
I said that in many of my posts and was ignored like I was some kind of monster. I was right after all. He traded the boots for booze, money or drugs. What does he think we are stupid or something? He made a fool out of a kind and generous man. How disgusting. NEVER, NEVER, EEEVVVVEEERRR give the bums ANYTHING. They take you all for fools. They laugh at you.
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DenverKitty
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 5:54pmYour comment is so true. A “piece of the pie”, “what do I get?” This is another Obama voter.
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Beck_Art_-_Obama_In_Pee-Pee
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 6:05pmFor Obama, he voted EARLY and OFTEN.
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Watchingtheweasels
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 7:09pmYeah, he sold them. Not a lot of good places for a homeless man to “hide” expensive shoes.
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HipJipC
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 7:32pmYeah Breezee, how dare a homeless, honorably discharged U.S. Veteran have that kind of attitude. I’m sure veterans everywhere appreciate that comment. You have no fracking idea who this man is and what he has been through. Practice a little kindness and understanding. Next time you wonder why the world is such a bad place, look in the mirror. ****** part is there are so many of you!
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fixer
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 2:59amI read that his relatives said he was homeless by choice.
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BigSky
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 3:43am@LTB: I think it’s more like “teach a man to fish and he will feed himself for a lifetime but give a man a fish and he’ll demand the government give him more”. That’s liberalism in a nutshell.
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hogorina
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 8:56amChrist walked the streets in the ghettos of Jerusalem without shoes; also this humble personality had no place to lay his head. He referred that even the lilies had a resting place, but the God of this world did not.; so one person had not shoes. Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
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BurntHills
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:48amin the entire article online, it says another person bought him shoes a year ago too. he is deliberately CHOOSING to go barefoot. … likely it nets him more charity money as he panhandles. = no more sympathy here for him. none at all.
sorry but just because he is an allegedly homeless veteran does not mean he is a pro-American, “that piece of the pie” remark clarifies he is just another obama-voter. and don’t forget some panhandlers have turned out to be QUITE quite wealthy.
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PaBowHunter
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:21amI never give the homeless money or anything for that matter. Almost all choose to be homeless and almost all are heroin and or crack addicts.
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searcher619
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:30amI never give them money. I do offer to buy them a meal.
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ChildOfTheKing
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:42pmHere in Ohio, you MUST get a license to panhandle and yes, you see them all over the place with their signs claiming they are out of work and desperate. I JUST DON’T BELIEVE IT as if they have the money for the permit/license, then they are able to work and make a viable living without begging for money on the street.
It is sad to see them, BUT NOT EVERYTHING IS AS IT SEEMS…..remember that.
I stopped once and asked him if he wanted me to buy him lunch and he said he would rather have the money. I told him that I guess he wasn’t really hungry then and drove on.
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kryptonite
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:58pmBURNTHILLS
he is just another obama-voter…
——–
He’s black. What did you expect? That said, the man allegedly served. He deserved an opportunity to piece his life back together. I’m not sure he got the help he needed. Until and unless we find out why he became homeless, I will not judge him harshly.
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yiska8
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:15pmSometimes when people are addicts they feel physically hot and commonly go barefoot. It’s when they come off of the drug when the cold and chills set in. Something tells me he sold the boots for alcohol or drugs. The cop meant well, but sometimes people just do not have the sense to appreciate anything. Now he wants a piece of pie and Bloomberg will give it to him, but without the dollop of whipped cream. Too many calories.
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blanco5
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:47amYou CANNOT help people who don’t want to help themselves….especially those will help themselves to your money.
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longknifed
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:15pmThis is an unpopular stance, but having such a large military is huge reason why so many men wander the streets…they never learned how to function without a stern leader telling them how to live every aspect of their lives.
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yiska8
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 3:09pm@Longknived
There are plenty of military men and women who are fully capable of leading good lives without a stern leader. It’s about discipline,character, and choice. Some are better suited for the lifelong military career and some are not. The military people I’ve met don’t seem to be lacking a sense of leadership or direction. They run their households pretty firmly and structured. I think drugs and alcohol play a role here and you don’t have to be a former or current military vet to be affected by either of these wicked vices.
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SovereignSoul
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 3:29pmAnd, of course, mental health (or the lack thereof) has nothing to do with the man’s decision making process.
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longknifed
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 3:57pmthis is yet another futile attempt (because people love to be offended and upset at somebody for any reason), but here goes…
If you take a large group of people, not all will be the same (monolithic). We in the liberty movement highlight these differences called “individualism.”
10,000 out of 200,000 is still a lot. I know lifers who joined the army because they have no life skills and need a strict father telling them what to do at all times. Most are not like that, but a fare amount are. Let’s not take it so personally.
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yiska8
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:16pm@longknived
I figure there are enough liberals out there who loathe military troops and take a small handful of those who may not be the brightest or the wealthiest and label the entire military as unable to think for themselves. Tired of it. I’m not saying “lifers” don’t exist in the military, but they exist even moreso in academia. Trust me. They never leave and they live for “groupthink” and they “mold” young minds. Of course American society is a much better example of people looking for a “daddy” figure to tell them how to live, what to eat, how much to eat, where to live, and basically worshipping at the altar of poltical correctness for our own good.
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PCDoctors4u2
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:48pmA personal observation about Enlisted Military, Public service, and Union Employees… My Grand Father (Mom’s Dad) was Vice President of he Teamsters in Chicago in 1964 right hand man for Jimmie Hoffa ,My Dad’s Dad was a US Army Prisoner of War at the Battle of the Bulge. My Dad was a Career Navy Corps, My Mom was a career Civil Servant.They used to say that the Military was the Profession of last resort… I only list these qualifications to validate what I will say next. All of these groups have many similarities but the ones that stand out in my memory… First, they are all in it for the benefits, Pension, Health Care, Job security, Consistent pay. Second, they are all clock watchers and calendar scratchers, only 6 years, 7 months, 18 days to retirement so I can own that boat on a lake and drink beer until they pull that last can from my cold hand. Third, they keep their heads down they follow orders and they never think for themselves much less offer an opinion that could be perceived as contrary to the team.Forth and most importantly, if they are not in a management role, they could careless about their employer, their customer, or their product because their consistent minimum effort will ensure their continually growing piece of PIE! I will say that some of these mere mortals have shown tremendous tolerance and sacrifice to obtain their eventual goal, Retirement. I have more respect for that homeless guy who has been self reliant than The 53% who voted for Communis
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WakingSheep
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 7:14amThis is america! Sure we can!
If not by choice then by force!
I want my cell phone and healthcare! It is owed to me in america!
The land of the free and the home of the brave…. Pfff
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Thighmaster
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:47am“Give a man a fish”……you know how the story ends. It’s a choice, look at Golden Voice….
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Mustanger
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:43amI’ve been hearing the “give a fish” parable being tossed around. Looking at today’s youth, after you teach them to fish (on taxpayer burden) they’ll lounge on the river bank sunning them selfs for an hour. Come back without a fish and claim either, “I’m too dumb to fish” or “you didn’t teach me right”. Then demand disability and an EBT card.
In 2 Thes 3:10 it says if a man will not work, he shall not eat. Also “the poor will always be with us”
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longknifed
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:58pmThat is correct. I’ve been semi-homeless before for a 6 months…having to sleep on benches, couches and floors. I have also talked to homeless people. Being completely homeless is a choice. They want to live that lifestyle. In this welfare society there is no excuse to be penniless if you are an adult.
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kryptonite
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:41pm@LONGKNIFED
Being completely homeless is a choice. They want to live that lifestyle.
—-
Mental illness is a choice? Can the mentally ill help themselves?
“A new study published in The American Journal on Addictions reveals that Veterans who suffer from mental health disorders also have high rates of substance use disorders….
A total of 1,001,996 VA patients were diagnosed with one of the six designated mental disorders. The rates of substance use disorders among those with mental illness ranged from 21-35%.”
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2011-04/w-hro041911.php
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longknifed
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 3:13pmI suggest you scroll up a little to see my other post about the military and homelessness. Not all homeless people are veterans. Homeless people are not monolithic either. There are city dwellers, crackheads and the rural survivalist type.
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cemerius
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 3:47pm@Mustanger, I was looking for your quote as I was browsinig these posts. I am glad somone else undrstands that the Fish references is good and all but the one you quoted is the TRUE aspect to this story…….so good it needs to be repeated here:
In 2 Thes 3:10 it says if a man will not work, he shall not eat. Also “the poor will always be with us”
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kryptonite
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 4:54pm@LONGKNIFED
Well, I suggest you be careful not to generalize. You might unwittingly contradict yourself. :)
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longknifed
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 5:15pmagain, childishly taking it personally, and using it incorrectly.
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Mil-Dot
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 5:59pmMustanger,
Yeah, it says that the poor will always be with us, but it does not say that you have to be a sap-sucker and let them play you for a fool. The blacks are the worst of all. They have ruined this country with their “you owe me” crap. This POS is a typical example. Even the black bums think they are a prince. And if they think that, what do you think the average one thinks? I for one, am sick to death of them.
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kryptonite
Posted on December 4, 2012 at 4:17am@MIL-DOT
Even the black bums think they are a prince.
—-
Ah, but they have become vocal because a black bum occupies the WH, and he has made it quite clear that it’s payback time.
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denbren52
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:47amI think this is what Jesus meant when He said to turn the other cheek. It must have felt like a cold slap in the face to Officer DePrimo to read about this beggar’s comments. In order for him to be charitable again, he will have to turn the other cheek and do so in the same spirit of love, while expecting nothing more than the same result. It’s not fair. But it’s what compassion is all about.
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OldSurfRat
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:34amNicely Put. DENBREN
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Rosemary Woodhouse
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 5:42pmJesus got angry on occasion. It’s called righteous indignation. Turning the other cheek is not always the answer. Now, none of us are Lord and Savior (note to Jamie Foxx), but sometimes righteous indignation is exactly what’s called for!
Matthew 17:17 reads, “Faithless and perverse generation! How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you?”
John 2:15, 16: “Making a whip out of cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, sheep and cattle as well, scattered the money changers’ coins, knocked their tables over and said to the dove sellers, ‘Take all this out of here and stop using my Father’s house as a market.”
Mark 3:1: “Then he looked angrily round at them, grieved to find them so obstinate, and said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’”
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SamIamTwo
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:46amhahaha oh these poor people are putting people on for money. Come on move to WA state where they rent out card board signs for the homeless. You can make some serious money if have the right street corner. And they are on gov’t subsistence programs to boot. Some not many are legit.
If you see a gaunt guy pushing two walmart carts full of stuff and has two dogs tied to one of the carts, then he is legit. He and his dogs pushed and pulled the carts from Auburn to Sumner WA. Took him about a month. Many people stopped to hand out food to him and his dogs. And he got a few rides where there were no sidewalks. The dood is real.
Observe first then give. Sort of like trust but verify.
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nocommie
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:46amA prime example that hand outs are not appreciated.Welfare is a waste of tax payer dollars.Most of these people could be doing something to help themselves and the single welfare mothers,get a job!!!!
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Tri-ox
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:44amIt was all a hoax – of course.
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LadyLibertykicksASS
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:42amThis man is obviously suffering from some form of mental illness, and substance abuse.
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warloch
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:47amAKA liberalism. I wonder how many times he voted for Obama in this election?
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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:48am.
He suffers from Blackness, which is the root cause of Obamaness……..
JohnnyinthePedros
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:00amMaybe you aren’t giving him enough credit. Perhaps he knows that much more money can be made panhandling barefoot than panhandling while wearing a $100 pair of boots.
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LIBSALWAYSLIE
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:41amNever, NEVER give cash to a homeless person. I’d donate food or clothing, but never cash. We have a (supposedly) homeless person who stands at an intersection near my home with a sign “homeless, need help” and I see people giving him cash, but he’s smoking name brand cigarettes !!! Come on people, giving cash does NOTHING to help their situatition. This guy in NY should have used the gift as it was intended, where the boots went is anyone’s guess.
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this1can
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:52amI give homeless people money. That’s what my heart tells me to do. Its on them with what they do with it. I’ve done my part Love/pray
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50211bs
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:28amI do that as well and I find that most of the time they don’t want the food, they want the cash. at that point i’ll walk away w/out giving them cash.
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LIBSALWAYSLIE
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:52amTHISICAN, you make their situation worse by giving them money, and thats the easy thing to do, and perhaps you do it to make yourself feel better. Give food or clothing, which is what they really need, If you give cash and they go buy smokes, booze or drugs, do you really think you helped? I say you make it worse. You really need to think it through and stop taking the easy route.
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nevadamike
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:35pmGood point. The shoes were most likely sold for next to nothing.
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biohazard23
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:37amUngrateful POS. Fine, I hope you’re thinking about those nice boots you sold for (insert substance being abuse here) when you loose a few toes to frostbite this winter, you miserable whiner.
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JACKTHETOAD
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:13amSucks gettin’ suckered, huh Bio? No animosity here, Buddy…stick with me…I’ll make ya a star. :)
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biohazard23
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:57amHeh heh heh… Promise? :)
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kryptonite
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:15pm@BIOHAZARD
According to the officer, the soles of his feet are full of blisters. As you pointed out, it gets bitter cold at night. Do you think any SANE person would walk around like that? Why is there so little compassion for people with mental problems? You may not be able to SEE the disease, but you sure as heck can see the effects. Geez.
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RightUnite
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:37amAh, highly doubtful they’re hidden… More likely he sold them for a bottle….
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progressiveslayer
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:36amThis is a truly shocking turn of events but the government will want us to pay more for welfare parasites.
I don’t care what the cop does with his own money that’s his business but taxpayers should be paying zero on welfare.
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thegodfather
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:36amTake the shoes back.
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ChildOfTheKing
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:42pmGod will reward the policeman greatly. THAT IS ALL THAT MATTERS.
Fool me once, fool me twice…………..well, you get the message.
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SICKOFTHECRAP
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:32amWhat NERVE!!! My family has been working with a mission in our town for over 20 years. The men and women that we serve would be grateful for any kind of gift like that. The people are so happy when we just bring socks and hats from our chrurch, that they actually say thank you. I really hope that the cop in this story knows that what he did was out of kindness and compassion, something that I think this gentleman is lacking in. This precious gift he was given was not an entitlement.
(BTW) in Nor Cal, I belive he can buy shimp here, already precooked, on food stamps.
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JohnnyinthePedros
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:55amIn Casper, Wyoming there’s a tent set up by Omaha Steaks that accepts EBT cards.
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inxy
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:32amTypical. Give the homeless a little and they want more. Sheesh, get a job, buy your own shoes and show some personal responsibility.
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Jaimo
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:41amA perfect example of the welfare/taker class is like my bird feeders. I started with one bird feeder, putting in sunflower seeds every other day, and a few birds came along and it was nice, then more birds came and I was filling the feeder every day and they started crapping all over my stuff, then more birds came and I had to get more feeders and more seed and now I feel like I’m in the movie The Birds, cause they sit on my back deck waiting for me to bring them food and crapping all over my stuff. I guess I should cut them off because when you start resenting them for taking more than you’re really willing to give, it’s time to say goodbye.
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whatthecrazy
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:17am@jaimo i never understood feeding the birds all this costly bird seeds when they could be eating the bugs that plague us relentlessly for free.Just a thought.
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LFreeman
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:23amJAIMO’s The Bird’s post made me giggle quietly to myself. How true. My Mother has this identical problems. Great analogy.
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Rashomon
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:33amMy cat appreciates me bringing the birds in closer.
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SREGN
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 9:40amJaimo – My experience too, but I’m not as smart as you, because then came the squirrels. I tried squirrel-proof bird feeders which ended up being bird-proof squirrel feeders, then giving up and putting bowls full of peanuts out whenever I filled the bird feeders. That didn’t work either, but had the added value of being quite expensive. Then Walmart doubled the price on sunflower seeds. The last straw was this morning when I saw a squirrel running out of my garage with an entire large milk-bone dog biscuit, like it was a big screen tv at a looting. The animal welfare program ends today. I’m going out and buy a shotgun. Nuke the whales and pave the rainforsets, I have seen the light. Welfare only creates more welfare.
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kryptonite
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 2:31pmSREGN
The last straw was this morning when I saw a squirrel running out of my garage with an entire large milk-bone dog biscuit, like it was a big screen tv at a looting. The animal welfare program ends today. I’m going out and buy a shotgun. Nuke the whales and pave the rainforsets, I have seen the light.
——-
This cracked me up. You’re hilarious.
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katiefrankie
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:05pmMy husband and I laughed so hard at this set of posts!!! It’s almost too expensive to feed ourselves more than just pb&j, and since my husband is allergic to pb, we are NOT feeding animals too!
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Hickory
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:32amYou will never be able to help people who chose to live that way. They only come out of that when they want to.
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RIGHT_WHERE_IT_HURTS
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:31am‘These boots are made for LYIN’…’
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Simonne
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:31amHow sad. I hear when his brother saw the picture & recognized it as his brother, he said he would take him in. He didn’t know he was in such dire straight as he would call him or his other brother once a year to say he was ok. His brothers did ok so I don’t what happen to this guy. I do commend the officer for his kind deed even though it seemed like a waste to spend a $100 on boots that the guy won’t wear. What matters is that the officer did the right thing.
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ObserverOnTheHill
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:26amAgreed, the boots were “worth a lot of money”. Purchased at $ 100 and probably hocked for a $10 fix. Why else is he not wearing them in this weather. People rarely appreciate anything that is given to them for free.
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starman70
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:41amA very good commentary on the Government’s “Plantation” welfare system. Give them something for free and soon they will demand more.
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leftcoastslut
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:51amright on point, people rarely appreciate what is given to them, now he wants more…. hope he got a swift kick in the **** upon the sale and now be sent a bill for his fair share of the taxes due upon transfer of said merchandise.
Merry Christmas fellow Americans
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SpankDaMonkey
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:24am.
Why is everything black a threat to your wallet, your health and the American way?…………
.
You can’t help them…..
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rcampb10
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:58amBlacks have become as a hole, the parasites of white people. WE work!! and give most of it away to give away programs. Enough already!! Oh,,and why is it about black ?? TAKE A LOOK??? Would you ever see blacks giving a white man shoes ?? hell no!! Look on the side of the road, will a black, stop and help a white ? NO!! But I have seen plenty of white stop and help blacks. To those Black people who work hard, and do right, I am sorry to have to lump you in to the giant ball of crap, the blacks have become.
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jdare
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 1:05pmWhatever is wrong with him isn’t as bad as what’s wrong with you.
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mpman001
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:24am“I was put on YouTube, I was put on everything without permission,”
I guess he saw it on his obamophone, Lets get real, this was purely a propagander move by the NYPD to begin with.
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truthnstuff
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 10:39amYou may be right! Everyone wants to be a Reality TV star. probably will be used as proof that the Gubermint needs to do more for he poor. Cover your wallet cause 0bamaclaus is comin to town..
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JACKTHETOAD
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:22amWhat did I tell you? Boy, I’m even starting to scare myself a little. NOT!
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biohazard23
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:45amI’m not scared of you, Jack. :) Good morning, BTW.
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JACKTHETOAD
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:15amGood, Bio. top o’ the mernin’ to ye lass, hope it’s a good one two three four…:) I’m glad you’re not scared. I won’t bite…hard, anyways.
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JACKTHETOAD
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 11:18amFirst, we missed Stockholm. Then, we missed Ecuador. Now, I had to punk out on St. Pete. …like two ships, Bio. :)
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biohazard23
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 12:03pmMy husband probably wouldn’t like the biting thing. Just sayin’. But hey, at least in St Pete you could stay warm! :)
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ThePostman
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:22amHey, he grew the pie and now he wants a piece of the pie! LOL!
Newsflash, folks, the boots were pawned for drugs or booze. Probably booze.
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Inlightofthings
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:21amI’ve been helping a homeless guy near my business. He went on a rant about how it’s about time they allowed EDT cards / food stamps to be used in restaurants so he could get his fair share in the form of a shrimp dinner like every one else…. We’re in trouble folks.
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JACKTHETOAD
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:24amThey need to helped right back to institutional care, where they belong.
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DougHuffman
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:27amWe’ve been in trouble – for a long time, at least since Atlas Shrugged told the truth.
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Its4you
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:31amyou are more correct than you know this is a reason why charity belongs in the hands of the individuals should the good officer choose to give him pie is solely up to him
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RIGHT_WHERE_IT_HURTS
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 8:42amAs far as ‘the homeless’ goes. since the early 60s when the fed emptied the nuthouses and banned frontal lobotomies. They are effective in some cases. Sad, but true.
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Bluebonnet
Posted on December 3, 2012 at 4:46pmYes, my 98 year old mom talked to some guy who keeps his spot on the curb from a supermarket. She asked if he did well enough to eat, that many places in town served 2-3 meals a day and a place to sleep. He admitted he did quite well but wouldn’t eat the slop they serve, he wants to eat at a decent restaurant. Almost everyday I drive past that market, I see him with his cardboard sign, beggin. He looks well enough, but seems to want others to take care of him.
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