AND THE BEAT GOES ON – AT 10:16 A.M. ET:   The collapse of Baltimore is ongoing.  This is a horrible tragedy, and the poor will suffer the greatest impact.  From Conservative Treehouse: 

With three men killed in eastside shootings on Sunday, Baltimore recorded its deadliest month in more than 40 years..

The 43 killings in May surpassed the 42 homicides the city saw in August 1990, and left Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake defending police and her administration.

Speaking at a morning ceremony to honor McKenzie Elliott, the 3-year-old killed by a stray bullet in August, Rawlings-Blake said it’s time to stop finger-pointing and assigning blame for the recent violence.

Of course, let's not assign blame.  I mean, why talk about responsibility?

The killing of African-Americans in Baltimore has to stop, she said, noting that 189 of the 208 killed last year were black men. For the city to improve, all homicides need to drop, she added.

“We have to do better,” the mayor said. “We have to want more.”

Thanks for the wisdom, Steph. 

City Councilman Brandon Scott, vice chair of the public safety committee, echoed that theme, saying it’s time for all Baltimoreans to have honest conversations about ways to stop the violence.

COMMENT:  Come on, there is no chance for an honest conversation because no one who wants to survive politically will point the finger at criminals or a corrupt leadership.  They'll probably start blaming the gun manufacturers, which is done routinely in the shooting gallery known as Chicago.

If the violence goes on, it will probably destroy Baltimore as a business and tourist center.  Then we'll have a new Detroit.  And we'll be told that only more federal funds will help.  And federal funds will be sent, and they won't help.

June 1, 2015