home

Friday Open Thread

Time for a new open thread. Is anyone besides me following the Genaro Garcia Luna trial in Brooklyn? Or the capture of Ovidio Guzman in Mexico? Or watching the new Season 8 of El Senor de los Cielos on Telemundo?

Whether you are or aren't, that's okay. All topics welcome.

< Alec Baldwin Charged in "Rust" Shooting Death | State of the Union 2023: "Let's Finish the Job" >
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    Required: An investigation (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by KeysDan on Fri Jan 27, 2023 at 01:36:48 PM EST
    into the investigation of the investigation.

    The NYTimes reporting of the Durham investigation, that evolved into a Special Counsel probe, describes corrupt, if not criminal activity by William Barr and the "straight-shooter" John Durham.

    For starters, the ethical violations present the basis for the suspension/removal of their licenses to practice. And, Merrick Garland needs to pick-up the pieces of likely crimes. If Garland is fearful of charging the top banana, maybe he will be up for, a least, a gimlet's eye on these lower bananas who have disgraced the DOJ. And, the country.

    The Senate should empanel a select committee to delve into the Trump/Barr/Durham ersatz investigation--perhaps the most egregious of them all. And, Durham is still at it, just now completing his Special Counsel's report.

    Barr and Durham, Opus Dei well-wishers, readily shared the opinion that the Russian investigation stemmed from a conspiracy of Intel and FBI agencies. Having come up empty-handed on that front, they turned to their tried and true: Hillary and George Soros.  Again, empty handed.

    These two pals hardly kept an arms-length as might we expected with a Special Counsel (meeting regularly over "sips of scotch" and dinners as well as traveling together to Europe). But, lo and behold, they did find something: their Italian contacts provided a salient and credible tip of Trump and financial crimes.

     So, what to do?  Nothing, that is what. Durham's scope was enlarged to include this tip.  However, that hot tip ran silent.  No indication was ever made, other than that a crime was being pursued, which was allowed to be misinterpreted as a crime embedded somewhere in the Russian investigation.  No clarification was offered, in keeping, apparently, with the Opus Dei tenet of "divine deception".

    A Senate investigation is needed to keep this scandal in the public eye, and to pursue the possible connections with Charles McGonnigal, the FBI counterintel agent on Putin's friend, Oleg Deripaska's payroll ($25,000/month).

     Such an investigation may not be as flashy as  Gym Jordan's and MTGreen's investigation of Hunter's laptop, but it needs to be done.

     

    This (none / 0) (#9)
    by FlJoe on Fri Jan 27, 2023 at 02:33:11 PM EST
    too will pass, it is already fading from the news cycle, I am pretty sure CNN never mentioned the Times story and only briefly touched the McGonnigal story. I would be pleasantly surprised if the NYT even bothers to follow up and anything close to butter emails is out of the question.

    The DOJ will suddenly rediscover "ethics" and proceed "cautiously" as they always do when investigating Republicans and everything will fade into the background noise.

    Maybe the Senate can make something happen, but trusting that broken institution is risky IMO.

    Parent

    Excellent (none / 0) (#22)
    by FlJoe on Sun Jan 29, 2023 at 06:30:49 AM EST
    reporting from the Times, but it doesn't mean anything unless they follow up on it.

    BTW: It's a certainly that they know more they are letting on. It is far past time that they tell us who was leaking falsehoods and half truths to them from the SDNY, FBI and the Durham probe.

    These leakers were not brave, honest whistleblowers, they were were hostile agents running a psy-ops disinfo operation against our country, an operation that wittingly or un-willingly paralleled that of the Russians.

    Parent

    Yes (none / 0) (#24)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Jan 29, 2023 at 11:41:24 AM EST
    I remember some false information regarding Benghazi being given to the press and the discussion about burning a source if they give you false information. As far as I know the source was never identified so whomever got away with  spreading false information. So there is some reluctance to burn a source that knowingly lied to them.

    Eventually we will get answers. We are just now finding out definitely the Russian infiltration of the FBI. Trump did us a favor by getting rid of Comey albeit for the wrong reasons & Wray needs to go. Not only has Wray let the NY FBI field office continue to run amok but ignored 4500 criminal complaints  about Kavanaugh

    Parent

    Garuda news (5.00 / 5) (#25)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 30, 2023 at 09:07:05 AM EST
    I've decided to give Garuda to a Hindu temple.  They seem excited by the prospect.

    he has guarded my home for more than 20 years

    I will miss him.  But I don't trust my christian relatives to treat him with respect when that time comes.

    Bravo. (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by oculus on Mon Jan 30, 2023 at 08:51:54 PM EST
    Ginni and, now, Jane (5.00 / 2) (#39)
    by KeysDan on Wed Feb 01, 2023 at 12:31:49 PM EST
    Kendall Price, a former colleague of Jane Roberts, wife of Chief Justice Roberts, filed a complaint with Congress and the DOJ, alleging that Mrs. Robert's work as a legal recruiter poses conflicts of interest at the Supreme Court and that the Chief Justice has failed to acknowledge the full extent of his wife's work.

    Mrs. Roberts made $Millions in commissions recruiting for law firms, some of which had business before the Supreme Court.

    Mr. Price, a Boston lawyer, states that litigants deserve to know if households are receiving six-figure payments from law firms.

    While not in the same category as being involved in the overthrow of the US government (perhaps, just basic corruption), it does suggest that legislation is necessary to codify ethics rules that are applicable to the Supreme Court, if not a total overall.

    Ethics? (none / 0) (#43)
    by desertswine on Wed Feb 01, 2023 at 04:41:28 PM EST
    What's that?

    Parent
    Ethics (none / 0) (#44)
    by KeysDan on Wed Feb 01, 2023 at 05:19:00 PM EST
    is an exotic bird. Avis corruptis, flies away if money is in the air, of concern only to statues.

    Parent
    The (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by FlJoe on Wed Feb 01, 2023 at 12:36:30 PM EST
    conservative supremes are the most powerful and unaccountable terrorists in the land.

    Enforcing fascism as freedom from indoctrination: (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by KeysDan on Wed Feb 01, 2023 at 01:05:47 PM EST
    The state-supported New College of Florida, at Sarasota, is the first in Rhonda Santis' "re-shaping" of higher education in Florida (and the US). Re-shape and make an example so other colleges fall in line.

    As a first order of business, New College's Board members (appointed last month by DeSantis) fired President Patricia Okker. The former Republican House Speaker was installed as Board chair until he can take over as interim president in March.

    The second order of business was to begin de-wokifying: abolishing diversity, equity, and inclusion along with a new extremist and fanatical shift--modeling public institutions after grand private institutions, such as Liberty University. (I hear their pool boy department is excellent)>

    Of course, the state's flagship institution, the University of Florida, is now under the presidential leadership of former US Senator, Ben Sasse. With Sasse, DeSantis' pick, he has a foot-hold at U of F. to enable his fascist vision.

    Trump or DeSantis? How awful a consideration. Although, Trump's ignorance, corruption, laziness, lack of delegation and follow-up seem more endearing and sort of gives him the edge.

    tRump (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by FlJoe on Wed Feb 01, 2023 at 06:37:10 PM EST
    vs DeSantis, a cartoon fascist vs the real deal.

    The base loves the cartoon but the  media prefer the real  thing

    Yesterday, after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced his plans to take a Stalinist level of control over higher education in Florida, the New York Times ran a story that practically beamed with admiration at what a bold move DeSantis had taken, gushing in a headline,"DeSantis Takes On the Education Establishment, and Builds His Brand," as if what mattered here were the savvy way DeSantis is marketing his war on public and higher education, not the damage it will do to Florida schools and students.


    Parent
    Fascism should not be this easy. (none / 0) (#49)
    by KeysDan on Thu Feb 02, 2023 at 02:12:33 PM EST
    DeSantis announced that he will exempt gas stoves and other gas appliances from the State sales tax. "They want your gas stoves and we are not going to let that happen."

    Ron does admit that few Florida homes are set up for gas stoves (about 8% have gas stoves). DeSantis says, but  "its the principle of the thing."

    The principle being, if you are going to be a good fascist, never let a fake crisis go unaddressed. Also, never miss a chance to be childish and to own the libs.

    After all, the next thing you know, "They" will be coming for your asbestos and lead paint.

    Parent

    This (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by FlJoe on Fri Feb 03, 2023 at 04:33:44 AM EST
    This is a perfect example of the own the libs mentality at work.

    Total kneejerk reaction to nothingburger, create a strawman and bravely take it on.

    It doesn't have to make sense, just fit a certain formula in this case it's science + government = tyranny (like the vaccines).

    Just like open minds + education = tyranny

    The generic formula is basically enlightenment + government (or other conservative bugaboo such as woke corporations, the liberal press, wicked Hollywood etc) = tyranny.

    Parent

    Another (none / 0) (#65)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 03, 2023 at 02:26:04 PM EST

    GOP Lawmaker Hands Out Assault Weapon Lapel Pins
    February 3, 2023 at 12:11 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 182 Comments

    Rep. Andrew S. Clyde (R-GA) admitted in a video that he "has been handing out lapel pins shaped like assault rifles to fellow GOP lawmakers," the Washington Post reports.

    Said Clyde: "I hear that this little pin that I've been giving out on the House floor has been triggering some of my Democratic colleagues. Well, I give it out to remind people of the Second Amendment of the Constitution and how important it is in preserving our liberties."

    "The assault-rifle pins have angered Democrats, who began noticing them in recent days before they knew of their origin."



    Parent
    The gas stove thing is annoying (none / 0) (#50)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 02, 2023 at 02:54:59 PM EST
    But another agency just joined in the original one a while back.  
    It does seem like either clumsy or intentional timing.
    It's hard to understand why they would so helpfully give Rhonda more material.

    Those damn bureaucrats in Washington are at it again.

    Parent

    Here's the thing about this (none / 0) (#51)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 02, 2023 at 03:12:13 PM EST
    First, it should be said everything I've read lately is about natural gas.  My experience and the story that follows is about propane.

    A few years ago, after I quit working and before I got social security, my very low income made several government assistance programs available to me.  One is a rural program called, at the time, weatherizing.  Or weather proofing.  Or something.

    The idea is to improve the energy efficiency of older homes.  Like the one I was living in at the time.  Before I bought this house.

    Anyway, they put this big heavy fan thing, with 2 sets of fan blades, in the front door with all other windows and doors closed and suck the air out of the house.  Then the use thermal imaging to go around and see all the places cold air gets in and plug them.  They did a very good job.  They insulated light switches and plugs and spent most of a day blowing insulation into the attic and some walls.

    But to my point, one of the things they did is use other high tech equipment to test everything that might produce toxic fumes.  At the time I had both a gas kitchen stove and a ventless gas heater.  

    The heater was my primary heat.  There was electric heat but the gas heat was cheaper and I like the feel more.

    There was no emissions from either.  None.  And the did a very thorough job.

    No emissions. No particles.  No toxins.  They would have had no reason to lie.

    So while my experience is with propane not natural gas I have suspicions the toxic effects are being exaggerated to encourage people to stop using fossil fuel.

    Which is fine.  And possibly not even a bad idea.
    But I would be more comfor table if they just said that.

    Parent

    Also (none / 0) (#52)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 02, 2023 at 03:30:15 PM EST
    I still have a gas cooking stove.  Which I love.  Most people who enjoy cooking want a gas stove.  I would not willingly switch.

    And
    Last summer I gave myself something I've wanted for a while, a gas fireplace.  Which I also love.  A lot.  It has made this winter much cozier than the last one.

    So this whole BS thing feels kind of personal.  But more importantly I totally understand what a convenient wedge issue this is.

    There are now 2 separate govt agencies making noises Rhonda can and definitely will use to his benefit.  

    Parent

    As a body (none / 0) (#53)
    by KeysDan on Thu Feb 02, 2023 at 04:58:21 PM EST
    of knowledge grows, gas stoves and appliances may need  to be re-thought. At this point, draconian.solutions seem way premature. Of course, methane (which is emitted even when the stove is off) is well-known as a major greenhouse gas. But, other toxic chemicals (volatile organic compounds) from natural gas appear, in present studies, to contribute to public heath concerns.  Particularly, asthma in children, and other illnesses including cancers.

    The problem may be uncovered, but the solution, in my view, is not a total ban. At least, not yet. Newer technologies, such as magnetic fields for heating(convection stove tops) as well as old-fashioned good ventilation may minimize the toxins, provided the hoods vent to the outside, not recycle into the room.

    We, too, cook with gas and have gas tankless hot water heaters. And, would not like to give them up, but are appreciative of the efforts to explore the heath hazards.  Agreed that getting ahead of science skis is not constructive in this political environment. Perfect for Rhonda DeSantis' demagoguery.

    Parent

    After posting that (none / 0) (#54)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 02, 2023 at 05:13:27 PM EST

    Propane is mor efficient which makes it cheaper even tho it's more per gallon.

    There are big differences between the two.  More than I knew

    Propane is the cleanest burning fossil fuel available, and it produces about half the carbon dioxide and other emissions of gasoline. It also doesn't harm water or soil. Natural gas is mostly made up of methane, a greenhouse gas that's about 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide.Mar 21, 2022
    https://www.griffithenergyservices.com > ...

    .

    Parent
    About venting (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 02, 2023 at 05:19:38 PM EST
    One of the attractions of ventless heat is that it's ventless  

    100% of the heat produced stays in the house.

    I have lived with this type of heat almost exclusively for soon to be 12 years.  Since retirement. And have noticed no ill effects.

    In fact a major reason I started using it years ago is I learned I am very allergic to a special kind of mold that grows in heating ducts.

    I have not had a sinus infection, which I have historically had about twice a year forever, since I stopped using air duct heat.

    Parent

    Hopefully this link works (none / 0) (#58)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 02, 2023 at 05:50:11 PM EST
    Bob Vila (none / 0) (#60)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 02, 2023 at 06:38:02 PM EST
    Besides A Stove and Range (none / 0) (#56)
    by RickyJim on Thu Feb 02, 2023 at 05:46:44 PM EST
    I heat my house and water with natural gas and have a gas clothes dryer.  Have there been any studies to show that these appliances also leak methane?

    Parent
    You should Google (none / 0) (#57)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 02, 2023 at 05:48:24 PM EST
    Are they natural gas?  

    You can also get testing equipment pretty affordable I think.

    Parent

    Rockhall nominations are announced. (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by Chuck0 on Wed Feb 01, 2023 at 03:09:26 PM EST
    If Warren Zevon is not inducted, the whole thing is a sham.

    It was kinda a sham (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by jondee on Wed Feb 01, 2023 at 06:14:51 PM EST
    before.

    They should just get it over with and rename it the Pop Hall of Fame.

    I got a kick out of Steve Miller reaming them at the press conference after he was inducted a few years ago.

    Parent

    I get it. (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Feb 02, 2023 at 09:46:37 AM EST
    But I really like the place. I've been to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times now and have thoroughly enjoyed every visit. Cleveland rocks!

    Parent
    "Democrats are in disarray." (5.00 / 2) (#95)
    by KeysDan on Tue Feb 07, 2023 at 11:09:26 AM EST
    is so over.  If you want to keep abreast, nowadays "Democrats worry".   Unnamed Democrats worry about a lot of things and when they don't, even acknowledge the successes of the Biden Administration on every front, foreign and domestic, they worry.

    Michelle Goldberg in her NYTimes column of today states, for example, the Biden is a great president, and, accordingly, should not run again.   Her earlier hope that Biden not run again was when    President Biden was having difficulties with passing key legislation because Manchin and Sinema. But, even, better now that things are going well.

    That dumba$$, Peter Baker,  also of the NYTimes, "worried"in his column yesterday about Vice President Harris. Apparently not as effective as Pence when he headed up the Covid Task Force, the effort Republicans rewarded him with a noose.

    Jennifer Rubin, in her WaPo column, "worried" that Kamala Harris made a mistake not staying in the senate. Seemingly, a part of a campaign to cause Democrats to worry, omitting the value Kamala had in presenting a ticket that defeated TFG, for which the Democrats and country should be eternally grateful.

    Stop the "worry" Democrats, and mount a campaign against the fascists.  Burning books, attacking corporations like Disney, , demeaning trans kids, and requiring the nation's daughters.to register their  menstrual periods, with details, should be something the fascists should worry about.

    But the deep insights they offer (5.00 / 1) (#96)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Feb 07, 2023 at 12:39:23 PM EST
    how would we know how to react without them?

    David French: "The instant that a person or an institution becomes closely identified with one political "tribe," members of that tribe become reflexively protective and are inclined to write off scandals as `isolated' or the work of `a few bad apples.'"

    "Conversely, the instant an institution is perceived as part of an opposing political tribe, the opposite instinct kicks in: We're far more likely to see each individual scandal as evidence of systemic malice or corruption, further proof that the other side is just as bad as we already believed."

    Wow
    That never ccurred to me.

    Parent

    David French's (none / 0) (#98)
    by KeysDan on Tue Feb 07, 2023 at 02:05:03 PM EST
    maiden voyage for the NYTimes sure sprung a leak.  But, then, this is what we can expect from a "civil libertarian".  He will be educating his readers on religious liberties and conservative jurisprudence--his wheelhouse.  Just what we need these days.

    Parent
    No one is a "civil libertarian" unless (5.00 / 3) (#99)
    by Peter G on Tue Feb 07, 2023 at 02:45:08 PM EST
    they regularly defend and advocate for the rights of those whose views they do not support and/or whose religion they do not share and endorse. The current-day "conservative" proponents of "religious liberty" flunk this test every time out of the gate.

    Parent
    The name "Libertarian" was hijacked (none / 0) (#101)
    by Jack E Lope on Wed Feb 08, 2023 at 11:20:27 AM EST
    ...by people who want to privatize oppression, discrimination and other individual-liberty-reducing practices - to avoid those inconvenient civil-rights cases - while keeping only enough government to serve as an enforcement and collection agency on behalf of business.

    Parent
    "That dumba$$ Peter Baker" ... (5.00 / 1) (#102)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Feb 08, 2023 at 06:03:00 PM EST
    ... is the male counterpart to Maggie Haberman. Both of them want you and me and everyone to know that they're in the know and yet, "some people are saying" that they both frequently look like little more than the latter-day Beltway equivalent of Vladimir Lenin's useful idiots.

    But you didn't hear that from me.

    Parent

    And speaking of attacking corporations ... (none / 0) (#103)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Feb 08, 2023 at 07:08:52 PM EST
    Orlando Sentinel | February 8, 2023
    `There's a new sheriff in town.' Florida House panel OKs remake of Disney's Reedy Creek - "Florida lawmakers moved forward Wednesday with a state overhaul of Disney World's Reedy Creek Improvement District as Gov. Ron DeSantis vows to end the special status the entertainment giant has enjoyed in Florida since 1967. The measure would replace Disney's handpicked five-member board overseeing the district with a governor-appointed one. It also would rename Reedy Creek the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District within two years."

    ... like Disney, the Walt Disney Co. surely has sufficiently deep pockets to put an end to Gov. Ron DeSantis's nonsense.

    For example, in response to the continued attacks by DeSantis and his GOP legislative allies on the company, the Disney folks could publicly announce that once the summer season is over on Labor Day weekend, it will be shutting down its entire Walt Disney World complex in Orlando for the duration of his term in office AND laying off all 77,000 of its employees.

    Let the new sheriff in town try to spin that as a win against the woke folks.

    ;-D

    Parent

    I guess that this might be.. (5.00 / 1) (#109)
    by desertswine on Thu Feb 09, 2023 at 05:09:51 PM EST
    I know (5.00 / 2) (#113)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 10, 2023 at 09:13:09 AM EST
    The greater Philadelphia area is going (5.00 / 1) (#116)
    by Peter G on Fri Feb 10, 2023 at 06:41:08 PM EST
    Superbowl crazy. It's in the air all around. Here is the Eagles fight song as performed by our local Gilbert & Sullivan troupe (two versions, actually) and by one of our premier New Years Day Mummers string bands (i.e., mostly saxophones and 4-string banjos). All these folks are amateurs.  And the Philadelphia Opera chorus.

    Oops, sorry, first link was wrong (none / 0) (#118)
    by Peter G on Sat Feb 11, 2023 at 01:12:15 PM EST
    Here is the first Gilbert & Sullivan parody version, from the Savoy Company of Greater Philadelphia, of the Eagles fight song. I somehow linked the string band version twice. Also, the Philadelphia High School of Creative and Performing Arts orchestra and chorus, conducted here by Yannick Nézet-Séguin (music director of the Philadelphia Orchestra, and also of New York's Metropolitan Opera).

    Parent
    Good news (5.00 / 1) (#140)
    by MO Blue on Wed Feb 22, 2023 at 10:16:45 AM EST
    Sen. Tester has announced that he will run for a fourth term. He IMO has the best chance of maintaining his Montana Senate seat.

    In Your Face (5.00 / 1) (#159)
    by KeysDan on Sat Feb 25, 2023 at 04:46:13 PM EST
    Must be his new brand.  How is this for gaslighting: Rhonda Santis and his lovely wife held a reception in the governor's mansion to celebrate Black History Month. Just days after students around the state walked out of classes for his racist educational ploys.

    It would seem that Rhonda's celebration would be unlawful if a Florida professor did the same.  Although, it wouldn't be a surprise. If his celebration included a showing of Birth of a Nation, making it OK.

    Yeah (5.00 / 2) (#171)
    by FlJoe on Mon Feb 27, 2023 at 05:56:26 AM EST
    meatball where is my white history month? I feel sooo left out,  one might say, "uncomfortable".
    A bill backed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis that would prohibit Florida's public schools and private businesses from making people feel "discomfort" or "guilt" based on their race, sex or national origin received first approval Tuesday by the state's Senate Education Committee.
    frankly meatball makes me feel "guilt" about sharing the same race.

    Parent
    Rhonda Santis (none / 0) (#176)
    by KeysDan on Mon Feb 27, 2023 at 12:26:19 PM EST
    is trying very hard to be, if not look like, TFG.  He wears those same kind of ill-fitting suits and holds his arms out like a little kid in a new snow suit. Not a mirthful guy, it seems.  Although, they do say he is much smarter than his mentor..as can be seen here (now we know why he is opposed to public health measures.).

    Parent
    And (none / 0) (#177)
    by FlJoe on Mon Feb 27, 2023 at 03:02:44 PM EST
    like TFG the media is giving him plenty of free media, CNN can't stop talking about him much, if not most fairly positive.

    Parent
    Yes, how (none / 0) (#178)
    by KeysDan on Mon Feb 27, 2023 at 04:13:33 PM EST
    Rhonda fares nationally is totally dependent upon how the media, and particularly, the pundits, cover him.   Florida fascism will not transport well if left to DeSantis himself.  He has the charisma of a wet dish rag, Orban's orations given in Hungarian are better received than any of his speeches, and he sports an awkwardness deadly to the national stage.

    Aping Trump, his record is a firehouse of horrors that are almost impossible to keep up with.  If the media reports even with some semblance of truthfulness, he will go the way of such boomlets as. Sam Brownback, Scott Walker and Bobby Jindal.

    The fear is that the media is so in need of an alternative to Trump, they will promote this mini-Trump. Fortunately, Jeb Bush has endorsed Rhonda, which may be a kiss of death.  Please clap.

    Parent

    An article in the current Harper's... (none / 0) (#180)
    by desertswine on Tue Feb 28, 2023 at 12:22:11 PM EST
    titled "See No Evil" recounts the time (from a prisoner's point of view) De Santis visited Guantanamo, ostensible to protect prisoners humane treatment but would laugh at them being force fed instead.

    adayfi: Yes, and Ron DeSantis was there watching us. We were crying, screaming. We were tied to the feeding chair. And he was watching. He was laughing. Our stomachs could not hold this amount of Ensure. They poured one can after another. So when he approached me, I said, "This is the way we are treated!" He said, "You should eat." I threw up in his face. Literally on his face.

    All of them were watching. They also used to beat us. And if we screamed or were bleeding out of our nose and mouth, they were like, "Eat." The only word they told you was "eat." We were beaten all day long. Whatever you were doing--they just beat you. Pepper spray, beating, sleep deprivation. That continued for three months. And he was there. He was one of the people that supervised the torture, the abuses, the beatings. All the time at Guantánamo.

    I don't know that the link will work. You may need a subscription.

    Parent

    ... in decades this weekend, with the mountain communities of Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear receiving over 5 feet of snow.

    Significant snowfalls were also recorded in San Bernardino, Redlands, Fontana, Ontario and Altadena / La Crescenta. The L.A. area as a whole has also received 7-10" of rain.

    California as a whole is on track toward its wettest winter since 1969, which is welcome news after several years of severe drought.

    It's been a very wet winter out here in the islands, too.

    At least the drought (none / 0) (#161)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Feb 26, 2023 at 07:40:44 AM EST
    seems over.  It's got to be crazy there.

    They do not know how to drive in weather.  

    Parent

    They are (none / 0) (#163)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Feb 26, 2023 at 09:10:32 AM EST
    not the only place where people don't know how to drive in weather. Driving in rain here in Atlanta is a nightmare.

    Parent
    They are (none / 0) (#164)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Feb 26, 2023 at 09:10:32 AM EST
    not the only place where people don't know how to drive in weather. Driving in rain here in Atlanta is a nightmare.

    Parent
    Yep, Southern California drivers ... (none / 0) (#187)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Mar 01, 2023 at 06:51:40 PM EST
    ... do not cope well when it's raining. Of course, I never realized until I moved to Hawaii that I also didn't know how to drive in the rain. I learned quickly because out here, it rains all the time. In fact, we got 15 inches of rain over two days last week here in Hilo. Right now, it's wet, chilly and blustery outside with 40 mph wind gusts and it's a good day to be indoors.

    Parent
    Hope everyone's doing well. (5.00 / 1) (#188)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Mar 01, 2023 at 07:07:49 PM EST
    We had some distressing news this week, as our youngest grandson, who'll turn three years old at the end of the month, has been diagnosed as autistic, and it's apparently severe.

    Elder Daughter and son-in-law are understandably very distressed, and so I'm going to fly to Honolulu on Thursday if only to provide moral support. (Honestly, I hope I can do more than that.) My wife will fly over after she's done teaching school on Friday.

    We never had to deal with anything like that when the girls were little, so I have no idea what's going through their heads right now. But like I told my daughter and son-in-law, we'll figure this out together, at least to the point where they'll have an idea what they need to do and what to expect going forward.

    I'll catch up with you all a little later. Aloha.

    Hang in (5.00 / 2) (#190)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Mar 01, 2023 at 07:10:48 PM EST
    sounds like he will have good support.

    Parent
    Thanks. (none / 0) (#195)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Mar 02, 2023 at 03:30:22 AM EST
    I really don't know much of anything about autism spectrum disorder (ASD), so I'm reading everything I can find online about it. What I do understand is that those who are severely afflicted are often unable to ever live independently and will require lifelong assistance.

    So, if the extent of my grandson's ASD is at the level that's been described to me this week, we're probably going to have to do some serious financial planning to be able to continue providing for him well into adulthood after his mother and father have passed from the scene. Given that he's just short of three years old, only time will tell us what he'll need going forward.

    My daughter first suspected six months ago that he had some kind of learning disability because unlike how his two older brothers (who are now ages 7 and 5) were at that age, he talked only in single syllables, was not easy to engage in play and would get inordinately cross and frustrated for a two-year-old when interacting with others.

    My wife and I had noticed a couple months ago that he does not like to be picked up and held, which is unusual for toddlers. Now, he won't fight you when you do so, but oftentimes he'll instead turn as rigid as a board and stare at you. It's as though he's afraid that you're going to break him in two.

    Well, at least we now know what the problem is.

    Parent

    Autistic children (none / 0) (#202)
    by MO Blue on Thu Mar 02, 2023 at 07:25:28 PM EST
    Often respond well to music especially song. One of the boys my daughter worked with did not respond well to the spoken word but would respond and follow directions when they were sung to him.

    Parent
    That can be a tough thing.. (none / 0) (#193)
    by desertswine on Thu Mar 02, 2023 at 01:17:29 AM EST
    but you are tougher.

    Parent
    Here in MO (none / 0) (#194)
    by MO Blue on Thu Mar 02, 2023 at 02:28:15 AM EST
    we have pre-kindergarten  classes for autistic children as part of the special needs program. My daughter worked in that program and I believe they help both the children and their parents.

    That might be an avenue you could pursue.

    Parent

    My wife works in the school system. (none / 0) (#196)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Mar 02, 2023 at 03:54:02 AM EST
    She said just the other day that it's a good thing our daughter and her family live in Honolulu and not here on the Big Island, because that's where most of the resources are found for children with disabilities and their families. Makes sense since over a million people live on Oahu, whereas our town - the largest urban community on the neighbor islands - has a population of just under 45,000. 90% of our state is rural.

    Parent
    I am (none / 0) (#198)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Mar 02, 2023 at 09:26:42 AM EST
    sorry to hear this. The good news is there is advances being made w/r/t autism. We had a neighbor whose child had PDD and he was able to learn to speak among other things. I don't know if he is capapble of living by himself but he seems to be able to hold a job.

    Parent
    ACO REACH (none / 0) (#1)
    by jmacWA on Fri Jan 27, 2023 at 11:03:12 AM EST
    I am pretty certain that this is just another scheme for healthcare companies to bilk Medicare.  I really can't find too much about it other than the propaganda (as I see it anyway) put out by Medicare CMS.  I doubt much of what they tout as the benefits, especially to the Medicare recipient, and see this as just another scheme to privatize Medicare.  Sadly, it seems Democrats seem to be getting behind it my Rep. now consistently disregards my questions since I indicated that I think she has no clue what this is about.

    If anyone has any information on this that does not come from the CMS.gov sight I would appreciate links and/or hints as to what to google.


    I found this (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by MO Blue on Fri Jan 27, 2023 at 11:54:53 AM EST
    Not familiar with website but the article sounds right.

    But the House Progressive Caucus still wants to get rid of the model, now rebranded as ACO REACH.

    The caucus released a list of recommendations for executive actions it calls for the administration to take. Chief among the recommendations is to quickly end the ACO REACH payment model that provides partial and full capitation payments to physician groups to spur greater coordinated care.

    Progressives wrote that the program enables "third-party middlemen to manage care without seniors' full understanding or prior consent, and often through for-profit businesses with incentives to restrict care."

    The recommendations underscore that progressive lawmaker concerns around the model still remain despite a slew of changes in ACO REACH.

    fierce healthcare

    Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Physicians for a National Health Program are against it as is.


    Parent

    Thanks (none / 0) (#10)
    by jmacWA on Fri Jan 27, 2023 at 03:10:47 PM EST
    I had not seen that... but this pretty much sums up what I feel is going to happen:

    Lawmakers such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, have said that a direct contracting entity could pocket any money that isn't spent on patient care and create an incentive to get overpayments from Medicare

    The thing that really peeves me about this ACO REACH model is that the recipient does not seem to get a choice.  At least that was the case with me, I was simply informed at my Dr.'s office that I was now in an ACO REACH.  Of course I could get out by switching to a new Dr. but why should I have to.

    IMO this will eventually be proven to be as bad as Medicare Advantage plans, which are finally being seen by more people as the scam that they are.

    Parent

    The new conference about Tyre Nichols (none / 0) (#3)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 27, 2023 at 12:02:47 PM EST
    as the introduction of this video is not what I expected.  It's strange.  But maybe that's me.  It opened with Ben Crump calling himself America's Black Attorney General.

    I guess the big finish will be the video?

    Later I guess (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 27, 2023 at 12:10:31 PM EST

    What we're covering. The city of Memphis is set to release video of Tyre Nichols' arrest to the public sometime after 7 p.m. ET, officials said. Five former Memphis police officers involved in the arrest have been charged with murder and kidnapping, the Shelby County district attorney announced Thursday.3 hours ago

    It's impossible not to wonder if the cops were white......

    Parent

    Meanwhile the Pelosi video is out (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 27, 2023 at 12:14:41 PM EST
    Yipes. (none / 0) (#6)
    by desertswine on Fri Jan 27, 2023 at 12:25:44 PM EST
    I (none / 0) (#11)
    by FlJoe on Fri Jan 27, 2023 at 04:18:38 PM EST
    find the endless hyping of the release on CNN and MSNBC to be a bit macabre, breathlessly waiting for the premiere of a snuff film. Kinda creepy.

    Parent
    Tackling America's important issues (none / 0) (#8)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 27, 2023 at 02:20:26 PM EST

    House Oversight Chair Promises He'll Investigate DirecTV

    for dropping NEWSMAX

    you really can't make this stuff up.

    I'd rather he investigate (none / 0) (#12)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Jan 27, 2023 at 08:29:00 PM EST
    why Direct TV doesn't provide English captions to Telemundo shows. Telemundo has assured me that their captions are available to Direct TV and contractually, Direct TV should be broadcasting what is delivered to them, which includes the captions.

    Direct TV says the opposite, that it only provides captions when the network it is airing makes them available. Direct TV has no "CC3" for English captions. You can click captions- English but the captions come up in Spanish.

    At least I am working with the Technical Director of the local Telemundo station now and he has assured me they will get to the bottom of this. I get 75 channels with my over the air antenna but Telemundo isn't one of them. And by the TV maps, it should be.

    Parent

    and no streaming service (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by Jeralyn on Fri Jan 27, 2023 at 08:34:39 PM EST
    provides the English captions: Not Roku, Amazon Prime, Apple TV.  Neither does the Telemundo App, the NBC app, the Universo App, etc.

    One bright star: Peacock airs the full show the next day with English captions -- unlike Telemundo's English You Tube channel with only  provides a 15 minute recap.

    Peacock is free (unless like me you want it ad free then it's $7.00 a month, still a bargain, since it includes all NBC stations, including Bravo. Not watching commercials is a huge time-saver.

    Parent

    Subtiltes (none / 0) (#14)
    by BGinCA on Sat Jan 28, 2023 at 12:37:11 AM EST
    I just finished watching La Usurpadora on Amazon Prime with English subtitles. Am I misunderstanding your issue?

    Parent
    I recently got a new tv (none / 0) (#15)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Jan 28, 2023 at 07:40:12 AM EST
    and I think it might take care of your problem.   It has its own captioning so if whatever I'm watching doesn't have subsor make it difficult to turn them on I seem to be able to get the TV to do it.

    I will try with what you mention when I wake up and see if it works.

    Parent

    OK (none / 0) (#16)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Jan 28, 2023 at 07:52:22 AM EST
    I just downloaded the Telemundo app.

    When I click on it the first screen that comes up says -

    This apps language is set to English

    To view this app in Espanol, go to your ROKU system settings, update the language, and return to the app.

    It's a ROKU tv.  That's the brand.

    I will proceed and see how subs work.

    But in my considerable experience with these things DirecTV sucks.  Have you ever tried with a ROKU, FireStick or APPLE plug in device?

    Parent

    Nope (none / 0) (#17)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Jan 28, 2023 at 08:08:04 AM EST
    I have the same problem.  

    I will continue to experiment

    Parent

    Apparently well known problem (none / 0) (#18)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Jan 28, 2023 at 08:32:01 AM EST
    Only solution I found

    The only way to watch Telemundo in English is to stream from their Youtube Channel, where you can watch it with English subtitles. However, there is no way to watch Telemundo with English dubbing



    Parent
    I probably should have read your second comment (none / 0) (#19)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Jan 28, 2023 at 08:39:36 AM EST
    Coffee is working now.

    Parent
    This is very odd (none / 0) (#20)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Jan 28, 2023 at 08:52:06 AM EST
    It's hard to understand why this would be true.  It doesn't seem like a good business plan.  Assuming they want English language viewers.

    Now I will stop leaving comments telling you stuff you already know

    🙄

    Parent

    The Scorpion Unit... (none / 0) (#21)
    by fishcamp on Sat Jan 28, 2023 at 07:14:37 PM EST
    Lordy.

    Reminds me of the Strike Team from The Shield (none / 0) (#23)
    by McBain on Sun Jan 29, 2023 at 09:44:00 AM EST
    Here's a former Memphis cop talking about SCORPION
    The name SCORPION stands for Street Crimes Operation to Restore Peace in Our Neighborhoods. There are more than two dozen officers assigned to SCORPION teams. They  wear black hoodies and tactical black vests with "POLICE" emblazoned across the front and back, and drive dark colored Dodge Chargers marked with a SCORPION seal.

    The crime-suppression teams patrol in groups and at times use justified low-level traffic stops as a way to find violent criminals, drugs or weapons.

    "You have to be a go-getter, for the most part," to join the SCORPION unit, the former officer told CBS News. "You have to be someone who wants to make a difference, who wants to catch the bad guy."


     more...
    The former Memphis officer who spoke with CBS News said with a large number of officers retiring from the department, younger, less experienced members of the department were being tapped for the specialized SCORPION teams. They were not well-trained and not properly managed, he said, describing the training as consisting of three days of PowerPoint presentations, one day of criminal apprehension instruction and one day at the firing range.



    Parent
    RIP Shirley (none / 0) (#26)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 30, 2023 at 06:38:37 PM EST
    Schlemiel! Schlimazel! (5.00 / 2) (#28)
    by desertswine on Tue Jan 31, 2023 at 12:01:37 AM EST
    Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!

    Parent
    ... in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Conversation", which is one of my favorite movies of the '70s. The twist at the end, when Gene Hackman sees Williams in the limousine, was truly jarring. I was so afraid for her character during the entire film, believing her to be the potential victim in a forthcoming murder plot, only to discover that she wasn't the one we should have been worried about.

    Parent
    This is confusing (none / 0) (#31)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 31, 2023 at 06:28:57 PM EST
    will they get it eventually?   What's a "block"?

    Former chief of staff for the secretary of Homeland Security, Miles Taylor, thinks that Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) is heavily involved with the plotting around the Jan. 6 attack. It was reported Tuesday that a "block" was placed on Perry's phone, which was seized by the FBI. The block is temporary until the federal appeals court decides whether the FBI should be able to possess it. A judge already agreed to the warrant for the phone previously.

    link

    I don't think that "block" (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by Peter G on Tue Jan 31, 2023 at 07:15:29 PM EST
    in this context is a legal term. It apparently refers to the provider temporarily disabling a phone remotely, such as when it has been reported stolen. Perhaps a judge ordered that Perry's phone be blocked in that sense while the legality of the phone's seizure (and thus of any search of its contents) is being legally challenged.

    Parent
    I think it's the latter, Peter. (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Feb 01, 2023 at 02:15:29 AM EST
    DOJ seized Rep. Perry's phone, but a federal judge enjoined the FBI from accessing its contents until the appellate court rules on the legality of the seizure, i.e., whether or not Perry enjoys legislative immunity by virtue of his status as a member of Congress. Arguments are scheduled in court for Feb. 23.

    For the country's sake, I certainly hope Perry doesn't succeed. I understand and empathize with Congress's position that its constitutional independence would be compromised if DOJ gains access to Perry's phone. However, Perry is also a likely material witness - if not a potential defendant - in the FBI's criminal probe into the events leading up to and including the Jan. 6 insurrection, and that congressional independence would have been rendered moot had Trump's attempted coup d'état succeeded.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    He (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by FlJoe on Wed Feb 01, 2023 at 08:13:45 AM EST
    will skate, they all will skate. Executive privilege, legislative immunity, tax cheats available to the wealthy all the way down to qualified immunity for the beat cops, man this country is just asking for abuse.

    It turns out or country is largely run on the honor system, with huge amounts of trust given to the rich and powerful, of course the lower you are on the ladder that trust fades away.

    Once people with no honor seize enough power it's easy-peasy to commit crimes and bring on authoritarianism.

    IMO we have passed the tipping point, there seems to be no way to stop these people from doing what they please.

    Parent

    Maybe. (4.50 / 2) (#38)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 01, 2023 at 12:16:36 PM EST
    Maybe.

    But lately I've been thinking about this and it's implications-

    What Does It Mean to Be `Conservative' Today?
    February 1, 2023 at 10:08 am EST By Taegan Goddard 81 Comments

    Charlie Sykes to National Public Radio:

    "It's whoever can play most effectively to the media wing of the Republican Party, who can anger the left, who promises to fight and inflict damage on the left more more aggressively."

    You hear versions of this everywhere.
    This is undeniably true.  But what does it mean?

    What makes them completely abandon even the pretense of trying to pass laws or even discuss policy?

    I think it's the realization that they are done as a governing party.  Or even a political party.  They have turned completely to an approach of insurgent terrorism in the war of ideas.  They are the Vietcong.  They know they can not win a standup war so they attack civilians and destroy infrastructure.  They will do anything to hang on to power but they know demographics is against them.  I think that the tipping point we are at.

    We, me anyway, might not live long enough to see them permanently dumped in the dustbin of history but I think it's coming.  The path will be long and ugly and they will do a lot of damage. Like all terrorists. But unlike the Vietcong they will lose.

    There are still republicans who want to govern.  To the extent they ever did.  But they are not in charge of the party.  And I don't think they ever will be.  

    There will have to be a third party.  Not sure which part will keep the name republican.  But a split seems inevitable.

    Thats my optimism of the day.

    Parent

    Third party (none / 0) (#68)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 03, 2023 at 02:48:23 PM EST

    Trump Reminds Republicans (again) He's Willing to Ditch the GOP

    Trump refused to commit to supporting the 2024 Republican presidential nominee in a conversation with conservative radio host and columnist Hugh Hewitt.

    And he won't necessarily have to go as far as formally launching a third-party bid (though a recent poll from the Bulwark found 28 percent of Republican primary voters would vote for him if he ran as an independent). A defeated Trump could upend the GOP's 2024 nominee simply by forcing the candidate to choose between publicly dissing him and alienating MAGA voters or sucking up to him in a way that would undermine any talk of a fresh start for the party. Anyone who thinks Trump wouldn't put his own pride ahead of the good of the Republican Party hasn't been paying attention.



    Parent
    Please, please. Yes, please (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by Peter G on Fri Feb 03, 2023 at 03:36:07 PM EST
    do this!

    Parent
    As I see it, ... (none / 0) (#70)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Feb 03, 2023 at 03:47:35 PM EST
    ... modern conservatism has become for the most part little more than emotively performative but substantively shallow right-wing remonstrations directed toward an imaginary foe called libtardism.

    I agree with you that short-term, these neo-fascist white nationalists can cause a lot of damage but over the long-term, their movement is doomed to eventual failure. So many of these wingbats have embraced ignorance as a virtue, and reality will eventually bite them in the a$$.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Honestly (none / 0) (#32)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Jan 31, 2023 at 06:48:23 PM EST
    I thought they took it before or right after the 2022 election. So they have had it for a while already. Maybe they haven't been able to get into the phone yet? Don't really know.

    Parent
    They took it (none / 0) (#33)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 31, 2023 at 06:51:46 PM EST
    there has been legal back and forth.  

    But I'm not familiar with block as a legal term and I'm too lazy to Google.

    Parent

    Call the Gazpacho Police! (none / 0) (#48)
    by KeysDan on Thu Feb 02, 2023 at 01:49:08 PM EST
    At a Congressional hearing exchange between Rep M.T. Greene(R.GA) and Mr. Gene Dodaro, Head of the Government Accounting Office, Greene asked about the amount spent on CRT.

    Mr. Dodaro seemed unsure about what was meant by "CRT", so Greene explained: "It's a racist curriculum used to teach children that somehow their white skin is not equal to black skin and other things."

    Mr. Dodaro did not know how much is spent on CRT, but he did know that there are provisions that federal funds are generally supposed to be used for the school.

    "Oh, Mr. Dodaro, Greene replied, "I have to tell you, in Illinois, they got $5.l Billion for an elementary school that used it for equity and diversity."  "So, it is used for other things."

    My Illinois friends (5.00 / 2) (#59)
    by Towanda on Thu Feb 02, 2023 at 06:09:03 PM EST
    on social media are having great fun describing the goodies at the fabled school there that allegedly got $5 billion-plus dollars.

    (Of course, that was the allocation to the entire state. And it was primarily for schools to catch up students after Covid.)

    Parent

    And (none / 0) (#61)
    by FlJoe on Thu Feb 02, 2023 at 07:07:23 PM EST
    remember, somebody had to pay for all that kitty litter... that's the real scandal.

    Parent
    Yes, and Florida High Schools. (none / 0) (#62)
    by KeysDan on Thu Feb 02, 2023 at 09:01:27 PM EST
    May soon need some of those $billions to fund the plan for athletes to provide private information about thier menstrual periods with details such as when they had thier first period and the usual time between periods.

    A third party called Activate, will also keep digital records-- as a non-health organization they may be exempt from HiPPA disclosure prohibitions.  Don't understand the purpose, but sounds just awful.

    Parent

    The purpose is to root out and humiliate (5.00 / 2) (#63)
    by Peter G on Thu Feb 02, 2023 at 09:10:31 PM EST
    trans girls, isn't it?

    Parent
    This is just evil (none / 0) (#66)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 03, 2023 at 02:33:41 PM EST
    no other word for it.
    Trump has the opportunistic survival nature of a cancer cell.

    `At any age': Donald Trump pushes the GOP towards targeting transgender adults

    "President Trump recognizes that the tide may be turning politically on this issue," said Jay W. Richards, a fellow at the Heritage Foundation who researches "gender ideology" and its impact on federal law. "I honestly think that he's trying to get out in front of other likely candidates for the Republican nomination."

    I know it will get votes but I can't believe it will be a winning issue.

    The Republican (none / 0) (#71)
    by KeysDan on Fri Feb 03, 2023 at 03:50:38 PM EST
    primary will be a fight among.fascists. Any and all of them in the race.  Trump, as you observe, is a survivor.  He will not be out-fascisted by any of them.  Rhonda Santis has a head start on the culture war this go- around with words and actions.  Trump is determined to catch-up, which he will do.

    Trump no doubt thinks he can turn-on-dime, if beneficial, in the general election. But, he will not easily be able to put this one back in the bottle.  He will get booed off the stage of MAGAt rallies like he  did when he took credit for the Covid vaccines and tried to encourage vaccination.  And, hopefully, this will hurt him with the other sane voters.

    Parent

    The right-wing will punch themselves out ... (none / 0) (#72)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Feb 03, 2023 at 03:58:24 PM EST
    ... on the issue of transgenderism, for the same reason they eventually did so on the issue of marriage equality and sundry other overstated social pseudo-threats. The public will by and large realize that no such threats actually exist, and they will grow weary of the GOP's hyperbolic and mean-spirited clarion calls.

    Parent
    Those dang libruls... (none / 0) (#67)
    by desertswine on Fri Feb 03, 2023 at 02:34:01 PM EST
    First they were gonna take away our guns. Then they were gonna take away our ammo, then our bibles, then our hambergers, then our pickup trucks.  Now they're going after our gas stoves.

    I (none / 0) (#77)
    by FlJoe on Sat Feb 04, 2023 at 08:58:30 AM EST
    don't get it, a spy balloon makes about as much sense as a carrier pigeon in this day and age.

    Parent
    I agree (none / 0) (#78)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Feb 04, 2023 at 09:19:30 AM EST
    There has just got to me more here.  

    Even if it's just an intentional poke by china.  It's been noted we have used high altitude balloons over china.  

    Nothing is accidental.

    Parent

    A balloon ! (none / 0) (#73)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 03, 2023 at 07:08:03 PM EST
    what the actual fvck?

    The (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by FlJoe on Fri Feb 03, 2023 at 07:12:07 PM EST
    writers are just toying with us at this point.

    Parent
    Orange One is fundraising (none / 0) (#75)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 03, 2023 at 07:26:03 PM EST
    Someone should just grab the string. (none / 0) (#76)
    by desertswine on Fri Feb 03, 2023 at 09:25:24 PM EST
    Lawsuit against Kyle Rittenhouse and police (none / 0) (#79)
    by McBain on Sat Feb 04, 2023 at 10:54:41 AM EST
    to move forward...
    Anthony Huber was killed in Kenosha, Wisconsin, during unrest sparked when police shot a black man in the back.

    The lawsuit claims Rittenhouse, 17 at the time, conspired with officers to cause harm to protesters.


    The only protesters he harmed, I'm aware of, were the ones trying to harm him.  Huber was the one who hit Rittenhouse in the head with a skateboard.  Hopefully, if this goes to trial, it will be televised as it will be interesting to see how Huber's lawyer tried to get around obvious self defense.  As for the police, I'd like to hear what their specific orders were for this protest.  

    This is probably good (none / 0) (#80)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Feb 05, 2023 at 09:10:11 AM EST
    but Trump will use it as a talking point and he will get what he needs from his flock of rubes.

    Koch Network to Move Against Trump
    February 5, 2023 at 7:36 am EST By Taegan Goddard 165 Comments

    "The donor network created by the billionaire industrialist brothers Charles and David Koch is preparing to get involved in the presidential primaries in 2024, with the aim of turning `the page on the past' in a thinly veiled rebuke of former President Donald Trump," the New York Times reports.

    "The network, which consists of an array of political and advocacy groups backed by hundreds of ultrawealthy conservatives, has been among the most influential forces in American politics over the past 15 years, spending nearly $500 million supporting Republican candidates and conservative policies in the 2020 election cycle alone. But it has never before supported candidates in presidential primaries."

    Washington Post: "The return of one of the biggest spenders in American politics to the presidential primary field poses a direct challenge to the former president's comeback bid."

    Wall Street Journal: "Mr. Trump has been critical of the Kochs, branding them globalists and a `total joke,' within a GOP he infused with more populist and isolationist policies."



    I believe the Koch's (none / 0) (#82)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Feb 05, 2023 at 12:59:58 PM EST
    did something similar in 2016. Trump will probably outwit them again because the donors don't seem to be very much in touch with who the GOP voters are these days.

    It looks to be a divided primary again which the GOP failed to learn their lessons and Trump won't need a majority to get the nomination since the powers that be in the GOP decided not to fix their primaries.

    Parent

    Good article in The Atlantic (none / 0) (#84)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Feb 06, 2023 at 08:56:48 AM EST
    about the orange don being an arsonist. He'd rather burn it all down if he can't win. I think the GQP may be screwed in 2024.

    Parent
    It (none / 0) (#83)
    by FlJoe on Sun Feb 05, 2023 at 05:41:27 PM EST
    will be interesting to watch where their money goes.

    If I remember correctly the Kochs were not much into the culture warrior stuff, more the standard anti tax and regulation.

    I am not sure they are comfortable with DeSantis bossing around corporations during and after the pandemic. Trying to strong arm the cruise lines and Disney is not to congruent with their "get the government off our backs" roots.

    By nature they should be going for one of the few "moderates" left, like a Hogan, but who knows.

    Parent

    So (none / 0) (#81)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Feb 05, 2023 at 09:44:42 AM EST
    there's a new Shamalan movie in theaters.  It's called A Knock at the Cabin.
    I try to ration my hate.  I really don't HATE many things or people.  I hate M. Night Shyamalan.

    I suggest skipping this, seeing it for free when it comes to the streamers - it has a great cast as most of his krap does, and reading the book it's based on.  A Cabin at the End of the World.

    This review outlines why it's should be skipped and contains a link to the book.


    Knock at the Cabin' Review - Biblical Tale Elicits Great Performances Within an Anemic Apocalypse

    Spoiler alert:. It's NOT a "biblical tale".  Shama Lama Ding Dong makes it one.

    I've been on a Paul Tremblay tear for a while.  I also just did Disappearance at Devil's Rock and my favorite, A Headfull of Ghosts.  Which is also supposed to be development for a film.  Fortunately not by MNS.

    Hmmmmm (none / 0) (#85)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Feb 06, 2023 at 02:54:01 PM EST

    Judge Says Federal Right to Abortion May Still Exist

    February 6, 2023 at 3:44 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 14 Comments

    "A federal judge in Washington, D.C., suggested Monday that there may be a constitutional right to abortion baked into the 13th Amendment -- an area she said went unexplored by the Supreme Court in its momentous decision last year overturning Roe v. Wade," Politico reports.

    Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly "noted that there is some legal scholarship suggesting that the 13th Amendment -- which was ratified at the end of the Civil War and sought to ban slavery and `involuntary servitude' -- provides just such a right."

    "She is asking the parties in the criminal case, which involves charges of blocking access to abortion clinics, to present arguments by mid-March."



    Did you see (none / 0) (#86)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Feb 06, 2023 at 03:15:15 PM EST
    people are concerned because right after the "Unholy" performance at the GRAMMYs last night there was a Pfizer commercial.

    Clearly linking Covid vaccines to the devil.

    God, I wish I was making that up.

    Grammys performance slammed: `Sponsored by Pfizer'



    I (5.00 / 1) (#87)
    by FlJoe on Mon Feb 06, 2023 at 03:55:58 PM EST
    rather hear this nonsense rather one more fkng word about the balloon.  

    Parent
    The balloon (none / 0) (#88)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Feb 06, 2023 at 05:09:01 PM EST
    is fodder for 12 year olds.

    Parent
    The balloon (none / 0) (#89)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Feb 06, 2023 at 05:09:01 PM EST
    is fodder for 12 year olds.

    Parent
    The (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by FlJoe on Mon Feb 06, 2023 at 05:15:49 PM EST
    press discovers a literal "shiny object" and a black hole of stupid is created.

    Parent
    We had a Chinese spy balloon ... (none / 0) (#93)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 06, 2023 at 08:26:31 PM EST
    ... fly over us in Hawaii back in 2019, and nobody said or did diddly about it. Another crashed in Hawaiian waters four months ago, as reported here on local news. Again, it wasn't a big deal then, so why is it now? Seriously, the instrument platform attached to these balloons is pretty small. What sort of intelligence is such a balloon going to gather that isn't already available on Google Earth Pro?

    Parent
    `...people are concerned..' (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by BGinCA on Mon Feb 06, 2023 at 06:18:14 PM EST
    let me correct that:
    `imbeciles are concerned and con artists are feigning concern'

    Parent
    Pssst! Don't get everyone started ... (none / 0) (#92)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 06, 2023 at 08:13:13 PM EST
    ... on Sam Smith's preferred pronouns, since they like to refer to themself in the third person semi-plural. I mean, I try to be understanding and supportive, and it confuses me. Sometimes, I wonder if Smith is serious, or do they just want to f*ck with us?

    (Sigh!) Where's my bong when I need it?

    Parent

    If it bugs MTG (5.00 / 2) (#94)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Feb 06, 2023 at 08:38:43 PM EST
    I'm all in.

    Parent
    My governor (none / 0) (#97)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Feb 07, 2023 at 12:56:10 PM EST
    is giving the Republican response to the SOTU tonight.

    Remember I told you to watch out for her.  She is dangerous.

    Very curious what she does.

    She is just as gross... (none / 0) (#104)
    by desertswine on Wed Feb 08, 2023 at 11:56:38 PM EST
    as I remembered.

    Parent
    Huckabee Sanders (none / 0) (#105)
    by KeysDan on Thu Feb 09, 2023 at 11:45:49 AM EST
    Was trashed by Bannon, claiming she does not have "the intellectual capacity".  Gee, who to cheer for?

    Parent
    They said that because she did not mention Trump (none / 0) (#106)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 09, 2023 at 03:40:07 PM EST

    Lou Dobbs, the far-right-wing culture warrior and former Fox Business anchor, told former Trump White House chief strategist Steve Bannon that Huckabee Sanders' speech was "unacceptable," and, "an insult to President Trump" for "not mentioning his name," as Media Matters reports.

    "Sarah Huckabee went to Iraq with the President," Dobbs recalled, which the former White House press secretary spent an unusually large portion of her remarks discussing, "and the First Lady in the dark of night, for Christmas, with our troops."

    "To not mention his name, to talk about 'new leadership' - it looked like the Governor's Association had written much of that speech, and aligned themselves with Ron DeSantis," Dobbs lamented, calling it a "lack of respect to POTUS."



    Parent
    Bannon, Dobbs et al (none / 0) (#108)
    by KeysDan on Thu Feb 09, 2023 at 04:47:47 PM EST
    apparently recognize that Republican leaders and donors have decided to go for "new leadership"--I.e.,Rhonda Santis.

    And, it is highly likely that the Media, in largest measure, will join them.   There are already signs that the media is looking favorably on the Florida governor.  Anti-woke, he has a point, maybe we should  just throw the trans kids under the bus--to "compromise " with the fascists.  Sort of the new version of just "economic anxiety"..  These ideas to burn books and jail teachers and gays  are popular so we need to listen to their fascist ideas.

    Parent

    Honestly (none / 0) (#111)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 09, 2023 at 05:41:46 PM EST
    I don't think they care a whit about any of that stuff about books and trans kids.

    I think they have one thought.  Winning.

    Parent

    The money people I mean. (none / 0) (#112)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 09, 2023 at 05:43:50 PM EST
    Obviously some of the rubes care about this stuff.

    The money people just want lower taxes and deregulation.  Every thing else is negotiable

    Parent

    I just put up a new thread for (none / 0) (#100)
    by Jeralyn on Tue Feb 07, 2023 at 06:37:03 PM EST
    the State of the Union.

    Not a bad thing (none / 0) (#107)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 09, 2023 at 03:48:30 PM EST
    At least he is smart enough to worry about history's judgment.

    Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) has turned over hundreds and hundreds of private emails, text messages and diary entries to reporter McKay Coppins for a book coming in October -- including real-time communications among many of the most powerful figures in American politics, Axios has learned.

    Why it matters: This volume of disclosure is unheard of for a major sitting officeholder -- a trove historians dream of but rarely get. The emails and journal pages span Romney's 2012 campaign as the Republican presidential nominee.

    "Romney: A Reckoning," to be published Oct. 24, "offers Romney's lively and at times devastating take on nearly every major political figure of the last 25 years," a publishing source tells me.

    The book "will also show Romney himself reckoning with what he considers his party's slide toward authoritarianism and what role he may have played in empowering the extreme forces within the GOP."

    link

    Per (none / 0) (#110)
    by FlJoe on Thu Feb 09, 2023 at 05:24:17 PM EST
    CNN, Mike Pence subpoenaed by Jack Smith.

    I hate these flashes of optimism.

    national security advisor (none / 0) (#114)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Feb 10, 2023 at 11:33:42 AM EST
    O'Brien also.

    Parent
    The right thing for the wrong reasons (none / 0) (#115)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 10, 2023 at 04:44:47 PM EST
    is still the right thing. Right?

    Pro-Life Conservatives Embrace a New Kind of Welfare

    February 10, 2023 at 5:00 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 124 Comments

    New York Times: "A key priority for this new network of conservative thinkers is for the federal government to send parents cash monthly for each child, a sea change from decades of Republican thinking on family policy."

    "They hope the cash could encourage people to have more children, and allow more parents to stay home full- or part-time when their children are young



    I wish I could set the DVR (none / 0) (#117)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Feb 11, 2023 at 10:16:46 AM EST
    just for the halftime show

    really dumb movie really talented girl

    Republicans (none / 0) (#119)
    by FlJoe on Sat Feb 11, 2023 at 02:43:22 PM EST
    are always finding new ways to fk up
    Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and his aides are facing major blowback after the controversial lawmaker invited a constituent who is facing murder charges in the state of Michigan to lead the Pledge of Allegiance at the opening of a GOP-led House Judiciary Committee hearing.


    Starting to feel like (none / 0) (#120)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Feb 11, 2023 at 05:20:41 PM EST
    the opening scenes of a disaster movie.

    `Unidentified Object' Shot Down Over Canada
    February 11, 2023 at 5:59 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 16 Comments

    "An American fighter jet, acting on the orders of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, shot down another unidentified flying object on Saturday, Canadian and American officials said, in the latest twist of the ongoing drama playing out over the skies of North America," the New York Times reports.

    9As with the object that President Biden ordered shot down on Friday, officials said they had yet to determine just what was struck with a missile over the Yukon Territory."



    Maybe it was benificent aliens.. (5.00 / 1) (#121)
    by desertswine on Sat Feb 11, 2023 at 06:12:19 PM EST
    with the secret plan for world peace.

    Parent
    Aliens accidentally teleported here (none / 0) (#122)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Feb 11, 2023 at 06:41:31 PM EST
    from a preindustrial civilization.

    Parent
    Another (none / 0) (#123)
    by FlJoe on Sun Feb 12, 2023 at 04:49:20 PM EST
    one today, they keep saying "object" that bothers me.
    I presume they have some high quality photos, fk that classified sht, show us now.

     

    Parent

    I thought preggers Rihanna's halftime show (none / 0) (#124)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Feb 13, 2023 at 05:39:52 PM EST
    was fun.  It seems conceived to trigger all the right people.  And TFG was triggered.

    I guess when you have you head (none / 0) (#125)
    by Chuck0 on Wed Feb 15, 2023 at 10:56:30 AM EST
    so far up your rear, you can't see what is happening around you. See Haley, Nikki. On TV now.

    She is delusional if she thinks the People's Republic of China will end up on the ash heap of history. Not of a defender of China. But that is one country that, to a degree, has its $hit together. They know how to get things done. They build. They plan.

    EXACTLY (none / 0) (#127)
    by jmacWA on Wed Feb 15, 2023 at 03:14:04 PM EST
    When they say they are playing the long game they are talking 100s of years out, not trying to forecast the next couple of years.

    Parent
    Ohio man receives $1.3 million for his (none / 0) (#126)
    by McBain on Wed Feb 15, 2023 at 01:00:49 PM EST
     wrongful conviction.
    "He was sentenced to 67 years in prison for a crime that was not even committed by anyone," said Landusky. "When first responders showed up, there were no footprints in the snow. It had recently snowed. There was a dog barking right next door when they pulled up, the neighbors said no dog had barked in the last hour. There were no tire tracks, so it made sense to the investigating officers that this didn't even happen. When they went in and checked the house out, they wrote in their report that it was too selective for them."

    Ralph Blaine Smith served 21 years.  Interesting how some people get money for wrongful convictions while others don't.  


    Exonerees and others wrongfully convicted (5.00 / 2) (#129)
    by Peter G on Thu Feb 16, 2023 at 09:59:57 AM EST
    get compensated in one of two ways. First, somewhat more than half the states have what you might call "no-fault" compensation laws: If your conviction or sentence is overturned (perhaps under certain conditions or with certain limitations, depending on the state), you get X dollars per year of wrongful incarceration (the amount varies widely by state). Other states have no such law. (For example, PA does not. So neither of my exonerees -- one from death row, the other from life imprisonment -- each of whom served over 20 years despite being innocent, got nothing from the state upon release.) If there is no such law, then the exoneree can get money only by bringing a civil rights lawsuit, which typically depends, per S.Ct. decisions, on showing the intentional violation of a clearly established constitutional right. It's a high burden, and not everyone whose conviction was invalidated can show that. Some wrongful convictions are just good faith mistakes, or the result of negligence not intentional wrongdoing; others result from advances in forensic science, where you may not be able to blame anyone for relying on then-prevalent "scientific" beliefs that are now shown to be wrong.

    Parent
    Godless on Netflix (none / 0) (#128)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 15, 2023 at 07:58:57 PM EST
    Open-window syndrome... (none / 0) (#130)
    by desertswine on Thu Feb 16, 2023 at 02:28:38 PM EST
    The body of 58-year-old Marina Yankina, who headed the Financial Support Department of the Russian Defense Ministry in St. Petersburg's Western Military District, was found on Wednesday morning, Fontanka reported.

    She "fell" sixteen stories.

    Natural cause: (none / 0) (#131)
    by KeysDan on Thu Feb 16, 2023 at 04:26:29 PM EST
    gravity.  These things happen.

    Parent
    Somewhere there is a window (none / 0) (#132)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 16, 2023 at 04:28:12 PM EST
    with Putin's name on it.

    Parent
    I always thought (none / 0) (#133)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Feb 18, 2023 at 10:45:08 AM EST
    Don Lemon was a pud

    Me too. (none / 0) (#134)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Feb 18, 2023 at 11:25:30 AM EST
    Me too too. (none / 0) (#135)
    by desertswine on Sat Feb 18, 2023 at 01:34:19 PM EST
    Also his pal Cuomo. (none / 0) (#136)
    by desertswine on Sat Feb 18, 2023 at 01:35:00 PM EST
    Who the H*ll Needs Grand Juries (none / 0) (#137)
    by RickyJim on Tue Feb 21, 2023 at 10:03:32 PM EST
    As I have continually mentioned, professional (non political) judges would do a better job.  This lady doesn't refute my beliefs.

    Not sure (5.00 / 1) (#138)
    by BGinCA on Tue Feb 21, 2023 at 11:01:36 PM EST
    what you object to. She is young and nervous about appearing on TV, but I believe she makes several salient points about selecting 16 random people to find facts, rather than some political hacks.

    Parent
    I Didn't Hear Any Such Salient Points (none / 0) (#139)
    by RickyJim on Wed Feb 22, 2023 at 08:23:47 AM EST
    The released portion of the report itself says that no lawyers or election law experts were on the panel.  They didn't "find facts".  They just listened to what investigators found.  That is goodness??  What did she hope to accomplish by appearing on TV and offering little hints about was was in the rest of the report, a book deal?  Any by the way, for 100 years, no other countries besides the US have had Grand Juries.

    The absurdity that in neighboring states there are vastly different criteria for bringing an indictment rankles me.  Does another Grand Jury have to conduct another investigation in order to actually bring an indictment in Georgia? I remember the outrageous and highly political indictment of George Zimmerman for killing Trayvon Martin in Florida.  Then all that was needed was a two sentence claim that the prosecutor thought there was probable cause that murder was committed  and the judge signed the indictment - not even a single hearing to examine evidence for self-defense, claims which eventually lead to acquittal.

    Parent

    No, there won't be ... (none / 0) (#143)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Feb 22, 2023 at 12:50:06 PM EST
    ... another grand jury investigation. Georgis has a two-fold process - why it's a two-fold process, I don't exactly know, but it is what it is and so we have to work with it.

    We've already seen the first part conclude. Now, armed in part with the first grand jury's findings of fact and recommendations, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis will make her charging decisions and then present them to the second grand jury for the formal issuance of criminal indictments.

    I disagree with your idea of leaving such charging decisions entirely to the judgment of legal professionals rather than grand juries composed of citizens. A number of jurisdictions already do allow for that to happen in select circumstances and at the prosecutor's discretion. Here in Hawaii, the process that allows a prosecutor to bypass a grand jury is called indictment by information.

    And at present, former Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Keith Kaneshiro and four other individuals are under federal indictment for public corruption, because Kaneshiro allegedly accepted $45,000 in bribes - excuse me, I mean, "campaign contributions" - from a very prominent local businessman in exchange for the indictment by information of a former associate who had since left his firm.

    I provided a link above to the story, so I won't recount it here. Suffice to say that unlike the unfortunate Laurel Mau, the former associate in the also-indicted Dennis Mitsunaga's firm who was falsely charged with felony theft thanks to then-Prosecutor Kaneshiro's alleged machinations, Mr. Kaneshiro and his four fellow defendants were actually indicted by a federal grand jury.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    From the Article You Linked (none / 0) (#144)
    by RickyJim on Wed Feb 22, 2023 at 02:42:51 PM EST
    Filing an information is a way for prosecutors to charge cases without going through a grand jury or a judge at a preliminary hearing. In Delaplane's case, the judge rejected it because it lacked an affidavit from law enforcement.
    The preliminary hearing, with a judge hearing both sides as to why the case should or should not go forward, should be the only way to get an indictment. Grand Juries usually listen to only one side.

    Parent
    So (none / 0) (#146)
    by FlJoe on Wed Feb 22, 2023 at 04:00:07 PM EST
    with a judge hearing both sides
    sounds like "first the trial then the arrest"

    Repeat after me, probable cause, probable cause, probable cause. That is between the judge, the GJ (optional?) and the prosecution as it should be.

    Parent

    Wikipedia Has Corrected Me (none / 0) (#151)
    by RickyJim on Thu Feb 23, 2023 at 10:44:32 AM EST
    The last sentence in the first paragraph should have been: And by the way, for the past 90 years, no country besides the US and Liberia has used Grand Juries. Ah, the wisdom of American exceptionalism.

    Parent
    How can you be sure (5.00 / 2) (#147)
    by MO Blue on Wed Feb 22, 2023 at 09:42:48 PM EST
    that the judges are non political. The Supreme Court has IMO proven that it has political judges making decisions. Several of the decisions made by Trump appointees have been based more on political beliefs rather than existing laws.

    Parent
    When Judges and Prosecutors are Civil Service Jobs (none / 0) (#150)
    by RickyJim on Thu Feb 23, 2023 at 10:18:50 AM EST
    Here in (none / 0) (#141)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Feb 22, 2023 at 10:24:39 AM EST
    GA the news is that there will be indictments and Trump will be one of them. I guess I shouldn't say "news" but word on the street. I hope it comes to pass. It seems like forever since the 1st grand jury finished. The second that can issue indictments has been going for quite a while now.

    I hope they are taking steps (none / 0) (#142)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 22, 2023 at 11:56:32 AM EST
    to increase security.  I hope there is funding for that.  Because once she does this hang on.
    The life of everyone associated with this will change forever.

    That's like the event horizon.  Where no one has gone before.

    Parent

    I am (none / 0) (#145)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Feb 22, 2023 at 03:28:08 PM EST
    sure they are since we all saw how they turned the lives of people who were doing their jobs counting votes.

    Parent
    With subpoenas for (5.00 / 1) (#148)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 23, 2023 at 07:59:08 AM EST
    Javanka and Pence it sure feels like the end game is coming.

    I think they have all dithered as long as they can.  

    Parent

    I agree (none / 0) (#149)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Feb 23, 2023 at 09:02:45 AM EST
    Jack Smith seems to be moving forward at an elevated pace. I read he wants all the indictments etc. on the books by this summer.

    Parent
    Criminal indictments by summertime. (none / 0) (#189)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Mar 01, 2023 at 07:10:35 PM EST
    That sounds absolutely divine.

    Parent
    Interesting watching this Murdaugh guy (none / 0) (#152)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 23, 2023 at 12:20:52 PM EST
    testify in his own defense.

    I have to say as a totally impartial judge, I know nothing about the evidence against him, he seems like a pretty good witness.

    I would not buy a used car from him but I see why he wanted to do this.  He's pretty good at it.

    Ha (none / 0) (#153)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 23, 2023 at 07:03:16 PM EST
    Why this guy thought that it would be... (none / 0) (#154)
    by desertswine on Fri Feb 24, 2023 at 11:33:00 AM EST
    a good idea to testify for himself is beyond me.  He's not coming off as a nice person, to say the least, more like a drug-addled con-man.

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#155)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 24, 2023 at 11:52:40 AM EST
    I thought about amending that after watching for a while.

    Used car salesman.  Sometime he reminded me of the W.H.Macy character in Fargo.

    Parent

    I see it, now that you mention it. (none / 0) (#156)
    by desertswine on Fri Feb 24, 2023 at 11:21:43 PM EST
    Ha (none / 0) (#157)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Feb 25, 2023 at 02:12:16 PM EST
    Seems kind of in yer face (none / 0) (#158)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Feb 25, 2023 at 02:29:28 PM EST

    Longtime Trump Backers Flock to DeSantis Event
    February 25, 2023 at 1:32 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 163 Comments

    "The group of Ron DeSantis' top donors and supporters gathering in Palm Beach, Fla., this weekend includes some longtime backers of former President Donald Trump," Politico reports.

    "The Florida governor's three-day retreat at the Four Seasons hotel -- just four miles down the road from Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate -- kicked off Friday evening with a cocktail reception and dinner for the approximately 150 attendees. The event, billed as a celebration of the "Florida blueprint," precedes a likely DeSantis presidential bid that would pit him against Trump. And the roster of people there shows that the governor is appealing to major GOP figures who've previously aligned themselves with the former president."



    The Four Seasons (none / 0) (#183)
    by Jack E Lope on Tue Feb 28, 2023 at 05:57:44 PM EST
    ...the hotel...he's taunting Rudy, isn't he?

    Parent
    AXIOS (none / 0) (#162)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Feb 26, 2023 at 07:48:34 AM EST

    A judge ordered Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) to turn over more than 2,000 phone records after ruling that they are not shielded under the Constitution, according to newly unsealed court documents

    link

    I read (none / 0) (#165)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Feb 26, 2023 at 09:10:51 AM EST
    he appealed?

    Parent
    The new story is a little mixed up. What happened (5.00 / 1) (#168)
    by Peter G on Sun Feb 26, 2023 at 05:03:18 PM EST
    is that the D.C. district court (Judge Beryl Howell) ruled against Perry a couple of months ago, but the decisions were under seal because they reveal details of the DoJ's Jan6 criminal investigation and grand jury proceedings. Perry appealed to the D.C. Circuit (intermediate appellate court just below the Supreme Court). The case -- which concerns which if any of Perry's texts and emails were in furtherance of federal legislative matters (and thus subject to Speech or Debate Clause privilege), and which were simply in aid of the Tr*mp campaign's election-denial fundraising activities or of the Pennsylvania Legislature Republican Caucus's political grandstanding -- was argued on appeal last week.  The appellate court authorized release of the some or all of Judge Howell's opinions (perhaps somewhat redacted) but has not yet ruled on the appeal. Seems very likely to me the appeals court will uphold her ruling, however. Perry could then appeal to the Supremes, but I doubt very much they would take the case, which strikes me as rather "fact-specific"; I don't see that it raises any novel or important legal issues about scope of "Speech or Debate," which would be more the Supreme Court's bailiwick.

    Parent
    I should add that the "Speech or Debate" (5.00 / 1) (#170)
    by Peter G on Sun Feb 26, 2023 at 09:15:45 PM EST
    argument faces a second hurdle:  Even if Perry's communications with the White House and the PA state legislators were (as he claims) somehow all in aid of informing his anticipated Congressional vote on whether to certify the States' Electoral College ballots, the Supreme Court explained in the Gravel case (1972, concerning the investigation of a U.S. Senator who received and released a purloined copy of the "Pentagon Papers"), "While the Speech or Debate Clause recognizes speech, voting and other legislative acts as exempt from liability that might otherwise attach, it does not privilege either Senator or aide to violate an otherwise valid criminal law in preparing for or implementing legislative acts." Examples of "otherwise valid criminal law[s]," presumably, would include aiding and abetting an insurrection (or participating in a seditious conspiracy) or conspiracy to defraud the United States (by the knowing presentation of false electoral results).

    Parent
    Please let there (none / 0) (#173)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Feb 27, 2023 at 10:37:31 AM EST
    be something in there that hangs Perry. I need a new hobby. I can't keep inventing new insults to send to Scott Perry's House email account every day. It's exhausting.

    Parent
    That was the appeals court I think (none / 0) (#166)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Feb 26, 2023 at 10:05:56 AM EST
    But there are others courts I guess.  They are going to succeed in delaying this so it's unfolding just in time for the 24 election season.

    The judicial panel  appeared skeptical and pushed Rowley on whether communications between a member of Congress and someone outside of the legislative branch were privileged.

    Katsas called Rowley's legal argument "odd," saying that it would mean "the communication can be to anyone in the universe."

    Raising numerous hypothetical situations like one in which a member of Congress was accused of taking a bribe, Katsas and Rao tried to parse why a private conversation between a representative and someone outside of Congress would be shielded from executive branch investigation.



    Parent
    Okay. (none / 0) (#167)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Feb 26, 2023 at 11:47:06 AM EST
    I guess he will appeal to the supreme court but since they didn't take Lindsay's case I would think they wouldn't take this one. You are right though. This whole case is going to be playing out all over the 2024 GOP primary and the presidential election.

    Parent
    Sounds like he might have heard (none / 0) (#169)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Feb 26, 2023 at 05:27:42 PM EST
    they are coming.
    Next week would be a great mood lifter in the middle of their weird winter.

    Trump Lawyers Say Georgia Probe Has Been Compromised
    February 26, 2023 at 3:44 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 96 Comments

    Defense attorneys for Donald Trump told CBS News that they have "lost 100% confidence" in the Georgia investigation into efforts by Trump to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

    The lawyers added that if the former president were indicted, "we will absolutely fight anything tooth and nail."



    Trump's defense (5.00 / 2) (#174)
    by KeysDan on Mon Feb 27, 2023 at 11:29:56 AM EST
    will employ anything and everything that has some chance of prevailing.  The public interviews of  Emily Khors, the special grand jury foreperson, will surely be among them.

    However, as Judge.McBurney, who oversaw the special purpose grand jury, explained to jurors and to the public, Georgia grand juries are different from most other grand juries in that it is legal for jurors to discuss thier work, save for its deliberations.  

    The judge clarified that deliberations are when the jurors are alone in a room. When others, such as witnesses or assistant district attorneys,  are in the room with the jurors that is presentation, not deliberation.

    In more specific terms, the judge seemed to defend the foreperson, suggesting that her  remarks were within prescribed bounds, and could have gone farther and remained within them.  The interviews of Ms. Kohl's often came across as coyness and, occasionally, giddiness, but were likely inexperienced efforts to be cautious and balanced in keeping with the judge's instructions.

    No doubt District Attorney Willis would have preferred that the
    foreperson be more prudent, if not silent, but her actions were not unlawful.  Indeed, they were consistent with the transparency intended by the Georgia law.

    TFG's likely indictment will be by the Fulton County, GA District Attorney and his defense attorneys will have to face the facts of the Georgia law and the legitimate actions of the foreperson.  

    Moreover, the Special Purpose Grand Jury is investigative and does not have indictment capabilities.  It would seem a heavy lift for a defense of a tainted indictment by a grand jury that did not and could not indict.

    Parent

    Yeah (none / 0) (#172)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Feb 27, 2023 at 08:46:12 AM EST
    Fani is going to indict Trump it seems along with who else we don't know yet. I hope it is soon.

    I don't see how Trump's lawyers have much of a case but I'm sure it will be another opportunity to grift.

    Parent

    The loonies are going to love this (none / 0) (#175)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Feb 27, 2023 at 12:00:21 PM EST
    And I bet (none / 0) (#179)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Feb 27, 2023 at 06:03:45 PM EST
    they don't understand that that makes Trump look even worse for calling it a "hoax".

    Parent
    Is this even legal? (none / 0) (#181)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Feb 28, 2023 at 12:46:48 PM EST

    House GOP Moving to Expand Access to January 6 Video
    February 28, 2023 at 1:06 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 53 Comments

    "House Republicans are moving to provide defendants in Jan. 6-related cases access to thousands of hours of internal Capitol security footage, a move that could influence many of the ongoing prosecutions stemming from 2021's violent attack," Politico reports.



    Yes, it would be legal, but (none / 0) (#182)
    by Peter G on Tue Feb 28, 2023 at 01:55:40 PM EST
    like most of the "ideas" of the radical reactionary wing of the House Republicans, it will not pass the Senate or obtain the Presidential signature needed to become law.

    Parent
    So (none / 0) (#184)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Mar 01, 2023 at 03:57:45 PM EST
    proving defamation is really hard. I got that.  

    But it sure seems like Dominion has the goods on FOX.

    Does it not?

    Parent

    Yes, it certainly seems like (5.00 / 2) (#185)
    by Peter G on Wed Mar 01, 2023 at 04:34:43 PM EST
    they do.

    Parent
    I (none / 0) (#186)
    by FlJoe on Wed Mar 01, 2023 at 06:45:42 PM EST
    don't think this action requires legislation, my understanding that the recordings are "property" of the House. I don't even know if it requires a vote at all, I don't recall that the gift to Tucker came up to a vote.

    Parent
    I just hope this whole thing (none / 0) (#191)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Mar 01, 2023 at 07:17:27 PM EST
    about giving the rioters access to "all" the video looks as bad to others as it does to me.

    It just looks so bad.  But the scariest part is they seem to have dropped all pretense.  There is no bottom no shame. They are being very blunt about the country they want.

    I guess people will accept it or not.  Never had much faith in people.

    Parent

    I saw someone criticizing FOX (none / 0) (#192)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Mar 01, 2023 at 07:36:25 PM EST
    for, while all this is going on, having MTG on today pushing her National Divorce.

    AKA the dissolution of the union.

    The crazy part is NOW she actually is news because Kev elevated her.  She is actually a driving voice in the party.  She is legitimate news.

    Parent

    There (none / 0) (#197)
    by FlJoe on Thu Mar 02, 2023 at 05:16:17 AM EST
    is no bottom, shamelessness is their super power.

    Parent
    George Conway Says Nothing of Value (none / 0) (#199)
    by RickyJim on Thu Mar 02, 2023 at 12:48:18 PM EST
    I think that's true (none / 0) (#200)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Mar 02, 2023 at 02:33:59 PM EST
    Plus keeping the talk of J6 going is probably a bad idea for them in general.

    Parent
    Agreed (none / 0) (#201)
    by KeysDan on Thu Mar 02, 2023 at 03:31:28 PM EST
    The release of the videos is less a concern than to whom it was  released.  Also, George seemed atypically tongue-tied in that Anderson Cooper clip.

    Parent
    Jan. 6 judge bemused (none / 0) (#203)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Mar 03, 2023 at 03:22:52 PM EST

    by Kevin McCarthy handing riot video to Fox News


    The tapes involve relevant information to the case U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras is hearing regarding defendant William Pope of Topeka, Contreras noted Friday via a video conference in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, The Kansas City Star reported.

    "I'd like to hear more from the government on what I'm reading in the papers about production of the CCTV [closed circuit television] video to Tucker Carlson and, after a point of exclusivity, to other news outlets," Contreras said, the Star reported.

    "I don't know what `case-by-case basis' means and why the [House] speaker gets to choose which defendants get to see what," Contreras said. "I know that the Capitol Police is not the speaker's office. But it seems from what I'm reading in the papers that the Capitol Police has been involved in those discussions."

    The judge demanded a sworn declaration from the Capitol Police within two weeks "as to ... whether there's been any restrictions whatsoever as to what the press can do with those CCTV videos once they receive them," the Star reported.

    "From what I read, [Fox News'] Tucker Carlson seems to think he has unfettered discretion what he can do with those videos ...This circuit has said you have to guard privileges like crown jewels. If the press is given unfettered access to these videos, they don't seem to be treating these things like crown jewels," Contreras declared.



    Parent