Weekend Open Thread
[guest post by Dana]
Let’s go!
First news item
Top priority of *Republicans Trump is to pay his legal bills:
AP) — Donald Trump’s new joint fundraising agreement with the Republican National Committee directs donations to his campaign and a political action committee that pays the former president’s legal bills before the RNC gets a cut, according to a fundraising invitation obtained by The Associated Press.
The unorthodox diversion of funds to the Save America PAC makes it more likely that Republican donors could see their money go to Trump’s lawyers, who have received at least $76 million over the last two years to defend him against four felony indictments and multiple civil cases. Some Republicans are already troubled that Trump’s takeover of the RNC could shortchange the cash-strapped party.
Next month will see the big league donors at Mar a Lago:
Trump has invited high-dollar donors to Palm Beach, Florida, for an April 6 fundraiser that comes as his fundraising is well behind President Joe Biden and national Democrats. The invitation’s fine print says donations to the Trump 47 Committee will first be used to give the maximum amount allowed under federal law to Trump’s campaign. Anything left over from the donation next goes toward a maximum contribution to Save America, and then anything left from there goes to the RNC and then to state political parties.
*time will tell if paying Trump’s legal bills is a priority for donors.
President Biden took a jab at the cash strapped former president:
Speaking at a campaign fundraiser in Dallas, Texas, Biden joked that a man had come up to him to discuss his heavy debts.
He said: “Just the other day this defeated looking man came up to me and said: ‘Mr. President I need your help. I’m in crushing debt. I’m completely wiped out.'”
Biden said he then responded: “Donald, I’m sorry. I can’t help you.”
Heh.
Second news item
A shocking number of American kids are sad, suicidal and stuck on small screens sucking away their zest for life…
The pandemic is often cited as a driver of the teen mental health crisis, but it was brewing long before then. A growing body of research links the acceleration of the crisis to one of this century’s biggest events: the arrival of the smartphone.
“Smartphones and social media fundamentally changed the way teens spend their time outside of school,” says Jean Twenge, a psychologist and author of the book “Generations.”
“You take a generation of young people, they’re spending a lot more times in their rooms, alone, not sleeping, not hanging out with their friends in person. That’s a pretty bad formula for mental health.”
Related: What we gained (and lost) when our daughter unplugged for a school year.
Third news item
Secty of State Antony Blinken on Israel:
“Our position, which is very clear, is that a major military operation in Rafah would be a mistake, something we don’t support,” Blinken reiterated at a press conference Thursday. “There is no place for the many civilians who are massed … in Rafah … to go to get out of harm’s way. And for those that would inevitably remain, it would be a humanitarian disaster.”
All of these diplomatic efforts are set against the backdrop of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where “100% of the population … is experiencing severe levels of acute food insecurity,” Blinken said.
The top US diplomat is again expected to press Israel on the urgent need for more humanitarian assistance to reach people in the war-torn strip.
“Israel needs to do more,” he said Thursday.
“We’ve seen some improvement over the last couple of weeks in getting humanitarian assistance to Palestinians, but it’s not enough,” Blinken noted.
In an interview Wednesday, Blinken called on Israel “to open up more access points to Gaza” as administration officials and international aid workers repeatedly stress the need for a “flood” of aid.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responds after meeting with Blinken:
“I told him that I greatly appreciate the fact that for more than five months we have been standing together in the war against Hamas.
I also told him that we recognize the need to evacuate the civilian population from the combat zones and – of course – also see to the humanitarian needs, and we are working to this end.
I also said that we have no way to defeat Hamas without entering Rafah and eliminating the remnant of the battalions there.
I told him that I hope we would do this with US support but if necessary – we will do it alone.”
Fourth news item
Because he “surrendered in negotiations” to Chuck Schumer:
Marjorie Taylor Greene has officially filed a motion to vacate House Speaker Mike Johnson over her concerns about an omnibus spending bill that is expected to fund the federal government for the remainder of the year. Greene’s decision to file the motion will now force the full House of Representatives to vote whether to remove Mike Johnson from the Speakership within two business days.
Fifth news item
Russia has added what it calls the “LGBT movement” to a list of extremist and terrorist organizations, state media said on Friday.
The move was in line with a ruling by Russia’s Supreme Court last November that LGBTQ activists should be designated as extremists, a move that representatives of gay and transgender people said they feared would lead to arrests and prosecutions. . .
The list is maintained by an agency called Rosfinmonitoring that has powers to freeze the bank accounts of the more than 14,000 people and entities designated as extremists and terrorists. They range from Al Qaeda to U.S. tech giant Meta and associates of late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Sixth news item
Former President Donald Trump could soon receive a windfall valued as much as $3.5 billion, with shareholders of a publicly traded funding partner on Friday approving a merger with his Trump Media & Technology Group.
The approval occurred Friday morning, according to a livestream of the shareholder vote. Shares of Digital World Acquisition Corp., a so-called “blank check” company that will now merge with Trump’s media group, jumped 5.5% in morning trading.
Have a great weekend.
—Dana
Hello.
Dana (d65f9f) — 3/22/2024 @ 9:08 amYou forgot to quote the punchline of Biden’s joke in item 1, Dana.
BuDuh (4214e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 9:55 amhttps://www.foxnews.com/us/squatters-booted-immediately-bill-lawmakers-state-unanimously-passed
Leadership
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/22/2024 @ 10:13 amhttps://nypost.com/2024/03/21/us-news/migrants-break-barriers-and-rush-border-guards-in-el-paso/
The most important issue facing America, period.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/22/2024 @ 10:15 amThe problem with the “Truth Social” windfall:
Let’s say there’s a stock with 100 million shares. One person owns 60%, other insiders own 39%, and the public owns 1% (or 1 million shares).
The public bids up that 1% to $60/share. That makes the market cap $6 billion. B6t for the insides who own 99 million shares to realize their $5.94 billion, they have to find an AWFUL lot of people to pay them $60/share. They might not.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 10:19 am* But for the insiders…
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 10:20 am“Just the other day this defeated looking man came up to me and said: ‘Mr. President I need your help. I’m in crushing debt. I’m completely wiped out.’”
Creepy that Biden can joke about his own son.
lloyd (2d4d2c) — 3/22/2024 @ 10:27 amTouche, lloyd
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 10:35 amThx, BuDuh, fixed.
Dana (98f435) — 3/22/2024 @ 10:52 amToday is Ken Buck’s (R-Col) last day in the House.
And today, Mike Gallagher (R-Wis) announced he is also leaving early (no date given). That’ll leave the house at 217-213.
Sam G (74da99) — 3/22/2024 @ 11:07 amThey might not.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 10:19 am
Now I’m not saying that Truth social resembles, in any way, Gamestop (GME) -but shortsellers were the ones who paid the the high price after the street pushed it to through the roof. Didn’t someone make a movie about it?
felipe (5e2a04) — 3/22/2024 @ 11:26 amFourth News Item:
Apparently MTG’s motion to vacate was not filed as a privileged motion, so it can be referred to a committee and die.
But she has a point. The $1.2T funding bill passed with a minority of Republican votes-101 to 112, a clear violation (like most legislation passing the House these days) of the Hastert Rule.
Rip Murdock (b7c7da) — 3/22/2024 @ 11:58 amIt shouldn’t have been a surprise.
Rip Murdock (b7c7da) — 3/22/2024 @ 12:01 pmMore from the Queen of the House:
Rip Murdock (b7c7da) — 3/22/2024 @ 12:08 pmAlso the vote was held less than 36 hours after the funding bill was introduced, another Hastert Rule violation.
Rip Murdock (b7c7da) — 3/22/2024 @ 12:11 pmSixth news item:
Rip Murdock (b7c7da) — 3/22/2024 @ 12:27 pmI wonder if Marge timed her motion to vacate with Ken Buck’s departure.
While it was dumb and counterproductive for the Dems to vote to remove McCarthy, it may work to the Dems’ advantage to vote against MAGA Mike, but only if they can persuade four or five pissed off Republicans to vote for Jeffries.
Paul Montagu (d4d407) — 3/22/2024 @ 12:40 pmYass gets Trump’s protection regarding TikTok, and Trump gets a financial windfall from Yass. Classic transactional Trump.
And as always, for Trump, it’s him above country, even when it comes to preserving a CCP-controlled company that has the personal data of tens of millions of Americans.
Paul Montagu (d4d407) — 3/22/2024 @ 12:45 pm@12:
Sam G (74da99) — 3/22/2024 @ 12:53 pm@17 I think Dems are offering to trade supporting Johnson if he brings bipartisan aid bills to the floor. If he doesn’t want to play ball, then so be it – time for more GOP clown show to be broadcast to the public.
Sam G (74da99) — 3/22/2024 @ 12:54 pmThe Biden joke is a Colbert-type “joke” designed to make reason backward from the joke to the factoids behind it that would make it into a joke. (Trump is supposedly so cash strapped, that he…)
He’s not so cash strapped. And he never intended to ay his legal bills himself.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/22/2024 @ 1:16 pmWe’ll see if the Republican conference enforces it.
Rip Murdock (b7c7da) — 3/22/2024 @ 1:27 pm…………
Video footage from the site of the attack, the Crocus City Hall concert venue, shows the vast complex, which is home to both the music hall and a shopping center, on fire with smoke billowing into the air. RIA Novosti reported the armed individuals “opened fire with automatic weapons” and “threw a grenade or an incendiary bomb, which started a fire.”
State media Russia 24 reported the roof on the venue has partially collapsed.
The attack unfolded before the music group Picnic was set to preform (sic), according to Russia 24. The band’s manager told state media that the performers were unharmed.
…………
Video footage showed panic as the attack unfolded, with crowds of people huddling together, screaming and ducking behind cushioned seats as gunshots started echoing in the vast hall.
Footage geolocated by CNN shows an armed individual starting at least one fire inside the venue. The individual is seen carrying something in their hand and, as they walk off-screen, a bright flash of light from a large flame is seen in the video.
…………..
Ukraine blamed in 3, 2, 1……
Rip Murdock (b7c7da) — 3/22/2024 @ 1:35 pmLooks like Mike Gallagher timed his leaving Congress to inflict maximum pain on MAGA/GOP. He will leave on April 19: this means that rather than hold a special election they will instead have to wait for the partisan primaries and general election in November. The seat will remain vacant until then.
Sam G (74da99) — 3/22/2024 @ 1:37 pmPost 23 should have been block quoted except for italicized comment.
Rip Murdock (b7c7da) — 3/22/2024 @ 1:37 pm4 NJRob: The border, deficits, crime, and a declining military can wait. Issues like that might provoke thoughts about who will deal with them, and do you support that person, etc. Instead, relish the slapping of a national Mean Tweet candidate being litigated into the ground by 4 different DA/prosecutors, with a half-billion dollar verdict for repaying a loan on time. That’ll help. And no heavy worries about it setting a precedent either. And debate fine points of the “Hastert rules.” See? Its like being in the chess club during WWII. Now be content.
Harcourt Fenton Mudd (0c349e) — 3/22/2024 @ 1:40 pmKen Buck’s parting shot:
Rip Murdock (b7c7da) — 3/22/2024 @ 1:44 pmWhere are the copy editors?
Rip Murdock (b7c7da) — 3/22/2024 @ 1:46 pmThe way I iece things together for now:
The United States government has an alternative plan.
It probably involves targeted assassination of Hamas top leaders in Gaza, until somebody in charge there is willing to surrender power. The United States is actually helping with intelligence with this because both the United States and Israel agree that is a good step..
Biden is trying to force Israel to abandon its plan with a United Nations Security Council resolution – but it’s not like anyone can expect Hamas to agree now to what the resolution says: Return of all the hostages without the cover of a prisoner exchange, pairing that with a ceasefire.
[Note: The United Nations Security Council did not pass the draft US resolution on Gaza ceasefire today. Russia and China vetoed it, and Algeria voted against, and Guyana abstained.]
Biden does not want or expect Hamas to surrender power to Israel (which doesn’t want more than an overall supervisory role and wants to deradicalize Gaza and) but for Hamas in Gaza to be replaced (for now — they eventually want elections or something which responds to the people in Gaza) by an Arab government jointly run by a number of Arab states.
Biden agrees that the Palestinian Authority is not suitable for this now (although it is the closest thing that Gaza has to a legitimate government) but thinks it can be quickly reformed.
Except there is a problem with this idea (beyond Israel maybe not trusting the new regime unless it can veto things and take independent Kinetic action – which it would hope not to do much in that vein)
The problem is that the candidate Arab governments say they won’t participate unless Israel indicates that is open to creating a Palestinian state. And the Biden people blame Netanyahu for not doing that. Ergo Schumer’s speech. Netanyahu says such a state must not be forced on Israel but could only happen as the result of a negotiation (but he’s not totally against it.)
Motivating Biden, in part, is fear of Egypt abrogating the Egyptian Israeli peace treaty if Israel goes into Rafah. Israel’s plan for an attack in Rafah will not be ready anyway for several weeks at least. Biden thinks it never should be done. That is: It never can be satisfactory.
Netanyahu sent people to the United States to discuss this war plan out of respect for the USA he says, but he is mainly only interested in advice as to how to avoid more civilian casualties.
There are other differences between The United States and Israel. For instance, the United States thinks thhe PA police – many of whom in Gaza were cllecting money from the PA although I think – need to check – they weren’t allowed to do anything by Hamas – is suitable but Israel thinks that as long as the PA pays for slay and teaches fighting against Israel and hatred of Israel in its schools and wants a coalition with Hamas, it is not suitable, and merely appointing a cabinet of experts” (technocrats) is not enough, while the Biden Administration thinks the main problem with the Palestinian Authority is corruption. (diversion of money into private pockets)
Netanyahu is willing to agree to a temporary ceasefire and even release some prisoners not arrested since the war, but not anybody important that Hamas is likely to be too interested in. Biden in some ways is more militant against Hamas than Netanyahu. He wants (as part of an agreement!) that Hamas turn over for punishment all those who plotted the October 7 attack. (Obviously this is based on new leadership)
Netanyahu does not expect that. He just wants to kill all those people. After they leave Gaza, too.
One effect of the push for a UN resolution and no attack on Rafah is it could tell Hamas it cannot lose all – maybe. They’re not noticing the targeted assassinations.
Hamas will not agree to anything except when they are about to be completely wiped out but this gives them a reason to fight on since they always quit later. Although that’s not really true, since the top commanders are dead men walking that way.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/22/2024 @ 1:54 pm23. The question needs to be asked: Did Putin plan this, but schedule it for after the election, so that it would not diminish voter turnout?
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/22/2024 @ 1:59 pmRIP Chief Aviation Electronics Technician (Ret.) Richard C. Higgins, USN (102); one of last surviving veterans of the attack on Pearl Harbor:
Rip Murdock (b7c7da) — 3/22/2024 @ 2:03 pmThere isa problem om Israel’s northern border with Lebanon. For now there is a buffer zone, but it is in Israel and “At least 60,000 northern Israeli civilians have been evacuated from their homes for five months.”
It is not like it was before. Iron Dome and Patriot missiles cannot stop the attacks and Israel is not willing to escalate now)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-view-from-israels-other-front-evacuated-north-attack-hezbollah-lebanon-196d1006
The body count favors Israel About 300 Hezbollah operatives have been and 21 Israelis, (few civilians in Lebanon because Hezbollah is not (yet) interested in increasing the number of deaths of its own civilians – and it has avoided firing anything from in or near Beirut.
Israel thinks Hezbollah is reserving its massive inventory of very dangerous missiles for retaliation in case Israel attacks Iran. That’s the concept now.
The Wall Street Journal op ed says that the status quo is not acceptable to Israel:
It looks like maybe Iran cannot order Hezbollah to commit suicide and they have now turned to the Houthis attacking shipping in the Red Sea.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/22/2024 @ 2:15 pmAll teens or just some teens? And is it causing a problem for all teens or just a minority and causing the same problem in all, or a variety of different problems for different people?
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/22/2024 @ 2:18 pmHmmm.
I doubt Ukrainians were behind this terrorist attack. With a few notable exceptions, e.g., Dugin, Ukrainian partisans hit military targets, and Ukraine denies doing it.
I’m more inclined to believe it was a Russian false flag operation, because Putin has done this before, and could be his excuse for a wider mobilization.
I doubt the Islamic State did it, though not outside the realm of possibility, as militant Islamists have also done this before.
Paul Montagu (d4d407) — 3/22/2024 @ 2:20 pmHouse Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries already agreed some time ago to bail Speaker Mike Johnson out (and vote no on the resolution, unlike the way they did thins with Speaker Kevin McCarthy) so long as the Democratic caucus gets some input into what goes on the floor.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/22/2024 @ 2:21 pmPaul Montagu (d4d407) — 3/22/2024 @ 12:45 pm
As someone points out in a letter to the New York Times today, Trump’s original reason for being against Tik Tok almost four years ago, was not (really) principled but reflected a use of the app against him.
Users on Tik Tok who were fans of K-pop on the app, had gotten people to reserve seats at a Trump rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma and not show up. (That was because Trump’s rally sort of conflicted with the commemoration of the 99th anniversary of the Tulsa race riot.)
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/21/opinion/tiktok-china.html
Online this links to:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/21/style/tiktok-trump-rally-tulsa.html
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/20/magazine/tiktok-us-china-diplomacy.html
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/22/2024 @ 2:39 pm34: We’ll probably get some evidence (or problems with official Russian government evidence) soon enough.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/22/2024 @ 2:40 pma clear violation … of the Hastert Rule.
Which is what? “Stay away from little boys”?
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 2:54 pmWhile it was dumb and counterproductive for the Dems to vote to remove McCarthy, it may work to the Dems’ advantage to vote against MAGA Mike, but only if they can persuade four or five pissed off Republicans to vote for Jeffries.
If they do, they should start a new party first, and join with the Democrats in coalition.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 2:56 pmUkraine blamed in 3, 2, 1……
Perhaps, but the United States warned Russia of just such an attack 2 weeks ago, saying it was from “extremists” and not from Ukraine (which they would really have made an issue of with Ukraine if so).
Now, sure, Putin may tell his people it was Ukrainians and use it to dragoon more troops, or worse, but that will just piss the West off.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 2:59 pmI thought Trump was the Putin stooge
Must be that Biden is the elite stooge, the right stooge for our democracy by virtue of being the number one of the elite dream team of Democratic leadership
From Financial Times
“The US has urged Ukraine to halt attacks on Russia’s energy infrastructure, warning senior SBU and GUR officials that drone strikes risk driving up global oil prices and provoking retaliation.”
Here is a target that is currently out of reach for Ukrainian built launched weapons and drones. On the map below, look to the north up by the Kara Sea where all the redlines that indicate pipelines converge. Notice where they all cross each other. In real life, that cross is in an area about the size of a football stadium (you can see it easily on google earth up by Yamburg) That cross carries 90% of Putin’s natural gas and the gas that flows through those lines finances Putin, generates electricity. But US is said to have put it off limits by any means, even sabotage.
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200708/ldselect/ldeucom/98/192gaseuras.pdf
On a slightly different tangent, it is inexplicable that Ukrainian drones have been hitting smaller easily and cheaply replaced electrical transformers rather than much larger transformers, inexplicable unless the Biden administration has put them off limits for western weapons systems.
steveg (21c272) — 3/22/2024 @ 3:01 pm“Of the 2,653 billion tonne kilometres (tk) of freight carried by Russian Railways, 87 per cent is hauled by electric traction” via http://www.railengineer.co.uk
Good news for AOC’s presidency NYC and D.C. latest to support non-citizen voting as we had in the early days of this country.
asset (f3b302) — 3/22/2024 @ 3:01 pmI doubt the Islamic State did it, though not outside the realm of possibility, as militant Islamists have also done this before.
The US warning would suggest that.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 3:02 pmGood news for AOC’s presidency NYC and D.C. latest to support non-citizen voting as we had in the early days of this country
DC will get slapped down. NY can do what it wants for state offices, but voting for federal office is according to federal law.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 3:03 pmIts 2024, can we still use the word “shanghaiing”? I’d personally use dragoon west of the urals and shanghiing for the east it could be the reverse. Now that I think about it, the Russians have been Shanghaiing people around the western urban centers and dragooning prisoners, petty miscreants and factory workers
steveg (21c272) — 3/22/2024 @ 3:12 pmHow about “impress” as with “press gangs”
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 3:15 pm@44 federal laws can be changed. I am pointing out the start of the journey.
asset (f3b302) — 3/22/2024 @ 3:19 pmThere is the reason that leftists and NeverTrump avoid discussing these issues that actually matter to the majority of Americans.
NJRob (f885b1) — 3/22/2024 @ 3:21 pmOff topic: The resignations in the House of Representatives remind me of the 1930 election, and the aftermath:
(Links omitted.)
Source
Could the Republicans lose control of the House now before the November election? It is possible, though for the moment I would say the odds are at least 10-1 against that happening. At least.
But the possibility of further resignations gives the rational Republican congressmen — and there are more than you might think — signifcant power.
(Note that the popular vote swing in the 1930 election was not very large, and that, because so much of the Democratic Party was then in the South, the Republicans actually won a solid majority of the popular vote (53.04%-44.50%).)
Cross posted at Political Betting.
Jim Miller (c86b9f) — 3/22/2024 @ 3:26 pmInstead, relish the slapping of a national Mean Tweet candidate being litigated into the ground by 4 different DA/prosecutors, with a half-billion dollar verdict for repaying a loan on time.
And 16 million Trump supporters might want to believe that. The other 140 million or so who voted in the last election might not relish having their leg pissed on and being told it’s raining.
Donnie is a cheater. Donnie is a liar. Thankfully, it will not be as contagious as he would like.
nk (c16377) — 3/22/2024 @ 3:41 pmThey are claiming credit, however.
Rip Murdock (b7c7da) — 3/22/2024 @ 3:49 pmI guess some prefer Democrats dictating what can pass a Republican House. Sad.
Rip Murdock (b7c7da) — 3/22/2024 @ 3:54 pmDemands by Democrats will go beyond just “input into what goes on the floor.” They will demand an end to any investigations of Biden Administration, especially the impeachment proceedings.
Rip Murdock (b7c7da) — 3/22/2024 @ 4:00 pmAlthough “claiming credit” is the usual phrase, I have long thought it should be replaced by “admitted”, or something similar.
Jim Miller (c86b9f) — 3/22/2024 @ 4:00 pmI love when certain supporters of the party that has received a majority of the national popular vote exactly one time since 1988 (and zero times since 2004) just take for granted that they represent the “majority” of Americans.
And it’s even better knowing they also support all kinds of proposals that are intended to keep voter turnout down because they have zero confidence that more people voting would actually be good for the Republican Party, that supposed popular force that the majority just loves.
“We speak for the majority! Also, you can only vote in person on Election Day in polling places we approve, we should raise the voting age, state legislatures should appoint Senators, the Electoral College should never be changed to a straight national popular vote, and look, full disclosure, we are going to go ahead and say ahead of time that we will probably lose the election on paper … but you need to believe it was rigged against us! And finally, if pit guy actually does get elected, maybe we should let him be dictator after that? Just for a day. But don’t interpret any of this to mean we are not actually very confident we represent the majority of Americans!”
Turd Ferguson (f08472) — 3/22/2024 @ 4:04 pmHere’s what American voters say their top priorities are:
(My top foreign policy priority is increasing aid to Ukraine; my top domestic priority is decreasing the death toll from fentanyl.)
Jim Miller (c86b9f) — 3/22/2024 @ 4:10 pmI would agree, but unlike the Hamas attack on Israel, ISIS claimed they attacked the Russian concert without any proof. They may have jumped to claim credit in place of some other group.
Rip Murdock (b7c7da) — 3/22/2024 @ 4:20 pmJim,
if only Turd could read your link he’d see what the majority of Americans are concerned about.
I’ll help him.
Which of these are consistently discussed here. I am curious which of these actually matter to those who harp on supporting Biden in November?
Here are the big motivators and the spin involved:
Independents are concerned about the invasion.
So 2/3 of Republicans and almost half of Democrats admit that crime is a problem. Where do you think this comes from?
And on and on…
NJRob (f885b1) — 3/22/2024 @ 4:32 pm@55 The party representing the majority isn’t always easy to spot, Turd, but here’s a clue: If you’re the party so afraid of voters that you’re trying to remove the other candidate from the ballot or put him in jail, it’s not really a good sign.
But, we’re just applying the law, right Turd? But if we apply the law to voting requirements, that’s vote suppression. Have I got that right, or have I skipped too far ahead?
lloyd (2d4d2c) — 3/22/2024 @ 4:56 pmObviously, you’re correct that things like “strengthening the economy”, “defending against terrorism”, “reducing the influence of money in politics”, “reducing healthcare costs”, or “improving education”, etc., simply don’t matter for anyone who doesn’t vote for Trump. It could not possibly be that those voters think voting for someone else would better accomplish those goals.
Should we add “breathing oxygen” and “eating food” to list of items that apparently only GOP voters are advocating for in your mind?
Finally, the idea that MAGA is seriously discussing any of these issues more than any other group is just too absurd to pass up. Here’s one of Dear Leaders latest, very substantive, very serious press releases from today talking about the issues that matter most to Americans:
“Arthur Engoron is a Rogue Judge who was intimidated by the big, nasty, and ugly mouth of Leticia James, considered by many to be the WORST Attorney General in the U.S. She is a Low IQ individual who campaigned for Governor, using my name, and got TROUNCED. She and her PUPPET Engoron, who valued Mar-a-Lago at $18,000,000 when it is worth 50 to 100 times that amount, have destroyed all business prospects for New York State, that is already dying, or dead. But have no fear —When I become the 47th President, we will MAKE NEW YORK GREAT AGAIN!”
Turd Ferguson (56ed40) — 3/22/2024 @ 4:57 pm@44 federal laws can be changed. I am pointing out the start of the journey.
Sure. They could kick out all the immigrants, too. Won’t happen of course, and neither will your fantasy.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 4:59 pmThe law allows for absentee voting. That is applying the law. MAGA doesn’t want to apply that law. MAGA wants that law changed to say only voting in person on Election Day counts, simply because they think MAGA will benefit. Likewise with voting ages, direct election of Senators, etc. Those are all laws MAGA barks about changing because they don’t like the results.
Trump getting prosecuted in indictments that are supported by evidence, instead of being given a get out of jail free card because he’s a very special little boy and you like his politics, is also applying the law.
Turd Ferguson (56ed40) — 3/22/2024 @ 5:04 pmBut the possibility of further resignations
It’s quite possible that Kay Granger, who has just stepped down as chair of the Appropriations Committee, for health reasons, may resign soon. She is not running for re-election.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 5:04 pmImagine having a few drinks in a SF bar waking up with a blinding headache aboard a ship headed for China completely unskilled and unfamiliar with any sort of seafaring task, seasick the first week and then imagine getting dragooned off the street in Vorkuta and 10 days later storming a Ukrainian trench line and wishing you could go back to the simpler days of blinding headaches and vomiting
steveg (21c272) — 3/22/2024 @ 5:04 pmAlso, the party representing the majority can indeed be pretty easily spotted sometimes. Particularly in elections where we count who has the majority of support. I’d humbly suggest that’s a better measure than most.
Turd Ferguson (56ed40) — 3/22/2024 @ 5:07 pmI am curious which of these actually matter to those who harp on supporting Biden in November?
I am curious as to which actually matter to Donald Trump? Lessee…
– Strengthening economy – if it happens, he’ll take credit
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 5:11 pm– Defending against terrorism – as long as Putin gets Ukraine
– Reducing influence of money in politics- HAH!
– Reducing health care costs – no evidence so far
– Improving education – how could he tell?
– Making Social Security financially sound – he’s actively against this
– Reducing crime – I shudder to think how
– Dealing with immigration – I know how and I shudder to think it
– Reducing availability of illegal drugs – the next president who does this will be the first
– Reducing budget deficit – no evidence so far
– Improving the way the political system works – Jesus wept
Reducing availability of illegal drugs
Make them all legal! Problem solved!
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 5:12 pmIf you’re the party so afraid of voters that you’re trying to remove the other candidate from the ballot or put him in jail, it’s not really a good sign.
If your candidate is fighting to stay on the ballot and out of jail, as the result of his many criminal actions, it’s not really a good sign.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 5:14 pmClearly, OJ Simpson was only prosecuted because the Clintons were deathly afraid he’d run against Bill in 96.
Turd Ferguson (953907) — 3/22/2024 @ 5:16 pm@62 “The law allows for absentee voting. That is applying the law. MAGA doesn’t want to apply that law. MAGA wants that law changed to say only voting in person on Election Day counts, simply because they think MAGA will benefit.”
Absentee voting has been around a very long time. MAGA is fine with it. What you’re referring to is
mailing it inmail in voting which has been around in most jurisdictions only since the last election, when NeverMAGA changed the law becauseNeverMAGA would benefitof covid.And, however anyone votes, there are requirements to be met which are the law. Age, citizenship, residency, identity, etc. This is the law even for those mailing it in, regardless of whether you don’t want it enforced, as evidenced by you calling it vote suppression.
lloyd (2d4d2c) — 3/22/2024 @ 5:37 pm@69 And Navalny was only prosecuted because he really was guilty of embezzlement.
lloyd (2d4d2c) — 3/22/2024 @ 5:39 pmIf Trump had embraced mail-in voting, it would have given him the votes he needed. GOTV is the whole game, and he tossed away 30 days of getting the vote out. Yes, the Democrats embraced it because they thought it would help them, and it did, but it helped them a lot more than it should have because Trump didn’t take advantage.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 5:43 pmAnd Navalny was only prosecuted because he really was guilty of embezzlement.
And Joan of Arc was only burned at the stake because she was a girl.
My non sequitur is better.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 5:45 pmBTW, does ANYONE believe that the British royal family is being truthful about Kate’s health issues?
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 5:47 pmI was replying in kind to Turd’s non sequitur @68, not your non sequitur @69. Thought that was clear.
lloyd (2d4d2c) — 3/22/2024 @ 5:50 pmRumor at X/Twitter that several European countries have officially put boots on the ground in Kiev.
qdpsteve again (1137ed) — 3/22/2024 @ 6:19 pm(I posted this yesterday in the ‘whiny thread’ comment section, but got no response, so I’m reposting here where it seems more appropriate.)
Does anyone here know anything about something called “Project 2025”?
Some big fans of the BOAR are promoting it at X/Twitter. It would supposedly…
– Ban all abortion (including pills)
– Deport every illegal
– Rescind all LGBT rights, including marriage
– Give the executive UNCHECKED power, including the right for him/her to create their own Politburo/Deep State.
Sounds like the Trumpies’ ultimate crackpot wet dream.
qdpsteve again (1137ed) — 3/22/2024 @ 6:23 pmFirst I’ve heard of it, but here’s the Wikipedia entry on it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_2025
nk (342f5a) — 3/22/2024 @ 6:27 pmNow there’s a reliable news site, where people post using pseudonyms and run by a trafficker in rumors and outright falsehoods.
Rip Murdock (b7c7da) — 3/22/2024 @ 6:29 pmI think you got the collective response the first time. 😉
Rip Murdock (b7c7da) — 3/22/2024 @ 6:31 pmThere are a number of ways to measure relative party strength, among them party ID, presidential elections, and the popular vote for the House of Representatives. None of these is perfect, but I think the first and the third are a bit better than the second.
I did a very quick tally, so you may want to check, but it looks to me as if each party has won the popular vote in 9 of the last 18 elections.
2022 – R
2020 – D
2018 – D
2016 – R
2014 – R
2012 – D
2010 – R
2008 – D
2006 – D
2004 – R
2002 – R
2000 – R
1998 – R
1996 – D
1994 – R
1992 – D
1990 – D
1988 – D
(You can start here if you want to check my quick tally.)
In the 2016 election, the Republican House candidates received a majority, as you can see in the table — and more popular votes than the Loser did. This is quite unusual, because in most elections the total vote drops off as you go down the ballot.
In my opinion, the Loser benefited from “reverse” coat tails; he was pulled over the line in key states by more popular Republicans below him on the ballots.
Jim Miller (354efc) — 3/22/2024 @ 6:32 pmRip, if Elon Musk is pissing you off, then he must be doing something right.
qdpsteve again (1137ed) — 3/22/2024 @ 6:35 pmActually, it sounds like the Nazi Party taking over the German Civil Service in 1934, with the SS in charge of the police, and one orange baboon über alles.
nk (342f5a) — 3/22/2024 @ 6:36 pmnk, I was arguing that with a Trumpie at X/Twitter yesterday.
I don’t care who the executive with unchecked power might be. Trump, DeSantis, Biden, Musk, whoever. It’s a horrible idea.
All that would happen is that we’d get one big giant Deep State Apparatus replaced with a whole new one.
qdpsteve again (1137ed) — 3/22/2024 @ 6:38 pmForgot to say to nk, thanks for the link.
qdpsteve again (1137ed) — 3/22/2024 @ 6:44 pmWhat pisses me off are people who take him seriously about things outside his expertise in technology and engineering development. His anti semitism and conspiracy theories I can do without.
Rip Murdock (b7c7da) — 3/22/2024 @ 6:49 pmThe Cult of Musk is just as bad as The Cult of Trump.
Rip Murdock (a0d2e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 6:54 pmBiden has been a coward wrt Putin practically since the Russian Thug-in-Chief first invaded over two years ago, and Biden’s dithering about Russian oil refineries all part of the same thing.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/22/2024 @ 6:57 pmFor your listening pleasure.
Rip Murdock (a0d2e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 7:00 pmAs a NeverTrumper, bullsh-t.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/22/2024 @ 7:00 pmRip, LMAO at your rank hypocrisy.
If you hate anti-semitism so much, where is your rage at the Squad and the Democratic Party’s wholesale support of all the open Jew haters in their party?
Oh that’s right, you don’t GAF because “not Trump!” You are the last person in the universe I would take seriously about anything.
Also, please continue to be royally pissed off that I admire the most decidedly NOT anti-semitic Musk and his efforts to promote free speech. You need to be reminded as often as possible, NO ONE NEEDS YOUR APPROVAL TO BELIEVE AND FOLLOW WHOMEVER AND WHATEVER THEY WANT NO MATTER HOW STUPIDLY HIGH AN OPINION YOU HAVE OF YOURSELF.
Not a surprise that you support the anti-constitutional Stalinists on the left.
qdpsteve again (1137ed) — 3/22/2024 @ 7:04 pmI don’t care about what Democrats say or do. That’s their problem, not mine. I don’t have the time or energy to be outraged about everything.
As to rest: Whatever.
Rip Murdock (a0d2e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 7:09 pmICYMI: Elon Musk and antisemitic conspiracy theories.
Rip Murdock (a0d2e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 7:13 pmdiscussing these issues that actually matter to the majority of Americans.
As I’ve often said, it’s about Trump, not about policy. You’d probably agree with that, for the wrong reason.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 7:16 pmI have never said that anyone needs my approval as to what they say or believe, but like everyone else here, I reserve the right to express my opinion of what they say (without personal attacks).
Rip Murdock (a0d2e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 7:20 pmActually, I don’t GAF about who you admire, because I don’t GAF about you.
Rip Murdock (a0d2e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 7:23 pmAn Islamic State attack is probably the best of the three scenarios I put forth, as it relates to Putin’s War Against Ukraine, especially because we gave Putin fair warning.
If the Ukrainians did it, it gives Putin an excuse to escalate his brutality.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/22/2024 @ 7:30 pmIf it was false flag, Putin had that same excuse.
Instead, it was a militant Islamist terrorist attack and Putin dropped the ball after we gave him the intel. As Filipowski noted…
Has there ever been a presidential campaign in the last 30 years that discussed the issues that actually matter to the majority of Americans and didn’t devolve into tit for tat attack ads?
Rip Murdock (a0d2e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 7:35 pmIt seems like you can’t have a conversation with Trumpist right-wingers without their resorting to bogus equivalencies between the US and Russian justice systems.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/22/2024 @ 7:39 pmMy theory is that Putin’s lackeys dismissed the warnings and told Putin that America was trying to scare Russia (I really doubt that the Putin was contacted directly). Putin believed them, and now there’s gonna be hell to pay.
Rip Murdock (a0d2e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 7:45 pmMaking my point about cults.
Rip Murdock (a0d2e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 8:07 pmRed state legislatures under pressure from fundos are beginning the process to repeal no fault divorce laws. (DU)
asset (4b3e97) — 3/22/2024 @ 8:37 pmIf the Ukrainians did it, it gives Putin an excuse to escalate his brutality.
If the Ukrainians did it, they might get nothing more from the United States. This is Hamas-level stupidity. Since the US had advance warning, you can bet doughnuts against houses it wasn’t Ukraine.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 8:59 pmdidn’t devolve into tit for tat attack ads?
I don’t recall that in the Obama-McCain contest. Then again, I was in California so there weren’t many ads.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 9:00 pm(DU)
One step above Gateway Pundit for quality of information.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 9:01 pmAs I may have said, every once in a while there’s a gem in the sewer of Disqus comment threads…
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/22/2024 @ 9:20 pmI wonder if Russia will insist the terror attack was Ukrainians. Russia often likes to repeat their narrative over and over and over until everyone gives up correcting it
steveg (21c272) — 3/22/2024 @ 9:33 pmThat’s the consensus in Russian media:
‘I Have No Doubt Moscow Terror Act Was Provoked by Ukraine’: Elite Russian Counter-Terrorism Veteran
US and UK Intel Knew of Heightened Terror Threat Ahead of Crocus Attack: Ret. FSB Officer
Rip Murdock (a0d2e4) — 3/22/2024 @ 9:51 pmMore:
Rip Murdock (19ebb8) — 3/22/2024 @ 10:18 pm@109 and biden and trump say what? Trump: putin is alright by me. Biden Chinese donors haven’t told me what to say.
asset (4b3e97) — 3/22/2024 @ 10:51 pmMigrants storm border. Texas is blamed.
Storm the Capitol — get arrested. Storm the border — get asylum.
lloyd (9e5ee6) — 3/23/2024 @ 6:49 amA reminder of how this administration “has the backs” of the border patrol.
lloyd (9e5ee6) — 3/23/2024 @ 6:51 amAnd a reminder of how this administration has smeared the Texas National Guard before.
lloyd (9e5ee6) — 3/23/2024 @ 6:56 amThank you for the pertinent reminders lloyd.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/23/2024 @ 7:08 amUS and UK Intel Knew of Heightened Terror Threat Ahead of Crocus Attack: Ret. FSB Officer
And told the Russians. They also publicly advised Americans. Does the FSB know about websites?
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/23/2024 @ 7:57 amUse of nuclear weapons against Ukraine would likely lead to war between NATO and Russia.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/23/2024 @ 7:58 amRussia has claimed to have arrested the usual suspects in the Moscow concert attack.
Rip Murdock (19ebb8) — 3/23/2024 @ 8:01 amThe death toll has reached 133.
Rip Murdock (19ebb8) — 3/23/2024 @ 8:06 amPretty sure that the ISIS shooters the Russians have in custody will say whatever the FSB wants them to say. Even if they aren’t the shooters.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/23/2024 @ 8:15 amIf you read the linked article you would have found out that the former FSB officer found it “curious” that US and UK intelligence agencies knew about the attack in advance and warned their citizens to stay away. He takes this to mean that they were part of the Ukrainian operation to attack the concert venue.
Rip Murdock (19ebb8) — 3/23/2024 @ 8:18 amMore:
Rip Murdock (19ebb8) — 3/23/2024 @ 8:20 am“Use of nuclear weapons against Ukraine would likely lead to war between NATO and Russia.”
I would imagine that is what is being communicated. If Kiev is hit, then Moscow will get hit….if not with nukes, with overwhelming conventional force. Moscow will be destroyed and Putin will lose the people…a coup will follow.
I’m sure radicals are pushing for a Russian nuclear response but as radicals do, they just don;t look far enough into the future. I genuinely believe that Putin loves Russia….not always the people enough….but he loves the idea of Russia and its place in the world. Putin’s in a tough spot, but I don’t see him desperate enough to lead to all out war that he has no chance of winning….
AJ_Liberty (6e966a) — 3/23/2024 @ 8:50 amPutin wants to blame Ukraine, but the Islamic State claimed responsibility, one of the terrorists caught is from Tajikistan (escaping in the dirction of Belarus, not Urkaine), and we gave Putin fair warning. Thread here.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/23/2024 @ 8:56 amRookie:
Rip Murdock (19ebb8) — 3/23/2024 @ 10:10 amMore on Trump Media:
Rip Murdock (19ebb8) — 3/23/2024 @ 12:10 pmIf you read the linked article you would have found out that the former FSB officer found it “curious” that US and UK intelligence agencies knew about the attack in advance and warned their citizens to stay away.
You would think that the FSB wouldn’t be demonstrating their incompetence so vividly. Did the US send these warnings to its citizens using sekrit one-time pads or something?
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/23/2024 @ 1:09 pmCalifornia Republican Senate candidate Steve Garvey owes state and federal taxes incurred 13 years ago totaling at least $350,000 and as much as $750,000, according to his February financial disclosure statement.
That seems about average from a Congressman and far less than President’s son. Maybe some current player will pay it for him out of his petty cash.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/23/2024 @ 1:12 pmProbably through US embassy. The Russians discounted any warnings from the US government as propaganda. I’m not sure why we even bothered.
Rip Murdock (19ebb8) — 3/23/2024 @ 1:28 pmThe campaign commercials write themselves. The question is why Garvey has let these debts linger for so long. The CA Republican Party needs to do better due diligence.
Rip Murdock (19ebb8) — 3/23/2024 @ 1:31 pmShohei Ohtani Is enough trouble.
Rip Murdock (19ebb8) — 3/23/2024 @ 1:35 pmCorrection to post 130:
Rip Murdock (19ebb8) — 3/23/2024 @ 1:37 pmI willfully, obstinately, and with my hands over my ears and chanting la-la-la refuse to believe anything said by or about Republicans. I am not entirely ready to dismiss their actual existence as Democrat dezinformatsiya, but I’m getting close.
nk (9beebf) — 3/23/2024 @ 1:58 pmThe Russians discounted any warnings from the US government as propaganda.
Not our problem.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/23/2024 @ 2:24 pmShohei Ohtani Is enough trouble.
His interpreter could pay it.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/23/2024 @ 2:25 pmI am not entirely ready to dismiss their actual existence as Democrat dezinformatsiya, but I’m getting close.
When you have fully eliminated Goldsteinism from your thoughts, you will finally be ready to love Big Brother and become sane.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/23/2024 @ 2:27 pmNot anymore.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/23/2024 @ 2:32 pmNot anymore.
More 2 come.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/23/2024 @ 2:33 pmBut DAMN do the Dodgers have a curse on pitchers. Bauer, Urias and now Ohtani. If they don’t suspended, they get injured.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/23/2024 @ 2:37 pmFebruary 2024 campaign finance reports:
The Trump campaign has negotiated a joint fundraising committee (the Trump 47 Committee) with the RNC, whereby individual donors can contribute up to $814,600, which is then distributed to various campaign committees.
During presidential election years, candidates who anticipate that they will raise or spend more than $100,000 must file monthly reports.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/23/2024 @ 2:47 pmSince Ohtani is the biggest player to hit the MLB in decades, the worst that will happen is fine or a very brief suspension.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/23/2024 @ 2:50 pmTrent Telenko makes a good case that Ukraine hitting Russian refineries is more about denting the production of explosives than fuel
https://twitter.com/TrentTelenko/status/1771643483847062000
steveg (bb9b26) — 3/23/2024 @ 3:26 pmAnother gem from the Disqus cesspool…
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/23/2024 @ 5:57 pmRIP character actor M. Emmett Walsh (88):
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/23/2024 @ 6:16 pmHahahaha! Hohohoho!!!!
Leave it to Paul to search out the funniest mockery of a savage massacre of many many innocent lives!!
😂🤣😂🤣🤣
Good job Paul!!!!
BuDuh (4214e4) — 3/23/2024 @ 6:48 pmSource
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/23/2024 @ 7:14 pmNoted, your lying about this “search out” business. Why are you lying, BuDuh?
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/23/2024 @ 7:32 pmRevolt at NBC News:
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/23/2024 @ 7:41 pm@147 Upsetting talent. What talent? Every day SSDD Biden is great Trump is evil.
asset (657348) — 3/23/2024 @ 8:26 pmI don’t think I’ve ever posted a link to the weekend open thread, but I’m really enjoying this interview with Charlie Sykes and I think a lot of others here might also.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO0DVT409cI
Nate (cfb326) — 3/23/2024 @ 9:07 pmPutin’s defenders such as Tucker and Mearsheimer and Greenwald, etc. don’t look at it from Szeligowski’s perspective, but perhaps they all should…
Amen. In short, Russia is a sheethole country and should be treated as such, not placed on some diplomatic pedestal, just because they have an arsenal of atomic bombs and were once a communist superpower.
Related, why does an asshole like Lavrov get to behave like a flaming asshole while other diplomats must behave so diplomatically toward him? Also related, it’s interesting how there’s so much study on Russia history but so little on the countries in the Russian orbit. For example, Dr. Timothy Snyder has a class at Yale on Ukrainian history, yet there are no other American universities that specifically cover this subject.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/23/2024 @ 9:34 pmhttps://twitter.com/dszeligowski/status/1771188561653457278
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJczLlwp-d8&list=PLh9mgdi4rNewfxO7LhBoz_1Mx1MaO6sw_&index=1
I was catching Sykes’ daily Bulwark podcasts in his final weeks, and they’re all good, so I’m glad he’s continuing on YouTube.
I should mention that I listened to a podcast of Jonah Goldberg and historian and Abraham Lincoln expert Allen Guelzo, and it was one of the best I’ve ever heard. Really informative. I hope Guelzo comes back for more segments. He’s that good.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/23/2024 @ 9:40 pmPaul,
It was always such, even when it was the USSR. The Democrat Party of the 70s and 80s was pretty much their mouthpiece, too. Bernie is still sad the USSR fell.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/23/2024 @ 10:08 pmI can’t argue, Kevin.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/23/2024 @ 10:38 pmIt’s lamentable that Republican–read, Trump–attitudes toward the Russian thugocracy have become so twisted that they look like the Democrat attitudes of the 1980s toward Russia.
It’s lamentable that Republican–read, Trump–attitudes toward the Russian thugocracy have become so twisted
That’s because Trump has built up his own thugocracy, whom he is all too willing to sic on people who cross him. All it takes is a few tweets, and you get things like January 6th.
Mitt Romney isn’t paying $5000 per day for private security for his family because Trump is benign.
Just watch. El Caudillo del Mar a Lago will again hint and tease civil war, especially if it looks like he’ll lose a court case or the election.
norcal (617045) — 3/23/2024 @ 11:21 pmI was threatened by the January 6 committee into staying silent
lloyd (9f4bdb) — 3/24/2024 @ 7:40 amMiller said he ‘definitely interpreted’ the panel would ‘make my life hell’ if he kept going on TV.
Pitch? Brimstone? Pitchforks? Where do they keep them? In the Rayburn Building?
If it comes from Trump (and this Chris Miller gerbil is nothing more than a hangnail on Trump’s pinky), it’s a lie.
nk (bf6b47) — 3/24/2024 @ 7:50 amlloyd, I could be wrong, but it seems that that link is using some really weaselly use of quotation marks. Upon first reading it looks like he’s claiming they said they would “make his life a living hell”. But it seems like its just them quoting him saying his opinion was he thought they would “make his life a living hell.”
One is newsworthy, the other is just speculative. A Trump ally is guessing that Trump’s enemies are bad? Color me shocked.
Nate (cfb326) — 3/24/2024 @ 7:59 amCIA blocked feds from interviewing Hunter Biden’s ‘sugar brother’ Kevin Morris during five-year tax probe
lloyd (9f4bdb) — 3/24/2024 @ 8:01 amhttps://www.cnn.com/2022/07/26/politics/chris-miller-house-select-committee/index.html
AJ_Liberty (4abdeb) — 3/24/2024 @ 8:05 amWhat a tangled web we weave once we practice to deceive.
There are two kinds of criminal perjury:
1. An objectively provably false statement knowingly made under oath.
2. Two contradictory statements made under oath in the same or separate proceedings.
In the second instance, neither the indictment nor the evidence at trial need to specify which statement was false. As long as they cannot both possibly be true.
So if this guy came back and testified under oath to things he was sayin in public contradictory to what he testified in the committee hearing in the first place, then, yes, his ass was grass.
Liz did not “threaten” him. She told him what his lawyers (Trump-provided?) should have told him.
nk (bf6b47) — 3/24/2024 @ 8:43 am@160 It’s great that Cheney and Bernie Thompson were actually doing Chris Miller a huge favor by withholding his full testimony from the public. And this courtesy was extended to others as well. How nice!
lloyd (9f4bdb) — 3/24/2024 @ 9:16 amPaul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/23/2024 @ 10:38 pm
Reagan must be spinning in his grave that his successor is undoing his life’s work like this.
The closest example I can see is how Lincoln would have viewed his party’s nominees on the Supreme Court when they voted for Cruikshank and the rest of the Jim Crow decisions.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/24/2024 @ 9:20 amLeave it to a UK tabloid to let this wrong paragraph pass unchallenged.
Because Miller testified under oath that Trump gave no such authorization.
I can understand the J6 Committee’s concern, because Miller said one thing under oath, and said something else on Hannity, making him the liar.
Regarding Patel, he testified as a defense witness in the CO Supreme Court and they found his testimony “not credible”.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/24/2024 @ 10:22 amHe wasn’t under oath on Hannity.
DRJ (9fbd45) — 3/24/2024 @ 10:25 amHe didn’t have to tell the truth on Hannity.
DRJ (9fbd45) — 3/24/2024 @ 10:26 amExactly, DRJ. Remember Lewandowski and his “I have no obligation to tell the truth to the media”?
nk (bf6b47) — 3/24/2024 @ 10:35 amEither it’s true, or it’s not. Some want to know. Some don’t. Withholding transcripts is not a path to the truth, and some seem okay with it.
lloyd (9f4bdb) — 3/24/2024 @ 10:38 amAnd maybe I’m doing his (Trump-provided?) lawyers an injustice. Maybe it was his lawyers who informed the liar of the legal consequences.
And why should we believe any part of it, to begin with? Zu Trumpen ist zu lügen. To “Trump” is to lie.
nk (bf6b47) — 3/24/2024 @ 10:41 amAs a lawyer friend used to say, the law isn’t about truth, it’s about evidence.
lloyd (9f4bdb) — 3/24/2024 @ 10:42 amMiller tailored his response to Hannity’s audience, who were presumably unaware of Miller’s contradictory testimony made under oath (which presumably was the truth).
In addition, couldn’t Trump federalize and deploy the National Guard under his own authority as commander in chief, without a request from the DC government or the Congressional leadership?
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/24/2024 @ 10:53 amBut chose not to do so?
The only way to get to the truth of the matter is to have all the participants in the White House meeting (including Trump) submit sworn affidavits as to what was said and decided in the meeting.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/24/2024 @ 10:57 amBiden continues to get away with blaming withholding of funding to Ukraine entirely upon the GOP when he is sitting on $3.9 Billion in Presidential drawdown authority funds.
steveg (78793d) — 3/24/2024 @ 11:08 amTrump wanted the National Guard at the Capitol J6 until he learned they wouldn’t be there to help hang Mike Pence
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 3/24/2024 @ 11:31 amTouché!
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/24/2024 @ 12:35 pmThe incredible shrinking Biden impeachment investigation:
………….
“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen, but I wish we would vote on it regardless,” Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn., a member of the House Oversight Committee) said in an interview Friday with CNN when asked where the committee’s investigation, launched last year, now stands.
………….
Burchett said his fellow Republicans have told constituents at home that they will pursue an impeachment, but behind closed doors in Washington, they say they won’t vote in support.
“The reality is, they don’t have the guts to do it,” he told CNN’s Jim Acosta of his colleagues. Burchett made similar comments in separate interviews this week.
“We’re not gonna have the votes. That’s clearly the case,” he told NewsNation following Wednesday’s impeachment inquiry. “And I don’t think we ever did.”
……………
LOL!:
Flailing:
Rip Murdock (8bf821) — 3/24/2024 @ 1:29 pmMissed the block quotes for the Burchett statements. Sorry.
Rip Murdock (8bf821) — 3/24/2024 @ 1:30 pmhttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-concert-hall-attack-national-day-of-mourning-death-toll-rises/
Maybe Paul’s haunts can some up some SNL type satire/parody to satiate the giggler crowd and their starved funny-bones.
BuDuh (ee9735) — 3/24/2024 @ 2:20 pm…can come up with some SNL…
BuDuh (ee9735) — 3/24/2024 @ 2:23 pmWhy would my “haunts” do that, BuDuh?
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/24/2024 @ 3:32 pmGlenn Greenwald
@ggreenwald
NBC negotiated a contract with Jen Psaki while she was White House Press Secretary.
ABC hired George Stephanopoulos — directly from the Clinton WH, with no journalism experience.
All these networks hire operatives from the US Security State.
It never prompts this melodrama
lloyd (5852e0) — 3/24/2024 @ 4:01 pmContradictory messaging:
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/24/2024 @ 4:37 pmGreenwald has a little history here at Patterico’s Pontifications, and his sock-puppeting shows him to be the lying hack that he was and continues to be.
More on Greenwald here, where he’s graduated to becoming one of Putin’s top propagandists.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/24/2024 @ 4:48 pmContradictory messaging II:
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/24/2024 @ 4:52 pmI don’t believe that Merrick Garland has been impeached.
It was a double-secret impeachment.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/24/2024 @ 4:55 pmIt never prompts this melodrama
When the LA Times was bankrupt and looking for a billionaire buyer, the newsroom rebelled at the proposal from the Koch brothers, saying that they would attempt to impose political control over the newspaper. Instead, the went with Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, whose farther-left-than-Bernie daughter is imposing woke extremism on the paper.
But that’s OK.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/24/2024 @ 4:59 pmThe revolving door between media and administration is a longstanding bipartisan thing. Just ask Tony Snow (er, you can’t ask him), Dana Perino, Larry Kudlow and Kayleigh McEnany.
The one difference with Ms. McDaniel is that she was complicit with Trump in strong-arming Michigan officials to not certify the vote, based on nothing more than bupkes and lies for evidence, and she was still election-denying as of last summer on Chris Wallace.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/24/2024 @ 5:24 pmPersonally, I’d rather she stay on at NBC, but it doesn’t mean her colleagues should be exempt from challenging her decisions to go along with Trump’s Big Lie, and for being his compliant dogsbody.
Robert Silverberg defined melodrama as right versus wrong. Ronna McDaniel anywhere is parody. Maybe she can team up with Kevin McCarthy, and they can call themselves The Two Stooges.
nk (bf6b47) — 3/24/2024 @ 5:43 pmThat may be so, nk, but MSNBC personnel are hardly the ones to judge.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/24/2024 @ 6:05 pmTo paraphrase Silverberg though, the Golden Age of TV Talkshows is 6.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/24/2024 @ 6:07 pmMy haunts have had fun with the spin coming from Moscow propagandists not because they are ghouls, but because of the ridiculousness of the spin.
As someone I can’t remember said: Propaganda isn’t about making you believe something, propaganda about making you believe nothing
Photos were posted of a white van with “Ukrainian license plates” that was purported to be the van driven by the shooters – the plates were from Belarus
Putin said the shooters were fleeing towards Ukraine, which was sort of true because Belarus is towards Ukraine from Moscow
“Since Friday, we’ve been in active contact via intelligence channels. The head of the State Security Committee is in direct contact with his counterpart. Also, in fact, the main task last night was to prevent terrorists from crossing our common border. This task has been accomplished,” the Ambassador of Belarus to Russia Dmytro Krutoy said
The Russians said they had ID’d the shooters were from Tajikistan
The Tajik Ministry of Internal Affairs said the information was spread in Russian media that the department of internal affairs in Bryansk region put two citizens of Tajikistan on wanted list on suspicion of involvement into the terrorist attack in Moscow region:
1. Rivojiddin Islomov, born on Septemebr 25, 1972
2. Mahmadrasul Nasriddinov, bron on November 20, 1986.
Both are residents of J Balkhi District of Khatlon Region of Tajikistan.
The information is ungrounded, the Tajik Ministry of Internal Affairs said.
The above citizens returned from Russia to Tajikistan on November 26, 2023 and remain at the place of their residence in Tajikistan since that time.
The third citizen of Tajikistan, Rustam Nazarov, native of Bokhtar town, Khatlon region, works as a taxi driver in Samara. During the terrorist attack he was in Samara and is not involved into the attack, the Tajik Interior Ministry said.
Its a little bit funny because a branch of ISIS is claiming they did it, but Russia is spinning CIA, Ukraine, NATO, Tajikistan -looking everywhere but at the guys who raised their hands and said “we did it”
This serves to prove somewhat the statement above where constant propaganda causes you to believe nothing. The other thing I find amusing is that Russia never admits to anything, so they cannot believe it when someone does.
Maybe another somewhat funny thing is Russia dragged a terror suspect into his hearing with a plastic bag around his neck – leading some to speculate the Russians had been suffocating him to get information and who but the Russians would leave the bag around his neck,
steveg (78793d) — 3/24/2024 @ 6:07 pmRussians not being too big on plausible deniabilty- why bother? Just deny it in the face of all evidence
I’ll just say that before the bodies even made it to room temperature, Putin was trying to cast blame on Ukraine, politicizing their deaths to advance his warmongering agenda.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/24/2024 @ 7:11 pmA militant Islamist attack would reflect more poorly on Putin’s leadership, so it had to be Ukraine that was behind it. It’s a revolting blend of cynical and evil to go that route, but Putin’s a revolting kind of a thug.
Kasparov draws an even darker and more sinister picture…
It’s a terrible choice, actually. On the GOP side, the nominee prostrates to Putin and will acquiesce to his aggression. On the Dem side, the nominee has cowered before Putin’s threats and has been half-assed about delivering aid.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/24/2024 @ 7:31 pmLouisiana primary both biden and trump still lose 8% of vote to other candidates. (DU) Except they didn’t report biden number that I had to look up.
asset (25dc42) — 3/24/2024 @ 8:12 pm@180 they weren’t the enemy.
asset (25dc42) — 3/24/2024 @ 8:17 pmBTW, has anyone seen a statement from the Trump campaign (or the RFKJr. campaign for that matter) regarding the terrorist attack in Moscow-asking for a friend.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/24/2024 @ 8:59 pmAfter looking at RFK Jr.’s YouTube that slobbered all over Putin (courtesy of Jake), I can guess his reaction to the terrorist attack.
If I were to guess about Trump, it would be that the terrorist attack wouldn’t have happened if he were president, just like Putin wouldn’t have invaded Ukraine if he were president, as if Trump is somehow able to slide into an alternate universe and tell us these historical events on Earth 2.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/24/2024 @ 9:28 pm@196 Putin might of hesitated simply because trump is a sociopath and might think in his own best interest to strike back. Being crazy has its advantages. Putin knows biden would hesitate to act. Even trump wouldn’t know what he would do!
asset (25dc42) — 3/24/2024 @ 11:15 pmH/T: David Bernstein for this bullseye quote from Sam Harris on Twitter.
lurker (cd7cd4) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:03 amAnd yes, you’re right if you’re thinking, “it’s not ‘Twitter,’ you idiot, it’s ‘X’.” So can we just take a moment to reflect on what a reckless fool Musk was to put a match to billions of dollars in brand value to indulge his fetish for a letter of the alphabet? Almost a year later and most people are still referring to some variation of “X formerly known as Twitter.” Because, by itself, “X” is a confusing and otherwise terrible name for a non-pornographic social media site.
(Also, there’s no close quote at the end of Harris’ comment, but that’s on Bernstein. I suppose I should have added an “sic.”)
lurker (cd7cd4) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:10 am@198 Instead of name calling (which is counter productive) a better service is to classify those who actually support hamas or make excuses for them. 1st Islam is not a mostly peaceful religion except where it is forced to be. 2nd a few leftists for radical chic who try to influence the those who want a cease fire to stop the killing of women and children despite the evil of hamas. 3rd Internet trolls. 4th young progressives who don’t like netanyahu/likud party and what they are doing on the west bank and gaza. Their may be a few others you could kindly list. The vietnam war generation has not forgotten the names we were called and our retribution for it. Generation Z is the future and Israel will not benefit with the name calling for cheap political gain. Education with out political name calling is better for Israel’s future.
asset (25dc42) — 3/25/2024 @ 3:38 amWhat an incredible thing to lose sleep over.
BuDuh (4214e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 7:22 amhttps://freebeacon.com/latest-news/cnn-poll-shows-trump-with-8-point-lead-over-biden-in-michigan/
Ho hum. Nothing to see here.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/25/2024 @ 7:39 amX was Elon Musk’s original name for what became PayPal. There was a merger. For a long, long, time, pressing X+Ctrl-Enter got you Paypal.
Musk could have used “X” for the corporation, which he wants to do other things, anyway, but kept Twitter as the name of the platform, as Google did with Alphabet.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 3/25/2024 @ 7:47 amFor Biden, however, these numbers are almost exactly reversed, with only 37 percent describing their vote as being “for Biden” and 63 percent describing it as being “against Trump.
I feel their pain. Of all of Trump’s crimes against humanity, getting Biden reelected is the worst. Putting Kamala Harris in-line for the Presidency makes it exceptionally brutal and heinous.
nk (bb1548) — 3/25/2024 @ 7:54 amBreaking:
Don Poorleone
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/25/2024 @ 8:31 amThe NY Appeals court temporarily puts the brakes on part of the efforts of the Leticia James Committee to Re-Elect Trump. I think the judges may have been interested in fairness, or in making the bond reachable, but they also may have looked at the polls and realized Trump was projected to gain up to 5 points if James started seizing assets and peacocking around about it.
steveg (56b52c) — 3/25/2024 @ 8:57 amJames needs to put on her serious and even keeled face on (if she has one).
Her actions are not going to lose Trump any independent voters but it plays really well with the people who glue themselves to the Rachel Maddow Show every night. The independent voters that trickle in towards Trump because of her gloating add up and give Trump a cushion for his inevitable 2024 version of the “grab them by the p” moment
Don Poorleone
Pornoleon Bonerpart
nk (bb1548) — 3/25/2024 @ 9:09 amCorrection:
Actually, “X” then space or nothing, then Ctrl-Enter
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 3/25/2024 @ 9:13 amThe order:
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 9:41 amAnd I was reliably told that the NY courts would never ever ¡never! do this.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 9:43 amNote that the judgement’s provisions barring Trump et al from conducting business in NY State are stayed pending the outcome of the appeal (or failure to file one), whether or not he posts a bond in the next 10 days. IF he does not, it seems likely that the properties will be liened.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 9:49 amTrump’s April 15th hush-money trial will go on as scheduled.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 9:50 amI feel their pain. Of all of Trump’s crimes against humanity, getting Biden reelected is the worst. Putting Kamala Harris in-line for the Presidency makes it exceptionally brutal and heinous.
I view these crimes as having 10 million unindicted co-conspirators, namely Republican primary voters.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 9:52 amTO all who say “Joe Biden is a criminal communist traitor and it is imperative that he be removed from office”, I respond: “It’s too bad you nominated someone worse.”
Haley, DeSantis, or even Chris Christie would have cleaned Biden’s clock. When Trump loses don’t you dare blame #NeverTrump — you knew their attitude going in.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 9:55 amTwo track justice system.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/25/2024 @ 10:14 amOne Trump campaign promise I can get behind (if he follows through).
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/25/2024 @ 10:16 amIf Jimmy Carter hadn’t stopped the Mariel boatlift, the Castro regime would have been gone 44 years ago just like the East German government could not survive the toppling of the Berlin Wall, with everyone free to leave.
I read a column that said that Raul Castro, age 92, is still in charge.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/25/2024 @ 10:29 amBreaking: US abstains (and lets pass) a UN Security Council resolution that calls for a ceasefire to last through the rest of Ramadan (and maybe pulls some of Hamas’s chips out of the fire.) It also calls for the release of the Israeli hostages, but one is not conditional upon the other.
In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancels his trip to Washington to hear American advice on war strategy.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/25/2024 @ 10:32 amTwo track justice system.
Trump is not a normal defendant. The fact he is a political candidate helps him and hurts him. If someone had paid the fine for him (like someone did for Biden’s son) it would be viewed by some (read: Letitia James) as an illegal campaign contribution.
But perhaps the NY appeals court was only looking at the record and the prospects for appeal, which some argue are pretty good, unlike his hopeless defamation case.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 10:40 amUS abstains (and lets pass) a UN Security Council resolution
It’s just talk-talk. It’s not an order.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 10:42 amUN resolutions aren’t worth the paper they are printed on.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/25/2024 @ 10:49 amThis seems equitable and may be more in line with what I expect upon appeal.
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 3/25/2024 @ 11:05 amRe: Paul Montagu @192. on 03/24/2024 @ 7:31 pm where he links to a Gary Kasparov Op-ed article in the Wall Street Journal:
Mark Toth and retired Col. Jonathan Sweet have asimilar idea in today’s New York Post:
https://nypost.com/2024/03/24/opinion/why-the-moscow-terror-attack-could-be-a-putin-false-flag-operation
Both deal differently with the question of how the United States seemingly had advance knowledge of that ISIS was to blame if the ISIS sponsorship wasn’t real.
(What I would say first is that this reminds me of the Helsinki warning that preceded the downing of Pan AM Flight 103 at the end of 1988. As aresult of that, by the way, it became the policy of the State Department that whenever they issued a warning to its own employees that it also alerted the general public. Now what I think about the Helsinki warning is that 1) the intelligence probably came from the people responsible for the terrorist act 2) it gave the wrong date, and method 3) it was done so as to make believable a claim that would be made after the attack and 4) to be believable it has to come before the attack but 5) the information was not such that it could lead to the prevention of the attack.)
The first US warning, on March 7, involved an attack on a Jewish synagogue, but the alert was more general, speaking of “extremists [who] have imminent plans to target large gatherings in Moscow, to include concerts, and U.S. citizens should be advised to avoid large gatherings over the next 48 hours.”.
Now Gary Kasparov suspects the information (which, in order to be accurate had to come from the planners of the attack) came from “moles in the FSB.” But that would mean the sources were Russian, and the US would act differently if it was merely repeating back to Russia what it had heard from inside the FSB. Kasparov also concedes it could be sources in ISIS-K.
Mark Toth and Jonathan Sweet suspect the U.S. information came from “a disinformation technique known as imitative communications deception (ICD)?”
https://www.asalives.org/ASAONLINE/cll64.htm
They probably both have it wrong. I would think a possibility is that Moslems have been recruited by Russian intelligence under the guise of being recruited by ISIS, and, as for the Telegram channel, that may be entirely a Russian operation.
Now, to be credible to the USA as not coming from him, Putin had to make it ISIS, but in Russia he is hinting at blaming Ukraine and never mentioned ISIS himself.
Overall, suspicion arises both because of Putins history (and I can name other attacks he may have been responsible for, like the joint operation between “AL Qaeda in Yemen” (wrong name) and “ISIS” in Paris France in the Charlie Hebdo and kosher grocery store shootings in 2015 – at that time Putin was pushing the need for an alliance against ISIS)
And because this attack in Moscow was just too easy.
We should not out aside that this may have been both tacticallly excellent and strategically a complete failure (in terms of helping Russian foreign policy)
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/25/2024 @ 11:08 am220. Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 10:42 am
It is technically an order, and unlike the one Russia and China vetoed on Friday, the part about the ceasefire might not be null and void without Hamas agreeing to something (beyond a ceasefire) but Israel has ignored other UN Security Council resolutions before.
But it doesn’t want to.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/25/2024 @ 11:11 amWe should not PUT aside the idea…(that this may be both a tactical success and strategically useless)
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/25/2024 @ 11:13 amWho do you imagine lost sleep over it? I slept like a baby.
lurker (cd7cd4) — 3/25/2024 @ 11:32 amhttps://www.newser.com/article/b7985fede65e5477aba2c8d2e62a6632/un-demand-for-gaza-cease-fire-provokes-strongest-clash-between-us-and-israel-since-war-began.html
So it’s a dead letter?
So it could hurt negotiations, but it was OK (since it was only for to weeks??) except that it did not condemn Hamas.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/25/2024 @ 11:53 am@221
You ain‘t kidding.
The UN just vindicated terrorism, human-shield strategies, and hostaging for ransom tactics.
Just shut it down.
US should leave the UN.
Great job Biden voters… great job.
whembly (86df54) — 3/25/2024 @ 11:54 amExcept when they serve the interests of US foreign policy (for example, the Korean War, the Cuban missile crisis, repelling Iraq’s aggression against Kuwait, etc.)
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/25/2024 @ 12:08 pmWhat resolution did they issue in the Cuban missile crisis?
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 12:20 pmWas Russia sick that day?
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 12:21 pmWho could have seen this coming?
California Restaurants Cut Jobs as Fast-Food Wages Set to Rise
Particularly badly hit are pizza delivery drivers, as their jobs are being outsourced to gig workers.
And of course, a mediocre employee who might be worth $10/hour but not $20/hour is going to get the axe even if there are no general layoffs.
And the automated kiosks all smile.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 12:31 pmThe United Nations takes credit now:
https://www.un.org/en/chronicle/article/preventive-diplomacy-united-nations
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/25/2024 @ 12:55 pm230. Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 12:20 pm
This is famous:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3K7tT4IYLr4
The Kennedy Administration was quite concerned about what to do in the United Nations:
https://microsites.jfklibrary.org/cmc/oct21/doc1.html
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/25/2024 @ 12:57 pmGenetically engineered pig kidney transplanted
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/21/health/pig-kidney-organ-transplant.html
OETA is against this: it’s “greater exploitation of animals and may introduce new pathogens into human populations”
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/25/2024 @ 1:26 pmKevin M, yup yup yup re 232. Sacramento seems to simply want to end employment for anyone without a 4-year (or higher) college degree, period.
I pretty much have to stay in Southern California due to (aging) family, but every day, Nevada looks better and better to me, even with the failing casino industry.
qdpsteve again (00aa92) — 3/25/2024 @ 1:27 pmhttps://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/20/science/columbia-cancer-research-retractions.html
I have a question about these retractions:
Is the problem only with the pictures, or is it simply that plagiarized pictures are the easiest form of fraud to detect?
And if it is only the pictures, of what use are the pictures except to make things difficult for truly ground-breaking researchers?
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/25/2024 @ 1:31 pmMaybe it wasn’t exactly a false flag, but there’s a solid argument that Putin let the terrorist attack happen to scapegoat Ukraine. There’s something uniquely evil and sinister about that, allowing scores of his fellow countrymen to get murdered so that he can continue to monger for more war.
Paul Montagu (d4d407) — 3/25/2024 @ 1:32 pmI’ve been seeing news articles about foreign and domestic investors in NYC real estate looking for reassurances that this Leticia James type of litigation is not going to be a thing going forward. Probably because they have all produced their own very optimistic valuations to present to lenders, the lenders in turn produce their own much less than optimistic numbers and then they get together and work out the amount, terms, of the loan. Like they always do. Investors need to know where they stand now, because they’ve all produced their own valuations in the past that by todays enforcement standards would be ruinous and many investors also need to finalize loans that have been in the hopper now that were done with optimistic valuations. James has to be hoping this all stays calm before the election so after the election she can come out and imply it was a one off, back to business as usual. She’s in a difficult place. One way it looks like selective prosecution and the other damages NYC tax base. Somebody need to buy her a balancing pole to go with her tight rope
steveg (56b52c) — 3/25/2024 @ 1:49 pmMaybe the reason Hamas wants and Israel objects to a ceasefire right now:
https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2024/03/return-to-shifa-contd.php
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/25/2024 @ 1:55 pmI was referring to the October 25, 1962 UN Security Council meeting where the US confronted the USSR (and the world) with direct evidence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. Probably the most important and effective meeting of the Security Council.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:03 pm238. Paul Montagu (d4d407) — 3/25/2024 @ 1:32 pm
Maybe it could be limited to that, (The FBI nearly did it with the sting operation that involved the World Trade Center bombers in 1993 until finally somebody caused their arrest) but I don’t think that Russia isn’t capable of pulling off a plot that didn’t originate with any outsiders
We’ll see how the stories of the perpetrators holds up – were they recruited one by one, late in the planning, or was this a long-planned operation?
For Putin to tolerate this, he terrorist group must have been at least penetrated – otherwise he could not know where they would attack and this would be something he would need to know.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:04 pmProbably the most important and effective meeting of the Security Council.
But no Resolution. Ironically, there WAS one regarding Korea because the Russians were boycotting the UN at the time.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:06 pm@234: There was no “Resolution” as the Soviets would have had to agree.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:07 pmThe FBI never called the second plot a sting operation but New York City FBI head James Kallstrom for years treated it as if it was a real plot that the FBI discovered and stopped, and not one suggested by the FBI, and talked and talked about it like it was a great FBI success..It was a sting operation against the original World Trade Center bombers!
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:11 pmCasinos are the lifeblood of Las Vegas, but nobody better be caught crimping a card.
New York is the financial capital of the world. Tish did not pass the law under which she sued Trump. The bankers did. They want jumped-up bellboys to think twice before lying to lenders. Tish will be just fine with the legitimate business world, I think.
nk (f45d6e) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:11 pmThe efforts of UN Secretary-General U Thant contributed greatly to defusing the crisis.
The UN its the normal thing is offering to broker a deal in the interest of the aggressor. The issue was not that the Cubans would stop constructing, or the the Soviets would stop delivering, additional missiles, but that ALL missiles would be removed and all facilities destroyed.
It was John Scali, an ABC reporter (and later Ford’s UN Ambassador) who brokered the deal.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:13 pmNo, the Russian ambassador was at the UN Security Council meeting when the US presented evidence of Soviet missiles in Cuba.
However, the USSR was boycotting the Security Council in 1950 when they approved Resolution 84 in 1950, which which authorized the formation of the United Nations Command to provide military support for South Korea, following the invasion by North Korea.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:14 pmWhen the Soviets did come to an agreement with the United States, they never formalized it with a United Nations Security Council resolution.
Part of the reason is that Kennedy had a slightly different opinion than Soviet Union as to what the agreement actually was. JFK didn’t want withdrawing missiles from Turkey to be considered part of the agreement but agreed to let the Soviet Union consider that to be part of it.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:15 pmSomebody need to buy her a balancing pole to go with her tight rope
A seppuku blade would be my gift.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:18 pmThe Korean War is probably the only time the UN authorized a war, but sometimes war is the answer.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:18 pm@248: see 243.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:18 pmSammy, the reason that they used Scali was to make the deal unofficial.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:19 pmOverlap. They are only 8 minutes apart.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:24 pmScali was a traitor to his profession. He should have reported what he knew, and not become part of the story.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:26 pmRe; Science fiction. Science fiction was once categorized in something I read as a story where the setting in (important or a character)
It has “laws of nature” even if these laws of nature are wrong or impossible.
How would an ordinary story set in current times look if it was written as science fiction?
Inventions would be described. Like if there’s a cellphone used in the story, a few words are addd to explain what it was.
And a cellphone, if someone talks about it, might be confused by a character with a payphone (sell-phone)
That would work maybe for a story set in 2008. Nowadays the word “cellphone isn’t used very much any more.
It’s a “mobile phone” or a “mobile device” or just a “phone or they can be divided into being either a “smart phone” or a “flip phone.”
No more “cellphones”
Except when talking about polling.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:38 pmRe: Scali: There an be cases of exigency.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:39 pm253. Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:19 pm
That sounds right.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:40 pmIsrael has said more or less that they are not the bottleneck in sending aid into Gaza.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/25/2024 @ 2:41 pmTomorrow in the Supreme Court:
My prediction is that the Justices will focus on the standing question to avoid the questions on the merits.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/25/2024 @ 3:00 pmScali was a traitor to his profession. He should have reported what he knew, and not become part of the story.
It was a much better story later.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 3:06 pmMy prediction is that the Justices will focus on the standing question to avoid the questions on the merits.
We’ll know if there are a lot of questions like “How were your clients harmed?”
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 3:07 pmScali was a traitor to his profession.
Does avoiding nuclear war not count in your estimates? By this standard, the NY Times should have published that the invasion of Europe would be in early June at Normandy, with diagrams of the landing areas and forces committed.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 3:09 pmThat assumes the secrets were available to the newspapers. Again, Scali should have just declined involvement. I’m sure he wasn’t the only backdoor channel available.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/25/2024 @ 3:15 pmDrugs like mifepristone make a mockery of abortion limits.
Rip Murdock (2e3548) — 3/25/2024 @ 3:17 pmAnti-abortion zealots hate drugs like mifepristone, because these drugs weaken their arguments, particularly the one about life beginning at conception.
Most people aren’t going to buy the logical conclusion–that preventing a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterine wall is murder.
norcal (f00712) — 3/25/2024 @ 3:39 pmAs I have said before, the attention we, as a nation, are giving to the psychiatric and legal problems of the Loser distracts us from giving the attention that we should to other more serious problems, even urgent ones.
I’ve said that — in my opinion — our most urgent domestic problem is the deaths from fentanyl, and our most urgent foreign problem is Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
So, what do each of you think are our most urgent problems, foreign and domestic?
Note, please, I said “urgent”, not “important”. What shoudl we be discussing, right now?
Jim Miller (808bdf) — 3/25/2024 @ 3:49 pmJim, I agree that Ukraine is our most important foreign problem.
I think the national debt is our most important domestic problem.
norcal (f00712) — 3/25/2024 @ 3:52 pmWhy Biden abstained on gaza vote. Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
asset (59b32e) — 3/25/2024 @ 4:06 pm@232 except their is a fast food worker shortage. Less in cal. because they pay more. In the south minimum wage is fed. $ 7.65.
asset (59b32e) — 3/25/2024 @ 4:14 pm@268 I have heard whining about national debt for 50 years fortunetly I wont be around to hear it for the next 50 years.
asset (59b32e) — 3/25/2024 @ 4:17 pm@260 democrats win 2024 election if court conservatives rule against drug giving AOC and the squad even more power in the democrat party discrediting biden/dnc wing even more.
asset (59b32e) — 3/25/2024 @ 4:23 pmJim, after reading Nick Catoggio’s just-released article, I have changed my mind about the biggest domestic problem. Here’s Nick:
https://thedispatch.com/newsletter/boilingfrogs/the-pro-coup-perspective/#comments
Drugs and spending are second-order concerns.
Ensuring respect for election results is a first-order concern. Trump and his election-result-denying followers must be defeated.
norcal (f00712) — 3/25/2024 @ 4:24 pmMost people aren’t going to buy the logical conclusion–that preventing a fertilized egg from attaching to the uterine wall is murder.
There are those who see a condom as murder.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 4:25 pmWhy Biden abstained on gaza vote. Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Sad but true.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 4:26 pmexcept their is a fast food worker shortage.
They will solve it with self-serve kiosks and automation. Faster in California.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 4:27 pmQuestion for folks who detest Trump:
If Trump had not done any election denying, if J6 had never happened, would you still be favoring Joe Biden? If so, make that case. Because for me Trump’s unsuitability did not change on Jan 6th.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 4:29 pmIf Trump had not done any election denying, if J6 had never happened, would you still be favoring Joe Biden?
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 4:29 pm
Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how was the play? 😛
norcal (f00712) — 3/25/2024 @ 4:32 pmThere are those who see a condom as murder.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 4:25 pm
Yikes.
norcal (f00712) — 3/25/2024 @ 4:37 pmIf Trump had not done any election denying, if J6 had never happened, would you still be favoring Joe Biden?
Yes. Trump is “never-never-not-ever”, Biden is “is-that-the-best-we-can-get?” The difference between a cobra with leprosy and an old pair of shoes with holes in them.
nk (1ed0b9) — 3/25/2024 @ 4:46 pmnk (1ed0b9) — 3/25/2024 @ 4:46 pm
So well said. You have a way with words, nk, and you always bring the funny.
norcal (f00712) — 3/25/2024 @ 5:01 pmWisconsin? Not much leakage across the St. Croix River into Hudson_Eau Claire-LaCrosse, but maybe Madison is just that wacko. Maine would be more problematic depending in which CD Lewiston lies.
urbanleftbehind (99fa90) — 3/25/2024 @ 5:04 pmThe Trump drama plays on:
If things go against Trump, it helps him, because they are attempting to prevent his message from resonating with the People.
If things go in his favor, it helps Trump, because their dastardly attempts are failing before his awesomeness.
——-
Pretty much how it went for Koresh, too.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 5:15 pmPretty much how it went for Koresh, too.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 5:15 pm
Koresh had multiple wives too, only it was concurrent instead of consecutive.
norcal (f00712) — 3/25/2024 @ 5:22 pmThe real problem is that the NY cases, maybe all of them, make Trump’s case far better than the federal cases. I’d say GA, too, but apparently Trump has gotten the Atlanta DA to throw the contest.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 5:46 pmWhen Trump beats the hush-money case, none of the others will matter to the election; the damage will be done.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 5:48 pmTrump has an interesting effect on people like Fani Willis. She could have had a nice run, going from DA to? But Trump shows up in her purview and she starts farting out the odor of mendacity on the national stage, runs off to church and says its all about the racism
steveg (56b52c) — 3/25/2024 @ 6:03 pm@273 “Ensuring respect for election results is a first-order concern. Trump and his election-result-denying followers must be defeated.”
Moby Nick and most other Nevertrumpers were against Trump before any purported election-result-denying and first-order concerns, and in fact were against Trump when he was the target of election-result-denying and first-order concerns. None of this dramatic hand wringing is to be taken seriously.
lloyd (4b28fa) — 3/25/2024 @ 6:12 pmlloyd (4b28fa) — 3/25/2024 @ 6:12 pm
I voted for Trump in 2016. Fool me once…
norcal (f00712) — 3/25/2024 @ 6:17 pmI notice Rolling Stone is already claiming Trump is trying to steal the 2024 election. Laying the groundwork for the narrative if Trump wins a close election it will have been an illegitimate victory due to thievery. We’ve come so far, evolved so much as a nation that both parties are now able to deny election results before the election is held
steveg (56b52c) — 3/25/2024 @ 6:23 pmI notice Rolling Stone is already claiming Trump is trying to steal the 2024 election.
steveg (56b52c) — 3/25/2024 @ 6:23 pm
Is that so far-fetched, considering that Trump already tried to steal an election?
AFAIK, Biden hasn’t tried to steal an election, so it’s seems a little unfair to equate both parties on this issue.
norcal (f00712) — 3/25/2024 @ 6:46 pmFortunately in the courtroom it’s not about how we feelz about the case, but what exactly the evidence shows….and the strength of testimony beyond Michael Cohen.
Is it the case for why Trump shouldn’t be President? No, but it’s criminal behavior and he should be held to account. Did Trump falsify business records to hide affairs that would have hurt him in a general election?
In a perfect world we would be talking about J6 conspiracies and strange classified documents hording. Nothing is perfect here. Maybe Trump will label them perfect affairs, like his perfect phone calls and perfect incitement.
AJ_Liberty (ed602d) — 3/25/2024 @ 7:05 pm@292 In the courtroom, what matters is the jury. And if you don’t believe that, explain why there are highly compensated lawyers whose sole job is to secure the right one. And if you have a prosecutor who won’t prosecute, because the defendant is
lloyd (4b28fa) — 3/25/2024 @ 7:17 pma Democrattoo old and can’t think straight, or you’re in the right venue, you don’t even need one of those lawyers.“What shoudl we be discussing, right now?”
Ukraine, debt, immigration, and civility.
Ukraine influences Chinese policy and the stability of Europe. History watches.
Our biggest threat remains runaway debt. We need to create a political environment where we can meaningfully address it before we hit a tipping point.
The border needs order.
Nothing happens on those last two until we love our country more than we hate our political enemies. The GOP needs a big tent…but it needs to diminish its circus performers. It’s probably the most important revision but it will require the heaviest lifting. People are stuck being a-holes. Our system is predicated on compromise. We are destroying it from within by thinking differently.
AJ_Liberty (ed602d) — 3/25/2024 @ 7:20 pmTrump is laying the groundwork to claim the election was stolen from him.
Rip Murdock (31999a) — 3/25/2024 @ 7:46 pmWe’ve come so far, evolved so much as a nation that both parties are now able to deny election results before the election is held
steveg (56b52c) — 3/25/2024 @ 8:41 pmAFAIK, Biden hasn’t tried to steal an election
Define “steal.” If you mean “miscounting the votes” then yes, you are right. If you mean “tried to rig the electoral college” then you are right again.
But the Democrats made many changes in the rules in 2020 and they all favored getting out “their” vote.
Vote totals:
2020: 158 million
2016: 137 million
2012: 129 million
2008: 131 million
The election of 2020 was different.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 11:37 pmTrump is laying the groundwork to claim the election was stolen from him.
Indeed, and it won’t matter how much he loses by. If he loses by a lot, it will just be huge proof it was stolen. I suspect that, if he wins, he will still claim he should have won by more.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 11:39 pmDid Trump falsify business records to hide affairs that would have hurt him in a general election?
I have this picture of Letitia James, sitting there in her office, minding her own business, when one of her aides comes in and says that — despite her orders to the contrary, they’ve run across evidence that Donald Trump fudged some loan applications and she spends several weeks debating whether to call him on it. But eventually she says “No one is above the Law!” and lets the charges be filed.
I also have this bridge in Manhattan…
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/25/2024 @ 11:43 pm@282 wouldn’t take much. Trump won Wisconsin by 22,000 votes with jill stein getting 38,000 votes. Biden wins Wisconsin by 20,000 votes in 2020 with green party kicked off ballot by democrat operatives.
asset (11f109) — 3/26/2024 @ 12:55 amKevin M meet Kevin D
https://thedispatch.com/article/stop-calling-trumps-new-york-caper-a-no-harm-crime/
Kevin D goes on to describe how bankers chose to take commissions on closing the deal while shorting their shareholders of millions in interest profits. Once revealed, Deutsche Bank exited the relationship….which speaks volumes more than their claims of internal due diligence. The bank stinks. Their client stinks. We can quibble on one or two valuations, but the totality? It was fraud. Let’s not normalize it….
AJ_Liberty (ed602d) — 3/26/2024 @ 4:06 amPoor, poor trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent Donnie, falling into the snares of a scheming, calculating, conniving, cunning, deceitful, designing, duplicitous, Machiavellian, sly, tricky, underhanded, and wily Big City woman.
nk (daa047) — 3/26/2024 @ 4:12 amThe socialist left destroying our nation appreciates your support.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/26/2024 @ 6:34 amAJ_Liberty (ed602d) — 3/26/2024 @ 4:06 am
The principal vs agent problem. But the bank was not shorted much interest. If the true estimated value had been used, the loan would not have been made at all! As you said, the bank later terminated the relationship.
And if the loans would have been made, the bankers would still have collected their commission – maybe more.
There was a problem in that the bank was using a faulty metric of creditworthiness – which depended on cash flow and profits, not the value of the collateral – and the people who authorized the loan knew it.
They also knew how to avoid a default, unlike with the adjustable rate mortgages and the need for constantly rising housing prices before the year 2007 (when they thought they had it figured out:nobodu would ever sella house at a loss)
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 3/26/2024 @ 6:37 amIllegally changing election laws, working with partisan groups to selectively get voters in contradiction of the law, using the CIA to lie about his son that changed voters decisions, trying to imprison your political opponent.
You are deliberately deceiving yourself. Well done.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/26/2024 @ 6:38 amBo, because all the falsification took place after the 2016 election, and the payments themselves if made through the campaign, which there is a good argument should not be made through the campaign, would only have been reported after the election, It was Michael Cohen who wanted it all kept secret,
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 3/26/2024 @ 6:40 amIt’s amazing how quickly so many of you have thrown our ally Israel under the bus. All but ignored because Biden has given the marching orders that Muslim votes are more important than Israeli lives.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/26/2024 @ 6:41 amThrowing allies under the bus is something no Trump supporter should have the effrontery to say. And I don’t mean only NATO.
nk (5db2e8) — 3/26/2024 @ 7:02 amhttps://nypost.com/2024/03/23/us-news/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-accuses-israel-of-genocide-against-palestinians/
Supporting Biden grants these antisemities more power and influence. Enjoy what thou has wrought. Own it.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/26/2024 @ 7:45 am@265
@266
This is one of those situations that we all need to be super careful about what the narratives says about this drug.
Reminder, I’ve worked in the pharmaceutical world for over 20 years.
Here’s what happened:
A bunch of doctors has sued the FDA for not complying with their own FDA regulations.
These doctors are convinced that this drug has much more severe and life-changing complications (sometimes fatal) than what is publicly stated.
The regulations call for providers to document all complications, since this drug is not an approved used for unwanted pregnancy. The regulations calls for mandatory documentations for off-label use. (not just because it’s off-label, there are other reasons)
Statistics in the community does show increases of emergency room visits due to complications of this therapy. A lot, can go wrong using this therapy if done outside of a provider/hospital supervision.
I don’t think standing is going to be an issue, as there are actual ‘persons harmed’ by this therapy in this case. (more than just the doctors).
However, I don’t think SCOTUS could ban this medication to be used off-label, even if they wanted to. What I think they’ll do, is allow states to block this medication to be mailed into their state, a mirror result that of Dobbs if you will. Allow states to make that determination.
whembly (86df54) — 3/26/2024 @ 7:54 am@273
Allahpundit, and those who agrees with him, is wrong, naive and historically shallow.
It’s ALWAYS been about the first order.
Always.
What are elections? Fundamentally?
You might answers that it’s a system by which the voters selects their leaders to run their government.
You might have other pithy responses along that same vein.
But, when we’re talking about human nature… it’s really WAR by proxy.
Human history is undated with the victors of bloody wars dictating how a group of humans should live together.
Modern governance, for all it’s flavor, is simply a proxy for bloody wars.
When a real WAR breaks out, ie Ukraine-Russia or African Civil Wars or US Civil War… it’s because the civic order broke and was unable to handle governing a group of humans at the time in a non-violent way.
All of this by Allahpundit, is simply a means to rationalize his vote for Biden due to personal animus of all-things-Trump, all the while acquiescing to the Democrat’s leftist policies that would take years, if not generations to unwind.
It’s the coward’s way out.
Just save us all the trouble, and simply state that you hate Trump and be done with it.
whembly (86df54) — 3/26/2024 @ 8:05 ambut the totality? It was fraud. Let’s not normalize it…
But is it not normal already? The argument is not that it goes on, nor that the system is corrupt. It’s not even that it is tolerated when it should not be.
It’s that Donald Trump was prosecuted for this because it was a handy way of “getting” him by officials who opposed him politically and vowed to “get” him. Why wasn’t Deutsche Bank served up the same way? God knows they have deeper pockets and a longer history of evil dealing? The answer is easy: they were not Donald Trump.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 8:11 amThrowing allies under the bus is something no Trump supporter should have the effrontery to say.
Indeed. IF Donald Trump were a normal candidate, without his many personal faults, I would still have trouble voting for him given his terrible, no good, Quisling attitude towards foreign policy.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 8:15 amI don’t think standing is going to be an issue, as there are actual ‘persons harmed’ by this therapy in this case. (more than just the doctors).
How were the doctors harmed AT ALL? Why didn’t someone sue representing the women harmed, such as by complication of miscarriage? THEY would have standing; why are they not in court?
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 8:18 amAs far as Trump vs Biden is concerned, while I understand why some will vote for one or the other because of the general directions they represent, I will not.
To me, voting for either of them is acquiescing to the anti-democratic regime of two political parties that control our elections while ignoring the majority of citizens. It is the duopoly that is the danger to America and democracy, not some screaming asshat in a hairpiece and not a senile old coot kicking the can down the
roadKey Bridge.The election has already been stolen. We just don’t know which thief will end up with the loot.
This is a system that has lost the plot almost entirely, and needs to be voted against. My only decision in Novemeber will be whether to vote LP, No Labels, or leave the line blank. Then I will work hard in 2025 to start a centrist party for real.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 8:28 amDJT up 40% this morning. This is the “pump” phase. I wonder if there are PUT options.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 8:33 am“It’s that Donald Trump was prosecuted for this because it was a handy way of “getting” him by officials who opposed him politically and vowed to “get” him. Why wasn’t Deutsche Bank served up the same way? God knows they have deeper pockets and a longer history of evil dealing?”
I get that that is the appearance. It doesn’t help with Leticia James gloating in press conferences that professionally ought not happen.
I also acknowledge that where were these business practice complaints 10 or 15 years ago. If the practice was wrong, why wasn’t it wrong then when the punishment could have been measured to the initial offenses
I also acknowledge that this can’t be the first NYC developer to over-value assets. That too makes this look selective. Is the conduct especially egregious?
As to Deutsche Bank, I think their shareholders ought to have a problem with their practices. I also am not aware that those shareholders will be made whole by Trump’s punishment. Like the housing bubble and collapse, the bankers gladly took commissions on Trump’s business even though they probably could have made their shareholders more money. Is that criminal? Not according to how many bankers actually went to prison because of mortgage fraud. Fines? Yes. Sanctions? Yes. The analogy suffers from the same bug.
We all know already that Trump is a fraudster. Trump University showed us this. Six bankruptcies confirm it. His shoddy practices with contractors and frivolous lawsuits pounds it home. An outrageous judgment doesn’t change what people ought to already know. The problem is that we’re p*ssed off because we aren’t getting the meat: J6 conspiracy, classified document obstruction, and Georgia interference. These are what an informed electorate need to hear about — not whether Trump absurdly can’t measure his penthouse square footage.
But the GOP base just doesn’t care. We have a political ecosystem build around fluffing this guy up. Any sane observer would conclude that an alternative wins in a landslide. Yet here we are….
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 3/26/2024 @ 9:42 amBut the GOP base just doesn’t care. We have a political ecosystem build around fluffing this guy up. Any sane observer would conclude that an alternative wins in a landslide. Yet here we are….
And the Democrat alternative is also not responsive. We have a country well down an unsustainable path, and their guy — no doubt dreaming of his 70s heyday — seems hellbent on exacerbating the problems. Adding debt to debt; allowing unfettered entry of refugees who will increase the burdens on overstrained systems; wanting to add programs to Medicare at a time when even those on Medicare know it cannot go on as it is; advocating for steep national tax increases in a global economy, driving capital elsewhere; and driving an energy transformation top-down when the solutions are always bottom-up.
SEVENTY percent of the voting public wants different nominees, but the two parties have a lock on the process while being controlled by rump factions.
The system has failed on both sides and the center cannot hold.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 9:59 amDJT up 46% now.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 10:00 amWhat were the shareholders losses during the time period of Trump’s loans and what was directly attributable to Trump’s loans?
Or is the notion that Trump is to make the shareholders whole for loses attributed to the system in its entirety?
BuDuh (e0664c) — 3/26/2024 @ 10:01 am@319
The what now?
whembly (86df54) — 3/26/2024 @ 10:26 amDJT is the symbol for Truth Social on the NASDAQ
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 10:32 amI also am not aware that those shareholders will be made whole by Trump’s punishment.
There is a lot of this going around, with governments suing on behalf of consumers and pocketing the judgements. I guess the theory is that they use the money to help everyone, but mostly it’s to help themselves.
It would be more honest to put the money into public pension systems. Not much more, but some.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 10:35 am@323, except that creates a perverse incentive to mismanage the pension system while hoping to get bailed out…but at least it would operate to fix a problem instead of opening a spending spigot somewhere else
AJ_Liberty (5f05c3) — 3/26/2024 @ 10:45 amBuDuh (e0664c) — 3/26/2024 @ 10:01 am <blockquote What were the shareholders losses during the time period of Trump’s loans and what was directly attributable to Trump’s loans? Nothing. The money would go to New York State.
The amount of the judgement was based on a calculation of how much money Trump made as a result of getting those loans, plus interest going back a few years. It is based on the principle of “disgorgement.” Since there is no entity that suffered a loss, the money goes to the government of New York State,
Not at all.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 3/26/2024 @ 10:53 amI don’t think that Trump even gets credit for the taxes (if any) paid on these fraudulently obtained profits.
Sammy Finkelman (c2c77e) — 3/26/2024 @ 10:58 amIt’s government mandated theft. No different than Civil Forfeiture.
NJRob (9d24f4) — 3/26/2024 @ 11:16 am@322
Heh…
Snarky bloke, eh?
whembly (86df54) — 3/26/2024 @ 11:17 amWhembly
In this case, it’s an accurate description of what people think they are buying. Problem is there is no way this stock goes anywhere but down.
Appalled (b29ba4) — 3/26/2024 @ 11:21 am@329
It’s absolutely waaaay overvalued.
When it’s all said and done, it’ll probably settle between $30 – $50 per share.
whembly (86df54) — 3/26/2024 @ 11:35 amSnarky bloke, eh?
Just in case you missed who the source of “TRUTH” was.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 11:45 amWhen it’s all said and done, it’ll probably settle between $30 – $50 per share.
No, it will settle to near zero. But it will climb for a little while still, working on the “greater fool” theory. I could make an argument that it will hold it’s value for the next 6 months, but then Trump sells. The “dump” part of “pump & dump.”
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 11:50 amDiving deeper into DJT:
There are 37 million shares on the NASDAQ. Donald Trump holds 79 million shares and the balance of the 130 million shares are owned by other insiders. Market rules prevent Trump or the other insiders from selling their shares until the stock has been public of 6 months.
So, 28% of the stock is being bid up on the market and some day 72% of the stock is going to be dumped. It’s won’t be a good day for anyone holding the stock.
That doesn’t mean that it won’t go up for a bit. The pre-merger shell company stock was heavily shorted and what we are seeing now is a short-covering rally PLUS Trump partisans putting their money where their mouth is.
PT Barnum could explain this better.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 11:58 amThe six-month lockdown will end in September. Will the chiseler provide his own October surprise to his most devoted, or constrain his greed and let the other major shareholders be the first to dump and bring down his shares? What a cruel world this is that makes people confront such dilemmas!
nk (5db2e8) — 3/26/2024 @ 12:01 pmI’m still waiting for PUT options.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 12:21 pmSchwab sent a notice this morning saying they’d only let you invest in equity in DJT today, but you couldn’t use their platform for options trading. This is GameStop all over again. The short term problem for Trump is that his meme investor supporters won’t keep this up for 6 months until he can finally sell. However, there are plenty of ways he can benefit from this. It’s a pretty easy stock to manipulate due to how much of the shares are tied up, so it could get pumped again to “support” the valuation when he can sell if some billionaire or foreign investor wants to pay him off then by buying his stock at the supposed fair market value. He could probably also use the stock valuation as a way to get credit based on billions of dollars worth (in theory) collateral from the stock. Basically, if he can’t cash in on a greater fool, he will be able to get effectively take a bribe from people who know the stock price is ridiculous but can use it to justify the transaction as being fair market terms.
Turd Ferguson (5ed204) — 3/26/2024 @ 1:06 pmDeutsche Bank has been the subject of numerous criminal and civil sanctions over the years, including $775M in fines for manipulating the LIBOR interest rate.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/26/2024 @ 1:30 pmRFK Jr announces his VP choice of Sergei Brin’s ex-wife and bank account. There are no limits on what a candidate can spend on their own campaign and this may have contributed to his choice.
Just when you thought the Trump-Biden race could not be more disheartening, we add a new direction of crazy. It may be that the anti-vaxx pro-Putin idiot gets significant support.
Where did we go wrong?
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 1:41 pmExcellent news (though Perry Bacon doesn’t think so):
Bacon and I disagree, of course. I think that, if these soft-on-terrorism Congressmen and women can be expelled by Democratic voters, it would be good for the Democrats, good for the nation, and good for the world.
Bacon blames President Biden and establishment Democrats for the primary challenges that may face these “progressives”. I would give Biden and company at least a little credit, if what Bacon says is true.
(It is weird just how often “progressive” is used to describe reactionary, or even tribal, policies.)
Jim Miller (86614c) — 3/26/2024 @ 1:49 pmWe’ll see what DJT looks like after the Board of Directors rescinds the requirement that Trump hold his shares for 6 six months. It will be all downhill once he starts selling to pay his legal bills and campaign.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/26/2024 @ 1:54 pmIt is weird just how often “progressive” is used to describe reactionary, or even tribal, policies.
Or autocratic wannabe dictators like AOC. When your idea of governing is to “force everyone to do ________” (for the best of reasons, of course) then you’re an autocrat statist assh0le, just like Trump.
Does anyone believe that, once in power, the Squad types would peacefully transfer of power while the Earth still needed saving?
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 1:55 pmthe Board of Directors rescinds the requirement that Trump hold his shares for 6 six months.
Can they do that? Aren’t there any Exchange, state or federal rules?
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 1:56 pmthe Board of Directors rescinds the requirement that Trump hold his shares for 6 six months.
If they can, it will just move up the “dump” portion of the operation and the fools and their money will just be parted sooner.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 1:58 pmI love this line in the Nicole Shanahan Wikipedia bio: “In 2022, Shanahan gave $70 million to Blue Meridian Partners, which makes grants to nonprofits to help poverty.”
Unexpected honesty!
(Cross posted from Political Betting.)
Jim Miller (86614c) — 3/26/2024 @ 2:03 pmLOL! If RFKJr wanted to create some pizzazz he should have nominated Aaron Rodgers; otherwise it’s who?.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/26/2024 @ 2:03 pmAt close, DJT 57.99 (+18%), well off the interday high of 79.38 (+61%).
Pretty good for a stock with little actual value.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 2:04 pmLOL! If RFKJr wanted to create some pizzazz he should have nominated Aaron Rodgers; otherwise it’s who?.
$300 million in ads buys a lot of pizzazz. Besides, this is the gal who got between (not literally) Sergei Brin and Elon Musk. Just think of the NY Post headlines available.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 2:06 pmSee here
And here
To give you the relative value Trump Media versus other social media companies, here are the market valuations as of today’s closing prices:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/26/2024 @ 2:13 pmI have no doubt that the Trump-friendly board, led by his son, will do whatever the senior Trump wants.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/26/2024 @ 2:18 pm@339 Every election AOC has run millions of dollars our spent against her. She always gets 70%+ votes. Except summer lee others in heavily democrat districts who love them. aipac has floated millions to get a quisling to run in primary against Tliab.
asset (44cb09) — 3/26/2024 @ 2:27 pmI have no doubt that the Trump-friendly board, led by his son, will do whatever the senior Trump wants.
I guess “fiduciary” and “Trump” never belong together.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 2:31 pmaipac has floated millions to get a quisling to run in primary against Tliab.
Tliab IS a Quisling. Quite literally.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 2:32 pmCongrats to Ronna McDaniel for not learning anything while pretending to be on the right
NJRob (9d24f4) — 3/26/2024 @ 2:47 pmThe scorpion will always sting you. It’s her nature.
The collapse of the bridge in Baltimore is especially frightening. But I expect more of the same under the leftist anti-civilization rules.
NJRob (9d24f4) — 3/26/2024 @ 2:49 pmHow is the left responsible for a bridge collapse?
norcal (c0bc6c) — 3/26/2024 @ 2:53 pmThe party in power is responsible for everything. We’ve all seen the party in power ridiculously claim responsibility for good things that they had nothing to do with. Watch. Someone of the left will try to pin this on Trump or evn back to Bush for scaling back some peripheral regulation
steveg (81f3c2) — 3/26/2024 @ 3:02 pmTrump fanatics will keep Gamestopping, robinhooding DJT for a while but except for that, DJT as close as it comes to a sure bet of a short sale. I don’t the stock price will go to zero any time soon, but single digits after the election would not shock me.
nevertrumpers should be chomping at the bit, putting money on it. Its a stacked decked in their favor too. The valuation cannot hold, Trump will have pre-registered with the SEC to sell some shares at some future point, which always triggers a pull back, $3.3 million in revenue for the first nine months of 2023, according to a regulatory filing.
to $49 million of losses over past 9 months (roughly $400K a month in revenue vs. $5.5M in losses).
I’m not going to short it because I’d rather not be glued to a trading screen all day, but if I had Mark Cuban money and wanted to needle Trump and brag about how much I made off of the Trumpster fire, I’d short it and pay someone else to watch it for me
steveg (81f3c2) — 3/26/2024 @ 3:22 pmMore on standing:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/26/2024 @ 3:23 pmWhat’s unreal about the The collapse of the bridge in Baltimore is that, hours and hours later, they are looking for survivors who are under water. (they could have escaped maybe)
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/26/2024 @ 3:24 pm338. Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 1:41 pm
Campaign finance “reform” starting in 1972.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/26/2024 @ 3:28 pmThe collapse of the bridge in Baltimore is that, hours and hours later, they are looking for survivors who are under water.
Ted Kennedy was unavailable for comment.
norcal (c0bc6c) — 3/26/2024 @ 3:28 pmif Trump loses the General election the SEC will have to halt trading the day of the announcement of results. They may halt it around the election anyway. Forget rigging the election how about getting in on insider early info on election results
steveg (81f3c2) — 3/26/2024 @ 3:32 pmThere there actually was a bubble Mary Jo Kopechne might have survived for some time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chappaquiddick_incident
But that’s two hours, not ten or more.
Also if chilled to the right temperature and revived carefully a person can survive without breathing
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/26/2024 @ 3:36 pmThe pro-crime legislation was done at the state level, mostly after 2015, and we also have “progressive” capture of non-governmental organizations – very hard to undo if they are given some power by law, like in professional organizations or accreditation.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/26/2024 @ 3:38 pmRonna McDaniel is out.
At 10 days, Anthony Scaramucci lasted longer.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/26/2024 @ 3:39 pmMore:
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/26/2024 @ 3:45 pmThis establishes NBC News as taking a position on the 2024 presidential election. They may think it is justified, but it is taking a position.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/26/2024 @ 3:46 pmIn the abortion pill case they seem to be arguing that common use of this pill could cause women more frequently to mistake an ectopic pregnancy for a miscarriage.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/26/2024 @ 3:48 pmRonna McDaniel is out.
At 10 days, Anthony Scaramucci lasted longer.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/26/2024 @ 3:39 pm
You gotta love this line in the article:
Ahaha!
And I have family members who go to McDonald’s.
norcal (c0bc6c) — 3/26/2024 @ 3:50 pmYou just knew it……
As he said, Max Schlapp is no expert, but he is an idiot. The freighter is registered in Singapore, owned by a Singapore firm, and crewed entirely by Indians.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/26/2024 @ 3:52 pmFalling into water and being trapped in a vehicle is a strong fear that I’ve got. Driving on bridges or on roads elevated above shorelines, riverbanks etc. I always think about it enough to have to work through my plan to handle it in order to calm the fear even though I know the “plan” goes sideways upon impact and I may not get a say in how this is gonna go. I think my plan may work if I float down like a feather, truck upright, allowing for an easy unbuckle of the seat belt and step out like the passengers on US Airways Flight 1549 when they found themselves floating on the Hudson
steveg (81f3c2) — 3/26/2024 @ 3:56 pmNo they’re not. What in the argument draws that conclusion?
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/26/2024 @ 4:01 pmThat was just a small portion of the discussion, and certainly the decision will not turn upon it. Beyond the standing questions, the plaintiffs want to overturn the judgement of the FDA, the result of which would allow anyone to object for any reason to a FDA approval for any drug.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/26/2024 @ 4:08 pmDidn’t say that. You didn’t read what I said.
I said future collapses will be due to them. And DEI is why. They don’t care about getting the best and brightest. Only those that spout the right propaganda.
NJRob (308dcd) — 3/26/2024 @ 4:18 pmDear Ronna McDaniel:
Tolerance is only for things we like.
–NBC
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 4:48 pmI said future collapses will be due to them. And DEI is why. They don’t care about getting the best and brightest.
How would a roomful of Einsteins have prevented that bridge collapse?
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 4:49 pmif Trump loses the General election the SEC will have to halt trading the day of the announcement of results. They may halt it around the election anyway. Forget rigging the election how about getting in on insider early info on election results
Why? I’m hoping to buy some stocks cheap after the Trumpies are done selling their stuff at a loss.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 4:51 pmOther accounts mused that the shipping company must have adopted “diversity, equity and inclusion” policies that lowered hiring standards and resulted in less-qualified staff piloting the ship.
The ship was being piloted by two harbor pilots. The real question is why did it lose power and why they could not get power back.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 4:53 pmThe problem I have with Ronna McDaniel’s firing is that it is one more instance of a political blacklist being imposed by the Left. For people who get all bent out of shape when one says “Stalin’s propagandists deserved their place on the old Hollywood Blacklist” to turn around and find something FAR less sinister (than working for world domination by a crazy murderous thug) is deserving of the same is risible.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 4:58 pmReading comprehension please.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/26/2024 @ 5:09 pmNo, I get it. You think that our engineering problems are due to DEI. And I think our political problems are due to DJT. One of us is right.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 5:20 pmThere is no bridge built that would withstand a direct hit by a million-ton ship on a span support. Some might be strong enough to sink the ship, too, but the bridge support is going down regardless.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 5:22 pmF=ma
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 5:23 pm“Falling into water and being trapped in a vehicle is a strong fear that I’ve got. Driving on bridges or on roads elevated above shorelines, riverbanks etc. I always think about it enough to have to work through my plan to handle it in order to calm the fear even though I know the “plan” goes sideways upon impact and I may not get a say in how this is gonna go. I think my plan may work if I float down like a feather, truck upright, allowing for an easy unbuckle of the seat belt and step out like the passengers on US Airways Flight 1549 when they found themselves floating on the Hudson”
I have a similar fear, even though I rarely drive over bridges. I bought a glass breaker tool similar to this that I keep in the door next to me.
Davethulhu (1a1e24) — 3/26/2024 @ 5:25 pm“I said future collapses will be due to them. And DEI is why. They don’t care about getting the best and brightest. Only those that spout the right propaganda.”
You’re ridiculous.
Davethulhu (1a1e24) — 3/26/2024 @ 5:26 pmWhat they are now saying is that some “fender” structure might have saved the support — this has worked in other places — but no such structure was in place. It would also have to be fairly robust to turn a ship of that size and mass. It’s not a trivial exercise.
I expect there to be some refitting happening over the next decade, courtesy of a few of Uncle Sugar’s spare trillions.
As for DEI, the engineers that designed that bridge in the 1960s and 70s were not DEI products. Not hardly.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 5:35 pmDEI had nothing to do with a foreign freighter that lost its steering and was crewed by Indians.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/26/2024 @ 5:42 pm@382
Embrace the healing power of ‘AND‘.
Both can be true at the same time. 😉
whembly (86df54) — 3/26/2024 @ 5:46 pmOf course, there are others that believe that DEI was involved:
Even if Port of Baltimore Commissioner Karenthia Barber provides DEI consulting services, it’s hard to see what that has to do with the collision.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/26/2024 @ 5:48 pmCorrect me if I am wrong, but here is another news cycle and we haven’t heard anything from Donald Trump. He hasn’t blamed Biden either for the terrorist attack in Moscow (or sent his condolences to Putin), or the freighter hitting the bridge. He’s losing his step.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/26/2024 @ 5:56 pmHere is what Trump is doing. Ever the huckster.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/26/2024 @ 5:57 pmSince you asked:
You can’t keep Whiny Donnie out of the news.
nk (e79065) — 3/26/2024 @ 6:06 pmHilarious that Bible’s website proclaims it to be “the ONLY Bible inspired by America’s most recognized patriotic anthem, God Bless The USA.””
And here I thought scripture was supposed to be God-breathed.
JRH (14e837) — 3/26/2024 @ 6:18 pmTwo out of Two Corinthians agree!
Davethulhu (1a1e24) — 3/26/2024 @ 6:31 pmWhat Trump really needs to do is send a copy of Randall Monroe’s “Thing Explainer” to his followers. Example page
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 6:38 pmThree Body Problem…..pretty cool
AJ_Liberty (547ea8) — 3/26/2024 @ 6:54 pmDavid Lat commented on the clerks working for Judge Cannon and quitting Judge Cannon. Lat noticed a major turning point in Cannon’s conduct, but I believe he missed the significance of it.
It’s not out of the realm of possibility that, when the Trump case hit her docket (and hit it again), that she was either bought off by Trump (or a cut-out) or extorted or blackmailed by Trump (or a cut-out). Her behavior before and after she took the Trump cases raises that suspicion for me, especially because Trump is a bully and a gangster.
Maybe she’s in over her head, as George Conway suggests, but it could be something worse, and more sinister. It at least merits consideration. Her first major mistake (her appointing a special master that was overturned per curiam by the 5th Circuit) could maybe be a one-off, but her ridiculous jury instructions is a second major ding in her performance as a judge.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/26/2024 @ 7:52 pmOnly cultists need apply at Trump’s RNC.
It’s yet one more reason why Trump must lose. That, you can only be employed by Trump if you’re loyal enough to be complicit in his Big Lie.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/26/2024 @ 8:22 pmNot a good sign for future Trump administration appointees, and those supporters who believe his appointees will restrain Trump’s baser instincts.
Rip Murdock (31999a) — 3/26/2024 @ 8:27 pmRip Murdock (31999a) — 3/26/2024 @ 8:27 pm
Exactly. I wouldn’t be surprised if Trump gave the same litmus test to prospective Supreme Court nominees.
What’s that? You think the Senate Republicans would dare to oppose Trump and not vote to confirm? If so, you haven’t been paying attention.
norcal (12f1cf) — 3/26/2024 @ 9:15 pmHere is what Trump is doing. Ever the huckster.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/26/2024 @ 5:57 pm
The Bibles even come with a copy of the U.S. Constitution. You know, the one Trump wants to terminate.
norcal (12f1cf) — 3/26/2024 @ 9:18 pm@401 Maybe you need to read Paul’s link:
Which Trump appointees are we supposed to fear?
lloyd (a92e4e) — 3/26/2024 @ 9:28 pm@380 media cowardice. establishment is very vulnerable. I guess they didn’t learn from bud light. As a person opposed to censorship I am not in favor of her firing.
asset (cbe411) — 3/26/2024 @ 9:31 pmRemind me. Did Trump appoint Robert Hur as special counsel, who shielded Biden from prosecution?
lloyd (a92e4e) — 3/26/2024 @ 9:32 pmI thought reagan was the anti-christ ;but it looks like every time trump gets in trouble beelzebub comes to his rescue. I didn’t know trump had a soul to sell to the devil!
asset (cbe411) — 3/26/2024 @ 9:36 pmBiden isn’t “shielded from prosecution.” No matter what Hur said in his report, two things true:
1) As President, Biden is immune from indictment under longstanding DOJ policy; and
2) The Hur report’s conclusions about President Biden are not binding on the next Trump Administration.
Rip Murdock (31999a) — 3/26/2024 @ 9:57 pmI thought reagan was the anti-christ
That was Stalin. Or didn’t you notice?
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/26/2024 @ 10:01 pmTrump just told everyone why NBC should’ve never hired the RNC lapdog that he fired…
Trump didn’t “advise” Ronna to remove “Romney” from her name, he bullied her, and she’s the docile minion who let it happen. It’s why Ronna never should’ve been hired and why Trump should never again be elected. To anything.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/26/2024 @ 10:03 pmGarland, a Democrat appointee, appointed a Republican to investigate a Democrat, lloyd. There’s truly nothing that will satisfy The Cult.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/26/2024 @ 10:17 pmWhich Trump appointees are we supposed to fear?
lloyd (a92e4e) — 3/26/2024 @ 9:28 pm
I meant prospective Court nominees if Trump were to win a second term. This time it’s going to be yes-men and yes-women all around him.
norcal (12f1cf) — 3/26/2024 @ 11:36 pmEven more so than throwing allies under the bus, lowering of standards is something that no Trump supporter should have the effrontery to say.
nk (e79065) — 3/27/2024 @ 4:07 amAs for Ronna McDaniel, women of negotiable affection are the only women who are Trump’s “type”.
nk (e79065) — 3/27/2024 @ 4:19 amYou’re indoctrinated. I’m correct.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/27/2024 @ 4:28 amYa’ll should really watch this.
whembly (86df54) — 3/27/2024 @ 6:18 amhttps://x.com/immeme0/status/1772279457711034482?s=46&t=LbMzhpSB3yC2zvXzo7p_IA
https://www.nationalreview.com/news/desantis-spikes-the-ball-as-disney-drops-suit-challenging-loss-of-special-district-status/
Republican primary voters done f’ed up.
What we coulda had…
whembly (86df54) — 3/27/2024 @ 10:00 amRepublican primary voters got what they wanted.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/27/2024 @ 10:30 amhttps://hotair.com/ed-morrissey/2024/03/27/breaking-disney-surrenders-in-reedy-creek-war-n3785480
Everyone who said DeSantis was wrong and Disney would win is eating crow right now.
NJRob (f78e00) — 3/27/2024 @ 11:09 amI said they were both wrong. DeSantis for his ham-fisted behavior, Disney for trying to rush the deal through at midnight.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/27/2024 @ 11:16 amBelieve it or not, a politician can act legally and still be an asshat for doing so. See Biden, Joe.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/27/2024 @ 11:17 amhttps://www.newsnationnow.com/us-news/southeast/florida-remove-squatters-rights/
DeSantis may not get everything right…
Some may warrant criticisms, even within his own party…
But, this model of identifying a legitimate problem and immediately solving it should be imitated by all GOP politicians.
No fanfare, bloviation or fundraising emails.
Just… do it. –insert the Nike swish–
whembly (86df54) — 3/27/2024 @ 11:43 amI agree, whembly. If only Los Angeles decided not to be a squatter heaven.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/27/2024 @ 11:55 amCan’t wait to hear how long it’ll take to for Biden to rebuild the bridge. He’s vowed to “move Heaven and Earth” to get it done, so wow.. First comes the Environmental Impact Study, then the lawsuits challenging it. Then the bids, first to the well connected and next to the DEI civil engineers. Then, an endangered horn crab or gullet will be discovered, more lawsuits. After that, round up all the solar powered construction equipment run by a certified trans diverse asylum seeking crew. Then lawsuits about the name because Francis Scott Key owned slaves. This should be a breeze. Let’s call it Operation Warped Sped.
lloyd (e74fab) — 3/27/2024 @ 1:06 pmWe’ll see how far passing a law toward “immediately solving” the problem.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/27/2024 @ 1:27 pmI won’t hold my breath.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/27/2024 @ 1:30 pmThat didn’t take long:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/27/2024 @ 2:21 pmDemocrat marylin lands running on abortion flips alabama state house seat by 63% of vote. She ran ads about having an abortion herself. Abortion will still be issue in november.
asset (2ed1a2) — 3/27/2024 @ 2:28 pmlloyd (e74fab) — 3/27/2024 @ 1:06 pm
In this instance, I agree with you. I saw how long it took (about 20 years) to build a new section of the Bay Bridge after the 1989 earthquake.
norcal (12f1cf) — 3/27/2024 @ 2:33 pmThere were no cars on the bridge as I thought I heard. There were 8 construction workers filling potholes taking a break. Two lived.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/27/2024 @ 2:44 pmRIP former Sen. Joseph Lieberman (82).
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/27/2024 @ 3:02 pm11 years-2002-2013. Still long though.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/27/2024 @ 3:04 pmOnly 3 years to build: 1933-36.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/27/2024 @ 3:06 pmI’m sure in exchange for their votes the House will waive many of the environmental requirements to rebuild the FSK bridge.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/27/2024 @ 3:09 pm11 years-2002-2013. Still long though.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/27/2024 @ 3:04 pm
If you measure when construction started. The earthquake was in 1989. Lloyd’s point about all the red tape beforehand is valid.
norcal (12f1cf) — 3/27/2024 @ 3:12 pmRIP Joe Lieberman, a sane Democrat whom William F. Buckley helped elect over the odious Republican Lowell Weicker.
norcal (12f1cf) — 3/27/2024 @ 3:15 pm@424
There’s a special exception for things Democrat presidents running for re-election want.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/27/2024 @ 3:46 pmIt will probably be done before the Moonbeam Express is running from LA to SF.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/27/2024 @ 3:48 pmRIP sculptor Richard Serra (85):
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/27/2024 @ 4:03 pmMore on the Texas SB 4 litigation:
The Supreme Court has interpreted this Clause to mean:
See Luther v. Borden (1849); Presser v. Illinois (1886); and Torres v. Texas Department of Public Safety (2022).
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/27/2024 @ 4:55 pmNo Labels, no candidate:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/27/2024 @ 5:03 pmThe only way No Labels makes any sense is if they put forth a candidate that would be a certainty to take more votes from Trump than from Biden.
DeSantis would be a good candidate for that, but he’s already pledged his support for Orange Julius.
norcal (12f1cf) — 3/27/2024 @ 5:17 pmGiven that the aim of No Labels is to present a bipartisan unity ticket, DeSantis is certainly not the right candidate.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/27/2024 @ 5:30 pmGiven that the aim of No Labels is to present a bipartisan unity ticket, DeSantis is certainly not the right candidate.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/27/2024 @ 5:30 pm
I know. I’m just giving No Labels a more valuable goal. After Trump and MAGA are gone, No Labels can go back to being centrists, but right now centrism might pull more votes from Biden, and that won’t do when facing the coup-plotting degenerate that is Trump.
norcal (12f1cf) — 3/27/2024 @ 5:44 pmI am beginning to think that a free press was a mistake.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/27/2024 @ 6:03 pmWhatever triggered that thought? You would prefer a government-controlled press?
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/27/2024 @ 6:07 pmNo Labels was never serious about anything but fielding an anti-Trump spoiler. They’ve hedged and delayed at every point, and now I expect them to fold, or to find some inoffensive milquetoast “candidate” who will be outpolled by most third parties.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/27/2024 @ 6:11 pmWhatever triggered that thought? You would prefer a government-controlled press?
That we live in a system where everyone is screaming at everyone else, egged on by the profit margins of the news media.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/27/2024 @ 6:13 pmWhatever triggered that thought? You would prefer a government-controlled press?
I would prefer civil discourse.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/27/2024 @ 6:14 pmYou can always read the Russian or Chinese press, where every newspaper has the same headlines and there is no disagreement.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/27/2024 @ 6:16 pmWith a few exceptions, I think the discourse here is pretty civil. You can only control what you say and how you say it, but you can’t change society at large.
Rip Murdock (31999a) — 3/27/2024 @ 6:30 pmI can’t help but notice that Lieberman and Biden are the same age.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/27/2024 @ 7:23 pmBiden is going to live into his 90’s. He won’t know much about whats going on, but he seems vigorous enough body wise.
steveg (d78cad) — 3/27/2024 @ 8:29 pmLieberman and Biden were the same age, but Biden is pulling away down the stretch.
My relatives on both sides have lived well into 90’s with a few cracking 100 and one living until 108. My retirement plan is me working.
steveg (d78cad) — 3/27/2024 @ 8:49 pmI’ve gotten to see how those two gene pools handle age, and Biden reminds me of the ones on my moms side who lived long in healthy bodies, but by late 90’s weren’t all that aware mentally. The brain was very high powered at keeping the body running, not so much on the spinning of the hard drive
I can’t help but notice that Lieberman and Biden are the same age.
This may change.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/27/2024 @ 9:37 pmNot until next year.
Rip Murdock (31999a) — 3/27/2024 @ 9:55 pmAfter the election, but this year. Maybe.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/27/2024 @ 10:38 pmSpeaking of grifters netanyahu finally realized welfare queens shouldn’t be bellicose. Biden explained to him he who pays the piper calls the tune! Stalling on finishing the war to keep election and then prosecution away. The jig is up. The bottle deposit crook will now send delegation to Washington after canceling it in a fit pique. I have posted many times Israel needs to destroy hamas quickly ;but netanyahu for personal reason wants the war to go on as long as possible.
asset (f19012) — 3/27/2024 @ 11:44 pmNo labels needs to run the rock and a woman. Kari lake?
asset (f19012) — 3/27/2024 @ 11:47 pmNo Labels should run Sam Bankman-Fried + O J Simpson. Why settle for a maybe felon when you can have actual felons?
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/28/2024 @ 8:54 amHow bad is the birth rate in Japan? This bad.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/28/2024 @ 9:02 amTwo more reminders: Following Trump is not likely to be good for you:
Jeffrey Clark.
Mike Lindell.
I feel sorry for Lindell, who, until he began following Trump. was a business success, with a powerful personal story.
(Following Trump might be good for you if you are also a con man.)
Jim Miller (eb7371) — 3/28/2024 @ 9:21 amSam Bankman-Fried catches a break, sentenced to 25 years in prison (prosecutors requested 50). With good behavior he will be out in 20 there is no parole in the federal prison system) and 52 years old.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/28/2024 @ 9:38 amShould “Cancel Culture” really be called “Blacklist Culture”?
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/28/2024 @ 10:57 amLawd…
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-attends-slain-nypd-officer-jonathan-dillers-wake
Trump attended that slain officer’s wake.
While at the same time President Biden is doing a campaign funding with Lizzo, Clinton and Obama.
O.o
whembly (86df54) — 3/28/2024 @ 12:35 pm“Sam Bankman-Fried catches a break, sentenced to 25 years in prison”
There goes the Democrats’ sugar daddy, second only to Soros.
Good luck finding a news report that even mentions his political donations, or if they do it’s “he gave to both parties”, implying it was done equally. It’s not even close.
lloyd (f95641) — 3/28/2024 @ 12:52 pmPresenting our AI Csar:
lloyd (f95641) — 3/28/2024 @ 12:57 pmHis campaign contributions, and their recipients, were reported extensively in 2022 and 2023 (for example, here and here), and are publicly available.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/28/2024 @ 1:08 pmTrump attended that slain officer’s wake.
Given NYC politics and how the DA is more a defense attorney than a prosecutor, I can see that Trump would get a better reception than Biden would.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/28/2024 @ 1:26 pmHis campaign contributions, and their recipients, were reported extensively in 2022 and 2023
But somehow there wasn’t space enough in the sentencing stories to mention it.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/28/2024 @ 1:33 pmCorrection:
There were seven construction workers and one inspector. Two were in a pick-up truck. Their bodies were later recovered. There was reason to try to rescue people because they fell into the water. Two were rescued, one with a broken leg who was checked into and out of a hospital. That leaves four but they say five are missing. Or were there nine people on the bridge?
Some containers were breached and possibly some toxic material leaked and in any case it’s murky with metal (?) etc. floating around. So they called off the rescue and recovery, also because the temperature of the water was too low for anyone to stay in it or floating on top of it for hours.
They keep on reporting that police stopped cars from going on to the bridge, but there wasn’t time enough to do that and there is nothing that shows that even one car was prevented from going on to the bridge (except maybe after it collapsed)
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/28/2024 @ 1:57 pmNo Labels should run Sam Bankman-Fried + O J Simpson.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/28/2024 @ 8:54 am
Not a bad idea. I’m confident O.J. could slash the budget.
norcal (5b1dfa) — 3/28/2024 @ 1:59 pmThe irony. A right-wing election denier who is serving as Vice Chair of the Georgia Republican Party is busted for casting illegal votes on nine occasions.
Paul Montagu (d4d407) — 3/28/2024 @ 2:14 pm@468 Funny. If Bankman-Fried had given Trump $1, the headlines today would be “Trump donor sentenced to 25 years”
lloyd (f95641) — 3/28/2024 @ 2:18 pm473. I have never believed that Trump got eleven million more votes running against Biden than he got running against Hillary. It defies the laws of nature. There had to be rampant cheating like this gerbil’s. Just not enough.
And it chimes with the Trumpies accusing others of what they themselves are guilty of.
nk (b38a00) — 3/28/2024 @ 2:28 pm@465 Biden could easily ask his donors to chip in for the police officer’s family, but of course he won’t. Half his donors would be offended, and it’s a bad PR move for a Democrat. Fortunately, others are filling the void:
lloyd (f95641) — 3/28/2024 @ 3:12 pmWall Street Journal Op-ed by Joe Lieberman a week ago (March 21)
https://www.wsj.com/articles/schumer-crossed-a-red-line-over-israel-democrats-cater-to-those-against-jerusalem-a2ff3d37
There was a letter responding to it (saying this was not something new for Schumer) printed in the Wall Street Journal today.
https://www.wsj.com/articles/chuck-schumer-israel-iran-senate-8550958a?mod=opinion_feat4_letterstoeditors_pos1
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/28/2024 @ 3:25 pm475. nk (b38a00) — 3/28/2024 @ 2:28 pm
There was greater turnout – more votes were recorded on both tickets. This was probably because of greater interest. And there were changes in law made it easier to vote absentee, so more people voted in spite of the disease.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/28/2024 @ 3:28 pmOvernight radio show discussion of Joe Lieberman, mostly by ABC radio 770 am host Frank Moreno:
https://wabcradio.com/episode/hour-2-no-labels-lives-on-03-28-24/#/
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/28/2024 @ 3:34 pmLOL!
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/28/2024 @ 3:54 pmHistorian Paula Fredriksen tries to correct the record:
I wish her luck, but the kind of propaganda she refutes is so useful to some that it won’t die.
(Her reminders that the Palestinian Authority and Hamas have not exactly been friendly to Christians, either, won’t get much attention, for the same reason.)
Jim Miller (d27b9c) — 3/28/2024 @ 4:05 pmThe irony. A right-wing election denier who is serving as Vice Chair of the Georgia Republican Party is busted for casting illegal votes on nine occasions.
“Needs context”
The guy had been convicted of a felony in 1996 in PA. He received 3 years probation. In 1999 he moved to GA. Apparently the move caused his probation to be reset, although he claims not to have known. In PA, the end of probation allows one to vote.
In 2008 he registered to vote in GA, and checked the box saying that he was not a felon serving a sentence. However, in fact he was, since PA had not cleared his probationary period (and still has not). Since 2008 he has voted in primaries and general election for a total of 8 times. He has not voted more than once in any election, as several articles implied (above the fold).
So, “needs context”
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/28/2024 @ 5:20 pmThere was greater turnout – more votes were recorded on both tickets. This was probably because of greater interest. And there were changes in law made it easier to vote absentee, so more people voted in spite of the disease.
Captain Obvious buries the lead.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/28/2024 @ 5:23 pm@480
Farce #1: Republican politician makes incorrect assumption.
Farce #2: Hundreds of thousands of undisclosed direct flights containing undisclosed occupants from other countries, of unknown vetting, arriving in undisclosed locations without knowledge of local authorities, facilitated by our own government.
Guess which farce Rip, Democrats and the media think is the bigger one.
Democrats could end the confusion by terminating the program. Instead, all voted to continue the farce.
lloyd (f95641) — 3/28/2024 @ 5:48 pmHere is some more context:
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/28/2024 @ 5:49 pm*hundreds of thousands of migrants, not flights
lloyd (f95641) — 3/28/2024 @ 5:49 pmHardly undisclosed-the program was the subject of litigation in Texas (which Texas lost on standing grounds).
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/28/2024 @ 5:55 pmRip,
The point is that the headline implies that he voted multiple times in the last election, and you have to drill down into the story to know that it’s a far more technical thing.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/28/2024 @ 5:59 pmIt was such a heinous crime that he was fined $5000 and “reprimanded”
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/28/2024 @ 5:59 pm@487 As usual, you’re playing the same nonsensical semantics games as the media. The flights, their occupants, their vetting and their destinations are all undisclosed. Secret. The program itself is not undisclosed, nor did I say it was.
lloyd (f95641) — 3/28/2024 @ 6:00 pmThe headline says no such thing. “GOP official who claimed 2020 election was stolen voted illegally 9 times, judge rules” is entirely true.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/28/2024 @ 6:03 pm“GOP official who claimed 2020 election was stolen voted illegally 9 times, judge rules” is entirely true.
It is not until the 3rd or 4th paragraph that is is said that this was over more than one election. If your read the comments in places like the WaPo, it’s obvious that’s what was inferred.
It’s even further that you find out that it had to do with “what constitutes the end of the prohibition period” in two separate states. Even if he was prohibited from voting in PA, that does not mean he was prohibited in GA.
He was given a slap on the wrist because to the judge it was a petty matter.
————
If I said that you had 8 or 9 drinks before driving last night, it would probably be “absolutely true.” Of course that might have been over some considerable time….
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/28/2024 @ 6:10 pmGOP official who claimed 2020 election was stolen
And if you don’t think that most people read that as he voted multiple times in 2020, you confuse half-truths with truth. Typical.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/28/2024 @ 6:11 pmI guess you can read into the headline anything you want.
Rip Murdock (31999a) — 3/28/2024 @ 6:21 pmI get outraged over illegal immigrants who get off planes and into buses with police escorts.
Rip Murdock (31999a) — 3/28/2024 @ 6:24 pmI guess that’s the problem in having a free press. There’s only so much information you can provide in a headline, which of course is why readers should click the link.
Rip Murdock (31999a) — 3/28/2024 @ 6:46 pmKevin calling out dishonest tactics. Sounds about right.
NJRob (eb56c3) — 3/28/2024 @ 7:17 pmI put the link there for a reason, Kevin. No reason to have kittens about it. He’s been a sleazebag since he forged checks in the 1990s, and today he’s a state vice chair in my party.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/28/2024 @ 7:51 pmAnyways, the hypocrisy should be smacking anyone in the face with a 50-pound halibut.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/28/2024 @ 8:00 pmElection denier channeling Trump’s assertions of “massive fraud” and “vote rigging” turns out to be the guy who cast illegal votes.
Kevin calling out dishonest tactics. Sounds about right.
There’s apologists on both sides.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/28/2024 @ 9:40 pmHe’s been a sleazebag since he forged checks in the 1990s, and today he’s a state vice chair in my party.
Yeah and the president’s son makes him look like Mother Teresa. This is a snide little hit piece for political gain, to allow sophomores of all ages to think they have a point.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/28/2024 @ 9:42 pmthe guy who cast illegal votes
A vote that would be legal in California or New York.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/28/2024 @ 9:44 pm@502 speaking of illegal voting brian pritchard a republican party official from georgia and election denier who claims democrats cheat, caught illegally voting 9 times!(du) Also cancun ted cruz wants feds to pay for escorts when he travels in airports like coming back from cancun while texans were dying from freezing to death. (du)
asset (9b1d54) — 3/28/2024 @ 9:54 pmNo, Kevin, it’s about hypocrisy. This isn’t hard. If you’re going to accuse the other side of cheating, at least don’t be a cheater.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/28/2024 @ 10:24 pmPa. court says its now legal to not count legal votes from citizens if they forget to put date on outside of envelope. Pa. republican leg. put this new law in when republican think tanks told them they would disenfranchise more democrats then republicans especially in minority districts. In Az republican think tanks told rep. leg. many more democrats would not have readily available birth certificates especially on navajo indian reservation and forcing voters to show birth certificate would greately cut down on democrat vote.
asset (9b1d54) — 3/28/2024 @ 11:38 pmIrrelevant. Different states have different laws. It’s called federalism.
Rip Murdock (5d7b3b) — 3/29/2024 @ 7:23 amNo, Kevin, it’s about hypocrisy
No, it’s just propaganda. To enjoy it you have to belong to the tribe.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/29/2024 @ 7:49 amMeanwhile in Texas…..
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/29/2024 @ 8:54 amKevin M is right about the impression the story, as written, makes this sound like the guy was doing his illegal voting in 2020 (multiple times). He’s wrong that this is a nothing story. People in Florida are thrown in jail or fined heavily for similar conduct, and a woman in Texas was sentenced to five years in jail (now just overturned) for similar conduct.
Appalled (374945) — 3/29/2024 @ 8:56 amIrrelevant. Different states have different laws. It’s called federalism.
And while one should know the law in all those states, some people do not. Even if he knew that his probation was never cleared, that does not mean he knew that GA law prevented him from voting. Ignorance of the law is a defense if “knowing” is part of the offense.
In any event, the judge gave him a very light penalty and everyone moved on but the propagandists.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/29/2024 @ 8:58 amHe’s wrong that this is a nothing story. People in Florida are thrown in jail or fined heavily
But not in this case here. Different state, different penalties. Different governors, too. Again, ask me why I am not a fan of Mr DeSantis or Abbot.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/29/2024 @ 9:00 amThat’s the defendant’s problem-rather than guess he should have consulted a lawyer.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/29/2024 @ 9:21 amWe should welcome the leftist media’s newfound concern about voting laws, and about felons voting. This of course will only last as long as whatever duration this latest example of
vote suppressionhypocrisy can remain in the news, and it’s only news because Pritchard is a Republican.As long as people are their own judge of eligibility, errors will happen, intentional or accidental. A solution is voter identification cross checked against an eligibility database which, unsurprisingly, the Left and Nevertrump are dead set against.
lloyd (56c18d) — 3/29/2024 @ 9:29 amThe Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) allows states to check their voter rolls against Social Security death records, USPS change of addresses, out of state voter registrations, and DMV records to detect possible cases of illegal voting. However, it is now less effective since Iowa, Missouri, Louisiana, Texas, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Alabama, and Florida have withdrawn their participation.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/29/2024 @ 9:42 am@514 All of which has nothing to do with Pritchard’s case, and is useless without voter identification.
lloyd (56c18d) — 3/29/2024 @ 9:47 amRIP Oscar- and Emmy-winning actor Louis Gossett, Jr. (87):
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/29/2024 @ 9:53 amThat’s how Georgia determined his probation had been extended several times by Pennsylvania courts. Voter identification wouldn’t have caught that.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/29/2024 @ 9:55 amCynics can say what they want, or attach whatever motives they like, Trump took the time to do it:
This, while Biden attended a $500K per plate fundraiser where none of the donors offered crumbs to the slain officer’s family.
lloyd (56c18d) — 3/29/2024 @ 9:58 amGeorgia requires a photo ID to vote, which in this case didn’t matter.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/29/2024 @ 10:06 amFor both in-person and absentee voting.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/29/2024 @ 10:07 am@519 Why yes, Rip, Georgia has
lloyd (56c18d) — 3/29/2024 @ 10:15 amracist, suppressive. Jim Crow rulesvoter ID as a requirement. You, MLB and WaPo suddenly think that’s peachy.Let’s get real here. There’s no concern about vote integrity in hyping this story. This is just trolling for hypocrisy, which the Post reporter and those touting the story can find by just looking in the mirror.
lloyd (56c18d) — 3/29/2024 @ 10:19 amI have never argued against voter ID laws, but since you said the solution was voter ID, you are now being hoisted on your own petard when those laws failed to stop an ineligible voter from voting nine times.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/29/2024 @ 10:19 am#518
Usually, cynics just look at Trump’s conduct over the years regarding the fallen to guage his likely sincerity:
https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKCN1NF0NU/
Appalled (374945) — 3/29/2024 @ 10:22 am@523 Of course, you remember that I said voter identification combined with an eligibility database. That the existing database is inadequate, and to your liking, is not my concern.
lloyd (56c18d) — 3/29/2024 @ 10:29 am@524 Thank you for highlighting yet another media headline that doesn’t match the details. Trump made that call regarding adequate helicopter ceiling, did he? I’ll bet he also made the call for Kobe.
lloyd (56c18d) — 3/29/2024 @ 10:33 am@523 “I have never argued against voter ID laws”
You have never argued for voter ID laws, until this story.
lloyd (56c18d) — 3/29/2024 @ 10:38 amERIC may no longer be adequate due to the exodus of Republican states as noted above.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/29/2024 @ 10:38 amApparently ERIC was useful enough to catch Pritchard’s court cases in Pennsylvania, which showed he was ineligible to vote under Georgia law.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/29/2024 @ 10:45 amWould he have paid any attention to this, if the timing of the crime hadn’t been exactly right? Trump shouldn’t get praised for this, and Biden shouldn’t be criticized – although Trump made his point of view clear: It is a very bad thing to shoot cops.
How this came down was that the person with the gun (who had spent one year in jail before for illegally possessing a gun) was afraid of going to jail, but somehow he was not afraid of shooting and possibly killing a cop. Did he hope to escape? (the gun jammed and did not shoot the second cop – they always now never have one cop along stop a car.)
Or was he afraid of what would happen to him in jail? But still..
The perp must have panicked. Unless he knew where the bullet proof vest ended and aimed below it. This can’t have been good police work. They were parked in a bus stop and staying in the car and the cops probably suspected more. This was not played well. It caused the suspected criminal to shoot the cop.
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/29/2024 @ 11:03 am484. lloyd (f95641) — 3/28/2024 @ 5:48 pm
It wasn’t a safe assumption.
What’s undisclosed about it? Do any other passenger flights into the United States get reported with passenger lists or details? Local authorities did not need to be notified because they all had destinations (sponsors)
And what is this about “hundreds of thousands” of flights
Sammy Finkelman (1d215a) — 3/29/2024 @ 11:11 amI’m gonna assume Dana has the day off from presenting another Weekend Open Thread due to it being Good Friday.
Hoping everyone has a joyful Easter weekend/holiday.
qdpsteve again (3ccf23) — 3/29/2024 @ 12:45 pmYou’re full of sh-t, because I’m as untribed as anyone.
Paul Montagu (3f4f61) — 3/29/2024 @ 2:28 pm@512 Because republicans used voter ID laws to suppress legal citizen democrats from voting not illegal voting. In pa. if you don’t put date on out side of mail in ballot it is illegal vote by legal citizen. The number of people illegally voting is minuscule so much that it gets reported in the press and usually by republicans!
asset (5d11cf) — 3/29/2024 @ 3:05 pmBeing the adult in the room does not work with Donnie. You need other kids to give him a noogie, followed by a wedgie and a dunking in the toilet.
nk (018793) — 3/29/2024 @ 3:16 pmYou’re full of sh-t, because I’m as untribed as anyone.
You belong to the “Trump and the Republicans are evil” tribe.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/29/2024 @ 3:59 pmSo, what we have determined is that this national-headline case about someone voting “multiple times illegally” was in fact a ministerial examination of the voting laws of two states and what tights the status of a person in one state affected in another state.
My complaint was
1) This is gotcha propaganda, blowing something completely out of proportion by means of half-truths and misdirection.
2) Anti-Trump pounced.
Kevin M (8676e4) — 3/29/2024 @ 4:03 pmI also resent being fooled by clickbait. But at least they got no click from me.
nk (018793) — 3/29/2024 @ 4:04 pmSo much for your bemoaning the lack of civility.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 3/29/2024 @ 4:12 pmSo, what we have determined is that this national-headline case about someone voting “multiple times illegally” was in fact a ministerial examination of the voting laws of two states and what tights the status of a person in one state affected in another state.
What do women’s undergarments have to do with anything, Kevin??? 😉
qdpsteve again (e25173) — 3/29/2024 @ 5:36 pmJust joshin’ ya.
“Trump attended that slain officer’s wake.
While at the same time President Biden is doing a campaign funding with Lizzo, Clinton and Obama.”
Did he sign a picture of the deceased again?
Davethulhu (1a1e24) — 3/29/2024 @ 6:50 pmNow you’re just lying, Kevin, making sh-t up. I do agree that Trump is evil. I don’t ascribe that to the entire GOP. The fact is that I am a Republican, and I do not consider myself “evil”. Pritchard’s is a case of obvious hypocrisy and “election integrity for thee but not for me”. Also, your “because I said so” argument is a complete non-starter for me. Try another tack.
The court record clearly shows that Pritchard is a liar and a sleazebag, and his case has been known for awhile. It’s a problem when the judge concludes that “The court does not find the respondent’s explanations credible or convincing”. The guy was 32 when he was convicted of his felony.
Pritchard is emblematic of the current State of MAGA, which is bereft of basic ethics in politics and turns a blind eye to its own corruption. Instead of remorse or acknowledgment of wrongdoing, there’s defiance and playing the victim card. Criminy, even Marge Taylor is saying this guy should resign his position from the GAGOP. Yet you’re defending the guy, Kevin, passing it off as no big deal.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/30/2024 @ 12:32 amMore irony, in Mr. Pritchard’s own words, making his case for a leadership position in the GAGOP…
USA Today noted the following…
Police your own, GOP.
Paul Montagu (d52d7d) — 3/30/2024 @ 1:10 amWhen even Marge tells you to get lost, you’ve reached the bottom of the MAGA barrel.
norcal (16bb88) — 3/30/2024 @ 1:32 amOf course, Marge had to first vacate the bottom of the barrel to make room for you.
norcal (16bb88) — 3/30/2024 @ 1:33 ama media empire of literally tens of dozens of followers
Heh!
nk (018793) — 3/30/2024 @ 2:42 am@541 “Did he sign a picture of the deceased again?”
Let’s hope so. It’s the only reason you’d have an interest in the story.
lloyd (da7934) — 3/30/2024 @ 7:10 am