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Tuesday Open Thread

Our last open thread is full. Here is a new one, all topics welcome.

I've really been busy with life in real-time, and haven't had enough free virtual time to write up my thoughts on the news.

Thank you to all of you who are commenting. I really do miss being able to contribute here on a daily basis, and I am looking forward to resuming my posts soon.

< Holiday Weekend Open thread | Charges Added to Trump's Florida Indictment >
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    Desantis Radioactive Asphalt (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by john horse on Tue Jul 18, 2023 at 10:56:07 PM EST
    Florida Governor Desantis has found a new use for radioactive waste.  He is going to use it to pave our roads.  Some people have criticized him out of environmental and public health concerns. However, I believe they fail to see some of the benefits.  For example, lets say you are driving down a Florida road late at night and its really dark outside.  Wouldn't it be great to have a road that glows in the dark?  Now just imagine what our interstate would be like if he was President.  

    DeSantis' roads will keep drivers (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jul 19, 2023 at 01:03:01 PM EST
    awoke.

    Parent
    When I lived in Aspen (none / 0) (#37)
    by fishcamp on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 03:33:23 PM EST
    they decided to crush the mine tailings, which were everywhere on all the mountains from the silver mining days, and use them to gravel the icy streets.  They were radioactive.  The dust from them blew around town all summer giving an added punch to the folks with COPD.

    Parent
    This is how it's done (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 19, 2023 at 09:09:18 AM EST
    I (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jul 19, 2023 at 03:18:43 PM EST
    wish CNN would quit calling these IRS guys "whistle blowers", they are not.

    So (none / 0) (#25)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 19, 2023 at 03:22:17 PM EST
    I love one of them is a "gay democrat"

    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#38)
    by FlJoe on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 04:13:39 PM EST
    Tapper is pretty much blowing the "whistle blower" on the tube right now.


    Parent
    Saw that (none / 0) (#39)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 04:20:17 PM EST
    It's kind of unbelievable.  Its hard to tell if they intentionally scrap the bottom of the barrel (Chip Roy, this JO, etc) or if those are the only people they can get.

    Parent
    Just (none / 0) (#40)
    by FlJoe on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 04:21:36 PM EST
    stating the "facts" with some slobbering help from Jake.

    Funny how he was never asked about any actual evidence, I mean these are government lawyers for goodness sakes ther has to be memos and e-mails, all he could say is he was "told" something by somebody.

    Also doubling and tripling down on the implication that Weiss and Garland are big fat liars.


    Parent

    I changed the channel (none / 0) (#41)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 04:44:25 PM EST
    as soon as I s aw who it was

    All I can say is if he really is a "gay democrat" I hope he has a dog because hes not going to have any friends.

    Parent

    At (none / 0) (#42)
    by FlJoe on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 05:17:52 PM EST
    least he had Goldman on afterward to rebut, and he brought receipts.

    He of course put on his skeptical face   instead of his "tell me lies, tell me sweet giant lies" face while he gently questions right wingers


    Parent

    Feedback Loop (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by Repack Rider on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 12:33:53 PM EST
    People will stand n line for a long time to vote against people who make them stand in line for a long time to vote.

    Ronmentum! (5.00 / 1) (#77)
    by KeysDan on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 03:42:09 PM EST
    Can you.feel it?  That's OK, no one else seems to either.  DeSantis is burning through his high rollers cash and paring down staff, It is reported that a big chunk of the expenditures is for Ron and Casey's travel by private jet.  They apparently don't like being around people as would be the case with commercials flights.  He should know we don't take offense since we feel the same way about being anywhere near these two.

    Although Ron's spending of other Republicans money still dwarfs his wacky and despicable policies, the latest being that slavery was not that bad, when you really think about it.  Sort of a jobs program, slaves got to learn a trade, like shoeing horses and such. .

    While only July 2023 and things can happen, I feel comfortable in predicting his candidacy going the way of other Florida Republican presidential wannabes, such as Jeb! and Little Marco.  Both of these dweebs have zero charm and charisma, and Ron has less, being in negative territory. Hope he stays in the race long enough to be thoroughly humiliated by Trump. That would be only good thing Trump would have done in his entire miserable life.

    Maybe, just maybe, Ron has a shot at it if, in the unlikely event, TFG keels over.  Otherwise, it's the multi-indicted one.  In a sane world, indictments do not look all that great on a resume, but Republicans will not care. And, all these criminal cases will probably not be adjudicated before the election. So, TFG is the tried and true, perfect miscreant for Republicans--even setting aside crimes, including espionage act charges, incompetence, insurrection ring leader, and a sundry offenses.

    DeSantis (none / 0) (#78)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 04:19:03 PM EST
    seems to be repeating the Bernie Sanders last man standing campaign strategy.

    Republicans are saying just wait until the debates! The debates will change nothing except Christie may be able to put the death knell on DeSantis like he did Marco. Since DeSantis is polling in the teens I maybe his voters will split between Scott and Haley putting both of them in the low teens.

    Can you imagine what kind of h*ll awaits the citizens of Florida when Rhonda runs back home? Maybe he will tripe their already outrageous insurance premiums.

    Casey and I graduated from the same college. She must have been like the pampered sorority girls that I graduated with. I have never figured out how she got a job in journalism with no experience  and no degree in it.

    Parent

    I doubt Ron has a shot at it (none / 0) (#79)
    by MO Blue on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 04:27:32 PM EST
    no matter what happens but indefinitely would like him to remain in second place. A few of the other candidates might be harder to beat in the general.

    Parent
    I hope he stay in until the debate (none / 0) (#81)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 04:35:41 PM EST
    I want to see what Chris Christie does to him.

    Parent
    Sinead O'Connor, the evocative (5.00 / 2) (#132)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 04:34:11 PM EST
    Irish singer and song writer, is dead at age 56.  She had suffered mental health problems for much of her life, claiming a bipolar disorder was misdiagnosed PTSD from child abuse by her religious zealot mother.  Considered a "problem child" after being caught shoplifting, she was sent to the infamous Magdalene Laundries for "fallen women", run by Catholic nuns.  As punishment  while in the asylum the 14-year old Sinead was sent to sleep in the Hospice section of the laundry.

    Her death is one year since her son, Shane, died by his own hand, at age 17.

    Her hit "Nothing Compares 2 U" brought world-wide attention to her immense talent.  However, her performance on SNL which ended with ripping up a photo of Pope John Paul II made her controversial and affected her career.  The photo was one posted on the wall of her mother's home which she carried with her waiting for an opportunity to make a statement about the physical and sexual abuse and cover-ups in the Catholic Church.  And, it was a statement.    Ahead of the curve in broad public awareness (1992) of the scandal, she paid a price. RIP.


    Yes (5.00 / 1) (#135)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 05:35:31 PM EST
    RIP.

    In a more positive vein, happy 80th birthday to Mick Jagger.

    Parent

    Soup's on... (5.00 / 1) (#159)
    by desertswine on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 01:11:22 PM EST
    A buoy positioned roughly 40 miles south of Miami recorded a sea surface temperature of 101.1°F earlier this week, stunning scientists who say the reading could mark the latest in a string of global records as fossil fuel-driven extreme weather around the world brings unprecedented heat.

    That's about the same as the water temperature when I go to Ojo Caliente Hot Springs.  Can fish live in that?  

    This is pretty funny (5.00 / 1) (#168)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 05:09:43 PM EST
    I just put up a new post (5.00 / 1) (#195)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Jul 29, 2023 at 04:28:03 PM EST
    on Trump's latest charges.
    I'm also going to put up an open thread.

    RIPee Wee (5.00 / 2) (#200)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jul 31, 2023 at 02:17:29 PM EST
    Thanks PeeWee.. (5.00 / 1) (#201)
    by desertswine on Mon Jul 31, 2023 at 03:58:57 PM EST
    from me and the kids.  You made our Saturday mornings.

    16 fake electors charged (none / 0) (#1)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jul 18, 2023 at 05:54:01 PM EST
    Did you look (none / 0) (#5)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Jul 18, 2023 at 06:36:13 PM EST
    at the ages of those fake electors in MI? There are like 3 around 55 and the rest of them are late 60's up to 83 the oldest. Do we have the stupidest old people in the world or the most racist ones? You would think by the time they reached that age they would know better.

    Parent
    One of.the fake electors (none / 0) (#7)
    by KeysDan on Tue Jul 18, 2023 at 07:01:14 PM EST
    previously told a local TV station that she thought she was just signing an attendance sheet.  She claimed she didn't know what an elector was let alone a fake one.

    Not many attendance sheets have those legal terms, but then we are talking Republicans.  And, the old "I am too dumb" defense is getting more and more popular these days.  I seem to recall that worked for Don Jr, in the Mueller investigation.

    Parent

    That might (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 19, 2023 at 10:27:59 AM EST
    fly with a normal elderly person but if you look deeper these people are on local GOP committees. Most would be considered conservative activists so once in court that nonsense is going to look stupid.

    Parent
    Who among us (none / 0) (#19)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 19, 2023 at 02:34:16 PM EST
    has not been asked to sign an attendance sheet in a basement meeting in the middle of the night?

    Parent
    I was (none / 0) (#2)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Jul 18, 2023 at 05:57:29 PM EST
    watching Nicole Wallace and saw the announcement on her show. Josh Shapriro was on the show talking about the fake electors and he and Nicole said that PA won't have indictments because their lawyers put some sort of clause in the document that said they would only be electors if Trump won in court. So I went back and looked at the GA documents online and there is no such statement in their contracts. The ones here in GA are declaring that they are the legitimate electors. Now we have to wait for Fani as surely she is going to be after the Jack Smith J6 indictment.

    Goodness (none / 0) (#3)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jul 18, 2023 at 06:00:35 PM EST
    With all the shi+ coming down they are going to need those red hats.

    Parent
    If our (none / 0) (#4)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Jul 18, 2023 at 06:34:47 PM EST
    Lt. gov. gets indicted I will be doing cartwheels because these morons here in GA knew he was a fake elector and voted for him anyway. Ironically we just passed some amendment or something back in November of 2020 that said if a legislator is indicted they have to resign. Not sure how the replacement comes about though.

    Parent
    Curious whether Georgia state criminal law (none / 0) (#6)
    by Peter G on Tue Jul 18, 2023 at 06:56:05 PM EST
    has a provision, like many states, prohibiting prosecution for conduct already covered by another state's -- or a federal -- earlier-filed case. If so, the Georgia case may be barred by the (anticipated) DC Special Prosecutor indictment, since it is based on an incident that is surely an overt act in furtherance of that larger conspiracy.

    Parent
    Conventional wisdom (none / 0) (#8)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jul 18, 2023 at 07:23:22 PM EST
    seems to be Jack Smith will not go as big as many hope and he is likely to stick to straight forward easy to prove stuff.

    Like obstruction and defrauding the government.
    Not so much insurrection or sedition.

    I think this sounds about right.   How about you?

    Parent

    Peter G (none / 0) (#9)
    by KeysDan on Tue Jul 18, 2023 at 07:42:51 PM EST
    will have a better take on this, but my thinking is that the charges will be sprawling.to the extent that the evidence permits. Counts could always be dropped later if warranted. And, there is a lot of evidence.  

    To speed up the process, my guess is that there will be separate indictments., rather than the complicating factors of several being named in one  indictment. In any event, it would be good to have  Trump undiluted in an indictment.

    Parent

    No point in speculating if it is coming (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Peter G on Tue Jul 18, 2023 at 08:03:31 PM EST
    in just a few days. I am patient enough to wait and see. But based on the Mar-a-Lago documents indictment, I do think extensive and detailed -- with substantial disclosure of the evidence in hand -- seems more likely. And I don't see why there wouldn't be co-defendants in a single indictment.

    Parent
    Remind us (none / 0) (#12)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 19, 2023 at 08:00:35 AM EST
    Which of these possible charges would carry the ban from seeking future public office.

    Parent
    Only incitement of insurrection (5.00 / 2) (#69)
    by Peter G on Mon Jul 24, 2023 at 08:23:16 PM EST
    carries an express disqualification among its penalties. Not particularly likely to be charged, alas, although arguably it could be.

    Parent
    Whatever it was (none / 0) (#13)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 19, 2023 at 08:49:28 AM EST
    I'm hoping it's included.

    Parent
    The politics of crime (none / 0) (#18)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jul 19, 2023 at 01:15:12 PM EST
    The charges need to not only be serious, but also, look serious.  That is why I hope the indictment is sprawling to the extent the evidence supports.

     Not, gee all this and just three charges?  Let'er  rip, I say.  Nothing on the cutting room floor that warrants, on the basis of evidence, charges.

    Parent

    Don't think (none / 0) (#20)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 19, 2023 at 02:35:41 PM EST
    it will be just three.

    Parent
    And in any event, three different offenses (none / 0) (#21)
    by Peter G on Wed Jul 19, 2023 at 02:59:08 PM EST
    does not necessarily mean just three counts.

    Parent
    As we saw (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 19, 2023 at 03:06:51 PM EST
    last time. Right?

    Parent
    The number three, cited, (none / 0) (#23)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jul 19, 2023 at 03:09:44 PM EST
    was illustrative, and an example, of the point.

    Parent
    Well, no, I don't think so. According to (none / 0) (#26)
    by Peter G on Wed Jul 19, 2023 at 04:30:52 PM EST
    "sources" quoted in many news reports, the target letter sent to Tr*mp on Sunday cited violations of three statutes as being at issue. Of course, the letter has not been released, so I don't know exactly what it said about those statutes nor whether the reports are accurate.

    Parent
    Yes, it (none / 0) (#27)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jul 19, 2023 at 09:40:19 PM EST
    looks like there may be three statutes at issue.  However, for clarification purposes, my citation of three violations was selected by me to illustrate my point that it may be better if charges are broad rather than limited assuming all charges could be supported by evidence and the law.  

    While limited charges may be legally expedient, and with more confidence of  avoiding a hung jury and assuring conviction, my argument is that a broad range of charges, including insurrection violations, may be better to a political understanding of the government's action in this  case.

    Parent

    A wider variety of charges and more counts (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by Peter G on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 09:03:41 AM EST
    actually helps avoid a hung jury, but offering ways for the jury -- if the members have different views of the prosecutors' evidence -- to "compromise" by convicting on some counts and not on others. Almost always to the defendant's detriment.

    Parent
    Someone said (none / 0) (#29)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 10:55:23 AM EST
    2 of the three things mentioned would not require him to know he was lying.  Since that seems to be the defense.  I really believed it so it's not a crime.

    They said it might be a way to insure a conviction even if they can make that case believable.  He still broke the law by trying to stop the election.  No matter what he believed.

    Parent

    I don't know (none / 0) (#16)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 19, 2023 at 10:48:09 AM EST
    about the law here in Ga regarding that but it seems to me that Smith is leaving the fake elector charges to the states to handle.

    Parent
    It keeps getting worse (none / 0) (#30)
    by MO Blue on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 11:01:45 AM EST
    We gave them skills (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 12:08:47 PM EST
    The worst thing about this new racism is it's just like the old racism.

    All this crap they are now pushing we in the south grew up hearing.

    We did them a favor by bringing them here.  We gave them skills.  We were good to them.

    These people doing this have no idea how this stuff sounds to normal people.

    I read 8-10 million people became voting age since 2020.  Let's see how they like it.

    Parent

    Not just skills, but also (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by Peter G on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 12:56:22 PM EST
    introduced them to Christianity. Who could object to that gift of inestimable value?

    Parent
    Well (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by FlJoe on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 01:07:21 PM EST
    at least some godly force allowed them to"gain the skill" of playing the blues and gospel,

    Parent
    Oh yes (none / 0) (#35)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 01:31:00 PM EST
    That too

    Parent
    Hopefully my grandsons (5.00 / 2) (#36)
    by MO Blue on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 02:03:26 PM EST
    represent the younger generation. They grew up with friends who were openly gay and went to school in multiracial and multiethnic schools. According to my grandson, his generation and those coming to age after them, are as a group more socially liberal and they object to these tactics. DeSantis and his cohorts, after all, are attacking their family members, colleagues and friends.

    Parent
    My 22 year (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 06:12:21 PM EST
    old can't stand the culture war stuff and neither can any of his friends. He's always been around gay people and thinks nothing of it. I think the fact that they don't want stict gender roles is one of the reasons conservatives can't stand young people. I found out the other day that Tucker Carlson's rant about green M & Ms is legendary with them and Tucker is always the butt of jokes.

    Parent
    Yep, (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 06:15:11 PM EST
    I got into an argument with someone the other day about how the whole CRT nonsense was a back door way of bringing back the Lost Cause. This proves me right.

    I was taught that garbage in school even to the point of being told by one teacher that black people were better off in slavery and going into a rant about Yankees coming and ruining the south and how her grandfather hated yankees and on and on.

    Then I grew up and realized they were lying and so that's kind of the root of my disdain for conservatives to this day.

    Parent

    Well, the whole (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 06:16:36 PM EST
    there was no slavery thing didn't work out so well for them so now they're back to the orginal Lost Cause where slavery was a good thing.

    Parent
    So our former (none / 0) (#46)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 06:20:06 PM EST
    GA GOP leader David Shafer has had his lawyers send a 14 page letter to Fani Willis saying she can't indict him under the 1st Amendment and another amendment. Wow. There should be a lot of people who committed fraud be let out of jail then.

    He is the male version of Aunt Lydia and I can't believe Gwinnett elected this fool.

    Ha (none / 0) (#47)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 06:40:47 PM EST
    I saw that

    I don't think that's going to help.

    About the southern racial heritage, I think this stuff is going to shock some people awake because it's so familiar.  On some level some will begin to remember why we stopped saying that stuff.

    Or at least why we stopped saying it out loud.

    Parent

    The only (none / 0) (#48)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jul 20, 2023 at 08:45:38 PM EST
    thing I think it does is make a lot of people realize how many racists there are still in the south. Young people and people in other areas of the country may be shocked that in 2023 someone basically wants to teach a KKK version of history. Far too many people my age still buy into that garbage because they stayed in one corner of SC their entire lives.

    Parent
    Unfortunately, Missouri (none / 0) (#49)
    by MO Blue on Fri Jul 21, 2023 at 02:28:24 PM EST
    have more than their fair share as well. Good Christian folks who definitely do not agree with the teachings of Jesus.

    Parent
    Evangelicals (none / 0) (#50)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Jul 21, 2023 at 03:19:11 PM EST
    have ruined Christianity.

    I talked to 2 lebian couples the other day in my area. I invited them to my church and they couldn't believe that our priest would marry them. FYI he has married several LGBT couples. One of them said she was teaching Sunday school at the mega church and was summarily dismissed when they found out she was in a same sex relationship. The other went to the big Baptist church that she grew up and had been coaching basketball until one day there was a "board meeting" and she was removed from her position.

    Parent

    I planted (none / 0) (#51)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jul 21, 2023 at 05:30:50 PM EST
    a bunch of Arugula seeds today.

    Arugula will come back on its own (none / 0) (#52)
    by leap2 on Fri Jul 21, 2023 at 05:54:56 PM EST
    if you let it go to seed. I've had growing for at least five years after planting it once. Dill weed is like that, too, and sunflowers. OMD, sunflowers. I planted sunflowers once, probably that was around 2007 or 2008. They are all over my lot, now, and so beautiful, and swarming with pollinators and birds. Every spring I have to thin the nascent plants. In some places, they are so thick they look like "lawn," of which I have none.

    Parent
    Love sunflowers (none / 0) (#53)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jul 21, 2023 at 06:02:52 PM EST
    My arugula is in pots.   Pans really.  They are on the deck but I might bring them inside.   It's been very hot here. Couple of large plastic pans.

    I watched a few YouTube videos.  I love arugula and you can't find it locally usually.

    I am a plant person. But I have never grown salad greens.

    Parent

    I like mixed lettuces (none / 0) (#57)
    by MO Blue on Fri Jul 21, 2023 at 07:53:08 PM EST
    One of the community gardens in the city, mixed the seeds and could harvest the lettuce mix with minimal effort. Thought it was a great idea.

    I'm mostly into growing herbs. They are doing well outside in the shade. Im trying to grow  flowers in containers since my back is not into my digging. Will see how that goes.

    Parent

    Are They Jerusalem Artichokes? (none / 0) (#55)
    by RickyJim on Fri Jul 21, 2023 at 06:07:11 PM EST
    That is the most invasive type of sunflower and bloom late fall.  The tubers can be harvested soon after blooming and make a healthy potato substitute.

    Parent
    No, these are regular (none / 0) (#56)
    by leap2 on Fri Jul 21, 2023 at 06:33:04 PM EST
    Descant is and personal benefit of slavery (none / 0) (#54)
    by john horse on Fri Jul 21, 2023 at 06:05:08 PM EST
    Desantis does it again!  New Florida standards require that students be taught that there was a personal benefit to slavery.  Little did we know that down on the old plantation life was just one big celebration.  


    Military application of AI (none / 0) (#58)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Jul 22, 2023 at 04:53:02 PM EST
    was mentioned recently.  This doc on Netflix will scare the shi+ out of you.

    It's all great but there's one part about this little experiment they did that involved creating bad molecules instead of good molecules.  They said it was literally changing a 1 to a 0 and it spit out a list of new toxic chemical agents that got them invited to the White House.

    Killer Robots

    I'm thinking (none / 0) (#59)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Jul 23, 2023 at 05:09:54 PM EST
    it's going to be a breaking news kind of week.

    There are (none / 0) (#62)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Jul 24, 2023 at 08:31:20 AM EST
    reports of news vans lining up at the courthouse in DC. Hopefully that means indictments are coming this week.

    Parent
    There's always Israel's descent into madness. (none / 0) (#70)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 03:02:37 AM EST
    Not only did the Likud-led coalition in the Knesset pass the first step of Netanyahu's "Operation Get Out of Jail Free Card", but the prime minister showed Israeli citizens what life was like in Warsaw Pact countries in the late 1980s.

    Parent
    So (none / 0) (#116)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 02:26:50 PM EST
    far that seems like an understatement.

    Parent
    Is there a more spineless character (none / 0) (#60)
    by Chuck0 on Sun Jul 23, 2023 at 07:06:28 PM EST
    than Mike Pence?

    Saw a report on the network news tonight where he is saying he is still not sure of the orange mobster's guilt.

    That was followed up by a "town hall" type meeting where a supporter, yes, a Mike Pence supporter told him that he would love to see him become president but that it would never happen until he stood up to "that man."

    His own supporters see that he is a spineless coward.

    Maybe (none / 0) (#61)
    by FlJoe on Mon Jul 24, 2023 at 06:43:38 AM EST
    Ted "I left my spine in Cancun" Cruz.

    Parent
    His defense (none / 0) (#63)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Jul 24, 2023 at 08:32:41 AM EST
    of Trump after Trump was trying to have him hung which he did for years should have been the end of him.

    He is not only pathetic but one of the most clueless and creepy politicians I have ever seen.

    Parent

    He really is just creepy (none / 0) (#64)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jul 24, 2023 at 08:43:19 AM EST
    You wonder who he thinks he's talking to.  

    Parent
    Evangelicals (none / 0) (#65)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Jul 24, 2023 at 09:47:54 AM EST
    who are creepy Christians. They eat up his garbage. But most of them seem to be stuck on equally creepy Trump. Would love to hear from either of them never again.

    Parent
    The Trump lovers hate him because (none / 0) (#66)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jul 24, 2023 at 10:29:25 AM EST
    It's all his fault.  Never Trumpers hate him because is the #1 enabler.

    I hate him because he's creepy.

    It's really hard to imagine who he believes will vote for him.

    Parent

    I heard on the news (none / 0) (#67)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Jul 24, 2023 at 01:41:35 PM EST
    this morning that Pence had not gotten the 40K donors to be in the August debate. So if he can't get in the debate I can't imagine he continues much longer.

    Parent
    Very scary stuff happening in Israel (none / 0) (#68)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jul 24, 2023 at 02:35:25 PM EST
    Very scary.  


    Speaking to reporters a short time ago, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said the passage of the law was "only the beginning."

    "There are many more laws we need to pass as part of the judicial overhaul," he says.

    He adds, "To those protesting now, you're our brothers and we love you.



    Yes (none / 0) (#71)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 08:25:37 AM EST
    I heard on the radio this morning that the entire country is also going on a general strike to shut down the country. Bibi really is Trump's kin and we could be dealing with the same if we don't keep the GOP and Trump from holding office again.

    Parent
    Yeah (none / 0) (#72)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 09:36:06 AM EST
    Out of control unelected judges sounds familiar doesn't it.

    Parent
    Scary to hear (none / 0) (#73)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 09:39:01 AM EST
    they have no equivalent of a constitution.  Apparently their whole system of government is sort of an honor system.  
    Based on what is "reasonable".

    Reasonable is not what it used to be.

    Parent

    Maybe the silver (none / 0) (#74)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 09:48:43 AM EST
    lining is that they realize they need a constitution. However this all worked for a long time and so I guess they didn't see a need until now. I hope the people of the country can overthrow Bibi. There has to be a breaking point for autocrats but I'm not sure what it is.

    Parent
    Not Just Any Constitution (none / 0) (#75)
    by RickyJim on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 10:35:03 AM EST
    Where they do things better now than the US is that they choose their legislature by having the voters vote for a party rather than an individual.  This gets the populace focused on the actual policy issues in the party's platform and contributes to having a multi-party system.  

    The bad thing in Israel's political structure is that the Prime Minister (executive branch) is chosen by the legislature instead of through a completely separate and regularly held election.  This causes too much governmental instability.

    Parent

    Parliamentary Goverment (none / 0) (#76)
    by BGinCA on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 02:32:05 PM EST
    "Prime Minister (executive branch) is chosen by the legislature instead of through a completely separate and regularly held election.  This causes too much governmental instability. "
    Is this not the same form of government as the UK?
    Divided government has its own set of problems, i.e. the USA.

    Parent
    I Think Divided Government is Good (none / 0) (#89)
    by RickyJim on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 07:23:21 PM EST
    Checks and balances.  The biggest problem with the US system is the way the President and Legislature  are chosen. The only check on the combined legislative/executive branches in Israel has been its Supreme Court, an idea which makes less sense to me than a legislative/executive divide.

    Parent
    CNN (none / 0) (#80)
    by FlJoe on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 04:29:03 PM EST
    is really carrying the Republican water by relentlessly flogging the Hunter Biden saga.

    I think Kevin sees (none / 0) (#82)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 04:39:42 PM EST
    diminishing returns.  Hence impeach Joe.  Also impeachment would be a great distraction from the Jack and Fani show.

    No doubt CNN will take impeachment just as seriously Hunter.

    Parent

    What (none / 0) (#83)
    by FlJoe on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 04:49:32 PM EST
    kills me is that these clowns occasionally figure out that the Rebublicans are lying and almost immediately forget that fact.

    Parent
    Meh (none / 0) (#84)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 05:05:07 PM EST
    It's management.   Don't you think?  They are humans who have human reactions but they have a script.

    Parent
    It (none / 0) (#85)
    by FlJoe on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 05:19:21 PM EST
    sure ain't journals, not a script more like enforced both-siderism.

    Parent
    Impeachment (none / 0) (#87)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 06:30:59 PM EST
    is ALL about keeping the rubes away from listening to Fani and Jack. And remember that Kev set up the Benghazi committee specifically to harm Hillary not find facts. So they are going to that well again.

    Parent
    Exactly (none / 0) (#91)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 04:36:21 AM EST
    We remember him blurting out the truth but much of the media have totally forgotten.

    I have literally watched them, at least tepidly, debunk one lie and then minutes later give credence to the next.

    Parent

    If they wanted to respond (none / 0) (#94)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 07:28:31 AM EST
    the responses are easy.

    The next time some mouth breather says "Biden Crime Family" ask them who had Roy Cohn for a lawyer till he dropped dead.

    Parent

    And (5.00 / 1) (#95)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 08:26:13 AM EST
    everytime McCarthy opens his yap they should read these words to him
    House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy called on President Donald Trump to "accept his share of responsibility" for the violence that overtook the U.S. Capitol last week and urged Republicans to accept that Joe Biden is the next leader of the nation.

    "The president bears responsibility for Wednesday's attack on Congress by mob rioters," McCarthy said on the House floor. "He should have immediately denounced the mob when he saw what was unfolding. These facts require immediate action by President Trump."



    Parent
    The problem (none / 0) (#86)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 06:28:48 PM EST
    is nobody under the age of 50 watches cable news. So they are all basically competing for the same audience. Acosta, if he is still at CNN, is always good I find but Tapper and Wolf are worthless. There might as well be a potted plant beside the Republican.

    It seems to me that Weiss spent 5 years investigating Hunter and he came up with 2 misdemeanors. DOJ offered Weiss to testify but what do you wanna bet the GOP doesn't want him to testify? It would seem if they are that interested in this story they should go to the horse's mouth.

    Parent

    UFO/UAP hearing tomorrow (none / 0) (#88)
    by McBain on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 07:17:36 PM EST
    I'm excited for this but a little disappointed the witnesses are people we've already heard from... David Grusch, pilots David Fravor and Ryan Graves. I was hoping we'd hear from the people Grusch talked to about the UFO retrieval program. Hopefully, it will be a big step towards getting our government, and possible others, to release more information about what's going on.

    Possibility #1...  There's nothing amazing going on, no aliens or super technology and nothing changes for us.

    #2: Our government has been hiding advanced technology that could significantly improve our way of life (cleaner and more efficient transportation)

    #3: We've been visited by extra terrestrials or extra dimensional beings and our government has hid that from us for decades.

    I vote #3 .. (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by desertswine on Tue Jul 25, 2023 at 10:58:58 PM EST
    Gort, klaatu barada nicto.

    Parent
    If the Hair Guy testifies (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 06:35:16 AM EST
    I will watch.

    Parent
    I bet (5.00 / 2) (#101)
    by Zorba on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 12:47:29 PM EST
    20 quatloos that it's number 1.

    Parent
    There is bipartisan bicameral agreement (none / 0) (#109)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 01:54:27 PM EST
    the government is hiding things. Before the hearing and after.  

    Parent
    Hard to imagine why (none / 0) (#111)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 01:59:00 PM EST
    these guys would lie. It certainly has not made their lives better.

    Washington -- A former military intelligence officer-turned-whistleblower told House lawmakers that Congress is being kept in the dark about unidentified anomalous phenomena, known as UAP or UFOs, alleging at a hearing that executive branch agencies have withheld information about the mysterious objects for years.

    David Grusch, who served for 14 years as an intelligence officer in the Air Force and National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, appeared before the House Oversight Committee's national security subcommittee alongside two former fighter pilots who had firsthand experience with UAP.

    UFO hearing key takeaways: What a whistleblower told Congress about UAP



    Parent

    Its (none / 0) (#113)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 02:20:41 PM EST
    also hard to imagine something like this to be kept secret.

    Matter of fact in this day and age, where there is little or no downside to lying, just plenty of oppurtunity for grifting with a side order of 15 minutes of fame.

    Parent

    Ok (none / 0) (#115)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 02:26:28 PM EST
    What do you think the videos are?

    Parent
    My (none / 0) (#123)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 03:01:42 PM EST
    working theory is optical illusions created by some anomalous atmospheric condition that creates a telescopic effect that somehow projects a far away object as nearby, just spit balling here but I think it may be possible and it could easily explain the erratic and seemly impossible movements.
     

    Parent
    So (none / 0) (#124)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 03:12:07 PM EST
    You think it's not real?
    You actually believe both parties in both houses of congress and the New York Times and everyone else who has reported on these stories and the people who have seen them and filmed them are just....what?

    Lying? Delusional? That your theory had not occurred to the military intelligence people who have looked at them?

    If so I salute your conviction.  And I hope we are both around when good information starts coming out.


    Parent

    They did testify about their (none / 0) (#117)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 02:27:52 PM EST
    Life being threatened.  That's the downside of 15 mins that lasts forever.

    Parent
    And while I'm at it (none / 0) (#118)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 02:30:20 PM EST
    How are they "grifting"

    You think they are making money from this?  How exactly.

    Parent

    If (none / 0) (#119)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 02:40:21 PM EST
    not already, future Podcasts and such, speaking engagements for various conspiricay minded groups, possibly a book or two.

    How is it that he spent 14 years at least adjacent to these decades long secret projectsanmd he has np evidence, just mostly claims that some told him something.


    Parent

    I (none / 0) (#120)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 02:41:33 PM EST
    definitely need to hire an editor.

    Parent
    I'm sure they will retire rich (none / 0) (#121)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 02:48:57 PM EST
    Look

    Shit is happening we do not understand.  If you don't believe that all I can say is Trumpers are not the only ones who believe what makes them happy.

    It reminds me of a scene in Independence Day where the guy makes reference to being abducted by aliens and everyone rolls their eyes.  While aliens are literally invading.

    I understand it's comfortable to cling to non threatening ideas like this is all made up.  

    It's not.  

    Parent

    Now (none / 0) (#122)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 02:57:35 PM EST
    Wheather the government know what is happening is another issue.

    Personally I think the old saw about how the government could never keep a secret is naive.  I'm thinking they can

    But that doesn't mean they understand.  Personally I think the lengths they have gone to concealing this stuff is the best indicator they are clueless

    It's not like they are going to say we got these things buzzing our aircraft and military installations and we have no idea what they are.

    FWIW
    There is going to be further hearings.
    They actually want to know what they are.  I just heard a democrat say so

    Parent

    I (none / 0) (#125)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 03:32:20 PM EST
    think the government can keep a secret, but only under certain conditions, when tightly held among a very few people for a relatively short time with the ability to hide it away and eventually bury.

    I don't think this whole UFO controversy fits those parameters. Especially when it comes to secret  retrieval and reverse engineering projects described by some, with the whole thing occurring over decades.

     

    Parent

    That's mixing (none / 0) (#126)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 03:37:58 PM EST
    Some Ancient Aliens with what currently being discussed on congress.

    IMO the topic is UAPs.  And they have been a badly kept secret since at least WWII and the Foo Fighters.

    Parent

    My own view is (none / 0) (#127)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 03:48:21 PM EST
    the government is not necessarily keeping huge secrets or alien bodies.

    I find it completely believable they don't know much more than we do.
    The release of all this new information seems to be saying this.  To me.

    Ok, here it is.  You tell us what it is.  I don't doubt they have information that would be headlines all over the world but I don't think they have many answers to keep secret.

    Parent

    I (none / 0) (#128)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 04:02:41 PM EST
    am with you on this, I don't think anybody really has a clue.

    Parent
    There is at least one more possibility (none / 0) (#93)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 07:24:27 AM EST
    The government knows this stuff is happening, clearly they do, and they have no idea what it actually is.  

    Parent
    Maybe admitting they're clueless would be (none / 0) (#151)
    by McBain on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 09:13:58 AM EST
    too embarrassing or would show weakness to rest of the world.  If this stuff is happening here it's probably happening everywhere and there could be a decades long race to master this technology.

    Parent
    I found the hearing encouraging (none / 0) (#148)
    by McBain on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 09:10:32 AM EST
    It was a big step forward but much more needs to be done.  They need to allow Grusch to go into more detail without fear of legal consequences. They kept talking about a SCIF hearing (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility).  

    Parent
    Did Any Astronomers Testify? (none / 0) (#153)
    by RickyJim on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 09:45:00 AM EST
    You know, the guys who make their living looking at the sky and giving explanations for what is seen there.

    Parent
    Not (none / 0) (#154)
    by FlJoe on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 10:15:14 AM EST
    that I know of, but the actual scientists who have showed up on the tube have been skeptical but still curious.

    It still seemed like the witnesses were telling the same  basic story that have periodically graced the tabloids as far back as I can remember.
     

    Parent

    No astronomers (none / 0) (#156)
    by McBain on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 11:00:37 AM EST
    I think Grusch has a physics background but someone who does that (physics/astrophysics) for a living could, perhaps, offer some insight into the unusual maneuvers of the UFOs caught on video.  

    Of the interesting UFO descriptions...

    • A dark cube within a transparent sphere
    • Football field sized red square
    • Giant white tic tac or propane tank shape

    Some moved in ways that would be impossible for conventional aircraft according to former pilot David Fravor.  

     

    Parent

    I'm not sure why astronomers would be involved (none / 0) (#157)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 11:17:04 AM EST
    We are talking about objects in our atmosphere.

    Astronomy is irrelevant

    Parent

    OK, Did a Meteorologist Testify? (none / 0) (#173)
    by RickyJim on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 06:29:30 PM EST
    Actually, some astronomers study atmospheres on other planets so one could have said something useful here.

    Parent
    Probably not (none / 0) (#174)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 06:47:11 PM EST
    I was underwhelmed by the testimony.  The guy talking about the reverse engineered stuff seemed earnest but if you know the stories about disinformation campaigns it sound a little to familiar.

    SOME PEOPLE SAY that and lots of other disinformation was done simply to make sure no one took seriously the stories about these things they could not understand or explain. Which is not new.

    I'm glad serious people are asking serious questions.

    Parent

    Hunters plea deal is off (none / 0) (#96)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 10:38:50 AM EST
    Apparently. According to CNN.

    This (none / 0) (#97)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 10:40:44 AM EST
    seems pretty wild.

    Parent
    Deal back on but more limited (none / 0) (#98)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 11:44:23 AM EST
    One thing, this gives Weiss a good excuse to say nothing.  Ongoing investigation.

    Parent
    Off (none / 0) (#103)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 01:15:58 PM EST
    again, I happened to be reading Marcy Wheeler when the news broke and I can't shake the feeling that this has something to do with it.
    Joseph Ziegler testified that when he asked why Hunter wasn't being charged, he was told that prosecutors had found emails that led them to worry they couldn't charge the case at all.
    Could it be the IRS "whistle blowers" blew up the whole case?

    Parent
    It does have the feeling (none / 0) (#104)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 01:19:32 PM EST
    of something that will blow up in Kevin's face

    Parent
    There (none / 0) (#105)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 01:26:22 PM EST
    does seem to be a whiff of prosecutorial misconduct, at least from my IANAL cheap seats.

    Parent
    It's astonishing (none / 0) (#106)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 01:29:58 PM EST
    that lawyers for the president's son would go into a hearing without knowing what was in the deal.

    If that's what happened.

    I agree there must be more to this that we know

    Parent

    Doesn't (none / 0) (#110)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 01:55:18 PM EST
    this little tidbit give lie to the fact that the DOJ was acting out of place
    From what I was told by various people in my agency, my IRS supervisor, Matt Kutz, created memos which he put in the investigative files regarding the investigation potentially violating the subject's Sixth Amendment rights. He also referred to Donald Trump's tweets at the time.
    His own supervisor seemed have some serious doubts about the investigation, and why exactly was he not privy to these memos and had to be told about them by "various people". Something really doesn't make sense here.

    Parent
    After reading (none / 0) (#129)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 04:16:27 PM EST
    that I was thinking that the whole case could come crumbling down simply due to Jimbo & The Morons interfering.

    Parent
    After reading (none / 0) (#130)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 04:16:28 PM EST
    that I was thinking that the whole case could come crumbling down simply due to Jimbo & The Morons interfering.

    Parent
    The gun charge (none / 0) (#133)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 05:21:32 PM EST
    may be unconstitutional in light of the Supreme Court's ruling in NY State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen (June 23, 2022), in which  Clarence, writing for the majority (6-3)struck down New York's century old public carry licensing law along with challenges to gun restrictions, the right to keep and bear arms.

    Parent
    How is that applicable to the facts? (none / 0) (#141)
    by coast on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 07:21:12 AM EST
    Wasn't that ruling strictly about open carry?  Didn't the concurring opinion clearly state that the ruling does not prohibit states from having requirements to carry a gun (background checks, etc.)?

    Hunter misrepresented himself (lied) on a federal background check, which I believe is a felony.

    I've always thought the gun charge was the most obvious and clea cut offense.

    I could be missing something completely though.

    Parent

    The charge of "knowingly" being (5.00 / 3) (#146)
    by Peter G on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 08:48:16 AM EST
    an "unlawful" user of "or addicted to" a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm (18 USC 922(g)(3), 924(a)(8)) is rarely prosecuted. There is no law making use of drugs "unlawful" and it can be hard to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that someone "knew" at a certain time that they were "addicted" to a controlled substance. Likewise it can be hard to prove that someone correctly understood the meaning of that question when completing the background check form, as required to prosecute for making a false statement. And on top of all that, in light of the Bruen opinion, the defense could file a motion requiring the government to show that there is historical precedent, dating to the 1790s or earlier, restricting the right of drug users to possess firearms, or some close analogy to that (perhaps restricting gun possession by "drunkards"). Which I doubt there is. So no, this would not have been an easy charge to prosecute, but it makes a good candidate for a compromise plea that waives those issues and puts the defendant on pre-indictment probation without a conviction, in exchange for terminating the investigation of other dubious and harassing allegations.

    Parent
    Thanks Peter! (none / 0) (#158)
    by coast on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 11:17:44 AM EST
    Your point makes sense.

    However the statement "There is no law making use of drugs 'unlawful'" did make me laugh a bit.  In my simple brain I believe you have to possess a drug in order to use it, which I think would cover illegal possession which leads to 'unlawful' use.  But I understand the legal arguement you've laid out.

    I think we can agree we don't want people purchasing guns who are currently using drugs.  So how would you write a question that covers that while not restricting those people who are legally prescribed medications (although I wouldn't object to those people not being allowed to purchase a gun either).

    Parent

    Listening to one CNN bobblehead (none / 0) (#99)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 11:45:41 AM EST
    after another read republican talking points was enough to get me to change the channel.

    Parent
    They (none / 0) (#100)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 12:10:17 PM EST
    have been particulary bad the last week or so.

    Parent
    Love to hear what the lawyers think (none / 0) (#102)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 01:13:16 PM EST
    But I think Hunter needs better lawyers.  

    Hunter has excellent lawyers (5.00 / 1) (#112)
    by Peter G on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 02:11:38 PM EST
    I have said all along that the deal is worse for him than the average person would receive in equivalent circumstances. I think, in truth, that either the White House or the DoJ is insisting that he take a conviction even though almost anyone else facing a similar situation would get a declination to prosecute. In other words, bending over backwards not to give favorable treatment. The R talking point that Hunter is getting a sweet deal is, as usual, not just false but actually the opposite of the truth.

    Parent
    I'm sure (none / 0) (#114)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 02:24:53 PM EST
    and today might have been good for Hunter even if it looked like a major F'up.

    But it also launched a million conspiracy theories.  This is the dream outcome for house republicans.  It could not have gone better for them

    Why did they go into court not knowing what was in this deal?


    Parent

    Well, (none / 0) (#131)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 04:17:04 PM EST
    at least it quit the conspiracy theories about the Obamas murdering their chef.

    Parent
    I think Mitch just (none / 0) (#107)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 01:31:38 PM EST
    had a stroke on camera

    The freeze and falls (5.00 / 1) (#185)
    by Towanda on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 08:11:39 PM EST
    could be Parkinson's. (My spouse has it.)

    Parent
    Here (none / 0) (#108)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 01:33:47 PM EST
    Looked like (none / 0) (#134)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 05:29:58 PM EST
    he was getting an aura of light-headedness ,or a feeling of fainting and loss of consciousness and going down.   In any event, the response of his colleagues was weird.  Get the man help!

    Parent
    Maybe, (none / 0) (#136)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 05:48:16 PM EST
    a TIA, a transient ischemic attack.  A transient stroke-like attack that may last just a few.minutes.  

    Parent
    It was creepy in real time (none / 0) (#144)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 08:02:17 AM EST
    The camera was in pretty close and he just switched off.
    His eyes were straight out of a Blumhouse movie.

    And it stretched forever.  Feeling longer than it was because it was so uncomfortable.  

    When they now show the video they are always talking over it which totally changes the feeling of that extended awkward pause that just seemed to go on and on.

    Parent

    Yes, you (none / 0) (#147)
    by KeysDan on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 09:07:07 AM EST
    didn't need to be a brain surgeon to realize a major medical event was occurring.   Senator John Barrasso(R WY), who is a physician(M.D. Georgetown), stood next to McConnell and did nothing.

    The Democratic governor of Kentucky does not have the right to appoint a temporary successor on his own.  The Kentucky Republicans changed the process so that they present the governor three names from which the governor must pick one.

    Parent

    NOT sure I wouldn't act the same (none / 0) (#149)
    by jmacWA on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 09:11:32 AM EST
    Senator John Barrasso(R WY), who is a physician(M.D. Georgetown), stood next to McConnell and did nothing.


    Parent
    I think his (none / 0) (#155)
    by KeysDan on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 10:44:01 AM EST
    Republican senatorial colleagues responded politically rather that humanely.  At a minimum, they should have held him to prevent a fall, or get him a chair. Falls among the elderly (McConnell is 81 years old) are dangerous, resulting in broken bones, head injuries, and death.  

    McConnell has a history of falls resulting in injury,  As a physician, Barrasso should have acted in support. Others, may have some excuse in not realizing what was happening, but how hard would it be to call for help?

    Parent

    Interesting (none / 0) (#137)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 05:58:05 PM EST
    Mo Brooks, of all people, practically begging Jack Smith to call him so he can flip on Trump.
    Donald Trump wanted me to do four things: Advocate rescinding the election, advocate physically removing Joe Biden from the White House, advocate reinstating Donald Trump as president of the United States and advocate a new special election for president of the United States -- all of which violate the U.S. Constitution and federal law," Brooks said. "And after I got done explaining that to him, he withdrew his endorsement and endorsed my opponent. So I'm mildly surprised none of these people have made inquiries about the details of this, but it is what it is."


    Maybe (5.00 / 1) (#143)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 07:53:16 AM EST
    he has not been interviewed because he is a ridiculous yahoo with zero credibility?

    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#145)
    by FlJoe on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 08:12:02 AM EST
    they did interview Rudy after all

    Parent
    Rudy was directly involved (none / 0) (#152)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 09:14:59 AM EST
    in many things.  Especially the fake electors.  Mo seems more like a hanger-on.  A MAGA groupie.
    And not even a very good one.
    Groupies are not very interesting people

    Parent
    Maybe they (none / 0) (#138)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 06:15:45 PM EST
    have more credible witnesses than Mo but it is interesting that he is going public with what happened. Also reflects poorly on his opponent.

    Parent
    Or (5.00 / 1) (#139)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 06:22:22 PM EST
    maybe he is a target, soon to be named co-conspirator and this is a desperation move.

    Parent
    That's (none / 0) (#140)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jul 26, 2023 at 07:00:45 PM EST
    entirely possible too since David Shafer, GOP head, wrote a letter to Fani Willis begging her not to indict him. So there's definitely something to the people going public in fear of indictment.

    Parent
    Is today indictment day? (none / 0) (#142)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 07:41:48 AM EST
    It feels like indictment day.

    The bobblehead consensus (none / 0) (#150)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 09:11:34 AM EST
    Is this is the last thing that needed to happen before indictment.

    NEWS - Lawyers for former President Trump have arrived at special counsel Jack Smith's offices this morning for a meeting as a potential indictment looms, sources tell me @Santucci @SooRinKimm @lauraromero1207

    It really could be the day

    Parent

    Last thing, yes, but (none / 0) (#160)
    by Peter G on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 01:29:48 PM EST
    I'm doubtful it could occur on the same day as the presentation of, deliberations on, and vote of the grand jurors whether to return a final indictment.

    Parent
    I did not mean (none / 0) (#161)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 01:53:17 PM EST
    we would necessarily know about it today.  I think it took a few days last time.

    That said, there has probably never been a prosecution under the kind of time pressure Smith is under.

    On CNN they are already saying it's to close to the primary to charge him.

    With the requisite acknowledgement of how Smith doesn't watch CNN I do think he is acutely aware of the calendar.  

    My money would be on this week.  But I know nothing.  


    Parent

    There is no federal law or even DOJ rule ... (5.00 / 1) (#193)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Jul 29, 2023 at 02:03:20 AM EST
    ... prohibiting the felony indictment and criminal trial of a candidate for public office during campaign season. The cable news media has literally invented that out of whole cloth.

    If there was, Peter and Jeralyn could urge all their clients to declare their political candidacy in order to avoid prosecution.

    If Trump wants to run for president while under indictment, that's his problem, not DOJ's.

    I swear, the news media never sounds sillier than whenever they consult on these issues with that eminent expert on practically everything, Dr. Otto Yurazz.

    :-)

    Parent

    As we all know, Socialist Party leader (none / 0) (#196)
    by Peter G on Sat Jul 29, 2023 at 08:18:49 PM EST
    Eugene V. Debs ran for President in 1920 from his federal prison cell in Atlanta (serving a ten-year sentence for his unconstitutional conviction for sedition, based on his advocating against U.S. involvement in WWI) and drew just shy of a million votes, 3.4% of the total cast (about half as well as he had done in 1912). President Harding commuted the sentence to time served, a little less than two years, in early 1921.

    Parent
    Just on MSNBC (none / 0) (#162)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 01:58:58 PM EST
    Someone in DC says

    No returns today.  And no returns expected today.

    Whatever that means.

    Parent

    Ken Dilanian (none / 0) (#163)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 02:08:17 PM EST
    says this doesn't mean we won't hear something today.  That indictments could have already been done under seal.

    Parent
    Barricades (none / 0) (#164)
    by KeysDan on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 02:25:03 PM EST
    have been put up around the Fulton County, GA courthouse.

    Parent
    I saw that (none / 0) (#165)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 02:31:34 PM EST
    And this on another site

    Their window started on July 31, so a Tuesday indictment might work!

    alrudder  
    18 minutes ago
    @annabower is a good feed for the Atlanta case. She said there are two grand juries, one Monday-Tuesday, the other Thursday-Friday. Not sure which will take Trump's case



    Parent
    After you, Alphonse. (5.00 / 1) (#166)
    by KeysDan on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 02:41:44 PM EST
    No, you first, my dear Gaston.

    Parent
    This is all (none / 0) (#171)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 06:05:49 PM EST
    true except I don'tknow about the GJs but Bower is a good resource. She has been basically sitting outside the Fulton County Courthouse for quite a while.

    Parent
    If the mob is in wheelchairs (none / 0) (#179)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 07:13:14 PM EST
    that barricade will definitely hold them back.

    Parent
    Leonard Leo, (none / 0) (#167)
    by KeysDan on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 03:01:43 PM EST
     Opus Dei Catholic, Federalist Society architect of the corrupt reactionary Supreme Court, has purchased his very own church, St. Ignatius Loyola, in Mt Desert, ME.  Apparently, Leo wanted a church near his summer home in Northeast Harbor, ME.

    There are regular protests in front of his summer home, purchased in 2018 for $3.3, since the overturning of Roe v Wade by the Supreme Court.  Last summer, Leo persuaded the local police to arrest a protestor, who is now suing the police officers for wrongful arrest and violation of freedom of speech. There are no police at the current, very peaceful protests.

    Good (none / 0) (#169)
    by FlJoe on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 05:17:44 PM EST
    old Jack, he didn't deliver the main course, but he didn't leave us with nothing, additional charges plus new defendant.
     

    Looks (none / 0) (#170)
    by FlJoe on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 05:55:14 PM EST
    like additional obstruction, and more importantly charged for the classified docs in the Bedminster incident,  where lordy, lordy there are tapes, proving knowledge and intent.

    Parent
    Tapes. (5.00 / 1) (#188)
    by KeysDan on Fri Jul 28, 2023 at 08:03:35 AM EST
    And, maybe wires?  The conversations between the co-conspirators may  have been obtained such as by a third party in the room and the call on speaker, but it seems to me that another possibility is that Mar-a-Lago was wired or under some electronic surveillance.

    For legal, judge authorized,  surveillance, probable cause would be required with a high bar, for sure, in the case of a former president.

    Which returns us  to an earlier, unresolved  question--why did TFG steal these documents and what was he doing, or planning to do, with them?  To go to such extreme lengths to conceal and obstruct--- deploying cloak and dagger-like subterfuge and involving employees in crimes.   More, it seems, than for souvenirs or to immaturely cosplay  "Mr. Big".   While the answer(s) may not be necessary to the legal case, it is for national security and political reasons.

    Parent

    I am counting indictments (none / 0) (#172)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 06:07:13 PM EST
    We had 71 but it now inched up to 74. Getting closer to 100 every day that ticks by.

    Parent
    Sucks to be the pool boy (none / 0) (#175)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 06:51:07 PM EST
    Ask the Fallwells.  

    Tomorrow.

    Will he let Fani, clearly on schedule, go first?

    Parent

    Unless Smith has called in the DC grand jury (none / 0) (#176)
    by Peter G on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 07:01:30 PM EST
    specially, tomorrow is not a day they are scheduled to sit. So if Georgia goes tomorrow, then they will be first.

    Parent
    GA (none / 0) (#177)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 07:06:54 PM EST
    Will be next week.  According to all the reporting.

    The window she set starts the 31st Monday.
    The GJs there meet .....

    She said there are two grand juries, one Monday-Tuesday, the other Thursday-Friday. Not sure which will take Trump's case



    Parent
    So Monday (none / 0) (#178)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 07:08:29 PM EST
    Would probably be ahead of her.

    And pretty dramatic if it's the same week.

    Parent

    Fani (none / 0) (#182)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 07:51:40 PM EST
    has said July 31st at the earliest but no one is going to the courthouse this coming week or the next. Fani has requested everybody work from home for 2 weeks starting Monday. Of course the earlier she gets the indictments out the sooner everybody gets to go back to working at the courthouse. So there may be an incentive for her to get them done next week.

    Parent
    Question (none / 0) (#180)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 07:18:39 PM EST
    I just heard someone say whatever charges are coming soon would have to wait until the documents case is done.

    Did I hear that right?

    Parent

    For a court date (none / 0) (#181)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 07:32:42 PM EST
    I mean

    Parent
    No, there is no such hard and fast rule (5.00 / 1) (#186)
    by Peter G on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 09:38:10 PM EST
    The two federal judges, at least, if not the two federal and two state judges would discuss and agree on who it makes sense to go first, and second, etc.  In consultation with the lawyers, of course. But in the end, it would be by agreement of the judges, as a matter of professional courtesy, what order seems to be most practical.

    Parent
    I agree with Peter (5.00 / 1) (#194)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Jul 29, 2023 at 04:27:14 PM EST
    n/t

    Parent
    Would Smith as prosecutor of at least two (none / 0) (#189)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jul 28, 2023 at 02:58:42 PM EST
    Have any input?

    Parent
    Yes, of course, as I said (none / 0) (#190)
    by Peter G on Fri Jul 28, 2023 at 03:47:37 PM EST
    "after consulting with the lawyers" (sorry if it was not clear that I of course meant the lawyers on both sides of all the cases, prosecution and defense).  And again to clarify a possible ambiguity, we are talking here about scheduling trial dates.  All the cases will otherwise continue to go forward, not be entirely suspended, with discovery, document review, motions, pretrial hearings, etc.

    Parent
    Is it some kind of record (none / 0) (#191)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jul 28, 2023 at 05:20:08 PM EST
    for competing trial dates.  After J6 and GA?

    Parent
    I think most people hope (none / 0) (#192)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jul 28, 2023 at 05:45:04 PM EST
    the investigations into overthrowing the government would be priority one.

    Parent
    That's the first (none / 0) (#183)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 07:53:07 PM EST
    I have heard of that. Most of the pundits have said that the J6 case being in DC goes by their schedule. Of course I would guess they would have to work around the other trials since Trump can't be 2 places at the same time.

    Parent
    GA indictments (none / 0) (#184)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 08:05:52 PM EST
    What bugs me the most about this is why are we having Fani Willis do this? Because we have an insurrectionist Ag that's why. I am still mad we reelected all these crappy Republicans last November.

    Maybe the silver lining is Fani is doing the case because Chris Carr probably wouldn't dare indict Trump. Who knows? I am so tired of these autocrats that run Georgia.

    In a reckless, last-ditch (5.00 / 3) (#187)
    by jondee on Thu Jul 27, 2023 at 11:45:16 PM EST
    attempt to fire up his base, Trump just announced that after he's elected, he's going to build a dome around the earth and make the aliens pay for it.

    Parent
    Alito (none / 0) (#197)
    by KeysDan on Sun Jul 30, 2023 at 12:32:20 PM EST
    gave an interview to David Rivkin, Jr and a WSJ opinion editor that was published last Friday. Rivkin represents the plaintiff in Moore v US--a case, now before the court,  that asks the Court to upend the tax system, and foreclose a "wealth tax" of the sort proposed by Senator Elizabeth Warren. (Rivkin has represented Leonard Leo, drafting a letter in which Leo refuses to comply with a request from the Senate for information about Leo's relationship with Alito).

    The WSJ column is a puff piece effusively praising Alito for his "refreshing candor."  That refreshing candor referred to was Alito's attack on Democrats' proposal to pass an ethics code for the Supreme Court, claiming that "no provision in the Constitution gives them (the Congress) the authority to regulate the Supreme Court--period."

    Apparently, Alito has some historical witchcraft to interpret Article III, Section 2 of the Constituion:  "....the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such REGULATIONS (my caps) as the Congress shall make."

    In my experience (5.00 / 1) (#198)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Jul 30, 2023 at 12:42:17 PM EST
    when a person says "period" after making an assertion they probably don't actually believe it.

    And they are trying mid sentence to reinforce their sketchy argument.

    Parent

    The word Candor (5.00 / 1) (#199)
    by jondee on Sun Jul 30, 2023 at 05:21:48 PM EST
    derives from a Latin root meaning 'Whiteness'

    Too bad Rivkin didn't know that, fans of WSJ Op-Eds and conservatives in general would've enjoyed hearing about Alito's "refreshing whiteness." And his springtime freshness.

    I love how Alito seems to unconsciously believe that the SCOTUS is as unassailable
    as the College of Cardinals in Rome in the Renaissance.

    Parent