Congress established the Department of Justice in 1870, overseen by the attorney general, to protect civil rights in the southern states after state legislators and state law enforcement officers refused to treat their Black neighbors as equals.
This was a good day. We have been seeing Garland and his office step up to the plate. It is very important to actually hear from him because we know he is sharpening his tools on a leather strap. The police officers who are being arrested and indicted is sending a very clear message by the DOJ to not mess with our laws. Those who do, will be pursued and prosecuted. Breonna Taylor and her boyfriend have been vindicated, finally. Even though there is much more to accomplish, things are happening and just when we really need it. I am taking comfort in that.
Yes, I agree with you. I, too, am taking comfort in Garland and company taking charge. I went back and forth on Garland wanting him to move faster on pursuing Trump. I realize I was afraid that the longer nothing was done, the more time Trump had to pull another Houdini and escape justice once again. I now have more faith that G
arland and his DOJ are doing the right things. I have read how meticulous he is and also how very knowledgeable he is of our Constitution. Things really seem to be heating up and I think we are witnessing history before our very eyes.
I take comfort too from the FBI arrests in #SayHerName Breonna Taylor's case. Sadly, my friend was not impressed. Shirley said - why are people back out in the streets clogging up traffic? They got their money from the city.
My friend is a 63, black and a lifelong resident of the west end of Louisville. I don't know what to make of her comments.
If she were my friend, I would ask her if something like what happened to Breonna happened to her mother, sister or daughter, wouldn't she deem it important for justice to be served for them? And I would tell her that in my opinion money is not justice.
When I speak to jurors, as I do every now and then, I always point out to them that while money is the only recompense the law can offer, it is never full compensation, whether for a broken leg or years of emotional harm.
It’s important to understand how and why juries award money. And to keep watching the Alex Jones Sandy Hook case. Yesterday compensatory damages to the tune of $4mil were awarded to parents.
Next phase are the punitive damages assessed. Usually much greater amount.
In addition to time he will serve if sentenced.
To me, while my thoughts are focused on the parents who have suffered so greatly, prosecution of this despicable person will send a clear message about conspiracy, lies, and defamation.
And the judgment on Jones who still dares to say the word “truth”.
He wouldn't know truth if it came up and bit him on the behind! I am glad that all three (compensatory fine, damages fine, and prison time) are all on the table.
You got it right Christine. As we will hear shortly, there are "Punitive Damage Caps" in Texas. The Texas Jury Instruction and Jury form will lay out the Texas formula. The Trial Judge appears to have conttol over Jones as he tried to cover up his net worth. Update on Verdict; $45+ Million in Punitive Damages. Total Verdict near $50, Million.
I assume you mean time Jones would potentially serve if he is charged and convicted of perjury, which looks like a ridiculously easy case to make. And I hope they bring such as case and the judge sentences Jones to the maximum punishment allowed. I wonder if he and his associates could be charged with something like "conspiracy to commit perjury" and sentenced to even harsher punishment.
I hope they will convict him for perjury. So often it seems they skip over things like this to get to the "bigger crimes", but it sets precedents that are dangerous.
Pardon my French, but fuck him! After they take every dime he ever made plus any that he might into the distant future, I’d like to see him put under the jail, and I mean that literally.
I am not sure what Shirley means either. For some facts, the DOJ seved three ( 3) Criminal Indictments against four (4) defendants. I undestand two (2) of the four (4) defendants still operate in the Louisville juridiction, Shirley's city. Where have the other two (2) gone? See, DOJ Press release: 22-835, updated 8 /4/22.
Bryan, Thank you for following the paper... it is I think as important as following the money. Why did Trump eat the paper, flush it down the toilet and take cartons of it home to Mar-a-Largo?
While reading today's Letter, I saw that the can of worms has truly opened. The process began with the House Committee's January 6 Investigation, and now the Justice Department's work is becoming known to the public. Our work, the work of the people is to insure that our elections are fair and free for all.
Frank, I do not know the answer. It is a good question. I don't have the time today to research whether there were attempts to recover, if so any, success and what was turned up. If you like, you could Google, "Were cartons of paper Trump took after leaving office recovered?" You might try several versions of the question. The answer may not be so easily found and or may not be available to the public. If I learn anything worthwhile about it, I'll post it to you.
Frank I feel any incriminating paperwork is long gone. I wonder how much that has been uncovered about Trump is real or a set up diversion. They had to have know that eventually questions would be asked.
Great find, Lynell. Thank you. I'll copy your reply and this one to Frank, Very little about the contents; there is more to learn but such info may not be public yet. Conditions about when this material to be public is not indicated from this piece.
There is a lawsuit that was filed by a watchdog group on May of this year “seeking the release of inventory documents, expenses, and communications related to the Whitehouse documents taken from former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence...”.
She sounds burnt out...has to be. Perhaps she needed to vent, perhaps she’s ready to hear a voice of reason after venting. Perhaps these are fears coming to the surface because she is preparing herself for the worse. We all know if justice is not pursued it will happen again and again. We must move forward in hopes of making it better.
Does she not understand that "the money from the city" was simply an acknowledgement of harm that they caused, but not an effort to keep that harm from being repeated? Maybe she has just been worn down by the constant barrage of unpunished wrongdoing.
Watched Zero Dark Thirty last night, which drove home more than ever the grit that must have been involved in out government's decades-long pursuit of Zahawari. And yesterday I watched the Sandy Hook parents FINALLY receive a slice of justice after a decade of grief and harassment.
The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine. It is obvious that Garland has been building all these cases since he entered office - and let's not forget how long his nomination was stalled and sabotaged before getting in there. His patriotic, patient and meticulous persistence is now starting to bear fruit!
I’m sorry. It simply should not take the DOJ, the largest law firm in the world, with virtually unlimited resources, over 2 years to deliver a small measure of justice for the Taylor family. That is not justice in my mind. Only better than nothing. And, why no consequences for the KY AG?
AG Garland simply must do better. At the same pace, it will be next spring before trump, and any of his sycophants, are indicted. Step up, do your damn job.
Exactly. Garland should be leading, not following. Same thing happened with the J6 committee, didn’t act, at least seriously, until he was embarrassed to do so.
I believe you're wrong. When Garland took office in March 2021, he faced a daunting task — rebuild the Department of Justice after Trump and Barr had decimated it and, at the same time, begin prosecuting the hundreds of insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol. We have no idea when the department began broadening the investigation to include the big fish. He also had to have in place a staff large and capable enough to handle this exceedingly challenging work.
To suggest Garland didn't take the case seriously until the J6 committee began its work and was thus embarrassed into tackling it, flies in the face of his long and successful career. It also overlooks the size and complexity of the case, which is unprecedented in our history.
Exactly right. In addition, not only was DoJ decimated it was full of enablers from the top down and the ship needed righting. It was an enormous task and he was a total professional. I don't think he is easily embarrassed by what pundits say.
"this administration and their DOJ" -- Sorry, but FBI Director Christopher Wray is a Trump appointee, a Federalist Society acolyte of Leonard Leo, a NY brahmin, did his federal ct-of-app clerkship with J. Michael Luttig (an extreme right-winger despite having recently shown that, like his fellows Rep. Liz Cheney and Mueller-Report-liar Bill Barr, he does have principles against fascist treason), and "earned" over $9M in his 1 1/2 years of private practice (including repping C Christie in Bridgegate) before being sworn in as FBI Director by Jefferson (Davis) Beauregard Sessions III. Trust him as far as you can throw him.
As for AG Garland, his inclination to "all due deliberate speed" (the rubric in Brown v. Bd of Educ that allowed many states to continue to operate segregated schools for long enough to allow white flight to hollow out so many cities' tax and educational bases first) is fine for a JUDICIAL temperament but not so good when it allows blatant treason to go unnamed and unpunished for 2 1/2 years and counting. I'm sorry for being impatient, but even apart from the danger of installation of a Congress that'll shield tfg and his minions from j(J)ustice, I'm too old to be patient about outcomes (in this case "perpwalks") I hope to SEE.
Neil, from several people I’ve seen interviewed on MSNBC, it likely will be spring; justice often moves slow. But even if, god forbid, we lose control of the House, there will absolutely be a special prosecutor appointed. AG Garland will make sure of that.
You do realize this is Kentucky - land of MM and his little frog RP? The level of cronyism cannot be understated.. Early in the Biden administration, an investigation of Louisville Metro Police Department was announced. The city has changed police chiefs 3 times until current chief came here from Atlanta.
Laura Ingraham looks like the nasty piece of work everyone who's ever been around her says she is. Another winger who obviously sold her soul long ago, it's so obvious.
When real problems come at you, like the Moose fire which has destroyed grazing rights on more than 60000 acres and entrapped cattle in its midst , see Inciweb Idaho, Moose Fire, we still have time to call bullshit on total flakes like Ingraham. As our towns water shed here in Salmon and the homes of residences in the river corridor are threatened we still look outward at the American communities and people threatened with the fire brought on by the abject failure of the Republican agenda and applaud the actions of American heroes fighting to cool the embers of tyranny. Thank you!
I hope you are safe and am sorry about the fire in your area. I am glad you too that you can still call out people like the soulless Ingraham. Nicely put too.
No sweat, we are hunky dorky. One foot in the black. Seems like our country has one foot in the black now too. My hat is over my heart for the folks on the fire line of freedom.
Pat, I absolutely sympathize with you. I came within a 100 yards of losing everything I own in the Oregon fires of 2020. I evacuated and for three weeks I never knew whether I had a home. When I was allowed to return, my neighbor's house had burnt down to the foundation yet I was virtually untouched. Not a tree even scorched!
Why? How?
The answer is denial, denial, denial, on top of constant pressure from the fossil fuel industries to just let things alone. They will not be happy until every last barrel of oil and gas is sucked from the earth and every ton of coal is burnt up.
The question on the table is who runs this country? Exxon and Shell Oil or We th People?
As a jumper my inclination is to stay and defend if your space is defensible. We like to wrap a California hose-lay around the homes and defend from behind using the home as a heat shield. Not for the feint of heart or inexperienced. But out here in fire country if you are not there, no one else is either.
Well, I can only say that as a "super senior" my fire fighting days were (and are) over. Of course the electricy was down so my well wasn't working. But the sheriff ordered me to evacuate the area. I don't think there was even a choice. (Plus, I didn't want to end up like Harry Truman, of Mt. St. Helens fame, who is now buried under 500ft of ash and pumice.)
There were a few rumors of looters sneaking into the area while we were evacuated.
But my point is that these kinds of events are going to be more the rule than the exception. It's heartbreaking to watch an entire forst be reduced to ashes.
Well said. I hope for cooler, wetter weather. We've got some fires cooking in Oregon now, and the fire that destroyed Klamath River has threatened homes in Yreka, CA (a tuba playing friend of mine had to evacuate, along with her horse).
You may have seen the article on the state sending notices to certain high risk fire property owners on what they needed to do. The response has been loud and now the state is backtracking....I don't know, a new map. Of course, the noise has come from that part of the state which is bright red. I did see one good thing this week, the greedy developer in central Oregon has given up on his water sucking resort.
A few years ago, there was a billboard on I-95 North heading into Philadelphia. It was an ad for Fox News and featured, as I recall, nothing but a large photo of Laura Ingraham with a lascivious sneer. I always wondered what message the network was trying to send, and who would think this was an appropriate look for a “news” personality.
Easy to answer Betsy. This is their idea of the "awake not woke" news personality, who can better gain the interest of wingers male and female. Who obviously sees everything for what he/she thinks it is, assumes everyone should see it that way, and most importantly has visual hatred for those who do not think their way. Fox uses the female in ways that they think will improve viewership. Who can forget the leggy panels - miniskirts with sexy crossed legs for all to see. All talking winger smack. Meant to give the old white men hard-ons while watching the news. Or the legal trouble Fox has been in from ex-employees female. What a misogynist organization.
My 92-year-old mother watches the Fox trifecta of hate and lies every evening (Carlson, Hannity, Ingraham) and the past few years it’s been hard to pierce through the veil of stupidity and fear that’s been inculcated in her. Although her health is failing, she’s still as sharp as a tack. The one person who I thought was the smartest person I’d ever known has descended into blind obedience of the Fox watchers, of which there are millions in this benighted country. The woman who taught me tolerance and how to love my fellow man (in a truly genderless fashion) has descended into political madness.
My husband is from a very large family. 1 Aunt and 1 Cousin are the only ones we continue to see. Very sad..the rest have all gone to the dark side. Had 1 Cousin get in my face at memorial service, no less, last year. We both vowed it was the last family event. But now hubby is turning 75 and feels he should see all the siblings this Christmas. We are both dreading the visit.
Families…what the hell has happened to this country?😩
I might mention, I have heard of people who have managed to program their parent's tvs such that they can no longer access FOX. I don't know if it is via streaming services or monkeying with the remote, but I have read about this, I think actually on this forum!
I did this at the rehab center after her hip surgery a few years ago. It seemed as if every damned TV in the place was tuned to Fox. The next day, Fox was back. If I did this at home, she’d know it was me. I also live > 250 miles away …
So true, TC. She is a nasty wench disgrace. When I watch Faux to keep up with their drivel, I always end up throwing something at the TV for her nitwit remarks. I immediately revert to my 8yr old playground politics. Ooooo, if I could just get her on the playground for 10 minutes.
Alot to unpack with that picture, including the surly ugly expression on her face. Apart from the obvious, look at the lower right, where Boebert is apparently being queued up for an interview. Fox - how low can you go.
Sharing your letter has influenced 3 people to subscribe. I'm working on a 4th. They were already on your side, so I want them to be informed rather than just believers. Thank you.
Personally, giving serious consideration into the "gifting" of these Christmas. Like any gift, whatever the recipient does with the gift is theirs to choose.
Good idea. I didn't pay for a subscription for them. I just showed them what they're missing over a period of months. Sorry for any confusion. Thanks to all who liked the idea.
Or, if they use Facebook at all, send them an invite to Heather’s page. Her daily LFAA are free there. I personally find the commenters & comments more thoughtful & erudite on Substack as most here actually read the links & the comments, which makes for better discourse.
Your loss as this Substack for HCR began via an offshoot group of fellow admirers, on FB, who wanted to ensure that her videos had a home on YouTube & that Substack would happen. & yes, I’ve been a follower on FB of HCR since close to the beginning (about a month after her first post.) There are a lot if awful contributors on Substack, too: people I would never support monetarily. Pick your poison, eh?
Your letter for August 4, 2022 (Barack Obama's birthday, by the way) covers several layers of injustice that particularly affects people with the double burden of being Black and female.
Breonna Taylor's tragic murder in her own home,
Brittney Griner's show trial and hostage-taking placement in a Russian penal colony,
SCOTUS-triggered denials of medical care to women so soundly denounced in the Kansas referendum on rights to autonomy and privacy,
and the over 400 years of history of caste-discrimination specifically of people of African descent in North America.
A reminder that the quote-unquote legal system gave us a SCOTUS that was completely white and male until 1967. Even now change is happening only due to Joe Biden's pledge to appoint the first Black woman to that institution. Recall Justice Jackson's notable poise during her confirmation hearing, enduring the attacks by those who would perpetuate injustice, caste and partisan agendas.
Contrast with the credible accusations against both Clarence Thomas and Bret Kavanaugh during their confirmations, with the additional spectacle of Kavanaugh whining emotionally about how he likes beer, even as his financial situation mysteriously benefitted, and how SCOTUS is now in effect taking away women's rights without exclusions. With Mitch McConnell and the GOP obstructing Congressional action, SCOTUS has somehow become an unelected policy catalyst, where six radical individuals enact decisions against the will and interests of hundreds of millions.
"VOTE - We are Ruth-less" is now my regular statement tee shirt. Roe-vember is coming. Elections matter!
Unfortunately Ruth Ginsberg caused a good bit of the imbalance in the court by hanging on and not retiring in a timely manner. None of us are immortal.
According to this article, RBG's contracted her "first" cancer in 2009 when Barak Obama was our President. "At 75, Ginsburg was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer during a routine annual screening, NPR reported. While pancreatic cancer often has a poor prognosis—the disease is often diagnosed in later, hard-to-treat stages due to its obscure symptoms—experts remained optimistic for the justice, as the tumor discovered in the center of her pancreas was only 1 centimeter long.
“'Justice Ginsburg had no symptoms prior to the incidental discovery of the lesion during a routine annual checkup in late January at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland,' the Supreme Court confirmed in a statement. She quickly underwent surgery a month later, and continued to find passion in her work." So she was doing well and able to perform her duties during this time.
Meanwhile, Democrats controlled the Senate until 2015 when Mitch McConnell took over as majority leader. Still, RBG was doing well and able to perform her duties during this time.
We all know that Antonin Scalia passed away February 2016, during Obama's presidency. But with a Republican-controlled Senate, McConnell refused to allow Merrick Garland to be admitted to the court, saying it was too close to the presidential election, et cetera, et cetera. Still (and fortunately), RBG was doing well and able to perform her duties during this time.
In 2017, thumper took over as president. The pubs were still in charge in the Senate. So when RBG was discovered to have lung cancer in 2018, she underwent a pulmonary lobectomy, requiring her to miss a few weeks from work. Still, she was doing well and able to perform her duties during this time.
And then in July 2019, her pancreatic cancer returned. After treatment, in January 2020, she was diagnosed as cancer free. Still, RBG was doing well and able to perform her duties during this time. thumper was still president and pubs still controlled the Senate.
But in May 2020, liver lesions were found and treated. "The 87-year-old justice, and the eldest member of the Court, would continue bi-weekly chemo treatments and insisted that she was 'able to maintain an active daily routine.'
“'I have often said I would remain a member of the Court as long as I can do the job full steam,' she wrote. 'I remain fully able to do that.'” And she did so; and thumper was still president with pubs still in control of the Senate.
On September 18, 2020, we lost our Notorious RBG. So let me speculate that in order for Democrats to replace her with one of their own, she would have had to retire between her first diagnosis of cancer in 2009 and just before 2014. Once Republicans took over the Senate in 2015, the door was closed for Democrats until January 2021.
Totally agree, Hale. The pancreatic cancer of Ginsberg was not her first battle w cancer but her third. And while I do admire her, she herself said she wanted HRC to be the one to replace her as Obama would pick someone “too conservative” (like Garland). She could (& should) have retired upon Obama’s re-election. & though I was hardly an SD O’Connor fan, she retired at the appropriate time & age, despite, sadly, giving Wubya a pick.
Yes, Hale, she did, but we women...we didn’t want to let her go. She had been so very important to us throughout our lives. We were knocked across the room by the Grim Reaper. We were asleep at the wheel, sadly.
Sorry, Lynell, but imho she should’ve retired upon Obama’s re-election. This was her third bout w cancer (over 20 years worth) & she was 80 at that point.
There are several I like, and I bought a bunch of different messages (including women's rights are human rights). This one has a silhouette of Justice RBG with words. I chose the olive, for green is the color we are using for reproductive rights.
Terrific for conversation starters when out in public.
Thanks Beverly, mine came from China, from Always Happy company, and is missing the " R " in Ruthless. Too long a story but I will now thanks to you, put a R on it and also buy 1 from Amazon.
Thank you for the update at the end of a very long day. Griner’s case is interesting because of the harsh penalties for possession in Russia. Her case also showcases the inequality of WNBA salaries when compared to NBA salaries that led her to play in Russia.
The US has incarcerated 1000s of people, mostly blacks for possession of Marijuana over the years. We just don't put their trials on the news. They maybe get public defenders. Our war on drugs has been a war on people of color.
So true. We created a crime where none really existed. We created an underground industry that made billions for thugs and undermined the futures of millions of young people.
Imagine if all the resources - money and people - used to bust people for getting high had been applied to those in need instead. Drug treatment programs, jobs and housing programs, health care and education programs.
The American War on Drugs is one of the greatest institutional crimes of all time. It is cruel. It is stupid. And it doesn't work. It enriches gangsters and corrupt cops. It does feed a prison system run by private enterprise. Anyone else see the great big loop of corruption? And yes, it is a war on people of color.
When there is a bust, is it the white guy in his nice car or the black kid on the corner? Nancy and Ronnie Reagan: you gave birth to "just say no to drugs". You also ruined the lives of millions of Americans. You were public enemies. You were evil in your ignorance and arrogance.
There is an uplifting story on the Facebook page of Humans of New York.
The story is told in 13 posts by former prisoner John Gargano. I think you would appreciate the story. Former President Obama enacted a clemency program which was key for Mr. Gargano to move forward in life.
An aside: warning that Mr. Gargano uses strong language.
Thank you for posting. That was my first thought when the media was talking about how Russia was handling this case, and the length of time before a hearing, and the type of punishment. There are times we need to look in a mirror.
Griner’s case is just another instance of Americans not having a clue about the risks of being an American in problem places. Then it becomes Joe Biden’s latest crisis. And if she was going for the money, no excuse.
Jeri, I respectfully disagree. Our female basketball players are exceptional athletes. The opportunities for women to play professional sports in our country are sorely lacking if they want to make a living at it. Many of them do need to play overseas to make a living at what they love. For example, there is something called the American Corn Hole League. Not kidding. Of course mostly a man’s game, started in backyards across the country. A person (generally men because they are the highest paid players) at the top of this league can make $60k a year! That’s 50% of what most professional women’s basketball players make. Our women have salary caps in basketball, unlike the men. Some female players hold records never achieved by any men in basketball. I’ll get off my soapbox now. But these women work hard and they should be paid accordingly.
May I add, as a professional athlete, she only has so many years can physically work. So it’s important for her to earn what she can while she can. Especially with the mieger salary women professional athlete receive. The inequality is real. Think of the US Womens Soccer as an example. It’s better for them but it’s still not equal.
Exactly. I didn't even get started on that uproar when the women had to strike to get better pay, and their fan base and income EXCEEDED the men's team! And you're right about the time frame. It takes a toll on their bodies to perform at that level. Sylvia Fowles is retiring this year after 15 years in the league which is a long time. I think she's 40? And has to find/start a new career. The only reason I knew about the Corn Hole league was because I was trying to find a televised WNBA game. Nope. They were televising CORNHOLE!!!
Years ago, I was acquainted with a woman whose son played for the Dallas Cowboys. He only played 2-3 years, then was traded somewhere (Pittsburg?) but was injured and dropped. I don't recall the injuries but he tried to recover just to get 1-2 more years in so he could get a pension. (Or so she said, I have zero knowledge of professional football.) Anyhow, I was astounded that the NFL offered a pension of some sort, and that you needed only to play probowl 5-6 years. She mentioned the toll on players and how the have short careers. I guess it makes sense, the only players names I recognize are ones that have "long" careers.
In any case, the last I heard, her son had gone into construction work.
Miselle: if he played pre-1993, it was 4 yrs for nfl (& all men’s pro sports) pension; it’s now 3 but obviously more time equals bigger pension. But lots of controversy right now because of so many former players being denied legit disability claims. I’ve known a few guys who played professionally for short periods of time, were hurt & have never seen any pension money. Those who only play briefly, for not huge salaries, far far far outweigh those w multi-million $ contracts. Shelf life for most is short, injuries are the norm & often extreme, & many injuries don’t show up until years later.
It was pre-1993, and yes, he did not make huge amounts of money. It was an eye-opener to me. I thought they all had it made once they were in the big league.
I agree with your post, Dianna. She is there to make money because the WNBA doesn't pay enough. And yes, our Oregon alum, the triple double queen, Sabrina Ionesco, holds the record for that for both men and women in college. She is just now getting into her stride with New York Liberty.
Missing from the article was what the 2022 top draft pick signed for. I found out that a chap named Bennedict Mathurin signed for $6,586,800. Not only is the "millions" column not only present, but more than halfway towards the next space left of the comma, but the "hundred thousand" number is more than double Griner's.
Correct, Jeri. Seeking extra money income is definitely not an excuse to carry into the airport in Russia. That was a serious lapse in judgment.
That less than a gram of oil in her backpack is going to end up costing a lot. In money, swaps, and deals. Much more than she could make in a lifetime playing off season ball in Russia.
It’s tragic. If we cannot get her home, 9 yrs in a Russian penal colony is abhorrent.
Not sure why anyone is arguing disparity in salaries between male and female professional athletes here. No one is disputing her decision to play off season ball. That is not the issue here. Whether she was targeted or not by Russian officials, she carried drugs into their country. Not something sanctioned by WNBA last time I checked.
And yes, for years I have agreed with the ongoing injustice of salary structure disparity in professional sports leagues.
Christine, I am going respectfully disagree here. For her, it is prescribed medication. She possesses it legally in the US (which, already noted, has some bizarre and specifically targeting certain populations drug rules.) Agreed, she should have been aware of the Russian laws, but I firmly believe she was detained because she is an outspoken Black lesbian and it was not a "random" search.
Trust me, Ally. I realize that. It comes down to, “she should have been aware of the laws”. I almost tore my hair out by the roots when I learned she had the vial of medication in her backpack. I’ve talked to a few athletes that I know. They are schooled in detail by their leagues about medical marijuana and the precautions to be taken not only in traveling internationally but interstate here in US. The disparity here is not salary. It’s the disparity still in the medical marijuana laws. And the political implications against minority populations regarding those laws.
Thank you, Heather, for highlighting that “[t]he importance of federal protections for equal rights is today’s central story.” It is vital to see it outlined in this way, unveiling the significance of our right at the ballot box!
Rowshan, I would note that Democracy Docket founder Marc Elias expects that Republicans, as early as this fall, will use “false allegations of fraud as a pretext to remove ballots from the vote totals and then certify those incomplete results.” Moreover, I understand that former Watergate staffer Attorney Jill Wine-Banks concurs. Admittedly, given this context, I view Congress’s current bipartisan project to reform the Electoral Count Act not only a distraction but also a denial of the rapidly approaching midterms that are going to be a referendum on democracy.
The winner of the close Arizona primary, Kari Lake, already was screaming fraud, even before she won. And with the changes in election laws by the Rs, November may be "interesting,"
Kathleen, At first glance, one might conclude that no amount of organizing is going to get us around these obstacles. At such times, I recall U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis who once wrote, “Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.” I suppose one might add that only in retrospect does the true value of persistence in the face of difficulty become fully evident.
Rowshan, Because it seems that no amount of organizing is going to get us around these obstacles, I amplify them every chance I get to impress upon all of us the importance of recruiting our talents and our skills to surmount them, despite the odds.
It will be good to see some kind of justice in the Breonna Taylor case. If there are convictions, will there be significant jail time? The cops involved were all fired by the Louisville PD. Are they working as police officers somewhere else?
It seems to me that an illegally obtained search warrant makes every action that results illegal as well.
It is. What it boils down to is intent, which is an important element to any charges. The guys who lied to get the warrant are held to a standard of false swearing, which makes their actions unlawful. The guys assigned to the team who only knew there was a search warrant to serve were acting (their intent) was in good faith. Every police action resulting in criminal action against the persons on whom the warrant was served; the police action itself (entering in and remaining within the dwelling by those who didn't lie to get the warrant) is a mitigating factor in their defense of being there. Now, their conduct once they got inside and started shooting all willy-nilly is a COMPLETELY different matter.
I understand and agree that the Brittney Griner situation is primarily political and a power play. However, no one is pointing out the fact that 1000's of blacks in this country have been incarcerated for possession of small amounts of Marijuana. The war on drugs in the US is a war on black and brown people. The prison industry is a blight on our society.
Well really, white people who incarcerate these POC, are a blight, period! Whites have stomped all over those who are not their skin color or their ethnicity since the formation of America. We haven’t played nice, past or present. My absolute dream would come true is if all of those responsible for hurting and scaring others, are hauled off to prison for a very lengthy time!
I haven't read the details of the illegal search warrant against Taylor/Walker. But it shows DOJ's contrast with Jefferson County. Merrick Garland has a lot on his plate and he seems to be moving in the right direction. Thank you for the news HCR.
Bill: Heather’s link to the courier journal article in her always-awesome Notes pretty much covers the entirety of the unanswered questions raised here in the comments on the Breonna Taylor case.
The Justice Department is FINALLY confronting the long-standing issue of about 1000 killings each year of civilian citizens in the U.S. by police offices who very rarely are held accountable through being indicted or convicted. Compared to other developed nations, we are a violent police state. Study the data here.
#SayHerName #BreonnaTaylor The arrest of 4 officers here in Louisville KY was an uplifting moment for me. The FBI would never have investigated this further had prior under administration won re-election.
Back in 2020, the Courier Journal released the 911 call transcript from Taylor's apartment. This was the same day that the George Floyd's video went viral. As protests around the world occurred for George Floyd, protests for Breonna Taylor happened here. 180 days of protests in downtown were preceded the local grand jury disappointing lack of results.
MM's heir apparent Kentucky's AG Daniel Cameron (R) handled the case himself. The local grand jury never explored the scope of their authority to bring charges other than those suggested. Individual jury members broke their silence to complain to the Courier Journal about being so mislead.
Taylor's family civil suit was immediately settlement from the city. The largest city payout without results of any investigation(s) being finalized.
Daniel Cameron is one of Moscow Mitch’s lackeys. He is being preened n groomed to be Mitch’s successor should Mitch ever decide to retire or dies in office. Cameron fought AGAINST Gov. Andy Beshear (Dem) every step the way as COVID protection measures were implemented. Dastardly Dan is a snake. I’m glad DoJ is reopening Breonna’s case.
AG Daniel Cameron has also been defending the trigger ban laws on abortion. When Roe was overturned, there were only remaining 2 providers (both in Louisville). There is a constitutional amendment on ballot #2 - that would remove the right to abortion. The language is purposefully vague - as a feature. Ugh! This amendment was passed in the Kentucky legislature 2 years ago. They waited for mid-term elections to put it out there.
Thank you Heather for giving us the background on the establishment of the DOJ in order to protect civil rights. That puts a special meaning to the importance of the DOJ. Your point that it makes a difference who is elected president -- in this regard and in so many others. SPOT ON! I find the info re: the review of Brett K. appalling and unfortunately not a surprise. What a relief that the DOJ is engaging with Brianna's murder! I hadn't heard that yet. Let's do all we can to get out the vote; I'm distressed when I read that so many people, some say young people, are disgusted and don't plan to vote.
I understand that you have been elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences! Congratulations.
This was a good day. We have been seeing Garland and his office step up to the plate. It is very important to actually hear from him because we know he is sharpening his tools on a leather strap. The police officers who are being arrested and indicted is sending a very clear message by the DOJ to not mess with our laws. Those who do, will be pursued and prosecuted. Breonna Taylor and her boyfriend have been vindicated, finally. Even though there is much more to accomplish, things are happening and just when we really need it. I am taking comfort in that.
Yes, I agree with you. I, too, am taking comfort in Garland and company taking charge. I went back and forth on Garland wanting him to move faster on pursuing Trump. I realize I was afraid that the longer nothing was done, the more time Trump had to pull another Houdini and escape justice once again. I now have more faith that G
arland and his DOJ are doing the right things. I have read how meticulous he is and also how very knowledgeable he is of our Constitution. Things really seem to be heating up and I think we are witnessing history before our very eyes.
I take comfort too from the FBI arrests in #SayHerName Breonna Taylor's case. Sadly, my friend was not impressed. Shirley said - why are people back out in the streets clogging up traffic? They got their money from the city.
My friend is a 63, black and a lifelong resident of the west end of Louisville. I don't know what to make of her comments.
If she were my friend, I would ask her if something like what happened to Breonna happened to her mother, sister or daughter, wouldn't she deem it important for justice to be served for them? And I would tell her that in my opinion money is not justice.
money is only a band-aid or in some cases duct tape to shut the complaining party up
When I speak to jurors, as I do every now and then, I always point out to them that while money is the only recompense the law can offer, it is never full compensation, whether for a broken leg or years of emotional harm.
It’s important to understand how and why juries award money. And to keep watching the Alex Jones Sandy Hook case. Yesterday compensatory damages to the tune of $4mil were awarded to parents.
Next phase are the punitive damages assessed. Usually much greater amount.
In addition to time he will serve if sentenced.
To me, while my thoughts are focused on the parents who have suffered so greatly, prosecution of this despicable person will send a clear message about conspiracy, lies, and defamation.
And the judgment on Jones who still dares to say the word “truth”.
🗽
He wouldn't know truth if it came up and bit him on the behind! I am glad that all three (compensatory fine, damages fine, and prison time) are all on the table.
You got it right Christine. As we will hear shortly, there are "Punitive Damage Caps" in Texas. The Texas Jury Instruction and Jury form will lay out the Texas formula. The Trial Judge appears to have conttol over Jones as he tried to cover up his net worth. Update on Verdict; $45+ Million in Punitive Damages. Total Verdict near $50, Million.
I assume you mean time Jones would potentially serve if he is charged and convicted of perjury, which looks like a ridiculously easy case to make. And I hope they bring such as case and the judge sentences Jones to the maximum punishment allowed. I wonder if he and his associates could be charged with something like "conspiracy to commit perjury" and sentenced to even harsher punishment.
I hope they will convict him for perjury. So often it seems they skip over things like this to get to the "bigger crimes", but it sets precedents that are dangerous.
Yes, Dirk. This case is a civil lawsuit, not criminal. So....
Whatever the court awards the families, how will Alex Jones's declaration of bankruptcy affect what they will actually receive?
Pardon my French, but fuck him! After they take every dime he ever made plus any that he might into the distant future, I’d like to see him put under the jail, and I mean that literally.
They will address that. He’s made millions of $ every year his program has been in existence.
Perhaps the bankruptcy court will reject, at least, his most recent filing as a ploy to avoid paying the penalties.
I personally don't know, Mim, but make the heavy assumption the court et al. won't just take his word for it.
Yes…
❤️
Thanks, Jon. You said it better than I did!
That's a good question.
❤️
I am not sure what Shirley means either. For some facts, the DOJ seved three ( 3) Criminal Indictments against four (4) defendants. I undestand two (2) of the four (4) defendants still operate in the Louisville juridiction, Shirley's city. Where have the other two (2) gone? See, DOJ Press release: 22-835, updated 8 /4/22.
Bryan, Thank you for following the paper... it is I think as important as following the money. Why did Trump eat the paper, flush it down the toilet and take cartons of it home to Mar-a-Largo?
While reading today's Letter, I saw that the can of worms has truly opened. The process began with the House Committee's January 6 Investigation, and now the Justice Department's work is becoming known to the public. Our work, the work of the people is to insure that our elections are fair and free for all.
Here's to more light all around.
Has any of the material from MarLago been returned to the govt?
Frank, I do not know the answer. It is a good question. I don't have the time today to research whether there were attempts to recover, if so any, success and what was turned up. If you like, you could Google, "Were cartons of paper Trump took after leaving office recovered?" You might try several versions of the question. The answer may not be so easily found and or may not be available to the public. If I learn anything worthwhile about it, I'll post it to you.
https://news.yahoo.com/national-archives-retrieved-15-boxes-194918373.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall
Frank I feel any incriminating paperwork is long gone. I wonder how much that has been uncovered about Trump is real or a set up diversion. They had to have know that eventually questions would be asked.
Frank, See link to article about the recovery of the 15 cartons Trump has at Mar-a-Largo
Lynell(VA by way of MD&DC)
https://news.yahoo.com/national-archives-retrieved-15-boxes-194918373.html?fr=yhssrp_catchal
FERN MCBRIDE (NYC)
Great find, Lynell. Thank you. I'll copy your reply and this one to Frank, Very little about the contents; there is more to learn but such info may not be public yet. Conditions about when this material to be public is not indicated from this piece.
It is my understanding that archivists from the National Archives retrieved the materials and are reviewing them.
Good one, Fern.
From the heart, thank you Pam.
Thank you FERN, the more sun lignt the better but, I think we may need some UV LIght, "black light" to spot any blood.
LOL!
There is a lawsuit that was filed by a watchdog group on May of this year “seeking the release of inventory documents, expenses, and communications related to the Whitehouse documents taken from former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence...”.
https://www.americanoversight.org/document/complaint-american-oversight-v-nara-communications-and-documents-related-to-white-house-records-retrieved-from-former-president-trump-in-january-2022
She sounds burnt out...has to be. Perhaps she needed to vent, perhaps she’s ready to hear a voice of reason after venting. Perhaps these are fears coming to the surface because she is preparing herself for the worse. We all know if justice is not pursued it will happen again and again. We must move forward in hopes of making it better.
Does she not understand that "the money from the city" was simply an acknowledgement of harm that they caused, but not an effort to keep that harm from being repeated? Maybe she has just been worn down by the constant barrage of unpunished wrongdoing.
Ignorance is colorblind
That's quite a response. It would be interesting to know why she feels that way.
$$$$$
$12 million in the civil suit for #SayHerName #BreonnaTaylor family.
Indeed a ?
Watched Zero Dark Thirty last night, which drove home more than ever the grit that must have been involved in out government's decades-long pursuit of Zahawari. And yesterday I watched the Sandy Hook parents FINALLY receive a slice of justice after a decade of grief and harassment.
The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine. It is obvious that Garland has been building all these cases since he entered office - and let's not forget how long his nomination was stalled and sabotaged before getting in there. His patriotic, patient and meticulous persistence is now starting to bear fruit!
I’m sorry. It simply should not take the DOJ, the largest law firm in the world, with virtually unlimited resources, over 2 years to deliver a small measure of justice for the Taylor family. That is not justice in my mind. Only better than nothing. And, why no consequences for the KY AG?
AG Garland simply must do better. At the same pace, it will be next spring before trump, and any of his sycophants, are indicted. Step up, do your damn job.
I could be wrong, but I think the DOJ doesn’t/didn’t step in until it was clear the state wasn’t going to do anything. Hence the time frame.
Exactly. Garland should be leading, not following. Same thing happened with the J6 committee, didn’t act, at least seriously, until he was embarrassed to do so.
I believe you're wrong. When Garland took office in March 2021, he faced a daunting task — rebuild the Department of Justice after Trump and Barr had decimated it and, at the same time, begin prosecuting the hundreds of insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol. We have no idea when the department began broadening the investigation to include the big fish. He also had to have in place a staff large and capable enough to handle this exceedingly challenging work.
To suggest Garland didn't take the case seriously until the J6 committee began its work and was thus embarrassed into tackling it, flies in the face of his long and successful career. It also overlooks the size and complexity of the case, which is unprecedented in our history.
Exactly right. In addition, not only was DoJ decimated it was full of enablers from the top down and the ship needed righting. It was an enormous task and he was a total professional. I don't think he is easily embarrassed by what pundits say.
Two hearts for you, Michael.
LOL-does that mean Michael Bales is a Time Lord? (For those unfamiliar w/Dr Who, he has 2 hearts.)
Thanks!
Step down and give this administration and their DOJ a break, will you please?
Rule of law. Justice. Democracy. You’d rather see the previous administration’s brand of justice continue?
Shine some Light, Neil.
🗽
It's going to take a while to clean up both past legal messes neglected by Trumpers for 4 years AND indict the Trumpers.
"this administration and their DOJ" -- Sorry, but FBI Director Christopher Wray is a Trump appointee, a Federalist Society acolyte of Leonard Leo, a NY brahmin, did his federal ct-of-app clerkship with J. Michael Luttig (an extreme right-winger despite having recently shown that, like his fellows Rep. Liz Cheney and Mueller-Report-liar Bill Barr, he does have principles against fascist treason), and "earned" over $9M in his 1 1/2 years of private practice (including repping C Christie in Bridgegate) before being sworn in as FBI Director by Jefferson (Davis) Beauregard Sessions III. Trust him as far as you can throw him.
As for AG Garland, his inclination to "all due deliberate speed" (the rubric in Brown v. Bd of Educ that allowed many states to continue to operate segregated schools for long enough to allow white flight to hollow out so many cities' tax and educational bases first) is fine for a JUDICIAL temperament but not so good when it allows blatant treason to go unnamed and unpunished for 2 1/2 years and counting. I'm sorry for being impatient, but even apart from the danger of installation of a Congress that'll shield tfg and his minions from j(J)ustice, I'm too old to be patient about outcomes (in this case "perpwalks") I hope to SEE.
Neil, from several people I’ve seen interviewed on MSNBC, it likely will be spring; justice often moves slow. But even if, god forbid, we lose control of the House, there will absolutely be a special prosecutor appointed. AG Garland will make sure of that.
You do realize this is Kentucky - land of MM and his little frog RP? The level of cronyism cannot be understated.. Early in the Biden administration, an investigation of Louisville Metro Police Department was announced. The city has changed police chiefs 3 times until current chief came here from Atlanta.
little frog, Melissa? Thanks for giving me something to smirk about!
Congratulations on your election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Richly deserved is undersaid.
Thank you ! “Professor of History Heather Cox Richardson is elected to academy committed to honoring excellence, examining new ideas, and addressing issues of importance to the nation and the world.” https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/bcnews/humanities/history/heather-cox-richardson-elected-to-aaas.html
BRAVA to our most esteemed Professor!! Without her dogged research, we would be kept in the dark. 👏🏼👏🏼
It took from April 28, when it was announced (and which I posted on Facebook on May 2—https://www.amacad.org/news/2022-member-announcement) until August 5 to be publicized by Boston College. Odd.
Laura Ingraham looks like the nasty piece of work everyone who's ever been around her says she is. Another winger who obviously sold her soul long ago, it's so obvious.
When real problems come at you, like the Moose fire which has destroyed grazing rights on more than 60000 acres and entrapped cattle in its midst , see Inciweb Idaho, Moose Fire, we still have time to call bullshit on total flakes like Ingraham. As our towns water shed here in Salmon and the homes of residences in the river corridor are threatened we still look outward at the American communities and people threatened with the fire brought on by the abject failure of the Republican agenda and applaud the actions of American heroes fighting to cool the embers of tyranny. Thank you!
Thank you, Pat Cole. I salute you.
I hope you are safe and am sorry about the fire in your area. I am glad you too that you can still call out people like the soulless Ingraham. Nicely put too.
No sweat, we are hunky dorky. One foot in the black. Seems like our country has one foot in the black now too. My hat is over my heart for the folks on the fire line of freedom.
Pat, I absolutely sympathize with you. I came within a 100 yards of losing everything I own in the Oregon fires of 2020. I evacuated and for three weeks I never knew whether I had a home. When I was allowed to return, my neighbor's house had burnt down to the foundation yet I was virtually untouched. Not a tree even scorched!
Why? How?
The answer is denial, denial, denial, on top of constant pressure from the fossil fuel industries to just let things alone. They will not be happy until every last barrel of oil and gas is sucked from the earth and every ton of coal is burnt up.
The question on the table is who runs this country? Exxon and Shell Oil or We th People?
As a jumper my inclination is to stay and defend if your space is defensible. We like to wrap a California hose-lay around the homes and defend from behind using the home as a heat shield. Not for the feint of heart or inexperienced. But out here in fire country if you are not there, no one else is either.
Pat, you’re a fire jumper?!
Yes, a really old one.
Well, I can only say that as a "super senior" my fire fighting days were (and are) over. Of course the electricy was down so my well wasn't working. But the sheriff ordered me to evacuate the area. I don't think there was even a choice. (Plus, I didn't want to end up like Harry Truman, of Mt. St. Helens fame, who is now buried under 500ft of ash and pumice.)
There were a few rumors of looters sneaking into the area while we were evacuated.
But my point is that these kinds of events are going to be more the rule than the exception. It's heartbreaking to watch an entire forst be reduced to ashes.
Right now the oil giants are running the country, there is plenty of evidence to verify that it is so. Coal runs West Virginia.
Which fire? My sister lives in Phoenix (Almeda fire) and I live near the Holiday Farm fire.
Holiday Farm Fire. On Hwy 126
Howdy, neighbor. I live in Eugene, and retired from Lane County SO 9 years ago.
Howdy to you!
Then, you know how Hwy 126 from The Leaburg Lake to Rainbow looked like Hiroshima after that fire!
Well said. I hope for cooler, wetter weather. We've got some fires cooking in Oregon now, and the fire that destroyed Klamath River has threatened homes in Yreka, CA (a tuba playing friend of mine had to evacuate, along with her horse).
You may have seen the article on the state sending notices to certain high risk fire property owners on what they needed to do. The response has been loud and now the state is backtracking....I don't know, a new map. Of course, the noise has come from that part of the state which is bright red. I did see one good thing this week, the greedy developer in central Oregon has given up on his water sucking resort.
That’s a piece of good news.
Yes, it is obvious. They always have the same expression, a sort of cruel, defiant smugness.
Like a constipated ferret.
Brilliant!
😂😂😂
Thanks for the laugh, Robin... And a very astute observation. 😄
I was a zoo keeper for 35 years so I ought to know..😜
Oh. My. I can never look at a straining ferret the same way again.
OUTSTANDING description!
One hopes that straining ferrets are not always in your normal landscape. I got paid to see them but doing it for free would be a tragic situation. 🤣
A few years ago, there was a billboard on I-95 North heading into Philadelphia. It was an ad for Fox News and featured, as I recall, nothing but a large photo of Laura Ingraham with a lascivious sneer. I always wondered what message the network was trying to send, and who would think this was an appropriate look for a “news” personality.
Easy to answer Betsy. This is their idea of the "awake not woke" news personality, who can better gain the interest of wingers male and female. Who obviously sees everything for what he/she thinks it is, assumes everyone should see it that way, and most importantly has visual hatred for those who do not think their way. Fox uses the female in ways that they think will improve viewership. Who can forget the leggy panels - miniskirts with sexy crossed legs for all to see. All talking winger smack. Meant to give the old white men hard-ons while watching the news. Or the legal trouble Fox has been in from ex-employees female. What a misogynist organization.
Every last one, it oozes out…
A perfect description, and why I cannot stand to look at any of them.
Whenever I see *ucker Carlson with that goofy expression, I think of back-in-the-day our moms saying "your face is going to freeze that way" LOL
But as a senior woman, I look at him and think, DUDE, you are gonna have some major furrows sagging over your nose in about 20 years.
Actually, it's a both and situation - Trump was BOTH beaten AND indited. :)
My 92-year-old mother watches the Fox trifecta of hate and lies every evening (Carlson, Hannity, Ingraham) and the past few years it’s been hard to pierce through the veil of stupidity and fear that’s been inculcated in her. Although her health is failing, she’s still as sharp as a tack. The one person who I thought was the smartest person I’d ever known has descended into blind obedience of the Fox watchers, of which there are millions in this benighted country. The woman who taught me tolerance and how to love my fellow man (in a truly genderless fashion) has descended into political madness.
So sorry, must be painful to watch
So sad to hear your situation.
My husband is from a very large family. 1 Aunt and 1 Cousin are the only ones we continue to see. Very sad..the rest have all gone to the dark side. Had 1 Cousin get in my face at memorial service, no less, last year. We both vowed it was the last family event. But now hubby is turning 75 and feels he should see all the siblings this Christmas. We are both dreading the visit.
Families…what the hell has happened to this country?😩
I might mention, I have heard of people who have managed to program their parent's tvs such that they can no longer access FOX. I don't know if it is via streaming services or monkeying with the remote, but I have read about this, I think actually on this forum!
I did this at the rehab center after her hip surgery a few years ago. It seemed as if every damned TV in the place was tuned to Fox. The next day, Fox was back. If I did this at home, she’d know it was me. I also live > 250 miles away …
Her evil oozes out all over
So true, TC. She is a nasty wench disgrace. When I watch Faux to keep up with their drivel, I always end up throwing something at the TV for her nitwit remarks. I immediately revert to my 8yr old playground politics. Ooooo, if I could just get her on the playground for 10 minutes.
🗽
🤣🤣 You crack me up, Christine! Honestly though, how can you stand watching those people? I wouldn’t have a voice left nor anything breakable!
Snarkstress
TCinLA, you know it is all about the money and the power. E.V.E.R.Y...S.I.N.G.L.E...T.I.M.E...
Alot to unpack with that picture, including the surly ugly expression on her face. Apart from the obvious, look at the lower right, where Boebert is apparently being queued up for an interview. Fox - how low can you go.
Someone needs to remind her….we DID win and we WILL investigate where investigation is due.
Sharing your letter has influenced 3 people to subscribe. I'm working on a 4th. They were already on your side, so I want them to be informed rather than just believers. Thank you.
Personally, giving serious consideration into the "gifting" of these Christmas. Like any gift, whatever the recipient does with the gift is theirs to choose.
Good idea. I didn't pay for a subscription for them. I just showed them what they're missing over a period of months. Sorry for any confusion. Thanks to all who liked the idea.
Or, if they use Facebook at all, send them an invite to Heather’s page. Her daily LFAA are free there. I personally find the commenters & comments more thoughtful & erudite on Substack as most here actually read the links & the comments, which makes for better discourse.
Thanks, but I don't touch FB.
Your loss as this Substack for HCR began via an offshoot group of fellow admirers, on FB, who wanted to ensure that her videos had a home on YouTube & that Substack would happen. & yes, I’ve been a follower on FB of HCR since close to the beginning (about a month after her first post.) There are a lot if awful contributors on Substack, too: people I would never support monetarily. Pick your poison, eh?
Linda, PYP? Yes. I'm afraid of FB and it's prying into our lives. Husband and daughter both use it, but not.
Thanks again for another great letter.
Yes, voting has consequences. Vote Blue.
💙
Voting matters. Voting MATTERS.
Your letter for August 4, 2022 (Barack Obama's birthday, by the way) covers several layers of injustice that particularly affects people with the double burden of being Black and female.
Breonna Taylor's tragic murder in her own home,
Brittney Griner's show trial and hostage-taking placement in a Russian penal colony,
SCOTUS-triggered denials of medical care to women so soundly denounced in the Kansas referendum on rights to autonomy and privacy,
and the over 400 years of history of caste-discrimination specifically of people of African descent in North America.
A reminder that the quote-unquote legal system gave us a SCOTUS that was completely white and male until 1967. Even now change is happening only due to Joe Biden's pledge to appoint the first Black woman to that institution. Recall Justice Jackson's notable poise during her confirmation hearing, enduring the attacks by those who would perpetuate injustice, caste and partisan agendas.
Contrast with the credible accusations against both Clarence Thomas and Bret Kavanaugh during their confirmations, with the additional spectacle of Kavanaugh whining emotionally about how he likes beer, even as his financial situation mysteriously benefitted, and how SCOTUS is now in effect taking away women's rights without exclusions. With Mitch McConnell and the GOP obstructing Congressional action, SCOTUS has somehow become an unelected policy catalyst, where six radical individuals enact decisions against the will and interests of hundreds of millions.
"VOTE - We are Ruth-less" is now my regular statement tee shirt. Roe-vember is coming. Elections matter!
Beverly, I love "Roe-vember" Please....everyone VOTE!
Move On has a sticker coming out that reads “Roe Row Roe Your Vote”. Very clever!
I just love it when clever people are so clever!
“VOTE - We are Ruth-less" is now my regular statement tee shirt. Roe-vember is coming. Elections matter!”
💙💙💙, Beverly !
Unfortunately Ruth Ginsberg caused a good bit of the imbalance in the court by hanging on and not retiring in a timely manner. None of us are immortal.
According to this article, RBG's contracted her "first" cancer in 2009 when Barak Obama was our President. "At 75, Ginsburg was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer during a routine annual screening, NPR reported. While pancreatic cancer often has a poor prognosis—the disease is often diagnosed in later, hard-to-treat stages due to its obscure symptoms—experts remained optimistic for the justice, as the tumor discovered in the center of her pancreas was only 1 centimeter long.
“'Justice Ginsburg had no symptoms prior to the incidental discovery of the lesion during a routine annual checkup in late January at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland,' the Supreme Court confirmed in a statement. She quickly underwent surgery a month later, and continued to find passion in her work." So she was doing well and able to perform her duties during this time.
Meanwhile, Democrats controlled the Senate until 2015 when Mitch McConnell took over as majority leader. Still, RBG was doing well and able to perform her duties during this time.
We all know that Antonin Scalia passed away February 2016, during Obama's presidency. But with a Republican-controlled Senate, McConnell refused to allow Merrick Garland to be admitted to the court, saying it was too close to the presidential election, et cetera, et cetera. Still (and fortunately), RBG was doing well and able to perform her duties during this time.
In 2017, thumper took over as president. The pubs were still in charge in the Senate. So when RBG was discovered to have lung cancer in 2018, she underwent a pulmonary lobectomy, requiring her to miss a few weeks from work. Still, she was doing well and able to perform her duties during this time.
And then in July 2019, her pancreatic cancer returned. After treatment, in January 2020, she was diagnosed as cancer free. Still, RBG was doing well and able to perform her duties during this time. thumper was still president and pubs still controlled the Senate.
But in May 2020, liver lesions were found and treated. "The 87-year-old justice, and the eldest member of the Court, would continue bi-weekly chemo treatments and insisted that she was 'able to maintain an active daily routine.'
“'I have often said I would remain a member of the Court as long as I can do the job full steam,' she wrote. 'I remain fully able to do that.'” And she did so; and thumper was still president with pubs still in control of the Senate.
On September 18, 2020, we lost our Notorious RBG. So let me speculate that in order for Democrats to replace her with one of their own, she would have had to retire between her first diagnosis of cancer in 2009 and just before 2014. Once Republicans took over the Senate in 2015, the door was closed for Democrats until January 2021.
https://www.prevention.com/health/health-conditions/a34081709/ruth-bader-ginsburg-cancer-timeline/
Yes, my good friend, all so very true. Sigh…
Thank you Lynell, now I get it.
Totally agree, Hale. The pancreatic cancer of Ginsberg was not her first battle w cancer but her third. And while I do admire her, she herself said she wanted HRC to be the one to replace her as Obama would pick someone “too conservative” (like Garland). She could (& should) have retired upon Obama’s re-election. & though I was hardly an SD O’Connor fan, she retired at the appropriate time & age, despite, sadly, giving Wubya a pick.
I was unaware RBG wanted HRC to replace her! Where is that info coming from? Can you imagine how things would’ve turned out?
Thank you, Linda, for informing me with the fuller story. Seems I was misguided about her medical history.
Yes, Hale, she did, but we women...we didn’t want to let her go. She had been so very important to us throughout our lives. We were knocked across the room by the Grim Reaper. We were asleep at the wheel, sadly.
Morning, Marlene. Please read my "bio" of our Notorious RBG and see if you agree with me.
Kindly read my timeline, Hale. Would you have wanted her to retire back in 2013 or 2014?
Sorry, Lynell, but imho she should’ve retired upon Obama’s re-election. This was her third bout w cancer (over 20 years worth) & she was 80 at that point.
Yowsa, Beverly, I'm with you, girl!
https://www.amazon.com/Vote-We-Are-Ruthless-T-Shirt/dp/B0B5S4W2TZ/ref=rvi_sccl_27/142-3790853-0436611?pd_rd_w=efEuG&content-id=amzn1.sym.f5690a4d-f2bb-45d9-9d1b-736fee412437&pf_rd_p=f5690a4d-f2bb-45d9-9d1b-736fee412437&pf_rd_r=3Q3VVENBM668N7Q0QKP6&pd_rd_wg=5LEKL&pd_rd_r=c8353ba9-42fe-48af-878b-0bcae27f7739&pd_rd_i=B0B5S4W2TZ&customId=B075386ZHH&th=1&psc=1
There are several I like, and I bought a bunch of different messages (including women's rights are human rights). This one has a silhouette of Justice RBG with words. I chose the olive, for green is the color we are using for reproductive rights.
Terrific for conversation starters when out in public.
I have a t-shirt that reads “Ruth Sent Me”.
Love it, Marlene!
Thanks Beverly, mine came from China, from Always Happy company, and is missing the " R " in Ruthless. Too long a story but I will now thanks to you, put a R on it and also buy 1 from Amazon.
I love both Ruth-less and Roe-vember. Brilliant!
Thank you for the update at the end of a very long day. Griner’s case is interesting because of the harsh penalties for possession in Russia. Her case also showcases the inequality of WNBA salaries when compared to NBA salaries that led her to play in Russia.
The US has incarcerated 1000s of people, mostly blacks for possession of Marijuana over the years. We just don't put their trials on the news. They maybe get public defenders. Our war on drugs has been a war on people of color.
So true. We created a crime where none really existed. We created an underground industry that made billions for thugs and undermined the futures of millions of young people.
Imagine if all the resources - money and people - used to bust people for getting high had been applied to those in need instead. Drug treatment programs, jobs and housing programs, health care and education programs.
The American War on Drugs is one of the greatest institutional crimes of all time. It is cruel. It is stupid. And it doesn't work. It enriches gangsters and corrupt cops. It does feed a prison system run by private enterprise. Anyone else see the great big loop of corruption? And yes, it is a war on people of color.
When there is a bust, is it the white guy in his nice car or the black kid on the corner? Nancy and Ronnie Reagan: you gave birth to "just say no to drugs". You also ruined the lives of millions of Americans. You were public enemies. You were evil in your ignorance and arrogance.
And, destroyed so many families.
There is an uplifting story on the Facebook page of Humans of New York.
The story is told in 13 posts by former prisoner John Gargano. I think you would appreciate the story. Former President Obama enacted a clemency program which was key for Mr. Gargano to move forward in life.
An aside: warning that Mr. Gargano uses strong language.
Thank you for posting. That was my first thought when the media was talking about how Russia was handling this case, and the length of time before a hearing, and the type of punishment. There are times we need to look in a mirror.
The New Jim Crow talks about this in detail in terms of the incarceration of POC.
To prove your point, when the drug dealers are CEOs at corporations and we get the opioid epidemic, no one goes to jail.
Here is an interesting read from VOX:
https://www.vox.com/2022/8/5/23292807/how-can-the-us-bring-brittney-griner-home
I agree it is sad the lack of bandwidth to address pay disparity in women's team sports.
Griner’s case is just another instance of Americans not having a clue about the risks of being an American in problem places. Then it becomes Joe Biden’s latest crisis. And if she was going for the money, no excuse.
Jeri, I respectfully disagree. Our female basketball players are exceptional athletes. The opportunities for women to play professional sports in our country are sorely lacking if they want to make a living at it. Many of them do need to play overseas to make a living at what they love. For example, there is something called the American Corn Hole League. Not kidding. Of course mostly a man’s game, started in backyards across the country. A person (generally men because they are the highest paid players) at the top of this league can make $60k a year! That’s 50% of what most professional women’s basketball players make. Our women have salary caps in basketball, unlike the men. Some female players hold records never achieved by any men in basketball. I’ll get off my soapbox now. But these women work hard and they should be paid accordingly.
May I add, as a professional athlete, she only has so many years can physically work. So it’s important for her to earn what she can while she can. Especially with the mieger salary women professional athlete receive. The inequality is real. Think of the US Womens Soccer as an example. It’s better for them but it’s still not equal.
Exactly. I didn't even get started on that uproar when the women had to strike to get better pay, and their fan base and income EXCEEDED the men's team! And you're right about the time frame. It takes a toll on their bodies to perform at that level. Sylvia Fowles is retiring this year after 15 years in the league which is a long time. I think she's 40? And has to find/start a new career. The only reason I knew about the Corn Hole league was because I was trying to find a televised WNBA game. Nope. They were televising CORNHOLE!!!
Years ago, I was acquainted with a woman whose son played for the Dallas Cowboys. He only played 2-3 years, then was traded somewhere (Pittsburg?) but was injured and dropped. I don't recall the injuries but he tried to recover just to get 1-2 more years in so he could get a pension. (Or so she said, I have zero knowledge of professional football.) Anyhow, I was astounded that the NFL offered a pension of some sort, and that you needed only to play probowl 5-6 years. She mentioned the toll on players and how the have short careers. I guess it makes sense, the only players names I recognize are ones that have "long" careers.
In any case, the last I heard, her son had gone into construction work.
Miselle: if he played pre-1993, it was 4 yrs for nfl (& all men’s pro sports) pension; it’s now 3 but obviously more time equals bigger pension. But lots of controversy right now because of so many former players being denied legit disability claims. I’ve known a few guys who played professionally for short periods of time, were hurt & have never seen any pension money. Those who only play briefly, for not huge salaries, far far far outweigh those w multi-million $ contracts. Shelf life for most is short, injuries are the norm & often extreme, & many injuries don’t show up until years later.
It was pre-1993, and yes, he did not make huge amounts of money. It was an eye-opener to me. I thought they all had it made once they were in the big league.
I agree with your post, Dianna. She is there to make money because the WNBA doesn't pay enough. And yes, our Oregon alum, the triple double queen, Sabrina Ionesco, holds the record for that for both men and women in college. She is just now getting into her stride with New York Liberty.
I agree Dianna, “….making a living.”
Jeri, I, too, am going to respectfully disagree. I found this NPR article from April:
https://www.npr.org/2022/04/14/1092677483/brittney-griner-russia-detention-wnba-nba-pay-gap#:~:text=In%202020%2C%20annual%20earnings%20for,about%20%24120%2C600%20for%20the%20WNBA.
Missing from the article was what the 2022 top draft pick signed for. I found out that a chap named Bennedict Mathurin signed for $6,586,800. Not only is the "millions" column not only present, but more than halfway towards the next space left of the comma, but the "hundred thousand" number is more than double Griner's.
That discrepancy is unconscionable.
Correct, Jeri. Seeking extra money income is definitely not an excuse to carry into the airport in Russia. That was a serious lapse in judgment.
That less than a gram of oil in her backpack is going to end up costing a lot. In money, swaps, and deals. Much more than she could make in a lifetime playing off season ball in Russia.
It’s tragic. If we cannot get her home, 9 yrs in a Russian penal colony is abhorrent.
Not sure why anyone is arguing disparity in salaries between male and female professional athletes here. No one is disputing her decision to play off season ball. That is not the issue here. Whether she was targeted or not by Russian officials, she carried drugs into their country. Not something sanctioned by WNBA last time I checked.
And yes, for years I have agreed with the ongoing injustice of salary structure disparity in professional sports leagues.
But that is not the issue in this case.
🗽
Christine, I am going respectfully disagree here. For her, it is prescribed medication. She possesses it legally in the US (which, already noted, has some bizarre and specifically targeting certain populations drug rules.) Agreed, she should have been aware of the Russian laws, but I firmly believe she was detained because she is an outspoken Black lesbian and it was not a "random" search.
Trust me, Ally. I realize that. It comes down to, “she should have been aware of the laws”. I almost tore my hair out by the roots when I learned she had the vial of medication in her backpack. I’ve talked to a few athletes that I know. They are schooled in detail by their leagues about medical marijuana and the precautions to be taken not only in traveling internationally but interstate here in US. The disparity here is not salary. It’s the disparity still in the medical marijuana laws. And the political implications against minority populations regarding those laws.
Salud, my friend. 🗽
Salud!
Thank you, Heather, for highlighting that “[t]he importance of federal protections for equal rights is today’s central story.” It is vital to see it outlined in this way, unveiling the significance of our right at the ballot box!
Rowshan, I would note that Democracy Docket founder Marc Elias expects that Republicans, as early as this fall, will use “false allegations of fraud as a pretext to remove ballots from the vote totals and then certify those incomplete results.” Moreover, I understand that former Watergate staffer Attorney Jill Wine-Banks concurs. Admittedly, given this context, I view Congress’s current bipartisan project to reform the Electoral Count Act not only a distraction but also a denial of the rapidly approaching midterms that are going to be a referendum on democracy.
The winner of the close Arizona primary, Kari Lake, already was screaming fraud, even before she won. And with the changes in election laws by the Rs, November may be "interesting,"
Kathleen, At first glance, one might conclude that no amount of organizing is going to get us around these obstacles. At such times, I recall U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis who once wrote, “Most of the things worth doing in the world had been declared impossible before they were done.” I suppose one might add that only in retrospect does the true value of persistence in the face of difficulty become fully evident.
Yes, “interesting,” to say the least …
Of course, that threat looms large — and is extremely worrisome.
Rowshan, Because it seems that no amount of organizing is going to get us around these obstacles, I amplify them every chance I get to impress upon all of us the importance of recruiting our talents and our skills to surmount them, despite the odds.
It will be good to see some kind of justice in the Breonna Taylor case. If there are convictions, will there be significant jail time? The cops involved were all fired by the Louisville PD. Are they working as police officers somewhere else?
It seems to me that an illegally obtained search warrant makes every action that results illegal as well.
It is. What it boils down to is intent, which is an important element to any charges. The guys who lied to get the warrant are held to a standard of false swearing, which makes their actions unlawful. The guys assigned to the team who only knew there was a search warrant to serve were acting (their intent) was in good faith. Every police action resulting in criminal action against the persons on whom the warrant was served; the police action itself (entering in and remaining within the dwelling by those who didn't lie to get the warrant) is a mitigating factor in their defense of being there. Now, their conduct once they got inside and started shooting all willy-nilly is a COMPLETELY different matter.
Very good point on intent. Thank you for schooling me.
I understand and agree that the Brittney Griner situation is primarily political and a power play. However, no one is pointing out the fact that 1000's of blacks in this country have been incarcerated for possession of small amounts of Marijuana. The war on drugs in the US is a war on black and brown people. The prison industry is a blight on our society.
Well really, white people who incarcerate these POC, are a blight, period! Whites have stomped all over those who are not their skin color or their ethnicity since the formation of America. We haven’t played nice, past or present. My absolute dream would come true is if all of those responsible for hurting and scaring others, are hauled off to prison for a very lengthy time!
"Nip the shoots of arbitrary power in the bud, is the only maxim which can ever preserve the liberties of any people." - John Adams
I haven't read the details of the illegal search warrant against Taylor/Walker. But it shows DOJ's contrast with Jefferson County. Merrick Garland has a lot on his plate and he seems to be moving in the right direction. Thank you for the news HCR.
Bill: Heather’s link to the courier journal article in her always-awesome Notes pretty much covers the entirety of the unanswered questions raised here in the comments on the Breonna Taylor case.
The Justice Department is FINALLY confronting the long-standing issue of about 1000 killings each year of civilian citizens in the U.S. by police offices who very rarely are held accountable through being indicted or convicted. Compared to other developed nations, we are a violent police state. Study the data here.
https://policescorecard.org/
#SayHerName #BreonnaTaylor The arrest of 4 officers here in Louisville KY was an uplifting moment for me. The FBI would never have investigated this further had prior under administration won re-election.
Back in 2020, the Courier Journal released the 911 call transcript from Taylor's apartment. This was the same day that the George Floyd's video went viral. As protests around the world occurred for George Floyd, protests for Breonna Taylor happened here. 180 days of protests in downtown were preceded the local grand jury disappointing lack of results.
MM's heir apparent Kentucky's AG Daniel Cameron (R) handled the case himself. The local grand jury never explored the scope of their authority to bring charges other than those suggested. Individual jury members broke their silence to complain to the Courier Journal about being so mislead.
Taylor's family civil suit was immediately settlement from the city. The largest city payout without results of any investigation(s) being finalized.
Daniel Cameron is one of Moscow Mitch’s lackeys. He is being preened n groomed to be Mitch’s successor should Mitch ever decide to retire or dies in office. Cameron fought AGAINST Gov. Andy Beshear (Dem) every step the way as COVID protection measures were implemented. Dastardly Dan is a snake. I’m glad DoJ is reopening Breonna’s case.
AG Daniel Cameron has also been defending the trigger ban laws on abortion. When Roe was overturned, there were only remaining 2 providers (both in Louisville). There is a constitutional amendment on ballot #2 - that would remove the right to abortion. The language is purposefully vague - as a feature. Ugh! This amendment was passed in the Kentucky legislature 2 years ago. They waited for mid-term elections to put it out there.
Thank you Heather for giving us the background on the establishment of the DOJ in order to protect civil rights. That puts a special meaning to the importance of the DOJ. Your point that it makes a difference who is elected president -- in this regard and in so many others. SPOT ON! I find the info re: the review of Brett K. appalling and unfortunately not a surprise. What a relief that the DOJ is engaging with Brianna's murder! I hadn't heard that yet. Let's do all we can to get out the vote; I'm distressed when I read that so many people, some say young people, are disgusted and don't plan to vote.
I understand that you have been elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences! Congratulations.