Today a jury found three members of the Oath Keepers gang, along with a fourth defendant associated with them, guilty of seditious conspiracy for their actions surrounding the January 6th insurrection in 2021. In October a different jury also found the founder of the Oath Keepers, Elmer Stewart Rhodes, as well as their Florida leader, Kelly Meggs, guilty of seditious conspiracy. Five members of another extremist gang, the Proud Boys, are currently on trial on that charge and others.
And then there’s another mass shooting. It’s guns. The more we have, the more innocent people die. Guns are for killing. Automatic weapons are for killing people. Australia and New Zealand removed automatic weapons from their countries and their democracies continue without this mayhem. We should have the same right to live without fear. We need to end this now
A senior counter intel FBI agent doesn’t go to work for a sanctioned Russian oligarch without political cover. He thought he was above the law, protected by powerful “friends”. I think we are going to see a lot more decoupling from Russian interests that are hobbling Western democracies. Erghhh
"Prosecutors for the Southern District of New York told Magistrate Judge Sarah Cave that they had agreed with McGonigal’s attorney for him to be released on a $500,000 personal recognizance bond, co-signed by two other people."
So, a white guy (McGonigal) becomes a mole for the Soviet Union, while employed by the FBI, takes money from an old Soviet warlord to do his bidding WHILE AT THE FBI, then, goes to work for that Oligarch's criminal enterprise for a while, gets caught stealing money, is arrested (NOT shot dead) and RELEASED ON PERSONAL RECOGNIZANCE BOND.
In the meantime, if I steal a Baby Ruth Candy bar from a gas station, a cop will shoot me in the upper torso, doing his best to kill me, outside the store after the store keeper calls it in via 911.
Seriously, that EXACT scenario just happened in the small city I live in. I am not making it up. Except, the guy shot was not me. He just looked a bit like me.
America. I guess it is better than a lot of places, especially for white people, but, it ain't no picnic for most people and it positively sucks for a huge number of people.
Anyway, if anyone asks you nice folks what I think about this guy they just arrested? Yep, death penalty.
Start treating these white guys selling out our country like a guy stealing a candy bar at a gas station TODAY. How hard is that? (pretty hard it looks like).
A twenty-two year veteran FBI agent turns agent provocateur to subvert an election on behalf of a foreign government and succeeds in helping to install a psychopath in the White House. Hopefully McGonigal will see his best interests lie in making a deal with SDNY prosecutors and tells all he knows in exchange for a reduced sentence. Oh, and kiss your pension goodbye.
At last, Jared Kushner’s name starts popping up. I think he’s as dirty as his father-in-law. We need to know what he traded and gave away in the Middle East in exchange for bailing him out of his various failed real estate/business ventures.
Keep our eyes on DeSantis. Republicans by hook or crook have created and used their own outrageous behaviour as a distraction to advance their malicious politics.
DeSantis rejected an African American AP History program, saying its unlawful, pushes political ideology and is indoctrination when a long list of AP classes already exist about arts, sciences and culture, including several immigrant and foreign histories and culture. But nothing has existed concerning African American history and culture. Nor Native American history and culture that I could find.
DeSantis is clearly a culture war general that I contend is part and parcel to the emotions, grievances and licence that such politicians give to gun and police violence in America. Not only does DeSantis promote grievances on all sides, but he dismisses the humanity and value of our many non-white cultures while encouraging white racism. African American and Indigenous American history are two of our most important and dominant histories needed for a full, honest and accurate American history
I love when the chooks come home to roost. But until frump is in prison there will be no resolution. It doesn’t matter if some people get their knickers in a twist, presidents, all people in public office have one job. One bloody job - look after the people. If they betray that oath there must be very serious consequences
Excuse my nonsequitur, but it's 9am here in Germany and I'm truly amazed at the arrogance of US pundits I've been reading this morning, who are acting as if Scholz et.al. are being anti-Ukraine. Wiesbaden, where I live, is a city in central Germany 1,200 miles from Moscow. The size of Germany is 26 times smaller than the United States. Doesn't it make sense that the German government is being cautious?
It has been previously established that "just following orders" may not shield one from prosecution for illegal and unethical actions. That said, the oafish, selfie-taking manner of the insurrectionists implies that they never expected to be held accountable. After all (up to now) their dear leader has not; but rule-of-law demands that he do so.
Although not mentioned in today's letter, I watched an interview with Dick Durbin over the weekend regarding the daily dump of new classifed documents coming from Bidens residence. This should not, nor will it be swept under the rug by the GOP. Even a long time colleague of Biden won't justify this debacle.
This elephant in the room will ultimately give Trump that pass he desperately wants.
It truly is a shame. If only swift Justice was brought upon Trump we wouldn't be standing so decidedly flat footed. Again.
Bigo Barnett’s attorney’s logic suggests that seditionists should be tried by a jury made up of seditionists.
May Trump’s train go off the rails and tumble into a deep and inaccessible ravine to burn, rust and become a cautionary tale to our children’s children’s children.
Meanwhile, mass shootings continue unabated, while seditionists remain at liberty to arm themselves for war, “while my guitar gently weeps.” :’-(
Wonder how Jared Kushner was able to find such a good tenant for his 666 5th Ave. building as it was heading towards foreclosure. $1.1 billion paid in advance isn't likely a market lease. It doesn't qualify as a real estate deal. It was a payoff of a US government official by a foreign government. But most impressive, however, is that the grift that surrounds the Trumps is so obvious. They don't even try to hide it.
I’m waiting for an indictment of the first sitting congressperson. Will it be Scott Perry? Will the chief witness be the remarkably quiet Mark Meadows?
Giuliani Praises George Santos: “The G.O.P. Must Pass the Torch to a New Generation of Liars”
“When I watch him lie, he reminds me of me at his age,” Giuliani said, of Santos. “Like poetry in motion.”
'NEW YORK (The Borowitz Report)—Offering his full-throated support for Representative George Santos, Rudolph Giuliani said that “it’s time for Republicans to pass the torch to a new generation of liars.”
“I get why some Republicans are knocking the kid—they’re envious of his raw talent,” Giuliani told Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity. “But we should be showing him our respect. I mean, look at this kid’s body of work. He could turn out to be the Michael Jordan of lying.” (SatireNewYorker)
Mike Pompeo is Trump 2.0 with his own prideful twists. Pompeo openly embraces the principles theocracy and illiberal democracy as those of Hungry. When people show you who they are, believe them. The GOP cast of characters of presidential candidates will be woefully vaudeville. I dread the years of shamelessness that lies ahead in our country’s politics. Are we not sick of it yet?
Someone some months ago posted an address to send Christmas greetings to Paul Whelan. Christmas is over, but Paul is still imprisoned in Russia. So, for those interested, here is the address to send well wishes to him as he awaits his release:
Paul N. Whelan; c/o American Citizen Services Unit; Consular Section; 5430 Moscow Place; Department of State; Washington, D.C. 20521-5430.
I have also taken to writing postcards to President Biden on Paul's behalf: "Dear Mr. President: Let's make 2023 the year that Paul Whelan goes free. Please help to make it so!" Address is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.
And then there’s another mass shooting. It’s guns. The more we have, the more innocent people die. Guns are for killing. Automatic weapons are for killing people. Australia and New Zealand removed automatic weapons from their countries and their democracies continue without this mayhem. We should have the same right to live without fear. We need to end this now
A senior counter intel FBI agent doesn’t go to work for a sanctioned Russian oligarch without political cover. He thought he was above the law, protected by powerful “friends”. I think we are going to see a lot more decoupling from Russian interests that are hobbling Western democracies. Erghhh
"Prosecutors for the Southern District of New York told Magistrate Judge Sarah Cave that they had agreed with McGonigal’s attorney for him to be released on a $500,000 personal recognizance bond, co-signed by two other people."
So, a white guy (McGonigal) becomes a mole for the Soviet Union, while employed by the FBI, takes money from an old Soviet warlord to do his bidding WHILE AT THE FBI, then, goes to work for that Oligarch's criminal enterprise for a while, gets caught stealing money, is arrested (NOT shot dead) and RELEASED ON PERSONAL RECOGNIZANCE BOND.
In the meantime, if I steal a Baby Ruth Candy bar from a gas station, a cop will shoot me in the upper torso, doing his best to kill me, outside the store after the store keeper calls it in via 911.
Seriously, that EXACT scenario just happened in the small city I live in. I am not making it up. Except, the guy shot was not me. He just looked a bit like me.
America. I guess it is better than a lot of places, especially for white people, but, it ain't no picnic for most people and it positively sucks for a huge number of people.
Anyway, if anyone asks you nice folks what I think about this guy they just arrested? Yep, death penalty.
Start treating these white guys selling out our country like a guy stealing a candy bar at a gas station TODAY. How hard is that? (pretty hard it looks like).
It keeps getting deeper and darker.
A twenty-two year veteran FBI agent turns agent provocateur to subvert an election on behalf of a foreign government and succeeds in helping to install a psychopath in the White House. Hopefully McGonigal will see his best interests lie in making a deal with SDNY prosecutors and tells all he knows in exchange for a reduced sentence. Oh, and kiss your pension goodbye.
At last, Jared Kushner’s name starts popping up. I think he’s as dirty as his father-in-law. We need to know what he traded and gave away in the Middle East in exchange for bailing him out of his various failed real estate/business ventures.
Keep our eyes on DeSantis. Republicans by hook or crook have created and used their own outrageous behaviour as a distraction to advance their malicious politics.
DeSantis rejected an African American AP History program, saying its unlawful, pushes political ideology and is indoctrination when a long list of AP classes already exist about arts, sciences and culture, including several immigrant and foreign histories and culture. But nothing has existed concerning African American history and culture. Nor Native American history and culture that I could find.
DeSantis is clearly a culture war general that I contend is part and parcel to the emotions, grievances and licence that such politicians give to gun and police violence in America. Not only does DeSantis promote grievances on all sides, but he dismisses the humanity and value of our many non-white cultures while encouraging white racism. African American and Indigenous American history are two of our most important and dominant histories needed for a full, honest and accurate American history
I love when the chooks come home to roost. But until frump is in prison there will be no resolution. It doesn’t matter if some people get their knickers in a twist, presidents, all people in public office have one job. One bloody job - look after the people. If they betray that oath there must be very serious consequences
Excuse my nonsequitur, but it's 9am here in Germany and I'm truly amazed at the arrogance of US pundits I've been reading this morning, who are acting as if Scholz et.al. are being anti-Ukraine. Wiesbaden, where I live, is a city in central Germany 1,200 miles from Moscow. The size of Germany is 26 times smaller than the United States. Doesn't it make sense that the German government is being cautious?
It has been previously established that "just following orders" may not shield one from prosecution for illegal and unethical actions. That said, the oafish, selfie-taking manner of the insurrectionists implies that they never expected to be held accountable. After all (up to now) their dear leader has not; but rule-of-law demands that he do so.
Thank you Heather.
Although not mentioned in today's letter, I watched an interview with Dick Durbin over the weekend regarding the daily dump of new classifed documents coming from Bidens residence. This should not, nor will it be swept under the rug by the GOP. Even a long time colleague of Biden won't justify this debacle.
This elephant in the room will ultimately give Trump that pass he desperately wants.
It truly is a shame. If only swift Justice was brought upon Trump we wouldn't be standing so decidedly flat footed. Again.
Be safe. Be well.
Thank you Heather.
Bigo Barnett’s attorney’s logic suggests that seditionists should be tried by a jury made up of seditionists.
May Trump’s train go off the rails and tumble into a deep and inaccessible ravine to burn, rust and become a cautionary tale to our children’s children’s children.
Meanwhile, mass shootings continue unabated, while seditionists remain at liberty to arm themselves for war, “while my guitar gently weeps.” :’-(
Wonder how Jared Kushner was able to find such a good tenant for his 666 5th Ave. building as it was heading towards foreclosure. $1.1 billion paid in advance isn't likely a market lease. It doesn't qualify as a real estate deal. It was a payoff of a US government official by a foreign government. But most impressive, however, is that the grift that surrounds the Trumps is so obvious. They don't even try to hide it.
I’m waiting for an indictment of the first sitting congressperson. Will it be Scott Perry? Will the chief witness be the remarkably quiet Mark Meadows?
Giuliani Praises George Santos: “The G.O.P. Must Pass the Torch to a New Generation of Liars”
“When I watch him lie, he reminds me of me at his age,” Giuliani said, of Santos. “Like poetry in motion.”
'NEW YORK (The Borowitz Report)—Offering his full-throated support for Representative George Santos, Rudolph Giuliani said that “it’s time for Republicans to pass the torch to a new generation of liars.”
“I get why some Republicans are knocking the kid—they’re envious of his raw talent,” Giuliani told Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity. “But we should be showing him our respect. I mean, look at this kid’s body of work. He could turn out to be the Michael Jordan of lying.” (SatireNewYorker)
Mike Pompeo is Trump 2.0 with his own prideful twists. Pompeo openly embraces the principles theocracy and illiberal democracy as those of Hungry. When people show you who they are, believe them. The GOP cast of characters of presidential candidates will be woefully vaudeville. I dread the years of shamelessness that lies ahead in our country’s politics. Are we not sick of it yet?
But in GOP-land, it Hunter's laptop.
Many thanks, Heather, for this news...things I am limited to do anything about. So...
January 13, 2023: Release of Navy veteran Taylor Dudley from Russia.
https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/News/video/details-us-navy-veteran-released-russia-96413363
Someone some months ago posted an address to send Christmas greetings to Paul Whelan. Christmas is over, but Paul is still imprisoned in Russia. So, for those interested, here is the address to send well wishes to him as he awaits his release:
Paul N. Whelan; c/o American Citizen Services Unit; Consular Section; 5430 Moscow Place; Department of State; Washington, D.C. 20521-5430.
I have also taken to writing postcards to President Biden on Paul's behalf: "Dear Mr. President: Let's make 2023 the year that Paul Whelan goes free. Please help to make it so!" Address is 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006.