The second Summit for Democracy organized by the White House concluded yesterday with an invitation to a third summit, to be held in Costa Rica later this year.
I find it astounding that Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema seems to understand the rule of law better than our current chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and several of his Republican colleagues.
President Hichilema summarized fundamentals that any member of a democratic society should know, though it is refreshing to hear it clearly articulated now and again. A member of Congress should know it backwards and forward.
They do know it well enough. The rule of law in their opinions must bend and change according to their whims and needs. They have no use for democracy whatsoever. Witness the latest manifestation of corrupting the Floridian justice system to enable DeSantis to retain his political office while seeking the presidency. If that doesn’t spell out clearly the danger of radical political espionage to the country as a whole then Chicken Little was correct in her assessment that “the sky is falling.” Out here in the hinterlands of the nation we bluntly call that “shitting a little close to the house.” I don’t find that tolerable. Not even in a state as tits up as Idaho. Out here the sheer beauty slaps you in the face yet people drop their pants and stink it up to high Heaven. I can only imagine the odor in Florida! What the hell are you people thinking?
Very well put, Pat. And then there is the greater Idaho movement here in Oregon. If they don't get their way, then the pols here in Salem are not listening to them. Whining is what they do well as well as making a supreme effort, as you have noted, to destroy the environment that sustains them.
I lived for about 5 years in Curry county. We fished logged milked cows cut Christmas trees worked at the plywood mill mostly sustained by extractive industry. That is a geographically isolated area. When it wasn’t dumping 125 inches of rain, the wind blew off the ocean at 60. I lived at the Knapp ranch on the ocean front just by Cape Blanco. We had 5 days a year of fairy tale weather. The people rarely looked in the direction of Salem until industry matured and extraction took its inevitable toll. With all their toys gone the people began to disappear as well. Our youth sought other environs. To say Oregon is conflicted is understating. Education is still Oregon’s best known characteristic. Having been schooled in Mt. Utah, Colorado, SouthDakota, Wyoming, and Oregon I think your state has a large margin of victory. We always said that might cause dismay among those who prefer ignorance.
When we visited Cape Blanco, it was shrouded in fog....couldn't see a thing. Got a flat in the middle of nowhere on 101 in the rain, but did get help from someone coming out of the road we had pulled into. We went back to a small place with an incredible junkyard and he fixed the tire, so we could get back to Florence. I would say that in comparison to the states you mention, we do well in education although you wouldn't know it by the constant complaints about it. Already the new super for the Salem Keizer school district is being dissed as being too woke as she believes in inclusiveness. She begins the job in the summer.
"Ignorance is bliss"., There are millions of bliss-filled morons in the U.S. To learn properly takes commitment and work. For too many, being in the know is far too demanding. Their ignorance makes them hostile to the world around them.
Ally we were south on the mouth of Elk River. I have to admit trading the blizzards of Montana and Wyoming for the Sandstorms of Oregon was about a trade off. Being in a30 foot boat in 50 foot waves was actually more fun than riding bucking horses. I left a huge chunk of heart on The Knapp Ranch. Harold and Mary and Mike and David and Carol Ann and Mary2. Salt of the earth. Should mention Ken too as he ran off with Carol Ann.
Eastern Washington periodically tries to merge with the Idaho panhandle. There's a lot of red in this part of the state. And we have the same whining. (And Cathy McMorris Rodgers for our rep.....ugh)
Hey hey!!! Having grown up in a kinder, gentler Idaho I am pleased to hear there are still great people living there. Pat, you made my day! Thank you.🤗🦋🌈
Idaho has great people even my relatives aren’t too bad. You know how it is. You don’t talk politics or religion here and everyone will put up with you.
I liked NYS. Spent some time trying to freeze to death at Ft. Drum one winter. Bear hunters as I recall. Twenty two below zero. Yer right. No politics no religion just a bunch of tough people. Had to go back to Montana to warm up. Famous smokejumper Steve Stutzbach was from NYS. Charming man, tough, good with his fists. If death didn’t get ya dynamite did. He stood up.
There’s a lot of good people everywhere. The need is to establish what’s good for the whole, and work the best with the marginalized/mentally ill/lower functioning, and the rich. The balances are sometimes delicate. From the get-go coming to this country and colonizing we see where much had to change , by now we should have grasped the principles and set in place what works best for the whole. The most important aspects -water, food, housing, medical care, security all need an understanding how to respect. Water needs kept clean ,food needs good agricultural practices, housing needs solid construction - environmentally designed for endurance, medical care needs to be available to all ,security doesn’t mean enough bombs to eradicate the human race, and education is key to let potential develop and sustain even greater progress. We certainly know irradiating a certain country, race, or population isn’t an answer .Yet, over and over this has been done, is being done.
The American (or whosever )Dream seems to be get rich...so what is enough? Beyond that the wealth dispersed to provide for the ALL. Greed and power -how to identify- how to reign in the abuse of it- what defines THAT?
Everyone is perfectly aware climate change is happening. Whether it’s a cycle or a result of_ _ _ _ ....you can’t pollute the water, cut most of the trees, eat only junk food, or keep extracting when the supply is gone.
Got to be a lot of BALANCES agreed upon .
As Joyce marvelously says: ‘We’re all in this together.’
The only other Pat Cole I know is the Pat Kole I met in the nursery when he arrived a couple hours after I was born. Our parents later became good friends. Pat later became an attorney and chief Idaho potato spokesman and promoter!
I did reside in Michigan from time to time. I always put up at Charlie’s Country Corner off I-75 at Greyling. I loved Michigan except for its scolds er cold wind.
Across the highway from Kirtland Community College! I live closer to Traverse City, but covered all of northern Michigan in my work. Through lots of scolds!
I find it astounding that most high school civics students "understand the rule of law better than our current chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and several of his Republican colleagues." I don't understand why it would be astounding to anyone that an intelligent, eloquent, democratically elected leader of an African country would not be expected to have a thorough understanding of the rule of law.
I am afraid we don’t teach civics & government as effectively as we should.
My wife & I are well educated. We have over our life times been members via volunteering and elections to many organizations, school board, town board and now officers in our town and county political party organizations. Every opportunity & responsibility is a learning experience that we were never taught about in K-12 nor college. Though I did take political science.
All of our community work mentioned above, has been “political” in the sense of working with people. Some of whom were driven by personal ambition, rigid ideology, and belief systems that affected if not impeded our organization’s work. But in practical terms, our work has been about accomplishing the “business” of operating a school, town, library, farmers market, a local economy, and providing good candidates to be elected to also do this “business”. No school other than my general high quality education prepared us for this. I think we could have had much better education in terms of the specifics “why” and “how” of government and community organizations, and their operations.
Even with my experience, I could not rise above our political discourse and put the relationships of law, people and government into such succinct words as President Hichilema. As a nation and people, we must learn to do this to make our government and our personal responsibility towards government more useful and effective.
I’m a high school teacher. We haven’t stopped teaching civics. I don’t know why so many people think we have. Maybe because Republican voters are so belligerently ignorant about civics? People choose ignorance, often, even when they were taught well. Republican voters who shout about the Constitution are very selective of the parts they like, and those they ignore. For example, the First Amendment is clear in its ban of government promotion of religion. Yet Republicans find ways to ignore that and make bogus claims that “the Founders created America as a Christian nation”. We didn’t teach them that, they adopted it after high school. I don’t know if they believe such BS, or if they’re just spouting it to support their worldview.
Glad to hear that you teach it, but there are places where it is not taught anymore. I think it is intentional dumbing down for control by the corrupted party that has been planning authoritarian rule for decades.
As of three years ago (February 2020), 11 states reportedly had no civics requirements: Alaska, Delaware, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Requirements are coming back in MA (where I live), and I hope in other states, but I think you'll agree that DE, ME, MA, NJ, OR, RI, and VT are not right-wing strongholds.
We need to stop spreading misinformation about public education. Most of the states you mention teach civics, but don’t call it that. Their Social Studies curricula cover American history, the Constitution, the structure of government, the workings of the executive, judicial and legislative branches, etc. I’m not going to bother googling all of them, but here are the links for Vermont.
States without Civics Course requirements may not be right wing, but notice that in each election there are a surprisingly large number who vote for the right wing agenda. [I am alert to the knowledge that 75 million people voted for Trump...]
" "I would rather have a thousand school board members than one president and no school board members,” Ralph Reed, the former leader of the Christian Coalition, said in a 1996 NewsHour interview, arguing that conservative Christians needed to expand local, grassroots organizing in order to raise money, turn out voters and promote their ideals at a time when the U.S. Supreme Court was reinforcing a ban on school prayer and reaffirming abortion rights."
That's conspiratorial thinking. Let's leave that to QAnon and stay focused. School curricula change all the time and there's nothing nefarious about it. Look what happened to Latin classes, homemaking (I had cooking and sewing lessons, while the boys got to make things out of wood in Shop class), etc. Of course, I'm not talking about the Republicans shutting down teaching about racial discrimination and black history, which is newly rejuvenated from the bowels of Jim Crow history. My point is that there was no federal government decision to end Civics instruction in public schools. Until recently, school district budgets determined which classes were eliminated.
It does seem that many conservatives want to stop funding public education, and that they are afraid of teaching anything to their children that might actually make them learn to think.
Maybe the problem has more to do with understanding English. The conservative wing of the Supreme Court fails to understand the complexities icontained in the phrases "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." or "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State..."
John R., where are you? As of February 2020, 11 states reportedly had no civics requirement. As noted below, most of them were not Republican-dominated states; in fact, one of them was Massachusetts, where I live. Civics *could* be taught, but it wasn't required. Civics requirements are making a comeback here and I hope in other places.
Ever since the February 2018 killings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS in Florida, I've been impressed by the eloquence and persistence of several of the survivors. At the time they gave credit to both the government courses and the theater program at their school. I can't think of a better argument for including both in any high school curriculum.
I’m in NH. Just because states don’t call it “civics” doesn’t mean they’re not teaching what we mean by “civics”. Many states label it Social Studies, but they still cover everything we consider “civics”. See my post about 4-5 up for specifics (don’t want to repeat myself here).
have you discovered beth felker jones , practicing christian doctrine? theology professor n illinois, previously wheaton? new edition out in july. she's on substack too. i am a witness to progressive christians pushing us beyond God's truth. cancel culture being experienced.
i cannot speak to today's Commonwealth of VA's curriculum but back in my day US/VA government was taught and passing it was required for graduation. Those who failed did not march for diploma.
I'm a teacher too. If students haven't learned, then we haven't taught. Civics is the study of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Are we teaching it at a young enough age and bringing it into every subject every year, not just a unit in it? Are we teaching from a book or lectures only, rather than acting it out and encouraging creativity in identifying problems and looking for ways to solve them?
I-search papers were a great way of citing a problem and seeking solutions. cooperative learning enabled everyone to participate and learn. reporting back from state legislatures, local government meetings, engaging in community services projects, reading several points of view, reading a variety of newspapers. never advocated for talking heads on cable tv.
Okay, I give up. The teachers are to blame. For MAGA, for Trump, for DeSantis, for Marjorie Taylor Greene. If there are ignorant voters anywhere, it’s the fault of teachers. I hope that makes everybody feel better.
I don't think anyone said that. Certified teachers are but one important resource that we have for educating the population. Children learn from many sources. Some states do it better than others. Some parents do it better than others. Some religious leaders do it better than others. It is a good thing that there are many resources.
Great comment, Nancy Jane. Applying it to the real world -- meaning the student's own world -- is key. And I'm guessing that in most communities there are people doing the work who would make great guest speakers and/or mentors for students doing independent projects.
Taking into serious consideration what may be in store for 24' it's my observation that politicians (of all bents) are fearful of letting their true positions be known. The ones harboring good intentions being quiet about them in the hope of getting elected and being able to counter some of this lunacy. Others, leeches if you will, seek only to curry favor with their lunatic pilot fish and the corporate sugar-daddies. We are right to fear fascism, but I would fear the blanket of Communism even more. A society that cultures telling on ones neighbor to cover ones own rear-end, the real fear being the R-word: Retribution.
Yes, in 2020, a friend who lives in Hawaii asked a 20 -somthing year-old grocery store clerk if she was going to vote in the upcoming presidential election. She said no. My friend asked why. The clerk said because the president is apppointed. My friend asked if she had ever had a civics or government course in high school and she asked, what is that?
After the 2020 election a lot of people believed the president was appointed. Or perhaps anointed. Including TFG. what are young people to believe when their first election is corrupt? It’s a tragedy to live in red states or anywhere that make teaching the Truth a crime.
Thank you and your wife for wonderful dedication , we are ALL teachers, and need to be.
Greatest examples are those that lead with loving service. Body language is a wonderfully silent teacher but noticed by intuition far more than words spoken . Animals are keen to take note ( their carriage is a lesson too). The noise makers get headlines only because it sells faster , but the long distance run is consistency ,patience, a GOOD example lived. People shout ...why don’t [we]the Dems defend themselves /shout back? It’s our track record, it’s the non verbal cues of patience and forbearance, it’s the get-er-done pace slow and steady...said the turtle 😉
Thank you for your educated -- and through extensive experience -- eloquence, David. I completely agree with you. Have you and your spouse considered making presentations to your local high schools' civics classes sharing exactly what you shared with us? That would be a great gift to democracy, indeed!
It’s not the teachers. It’s the curriculum and culture. Our culture tends to expect elected and volunteer officials to “take care” of everything while we all go about our own personal business. We outsource everything. Individual self interest is sold as our principal purpose. Cooperation is in a category with “socialism” both of which play an important role in governing and democracy.
Having lived in Southern Africa during the period of the original formation of Zambia (originally Northern Rhodesia), we have maintained an interest in Zambia’s historic and political time-line. So while not surprised at the eloquence of President Hakainde Hichilema’s words, I was and remain very moved by the promise of a very decent future for the Zambians contained in his very dignified statement.
Dan During WW II Ho Chi Minh (later North Vietnam leader) would discuss our constitution and Declaration of Independence with OSS operatives with him. He could have given the Republican roustabouts a lesson in American civics.
Ho Chi Minh asked for our help. He was turned down. He was not thrilled with the communists. American foreign policy dropped the ball. Historically you may recall French Indo-China. The irony and tragedy was enacted in the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 when the Viet Minh ousted the French colonialists. What could have been diplomacy with Allies turned into confrontation becoming eventually the Viet Nam war. Yes Ho Chi Minh could very much have given lessons on the American politic, but instead we have the black wall. Leadership failed us at the highest level. We simply cannot entertain any more clowns in government.
Pat Some of the Americans associated with Ho during and just after WW II were later drummed out of American government for their ‘communist’ tendencies.
Ho sought to get a hearing at the post-WW I peace negotiations. Ignored, in frustration he joined the French Communist Party. Ho, Ho, Ho.
At Dien Bien Phu, where the French were trapped by the Vietnam Minh who amazingly located artillery on the surrounding hills, the CIA was providing air support to the French until the final moments.
An historical insight: during the American revolution the same surprise happened to the Brits in Boston. Alexander Knox, a book dealer turned artillery expert, dragged cannon from Ticonderoga hundreds of miles to a hill overlooking Boston. The Brits were amazed-‘impossible’-and were forced to abandon Boston.
This was the same Knox who provided artillery to the Battle of. Trenton, where, in Washington’s Hail Mary, 900 Hessians were captured and the Americans suffered no deaths. Artillery was essential in this battle.
On a boat transporting fat Knox across the Delaware River to Trenton, Washington joshed him ‘Move your fat ass or you’ll swamp’ the boat. Soldiers appreciated this, not not Knox, who became War. Secretary in Washington’s first cabinet.
It is my understanding via an American operative in China (Weaver) before during and after WWII who worked closely with HCM that his attempts to be taken seriously were deflected by the state department and that they never considered him to be a player. As a result of that stonewalling his option was to seek the backing of the communists. His objective had not wavered in trying to oust the French. He did oust the French. American politicians dropped the ball cold turkey. The mess laid at their door was self inflicted . Entirely. On my return from Viet Nam Mr. Weaver and I had long talks about the politics which led to my war. He knew the players.
Pat this was the aftermath of the ‘loss of China,’ the false dominos theory, and our Cold War desire to placate France in Europe. I believe that Algeria was festering at this time.
Judith The Versailles Peace Conference where Ho was snubbed was after WWi in 1919. Wilson was a major snubber, despite his self-determination pronouncements.
The current chairman of the House Judiciary Committee doesn’t understand the rule of law, because he doesn’t want to understand the rule of law. He wants power.
I laugh every time some sanctimonious leftist gets on TV and no one is above the rule of law.
What rule of law?
The FEC, DOJ, The former DA, and even Bragg initially declined bringing charges against Trump.
Why? Because there was no case.
Bragg got bullied into it and what is his case?
An expired misdemeanor bootstrapped to a federal crime.
Bragg invented a crime. He is trying to use a misdemeanor (who's statue of limitations has expired) and bootstrapped to a federal election violation (where he has no jurisdiction)
Add the DOJ tried prosecute John Edwards for a similar action and lost. In Edwards case
he used campaign funds to pay his mistress.
In this case Trump paid personal funds to Daniels.
Unless you sat on the grand jury you have no idea of what crimes he‘s being charged with. Obviously the citizens on the grand jury felt crimes were committed.
It is no surprise to me, at all, that a black man in Africa understands better, and values more, the rule of law than a white man in our Congress here in the USA.
Not even slightly surprising to me actually. One need look no further than Angola prison in Louisiana to know how the rule of law is applied in the United States in reality.
Thank you, Mike. I was too busy choking on my coffee to respond intelligently to his comment on finding it "astounding" that the head of an African Country could understand the law so thoroughly.
The whole Congress? I think not. Watch Raskin, Goldman, Lieu and other Democrats effectively rebut, shame and extinguish the MAGAs. The Democrats are prepared, aggressive and effective.
BUT (1) no one is watching or listening except those of us who are left with no joy in public affairs other than seeing the idiots exposed to just ridicule (Jamie Raskin is a hero!), and (2) the MAGAts can't be "shamed" because either they're *congenital* sociopaths or their mamas never inculcated a sense of shame, or a morality distinct from Ayn Rand's worship of selfish egoism and Maggie Thatcher's dictum that "[t]here is no such thing as society" to which any individual owes anything, to their formative personalities (*raised* to be sociopaths).
I thought that you might like to know about the woman you called a hooker and prostitute without any evidence for calling her such. The following is an article about Stormy Daniels that was published in The Washington Post yesterday.
'Who is Stormy Daniels, the adult-film star linked to Trump’s indictment?'
'This week Donald Trump became the first former president to be charged with a crime, after a grand jury in Manhattan voted to indict him late Thursday.'
'At the heart of the case the grand jurors had been hearing is evidence about a $130,000 payment made to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.'
'Here’s what to know about Daniels, and what she says happened with Trump.' (WAPO) Gifted link to the article is below.
Mike, thanks for shining a light on this from a slightly different perspective. I took the statement at face value as commentary on the self-serving willful ignorance of Jordan et al. And willful ignorance it is; they know exactly what they're doing. It's their values that are found in the depths of their stinking, overflowing toilets.
I’m pretty sure Gym Jordan and his thugs understand the Rule of Law: they choose, CHOOSE to ignore it. The road may be a little bumpy at the moment, but the repair crew is hard at work
Well said. Jordan purposely uses his position as a legislator to demand perceived “perks”. His stance is that of a bully; no limits for him; but the Other Guy? Watch out.
So disturbing that many in the repub party may say they hate what their party is doing to take this country down, but in the end say they’re voting republican. I think logic is just a word in the dictionary for many people.
Yes, socialism but increase my medicare and social security you promised. And why are my meds so expensive ? Plus why aren't you fixing the potholes on my street. My taxes, right? And my schools. And..
Jim Jordan understands the rule of law, but he is a criminal who wants to break the rule of law for his own benefit and gain. If you think of him as a criminal, rather than an honest but misguided or stupid politician, his actions are not “astounding”, but predictable. The astounding thing is that the media, law enforcement, the voters of his state, and the institution he seeks to corrupt, all continue to go along with the fiction that he is a politician, rather than a criminal.
They are literally some the original building blocks of civilization. Couldn't have the Pyramids at Giza without rocks! But nothing of import will fall down if Jim Jordan and his kind just disappear!
I meant no insult to rocks, so I offer them my sincerest apologies! My best friend is a geologist, and we love rocks. It's true, rocks are far better and more useful than Gymmie.
I think it's more complicated than that. For some reason that I cannot put my finger on, people like Gym Jordan abhor the liberal world view from top to bottom. He hates it so much that in his mind he can justify nearly anything to fight it. His mind is so made up that it twists wrongdoing into right-doing. He cannot tell up from down and down from up, he is so overwhelmed by this hatred. He actually believes that the Bragg thing is literally an activist lefty DA who hates Trump and is going after him solely to sink his re-election chances. And using the rule of law to do it. If you thought that way, you might do the same thing. After all, alot of our "founding fathers" decided to revolt against the country they were citizens of, and thought the reasons were good. It was literally treason in the minds and laws of the English. I have zero sympathy for Jordan and his ilk. Their world view is absolutely toxic. But when you have such a world view, you do things like that.
I have seen Mr. Jordan get caught off guard by reporters. I don't think he believes that stuff at all. It's as phoney as his rolled up sleeves. It's performance art.
“His mind is so made up that it twists wrongdoing into right-doing”
Again, I implore that Jordan’s deplorability has absolutely nothing to do with his mind, but everything to do with his lack of a heart. How do you explain his looking away while the youth in his flock were sexually preyed upon by power?
I am strongly in favor of recognizing and verbalizing the malevolence in our midst. These monsters are not dumb!! They know very very well what they are doing!!
james wheaton (Jay) my opinion for what it is worth is the following: I believe Gym Jordan and those like him sit around and think how "loud" can I be with whatever crazy idea I can come up with to get "media" attention! Unless they are stopped or ignored they will continue what they are currently doing. How many of the quieter ones holding like kind offices do we remember their names? Name recognition gets votes and keeps them in power. I am sure nearly everyone has heard the "loud ones" names and many people that vote have no clue how bad these people happen to be.
Jaye, I think you're getting to the nub of the matter. Having lived through 6+ decades of dramatic social change in the US, I believe that most "conservatives" were gradually more appalled by about a dozen of those changes. Limbaugh, Alex Jones, Fox news, etc. relentlessly propagandized them for 20 to 30 years, and created that hugely powerful mindset - The Victim. Now we have a furious and radicalized dominant arm of the Republican Party.
Since 2008, that group has developed a take-no-prisoners, ends-justify-the means mentality. In essence, they are now REVOLUTIONARIES willing to overthrow our government and much of our institutional life, as they try to remake America according to their fantasy.
Decades of propaganda and fury will do strange things to people's abilities to justify outragrous behavior. Many of us abhorred what we saw coming from those media liars over many years, but didn't want to believe it would lead to such radicals actually gaining power. We vainly hoped that they would stay on the "fringe". But here we are. ☹️
So, IMO, Step 1 has been, for 7 yrs., to recognize that this isn't a political battle. It's a destructive revolutionary mindset that must be seen exactly for what it is. DT, Jordan, Greene, DeSantis, Gaetz, etc. are just the point of the spear. They speak for tens of millions of deeply aggrieved Americans who lost their ability to support the rule of law.
Kenneth Kaunda was the first president of Zambia 1964-1991. Unlike neighboring Zimbabwe and many other African countries, Kaunda lost his presidency in a democratic election in 1991.
Thank you Ann! I keep repeating over and over, it’s malice, not ignorance!! Part of asking the world to be honest is to call a spade a spade. Too many people calling tffg and his Congressional goons dumb. The goons know what they are doing and are intentionally doing it.
Yes President HH of Zambia DOES know the ‘rule of law’ HEAR HEAR🙌 Yes, THEY certainly do have a bumpy road ahead...while we will stick to task at hand -that which involves huge amounts of America AND the worlds population, homelessness, housing shortages for the marginalized, medical costs/corruption and availability , daily gun deaths Tennessee btw has NO RED FLAG laws 🙁, and unfair tax laws ...to mention a few.
Of course the Republicans in Congress that are attacking Bragg understand the rule of law. They reject it, because it runs counter to their purposes. Which is retaining power and protecting Trump. If they can use their Congressional power to derail Bragg’s indictments, they will. Rule of law be damned.
Y’all going to get tired of me saying this often but WE CAN , we have to, we will 💙VOTE THE CLEAN SWEEP ! THE BLUE TSUNAMI💙 Vote them out of office ( and PS there are still some dang good Republicans in there, let’s put THEM in place of the MAGAs!
It’s more than that Jon. HH’s imprisonment and torture and mistreatment of his immediate family by the former president of Zambia makes him larger than life in dealing with delinquents like Jordan who willingly abuse power. His ability to speak well against those who denigrate the laws comes from real experience. What I particularly liked was his empathetic leadership.
Please, don't be so astounded. Let us acknowledge the way in which Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema responds to the Wall Street Journal reporter who showed interest in eliciting a response from our VP, Kamala Harris, when our P, Joe Biden, has made it clear we will not chime in and "opinionate"! Pretty sophisticated.
Astonishing and frightening, is it not, that a "black" man would be so much more sophisticated and cogent than all those "white" men in the Republican House Judiciary Committee! The fleecing of the United States always finds an agent willing to destroy us.
Unfortunately get the meaning of KW's comment all too clearly. Good Lord Ann. The casual racism running through so many comments today is unbelievable.
My comment is sarcasm. White nationalist Republicans are the rot in our country. I watched the video clip of the confrontation between Congressmen Bowman and Massie. Bowan brought sense and knowledge to that argument. Massie simply made himself yet another foolish Republican.
Still want to understand what is so confusing to Ann W.
Oh gosh! I honestly didn't know. Thanks for the clarification. Now that I reread it in the light of your intent it is a really good commentary on some of the other comments. Thanks!
Far from a universal audience. One may expect intelligence and understanding of nuance, if anywhere, here in HCR-space. Not to put down AnnW; she asked, and appreciated the answer.
I honestly believe that is the only way they get through life: Lies, deceptions, distortions, distractions and diversions. Their hollow promises, their shallow mentality and their uncultivated grasp of most of society make them a very dangerous species. Each is their own centerpiece of their tight and strangled world, with little room left for anyone else.
Except for yet another insidious AD -inflicted from corporate America 🤦♀️ ...love the song Babara, thanks...seeing the voting numbers surge by these young people is wonderful. GO Z generation HAIL HAIL🙌 THEY have been taught, learned from our mistakes , and will TEACH their children (better).
I agree re ‘what happens beyond our borders’ (or as some on the right mistakenly write, boarders!) is often lacking here. Not only does it leave huge gaps in our knowledge about how other democracies operate, but it also supports the false narrative of American exceptionalism. If we as Americans don’t follow news beyond our shores, we assume that we are “the one and only” - the shining city on the hill. To me, this narrative leads easily to the increasing intolerance of “the other” - automatically labeling most immigrants as “illegal”.
I really don't count those two when I think of MSM. I think mostly of television news and worse, such as scripted talk shows designed to 'splain it down to us dummies
I tried Apple News+ for a while, but didn’t like it for the reason you mention, as well as the fact that “supported” publications only provide a limited list of their full publication. I switched to Newsify, which is much more “ecumenical”. I can read my NYT and WaPo there, along with many other news feeds. I’ve customized it to what I want to see over the past year. And it’s cheaper than Apple News.
Yes -- instead we get endless hours of idle (and poorly informed) speculation about trump. After a couple attempts to get news on CNN yesterday, we finally turned it off. This would have been actual "news you can use," as we used to say in the biz many years ago.
How refreshing your letter today, Heather, after hours of nothing but the big I all day which I mostly turned off. I was even going to propose tonight that someone start a media news channel called The Other News since most of the oxygen goes to the easy, "sensational" story. The world is more than MAGA politics! Thank you for putting your oxygen into the Summit for Democracy, Leslie Dubeck's fabulous letter basically reminding the MAGA Congressmen of States Rights, and Vice President Harris's Africa tour. Thank you.
Ditto all points made Cathy ! I've launched my own criticisms in that regard to every local broadcaster in my area, and ignored the influencer troll comments.
Dear MSNBC, Do you cover the major stories of the day or just one blasted distraction from the former guy? I am SICK of hearing every little detail over and over again about the Indictment! I am turning MSNBC OFF when I hear the I-word or the T-word. And, will definitely keep MSNBC off ALL DAY on Tuesday.
Where is the OTHER NEWS of the day? Like I heard nothing from MSNBC on the Summit of Democracy! Or on Vice President Harris’s trip to Africa.
I don’t understand with all the weather catastrophes you aren’t / can’t say the words climate change. Actually, I would suggest you use CLIMATE STABILIZATION. I would suggest you start getting serious about the climate catastrophe and the politics around it. EVERY DAY!!
And what about everyone’s RIGHTS especially WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS and LGBTQ RIGHTS. Do you really understand how deeply angry women are on the anti-abortion, forced pregnancy stupidity and one group’s theocracy being shoved up our uteruses!
I would suggest that each of your commentators have a bit different emphasis rather than repeating each other hour after hour after hour. I like Jose Diaz-Balart because he covers more than Washington and brings a broader perspective to topics like immigration. I like Andrea Mitchell because she brings in foreign affairs. Ari Melber is the legal beagle of your team and where I do listen to the legal in’s and out’s. Lawrence O’Donnell has incredible guests and is the best at the political news of Washington. On the weekends I like to watch Rev. Sharpton who calls it like he sees it especially on race inequities.
Or better yet, do five minutes of news (not comment or opinion) at the beginning of each hour where you can mention for two sentences what is going on with DT and get it over with for the hour. I am SICK of photos of DT. I cannot stand to look at him. Please tell the people picking the photos to be more creative about not showing DT.
Please practice POSITIVE JOURNALISM and talk about solutions being proposed for each issue you bring up. Start with CLIMATE STABILIZATION. Like how farmers would have better higher yield crops if they put carbon back into the soil.
Just get the balance right. DT is not the ONLY STORY. It the easy, “sensation”, negative to get us fearful and divided. STOP being an enabler of all that is wrong with our politics right now. Even though our brains give negative things attention as a survival mechanism, the real winner over time is the promise and hope of a positive future. Long term rating growth if you have to boil it down to that!!
Thank you for listening. Now I’ll go continue to not listen until you make some positive changes!
First, I am so humbled and proud to have made your acquaintance, even such as this is ! Proud, honored and damned proud. Thank you for putting the 'A' in action (all the other letters through 'z' as well - lol). I've done this as well, and to all local broadcasters too. Thank you, thank you ~ Separately, an odd'ish question. I've been to wonderful Texas; most recently my adult daughters visited for a couple weeks. When I was last there in the mid '70's, a dearest companion of mine and I chanced to meet a grand lady on the Riverwalk one evening in November, who just happened to be renown as the 'Yellow Rose of Texas'. We all hit it off as though we were all long time dear friends. She invited and we accepted a trip to her mansion; I believe I have photo's of her and a shot or so of her splendid abode. I doubt she's still among as, as she was quite old at that time. Yet young enough of heart to befriend two young bucks far away from home and 'relate' with us on current events and adventures. She was awesome personally, and what she seemed well known to represent. Indelible impression in my heart and mind. Bravo sister !
D4N Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words. What a wonderful experience you had with the grand lady on the Riverwalk. So glad to meet a kindred spirit in action. Time for all of us to take action and speak up! We, the People, ALL of us this time!
As a child, I remember the blaring headlines and television criticisms of President Richard Nixon when he made an offhand remark, probably in line with the view of most Americans, that Charles Manson was guilty prior to the jury returning its verdict. Virtually the entire political universe was in alignment criticizing Nixon for interfering and politicizing the criminal justice process and jury deliberations in such a manner. Nixon apologized and never raised the issue again.
In stark contrast, the Seditionist Sociopath and in fact the entire Trump Crime Family seems to be caterwauling from whatever sordid pulpit they can find, comparing the "animal" Alvin Bragg to Pol Pot and Stalin. All for doing the job that he was elected to do, i.e., seek to criminally prosecute those within his jurisdiction that his office, in the exercise of their professional discretion, deemed to be in violation of the law. All before the indictments are even unsealed.
While I and many others feel that Bragg's case (and certainly Fani Willis' and Jack Smith's) is righteous, none of us know this with certainty, as we have not seen all of the admissible evidence, and heard all of the reasonable defenses. Feeling that a case should not be brought is perfectly acceptable. Yet deriding the dignity and calling down harm upon the prosecutor for bringing that case, well that's not only un-American, unlawful and dangerous (particularly in light of 01/06/21) but it is downright fascistic.
I hope that Bragg gets a gag order against Trump and his coterie once the plea is entered.
Finally, Ms. Dubeck is spot on in lacerating the worst dressed man in Congress, Jim Jordan, for his dereliction of his duties and his flagrant violation of both the sovereignty of the State of New York and the constitutional concept of separation of powers.
"Jim Jordan, for his dereliction of his duties and his flagrant violation of both the sovereignty of the State of New York and the constitutional concept of separation of powers. "
I agree. And I’m heartened by the dawning realization that when the hammer comes down, it won’t be a single one. There is a multitude of people working in the justice system, most of whom we have never heard of, who are affronted more personally than we are at the histrionics and overreach of Jordan et al. They *work* in American justice and are scandalized. Then they exert whatever voice they have (and some are very powerful) to buttress the labors of the legal system.
This is going to get increasingly uncomfortable for Trump and his frat boys. Democracy can be slow to awake, but when engaged and prepared, it can be fearsome.
"Ms. Dubeck is spot on in lacerating the worst dressed man in Congress, Jim Jordan, for his dereliction of his duties and his flagrant violation of both the sovereignty of the State of New York and the constitutional concept of separation of powers."
I must admit to holding the same snarky opinion that Jim Jordan is the “worst-dressed man in Congress.” I am guessing his choice of a specific color- and only one color - is intentional; sets him apart from the other more ‘traditional’ business-suited enemies AND allies in the hallowed halls of the Capitol.
On a similar theme, when I see the increasing presence of women in these same spaces, i note that my ‘fellow females” have much more latitude in these matters. While Jordan limits himself to a rather sickly green, the women have ‘freedom of color’ - scarves, jewelry, dresses or suits, sweaters or jackets - all in multiple colors - all at the same time!
I agree with you, Anne. His sense of style is too ghastly not to be intentional. In combination with the glasses affixed to the bridge of the nose and the chaotic combination over, he looks like a mix of used car salesman and everybody's least favorite substitute teacher
Spot on, Daniel! I will remember that description, though I think you insult both used car salesmen and substitute teachers (most dress better than Gym).
Ha! Thanks, James. You're probably right. I certainly meant to insult Rep. Jordan only. Also, I see that the word "combination " popped up when I meant to say "comb", as in "comb" over
I agree with Anne that virtually all of the female Representatives and Senators dress wonderfully. The former and perhaps greatest Speaker of the House in its history being a prime example of same. As a brief aside, being a long time admirer of female pulchritude especially when combined with sharp intellect and a deeper sense of empathy, I did suffer a slight depression when I learned that AOC was engaged, but it's ok, I'm over it now!
Senator Sinema's issues goes way beyond her bizarre, electric-kool aid-acid test sense of fashion.
Nixon was not exactly a sterling example of judiciousness when he was the one being investigated. He attacked, and then fired, his own special prosecutor, which led to the resignations/firings of his AG and other DoJ officials (see Saturday Night Massacre).
Such big words to describe bully Jordan. I doubt he understands any of them. It is still beyond my comprehension that this jacketless, ignorant (did I mention) bully has managed to reach the position in OUR government that he has. There have to be some educated Republican House members appalled as the rest of us. How much longer must we endure his pure nastiness?
What a blessing to read this letter tonight, after all the opinions and prediction about the indictment today. Our focus truly should be on the positive, on building and strengthening democracy around the world and here at home. Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema has it exactly right!
Interesting that a Zambian president knows more about how a democracy actually works than a wrestling coach from the U.S.... Maybe it's because the Repugnants don't really care about democracy anyway. They are just looking for power at any cost. We shall all sleep a lot better when democracy returns to our own shores, and fascism returns to the dustbin of history.
I agree, this is a tempered and informative letter. It goes with one of my few happy moments. All the news broadcasts I watched on Friday led with two major stories. While Trump’s indictment was one of them, none led with that salacious story nor gave all that much oxygen to it. The weather disasters across the US and our government response were more deeply reported. A little renewal of hope for MSM.
What comes to mind about Harris is that biblical quote about a prophet being without honor in her own country. I hope a commitment to democracy in these countries can help sustain us, and we in theirs.
I’m going to dream tonight of Gym Jordan, Steil, and Comer all fuming about being thoroughly destroyed by a woman, and in public no less. That must have hurt badly. Oh welp, increasing their dose of MAGA Viagra should help.
Thanks, as always, Heather, for providing a large, clear lens through which we can accurately view and understand the realities of and the connections between past and present events.
I'm curious about who proclaimed that the Secret Service couldn't bring T in today because they "needed more time." It's my understanding that the Secret Service actually could have brought him in today, thereby truncating opportunities to foment mayhem.
Thanks, Heather for this post. It’s nice to read something that true, and very informative about the issues of the day.
I’m trying to stay up on the news of TFG, and I heard something tonight that puzzled me. First. The NY Attorneys office wanted TFG to turn himself in today. But, his (TFG) lawyers argued that the Secret Service needed a least 5 days to set up the logistics/security for moving him to New York to turn himself in, therefore he could be there Tuesday.
I want to tell you. This is a pile of 💩! If the New York Attorneys office said fur him to turn himself in on Friday. TFGs a** would be there Friday. TFG & his stupid attorneys are making excuse see to give him time to set up his chaotic surrender he, MTG, Matt Gaetz, and others are working on.
I predict that TFG will not be in New York on Tuesday. I predict that he’s going to stay in Mar-a-Lago and force New York to come and arrest him. DeStupid has already let it be known he will not allow any extradition of TFG to any state to face criminal charges. MYG has let it be known that she’s personally going to New York Tuesday to lead a protest about this. If you remember her comments on January 6th insurrection. She commented about f she had organized it they all would have been armed and the outcome would have been a lot different.
When are we, the people, going yo say “enough is enough! We are tired of this assault on our democracy! We are tired of our elected officials, whom we are paying, to act in this criminal behavior!” It’s time we start making phone calls, writing letters, whatever it takes to weed these people out of office. We need to demand action be taken against them. We need to demand that they be sanctioned for their actions, and they need to be stripped of all duties, released from office, for their neglect of duties to the American people.
One thing is for certain. Next week is going to be EPIC! Get your popcorn ready folks. Another January 6th is a coming, led by no other than MTG. Maybe she’ll be stupid enough to draw her pistol on one of New York’s finest. She makes that mistake, we won’t have to worry about getting her out of office. She’ll leave New York in a box.
Tfg lead defense counsel has stated tfg will appear on Tuesday apparently flying into NY City on Monday night.
Regardless Judge Merchant already has jurisdiction & control of all the Parties before the Court & can & will issue orders from the Bench to restrict the criminal defefant's behavior just like in any case.
In Queens, a local newspaper headlined: "Queens Man Indicted"; Tfg will appear like any guy from Queens.
A great deal of oral history in Queens: Fred Trump Jr, was the disfavored pilot & older bother of tfg. Fred Trump Jr's daughter, the brave & gutty Mary Trump 🙏 kept some family document history.
The guy owns his own Boeing airliner; doesn't that defacto make him a flight risk? The ultimate humiliation would be "held without bail until trial". It isn't likely to happen, but what a delicious thought to dream on...
Thank you for the laugh, Dave Dalton. "Trump fleeing to anywhere else" and Bryan Sean McKown's "Queens man Indicted" have given me the only LOL political moments in a long while.
Robert Hubbell pointed out that E Jean Carroll’s rape/defamation case against Trump goes to court in NY on April 25. If Trump fails to show up then, he loses by default, which means he becomes a convicted rapist and has to pay for defamation. If he waits until then to arrive in NY, he gets arrested on the new indictment at the courthouse. So he has a lot of incentive to present himself in NY voluntarily to be booked on the latest charges.
Can’t you see him having to report to the courts every time he goes someplace. My mind slips me right now. What is it a convicted rapist/sexual pervert-deviant is listed as in the eyes of the law? Then they have to report to the local sheriff’s department/law enforcement office every time they go from city to city.
TFG will become a very lonely man sitting in Mar-a-Lago. Perverted SOB!
Yes. Damn, why couldn’t I remember that! I guess with all I have going on my 71 year old mind us slipping a bit.
TFG will definitely fit the label. And, as you said, it’s many, many, decades overdue. I just wish I had ran into him personally when I was on the department. Walked into one of his devious actions on women. He’d never touched another woman in his life after I got done with him. He wouldn’t be able to! I couldn’t stand men that abused women or children. I literally lost it on several occasions.
"But, his (TFG) lawyers argued that the Secret Service needed a least 5 days to set up the logistics/security for moving him to New York to turn himself in, therefore he could be there Tuesday."
Trump and his lawyers have many, many years of experience in delay tactics to avoid court rulings or make then moot.
This is just the beginning of the delays. It may take him a year to actually end up in NY for the filing.
You are correct Mike S, a 5 day delay was obtained but, Judge Merchant has "in persona" control of the 'Man from Queens', the criminal Defendant. I have never procedurally examined the Judge's handling of any case civil or criminal but, the Judge has a professional representation of being calm; his judicial demeanor will be tested.in this case.
Oh, I’m sure he has many, many, delay tactics lined up in his little box. Every day that goes by is another day that he has to get his followers stirred up, and for him to collect more money “to fight against this and pay for his defense.” We all know that Donald Trump hasn’t paid for a d***n thing in his life, yet his sheep are sending him millions every day.
Can you imagine the current speaker of the house calling for her to be censured? stripping her of committee assignments? Any sort of discipline whatsoever???
Hahaha 🤪 lol 😝! Fat chance of this Speaker doing that. She’s inn his ear every step he takes. I don’t know why they just didn’t elect her as Speaker of the House. She’s running it anyway. Is McFarty every stopped abruptly, he’d get an instant feeling up his backside he’s probably never felt before. And he’d have to be rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. The removal of MTG from his rear poop-chute.
I love the right wing activist, er, I mean "reporter" from the Wall Street Journal get smacked around like the piece of something one scrapes off their shoe that he is. The rest of the over-educated, under-intelligent otherwise unemployable trust fund babies of the MSM Press Corpse needs more of the same.
Come on TCinLA, your comment is broad-brush stereotyping. Unfair and inaccurate. Where do you think the professor gets her information about current events? Journalism is like any profession — there are people excellent at their jobs, terrible at it, and the majority somewhere in between.
Too many of the MSM are creative typists at best. We have the editorial board of the Washington Post - who know as much about the charges the grand jury voted on in New York as you and I do, which is nothing - writing that the case is weak. How the hell do they know? And how does printing bullshit guesses make them anything to be believed?
This goes to my earlier comment that the media talking heads report their opinions and speculation as if they were facts and present it as news. All it really does in the end is feed into perception and perception becomes reality.
Where does the media remind people that the grand jury decided this, not the individual Alvin Bragg. So many missed opportunities to educate the public! Enough with the pontificating.
TCinLA, many legal experts are of the opinion that this case is weak, including Bragg himself (who had decided to drop the case a few months after he took it over). There are several reasons that it will be difficult for Bragg to get a criminal conviction - statute of limitations, the fact that paying hush money isn't a crime, and the difficulty of proving Trump’s intent. If Trump is found “not guilty” it will reinforce his claims of “witch hunt” martyrdom and popularity with the base.
I think you may have just skipped over TC's salient point. Since nobody actually knows what the charges are or the what the evidence involved will be, opinions about the case being weak are just idle speculation. I recommend to these "experts" patience before pontification.
Yup! Bragg wouldn't be wasting his time or risking his reputation if he didn't have what was needed to nail the guy.
And that Grand Jury is a group of typical Americans - not just one Democrat out for a political vendetta - as suggested by the frightened White "Christian" Nationalist Wannabe Nazis.
Bragg wanted to drop the case, but was forced to continue by intense political pressure. Bragg was stuck - going to be damned if he brings the case (and fails to get a conviction), or damned if he didn’t bring the case (because New Yorkers demand an indictment). I would not want to be Bragg.
No, you have misinformation. Vance was "in the bag" politically. The Feds "dropped" the case after convicting Michael Cohen because Barr ordered them to drop it.
Citations? You spread rumor and innuendo. Links to sources are needed. As for the facts, Barr did not (and could not) order anyone to drop the case, because the Manhattan DA does not work for Barr. Manhattan DA is an elected office, beholden to New York voters. Nor did Vance drop the case, he worked on it for three years and then handed it off to Bragg when Vance’s term ended. Vance’s Grand Jury adjourned in 2022 without delivering an indictment. Bragg wanted to drop the case when he took over because he felt it was weak, but faced intense political pressure to continue. He assembled a new Grand Jury, whose results are about to be revealed. Here are my links.
There's a page in the newspaper for this kind of journalism; it's called the opinion page. That reporter in Lusaka aimed a fat pitch at Harris, hoping for front page headlines. She took the base on balls, then the Zambian president hit it out of the park.
Because it is Saturday and I am feeling puckish: Peter, it is actually "Oyez! Oyez!" (pronounced as in French--which it is, sort of. It's a Latin-French hybrid) Oyer means "to hear" in medieval Norman French and the translation of it into "Hear ye!" and, eventually, "hear, hear" comes from a legal system of investigations called "inquisitions of oyer and terminer"--investigations to hear and determine (wrongdoing in the countryside) that were invented in the 13th century by Edward I, who was dealing with the cleanup following the civil wars from 1258 to 1265, during his father's reign. To this day, "Oyer" or its 2nd-person plural, "Oyez," is used to announce the opening of a court of law because it is a process of "hearing and determining." I can also tell you that the descriptions of the reports of the commissions of oyer and terminer are often very entertaining, indeed. They appear on the dorse (the back side) of the Rolls of Letters Patent--which have been abstracted in English and are widely available in British History Online (part of their free access collection). Medieval Brits knew how to put the fun in dysfunctional.
I love this, Linda! It’s done a bit differently in Oregon (at the Circuit Court level). One of my favorite things to watch was when the new law clerks* got to call the court to order, and the expressions on their faces at the power (and yes, majesty) of that moment: as the judge walks in “All rise! The Circuit Court of the State of Oregon is now in session, the Honorable <Judge’s full name> presiding. After the judge sits, “Be seated”.
The law clerks are L2 or L3 law school students who get a first hand look at how the courts really work. During my 35 years at the county, at least 3 judges were former law clerks.
Oyez is still used in the UK to call the court to order. Basically, it means "Listen up, dudes!" Medieval English common law courts had between three and five justices sitting at the same time, with their clerks, who maintained the court transcriptions, sitting below them. The records of the central and assize courts (the latter were itinerant courts that heard pleas in the counties three times a year; the central courts maintained four sessions per year at Westminster--and there were three of them: the King's Bench, the Court of Common Pleas, and the Court of Exchequer of Pleas) were maintained for each individual justice, with an additional document, called the Rex Roll, which was the official record of litigation. It was a remarkable system, invented originally by Henry II in the 12th century but expanded hugely by John and his son, Henry III. It's one reason why British medieval social history is so rich: records of civil and criminal litigation going on from the late 12th century to the 17th century were maintained in LATIN (even though the cases were pled first in French and then in English) and have survived almost completely for England. Edward III changed the local assizes so that they were administered more directly (these were the Justices of the Peace he invented in the 1360s) but the obsession with record keeping never changed. There was another series of "justiciary" records that was complete for Ireland from the first invasion of 1170 to the 20th century but it was destroyed in the Four Courts Fire in 1922 during the War of Independence. Similarly, the Normans in Sicily and Southern Italy established justiciary courts (set up under consultation with the Normans in England) whose records were maintained until the unification of Italy in 1870--and the Nazis, retreating through southern Italy, destroyed them all when they torched the Neapolitan Archives in 1945. France and the rest of the Continent had nothing like these centralized records, because the legal systems were localized. And many of the local and provincial archives in France were destroyed during the French Revolution. One reason why being an historian of medieval Britain (especially of women and gender--the ladies pop up all over the place!) is both a lot of fun and a huge amount of work: we have documentary evidence no one else has.
Linda, whatever the historical basis of Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! (Attention. Now hear this...), it is entirely different from the modern use of Hear! Hear! expressing agreement with something said. Many people who don't understand the origins (either of them) tend to write "Here! Here!"
"Oyez (interj.) a call for silence and attention; the introduction to a proclamation made by an officer of a law-court," early 15c., from Anglo-French oyez "hear ye!" (late 13c., Old French oiez), a cry uttered (usually thrice) to call attention" https://www.etymonline.com/word/oyez
WSJ is just Rupert’s claim to be a “journalist.” Not as bad as fox, but his ego trip just the same. I was so distressed when he bought it. He has not disappointed.
In the Dominion case against FOX, Judge Davis' 80 page ruling means Jurors will be instructed FOX's statements are false as matter of law-of-the-case dramatically simplifying the Trial. Any rational commercial defendant would settle the case no matter the cost of settlement.
As a litigator, I relished actions against banks because as a group banks were good at evaluating severe risk.
Bryan, the Dominion suit against Fox is of enormous importance for the widespread consequences of the trial which begins 4/17. Even in the midst of everything else that's happened this week, the ruling of Judge Davis deserves limelight. Thanks for your explanation.
Brian, I hope there will be some way for people like me to hear about your analysis. On your “best three” point, are you talking about a submission to the trial judge by Dominion or by the defendant? On the point about a rational defendant settling, do you think Murdoch will settle before trial? Surely he must be rational, whatever else he might be. Or might he think capitulation to Dominion would cost him a significant fraction of FNC’s viewers? Might he (rationally) find that cost unacceptable?
Rex, I am not sure my lengthy response made it back to you. In short, Rupert is a seasoned combatant from much tougher UK defamation law battles.
Rupert has both primary & excess liability insurance. Regardless, Rupert has the assets to evaluate his income from multiple sales outlets vs the potential existential damage.
Given the devastating Judge's pre-trial ruling, now is the time to settle. But, any settlement agreement could be revealed by a trial subpoena subject to the law of New York or Georgia.
There were many, many reasons to settle today not the least of which were a series of Trial Judge Orders this morning before settlement: 1st the Judge seated the jury after designating a full 12 alternates; the Judge appointed a "Special Master" to further look into Fox's "spoiliation" of evidence, the Judge also gave each side each side another juror challenge today (thus, eliminating an appellate issue). I have much respect for Judge Davis who tightly controlled his Courtroom.
Oh Wowser ! Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema "....constitutions, bedrock law. ~ ... laws, other regulations create a platform or framework around which we agreed, either as Americans or as Zambians, to govern ourselves." > An elected leader of a fledgling democracy 'gets it' ! A fitting example that convinces me further, that this criminal cabal undermining the faith and trust in our democracy is 'Not' innocently stupid, ... er, uneducated; followers may be, but not the leadership and financial enablers: they (leadership and money) are mounting a full on, well planned out / funded, intentional assault, with destruction as their goal.
Great summarization, Dr. Richardson. The Summit for Democracy is excellent. The only oddity I noted was the freedom of the press. Our press and media in America is not free as they are under the thumb of wealthy autocrats who interpret the news as it suits their goals. Out press is free from government interference that exists in countries like Russia, China, Hungary and other dictatorships, but the freedom in the US is limited by the ownership oligarchy.
I find it astounding that Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema seems to understand the rule of law better than our current chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and several of his Republican colleagues.
I'm afraid we've got a bumpy road up ahead.
President Hichilema summarized fundamentals that any member of a democratic society should know, though it is refreshing to hear it clearly articulated now and again. A member of Congress should know it backwards and forward.
They do know it well enough. The rule of law in their opinions must bend and change according to their whims and needs. They have no use for democracy whatsoever. Witness the latest manifestation of corrupting the Floridian justice system to enable DeSantis to retain his political office while seeking the presidency. If that doesn’t spell out clearly the danger of radical political espionage to the country as a whole then Chicken Little was correct in her assessment that “the sky is falling.” Out here in the hinterlands of the nation we bluntly call that “shitting a little close to the house.” I don’t find that tolerable. Not even in a state as tits up as Idaho. Out here the sheer beauty slaps you in the face yet people drop their pants and stink it up to high Heaven. I can only imagine the odor in Florida! What the hell are you people thinking?
Very well put, Pat. And then there is the greater Idaho movement here in Oregon. If they don't get their way, then the pols here in Salem are not listening to them. Whining is what they do well as well as making a supreme effort, as you have noted, to destroy the environment that sustains them.
I lived for about 5 years in Curry county. We fished logged milked cows cut Christmas trees worked at the plywood mill mostly sustained by extractive industry. That is a geographically isolated area. When it wasn’t dumping 125 inches of rain, the wind blew off the ocean at 60. I lived at the Knapp ranch on the ocean front just by Cape Blanco. We had 5 days a year of fairy tale weather. The people rarely looked in the direction of Salem until industry matured and extraction took its inevitable toll. With all their toys gone the people began to disappear as well. Our youth sought other environs. To say Oregon is conflicted is understating. Education is still Oregon’s best known characteristic. Having been schooled in Mt. Utah, Colorado, SouthDakota, Wyoming, and Oregon I think your state has a large margin of victory. We always said that might cause dismay among those who prefer ignorance.
When we visited Cape Blanco, it was shrouded in fog....couldn't see a thing. Got a flat in the middle of nowhere on 101 in the rain, but did get help from someone coming out of the road we had pulled into. We went back to a small place with an incredible junkyard and he fixed the tire, so we could get back to Florence. I would say that in comparison to the states you mention, we do well in education although you wouldn't know it by the constant complaints about it. Already the new super for the Salem Keizer school district is being dissed as being too woke as she believes in inclusiveness. She begins the job in the summer.
"Ignorance is bliss"., There are millions of bliss-filled morons in the U.S. To learn properly takes commitment and work. For too many, being in the know is far too demanding. Their ignorance makes them hostile to the world around them.
It’s kinda like sitting on an anthill. Stirring em up is not too advantageous. Best not. There may be some experts who think they can do it.
I’ve been to Cape Blanco Lighthouse several times; and had both clear days and foggy days; my admiration for having worked on that ranch!
Ally we were south on the mouth of Elk River. I have to admit trading the blizzards of Montana and Wyoming for the Sandstorms of Oregon was about a trade off. Being in a30 foot boat in 50 foot waves was actually more fun than riding bucking horses. I left a huge chunk of heart on The Knapp Ranch. Harold and Mary and Mike and David and Carol Ann and Mary2. Salt of the earth. Should mention Ken too as he ran off with Carol Ann.
Eastern Washington periodically tries to merge with the Idaho panhandle. There's a lot of red in this part of the state. And we have the same whining. (And Cathy McMorris Rodgers for our rep.....ugh)
Hey hey!!! Having grown up in a kinder, gentler Idaho I am pleased to hear there are still great people living there. Pat, you made my day! Thank you.🤗🦋🌈
Idaho has great people even my relatives aren’t too bad. You know how it is. You don’t talk politics or religion here and everyone will put up with you.
Well, heck, Pat, the no politics or religion issue works the same here in NYS - has since 2016, anyhow.
I liked NYS. Spent some time trying to freeze to death at Ft. Drum one winter. Bear hunters as I recall. Twenty two below zero. Yer right. No politics no religion just a bunch of tough people. Had to go back to Montana to warm up. Famous smokejumper Steve Stutzbach was from NYS. Charming man, tough, good with his fists. If death didn’t get ya dynamite did. He stood up.
I like their potatoes!
Me too! Best potatoes for baking!🤪
And, tasty!!
There’s a lot of good people everywhere. The need is to establish what’s good for the whole, and work the best with the marginalized/mentally ill/lower functioning, and the rich. The balances are sometimes delicate. From the get-go coming to this country and colonizing we see where much had to change , by now we should have grasped the principles and set in place what works best for the whole. The most important aspects -water, food, housing, medical care, security all need an understanding how to respect. Water needs kept clean ,food needs good agricultural practices, housing needs solid construction - environmentally designed for endurance, medical care needs to be available to all ,security doesn’t mean enough bombs to eradicate the human race, and education is key to let potential develop and sustain even greater progress. We certainly know irradiating a certain country, race, or population isn’t an answer .Yet, over and over this has been done, is being done.
The American (or whosever )Dream seems to be get rich...so what is enough? Beyond that the wealth dispersed to provide for the ALL. Greed and power -how to identify- how to reign in the abuse of it- what defines THAT?
Everyone is perfectly aware climate change is happening. Whether it’s a cycle or a result of_ _ _ _ ....you can’t pollute the water, cut most of the trees, eat only junk food, or keep extracting when the supply is gone.
Got to be a lot of BALANCES agreed upon .
As Joyce marvelously says: ‘We’re all in this together.’
Nicely done!
And good discussion, especially for a New Englander to read.
The only other Pat Cole I know is the Pat Kole I met in the nursery when he arrived a couple hours after I was born. Our parents later became good friends. Pat later became an attorney and chief Idaho potato spokesman and promoter!
I did reside in Michigan from time to time. I always put up at Charlie’s Country Corner off I-75 at Greyling. I loved Michigan except for its scolds er cold wind.
Across the highway from Kirtland Community College! I live closer to Traverse City, but covered all of northern Michigan in my work. Through lots of scolds!
I find it astounding that most high school civics students "understand the rule of law better than our current chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and several of his Republican colleagues." I don't understand why it would be astounding to anyone that an intelligent, eloquent, democratically elected leader of an African country would not be expected to have a thorough understanding of the rule of law.
I am afraid we don’t teach civics & government as effectively as we should.
My wife & I are well educated. We have over our life times been members via volunteering and elections to many organizations, school board, town board and now officers in our town and county political party organizations. Every opportunity & responsibility is a learning experience that we were never taught about in K-12 nor college. Though I did take political science.
All of our community work mentioned above, has been “political” in the sense of working with people. Some of whom were driven by personal ambition, rigid ideology, and belief systems that affected if not impeded our organization’s work. But in practical terms, our work has been about accomplishing the “business” of operating a school, town, library, farmers market, a local economy, and providing good candidates to be elected to also do this “business”. No school other than my general high quality education prepared us for this. I think we could have had much better education in terms of the specifics “why” and “how” of government and community organizations, and their operations.
Even with my experience, I could not rise above our political discourse and put the relationships of law, people and government into such succinct words as President Hichilema. As a nation and people, we must learn to do this to make our government and our personal responsibility towards government more useful and effective.
I’m a high school teacher. We haven’t stopped teaching civics. I don’t know why so many people think we have. Maybe because Republican voters are so belligerently ignorant about civics? People choose ignorance, often, even when they were taught well. Republican voters who shout about the Constitution are very selective of the parts they like, and those they ignore. For example, the First Amendment is clear in its ban of government promotion of religion. Yet Republicans find ways to ignore that and make bogus claims that “the Founders created America as a Christian nation”. We didn’t teach them that, they adopted it after high school. I don’t know if they believe such BS, or if they’re just spouting it to support their worldview.
Glad to hear that you teach it, but there are places where it is not taught anymore. I think it is intentional dumbing down for control by the corrupted party that has been planning authoritarian rule for decades.
As of three years ago (February 2020), 11 states reportedly had no civics requirements: Alaska, Delaware, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Requirements are coming back in MA (where I live), and I hope in other states, but I think you'll agree that DE, ME, MA, NJ, OR, RI, and VT are not right-wing strongholds.
We need to stop spreading misinformation about public education. Most of the states you mention teach civics, but don’t call it that. Their Social Studies curricula cover American history, the Constitution, the structure of government, the workings of the executive, judicial and legislative branches, etc. I’m not going to bother googling all of them, but here are the links for Vermont.
https://vtdigger.org/2021/02/02/a-civics-graduation-requirement-vermont-already-kind-of-has-one/
https://education.vermont.gov/sites/aoe/files/documents/edu-proficiency-based-education-global-citizenship-social-studies.pdf (scroll down to pages 4 & 5).
States without Civics Course requirements may not be right wing, but notice that in each election there are a surprisingly large number who vote for the right wing agenda. [I am alert to the knowledge that 75 million people voted for Trump...]
Do you really think local schoolboards 20 years ago were secret political operatives? Seriously?
Do I think local school boards had their own agenda 20 years ago
In 2003?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_of_school_curricula_in_the_United_States
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitzmiller_v._Dover_Area_School_District
Then there's Ralph Reed:
" "I would rather have a thousand school board members than one president and no school board members,” Ralph Reed, the former leader of the Christian Coalition, said in a 1996 NewsHour interview, arguing that conservative Christians needed to expand local, grassroots organizing in order to raise money, turn out voters and promote their ideals at a time when the U.S. Supreme Court was reinforcing a ban on school prayer and reaffirming abortion rights."
School boards were hijacked a long time ago.
Absurd to think that either there’s been a dumbing down or that it’s intentional.
That's conspiratorial thinking. Let's leave that to QAnon and stay focused. School curricula change all the time and there's nothing nefarious about it. Look what happened to Latin classes, homemaking (I had cooking and sewing lessons, while the boys got to make things out of wood in Shop class), etc. Of course, I'm not talking about the Republicans shutting down teaching about racial discrimination and black history, which is newly rejuvenated from the bowels of Jim Crow history. My point is that there was no federal government decision to end Civics instruction in public schools. Until recently, school district budgets determined which classes were eliminated.
It does seem that many conservatives want to stop funding public education, and that they are afraid of teaching anything to their children that might actually make them learn to think.
Maybe the problem has more to do with understanding English. The conservative wing of the Supreme Court fails to understand the complexities icontained in the phrases "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof..." or "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State..."
John R., where are you? As of February 2020, 11 states reportedly had no civics requirement. As noted below, most of them were not Republican-dominated states; in fact, one of them was Massachusetts, where I live. Civics *could* be taught, but it wasn't required. Civics requirements are making a comeback here and I hope in other places.
Ever since the February 2018 killings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS in Florida, I've been impressed by the eloquence and persistence of several of the survivors. At the time they gave credit to both the government courses and the theater program at their school. I can't think of a better argument for including both in any high school curriculum.
I’m in NH. Just because states don’t call it “civics” doesn’t mean they’re not teaching what we mean by “civics”. Many states label it Social Studies, but they still cover everything we consider “civics”. See my post about 4-5 up for specifics (don’t want to repeat myself here).
selective like progressive christians who use parts of holy scripture to promote what God likely never intended. feelings over truth!
have you discovered beth felker jones , practicing christian doctrine? theology professor n illinois, previously wheaton? new edition out in july. she's on substack too. i am a witness to progressive christians pushing us beyond God's truth. cancel culture being experienced.
i cannot speak to today's Commonwealth of VA's curriculum but back in my day US/VA government was taught and passing it was required for graduation. Those who failed did not march for diploma.
It is easier to be choose ignorance than to choose the harder path of greater knowledge.
I'm a teacher too. If students haven't learned, then we haven't taught. Civics is the study of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. Are we teaching it at a young enough age and bringing it into every subject every year, not just a unit in it? Are we teaching from a book or lectures only, rather than acting it out and encouraging creativity in identifying problems and looking for ways to solve them?
I-search papers were a great way of citing a problem and seeking solutions. cooperative learning enabled everyone to participate and learn. reporting back from state legislatures, local government meetings, engaging in community services projects, reading several points of view, reading a variety of newspapers. never advocated for talking heads on cable tv.
Okay, I give up. The teachers are to blame. For MAGA, for Trump, for DeSantis, for Marjorie Taylor Greene. If there are ignorant voters anywhere, it’s the fault of teachers. I hope that makes everybody feel better.
I don't think anyone said that. Certified teachers are but one important resource that we have for educating the population. Children learn from many sources. Some states do it better than others. Some parents do it better than others. Some religious leaders do it better than others. It is a good thing that there are many resources.
Great comment, Nancy Jane. Applying it to the real world -- meaning the student's own world -- is key. And I'm guessing that in most communities there are people doing the work who would make great guest speakers and/or mentors for students doing independent projects.
Taking into serious consideration what may be in store for 24' it's my observation that politicians (of all bents) are fearful of letting their true positions be known. The ones harboring good intentions being quiet about them in the hope of getting elected and being able to counter some of this lunacy. Others, leeches if you will, seek only to curry favor with their lunatic pilot fish and the corporate sugar-daddies. We are right to fear fascism, but I would fear the blanket of Communism even more. A society that cultures telling on ones neighbor to cover ones own rear-end, the real fear being the R-word: Retribution.
What state do you teach civics class please?
Thanks also. Well said ❤️
Yes, in 2020, a friend who lives in Hawaii asked a 20 -somthing year-old grocery store clerk if she was going to vote in the upcoming presidential election. She said no. My friend asked why. The clerk said because the president is apppointed. My friend asked if she had ever had a civics or government course in high school and she asked, what is that?
After the 2020 election a lot of people believed the president was appointed. Or perhaps anointed. Including TFG. what are young people to believe when their first election is corrupt? It’s a tragedy to live in red states or anywhere that make teaching the Truth a crime.
Thank you and your wife for wonderful dedication , we are ALL teachers, and need to be.
Greatest examples are those that lead with loving service. Body language is a wonderfully silent teacher but noticed by intuition far more than words spoken . Animals are keen to take note ( their carriage is a lesson too). The noise makers get headlines only because it sells faster , but the long distance run is consistency ,patience, a GOOD example lived. People shout ...why don’t [we]the Dems defend themselves /shout back? It’s our track record, it’s the non verbal cues of patience and forbearance, it’s the get-er-done pace slow and steady...said the turtle 😉
I totally agree with you. Why did American education stop teaching civics? It should be a required course with a final exam.
Thank you for your educated -- and through extensive experience -- eloquence, David. I completely agree with you. Have you and your spouse considered making presentations to your local high schools' civics classes sharing exactly what you shared with us? That would be a great gift to democracy, indeed!
Don't blame the teachers . . .
It’s not the teachers. It’s the curriculum and culture. Our culture tends to expect elected and volunteer officials to “take care” of everything while we all go about our own personal business. We outsource everything. Individual self interest is sold as our principal purpose. Cooperation is in a category with “socialism” both of which play an important role in governing and democracy.
Who is blaming teachers?
Having lived in Southern Africa during the period of the original formation of Zambia (originally Northern Rhodesia), we have maintained an interest in Zambia’s historic and political time-line. So while not surprised at the eloquence of President Hakainde Hichilema’s words, I was and remain very moved by the promise of a very decent future for the Zambians contained in his very dignified statement.
Dan During WW II Ho Chi Minh (later North Vietnam leader) would discuss our constitution and Declaration of Independence with OSS operatives with him. He could have given the Republican roustabouts a lesson in American civics.
Ho Chi Minh asked for our help. He was turned down. He was not thrilled with the communists. American foreign policy dropped the ball. Historically you may recall French Indo-China. The irony and tragedy was enacted in the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954 when the Viet Minh ousted the French colonialists. What could have been diplomacy with Allies turned into confrontation becoming eventually the Viet Nam war. Yes Ho Chi Minh could very much have given lessons on the American politic, but instead we have the black wall. Leadership failed us at the highest level. We simply cannot entertain any more clowns in government.
Pat Some of the Americans associated with Ho during and just after WW II were later drummed out of American government for their ‘communist’ tendencies.
Ho sought to get a hearing at the post-WW I peace negotiations. Ignored, in frustration he joined the French Communist Party. Ho, Ho, Ho.
At Dien Bien Phu, where the French were trapped by the Vietnam Minh who amazingly located artillery on the surrounding hills, the CIA was providing air support to the French until the final moments.
An historical insight: during the American revolution the same surprise happened to the Brits in Boston. Alexander Knox, a book dealer turned artillery expert, dragged cannon from Ticonderoga hundreds of miles to a hill overlooking Boston. The Brits were amazed-‘impossible’-and were forced to abandon Boston.
This was the same Knox who provided artillery to the Battle of. Trenton, where, in Washington’s Hail Mary, 900 Hessians were captured and the Americans suffered no deaths. Artillery was essential in this battle.
On a boat transporting fat Knox across the Delaware River to Trenton, Washington joshed him ‘Move your fat ass or you’ll swamp’ the boat. Soldiers appreciated this, not not Knox, who became War. Secretary in Washington’s first cabinet.
It is my understanding via an American operative in China (Weaver) before during and after WWII who worked closely with HCM that his attempts to be taken seriously were deflected by the state department and that they never considered him to be a player. As a result of that stonewalling his option was to seek the backing of the communists. His objective had not wavered in trying to oust the French. He did oust the French. American politicians dropped the ball cold turkey. The mess laid at their door was self inflicted . Entirely. On my return from Viet Nam Mr. Weaver and I had long talks about the politics which led to my war. He knew the players.
Pat this was the aftermath of the ‘loss of China,’ the false dominos theory, and our Cold War desire to placate France in Europe. I believe that Algeria was festering at this time.
Keith, you might want to edit your second paragraph above to "WW II" and not "WW I".
Somewhere, sometime ago, I read about the amazing 'impossible' transport of cannons from Ft. Ticonderoga to Boston. Human ingenuity at its finest.
Judith The Versailles Peace Conference where Ho was snubbed was after WWi in 1919. Wilson was a major snubber, despite his self-determination pronouncements.
The current chairman of the House Judiciary Committee doesn’t understand the rule of law, because he doesn’t want to understand the rule of law. He wants power.
Bill Perhaps we have to speak with these dodos in language they understand. Using their vocabulary, simply shout LOCK HIM UP!
LOL!
What a ridiculous post?
I laugh every time some sanctimonious leftist gets on TV and no one is above the rule of law.
What rule of law?
The FEC, DOJ, The former DA, and even Bragg initially declined bringing charges against Trump.
Why? Because there was no case.
Bragg got bullied into it and what is his case?
An expired misdemeanor bootstrapped to a federal crime.
Bragg invented a crime. He is trying to use a misdemeanor (who's statue of limitations has expired) and bootstrapped to a federal election violation (where he has no jurisdiction)
Add the DOJ tried prosecute John Edwards for a similar action and lost. In Edwards case
he used campaign funds to pay his mistress.
In this case Trump paid personal funds to Daniels.
This is not a crime. NDA's happen all the time.
THERE IS NO CRIME HERE
Unless you sat on the grand jury you have no idea of what crimes he‘s being charged with. Obviously the citizens on the grand jury felt crimes were committed.
Every heard the expression - A DA could indict a ham sandwich?
Its a joke.
Kenneth,
It is no surprise to me, at all, that a black man in Africa understands better, and values more, the rule of law than a white man in our Congress here in the USA.
Not even slightly surprising to me actually. One need look no further than Angola prison in Louisiana to know how the rule of law is applied in the United States in reality.
Thank you, Mike. I was too busy choking on my coffee to respond intelligently to his comment on finding it "astounding" that the head of an African Country could understand the law so thoroughly.
What is astounding is that our Congress has no understanding of the rule of law! That's how I interpreted Kenneth's use of the word "astounding."
My interpretation is that it is appalling but not surprising that Jim Jordan seems to have no understanding of the rule of law.
They have enough kmowledge of the law to abuse it.
The whole Congress? I think not. Watch Raskin, Goldman, Lieu and other Democrats effectively rebut, shame and extinguish the MAGAs. The Democrats are prepared, aggressive and effective.
BUT (1) no one is watching or listening except those of us who are left with no joy in public affairs other than seeing the idiots exposed to just ridicule (Jamie Raskin is a hero!), and (2) the MAGAts can't be "shamed" because either they're *congenital* sociopaths or their mamas never inculcated a sense of shame, or a morality distinct from Ayn Rand's worship of selfish egoism and Maggie Thatcher's dictum that "[t]here is no such thing as society" to which any individual owes anything, to their formative personalities (*raised* to be sociopaths).
My pleasure and thank you.
Meacham nailed it - elemental...we're up against a class of mens' grill enablers...
Don't know anything about this Comment except John Meachan. What does it mean please. Thank you.
Mike S,
I thought that you might like to know about the woman you called a hooker and prostitute without any evidence for calling her such. The following is an article about Stormy Daniels that was published in The Washington Post yesterday.
'Who is Stormy Daniels, the adult-film star linked to Trump’s indictment?'
'This week Donald Trump became the first former president to be charged with a crime, after a grand jury in Manhattan voted to indict him late Thursday.'
'At the heart of the case the grand jurors had been hearing is evidence about a $130,000 payment made to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels during Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.'
'Here’s what to know about Daniels, and what she says happened with Trump.' (WAPO) Gifted link to the article is below.
https://wapo.st/3ZEgzTP
Mike, thanks for shining a light on this from a slightly different perspective. I took the statement at face value as commentary on the self-serving willful ignorance of Jordan et al. And willful ignorance it is; they know exactly what they're doing. It's their values that are found in the depths of their stinking, overflowing toilets.
I’m pretty sure Gym Jordan and his thugs understand the Rule of Law: they choose, CHOOSE to ignore it. The road may be a little bumpy at the moment, but the repair crew is hard at work
Well said. Jordan purposely uses his position as a legislator to demand perceived “perks”. His stance is that of a bully; no limits for him; but the Other Guy? Watch out.
yes, the assume and rightly that their constituents mostly do not understand or care about the rule of law
Trump specifically stated that he loves the uneducated. (easier to control and brainwash).
So disturbing that many in the repub party may say they hate what their party is doing to take this country down, but in the end say they’re voting republican. I think logic is just a word in the dictionary for many people.
But, but (clutch pearls) SOCIALISM! Gullible fools.
Yes, socialism but increase my medicare and social security you promised. And why are my meds so expensive ? Plus why aren't you fixing the potholes on my street. My taxes, right? And my schools. And..
And choose to abuse it.
Jim Jordan understands the rule of law, but he is a criminal who wants to break the rule of law for his own benefit and gain. If you think of him as a criminal, rather than an honest but misguided or stupid politician, his actions are not “astounding”, but predictable. The astounding thing is that the media, law enforcement, the voters of his state, and the institution he seeks to corrupt, all continue to go along with the fiction that he is a politician, rather than a criminal.
Yes Gym has criminal instincts, certainly...but he also has all the brains of a box of rocks.
Oh! Please don't insult rocks like that! ; )
They are literally some the original building blocks of civilization. Couldn't have the Pyramids at Giza without rocks! But nothing of import will fall down if Jim Jordan and his kind just disappear!
I meant no insult to rocks, so I offer them my sincerest apologies! My best friend is a geologist, and we love rocks. It's true, rocks are far better and more useful than Gymmie.
😆😁
I think it's more complicated than that. For some reason that I cannot put my finger on, people like Gym Jordan abhor the liberal world view from top to bottom. He hates it so much that in his mind he can justify nearly anything to fight it. His mind is so made up that it twists wrongdoing into right-doing. He cannot tell up from down and down from up, he is so overwhelmed by this hatred. He actually believes that the Bragg thing is literally an activist lefty DA who hates Trump and is going after him solely to sink his re-election chances. And using the rule of law to do it. If you thought that way, you might do the same thing. After all, alot of our "founding fathers" decided to revolt against the country they were citizens of, and thought the reasons were good. It was literally treason in the minds and laws of the English. I have zero sympathy for Jordan and his ilk. Their world view is absolutely toxic. But when you have such a world view, you do things like that.
(Jay),
I have seen Mr. Jordan get caught off guard by reporters. I don't think he believes that stuff at all. It's as phoney as his rolled up sleeves. It's performance art.
“His mind is so made up that it twists wrongdoing into right-doing”
Again, I implore that Jordan’s deplorability has absolutely nothing to do with his mind, but everything to do with his lack of a heart. How do you explain his looking away while the youth in his flock were sexually preyed upon by power?
I am strongly in favor of recognizing and verbalizing the malevolence in our midst. These monsters are not dumb!! They know very very well what they are doing!!
https://www.karnacbooks.com/product/born-for-love-why-empathy-is-essential-and-endangered/32507/
james wheaton (Jay) my opinion for what it is worth is the following: I believe Gym Jordan and those like him sit around and think how "loud" can I be with whatever crazy idea I can come up with to get "media" attention! Unless they are stopped or ignored they will continue what they are currently doing. How many of the quieter ones holding like kind offices do we remember their names? Name recognition gets votes and keeps them in power. I am sure nearly everyone has heard the "loud ones" names and many people that vote have no clue how bad these people happen to be.
Jaye, I think you're getting to the nub of the matter. Having lived through 6+ decades of dramatic social change in the US, I believe that most "conservatives" were gradually more appalled by about a dozen of those changes. Limbaugh, Alex Jones, Fox news, etc. relentlessly propagandized them for 20 to 30 years, and created that hugely powerful mindset - The Victim. Now we have a furious and radicalized dominant arm of the Republican Party.
Since 2008, that group has developed a take-no-prisoners, ends-justify-the means mentality. In essence, they are now REVOLUTIONARIES willing to overthrow our government and much of our institutional life, as they try to remake America according to their fantasy.
Decades of propaganda and fury will do strange things to people's abilities to justify outragrous behavior. Many of us abhorred what we saw coming from those media liars over many years, but didn't want to believe it would lead to such radicals actually gaining power. We vainly hoped that they would stay on the "fringe". But here we are. ☹️
So, IMO, Step 1 has been, for 7 yrs., to recognize that this isn't a political battle. It's a destructive revolutionary mindset that must be seen exactly for what it is. DT, Jordan, Greene, DeSantis, Gaetz, etc. are just the point of the spear. They speak for tens of millions of deeply aggrieved Americans who lost their ability to support the rule of law.
Exactly. But astounding has positive connotations. I would use the word appalling.
It's not Jim Jordan's actions that I feel are astounding. I responded to Kenneth James' comments.
Kenneth Kaunda was the first president of Zambia 1964-1991. Unlike neighboring Zimbabwe and many other African countries, Kaunda lost his presidency in a democratic election in 1991.
I believe these Republicans understand the rule of law all too well--they are deliberately choosing to ignore and corrupt it.
Thank you Ann! I keep repeating over and over, it’s malice, not ignorance!! Part of asking the world to be honest is to call a spade a spade. Too many people calling tffg and his Congressional goons dumb. The goons know what they are doing and are intentionally doing it.
I'm not so sure they even understand.
Yes President HH of Zambia DOES know the ‘rule of law’ HEAR HEAR🙌 Yes, THEY certainly do have a bumpy road ahead...while we will stick to task at hand -that which involves huge amounts of America AND the worlds population, homelessness, housing shortages for the marginalized, medical costs/corruption and availability , daily gun deaths Tennessee btw has NO RED FLAG laws 🙁, and unfair tax laws ...to mention a few.
I think it's more a matter of not liking the rule of law than of not understanding it.
Of course the Republicans in Congress that are attacking Bragg understand the rule of law. They reject it, because it runs counter to their purposes. Which is retaining power and protecting Trump. If they can use their Congressional power to derail Bragg’s indictments, they will. Rule of law be damned.
Another ‘well said’ 🙌
Y’all going to get tired of me saying this often but WE CAN , we have to, we will 💙VOTE THE CLEAN SWEEP ! THE BLUE TSUNAMI💙 Vote them out of office ( and PS there are still some dang good Republicans in there, let’s put THEM in place of the MAGAs!
Though I believe many of them do "understand" the rule of law, I believe many of them don't.
The Black president of an African nation taking the white congressional chairs to school. Way to go!
What do you mean?
Jorden, Comer ...et al
Not what I was referring to. Look again at his comment.
If Ray didn't understand you, then neither do I.
It’s more than that Jon. HH’s imprisonment and torture and mistreatment of his immediate family by the former president of Zambia makes him larger than life in dealing with delinquents like Jordan who willingly abuse power. His ability to speak well against those who denigrate the laws comes from real experience. What I particularly liked was his empathetic leadership.
This is the very best, well informed response of all. Thank you.
Please, don't be so astounded. Let us acknowledge the way in which Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema responds to the Wall Street Journal reporter who showed interest in eliciting a response from our VP, Kamala Harris, when our P, Joe Biden, has made it clear we will not chime in and "opinionate"! Pretty sophisticated.
Astonishing and frightening, is it not, that a "black" man would be so much more sophisticated and cogent than all those "white" men in the Republican House Judiciary Committee! The fleecing of the United States always finds an agent willing to destroy us.
One of the more confusing comments I've read on here today.
Unfortunately get the meaning of KW's comment all too clearly. Good Lord Ann. The casual racism running through so many comments today is unbelievable.
My comment is sarcasm. White nationalist Republicans are the rot in our country. I watched the video clip of the confrontation between Congressmen Bowman and Massie. Bowan brought sense and knowledge to that argument. Massie simply made himself yet another foolish Republican.
Still want to understand what is so confusing to Ann W.
The sarcasm didn't come through for me; thanks for clearing that up.
Oh gosh! I honestly didn't know. Thanks for the clarification. Now that I reread it in the light of your intent it is a really good commentary on some of the other comments. Thanks!
I don't know what is confusing to Ann.
When addressing a universal audience, subtlety is not a good idea. Be clear on what you mean and more will quickly join your challenges.
Far from a universal audience. One may expect intelligence and understanding of nuance, if anywhere, here in HCR-space. Not to put down AnnW; she asked, and appreciated the answer.
What is confusing and I will attempt to clarify. I did find one typo and corrected it. I could change "fleece" to "cheat".
Why would that be astounding?
It's no accident the GOP lies and distorts things constantly. It is part of their game plan.
I honestly believe that is the only way they get through life: Lies, deceptions, distortions, distractions and diversions. Their hollow promises, their shallow mentality and their uncultivated grasp of most of society make them a very dangerous species. Each is their own centerpiece of their tight and strangled world, with little room left for anyone else.
Astounding? Perhaps. I find it inspiring.
As always so informative. and tying all the threads together. It's democracy and the rule of law!
Thanks Heather for taking the time to truly inform us with the relevant facts and themes
Jon Meacham nailed it - elemental...mens' grill enablers...
Ray, could you be a little more specific with that reference?
Had to go find the song…thanks for the prompt!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkaKwXddT_I
Thanks for the link, Barbara...was playing it in my mind from BK's prompting.
Except for yet another insidious AD -inflicted from corporate America 🤦♀️ ...love the song Babara, thanks...seeing the voting numbers surge by these young people is wonderful. GO Z generation HAIL HAIL🙌 THEY have been taught, learned from our mistakes , and will TEACH their children (better).
Wow, BK. Wonderful that he is still going strong.
I agree re ‘what happens beyond our borders’ (or as some on the right mistakenly write, boarders!) is often lacking here. Not only does it leave huge gaps in our knowledge about how other democracies operate, but it also supports the false narrative of American exceptionalism. If we as Americans don’t follow news beyond our shores, we assume that we are “the one and only” - the shining city on the hill. To me, this narrative leads easily to the increasing intolerance of “the other” - automatically labeling most immigrants as “illegal”.
Not sure what media you follow, but the MSM have been reporting on the 2nd Summit for Democracy.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/28/us/politics/biden-democracy-summit.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/03/30/biden-democracy-summit-countries-invited/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/03/29/summit-for-democracy-biden-critics/
https://www.npr.org/2023/03/28/1166422842/democracy-summit-us-linda-thomas-greenfield
etc…
I really don't count those two when I think of MSM. I think mostly of television news and worse, such as scripted talk shows designed to 'splain it down to us dummies
I tried Apple News+ for a while, but didn’t like it for the reason you mention, as well as the fact that “supported” publications only provide a limited list of their full publication. I switched to Newsify, which is much more “ecumenical”. I can read my NYT and WaPo there, along with many other news feeds. I’ve customized it to what I want to see over the past year. And it’s cheaper than Apple News.
Yes -- instead we get endless hours of idle (and poorly informed) speculation about trump. After a couple attempts to get news on CNN yesterday, we finally turned it off. This would have been actual "news you can use," as we used to say in the biz many years ago.
I remember my youngest singing this in his 3rd grade school choir...those earnest little faces and clear voices!
How refreshing your letter today, Heather, after hours of nothing but the big I all day which I mostly turned off. I was even going to propose tonight that someone start a media news channel called The Other News since most of the oxygen goes to the easy, "sensational" story. The world is more than MAGA politics! Thank you for putting your oxygen into the Summit for Democracy, Leslie Dubeck's fabulous letter basically reminding the MAGA Congressmen of States Rights, and Vice President Harris's Africa tour. Thank you.
Ditto all points made Cathy ! I've launched my own criticisms in that regard to every local broadcaster in my area, and ignored the influencer troll comments.
I just sent this feedback to MSNBC news:
Dear MSNBC, Do you cover the major stories of the day or just one blasted distraction from the former guy? I am SICK of hearing every little detail over and over again about the Indictment! I am turning MSNBC OFF when I hear the I-word or the T-word. And, will definitely keep MSNBC off ALL DAY on Tuesday.
Where is the OTHER NEWS of the day? Like I heard nothing from MSNBC on the Summit of Democracy! Or on Vice President Harris’s trip to Africa.
I don’t understand with all the weather catastrophes you aren’t / can’t say the words climate change. Actually, I would suggest you use CLIMATE STABILIZATION. I would suggest you start getting serious about the climate catastrophe and the politics around it. EVERY DAY!!
And what about everyone’s RIGHTS especially WOMEN’S REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS and LGBTQ RIGHTS. Do you really understand how deeply angry women are on the anti-abortion, forced pregnancy stupidity and one group’s theocracy being shoved up our uteruses!
I would suggest that each of your commentators have a bit different emphasis rather than repeating each other hour after hour after hour. I like Jose Diaz-Balart because he covers more than Washington and brings a broader perspective to topics like immigration. I like Andrea Mitchell because she brings in foreign affairs. Ari Melber is the legal beagle of your team and where I do listen to the legal in’s and out’s. Lawrence O’Donnell has incredible guests and is the best at the political news of Washington. On the weekends I like to watch Rev. Sharpton who calls it like he sees it especially on race inequities.
Or better yet, do five minutes of news (not comment or opinion) at the beginning of each hour where you can mention for two sentences what is going on with DT and get it over with for the hour. I am SICK of photos of DT. I cannot stand to look at him. Please tell the people picking the photos to be more creative about not showing DT.
Please practice POSITIVE JOURNALISM and talk about solutions being proposed for each issue you bring up. Start with CLIMATE STABILIZATION. Like how farmers would have better higher yield crops if they put carbon back into the soil.
Just get the balance right. DT is not the ONLY STORY. It the easy, “sensation”, negative to get us fearful and divided. STOP being an enabler of all that is wrong with our politics right now. Even though our brains give negative things attention as a survival mechanism, the real winner over time is the promise and hope of a positive future. Long term rating growth if you have to boil it down to that!!
Thank you for listening. Now I’ll go continue to not listen until you make some positive changes!
Love this so much, Cathy.
First, I am so humbled and proud to have made your acquaintance, even such as this is ! Proud, honored and damned proud. Thank you for putting the 'A' in action (all the other letters through 'z' as well - lol). I've done this as well, and to all local broadcasters too. Thank you, thank you ~ Separately, an odd'ish question. I've been to wonderful Texas; most recently my adult daughters visited for a couple weeks. When I was last there in the mid '70's, a dearest companion of mine and I chanced to meet a grand lady on the Riverwalk one evening in November, who just happened to be renown as the 'Yellow Rose of Texas'. We all hit it off as though we were all long time dear friends. She invited and we accepted a trip to her mansion; I believe I have photo's of her and a shot or so of her splendid abode. I doubt she's still among as, as she was quite old at that time. Yet young enough of heart to befriend two young bucks far away from home and 'relate' with us on current events and adventures. She was awesome personally, and what she seemed well known to represent. Indelible impression in my heart and mind. Bravo sister !
D4N Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words. What a wonderful experience you had with the grand lady on the Riverwalk. So glad to meet a kindred spirit in action. Time for all of us to take action and speak up! We, the People, ALL of us this time!
So great, Cathy, and so very needed!
As a child, I remember the blaring headlines and television criticisms of President Richard Nixon when he made an offhand remark, probably in line with the view of most Americans, that Charles Manson was guilty prior to the jury returning its verdict. Virtually the entire political universe was in alignment criticizing Nixon for interfering and politicizing the criminal justice process and jury deliberations in such a manner. Nixon apologized and never raised the issue again.
In stark contrast, the Seditionist Sociopath and in fact the entire Trump Crime Family seems to be caterwauling from whatever sordid pulpit they can find, comparing the "animal" Alvin Bragg to Pol Pot and Stalin. All for doing the job that he was elected to do, i.e., seek to criminally prosecute those within his jurisdiction that his office, in the exercise of their professional discretion, deemed to be in violation of the law. All before the indictments are even unsealed.
While I and many others feel that Bragg's case (and certainly Fani Willis' and Jack Smith's) is righteous, none of us know this with certainty, as we have not seen all of the admissible evidence, and heard all of the reasonable defenses. Feeling that a case should not be brought is perfectly acceptable. Yet deriding the dignity and calling down harm upon the prosecutor for bringing that case, well that's not only un-American, unlawful and dangerous (particularly in light of 01/06/21) but it is downright fascistic.
I hope that Bragg gets a gag order against Trump and his coterie once the plea is entered.
Finally, Ms. Dubeck is spot on in lacerating the worst dressed man in Congress, Jim Jordan, for his dereliction of his duties and his flagrant violation of both the sovereignty of the State of New York and the constitutional concept of separation of powers.
"Jim Jordan, for his dereliction of his duties and his flagrant violation of both the sovereignty of the State of New York and the constitutional concept of separation of powers. "
Corrupt as hell.
Ms. Dubeck did a great job telling those little boys to sit down and be quiet.
Yes. I applaud my fellow female human!
I agree. And I’m heartened by the dawning realization that when the hammer comes down, it won’t be a single one. There is a multitude of people working in the justice system, most of whom we have never heard of, who are affronted more personally than we are at the histrionics and overreach of Jordan et al. They *work* in American justice and are scandalized. Then they exert whatever voice they have (and some are very powerful) to buttress the labors of the legal system.
This is going to get increasingly uncomfortable for Trump and his frat boys. Democracy can be slow to awake, but when engaged and prepared, it can be fearsome.
"Ms. Dubeck is spot on in lacerating the worst dressed man in Congress, Jim Jordan, for his dereliction of his duties and his flagrant violation of both the sovereignty of the State of New York and the constitutional concept of separation of powers."
Very well put Daniel.
I must admit to holding the same snarky opinion that Jim Jordan is the “worst-dressed man in Congress.” I am guessing his choice of a specific color- and only one color - is intentional; sets him apart from the other more ‘traditional’ business-suited enemies AND allies in the hallowed halls of the Capitol.
On a similar theme, when I see the increasing presence of women in these same spaces, i note that my ‘fellow females” have much more latitude in these matters. While Jordan limits himself to a rather sickly green, the women have ‘freedom of color’ - scarves, jewelry, dresses or suits, sweaters or jackets - all in multiple colors - all at the same time!
I agree with you, Anne. His sense of style is too ghastly not to be intentional. In combination with the glasses affixed to the bridge of the nose and the chaotic combination over, he looks like a mix of used car salesman and everybody's least favorite substitute teacher
Spot on, Daniel! I will remember that description, though I think you insult both used car salesmen and substitute teachers (most dress better than Gym).
Thank you, James.
Ha! Thanks, James. You're probably right. I certainly meant to insult Rep. Jordan only. Also, I see that the word "combination " popped up when I meant to say "comb", as in "comb" over
Anne: Those garments adorning Kristen Sinema are pretty far out. Dungaree jacket and pink sneakers don't go well in the Senate chamber.
Ha!
I agree with Anne that virtually all of the female Representatives and Senators dress wonderfully. The former and perhaps greatest Speaker of the House in its history being a prime example of same. As a brief aside, being a long time admirer of female pulchritude especially when combined with sharp intellect and a deeper sense of empathy, I did suffer a slight depression when I learned that AOC was engaged, but it's ok, I'm over it now!
Senator Sinema's issues goes way beyond her bizarre, electric-kool aid-acid test sense of fashion.
Nixon was not exactly a sterling example of judiciousness when he was the one being investigated. He attacked, and then fired, his own special prosecutor, which led to the resignations/firings of his AG and other DoJ officials (see Saturday Night Massacre).
Very true, John. Yet with all of that, and more, Nixon ultimately had a sense of duty, unlike Despicable Don
Good point. Nixon understood and cared about history.
Such big words to describe bully Jordan. I doubt he understands any of them. It is still beyond my comprehension that this jacketless, ignorant (did I mention) bully has managed to reach the position in OUR government that he has. There have to be some educated Republican House members appalled as the rest of us. How much longer must we endure his pure nastiness?
Jordan et al does not surprise me. During both impeachment trials they worked on the defense team, rather than being discerning jurors.
What a blessing to read this letter tonight, after all the opinions and prediction about the indictment today. Our focus truly should be on the positive, on building and strengthening democracy around the world and here at home. Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema has it exactly right!
Interesting that a Zambian president knows more about how a democracy actually works than a wrestling coach from the U.S.... Maybe it's because the Repugnants don't really care about democracy anyway. They are just looking for power at any cost. We shall all sleep a lot better when democracy returns to our own shores, and fascism returns to the dustbin of history.
💙VOTE THE BLUE TSUNAMI 💙
And look too Michigan to see how it is done!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Michigan_Proposal_2
I agree, this is a tempered and informative letter. It goes with one of my few happy moments. All the news broadcasts I watched on Friday led with two major stories. While Trump’s indictment was one of them, none led with that salacious story nor gave all that much oxygen to it. The weather disasters across the US and our government response were more deeply reported. A little renewal of hope for MSM.
The emphasis here is on the good and constructive responses to intransigent and salacious lies. Thank you for accentuating the positive!
Three cheers for Hichilema!
Didn't he do an elegant job of pulling the iron out of the fire?
To paraphrase: "Let's make this a statement about principles, not a statement about individuals."
What comes to mind about Harris is that biblical quote about a prophet being without honor in her own country. I hope a commitment to democracy in these countries can help sustain us, and we in theirs.
Applause and a loud bravo for the president of Zambia and his defense of the rule of law.
I’m going to dream tonight of Gym Jordan, Steil, and Comer all fuming about being thoroughly destroyed by a woman, and in public no less. That must have hurt badly. Oh welp, increasing their dose of MAGA Viagra should help.
The thought is pleasing, but I don't want the ageing shirt-wearer in any dream of mine.
Not even sobbing uncontrollably?
Same reply. :)
Clorox on the rocks for this crew.
Wish they’d overdose on the V drug and then explode into smithereens!
Thanks, as always, Heather, for providing a large, clear lens through which we can accurately view and understand the realities of and the connections between past and present events.
I'm curious about who proclaimed that the Secret Service couldn't bring T in today because they "needed more time." It's my understanding that the Secret Service actually could have brought him in today, thereby truncating opportunities to foment mayhem.
Sleep well!
Ditto Joanne
Thanks, Heather for this post. It’s nice to read something that true, and very informative about the issues of the day.
I’m trying to stay up on the news of TFG, and I heard something tonight that puzzled me. First. The NY Attorneys office wanted TFG to turn himself in today. But, his (TFG) lawyers argued that the Secret Service needed a least 5 days to set up the logistics/security for moving him to New York to turn himself in, therefore he could be there Tuesday.
I want to tell you. This is a pile of 💩! If the New York Attorneys office said fur him to turn himself in on Friday. TFGs a** would be there Friday. TFG & his stupid attorneys are making excuse see to give him time to set up his chaotic surrender he, MTG, Matt Gaetz, and others are working on.
I predict that TFG will not be in New York on Tuesday. I predict that he’s going to stay in Mar-a-Lago and force New York to come and arrest him. DeStupid has already let it be known he will not allow any extradition of TFG to any state to face criminal charges. MYG has let it be known that she’s personally going to New York Tuesday to lead a protest about this. If you remember her comments on January 6th insurrection. She commented about f she had organized it they all would have been armed and the outcome would have been a lot different.
When are we, the people, going yo say “enough is enough! We are tired of this assault on our democracy! We are tired of our elected officials, whom we are paying, to act in this criminal behavior!” It’s time we start making phone calls, writing letters, whatever it takes to weed these people out of office. We need to demand action be taken against them. We need to demand that they be sanctioned for their actions, and they need to be stripped of all duties, released from office, for their neglect of duties to the American people.
One thing is for certain. Next week is going to be EPIC! Get your popcorn ready folks. Another January 6th is a coming, led by no other than MTG. Maybe she’ll be stupid enough to draw her pistol on one of New York’s finest. She makes that mistake, we won’t have to worry about getting her out of office. She’ll leave New York in a box.
Tfg lead defense counsel has stated tfg will appear on Tuesday apparently flying into NY City on Monday night.
Regardless Judge Merchant already has jurisdiction & control of all the Parties before the Court & can & will issue orders from the Bench to restrict the criminal defefant's behavior just like in any case.
In Queens, a local newspaper headlined: "Queens Man Indicted"; Tfg will appear like any guy from Queens.
? 'Name' of that newspaper please Bryan ? I wanna' send them my thanks and gratitude for 'getting it. Thx
Queens Daily Eagle: queenseagle.com. tfg grew up at 85-15 Wareham Place says my Queens contact.
Oh that is rich! Thanks for the link Bryan, I'll be passing it on
A great deal of oral history in Queens: Fred Trump Jr, was the disfavored pilot & older bother of tfg. Fred Trump Jr's daughter, the brave & gutty Mary Trump 🙏 kept some family document history.
And she speaks out quite openly about TFG. This gal has it together!
May it be so
The guy owns his own Boeing airliner; doesn't that defacto make him a flight risk? The ultimate humiliation would be "held without bail until trial". It isn't likely to happen, but what a delicious thought to dream on...
The best that could happen for America is Donald Trump fleeing to anywhere else
Thank you for the laugh, Dave Dalton. "Trump fleeing to anywhere else" and Bryan Sean McKown's "Queens man Indicted" have given me the only LOL political moments in a long while.
Go East, old fart! (Horace)
We may have to monitor any flight plans for a destination without an extradition treaty, follow the yachts too.
Thanks, Bryan Sean McKown. Not sure you meant it to be funny but my humerus got tickled. "Queens Man Indicted" joins "Florida Man ..."
Humor is a form of truth telling.
Robert Hubbell pointed out that E Jean Carroll’s rape/defamation case against Trump goes to court in NY on April 25. If Trump fails to show up then, he loses by default, which means he becomes a convicted rapist and has to pay for defamation. If he waits until then to arrive in NY, he gets arrested on the new indictment at the courthouse. So he has a lot of incentive to present himself in NY voluntarily to be booked on the latest charges.
Can’t you see him having to report to the courts every time he goes someplace. My mind slips me right now. What is it a convicted rapist/sexual pervert-deviant is listed as in the eyes of the law? Then they have to report to the local sheriff’s department/law enforcement office every time they go from city to city.
TFG will become a very lonely man sitting in Mar-a-Lago. Perverted SOB!
Sex offender is the term that you're looking for.
tfg is going to fit that title quite well, though it's many years overdue for that one.
Yes. Damn, why couldn’t I remember that! I guess with all I have going on my 71 year old mind us slipping a bit.
TFG will definitely fit the label. And, as you said, it’s many, many, decades overdue. I just wish I had ran into him personally when I was on the department. Walked into one of his devious actions on women. He’d never touched another woman in his life after I got done with him. He wouldn’t be able to! I couldn’t stand men that abused women or children. I literally lost it on several occasions.
I read Robert H & Joan, concur.
"But, his (TFG) lawyers argued that the Secret Service needed a least 5 days to set up the logistics/security for moving him to New York to turn himself in, therefore he could be there Tuesday."
Trump and his lawyers have many, many years of experience in delay tactics to avoid court rulings or make then moot.
This is just the beginning of the delays. It may take him a year to actually end up in NY for the filing.
You are correct Mike S, a 5 day delay was obtained but, Judge Merchant has "in persona" control of the 'Man from Queens', the criminal Defendant. I have never procedurally examined the Judge's handling of any case civil or criminal but, the Judge has a professional representation of being calm; his judicial demeanor will be tested.in this case.
Oh, I’m sure he has many, many, delay tactics lined up in his little box. Every day that goes by is another day that he has to get his followers stirred up, and for him to collect more money “to fight against this and pay for his defense.” We all know that Donald Trump hasn’t paid for a d***n thing in his life, yet his sheep are sending him millions every day.
"yet his sheep are sending him millions every day."
Honda used to have a sign at the door of all dealerships.
It said: "Stupid Hurts".
Having ridden motorcycles for 35 years, and, with great pleasure, I am here to say,
Honda is right.
🙏 Amen!!! BSA ( police bike) & Harley man here. Yes. Stupid hurts!
Can you imagine the current speaker of the house calling for her to be censured? stripping her of committee assignments? Any sort of discipline whatsoever???
Hahaha 🤪 lol 😝! Fat chance of this Speaker doing that. She’s inn his ear every step he takes. I don’t know why they just didn’t elect her as Speaker of the House. She’s running it anyway. Is McFarty every stopped abruptly, he’d get an instant feeling up his backside he’s probably never felt before. And he’d have to be rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery. The removal of MTG from his rear poop-chute.
Yes. I know they will. They are, by my last account, the best law enforcement agency in the country. I have faith that things will be controlled.
I love the right wing activist, er, I mean "reporter" from the Wall Street Journal get smacked around like the piece of something one scrapes off their shoe that he is. The rest of the over-educated, under-intelligent otherwise unemployable trust fund babies of the MSM Press Corpse needs more of the same.
Come on TCinLA, your comment is broad-brush stereotyping. Unfair and inaccurate. Where do you think the professor gets her information about current events? Journalism is like any profession — there are people excellent at their jobs, terrible at it, and the majority somewhere in between.
Too many of the MSM are creative typists at best. We have the editorial board of the Washington Post - who know as much about the charges the grand jury voted on in New York as you and I do, which is nothing - writing that the case is weak. How the hell do they know? And how does printing bullshit guesses make them anything to be believed?
This goes to my earlier comment that the media talking heads report their opinions and speculation as if they were facts and present it as news. All it really does in the end is feed into perception and perception becomes reality.
Where does the media remind people that the grand jury decided this, not the individual Alvin Bragg. So many missed opportunities to educate the public! Enough with the pontificating.
I sure hope they teach you in journalism schools nationwide. “Creative typing?”👏👏👏
TCinLA, many legal experts are of the opinion that this case is weak, including Bragg himself (who had decided to drop the case a few months after he took it over). There are several reasons that it will be difficult for Bragg to get a criminal conviction - statute of limitations, the fact that paying hush money isn't a crime, and the difficulty of proving Trump’s intent. If Trump is found “not guilty” it will reinforce his claims of “witch hunt” martyrdom and popularity with the base.
I think you may have just skipped over TC's salient point. Since nobody actually knows what the charges are or the what the evidence involved will be, opinions about the case being weak are just idle speculation. I recommend to these "experts" patience before pontification.
The Grand Jury decided to indict. Gotta be pretty damn good evidence there.
Yup! Bragg wouldn't be wasting his time or risking his reputation if he didn't have what was needed to nail the guy.
And that Grand Jury is a group of typical Americans - not just one Democrat out for a political vendetta - as suggested by the frightened White "Christian" Nationalist Wannabe Nazis.
Bragg wanted to drop the case, but was forced to continue by intense political pressure. Bragg was stuck - going to be damned if he brings the case (and fails to get a conviction), or damned if he didn’t bring the case (because New Yorkers demand an indictment). I would not want to be Bragg.
No, you have misinformation. Vance was "in the bag" politically. The Feds "dropped" the case after convicting Michael Cohen because Barr ordered them to drop it.
Citations? You spread rumor and innuendo. Links to sources are needed. As for the facts, Barr did not (and could not) order anyone to drop the case, because the Manhattan DA does not work for Barr. Manhattan DA is an elected office, beholden to New York voters. Nor did Vance drop the case, he worked on it for three years and then handed it off to Bragg when Vance’s term ended. Vance’s Grand Jury adjourned in 2022 without delivering an indictment. Bragg wanted to drop the case when he took over because he felt it was weak, but faced intense political pressure to continue. He assembled a new Grand Jury, whose results are about to be revealed. Here are my links.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/who-is-alvin-bragg-the-manhattan-district-attorney-overseeing-case-against-trump
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/30/nyregion/cy-vance-trump-investigation.html
Go be a mendacious Yuppie pain in the ass elsewhere.
Here here TC... well said !
[It's "Hear! Hear!"]
And yes, to print unsubstantiated opinion is to reduce journalism to irresponsible gossip.
At a time like this, it's like smoking near gasoline.
There's a page in the newspaper for this kind of journalism; it's called the opinion page. That reporter in Lusaka aimed a fat pitch at Harris, hoping for front page headlines. She took the base on balls, then the Zambian president hit it out of the park.
Perfect analogy, and perfect timing! Play Ball!
Because it is Saturday and I am feeling puckish: Peter, it is actually "Oyez! Oyez!" (pronounced as in French--which it is, sort of. It's a Latin-French hybrid) Oyer means "to hear" in medieval Norman French and the translation of it into "Hear ye!" and, eventually, "hear, hear" comes from a legal system of investigations called "inquisitions of oyer and terminer"--investigations to hear and determine (wrongdoing in the countryside) that were invented in the 13th century by Edward I, who was dealing with the cleanup following the civil wars from 1258 to 1265, during his father's reign. To this day, "Oyer" or its 2nd-person plural, "Oyez," is used to announce the opening of a court of law because it is a process of "hearing and determining." I can also tell you that the descriptions of the reports of the commissions of oyer and terminer are often very entertaining, indeed. They appear on the dorse (the back side) of the Rolls of Letters Patent--which have been abstracted in English and are widely available in British History Online (part of their free access collection). Medieval Brits knew how to put the fun in dysfunctional.
Linda, thank you, wonderful comment! I love how we can learn from this erudite group, as well as from Dr. Richardson.
I love this, Linda! It’s done a bit differently in Oregon (at the Circuit Court level). One of my favorite things to watch was when the new law clerks* got to call the court to order, and the expressions on their faces at the power (and yes, majesty) of that moment: as the judge walks in “All rise! The Circuit Court of the State of Oregon is now in session, the Honorable <Judge’s full name> presiding. After the judge sits, “Be seated”.
Argh, no edit capability on my phone...
The law clerks are L2 or L3 law school students who get a first hand look at how the courts really work. During my 35 years at the county, at least 3 judges were former law clerks.
Oyez is still used in the UK to call the court to order. Basically, it means "Listen up, dudes!" Medieval English common law courts had between three and five justices sitting at the same time, with their clerks, who maintained the court transcriptions, sitting below them. The records of the central and assize courts (the latter were itinerant courts that heard pleas in the counties three times a year; the central courts maintained four sessions per year at Westminster--and there were three of them: the King's Bench, the Court of Common Pleas, and the Court of Exchequer of Pleas) were maintained for each individual justice, with an additional document, called the Rex Roll, which was the official record of litigation. It was a remarkable system, invented originally by Henry II in the 12th century but expanded hugely by John and his son, Henry III. It's one reason why British medieval social history is so rich: records of civil and criminal litigation going on from the late 12th century to the 17th century were maintained in LATIN (even though the cases were pled first in French and then in English) and have survived almost completely for England. Edward III changed the local assizes so that they were administered more directly (these were the Justices of the Peace he invented in the 1360s) but the obsession with record keeping never changed. There was another series of "justiciary" records that was complete for Ireland from the first invasion of 1170 to the 20th century but it was destroyed in the Four Courts Fire in 1922 during the War of Independence. Similarly, the Normans in Sicily and Southern Italy established justiciary courts (set up under consultation with the Normans in England) whose records were maintained until the unification of Italy in 1870--and the Nazis, retreating through southern Italy, destroyed them all when they torched the Neapolitan Archives in 1945. France and the rest of the Continent had nothing like these centralized records, because the legal systems were localized. And many of the local and provincial archives in France were destroyed during the French Revolution. One reason why being an historian of medieval Britain (especially of women and gender--the ladies pop up all over the place!) is both a lot of fun and a huge amount of work: we have documentary evidence no one else has.
Linda, whatever the historical basis of Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! (Attention. Now hear this...), it is entirely different from the modern use of Hear! Hear! expressing agreement with something said. Many people who don't understand the origins (either of them) tend to write "Here! Here!"
"Oyez (interj.) a call for silence and attention; the introduction to a proclamation made by an officer of a law-court," early 15c., from Anglo-French oyez "hear ye!" (late 13c., Old French oiez), a cry uttered (usually thrice) to call attention" https://www.etymonline.com/word/oyez
"Hear! Hear! idiom —used during a speech or meeting to say that one agrees with what someone else has just said" https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Hear!%20Hear!
Judith, as we say out here in California's courts, "WOW," thank you. :)
But, niggling aside, you did get my point Peter. Ditto your later points though (forgot the period intentionally Pete)
Please, people, be patient with my ingrained habits as an editor and proofreader... even when they make me sound like a crusty old schoolmarm...
Main thing, substance. And there we're in agreement.
Troubling are those who are dumb but let lead speak for them.
And the crazed firebugs in Congress. Handsomely paid to burn the world down...
Hyer hyer. Hyuk hyuk. Sorry Peter! Sorry D4N.
Thanks for the hiccups, Pat and... rhubarb rhubarb rhubarb...
[Cheeeeeeeeeese!!!]
WSJ is just Rupert’s claim to be a “journalist.” Not as bad as fox, but his ego trip just the same. I was so distressed when he bought it. He has not disappointed.
It appears, Heather, that you are so on top of the news today that you have wrapped it up early. May you have a restful night.
In the Dominion case against FOX, Judge Davis' 80 page ruling means Jurors will be instructed FOX's statements are false as matter of law-of-the-case dramatically simplifying the Trial. Any rational commercial defendant would settle the case no matter the cost of settlement.
As a litigator, I relished actions against banks because as a group banks were good at evaluating severe risk.
Bryan, the Dominion suit against Fox is of enormous importance for the widespread consequences of the trial which begins 4/17. Even in the midst of everything else that's happened this week, the ruling of Judge Davis deserves limelight. Thanks for your explanation.
Sure, it was Order on a "MSJ" a motion for summary judgment ... one of three (3) best I have ever reviewed on submission to the Trial Judge.
I will attempt to review the parties' pre-trial evidentiary motions called "motion in limine".
Brian, I hope there will be some way for people like me to hear about your analysis. On your “best three” point, are you talking about a submission to the trial judge by Dominion or by the defendant? On the point about a rational defendant settling, do you think Murdoch will settle before trial? Surely he must be rational, whatever else he might be. Or might he think capitulation to Dominion would cost him a significant fraction of FNC’s viewers? Might he (rationally) find that cost unacceptable?
Rex, I am not sure my lengthy response made it back to you. In short, Rupert is a seasoned combatant from much tougher UK defamation law battles.
Rupert has both primary & excess liability insurance. Regardless, Rupert has the assets to evaluate his income from multiple sales outlets vs the potential existential damage.
Given the devastating Judge's pre-trial ruling, now is the time to settle. But, any settlement agreement could be revealed by a trial subpoena subject to the law of New York or Georgia.
Congratulations on your accurate assessment of FNC’s position in the Dominion lawsuit.
There were many, many reasons to settle today not the least of which were a series of Trial Judge Orders this morning before settlement: 1st the Judge seated the jury after designating a full 12 alternates; the Judge appointed a "Special Master" to further look into Fox's "spoiliation" of evidence, the Judge also gave each side each side another juror challenge today (thus, eliminating an appellate issue). I have much respect for Judge Davis who tightly controlled his Courtroom.
Oh Wowser ! Zambian president Hakainde Hichilema "....constitutions, bedrock law. ~ ... laws, other regulations create a platform or framework around which we agreed, either as Americans or as Zambians, to govern ourselves." > An elected leader of a fledgling democracy 'gets it' ! A fitting example that convinces me further, that this criminal cabal undermining the faith and trust in our democracy is 'Not' innocently stupid, ... er, uneducated; followers may be, but not the leadership and financial enablers: they (leadership and money) are mounting a full on, well planned out / funded, intentional assault, with destruction as their goal.
Nailed it, deliberate with destruction as their goal.
Great summarization, Dr. Richardson. The Summit for Democracy is excellent. The only oddity I noted was the freedom of the press. Our press and media in America is not free as they are under the thumb of wealthy autocrats who interpret the news as it suits their goals. Out press is free from government interference that exists in countries like Russia, China, Hungary and other dictatorships, but the freedom in the US is limited by the ownership oligarchy.
And there’s the rub
Well said!