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Happy New Year and Open Thread

Wishing you all a healthy, happy, and joyous New Year!

Here is a collection of photos from CNN of New Years' celebrations around the world.

This one from Wuhan, China just takes the cake, given the resurgence in China after it dropped its zero-covid policy in early December.

< Hello Sunshine, Goodby Freezing Temps: Open Thread | College Admissions Fraud Leader Rick Singer Sentenced to 42 Months >
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    At least it looks like (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by leap2 on Sun Jan 01, 2023 at 12:14:58 AM EST
    most everyone in that Wuhan photo is wearing a mask.

    A lot of new year posts (5.00 / 2) (#2)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Jan 01, 2023 at 09:47:31 AM EST
    Are a long the lines of 2022 being a bad year that they are happy to leave behind.

    I don't see it.  2022 was a pretty good year.  It was a good year for democracies around the world.  And a bad year for autocrats.  

    2023 is going to be interesting I think.  In the Chinese proverb sense.  Charges for Trump.  And probably lots of others.  Possible recession.  The Republican Monkey House will be in high gear.

    But here's a prediction. I think it's possible a saner segment may rise in the Republican party.  Even in the House.  The Biden administration learned from the Obama years not to expect people to be smart enough to see the truth.  Do they are making big plans to help them.

    There is a massive democratic dark money group planning to go after house Republicans and respond to any nonsense.

    Buckle up.  

    Happy New Year.

    Not a bad year (none / 0) (#50)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jan 05, 2023 at 09:23:49 AM EST

    Number of Populist Leaders Hits 20-Year Low
    January 5, 2023 at 8:51 am EST By Taegan Goddard 20 Comments

    "The number of populist leaders around the world has fallen to a 20-year low after a series of victories for progressives and centrists over the past year," the Guardian reports.



    Parent
    Happy New Year to All! (5.00 / 5) (#3)
    by Coral on Sun Jan 01, 2023 at 09:54:21 AM EST
    2022 was good for our family, and for the country I think. Biden has proved to be wiser, more skillful, and more progressive than we expected.

    On the home front, kids, grandkids doing well, and we started traveling again--Hawaii last winter, and Paris/Dordogne this fall.

    Unfortunately, after so much care, for so long, and all the vaccines and boosters, all of us caught Covid late summer and fall, but everyone recovered quickly...so all good I guess.

    Thanks Jeralyn for keeping up the site for so many years. It's kept hope alive through some very dark moments.

    Cheers!

    Thanks Coral (5.00 / 3) (#6)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Jan 02, 2023 at 12:28:25 AM EST
    or sharing your family news and the compliment!
    It's hard for even me to believe I've kept this site going for 20 years -- although it wouldn't have happened without the loyal readers. Happy New Year!

    Parent
    Dew evaporates (5.00 / 3) (#4)
    by jondee on Sun Jan 01, 2023 at 10:53:49 AM EST
    And all our world is dew

    So dear, so refreshing, so fleeting.

    -Zen Master Issa on the death of his daughter.

    Here's to making the New Year and all our precious moments truly new.


    Here's hoping for the best... (5.00 / 3) (#5)
    by desertswine on Sun Jan 01, 2023 at 04:26:23 PM EST
    in 2023.

    Good read (5.00 / 2) (#7)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 02, 2023 at 09:58:41 AM EST
    I hope everyone had a great (5.00 / 4) (#8)
    by Zorba on Mon Jan 02, 2023 at 04:21:31 PM EST
    New Year's.
    The whole weekend was quiet for us. We don't go out on New Year's Eve- haven't for years. We had a nice selection of cheeses, charcuterie, and a bottle of champagne. Followed by a small glass of port.
    Today, I made Greek avgolemono soup (egg, lemon, chicken soup). I hadn't made it for awhile, so it was welcome.
    Have a great 2023, everyone!


    You heard this a lot (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 04:05:22 PM EST

    McCarthy Suggested Democrats Would Leave Chamber
    January 3, 2023 at 4:28 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 265 Comments

    In conversations with Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) on the House floor, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) was told that Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) told members of his caucus that Democrats would walk away from the chamber to lower the threshold McCarthy would need to be elected speaker, ABC News reports.

    But Ocasio-Cortez told them: "We would never do that."

    That Kevin really thought that by just voting and voting and voting democrats would get bored and leave.
    The goal being to win a majority of THOSE PRESENT

    It's starting to seem it might be republicans who get bored or mad and just leave. Allowing Hakeem Jefferies to win.

    A similar standoff was resolved in Pennsylvania (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by Peter G on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 12:38:01 PM EST
    yesterday by the Rs -- who presently have a majority of the members, but not of the seats (3 Dem seats are vacant due to deaths etc.) nominating a moderate Democrat to serve as Speaker, who then pledged to resign from the party and become an "independent." Whereupon, he was elected.

    Parent
    What's happening in DC is a different kind (none / 0) (#35)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 01:38:35 PM EST
    of thing.  I think.  The NeverKevin's don't "want" anything beyond humiliating McCarthy.  That will make their whacko supporters happy.  

    They got a scalp.  Someone from "leadership" was taken down.  That's all they want.

    Unlike basically every similar situation before they don't care at all what their fellow republicans think.  The greater the chaos the more hits they get on social media.  They don't care about committee assignments or legislation to benefit their constituents.  

    As Alfred said to Bruce Wayne some people just want to watch the world burn.

    The longer this goes on the more possible some unthinkable thing like a compromise candidate becomes.

    This could actually lead to a House that could function. With a speaker supported by some democrats.  Long odds for that but it's possible.

    Parent

    Adding (none / 0) (#36)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 01:41:42 PM EST
    McCarthy made this happen.  He encouraged the crazies at every turn.  Supported them against more moderate republicans.

    It's one reason no one, NO ONE, has any sympathy for him.

    Parent

    Right. (none / 0) (#46)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 08:26:54 PM EST
    McCarthy is why we have Marjorie here in Ga. If he hadn't meddled in the primary, she would have just been another crazy primary candidate in the 6th that lost.

    Chris Hayes had a panel discussing this issue. McCarthy seems to think that he can buy his way into the speakership. The problem apparently is that whatever terrible deals he makes will also apply if the GOP finally picks someone like Scalise.

    Parent

    Happy Monday (5.00 / 1) (#61)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 09, 2023 at 07:44:27 AM EST

    America's Coming Age of Instability
    January 8, 2023 at 2:30 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 311 Comments

    Steven Levitsky and Lucan Way, writing in Foreign Affairs:

    "The United States appears headed toward endemic regime instability. Such a scenario would be marked by frequent constitutional crises, including contested or stolen elections and severe conflict between presidents and Congress (such as impeachments and executive efforts to bypass Congress), the judiciary (such as efforts to purge or pack the courts), and state governments (such as intense battles over voting rights and the administration of elections)."

    "The United States would likely shift back and forth between periods of dysfunctional democracy and periods of competitive authoritarian rule during which incumbents abuse state power, tolerate or encourage violent extremism, and tilt the electoral playing field against their rivals."

    "In this sense, American politics may come to resemble not Russia but its neighbor Ukraine, which has oscillated for decades between democracy and competitive authoritarianism, depending on which partisan forces controlled the executive. For the foreseeable future, U.S. presidential elections will involve not simply a choice between competing sets of policies but rather a more fundamental choice over whether the country will be democratic or authoritarian."

    link

    This is depressing (none / 0) (#62)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Jan 09, 2023 at 08:10:59 AM EST
    I hope it is wrong. I'll do my part to make sure it doesn't happen.

    Parent
    Terrifyingly accurate term (none / 0) (#63)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 09, 2023 at 09:21:34 AM EST
    "competitive authoritarianism"

    Like democracy.  Only better.

    There is a coup taking place in Brazil that is proudly fashioned after us.  Or after US.
    Cheered on by the same elements that just elected a Speaker of the House.

    Our most successful export is likely to become support and encouragement for autocrats.  

    I hope it's wrong too.  But I don't think it is.

    Parent

    I would guess (none / 0) (#65)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 09, 2023 at 09:24:52 AM EST
    we will be able to tell a lot about how much is left of the old GOP this week as they vote on these new House "rules".

    There is a WSJ editorial today about how the Republicans are now targeting military funding.  So...
    Maybe.  

    Parent

    Pay wall (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 09, 2023 at 09:32:29 AM EST
    Well (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Jan 09, 2023 at 10:28:14 AM EST
    if you're depending on moderate Republicans to save the day you may be on a fool's errand as we saw for 4 years under Trump.

    They have said publicly that they are not supporting the Qanon rules but as it often is they do what leadership wants and cave to the crazies time and again.

    Parent

    Katie Porter has announced (5.00 / 1) (#72)
    by Chuck0 on Tue Jan 10, 2023 at 04:33:11 PM EST
    for the Senate. Feinstein's seat. Hallelujah. It is beyond time for Diane Feinstein to retire. She is so completely out of touch.

    RIP Jeff Beck. (5.00 / 3) (#74)
    by Chuck0 on Wed Jan 11, 2023 at 05:04:45 PM EST
    A true guitar virtuoso. Time to listen to some Freeway Jam.

    Jeff always went for it (5.00 / 1) (#75)
    by jondee on Wed Jan 11, 2023 at 07:20:36 PM EST
    and incorporated anything and everything that turned him on into his music..

    The first thing I'll probably listen to is I Ain't Superstitious from the Truth album.

    RIP

    Parent

    Coincidentally (5.00 / 1) (#77)
    by jondee on Wed Jan 11, 2023 at 08:20:06 PM EST
    I was just talking earlier tonight with a friend about old Stevie Wonder songs we both like. One of the best, Superstition, was originally written for Jeff, or so the story goes, when Stevie decided to record it himself.

    They did a very kickas* version together later.

    Parent

    Yes. (none / 0) (#88)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Jan 12, 2023 at 02:17:07 PM EST
    It's on the Beck, Bogert and Appice album. My favorite track on that album

    Parent
    I know it's an unpopular (none / 0) (#109)
    by jondee on Sat Jan 14, 2023 at 01:50:12 PM EST
    opinion, but I always thought that on a good night live, they were as good if not better than Cream.

    But I was always more of a Beck guy than a Clapton guy. To each his own.

    Parent

    Carmine was a force of nature (none / 0) (#112)
    by jondee on Sat Jan 14, 2023 at 11:11:41 PM EST
    as a drummer. Jeff always said that.

    Parent
    Trump and DeSantis (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by KeysDan on Fri Jan 13, 2023 at 12:29:16 PM EST
    are running jowl to jowl in a new poll: 51 to 49 in favor of DeSantis (within the poll's margin of error).  Apparently, Trump is so buoyed by these results he formulated a short list of veep running mates, all women---Rep. Elise Stefanik, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, Tulsi Gabbard (Trump was impressed by her when she filled-in for Tucker), Arizona flake, Kari Lake, and SD. Governor, Kristi Noem.

    Dear Trump, please permit me to add my very favorite Republican woman, Ginni Thomas, to your splendid list. Or there is that female legislator in Missouri who introduced the successful resolution to require women legislators to cover their arms, by wearing jackets over dresses. Such a forward thinker would be welcomed by the fascist base.

     While many pundits are reporting a slide in TFG's prospects, this enthusiasm is betrayed by the Republican House's preoccupation with helping Trump out, what with wanting to "expunge" those pesky impeachments, as if this is a thing. At the moment, my bet for the Republican nomination is on Trump.

    They should settle (5.00 / 2) (#105)
    by Zorba on Sat Jan 14, 2023 at 11:28:06 AM EST
    The Trump running mate question by having the ladies all participate in a giant cage match.

    Parent
    Pay Per View (5.00 / 1) (#107)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Jan 14, 2023 at 12:58:01 PM EST
    Definitely

    Parent
    Trump v DeSanctimonious (5.00 / 1) (#108)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Jan 14, 2023 at 12:58:53 PM EST
    would be even better tho.

    Parent
    Pravda - Supreme Court edition (none / 0) (#98)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 13, 2023 at 02:01:09 PM EST

    Supreme Court Narrows List of Leak Suspects
    January 13, 2023 at 2:33 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 51 Comments

    "Supreme Court investigators probing the May leak of Justice Samuel Alito's draft opinion overruling Roe v. Wade have narrowed their inquiry to a small number of suspects including law clerks, but officials have yet to conclusively identify the alleged culprit," the Wall Street Journal reports.



    Parent
    Inspector Clouseau (none / 0) (#99)
    by KeysDan on Fri Jan 13, 2023 at 03:49:01 PM EST
    Is on it, but he works a bit slow.  Besides,I did not know Ginni was a clerk.
     

    Parent
    Round (none / 0) (#100)
    by FlJoe on Fri Jan 13, 2023 at 04:29:40 PM EST
    up the usual suspects!

    It seems to me that if they haven't narrowed it down to one they never will, they started with a relatively small universe in the first place and it certainly wasn't a complicated "crime" in the first place.

    Parent

    I agree (none / 0) (#104)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Jan 14, 2023 at 11:12:34 AM EST
    We are closing in on a year and since I believe it is a conservative, the person will never be found. That whole we're down to 5 people is to pacify conservatives.

    Parent
    The Supreme Court (5.00 / 2) (#154)
    by KeysDan on Thu Jan 19, 2023 at 02:35:14 PM EST
    announced that an internal investigation had failed to identify the person who leaked a draft of the opinion overturning Roe v Wade.

    In a 20 -page report, the court's marshal said investigators had conducted 126 formal interviews of 97.employees, all of whom had denied being the source of the leak. And, no forensic evidence was found by examining the court's "computer devices, networks, printers and available call and text logs."

    It may be noted that spouses of the justices are not SC employees   Looks like a mystery that awaits Chief Inspector Maigret to solve, but we can be pretty sure it was not a Democrat.

    Justice (5.00 / 2) (#157)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jan 19, 2023 at 05:51:35 PM EST

    A late addition to the 2023 Sundance Film Festival lineup will be Doug Liman's documentary debut, Justice, which dives into the 2018 hearings and government investigation into now-Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

    "It shouldn't be this hard to have an open and honest conversation about whether or not a Justice on the Supreme Court assaulted numerous women as a young man," said Liman in a statement. "Thanks to this fantastic investigative team and the brave souls who trusted us with their stories, Justice picks up where the FBI investigation into Brett Kavanaugh fell woefully short."

    link

    Parent

    I am (none / 0) (#158)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jan 19, 2023 at 06:10:31 PM EST
    glad someone is doing this. Why didn't the FBI investigate the 4500 criminal complaints and why were they reporting them to teh white house? I hope the doc answers some of those questions.

    Parent
    We all knew this. (none / 0) (#155)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jan 19, 2023 at 05:36:25 PM EST
    It was a conservative and they don't want to throw a conservative off the court. So they are now claiming this nonsense about how they couldn't find it.

    Parent
    Didn't some reformed zelot (none / 0) (#156)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jan 19, 2023 at 05:47:45 PM EST
    testify about being given the information?

    Parent
    I think (5.00 / 1) (#159)
    by KeysDan on Thu Jan 19, 2023 at 09:38:16 PM EST
    that was a donor couple invited to Alito and Mrs Alito's home for dinner, at which time there was discussion of the decision in the Hobby Lobby case yet to be made public.   The donor wife then told the reformer guy about that discussion the next day or so.

    Parent
    Tulane Green Wave! (none / 0) (#9)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Jan 02, 2023 at 05:00:11 PM EST
    Amazing victory over USC in the Cotton Bowl. 46-45.


    Republicans in disarray!! (none / 0) (#10)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 11:20:46 AM EST
    Live now.

    Kevin loses (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 11:53:29 AM EST
    the first ballot

    Parent
    Wow (none / 0) (#12)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 12:34:24 PM EST
    He could lose 4 he lost 19.

    He will not be speaker.

    Parent

    Hard for the two (none / 0) (#14)
    by KeysDan on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 12:59:51 PM EST
    major factions, the nutsos and the wackos, to reconcile differences, apparently.  The Heinrich Himmler faction and the Josef Goebbels contingent just don't see eye to eye on how to destroy our democracy.

    Parent
    Every Democrat (none / 0) (#13)
    by KeysDan on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 12:52:50 PM EST
    voted for Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker (212 votes). Democrats in disarray, NYT probably.

    Parent
    The Republicans (none / 0) (#15)
    by KeysDan on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 01:17:46 PM EST
    need to identify a Speaker so they can get on with their priorities: to (1) gut the Independent Office of Congressional Ethics (to which some of their caucus has been referred by the J6 Committee), (2) repeal Biden's increase in IRS funding intended to discourage tax-cheaters.and (3) to investigate Hunter Biden's laptop.

    They have already removed the metal detectors for entrance into the House chamber, so they are starting to move along, with or without a Speaker.

    Parent

    Kevin just lost (none / 0) (#16)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 01:30:16 PM EST
    the second ballot.

    Parent
    Hard to believe (none / 0) (#17)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 01:31:44 PM EST
    the moderates would accept speaker Gym Jordan.

    Parent
    Is it time (none / 0) (#18)
    by KeysDan on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 01:58:41 PM EST
    to crank up Scalise?

    Parent
    They say (none / 0) (#19)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 02:10:32 PM EST
    he doesn't have the votes either.  

    This is just bad for the Republicans.  It looks crazy.  It confirms the lunatics are running the asylum and they are not capable of even electing a leader.  Forget raising the debt cieling.

    And the cross currents are very strange.  This is not MAGA at war with everyone else it's MAGA at war with itself.

    I begin to think, after all 19 holdouts voted for Jordan, that this was a plan by Jordan.  

    I still can't really imagine him getting 218.

    If he did it would be disastrous for the country and good for democratic election prospects in 24.


    Parent

    Gym Jordan? (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by KeysDan on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 02:17:36 PM EST
    Could this be a theme?   Coach Hastert and, now, Coach Jordan?

    Parent
    Over the last few days (none / 0) (#21)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 02:32:47 PM EST
    I have seen a real "thing" developing on the social media of the crazy MAGA people I watch, mostly extended family, that McCarthy absolutely can not be speaker.

    The arguments against him don't really make much sense to me.  Mostly about him being a sellout to the deep state etc.  Their reasoning is often difficult to follow but it's was clear a few days ago he was going to lose.  Or there would be hell to pay with the die hards.

    Think Kevin regrets, or will ever regret, slinking down to Tara Lago to lick Cheetos boots?

    Parent

    This is (none / 0) (#22)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 02:48:44 PM EST
    Sorry (none / 0) (#23)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 02:50:24 PM EST
    Not sure why that did not work, I tested it, but it's not worth trying again.

    Parent
    EXCELLENT (none / 0) (#26)
    by jmacWA on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 03:34:42 PM EST
    I would love to see Gym, or maybe even the more toxic Marjorie or Matt get the speakership.

    With one of the more toxic MAGAs leading the party I think (although I am in no way certain) that all of the Democrats who still think there can be bipartisanship might come to their senses.

    If Schumer were to allow any toxic stuff the house might come up with to even come up for a vote he is a total fool.

    Parent

    Kevin lost (none / 0) (#27)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 03:45:43 PM EST
    by more in 3rd vote than in the 2nd.

    There is going to be a 4th they just said

    McCarthy already moved into the speakers office

    Hahahaha

    Feel sorry for the children dragged to this historic occasion  
    They are clearly getting antsy

    Parent

    McCarthy (none / 0) (#24)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 03:10:07 PM EST
    just lost the third ballot

    And (none / 0) (#25)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 03, 2023 at 03:11:46 PM EST
    They are still in the Cs

    Parent
    The Young Guns (none / 0) (#29)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 09:22:52 AM EST
    Let's start day 2 with a classic

    Cantor, Ryan and McCarthy - the young guns

    Fewer people than live in my town (none / 0) (#30)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 09:52:20 AM EST

     Evan Coren: "In the 2022 midterms a swing of only 6,647 votes combined across the closest House races would have resulted in a Democratic majority in the House."

    link

    And Probably Less With No Gerrymandering (none / 0) (#31)
    by RickyJim on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 10:38:13 AM EST
    That ancient institution, apparently compatible with our magnificent, immortal constitution. (Snark)

    Parent
    Who is Byron Donald's (none / 0) (#32)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 11:18:19 AM EST
    Besides the second black man to be nominated for Speaker of the House

    Republican Accountability Project

    Seems like this Donalds guy is not (5.00 / 3) (#33)
    by Peter G on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 12:28:23 PM EST
    "not all that bad.." (none / 0) (#40)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 04:23:00 PM EST
    Congressman Donalds has been in the House for two years. In addition to that marijuana distribution charge, he pleaded guilty to a felony bribery charge as part of a scheme to defraud a bank(which was expunged after he entered the Florida House where he served for four years).

    The 44-year old Donalds was a Democrat until 2010 when he became a Republican and a Tea Party activist.  In 2020, he was identified as a participant in the "Freedom Force", a group of incoming House Republicans who say they are fighting socialism in America. Donalds was one of the Republican Congressman who, in January 2021,  voted to object to the certification of electors from Arizona and Pennsylvania.

    Donalds was blocked from joining the Congressional Black Caucus.  He was nominated for Speaker, on later ballots, by the wackos trio of Roy, Boebert, and Scott Perry. Sounds, to me, like a careerist. But, on the positive side he is in favor of clean water.

    Parent

    In case you couldn't tell (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by Peter G on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 06:46:11 PM EST
    I was making an ironic joke. I had read the entire Wikipedia article on Donalds also.

    Parent
    [snk.] (none / 0) (#47)
    by oculus on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 08:28:57 PM EST
    Could be important in round 6 (none / 0) (#37)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 02:05:26 PM EST

    Ken Buck Ready to Back Steve Scalise for Speaker
    January 4, 2023 at 2:23 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 120 Comments

    Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO), who has voted for Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) for speaker, told CNN that Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) would be the next choice for speaker.

    Buck said he will not vote for McCarthy in future rounds of voting.

    Said Buck: "At some point this needs to break loose. He either needs to make a deal to bring them over or he needs to step aside and give somebody else a chance to do that."

    Bucks name is called early.  So Scalice doesn't even have to be officially nominated for his name to sneak in and get other votes.

    He did not voice vote (none / 0) (#38)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 02:35:49 PM EST
    He will vote at the end.

    Parent
    Adjourned (none / 0) (#39)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 03:29:57 PM EST
    Till 8 eastern.

    At which time Kevin will withdraw.  

    Parent

    Supporters insist he will not quit (none / 0) (#41)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 06:15:46 PM EST
    Maybe
    It's something to watch the Republicans begin to realize the last 20 years of cultivating crazy was maybe a bad idea.

    After all the crazy stuff including insurrection and voting to throw out an election it's an odd thing that the hill they finally choose to die on is Kevin McCarthy.  

    It's great to hear McCarthy whine about how terribly undemocratic it is that 10% can over rule the 90% if they yell loud enough.  A basic tenet of modern republicanism.

    It's possible that if McCarthy actually manages to get it he will be so completely over the Gaetz Robert wing of the party he will raise the debt ceiling just to stick it to them.

    Parent

    Think about how much effort the Republican.... (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by Jack E Lope on Thu Jan 05, 2023 at 02:40:09 PM EST
    ...members of Congress have put into preventing any bill from moving.

    Soon, McCarthy can boast that he kept Congress at a standstill, and did it better than anyone else, with the least effort.

    Whether he gets the Chair or not.

    Parent

    Time for a Realistic Candidate (none / 0) (#42)
    by RickyJim on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 06:40:32 PM EST
    One who wouldn't get any MAGAlooney votes but get most of the Democrat and sufficient Republican votes.  Could Hakeem Jeffries get enough votes to be elected speaker? Seems unlikely. Recently retired Republican Congressman Fred Upton of Michigan offers that he would have equal Republican, Democrat composition of all House committees.  Another former Congressman, Justin Amash, says he will allow amendments for bills from the House floor.  Since I am quite murky about exactly what the exact powers of the Speaker are, I have no idea if they could deliver on these promises.

    Republicans are all MAGA loonies (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 07:05:40 PM EST
    I would guess we are weeks away from enough desperation to allow some kind of consensus candidate.

    I expect it will be some other usual suspect before that.

    Like Scalise.

    Parent

    Norm Ornstein just said (none / 0) (#45)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 07:58:43 PM EST
    Tom Cole might be one to watch.  Seems right to me.

    Parent
    It may be (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 08:50:01 PM EST
    that McCarthy will be able to pull it off what with his anything goes concessions.  The silver lining, if there is one, is that their continued knifing of each other in the back may give less opportunity to knife Americans in the back.   Of course, most of the media will switch over to give accolades to McCarthy for his brilliant maneuvering of the various (fascist) factions of his caucus to attain the Speakership.  And, of course, TFG will take all credit.

    Parent
    Saw some progressives yesterday (none / 0) (#49)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jan 05, 2023 at 07:01:12 AM EST
    talking about how some of the rules changes they are holding out for progressives have also wanted for years.  

    Not all but definitely some

    Parent

    It would be ironic (none / 0) (#52)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jan 05, 2023 at 09:35:33 AM EST
    if all this chaos resulted in some movement to returning to traditional processes in the House.

    Like appropriations for various parts of the govt going through the committee process and being discussed individually instead of it all being jammed through in one massive unreadable or understandable must pass omniwhatever at the last possible moment.

    Right and left has been complaining about this most of my life.

    Parent

    TFG is becoming difficult to follow (none / 0) (#51)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jan 05, 2023 at 09:29:00 AM EST
    Or more difficult to follow.

    I actually think that a big Republican VICTORY today, after going through numerous Roll Calls that failed to produce a Speaker of the House, has made the position & process of getting to be Speaker BIGGER & MORE IMPORTANT than if it were done in the more traditional way, much like me again becoming President after having won big in 2016, gotten many Millions of MORE VOTES in 2020 but "supposedly" not winning (BIG LIE!), & then winning again in 2024. It will be BIGGER than the traditional way!



    Parent
    I think he's talking about the next putsch. (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by desertswine on Thu Jan 05, 2023 at 05:27:25 PM EST
    BIGGER (none / 0) (#55)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jan 05, 2023 at 05:31:58 PM EST
    than the traditional way.

    Parent
    Normally, the House Speaker ... (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Jan 07, 2023 at 05:40:12 PM EST
    "Fasten your seat belts - it's going to be a bumpy night."
    - Margo Channing (Bette Davis), All About Eve (1950)

    ... controls the House agenda and calendar - that is, he or she refers all bills and resolutions as they are introduced to the appropriate subject matter committees, determines what bills and resolutions reported by those committees will be taken up by House members and when, and schedules all business to be conducted on the House floor.

    But thanks to new House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's cowardly concessions to an extremist fringe of far-right Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters, that appears to not be the case for this particular Congress.

    For many years, McCarthy (R-CA) really wanted to be elected House Speaker in the worst possible way. And during the wee hours of Saturday morning, that's exactly what happened -- on his hands and knees, while most of the country was already fast asleep.

    So, more likely than not, the country will be held hostage for the next two years by these emotionally unstable crackpots, who are holding McCarthy's cojones in a vice grip and can thus threaten the normal operation of government with their antics.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Great (none / 0) (#56)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jan 05, 2023 at 07:11:20 PM EST
    Schlapp (none / 0) (#57)
    by KeysDan on Thu Jan 05, 2023 at 08:55:12 PM EST
    will fall out of favor with his dear friend, Viktor Orban, whose address at the CPAC meeting took the hard line against gay rights.   All to the great applause of the attendees.  

    Parent
    Welcome the new NYTimes (none / 0) (#60)
    by KeysDan on Sun Jan 08, 2023 at 09:42:59 AM EST
    opinion columnist, as of January 30, the Evangelist David French.  French, an attorney who has argued religious liberty cases and a staff writer for the National Review, is a co-author of the anti-gay anti-trans screed "The Nashville Statement."  

    This "statement" affirms that "it is sinful to approve of homosexual immorality or transgenderism and that such approval constitutes an essential departure from Christian faithfulness and witness."

    In November 2022, French announced (cynics might say about the time he was negotiating with the NYT), that he had "changed his mind", on the Legal recognition of same sex marriage, although stating he was still morally opposed to the matter.

    Apparently, the NYTimes believes its readers are starved for his opinions on religious liberty and its rightful impingement on the rights of others.  Perhaps, too, he can comment on his fellow Christian conservatives, CPAC Chair,Matt Schlapp and his anti-gay, anti-same sex marriage activist wife, Mercedes.


    Parent

    There's a closet (none / 0) (#71)
    by jondee on Mon Jan 09, 2023 at 08:24:48 PM EST
    over there on the right side of the aisle the size of Carlsbad Caverns.

    Viktor Orban himself looks like a sweaty guy who once picked me up hitchhiking back in the seventies. The only time I ever jumped out of a moving vehicle.

    Parent

    Three years after Mexican authorities ... (none / 0) (#58)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Jan 06, 2023 at 05:15:55 PM EST
    ... were compelled at gunpoint by the Sinaloa cartel to release alleged cartel kingpin Ovidio Guzmán in the city of Culiacán, Mexican forces have recaptured him - and this time, they've spirited him off to Mexico City.

    Guzmán is one of ten children of "El Chapo," the infamous drug lord who turned the Sinaloa drug cartel into one of the most powerful criminal organizations in the world, and who is now serving a prison sentence in the U.S. for drug trafficking. His son's arrest comes days before President Biden is scheduled to arrive in Mexico City for a state visit with Mexico's President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

    Aloha.

    Romeo and Juliet actors file $500 million lawsuit (none / 0) (#64)
    by McBain on Mon Jan 09, 2023 at 09:22:59 AM EST
    Link
    Earlier this week, Hussey and Whiting, now 71 and 72, sued Paramount, claiming that Zeffirelli -- who died in 2019 -- violated their consent by filming them nude without their knowledge; Hussey and Whiting were 15 and 16 years old at the time of shooting.

    "What they were told and what went on were two different things," Tony Marinozzi, who serves as a business manager for both Hussey and Whiting, said in a statement. "They trusted Franco. At 16, as actors, they took his lead that he would not violate that trust they had. Franco was their friend, and frankly, at 16, what do they do? There are no options. There was no #MeToo."

    Franco Zeffirelli's son Pippo, took offense...

    It is embarrassing to hear that today, 55 years after filming, two elderly actors who owe their notoriety essentially to this film wake up to declare that they have suffered an abuse that has caused them years of anxiety and emotional discomfort,

    I remember seeing this film in a high school class.  My memory is the teacher didn't censor the nudity because it was thought to be "tastefull" back then.  This sounds like another example of judging the past with the rules of today.  

    This is a curious case. The now elderly actors (none / 0) (#68)
    by KeysDan on Mon Jan 09, 2023 at 04:00:13 PM EST
    filed suit at the 11th hour of the California amnesty period allowing child sexual abuse lawsuits with expired statutes of limitations.  Their suit alleges sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and fraud. It seeks over $500,000.over the nude.or almost nude scene in the 1968 movie, Romeo and Juliet.

    From a judging the past from the rules of today, the state and federal laws of the time, may well apply for sexual harassment or child sexual abuse if the facts support the charges.

     The fraud  stems from the allegation that the Director, Franco Zeffirelli (now deceased) deceived the then teenagers by promising the use of flesh-colored.undergarments for the scene, but conned them into using just body make-up. It documents and other factual evidence backs the allegation, that may be  the strongest argument for their case and may suggest a settlement.

    Judging the past from the rules of today, with respect to movie codes, a likely result would be dismissal. The Hays Code in effect from 1934 to about the time of release of Romeo and Juliet would have been stricter than the much less restrictive  norms of today.  The Hays Code was, essentially, broken with Pscho in 1960, with the offense of showing the flushing of a toilet.

    Olivia Hussey (Juliet)'s comments from 2018 (none / 0) (#69)
    by McBain on Mon Jan 09, 2023 at 05:05:24 PM EST
    contradict her claim...
    "Nobody my age had done that before." She said she felt Zeffirelli shot it tastefully, despite controversy among some American viewers at the time who treated nudity in film as taboo, unlike their European counterparts.

    "Everyone thinks they were so young they probably didn't realize what they were doing," said Hussey. "But we were very aware. We both came from drama schools and when you work, you take your work very seriously."

    From what I've read so far, I more sympathy for Judy Garland's child acting experience than these two.

    Parent

    Obviously, Franco Zeffirelli ... (5.00 / 1) (#101)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Jan 14, 2023 at 02:00:28 AM EST
    ... would never get away today with shooting 15- and 16-year-olds in the buff. But in 1968, with the decrepit walls of the Hayes Commission being torn down and the then-new movie ratings system being instituted in its place, directors were free to push the envelope, and many did just that.

    I agree that this is yet another case of judging an event of yesteryear by today's standards. And as far as I'm concerned, the sand ran out of Olivia Hussey's and Leonard Whiting's hourglass over four decades ago on any credible claim of exploitation.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    The extention (none / 0) (#70)
    by KeysDan on Mon Jan 09, 2023 at 05:17:44 PM EST
    became effective as of Jan 2020 for a three year window.

    Parent
    More found Biden docs (none / 0) (#73)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 11, 2023 at 03:42:56 PM EST
    really not good.

    Not at all. (none / 0) (#76)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jan 11, 2023 at 07:38:41 PM EST
    Full information needs to be provided with dispatch.

    Parent
    He should probably just appoint (none / 0) (#78)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jan 12, 2023 at 07:43:37 AM EST
    a Special Counsel.  Just to shut them up.  Give them what they think they want so they can be just as frustrated as we are.

    Parent
    My understanding is that the existence (5.00 / 2) (#81)
    by Peter G on Thu Jan 12, 2023 at 09:47:02 AM EST
    of probable cause to believe a crime was committed is a prerequisite to appointing a Special Counsel.  As of now, as to Biden, there is no probable cause, because there is no basis to infer criminal intent. Unlike the Tr*mp case, where there was no referral until after (a) ignoring or blowing off of polite requests for return of documents; and then (b) defiance of a grand jury subpoena; coupled with (c) false statements about compliance.

    Parent
    Probably (5.00 / 1) (#82)
    by KeysDan on Thu Jan 12, 2023 at 10:20:57 AM EST
    why AG Garland has asked John Lausch, US Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, and initially a Trump appointee, to review and evaluate the issue.  Based on that review Garland can make a determination.

    However, the legal aspect is dwarfed by the politics, especially its impact on the Mar a Lago case. The cases are vastly different as you succinctly point out and should be treated independently.  But, it is unlikely to happen in the public forum..  The location of the second batch in the garage of the Biden home in Delaware will not be helpful.

    Hopefully, Mr. Lausch will find that the inclusion of classified documents in the Biden storage was accidental and not willful in any way.  My thinking was just for the President to cut the worst of the politics off at the pass by asking for a Special Counsel ahead of the Lausch findings and let Garland take any legal step needed. These fascists are barracudas in tactics, although Biden is pretty good at dealing with them in his own way. This is a good test.

    Parent

    Robert Hurr (none / 0) (#83)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jan 12, 2023 at 12:22:17 PM EST

    Garland appoints special counsel to take over Biden classified documents investigation

    I think this is probably a good thing that gets better in the long run.  It will force the details and differences into the news.
    Clarify what was illegal about what Trump did.

    Parent

    Well, that just goes to show yuh (5.00 / 2) (#84)
    by Peter G on Thu Jan 12, 2023 at 12:48:19 PM EST
    what I know. If anything.

    Parent
    Biden keeps finding them (5.00 / 1) (#85)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jan 12, 2023 at 12:57:12 PM EST
    Really needed to happen.

    Parent
    This is best in the longer (none / 0) (#86)
    by KeysDan on Thu Jan 12, 2023 at 01:17:23 PM EST
    run, but a political disaster in the short term. (except for Trump, who may skate once again).

    It will be critical for the Special Counsel to work quickly. Mr. Garland should give him a date certain for completion. If necessary, a brief extension could be requested.

    The Attorney General will be on the horns of a dilemma. It will be very difficult in this new environment to indict Trump unless there is evidence that classified information was shared, sold or attempted to be shared or sold with/to third parties. But, if there is no indictment of Trump, the DOJ will be ignoring the law as it applies to Trump while applying, when needed, to other government/contract employees.

    It was not clear to me, from the Garland announcement if the Chicago US Attorney's initial investigation necessitated a Special Counsel recommendation or the new circumstances/optics did.  Mr. Garland did say that John Lausch could not continue since he was leaving the US Attorney position for the private sector.

    Parent

    I still (none / 0) (#91)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Jan 12, 2023 at 07:35:41 PM EST
    think Trump gets an indictment if Smith thinks he can get a conviction. Jack just doesn't seem like someone who makes political calculations.

    Parent
    I think it was Socrates (5.00 / 2) (#87)
    by jondee on Thu Jan 12, 2023 at 01:51:23 PM EST
    or Mister Green Jeans, who said the more he knew, the less he knew.

    Parent
    Based on Wiki, (5.00 / 3) (#90)
    by KeysDan on Thu Jan 12, 2023 at 04:33:31 PM EST
    Hur seem smart and well-credentialed (Harvard A.B., Stanford J.D.). His clerkship with CJ Rehnquist cements his conservatism.  But, from my perspective, anyone who accepted an appointment from Trump is tainted.

    Parent
    Not buying that the news media will cover (none / 0) (#89)
    by jmacWA on Thu Jan 12, 2023 at 03:31:09 PM EST
    this fairly.  This is going to be a godsend to the Republicans and they are going to use their media influence to milk it for everything they can.  The only way I can see this being good is if Garland had a deal with Hurr to get this done and respond within 2 weeks.  If this goes on for any length of time at all it only helps the Republican party.

    Parent
    Watching the cable coverage of this, (none / 0) (#95)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 13, 2023 at 11:29:10 AM EST
    the actual news channels,  I am a little surprised how balanced it is.  On the whole.  There are exceptions.  Like Woodward swooning that a Chinese gardener could have been reading the stuff in Biden garage while saying everyone should tone down the hyperbole.  
    But mostly it involves detailed and reasonable discussion of how different the two situations really are.  

    There has even been a bit of restraint in covering how badly the administration has handled this.

    "The Corvette was in a locked garage".

    That's the Joe we all remember.  They have screwed this up over and over.  IMO.  

    I hope and expect they will up their game.

    Parent

    Also (none / 0) (#96)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 13, 2023 at 11:41:39 AM EST
    the optics of rabid Republicans climbing over each other to "investigate the investigators" for investigating Trump while demand those same investigators investigate Biden who invites investigation and do it RIGHT now is not bad for our side.

    Parent
    Yes, and (5.00 / 1) (#119)
    by KeysDan on Sun Jan 15, 2023 at 01:16:51 PM EST
    The House Oversight Chair, James Comer, (R.KY) said on one of the Sunday Talk Shows that they would be investigating  the Biden documents but not Trump's.  And, they want logs of all visitors to his residence but do not care about guest lists at Mar a Lago.

    It may well be that Democrats can depend on these fascists to over-step and inadvertently help out.

    Parent

    IMO (none / 0) (#106)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Jan 14, 2023 at 11:33:28 AM EST
    I agree with the people that say this makes it easier to indict Trump.

    Parent
    The more documents turned over by (none / 0) (#110)
    by oculus on Sat Jan 14, 2023 at 05:32:42 PM EST
    Biden's team, the less likely Trump will be indicted re government documents.

    Parent
    Why do (5.00 / 2) (#111)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Jan 14, 2023 at 08:00:54 PM EST
    you say this? It seems to me they are legally very different.

    Parent
    I would say (none / 0) (#113)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Jan 15, 2023 at 07:37:01 AM EST
    the more documents turned over by Biden the more unlikely it is he runs again.

    Parent
    Even (none / 0) (#116)
    by FlJoe on Sun Jan 15, 2023 at 11:26:50 AM EST
    if the cases were identical, I don't see why, legally speaking, why should anyone get a pass for committing a crime if someone else commits a similar one.

    However if you are talking about the dreaded "optics"  
    combined with the timidity of the DOJ and the fecklessness press it's probably a given.  

    Parent

    Yes, legally very different-so far. (none / 0) (#117)
    by oculus on Sun Jan 15, 2023 at 11:54:55 AM EST
    But Garland has the ultimate exercise of decision. He just is not a risk taker.

    Parent
    So is there a Better Chance of a State Indictment? (none / 0) (#118)
    by RickyJim on Sun Jan 15, 2023 at 12:47:06 PM EST
    New York and Georgia also might have better cases legally.

    Parent
    Maybe Georgia. Fearless prosecutor (5.00 / 1) (#120)
    by oculus on Sun Jan 15, 2023 at 03:45:16 PM EST
    and taped admission.

    Parent
    The Mar-a-Lago documents case is (5.00 / 1) (#121)
    by Peter G on Sun Jan 15, 2023 at 04:44:39 PM EST
    very strong, from a criminal point of view, given repeated blowing off of serious demands (including a grand jury subpoena, which is compulsory) to return all the documents, including lying that there had been a full search and a complete return of any mislaid dox.
       Conspiracy to defraud the U.S. via the fake electors scheme is less clear as a criminal case, simply because it's unprecedented, and also requires a pretty high level of intent (including proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Tr*mp did not in fact believe his own b/s). January 6 seditious conspiracy is also less clear than the documents case, because of the First Amendment factor, to the extent it depends on his speech.

    Parent
    Did Trump Lie Under Oath in Documents Case? (none / 0) (#122)
    by RickyJim on Sun Jan 15, 2023 at 05:01:31 PM EST
    He apparently asked a lawyer, Alex Cannon, to lie to the National Archives but Cannon refused.  Can you imagine a situation in which Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman are indicted for the fake electors scheme but Trump isn't?

    Parent
    I guess the idea, or maybe hope, is (none / 0) (#123)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Jan 15, 2023 at 05:23:24 PM EST
    neither Eastman or Giuliani would be willing to go to prison for Orange Jesus and start taking.

    That could be very important.

    Parent

    That bogus verification one his attorney's (none / 0) (#129)
    by oculus on Mon Jan 16, 2023 at 03:14:13 PM EST
    signed won't bind him.

    Parent
    Interested in your take on this, Oculus (none / 0) (#138)
    by Peter G on Mon Jan 16, 2023 at 11:10:57 PM EST
    If an agency or court with the power to compel compliance and a response issues a demand to a person with obligations to that agency or court, and the person delegates to their attorney the task of responding, and the lawyer then submits a false response on behalf of the principal, hasn't the principal caused the false statement to be made, and isn't the principal then fully (including criminally) responsible for that falsity?

    Parent
    From the articles I just read, it looks (none / 0) (#139)
    by oculus on Tue Jan 17, 2023 at 11:32:08 AM EST
    like  the subpoena requesting documents included a verification to be signed by the custodian of records. But Trump attorney Corcoran drafted his own verification form and beckoned Christina Bobb to sign it. She insisted on the language added to this form.

    DOJ should have followed up and demanded a signed verification from the actual custodian of records without wiggle room language.

    DOJ did subsequent to Bobb signing the declaration interview both Bobb and Corcoran.

    In a civil case, the party seeking the documents and verification would bring a motion to compel and request sanctions. And, yes, the party would be penalized.

    All the burden to produce documents was on the prosecution under Brady v. Maryland when I prosecuted criminal cases in state court. Defense had no such obligation. That's changed, at least in CA.  

    Parent

    Your last paragraph is off point (none / 0) (#140)
    by Peter G on Tue Jan 17, 2023 at 09:44:17 PM EST
    Until charges are brought there is no prosecution and no defense side, so I do not think the Brady principle applies. Your key point in response to my questions (and thank you for that) is that the subpoena was not directed to Tr*mp to produce the records, but to "custodian of records" of the ex-President's office. As a result, I think you are right that Tr*mp is not personally responsible for the putative "custodian"'s weasel-worded or untrue response.

    Parent
    Bottom (none / 0) (#141)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jan 18, 2023 at 07:12:02 AM EST
    line put your money on the weasels, what a country.

    Speaking of weasels, MGT gets powerful committee assignments on oversight and homeland security.

    Parent

    I'll see your MTG on HLS (none / 0) (#142)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 18, 2023 at 09:36:07 AM EST
    Who also got committee assignments of course (none / 0) (#143)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 18, 2023 at 09:40:43 AM EST
    just not the "good" ones.

    You have to draw the line someplace I guess.

    Parent

    Jokers (none / 0) (#145)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jan 18, 2023 at 10:47:38 AM EST
    to the right of me, weasels even further to the right.

    Parent
    Kitara (none / 0) (#149)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 18, 2023 at 05:39:06 PM EST

    A Brazilian drag queen who was friends with Rep. George Santos (R-NY) when he lived in Brazil told MSNBC that everyone knew him as Anthony -- or by his drag name, Kitara.

    She also shared a photo of him from a 2008 drag show.

    He makes a much more attractive woman..
    link


    Parent

    Cut From the Same Cloth (none / 0) (#146)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jan 18, 2023 at 01:34:11 PM EST
    in 2019 Trump settled a lawsuit with a court-ordered distribution of $2 million to several charities for the misuse of the Trump Foundation.  The Foundation was shuttered in NY state and Junior, Ivanka and Eric were required to take "training lessons"--- apparently on how not to scam.

    Parent
    Grift is definitely the through line (5.00 / 1) (#148)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 18, 2023 at 03:16:26 PM EST
    but seriously.  Stealing a dying dogs GoFundMe.  The dog of a homeless disabled vet?

    If we lose our country to this cartoonish evil surely we deserve it.

    Parent

    Aside (5.00 / 1) (#150)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jan 18, 2023 at 06:10:50 PM EST
     from the squeaky voice, there is nothing cartoonish  about this evil pos
    Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has rejected a College Board request to approve an African-American Studies course in his state on the grounds that the course violates state law,


    Parent
    Paranoid me says (none / 0) (#151)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 18, 2023 at 06:32:15 PM EST
    the clown show is an intentional distraction.  A brilliant PR move appear stupid and incompetent.  

     We might be in an age where stupid and incompetent is a qualification to rise in one of 2 major parties.  But, you know, still stupid and incompetent.

    And they always over reach.

    DeSanctimonious is IMO only a threat to Floridians.  

    I was just reading the primary campaigning will start soon.  I dont think Ron will last long.

    Parent

    Debates (none / 0) (#152)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 18, 2023 at 06:34:30 PM EST

    GOP Talks With Networks About Debates
    January 18, 2023 at 10:41 am EST By Taegan Goddard 86 Comments

    New York Times: "In an intriguing show of détente, the Republican National Committee has asked several major TV networks -- including CNN, a regular Republican boogeyman -- to consider sponsoring debates, an early sign that the party is making plans for a contested presidential primary."

    "The debates would probably begin this summer, and Republicans are casting a wide net: Party officials are also in talks with executives from ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News, along with more-niche networks like Newsmax and NewsNation... Political debates are highly prized in the TV news industry and the networks are expected to present proposals next month



    Parent
    Agreed (none / 0) (#153)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jan 18, 2023 at 09:17:32 PM EST
    There appears to be, at least, some degree of sanity among the Republican donor class as well as the less unhinged fascists so as to recognize that the party needs to look to someone other than Trump.  DeSantis, the sawed-off version of Trump, has been designated as heir repellant.

    However, DeSantis is really an unknown quantity outside of his state. His reactionary and fanatical policies may check all the boxes and be just what the Republican doctor ordered, but he will not be able to out-Trump Trump in the base's quest for a charming  moron.  And, too, there will be that drive for a re-match to show the libs that they will be able to correct the "steal" and re-install the "rightful" winner.

    Parent

    Just my opinion, obviously, but ... (none / 0) (#131)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Jan 16, 2023 at 03:30:16 PM EST
    oculus: "Yes, legally different - so far. But Garland has the ultimate exercise of decision. He just is not a risk taker."

    ... I'd offer that the risk of inaction by DOJ in the face of a clear and obvious domestic threat to our national security far outweighs any potential adverse consequences presented by its counterpart.

    The easiest and surest way to undermine public confidence in the rule of law is to demonstrate that there is a double standard at play, one for select members of the ruling elite and another for everybody else.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Of course the Biden-did-it-too (none / 0) (#132)
    by oculus on Mon Jan 16, 2023 at 03:39:56 PM EST
    conflict will delay and maybe short-circuit criminal charges against DJT. Shouldn't. But might.

    Parent
    The more (5.00 / 1) (#114)
    by KeysDan on Sun Jan 15, 2023 at 09:35:39 AM EST
    documents turned over by Biden's team, the less likely Trump will be indicted for any of his crimes re gov docs, J6 coup.

    Parent
    That could be (none / 0) (#115)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Jan 15, 2023 at 11:04:51 AM EST
    but I still think he will be indicted  

    Tho maybe not for the documents.

    Parent

    From everything (none / 0) (#124)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Jan 15, 2023 at 08:23:01 PM EST
    I have read about Jack he doesn't care about the politics. I think Trump will be indicted & he sure is acting like he is going to be.

    However an indictment may mean that Biden can't run again. I am worried that we don't  have anyone to replace him. The press hates Kamala & treats her like Hillary.

    Parent

    I think so too (none / 0) (#125)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 16, 2023 at 10:36:51 AM EST
    but Garland will decide, right.  I've seen smart people speculating that Garland was quick on the draw with a special counsel for Biden because it gives him a kind of cover to indict Trump if and when he decides to do that.

    I wonder if the GA or NY AGs are coordinating at all with the DOJ.  Would Garland discourage them because they would/could interfere or encourage them?

    Parent

    Well, I can't (none / 0) (#137)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Jan 16, 2023 at 05:13:55 PM EST
    imagine Fani Willis consulting w/Garland or the DOJ since she is indicting under GA state law. However NY may have an issue with the Trumper being the head of the IRS until last November. I'm sure that delayed a lot of information that they requested since the NY case is tax fraud.

    Parent
    As far as his running again (none / 0) (#126)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 16, 2023 at 10:41:07 AM EST
    there are plenty of replacements    

    IMO he better clean this mess up or forget about another run.  

    This is not just bad.  It's monumentally stupid. Start to current.

    Parent

    If Special Counsel Hur (none / 0) (#127)
    by KeysDan on Mon Jan 16, 2023 at 12:38:56 PM EST
    puts the pedal to the metal and quickly finds that no charges are warranted, President Biden will be in decent shape---even  if Hur takes the path of the odious Comey's gratuitous admonitions when presenting his absolution regarding Hillary's emails.

    However, time is not Biden's friend. There is such a thing as being too late. And, I have worries about Robert Hur.  The Special Counsel  appointment is triggered by concerns, real or perceived, about conflicts of interest.  But, what about the same holding for the Special Counsel, himself?  If Hur aspires to moving ahead in Trumpian politics, legal circles or has hopes for a judgeship, a quick exoneration in the Biden document case will be unlikely to be seen as a gold star on his resume.  

    Just how hard can this investigation be? If focused, it should not take long to gather the facts and determine if this was accidental or excessive casualness vs a willful and unlawful act.

    Parent

    Good points. Now as to DJT, why (none / 0) (#128)
    by oculus on Mon Jan 16, 2023 at 03:10:51 PM EST
    Is it taking so long re the docs.?  Just finish up and either charge or decline to prosecute.  Of course, now special prosecutor team hascto get up to speed. Awk n

    Parent
    Sometimes (5.00 / 1) (#134)
    by KeysDan on Mon Jan 16, 2023 at 04:28:21 PM EST
    I get the feeling that Merrick Garland just does not want to indict Trump.  Unknown to us is how the leaks of the Biden Documents, first by CBS in Chicago and then by NBC news occurred.  And, why all these Trump appointees have been tapped to investigate starting with the US Attorney in Chicago. The way the public found out about the situation at Mar a Lagoons  was from Trump himself.

    The prosecution of Trump in the documents case may succumb to inequivalent facts and circumstances, bothsiderism,  and a misguided effort to protect the "institution".   Garland's priorities need to be re-ordered: Country before DOJ.

    Parent

    The timing of the finding of the Biden docs (none / 0) (#136)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 16, 2023 at 05:05:11 PM EST
    really does seem unbelievably convenient.  An impossible lifeline for Trump you would not believe in a screenplay.

    I agree more information about how that happened would be good.

    Parent

    hard can this investigation be? (none / 0) (#133)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 16, 2023 at 03:54:54 PM EST
    I would think the most difficult and time consuming part of either document case is trying to decide what harm might have been done.

    Who might have seen something that compromised national security.

    I think it could probably "take" as long as an investigator wanted it to take.

    It would be great if this whole hot mess started a conversation about the routine overuse of classifying stuff.  

    People have been saying for years, as long as I can remember, that the process is out of control and most of the stuff that's is classified doesn't need to be.

    Parent

    Apparently, (none / 0) (#135)
    by KeysDan on Mon Jan 16, 2023 at 04:34:05 PM EST
    among reasons for over-classification is to confound enemies who may get their hands on classified docs--not being able to readily discern importance.  Sounds like a relic of the Cold War. The

    Parent
    Probably inevitable (none / 0) (#79)
    by KeysDan on Thu Jan 12, 2023 at 07:59:06 AM EST
    so Biden should ask for it.  And, Garland should set forth circumscribed authorities and duties focused on just this issue.  No wide-ranged investigation.

    Parent
    Probably inevitable (none / 0) (#80)
    by KeysDan on Thu Jan 12, 2023 at 07:59:07 AM EST
    so Biden should ask for it.  And, Garland should set forth circumscribed authorities and duties focused on just this issue.  No wide-ranged investigation.

    Parent
    This gets more like fiction every day (none / 0) (#94)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 13, 2023 at 10:57:29 AM EST

    Biden Worries Secret Service Is Loyal to Trump
    January 13, 2023 at 11:02 am EST By Taegan Goddard 46 Comments

    "According to a new book offering an inside look at President Joe Biden's White House, Biden actively distrusts the Secret Service to the point that he does not speak freely in front of his agents and he believed that the agency lied about an incident where Biden's German shepherd Major bit an agent," Vox reports.

    But Aaron Sorkin or Stephen King?

    can't decide

    They used to say (none / 0) (#130)
    by jondee on Mon Jan 16, 2023 at 03:21:24 PM EST
    that there were an inordinate number of Mormons recruited into the FBI, DHS, and CIA. Maybe the same is true of the Secret Service?

    They're not exactly known for having tremendous sympathy for the liberal-progressive point of view.

    Parent

    OK..... (none / 0) (#144)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 18, 2023 at 10:04:54 AM EST

    Biden Strategy to Manage Documents Fallout Takes Shape
    January 18, 2023 at 9:10 am EST By Taegan Goddard 79 Comments

    "The White House strategy to manage the special counsel investigation into President Joe Biden's handling of classified documents has taken shape," CNN reports.

    "Pledge full cooperation. Attack House Republicans. Don't engage on the details of an ongoing matter."

    "Most of all, maintain the meticulously planned strategic road map on which Biden planned to act this month long before all but a small handful of White House officials were even aware the handling of classified documents was a problem for anyone other than his predecessor."

    It was all a brilliant plan.

    I really hope so.

    Motive? (none / 0) (#147)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 18, 2023 at 03:01:08 PM EST

    Official Asked About Trump's Handling of Russia Papers

    January 18, 2023 at 3:08 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 55 Comments

    Murray Waas: "On the eve of Donald Trump's last day in office as President, Trump sent a memo to his attorney general, and also the directors of National Intelligence and the CIA, directing them to declassify thousands of pages of highly classified government papers pertaining to the FBI's investigation into the Russian Federation's covert intervention into the 2016 US presidential election to help elect Trump and defeat Hillary Clinton."

    "But Trump was stymied in his efforts to make the records public, leading the outgoing president to rage to aides that the documents would never see the light of day."

    "Now, sources close to Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation tell me that prosecutors have questioned at least three people about whether Trump's frustrations may have been a motive in Trump taking thousands of pages of classified papers from the White House to Mar-A-Largo, in potential violation of federal law. One of those people was compelled to testify before a federal grand jury."

    "The sources say that prosecutors appear to believe the episode may be central to determining Trump's intent for his unauthorized removal from the White House of the papers."

    It's believable

    David Crosby dies at 81 (none / 0) (#160)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 20, 2023 at 06:58:53 AM EST
    Bad month for rock icons so far.

    8 miles high (none / 0) (#161)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 20, 2023 at 07:20:21 AM EST
    I could be wrong, but I think that's the record, (none / 0) (#163)
    by Peter G on Fri Jan 20, 2023 at 06:22:14 PM EST
    and the band is lip-synching. Not happily either.
      This is David Crosby to me:  I almost cut my hair. CSNY live, for six and a half minutes. "I'm not giving in an inch to fear." When I stop finding this song exciting andb inspiring, I will know I have gotten old.

    Parent
    It says they are lip syncing (none / 0) (#164)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 20, 2023 at 06:54:07 PM EST
    Under the video.  I linked to it because of how he looks.

    We know what they sound like and I was only seeing recent videos where he does not look like that.

    He looks great there.

    Parent

    David Crosby's 15 Essential Songs... (none / 0) (#166)
    by desertswine on Sat Jan 21, 2023 at 01:35:55 AM EST
    According to the crotchety NY Times.

    Parent
    Interesting (none / 0) (#162)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 20, 2023 at 09:18:18 AM EST

    Trump Warns Republicans Not to Touch Social Security
    January 20, 2023 at 9:29 am EST By Taegan Goddard 68 Comments

    "Donald Trump issued a warning to Republican lawmakers on Friday: Don't lay a finger on entitlement programs as part of the debt ceiling showdown with the White House," Politico reports.

    Said Trump: "Under no circumstances should Republicans vote to cut a single penny from Medicare or Social Security."

    "The two-minute video -- which goes on to lambaste President Joe Biden over the migration crisis at the southern border -- is part of a series of policy announcements put out by his campaign. And it comes amid growing brinkmanship between congressional Republicans and the White House over raising the nation's debt limit."



    Trump get fined for frivolous lawsuits (none / 0) (#165)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Jan 20, 2023 at 07:41:10 PM EST
    link

    So he drops another frivolous lawsuit

    link


    Yes, he has (none / 0) (#167)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Jan 21, 2023 at 05:35:15 PM EST
    to pay Hillary money. LOL LOL LOL.

    Parent
    I know I shouldn't but I think this is hilarious (none / 0) (#168)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Jan 22, 2023 at 04:37:01 PM EST

    Memorial for pro-Trump vlogger Diamond goes off the rails as sister Silk floats wild POISONING theory

    Does that make me a bad person?

    The memorial for Lynette 'Diamond' Hardaway, half of the pro-Trump vlogging duo 'Diamond and Silk,' took a dark turn on Saturday as her sister, Rochelle 'Silk' Richardson, detailed the late 51-year-old's final moments and alluded to a nefarious poisoning plot she claims caused her death.

    The three-hour service held in North Carolina saw hundreds of Make America Great Again (MAGA) figures in attendance, including the former U.S. President himself, and featured musical performances and talks from conservative figureheads.

    The right-wing tribute to Diamond took a turn however as prominent anti-vaxxer and Diamond's sister Silk took the stage - questioning whether Americans are being poisoned spurring Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to demand an investigation into the COVID vaccine.



    This is good (none / 0) (#169)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Jan 22, 2023 at 04:43:30 PM EST

    After Silk goes on and on about how much she loves Trump and all the great times they had together, Trump gets up and says this: "I knew Diamond, but I didn't know Silk at all. I just learned about Silk. You're fantastic."

    link

    Parent

    I would be interested (none / 0) (#170)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Jan 22, 2023 at 07:09:33 PM EST
    in a legal opinion about the constitutionality of this

    Arkansas drag Queen law

    If approved, the bill would classify a drag show as adult entertainment inside an adult-oriented business. This means anyone under 18 years old could not watch the show, and it could not happen on public property.

    From the actual bill

    Drag performance" means a performance: (A) In which one (1) or more performers:

    (i) Exhibits a gender identity that is different from the performer's gender assigned at birth using clothing, makeup, or
    other accessories that are traditionally worn by members of and are meant to exaggerate the gender identity of the performer's opposite sex; and
    (ii) Sings, lip-synchs, dances, or otherwise performs before an audience of at least two (2) persons for entertainment,
    whether performed for payment or not; and



    How many of Shakespeare's plays (5.00 / 2) (#171)
    by Peter G on Sun Jan 22, 2023 at 10:01:30 PM EST
    would this idiotic law make illegal outside an "adult entertainment" location? And no, it does not pass the most elementary First Amendment analysis.

    Parent
    It sounds like a trans person (none / 0) (#179)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 23, 2023 at 10:36:56 AM EST
    doing karaoke would be illegal if minors were present.

    Parent
    Underinclusive (none / 0) (#182)
    by Peter G on Mon Jan 23, 2023 at 11:17:07 AM EST
    Karaoke should be illegal in public places regardless.

    Parent
    Guess they won't (5.00 / 1) (#172)
    by jmacWA on Mon Jan 23, 2023 at 04:45:53 AM EST
    be showing any reruns of the Milton Berle show, at least on any of the public airway channels.

    Parent
    Or Ru Paul (none / 0) (#173)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 23, 2023 at 06:59:48 AM EST
    Or Mrs Doubtfire or any of those Madea movies.

    Do you think they believe this will fly or is it just theater?  

    Be interesting to see if our new governor signs it

    Parent

    "Be interesting to see (none / 0) (#180)
    by leap2 on Mon Jan 23, 2023 at 10:55:50 AM EST
    if our new governor signs it."

    Of course she will.

    Parent

    Probably (none / 0) (#181)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 23, 2023 at 11:16:28 AM EST
    But I see ambition in her piggish eyes.  It will be an interesting test.

    She is the youngest governor now.  She has time.

    Parent

    Marcy Wheeler has some stuff to say (none / 0) (#174)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 23, 2023 at 07:35:15 AM EST
    Copies (none / 0) (#175)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 23, 2023 at 07:37:16 AM EST

    If Biden's office sent originals of the classified documents found at Penn Biden to NARA, it makes their inclusion in documents sent to the policy office far less attributable to a mistake.



    Parent
    It seems, in (none / 0) (#176)
    by KeysDan on Mon Jan 23, 2023 at 10:08:31 AM EST
    my understanding, that any copies were non-classified including materials such as Biden's speeches.  Originals were deposited in the National Archives.  

    The possession of any documents by Constitutional officers, i.e.,President  or Vice President, are unlikely to be prosecutable.. Refusal to return, obstruction of recovery or use as trophies or other misuse would be another story.

    Parent

    To clarify, (none / 0) (#177)
    by KeysDan on Mon Jan 23, 2023 at 10:14:51 AM EST
    My view on non-prosecutable breach applies to present (which is not a thing while in office) and former Presidents and Vice Presidents.   Of course, this does not address the reality of the politics of the matter.

    Parent
    Yes (5.00 / 1) (#178)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 23, 2023 at 10:34:44 AM EST
    I don't think anyone serious think Biden has a legal problem.

    He definitely has a political problem.  And every new find makes it worse.

    Parent

    I (none / 0) (#184)
    by FlJoe on Mon Jan 23, 2023 at 04:54:13 PM EST
    agree and also the political price will be steeper than for tRump, sorry them's the rules.

    Parent
    Whodunit? (none / 0) (#183)
    by KeysDan on Mon Jan 23, 2023 at 01:39:31 PM EST
    Perhaps Benoit Blanc can solve this, since the Supreme Court looked high and low (mostly low) and came up empty handed.  But, the Supreme Court really tried, going the extra mile.

    As a final part of the investigation, CJ Roberts asked Michael Chertoff, former Homeland Secretary and federal appeals court judge, to review the "iterative" investigation of the Court's Marshal, Gail Curley.  

    In a statement included in the 20-page report, Chertoff said that the Marshal "undertook a thorough investigation" and that he "cannot identify any additional useful informative measures".

    A riddle that cannot be solved.   Now, how bad was this leak anyhow?  Must be very bad, since that is what the Supreme Court Justices said it was. Alito was even concerned about assassination. So bad an internal investigation was needed to get to the bottom of it.

    Michael Chertoff, we remember was the Secretary of Homeland Security who was accused of botching the response to Hurricane Katrina. So bad, that the chronically "troubled" Senator Susan Collins (R.ME) charged him as being "consistently behind the curve."

     Chertoff is friends with some of the SC justices. He was (1987-1990) first assistant to Alito when Alito was US Attorney for New Jersey and he succeeded Alito in that job. Also, Chertoff and Alito served together as federal appeals court judges from 2003 to 2005.

     Now, Chertoff no doubt did a terrifically robust and exhaustive review of the Marshal's iterativeness, but these deities must never have heard of appearances of conflict.

    I think what is happening here (none / 0) (#185)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 23, 2023 at 06:07:08 PM EST
    might be the most troubling thing in the last few years.  Through most the f the Trump era the courts are all that saved us.

    This is very scary to me.  Unlike most of the new autocracy in politics and society I don't see a solution.  There is no clear response.

    What can be done about a compromised SC?  

    I know the answer but which of those things can even be considered possible?

    Parent

    There is (none / 0) (#186)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Jan 23, 2023 at 07:33:01 PM EST
    nothing that can be done about a compromised supreme court that I know other than impeachment which won't happen because of conservatives.

    Parent
    So (none / 0) (#187)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 23, 2023 at 07:58:09 PM EST
    Who will play George Santos in the movie?

    He (5.00 / 2) (#188)
    by FlJoe on Tue Jan 24, 2023 at 06:16:32 AM EST
    will obviously play himself. Don't you know he already won an Oscar, Emmy and Tony award not to mention his Grammy for his collaboration with Taylor Swift?

    Parent
    You know there will be a movie (none / 0) (#191)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 24, 2023 at 09:06:06 AM EST
    I might even watch.

    Parent
    Fulton Co hearing tiday (none / 0) (#189)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 24, 2023 at 08:58:01 AM EST

    After the hearing, Judge McBurney could rule that the report should be made public in its entirety, with redactions regarding specific people and specific laws they might have broken, or opt to keep the entire thing under wraps pending further review.

    Any of those rulings could be appealed.

    The district attorney's office has received the full report and can issue indictments through a regular grand jury process with or without the report being publicized. Willis might also push to keep the report from the public until her office makes decisions about charges.


    Link




    OSCAR nominations are up (none / 0) (#190)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 24, 2023 at 09:02:54 AM EST
    Best Picture
    "All Quiet on the Western Front" Malte Grunert, Producer
    "Avatar: The Way of Water" James Cameron and Jon Landau, Producers
    "The Banshees of Inisherin" Graham Broadbent, Pete Czernin and Martin McDonagh, Producers
    "Elvis" Baz Luhrmann, Catherine Martin, Gail Berman, Patrick McCormick and Schuyler Weiss, Producers
    "Everything Everywhere All at Once" Daniel Kwan, Daniel Scheinert and Jonathan Wang, Producers
    "The Fabelmans" Kristie Macosko Krieger, Steven Spielberg and Tony Kushner, Producers
    "Tár" Todd Field, Alexandra Milchan and Scott Lambert, Producers
    "Top Gun: Maverick" Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, David Ellison and Jerry Bruckheimer, Producers
    "Triangle of Sadness" Erik Hemmendorff and Philippe Bober, Producers
    "Women Talking" Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner and Frances McDormand, Producers

    I've seen about half. I really like AQOTWF and Everything.

    I didn't make it through Top Gun.

    Agreed (none / 0) (#193)
    by KeysDan on Tue Jan 24, 2023 at 11:58:36 AM EST
    All Quiet ...was very good.  Elvis was much better than I anticipated. Have not seen any of the others, but Banshees.. is on my agenda, perhaps this weekend although I may bump up Benediction on my list, sort of a follow-up to the All Quiet horrors of battle with the anti-war poet, Siegfried. Sassoon.

    Parent
    New find at Pences house (none / 0) (#192)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Jan 24, 2023 at 11:30:19 AM EST

     Classified documents found at Pence's Indiana home

    They are already talking about "blanket amnesty" on CNN

    This (5.00 / 4) (#194)
    by FlJoe on Tue Jan 24, 2023 at 06:19:05 PM EST
    is starting to be a "dog bites man story", definitely a lucky break for Biden. I am still trying to process what it means for tRump, it could possibly give prosecutors the cover of treating Biden and Pence "equally" while throwing the book at tRump, probably wishful thinking on my part.

    Meanwhile the real "man bites dog story"

    Federal prosecutors say the former head of counterintelligence for the FBI's New York office laundered money, violated sanctions against Russia while working with a Russian oligarch and while still at the FBI took hundreds of thousands of dollars from a foreign national and former foreign intelligence official.
    has seemingly disappeared from the cycle.

    Lot's of juicy threads to pull on here but nada from the infotainment sphere, it makes me wonder who is trying to hide what.

    Parent

    Yes, more (5.00 / 2) (#195)
    by KeysDan on Tue Jan 24, 2023 at 07:27:16 PM EST
    here than meets the reporting, so far.  The investigation was conducted by the Los Angeles office, avoiding NY and DC.  A thread to be pulled is the Hillary email case, the Comey announcement at the 11th hour only to be called back in the minutes before polls opened.   And, of course, the whole Russian interference in the elections.

    Parent
    Also (5.00 / 2) (#198)
    by FlJoe on Wed Jan 25, 2023 at 08:29:49 AM EST
    apparently he was VP at Brookfield Properties Partners, who were instrumental in bailing out Kushner's 666 building with money from Qatar who were seemingly strong-armed by the Saudi's.

    Of course the idiot media is fixated on Hunters lap top while Kushner's foreign entanglements are ignored, even though he was a government and the payoff was several orders of magnitude larger than anything Hunter even dreamed about.

    Parent

    And, then there is (5.00 / 1) (#199)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jan 25, 2023 at 10:25:19 AM EST
    the NYTimes stenography: Oct 31,2016, "Investigating Trummp: FBI Sees No Clear Link to Russia."  

    Just before the election of 2016, the story appeared on the front page. The Clinton Campaign made protests but the FBI would not even confirm there was an investigation.  


    Parent

    Yeap (5.00 / 2) (#200)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jan 25, 2023 at 10:33:41 AM EST
    it seems 2016 is still with us but finally we are finding out definitely what many of us knew or suspected years ago. I would bet money the recently indicted FBI agent was the source for that NYT story.

    The Kremlin has it tentacles everywhere it seems. Still think Obama made a massive mistake not announcing to voters the Russian psy ops that were happening in 2016. Just another sad example of his timidity in the face of fascism.

    Parent

    Yes, just before the election, (5.00 / 1) (#202)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jan 25, 2023 at 12:27:16 PM EST
    in October 2016, Comey moved McGonnigal, the charged top FBI agent to the NY field office as head of counterintelligence.  This was the office that was leaking false information about Hillary to Rudy who claimed that the FBI would revolt if she was not indicted. And, curiously, Rudy predicted the re-opening of the email investigation before Comey actually announced it.

    When Comey appeared before Congress in 2018, he said he was worried that if he did not reveal information about these "new" emails, even though it was 11 days before the election, the NY office would leak it.

    Sally Yates, in her testimony, said Comey and other FBI officials felt that the NY office would leak the information and, therefore, it forced his hand to tell Congress.

    McGonnigal was a dear friend of Oleg Deripaska, who is a dear friend of Vlad Putin.   Small world.

    Parent

    All this (5.00 / 1) (#203)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jan 25, 2023 at 08:08:16 PM EST
    makes me suspicious of the Hunter laptop and makes me think that the FBI mole possibly loaded copies of the emails onto the laptop.

    Parent
    Bothsides: AG Garland will (5.00 / 1) (#201)
    by KeysDan on Wed Jan 25, 2023 at 12:09:27 PM EST
    not have to appoint a Special Counsel unless/until Pence announces a run for the presidency, but he should do as he did with President Biden--appoint a US Attorney to review the matter and make a recommendation (US Attorney for Northern Illinois at Chicago, Republican, John Lausch). And, it should be a Democratic US Attorney.

    Pence's documents were found at his new home in Indiana. During the first year or so after leaving the vice presidency, Pence and Mother stayed at various friends until they moved into their new house. So, it would also be important to know where these documents were stored and who could access them during that interim period

    Parent

    Actual (none / 0) (#204)
    by FlJoe on Thu Jan 26, 2023 at 04:42:10 PM EST
    journalism from the NYT

    We all knew it was a partisan witch hunt

    the main thrust of the Durham inquiry was marked by some of the very same flaws -- including a strained justification for opening it and its role in fueling partisan conspiracy theories that would never be charged in court -- that Trump allies claim characterized the Russia investigation.
    nobody expected coherence, much less  ethics
    Durham inquiry became roiled by internal dissent and ethical disputes as it went unsuccessfully down one path after another even as Mr. Trump and Mr. Barr promoted a misleading narrative of its progress.

    This however is a very interesting

    On one of Mr. Barr and Mr. Durham's trips to Europe, according to people familiar with the matter, Italian officials -- while denying any role in setting off the Russia investigation -- unexpectedly offered a potentially explosive tip linking Mr. Trump to certain suspected financial crimes.
    How explosive?
    Mr. Barr and Mr. Durham decided that the tip was too serious and credible to ignore.
    Translation from  weaselspeak "let the cover up begin"
    But rather than assign it to another prosecutor, Mr. Barr had Mr. Durham investigate the matter himself -- giving him criminal prosecution powers for the first time -- even though the possible wrongdoing by Mr. Trump did not fall squarely within Mr. Durham's assignment



    I bet they fall within (none / 0) (#205)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Jan 26, 2023 at 04:46:37 PM EST
    Mr Smith's assignment

    Parent
    Not (none / 0) (#206)
    by FlJoe on Thu Jan 26, 2023 at 06:11:05 PM EST
    sure what the scope of Smith's investigation is, but it always seems to be narrower for Republicans if you know what I mean.

    I an bet you this story will be buried.