Glenn Kirschner – Justice Matters Compilation of Legal Stories for the Month of August 2021
Ring of Fire – Anti-Vaxxer Facing Felony Charges For Selling Fake Vaccine Cards. Sheesh! Double facepalm.
MSNBC – Kevin McCarty Threatens Tech Companies Over GOP Phone Records
Now This News – Cow Stuck in Tree After Hurricane Ida Hits Louisiana (no words0
Vox – How oysters can stop a flood
Rob Rogers – Cowboy Diplomacy
Beau – Let’s talk about the US exit and criticism….
Yesterday, I got serious about getting ready to go see Virgil tomorrow. Even though I’ve done it once recently, it still requires thought and preparation. But I think I have it pretty much together. As the weather cools down, which I assume it will eventually, it will be easier … there are things I cannot put into the car a day ahead without risking heat damage to them at this point – unless I do so after dark, whidh has its own downsides.
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Short Takes –
The New Yorker (Borowitz) – New Law Requires Texans to Have Counselling Before Being Allowed to Vote
Quote – “Sometimes, a person is upset with their situation and thinks that voting is the only answer,” the Governor said. “A counsellor can sit with them, pray with them, and help them make the right choice.”
Click thgough for deets. For a split second I believed this was straight news.
The Hill – Colorado officers, paramedics charged in 2019 death of Elijah McClain
Quote – An independent probe submitted to the Aurora City Council in February determined that the police and paramedics involved were were at fault in McClain’s death, saying there was no reason to stop McClain, who was walking home from a convenience store. That report also concluded that no crime had been reported when McClain was stopped and he wasn’t exhibiting any threatening behavior.
Click through for a little more. Democratic AG + grand jury = results (sometimes.) You may remember that Elijah used to play the violing in animal shelters. As an animal lover and a former violinist, I took this personally.
The 19th – Even if Texas’ six-week abortion ban is overturned, clinics will close
Quote – “This law will end legal abortion in Texas. Allowing the state to do that and effectively close all abortion clinics — even if the law is ultimately struck down — will give the state what it wants,” said Leah Litman, an assistant professor of law at the University of Michigan and expert in constitutional law. “Just allowing this law to go into effect is ending abortion in Texas.”
Click through for story. In case you missed this (and had no idea what Andy was satirizing) this is it.
Food for Thought –
Glenn Kirschner – Congress Prepares to Subpoena…Members of Congress. What might Jim Jordan Do if Forced to Testify?
MSNBC Chris Hayes – U.S. Troops Are Finally Out Of Afghanistan–And It’s Remarkable
The Lincoln Peoject – Last Week in the Republica Party
Really Americn – Attorney General Must Arrest Trump Now
Robert Reich – Is Billionaire Philanthropy a Sham?
Mrs. Betty Bowers, America’s Best Christian – Explaining Humans to Aliens
Parody Project – MISS ME
Beau – Let’s talk about safe passage and a continuation of politics by other means….
Yesterday, I had another scheduling error. It’s a new month, let’s hope I can get a new start and do better. I did get my recyclables out for pickup with the trash on Thursday. The recyclables are not only heaver (paper weighs a TON) but also a lot bulkier, so that’s a relief.
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Short Takes –
Dem Underground – Rubin: Biden tells some hard truths few want to hear
Quote – He was criticized for “abandoning” Afghans; when we stay to rescue them he gets faulted for risking American lives.
Click through, and through again to the Washington Post if you can get pst the paywall. Of course, the more hard truths one can grasp, and the sooner one can grasp them, the happier one will be in the long run. To paraphrase C. S. Lewis, the same place which would be a godawful hotel might be a very desirable prison.
The Hill – Biden digs in with fervent defense of Afghanistan withdrawal
Quote – “We no longer had a clear purpose in an open-ended mission in Afghanistan,” Biden said, his voice rising as he delivered his speech. “After 20 years of war in Afghanistan, I refused to send another generation of America’s sons and daughters to fight a war that should have ended long ago.” Biden’s remarks came about 24 hours after the last U.S. troops departed Afghanistan, bringing an end to America’s longest war and capping weeks of harsh criticism of his administration’s execution of the withdrawal.
Click through for story and video. As more and more veterans and even former defense contractors chime in to bolster the truth that this with drawal was as successful as it ever could have been, I hope that more and more people who are not experienced will gradually come to realize that. It simply boggles my mind, the kind of strength and integrity it took to know that this was always what was going to happen and still go in and make it happen to save lives in the future and benefit the nation.
Mother Jones – The Anti-Vax Lawyer Representing January 6 Rioters Has Suddenly Gone Missing
Quote – “The US. Attorney’s Office has had no contact with Mr. Pierce—by phone, email, or otherwise—since Monday, August 23, 2021, when he appeared for a hearing before the Honorable Paul L. Friedman in United States v. Jeremiah Caplinger,” the filing on Monday read. “Since that time, the U.S. Attorney’s Office has heard conflicting information about Mr. Pierce’s health and whereabouts.”
Click through for the story and speculation. It sounds as though Karma might have more of a sense of humor than we giver her credit for.
Wonkette has a couple of articles up which could help with decompression:
A tribute to Molly Ivins
Advice from a cat
Food for Thought –
Glenn Kirschner – 3 Judicial Fixes: Increase Justices; Accelerated Docket for Inter-Branch Disputes; Court Watching. I do think maybe if we increase the number of Federal Judges in the Districys and in Appeals,we might have a better chance of getting consensus on increasing the Supreme Court as well. Maybe not … but it couldn’e hurt.
Don Winslow Films – #KevinMcCarthyScandal
Now This News – Jen Psaki on U.S-Made Weapons Falling Into Hands of Taliban. She has a lot more patience than I have.
Really American – Rand Paul Pushes Horse Medication
Liberal Redneck – Ivermectin (I know – not in accordance with medical ethics – but so tempting!)
Thomas Benjamin Wild Esq – Stop Being An Arsehole (Live At Bedfringe)
Beau – Let’s talk about learning from history….
Yesterday, I received 3 packages from UPS and one from USPS. The one from USPS was small and delivered to my mailbox, so since I had to go out to the curb anyway, I bindled up a bunch of plastic shipping material (“popcorn” and heavy duty bubble wrap mostly), took it to the trash, and then took the trash to the curb. Today or tomorrow I’ll break up a few boxes and do the same for the recyclables. Pickip os Thursday, and I don’t put stuff out every week. Otherwise, the day was pretty uneventful.
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Short Takes –
Department of Justice – St. Paul Woman Charged in Child Sex Trafficking Conspiracy
Quote – According to court documents, from May 2020 through December 2020, Gisela Castro Medina, 19, and co-defendant Anton Joseph Lazzaro, 30, conspired with each other and others to recruit and solicit six minor victims to engage in commercial sex acts. Castro Medina, who was arrested on August 12, 2021, in Okaloosa County, Florida, made her initial appearance earlier today before Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon, in U.S. District Court in Pensacola, Florida.
Click through for DOJ press release. This has taken a couple of weeks to surface, but I figured the DOJ version would be the least sensational, and it appears to be. Law & Crime has photos.
The Daily Beast – ‘Wacky Guy’ Angrily Confronts NBC News Correspondent During Live Hurricane Report
Quote – Explaining that the rain had stopped in the area and mail delivery had returned in Gulfport, Brewster reported that the mayor of the town was still enforcing a curfew as they surveyed the damage. At the same time, a pickup truck pulled over in the background of Brewster’s shot, with a large, middle-aged man jumping out of the vehicle and running towards the NBC News crew. Keeping his composure, Brewster attempted to continue to deliver his report on the hurricane’s aftermath, but the man eventually grew disruptive and began shouting at both the camera crew and the reporter.
Click through for story and video. This kind of thing just breaks my heart.
AP News – Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, partner wed in New Mexico
Quote – Haaland wore a dress designed and sewn by her sister, said Interior Department spokeswoman Melissa Schwartz. The ceremony incorporated elements honoring her Native American ancestry. The former New Mexico congresswoman is a member of the Laguna Pueblo. According to Schwartz, guests had to be vaccinated to attend and wear masks per CDC and New Mexico guidelines.
Click through for story and photo. She looks absolutely gorgeous. They both do.
Food for Thought –
Glenn Kirschner – First Insurrection Trial Set for 10/18; Answers to FAQs About the Insurrection Cases
Meidas Touch – Is Being an Anti-Vax, Anti-Mask Parent CHILD ABUSE?! | Legal AF
Ring of Fire – Marjorie Taylor Greene Is FURIOUS That Republicans Won’t Follow Her Plan To Impeach Biden
Crooks and Liars – DeJuana Thompson, founder of “Wpke Vote.”
Also Crooks and Liars – CIA Expert Explains Why No One Should Second Guess Biden
In Memory of Ed Asner (RIP)
Rocky Mountain Mike – Medicine For Horses, It’s Lame
Beau – Let’s talk about a story for people in Louisiana…. I looked at that title and thought I probably would not share it … and then I listened.
Yesterday, I mostly rested. Did some crocheting. I had finished the top I was making for my friend, and started another one for another friend. Ordinarily I vastly prefer knitting to crocheting, but this was an unusual pattern and the structure of it hooked me (pun intended.) I may be able to figure out how to translate that look to knitting, but I’ll want to try it doll-size before attempting anything bigger.
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Short Takes –
The Hill – Biden allies say media missing the mark on Afghanistan
Quote – “Every Biden misstep or setback is treated like Trump said COVID will just go away, windmills cause cancer, or that he won re-election,” [Philippe] Reines [a media aficionado and longtime senior adviser to Hillary Clinton] said. “If the goal is to be truly honest, accurate, and fair when covering Biden, there are thousands of adjectives and countless degrees of indignation for the media to choose from. This isn’t hard.”
Click through for other statements. Personally, I would file this under “No shit, Sherlock.” (and I would criticize the media a little more harshly than some), but apparently it needs to be said.
CBS News – Veteran dies of treatable illness as COVID fills hospital beds, leaving doctors “playing musical chairs”
Quote – [Belville emergency room physician Dr. Hasan] Kakli told [“CBS This Morning” lead national correspondent David] Begnaud that if it weren’t for the COVID crisis, the procedure for Wilkinson would have taken 30 minutes, and he’d have been back out the door. I’ve never lost a patient from this diagnosis, ever,” Kakli said. “We know what needs to be done and we know how to treat it, and we get them to where they need to go. I’m scared that the next patient that I see is someone that I can’t get to where they need to get to go. We are playing musical chairs, with 100 people and 10 chairs,” he said. “When the music stops, what happens? People from all over the world come to Houston to get medical care and, right now, Houston can’t take care of patients from the next town over. That’s the reality.”
Click through for story and video. This, along with one other case in Kansas, is the first confirmed case I am aware of where someone died specifically because of unvaccinated CoViD patients. And it’s heartbreaking.
Dem Underground – From the sane Kennedys
Quote – Our father’s death impacted our family in ways that can never adequately be articulated and today’s decision by a two-member parole board [committee] has inflicted enormous additional pain. But beyond just us, six of Robert Kennedy’s nine surviving children, Sirhan Sirhan committed a crime against our nation and its people. He took our father from our family and he took him from America.
Click through to read full statement. I admit this makes me nervous at best.
Food for Thought – kind of related to yesterday’s Furies.
