Glenn Kirschner – Absurd claim by Trump’s attorney that Trump only “technically” violated the Constitution
The Lincoln Project – Us vs. Trump
Democracy Now – “It’s a Way of Reparations”: Why Henrietta Lacks Settlement Matters for Bioethics & Racial Justice
The Ring of Fire – Trump’s Defense Strategy Could Result In A Very Quick Conviction
Shelter Cat Works At A Museum Now (Let it run all the way to see Indy’s full name)
Beau – Let’s talk about the Wisconsin Supreme Court….
Yesterday, Katie Porter sent a fundraising email as unique as her whiteboard. She talks about her kids liking Mom’s cooking, and her jugglimg of cooking, and then offers to send her recipes to anyone who gives any amount through the email (If you didn’t get it, I’ll be happy to forward it,) AND – by the end of the day, voters in Ohio destroyed the GOP trap proposition bigly. Congratulations, Ohio!
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The Daily Beast – Watch Out for Renewed GOP Assaults on No-Fault Divorce
Quote – Conservative commentators are joining the calls to end no-fault divorce. Steven Crowder bemoaned the fact that Texas law permitted his wife to divorce him just because “she didn’t want to be married anymore.”… The earliest divorce laws in this country required the party seeking divorce to prove that the other party had committed one of the enumerated types of marital “fault” that the legislature had deemed sufficient to justify allowing the marriage to be dissolved. Every divorce law included adultery as a ground, and some states also had grounds like abandonment, neglect, imprisonment, or extreme cruelty. These grounds represented the legislature’s determination about what types of marital breakdown were dealbreakers. But the fault-based system had other features, as well. The party filing for divorce had to be “innocent” of marital fault themselves—if each party proved the other had committed marital fault, the law said that the parties had to stay married under the doctrine of recrimination. In other words, the worse the marriage, the longer it should last.
Click through for article. Republicans – authoritarians – want so badly to prevent women from hving any freedom that they don’t appear to realize that this would trap men too. I’m old enought to remember the so-called joke, “My wife is married, but I’m not.” That won’t fly any more.
ProPublica – Bullied by Her Own Party, a Wisconsin Election Official’s GOP Roots Mean Nothing in Volatile New Climate
Quote – Margaret Rose Bostelmann’s ideals are clear from one glance at her well-kept ranch-style house in central Wisconsin…. But her fellow Republicans have exiled her and disparaged her, sought to upend her career and, on this day in July, brought the 70-year-old to tears as she discussed what she’s been through over the last several years because she refuses to support false claims that Trump won the state in the 2020 presidential election…. Now a suit filed in June by a Wisconsin man who promotes conspiracy theories about election fraud seeks her removal from the commission. Citing her estrangement from the county party, the suit claims she’s not qualified to fill a position intended for a Republican.
Click through for details. So, Liz Cheney is not a one-off. But – there are certainly not enough of them to be or become a national party.
Food For Thought
They won their special elections by 78% and 92% – and now they have national name recognition.
Glenn Kirschner – Trump arguably violates conditions of pretrial release AND tries to insult his way out of a DC trial
The Lincoln Project – Special Counsel Jack Smith on Trump’s Third Indictment
Robert Reich – Why Thousands of Workers Are on Strike
The Ring of Fire – Police Killings Set Record High In 2022 & Arizona’s Secret Surveillance Program
Lion Dog Was Invisible To Everyone
[This is kind of the opposite of a shaggy dog story. It doesn’t build expectations in a certain direction. But it does have a punch line.]
Beau – Let’s talk about Finland, Russia, and David….
Yesterday, I got a note from James – our lurker who has had so many problems in the last few years, most recently multiple surgeries (and asked for vibes for those.) After six years, he has finally received SSDI. IIRC he had to re-apply once or twice, but even if that only went back to the most recent re-application, that’s still a couple of years back pay. He can finally be confident of a roof over his head, not starving, and being together with his beloved Cinnamon, the last surviving dog in what was once a family of house dogs (for a while he had to board Cinnamon with a friend, not only because of his absence due to the surgeries, but for financial
reasons.) So he has freedom at last. Also yesterday – I know Colorado has a well deserved reputation for crazy weather – but can you even imagine a day when the temperature follows the pattern of the red line in the graph at the right? Yes, that was yesterday. Really. Finally, today is the big vote in Ohio nn a proposed highly unconcstitutional amendment to the state constitution. Be sure to keep them in your prayers (or however you communicate with the universe.)
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Wonkette – Black DA Elected In Augusta Georgia So White County Creates Own Separate, Unequal Judicial Circuit
Quote – Reporter Justin Glawe details in The Guardian how the day after the election, before the results were even certified, Republican state legislator Barry Fleming sent a text to Doug Duncan, the county commission chair for Columbia, one of the three counties in the circuit and by far the whitest. The text asked, “Does the board of commissioners want to be there [sic] own judicial circuit.” (No one has time for spelling when they’re busy screwing democracy!) Duncan thought this was swell, so by December, he’d officially asked the area’s lawmakers to introduce legislation separating Columbia county from the judicial circuit that also included Richmond and Burke counties.
Click through for story. After learning what’s been going on forever in Newbern, AL, this hit me with the realization that stuff like this has been going on, all over, since 1964 and we simply haven’t seen it, despite its being done in broad daylight. Apperently even woke Democrats aren’t woke enough.
Letters from an American – August 6, 2023
Quote – On August 6, 1880, Republican presidential candidate James A. Garfield gave one of his most famous speeches…. Garfield promised that “we will remember our allies who fought with us.” He explained: “Soon after the great struggle began, we looked behind the army of white rebels, and saw 4,000,000 of black people condemned to toil as slaves for our enemies; and we found that the hearts of these 4,000,000 were God-inspired with the spirit of liberty, and that they were all our friends.” As the crowd applauded, he continued: “We have seen white men betray the flag and fight to kill the Union; but in all that long, dreary war we never saw a traitor in a black skin.”
Click through for the untold story. Sounds to me like Garfield signed his own death warrant that night. I know tht’s not what the history books say., but…. Also, we need to add another Republican to the list of good presidents.
Food For Thought
Glenn Kirschner – Just 24 hours after being told by judge not to threaten witnesses, Trump appears to violate order
The Lincoln Project – Uh oh, 3.0
Thom Hartmann – Did the DeSantis Campaign Approve Nazi Symbol “Political” Ad?
MSNBC – ‘Exciting, blustering nutjobs’: Money problems, chaos seen in state Republican Parties
Cat Dumped For Being ‘Aggressive’ Transforms Into A Lovebug
Beau – Let’s talk about Texas, definitions, and people….
Yesterday, Steve Schmidt wrote about a forthcoming debate between Gavin Newsom (CA) and Ron DeSantis (FL) which is to be hosted on Fox by Sean Hamity. He fully expects Newsom to triumph, and is looking forward to seeing it. Having steeped myself in the Alt-Right Playbook, I will not be watching.There will be far too many people unable to understand what the are seeing and unable to accept any victory but that of a bully. I have screamed about that too may times and am quite hoarse already. Though I’d love to be wrong. Steve says Gavin gave him the best parenting advice he has ever received, and to this day asks whenever they meet how his son is doing. MAGAts’ idea of parenting advice is “Raise your son to be a monster.” Yes, some of them actually say that. Along with make sure your kids have guns. I just can’t. Anyway, the date has not been set, but Steve promises updates as soon as available. Backing up a little, earlier this week (most of you probably got this) our Mitch sent a photo of a Monarch on the milkweed he had planted to attract them, and remarked that he hoped for caterpillars. Yesterday, he sent a couple of photos of caterpillars. Of course I congratulated the butterfly foster daddy!
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HuffPost – The Network Behind Trump’s Election Lies Hasn’t Backed Down — Despite His Indictment
Quote – But Trump’s attempts to overturn the election were enabled by a fertile environment to bolster his groundless claims. Several co-conspirators allegedly helped manufacture and push the lies that fueled his attempt to steal a second term, per the indictment, in addition to a network of supporters who have invested their time and energy over the past three years in supporting the big lie. While none of these allies were charged in the indictment ― Trump is the sole named defendant ― it’s hard to deny the culture of election denial they helped create.
Click through for essay. If it were just Trump**… we could deal with it. It’s this that’s the problem going forward.
CNN – Black mayor of tiny Alabama town says he was ousted by his White predecessor
Quote – LaQuenna Lewis said she was introduced to Braxton as the mayor by a mutual friend when she was looking to find a base for her non-profit food distribution work. She told CNN he helped with that request and then she decided she had to help him over his disputed mayorship. “I was just in disbelief because I had never seen or heard of anything like that,” said Lewis, who added that her family had lived around Newbern “forever.” It took time to find the right attorneys and get the lawsuit going, she said, but it was still relevant even more than three years after Braxton was told he was mayor. “I was noticing that people felt like this is a small town, it didn’t merit the attention,” she said. “But this is definitely major. This is something that if it’s happening here, you never know where else it’s happening.”
Click through – yes, I covered this when it came out locally, but it’s now national news (a good thing) and there are some updates.
Food For Thought
[Trump** must want to be locked up. Why? To instigate another insurretion? What are we missing here?]
Glenn Kirschner – Trump’s arraignment: a speedy trial is coming; Trump’s threatening post; and possible consequences
The Lincoln Project – Clown Convention
MSNBC (Crooks & Liars) – [it’s probably findable on YouTube, but this is such a nice, tight clip I just went with it.]
Farron Balanced – Trump Supporters Hurl Racist Threats At Prosecutor Before She Indicts Trump
Dog Waits For Months For Mom To Come Home From The Hospital
Beau – Let’s talk about how the GOP indicted Trump….
Yesterday, the radio opera was Benjamin Britten’s “Turn of the Screw” (libretto by Myfanwy Piper – she was a Welsh poet and librettist), based on the novella by Henry James. I saw this opera performed when I was in college, and I had read the book, and I’ve read critical works about both, and I have no idea what happens in it. But that’s because no oe does. (Well, maybe Henry James, but he’s dead. And Britten and Piper knew what they intended, but they’re dead too.) It’s one of two things. Either a governess comes to s country home to care for a young brother and sister, where the ghostsof the previous (deceased) governess and a (recently deceased) butler have demonically possessed them. Or else, a governess comes to a country home to take care of a young brother and sister, but becomes delusional and evuntually psychotic. And part of the point is that none of the creators – not James, not Britten, not Piper – wanted anyone to know for sure which was “reality.” It’s creepier this way. Britten’s other operas include “Peter Grimes” (considered his masterpiece). “Billy Budd,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and “Albert Herring,” of which only Peter Grimes is at all ambiguous. And it’s not ambiguous in the same way. There’s no question about what happened – only the degree to which Grimes could have prevented the worst of it if he had done things differently. I’m not sure of that either, but there is enough information that I can understand taking a position and being comfortable with that position, either way. Turn of the Screw, not so much. Melodically, probably the most memorable part is the little song the children sing, “Malo, malo, malo, malo” which due to the peculiarities of Latin really does translate to “I would rather be in an apple tree than a naughty boy in adversity.” Of course the repetition of it doesn’t hurt in making it memorable, nor does the growing implication that i’s darker than the actual meaning would suggest. This production was recorded in Budapest in September 2022, and conducted by Ivan Fischer. It’s scored for only 13 musicians. Britten really demonstrates that, if you know wht you re doing, you can get a wole lot of color out of an ensemle that small. There are six characters, and five of them are sopranos. The other is a tenor. Most composers will make their villains baritones, and especially if the villain is supernatural. I find it much scarier if that character is a tenor.
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Today’s Edition Newsletter – Our role in ensuring accountability.
Quote – We find ourselves in an unfair situation: To hold Trump to account for his crimes, we must defeat him politically. Embedded in that unfair proposition are two disturbing corollaries:
If Trump (or a surrogate) is elected, a Republican Attorney General will dismiss the charges against Trump; and
Republicans in Congress will accept that perversion of justice by Trump and his Attorney General as “business as usual” in the post-truth, post-democracy second Trump administration.
Click through (and click “Continue Reading”). He’s right. It isn’t fair at all. But – if you thought you could sit back and let the Special Counsel’s office work – you can’t. Actually, I’m sure no one here was intending to sit back and relax for anything longer than a short victory lap. But – if you know anyone who is – best pass this on.
NPR – Petting other people’s dogs, even briefly, can boost your health.
Quote – I started pondering the power of dogs during one of my daily strolls around my neighborhood. Almost invariably, I’ll run into at least one person walking their dog. If I get the OK to pet the pooch, it’s a joyous moment of cooing and sloppy kisses. I always walk away from these canine exchanges feeling just a bit more relaxed, and happy. And that got me wondering, could these short interactions with other people’s dogs actually be good for me?
Click through for story. Though not mentioned, I’m sure this is also true for cats – for some people, even more so. “Dog people” and “cat people” do exist (granted with a good deal of overlap.)
Food For Thought
