Glenn Kirschner – EVEN MORE classified documents found in Trump’s office, & these docs had been uploaded to the cloud!
Thom Hartmann – Did Far Right Turn Religion Into Authoritarian Cult?
Politics Girl – Wanna Save Democracy? (Yes, the primary is over now – Janet Protasiewicz won the open primary, and that’s good. But she won with a plurality, not a majority, and now we need to win the general. As far as I can gather from what I have found about the candidates, Wisconsin could really use its own Stacey Abrams right now.)
Parody Project – Parody of Mac the Knife about Jack Smith Special Prosecutor
My deer are getting high on Nitrous Oxide (NOS–laughing gas). Watch them lose their minds!
Yesterday, I mostly recuperated from the weekend. Yeah, my life is – what should I say – inside out? – now. Fridays are the days i dread and Mondays the ones I look forward to. I did get an order in to the store I couldn’t order from last time – they have updated their website again, and this update actually works. Si I’ll have an order come in today. Other than that, if you have heard that the US has placed new sanctions on Russia, this time prohibiting US coffeemakers (among other things) from being sent there, and are wondering WTF, wonder no more. Modern coffeemakers contain computer chips whichcanbe extracted and used to repair broken weapons. And apparently they still have some people there smart enough to do that. Laugh if you will. May as well. (That may even be part of the point.)
Cartoon
Short Takes –
Colorado Public Radio – From baseball phenom to Colorado community leader: The life and legacy of William ‘Bay Bay’ Richardson
Quote – For decades William Richardson touched the lives of hundreds of young people in his close-knit Colorado community, but many of them had no idea that before then their longtime coach and mentor had already made his mark on Black history, American history and sports history. For a time even his own children were unaware of all that he’d accomplished and the sacrifices he’d made in his young adult years to play the game he loved — baseball. In honor of Black History Month, this never-before-told story chronicles Richardon’s journey from a pitcher in the Negro Baseball Leagues, sports leagues born out of America’s racial segregation era, to a Colorado community leader. Click through for full story. I don’t like to use thwo short takes the same day from the same source, but this one just popped up, and it may help to alleviate the bad taste the other article will leave you with.
Colorado Public Radio – What we know about the stalking case involving Black ranchers in El Paso County
Quote – It is unclear at the moment why the sheriff’s office didn’t assign someone else to investigate the claims, because the Mallerys have also complained about Gerhart, claiming he was complicit in intimidating them and trying to force them off of their land. Gerhart stated in the affidavit that he was the subject of four of the Mallerys’ complaints against El Paso County Sheriff deputies in the last two years — all of which were dismissed. In total, Gerhart said the Mallerys filed more than 15 internal affairs complaints against deputies. Click through for full story. As you read, think about the Black History article I shared yesterday concerning white comfort. (I did not simply assume the Clarks are white – I searched and confirmed it.) I know whom I believe.
Yesterday, I got to see Virgil. I passed on greetings, and He said to tell y’all they are appreciated. Today he seemed to have grasped that he willnot be getting out of prison alive, but he asked me – and I know it wasn’t s much as every five minutes, but it was often – how long we had been married (39 years this May) and also, though much less frequently, how old he is (79 – will be 80 in July.) He didn’t appear at all frustrated by not knowing, at least. I left at exactly the right time – five minutes later and the glare would have been too much.Neither visitors nor inmates are allowed watches, but there are a few windows in the room, and they face roughly west, so that if there is sun the light hitting the floor (snd eventually the wall) acts like a makeshift sundial. Six stripes on the south wall means time to go. Once we get back to DST it shouldn’t be a problem – visitation ends early enough that I’ll be fine staying until it’s over – and that will happen for my next visit on March 12. Now, in November, it appears there may be what we called in the military a fire drill, but using an ethnic slur which I won’t repeat. My state has passed legislation to keep DST, as has Ohio. Missouri and Texas have not. California voters have passed a referendum, but the legislature has yet to act. Needless to say, Australia will not be affected by us. For anyone in the US, I highly recommend a bit of research on your state between now and November.
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Short Takes –
Crooks & Liars – Beltway Media Still Doesn’t Understand Where Right Wingers Get Their Ideas
Quote – In 2016, Stephen Gossett of Chicagoist recounted the history that these Times reporters don’t seem to know: “There is a very simple two-part explanation as to why this happened: President Obama’s adopted hometown is Chicago; and Chicago struggles with gun violence. So its not surprising to find an example that stretches all the way back to Obama’s first presidential campaign.” Click through for article. Yes, Obama is still the bogey-an for way too many people, and probabloy some arenot even MAGAs.
Medium – 5 Reasons Why White People Are Afraid of Disposing of Their White Comfort
Quote – White comfort shows up everywhere, for instance, in the workplace when keeping Black people a way from senior positions, discriminatory hiring practices. Also, in schools that refuse to teach Critical Race Theory, states that ban books, and the way white people avoid discussing race relations and racism. All of these instances, are sensitive to white people because it pricks them into their skin like a needle; they feel like they are being attacked because they are being asked to be held accountable, and face the reality of the changing world that is being inclusive of everyone but them for once. Click through for article. White privilege, white fragility, white comfort – they are very similar, though there are subtle differences. All are so subtle yet all-pervasive that many white people don’t know they exist, and often actively fight the idea that they exist. People of color know that if they say or do anything which distirbs white comfort, even someting as innocuous as being in a particular place, their risks extend all the way up to death.
On the anniversary of Putin’s ill-advised invasion there have been many accolades paying tribute to the resolve and bravery of Ukraine and its people. Out of the many options commemorating this sad day I wanted to be as inclusive as possible. I decided by sharing the many wonderful lightings in Ukraine’s colors of landmarks around the world would be a good format.
But the problem that ensued was where to draw the line. That’s why I’m late getting this posted: It was hard to stop downloading them – and I’m still leaving many out.
Some of the GIFs are of a landmark or landmarks in a single region, while others are of varied locations. I’ll try to very briefly identify them below the GIFs, so look for an easily recognizable one as a marker to determine the order.
Empire State Building
Eiffel Tower
Memphis Bridge, Copenhagen Castle, Denver City Hall, Stenbock House (Estonia), French Embassy and Ludwigsburg Palace (Germany)
Colosseum
Los Angeles: 2nd Street Tunnel and City Hall
(SIDEBAR: The 2nd Street Tunnel has played a pivotal role in many movies: Blade Runner, Flashdance, Terminator, Rocky IV, Lethal Weapon 2, etc.)
Helsinki Town Hall, Kyiv Opera House, Parliament Building – Lisbon, Lviv Opera House – Ukraine, Cibeles Fountain – Madrid, Flinders Street – Melbourne, Metropolitan Opera House – NYC
San Francisco City Hall
UK Sites: St. George Hall – Liverpool, 10 Downing Street, The Eye – London, Trafalgar Square – London, St. Albans Cathedral
Niagara Falls, Oslo City Hall, Peace Tower – Ottawa, Sarajevo City Hall (Bosnia), Parliament Building – Madrid, Sydney Opera House, Toulouse City Hall (France)
Chicago: Chicago City Hall, the Rest Are of Chicago’s Merchandise Mart, Featuring “Art on the Mart”
Washington, DC: Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Kennedy Center and National Cathedral
Experts in autocracies have pointed out that it is, unfortunately, easy to slip into normalizing the tyrant, hence it is important to hang on to outrage. These incidents which seem to call for the efforts of the Greek Furies (Erinyes) to come and deal with them will, I hope, help with that. As a reminder, though no one really knows how many there were supposed to be, the three names we have are Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone. These roughly translate as “unceasing,” “grudging,” and “vengeful destruction.”
James O’Keefe has been forced out of “Project Veritas,” the duplicitous propaganda organization which he founded 13 years ago. I wish I could call this good news, but I can’t. Project Veritas is 100% on board with all the work he has done for it – it just disapproves of his stealing from them to purchase luxuries. And he claims that his work is not done and that he will start a new organization – and we all know he is the poster child for disingenuosity.
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Project Veritas fired James O’Keefe over fear of losing its nonprofit status – 5 questions answered
James O’Keefe, the founder of Project Veritas, says he has been fired. He is no longer leading the conservative nonprofit organization, which is known for its use of hidden cameras and false identities to try to catch members of the media and progressive leaders saying embarrassing things and to expose their supposed liberal biases.
To learn more about the accusations against O’Keefe and what the legal consequences might be for the tax-exempt organization, The Conversation asked nonprofit law scholar Samuel Brunson five questions to explain the situation and the issues it raises.
Who is accused of what, exactly?
The board of directors of Project Veritas has accused O’Keefe of “financial misfeasance.” Its allegations of financial improprieties by the man who until recently served as the group’s chairman include that he spent money donated to the organization on various luxuries for himself, such as charter flights and theater tickets.
If the accusations prove valid, it is possible that this misuse of Project Veritas funds could imperil the group’s tax exemption. A tax-exempt organization cannot use its money to benefit certain individuals, especially insiders such as its leaders and major donors. It can pay its employees, but the staff and its leaders cannot receive unreasonable compensation or any other type of benefit that looks like the tax-exempt organization is sharing its profits with them.
While it sounds odd that a nonprofit would have profits, it is not. The rule for nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations is not that they cannot make profits; it is that, unlike for-profit entities, they cannot distribute their profits to shareholders.
2. Why would it be a big deal if Project Veritas were to lose its tax-exempt status?
Tax-exempt status provides at least three benefits to Project Veritas.
First, these groups don’t need to pay taxes on most of their revenue.
Second, and likely more importantly, it means that donations to Project Veritas are tax deductible for many wealthy supporters. Through what’s known as the charitable deduction, donors can essentially get a subsidy from the federal government for their donations.
But, in fact, tax exemption does not represent any type of government approval. That’s because the government cannot deny tax-exempt status on the basis of ideological disagreement.
O’Keefe also indicated in the video, which he said was being recorded on Feb. 20, 2023, that he may intend to launch a new organization. “I’m not done,” he said. “The mission will perhaps take on a new name.”
4. In a situation like this, are the authorities likely to look into the accusations?
The Internal Revenue Service could investigate the allegations if it wanted to do so. Although the agency is underfunded and understaffed, it sometimes uses high-profile and highly publicized instances of noncompliance to discourage other people and groups from violating tax laws.
That said, based on the publicly available facts, I can’t yet tell whether Project Veritas has violated the rules governing tax-exempt status. While O’Keefe may have misused the group’s funds, it looks like he did it without the board’s knowledge or approval.
The Tax Court, a federal court that adjudicates tax disputes, has explained that a charity does not lose its exemption just because an officer of the charity has “skimmed or embezzled or otherwise stolen from the charity.” Unless there is some evidence that Project Veritas deliberately allowed O’Keefe to use its resources for personal consumption, I suspect the IRS will not pursue this.
5. How can such a demonstrably partisan group have nonprofit status?
Project Veritas claims exemption as an educational organization. According to U.S. Treasury Department regulations, an organization that advocates for a particular viewpoint can be educational for exemption purposes, even though it “advocates a particular position or viewpoint,” as long as it fully presents the facts in a way that allows listeners to make an informed conclusion.
Does Project Veritas meet what the IRS calls the “full and fair exposition” test? If so, and as long as it complies with the other requirements for tax-exempt status, it qualifies as exempt – notwithstanding its ideological leanings.
============================================================== Alecto, Megaera, and Tisiphone, since you no longer pick people up and carry them off to Hades, I don’t really know what exactly you can do about this. I would love to see Poject Veritas investigated under the “full and fair exposition” test, but, although the infrastructure act gives them funds to hire mote people, I’m pretty sure they haven’t seen and won’t see a penny of it before nest yesr, and when they do it will not be all at once.
So-called pro-lifers and their gilded male bovine solid bodily waste ejecta. They may be sincere in their defense of embryos and fetuses, but evidently they think life begins at conception and ends at birth. Actions speak far more loudly than words.
“Don’t abort your baby because he/she may grow up to find a cure for some dread malady.” Nice try. Where is your concern for children who have already been born? Where is your protection for them?
The middle-school boy who came out as gay and then was ruthlessly and continuously bullied by his peers until he took his own life could have grown up to find a cure for some dread malady.
The girl who was so badly mutilated in a school shooting that her body had to be identified using DNA could have grown up to find a cure for some dread malady.
The kid who froze to death after a heartless governor did nothing to improve his state’s infrastructure could have grown up the find a cure for some dread malady.
The diabetic teenager who died because her family couldn’t afford her insulin could have grown up to find a cure for some dread malady.
The compulsory birth crowd shriek that we must protect every embryo and fetus because you never know which one will become the next Lincoln or Mozart or Einstein. Nice try – you also never know which one will become the next Charles Manson, or Ted Bundy, or Jeffrey Dahmer, or John Wayne Gacy. Or, for that matter, the next Hitler, or Stalin, or Idi Amin, or Pol Pot. Or the next Donald Trump. Howling that an aborted fetus could have become a President is an excellent example of reductio ad absurdum.
How come “pro-lifers” never seem to be around when activists stage protests against gun violence, war, poverty, environmental destruction, or corporate greed? To those of you who wave signs that say “Abortion kills children,” I say, “Guns kill children. Poverty kills children. Hunger kills children. War kills children. Lack of affordable health care kills children. Abuse and neglect kill children. Pollution kills children. Homelessness kills children. Indifference kills children.”
If you “pro-lifers” really give a rat’s behind about babies, how come you support politicians who suck up to the firearms industry and its powerful stooge the NRA? How come you support politicians who cater to defense contractors? How come you support politicians who oppose raising the minimum wage to a living wage? How come you support politicians who oppose taking measures to deal with the inevitable effects of climate change? How come you support politicians who want to eliminate Social Security and Medicaid? How come you approve of yanking immigrant children out of their mothers’ arms and locking them in cages like stray animals? How come you heed garbage about the COVID-19 pandemic and refuse to wear masks or get vaccinated?
Meanwhile, the people whom you brand “commie baby killers” are the ones volunteering at food banks, distributing socks and hygiene supplies to the homeless, writing and signing petitions calling for better wages and environmental protections, raising hell for affordable child care and housing and healthcare, pestering our elected officials for sensible gun laws, demanding that our government wean us off dirty fossil fuels, and supporting immigrants, the LGBTQ community, and other groups frequently subjected to persecution.
Maybe some of you forced-birth activists support one or more of those causes. I realize that I shouldn’t tar you all with the same brush, but your numbers appear to be lacking when it comes to supporting the post-born. How often do you actually turn up – once or twice a year? And are you really doing enough volunteering to help all the people you will impose on the world?
Besides, the compulsory birth crowd support life in prison, and in some cases the death penalty, for doctors who perform abortions and women who have them. Know who else supported such harsh penalties for abortions? The patron saint of the “pro-life” movement – Adolf Hitler. Yes, that personification of evil was the greatest “right-to-life” activist in history. In the nightmare that was Nazi Germany, abortion was totally outlawed. Doctors found guilty of doing abortions were sentenced to death, while women who had abortions were sentenced to 10 years of hard labor, which was pretty much tantamount to a death sentence there and then.
Some have even offered to adopt babies. OK, sweetie, what if the baby is born with severe birth defects? What if the baby needs a lot of special, expensive care just to stay alive? Unless you have really deep pockets and/or good health insurance, you’ll be living in a trailer and subsisting on beans and rice while Junior works at a nearby burger joint.
If you really were concerned about “family values,” you’d want the minimum wage to be a living wage. You’d want childcare to be affordable – right now it costs as much as college. Nowhere in this country is the current federal minimum wage enough to keep up with rent, let alone utilities and other expenses. Stop demanding that women have babies when they can barely keep their own mouths fed.
You say that sex has consequences, that abortion is dodging responsibility. How quickly you forget the children you profess to be protecting! You want the woman to be saddled with caring for a baby, but you never think for one moment about that kid’s life. You fill your fliers and ads with pictures of cute babies – which are white 99% of the time, and healthy and well-fed 100% of the time. But you never think about what happens AFTER birth. You never think about whether all those children you “rescue” will be fed, or clothed, or housed, or educated. You never think about whether they will have access to affordable health care, or higher education – provided they live that long. And you certainly don’t care whether they are reasonably safe in school, or anywhere else.
And what about the men? It takes two to tango, after all. A man’s contribution to a baby is basically wham, bam, thank you ma’am. Many a lass has been lured into some Lothario’s bed by the ancient lie “If you get pregnant, I’ll marry you and help support the kid.” That’s right down there with “His bark is worse than his bite” and “The check is in the mail.” Men get all the rights, women get all the responsibility. You impose all of the consequence on the one who gets the “baby bump” while the male gets away scot-free. Face it – the anti-abortion movement is all about controlling womb-bearers.
