Yesterday, I thought the most interesting development was Abrego Garcia’s vindictive prosecution hearing, which was best covered in two videos, both featuring Adam Klasfeld (one also had Michael Popok and the other also had Glenn Kirschner) and each lasting about a half hour. Bottom line – the DOJ was on defense as the judge had previously announced that there was clearly probable cause, so only their testimony was taken – and it had holes in it. I thought those holes looked big enough to drive a Mack truck through, but IANAL.
From The Brennan Center. The last I heard, the Constitution (including all its amendments) applied to everyone, not just to citizens. I’m somewhat concerned that if the regime carves out social media handles as an exception for non-citizens, it will eventually want to use the fact that the Constitution applies to everyone to apply this exemption to citizens as well. That might not get past the courts, but I can see it winning in the Court of Public Opinion.
This certainly never occurred to me – and it may not have occurred to Robert Reich before either – had it, I would have thought that we would have heard of it. It would not fly in all states – but it might not need to.
Keeping its residents (not only citizens) safe may not be the number one, but even so, it’s pretty near the top, whether or not it is mentioned. It is what all the first ten amendments are about (although the second no longer has the desired effect.)
Yesterday, being Monday, naturally I overslept. It was literally dark when I got up. And of course my inbox was horrendous. However, being this close to the end of the month, the end of the quarter, and the end of the year, I was able to delete 3/4 of them without reading, which helped tremendously.
As we approach the end of what has been a godawful year in almost every way (which should at least remind us that there is no such thing as being “apolitical.” What your government does will affect you personally), media large and small are summarizing the year from their own viewpoints. Harry Litman is here to remind us that despite everything, it could still have been worse – a lot worse. While I don’t advocate changing this, I’d like to remind us all that the Courts have no police of their own. The only enforcement mechanism they can use is local, state, and federal police (depending upon the level of the Court.) So if anyone ever had a right to say “I can’t do anything to change this,” it would be judges. But, thank the universe, they don’t. Harry reviews the actions and statements of some of the best.
If this story reminds you of Fred Rogers and his mother’s advice, you are not alone. That was my first thought. Here’s a quote from the transcript of the bottom video in which he tells the story:
“But I want this holiday season to underline something I always say in all my videos all the time. And if you have the ability to step in and help the situation where you can, please do. Find it within yourself to always be in a place whereby if you see something. Don’t just say something that they say over here, but try and do something. No matter how small it is, even if it means picking up the phone and making a call.”
I’m going to share a link to a specific YouTube channel with you, because I think it will be useful. The channel belongs to Max Kuhn, and many (not all) of his videos are conversations with Dr. David Benjamin. The value of these videos is that, when there is a photo of, or an incident with the Orange Ogre which goes viral because “he’s dying,” which does not happen every day but which sometimes seems like it does, Dr. Benjamin analyzes the evidence and explains what it really indicates , and more importantly, what it doesn’t mean. The most recent video with Dr. Benjamin shows a photo which is going viral after being seen on Aaron Rupar’s account and in the Daily Beast. It is photoshopped (and IMO not very well.) If it were real, it would indicate a brain stem stroke, but since it isn’t, it doesn’t. The first video I found there was regarding him not knowing what part of he body he had an MRI on. Dr. Benjamin is pretty sure that the Mango Monster didn’t know where his MRI was because he didn’t have one. He was struggling to say what kind of imaging he had when a reporter asked him whether he had an MRI and he jumped on it. That doesn’t mean he had one. I have had a couple of MRIs, including a full body one, and trust me, you would know if you had had one, and where it was focused. Nameless may not need this kind of information, but most of the rest of us can really benefit from it. So I’m passing on the link to the video channel so that when this kind of thing happens again (and I say “when,” not “if” because it will – it gets clicks galore because we are all so eager for him to die) y’all won’t have to wait for me to find out what is most likely real.
Yesterday, I saw Virgil and we played cribbage. There were a couple of double double runs of three (or “two double runs of three” as some call it), and a greater than usual amount of two pairs, where the cards of one pair made 15 with the cards of the second pair, even one “full house (if I may borrow a term from poker) where the cards of the triplet made 15 with the cards of the pair. But also a lot of dud hands. Not that any of that matters – we don’t keep a running score, just count each hand separately. In the afternoon, we discovered that the outer soles of my shoes were coming off. Neither of my feet touched the ground, because the inner sole is strong, and it’s nothing I can’t fix with Shoe Goo, but it was a bit annoying. I got home a little before 4:00 pm, and it took me about 20-25 minutes to get to PP and discover that despite the fact that I had done all the work on the Sunday post, I had failed to schedule it, so I then posted it immediately. If you missed it because I was late, check it out. There’s a new Randy Rainbow.
Yes, I’m a sucker for stories about veterans. Yes, I know many of us are MAGA, Christian Nationalist, or both. But they are not the best of us.
This from Heather Cox Richardson is from last week – Tuesday, to be precise. But it’s not news. It’s more like an investigation, or a research project, and that makes the timing less relevant. What is important about this is what is tells us about cable news outlets.
From Huff Post. Discussion of the Senate filibuster of extending ACA tax subsidies.
Yesterday, I visited Virgil.The sun wasn’t that bad in the morning, although I think I will start looking at the almanac hor how the time of sunrise moves. From four weeks ago to two weeks ago, the sunrise got ten minutes earlier. From two weeks ago to this visi, sunset got a total of two minutes earlier, and all of that was in the first few days – it’s been the same for nine days in a row. So I’m sort of expecting it to start getting later instead of earlier in a day or two. The days will still get shorter until the soltice, but all of that will come from the sunrise getting later, and none from the sunset getting earlier. The visit was good, and Virgil returns all greeting with thanks.
Law & Crime – Our First Look at Josh Duggar Immediately After Child Porn Conviction and Months Ahead of Sentencing
Quote – Other court records indicate that the jury began deliberations at 12:17 p.m. on Wednesday. They asked for a recording of an interview with Duggar himself to be re-played — and it was, in its entirety — before jurors retired to deliberate once again. Court recessed for the day around 5:00 p.m. The jurors returned for about an hour and a hate Thursday before returning a verdict at 10:07 a.m. Click through for more. This story just begs for snark, and both Wonkette and Crooka and Liars did not disappoint – but it’s also serious, so I decided to cover it from this source.
HuffPost – Tucker Carlson’s Jan. 6 ‘Agent Provocateur’ Is A Big Tucker Fan And An Amateur Cardinals Mascot
Quote – But the man is no fed. He is mainly known to St. Louis Cardinals fans as “Rally Runner,” HuffPost has learned, and he sprints around the outside of Busch Stadium during home games. Based on the man’s Facebook posts, he appears to have a fairly difficult life and has a tenuous relationship with reality. And he’s a huge Tucker Carlson fan. Click through for more facts, and, sadly, more insanity (disturbing but valuable to grasp what we are up against.)
Glenn Kirschner – DOJ Announces it will Defend Donald Trump in Defamation Lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll this week is turning into a workshop on how decent people express anger. Glenn makes his voice into silk dripping with sarcasm.
Meidas Touch – with Stuart Stevens
The Lincoln Project – The Line
BARF BAG ALERT! Campaign “ad” from Lauren Boebert. Yecccch!
Now This News – Magawa the Landmine-Sniffing Rat is Retiring a Hero (Just a little break. There are actually maany of these rats and the lives they have saved, and are saving, are priceless.)
