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Wednesday Open Thread: In the News

Tomorrow will be a remembrance day for the media. The second half of April is one of the worst in history.

April 19th is the anniversary of the WACO siege and the Oklahoma City bombing. On April 15, the Boston Marathon bombing occurred. April 20 is the anniversary of the Columbine shootings.

In other news, thee entire island of Puerto Rico is without power after a blast at its power station.

Then there is this news: 'It smells like death:' Alabama endures New York 'poop train' [More...]

A stinking trainload of human waste from New York City is stranded in a tiny Alabama town, spreading a stench like a giant backed-up toilet — and the "poop train" is just the latest example of the South being used as a dumping ground for other states' waste.

In Parrish, Alabama, population 982, the sludge-hauling train cars have sat idle near the little league ball fields for more than two months, Mayor Heather Hall said. The smell is unbearable, especially around dusk after the atmosphere has become heated, she said. "Oh my goodness, it's just a nightmare here," she said. "It smells like rotting corpses, or carcasses. It smells like death."

This is not a new problem:

Alabama and other Southern states have a long history accepting waste from around the U.S. A former state attorney general once described a giant west Alabama landfill as "America's Pay Toilet." It was among the nation's largest hazardous waste dumps when it opened in 1977. At its peak, the landfill took in nearly 800,000 tons of hazardous waste annually.

Where was Jefferson Sessions on this issue? I wish he'd stayed in Alabama to help those living in stink rather than move to DC where he only cares about creating shortages of pain medicine. More on that here. Jefferson Sessions is not our doctor.

It's not a good time to need surgery. Hospitals are experiencing shortages of IV drugs for pain. I'm far more concerned about the shortage of opioid drugs at hospitals and hospices for pain management than I am about someone abusing pain pills. The former is the real opioid crisis. Jefferson Sessions' and the DEA's crisis is just political bait. Just like the FBI's announcement last week it is offering $20 million for the arrest of Raphael Caro-Quintero. Caro-Quintero, now over 65, served 28 years in a Mexican prison for the murder of DEA agent Kiki Camarena in 1985. He was released in 2013 when the court ruled his conviction was invalid for having been brought in state rather than federal court in Mexico. But the global holy warriors of the DEA say that's not enough time.

In New York, the judge presiding over El Chapo's impending trial, set for September, if he's still alive and mentally competent, intends to call 800 to 1000 jurors. Only 500 potential jurors were called for the OKC bombing trial of Timothy McVeigh. But 1,350 were called for Dzhokhar Tsarnev's Boston Marathon bombing trial. Whatever happened to Tsarnaev's appeal? I just checked the docket and his brief isn't due until August, 2018. The Government will then have 6 months to respond.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    They needed so many jurors (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by CST on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 02:15:10 PM EST
    For Tsarnaev because they disqualified the majority of Bostonians right off the bat for opposing the death penalty.  And yes, I'm still pissed at those @ssholes for not taking into account the will of the people and most of the victims when pushing those charges.

    I thought they liked... (5.00 / 2) (#14)
    by kdog on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 03:25:19 PM EST
    New York's sh&t in Alabama...did they not vote overwhelming for one of the biggest turds to come outta NY to be our current president?

    All kidding aside, that's what no tax revenue and no regulations will get ya...it's not cool, but it's what people keep voting for.  It's a big problem down by my ladyfriend's parents house in ultra-rural South Carolina...medical waste dumping has polluted the ground water something awful.  Ya need a shower after your shower.

    Update... (5.00 / 3) (#112)
    by kdog on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 03:12:13 PM EST
    Poop Train cars have all been pumped out and the cars should be moving on down the line soon.  

    Trump's stench to remain until 2020 unless Mueller can flush the toilet.

    Parent

    Your summary (source unknown) (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by Peter G on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 04:57:42 PM EST
    is highly inaccurate. Yesterday's 5-4 opinion, however -- joined by Justice Gorsuch, who wrote separately to say he would go even farther than the four "liberals" -- is very important and far-reaching in restricting the power of the government to deport and/or incarcerate an enormous number of people convicted of state and federal offenses vaguely classified under a variety of laws as "crimes of violence."

    it was so completely wrong (5.00 / 5) (#51)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 05:56:18 PM EST
    I deleted it. Linea should know better than to try to explain what a legal decision is about before commenting on a site written and visited by lawyers.

    Parent
    Because I'm old and retired... (5.00 / 1) (#86)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 12:05:36 AM EST
    I've reverted back to my night owl ways and watch a lot of late night TV. Just caught Cynthia Nixon on Colbert and have to say she was more impressive than I expected. Colbert wasn't easy on her either.

    Don't know if she has a chance in h@ll of beating Cuomo, but maybe she can push him left.

    Has retirement sunk in (none / 0) (#88)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 07:28:21 AM EST
    Or does it still feel like a snow day

    Parent
    Cohen drops his libel suits (5.00 / 1) (#89)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 07:52:51 AM EST
     against BuzzFeed and Fusion GPS

    He is so going to flip (5.00 / 1) (#90)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 08:00:57 AM EST
    Trump allies worry Cohen will flip


    "Is he two years loyal? Is he 10 years loyal? Is he 15 years loyal?" the attorney added. "That's the currency. It's not measured in inches. It's measured in years."

    Jay Goldberg, a longtime Trump lawyer, told The Wall Street Journal that he spoke with Trump on Friday about Cohen and warned the president against trusting Cohen if he is facing criminal charges. Goldberg said he warned the president that Cohen "isn't even a 1" on a scale of 1 to 100, where 100 was remaining fully loyal to the president, the newspaper reported.



    Parent
    Yep. That Steele dossier ... (5.00 / 1) (#100)
    by Yman on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 11:05:31 AM EST
    ... again.  Guess when confronted with the reality of producing discovery, those claims he was making about the dossier aren't holding up.

    Shocker.

    Parent

    OH MY GOD (5.00 / 1) (#98)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 10:55:36 AM EST
    Velshi & Ruhle just got my vote

    In their MONUMENTAL AMERICANS segment they just spotlighted SYLVESTER JAMES.

    OH MY GOD
    OH MY GOD
    OH MY GOD

    I have waited my entire life for this.

    Born LA 1947

    Pushed social boundaries with gay lifestyle and views on gender

    Known as THE QUEEN OF DISCO (oh baby)

    Died of aids in 1988

    YOU MAKE ME FEEL (mighty reel)

    My best friend Don, also an aids casualty, worked at the Copa Cabana
    He was excited that Sylvester was performing.  I had to work.  He said he got a good spot for watching the show then a fat black girl came and stood right in front of him blocking his view.

    The music started and the fat black girl was Sylvester.

    Amazing.

    Really.

    I am so happy they did this.


    Rudy Giuliani joins Team Trump (5.00 / 1) (#119)
    by Anne on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 04:38:26 PM EST
    Former New York City mayor and close Trump confidant Rudy Giuliani has joined President Donald Trump's legal team, Giuliani told the Washington Post Thursday.

    "I'm doing it because I hope we can negotiate an end to this for the good of the country and because I have high regard for the president and for Bob Mueller," Giuliani told the Post.

    [...]

    The Post said that Giuliani claimed to have been in talks with Trump "for weeks" about joining the team, and that he would take a leave from his firm Greenberg Traurig to advise Trump.

    TPM

    Another pick from the Fox box.  And as detestable as all the others - and who may have his own baggage:

    So Rudy Giuliani is joining President Trump's legal team, a guy who's never really been a defense litigator and hasn't been a prosecutor in thirty years. He says he's joining to "negotiate an end" to the Mueller probe. This sounds like another example of selling the President on comical nonsense like Ty Cobb's assurances that the Mueller probe would wrap up in late 2017. But here's another thing to keep in mind. Does Rudy have his own legal trouble coming down the pike?

    Check out this Reuters piece about the DOJ Inspector General's probe ...

       The report also is expected to address whether active and retired FBI agents in New York leaked information about investigations of the Clinton Foundation charitable organization and the discovery of a trove of Clinton-related emails.

        Law enforcement officials previously told Reuters the information was leaked to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, an adviser to the Trump campaign who subsequently discussed the contents on Fox News.


    That might not involve law breaking on Giuliani's part, if true, but it's a major, major complication and headache.

    Yeah, he'll be a great addition...probably angling to be AG when Trump finally cans Sessions.

    Rudy is a subject (5.00 / 1) (#126)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 04:58:33 PM EST
    of Mueller's investigation too.

    As a former prosecutor he should know that the only way he can end the investigation is to get Trump to resign and even then it's likely that Trump is going to face charges. So I don't know why he's making stupid comments.

    Parent

    Trump loses again (5.00 / 1) (#132)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 06:44:19 PM EST
    On sanctuary  cities

    Appeals court rules against Trump policy punishing sanctuary cities

    President Donald Trump's effort to crack down on sanctuary cities suffered another legal setback Thursday as a federal appeals court in Chicago upheld a nationwide injunction against making federal grant funding contingent on cooperation with immigration enforcement.

    A three-judge panel--all of whom are Republican appointees--ruled that there were strong indications that the administration exceeded its legal authority in trying to implement the new conditions without approval from Congress.



    Related to that, I think (none / 0) (#155)
    by Jack E Lope on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 01:05:40 PM EST
    ...that ICE's policies attempt to violate the US Constitution.  I think that Honorable Magistrate Judge Janice M. Stewart (US District Court, Oregon District) got it right in the Miranda-Olivares case.

    Parent
    Recipe (5.00 / 2) (#150)
    by Zorba on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 11:23:11 AM EST
    Agginaropita.  Greek artichoke phyllo pie.

    ingredients
    1 pound artichoke hearts (quartered)
    1 cup feta cheese (crumbled)
    1/4 cup herbs (such as dill, mint, parsley, chopped)
    1 bunch green onions (sliced)
    One cup grated Parmesan cheese
    One cup whole milk ricotta
    3 eggs (lightly beaten)
    salt and pepper to taste
    One stick melted butter (or more if needed)
    12 sheets phyllo dough (thawed over night in the fridge)
    directions
    Mix the artichoke hearts, feta, herbs, green onions, eggs, salt and pepper in a large bowl.
    Brush the bottom of an 8x8 inch baking pan with butter.
    Brush the top of a sheet of phyllo dough with butter after you place it in the pan. (You may have to cut the phyllo dough to fit the pan.) Repeat until you have 6 layers.
    Place the artichoke mixture on top of the phyllo dough.
    Brush the top of a sheet of phyllo dough with butter and place it on the artichoke filling. Repeat until you have 6 layers.
    Bake in a preheated 350F/180C oven until golden brown on top, about 30-50 minutes.

    I'm making this for dinner, but doubling the recipe and making it in a 9x13 pan.


    Turned out great! (none / 0) (#166)
    by Zorba on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 05:23:11 PM EST
    If I do say so myself.
    Come on over, y'all, I have plenty of leftovers.

    Parent
    Could you do a modified Blue Apron (none / 0) (#171)
    by vml68 on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 06:05:55 PM EST
    and ship the already cooked meal to me?
    I am hungry and can't decide what to do for dinner.
    Husband is having yet another airport meal waiting to catch a flight back home and I am feeling too lazy/uninspired to cook for myself.

    Parent
    Sessions says: if you fire Rosenstein, (5.00 / 1) (#167)
    by Anne on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 05:31:23 PM EST
    I might quit.

    Attorney General Jeff Sessions warned the White House recently that he could resign if President Trump were to fire Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein.

    The Washington Post reported Friday that Sessions told White House counsel Don McGahn in a phone call last weekend that he could leave the Justice Department in the event of Rosenstein's ouster.

    The phone call came amid a series of attacks on Rosenstein and special counsel Robert Mueller by Trump, following the FBI raid of the home and office of his personal attorney Michael Cohen.

    Am I the only one who thinks this was a colossally dumb thing to say if Sessions wants to keep his job?

    Maybe (none / 0) (#168)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 05:41:25 PM EST
    But Sessions has friends in the Senate and friends on the right fringe.

    I think maybe Sessions knows where this is going and has decided he wants to be on the side of history.   Maybe.

    I'm waiting for his and the Emperors thoughts on Schumers 4/20 announcement of introducing a bill to decriminalize pot nationally.

    Parent

    4/20 (none / 0) (#169)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 05:45:16 PM EST
    Whom is the President Allowed to Fire? (none / 0) (#186)
    by RickyJim on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 09:47:43 AM EST
    My recollection of the Saturday Night Massacre is that if you want to get rid of a Special Prosecutor, you have to ask the AG to do it.  It he refuses, fire him and then ask the AAG to do it.  So my impression is that Trump can't fire Rosenstein without firing Sessions first.  So what is the rule?

    Parent
    Because Sessions has recused himelf from ... (none / 0) (#200)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 09:20:53 PM EST
    ... the Russia investigation, Rosenstein therefore serves in the capacity of the AG for purposes of overseeing that investigation. Were Rosenstein to be fired, I believe that oversight would fall to the Solicitor General, who's currently the No. 3 official at DOJ.

    Parent
    My house is surrounded by Dogwood (5.00 / 2) (#184)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 08:17:23 AM EST
    they are everywhere

    They did not bloom last year, my first spring here, because of the crazy weather.

    Those are (5.00 / 1) (#185)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 08:22:29 AM EST
    gorgeous. Dogwoods are one of the things I love about the south. You've probably been to the Dogwood Festival we have here since you lived here in Atlanta at one time.

    Parent
    Trump considers pardon for Jack Johnson (5.00 / 1) (#189)
    by McBain on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 04:15:32 PM EST
    after call from Sylvester Stallone.
    Johnson, who died in 1946, was convicted by an all-white jury in Chicago in 1913 of violating the Jim Crow-era White-Slave Traffic Act, that was intended to prevent and punish human trafficking and was used on Johnson for traveling with a white woman. The conviction was carried out even though the alleged crime took place before the law had passed. Johnson skipped bail and fled the country, living in exile, before ultimately surrendering and returning to service his one-year sentence.

    Trump tweeted...
    Sylvester Stallone called me with the story of heavyweight boxing champion Jack Johnson. His trials and tribulations were great, his life complex and controversial. Others have looked at this over the years, most thought it would be done, but yes, I am considering a Full Pardon!

    After tweeting that, he better do it.  Would look horrible for him and be horrible for others if it's just a tease.

    Speaking of Stallone, there's a pretty good movie about the "real life Rocky" called "Chuck" staring Liev Schreiber as Chuck Webner.  


    Sound good to me (none / 0) (#197)
    by linea on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 08:40:33 PM EST
    I never heard of Jack Johnson but a posthumous pardon sounds good to me. I hope Rod Blagojevich gets pardoned too - 6 years is long enough.

    There isn't a single Sylvester Stallone film that I liked but I don't imagine I am the target demographic.

    Parent

    The first Rocky was excellent (none / 0) (#198)
    by McBain on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 08:50:05 PM EST
    I also enjoyed First Blood.  He almost won an Oscar for his supporting role in Creed, which was one of the better Rocky movies.  

    Kind of like Mark Walburg and John Travolta, when he plays a flawed, blue collar guy with a good heart it usually works.  When he's in full box office, superstar mode, it doesn't.    

    Parent

    Johnson sounds like quite a character (none / 0) (#199)
    by jondee on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 09:18:36 PM EST
    on top of being a great boxer. What a bunch of stories he must've had. "Eat pickled eels and think distant thoughts" was his advice to a guy who wondered how Jack kept his energy up with the parade of women he entertained..

    One piece of Johnson trivia that I remember is that he was taken under the wing by the Paris avante garde artists and poets during the time when he was exiled from the U.S..

    They tried to stage a 'happening' with Johnson boxing the surrealist artist Arthur Craven who, it turned out, didn't know how to box at all, and the whole event almost degenerated into a riot when ticket buyers all wanted
    their money back.

    Parent

    The Wlihelm Scream (5.00 / 1) (#190)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 04:56:15 PM EST
    Is my ringtone

    Just standing in line at the supermarket and my phone rang.  The lady next to me furrowed her brow and said where have I heard that before?

    My ringtone is Bob Marley (5.00 / 1) (#191)
    by Peter G on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 05:06:45 PM EST
    singing "Get Up, Stand Up" (from :08 to :26).

    Parent
    That made me laugh (none / 0) (#192)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 05:51:45 PM EST
    Because just as I read "get up stand up"  my arowana, Morgan, who has gotten huge, she is about 2.5 ft and about as thick as my forearm LEAPED out of the tank for no apparent reason and landed on the dog who was sitting next to me and who is still recovering under the bed.

    My tank has heavy glass lids.  Didn't stop her. The lid went flying water went flying.

    Needless to say I got up, stood up.

    I hate keeping her in a tank.  Even one as big as mine, 140 gallons because they love to jump.  

    the big dark spot is a scale she lost.  About the size of a quarter.

    Parent

    Good thing your dogs (5.00 / 1) (#195)
    by Zorba on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 07:55:39 PM EST
    Don't apparently like sashimi because if they did and she keeps doing this, that's how she'd wind up.

    Parent
    That has come very close (none / 0) (#196)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 08:29:28 PM EST
    To happening before.  With a different arowana

    Parent
    Maybe a dumb question (none / 0) (#202)
    by jondee on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 09:39:05 PM EST
    but do those fish go into any sort of cycle when it would ordinarily be spawning time in the wild?

    Maybe that's what all the jumping around is about. She's had one too many glimpses of your hot bod walking by ;)

    Parent

    Here's two arowanas (5.00 / 1) (#205)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 10:31:54 PM EST
    Doing a mating dance.  Of of the most amazing things I have ever been fortunate enough to witness.

    the video is called Dragon Love 5

    There are several others numbered.  I uploaded a bunch of videos because I was so excited

    Parent

    How do you rescue the fish (none / 0) (#201)
    by Peter G on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 09:30:51 PM EST
    and get it back in the tank after an episode like that? Bare-handed? A net? Are you saying it dislodged and broke the glass top to the tank? What keeps this from happening all the time?

    Parent
    Lets see, in order (none / 0) (#204)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 10:23:20 PM EST
    It does actually happen pretty often.  That's why I got heavy glass covers.  She did not break it just knocked it flying.  Like I said she is huge now. An arowana that size can jump 15 ft or more out of the water.
    I have the emergency operation down.  You grab the nearest towel.  In this case it meant dashing to the bathroom. Toss the towel over the flapping flopping fish and grab it with both hands because she is 2.5 ft of muscle.

    She is not happy.  She did not eat tonight and banged the sh!t out if her nose.  She will hopefully be ok.  They usually are.  They are pretty tough.

    I mentioned another incident when it was almost a dog snack.  A couple of years ago before or got the heavy tank covers they jumped out pretty regularly.  I just toss them back in when I hear the crash and thud and come running.  But one time it jumped out and landed on the sofa so I did not hear it in the other room.  I walked in just as Ghost was getting in pinned down to take a bite.

    I have had many arowanas.  I think they are beautiful graceful creatures.  But they jump.

    Parent

    I've posted several comments about Waco (none / 0) (#1)
    by McBain on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 02:11:25 PM EST
    I could go on and on but I think I've made my points.

    I don't recall every talking about the Columbine shooting.  First thing that comes to mind is the great Gus Van Sant film Elephant which is loosely based on Columbine.  Hard to describe this film... kind of a slice of high school life movie that happens to have a mass shooting at the end.  Not for everyone, but if you like creative, independent films staring first time actors (which make it feel more real), you might want to check it out.  

    April is the cruelest month.. (none / 0) (#4)
    by jondee on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 02:21:21 PM EST
    Trump and Melania (none / 0) (#3)
    by KeysDan on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 02:18:29 PM EST
    did not file their federal income tax by the deadline of April 17, taking advantage of the provision for a six month extension.   He has a very complicated income and needs more time to file.  

    there should be some explanation of why this is significant.

    Parent
    Just trying to explain why he isn't releasing (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Peter G on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 03:09:20 PM EST
    a copy of his return yet. I'm sure that's it.

    Parent
    Ha! (none / 0) (#10)
    by MKS on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 03:14:51 PM EST
    He has all the resources in (none / 0) (#9)
    by MKS on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 03:13:36 PM EST
    the world and needs more time.  The average guy who gets an extension may actually need it.

    Parent
    afaik, so who cares.

    Parent
    I have a hunch (none / 0) (#49)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 05:54:44 PM EST
    That before this long national nightmare is over we are, one way or another, going to see Trumps tax returns.

    It may be years but I think it's inevitable

    Parent

    That would be interesting, for sure. (none / 0) (#99)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 10:55:55 AM EST
    But as business owner, the idea of that gives me great pause.

    Parent
    Are you thinking of running (5.00 / 2) (#102)
    by Peter G on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 12:32:05 PM EST
    for President, Sarc? If not, I don't see why it would give you pause "as [a] business owner."

    Parent
    I think in general it would very dis-advantageous for a business if its competitors had access to its tax returns.

    Parent
    Sarc, can I be (5.00 / 1) (#106)
    by fishcamp on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 01:24:33 PM EST
    your fishing czar?

    Parent
    As a (none / 0) (#12)
    by CST on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 03:20:16 PM EST
    Private citizen you aren't subject to the emoluments clause.

    Call it crazy - but some people still might expect that the President should not be running a business while President, and that he should have 'uncomplicated' his finances when he got elected.

    And that he has people to do his taxes for him, it's not like he had to do it himself and got busy.

    But honestly the extension alone isn't that significant.  It's the general shadiness around his tax/financial situation, that as president he should go above and beyond disclosing, not provide excuses to hide and deflect.

    Parent

    Huh, had to look up the emoluments clause. (none / 0) (#16)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 03:29:54 PM EST
    At first glance, didn't Obama write a bunch of books, some of which must have brought in sales revenues from foreign countries?

    Parent
    Obama writing a book (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by MKS on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 04:03:06 PM EST
    is the same as Trump's business interests?  Really?  You seem them as being the same thing?

    B.S.

    Parent

    Trump's business interests.. (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by jondee on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 04:19:38 PM EST
    some of which we're not 100% clear on what they are or have been..

    But then, maybe Obama had some secret books distributed somewhere that no one knows about..

    Parent

    And, I am sure (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by MKS on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 04:29:57 PM EST
    that foreign interests bought a few books, for maybe a few hundred dollars.  

    The purchases of Obama's books are diffuse and spread out over hundreds of thousands of different buyers.  Not seeing how a few books bought by foreign interests matters.

    But, I get the "Obama did it too" defense is a knee jerk response of some.

    Parent

    Not what I wrote, as you know. (none / 0) (#25)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 04:20:41 PM EST
    An equivalance you implied (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by MKS on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 04:25:47 PM EST
    Why raise Obama if he was not relevant?  

    Parent
    Just to be clear (none / 0) (#30)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 04:43:16 PM EST
    My point was that w/respect to the emolument clause that CST brought up, Trump's business interests (hotels, golf courses, etc.) receive money from "foreign actors" similarly to Obama's business interests (his book sales) did while he was president.

    Sure, a night at a Trump hotel or a round on one of his golf courses is certainly more expensive than a copy of The Audacity of Hope, or whatever. But it seems to me that if you're going to denounce one guy doing it you ought to denounce them all.

    Parent

    were bought in the USA by American citizens. I think a safe presumption...

    Parent
    So? (none / 0) (#32)
    by MKS on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 04:47:42 PM EST
    Spell out your entire argument and I think you'll find it really is unsound.

    Parent
    Not sure I can spell it out any clearer. (none / 0) (#33)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 04:49:44 PM EST
    Do you have specific questions?

    Parent
    Not worth it (5.00 / 3) (#36)
    by MKS on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 04:53:45 PM EST
    Obama selling books to some who were not U.S. citizens is not remotely close to the self-dealing that Trump and Ivanka and Jared engage in daily.

    That you can't tell the difference tells me further explanation is pointless.

    Parent

    Don't know who (5.00 / 1) (#148)
    by KeysDan on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 10:36:35 AM EST
    is worse, President Obama with those sketchy book sales, or President Clinton, whose 1986 tax returns drew Republican fire for the deduction of $555 for used clothing given to charity---including $6 for three pair of underwear. How gauche.  Thank goodness we have that paradigm of virtue these days, Trump is more honest than Abe, a lot of people don't know that.

    Parent
    6 bucks in skivvies... (none / 0) (#156)
    by kdog on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 01:24:32 PM EST
    for charity is very generous...but not as generous as 500 grand to Mr. Bill in 2010 from a Russian Bank with ties to the Kremlin that was pumping Uranium One stock.  Now that's some charity! lol

    Parent
    Yes, and some (none / 0) (#157)
    by KeysDan on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 02:07:41 PM EST
    speech too.  

    Parent
    And the best hookers... (none / 0) (#159)
    by kdog on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 02:38:37 PM EST
    according to the true sponsor of the speech, and true sponsor of our current president.  

    Parent
    Who, I wonder, (none / 0) (#161)
    by KeysDan on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 02:44:07 PM EST
    is the pee hooker leaker?

    Parent
    Well, CST and I were talking about the (none / 0) (#40)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 05:00:35 PM EST
    emolument clause, apparently you wanted to talk about something completely different or maybe you have insights into to Trump's businesses that the rest of us don't?

    Ah well, apparently we'll never know...

    Parent

    I researched this (none / 0) (#42)
    by linea on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 05:13:39 PM EST
    The Maryland AG and District of Columbia AG lawsuits that their states are wrongly being deprived of tax revenue because persons representing foreign businesses are choosing an out-state Trump Hotel over Maryland or D.C hotels is a stretch for `standing' and the arguent that foreign guests staying in a Trump Hotel is a violation of the emoluments clause is a stretch too. But you are free to hold your breath for the Trump-emoluments impeachment, if you like.

    Parent
    Not everything (5.00 / 3) (#43)
    by CST on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 05:17:27 PM EST
    Is about impeachment.  It is a convenient strawman to dismiss any non-impeachable criticism as if it were irrelevant though.

    Parent
    Research that includes (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 05:29:50 PM EST
    Not knowing the Washington Times from the New York Times.

    Parent
    Research that includes (2.00 / 1) (#75)
    by linea on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 09:53:29 PM EST
    Knowing the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (in case citations, S.D.N.Y.) is a federal district court.

    Not a state court.

    I don't like these sorts of pissy little insults but you love it and apparently everyone else on TalkLeft loves it too.  I mistook the Washington Times (thinking Post & Times) with the New York Times - a print publication that I have never seen in my entire life.

    YOU have no idea that a District Court is federal court. Again, I hate rolling in the filthy mud with the likes of you but your petty little insults are never ending. If you can make stupid little petty insults than I should be able to make stupid little petty insults too. Good for the goose, good for the gander.


    Parent

    State charges in NY (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 10:10:20 PM EST
    New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman asks to close loophole that could let Trump pardons block state charges

    New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on Wednesday asked state legislators and Gov. Andrew Cuomo to close a loophole that could let recipients of pardons for federal crimes from President Donald Trump avoid state criminal charges.

    Schneiderman said he was asking for the loophole to be eliminated because of "disturbing news" that Trump "may be considering issuing pardons that may impede criminal investigations."

    Shortly after Schneiderman made his request, state Sen. Todd Kaminsky, a Democrat and former federal prosecutor who represents a district on Long Island, announced he would introduce a bill seeking to accomplish the attorney general's goal."



    Parent
    Fess up, Capt. she's right. (none / 0) (#182)
    by oculus on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 11:15:32 PM EST
    In my opinion, linea, you may have (5.00 / 3) (#93)
    by Anne on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 09:07:35 AM EST
    garbled the meaning or context involving the engagement letter requirements.

    As I understood it, the requirement was explained as a New York State rule, if you will - one that concerns the practice of law in the State of NY.

    All states have these rules, and they cover all sorts and manner of things, from the sublime to the seemingly ridiculous.

    And just as there are state rules, there are federal rules.  There may or may not be crossover, but there are definitely differences.

    We know the SDNY is a district of the federal court system, and when something is before a federal court, federal rules apply.

    I think all that was trying to be conveyed was that one of NY's rules is that there must be an engagement letter to establish the attorney-client relationship, from which privilege attaches.  That's it.  No one was displaying their ignorance as to whether the Cohen matter was a state or federal matter.

    If you weren't so hell-bent on trying to prove that you are the smartest person in every room on this blog, you might actually (1) learn a thing or two occasionally and (2) have the time to consider  nuance and context to better inform your own understandings.

    Pretty sure pigs will fly before that happens.

    Parent

    My lawyerr speak (none / 0) (#96)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 09:38:19 AM EST
    May have failed when I said Cohen was now in the State of NY.  I was of course referring to the things happening with the NY AG and making damn sure there was no way a Trump pardon could stop a state charge and I assumed that would be understood.

    And I proved that rule about assuming

    I guess

    Or maybe it was what you said.   Who really knows.

    Parent

    Jesus (none / 0) (#76)
    by jondee on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 09:59:16 PM EST
    Get over yourself home girl.

    Parent
    Ohhhhh ... You 'researched" it (4.50 / 6) (#48)
    by Yman on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 05:54:25 PM EST
    Well no doubt that makes your unsupported, lay opinion that this is all "a stretch" faaaar more convincing than actual lawyers and AGs who are pretty clueless about all that law stuff.  They probably didn't even check Wikipedia.

    Parent
    My opinion of course (2.00 / 5) (#60)
    by linea on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 08:01:38 PM EST
    I reject your implied argument that legal issues are so befuddling that no analysis can be made by those who have not been `anointed' because they attended the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University or similar magic institute for wizards.

    Apparently, actual judges with actual law degrees are still onboard the offensive eugenics ideology of forced or coerced setilization that has been rejected since the Nazi era and I'm supposed to be deferential to `actual lawyer' as an intellectual class? Sorry, no.

    Parent

    I hope it's only an unfortunate coincidence, (5.00 / 6) (#74)
    by Peter G on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 09:35:59 PM EST
    Linea, that you picked a predominately African-American law school as your example of a "school of wizardry" to be sneered at, and whose graduates do not deserve professional respect.

    Parent
    I googled (none / 0) (#77)
    by linea on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 10:02:31 PM EST
    I googled and randomly picked a law school from this list. It was a toss-up between `Texas' and `Appalachia` but I assumed the Texas school was more radically conservative.

    Parent
    very wrong (5.00 / 7) (#82)
    by Peter G on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 10:40:22 PM EST
    There is no correlation between the (academically) "worst" law schools -- many of which cater to low-income and minority applicants -- and the most "radically conservative" schools. (Most of the latter cater to religious fundamentalists. Here are a couple.) You could have asked, if you wanted to know. But that would have involved admitting that there are things certain people know more about by virtue of education, experience and expertise. You know, like doctors, or engineers, or accountants, or pharmacists, or electricians, or gymnasts, or musicians, or whatever. Or lawyers.

    Parent
    She picked regionally (5.00 / 1) (#84)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 10:53:34 PM EST
    Between two places she has never set foot in and does not know the first thing about.  

    But you know, Texas and Appalachia, cowboys and hillbillys

    So there is also that added dimension of stupid.

    Parent

    Not to mention... (5.00 / 2) (#87)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 12:15:00 AM EST
    the Thurgood Marshall angle. Why anyone would pick the school named after the first African American Supreme Court Justice is beyond me.

    Parent
    As with some other posters here (5.00 / 1) (#147)
    by vicndabx on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 09:26:02 AM EST
    this is feature not a bug IMO.

    Parent
    Yes, and Texas Southern (none / 0) (#187)
    by KeysDan on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 11:27:46 AM EST
    University, as an historically Black university, graduates a large number of minorities, Black and Hispanics, in several professional fields, including law.

     Started in 1927 as the  Houston Colored Junior College and, became, in 1947, Texas Sate University for Negroes.  When a Black student was not permitted admission to the University of Texas Law School, and, at the time there were no HBCU that offered  a program in law, the state offered to form TSU, including a school of law, to avoid the findings of a law suit.

    In higher education circles, there have been discussions from time to time that the nation has out-grown the need for HBCU, initially geared to service the Black community.  And, in the case of TSU, to merge TSU and the nearby University of Houston--thereby combining strengths and resources.

    This may, some day, become a viable option, but the role of the HBCU continues to be an extremely important one.  A critical aspect of the educational process is an environment conducive to learning. HBCU provide that environment to minorities, especially to young people who might not otherwise consider college.  A continuing need is for state and private funding commensurate with their mission and responsibilities.

    Parent

    Okay fine (5.00 / 1) (#85)
    by linea on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 11:06:49 PM EST
    I made some dumb posts tonight.

    I also got too defensive.

    Parent

    Ha (none / 0) (#78)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 10:06:18 PM EST
    Good choice

    Parent
    What list. (none / 0) (#81)
    by oculus on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 10:32:36 PM EST
    This (5.00 / 2) (#83)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 10:44:27 PM EST
    list

    Which she apparently got by "googling" 'worst law schools in the country' to help her make some idiotic point about how she is just as smart as "actual lawyers"

    I know it's hard to believe but I think that is the gist.

    Parent

    You should stick to .... (none / 0) (#65)
    by Yman on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 08:42:56 PM EST
    ... speaking for yourself.  What you call my "implied argument" is nothing more than another transparent, silly, strawman argument.  As far as being "deferential", don't limit it to actual lawyers.  You should include anyone whose ability to use logic extends beyond strawman arguments and whose knowledge of the law extends beyond a Wikipedia entry.

    Parent
    Amazing, isn't it, how Google and (5.00 / 8) (#69)
    by Anne on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 09:03:03 PM EST
    Wikipedia have convinced some people they know as much as those who not only went to law school and passed the bar, but have been practicing law for decades.

    It's true that not everyone with a law degree is a star, or even better-than-average; I think we've seen that quite clearly in Michael Cohen and some of Trump's legal team.

    And judges?  They aren't uniformly brilliant, either.

    But there are more than a few lawyers who regularly comment here, who have shown over and over again that they know what they're talking about, and have been more-than-patient in explaining complicated legal concepts and rulings.

    Why this is offensive to anyone escapes me.

    Parent

    Less amazing (none / 0) (#72)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 09:28:01 PM EST
    Than putting actual lawyer in quotes on a site run by an actual lawyer and frequented by actual lawyers?

    Hard to say.  It's really an embarrassment of riches in the amazing category.

    Parent

    people living in foreign countries (none / 0) (#17)
    by CST on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 03:42:11 PM EST
    Aren't the same thing as "foreign states".  Pretty sure that just refers to governments.

    Obama was one of the first presidents since Nixon not to use a blind trust for his finances.  The reasoning behind that was that he was pretty much only invested in US treasuries.

    Historically though, when presidents have "complicated finances" they use a blind trust to avoid conflicts of interest.  That's not the law though, that's just one of those things that used to be the moral standard, and for some of us, still is.

    Parent

    Doesn't he have like 500 businesses?
    "You typically cannot simply transfer existing assets into a blind trust. As a practical matter it's likely a complete non-starter," says Leslie Kiernan, a partner at law firm Akin Gump and a former Deputy White House Counsel under President Barack Obama. For the trust owner to be truly "blind" to his portfolio, the assets typically have to be liquidated first, Kiernan says. The cash can then be funneled into the trust, to be managed by an independent trustee approved by the Office of Government Ethics. Trump would not receive any information on what has been bought or sold with his money, though he could get reports on how much income the portfolio generated as a whole.

    This means the New York billionaire would have to sell prized properties like Manhattan's Trump Tower or Palm Beach's Mar-a-Lago, and give control of his company to a virtual stranger instead of his children. Moreover, some of his holdings, such as his 30% stake in two office towers majority owned by real estate investment firm Vornado, cannot be sold unless he acquires his partner's consent.

    Besides JFK (who's dad gave him a trust fund) and Johnson (who it seems continued to be hands-on with his businesses during his presidency), did anyone else use a blind trust?

    Regardless, I would love to see a list of all the other rich & famous types with all the resources in the world who also filed for an extension. According to this almost 13 million tax extension were granted in 2015.

    Thin gruel, imo.

    Parent

    Off the top of my head (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by CST on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 04:56:52 PM EST
    Both Bushes, Clinton and Carter all used them.

    No one said it was easy.   But if your business is  your biggest concern, maybe President isn't the job for you.  Carter famously lost a lot of wealth from his.  

    Parent

    in this respect. Carter was worth about 800K, according to this.

    No arguments at all with this:

    But if your business is  your biggest concern, maybe President isn't the job for you.


    Parent
    While not questioning your intention (none / 0) (#146)
    by vicndabx on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 09:21:20 AM EST
    I'd say a link to the article you quote from is helpful.  There are salient points in that article that address many of the concerns you raise.

    Trump can solve a few of the potential conflict of interest problems by letting others control his assets through a regular trust, says Kiernan.

    Outside of the blind trusts that held their investments, the Bushes and Clintons kept personal real estate, cash accounts, life insurance, bonds and mutual funds. The Obamas bucked the trend when they decided against using blind trusts, but their mix of bank accounts, treasury notes, index funds and college savings was unlikely to pose a direct conflict of interest.

    There's also the real simple solution of Trump deciding to not be a greedy b@stard.


    Parent

    Avenatti getting inside (none / 0) (#5)
    by MKS on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 02:48:26 PM EST
    Trump's head.  Avenatti releases sketch of the man who threatened Stormy, and Trump tweets some nonsense about it all being fake news.  Avenatti responds that he loves it that Trump responds and implies that Trump can now be sued for defamation.

    Avenatti is not only a blue blood litigator with a pedigree from O'Melveny, but is also a really good street fighter.

    He (none / 0) (#6)
    by FlJoe on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 02:57:26 PM EST
    is a complete showboater, I am skeptical about his actual legal chops, but he sure makes a formidable
    opponent for tRump in this twisted media landscape.

    Parent
    Bottom line is that if he gets results, ... (5.00 / 2) (#62)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 08:09:23 PM EST
    ... you really can't argue with success. Personally, I like Michael Avenatti. He comes across to me as an ornery bantam rooster at a cockfight, strutting fearlessly around with his tailfeathers in the air, not backing down and getting right up in Trump's and Cohen's faces. Stormy Daniels made a great call in hiring him as her attorney. They've publicly exposed Trump's Achilles' Heel, which is Cohen -- and further, Trump knows that, yet doesn't quite know what to do about it.

    Parent
    It's fun and all (2.00 / 1) (#64)
    by linea on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 08:22:50 PM EST
    But I'm not a slobbering fanatic groupie especially after reading local news articles on his business dealings. Still, it's fun and all.

    Before Stormy Daniels, her attorney faced allegations of dubious business dealings at Tully's Coffee
    The Seattle Times
    https://www.seattletimes.com > seattle-news
    Apr 7, 2018 · Michael Avenatti has become a cable news celebrity for accusing Donald Trump of trying to silence his porn-star client, but his involvement with Tully's Coffee has been a source of legal headaches.


    Parent
    Avenatti is a hometown (5.00 / 2) (#66)
    by MKS on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 08:48:20 PM EST
    favorite.  

    I litigated a case against his former firm.  Spent a number of weeks in his offices defending the depositions of the management of a large company his partner had sued.  

    His former firm was created by a bunch of O'Melveny lawyers who wanted to represent plaintiffs in large cases.   O'Melveny, by reputation, is known as the snootiest, most egghead law firm in California. But a large firm with all its downside of yearly billable hour requirements and soulless work.

    These O'Melveny refugees wanted to set up their own new model of a law firm that handled large contingency fee cases in a business context.  Large multimillion dollar verdicts seemingly on the horizon.

    I was envious.  They had escaped the borg and were going to have fun.  A bunch  of pirates who would get rich.  Ha!  I was also somewhat dubious of their business model. Traditional plaintiffs' firms, or personal injury firms, rely on high volume of smaller cases, with paralegals doing much of the work.  And only trying a few cases.   Avenatti's former firms was about the big kill.  

    I liked the younger lawyers in his firm.  Very bright.  Crusaders.   But, as publicly reported, his former firm failed.   The business model is not really all that feasible in my opinion.  There is a reason why most firms try to represent big companies that can pay high hourly rates.  As mind numbing and soul stealing as that work may be.

    Avenatti is apparently a risk taker. I have no doubt that may have carried over into his personal investment strategies.  But I hesitate to give much credence to disgruntled opponents or investors.  

    He has done will representing Stormy.

    Parent

    Actually (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by linea on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 08:59:02 PM EST
    Thank you. That was very interesting.

    Parent
    Is it just me (5.00 / 5) (#105)
    by jondee on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 01:10:04 PM EST
    or does MKS have a bit of a Raymond Chandler cadence in his writing? Pretty cool.

    It's that "I hadn't had a case in two weeks. Then she walked into my office. Her hair was the color of gold in old paintings.." thing..

    Parent

    I think he's America's (none / 0) (#158)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 02:14:11 PM EST
    Favorite attorney right now.

    Parent
    As Alfred North Whitehead (none / 0) (#80)
    by jondee on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 10:13:51 PM EST
    once said about Chuchill, he may not be a decent man, but this is no time for decency.

    Parent
    Nine figure judgments (none / 0) (#11)
    by MKS on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 03:18:37 PM EST
    get my attention.

    Parent
    I love the idea of a guy (none / 0) (#20)
    by jondee on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 04:01:08 PM EST
    like Avenatti jousting with that ham-handed, last-word slob.

    It may not be the most dignified thing, but so far it's looking like Sugar Ray toying with another Bum of the Month.

    Parent

    The law firm that's representing Cohen.. (none / 0) (#18)
    by desertswine on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 03:48:30 PM EST
    I sitll don't get (none / 0) (#22)
    by MKS on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 04:07:29 PM EST
    why McDermott is in this case. They are usually much more cautious than that.  The D.C. office made its bones on IP cases; the lawyers representing Cohen are part of the White Collar group.

    I'll bet there are more than a few partners none too happy to see this.....

    Parent

    The (5.00 / 3) (#28)
    by FlJoe on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 04:34:55 PM EST
    company you keep
    Long before Donald Trump's attorney paid Stormy Daniels or had his office raided by the FBI, a pattern was established: The associates of Michael Cohen have often been disciplined, disbarred, accused or convicted of crimes.
    long but interesting read.

    I think this part probably most accurately describes what kind of lawyer he really was.

    Starting around 2000, Cohen was involved in scores of car insurance lawsuits, often on behalf of plaintiffs who claimed to have been injured in auto collisions and were seeking judgments to cover purported medical expenses.

    At this time, a wave of staged auto accidents, involving immigrants from the former Soviet Union who claimed to have been hurt, had led prosecutors to open a massive investigation. They dubbed it Operation Boris, an acronym for Big Organized Russian Insurance Scam. The prosecutorial push resulted in hundreds of convictions.

    Cohen also drew up incorporation papers for at least three medical practices and three medical billing companies. One company Cohen registered in 2002, Avex Medical Care PRC, sued insurance companies nearly 300 times. The plaintiffs lawyer in almost all of these cases was David Katz, who was disbarred later for professional misconduct.

    Russians all over the place of course.

    Parent
    Lordy (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by MKS on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 04:36:15 PM EST
    And, Cohen's uncle (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by MKS on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 04:51:14 PM EST
    owned the El Caribe Country Club, where the Russian mob ran its U.S. operations.  Cohen had an interest in his uncle's company that ran the club.

    He was trying to be Tom Hagen.  Didn't get close.

     

    Parent

    Russians Russians (none / 0) (#37)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 04:54:59 PM EST
    And more Russians

    Parent
    Yeah, the company you keep.. (none / 0) (#104)
    by jondee on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 12:57:58 PM EST
    there was some cheesy stuff going on with his partner in the taxicab business too..

    And more Russian connections.

    Parent

    It kinda sorta makes one wonder ... (none / 0) (#59)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 07:54:24 PM EST
    ... exactly whose interests they were really representing in Judge Kimba Wood's courtroom this past week, doesn't it?

    Parent
    Wonder no more (none / 0) (#61)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 08:04:49 PM EST
    Rachel Maddow highlights a portion of the transcript of Monday's Michael Cohen court hearing in which lawyers explain that a document that has not been released to the public includes five paragraphs about seeking papers of the president of the United States which are in Cohen's possession.

    LINK

    Parent

    after I get back home. Her show airs again at 6:00 p.m. HST, which is 11:00 p.m. your time.

    Parent
    The April thing. (none / 0) (#15)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 03:28:26 PM EST
    Sure fits into the general feeling things are about to explode.

    Karen McDougal wins (none / 0) (#35)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 04:52:32 PM EST
    Good tv tonight (none / 0) (#52)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 06:39:39 PM EST
    Casablanca and Mildred Pierce on TCM
    The Expanse and Krypton on SyFy
    And The Americans on FX

    Eric Holder 2020 (none / 0) (#53)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 06:44:05 PM EST

    Eric Holder was the first black attorney general of the United States, serving under its first black president, Barack Obama. Holder left office in 2013, but he hasn't left public life. And for a second act, he's considering politics and a bid to serve as the second black occupant of the White House.

    During a Tuesday interview with MSNBC's Chris Hayes, Holder said he was considering a run in 2020. "Yes, I'm thinking about it, but I've not made any determinations," he said. At Al Sharpton's National Action Network conference on Wednesday, Holder sounded like a candidate, blasting the Trump administration for its approach to criminal justice. "The present administration wants to take us back to the failed leadership of the past," he said. "They're not being tough on crime. They're not being smart on crime. They're being dumb on crime. [The] formerly incarcerated continue to face significant obstacles, and they now face a hostile administration intent on making law enforcement an instrument of the fear they use to divide and try to govern us." It was enough to prompt a "Run, Eric, run!" chant from Sharpton that the audience indulged.

    I saw the Hayes interview and was going to comment about this but I forgot.

    He could win.

    Gosh (none / 0) (#54)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 07:08:43 PM EST
    a lot of them could win the primary. With so many probably running it is nearly impossible to make any predictions as to who might get the party nod.

    Parent
    I did not mean (none / 0) (#55)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 07:20:33 PM EST
    He could win the primary

    But I think he could

    Parent

    No, I understood (none / 0) (#56)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 07:24:00 PM EST
    when you said "could" not "would". I was just positing that anybody "could" at this point. Not sure if I'm looking forward to primaries much. I might duck out in 2020 on that.

    Parent
    Why ? (none / 0) (#57)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 07:32:21 PM EST
    Let me rephrase, right now I think he would win.

    Parent
    For one thing (none / 0) (#58)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 07:42:46 PM EST
    I would expect him to have the unconditional support of the Obamas

    Parent
    Moreso than (none / 0) (#68)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 08:59:51 PM EST
    Biden? I've also heard that said about Biden.

    Parent
    I was thinking (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 08:04:15 AM EST
    It would be very interesting - with the added benefit of widely exploding heads - if Holder was elected Ted president and asked Obama to be his AG.

    I think Holder could be a very serious candidate.  He is smart loquacious and funny.

    Parent

    Obama (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 08:06:44 AM EST
    For a year or two then Hillary.

    Or vice versa

    Parent

    Attorney General is in the presidential line (none / 0) (#94)
    by Anne on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 09:16:29 AM EST
    of succession (7th), so I think this would disqualify Obama from holding that position.

    Parent
    Nothing in the words of the 22d Amendment (5.00 / 5) (#95)
    by Peter G on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 09:37:39 AM EST
    would prohibit that intriguing plan.

    Parent
    I stand corrected. I'm assuming this is (5.00 / 1) (#114)
    by Anne on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 03:26:50 PM EST
    because were Obama to be the AG, he would become president not by election but by succession.

    Interesting to ponder the reaction to a Democratic president nominating Obama to be AG; I have to think there would be many exploding heads involved.

    Parent

    Nah (none / 0) (#115)
    by FlJoe on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 04:14:01 PM EST
    Obama has no killer instinct, Preet Bharara would be my choice. Straight out of SDNY, with  an axe to grind.


    Parent
    I think Barack may not get Michelle's (none / 0) (#116)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 04:19:51 PM EST
    Blessing to be AG. I could be wrong, she does have a strong sense of duty, but she sure seemed DONE after those 8 yrs.

    Parent
    Am I the only one who believes that you (none / 0) (#117)
    by vml68 on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 04:26:04 PM EST
    don't go from being POTUS to any other position in government. It is an ego thing.
    You don't go from being top dog to a position in which you have a boss to answer to.

    Parent
    Not historically true (5.00 / 1) (#120)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 04:44:33 PM EST
    John Quincy Adams (1825-29) was elected to the House of Representatives in 1830, serving until 1848.
    John Tyler (1841-45) was elected to the Confederate States House of Representatives in 1862 but died before he could take office.
    Andrew Johnson (1865-69) was elected to the Senate in 1875, but died before he could take office.
    William Howard Taft (1909-1913) was selected to the Supreme Court by Warren Harding.

    Parent
    You're right about that. (none / 0) (#122)
    by vml68 on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 04:51:23 PM EST
    But, I think things are very different now.

    Parent
    I could also see him (5.00 / 1) (#125)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 04:56:57 PM EST
    On the Supreme Court

    Parent
    He is only (5.00 / 1) (#127)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 05:39:35 PM EST
    56

    Parent
    I agree with you on the SC. (none / 0) (#139)
    by vml68 on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 08:46:52 PM EST
    n/t

    Parent
    They are (none / 0) (#124)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 04:56:28 PM EST
    But AG is a very very different job than POTUS.

    It a actually seems more the job Obama was born to do.

    Parent

    I don't know (none / 0) (#118)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 04:31:13 PM EST
    If the structure of our nation was in jeopardy? If Trump really tears the hell out of things...the grand we might need a familiar face or two to lead us through the straightening.

    Parent
    I am pretty cynical unlike Mr Optimist (CaptHowdy) (none / 0) (#121)
    by vml68 on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 04:47:30 PM EST
    I don't think Eric Holder would get elected POTUS. I think this country has ticked the box for 'Black President' and it is not going to happen again for  a while. I believe we will have a woman POTUS before we have another black POTUS.

    Parent
    I think that should be true (none / 0) (#123)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 04:54:59 PM EST
    But I don't think it necessarily is.  And not for particularly optimistic reasons.

    I suspect there was dark lizard brain reasons why "the country" was more open to man, even a black one, being president than a woman.  A probably still is.

    I would like to be wrong.  

    As for Holder.  He would surely bring out the bedsheets.  But he would also mobilize all the right people.  But three years is geological time in politics.

    Parent

    It didn't prevent (5.00 / 2) (#113)
    by Zorba on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 03:15:20 PM EST
    Henry Kissinger from being confirmed as Secretary of State, also in the line of succession.  Since he is not "native born," he could not be elected president.

    Parent
    Uh, yeah (none / 0) (#70)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 09:18:51 PM EST
    Way more so than Biden.

    Parent
    Good Climate Change Program on NOVA Tonight (none / 0) (#71)
    by RickyJim on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 09:26:18 PM EST
    You can watch it online here.  Two things struck me the most.  It was sponsored by David H Koch of the notorious Koch brothers.  I wonder if he watched.  The second is that the smoking gun that shows humans are doing it is that the isotope signature of the carbon that is in the atmosphere is from ancient times so the only possible origin is fossil fuel.

    I recorded it (none / 0) (#73)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 18, 2018 at 09:30:10 PM EST
    It looked interesting.

    Parent
    Meteorologists in Hawaii are scrambling ... (none / 0) (#97)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 10:54:20 AM EST
    ... to explain to the general public how they failed to foresee the disastrous storm cell which seemingly materialized out of nowhere last Friday night to wallop Oahu and Kauai with up to 28 inches of rain in a 24-hour period, causing widespread flooding in east Honolulu and Kauai's northern and eastern shore areas. It was the worst storm to hit Oahu in over 30 years.

    According to NOAA-NWS, weather is actually much harder to predict in the middle of the Pacific Ocean than elsewhere, because there are fewer ways to monitor what's happening in the sky:

    "Weather observations here are based on a couple of buoys on the open ocean, satellite imagery and weather balloons launched from Hilo and Lihue. The closest weather balloons west of Kauai are in Guam, some 3,700 miles away, said John Bravender, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Honolulu.

    "On the continental U.S., by contrast, weather balloons are launched twice a day from several dozen spots, Bravender said. Commercial planes fly through the clouds and report back on conditions. And, of course, stations on the ground can see and measure what's happening. In meteorology, the more you know about the present, the easier it is to predict the future."

    Our old neighborhood in Kuliouou Valley, where my daughter still lives with her family and where we were ourselves on Friday night, received over 12 inches of rain in a little more than 2-1/2 hours, and the resultant damage in the surrounding community is quite extensive.

    Not much in the way of weather really scares me. This storm did. It was the most intensive and sustained downpour I've even seen in all the years I've lived out here. And I hope I never see anything like that ever again.

    Aloha.

    That's what all the weathermen say... (none / 0) (#108)
    by desertswine on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 02:03:13 PM EST
    They all say "D'oh."

    Parent
    Hey desert... (none / 0) (#109)
    by fishcamp on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 02:39:18 PM EST
    sounds like you're gearing up for an invasive animal roundup.  Tell them you have experience with dart guns and Amazon blow guns with tipped darts.  Send photos of the Oryx.

    Parent
    Oh no, we're a little late... (none / 0) (#129)
    by desertswine on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 06:15:08 PM EST
    on that account.  The barn door's been open way too long.  Tumbleweeds, iguanas, russian olives, walking catfish, parrots, I'm afraid we're stuck with them.    

    Parent
    Gotta say the only animal (5.00 / 1) (#193)
    by ragebot on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 06:23:00 PM EST
    I know of that has open season 365 24/7 are hogs.  They do more damage than any thing I can think of.  While bears, wolves, and big cats can kill deer more fawns are killed by wild hogs than all other sources combined.  The hogs can smell better than any of the other predators and are fearless in attacking anything.

    Parent
    I had heard (none / 0) (#136)
    by jondee on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 07:47:45 PM EST
    that some of the invasive bird species, like starlings and english house sparrows, got here because some rich guy with too much time on his hands decided to introduce into America bird species that were mentioned in Shakespeare.

    Maybe an urban legend, I don't know.

    Parent

    True, according to Smithsonian (none / 0) (#137)
    by jondee on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 07:59:49 PM EST
    at least for starlings.

    They brought nightingales and skylarks over, but they didn't survive.

    Under the greenwood tree, who loves to lie with me, and tune his merry note unto the sweet bird's throat..

    Parent

    Starlings have gotta be.. (none / 0) (#143)
    by desertswine on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 11:06:18 PM EST
    America's most hated bird, except maybe for those pigeons that live in underpasses.  And even the pigeons are non-native.

    Introduced to North America from Europe in the early 1600s, city pigeons nest on buildings and window ledges. - The Cornell Lab of Ornithology

    Parent

    People are just nutty sometimes (none / 0) (#152)
    by jondee on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 12:14:53 PM EST
    not to put too fine a pointbon it.

    As if America at the time didn't already have an incredibly diverse and important bird population.

    The cautionary tale of all cautionary tales is that passenger pigeon flocks used to be so large, that it would take days for one flock to pass overhead.

    Parent

    Not to mention... (none / 0) (#174)
    by desertswine on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 09:08:07 PM EST
    I thought it was going to be a joke (5.00 / 1) (#176)
    by jondee on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 09:25:22 PM EST
    until I read the whole thing. Interesting article.

    Parent
    Actually, they look real (none / 0) (#179)
    by linea on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 09:43:22 PM EST
    But the jackalope, often seen displayed as a hunting trophy in bars and restaurants in rural parts of the country, is a taxidermy trick. There is no variety of Jack Rabbit, papilloma virus notwithstanding, that displays miniature antelope antlers.

    As an aside, I highly support the vaccination of young girls for the papilloma virus and I myself had the vaccination when I was much younger.

    Parent

    I can't tell (none / 0) (#203)
    by Chuck0 on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 10:02:40 PM EST
    if you posting a serious response or being facetious. You just funning with us, right?

    Parent
    The NOVA show on weather (none / 0) (#130)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 06:29:20 PM EST
    Linked above is worth the time

    Parent
    Everything (none / 0) (#101)
    by FlJoe on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 11:08:56 AM EST
    is bigger in Texas, even the bootlickers  
    as Toronto Star reporter Daniel Dale points out, Cruz ended his presidential bid in 2016 by calling Trump "utterly amoral," a "pathological liar" and a "narcissist at a level I don't think this country has ever seen."

    Despite this, however, Cruz has agreed to write an essay praising Trump as part of Time Magazine's series on the most influential people in the world.



    There's a lot of pointy-toed (5.00 / 1) (#110)
    by jondee on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 02:39:26 PM EST
    boots in need of a good licking in Texas..

    Cruz is probably so good at it at this point he can do it in time to Flight of the Bumblebee.

    Parent

    Who's (none / 0) (#111)
    by FlJoe on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 03:11:09 PM EST
    the sniveling coward now Teddy? Beto will surely ask that question this fall, make him eat his words again and again.

    Parent
    Kushner gets a federal subpoena (none / 0) (#128)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 06:07:16 PM EST

    Kushner's company subpoenaed by federal jury after filing false paperwork

    The Kushner Companies received a federal subpoena on Thursday as investigators look into whether the real estate company repeatedly filed false paperwork that incorrectly claimed it served zero rent-regulated tenants.


    Pharma--bro is now in federal prison.. (none / 0) (#131)
    by desertswine on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 06:29:20 PM EST
    Martin Shkreli wanted to serve out the remainder of his seven-year sentence at a minimum-security federal camp, but that request was denied and the 35-year-old "pharma bro" was transferred Tuesday to a federal prison in New Jersey. Shkreli, the infamous former pharmaceuticals company head convicted of defrauding hedge-fund investors and manipulating the stock of his former company, will serve out his sentence at Fort Dix Federal Correctional Institution, a low-security prison located on a military base about 80 miles from New York City. CNBC notes that "camps are considered safer for inmates and are relatively more pleasant places to do one's sentence," but says Shkreli may have been ineligible for a camp since a judge ruled him a public danger thanks to, among other things, his offer of a bounty for a strand of Hillary Clinton's hair.


    FCI Fort Dix has two low-security prisons (none / 0) (#138)
    by Peter G on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 08:01:55 PM EST
    and a camp unit in the complex. Assuming that the news report is correct, that's bad news for Martin Shkreli. FCI Fort Dix Low is my least favorite area prison. Discipline bad, administration bad, gangs, contraband, more violence than you would expect in low security, pain in the rear to visit or call, etc. etc.

    Parent
    Peter, are some of your clients (none / 0) (#141)
    by fishcamp on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 09:48:56 PM EST
    In prisons similar to Jeralyn's clients?  Do you have to go to these prisons to communicate with them?  Having never spent any time in jail, I can't imagine how terrible life must be there.

    Parent
    Most of my clients (none / 0) (#142)
    by Peter G on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 10:28:29 PM EST
    are in federal prison. The bread and butter of my practice is federal criminal appeals, so my clients in most cases have already been convicted and sentenced. Most appellants in federal cases are not granted bail pending appeal.

    Parent
    Predictable things (none / 0) (#133)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 07:16:20 PM EST
    And unpredictable times

    Mention of Trump, Mueller and riot gear in Pittsburgh police email causes stir

    Pittsburgh's police department found itself in the spotlight Thursday because of a few key words in an email from a head detective: President Donald Trump, special counsel Robert Mueller and riot gear.
    The email, sent Wednesday by Major Crimes Commander Victor Joseph, asked detectives who wear plain clothes to bring uniforms and "riot gear" to work in case President Donald Trump fires special counsel Robert Mueller and detectives are needed to help monitor possible protests. The email was reported by WTAE and confirmed by Pittsburgh's mayor.

    The email

    "We have received information of a potential large scale protest in the Central Business District," the email from Joseph begins.

    "There is a belief that President Trump will soon move to fire Special Prosecutor Mueller. This would result in a large protest within 24 hours of the firing," Joseph wrote. Because of this, "all Major Crimes detectives are required to bring a full uniform and any issued protective equipment (riot gear) with them to work until further notice," he wrote.

    The measures were precautionary, Joseph wrote. "We may be needed to assist in the event that there is a large scale protest," he said in the email.



    ACLU-PA is well aware of the Pittsburgh PD's (none / 0) (#134)
    by Peter G on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 07:42:32 PM EST
    It's somehow (none / 0) (#135)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 07:47:21 PM EST
    Both comforting and scary this is a big story.  Scary because this may be a common reaction.  Comforting to know they are worried about it.

    Parent
    Long Range Acoustic Devices.. (none / 0) (#140)
    by jondee on Thu Apr 19, 2018 at 09:12:44 PM EST
    And the native birds thought they had a hard way to go before..

    It had never been used on U.S citizens before, according to what I'm reading. Can cause permanent hearing loss and even aneuryisms.

    It sounds almost like the military could've given it to the PPD for field testing purposes. Otherwise, you would think-hope the cops would've thought it through a little more, before deploying something like that against a crowd of people.

    Parent

    I (none / 0) (#144)
    by FlJoe on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 05:10:06 AM EST
    saw the violence of Pittsburgh's finest. The vision of them bludgeoning 14 year old girls while Jim Morrison crooned Light my Fire behind them is permanently etched in my mind.

    Parent
    my first encounter (none / 0) (#145)
    by CST on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 08:13:05 AM EST
    With this was in 2003.  Seems like not much has changed.

    Parent
    Bank error in your favor, (none / 0) (#149)
    by KeysDan on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 10:47:47 AM EST
    go directly to Park Avenue. For a minute or two. Jared and Trump's special bank, Deutsche Bank, made an error of $35 billion, sending the money to the wrong account.

    Exported from the Bronx-- (none / 0) (#151)
    by KeysDan on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 12:05:04 PM EST
    a Key West cheer for Trump on his visit to the island city on Thursday...to fight drug smuggling and human trafficking--"which is worse than ever before."  And, Trump says it re-enforces the need for a wall, presumably, not for Key West.

    Ummmm...... (5.00 / 2) (#153)
    by Zorba on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 12:29:14 PM EST
    How would he build a "wall" around Key West, and for that matter, all of South Florida?
    Oy!

    Parent
    I Guess Trump's Key West (5.00 / 1) (#160)
    by fishcamp on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 02:40:01 PM EST
    visit froze all the traffic in town for a few hours.  Nobody could view the procession from the rooftops for fear of a shooter.  People live on those rooftops.  I saw a very long line of Miami motorcycle cops heading down to help.  Several got lost when they missed the turnoff to Boca Chica Naval Air Base where the 747 landed.  The cops were seen asking for directions at a gas station.

     They allegedly filmed Trump standing in front of a giant pile of cocaine.  I can just hear him taking full credit for capturing all the blow with a little help from those Navy ships over there.

    Parent

    That's a much longer runway than the one ... (none / 0) (#173)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 08:02:05 PM EST
    ... at nearby Key West International. Landing at EYW is a real adventure, even as a passenger. I've flown in there once (and it was a while ago), on a United B-737 from Chicago-O'Hare. The moment that plane touched the ground, the pilot immediately jammed on the brakes - and we still took nearly the entire 4,800 ft.-long runway to stop.

    But Key West itself is beautiful and the residents were totally cool. If I had to live in Florida, it would be there or thereabouts in the Keys.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Monday is Independence Day (none / 0) (#154)
    by Jack E Lope on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 12:56:09 PM EST
    ...in The Conch Republic - which was a result of Reagan-era anti-drug-smuggling enforcement:
    The original protest event was motivated by a U.S. Border Patrol roadblock and checkpoint...


    Parent
    Today is the Fuhrer's (none / 0) (#162)
    by KeysDan on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 03:12:08 PM EST
    birthday, b.April 20, 1889.  Discuss, recalling all politicians are the same,:   "good people on both sides;" "improved the economy,"  "lessened economic anxiety,"  "a leader,"  "did not always agree with him, but he said what he meant,"  "he restored the borders,"  " national purity."  "fake reporters  jailed for fake news, "fake news requires state run media."  "got rid of norms and styled new institutions"  "rule of law is over-rated."  

    Not to forget (none / 0) (#163)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 03:16:39 PM EST
    AMURKA FURST

    was the slogan of stateside Nazi sympathizers

    Parent

    I still ask myself the question (none / 0) (#164)
    by jondee on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 03:44:32 PM EST
    I heard someone else ask once: how did Germany go from Albert the Great, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, JS Bach, Goethe, Schiller, Beethoven, Hegel etc etc to Adolph Hitler?

    And what kind of cultural compost do we have here in America that might serve as a failsafe bulwark against fascism? The Constitution, the Bill of Right's, and the Declaration of Independence? Lately those documents seem to be functioning the way Rumi said the Koran worked: when an ape looks in, no man looks out..

    I have a problem with (none / 0) (#165)
    by Zorba on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 05:20:15 PM EST
    Martin Luther.  Not because of his Lutheran theology, but because of his anti-Semitism.
    I'm not blaming Luther (solely) for the anti-Semitism of the Nazis, but his beliefs certainly didn't help.

    Parent
    Yeah, I thought about that (none / 0) (#170)
    by jondee on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 05:53:45 PM EST
    when I wrote it.

    Somebody wrote a whole book about him being anal-retentive, because he always had his big epiphanies while sitting in the can.

    That's what happens when you don't have Reader's Digest to fall back on.

    Parent

    Well, for pity's sake (none / 0) (#175)
    by Zorba on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 09:24:33 PM EST
    Let's get Trump a subscription to Reader's Digest so he can read it instead of tweeting while he's on the toilet.  ;-)

    Parent
    Better yet (none / 0) (#180)
    by jondee on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 10:04:54 PM EST
    a case of Metamucil, for the good of us all.

    I hear that when Trump finishes in the bathroom, they send up a special smoke signal, the way they do at the Vatican.

    Parent

    The governor of my neighboring state (none / 0) (#172)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 07:49:29 PM EST
    Is in the news again today with more new felony charges
    These have nothing to do with the felony charges already against him

    Missouri Gov. Greitens charged with second felony

    And yet (none / 0) (#177)
    by Zorba on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 09:28:08 PM EST
    He still refuses to resign, despite even Republicans telling him he should.
    Hubris.

    Parent
    I think the new charges (none / 0) (#178)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 09:40:42 PM EST
    Are meant to be a big ole unsubtle push.

    Parent
    The way Greiten is acting you'd think he was (none / 0) (#181)
    by caseyOR on Fri Apr 20, 2018 at 10:33:52 PM EST
    the governor of Illinois.

    Parent
    McCaskill (none / 0) (#183)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 06:28:51 AM EST
    has some kind of luck. Every time she is up for reelection the MO GOP implodes.

    Parent
    Interesting (none / 0) (#188)
    by FlJoe on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 02:45:21 PM EST
    events in the Kingdom tonight
    Gunfire and explosions have been reported outside the home of the Saudi king in Riyadh, the country's capital. Sources on Twitter have posted photos and videos of the situation and have said that the gunfire is part of a coup attempt. The king has reportedly been evacuated.

    The Jerusalem Post has not been able to independently verify these claims.

    This is a developing story.

    Not a peep on CNN yet.

    WESTWORLD (none / 0) (#194)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Apr 21, 2018 at 07:29:47 PM EST