Saturday, June 10, 2023

It Could Be a Problem: Florida is a Red State with Red Jurors Who Can't See Past Red

Despite recent setbacks, Trump is smiling about where his trial will be held in the classified documents case where he's been charged with espionage and obstruction of justice.

Ruby red Miami Florida.

Recently a Central Florida criminal defense attorney, Rob Mandell admitted that the state has a long history of acquitting elected officials accused of wrongdoing by the feds.

They just don't like feds in the Republic of Florida, especially since elected officials like Gov. Ron DeSantis is at war with the entire federal government.

It's a perfect venue for the most corrupt former president in US history to be tried. Politics trump (pun intended) the constitution and rule of law in the Sunshine State. 

Trump is counting on that because he has no real defense against the charges filed against him. There's just too much evidence. 

In a fair hearing it would be a slam dunk, but the chance of a MAGA mole (or two) getting on the jury - despite lawyer's assertions everyone is carefully vetted - is higher in Florida than any other state.

And look who the judge is. 

MAGA judge Aileen Connor who was chastened by her peers for slowing down the FBI's investigation and making weird rulings in Trump favor. It's not entirely clear she will be responsible for the case throughout its duration. If she is, then Trump already has someone in his pocket.

It's apparent the feds are going to have their work cut out for them. 

Mandell summed up the situation when he told the press, "Good luck finding a Trump supporter finding Trump guilty, despite whatever the evidence is."

As it stands, we better hope Mr. Mandell is not right about the juror selection, and this still turns out to be a fair trial.

Friday, June 9, 2023

Special Counsel Unseals 37 Criminal Counts Against Trump: It's Worse Than You Thought

No more idle speculation.

(Photo shows fallen boxes of classified documents in Trump's storage room.)

Trump is in bigly trouble after Special Counsel Jack Smith unveiled the charges against him today.

Here's the full text of the charges.

The DOJ laid Trump's crimes out in such granular detail it was almost shocking. The amount of evidence makes this a very strong case, which even Trump cronies have to admit.

Two more Trump attorneys (who just the night before went on TV and said Trump wouldn't be charged) ditched him when the charges were read. It was serious stuff, and they knew it.

A Trump aide, Walt Nauta, was also indicted for obstructing justice for helping Trump hide the classified documents.

Boxes of stolen documents were stored in a ballroom (open to guests), a shower(!), in a bedroom, and some were sent to his other residence in New Jersey.

One of the worst breeches was the Top-Secret information he had on an intel program with five countries called "Five Eyes." It was an intelligence gathering agreement between the US, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, and New Zealand.

It gets worse.

Trump had stashed classified defense documents and weapon capabilities of both the US and foreign countries, including US nuclear programs, according to the indictment.

And worse.

The documents discovered in his residence contained potential vulnerabilities of the US and its allies to a military attack - as well as plans for possible retaliation in response to a foreign attack.

One of the charges involved showing classified documents on two occasions to others with no security clearances. 

In 73 years, I've seen a lot of historic moments and was even involved in some in Vietnam and Cambodia. 

I remember the Watts riots in Los Angeles. Watching the first man land on the moon. The 9/11 attack. Two wars with Iraq. War with Afghanistan. Nixon and the Watergate scandal. Russia invading Ukraine. A president getting impeached twice, but not getting kicked out of office.

But this classified document case has to be the biggest event in my lifetime. The thought is almost inconceivable that a former president has committed treason and put America's security at risk.

As it stands, Special Counsel Jack Smith said he wants a speedy trial (every American's right) and I hope that's what happens.

Thursday, June 8, 2023

Trump Gets MAGA-Friendly Judge in Classified Documents Trial

After word got out (by Trump himself) that he was being indicted on seven criminal counts his loyal minions in Congress and around the country have declared war on our justice system.

There's more than one troubling aspect involved in the process going forward. Here's something to keep on eye on.
 
A Trump judge, Aileen Cannon, has been selected to initially oversee the criminal case against Trump. 

She's the MAGA-friendly judge that tried to shield him during the Mar-a-Lago investigation when she purposely tried to slow the whole process down. Her attempts were overthrown but not before proving she's loyal to Trump.

We still don't know what the exact charges are and won't until Tuesday when Trump is arraigned in a Miami Court. In the last 24 hours it's gone from 7 counts to 37 counts!

Information has been leaking throughout the day. Reports that Trump put our national security at risk by disclosing classified documents ranging from US weapon systems to nuclear capabilities and classified information on other countries are circulating through various medias. 

These are indeed dark times.

But they're also a time when democracy has stood up to the most corrupt president in our history. With accountability coming, Trump is not going to go quietly into the night. That ship has sailed in the last two state indictments.

The charges coming out of this classified document case will be devasting for Trump's political career regardless of what his cult members assert.

There's so much more to come. Make no mistake, this is history. 

It's something that's going to shake our republic to its foundations, but in the end, it'll stop the biggest threat to our country and show there are consequences for being a traitor.

As it stands, the world is watching to see if we preserve our democracy or sink into an autocracy.

'Milksop Man' Makes His Mark By Running for President

It's a plane!

It's a train!

It's Superman!

No.

It's Milksop Man!

The most vanilla candidate among the GOP hopefuls for president, Mike Pence, has thrown his dunce hat in the ring. He appeared on CNN Town Hall to make his big announcement the other night despite being warned by "Mother" (his wife) not to stand too close to any liberals.

Listening to Pence talk about Trump - his opponent in the race - it was immediately obvious that he didn't want to say a bad word about the former president.

Forget about the Jan. 6 rioters Trump encouraged to hang him. He said he'll still vote for him if he's the Republican nominee and then turned around (you actually saw his head swivel) and said, "No one is above the Law!" as forcibly as his weak tenor voice could muster.

Hypocrisy dripped off of his white skull cap of hair and soaked into every word he spoke. I could almost hear the song from the Disney ride "It's a Small World" as Pence pontificated on a whimsical boat of lies past a jubilant chorus of MAGA children.

Pence has no punch. His words are hollow vessels blessed by religious extremists. Mainstream America and most Republicans will flick the fly off of his head and pay him no attention.

None of that is stopping the "Milksop Man" a minnow in a sea of sharks, from trying his luck in the political arena. I almost feel sorry for the cowardly lion who would be president. Almost.

As it stands, I can't think of one good reason why Pence is running unless... Mother told him too because she didn't want him hanging around at the house!

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

GOP House is Running 'Green Bay Sweep 2' against Trump Investigations: Will it be a Political Touchdown?

Despite their best efforts MAGA stars Steve Bannon, Peter Navarro, and John Eastman's plan to overthrow the 2020 election failed.

The now infamous Green Bay Sweep (as the conspirator's called it) was a detailed attempt to subvert our electoral system and put Trump into the Oval Office.

When GOP House leader Steve Scalise was asked yesterday what the House GOP would do if Trump were indicted, he made it clear the crazy caucus will investigate the DOJ and everyone that was involved in charging Trump.

In other words, they're going to run an updated Green Bay Sweep in Congress to protect the most corrupt ex-president in American history. But this time there's no hiding their perfidy. They're openly attacking our democracy by abusing their oaths of office.

The game's goal posts keep shifting with Trump who is totally assaulting every norm and law in the nation. 

Each attack becomes more problematic. Jan. 6 was a warm-up. Congress is poised to burn the House down defending the orange clown before next year's presidential election.

Traitors like Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, Jim Jordan, Chairman for the House Judiciary Committee, and Oversight Committe Chairman James Comer have forsaken the American people and are shamelessly conducting sham investigations to protect Trump at all costs.

Will Team Trump score the winning touchdown and let Donny dodge justice again, despite his multiple felonies?

In a nutshell, I don't think so. The evidence is overwhelming, and the case is relatively easy (from a lawyer's point of view) as it focuses narrowly on Trump obstructing justice.

Also take into account that Team DOJ is a lot smarter than the brutish MAGA morons who mindlessly obey orders from a madman and defy the entire establishment.

Then there's that pesky RICO case in Georgia where Trump will likely be indicted in early August according to legal experts in the state. There's no federal crazy caucus that can interfere with their investigation in the Peach State. Congressional federal traitors have no power there.

However, this concentrated attack by sitting Congressman is going to have its consequences in an election year.

The majority of Americans have been shocked at how far the crazy caucus is going to defend a convicted sex offender, and a twice impeached president who is currently charged with 34 felonies in New York.

As it stands, I don't see these Congressional GOP minions carrying anything over the touchdown line but scorn and loathing for their actions.

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

Trump's Classified Documents Investigation Nears Indictment: Then What?

The Mar-a-Lago probe is at DEFCON 5.

After Trump's lawyers skulked out of a meeting at the Department of Justice the other day, they apparently didn't have positive news for their client.

The federal grand jury convened this week after a hiatus, and it looks like they're ready to get this party started and to indict Trump any day now. Possibly even this week. One thing is for sure, federal prosecutor's will have him arrested... but in their own time.

Remember the last investigation that ended in an indictment but not on the day Trump said? There was good reasons for that. 

One was to avoid violent protests. The same holds true this time. When his lawyers told him that an indictment was imminent Trump predictably lost his mind. Now he's trying to control the narrative by saying it's Biden who should be indicted.  

He's blasting away on his failing web site Truth Social hourly.

His senseless accusations and lies are growing more desperate as his enemies are going to hold him accountable for obstructing justice in this case.

But Trump faces more peril as a RICO case is building against him in Georgia where he tried to overturn the will of the voters by cheating. And the DOJ isn't done with him. Then there's this little matter of his coup attempt at the Capitol in Jan. 6.

The question is what happens when they arrest him? Do they hold him in jail until the trial? I doubt it, but one can dream. He might have to pay a bond and wear an ankle bracelet to keep track of his whereabouts should he decide to flee the country.

Or he just may walk free without any restraints on his movements or lifestyle. It could happen. Anything is possible for this cult leader who owns the Republican Party. Rules and laws can't seem to contain him. He's an unnatural source trying to seize our system of government.

Still... a group of legal scholars published a model prosecution memo last week finding that Trump "should-and likely will-be charged" in the documents probe.

As it stands, we'll find out, one way or another, if America can stand up for its hard-earned freedoms, or if these are the last days of democracy.

Monday, June 5, 2023

GOP Primary Circus Promises to be Pathetic but Entertaining - Here's the Lineup

Coming soon.

Be prepared for the biggest election theatre of the absurd in history as a dozen Republicans vie for being the next president of the United States.

Clown cars of candidates are going to Iowa like it's the promised land. Their race for president already has historic firsts and the show is just starting to pick up steam.

Let's set the stage for the actors involved.

* Top of the list of political performers is Trump a criminally indicted former president who tried to overthrow our electoral system and is seeking an Oval Office comeback.

* Florida governor Ron DeSantis is considered Trump's main competition. He's been positioning himself as a national figure by championing far-right causes. He's best known for attacking the state's school systems and forcing them to ignore large chunks of American history because it might upset some white boy or girl.

* Then there's the biggest milksop in the Republican Party former vice president Mike Pence. His status as a chicken shit was firmly established when he defended Trump after being attacked by a mob riled up by Trump who were looking to lynch him.

* The only female candidate running in this circus Nikki Haley has some political chops. She was a twice-elected governor and a cabinet member during Trump's regime. Her constantly shifting views of Trump are hard to keep up with. 

* A swell of businessmen is tossing their hats into the main tent. People like Ryan Binkley (say who?) a Dallas-area businessman and non-denominational pastor. He wants to be a peacemaker in a den of MAGArats. Good luck with that.

* There's no shortage of conservative media personalities like Larry Elder who ran against Gavin Newsome and lost. His strong point is siding with political extremists.

* Saying he's running an underdog presidential bid Asa Hutchinson is another two-term governor (Arkansas), former U.S. attorney, congressman and DEA administrator. He probably has too much experience for the MAGA crowd looking for one of their own. Oh, yeah! He's not afraid of Trump like most of the rest of the worms are.

* Nothing like a self-described "quality guru" (what the hell is that?) to give some spice to the race and Perry Johnson fits the bill. He has no experience in politics which will probably work in his favor.

* Another billionaire, former pharmaceutical company CEO Vivek Ramaswamy is self-funding his campaign and running an anti-woke agenda. (I hope someone asks him what woke means).

* The GOP loves this next candidate because he's a favorite of the donor class. Like Haley, Tim Scott hails from South Carolina. His connections to Oracle's Larry Ellison and the Kock network automatically elevate his game. 

* It seems to be the time for twice-elected governors to try their hand in the game with Doug Burgum (North Dakota) as the latest example. He doesn't have a national profile but is hoping for the party's primary debates to launch his effort. Besides if he loses, he can still run for governor a third time due to a grandfather clause in the state's laws.

*One-time Trump ally, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie has joined the clown show and he plans to be Trump's loudest critic. It's pretty obvious he's not going to pry away Trump's cult followers. One of the reasons he qualifies is ability to lie without blinking at eye.

Some who may get in the race:

* Another conservative talk-radio personality (there's no shortage of them in the country), Mike Rodgers, who was also once the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee in 2014 is tossing his tin hat into the main tent. He doesn't stand a snowballs chance of surviving in a desert. 

* Another governor has been quietly making the rounds in the national media testing out his electability. Chris Sununu the popular governor of New Hampshire. He's probably too moderate for the rabid GOP party. He's also another anti-Trump guy.

So, sit back, pull out a bag of popcorn and be prepared for what will surely be the nastiest GOP primaries in anyone's memory.

As it stands, if Trump wins it's possible he'll be running a campaign from jail like Eugene Debs did in 1920.

Sunday, June 4, 2023

The Mistake We Make When Trying to Communicate with Political Extremists

First off... you're never going to convince a MAGA minion that Trump isn't the son of God, and his holy mission is to get rid of the Deep State.

It's best to smile at extremists and not engage them in conversation. Just keep walking.

Trying to communicate with political extremists is a losing proposition no matter what you do to draw them into reality.

Understand, extremists have profound convictions that oppose the fundamental values of society, the laws of democracy and universal human rights while advocating their supremacy.

We have MAGA morons in Congress that gleefully deviate from the norm and show contempt for life, freedom, and human rights. You can't reason with people like them because they exist in an alternate universe.

We need to keep that in mind when dealing with them.

It really becomes awkward when you have family members or old friends that slipped off the apple cart and follow crap like QAnon and Trump. That's where the smile comes in and you try to change the conversation.

The pandemic has enabled extremism to go to greater heights than ever before as science and facts became political footballs in our society and government.

Crazy COVID myths threatened lives as people swallowed bleach and put lights up their bums for protection from COVID-19. Don't even think about trying to talk sense with them. Again. Just walk away.

The average person sees compromise as a reasonable alternative to solving problems, but political extremists see it as a sign of weakness.

But the biggest mistake we make is when we start letting the loons have free rent in our heads. Thereon lies the road to misery.

As it stands, it helps to know that political extremists are a loud minority in America.

Blog Break Until Presidential Election is Over

I finally hit the wall today. I can't think of what to say about all of the madness going on in this country right now. I'm a writer...