In my opinion, this ruling comes way too late. The DOJ has had plenty of time to go through the documents and other seized items, if they had enough people working on it – and I am pretty sure they threw enormous numbers into the effort, because that’s how determined they are to get Trump for something:
Federal Judge Aileen M. Cannon has granted Donald Trump’s Motion for Judicial Oversight of the FBI/DOJ handling of records and other things seized during the Mar-a-Lago Raid.
The Order entered today provides, in relevant part (emphasis added):
“Pursuant to the Court’s equitable jurisdiction and inherent supervisory authority, and mindful of the need to ensure at least the appearance of fairness and integrity under the extraordinary circumstances presented, Plaintiff’s Motion [ECF No. 1] is GRANTED IN PART. The Court hereby authorizes the appointment of a special master to review the seized property for personal items and documents and potentially privileged material subject to claims of attorneyclient and/or executive privilege. Furthermore, in natural conjunction with that appointment, and consistent with the value and sequence of special master procedures, the Court also temporarily enjoins the Government from reviewing and using the seized materials for investigative purposes pending completion of the special master’s review or further Court order.”
Democracy cannot survive when one side believes there are only two outcomes to an election: either they win or they were cheated. And that’s where MAGA Republicans are today.
But there is no indication that so-called “MAGA-Republicans” believe that all elections they lose are the result of cheating. In the 2020 presidential election, however, there was reason to believe it based on the loosening of the rules for voting and the way some of the votes in key states came in. But underlying all of that was the unverifiable nature of mail-in voting, which became very common in 2020 with the excuse of COVID, and enabled possible fraud that would be undetectable, thus undermining general trust in elections.
Democrats will never admit that – unless it’s they who lose the election.
Actually, there’s plenty of reason to say that it has been the Democrats who – both in 2000 (which was a bona fide photo finish election) and in 2016 – cannot accept defeat and must charge cheating. To refresh your memory:
Joe Biden would also dump Kamala Harris as his VP. She said in 2020 that it was "absolutely right" that Trump is "an illegitimate President who didn’t really win" in 2016. pic.twitter.com/3lCFkvNi4T
I had forgotten this resolution that was introduced in the Missouri House, if I ever even knew about it in the first place. It’s got some good reminders in it, as well:
WHEREAS, House Speaker NancyPelosi indicated that the 2016 election for President of the United States was illegitimate by stating, “Our election was hijacked. There is no question” in her Twitter comments to the nation;
WHEREAS, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has indicated on numerous occasions that President Donald J. Trump and members of his family likely colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 election; and
WHEREAS, in January 2017, Senator Tim Kaine appeared on MCNBC’s “Morning Joe” where he stated, “What we’ve got to do is fight in Congress, fight in the courts, fight in the streets, fight online, fight at the ballot box, and now there’s the momentum to be able to do this”;…
WHEREAS, on November 17, 2018, Senator Richard Blumenthal told MSNBC host Chris Hayes “the evidence is pretty clear that there was collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians”; and
WHEREAS, on January 14, 2020, Nancy Pelosi spread further debunked conspiracy theories and discord by tweeting: “American elections should be decided by the American people, not by the Russian Government. Retweet if you agree”; and…
WHEREAS, in August 2020, Representative Ayanna Pressley stated, on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” that, “you know, there needs to be unrest in the streets for as long as there’s unrest in our lives”; and…
WHEREAS, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has referred to the Senate as a “kangaroo court” whose impeachment votes are illegitimate; and
WHEREAS, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has issued threats against individual justices of the Supreme Court of the United States in such a virulent manner…
WHEREAS, these actions are clear and convincing evidence of a long-term pattern of disrespect for the rule of law and disdain for the democratic process; and
WHEREAS, these statements by Democrats in Congress have been unchecked by Democrat leadership, allowing conspiracy theories of Russian interference, Russian collusion, and an “illegitimate” presidential election to grow, leading to a probe into these debunked theories that cost taxpayers millions of dollars…
During his first news conference since March, Biden refused to say the country’s upcoming elections would be free and fair or that the results would be legitimate, unless Democrats’ voting reforms were passed.
“I just wanted to clarify: A moment ago, you were asked whether or not you believed that we would have free and fair elections in 2022 if some of these state legislatures reformed their voting protocols,” a reporter said. “You said that it depends. Do you … think that they would in any way be illegitimate?”
I’m not saying it’s going to be legit,” Biden responded. “The increase in the prospect of being illegitimate is in direct proportion to us not being able to get these reforms passed.
He later denied that’s what he meant. Oh, and there was also this from Biden in May of 2019, shortly after he announced his candidacy for the 2020 race:
After a woman [during a visit by Biden to New Hampshire] claimed she had a “very severe case of what’s called Trump Derangement Syndrome,” and that Trump is an “illegitimate president in my mind,” Biden responded: “I absolutely agree.”
Vice President Kamala Harris’ newly appointed communications director Jamal Simmons insisted more than once that George W. Bush’s first presidential election victory was “illegitimate,” according to resurfaced statements and tweets.
While Simmons repeatedly noted that he behaved respectfully toward Bush, his insistence that the 2000 election was stolen pairs awkwardly with the Biden administration’s furious response to former President Donald Trump’s insistence that widespread voter fraud cost him a second term — a claim the White House and many top Democrats have labeled the “Big Lie.”
I could go on and on and on – but really, I could save myself the trouble, because this video provides a host of incontrovertible evidence:
Remember the “Resistance”? Not the people who during WWII opposed the Nazis, but the other – self-styled – “Resistance,” the enormous number of Democrats who declared loudly and often that Trump’s 2016 election was illegitimate, and many of whom went on to try to frame him with lies such as the Steele dossier. And yet Biden and other Democrats who denied and denied Trump’s 2016 election (some of them even denying Bush’s 2000 election) have the gall to accuse the “MAGA Republicans” of what they themselves have repeatedly done. And those same Democrats had even less evidence to go on – except, of course, for the evidence they themselves manufactured.
[NOTE: This is a slightly edited version of a previous post.]
Labor Day is the bookend standing at the opposite end of summer from its holiday beginning, Memorial Day.
July Fourth is summer’s early peak, with the promise of long light-filled days ahead. But Labor Day is summer’s last gasp, the moment I dreaded as a child because it marked the end of vacation and the start of the school year. Spiffy new clothes, a shiny bookbag, freshly sharpened pencils, and the promise of the beautiful autumn leaves’ arrival were nice. But they couldn’t make up for the fact that a new school year was beginning. Where oh where had the summer gone?
And it goes even more quickly these days.
Here’s wishing you all a Happy Labor Day, despite the difficult times. Barbecues, picnics, the beach, just hanging out in your yard, whatever you desire and whatever you decide. And for the historically-minded among you, here’s some information on the origins of the holiday.
Young people probably have no idea about that happened back then. But those of us who are older certainly remember. It was stunningly shocking at the time, and even worse because it occurred in Germany at what was supposed to be a peaceful and happy venue, the Olympics. As events unfolded, the almost unbelievable extent of Germany’s mishandling and incompetence and even perhaps malevolence was eventually revealed, but I think most people are still unaware of its extent.
This video (it can’t be embedded here, but it’s easy to watch if you click on the link) is a talk given by Simon Reeve, who is the author of a book entitled One Day in September. The entire video is fascinating, but the first half hour or so is an especially good summary of the entire Munich event. The details are harrowing and the description of Germany’s role infuriating.
Or, if you’re unfamiliar with the events, a simple way to learn the main facts is to watch the powerful award-winning documentary “One Day in September.” Those of you who were around in 1972 can relive the horror, including some details you’ve probably forgotten; those who were not around back then can familiarize themselves with a day that put Palestinian terrorism on the Olympic map and the world map.
…Munich was one of the most successful attacks in terrorist history. As Bruce Hoffman, a leading authority on terrorism points out, “The premier example of terrorism’s power to rocket a cause from obscurity to renown…was without doubt the murder of eleven Israeli athletes seized by Palestinian terrorists at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games…
Most of the world had forgotten the Palestinians existed before the attack at Munich. Within two years of the massacre…Yassar Arafat was being feted by world leaders and invited to address the General Assembly of the United Nations…
It’s also difficult and immensely frustrating to watch the film and relive the incident step by step as an observer; the impulse is to reach out and change history. The film also (in my opinion) is too graphic in some of its photos of the victims, so be forewarned on that score.
One particularly outrageous element of Germany’s role in the incident involves the hijacking of Lufthansa Flight 651. If you haven’t heard that aspect of the attack’s aftermath, here’s a summary:
The hijacking of Lufthansa Flight 615 was an act of Palestinian terrorism that occurred on 29 October 1972 and aimed at the liberation of the three surviving perpetrators of the Munich massacre from a West German prison.
When the Lufthansa airplane was seized by sympathisers of the Black September Organization during the Beirut-Ankara part of a multi-stopover flight from Damascus to Frankfurt, the West German authorities complied with the demand of having the prisoners released. They were handed over at Zagreb Airport, and the hijacked aircraft was flown to Tripoli, where all hostages were released. The liberated Munich attackers were granted asylum by Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.
For its actions, the West German government was criticised by Israel and other parties. Allegations were made that the hijacking had been staged or at least tolerated with theories of a secret agreement between the German government and Black September – release of the surviving terrorists in exchange for assurances of no further attacks on Germany.
See this for more information on why it is suspected that the hijacking was accomplished with the co-operation of the German government.
Another point that’s often made – and that Reeve mentions as well – is the idea that the Israeli response of killing Palestinian terrorists was motivated by revenge. I believe that is a common misunderstanding:
In a February 2006 interview,[84] Zamir answered direct questions:
Was there no element of vengeance in the decision to take action against the terrorists?
No. We were not engaged in vengeance. We are accused of having been guided by a desire for vengeance. That is nonsense. What we did was to concretely prevent in the future. We acted against those who thought that they would continue to perpetrate acts of terror. I am not saying that those who were involved in Munich were not marked for death. They definitely deserved to die. But we were not dealing with the past; we concentrated on the future.
Did you not receive a directive from Golda Meir along the lines of “take revenge on those responsible for Munich?”
Golda Meir abhorred the necessity that was imposed on us to carry out the operations. Golda never told me to ‘take revenge on those who were responsible for Munich.’ No one told me that.
In a way it feels like less than fifty years have passed, but in a way it feeks like more. The world seemed a lot more innocent back then – at least to me – and the Munich Olympics massacre was one of the events that disabused us of that notion.
I had the enormous good fortune to see Baryshnikov dance in person many many times, and he fully lived up to all the hype. To this day, I have never seen a more exciting and yet Apollonian dancer – an unusual combination – and I’ve seen many of the greats. Even though the following clip discusses the extreme height of his jumps, in person they were even more impressive, with extraordinary ballon (the ability to appear to pause in the air at the height of the jump). I think some of his jumping ability came from the strength of his thigh muscles in relation to his more slight torso. He could act, too, and had tremendous charm as well as masculinity.
Baryshnikov also had total command of attack, which is the ability to make a movement forceful, quick, sharp, and distinct so that it “reads” very clearly and powerfully all the way to the last row of the audience. It’s a question of timing and emphasis, and takes great strength and musicality.
The video says he was 5’5″, and if you look his height up online some sites even say 5’6″ or 5’7″. But I don’t think he actually was more than 5’4″. I might be wrong, but the reason I say that is that I once stood next to him; we were both in ballet slippers, and 5’4″ is my estimate of his height. At any height, though, onstage he was a giant:
Starting tomorrow, concealed weapons will no longer be permitted on subways, in bars, and the following sensitive locations. pic.twitter.com/RKExUOBlrT
SCOTUS had struck down New York’s earlier restrictive concealed carry law, so in July the legislature passed another one, which took effect on September 1. This is what Hochul is referencing; she’s not just doing this by executive decree:
The [newly-passed] laws contain strengthened background checks and firearm safety and live-fire training for individuals seeking to obtain concealed carry permits; prohibit concealed carry permit holders from bringing their firearms into sensitive locations, including Times Square, bars, libraries, schools, government buildings and hospitals, among others; and require renewal or recertification of permits every three years. The Governor also announced a new Gun Safety Website to provide the public, gun owners, and gun dealers with a comprehensive information about all of the new requirements under state law.
“In response to the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down New York’s century-old concealed carry law, we took swift and thoughtful action to keep New Yorkers safe,” Governor Hochul said. “I refuse to surrender my right as Governor to protect New Yorkers from gun violence or any other form of harm. In New York State, we will continue leading the way forward and implementing common sense gun safety legislation.”
I have no objection to requiring training of various kinds. It’s the restrictions in “sensitive locations” that are the problem. Unless every single one of those locations has an entrance protected by armed guards and metal protectors blocking entrance by all gun carriers, legal or illegal – and of course that is not going to be the case – the laws protect no one except “bad guys” intent on flouting them.
It seems obvious that a gang member or a thief or a murderer is not a law-abiding citizen, and gun laws mean nothing to such a person.
“We will be posting signage at every entrance into Times Square informing those traveling through that the area is a gun-free zone and that licensed gun carriers and others may not enter with a gun unless otherwise specially authorized by law. As mayor of New York City and a former police officer, my top priority will always be the safety of all 8.8 million people who call this city home, so while the Supreme Court decision may have opened an additional river feeding the sea of gun violence, we are doing everything we can to dam it and keep New York the safest big city in America,” he added.
I don’t see why this law would have any effect on the “river feeding the sea of gun violence,” except to increase it. In addition, a lot of New York’s increased violence – for example, pushing people onto subway tracks, or beating them up – does not feature guns.
Hochul said this:
We don’t need guns on our streets. We don’t need people carrying guns in our subways. We don’t need people carrying guns in our schools. We don’t need people carrying in our places of worship. We don’t need them carrying them into bars or restaurants. Because that only makes people less safe,” Hochul said Wednesday.
You may not need them, but you will get them, because criminals are not deterred by laws such as this. Earth to Hochul, Adams, and the New York legislature: there is a black market in guns, and criminals engage in it. As long as criminals have guns and armed police are not always around, to disarm the law-abiding citizens seems like madness.
However, there’s a clue in Hochul’s statement that legal concealed carry “only makes people less safe.” I would amend that to “it makes some people feel less safe.” When I see a sign that a certain area I’m about to enter is a gun-free zone, unless it’s protected by the aforementioned metal detector with an armed guard (courtrooms are a good example), I don’t feel the least bit safe. I feel like a sitting duck. But I am pretty certain that a sizeable number of people do feel more safe when they see signs like that. It is a kind of safety-theater, a pretense of protection.
As governor and then before that lieutenant governor, Hochul has state trooper protection as security. I’m going to go out on a limb and assume she’s not planning to disarm them.
Doocy: “Do you consider all Trump supporters to be a threat to the country?”
Biden: “I don’t consider any Trump supporter a threat to the country.”
I guess the polling after the speech was very very bad.
One of the saddest things about all of this is that it leaves many people wondering whether Biden even remembers on Friday what he said on Thursday, or whether he’s even aware of it as he says it. My position remains that most of the time he is quite aware, but that he is a person for whom lies – often outrageous, “who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes/ears” lies – are a favored tactic and have been for his entire political life. His lies are not just the usual bragging exaggerations, although he certainly deals in those as well (Trump was famous for that sort of thing). No, Biden’s lies are elaborate stories that are fabrications, as well as lies about very substantive issues involving policy or history or what the opposition has said or done, and this has blatantly been going on his entire political life, which is most of his life.
This time, though, the visuals will probably live on in photos and memes they generate. Of course, there are always people such as Sam Harris, who suffers from such an advanced case of TDS that he had this to say about the speech’s setting:
I love seeing Trumpists condemning the political optics of this image. Admittedly, they are terrible. But they are only bad by reference to values that should lead you to totally repudiate Trump himself. For Biden, this is a gaffe; for Trump, it would be a window into his soul.
I really wasn’t familiar with Harris prior to his “the Hunter Biden laptop coverup was wrong, but completely necessary to save us all from evil Trump” remarks. But a lot of people on the right apparently used to listen to his podcasts approvingly, and the extent of his TDS astounds them. I don’t really have any previous notions of Harris to walk back, but I do know that, as a well-known atheist of the type that likes to debate the issue with believers, it seems odd to me that he would talk about Trump’s soul. Of course, he’s also slightly echoing the title of Biden’s execrable speech “the battle for the soul of the nation.” But Harris’ tweet is such a glaring example of how Trump-hatred twists the mind and warps the judgment that it almost could serve as a caricature.
Calling such a speech – written and planned in great detail, and practiced, and then given to the nation with a lot of panoply and fanfare, and backed up by other previous comments (“semi-fascists”) in other speeches, as well as similar statements by Biden’s press secretary – a “gaffe,” as though it was just some off-the-cuff misstatement, is absurd. Perhaps Harris himself is aware of his own absurdity, or perhaps he actually believes what he says. Either way it is a cautionary tale, and unfortunately a rather commonplace one.
NOTE: The extent of Harris’ warped thinking can be found here:
But within the framework of his odious beliefs, he demonstrated many virtues,” Harris said of [Osama] bin Laden.
“He was a man who certainly seemed to be capable of real self-sacrifice,” the podcast host said, calling bin Laden a man who was “committed to ideals beyond his narrow self-interest.”
“[Bin Laden] was by all accounts personally quite courageous,” Harris said. […]
“None of these things can be said about Donald Trump,” Harris said. “Trump is, without question, one of the least honest and most malignantly selfish human beings I have ever come across.” [….]
“Unlike bin Laden, it is patently obvious that Trump isn’t psychologically normal.”
Note that Harris, the nonbeliever, presents this as an article of faith: Trump is these things without question. Thing is, there are plenty of people like Harris, who look at Trump and almost literally see the devil – and this is even true of atheists like Harris, who apparently don’t seem to understand the phenomenon they are demonstrating.
You may have had some trouble getting to the blog earlier today. I think an Instalanche overwhelmed the server for a while, although that problem hasn’t happened in many years so I don’t know why the server would suddenly be unable to handle it. During the whole episode, some people could still get through to the blog, so it was only a partial blockage for a while. I’ll probably have to wrestle with my hosting company over it, but I pay for a level of hosting where it’s not supposed to happen.
Boring inside baseball, but I thought you might like to know.
Of course, we’ve heard before that it’s close to a done deal, and that hasn’t happened yet. But I think it probably will be finalized in the not-too-distant future.
