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February 7, 2023
From: The Merrick Garland You Don’t Know - Politico
Link: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/01/15/merrick-garland-donald-trump-00066769
A Truly In-Depth Article On Merrick Garland Here:
Garland’s former clerks also describe him as both exacting and comprehensive in his evaluation of the facts and legal arguments at issue. “He is unbelievably meticulous,” Clare Huntingon, a professor at Fordham Law School, explained. “Everything had to be checked,” Bellin told me. “He was very careful about everything,” Amunson recalled.
The process was collaborative, but Garland’s clerks were under no illusions about who was ultimately controlling the process. According to Pozen, Garland had a “strong sense of rules, and we were there to support him, but not to tell him how to decide the case.”
They also recalled a collegial work environment with a strictly non-partisan ethos. “As part of his total commitment to a certain vision of judicial integrity,” Pozen explained, “he didn’t want you talking politics around him.”
“His work methods, norms of conversations, his draft style — it all lined up around this understanding of what judicial integrity entails, and the mask never slipped,” Pozen added. “It was genuine. It’s not like I ever saw him make a snide partisan remark on the side. He was totally faithful to his process.”
The process was collaborative, but Garland’s clerks were under no illusions about who was ultimately controlling the process. According to Pozen, Garland had a “strong sense of rules, and we were there to support him, but not to tell him how to decide the case.”
They also recalled a collegial work environment with a strictly non-partisan ethos. “As part of his total commitment to a certain vision of judicial integrity,” Pozen explained, “he didn’t want you talking politics around him.”
“His work methods, norms of conversations, his draft style — it all lined up around this understanding of what judicial integrity entails, and the mask never slipped,” Pozen added. “It was genuine. It’s not like I ever saw him make a snide partisan remark on the side. He was totally faithful to his process.”
From: The Merrick Garland You Don’t Know - Politico
Link: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/01/15/merrick-garland-donald-trump-00066769
February 7, 2023
Speaking to a church audience, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) told the crowd to pray for Joe Biden: "May his days be few and another take his office.”
It isn't the first time she's made such a "prayer." She's been using the line "may his days be few" since 2022, when she spoke to the Charis Christian Center Family Camp Meeting in Colorado.
It once again caused an uproar among those on social media who saw the video.
"THIS is the self-proclaimed party of Jesus Christ," tweeted political commentator Lindy Li. "This is the self-appointed party of Christianity SHAME ON YOU! This is why church pews are emptying at a ferocious rate. Why increasing numbers of Americans now say they are religiously unaffiliated. Christianity in America has devolved into a rabid tribe of Talibangelicals and gun-totin Y’all Qaeda fanatics."
Link: https://www.rawstory.com/lauren-boebert-prays-biden/
Christianity 'has devolved into a rabid tribe': Lauren Boebert bashed for praying for Biden's death
Christianity 'has devolved into a rabid tribe': Lauren Boebert bashed for praying for Biden's death - RawStorySpeaking to a church audience, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) told the crowd to pray for Joe Biden: "May his days be few and another take his office.”
It isn't the first time she's made such a "prayer." She's been using the line "may his days be few" since 2022, when she spoke to the Charis Christian Center Family Camp Meeting in Colorado.
It once again caused an uproar among those on social media who saw the video.
"THIS is the self-proclaimed party of Jesus Christ," tweeted political commentator Lindy Li. "This is the self-appointed party of Christianity SHAME ON YOU! This is why church pews are emptying at a ferocious rate. Why increasing numbers of Americans now say they are religiously unaffiliated. Christianity in America has devolved into a rabid tribe of Talibangelicals and gun-totin Y’all Qaeda fanatics."
Link: https://www.rawstory.com/lauren-boebert-prays-biden/
February 7, 2023
The House of Representatives voted 218-211 on Thursday to kick Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., off the Foreign Affairs Committee. Why? According to the resolution, it was because “Omar, by her own words, has disqualified herself from serving on the Committee on Foreign Affairs.” It listed four statements by Omar and made pains to note that they had all been condemned by some of Omar’s fellow House Democrats for being antisemitic or anti-American (whatever those words mean in present-day politics).
Omar spoke out for herself yesterday. “This debate today is about who gets to be an American. What opinions do we have to have to be counted as Americans?” she said. “I am Muslim. I am an immigrant. … Is anyone surprised that I am being targeted?” For her part, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said, “One of the things that we should talk about here is … the targeting and racism against Muslim-Americans. … This is about targeting women of color in the United States of America.”
The GOP’s stated rationale is obvious nonsense. On the one hand, it’s not fair to say antisemitism is the last thing the Republican Party cares about, because the last things the Republican Party cares about are racism and wealth inequality. On the other hand, antisemitism is perfectly fine with the GOP, as illustrated by (among endless other examples) its reaction to former President Donald Trump hosting a chummy dinner with Nick Fuentes and Kanye West.
In fact, you can make an argument that antisemitism or something with the same structure is fundamental to all conservative politics. They need it to hide what they’re really about.
Link: https://theintercept.com/2023/02/03/ilhan-omar-house-foreign-affairs-committee/
Exactly Why and How Republicans Hate Ilhan Omar - TheIntercept
Exactly Why and How Republicans Hate Ilhan Omar - TheInterceptThe House of Representatives voted 218-211 on Thursday to kick Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., off the Foreign Affairs Committee. Why? According to the resolution, it was because “Omar, by her own words, has disqualified herself from serving on the Committee on Foreign Affairs.” It listed four statements by Omar and made pains to note that they had all been condemned by some of Omar’s fellow House Democrats for being antisemitic or anti-American (whatever those words mean in present-day politics).
Omar spoke out for herself yesterday. “This debate today is about who gets to be an American. What opinions do we have to have to be counted as Americans?” she said. “I am Muslim. I am an immigrant. … Is anyone surprised that I am being targeted?” For her part, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said, “One of the things that we should talk about here is … the targeting and racism against Muslim-Americans. … This is about targeting women of color in the United States of America.”
The GOP’s stated rationale is obvious nonsense. On the one hand, it’s not fair to say antisemitism is the last thing the Republican Party cares about, because the last things the Republican Party cares about are racism and wealth inequality. On the other hand, antisemitism is perfectly fine with the GOP, as illustrated by (among endless other examples) its reaction to former President Donald Trump hosting a chummy dinner with Nick Fuentes and Kanye West.
In fact, you can make an argument that antisemitism or something with the same structure is fundamental to all conservative politics. They need it to hide what they’re really about.
Link: https://theintercept.com/2023/02/03/ilhan-omar-house-foreign-affairs-committee/
February 5, 2023
Link: https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/05/timeline-a-chinese-spy-balloons-7-day-trip-across-the-united-states-00081222
Timeline: A Chinese spy balloon's 7-day trip across the United States - Politico
Timeline: A Chinese spy balloon’s 7-day trip across the United States - PoliticoSaturday, Jan. 28:
The balloon is first detected over U.S. airspace high over Alaska, north of the Aleutian Islands. The military’s North American Aerospace Defense Command closely tracks the balloon, assessing it poses no threat or intelligence risk.
Monday, Jan. 30:
NORAD tracks the balloon as it travels into Canadian airspace. Officials determine it is used for spying, as it carries surveillance equipment including a collection pod and solar panels located on the metal truss suspended below the balloon. Based on its small motors and propellers, officials also assess it can be actively maneuvered to fly over specific locations.
The balloon is part of a Chinese fleet developed for spying, which over the past few years have been spotted over countries across five continents, including Asia and Europe. Balloons were observed over the United States three times in the Trump administration, and once before at the beginning of the Biden administration. What makes this new encounter different was the long duration over the continent.
The balloon is first detected over U.S. airspace high over Alaska, north of the Aleutian Islands. The military’s North American Aerospace Defense Command closely tracks the balloon, assessing it poses no threat or intelligence risk.
Monday, Jan. 30:
NORAD tracks the balloon as it travels into Canadian airspace. Officials determine it is used for spying, as it carries surveillance equipment including a collection pod and solar panels located on the metal truss suspended below the balloon. Based on its small motors and propellers, officials also assess it can be actively maneuvered to fly over specific locations.
The balloon is part of a Chinese fleet developed for spying, which over the past few years have been spotted over countries across five continents, including Asia and Europe. Balloons were observed over the United States three times in the Trump administration, and once before at the beginning of the Biden administration. What makes this new encounter different was the long duration over the continent.
Link: https://www.politico.com/news/2023/02/05/timeline-a-chinese-spy-balloons-7-day-trip-across-the-united-states-00081222
February 5, 2023
OME (Reuters) - Thousands of computer servers around the world have been targeted by a ransomware hacking attack, Italy's National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN) said on Sunday, warning organisations to take action to protect their systems.
The hacking attack sought to exploit a software vulnerability, ACN director general Roberto Baldoni told Reuters, adding it was on a massive scale.
Italy's ANSA news agency, citing the ACN, reported that servers had been compromised in other European countries such as France and Finland as well as the United States and Canada.
Link: https://nordot.app/995033164287164416?c=592622757532812385
Heads Up: Italy sounds alarm on large-scale computer hacking attack - Reuters
Italy sounds alarm on large-scale computer hacking attack - ReutersOME (Reuters) - Thousands of computer servers around the world have been targeted by a ransomware hacking attack, Italy's National Cybersecurity Agency (ACN) said on Sunday, warning organisations to take action to protect their systems.
The hacking attack sought to exploit a software vulnerability, ACN director general Roberto Baldoni told Reuters, adding it was on a massive scale.
Italy's ANSA news agency, citing the ACN, reported that servers had been compromised in other European countries such as France and Finland as well as the United States and Canada.
Link: https://nordot.app/995033164287164416?c=592622757532812385
February 5, 2023
The party's platform, adopted in 2020, states that "we will bring an end to 'dark money' by requiring full disclosure of contributors to any group that advocates for or against candidates."
Yet as the DNC leadership, headed by Chair Jaime Harrison, refuses to act on its rhetoric—and as congressional Republicans block broader legislative efforts to curtail dark money—Democratic incumbents continue to benefit from untraceable donations, which are frequently used to undercut progressive challengers.
Last year, the newly formed dark money group Opportunity for All Action Fund spent around $600,000 to bolster Reps. Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), and Danny Davis (D–Ill.).
All three went on to defeat their progressive primary opponents and win reelection.
Link: https://www.rawstory.com/dnc-dark-money/?traffic_source=Connatix
Oh... Ok... I Get It Now
Democratic leaders, including President Joe Biden, have repeatedly railed against the scourge of dark money, decried its corrupting influence, and pledged to rein it in—only to balk at pressure for substantive action.The party's platform, adopted in 2020, states that "we will bring an end to 'dark money' by requiring full disclosure of contributors to any group that advocates for or against candidates."
Yet as the DNC leadership, headed by Chair Jaime Harrison, refuses to act on its rhetoric—and as congressional Republicans block broader legislative efforts to curtail dark money—Democratic incumbents continue to benefit from untraceable donations, which are frequently used to undercut progressive challengers.
Last year, the newly formed dark money group Opportunity for All Action Fund spent around $600,000 to bolster Reps. Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.), Dina Titus (D-Nev.), and Danny Davis (D–Ill.).
All three went on to defeat their progressive primary opponents and win reelection.
Link: https://www.rawstory.com/dnc-dark-money/?traffic_source=Connatix
February 5, 2023
How many lawyers does it take to change a light bulb?
Merrick Garland is outmaneuvered because he has outmaneuvered himself. The facts were uncomplicated, and the law was clear. The attorney general had the goods on Donald Trump after the August search and seizure of unauthorized documents at Mar-a-Lago, the former president’s Florida home and resort. As soon as the ultra-conservative Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed the Justice Department’s search warrant on December 1, Garland could have indicted the former president. The feds had the documents and solid evidence that Trump had thumbed his nose at efforts to get him to return them. Garland knew the volume of documents at Trump’s residence and the classification level. There was no arguing with the obstruction of justice attempted by Trump and his attorneys.
But Garland also knew what we didn’t: A few weeks earlier, Joe Biden’s lawyers had uncovered a file of government documents, some of them classified, at the Washington office Biden had used for his work with the Penn Biden Center, the think tank he founded after he served as vice president. Even if the attorney general had allowed for the possibility that Biden might have more government documents elsewhere, Garland could easily have distinguished the two cases and moved forward with a Trump prosecution. The cases were not comparable because of the scale of the documents that Trump moved from the White House to Mar-a-Lago, and the corrupt conduct Trump engaged in when asked to return them. Contrast that with the paucity of documents in Biden’s possession and his cooperation with investigators. To confirm our suspicions that he wears suspenders and a belt, Garland appointed the U.S. attorney in Chicago, John Lausch, a Trump appointee, to review the Biden matter.
Shifting to the Trump burner, Garland was itching to shed the case, so he dithered until November 18, appointing a special counsel to “oversee” what he referred to euphemistically as the “ongoing investigation involving classified documents and other presidential records, as well as the possible obstruction of that investigation, referenced and described in court filings submitted in a pending matter in the Southern District of Florida.” Garland declared that Trump’s entry into the 2024 presidential race compelled the appointment of a special counsel. Jack Smith, the former chief prosecutor at The Hague, was put in charge of investigating the events of January 6, and the Mar-a-Lago documents. Pretty full plate there.
The office of special counsel is a creature of Justice Department regulations. “The Attorney General …will appoint a Special Counsel when he or she determines that criminal investigation of a person or matter is warranted.” The special counsel is supposed to have “independent authority to exercise all investigative and prosecutorial functions” of the department and is not subject to the “day-to-day supervision” of anyone in the department, including the attorney general. Garland can only reverse or modify the special counsel’s actions if they are “so inappropriate or unwarranted that [they] should not be pursued.” Bill Barr felt he could apply a lesser standard in overruling Bob Mueller. Still, it is highly unlikely that Garland would interfere with Smith’s charging decisions in these legally and politically laced circumstances.
Link: https://washingtonmonthly.com/2023/01/27/has-merrick-garland-outmaneuvered-himself/
Has Merrick Garland Outmaneuvered Himself? - Washington Monthly
Has Merrick Garland Outmaneuvered Himself? - Washington MonthlyHow many lawyers does it take to change a light bulb?
Merrick Garland is outmaneuvered because he has outmaneuvered himself. The facts were uncomplicated, and the law was clear. The attorney general had the goods on Donald Trump after the August search and seizure of unauthorized documents at Mar-a-Lago, the former president’s Florida home and resort. As soon as the ultra-conservative Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously affirmed the Justice Department’s search warrant on December 1, Garland could have indicted the former president. The feds had the documents and solid evidence that Trump had thumbed his nose at efforts to get him to return them. Garland knew the volume of documents at Trump’s residence and the classification level. There was no arguing with the obstruction of justice attempted by Trump and his attorneys.
But Garland also knew what we didn’t: A few weeks earlier, Joe Biden’s lawyers had uncovered a file of government documents, some of them classified, at the Washington office Biden had used for his work with the Penn Biden Center, the think tank he founded after he served as vice president. Even if the attorney general had allowed for the possibility that Biden might have more government documents elsewhere, Garland could easily have distinguished the two cases and moved forward with a Trump prosecution. The cases were not comparable because of the scale of the documents that Trump moved from the White House to Mar-a-Lago, and the corrupt conduct Trump engaged in when asked to return them. Contrast that with the paucity of documents in Biden’s possession and his cooperation with investigators. To confirm our suspicions that he wears suspenders and a belt, Garland appointed the U.S. attorney in Chicago, John Lausch, a Trump appointee, to review the Biden matter.
Shifting to the Trump burner, Garland was itching to shed the case, so he dithered until November 18, appointing a special counsel to “oversee” what he referred to euphemistically as the “ongoing investigation involving classified documents and other presidential records, as well as the possible obstruction of that investigation, referenced and described in court filings submitted in a pending matter in the Southern District of Florida.” Garland declared that Trump’s entry into the 2024 presidential race compelled the appointment of a special counsel. Jack Smith, the former chief prosecutor at The Hague, was put in charge of investigating the events of January 6, and the Mar-a-Lago documents. Pretty full plate there.
The office of special counsel is a creature of Justice Department regulations. “The Attorney General …will appoint a Special Counsel when he or she determines that criminal investigation of a person or matter is warranted.” The special counsel is supposed to have “independent authority to exercise all investigative and prosecutorial functions” of the department and is not subject to the “day-to-day supervision” of anyone in the department, including the attorney general. Garland can only reverse or modify the special counsel’s actions if they are “so inappropriate or unwarranted that [they] should not be pursued.” Bill Barr felt he could apply a lesser standard in overruling Bob Mueller. Still, it is highly unlikely that Garland would interfere with Smith’s charging decisions in these legally and politically laced circumstances.
Link: https://washingtonmonthly.com/2023/01/27/has-merrick-garland-outmaneuvered-himself/
February 4, 2023
Link: https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016344047
Thanks marmar!
"You're Sittin On A Gold Mine !!!" Check Out 'Editorials & Other Articles' (Durham Case)
Durham's dud is worse than it looks — and now Trump suddenly doesn't want to talk witch huntsLink: https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016344047
Thanks marmar!
February 4, 2023
SARGENT'S PURCHASE, N.H. — The record for the lowest wind chill ever recorded was broken on Mount Washington on Friday, with battering winds making it feel like -109° atop New England’s highest peak.
The prior record was -103°.
“It’s really an amazing day, an awe-inspiring day and actually a bit of a frightening moment,” said Mount Washington Observatory meteorologist Francis Tarasiewicz. “At one point, on one of our west-facing doors, the hinge that keeps it closed broke, the force of the winds were so strong. So, we had to do an emergency repair.”
The team will keep taking readings, waiting to see if more records will be broken, including one for the coldest recorded air temperature which is currently -50°.
Link: https://www.wmur.com/article/meteorologist-describes-record-breaking-cold-atop-mount-washington/42763378
Mount Washington Broke Records Last Night: Wind 100+ mph Temp -109 Wind Chill
Meteorologist describes record-breaking cold atop Mount Washington - WMURSARGENT'S PURCHASE, N.H. — The record for the lowest wind chill ever recorded was broken on Mount Washington on Friday, with battering winds making it feel like -109° atop New England’s highest peak.
The prior record was -103°.
“It’s really an amazing day, an awe-inspiring day and actually a bit of a frightening moment,” said Mount Washington Observatory meteorologist Francis Tarasiewicz. “At one point, on one of our west-facing doors, the hinge that keeps it closed broke, the force of the winds were so strong. So, we had to do an emergency repair.”
The team will keep taking readings, waiting to see if more records will be broken, including one for the coldest recorded air temperature which is currently -50°.
Link: https://www.wmur.com/article/meteorologist-describes-record-breaking-cold-atop-mount-washington/42763378
February 4, 2023
President Joe Biden seems to be pretty unhappy about the suspected Chinese spy balloon flying over Montana. His administration signaled this by postponing Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Beijing—less than a day before Blinken was supposed to depart.
Donald Trump apparently prefers a different response. “SHOOT DOWN THE BALLOON!” the former commander-in-chief Truthed this morning. A few hours later, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley demonstrated her status as the sane, serious alternative to Trump by tweeting the same thing, but with some lowercase letters mixed in.
With the GOP’s official foreign policy now firmly established, it was time for House Republicans to spread the word. And also to raise some money. So they fired off an email to grassroots supporters. “Shoot down the balloon, you coward!” the subject line blared.
I found this a bit insulting. Sure, I’ve written a few snarky blog posts about over-the-top Republican fundraising emails, but calling me a “coward” seemed a bit out of line. Soon, though, I realized that I wasn’t the coward they were talking about...
Link: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/02/spy-balloon-china-trump-coward/
Shoot Down the Balloon, You Coward! (And Please Also Donate $35 to Republicans.) - MotherJones
Shoot Down the Balloon, You Coward! (And Please Also Donate $35 to Republicans.) - MotherJonesPresident Joe Biden seems to be pretty unhappy about the suspected Chinese spy balloon flying over Montana. His administration signaled this by postponing Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Beijing—less than a day before Blinken was supposed to depart.
Donald Trump apparently prefers a different response. “SHOOT DOWN THE BALLOON!” the former commander-in-chief Truthed this morning. A few hours later, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley demonstrated her status as the sane, serious alternative to Trump by tweeting the same thing, but with some lowercase letters mixed in.
With the GOP’s official foreign policy now firmly established, it was time for House Republicans to spread the word. And also to raise some money. So they fired off an email to grassroots supporters. “Shoot down the balloon, you coward!” the subject line blared.
I found this a bit insulting. Sure, I’ve written a few snarky blog posts about over-the-top Republican fundraising emails, but calling me a “coward” seemed a bit out of line. Soon, though, I realized that I wasn’t the coward they were talking about...
Link: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/02/spy-balloon-china-trump-coward/
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