Friday, April 26, 2024

More QOTD -- On Trump Immunity Claims

 

"...Rather than grapple with the situation at hand — a defeated president worked with his allies to try to overturn the results of an election he lost, eventually summoning a mob to try to subvert the peaceful transfer of power — the Republican-appointed majority worried about hypothetical prosecutions against hypothetical presidents who might try to stay in office against the will of the people if they aren’t placed above the law.

"It was a farce befitting the absurdity of the situation. Trump has asked the Supreme Court if he is, in effect, a king. And at least four members of the court, among them the so-called originalists, have said, in essence, that they’ll have to think about it." --  Jamelle Bouie, New York Effing Times, on the corrupt Republican Supreme Court's review of the Malignant Loser's claims of absolute immunity from crimes committed while in office (see also QOTD, below).


Today's Cartoons

 

(click on images to enlarge)


(David Rowe, Financial Review, Sydney)

(Bill Day, caglecartoons.com)

(David Horsey, The Seattle Times)

(Clay Jones, claytoonz.com)

(Rick McKee, caglecartoons.com)

(Pat Bagley, The Salt Lake Tribune)

(Christopher Weyant, Boston Globe)

(Chris Britt, Creators.com)

(Dave Granlund, politicalcartoons.com)

(Adam Zyglis, The Buffalo News)

(Jeremy Nguyen, @jeremywins)


Tweets / Xeets Of The Day

 

While the Malignant Loser's arguments fell flat, his enablers on the Court want delay --


 

 


Wishing wife a happy birthday, outside his hush-money-to-porn-star trial. Classy! --



And his pathetic lies about why supporters and family aren't showing up at his trial -- 

 

 


And his lies about being kept from the campaign trail -- 

 


Thanks, Merrick Garland -- 



The profound delusions of MAGAts, part infinity --  



Our broken media: the whining isn't limited to the Malignant Loser -- 



Saluting Russian nuclear technology genius on this anniversary --



The barbecue was cancelled by order of the fire department. Happy Friday! -- 


 

Weekend Music

 

Glasgow, Scotland's, indie band Belle and Sebastian have a new single out, "What Happened To You, Son?" timed with a tour of major North American cities this Spring before heading back to Europe. As usual, a great tune with energy and lyrics open to plenty of interpretation.  Have at it, and enjoy!

Protesters' Call To Divest From Israel

 



Perhaps the most prevalent demand voiced by pro-Palestinian (some students would say "pro-Hamas") demonstrators across college campuses nationwide is the demand that the university disclose their investments and divest from Israel. It has the echoes of a generation ago, when universities and other institutions were called upon to divest from South Africa's racist apartheid government. But as an analysis by CNN notes, any impact on Israel may not be as impactful as expected:

"The specific demands of the protesters vary somewhat from school to school yet the central demand is that universities divest from companies linked to Israel or businesses that are profiting off its war with Hamas. Universities have largely refused to budge on this demand, and experts say divestment may not have a significant impact on the companies themselves. [snip]

Charlie Eaton, assistant professor of sociology at the University of California, Merced and author of 'Bankers in the Ivory Tower,' said Columbia can 'absolutely' make the choice to divest from Israel-linked investments.

'It’s not unreasonable practice for schools to make decisions about how they invest based not just on maximizing investment returns, but also around principles of equity and justice in what they invest in,' he said.

But Mark Yudof, chairman of the Academic Engagement Network, which opposes campus antisemitism, said it’s not a simple solution to implement.

“The truth is it’s sometimes murky to figure out who is doing business in Israel and what the relationship is to the war,” Yudof said. [snip]

However, none of the universities have announced plans to divest from Israel-linked investments and some experts say they will be very reluctant to accept this demand.

'A significant obstacle to divestment is that any university supporting divestment would be sending a clear signal that they either: (a) acquiesce in; or (b) support the destruction of the State of Israel and its citizens,' said Jonathan Macey, a professor at Yale Law School.

Macey said that while such a move may be supported by protesters, it would be 'viewed as hostile and threatening to many students, faculty and staff.'"  (our emphasis)

There are also demands -- some puerile, some dangerous -- by some for police to be banned from campus (USC, Columbia), for a boycott of Israeli universities (Columbia again), and for a "free Palestine," which essentially means the elimination of Israel and replacement with a Palestinian state "from the river (Jordan) to the sea (Mediterranean)." A number of the demonstrators see that as the goal, and divestment as a first step.

(photo: Encampment at Brown University. Sophie Park / Washington Post)

 

Quotes Of The Day -- On Trump Immunity Claims

 

“The Framers did not put an immunity clause into the Constitution. They knew how to.  And, you know, not so surprising, they were reacting against a monarch who claimed to be above the law. Wasn’t the whole point that the president was not a monarch and the president was not supposed to be above the law?”  -- Justice Elena Kagan at yesterday's hearing at the corrupt Republican Supreme Court on the Malignant Loser's claim of absolute immunity for crimes committed while in office.

____________________

“If he’s not covered by the criminal law, he can’t be impeached for violating it at all.”  -- Justice Sonia Sotomayor at the same hearing pointing out the absurdity of the Malignant Loser's argument.

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Today's Cartoons

 

(click on images to enlarge)

(Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

(Jeff Danziger, The Rutland Herald, VT)

(John Deering, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)

(Rob Rogers, Tinyview.com)

(Andy Marlette, Creators.com)

(David Rowe, Financial Times, Sydney)

(Gary Markstein, Creators.com)

(Jeff Darcy, Cleveland Plain Dealer)

(Jack Ohman, Tribune Content Agency)

(Christopher Weyant, The New Yorker)


Ukraine Strikes Impacting Russian Oil Production



One of the less reported successes in Ukraine's war to expel Russia's criminal invasion are the attacks on Russia's oil industry, a key source of revenue for the Putin regime. Using long-range drones, the Ukrainians are successfully striking oil depots well inside Russia, causing a significant drop in their refinery activities (impacting crude oil prices worldwide, to the chagrin of the Biden administration).  From Business Insider:

"Ukraine launched a new wave of long-range drone strikes on oil depots in Russia this week as part of a campaign targeting the Kremlin's critical infrastructure.

Drones sent by Ukraine's security service hit two Rosneft-owned oil depots in Russia's Smolensk region on Wednesday, multiple outlets reported, citing a Ukrainian intelligence source.

A source in the Ukrainian defense sector told Agence France-Presse that the depots stored 26,000 cubic meters of fuel.

Metallurgical and pharmaceutical plants in Lipetsk in southwest Russia have also been attacked, reports say.

'These facilities are — and will remain — absolutely legitimate targets,' the source told AFP.

The attacks are part of an intensifying Ukrainian campaign to strike energy infrastructure targets deep within Russia's borders.

Ukraine has managed to strike not just oil depots in western Russia, near Ukraine's border, but also in northern Russia hundreds of miles away."  (our emphasis)

Russia has been vicious in attacking Ukrainian power plants, along with civilian targets like apartment buildings, and public facilities. Ukraine limited its targets to Russian airfields and military installations, and oil facilities. With the receipt of long-range ATACMS artillery from the U.S., they should be able to strike such Russian targets as the Kerch Bridge linking Russia with occupied Crimea, thus adding another blow to Russia's war effort.

(photo: Firefighters extinguish oil tanks at a storage facility from a Ukrainian drone attack, in the Bryansk Region, Russia January 19, 2024. Reuters)

 

Tweets / Xeets Of The Day

 

By delay, Republican Supreme Court has already handed Trump a victory --



Today's nutty and dangerous oral arguments from Trumpists at Supreme Court --


 

 


Waiting for the day when it happens -- 

 

 

Terrible for Gaza Palestinians that Hamas won't take the ceasefire deal --



Rapist Weinstein's conviction in NY overturned. Convicted and jailed in LA though -- 



Another racist MAGA attempt to suppress black votes described -- 



Bible thumper crime wave. Were they reading Trump's Bible? -- 


 


A reminder how unfit and unhinged RFK, Jr., is. . . . from his own family -- 



Does this mean we're engaged? -- 


"Dumbest Man On The Internet" Declares Bankruptcy

 


 

Well, well.  The chickens are coming home to roost in Jim Hoft's empty head:

The founder of the Gateway Pundit, the infamous conspiracy theory site, announced on Wednesday that the company had declared bankruptcy.

Jim Hoft published a message on the website that read, “TGP Communications, the parent company of The Gateway Pundit, recently made the decision to seek protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the Southern District of Florida as a result of the progressive liberal lawfare attacks against our media outlet.”

Georgia election workers Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Shaye Moss, sued the Gateway Pundit in December of 2021, alleging that Jim and Joe Hoft, twin brothers, behind the conspiracy theory site engaged in “a campaign of lies” that “instigated a deluge of intimidation, harassment, and threats that has forced them to change their phone numbers, delete their online accounts, and fear for their physical safety.”

The Gateway Pundit saw its traffic soar surrounding the 2020 presidential election as it published story after story parroting then-President Donald Trump’s roundly debunked allegations of election fraud that led to the Jan. 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol...

Years ago, we essentially stopped writing about the assorted cranks, crackpots, insurrectionists, and mouth- breathers that occupy the right- wing blogosphere.  Amplifying their bullshit, even in a small way, is an exercise unworthy of anyone cherishing the truth and our democratic system of government.  But in this case, the man rightfully dubbed "the dumbest man on the internet", along with his dim twin Joe, deserves at least a momentary glance -- hopefully in the rear view mirror -- as they're held accountable for just a fraction of their slimy transgressions. 

(Image:  despicable Sandy Hook truther Alex Jones with despicable Jim, top, and Joe Hoft)


New Environmental Rules For Power Plants



The Biden Administration has announced broad-reaching regulations on power plants that would curb the air and water pollution that they cause. While the regulations will face heavy opposition from the power generation industry, red state attorneys general, and potentially industry-favoring courts, if implemented, they would go a long way to curbing greenhouse gas emissions under our climate goals. From the Washington Post:

"If fully implemented, the rules will have enormous consequences for U.S. climate goals, the air Americans breathe and the ways they get their electricity. The power sector ranks as the nation’s second-largest contributor to climate change, and it is a major source of toxic air pollutants tied to health problems.

Before the restrictions take effect, however, they will have to survive near-certain legal challenges from Republican attorneys general, who have been emboldened by the Supreme Court’s skepticism of expansive environmental regulations.

Another wild card is the November election, which could hand the White House back to former president Donald Trump, who has pledged to scrap dozens of President Biden’s green policies if he returns to office."  (our emphasis)

Implementing the regulations will be a hard fight, against the industry, red states and their favorite judges, but it's worth fighting. Also, for those young voters who are passionate about a cleaner world, the stark choice they face in November should concentrate their minds on the disaster that a Trump administration would mean to the environment. The article continues:

"Each rule will yield huge benefits for public health and the planet, according to the EPA. The greenhouse gas standards alone will prevent up to 1,200 premature deaths, 870 hospital visits and 1,900 asthma cases in 2035, the agency said. They will also reduce carbon emissions through 2047 by 1.38 billion tons — equivalent to the annual emissions of 328 million gasoline-powered cars."

It's hard to imagine anyone opposing those benefits, but when they impact corporate profits, the choice is an easy one for the greedy polluters. It's another reason why voting in November and in every election against the polluters and their Republican protectors is essential to a healthier life.

(photo: Mount Storm Power Station in West Virginia. Griffin Lotz / Newsweek)

 

Trump / MAGAt Legal State Of Play

 

Let's review today's state of play on legal issues involving the Malignant Loser and his band of seditious traitors:

Republican SCOTUS on Trump immunity

A genuinely historic event takes place at the Supreme Court on Thursday. The justices hear arguments on Donald Trump's claim that he is immune from prosecution after leaving office for any of his official acts while he was president. Specifically, Trump claims that the steps he took to block the certification of Joe Biden's election were part of his official duties and that he thus cannot be criminally prosecuted.

The question of presidential immunity from criminal prosecution after leaving office has never been decided by the Supreme Court.  [snip]

Trump is making a far broader argument for immunity. He contends that he cannot be prosecuted — ever — for his "official acts" as president unless he is first impeached, convicted by the Senate and removed from office. He was impeached twice, but the Senate failed to muster the two-thirds vote needed to convict. So, were the Supreme Court to embrace Trump's argument, it would mean, given modern political realities, that he and future presidents would likely be immune from prosecution after leaving office...

But, to further tilt the table away from accountability for the Malignant Loser before the election, the corrupt Republican SCOTUS issued a stay on Special Counsel Jack Smith's January 6 coup trial, meaning the trial which had been delayed already (it was to have begun in early March) is in limbo until a decision.  Even if the Malignant Loser is found not to have absolute immunity, by the time a decision is rendered and the stay lifted, it would be highly unlikely for a trial to be concluded before November.

New York hush money/ election interference/ fraud trial

The former tabloid publisher David Pecker will continue testimony at Donald Trump’s New York criminal trial on Thursday, following his testimony earlier in the week.

Pecker, the former chief executive of American Media, which publishes the National Enquirer, testified that he used his position to help Trump kill negative stories that threatened his campaign.

After Trump announced his run for presidency, he invited Pecker and Michael Cohen, Trump’s former fixer, to a meeting at Trump Tower, Pecker said. Trump said he was looking for a media insider who could help suppress negative stories – a tactic prosecutors call “catch-and-kill”.

“They asked me what can I do – and what magazines could do – to help the campaign,” Pecker said, adding that he said he would be the “eyes and ears” for the campaign.

Prosecutors allege Pecker ultimately connected Trump to the adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016, before the election. Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, allegedly covering up a $130,000 payment in 2016 to Daniels over a 2006 affair...

More salacious facts coming out (including tapes), while Don Snoreleone tries to stay awake.

Meanwhile, Judge Merchan has a decision to make:

... Judge Juan Merchan must decide after a Tuesday hearing whether to punish Trump for purported violations of a gag order meant to protect witnesses, court staff and the jury from public attacks by the former president.

Prosecutors want Merchan to fine Trump $1,000 for each of 10 alleged violations of the gag order and to warn that imprisonment could be an option if he continues to flout restrictions.

Arizona fake electors conspiracy

An Arizona grand jury on Wednesday indicted seven attorneys or aides affiliated with Donald Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign as well as 11 Arizona Republicans on felony charges related to their alleged efforts to subvert Joe Biden’s 2020 victory in the state, according to an announcement by the state attorney general.

Those indicted include former Trump White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, attorneys Rudy Giuliani, Jenna Ellis, John Eastman and Christina Bobb, top campaign adviser Boris Epshteyn and former campaign aide Mike Roman. They are accused of allegedly aiding an unsuccessful strategy to award the state’s electoral votes to Trump instead of Biden after the 2020 election. Also charged are the Republicans who signed paperwork on Dec. 14, 2020, that falsely purported Trump was the rightful winner, including former state party chair Kelli Ward, two state senators and Tyler Bowyer, a GOP national committeeman and chief operating officer of Turning Point Action, the campaign arm of the pro-Trump conservative group Turning Point USA.

Trump was not charged, but he is described in the indictment as an unindicted co-conspirator.

The indictments cap a year-long investigation by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) into how the elector strategy played out in Arizona, which Biden won by 10,457 votes. Arizona is the fourth state after Michigan, Georgia and Nevada to seek charges against those who formed an alternate slate of presidential electors...

Perhaps, following Fani Willis' lead in Georgia, prosecutors in Arizona, Nevada and Michigan will append their indictments to include the "unindicted co-conspirator," a.k.a., the Malignant Loser/ Don Snoreleone/ Rip van Stinkle.

(Photo:  Don Snoreleone/ The Nodfather)


Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Today's Cartoons

 

(click on images to enlarge)


 (Matt Davies, Newsday)


(Nick Anderson, Reform Austin News, TX)

(Bill Bramhall, New York Daily News)

(Joe Heller, hellertoon.com)

(Mick Stevens, The New Yorker)


(Banx, Financial Times, London)

(Jack Ohman, Tribune Content Agency)

(Michael de Adder, @deAdder)

(Clay Jones, claytoonz.com)

(Mike Luckovich, Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

(Matt Wuerker, Politico)

(David Horsey, The Seattle Times)

(Ellis Rosen, @EllisRosen)


Pecker's Protection



This morning on MSNBC's Morning Joe, the interesting point was raised that former National Enquirer CEO David "Peter" Pecker hasn't been on the receiving end of the wrath of Malignant Loser / Al Caporn / Rip van Stinkle. Despite delivering devastating testimony about the Malignant Loser's role in the magazine's "catch and kill" activities, portraying him as interested in the details and micromanaging. From the conversation:

Mika Brzezinski: "You know, it did seem devastating on so many levels, and it really pulled back the curtain on these things are done, and I don't understand how defamation doesn't come into play on all of these crazy stories that the National Enquirer just put out there on these politicians that we are talking about.

I can't think of anyone who has hurt Donald Trump's case up to this point more than Pecker. Yet, he doesn't post about Pecker, he doesn't rant about Pecker, he talks about Michael Cohen, he talks about other witnesses. That is why the whole gag order thing is an issue — what's the deal? Why so quiet about Pecker?"

Mike Barnacle: "Maybe Pecker has something on him that Donald knows and only Pecker knows. I certainly don't know, Mika." (our emphasis)

What the Malignant Loser fears is the contents of Pecker's private safe, in which he kept stories that were "killed" but are potentially explosive and very valuable. The Malignant Loser left a trail of white collar crime and deviant escapades in New York City, which were undoubtedly picked up by the trash tabloid's "reporters" and squirreled away in Pecker's private safe for possible later use (quid pro quo, blackmail, revenge, etc.). That's what has the Malignant Loser fearful of crossing his former fake news ally.

(photo: Partners in slime)

 

Tweets / Xeets Of The Day

 

Dropout Haley got 155,000+ registered Republican protest votes in yesterday's Pennsylvania primary --

 

 

"Those who vote decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything." --

 


The choice --

 


Biden is so old ... --

 

 

But, sadly, you're not our broken national political media --

 

 

Republican SCOTUS looking to touch third rail of politics again --

 


Someone may have lost this evangelical's vote --

 


Noncompetes no more (thanks, Biden!) --

 


What's that Musk-y smell?  Nosediving Tesla profits --

 

 

Don't try this at home --