Tuesday, February 03, 2026

“Now That Nothing Came Out About Me”

The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
Article I, section 4, clause 1, U.S. Constitution.

So, is this a dangerous expression of nascent authoritarianism? Or is it just another example of how Trump is as dumb as a box of rocks?
Collins: You talk about Democrats that are in the Epstein files, Elon Musk and so it your commerce secretary Howard Lutnick. Did you read those new files?

Trump: No. I have a lot of things. I’m doing. I don’t know. You mentioned two names. I’m sure they’re fine. Otherwise, it would’ve been major headlines.
How Trump Knows What’s Important.

Worries me a lot more than his ignorant statements on elections.

“Did you read those files?” 

“No.”

And yet:
"That was the only thing that was mentioned about me.” I guess that was a major headline somewhere. 🤷🏻‍♂️  I refer you back to the section of the Constitution quoted above, which does NOT make the states the agents of the federal government. 

First he came for the 2nd amendment, now he’s coming for states rights. Intentionally? Or because he’s dumb as a post?
Trump on Epstein Files: Now that nothing came about me—I think it’s time for the country to get on to something that people care about.

Collins: What would you say to the people who say they haven’t gotten justice?

Trump: You are the worst reporter. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you smile.

Collins: I’m asking about survivors

Trump: You know why you’re not smiling? Because you’re not telling the truth. Your dishonest organization should be ashamed of you.
"Now that nothing came out about me.” Uh-huh. He’s really not reinforcing that “the states need to count votes honestly” argument by being so dishonest about Epstein.
Posted by at No comments:

“It’s A Matter Of National Security!”

BREAKING: ICE/Border Patrol agents pulled guns on a car full of legal observers, saying they needed to “ID” them TODAY, because agents claim they had guns YESTERDAY.

Read that again.

Agents openly admit this stop had nothing to do with anything happening now, but with something they claim happened the day before.

That sounds a lot like U.S. citizens being stopped and detained for exercising their First Amendment rights, while agents catalog people they believe exercise their Second Amendment rights, into their database.

A database that, allegedly, included Alex Pretti.

In the video, agents surround a car of U.S. citizens who were legally observing law enforcement activity this morning in Minneapolis.

Multiple agents have their weapons drawn… guns turned sideways… pointed directly at a car full of U.S. citizens, ordering everyone out of the vehicle.

Not just the driver.

Every single person in the car, including people in the back seat.

This was a full-vehicle detention of legal observers, at gunpoint, with no immediate threat, and no lawful basis.

That alone is an excessive and illegal use of force.

Because press credentials are not required to film police.

They never have been.

And then, at the very end of the video, the justification for the illegal detainment finally slips out.

An agent admits the stop happened because YESTERDAY they claim these same people “threatened” agents with handguns.

Then the agent’s story changes…

The agent says, “they pulled them out, trying to engage us.”

A member of the press asks, “Pulling out literal guns?”

Then agent’s story changes AGAIN…

“No. Assuming that we were going to do something.”

So, no guns were actually pulled, and no threats were actually made.

The “threat” was that people disclosed they were armed… which is exactly what concealed carry holders are trained to do when law enforcement engages with you.

And then the agent finally admits what this stop is really about.

Saying, “That’s why they are being IDed right now.”

So TODAY, agents illegally stopped a car full of legal observers, at gunpoint, to illegally identify and catalog U.S. citizens…

Because YESTERDAY, those citizens lawfully exercised their Second Amendment rights.

If this doesn’t set off blaring alarm bells for the NRA and anyone who claims to be “pro–Second Amendment,” nothing should.

ICE/Border Patrol agents just used guns, intimidation, and an illegal detention to punish U.S. citizens, after the fact, for lawful gun ownership.

That is government retaliation.

And it’s exactly what the Second Amendment was supposed to protect people from.
“It’s a matter of national security!” (No, it isn’t. But that’s their last redoubt. They think it makes them invisible and bulletproof. It doesn’t. No more than “absolute immunity!” or “King’s’X’!”) I was just thinking I haven’t heard any more about Twitter or and the EU, and wondered why not. 🤔 Oh. (You know, I’ve never once read a science fiction story about an AI computer that created child porn on demand. Lots of horror stories about runaway technology; but never that one. Sort of undoes your faith in the “prophetic nature” of speculative fiction. Or the prophetic nature of prophecy. The Hebrew prophets did a better job telling the truth about consequences of present behavior. They probably could have better anticipated this. Something about worshipping false idols, I’m sure.)
Posted by at No comments:

The Best And The Brightest

Who’s losing this fight? This isn’t even a Pyhrric victory for Trump and Miller. The weaker they make the DOJ, the weaker they make their own ability to enact their agenda. And Trump’s popularity, and therefore his agenda, both keep crumbling. Abolish what, now? Huh? Context.  That and Molly Ivins’ comment about an attack on her she likened to being “gummed by a newt.” The newt is Allred. 

He showed up as the Democrat opposing Cruz two years ago. He was supposed to be the next Beto, but who could win this time. He turned out to be a much, much worse political candidate. Everyone hoped he’d just gone away. 

Crockett has national credibility. Talarico got a big boost from a Texas Monthly profile published in their annual “Bum Steer” awards issue, a Texas version of the recap of the year Esquire used to do. I’m guessing that’s one of their big newsstand sellers, so I’m sure that helped Talarico. TM is a very conservative magazine, which only in Texas would be considered left of center. I mean, their claim to fame now is Barbecue. Now, I grew up on Texas barbecue and Tex-Mex, and love both dearly. I’m fortunate my daughter married a man who is a pit master in his own right, even if he only cooks in his backyard on occasion. But the veneration of barbecue (before that it was tacos 🌮. Seriously. TM pushed that hard. No takers.) perplexes hell out of me. There is really good barbecue, and there is bad barbecue, and that’s the end of it. I will drive to Lockhart (about 2 hours one way) for the best BBQ in Texas (aside from my SIL’s). But Michelin has starred two (at least) BBQ joints in Texas, which to me is the equivalent of giving Kissinger the Nobel Peace Prize. It’s hard to respect either award anymore.

A long winded way of saying TM is not to be taken seriously, nor is it a kingmaker. But that profile boosted Talarico, and Allred decided being Mr. Nice Guy two years ago didn’t work for him. 

He’s still a newt.

Talarico is going to benefit mightily from Trump and Miller. If he draws Paxton as his opponent, his odds are even better. Although if Cornyn tacks too much to the center in the general, he could lose the GOP crazies. And already the primary issue in the Texas GOP is “sharia law.” Yeah, they really know how to read the room.

We’ll see. But Allred hurting the Democratic candidate? Yeah; no. Republicans won’t notice him, and Democrats won’t, either. He’s a newt.
Posted by at No comments:

💩🛏️🤡

And Harvard will respond to lost government funding with a suit to recover it. Harvard has better lawyers than DOJ does; especially now. (The NYT also reported that Harvard knows it has the whip hand because Trump’s approval ratings are in the toilet 🚽, and about to be flushed.)

What cause of action Trump and the mouse 🐭 in his pocket have for $1 billion (does anyone else think he sounds like a cartoon villain?) is absolutely beyond me. And beyond even Pam Bondi and the few lawyers left in the DOJ. And wait’ll Trump finds out he can’t sue Harvard in Florida….
Yes, yes Trump did say that: "We have states that I won that show I didn't win."

I would give money to see him send lawyers to court to make that argument. As I said, that’s where all this bluster ends up. He made the same argument in 2020. How far did it get him?

I know this kind of thing is supposed to “suppress the vote” and dampen participation. But I’ll ask again: whose vote will be suppressed? The vote in Minneapolis? In Portland, Oregon? L.A.? Austin? Galveston? (There was an anti-ICE demonstration down there tonight. Not exactly a hotbed of radical Democrats in Galveston.) Tarrant County? Chicago? Philadelphia? NYC? Miami?

I think Trump and Miller have already shit that bed. 🛏️ 💩 

Trump will need the National Guard in more than 15 places in 15 states. After Tarrant County, even Abbott would blanch at the thought. And the courts won’t let him have them anywhere.  They certainly won’t let the Republicans usurp the Constitution and “take over the vote.” Not in one place; not in 15.

He’s more likely to build his triumphal arch.
And that’ll happen after pigs fly.
Posted by at No comments:

Gangnam Style

You really think you’ve got the votes, cowboy?Lindsay’s been in the Senate a long time. He’s never even been minority whip, AFAIK. Crime? No. Reason for shunning? Yes. Does she mean ICE?
A San Fernando Valley community is outraged and devastated after federal immigration agents forced their way onto the grounds of a church during a food giveaway and arrested a man who church officials say helps with children’s ministries.

Leaders of the North Hills United Methodist Church gathered on Monday morning for a news conference to denounce the immigration raid that took place at the house of worship on Rayen Street on Jan. 29, an incident church officials called “terror at a house of God.”
Again: like this? (Pictures are worth a thousand words.)

Old version: When the facts are on your side, pound on the facts. When the law is in your side, pound on the law. When neither are with you, pound on the table.

New version: … go on Fox News and lie. The more outrageously, the better. 

I mean, it’s not like she can prove any of that in court. Nor does she plan to. It’s never about justice. It’s just about performance.
Is that anything like Gangnam Style? I guess it depends on how you define “real.” His success record so far could leave one almost giddy at the prospect.
Posted by at No comments:

Monday, February 02, 2026

“We Regret Being Exposed….”

We don’t too public shaming as well as the Irish, but we can publicly shame people named in the Epstein files, if only because of the association. I don’t assume they all raped young girls. I do assume they looked the other way. Which is more than enough.
@PabloReports : What do you make of Trump being mentioned 38,000 times in the Epstein files?

Swalwell: That’s 38,000 more times than most people I know, and that’s 38,000 reasons why people want to know why he won’t come in and sit for an interview. People want justice. If he did nothing wrong, then he should have no problem coming in and answering questions.
If shaming did any good in America, we wouldn’t be talking about “President Trump” in the present tense. But it’s always better late than never. Between ICE and Epstein and everything else (not discounting Greenland, either), Trump is digging the hole all by himself. Who am I to deny him the shovel? How you know it’s a good movie. I’ve heard of that with books, but never with movies. Although it does explain the reported $8 million box office. Trump could easily find some fool to finance the purchase of that many tickets. (And never, ever discount the absolutely egregious nature of Hollywood bookkeeping. I used to walk around this kind of cheap cynicism; but Trump has taught me you can’t afford to anymore. Whatever you think, it’s probably worse.)
Gutfeld: They are frightened, they are insecure, they are really worried about fitting in—they will embrace any slogan because deep down they fear that their deficiencies will be exposed. They are basket cases. They will do anything to fit in which is why they went after Nicki Minaj. They felt that people can see they are just a bunch of followers that are terrified. Their empathy is purely performative. I love how transparent they are in their subservient stupidity.
Projection and denial are such cruel mistresses. Funny how he puts his finger on the problem. Then again, a blind hog can find an acorn.  A reminder that the only way he can do this is through the courts, and the courts don’t play. (Yes, he may try it through the DOJ or DHS, but it will end up in court anyway). And his track record in court over election matters is: absolute zero. Nil for nil. Nada.

He’s not gonna see shit in Georgia, except his case(s) being thrown out.

Lagniappe:
And finally: It tickles me that people take his useless threats to the election seriously (not even J6 changed the election), but see right through his bullshit exaggerations. Oh well, consistency is seldom consistent.
Posted by at No comments:

Absolutely No Idea What’s Coming

Um.... Also um.... "Jeffrey"? You had nothing to do with him, right? A good short term strategy, but for the long term, maybe what Dems would do instead (and not just instead if being fascist white supremacists)? Judges will allow it, because, I mean, damn! 😎

And now: things that never happened that way:
(The last time I ever heard of that happening, it was a “Rocky Horror Picture Show” midnight showing.) Really do wonder what color the sky is on their planet. Absolutely no idea what’s coming. Who knew marble armrests would cost that much? 
Posted by at No comments:

INCOMING!

Mike Madrid:

"People have been watching the Latino vote for decades now. I've never seen a 50-point swing away from either party," Madrid said. "This is historic, and there's no question that a huge part of this is a direct result of Trump's policies on immigration. The voters are now beginning to separate the idea that this is about immigration. It's really about overreaching government. Militarizing our streets is having an impact."

....

"There's clearly a Latino corollary that's pushing back and saying we as a community are not going to put up with this," Madrid said. "We may have given you that chance. You've blown it. We're going to come back to the other side of the aisle and resist what's going on in our streets."
This is not a permanent shift like the one FDR ushered in (locking the GOP out of the White House until Eisenhower, who would be considered a dangerous liberal by MAGA), but it will last as long as the GOP doesn’t learn its lesson (and no longer than if the Dems don’t learn the lessons of FDR and LBJ).

Which is going to be long enough, because I still don’t think the GOP incumbents (the ones not quitting Congress) see what’s coming. Or will soon learn what it was that hit them.

We all know it’s Trump and Stephen Miller (everyone else are just shills and toadies). They are clinging desperately to the “paid agitators” line. If Trump doesn’t end up destroying the GOP, he’ll certainly have turned it inside out.
Posted by at 3 comments:

Works For Me

 Now can we do Trump?

Queen’s University Belfast has cut ties with a former US senator who played a central role in brokering the Belfast Agreement over his links to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

On Monday, the university confirmed it had taken the decision to remove the name of George J Mitchell from a flagship research centre called the Institute of Global Peace, Security and Justice.

A commemorative bust of Mitchell is also to be removed from the university campus.

“This decision follows the emergence of new information contained in the Epstein files released on Friday, which include references to Senator Mitchell,” the university said.
It’s not that Mitchell is guilty of anything. He’s just undeserving of any honors.

Would that we would learn that lesson.
Posted by at 1 comment:

We Are All Drug Addicts Now

A week later, that storm and the ice it brought, were gone. Pretty sure that was the argument against Obamacare. The GOP has literally no idea what’s coming. No idea at all. Be careful what you wish for.
Posted by at No comments:

Candlemas 2026: “The Song For Simeon”





Lord, the Roman hyacinths are blooming in bowls and
The winter sun creeps by the snow hills;
The stubborn season has made stand.
My life is light, waiting for the death wind,
Like a feather on the back of my hand.
Dust in sunlight and memory in corners
Wait for the wind that chills towards the dead land.

Grant us thy peace.
I have walked many years in this city,
Kept faith and fast, provided for the poor,
Have given and taken honour and ease.
There went never any rejected from my door.
Who shall remember my house, where shall live my children’s children
When the time of sorrow is come?
They will take to the goat’s path, and the fox’s home,
Fleeing from foreign faces and the foreign swords.

Before the time of cords and scourges and lamentation
Grant us thy peace.
Before the stations of the mountain of desolation,
Before the certain hour of maternal sorrow,
Now at this birth season of decease,
Let the Infant, the still unspeaking and unspoken Word,
Grant Israel’s consolation
To one who has eighty years and no to-morrow.

According to thy word.
They shall praise Thee and suffer in every generation
With glory and derision,
Light upon light, mounting the saints’ stair.
Not for me the martyrdom, the ecstasy of thought and prayer,
Not for me the ultimate vision.
Grant me thy peace.
(And a sword shall pierce thy heart,
Thine also).
I am tired with my own life and the lives of those after me,
I am dying in my own death and the deaths of those after me.
Let thy servant depart,
Having seen thy salvation.

--T.S. Eliot

Posted by at No comments:

Candlemas 2026

Νϋν άπολύεις τον δοϋλον σου, δέσποτα,
κατά τό πήμά έν είρήνη
οτι είδον οί όφθαλμοί μου τό σωτήριόν σου
ό ήτοίμασας κατά πρόσωπον πάντων τώυ λαϖν
φϖς είς άποκάλυψιν έθνϖν
καί δόξα νλαοϋ σου ‘Ισραήλ

Ceremony upon Candlemas Eve--Robert Herrick

Down with the rosemary, and so
Down with the bays and mistletoe;
Down with the holly, ivy, all
Wherewith ye dressed the Christmas hall;
That so the superstitious find
No one least branch left behind;
For look, how many leaves there be
Neglected there, maids, trust to me,
So many goblins you shall see.

If you didn't burn your greens by now, the goblins are gonna git ye!

At Candlemas--Charles Causley

'If Candlemas be fine and clear
There'll be two winters in that year';

But all the day the drumming sun
Brazened it out that spring had come,

And the tall elder on the scene
Unfolded the first leaves of green.

But when another morning came
With frost, as Candlemas with flame,
The sky was steel, there was no sun,
The elder leaves were dead and gone.

Out of a cold and crusted eye
The stiff pond stared up at the sky,

And on the scarcely breathing earth
A killing wind fell from the north,

But still within the elder tree
The strong sap rose, though none could see.

And here I thought that kind of early February was peculiar to Texas.


The Gospel according to St. Luke, Chapter 2

22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the Lord;

23 (As it is written in the law of the LORD, Every male that openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

24 And to offer a sacrifice according to that which is said in the law of the Lord, A pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.

25 And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.

26 And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,

28 Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,

29 Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:

30 For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,

31 Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;

32 A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.

33 And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.

34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;

37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

38 And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

39 And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.

40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

The date for Candlemas does not come from "pagan" Irish holidays, but from Mosaic law (Leviticus 12:2-8). As New Advent notes, the earliest attestation to any observation of the day is in the Jerusalem church, where the event was observed on February 14th, meaning Christ's birthday was, as at least one version of The Cherry Tree Carol has it, on Epiphany, not December 25th. (Interestingly, that carol has roots in Pseudo-Matthew, where it's a palm tree, not a cherry tree (of course), something I didn't know, but suspected. Chapter 20, if you're wondering. Interesting how these "apocryphal" stories persist, isn't it?)

Anyway, the folklore connected with this day is that now, finally, Christmas is over, because the last public act of Christ the child is conducted.   The Christmas celebration ends with the άποκάλυψιν ("apocalypsin"), the apocalypse, again. What Simeon sings is that this child, presented at the Temple, will be a revelation, an "apocalypse," to the έθνϖν ("ethnown"), the Gentiles. Let that roll around with all the associations of violent ending you want to. Gentiles are people like Luke. People like most of us. Lord, now let us depart in peace.

 


Posted by at 2 comments:

Sunday, February 01, 2026

The Cherry 🍒 On The Sunday

An even more pungent observation:
The fact that both are quite experienced—8 years and 12 years with CBP—is yet more evidence that CBP should be abolished and all of its agents fired. There's no way to "reform" or "retrain" that, it's just a violent gang with badges.

And the cherry on the Sunday sundae:
After a week of public outcry over the South Texas Family Residential Center’s treatment of young children behind its walls, the Dilley facility is experiencing a measles outbreak, according to immigration attorney Eric Lee.

Lee, who went viral last week for capturing the moment a protest broke out inside the facility, told the Current that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) informed Senate Judiciary staff of the outbreak over the weekend. At least two cases have been confirmed at the facility as of press time, the attorney said.

Over 400 children are detained at the Dilley facility, which currently holds approximately 1,200 detainees.
ICE has confirmed this. RFK, Jr. was last seen babbling about “herd immunity” based on winnowing the herd. Rumors about infected blankets were rigorously denied by the authorities.
Posted by at No comments:

Romans 12:20

Does this mean DOJ is going to appeal to get Liam back? Or, you know, subject to Congressional oversight, approval, and funding. Does this mean he’s going to seek that? Or just send in the bulldozers? Will it be 2027 before Congress pays attention? Signs point to: “Oh, sure." That’s not what Trump was told. VERY important people, okay?  Well that's certainly reassuring. Boldly reclaiming the title of “Stupidest Person in Congress.” I’m sure that sounded better in her head. At least I hope so. Although that’s really hard to imagine. Then again, Paul knew all about it:
No, ‘if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads.’
Posted by at 3 comments:

Secure In The Knowledge…

... that no legitimate investigation will ever be conducted. Or, indeed, be possible.

Trump started his administration by removing IG’s. He then went to work on the DOJ. 

“The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” Shakespeare meant that as a road map to anarchy (something he was warning against, not advocating). Trump just took it as a roadmap to governance. I’m not really worried about his clown show attempts to challenge midterm elections. He’s tried to meddle in elections before, and always failed in court, when he didn’t persuade his own party to just stay home.

But his assault on government operations and the rule of law will be with us long after 🧊 is abolished (as Popehat said, “Abolish ICE and fire all the agents is the moderate position.”) and Stephen Miller is a footnote in a history no one reads. This is Trump’s legacy, and not even a blue wave in 2026 and 2028 will wash out those Augean stables. For the sake of the price of eggs (and our latent national racism and misogyny), we have sown the dragon’s teeth and reaped the whirlwind. And I dare say it started with Reagan and then Gingrich; but the election of Obama threw kerosene on the fire that’s been burning ever since this country embraced slavery as an economic necessity, long before the “Founding Fathers” were either.

And here we are. Seeing as through a glass, darkly.
Posted by at No comments:

I’ll Be So Bold As To Say…

... this is one reason why people are standing in line to vote for Democrats in special state runoff elections in blood:-red Texas counties.

And are likely to do so again in November.
Posted by at No comments:

And Who’s Votes Are Suppressed By This?

Not exactly an easy question to answer, and even harder to answer accurately. But Democratic voters turned out in large numbers in the largest GOP county in the nation, in a special election runoff. And the first blush analysis is that they were motivated by Minneapolis and Portland, and GOP voters were turned off by…the very same things.

Trump tried to rig the midterms by getting states to gerrymander their federal districts. That started and ended with Texas. In fact, it blew up in his face and coat him some seats in California.  And now Texas is signaling their votes are not sealed in amber. Which may turn the election results into Jurassic Park; at least for the GOP.

Trump wants to mess with voter rolls. But federal law says no roll changes can occur within 90 days of a primary or election. The DOJ got Texas voter records only a few weeks ago. The Texas primary is in March, so nothing can be done before then. And the next deadline starts in August; but given the gross incompetence of the Trump DOJ, any effort at a purge would be challenged and unlikely to happen before the next deadline (federal law sets conditions for purging, too; and it doesn’t include “because Trump wants to”). So, again, if they shake faith in the vote, who’s faith is likely to be shaken?

Stephen Miller has sown dragon’s teeth. It would be appropriate to see him reap the whirlwind.

Trump, of course, will know nothing about it.

😎
Posted by at No comments:

😎 🤡

Nothing to do with it at all.
Trump had said prior to the race, "To all Voters in Texas’ 9th State Senate District: GET OUT AND VOTE for a phenomenal Candidate, Leigh Wambsganss. She is a highly successful Entrepreneur, and an incredible supporter of our Movement to, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. My very good friend, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, needs a strong conservative Republican in SD-9 to KEEP TEXAS RED! The Radical Left Democrats are spending a fortune to beat a true MAGA Warrior, Leigh Wambsganss. You can win this Election for Leigh, who has my Complete and Total Endorsement."
Posted by at No comments:

What The Meaning Of “Is,” Is

No, it isn’t. If Blanche doesn’t know that, he’s unfit to hold a law license. If he does know it, he’s unfit to hold office in the DOJ and go on television representing the government.

Nor does Blanche want it to be a crime, because then every immigration case would be a criminal case, and summary removal would be absolutely impossible. The 4th Amendment applies to immigrants, too, but only as a civil matter. Protections in criminal prosecutions are much higher, because the stakes (liberty, basically) are much higher.

Blanche knows this; but he’s a toad in a man’s suit.
Says his unethical, personal government lawyer. This is like the town drunk attesting to his drinking buddy’s sobriety. "I don’t know what that means.” But: “That isn’t true.” Also, too, as well: “It depends on what the meaning of ‘is,’ is.” One of those statements spurred a whole new cottage industry of political analysis. The other two will be forgotten by the end of the day. But they are just as revealing of the state of this Administration. Hell bent on keeping a five-year old in custody? ICE said they took him because they couldn’t leave Liam in the street. What’s the excuse for fighting to keep him? This is also revealing the state of this Administration. Actions speak louder than words. But immigration judges are DOJ employees and not Art. III judges. Todd Blanche just said “illegal immigrants” are criminals. Which means proper arrest warrants must be issued to arrest and detain them, arrest warrants issued by Art. III judges (or under their authority by magistrates).

So which is it?
Posted by at No comments:

Trying To Make “Fetch” Happen 🎄

Again with the 🎄. 🤷🏻‍♂️ 

“Blocking ICE”? Like this?
Do they not have the internet in Louisiana? Or is it just not operating in Sen. Leghorn’s office?

“Spitting on people?” “Cussing”? Kicking out taillights? (One video means everyone is doing it?). In Portland, Oregon, 🧊 escaped the spitting and the cursing and by going up on the roof  to lob tear gas into a crowd with children in it. No video of burning 🎄, or burning anything else, for that matter.

And again, all the violence is coming from the government. At this point I’d welcome the Insurrection Act, just to underline that point.
Posted by at No comments:

😎

 Joe Walsh on the special state election in Tarrant County:

"Coming from the base, the Republican base, the whole Second Amendment thing just further depresses the base. The Epstein files, they're confused and they may not want to vote. But, Jonathan, this is one of those rare moments in American history where most Americans are standing up in the public square and saying, this is not who we are. Hardly ever a moment like this comes around," he said. "We have masked federal thugs on our streets assaulting and killing immigrants and Americans. We've never seen this, so I don't think smart people around tables like this, myself included, fully understand how revolutionary this period is. This is not who we are. Most Americans are screaming that."
You’ve got to understand, if Texas is red, Tarrant County is so red it starts shading into black. Call it Absolute Red.  This red. Pretty sure Bo didn’t lose his job as GOP county chair over that. Especially since it wasn’t the first time for him. Even in Texas there are GOP counties that would be embarrassed to be that racist.

So this is a California-splits-off-the-continent level earthquake. This. Is. Not. Supposed. To. Happen.

And it did.

I don’t want to be wrong, or predict the future, but…

😎…I gotta wear shades.
Posted by at No comments:

😭 (O Canada! Edition🍁)

Big, strong men, with tears in their eyes, saying they’ve never seen an exoneration like it. Before, or after, China outlaws Tim Hortons? He is the Avenginator.

We interrupt the delusions of Donald for this breaking news:
This is a state Senate special election in Tarrant County, the largest Republican county in the country. And the least likely to elect a Democrat as dog catcher.
On Truth Social the same day, [last Friday] President Donald Trump urged Republicans to vote for Wambsganss. State and county GOP leaders have echoed that message. At a recent campaign event, Gov. Greg Abbott told CBS News Texas he is not worried about Republican turnout.

"I'm not concerned, and it does come down to what you say, and that is it's a matter of getting our voters energized," Abbott said. "That's exactly what we've been working to do. This is a voter turnout operation. We know there are more Republican voters there than Democratic voters there, and we're going to turn out all our voters, and Leigh is going to win."

Several polling locations reported long lines on Tuesday, with waits of about 45 minutes, according to the Tarrant County elections website. Locations in Keller, Southlake and North Richland Hills were among the busiest. In North Richland Hills, some voters who did not want to be identified told CBS News Texas they were willing to wait.

"About 20 minutes, 20–30 minutes," one voter said. "It'd be better if it were two minutes, but it's still your duty. I would have waited an hour, that's how important this is. I would have waited two hours."
Greg Abbott was right under ordinary circumstances. These are clearly not ordinary circumstances. And I think the Texas GOP must be scared shitless. Tarrant County is their urban stronghold.

Rehmet has to run again in November, to win a four year term. These may be very interesting times.
Posted by at No comments:

Saturday, January 31, 2026

🕷️🕷️🕷️

I can’t tell you how quickly I’d have lost my job with a law firm had I screwed up that badly. “Not the best lawyers”? How about “not competent to appear in a moot court”? This actually explains a lot. Disturbingly so. I grew up with the idea of the “melting pot,” even as I learned what was wrong with it. The ideal was less “melting together” and more like the household in “You Can’t Take It With You,” a happy mix of cultures and nations, living in happy, chaotic harmony. The best definition of America and American democracy I can think of. And certainly the dead opposite of the hellscape Miller wants the country to be. Does he plan to reintroduce stoning? I’ve come to pretty much that conclusion. More along these lines, actually: But where I’d been inclined towards “innocent until proven guilty,” I think everyone who knew/wanted to know Epstein knew his reputation and at least didn’t care, or for every reason possible (none of them good), supported him. Degrees of support is really all it is. The network itself is part of the problem.
Posted by at No comments:

A Judge Frees Liam

 Or orders he should be.

The case has its genesis in the ill-conceived and incompetently-implemented government pursuit of daily deportation quotas, apparently even if it requires traumatizing children. This Court and others regularly send undocumented people to prison and orders them deported but do so by proper legal procedures.

1 Ex parte Bollman, 8 U.S. (4 Cranch) 75 (1807); Sir William W. Blackstone, Commentaries on the Laws of England (1765-1769); see also Magna Carta, Article 39.

Apparent also is the government's ignorance of an American historical document called the Declaration of Independence. Thirty-three-year-old Thomas Jefferson enumerated grievances against a would-be authoritarian king over our nascent nation. Among others were:

1. "He has sent hither Swarms of Officers to harass our People."

2. "He has excited domestic Insurrection among us.”

3. "For quartering large Bodies of Armed Troops among us."

4. "He has kept among us, in Times of Peace, Standing Armies without the consent of our Legislatures."

"We the people" are hearing echos of that history.

And then there is that pesky inconvenience called the Fourth Amendment:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and persons or things to be seized.
U.S. CONST. amend. IV.

Civics lesson to the government:

Administrative warrants issued by the executive branch to itself do not pass probable cause muster.

That is called the fox guarding the henhouse. The Constitution requires an independent judicial officer.
I left the footnote because there is rarely cause to cite Cranch, Blackstone, or Magna Carta, much less all three at once.

The entire order was clearly meant to be read. The trial courts are trying to tell the appellate courts what’s going on. Among other things..
Posted by at No comments:

🧊🕸️

Or don’t be nice to us. We don’t care. On to Ohio: Inagine being a moral human being and supporting Miller. With all I’ve seen of the world in 70 years, I still can’t imagine that. Or understand it when I see it. Crime is clearly down in Minneapolis. Or is it?
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents initially claimed Alberto Castañeda Mondragón had tried to flee while handcuffed and "purposefully ran headfirst into a brick wall," according to court documents filed by a lawyer seeking his release.

But staff members at Hennepin County Medical Center determined that could not possibly account for the fractures and bleeding throughout the 31-year-old's brain, said three nurses familiar with the case.

"It was laughable, if there was something to laugh about," said one of the nurses, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss patient care. "There was no way this person ran headfirst into a wall."

The explanation from ICE is an example of recent run-ins between immigration officers and health care workers that have contributed to mounting friction at Minneapolis hospitals. Workers at the Hennepin County facility say ICE officers have restrained patients in defiance of hospital rules and stayed at their sides for days. The agents have also lingered around the campus and pressed people for proof of citizenship.

Since the start of Operation Metro Surge, President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown in Minnesota, ICE officers have become such a fixture at the hospital that administrators issued new protocols for how employees should engage with them. Some employees complain that they have been intimidated to the point that they avoid crossing paths with agents while at work and use encrypted communications to guard against any electronic eavesdropping.

Similar operations have been carried out by federal agents in Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities, where opponents have criticized what they say are overly aggressive tactics. It's not clear how many people have required hospital care while in detention.

The AP interviewed a doctor and five nurses who work at HCMC, who spoke on condition of anonymity to talk about Castañeda Mondragón's case. AP also consulted with an outside physician, and they all affirmed that his injuries were inconsistent with an accidental fall or running into a wall.

ICE's account of how he was hurt evolved during the time that federal officers were at his bedside. At least one ICE officer told caregivers that Castañeda Mondragón "got his (expletive) rocked" after his Jan. 8 arrest near a St. Paul shopping center, the court filings and a hospital staff member said. His arrest happened a day after the first of two fatal shootings in Minneapolis by immigration officers.

The situation reached a head when ICE insisted on using handcuffs to shackle his ankles to the bed, prompting a heated encounter with hospital staff, according to the court records and the hospital employees familiar with the incident.

At the time, Castañeda Mondragón was so disoriented he did not know what year it was and could not recall how he was injured, one of the nurses said. ICE officers believed he was attempting to escape after he got up and took a few steps.

"We were basically trying to explain to ICE that this is how someone with a traumatic brain injury is - they're impulsive," the nurse said. "We didn't think he was making a run for the door."

Security responded to the scene, followed by the hospital's CEO and attorney, who huddled in a doctor's office to discuss options for dealing with ICE, the nurse said.

"We eventually agreed with ICE that we would have a nursing assistant sit with the patient to prevent him from leaving," the nurse said. "They agreed a little while later to take the shackles off."
He probably spit on someone. Why should the government have lawyers any better qualified than ICE agents?
Posted by at 1 comment:
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)