NATIONAL BOURBON DAY UPDATES
Which Makes Today a GREAT Day To Leave Me A Tip, AFAIC!
-Fresh off his arraignment, Twice-Indicted Ex-President (TIEP) Trump continued last night to do what he always does: incriminate himself further. In a 30-minute speech at his Bedminster compound, Trump again admitted that he had the documents, using the argument that under the Presidential Records Act, any record a President looks at is the personal property of the President (this is a paraphrase). The law he invokes says the exact opposite - it says a President CANNOT take such records - and besides, the 37 charges made against him have nothing to do with that Act.
-In addition, while claiming it is President Biden who is turning this country into a lawless third-world country, Trump also promised that, if he were to return to power, he would open an investigation into the doddering-yet-devious-criminal-mastermind Joe Biden and the entire Biden family - this as, again, repeated attempts by reporters to get House Republicans to produce a recording that shows just how deep and wide and dangerous the "Biden Crime Family" could only be claimed to be "believed to be legitimate" by Rep. James Comer (HunteR!, KY), and as the supposed incriminating evidence is, again, shown to be already-discredited-by-the-Trump-administration Burisma nonsense produced by Rudy Giuliani.
-Attention turns to the upcoming trial and the fact that, by simple chance and not plotting, Trump drew what could be the best Judge he could for the circumstances: Aileen Cannon, who has already become notable for making rulings in the investigation that led to the indictments. Only Cannon can volunteer to remove herself unless she makes rulings so egregious it makes Jack Smith move to remove her - all possible, but all also adding time to the proceedings, which could be Trump's only tactic to try to skate on these charges.
-How? Fairly simply: if there are enough delays, the trial could be suspended pending the 2024 election - and, if somehow Trump or a fellow friendly Republican wins, 2025 could begin with an order to end all prosecutions and/or pardon Trump for this and all the other crimes Trump has been charged with and/or could be convicted of (remember, the January 6 proceedings in GA and DC are still to come). We're a ways away from that, but it's good to know the options, IMHO.
-If anyone talks about how America is becoming a third-world country because of how we treat our leaders - and are saying that to defend Trump - you should let them know how true it is for the opposite reasons they think. Unlike literally EVERYONE ELSE that has been arrested and charged with removing classified documents (often by accident), Trump was not detained, was not given bail, did not have his passport taken away, did not have a mug shot taken of him, was not allowed to come and go from the court house in a motorcade, and was not essentially freed. NOW, keep in mind Trump is also under 24/7/365 monitoring by Secret Service agents, but I think the point has been made.
-Now to one of the other really important stories playing out: the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the South and East parts of Ukraine. The actions are about two weeks old, and as such it is difficult to get clear reporting on advances, but it does seem that Ukraine is making advances in the southeast area around the Crimea region - though there was at least one thrust that was fended off by Russian forces. At the same time, Russia acknowledges a HIMARS attack which took place just as a speech to new recruits by a General was about to take place has resulted in "mass casualties" including said General. There continue to be multiple reports (admittedly from Ukrainian sources, so ...) of continued infighting among Russian military leaders, and even Vladimir Putin seemed to imply in an appearance yesterday that the Nova Kakhova dam breach was, in fact, the result of a Russian attack in order to fend off the Ukrainian counteroffensive. The best advice is to follow respected European-based news services to try to corroborate any news from the front.
-SLAVA UKRAINI!
-Speaking of news, for the first time in six years, Fox News and CNN are looking up to MSNBC in the ratings battle. CNN's Chris Licht-attempt to shift to the right, combined with Fox News double-barreled-hit of firing their top host and trying to move into the Newsmax/Blaze area of right-wing news has opened an opportunity that Rachel Maddow, Lawrence O'Donnell, Joy Reid and company are so far taking up. (And by the way, it should be noted that Fox is threatening to sue said ex-host, Tucker Carlson for those of you who forgot, for breach of contract for Tuckum's new Twitter "show" - which the fish stick heir is defying like the Alpha he sees himself as after a good round of crotch tanning).
-In closing for today, while all of this was going on, the UltraMAGA faction of the House has continued to slow-roll bills as punishment to Kevin McCarthy (SINO-R, CA) over McCarthy's debt ceiling negotiation with President Biden, though today one of their priorities may finally come to a vote. Today, ladies and gentlemen, House Republicans will be voting on a bill to protect your gas stoves so they will never be banned from private homes - and while the bill will likely receive a laugh-out-loud-before-moving-to-the-recycle-bin reception in the Senate, know that the UltraMAGAts are sure showing McCarthy who is boss while you bake your cookies in good old-fashioned American warmth!
-Or ... something ...
-On this date in 1777, the Stars and Stripes were adopted as the first flag of the United States. On this date in 1922, Warren Harding became the first President to be heard on the radio. A bad day on this date in 1940: Auschwitz opened and the Nazis marched into Paris. On this date in 1963, Valentina Tershkova became the first woman to fly into space. And on this date in 1982, one of the cheapest military victories in history - the British 'victory' over Argentina in the Falkland Islands - was declared.
-Happy Birthday to the United States Army, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Robert LaFollette, Alois Alzheimer, Margaret Bourke-White, Burl Ives, Dorothy McGuire, Pierre Salinger, Don Newcombe, Cy Coleman, Junior Walker, Marla Gibbs, Jerzy Kosinski, Steny Hoyer, Spooner Oldham, Rod Argent, Alan White, Eddie Mekka, Pat Summitt, Pere Ubu leader David Thomas, Vince Evans, Eric Heiden, Boy George, Yasmine Bleeth, Eric Desjardins, Steffi Graf, Diablo Cody, and Montgomery Edward Scott.
-Rest in Peace/Rest in Power to Adlai Stevenson, Alan Jay Lerner, Jorge Luis Borges, Marlin Perkins, Henry Mancini, and Kurt Waldheim.
-Feed the Worms: It is Donald Trump's birthday. Worms the world over wait ... Also, racist Sheriff Joe Arpaio entered Earth today. Benedict Arnold bought it on this date.
-Che Guevera was born today. You decide if it's a Happy Birthday or if he Feeds the Worms.