PINOT GRIGIO DAY
It's Going To Be A Lovely Day For A Chilled White Wine of Some Sort in Chicago Today - Why Not A Pinot?!
-If you are a regular reader (and thanks if you are!) (and if not, here's hoping you become one!) you are likely waiting for a summary of yesterday's cross-examination of Michael Cohen in the election interference trial of Ex-President Trump (R-apist) LXXXVIII - and we'll get to that. But two other stories broke last night that need to be talked about for reasons disturbing and disturbing but trash-TV level entertaining before we get to Cohen ...
-The first story broke in the New York Times last night. In it, eyewitnesses and neighbors confirmed that in the days after the January 6, 2021 insurrection, an American flag was flown upside-down at the home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito. Normally used as a symbol of distress, the upside-down flag was flown and run in by insurrectionists that attacked Congress on 1/6, and was adopted by MAGAts as a sign of support for Trump's phony claims that the winner of the 2020 election, Joe Biden, stole the election from Trump (it was, in fact, the opposite - Trump attempted and failed to steal the election from the winner, Biden). The flag seems to indicate that Alito, or someone in his family, was pro-insurrection.
-I use the phrase "seems to indicate" because Alito, in the tradition of MAGAts everywhere (and a few so-called progressives as well, truth be told), replied via email to the Times that yes, the flag was flown upside down at his home at that time - but that it was likely Alito's wife that did it as some sort of response to some sort of 'dispute' between her and neighbors down the street. Likely par for the course for the man whose literal signature work on SCOTUS was to end abortion rights on the federal level (and whose favorite NFL player is probably now Harrison Busker).
-That Alito is now the second Justice to have a direct tie of support to the January 6 insurrection casts even more aspersions on SCOTUS, already seeing historic lows of confidence nationally, and who has a case before it in which Trump is claiming God-like immunity because he was President in a case involving that very same January 6 insurrection. Naturally, neither Alito nor the other SCOTUS openly supportive of January 6, Clarence Thomas, have recused themselves from the decision - and doing so would likely make it possible to allow the case to continue. Whether this story will sway a decision or make the decision get issued faster will remain to be seen, if not hopeful (because why invest hope in this SCOTUS?).
-On to the other story, which at least has Real Housewives zingers packaged in it!
-The other story revolves around a House hearing that took place last evening, delayed until the evening because most MAGAt members spent their mornings in court to support their Dear Leader Trump (and allegedly (EYEROLL) break the gag order for their Dear Leader) at his criminal election interference trial in New York. The hearing involved a contempt vote against Attorney General Merrick Garland because of Garland's refusal to testify to the committee over something something Biden impeachment still being flogged by Chair James Comer (HunteR!, KY).
-In the hearing, amid a number of objections that were being raised by Committee members who were reporting members of the audience were drinking, a member of the Committee who appeared to be inebriated started leaning forward in her chair, ignoring repeated demands to stop talking from the chair, and started ranting while being out of order.
-That member? Clue: NOT Lauren Boebert (Hands UP!, CO) - though she was there - but the other person who you will be absolutely not surprised upon hearing it ...
-Yep, Marjorie Taylor Greene (Z-Q-R, GA) was the "reportedly" (EYEROLL) drunk member, and not being able to be stopped, she barreled through the request to stopped and asked a question about one of the MAGAts' favorite gag-order-busting figures: a child of New York Trial Judge Juan Merchan, who Green brayed was an employee of Garland and therefore likely a person who was helping Garland and Biden control and persecute poor persecuted innocent Dear Leader Donald Trump. (That's not as hyperbolic as it seems - Trump constantly babble-yells about this conspiracy theory outside the courtroom and in interview any time he recognizes a microphone or is told to start talking.)
-In any event, the evoking of the conspiracy theory led to an inquiry from Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) and a demand the question be stricken from the record because of its irrelevance. Greene responded to Crockett, "I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you're reading" - and IT WAS ON.
-An eruption of demands to strike the question erupted, led by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Squad, NY), who pointed and Greene said "How dare you attack the physical appearance of another person?" Greene, apparently joyful at the bomb she threw, responded at AOC by asking "Are your feelings hurt?" To which AOC let her Bronx out and retorted, "Oh, girl - baby girl - don't even play!" To which Greene hilariously claimed AOC did not have "enough intelligence" to debate Greene. After more back-and-forths, Greene struck her comment towards Crockett but proudly said "You will never get an apology out of me!" - a ruling the cowed Comer agreed with.
-But Crockett - who has proven time and again she can give as good as she gets - was not done herself. After a touch of quiet came back and in response to Comer's ruling, Crockett inquired, "I'm just curious, just to better understand your ruling ... if someone on this committee then starts talking about somebody's bleach blond bad-built butch body, that would not be engaging in personalities, correct?" That led to Greene ally Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-SC) to tell Crockett to "Calm down," which went exactly as you would expect.
-A recess was called, "decorum" was asked for, Greene again did not apologize (because you think she is in Congress to legislate?), and ultimately the Committee did pass to the full floor the resolution of holding Garland in contempt, if we remember what the initial reason for that was. (I don't.)
-The Most Deliberative Body In the World, Ladies and Gentlemen (and I'm not talking about the body apparenly shaped in part by a Crossfit-trainer-self-described-Tantric-sex-guru that was part of the cucking of the now ex-husband of Marjorie Taylor Greene) (hey, if she won't apologize, why should I?)!
-NOW, let's get back to that trial in New York, shall we?
-The cross-examination of Cohen lasted through the day and will continue on Monday, with some points reportedly scored by Trump attorney Todd Blanche, specifically about one phone call that took place in November 2020 that Cohen seemed unsure about - but overall, whether that will be enough to create doubt in the mind of one juror seemed shaky, particularly as overall Cohen has proven to be a surprisingly even-keeled if not exactly likeable witness. (Also because the prosecution will get to redirect on Monday).
-The defense is attempting to get one witness to be allowed to testify, though it seems somewhat unlikely the witness may be allowed (the witness is purported to be an expert in federal election law - questionable because the case involves New York state law) - in which case, unless the defense shocks the world and actually puts Trump on the stand, attorneys have been asked to ready closing arguments Tuesday to give the case to the jury on Wednesday, opening the possibility of a verdict before Memorial Day.
-And, back to the case and the parade of MAGA supporters - right down to most of them wearing identical blue suits and red ties, no less - that have been going to "support" Trump and continuously talk down Judge Merchan and promote Trump's crazy conspiracy theory of the feeble forgetful weak Biden also masterminding the entire prosecution of the Stormy Daniels case.
-Besides laying groundwork for MAGAts to believe the trial is a corrupt persecution witch hunt (it's not), Democrats have taken note of the attacks on the trial by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Jay-EE-Zuz!, LA) on the trial. Having saved his Speakership by rejecting the Call to make him resign by the aforementioned Greene, several Democrats told reporters that the support was "a one-time thing" likely in exchange for passage of the Ukraine military aid bill (SLAVA UKRAINI!), and that continued support for a second attempt at his gavel might not be guaranteed - especially with MAGA holding a razor-thin one-vote majority. Watch THAT space ...
-We'll get to news in Israel, Ukraine, and other stuff over the weekend!
-On this date in 1868, the Senate failed to convict and remove Andrew Johnson from the Presidency by one vote. On this date in 1954, the Supreme Court had one of its greatest days in its history, ruling in Brown v. Board of Education that segregation of public schools was unconstitutional. On this date in 1985, climatologists revealed the existence of a hole in the ozone layer of Earth's atmosphere. And on this date in 2004, MA became the first state to legalize same-sex marriage.
-Debuts on this date: The New York Stock Exchange (1792), color photography (1861), The Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs (1875), THE WONDERFUL WIZARD OF OZ (1900), The Academy Awards (1929), televised sports (a college baseball game, 1939), GODSPELL (1971), the Watergate hearings (1973), RANDOM ACCESS MEMORIES (2013).
-Happy Birthday to Edward Jenner, Cool Papa Bell, Maureen O'Sullivan, Archibald Cox, Stan Albeck, Dewey Redman, Earl Morrall, Dennis Potter, Dennis Hopper, Rep. George Miller, Howard Ashman, Norv Turner, Bill Paxton, Bob Saget, Sugar Ray Leonard, Jim Nantz, Enya, Craig Ferguson, Trent Reznor, Danny Manning, Dave Abbruzzese, Thom Filicia, Josh Homme, and Channing Frye.
-Rest in Peace/Rest in Power to Johann Bach, John Jay, John Deere, Abe Burrows, Bobby Ewing, Lawrence Welk, Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Frank Gorshin, Cy Feuer, Harmon Killebrew, Donna Summer, Ken Venturi, Herman Wouk, "Superstar" Billy Graham, and Vangelis.
-Feed the Worms: Qusay Hussein entered Earth on this date.