Jonathan Turley
@JonathanTurley
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I obviously disagree with this verdict as do many others. I believe that the case will be reversed eventually either in the state or federal systems. However, this was the worst expectation for a trial in Manhattan. I am saddened by the result more for the New York legal system than the former president. I had hoped that the jurors might redeem the integrity of a system that has been used for political purposes.
9:20 PM · May 30, 2024

I am sad for him and his family, but this goes far beyond Trump. I think I am mourning what it means for our legal system and our rule of law when you can do this to a political opponent and a former president. It means none of us is safe, that that great principle which has made us special as a nation—equality under the law—died more than a little on Thursday. And that's a horrible thing to ponder.

Democrats have sacrificed it all on the altar of power and holding onto control.

Yes, there are a bunch of potential appealable issues, and it may very well be overturned on appeal. And sentence is likely to be stayed pending appeal. But in the meantime, the Democrats have what they wanted: the ability to call Trump a "convicted felon" and the hope that in a close race, this will hurt Trump and hand the race to Biden. The case may be overturned in the future, and some may say then, "Oh, so sorry." But it will be too late for justice and too late for the Republic. And nothing will be the same again.

anon-055q
9 hours ago
Until today, "The Trial" by Franz Kafka, was universally understood to be fiction.

As of today, it has been transformed into prophecy.

Tuesday, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., who chairs the House Republican Conference, filed a complaint with the New York State Unified Court System alleging Judge Juan Merchan was secretly selected in contradiction to a legal mandate for the random assigning of judges. Judge Merchan, Stefanik noted, was somehow randomly selected to preside over a previous trial against the Trump Organization, an upcoming trial against former Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon, and Bragg’s criminal trial against Trump himself.

“If justices were indeed being randomly assigned in the Criminal Term, the probability of two specific criminal cases being assigned to the same justice is quite low, and the probability of three specific criminal cases being assigned to the same justice is infinitesimally small,” Stefanik wrote in a letter to state officials. “And yet, we see Acting Justice Merchan on all three cases.”

Democratic National Committee rules and state laws create a simple path to oust Biden before, during, and after the convention.

Those who accused Trump of being a dictator and trying to undermine our country's laws now have weaponized our judicial system to take out an opponent they weren't confident could be beat in the polls. The Democrats have started a dangerous war, and the losers are the people of this country. Election interference must not be tolerated. Trump will not give up so easily. We are witnessing another historic moment in our nation's history. The next months could change everything.

Democrats have set a precedent, and you better believe they should be made to live by it. //

The genie is out of the bottle, and it's not up to Republicans to unilaterally shove it back in. Make Democrats suffer under the new rules they set until they beg for mercy, and when Joe Biden walks out of the White House, he should be immediately prosecuted for illegally retaining classified documents, among other alleged crimes.

There is no option to play nice anymore. Republicans tried to keep things within the lines. Democrats stepped over them for what they feel will be cheap political gain. Forget the crying. That's not going to help anything. Make them pay, and make them pay hard. Any Republican not willing to do that doesn't deserve to be in office. //

Right now is the time to get up off the mat and do everything possible to make Democrats regret this for the good of the country and the credibility of the judicial system. //

bpbatch 24 minutes ago
The Democrats just implemented the judicial version of separate lunch counters and drinking fountains, and it's time for conservatives to move to the front of the bus. //

Weminuche45 9 minutes ago edited

i dont think there are very many Republicans who have any clue what they are dealing with on the left, at all.

"Counterrevolution and conservatism have little in common. In the struggle against Communism the conservative is all but helpless. For that struggle cannot be fought, much less won, or even understood, except in terms of total sacrifice. And the conservative is suspicious of sacrifice; he wishes first to conserve, above all what he is, and what he has. You cannot fight against revolutions so."

• Whittaker Chambers "Witness" (Cold War Classics)

Conservatives are all but helpless. They lack the discipline, the self-sacrifice, indeed the courage. It is hard even for conservatives to even remember Chamber's admonition that they face an enemy having no moral viewpoint in common with themselves whatsoever.

This is your wakeup call.

A unanimous Supreme Court found that the First Amendment exists even in New York, even when the government hates what you have to say. As unbelievable as it sounds, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the opinion stating, "The critical takeaway is that the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech, directly or (as alleged here) through private intermediaries." //

The NRA appealed because if the Second Circuit's ruling prevailed, the First Amendment basically ceased to exist. Even the ACLU recognized the danger and represented the NRA.

This decision is a clear victory for the First Amendment and for the NRA. The case is headed back for trial in district court, and given this decision and Sotomayor's reasoning (yes, it's scary to write that), it will be difficult for Vullo to evade what happens next. The only rathole available to her is a claim of "qualified immunity." Sotomayor told the Second Circuit to determine if Vullo was eligible, but the original district court ruling and a footnote in Sotomayor's opinion cast a lot of doubt on that claim.

Pelican State officials have approved a proposal that says sex is “immutable,” that a “female” is someone who produces eggs absent a biological anomaly, and that a “male” is someone who produces sperm.

The proposal also says that K-12 educators must call a minor-age student by the name or pronoun listed on the child’s birth certificate.

Those provisions are similar to The Heritage Foundation’s model bills—and are bulwarks against dangerous gender ideology threatening women and girls. (Heritage founded The Daily Signal in 2014.)

Gov. Jeff Landry’s signature would make Louisiana the eighth state to adopt a version of a “Given Name Act,” which requires parental permission before a teacher can socially affirm a child’s confusion about his or her sex by using a name or pronoun that does not correspond to the student’s official records.

Lawmakers should insert parents back into important health-related conversations educators may have with the parents’ students. Children confused about their sex need compassion and wise counsel—and for their primary caregivers to be a part of those conversations.

After deliberating for 11 hours, a New York jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on all 34 charges of falsifying business records to hide “hush money” payments in 2016 to former adult film performer Stormy Daniels.

Trump faces up to four years in prison.

Trump spoke about the verdict as he came out of the courthouse. He called it a “disgrace.” //

John Roberts @johnrobertsFox
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Judge Merchan just told the jury that they do not need unanimity to convict. 4 could agree on one crime, 4 on a different one, and the other 4 on another. He said he would treat 4-4-4 as a unanimous verdict.
2:52 PM · May 29, 2024

40% of US need for lithium could be covered by Pennsylvania's fracking byproduct.

Like a rabid dog gnawing on a bone, the New York Times will just not let go of the non-story involving Justice Samuel Alito's wife, Martha-Ann, and a 2021 dispute with a neighbor that allegedly culminated in Mrs. Alito "briefly" flying the American flag upside down 11 days after the Capitol riot.

Not even counting the guest essays, letters to the editor, opinion pieces, and Spanish language versions they've published on the issue, by my count they've published nine - count 'em - nine articles over the last two weeks related to flag-flying at the homes of the Alito family, from the upside down one at their primary residence in 2021 to the Revolutionary War-era "Appeal to Heaven" flag that was flown at various points in 2023 at their beach house.

The insinuations have been clear in all of them: In their view and that of their "experts," due to the alleged Jan. 6th symbolism of the flags, Mrs. Alito is sympathetic to the beliefs of the Capitol rioters and as such, her alleged beliefs have compromised Justice Alito's ability to impartially judge cases related to Jan. 6 and the 2020 presidential election. //

We are looking at a completely fabricated outrage, and the press has resorted to reporting on the “growing” tide of indignation to have Alito step down – coming from the press. This lame attempt is producing little more than eye-rolling from the public. The news outlets need to wave their white flags on this issue.

And upside down if they have to.

Amid world outcry against an Israeli airstrike that took out two Hamas terrorist leaders but also reportedly killed dozens of Palestinian civilians, Israel Defense Forces said Tuesday that the “small munitions” used in the attack simply could not have caused the fire that caused such devastation. They think a Hamas ammunition storage facility may be to blame:. //

If IDF turns out to be right, and they had an ammunition warehouse right next to a civilian compound, then that would show yet again that they care nothing for the Palestinian civilians. Certainly, the loss of life in this tragedy—and in this war—is heartbreaking, but the blame belongs on Hamas’ shoulders, not Israel’s.

DJ Judd
@DJJudd
·
Follow
Biden's campaign is holding a press conference outside the NYC Courthouse where former President Donald Trump's defense team is opening closing arguments in his hush money trial
1:43 PM · May 28, 2024 //

Natalie Allison
@natalie_allison
Biden campaign is about to hold their first press conference outside the courthouse where Trump’s trial is ongoing. Trump’s communications team is standing by, telling reporters they’re going to speak too.
2:26 PM · May 28, 2024 //

RNC Research
@RNCResearch
·
Follow
LIE OF THE YEAR: A Biden campaign spokesman claims they're not holding a press conference RIGHT OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE where the Biden-led witch hunt is taking place "because of what's going on over there"

2:36 PM · May 28, 2024 //

RNC Research
@RNCResearch
·
Follow
"Do you consider Trump a threat to all these wars Biden has gotten us into?"

BIDEN SPOX: "Any media questions?"

"Is this a weaponization of the Justice Department?"

BIDEN SPOX: "Any media questions?"

"You won't answer the real questions — only the fake news?"

2:58 PM · May 28, 2024 //

RNC Research
@RNCResearch
·
Follow
REPORTER: What's your response to people who say you're running on January 6th because you can't run on Biden's record?

BIDEN CAMPAIGN SPOX: "That's absolutely absurd because we are running on a historic record of accomplishments!" 🤡

3:01 PM · May 28, 2024

This little sequence had gone on for generations of bears and ant colonies, all led by a large black rock being tumbled slowly down the mountain, year after year, one platter-sized indentation after another. And the ants followed.

Even after all the Springs since that mountainside hike, it's hard to grasp the scale of synchronized evolutionary order that controls the natural world surrounding us. If I still lived in an urban area, I could have the impression that humans are running this show.

That personal awakening to an immense surrounding universe on this earth and so very far beyond actually began a long time ago. I believe that was when I walked out to the school bus and first noticed those tiny tracks in the snow, made so silently while I slept blissfully unaware in an old, warm house just a few yards away.

The lingering memory of that lone black rock on a Montana mountainside provides yet another in a lifelong series of inklings that have sketched a vague sense of and appreciation for the grand immutable design that is only partially accessible to our understanding when we stop and think about it a moment in the endless rush of modern life.

It makes me feel very small and humble.

Which, I've decided, is not a bad thing.

Ever heard of Tahir Javed?

Nor had I, but it turns out he was one of President Biden's biggest donors in the 2020 election - and he's also now a Pakistani government official. Front Page's Daniel Greenfield has the details: //

four of whom were recognized along with myself… to have raised over $100,000 personally.” These donors would have likely come through Javed’s roles in various Islamic and Pakistani groups operating inside America. //

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who called Osama bin Laden a “martyr”, declared, “Tahir Javed has been instrumental in setting up a Pakistan Congress Foundation that has played a key role in revival and activation of Congressional Pakistan Caucus at the 116th Congress”. //

anon-x8p1
13 hours ago edited
Pakistan is the land of shadows, tribal loyalties, puzzles, corruption, smiles, assassinations, retained British traditions, gorgeous Raj architecture, religious fervor, and suicidal cronyism. It is also the most interesting country I have ever visited.

Hugh Brennan
11 hours ago
Sadly, our woke military and political command destroyed one of Arlington's most remarkable memorials this year. They dismantled Sir Moses Ezekiel's Civil War Confederate- Reconciliation memorial. Sir Moses ( knighted by the King of Italy) was a world famous sculptor, the first Jewish VMI graduate, and a veteran of the famous New Market charge of the VMI cadets. Due to the BLM/Floyd mania of 2020 that did so much harm, the memorial he had created and which stood over his grave and the grave of hundreds of Americans who were Southerners by birth and loyalty has been destroyed. I'm a thoroughgoing Yankee, but my history lessons taught me to respect the Southern soldier, and that grave desecration, the destruction of art, and the reneging on the post-war reconciliation movement are all crimes of people with low moral standards. It is so much harder to create something beautiful than it is to destroy it. Lincoln would never have done it. //

There was a stunning video I now cannot find that shows pictures of all the American military cemeteries in Europe - France, Luxemburg, Italy, etc. More than I knew, thousands of young men resting where they died, not sent home. The sacrifices of Americans for the freedom of others is stunning and unique in the history of the world.

the Wall Street Journal reports in an exclusive:

Joe Biden is opposing a European plan to rebuke Iran for advances in its nuclear programme as Washington wants to avoid an escalation of tensions ahead of the US presidential election, diplomats involved in discussions have claimed.

The Biden administration is said to be arguing against an effort by Britain and France to censure Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency's member state board in early June, they added. While US officials deny lobbying against a resolution, the diplomats say the administration is pressing other countries to abstain in a censure vote, which is what Washington will do. //

The differences are emerging as Western officials’ concerns have deepened about Iran’s nuclear activities.

On Monday, the U.N. atomic-energy agency reported that Iran’s stockpile of 60% highly enriched uranium rose 20.6 kilograms to 142.1 kg as of May 11 from three months earlier, its highest level to date.

U.S. officials say that material could be converted into weapons-grade enriched uranium in a matter of days. It would then be enough to fuel three nuclear weapons….

European diplomats have warned that failure to take action would undermine the authority of the IAEA, which polices nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. They say it also weakens the credibility of Western pressure on Iran. And they are frustrated over what they see as U.S. efforts to undermine their approach.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ar-BB1n6Myr

Glenn Beck @glennbeck
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.@RichardDreyfuss tells me he gave up acting "ONLY for something I loved as much, which was saving my country...It infuriates me that people don't understand what this place means."
1:24 / 1:24
11:00 PM · Jan 16, 2023
https://twitter.com/glennbeck/status/1615121851784593410

All The Right Movies @ATRightMovies
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Years after Robert Shaw's passing, his JAWS co-star Richard Dreyfuss met his granddaughter and got very emotional.
1:43 / 1:43
12:00 PM · May 1, 2024
https://twitter.com/ATRightMovies/status/1785640322061811725

This generation operates on the currency of virtue. The only way to get anything in life these days is to convince others of your noble heart. In reality, it doesn’t really matter if it’s true as long as you adequately satisfy the conscience of the audience. They are cheap dates and easy to please.

The situation with Rafah, as well as the entire Gaza conflict, should be common sense and nothing new. This isn’t the Western world’s first round of fighting terrorism. But then again, it’s always different with the Jews.

The conscience of the people is being perverted by biased news, outright lies, and careful manipulation. Hamas designed this strategy, and it’s working.

We are tired of this malice masquerading as humanity. Anyone who does not immediately call for the surrender of Hamas and the release of the hostages does not care about Palestinians or any civilians, Israeli or otherwise. Anyone who has spent time in the area of Gaza, even pre-war, should know how Hamas treats its own people. Where are the calls for freedom from the oppression of Hamas for Palestinians? Where are the calls for their leaders to value their safety above all else in their war campaign? Can anyone imagine if any Western country had put their people in harm's way the way that Hamas has? //

The only chance for this war to end is for Netanyahu and the IDF to apply strong military pressure. Israel has tried all of the things that the world has suggested — hard hand, soft hand, diplomacy, war, turning the other cheek, or standing their ground. They are tired of being everyone’s favorite guinea pig. The world has shown that the only thing Israelis can do that they like is die.

The culpability for Rafah falls on Hamas. The only way to fix an injustice is to hold the correct person accountable. Israel should do everything it can to protect civilian life. However, anyone who thinks that there is another way to end this conflict is either delusional or has malicious intent. //

Dieter Schultz > Ed in North Texas
4 hours ago edited

I don't understand why Israel held the IDF back from Rafah for so long, it gains Israel nothing on the so-called world stage and the drastically increased antisemitism around the US and Europe is proof (never mind the clowns at the East River Debating Society- aka the United Nations).
Nixon once said "We'll get into as much trouble if we send 3 planes or 100 planes to resupply the Israelis so send every plane we have!" When it comes to dealing with uncomfortable situations like opposition from your enemies, you have to loose your concerns about the amount of trouble you'll get into, doing too little or just enough, your enemies won't care about your restraint.

If your cause is just, and you believe that, then you, and Israel, need to stop caring so much that it stops you from doing what you need to do.

The “Australian Ballot” is the ballot Americans know and trust. First used in Australia in 1856, the ballot is what we know as the secret ballot. Americans trust that they can go to the polls, privately vote, and no one will find out who they voted for. States even prohibit people taking pictures of their ballots to discourage voter intimidation. But Texans need to know they have a secret ballot no more.

In a wild story out of Texas, the website Current Revolt obtained Matt Rinaldi’s Super Tuesday ballot. //

That someone was able to both locate and reveal the supposedly secretly cast ballot of anyone, let alone the Chairman of the Republican Party of Texas, should rise to a federal investigation. Current Revolt, in revealing Rinaldi’s ballot, wrote, “There are multiple methods that can be used to reveal ballots cast by voters in Texas. The Rinaldi ballot was obtained with one method. Another method, is described in a lawsuit led by Dr. Laura Pressley.” [Emphasis added] In other words, the site did not wish to reveal the means by which Rinaldi’s ballot was obtained and who actually obtained it.