234 Comments
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David J. Sharp's avatar

What does it say about justice in America when the DoJ denies basic due process for brown people while defending rich whites entertained by a pedophile?

Ivan White's avatar

"What does it say about justice in America when the DoJ denies basic due process for brown people while defending rich whites entertained by a pedophile?"

My Answer - It shows how the America most of us "know" and have "known" through our lives is frighteningly and slowly slipping away :(

CroneEver's avatar

Actually, what it says to me is that nothing has changed. Back in 1960, when I was 6 years old, the college-aged son of our neighbors tried to sexually assault me. I didn't know what it was, I just knew that his pants were down and there was something sticking up that I'd never seen before. I managed to get out of the room and ran and told my parents; they had a session with the neighbors, who would not admit that their son could do something like that, and I was LYING. At 6.

The result was that my father built a fence between our houses, and the son was left to go on and do worse things, I'm sure. I kind of felt like I'd been put in jail... But my father was doing the best he could at the time, because back then, no one would have taken them to court because it would have "ruined" me at the age of 6.

So... what I learned then is that white men can do anything they want, and will be protected from the law, while the victims will be silenced, ignored, defamed, and perhaps locked up.

WE HAVE GOT TO BREAK THIS SYSTEM.

Linda McCaughey's avatar

Truer words were never spoken. I wish someone would explain to me why males of the species who have pale skin are considered superior to all other members of the exact same species. For instance--and this has always puzzled me--males cannot reproduce. It stands to reason that the members of a species who can keep that species from going extinct would be prized most highly. Consider chickens. Does anyone (not into cock fighting) keep flocks of roosters?

Ruth Sheets's avatar

Linda, this is an interesting perspective. Nearly all the problems the world faces now have been perpetrated by men, not just white men, but men. This includes war, terrorism, rape, climate change, financial cheating, and more. White men, due to imperialism, have decided they belong at the top of any hierarchy, so put themselves there, get some women to go along with the BS, usually on religious grounds (nearly all faiths participate in this with women seen as lesser than men), a male-created scenario that does not actually fit with the basic tenets of religions, but those tenets have been carefully shaped to let women believe they are not only weaker physically, but mentally, emotionally, and intellectually, which is actually opposite of the truth. From this "top of the hierarchy" the white men, who mostly never had to grow into full adulthood and can stay as anywhere between toddlerhood (Trump and his white house toddler pool) to adolescence (terrorists like the Taliban and the various militias and groups like Proud Boys) claim power they don't deserve and do harm to whoever gets in their way. How do we reverse this male insanity. If we could do this, I would bet most of the wars, crimes of violence, and slavery and trafficking, environmental damage, and heating of our planet would become small and manageable. It would be worth a try.

Linda McCaughey's avatar

Fabulous. Completely agree! Can we maybe form our own country somewhere? What a refreshing breath of sanity that would be!!

Sandra VO (Maryland)'s avatar

We can support and elect more Women who are Leaders who will mentor more Women, and on and on!

Linda McCaughey's avatar

You know, I once thought that the world would be a better place if women were in charge. That was before I met Pam Bondi, Kristi Noem, Karoline Leavitt, Anna Paulina Luna, and the rest of Trump's stable. We must have strict standards regarding choices, girl!

Sandra VO (Maryland)'s avatar

the maga women excluded, so I agree there must be standards!, but men in Congress and legislatures in general, Boards of Directors, Drs., levers of power, ICE members, are mostly men, very few women. That means women's rights get trampled. 60 countries have or have had women Presidents/PM's mostly well governed.\ Lately I've been thinking about the PM of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, who was pregnant and a new mother to boot. from 2017 to 2023. "Prime Minister" is a wonderful documentary about her term, well worth watching!

Linda McCaughey's avatar

Jacinda is my aspiration! Not that I would ever load myself down with all the drek of politics and power. As a confirmed old hippie, just not something I would be good at, anyway. Still able to admire her! Also kudos to the women who run the government (and many other important things) in Iceland. Great role models!!

Sandra VO (Maryland)'s avatar

There are many women I admire and was so sorry Hillary was not elected; we would likely not be in the situation we are now had she won and joined 1 of the 60 women worldwide PMs and Presidents who proceeded her! I too was a hippy in the 60's and the women's movement in the 70's. I still work/volunteer as Office Mgr of our rural county Democratic Party. As Joyce Vance says in her book, Giving Up is Unforgiveable !

Linda McCaughey's avatar

Terrific! As for me, I'm tired of fighting. I plan to decamp to a more civilized country where the government reflects humanitarian velues.

Sandra VO (Maryland)'s avatar

My goal is to keep fighting for my kids, grandkids and great grandkids and the rest of humanity. Plus I agree with David Brooks 2-13 Fri night saying Dems have to fight hard at the ballot box this election to stop much of DJT's destruction and start re-mending our democracy. I loved being reminded of our struggle thru Ken Burns "The American Revolution," 12 hours so worth watching, and being inspired to keep marching onward. Also reminds me of my yoga teachers Contemplation last month: "Forget this moment, and grow into the next; it is the only way." Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

Linda McCaughey's avatar

One of my all-time favorites is "John Adams" with Paul Giamatti in the lead role. Superb.

Mary's avatar

So sorry you went through this, and glad you are angry and speaking up. Glad your parents protected you. I don't know if it is skin color that matters, though. I think is it sense of privilege.

Teri Gelini's avatar

I think it is both and that it is currently tied to wealth as much as anything...

Bobbi's avatar

I had a similar experience in the early 60s with a neighbor teen then my abuse went next door to another neighbor adult. He terrorized me for years then moved onto my mother. She died thinking he loved her. So much grooming.

CroneEver's avatar

And in the 60s... no one called groomers on it at all.

Phil Johnson's avatar

It says do the best you can with what you have; and there is God, who loves us all, no matter what we call him. And eternity, to which we are all headed. MLK, JFK, Lincoln and others paid the ultimate price despite the risks they all took in defending freedom for all... I am pretty sure all of them are where we ultimately want to be.

Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

It says that too many white USians haven't been paying attention for decades and it had to get this bad before we'd wake the hell up. I came of political age in the late 1960s, as the white backlash to civil rights advances was getting under way, soon to be joined by the backlash to Roe v. Wade and women's rights in general. Trump II didn't come out of nowhere. Neither did the current Supreme Court majority. Pass it on.

Jen Andrews's avatar

And shut it the hell down

David J. Sharp's avatar

No wonder MAGA is afraid of education! Easier to play - BE - dumb than learn … American Exceptionalism?

Bill Katz's avatar

But..l but the Dow Jones is up over 50,000. Come on what do you want?

Sabrina Hanan's avatar

She said 50k DOLLARS. Her stupidity is fathomless.

Jack McGowan's avatar

But the boss said she was great!!

Jen Andrews's avatar

His stupidity is fathomless too. But so is thst of a third of USians

Ruth Sheets's avatar

Jack, well, in Trump's dementia, I am sure his pseudomommy Bondi, the woman who will do almost anything to protect her Baby Donnie is great! He can only deal with people who agree with him, will soothe him in his anger and fear, and take out anyone who doesn't think her Baby Donnie is the rightful king.

David J. Sharp's avatar

Baby Donnie (Baby Hughie?) is so out of touch that he only “knows” what he’s told … by Miller, Bondi, Vought. So soft and warm in mommy’s tummy.

patricia's avatar

his mother was probably sick for 9 months

Nancy's avatar

That's apparently all that has to count right now. When that changes, we can celebrate! (Notice the adverb, not "if"; I guess I'm feeling optimistic this morning.)

David J. Sharp's avatar

Daddy’s favorite girl! (Keep those knees crossed, honey.)

Ruth Sheets's avatar

David, it seems our Toddler-Trump has a cadre of Barbie women lined up to take the fall if anything happens to him; of course, it will be their fault. The desperate need of those women to be close to power so they can have an hour of "glory" is beyond comprehension, but when one sees and hears them, it is clear they would not have any such recognition anywhere else because their talents are limited, deliberately so they can fit into Trump's mold for women in his life. I should feel bad for them, but alas, I don't because they should know just what they have enslaved themselves to and should be willing to face the consequences for that. And, I hope there are consequences.

David J. Sharp's avatar

They just want to be Melania — oh, what a lovely wardrobe!

William Burke's avatar

Bondi caught herself saying 50,000 “dol…” then later in her testimony stated that “the Dow went up 50,000”. She couldn’t remember (or simply didn’t know) the word “points” - which is how the financial world refers to gains or losses in the Dow. Bondi should return to chasing ambulances in Florida. She has clearly risen to the level of her incompetence as outlined in the Peter principle.

Christina Stuart's avatar

All these stooges, but most definitely the head were ‚Peter principled‘ from the start and that is precisely why we are in the Schlamassel we are in today.

William Burke's avatar

The cabinet members appear to have replaced their prefrontal cortex with hard cheddar cheese. But I think in medical terms that you are right and the hard cheddar cheese had existed since their youths.

Ruth Sheets's avatar

William, their problematic frontal lobes are the reason they were chosen to be in Trump's toddler pool, and they are a perfect fit.

David J. Sharp's avatar

Hard cheddar cheese for soft heads …

Phil Johnson's avatar

Schlamassel: WOD. Thank you for that.

I learn something every day.

Ask Bondi about that; see what you get. She is a lawyer, so she knows something...

David J. Sharp's avatar

Thought she could smirk her way to safety.

Ruth Sheets's avatar

William, I think Bondi reached her level of incompetence when she graduated from law school, and I am not kidding about that. She has shown no talent for anything beyond whining, blaming, lying, disobeying orders, complaining, and whining some more. She had those skills down when she was 3.

Janet Edelstein's avatar

OMG - this is insanity 🤬🤬🤬

Ruth Sheets's avatar

Donald, Ha! That must be their new line to evade any accountability for the insanity and bad behavior of this current regime. They deliberately ignore the fact that barely half of thepopulation owns any stock and most of the owned stock is held by the top few percent of the people, mostly white men. Pammy Bondi's whine that a high stock market makes up for the disastrous, destructive behavior of DOJ and DHS with DOJ's help is absurd as is the incompetence of Bondi, Trump's pseudomommy, herself.

Abby From Maine's avatar

That crazy Bitch needs her family to step in a shut her up! I do not know what tRump has on her, but it must be spectacular!

Susan Stone's avatar

The people the DOJ is defending are ones who very likely participated in pedophilia. IMO they weren't just entertained - unless getting to have sex with a child is entertainment…

David J. Sharp's avatar

Ah, the art of pointed understatement exposed.

Susan Stone's avatar

Sorry, David. I realized after reading your comment last night that as a survivor of sexual abuse, including trafficking, subtle doesn't cut it for me. Only stating reality out loud does.

David J. Sharp's avatar

Ah, if only someone was listening! Silos protect them from hearing anything beyond their comfortable lies.

Susan Stone's avatar

And therein lies the problem. I think the Epstein stuff is finally opening some eyes. IMO Pam Bondi did her part for that by being so rude to the survivors the other day at her hearing.

David J. Sharp's avatar

One can only hope! But Trump has made sexual predation as somehow acceptable: A hand thrust under the skirt as simply a part of wooing? And now pedophilia? And the Attorney General as smirking abettor?

Phil Johnson's avatar

Yeah, that studied performance was astonishing. Wow.

lauriemcf's avatar

it says it only exists for rich white men and some rich white women.

Jen Andrews's avatar

RWW that are in favor as long as they cower to the male ego and look nice

Carolyn Bakula's avatar

It says that we have been propagandized by the white elite ruling class for decades and it's time to wtfu!

Ruth Sheets's avatar

David, it sure doesn't say much, something We the People need to fix!

David J. Sharp's avatar

Yes! But it’s now a part of government policy to ignore We the People … as well as both laws and court decisions.

Jeri ODonnell's avatar

Thank heaven for Judge Boasberg’s steady and determined pursuit of justice against the trump/maga regime’s cruelty and illegality.

Keith Wheelock's avatar

HITLER’S JUDGMENT AT NUREMBERG: HARBINGER OF TRUMP’S ACCELERATING INJUSTICES

I share Joyce’s feelings as I also recently rewatched Judgment at Nuremberg. It highlighted how, by 1935, Germany’s top jurists participated in Hitler’s scheme to destroy judicial justice. This was used against Jews and a broad band of others who opposed Hitler.

When I rewatched it, the similarities with Trump, Bondi-the Attorney General of the Department of Injustice—, the gun toting, warrantless ICE agents who engaged in murder, gross mistreatment of American residents—whether legal or illegal—, echoed Hitler’s Brown Shirts.

The degradation of the Supreme Court was the result of the Federalist Society, Kavanaugh’s flawed Senate hearing, shenanigans by a loosely-principled Senate majority leader, and bizarre SC ‘originalism’ that seems to provide President Trump virtual immunity.

As the Nuremberg trials demonstrated, Hitler’s injustices accelerated until the end of the European war.

At 92, I am appalled by the increasing lack of justice in America. I applaud the many judges who follow the Constitution and the law. However, Trump’s blizzard of illegal executive orders followed by his effort to ignore judicial decisions greatly trouble me. Whether it is his revenge against those who ‘displease’ him, the total rejection of ‘climate change’ and imperative environmental laws, or the injustice rampant throughout his administration, I find it frightening and increasingly difficult to reverse.

MY FAINT HOPE IS THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL BELATEDLY ADHERE TO THE CONSTITUTION AND THAT SWELLING PUBLIC REACTION WILL SPARK THE CONSCIENCE OF SOME REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS.

Ally House (Oregon)'s avatar

I hear you, Keith. I hope against all hope that SCOTUS will rediscover the constitution and precedent before it’s too late.

William Burke's avatar

At 92 you’re still firing on all cylinders Keith.💪

TCinLA's avatar

It's not the Department of Injustice, Keith, it's the department of Unjustice. Injustice would presupposed a knowledge of what justice is and a decison not to implement it. Unjustice is someone who doesn't care what justice is or isn't (which is also the definition of a bullshitter, which is what all these scum are).

Keith Wheelock's avatar

Tom I sit corrected. I am swinging with a broad sword, while you prefer a stiletto. Perhaps I draw more blood.

Joan Eisenstodt's avatar

As this mine for the Court that they will remember their oaths, that of those who so gifted them are real friends, they can retire in the styles to which they’ve become accustomed and sail off to the sunset.

Jen Andrews's avatar

Remember that he came of age with the cruel thug who was his father applauding the tug who was Roy Cohn. They crested a sickening bully whose time has most definitely come.

David J. Sharp's avatar

Bravo Judge Boasberg! But Trump will immediately whine to the appeals court … and likely SCOTUS which has already sanctioned Latino discrimination.

Riversong Pond's avatar

For the moment, David, let’s just take the win. Do not belittle Judge Boasberg’s courage and commitment to justice nor the persistence of the men who were wronged and their attorneys. Let’s just celebrate a win when we see one. Of course the fight will continue.

David J. Sharp's avatar

I *do not* belittle the judge, I praise him. And it IS a win … but a win against a DoJ which has ignored any federal judge’s decisions - like those of Judge Boasberg - it doesn’t like.

Susan Lee's avatar

It's now WCOTUS, NOT "S." That is, the Worthless Court of The United States. (This is, of course, my own, always-ever-so-humble opinion.)

David J. Sharp's avatar

I shall graciously demur from scrotum jokes here …

Ally House (Oregon)'s avatar

And here I thought I’d be mannerly and not refer to SCROTUS. Nope, my junior high brain saw this post and out it jumped.

David J. Sharp's avatar

Be careful—you might have to explain it to POTUS …

Susan Lee's avatar

Oh, heck, don't do that. Scrotum jokes are exactly what almost every part of this alleged "administration," which certainly now includes the Donnie Court, deserves as often as possible!

David J. Sharp's avatar

Thank you … but I have bad knees and just can’t manage the subterranean depths of that man and his cast of caterwauling clowns.

Jen Andrews's avatar

I like "Extreme Curia", with its outsized misrepresentation of Catholics, snd then there's the child of a religious kult.

MUSA💙💙💙USAM's avatar

I want to vomit when I think of the number of children they have in these detention camps, why is a 2 yo considered the ‘worst of the worst criminals’?

Any sane person considers the rape, molesting and possible murder of children is the worst of the worst crimes, yet, he sits in our WH!?!?!?!?!?

Mike N.'s avatar

This Administration is providing so much material for a greatest hits reel that should start playing non-stop in a few months….the incompetence and embarrassments are off the charts.

Louise's avatar

This is an aside to the comments here. I just received this information in an email from The National Trust for Historic Preservation:

"The National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) has opened public comments on the proposed 90,000-square-foot ballroom addition to the White House.

Written comments are due March 4 at Noon ET."

Check out the National Trust website for additional information if you'd like to make a comment.

Jen Andrews's avatar

Oh I can't. My first impulse was to suggest they entomb trump in the foundation, and put the men's urinal directly above it. And be sure he's face up.

Louise's avatar

Thank you for posting this link, Joan. And I know that perhaps the desecration of the White House is small potatoes in comparison with all the truly ghastly things that are going on in our country. Still, we the people are the most powerful force that exists to combat Trump and his minions who think they can do anything they want. The White House and the Kennedy Center belong to the people of the United States, damn it!

Jen Andrews's avatar

It's a grotesque symbol of a disgusting presidency. Make it misshapen and ugly like the Americans who voted for him..

Joan Eisenstodt's avatar

There are lots of reasons it’s not small potatoes:

-the alleged $400k (a gross under budgeted amount since I think furnishings are not built in) donations are “missing.”; prob never existed.

-it will be as tall or taller than the WH & no doubt be called “The Trump Ballroom.”

-upkeep that WE will pay for! There’s already the absurd patio that replaced the rose garden. Year after year unless it’s torn down (again at our expense) later if built.

-it appears to not be ADA considered let alone compliant.

-it’s not clear if a kitchen and other needed areas are included.

-there will be a first spouses in the future that cares and want space.

Just a few issues on top of integrity of a sacred building.

ROBIN SCROFANI's avatar

Thanks for sharing this info! I hope everyone’s response is that it should NOT be built! It’s big, ostentatious, and as tacky as Trump. And you know he’s going to have his name built into the structure (in gold) so that it can’t be removed. He’s building his own monument which is absurd by any standard and it’s for the worst president in the history of the USA maybe even the world. A presidency defined by lies! He blames everything that’s wrong on Biden while claiming imaginary (delusional) accomplishments like improving affordability, creating jobs, ending wars, and so much more when the reality is it’s defined by tax breaks for the rich, making health insurance more expensive, and murders (lots of murders.) Without proof of any crime he’s had people killed on the open sea, on the streets of American cities for all to see, and in secrecy in the detention centers he’s built and in foreign prisons where he’s sent victims we may never know about. All done by the cruelty of his deranged followers or the foreign governments he’s paid with our tax dollars. And that’s not even counting the deaths caused by Musk’s “work” stopping USAID and all the other damage “DOGE” caused. If this ballroom gets built it should be torn down just as he tore down the west wing and all its history.

Joan Eisenstodt's avatar

See too my response above: UPKEEP that WE will pay for.

A doc reads's avatar

Louise, great catch! We’re on it!!!

Oldandintheway's avatar

As more news about this administration gets revealed we learn that almost every member of the administration has been breaking laws. Now, we learn they have no idea that there are laws. They follow their leader who has broken rules, customs, laws, and defied the Constitution every day. So far, they have not faced any consequences. Trump, Hegseth, Bondi, Gabbard, Ludnick, RFK, and Noem, say and do whatever they wish in order to stay in power, and impress Trump. The easiest way to impress Trump is to flatter him, repeat his lies, and show that you are making people suffer.

They are all insane! We have to highlight what they are doing and make them stop 🛑.

Steven Frazier's avatar

For the record, according to the 60 Minutes program that was canceled in the US, those prisoners behind Noem are Salvadorians, not the Venezuelans. Another case of being lied to by the DHS!

ConnieW's avatar

We are all really grateful for people like judge Boasberg. I for one will not forget him.

Greenjeans1's avatar

Looking forward to Judgment at Nuremberg, Act 2.

Nevoustrumpezpas's avatar

"This is a government that doesn’t want to afford some people their constitutional rights." This government may very well come after most of us sooner or later. It believes in power, not constitutional rights. In particular, it believes that it should be able to do whatever it wants without submitting to the judgment of the courts or the will of the people. Case in point, this week it purported to cancel the basis for the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to regulate atmospheric pollution by greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide. This was an ideological imperative for the present regime, protecting the captains of extractive industries (coal, oil, and natural gas, among others), never mind any future harm that will come to U.S. citizens, white or any other color, and people around the globe.

Lor's avatar

Thank you Joyce for your helpful explanations of the legal issues that we must address in this historic moment. I am adding judgment at Nuremberg to my list to rewatch.

We’re halfway through another series on the Betchley women code break breakers during WW II

Thanks to you and our group

Lawrence Simon's avatar

That is one of my all-time favorite movies since I saw it some 60 years ago. And it bears rewatching in these times. Thanks for all you do on the front lines every day.

Lynne Latham's avatar

I think the administration is rushing to bring us to the point of no return because Trump is fading fast and won’t last for the duration of his term. No one else holds MAGA’s devotion — certainly not Vance — so they need to put everything in place while they can still trot him out in front of the camera.

Ginger Bassford's avatar

While Ivan White makes a good point, many of we - not-at-all-rich, but still white folk have been far too happy to see our nation as "healed," when we were not, and probably will not ever be. Racism is like alcoholism and all the other -isms. Only when we recognize that healing is a life-long endeavor, do we take the first step toward it.

Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

Yes indeed. I also can't help noticing that too many of us white folk are much more eager to talk about Nazi Germany than about the Jim Crow South -- from which Hitler learned a few things.

Paula R Strawser's avatar

Thank you for keeping us grounded in reality and the law. And for the chickens!