To everyone I say: Don't bother scratching your head and disturbing your hairdo. Judge Cannon is slow-walking this case and will do everything in her power to throw sand in the gears to help Trump. Feel free to offer any arguments that could prove me wrong!
Yeats's phrase "slouching towards Bethlehem" just surfaced in my mind, so I hope it's just a mediocre judge doing the slow-walking and not a "rough beast" who's more on the ball.
Have been thinking exactly the same thing! My bedside pile of to-be-read-or-reread books is out of control, and unfortunately my e-reader is in the shop.
Hateful & violent threats have been fully briefed by JACK SMITH for hearing on October 16. I still recommend Pre-trial Incarceration aftér due notice of prohibited conduct before anticipated trajedy.
Thank you Bryan. Absolutely, 100%. Until these most recent events I was a 'kumbaya' hippy dippy who did not endorse jail unless for the most egregious crime(s). I have a long and stated record of 'let's just do conflict resolution.' And that has been a framework of my education career as well. But we are in an extremely dangerous time now - with Trump sending 'Mafia code to MAGA members to behave as terrorists. Trump will endorse every level of violence to retain his toe-hold of power in the United States, to prevent free elections, to disrupt our nation and to destroy our democracy in order to become a dictator. We are there now. Stop him now. We are in a more dangerous place than simply 'don't put up your Vote Blue yard signs and add on your Biden/Harris bumper stickers.' We are there now. Stop him now. You are absolutely correct - thank you.
I am honored to be in this battle with you Gus. My soulmate (29 years together), now deceased, was a psychologist in Vietnam. Thank you for your service. I'm afraid I cannot take a bit of credit for anything I have posted - I have been 'educated' along the way by the fab Joyce Vance, others on this post, and I've had to leave behind the remainders of my kumbayah attitude when I truly recognized the danger Trump has put us into by training his MAGA followers to be terrorists. So we are all in this together. Stay safe, careful, Vote Blue, and don't post yard signs.
Valere, of course I concur with your perspective & conclusion. Since 1990 as a Trial Attorney, I have 18 Mediations & 2 Arbitrations at "JAMS-SF the nationally admired Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Service (JAMS). So I know exactly how to conduct "alternative dispute resolution" . All 20 of my JAMS' cases were successful.
I also have a family member who was Court Bailiff, a Lieutenant Sheriff who had to control OJ in the Santa Monica, CA Civil Case, the Family's case for Wrongful Death. There were no OJ supporters in that Santa Monica Courtroom.
The Court must protect all Jurors, witnesses & Court Staff before catastrophe. No violence. No Deaths!
The jurors, witnesses and court staff indeed need protection. Just as importantly, is the safety of the American population, who are now threatened with violence, because Trump advocates war, if he cannot be reelected and stay in power. He needs to be in a place where he cannot send his mafia code messages that advocate violence to his MAGA followers.
I fully understand, the Fulton County, GA case may be the proper venue as the DA has another RICO defendant in a separate Gang-like case in Pre-Trial at this very moment.
ps Bryan, I know jack Smith recognizes this danger. Our country is in. I’m hoping he brought Alex Whiting to work with him to bring the kind of charges that will detain trump pre-trial.
PS #2 Bryan, the Middle East event with Israel and Palestine has laid bare the ugly fact that our bully ex president has had a hand in our not having a speaker of the house, so we are basically paralyzed at the moment; he has in my view, directed/encouraged Tuberville to hold up military promotions so we don’t have the kind of top military leaders installed that we need to have right now; we don’t have an ambassador to Israel. What we do have is Biden in charge with a steady hand with Blinken, probably saying to Netanyahu that yes, we’re behind you, but let’s think about this. At the same time we have Trump sending his terrible mafia like message to his MAGA minions: “ lookee here at this patriarchal pissing match I’ve created and it is just fine.” And that more than anything is why we need pretrial detention to stop Trump’s blatherskite nonsense. It’s the people who are suffering. Putin got a twofer. No other word for it.
How about less obvious (that you’re a democrat), more subtle yet powerful bumper stickers: “I support Democracy over Dictatorship”, “You choose: Democracy or Dictatorship”, or simply “Democracy over Dictatorship”
Provocative jury selection question ~ “I would often ask potential jurors what bumper stickers they had on their cars, which would yield illuminating results.”
That little questionnaire is laughable. Nobody can ever be "perfectly" impartial, and most lawyers don't actually want impartial jurors, but instead will look for potential jurors whose biases will work in favor of their client (while prosecutors will choose people whose biases work against them). And why the death penalty question if it's not a capital murder case?
It clearly states that this question applies ONLY in cases where the infraction being tried could lead to a death penalty. (Please read a little more slowly and look at each word carefully in context. If you feel the urge to respond, it is a good idea to reread what you are responding to first to make sure you are responding to what was actually said. Good idea no matter what the circumstances.)
*Judge* Cannon is cruisin' for a bruisin' by the 11th CA, and I'm not sure if it's due to her inexperience, or bias against the prosecution, but she seems to go out of her way to sit on motions forever, and then ignore clear points of law when issuing a ruling...her earlier conduct re: special master was a huge tell, and she hasn't disappointed.
Nothing, most likely. She would not risk life in prison to conspire with Trump's dark money friends. It's too easy to get caught. She has a huge staff, most of whom would blow her in. Presuming she's a criminal herself is dabbling in conspiracy theory, which we are not here to do, or so I hope. I do think she's trying to make it possible for Trump to win on appeal, but as the judge in this case, all she has to do to help Trump now is to simply dismiss the case with prejudice.
Or -possibly her lack of experience (plustrumplove) cause her to just put off any kind of decision until she (and her staff) has no choice but to make one? Kind of eeny-miny-miney-mo??
Maybe, but she doesn't work alone but has a whole staff of law clerks and colleagues who could easily advise her. I think she's a Trump loyalist using the excuse of lacking experience to create events that Trump's lawyers can use for successful appeals - but what matters is what Jack Smith thinks, and what he will do about it.
Marycat2021, 'dismiss with prejudice'? But wouldn't that be over the top brazen and cause for Cannon to be disrobed or whatever they do to get rid of a judge? Recalled from her appointment?
Disrobed means undressed LOL. Judges cannot be fired or recalled, but a judicial review by her peers can be held. She's a lawyer, she can be disbarred. Being disbarred would automatically remove her from her judgeship.
As to the Israel conflict, I'd like to remind everyone: We sent former US House Speaker George Mitchell (D-ME) (and successful at negotiating peace in Northern Ireland) to the Middle East to help get peace there. He tried and tried his best but in the end he left reporting "They don't want peace so there's no point in continuing." I have taken the position for years that they are determined to poke their fingers in each other's eyes and show no remorse or sign of quitting any time soon. I believe we just have to leave them to battle it out until they realize it's a fool's errand and come to the peace table to end the slaughter. Backing one side or the other is a losing game until they do.
Lance, PS #1: I am extremely sorry for this Mideast event. I too have traveled in the area and have friends in Israel, and friends who grew up in Gaza and left to be educated in Europe and the US. They can never return, they can never see their families and many family members have been killed in prior conflicts. However one feels personally about your statement 'backing one side or the other is a losing game until they do,' that's not the United States policy reality. I truly am heartsick: I was hoping for a two state resolution. Each time they agreed to a cease fire there was hope - not just at Clinton's Camp David meeting with Barak and Arafat. We were close, but the then UN wanted self-determination for Palastine. I want self-determination for all - but we cannot have it with war.
Do you think Iran could be responsible? And the U.S. is vulnerable right now hoping to continue our support with Ukraine. This seems to exacerbate our vulnerability with the Maga crowd in Congress trying desperately to throw us under the bus and burn everything down.
This is a proxy attack on the United States. The Hamas and their backers knew in advance that the US would back Israel 100%. I don't even know that we would back Canada or England 100%, but we will back Israel. Whether one agrees with the 'rightness' or 'wrongness' of that, what 'is,' 'is.'
My fear is that it will lead to the U.S. cutting back on aid to Ukraine... Personally, I feel that our self-interest is FAR greater in Ukraine, because if they lose the war will spread into the rest of Europe, and thus NATO -- including the U.S. -- will be dragged into WW III. If the war between the Palestinians and Israelis escalates, it, too, could become WW III. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I think IFF we stay out of it, as I believe we should -- given that the aggressors over the decades have been the Israelis, and only worse now under their fascist leader, Bibi -- our nation will not be as potentially devastated.
It’s not hard to surmise that democracy’s enemies are a foot together. This attack is too well organized coordinated and armed with advanced missiles. Russia in Syria. The Saudi’s. Iran. The Russians know they can not defeat Ukraine with our backing. They can only weaken us by opening another front, hoping ti spread is thin and bleed our resolve. Why didn’t CIA have a clue? Why didn’t the Mossad? That should tell us how clandestine this invasion was. This is a professional military incursion. This is not something Hamas could do on their own.definitely Russian, Iran and Syria and maybe Saudis conspiring against the West’s Democracies.
Yes - divide and distract and substitute the conflict. Biden and SOS Tony Blinken know this. Then we have Trump working with Putin to continually stir the pot. Prior to joining this website I was absolutely kumbayah and did not believe in jail and I believed everything could be resolved with conflict resolution. I agree with Bryan above. Put Trump in jail immediately. Pretrial detention. That is a 180° turnaround for me. But we not only have an external conflict to deal with, we have an internal conflict and Trump would rather see our country destroyed then him not be in office forever. He wants to be a dictator. We do need to stay focused and stay calm and do every possible thing we can to vote blue. Because Trump has turned the MAGA to terrorism (just one example is when the Salt Lake City, MAGA who was posting online for months that he had a sharpshooter rifle to kill Biden during his planned visit to the VA hospital Salt Lake, the FBI went to his door the morning Biden was scheduled to arrive - and the MAGA follower was killed in a shoot out). This tragedy followed repeated negotiations, and attempts on the part of the FBI to de-escalate the situation over a period of weeks. The man had two sides to his personality: he was a neighbor, who played with children, he was a neighbor who offered to do errands for others, his family considered him to be a gentle person. However, online he had become radicalized and made frequent death threats to Biden and others. Afterward, instead of tempering, his followers, Trump called him a martyr and a hero. That’s what we are dealing with. So I agree with Brian above that Trump needs to be placed in pretrial detention. His reasoning was to prevent a tragedy. The tragedy has already happened. We have radicalized citizens with hairtrigger personalities who think we need to go to within the United States in the case Trump is not elected, should he become the republican nominee. He needs to be jailed immediately.
Indeed, kdsherpa, but what we believe to be the most sane, humane, moral response does not hold up to the US policy of being hand in hand with Israel, always. I was so hopeful for a two-state outcome for Palestine and Israel, but Israel would not allow that. This event was backed by Russia. Plain and simple. Putin wants to distract the west from Ukraine.
Hi kdsherpa, I agree we should not on any account abandon or even lessen our aid to Ukraine, it is far more important to the entire globe. But I disagree on who is the aggressor in the middle east. From 1947 the Israeli's had to fight tooth and nail to retain the land granted to them by the United Nations. Then the Israeli's being the intellectuals that they are turned the arid land they received into an economic success in a relatively short time. Big mistake - the surrounding Muslim controlled countries were shamed, and envious. Plus the Palestinian rulers refused to accept the circumstances and kept their people in impoverished concentration camps to keep strong and forefront their anger at being driven from their homes (no matter how poor they were). They could have received assistance from many countries to form agricultural enclaves, assistance with education and building their new homeland, but they refused such assistance. Over the next 76 years the Israeli's have fought continuous and constant battles to protect themselves. But the Israeli's, especially under Netanyahu became very aggressive against the Palestinians, taking and keeping land that did not belong to them. Netanyahu is similar to Trump - just not as dumb. He is corrupt, and cares first and foremost about himself. Since returning to power he has made many threats and encouraged the Palestinians to attack. I have always thought the UN (and Europeans in general) are wrong in simply deciding to give land to somebody, or forming countries of opposing tribes and people. But I did come to terms in my own mind with Israel. The Jewish people long held that area and built Jerusalem. They have been tortured, killed, despised for centuries, simply because as a group they are brilliant people, excellent businessmen, overall successful and very loyal to each other. They deserve Israel, they just shouldn't harbor and protect men like Netanyahu.
I am reminded of Zionist leader Vladimir Jabotinsky's 1923 article "The Iron Wall," in which he compares the Palestinians to American Indians and says they will never stop fighting for their land that we are taking.
Probably true, but if the Palestinians had accepted the assistance when it was offered, instead of being a third world nation always in need, they might have been nearly as prosperous as Israel. It is that ability to become prosperous against all odds that makes me admire the Jews and inspires hatred in their envious neighbors. Our Indigenous people are a different matter, they were willing to live as good neighbors, but earlier Americans were greedy and wanted it all. So we made promises, rarely kept and forced them onto reservations, in land foreign to their tribe, killed the bison on which some of them depended, put up fences, so they couldn't hunt and pretty much destroyed their culture. A very few tribes survived by finding oil on their lands, but most live in poverty and despair. Unlike the Palestinians, they have not been offered assistance in changing to a new economy - at least not until recently.
Yes, you are right, Faye. As I often say, we must put things into historical perspective to understand the present. The "historical perspective" I was using was only very recent years, with the immigration of the ultra-Orthodox Americans into Palestinian lands, with the blessing of Bibi (whom, as you can tell, I can't stand!) Sometimes I wonder if, far into the future (as in 2,000 years), the Tibetan people might gather together and claim Tibet from whoever lives there at that time. The prophecy was: "When the iron horse runs on wheels...the Tibetan people will be scattered over the face of the Earth." This happened in 1959 when the Communist Chinese invaded Tibet and claimed it as its own. Significant communities are scattered in fourteen nations at this point on 5 of the 7 continents.
I'm forever the optimist, kdsherpa, I hope in the not terribly distant future we will have learned to accept each other and control our greed. The pessimistic side of me fears we will lose a couple of billion Homo sapiens to the too hot climate (that'll still leave several billion of us around) and unfortunately most of the loss will be suffered by the poor.
Why do Biden and the Republican and Democratic Senate leaders continue to support Ukraine's toxic far-right thug regime? Ukraine has been enslaved by the rapacious International Monetary Fund (with reconquering the Donbass a condition of the original loan), and Zelensky has pledged to keep all of Ukraine's promises to the IMF, and the NATO countries have voting domination at the IMF, and NATO has promised to continue supplying weapons to Ukraine until it bleeds to death, delivering pounds and pounds of bloody flesh to service the unpayable IMF loans.
I am not exactly sure who I am responding to here in this exchange. I too have been to the Mideast but that was when the occupation was only 11 years old and not 56.
Before tens of thousands of people die this war against I would like to see a cease fire. But that will never happen while the US is all in defending the occupier Israel’s right to exist and is silent about the occupied or the Palestinians rights to exist.
The time is well past due to end the occupation and the present system of apartheid that is far worse than that of South Africa’s ever was.
Absolutely no argument with you Gregg. I was commenting on the US policy that makes them one with Israel, and the fact that the US is the proxy in this Russia instigated event, with cooperation from Syria and Iran. And I am not endorsing the policy. I’ve always advocated for a two state region with an autonomy and independence for Palestine that includes Gaza. All Palestinians are not Hamas - but are trapped in this outcome. And that is the tragedy. A policy explanation with a ‘strong guess’ as to who initiated and funded the action is not an advocacy. We are all heartsick by this event.
I get the sense here you’re implying Israel desrves this attack on its citizens. While Hamas may have been elected as a politcal arm of their militia it is known they offer only a promise- to destroy Israel, but known plan beyond that. To
call Israel an apartheid state in the wake of the wake of this attack feels disturbing to me. In the immediacy of this attack it would seem compassion is in order. I feel emense compassion for Israeli citizens living their daily lives finding themselves hostages or as a shooting target. I am horrified and terrified for my family and loved ones currently in Israel. All I can think of in the immediate wake of this is how I feel sickness over loss of (all) life and fear how so many innocents (Palestinian & Israeli) citizens will suffer.
Hamas is funded by Iran. Hamas wants to do to the Jews what Hitler wanted. When I was 12 my Mother told me there was a documentary she wanted me to watch. It was on the Holocaust. I have never forgotten what I saw. That can not happen ever again! Never! I feel sorry for the Palestinians and the struggles that they endure. But this attack will not get them closer to a resolution. Israel must exist as a homeland for the Jews because there are far too many malevolent people in this world who want to wipe them out. It has never made sense to me. And is driven by pure evil. My prayers are for every innocent person that has been caught up in this evil action.
Tina, I am not condoning Hamas’ attack at all. I am simply locating the conflict/war in its historical context which has needed a human rights diplomatic solution for decades now and has not occurred and has allowed the apartheid not only to continue, but to intensify over the years to continue. I am curious as to what you would call the existing political and economic relationships to be, if not apartheid?
If I could chime in here and say that it is my belief that there is plenty of blame to go around as to the causes of this horrific war.
Finger pointing won’t change the reality that the the situation in the region is a pressure cooker with a flame beneath. Eventually, it will explode. Jackasses and ideologues on both sides have only fanned the flames.
There can be no solution until both sides can learn to live with their neighbors. If not, we’ll have only ongoing tragedies like the one we’re entering into.
I hear you Greg. I think that is the very reason nearly all Jews feel for our Jewish survival, Israel must exist. Equating Hamas actions with fighting over territory and nationhood is not what Hamas is doing. The choice of how a country governs and their policy objectives is a serious issue and bears scrutiny and criticism as any countey. But Hamas’ acts of terroism create acute moral catastrophe for everyone caught up in this and cannot be justified. It in no way solves nationhood questions nor provides a pathway to selfdetermination- which are complex and requires compromising. Opposing terrosm does not. It must be unconditionally condemned- not to be followed by a “yes but” commentary.
It has been heartbreaking to watch the deliberate, reprehensible attacks on innocent people (videos posted by Hamas that for example show slaughter of young people at a peace concert, an elderly infirrmed women being burned alive in her home). Such violence strikes at the core of humanity. Declaring Israel an apartheid at a time when its innocent citizens have been brutalized by Hamas’ invasion essentially normalizes and or rationalizes Hamas actions.
It would seem that the very reason Hamas attacked was to disrupt any prospective peace agreements. They don't want peace, because then they have no reason to exist as an organization. This is why peace talks are hopeless.
But to complicate it, they did appear to win fairly in the last election, and they have many legitimate complaints against Israel, which Netanyahu will never address. So again, peace talks are hopeless.
Everything points to this attack being planned and funded by Russia, Syria and Iran. The US is the proxy because Russia and company know that the US will be with Israel 100%.
Interesting. At least from the Russian perspective this could be a flanking maneuver designed to divert and exhaust the resources and the resolve of the U.S., and to sow even more discord and enmity in an already fractured domestic (U.S.) political environment. Another massive disinformation campaign (yet another flank) is sure to follow.
It may be wise to consider that Rome fell, at least in some measure, because it had spread itself too thin trying to hold on to too much. It thereby created vulnerabilities that were then successfully exploited by her enemies.
As someone who has always opposed the Trump endorsed conspiracy theories that radicalized many of our fellow citizens in a consciously constructed plan only a cult leader could coceive, my first thought about your comment was 'yikes, eegad, ugh' (could my opinion that Russia and Syria are involved be seen as a conspiracy theory??) I insist that everyone come to their own opinions - and please challenge mine. No theory intended. Syria has openly endorsed Hamas and Russia. I was connecting those dots. But I can certainly see how you would think there is a conspiracist behind every bush.
"Interpreting Russia's Official Reaction to the Latest Israel-Hamas War"
"Far from being in favor of Palestine like many in the Alt-Media Community wrongly think, Russia believes that it’s just as much to blame for everything as Israel is."
I remember reading a book years ago about the conflict and just thinking that they will never understand each other. Now, Dirk, you have me thinking that's the way they like it.
I agree. I'm a descendant of Orthodox Jewish parents... While I don't practice the religion, I am culturally Jewish. The fact that Netanyahu is back in power is proof of that to me. I think Jews have a place in Israel, but I think the Palestinians do also. I don't know what the answer is, but when people are treated worse than caged animals do they expect them to just sit there and be docile?
I have little confidence that the Hamas/ Israeli conflict will be resolved in the near future! Seems to me both sides aren’t really dedicated to the resolution! Musk, like Trump, only supplies propaganda which will benefit himself or make him look super intelligent. Judge Cannon appears to be very biased toward Trump and isn’t competent enough to handle the situation! Hopefully, the 11th Circuit will take control!
Thanks for all of this. I don't know how someone can come for jury duty and not have an opinion. We have seen so much with our eyes and heard so much with our ears. Judge Cannon needs to be replaced but I wonder if that is just further down on the list for Jack Smith.
As for Israel, I have visited the area three times in my life and one of those visits was particularly in Palestinian areas. The Palestinians are in the middle and have no where to go. Netanyahu has a big excuse now to have us look the other way with all his attempts to stay in power while he uses this as permission to destroy as many in the Gaza strip as he can. Was it this morning he bombed a park or something like that? Hamas had no right to bomb either, but frankly the Palestinians have no options and haven't had for a very long time. God help us! And Let's not forget Ukraine! It feels like the walls are closing in. Help us keep our wits about us and keep doing what we can. I am mailing my Vote Forward letters this week.
I agree with you about the Palestinian people. They are packed like sardines in the Gaza and Hamas could care two shits about them. Then you have Bibi who stirs the pot even more! I have relatives in Israel but have not spoken to them in years. I hope they are not in the West Bank region. It is a quagmire and mostly operated by men on both sides. Neither are competent. My father always said he never expected there would be peace in the Middle East. Hate has no home.
Thank you for sharing this Marlene. I have heard many say over the years there would be no peace and that seems to be the truth. The incompetent leadership is certainly part of that. I cringe when I hear the “support” of Israel. I want to support them but I wish they had been more humane to the Palestinians who have given up so much.
It is a personal quagmire that I have also, Norma. One thing that we can agree upon is that Hamas are inhumane terrorists who rape and murder, at will. They must be eliminated.
I saw a two-hour interview with him. It was like listening to a conversation between a parent ant two year old where the one lacks the capacity to explain himself (musk) and the parent insisting they have to explain themself (interviewer).
My teen granddaughter reports that social media is full of people defending Hamas's attack on Israel. Isn't a possible solution is for adults who want to stop social media misinformation and hate-pandering to just go to separate news sites? Today, I've had 4 newspaper sites open to follow the Gaza war on Israel. I don't use social media and find there's an abundance of reputable news sources out there. Am I missing something?
Thanks for your concern. My granddaughter checks in w/ social media on occasion, but is otherwise busy w/ school, debate, coaching, ballet, friends, reading, applying to college, and following the news from good sources. I'm thrilled she's way too excited about her life to spend time on social media.
I turned to Twitter for all the things you mentioned, especially for getting the latest breaking news. Threads, so far, seems useless for that. Although I like Substack, it’s not a place I can turn to for up to date information. I really miss the ability to stay up to date, minute by minute, with the news. Surely there must be a way to form a new platform that could recreate that experience.
May I suggest climbing aboard Heather Cox Richardson's newsletter? Also, on Sundays watch Fareed Zakaria's show Global Public Square on CNN. His interview with Thomas Friedman today (and Friedman has the chops to be an authority on the issue for sure) was positively insightful and powerful. Best I've heard on the Israel issue in decades! Seriously.
See if you can find a replay of it -- you'll be glad you did.
Dirk, thank you for this. And yes, I read Heather Cox Richardson. Is Al Jazeera reliable? (I'm only asking because I really have no clue). I have no television - my sources are newspapers (WaPo, NYT, JapanTimes (helpful for Japan's filtered take); Liberation (so far, fastest news in the wee hours for me), but the rest are lagging by hours), Economist on-line and print (lagging by hours and days but usually having analysis).
I will suggest that al Jazeera is as reliable as Sputnik News: Both tend to be relatively neutral about international events, except where their core interests are concerned.
As always, think for yourself about any news source.
I just started following Haaretz. Their editorial about the present war and its antecedents was eye-opening. I fear that the sadism and horror of Hamas' attacks was deliberately planned in order to elicit an overwhelming reaction from Israel. Hamas does not really want peace, they want war.
Hi Sharon, I agree. And that has been the case since Hamas came to power. Not all Palestinians voted for them. It would be like the world thinking we all followed Trump.
I try to get the headlines from Twitter Trends. Then I visit trusted people I follow for their take, such as Joyce for law interpretation, Neal Katyal for Supreme Court, Kyle Griffin an EP for MSNBC, Kyle Cheney reporting on 1/6 hearings, and others. These are all credible sources that are fact verified and/or they have a law degree. I try not to scroll through the BS because it will make you crazy.
Yes Valere, I believe so. Go to twitter.com and follow the prompts for joining. Also, the names I mentioned will comment on & retweet other reliable sources. This will establish a good list of people you can follow. Good Luck!
Also dont forget to follow people for fun, who share your interests. I like to follow different animal accounts, some like-minded celebrities, and news on music, concerts & sports!
I have not joined twitter - and now with Elon Musk behind the scenes, I'm looking for a source. Indeed, we need to find the light, love and enjoyment to uplift ourselves now.
Just to answer the first question, I'm using Threads. I seem to get fairly consistent info there, but not like how Twitter used to be. I'm interested to know what other platforms people are using.
I've been spending more time on Threads this week, and I miss the functionality and people on Twitter, but I'm trying really hard to figure out how to use it, in case it becomes the only possibility at some point.
Thanks for letting us know how to find you, Joyce. I know when I hear of something new happening the first thing I do is check to see if you’ve posted or been on MSNBC, which I tape, before I jump to conclusions. Another really good resource is @MarkHertling, retired officer for anything military. He’s on MSNBC & CNN when conflict is the topic. He’s a straight shooter (no pun intended) & calls out lies & misinformation & explains the military perspective. With Ukraine, he’s been so helpful & now with Israel, I’m sure he will be informative. He’s a good man, loves our democracy & wants to erase all misinformation so we all make better decisions using facts. During 45 reign I relied on Twitter a great deal just to pick up the buzz & then I would use that to turn to my “brain trust” to figure things out. I was concerned when 45 was elected & I had so many questions about the presidency. My very first DM was to Lawrence Tribe. I really didn’t think he would answer me but I thought I would try. He replied in an hour with detailed answers to my questions. Oh, the wisdom. And the kindness. He was so generous with his time & knowledge. Makes the journey we’re on so much easier.
Journalists, media reporters, writers, they decry the sorry state and headlong decline of the Twitter platform, yet everybody continues to link to it...it's like a drug - hard habit to kick.
Personally, I am awaiting the arrival of the much anticipated Jack Smith appeal to the 11th Circuit to please punt Judge Canon in favor of a Judge not so beholden to trump (as in his picking her 2 days before the WH door hit him in the posterior. If not now, when???? carry on
Too bad no one can ask Judge Cannon whether she can put her prejudices or biases aside.
100,000 of us outside her courtroom would do it.
UUUU. I love this.
😂😅🤣
More than that. About several million
To everyone I say: Don't bother scratching your head and disturbing your hairdo. Judge Cannon is slow-walking this case and will do everything in her power to throw sand in the gears to help Trump. Feel free to offer any arguments that could prove me wrong!
Slow walking ? More like crawling with a blindfold on trying to find the courthouse. Any bets on her trying to toss Taveras testimony?
Yeats's phrase "slouching towards Bethlehem" just surfaced in my mind, so I hope it's just a mediocre judge doing the slow-walking and not a "rough beast" who's more on the ball.
Joan Didion wrote a wonderful book of essays by that name which you've just reminded me I've been meaning to read again!
Have been thinking exactly the same thing! My bedside pile of to-be-read-or-reread books is out of control, and unfortunately my e-reader is in the shop.
But we don’t yet know do we.
You aren't wrong. I wish we could know just what she thinks she's doing.
Being paid off by a regime of terror
Hateful & violent threats have been fully briefed by JACK SMITH for hearing on October 16. I still recommend Pre-trial Incarceration aftér due notice of prohibited conduct before anticipated trajedy.
Thank you Bryan. Absolutely, 100%. Until these most recent events I was a 'kumbaya' hippy dippy who did not endorse jail unless for the most egregious crime(s). I have a long and stated record of 'let's just do conflict resolution.' And that has been a framework of my education career as well. But we are in an extremely dangerous time now - with Trump sending 'Mafia code to MAGA members to behave as terrorists. Trump will endorse every level of violence to retain his toe-hold of power in the United States, to prevent free elections, to disrupt our nation and to destroy our democracy in order to become a dictator. We are there now. Stop him now. We are in a more dangerous place than simply 'don't put up your Vote Blue yard signs and add on your Biden/Harris bumper stickers.' We are there now. Stop him now. You are absolutely correct - thank you.
Valerie, that's a great summation of his goals, methods, and intentions. I'm deeply grateful to be in the fight with you!
"We are there now. Stop him NOW...."
Thanks.
I am honored to be in this battle with you Gus. My soulmate (29 years together), now deceased, was a psychologist in Vietnam. Thank you for your service. I'm afraid I cannot take a bit of credit for anything I have posted - I have been 'educated' along the way by the fab Joyce Vance, others on this post, and I've had to leave behind the remainders of my kumbayah attitude when I truly recognized the danger Trump has put us into by training his MAGA followers to be terrorists. So we are all in this together. Stay safe, careful, Vote Blue, and don't post yard signs.
Valere, may the Force be with us all....
(Sorry, autospell changed your name and I can't edit anymore)
Valere, of course I concur with your perspective & conclusion. Since 1990 as a Trial Attorney, I have 18 Mediations & 2 Arbitrations at "JAMS-SF the nationally admired Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Service (JAMS). So I know exactly how to conduct "alternative dispute resolution" . All 20 of my JAMS' cases were successful.
I also have a family member who was Court Bailiff, a Lieutenant Sheriff who had to control OJ in the Santa Monica, CA Civil Case, the Family's case for Wrongful Death. There were no OJ supporters in that Santa Monica Courtroom.
The Court must protect all Jurors, witnesses & Court Staff before catastrophe. No violence. No Deaths!
The jurors, witnesses and court staff indeed need protection. Just as importantly, is the safety of the American population, who are now threatened with violence, because Trump advocates war, if he cannot be reelected and stay in power. He needs to be in a place where he cannot send his mafia code messages that advocate violence to his MAGA followers.
I fully understand, the Fulton County, GA case may be the proper venue as the DA has another RICO defendant in a separate Gang-like case in Pre-Trial at this very moment.
Tell that to Congress
ps Bryan, I know jack Smith recognizes this danger. Our country is in. I’m hoping he brought Alex Whiting to work with him to bring the kind of charges that will detain trump pre-trial.
PS #2 Bryan, the Middle East event with Israel and Palestine has laid bare the ugly fact that our bully ex president has had a hand in our not having a speaker of the house, so we are basically paralyzed at the moment; he has in my view, directed/encouraged Tuberville to hold up military promotions so we don’t have the kind of top military leaders installed that we need to have right now; we don’t have an ambassador to Israel. What we do have is Biden in charge with a steady hand with Blinken, probably saying to Netanyahu that yes, we’re behind you, but let’s think about this. At the same time we have Trump sending his terrible mafia like message to his MAGA minions: “ lookee here at this patriarchal pissing match I’ve created and it is just fine.” And that more than anything is why we need pretrial detention to stop Trump’s blatherskite nonsense. It’s the people who are suffering. Putin got a twofer. No other word for it.
Just look into the eyes of Jack Smith. He will get us there.
How about less obvious (that you’re a democrat), more subtle yet powerful bumper stickers: “I support Democracy over Dictatorship”, “You choose: Democracy or Dictatorship”, or simply “Democracy over Dictatorship”
That’s not subtle although true.
I have just the place! USP Florence ADMAX.
How do you solve a problem like the living national security leak Donald J. Trump
Would you shut up, man? ~Joe Biden
https://open.substack.com/pub/realpolitix/p/how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-the?r=ntkx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Olivia, the Florence ADMAX looks more than adequate, the New Tump Tower but, at ADMAX the square footage per Cell is accurate.
Jail House Rock
🎶 "You shoulda heard those Jailbirds Sing"🎶 if you know what I mean.
Provocative jury selection question ~ “I would often ask potential jurors what bumper stickers they had on their cars, which would yield illuminating results.”
Not a lawyer but this sounds like the definitive question!! Joyce, so clever!
Something tells me Joyce knows thousands of tactics to get to the truth of any matter.
I disagree. The "tactics" are restricted by law, and even the police are legally bound by them.
Joyce is a human lie detector machine.
I really enjoy getting to know people, so I always enjoyed striking a jury.
One way to get to know someone
That little questionnaire is laughable. Nobody can ever be "perfectly" impartial, and most lawyers don't actually want impartial jurors, but instead will look for potential jurors whose biases will work in favor of their client (while prosecutors will choose people whose biases work against them). And why the death penalty question if it's not a capital murder case?
It clearly states that this question applies ONLY in cases where the infraction being tried could lead to a death penalty. (Please read a little more slowly and look at each word carefully in context. If you feel the urge to respond, it is a good idea to reread what you are responding to first to make sure you are responding to what was actually said. Good idea no matter what the circumstances.)
*Judge* Cannon is cruisin' for a bruisin' by the 11th CA, and I'm not sure if it's due to her inexperience, or bias against the prosecution, but she seems to go out of her way to sit on motions forever, and then ignore clear points of law when issuing a ruling...her earlier conduct re: special master was a huge tell, and she hasn't disappointed.
She seems to be fully on team orange.
What has she been promised I wonder?
Nothing, most likely. She would not risk life in prison to conspire with Trump's dark money friends. It's too easy to get caught. She has a huge staff, most of whom would blow her in. Presuming she's a criminal herself is dabbling in conspiracy theory, which we are not here to do, or so I hope. I do think she's trying to make it possible for Trump to win on appeal, but as the judge in this case, all she has to do to help Trump now is to simply dismiss the case with prejudice.
Or -possibly her lack of experience (plustrumplove) cause her to just put off any kind of decision until she (and her staff) has no choice but to make one? Kind of eeny-miny-miney-mo??
Maybe, but she doesn't work alone but has a whole staff of law clerks and colleagues who could easily advise her. I think she's a Trump loyalist using the excuse of lacking experience to create events that Trump's lawyers can use for successful appeals - but what matters is what Jack Smith thinks, and what he will do about it.
possibly all of the above!
Marycat2021, 'dismiss with prejudice'? But wouldn't that be over the top brazen and cause for Cannon to be disrobed or whatever they do to get rid of a judge? Recalled from her appointment?
Disrobed means undressed LOL. Judges cannot be fired or recalled, but a judicial review by her peers can be held. She's a lawyer, she can be disbarred. Being disbarred would automatically remove her from her judgeship.
Thank you Marycat. We will see in time - Jack Smith is likely eyeballing her maneuvering.
As to the Israel conflict, I'd like to remind everyone: We sent former US House Speaker George Mitchell (D-ME) (and successful at negotiating peace in Northern Ireland) to the Middle East to help get peace there. He tried and tried his best but in the end he left reporting "They don't want peace so there's no point in continuing." I have taken the position for years that they are determined to poke their fingers in each other's eyes and show no remorse or sign of quitting any time soon. I believe we just have to leave them to battle it out until they realize it's a fool's errand and come to the peace table to end the slaughter. Backing one side or the other is a losing game until they do.
Lance, PS #1: I am extremely sorry for this Mideast event. I too have traveled in the area and have friends in Israel, and friends who grew up in Gaza and left to be educated in Europe and the US. They can never return, they can never see their families and many family members have been killed in prior conflicts. However one feels personally about your statement 'backing one side or the other is a losing game until they do,' that's not the United States policy reality. I truly am heartsick: I was hoping for a two state resolution. Each time they agreed to a cease fire there was hope - not just at Clinton's Camp David meeting with Barak and Arafat. We were close, but the then UN wanted self-determination for Palastine. I want self-determination for all - but we cannot have it with war.
Do you think Iran could be responsible? And the U.S. is vulnerable right now hoping to continue our support with Ukraine. This seems to exacerbate our vulnerability with the Maga crowd in Congress trying desperately to throw us under the bus and burn everything down.
sorry - I mis-named this: Response re Israel conflict was to Dirk.
This is a proxy attack on the United States. The Hamas and their backers knew in advance that the US would back Israel 100%. I don't even know that we would back Canada or England 100%, but we will back Israel. Whether one agrees with the 'rightness' or 'wrongness' of that, what 'is,' 'is.'
My fear is that it will lead to the U.S. cutting back on aid to Ukraine... Personally, I feel that our self-interest is FAR greater in Ukraine, because if they lose the war will spread into the rest of Europe, and thus NATO -- including the U.S. -- will be dragged into WW III. If the war between the Palestinians and Israelis escalates, it, too, could become WW III. Perhaps I'm wrong, but I think IFF we stay out of it, as I believe we should -- given that the aggressors over the decades have been the Israelis, and only worse now under their fascist leader, Bibi -- our nation will not be as potentially devastated.
It’s not hard to surmise that democracy’s enemies are a foot together. This attack is too well organized coordinated and armed with advanced missiles. Russia in Syria. The Saudi’s. Iran. The Russians know they can not defeat Ukraine with our backing. They can only weaken us by opening another front, hoping ti spread is thin and bleed our resolve. Why didn’t CIA have a clue? Why didn’t the Mossad? That should tell us how clandestine this invasion was. This is a professional military incursion. This is not something Hamas could do on their own.definitely Russian, Iran and Syria and maybe Saudis conspiring against the West’s Democracies.
Ah! That makes so much sense! So Russia is starting WW III with us by "divide and conquer".
Yes - divide and distract and substitute the conflict. Biden and SOS Tony Blinken know this. Then we have Trump working with Putin to continually stir the pot. Prior to joining this website I was absolutely kumbayah and did not believe in jail and I believed everything could be resolved with conflict resolution. I agree with Bryan above. Put Trump in jail immediately. Pretrial detention. That is a 180° turnaround for me. But we not only have an external conflict to deal with, we have an internal conflict and Trump would rather see our country destroyed then him not be in office forever. He wants to be a dictator. We do need to stay focused and stay calm and do every possible thing we can to vote blue. Because Trump has turned the MAGA to terrorism (just one example is when the Salt Lake City, MAGA who was posting online for months that he had a sharpshooter rifle to kill Biden during his planned visit to the VA hospital Salt Lake, the FBI went to his door the morning Biden was scheduled to arrive - and the MAGA follower was killed in a shoot out). This tragedy followed repeated negotiations, and attempts on the part of the FBI to de-escalate the situation over a period of weeks. The man had two sides to his personality: he was a neighbor, who played with children, he was a neighbor who offered to do errands for others, his family considered him to be a gentle person. However, online he had become radicalized and made frequent death threats to Biden and others. Afterward, instead of tempering, his followers, Trump called him a martyr and a hero. That’s what we are dealing with. So I agree with Brian above that Trump needs to be placed in pretrial detention. His reasoning was to prevent a tragedy. The tragedy has already happened. We have radicalized citizens with hairtrigger personalities who think we need to go to within the United States in the case Trump is not elected, should he become the republican nominee. He needs to be jailed immediately.
Correction kdsherpa: *”…. go to war within the United States.”
Trump is sending mafia like messages to MAGA to go to war within the United States, if he is not elected president
Ted, absolutely, spot on. This was well-planned.
Thank you. I agree. I think there are some ugly and devastating secrets in all this.
Instead of "Why didn't Mossad have a clue?",
how about "Why did Israel ignore Egypt's warnings?"
https://www.timesofisrael.com/egypt-intelligence-official-says-israel-ignored-repeated-warnings-of-something-big/
Hubris.
Ted, these have been my thoughts since the October 7 terrorist strike
Indeed, kdsherpa, but what we believe to be the most sane, humane, moral response does not hold up to the US policy of being hand in hand with Israel, always. I was so hopeful for a two-state outcome for Palestine and Israel, but Israel would not allow that. This event was backed by Russia. Plain and simple. Putin wants to distract the west from Ukraine.
Hi kdsherpa, I agree we should not on any account abandon or even lessen our aid to Ukraine, it is far more important to the entire globe. But I disagree on who is the aggressor in the middle east. From 1947 the Israeli's had to fight tooth and nail to retain the land granted to them by the United Nations. Then the Israeli's being the intellectuals that they are turned the arid land they received into an economic success in a relatively short time. Big mistake - the surrounding Muslim controlled countries were shamed, and envious. Plus the Palestinian rulers refused to accept the circumstances and kept their people in impoverished concentration camps to keep strong and forefront their anger at being driven from their homes (no matter how poor they were). They could have received assistance from many countries to form agricultural enclaves, assistance with education and building their new homeland, but they refused such assistance. Over the next 76 years the Israeli's have fought continuous and constant battles to protect themselves. But the Israeli's, especially under Netanyahu became very aggressive against the Palestinians, taking and keeping land that did not belong to them. Netanyahu is similar to Trump - just not as dumb. He is corrupt, and cares first and foremost about himself. Since returning to power he has made many threats and encouraged the Palestinians to attack. I have always thought the UN (and Europeans in general) are wrong in simply deciding to give land to somebody, or forming countries of opposing tribes and people. But I did come to terms in my own mind with Israel. The Jewish people long held that area and built Jerusalem. They have been tortured, killed, despised for centuries, simply because as a group they are brilliant people, excellent businessmen, overall successful and very loyal to each other. They deserve Israel, they just shouldn't harbor and protect men like Netanyahu.
I am reminded of Zionist leader Vladimir Jabotinsky's 1923 article "The Iron Wall," in which he compares the Palestinians to American Indians and says they will never stop fighting for their land that we are taking.
Probably true, but if the Palestinians had accepted the assistance when it was offered, instead of being a third world nation always in need, they might have been nearly as prosperous as Israel. It is that ability to become prosperous against all odds that makes me admire the Jews and inspires hatred in their envious neighbors. Our Indigenous people are a different matter, they were willing to live as good neighbors, but earlier Americans were greedy and wanted it all. So we made promises, rarely kept and forced them onto reservations, in land foreign to their tribe, killed the bison on which some of them depended, put up fences, so they couldn't hunt and pretty much destroyed their culture. A very few tribes survived by finding oil on their lands, but most live in poverty and despair. Unlike the Palestinians, they have not been offered assistance in changing to a new economy - at least not until recently.
Yes, you are right, Faye. As I often say, we must put things into historical perspective to understand the present. The "historical perspective" I was using was only very recent years, with the immigration of the ultra-Orthodox Americans into Palestinian lands, with the blessing of Bibi (whom, as you can tell, I can't stand!) Sometimes I wonder if, far into the future (as in 2,000 years), the Tibetan people might gather together and claim Tibet from whoever lives there at that time. The prophecy was: "When the iron horse runs on wheels...the Tibetan people will be scattered over the face of the Earth." This happened in 1959 when the Communist Chinese invaded Tibet and claimed it as its own. Significant communities are scattered in fourteen nations at this point on 5 of the 7 continents.
I'm forever the optimist, kdsherpa, I hope in the not terribly distant future we will have learned to accept each other and control our greed. The pessimistic side of me fears we will lose a couple of billion Homo sapiens to the too hot climate (that'll still leave several billion of us around) and unfortunately most of the loss will be suffered by the poor.
I share both your optimism and your pessimism.
Why do Biden and the Republican and Democratic Senate leaders continue to support Ukraine's toxic far-right thug regime? Ukraine has been enslaved by the rapacious International Monetary Fund (with reconquering the Donbass a condition of the original loan), and Zelensky has pledged to keep all of Ukraine's promises to the IMF, and the NATO countries have voting domination at the IMF, and NATO has promised to continue supplying weapons to Ukraine until it bleeds to death, delivering pounds and pounds of bloody flesh to service the unpayable IMF loans.
I am not exactly sure who I am responding to here in this exchange. I too have been to the Mideast but that was when the occupation was only 11 years old and not 56.
Before tens of thousands of people die this war against I would like to see a cease fire. But that will never happen while the US is all in defending the occupier Israel’s right to exist and is silent about the occupied or the Palestinians rights to exist.
The time is well past due to end the occupation and the present system of apartheid that is far worse than that of South Africa’s ever was.
Absolutely no argument with you Gregg. I was commenting on the US policy that makes them one with Israel, and the fact that the US is the proxy in this Russia instigated event, with cooperation from Syria and Iran. And I am not endorsing the policy. I’ve always advocated for a two state region with an autonomy and independence for Palestine that includes Gaza. All Palestinians are not Hamas - but are trapped in this outcome. And that is the tragedy. A policy explanation with a ‘strong guess’ as to who initiated and funded the action is not an advocacy. We are all heartsick by this event.
I get the sense here you’re implying Israel desrves this attack on its citizens. While Hamas may have been elected as a politcal arm of their militia it is known they offer only a promise- to destroy Israel, but known plan beyond that. To
call Israel an apartheid state in the wake of the wake of this attack feels disturbing to me. In the immediacy of this attack it would seem compassion is in order. I feel emense compassion for Israeli citizens living their daily lives finding themselves hostages or as a shooting target. I am horrified and terrified for my family and loved ones currently in Israel. All I can think of in the immediate wake of this is how I feel sickness over loss of (all) life and fear how so many innocents (Palestinian & Israeli) citizens will suffer.
Hamas is funded by Iran. Hamas wants to do to the Jews what Hitler wanted. When I was 12 my Mother told me there was a documentary she wanted me to watch. It was on the Holocaust. I have never forgotten what I saw. That can not happen ever again! Never! I feel sorry for the Palestinians and the struggles that they endure. But this attack will not get them closer to a resolution. Israel must exist as a homeland for the Jews because there are far too many malevolent people in this world who want to wipe them out. It has never made sense to me. And is driven by pure evil. My prayers are for every innocent person that has been caught up in this evil action.
Tina, I am not condoning Hamas’ attack at all. I am simply locating the conflict/war in its historical context which has needed a human rights diplomatic solution for decades now and has not occurred and has allowed the apartheid not only to continue, but to intensify over the years to continue. I am curious as to what you would call the existing political and economic relationships to be, if not apartheid?
If I could chime in here and say that it is my belief that there is plenty of blame to go around as to the causes of this horrific war.
Finger pointing won’t change the reality that the the situation in the region is a pressure cooker with a flame beneath. Eventually, it will explode. Jackasses and ideologues on both sides have only fanned the flames.
There can be no solution until both sides can learn to live with their neighbors. If not, we’ll have only ongoing tragedies like the one we’re entering into.
Truly sad
I hear you Greg. I think that is the very reason nearly all Jews feel for our Jewish survival, Israel must exist. Equating Hamas actions with fighting over territory and nationhood is not what Hamas is doing. The choice of how a country governs and their policy objectives is a serious issue and bears scrutiny and criticism as any countey. But Hamas’ acts of terroism create acute moral catastrophe for everyone caught up in this and cannot be justified. It in no way solves nationhood questions nor provides a pathway to selfdetermination- which are complex and requires compromising. Opposing terrosm does not. It must be unconditionally condemned- not to be followed by a “yes but” commentary.
It has been heartbreaking to watch the deliberate, reprehensible attacks on innocent people (videos posted by Hamas that for example show slaughter of young people at a peace concert, an elderly infirrmed women being burned alive in her home). Such violence strikes at the core of humanity. Declaring Israel an apartheid at a time when its innocent citizens have been brutalized by Hamas’ invasion essentially normalizes and or rationalizes Hamas actions.
No argument Tina; it’s as bad as it could be. But I don’t think it is normalizing anything in the eyes of most people.
It would seem that the very reason Hamas attacked was to disrupt any prospective peace agreements. They don't want peace, because then they have no reason to exist as an organization. This is why peace talks are hopeless.
But to complicate it, they did appear to win fairly in the last election, and they have many legitimate complaints against Israel, which Netanyahu will never address. So again, peace talks are hopeless.
Everything points to this attack being planned and funded by Russia, Syria and Iran. The US is the proxy because Russia and company know that the US will be with Israel 100%.
Interesting. At least from the Russian perspective this could be a flanking maneuver designed to divert and exhaust the resources and the resolve of the U.S., and to sow even more discord and enmity in an already fractured domestic (U.S.) political environment. Another massive disinformation campaign (yet another flank) is sure to follow.
It may be wise to consider that Rome fell, at least in some measure, because it had spread itself too thin trying to hold on to too much. It thereby created vulnerabilities that were then successfully exploited by her enemies.
That sounds like a conspiracy theory.
As someone who has always opposed the Trump endorsed conspiracy theories that radicalized many of our fellow citizens in a consciously constructed plan only a cult leader could coceive, my first thought about your comment was 'yikes, eegad, ugh' (could my opinion that Russia and Syria are involved be seen as a conspiracy theory??) I insist that everyone come to their own opinions - and please challenge mine. No theory intended. Syria has openly endorsed Hamas and Russia. I was connecting those dots. But I can certainly see how you would think there is a conspiracist behind every bush.
Here is an alternative point of view:
"Interpreting Russia's Official Reaction to the Latest Israel-Hamas War"
"Far from being in favor of Palestine like many in the Alt-Media Community wrongly think, Russia believes that it’s just as much to blame for everything as Israel is."
https://korybko.substack.com/p/interpreting-russias-official-reaction
I remember reading a book years ago about the conflict and just thinking that they will never understand each other. Now, Dirk, you have me thinking that's the way they like it.
Thank you for this reminder. I was a huge fan of George Mitchell. I had forgotten about this.
Spot on!
I agree. I'm a descendant of Orthodox Jewish parents... While I don't practice the religion, I am culturally Jewish. The fact that Netanyahu is back in power is proof of that to me. I think Jews have a place in Israel, but I think the Palestinians do also. I don't know what the answer is, but when people are treated worse than caged animals do they expect them to just sit there and be docile?
Agreed! They simply do not want peace! We need to stop wasting our time and resources. IMO
"I support a woman's right to choose... better elected officials." (bumper sticker) Am I in?
I'd like to have that bumper sticker.
Thank you, Joyce. I’d be glad to send you several. (I had them made)
I'd love to buy one! This is such a genius slogan.
Tell me why I should treat you any differently than all the other people I gave them to for free, and I’ll see what I can do. ;)
I mailed you a few last week to your university address. It was the only address I could find.
Hi John, You are not necessarily 'in' as a juror, but I love your bumper sticker. Thank you.
probably not. (though it's irrelevant to the case and I doubt the question would be permitted.)
I have little confidence that the Hamas/ Israeli conflict will be resolved in the near future! Seems to me both sides aren’t really dedicated to the resolution! Musk, like Trump, only supplies propaganda which will benefit himself or make him look super intelligent. Judge Cannon appears to be very biased toward Trump and isn’t competent enough to handle the situation! Hopefully, the 11th Circuit will take control!
Thanks for all of this. I don't know how someone can come for jury duty and not have an opinion. We have seen so much with our eyes and heard so much with our ears. Judge Cannon needs to be replaced but I wonder if that is just further down on the list for Jack Smith.
As for Israel, I have visited the area three times in my life and one of those visits was particularly in Palestinian areas. The Palestinians are in the middle and have no where to go. Netanyahu has a big excuse now to have us look the other way with all his attempts to stay in power while he uses this as permission to destroy as many in the Gaza strip as he can. Was it this morning he bombed a park or something like that? Hamas had no right to bomb either, but frankly the Palestinians have no options and haven't had for a very long time. God help us! And Let's not forget Ukraine! It feels like the walls are closing in. Help us keep our wits about us and keep doing what we can. I am mailing my Vote Forward letters this week.
I agree with you about the Palestinian people. They are packed like sardines in the Gaza and Hamas could care two shits about them. Then you have Bibi who stirs the pot even more! I have relatives in Israel but have not spoken to them in years. I hope they are not in the West Bank region. It is a quagmire and mostly operated by men on both sides. Neither are competent. My father always said he never expected there would be peace in the Middle East. Hate has no home.
Thank you for sharing this Marlene. I have heard many say over the years there would be no peace and that seems to be the truth. The incompetent leadership is certainly part of that. I cringe when I hear the “support” of Israel. I want to support them but I wish they had been more humane to the Palestinians who have given up so much.
It is a personal quagmire that I have also, Norma. One thing that we can agree upon is that Hamas are inhumane terrorists who rape and murder, at will. They must be eliminated.
I miss The Former Twitter, too. For all the reasons you said, and more.
Elmo thinks he's a genius, but all he is is an entitled, unreconstructed, Afrikaner shithead.
Elmo?
And Elon hates being called 'Elmo' because it is derisive - not sure it has to do with Elmo from Sesame Street (who was adorable)
😃
I saw a two-hour interview with him. It was like listening to a conversation between a parent ant two year old where the one lacks the capacity to explain himself (musk) and the parent insisting they have to explain themself (interviewer).
I don't know how you managed two hours....but brava. Elon Musk thinks waaaay too much of himself.
Online users call Elon Musk 'Elmo'
Said the potty-mouth bigot.
Thanks for the detailed update regarding TFG's ongoing cases.
The war in Israel is sad for both sides. Prayers to all who are affected.
Peace is needed worldwide. I don't think it will come anytime soon.
My teen granddaughter reports that social media is full of people defending Hamas's attack on Israel. Isn't a possible solution is for adults who want to stop social media misinformation and hate-pandering to just go to separate news sites? Today, I've had 4 newspaper sites open to follow the Gaza war on Israel. I don't use social media and find there's an abundance of reputable news sources out there. Am I missing something?
No, you are not. Your teen is. Here, in Birmingham, AL teens are bigots and its getting worse. https://www.al.com/news/2019/03/alabama-high-school-students-filmed-using-racist-slurs.html
Thanks for your concern. My granddaughter checks in w/ social media on occasion, but is otherwise busy w/ school, debate, coaching, ballet, friends, reading, applying to college, and following the news from good sources. I'm thrilled she's way too excited about her life to spend time on social media.
You are very fortunate. Not everyone is.
Yes, I'm grateful.
Amen to that. Her intelligence is showing.
I turned to Twitter for all the things you mentioned, especially for getting the latest breaking news. Threads, so far, seems useless for that. Although I like Substack, it’s not a place I can turn to for up to date information. I really miss the ability to stay up to date, minute by minute, with the news. Surely there must be a way to form a new platform that could recreate that experience.
May I suggest climbing aboard Heather Cox Richardson's newsletter? Also, on Sundays watch Fareed Zakaria's show Global Public Square on CNN. His interview with Thomas Friedman today (and Friedman has the chops to be an authority on the issue for sure) was positively insightful and powerful. Best I've heard on the Israel issue in decades! Seriously.
See if you can find a replay of it -- you'll be glad you did.
https://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2023/10/08/gps-1008-friedman-on-hamas-attacks.cnn
Thank you for the tips. I will do!
Yes! Thanks.
Dirk, thank you for this. And yes, I read Heather Cox Richardson. Is Al Jazeera reliable? (I'm only asking because I really have no clue). I have no television - my sources are newspapers (WaPo, NYT, JapanTimes (helpful for Japan's filtered take); Liberation (so far, fastest news in the wee hours for me), but the rest are lagging by hours), Economist on-line and print (lagging by hours and days but usually having analysis).
Yes! Al Jazeera is reliable! My cable used to carry it and then stopped. For news outside of the US, highly recommend!
I will suggest that al Jazeera is as reliable as Sputnik News: Both tend to be relatively neutral about international events, except where their core interests are concerned.
As always, think for yourself about any news source.
I just started following Haaretz. Their editorial about the present war and its antecedents was eye-opening. I fear that the sadism and horror of Hamas' attacks was deliberately planned in order to elicit an overwhelming reaction from Israel. Hamas does not really want peace, they want war.
Hi Sharon, I agree. And that has been the case since Hamas came to power. Not all Palestinians voted for them. It would be like the world thinking we all followed Trump.
I try to get the headlines from Twitter Trends. Then I visit trusted people I follow for their take, such as Joyce for law interpretation, Neal Katyal for Supreme Court, Kyle Griffin an EP for MSNBC, Kyle Cheney reporting on 1/6 hearings, and others. These are all credible sources that are fact verified and/or they have a law degree. I try not to scroll through the BS because it will make you crazy.
Similar to my strategy. I pick and choose among sources that have proven to be reliable. It is really a shame what has happened to x/Twitter.
Likewise. Post.news is another good source. It is still growing but there is thoughtful discussion there.
Thank you! I added the two Kyle’s on Threads. Following Joyce and Neil already.
Thank you Ann. Does one need to join Twitter or X to access the trends? I have copied the names you listed.
Yes Valere, I believe so. Go to twitter.com and follow the prompts for joining. Also, the names I mentioned will comment on & retweet other reliable sources. This will establish a good list of people you can follow. Good Luck!
Also dont forget to follow people for fun, who share your interests. I like to follow different animal accounts, some like-minded celebrities, and news on music, concerts & sports!
I have not joined twitter - and now with Elon Musk behind the scenes, I'm looking for a source. Indeed, we need to find the light, love and enjoyment to uplift ourselves now.
Meidas Touch Network is a good source.
Just to answer the first question, I'm using Threads. I seem to get fairly consistent info there, but not like how Twitter used to be. I'm interested to know what other platforms people are using.
I've been spending more time on Threads this week, and I miss the functionality and people on Twitter, but I'm trying really hard to figure out how to use it, in case it becomes the only possibility at some point.
Thanks for letting us know how to find you, Joyce. I know when I hear of something new happening the first thing I do is check to see if you’ve posted or been on MSNBC, which I tape, before I jump to conclusions. Another really good resource is @MarkHertling, retired officer for anything military. He’s on MSNBC & CNN when conflict is the topic. He’s a straight shooter (no pun intended) & calls out lies & misinformation & explains the military perspective. With Ukraine, he’s been so helpful & now with Israel, I’m sure he will be informative. He’s a good man, loves our democracy & wants to erase all misinformation so we all make better decisions using facts. During 45 reign I relied on Twitter a great deal just to pick up the buzz & then I would use that to turn to my “brain trust” to figure things out. I was concerned when 45 was elected & I had so many questions about the presidency. My very first DM was to Lawrence Tribe. I really didn’t think he would answer me but I thought I would try. He replied in an hour with detailed answers to my questions. Oh, the wisdom. And the kindness. He was so generous with his time & knowledge. Makes the journey we’re on so much easier.
Journalists, media reporters, writers, they decry the sorry state and headlong decline of the Twitter platform, yet everybody continues to link to it...it's like a drug - hard habit to kick.
Never been on it and certainly won't be on X
Why. It’s no longer a source for truth.
Um, these days, to find "truth," we need something more "fair and balanced":
https://truthsocial.com/login
Personally, I am awaiting the arrival of the much anticipated Jack Smith appeal to the 11th Circuit to please punt Judge Canon in favor of a Judge not so beholden to trump (as in his picking her 2 days before the WH door hit him in the posterior. If not now, when???? carry on