Yesterday, I managed to find the strength to take some trash and recyclables to the polycarts, and move the polycarts closer to the curb. Not all the way to the curb – pickup isn’t till Thursday – but close enough to be esier to get out on Wednesday. While i was doing that, the neighborhood cat stopped by. He doesn’t care much for the gourmet cat treats I got from Chewy. But I guess he figures that he comes by enough times I’ll eventually open something else (and he is right.) I honestly don’t know what he likes. The one flavor he really liked was Iams salmon, but he is over it now. Not that he needs food. I’ve started calling him “Bustopher.”
Cartoon –
Short Takes –
Crooks and Liars – Insurrectionists’ Extremism Deepens In ‘Patriot Wing’ Of D.C. Jail
Quote – More than anything, they appear to focus on justifying their martyrdom. “We have been labeled the enemy, yet clearly we see tyranny as the enemy,” Reffitt wrote. “While our lawyers do our bidding and the judges do their duties, we remain resolute, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the National Anthem all in unison, loud and proud most every day. All because we are us, we are you, we are all Americans and in here, we have no labels.”
Click through for reality. This was prefictable. I don’t suppose the DC jail has any way to break them up. The Feds maybe coupd, but it’s probably not legal to tranfer them to federal facilities – yet.
The Daily Beast – ‘Delinquent’ Matt Gaetz Blocked from Practicing Law
Quote – The Daily Beast has learned that the Florida Bar has branded Gaetz as “delinquent” twice in the past two years. The organization temporarily cut him off in 2019 and again in 2020, because Gaetz failed to affirm that he is properly handling and protecting any clients’ money in trust accounts. Lawyers must abide by strict rules to ensure they are not stealing or misusing money that belongs to the people they represent.
Click through for story. And this is just for failing to pay to renew his law license (or, as the author puts it, “not paying his bar tab”). Look at the next short take for what else is going n.
Democratic Underground – Justice Dept. Adds Two Top Prosecutors to Matt Gaetz Case
Quote – The Justice Department has added two top prosecutors from Washington to the child sex trafficking investigation of Representative Matt Gaetz, according to two people briefed on the matter, a sign of the complex and high-stakes nature of the inquiry into Mr. Gaetz, a Florida Republican who is one of former President Donald J. Trump’s closest congressional allies. The prosecutors — one a public corruption investigator with an expertise in child exploitation crimes, and the other a top leader of the public corruption unit — have been working on the Florida-based investigation for at least three months, the people said.
Click through for detils. I like to use original sources, but cannot access the NYT. Do you suppose he deliberately did not pay for his license because he knew it would be a waste? I doubt it. He’s mot that smart.
Food for Thought –
23 Responses to “Open Thread for October 25, 2021”
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Glad to read that you got your carts down by the curb. Imho..all animals are gifts to us. I’ve fed quite a few cats in my time, and most decide to stay here at the house for awhile. Right now I only have the one, (Russian Blue), and she is a perfect cat with manners too, she comes and goes, but not far anymore. Try the cat ‘Fancy Feast’ wet food, see if he likes that, hopefully she/he might. “Bustopher”, cute name!
Cartoon: Led by Bolshevik Party leader Vladimir Lenin, leftist revolutionaries launch a nearly bloodless coup d’État against Russia’s ineffectual Provisional Government. *history
C&L: Pretty brazen and defiant. The insurrectionists get to foster their hatred in jail. Scary!!
DB: Yes, he’s delinquent all right. From all sides, imho.
DU: YAY! So glad to read that the JD is adding more prosecutors for Gaetz’s case, and seeking justice. He certainly deserves what’s coming down the turnpike, imho.
FFT: Oh, ick!!
THIS JUST IN: TJI: “This story has gotten very little attention. On Oct 11 in Texas, Terry Turner chased, shot, & killed Moroccan American Adil Dghoughi. Adil was unarmed & in his own car. Police first refused to arrest or charge Turner. They finally did & he’s out on bond. Horrid.” ~ Quisam Rashid, Esq. ~
2. “Our nurses, doctors, technicians, and first responders have gone above and beyond to provide care and comfort to patients in this battle with COVID-19. @POTUS [1] and I see you and recognize the work you have done to keep our communities safe and healthy. You are heroes.” ~ Vice President Kamala Harris ~
3. ““It’s truly clear to me that a lot of the criticism is motivated by her being our first woman VP and a woman of color. And she continues to just do her job and show and be gracious.” ~ Hillary Clinton ~
4. “As House Speaker, it is an honor to join @POTUS [2] and @VP in marking the 10th anniversary of the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial today, renewing our commitment to ensuring liberty and justice for all. ~ Speaker Nancy Pelosi ~
5. “Affordable child care doesn’t just help people with kids; it helps all of us by making our workforce more stable and globally competitive. When we support working parents, we support our economy.”
~ Rep Katie Porter ~
“Bustopher” is not original to me. It’s from “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.” He was the one who worked all the fancy restaurants in St. James Street. This cat is also black and wite, with white front paws, and is by no means starving. He’s apparently doing very well working the neighborhood. So I want to stick to treats which won’t spoil. Yeah, I’ll bet he would like Fancy Feast!
TJI #1 – Thanks for keeping us updated with the awfulness even when it’s your state, Pat. Lots more details here. It doesn’t say whether he’s a cop or a retired cop – but he tried the “he pulled a gun on me so I shot him” line. There was no gun.
Couldn’tfindonewithfireworks, sorry.
TJI #2 – That’s how a real President and VP behave. I expect the heroes would love better pay and working conditions and more time off, and POTUS and VPOTUS are tring, but it’s not coming easily.
TJI #3 – Oh, definitely.
TJI #4 –
TJI #5 – Another way in which the GQP have convinced people to think and vote against their own best interests. They won’t believe her.
TJI #3 – That’s definitely true!
TJI #4 – I’m really not wild about the sculpture itself, but I’ve come to terms with it. But a more deserving non-government citizen in my lifetime would be hard to find.
Hi everyone! i am still in the land of the living but a little the worse for wear. i fell last week and broke my right arm just above the wrist and i have to have surgery which is planned for 27/10. The ortho surgeon described the break as “unique and nasty”, Of course it would have to be my right! Everything takes so much longer and has to be done with my non dominant left. The cat box takes my left hand and right foot to completely empty.
other than that, everything is OK. i’ll try to get back today but i have to have a pre surgery COVID test.
OH, NO! Lynn!
Sorry to read about your arm! Hope that your surgery w/go well, and that you take all the time you need to recuperate!
Take good, good Care, Lynn. Healing thoughts and Prayers to you !
Thank you for checking in! We do get concerned, and in this case, we have reason for concern.
Have you looked into Cat Genie? Yes, they are pricey, but your body is important too. And there is a knockoff now which doesn’t do quite as much (which makes it easier to place) but costs less. One mentioned it’s available through Chewey amd I can’t really imagne Chewy not carrying both. If there’s even a most unlikely way that something caa be used in connection with an animal, Chewy has it. Along with good service from caring people.
Sorry my Thanksgiving card was late. I carefully looked up the date and then scheduled it wrong.
Please take care of yourself. Sending prayers, as I know others will also (or, as TC used to say, “However they communicate with the universe.)
JD, I neglected to say thank you for the Thanksgiving card. i am sorry. it was very much appreciated!
THANK YOU!!!!
Hi, Lynn. It is good to hear from you,though not great news. I had wondered about you lately. The cat goddesses and I send healing vibes your way. Also,hope your cat(s)will be cared for and kind to you also.Take care.
So good to hear from you, Lynn! But sorry about your fracture. Hope it mends quickly – and with no problems.
Sorry to hear that you fell and fractured your right arm, Lynn. I’ll be praying that everything goes well with your surgery on Wednesday and that you have a speedy recovery without too much pain. Keep us updated. Take care.
I was also getting worried a little, Lynn, so it’s marvellous to hear that you are still with us. A little worse from wear and an operation in the near future, but you sound like you’re fighting, winning and staying on top of things. Good luck with the operation and please let us know how you’re doing afterward.
Amen to this request!
I just found out that the surgery is at 7:45 which means I have to be there at the ungodly hour of 6 am! I never schedule anything before 11 am. I gave my ride the option of bowing out as long as she could pick me up but she’s sticking with me. We’ll be on the road at the uncivilised hour of 5:15 am. If everything goes as planned, I should be home by 3 pm but undoubtedly not all that coherent.
Cheers all. Winnie is using my foot as a pillow and purring up a storm. i have to go as the pain and headache ae back in spades. Time for rest! So these are our golden years eh?
There’s a satirical poem about aging which ends with “The Golden Years have come to pass./ The Golden Years can kiss my a$$!”
“A reader outside of the US messaged me today and asked me to explain the Right’s incessant attacks on Dr. Anthony Fauci.
For those not here on the ground in the States, it’s probably difficult to comprehend how tens of millions of Americans and the lion’s share of one of its political parties has found a mortal enemy in one of its most respected public health experts, but it’s actually quite simple:Antony Fauci sinned against their God.
He had the heretical audacity to oppose their unhinged orange MAGA messiah, and that is simply not something sycophantic religious zealots tolerate.” ~ John Pavlovitz ~
He says it more nicely than I would, but then, he is nicer than I am. He has clearly had it with them.
Comment from Mitch –
Cats can be picky.
‘Toon: I read “Ten Days That shook the World,” a first hand account of the revolution, not one without a bias, decades ago. It was gripping. I do not
know what would have happened had Lenin not had the strokes that led to his demise, in 1924, as Stalin was building his totalitarian power, but Lenin
had, himself, already embarked on murderous consolidation.
I’m reading Hannah Arendt’s “The Origins of Totalitarianism,” and seeing, albeit early in the book, that like with Dumpy, what has come to be the trademark of either so-called Communist, or the Fascist regimes, has been the cult of personality.
C&L: It makes sense that they would try to find a way to make what they see as “sense” of their situation. They will go on feeding themselves, and their delusional beliefs, whatever fodder it takes to keep their twisted sense of self intact, and that makes perfect sense. Eventually, they will each g to trial, and that may create a cognitive dissonance, or it may just re-confirm their paranoia about Trump’s BS “Deep State.”
DB: Gaetz is just an overgrown, old fashioned Juvenile Delinquent!
DU: The Times article goes on at length, but, I think this will provide a concise overview:
The Justice Department has added two top prosecutors from Washington to the child sex trafficking investigation of Representative Matt Gaetz, according to two people briefed on the matter, a sign of the complex and high-stakes nature of the inquiry into Mr. Gaetz, a Florida Republican who is one of former President Donald J. Trump’s closest congressional allies.
The prosecutors — one a public corruption investigator with an expertise in child exploitation crimes, and the other a top leader of the public corruption unit — have been working on the Florida-based investigation for at least three months, the people said.
It is not unusual for prosecutors from the Justice Department in Washington to be added to local teams of federal investigators in high-profile cases that require a deep and specific expertise like sex crimes.
The Washington prosecutors have joined a group of federal authorities in Florida who have been investigating accusations of sex trafficking, fraud and corruption by several people connected to Republican politics in Florida, including Mr. Gaetz. The authorities have been examining whether Mr. Gaetz violated a federal child sex trafficking law by providing goods or payments to a 17-year-old girl in exchange for sex.
Despite the wide-ranging nature of the case, only one person has been publicly charged, a former local tax collector named Joel Greenberg. He has pleaded guilty to sex trafficking the same 17-year-old girl and other corruption and fraud charges. Mr. Greenberg agreed to cooperate with the government’s investigation, telling authorities that he saw Mr. Gaetz and others have sex with the girl.
In a sign of the ongoing nature of the investigation, the judge overseeing the case granted a motion on Monday filed by Mr. Greenberg’s lawyer, Fritz Scheller, to have his client’s sentencing delayed until March.
One of the questions the prosecutors will have to wrestle with is whether to charge Mr. Gaetz with the same crime that Mr. Greenberg pleaded guilty to, sex trafficking a minor. The law is broadly written and carries a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years in prison.
FFT: Just a boy, a sad, nasty, bit of a boy, with no moral compass, in love with his Fuhrer, who he’d just love to grow up to be like.
Mitch
Mitch asked me to tack this link n to his comment, and I concur. Rolling Stone sometimes gets hold of things no one else has, and this may be one of those times:
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/exclusive-jan-6-organizers-met-congress-white-house-1245289/
I originally got my first cat a bunch of different flavored canned cat foods, thinking I was giving him a treat. That is until the vet told me cats like to stick to the same food.
My past two cats were/are both on prescription foods (wet & dry) from Hill’s. But in the summer I have peaches sprinkled w/ oatmeal for breakfast – and he really likes it! He’ll crawl up on my lap to get some. And I can count on him to come running when I open a can of tuna. (I drain the water it’s packed in and ration it out as a treat.)
Insurrectionists’ Extremism Deepens In ‘Patriot Wing’ Of D.C. Jail
This is very worrisome!
‘Delinquent’ Matt Gaetz Blocked from Practicing Law
And the citizens of Florida say: “Hallelujah!”
Justice Dept. Adds Two Top Prosecutors to Matt Gaetz Case
Can hardly wait for the hammer to fall on that idiot!
C&L: Despicable reading that they’re still trying to justify their evil actions they did during the January 6 insurrection. Plus with their leader, tRumpy, still speaking his lies each and every opportunity he out and about, it’s doesn’t help. Hopefully they’re appear in court and punished properly.
DB: Good for the Florida Bar. Like they pointed out he’s been delinquent twice. Like they mentioned, they have strict rules that the lawyers must abide by. He broke the law, so out he goes.
DU: I was wondering what was going on with Gaetz. Glad to see that the Justice Department has added two more prosecutors, That they’ll come down hard on him and off to prison he goes.
Food for Thought: The title “Missing Leadership” fits him perfectly, as it also would for all of his rotten R’s/GOP buddies.
Nice of you to be feeding the one cat who visits, too bad he has to be so finicky.
Take care. Thanks Joanne
Bustopher sounds like a very normal cat to me. He’s not all that interested in treats and most likely will like the cheaper, junk food treats best. But he’ll reward you – and keep you conditioned – by “liking” new treats you buy him. After a few portions, he’d want you to switch over to another taste/brand.
Cartoon: They got rid of the tyranny of the Czar by replacing it with just another form of tyranny.
C&L: Jails and prisons have traditionally been the environments where extremism and terrorism in whatever form blossoms. It’s another reason to hurry up with these trials and send them to different locations after sentencing. TFG had created an alter-reality bubble for them with his rallies and his tweets. They’ve now created their own alter-realities when locked up together. They should be reprogrammed before they’re sent home.
DB: Sadly, Gaetz is never kicked out but only blocked for a short while. Apparently, things don’t accumulate in lawyer land. Well, at least not if you know the right people.
DB: Not paying his bar tab might just have been a Trumpian diversion. I think he’s stupid enough to believe that would throw these top prosecutors off the scent.
FFT: Missing leadership? Mat Gaetz a boy? That’s far too much credit for that nasty piece of work.
Well, maybe a “frat boy.” Yes, too nasty for a normal boy.
LOL! True,dat.