Category: Uncategorized

Social Media Influencer Douglass Mackey Convicted of Election Interference in 2016 Presidential Race

Source: United States Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York.

I have some sympathy for the principled notion that purveyors of disinformation deserve to be punished when it can be shown that actual persons were harmed in a material way. Still, I am alarmed by this conviction.

Mackey was prosecuted for Criminal Conspiracy Against Rights. His attorneys attempted a First Amendment defense at trial, but the jury was not persuaded. Thus the case establishes a precedent that First Amendment law can be ignored in cases where the complaint is tried as a Conspiracy Against Rights.

Should the conviction survive appeals, the government will be empowered to abridge the right of free speech just by — in effect — calling speech something different.

Good for a Laugh

MAGA leader and 36 year-old grandmother Lauren Boebert was going to score some political points over – wait for it – public urination in Washington DC. Too bad either she or her staff were relying on “conservative” media for the “facts” they needed to spring her attack. The patience of the witness and his ability to keep a straight face was remarkable.

More threats of violence by the right.

Meanwhile, Carlson advised viewers to hold onto their guns.

“We will find ourselves on that path to a one-party state and authoritarian government,” said his guest.

“Yeah, probably not the best thing to give up your AR-15,” Carlson replied. “And I think most people know that.”

Hayes reacted to Carlson’s remarks.

“Just to be clear, Tucker said, ‘Probably not the best time to give up your AR-15s,’” he repeated. “Why not? Why is he saying that? The implication is that you have the AR-15 so that you could shoot at, kill, maim, who? Fellow citizens? Agents of the state? Why do you have them? Who are you gonna shoot?”

‘Who Are You Gonna Shoot?’ Chris Hayes Asks Tucker Carlson Why He Told Viewers Not to Give Up AR-15s After Trump Indictment

The Bulwark: Three Things to Keep in Mind

Trump Indicted: Three Things to Keep in Mind

The author “is a visiting professor of law at American University’s Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C. She is also a professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law, a former assistant U.S. attorney, and an associate independent counsel in the Whitewater investigation.“

An even keeled piece about what to consider with regards to yesterday’s indictment of Mr. Trump.

She points the finger at what brought us to this unprecedented action, the difference between the rule of courts vice the rules of politics, and the fact that Mr. Trump will not be bale to lie his way through this, as he has in the past.

Youngkin Caves To Trump

Our Trumpy governor has surrendered whatever honor, integrity, and patriotism he may once have had in his quest to get on the 2024 Republican ticket. Reacting to the first of many indictments of Donald Trump, he had this to say . . .

“It is beyond belief that District Attorney Alvin Bragg has indicted a former President and current presidential candidate for pure political gain. Arresting a presidential candidate on a manufactured basis should not happen in America. The left’s continued attempts to weaponize our judicial system erode people’s faith in the American justice system and it needs to stop.”

In one word, this is a disgrace. And it is disqualifying for higher office. We have had enough of lying liars in high places.

This is not a “manufactured basis.” Trump’s own Justice Department prosecuted Michael Cohen and put him in jail around these same facts. In those proceedings the Trump DOJ said that Cohen was acting on the instructions of “Individual 1” – the un-indicted co-conspirator. That person was Donald Trump. Now he is indicted. And so it goes.

“The left” had nothing to do with New York prosecutors doing their jobs. It is this kind of dishonest bullshit that erodes faith in the American justice system. Duh!