Friday Open Thread

14 thoughts on “Friday Open Thread”

1. The Corrupt Supreme Court. From Heather Cox-Richardson

   (Ian Milhiser at Vox.com is also on the case.)

   Finally, the day ended where it began, with another scandal involving Justice Clarence Thomas.

   This evening, Emma Brown, Shawn Boburg, and Jonathan O'Connell of the Washington Post broke the story that right-wing judicial activist Leonard Leo, who as a leader of the Federalist Society that backs originalist judges has been key to transforming the federal judiciary, a decade ago arranged for payments of tens of thousands of dollars to Thomas’s wife Ginni. Leo and Thomas are close friends.

   In January 2012, Leo told Kellyanne Conway, who was then a Republican pollster, to bill the Judicial Education Project, a nonprofit organization with which he was associated, and then pass the money on to Ginni Thomas. He told Conway to “give” Thomas “another $25K,” and emphasized that she should include “No mention of Ginni, of course,” in the paperwork. She did so. Later that year, the Judicial Education Project filed a brief before the court in the landmark Shelby County v. Holder case, in which the court, by a vote of 5–4, gutted the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

   Thomas voted on the side of the Judicial Education Project.

   And this is the profound national crisis at the heart of the stories emerging about Thomas. His votes were decisive not only in Shelby County v. Holder, but also in the 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision, also decided by a vote of 5–4, which opened the floodgates for dark money in political campaigns. Those decisions dramatically undermined our democracy. It now seems imperative to grapple with the fact it appears a key vote on the court that decided those cases was compromised.

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2. Donald J. Trump has been told by the judge in the NY state hush money case that, barring a (not expected to succeed) transfer of the case to Federal court, he should prepare to clear his calendar so that he can appear for trial in February or March 2024.

   Needless to say, this isn’t great timing for him for his Presidential comeback ambitions. Getting sidelined in the prime time of primary season can’t be good, and by NY law and Supreme Court precedent both he must be present at trial.

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   1. Just read that after viewing Donnie Blowhard’s rant from Scotland yesterday, claiming he was headed back to NYC to face his accuser in court, the judge has extended the trial into next week to give FDFQ the time to get there. If he doesn’t show, closing arguments will commence. 🤣

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      1. Technically, the jury had Friday off already, and the last action on Thursday was the phrase "the defense rests". The judge gave Mango Mania Manchild until Sunday 10am to shout in. If he's not in front of the judge to say "I'm testifying" then closing arguments commence without any unplanned delays on Monday.

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         1. You’re correct, and here is the link: 

            https://news.yahoo.com/judge-gives-trump-until-sunday-to-change-his-mind-about-testifying-in-his-rape-and-defamation-trial-221420292.html

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3. Some may be interested to see the graphics about the Mayoral election found at Denverite

   The widget didn't work for my viewing pleasure, so I only saw the static images.  Fairly confident that most who comment here will be among the "some readers" that Denverite refers to:

   Some readers may look at the maps for Johnston and Brough and see a familiar pattern, one that places more gravity on the city’s northwest and southeast corners. Former Denverite reporter David Sachs called it the “Inverted L,” and the pattern applies neighborhood racial makeups, tree cover and more.

   It appears the Inverted L’s socioeconomic boundaries also applied to our April election.

    

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4. You have to admit, CO emigrant Jenna FTW on this one!

   Gov  Kari Lake enters the fray…

   

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   1. Popcorn time…

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   2. Oh my! I must now watch the skies for the grifter bat signal!

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5. Has anyone seen or heard from Powerful Pear lately? I haven't seen him post anything since BTI – that is, Before Trump Indictment.

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   1. His Internet personality had a "best when used by"?  Kinda miss Roger. I'm not sure I've seen him here since the passing of Voyageur? 

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   2. …it's probably a good thing he's in hiding:

      At least 8 fake electors have been granted immunity in the Georgia Trump investigation

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      1. Was Roger one of Colorados’ fake electors? Maybe he is hiding from the FBI…

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         1. Weren’t you paying attention?  No, he was a “real” elector; it was all those others who voted for Biden who were the fakes.

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