User-Supported News Commentary Hosted by Craig Crawford
Zeitgeist
(Image credit: Walt Handelsman / Copyright 2024 Tribune Content Agency)
46 thoughts on “Zeitgeist”
The House GOP’s impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas died in the Senate today, Stephen Colbert won’t tolerate abuse of his “Strike Force Five” teammate Jimmy Kimmel, and President Biden is using fashion to shave a few years off his look.
and click here for kimmel last night Jimmy woke up to Donald Trump’s 165 venomous words on Truth Social about him hosting the Oscars and Donny is so confused he thinks that Jimmy is Al Pacino, our outdoor stage is making its triumphant return after four years, and Chris Stapleton sings a song we wrote that he has never seen before in “Wing It and Sing It!” with a surprise visit from our pal John Stamos.
today’s scripture lesson
Attribution: Trump Cast the First Stone by Rick McKee, CagleCartoons.com
@juliegraceb
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced an amendment requiring members to “conscript in the Ukrainian military” if they vote for the Ukraine supplemental bill.
Moskowitz
Just submitted an amendment to Bill drafting appointing MTG as Putin’s Special Envoy to the United States Congress.
“Marjorie Taylor Greene offers an amendment to make funds from the Israel funding bill available “for the development of space laser technology on the southwest border.” This is real, not made up— it’s amendment 11 here https://rules.house.gov/bill/118/hr-PIH-IsraelSuppl… H/T@juliegraceb
11 Version 1 Greene (GA) Republican Provides funding for the development of space laser technology on the southern border. Submitted
She’s deep in the MAGAt cult, proving one does not need to have a brain in order to be brainwashed.
Author of the Day:
Thornton Wilder
THEOPHILUS NORTH
“Tesla asks shareholders to restore $56B Elon Musk pay package that was voided by Delaware judge”
How do you break through the make believe universe of a low intelligence, mental case, narcissistic idiot? Fines will not work. Telling him to shut up will not work. Perhaps holding court off for a few hours to have the orange blob visit Rikkers for a tour. Let him enjoy the feel of a cell, door open of course, sit in for an hour, let him hear how wonderful free speech is. Then bring him back to court and start for the day.
After Jesse Watters attacked juror and Trump posted it, this juror asked to be excused because she was concerned about her identity becoming public. FOX & Trump are coordinating to intimidate jurors.
After Jesse Watters ran this segment and Trump posted it, this juror asked to be excused because she was concerned about her identity becoming public. Fox & Trump are coordinating to intimidate jurors. pic.twitter.com/Fz8JC4A0n8
The prospective Trump jurors are a highly educated bunch. The first 9 potential jurors in the box this morning include 8 with college degrees, four of whom have advanced degrees (one JD; three MBAs). They include a lawyer, a hedge funder, an investment banker, a woman in publishing, a teacher turned stay-at-home mom, and a retired college administrator.
Two jurors now excused. Apparently the second one revealed as a liar. Doesn’t that violate Trump’s right to a jury of his peers?
And then there were five. Following one juror’s confession that she cannot be fair and impartial, especially in light of the public attention to the trial, and Judge Merchan’s now having excused a second juror after confidential questioning, we only have 5 seated jurors now. Monday opening arguments could be an ambitious goal.
“Doesn’t that violate Trump’s right to a jury of his peers?”
Ha, good one Jamie
Could Judge M. sequester the Jury and the Defendant?
How is it a Foreperson gets picked before the whole jury is seated?
Ivy, I’ve also been pondering that foreperson question. Have not heard an answer.
Thanks, Craig. I thought it was me missing something. My jury experiences have been the jury itself picks the foreperson at the beginning of deliberations.
The grand jury was different. The judge questioned all 18 of us based on prior jury experience and chose the one he thought best for the 3-month-long job. It was almost me, but thank goodness there was someone else.
It’s about time some judges started bending over frontwards.
“Kennedy family brushes off RFK Jr.’s campaign as they endorse Biden”
“In a speech introducing Biden, Kerry Kennedy — one of RFK Jr.’s sisters who has helped lead her family’s organizing efforts — declared the president “a champion for all the rights and freedoms that my father and uncles stood for” while also warning of threats posed by Donald Trump to democracy and freedom.”
“Donald Trump is running to take us backwards, attacking the most basic rights and freedoms that are core to who we are as Americans,” she said. “He has said he will be a dictator on day one, even saying he wants to try to suspend the Constitution.”
FU, RFKJ, FU
“Ahead of Biden’s speech, Robert Kennedy said in a social media post on Thursday that he hopes his family’s political disagreements can be a model for Americans to “restore civility and respect to public discourse,” adding that he believes his family is “united in our love for each other.”
“He also noted that some family members work for his campaign. His campaign manager is Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, his daughter-in-law.”
Ha! Yeah, no.
When will Congress give the American people a three-day work week at an exorbitant salary just like theirs?
Interesting. Trump biographer Tim O’Brien said Trump once told him his model for how to behave as a defendant in court was John Gotti: “He showed no emotion and looked straight at the judge and jury with an expression that said ‘fuck you'”. Gotti died in jail. (MSNBC)
A jury has been impaneled. Now need six alternates in order to start the trial on Monday.
NBC: All 12 jurors seated, next to pick: the 6 alternates
Looks like Monday for opening statements may still be in the cards.
Dickey Betts, the singer-guitarist who co-founded the genre-defining Southern rock group the Allman Brothers Band and wrote several of the group’s most enduring compositions, including “Ramblin’ Man,” died April 18 at his home in Osprey, Fla. He was 80.
His family announced the death on his website but did not cite a cause. His manager, David Spero, said Mr. Betts had cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He had been treated in 2018 for a brain injury following a fall in his backyard and canceled a tour following a stroke.
Contributed some really good music to this world. Ramblin’ Man is one of my favorite tunes. Jaimoe is the only original ABB member left.
Let’s see if any more come back tomorrow and back out because friends and family warned them Trump could kill them. I seriously think the judge will have to consider sequestration, or at least full-time security for the jurors. Just like any other Mafia case.
Prosecutors are refusing to give defense their list of witnesses to be called first next week out of fear that Trump will endanger them — and the judge agreed, denying defense demand for it. This case really is now in Mafia trial mode.
Them Allmion Brothers were probably America’s greatest bar band.
If you ever been in a 60’s bar band you know wheat that means.
The band died in 71 along with Duane. They’d only started in 1969 so they weren’t a band long—maybe 2 years. What was left became a series of good bands but they were all something way different from The Allman Bros Band.
Toss out your tourist brochures and climbing guides, Colorado. NOAA shows up today with some high-tech scissors to give all your fourteeners a 2-foot haircut.
“Some medications can affect body temperature; the most common are anti-psychotic medicines, barbiturates (almost never used anymore) and alcohol. There are very worrisome causes of low body temperature.”
Maybe the courtroom, like Broadway theaters, is kept cold to keep folks awake. Or…
“Former President Donald Trump lamented Thursday that the New York courtroom is “freezing” during the third day of jury selection in his criminal hush money trial, with lawyers also complaining about the temperature—just three days after the 2024 GOP nominee went viral for appearing to doze off, according to reporters in the courtroom.”
“Trump attorney Todd Blanche also asked court staff if the thermostat in the building could be turned up “just one degree,” according to a pool report—Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the trial, responded that a one-degree increase would likely mean the room’s temperature shoots up 30 degrees.”
“Merchan later apologized to prospective jurors, saying court staff is “trying to do the best we can to control the temperature, but it’s one extreme or the other.”
Keep it cold, wear layers.
Sturgeone – I think a lot of groups did a lot of hit #1 and die, literally, during the 60’s and 70’s. I do hate how so many went away, either by OD or by just going off into the wilderness. Many could have set standards that were way beyond what they did before.
Allmans and all derivations are legend 🫡
Ivy, I finally heard the answer to our question. In New York the first juror seated is automatically the fore person
Sturg you be so right about that. The last iteration that included Gregg, Derek and Warren were, in my humble opinion the best of the bands that played under the name, but that thing between Duane and Dickie was something special.
Bink, my thoughts as well. 😎
listen, i’m following all the news but i don’t know what the —— i’m supposed to say about space lasers and blatant witness tampering besides the obvious
Mr. O’s got it down well enough
excuse me “juror intimidation”, sorry can’t keep the crimes straight
finally heard the answer to our question
Thanks, Craig. I learn new stuff every day.
Craig,
New York Law
The juror whose name was first drawn and called must be
designated by the court as the foreperson, and no special oath need be
administered to him or her.
Oh I see you got the answer already.
New York Law
That forestalls that proverbial situation where the poor jury person who goes to the potty comes out to learn they’ve been elected foreman.
Iran, Syria & Iraq. Netanyahu is desperate to stay in power, and he’s dragging us into it.
“April 20 marks the start of the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction, a cosmic connection that will happen for the first time in Taurus since 1941.”
Not a good day for Dumbass in Court.
A federal judge on Thursday rejected former President Donald J. Trump’s attempt to delay a group of civil lawsuits that are seeking to hold him accountable for inspiring the violence at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
———-
The federal judge overseeing former President Donald J. Trump’s classified documents case on Thursday denied initial attempts by Mr. Trump’s two co-defendants to have the charges against them dismissed.
The ruling by the judge, Aileen M. Cannon, was the first time she had rejected dismissal motions by the two men, Walt Nauta and Carlos De Oliveira, both of whom work for Mr. Trump at Mar-a-Lago, his private club and residence in Florida.
——
Manhattan prosecutors again asked the judge in Donald J. Trump’s criminal case to hold him in contempt of court. The judge said he would consider the matter next week.
All courtesy of New York Times. When even Aileen Cannon is ruling against your interests you are pretty much screwed.
The House GOP’s impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas died in the Senate today, Stephen Colbert won’t tolerate abuse of his “Strike Force Five” teammate Jimmy Kimmel, and President Biden is using fashion to shave a few years off his look.
and click here for kimmel last night
Jimmy woke up to Donald Trump’s 165 venomous words on Truth Social about him hosting the Oscars and Donny is so confused he thinks that Jimmy is Al Pacino, our outdoor stage is making its triumphant return after four years, and Chris Stapleton sings a song we wrote that he has never seen before in “Wing It and Sing It!” with a surprise visit from our pal John Stamos.
today’s scripture lesson
Attribution: Trump Cast the First Stone by Rick McKee, CagleCartoons.com
9h
@juliegraceb
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced an amendment requiring members to “conscript in the Ukrainian military” if they vote for the Ukraine supplemental bill.
Moskowitz
Just submitted an amendment to Bill drafting appointing MTG as Putin’s Special Envoy to the United States Congress.
Stupid people deserve representation, too
and boy, do they got it
https://twitter.com/SeanCasten/status/1780769317170143411
“Marjorie Taylor Greene offers an amendment to make funds from the Israel funding bill available “for the development of space laser technology on the southwest border.” This is real, not made up— it’s amendment 11 here https://rules.house.gov/bill/118/hr-PIH-IsraelSuppl… H/T@juliegraceb
11 Version 1 Greene (GA) Republican Provides funding for the development of space laser technology on the southern border. Submitted
She’s deep in the MAGAt cult, proving one does not need to have a brain in order to be brainwashed.
Author of the Day:
Thornton Wilder
THEOPHILUS NORTH
https://electrek.co/2024/04/15/tesla-lays-off-more-than-10-of-its-global-workforce/
“Tesla lays off ‘more than 10%’ of its global workforce”
https://apnews.com/article/musk-pay-compensation-corporate-registration-ef5e30f6b56f7d936f8c882fc1c96875
“Tesla asks shareholders to restore $56B Elon Musk pay package that was voided by Delaware judge”
How do you break through the make believe universe of a low intelligence, mental case, narcissistic idiot? Fines will not work. Telling him to shut up will not work. Perhaps holding court off for a few hours to have the orange blob visit Rikkers for a tour. Let him enjoy the feel of a cell, door open of course, sit in for an hour, let him hear how wonderful free speech is. Then bring him back to court and start for the day.
After Jesse Watters attacked juror and Trump posted it, this juror asked to be excused because she was concerned about her identity becoming public. FOX & Trump are coordinating to intimidate jurors.
The prospective Trump jurors are a highly educated bunch. The first 9 potential jurors in the box this morning include 8 with college degrees, four of whom have advanced degrees (one JD; three MBAs). They include a lawyer, a hedge funder, an investment banker, a woman in publishing, a teacher turned stay-at-home mom, and a retired college administrator.
Two jurors now excused. Apparently the second one revealed as a liar. Doesn’t that violate Trump’s right to a jury of his peers?
And then there were five. Following one juror’s confession that she cannot be fair and impartial, especially in light of the public attention to the trial, and Judge Merchan’s now having excused a second juror after confidential questioning, we only have 5 seated jurors now. Monday opening arguments could be an ambitious goal.
“Doesn’t that violate Trump’s right to a jury of his peers?”
Ha, good one Jamie
Could Judge M. sequester the Jury and the Defendant?
How is it a Foreperson gets picked before the whole jury is seated?
Ivy, I’ve also been pondering that foreperson question. Have not heard an answer.
Thanks, Craig. I thought it was me missing something. My jury experiences have been the jury itself picks the foreperson at the beginning of deliberations.
The grand jury was different. The judge questioned all 18 of us based on prior jury experience and chose the one he thought best for the 3-month-long job. It was almost me, but thank goodness there was someone else.
It’s about time some judges started bending over frontwards.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/18/politics/biden-kennedy-family-endorsements-rfk-jr/index.html
“Kennedy family brushes off RFK Jr.’s campaign as they endorse Biden”
“In a speech introducing Biden, Kerry Kennedy — one of RFK Jr.’s sisters who has helped lead her family’s organizing efforts — declared the president “a champion for all the rights and freedoms that my father and uncles stood for” while also warning of threats posed by Donald Trump to democracy and freedom.”
“Donald Trump is running to take us backwards, attacking the most basic rights and freedoms that are core to who we are as Americans,” she said. “He has said he will be a dictator on day one, even saying he wants to try to suspend the Constitution.”
FU, RFKJ, FU
“Ahead of Biden’s speech, Robert Kennedy said in a social media post on Thursday that he hopes his family’s political disagreements can be a model for Americans to “restore civility and respect to public discourse,” adding that he believes his family is “united in our love for each other.”
“He also noted that some family members work for his campaign. His campaign manager is Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, his daughter-in-law.”
Ha! Yeah, no.
When will Congress give the American people a three-day work week at an exorbitant salary just like theirs?
Interesting. Trump biographer Tim O’Brien said Trump once told him his model for how to behave as a defendant in court was John Gotti: “He showed no emotion and looked straight at the judge and jury with an expression that said ‘fuck you'”. Gotti died in jail. (MSNBC)
A jury has been impaneled. Now need six alternates in order to start the trial on Monday.
NBC: All 12 jurors seated, next to pick: the 6 alternates
Looks like Monday for opening statements may still be in the cards.
RIP to Dickie Betts. WaPo
Contributed some really good music to this world. Ramblin’ Man is one of my favorite tunes. Jaimoe is the only original ABB member left.
Let’s see if any more come back tomorrow and back out because friends and family warned them Trump could kill them. I seriously think the judge will have to consider sequestration, or at least full-time security for the jurors. Just like any other Mafia case.
Prosecutors are refusing to give defense their list of witnesses to be called first next week out of fear that Trump will endanger them — and the judge agreed, denying defense demand for it. This case really is now in Mafia trial mode.
Them Allmion Brothers were probably America’s greatest bar band.
If you ever been in a 60’s bar band you know wheat that means.
The band died in 71 along with Duane. They’d only started in 1969 so they weren’t a band long—maybe 2 years. What was left became a series of good bands but they were all something way different from The Allman Bros Band.
https://coloradosun.com/2024/04/18/colorado-14ers-height-loss-noaa/
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/life/advice/2017/09/19/doc-low-body-temperature-cause-concern/105795128/
“Some medications can affect body temperature; the most common are anti-psychotic medicines, barbiturates (almost never used anymore) and alcohol. There are very worrisome causes of low body temperature.”
Maybe the courtroom, like Broadway theaters, is kept cold to keep folks awake. Or…
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianbushard/2024/04/18/trump-claims-new-york-courtroom-is-freezing-amid-trial-cold-enough-for-you/
“Former President Donald Trump lamented Thursday that the New York courtroom is “freezing” during the third day of jury selection in his criminal hush money trial, with lawyers also complaining about the temperature—just three days after the 2024 GOP nominee went viral for appearing to doze off, according to reporters in the courtroom.”
“Trump attorney Todd Blanche also asked court staff if the thermostat in the building could be turned up “just one degree,” according to a pool report—Judge Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the trial, responded that a one-degree increase would likely mean the room’s temperature shoots up 30 degrees.”
“Merchan later apologized to prospective jurors, saying court staff is “trying to do the best we can to control the temperature, but it’s one extreme or the other.”
Keep it cold, wear layers.
Sturgeone – I think a lot of groups did a lot of hit #1 and die, literally, during the 60’s and 70’s. I do hate how so many went away, either by OD or by just going off into the wilderness. Many could have set standards that were way beyond what they did before.
Allmans and all derivations are legend 🫡
Ivy, I finally heard the answer to our question. In New York the first juror seated is automatically the fore person
Sturg you be so right about that. The last iteration that included Gregg, Derek and Warren were, in my humble opinion the best of the bands that played under the name, but that thing between Duane and Dickie was something special.
Bink, my thoughts as well. 😎
listen, i’m following all the news but i don’t know what the —— i’m supposed to say about space lasers and blatant witness tampering besides the obvious
Mr. O’s got it down well enough
excuse me “juror intimidation”, sorry can’t keep the crimes straight
Thanks, Craig. I learn new stuff every day.
Craig,
New York Law
Oh I see you got the answer already.
That forestalls that proverbial situation where the poor jury person who goes to the potty comes out to learn they’ve been elected foreman.
Iran, Syria & Iraq. Netanyahu is desperate to stay in power, and he’s dragging us into it.
https://people.com/jupiter-uranus-conjunction-2024-zodiac-everything-to-know-8634265
“April 20 marks the start of the Jupiter-Uranus conjunction, a cosmic connection that will happen for the first time in Taurus since 1941.”
Not a good day for Dumbass in Court.
All courtesy of New York Times. When even Aileen Cannon is ruling against your interests you are pretty much screwed.
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