Category Archives: Legal/Political Columns

A collections of my popular ramblings concerning the law, Natural Law, and political issues. Enjoy!

Dream of Judicial Overreach

26 Monday Feb 2018

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Only trouble is, gee whiz

I’m dreamin’ my [country] away…

The DACA Dreamer “kids” stay in administrative limbo; so say the Supremes (not Don Everly):

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear the Trump administration’s appeal of a federal judge’s ruling that requires the government to keep the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program going.

Under a lower court order that remains in effect, the Department of Homeland Security must continue to accept renewal applications from the roughly 700,000 young people who are currently enrolled in the program, known as DACA. The administration had intended to shut the program down by March 5, but that deadline is now largely meaningless.

In a brief order, the court said simply, “It is assumed the court of appeals will act expeditiously to decide this case.”

Someone once said that when you assume something, you make an ass out of “u” and me. In this case, it’s you, me, immigration law, the rule of law, separation of powers, and the rest of the America.

Not to worry, the wise Trump proposes to administratively ban bump stocks!

For and Against the NRA

24 Saturday Feb 2018

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Some companies are standing with the NRA, others are breaking ties. Note: this all has to do with the NRA’s nonexistent role in last week’s school shooting. You remember? The shooting with the ever-changing narratives, heroes who milled about doing nothing, psychotropic meds, all those calls to the police and the FBI, and the coast to coast active drama club?

Anyway, those companies:

In what may be a pivotal moment for American gun law reform, the National Rifle Association has become the object of intense pushback from anti-gun activists and survivors of last week’s mass shooting at a Florida high school that left 17 dead.

All the attention prompted the gun-rights group to break from its usual strategy of keeping quiet after mass gun deaths. NRA officials have gone on the attack to rail against the “politicization” of a tragedy, and going so far as to suggest that members of the media “love mass shootings” because of the ratings they supposedly bring.

The uproar has once again presented companies affiliated with the NRA, and its powerful pro-gun lobby, with a question: to cut ties, or to continue a relationship with a large but controversial group?

The NRA partners with dozens of businesses to spread its pro-gun message and provide discounts to its members, who number 5 million, according to the group. But this week, some companies have begun to jump ship.

Read the lists – the names keep growing both ways. Any boycott is, of course, a matter of corporate right. It’s still a nominally free country-shaped place. And it’s good to know who irrationally dumps on the largest sporting organization in the country and its members. A little feel good press and cheap communism never hurt either.

Just remember, by this “logic:”

The next time there’s a plane crash, it’s Delta’s fault;

The next time your network gets hacked, Norton did it;

The next time your car breaks down, TrueCar did it.

*Actual causality need not apply.

Fed Notes Friday

23 Friday Feb 2018

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“Some people without brains do an awful lot of talking, don’t you think?” – L. Frank Baum, The Wizard of Oz.

So, today, a report from the Federal Reserve to Congress, from the brainless to the brain dead.

Federal Reserve policymakers see an economy that may be past full employment, financial market prices that are high and overall growth that continues to gather steam.

Those conditions remain appropriate for further interest rate increases, though inflation pressures remain fairly muted for now, according to a key report to Congress the central bank released Friday.

The monetary policy report provided a wide-ranging view of conditions for new Chairman Jerome Powell, who took the Fed’s reins earlier this month. Powell will present the report along with remarks during congressional testimony Tuesday.

“The FOMC expects that, with further gradual adjustments in the stance of monetary policy, economic activity will expand at a moderate pace and labor market conditions will remain strong,” the report said, echoing language from prior Federal Open Market Committee meetings.

Translation: We still have absolutely no idea what we’re doing but things seem well regardless.

I sincerely hope this Friday afternoon finds you well.

Banning Bump Stocks

21 Wednesday Feb 2018

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Last fall, following the shooting in Las Vegas (which I think we were supposed to forget happened), a class action lawsuit was filed against a maker of bump stocks, Slide Fire.

The Complaint is HERE. I didn’t follow the case and won’t. Originally I figured it would go nowhere; now it’s a moot point. The suit was filed immediately in a case that still consists of nothing but unanswered questions. No investigative report. Multiple narrative changes. Adamant ISIS declarations. And admonishment from the FBI that it may be a year before anything is known factually (if ever).

Anyway, again, it no longer matters.

Yesterday, in the wake of the Florida high school shooting, President Donald John Trump directed AG Sessions to administratively ban the devices – which were not used in the Florida shooting. More from the Daily Mail.

President Donald Trump called on politicians on both sides of the aisle to back stronger background checks for prospective gun owners on Tuesday.

‘Whether we are Republican or Democrat, we must now focus on strengthening Background Checks!’ the president tweeted.

Hours earlier, Trump took action to outlaw bump stocks like the one used in the Las Vegas massacre last fall.

‘I signed a memorandum directing the Attorney General to propose regulations to ban all devices that turn legal weapons into machine guns,’ Trump said in the wake of a Florida massacre in which the killer did not use such a device.

His push for stricter gun controls comes after thousands of students and parents have called on his administration to implement changes to prevent future mass shootings.

Sell. Out.

This isn’t merely an affront to the Second Amendment, it’s an APA-driven assault on the Article One legislative authority of Congress. I suppose none of this matters at this rather late hour.

Nothing to address the rapidly declining culture. Nothing about the schools themselves. Nothing about the constant link between the shootings and psychotropic medication. Nothing about the massive failure of existing laws and law enforcement. Nothing about the illegality of most of those existing laws. Nothing. A feel good measure that doesn’t even feel good. And won’t help anyone.

Since he took office last year I’ve been trying to give Trump the benefit of the doubt. That ends now.

You get what you vote for. Congratulations.

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Another Charge From Mueller

20 Tuesday Feb 2018

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This one might be actionable or subject to extradition.

An attorney who worked for a prominent law firm was charged with making false statements to federal authorities as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe of Russian collusion in the 2016 presidential election.

Alex Van Der Zwaan was charged Feb. 16 with lying to the FBI and Mueller’s office about conversations related to his work on a report prepared by his law firm on the legitimacy of the criminal prosecution of a former Ukrainian prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko.

Prosecutors charged Van Der Zwaan by criminal information, which typically precedes a guilty plea. He is scheduled to appear Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Washington. He didn’t immediately respond to calls and emails seeking comment.

Van Der Zwaan was an associate in the London office of Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom. “The firm terminated its employment of Alex Van Der Zwaan in 2017 and has been cooperating with authorities in connection with this matter,” the firm said in a statement.

Last year, Van Der Zwaan married the daughter of Russian oligarch German Khan, according to the London Tatler. Khan is a shareholder of Alfa Group, a Russian banking and investment concern, and a board member at LetterOne Holdings, the investment vehicle set up by the founders of Alfa Group.

The unsealing of Van Der Zwaan’s case came four days after Mueller accused 13 Russians of a sophisticated disinformation campaign using a troll army that targeted the 2016 campaign and sought to sow discord in the U.S.

I still don’t see anything resembling collusion between Trump and the Ruskies. I do see a pattern of people getting charged with lying to the FBI. And this guy was an attorney at a mega firm, one of the most monied on Earth. It just goes to show the old adage: if you’re not talking, you’re not lying. The FBI is the police.

Do not talk to the police. Really.

There really is no good reason. If they suspect you or your associates of a crime – any crime – they can generally find something to charge you with. Don’t help them. Don’t make it easy.

On the other hand, if you know of someone who is venturing into the world of “professional school shooting,” and you tell the FBI, they do nothing. Nothing, except for a little CYA after the shooting career starts. Again, no point in the communication.

This is our “premier” law enforcement agency…

Russians: The Mueller Indictment

16 Friday Feb 2018

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So, now we have it – 37 pages of indictment against 13 Russian nationals and 3 Russian organisations.

READ THE WHOLE THING HERE.

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It seems to me there were two purposes behind the Special Counsel’s investigation from the beginning: 1) actually investigate election tampering, etc., and; 2) find or manufacture evidence of collusion between Russia and Trump. The latter part was the heart and soul of the “Russia, Russia, Russia” mania gripping the media, the Democrats, etc.

The indictment finds and alleges no collusion whatsoever between the President and any Russian malfeasors. In fact, it finds no impropriety by any American.

With the recent developments in the FBI/FISA debacle and with no evidence of collusion anywhere, it may be that Mueller decided to wrap this one up. It could also be that he did a proper investigation and that this is the result.

The issue is, of course, developing. More later, likely.

Read. Discuss. Etc.

More Laws??

16 Friday Feb 2018

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Following the school shooting in Florida, the media, the idiot pols, and the hysterical mass media repeat the clamor to “Do something! Anything!” As with any any problem on Earth, the solution has to be another law, right?

In this particular case, let’s consider that:

The alleged shooter was on psych meds, like all school shooters;

He was expelled from the school for threats and violent behavior;

The police were called to his house 39 times! in a year;

The FBI received a tip he might be a potential school shooter and did nothing;

The subject school, like nearly all government schools, was a “gun free” zone;

A law to legalized lawful arms carry in “gun free” zones was shot down in FL last year;

In Florida, Wednesday, it was illegal to: bring a gun to a school; point a gun at any person; disrupt educational process; shoot people; commit murder … ;

As with all terrorist and most American felons, the shooter was previously know to authorities – this one was known to everyone from the teachers to the FBI.

What new law could have made any difference here? The even the odds Bill I mentioned the other day might have. About the only intelligent thing I’m hearing from any politician is the Broward County Sheriff, Scott Israel, calling for expanded Florida Baker Act provisions to temporarily detain potentially mentally ill criminals – before they act.

This case looks like the complete and utter failure of law and law enforcement.

Maybe it’s not the law. Maybe it’s the people. Something to think about.

Jeff Sessions Goes All Common Law, All County Guardian

13 Tuesday Feb 2018

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Says the AG:

“I want to thank every sheriff in America. Since our founding, the independently elected sheriff has been the people’s protector, who keeps law enforcement close to and accountable to people through the elected process,” Sessions said in remarks at the National Sheriffs Association winter meeting, adding, “The office of sheriff is a critical part of the Anglo-American heritage of law enforcement.”

Interesting that he’s not going after the weed or re-explaining something to Congress.

Very interesting that such an innocuous phrase might generate fear of “nefarious meaning.”

Most interesting that a 1970’s television show theme had it right:

He has no fear,
he’s always here,
his morale stands alone.
A man of dreams,
who guards our things as if they were his own.
He walks the streets from early dawn,
he stands behind our laws.
Both big and small,
he bends them all,
who dares to fight his cause.

-Sheriff Lobo, Frankie Lane.

That was the way it was, the way it was supposed to be…

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Lobo.

Crimes that Ring a Bell

11 Sunday Feb 2018

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An enterprising student-employee at my alma mater faces the state’s wrath. His crime? Dissatisfied with his grade, he merely hacked the professor’s computer and changed it. Forced out of UGA, he now faces EIGHTY! charges – of computer trespass and computer forgery.

These are actual crimes and, if the victim is the government or its agents, then they will be prosecuted.

As with that young Brit who hacked the CIA, there has to be a better “punishment” for this man. How about making him head of the University IT department. Obviously knows what he’s doing.

A far worse pattern of crime is committed daily, hourly by some who have little to no idea what they’re doing. That, or they just don’t give a rat’s behind.

Alarm Bells are Ringing on the Federal Debt

You don’t say? Heck, I’ve tried to ring that one myself a time or two. It’s a little hard since they removed the hammer. Anyway, at least The Hill noticed:

Well, it’s true. Congress is bankrupting the country and robbing future generations of Americans to pay for it. It’s dangerous. A debt crisis, and all the terrible economic effects of that, are looming. Both parties are guilty. Every single congressional leader is to blame.

Okay, so it’s true. But how did it happen, and how are they getting away with it? The events of this week perfectly illustrate how the one-way spending ratchet works, why Congress votes to pass it, and how they’re getting away with it.

The Bipartisan Budget Act is 652 pages long. The bill increases spending by $386 billion over two years and nearly $1.5 trillion over 10 years. It also suspends the debt ceiling until after the next election.

Ah! That cool bipartisanship everyone loves. “Gettin’ the people’s business done!”

My (on books) debt projection of $40 Trillion by 2024 may be a little low.

How did this happen? Well, someone elected these cretins. How do they get away with it? Well, I predict most will be re-elected. It’s kind of like the frozen snake: invite a robber into your home and odds are you’ll be robbed. The people’s business must have something to do with naivete and stupidity. Go ring that bell.

So it goes in America: the grade fixer will go to jail; the monsters who deep-sixed the country will escape with perks and pensions.

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Horme.com.

The Longest Six Hours in Human History

09 Friday Feb 2018

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Did you make it? I assume that, if you’re reading this, you survived the horrid, Earth-shattering, 6-freaking-hour government shutdown.

I know, I know, my world was shaken too.

I found it hard to breath. The sun was a little off schedule this morning. Few birds chirped. I felt disconnected from the gentle, reassuring hand of omnipotent and benevolent governance.

Thank God government that is over!

It’s all Rand Paul’s fault:

“When the Democrats are in power, Republicans appear to be the conservative party. But when Republicans are in power, it seems there is no conservative party. The hypocrisy hangs in the air and chokes anyone with a sense of decency or intellectual honesty.”

-Rand Paul, Senate Floor, February 8, 2018.

The man is crazy, out of control. If only some kind neighbor would step in and sucker punch the doctor for the sake of the people. Another doctor maybe.

Anyway, life will now go on as God government intended. All praise and glory be to the government, from wince all freedom, happiness, prosperity, gravity, energy, and matter flows. I suggest you immediately fall to your knees and send up a prayer (type “Amen!”) to God government for the gifts and glory of government. Repent of your selfish, wicked ways. If not for the government, you wouldn’t even exist.

Next time we might not be so lucky. Next time life could be suspended for … what? … seven hours?! The thought crushes the very (government provided) soul and tortures the (government enriched) mind.

* I occurred to me, as I wrestled with the technology related to a forth-coming video this morning, that I might make another on this subject: something about the Gospel of Government Prosperity. Eh? It could be like an inspirational sermon/documentary wherever the state is worshipped. For the other 3%, it could be a standup routine.

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NBC15, Madison, WI.