I think this is a good day to start with a little humor before we get to a Federal Reserve Chairman who gave the most irresponsible speech I have ever heard from that Agency, and a Former President who, if he were an ordinary citizen, would have already been carted away but still holds himself out as President.
This comes from daughter Beth:
Three brothers age 92, 94, and 96 live in a house together. One night the 96-year-old draws a bath, puts his foot in, and pauses. He yells down the stairs, “Was I getting in or out of the bath?”.
The 94-year-old yells back “I don’t know. I’ll come up and see”. He starts up the stairs and pauses. Then he yells, "Was I going up the stairs or coming down?”.
The 92-year-old was sitting at the kitchen table having coffee, listening to his brothers. He shakes his head and says, “ I sure hope I never get that forgetful”. He knocks on wood for good luck. He then yells, “ I’ll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who’s at the door”.
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Powell spoke and the market went down about 1000 points. That is ridiculous from both ends. Traders knew what was coming, in substance, and so what the Federal Reserve Chair said should have already been factored in. On the other hand, Powell could have said what he said in a different way that would have not caused a major sell off.
When I prepare witnesses, I always tell them that testimony is like a gift you give your spouse or significant other -- how you wrap the gift is as important as the gift itself. Throw a pen at the recipient and say, “Here, bitch, is your birthday present,” will produce a much different reaction than wrapping the same pen in a nice gift paper, tying it with a fancy ribbon, and writing a note that says “Sweetheart, here is a little token of my love and respect on your birthday”.
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I have had several requests to discuss the unsealing of the redacted affidavit, but frankly, I have heard so many talking heads express so many different opinions, mostly repetitive and /or speculative, that I will limit my comments to some bullet points.
Garland is doing a great job, being very careful. He is trying to anticipate all possible attacks, and is setting up his defenses in advance.
If this did not involve a Former President, Trump would already be indicted. He took documents that were top secret, and some that he took were even more highly classified. There is no way Trump can justify doing what he did. That may not matter, but it is the truth nonetheless.
Trump’s lawyers either are mediocre at best and/or have practically zero control over their client, who does or says one stupid/incorrect thing after another. There is no outstanding lawyer involved on Trump’s team. The left hand does not even know what the right hand is doing.
Trump’s house was not raided. Clearly the warrant issued was validly issued.
There is no witch hunt.
If Trump thinks the Judge should be recused, he has to file a motion.
The lawsuit Trump filed should be dismissed on multiple grounds.
As I previously wrote, indicting Trump has some significant downsides, but not indicting him has greater downsides.
If Trump goes to trial, how is a fair and impartial jury selected? The trial would have to be on another planet.
How dumb is it to bad mouth a judge who could play a major role in putting you in a penitentiary for the rest of your life?
It does not matter if none of the documents Trump took were classified. Referring to the documents by saying “they are MINE" says all that needs to be said about Trump’s state of mind.
Trump thinks he bought and paid for many federal judges, and he cannot understand why any judge would decide any issue on its merits. Life tenure has its advantages
Trump has repeatedly lied. Someone on his side has to keep track of what Trump says and make sure his papers filed with the court(s) are consistent and not contradictory.
How did these documents get to Trump’s house?
Who saw these documents when Trump had them?
What was Trump intending to do with them?
What led the FBI to think Trump had more than the 15 boxes wrongfully taken and retained but eventually turned over? Is there a deep throat?
He will never do it, but Trump should try to make a deal. Things are going to get worse for him, not better.
In a nutshell, Donald Trump stole classified documents or worse from our Country and potentially put us all in severe jeopardy. Any excuses offered are just trying to put lipstick on a pig.
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Biden is finally showing some real backbone and fighting back. I love his reference to those Republicans who are not MAGA Republicans. He is explaining in no uncertain terms what is at stake this coming November. I would like to see him attack McCarthy.
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Marlins lost to Dodgers 10 to 6, giving up five runs in top of the 10th.
By the way, yesterday the team just gave up on Aguilar, who had a bad year, but why just release him?
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Go Ukraine and vote as if your life depended upon it.
P.S. Lockup our 45th President. He deserves nothing less.
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