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Agreed that we need to let this play out and get all the facts. But short of finding literal dead bodies buried at Mar-a-Lago, Monday's charade was indeed a Rubicon moment for the Democrat machine and for America. What has been done can never be undone. Or forgotten.

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Yikes, Brad. You’re writing this as if its Dec 7, 1941. Will everyone just chill and stop their brain cells from exploding? It’s embarrassing.

And if the FBI turn up nothing - and Trump isn’t charged. What will you do? Scream and get violent- I don’t think so. You’ll vote Republican up and down the ticket in 2022 or 24.

And voila! America survives another day.

And since America is so so exceptional, perhaps we can look at our trusted ally in democracy, Israel, and see how they’ve handled their investigation and indictment of their erstwhile leader Netanyahu. Bribery charges and yet he still is in politics, still striving to be leader of his country again. They’ve proven no one is above the law.

And we can too.

Time for a gin and tonic. We can meet at the local bar.

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I appreciate your positive outlook on the situation -- I honestly do -- I'm just not so sure that we haven't reached a point as a (newly third world) nation where this is not the new normal. I do hold out hope for a mini revolution in November along with momentum to continue through 2024. But so much can go wrong (and has) such that the best I can muster is a guarded hope with a very real possibility of the opposite. It all rests upon enough of the voters to see through the fog of propaganda and MSM mendacities. So many cannot.

In the meantime I will most definitely take you up on that G&T. Tanqueray or Bombay Sapphire, please. And remember to squeeze the lime over the ice first, as our British cousins would require.

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What an naive reply. As Hunter Biden and Hillary Clinton continue to demonstrate that there are people that a not just above the law, but brazenly above it, the rest of the country has to sit by and is told to remain calm as the Administrative State’s Brown Shirts take a flamethrower to the republic.

People should be rightfully filled with unrelenting rage at what just happened.

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No, Russell.

Just vote Biden out. There are others who feel just like you, but against Trump and everything he stands for. And they’re going to try and make sure he doesn’t come back.

It’s vote against vote.

And that is how this will go on.

No other way.

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There is a great interview with Martin Armstrong on Greg Hunter's USA Watchdog. He says we're not in Guatemala where we can just throw the opposition in jail or kill them. This is dangerous ground and he thinks there might not even be any more elections. Martin is a cycle expert and he says we're in the war cycle. The raid on Trump's home delivered a deathblow to democracy.

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The biggest mystery for me is why it took nine hours to find and remove whatever it was the FBI was looking for. It wouldn’t surprise me if they spent a small fortune on a house mock-up, preparing like it was the Bin laden raid. Considering that Trump had already invited them over a month or so prior and gave them a tour of the place only adds to the puzzlement. No one could expect them to be Seal Team 6 but considering it was broad daylight and no terrorists were shooting at them the length of their stay is a bit perplexing.

Then again, I doubt Melania’s boudoir was part of their previous tour. It’s not every day a G-Man gets to visit the private quarters of someone as beautiful and exotic as her. I’m sure that once they gained access, they felt it their duty to sift through everyone of her underwear drawers and fondle, er search every single pair of her panties. Add in a little sniffing here, a little more there and a few hours could easily elapse. Maybe Biden was watching the operation in the situation room, sniffing away vicariously, encouraging them to indulge a little longer… And, seeing as they were already emulating the tactics of their spiritual leader, J Edgar Hoover, maybe they figured what the hell, let’s go all in and have a little dress up party in her more opulent finery. Hmmm, between applying make-up, squeezing into her more titillating lingerie, romping around and exchanging pronouns to see who gets bent over, I think I’ve solved the mystery.

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They are closer to F Troop than Seal Team 6.

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Mark Levin asserts that we are living in the Post-Constitutional America. Here's what the Fourth Amendment says about search and seizure:

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

Tell me if this in any way applied to the Trump home assault, or Paul Manafort - held in solitary confinement for a year to convince him to lie about President Trump until subsequently pardoned by Trump. Same thing with Roger Stone.

I had hoped for more from the Democrats, though frankly I'm not surprised. What I really want to know, though, is Where Are The Republicans? Why have they not organized a massive, national protest? What's wrong with you people?

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"Tell me if this in any way applied to the Trump home assault."

First, "assault"? The raid on Brionna Taylor's apartment was an assault. This wasn't.

Second, everything you listed applied to the search of Trump's home. FBI obtained a legal search warrant. It was signed by a federal judge, who needed probable cause to sign such warrant. Warrant was properly executed, with two Trump lawyers were on premises. FBI provided an inventory of every item seized. Trump can put that list on the Internet if he chooses. Why hasn't he?

Not even the shoutyheads of right-wing media are claiming the search was illegal, they're just in screaming vapors that it happened to their meal ticket.

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The terms "houses, papers, and effects" have been redacted in the DoJ version of the Constitution.

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I’m not at all saying this isn’t political theater, but here is a gentle reminder that ‘probable cause’ is a pretty wide-ranging legal concept, especially when compared to guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. They are not the same standard. PC is nothing more or nothing less than facts or circumstances that would make a reasonable person conclude that a crime is being or has been committed. That very simple definition is what all warrants and arrests are based on (at least they should be). The actual guilt is and should be determined later in the courts. The key to the Constitution being successful (and the Fourth Amendment specifically) is the whole concept of what constitutes an honest and reasonable person. That definition is most assuredly up for debate, now more than ever. Unfortunately, the FBI and Justice department have tarnished their reputations by being party to political theater in the past. Trust is such terribly difficult thing to rebuild, and it is an imperative and irreplaceable part of our justice system.

I agree that we may well be living in a post-constitutional era. It is heartbreaking to say it, but I think you are right on that point. Law enforcement’s first duty should be to the Constitution itself, but I believe we will begin to see the police and the courts used more and more to impose the political will of whoever is in charge. Of course, law enforcement and magistrate judges are merely the first cog in a big wheel when it comes to justice. It takes a lot of honest people working together to uncover the truth and present all the facts for a fair trial in front of a jury. It’s a messy and often lengthy process. This often does not mesh well with our current culture of instant knowledge and gratification. It also does not fit in well with the current social media hellscape. An accusation is enough for the mob to cry guilty or innocent based on association alone. I am almost convinced that we are no longer a nation of laws, but more of a loosely organized compilation of ambiguous morals determined by party and/or political affiliation. It’s okay if someone’s a crook; as long as they’re our crook. It’s quite distressing to this ex-cop.

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Oh, I’m so sorry, I forgot to thank you for your service. THANK YOU.

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"It’s okay if someone’s a crook; as long as they’re our crook." This is the problem with the raid. When HRC destroyed evidence in the form of hard drives and Blackberries, no one had a problem with it. She was cleared of all charges. There is a double standard in how our laws are enforced, which makes us little more than a banana republic. BTW, thank you for service!

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I agree with your point on HRC. That situation could very easily fit in as a very specific example of selective enforcement based on political leanings. That is why law enforcement must remain neutral and centered on the Constitution (FBI included).

Whoever supports the Constitution is my friend. Whoever tries to circumvent it is my enemy.

Also, thanks for the thank you, but I was only on the job for five and a half years before I decided I’d had enough. I’d reserve my thanks for the ones who have been doing it their whole adult lives or for the rookies who are brave (or crazy) enough to sign up for the shit show it has become. Most of the ones I know and love are just regular folks who care very deeply about doing the right thing. Pray it stays that way.

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I do appreciate them and I will pray for their safety in these uncertain times. They are good folks, to be sure. Anyone brave enough to do that job deserves thanks and respect.

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God, you have made some really good statements which in and of itself makes me mad. I just want to shoot from the hip and not pay attention to a whole lot of reasoning right now. I just want to be outraged for a while.

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I too am often infuriated by the bombardment of bad news we face daily. The following is much easier said than done, but is still good advice from Marcus Aurelius that I have often found comfort and meaning in:

“There is but one thing of real value – to cultivate truth and justice, and to live without anger in the midst of lying and unjust men.”

Marcus Aurelius was probably a lot more capable of living in this manner than I am, but it’s a worthy aspiration. This quote also reminds me that the issues and threats honest people face today are not exactly new. If others have weathered them, so might we.

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Ironic you quote Marcus Aurelius. Was there any Augustus who WASN'T a "lying and unjust man"? /s

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Probably not; they were mere mortals after all. I’m sure even ol’ Marcus told a fib or two. Still, I like what he said, and he had the wisdom to recognize the importance of the sentiment.

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He was a better philosopher than Emperor; the wheels rather came off when Verus died of some random plague.

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Yes, a worthy aspiration. And you are right, none of this is new. But remember also that ultimately Rome was extinguished and Western Civilization was plunged into 1000 years of the Dark Ages. So it’s not a “happily ever after” story.

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Oh, my, you’re just too good. How can I possibly be angry with such kind, considerate and really good advice. And, yet, here I am. You don’t need to worry about my rage. Yes, I said rage. Right now, I just want to wallow in it. It doesn’t mean that I’m going to go off my rocker and stark babbling and speaking in tongue. Actually, right now, you’re making me smile and I’m starting to laugh and, I find that…………..this must stop. geez, Cal, I just want to be outraged. This is America, land of the free and angry. Now, that made me feel good.

OK? Come on.

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I know, I know. I am the worst. That gave me a laugh too. I also freely admit that there are few things more worthy of rage than the seemingly incessant spiraling of our country.

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Jim Wills: OMG! What you just said ‘What’s wrong with you people?” Referring to the Republicans is exactly what I think most people have been saying for along time. Where is their sense of anger and outrage that cannot be contained like the rest of us. Where is their backbone. They should be rallying on the steps of the capital. But NO. I want to see them angry! But no, we get lily-livered excuses for statesmen and women. I think I’m more angry at them than I am of the traitors of the FBI OR THE AG.

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""The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.""

I'm quite confident all of that happened.

But still if it was just related to document retention that wouldn't have been sufficient for a warrant on the ex-president even if it was legal.

but that remains to be seen because we don't have enough data

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Are you saying you're confident the FBI didn't lie or falsify information? Unlike how they did back in 2016 to get FISA warrants passed...

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I'm not confident in anything. I think we have WAY to little info to tell.

But I do know they'd better bring the goods after breaking this norm

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Disagree. The crossing of this rubicon should have been followed up with an immediate press conference letting the American people know EXACTLY what they were looking for, and why the raid was necessary as opposed to simply asking for the document back, or continuing on with any legal negotiations that were already in place.

The fucking feds don't get the benefit of the doubt. This should be met with hellfire and unrelenting scorn.

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Caesar understood that if and when you cross the Rubicon, you have to defy the Senate; march on Rome; and put down your enemies.

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I've read that voter support for Biden is much lower than the polls say. The democrats are desperate and have to borrow, lie, cheat and steal to stay in power. They have no intention of paying any money back. The stock market could be heading toward a collapse. This is only shocking if it catches someone by surprise. People are upset and worried and rightfully so.

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On the side of voting machines in Democrat precincts it says "Xerox".

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If this were a legitimate law enforcement activity you would be correct. The raid on Trump's personal residence was anything but. 40+ bulging, roid-raging jack booted Feds armed to the teeth inundating someone's home to look for some (allegedly) missing paperwork? Were they expecting to encounter Scarface? I'm honestly surprised they didn't call in the amphibious teams they used to assault Roger Stone.

What we witnessed was pure political theater, akin to the 1/6 show trials. Made for TV Bread and Circuses to entertain, enrage, amuse, or simply distract the plebs while the dirty work continues out of sight.

Like the Russia collusion fiction, or the Ukraine, or 1/6, the mere accusation is all that registers with the masses. Nothing will likely come of this in terms of charges or legal actions. Only the searing memories of the raid, for which there will be no apologies or reckoning.

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Exactly what is a "jackboot" anyway? And "missing paperwork"?? Apparently they were seizing classified documents. You remember previous politicians with classified documents (<cough>*illary <cough>*linton), don't you? And please tell me that every menial at Mar-A-Lago, every maid and bartender and pool boy isn't being paid by China, Russia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc. etc. to pass on what they come across.

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Did you know that unlike the secretary of state, the president has plenary power to declassify anything they want while president? ANYTHING. Hillary never had executive power or privilege, save for in her fevered dreams. And neither Hillary nor any other federal official elected to high office has never had their rights home raided over disputes of confidentiality. This is an unprecedented move to attack a political opponent who has already been drug through the legal mud over the last five years. Every story concocted by Schifty Schiff and the Clinton machine has been met with action by the FBI against Trump to no avail. The Mueller probe spent $60M on a side ranging investigation and found nothing. Nevermind the taxpayer dollars being frivolously waisted NY State and NYC AGs. This is a witch hunt.

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"If this were a legitimate law enforcement activity you would be correct. The raid on Trump's personal residence was anything but"

We can't know that until the evidence comes out. And it had better.

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