GA House Speaker David Ralston And The Silence of the Dogs

What's up down South? The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported last week (Feb 13) on what looks (to my tired Yankee eyes) like an appalling abuse of power by the Republican Speaker of the House David Ralston:

Alleged victims say powerful Georgia lawmaker repeatedly delays cases

...

Yet more than four years after his indictment [on domestic violence, aggravated assault] Shell remains a free man, the charges against him stymied. A big reason: He paid a large retainer fee to hire an attorney who is also one of Georgia’s most powerful lawmakers, state Speaker of the House David Ralston.

Just as Ralston has done for other clients charged with violent or heinous crimes, he used his elected position to delay hearings and court dates, preventing the case from moving forward in the Gilmer County justice system.

“That’s why I gave him 20,000 bucks,” Shell told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “He’s worth every penny of it.”

A joint investigation by the AJC and Channel 2 Action News found that Ralston appears to be misusing the power of his public office to benefit his private law practice. By doing no more than writing letters to judges declaring that court dates interfere with his lawmaking duties, he has been able to keep cases perpetually off the docket. But his tactics can thwart justice, harm crime victims and put the public at risk.

Ralston has tied up cases for clients charged with child molestation, child cruelty, assault, terroristic threats, drunk driving and other crimes.

...

Under a state law dating back to 1905, judges and prosecutors must defer to the legislative schedule of any practicing attorney who serves in the General Assembly. Other attorney-lawmakers, though, are mainly relegated to claiming the exemption during the annual 40-day legislative sessions.

As House speaker, Ralston, who practices law in the rural, mountainous counties of North Georgia, can claim conflicts year-round. In 21 cases examined in four counties over a two-year period, he filed 57 requests for continuances.

This story seems to have it what it takes to generate a media storm, namely sympathetic (alleged) victims and a Republican evil-doer. But maybe the media can't rally without footage of Ralston in a MAGA hat (or blackface!). A Google News search on "David Ralston" returns articles by the AJC, Channel 2 Action News, and Fox News. I'll credit Erick Erickson with the Fox coverage, since he has been pounding the table on Twitter for more coverage.

So why the media silence? The AJC bloggers wondered about a related question today - why the muted response from Democrats?

***

Earlier this morning, we told you that House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, is facing criticism after an AJC investigation that found he frequently delayed criminal court cases by claiming the dates interfered with his legislative duties. 

But as we have often said in this space, the dogs that don’t bark are sometimes just as important as the ones that do. What goes unsaid can be just as important as what’s said. This is the statement that arrived late Friday from the state Democratic party, via spokeswoman Maggie Chambers:

“These revelations show that Speaker Ralston has abused his power as a public servant to delay and deny justice for crime victims. As a legislator who has been given the trust of his constituents, he needs to remember his duty and put the needs of Georgia families before his own self-interest.”

“Needs to remember his duty” is a far cry from calling for Ralston’s resignation, a demand which -- so far as we know -- hasn’t passed the lips of any elected official in the state Capitol.

The Democratic party statement is a reminder that Ralston has been an occasional partner with Democrats in the Legislature on some particularly crucial issues. And we’ve a long way to go before this session of the General Assembly is finished.

The silence has struck some as concerning. WSB Radio’s Erick Erickson is currently pushing his followers to contact members of the House Ethics Committee, Democrats included.

Huh. 

I would not presume to lecture either Erick Erickson or the AJC on the subtleties of Georgia politics, but... oh, let me do just that. This article describes the 40 day agenda in the GA capital and notes that Speaker Ralston diverges from the newly elected Republican governor on two attention-getting issues: a Religious Freedom bill opposed by Democrats (and nixed by the last Republican governor) and the state takeover of the Atlanta airport.

...

And they’ve become a very highly charged issue. Republican Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed a RFRA in 2016, saying he was not disparaging the motives of the bill’s supporters, but he found there was a chance it could lead to state-sanctioned discrimination.

State House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, he’s not sure there’s state House support for a RFRA.

He said his concern is that it’s an issue that has the potential to divide the state. 

“I would would just ask us to pause before we get into an issue that has the potential to tear the fabric of the state,” Ralston said at a pre-session press conference last week.

But new Gov. Brian Kemp and new Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan are interested. Both have said they want to pass a RFRA that mirrors the language of the federal law.

And...

Ralston said he’s not ready to embrace the idea of a state takeover of the airport.

If corruption is the concern, Ralston said, “We have law enforcement, we have prosecutors, and I say let’s turn them loose to do what they need to do. I don’t know that you change the entire system because of some bad actors.”

If - IF - that is all that is holding Democrats back, they need to man up, woman up, or hero-up. As to Republican silence, or the media silence generally, I can't explain it. Where is the fact-free rush to judgment when we need it?

BONUS BAFFLER: The media Cone of Silence has fallen over Virginia. Maybe after the political meltdown there, no media members want to go near any southern state political leader. Maybe!

PILING ON: In January the Speaker was trying to rein in the gun rights enthusiasts in his own party, which may be yet another reason Democrats don't mind having him around.

Comments

[Buckeye]

Heather makes the point I made at 7:06, only more eloquent:)

https://www.city-journal.org/jussie-smollett-bigotry

[MissMarple2]

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-02-18/giant-list-msm-fueled-hate-crime-hoaxes-designed-frame-trump-supporters

This seems to be a longer list than the one the Daily Caller had.

[Captain Hate]

In all honesty, don't know what part Rosie played.

Regardless, he strikes me as a suck up, teacher's pet kinda wuss.

His looks don't do him any favors, that's for sure. I just find it interesting that McCabe spares no effort to portray him as one of them. If he was and Trump unwisely trusted him, wouldn't McCabe keep that quiet?

[MissMarple2]

https://dailycaller.com/2019/02/18/report-box-office-revenue-eight-year-low/

Maybe if Hollywood didn't have most of their stars posting hate of Trump and his supporters and had some originality, people might attend a movie.

[Buckeye]

If he was and Trump unwisely trusted him, wouldn't McCabe keep that quiet?

Maybe McCabe thinks Rosie effed him over.

[clarice]

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/272873/justice-democrats-orchestrators-green-new-deal-discover-networks

[MissMarple2]

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-not-mentally-well-should-be-removed-under-25th-amendment-former-bush-ethics-attorney-says

I guess all of us would fall in Mr. Painer's "mentally unwell" camp.

To heck with him.

[anonamom]

Regardless, he strikes me as a suck up, teacher's pet kinda wuss.
Me too. I'm guessing POTUS laid it all out for him on that plane ride they took right after it first became known RR offered to wire up. The deal is RR retires w his pension. McCabe knows it too, and he is doing all he can to get RR in the "we hang together, or we hang separately" mindset by painting the picture of RR being one of the "cool kids" at the DOJ/FBI Sedition Ball planning committee meeting.

And now McCabe is adding "we ran it by the teachers and chaperones " by throwing in the Gang of Eight info.

Some fellow interviewing one of my kids for college many moons ago told said kid:
"Life is all high school. It just gets easier to get away from the kids you don't like as you get older."

[henry]

Illinois, what can't it screw up? (with the help of other Dems):

but the Milwakuee sewage district dumping raw human waste into Lake Michigan (Chicago's drinking water source) is cool because blue hell.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-foxconn-plant-congress-environmental-impact-20190215-story.html

[henry]

oops

[MissMarple2]

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/02/18/watch-melania-trump-denounces-oppression-of-socialism-declares-hope-for-venezuelans/

[Extraneus]

The white male assailant called me a “fucking Paki” as he hit me in the face with maybe a signet ring & ran away like a coward.

I'm calling b.s. on this. Just like no one ever uttered the phrase "This is MAGA country," I've been white all my life and have never known anyone to be prejudiced against Pakistanis, or who would think to call someone a "Paki," regardless of qualifier.

[MissMarple2]

Ronna McDaniel
‏Verified account @GOPChairwoman
38m38 minutes ago

Bernie Sanders is a socialist whose radical agenda would cost trillions, more than double your taxes & give government control over nearly every aspect of our lives.

@realDonaldTrump is right: America will never be a socialist country.

Bernie Sanders will never be president.
=================================
I am glad to see Bernie called out right away.

[henry]

Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney recently told top Trump administration officials during a meeting that their "highest priority" would be deregulation in the coming year, Axios reported Sunday.

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/430431-mulvaney-told-trump-officials-their-highest-priority-will-be

[MissMarple2]

Extraneus,

"With maybe a signet ring?" Who would throw in "signet?"

Did it leave the impression of a letter or coat of arms on his face?

Pffft.

[anonamom]

janet posted this last night. Smollett's announcement from last year re: his album, but comments (fresh) not to be missed. Seems to be a major "blacklash." Some truly great gifs I've never seen before:

https://twitter.com/JussieSmollett/status/966373821665210369

Can non Twitter users view this??

[MissMarple2]

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/430519-nyc-to-ban-harassment-discrimination-based-on-hairstyle

[Another Bob]

It’s a lot of fun to watch the various prog special interests going after each other as in that tweet linked above.

Moar please.

[MissMarple2]

Bernard B. Kerik
‏Verified account @BernardKerik
7m7 minutes ago

Napolitano: Trump's Fury Should be Directed at Rosenstein | http://Newsmax.com https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/andrew-napolitano-rod-rosenstein-andrew-mccabe/2019/02/19/id/903266/ … via @Newsmax

=================

Well, if Napolitano thinks he's guilty, maybe we should think he's a white hat.

[Another Bob]

(The tweet about blacks going after the white LGBTQWTFBBQs.)

[James D.]

Me too. I'm guessing POTUS laid it all out for him on that plane ride they took right after it first became known RR offered to wire up. The deal is RR retires w his pension.

What I wish for is that it went down exactly like that, except that when all is said and done, and after the witch hunt is over, the President reneges on the deal and destroys RR anyway.

[Extraneus]

I'm with Cates on RR.

Me too.

[henry]

snowblower race:

https://twitter.com/KellyCanuckTO/status/1097572639139381251

(more snow tomorrow)

[Threadkiller]

What exactly is Cates position on RR?

I think I'm mostly with him as well. But maybe I'm unclear on what Cates thinks.

[henry]

Cates protests too much.

[MissMarple2]

Inbox: Donald J. Trump for President Announces New Staff Hires for the 2020 Campaign pic.twitter.com/zSvMBsP7WY

— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) February 19, 2019

Link goes to a screen cap of press release. I don't recognize any of the names, but some of you might.

[anonamom]

Is it still helpful to give up meat and eat mainly chicken and fish?

NO. That stuff was all total BS, mostly fabricated, the rest drawn from the worst kind of "studies" ever--people's recall of what they ate the preceding month.

You somehow managed to have missed both Gary Taubes and Nina Teicholz?

I hope you're not reading Jane Brody for nutritional guidance. She seems to have missed them too.
(Why is that woman still writing for NYT?)

That whole "bacon, bacon, bacon" thing is about red meat and animal fat being HEALTHY again.

[henry]

TK as far as I can tell Cates is stuck on the "Trump would fire him if he wasn't a white hat" excuse, the "Mueller Trum,p meeting st off the intricate 50 year plan to catch Hillary" silliness, etc. Plus 11 D chess.

[Account Deleted]

((Can non Twitter users view this??))

Yes.
There are certain twitter users that I view like I would a blog.

I'm not ON twitter though.

[MissMarple2]

https://donsurber.blogspot.com/2019/02/trump-does-reagan.html?spref=tw

Comments on the speech in Florida yesterday, plus parallels to the 80's.

[MissMarple2]

Donald J. Trump
‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump
5m5 minutes ago

As I predicted, 16 states, led mostly by Open Border Democrats and the Radical Left, have filed a lawsuit in, of course, the 9th Circuit! California, the state that has wasted billions of dollars on their out of control Fast Train, with no hope of completion, seems in charge!
=============
Redone to substitute "states" for "cities."

[MissMarple2]

Donald J. Trump
‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump
5m5 minutes ago

The failed Fast Train project in California, where the cost overruns are becoming world record setting, is hundreds of times more expensive than the desperately needed Wall!
===========
Redone to correct typo.

[Threadkiller]

Thanks, Henry.

Cates main point seemed to be that Rosenstein isn't a coup plotter. I agree with that.

The rest seemed to be the same defensive haymakers that didn't connect when Sessions finally slipped from the 4D moving goal post theories.

[Account Deleted]

I liked the "Marked Safe" picture.

- Marked Safe from Redneck Nigerians Today.

- Thanks to Jussie, we know Redneck Nigerians exist🙏

- And all this time we thought they were just princes that sucked at banking but could write emails like a mofo

Hah!

[lurkersusie]

Not secret anymore

Grand Jury Looking Into Case Of Ex-FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe : NPR

https://www.npr.org/2018/09/06/645308583/grand-jury-looking-into-case-of-ex-fbi-deputy-director-andrew-mccabe

[Threadkiller]

That article is from September of 2018, lurkersusie.

[Tom R]

Brian Cates makes a case against a strawman. And he sounds like he is on edge.

Nah he is just trying to get people who think Rosenstein is a Black Hat to look at the facts and connect the dots.

He made one observation I had never thought of. He said the reason Rosenstein is resigning in mid-March is so that he can testify against the members of the Obama criminal cabal. This scandal is uncharted waters so I don’t know what the law actually is. Can the AG or DAG testify in a criminal court case?

[henry]

lurkersusie, here's the thing. That article was 5 months ago on a grand jury that had been meeting for some time. The grand jury started with whatever the IG found. And no indictment?

[Buckeye]

NO. That stuff was all total BS, mostly fabricated, the rest drawn from the worst kind of "studies" ever--people's recall of what they ate the preceding month.

I'm with anonamom on this (ribeyes tonight).

Evolving caveman ate whatever he killed that day.

[Threadkiller]

Nah he is just trying to get people who think Rosenstein is a Black Hat to look at the facts and connect the dots.

Is that what that was?

[Tom R]

I'm mostly with Cates as well. I'm not sure who he is battling here on whether or not RR is a coup plotter since I don't know who here ever thought that of RR.

Rocco and Maryrose are two I can think of off the top of my head. Plenty of others here who think Rosenstein is a Black Hat. There are only two people here, myself and CH, who have consistently taken the position Rosenstein is a White Hat.

PS If you now agree with CH and me welcome to the team.

[clarice]

henry, I thought all Milwaukee sewage was transformed into Milorganite. Has that stopped?

[henry]

clarice, the combined runoff / sewer system overflows (even with the "deep tunnel" boondoggle) when it rains. still putting billions of gallons of raw sewage in the lake every year.

[Threadkiller]

CH thinks RR is a White Hat? I thought he thought RR just wasn't that bad of a person.

Rocco and maryrose thought RR plotted a coup? I thought they thought of him as a black hat but not a plotter.

Thanks for the clarification.

[anonamom]

cathy f, thanks for confirming (10:47) that I'd read something you'd posted along those lines a while ago. Massive congratulations! Your kids have to be elated that their momma will be around for their weddings, their kids. A huge gift!

I know you already know you are one of the seven or eight people on this planet who have lost and kept off weight by counting calories and recording them (or Weight Watchers would have gone under decades ago), and I know you know from the three points you wrote that calories ARE different, based on the biochemical/ endocrine responses said calories trigger.
Carbs--> insulin-->drop in blood sugar--> HUNGER! -->EAT!!

You also note a certain 'fanatical compulsiveness' allows you to enjoy your success.

Since most humans are not OCD enough to do the recording and weighing and measuring to be successful by counting calories, and triggering insulin leads to fat storage over fat expenditure, the success with low carb/high fat eating and weight loss/health restoration for significant numbers of people makes it the most practical "eating plan" for the masses that have fat to get rid of. And why so many people have found great success with it.

It's not hard to find a McDonald's when you are hungry, order two cheeseburgers, toss the buns, eat what's left, and not eat again for six hours when you are NOT HUNGRY!**
There isn't any will power involved in not overeating if you are not hungry.
Getting on the scale the next day and seeing you've lost weight in the face of eating not one but two cheeseburgers he previous day is enough of a reward for mot people to keep on keeping on.

**jimmy k, I do NOT find it hard to cook for a family this way either, though will power does come in to play, as if my guys are very physically active, I do cook up carbs for them, and have to refrain from eating what Ex noted yesterday are indeed truly delicious things.

[henry]

Nice blue hell:

The rising, now five-year tide of refugees — a net loss of 45,116 residents last year, according to census estimates — has debunked that long convenient thinking about Illinois. Fact is, Illinois isn’t static. Jobs and people are on the move. Which is why, as this state’s population drops, that of every other Midwest state is growing.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-pritzker-illinois-budget-speech-20190213-story.html

[Threadkiller]

PS If you now agree with CH and me welcome to the team.

Isn't your main gripe that words shouldn't be twisted? How do you read what I write and conclude with that PS BS?

[Buckeye]

RR is the kinda guy who got a wedgie every morning in the high school lobby before the 1st period bell rang:)

[Old Lurker]

MM: "It's amazing. And OL wonders why I am confident! Ha!"

:-) well then I have the perfect stump song just for you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0DusO6ipLw&t=104s

From your friend,

Eeyore.

[Threadkiller]

person should be player.

[MissMarple2]

http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/51264

From the Kremlin, news that Kissinger was there in February and met with Putin. There is a photo at the link.

[Captain Hate]

CH thinks RR is a White Hat? I thought he thought RR just wasn't that bad of a person.

I think he's someone who Trump trusts. There are some sketchy things in his past that Trump has chosen to overlook for what I assume are good reasons. The DOJ is so utterly corrupt that it's difficult to imagine anyone in a position of responsibility not to have encountered some problematic situations.

[hoyden]

If Rosenstein is designated as a white rat then that covers all the bases.

[MissMarple2]

Whoops! That Kremlin article was from February of 2016!

[Threadkiller]

I think he's someone who Trump trusts.

I think he is someone Trump thought he could control.

[Old Lurker]

You guys impressed how I stirred up that cat fight last night between A-mom and Jane?

It was just my first step in reviving the JOM Ladies Mud Wrestling competition.

[Extraneus]

I've always thought RR was a straight shooter, and particularly so after the congressional hearing when he was rudely attacked by Jordan and Gohmert. As for his hat, I think it's more of a Boy Scout cap (like Sessions') than an actual hat, and I'm guessing he's disappointed in Mueller's witch hunt but couldn't figure out how to completely rein him in. I'm also guessing that he probably did help to protect Trump.

As for the theory that he had to resign before he could stand as a witness in criminal trials, that sounds like like a stretch.

[clarice]

It's also true that RR had other responsibilities besides supervising Mueller and DJT needed him to keep the other DOJ operations running.

[Threadkiller]

Mayde RR actually did suggest wearing a wire around some Feds he didn't trust to see what their reactions would be.

[Old Lurker]

RR? You guys need to adopt the James & OL standard.

Anybody who signed off on these FISA warrants, whether or not they were "played" by their underlings and encouraged to just "sign at the paperclip" or not, can never be a White Hat in my book and needs to get run out of town on a rail. He could not in a million years been ignorant of the plots within plots that surrounded him.

F'em.

[Extraneus]

Just don't see this guy as a coup plotter.

(Click to open.)

[JimNorCal]

Statue of Copernicus in Kraków, Poland.
I don't travel much but Poland was great. And, they're not shy about honoring their past.

[henry]

I'm sure RR was a choir boy in his role during Uranium One. /sarc

[Captain Hate]

If RR was the only straight arrow in that snake pit, it might have been by design to toss some wild scenarios out to see what the reaction was.

[Threadkiller]

It's also true that RR had other responsibilities besides supervising Mueller

Unless the prevailing White Hat theory has changed again, RR was actively protecting Trump by removing McCabe and installing Mueller. The SC was RR's baby.

[clarice]

OL, you are terrible, and don't forget I have kept a file..just saying. It'll be like Pecker vs. Bexo redux.

[Captain Hate]

Or what TK said

[Buckeye]

I think he is someone Trump thought he could control.

I think Trump let Rosie know on the plane ride that he had bigtime dirt on him and told him what he expected.

[James D.]

(more snow tomorrow)

I want it to snow every day.

I like it when it's under 40 degrees, and when it's cloudy, and when the sun goes down around 5 PM. I get depressed in the spring when it warms up, and even more depressed in the summer when it stays light until 8 or 9 PM.

I know I'm a weirdo, but that's just how I roll.

[MissMarple2]

There is actually a Ruth Bader Ginsberg leopard print shirt, where Ginsberg's face makes up the spots. Photos at this link:

https://www.chicksonright.com/blog/2019/02/19/yes-this-is-a-real-shirt-you-can-buy-is-it-creepy-pathetic-or-cute/

It's only February, but I bet that makes the Top 10 fashion disasters list!

[Captain Hate]

Hot weather blows. Every year when September arrives it means I've survived another summer and can start enjoying life.

[MissMarple2]

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/steve-hilton-never-trumpers-just-hate-that-trump-is-actually-succeeding-where-they-failed.amp?__twitter_impression=true

[MissMarple2]

Extraneus,

That daughter on the left in the black and white dress looks JUST like him! Put glasses on her and she would be a dead ringer!

[anonamom]

Here's soemthing to make everybody who finds those Peloton bike ads off putting smile. SO MUCH WIT on Twitter!

https://www.boredpanda.com/twitter-peloton-bike-ads-memes/

[Porchlight]

The Lower Manhattan tour sounds great! Wish I could join you.

Immigrants were processed at Castle Clinton before the processing facility at Ellis Island was built. It is comparatively tiny, which says a lot.

There is a lovely and moving exhibit on the third floor at Ellis Island, called Treasures From Home, that was put together from donations by the families of people who passed through. It is the best thing there imo, but is a bit hidden away.

The one slightly disappointing thing about the otherwise beautiful New York Harbor is the almost total lack of shipping. It is empty. Looking down from the statue of Liberty, I wished I could have seen it in its busy prime.

If you have time, poke your head into the World Financial Center aka Brookfield Place, next to the World Trade Center complex. The Winter Garden atrium was an important gathering area in the aftermath of 9/11. It's since been remodeled, but you can still get a sense of the shelter it provided.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brookfield_Place_(New_York_City)

[MissMarple2]

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/430533-ginsburg-returns-to-supreme-court-for-oral-arguments

[MissMarple2]

John Cardillo
‏Verified account @johncardillo
16s16 seconds ago

I believe I was wrong about Bill Barr. He’s the real deal and might be just what DOJ needs.

Found out a few things that give me real confidence.

No coincidence that Rosenstein’s “departure” leaked a day after Barr took the reins.
0 replies 0 retweets 1 like

[MissMarple2]

I meant to add this comment at my 10:10 opst of Cardillo's tweet.

WHY is it that Cardillo isn't aware that Rosenstein's departure was hinted about in January?

I swear, getting information from Washington is like pulling teeth. People are ignorant of important facts, put their own spin on things, and are generally as reliable as me reading smoke signals.

[henry]

Miss M, people in DC assume everyone outside the Acela corridor are all drooling nitwits in danger of being eaten by cows.

[JimNorCal]

"The white male assailant called me a “fucking Paki” as he hit me in the face with maybe a signet ring & ran away like a coward."
Ext:
I'm calling b.s. on this. Just like no one ever uttered the phrase "This is MAGA country," I've been white all my life and have never known anyone to be prejudiced against Pakistanis, or who would think to call someone a "Paki," regardless of qualifier.

It's a British-ism, far more common over there.
I bet "signet" is too, probably their equivalent phrase for "high school ring".

[Threadkiller]

WHY is it that Cardillo isn't aware that Rosenstein's departure was hinted about in January?

Because of the incredibly poor sourcing of the January story.

Media sources reported on media sources that talked to someone familiar with Rosenstein's thinking.

[MissMarple2]

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/430541-trump-to-direct-creation-of-space-force-within-air-force

Signing it at 2PM.

[MissMarple2]

Kamala Harris had no problem using inflammatory rhetoric to tie the #JussieSmollettHoax to @realDonaldTrump & his supporters.

Now that she has the facts, why can't she even remember her divisive language? Why is she giggling about it? pic.twitter.com/imY8lxm89m

— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) February 18, 2019

Video at link.

I am very pleased to see the GOP Chairwoman coming out swinging concerning Harris. I hope this continues.

[JimNorCal]

It seems that signet rings were repopularized in a 2015 flick I didn't even hear about.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-08-24/everything-you-need-to-know-about-wearing-a-signet-ring

[Captain Hate]

The poor quality of journalism is always overlooked by the whiners wondering why nobody trusts them.

Quite a few urine tinted comments as the Chief monkey struggles to justify banning one of his few sane commenters before going into his civil servant job to shuffle papers all day. To be clear, the doofus can do whatever he wants on his trash blog. But it illustrates what a vindictive oaf he is as he pretends to be the true conservative ideal.

[MissMarple2]

Video at link.

https://www.oann.com/n-m-governor-faces-public-impeachment-calls-after-pulling-troops-from-u-s-border/

[MissMarple2]

Donald J. Trump
‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump
8m8 minutes ago

The Washington Post is a Fact Checker only for the Democrats. For the Republicans, and for your all time favorite President, it is a Fake Fact Checker!

[Ignatz Ratzkiwatzki]

--If memory serves me correctly they had more than one campaign. One reached Budapest and was only stopped because the current Khan died and it was the custom to return home when that happened.--

That was the great Hulagu, Ghengis's grandson.
Destroyed Baghdad and Damascus. Was so terrifying the Assassins surrendered without a fight.
Hulagu actually attempted repeatedly to form an alliance with Europe to finally defeat Islam in the form of the Mamluks of Egypt who were the last remaining Islamic power. That's when Mongke Khan died and Hulagu returned to Mongolia.
Subsequently the Mamluks defeated the remnant of the Mongol army Hulagu left behind near Jerusalem; the Mongol's first defeat.

[Marlene]

Good Morning! I've been keeping my eye on NH media. The candidates are starting to descend on the state. These aren't Trump style rallies. These are selected events to pander to certain groups. Kamala
Harris held a meeting at a church in Portsmouth,Tulsi Gabbad held one at a town hall and Kirsten Gillibrand's appearance was at an espresso bar/cafe owned by a LGBT activist. She answered questions and was probably talking too much,because the owner told her he was pressed for time. A teen drag show was coming to perform a show. Corey Booker attended a house party,because people in NH actually let these politicians into their homes. Now Bernie has joined the circus!

[JimNorCal]

For hockey fans, a scary few-second video on the occasional danger of being a sportscaster.

https://mobile.twitter.com/DisGif/status/1097665973358718979

[MissMarple2]

https://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/an-interview-with-chinese-snuff-bottle-collector-vincent-fausone-jr/

I put these articles up from time to time in case, while going through stuff of relatives or junk you have acquired over the years, you find an item that you didn't know was valuable.

I once bought one of these bottles at a garage sale, and sold it on eBay. I now know I should have gotten a LOT more than I did!

[Marlene]

The "kissing statue" in Sarasota was vandalized this morning. #metoo was painted on the leg of the nurse in bright red paint. Disgusting. The sailor depicted in the famous picture just passed away. There are hordes of tourists down here this week and people are going to p*ssed!

[Marlene]

Sarasota Public Works painted over the "graffiti" this morning.

[rse]

Porch-last time I was at Ellis the permanent collections were still stored elsewhere because of the damage suffered during Hurricane in 2012. May want to doublecheck what is on exhibit besides the always impressive building itself. My kids have relatives who came through Ellis from the Ukraine and got the name changed so they wanted to go there.

Someone here asked me recently if I could show that the math changes were some kind of organized conspiracy to gut the US. I have always said the Common Core is not actually about teaching math, but using prescribed experiences to instill desired concepts and new ways of thinking. Just got this post up which continues in that same vein. http://invisibleserfscollar.com/intrapsychic-when-the-key-to-neural-change-lies-in-manipulating-a-students-purpose/

Understnading the desired shift prevents parents from finding what they believe is a different emphasis only to discover later that all the available alternatives are pushing the Education 3.0 vision using different synonyms.

[henry]

those Info Wars people aren't too bright:

CNBC @CNBC
11m

Judge could revoke Roger Stone's bond and send him to jail because of 'crosshair' Instagram post

[MissMarple2]

BIG STORM COMING!

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/soaking-wintry-storm-to-overtake-eastern-us-at-midweek/70007473

Several maps at link, including distribution of rain, snow, and ice, as well as snowfall depth.

[anonamom]

Agree w porch---that Lower Manhattan Tour jimnj outlined sounds SO GREAT I forwarded it to my travel planner. (spouse).
I too wish I could join you.

[MissMarple2]

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/karl-lagerfeld-dead-fashion-icon-chanel-designer-was-85-1178148

[MissMarple2]

Friendly reminder that, after conceding to Hillary, Bernie refused to refund any donations from supporters and instead bought a third house #NeverBernie https://t.co/N5kI7Ykg5H

— Big Game Productions (@BGProductions) February 19, 2019

Link goes to Vanity Fair article.

[MissMarple2]

Donald J. Trump
‏Verified account @realDonaldTrump
3m3 minutes ago

I never said anything bad about Andrew McCabe’s wife other than she (they) should not have taken large amounts of campaign money from a Crooked Hillary source when Clinton was under investigation by the FBI. I never called his wife a loser to him (another McCabe made up lie)!