Guard Dog

In other news: http://www.breakingburgh.com/trump-orders-catapults-placed-along-border-expedite-deportations/?fbclid=IwAR3oYa88rBKshb6jUB60p0K-SgLqY7aNkZN9opa-DnJd04C68qporHtRCi8

Spent the day walking around Cedar Key. Walked into three bars, the first two told me Sunny couldn't come in. The last one not only welcomed her but made her a hamburger patty. Guess which bar I ran up a $60 tab in. Leaving tomorrow to go visit my brother & his family.

Sloppy editing actually. There was only supposed to be one LOL at the end. This iPhone makes everything harder. Plus I hate how it finishes what I am typing, wrongly! FACT! Man, seriously, you're having the internet version of a stroke. Get yourself checked out. No kidding. I guess I'm old fashioned. The iPhone can do what my laptop can mostly but not in my hands is seems.

Sloppy editing actually. There was only supposed to be one LOL at the end. This iPhone makes everything harder. Plus I hate how it finishes what I am typing, wrongly! FACT!

Another lesson that might be learned from that is that a candidate’s presence on the campaign trail only hurts their chances of it being elected to office LOL. After all every time they open their mouth there’s an increased chance something stupid will come out. Just a thought LOL. In other news I started to write a rather long winded response too Pidesco. Then I realized it sounded a lot like conversations had before. I think after 15 years I finally reached the point where the repetition of political discussions has become tedious. I think a lot of you guys got there along time ago. So I guess I’m just late to the party LOL

Took a 1/2 day fishing charter this morning. Only one other paying customer on the boat. Weekdays is DEFINITELY the time to do stuff. Sunny was a social butterfly and made friends with everyone. I caught a 35" snook drifting with pigfish bait about 20 miles west of Shired Island. We had only been out for 45 minutes when I hooked him. It took about 10 min to bring him in. I was VERY happy! The boat captain recommended a taxidermist but nuts to that. I like fish on my table, not on my wall. I have a fillet ready to grill right now. After that I switched to a deep rig for cobia or jacks. Not a nibble but I didn't care. It was a great day. Now relaxing and drinking cold iced tea and watching the sun set.

For real? Never heard that one. Still I can see abandoning historical symbols because they have been appropriated by folks I'd rather not be associated with That one wasn't appropriated, though. It always symbolized what it symbolizes today. If you have ever read a single word I have written here on that subject you would realize how wrong that notion is. IS NOT EQUAL TO The one on the left fought in a war he didn't start under that flag. Which by the way was not the flag of the country that started the war over their "peculiar institution". The one on the right wants to start a war because he never bothered to read a history book about the flags they wave around. Or maybe they did. That would be even worse. Of course a guy wearing the uniform on the left started the thing on the right so there is that. As far as whether they have been appropriated I'll let Robert E Lee speak for himself on the subject of what should be done with his flag: "I think it wisest not to keep open the sores of war, but to follow the example of those nations who endeavored to obliterate the marks of civil strife, and to commit to oblivion the feelings it engendered." He wrote that in a letter in 1865. Sounds like good advice for someone who wanted to honor historical figures. Follow their wishes.

For real? Never heard that one. Still I can see abandoning historical symbols because they have been appropriated by folks I'd rather not be associated with

The Dems take the House, the Pubs extend their majority in the Senate. That suits me just fine. Now they will paralyze each other in gridlock for the next two years and we can get on with living our lives relatively free of their interference. The sniping and name calling that will go on as they all stew in their own venom up in Sodom-on-the-Potomac will just be the icing on the cake.

Regarding my previous post. I’m using the mobile version of the site and speech to text on my iPhone. Forgive any grammatical mistakes and just trying to figure out what I’m getting at. I’m not gonna edit it. Siri has a hard time with my accent I guess.

I was really referring to convictions as a whole. Actually on that point there have been a lot of exonerations particularly to convictions that happen before DNA evidence was really gay thing. Certainly a good thing. These days I imagined it would be very difficult to convict someone absent specific evidence like DNA. But as far as wrongful convictions as a percentage of all crimes that resulted in a guilty verdict by trial I think the rate would be very low. I have no scientific evidence to back it up and my iPhone really is not the tool to do a search like that. The one thing the American system of justice does do correctly as there a tremendous number of checks. The founding fathers wanted a system where it would be better that 10 guilty men go free than one innocent be convicted. That said I’m sure it still happens even in crimes where DNA is not an issue. White collar crime etc as an example. But we digress from the subject chasing this rabbit.

I’m in Cedar Key FL today. Definitely one of my favorite places. We drove through the night got here this morning. I took Sunny for a walk on the beach (this is the gulf coast, it ain’t what you think) and watched her play in the water with her favorite toy. Then bought some spiny lobster tails and grouper filets to grill for dinner. Between now and then it’s beer, Classi Rewind on SiriusXM Radio, and watching the sun roll across the sky. Tomorrow we’re going fishing.

Did you know in hold-em poker an opening draw of off suit Ace & King is called an anna kournikova? The initials are right and it’s a hand that looks good but probably won’t win.

I wonder what the sign that woman was holding originally said? It (the text) was obviously pasted in after.

Aren't like 96% or so of convictions the result of plea bargains in the US? It's not hard to imagine that Hillary ****ing Clinton is one of the the last people in the world you can intimidate with lawyer tactics, so she may not be as amenable to the notion of admitting guilt. Whereas for someone less (TRIGGER WARNING) privileged, the prospect of a long legal battle of uncertain outcome may be enough to agree to a deal with a reasonable, albeit not overwhelming, amount of evidence that may not necessarily guarantee a conviction in a jury trial. It's not that many but it's a lot. But you have to realize by the time you get to trial in the US a criminal charge has already been reviewed by police, a grand jury, and likely more than one judge in motion hearings. By the time it gets to trial, IF it gets to trial, there is going to be a pretty substantial amount of evidence you did whatever you were accused of. With Clinton any hypothetical charge would have been one of negligence. It's probably the steepest mountain to climb since what is at issue to prove is what the defendant knew in their minds. There are a lot of moving parts in the State Dept and political campaigns. Like the FBI said concerning Clinton there was evidence of wrongdoing but no charge that would survive a criminal trial process could be made out. On a tangent here but my biggest problem with the US justice system in not the conviction of the innocent. It does happen but I'd wager it is very rare. Rather it's that the punishment does not fit the offense. Violent offenses in some states are not punished harshly enough while some non violent offenses often face more prison time that violent offenders.

Let's see... police, military, Border Patrol, and now militia all bumping elbows on the border. Now considering most of it is private property add armed landowners and ranchers irritated by all the fuss to the mix. What could possibly go wrong? https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-militia-groups-head-to-border-stirred-by-trump%E2%80%99s-call-to-arms/ar-BBPiGxA This is why you don't cry wolf when the actual wolf (if you could even call it that) is the entire length of Mexico away and on foot.

All my projects for the year are completed (at least for my part). Aside from some compliance process to write I have very little to do until we get our new budget next year. The legislature is done until after the new assembly is seated next year. So I spent most of this week at work playing Franchise Hockey Manager when I thought no one was looking. Going on vacation next week. Sunny & I are going fishing in Cedar Key then going to visit my brother and his family in Ocala. This weekend I'm picking the rest of the garden and canning some and selling the rest. I took a load to the green market this morning and I'll have another tomorrow. Busy busy

I thought my post was pretty clear in that I was criticizing CNN for presenting the story in a dishonest way. rather than commenting on the facts of it. I was calling out the wrapper not the candy. Was that really so hard to discern? As far as "can they" of course they can. It's long settled that non citizens can sue the US or citizens of the US in US court if they have standing to do so. But so imply a band of folks in foot in nowhere Mexico with no money, knowledge of the US or influence anywhere hired a Washington law firm to sure the US Government (which is exactly the narrative some outlets are presenting) is obviously absurd.

Its not just been reported by CNN, but by Fox, National Review, Washington Examiner, etc. as well. And electronic documents on the filing are in some of the news reports, like the Fox news web report. People file legal claims all the time, even spurious ones with no basis, or with the intent of drawing attention to a cause. I believe one of the law firms is a human rights focused law firm, all the lawyers would need would need though is to find individuals in the group willing to be the plaintiffs in the suit, and make it class action so others can be added to it. So I'm a little confused here as how the media has undermined its own credibility by reporting on what appears to be a true news story...? They are presenting is as being initiated by the people in the caravan, not on their behalf by an advocate. You and i both know who is doing this and why but the story CNN was selling on TV this morning is that the migrants themselves hired the lawyers and initiated the claim. The fact that a suit is being brought is not what is false. It's the packaging. When people start foaming at the mouth about "fake news" they are usually referring to the opinion pieces and commentary shows. The EJ Dionne, Paul Krugman, Pat Buchannan, Sean Hannity, Maddow, etc types. They exist just to stir s--t up and are under no obligation to be truthful or even logical. But if CNN, the Washington Post (I read this everyday), USA Today (ditto) or even Fox present a thing as being so in the context of it being news you can believe it is so. But even with that they can make a narrative by presenting facts in a certain light. For example if a law firm is acting pro-bono on behalf of a person or organization they are still that entities legal counsel and can be said to be "retained" by them. So rather than CNN saying "Advocacy groups for" they say the "legal counsel of" all still true but it leaves a very different impression on the viewer. It's all in the packaging. You see what i'm getting at here?

So... let me get this straight... people in the migrant caravan are suing Donald Trump over an EO he hasn't even issued yet. The folks are dead broke and walking somewhere in southern Mexico and CNN this morning tells us with a completely straight face that some members of this gaggle have retained counsel in Washington DC and are bringing an action against the President of the United States? Puh-leeez, You know I shake my head at the whole "The Media is the enemy of the people" and "Fake News" shtick. It's all a bunch or crap. But "the media" (as if it were a monolithic entity) needs no help in undermining it's own credibility. The USA in 2018 is a cynic's paradise. Trust nothing, believe nothing, count on nothing, defend nothing. Religion, patriotism, truth, political leadership, moral leadership, all of it is contaminated and stripped of whatever virtue they once had. It's the nihilists dream. Small wonder I've washed my hands of the whole thing.

So far quite pleased with the Rays & Marlins off season moves.

Wow, politicians appeal to peoples basest emotions to get votes??? I'm shocked. When did that start?

Just a thought here. In the past two years Trump has announced hi intention to do some very radical things. Withdrawing all US dependents and non combatants from South Korea ( a sure prelude to imminent war), withdrawing from NAFTA, SALT, NATO, etc. Using EO to change the the 14th Amendment is just the latest. The thing is, he never did any of them. Some, we now realize, he never intended to do (probably). His was "stirring the pot" so to speak. Ultimatums are a negotiation tactic that work only if you believe the ultimatum will be upheld. He has been unpredictable enough that any threat he makes should be taken seriously. But, what if all of it has been just a show? A means to an end? Rather this is gamesmanship to achieve a goal that might not be achieved by asking or persuasion. Just a thought. Executive Orders not not usually flaunted. George Bush 2.0 & Obama usually did them quietly and on a Friday hoping it will miss the big news cycle and get lost in the weekend news. Some of the most heinous from either were done that way. Trump tries to hide nothing from my observation. And the worse it sounds the louder he is about it. This is all just a supposition on my part. And it is giving Trump a lot of credit he may not deserve. The man is not a fool but he may not be nearly as smart as a tactic like this would require if it IS a tactic. Bluffing is a risky endeavor and you had better be sure your opponent isn't holding Aces full over Kings. I never bothered to read any of his books (which I usually do for Presidents if they wrote one) and I don't know anything about him personally that isn't common knowledge. So like I said this is just a thought I'm throwing out here.

It isn't the number, it's what they do. One executive order that circumvents the legislature, or usurps power not assigned to the Executive Branch is far worse than 1000 that are in the Executive's assigned responsibilities. For example when Truman used one to desegregate the military that was a proper use of an EO. The President is the CIC of the US Military. Even Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation is because slaves at that time were legally "property" and as such a target for confiscation as a "spoil of war". That is why Lincoln was so desperate to see the 13th Amendment passed. Once the war ended the order is no longer valid. Obama using one to change the implementation date of the ACA was not proper. The ACA was passed by Congress and signed by him. It was the law of the land. If a law needs to be changed that is the job of Congress, not the President.