|
|
Post by mhbruin on Nov 3, 2023 8:40:34 GMT -8
There is no such thing as a grouchy old person. The truth is that once you get old, you stop being polite and start being honest.
The Appeals Court Turned Down the Entitled Asshole.
Former first daughter Ivanka Trump is asking for a pause on the Trump civil fraud trial in New York, claiming that giving testimony during a "school week" would cause "undue hardship," CNBC reported on Thursday.
"The request to stay the entire trial came at the tail end of a Thursday court filing arguing that Ivanka Trump will face 'undue hardship' if forced to testify — in part because she is scheduled to appear 'in the middle of a school week,'" reported Kevin Breuninger. "New York Attorney General Letitia James urged the appeals court to reject that request, calling it a 'drastic' and baseless move that 'would upend an ongoing trial.'"
Ivanka Trump is scheduled to testify along with Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and former President Donald Trump himself in the trial, which centers on whether the latter three systematically falsified property valuations to get more favorable loan deals and other financial arrangements. Ivanka was originally a defendant in the case too, but was removed due to her alleged misconduct being outside the statute of limitations; nonetheless, her knowledge is still believed to be relevant to the case.
She has already sought to appeal the order compelling her to testify.
Her complaint about the school week making testimony unworkable has already drawn derision from commentators and legal experts.
"Is there a person alive who thinks Ivanka and Jared, who seem to travel overseas every time I blink, are sitting around doing laundry and packing their kids’ lunches?" wrote attorney Bradley Moss on his social media.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump's niece Mary Trump posted, "As always, Ivanka has her finger on the pulse of the hardships faced by America's working men and women. Who among us isn't reluctant to leave our children with the governess when we have to travel out of town to testify in their grandpa's fraud trial? She’s such an entitled asshole."
|
|
|
|
Post by mhbruin on Nov 3, 2023 8:43:05 GMT -8
WTF Happened at the End of Yesterday's Trial?
It started with Amer mentioning a phone call in 2021 that had everyone at the Trump table jumping to their feet to object that the call included an attorney and discussing it would be a violation of privilege.
Before Judge Engoron could make a ruling on the matter, Kise started complaining about the clerk---who I can only assume had handed him a note.
Engoron then went white hot on Kise, telling him that if he didn’t lay off the clerk, he would extend the gag order.
Instead of backing down, Kise insisted he had a First Amendment right to attack the clerk.
Enorgon responded that the obsession with the clerk bordered on misogynistic.
Kise said he couldn't be a misogynist because he had a daughter. (Huh?)
Habba defended Kise and said it was just that the clerk was "inappropriate" and was giving Enorgon too much advice.
Enorgon said he could ask for all the advice he wanted, and there was no First Amendment right to place his clerk in danger.
For one hot second, it looked like we were going to get back to the trial. Then the whole thing was done for the day.
|
|
|
|
Post by mhbruin on Nov 3, 2023 8:52:18 GMT -8
The Friday Morning Funnies
|
|
|
|
Post by mhbruin on Nov 3, 2023 9:05:03 GMT -8
You Say "Club". I Say "Residence".
Eric Trump insisted during testimony in a New York fraud trial that his father's Mar-a-Lago resort was a private residence and not a club.
State attorney Andrew Amer questioned Donald Trump's second son for more than an hour Friday morning about the valuation of the former president's property in Palm Beach, Florida, and he testified that he was unaware that the club had been valued for tax purposes as a commercial property that was used as a social club, reported ABC News.
"It is very clear that Mar-a-Lago is not a club, it is a private residence," Trump testified. "I don't see anything wrong with that, 100 percent."
However, previous testimony and documents entered into evidence showed the property was restricted on the deed to club usage, but the ex-president overvalued the resort by listing it as something that could be sold as a private residence.
Judge Arthur Engoron determined before the start of the trial that Mar-a-Lago was overvalued by 2,300 percent.
|
|
|
|
Post by mhbruin on Nov 3, 2023 9:06:48 GMT -8
Citing Breitbart Isn't Bright
Donald Trump’s attorney said he might pursue a mistrial in the $250 million fraud trial because a right wing media website accused a New York City law clerk of bias, a new report shows.
Chris Kise told Judge Arthur Engoron Friday morning he was disturbed by a Breitbart report alleging bias against the clerk, who was the subject of a heated debate between the pair the night before, ABC News reports.
"I think the defense will have to give serious consideration to seeking a mistrial," Kise said.
POLL: Should Trump be allowed to run for office?
"It's not information, it's an allegation," Engoron said of the report, about a “random individual” with “accusations of partisan political activity.”
An attorney from Attorney General Letitia James’s office accused Kise of being frivolous, especially since he appears not to have been able immediately to name the website that published the report.
"I'm not the internet person,” (Huh?) Kise said. "I want to say it is on Breitbart, maybe? It's on a news outlet.”
According to ABC News, this description of Breitbart spurred onlookers to laugh.
|
|
|
|
Post by mhbruin on Nov 3, 2023 9:08:32 GMT -8
"Translation: They're eager to begin gutting Social Security behind closed doors."
|
|
|
|
Post by mhbruin on Nov 3, 2023 9:11:19 GMT -8
|
|
|
|
Post by mhbruin on Nov 3, 2023 9:13:03 GMT -8
Israel Has a Right to Defend Itself, But This Doesn't Come Across as Self Defense
Many casualties feared as Israeli strike hits ambulance convoy carrying wounded as it was leaving al-Shifa Hospital, Gaza officials say.
In a separate attack, children among at least 14 Palestinians killed while escaping south along Gaza’s coastal road, according to officials.
Admittedly, These Are Unconfirmed Reports By Gaza Officials
|
|
|
|
Post by mhbruin on Nov 3, 2023 9:13:49 GMT -8
Otterly Terrifying
A swimmer said he feared for his life after he was attacked by otters in a scenic Northern California lake, leaving him with around 40 puncture wounds.
Matt Leffers said he was bitten at least 12 times while swimming at Serene Lakes in Placer County, about 90 miles northeast of Sacramento, on Sept. 3.
Leffers told NBC News affiliate KCRA 3 in an interview on Thursday, two months after the attack, that he had been swimming in the lake, where his family has a cabin, for 30 years. But he had never experienced anything like this.
He felt something bite his calf and then suffered another bite within seconds.
"And then I started swimming fast, but there was the otter, popped up right in front of me, and then I was bit again," he said.
"These things were so aggressive that, literally, I felt like they wanted to kill me," he continued. "It is by far the most terrifying experience I’ve ever had in my life. Nothing even comes close."
|
|
|
|
Post by mhbruin on Nov 3, 2023 9:18:05 GMT -8
 What the U.A.W. Won In forcing the Big Three automakers to pay higher wages and make other concessions, the union demonstrated the enduring power of organized labor. Under the new labor contract with Ford, which served as the model for the agreements with Stellantis and G.M., fully vested production-line workers will receive cumulative hourly pay increases of about twenty-seven per cent, and some members of skilled trades will receive raises of more than thirty per cent. All union members will also receive annual cost-of-living adjustments based on the rate of consumer-price inflation. Taken together, these provisions will raise the top hourly wages of Ford production workers from $32.05 to $42.60 in the course of the contract, which will run until 2028, and the hourly wages of skilled workers from $36.96 to $50.97, the union said. The agreement will also shorten the time it takes for new hires to be paid full wages. Under a two-tier pay system that was introduced in 2007, newer Ford workers received roughly half as much pay as older workers, and it took them eight years to make up the difference. Going forward, new hires will be paid eighty-five per cent of the top rate after two years, and a hundred per cent after three years. Between now and October, 2025, according to the union, some Ford workers will see their hourly wages double under this provision. |
|
|
|
Post by mhbruin on Nov 3, 2023 9:20:10 GMT -8
The QOP Finally Figures Out That Leaving the Military Without Leadership is a Bad Idea.
Tommy Tuberville faces Republican ‘revolt’ over military blockade
For months, Tommy Tuberville said he was facing "zero" pressure from his Republican colleagues to end his blockade. Last night, that changed dramatically.
The conservative Washington Times described it as a GOP "revolt" against the Alabama senator’s blockade, which it clearly was. For months, Republicans would occasionally grumble about Tuberville’s unprecedented efforts, but they refused to take any meaningful steps, despite appeals from Senate Democratic leaders.
On Wednesday night, that changed. Over and over again, Republican senators would bring up a qualified military leader, nominated for a key position, and seek unanimous consent to confirm the individual. In every instance, GOP members would sing the nominee’s praises, highlighting his or her heroic service, and explaining why the person should receive Senate approval. And in every instance, Tuberville objected.
Over the course of five hours, this happened 61 times.
The intraparty conflict got ugly. Sen. DAN SULLIVAN (R-Alaska) — who had been trying to work with Tuberville to assuage his concerns, but ultimately led the GOP confrontation of him last night — accused his colleague of conducting a “national security suicide mission.”
“I’m as pro-life as they come!” Sullivan insisted, a reference to Tuberville’s indignation over the Pentagon paying for abortion-related travel for troops stationed in states where the procedure is banned. “America needs to have … our most combat-capable leaders on the field” ASAP, he said, going on to accuse Tuberville of endangering the nation.
At one point, Sen. LINDSEY GRAHAM held up a photo of LAURA LENDERMAN, who is supposed to be promoted to lieutenant general and deputy commander of Pacific Air Forces. While the South Carolina Republican noted that she’s flown “thousands” of hours and has “zero” to do with the Pentagon’s abortion policy, Tuberville still objected.
“You just denied this lady a promotion — you did that,” Graham snarled, launching into a tirade about how Tuberville is setting a new precedent of holding service member advancements hostage over policy disagreements — one that Democrats could adopt someday when Republicans control the White House. “Who the hell wants to serve in the military when your promotion can be canned over something you have nothing to do with? … If you think it’s illegal, go to court!”
|
|
