Friday Reads: Despicable, Deplorable Predicaments and the Rest of Us

Hello it’s Friday!

I have a short video to send out to all deplorables!

So,we’re beginning to have attacks on free speech as well as voting rights. What do these new republican overlords have against the US Constitution?  I guess they just don’t like any one going around speaking freely, peaceably assembling, or petitioning the undemocratically elected government for redress of grievances.  This goes for both Michigan and then anything near the Lincoln Monument in the District.

Republicans in the Michigan House voted late Wednesday to make it easier for courts to shut down “mass picketing” demonstrations and fine protesters who block entrances to businesses, private residences or roadways.

Under the legislation, which Democrats decried as unconstitutional prior to the 57-50 vote, individuals who return to a disruptive demonstration already blocked by a court could face fines of up to $1,000 a day. Unions or other organizing groups could be fined up to $10,000 each day.

Michigan law already prohibits certain forms of mass picketing, but sponsoring Rep. Gary Glenn, R-Midland, said a spate of recent incidents make it apparent that “the current penalties are not sufficient to deter already-illegal activity.”

He noted reports that 39 people were arrested last month outside a Detroit McDonald’s “for blocking the entrance and preventing them from being able to conduct their business” during a protest against low wages. Glenn also cited an environmental protest outside the Midland home of Attorney General Bill Schuette in July.

So, you can harass woman outside of clinics seeking health care but Misogynist in Chief to be TRump does not want women anywhere near the Lincoln monument expressing their opinions. The Women’s March On DC is barred from that location.   The Lincoln memorial has been one of the most frequently used sites for protest through out its history.

The Lincoln Memorial has been the site for many of the United States’ most historic rallies, from the civil rights and anti-Vietnam protests of the 1960sto the Million Man March in 1995. However, for the thousands of women planning to march on Washington following Donald Trump’s inauguration, the landmark won’t be available for rallying.

The National Park Service, on behalf of the Presidential Inauguration Committee, months ago reserved access to the landmark by filing a “massive omnibus blocking permit.” Permits for inaugural events have traditionally reserved most of the National Mall, Pennsylvania Avenue, the Washington Monument, and of course, the Lincoln Memorial, for days and weeks before, during, and after the inauguration, which will take place on Jan. 20, 2017.

This isn’t exactly a normal situation either.  

The NPS filed a “massive omnibus blocking permit” for many of Washington DC’s most famous political locations for days and weeks before and after the inauguration on 20 January, said Mara Verheyden-Hilliard, a constitutional rights litigator and the executive director of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund.

Previously, Verheyden-Hilliard has led court battles for protest access on inauguration day itself.

But banning access to public land for protesters days after the inauguration is “extremely unique”, she said in a press conference held by the Answer [Act Now to Stop War and End Racism] Coalition.

“It hasn’t come up in any way previously, where you’ve had a groundswell of people trying to have access on the Saturday, January 21, and thousands of people want to come, and the government is saying we won’t give you a permit,” she said.

“What they’ve done is take all of these spaces out of action,” she said, many of which, the Answer Coalition noted in its press release, are “historic spaces for dissent”.

Kumbaya Motherfuckers!  His Oranginess wishes the appearance of being the candidate that the majority of voters chose–NOT!–even if you little wimmenz want to say “Hell No!”   We’ve frequently discussed the future Mad King who seems to be a big fat liar covering up all his big fat lies.  Here’s an interesting take on the question of his wealth. Maybe Orangeholio can’t divest because he’d be left in personal bankruptcy without his Ponzi scheme cashflows and new scams, he’d be flat broke.  Bernie Madoff for Fed Chair anyone? This is from Josh Marshall writing for TPM.

Since Donald Trump’s surprise election one month ago, there’s been a bubbling conversation about the mammoth conflicts of interest he will have if he is running or even owning his far flung business enterprises while serving as the head of state. I’ve suggested that the whole notion of ‘conflicts of interest’ doesn’t really capture what we’re dealing with here, which is really a pretty open effort to leverage the presidency to expand his family business. But a couple things came together for me today which make me think we’ve all missed the real issue.

Maybe he can’t divest because he’s too underwater to do so or more likely he’s too dependent on current and expanding cash flow to divest or even turn the reins over to someone else.

Late this afternoon we got news that Trump will remain as executive producer of The Apprentice, now starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. That is, quite simply, weird. The presidency is time consuming and complicated, even for the lazier presidents. Does Trump really need to do this? Can he do it, just in terms of hours in the day? Of course, it may simply be a title that entitles him to draw a check. But does he need the check that bad?

The idea that Trump is heavily leveraged and reliant on on-going cash flow to keep his business empire from coming apart and collapsing into bankruptcy was frequently discussed during the campaign. But it’s gotten pretty little attention since he was elected.

Here’s something else.

After Trump got into that scuffle with Boeing, reporters asked about his ownership of Boeing stock. Trump replied that he’d already sold that stock. So there was no problem. But there’s a bit more to it than that.

According to his spokesman, Trump sold all of his stock back in June, a portfolio which his disclosures suggest was worth as much as $38 million. Trump told Matt Lauer that he sold the stock because he was confident he’d win and “would have a tremendous … conflict of interest owning all of these different companies” while serving as President.

Now, c’mon. Donald Trump sold off all his equities more than six months before he could become president because he was concerned about conflicts of interest? Please. That doesn’t pass the laugh test.

Go read the rest.

So, let’s read some fun and interesting stuff.

The National Geographic has a suburb photo and analysis of a Dinosaur tail trapped in Amber.  It’s got feathers!!

The tail of a 99-million-year-old dinosaur, including bones, soft tissue, and even feathers, has been found preserved in amber, according to a report published today in the journal Current Biology.

While individual dinosaur-era feathers have been found in amber, and evidence for feathered dinosaurs is captured in fossil impressions, this is the first time that scientists are able to clearly associate well-preserved feathers with a dinosaur, and in turn gain a better understanding of the evolution and structure of dinosaur feathers.

From the New Yorker: “I AM HILLARY CLINTON—FABLED, ELUSIVE FOREST-DWELLER OF UPSTATE NEW YORK.”  Emily Flake’s illustration accompanies Sarah Hutto’s beautiful tale.

As of late, wistful voters from across the country have found themselves drawn to the heart of upstate New York, traversing the deep woods to find me, Hillary Clinton, formerly your Presidential front-runner, now your flaxen-haired Sasquatch of Chappaqua.

The coveted jewel of their quests, a candid selfie with me, serves as a hopeful reminder to city-dwellers that I’m going to keep being alive and going outside and stuff, despite not being President. Witnesses shall return with tales of my poise and makeup-less face, not seeming to get that people generally don’t put on makeup to go on solitary walks through the woods, regardless of political standing.

Should you seek me through such a journey, you will know me by my fleece of many colors, my frisky husband, and my small dog. You will lay before me your disappointment and sorrow, and I will say, “Do not give up.”

You will feel peace as you watch me wander out of the clearing and disappear into a copse of trees, leaving you to wonder whether you even saw me to begin with—the only lingering sound that of Bill steadily crunching a Kind bar as he follows.

Yes.  Hillary sightings continue and selfies with Hillary and maybe Bill are popping up everywhere.  Her fleece has even attracted some attention since there are pictures of her in it spanning two decades.  Yes, that Hillary who was jumped on by media for wearing a too expensive jacket is spotted in her famous fleece.

https://twitter.com/lookwhoitiz/status/803993771146878976

Hillary was last seen in the District saluting the Late Great Astronaut and Senator John Glenn and saying good bye to retiring Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. The fleece did not attend but one of her signature pantsuits did.

Hillary Clinton didn’t shy away from some dark humor in her opening remarks during a speech at retiring Sen. Harry Reid’s tribute and portrait unveiling Thursday.

“This is not exactly the speech at the Capitol I hoped to be giving after the election,” she said. “But after a few weeks of taking selfies in the woods, I thought it would be a good idea to come out. And I’m very grateful to Harry for inviting me to be a part of this celebration.”

The Senate minority leader from Nevada retires from Congress this year and was honored with a portrait in the Kennedy Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Office Building.

I’m still dreaming of all the possible women that will get a selfie with Hillary.  I’m still wowed that she can do it.  You can follow @HRCInTheWild for some quick fixes.

In the weeks since the election, some Americans have found a new folk hero in a familiar face: Hillary Clinton, comfortably dressed suburban retiree.

Within hours of her loss, a steady stream of photos began surfacing of supporters posing with her as she took part in lazy-day activities: There’s Hillary, walking in the woods of Chappaqua, N.Y.; Hillarybrowsing the aisles at an independent bookstore; Hillary shopping for Thanksgiving dinner at the market; andHillary walking in the woods of Chappaqua again, this time with Bill.

Adam Parkhomenko, a longtime Clinton aide, has started a Twitter account,@HRCInTheWild, for tracking the spontaneous sightings.

I’m still grieving for all the things we could’ve had and all the things we will lose when Trumpzilla destroys the Republic.

What’s on your reading and blogging list today?