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An Extraordinary Year — Of Dark Horses, Upsets: Busted Brackets Edition.

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I won’t go on at length, as once again this year, Mr. Obama will best me in his picks on both the women’s and the men’s brackets. Little surprise there.

But what is surprising… is that both of us may finish with near or under half of our picks overall being correct. I am certain that has never happened to me, before… rarely below 70 per cent accuracy, same with BHO 44’s prior twelve years’ of brackets.

There are over three million brackets submitted to CBS Sports online each year in a typical year, and in many recent years there would be over 100 perfect brackets going into the Sweet Sixteen round. One year, in fact, a 12 year old boy picked a perfect bracket — not missing a single outcome, all the way through the National Championship game. Uncanny.

But there are zero perfect brackets left this year. To be sure the ultimate winner may finish in the 80 per cent range, but this is a year unlike any, in many decades. So many improbable outcomes.

Yep — I love it [all of it; the math, the (im)probabilities, the emotions and the stories — of 102 years young team mascots/chaplains — who served as a faithful soldier would, in Dr. King’s movement in the 1960s].

On top of it all, the Obama Foundation is helping a dozen or so young men of limited means… from Chicago learn, as interns, about careers in sports media come next weekend in New Orleans. Cool — onward — go get ’em, KBJ (slay the Senate, you Justice to be)!!

नमस्ते

This One — From Hinderaker — Merits No Additional Response, Or Even A Moment’s Consideration…

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So — yet again tonight, Hinderaker lies twice, about “unfree speech”, and about what the Governor DeSanits’ Florida “Don’t Say Gay” bill actually… provides.

He lies, because he knows it is… constitutionally… impermissible. It will be stricken. It is pure DeSantis polemic theater. [Which is NOT to say it is not deeply harmful, to Floridians. It is.]

But we’ve covered all this before, repeatedly. So we’ll just link that.

Oh. And… we will do one more thing:

We will tell Hinderaker… to f#ck right off.

He is a dying breed, thankfully — of insecure, decrepit, bitter, very-mediocre white guys — with big egos (lacking in merit)… and even bigger mouths.

Shut it John.

Doing The Right Thing: Shutting Off New Investments; Shipping Only Essential Medicines To Russia During Putin’s Invasion Of Ukraine…

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This has been a delicate balance, forever (or, at least since WW I). The people of Russia, by and large, both cannot “unelect” Putin, cannot stop the invasion, and (I suspect) don’t fully support the atrocities. So — providing the ordinary people of Russia with life-saving medicines. . . still seems a noble cause.

Obviously, providing all the possible aid we can to Ukrainians trapped in subway tunnels and other bunkers is Priority One — including much needed public health goods and ordinary drugs — like insulin, antibiotics, vaccines and plasma. So it is, this past week that essentially all major pharmas have taken that “two stepped” approach to trading with Russia:

…One day after Pfizer announced it was halting its business practices within Russia, AbbVie, Abbott, Novartis, Merck and Eli Lilly have followed suit. This morning, Merck announced plans to halt all investments made in Russia in protest of the invasion. Like Pfizer and other companies, the pharma giant would continue to supply life-saving medications in support of ongoing humanitarian efforts. According to Reuters, which was the first to report Merck’s decision, the company noted that it sent 135,000 courses of its antiviral COVID-19 pill, molnupiravir, to Ukraine under a supply agreement previously struck with that government….

There are increasing concerns of an outbreak of the virus in Ukraine due to the close proximity of people sheltering in bunkers to avoid Russian artillery….

Indianapolis-based Eli Lilly announced it was suspending sales of “non-essential medicines” within Russia, according to Reuters. The company, however, will continue to send drugs developed for cancer and diabetes to the country….

We look forward to an excellent week — and some additional Cinderella dancing, with lil’ St. Peter’s. Grin….

नमस्ते

As Hinderaker Tacitly Concedes… Hunter Laptop = Steele Dossier

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Except that… the Steele Dossier (the parts that were not deliberately Putin-planted Russian disinformation, that is) implicated the man who (perhaps illegitimately) became the 45th POTUS, himself.

The Hunter Laptop, in contrast, Hinderaker… implicates a man who has never held public office, at all — and, to the extent it does so implicate — it is related to his personal life (and then drug addiction issues, tragically).

The Steele Dossier — in the non-hangout laundry parts — strongly suggests Tangerine personally is corrupt to the core.

But it is gratifying to see that John now well knows the whole Hunter story, while sad for him personally… in no manner involves the public duties of the 46th POTUS.

As I say… John’s right: Steele is much worse, for the T-GOP.

Out. St. Peter’s Cinderella Ball continues on to the Sweet 16… grinning!

[Updated:] Davis, A County Clerk, Is Presumptively Liable To Same Sex Couples — For Violating Their Rights. If Religion Was Her Claim, She Must Release Her Government Job. Full Stop.

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We have covered this, for seven long years now.

The reduction to insolvency of Former Clerk Kimberly Davis, in Rowan County Kentucky. . . is at hand. In sum — the full measure of. . . justice — after seven long years. . . is finally arriving:

. . .[T]he Sixth Circuit affirmatively stated that [the US Supreme Court’s] Obergefell recognition of same-sex marriage “made no mention of a limit on that right, of an exception to it, or of a multi-factor test for determining when an official violates it. For a reasonable official, Obergefell left no uncertainty. . . .”

For the reasons stated herein, the Ermold Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment is granted, ECF No. 88, the Yates Plaintiffs’ Motion for Summary Judgment is granted, ECF No. 81, and Defendant Kim Davis’s Motions for Summary Judgment are denied. . . .

Davis read and understood the Obergefell decision. Ermold, ECF No. 88-2 at 18; Yates, ECF No. 80 at 64-65 (“Yeah, it told [same-sex couples] that they could get a license”). On the same day Obergefell was decided, then-Governor Steve Beshear wrote a letter to Kentucky county clerks explaining the decision, stating “[t]he Obergefell decision makes plain that the Constitution requires that Kentucky – and all states – license and recognize the marriages of same-sex couples . . . [e]ffective today, Kentucky will recognize as valid all same sex marriages performed in other states and in Kentucky.” Ermold, ECF No. 88-3; Yates, ECF No. 80-2. Governor Beshear advised the county clerks to “consult with your county attorney on any particular aspects related to the implementation of the Supreme Court’s decision. . . .”

Davis then sought the advice of the Rowan County Attorney, as suggested in Governor Beshear’s letter, who advised her that the law required her to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Ermold, ECF No. 88-2 at 20; Yates, ECF No. 80 at 78. Davis ignored the Rowan County Attorney’s advice. Ermold, ECF No. 88-2 at 20; Yates, ECF No. 80 at 78. Instead, Davis directed her employees at the Rowan County Clerk’s Office not to issue marriage licenses directly following the Obergefell decision. . . .

Finally, the Ermold and Yates Plaintiffs were granted marriage licenses on September 4, 2015 by a deputy clerk, while Davis was in jail for contempt of court. . . .

The sole remaining question, for the coming trial then — is how much must Davis PERSONALLY pay for violating these human rights. We here earnestly hope they bankrupt her — for dereliction of a state ordered (and US Supreme Court clearly ordered) duty of her office. If that duty conflicted with her religious beliefs, the law has long held she must resign. . . if she cannot do her job.

It is not a private job — it requires that she must uphold and obey the public trust. Just as if a police officer had said he could never arrest a Klansman (citing specious religious grounds), must resign — so too, Davis.

Equal protection means. . . equal, under the law.

Onward — feeling thrice vindicated now — a great week in the federal courts, on this early evening. . . and, smiling.

नमस्ते

No “Verity” — At Project “Veritas”: USDC Judge Dismisses Libel Claim Against CNN. Done.

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The ruling specifically holds that O’Keefe and his project failed to state any claim worthy of relief. Perfect. The same result is coming pretty soon, in Manhattan’s federal courts — but as to O’Keefe’s silly claims against the New York Times.

This loss was suffered in the federal courts in Atlanta, Georgia, though — by Project Veritas. Here’s the full 23 page opinion, and a bit:

…The Court is unable to uphold Project Veritas’s arguments in opposition as to the exhibits at issue. In particular, Exhibit 1, the Twitter privacy policy, was referenced in the Complaint as the initially reported basis for Project Veritas’s ban from Twitter and the policy is also referenced in the Complaint in regard to Project Veritas’s claim that its journalistic integrity and reputation are impugned by an allegation that it was banned from Twitter for spreading misinformation as compared to an allegation that it was banned from Twitter for violating a Twitter policy that prohibits the sharing of private information. Doc. No. [1], ¶¶ 2, 49; see also Lockwood v. Beasley, 211 F. App’x 873, 877 (11th Cir. 2006) (noting that in determining whether a document is central to a plaintiff’s case, the Eleventh Circuit has “considered whether the plaintiff would have to offer the document to prove his case” and also stating that “[a] document is undisputed if its authenticity is not challenged.”). The Court makes no finding as to whether Project Veritas actually violated a Twitter policy, but does consider the Twitter policies for purposes of the reputation claims….

Under the Supreme Court’s holding in New York Times Company v. Sullivan, 376 U.S. 254, 280 (1964) a public figure plaintiff must prove that an allegedly libelous statement was made with actual malice, that is, made “with knowledge that it was false or with reckless disregard of whether it was false or not.” After review, the Court finds that because its substantial truth analysis, supra, is determinative, an actual malice plausibility ruling is not required at this time. As stated above, Project Veritas’s Complaint is legally insufficient….

See ‘ya — you con man and political spy/hack. Out, grinning with North Carolina hanging on by a thread, for overtime with Baylor….

नमस्ते

[Crypto-Tangents:] BoP & AUSAs Are Right To Ask For Upwards Of Six Years In Virgil Griffith NoKo Felony Case.

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With the idea of Russia’s regime (primarily in the person of Putin — and his oligarchs) using blockchain tech (and Monero or Griffith’s designed Ethereum, or/and less probably, Bitcoin) to evade world wide monetary and commercial sanctions and embargoes… the topic of what Mr. Griffith did for North Korea is certainly a timely one.

After his lawyers asked for no more than two years, the government has answered that over six is the more just result — and well within the guidelines, and similar case outcomes.

The government is correct — his conduct was extensively pre-meditated, tailored to aid the dictator, and he showed no remorse until the morning his jury was being picked — only then did he plead guilty.

In any event, here is the full 68 page sentencing memo, and a bit:

…As Griffith proudly told the North Koreans, “the most valuable things we have to offer the DPRK are number one — we can give you, so blockchain gives you payments that the USA can’t stop. And number two — we can give you contracts that don’t go through the UN….” A significant incarceratory sentence is necessary to specifically deter Griffith from using his expertise to return to these dark missions exploiting cryptocurrency technology, and it is also necessary to show Griffith’s many admirers that this conduct should not be rewarded or encouraged, and that it will not be excused by the justice system….

The Court should also impose a substantial fine towards the top of the Guidelines range of $25,000 and $1 million….

Griffith specifically pitched the DPRK audience on the “idea” that they could gain leverage in sanctions negotiations against the United States by placing a “module on a missile” to “deactivate” the missile, but only “if you [i.e., the United States] get rid of the sanction, the missile are really gone.”

Griffith also pitched the use of the same technology to leverage the DPRK’s control over missiles to negotiate for “less artillery in the DMZ,” that is, weapons in the Korean Peninsula’s Demilitarized Zone, for the DPRK’s benefit. Griffith sought to aid the DPRK to “to make foreign journalists put a deposit on Augur that is forfeited if they write a highly unflattering article,” a measure that would strengthen the DPRK’s propaganda machine, and offered to introduce his handler, a DPRK government official, to software developers for this purpose….

This idea that he thought he was smarter than everyone, and thus, these felony laws were only for catching “the little people” needs to be forcefully deterred (consider the recent cases of Elizabeth Holmes, Martin Shkreli and Anna Sorokin — in this same vein, here). The Putin atrocities in the Ukraine are a stark example of why we must have effective economic sanctions and embargoes at the disposal of the US, NATO and the UN.

And the evidence showed Griffith was trying to buy an non-US passport (possibly St. Kitts) right after he met with the FBI — he knew he was caught, and was planning to run. Six years is just.

Out. Looking for Villanova to advance — and St. Peter’s as this year’s Cinderella story… [with a view of last year’s Cinderella guesses, reprised]… grin.

In Which Steve Hayward Cries That Hillary “May NOT Have Been” Named For Sir Edmund Hillary?!

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Welp. It would be hard to write a better parody, of a sniveler’s supposed GOP critique.

Steve thinks it headline material, here in 2022 — that HRC may not have been named for the famed mountain climber — in the 1940s. By. Her. Parents.

He says that this is proof that Democrats are needy, self aggrandizing mis-fits.

I might wonder aloud why he and Hinderaker defended Tangerine’s serial sexual assaults… as private, personal conduct — not relevant to fitness for office. I might wonder why they defend Matt Gaetz, credibly accused (indicted) for lying about his relationships with, and possibly, sex trafficking younger boys, and drug abuse.

I might wonder… why they defend Ken Paxson, the indicted AG of the State of Texas. I might wonder about their support of Roger Stone (insurrectionist) and Rudy Guliani (law license suspended; caught with his pants down with what he thought was an 18 year old girl in a hotel room — on camera)… I might wonder about… Lauren Boebert, and Marjorie Taylor Green and Cawthorn… on several dimensions, each…

But Hayward wants us to revisit the infancy-years, of life of a woman in her 70s who’s been out of office now for seven years… because maybe the way she was given her birth name… doesn’t meet his personal seal of approval?

[Confidential to Steve — Sir Edmund Hillary was a well-known explorer long before he finally summited Everest — for decades, long before Hillary was born. Your “take-down” is premised solely on the fact that Hillary was two years old by the time he topped Everest?! Are you… kidding?!]

No… actually… you’re just… a joke.

In Which Tangerine Files An Appeal In DC, Claiming “Absolute Immunity” From 01.06.21 Suits. Preposterous.

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Recall that USDC Judge Amit Mehta entered a very cogent 112 page opinion and order a month ago, holding that Baby-T cannot automatically escape the federal suit filed by Congressional leaders (under the Anti-Klan Act of 1871, among other laws) — for interfering with election results, on January 6, and exhorting the crowd to commit acts of… insurrection. [Backgrounder, here.]

That is the correct result, but predictably (mostly just to delay) Tangerine has appealed that ruling, to the DC Circuit, this afternoon. That gambit will fail, and in the mean time the suit ought to proceed, at the trial level. Here’s the bit:

…Defendant Donald J. Trump hereby gives notice of his appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit from this Court’s Memorandum Opinion and Order entered on February 18, 2022, denying Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss, particularly with respect to his defense of Absolute Immunity. (Dkt. No. 66).

Dated: March 18, 2022….

Is he the… worst, ever — or what? Yep he is.

नमस्ते

In Which No One Cares Anymore, That Trump Is “Butt-Sore”… War Will Do That.

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I post this here mostly to suggest that Tangerine has no idea how whiny and self-involved he ALWAYS sounds.

But now, with children dying in Ukraine — his self absorption, and refusal to condemn Putin forcefully… have him deeply at odds with real American patriots.

Dissent is patriotic — but trying to destabilize the US government, in a time of near war… is clearly not.

I’m out.

Cheers….