Bizarre, Criminal law, Free Speech, International, Media, Politics, Religion

Le Pen Ordered Into Psychiatric Evaluation For Tweets In France
libertyFar right political leader, Marine Le Pen, has been ordered into psychiatric evaluations after she posted graphic images of bodies of people executed by the Islamic State.  She was accused under the French laws criminalization different forms of speech — laws that I have long criticized as part of a European rollback on core free speech rights.  Posting the pictures was charged as circulating “violent messages that incite terrorism or pornography or seriously harm human dignity” and that can be viewed by a minor.

Continue reading “Le Pen Ordered Into Psychiatric Evaluation For Tweets In France” →

Columns, Congress, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Media, Politics

A Confirmation On The Brink: Three Scenarios For The Kavanaugh Hearing

440px-Judge_Brett_KavanaughBelow is my column in USA Today on the different outcomes possible in the ongoing Kavanaugh controversy.  These scenarios have become more complex after a hearing was schedule for Monday and then Dr. Christine Blasey Ford announced that she would not appear.  She has declared that the FBI must investigate her allegations of attempted rape as a condition of her testimony.  What is clear is that the last minute allegation has galvanized the Democratic ranked, including Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskall.  Obviously, if Ford does not show up at the hearing the GOP could use the refusal as a basis for treating the allegations as unproven and proceed to a vote on the merits.  If she does show up, Kavanaugh is likely in for one of the most brutal hearings in history.

Here is the column: Continue reading “A Confirmation On The Brink: Three Scenarios For The Kavanaugh Hearing” →

Congress, Criminal law, Society

Former Schoolmate Says That She Was Told About Sexual Assault On Ford While Third Alleged Witness Denies The Incident Ever Occurred

download-6download-7Two more people came forward yesterday in the still unfolding drama surrounding the allegations of Dr. Christine Blasey Ford that Judge Brett Kavanaugh attempted to rape her when they were both high school students.  Cristina Miranda King says that she heard of the incident from others while in high school.  In the meantime,Patrick J. Smyth, a Georgetown Prep alum who graduated in Kavanaugh’s class, contacted the Committee and categorically denied the allegations of Ford (who identified him as the third person (other than Kavanaugh and his friend Mark Judge) as present during the assault. Continue reading “Former Schoolmate Says That She Was Told About Sexual Assault On Ford While Third Alleged Witness Denies The Incident Ever Occurred” →

Media, Politics

Hirono: Men Need To “Shut Up and Step Up” After Kavanaugh Allegations

440px-Mazie_Hirono,_official_portrait,_113th_CongressImagine if a male United States Senator declared that women just need to “shut up.”  It would be a grossly sexist and disturbing statement that lead to calls for censure.  However, there apparently is no such concern in the inverse.  Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) told men to “shut up and step up” when asked about the allegations against Judge Brett Kavanaugh. Hirono further insists that accused Dr. Christine Blasey Ford “need to be believed” and not just heard.  

 

Continue reading “Hirono: Men Need To “Shut Up and Step Up” After Kavanaugh Allegations” →

Bizarre, Media, Politics

Fake News or Fake Tweet? Anderson Cooper Slams Donald Trump Jr. 0ver Alleged Misrepresentation

Screen Shot 2018-09-18 at 9.14.53 PM.pngDonald Trump Jr. has been fueling controversies this week with his taunting of the allegations of attempted rape by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford on Instagram — a posting that was roundly condemned as belittling sexual assault as akin to a love note.  Trump Jr. then went after Anderson Cooper to suggest that he has been faking scenes like the recent controversy at the Weather Channel.  Anderson responded with a devastating clip disproving Trump Jr.’s claims.

Continue reading “Fake News or Fake Tweet? Anderson Cooper Slams Donald Trump Jr. 0ver Alleged Misrepresentation” →

Bizarre, Columns, Congress, Media, Politics

If There Was Doppler Radar For Hypocrisy, Washington Would Be Under A Mandatory Evacuation Order

download-8Below is my column in the Hill newspaper on the unfolding controversy surrounding the allegations of attempted rape leveled against Judge Brett Kavanaugh.  The Republicans have called for a Monday hearing with both Dr. Christine Blasey Ford and Kavanaugh.  However, while saying earlier that she was prepared to testify, the Committee said that Ford had not responded to multiple invitation. She has called for an investigation before she will testify — a condition that is difficult to square with her earlier statements via her counsel. In the meantime, Democrats have objected that more witnesses have not been called, including Kavanaugh high school friend Mark Judge.  Judge however has indicated that he would refuse to testify.  In other words, this is a complete mess.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “If There Was Doppler Radar For Hypocrisy, Washington Would Be Under A Mandatory Evacuation Order” →

Congress, Media, Politics

Kavanaugh Denies Knowing Ford And Ever Going To The Party

download-6download-7Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh has categorically denied knowing Dr. Christine Blasey Ford or going to the party where she says he tried to rape her in the 1980s.  The categorical denial certainly clarifies the situation but it is not a response that most seasoned lawyers would advice.  Ford cannot remember much about the location or the time of the party, but Kavanaugh is saying with certainty that he did not go to the party.  Moreover, the denial puts Kavanaugh one polaroid away from disaster. One picture of the two teens at a football game or party would be enough for a coup d’grace on his confirmation. Continue reading “Kavanaugh Denies Knowing Ford And Ever Going To The Party” →

Bizarre, International

Venezuela’s Maduro Orders 3,500 Percent Increase in Minimum Wage … 40 Percent of Businesses Close

250px-Flag_of_Venezuela.svgWe have previously discussed the meltdown in Venezuela and how the government of socialist President Nicolas Maduro has done everything possible to ruin the economy, including a one million inflation rate.  The latest moronic move was to increase the minimum salary by nearly 3,500 percent when businesses are struggling to exist. The result? Nearly 40 percent of all Venezuelan stores have closed so now there are no wages. In the meantime, the Maduro government (and its Cuban intelligence forces) are doing what they do best: arresting anyone critical of the government including a couple firefighters are joking about Maduro.

Continue reading “Venezuela’s Maduro Orders 3,500 Percent Increase in Minimum Wage … 40 Percent of Businesses Close” →

Columns, Criminal law, Media, Politics

The Winners and Losers Of The Manafort Plea Bargain

Below is my column in The Hill on the Manafort plea agreement, which continued to release an unrestrained joy and ecstasy among commentators, who (yet again) predicted the imminent demise of Donald Trump. Norman Eisen, who served as White House Special Counsel for Ethics and Government Reform in the Obama administration, predicted that President Trump wouldn’t “survive” Manafort’s testimony.  That is of course without knowing if Manafort has anything damaging on Trump.  This appears an example of hope over experience in light of prior predictions of imminent indictments and resignations.  Manafort may have damaging information or he may not. There are however some clear winners and losers in the Manafort plea that are not based on pure speculation.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “The Winners and Losers Of The Manafort Plea Bargain” →

Bizarre, Media, Politics

Moore: I Think Donald Trump Could Be The Anonymous Source Calling Donald Trump Unstable And A National Danger

Filmmaker Michael Moore had a surprising suggestion in the ongoing sweepstakes over who is the anonymous author of the New York Times column suggesting that Trump is mentally unfit and rallying the resistance against him from within his Administration: Donald S. Trump.  That’s right, Moore suggested that Trump himself is the the “senior official” who is working with the paper that he often refers to as the “enemy” and “the failing New York Times.”  Moore says that it is “absolutely” possible that Trump is the author. Moore also predicted recently that Trump, who he calls an “evil genius,” will win a second term. Continue reading “Moore: I Think Donald Trump Could Be The Anonymous Source Calling Donald Trump Unstable And A National Danger” →

Animals, Bizarre, Environment

Former NHL Player Tim Brent Under Fire In Latest Big Game Trophy Controversy

We have previously followed the controversy over the shooting of “Cecil the Lion” by an American dentist Walter Palmer from Minnesota as well as  subsequent controversies of a Idaho hunter taunting animal advocates and killing giant elephants or giraffes for trophies.  As many of you know, I am no fan of such trophy hunts.  I often hike in remote spots to see bears and other animals in their natural habitat. I cannot understand the joy of killing one of these animals or the challenge of shooting them with a high-powered rifle.  I seek out these animals and take pictures with the same ease it would be to kill them.  Yet, many feel a tremendous release in killing these animals and posing with their dead bodies.  The latest is Tim Brent, 34, who played hockey for the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Carolina Hurricanes before retiring in 2016.  He is receiving a body slam from readers who do not understand his expressions of joy in posing with a dead grizzly bear.  His description of the kill made things only worse. Continue reading “Former NHL Player Tim Brent Under Fire In Latest Big Game Trophy Controversy” →

Academia, Constitutional Law, Courts, Criminal law

Kavanaugh Accuser Goes Public With The Support Of A Polygraph To Support Alleged High School Sexual Assault

download-6For a week, a scandal has grown over an anonymous accusation against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.  I previously wrote about the unfairness of this last minute accusation from an unnamed law professor who declined to be named.  Moreover, the underlying letter has been in the possession of Democrats since July.  Now, the mystery is over:  Palo Alto University professor Christine Blasey Ford has come forward to say that she is indeed the accuser of Kavanaugh.  It appears that the earlier leaks and media reports that this was a Stanford law professor were untrue.  She is shown here from her high school yearbook picture.  Notably, her lawyer has said that she passed a polygraph examination that found her account was truthful.

Continue reading “Kavanaugh Accuser Goes Public With The Support Of A Polygraph To Support Alleged High School Sexual Assault” →

Columns, Constitutional Law, Criminal law, Media, Politics, Society

Losing The High Ground: Democrats Hit Kavanaugh With Anonymous Allegation Of Sexual Assault From High School

Below is my column in the Hill newspaper on the recent allegation of sexual assault against Judge Brett Kavanaugh and the demand for a delay in his confirmation vote.  Both Kavanaugh and the other man referenced in the anonymous letter have denied the allegations from their high school days.  The reported law professor who contacted Congress appears to want the allegation considered by members but has refused to come forward and said that she did not want to be drawn into the controversy.  If that was her position, Democrats have now done the opposite and leaked the letter’s details and called for a full investigation.  If this is a law professor, it is unclear why she is not willing to come forward with an allegation of a sexual assault.  She clearly thought that the allegation should be raised with Congress but has refused to come forward to substantiate the claims. That leaves Kavanaugh in a grossly unfair position in my view.  UPDATE: Kavanaugh’s accuser has now gone public.

Here is the column:

Continue reading “Losing The High Ground: Democrats Hit Kavanaugh With Anonymous Allegation Of Sexual Assault From High School” →

Bizarre, Media, Politics

MSNBC Analyst: Trump Will Resign In Two Weeks

the-crystal-ball-1902I am always surprised by commentators who not only predict a historic event but put a specific date on its occurrence.  Rudy Giuliani of course predicted that the Mueller investigation would be over by September 1, 2018 (though he insists that Robert Mueller gave him that date). Now, Scott Dworkin, a Democratic strategist and MSNBC contributor, has gone one better and predicted that Trump will resign in two weeks due to the plea bargain struck by former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort and Mueller. Most people would hedge at least to say “by the end of the year” or “before his term is up.”  A fortnight prediction now puts Dworkin on the verge of being declared a political Nostradamus or nincompoop.   Continue reading “MSNBC Analyst: Trump Will Resign In Two Weeks” →

Res ipsa loquitur – The thing itself speaks