Three valid observations. The 2020 hijacking of Bernie Sanders, the non-primary debacle in North Carolina and Florida, and the public execution of Joe Biden. As a bonus, the refusal of RFK Jr. candidacy. All political 🙄 moves to preserve control within the government. Big question 🤔 is, Are these political moves justified? I suggest that the answer is yes. Regardless of morals and ethics, they play to win. What exactly is wrong with winning? "America loves a winner!", Gen. George Patton.
One can go further, in 2016 they created Super Delegates to the convention to ensure primaries were inconsequential to their dictates. In 2020, they use the pandemic to change the voting rules to allow mail in voting, harvesting, and 30 days before and after election day to "count the votes". Why can we acknowledge that they "got game"?
One even bigger, when the demographics didn't favor them because people were fleeing their failed policies of tax and spend, they opened the border to expand and increase demand for social programs with newly acquired people in need of Government services. Brilliant!
When Trump didn't get out of the Presidential race, they prosecute him to discourage him and when that failed, an attempt on his life was made. Damm! These people are serious about winning.
Now, what are the opposition political moves 🤔 other than defensive tactics to survive? Lets recognize that the opposition is on defense and in many cases on retreat. What happened to winning?
If it wasn't for Trump and Musk, where were the opposition be today? I would suggest at the hands of the elite monarchy in a feudalist society under 100s of presences. So I asked, what's the opposition plan to win? They have control of government agencies, Judicial system, education system, news media 🙄, and more. They have made voters votes 🗳 and will insignificant.
Although this article points out valid observations, it misses the macro perspective of winning losing game.
"The only thing these people seem to care about is preserving political power, even at the expense of their party, our democracy, and our nation. "
This will appear harsh to the uninformed but we will make the comment anyway.
Look at local politics. Look at the oppressive transportation policies of the Left. Have they been successful? No. Has the primary anti car advocate in the State Legislature stated '"public transportation in California is broken...." YES. Scott Weiner made this statement after decades of highway destruction and local street grid destruction costing the Taxpayer Billions of dollars. When did he make this statement? 26 April 2023.
Are this area's elected representatives (Limon and Hart) continuing to support irresponsible spending on continued street obstructions and narrowing resulting in destruction of retail businesses? Yes. Gregg Hart building of a bike path along Modoc road where there is no bike demand and has not been for over a decade.
Santa Ynez Valley is faced with a Disney Fanciful Bike Loop championed by 3rd Dist. Supervisor Hartmann. This after the plan was destroyed during public comment at SBCAG because the epidemiology of the Valley has completely changed making the projections of "success(?)" unattainable. What is common here? Supposed "local elites" for the Left have put their personal reputations on the line. Does that mean when it fails they will pony up the money to "fix" what they destroyed? Of course not.
These are just a few examples of local Santa Barbara County issues of political arrogance.
I'll end this with the two latest examples of "We'll do it regardless of what the people want" of failure. Old Town Hollister Narrowing and "Death Valley" aka Old Town Santa Barbara State St.
Is there any interest among my fellow Current subscribers in fact-based news media? Everyone has an opinion - valid or not - but it's the facts that matter. My personal preference is to fact-check and cross reference assertions made by journalists and other authors, and to also include a bias check on the publication. Only then do I consider the material in forming my own opinion. Ad Fontes is a bias reporting site that is considered nonpartisan. Check it out: https://adfontesmedia.com/interactive-media-bias-chart/
They have rigged their primaries since at least 2016. Bernie was drawing way more voters than Hilary yet they rigged the system so what the voters wanted didn’t matter Bernie took his payoff and rode into the sunset because Bernie has always only been in it for the graft he could get.
I usually like Caldwell's articles but this one makes no sense. Biden won the nomination in 2020 because he won 10 of the 15 primaries on Super Tuesday, and all the other candidates seeing the handwriting on the wall pulled out. The fact that Harris is now the Dem nominee is hardly a coup. The top guy is essentially senile and had to go. The Republicans if they were in the same position would have done the same thing. What's really aggravating is Harris has erased Trump's lead because Trump is running the worst campaign in presidential history. That's the real story that no one on the Current is writing about.
You missed one, Andy! Bernie was a strong favorite in 2016, but the Russians hacked into the DNC computers and revealed that the Hillary faction had conspired against Bernie to keep him off the ballot. Disgruntled Bernie backers either didn't vote, or voted for Trump. As a Republican who has never supported the RINO Trump, I can attest to the coup in my own party that somehow thinks that an old, cognitively challenged racist who is a convicted felon and adjudicated rapist can somehow beat a much younger progressive Democrat, now that 'sleepy Joe' has bowed out of the race. Nevermind the actual failed coup that transpired between November 2020 and culminated in the attack on Congress while it was certifying the electoral college votes. Perhaps it is time for another coup in our own party to get rid of the old orange albatross hanging around our necks!
We all know that "racist," "felon" and "rapist" are BS. And what do you mean by "progressive?" I suggest that the positive connotation of "progressive" is a veil to disguise a Marxist movement. Oh, failed coup is also BS. The ascension of Harris to presidential candidate without a vote by a citizen does not count as a coup?
Not true, Dems voted for a Biden-Harris ticket, so Harris had already been "elected" for the ticket by the rank-and-file; she stepped up only after Joe dropped out, kinda like Johnson did after Kennedy was assassinated. Also, this was confirmed by a vote of the delegates elected to the DNC by Dem party members. REP primary voters only voted for Trump alone, none of us got to weigh in on Vance, he was handpicked by Trump. Not unlike Harris now handpicking (without a vote) her running mate. In case you missed it, Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts by a jury of his piers in New York City, jurors who were interviewed and vetted by Trump's own defense attorneys. So, yes, he is a convicted FELON. Anyone following Trump for the last 30 years would know it is a racist, not only by his speech, but also by his actions and convictions.
SS: Until the final appeal has been exhausted, no one is a "convicted felon". Show a little respect for our three-part legal justice system which is in place because trial courts can and do err.
Sorry, but Trump is appealing HIS CONVICTION and is out on bail awaiting sentencing. You can not sentence an "innocent" man. He was found guilty and convicted. After he receives his sentence he can then appeal.
SS: You do need a conviction before you an appeal. This is true. But the final outcome ( this cherished labeling for you) cannot be stated, until the last appeal is exhausted. Why are you so invested in Orangeman Bad, and not in Biden nor Harris man-mis-non-feasance? Why just Trump.
Can you in simple terms actually describe the nature of this "conviction" or does the kangaroo voting of a highly biased jury and courtroom work for you? When the jury pool was intentionally obstructed by choice court dates, a large segment of the local population, you might might to delve into the realities of "jury of your piers(sic)" and be very worried yourself since high moral standards are so fundamental for you.
The obvious court room chicanery in public view should disturb the ordinary conscience. Yet yours is unruffled . Thank you for sharing your perspectives.
Are you trying to imply that Trump's defense team failed to do their due diligence in screening potential jurors for his trial? How do you "rig" a jury that the defense helps select? "Orangeman bad" because it was Trump who corrupted the Republican Party into a personality cult, not the Dems.
FYI… From March 10 to June 2, 1964, voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for president in the 1964 United States presidential election. Incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson was selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections and caucuses culminating in the 1964 Democratic National Convention held from August 24 to August 27, 1964, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Bruh, your “fantasy” has more holes than a colander! Seriously, “adjudicated rapist?” By who, psych patient and well known hoe bag, E. Jean Carroll? Ya, that’s right, she couldn’t even say what decade this allegedly occurred!
Coup on Congress and Trump is responsible? That’s about as “tin foil hat” as accusing Obama of instigating the BLM riots in 2020 when he praised and told young blacks “your life matters,” while they burned down Minneapolis!
Facts, NOT emotions matter.
Can anyone in their right mind and IQ above 70, image the fall out if State and Federal prosecutors went after Obama on similar outrageous charges? No, didn’t think so.
PS… E. Jean Carroll also stated that she thinks most people think of rape as being sexy…the woman is known as a full-blown lunatic. She once said she was never raped, telling the New York Times’ podcast, The Daily, “Every woman gets to choose her word. Every woman gets to choose how she describes it. This is my way of saying it. This is my word. My word is ‘fight.’ My word is not the ‘victim’ word. I have not — I have not been raped,” she continued. “I have — something has not been done to me. I fought. That’s the thing.”
SS: Claiming Trump is a "convicted rapist" is slander per se. Check with legal counsel since you just shifted the burden of proof to yourself to prove this statement is true. One important limitation to your fulsome right of free speech.
Take a deep breath and read my response again and you will notice that I wrote that Trump was an ADJUDICATED RAPIST. He was never convicted of rape, and I never said that he was. Please try to stick to the statement as it was written, and not as you want it to read.
If those were the exact verbatim words of the civil trial court ruling. Compare that statement to the claim Trump was "convicted of criminal rape". But I would insert .....at the trial court level ...... Never miss the opportunity to teach civics.
sure, we can say that Trump has been found liable in a civil case for sexual battery and defamation…but our court systems are captured & corrupt. Can we also say that none of these Trump court cases (lawfare) would have occurred if Trump retired from politics instead of coming back for a second run?
Can we also say, partisan political forces re-wrote the laws, concocted ab initio, novel and untested legal theories, and over-wrote statutes of limitations just to capture this particular "whale"?
Something about US constitutional protections against ex post facto laws and bills of attainder also ring in my ears, but that has yet to be legally explored
Lawfare is the use of legal systems and institutions to damage or delegitimize an opponent. Our corrupt DOJ was forced to litigate the Hunter gun case in our two-tiered system…couldn’t sweep it under the rug…Best
I would like to see slander and Libel laws enforced. I suppose it’s too much trouble to sue. It’d be cool if it were a criminal complaint. Arrested by the police for saying or writing something that is knowingly false.
Chas: There is not yet a bright line between a stated fact and an opinion. Heaven forbid AI gets programed to make this final judgement call.
However, Trump has promised to revisit the current print media defamation rules, which do provide far more latitude when statements are made about a "public person" vs a private person, who may well have unwittingly become a "public person" due to malicious press attacks. (Recently the Covington Christian School kids, or the self-defense shooter in the Minneapolis melee.)
An interesting topic - setting actionaable lines between free speech, malicious speech and free expression of opinion. These are the questions that do keep legal scholars scratching their heads.
Your statement, “the Russians hacked into the DNC computers…” is a bad foundation argument…Russia did not hack the DNC server… If dirty cops ran the investigation into the DNC breach, could an argument be made that it was Russia?
Crowdstrike
Did Russia 'break-in' to DNC server(s)?
Why did FBI accept 'indirect' evidence re: DNC server(s) 'hack''break-in' by CROWDSTRIKE [Ukraine]? Pro TIP: Look @ CROWDSTRIKE
CROWDSTRIKE managed the infiltration program based on payments to Clinton Foundation
Unlike Mr Caldwell’s detailed outline of the political moves used by the D to oust Bernie in 2016 & Joe Biden in 2024, you failed to provide a line-of-logic to support your assertion “I can attest to the coup in my own party”
Thanks, Andy, for another great column. I used to think “they” - whoever “they” are - were only interested in power, but now I think “they” are simply doing too much cocaine. “They” remind me more and more of those 80s movies where the plots couldn't keep up with the screenwriters' drug fueled brains and you'd look at the person seated next to you in the movie theater and go “What?!!! Could I have what they had making this?” “They” should just get Al Pacino to reprise his Scarface role at the upcoming convention. And then let America leave theie movie theater to try to find reality again.
Another astute observation by Andy Caldwell. If one recalls the last sham of a primary for the Dems in 2016, Biden’s campaign was heading south quickly and it wasn’t until stalwart, Rep. Jim Clyburn D-SC, threw him a life preserver that he gained momentum and broke out to win the South Carolina primary.
Yes, Clyburn delivered the Black vote to Biden on a silver platter and the proverbial fix was in. The rest is history, Biden cruised to the Dem nomination and went on to scam the American voters by hiding in his basement for the rest of his presidential campaign. Biden played the rope-a-dope better than Mohamed Ali!
Is anyone surprised that the Dems perpetrated a similar scam for this election cycle? No, it was Pelosi, Schumer and Obama playing the role of “King Makers” that ultimately showed Biden the door, twisting his arm to drop out. It was like bringing out the hook in the old Vaudeville shows.
The reality is the Dems run election campaigns much like the Mafia runs a numbers racket. Yes, they run dirty ops such as a fake dossier, trying to frame Trump as a Russian intelligence asset, next was using hand picked judges and prosecutors to frame Trump on state and federal, “trumped up” indictments and finally, they allow some nut job to attempt to assassinate Trump by dumbing down his security detail.
Clearly, they have multiple ways to get to someone standing in their way. That’s what criminal organizations do.
At the local level, politics are a little more subtle but every bit as shady. Yes, we have “King Makers” within the local Democratic food chain, deciding who makes the cut and who ultimately gets elected. All those elected it would seem, are hand chosen by Dem bosses, sail through a primary and win an elected office, unscathed. Why? Because there is virtually NO organized opposition from the right in SB County!
Then they get the public sector unions involved, taking pictures along side a fire truck, being endorsed by the “Green” mafia and so on. You know the shtick.
Is it any surprise to anyone the next part of the scam is to push through questionable public works projects in order to reward their friends and throw a bone to the unions?
Sure, train to nowhere, bike paths, roundabouts, overpass pedestrian crossings, the list goes on and on.
Folks, that’s how the Democratic confidence scam works. I guess the joke has, and will continue to be, on us…surprise!
They choose the lie, some enjoy the negativity and drama and thrive on being angry. Some are like battered spouses thinking the abuser will change and too afraid to step out in their own.
The common theme is purposeful manipulation and fear based ruling.
Controlling people through psychological methods, psy ops, political warfare.
When that fails, they resort to violence. This is seen from the KKK, to Antifa, BLM, Pro Terror, Rodney King days.
Democrats are primarily the party of the public sector unions - which is as far as their connection to the people goes.
Other than spending the people's tax dollars primarily on themselves, while growing Big Government even bigger. This in turn permanently extends those self-serving public expenditures in perpetuity.
I read this good article by Mr. Caldwell Titled “Democrats Perfect Banana Republic Style Politics”
and I quote Mr. Caldwell “The undeniable truth is that the Democrat Party establishment doesn’t bother to pretend anymore to represent the will – or the votes – of their party faithful. Instead, they simply present the will of the party bosses” AND “The only thing these people seem to care about is preserving political power, even at the expense of their party, our democracy, and our nation. Yet they have the nerve to declare Trump a threat to democracy?”
Lets bring this home as I always say to Santa Barbara and the Locked-Up-State of California as the
“SACRAMENTO –Governor Gavin Newsom today announced his nomination of two Court of Appeal Justices:Judge Monique Langhorne Wilson as an Associate Justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division One and Aimee Feinberg as an Associate Justice of the Third District Court of Appeal.”
Read each of the Judge Bios all Democrat as the “Beat Goes On” The only person on that list that has the legal acumen is Appellate Attorney Stephen Dunkle here in Santa Barbara.
This is called “Stacking The Judicial Deck” with like-minded legal ideologues.
And of the 18 Judges selected yes-oh-yes 14 are women and the DEI “Beat Goes On” much like
what almost got Candidate and former President Trump Assassinated as the “Beat Goes On”
From the House Oversight and Accountability Committee on July 22, 2024 “Hearing Wrap Up: Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle Fails to Answer Basic Questions and Must Resign Following Historic Security Failures at President Trump’s Rally”
Listen to the words folks from Sonny and Cher as the Democratic “Beat Goes On”.
Shrewd and sharp assessment, Andy. Funny how the party’s foot-soldiers can’t see how cynical their generals are, isn’t it? Or do they see it, but they don’t care? I’m mystified.
Mr Caldwell writes ............... "the will of the party bosses (the top boss is undoubtedly Barack Obama) ..........:
I contend even Barack Obama is nothing more than a 2008 creation of SEIU and their ground troops ACORN. They worked tirelessly to bring this feckless Chicago politician with no public record of accomplishment to the national stage and rode into national prominence on the coattails of a ghostwritten "autobiography" filled with fabricated people and story lines.
Cui bono, is always the question to ask when Democrats "win" elections. Or in other words, follow the money. Because it is our money, our tax dollars, which benefits Democrats the most.
“The only thing these people seem to care about is preserving political power, . .” So what’s new? That’s what politics is all about, and the GOP better learn how to do it and do it better!
The next shot Trump has to perhaps destroy Harris's credibility is the September debate, but he better be careful. She could come across as a measured, intelligent ’statesman’ while Trump huffs and puffs about her being evil, stupid and radical.
Biden’s departure was the perfect opportunity for Trump to ‘customize’ the upcoming debate venue, like Biden’s people did for the June 27 debacle. Display newspaper headlines with her goofy policies, stats boards like Karl Rove displays, etc. etc., which would force Harris to either agree to Trumps rules and try to match his requirements or drop out and look spooked. I’m just glad it’s a Fox sponsored affair and Bret Behr is the moderator.
When I think of Harris having the keys to our nuclear arsenal I wanna puke! I sure hope Trump does well in September - it’s make-or-break for him . . . and for us!
Three valid observations. The 2020 hijacking of Bernie Sanders, the non-primary debacle in North Carolina and Florida, and the public execution of Joe Biden. As a bonus, the refusal of RFK Jr. candidacy. All political 🙄 moves to preserve control within the government. Big question 🤔 is, Are these political moves justified? I suggest that the answer is yes. Regardless of morals and ethics, they play to win. What exactly is wrong with winning? "America loves a winner!", Gen. George Patton.
One can go further, in 2016 they created Super Delegates to the convention to ensure primaries were inconsequential to their dictates. In 2020, they use the pandemic to change the voting rules to allow mail in voting, harvesting, and 30 days before and after election day to "count the votes". Why can we acknowledge that they "got game"?
One even bigger, when the demographics didn't favor them because people were fleeing their failed policies of tax and spend, they opened the border to expand and increase demand for social programs with newly acquired people in need of Government services. Brilliant!
When Trump didn't get out of the Presidential race, they prosecute him to discourage him and when that failed, an attempt on his life was made. Damm! These people are serious about winning.
Now, what are the opposition political moves 🤔 other than defensive tactics to survive? Lets recognize that the opposition is on defense and in many cases on retreat. What happened to winning?
If it wasn't for Trump and Musk, where were the opposition be today? I would suggest at the hands of the elite monarchy in a feudalist society under 100s of presences. So I asked, what's the opposition plan to win? They have control of government agencies, Judicial system, education system, news media 🙄, and more. They have made voters votes 🗳 and will insignificant.
Although this article points out valid observations, it misses the macro perspective of winning losing game.
"The only thing these people seem to care about is preserving political power, even at the expense of their party, our democracy, and our nation. "
This will appear harsh to the uninformed but we will make the comment anyway.
Look at local politics. Look at the oppressive transportation policies of the Left. Have they been successful? No. Has the primary anti car advocate in the State Legislature stated '"public transportation in California is broken...." YES. Scott Weiner made this statement after decades of highway destruction and local street grid destruction costing the Taxpayer Billions of dollars. When did he make this statement? 26 April 2023.
Are this area's elected representatives (Limon and Hart) continuing to support irresponsible spending on continued street obstructions and narrowing resulting in destruction of retail businesses? Yes. Gregg Hart building of a bike path along Modoc road where there is no bike demand and has not been for over a decade.
Santa Ynez Valley is faced with a Disney Fanciful Bike Loop championed by 3rd Dist. Supervisor Hartmann. This after the plan was destroyed during public comment at SBCAG because the epidemiology of the Valley has completely changed making the projections of "success(?)" unattainable. What is common here? Supposed "local elites" for the Left have put their personal reputations on the line. Does that mean when it fails they will pony up the money to "fix" what they destroyed? Of course not.
These are just a few examples of local Santa Barbara County issues of political arrogance.
I'll end this with the two latest examples of "We'll do it regardless of what the people want" of failure. Old Town Hollister Narrowing and "Death Valley" aka Old Town Santa Barbara State St.
Is there any interest among my fellow Current subscribers in fact-based news media? Everyone has an opinion - valid or not - but it's the facts that matter. My personal preference is to fact-check and cross reference assertions made by journalists and other authors, and to also include a bias check on the publication. Only then do I consider the material in forming my own opinion. Ad Fontes is a bias reporting site that is considered nonpartisan. Check it out: https://adfontesmedia.com/interactive-media-bias-chart/
Victoria - thank you for that link!
They have rigged their primaries since at least 2016. Bernie was drawing way more voters than Hilary yet they rigged the system so what the voters wanted didn’t matter Bernie took his payoff and rode into the sunset because Bernie has always only been in it for the graft he could get.
I usually like Caldwell's articles but this one makes no sense. Biden won the nomination in 2020 because he won 10 of the 15 primaries on Super Tuesday, and all the other candidates seeing the handwriting on the wall pulled out. The fact that Harris is now the Dem nominee is hardly a coup. The top guy is essentially senile and had to go. The Republicans if they were in the same position would have done the same thing. What's really aggravating is Harris has erased Trump's lead because Trump is running the worst campaign in presidential history. That's the real story that no one on the Current is writing about.
You missed one, Andy! Bernie was a strong favorite in 2016, but the Russians hacked into the DNC computers and revealed that the Hillary faction had conspired against Bernie to keep him off the ballot. Disgruntled Bernie backers either didn't vote, or voted for Trump. As a Republican who has never supported the RINO Trump, I can attest to the coup in my own party that somehow thinks that an old, cognitively challenged racist who is a convicted felon and adjudicated rapist can somehow beat a much younger progressive Democrat, now that 'sleepy Joe' has bowed out of the race. Nevermind the actual failed coup that transpired between November 2020 and culminated in the attack on Congress while it was certifying the electoral college votes. Perhaps it is time for another coup in our own party to get rid of the old orange albatross hanging around our necks!
We all know that "racist," "felon" and "rapist" are BS. And what do you mean by "progressive?" I suggest that the positive connotation of "progressive" is a veil to disguise a Marxist movement. Oh, failed coup is also BS. The ascension of Harris to presidential candidate without a vote by a citizen does not count as a coup?
Not true, Dems voted for a Biden-Harris ticket, so Harris had already been "elected" for the ticket by the rank-and-file; she stepped up only after Joe dropped out, kinda like Johnson did after Kennedy was assassinated. Also, this was confirmed by a vote of the delegates elected to the DNC by Dem party members. REP primary voters only voted for Trump alone, none of us got to weigh in on Vance, he was handpicked by Trump. Not unlike Harris now handpicking (without a vote) her running mate. In case you missed it, Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts by a jury of his piers in New York City, jurors who were interviewed and vetted by Trump's own defense attorneys. So, yes, he is a convicted FELON. Anyone following Trump for the last 30 years would know it is a racist, not only by his speech, but also by his actions and convictions.
SS: Until the final appeal has been exhausted, no one is a "convicted felon". Show a little respect for our three-part legal justice system which is in place because trial courts can and do err.
Sorry, but Trump is appealing HIS CONVICTION and is out on bail awaiting sentencing. You can not sentence an "innocent" man. He was found guilty and convicted. After he receives his sentence he can then appeal.
SS: You do need a conviction before you an appeal. This is true. But the final outcome ( this cherished labeling for you) cannot be stated, until the last appeal is exhausted. Why are you so invested in Orangeman Bad, and not in Biden nor Harris man-mis-non-feasance? Why just Trump.
Can you in simple terms actually describe the nature of this "conviction" or does the kangaroo voting of a highly biased jury and courtroom work for you? When the jury pool was intentionally obstructed by choice court dates, a large segment of the local population, you might might to delve into the realities of "jury of your piers(sic)" and be very worried yourself since high moral standards are so fundamental for you.
The obvious court room chicanery in public view should disturb the ordinary conscience. Yet yours is unruffled . Thank you for sharing your perspectives.
Are you trying to imply that Trump's defense team failed to do their due diligence in screening potential jurors for his trial? How do you "rig" a jury that the defense helps select? "Orangeman bad" because it was Trump who corrupted the Republican Party into a personality cult, not the Dems.
FYI… From March 10 to June 2, 1964, voters of the Democratic Party chose its nominee for president in the 1964 United States presidential election. Incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson was selected as the nominee through a series of primary elections and caucuses culminating in the 1964 Democratic National Convention held from August 24 to August 27, 1964, in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Do we "know" that - or just want to believe its BS?
Siemsen,
Bruh, your “fantasy” has more holes than a colander! Seriously, “adjudicated rapist?” By who, psych patient and well known hoe bag, E. Jean Carroll? Ya, that’s right, she couldn’t even say what decade this allegedly occurred!
Coup on Congress and Trump is responsible? That’s about as “tin foil hat” as accusing Obama of instigating the BLM riots in 2020 when he praised and told young blacks “your life matters,” while they burned down Minneapolis!
Facts, NOT emotions matter.
Can anyone in their right mind and IQ above 70, image the fall out if State and Federal prosecutors went after Obama on similar outrageous charges? No, didn’t think so.
PS… E. Jean Carroll also stated that she thinks most people think of rape as being sexy…the woman is known as a full-blown lunatic. She once said she was never raped, telling the New York Times’ podcast, The Daily, “Every woman gets to choose her word. Every woman gets to choose how she describes it. This is my way of saying it. This is my word. My word is ‘fight.’ My word is not the ‘victim’ word. I have not — I have not been raped,” she continued. “I have — something has not been done to me. I fought. That’s the thing.”
SS: Claiming Trump is a "convicted rapist" is slander per se. Check with legal counsel since you just shifted the burden of proof to yourself to prove this statement is true. One important limitation to your fulsome right of free speech.
Take a deep breath and read my response again and you will notice that I wrote that Trump was an ADJUDICATED RAPIST. He was never convicted of rape, and I never said that he was. Please try to stick to the statement as it was written, and not as you want it to read.
So we can legally say Trump has been found liable in a civil case for sexual battery and defamation.
If those were the exact verbatim words of the civil trial court ruling. Compare that statement to the claim Trump was "convicted of criminal rape". But I would insert .....at the trial court level ...... Never miss the opportunity to teach civics.
sure, we can say that Trump has been found liable in a civil case for sexual battery and defamation…but our court systems are captured & corrupt. Can we also say that none of these Trump court cases (lawfare) would have occurred if Trump retired from politics instead of coming back for a second run?
Can we also say, partisan political forces re-wrote the laws, concocted ab initio, novel and untested legal theories, and over-wrote statutes of limitations just to capture this particular "whale"?
Something about US constitutional protections against ex post facto laws and bills of attainder also ring in my ears, but that has yet to be legally explored
I do wonder about your question, if Trump would have just retired and just played golf would they be after him? I sure don't have an answer.
Here is a question back - Was Hunters case lawfare? Seems like a lot of public $$ and calories spent for paperwork lie/error.
Lawfare is the use of legal systems and institutions to damage or delegitimize an opponent. Our corrupt DOJ was forced to litigate the Hunter gun case in our two-tiered system…couldn’t sweep it under the rug…Best
I would like to see slander and Libel laws enforced. I suppose it’s too much trouble to sue. It’d be cool if it were a criminal complaint. Arrested by the police for saying or writing something that is knowingly false.
Thanks for the cogent response. It is an interesting topic/concept.
Chas: There is not yet a bright line between a stated fact and an opinion. Heaven forbid AI gets programed to make this final judgement call.
However, Trump has promised to revisit the current print media defamation rules, which do provide far more latitude when statements are made about a "public person" vs a private person, who may well have unwittingly become a "public person" due to malicious press attacks. (Recently the Covington Christian School kids, or the self-defense shooter in the Minneapolis melee.)
An interesting topic - setting actionaable lines between free speech, malicious speech and free expression of opinion. These are the questions that do keep legal scholars scratching their heads.
SS: The "Russians" did not hack into the DNC computers. But that is not the only lie you insist on spreading in your short tome. Just the first one.
Your statement, “the Russians hacked into the DNC computers…” is a bad foundation argument…Russia did not hack the DNC server… If dirty cops ran the investigation into the DNC breach, could an argument be made that it was Russia?
Crowdstrike
Did Russia 'break-in' to DNC server(s)?
Why did FBI accept 'indirect' evidence re: DNC server(s) 'hack''break-in' by CROWDSTRIKE [Ukraine]? Pro TIP: Look @ CROWDSTRIKE
CROWDSTRIKE managed the infiltration program based on payments to Clinton Foundation
The hole runs deep… https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/clinton-foundation-mcauliffe-donor-caught-up-in-chinese-cash-for-votes-scandal/2016/09/16/bfb3b8fc-7c13-11e6-ac8e-cf8e0dd91dc7_story.html
Fight 4 Trump, Field General leading the counter insurgency… https://x.com/fnowisthetime/status/1820138876159295675?s=61
Unlike Mr Caldwell’s detailed outline of the political moves used by the D to oust Bernie in 2016 & Joe Biden in 2024, you failed to provide a line-of-logic to support your assertion “I can attest to the coup in my own party”
Thanks, Andy, for another great column. I used to think “they” - whoever “they” are - were only interested in power, but now I think “they” are simply doing too much cocaine. “They” remind me more and more of those 80s movies where the plots couldn't keep up with the screenwriters' drug fueled brains and you'd look at the person seated next to you in the movie theater and go “What?!!! Could I have what they had making this?” “They” should just get Al Pacino to reprise his Scarface role at the upcoming convention. And then let America leave theie movie theater to try to find reality again.
Drug fueled Kabuki Theater.
Lol. “Say hello to my little friend who used to be a he but is now a she.”
“Too much cocaine” is hilarious, and might even be true! Hard to explain the out of control behavior otherwise, that’s for sure.
Another astute observation by Andy Caldwell. If one recalls the last sham of a primary for the Dems in 2016, Biden’s campaign was heading south quickly and it wasn’t until stalwart, Rep. Jim Clyburn D-SC, threw him a life preserver that he gained momentum and broke out to win the South Carolina primary.
Yes, Clyburn delivered the Black vote to Biden on a silver platter and the proverbial fix was in. The rest is history, Biden cruised to the Dem nomination and went on to scam the American voters by hiding in his basement for the rest of his presidential campaign. Biden played the rope-a-dope better than Mohamed Ali!
Is anyone surprised that the Dems perpetrated a similar scam for this election cycle? No, it was Pelosi, Schumer and Obama playing the role of “King Makers” that ultimately showed Biden the door, twisting his arm to drop out. It was like bringing out the hook in the old Vaudeville shows.
The reality is the Dems run election campaigns much like the Mafia runs a numbers racket. Yes, they run dirty ops such as a fake dossier, trying to frame Trump as a Russian intelligence asset, next was using hand picked judges and prosecutors to frame Trump on state and federal, “trumped up” indictments and finally, they allow some nut job to attempt to assassinate Trump by dumbing down his security detail.
Clearly, they have multiple ways to get to someone standing in their way. That’s what criminal organizations do.
At the local level, politics are a little more subtle but every bit as shady. Yes, we have “King Makers” within the local Democratic food chain, deciding who makes the cut and who ultimately gets elected. All those elected it would seem, are hand chosen by Dem bosses, sail through a primary and win an elected office, unscathed. Why? Because there is virtually NO organized opposition from the right in SB County!
Then they get the public sector unions involved, taking pictures along side a fire truck, being endorsed by the “Green” mafia and so on. You know the shtick.
Is it any surprise to anyone the next part of the scam is to push through questionable public works projects in order to reward their friends and throw a bone to the unions?
Sure, train to nowhere, bike paths, roundabouts, overpass pedestrian crossings, the list goes on and on.
Folks, that’s how the Democratic confidence scam works. I guess the joke has, and will continue to be, on us…surprise!
“The Party of the People” yet another fraud.
Truly sad Democrat voters do not see the truth.
They choose the lie, some enjoy the negativity and drama and thrive on being angry. Some are like battered spouses thinking the abuser will change and too afraid to step out in their own.
The common theme is purposeful manipulation and fear based ruling.
Controlling people through psychological methods, psy ops, political warfare.
When that fails, they resort to violence. This is seen from the KKK, to Antifa, BLM, Pro Terror, Rodney King days.
They are masterminds at manipulation.
Democrats are primarily the party of the public sector unions - which is as far as their connection to the people goes.
Other than spending the people's tax dollars primarily on themselves, while growing Big Government even bigger. This in turn permanently extends those self-serving public expenditures in perpetuity.
Rodney King days? When he was beaten by those Democrat Police officers?
I read this good article by Mr. Caldwell Titled “Democrats Perfect Banana Republic Style Politics”
and I quote Mr. Caldwell “The undeniable truth is that the Democrat Party establishment doesn’t bother to pretend anymore to represent the will – or the votes – of their party faithful. Instead, they simply present the will of the party bosses” AND “The only thing these people seem to care about is preserving political power, even at the expense of their party, our democracy, and our nation. Yet they have the nerve to declare Trump a threat to democracy?”
Lets bring this home as I always say to Santa Barbara and the Locked-Up-State of California as the
Democratic “Beat Goes On And On And On and On.” Listen to Sonny and Cher lyrics folks the New or Old Democratic Theme Song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lkfrtztqEY
The New Title is “Santa Barbara and California Democratic Prefect Banana Republic” shown in
our faithful Governor Newsom's “Beat Goes On” with his putting 18 Democratic Judges on the Bench
in 2023 as follows and I quote from https://www.gov.ca.gov/2023/12/07/governor-newsom-announces-judicial-appointments-12-7-23/
“SACRAMENTO –Governor Gavin Newsom today announced his nomination of two Court of Appeal Justices:Judge Monique Langhorne Wilson as an Associate Justice of the First District Court of Appeal, Division One and Aimee Feinberg as an Associate Justice of the Third District Court of Appeal.”
Read each of the Judge Bios all Democrat as the “Beat Goes On” The only person on that list that has the legal acumen is Appellate Attorney Stephen Dunkle here in Santa Barbara.
This is called “Stacking The Judicial Deck” with like-minded legal ideologues.
And of the 18 Judges selected yes-oh-yes 14 are women and the DEI “Beat Goes On” much like
what almost got Candidate and former President Trump Assassinated as the “Beat Goes On”
From the House Oversight and Accountability Committee on July 22, 2024 “Hearing Wrap Up: Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle Fails to Answer Basic Questions and Must Resign Following Historic Security Failures at President Trump’s Rally”
Listen to the words folks from Sonny and Cher as the Democratic “Beat Goes On”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lkfrtztqEY
Drums keep pounding
A rhythm to the brain
La de da de de, la de da de da .............
And Men Keep on Marching off to War .................
These ideological driven people are one step from Word War III
Now over 1.0 Million Russian and Ukraine Brothers, Fathers and Grandfathers
and worse Mothers and Children have been Killed and Wounded in Ukraine, a Massive Toll
and Another Utter Castrophe ..................
As the Beat Goes On and On and On................
Howard Walther, member of a Military
Shrewd and sharp assessment, Andy. Funny how the party’s foot-soldiers can’t see how cynical their generals are, isn’t it? Or do they see it, but they don’t care? I’m mystified.
Mr Caldwell writes ............... "the will of the party bosses (the top boss is undoubtedly Barack Obama) ..........:
I contend even Barack Obama is nothing more than a 2008 creation of SEIU and their ground troops ACORN. They worked tirelessly to bring this feckless Chicago politician with no public record of accomplishment to the national stage and rode into national prominence on the coattails of a ghostwritten "autobiography" filled with fabricated people and story lines.
Cui bono, is always the question to ask when Democrats "win" elections. Or in other words, follow the money. Because it is our money, our tax dollars, which benefits Democrats the most.
“The only thing these people seem to care about is preserving political power, . .” So what’s new? That’s what politics is all about, and the GOP better learn how to do it and do it better!
The next shot Trump has to perhaps destroy Harris's credibility is the September debate, but he better be careful. She could come across as a measured, intelligent ’statesman’ while Trump huffs and puffs about her being evil, stupid and radical.
Biden’s departure was the perfect opportunity for Trump to ‘customize’ the upcoming debate venue, like Biden’s people did for the June 27 debacle. Display newspaper headlines with her goofy policies, stats boards like Karl Rove displays, etc. etc., which would force Harris to either agree to Trumps rules and try to match his requirements or drop out and look spooked. I’m just glad it’s a Fox sponsored affair and Bret Behr is the moderator.
When I think of Harris having the keys to our nuclear arsenal I wanna puke! I sure hope Trump does well in September - it’s make-or-break for him . . . and for us!