Official thuggery, bad prosecutions, and bad law – Page 9

Friday links

Published September 28, 2018 5:49 am by Claire

Well, that’s a different view on Ford-Kavanaugh: “I believe her — and him.” (H/T DT)

Do laws requiring mandatory reporting of supposed crimes violate the First Amendment?

Terry Bressi is at it again — challenging constitution-free border checkpoints after being stopped over 400 times.

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Tuesday links

Published September 25, 2018 11:37 am by Claire

J.D. Tuccille on Google and privatized authoritarianism.

If there’s a hell, a very low ring should be reserved for petty bureaucrats who use the law against good, kind, brave people. The charges against Tammie Hedges for administering medicine to rescued pets and “soliciting a controlled substance” are barbaric. Good thing her legal fundraiser is surpassing all expectations.

The U.S. is about to get its first “robot brothel.” Don’t expect this to be The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. (H/T DB)

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Long weekend read: Politics and prison

Published September 22, 2018 10:45 am by Claire

Very long but very worth it. Kent Sorenson was a cocky political rookie being courted for his influence in the Iowa caucuses. He switched loyalties from Bachmann to Paul — and committed a greedy rookie error. He went to federal prison for corruption. It was a real eye opener.

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Friday links

Published September 21, 2018 11:06 am by Claire

Happy Paratus! Commander Zero, who invented this holiday for preparedness, has celebration suggestions.

That mysterious observatory closure? They claim it’s because a janitor had kiddie porn on a computer. Hm.

Sheesh. No wonder Kavanaugh’s accuser can’t remember any details. Given the party-and-pickup culture of the pricey school she went to, it’s a wonder she can remember anything from her teens.

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Midweek links

Published September 19, 2018 5:06 pm by Claire

The prosecution of Cody Wilson for having sex with an underage prostitute absolutely reeks of being a setup by enforcers pissed off that they couldn’t get him any other way. (H/T MP)

In July, it became the first cannabis company to go public on the Nasdaq. Tilray is making a lot of people rich. But it’s partying like it’s 1999, says The Motley Fool.

The fedgov gives itself permission to spy on journalists — another delightful use of the FISA system.

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Weekend links

Published September 15, 2018 7:12 pm by Claire

Oh, lucky us. Our cellphones are soon to be subject to a FEMA-driven “presidential alert system” that we won’t be allowed to shut off.

Ben Shapiro pens the very definition of socialism: “When government is everything, everything is crazy.”

Humans aren’t the only ones who suffer from socialism. Don’t miss J. KB’s last three paragraphs.

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Midweek links

Published September 12, 2018 1:33 am by Claire

David French of the National Review calls Amber Guyger’s murder of a man in his own home “the worst police shooting yet.” I don’t know about that, but it certainly has all the elements, including favoritism and the typical cover story. From Wired: How to move a million people out of a hurricane’s way. Good luck, mid-Atlantean readers! She made it through Hurricane Harvey — though not necessarily well. Now Sara Cress gives advice on how to prepare for a flood. (NPR broadcast; not sure whether transcript will be online by the time this posts, but she mentions things people…

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Monday links

Published September 10, 2018 1:47 am by Claire

All those NFL team owners and not a single spine among them. As I’ve said before, this isn’t about free speech or racism; it’s about employees misusing their employers’ time to damage their employers’ bottom line. And now about employers letting it happen. (H/T Shel in comments)

Equally unsurprising; there’s dissension in the ACLU over supporting free speech and free association for the NRA.

“F*** that gator,” has replaced “Hold my beer” as the national shorthand for Darwin-level stupidity. Apparently that’s very unkind of us.

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Thursday links

Published August 30, 2018 5:08 am by Claire

For the first time in 45 years, a Texas cop is found guilty for a murder he committed in the line of duty. Now let’s see whether he serves the time any other cold-blooded killer would. Ummmm … nope.

It is not a violation of Twitter policy to wish someone would kill the children of NRA spokesperson Dana Loesch — even though it is a violation of Twitter policy to wish for the killing of anybody else.

The economy: “Winter is coming.”

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Monday links

Published August 27, 2018 8:26 am by Claire

I was waiting for somebody to say this. Although I don’t agree with it all, John McCain was one of the biggest authoritarians ever to infest Congress. He never met a freedom that he didn’t want to destroy. I’m sorry he died a terrible death, but I’m glad he’s no longer in the ruling class.

PC run amok. A NASCAR driver loses a sponsorship because of a dumb remark his father made 35 years ago.

Via Maggie’s Farm: Seven things I’d do if I wanted to keep poor people poor.

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Category: Official thuggery, bad prosecutions, and bad law