Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Beach Report 8/31/21

A bit cooler today compared to yesterday, low 80's and mostly cloudy, and humid. Tomorrow's forecast suggests a washout with the remains of Hurricane Ida reaching the area. 
Not the best day for fossils, with high and dirty water, only 8 shark's teeth each, but I clearly had the winner with this Snaggletooth which I snatched out of the surf. 


Oregon, My Oregon!

Jeff Reynolds at PJ Media, Oregon Vaccine Mandate Could Lead to Mass Exodus of Firefighters and Paramedics Across the State

On August 19, Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced sweeping new mandates in response to the delta variant of COVID-19. The new order, administered by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), mandates masks in all indoor and outdoor settings, regardless of vaccination status. The mask mandate exempts the homeless, children under five years old, people engaged in competitive sports, and those delivering an outdoor speech or performance. The Democrat governor also mandated COVID-19 vaccines for all health care workers, along with teachers and staff in K-12 across the state. The mask mandate took effect on August 19. The vaccine mandate must be completed by October 18, or affected workers would face the prospect of termination.

Just two weeks prior, Brown had announced that school districts would retain local control over health care mandates, and health care workers would maintain their personal choice over the vaccine.
The mandate applies to paramedics and firefighters across Oregon and has caused a firestorm of controversy among rural fire departments. In Aurora, the fire chief said he would rather lose his job than require his employees to receive the vaccine:
The chief of the Aurora Fire District says he would sooner be fired than enforce the new statewide mandate requiring health care workers — including firefights [sic] who also serve as front-line EMTs — to get vaccinated for Covid-19 by Oct. 18.

Chief Joshua Williams, who moved to the Aurora Fire District in May 2018 after a 12-year career in Depoe Bay, made his position clear in a two-page letter posted to the Aurora Fire District’s social media Friday.

“This mandate is un-American, as our state government has been weaponized to the point where people are afraid to take a stand,” Williams said. “I will no longer sit silently on the sideline and watch this happen. I love my job, I love the fire service, and more importantly, I love the people that I work with and serve.”

“I will not abide by the governor’s mandate. Additionally, I will not enforce this mandate on any member of this fire district. In the old America, we used to have choices. Frankly, I do not recognize the country that I live in right now.”
Williams also noted that 25% or more of the firefighters in his district would also quit to avoid a vaccine mandate. He said this would devastate the ability of the Aurora Fire Department to respond to emergencies.

It seems to me that WuFlu vaccines have become an unnecessary source of cultural friction in the US. It seems to me that for the left has decided, like gun control we all must be vaccinated, whether we agree with their risk calculations or not, and those damn conservatives are mucking things up by not complying with our completely reasonable demands that the receive a vaccine that may or may not have been thoroughly vetted. And a lot of conservative have taken the contrary position that they don't trust the pharmaceutical industry, and/or the government, and they're not gonna take the damn jab no matter how many liberals call them names or nag.

The data clearly show that for adults older than about 30, the vaccines are a statistical benefit; you're far more likely to suffer harm from the disease than from the vaccinations. Somewhere between the age of 10 and 30 the calculations change, with the rate of harmful effects from the vaccines (particularly the heart issues) outweighing the pretty rare cases of serious illness in the young. Below that age, in a rationale world (we don't live in one) most children probably don't need, and shouldn't be given current vaccines. They will almost all get WuFlu eventually, and gain real immunity, which is apparently far stronger than the vaccine induced "immunity". Us old farts will probably need to rely on vaccines to prevent serious illness until the dominant strains mutate to something less virulent, or the vaccine allows us to catch a non-life-threatening case and build lasting immunity.

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Mindy Robinson up on time and under budget at The Other McCain.

Election 2020: Pelosi to Pull Congressional Phone Records

Not too much today. We're still digesting the official revelation the Lt. Michael Byrd of the Capitol Police shot unarmed Ashli Babbitt to death in the Jan. 6 as she attempted to go through a broken window, and received plaudits from the Mainstream Media. Dr. John at Flopping Aces says Michael Byrd is a coward. Maybe, maybe not, but I don't think he's a very good police officer. Beth Baumann at the The Truth About Guns claims Capitol Police Officer’s Explanation for Shooting and Killing Ashli Babbitt Is Riddled With Problems "What took place in this situation is a textbook example of what not to do in multiple ways. . . ." Stacy Matthews at LI responds to Jonathon Turley's piece in Statements By Capitol Police Officer Who Killed Ashli Babbitt ‘Demolish the Two Official Reviews That Cleared Him’ "“Under Byrd’s interpretation, hundreds of rioters could have been gunned down on Jan. 6” or an average summer day in Portland, Oregon. The AP claims Records rebut claims of unequal treatment of Jan. 6 rioters, based on the arrests of a few of thousands of rioter around the country, but as they also note: 

To be sure, some defendants have received lenient deals.

At least 19 who have been sentenced across the country got no prison time or time served, according to the AP’s review. Many pleaded guilty to lower-level offenses, such as misdemeanor assault, but some were convicted of more serious charges, including civil disorder.

In Portland, Oregon — where demonstrations, many turning violent, occurred nightly for months after a white Minneapolis police officer killed Floyd — about 60 of the roughly 100 cases that were brought have been dismissed, court records show.

WUSA9,  At least 17 Capitol riot defendants now 'effectively without counsel' with high-profile attorney John Pierce in hospital "Attorney John Pierce, of Pierce Bainbridge, is reportedly in the hospital with COVID-19 and may be on a ventilator, according to an associate.

HE, FBI Allegedly Paid White Supremacist Publisher to Serve as Confidential Informant. More proof that the demand for White Supremacists exceeds the supply. Julie Kelly at Am Great notices even More Similarities Between the Whitmer Plot and January 6

How the FBI seemingly concocted the Whitmer kidnapping plot and made it public right before the election raises legitimate questions about the FBI’s potential involvement on January 6, especially considering the same “extremist” groups—the Three Percenters and the Oath Keepers—are tied to both. . . .

The precursor to the kidnapping ruse, interestingly, was a plan to attack the state capitol in Lansing. The parallels are uncanny.

Megan Fox (no, not that Megan Fox) has helpful suggestions behind PJ Media's paywall,  Here's What to Do if the FBI's 'Sedition Hunters' Show Up at Your Door, But the html gives it away free, shut up and lawyer up.

As Capt. Ed at Hot Hair notes Distractions: House 1/6 committee leaks *possible* records demand on Congress, Trump, CNN, January 6 committee to ask telecommunications companies to preserve phone records of members of Congress who participated in 'Stop the Steal' rally. They may regret that if the shoe is on the other foot in 2022. Politico notes  About Jim Jordan’s other Jan. 6 call with Trump
After a group of lawmakers were evacuated from the House chamber to a safe room on Jan. 6, Jordan was joined by Rep. MATT GAETZ (R-Fla.) for a call during which they implored Trump to tell his supporters to stand down, per a source with knowledge of that call. The source declined to say how Trump responded to this request.

At JTN, Big Tech, woke finance crack down on Flynn, Gateway Pundit, Berenson in cancel culture purge "In recent days, Twitter permanently banned independent journalist Alex Berenson, Google demonetized The Gateway Pundit from its ad network, and Chase Bank canceled the credit cards of retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn."

In Audit Fever, Matt Margolis at PJ Media reports,  A Stunning Number of Absentee Ballots in DeKalb County, Georgia, Violated Chain-of-Custody Rules "according to an analysis of ballot transfer forms by The Georgia Star News, 43,907 of the 61,731 absentee ballots that were put in dropboxes by voters, a whopping 72 percent, violated this rule." At Behind the Black, Report: 43K of 61K absentee ballots in Georgia county were counted despite being illegal "Biden won Georgia by only 11,779 votes. Who knows what the real count was? We shall probably never know." From HE, Wisconsin Lost Track of 82,000+ Mail-In Ballots During 2020 Election "Indeed, Joe Biden beat Trump by 20,682 votes in the state – meaning he only won by .6 percent or less. But, per the legal foundation’s report, 82,766 mail-in ballots were undeliverable or suffered an unknown fate. " Which is why, Colorado Election Fraud: Soros-Backed Secretary of State Permanently Blocks Arizona-Style Audits (Stephen Green at PJ Media). You won't ever find election fraud if you don't look, and that's they way they want it.

Also from Stephen Green, Florida Redistricting Has Dems in a Panic Over Losing the House.

Even California is catching the bug; Jazz Shaw at Hot Hair, Nervous Newsom: Yeah, I probably kind of asked to be recalled. At Breitbart, Exclusive — Larry Elder on Gavin Newsom Recall: ‘Even When They Cheat, They’re Still Going to Lose’  John Sexton at Hot Hair, Recall of SF School Board likely has more than enough signatures to get on the ballot.

Tattoo Tuesday


The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Mindy Robinson up on time and under budget at The Other McCain.

Monday, August 30, 2021

Mission Accomplished!

At the UK Mirror, Woman goes 'topless' at Extinction Rebellion protest to 'draw attention' to crisis

An Extinction Rebellion protester went topless in the hope showing her breasts would help "draw attention" to the climate crisis, she has revealed.

Laura Amherst, 31, was photographed without a top on Wednesday as the environmental campaign group descended on London's Oxford Circus for the third day of their two-week "Impossible Rebellion".


 

Instead of clothes, Laura dressed herself with a message scrawled across her chest, which read: "WAKE UP."

On her bottom someone had written: "ACT NOW".

The Open University politics student also stuck two "XR" stickers over her nipples.

Laura, a vegan from Brighton, said: "I did it to draw attention to the climate crisis facing the planet."

Well, she drew attention to something, anyway. Youtube

H/T to William Teach at Pirate's Cove

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Mindy Robinson up on time and under budget at The Other McCain.

Hail To Thee, My Alma Mater

Campus Reform, Oregon State University’s College of Education hosts seminar on 'Confronting Systemic Whiteness'

A recent event at Oregon State University event taught faculty of the dangers of "systemic Whiteness" in America.

The seminar, titled “Confronting Systemic Whiteness,” was held by the university's College of Education and served the purpose of allowing faculty to, “engage in issues of whiteness and systemic racism in the institution as well as more broadly in the United States.”

The seminar’s stated learning objectives include understanding the various ways that “systemic Whiteness” plagues the country. It describes this "systemic Whiteness" as an all-encompassing force that impacts all individuals regardless of their intent. The objectives claim that "anti-Blackness permeates US society" and that it has a substantial impact on the lives and outcomes of Black Americans.

To be fair, there's a whole lot of white in Oregon

According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Oregon was:
  • White: 84.29%
  • Two or more races: 4.80%
  • Asian: 4.37%
  • Other race: 3.07%
  • Black or African American: 1.91%
  • Native American: 1.16%
  • Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.40%

Beach Report 8/30/21 - Chessie, Is That You?

It was about 85, partly sunny, humid and not especially breezy when we got to the beach late this morning. Almost immediately we ran into to some kids who told us they had just seen a manatee in the harbor, but we still took our normal walk.
The best of 26 shark's teeth, a small but fresh looking White Shark on the left, and a decent parasymphyseal upper Snaggletooth. We also managed 3 drum teeth and a crab claw.
Georgia and Skye stop for a cooling dip in the stream on the way back.
At that point we thought we'd go down to the harbor and see if we could find the manatee. If so, it's likely Chessie, a Manatee that has made more than one visit to Maryland from Florida, including at least one stop in Flag Harbor.
So we checked, and found a Green Heron fishing, and a Double Crested Cormorant sunning himself.
And a big one going by out front. Marinetraffic.com identifies it as the Cape Washington:

CAPE WASHINGTON (IMO: 7826178) is a Vehicles Carrier that was built in 1982 (39 years ago) and is sailing under the flag of USA. It’s carrying capacity is 32386 t DWT and her current draught is reported to be 7.8 meters. Her length overall (LOA) is 212.44 meters and her width is 32.24 meters.
And a tight school of peanut bunker (small Menhaden) making donuts between the boats. But no Manatee. If Chessie really made another stop in the harbor, and I missed him, I'll be a little disappointed.


Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?

We all have time enough to cry: Rebecca Downs at Town Hall, Joe Biden Actually Checked His Watch During Transfer of Bodies at Dover and He Wasn't Even Subtle About It

True story; the day I retired, I took off my watch and threw it on the shelf. However, I did put it on to take it to Italy.

Maybe Joe should retire. 

Election 2020: In the Eye of the Storm

A very light morning, between the Afghanistan debacle and the horror of Hurricane Ida.

Insty upon reading Jonathon Turley's essay on Ashli Babbitt's killer, DC Capitol Cop Lt. Michael Byrd: JONATHAN TURLEY: Shooter of Ashli Babbit Makes Shocking Admission:

In the eyes of the establishment — including those silent “law professors and experts” — she deserved to die because she was a Trump supporter. It’s all about that.

Plus, the usual apparatchik entitlement: “Politico reported that Byrd previously was subjected to a disciplinary review when he left his Glock 22 service weapon in a bathroom in the Capitol Visitor Center complex. He reportedly told other officers that his rank as a lieutenant and his role as commander of the House chambers section would protect him and that he expected to ‘be treated differently.'”

Well, he wasn’t wrong. But he should pay.

He is as guilty of negligent homicide at Dereck Chauvin, by his own admission.  Jordan Davidson at Da Fed rubs it in, FLASHBACK: Capitol Police Officer Who Shot Ashli Babbitt Left His Gun Unattended In A Bathroom In 2019 “It was a terrible mistake. I acknowledged it. I owned up to it, accepted the responsibility. I was penalized for it and I moved on,” Jack Dunphy at PJ Media, Capitol Police Officer Who Shot Ashli Babbitt Speaks (but Shouldn't Have). It's generally a bad idea to talk to cops or journalists. 

Understand that it is not only Byrd himself who will be accused in the wrongful death suit yet to be filed. His department will also be named when the suit is brought in the jurisdiction the plaintiffs choose, and in speaking with Holt, Byrd exposed some departmental deficiencies a jury may see as having contributed to Babbitt’s death.

Kevin Downey at PJ Media, Bad Words and Desperation: Democrats Flail to Keep January 6 Relevant

Rather than pack it in and look for a new distraction, or focus on REAL terrorists killing American soldiers in Afghanistan, Nancy Pelosi clings to January 6 like an alien face-hugger. Now, in a new and frankly embarrassing low, seven Capitol cops are suing President Trump over the January 6 protest turned mini-riot.

From the text of the lawsuit: 
“Because of Defendants’ unlawful actions, Plaintiffs were violently assaulted, spat on, tear-gassed, bear-sprayed, subjected to racial slurs and epithets, and put in fear for their lives. Plaintiffs’ injuries, which Defendants caused, persist to this day.”
“Racial slurs and epithets, and put in fear for their lives” is hysterical. It shows the Democrats are still on their crazed mission to prove Trump supporters are racists goobers, and suggests well-armed riot cops can’t take being called bad names. Furthermore, as a Trump supporter, can I still drink my coffee black or should I call it “oppressed”?

The lawsuit is not only going after Trump, it also targets his campaign, adviser Roger Stone, a group called “Stop the Steal,” the Oath Keepers, and the Proud Boys.

FACT-O-RAMA! The U.S. Supreme Court would not allow a police officer who suffered a brain injury, a loss of teeth, and a broken jaw, all resulting from a brick thrown by BLM rioters, to sue BLM. This was a fortunate decision for the Marxist BLM co-founder Patrisse Cullors, who appears to be collecting houses like Beanie Babies. Cullors recently left BLM when her compadres wanted to know where she got the mad stacks to pay for five mansions.

If a cop who was injured so severely that he sustained brain damage can’t sue BLM, what are the odds the seven Capitol cops will win their lawsuit regarding pepper spray and naughty names? Pretty good. The left takes care of their own.

Brent Hamachek at HE, Gone Fishing: House January 6th Inquisition Seeks Trump Emails, HE’s Jack Posobiec Makes the List!. So the Democrats are going after unfriendly journalists now. 

In his Twitter feed Wednesday, Posobiec said of the matter, “It’s clear they are after my sources. Not giving them up. Don’t care what letter they send me. It’s not happening. Not afraid to take a stand to protect these patriots…Democrats think every patriot is involved in some deep secret organized plot orchestrated from the top because that’s how they themselves operate.”

Russel La Valle at Am Great tracks The Progressive Campaign to Keep White Americans Hating Themselves

From JTN, Texas House passes election reform measure after months of delays "Passage comes roughly six months after the Senate bill was filed and after Democrats fled the state for nearly six weeks to stall passage." Bringing the Delta variant to Washington DC, and vacationing in Belgium.

Bad news for "Resting Smug Face" Gavin Newsome, as, according to Breitbart, Federal Judge Says California Recall Is Constitutional, which makes sense, because it's actually in California's Constitution. Not that that would ordinarily sway a Federal judge, especially one appointed by Democrats. 

Plaintiff plainly feels disgruntled that a replacement candidate with a small plurality might replace a sitting governor who, based on a robust “No” vote, might well have beaten that same replacement candidate in a general election. As that may be, such disgruntlement raises no federal constitutional issues and certainly does not give the federal judiciary the right to halt the mammoth undertaking of this gubernatorial recall election. No one suggests that a state constitutional mechanism for recall is in itself unconstitutional. If the possibility for recall exists, then a means for selecting a successor must be specified. No doubt, it would be cheaper and simpler to replace a sitting governor with the lieutenant governor. But for over one hundred years, California has chosen a different procedure. The United States Constitution does not prevent that.

I wonder if a judge will go along with this one, at Da Fed, Fraudulent Candidate Terry McAuliffe Didn’t Follow VA Election Law And A New Lawsuit Could Boot Him Off The Ballot. He didn't bother to sign the papers to file for the position. I know, it seems a little silly, but who hasn't been denied something from the government because the paperwork wasn't done right?

Gabe Kaminsky at Da Fed, Chicago GOP Chairman: Adam Kinzinger Is ‘Unpopular’ And Won’t Win A Primary. Votes have consequences. 

The Monday Morning Stimulus


Light-to-moderate coffee drinking associated with health benefits. “Our results suggest that regular coffee consumption is safe, as even high daily intake was not associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality after a follow-up of 10 to 15 years. Moreover, 0.5 to 3 cups of coffee per day was independently associated with lower risks of stroke, death from cardiovascular disease, and death from any cause.”

The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Mindy Robinson up on time and under budget at The Other McCain.

Sunday, August 29, 2021

Some DIY Russiagate - Whence John Durham?

 It's been quite a while, but the big question remains, what is John Durham up to. Will it be a bang or a bust. Will AG Garland allow it to be released if it's a bang?


Say, whatever happened to John Durham? – HotAir


Trump speaks to radio silence from John Durham - Washington Examiner

Witnesses grouse about Garland's handling of Durham inquiry: Report -  ashington Examiner

The Durham Report Is a Glacier: Slow Moving But Potentially Devastating – PJ Media

Report: Durham exploring charges against low-level FBI officials and tipsters - TheHill

DOJ inspector general cannot identify FBI leaks regarding Clinton server in lead-up to 2016 election - Fox News

Nunes sees 'challenge' in Garland attempting to 'bury' Durham report - Washington Examiner

Durham Grand Jury Investigating If Someone Presented FBI With Fabricated Evidence in 2016 Russia Probe - Conservative Brief

John Durham grand jury seeks documents, witness testimony - The Washington Post

About That WSJ Report of the Durham Probe Investigating FBI Tipsters - The Last Refuge

Still in the game: Will Durham's report throw a slow curveball at key political players? - TheHill

Senate Republicans demand Durham report be made public - Fox News

Forty-four Republican senators demand Durham report be made public - TheHill

Senate Republicans Urge Attorney General To Release Durham Report

Oh, So That's Why the DOJ Inspector General Couldn't Find the FBI Leakers from 2016 by Matt Vespa

Hillary Clinton's old campaign law firm uses China excuse to avoid Carter Page lawsuit - Just The News

Judge Andrew Napolitano Fired by Fox News Following Sexual Harassment Claims by Young Male Staff - The Last Refuge

Devin Nunes files defamation suit against MSNBC host Rachel Maddow

Devin Nunes expects Washington Post deposition in defamation lawsuit - Washington Examiner

Clinton Lawyer Featured In Steele Dossier Scandal Opens Firm With Focus On Ethics and Campaign Disclosures – JONATHAN TURLEY

Clinton Lawyer Featured In Steele Dossier Scandal Opens Firm With Focus On Ethics and Campaign Disclosures - ZeroHedge

Crooked Clinton Lawyer Who Paid for Steele Dossier Opens New Firm ‘Because Our Democracy Is at Risk' – PJ Media

Chicago trying to block a $1M tax rebate on Trump building

Trump accountants must turn over some tax records to House panel, federal judge rules - Fox News

Beach Report 8/29/21

We had temperatures in the mid to upper 70s today with tolerable humidity. A bit of NNW breeze had the water very stirred up, and a mid tide didn't help the search for shark's teeth.
The local Great Blue Heron was hard at leisure on the posing post.

I just thought I'd throw this one in. It was in the garden as I was washing off my shoes. A female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. 


Election 2020: Ashli Babbitt Killing, Clean or Unclean?

We are still getting reactions after the Capitol Police cleared Michael Byrd in the killing of Ashli Babbitt in the Captiol and he came forward with favorable interview at NBC, w Independent Chronicle, Liberals extol officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt: 'Hero' ""My favorite hero!! He put a terrorist in the ground," said someone else." At the Times of San Diego, Officer Who Shot Ashli Babbitt: Jan. 6 Rioter Was ‘Posing a Threat to House of Representatives.’ Billy Binion (who the hell is he?) cited at Hot Hair, If you want police accountability on Jan. 6, you should want it every day. Yeah, I do.

Ed Driscoll at Insty, MICHAEL BYRD IS A HERO FOR KILLING ASHLI BABBITT, HAVE YOU NOT HEARD HIM SAY? 

“Ask yourself: when was the last time you celebrated a cop for killing an unarmed man or woman? If your answer is ‘never’ — which is likely — why have you made an exception for Ashli Babbitt? Before you answer, hopefully, NBC can explain its doubled standard. So keep all of this in mind as Michael Byrd makes the rounds on CNN, ABC, NBC, and CBS, and then gets rich off a tell-all book. Byrd will have a lot to tell, by the way. He’s been a victim for years. Just ask him.”

Jonathon Turley, as usual, a relatively dispassionate examination of the incident, Justified shooting or fair game? Shooter of Ashli Babbitt makes shocking admission
At the time, some of us familiar with the rules governing police use of force raised concerns over the shooting. Those concerns were heightened by the DOJ’s bizarre review and report, which stated the governing standards but then seemed to brush them aside to clear Byrd.

The DOJ report did not read like any post-shooting review I have read as a criminal defense attorney or law professor. The DOJ statement notably does not say that the shooting was clearly justified. Instead, it stressed that “prosecutors would have to prove not only that the officer used force that was constitutionally unreasonable, but that the officer did so ‘willfully.’” It seemed simply to shrug and say that the DOJ did not believe it could prove “a bad purpose to disregard the law” and that “evidence that an officer acted out of fear, mistake, panic, misperception, negligence, or even poor judgment cannot establish the high level of intent.”

That defense didn't work for Derek Chauvin.

While the Supreme Court, in cases such as Graham v. Connor, has said that courts must consider "the facts and circumstances of each particular case," it has emphasized that lethal force must be used only against someone who is "an immediate threat to the safety of the officers or others, and ... is actively resisting arrest or attempting to evade arrest by flight." Particularly with armed assailants, the standard governing "imminent harm" recognizes that these decisions must often be made in the most chaotic and brief encounters.

Under these standards, police officers should not shoot unarmed suspects or rioters without a clear threat to themselves or fellow officers. That even applies to armed suspects who fail to obey orders. Indeed, Huntsville police officer William “Ben” Darby recently was convicted for killing a suicidal man holding a gun to his own head. Despite being cleared by a police review board, Darby was prosecuted, found guilty and sentenced to 25 years in prison, even though Darby said he feared for the safety of himself and fellow officers. Yet law professors and experts who have praised such prosecutions in the past have been conspicuously silent over the shooting of an unarmed woman who had officers in front of and behind her on Jan. 6.
. . .
Of all of the lines from Byrd, this one stands out: “I could not fully see her hands or what was in the backpack or what the intentions are.” So, Byrd admitted he did not see a weapon or an immediate threat from Babbitt beyond her trying to enter through the window. Nevertheless, Byrd boasted, "I know that day I saved countless lives." He ignored that Babbitt was the one person killed during the riot. (Two protesters died of natural causes and a third from an amphetamine overdose; one police officer died the next day from natural causes, and four officers have committed suicide since then.) No other officers facing similar threats shot anyone in any other part of the Capitol, even those who were attacked by rioters armed with clubs or other objects.

Legal experts and the media have avoided the obvious implications of the two reviews in the Babbitt shooting. Under this standard, hundreds of rioters could have been gunned down on Jan. 6 — and officers in cities such as Seattle or Portland, Ore., could have killed hundreds of violent protesters who tried to burn courthouses, took over city halls or occupied police stations during last summer’s widespread rioting. In all of those protests, a small number of activists from both political extremes showed up prepared for violence and pushed others to riot. According to the DOJ’s Byrd review, officers in those cities would not have been required to see a weapon in order to use lethal force in defending buildings.

Althouse, "Legal experts and the media have avoided the obvious implications of the two reviews in the Babbitt shooting." Nick Arama at Red State, Jonathan Turley Calls out Concerning Comments by Ashli Babbitt's Shooter

The media has largely ignored the questions about the propriety of the shooting, because they were against Babbitt’s political beliefs. But the same standards of whether an officer is justified when shooting should apply whoever the person shot is — be they Trump supporter or BLM person.

Just as an aside, I can’t recall even one BLM/Antifa person shot by a police officer in response to all the horribly violent things they did over the past year. As Turley points out, not one other officer who was present fired on any of the other rioters during the Capitol riot, despite other circumstances in which some were, in fact, attacked by rioters.

At ET, Jan. 6 Committee Seeks Records From 15 Tech Platforms, Insty, BAD WORDS AND DESPERATION: DEMOCRATS FLAIL TO KEEP JANUARY 6 RELEVANT and The Nation’s Elie Mystal wants to use January 6th as a pretense to “nationalizing the midterm elections:”

Related, at Da Hill, Thousands march on Washington in voting rights push, Choot 'em Lizbef!

At Da Signal, Report: Wisconsin Lost Track of 82,000 Ballots in State Biden Won by 20,000, which in itself doesn't prove the state was stolen, but it certainly provides the means and opportunity. We know the Democrats had the motive.

At JTN, Bipartisan election reform bill brewing in Pennsylvania Senate "Cosponsors said their bill purposefully avoids "more controversial recommendations like voter identification requirements" and focuses instead on those with "broader bi-partisan support.""
The chairs of the State Government Committee began circulating a cosponsorship memo earlier this month for their joint plan, which allows for a three-day pre-canvassing rule, continuous video surveillance of ballot drop boxes, tightened application deadlines and an elimination of the permanent mail-in list, among other changes.

Molinaro Moss, cited at Hot Hair,  Trump's "Kraken" lawyers got what they deserved. OK, let's start disbarring Democrat lawyer who file losing suits. 

Sundance at CTH, California Governor Worries His Recall is a Referendum on Joe Biden and Democrats

The Atlantic Article interviewing the perpetually inept far-left advocate for all things big government, Gavin Newsom, doesn’t specifically say the California governor is worried about his recall being a wider referendum on Joe Biden, but the gorilla in the room is visible through the fear the interview conveys.

The left-wing Democrat socialists writ large have pushed their agenda so hard against the common threads that bind American society, that now the Newsom recall effort looks like an opportunity for common-sense to push back. I smile because there are trembles amid the dark forces of the globalists, the multinationals and the institutional corporations who need Newsom and his Democrat tribe.

Sunday Sunrise


Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Mindy Robinson up on time and under budget at The Other McCain.

Saturday, August 28, 2021

Beach Report 8/28/21

A strong front rolled through last night with a good solid hour of thunder, lightening , rain and minor power blips. We recorded 2.5 inches of rain, 2 of which fell between 9:30 and 10:30 PM. Today's weather was much cooler, a mere 82, and tolerable humidity under mostly clear skies.

When we got to the furthest point of the walk, we encountered a father and son fossil hunting team with a real prize, a little more than half of a huge Megalodon tooth, which they found sifting the beach sand under the cliff. I'm afraid the kid will either be jaded for life, or inspired to become a paleontologist. 

I won't even bother to show you our measly take, 18 shark's teeth of no particular quality, 2 drum teeth and a Tilly bone. 


Forget It Jake, It's Baltimore

 Eugene Volokh, at the Volokh Conspiracy, Baltimore Might Be Liable for Riot Damage to Businesses

From Chae Bros. Limited Ltd. Co. v. Mayor & City Council of Baltimore, decided yesterday by Judge Stephanie A. Gallagher (D. Md.):
Plaintiffs, consisting primarily of small businesses, small business owners, and property owners in Baltimore City, seek to recover for damages suffered during the civil unrest that occurred after the arrest and subsequent death of Freddie Gray in April, 2015….

Maryland's Riot Act provides that "if a structure or personal property is stolen, damaged, or destroyed in a riot, the injured party may recover actual damages sustained in a civil action against the county or municipal corporation of the State in which the riot occurred." However, the county or municipal corporation is not liable unless it:
(1) had good reason to believe that the riot was about to take place or, having taken place, had notice of the riot in time to prevent the theft, damage, or destruction; and

(2) had the ability, either by use of the county's or municipal corporation's police or with the aid of the residents of the county or municipal corporation, to prevent the theft, damage, or destruction.
Moreover, a plaintiff may not prevail under the Riot Act if the county or municipal corporation, "used reasonable diligence and all the powers entrusted to them to prevent or suppress the riot." Because the City has moved for summary judgment, it bears the burden to show that the Plaintiffs have not produced sufficient evidence to raise a genuine dispute of material fact about whether the City may be held liable under the Riot Act. Viewing the facts, as this Court must, in the light most favorable to the Plaintiffs, the City has not met its burden….
. . .
The City knew that the protests on April 25th turned from peaceful to violent and destructive. Nonetheless, the City coordinated with the BPD to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, the BPD did not engage with protesters. After the April 25th protests, the Mayor initially admitted that the City "gave those who wished to destroy space to do that[.]" The City anticipated that protesting on April 27th—the day of Freddie Gray's funeral—might again turn violent and destructive. As predicted, the protests on April 27th did, in fact, lead to violence and property damage. The City did not declare a state of emergency, which would have allowed it to assist the BPD in obtaining additional police resources, until several hours after rioting had begun on April 27th. Finally, the City did not announce a curfew until several hours after rioting began, and that curfew did not go into effect until 10:00 PM the following day.

 Because these were rioters whose side they favored. 

Election 2020: Cap Cop Michael Byrd Admits to Shooting Ashli Babbitt

And what's worse, is that he's proud of it. What if he had just pushed he back through the window into the arms of the cops who were standing behind her? As we were warned, Michael Byrd, widely, and yet unofficially known as the only person kill anyone at the Jan. 6 Capitol incursion, went on NBC for a tongue bath from Lester Holt:

The veteran US Capitol Police officer who shot and killed Ashli Babbitt during the Jan. 6 riot defended his actions Thursday, telling NBC News that “I was doing my job” and insisting that Babbitt was a threat to lawmakers and congressional staff on that fateful day.

Lt. Michael Byrd came forward days after he was exonerated from any wrongdoing in Babbitt’s death by an internal use-of-force probe.

The 28-year veteran shot Babbitt, an Air Force veteran and devotee of the QAnon conspiracy theory, as she attempted to enter the Speaker’s Lobby via a broken door. The officer told NBC News’ Lester Holt that seconds before he fired his weapon, he had been screaming at Babbitt and her fellow rioters to “please stop” and “get back.”

“You’re ultimately hoping that your commands will be complied with,” Byrd said, “and unfortunately, they were not.”

When Holt asked Byrd what he thought Babbitt was doing when he shot her, the officer responded bluntly: “She was posing a threat to the House of Representatives.”

and complained about threats:

Despite going into hiding since the riot, Byrd said he has received death threats from diehard Trump supporters who have guessed at his identity.

“They talked about, you know, killing me, cutting off my head, you know, very vicious and cruel things,” he said. “There were some racist attacks as well. It’s all disheartening, because I know I was doing my job.”

Trump earlier this month said that Babbitt was “murdered at the hands of someone who should never have pulled the trigger of his gun” and called for “justice.”
He should enjoy a long conversation with Derek Chauvin. Capt. Ed at Hot Hair adds  Babbitt shooter: "I believe I showed the utmost courage ... I saved countless lives". Yes, from zero to zero is countless. At Da Mail, ‘Suck it up': Ashli Babbitt's widower reveals he gets ten death threats a day and blasts Capitol cop who killed his wife after he complained about threats to his life.

Julie Kelly, calls Shame on the Biden Administration. "The long term consequences, not just of the Biden Administration’s complete failure in Afghanistan but their obsession with January 6 and imaginary “domestic terrorists” will be deadly."


Some Fleebagger Fail from Fox, Texas GOP advances voting bill after Democrats end weeks-long walkout "The bill will now return to the state Senate, which already passed a similar one, leaving Democrats little power to stop it." Karen Townsend at Hot Hair, Defeated Democrats face reality as Texas House passes election bill. From CNS News Pelosi: ‘The Republicans Want to Contract Freedom’ Freedom to cheat. At the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 08.26.21, Cleta Mitchell at  Da Fed reports on how House Democrats Pass Bill To Steal Elections The Old-Fashioned Way.
. . . the bill cynically adopts into federal law every losing argument advanced by the vast leftwing elections industry to courts across the country for years. Every theory rejected by the courts has been enshrined in HR 4. The bill also hands control of our elections over to the radical leftwing attorneys in the Voting Section of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Steven Greenhut at Am Spec speculates about Power to the Judges! "When voters defy them, Democrats go to the courts to subvert the will of the people."

At Breitbart, AZ AG to Maricopa County: Comply with Election Audit Subpoena or Lose State Funding. That'll get their attention; money talks, bullshit walks.

Via the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 08.27.21, Mike LeChance at LI regales how VA Republicans Sue to Remove Terry McAuliffe From Governor Ballot Over Failure to Sign Candidacy Declaration "“Terry McAuliffe’s clear violation of the law severely jeopardizes the integrity of our elections in Virginia” also at Da Wire, Dem Candidate For Virginia Governor Forgot To Sign Form Making Him A Valid Candidate, Complaint Says. If it seems relentlessly picky, it probably is, but you could count on Democrats doing it to Republicans if the roles were reversed. 

At The Center Square, Concerns mount over voter fraud in Newsom recall election. 20 million ballots mailed out; what could go wrong?

California Republicans are raising concerns about potential ballot fraud in the recall election of Gov. Gavin Newsom after the Secretary of State’s Office sent out mail ballots to 20 million voters.

The ballots were mailed after the state legislature passed a measure for them to be sent to every registered voter regardless if they asked for one.

“Legislators are as desperate as Newsom to stop the recall,” Assemblyman Kevin Kiley, R-Rocklin, said. “The one thing they respond to is the fear of losing their jobs. They know that when the governor loses his job, it will be a whole new ball game.”

From Breitbart, CNN Warns Whines: ‘Democratic Support for CA Governor Newsom Dwindling’

Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links.

Rule 5 Saturday - Chasty Ballesteros

This week's Rule 5 post honors one of those actress. You see here in all kinds of movies and TV episodes, where she shines without stealing all the light, Chasty Ballesteros:
Chasty Rose Ballesteros is a Canadian actress, who is of Filipino descent, who has had roles in Smallville, Supernatural, Psych, Sanctuary, Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory, and How I Met Your Mother.
Which is really only a small part of the many, 31 film roles and 50 TV roles (and 3 web?) Wikipedia lists, all since 2009.


Raised in Winnipeg, Ballesteros moved to Vancouver after high school, to pursue a career as a hairstylist and a manager of a hair salon as well as a model and an actress.

Facebook,

Instagram 



Linked at Pirate's Cove in the weekly Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup and links. The Wombat has Rule 5 Sunday: Rebecca de Mornay and FMJRA 2.0: Ricochet ready at The Other McCain. Linked in the weekly Best of the Web* at Proof Positive and in the weekly Rule 5 Saturday LinkOrama at The Right Way.


Friday, August 27, 2021

Back From Fishin'

Mike had his son and grandson back out of a planned fishing trip with Walleye Pete, so I got a call to see if I wanted to fill in. I did.

Our first stop, at sunrise, was "Mike's Rocks" on Hoopers Island, a submarine rock structure the Mike once ruin a lower unit on. He knew they were there, but he forgot.

No fish there.
Our next stop was "Magic Cove." No magic happened here either. It's a process; find where the water is clearer and where the fish are hanging out. 
Our next stops were several sites on the north end of Bloodsworth Island. A beautiful place that the Navy uses to bomb, but without fish today

Our first fish came near a familiar landmark; the remains of an old backhoe used to try to save an old house on Holland Island many years ago. That part of the island is gone, but the backhoe, and the foundations of the house provide good fishing structure. We got our limit of Striped Bass here.

From here we spotted a bunch of birds working over some fish in shallow water. It turned out to be a wolf pack of blue fish. We sacrificed some rubber to them while catching enough for one dinner (tonight) and a full rack in the smoker.

Our next area of interest was out in the Middle Grounds, near the old Target Ship that looms over the area. Mike, a former Marine pilot, has contributed to the holes in its side.

A few days ago Pete had an amazing day here, catching Cobia, large (but not giant) Redfish, and some specks. 
It took a while (and it was really hot out), but eventually we found them. First, Mike and I caught each caught a couple of large reds. Mine was 32 inches, Mike threw his back without measuring it, it was clearly larger than the maximum length for keeping 29 inches.
So he held mine up instead.
Then the Cobia struck. First Pete wrangled one to the boat and broke it off. Then Mike (pictured) hooked one too, and landed it (Pete netted it). The minimum size for Cobia is 40 inches, this was 39. I remain Cobialess, alas. 
A quick stop at Point No Point Light, where Mike caught one more small Striper. 

Some DIY 2020 Election Stuff

Just cause I went fishing:


Jan. 6 stuff