Forget It Jake, It's Baltimore

   Mark Manley and family

But really, in this case, it's the Biden administration's ATF. From Shooting News Weekly, Why Did the ATF Raid Baltimore Gun Rights Advocate Mark ‘Choppa’ Manley’s House?

This is how the federal agency that’s charged with regulating firearms conducts its business. According to the Washington Times, “ATF agents announced themselves to Mark ‘Choppa’ Manley and his family by tossing a flashbang into his living room and ordering everyone out at gunpoint during the predawn search days before Thanksgiving.”

Manley, who is described as a gun rights advocate and lives in Baltimore, thinks the raid by agents in battle rattle was an attempt to send a message to other black gun owners.

“I do feel like I was targeted. I do feel like the amount of guns I have made me a target and [put] me on their radar,” Mr. Manley told The Times. “Especially being a minority from the inner city.”

It isn’t really clear what the feds were looking for in the raid. They spent hours tossing Manley’s home, checking gun serial numbers, and ultimately confiscating his phone. But no one was charged or arrested and no guns were confiscated.

Harassment has been a hallmark of the ATF since the Biden administration launched its war on legal gun ownership not long after it took office. And the agency is, of course, refusing to comment on the case.

Mr. Manley’s growing profile put him in a league of gun owners, dealers and advocates who have either been monitored, approached or, arguably, harassed by the ATF in recent years.

Was ATF acting on bad information? Were they trying to provoke Manley into breaking the law? Whatever their motivation, the raid could have gone much, much worse. It wasn’t long ago that ATF decided that an early morning raid on the home of Bryan Malinowski was preferable to stopping him on his way to or from his place of work. Malinowski thought it was a home invasion, armed himself, and the ATF’s finest shot and killed him.

[Gun rights advocate Maj] Toure said the raid at Mr. Manley’s home was likely done in hopes of provoking the advocate into doing something criminal. At the very least, he said the ATF is putting on a “poker face” to try and intimidate Mr. Manley from organizing gun owners in the future.

“What’s happening is they’re trying to scare people — bluff them — into thinking ‘I better not do this. I better be quiet about it.’” Mr. Toure said. “The wrong party here is the ATF. Not the Constitution, not the Bill of Rights, not the American people that are safe and responsible firearms owners.”

January 20th can’t get here soon enough.

Owning a gun while off the plantation?

The View of Stripers from Delaware

 Eric Burnley at the Cape Gazette talks about Striped bass regulations and Christmas memories

I attended the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission meeting Dec. 16, when the 2026 regulations for striped bass were decided. This was a hybrid meeting. I attended virtually. There were 515 people in attendance, with six staff members from the ASMFC.

The meeting began at 10 a.m. and ended at 2:30 p.m. There was considerable discussion about the regulations, and one disappointment was the change in the number that each sector – recreational and commercial – must give up in 2026 in order to comply with the rebuilding plan.

At first, the commercial representatives moved and seconded a motion to reduce the amount of their catch from 9% to 1%. When that motion failed, they came back with another to reduce their catch from 9% to 5%. That motion passed.

The recreational sector will still have to give up the entire 9%. The good news is the current regulations will remain the same in 2025.

About typical. 

Each state and area will have different regulations. Delaware will have to figure out a system to reduce its take of striped bass by 9% via seasonal closures in Delaware Bay. The coastal waters from Connecticut to North Carolina will be regulated by no-harvest days.

Maryland will have seasonal closures in the Chesapeake Bay, with no-harvest and no-target fishing, and no-striped-bass-only fishing trips from for-hire boats. Virginia will have pretty much the same conditions as Maryland for its portion of the Chesapeake Bay.

In the past, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia have come together and made the regulations the same for summer flounder and black sea bass. I doubt this is going to work for striped bass. There is just too much difference in the methods employed for fishing for stripers in the Chesapeake and Delaware bays.

I must admit, I was expecting a harsher reduction than 9%. We will probably lose a few days of the Delaware Bay summer season and the same for our ocean season. Otherwise, things should pretty much remain the same, and that’s a good thing.

Until they have to shut it all down. 

Flotsam and Jetsam - The Dark Days are Gone and the Bright Days are Here

Roger Kimball at Da Spec reminds us Trump was elected to change the status quo, "The campaign was the easy part." At PJM's Stephen Kruiser has The Morning Briefing 'Classic' — Dreams Can Come True. Doug MacKinnon at TownHall calls it The Best Christmas Gift of All: Trump Saved The United States of America. At Althouse, "Merry Christmas to the Radical Left Lunatics... "I refuse to wish a Merry Christmas to those lucky 'souls' but, instead, will say, GO TO HELL! We had the Greatest Election in the History of our Country, a bright light is now shining over the U.S.A. and, in 26 days, we will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. MERRY CHRISTMAS!" Said Trump, yesterday, on Truth Social." And, "President Trump has ushered in an age of political theatre – a collective adrenaline rush that has enabled him to not only move masses of people into his camp..." ""... but also masses of people away from ours. It does not serve us to underestimate the historic nature of what he has achieved. . . Writes Marianne Williamson, announcing that she's running for chair of the Democratic National Party. ADDED: I like how she spelled "theatre"... especially while touting herself as in touch with the mind of America. "Theatre" is British English. "Theater" is American English." OTP, Former Trump Haters Flock To Help Inaugural. WaEx, These large companies are funding Trump’s inauguration despite pledge to withhold support after Jan. 6. At Breitbart, Donald Trump’s Day One Executive Orders: Promises to Fulfill on January 20. At the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 12.26.24 (Evening Edition),  Twitchy: Did Americans Vote For Trump Or Is Something Darker Going On? Political Post-Mortem, American Greatness, Could 2024 Trump’s Victory Counter a 2026 ‘Midterm Curse’?, What Was So Different This Time About Trump’s Election? and Trump-mentum!, The Lid, also, Jerrold Nadler’s Anti-Trump Manifesto, Da Fed explains How Trump And The Republicans Became The Party Of George Bailey.

At ET, Grassroots Groups Focus on Getting RFK Jr. Confirmed as HHS Secretary. Sundance at CTH, Donald Trump Jr Outlines Background of How He Extensively Negotiated with RFK Jr to Join Trump Team and Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy and the Silicon Valley Tech Millionaire Group Continue Lambasting Americans While Advocating for Expanded Foreign Worker Visas. Hat Hair's Dave Strom sees Elon and Vivek Under Fire From the Right. A nuanced view by Eric S. Raymond @esrtweet "Today's big beef is between tech-success maximizers like @elonmusk and MAGA nationalists who think the US job market is being flooded by low-skill immigrants because employers don't want to pay competitive wages to Americans. To be honest, I think both sides are making some sound points. But I'd rather focus on a different aspect of the problem. . . ." Virginia Kruta at Da Wire reports The New Yorker Reinvents J. Edgar Hoover To Attack Kash Patel. From Da Caller, Linda McMahon Can Help Make Our Schools Safer and Trump’s Border Czar Has Plan For ‘Super’ Sanctuary County Wanting To Shield Its Criminal Migrants From ICE . At WaEx, Reviving family detention centers is part of Trump deportation push: Homan. Beege Welborn at Hat Hair, In My Little Homan Eye, I Spy Something Beginning With...San Diego. Becca Lower at RedState sees Trump Double Down on Panama 'Ripping Off' America With New Ambassador Pick. From the Babalú Blog Trump taps another Cuban American for his administration as ambassador to Panama. At OTP, 51st State: President-Elect Trump Is Serious About Canada, Greenland, well, maybe Greenland. Da Mail, Donald Trump makes astonishing offer to people of Canada in strongest bid yet to 'take over'. 'Also, to Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada, whose Citizens’ Taxes are far too high, but if Canada was to become our 51st State, their Taxes would be cut by more than 60%, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World.'

From the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 12.26.24 (Afternoon Edition). Dana Loesch: The Matt Gaetz Ethics Report Is Out There, Chaz Lipsom at Spec World sees The winners and losers in the fight to keep the government open. "They cut the pork but signaled problems for the Trump administration." At WaEx, Jim Justice to delay Senate swearing-in to finish governor’s term. That won't help. Da Signal has a SHOCKER!: PolitiFact Tags Trump for ‘Lie of the Year’ for Seventh Time. NYSun, Senator Fetterman Is Emerging as the Leading Voice Among Democrats Wrestling With How To Handle Trump, "Democrats’ new maverick urges party to pull its head out of the sand. . . “You gotta chill out’” about Trump, he said. “The constant, you know, freak out, it’s not helpful. So, you know, pack a lunch — pace yourself — because he hasn’t even taken office yet.”" Breitbart, Texas QB Quinn Ewers Shows Support for President-Elect Trump Before Historic Bowl Game.

At the Pop Times Nevada Investigates Incidents of Double Voting Amid Skyrocketing Election Integrity Violation Reports.

At Da Caller, Liberal Lawyers Urge Longshot Nuclear Option To Stop Trump From Taking Office. Atop Da Hill, Congress has the power to block Trump from taking office, but lawmakers must act now. Matt Vespa at TownHall sees Libs Demand Congress Do Something That Was Considered an Act of Armed Rebellion Not So Long Ago. PJM's Matt Margolis, The Left Is Pushing Congress for an Insurrection on Jan. 6, 2025. At the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 12.26.24 (Evening Edition), American Greatness: Lefty Legal Experts Call on Congress to Disqualify Trump in Last Ditch Effort to Keep Him From Taking Office, Legal Insurrection, Congress Must Stop Trump From Being Sworn In, Argues Column in The Hill,

At the Wombat's In The Mailbox: 12.26.24 (Evening Edition), Chicago Boyz, January 6th and the Dog That Didn’t Bark. Rusty Weiss at RedState, Dem Lawmaker Says She's Fleeing Congress Because Trump Tried to Kill Her on J6 "I just felt like, he tried to kill me once. I’m not available for it again."

WaEx has a list of Biden’s 10 most notable gaffes of 2024. The Free Bacon names the 2024 Man of the Year: Jill Biden. At Althouse, Top headline at the London Times (as if it's something new!): "Joe Biden accused of ‘quiet quitting’ as he heads to the beach," "Aside from joking about his wealth, Mr. Biden has openly stewed over one of Mr. Trump’s flashier — and apparently effective — stunts as president." and Politico finds what it calls "9 Political Issues That Bit the Dust This Year." "How do "issues" die? Based on this article, issues "die" when they don't work as Democratic Party hacks hoped." Da Fetched reports Joe Biden Removes $10 Million Dollar Bounty on Terrorist Abu Mohammed Al-Jokani. “The bounty on Jolani was removed as US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf met with him and other Hayat Tahrir al-Sham leaders in Damascus on December 20.” Jon Adler at the Volokh Report, White House Vetoes Bipartisan Bill to Create Needed Judgeships. "It is apparently unacceptable that some of the new judges would be appointed by a Republican." James Varney at RCI, Trump's Going Places With Energy, but Biden's the Backseat Driver. NewsMax reports Continuing Unemployment Claims Rise to 3-Year High and Biden WH Cocaine Mystery Remains Unsolved. Trust me, they know. 'Bonchie' at RedState, Extensive COVID-19 Origins Cover-Up Revealed, and the Biden Admin Was Pulling the Strings. The Center Square, Bah, humbug! Rand Paul report details 'waste' in federal spending.

At Twitchy, a Political Post-Mortem: Pet Rocks, Chia Pets, Furbys, Brat Summer, Coconut-Pilled and Kamala Harris. End Wokeness@EndWokeness "Kamala: "I grew up celebrating Kwanzaa" Kwanzaa was invented in 1966 by Marxist professor Maulana Karenga to undermine Christmas, 2 years after Harris was born. 5 years later he was jailed for kidnapping, torturing innocent women in California. Karenga also founded the United Slaves Organization, a violent black nationalist organization with ties to the FBI." Insty reminds us KWANZAA is A Fake Holiday With A Racist Goal, Created By A Criminal Madman.

PJM's Rick Moran claims It's Even Worse for the Dems Than They Thought and It Will Get Worse Before It Gets Better. Breitbart cites CNN’s Jennings: ‘Democrats Are the Party of Uncommon Nonsense.’ Speaking of nonsense, WaT, Former Democratic presidential candidate Williamson wants to run DNC. Francis Sempa at Am Spec, Saving Murderers and Killing Babies "Progressives extend “mercy” to heinous killers, but not innocent babies." Olivia Murray at Am Think thinks Violent and very male Tren de Aragua gangbanger dressed in drag to evade cops and almost did—but his voice gave him away. BeGee Welborn sees a Political Earthquake Rocks San Diego County. From Da Fetched, MTG Demands Death Penalty for Illegal Alien Who Burnt NY Subway Passenger Alive. International Roundtable@IRRonNTD "500k illegal immigrant children missing in America. No U.S. authority can say for sure where they are. @taraleerodas @laralogan @called_out_DHS @MaryFlynnONeil1 join hosts @CindyDrukier & @JanJekielek for an essential International Roundtable panel: Where Are The Children?"

AP whines that Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show they’re tuning out. PJM's VodkaPundit sees Trump's New FCC Chief Just Read the Riot Act to Disney's Bob Iger. "In an official FCC letter dated Dec. 21 (and just released on X by Rasmussen), Carr opened by reminding Iger that "Americans no longer trust the national news media to report fully, accurately, and fairly" and that "ABC's own conduct has certainly contributed to this erosion in public." Jesse Kelly @JesseKellyDC "All communism is about destruction therefore all communism requires lies at all times. That’s why communists have been more obsessed with controlling information than anyone else in history. And it’s why our media is the devil. Without lies, there is no communism. Anywhere." Walter Kirn@walterkirn "No greater nightmare. This is the window they want to break through into the house. Then they will own it and you'll be in the wilderness, being tracked by drones." Quote Owen Gregorian @OwenGregorian "Bill Gates Calls for ‘Anti-Vaxxers’ to Be Censored by AI: Questioning ‘Vaccines’ Is ‘Inciting Violence’ | Frank Bergman, Slay News Billionaire Bill Gates is calling for members of the general public to be censored by artificial intelligence (AI) if they question the official." Insty, DEEP STATE UPDATE: Jeffrey A Tucker@jeffreyatucker "Brownstone Institute has been tracking a little-known federal agency for years. It is part of the Department of Homeland Security created after 9-11. It is called the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency or CISA. It was created in 2018 out of a 2017 executive order that seemed to make sense. It was a mandate to secure American digital infrastructure against foreign attack and infiltration. And yet during the Covid year, it assumed three huge jobs. It was the agency responsible for dividing the workforce between essential and nonessential. It led the way on censorship efforts. And it handled election security for 2020 and 2022, which, if you understand the implications of that, should make you spit out your coffee upon learning. More than any other agency, it became the operationally relevant government during this period. It was the agency that worked through third parties and packet-switching networking to take down your Facebook group. It worked through all kinds of intermediaries to keep a lid on Twitter. It managed LinkedIn, Instagram, and most of the other mainstream platforms in a way that made you feel like your opinions were too crazy to see the light of day. The most astonishing court document just came out. It was unearthed in the course of litigation undertaken by America First Legal. It has no redaction. It is a reverse chronicle of most of what they did from February 2020 until last year. It is 500 pages long. The version available now takes an age to download, so we shrunk it and put it on fast view so you can see the entire thing. The Spies Who Hate Us https://brownstone.org/articles/the-spies-who-hate-us/… via @brownstoneinst."

Duane Patterson at Hat Hair on Christmas Day Culture Wars. At Twitchy, The Face of Bravery: German Woman Triggers the Left With Silent 'Rape Is Not Resistance' Protest. Spiked covers the The cult of the keffiyeh "How pitying Palestine and hating Israel became the ultimate luxury belief. . . Whatever happened to the sin of cultural appropriation?"

At Campus Reform, DOJ holds University of Delaware accountable for failing to disclose professor’s affiliation with Chinese government in NASA grant "The University of Delaware will pay over $700,000 to settle with the DOJ after failing to disclose a professor's affiliation with the Chinese government while receiving NASA grant funding."

Fish Pic Friday - Breonka Carlo

Breonka Carlo@breonka_carlo: real estate sales & yacht sales Owner/Realtor: @buythesearealty

Oregon, My Oregon

From Fox, Oregon AG creates sanctuary ‘toolkit’ ahead of likely Trump-Homan illegal immigration crackdown

Oregon’s top law enforcement officer rolled out what she called bilingual "Sanctuary Promise Community Toolkit" to help residents refresh their knowledge of the Beaver State’s relevant laws. "Every person has the right to live, work, play, and learn safely in Oregon, period," Oregon Democratic Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum said in a statement announcing the toolkit.

In 1987, Oregon lawmakers passed then-Rep. Rocky Barilla’s HB 2314 in response to several raids by INS – the U.S. Immigration & Naturalization Service, which transformed into USCIS, DHS and ICE in 2003. The law is largely considered the first "sanctuary state" policy in the country.

Rosenblum explicitly acknowledged Oregon’s place in that regard, noting the law prohibits state and local law enforcement resources from being used to apprehend suspects charged solely with being present in the U.S. without papers.

A press release from the attorney general’s office noted Barilla’s bill passed "nearly unanimously" in 1987 but that by 2024, sanctuary laws have become an "intensely partisan issue." "I asked my Civil Rights Unit here at the Oregon DOJ to do whatever we could to provide the people, businesses, and local governments of our state with easy-to-read materials to help them know their rights and educate others, and I’m so pleased with what they’ve put together," Rosenblum said in her statement.

In the toolkit, documents relating to the 1987 law’s passage are available for easy public consumption, along with a "conversation" with figures involved in getting the law passed. The toolkit includes several FAQs, including "how do I prepare myself and my family for encounters with ICE or other federal immigration authorities?" – "Is there a place I can call to report ICE or other federal immigration authorities active right now in my community?" and "After an encounter with ICE or other federal immigration authorities, what information should I write down?"

I sincerely hope Tom Homan puts a few recalcitrant politicians in the pokey for blocking his enforcement efforts. They could throw away the key like they did for some of the J6 defendants. Oregon would be a decent place to start.

Flotsam and Jetsam on The Feast of Stephen

Also known at Boxing Day.

Jeff Charles at TownHall hears  a Poll that Shows Americans Are Hopeful For 2025, and the Reason Why Might Make You Smile. At RedState, Bob Hoge posts the Best Trump Impersonator Delivers Christmas Message That You Won't Want To Miss.

TRUMP READS: "TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS🎄🇺🇸" pic.twitter.com/N8kAyZoqt2

— Shawn Farash (@Shawn_Farash) December 25, 2024

Cutie Pavlich at TownHall, Here's the Final Tally on How Much Money Trump Raised for Hurricane Victims. "President Trump announced over $8 million in donations for victims of Hurricane Helene raised through his dedicated GoFundMe. As reported by Fox Business, President Trump’s Hurricane Helene relief was the top fundraiser on GoFundMe in 2024, and supported nearly 50,000 people across all 50 states and more than 50 countries. These funds were distributed to charities including Samaritan's Purse, Water Mission, Mtn2Sea, the Clinch Foundation, and Sweetwater Mission to uplift impacted families and communities," the Trump transition team released in a statement." Breitbart reports Ford, General Motors to donate to Trump’s inauguration, out of purely altruistic motives, no doubt. 'Bonchie' at RedState hears Anthony Scaramucci on CNN Makes Weird Mob Boss-Esque Threat Against Elon Musk. 

"He's just got to be very, very careful because he's making enemies that he doesn't realize, and the incentives in Washington are totally different than those in business, and so everybody's incentivized in a different and sometimes irrational way, and I think the power that he's wielding right now, Washington has a great neurological system, and I think they'll find a way to rebut him. So I'd say to Elon Musk, not that he would listen to me, stick to business, you've done great, you've made a couple hundred million dollars since the election. Lay off the gas on politics a little bit because these people can hurt you, and there's no need for you to get hurt. You're doing so well in life."

At the Pop Times, I’m Safe, You Know Why? Trump Blasts the Left on “President Musk”:  Autism Capital@AutismCapital: "TRUMP: “No, Elon Musk is NOT going to be President, that I can tell you. And I’m safe, you know why? Because he can’t be, he wasn’t born in this country. HAHAHA!” lmao" Nick Arama at RedState, has a MUST SEE: Elon Drops Powerful Video of Reagan That Is True Now More Than Ever. 

Reagen Reese and Henry Rogers at Da Caller conspire to write Despite Democrat Screeching, Years Of Hill Work Has Kash Patel Cruising Toward Confirmation. Sundance at CTH worries, Unfortunately, The Trump Cabinet Will Likely Expand the Surveillance State. Don't worry, as soon as we turn it on the Democrats, they'll shut it down. At NYPo, Trump buying Greenland would be largest US territory acquisition ever — topping even these massive gains and Denmark ramps up security —and calls in the sled dogs — in Greenland after Trump threatens takeover. "In addition to more sled dog patrols, Denmark also plans to increase staffing at its Greenland command post and upgrade the island’s airports to handle F-35 fighter jets, according to the BBC." Umm, just where do think you get those jets? Also at NYPo, Trump trolls Trudeau by promising Canucks he’ll lower taxes if Canada becomes ‘51st state’ — and backs hockey legend Wayne Gretzky as PM. Sundance, President Trump Reports Border Wall Auction Has Been Stopped. John Sexton at Hat Hair notes Trump Sides with Crime Victims as Biden Sides with Activists. Breitbart cites Homan: Suspected Subway Killer Got Benefits the Homeless Aren’t. NewsBusters sees ABC Still SILENT on Horrendous Immolation of Woman on the F Train by an illegal alien.

Reagan Reese at Da Caller has JOE BIDEN WRAPPED: How Delaware’s Favorite Son Fared During His Final Year In Office. Cutie Pavlich wonders Are Biden's Latest Pardons Legit? Because of Joe's advanced senility? The should should be revocable, but I don't see an easy way to get there. Da Caller,  In Memoriam: A Look Back At KJP’s Greatest Fibs As Her Time In The White House Ends. At PM, Oversight Project vows to get, release recordings of Biden’s interview with ghostwriter "Our team will get the audio tape of Joe Biden’s interview to you. This recording is yours. It belongs to you. You deserve to know." From Reason, A Decaying Joe Biden Underlines the Need for a Less Powerful Presidency, "The power of the office is excessive, and we don’t even know who is wielding it." At WaEx, Here’s what’s among the 50 bills Biden signed into law on Christmas Eve. I'm impressed he had the stamina, or did he use the autopen? Adam Pack at Da Caller, calls ‘Partisan Politics At Its Worst’: Biden Fuels ‘Judicial Crisis’ By Vetoing Bill That Would Let Trump Tap New Judges. Dan Chaitin at Da Wire, Biden Vetos Bipartisan Bill That Would Give His Successors, Including Trump, More Judgeships To Fill "Republicans and at least one Democrat expressed disapproval of the outcome." The Democrats were all in until Kamala lost. At Da Signal a report that the Biden Admin Rushes to Hire DEI Staff Ahead of Trump Inauguration. More to fire. Da Wire, BUCKING DOGE: CA Dems Beg Buttigieg To Give $536M To High-Speed Rail Before He’s Gone. "DOGE: "Zero passengers have been transported and the majority has not even been fully designed"" Campus Reform reports the Biden administration throws out proposed Title IX transgender sports rule "The Biden administration has scrapped plans to prohibit states from banning transgender athletes from participating in school sports." The Victory Girls take heart that the Bald Eagle Is At Long Last Our National Bird. I thought that was a done deal, but "Although the iconic bird of prey is featured prominently on symbols, including the government’s official seal adopted in 1782, the U.S. did not have an official national bird." Given their predilection for stealing from Ospreys, I always thought it was appropriate that the IRS used them on their logos.

Misty Severi at JTN reports Teamsters' boss Sean O'Brien torches Kamala Harris 'who does this f***ing lady think she is?' "O'Brien, who spoke at the 2024 Republican National Convention in August, recounted moments when Harris and her party attempted to push his group to endorse her by telling one of his union representatives to "get on board," and to do it soon." Pop Times is being sarcastic, Shocker: Red States Far Outperform Blue States in Job Creation. Maryland is fifth from the bottom. Rick Moran at PJM hears TSA Nightmare Security Lines 'Inevitable,' Says DHS Secretary. TSA delenda est.

The Peacock reports Trial of man accused in Trump assassination attempt in Florida is pushed back, as "Ryan Routh’s attorneys had asked for a delay, saying they needed more time to review the evidence and decide whether to mount an insanity defense." He's certainly a nut, but is it enough to be an excuse? 

Logan Washburn at Da Fed reveals that the Leftist Group That Drew Up Blueprints For ‘Get Trump’ Prosecutions Was On Retainer To ‘Advise’ Arizona AG.

Nick Arama sees John Harwood Gets Nuked Into Next Week for Tweet About Trust in Media That Has a Big Problem In It.

Stacy McCain, ‘I Am Trying, and Admittedly Failing, to Understand How This Makes Sense’

One should never try to “make sense” of Amanda Marcotte. Ever since she first burst upon the national consciousness in 2007 — as one of two feminists (the other being the execrable Melissa McEwan) hired to blog on behalf of Democratic presidential aspirant John Edwards — Marcotte has been an inspiration for mockery hereabouts, and it is still difficult for me to imagine that anyone actually takes her seriously.

Nevertheless, Dana Pico has undertaken to analyze one of Ms. Marcotte’s recent outbursts, concluding that her enthusiasm for transgender athletes is rooted in a secret fear of inferiority: “To Miss Marcotte, any differences [between men and women] at all are a mark of inferiority, and she just can’t let the facts get in her way.” Yes, exactly so.

Mary Margret Olohan at Da Fed,  A Daily Wire Investigation: Are There Really 15K Trans Military Members? "The Defense Department says it does not track how many trans-identifying service members it has."

At Hat Hair, John Sexton hears DEI Supporters: Corporate DEI is a Mess. Because they're not getting everything they want. 

Tattoo Thursday

Radio New Zealand News, Hawaiian Airlines employee terminated for her traditional Samoan tattoo

A Samoan woman is calling for greater acceptance and awareness around cultural tattoos after she was terminated from her workplace due to her tualima, a traditional hand tattoo. Samoan-American Tracy Sialega-Fili worked with Hawaiian Airlines for nearly four years but was terminated this month after getting the tatau in May to honour her father, who has been seriously ill.

The tualima is an important part of Samoan culture, signalling lineage and family. For the Samoan diaspora, it holds an even more special meaning - a reaffirmation of identity and a tribute to one's ancestral homeland.

"The tualima is basically a tatau that we get," she told Pacific Beat. "It holds a lot of significance, a lot of importance. It could represent anything as far as your journey, your ancestors, where you came from. "Mine in particular speaks on the journey my dad takes with his medical struggles, his health struggles, as well as my journey in taking care of him throughout his entire journey with his health."

Christmas Music - The Christmas Song

 What a generic name!

Flotsam and Jetsam - Christmas DIY Edition

Just like picking up the old Christmas wrappings.

Incoming Trump Administration

Scott Jennings: Why CNN Covering Gaetz When Biden Just Commuted Prisoners’ Death Sentences? – Twitchy
Whatever Happened to the Presumption of Innocence? - American Thinker
Althouse: "[W]hile naming a new ambassador to Denmark — which controls Greenland’s foreign and defense affairs — Mr. Trump made clear on Sunday that his first-term offer to buy the landmass could, in the coming term, become a deal the Danes cannot refuse."
Here's the Message Trump Gave to Pete Hegseth When He Nominated Him for Secretary of Defense
The Republican Party Has Two New High Profile Members
Ace of Spades HQLeft's Newest NPC PsyOp: Trying to Get Trump to Turn on His Most Persuasive Ally Elon Musk by Claiming That Elon Musk is the President Now
Musk Derangement Syndrome - American Greatness
Did Musk Derangement Syndrome Inspire Me to Buy a Tesla?
Ace of Spades HQ - Some NeverTrumpers Giving Up The Old Grift, Starting Their New Grift
The Morning Briefing 'Classic' — Revisiting Liz Cheney's Trainwreck 2022 Concession Speech – PJ Media
How Big Cities Are Dealing with Sanctuary City Status as Trump's 2nd Term Approaches – HotAir
Tom Homan Shreds Kathy Hochul Over 'Tone-Deaf' Post After Illegal Immigrant Sets Subway Passenger on Fire

Outgoing Biden Administration

The Joy is Gone: A Liberal Hate-Fest for the Holidays – JONATHAN TURLEY
New research shows the massive hole Dems are in - POLITICO
Dems Wonder: Should We Actually Talk to Conservatives? – HotAir
After Four Years of Hiding Biden's Disaster, Eugene Robinson Thinks the Media Must Grow a Spine – Twitchy
NEW: Photos of Hunter and Joe Biden Meeting With Chinese Officials Emerge, Massive Cover-Up Exposed – RedState
Poll Analyst Nate Silver Gets Flamed on Twitter/X for Downplaying New York City Crime
Althouse: "Biden did the right thing granting clemency to 37 federal death row inmates."
Althouse: "The accused firebug, who has not yet been charged, first entered the US illegally at the Arizona border in 2018, but was nabbed just days later and shipped back home."
The Tale of When the Teamsters Met Ms Harris – HotAir
The Real Takeaway From Kamala Harris and Her Glock – Bearing Arms

J6 and Political Violence

Althouse: Rose and Valerie screaming from the gallery say he must go free....
Mark Steyn Outlines the Problem of the DC Corrupt Courts - The Last Refuge

Freedom of Speech

The Return of Free Speech - American Greatness

The Great Culture War

Insanity: CA Judge Orders Victims to Use Rapist's Preferred Pronouns – HotAir
Texas AG Sues NCAA Over Transgender Athletes – HotAir
Princeton gender studies program to offer sex work and queer spaces courses
Here's the Latest on That University of Oregon Employee Who Said Trump Supporters Should Kill Themselves
Bill Maher to the Left: 'F**k Off, You F**ks'

Merry Christmas!

 Is it time to open presents?

Christmas Music - O Holy Night

Back From Fishin'

The stereotypical sunrise shot, look across the bay from the western side. It was cold today, in the upper 30s, from mid 20's before dawn. Fortunately the wind was quite reasonable. The clouds and rain move in after a while, but with the boat's heater, we were plenty comfortable.

No need to lie, the pictures tell the story. Jim Stone, a neighbor, and a fellow with the water company with his 40+ inch fish.

Jim's son Justin, with his

Old, old fishing buddy Tom, with one of his. 

Pete hooked this one, and handed it to Justin, who landed it. 

Moi, with a 44 inch. It flat wore me out.

A pretty astonishing day, everybody caught multiple large, and many smaller fish. The fish were fairly easily found under working birds, but rarely stayed in on place long enough to catch more than one fish each. Pete's Hummingbird fishfinder and side scan sonar helped a lot too. 

Flotsam and Jetsam - Gone Fishing DIY Edition

The Waning Days of the Biden Harris Administration

Biden commutes death sentences of child killers and mass murderers 2 days before Christmas
Breaking: Biden Commutes Federal Death Row Sentences of 37 of 40 Inmates Involved in Grievous Acts – The Populist Times
Rep. Tim Burchett on X: ".@POTUS was deemed unfit to be charged in the classified documents case, but is now mentally sound enough to issue pardons and commute sentences? When and where do we draw the line that we don't let them cross?" / X
Althouse: Biden just commuted "most federal death sentences" — that is, 37 of them — but in all this mercy, he left 3 men doomed.
“No person is above the law!” - by John A. Lucas
Was It Really Joe Who Just Spared Death Row Killers? – PJ Media
Ace of Spades HQ Biden Commutes the Sentences of Almost All Federal Convicts on Death Row
'Stain on the Presidency': Biden's Latest Commutations Aren't Going Over Well
Joe Biden: Give Them Barabbas (And Every Other Horrible Human Being We Locked Up) – HotAir
ICE: Wrong-way driver in crash that killed Las Vegas officer was ordered to leave US
Driver In Wrong-Way Crash That Killed Las Vegas Cop Had Been Deported Multiple Times – HotAir
The Progressive Caucus Sure Put Out a Horrific Statement on Biden Commuting Those Death Row Sentences
Floating the Unthinkable Considering What's Happened - Blanket Pardoning Illegals – HotAir
Confirmed: An Illegal Immigrant Set a Woman on Fire in NYC Subway – PJ Media
(1) Elon Musk on X: "Wow" / X
Horrific Death by Illegal Alien - New York City Subway Rider Burned to Death by Previously Deported Illegal Migrant from Guatemala - The Last Refuge
Ace of Spades HQ Drunk, Insane Illegal Alien Sets Woman On Fire in NYC Subway, Burning Her to Death
Hochul Erupts in Callous Flames of Subway-Terranean Hubris UPDATE – HotAir
‘Shame On You!’: Tom Homan Lights Into Kathy Hochul After Illegal Migrant Allegedly Burned Woman To Death On Subway - The Daily Caller
They fought back: Cases of American women murdered by men illegally in country - thecentersquare.com
Fixing the Biden Border – HotAir
Stephen A. Smith Now Regrets Voting for Harris, Says He Is 'Open' to Voting for Republicans
Biden Makes Last Ditch Attempt To Throw A Wrench In Trump’s Education Agenda - The Daily Caller
Trump Campaign Operative Reveals the Most Effective Ad Against Kamala
THE NEW REFORM CLUB: This is What Happened—This is How it is Reported

In The Mailbox: 12.23.24 : The Other McCain

Looking Forward to the Incoming Trump Administration

Press Shows They Have Learned Nothing As They Parrot Democrat Lines on Budget Battle – RedState
Speaker Mike Johnson Hands Trump a 'BIG MESS' After Betrayal on Debt Ceiling
Trump’s Campaign Chiefs Tell Their Inside Story: ‘The Black Swan Election’ - POLITICO
Ace of Spades HQ - Focus Group Says That Democrats Are Weak and Overly Focused on "Diversity" and Other "Elite" Luxury Concerns Like Endless Gender Transitions for Children
In season of renewal, Trump's boldness offers hopeful change
Never Give Up. Never Surrender. - by Glenn Harlan Reynolds
How To Enjoy This Christmas If You're A Trump Hater
NYT Never Trumper Repents – HotAir
Trump Says They're Planning on 'Being Operational' By About 2 pm on 20 January – HotAir
Althouse: "President-elect Donald J. Trump delivered a sprawling address on Sunday that he called a 'small preview of the common-sense revolution' his administration will bring..."
Victor Davis Hanson Explains Why He Thinks Tom Homan Is Targeting Major Dem City First For Deportations - DC Enquirer
President Donald Trump and Panama President José Raúl Mulino Spar Over Panama Canal - The Last Refuge
Trump vows to stop 'transgender lunacy,' only recognize two genders
Trump vows 'largest deportation operation in American history' on Day One
Ethics Committee Final Report: 'Substantial Evidence' Gaetz Committed Statutory Rape - HotAir
House Releases Gaetz Ethics Investigation Report - The Last Refuge
Instapundit - ED MORRISSEY: Ethics Committee Final Report: ‘Substantial Evidence’ Gaetz Committed Statutory Rape.
Ace of Spades HQ Congresswoman With Advanced Dementia Has Been Living in a Memory Care Home For Six Months and Hasn't Attended Congress or Cast a Vote In All That Time; Corrupt DC Media and Political Class Knew All About This, But Hid It From Citizens

Jan 6 and the Deep State 

Liz Cheney could face same allegations she accused Trump of: Barry Loudermilk - Washington Examiner
Joe Rogan: Dems Set 'Insanely Dangerous Precedent' of Using Justice System Against Opponents
POLITICO Writer Begs Federal Workers to Stay and Fight – HotAir
WATCH: Tim Pool Eviscerates Liberal Influencer Jack Beasley in a Must See January 6th Exchange – RedState
Colin Jost's Reaction Says It All As 'SNL' Audience Cheers For Luigi Mangione
(1) Paul Heron on X: "Luigi discourse being increasingly about how hot he is and decreasingly about why he did it—a handy reminder that the Left is now almost entirely women and gay men." / X
Luigi Mangione and America’s Broken Moral Compass
 X tell me more about “toxic masculinity”

Media and Censorship

NYT goes Wile E. Coyote again - Don Surber
Bluesky's Growing Pains – HotAir

Gone Fishin'

 But not like this:

Or this:

Back later with fresh lies.

Tuesday Tanlines

The Mirror (UK), Katie Price flaunts totally new face as she heads to tanning booth after confirming more surgery

The former glamour model, 46, is no stranger to going under the knife. She most recently underwent a facelift procedure and has been showing off the results with fans on social media. She's had many procedures over the years, including 17 boob jobs and six facelifts.


However, she's not done yet. Revealing her plans for more surgery, she recently said she wants another facelift to make her ears "look normal". Opening up about her plans in a seemingly endless bid for "perfection", she claimed: "I'm already going back. I've never had ears that stick out, but I saw a surgeon the other day…

"With my face[lift], where they sewed it at the back, my ears now stick out, so the surgeon is just going to put them back to normal." But for now, the star is satisfied with the work done as she stepped out for a sun tan session at a salon in Northwich during a break from her pantomime appearance on Cinderella.

Sounds like she has a serious body image problem.

Christmas Music - Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer

 

Maryland, My Maryland

WaPoo, Maryland sues maker of Gore-Tex, alleging decades of pollution

Maryland is suing the maker of Gore-Tex, the material used in popular waterproof fabrics, alleging the company knew for decades that substances used in its manufacture posed significant health risks in the Cecil County area but failed to notify the state or nearby communities about the dangers.

The Delaware-based company, W.L. Gore & Associates, operates more than a dozen facilities just across the state line in and around Elkton, Maryland. State officials say Gore polluted the area’s groundwater, surface water and soils with “forever chemicals,” even while company officials understood the potential for harm.

“It is unacceptable for any company to knowingly contaminate our drinking water with these toxins, putting Marylanders at risk of severe health conditions,” Maryland Attorney General Anthony G. Brown (D) said in a statement Wednesday as his office filed a complaint in U.S. district court on behalf of the state’s departments of environment, health and natural resources.

The suit seeks to hold Gore liable for the state’s costs to investigate and clean up the contamination, as well as other damages.

The state’s action follows another lawsuit filed by a Maryland family, as well as a class-action lawsuit, making similar claims. During the past couple of years, Gore has worked to limit potential damage by conducting sampling around the sites and providing bottled water and water filtration systems to nearby residents, according to a company website, forward.gore.com.

The company denies the state’s allegations and “is surprised by the Maryland Attorney General’s decision to initiate legal action, particularly in light of our proactive and intensive engagement with state regulators over the past two years,” Gore spokeswoman Amy Calhoun said this week in a statement.

EPA,  EPA Releases Draft Health-Based Recommendations for PFAS Levels in Bodies of Water

EPA’s draft recommended human health criteria identify concentrations of three PFAS in a water body at or below where they are not expected to cause adverse human health effects from chronic (lifetime) exposure. The three chemicals are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS). Human health criteria are not regulatory requirements and do not, on their own, compel any action. Rather they are information for entities, including state and Tribal regulators, to consider when making policy decisions that protect water quality.

The recommendations aren't there, but you can find them if you follow enough links. 

The interesting thing is that Maryland is suing Gore for violating standards that aren't set yet, and would have no force of law. 

Flotsam and Jetsam - CRisis Recedes

We're still picking over the carcasses left over from last week's CR fight. Sundance at CTH hosts two interesting clips, Senator Rand Paul Gives His Perspectives on Looming Debt Ceiling Battle and Support for Trump Cabinet and Newt Gingrich Breaks Down the House Spending Mess and Speaker Johnson’s Effort. At TownHall Derek Hunter says Merry Christmas, And Democrats Can Go To Hell. The Peacock whines Trump addresses Elon Musk's growing political influence: 'He's not going to be president'. He can't be president. He has more important things to do. 

At ET, Trump Selects Aaron Reitz to Lead Justice Department’s Office of Legal Policy. "Reitz, who currently serves as Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) chief of staff, brings a track record of high-profile legal battles against the Biden administration." The Peacock also whines Trump taps ‘Apprentice’ producer, Mark Burnett, as special envoy to the United Kingdom. I thought all envoys were kind of special. Hailey Gomez at Da Caller, sees Tom Homan Sends Clear Message To ACLU’s ‘Gameplan’ Attempting To Block Trump’s Mass Deportation. 

The Financial Times seems concerned that Donald Trump’s transition team seeks to pull US out of WHO ‘on day one’. Sundance is thrilled President Donald Trump and Panama President José Raúl Mulino Spar Over Panama Canal, or as Ronald Reagan called it the American Canal in Panama. At ET, Most Businesses Expect ‘Trump Effect’ to Boost Them in 2025: Surveys. 

Insty, TRUE: Fetterman believes ‘fascist’ label of Trump did not connect with people. That’s because it’s stupid and obviously wrong. It must be the first time a stroke fixed someone's brain.

In random political news, at Fox, This Republican woman may become nation's first Black female governor, Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears of Virginia. They could, and still might, do worse. And NewMax claims Matt Gaetz Might Run for Rubio's Senate Seat in Florida. That would spice things up a bit. 

At PJM, Matt Margolis sees The Dominoes Are Falling Fast Over the Biden Mental Health Cover-Up. Matt Vespa at TownHall, hears A Dem Donor's Family Member Summed Up a Meeting With Biden in Two Words, "we're “f**ked.” Adam Carolla@adamcarolla "Very worried about billionaire genius running the country, no concern about corrupt elderly dementia patient running the show" Quote "THE PARADIGM OF MONEY@ParadigmOfMoney "It appears the controlled propagandists masquerading as journalists resent @elonmusk for playing in “their sandbox”. Someone forgot to tell them the sand was claimed by ethical citizens such as @joeroganhq @patrickbetdavid @lexfridman @ShawnRyan762 @hubermanlab @benshapiro x.com/libsoftiktok/s…"

Dan Greenfield at Front Page reports Biden Frees Men Who Scammed $5 Billion With Over 1 Million Victims. "The single greatest mass jailbreak of corrupt scammers in history." MD Kittle at Da Fed notices Joe Biden Met With Hunter’s Business Associates More Times Than With His Cabinet. Priorities. Scott Pinsker at PJM cites Putin: Joe Biden Is Corrupt, Unpresidential… and Less Honorable than Stalin! Probably true, but he has a lower body count. 

Twitchy has No WORDS! Former Kamala Insider Leaks Jill Biden's PLAN for the Country As Joe Leaves the WH and YIKES, burn it all down. NewsNation, Manchin roasts ‘toxic’ Democratic Party: ‘This country is not going left’. 'Bonchie' at RedState, Joe Manchin Goes Scorched Earth on Democrats As He Prepares to Leave the Senate.

Breitbart, Biden’s Legacy: 390,000 Fewer Illegals Deported from U.S. than Under Trump, and a lot more came in. PopTimes has a Report: 43 Million U.S.-Born Citizens Out of the Labor Force, as Immigrants Account for All Net Jobs Gains. At NYPo, Horrific video shows suspect watching woman burn to death in F train car after he allegedly set her on fire, "A migrant from Guatemala." I keep telling you, use the government approved name illegal aliens. 

At Da Caller, Biden Admin Bankrolled Program That Pays Kids To Skip Class Without Parents’ Knowledge For Lessons On LGBTQ Activism. 

Da NYSun, Fani Willis Is Dismissed, but Her Case Staggers On — Can Her Zombie Prosecution of Trump Survive? "A special prosecutor will be appointed to replace the district attorney — and decide what to do with her indictment."

Cathy Salgado at PJM, claims an Exclusive: J6 Prisoner Explains DC Event This Jan. 6. "Media celebrities, businessmen, and Jan. 6ers are coming together on the anniversary of the 2021 protest in Washington, D.C., in an event which one victim of weaponized Biden administration lawfare told me is to highlight the importance of potential Trump pardons." Be very careful. The thugs in the outgoing Biden administration are still spoiling to punish anyone with any connection to J6. I wouldn't be shocked to see them open fire.

At NewMax, ABC-Stephanopoulos Case a Warning to Reckless Left. "The ABC News-Stephanopoulos settlement sends a powerful message. It's one that says news personalities, especially those who work for far-left media outlets, can no longer broadcast false claims in the cavalier manner that they have become accustomed to." We can wage lawfare too. 

Insty on a roll, BIGOTRY ON CAMPUS: ‘Deeply troubling’: Top universities ‘refused’ to stop antisemitism, house report says, “ANTI-ZIONISTS” SHOWING THEIR TRUE COLORS: Bill Ackman@BillAckman "Have you ever seen someone tear down a poster of a missing dog. I haven’t. Now what if the poster was of your missing child, parent or grandparent, or worse, one or more of your family members that had been taken hostage? The banality of evil on 93rd and Columbus in full display with smiles to boot. Who are these people? Who would choose to befriend them, employ them, or have them in their building? What other evil acts have they done or are they in the process of doing? . . ." and Driscoll, JAMES BOND COULD TOPPLE GOLDFINGER AND BLOFELD. BUT CAN HE BEST JEFF BEZOS? Amazon Owns James Bond. Unfortunately It Hates Men."

Matt Margolis calls them SICK: SNL Audience Cheers for Healthcare CEO Killer. At Culturcidal by John Hawkins finds The 25 Most Obnoxious Quotes of 2024 "2) "Take (Trump) out, Joe (Biden). If he was Hitler, and this was 1940, would you take him out? Well, he is Hitler. And this is 1940. Take him the f*ck out! Blow him up, or they’ll blow us up. Facts." -- Orange Is the New Black actress Lea DeLaria." At Campus Reform, UC San Francisco med school to hold event led by unhinged prof who said 'Whites are psychopaths'.