Mme. Defarge
Mme. Defarge's JournalTrue crime drama at Supreme Court pits Oklahoma against its top criminal court
https://www.npr.org/2024/10/09/nx-s1-5118064/supreme-court-death-penalty-oklahomaThis is completely horrifying and it will be interesting to see how the “pro-life” justices will decide in the matter of state sanctioned homicide.
Richard Glossip has had nine execution dates set over the years; he's eaten his last meal three times. He was tried twice and has had multiple appeals, including one that was heard by the Supreme Court involving the proposed method of execution. When the Supreme Court heard that case in 2015, Justice Samuel Alito made it clear that he viewed the appeal as nothing more than a stalling tactic, asking, "Is it appropriate for the judiciary to countenance what amounts to a guerrilla war against the death penalty?"
Glossip lost that appeal and many others over the years. But in 2022, Gentner Drummond, the newly elected Republican attorney general of Oklahoma, took office, and one of the first things he did was review the 28 pending death sentences.
"At the end of that exercise, one jumped out," he said in an interview with NPR.
The prosecution's theory was that Glossip, a motel manager, feared that he was about to be fired, and paid the motel handyman to bludgeon the motel's owner, Barry Van Treese, to death.
For years, Glossip's lawyers have argued that the prosecution's theory made little sense, and that the prosecutors concealed, and even destroyed, exculpatory evidence.
That moment when Madame Vice President struggled
to not call him a JACKASS was almost more than I could handle. I so wish she had gone there! 
Since it's all about moi, Kamala's debate triumph
was the best birthday present EVER!!! Especially after spending last year’s birthday in ER at a local hospital. Kamala OWNED the debate stage and left no doubt as to who is the boss.
Now, sleep.
As Debate Looms, Trump Is Now the One Facing Questions About Age and Capacity
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/09/us/politics/debate-trump-age-capacity.htmlThe last time the nation held a debate with the presidency on the line, a candidate with about eight decades of life behind him faced the challenge of proving that he was still up to the job of running the country. He failed.
Two and a half months later, the cast of characters has shifted and another candidate heading toward the octogenarian club confronts his own test to demonstrate that he has not diminished with age. Whether he passes that test may influence who will be the next occupant of the Oval Office.
At 78, former President Donald J. Trump exhibits more energy and speaks with more volume than President Biden does at 81, but he, too, has mixed up names, confused facts and stumbled over his points. Mr. Trump’s rambling speeches, sometimes incoherent statements and extreme outbursts have raised questions about his own cognitive health and, according to polls, stimulated doubts among a majority of voters.
How the quiet war against press freedom could come to America
Opinion by A.G. Sulzberger
September 5, 2024 at 3:00 a.m. PT
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/09/05/sulzberger-free-press-new-york-times/
A.G. Sulzberger is the publisher of the New York Times.
After several years out of power, the former leader is returned to office on a populist platform. He blames the news media’s coverage of his previous government for costing him reelection. As he sees it, tolerating the independent press, with its focus on truth-telling and accountability, weakened his ability to steer public opinion. This time, he resolves not to make the same mistake.
His country is a democracy, so he can’t simply close newspapers or imprison journalists. Instead, he sets about undermining independent news organizations in subtler ways — using bureaucratic tools such as tax law, broadcast licensing and government contracting. Meanwhile, he rewards news outlets that toe the party line — shoring them up with state advertising revenue, tax exemptions and other government subsidies — and helps friendly businesspeople buy up other weakened news outlets at cut rates to turn them into government mouthpieces.
Within a few years, only pockets of independence remain in the country’s news media, freeing the leader from perhaps the most challenging obstacle to his increasingly authoritarian rule. Instead, the nightly news and broadsheet headlines unskeptically parrot his claims, often unmoored from the truth, flattering his accomplishments while demonizing and discrediting his critics.
“Whoever controls a country’s media,” the leader’s political director openly asserts, “controls that country’s mindset and through that the country itself.
Link to gift article.
https://wapo.st/3ZfmRNg
Air conditioner concern. . .
I recently noticed a strong smell of vinegar when my air conditioner is running. Since mold may be an issue, is it still safe to use the a/c? I have scheduled a service appointment for later in the week but the outdoor temperature is supposed to get quite hot over the next couple of days.
Any advice?
The political equivalent of D Day!
Nothing short of a rescue mission for our democracy. But, “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”
WE ARE NOT GOING BACK!!!
Has anyone in the news media made the point that Biden could step aside because
he doesn’t need to avoid going to prison?
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