Ponietz

Ponietz's Journal

October 16, 2020

Woman who nodded, gave thumbs up behind Trump in Miami ran pro-Trump campaign in 2018

A woman who gained internet fame for nodding and giving President Donald Trump the thumbs up sign during his Miami town hall on Thursday night could have used the free airtime two years ago — because she was running for Congress as a pro-Trump candidate.

Mayra Joli, an immigration attorney and pro-Trump activist who once declared herself Miami’s “master of selfies” during her 2018 campaign, was seated behind the president during his hour-long town hall. After the event, she greeted the president, according to a video posted to her Facebook page.

“We have your back! You see, you see you are the best,” Joli said to Trump shortly after the event finished.

[link:https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/election/article246492520.html|

No surprise here.

October 14, 2020

NY Post background:

November 1976, it was announced that Australian Rupert Murdoch had bought the Post from Schiff with the intention she would remain as a consultant for five years.[33] It later emerged that Murdoch bought the newspaper for US$30.5 million.[4] The Post at this point was the only surviving afternoon daily in New York City and its circulation under Schiff had grown by two-thirds, particularly after the failure of the competing World Journal Tribune. However, the rising cost of operating an afternoon daily in a city with worsening daytime traffic congestion, combined with mounting competition from expanded local radio and TV news cut into the Post's profitability, though it made money from 1949 until Schiff's final year of ownership, when it lost $500,000. The paper has lost money ever since.[9]

In late October 1995, the Post announced plans to change its Monday through Saturday publication schedule and begin issuing a Sunday edition,[34] which it last published briefly in 1989.[35] On April 14, 1996, the Post delivered its new Sunday edition at the cost of 50 cents per paper by keeping its size to 120 pages.[36] The amount, significantly less than Sunday editions from The New York Daily News and The New York Times, was part of Post's efforts "to find a niche in the nation's most competitive newspaper market".[37][36]

In December 2012, Murdoch announced that Jesse Angelo had been appointed publisher.[38]

Because of the institution of federal regulations limiting media cross-ownership after Murdoch's purchase of WNEW-TV (now WNYW) and four other stations from Metromedia to launch the Fox Broadcasting Company, Murdoch was forced to sell the paper for $37.6 million in 1988 to Peter S. Kalikow, a real-estate magnate with no news experience.[39] In 1988, the Post hired Jane Amsterdam, founding editor of Manhattan, inc., as its first female editor, and within six months the paper had toned down the sensationalist headlines.[40] Within a year, Amsterdam was forced out by Kalikow, who reportedly told her "credible doesn't sell ... Your big scoops are great, but they don't sell more papers." [41]

When Kalikow declared bankruptcy in 1993,[39] the paper was temporarily managed by Steven Hoffenberg,[39] a financier who later pleaded guilty to securities fraud;[42] and, for two weeks, by Abe Hirschfeld,[43] who made his fortune building parking garages. After a staff revolt against the Hoffenberg-Hirschfeld partnership—which included publication of an issue whose front page featured the iconic masthead picture of founder Alexander Hamilton with a single teardrop running down his cheek[44][45]—the Post was again purchased in 1993 by Murdoch's News Corporation. This came about after numerous political officials, including Democratic governor of New York Mario Cuomo, persuaded the Federal Communications Commission to grant Murdoch a permanent waiver from the cross-ownership rules that had forced him to sell the paper five years earlier.[39] Without that FCC ruling, the paper would have shut down.“
(emphasis mine)
[link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_Post|

October 13, 2020

Protesters pull down controversial obelisk in Santa Fe plaza

Source: KRQE

SANTA FE, N.M. (KRQE) – Santa Fe crews are at the Plaza cleaning up what’s left of the obelisk protestors tore down. A protest at the Santa Fe Plaza got tense on Monday afternoon with protestors toppling the obelisk. It comes after three days of protests, where some chained themselves to the controversial monument; The obelisk has stood there since the 1800s.

“Whether we like it or not history it’s history and any nation that forgets its past has no future,” said Curtis Valdez of Santa Fe.

City workers were constructing a barrier around it Monday to protect it but protestors managed to wrap ropes around it and rip it down. Video from the Santa Fe New Mexican shows no police on-site as protestors took over. Witnesses told the New Mexican that police were there earlier in the day to forcibly remove demonstrators who were laying on the monument but they left. This comes after a three-day occupation at the Plaza, protestors angry that this obelisk still stands.

It was erected in 1866 to honor Civil War-era soldiers who died in battle. It’s been criticized for being oppressive to Native Americans. Earlier this year, Mayor Alan Webber ordered the obelisk removed, it was too heavy, so only the plaque was removed. The mayor promised further discussion on its future. Monday on Indigenous Peoples’ Day, these protestors supporting Native Americans took drastic measures. Some people applaud the move, others are angry.
(More)

Read more: https://www.krqe.com/news/protests/controversial-obelisk-in-santa-fe-plaza-torn-down/

The monument honored Confederate traitors as well as Union soldiers. Glad to see it gone. We’re remembering the past and rejecting the Whitewash.

October 12, 2020

This is what voter suppression looks like

“There was no line where I live this year. None. I didn’t wait one second. I walked in and voted. This despicable disparity is on purpose. This is what voter suppression looks like.“ —Walter Shaub

[link:https://twitter.com/waltshaub/status/1315701601349373957?s=21|

October 10, 2020

Shooting suspect confirmed as nurse called to speak at White House

Source: WSAZ

UPDATE 10/9/2020 @ 11:00 a.m.

WILLIAMSON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Williamson Police tell WSAZ the shooting victim underwent surgery and is expected to be okay. The criminal complaint lists the suspect as Amy Thorn, but WSAZ has confirmed that Amy is also known as Amy Johnson and Amy Ford.

Records obtained through the West Virginia Board of Registered Nurses indicate that Amy Jolene Johnson has been a registered nurse since at least 2003.

WSAZ spoke to Amy Ford earlier this year when she traveled to NYC to work during the pandemic.

Ford was also recognized at the Republican Convention in August.

According to a criminal complaint, Amy Thorn, 39, shot Jonda Whitt near 841 Vinson street in Williamson.

Thorn is charged with malicious wounding.

Read more: https://www.wsaz.com/2020/10/08/shooting-in-williamson-sends-woman-to-the-hospital/

This POS, like the McCloskeys, spoke at the fascist convention in August. Going to go out on a limb and assume the yokel shot her victim over the drug dealer they were both sleeping with.

October 10, 2020

Woman finishes bar exam while in labor and right after giving birth

A law school graduate has given the term "supermom" a whole new meaning after completing the Illinois State Bar exam during labor and after delivery.

Brianna Hill, 28, was taking part one of the two-part test on Oct. 5 when her water broke. The test was administered remotely this year amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, Hill told "Good Morning America."

"I started the second section and 15 to 20 minutes in, I started having contractions," Hill said. "I had already asked for an accommodation to get up and go to the bathroom because I was 38 weeks pregnant and they said I'd get flagged for cheating. I couldn't leave the view of the camera."

"I was determined," Hill added as to why she didn't stop the exam after showing signs of labor. "Also, I've never been pregnant before, so I was [thinking], 'I don't know what this feels like.'"

Hill's original due date was Oct. 19. She graduated from Loyola University Chicago's School of Law in May, and was initially set to take the Bar July 28 and 29, though the exam was postponed due to COVID-19.

A few hours later, Hill and Andrew's first child, a boy named Cassius Phillip Andrew, arrived, weighing 6 pounds, 5 ounces.

Meanwhile, Hill was still scheduled to finish part two of the Bar the following day, on Oct. 6.

Hill said her midwife and hospital staff reserved a private room for her on the labor and delivery floor so she could complete the exam. They even put a "do not disturb" sign on the door, Hill said.

The hospital confirmed to "GMA" that Hill finished her exam after giving birth.

"There were all these professional women supporting me and my professional goals, even though I just became a mother and it was their job to support me in that," Hill said of the medical staff.

"My biggest takeaway is that I have an incredible support system from my mom ... I called my husband to tell him my water broke and he said, 'OK, we're going to figure out how you're going to finish this test' and all my law school friends texting saying, 'You got this,'" Hill said.

"I'm really thankful," she added. "Life throws curve balls at you but when I have a goal, I'm going to see it through."

One of Hill's professors, Miranda Johnson, recently sang her praises on LinkedIn, writing, "My former student/advisee Brianna Hill (now a Loyola Law and Civitas ChildLaw Center graduate) and brand new mom is a superhero!"

In January, Hill will start a job as a legal aid organizer in Chicago doing housing work associated with eviction defense, subsidized housing and landlord-tenant issues in low-income communities.

As for baby Cassius, Hill said he's doing great and loves snuggling with mom and dad.