Rebane's Ruminations
May 2018
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[Today our merrily marching Marxists, comprised of our dimly lit and under educated leftwingers, have no idea that their new ideological epiphanies are nothing but the retrieved (from the dustbin of history) and reheated tenets of 20th century communists who killed untold millions as they ruined the lives and hopes of billions – "you have to crack a few eggs to make an omelet".  gjr]

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258 responses to “Sandbox – 30may18”

  1. Walt Avatar

    Russ. You can add to that list, Trump removed 25,000 gov. employees from the payrolls.

    Like

  2. Bill Tozer Avatar
  3. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    It sounds like the mullahs are listening to their own propaganda if they think they will get away with another shakedown.
    In a letter from Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to his counterparts last week, he asked “the remaining signatories and other trade partners” to “make up for Iran’s losses” caused by the U.S. exit, if they sought to save the deal.
    https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/iran-calls-on-world-to-stand-up-to-trump-save-nuclear-deal/ar-AAyaWZ1?ocid=spartandhp
    😉

    Like

  4. Robert Cross Avatar
    Robert Cross

    In the “rule of law doesn’t apply to wannabe dictators” dept. trumpski now says he can pardon himself. What do all you freedom lovers think of that?

    Like

  5. scenes Avatar
    scenes

    RC@7:51AM
    It’s an interesting legal question, but it wouldn’t surprise me.
    Fire up an impeachment if you’re worried about it.

    Like

  6. fish Avatar
    fish

    Posted by: Robert Cross | 04 June 2018 at 07:51 AM
    Go on bobby…..toddle over to the fat mans site. Your bleating will find a warmer reception over there.

    Like

  7. Todd Juvinall Avatar
    Todd Juvinall

    Actually, Trump is on solid ground under the Constitution. His pardon powers are unfettered. So BoobieC, send a letter to your Congressman and ask for impeachment if you want to remove a President. Meuller and Rosenstein need to go and this phony “investigation” into a mon-crime called “collusion” needs to end.

    Like

  8. Todd Juvinall Avatar
    Todd Juvinall

    Colorado case on baking a cake is decided for the baker. The media says it is a “narrow” case but the vote was 7-2.
    https://www.cnbc.com/2018/06/04/supreme-court-rules-in-favor-of-colorado-baker-who-refused-to-make-wedding-cake-for-gay-couple-for-religious-reasons.html

    Like

  9. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Robert Cross , I agree with Scenes that is a interesting legal question. Trump said he could pardon himself, but why would he do that? “Why would I do that? I have done nothing wrong” is the full quote. That’s what I think. A hypothetical legal question for Consitutional experts to debate.
    In other legal news…….
    By a 7-2 ruling, SCOTUS says you don’t have to bake that cake. Another interesting legal decision. Justice Thomas writing in concurrence addressed all the concerns about stigmatizing gays and the issues brought forth. Thomas hit all the points and concerns of the minority opinion and the gay couple’s arguments. Excellent concurrence, better than Roberts concurrence, IMHO.
    Speaking of interesting legal debates, is it Constitutional to impeach a former President? IF Obama is found to direct esponiage on Trump’s campaign for political purpose only, can Obama, a former President be impeached? Answer: Yes. It’s within Congress’s powers. Interesting.

    Like

  10. George Rebane Avatar

    Imagine the last 1.5 years had Trump not issued a single tweet on the Russia collusion investigations, and just answered reporters questions when asked with simple denials that Team Trump did anything wrong. His constant tweets attacking Mueller et al have not served him well.

    Like

  11. Russ Avatar
    Russ

    China Cell Phone Intel Collection
    It only takes a few lines of embedded code in the cell phone processor to send you information to a China intelligence server, and you would never know. That same cold could allow China intelligence operators to turn on your phone audio or video with out your knowledge.
    The FBI calls Chinese spies in the US a ‘whole of society threat’ — here’s how to protect yourself.
    New court documents filed in the US allege that ZTE, another Chinese phone maker, was set up with the express purpose of conducting international espionage.
    With a camera, microphone, and the logins of its owners accounts, accessing the smarphones of US citizens would be a massive intelligence boon for any nation.

    Public naivety comes up again and again in intelligence circles. In May, the US banned all Chinese-made smartphones from the Pentagon, saying devices from Huawei and ZTE “may pose an unacceptable risk to department’s personnel, information and mission.”
    If the Pentagon is taking seriously the risk of espionage via Chinese-made phones, maybe savvy US citizens should follow suit.
    What I’d like to know is, when Chinese-made smartphones were becoming ubiquitous during the Obama Administration, why weren’t the American people warned?
    Do you have a Huawei or ZTE phone? You could be a China spy!

    Like

  12. Russ Avatar
    Russ

    OK, the intro above should read:
    It only takes a few lines of embedded code in the cell phone processor to send your information to a China intelligence server, and you would never know. That same code could allow China intelligence operators to turn on your phone audio or video without your knowledge.
    Sorry for the editing goof

    Like

  13. Todd Juvinall Avatar
    Todd Juvinall

    GeorgeR 831. I think differently. Trump’s tweets make him totally transparent and he is man enough to take the heat. I believe no matter how he communicates the media will trash him relentlessly. His responses are his way of giving those bastards a thumb in their eye. I dig it.

    Like

  14. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Dr. Rebane.
    Yes, the tweets have not served Trump well…..or have they?
    On the pardon question. First, the left and some others have confused and convoluted issues here. A sitting President cannot be tried or convicted of criminal activity in a court of law. A former President can be charged for criminal conduct. All Meuller can do is report his findings to, in this case, Rosenstein. By the Special Counsel statute, he cannot release any findings but to Rosenstein, and must be sealed at that.
    Rosenstein can do what he wants with the sealed report. All Congress can do is impeach or not. All Trump can do is pardon himself (interesting legal debate) for any criminal activity while he is a sitting President. If a President can pardon anyone for any reason he chooses, that anyone would include himself goes the reasoning.
    A President can stop any investigation he chooses. Period. However, political questions are different than legal questions, duh.
    I am inclined to side with those who say it is impossible for an President to obstruct justice because as the top official over justice, he would be obstructing himself, an impossible legal feat to accomplish. We did not even have a justice department until the latter 1800’s nor a FBI until the early 1900’s.
    The framers did foresee impeachment and went back to the 1375 or so to find examples. The language was carefully crafted so that a Congressperson or political enemy or Someone who wanted to be President could not charge a sitting President with criminal conduct All they can do is remove him from office. Otherwise, a President would be too preoccupied to carry out his Constitutional duties and mandates.
    Let the legal scholars fight it outand debate until the cows come home. SCOTUS will answer these questions, if necessary. As much as I like Alan Dershowitz, he sometimes puts on his civil liberties individual rights defense lawyer hat instead of his Constitutional separation of powers hat on these matters.

    Like

  15. fish Avatar
    fish

    Not that I’m thrilled with the notion but…..

    JONATHAN TURLEY: Yes, Trump Can Pardon Himself.

    https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2018/06/04/donald-trump-self-pardon-constitutional-impeachment-column/667751002/

    Like

  16. Todd Juvinall Avatar
    Todd Juvinall

    BillT 919, You nailed it!

    Like

  17. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Dr. Rebane was right. Some of Trumps tweets are distracting. But, it’s kinda nice to see it play into the Left’s big fear that Trump will appoint himself dictator for life. 🙂
    The Twwet:
    “As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself, but why would I do that when I have done nothing wrong?” Trump said in a Twitter post on Monday, reiterating his claim that the Russia investigation was a “witch hunt.”
    “Once fascists get power, they don’t give it up. You’ve got President Trump for life.”—Bill Maher, four days BEFORE the 2016 elections, ROFLMAO.

    Like

  18. Paul Emery Avatar

    Ronald Regan’s daughter reflects on whather dat would think of Trump.
    Patti Davis, the daughter of former President Ronald Reagan, imagined what her father would think of current President Donald Trump. And she didn’t hold back.
    In a letter posted Sunday in The Washington Post to mark Tuesday’s June 5 anniversary of her father’s death, Davis wrote that her dad would have condemned Trump’s abuse of power and incendiary rhetoric.
    “He would be appalled and heartbroken at a Congress that refuses to stand up to a president who not only seems ignorant of the Constitution but who also attempts at every turn to dismantle and mock our system of checks and balances,” she wrote.
    “He would plead with Americans to recognize that the caustic, destructive language emanating from our current president is sullying the dream that America once was,” she added. “And in a time of increased tensions in the world, playing verbal Russian roulette is not leadership, it’s madness.” Davis also scolded Trump for his “verbal violence” when he was a nominee.
    https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/patti-davis-ronald-reagan-donald-trump_us_5b150127e4b02143b7cddf38

    Like

  19. fish Avatar
    fish

    Posted by: Paul Emery | 04 June 2018 at 10:37 AM
    Perhaps your saddest attempt ever……!
    You might want to consider just sticking to music!

    Like

  20. Robert Cross Avatar
    Robert Cross

    fishy 7:59. — to be honest, I used to think you were half way intelligent.

    Like

  21. fish Avatar
    fish

    Posted by: Robert Cross | 04 June 2018 at 10:52 AM
    fishy 7:59. — to be honest, I used to think you were half way intelligent.

    Eat something….you’ll feel better.

    Like

  22. Robert Cross Avatar
    Robert Cross

    Information of whether or not a President can pardon himself–I report you decide
    http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2017/jul/21/4-questions-about-presidential-pardon-power/

    Like

  23. Todd Juvinall Avatar
    Todd Juvinall

    P{al Emery, Patti hated her parents for many years until her father was almost outta here. I think it is truly a ridiculous stretch. Maybe you should try this. “What would Jesus do?)
    Trump certainly can pardon himself as t is an unfettered power and absolute. But since he is not a target and has done nothing illegal or wrong, it will not matter anyway.

    Like

  24. Paul Emery Avatar

    Typo 10:37 “What her dad would think of Trump.”
    Just the opinion of Regan’s daughter Fish. I would say she knew the man pretty well.

    Like

  25. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Robert. The short answer is nobody knows for sure.
    Paul, the Patty Reagen piece shows me one thing. She, besides being a person of long time Lefty persuasion (affliction), she also is a terrible writer.
    Dr. Rebane: Tweets. Today is Day 500 of Donald J. Trump’s breathtaking presidency. As the NYT’s said over the weekend, they have run out of words to describe how great the economy is under Trump. But, the Pardon tweet has drowned it all out per usual. Like, how many weeks did Trump lose after the nomination about that stupid Gold Star Dad immigration lawyer personal friend of Huma’s family that miraculously was placed up on the DNC stage? And the fallen’s silent Mom….silent cause she is grieving there years later…..and cannot answer a question. Trump is a meanie. “What, she can’t speak for herself?” The unforgivable sin, among many. He ain’t no politician, but he’s a quick learner, but I digress.
    Weeks. Trump lost friggin weeks over that farce. That was the time when he just won the nomination and I was exasperated (ok, concered) because every day, every week is important. But, noooooo. All got drowned out…which is pretty much the template ever since.
    But, then again, Trump can do in a month or two what it takes others years to do. He don’t need 6 months to win the Whole Enchilada, just a couple of months or so.
    If the first 500 days in office tells us all one thing, it is despite all the head exploding press caused by the Tweets, all the distractions, Trump can do more in a compressed time frame that I have ever seen in my lifetime. Yes, I am running out of words to describe how good it is.
    Never get tired of winning.

    Like

  26. fish Avatar
    fish

    Posted by: Paul Emery | 04 June 2018 at 11:18 AM
    I would say she knew the man pretty well.

    Davis and Reagan loathed each other….I’m a little surprised that she has the stones to claim that she knows what he would think of Trump given her overt antipathy towards her father.
    Really Punch….. your most feeble attempt yet!

    Like

  27. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    Here’s a letter RR wrote his daughter Patti Davis in late 91/early 92:

    “Dear Patti, With myself going on 81 years, I first can’t sit back and make no effort to change our family situation. I’ve heard and read statements by you about the biography you are working on and how you plan to explore what you say are the failures of your family.
    “Patti you are hurting us – your parents – but you are hurting yourself even more. We were not a dysfunctional family. Was it dysfunctional to man the hot dog stand at an every year affair at your school? Was it dysfunctional to have trips every summer at Coronado and Frances Beach? I wish you would sit down with me and look at photos of these occasions and many others. Was your mother [Nancy] dysfunctional when she planned your wedding?
    “Patti in our meeting at the office you said your mother didn’t like you. That’s not true. Yes she’s unhappy about the way things are but again I can show you photos in which the love between you is unmistakable. And these pictures are at virtually every stage of your life. Pictures don’t lie.
    “Well I could go on like this but Patti as I wrote at the beginning of this my years are limited. I can tell you what it’s like to have regrets over things I did or didn’t do before my parents left this earth. I don’t want you to face that. But most important Patti is that you realize your Mother and Father have great memories of our “first born” – a beautiful little girl who used to come into our bedroom early in the morning before we were up and slip into our bed between us. That is just one of many memories we cherish and treasure.
    “Please Patti don’t take away our memories of a daughter we truly love and who we miss.
    With Love, Dad”

    Davis sold the letter for $500.

    Like

  28. George Rebane Avatar

    Gregory 1206pm – That says it all about Patti. Thank you Gregory.

    Like

  29. Todd Juvinall Avatar
    Todd Juvinall

    Paul Emery needs to read Gregory’s post. And then Paul can remove his head from his a**

    Like

  30. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    Punchy won’t bother responding to this letter and Davis’ disposition of it as it doesn’t fit his narrative of Patti Davis being a normal daughter who really knew her father. I expect he’ll wander off until he sees another opportunity to score a hit.

    Like

  31. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    “Punchy won’t bother responding to this letter and Davis…….”
    Problem with our local “news director” is moi done knew what he would post hours before he found it. This is too easy. Take about directing the news.
    I guess I best post something. Is Chelsea back on the Campaign trail for My Gal? Sure has an eerily familiar smell to it. Heck, Bernie drew 150 when he stumped for My Gal.
    http://www.theamericanmirror.com/maxine-waters-plays-to-empty-seats-as-only-10-millennials-show-up-to-campaign-event/
    I know, I know. Crowd size does not mean anything…………unless it falls in 7 year period plus time period known as “The Reckoning”.
    I love you Uncle Maxie. James Brown wants his wig back.

    Like

  32. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Trump quote “I have the absolute right to PARDON myself.”
    So Gregory Trump believes he can pardon himself. That means that Trump can commit a murder or literally rob a bank and he can get away with no legal repercussions. Do you think Reagan believed that?
    From a Trump Tweet
    “As has been stated by numerous legal scholars, I have the absolute right to PARDON myself,

    Like

  33. fish Avatar
    fish

    Posted by: Paul Emery | 04 June 2018 at 02:00 PM
    /facepalm
    Oh Punch…..you probably want to bail out now! Further embarrassment on the horizon!

    Like

  34. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Fish
    do you believe that Trump has the absolute right to pardon himself as he claims? Yes or no.

    Like

  35. fish Avatar
    fish

    Posted by: Paul Emery | 04 June 2018 at 02:16 PM
    Yes or no.

    Here we go again with Uncle Punchys “Yes or No” Question-o-Rama!!
    Well the fact of the matter is that it doesn’t matter what I think because I won’t be participating in the decision Punch! So far we have opinions on both sides with Trumps position leading so far (if I count my legal experts correctly)!
    Rather than getting your boxers in a bunch why don’t you just wait and see where this goes next! Maybe go dig up a Presidential Popularity Poll those always seem to make you happy!

    Like

  36. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Bill
    Yes or no do you believe that Trump has the absolute right to pardon himself as he claims?

    Like

  37. Don Bessee Avatar
    Don Bessee

    He’s so cute when he stomps his little feet and acts all prosecutorial like a bad movie @243. YES OR NO! What, no you want the truth…. 😉

    Like

  38. Gregory Avatar
    Gregory

    DingDingDingDingDing!
    I won the jackpot, Punchy dropped the Patti Davis story to concentrate on punching a new spot!
    No points, Paul.
    A problem with pardons is the accepting of a pardon is tantamount to admitting the crime. Which, if you are in office, means you will be impeached and very possibly removed from office.
    No, the left-liberal-progressive political wet dream of seeing Trump frog marched in chains out of the oval orifice into a federal pen ain’t going to happen.

    Like

  39. Todd Juvinall Avatar
    Todd Juvinall

    Paul Emery sure has a direct link to DailyKos. No wonder he is so wrong all the time. Anyway the pardon power is unfettered as I mentioned way back today. He can pardon a Panda if he wants. Even a dead black boxing champ from a hundred years ago or to your liking Mumia. Trump has you liberals making crazy every day. I love it that he stands up to the lies you and your pals spew out. Go Trump! We are really winning!

    Like

  40. Bill Tozer Avatar
    Bill Tozer

    Todd @ 3:26 pm
    And to add some good old rock salt to an open festering wound, Trump is going to pardon Martha Steward and the senate seat selling former Democrat Governor of the Great State of Illinois…the one and only Rod Blagojevich, the only governor in that Great State’s history to ever be impeached. There is a message in there somewhere, and both are Dems, ROFLMAO.
    Paul. Ok, I will toss you a doggie treat because that is the kind of sot hearted sap I am. Hate to see you suffer so.
    Yes or no? What do I think? My, you get soooo impatient. I think it was Mr. Green with the candlestick in the library.

    Like

  41. Walt Avatar

    Paul can answer his own question. READ THE CONSTITUTION. The BIG print version. Ever really read it Paul? Weren’t you there when it was argued over? There is a guy in those paintings of the event that looks a lot like you.

    Like

  42. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    So Todd Trump can murder a child and pardon himself and face no criminal proceedings and you’re ok with that. You believe that’s what the Constitution allows.

    Like

  43. Paul Emery Avatar
    Paul Emery

    Patti Davis story was just a jab Gregory. It stands as it is. the daughter of Ronald Reagan believes her dad would be disgusted with Donald Trump. that she believes that is a fact. Nothing to argue about or discuss.

    Like

  44. Walt Avatar

    Nice reach Paul. Your really getting that “nutting up” down pat.
    “Can kill a child…….” Good GOD Almighty. Your really getting twisted in your old age.

    Like

  45. George Rebane Avatar

    Legal scholars tell us that a president can literally pardon anything that has run afoul of federal law. But Congress can always impeach and convict an errant president, and then indict the resulting private individual. Besides, a basic facet of law does not recognize anyone sitting as judge and jury on his own case.

    Like