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Holiday Weekend News: Black Friday Special, Egyptian Protesters Demand Military Resign, Giffords Serves Troops Dinner

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Black Friday began with a spray, rather than a bang, which given the country’s temperature, appears to be standard fare, Gabby Giffords serves Thanksgiving Day dinner to the troops and a perky Wire Fox Terrier takes Best in Show!
Black Friday Special

Seriously folks, news breaking first thing this morning were reports of a woman shopper gone mad at a Los Angeles Wall Mart last night, who used pepper spray on fellow shoppers who were near game electronics she had laid claim to, causing immediate crowd movement away from the spray, resulting in injuries to about 20 people, according to police.  The assailant remains at large.  Shootings have also been reported in Fayetteville, North Carolina mall and in Northern California, a shopper was shot in the parking lot, by a would-be robber.  No deaths have been reported, thank god.

“Black Friday” has become ubiquitously associated with increased violence in recent years by people who are hell-bent on purchasing good deals, commonly referred to as “competitive shopping,” even by the police.  Only in America would violent acts of shopping become redefined as “competitive”.

Egypt Activists Erupt Again, Demanding Military Leaders Step Down

Tens of Thousands of protesters returned to Tahrir Square again this week, responding to “The Last Chance Million-Man Protest” called by activists who are demanding that military leaders step down immediately. Jay Carney, the White House press secretary issued a statement early today:  “The United States strongly believes that the new Egyptian government must be empowered with real authority immediately...we believe that the full transfer of power to a civilian government must take place….as soon as possible”. The military issued a statement of apology yesterday for the deaths of 40 persons that occurred during the past week.  The military ruling council announced that parliamentary elections scheduled for Monday would proceed and have thus far refused to step down.  The civilian ministers of government offered their resignations earlier last week in a tacit nod to the displeasure of the Egyptian masses.  Presidential elections are currently scheduled for June 2012. Three American students arrested during the protests have been directed to be released by a judge.  Their release is considered imminent.

Gabby Giffords Out and About

Great sighting of U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), serving Thanksgiving dinner to the troops at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson at midday Thursday wearing a ball cap.  Giffords appears to have lost use of her right hand and arm.  But in just 10 months, Giffords is speaking, engaging with the public increasingly and appears committed to rehabilitation that is simply inspiring.

Wire Fox Terrier Takes Best in Show

Wire Fox Terrier “Eira” took Best in Show at the National Dog Show, out performing 1500 dogs, including an adorable Bernese Mountain dog which has become very popular in New York City.  Eira, who goes by the AKC name “Grand Champion Steele Your Heart”, a sassy little girl, seemed to not only win the hearts of the Thanksgiving Day crowd of dog lovers in Philadelphia, but clearly rose to the top according to Karen Wilson, the judge, who called Eira a “spectacular show dog, with a beautiful coat”.

The Packers Remain Undefeated

The NFL’s Greenbay Packers football team remain undefeated by whipping the Detroit Lions 27-15 in Detroit’s annual Thanksgiving Day hosted contest.  The Pack boasts an 11-0 record rolling into December, when NFL teams compete for the playoffs, dividing the men from the boys.  For those recovering from a turkey dinner, watching the Pack was a treat to relish, topping off the end of Turkey day.

Small Business Saturday

Black Friday morphs into “Small Business Saturday” an initiative branded by American Express with support by government leaders, from President Barack Obama to  New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.  But my vote is not with the politicians this weekend, rather I will take a stroll to my neighborhood hardware store which is owned by “Larry the Locksmith” the guy who sells everything from kitchen ware, to keys, come pepper spray, hell or high water.  Happy post-Thanksgiving hangover, shopping or otherwise!

Tanya L. Domi is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University who teaches about human rights in Eurasia and is a Harriman Institute affiliated faculty member. Prior to teaching at Columbia, Domi worked internationally for more than a decade on issues related to democratic transitional development, including political and media development, human rights, gender issues, sex trafficking, and media freedom.

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News

Fox News Host Suggests Trump ‘Force’ Court to Throw Him in Jail – by Quoting Him

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April 19, 2024

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The Fox News host who targeted a juror serving on Donald Trump’s criminal New York trial is now suggesting the ex-president should violate his gag order and “force” the court to throw him in jail, by quoting the Fox News host.

Jesse Watters came under fire earlier this week for profiling juror number two, sharing possibly identifying information published by a myriad of reporters but then using that information to pass judgment on her ability to serve.

“I’m not so sure about juror number two,” Watters concluded on Fox News.

Jurors, at the judge’s direction, were to remain anonymous, for their protection and the protection of the trial.

The judge excused her, after she said she felt she was not able to be impartial because friends and family were calling her asking if she had been chosen to serve on the Trump trial, after the media blitz.

New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan admonished the press for reporting the information, but some news outlets appeared to ignore his warning.

Watters on Wednesday “did a segment with a jury consultant, revealing details about people who had been seated on the jury and questioning whether some were ‘stealth liberals’ who would be out to convict Trump,” the Associated Press reported.

READ MORE: Gaetz: ‘Corrupt’ Republicans Could ‘Take a Bribe’ and Throw House to Dems, Blocking Trump Run

Trump later posted Watters’ quote on his Truth Social platform, leading some, including New York prosecutors, to ask the judge to cite him for allegedly breaking his gag order.

Judge Merchan ordered Trump to not mention witnesses, jurors, prosecutors, court staff, or the family members of prosecutors and court staff, CNN has reported.

New York prosecutors told Juge Merchan Trump has violated the gag order at least ten times.

“Prosecutor Christopher Conroy described the ‘most disturbing’ example as a social media message Trump posted on Wednesday evening quoting a Fox News host as saying, ‘They are catching undercover Liberal Activists lying to the Judge in order to get on the Trump Jury,'” Politico reports.

That host was Jesse Watters.

RELATED: ‘Afraid and Intimidated’: Trump Trial Juror Targeted by Fox News Dismissed

Friday afternoon, Watters appeared to egg Trump on, urging the ex-president to violate the gag order.

“I would make them put me in jail,” Watters said on Fox News. “I would have a tweet about something perhaps I said on ‘The Five’ or ‘Jesse Watters Primetime,’ and I would force them to throw me in jail.”

Watch Watters’ remark below or at this link.

 

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Gaetz: ‘Corrupt’ Republicans Could ‘Take a Bribe’ and Throw House to Dems, Blocking Trump Run

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April 19, 2024

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U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) says some of his fellow House Republicans would “take a bribe” to throw the razor-thin GOP majority to the Democrats if a far-right faction calls up a motion to oust Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, allowing Democrats to hand the gavel to the Minority Leader, Hakeem Jeffries. he warned if that happens, Democrats would immediately declare Trump ineligible to be President, pack the U.S. Supreme Court, and pass numerous laws like the American Rescue Plan.

“I do believe in a one seat majority there could be one or two or three of my colleagues who would take a bribe in one form or another in order to deprive the Republicans of a majority at all,” Gaetz said Friday on his podcast (video below.)

He added, “the risk that one or two of my corrupt Republican colleagues might take a bribe, take a walk, feign an ailment and flip this thing to the Democrats is a risk that is too high for me at this time.”

Gaetz’s fellow far-right Florida Republican member of Congress, Anna Paulina Luna, told listeners, “I heard that when, if and when the motion vacate is introduced, that there will be immediate resignations of a couple of more moderate members of Congress. And in the event that that happens, that ultimately means it does go to a Democrat speaker.”

RELATED: Jeffries Vows Democrats Will Ensure Ukraine Aid Passes as Johnson Defectors Grow

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) last month filed a “motion to vacate,” which she can use at any time to force a vote to oust the GOP Speaker, Mike Johnson. U.S. Rep. Tim Massie (R-KY) and just today, U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) has signed on as co-sponsors.

Congressman Gaetz told listeners if Democrats do take the House through a force vote to remove Johnson, Democrats would “be declaring Donald Trump an insurrectionist and setting up a barrier to him being able to become the president United States.”

“That’ll be their leadoff hitter, and then the chaser to that shot will be a massive spending package that looks a lot more like the American Rescue Plan. They will blow past every concept of every cap ever imagined. You’ll be looking at Universal Basic Income, you could be looking at packing the Supreme Court.”

Watch a short clip of Gaetz’s remarks below or at this link.

READ MORE: ‘Stop Bringing Up Nazis and Hitler’: Marjorie Taylor Greene Smacked Down by Democrats

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Jeffries Vows Democrats Will Ensure Ukraine Aid Passes as Johnson Defectors Grow

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11 hours ago

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April 19, 2024

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Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries vowed Friday the majority of Democrats will support Republicans’ Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and Gaza foreign aid legislation as Republican Speaker Mike Johnson lost support of another member of his conference to a faction determined to oust him.

“Democrats will provide a majority of our majority as it relates to funding Israel, humanitarian assistance, Ukraine, and our allies in the Indo Pacific,” Minority Leader Jeffries said. “It remains to be seen what Republicans will do in terms of meeting the national security needs of the American people, but it was important for House Democrats to ensure that the national security bills are going to be considered.”

Despite Republicans having a one-vote majority, more Democrats on Friday voted to move the critical and long-awaited foreign aid bills forward than did Republicans.

READ MORE: ‘Stop Bringing Up Nazis and Hitler’: Marjorie Taylor Greene Smacked Down by Democrats

The 316-94 vote included 165 Democrats and 151 Republicans voting yes, and 55 Republicans and 39 Democrats voting no.

Axios’ Juliegrace Brufke posted the list of Republicans voting against their party’s legislation.

Calling it a “rare” moment in modern congressional history to have to rely on opposition party votes to pass legislation, BBC News reports Speaker Johnson’s “hold on power is tenuous, and the legislators who oppose him – and his bid to provide aid to Ukraine – occupy some key positions within the House’s power structure.”

Amid the procedural vote to move the foreign aid funding bills forward, U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, a far-right Republican of Arizona, announced he is joining Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), and Congressman Tim Massie (R-KY) in formally announcing their will vote to oust Speaker Johnson.

Gosar, like Greene, is reportedly a Christian nationalist. In 2022 CNN reported his “lengthy ties to White nationalists, [a] pro-Nazi blogger and far-right fringe received little pushback for years.”

RELATED: ‘Repercussions’: Democrats and Republicans Stand Against ‘Pro-Putin’ House GOP Faction

“We’ve been very honest in our assessment of the situation from the beginning,” Jeffries on Friday also declared. “At the appropriate time as House Democrats, we will have a conversation about how to deal with any hypothetical motion to vacate.”

“Moscow Marjorie Taylor Greene, Massie, and Gosar are quite a group. But central to our conversation is to make sure that the national security legislation in totality is passed by the House of Representatives.”

Watch the videos above or at this link.

 

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