Law, Power, and Justice

NEWS NOTES: MSNBC, TRUMP CONVENTION, SHOOTING IN PENNSYLVANIA

Quote of the Day: Glen Kirchner about Menendez sentencing:“We want the sentence to fit the crime, but also to fit the criminal.”

Trump Shooting

• Even Cenk Uyger is even calling Trump “courageous.”  Jesus Christ.  Thank God there is somebody else on the show arguing with him that Trump is the consummate narcissist, always aware of his image.  I agree with the narcissist theory.  It is pathetic to hear people tie themselves in knots trying to be “reasonable” about this shooting.
• They still haven’t released much information about the shooter.  Every news outlet and podcast continues to repeat the “registered Republican, contributor to a progressive cause” mantra, of course, plastering a “both sides” label on the situation.  On the podcast “Majority Report” Sam Seder talked about how this “progressive cause” was the shooters response to a questionnaire about arresting Joe Biden.  It was a sleazy PAC email mass mailing, where you are asked to click on a button. 
• I cannot bear to turn on the television and listen to CNN and MSNBC turning Trump into a hero.  Just because somebody tries to shoot you it doesn’t make you a hero, or heroic, or a good person.  I still can’t believe that Chuck Todd was on MSNBC waxing poetic about events that can change people.  Donald Trump is not changing, will not be changed by any event.  This is the kind of delusional thinking that helped get us where we are as a country, and it’s not a pretty site.

MSNBC

• Sen. Menendez is found guilty of all 16 counts against him, including bribery, extortion, wire fraud and acting as a foreign agent.
• Menendez was part of a powerful political machine in New Jersey.  He is very much of the old school of politicians.
• When he had a hung jury he came out of the court house and said I’m going to remember who was with me and who was against me.
• He was reelected after that hung jury.  This is the second time he has been indicted.
• Schumer is calling for Menendez to resign from his seat.  He does not have to resign.  Pressure for him to resign was significant even before this conviction.  He resigned his seat on the Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate.
• Schumer had been quiet until the end of this trial and this conviction. 
• It is interesting that Menendez organized his affairs like this after getting through the last federal indictment and trial in 2018.
• Menendez has a Democratic challenger for his senate seat. 
• Menendez claimed that he had been duped by his now wife.  This was his defense. 
• Glen Kirchner: The prosecutors will survey the typical sentences in this type of case.  There are probably not many like this one.  “We want the sentence to fit the crime, but also to fit the criminal.”  In the 2018 case the prosecutors decided not to retry that case.  This is not Menendez’s “first criminal rodeo.”  The defense will ask for probation.  Other criminals would not be able to walk out of the court and enjoy the comfort of their own homes. 
• (Note: It would be interesting to read about the New Jersey political machine they are referring to.)
• Charles Coleman: He has been given the public trust and betrayed that trust.  The judge is less likely to be lenient. 
• (Note: It would make a huge difference if these trials of public officials were televised and the public could see them for themselves.)
• It is an election year for this senate seat.  New Jersey election is closer in that state than would be expected.
• Prosecutor: “corruption” “shocking levels of corruption…cash, gold bars, a Mercedes Benz…This wasn’t politics as usual, it was politics for profit…
• Kirchner: Menendez was googling things like the worth of gold bars.  “I hope he gets the sentence he so richly deserves.”
• Steve Kornake: Menendez was shocked when this second indictment came out and the New Jersey Democratic elite came out against him.  Menendez has filed to run for the Senate as an Independent.  Can he draw votes away from the Democratic running for his senate seat. 
• Menendez: (We can’t hear what he is saying, the mic is off.)  “…disappointed….we will be successful…I have never violated my public oath…I have never, ever been a foreign agent….”
• Tom Winter: The cases were not separated because of her cancer, but because they each wanted to introduce testimony that would have prejudiced the other.  So their trials were separated.  Then, her trial was postponed because of her medical diagnosis.  Then, there was another indefinite postponement because of her medical problems.

Trump Shooting: MSNBC

• One officer boosted another, saw shooter who pointed rifle at officer.  He was unable to pull a gun out.  Why wasn’t SS involved with that building.
• The SS knew that building was a safety factor, putting a SS officer on a “sloped roof.”  What?  Seriously?  They were concerned for the safety of a SS agent standing on a sloped roof?  So they decided to secure it “from inside.”
• Stephanie Gosk: SS is saying that it was the responsibility of the local police to deal with that building.  (Note: Everybody blaming each other.)
• Jim Cavanaugh: That’s not going to play in Peoria.”  (Terrorism Contributor/Analyst) slope of that roof is not very steep, the sniper is on a more sloped roof.  Officers get on slopes all the time.  “I hope they’re not going to try to sell that to the Congress because that’s a loser.”  The argument. 
• Now, they are reporting an Iranian plot to assassinate Trump.  The SS is supposed to have amped it’s protection.  This is supposed to be in response to the Soleimani assassination.  (Then, the question is if Trump can assassinate Soleimani, why can’t they assassinate Trump?) 
• Just reminding people Jim Dilanian was one of the media figures that was abusively nasty to Sarah Kenzior for warning the country about Trump and the international criminal network he belonged to.
• Trump looks like he has a small envelope pasted to his ear at the convention. 
• Nooooooo Katy Tur live at the convention. 

Political Situation

MSNBC

• Chris Jansing claims that those on the “left” believe that this is a fight of “good versus evil.”  Of, course, the quote she is using came from a delegate at the Republican convention.
• Glaude: It is in some way a conflict for the soul of the country.  This is not the traditional political horse race.  Some of these people are the inheritors of those who fought against the Union.  They are prepared to throw the entire experiment away if they don’t get their way.
• Oh God, now they are talking about an Iranian plot to assassinate Trump.   

Notes

• Just saw the “bandage” Trump wore to the convention last night.  That is not a bandage.  Jesus.
• God, why doesn’t MSNBC fire Chuck Todd?