I say YES. YOU say NO....Numero Tre! Enjoy!

ChiSandy

Discouraged over the Rittenhouse acquittal but not surprised. Ever since the pre-trial pre-voir-dire prelim motions-in-limine hearing, I could see this unfolding in slow motion as the judge methodically engineered the outcome. I won't go into all the clearly improper rulings & comments, but it was clear that he felt he could finally steer the case to reflect his own ideology with no repercussions whatsoever: under the 6th Amdmt. prohibition against double jeopardy, an acquittal cannot be appealed (unlike in many EU countries, especially Italy per the Amanda Knox case). He won't even be censured or disciplined, because in WI the body with the authority to do that, the state Supreme Court, is majority-Republican.

The only comfort I might be able to draw from this is that the plaintiff's burden of proof in a civil lawsuit--even for wrongful death--is "liability by preponderance of the evidence," aka "more likely than not." Even 50.000001% qualifies. Now on the one hand, the blue-collar Rittenhouse seems judgment-proof, until you take into account all the money raised for his legal defense, with quite a bit left over. Love to see the victorious plaintiffs be able to "attach" and seize all his weapons even if they'd otherwise be trying to get blood from a stone.

Miriandra

I agree, Sandy. I'm hoping this goes to civil trial as well. O.J. was found "innocent" ("If it doesn't fit, you must acquit!") of the murder charge, but was found guilty of wrongful death.

ruthbru

I was sadly not shocked by the verdict. We will never know whether a black man who had done the same thing would have been acquitted, he would have been shot dead on the scene.

On a historical note, President Biden briefly transferred the power of the presidency to Vice President Kamala Harris yesterday as he underwent a routine physical at Walter Reed. Harris became the first woman to hold powers of the presidency.

pingpong1953

DivineMrsM

DivineMrsM

The verdict in the Rittenhouse case is chilling, disturbing and depressing. I read on social media that later he was out partying with the Proud Boys wearing a tshirt that said “Free as F@ck!" Did not verify that but sounds very probable. I was sickened by huge monetary support he received before his trial and he will probably start running for political office, too.

I am wondering who it was that made up the jury. I have only rudimentary knowledge about the judicial system and the law, but someone asked why a minor had an assault rifle in the first place and I wonder that myself.

DivineMrsM

DivineMrsM

I have to say, almost all comments I’m reading on social media are angry, ashamed and against this verdict. Often with something like this, the right wingers throw in their bullying, intimidating and inflaming remarks, but I am not seeing it even tho I’ve read comments from numerous different sites.

Betrayal

Sad day for the families of the "victims" of Kyle's shooting fest. If he were not in a city he did not know, trying to protect a business who did not want his assistance and he was notan immature trigger happy 17 year old, he would not have been at risk nor threatened. What a crock of shit he spread and it was enabled by a judge who predetermined the outcome. I hope his family never has to deal with a loss like those parents have to. My heart goes out to those families.

AliceBastable

Did anyone see this? Gotta love Acosta.

https://www.newsandguts.com/video/acosta-calls-out-fox-news-tucker-carlson-as-bulls-factory-employee-of-the-year/

magiclight

Unvaccinated Americans who were hospitalized with COVID-19 cost the U.S. health care system $2.3 billion in June and July, according to a new report from The Peterson Center on Healthcare and the Kaiser Family Foundation — and that's "likely an understatement," the researchers wrote.

DivineMrsM

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you to whom I’m so grateful to share similar and same political views!!! You are a sanity saver!!!

Meantime:

magiclight

Divine...this thread is definitely a "sanity saver". I'm copying those suggestions. I'll stay cool until the pie is served and then will use the pie to stuff the bad vibes down until I drive home in my quiet car and then pour my favorite wine.

Spookiesmom

Uh my DD is a professional bagpiper

Elderberry

Divine: as for the pipes. I'd be all over it. yes yes yes yes....Please play______________"

DivineMrsM

Spookie, I love the bagpipes, honestly! What a fabulous sound! Just maybe not at the Thanksgiving table! I can’t say there isn’t an instrument that I don’t love!

ruthbru

It's just DH, DS, his GF, and 4 dogs; and we are in agreement politically (although I am unsure of the dogs views) so we can save the bagpipes and/or muzzles for larger family gatherings.

Betrayal

Love bagpipes! While visiting an estate in Scotland my DD was about 3. We come upon some bag pipe bands that were competing against one another and were invited to watch. We were enjoying them until we realized DD was no longer next to us. One of the wives noted our panic and pointed out to the field where DD had interjected herself front and center in the current marching band. Not much we could do until they finished and they all thought it was funny that a wee yank lass would like the bagpipes.

Spookiesmom

🎶🎶O Canada🎶🎶

🎶🎶Scotland the Brave🎶🎶

Heard many times at Highland Games. We actually have Games in my town every April, but they are done all over US. Orlando has theirs in January

DivineMrsM

From Heather Scott Richardson’s post yesterday:

Miriandra

Bring me my whiskey, mother. I am so thirsty, mother.

Bring me my sheep for I am lonely tonight.

Bring me my sheets of rubber, bring me my peanut butter!

England is pure, but Scotland's depraved.

xD

DivineMrsM

ruthbru

I am so thankful and relieved that the murderers of Ahmaud Arbery have been found guilty.

exbrnxgrl

Agreed, Ruth. I really feared that they would be acquitted. I’m sure there will be appeals.

I never responded to your proposed doggy switch. Pumpkin is definitely the smallest dog I have ever had but she is very lively! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving 🦃.

ruthbru

Happy Thanksgiving! Among the many things for which I am thankful, our little group high up on the list!

AliceBastable

Every damn day on FB.

Spookiesmom

True, Ufortunately.

cm2020

^{Happy Thanksgiving!}

Miriandra

Part of why I killed my FB account long ago.

Happy Thanksgiving to all you wonderful ladies!!

ChiSandy

Immensely relieved by the Arbery verdict. Encouraging, considering it was in the very deep South with 11 out of 12 jurors being white. The defense's summation backfired when one of its lawyers brazenly tried to dehumanize Arbery by describing him as clad in shorts, barefoot, with "dirty long toenails." Some pessimists thought that, along with a mention of the heart condition of the shooter's co-defendant dad, might elicit sympathy for the defendants and contempt for Arbery. But the jury doubtless found that a bridge too far. (Wish they could've been cloned and sent up to Kenosha last week).

Speaking of Kenosha, what incenses me more than the jury (and even the defense's massive chutzpah in invoking the cop Rustin Shesky's non-prosecution despite emptying 7 shots into Jacob Blake's back as justification for going easy on Rittenhouse) was the judge's shameless engineering of the outcome. Yes, defendants are presumed innocent unless & until found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt--but Schroeder didn't merely try to introduce reasonable doubt but utterly blocked the prosecution from trying to meet its burden. And there is NO recourse against a judge who does that, no matter how biased and erroneous his rulings. (The only entity in WI with the power to sanction him is the state's GOP-dominated Supreme Court...not gonna happen).

I used to be shocked that Amanda Knox could first be acquitted in Italy but then a judge could reverse her acquittal (I attended a seminar in Rome given by her defense attorney); I believed that the Magna Carta-based U.S. constitutional criminal justice system's prohibition against double jeopardy should be sacrosanct. But Schroeder's blatant misconduct has turned that upside down for me (as has NY's recent law narrowing the scope of what state charges can be brought after a Federal acquittal and vice versa). I fear that down the line, Rittenhouse will face no Federal charges. My only hope is that he is found civilly liable for wrongful death & mayhem--and that if the bail money raised goes not to those who donated it but to him (IMHO, unjustly enriching him), it's fully attachable as damages in the event of a judgment against him.