Not being a lawyer, I would ask your professional opinion, Robert, about two terms Lauro used recently as a defense for Trump’s actions: Lauro said publicly (NBC, Chuck Todd interview) that Trump committed a “technical violation of the Constitution” in “asking” Pence to throw out votes, and that his call to Georgia’s Raffensberger to “find” exactly 11,780 votes was “aspirational”. Say what?! This sounds to me like core criminal admissions, not a silly softball semantics defense.
Also, it seems clear to me (again, non-lawyer) that Eastman being a key target for federal indictment for insurrection would be a MAJOR reason to disbar him in California, not to delay such a determination? The Republican habit of projection has become utterly ridiculous. Your take, as a CA barred attorney? Thanks.
I agree with TCinLA. Admitting a "technical violation" shows that Lauro is in way over his head! You are right; claiming a technical violation of the Constitution is an admission of guilt.
Eastman has one argument that it is not crazy: now that he is an un-indicted co-conspirator, he should invoke his 5th amendment right against self incrimination. The problem is that the hearing started in June and Eastman testified at length. If he chooses to stop testifying now, the State Bar will simply pull his law license.
In defense of Lauro, he might just be dealing with a demanding client. When the Duck makes his demands, Lauro must choose whether to satisfy his client or resign from the case. He really ought to choose the latter option but perhaps he's unwilling to abandon his chance at the spotlight.
Or he might just be one of the cavalcade of bad lawyers that the Duck seems to prefer -- people he can bully.
One comment that Lauro made Sunday on Face the Nation really got me. He was talking about the 2020 election irregularities. He compared Biden’s win to Clinton’s loss. I think I heard correctly that he described Clinton as a superb candidate compared to Biden. I think he was saying it was suspicious that Biden should have won when a strong candidate. Like Clinton lost. Did he actually say something like that or was that my imagination? It seemed so wacky.
Not being a lawyer myself, I can't imagine the value of John Lauro's defense claims other than to say that, as with his client's damning "Truths," it sounds like he's peeing in the jury pool.
Bingo. After Lauro's first foray with the TV media, a very reputable MSNBC attorney said Lauro was a good defense attorney just trying to represent his client. I've noticed since then, after Lauro's Sunday marathon of 5 appearances, I haven't heard any glowing comments about Lauro's skills or reputation. Here's a rundown of some of Lauro's more "questionable" comments. I get the feeling they were dictated by his client. Just a hunch.
It's been 4 years of hell and 2.5 years of amazing healing for America. Now the DOJ is finally bringing the therapy we need to get past the abomination that was the Trump presidency.
I haven't felt as confident since 2016 that we will turn the corner on our current crisis with democracy, witness the "arc of history" turn in positive direction and move forward as we hope.
At this point, Trump is finished in the world of electoral politics. Can anyone forsee he has picked up a single voter since J6?
And he lost the Biden then by 7 million votes..
Given all the despicable revelations coming out in the current investigations, Trump's utter lack of policy ideas, growing dissention in the GOP, favorable Democratic demographics among new Gen Z voters, Biden's incredible accomplishments over two years of governance can anyone imagine a scenario in which Biden would not defeat Trump by 10-15 million votes in 2024?
And the primary reason the GOP hasn't dumped its crime boss yet? millions of fanatical Trump voters will simply not vote if he's not the head of the ticket!
Then the GOP is just left with its widely unpopular, anti-democratic policies to run on. Example..Ron DeSantis et al..
And, as Robert, Jessica Craven and others consistently remind us all, the only hope for saving our planet is under a Democratic administration..
Good News from Ohio! The voting line at my polling place is down a long hall and out the door! I've never seen that at this place in regular elections!
Again, much excellent commentary. I am very glad that you included comments about our most critical issue, climate change, which does tend to get moved to the background bbecause of all the other very important developments, (and, in my experience, because many people would still prefer not to think about it). And thank you so much for including Jessica Craven's excellent column with all her great suggestions. I will add one more suggestion. Clean Choice Energy (as well as other companies) provides electricity which comes only from renewable sources like wind and solar and which can be delivered and billed through your own utility company.
Satanis is late to the party; the Duck himself admitted he had lost the 2020 election when he announced his run for the 2024 election. I know, I know, we all learned in our respective infancies that the 22nd Amendment prevents presidents from serving more than two terms but I discovered when I actually read it that it does no such thing. It prevents more than two elections, regardless of whether the winner actually takes office. So running in 2024 is an admission that he lost in 2020 (assuming he won in 2016).
"No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once."
I'll be interested to see what Robert has to say about your conclusions, Clifford. I'm no Constitutional lawyer, or even a lawyer. I only got so far as to opine that with many people still referring to him as the president, by extension, that means he wouldn't be qualified to serve a third term.
I've made a similar observation in the past, and consulted 22A as you did, but it was more along the lines of Lynell's comment - that it could be used as an argument against his supporters. Now I'm thinking it may be a way to get him to admit that he lost, which would hamper his assertion that his J6 actions were because he believed he had won. Since that seems to be at the root of one of his defenses, it would be good to take it off the table.
However, criminal acts based in the belief that tfg actually won the 2020 election are still criminal acts. His belief about the results of the 2020 election are irrelevant.
Yes, thank you for masterfully highlighting climate issues, amongst the torrent of other VERY IMPORTANT news. You struck the perfect note in emphasizing how climate, so important, gets lost in due to events in other news areas, AND sending us Jessica Craven’s list of climate actions AND the climate action app. Thank you. You are so good at what you do.
Thank you for helping us make sense of this torrent of information. Instead of drowning in confusion and despair, we can keep our little ships afloat and moving straight ahead.
Thank you Robert for making this all so understandable- I sift through the articles and 😵💫 is the result- can’t thank you and Jill enough! I noticed a change with the Biden-Harris messaging too- including using the names together... 🥳
The legal proceedings in Trump’s criminal trials simply cannot proceed fast enough to a just conclusion to protect our democracy. Every day there are new threats emerging. I realize that the wheels of Justice turn slowly and defendent’s rights must be protected. However, watching the Trimp crime family trading our democracy, legal system, and the Rule of Law is beyond frustrating.
Having unleashed my rant I will now go sit in the corner for a time out facing the wall but tapping my foot impatiently.
Thanks for the hope and reminders, Robert. I am crossing my fingers that an overwhelming majority of Ohioans have voted and will vote no on #1 today.
If we don’t have leaders who acknowledge the dire consequences of continuing to ignore climate change we will be doomed sooner rather than later. Every single election counts.
I am bemused by Eastman’s request to delay his inevitable disbarment on the ground that he is about to be charged with one or more felonies. The only way I can see that that would be at all relevant is if he intends to defend himself. As Abraham Lincoln noted, a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client. ‘Nuf said.
Tony reported that PostcardsToVoters.org volunteers wrote 279,831 postcards to Democrats to rural Democrats in Ohio and to Dems without phone numbers, so not reachable any other way!! Yay!
So much snark rattling 'round my feeble brain: tfg complaining about Jack Smith and the judge of his dreams while his own dreamy judge is mishandling the FL case; tfg's "current temporary lawyer" (👏) complaining about not having enough time to respond to the protective order while blathering on 5 Sunday talk shows, sorta like putting off your 10-page term paper until the night before it's due; referring to tfg in the same sentence as "delicacy" 🤣🤬; anything DuhSantis; Eastman missed this part of the Declaration of Independence, "Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes...".
BUT there is sooo much good work to do and sooo much good trouble to get into, albeit with a quiet heh-heh-heh in the back of mind. Thank you for the reminders. 🤗
“...his current temporary lawyer, John Lauro.” I love this dry dig!
I liked that too. How about, "defender du jour?"
Yes, I caught that, too. Very clever . . . and true.
Not being a lawyer, I would ask your professional opinion, Robert, about two terms Lauro used recently as a defense for Trump’s actions: Lauro said publicly (NBC, Chuck Todd interview) that Trump committed a “technical violation of the Constitution” in “asking” Pence to throw out votes, and that his call to Georgia’s Raffensberger to “find” exactly 11,780 votes was “aspirational”. Say what?! This sounds to me like core criminal admissions, not a silly softball semantics defense.
Also, it seems clear to me (again, non-lawyer) that Eastman being a key target for federal indictment for insurrection would be a MAJOR reason to disbar him in California, not to delay such a determination? The Republican habit of projection has become utterly ridiculous. Your take, as a CA barred attorney? Thanks.
I agree with TCinLA. Admitting a "technical violation" shows that Lauro is in way over his head! You are right; claiming a technical violation of the Constitution is an admission of guilt.
Eastman has one argument that it is not crazy: now that he is an un-indicted co-conspirator, he should invoke his 5th amendment right against self incrimination. The problem is that the hearing started in June and Eastman testified at length. If he chooses to stop testifying now, the State Bar will simply pull his law license.
Thank you!
It means that Lauro is another Trump lawyer who got his law license out of a box of Cracker Jacks. Those are NOT defenses.
In defense of Lauro, he might just be dealing with a demanding client. When the Duck makes his demands, Lauro must choose whether to satisfy his client or resign from the case. He really ought to choose the latter option but perhaps he's unwilling to abandon his chance at the spotlight.
Or he might just be one of the cavalcade of bad lawyers that the Duck seems to prefer -- people he can bully.
Seriously, ‘in defense of lauro’? What’s to defend?
Ego driving him into a ditch.
One comment that Lauro made Sunday on Face the Nation really got me. He was talking about the 2020 election irregularities. He compared Biden’s win to Clinton’s loss. I think I heard correctly that he described Clinton as a superb candidate compared to Biden. I think he was saying it was suspicious that Biden should have won when a strong candidate. Like Clinton lost. Did he actually say something like that or was that my imagination? It seemed so wacky.
I looked and it appears Mr. Hubble is listed as a "Super Attorney" (bravo!) with an active license. Perhaps the phrasing is a bit off?
I have an active law license but am retired.
Not being a lawyer myself, I can't imagine the value of John Lauro's defense claims other than to say that, as with his client's damning "Truths," it sounds like he's peeing in the jury pool.
Bingo. After Lauro's first foray with the TV media, a very reputable MSNBC attorney said Lauro was a good defense attorney just trying to represent his client. I've noticed since then, after Lauro's Sunday marathon of 5 appearances, I haven't heard any glowing comments about Lauro's skills or reputation. Here's a rundown of some of Lauro's more "questionable" comments. I get the feeling they were dictated by his client. Just a hunch.
https://www.mediaite.com/tv/technical-violation-of-the-constitution-is-not-a-violation-of-criminal-law-here-are-the-5-wildest-moments-from-trumps-lawyers-sunday-show-blitz/
It's been 4 years of hell and 2.5 years of amazing healing for America. Now the DOJ is finally bringing the therapy we need to get past the abomination that was the Trump presidency.
I haven't felt as confident since 2016 that we will turn the corner on our current crisis with democracy, witness the "arc of history" turn in positive direction and move forward as we hope.
At this point, Trump is finished in the world of electoral politics. Can anyone forsee he has picked up a single voter since J6?
And he lost the Biden then by 7 million votes..
Given all the despicable revelations coming out in the current investigations, Trump's utter lack of policy ideas, growing dissention in the GOP, favorable Democratic demographics among new Gen Z voters, Biden's incredible accomplishments over two years of governance can anyone imagine a scenario in which Biden would not defeat Trump by 10-15 million votes in 2024?
And the primary reason the GOP hasn't dumped its crime boss yet? millions of fanatical Trump voters will simply not vote if he's not the head of the ticket!
Then the GOP is just left with its widely unpopular, anti-democratic policies to run on. Example..Ron DeSantis et al..
And, as Robert, Jessica Craven and others consistently remind us all, the only hope for saving our planet is under a Democratic administration..
It's a GREAT time to be a Democrat 👍
Good News from Ohio! The voting line at my polling place is down a long hall and out the door! I've never seen that at this place in regular elections!
Thanks for the report from the field!
That’s great news 😊🙏
Again, much excellent commentary. I am very glad that you included comments about our most critical issue, climate change, which does tend to get moved to the background bbecause of all the other very important developments, (and, in my experience, because many people would still prefer not to think about it). And thank you so much for including Jessica Craven's excellent column with all her great suggestions. I will add one more suggestion. Clean Choice Energy (as well as other companies) provides electricity which comes only from renewable sources like wind and solar and which can be delivered and billed through your own utility company.
Satanis is late to the party; the Duck himself admitted he had lost the 2020 election when he announced his run for the 2024 election. I know, I know, we all learned in our respective infancies that the 22nd Amendment prevents presidents from serving more than two terms but I discovered when I actually read it that it does no such thing. It prevents more than two elections, regardless of whether the winner actually takes office. So running in 2024 is an admission that he lost in 2020 (assuming he won in 2016).
"No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once."
I agree with your logic. By running in 2024, the 22nd Amendment says that Trump won only in 2016, not 2020.
I'll be interested to see what Robert has to say about your conclusions, Clifford. I'm no Constitutional lawyer, or even a lawyer. I only got so far as to opine that with many people still referring to him as the president, by extension, that means he wouldn't be qualified to serve a third term.
I've made a similar observation in the past, and consulted 22A as you did, but it was more along the lines of Lynell's comment - that it could be used as an argument against his supporters. Now I'm thinking it may be a way to get him to admit that he lost, which would hamper his assertion that his J6 actions were because he believed he had won. Since that seems to be at the root of one of his defenses, it would be good to take it off the table.
However, criminal acts based in the belief that tfg actually won the 2020 election are still criminal acts. His belief about the results of the 2020 election are irrelevant.
Agreed, but wouldn't it be fun to at least put him on the defensive about one of his specious claims?
Yes, thank you for masterfully highlighting climate issues, amongst the torrent of other VERY IMPORTANT news. You struck the perfect note in emphasizing how climate, so important, gets lost in due to events in other news areas, AND sending us Jessica Craven’s list of climate actions AND the climate action app. Thank you. You are so good at what you do.
Climate Action Now app is so easy & fast to do plus the actions you do are well-thought out & helps you understand what needs to be done!
Thank you for helping us make sense of this torrent of information. Instead of drowning in confusion and despair, we can keep our little ships afloat and moving straight ahead.
Thank you Robert for making this all so understandable- I sift through the articles and 😵💫 is the result- can’t thank you and Jill enough! I noticed a change with the Biden-Harris messaging too- including using the names together... 🥳
God point about the campaign change in referring to Biden Harris.
Thank you for this summation of news. I appreciate your being here on Substack, and thank your editor also! 😊
The legal proceedings in Trump’s criminal trials simply cannot proceed fast enough to a just conclusion to protect our democracy. Every day there are new threats emerging. I realize that the wheels of Justice turn slowly and defendent’s rights must be protected. However, watching the Trimp crime family trading our democracy, legal system, and the Rule of Law is beyond frustrating.
Having unleashed my rant I will now go sit in the corner for a time out facing the wall but tapping my foot impatiently.
(;<{)
I agree. See my post of yesterday. Better yet, check out this Substack link America, America wherein Steven Beschloss speaks to the growing challenge of violent rhetoric by the GOP. We must counter their shameful conduct at every turn. https://open.substack.com/pub/america/p/the-consequences-of-violent-rhetoric?r=39h2h&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Thanks for the hope and reminders, Robert. I am crossing my fingers that an overwhelming majority of Ohioans have voted and will vote no on #1 today.
If we don’t have leaders who acknowledge the dire consequences of continuing to ignore climate change we will be doomed sooner rather than later. Every single election counts.
It's Tuesday, so, if you live in Ohio, vote NO on Issue 1. Do not allow democracy to be devoured by maggots.
I am bemused by Eastman’s request to delay his inevitable disbarment on the ground that he is about to be charged with one or more felonies. The only way I can see that that would be at all relevant is if he intends to defend himself. As Abraham Lincoln noted, a lawyer who represents himself has a fool for a client. ‘Nuf said.
Tony reported that PostcardsToVoters.org volunteers wrote 279,831 postcards to Democrats to rural Democrats in Ohio and to Dems without phone numbers, so not reachable any other way!! Yay!
But David Pepper said GOP poured in $5 million in last two weeks so we phone calls still needed if anyone can make any today: https://www.mobilize.us/ohdems/event/563286/
So much snark rattling 'round my feeble brain: tfg complaining about Jack Smith and the judge of his dreams while his own dreamy judge is mishandling the FL case; tfg's "current temporary lawyer" (👏) complaining about not having enough time to respond to the protective order while blathering on 5 Sunday talk shows, sorta like putting off your 10-page term paper until the night before it's due; referring to tfg in the same sentence as "delicacy" 🤣🤬; anything DuhSantis; Eastman missed this part of the Declaration of Independence, "Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes...".
BUT there is sooo much good work to do and sooo much good trouble to get into, albeit with a quiet heh-heh-heh in the back of mind. Thank you for the reminders. 🤗