West Michigan Politics blogger, 27-year-old Brandon Hall of Grand Haven man was sentenced to 30 days in jail and 18 months probation for election fraud he committed while trying to help a Grand Haven attorney get his name on the ballot for a 2012 election.
Hall was accused and admitted to forging signatures on petitions for then judicial candidate Chris Houghtaling.
He was charged with 10 counts of election law forgery in 2013. He successfully appealed the case back down to misdemeanors in Ottawa District Court, Ottawa County Circuit Court and the Michigan Court of Appeals.
The case then went to the Michigan Supreme Court where the Supreme Court said the case should be considered as felonies.
Hall said, after the high court's decision that the case should be tried as a felony, he resigned himself to the fact that he would likely spend some time in jail.
Jurors came back with a guilty verdict on all counts after one hour of deliberation back in November.
Brandon Hall turned blogger, turned politico, turned blogger
Brandon Hall
was found guilty today of election fraud stemming from a case in 2012. Hall's claim to fame occurred in 2015 when he broke the story of the affair between former State Representatives Todd Courser and Cindy Gamrat. The Michigan Supreme Courthas reinstated felony election-fraud charges against Brandon Michael Hall, who decided to run as a Republican candidate for the Michigan House of Representatives in northern Ottawa County this past year. The state's high court unanimously reversed the Michigan Court of Appeals and said Hall was properly charged with felony forgery. The Michigan Attorney General's Office is prosecuting Hall for allegedly forging signatures on nominating petitions he circulated for a judicial candidate in 2012. Hall, 26, of Grand Haven, a conservative political blogger with West Michigan Politics, former candidate for state House, former Grand Haven school board member and convicted thief, faced 10 counts of forgery. That's a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
Hall was charged with 10 counts of election law forgery after the jury took less than an hour to come back with the guilty verdict against Brandon Hall Wednesday afternoon in Ottawa County Circuit Court.
AN OPEN LETTER TO OAKLAND COUNTY REPUBLICANS BY BARB
BARBARA HARRELL
ARA HARRELL Dear fellow Oakland County Republicans, I know this sort of thing gets old, but you all deserve to be aware of and understand the problems with the latest disingenuous missive from Matt Maddock about the Exec. Committee elections last night. Frankly, that sure sounds like it could have been written by a Democrat.
To address the errors and misrepresentations, as I was there as a voting member Monday night, I will attempt to address/correct his errors of fact or assumptions within the body of this letter in parentheses and ALL CAPS. Here we go..... Matt Maddock posted in Lakes Area TEA Party Facebook page.
Matt Maddock November 29 at 5:28pm "The political process was rigged. Oakland County Republican Party Chair Mungioli cheated again. Right from the start. It's virtually impossible to challenge the Oakland County establishment leadership. That “leadership” carried the night by 8 votes on the Oakland County Executive Committee on Monday and re-elected Theresa Mungioli to another two year term as our County Chair. (FACT: THERESA'S OPPONENT REFUSED THE NOMINATION IN A CLASSY MOVE BEFORE THE VOTING BEGAN, WHICH SHOWED THAT HE WANTS UNITY OF PURPOSE, RATHER THAN REVENGE AND DIVISION. SHE WAS ELECTED BY A UNANIMOUS BALLOT) This is how they rigged it: This can only accomplished by having all elected officials show up to vote. That gang included Ruth Johnson, Dave Trott, Mike Bishop, Mike Bouchard, Jim Tedder, Klint Kesto, Kowalls, Crawfords and the rest of the good ol’ boys club of elected officials. These delegates-at-large made up approximately 20 votes of their 8 vote winning margin. (WRONG AGAIN - THERE WAS NO MARGIN AS THERE WAS NO INDIVIDUAL VOTE FOR CHAIR. HER OPPONENT REFUSED THE NOMINATION AND CHOSE TO INSTEAD SHOW A DESIRE FOR UNITY GOING FORWARD. ALSO, BESIDES BEING PERMITTED IN THE OCRP BYLAWS, THOSE WHO PUT THEMSELVES OUT THERE AND SPENDS THOUSANDS TO RUN FOR PUBLIC OFFICE AS A REPUBLICAN IN OAKLAND COUNTY DESERVES TO HAVE A VOICE IN THEIR COUNTY'S PARTY LEADERSHIP). To make matters worse, Mungioli violated our bylaws and issued illegal voting credentials to ex-officio members Dave Trott, Mike Bishop, Howard Klausner and Chris Morse. Ex-officio members are not allowed to vote, according to the bylaws, but Mungioli allowed it!(INCORRECT: THESE ELECTED REPUBLICAN COUNTY AND STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS MATT REFERS TO PEJORATIVELY AS A "GANG", ARE RIGHTLY ENTITLED TO VOTE, PER OUR BY LAWS, AS ARE OUR CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS, STATEWIDE GOP OFFICE-HOLDERS, AND CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES RESIDING IN OAKLAND COUNTY, WHETHER THEY WON OR LOST) Despite my floor motion to verify that only eligible members were permitted to vote! (NOPE! MATT'S "FLOOR QUESTION" WAS ANSWERED - TWICE - BY THERESA, AND HE DIDN'T PRESS IT FURTHER OR CHALLENGE IT FROM THE FLOOR THAT NIGHT).
The rules were written to tilt the tables against grassroots conservatives from the get-go. The sole intention to never, ever give anyone the chance to take the Oakland County Republican Party Chair that isn’t hand-selected by the establishment. Virtually every single elected official always votes against the conservative grassroots and Chair Mungioli openly violated the bylaws and let non-voting members vote.(INCORRECT: SEE ABOVE COMMENT....AND SINCE WHEN DOES MATT MADDOCK GET TO DEFINE WHO IS, AND IS NOT, A "CONSERVATIVE"?). It was no coincidence. These turncoats rely on the Oakland County Republican Party to ALWAYS make them look good and NEVER EVER EVER challenge or criticize them for their traitorous votes against our party principles. The establishment successfully rigged the party bylaws so THEY always control the Chair. The voice of the precinct delegates has been circumvented by the elected officials. The delegates don’t even trust Mungioli to chair conventions! (DOES NOT APPLY HERE: THE PRECINCT DELEGATES PRESENT AT THE LAST COUNTY CONVENTION DULY ELECTED OAK. CO. EXEC. COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO REPRESENT THEM AND VOTE FOR THE COUNTY PARTY CHAIR LAST NIGHT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE ALL DID).
Contrast this with who votes for the State Republican Party Chair. The precinct delegates elected statewide vote. If OCRP bylaws were fair, all Oakland County delegates would be voting for our Oakland County chair. Everyone would have their voice heard, not just the smaller number of executive committee members (stacked against us with 20+ electeds). (STRAW MAN: THAT WOULD BE A PURE DEMOCRACY WHICH WE ARE NOT. I'M SURPRISED SOMEONE WHO LOVES THE CONSTITUTION SO MUCH DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT DIFFERENCE).Starting with a 20+ vote lead, the establishment will always control the outcome because of our rotten impostor elected officials who do not represent our treasured values of small government, reduced taxes and fees and a free market studded with liberty. Furthermore, many of our elected officials will never truly represent our values as long as we have open primaries because they DEPEND on the Democrat voters showing up to vote for them…. the most liberal candidates win because Democrats crossover to give them the edge. This collusion must stop.(AGAIN, WHAT GIVES HIM THE RIGHT AND ABILITY TO READ MINDS AND HEARTS AND DEFINE WHAT WE ALL THINK OR FEEL?)
When you think about it, Republicans (and Republican values) do not control our party. Democrats do and the impostor Republicans (some who really are Democrats) are loving this rotten, rigged process. They try to muzzle your concerns by claiming that we have to get all “Republicans” elected. Truth is, very few are actually Republicans because they are elected by Democrat voters! Most of our “Republicans” are really only half-republican. (TRUTH IS, IT IS THE JOB OF THE COUNTY PARTY TO GET ALL REPUBLICANS ELECTED).
I know. This is depressing. They want you to give up now. When is the best time to plant a tree, fellow conservatives? Ten years ago. Don't get discouraged. This is a long process. We are only about four hard years into this reclamation of our party and nation. Reclaiming lost liberty is never easy. It wasn’t easy for the Founding Fathers either, but it is a fight that we cannot afford to surrender. ......."
I won't subject you to the rest of his disingenuous, self-serving rant. The important things to remember here are:
1. If you were elected as a precinct delegate, you deserve, and should assert, the right and respect of assessing and defining yourself. No one else can or should do it for you.
2. Please do not take the rants of one paranoid guy with a chip on his shoulder as gospel. You deserve better treatment as a fellow grassroots Republican volunteer than to be used as unsuspecting actors in a revenge plot.
3 Think about the words and terms he uses to describe those with whom he disagrees ...."traitorous"..."half-Republican"...."rotten imposters"...."cheaters". Really? In the few years he has been around, I have never heard Theresa or any of the OCRP leadership refer to him or his followers in terms such as that.
4. Remember - it was Matt who insisted on continuously referring to the OCRP Exec. Committee passed rules for the last county convention as "the Mungioli rules" seemingly as a signal to his supporters to reject them in favor of his MCC ones (which only those lucky enough to be at his secret pre-meeting got to see a night or two before the convention). However, the OCRP rules were available for any and all precinct delegates to see on the OCRP web site for at least a couple weeks prior to the convention earlier this month.
All I'm trying to tell you here is to demand integrity, honesty, and respect for your volunteer work and elected position. Be discerning. Reject vitriol. Dig deeper into why some people seek to control and use you....you may not know the whole story and shouldn't be used as chess pieces in a game of personal revenge. You all - every one of you - deserve better, as does the GOP at large if we are going to work together to elect as many of the most conservative Republicans we can. Talk with others. Listen to them. Then make your best argument for your case.....without using the LATP/MCC scorched-earth ad hominem tactics as a model.
THAT is what will grow the GOP....when they see us walk the walk. Then, they just might want to come along.
Thank you for your time and consideration in reading this.
Barbara Harrell GOP State Committee - 11th Congressional District President - Troy-Clawson Republican Forum OCRP Executive Committee
Don't look now but if the presidential election were held today in Utah, Donald Trump would win and Hillary Clinton would end up in 3rd place behind a local candidate named Evan McMullin.
CBS News 2016 Battleground TrackerUtah Sample 951 Likely Voters ∗ Conducted October 12-14, 2016Margin of Error ± 5.7% 1. How much attention have you been able to pay to the 2016 Presidential campaign so far? A lot ............65% Some............29% Not much ... 6% No attention so far ... 0% 2. How likely is it that you will vote in the 2016 Presidential election in November? Definitely will vote .......................................................91% Probably will vote ........................................................ 6% Maybe will vote .......................................................... 1% Probably will not vote .................................................... 0% Definitely will not vote ....................................................0% Already voted early or by mail ............................................1% Don’t know ...............................................................0% 3. If the 2016 presidential election were being held today and the candidates were HillaryClinton, the Democrat, and Donald Trump, the Republican, who would you vote for? Voters selecting someone else in the initial question were given a choice of a selection of third party candidates Hillary Clinton ...........................................................20% Donald Trump .......................................................... 37% Gary Johnson ............................................................7% Evan McMullin ..........................................................20% Jill Stein ................................................................. 1% Someone else ........................................................... 4% Not sure ................................................................11% Probably won’t vote ...................................................... 0%
Michigan's education board has approved guidance to schools on creating an inclusive environment for LGBTQ students. The State Board of Education voted 6-2 Wednesday afternoon in favor of the guidance after receiving additional public comments the majority of which were against this proposal Equality Michigan released the following statement after the vote: Today, we won an important victory for LGBTQ students and school safety. The State Board of Education voted 6-2 to adopt a guidance on how Michigan schools can create safe learning environments for all students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This guidance is the result of months of hard work by pro-equality advocates and organizations from across Michigan working together and speaking with one voice. It’s one more example of what our community can accomplish when we stand united in support of full equality. At a time when far too many politicians are trying to score political points at the expense of the LGBTQ community, Equality Michigan commends the State Board, particularly President John Austin, for their unwavering support of this important guidance. When our opponents tried to threaten and intimidate these pro-equality public officials, they stood strong. The importance of their commitment cannot be overstated. As far too many of you are all too aware, anti-LGBTQ bullying, harassment, and violence are pervasive in our schools. Proposed recommendations to schools include making good faith efforts to address students by their chosen name and pronoun when asked. The guidance also urges schools to let transgender students use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity. The board felt this was for the safety of the students? Really how safe is it to have men in women's facilities? Don't women have a right to privacy as well?
KSFY via CNN
LANSING, Mich. - Michigan's education board has approved guidance to schools on creating an inclusive environment for LGBTQ students.
The guidelines are voluntary but have spurred criticism from conservative lawmakers, particularly over restroom and bathroom policies for transgender students.
The State Board of Education voted 6-2 Wednesday afternoon in favor of the guidance after receiving additional public comments.
Equality Michigan released the following statement after the vote:
Today, we won an important victory for LGBTQ students and school safety. The State Board of Education voted 6-2 to adopt a guidance on how Michigan schools can create safe learning environments for all students, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. This guidance is the result of months of hard work by pro-equality advocates and organizations from across Michigan working together and speaking with one voice. It’s one more example of what our community can accomplish when we stand united in support of full equality.
At a time when far too many politicians are trying to score political points at the expense of the LGBTQ community, Equality Michigan commends the State Board, particularly President John Austin, for their unwavering support of this important guidance. When our opponents tried to threaten and intimidate these pro-equality public officials, they stood strong. The importance of their commitment cannot be overstated. As far too many of you are all too aware, anti-LGBTQ bullying, harassment, and violence are pervasive in our schools.
Proposed recommendations to schools include making good faith efforts to address students by their chosen name and pronoun when asked. The guidance also urges schools to let transgender students use bathrooms and locker rooms consistent with their gender identity.
Education officials say the draft guidance was amended to encourage local school districts to engage their communities in the development of their own policies and to urge greater consideration for parental involvement.
FEDERAL JUDGE RULES AGAINST OBAMA'S PERVERTED SCHOOL AGED BATHROOM DECREE. YOU MUST USE THE BATHROOM, LOCKER ROOM AND SHOWER OF YOUR BIOLOGICAL SEX. A federal judge is halting the Obama administration’s order compelling public schools nationwide to permit restroom and locker room access on the basis of gender identity. U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor said the administration “failed to comply” with federal rule-making procedures, siding with Texas and 12 other states that sued the federal government over the order. “Defendants are enjoined from enforcing the Guidelines against Plaintiffs and their respective schools, school boards, and other public, educationally-based institutions,” the judge ordered Sunday. Mr. O’Connor made clear that the “resolution of this difficult policy issue is not, however, the subject of this order.” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he is “pleased that the court ruled against the Obama Administration’s latest illegal federal overreach.”
The media has been lying to you and many have believed the lie. The woman with the crying baby was not thown out of the Trump rally. Her name is Devan Cierra Ebart and this is what she had to say: Devan Cierra Ebert who "was removed" with her crying baby at a Trump Rally: "I was the mother in his rally on Tuesday, August 2nd, in Ashburn, VA, with the baby who started to cry. I would just like him to know personally that I, by no means felt I was ever "kicked out" of his rally. I excused myself and my child when he awoke from his nap and began to cry. It was only because I had to grab my child's belongings and then make my way out of the aisle I was seated in that I wasn't out of there sooner. I realize Mr. Trump doesn't know me personally, but for those that do, know that I am the first one to excuse myself and my child when he begins to cry because I personally believe it's rude to disturb anyone else's ability to hear what they came to see. I've left movies, violin recitals, and other events if I felt my child was disturbing others. It is the considerate thing to do. I stood right outside the doors of the auditorium continuing to watch and listen to what Mr. Trump had to say. In fact, the police that were right outside in the same hallway with me, treated me with so much respect it was incredible. They were so kind and made me feel welcomed to stand with them. One officer commended me on my bravery to bring my child to Mr. Trump's rally. I fully support Mr. Trump. I thought he responded very graciously to my child crying and he made a lighthearted moment out of what I usually consider to be stressful. I actually was out of the auditorium before he even made his follow up comment about my child and even then, when I was informed of his comment, I laughed. I understand he says things jokingly, and I understand no one wants to speak over or struggle to listen over a crying baby. I am in no way offended and I again reiterate, Mr. Trump NEVER kicked me or my child out of the Briar Woods High School, Trump rally. And for the record, while my child and I stood outside of the auditorium, my eleven year old stepdaughter and my Grandmother sat inside the auditorium and continued to support and listen to everything Mr. Trump had to say. We all were so excited to be able to see Mr. Trump so close to home. I didn't have a babysitter to watch my kids and honestly, to me it was a historical moment that I am happy that my kids were there for. I apologize for the trouble this has caused Mr.Trump. The media has severely blown this out of proportion and made it out to be something that it wasn't and is clearly using this as political gain for the Democratic party. I hope this message sheds light to what really happened. Thank you for your time. Best of luck! You have our vote. Trump 2016"
Shawn Lucas served the DNC with legal papers over the rigged primary that made it impossible for Bernie Sanders to win. Just a week after he served the DNC Lucas was found dead. Lucas died suddenly, He was a young man and his death is very suspicious and adds to the mysterious deaths of late involving the Clintons. A few weeks ago, a DNC intern that was murdered on the streets of DC after helping Wiki Leaks obtain DNC e-mails that involved Hillary Clinton on Debbie Wasserman Schultz who is the former Chair of the DNC proving the Democrat primary was rigged. An unconfirmed report says that Lucas was found lying on the bathroom floor by his girlfriend when she returned home on the evening of August 2nd, 2016. One other questionable death in the past couple of months was of former U.N. official John Ashe, who set to testify against a Clinton donor but never made it due to his odd death of asphyxiation cause by a barbell crushing his neck.
In one of the most racist judicial decisions in history a judge ruled, unconstitutionally by the way, that straight ballot voting illegal in Michigan. He believes Blacks are too stupid to do the research as every other ethnic group. If I was a black voter I'd be appalled and insulted at this ruling. "The real question that the court must answer is whether the burdens caused by P.A. 268 are in part caused by or linked to social and historical conditions that have produced or currently produced discrimination against African-Americans," Judge Gershwin Drain wrote. "This question is unavoidably answered in the affirmative. "African-Americans are much more likely to vote Democrat than other ethnic groups, and many feel this is largely due to racially charged political stances taken by Republicans on the local, state and national level since the post-World War II era," the judge said. Thursday blocked Michigan's new ban on straight-party voting, saying it's a direct strike on the rights of blacks in big cities who tend to vote for Democrats with a single mark on the ballot. U.S. District Judge Gershwin Drain signed an injunction, a week after hearing arguments. He says the law would place a "disproportionate burden" on blacks in the fall election, the first election that would be affected. The law was passed by Republicans and signed by GOP Gov. Rick Snyder. Straight-party voting, in which all candidates of a single party are picked with just a single mark, is very popular in Michigan cities with large black populations, especially Flint and Detroit. It's been on the books for more than 100 years and has been a common choice in some counties that are steadfastly loyal to Republicans, such as Ottawa. A ban on straight-party voting would depress turnout and cause long lines at polling places, said Mark Brewer, a lawyer in the case and the former head of the state Democratic Party.
A Republican Delegate and former Chairman of the Oakland County Repubilican Party in Oakland County Michigan is so disgusted with the sore loser attitude of former Presidential and current Ohio Governor John Kasich that he set fire to his Kasich for President T-shirt. Former Oakland County Republican Chairman Jim Theinel took to his facebook page to show the burning of the Kasich for President campaign t-shirt. Many in the Oakland County Republican Party are disgusted with Kasich. The close proximity of Oakland County to Ohio, one of the wealthiest in the country, allowed John Kasich to tap into and con many donors in Oakland County into being his personal ATM.
It should be noted that the Oakland County Republican Party itself remained neutral during the primary.
The question of the night was whether Ted Cruz would honor his word and support the nominee or earn the moniker “Lyin Ted” given to him by the man who won. The question was whether Cruz would make his speech about HIS future or the future of the country. And that question was answered when Ted Cruz chose to not keep his word that he (along with me and every other GOP candidate) gave one year ago in that very arena where tonight he put his own ambitions above country.
Sore Loser Cruz
Donald Trump did something no previous nominee has done—he allowed Ted Cruz to speak without his promising to support the nominee. I’ve spoken at every convention since 1992, and I can attest to the fact that no one got near that stage without supporting the nominee. Trump trusted Ted and was rewarded with a betrayal, but the delegates in that arena booed Cruz off the stage and out of Cleveland. I’m certain that many of you will react harshly and angrily to my words. So be it. But when a person gives his word, he should keep it. When a person is treated with generosity to give a speech, he should either respond with respect or graciously decline. And when a person loses, he should accept the will of the voters and then offer support to the victor of the primary to defeat the anti-gun, pro-abortion, incompetent, dishonest, and dishonorable nominee of the Democrat party. So fire away with your comments, Facebook Friends. But from where I sit, I didn’t see a statesman step forth for the country’s future. I saw a self-absorbed politician grab the microphone and try to line up his own future. Ted walked in tall and walked out small.
This isn't the first time that this has been reported but liberals still believe it is ok for men to be in women's bathrooms, dressing rooms and showers.
An Idaho man who told police he identifies as a woman was
arrested Tuesday after allegedly taking photos of a woman in a Target fitting
room, officials said.
Sean Patrick Smith, 43, was allegedly dressed in women’s
clothing when he entered the fitting room in the women’s section of the store
in Ammon on Monday, East
Idaho News reported. Smith, also known as Shauna Patricia Smith, then began
taking pictures of a woman in the changing stall next to him, police said. Target stores currently allow men who say they are women, into female restrooms and dressing rooms. Until this policy is changed it really is not safe for your mom, wife, daughter or any female loved one to be inside Target.
Former Detroit Police Officer Merri McGregor has wrote a status on her Facebook page that has gone viral. It is a heartfelt message about what police officers go through to protect you and I. Take a read... This is me at 21 years old. This is the day I graduated from the Detroit police academy at 4:00pm, went home and took a couple hour nap, woke up at 9:30 that night and reported to my first tour of duty at the 12th Precinct for midnight shift. Look at that smile on my face. I couldn't have been more excited, more proud. Armed with my dad's badge that he wore for 25 years on my chest, one of my mom's sergeant stripe patches in my pocket, my lucky $2.00 bill tucked into my bulletproof vest, a gun I was barely old enough to purchase bullets for on my hip and enough naive courage for a small army, I headed out the door...my mom snapped this photo on my way. The next 17 years would bring plenty of shed blood, black eyes, torn ligaments, stab wounds, stitches, funerals, a head injury, permanent and irreparable nerve damage, 5 ruptured discs, some charming PTSD and depression issues and a whole lot of heartache. They brought missed Christmases with my family, my absence from friends' birthday get-togethers, pricey concert tickets that were forfeited at the last minute because of a late call and many sleepless nights. I've laid in wet grass on the freeway for three hours watching a team of burglars and orchestrating their apprehension, I've dodged gunfire while running down a dark alley in the middle of the night chasing a shooting suspect, I've argued with women who were too scared to leave their abusive husbands until they realized they had to or they would end up dead. I've peeled a dead, burned baby from the front of my uniform shirt, I've felt the pride of putting handcuffs on a serial rapist and I've cried on the chest of and kissed the cheek of my dead friend, coworker and academy classmate even though it was covered in his own dried blood and didn't even look like him from all the bullet holes. I know what a bullet sounds like when it's whizzing past your ear, a few inches away, I know what the sound of a Mother's shrilling scream is like when she finds out her son has been killed in the middle of the street and I know what it's like to have to tell a wife and mother of 3 that her husband was killed in a car accident while on his way home from work. Smells, pictures, sounds and sights are burned and ingrained into our minds...things we can never forget, no matter how hard we try; things that haunt our sleep at night and our thoughts during the day; things that we volunteered to deal with so that you don't have to. Things I don't want my sister, little cousins or YOU to even have to KNOW about. I never once went to work thinking, "I'm gonna beat someone tonight."; "Hmmm...I think I'm gonna kill someone tonight." I DID, however, go to work every night, knowing that I was going to do the best I could to keep good people safe, even if that meant that I died doing so. We ALL need to start being more understanding and compassionate toward one another. Violence doesn't cure violence and hate doesn't cure hate. I've seen and experienced both sides of the spectrum since I left the PD and I get it. I truly do. But this all has to stop. Are cops perfect? No. Are there bad cops? Yes. But please...understand that the vast majority of police are good, loving, well intentioned family people. They have husbands and wives and children and parents and pets and cousins and mortgages and electric bills and lawns that need cutting, just like you. They have hearts and consciences. They aren't robots, they're not machines and they just want to help keep the wolves away from the sheep. I KNOW there's people who don't deserve to wear the badge but they're SO VERY few and far between. It breaks my heart to see all this hatred and anger flying around. All it's doing is encouraging more of the same. If you've read this far, thank you for listening. I'm not gonna sit here and tell you that if you hate or don't support one side or the other, to unfriend me and never speak to me again...I hope those are the people who come straight TO me. Because I'll be more than happy to hug you and pray or meditate with you. I'll be more than happy to listen to your concerns and let you vent and empathize with your feelings. But then I'll encourage you to help me find a solution to end all this nonsense because if we're not part of the solution, we're part of the problem. Love to all of you. ALL OF YOU. We're all SO much better than this.
If you share your Netflix password, or any password for that matter, it is now considered a federal crime after three judges in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued a ruling last week. The case doesn't directly involve Netflix, but does criminalize all password sharing.
Judge Stephen Reinhardt, who was the dissenting judge in a 2-1 decision, said "The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and sharing passwords does not make the millions of people who engage in this useful, and generally harmless conduct into unwitting federal criminals."
Alton Sterling wasn't such a great role model. Teach them when their young. That's the thug mentality. The media is trying to portray him as an innocent black man that was shot while two white Baton Rouge Louisiana officers were arresting him early Tuesday after responding to a call about an armed man. The officers had Mr. Sterling pinned to the ground when at least one of them shot him. Now were the officers justified in the shooting? A complete review will tell but if Alton Sterling wasn't resisting arrest he would have been alive today. This wasn't the first time Alton Sterling tussled with police. He did so in 2009 and a pistol fell out of his waistband. Police were very well aware of the prior event.
In 2009, the affidavit of probable cause contends that a police officer tried to pat down Sterling when Sterling resisted arrest, and the officer ended up “wrestling with the defendant on the ground” at which time a “black semi auto gun fell from his waistband.” The officer grabbed the back of Sterling’s shirt during the incident, and he was able to arrest him without further incident.
Liberal Bryton Mellott wanted to make himself a star this morning on the fourth of July and posted a picture of himself burning the American Flag. Bryton who is 22 years old is an employee at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Savoy, Illinois This little a-hole posted the following with his photo. “I am not proud to be an American. In this moment, being proud of my country is to ignore the atrocities committed against people of color, people living in poverty, people who identify as women, and against my own queer community on a daily basis. I would like to one day feel a sense of pride toward my nationality again. But too little progress has been made. Too many people still suffer at the hands of politicians influenced by special interests. Too many people are still being killed and brutalized by a police force plagued with authority complexes and racism. Too many people are allowed to be slaughtered for the sake of gun manufacturer profits. Too many Americans hold hate in their hearts in the name of their religion, and for fear of others. And that’s only to speak of domestic issues.”
Bryton Mellott dared to be arrested by saying on his post #ArrestMe” Help make this a-hole famous! Share this everywhere! h/t /Forbes,IL Gun Rights
MEMPHIS, TN – A special needs teenager returning home from a brain tumor treatment at St. Jude Hospital was left battered, bloodied and in jail after an encounter with TSA agents at a security checkpoint.
It’s a trip they’ve made for 17-years, according to the teen’s mother Shirley Cohen, but this one was unlike any they had experienced before – and hopefully never have to experience again.
Upon arriving at the security checkpoint with her mother, Hannah Cohen, 19, set off a metal detector and was identified for further screening by TSA agents.
“They wanted to do further scanning, she was reluctant, she didn’t understand what they were about to do,” said her mother, Shirley Cohen.
Shirley Cohen, upon realizing her daughter’s confusion at the situation, attempted to tell the TSA agents that her daughter is partially deaf, blind in one eye, paralyzed, and easily confused. However, police restrained her from doing so, as she was kept away from the TSA agents, according to WREG 3.
The frightened and confused disabled teen – not understanding what was transpiring due to her disabilities – attempted to flee. She was violently taken to the ground, causing the young woman, who had just finished a brain tumor treatment, to hit her head on the ground.
“She’s trying to get away from them, but in the next instant, one of them had her down on the ground and hit her head on the floor,” Shirley Cohen said. “There was blood everywhere.”
The young woman, who should have been celebrating the end of her treatment at St. Jude, was ultimately taken from Memphis International Airport in handcuffs. Terrified and bloodied, she was arrested and booked into jail for the night.
“Here we were with nowhere to go, not even a toothbrush, our bags had gone to Chattanooga,” said Shirley Cohen.
While all charges against Hanna Cohen were subsequently dismissed, the family has filed a lawsuit against the Memphis International Airport, Transportation Security Administration and the Memphis Airport Police.
The organizations have refused to comment due to pending litigation, but Sari Koshetz of the TSA released a statement that said, “Passengers can call ahead of time to learn more about the screening process for their particular needs or medical situation.”
Shirley Cohen can’t believe that her daughter had to needlessly go through such a traumatic experience after having already been through so much in her 19-years.
“She’s 19 but she’ll always be my baby. We’ve been through so much.”
This type of reckless behavior is indicative of a system that emphasizes protocol over common sense. Had anyone simply taken the time to listen to the girl’s mother as she attempted to inform the TSA agents of her daughter’s disabilities all of this could have been avoided.
Michael Symon Says Trump Can't Eat At His Restaruants
If GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump plans on eating in downtown Cleveland for the Republican National Convention, he won't be able to at any of Michael Symon’s restaurants.
“There’s not a chance I’d let him into one of my restaurants,” the celebrity chef said with laughter during a phone interview with 92.3 The Fan Thursday morning.
Originally calling in to defend the communal seating at Mabel’s, his new BBQ restaurant on East 4th Street, Symon shared how he really felt about the businessman-turned-politician when the topic turned to potential parties during the RNC.
When asked by 92.3 The Fan’s Matt Dery about whether or
not he’s concerned that his anti-Trump comments could turn off potential patrons, he doubled down on his comments.
“Anybody that knows me knows that I’m not afraid to speak my mind.” Now didn't we have a couple of Christian bakers fined $100,000s for not making cakes for gay couples? Seems like liberals think they can have it both ways. It looks like its time to boycott Symon's restaurants and ABC's The Chew.
One thing that Donald Trump has been able to do so far is weed out the Anti-American Communist Democrats out of the Republican Party. You now will understand why it has been so difficult to prosecute Hillary Clinton. The corruption runs rampant in Washington. It's not about we the people it is about their self serving needs.
Here is the list:
Bush administration officials
Henry Paulson, treasury secretary Richard Armitage, deputy secretary of state and adviser to Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush — Trump "doesn't appear to be to be a Republican, he doesn't appear to want to learn about issues. So I’m going to vote for Mrs. Clinton." Brent Scowcroft, chairman of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board and adviser to three previous GOP presidents — "The presidency requires the judgment and knowledge to make tough calls under pressure.... [Clinton] has the wisdom and experience to lead our country at this critical time." Alan Steinberg, regional EPA administrator Kori Schake, National Security Council and State Department aide
Advisers to previous GOP presidentsDoug Elmets, former Reagan spokesman — "I could live with four years of Hillary Clinton before I could ever live with one day of Donald Trump as president."
Jim Cicconi, former Reagan and George H.W. Bush aide — "Hillary Clinton is experienced, qualified and will make a fine president. The alternative, I fear, would set our nation on a very dark path.” Foreign policy leaders Robert Kagan, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a co-founder of the Project for the New American Century Max Boot, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and adviser to GOP presidential candidates — "I'm literally losing sleep over Donald Trump. She would be vastly preferable to Trump." Peter Mansoor, retired Army colonel and former aide to David Petraeus — "It will be the first Democratic presidential candidate I’ve voted for in my adult life." (Which means he's voted democrat before) Business leaders/donors Marc Andreessen, venture capitalist — "[Silicon] Valley wouldn't be here, we wouldn't be doing any of this if we didn't have the amazing flow of immigrants that we've had in the last 80 years. And the idea of choking that off just makes me sick to my stomach." Dan Akerson, former chairman and chief executive of General Motors — "Serving as the leader of the free world requires effective leadership, sound judgment, a steady hand and, most importantly, the temperament to deal with crises large and small. Donald Trump lacks each of these characteristics."
Chuck Robbins, chief executive of Cisco Hamid Moghadam, chairman and chief executive of Prologis — "Our country is about tolerance and inclusion and that's why, as a lifelong Republican supporter, I endorse Hillary Clinton for president in this election."
William Oberndorf, $3 million to GOP candidates since 2012 — "If it is Trump vs. Clinton, and there is no viable third-party candidate, I will be voting for Hillary Clinton." Mike Fernandez, $4 million to GOP candidates in recent years — "If I have a choice — and you can put it in bold — if I have a choice between Trump and Hillary Clinton, I’m choosing Hillary. She’s the lesser of two evils."
Former Republican elected officials Larry Pressler, former three-term Republican senator from South Dakota who lost an independent campaign for his old seat in 2014 — "I can’t believe I’m endorsing Hillary Clinton for president, but I am. If someone had told me 10 years ago I would do this, I wouldn’t have believed them."
Arne Carlson, a former two-term Republican governor of Minnesota who supported President Obama
Robert Smith, former New York state Supreme Court justice — "This year, I’m going to vote for a Democrat for president — the first time I’ve done it in 36 years — and I think the decision is easy. Hillary Clinton is the only responsible choice, and I don’t understand why so few of my fellow conservatives see it that way." Political operatives Mark Salter, former top adviser to John McCain — "Whatever Hillary Clinton’s faults, she’s not ignorant or hateful or a nut. She acts like an adult and understands the responsibilities of an American president. That might not be a ringing endorsement. But in 2016, the year of Trump’s s campaign, it’s more than enough." Mike Treiser, former Mitt Romney aide — "In the face of bigotry, hatred, violence, and small-mindedness, this time, I’m with her.” Craig Snyder, former chief of staff to then-Republican former senator Arlen Specter (Pa.) and also an ex-colleague of former top Trump adviser Roger Stone and current top Trump adviser Paul Manafort.
Journalists Ben Howe, editor at RedState.com
