1.11.2024

Random Thursday Morning Thoughts




"Bridgegate", involving Chris Christie and the George Washington Bridge, was making headlines. 


  • I was amazed at how the software update of the Wise County criminal justice package by Tyler Technologies had kept the public access online despite county employees being unable to do critical work. I spoke (and thought) too soon. It's down this morning:

  • Gov. Abbott is coming to Decatur.

  • There was a recent campaign forum where all the candidates for Wise County Sheriff attended, but was one of them wearing a bulletproof vest? He's in law enforcement, but still. 

    • Side note: The Messenger has a great op-ed piece about how dumb the forum was (i.e. it started off with a COVID shut down question and didn't get any better).
  • Speaking of Chris Christi, he has dropped out of the Republican primaries which means that his supporters, although the number will be small, will go to Nicki Haley. That's good for her -- especially in critical New Hampshire. But Christi scorching her on a hot mic yesterday didn't help her cause.


  • I saw this headline and wanted to see what happened. Oh, my: "At a December 2019 holiday party, Jonathon Sellers, who is Black and was a salesman for the company at the time, was called to the front of the room to accept an award called 'Least Likely to Be Seen in the Dark,' according to the lawsuit filed on his behalf by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission."

  • We almost had some big time entertainment when it was announced that Trump would give his own closing arguments today in his civil case brought by the New York AG. Alas, that won't happen

    • Maybe criminal law is different, but I didn't know civil cases, at least in New York, involved email exchanges with the judge like you were mad in fantasy football.

    • The closing arguments are starting a little late this morning because the judge had a bomb threat at his home. 
  • In the Georgia Election Tampering case, the Atlanta DA has brought in three "special prosecutors", but eyebrows have been raised with allegations that the DA might be romantically involved with one of them. I'm more disturbed by the guy being paid $650,000 so far and claiming he worked 24 hours in one day

  • Highway 287 in Wise County was treated yesterday. I assume that stuff will stick around until Sunday.

  • Coaching Chaos/Coaches Gone:

    • Pete Carroll out after 14 years with the Seahawks
    • Nick Saben out after 17 years with Alabama  (UT's Steve Sarkisian getting a call?)

    • Bill Belichick (announced this morning) out after 24 years with the Patriots
  • The temperature in Kansas City for the Chiefs/Dolphins game is expected to be 5 degrees at kickoff on Saturday night. 
  • Messenger - Above the Fold