2.01.2017

Above The Fold


Someone find that link to the Bridgeport PD Facebook video.
at 11:17 AM

He's Like Jerry Jones. On Formal Occasions, He Just Wings It





at 10:49 AM

Random Wednesday Morning Thoughts



  • Greg Abbott during his speech yesterday: “No child should be in the wrong school simply because of zip code.” There is a very glaring problem with that statement regarding public schools. Figure it out? Answer at the end.
  • Abbott also announced a statewide hiring freeze including universities. He went Full Trump. You never go Full Trump. 
  • I think I've mentioned this before, but there is a lady at the courthouse who used to be a whiz at shorthand. 
  • Fox News was quick to incorrectly identify the killer of the peaceful worshiping Muslims in Canada in a tweet (shown below). Fox News claimed in the story, since taken down, that “witnesses said at least one gunman shouted ‘Allahu akbar!’”  Nope. He was very white, very much a Canadian, and very much anti-immigrant. 
  • Local radio talk show host Mark Davis immediately jumped on the fake news proclaiming radical Islamic terrorists were killing other Muslims who weren't radical: 
  • By the way, this morning Davis had for Tarrant County GOP chairman Tim O'Hare fill-in for him but Davis was on the phone to start the show because of the Supreme Court news. O'Hare actually asked Davis who he thought would be the next Supreme Court justice to die. Davis was horrified and wished them all a long life. 
  • And we always need to remember that evil isn't limited to race or religion or country:
  • As I think more about the two horse deaths at the Stock Show, I'm stunned PETA isn't all over them. 
  • #AboutToGoOnAMajorRant
  • There is no worse of a magazine than The Texas Bar Journal. And to prove my point, they had an article this month written by an "expert" on "how to get noticed on social media"  if you are in a small firm or sole practitioner. The excerpt below made me laugh.
  •  "Remain neutral." Good lord. Look, people don't want a lawyer who is politically correct.  They want someone who gets out of bed every morning and cares, who is smart, and who will raise hell if the situation dictates it because they are passionate about what they believe in.  None of my clients give a rat's ass about my politics. I'm sure most completely disagree with me. But they know I despise injustice in any form, and I suspect they would be very concerned if I were "neutral" about those injustices. 
  • And anyone who fights in the trenches, who has had to hug a mother in a courthouse hallway, had to comfort an individual who is scared to death and who depends on you, and has to deal with a system which is stacked against him in so many ways, will not be "neutral."
  • Have I ever lost a potential client because of this blog? Sure. Do I care? No. 
  • #MajorRantOver  
  • Hot sports prediction: Jerry Jones gets elected into the Hall of Fame this weekend. 
  • Funny thing I read last night: Is there any chance that Donald Trump is Andy Kaufman? 
  • #BeginSupremeCourtThoughts
  • I'll tell you one thing about Trump, his moving the  Supreme Court announcement to prime time  for TV  complete with an audience to applaud him as he walks in was PR genius. Every other president has to be thinking, "Why didn't I do that?" And I'll admit: Trump did a fantastic job last night introducing the nominee.
  • But I bet new Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch went to bed last night praying that Trump doesn't get impeached for some screw-up in the future so that he won't have to suffer the notation "Appointed By Donald Trump" by his name in the history books forever.
  • As conservative as Scalia was, he was really a good judge for Fourth Amendment law. He actually understood it and provided some great personal liberty decisions. I took a quick Internet search of Gursuch last night and found he had thrown out a warrantless police  computer search in a child porn case. And he has railed against sending in the police for a kid's conduct in school (fake burping) instead of the school staff doing their job. If that makes him Scalia 2.0, I'm happy from a criminal justice standpoint.
  • And for those of you who don't follow this sort of thing, about a year ago Obama nominated a replacement for Scalia, Merrick Garland. By Senate "rule", it takes 60 votes to confirm and the Republicans would not concede enough votes to even let the nomination get to a vote. Now it is up to the Democrats to decide if they will concede enough votes which are needed to confirm Gorsuch. They may not. So will the Republicans, who have the majority in the Senate, change the 60 vote rule and require only a majority?
  • #EndSupremeCourtThoughts
  • Answer to first bullet point: There should be no "wrong school."


at 8:33 AM

1.31.2017

President To Announce Supreme Court Nominee Tonight: We Got Us A Reality Show Going On Right Now!




He will announce the nominee in prime time. I pray for all things dear and holy that he has both of them standing beside him at the time of the announcement without either one of them knowing who he will pick. And that's a real possibility.


And let's check in on Texas' tweetin' judge who was found worthy by Trump to be on the short list but apparently sent home last week in the rose ceremony because of his bad dad jokes:

"Note to self: That whole 'aww shucks' tweetin' thing didn't work out.
Might need to focus on that wall thingy and get a mean avatar.
He likes to say 'mad dog' so maybe I could go with that. "
at 12:11 PM

That's Bridgeport's Own Allen Vaught


at 10:39 AM

Baby Toss!

at 10:02 AM

Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts



  • There was a "lock down" at Byron Nelson High yesterday because of a bomb threat? I'm no security expert, but a lock down doesn't sound like the best way to handle a bomb threat.
  • Trump fired the Attorney General last night for not enforcing his Muslim Ban Executive Order that she found to be illegal. Putting aside whether or not she has that discretion (she 100% does - an AG is not the President's private lawyer), did Trump have to go off half-cocked and fire her? Isn't the new AG going to be confirmed today or tomorrow at the latest? 
  • Two horses have died during the saddle bronc events during the Fort Worth Stock Show this year. That's disturbing, isn't it? 
  • With college football signing day upon us, the Washington Post went back ten years and tells us what happened to the top 100 from 2007. Hint: There are as many in prison or dead as there are who made the Pro Bowl. And Texas fans looking at the list will see how the Mack Brown era had entered the beginning of the end. 
  • "And another":
  • Iran has tested a ballistic missile in defiance of U.N. Resolution. Now all of us can be nervous as we await the White House's reaction. 
  • By the way, let's check in on Trump this morning:
  • (Note to Melania: I don't think your anti-cyber bullying campaign is working too well.)
  • Greg Abbott gives us the "State of the State" address this weekend. The latest Texas Monthly cover story says Dan Patrick, not Abbott, is now in charge. It will be interesting to see if Abbott goes Full Trump to try and regain that perception. 



at 8:33 AM

1.30.2017

Best Moment Of Miss Universe Was Off Camera



The girl should have won Best Talent (do they even still have that?) just for that performance alone.
at 3:55 PM

You Know Who This Is?


The Ticket just sent this pic out from Radio Row at the Super Bowl in Houston.

That's "Rudy" as in Notre Dame's Rudy.

And you wonder why when we go to class reunions we somehow expect people to look exactly like they did years and years ago.

(Yes, I know that's the actor and not
the real Rudy from back in the day.)



at 12:39 PM

In The Pro Bowl Yesterday




Zeke comes off the bench.

(He didn't hurt him and handled him gingerly, but I bet the NFL has a serious edict of "Do not touch any nutcase that runs out onto the field.")
at 11:53 AM

This Guy Is A Master Of Deception


at 8:50 AM

Random Monday Morning Thoughts



  • Oh, I've got my Trump rants coming, but let me first make an admission. For the first time ever I watched The Big Lebowoski. It's already in my Top Ten and will probably move up higher after I watch it a few times more. I had no idea it would be that smart of a comedy.
  • It started on Friday on Holocaust Memorial Day when we remembered the millions of Jews who were exterminated because of their religion. Trump used that day to announce a plan to discriminate against Muslims based upon their religion with a travel ban. And, man, on Saturday did an explosion of protests take place at airports across the country where people where being illegally detained (especially DFW).
  • People with legal green cards and Visas were detained for hours and hours by the U.S. Government solely because they were from a predominately Muslim country. And the courts had to intervene on Saturday night to set those illegally detained people free. Just like in the 1960s, we had to turn to the courts to overturn those in power trying to enforce their ignorant and bigoted policies that discriminate against innocent people. This is history, folks. Choose your side wisely.
  • Number of terrorist acts committed on American soil by refugees from the seven countries named in the ban: Zero.
  • And, man, Trump loves Executive Orders. He's signing them left and right.
    This made my head explode. 
  • Look, I understand trying to keep America safe. What I have a problem with is trying to ban people of a certain religion. Oh, it's not really a "Muslim Ban" you say? 
    • Rudy Giuliani on Fox News yesterday: 
    • Donald Trump's campaign site: 
  • What an absolute week of chaos. And Trump set a record according to Gallop:
  •  
  • In other news . . . 
  • A Young County deputy (formerly of Graham PD) and his son were found dead on Friday from gunshot wounds. The fact that you haven't heard about it gives you a pretty good idea of what is suspected. 
  • That wreck involving the Decatur cop last week and the fact he was relatively uninjured is amazing. And Fox 4 said he has seven kids. Even another reason to be thankful it didn't turn out worse. 
  • I've always been told lawyers were liars. Then a lawyer files a lawsuit on Friday against Baylor with no supporting proof and every media outlet treats it like the allegations in it were the result of a 60 Minutes investigation. 
  • "Six people are dead after a shooting at a mosque in Quebec City."
  • Oh, I forgot, what was Ivanka doing on Saturday night during the American airport chaos where families were being illegally separated from one another? Tweeting out a photo: 
  • That new Doritos bag is weird.You blow into it and it will "detect" any alcohol. It doesn't detect alcohol concentration. That's just dumb. Who doesn't know they've been drinking? And the bags aren't for sale to the public? What a cheesy marketing gimmick (that I just fell victim to.)
  • In Austin on Tuesday, it will be "Texas Muslim Capitol Day." Perfect. 



at 8:38 AM

1.28.2017

Above The Fold


at 7:46 AM

1.27.2017

It's Friday. Let's Get Out Of Here.

 "I've calculated all of this out and it will work perfectly."
 "So have I."
 And then the professional shows the amateurs the way it is done.
 Worst streamer placement ever. 
 "Hey, shorty, it's your birfday. Gonna party like . . . a closed head injury!"

at 2:00 PM

That Guy Just Defamed A Horse




He that would jump in there to stop a snake murderer throw the first stone.
at 8:48 AM

Let's Check In On "Fox and Friends" and Trump


at 8:45 AM

Random Friday Morning Thoughts



  • I don't want to talk about Trump, but this Administration has had such a bizarre first week that it is impossible not to. And yesterday bordered on insanity.
  • Yesterday, his press secretary (who won't have that job for long) came out and casually told reporters that Trump would build the wall with a 20% tariff on any imports from Mexico. You know what that means? You would pay a tax on anything from Mexico so you, and not Mexico, would pay for the wall. And, if Congress funds it first, you get to pay for it twice. (Even the Trump Administration knew it was such a massive screw-up they had the Chief of Staff "walk the comments back" within a couple of hours.)  Incredible. Do they not talk? Do they not think? 
  • And Texas leaders Abbott and Patrick said nothing yesterday as they sat back in horror. 
  • It seems like tons of people I know were sick this week. And now Willie Nelson cancels some shows in Vegas due to a "cold."
  • Mexico's President's cancelled a meeting with Trump because of all of this recklessness. What's next? Putin calling Mexico and asking if they need some help with their economy in exchange for placing some nuclear missiles there? You laugh? You don't know October of 1962?
  • And then Stephen Bannon, Trump’s chief White House strategist, said the media is the "opposition party" and told them "it should keep its mouth shut." That should send chills down your collective spins.  Has that guy not grown up in a free society?
     
  • That Fort Worth cop's 10 day suspension is beginning to look like a slip slap on the wrist. The Fort Worth Chief of Police may now be in trouble as the story gets national traction. (It was on NBC, CNN and more last night. ) 
  • And it is very odd that the Chief was the one to say all charges would be dropped against everyone involved (except the very odd Class C against the guy who allegedly choked the kid). That's normally the DA's call. And it should be a crime it took that long to announce that all three women who were forced on the ground and cuffed would not be officially charged.
  • And why don't good cops go on camera and condemn the guy for the way he handled the situation on the street? Lawyers will call out lawyers. Doctors will call out doctors.  
  • Bill O'Reilly last night: "I have to be respectful. I can't interview President Trump like I did candidate Trump." God help us. Fox News is doing the rope-a-dope because they don't know how to defend him. 
  • Whenever DFW lawyer Pete Shulte appears on local media to provide criminal law commentary, I normally agree with almost everything he says. (I actually say him at a routine driver's license hearing in Denton on Monday and he was far more brash than I expected. He wasn't rude, just a little loud for the most boring of hearings there are.) 
  • If you submit a comment from infowars or gatewaypundit, I'm not posting it. We're already full up on crazy here. 
  • There's a Ted Cruz vs. Deadspin fight that I have to get caught up on. 
  • Texas executed a man last night after it was delayed for four hours before the Supreme Court said it was OK to kill him.  There has to be a better way.

at 8:31 AM

1.26.2017

A 10 Day Suspension


at 9:57 AM
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