GOVEROTRAGEOUS: Create a “Devil’s Advocate” to speak against pardoning people

Thursday, November 13, 2025

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/11/trump-on-why-he-pardoned-binance-ceo-are-you-ready-i-dont-know-who-he-is/

Trump on why he pardoned Binance CEO: “Are you ready? I don’t know who he is.”
Trump family business could benefit from pardon of crypto ex-con Changpeng Zhao.
Jon Brodkin – Nov 3, 2025 2:15 PM

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President Trump says he still doesn’t know who Binance founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao is, despite having pardoned Zhao last month.

CBS correspondent Norah O’Donnell asked Trump about the pardon in a 60 Minutes interview that aired yesterday, noting that Zhao pleaded guilty to violating anti-money laundering laws. “The government at the time said that C.Z. had caused ‘significant harm to US national security,’ essentially by allowing terrorist groups like Hamas to move millions of dollars around. Why did you pardon him?” O’Donnell asked.

*** end quote ***

After the Biden fiasco of autopen pardons, @realDonaldTrump should create a “Devil’s Advocate” to speak against pardoning people.  Maybe we could get Judge Judy to chair a TV trial with a retired judge to act as the Devil’s Advocate versus the lawyer who thinks his client deserves one.  

Put it on Pay Per View for a few buck to defer the expense.  It’d make Survivor or the Bachelor look tame by comparison.  Judge “Don’t Pee on My Leg and Tell Me It’s Raining” Judy Sheindlin could hear both sides and then issue a recommendation to the President.  Of course, that recommendation meeting could be on PPV too where the President could sign it for all to see.  

I love this idea.  (Who doesn’t love their own “baby”?  No matter how ugly.). Your comments welcome.

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POLITICAL: The First Amendment prohibits the Gooferment … …

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

https://www.lewrockwell.com/2025/04/james-bovard/first-they-came-for-the-op-ed-writers/

First They Came for the Op-Ed Writers – LewRockwell

By James Bovard

<< EDITOR ADDED DATE 2025-04-02>>

*** begin quote ***

Few Americans would object to deporting foreign students who destroy property or physically assault other people. But Ozturk was merely guilty of using words that are detested by the current administration. Are Trump’s policymakers using the same “guilt by association” standard the Biden administration used to persecute anyone near the Capitol on January 6, 2021? Biden’s Justice Department acted like anyone who merely “paraded without a permit” near the Capitol that day was guilty of insurrection and deserved a harsh prison sentence. Is any criticism of Israeli policy now the legal and moral equivalent of insurrection?

*** end quote ***

As I read it, it doesn’t say anything about limits on who gets “free speech”.

In this case, I think that DJT47’s team is wrong in this specific case.  And, he should reign in the leash apologizing for the error.

I hope that SCOTUS will take this and the matter of “dreamers” (i.e., children brought into the USA by their illegal immigrant parents and thru no fault of their own are in a catch-22).

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RANT: Americans are not bcked by our Gooferment

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

https://nypost.com/2023/12/28/news/judi-weinstein-haggai-new-york-native-held-hostage-in-gaza-has-been-killed/

 NY native held hostage in Gaza has been killed — Hamas terrorists still holding body

By Social Links for Melissa Koenig
Published Dec. 28, 2023
Updated Dec. 22, 2023, 6:18 p.m. ET

# – # – # – # – # 

Where is the Gooferment protecting US citizens?

I remember a story about some Bulgarians digging a Soviet attache.  The KGB killed them and their families.  Then, Russians were immune to Bulgarian violence.

The US Congress has the power of “Marque and Reprisal”.  Just designate some one, post a reward, and give them US sovereign immunity from prosecution.  

Like the old cowboy western show, “Wanted: Dead or Alive”.

Time to protect “our” people.  

Make Hamas start check passports.

Argh!

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RANT: The Real Story About Al Shifa Hospital, Hamas and Israel

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

https://sonar21.com/the-real-story-about-al-shifa-hospital-hamas-and-israel/

The Real Story About Al Shifa Hospital, Hamas and Israel
15 November 2023 by Larry Johnson

*** begin quote ***

A tip of the hat to Bernard at Moon of Alabama. He has a knack for finding hidden gems and his latest is a doozy. Most of the media is peddling Israel’s Big Lie that Hamas has its headquarters and the hostages underneath Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza.

Israel-Gaza war: US says Hamas has command centre under Al-Shifa hospital – BBC – November 14 2023

But Bernard then links to an astonishing article from 2014. DID YOU GET THAT? Nine years ago — July 29, 2014 to be precise — The Tablet published this: Top Secret Hamas Command Bunker in Gaza Revealed. To quote Yogi Berra, it is Deja Vu all over again. Check out what was published in The Tablet for yourself.

*** end quote ***

Now isn’t that hoot.  The ISRAELIs built it. 

Reminds me of Bush’s claim about Iraq have WMDs.  How did we know?  Because we sold them to him.

Argh!

Trust nothing.

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INTERESTING: An alternative for Israel

Friday, October 13, 2023

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-12620821/invasion-Gaza-Israel-better-way-Colonel-TIM-COLLINS.html

I fear a full-scale invasion of Gaza by Israel will end in a bloody quagmire. But there is another, better way… writes Colonel TIM COLLINS, drawing on the lessons of Iraq and Northern Ireland

By Colonel Tim Collins For The Daily Mail

Published: 17:23 EDT, 11 October 2023 | Updated: 01:56 EDT, 12 October 2023 

*** begin quote ***

The overthrow of Hamas by Fatah, backed by Israel, would be a step forward for democracy in Palestine – and would isolate the theocratic Iranian regime which has long bankrolled and armed Hamas.

Israel should not play into Iran’s hands. And as an Irishman, I know why.

In 1972, soon after the Troubles had been rekindled, support for the IRA soared after the Bloody Sunday massacre, when British paratroopers opened fire on a Catholic protest march through the city of Derry. Fourteen innocent people were killed and there was to be no peace in the province for another three decades.

The decision is Israel’s. Do they, in a spasm of vengeance, unleash a flood of Bloody Sundays in Gaza? Or could they, dare they, act with reason and mercy?

*** end quote ***

While as satisfying as killing every Hamas in Gaza might feel, there has to be some wisdom in the long term effects.

The idea of targeted reprisals has the merit of not repeating the lessons of Ireland.

Plus, the Hamas leadership safely in sympathetic countries needs to be targeted.  As well as anyone who gives them aid and comfort.  Time for Israel to turn loose their Mossad with “license to kill”.  

Marque and Reprisal is a very underused tactic.

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RANT: The hostages are dead from a strategic perspective

Thursday, October 12, 2023

FROM 1440 EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, Oct. 10, and we’re covering day three of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, a United Auto Workers strike against Mack Trucks, and much more. First time reading? Sign up here.

You share. We listen. As always, send us feedback at hello@join1440.com.

*** begin quote ***

Israel-Gaza Conflict 

Israel announced a full siege of the Gaza Strip yesterday as the conflict between the two regions entered a third day, with Israel drafting 300,000 reservists and cutting off food, electricity, and fuel to the Gaza Strip, which was already under a 16-year blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt. Israel’s full blockade comes after Hamas, which runs Gaza internally, took at least 150 civilians and soldiers hostage following a wide-ranging surprise attack on Israel over the weekend (see previous write-up).  

Hamas has threatened to execute an Israeli hostage each time an airstrike hits civilian homes in Gaza without warning. The US and the EU designate Hamas as a terrorist group due to its history of armed opposition against Israel (see overview). At least 900 people have died so far in Israel, including at least 11 Americans, and at least 687 Palestinians have died in Gaza. More than 6,000 have been injured from both sides since Saturday. 

Israel also exchanged fire yesterday with neighboring Lebanon’s militant group Hezbollah after Palestinian militants had infiltrated Israel’s northern border. The US is among governments designating Hezbollah as a terrorist group (see overview).  

See a visual timeline of the decadeslong Israel-Palestine conflict here. 

*** end quote ***

How does Israel deal with terrorism and adversaries that want to literally destroy the State of Israel?

Hamas has clearly escalated the conflict.

From an Israel POV, I believe that the they mist regard the “hostages” as if they were dead strategically,  On a tactical basis, it MIGHT be possible to rescue some.  But, that’s a long shot.

While as a little L libertarian, I believe in the Non-Aggression Principle.  I can’t sort out fact from fiction, right from wrong, or what is true.  Acknowledging that, my position is that killing innocent civilians is just wrong.  And, the USA should use all means to end the killing.  At the very least, there should be a strict neutrality observed.

I mourn that after lesson after lesson, humans still haven’t learned to live in peace with each other.

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