Justice Kennedy Announces Retirement

[Michchamp]

They really want to pick up where we left off?

 

[Spartanmack]

Here's me when the Civil War 2 breaks out:

if you played it backwards...

 

[Gulo Blue]

They really want to pick up where we left off?

At least they acknowledge that it's just a game to them.

 

[turok]

You would join up with a bunch of nerds from a movie based on completely unrealistic Right-wing paranoid fantasy.

So good that the movie had a recent remake, although I haven't seen it, and have absolutely no desire to watch it. I would guess that the protagonists would need to be changed from Cuba and the USSR though.

Should be interesting how the next Bond flick tiptoes around the YUUGE differences in how our spy agency interacts with the Brits, given Brexit and DJT's disdain for the CIA/FBI. Maybe in lieu of another S.P.E.C.T.R.E. they could make Canada into the bad guys, and weave a 007 tale around their bigly theft and the scuffling up of brand new Murkin shoes.

 

[turok]

Oh yeah...in addition to very predictably picking Kavanaugh as his SCJ, b/c of his stand regarding being opposed to bothering a sitting POTUS with such trivial nonsense like being investigated for criminal activity, Tsar Trumpov today issued pardons to the arsonists and self-described "sovereign citizen" Hammonds, who he called “devoted family men” and “respected contributors to their local communities”.

Nevermind that they were poaching, then deliberately set wildfires on public lands to cover their crimes.

The Hammonds were sentenced under this law:

Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996


Title VII Sec. 708:

Enhanced penalties for use of explosives or arson crimes.

They took a plea bargain to have 4 charges dropped and gave up the right to appeal. They pled guilty to the arson charges. So they weren't wrongfully convicted. Five years each in prison was the light sentence the Hammonds got in return for the plea bargain.


These domestic terrorists have made multiple death threats against federal employees and then set fires on slopes below fire fighters camping above them which could have killed them. They have broken agreements with the BLM over and over again and ran their cattle into, and ruined wetlands on federal property. One fire they started on their own property crossed over onto federal property. Anyone who starts a wildfire on purpose should be in prison for longer than merely 5 years.


These "upstanding sovereign citizens" are nothing but serial lawbreakers who belong in prison, because the federal government has every right to protect its employees and property from anyone trying to harm or steal from them.

But this maladministration would much rather take children, babies, and infants permanently away from their fathers and mothers for daring to commit the "crime" of seeking asylum in the US.

 

[Michchamp]

Pardoning all these assholes (not just the recent guys) is going to cause a rift between the real law and order types in the DOJ & other federal law enforcement agencies - who put their lives on the line to bring them to justice - and those that prioritize playing for team Republican over that.

 

[tomdalton22]

Oh yeah...in addition to very predictably picking Kavanaugh as his SCJ, b/c of his stand regarding being opposed to bothering a sitting POTUS with such trivial nonsense like being investigated for criminal activity, Tsar Trumpov today issued pardons to the arsonists and self-described "sovereign citizen" Hammonds, who he called ?devoted family men? and ?respected contributors to their local communities?.

Nevermind that they were poaching, then deliberately set wildfires on public lands to cover their crimes.

The Hammonds were sentenced under this law:

Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996


Title VII Sec. 708:

Enhanced penalties for use of explosives or arson crimes.

They took a plea bargain to have 4 charges dropped and gave up the right to appeal. They pled guilty to the arson charges. So they weren't wrongfully convicted. Five years each in prison was the light sentence the Hammonds got in return for the plea bargain.


These domestic terrorists have made multiple death threats against federal employees and then set fires on slopes below fire fighters camping above them which could have killed them. They have broken agreements with the BLM over and over again and ran their cattle into, and ruined wetlands on federal property. One fire they started on their own property crossed over onto federal property. Anyone who starts a wildfire on purpose should be in prison for longer than merely 5 years.


These "upstanding sovereign citizens" are nothing but serial lawbreakers who belong in prison, because the federal government has every right to protect its employees and property from anyone trying to harm or steal from them.

But this maladministration would much rather take children, babies, and infants permanently away from their fathers and mothers for daring to commit the "crime" of seeking asylum in the US.

I had to read up on the Hammonds thing to remind me what happened.

This caught my attention.

"The Hammonds were convicted in 2012 and served a short time in prison. But a federal appeals court ruled in 2015 that they had been improperly sentenced and ordered them to return to prison and serve more time"

That certainly seems to be out of the ordinary.

 

[Michchamp]

I had to read up on the Hammonds thing to remind me what happened.

This caught my attention.

"The Hammonds were convicted in 2012 and served a short time in prison. But a federal appeals court ruled in 2015 that they had been improperly sentenced and ordered them to return to prison and serve more time"

That certainly seems to be out of the ordinary.

there are Federal and State statutory sentencing guidelines that require minimum sentences for certain crimes, or repeat offenses.

if the sentence the judge handed down didn't meet the statutory requirement, for whatever reason, that can be appealed.

If you want me to find the appellate court's ruling and explain why they were re-sentenced, you'll have to pay me, and not with "Likes."

FWIW, A lot of people hate the minimum sentencing guidelines; judges because they feel they tie their hands, and trample on the authority of the judiciary, and criminal justice reformers and critics, and lawyers who aren't authoritarian dickbags, because they are often unduly harsh, particularly for non-violent crime

 

[Michchamp]

so there are now rumors floating around that the Kavanaugh appointment was part of a shady backroom deal between Kennedy and Trump, and Kennedy only retired because he was assured a former clerk of his would get the seat. link.

Trump's spokesdoofus didn't deny it in an interview with CNN, but this could just be "fake news."

No really. He could be making this all up. I could see Trump thinking the fact that he "made a deal" makes him look good, even if it's not supposed to work this way, and open nepotism like that was once frowned upon in America.

"Making deals" is part of his Trump brand image.

 

[tomdalton22]

there are Federal and State statutory sentencing guidelines that require minimum sentences for certain crimes, or repeat offenses.

if the sentence the judge handed down didn't meet the statutory requirement, for whatever reason, that can be appealed.

If you want me to find the appellate court's ruling and explain why they were re-sentenced, you'll have to pay me, and not with "Likes."

FWIW, A lot of people hate the minimum sentencing guidelines; judges because they feel they tie their hands, and trample on the authority of the judiciary, and criminal justice reformers and critics, and lawyers who aren't authoritarian dickbags, because they are often unduly harsh, particularly for non-violent crime

I get why people dislike the guidelines. Some dumbass gets busted with some drugs and gets 20 years.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/ma...enty-years-marijuana-case-20150507-story.html

These assholes beat a mentally disabled man for 25 minutes and post it on Facebook and only get an 8-year sentence.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/06/us/chicago-facebook-live-beating-sentencing/index.html

 

[turok]

I get why people dislike the guidelines. Some dumbass gets busted with some drugs and gets 20 years.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/ma...enty-years-marijuana-case-20150507-story.html

These assholes beat a mentally disabled man for 25 minutes and post it on Facebook and only get an 8-year sentence.

https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/06/us/chicago-facebook-live-beating-sentencing/index.html

"Hammond was arrested nine times between 2003 and 2008, with four convictions — two for drug possession and two for theft, court records show."

"Hammond was on probation at the time, for selling $40 worth of crack cocaine to an undercover officer, resulting in a distribution charge. Circuit Judge Lynn Stewart-Mays gave Hammond a suspended sentence of 20 years in that case, warning that if he violated probation he would face the whole term."

Cocaine distribution sentences can be very harsh, depending on the state. The infamous "White Boy Rick" whose story is going to be made into a movie, was sentenced to life in prison in Michigan for cocaine dealing as a young teen in the late 80s, despite helping to bust those higher up on the distribution ladder as an informant. Public pressure finally persevered and he was paroled recently, but is still serving a couple years time in Florida after being extradited for his involvement in an auto theft ring or something similar.

Getting busted here in MI for Rx or illegal drug possession or worse distribution a second time is an auto double penalty, and even if being sentenced to probation for the first offense, or drug court. Pretty much guaranteed to do time (based on amount busted with) in jail or state prison.

I've heard rumors that if caught and arrested now with different amounts/types of opioids, or different kinds of Rx, that will result in separate charge for each, but don't know if true or not. People who get caught with their own Rx pills or caps outside of the script bottle can also be arrested and charged.

 

[Michchamp]

I've been noticing a lot of news stories about cops or first responders getting hospitalized for touching fentanyl.

the follow ups about these stories, noting they're false, don't get as much press. Oh, and if you do a search for that story, the top results are all the original, UNCORRECTED, Fake News. also, the fliers in question had an anti-FBI message on them. No wonder they didn't want anybody to read them...

But this tells me they're looking to raise public support for longer sentences for fentanyl possession/distribution.

And, I would wager the usual suspects are involved in pushing this, since they benefit financially from it - more money for cops and private prisons.

 

[Michchamp]

All drugs should be treated like alcohol or tobacco. manufacture is legal but regulated, as are possession, sale, and use.

Addiction should be treated as a mental illness, which is what it actually is, no differently than it is now.

Only problem is, what are we going to do with all the aggressive, angry, power-tripping drug cops and private prisons we built?!? All gonna go to waste!

 

[tinselwolverine]

Only problem is, what are we going to do with all the aggressive, angry, power-tripping drug cops and private prisons we built?!? All gonna go to waste!

I don’t think members of California police forces are angry at all about not having to enforce the marijuana laws.

I think in general they view it as one less pain in the ass to deal with.

That said I think weed is less likely to cause behaviors in users that come to the attention of the police the way alcohol and other drugs sometimes do.

 

[Spartanmack]

I've been noticing a lot of news stories about cops or first responders getting hospitalized for touching fentanyl.

the follow ups about these stories, noting they're false, don't get as much press. Oh, and if you do a search for that story, the top results are all the original, UNCORRECTED, Fake News. also, the fliers in question had an anti-FBI message on them. No wonder they didn't want anybody to read them...

But this tells me they're looking to raise public support for longer sentences for fentanyl possession/distribution.

And, I would wager the usual suspects are involved in pushing this, since they benefit financially from it - more money for cops and private prisons.

you love making shit up, don't you? this article doesn't note anything about false claims, all it indicates is the flyers weren't what caused the officers symptoms. It's true that touching or inhaling even a small amount of fentanyl can be fatal. Just google or bing fentanyl and you can reach dozens of articles about how dangerous it is to touch or inhale. here's one from Vice - hardly an offshoot of the FBI...https://news.vice.com/article/fenta...s-now-carry-an-antidote-in-case-they-touch-it

Here's another from the Atlantic, also not likely an FBI run news outlet...https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2017/05/fentanyl-first-responders/526389/

There's a documentary on Netflix that highlights the trade in different drugs and follows drug dealers around a number of different cities, the episode on heroin was from Baltimore I believe and the dealers who were cutting heroine with Fentanyl all wore gas masks long sleeves and rubber gloves. Maybe that documentary was produced by the FBI though, so who knows...

 

[Gulo Blue]

Is this fentanyl flyers story a part of some other bigger story? This disagreement seems loaded.

 

[Michchamp]

I'm Not denying that touching fentanyl is dangerous.

but lots of things are hazardous, and we don't see news stories getting floated about them. This is alarmist, and is driving an agenda.