They're now looking to be the "most likely" case. We are soooooo screwed. Problem is that the MAGAts will squeal (like a pig) with delight as they are getting screwed, because Fox News will tell them things are great.
I believe you are missing the point. They DON'T GIVE A DAMN what he does. A large fraction of the German people got onboard with Hitler in 1933, and stayed there for the duration of the war. The same foul shit is happening here, and now.
Likely true for us too. Our only hope is a media that tells the truth to us. And does it often enough to be believed by enough people to make a difference. This is not new. George Bush won his gulf war and cut inflation down and still was not reelected. Voters do this. Again and again.
The problem is that here we are, trusting the fourth estate to be an institution, to uphold a sacred duty in our society; at the same time we’ve handed it over to the bean counters, the profiteers, and we expect them to stop being who they are when their goals and ours conflict.
Come to think of it, the same can be said of healthcare.
Likely they have been persuaded by threats, bribes or just to get on Trump's good side. But he is so easily swayed by the last person he talks to, that is not a sure bet.
Yes indeedy, another boardroom call, IMO, looking and walking like the duck of the Bezos and Soon-Shiong (LAT) decisions on those overruled endorsements. I'm very much afraid the head-scratching decision by ABC to settle Demento's defamation suit is just the latest in what are likely to be similar decisions which will have a further chilling effect on news judgment. The only legal leg Demento had to stand on was whether Stephanopoulos acted in reckless disregard for the truth and knew the defamatory statement was false. Judge Kaplan's clarification could easily have given the defense a leg up when it came to rebutting the assertion that Stephanopoulos knowingly lied. Instead the powers-that-be at ABC decided to submit in advance. But to be clear, despite the usual Demento hype and propaganda, a civil settlement does not imply liability for the defendant, or a "win" for the plaintiff, merely that the parties decided to resolve their dispute without a finding of fault or liability.
As far as that supposed presidential library, more probably to be the "Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Cart and Gift Shop." There would, of course be several display cases with stacks of blank paper bearing descriptions, such as: "The Really Beautiful Healthcare Plan" and "Greatest Infrastructure Program Ever." Other than magazines and journals with Demento's picture on the covers (including "The Journal of Abnormal Psychology"), the cart would have a rotating selection of books (one per quarter) including: "The Art of the Steal," "How to Destroy a Country for Dummies" and, "Yes You Can!: How Anybody Can Be Elected President of the United States."
I guess the best way to go after him now is through more satire. That’s very hard to sue over, isn’t it? And satirists need to go after him over things his supporters would think twice about— they obviously don’t care about the sexual assault allegations.
The judge said it was “rape,” just not NY’s legal definition of rape. George S misspoke by saying it was the jury that determined that rather than the judge. At most it deserved a 30 second mea culpa— not $16 million. But that was chump change to not have the Trump DoJ go after ABC on some trumped up charge.
Not to be all lawyerly about this, but (yeah, here I go), the jury DID say it, is what the judge is clarifying. Finding the douche guilty of those actions was indeed the civil version of criminal rape.
THE FEAR IS THE THING. It’s such an interesting situation…the less people feared and capitulated to him, the less power he’d have (not the other way round). One would have thought that republicans would have been energized by the little burst of testosterone demonstrated in their opposition to Gaetz. And that this would have given them an appetite for more. Instead all of these people of power are like little children who scared themselves with their bravado. With every heart and soul and vestige of integrity that Trump devours, the bigger and stronger a monster he becomes. It’s like a Roald Dahl story. These weak bastards are betraying us all.
The jury’s unanimous verdict in Carroll II was almost entirely in favor of Ms. Carroll. The only point on which Ms. Carroll did not prevail was whether she had proved that Mr. Trump had “raped” her within the narrow, technical meaning of a particular section of the New York
Penal Law – a section that provides that the label “rape” as used in criminal prosecutions in New
York applies only to vaginal penetration by a penis. Forcible, unconsented-to penetration of the
vagina or of other bodily orifices by fingers, other body parts, or other articles or materials is not
called “rape” under the New York Penal Law. It instead is labeled “sexual abuse.” As is shown in the following notes, the definition of rape in the New York Penal Law is far narrower than the meaning of “rape” in common modern parlance, its definition in some dictionaries, in some federal and state criminal statutes, and elsewhere.
A plaintiff in a defamation suit must prove that the defendant told a falsehood that damaged his reputation. Trump would have to show that having been falsely accused of rape damaged his reputation beyond the damage caused by his having been found to have committed sexual assault. Did ABC really think that Trump could prove that the additional damage to his reputation caused by the rape accusation was worth $15 million? Or did ABC, like Bezos and Zuckerman, stupidly think that it could buy protection from his vengeful actions? Trump doesn't ever believe that he owes anyone anything. He doesn't pay his contractors who have done work for him, so why should ABC, Bezos, or Zuckerman think that he'll refrain from doing whatever he wants to them merely because they've tried to buy him off?
Theoretically, his reputation could have been damaged among the half the voters who didn't vote for him; theoretically, he might have won by a larger margin if not for some voters believing the falsehood that he committed rape. Whether winning by a smaller margin caused him $15 million worth of damages is another question.
I say "theoretically" because, as the judge wrote, he did commit rape "in common modern parlance," and because his reputation was already low among voters who didn't vote for him because they knew that he had committed sexual assault, had killed hundreds of thousands of Americans by subverting the Covid response, and kidnapped thousands of migrant children and babies, about 2,000 of whom have not been returned to their parents as of March 2024.
Slight correction. Not "damages" at least not, as you know, in the legal sense. This was a settlement with no liability assigned and the settlement was in the form of a tax deductible contribution to what will presumably be a charitable organization raising funds for something eventually resembling a presidential library (and gift shop).
OK, but, theoretically, ABC settled to avoid paying damages. Theoretically, again, because they may not have feared having to pay damages but rather paid the $15 million for the same reason that Bezos and Zuckerman tried to pay off the toddler.
I think Trump’s threats using the DOJ, if they end up in court, will cause embarrassing repeating of the true facts, discovery, and embarrassing dismissals. Bring them on.
What the hell? Has every major news outlet been infected with cowardice? I get that Bezass is a billionaire, but what the hell is wrong with the rest of them?
Just like Clinton. Differing definitions of "sexual relations" and "rape." I guess all the guys in the locker room say nothing counts if they didn't put a P in a V, right? Oh, yeah, Jimmy? You fingered her? Get out of here with that weak-ass shit and come back when you're really a man.
We need Congress to establish the precise meaning of first, second, and third bases, as well as a home run. Then maybe we'll all be operating from the same rulebook.
You mean differing definitions of "sexual assault" and "rape." And defamation (as well as the crimes of sexual assault and rape) are matters of state law. Congress can legislate regarding these matters only if interstate commerce is involved, as with Gaetz's transporting minors across state lines.
When I saw this news alert last night, my immediate reaction was WTF, but I quickly became livid. The fact that ABC would capitulate when George said exactly what the judge did is incomprehensible. Don the Con has lost every other liable case he’s filed against media, and there was no reason to think this one would be any different. What did he threaten to do to ABC, and why did they think he could get away with it? Is this the beginning of efforts to silence the critics of a wannabe dictator? Note to ABC: the media have an obligation to tell the truth and resist. That’s the point.
Everybody’s hypothetical worst case scenarios for what’s in store for us are looking less and less hypothetical.
They're now looking to be the "most likely" case. We are soooooo screwed. Problem is that the MAGAts will squeal (like a pig) with delight as they are getting screwed, because Fox News will tell them things are great.
I believe you are missing the point. They DON'T GIVE A DAMN what he does. A large fraction of the German people got onboard with Hitler in 1933, and stayed there for the duration of the war. The same foul shit is happening here, and now.
Likely true for us too. Our only hope is a media that tells the truth to us. And does it often enough to be believed by enough people to make a difference. This is not new. George Bush won his gulf war and cut inflation down and still was not reelected. Voters do this. Again and again.
The problem is that here we are, trusting the fourth estate to be an institution, to uphold a sacred duty in our society; at the same time we’ve handed it over to the bean counters, the profiteers, and we expect them to stop being who they are when their goals and ours conflict.
Come to think of it, the same can be said of healthcare.
The problem is that they are likely not to have had enough information on defining "worst case."
I only hope that we don’t get to a point where the hypothetical worst case scenarios turn out to be the best case scenarios.
How can you defame Trump? He’s done every horrible thing you can imagine. Or if he hasn’t it’s on his to do list.
What kind of Mickey Mouse operation are they running over at ABC anyway!
I see what you did there.
Likely they have been persuaded by threats, bribes or just to get on Trump's good side. But he is so easily swayed by the last person he talks to, that is not a sure bet.
To slightly modify Humbert Wolfe’s poem “The British Journalist”:
One cannot hope to bribe or twist,
thank God! the U.S. journalist.
But seeing what these people do
unbribed, there is no reason to.
Yes indeedy, another boardroom call, IMO, looking and walking like the duck of the Bezos and Soon-Shiong (LAT) decisions on those overruled endorsements. I'm very much afraid the head-scratching decision by ABC to settle Demento's defamation suit is just the latest in what are likely to be similar decisions which will have a further chilling effect on news judgment. The only legal leg Demento had to stand on was whether Stephanopoulos acted in reckless disregard for the truth and knew the defamatory statement was false. Judge Kaplan's clarification could easily have given the defense a leg up when it came to rebutting the assertion that Stephanopoulos knowingly lied. Instead the powers-that-be at ABC decided to submit in advance. But to be clear, despite the usual Demento hype and propaganda, a civil settlement does not imply liability for the defendant, or a "win" for the plaintiff, merely that the parties decided to resolve their dispute without a finding of fault or liability.
As far as that supposed presidential library, more probably to be the "Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Cart and Gift Shop." There would, of course be several display cases with stacks of blank paper bearing descriptions, such as: "The Really Beautiful Healthcare Plan" and "Greatest Infrastructure Program Ever." Other than magazines and journals with Demento's picture on the covers (including "The Journal of Abnormal Psychology"), the cart would have a rotating selection of books (one per quarter) including: "The Art of the Steal," "How to Destroy a Country for Dummies" and, "Yes You Can!: How Anybody Can Be Elected President of the United States."
Maybe some Top-Secret documents to browse, too.
If it will be like another Presidential library, nobody steals the books because they are already colored.
Save the book with the recipe for ice cubes.
I guess the best way to go after him now is through more satire. That’s very hard to sue over, isn’t it? And satirists need to go after him over things his supporters would think twice about— they obviously don’t care about the sexual assault allegations.
The judge said it was “rape,” just not NY’s legal definition of rape. George S misspoke by saying it was the jury that determined that rather than the judge. At most it deserved a 30 second mea culpa— not $16 million. But that was chump change to not have the Trump DoJ go after ABC on some trumped up charge.
Not to be all lawyerly about this, but (yeah, here I go), the jury DID say it, is what the judge is clarifying. Finding the douche guilty of those actions was indeed the civil version of criminal rape.
THE FEAR IS THE THING. It’s such an interesting situation…the less people feared and capitulated to him, the less power he’d have (not the other way round). One would have thought that republicans would have been energized by the little burst of testosterone demonstrated in their opposition to Gaetz. And that this would have given them an appetite for more. Instead all of these people of power are like little children who scared themselves with their bravado. With every heart and soul and vestige of integrity that Trump devours, the bigger and stronger a monster he becomes. It’s like a Roald Dahl story. These weak bastards are betraying us all.
Here is the judge's language:
The jury’s unanimous verdict in Carroll II was almost entirely in favor of Ms. Carroll. The only point on which Ms. Carroll did not prevail was whether she had proved that Mr. Trump had “raped” her within the narrow, technical meaning of a particular section of the New York
Penal Law – a section that provides that the label “rape” as used in criminal prosecutions in New
York applies only to vaginal penetration by a penis. Forcible, unconsented-to penetration of the
vagina or of other bodily orifices by fingers, other body parts, or other articles or materials is not
called “rape” under the New York Penal Law. It instead is labeled “sexual abuse.” As is shown in the following notes, the definition of rape in the New York Penal Law is far narrower than the meaning of “rape” in common modern parlance, its definition in some dictionaries, in some federal and state criminal statutes, and elsewhere.
Sounds like rape to me, and every sensible human being not in the MAGA cult.
In other words, George Stuffin-envelopes should have said, "sexual assault." Apparently, ABC thinks that semantic difference is worth $15 million.
A plaintiff in a defamation suit must prove that the defendant told a falsehood that damaged his reputation. Trump would have to show that having been falsely accused of rape damaged his reputation beyond the damage caused by his having been found to have committed sexual assault. Did ABC really think that Trump could prove that the additional damage to his reputation caused by the rape accusation was worth $15 million? Or did ABC, like Bezos and Zuckerman, stupidly think that it could buy protection from his vengeful actions? Trump doesn't ever believe that he owes anyone anything. He doesn't pay his contractors who have done work for him, so why should ABC, Bezos, or Zuckerman think that he'll refrain from doing whatever he wants to them merely because they've tried to buy him off?
How could his reputation be damaged, if he went on to WIN THE PRESIDENCY?
Theoretically, his reputation could have been damaged among the half the voters who didn't vote for him; theoretically, he might have won by a larger margin if not for some voters believing the falsehood that he committed rape. Whether winning by a smaller margin caused him $15 million worth of damages is another question.
I say "theoretically" because, as the judge wrote, he did commit rape "in common modern parlance," and because his reputation was already low among voters who didn't vote for him because they knew that he had committed sexual assault, had killed hundreds of thousands of Americans by subverting the Covid response, and kidnapped thousands of migrant children and babies, about 2,000 of whom have not been returned to their parents as of March 2024.
Slight correction. Not "damages" at least not, as you know, in the legal sense. This was a settlement with no liability assigned and the settlement was in the form of a tax deductible contribution to what will presumably be a charitable organization raising funds for something eventually resembling a presidential library (and gift shop).
OK, but, theoretically, ABC settled to avoid paying damages. Theoretically, again, because they may not have feared having to pay damages but rather paid the $15 million for the same reason that Bezos and Zuckerman tried to pay off the toddler.
Like the addition of the phrase ' and gift shop'. So apt.
You might well ask 77M voters.
It’s probably just insurance money anyway, not theirs.
I think Trump’s threats using the DOJ, if they end up in court, will cause embarrassing repeating of the true facts, discovery, and embarrassing dismissals. Bring them on.
Il Douche has appointed Devin Nunes to chair his Intelligence Advisory Board. Fetchez la vache!!
An obvious "intelligence" mismatch. Hope he isn't cowed...again.
What the hell? Has every major news outlet been infected with cowardice? I get that Bezass is a billionaire, but what the hell is wrong with the rest of them?
Just like Clinton. Differing definitions of "sexual relations" and "rape." I guess all the guys in the locker room say nothing counts if they didn't put a P in a V, right? Oh, yeah, Jimmy? You fingered her? Get out of here with that weak-ass shit and come back when you're really a man.
We need Congress to establish the precise meaning of first, second, and third bases, as well as a home run. Then maybe we'll all be operating from the same rulebook.
You mean differing definitions of "sexual assault" and "rape." And defamation (as well as the crimes of sexual assault and rape) are matters of state law. Congress can legislate regarding these matters only if interstate commerce is involved, as with Gaetz's transporting minors across state lines.
Why did you refer to ABC as a “station” instead of a “network”?
ABC realized that, thanks to Sinema and Manchin, Trump will have control of the FCC so they chickened out and settled the suit.
When I saw this news alert last night, my immediate reaction was WTF, but I quickly became livid. The fact that ABC would capitulate when George said exactly what the judge did is incomprehensible. Don the Con has lost every other liable case he’s filed against media, and there was no reason to think this one would be any different. What did he threaten to do to ABC, and why did they think he could get away with it? Is this the beginning of efforts to silence the critics of a wannabe dictator? Note to ABC: the media have an obligation to tell the truth and resist. That’s the point.