Been there....done that

 

I have some experience with the court system in New York City so I am watching President Trumps trial with bemused interest. I have been called as a juror several times and, in my experience, President Trump does not stand a chance. He will be convicted by the "Bronx Jury" and it will be up to the partisan judge to impose a sentence. 

You see in the New York City Court system it is rigged for extreme liberal rulings. The last time I was called when I was questioned at the voi dire I was flabbergasted by the partisan liberal cant on display. I had a black woman lesbian judge as a matter of course. A vast majority of the justices in New York City appointed in the past twenty years are of this ilk. When questioned I said, "I think this pointless as no lawyer is going to allow a conservative older white man on a jury so you are just wasting the court's time." She was not amused and threatened me. So I had to sit silently and give one word answers.

I think Trump will be convicted in this fraudulent case. I don't think even this judge will sentence him to incarceration, but I would bet a million dollars that he will put him on probation under house arrest wearing one of those things on his leg. Just to humiliate him. They will give him the most liberal possible probation officer who will have to approve any travel. It is conceivable that he could prohibit President Trump from campaigning, going to the convention or even attending any debates. I don't know if the appeal process can mitigate this. I don't think so. He might be out on bail but it is most likely that these humiliating conditions will be forced on him to the applause of the Democrats and the mainstream media.

I have hesitated to comment lately because the news is just so disheartening. I want to thank MamaM and ed for their hard work in keeping this place a going concern. Thanks.

Illegal in Massachusetts: Asking Your Salary in a Job Interview

NYT:   In a groundbreaking effort to close the wage gap between men and women, Massachusetts has become the first state to bar employers from asking about applicants’ salaries before offering them a job.

The new law will require hiring managers to state a compensation figure upfront — based on what an applicant’s worth is to the company, rather than on what he or she made in a previous position.

The bipartisan legislation, signed into law on Monday by Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, is being pushed as a model for other states, as the issue of men historically outearning women who do the same job has leapt onto the national political scene. (read the whole thing)

Nothing on the article about possible unintended consequences.

New Rule: Recruits must buy U.S. made athletic shoes

Defense Department issued a new rule that could require recruits in boot camp to use their one-time allowance for shoes to be purchased through New Balance.

Military Times.

The rule is worded otherwise but the effect will be all recruits buy from the one single American company that supplies them. The new rule is pushed by Democrat representative from Maine, Mike Michaud.

Yeah. 

No. I would not buy a car from this guy. 

Apparently taking a cue from his executive that it is okay to coerce broad swaths of captive audiences to purchase things they otherwise would not purchase from places they otherwise would not purchase from when profit is channeled and benefit devolve to Party. 

New Balance is the only company in compliance with Berry Amendment (1941) or will be compliant if their prototype passes. New Balance is located in Mike Michaud's district. Boo.

The Berry Amendment is intended to direct government purchases to American companies wherever possible. 

DPAP Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy FAQ

Army, Navy, Air Force, but not Marines. Marines have a separate allowance that does not specify shoes. So all recruits in bootcamp for three services. 

What a coupe. What a haul. What blatant favoritism. Mike Michaud and his like really do not appreciate market forces or individual preferences, both essential to our economic system, and the malignancy toward both is so obvious I honestly do not see why he is not shouted down by the rest of the House all at once, traduced on the spot, and why would military brass acquiesce. They don't care. Apparently.

Let's get in the shoe business and offer competition. I know people who wear New Balance and would never buy anything else. They really are good shoes I am told. But so what. Being recruits the young guys probably won't mind, they might even think, "wow, our leaders really do find for us the best stuff available and direct us wisely" but they have more faith in political leadership than I do. 

This is wrong. So unAmerican to distort market forces like this, to use enlistees like this to drive business to friends. There ought to be a law! Wait, there is. And he wrote it. Boo. Boo on insidious corruption. Boo, giving all those recruits money as part of their pay to be spent at only one place, as if direct payment to New Balance. For all those shoes.  

It'll be an extension of uniform. I'm not clear if this is for off duty, if so, there will be two ways to spot those guys out on leave, by their  hair and by the same style shoes. 

Quit complaining. New Balance are great shoes. But look whose having a sale.