I suspect Cannon is fully aware that the panel that suggests and recommends up or turns down judge candidates gave her a rating that she was not judge material, at that time. She is young. She is inexperienced, and she is making her own life miserable. The two law clerks who recently resigned stated their reasons and they do not bode well for her future nor any future for any law clerks who may take a chance on their young reputations in the barely egg form by working for such an incompetent and politically compromised judge. Those law clerk jobs for judges are highly coveted. To resign from one is what Biden has called and applies here, "A big fucking deal." They loved working for her before she "caught" this case, which if she had any sense at all she would have turned down. They found it exciting and stimulating and I suspect she was thrilled with her great good fortune in finding the early part of her Peter Principle job heading into disaster down the road. She is incompetent. And those law clerks resigned because as this Trump case has continued, and she gets in deeper and deeper waters, her personality has become that of a hateful, blame the other guy shrew. Gee, wonder where she got those moves from? Let's hope that writ of mandamus goes forward and this woman is pitched from this case. There will be no justice here. She is in way over her head. It would be merciful to get her out of this now. Merciful to the country as well.
He and that group are one of the biggest threats to this country. Pure evil based in religious fervor and privilege they want for themselves to have all the power and control and they sure don't like women. Leonard Leo is the fixer who makes all happen, the strategist-fixer.
M.V.—That"s exactly what makes me agree with Bill Smith that Judicial Watch—the source of many of the extralegal positions the big liar requires his lawyers to take—is the prime suspect.
I absolutely would not be surprised. You know it's a very very tangled web and we know these people are not independent. It's not like they're all plugged into a sort of cosmic consciousness that gives the the same answer at the same time. I wouldn't put anything past them and I'm truly fearful that this thing is deeper, wider and far more sinister than we know even with a creep who has no verbal self control among all the other lacking controls. And they know that so they probably don't tell him the details. These folks are terrifying. The death throes of real rats is also terrifying. Just exponentially, it's huge for us.
This is funny. Today Clarence and Ginni came out publicly saying they're not guilty of whatever. Isn't that interesting? It could be a multitude of things.
This is law, not a creative writing assignment, a restaurant review of some superb cuisine, certainly not Kulturkritik,* Judge Cannon has to try to engage in legalistic legerdemain and other chicanery, just as LKTIV outline in the newsletter - the less it looks "imaginative," the better! Things are bad enough for her as it is, without following Justice Alito in the Dobbs decision and quoting relics of bogus reasoning** from before the Constitution was written.
Draft Overturning Roe v. Wade Quotes Infamous Witch Trial Judge With Long-Discredited Ideas on Rape
Justice Alito’s leaked opinion cites Sir Matthew Hale, a 17th-century jurist who conceived the notion that husbands can’t be prosecuted for raping their wives, who sentenced women to death as “witches,” and whose misogyny stood out even in his time. ***
Alito is a special case of horror all on his own, coupled with a nasty personality. He seems always to have just bitten into something disgusting. He's a scary negative to the core guy. Some of us can only hope Cannon disappears from the legal scene entirely and moves into obscurity somewhere away from the rest of us. She's pretty much now tainted to the core. This isn't just one of those little life lessons screw-ups. This is devastating.
Oh yeah, between the two of them there's a kind of historical through line leading back to a "Witch Tryal, "* March 10, 1664, in Bury St. Edmunds**, Suffolk ; historians have said it prepared the ground for our Salem Witch Trials and Gallows Hill in 1692, Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Now, in 2024, the cast would include Justice Alito as Judge Matthew Hale, and I suppose that would leave Aileen Cannon as one of the six women who were accusers of the two "witches" in the 1664 fiasco.
But it always takes a village to make a really intense riotous mob, so have to take the entire theological skullduggery afoot in those previous centuries into account, and damned if we don't still have them stirring up malevolent misogynistic mayhem.
At the Assizes and General Gaol delivery, held at Bury St. Edmonds for the County of Suffolk, the Tenth day of March, in the Sixteenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King Charles II, before Matthew Hale, Knight, Lord Chief Baron of His Majesties Court of Exchequer; Rose Cullender and Amy Duny, Widows, both of Leystoff in the County aforesaid, were severally indicted for Bewitching Elizabeth and Ann Durent, Jane Bocking, Susan Chandler, William Durent, Elizabeth and Deborah Pacey: And the said Cullender and Duny, being arraigned upon the said Indictments, pleaded Not Guilty: And afterwards, upon a long Evidence, were found Guilty, and thereupon had Judgement to dye for the same. *******
The first recorded account of a witch trial at Bury St Edmunds Suffolk was of one held in 1599 when Jone Jordan of Shadbrook (Stradbroke[6]) and Joane Nayler were tried, but there is no record of the charges or verdicts. In the same year, Oliffe Bartham of Shadbrook was executed,[7] for "sending three toads to destroy the rest (sleep[8]) of Joan Jordan".[6]
The 1645 trial
The trial was instigated by Matthew Hopkins, the self-proclaimed Witchfinder General,[9] and conducted at a special court under John Godbolt.[10] There was much to keep the minds of Parliamentarians busy at this time, with the Royalist Army heading towards Cambridgeshire, but concern about the events unfolding were being voiced. A report was carried to the Parliament that the witch-hunters were extracting confessions through torture; therefore, a special commission of oyer and terminer was formed, to ensure a fair trial.[11] On 27 August 1645, no fewer than 18 people were executed by hanging at Bury St Edmunds. 16 of the 18 people executed that day were women.[11] The executed were:
Anne Alderman, Rebecca Morris and Mary Bacon of Chattisham
Mary Clowes of Yoxford
Sarah Spindler, Jane Linstead, Thomas Everard (cooper) and his wife Mary Everard of Halesworth
Mary Fuller of Combs, near Stowmarket
John Lowes, Vicar of Brandeston
Susan Manners, Jane Rivet and Mary Skipper of Copdock, near Ipswich
- little wonder that with modern sciences in their infancy in those times, a crowd listening to and observing the rituals over many years, could come to believe that when the Scripture, the Word of God itself, says there are witches, you believe it! Or at least the most uneducated accept it - it's almost asking too much of human nature for them NOT to believe it, right? "Them toads whut was sent by witches, I tells ya, was disturbing our sleep, judge! 'N we knows who sent 'em, too!
You mean like Trump's bench of attorneys for all his cases who continue to file laughable, except for the frightening outcome if granted, motions for this and that on such shaky ground they barely ever hit a winner.
Beautifully stated, Mary Virginia. It's been fairly obvious from the beginning that Cannon is "in way over her head." She needs to be removed from this case ASAP.
MVH—- That is one of the most articulate and (appropriately) damning comments I’ve read. I was going to write something similar, but yours, rich with details, is better than what I could offer.
Aileen Cannon, born in Colombia (and therefore an “animal,” Donald?), is a joke, a travesty. One could posit that she is so inexperienced and unsure of herself that she is moving at a snail’s pace (like Garland) so as to avoid any possible mistake. But (a) that would be an over-generous reading of the situation in her courtroom, and (b), Merrick Garland is no lightweight but a deeply thoughtful, intelligent jurist of great probity whose “fault,” if any, is that he is too careful and methodical… or too careful and methodical for the honest and healthy segment of this country that wants a tawdry, rogue former POTUS rapidly brought to justice.
What seems to be true is that Cannon is a Trump aficionado who will twist and turn and stall and do anything possible to delay this trial. She is a disgrace , and I hope Jack Smith hammers her incompetent ass and eventually succeeds in having her removed from this case.
Thank you! I really appreciate that and I totally agree with every word you've said about Cannon and Garland. I do not think he's a bad man at all. Maybe too good for what we're up against. I don't know. You always want to do the right and honorable thing but that Trump continues to get away with every damn thing so far desperately tries the patience, which I think I'm completely out of now. I can't bring myself to attribute anything decent, thoughtful and noble to Cannon's behavior. She graduated summa cum laude which is heavy weight accolades for her scholastic achievements. But I'm old enough to know there are a lot of academically heavyweight professionals out there and it does not mean they're wise nor decent nor good. She only had two trials under her belt, as I understand it, and a couple of other court things for her resume. That is not enough for a federal judge. It's just not. That doesn't mean people don't grow into the job and wise up along the way. NOthing like experience but she starts way below normal starting level for judges. I think this is a misguided desire to help Trump. I can't help thinking that. But I also fear what's happening and I see more and more evidence of, that Trump's retched behavior has diminished all of us.
Thank goodness we have here to come to. I think of a long time ago before computer connection and while there's a lot not good at this point, at least we have places to go with our grief and fear and horror, Thank goodness. And thank you again.
Good stuff, and yes, experience sure as hell does count. I want a well regarded and experienced surgeon for a spinal operation. I want a well regarded and experienced judge for an important case. Cannon, a shrewish political fan of the defendant, is a disaster as the judge on this crucially important case.
This was a very long time coming. Decades the REupblicans have been making law and setting us all up but this thing backfired on the old guard and they, as the host, got subsumed by this pack of crazies. It's hard to call them anything but. They can't stand each other either. It's very difficult to play this out the stakes are so high. It's a daily shot of high anxiety. These buddy-buddy things with Trump baffles me. This is not a person anyone who any experience in life and who has a conscience would participate in and yet here they all are. My feel is we are teetering on the head of a pin. Do we have a democracy after November or do we go straight into authoritarianism.
No, he’s a fine and honest jurist… just maddeningly meticulous. And he wisely appointed a fire-breathing prosecutor to go after tRump, who is crapping his pants every night with fear.
I found both of these substack columns by David Lat (Original Jurisdiction) to be interesting and informative (found them when searched online about why Cannon's clerks quit). I think the March 22nd one is worth reading before his March 21st post. There are a number of thoughtful comments posted for each
So far, they have done nothing further. If they CAN remove her from the case why the hell haven't they long ago done so??? She, like t-Rump, seems impossible to get rid of. So far, he's free and has yet to pay for his crimes. And in my opinion, he never will. He will get out of everything, never spend a nanosecond in prison!
Maybe one of the legal scholars here can answer this question: Does Jack Be Nimble have to request her removal from the 11th Circuit? Or will the 11th remove her after examining Jack’s latest mandamus?
And while he's in Russia, could someone please arrange to have him stand next to a window? I'm sure Putin wouldn't (or couldn't) put up with the whiny rabble-rouser cluttering up the landscape for too long!
Naahh, I disagree. Putin would be glad to give his fat, worshipful, demented friend — a former American president, no less!—a nice dacha on the outskirts of Moscow for the remainder of his (Trump’s) life. It would be a feather in Vlad’s bearskin hat, to show his people and the world how the imperialistic Yankee system had failed: “Look, world! We have an American ex-president here! He’d rather be here than in his own country!”
(As an aside, you don’t get pushed out a window unless you threaten or disagree with Putin, and the worshipful, compliant DJ Trump, with his feral cunning for survival linked with his total cowardice, would make damned sure he stayed on Vlad’s good side. )
More to the point, though, as I’ve posited here before: Trump will never leave the USA. He’d hate living in a foreign country. He has no interest in or curiosity about other people or cultures. He’s dumb and incurious. He speaks no foreign language. He’d have no core of MAGA followers, and his hosts would rapidly tire of his lack of education and general knowledge and his one-dimensional personality.
Donald Trump, like it or not, is a product of this country’s excesses and worst traits, and he is as American as a Big Mac. His favorite food.
I must admit you make a compelling case for Trump staying here. I never thought he'd scamper off, although plenty of folks think he would be a major flight risk. However, since he's managed to squirm and wriggle--consequence free--out of almost every tight spot he's gotten himself into, you are quite right about his motivation to remain here, where his cult is and he can get his frequent doses of applause and approval. What happens when his fans finally tire of him, though?
They won’t tire of him en masse. Some will hang on to the bitter end, the rest will drift off by ones and twos, still grumbling, still sure he was right about everything— immigrants, NATO, his immunity, the “stolen” election, etc. There will be no blanket admission that they were wrong or grifted or snookered, no Nurnburg Trial, no day of reckoning and reconciliation. He’s like a drug to them. They get a fix at his rallies. He gives them a high. He makes them feel worthwhile and valid, even though he doesn’t give a damn for any one of them. Only his death will end this particular flavor of American madness. And shortly another demagogue will rise up to prey on their credulity. It never ends.
It’s amazing that we are even having to talk about this. I find it nuts. Thank you Lucian for keeping us very informed. On a side note. I went to see Sully the pilot from the miracle on the Hudson speak. At the QA he said his new purpose is to help save democracy. He said thank God we have a normal President. And only one party is working for the American people. The Democratic Party. And this was in SLC UT. He got a standing ovation. 👏
Bottom line is we can talk this to death, but he is getting what he wants: delay, delay, delay. Cannon is an obvious stooge, and her arguments can be even more absurd, but as long as she drags it out. I know people say the system needs to work at its own pace, to which I say bs. Smith needed to intervene a long time ago, this is the one case with incontrovertible evidence, photos of the bathroom full of boxes, the top secret documents spread on the floor, the testimony of people who kept shuffling the boxes around one step ahead of the FBI.
And so of course he yells election interference. That was the plan all along. The only place he is feeling testicular pain is in New York courts, for which I am proud of my city. But all federal trials of great import for the next election being hindered? I feel the hand of the Federalist society.
Terrific column, Lucian. One line you wrote moved me to go on Amazon to find generic conspiratorial Kool-Aid (cheaper than the MAGA brand). Door Dash just delivered it. Two glugs, and something you wrote raises a question. "...if Cannon is a doofus, she is a crafty one..."
Crafty? Isn't there a chance that someone, or some institution (I'm thinking of the Usual Suspects, starting with the Federalist Society), are helping her to craft her "crafty" arguments? Ms. Cannon is doing a very realistic job of appearing to be the courtroom version of Jean Hagen mouthing the lyrics in "Singing in the Rain." Who's the Debbie Reynolds, behind the curtain, doing the actual singing?
Michigan! Leave aside the 1941 Lincoln Continental, those post-war Chrysler station wagon woodies, and tart cherries in season. Shouldn't at least one of the gazillion representations of the gates of heaven be a photo of the front door of Zingerman's in Ann Arbor?
Didn't know AG Garland was presiding over the case in his spare time. Do know he approved the SC Team's Search Warrant as well as the pursuit of a Federal Grand Jury indictment.
There is a reason the DoJ wins circa 94% of the cases, even rarer that they lose on appeal due to being thorough from start to finish.
Have yet to read a single post from you that puts the blame on those charged with crimes and those who gummed up the system by fighting subpoenas, and then appealing to the appellate courts and those with prior knowledge who didn't report the crimes they knew were being planned yet go on the teevee to say I am a hero for other crimes I stopped but can't tell you what they were.
Yes and it goes back to my statement that the breaks are always going to Trump.Garland not acting for over a year.The rigged SCOTUS.The delay, delay, delay.The break in reducing his bond and on and on.Breaks that no one EVER gets.It’s like he is being set up by some weird power to take power again.It is ridiculous!We The People have got to get a game plan other than voting to get rid of this bastard.
The Chief Judge on her Circuit should have removed her long before this. Her inexperience and her bias are startlingly on display. And ... her clerks are quitting at a clip so unusual it has made the papers.
As for a posible"Justice Cannon," apparently Amy Coney Island wasn't insulting enough.
Lucian, that was a wonderfully clear explanation of a complex matter. No one in the mainstream media could have done it as well, because, even in the unlikely event that one of them had the skill to explain it as clearly as you did, they wouldn't have been allowed to. In their publications' insistence on "balance," they would have had to treat Trump's lawyer's arguments with equal respect and left their readers with no understanding of the facts. Balance sometimes equals falsehood.
FTR: The 11th Circuit is not a Trump-friendly venue. While Trump/McConnell did get 4 or so Judges appointed, the remainder including Senior Judges are W. Bush appointments, Clinton, and Obama.
The current (Chief Judge is on a rotation there) head honcho of the Southern District of FL is another W. appointee Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga. Cannon risks a come-to-Jesus high tea with the Chief or someone she selects if she continues to stumble and bumble her way on a case in the Southern District. Cannon's colleagues and most of the Chief know well how Cannon's performance on such a high-profile case can cast a shadow on the District and its Judges.
Also in Smith's papers he spelled out the origin of the "novel legal" theory, right down to text messages from the participants. Includes all the usual suspects.
Although I have no basis for this thought do feel Cannon doesn't want to preside over the trial and is looking for a way out as in 3strikes and yer out. That aside she has dug herself quite the hole and keeps on diggin'.
I have to feel that the 11th Circuit is paying attention to the Special Counsel’s case playing out, they can’t be living in a vacuum and I know they can read. We may be on one side of this issue but judges have to be neutral, when they are not a miscarriage of the law either way is the result. Cannon’s bias in favor of the insipid clown is so patently obvious there can be no doubt that she’s not neutral or even close to it, a biased judge who can not set aside her biases has no place in our legal system, that’s why justice is depicted as having a blindfold on while holding the scales, the 11th Circuit judges have to be acutely aware of that. If we don’t have the rule of law in this country, then we don’t have a country, we will have anarchy, which is exactly what the insipid clown and all of his maggot followers want.
As a body niithah the [FL ]Southern District nor the 11th Circuit have any desire to be grouped in with Judge Cannon. Can't shake the memory of an MSNBC contributor, a conservative FL attorney whom Trump asked to defend him but he turned down the offer and has both long defended Cannon and acted as her apologist. Haven't seen him since before the premature jury selection "academic" exercise.
Also, the Roberts Court recently made its position on judge shopping and rogue judges quite clear. None other than Justice Gorsuch continues to hammer home those points. Sadly the majority of the Roberts Court hasn't looked in the mirror yet. If they had there is no way they would've delayed hearing the immunity matter until later this month.
Don't know how they could ever justify delaying the ruling until the term ends. Would prefer to think they (their clerks) are working out the issues since taking the case. The questions will be as revealing as they were in the CO case. No doubt this matter is how the Roberts Court will be remembered in history. All 9Justices know that.
Am both a realist and an optimist although there are times and circumstances they do come into conflict. I welcomed SCOTUS taking the presidential immunity case because it is not settled law and screams out to be settled. Even in the midst of a presidential election cycle involving a past president and current presidential candidate because politics is not supposed to be part of their consideration as to take a case or not. Had they said yes we will take it but scheduled arguments after the election then that would smack of politics.
There are many weighty and valid issues in the concept of presidential immunity. One that isn't, absolute immunity. Whether they decide only on the issues related to the Election Interference issues, extend it beyond is or some mix of the two is what will determine the decision.
Personally don't envy the task they have before them. It's not as simple as an aphorism of no person is above the law nor Adam's “to the end that it may be a government (not a nation as many claim) of laws and not of men.” What I prefer is Aristotle's * At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.
*Obviously Aristotle didn't have a doogo. Say that with much conviction because there is no constellation named for Aristotle but there is a Canis Major.
We often heat 1 hooman year equals 7 dog years ( somewhat true but not exactly) without understanding it from a doggos [perspective. Their entire lifetime from pup to elder is dedicated to its hooman. For example the last 2GSDs that went over the rainbow bridge were 15+ and 16+ in hoomann years. That translates to circa 80 yrs with a partner/companion.
Justice Thomas in waiting.What a horrific thought and yet there it is.Trump has evaded justice his whole life and it continues.The worst POTUS in our history continues to get break after break after break.When will this stop? When will We The People get our justice?We all have watched this grifter mow down our rule of law with little consequence so far.It needs to stop.
Can We The People file a class action suit?Gross negligence.Our government conspiring with a known adversary.Our politicians being complicit with the overturning the results of a fair election.This whole thing is a sham.Donald Trump is trying to get back into power to keep himself out of prison.May Day!
If Trump wins the election in November, an open seat on the Supreme Court will be the least of our worries. We’ll be too busy fighting fascism ON OUR OWN SOIL to care about another robed figure on a body that will have by then lost all credibility and authority.
LT: A few days ago your column was an almost pensive reflection on the good in American communities, that which works. I was a bit flabbergasted, but did decide to focus on the evergyday, albeit small positives for a bit. Shift gears. A pause of calm. Now I'm back to a more familiar emtion: horrified. Strip away the fancy words, song and dance, Cannon and those with whom she consults are traitors, pure and simple.
Yeah. Thanks for bringing up that shitstain nugent. Not. He's from Michigan where I live. In the 70's he did an interview with I believe Rolling Stone where he infamously said "I like to hang out near junior high schools to wait for the little girls." Not to mention threatening President Obama's life. His "music" is truly wretched.
Here's my six degrees of Ted Nugent. I was a property manager at a large office building in Downtown Chicago about 25 years ago. One of my main duties was to manage the Tenant construction in the building. My main focus was to protect the integrity of the building and to protect the interests of my Tenants. There was only one time that I had to ask that a contractor be barred from working in the building - Ted Nugent's brother. He continually thumbed his nose at the rules of the building and was called out several times for rude/obnoxious behavior. I had a meeting with him in my office and he went on and on about he's Ted Nugent's brother and do I know who Ted Nugent is? I sat stone faced as he bragged about this and then told him it did not matter to me who his brother was and reiterated what proper behavior was in the building. After he was gone, I heard from several people who said that they were glad they wouldn't have to deal with him anymore. My co-workers breathed a sigh of relief that they would not have to police this guy anymore.
Thank you for your six degrees. I'm sure you know a lot of great music has come out of Motown. And through all these years and great acts I've never come across a Bob Seger comment or article where he even mentions Nugent. I have a hilarious story about an encounter I had with Bob but that will have to be for another time. Thanks again.
Of course! I grew up listening to Motown music! I was curious about Bob Seger's political preferences a few years ago, so I googled him. The information I found said he would not choose a side but preferred to remain neutral. But when I dug back in the past, I found some Democratic leanings. I am interested in hearing about your Bob Seger encounter. Little did I know 25 years ago that I was being given a glimpse into the future with the "won't follow the rules" Nugent!
I think Bob was just being cagey. 2 days ago John Sinclair died. His obit made The NY Times. If you recall (Im going to be 66 soon so this all happened in 1969 . Sinclair was the founder of the White Panther party, poet. essayist fierce political activist. Sinclair got busted for selling two joints to an undercover cop. He got a sentence 10 years in jail. he insisted he was framed. The kids were outraged, including John and Yoko.. A big concert was held at Chrysler arena in Ann Arbor. Seger was on the Bill. The place was packed. Everybody was smoking weed. At what was supposed to be the end of the concert surprise surprise out came John and Yoko with Jerry Rubin Abbie Hoffman and others. Lennon specifically Wrote a song Free John Sinclair the place went nuts. After many many legal challenges and him spending months and months in jail, his case was overturned and it was revealed he was set up. Now on to my own Seger story. In 1987 I worked for a billionaire alcoholic asshole. My salary was $20,000 a year. A paltry sum given my resposibilities. So a couple of the laborers in the back had this weird system for playing the lottery. I could never figure it out. But I was soon enough gettin hunches base on part numbers. So one summer day in 87 I was up in Flint about an hour north from where I was housesitting for friends, In the parking lot of some huge G.M. plant had just come out of a meeting. I was sitting in my car and I got a hunch. M.T. play 8053 straight ( playing it straight means the number comes in exactly that way). Pay out was $5000 per 1$ ticket played. Even said I should write this down but did not. So I drove back to Birmingham Mi area (an absolutely filthy rich town and now it's just grotesque). So I stopped in a party store to play the lottery. It was about 4 or 4:30 in the afternoon. I walk in the store and it's packed. At least 10 to 12 people in front of me waiting to check out. I go to the end of the line and start my wait. Eventually I get my turn to play the lottery, but the cashier starts absolutely losing it screaming this that and the other. At first I thought it was a medical episode, then I was able tom make out her screams That's Bob Seger that's Bob Seder etc etc. So I look out the window and I see Seger getting into A White Corvette. Had been standing behind him the whole time. He was literally right in front of me. So after the freakout by the cashier I played the lottery for 10 bucks on some random bullshit that popped into my head. 7:29 that night the lottery numbers are drawn while I watched, Winning numbers for the 4 digit 8053. Seger owes me $50,000..
Wow! That IS a great story! You certainly got a lesson in synchronicity! Bob Seger distracted you (and everyone else in the store!). One of my friends from college (WMU) was from Birmingham, so I know what you’re talking about. A cool thing about being one of the only people from Illinois while I was at WMU back in the 80’s, was that I got to learn about & explore all the areas around Detroit through my friends. I also love the story about John Sinclair. John Lennon is one of my inspirations so it’s nice to hear how he helped Sinclair. He was a master at moving energy. I hope you’ve made peace with the lotto tickets. It sounds like whatever magic the guys in the back room had, rubbed off on you. Thanks for sharing this great time in your life with me!
Wow Gail you have a lot on your plate. Thank you for replying. When it comes to tech I don't know what I'm doing especially substack. I'm still not clear on what following exactly is. Plus it was late at night when I did that and well you know "I know nothing". All the best to you and your husband.
Also google Bob Seger interview with Bob Costas. Also did not mean to imply that Seger lives in Birmingham. My younger brother is a building contractor and built a house right next to Bob's in the 90's.
I suspect Cannon is fully aware that the panel that suggests and recommends up or turns down judge candidates gave her a rating that she was not judge material, at that time. She is young. She is inexperienced, and she is making her own life miserable. The two law clerks who recently resigned stated their reasons and they do not bode well for her future nor any future for any law clerks who may take a chance on their young reputations in the barely egg form by working for such an incompetent and politically compromised judge. Those law clerk jobs for judges are highly coveted. To resign from one is what Biden has called and applies here, "A big fucking deal." They loved working for her before she "caught" this case, which if she had any sense at all she would have turned down. They found it exciting and stimulating and I suspect she was thrilled with her great good fortune in finding the early part of her Peter Principle job heading into disaster down the road. She is incompetent. And those law clerks resigned because as this Trump case has continued, and she gets in deeper and deeper waters, her personality has become that of a hateful, blame the other guy shrew. Gee, wonder where she got those moves from? Let's hope that writ of mandamus goes forward and this woman is pitched from this case. There will be no justice here. She is in way over her head. It would be merciful to get her out of this now. Merciful to the country as well.
Unlikely she is coming up with all these tactics by herself. Who is strategizing and advising her?
Leonard Leo and The Heritage Foundation people who put Project 2025 together.
He and that group are one of the biggest threats to this country. Pure evil based in religious fervor and privilege they want for themselves to have all the power and control and they sure don't like women. Leonard Leo is the fixer who makes all happen, the strategist-fixer.
Pretty sure it’s those yokels at Judicial Watch; they’re rich enough and dumb enough to play in that game and they seem to think they belong there.
Hard to believe anyone who knows anything about the law is advising her to do this. It has to be another incompetent.
Depends on their objective.
The infection of maga has spread her way. This is part of the coup being exercised from within. She must be removed from this case.
M.V.—That"s exactly what makes me agree with Bill Smith that Judicial Watch—the source of many of the extralegal positions the big liar requires his lawyers to take—is the prime suspect.
I absolutely would not be surprised. You know it's a very very tangled web and we know these people are not independent. It's not like they're all plugged into a sort of cosmic consciousness that gives the the same answer at the same time. I wouldn't put anything past them and I'm truly fearful that this thing is deeper, wider and far more sinister than we know even with a creep who has no verbal self control among all the other lacking controls. And they know that so they probably don't tell him the details. These folks are terrifying. The death throes of real rats is also terrifying. Just exponentially, it's huge for us.
Judge Thomas, Ginni and L Lenard Leo.
This is funny. Today Clarence and Ginni came out publicly saying they're not guilty of whatever. Isn't that interesting? It could be a multitude of things.
This is the key question
"Cannon has been a member of the conservative and libertarian Federalist Society since 2005, when she was a law student.[2][6] "
Possible promises and obligations that went with her getting that appointment.
Ahhh...
My thought exactly!
Just WHO is advising her on these "crafty" moves?
This is law, not a creative writing assignment, a restaurant review of some superb cuisine, certainly not Kulturkritik,* Judge Cannon has to try to engage in legalistic legerdemain and other chicanery, just as LKTIV outline in the newsletter - the less it looks "imaginative," the better! Things are bad enough for her as it is, without following Justice Alito in the Dobbs decision and quoting relics of bogus reasoning** from before the Constitution was written.
*[https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1467-8675.2010.00621.x - "There is no document of culture which is not at the same time a document of barbarism." - Walter Benjamin]
**
https://www.propublica.org/article/abortion-roe-wade-alito-scotus-hale
Health Care
Draft Overturning Roe v. Wade Quotes Infamous Witch Trial Judge With Long-Discredited Ideas on Rape
Justice Alito’s leaked opinion cites Sir Matthew Hale, a 17th-century jurist who conceived the notion that husbands can’t be prosecuted for raping their wives, who sentenced women to death as “witches,” and whose misogyny stood out even in his time. ***
Alito is a special case of horror all on his own, coupled with a nasty personality. He seems always to have just bitten into something disgusting. He's a scary negative to the core guy. Some of us can only hope Cannon disappears from the legal scene entirely and moves into obscurity somewhere away from the rest of us. She's pretty much now tainted to the core. This isn't just one of those little life lessons screw-ups. This is devastating.
Oh yeah, between the two of them there's a kind of historical through line leading back to a "Witch Tryal, "* March 10, 1664, in Bury St. Edmunds**, Suffolk ; historians have said it prepared the ground for our Salem Witch Trials and Gallows Hill in 1692, Massachusetts Bay Colony.
Now, in 2024, the cast would include Justice Alito as Judge Matthew Hale, and I suppose that would leave Aileen Cannon as one of the six women who were accusers of the two "witches" in the 1664 fiasco.
But it always takes a village to make a really intense riotous mob, so have to take the entire theological skullduggery afoot in those previous centuries into account, and damned if we don't still have them stirring up malevolent misogynistic mayhem.
*http://www.lowestoftwitches.com/the_trial_report.htm
A TRYAL OF WITCHES
At the Assizes and General Gaol delivery, held at Bury St. Edmonds for the County of Suffolk, the Tenth day of March, in the Sixteenth Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord King Charles II, before Matthew Hale, Knight, Lord Chief Baron of His Majesties Court of Exchequer; Rose Cullender and Amy Duny, Widows, both of Leystoff in the County aforesaid, were severally indicted for Bewitching Elizabeth and Ann Durent, Jane Bocking, Susan Chandler, William Durent, Elizabeth and Deborah Pacey: And the said Cullender and Duny, being arraigned upon the said Indictments, pleaded Not Guilty: And afterwards, upon a long Evidence, were found Guilty, and thereupon had Judgement to dye for the same. *******
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bury_St_Edmunds_witch_trials
Early trials
The first recorded account of a witch trial at Bury St Edmunds Suffolk was of one held in 1599 when Jone Jordan of Shadbrook (Stradbroke[6]) and Joane Nayler were tried, but there is no record of the charges or verdicts. In the same year, Oliffe Bartham of Shadbrook was executed,[7] for "sending three toads to destroy the rest (sleep[8]) of Joan Jordan".[6]
The 1645 trial
The trial was instigated by Matthew Hopkins, the self-proclaimed Witchfinder General,[9] and conducted at a special court under John Godbolt.[10] There was much to keep the minds of Parliamentarians busy at this time, with the Royalist Army heading towards Cambridgeshire, but concern about the events unfolding were being voiced. A report was carried to the Parliament that the witch-hunters were extracting confessions through torture; therefore, a special commission of oyer and terminer was formed, to ensure a fair trial.[11] On 27 August 1645, no fewer than 18 people were executed by hanging at Bury St Edmunds. 16 of the 18 people executed that day were women.[11] The executed were:
Anne Alderman, Rebecca Morris and Mary Bacon of Chattisham
Mary Clowes of Yoxford
Sarah Spindler, Jane Linstead, Thomas Everard (cooper) and his wife Mary Everard of Halesworth
Mary Fuller of Combs, near Stowmarket
John Lowes, Vicar of Brandeston
Susan Manners, Jane Rivet and Mary Skipper of Copdock, near Ipswich
Mary Smith of Great Glemham
Margery Sparham of Mendham
Katherine Tooly of Westleton.
Anne Leech and Anne Wright, origin unknown.[12]
*******
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bury_St_Edmunds
Of some note - the abbey was some 500 feet long:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bury_St_Edmunds_Abbey
- little wonder that with modern sciences in their infancy in those times, a crowd listening to and observing the rituals over many years, could come to believe that when the Scripture, the Word of God itself, says there are witches, you believe it! Or at least the most uneducated accept it - it's almost asking too much of human nature for them NOT to believe it, right? "Them toads whut was sent by witches, I tells ya, was disturbing our sleep, judge! 'N we knows who sent 'em, too!
You mean like Trump's bench of attorneys for all his cases who continue to file laughable, except for the frightening outcome if granted, motions for this and that on such shaky ground they barely ever hit a winner.
Beautifully stated, Mary Virginia. It's been fairly obvious from the beginning that Cannon is "in way over her head." She needs to be removed from this case ASAP.
MVH—- That is one of the most articulate and (appropriately) damning comments I’ve read. I was going to write something similar, but yours, rich with details, is better than what I could offer.
Aileen Cannon, born in Colombia (and therefore an “animal,” Donald?), is a joke, a travesty. One could posit that she is so inexperienced and unsure of herself that she is moving at a snail’s pace (like Garland) so as to avoid any possible mistake. But (a) that would be an over-generous reading of the situation in her courtroom, and (b), Merrick Garland is no lightweight but a deeply thoughtful, intelligent jurist of great probity whose “fault,” if any, is that he is too careful and methodical… or too careful and methodical for the honest and healthy segment of this country that wants a tawdry, rogue former POTUS rapidly brought to justice.
What seems to be true is that Cannon is a Trump aficionado who will twist and turn and stall and do anything possible to delay this trial. She is a disgrace , and I hope Jack Smith hammers her incompetent ass and eventually succeeds in having her removed from this case.
Thank you! I really appreciate that and I totally agree with every word you've said about Cannon and Garland. I do not think he's a bad man at all. Maybe too good for what we're up against. I don't know. You always want to do the right and honorable thing but that Trump continues to get away with every damn thing so far desperately tries the patience, which I think I'm completely out of now. I can't bring myself to attribute anything decent, thoughtful and noble to Cannon's behavior. She graduated summa cum laude which is heavy weight accolades for her scholastic achievements. But I'm old enough to know there are a lot of academically heavyweight professionals out there and it does not mean they're wise nor decent nor good. She only had two trials under her belt, as I understand it, and a couple of other court things for her resume. That is not enough for a federal judge. It's just not. That doesn't mean people don't grow into the job and wise up along the way. NOthing like experience but she starts way below normal starting level for judges. I think this is a misguided desire to help Trump. I can't help thinking that. But I also fear what's happening and I see more and more evidence of, that Trump's retched behavior has diminished all of us.
Thank goodness we have here to come to. I think of a long time ago before computer connection and while there's a lot not good at this point, at least we have places to go with our grief and fear and horror, Thank goodness. And thank you again.
Good stuff, and yes, experience sure as hell does count. I want a well regarded and experienced surgeon for a spinal operation. I want a well regarded and experienced judge for an important case. Cannon, a shrewish political fan of the defendant, is a disaster as the judge on this crucially important case.
This was a very long time coming. Decades the REupblicans have been making law and setting us all up but this thing backfired on the old guard and they, as the host, got subsumed by this pack of crazies. It's hard to call them anything but. They can't stand each other either. It's very difficult to play this out the stakes are so high. It's a daily shot of high anxiety. These buddy-buddy things with Trump baffles me. This is not a person anyone who any experience in life and who has a conscience would participate in and yet here they all are. My feel is we are teetering on the head of a pin. Do we have a democracy after November or do we go straight into authoritarianism.
Metitless garland is pathetic.
He didn’t have the courage to fight evil.
He should resign.
No, he’s a fine and honest jurist… just maddeningly meticulous. And he wisely appointed a fire-breathing prosecutor to go after tRump, who is crapping his pants every night with fear.
I found both of these substack columns by David Lat (Original Jurisdiction) to be interesting and informative (found them when searched online about why Cannon's clerks quit). I think the March 22nd one is worth reading before his March 21st post. There are a number of thoughtful comments posted for each
https://davidlat.substack.com/p/clerking-for-judge-aileen-cannon-why-clerks-quit
https://davidlat.substack.com/p/judge-aileen-cannon-law-clerks-quit-on-her/
It’s time for the 11th Circuit to spank her a third time and remove her from this case.
So far, they have done nothing further. If they CAN remove her from the case why the hell haven't they long ago done so??? She, like t-Rump, seems impossible to get rid of. So far, he's free and has yet to pay for his crimes. And in my opinion, he never will. He will get out of everything, never spend a nanosecond in prison!
Maybe one of the legal scholars here can answer this question: Does Jack Be Nimble have to request her removal from the 11th Circuit? Or will the 11th remove her after examining Jack’s latest mandamus?
It does appear that this is the case.I truly would be happy if he could never hold public office again and would move to Russia.
And while he's in Russia, could someone please arrange to have him stand next to a window? I'm sure Putin wouldn't (or couldn't) put up with the whiny rabble-rouser cluttering up the landscape for too long!
Or maybe Putin will take him on an airplane ride over a body of water...
That's another attractive notion.....
Naahh, I disagree. Putin would be glad to give his fat, worshipful, demented friend — a former American president, no less!—a nice dacha on the outskirts of Moscow for the remainder of his (Trump’s) life. It would be a feather in Vlad’s bearskin hat, to show his people and the world how the imperialistic Yankee system had failed: “Look, world! We have an American ex-president here! He’d rather be here than in his own country!”
(As an aside, you don’t get pushed out a window unless you threaten or disagree with Putin, and the worshipful, compliant DJ Trump, with his feral cunning for survival linked with his total cowardice, would make damned sure he stayed on Vlad’s good side. )
More to the point, though, as I’ve posited here before: Trump will never leave the USA. He’d hate living in a foreign country. He has no interest in or curiosity about other people or cultures. He’s dumb and incurious. He speaks no foreign language. He’d have no core of MAGA followers, and his hosts would rapidly tire of his lack of education and general knowledge and his one-dimensional personality.
Donald Trump, like it or not, is a product of this country’s excesses and worst traits, and he is as American as a Big Mac. His favorite food.
I must admit you make a compelling case for Trump staying here. I never thought he'd scamper off, although plenty of folks think he would be a major flight risk. However, since he's managed to squirm and wriggle--consequence free--out of almost every tight spot he's gotten himself into, you are quite right about his motivation to remain here, where his cult is and he can get his frequent doses of applause and approval. What happens when his fans finally tire of him, though?
They won’t tire of him en masse. Some will hang on to the bitter end, the rest will drift off by ones and twos, still grumbling, still sure he was right about everything— immigrants, NATO, his immunity, the “stolen” election, etc. There will be no blanket admission that they were wrong or grifted or snookered, no Nurnburg Trial, no day of reckoning and reconciliation. He’s like a drug to them. They get a fix at his rallies. He gives them a high. He makes them feel worthwhile and valid, even though he doesn’t give a damn for any one of them. Only his death will end this particular flavor of American madness. And shortly another demagogue will rise up to prey on their credulity. It never ends.
Yep. Likely done in by a hamburger
What saves us is Smiths service at the international criminal court. He spent years chasing slippery evil eels.
He sees the traps and is playing the game to dump her.
As long as he's allowed to do his job. She is preventing that.
Let’s hope so.
She won't be Justice Cannon as long as the Democrats hold the Senate.
Someone should tell Cannon she'd make a lousy poker player, she's painfully predictable and not skilled enough to hide her shenanigans.
Ugh! I just threw up. “Think of it. Justice Cannon.”
It’s amazing that we are even having to talk about this. I find it nuts. Thank you Lucian for keeping us very informed. On a side note. I went to see Sully the pilot from the miracle on the Hudson speak. At the QA he said his new purpose is to help save democracy. He said thank God we have a normal President. And only one party is working for the American people. The Democratic Party. And this was in SLC UT. He got a standing ovation. 👏
That is some really good news!
Wonderful!
Wow! In Salt Lake City???
Wow again.
Yes in Salt Lake City. I was most pleasantly surprised.
Bottom line is we can talk this to death, but he is getting what he wants: delay, delay, delay. Cannon is an obvious stooge, and her arguments can be even more absurd, but as long as she drags it out. I know people say the system needs to work at its own pace, to which I say bs. Smith needed to intervene a long time ago, this is the one case with incontrovertible evidence, photos of the bathroom full of boxes, the top secret documents spread on the floor, the testimony of people who kept shuffling the boxes around one step ahead of the FBI.
And so of course he yells election interference. That was the plan all along. The only place he is feeling testicular pain is in New York courts, for which I am proud of my city. But all federal trials of great import for the next election being hindered? I feel the hand of the Federalist society.
"Cannon has been a member of the conservative and libertarian Federalist Society since 2005, when she was a law student.[2][6] "
Honestly, I cannot think who scares me more, the Bloated Yam or Aileen Cannon. I do know that together they are terrifying.
Terrific column, Lucian. One line you wrote moved me to go on Amazon to find generic conspiratorial Kool-Aid (cheaper than the MAGA brand). Door Dash just delivered it. Two glugs, and something you wrote raises a question. "...if Cannon is a doofus, she is a crafty one..."
Crafty? Isn't there a chance that someone, or some institution (I'm thinking of the Usual Suspects, starting with the Federalist Society), are helping her to craft her "crafty" arguments? Ms. Cannon is doing a very realistic job of appearing to be the courtroom version of Jean Hagen mouthing the lyrics in "Singing in the Rain." Who's the Debbie Reynolds, behind the curtain, doing the actual singing?
"Cannon has been a member of the conservative and libertarian Federalist Society since 2005, when she was a law student.[2][6] "
Thank you for pointing it out. I've changed into my blue QED sweatshirt, lettering in maize, natch. :-)
While I went to MSU, I taught for U of M. Go Blue/Green!
I was kicked out of college before taking even an introductory psych class, but isn't what you're describing known as bi-scholastic? :-)
In Michigan, anyway!
Michigan! Leave aside the 1941 Lincoln Continental, those post-war Chrysler station wagon woodies, and tart cherries in season. Shouldn't at least one of the gazillion representations of the gates of heaven be a photo of the front door of Zingerman's in Ann Arbor?
This should've been resolved years ago. Trump should be in jail today. Every day goes by Garland looks worse, it hardly seems possible, but it's true.
Didn't know AG Garland was presiding over the case in his spare time. Do know he approved the SC Team's Search Warrant as well as the pursuit of a Federal Grand Jury indictment.
There is a reason the DoJ wins circa 94% of the cases, even rarer that they lose on appeal due to being thorough from start to finish.
Have yet to read a single post from you that puts the blame on those charged with crimes and those who gummed up the system by fighting subpoenas, and then appealing to the appellate courts and those with prior knowledge who didn't report the crimes they knew were being planned yet go on the teevee to say I am a hero for other crimes I stopped but can't tell you what they were.
Garland admitted he did nothing on purpose for years.
To you? Please post the AG's admission he purposely did nothing for years.
Thank you and Bon Chance, Run.
Yes and it goes back to my statement that the breaks are always going to Trump.Garland not acting for over a year.The rigged SCOTUS.The delay, delay, delay.The break in reducing his bond and on and on.Breaks that no one EVER gets.It’s like he is being set up by some weird power to take power again.It is ridiculous!We The People have got to get a game plan other than voting to get rid of this bastard.
The Chief Judge on her Circuit should have removed her long before this. Her inexperience and her bias are startlingly on display. And ... her clerks are quitting at a clip so unusual it has made the papers.
As for a posible"Justice Cannon," apparently Amy Coney Island wasn't insulting enough.
Lucian, that was a wonderfully clear explanation of a complex matter. No one in the mainstream media could have done it as well, because, even in the unlikely event that one of them had the skill to explain it as clearly as you did, they wouldn't have been allowed to. In their publications' insistence on "balance," they would have had to treat Trump's lawyer's arguments with equal respect and left their readers with no understanding of the facts. Balance sometimes equals falsehood.
FTR: The 11th Circuit is not a Trump-friendly venue. While Trump/McConnell did get 4 or so Judges appointed, the remainder including Senior Judges are W. Bush appointments, Clinton, and Obama.
( https://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/judges ).
The current (Chief Judge is on a rotation there) head honcho of the Southern District of FL is another W. appointee Chief Judge Cecilia M. Altonaga. Cannon risks a come-to-Jesus high tea with the Chief or someone she selects if she continues to stumble and bumble her way on a case in the Southern District. Cannon's colleagues and most of the Chief know well how Cannon's performance on such a high-profile case can cast a shadow on the District and its Judges.
Also in Smith's papers he spelled out the origin of the "novel legal" theory, right down to text messages from the participants. Includes all the usual suspects.
Although I have no basis for this thought do feel Cannon doesn't want to preside over the trial and is looking for a way out as in 3strikes and yer out. That aside she has dug herself quite the hole and keeps on diggin'.
I have to feel that the 11th Circuit is paying attention to the Special Counsel’s case playing out, they can’t be living in a vacuum and I know they can read. We may be on one side of this issue but judges have to be neutral, when they are not a miscarriage of the law either way is the result. Cannon’s bias in favor of the insipid clown is so patently obvious there can be no doubt that she’s not neutral or even close to it, a biased judge who can not set aside her biases has no place in our legal system, that’s why justice is depicted as having a blindfold on while holding the scales, the 11th Circuit judges have to be acutely aware of that. If we don’t have the rule of law in this country, then we don’t have a country, we will have anarchy, which is exactly what the insipid clown and all of his maggot followers want.
Well said.
As a body niithah the [FL ]Southern District nor the 11th Circuit have any desire to be grouped in with Judge Cannon. Can't shake the memory of an MSNBC contributor, a conservative FL attorney whom Trump asked to defend him but he turned down the offer and has both long defended Cannon and acted as her apologist. Haven't seen him since before the premature jury selection "academic" exercise.
Also, the Roberts Court recently made its position on judge shopping and rogue judges quite clear. None other than Justice Gorsuch continues to hammer home those points. Sadly the majority of the Roberts Court hasn't looked in the mirror yet. If they had there is no way they would've delayed hearing the immunity matter until later this month.
Don't know how they could ever justify delaying the ruling until the term ends. Would prefer to think they (their clerks) are working out the issues since taking the case. The questions will be as revealing as they were in the CO case. No doubt this matter is how the Roberts Court will be remembered in history. All 9Justices know that.
They can't look in a mirror, It would crack.
good1.
Am both a realist and an optimist although there are times and circumstances they do come into conflict. I welcomed SCOTUS taking the presidential immunity case because it is not settled law and screams out to be settled. Even in the midst of a presidential election cycle involving a past president and current presidential candidate because politics is not supposed to be part of their consideration as to take a case or not. Had they said yes we will take it but scheduled arguments after the election then that would smack of politics.
There are many weighty and valid issues in the concept of presidential immunity. One that isn't, absolute immunity. Whether they decide only on the issues related to the Election Interference issues, extend it beyond is or some mix of the two is what will determine the decision.
Personally don't envy the task they have before them. It's not as simple as an aphorism of no person is above the law nor Adam's “to the end that it may be a government (not a nation as many claim) of laws and not of men.” What I prefer is Aristotle's * At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.
*Obviously Aristotle didn't have a doogo. Say that with much conviction because there is no constellation named for Aristotle but there is a Canis Major.
Yep. Am coming up on one year anniversary of having to put down my cavalier King Charles spaniel Sophy. Most successful relationship I've ever had.
We often heat 1 hooman year equals 7 dog years ( somewhat true but not exactly) without understanding it from a doggos [perspective. Their entire lifetime from pup to elder is dedicated to its hooman. For example the last 2GSDs that went over the rainbow bridge were 15+ and 16+ in hoomann years. That translates to circa 80 yrs with a partner/companion.
Justice Thomas in waiting.What a horrific thought and yet there it is.Trump has evaded justice his whole life and it continues.The worst POTUS in our history continues to get break after break after break.When will this stop? When will We The People get our justice?We all have watched this grifter mow down our rule of law with little consequence so far.It needs to stop.
Can We The People file a class action suit?Gross negligence.Our government conspiring with a known adversary.Our politicians being complicit with the overturning the results of a fair election.This whole thing is a sham.Donald Trump is trying to get back into power to keep himself out of prison.May Day!
If Trump wins the election in November, an open seat on the Supreme Court will be the least of our worries. We’ll be too busy fighting fascism ON OUR OWN SOIL to care about another robed figure on a body that will have by then lost all credibility and authority.
LT: A few days ago your column was an almost pensive reflection on the good in American communities, that which works. I was a bit flabbergasted, but did decide to focus on the evergyday, albeit small positives for a bit. Shift gears. A pause of calm. Now I'm back to a more familiar emtion: horrified. Strip away the fancy words, song and dance, Cannon and those with whom she consults are traitors, pure and simple.
Yeah. Thanks for bringing up that shitstain nugent. Not. He's from Michigan where I live. In the 70's he did an interview with I believe Rolling Stone where he infamously said "I like to hang out near junior high schools to wait for the little girls." Not to mention threatening President Obama's life. His "music" is truly wretched.
Here's my six degrees of Ted Nugent. I was a property manager at a large office building in Downtown Chicago about 25 years ago. One of my main duties was to manage the Tenant construction in the building. My main focus was to protect the integrity of the building and to protect the interests of my Tenants. There was only one time that I had to ask that a contractor be barred from working in the building - Ted Nugent's brother. He continually thumbed his nose at the rules of the building and was called out several times for rude/obnoxious behavior. I had a meeting with him in my office and he went on and on about he's Ted Nugent's brother and do I know who Ted Nugent is? I sat stone faced as he bragged about this and then told him it did not matter to me who his brother was and reiterated what proper behavior was in the building. After he was gone, I heard from several people who said that they were glad they wouldn't have to deal with him anymore. My co-workers breathed a sigh of relief that they would not have to police this guy anymore.
Thank you for your six degrees. I'm sure you know a lot of great music has come out of Motown. And through all these years and great acts I've never come across a Bob Seger comment or article where he even mentions Nugent. I have a hilarious story about an encounter I had with Bob but that will have to be for another time. Thanks again.
Of course! I grew up listening to Motown music! I was curious about Bob Seger's political preferences a few years ago, so I googled him. The information I found said he would not choose a side but preferred to remain neutral. But when I dug back in the past, I found some Democratic leanings. I am interested in hearing about your Bob Seger encounter. Little did I know 25 years ago that I was being given a glimpse into the future with the "won't follow the rules" Nugent!
I think Bob was just being cagey. 2 days ago John Sinclair died. His obit made The NY Times. If you recall (Im going to be 66 soon so this all happened in 1969 . Sinclair was the founder of the White Panther party, poet. essayist fierce political activist. Sinclair got busted for selling two joints to an undercover cop. He got a sentence 10 years in jail. he insisted he was framed. The kids were outraged, including John and Yoko.. A big concert was held at Chrysler arena in Ann Arbor. Seger was on the Bill. The place was packed. Everybody was smoking weed. At what was supposed to be the end of the concert surprise surprise out came John and Yoko with Jerry Rubin Abbie Hoffman and others. Lennon specifically Wrote a song Free John Sinclair the place went nuts. After many many legal challenges and him spending months and months in jail, his case was overturned and it was revealed he was set up. Now on to my own Seger story. In 1987 I worked for a billionaire alcoholic asshole. My salary was $20,000 a year. A paltry sum given my resposibilities. So a couple of the laborers in the back had this weird system for playing the lottery. I could never figure it out. But I was soon enough gettin hunches base on part numbers. So one summer day in 87 I was up in Flint about an hour north from where I was housesitting for friends, In the parking lot of some huge G.M. plant had just come out of a meeting. I was sitting in my car and I got a hunch. M.T. play 8053 straight ( playing it straight means the number comes in exactly that way). Pay out was $5000 per 1$ ticket played. Even said I should write this down but did not. So I drove back to Birmingham Mi area (an absolutely filthy rich town and now it's just grotesque). So I stopped in a party store to play the lottery. It was about 4 or 4:30 in the afternoon. I walk in the store and it's packed. At least 10 to 12 people in front of me waiting to check out. I go to the end of the line and start my wait. Eventually I get my turn to play the lottery, but the cashier starts absolutely losing it screaming this that and the other. At first I thought it was a medical episode, then I was able tom make out her screams That's Bob Seger that's Bob Seder etc etc. So I look out the window and I see Seger getting into A White Corvette. Had been standing behind him the whole time. He was literally right in front of me. So after the freakout by the cashier I played the lottery for 10 bucks on some random bullshit that popped into my head. 7:29 that night the lottery numbers are drawn while I watched, Winning numbers for the 4 digit 8053. Seger owes me $50,000..
Wow! That IS a great story! You certainly got a lesson in synchronicity! Bob Seger distracted you (and everyone else in the store!). One of my friends from college (WMU) was from Birmingham, so I know what you’re talking about. A cool thing about being one of the only people from Illinois while I was at WMU back in the 80’s, was that I got to learn about & explore all the areas around Detroit through my friends. I also love the story about John Sinclair. John Lennon is one of my inspirations so it’s nice to hear how he helped Sinclair. He was a master at moving energy. I hope you’ve made peace with the lotto tickets. It sounds like whatever magic the guys in the back room had, rubbed off on you. Thanks for sharing this great time in your life with me!
Wow Gail you have a lot on your plate. Thank you for replying. When it comes to tech I don't know what I'm doing especially substack. I'm still not clear on what following exactly is. Plus it was late at night when I did that and well you know "I know nothing". All the best to you and your husband.
Also google Bob Seger interview with Bob Costas. Also did not mean to imply that Seger lives in Birmingham. My younger brother is a building contractor and built a house right next to Bob's in the 90's.
Another connection to Bob Seger!