Welcome back to the Scuttlebutt. The “classic” news sources, AKA Mainstream Media rarely go back and review their past stories (called following up).
There are reasons for that: The 24-hour news cycle and short attention spans, drive rewards for getting the news out first, and no credit for getting it RIGHT. The Propaganda pieces driven by an agenda are designed to appeal to your emotions, not your logical centers. Coming back and reviewing prior stories often flies in the face of anything like an emotional reaction, and drives actual thought. The vapid twits on The VIEW, and MSNBC don’t want you to think, that would interfere with their intent to direct your beliefs and thus actions. Here at The Scuttlebutt, we take a different perspective. We want you to think, to ask questions, and to take nothing at face value, including what we say. As part of that, we’re going to revisit some stories that I have talked about in prior posts.
You will note that I’ve used “we” several times in that paragraph. That’s because this is no longer a one-man show. Two correspondents who have done work on my blog before are being ‘onboarded’ right now, so that they can put up posts under the Scuttlebutt umbrella. Look for them to do pieces occasionally starting with an introductory piece from each of them soon. Please welcome fellow authors and veterans, Scott Reichek, and Jonathan LaForce.
So, pour yourself something from the bar, grab some of that Smoked Corned beef on the sideboard, and find a seat at the table. As always, please notice the cup at the tip jar Where we restock. My blog will always be free, but comments require you to join and pay a very nominal fee. I got shouted at and cussed out on this, my little spot on the internet. I figure if you want to call me a ~0~< $^~<3r, you can buy me a coffee first.
We’ve talked about Disney’s financial and intellectual issues here several times. We’re revisiting it, because the new quarterly report is out, and Disney would like their stockholders to know that “we’ve turned things around.” Their report states that for the first time, their Streaming business, AKA the “Direct-to-Consumer Division” (DTCD) has made a profit for the quarter in the second quarter of ’24. Then, sadly for the Disney execs, they are required by the FTC to tell you “The rest of the story.” See it's not DTCD in general that’s made a profit, it’s just two of the three branches of that business that made money. To wit, Disney+ and Hulu. ESPN, the third branch of that Division still lost money, and in fact, so much money that on net, the Disney DTCD lost $ 18 Million in the second quarter alone. Oh, and they’re predicting that they won’t do as well in the current quarter.
Admittedly that’s a better bottom line than last year’s second quarter, where they lost $659 Mil, but how much longer can the House of Mouse sustain nothing but red ink? Tuesday morning their stock took a kick in the balls, to the tune of a 10% drop. A decade ago this division was bringing in $2 BILLION in profit a quarter. Seems like maybe they would figure out that folks aren’t happy with the drek they’re shoveling? Naw, I guess that’s too much to hope for.
A couple weeks ago, I predicted in “All the Answers” that the ‘harbor in a box’ Biden promised the terrorists of Hamas would not get built on time, if at all, because of vessel breakdowns. I also predicted that once we start trying to build the thing, the very people we are building it to supply will attack us.
Well, it’s been built, but the receiving end at the beach isn’t ready, so it’s not hooked up… Oh, and we started receiving mortar attacks on it already, by (wait for it…) yes, the very assholes it’s designed to provide supplies to! Looks like I’ll take at least a partial win on this: It did get built, but not on time (we’re a week late and counting, and there aren’t any “relief supplies” flowing into Gaza yet… and: Yup, right on schedule, the scorpions attacked the frog that’s trying to get them across the stream. Then, just in case this wasn’t enough proof of their inability to join the civilized world, the Rafa Crossing, and the Kerem Shalom Crossing into Gaza were both attacked by mortars and rockets, as well as suicide bombers. In case you’re not paying attention, those are the crossings used by ‘humanitarian organizations’ to bring food and supplies into this terrorist enclave. Then they wanted Israel to get on board a cease-fire… WHEN WILL WE LEARN? It is in their nature (and by they, I mean everyone in Gaza) To destroy. They have a wonderful oceanfront property that could be a very profitable asset, feeding and clothing the citizens of Gaza. The only thing that they can think to do with it, is use it as a launching pad for missiles to kill the infidel. (That’s us by the way, for you people that can’t figure it out.) It’s time for a “Masada moment.” Do unto Gaza what the Romans did to the Sicarii Jews in 73 AD. What’s that? You don’t know much about that? Look it up, it will do you good.
While we’re talking about Israel, and the whole unpleasantness that is Anti-Semitism, I just want to note, that a Past Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of Washington had to put out a warning and position-post after at least one of our lodges was trashed with Nazi symbolism in black spray paint (Swastikas and SS runes, and I believe they caught her.) His post included warning us to be safe and back away, avoiding confrontation.
I understand your position, Most Worshipful, but I fear I can not comply. If someone wants to come after me for the ring and belt buckle I sport… Well, they’re welcome to try. Seems like Doc Holiday had a phrase that is appropriate here…
Last week I told you about the shenanigans that the Framing Bastards and Inquisitors (FBI) and the GSA pulled with the documents that were delivered to Maro-A-Largo, just in time to be ‘found’ by the surprise FBI raid a couple of days later… Well, there’s a follow on for that. It seems that the picture above is now admitted to be a faked staged photo, using sheets that were not there but were brought by the FBI. This whole case is based on the charges that Trump obstructed justice, and failed to secure classified documents in ways that were tantamount to espionage.
The judge in the case has now canceled the trial until some yet-to-be-determined date, while she deals with motions by the defense, and examines whether or not the case can even proceed. It seems that the FBI now admits they altered documents, removed cover sheets, put new cover sheets on the documents, reordered documents and other information then told the judge that nothing was disturbed, and in general blew the chain of custody requirements for evidence. The ‘Special Council’ (Bratt) states “In many but not all instances, the FBI was able to determine which document with classification markings corresponded to a particular placeholder sheet” after removing documents, placing ‘placeholder sheets’ in the box, and going through the documents. On April 12, the Judge directly asked Bratt, “Are the boxes in their original, intact form as seized?” Bratt replied yes, but “with one exception, and that is that the classified documents have been removed and placeholders have been put in the documents [place.]” Bratt later had to admit that this was a lie.
It’s worth noting at this point that the FBI team that handled this was from the FBI field office in Washinton DC, even though there is an FBI field office in Southern Florida. If you think that’s just a coincidence, you probably also think Putin’s election was fair and honest.
I can tell you that if I had screwed up this badly as a street cop, it’s not that the case would have gotten thrown out at trial, it would have never gone to trial in the first place. The Prosecutor would have declined to charge, based on failure to preserve evidence, and I would have lost my badge.
Seriously, this is as blatant a fuckup as there is, and everything in the case now comes under the “fruits of the poisonous tree” doctrine. I expect Judge Cannon to bounce this case out on its ear, and if she doesn’t, it will surely get reversed on appeal. I have to give a big nod here to Julie Kelly, who did most of the legwork for this and published it at
you should go over there and take a look at her stuff, she does great work.
A couple of quick notes:
CDR Sal referenced something in passing the other day that I wasn’t familiar with. “Irish Democracy.” I advocate it. For a good explanation, go see https://www.econlib.org/the-pros-and-cons-of-irish-democracy/ I think it’s about time we got our Irish up.
In firearms circles and libertarian groups, everyone is pissed off about Ryan Watson and his wife Valerie. If you missed the story, or just don’t recognize the names, these are the folks staring down the barrel of 12 years of incarceration in Turks & Caicos (that’s a nation in the windward islands of the Caribbean) for the crime of having four bullets in their luggage. It seems he failed to remove the ammo after a recent deer hunt, before heading to the tropics. Now the funny thing to me about this, is everyone is pissed at the TSA for missing the ammo and not stopping Ryan from leaving the States with it!
Look the TSA are a bunch of failed security guards. Anyone that doesn’t know that, shouldn’t be allowed to walk around without a keeper. They’re MORONS. If you don’t understand that when you leave the USA you’re subject to laws, punishments, and rules that we would never stand for in this country, you’re a moron too, and should never, ever, for any reason, leave the confines of CONUS.
(Seriously, don’t go to Hawaii, they think that the second amendment is null and void there, because it ‘violates the spirit of Aloha’ or some such bullshit, and has told the federal government that “the second amendment doesn’t count here!” Until that shit makes its way to SCOTUS, you do NOT want to be there with guns or ammunition. And to get to Alaska you have to go through Canada, which means facing firearms laws and restrictions that make Russia look civilized unless you fly direct. That has its own problems.)
I’ve flown internationally many times. I’ve only missed two continents, (Australia, which is on my list, and Antarctica, which I could not care less about.) I’m pathological about making damn good and sure that nothing I’m bringing in, is going to get me locked in some foreign jail. If you’re NOT that paranoid, please, don’t travel, I don’t want to have to write about how you were an idiot internationally. This shit is soundly on Ryan, and while I feel for him, and I hope he gets enough pressure applied on his behalf to get him out of this… Well, dude, you were stupid in public. Oh, and it seems he’s not the only one who stepped on his crank in this manner, some former pro baseball player named Bryan Hagerich is also awaiting trial for the same shit.
So, to review:
1) don’t travel to Turks & Caicos, they’re a bunch of dicks who need to see all their tourist dollars go away, and-
2) for the love of the Gods, go through your damn luggage before you travel internationally, and ensure there’s no ammo, guns, knives of longer than the legal limit in the country you’re going to (it’s cheaper to just buy a knife there like I do) Cannabis products, (looking at you there Brittney Griner, you stupid bitch) prescribed drugs not in their original bottles with a prescription attached, or anything else that MIGHT be illegal where you’re traveling to.
If in doubt, the one thing the State Department does that’s actually worth something is https://www.state.gov/travelers/ and while you’re there, enroll in the STEP program for Gods’ sake! Unless you’re traveling for military reasons, intentionally violating the law as either a smuggler or a mercenary, or are wanted by the Popo, you want the State Department to be able to reach you, while you’re on foreign soil. YES stupid, even in Mexico (in fact especially in Mexico, they’re one small stubbed toe from being a failed state, and you don’t want to be there when the balloon goes up!) You’re paying for this with your taxes, why are you not using it?!
On the other hand, you’re also apparently paying for federal regulations that (as determined by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services) require voter registration cards and pamphlets be provided to illegal aliens who are covered in any way by Obamacare, or other federal medical programs!
Yeah, you read that right, the state is providing the opportunity to register to vote, to people who are in this country illegally because they are ‘entitled’ to medical coverage. It looks at this time like South Carolina is the only state that reads the law this way, (or maybe the only state that will admit to the deed) and the state Republicans are losing their shit over it. There are accusations that SC is not the only state doing it, but they’re the ones I’ve found proof of. For further info, you can go to https://thefederalist.com/2024/05/07/south-carolina-agency-the-feds-force-us-to-give-voter-registration-to-foreign-nationals/ and follow their links to records and direct quotes.
Finally, in the Hoist on his own Petard files, we have NY state Senator Kevin Parker (d) who was quite proud of getting the “Adult Survivors Act” passed bragging that this would be how ‘we get that bastard Trump’ is now… being tried under the Adult Survivors Act, for accusations of rape from 2004 in Haiti. It seems that now Senator Parker believes this law to be ‘unconstitutional.’ Senator Parker has quite the colored past (no I’m not referring to his race here, it’s irrelevant) which includes charges of assault on a police officer, for having the audacity to give Parker a ticket, and assault with destruction of property, for shattering the camera of a New York Post reporter, damaging his car and breaking his finger. Parker has been reelected three times and is now the second senior Democrat in the state senate… Good JOB New York, you get the government you ask for, good and hard.
QOTD today is going to be a point/counterpoint ala the days when Saturday Night Live was actually funny: "Right now we have, you know, young black kids growing up in the Bronx who don't even know what the word 'computer' is." —New York Governor Kathy Hochul.
And as the counterpoint, missing only the “Jane you ignorant slut!” "Democrats are always trying to prove they aren't racist by talking about how dumb and incapable minorities are." —Seth Dillon
Yours in Service,
William Lehman