Posted by Andrew Branca
on September 09, 2014110 Comments
Well, this weekend I learned there's a guy named Ray Rice who's got a pretty mean left hook, at least when he's punching his wife in the face on an elevator.
It seems he also plays something called "football," or at least he used to do so until surveillance video of the punch was released by some kind of news organization called TMZ.
What caught my attention about this story was not, of course, Mr. Rice or football or TMZ, about all of which I know pretty much nothing, but a raging series of debates I see on Twitter today about the matter.
As is typical of such debates argued in the 140 character "jabs" of the Twitterverse, there's a great deal of mis- and cross-communication, undoubtedly much of it deliberate.
(UPDATE: Note that this topic can now also be viewed as a Law of Self Defense University Video Lecture, or listened to as a Law of Self Defense Podcast, here: http://is.gd/1HOsaT)
The key issues leading to angry pitchforks and torches appear to be:
Is it ever permissible for a man to physically strike a woman? Here the two sides are "No, never," and "Yes, if done in necessary self-defense."
Was Ray Rice's punch to his wife's face an example of a lawful use of force in self-defense?
Posted by William A. Jacobson
on September 09, 20148 Comments
I saw this bumper sticker over Labor Day weekend in downtown Providence, in my former home State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations. My wife had seen one on a different car a couple of days earlier.
Former Mayor Vincent "Buddy" Cianci has been covered here before regarding his conviction under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
In his first act as Mayor of Providence, Buddy resigned in 1984 after being convicted of assaulting his wife's alleged paramour with a fire log and lit cigarette. (Seriously.)
Buddy had a comeback but in 2002 was convicted of running a criminal enterprise, namely, Providence City Hall. Cianci was found not guilty of 26 specific criminal charges. The only charge on which he was convicted was RICO conspiracy.
Buddy has been out of federal prison for several years, and has a very successful radio show. He is still adored by many, regardless of his legal problems. He is a natural retail politician.
Politics is in Buddy's soul, and he's running for Mayor again as an Independent:
Posted by Andrew Branca
on September 09, 201447 Comments
Yesterday I wrote of yet another vicious deadly-force gang attack: "Caught on video: Another black-on-white racially motivated gang attack."
In that post, I cautioned that gang attacks of this kind were likely to end very badly for the attackers once they stumbled upon a victim who was lawfully armed and prepared to defend himself.
It wasn't long before I received an example of this type of attack happening in Milwaukee, four days prior to the September 7 attack described in yesterday's post.
As reported by the Daily Caller (video embedded below), on September 3 a gang of teens attempted to rob a group of people in Milwaukee. According to police spokesman Lt. Mark Stanmeyer, the gang had been involved in dozens of robberies in prior days,
Posted by Kemberlee Kaye
on September 09, 201435 Comments
Is there anything the government doesn't ruin?
I had the pleasure of living in France for some time. While there, I gained an appreciation for their amazing array of cheeses. So vast is their cheese spread that Charles de Gaulle is famously quoted as saying, "Comment voulez-vous gouverner un pays qui a deux cent quarante-six variétés de fromage?" ("How can you govern a country which has two hundred and forty-six varieties of cheese?"). But I digress.
According to The Week, the FDA is out to regulate away our freedom to partake in French cheese:
Posted by Amy Miller
on September 08, 201428 Comments
Congress is back in Washington, and Senate Democrats have wasted no time in bringing forward their proposal for a constitutional amendment that would give Congress the right to set limits on how much money can be raised for and spent in federal political campaigns.
Senate Joint Resolution 19 is sponsored by Tom Udall (D-NM) and has gained the vocal support of powerful Democrats like Elizabeth Warren, Patrick Leahy, Majority Whip Dick Durbin, and Majority Leader Harry Reid. Its three sections would drastically affect both freedom of speech and freedom of association in America:
Section 1. To advance democratic self-government and political
equality, and to protect the integrity of government and the electoral
process, Congress and the States may regulate and set reasonable limits
on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to
influence elections.
Section 2. Congress and the States shall have power to implement
and enforce this article by appropriate legislation, and may
distinguish between natural persons and corporations or other
artificial entities created by law, including by prohibiting such
entities from spending money to influence elections.
Section 3. Nothing in this article shall be construed to grant
Congress or the States the power to abridge the freedom of the
press.
In his first floor speech following the August recess, Majority Leader Reid made it clear that he's willing to once again prevent Republicans from having a voice in the Senate---ironic considering he's advocating the muzzling of voters via Congressional fiat:
Posted by William A. Jacobson
on September 08, 20144 Comments
S. Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, died today at the age of 93.
The Wall Street Journal reports:
Mr. Cathy, an entrepreneur from an early age, built Chick-fil-A from a small diner founded in an Atlanta suburb 68 years ago into the top fast-food chicken chain in the U.S. Known for its grounding in the tenets of the founder's religious devotion as well as for its fried-chicken sandwiches, the closely held company has expanded to more than 1,800 stores in 40 states. Its sales have grown for 47 straight years, to $5 billion last year, Chick-fil-A says....
After some early setbacks, Mr. Cathy invented the original Chick-fil-A sandwich in 1964, considered to be the first fast-food chicken sandwich, and opened the company's first restaurant in Atlanta in 1967, according to a timeline on the company's website. He expanded the company in part by setting his restaurants in suburban shopping malls.
Throughout, Mr. Cathy emphasized Christian values. The chain's locations are closed on Sundays and play religious-themed music. Mr. Cathy founded a youth-ministry organization, WinShape Foundation, in 1984, which provides leadership training and college scholarships to young people. Through the foundation, 13 foster homes have been created to provide long-term care for foster children in a family setting.
Chick-fil-A drew attention when activist groups and local politicians tried to force Chick-fil-A out of some cities because of its founding family's views on marriage and charitable donations.
There never was an allegation of discrimination in the workplace -- this was pure political retribution, a precursor to purges such as that against Brendan Eich.
We had extensive coverage of the anti-Chick-fil-A movement, including these posts:
The anti-Chick-fil-A protests turned ugly at times, as Anne's video showed when this street preacher wa "chaulked":
We covered Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day with many reader pictures, such as these:
Posted by Casey Breznick
on September 08, 201426 Comments
Trust not too much to appearances. -Virgil
As the nation sweated out summer 2014, scores of people took to the supposedly charitable act of dumping ice water on their heads to raise awareness about ALS, a neuro-degenerative disease.
In truth, the act of dumping cold water on one’s head was not really a charitable act, since doing so is merely an excuse to get out of being “obligated” to donate $100 to the ALS Association (ALSA), the charity behind this phenomenally successful sensation.
While many people were eager to take the ice bath and forgo the donation, the ALSA reported that from July 29 to August 27 it received $94.3 million in donations, compared to $2.7 million during the same period last year. This 3300% growth in fundraising was courtesy of donations from both existing donors and 2.1 million new ones.
Controversy arose when the ALSA released additional figures showing only 27% of its funds went directly to research last year, while 7% went to administrative costs, 14% to fundraising, 19% to patient and community services, and 32% to public and professional education.
Posted by Amy Miller
on September 08, 20146 Comments
The Islamic State, otherwise known as "ISIS" or "ISIL," made a name for itself earlier this summer via graphic videos showing the beheadings of American hostages Steven Sotloff and James Foley. The atmosphere of terror created by ISIS in northern Iraq and Syria has helped the group draw in millions of dollars in ransom money, and motivated world leaders to work together to develop the growing terror threat in the Middle East.
Part of the United States' strategy to fight ISIS is happening online in the form of propaganda videos targeted at Americans who are considering defecting to the Middle East to fight with the Islamic State.
The first hit, “Welcome to ISIL-Land," features a series of graphic smash cuts highlighting the torture, beheadings, and mass violence that has defined the group's presence in the American media.
WARNING: It's graphic.
Posted by Andrew Branca
on September 08, 201456 Comments
Fast on the heels of the gang attack upon the white couple described in yesterday's post, "Caught on Video: Vicious Group Attack by Thugs on Young Couple," comes another video capture of a gang of black teenagers beating unconscious what appears to be a randomly selected white man intent on nothing more than doing his grocery shopping, as well as two store employees who came to his aid.
Breitbart news site Big Government reports that:
According to Memphis police, the group emerged from a restaurant in the same strip mall and immediately attacked a 25-year-old man as he left his car in the parking lot and headed for the grocery store.
Two grocery store employees ran to the man's aide, and the black mob attacked them as well, brutally beating all three victims into unconsciousness.
Cell phone video of the attacks as captured by an observer is embedded below.
The screen cap of that video in the image above captures the moment that one of the attackers stomps down upon a fallen store employee's hand, which had been protecting his face, so that the attacker could next swing a kick directly into the now unprotected face.
The victim was, not surprisingly rendered utterly unconscious by the vicious attack, as were the other two victims of the gang.
The attacking gang can be heard laughing throughout, as can spectators.
Posted by New Neo
on September 08, 201425 Comments
Now that Ted Cruz has proposed that Americans who fight with ISIS be stripped of citizenship, there's been a rash of articles questioning whether this would be legal, such as this one at Hot Air.
At American Thinker, Rick Moran has written:
Currently, natural born citizens of the US cannot have their citizenship revoked against their will. It is unclear whether Cruiz's bill would supercede the denaturalization law. It is also against international law to strip an individual's citizenship if they are not also a citizen of another country. In other words, the US cannot create a "stateless" person that no other country would accept.
The relevant law is this statute originally from the 1940s, as well as several subsequent SCOTUS cases. This is how that portion of the statute reads:
a) A person who is a national of the United States whether by birth or naturalization, shall lose his nationality by voluntarily performing any of the following acts with the intention of relinquishing United States nationality— ...
When a man is caught soliciting a prostitute, the punishment police hand out is usually far less than what they will find at home when their wife or girlfriend find out.
So police in California are using the tactic of shaming Johns by posting their pictures online, in hopes the embarrassment being shared with the public will be enough to curb prostitution.
It appears that the tactic is meeting with initial success. In a video report from KTVU Channel 10 News, Jim Sciarroni, who owns an auto body shop near a hot-spot for prostitution, says that since the department started posting the pictures on their Facebook page: "Traffic has slowed down, there's very few that come by here during the day. The traffic on Ohio has quieted down."
Local news has this video report:
Posted by William A. Jacobson
on September 07, 2014140 Comments
Our beloved Mandy Nagy, also known as Liberty Chick, had a stroke yesterday and brain surgery to relieve the pressure today.
I am in touch with Mandy's mom, who approved me letting people know via Legal Insurrection. Before surgery, Mandy also was able to nod approval with a small smile, her mom tells me.
Mandy has been writing for Legal Insurrection since March 2013, and started the Morning Insurrection newsletter for us a little over a month ago.
Mandy, who always had several research projects running while also writing for Legal Insurrection, was to start full time at Legal Insurrection tomorrow, Monday, September 8, in charge of running the blog.
We're praying for Mandy, and keeping her seat at Legal Insurrection warm awaiting her return, however long it takes.
We will update as more information is approved for release by the family.
It’s been just over one year (9/6/14) since Mandy had her stroke.
In the first few months she went from being unconscious to opening her eyes every now and then. She was missing the left side of her skull for four months, was deaf and blind on her right side and had a feeding tube for several months. She was bedridden for two months.
After about six months of rehab she has recovered enough to walk small distances by herself with a cane but no other assistance. She is still paralyzed partially on her right side. She has no use of her right arm, but her right leg is functioning enough to walk a little. She spends much of the day in a wheelchair. She seems to be able to hear and see again on her right side. Her speech has improved slightly. She can say a few words and I am teaching her to speak in sentences.
I have tried to get her interested in using the internet and email again, but have been unsuccessful.
She is very slowly learning to do simple everyday tasks on her own. Over the year she has had to learn how to do things we learn as children such as using utensils to eat or brush teeth.
I have to read print to her since she says she only recognizes and knows the meaning of some words. However, she understands most of what I am saying to her. She has started to do things without my telling her to do them such as letting the dogs out the door. Months ago she wouldn’t have thought about taking the initiative to do that.
Her recovery continues to be a long, slow difficult process. Her life has changed and she seems to have accepted that. I believe it would be safe enough and she is now ready to live more independently in her own home. I am working on finding her a place to live and making arrangements for someone to take over my duties. I knew when she came here to live with me that it was going to be life changing for her, my husband and me.
Mandy, Victor and I are very grateful to all of the people who have donated and sent good wishes over the past year. It’s incredible to me that she knows so many people that care.
I will be taking this site down in a few months but I wanted to give you this last update before I do.
Thank you all very much,
Ginny Ashrafi Nagy
Update 11:20 a.m. 7-20-2015 -- Mandy's Mom writes
She is making some improvement, but slowly. She has had to learn how to do everything from which utensil to use at a meal to how to blow her nose. She goes to outpatient rehab 2-3 times a week for physical and speech therapy. She can walk on her own using a 4-prong cane (as opposed to the larger walker she was using) but still needs the wheelchair. She has learned how to put her socks, brace and shoes on. That is a big deal since she doesn’t need to rely on me now to get up and do this every time she has to get out of bed. I still have to bath and dress her, prepare her meals and help her at the table.
She understands most of what we are saying to her but it sometimes takes a while before she processes what we said. She cannot talk yet except for a few words. I continue to try to encourage her to go on the internet, twitter, facebook, etc. but she shows no interest. She can only read a little.
She seems stronger and is up all day now. She used to go to her bed by noon. I will be looking for a caregiver for her soon. I am not young anymore. This job has been hard. And, I will someday be gone, so I need to set her up on her own with a live-in caregiver who will be content doing this kind of work.
Mandy is slowly walking on her own with a walker and becoming more independent as she learns again how to do everyday tasks. And, once she learns it, she remembers. She still cannot speak except for a few words and phrases, although she knows what she wants to say – she just can’t say it. I am working with her to get her to stop pointing and drawing pictures in the air and speak the words she’s trying to say.
She goes to physical, speech and occupational therapy about 2-3 days a week. But I also work with her. I can see from her eyes and the level of her alertness that she is improving. A month ago she was exhausted by noon and went to her room to nap. Now she usually stays awake all day.
She has gained enough strength to go places. Her sister has taken her to the park, food shopping, etc. She uses a wheel chair but most of the time I ask her to walk instead of using the chair. I’ve gotten her to walk up and down two steps (while holding on to me) off the back patio so she can walk outside when it is nice.
Mandy and her family are so very grateful for your donations, prayers and touching posts.
Update 2:35 p.m. 4-4-2015
Mandy's Mom writes at the Fundraising Page:
Thank you to everyone for all of your kind notes, prayers and donations. I apologize for not posting updates more often. Mandy sees each post and is very touched that there are so many people who care about her. I know she misses the way it used to be.
Mandy has gotten to the point where she can walk short distances around the house and outside with a walker or pronged cane without my holding on to her. She wears a brace on her right leg. She is very slowly doing more things on her own. She does not have use of her right arm.
Speaking is still very difficult for her because she knows what she wants to say but doesn't know how to yet. She has a speech generating device that helps her to form words and learn language starting with the alphabet. Her neurologist has said that almost all of the cells on the left side of the brain have been destroyed. Those cells cannot come back, but the right side can compensate and learn to do some of the things the left side used to do. I see improvement but it can take months/years to come about. She goes to outpatient rehab almost every day for PT, OT and Speech Therapy. She is beginning to look like herself again since her hair is now growing back and she has started wearing her glasses. She can read a little but cannot write since she doesn't know language yet.
At this point she still needs around the clock care. But slowly she will learn to do some of those things on her own. Our long term goal is to eventually get her in her own apartment with a live-in caregiver. I won't always be here for her and I am not getting any younger.
I will need to find someone kind, capable and willing to replace me. She remains positive and in good spirits.
Ginny Nagy
Update 9:25 a.m. 2-13-2015
Mandy's Mom writes at the Fundraising Page:
Mandy’s surgery on Jan. 8, 2015 was good with no complications. Her skull is back and now she can grow her hair back. She was slower and weaker than usual after it, but now she is back on track.
For weeks, several different therapists came to our home for rehab. But now that has ended and she begins outpatient rehab next week.
She still cannot speak except for a few words, i.e., Yes, no, and Oh my God. She understands most of what is said to her, however, she cannot respond verbally. She has a speech generating device that helps somewhat with some of her needs. But back and forth conversation is frustrating for her.
She is in good spirits and still has her sense of humor. Our three King Charles Cavalier Spaniels are constant companions for her and she enjoys them very much. Good thing she likes animals.
Her walking has gotten better to the point I can let her walk on her own with a walker on her left side and without me holding on to her.
She has lost some of her memory. Hopefully someday she will get it back.
I show her the donations and good wishes everyone posts and sends. She is very grateful and touched by it.
Again, thank you everyone. Ginny Nagy
Mandy's Mom further wrote to me: "Although I try often to get her interested in the internet, she still shows no interest." At least she has her priorities straight!
Update 8:30 a.m. 12-30-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys that Mandy can walk very short distances with help, a left walker and a leg brace. She needs help with everything else. Improvement in her speech has been slow. She understands much of what is said to her but not everything. She has lost some of her memory and she does not recognize some simple tasks, words, objects and people she once knew. She is starting to get interested in current events and watches the news.
(added) Mandy's mother has posted an update tonight at the fundraising page:
This New Year’s Eve Mandy is home. Different therapists come to the home to provide rehab. She can walk short distances with my help and a left handed walker. She still has no use of her right arm but can feel some sensation. In addition to her IPad that has Apps on it, she is now using a speech recognition device which will help her to communicate. She understands most of what is said to her but cannot respond verbally. Surgery to re-attach her skull is scheduled for Jan. 8th. She is deeply touched and so very grateful to everyone who has donated, sent notes and gifts, prayers and good wishes. I believe 2015 is going to be a good year. Happy and healthy New Year to everyone.
Folks, this will be a long road for Mandy. Please consider donating to her fundraiser if you have not already, or a second donation if you have already donated. PLEASE CONTRIBUTE.
You can pay by credit card at the GoFundMe page:
You also can pay by check, payable to the "Mandy Nagy Supplemental Needs Trust" at the following address:
Mandy Nagy Supplemental Needs Trust
P.O. Box 33
Liberty Corner, NJ 07938
Update 2:00 p.m. 11-26-2014 -- Mandy's mom writes on the Fundraising Page:
Mandy continues with her rehab. She can walk with the help of one person and a cane/walker. She has some movement in her right leg but very little in her right arm. She understands most of what is being said to her but has trouble communicating back. She can read some. With her IPad she is working with several apps to teach her the English language again and to make it easier to communicate. Thank you all for your generosity. It is with these funds she is purchasing the equipment she needs to get better and make life easier. I have shown her the website and she can read the comments herself. Her response is “oh” “oh”. I can see how grateful she is.
She also followed up with me: Mandy will be home for Thanksgiving. She will then have in home care and rehab. After that she will go to outpatient rehab. Her spirits are high and she has a good attitude.
Update 8:00 p.m. 11-2-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: She continues to make remarkable improvement, and can move around in the wheelchair. She is still weeks away from coming home. And when she comes home after that she will continue with outpatient therapy.
Update 6:00 p.m. 10-21-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: She is making remarkable progress in the short amount of time since she became ill. She is in a wheelchair most of the day and in therapy. She still cannot talk in whole sentences, but can say a few words. She can walk with help. She is in very good spirits and is laughing. From what I can see and the progress she’s made in just over a month, I believe she will be talking and walking (some) in 6-9 months just as the neurologist said.
Update 8:00 p.m. 10-12-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: She's doing well. Very alert and can move her right side a little bit. Doctor said she was walking a little bit with help.
Update 12:30 p.m. 10-5-2014
My wife and I saw Mandy at the rehab facility today. She was very alert. She seemed to understand everything we said, nodded, occasionally said "yeah." Shook her head a lot in response to questions. She indicated she was aware of the fundraiser, but didn't remember me visiting her in the hospital or reading her reader comments, so I did that again. I told her that she always had a place at Legal Insurrection, and she smiled, but that if she only could type with her left hand, we'd have to get her a job at Mother Jones -- to which she laughed really hard.
It's pretty clear that rehab progress will be measured in weeks, not days like when she was in the hospital after the initial stroke. So we'll probably update this post weekly from now on. When we update, we'll alert people by posting this at the top of the homepage and sending out a tweet. We'll also send it out in the Morning Insurrection newsletter.
Update 6:10 p.m. 10-3-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: Mandy has moved from the hospital to a rehab facility.
Update 2:45 p.m. 10-2-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: She looked good today. She's talking a little bit more. She was in very good spirits smiling. I showed her the fundraiser and I could tell by the look on her face that she's extremely grateful to everyone.
Update 8:30 A.m. 9-30-2014 -- The fundraiser has launched: PLEASE CONTRIBUTE.
You can pay by credit card at the GoFundMe page:
You also can pay by check, payable to the "Mandy Nagy Supplemental Needs Trust" at the following address:
Mandy Nagy Supplemental Needs Trust
P.O. Box 33
Liberty Corner, NJ 07938
Update 9:00 p.m. 9-28-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: Mandy was doing well this morning. But she wants to come home. I told her that's not possible yet.
NOTE: Fundraiser for Mandy starts Tuesday. Details to follow.
Update 7:55 p.m. 9-27-2014 -- Mandy's friend Bill tweets: "Mandy was really excited to see me today. She looked at me with those huge blue eyes of hers and smiled [continued] when she looks at me and I know she recognizes me it almost makes me cry."
Update 8:15 p.m. 9-26-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: There isn't much new to report for Mandy. She's progressing nicely. She tries to talk often. Still waiting to get her into the rehab center. Mandy friend Bill tweets: "she did her physical therapy in the morning when I got there and she was pooped from that so she fell asleep watching tv."
Update 7:15 p.m. 9-25-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: She was very alert today. And it seems as though she understands everything we are saying to her and she can also read however she can't identify the letters in what she's reading. It's interesting but I'm not sure how long it will take before she can use an iPad.
Update 6:50 p.m. 9-24-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: We saw Mandy briefly early this morning. She was okay. Improving a little bit each day. Her friend Bill tweets: visited Mandy. Happy, llaughing like last time I was there, she did some physical therapy and I left when she fell asleep" And also: "small progress but she looks good. Seems to be in great spirits which is super important and she's aware things go slow."
Update 1:40 p.m. 9-23-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: She's ready for rehab, but there are delays in getting her placed. During rehab in the hospital today they had her standing up. She understands what people are saying to her and will nod yes or no but she's having trouble with language and output.
Update 6:15 p.m. 9-22-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: She's making progress. Her friend Bill was there today making her laugh. Still no date for rehab but should be soon. Each day she adds a one word or two. Bill tweets: just saw Mandy. She looks good. Laughing and smiling up a storm pics from Climate Rally. Some limited speech.
Update 5:45 p.m. 9-21-2014 -- This is where I say: Stay hopeful but cautious, and not let recent progress create unrealistic short-term expectations. Mandy's mom conveys: She's doing very well. While I was there they put her in a recliner and she did her exercises and watched TV. I got her to laugh a few times. The color in her face has come back. I am very hopeful for significant recovery.
While the timing is not definite yet, we are hoping to launch a fundraising campaign for Mandy starting next Monday, September 29. Stay tuned for details.
Update 5:15 p.m. 9-20-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: She's doing very well today. She's very alert and trying to talk. I played some music for her and she enjoyed that. She's getting stronger every day.
Update 4:15 p.m. 9-19-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: Mandy is doing much better today. She even said a few words and was laughing. And she wanted to watch TV so I put FOXNews on for her so she can keep up with the news. Mandy's friend Bill tweets: saw Mandy today and she was able to say "no" and "bye" to me. Very smiley while I was there.
Update 7:30 p.m. 9-18-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: Mandy was not as active today. They moved her to another step down room. And someone from the rehab facility was there today to see her. I think it will just be a few more days before she goes to rehab.
Update 4:15 p.m. 9-17-2014 -- Mandy's friend Bill visited her today, and tweets: She is really alert today. Was watching music videos on my iPhone and making funny faces at me. He further reports that she has not lost her sense of humor: "I asked @liberty_chick if she was tired of me being there and she nodded. Damn cat lady."
Update 5:15 p.m. 9-16-2014 -- My visit with Mandy.
My wife and I visited Mandy today in the hospital. She clearly knew who I was, and reacted positively to me reading to her reader comments. She often laughed, and clearly was moved, nodding her head when I asked her if she recognized some of the names I thought she would know (both real names, and some of our regular commenters who use pseudonyms). She listened carefully as I read the comments and tweets. I asked her if she knew what a Thunderclap was, and she nodded yes, and I told her about our Thunderclap for her, and the statistics on it. It was hard for me to hold it together as I read to her the reaction and outpouring of love from so many people. I know she heard you.
I told her that there always will be a place for her at Legal Insurrection, no matter in what capacity, but that she needed to focus now on getting better. As to getting better, the prognosis is hopeful according to the doctors, but I don't want to kid you, she has a long road ahead of her.
We are organizing, with the family, a fundraiser for Mandy, but it's complicated given her situation. Ours will be the only "official" fundraiser, so don't believe it if someone else tells you they are raising funds for her. I hope to have more information next week.
I'm heartbroken that Mandy has to go through this, but I'm hopeful that with good medical care and support from family, friends and the blogosphere, she'll make it through and come back to us.
Update 3:40 p.m. 9-15-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: She has improved. She seems to focus much better when you're talking to her. She was even trying to laugh. I handed her a card and she held it in her hand and was looking at it. That's the first time she did that. I think maybe in a day or two she might be able to communicate on an iPad.
Thanks FTR Radio and all participants in the Thunderclap:
Update 5:15 p.m. 9-14-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: They just moved her out of ICU. She was doing much better today. She also seems to understand better when you talk to her. Katie writes: She smiled regularly, nodding and shaking her head to answer questions.
Update 3:30 p.m. 9-13-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys that there is no real change from the day before. Two of Mandy's friends who are visiting her today report that she definitely and emphatically acknowledges them, and laughs at Mandy-type jokes.
There is a Thunderclap for Mandy being organized, please sign up as soon as possible at the link (it is a pre-programmed way of having people Tweet and post on Facebook at the exact same time). We're trying to organize it so that it takes place when I visit her on Tuesday morning, so I can show/tell her about it as it is happening, but we need at least 100 people signed up by then for it to work.
Update 3:45 p.m. 9-12-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: She's doing the same. They had her sitting up again for over an hour. She was opening her eyes and trying to communicate.
Update 10:40 a.m. 9-12-2014 -- On Tuesday, September 16, I'll be visiting Mandy. If there is a message you want to convey, leave in the comments, which I will be reading to her.
Update 2:30 p.m. 9-11-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: Mandy has made some progress today. The physical therapy people put her in a chair today so she was sitting up and was very active and trying to talk. Separately, a friend who visited Mandy today observed that her eyes lit up with recognition when she saw him and "She sneezed on us." Be thankful for small things! I am going to see her Tuesday -- so if there is anything you want to convey to her, post it in the comments here and I will read them to her.
Update 2:45 p.m. 9-10-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: She's doing better today. The swelling in both her eyes has gone down. She is much more active today than she was yesterday. She is moving her left side often and she's even trying to talk. It's going to take a long time. But I'm glad she's made some progress.
Update 3 p.m. 9-9-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys: The swelling has gone down some which is a good sign. But she will be in ICU for a few more days and then to another room. The doctor was optimistic about her long-term prospects. She is sleeping most of the time. But she does respond when spoken to. Mandy's sister indicated: Our brother just whispered in Mandy's ear that she has a hashtag. :)
Update 2 p.m. 9-8-2014 -- Mandy's mom conveys the following: It's a serious situation. The pressure is still somewhat high on her brain. She has been able to squeeze my hand with her left hand to let me know she knows I'm there. There has been no change today from yesterday. ICU does not permit flowers. But tell everyone thank you very much.
Update 7:35 p.m.-- Mandy's mom tells me she is out of surgery, and the surgery went well. I can't tell you how much I miss Mandy and can't wait until she gets back. Mandy always was the voice of reason around here in an unreasonable world.
Posted by Leslie Eastman
on September 07, 20149 Comments
As I noted in my June election report, Governor Jerry Brown will be facing Republican challenger Neel Kashkari in California's gubernatorial race.
There one and only debate between them was held Thursday. Prior to the event, conservatives in California were wondering if, given the fact Brown holds a tremendous lead in the polls, Kashkari would decide to throw caution to the win and aggressively attack Brown's recent record in office.
After a slow start, it appears that the answer was yes:
Gov. Jerry Brown's long-shot Republican challenger blasted him for failing to do enough to land a Tesla battery plant Thursday during the only scheduled debate of this year's governor's race, a testy, hour-long exchange.
Not A Natural? Obama Says Political Theater Not His Strength
President Barack Obama, once mocked by his political opponents as “the biggest celebrity in the world,” told NBC’s Chuck Todd that the theater of the presidency is “not something that always comes naturally to me.”
Pressed by Todd about his decision to play golf shortly after a Martha’s Vineyard press conference addressing the beheading of journalist James Foley, Obama said he “should have anticipated the optics” of hitting the links.
“Part of this job is also the theater of it,” he said in the exclusive interview for NBC’s Meet the Press. “Well, it's not something that always comes naturally to me. But it matters. And I'm mindful of that.”
The president's words are inspiring mockery on Twitter.
Posted by Andrew Branca
on September 07, 201479 Comments
What timing. Just last Sunday I put up a post exploring the question of "When can you legally use a gun against an unarmed person?" In that post I explained that deadly force, such as a gun, can be used in lawful self-defense even against an "unarmed" attacker, where the "unarmed" attack nevertheless presents a threat of death or grave bodily harm.
Disparity of Force Can Justify Defensive Use of Gun Against Even "Unarmed" Attack
In determining whether a deadly force threat is presented by an attacker the law looks to see if there existed a deadly force disparity of force between the attacker and the defender, such that the defender would be unable to reasonably defend themselves without resort to a deadly force themselves (typically in the form of a firearm).
There are many circumstances in which a deadly-force disparity of force can exist. One, of course, is where the attacker is himself armed with a deadly weapon, such as a gun or knife.
Such a deadly force disparity of force can also exist, however, even in the absence of an deadly force weapon wielded by the attacker. (It should be noted, of course, that anything can be a deadly weapon, if used in a manner likely to cause death or grave bodily harm--and this includes one's hands/fists and feet.)
One of the most common deadly force disparity-of-force circumstances is where there is a disparity of numbers, such that the attackers substantially outnumber the defenders.
Another is disparity of gender, where the attacker is male and the defender female--a disparity further aggravated when the woman is dressed in a manner not conducive to physical self-defense (e.g., wearing heels and a dress).
