Open Thread

Sorry for the late post: Our auto-posting for some reason glitched out today, so I'm posting this manually.

Comments

[Mr. Bumble]

...and their off.

[ThePublius]

'they're off...' 🙂

[Mr. Bumble]

Doh! Thanks, English is so hard.

[David Nieporent]

You should fire that autopost guy; he keeps falling down on the job.

[Mr. Bumble]

Can't. DEI hire.

[JoeFromtheBronx]

Yes. I thought it was still Monday.

[Frank Drackman]

CPT, it's a real thing.

[JoeFromtheBronx]

The Justice Department on June 29 sent a Letter (full text) to the President of the International Criminal Court reiterating that the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute and has never consented to the Court's jurisdiction. It emphasizes that the U.S. will oppose any attempt to assert ICC authority over any U.S. person.

https://religionclause.blogspot.com/2026/07/doj-letter-emphasizes-us-rejection-of.html

250 years ago, we spoke of "a decent respect to the opinions of mankind" and "acts and Things which Independent States may of right do."

We currently feel we are special. The rules don't really apply to us.

This is not an ideal situation. I support a presidential candidate who agrees that the rules will apply.

Certain safeguards might be required. I'm open to fleshing out the details. But this is not the way.

[ThePublius]

"We currently feel we are special. The rules don't really apply to us."

Well, yes, obviously, if we didn't ratify the treaty, none of that applies to us! What's so hard to understand about that? You think some European body can make rules, and even if we don't agree those rules apply to us?

[David Nieporent]

Well, yeah. We didn't ratify the French penal code, but if I kill a hobo when I'm in Normandy on vacation, I would expect to be prosecuted.

[ThePublius]

What does that comment have to do with anything we're discussing? Of course, when you're in France you're subject to French law. But nowhere on earth is a U.S. citizen subject to ICC 'regulations.'

[bernard11]

Yeah. One might almost say that while in France he is subject to the jurisdiction thereof.

[ThePublius]

Yea, except when a woman is in France, and subject to French law, if she gives birth there her child is not a French citizen.

[Frank Drackman]

Be better to kill a Mime, nobody likes them anyway.

[Life of Brian]

The statutory scheme cited in the letter has been in place since 2002. To my eye, it says seven ways from Sunday that the US does not recognize any supposed authority of the ICC and won't cooperate with it in any manner.

Maybe give it a quick read and let us know if you think this letter actually breaks any new ground.

[JoeFromtheBronx]

The quote says "reiterating."

So, okay? (Without going into the weeds.)

I said that I think the policy is suspect.

[Bwaaah]

"I said that I think the policy is suspect."

That, too, is not news.

[Bob from Ohio]

"Things which Independent States may of right do."

Like not ratifying a treaty that we oppose, for instance, and therefore not being bound by it.

[Malika la Maize]

Russia unleashed waves of missiles and drones at Ukraine early Monday, killing at least 22 people in attacks that exposed widening gaps in the country's air defenses more than four years into Moscow's full-scale invasion, authorities said.

https://www.npr.org/2026/07/06/g-s1-132088/russian-missile-drone-attack-kyiv-ukraine

January 21, 2024. Rally in Rochester, New Hampshire.
“I will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled before I even take office.” -Trump

[ThePublius]

"In a January 2022 press conference, former President Joe Biden suggested a "minor incursion" by Russia into Ukraine might result in a weaker response from the U.S. and its allies due to potential disagreements."

[Malika la Maize]

What a pathetic fail of a whataboutism.

[ThePublius]

In response to your pathetic beating of a dead horse.

[Glaucomatose]

Unfortunately Russia didn't pursue a minor incursion; they invaded Ukraine with a large portion of their military might, attempted to capture Kiev, and have cost both themselves and Ukraine hundreds of thousands of lives.

Trump called it "very smart" at the time.

[Mr. Bumble]

Where is the UN in all of this?

[Malika la Maize]

Ask Trump, he said he’d have this fixed over and over again before he took office.

[Mr. Bumble]

Giddyap!

[Bwaaah]

At 46th and 1st.

[JoeFromtheBronx]

SCOTUS still doing things ...

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed Texas to continue to enforce, at least for now, a law that requires app stores to verify its buyers’ ages and obtain parental consent for minors to download apps and to purchase paid content within those apps.

In a pair of brief, unsigned orders issued on Monday afternoon, the justices turned down requests to reinstate orders by a federal judge in Austin that barred the state from implementing the law. There were no public dissents from the orders.

https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/07/supreme-court-allows-texas-to-enforce-law-requiring-age-verification-and-parental-consent-on-app/

[Mr. Bumble]

SC summer school?

[not guilty]

The New York Times reported yesterday:

Graham Platner, the Democratic nominee for Senate from Maine, said he was taking time to “reflect” on his political path forward as his support swiftly eroded after a woman accused him of rape.

In a video posted on social media, Mr. Platner called the account “false” even as he acknowledged the threat it posed to his candidacy in a tight race that could determine control of the Senate in November.

“Regardless of the inaccuracy of the reporting but mindful of the political reality it will inflict, we are taking the time to reflect on the best path forward,” he said.

It was not immediately clear whether Mr. Platner intended to continue his campaign against Senator Susan Collins, a Maine Republican. He has until July 13 to withdraw from the race, and if he does the state Democratic Party has until July 27 to replace him on the ticket, according to Maine state law. The leadership of the state party urged him to withdraw.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/07/06/us/platner-campaign-accusation?campaign_id=60&emc=edit_na_20260706&instance_id=178298&nl=breaking-news&regi_id=59209117&segment_id=222618&user_id=86ac9094018f7140c62a54a4e93c075f

In today's NYT:

In a private call with his campaign staff on Monday evening, Mr. Platner did not announce plans to withdraw but implied such a decision would be coming, according to three people familiar with the conversation. He said that he believed he still had leverage to influence which candidate would replace him on the ticket and wanted to ensure that the movement his campaign had built would continue, the people said.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/07/us/politics/graham-platner-maine-senate.html

It's time for Platner to take one for the team. The Senator elected from Maine this November in all likelihood vote on whether to confirm the nominees to succeed Clarence Toady and/or Scam Alito on SCOTUS. To have Susan (Kavanaugh lied to me) Collins in that role is completely unacceptable.

[Frank Drackman]

It's "He said/she said", his mistake was letting her live. How long would it take Al Franken to establish Maine Residency? I hear he's available.

[Michael P]

How long does it take for someone to asphyxiate (not drown) in the back of a submerged car?

[Frank Drackman]

Umm, let me get back to you on that one.

[Sylvie1]

Well, be prepared to accept the "unacceptable." Collins will take it - and continue her good service to us Mainers. Platner is a pile of bull hockey.

[Bob from Ohio]

NYT covered for him in their earlier article. Emphasized the former GOP "operative" and soft pedaled the rape victim so bad that she went to Politico.

GOP women are an out group that the NYT does not think are fully human.

[apedad]

Federal appeals court in Georgia upends Alabama family restrictions for convicted parents

The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit issued a major ruling Monday, declaring that the fundamental right of parents to live with their children extends to all parents, including those with past convictions for child pornography.

In an en banc decision, the court tackled a challenge to the Alabama Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Act. The 2011 state law permanently bars adult sex offenders convicted of offenses involving a child from residing or staying overnight with any minor. Because the law’s definition of a “sex offense involving a child” includes child pornography, the restriction applied directly to plaintiff Bruce Henry, permanently preventing him from living with his young son.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/federal-appeals-court-in-georgia-upends-alabama-family-restrictions-for-convicted-parents/ar-AA27kvgh?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=6a4d14227abb4bce8cfbd5456bce7add&ei=254

I think - in this particular case - this is a correct decision.

The father completed all the penalties, i.e., five years in prison, supervised release, completed a sex offender treatment program, etc.

The story doesn't mention the mother's input or other support systems, e.g., grandparents, friends, clergy, etc., but I'm assuming those play a role too.

[Bob from Ohio]

"father completed all the penalties"

One of the penalties is that sick fucks like him cannot live with minor children. So he did not complete all the penalties, did he?

[Mr. Bumble]

Meanwhile, is Cocaine Mitch dead or alive and is the China Doll now by his side?
https://x.com/Cheering4Change/status/2074216771830116772

[Frank Drackman]

So Laura Loomer says he's "Brain Dead", well she should know, she's a Neurologist.
OK, if he's "Brain Dead" he's Dead, he shouldn't still be in a hospital sucking down precious scarce Healthcare Resources.
So I'm guessing he's not "Brain Dead" (such a mis-used term, it's really bad when Laymen try to use Technical terms)
SO, Sleepy Joe Biden, as bad as he is/was, isn't "Brain Dead"
to be "Brain Dead"
to be "Brain Dead" you need the following,
1. Ascertainment that the patient has sustained a catastrophic, permanent brain injury caused by an identified
mechanism that is known to lead to brain death/death by neurologic criteria (BD/DNC) (7a and 13a)
☐Yes ☐No
Etiology:
2. Neuroimaging consistent with mechanism and severity of brain injury (inpatients with primary posterior fossa
injury, neuroimaging should demonstrate catastrophic supratentorial injury) (7c and 40)
☐Yes ☐No
3. Observation for permanency
a)≥48 hours after acute brain injury(particularly hypoxic ischemic brain injury)for patients ≤2-years-old (8)
b)≥24 hours after hypoxic ischemic brain injury for patients ≥2-years-old (9b)
c)A sufficient amount of time after brain injury to ensure there is no potential for recovery of brain function as
determined by the evaluator based on the pathophysiology of the brain injury (9a)
☐Yes ☐No
Observation period (hours):
4. Core body temperature≥ 36C(fo r≥24 hours for patients whose core body temperature has been ≤35.5°C [10a
and b])
☐Yes ☐No Value:
5. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥100mm Hg and mean arterial pressure (MAP) ≥75mm Hg for adults/SBP and
MAP≥5th percentile for age in children (for patients on venoarterial ECMO:MAP ≥75mm Hg for adults/MAP≥
5th percentile for age in children) (11b and 11c)
☐Yes ☐No Value:
6. Exclusion of pharmacologic paralysis (if administered or suspected) through use of train-of-four stimulator or
demonstration of deep tendon reflexes (12a)
☐Yes ☐No ☐ Not indicated
7. Drug levels for medications that may suppress central nervous system function are therapeutic/subtherapeutic (if
available), pentobarbital level is <5 mcg/mL (if the patient received pentobarbital) and at least five half-lives for
all other such drugs have passed (longer if there is renal/hepatic dysfunction or if the patient is obese or was
hypothermic); (12a)
☐Yes ☐No
8. Alcoholbloodlevel≤80mg/dL(ifclinicallyindicated)(12a) ☐Yes ☐No ☐ Not indicated
9. Toxicology screen (urine and blood) is negative (if clinically indicated) (12a) ☐Yes ☐No ☐ Not indicated
10. Exclusion of severe metabolic, acid-base, and endocrine derangements; (12a) ☐Yes ☐No
11. Areasonableattempthasbeenmadetoinformthepatient’sfamilyoftheplantoperformaBD/DNC examination
(35a)
☐Yes ☐No
Prerequisite Summary (check one):

[JoeFromtheBronx]

Two Supreme Court justices will testify on Capitol Hill next week, marking the first time since 2019 that members of the high court will testify on their annual budget request to Congress.

Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Elena Kagan will appear July 14 before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, which has jurisdiction over the annual spending measure that funds the Supreme Court, according to a scheduling announcement from House Appropriations Chair Tom Cole (R-Okla.).

https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/07/07/congress/scotus-to-congress-00988557