Democrat Emily Gregory has won the State House Special Election in Palm Beach County, FL - home to Mar-a-Lago. That's the 10th flip from R to D in special elections this year. Liane adds: I hope the White House staff have hidden all the ketchup!
In [yester]day’s special legislative elections in Florida, Democrat Emily Gregory flipped the house district in which the Trump Organization’s Mar-a-Lago sits. The district went for Trump by 11% in 2024. Gregory, a business owner and a military spouse, defeated a Republican who received Trump’s “Complete and Total Endorsement” in January. At an election night party, Gregory told her supporters: “When we started this, nobody thought it was possible. They thought we were crazy. I knew my community. I knew we deserved better. We deserve a leader who will fight for us.” Gregory told CNN’s Erin Burnett that she did not focus on Trump, but focused on her Republican opponent and the “issues that matter most to Florida families.”
Craig Scott Valdez, 36, chief of staff to Republican Sen. George Rauscher and newly elected chair of the Anchorage Young Republicans, was arrested Friday on charges of sex trafficking a minor, producing and receiving child sexual abuse material, and coercion and enticement of a minor.
Officials believe there may be at least 12 minors who were victims of his operation.
According to court documents, Valdez allegedly lured a 15-year-old girl he'd groomed on Snapchat to his home to "sexually exploit her to celebrate his birthday." He had met her when she was just 13 or 14 years old. The FBI has identified at least 11 other potential victims.
You know who stopped him that night? Not the Republican Party. Not a background check. Not any kind of vetting process.
Her mother.
A brave mom used a family tracking app to find her daughter at Valdez's home. She knocked — then walked in, punched Valdez in the face, and carried her barely-conscious child to safety.
Valdez, apparently stunned that a mother's love hits harder than his sense of impunity, then FLED HIS OWN HOUSE when police arrived.
Sen. Rauscher's office had nothing to say — firing Valdez only AFTER the charges became PUBLIC. The Anchorage Young Republicans had just elevated this man to state committee chair last month.
The Latest: Iran dismisses US ceasefire plan and issues its own counterproposal.
AP: Iran on Wednesday dismissed an American plan to pause the war in the Middle East, issuing its own counterproposal instead, as it launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries.
Two officials from Pakistan described the 15-point U.S. proposal broadly, saying it addressed sanctions relief, a rollback of Iran’s nuclear program, limits on missiles and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil is shipped.
Iran issued it’s own plan via state TV, which includes a halt to killings of its officials, means to make sure no other war is waged against it, reparations for the war, the end of hostilities and Iran’s “exercise of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.” -- nordy
Stephen Colbert and son will co-write a ‘Lord of the Rings’ movie
AP: Stephen Colbert, famous devotee to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, is co-writing a “Lord of the Rings” movie with his son.
Warner Bros. announced early Wednesday that Colbert will script “The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past” along with series veteran Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee, Colbert’s son. Producer Peter Jackson revealed Colbert’s involvement in a social media video that introduced a “very special partner” on the film. -- nordy
Very cool!!! Colbert is a true Tolkien LOTR devotee, and expert. He probably has more knowledge of the books than anyone living today. Should be worth seeing!
He was actually in one of the movies. In the Laketown one he was one of the men in the boats (I think his brother was another one) spying on the bowman. Susan
They say it might begin to warm up next week...!
ReplyDeleteIt's been raining for days. No, I am not happy. -- nordy
DeleteLiane*in*VT SHARED:
ReplyDeleteDemocrat Emily Gregory has won the State House Special Election in Palm Beach County, FL - home to Mar-a-Lago. That's the 10th flip from R to D in special elections this year.
Liane adds:
I hope the White House staff have hidden all the ketchup!
via Heather Cox Richardson:
DeleteIn [yester]day’s special legislative elections in Florida, Democrat Emily Gregory flipped the house district in which the Trump Organization’s Mar-a-Lago sits. The district went for Trump by 11% in 2024. Gregory, a business owner and a military spouse, defeated a Republican who received Trump’s “Complete and Total Endorsement” in January. At an election night party, Gregory told her supporters: “When we started this, nobody thought it was possible. They thought we were crazy. I knew my community. I knew we deserved better. We deserve a leader who will fight for us.” Gregory told CNN’s Erin Burnett that she did not focus on Trump, but focused on her Republican opponent and the “issues that matter most to Florida families.”
Via Occupy Democrats:
ReplyDeleteCraig Scott Valdez, 36, chief of staff to Republican Sen. George Rauscher and newly elected chair of the Anchorage Young Republicans, was arrested Friday on charges of sex trafficking a minor, producing and receiving child sexual abuse material, and coercion and enticement of a minor.
Officials believe there may be at least 12 minors who were victims of his operation.
According to court documents, Valdez allegedly lured a 15-year-old girl he'd groomed on Snapchat to his home to "sexually exploit her to celebrate his birthday." He had met her when she was just 13 or 14 years old. The FBI has identified at least 11 other potential victims.
You know who stopped him that night? Not the Republican Party. Not a background check. Not any kind of vetting process.
Her mother.
A brave mom used a family tracking app to find her daughter at Valdez's home. She knocked — then walked in, punched Valdez in the face, and carried her barely-conscious child to safety.
Valdez, apparently stunned that a mother's love hits harder than his sense of impunity, then FLED HIS OWN HOUSE when police arrived.
Sen. Rauscher's office had nothing to say — firing Valdez only AFTER the charges became PUBLIC. The Anchorage Young Republicans had just elevated this man to state committee chair last month.
Go Mama! Susan
DeleteThe Latest: Iran dismisses US ceasefire plan and issues its own counterproposal.
ReplyDeleteAP: Iran on Wednesday dismissed an American plan to pause the war in the Middle East, issuing its own counterproposal instead, as it launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries.
Two officials from Pakistan described the 15-point U.S. proposal broadly, saying it addressed sanctions relief, a rollback of Iran’s nuclear program, limits on missiles and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil is shipped.
Iran issued it’s own plan via state TV, which includes a halt to killings of its officials, means to make sure no other war is waged against it, reparations for the war, the end of hostilities and Iran’s “exercise of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.” -- nordy
its own plan, not it's own plan. -- nordy
DeleteSounds reasonable to me. But then, I am of the opinion that this war never should have started to begin with.
DeleteStephen Colbert and son will co-write a ‘Lord of the Rings’ movie
ReplyDeleteAP: Stephen Colbert, famous devotee to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, is co-writing a “Lord of the Rings” movie with his son.
Warner Bros. announced early Wednesday that Colbert will script “The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past” along with series veteran Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee, Colbert’s son. Producer Peter Jackson revealed Colbert’s involvement in a social media video that introduced a “very special partner” on the film. -- nordy
It's always good to hear about fellow Tolkien fans.
DeleteVery cool!!! Colbert is a true Tolkien LOTR devotee, and expert. He probably has more knowledge of the books than anyone living today. Should be worth seeing!
DeleteHe was actually in one of the movies. In the Laketown one he was one of the men in the boats (I think his brother was another one) spying on the bowman. Susan
DeleteIn an Ohio Apple Grove, Researchers Race to Save Rare Varieties - Click
ReplyDeleteI've never seen anything like this from a President before - Click
ReplyDelete