Althouse: Lake Mendota — in the early afternoon.

December 2, 2024

Lake Mendota — in the early afternoon.

Talk about whatever you want in the comments. And support the Althouse blog by doing your Amazon shopping going in through the Althouse Amazon link.

66 comments:

gspencer said...: The pardon - they do it because they can get away with it.; 12/2/24, 4:56 PM
n.n said...: An icicle, a smile, a tickle, and a giggle. How fun.; 12/2/24, 5:03 PM
Mike Yancey said...: (*shivers* down in Texas); 12/2/24, 5:07 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Pro Tip: Help keep a porch pirate paw off your packages by keeping track when your Amazon is due to arrive.

I try to hide them when I can, but most people's front houses are bare naked without even as much as a potted plant.; 12/2/24, 5:15 PM
Jaq said...: Delaware judge, you remember these people, mentioned in the Hunter laptop as all being friends of Hunter and beholden to his dad, well, the Delaware judge just said that Tesla shareholders had no right to approve Musk's $56 billion dollar pay package and awarded the lawyers who brought the suit $345 million.

https://x.com/shaunmmaguire/status/1863716730281119932

Boy, I hope Trump never weaponizes our pristine court system!; 12/2/24, 5:26 PM
Peachy said...: Lovely photos.
The rocky shoreline underfoot. Ever the same no matter the season.; 12/2/24, 5:31 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Via Reddit: How do you find Rogan repulsive when you say you don't listen to him?

I forgot to post this when I first watched it a few days ago.; 12/2/24, 5:35 PM
OldManRick said...: Stupid but relevant question about the Hunter pardon.

Does it mean that Hunter doesn't have to pay the one million dollars plus owed to the IRS? It might seem so since the pardon vacated the judgement.

If so, doesn't the pardon which meets the criteria of "giving a bribe to a family member of the person being bribed can still be considered bribery, as the intent is to indirectly influence the decision-making of the target individual through their family, and is generally considered illegal and unethical in most jurisdictions" (thank you Google for clarifying this)? This means isn't Joe Biden receiving a bribe for the pardon?

Socrates calls for discussion on the issue.; 12/2/24, 5:43 PM
Jupiter said...: A lot of people are saying that Joe Biden lied when he said that he wouldn't pardon Hunter. I'm having a problem with that. If (when, actually) he claimed that Hunter wasn't receiving bribes intended for him, that was a clear misrepresentation of a factual situation, one of which he had comprehensive knowledge. But at the time he said he was not going to pardon Hunter, he may well have believed it to be true. If the Democrats had won the Presidential election, it would probably not have been necessary.; 12/2/24, 5:50 PM
Drago said...: The utter hack judge, McCormick, ruled again precisely as predicted. Simply more lawfare against Musk.

Thankfully, with this ruling by this hack judge, finally Musk can appeal to the Delaware Supreme Court where this hack judge's ruling will be tossed out.

Interesting note: Althouse contributor readering has vouched repeatedly for the integrity of the Delaware Chancery Court AND this hack judge. Because of course he/she did.; 12/2/24, 5:52 PM
Jaq said...: "It's not a lie... if you believe it!" - George Castanza; 12/2/24, 5:52 PM
Jupiter said...: If Hunter Biden does not "have to pay" one million dollars to the IRS, then one million dollars is not "owed to the IRS". And don't quote "Google" as if that was someone. Google is a legal fiction.; 12/2/24, 5:55 PM
Jaq said...: Of course there are undoubtedly mean-spirited persons who would say that he gave his word.; 12/2/24, 5:56 PM
Jaq said...: The lower your opinion of our political elites and the mainstream media, the more everything makes sense.; 12/2/24, 5:57 PM
Jersey Fled said...: “ Of course there are undoubtedly mean-spirited persons who would say that he gave his word”

…as a Biden; 12/2/24, 6:19 PM
Jaq said...: “I will bring suit in the Chancery Court in Delaware — which as you know is my home state and I am privileged to have worked with and know every judge in the chancery." - Hunter Biden email from his laptop.; 12/2/24, 6:23 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Salon: "Expect Pete to get drunk": Hegseth accused of "embarrassing" incompetence as head of veterans group"

I called it: They are going the Sen John Tower route.; 12/2/24, 6:23 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: #Some men see things as they are...; 12/2/24, 6:24 PM
hawkeyedjb said...: The four stages of pardoning:
-it won’t happen
-it might happen
-it’s good if it happens
-fuck you all

We went straight to stage four.; 12/2/24, 6:25 PM
NT Dave said...: Amazon order that was supposed to arrive on the 4th-5th arrived today without advanced notice. Delivery guy placed it on top of the bench instead of underneath where it would be less visible.; 12/2/24, 6:27 PM
Iman said...: Are there any NORMAL people in Delaware, or are they all corksoaking shitbirds?; 12/2/24, 6:29 PM
Iman said...: There are no regrets, Hunter is out in the world doing the same old stuff:

https://x.com/AB84/status/1863555856710705237?s=19; 12/2/24, 6:31 PM
Iman said...: Popsicles, icicles, and Constitutional Law
These are a few of the things she loves

h/t David Gates; 12/2/24, 6:39 PM
boatbuilder said...: His word as Biden, no less.

I've been mean-spirited for a very long time. Ever since I discovered in my early college years that suspecting that the received wisdom might not be the absolute truth is considered "mean spirited."; 12/2/24, 6:48 PM
Bill, Republic of Texas said...: It helps when they confess to the fraud.
NBCNews:
"The president has discussed pardoning his son with some of his closest aides at least since Hunter Biden’s conviction in June, said two people with direct knowledge of the discussions about the matter. They said it was decided at the time that he would publicly say he would not pardon his son even though doing so remained on the table."; 12/2/24, 6:50 PM
Gospace said...: So many Hunter posts today, this totally satirical comment I copied in whole (because I didn't think of it myself) would get lost in them. I am glad he pardoned his son, Joe is a great father and a great president, totally agree! Hunter can move on with his life and figure out who and what he needs to bang next and find a better source for his addictions. He needs to put last 10 years behind him.😂😂😂; 12/2/24, 6:51 PM
John D said...: In re the Hunter Biden Pardon

Is this perhaps just step two of Joe's plans to stick it to the Dems because they threw him under the bus? (I can see the machinations of Dr. Jill 'Rasputin' Biden in this as well)

Step 1 - Endorse Kamala, and then go on record before the election saying all sorts of things that do not help her cause . And have Jill wear MAGA RED on election day...

Step 2 - Claim for months on end that he won't pardon Hunter, and now that the Dems have lost he pardon's him anyway using words in his defense that project exactly what his admin and DOJ have been doing to Trump for the past 8 years.

Prediction for Step 3. He pardons all the J6 defendants 'for the good of the country' and makes Progressive/Dem heads explode worldwide.

What's your step 4?; 12/2/24, 6:54 PM
narciso said...: https://www.breitbart.com/middle-east/2024/12/02/pro-turkey-jihadis-take-advantage-of-chaos-to-attack-kurds-in-syria/; 12/2/24, 6:55 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Wayback machine is working overtime . Or a Democrat demonstration.; 12/2/24, 7:01 PM
Leland said...: Pardons Hillary with some statement that makes it clear he thinks she needs it.; 12/2/24, 7:10 PM
Dixcus said...: How come Joe Biden hasn't fired the corrupt Merrick Garland, who is running rough-shod over his son? If the Department of Justice is on a witch-hunt for Hunter, then of course Merrick Garland would be the Wicked Witch of the West, no? Doesn't he RUN the Department of Justice that has been politicized to go over Joe Biden through his poor kiddie raper son Hunter?; 12/2/24, 7:14 PM
Enigma said...: 1. The Bidens were shocked when Hunter was convicted of the gun crime. They thought the blue jury would nullify the law...because everyone loves Joe? They got scared when it seemed the California financial case was going poorly too. Oh the horror of reality entering a cracked echo chamber.

2. Some people get ahead in life by lying and shading the truth. Those who lie endlessly lose track, or never had a grip, and spout sheer nonsense that suggests insanity if anyone bothers to keep a scorecard...errr see Joe's entire career and MSNBC and The View...; 12/2/24, 7:23 PM
OldManRick said...: Hunter didn't pay taxes to the tune of a million plus dollars. If the pardon erased the civil penalties for tax evasion that's one thing, if also erased the money owed as part of the judgement, that's a whole different story. The pardon would have defrauded the US Government of a nice bit of change. Which is it?

BTW, google will respond if you ask a question like "can a bribe be given to the family of the person bribed?" with an AI Overview generated response. The response may link to further info.; 12/2/24, 7:24 PM
Jaq said...: Syria is another "borderland" between empires. I can't follow it. I am still trying to understand the legal basis for our occupation of their oil fields and grain belt.; 12/2/24, 8:06 PM
rehajm said...: John Cochrane on the Hunter Pardon. Not where I’m at but where I could get to. If you’re part of the discovery you don’t get to keep your government job, the people that committed real criminal acts need to be punished, heads need to roll. I don’t care if Ann just wants to move on…; 12/2/24, 8:09 PM
planetgeo said...: My Step 4 is that Joe pardons every Democrat for any/all crimes they have ever committed or will ever commit. So, pretty much like our current justice system works anyway.; 12/2/24, 8:19 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: I wonder if “performative” is a subsidiary of “brain-rot” 🤔; 12/2/24, 8:24 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Flex delivery, which is what I do, has the option of texting costumers I will be arriving. I understand some flex drivers choose not to because the steps of checking a box delays them or whatever. You could instruct via the app what you want done, including ringing the bell or even calling.; 12/2/24, 8:30 PM
rehajm said...: Convicted? No. No, never convicted…; 12/2/24, 8:41 PM
walter said...: RIP Act 10: "Shame. Shame. Shame."; 12/2/24, 8:44 PM
Kakistocracy said...: Paul Manafort, Roger Stone, Michael Flynn, Joe Arpaio, Dinesh D'Souza, Bernie Kerik, Scooter Libby, Steve Bannon, Charles Kushner and Albert Pirro would beg to differ.... 😏; 12/2/24, 8:53 PM
Mason G said...: Lighten up, Francis.; 12/2/24, 9:10 PM
DINKY DAU 45 said...: The way too late Dark Brandon will now pardon everyone Kash Patel has shown to the public on Bannon show. He'll call it an "official act" and therefore is immune from any feedback as the King! designated by the corrupt SCOTUS.Brandon does not care about feedback from hypocritical MAGAS( see KAKISTOCRASY list of bullshit pardons) and 1 of guys they are making an ambassador after a pardon..Beautiful Kichner(all in the family plays,) Genghis Kahn loyalty oath.; 12/2/24, 9:53 PM
walter said...: Dinky wishes Hunter was piledriving him instead of underage tarts.; 12/2/24, 10:06 PM
Jupiter said...: Another thing, this "Diddy" ruckus. I was vaguely aware that the Diddy person existed, as I am vaguely aware that Bhutan must have what passes for a government. Whatever. But since his criminality has become newsworthy outside his chosen realm -- idiotic bling-crazed Negroes, and those who wish to associate with them -- I have seen dozens of photographs of him, in a variety of social situations. And in every one of those photos, it is evident that he is a dangerous monster. A simple predator, ranging in a jungle, where everything is his natural prey. I mean, look at him! The look in his eyes is not such as could be misinterpreted. Is it?; 12/2/24, 10:06 PM
walter said...: Maybe with Pedo Pete, in a shower.; 12/2/24, 10:08 PM
MadisonMan said...: Let's go back to that WaPo #1 Comment: Let the Republicans Howl. A bubble-dweller will not realize that it's a lot of non-political people looking on in disgust. Maybe that's not howling. But they know sleeze when they see it.; 12/2/24, 11:22 PM
MadisonMan said...: Also -- those are some groovy glasses, man.; 12/2/24, 11:25 PM
Eva Marie said...: Would it be illegal for a President to be compensated for a pardon?
Could Harvey Weinstein offer X amount of millions for a pardon? Not secretly but publicly.; 12/3/24, 2:05 AM
Jaq said...: Oh look what Joe Biden is doing now. We are conducting air strikes in Syria on behalf of Al Qaeda. What is our legal basis to be attacking the sovereign government of Syria on their own territory again? Anybody know?

https://x.com/Cyberspec1/status/1863839848517566495; 12/3/24, 3:12 AM
wendybar said...: Yet they were all set to let Drunk Kamala be President, and drunk Pelosi to run what happens in the DNC. These are women who are always publicly drunk like ex presidential candidate, (but never President) Hillary Clinton always was.; 12/3/24, 3:13 AM
wendybar said...: Adam Shifty Schiff in 2018. Why does he feel differently today?? Because TRUMP! Adam is infected with the most extreme case of lying which is the worst side effect of extreme TDS which hasn't been cured yet. Get help little Adam, because YOUR day is coming, and it doesn't look like YOU are going to get a pardon from Daddy Warbucks.

Adam Schiff
@AdamSchiff
·
Follow
If the President issues a pardon in a case in which he or his family are implicated, the American people need to know whether it is part of an attempt to obstruct justice. This bill would make that possible and serve as a powerful deterrent.

https://x.com/AdamSchiff/status/987072188086870016; 12/3/24, 3:29 AM
Readering said...: If Drago can't figure out my sex after a decade of poring over my comments, one can't expect him to understand DE corporate governance law. Musk had the best lawyers money can buy and I'm sure they will do a great job with the appeal to the DE Supreme Court. The Chancellor is no hack, but she is not infallible and no doubt the Supreme Court will go en banc to take a hard look. The fact remains that many corporations are not only incorporated in DE but have bylaws mandating that a corporate governance claim be decided in DE. The issue for Musk is whether he can undo a judicial decision by reincorporating outside DE. No precedent for doing so.

As for plaintiff counsel they get a percentage of whatTesla saved from the decision. Chancellor gave multiplier of less than half requested and because savings based on accounting practice followed by the Company not the $55b headline, they got a tenth of what requested.; 12/3/24, 4:49 AM
Kakistocracy said...: Amazon offers lockers as an alternate delivery option if you're worried about porch pirates.; 12/3/24, 5:04 AM
Kakistocracy said...: I haven’t read the judgement so perhaps should be cautious when commenting. Worth considering an aspect of this which isn’t made clear in the media though.

The Delaware Court ruled against the original award. Let’s assume that was correct for the purposes of understanding what’s going on here.

If the Board and the company’s shareholders then decided they wanted to grant Musk equivalent compensation (let’s ignore the fact that equivalent compensation would have been the value of the options at grant, not the realized value of those options at the current share price), then they would have two alternatives. First, to reinstate the old plan and second to agree a new plan with immediate value equivalent to the realized value of the old plan.

The problem is that those two options are not equivalent. There is an accounting charge associated with a new plan, but more importantly there are tax implications for Musk. In other words, reinstating the old plan is much more attractive all round than agreeing a new plan with equivalent value.

Arguably, there is an element of sharp practice here, on the part of both the Board and the company’s shareholders. The judge isn’t fettering their ability to award Musk stock options with very significant value. She’s simply saying they can’t do so on the very favorable terms reinstating the original plan would imply since the Court has already ruled against that plan.

If this assessment is correct then she has made absolutely the right decision.

You can't backdate a board resolution. Corporate Governance 101.; 12/3/24, 5:16 AM
rehajm said...: Going full Winter Iris Apfel there I see…; 12/3/24, 6:49 AM
Scott Patton said...: Jerry's girlfriend who couldn't "spare a square" was described by Elaine and Kramer as having a"flinty" voice.; 12/3/24, 7:35 AM
Scott Patton said...: Kash Patel, back in April posted an ad and linked to a scammy "Spike Protein Recovery System" pill on Truth Social. https://truthsocial.com/@Kash/posts/112264956311023145
I don't know what the rest of the thread was so maybe he was joking or trying to make some other point. It seems like it's actually him. They want a phone number (or some other head-standing process) to set up an account - no thanks.
As it stands, it's huge red flag unless it was addressed by him or a spokesman in some fashion. At least claim to have been drunk or that your wife's nephew has 200 cases of them in his father in law's garage.; 12/3/24, 8:03 AM
Saint Croix said...: ha ha ha ha; 12/3/24, 8:03 AM
Saint Croix said...: the rabbit, the coke, the gun and the vacuum cleaner; 12/3/24, 8:05 AM
wendybar said...: If you get X, this thread is well worth a read....There are 24 tweets in this thread...and it will boggle your mind.

Mike Lee
@BasedMikeLee
·
13h
🧵🚨 1. Of all the deceptive sales techniques the U.S. government has used on the American people, one of them—the Social Security Act—gets far too little attention. Buckle up because this is a wild ride.; 12/3/24, 9:30 AM
wendybar said...: Here it is on threadreader for people who don't get X.

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1863771172485104124.html; 12/3/24, 9:40 AM
Narr said...: Prof got the Annie Hall vibe going.; 12/3/24, 9:41 AM
Jupiter said...: "It helps when they confess to the fraud."
Hmmm. That would seem to be dispositive.; 12/3/24, 9:55 AM
Rusty said...: Readering
"If Drago can't figure out my sex after a decade of poring over my comments,...."
Believe me. Nobody cares.; 12/3/24, 11:18 AM
SteveWe said...: No. It should be "Also -- those are some groovy glasses, babe."; 12/3/24, 12:50 PM