Open Thread - 14 May 2026 - A President CAN be Arrested!
A President CAN be Arrested!
A week or so ago I went down a rabbit hole about speed limits before motorized vehicles. Laws about reckless driving with horses or horse-drawn vehicles existed, dating from Medieval times at least. Colonial America had such limits as well. For example, what was to become New York city had one on galloping horses pulling carts, wagons, or sleighs in 1652.
These limits, on galloping horses, carts, carriages, etc, in cities, were in effect when Ulysses S. Grant was President (and, before that General). And he broke them, in DC, at least. He was arrested twice before becoming President (when he was still 'just' a lieutenant general of the US Army) in 1866. The first time, he drove off after getting the warrant, but showed up and paid the fine a few days later. He was "exercising his fast gray nag".
General Grant and Robert Bonner racing in a carriage in New York in 1868 - From Wikimedia.
Grant was stopped again in DC, a few months after his first arrest, and paid the fine right away, riding over to the station on his horse to pay.
In 1872, while he was President of the USA, Grant was stopped once more. It was his second stop in a week by the same officer (who was a black man born into slavery named William Henry West, and an ex-soldier who had served under Grant!). Grant paid the fine ($20 in those times) and he and West became pretty good friends.
So, I guess Presidents CAN be arrested or at least ticketed, unless it's for stuff all TPTB do, like financial crime, stock market manipulation, feeling up girls (and more), associating with really awful people, making wars that shouldn't be happening and so on. If they are doing that, it's just 'normal' and is ok. After all, Grant got away with some of that as well!
Here's the open thread! What's up, whatcha doing? Reading? Thinking? Listening to? Remember, everything is interesting if you dive deep enough, so tell us about where you're diving!
Comments
Happy Thursday!
Hope everyone is doing as well as possible. We all keep going, don't we? I've been thinking about Usefewersyllables in the past week. Hope they are doing well with surgery and post-surgery!
What's up with you? How you doing? Let us know!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good morning, sima!
King Charles said GB would require every citizen to obtain a digital ID, and members of Parliament are writing the law as I type. Meanwhile, Trump is preparing to pronounce an executive order that requires anyone in the US to have a digital ID to have a bank account under the guise of proof of citizenship, as per Scott Bessent.
Plus, our anti-terrorism chief is identifying people who disagree with government policy to be terrorists. So, I am anti-genocide, but if I criticize the wrong country perpetrating the crime, I am a terrorist? Hokay...
I thank you for reminding us about ufs and his operation to repair the mistakes of his 2 prior surgeries. I know he has our best wishes for a successful procedure and speedy recovery. Let's see if third time is really a charm! I enjoyed refreshing my knowledge of Grant.
Thanks for the OT, chica!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Digital ID...
Gah. And what if one drives a car that doesn't have digital stuff in it, like mine. I guess the Driver's License has a digital part? So, if stopped by the cops, I can give the ID? I have a bank account, I guess I'll have to go digital on that too, bleh.
I think I must be a terrorist too, after all I disagree with the government AND I know how to raise food!
Thanks for stopping by!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
A local band with help from Woodie Guthrie
.
seems appropriate today
Maybe we can write a warrant for the arrest of the trumpet for reckless endangerment?
He'd only plead insanity.
Thanks for the OT!
Zionism is a social disease
Thanks for the great song...
From the Dropkicks! One of my favorite bands, and Woodie Guthrie, one of my favorite song writers. Thank you
As for the warrant for reckless endangerment for Trump, yea, maybe we gotta get one written. ... dream...
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
The emotional tone of the China/US summit
summarized in a short clip.
The delivery was so flat thought it might be AI. Clip has been presented by ZeroHedge and Sputnik International
The next stage of the saga will be developed after Trump is once again isolated and only being influenced by his handlers.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Trump is 6' 3"
and Xi is 5' 11", so it may be either AI or a fake Trump (which has also been rumored).
It is not uncommon for someone with a serious illness to
lose height. The head/shoulder differences are similar to the series of videos in this The Gateway Pundit article which included several standing and walking side-by-side moments.
The flat delivery could simply be he is out of breath. His breathing is labored, not sure AI would include changes to breath. He could be experiencing low oxygen levels. His movement and facial expression indicates something is off.
Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.
Old people lose height too...
My Mom used to be several inches taller than me, now she's several inches shorter!
As for Trump having been 6'3" once, maybe. Maybe his entire trip to China is AI. Gah.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Trumps shoulders
are higher, but looks like his head is drooping. Maybe it'll fall off.
We can hope!
we can only hope!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
@JtC If it's AI, they're
If it's AI, they're both pretty rotten specimens. But, I consider current AI to be a bad joke to start with!
Good to read you posting, JtC. 
Rec'd!!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Was this before or after he discussed
.
Fentanyl?
Zionism is a social disease
He's so embarrassing...
So embarrassing. Sheez.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Hey, Sima and OTC, and everybody else!
Woke up “not dead” again, and was once again gobsmacked at my good fortune.
I was literally just rolled out of recovery, and into this crash-house room that’ll be home for the next 2-3 days. Surgery took ~6hrs and was apparently a complete success. The doc was able to stretch things enough that the torn edges of the abdominal muscles are actually properly in contact and can heal together once again, reinforced by the mesh, which neither of the previous friggin’ wankers could be bothered to do. They just left a big gap, and figured that the mesh alone would do well enough. So I’m *chuffed*: that was the outcome I’d hoped for, and I didn’t know if they’d be able to pull it off.
I’m still on an epidural, and will be until late tomorrow or early Sunday. Which is just fine with me: I know that things would be a tad bit ouchy without it, after all that blasting. I’m perfectly happy to just hang out here, drink apple juice, sleep a lot, and pee through a Foley for the duration…
Thanks for the kind thoughts, you guys. It means the world to me!
And now- to nap… (;-)
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
Yea!
.
Here's to a successful operation. Out of the dark
and into the blue. Good recovery wishes your way.
Zionism is a social disease
Thankee muchly,
Skip! I should be able to get back out on the water before the snow flies again…
Thanks for the kind thoughts!
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
GREAT NEWS!
FINALLY, a Dr who gives a shit and knows what to do!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Like ya
read about. My knee guy, who is spectacularly good, gave me the referral: this doctor was the one who did a hernia repair for him. Apparently popping hernias is a well-known hazard for even fit, young orthopedic surgeons. Who knew?
Always chat up the locals, I say!
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
JtC found a gastrointestinal dr
who decided to be point man for the oncologist, radiologist, surgeon, because he knew them, know of them, trusted them. Great network.
So happy for you, friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
That’s really great
to hear: everyone needs a well-connected, knowledgeable professional solidly in their corner. But so few of us ever encounter such a thing, that it really is a unicorn-like exception when it actually occurs. I wish that it was the rule, not the exception- but I also wish that I could flap my arms and fly to the moon. So there’s that. (;-)
I’m amazed to have the ones I now have, and my gratitude to the friend who initially introduced me to the knee guy (who is the center of this care-unicorn herd) knows no bounds. I’ll be asking him for a referral for a new primary care physician: the one I have now, while adequate, is a bit of a doorknob doc, and too quick with the prescription pad.
I’m glad that JtC has that level of support. It is priceless.
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
At the end of the day,
Hugs, high 5's, lessons learned, life very well lived, dear friend.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I had a dentist like this...
She refused to take the 'expert' opinion about a tooth crown that had been done ages ago, then fell off, then seemed to link to the bad ear I've had ever since I fell off the horse at 13... pain was constant. She actually called the experts after they refused to see me and told them to do proper x-rays (the new kind which go all the way around the head). They gave in, laughed at me before the x-ray and then the dental surgeon came back to my chair where I was waiting and actually kneeled next to me to apologize. They'd found I had a recurrent infection, that a hole had been eaten into my jaw by this and more. They did finally fix it.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
This is great news!
So glad the operation went well and the Doc was actually smart enough to fix things!
Hope you recover from this quickly, with lots of naps
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
So glad to hear it went well UFS
I had a similar experience a couple of years back. Glad you're getting a chance to recuperate without being rushed out of the hospital. As soon as I woke up, I was sent packing with some meds to kill the pain (only enough to last about 24 hours or so). That became an ordeal I had only experienced once before in my life.
My counterpart in law who is bit younger than I still works in construction, although he should retire because he's old enough. His high level of physical activity caused post operative complications, simply said, more hernias. I had a similar experience. Getting ready for the first flood lugging sandbags and moving furniture, caused the first one. After the surgery I mistakenly listened to the doctor who said, "you can resume normal activity after a week." So I decided, like a dumbass, to clean up the property after the flood, among other things. Wrong move.
I think my main problem was that I couldn't adjust my thinking to my actual abilities/limitations. You'd think professionals like surgeons would give better advice. I'm glad you have good doctors. These days, my main problem with doctors and other health professionals (among others) is that they know very little about aging. I find this to be the case even with one provider, I know very well. Given the demographics these days, I just can't understand that. They say things and "give advice" that reveals on its face, that they don't have a clue about physical changes that occur when you age.
You probably already know all about this, I felt compelled to say it anyway.
Rest well, recover well, my friend. By all means take it easy after you recover!
己所不欲，勿施于人。
You certainly have
enough copies of this tee shirt for yourself!
Great advice on taking it easy, of course. For the initial surgery and the first repair, I thought I’d taken it easy enough- and I was clearly wrong. For the second repair I took it *really* easy, and even that was apparently not easy enough, either. For this repair, I see an extended period of slothhood in my immediate future. And if my employer has problems with that, they can just go pound sand. I’m not doing this again! My inner Calvinist is just going to have to wait on the sidelines…
You’re absolutely right about the impact of aging on recovery. And it really is a very soulful thing, that day when one finally internalizes the fact that their carcass is a) out of warranty, and b) the spares inventory is exhausted…
Thanks for the kind thoughts, friend, and be safe out there!
Twice bitten, permanently shy.