Closing arguments concluded today in the bench trial of Lieutenant Brian Rice.  Prosecutors called 12 witnesses over four days, and Rice’s defense team called four witnesses.  Judge Barry Williams has stated he will issue his verdict Monday at 10:00am.
After the prosecution finished laying out their case Judge Williams threw out the 2nd degree assault charge stating the state had failed to provide enough evidence to support the charge.
The remaining charges against Lt. Rice were: involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and misconduct in office.  Rice is the highest ranking officer of the six charged in the case.

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “2016 Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Presidential Race and/or any of the candidates therein.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

Quinnipiac has released its latest Battleground State Polling (full pdf below).  The polling is for the states of Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania.  Donald Trump beats Hillary Clinton head-to-head in each state’s poll.
However, the shock data -sure to turn heads- is the reality of third party candidates hurting Hillary Clinton far more than Donald Trump:

Yeah, I know, it takes a few minutes to gain your breath after you stop laughing.
Not only does this mean the best laid plans of the #NeverTrump crew have backfired, but it also means Team Clinton will now have to work diligently to get rid of Gary Johnson and Jill Stein if she is to have any remote possibility of winning the general election.
‘Splodey does not seem to adequately give enough emphasis to the stompy feet anxiety sure to be upsetting the globalists.  This is the best summer election ever.
(more…)

Against the backdrop of the Minnesota police chief stating today that Ms. Reynolds claims do not match reality…. and having looked at the video hundreds of times, I’m in agreement with Treeper Nettles who first identified the tri-fold wallet of Philando Castile in the left front pocket of his sweat pants.

When you correct the orientation of the video image (to eliminate mirrored orientation) and then point out the visible location of the hand gun you get this: (more…)

Sam Nunberg was a former aide/adviser to the Donald Trump campaign who was fired for previously leaking salacious inflammatory information to the media.  Upon firing Nunberg went to join the Ted Cruz campaign, and became a Cruz advocate.
Later it was revealed that Nunberg had written very divisive and racist material to his social media.
Everyone distanced themselves from him.
However, as a result of the initial firing, Donald Trump filed a lawsuit against Nunberg for violating the terms of a confidentiality agreement.  Mr. Nunberg is facing the very real possibility of losing a $10 million civil action.
That’s the backdrop for today, when, in an effort to skirt around the non-disclosure confidentiality agreement, Nunberg, through his lawyers, leaked their response to the Trump lawsuit.
The Associated Press was first out of the gate with the story.  The remaining MSM, generally -and transparently- biased against Trump, latched on to the leaked Nunberg legal filing and is now selling their own custom story about the lawsuit.
(more…)

As seen on “The 700 Club,” July 12: What a Trump presidency would look like: Nominee Donald Trump talks with Pat Robertson; Civil rights commission’s unexpected response to Iowa churches, and more.

With only a few days remaining before the GOP kicks off their convention in Cleveland Ohio, the Republican National Committee Chairman, Reince Priebus discusses the GOP side of the current political dynamic with the Clinton News Network.
Video in two segments.  Part One:

Updating the latest developments in the Philando Castile shooting.  If you have additional information use the comments section. Also, please note the name of the convenience store – too many media people using disinformation, we don’t need more here.

Finally today the police chief in Roseville, Minesota stated the recent reports pushed by Ms. Diamond “Lavish” Reynolds do not match the reality of what took place the night of Wednesday July 6th.
During a CNN interview (watch video here) Chief Rick Mathwig says Ms. Reynolds reports don’t line up with reality.  The governor of Minnesota also used false statements given by Diamond “Lavish” Reynolds to make his comments.
Mathwig is the police chief in Roseville, Minnesota. His officers weren’t the ones who pulled over Castile or fired the fatal gunshots. But they responded to the scene in Falcon Heights after the shooting. And in an interview with CNN, Mathwig made several points:
(more…)

Newly appointed British Prime Minister Theresa May wasted no time assembling her new government, and appointing cabinet members.

Left to right: New Prime Minister Theresa May and husband Philip • Philip Hammond, Chancellor • Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary • Amber Rudd, Home Secretary.

♦ Former London Mayor Boris Johnson has been appointed Britain’s new foreign secretary, one of the biggest jobs in government.  Johnson was one of the leaders of the campaign to leave the European Union.
♦ Prime Minister May also gave the position of home secretary to Amber Rudd, Britain’s former energy secretary. That means two of the top four jobs in the government are held by women.
♦ To calms nerves that May might not follow through on Brexit Prime Minister May appointed  Conservative euroskeptic David Davis to lead Britain’s exit talks with the European Union.   May created a new post of secretary of state for exiting the European Union. (more…)