Supreme Court Upholds Arizona’s Election Integrity Law
July 1, 2021 9:59am
The Democrats and the media - but I repeat myself - are telling you to be outraged at the Supreme Court's decision to uphold Arizona's election integrity law. But any anger about this case should be because the decision wasn't unanimous.
This case rejected the Democratic National Committee's challenge to TWO election integrity measures in Arizona:
1) In-person, election day voters must cast their ballots in their county of residence (absentee ballots could be cast from anywhere on the planet).
2) Absentee ballots cannot be harvested by party operatives.
What could possibly be wrong with those two very reasonable rules that also exist in more than half the states in America???
But don't take my word for this. Go read the decision yourself at https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/20pdf/19-1257_g204.pdf
Then ask yourself why the Democrats want loosey-goosey election processes and procedures.
How Facebook Will Hasten the Death of Our Republic
June 26, 2021 4:46pm
This is an example of what is wrong with Facebook and their Stalinist censors.
Democrats and the media - but I repeat myself - are allowed to post as many stories as they want falsely claiming that Georgia's new election integrity law is racist voter suppression. Well, I have read the entire law, and it is no such thing; not even close.
But when I commented on one of those fake news stories that was posted on Facebook with THE TRUTH about the law AND A LINK TO THE ACTUAL LAW ON THE GEORGIA LEGISLATURE'S WEBSITE, it was removed as "spam." How the hell can ONE link to a GOVERNMENT WEBSITE be spam???
Over the years, many of my comments with similar truth and links to the proof have been removed by Facebook. It's no wonder so many people believe the lies they are told since they're not allowed to see the truth! This kind of one-sided censorship will be the death of our Republic.
"Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech." - Benjamin Franklin
This is the full text of my comment that Facebook removed along with the link:
"The fake news told you Georgia's new election integrity law eliminates Sunday voting. It does not. Georgia has 159 counties, and two-thirds of those counties have NEVER offered voting on Sundays. And some counties only offered a single Saturday of early voting.
"The new law requires ALL Georgia counties to offer TWO Saturdays of early voting and gives them the option of having two Sundays of early voting. So not only does the law NOT eliminate early voting on Sundays as the liars in the fake news told you, it actually INCREASES the number of early voting days across the state. This law doesn't REDUCE early voting. It EXPANDS it. DRAMATICALLY.
"But don't take my word for it. Read the law for yourself at https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/legislation/document/20212022/201498?fbclid=IwAR2_u1bajEweiQ2sQbjlAwRrbJVBKTJinC6KIBPMt4cEOjL3EmMVh6AltM8"
UFO Report Released Today
June 25, 2021 9:59pm
The Director of National Intelligence released the government's report on UFOs/UAPs today. It is online at https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Prelimary-Assessment-UAP-20210625.pdf
The report is consistent with what Stephen Bassett of Paradigm Research Group predicted it would included when I interviewed him on May 22nd. That interview is archived online at www.TheMikeBatesShow.com/podcasts/210522
Bassett didn't expect the report to reveal that Earth has been visited by space aliens. Instead, he expected the report to reveal just enough uncertainty to justify Congressional hearings on the matter. Time will tell if those hearings occur. But if they do, Bassett expects those hearings to reveal extraterrestrial visitors.
LGBTQ Pride Month Is Not Just an Innocent Celebration of Love
June 19, 2021 10:03am
www.TheMikeBatesShow.com/podcasts/210619
Every rainbow image in the above graphic is authentic. I copied them directly from each organization's official website or social media account. They were all created to celebrate LGBTQ Pride Month (June).
While most people think LGBTQ Pride Month is just an innocent celebration of love, it is not. If it was, I wouldn't have a problem with it. But I have researched it enough to know its real agenda. And its real agenda is very destructive.
Before I explain why, I want to put my views on Pride Month into perspective - not that it will matter to the intolerant mob; I know it won't. But at least I will be on the record saying it.
I completely agree with the Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas that invalidated state laws criminalizing private sexual conduct between two consenting same-sex adults. It was a correct ruling. It's none of the government's business - or anyone else's for that matter - what kind of sex people do in their bedrooms. And I also believe that people who are LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) should be treated kindly as the human beings that they are.
But I know none of that will matter. I will still be attacked for what I said on today's radio show because the intolerant mob demands one-hundred percent compliance with their agenda. But if I stayed quiet because I was afraid of being criticized and defamed, I would never be able to say anything. So I say what I want and let the chips fall where they may. So let's roll...
Why was June chosen as LGBTQ Pride Month? Because on June 28, 1969, New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in Greenwich Village. That raid lead to six nights of protests and riots. Consequently, it is credited with kick-starting the Gay Pride Movement, even though there had been smaller gay rights movements before that.
Over the years, that 1969 protest has grown into a month long celebration of how the LGBTQ community has sex. If the goal of Pride Month was to encourage people not to hate or bully LGBTQ folks, it would be fine. That's a laudable goal. And it's what most people think the month is about. But much of what really occurs is the dangerous sexualization of children.
It's one thing for American Airlines and United Airlines to market themselves with rainbow flags because LGBTQ individuals purchase air travel. It's one thing for Absolut Vodka and Budweiser to run rainbow ads this month because their products are for adults over 21. But it is entirely another thing when companies marketing to children do so. Yet Disney Channel, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon, Mattel, and Hasbro all did.
Do the people who run those companies really believe children need to be brainwashed with propaganda that promotes homosexual behavior? Or ANY kind of sexual behavior??? How about letting kids be kids, huh?
The fact that the NFL, Major League Baseball, and the National Hockey League all felt it necessary to change their logos to rainbow colors for Pride Month is bad enough. But do you know what other sports league did it? Little League! The youth baseball league for kids age 4 - 16 changed their logo from red, white, and blue to rainbow colors to celebrate Pride Month.
Can you explain to me how anyone with an ounce of decency in them found it necessary to celebrate and promote homosexuality and transgenderism to 4 year olds? Or even 16 year olds? Why does a kid's sports league find it necessary to promote how people have sex? If Little League's effort was about teaching kids not to be bullies, I'd support it. But if that was the purpose, the message would be against bullying anyone, not just against bullying homosexuals and the transgendered.
PBS stations aired LGBTQ-themed shows to preschoolers! And the executives at Nickelodeon thought it was necessary to indoctrinate kids six and under with LGBTQ propaganda on the "Blue's Clues" TV show. They produced a LGBTQ-themed video with a sing-along song with lyrics using the words, "families with two mommies," "families with two daddies," "non-binary," "trans members of this family," "ace, bi, and pan grownups can love each other so proudly," "allies to the queer community can love their queer friends so proudly," and "Happy Pride Month." The accompanying video showed a cartoon gay pride parade complete with a drag queen appearing prominently on screen leading the children in song. This was aimed at kids under seven years old! What the hell is wrong with those people??? If you think I'm exaggerating it, go watch it yourself at www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4vHegf3WPU
Public libraries are hosting Drag Queen Story Hours where men dressed in flamboyant female clothing with a ridiculous amount of stage makeup are reading books to little children. And that would be bad enough if these drag queens were reading innocuous children's storybooks like "Go, Dog. Go" and "The Little Engine That Could." But these drag queens are reading propaganda books like "Uncle Bobby’s Wedding," "Heather Has Two Mommies," "King & King," and "Daddy's Roommate" - all of which are corrupting our children's minds with atypical sexual themes at an age where they shouldn't even be thinking about traditional sexual acts.
To be clear, the First Amendment absolutely, one-hundred percent allows Drag Queen Story Hour events to take place. And the First Amendment also absolutely, one-hundred percent allows me to denounce them as the dangerous sexualization and harmful indoctrination of children that they are. It is disgusting that they take place. And it is disgraceful that parents allow their children to attend them. It's a form of child abuse.
Those are just a few examples. This post barely scratches the surface of all the pro-LGBTQ propaganda directed at children that is happening across America. I cited more instances on the radio today. But even that was just a fraction of how Pride Month is being used to indoctrinate and sexualize little children.
I know some of you will misinterpret this post and today's radio show as me being some kind of an intolerant hater. And if that's what you want to believe - if you are only capable of seeing the world as binary (which if you support Pride Month, you shouldn't because you're supposed to believe there are an unlimited number of genders, not just two) - but if you see this kind of issue as "all in" or "all out," and you fail to see the fifty shades of grey in what I'm saying, then you need to work on your critical thinking skills.
If all you can understand is either total love & acceptance or total hate & rejection, then you need to quit being such a simpleton and learn about nuance and complexity. Because despite me thinking Pride Month being so widely celebrated by government, corporations, schools, and the media is inappropriate and destructive, the fact is I couldn't care less if you're Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, or whatever. Your sex life is not my concern. As long as what you're doing is between two consenting adults, what you do in your bedroom is your business not mine. But keep it in your bedroom. The public doesn't need you to march down the street wearing bottomless leather chaps, a halter top, and a dog collar connected by a leash to your lover who's dressed equally as ridiculous. And I'd say the same thing if it was a heterosexual couple proselytizing about their sex life.
LGBTQ people should be treated as the human beings that they are. But this Pride Movement, which began with the reasonable request that society tolerate their existence, has since morphed into a demand that we also promote their lifestyle. Tolerance is no longer considered to be enough. If you don't also accept everything the LGBTQ activists demand, then they consider you to be a homophobic hater. Well, I'm not homophobic at all. Not only do I have many gay/lesbian friends, my dentist is married to a man! And no, my dentist is not a woman.
I don't object to people who identify as LGBTQ. I object to the full court press of the LGBTQ agenda that sexualizes children. It's a deliberate destruction of childhood and decency. And since Pride Month is part and parcel to it, we shouldn't be doing it.
I gave a much longer and much more detailed explanation on today's radio show. If you want to hear it, it is archived online as a podcast at www.TheMikeBatesShow.com/podcasts/210619
Juneteenth Is NOT What You've Been Told It Is!
June 18, 2021 7:45am
Today is the first Juneteenth to be observed federally as a legal public holiday (Because June 19th falls on a Saturday this year, it is being observed on a Friday).
While Juneteenth is certainly an important historical event worth commemorating, it does not deserve to be a paid day off for two reasons.
The first reason is that we shouldn't have an additional day when we pay people to not work. Most people who will be paid to not work today are people whose salaries are paid by taxpayers. But who will still be at work today? Most taxpayers! There is something seriously wrong with that.
The second reason is that the significance of Juneteenth has been grossly misrepresented by politicians and the press.
We've been told that the original Juneteenth was when Union forces reached Galveston and told the slaves in Texas that they were free. So far, so good. But then we've been told that June 19, 1865 was the last day slaves were held in the United States. And that is false. Slaves were legally held in the United States until December 6, 1865. And do you know where one hundred percent of those last slaves were? In UNION STATES! Seriously. Few people know that. But it's true.
When President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, not a single slave was immediately freed.
The Emancipation Proclamation did not free anyone in the slave-holding states of Missouri, Kentucky, West Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware that sided with the Union against the Confederacy. In fact, it didn't free any slaves anywhere because it only freed "all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States." It also exempted areas in Confederate states that were already under Union control.
In other words, slaves in the rebellious South were declared to be free but were still held in bondage because the Union could not enforce it; and slaves held in the North and in the Occupied South, where the Union forces COULD enforce it, were not granted freedom.
The Emancipation Proclamation was of great benefit because it was used to free southern slaves as Union forces spread throughout the South. But some Union states continued to legally hold slaves until the ratification of the Thirteen Amendment on December 6, 1865.
So if we are to commemorate "the last slave in America being freed," that would be December 6th not June 19th.
Is that important? People have accused me of being pedantic by obsessing over minutiae. But details matter. The "big picture" is comprised of little details called "facts." When we ignore the little facts, we get the big picture wrong. Somebody's gotta correct the errors. So I do.
We should use Juneteenth as an opportunity to teach real history. We should acknowledge the horror of slavery. And we should celebrate that America ended it. But we shouldn't use it as an excuse to give federal bureaucrats another day off work.
With that said, I've gotta get back to work. I'm private sector.
How California's Assault Weapons Ban Was Ruled To Be Unconstitutional
June 12, 2021 8:35am
www.TheMikeBatesShow.com/podcasts/210612
On today's radio program, I discussed the good news out of San Diego that California's ban on so-called "assault weapons" violates the Second Amendment Right to keep and bear arms. U.S. District Court Judge Roger Benitez, who was appointed to the bench by President George W. Bush in 2004, ruled in the case of James Miller v. Rob Bonta. His decision threw out the ban, but he stayed his order for 30 days to allow the State of California to file an appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals - something that is certain to happen. That decision can be read at https://oag.ca.gov/system/files/attachments/press-docs/Decision%20--%20Miller%2020210604.pdf
The 94 page decision is worth taking the time to read because it completely eviscerates the deceptions, false claims, and outright lies the gun banners always use when trying to infringe upon our rights. I found the entire decision to be quite entertaining to read as Judge Benitez picked off each falsehood one at a time as if they were ducks in a shooting gallery.
But if you don't have time to read the entire decision, you can listen to the highlights on the podcast of today's Mike Bates Show which is now online at www.TheMikeBatesShow.com/podcasts/210612
America's Forgotten 14th Colony
June 5, 2021 8:46am
Podcast link: www.TheMikeBatesShow.com/podcasts/210605
During the Revolutionary War, how many British colonies were in what is now the United States? Thirteen? No!
On today's radio program, I interviewed Mike Bunn, the author of "Fourteenth Colony: The Forgotten Story of the Gulf South During America's Revolutionary Era."
His book describes the role of Florida's Gulf Coast during the American Revolution. And that colony of British West Florida, with its capitol in Pensacola, extended from the Apalachicola River all the way to the Mississippi River. So it included parts of what are now four states: Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Its northern boundary was well north of Florida's modern-day border. It extended up the Chattahoochee as far as what is now the Alabama side of Fort Benning (just south of Columbus, Georgia) and up the Mississippi as far as what is now Vicksburg. It included what are now Baton Rouge (LA), Jackson (MS), and Montgomery (AL).
That's a lot of land! Yet almost nobody knows about it (including me until I read the book). How could the history of such vast real estate go unknown among most Americans for so long?
Mike Bunn shared that fascinating history on The Mike Bates Show today. That episode is now available online as a podcast at www.TheMikeBatesShow.com/podcasts/210605
Memorial Day Tribute to the Fallen
May 29, 2021 8:44am
Memorial Day is a day decent Americans honor and remember the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
On today's Mike Bates Show, I shared the history of Decoration Day – as it used to be called - along with some heroic stories of those who died while securing and maintaining our freedom.
That episode of the radio program is now available online as a podcast at www.TheMikeBatesShow.com/podcasts/210529
I hope you have a great Memorial Day Weekend. I just hope you also take some time to remember what it's for. May those who gave their lives for our country rest in peace. May God Bless the United States military. And may God Bless America.
Pilot of Helicopter in Famous Saigon Evacuation Photo Dead at 88
May 28, 2021 9:40pm
The above photo was taken on September 16, 2015 while I was on the rooftop of the apartment building at 22 Lý Tự Trọng Street (formerly 22 Gia Long Street) in Saigon when Harry Simons and I were in Vietnam doing research for our radio documentary. That's the building in the famous UPI photograph depicting an Air America (run by the CIA) Huey helicopter evacuating Americans and South Vietnamese from the rooftop on April 29, 1975 one day before the Fall of Saigon.
Many people mistakenly believe that was the rooftop of the American Embassy. It was not. Although there were also helo evacuations from the rooftop of the American Embassy a few blocks away, this building was an apartment building used by the CIA's Deputy Station Chief. The Huey was atop the building's elevator shaft.
The pilot of that helicopter, Bob Caron, died in a car wreck two days ago. He was 88 years old. The story about Caron's death is at https://www.pnj.com/story/news/2021/05/28/bob-caron-pilot-iconic-vietnam-war-photo-dies-traffic-accident/7487501002/
If you're interested in how the Americans in Saigon were secretly, yet VERY publicly, alerted that they needed to immediately evacuate in April 1975, it is described at the conclusion of "AFVN: The GI's Companion," the radio documentary Harry Simons and I produced. It is archived online at http://rockradioscrapbook.ca/afvn.html. The evacuation story begins at the 1:53:22 point in Episode 5.
Rest in peace, Bob Caron.
What Will the U.S. Government Reveal About UFOs on June 25th?
May 22, 2021 8:44am
Today’s radio program about UFOs/UAPs is now available online as a podcast at www.TheMikeBatesShow.com/podcasts/210522
On the night of October 30, 1938, earth was violently invaded by Martians. But that turned out to just be "The War of the Worlds" radio drama by Orson Welles, which was based on H. G. Wells' novel of the same title.
Then on July 8, 1947, the U.S. Army Air Forces announced the recovery of a damaged flying disc that had crashed at a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico. But that press release was quickly retracted, and we were told it was just a downed weather balloon.
In the decades since, countless sightings of UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) or UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) have been reported. Most people dismissed the claims as delusions by the mentally ill or as lies told by dishonest publicity seekers. And the military, despite acknowledging formal investigations, told us there wasn't anything credible to report.
But tucked away in the nearly 5600 page Coronavirus relief bill President Trump signed into law on December 27, 2020 was the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, which contained a short but important requirement that the Director of National Intelligence and the Secretary of Defense release an unclassified report about what the U.S. Government knows about UFOs/UAPs by June 25th - a little over a month from today. And the verbiage of that law says it has to be a "detailed" report.
On today's Mike Bates Show, I spoke with Stephen Bassett, the Executive Director of Paradigm Research Group about what that report is likely to reveal. It was a fascinating conversation about what could be the most life-altering news mankind has ever heard. Even if you're a skeptic, it's worth your time to listen to the program (if for no other reason than to just have advanced knowledge that the DNI/SecDef report is coming).
That episode of the radio program is now available online as a podcast at www.TheMikeBatesShow.com/podcasts/210522
Update on June 25, 2021 @ 10:03pm: The report was released today. It is at https://www.dni.gov/files/ODNI/documents/assessments/Prelimary-Assessment-UAP-20210625.pdf
Arise Patriots! Festival in Milton, Florida this Saturday, May 22nd
May 16, 2021 8:45pm
When the Japanese attacked America at Pearl Harbor, they awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve. Well, America is now under attack from within. And the sleeping patriot has awakened.
So, arise, Patriots! The biggest coast to coast freedom tour of America is coming to Milton this Saturday, May 22, 2021. It's "Arise USA! - The Resurrection Tour" supporting our Constitution, faith, family, freedom, and truth.
This festival will be at Jernigan's Landing on the Blackwater River in downtown Milton. And it's fully paid for by Santa Rosa Volunteers, which means it's free for you and your family to attend. It'll begin at 3:00 and last 'til around 9.
This 50 state, 84 city tour is about renewing liberty, reaffirming our Constitution, restoring integrity to government, and revitalizing the American Dream. We'll have great food. Great music. Great art. Great speakers. All to save our great nation.
This Saturday, May 22, 2021 from 3 'til 9 in downtown Milton.
Please share the video at www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt-fJSapvZc
More information about the festival is at www.facebook.com/arise.patriots
Why Do We Have Inflation?
May 12, 2021 12:55pm
This morning, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the Consumer Price Index figures for April 2021. They showed a leap of a whopping 4.2% over April 2020. It was the biggest annual jump since September 2008 during the financial crisis.
Some economists tried to shrug off today's report as an invalid comparison because 12 months ago we were in a pandemic shutdown; never mind that in many blue states we still are. But even the month to month CPI increase was 0.8% which, if annualized, would be a little over 10.03%. And that month over month gain was the highest in forty years. Since 1981!
Today, I analyzed five years of commodity price data. While it is true that most prices were unusually low one year ago, they are still at historic highs now. Here are a few examples of how some commodity prices have increased over 12 months:
Crude Oil +143.56%
Gasoline +55.24%
Diesel +25.55%
Coal +84.25%
Copper +84.3%
Steel +120.51%
Aluminum +69.83%
Lumber +162.21%
Beef +30.16%
Poultry +77.72%
Wheat +12.71%
Corn +48.63%
Sugar +76.57%
Milk +20.83%
Coffee +40.32%
Cotton +52.26%
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it will get much worse.
Only Democrat politicians and the economically illiterate say inflation is caused by greedy millionaire business owners raising prices so they can make even higher obscene profits.
The textbook definition of inflation is an increase in the money supply without a corresponding increase in goods and services. So the government's $4.8 trillion in so-called "coronavirus relief spending" ($2.0 trillion in March 2020 + $0.9 trillion in December 2020 + $1.9 trillion in March 2021) has poured massive amounts of fiat money into an economy that did not grow anywhere near the rate of increase in the money supply. Have you seen the March 2021 M1 chart? It nearly tripled in 13 months! See the chart in the photo above.
That is a recipe for near-term euphoria and long-term devastation. It's like partying with a credit card. Everyone's having fun until the bill comes due. We need to quit this ridiculous and dangerous spending and get the country back to work by terminating unemployment bonuses and ending the lockdowns that still exist in so many Democrat-run states.
But the Democrats are calling for more welfare spending and $2.25 trillion in additional spending (with more fiat currency) for the deceptively labeled infrastructure bill. It's as if the Democrats WANT to destroy our country.
Oh, wait. They do. It's called the Cloward-Piven Strategy; something the Democrats have been aggressively pursuing since the late 1960s.
No, Donald Trump Does NOT Owe Albuquerque $211,000
April 24, 2021 9:49am
The latest anti-Trump story making its rounds in the propaganda press is that the City of Albuquerque has turned over an unpaid Trump campaign debt to a collection agency.
But the $211,175.94 Albuquerque claims they're owed is NOT a valid debt obligation.
If the so-called "news" media was honest, they'd include the fact that the city's bill is not for services contracted by the Trump Campaign. It is for expenses related to security incurred by the city during Trump's visit, AND it includes money the city claims it lost while Trump was in town such as the value of paid leave some city employees were given during Trump's visit.
Ergo, this is a politically-motivated invoice that has no basis in law whatsoever. If this ever gets to court - as opposed to a collection agency - the city would certainly be denied its claim.
But the fake news is eagerly reporting this to further their narrative that Trump is a deadbeat. It's disgraceful.
What the Jury Got Wrong with Their Derek Chauvin Verdicts
April 20, 2021 11:11pm
Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all counts today for causing George Floyd's death. But it was not justice; it was a travesty.
Chauvin deserves time in prison for the actual crime he committed not for the crimes he didn't commit but was charged with to appease the mob. And there is simply no objective interpretation of Minnesota law that justifies his two murder convictions.
Murder in the Second Degree (Minnesota Statute 609.19) has two classes; intentional and unintentional. Intentional second degree murder is when a person "causes the death of a human being with intent to effect the death of that person or another, but without premeditation." No legitimate argument can be made that Chauvin intended to kill Floyd. Unintentional second degree murder is when a person "causes the death of a human being, without intent to effect the death of any person, while committing or attempting to commit a felony offense." Not only was Chauvin's knee-to-the-neck not a felony, it is a restraint maneuver that is authorized and taught by the Minneapolis Police Department.
Murder in the Third Degree (Minnesota Statute 609.195) is when a person "without intent to effect the death of any person, causes the death of another by perpetrating an act eminently dangerous to others and evincing a depraved mind, without regard for human life." While an argument can certainly be made that placing a knee on someone's neck is "eminently dangerous," trained Minneapolis police officers are specifically authorized to perform it. Also, a "depraved mind" is a necessary component of the crime. The statute requires both an eminently dangerous act AND a depraved mind. The act alone is not enough. And a depraved mind is not enough. They must BOTH be present simultaneously. Based upon the number of citizen complaints against Chauvin over the years, it appears that he's an asshole. But that's not the same as depraved.
Manslaughter in the Second Degree (Minnesota Statute 609.205) is when "by the person's culpable negligence whereby the person creates an unreasonable risk, and consciously takes chances of causing death or great bodily harm to another." That does describe what Chauvin did. While his knee-to-the-neck maneuver was authorized, its duration of 8 minutes and 46 seconds, including 2 minutes and 53 seconds after Floyd became non-responsive was not authorized. Chauvin was quite clearly negligent, created unreasonable risk, and consciously took the chance of causing death or great bodily harm to Mr. Floyd. That's the exact definition of second degree manslaughter in Minnesota. So THAT is the crime he committed; not murder.
But this case was not "Minnesota v. Chauvin." It was "Minnesota v. Every Claim Ever Made About Systemic Racism Committed by the Police Anywhere in America." And the jury found America guilty.
The jury knew there would be massive destruction by violent mobs across the country if they had acquitted him. And since the jury was not sequestered, they were almost certainly aware that a severed pig’s head and splattered pig’s blood was left at the former home of a former police officer who had testified for Chauvin’s defense. Those clear threats certainly denied Chauvin his right to a fair trial also.
I was surprised Chauvin’s defense attorney did not immediately ask the judge to set aside the two verdicts on the murder charges.
I expect the verdicts will be appealed. But an appeal cannot be based upon a dislike of the outcome. Appeals must be based upon alleged errors by the trial court. So were there errors? Probably.
The judge’s decision to not sequester the jury will likely be part of the appeal.
The defense lawyer asked the judge for a mistrial based on Congresswoman Maxine Waters’ call for protesters to "stay on the street" and "get more confrontational" if Chauvin was acquitted. The request wasn’t granted, but the judge himself said it could be grounds for the verdicts being thrown out by an appeals court.
During closing arguments, the prosecutor said at least 20 times that the defense was lying or fabricating evidence. That is not permitted at a criminal trial. The defense attorney objected three times, but the judge did not stop the prosecutor from continuing with that clear violation of courtroom rules.
Sentencing is scheduled to occur in eight weeks. The appeals process will take years. But if there is any justice in this case, the convictions will be tossed, and Chauvin will be found guilty of only 2nd degree manslaughter at his retrial.
One final point. Did you see how, after the verdict, Derek Chauvin peacefully placed his hands behind his back and allowed himself to be handcuffed and taken into custody? Imagine where this nation would be if George Floyd had done the same. Or if Michael Brown had done the same. Or Daunte Wright. Or Eric Garner. Or Alton Sterling. Or Dante Parker. Or Xzavier Hill. Or Patrick Harmon. Or Jamee Johnson. Or Dolal Idd. Or Rodney Applewhite. Or Joshua Feast. Or Maurice Gordon. Or Jamar Clark. Or Keith Lamont Scott. Or De'Von Bailey. Or Christian Taylor. Or Miles Hall. Or Kajieme Powell. Or Sean Reed. Or Yassin Mohamed. Or Tony McDade. Or JaQuavion Slaton. Or Antwon Rose Jr. Or Trayford Pellerin. Or Ezell Ford. Or Ariane McCree. Or Dijon Kizzee. Or Terrance Franklin. Or Anthony Lamar Smith. Or Akiel Denkins. Or Finan Berhe. Or Ramarley Graham. Or the hundreds of other people who would be alive today if they had simply complied with the lawful instructions of police officers.
Officer Kim Potter Has Been Improperly Charged with Manslaughter in the Death of Daunte Wright
April 14, 2021 8:21pm
The death of Daunte Wright is unfortunate. But once again, we have a person who REFUSED TO OBEY THE LAWFUL INSTRUCTIONS OF A POLICE OFFICER dead on the streets of America.
Did the fact that he resisted arrest and tried to flee justify the use of deadly force against him? Well, it appears the officer intended to tase him, but she accidentally used her firearm instead. Yet we once again have the race agitators inciting violent mobs based upon the false claim of systemic racism in America.
I am certain that Daunte Wright was not shot because he was a black man. Had he simply cooperated with the police, he would certainly be alive today. It is not skin color that determines survival during police encounters. It is behavior. If you behave, you live. If you don't behave... well, you're taking your chances that you may not.
But the race agitators of the Democrat Party have once again committed violence against people and businesses that had nothing to do with the traffic stop or the roadside shooting. So in an effort to appease the mob, prosecutors charged Kim Potter, the police officer who shot Wright, with second degree manslaughter.
But are such charges justified? No. In Minnesota, manslaughter in the second degree (Minnesota Statute 609.205) is when "by the person's culpable negligence whereby the person creates an unreasonable risk, and consciously takes chances of causing death or great bodily harm to another." That does not describe what Officer Potter did.
Firing a Glock pistol instead of a taser is certainly improper. The two weapons look different, feel different, and are worn on opposite sides of the body, so it is puzzling how such a mistake could be made. But is it negligence? Not necessarily. But because it would take several paragraphs to examine all the criteria that add up to negligence, I won't bother. Because it doesn't legally matter in this instance anyway.
Under Minnesota law, even a death caused through negligence is not automatically manslaughter. For it to be manslaughter, the person would ALSO have to have created an unreasonable risk AND CONSCIOUSLY TAKEN THE CHANCE OF CAUSING DEATH. And it is that last requirement where a manslaughter case against Potter completely falls apart. Since the use of a taser to stop a suspect who is resisting and/or fleeing is completely justified, and the use of a taser does carry the risk of causing death or great bodily harm, then that risk was not illegal. Ergo, the resulting death through the accidental use of a firearm instead of a taser was not illegal.
It was a tragic death. But it is not one Officer Potter intended. And while it is not a death Wright intended either, it is he - and only he - who is responsible for it.
Sometime next year, a jury will find Kim Potter to be Not Guilty of the charges against her. And the malcontent Leftist mob will riot then too. It is disgraceful that prosecutors have charged her with a crime she did not commit just to get the rioters to stop rioting. It would have been far better to explain to the angry mob why no crime was committed and how Daunte Wright would still be alive if he had not resisted arrest and attempted to flee. But that would require a commitment to the truth and the courage to speak it - something most government officials lack.
In closing, if you think the police should allow someone to get back into their car during an arrest, you need to watch this two minute video. Because you could not be more wrong.
Major League Baseball's Boycott of Georgia Is Based Entirely Upon Lies
April 10, 2021 8:37am
Professional sports has once again waded into the cesspool of Leftist activism based upon lies. This time it was Major League Baseball moving their All-Star game from Atlanta to Denver to protest Georgia's new election integrity law.
Well, I have read all 98 pages of the law and can attest that almost everything the Democrats and their allies in the propaganda press have said about it is false. But the fools who run professional baseball in America have believed the lies.
Worse, it's not just Major League Baseball that denounced the new law. Georgia-based companies Coca-Cola, Delta Air Lines, and Home Depot denounced it also. But I doubt they read the law before they denounced it. They just had knee-jerk responses to the false claims about it made by the Fake News.
On this morning's radio show, I shared the truth about what the law does. It is not as you've been told! I also explained how left-wing activists pressure companies to support Democrat policies through the use of ESG scores. Being “woke” is big business!
Today’s radio show is now available as a podcast at www.TheMikeBatesShow.com/podcasts/210410
God and Country Constitution Rally this Saturday, April 10th
April 8, 2021 7:18am
Do you think America has turned its back on God? Do you think elected officials and judges often ignore our Constitution and just do whatever they want? If so, you're not alone. Millions of our fellow citizens see it happening also. But what are we going to do about it?
Santa Rosa Volunteers invites you to attend the "God and Country Constitution Rally" this Saturday, April 10th at Woodbine Church in Pace. The event will feature many speakers who will describe the problems we face AND explain the solutions we must implement before it's too late.
Admission to this non-partisan event is free because the price has already been paid by patriots before us who pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.
This nation was not established by cowards. And cowards will not preserve it. So come be a part of the patriotic solution to save our country from ruin. At the "God and Country Constitution Rally" on Saturday, April 10th at Woodbine Church in Pace. The indoor event begins at 11:00am and will last until about 4:00.
I will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the event and will be one of the speakers. I hope to see you there! For God and Country.
SPEAKERS (in alphabetical order): Mike Bates, Len Cross, Cris Dosev, Debbie Gunnoe, Mike Hill, Chance Johnmeyer, David Jones, Vernon Latty, Greg Merk, Pete Morgan, Carmen Reynolds, Howard Rogers, Chris Smith, and Eric Tokajer.
Please share this link to help promote the event. Thank you.
What REALLY Happened on The Cross?
April 3, 2021 8:58am
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. Do you know what REALLY happened on the Cross?
That's not a trick question. Most people - even most Christians - do not.
On today's radio program, Reverend Carl Gallups shared the surprising and irrefutable explanation for what Jesus meant when He said “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Whether you're already a Christian or not, you'll want to hear segments 3 and 4 of the program because it will probably stun you with the shocking explanation of what really happened on Calvary's Cross. It did me.
I promise you won't regret the 25 minutes it'll take to listen to it. It may even change your life forever. And by "forever," I mean that literally. It may change your eternal life. I think today's message is THAT powerful.
The episode is now available online as a podcast at www.TheMikeBatesShow.com/podcasts/210403 (segments 3 & 4).
Rampant Speculation About Congressman Matt Gaetz
March 30, 2021 10:05pm
It has been a busy day for Congressman Matt Gaetz. First, it was reported that he may leave Congress before his term expires, so he could join Newsmax TV. Then hours later, the New York Times published a story about a Department of Justice investigation regarding Gaetz and the interstate sex trafficking of a minor.
Gaetz then claimed he was the victim of an extortion scheme by a former Justice Department official and that Matt's father had worn a wire in an effort to obtain proof of the crime.
His detractors have already concluded that he's a typical perverted pedophile Republican. And his supporters have already concluded that he's the victim of a Deep State smear campaign against God's second favorite son.
Well, I prefer to deal with facts not speculation. So I will wait and see what evidence is eventually revealed (or not revealed). The allegations against Gaetz are certainly very serious. And if he's guilty, let there be no mercy. But if he's innocent, then this character assassination is inexcusable.
How Pensacola's "Gun Buyback" Program Wasted $10,000 on Junk Guns
March 27, 2021 8:38am
On today's radio program, Chris Smith of Gulf Coast Gun, Jeremy Bosso of Escambia Carry, and I discussed last Saturday's so-called "gun buyback" program conducted by the City of Pensacola.
THAT RADIO EPISODE IS ARCHIVED ONLINE AS A PODCAST AT www.TheMikeBatesShow.com/podcasts/210327
In it, we discussed how Pensacola wasted $10,000 buying junk guns that had a cumulative value of less than $3500. Despite that, Mayor Grover Robinson and Councilman Delarian Wiggins both said it was a success. Well, it wasn't a success. And since Chris, Jeremy, and I were at the event, we have firsthand knowledge of what happened that day. On this radio show, we revealed some shocking facts the news media hasn't told you.
I sold three guns to the city that day. Those fools gave me $450 for three guns worth at most $175. I will be donating all $450 to the NRA which does far more to promote gun safety than Pensacola's "gun buyback" ever will.
More details and video of WEAR-TV's news coverage are posted at www.TheMikeBatesShow.com/blog/210322-1515
Today's radio program is at www.TheMikeBatesShow.com/podcasts/210327