StoneZoning For A Presidential Pardon
Roger Stone has been convicted on 7 felonies, including witness tampering, but Trump's friend and former long-time advisor is not down for the count, not by a long shot.
Trump could (expected to) pardon Roger Stone for staying loyal to him, but some of the president's advisors have told him to not pardon Stone, but Trump being Trump, it would be a safe bet that he will pardon Stone before he retakes the oath of office.
Meanwhile, some (we verified it wasn't Roger Stone) has put up a WhiteHouse.gov petition to press the president to pardon Stone. Here is the petition >>>
More StoneZoning...
Stone supporters believe that Stone got a raw deal by the federal government, and point at the Obama-era judge for sinking Stone, and for not dismissing a former Obama administration employee.
“Roger Stone Verdict Sparks Outrage” by The Floridian’s Daniel Molina – This week, Roger Stone, famed confidante of President Trump and longtime Republican council, was found guilty of all 7 charges against him.As with the divisive political figure at the center of the debacle, the decision has incited comments from both supporters and detractors.Critics see this verdict as claustrophobia setting in on the President, but supporters are voicing their disapproval of the verdict, arguing that “Roger Stone did nothing wrong.”Moreover, supporters are arguing that the investigation was biased against Stone, seeing that the first juror that Amy Berman Jackson, the Obama-appointed U.S. District Court Judge, brought forward was the former press secretary in the Office of Management and Budget during the Obama administration.
Trump in the StoneZone
"So they now convict Roger Stone of lying and want to jail him for many years to come. Well, what about Crooked Hillary, Comey, Strzok, Page, McCabe, Brennan, Clapper, Shifty Schiff, Ohr & Nellie, Steele & all of the others, including even Mueller himself? Didn’t they lie?...."
Florida Democrats Not In the StoneZone...
“Five of Trump’s lieutenants, Michael Flynn, George Papadopoulos, Michael Cohen, Paul Manafort, and now Roger Stone, have all either pleaded guilty or have been convicted of a crime. The stench of corruption is all around Donald Trump, and today’s ruling reminds us just how important and needed Congress’ impeachment inquiry is."- Terrie Rizzo
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The Art of The "Major Announcement" Play
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' office has put out another press release for the latest "major announcement." DeSantis will make the announcement in the Capitol Monday morning.
DeSantis makes more appointments:
David Altmaier, Brad Levine, Jason Holloway and Gary Ruderman have been appointed to the Blockchain Task Force.
Paul Meador, Steve Johnson and William “Bill” Poulton to the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC).
ICYMI- DeSantis announced the appointment of Randall Hunt as secretary of the Florida Lottery.
ICYMI Part Deux- DeSantis joined the Eastern Shipbuilding Group to launch the 4,500 passenger ferry SSG Michael H. Ollis in New York.
DeSantis was in South Florida later that night attending the South Florida Automobile Dealers Association's annual gala in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
“DeSantis picks Orlando airport board member Randall Hunt to run Florida Lottery” by the Orlando Sentinel’s Jason Garcia – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday picked one of his Orlando airport board appointees to run the state lottery.The Republican governor named Randall Hunt, a fitness-club owner from Lake Mary who has been a member of the Orlando airport board since February, the new secretary of the Florida Lottery. The assignment will put Hunt, who earlier this year acknowledged he was paying off a federal tax lien, in charge of a state agency with more than 400 employees and annual revenue of nearly $7 billion.“ Randall’s entrepreneurial skills and perseverance will serve him well as he takes the helm of this important department," DeSantis said in a prepared statement.
GOP Governor' coming to Florida, Again
The Republican Governors Association will hold its 2019 Annual Conference on November 20-21 in Boca Raton, Florida at the Boca Raton Resort & Club.
Florida Democrats are rejoicing after a court "overturned the state’s law requiring that ballots list Republicans first," a measure that gives GOP candidates a "documented and unfair advantage."
“Overdose deaths trending up again in Sarasota and Manatee after big drop in 2018” by the Herald-Tribune’s Zac Anderson – After dropping precipitously in 2018, overdose deaths are on track to increase during 2019 in the region that includes Sarasota and Manatee counties. The three counties covered by Florida’s District 12 Medical Examiner — Sarasota, Manatee and DeSoto — saw 102 fewer accidental overdose deaths in 2018 when compared with 2017, a 40% reduction. The local numbers corresponded to a statewide reduction in drug deaths, which dropped 3% in 2018. Opioid-related deaths declined even further, dropping by 10% statewide in 2018, according to a report released this month by the state Medical Examiners Commission.
“Florida Bar seeking to suspend license of Tampa lawyer accused of keeping his clients’ money” by WFTS Tampa Bay’s Jackie Callaway – The Florida Bar asked the state’s Supreme Court to immediately suspend the license of a well-known Tampa personal injury lawyer accused of keeping his clients’ settlement money. Attorney Jose Toledo “is likely to cause immediate and serious harm” to clients and the public, the Florida Bar wrote in a new court filing asking that Toledo be ordered to stop practicing law, no longer accept new clients and not withdraw any settlement money. Taking action reporter Jackie Callaway first reported complaints against Jose Toledo in September after eight former clients filed complaints about Toledo with the Florida Bar. The number of complaints against Toledo has now climbed to 31 – including former clients and one medical provider, the Florida Bar said in its court filing
“Florida financial regulator ‘decimated’ by vacancies amid leadership fight” by POLITICO’s Matt Dixon – Tallahassee – Florida’s financial regulatory authority has been “decimated” by staff shortages amid a political fight over who should lead the office, which is heavily lobbied by the banks and financial interests that it oversees.The Office of Financial Regulation has staffing shortages in nearly every one of its divisions, including the top job of commissioner, a post that has been open since July, when Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet fired Ronald Rubin after a political clash with CFO Jimmy Patronis.In addition to the commissioner job, the office has dozens of vacancies in divisions that oversee financial investigations, consumer finance and securities. Those divisions conduct the basic functions of the office, including oversight of the financial services industry and consumer and investor protection.
OOPS!! - “Elections supervisor apologizes for ‘scary’ letter mailed to voters” by the Sun-Sentinel’s Larry Barszewski – Broward’s supervisor of elections says he didn’t mean to scare 54,000 people who received “final notices” from his office threatening to designate them as an “inactive voter.”After receiving complaints from several voters who questioned why they were receiving the notices — they vote regularly and have not changed their address in years — Supervisor Pete Antonacci said Wednesday he’s going to apologize to all who got the mailer. “We had voters receive this notice from us that is in fact a little bit scary,” Antonacci said. “It’s our plan to send them another postcard, first class, that certainly expresses my apologies and regrets for aggravating them.”Antonacci said no one’s voting status will change as a result of the final notice mailer. The apology will remind voters to update their address if it has changed.
“Threat to impeach UF student body president is ‘completely outrageous,” by the Tampa Bay Times’ Megan Reeves – State Republican are rallying behind Michael Murphy, student body president at the University of Florida who faces impeachment after details emerged about his connections to President Donald Trump.
Murphy agreed to pay $50,000 in public student funds to Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., and Kimberly Guilfoyle, an adviser to the president’s 2020 reelection campaign, for speeches the pair gave on campus Oct. 10. An email surfaced later that showed Murphy planned the event with an official working for the campaign. Amid outrage by some student senators and hundreds who protested the speeches, he was served Tuesday with a resolution for his impeachment. Two days later, the Republican Party of Florida posted a petition titled “Stand with UF’s Student Body President” on its website. It includes a link to a fundraising page for the GOP.
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried weighed in on the Louisiana Governor's race where incumbent Democrat John Belfort won reelection. A friend pointed out Belfort won "four more years serving Louisiana."
Democrats are touting Belfort's win as a blow to Republicans, but forget that he was running for reelection, not an open seat.
GOP Congressional candidate Jessi Melton has some choice words for Rep. Ilhan Omar
“Ilhan Omar accused of “practicing jihad” in America” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – Controversial Muslim-American Rep. Ilhan Omar (D) has received widespread and profound denunciation over her apparent anti-Israel position and the anti-Semitic rhetoric she has used to express her disdain for the strongest ally the U.S. has in the Middle East. President Donald Trump, who called Rep. Omar an “America-hating Socialist,” along with numerous House Republicans, have been outspoken critics of the Minnesota congresswoman for making anti-Semitic tropes against Israel, are now joined by a Republican congressional candidate in Florida that accused Omar of “publicly practicing #Jihad.”
“Conservative Groups Are Teaming Up to Defend Trump, and Raise Money” by the New York Times’s Catie Edmondson – On the day of House Democrats’ first public impeachment hearing into President Trump this week, as leaders of some of the conservative movement’s most prominent organizations dialed into a briefing call hosted by the White House to coordinate their message, their activists were hard at work.The groups had sent out specific marching orders to the hundreds of thousands of members of their network: Follow and elevate these key Republican lawmakers on Twitter. Circulate these talking points among your friends and on social media. Call your elected officials and tell them not to support impeachment. Maybe most important: Donate now to support the cause. Some of the nation’s leading conservative groups — the Club For Growth, FreedomWorks, Citizens United, and Tea Party Patriots — have locked arms to serve as an unofficial war room for the president during the impeachment inquiry, the third such proceeding in modern history, but the first of the social media age. The coalition of more than 100 organizations, including traditional conservative fund-raisers and public relations firms, is banking on a coordinated divide-and-conquer strategy that seeks to harness its grass-roots networks’ outrage — and raise money crucial to its own survival.
“Al Sharpton gets $1M in pay from his own charity, tax filings show” by Fox News’s Melissa Klein, Georgett Roberts – He’s the million-dollar minister. The Rev. Al Sharpton raked in $1,046,948 from his own charity last year, according to National Action Network’s latest tax filings obtained by The Post. Sharpton got a $324,000 salary — 32% higher than his 2017 pay — in addition to a $159,596 bonus and $563,352 in “other compensation.” The Harlem-based nonprofit — which Sharpton controls as president and CEO — said the extra cash was to make up for the years from 2004 to 2017 when he didn’t get his full pay. NAN said it hired an executive compensation firm that determined the good reverend was owed $1.252 million — but he was generously willing to take $500,000 less. Sharpton and the nonprofit’s board also agreed “he has now been fully compensated for all the years he was underpaid and received no bonus,” the NAN statement said.
“Trump ally Ted Yoho term-limited himself, expected to retire in 2020” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – During the 2012 presidential election cycle, one of the most compelling, let alone one of the funniest, congressional campaign videos that aired was Ted Yoho’s “pigs” video that depicted three career politicians frolicking around in the mud and ‘hogging’ it up. Yoho narrated the video, calling out his then-Republican primary rival 24-year Congressman Cliff Stearns by outlining that he was part of the ‘mess’ in Washington that had raised the debt ceiling 9 times.
“Career politicians are like pigs feeding at the trough,” said Yoho
“Donald Trump, Jr. says his mom Ivana made fun of his beard” by The Floridian Javier Manjarres – Even with his father’s presidency being questioned by House Democrats in what the White House calls an impeachment inquiry “witch hunt,” Donald Trump, Jr. has a sense of humor over the political maneuvering his family has had to endure since his father was elected president in 2016. On the last day of his 10-day book signing tour for “Triggered,” his latest book on politics, Donald Trump, Jr. told a group of about 200 (mostly Republican) about the horrors he has endured because his father was president. But even as Trump, Jr. rattled off numerous instances where he felt Democrats and the media had wronged him, his father and his family, the younger Trump managed to throw in a couple of jokes to lighten up the stories.
“Ocasio-Cortez hypocritically weaponizes her identity” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) has once again injected her controversial opinion on immigration reform, calling White House Senior Policy Advisor Stephen Miller a “white nationalist” over leaked emails he sent a reporter that contained alleged “white nationalist” links to racist propaganda, saying that his Jewish identity provided “cover” for pushing Trump’s immigration policies that she deems to be racist.“Stephen Miller is a no joke, die-hard white nationalist,” said Ocasio-Cortez “This is what our policy has become.”Miller denounced those racist and Nazi allegations made against him calling the preposterous because he was Jewish, but Rep. Ocasio-Cortez dismissed Miller’s remarks, saying “that’s also the way he has weaponized his identity.”
“Petition to pardon Roger Stone goes up” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – Days after being convicted on seven felony counts, Roger Stone has been forged a path to freedom. A petition has been launched calling on President Trump to pardon his long-time friend and advisor, an option that the president is said to be mulling over. Stone will be sentenced in February, and regardless of whether he wins reelection, President Trump could pardon him before he leaves office, or before he retakes the oath of office.
@realDonaldTrump -Where is the Fake Whistleblower?
@SpeakerPelosi - The whistleblower sounded the alarm for an investigation, but all of the evidence has come from witnesses who saw Trump’s pressure campaign first-hand, including the President’s own words. We will not allow Trump to intimidate the whistleblower or any witness. #FaceTheNation
@marcorubio- Fools take no delight in understanding, but only in displaying what they think. Proverbs 18:2
@SenRickScott - The people of Iran are protesting against their oppressive regime in the streets. The regime's response? Shutting down the internet. But brave Iranians are proving that freedom will win over fear. #IranProtests
@DWStweets - Now-Fla. GOP chief O’Rourke left a mess @DeptVetAffairs whistleblower division he led. As @Mdixon55 reports, I saw O'Rourke as corrupting influence there. He didn't protect whistleblowers. He targeted them. Bottom line: O'Rourke betrayed our veterans
Yeeeeehawwwww!!! @RepDMP- I love seeing people from everywhere in the country and the world come and see this thriving city. #Homestead is a very special place...thank you to everyone who made this happened! @NASCAR#Championship4
He loves coming home @mattgaetz - Nothing like the approach into Florida’s First (and most beautiful) Congressional District.
@USRepKCastor - The House passed the American Dream & Promise Act in June(!) but @senatemajldr and GOP senators have blocked action.@HouseDemocrats will never stop fighting to #ProtecttheDream #ForthePeople
Didn't he go to Yale U? @GovRonDeSantis- @FLCaseyDeSantis and I are looking forward to a great day of football to honor our military and veterans at today’s Military Appreciation Game between @FSUFootbal and @BamaStateFB #GoNoles
@AGAshleyMoody - Thanks for hosting me this week, Troop G! It was my pleasure to honor Sgt. Thomas with the #BacktheBlue Award for his tireless efforts to protect a teen.
@JimmyPatronis - Yesterday we gathered at the Florida State Fire College to remember the brave firefighters we lost far too soon. Florida’s firefighters risk so much yet these men and women continue to serve our communities selflessly.
@TaylorBiehl - Mackenzie and I are beyond excited to announce that our family is growing. Baby BOY Biehl arriving early May of 2020! @HappilyHarper_
@BrettDoster- Ironic that someone could be found guilty of lying to Congress when Congress lies to us all the time. @realrogerstone1
“Florida man arrested after deputies say he molested 5-year-old girl who called him ‘boyfriend’ and ‘husband’: report by Orlando Sentinel’s Ricky Pinela – A Florida man has been arrested after deputies say he molested a 5-year-old child over the course several weeks, Fox 35 reported. According to the report, 24-year-old Pasco County resident Damion Butler has been charged with lewd and lascivious molestation on a child younger than 12. Butler has been accused of touching the victim inappropriately more than once between Oct. 1 and Nov. 6, according to the report. According to Fox 35, the victim told deputies that Butler, who she referred to as her “boyfriend” and “husband,” did not have sex with her, and they kept the abuse a secret because of “how it would be perceived by others.”
“Jackson Co. deputies make 7 arrests in drug sweep” by WCTV Eyewitness News – JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. (WCTV) — The Jackson County Sheriff's Office says it arrested seven fugitives during a drug sweep throughout the community Thursday. Deputies found a large amount of crystal meth, some marijuana, various drug paraphernalia, about $800 cash and a gun during the sweep, according to the sheriff's office. The United States Marshal's Service Florida/Caribeean Regional Fugitive Task Force helped with the sweep.T he following people were arrested in the sweep:
Savannah Price, 20 of Marianna. Faces possession of meth and drug paraphernalia charges.
George Konicoff, 35 of Marianna. Faces possession of meth and drug paraphernalia charges.
Jerel Williams, 40 of Greenwood. Faces sale of a controlled substance charge.
Sonya Purvis, 45 of Sneads. Faces possession of meth and drug paraphernalia charges.
Richard Redmon, 47 of Sneads. Faces possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting a law enforcement officer without violence charges.
Shantel Purvis, 32 of Cypress. Faces possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting a law enforcement officer without violence charges.
Steven Dawson, 37 of Grand Ridge. Faces sale of and trafficking of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia charges.
