Trump Loses Again: 9th Circuit Says Muslim Ban Must Go
Much was said and read this week about the reputation of the federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals as the country waited for word of whether President Donald Trumps executive order on travel, immigration and refugees would be reinstated.
One side of the courts reputation is a purported liberal bias. That may be overstated, according to scholars cited by the Associated Press. Another facet of the reputation centers on, depending on ones views, the courts activism or overreach. (Conservative radio personality Rush Limbaugh has labeled it the 9th Circus.)
Key Words: Trump says courts seem to be so political
In any event, it provides the brothers or sisters of the robe, in Sen. Ben Sasses recollection of Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuchs phrasing, a disproportionate voice in public life, as Benjamin Wittes, editor-in-chief of the the legal blog Lawfare and a Brookings Institution fellow, writes:
Lawyers dream about becoming judges, particularly 9th Circuit judges, to write opinions like this.
Benjamin Wittes, Lawfare
Wittes goes on to note that a grain-of-salt reading of the 9th circuit decision may be well-advised, as the grounds on which this order was fought are not the grounds on which the merits fight will happen.
See: Appeals court rules against Trump on immigration ban
And: Clinton tweets 3-0 after ruling against Trump travel ban
Wittess Lawfare post caught the presidents attention, which Wittes in turn engendered a Wittes response:
GOP. Rep Jason Chaffetz Greeted by Boos in Utah Town Hall IDC005-011-013-019-023-031-041-043-051-065-077-081-140330-/O.EXT.KPIH.FA.W.0013.000000T0000Z-170214T0330Z//00000.0.RS.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/Teton ID-Blaine ID-Fremont ID-Jefferson ID-Bannock ID-Butte ID-Power ID-Bonneville ID-Franklin ID-Madison ID-Cassia ID-Bingham ID-149 PM MST FRI FEB 10 2017The National Weather Service in Pocatello has extended the* Flood Warning for... Rain and Snowmelt in... Northwestern Teton County in eastern Idaho... Southeastern Blaine County in central Idaho... South central Fremont County in southeastern Idaho... Jefferson County in southeastern Idaho... Bannock County in southeastern Idaho... Southeastern Butte County in southeastern Idaho... Power County in southeastern Idaho... Northwestern Bonneville County in southeastern Idaho... Franklin County in southeastern Idaho... Madison County in southeastern Idaho... Northeastern Cassia County in southeastern Idaho... Bingham County in southeastern Idaho...* Until 830 PM MST Monday* At 147 PM MST, rain has or will end tonight. Field flooding is occurring in some areas, and may persist through the weekend. Dry weather and cooler temperatures are expected over the next several days which should slow the flooding.* Some locations that will experience flooding include... Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Rexburg, Blackfoot, American Falls, Rigby, McCammon, Lava Hot Springs, Swanlake, Neeley, Goshen, American Falls Reservoir, Terreton, Lorenzo, Ririe Reservoir, Chubbuck, Ammon, Shelley, Aberdeen and Iona.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...Turn around, don"t drown when encountering flooded roads. Most flooddeaths occur in vehicles.In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which arepotentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross floodedroads. Find an alternate route.A Flood Warning means that flooding is imminent or occurring. Allinterested parties should take necessary precautions immediately.&&LAT...LON 4240 11227 4256 11234 4233 11272 4233 11299 4267 11302 4260 11329 4333 11318 4357 11352 4365 11314 4387 11299 4400 11148 4382 11140 4383 11159 4356 11160 4359 11171 4313 11198 4318 11210 4297 11233 4266 11196 4226 11190$$
The Great Wall - Official Trailer 1 (Universal Pictures) HD
Trailer:http://youtu.be/mHLOEuUmd5M
In Theaters: Feb. 17
MPAA Rating:PG-13
Genre:Action
Starring:Matt Damon, Willem Dafoe, Andy Lau, Pedro Pascal, Jing Tian
Synopsis from Legendary Pictures: Matt Damon leads humanitys greatest fight for survival in The Great Wall.
When a mercenary warrior (Damon) is imprisoned within The Great Wall, he discovers the mystery behind one of the greatest wonders of our world. As wave after wave of marauding beasts besiege the massive structure, his quest for fortune turns into a journey toward heroism as he joins a huge army of elite warriors to confront this unimaginable and seemingly unstoppable force.
LEGO Batman 3 Beyond Gotham Full Movie All Cutscenes Cinematic
Remember the time when Batman and Superman used to be the invincible saviours of the universe? Or the time when they exchanged blows amidst the ruins of their respective cities? Or the time when they left the DC buffs drooling with their impeccable one-liners? Well, it was just one word which put all the umpteen one-liners and superhero swag to shame - Martha.
Ever since the Martha debacle in Batman Vs Superman,the image of the cerebral and brooding Batman has gone for a toss. He was last seen in the four trailers of The Batman Lego Movie,beat-boxing, relishing lobsters and shooting batarangs on the title of his film. Facepalm!
However, it can turn out to be a smart move on part of the Warner Animation Group. The animated film can attract fans of both the universes - Marvel and DC. Marvel because they can make fun of Batman. And DC because well, Batman. Duh.
It is interesting to note that the Warner Animation Group is capitalising on not only the perennial popularity of Batman but also all the memes, spoofs and funny videos that Batman has been the victim of, most notably after the release of Batman Vs Superman.
What the Martha scene did for Batman, and even Superman, was to make them a laughing stock among the Twitterati. Martha memes flooded the social media platforms only to be followed by hoards of creative digs at the caped crusader of DC Comics.
A meme on the Martha debacle. Twitter
The popular perception of Batman has undergone a drastic transformation over the years. Tracing its origin, Batman was created as a dark no-nonsense character. However, the conception of the character and his universe was rather ironical at its core. The only colour associated with Batman was black, apart from a few streaks of yellow. While the colour black symbolizes the evil, Batman was touted as a superhero. The creators justified the colour by his dark past which further lent the character an air of mystery.
On the other hand, the Joker, who sported every possible colour on the palette, was not exactly the bright vivacious personality he symbolically should have been. Though dark at his heart, the Joker was always decked up in colours probably as a measure of a self defense mechanism.
These ironical attributes added intrigue to all the Batman vs Joker encounters. The irony, however, also injected hints of humour into the character. Thefirst film of Batman, probably cashing in on this humour, was a rather campier take on the superhero and his partner in (fighting) crime Robin. The 1996 film used Batman as a tool to comment on global issues like the Cold War. The film came across as a parody in which the superhero was seen poking fun, including at the Pentagon.
It was filmmaker Tim Burton who reintroduced Batman in 1989 as the dark caped crusader it was conceived as. Michael Keaton, who had been typecast as a comedian, was cast as Batman. In spite of the unconventional casting, the atmosphere, tone and treatment of the film was full of noir aesthetics, as opposed to the camp aesthetics of the 1966 movie. the gothic environment was a reflection of the inner turbulence of Batman and the loneliness of Bruce Wayne.
Batman and Joker from Batman (1989). Reuters
The mystery attached with the character of Batman continued to cast its spell on the viewers, owing to the human fascination with the unknown and the inaccessible. It was only until filmmaker Christopher Nolan shattered the fourth wall by spelling out the detailed back story of Batman and projecting it as a conflicted character that the fans saw Batman as an alter ego of the vulnerable Bruce Wayne.
The Dark Knight trilogy humanised the superhero. The fascination was no longer towards the detached soul that Batman was hitherto portrayed as. Nolan depicted Batman as a humane character invested in his past, struggling with his present and concerned about the collective future of Gotham. Along with the external conflicts with the bad guys, the struggle was also internal as the challenge for Batman was to overcome his dark past, not by embracing it but by rising above it. The viewers found in themselves a part of Batman and they started relating to the character thereafter.
Filmmaker Zack Snyder followed suit when he humanised the conventionally invincible Superman in Man of Steel. The fans were amazed by how vulnerable Superman could be inside that steely exterior. However, the next move by Snyder in Batman Vs Superman went on to backfire. He took the humanisation to a whole new level through the Martha debacle that it made both the superheroes come across as emotional fools.
Consequently, the fans lashed out on social media and retaliated in the most creative way possible, through memes and spoofs on everything from Batman"s hoarse voice to the "Do you bleed?" sequence. It was probably the first time that the Marvel buffs poked fun at a DC juggernaut and the DC fans did not mind joining them, as a medium of expressing disappointment in the overindulgence of the filmmaker.
Examples of memes targeted at Batman and Superman after the Martha debacle. Twitter
But the Dark Knight has risen again, this time in the Lego universe. The humanisation by Nolan and in turn, the Martha debacle by Snyder, have changed Batman"s perceived persona from cerebral to comical. Warner Animation Group has wisely decided to reinvent itself by banking on this change.
A still from The Batman Lego Movie. YouTube
As was evident by The Lego Movie and the four trailers of The Batman Lego Movie, this Batman does not take himself too seriously. The animated universe helps further the funny portrayal of Batman as the characters look adorable in their Lego avatars. The makers take digs at the death of Batman"s parents, the costume of Robin, the straight-faced humour of Alfred, the increasing irrelevance of The Joker after Heath Ledger"s demise and Superman"s diminishing invincibility after the Man of Steel franchise. All these points have been at the center of the jokes doing the rounds on social media for the past couple of years.
The caricature of Batman from 1966 is all set to strike back in The Batman Lego Movie. But this time, the rationale behind Batman"s makeover is not to present a satirical take on the global superpowers. Rather, it is merely a creative attempt on part of Warner Bros to allow the disappointed fans to sit back and laugh out loud at their favourite superhero.
But somewhere in the deepest darkest desires of their guilt-ridden heart, the projection of Batman as a laughing object is also their best, and perhaps the final, attempt at redeeming their lost glory. Because we know how they got these scars. It was Martha.
The LEGO Batman Movie - Batcave Teaser Trailer [HD]
There is no us, says Lego Batman in a husky whisper during the movie that bears his name. You mean nothing to me. No one does. Its a heavy line, or at least it would be if Batman werent breaking up with Lego Joker, an attention-starved villain whose painted-on eyes shimmer with tears. Do you realize, the wounded Joker says later, that youve never once told me you hate me?
Welcome to The Lego Batman Movie, the self-mocking follow-up to 2014s animated hit The Lego Movie. One of that marvelous movies best ideas was casting Batman as a brooding, self-absorbed dork who seemed less like a crime-fighter than an overgrown Goth. With the raspy voice of Will Arnett, who returns here for a major encore, Lego Batman is a spot-on spoof but can he carry his own movie?
The answer is yes, though Batman gets tremendous help from five screenwriters (including Rockville Centre native Seth Grahame-Smith, of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) who supply an abundance of jokes, quips and physical comedy routines. Much of the material hinges on Batmans un-superhero-like behavior, as when he throws a childlike tantrum before the stoic butler Alfred (Ralph Fiennes, dry as gin) or stands at the Wayne Manor microwave while his meal rotates for two boring minutes. These conceits work because director Chris McKay (who assisted on The Lego Movie) has sharp timing but also because Lego Batman plays everything so straight. Even when Alfred brings up embarrassing moments (cue a clip of Adam West dancing in the 1960s television show), Batman clings to his too-cool persona.
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The characters in the The Lego Movie were endearingly unaware that they were actually toys, but everyone in the lego batman movie has a firm grasp on his place in popular culture. Batmans chirpy new sidekick, Robin (Michael Cera), and Gothams capable new commissioner, Barbara Gordon (Rosario Dawson), have broadly sketched personalities, but mostly theyre straight men for more Batman-based humor. As for the Joker, hes a joke unto himself the arch-villain as needy whiner and Zach Galifianakis gives him an appealing sense of vulnerability.
Though this spinoff has less heart than The Lego Movie, the nonstop pace and dazzling animation (once again by Animal Logic) should make it a crowd-pleaser. Listen for voices from Ellie Kemper, Channing Tatum, Jenny Slate and others.
President Trump agrees to uphold "One China" policy What to Know
President Donald Trump confirmed his support for the "one China" policy in a call with the country"s leader
Garca de Rayos, who has become the face of undocumented immigrants facing deportation under Trump, was deported to Mexico
A monstrous winter storm that dumped more than a foot of snow across swaths of the Northeast left a brutal cold in its wake
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Trump Reaffirms One China Policy
President Donald Trump has reaffirmed America"s long-standing one china policy in a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, potentially alleviating concerns about a major shift in Washington"s relations with Beijing. The White House and China"s state broadcaster CCTV said the two spoke by phone on Thursday evening. Trump has accused Beijing of unfair trade practices, criticized China"s military buildup in the South China Sea and accused Beijing of doing too little to pressure North Korea.
Woman Who Sparked Protests Deported
Immigration officials deported a mother who had been in the U.S. illegally since she was 14 years old on Thursday, in what some activists say is the first deportation under the new immigration policies of President Trump. Guadalupe Garca de Rayos was removed from the country to Nogales, Mexico after authorities attempted to deport her late Wednesday, NBC News reported. They were unable to move the van she was in because protesters were blocking it. One man wedged himself in the wheel well.
Court Won"t Reinstate Travel Ban
A federal appeals court has handed a resounding victory to Washington state and Minnesota in their challenge of President Trump"s travel ban, finding unanimously that a lower court ruling suspending the ban"s enforcement should stay in place while the case continues. The 3-0 decision from the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the states on nearly every issue presented. Some legal scholars who reviewed it said the Justice Department could face long odds in any immediate appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, though that won"t necessarily stop the administration from trying. Trump tweeted "SEE YOU IN COURT" after the ruling came out Thursday.
Kellyanne Conway Counseled After Plug
An aide to President Trump was "counseled" after she urged Americans to "go buy Ivanka"s stuff" during a television interview, prompting a wave of backlash for potentially violating ethics rules governing the executive branch. But House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz says that"s not enough, calling what Kellyanne Conway did "wrong, wrong, wrong, clearly over the line, unacceptable." In a Thursday morning interview with "Fox and Friends" from the White House briefing room, Conway urged people to "go buy Ivanka"s stuff," boasting that she was giving the brand "a free commercial here."
Divide Senate Confirms Trump Health Secretary
Republicans won Senate confirmation of President Donald Trump"s choice for health secretary early Friday in the testy chamber"s fourth consecutive brawl over Cabinet picks. Senators approved Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., to head the Health and Human Services Department by a strictly party-line 52-47 vote in the dead of night. Republicans see Price, an orthopedic surgeon and seven-term House veteran, as a knowledgeable leader who will help scuttle Obama"s health care overhaul. Democrats describe an ideologue with a shady history of trading health care stocks and whose policies will s****h insurance coverage from Americans.
Massive Snowstorm Moves out
The biggest storm to hit the Northeast this winter dropped a foot or more of snow along the New York-to-Boston corridor Thursday, turning roads treacherous, grounding flights and giving millions of people weather whiplash a day after temperatures soared into the 50s and 60s. Scores of accidents were reported as drivers confronted blowing snow and slick highways. Stretches of Interstate 95 in Rhode Island were closed in the afternoon after tractor-trailers got stuck. Schools closed in cities big and small, including New York City, Philadelphia and Boston, and government offices told non-essential workers to stay home.
Oldest American Dies at 114
A New Jersey woman who was the oldest American person has died at age 114. Adele Dunlap died Sunday at a hospital near Flemington, according to the Martin Funeral Home. She had become the country"s oldest person in July 2016 following the death of 113-year-old Goldie Michelson, of Worcester, Massachusetts. A group that tracks long-living people says the oldest known person living in the U.S. is now 113-year-old Delphine Gibson, of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania.
Published at 6:55 AM EST on Feb 10, 2017 | Updated at 7:49 AM EST on Feb 10, 2017
"Saturday Night Live" fans who were gearing up to see Rosie O"Donnell play White House chief strategist Steve Bannon are going to be sorely disappointed -- this weekend, at least.
According to O"Donnell"s publicist, the actress is not going to play Bannon this weekend.
On Thursday, O"Donnell replaced her Twitter avatar with an image of her face on Bannon"s head, sparking chatter that she was preparing to play him on the comedy show. A rep for "SNL" would only say, "We do not comment on rumored guest appearances."
rosie O"Donnell modified her Twitter avatar on February 9. 2017, so she appears to look like Steve Bannon, whom she"s been lobbying to spoof on "Saturday Night Live."
O"Donnell, 54, a vocal critic of President Donald Trump"s administration, first expressed her interest in the role Monday night in a series of tweets after one of her 961,000 Twitter followers asked if she would be interested in playing Bannon -- whom "SNL" has so far portrayed as the Grim Reaper.
"I am here to serve," O"Donnell wrote. "Alec [Baldwin] has Trump - Melissa [McCarthy] has [White House press secretary Sean] Spice[r] - I would need a few days to prepare - so if called - I will be ready."
And in another tweet, she wrote, "available - if called I will serve !!!"
Aside from her fans, O"Donnell"s campaign to play Bannon has been well-received by her Hollywood peers. Following her avatar change Thursday, actor George Takei tweeted, "Oh, a thousand times, yes. If there is a G*d, please let this happen."
O"Donnell has been feuding with Trump since late 2006, when she criticized him on "The View." Since then, the two have traded insults on social media and in the press. And in September, when Hillary Clinton accused Trump of sexism during a debate, he responded in part by bashing O"Donnell.
"Somebody who"s been very vicious to me, Rosie O"Donnell, I said very tough things to her, and I think everybody would agree that she deserves it and nobody feels sorry for her, he said.
Alec Baldwin, who has played Trump on "SNL" since last year, is slated to host the show this week.
