======================
PostingADiary
Critter Herding (via TCG)
Let’s get going!
I guess I’m curious who I’m going to piss off tonight. So many Kossaks, so little time!
I’m really not coming across much for material. I don’t know if it’s my attitude or if things are really that quiet (especially on the regional front) today. It IS prime vacation season, both for news makers and those that report it. So far (3.5 hours before publishing time), it’s looking pretty sparse.
===
I’m including this item. I usually avoid “crime and punishment” stories in the Shade, but while the crime is outside the scope of what I like to post, the lawsuit is novel. I have no idea what the ramifications are. I’m guessing that either suit will be dismissed, or the plaintiff will get deported to somewhere EXTREMELY unpleasant such as CECOT, not Mexico, which is what he’s clearly hoping to achieve.
Iowa Capital Dispatch
Imprisoned Iowa child-killer seeks deportation, claiming he’s an ‘illegal alien’
A convicted child-killer serving a life sentence in an Iowa prison is suing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, insisting that he be deported to Mexico for having come to the United States illegally in the 1990s.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday by prison inmate Juan Ledesma, seeks a court order that will force Homeland Security agents “to come to Anamosa State Penitentiary and take custody” of Ledesma and send him back to Mexico, his country of origin. ✂️
Lawsuit cites Trump’s executive order
Ledesma, 52, is now suing the U.S. Department of Justice, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa.
The lawsuit argues that ICE and Homeland Security have a “duty” to deport him in compliance with directives from President Donald Trump to deport all “illegal aliens.”
In his lawsuit, Ledesma claims he is a “national of the country of Mexico and is an illegal alien,” having come to the United States illegally in 1994. He claims that sometime after being convicted of murder, he was sent to the Anamosa State Penitentiary, where he was visited by ICE agents and signed voluntary deportation documents that remain on file with ICE.
The lawsuit notes that on Jan. 20, 2025, Trump took office and signed an executive order directing Homeland Security and other agencies to pursue the “efficient and expedited removal of aliens from the United States.” The order, the lawsuit argues, requires the removal of “all criminal aliens located in the United States.” ✂️
===
This is Vance Boelter, who is accused of assassinating Mellisa and Mark Hortman and seriously wounded Yvette and John Hoffman.
CNN via MSN
Man charged with killing a top Minnesota House Democrat pleads not guilty
When prosecutors announced the indictment, they released a rambling handwritten letter they say Boelter wrote to FBI Director Kash Patel in which he confessed to the June 14 shootings of Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. However, the letter doesn’t make clear why he targeted the Hortmans or Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, ✂️
In a series of cryptic notes to The New York Times through his jail’s electronic messaging service, Boelter suggested his actions were partly rooted in the Christian commandment to love one’s neighbor. “Because I love my neighbors prior to June 14th I conducted a 2 year long undercover investigation,” he wrote. ✂️
I doubt this is going to end well for him. TCG previously commented that he might be angling for insanity, but he didn’t plead that. I seriously doubt he has any receipts. I’ll be following this case whether you want me to or not. I’m emotionally invested in it.
===
Via Nanny...
===
Michigan Advance
Bill from Michigan’s Thanedar would end qualified immunity for ICE agents
Michigan’s U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar introduced legislation Thursday that would strip federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents of their qualified immunity protections, allowing individuals to sue agents who violate constitutional rights.
The Detroit Democrat’s bill, “Ending Qualified Immunity for ICE Agents Act,” comes amid growing concerns over what advocates describe as aggressive enforcement tactics by ICE, particularly in the wake of $170 billion being allocated to the agency with passage of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a sweeping GOP tax and spending measure endorsed by President Donald Trump.
“Trump’s ICE is following a ‘deport now, ask questions later’ policy,” Thanedar said in a press release. “They are more interested in hitting quotas and racial profiling than they are in treating people with basic respect and dignity. We’ve seen ICE detain Americans with impunity and commit gross civil rights violations. Qualified Immunity protects them from being held accountable. No more. No one should be above the law, especially those entrusted with enforcing it.” ✂️
I’m glad it’s being introduced, but I doubt that it will even make it to the house floor.
===
Raw Story via MSN
Republican governor breaks with Trump on scheme to boost House majority
A Republican governor thumbed her nose at President Donald Trump on Friday as she poured cold water on any notions her state would join a handful of other GOP-led states to attempt mid-decade redistricting to boost the number of Republican seats in Congress ahead of a tough mid-term election next year.
Republican-led states are redistricting this year primarily to gain a political advantage before the 2026 midterm elections. In the most prominent example, Texas Republicans are pushing for a mid-decade redraw to add more congressional seats favorable to the GOP, which could increase their House majority. Democratic lawmakers fled the state to thwart the plan, leading to an escalating standoff with Gov. Gregg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Missouri and Florida have expressed interest in similar plans. But New Hampshire doesn't seem interested in joining them.
Gov. Kelly Ayotte, who backed Trump in 2016, then withdrew her endorsement after the release of the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape, only to give him her endorsement in his 2024 presidential bid, rebuffed the Trump-backed plan for her state. ✂️
I know little about her, but credit where credit is due. Thank you, Governor Ayotte.
===
x
#booksky #books #Kindleunlimited #thriller #suspense #romance #novels #geopolitical #mythological #darkromance #women #contemporary #fiction #fantasy #crime #amazon #sifi #sff #readingcommunity #writingcommunity #author #readers #indie
[image or embed]
— Author Krishna Prasanth Guttikonda (@krishna-author.bsky.social) August 9, 2025 at 5:14 AM
===
South Dakota Searchlight
Former state trooper plans run as Democrat for secretary of state
A 39-year-old former state trooper plans to seek the office of South Dakota secretary of state for the Democratic Party.
If the party chooses him at its nominating convention next year, Terrence Davis could face Republican Secretary of State Monae Johnson in the general election.
Johnson was elected in 2022, and has announced her intention to seek reelection.
In South Dakota, the secretary of state oversees elections, maintains voter registration records, and catalogs and manages campaign finance reporting for state office-seekers and political action committees. It also catalogs businesses and corporate filings, among other duties.
Davis, a Sioux Falls resident and Tennessee native, sent an announcement on his candidacy this week. The married father of one spent a year working for the South Dakota Highway Patrol, from 2021-2022, and another five working as a state trooper in Tennessee. He currently works for East River Legal Services in Sioux Falls, and is pursuing a doctoral degree in law and public policy through Liberty University.
He pledged to bring “transparency” and “accountability” to the office, and to deliver “more efficient, accessible services with the respect South Dakotans deserve.” Davis’ announcement also said he would make voting “both secure and accessible, especially for rural communities.” ✂️
If he were anywhere but the Dakotas, I’d think he has a chance. I truly do wish him well. He seems like a quality candidate.
===
AZ Mirror
Arizona AG slams Republican county attorney for offer to prosecute Democratic state senator
Pinal’s County Attorney wants to prosecute a state Senator from Phoenix for posting the location of federal immigration agents online – but the state attorney general says he has no jurisdiction to do so and that there’s no crime to prosecute.
“I find it concerning that you express a willingness to use your office to prosecute an elected Arizona State Senator in what appears to be in excess of your constitutional and statutory authority,” Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes wrote in a letter to Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller.
Over the past week, partisan tensions among Arizona’s politicians erupted around the legality of sharing the movements of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on social media. Democrats argued that doing so falls within their free speech rights while Republicans claimed it illegally endangers law enforcement officials. The question is of key interest to the Trump administration and supporters of its mass deportation campaign, who have fiercely criticized the social media alert strategy of immigrant advocacy groups as an attempt to foil raids and help undocumented people avoid arrest. Both Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi have threatened to prosecute the creator of ICEBlock, an app that allows users to report sightings of ICE agents. ✂️
===
(1:34)
===
South Carolina Daily Gazette
Former Lt. Gov. Bauer suspends campaign against Lindsey Graham
COLUMBIA — Former Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer suspended his challenge to U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham just one month after launching it.
Bauer announced his decision Friday on social media.
“This decision does not come lightly. I entered this race with a servant’s heart — believing that our nation needs leaders who are grounded in truth, integrity, and faith,” he wrote on X. “But I believe now, more than ever, that in order for us to truly move forward, we must stop tearing one another down with lies and division.”
He did not immediately return a call or text from the SC Daily Gazette.
When he announced his bid July 2, Bauer called South Carolina’s senior senator a “war monger and globalist.” He said he intended to campaign as the “real Trump guy,” saying it didn’t matter that President Donald Trump had already endorsed Graham.
On Friday, Graham responded by again pointing out that Trump “proudly endorsed” him.
“I wish Andre and his family well and appreciate his service to our state for many years,” he said in a statement that followed a link to Trump’s post in March on his social media platform Truth Social. ✂️
===
The Jukebox is here. Varro is the host. The theme is Science!
This Week in the War on Women will be here or here (the first queries by publishing group, the second by tag). If one doesn’t show you the new diary, try the other.
Bilbo’s latest CHC is up
CHC Roundup: Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-33) - High Rank, High Stakes
===
Today is…
NATIONAL PASSION FRUIT DAY
We celebrate National Passion Fruit Day each year on August 9 on the National Day Calendar. Join us today as we celebrate the delightful sweet and tangy flavor of the tropical fruit known as passion fruit. We also want to promote and honor the hard working farmers and growers that provide passion fruit to consumers in the United States.
Congratulations to all who celebrate it.
National Bowling Day
Whether bowling a strike, a spare or a gutter ball, bowling can always be loads of fun, especially when it is done with friends and family. Consider some of these ideas for observing and celebrating National Bowling Day:
Go Bowling, Of Course!
What else would a person do on this day? Thousands of bowling lanes and centers may be offering free taster sessions in celebration of National Bowling Day, so the ideal way to celebrate is to take to the lanes.
Grab some bowling shoes, a bowling ball and a few friends, and head on over to knock down some pins. It’s possible that you could well be bowled over by how much fun this sport of bowling really is!
Because I can’t just leave this one for Ghost.
(3:17)
NATIONAL VEEP DAY
Since celebrating JD Vance is out of the question, I’ll reprise this instead.
(28:23)
I did a preorder of the book 107 Days at The Literate Lizard. DP has a discount. Details can be found through this diary (near the top, just below the Hans Christian Anderson note (or search for ‘107’ on the page).
That leads us gracefully into…
National Book Lovers Day
From the scent of a rare first edition book found in an old time book collection, to a crisp, fresh book at the local supermarket, the very sight of a book can bring back delightful memories.
Reading as a child, enjoying the short stories, the long books and the ability to lose yourself in a story so powerful that at the end you are asking yourself where to get the next book in the series. This day is for the reader in all of us, the celebration of National Book Lovers Day!
(5:46)
1930 - Betty Boop makes her debut in the cartoon Dizzy Dishes.
Betty Boop Day
Watch Some Classic Betty Boop Cartoons
Most of the animated shows that featured Betty Boop were shorts, meaning that they only last around six to eight minutes.
But there are still more than thirteen hours of her content, so it should be pretty easy to be entertained in honor of Betty Boop Day!
(4:46:43) Watch at your leisure.
NATIONAL GARAGE SALE DAY
National Garage Sale Day on the second Saturday in August recognizes the perfect time to sell our good but used items. Set up the tables and price your things. Or, head out around the neighborhood looking for great deals.
#NationalGarageSaleDay
For the savvy shopper, garage sales offer an inexpensive way to update their decor. They also help young families obtain gently used items for their children and homes. It also presents opportunity to find a treasure or antique you may have been looking for.
(3:26) complete with an original song, which is very well done.
I’ve got to move into the main body. There’s more to be found. My two major sources are National Day Calendar and Days of the Year, because they are relatively rich sources and I can easily move the date ahead. Days of the Year gives more results, National Day Calendar breaks out birthdays and events.
===
The Shade is open. As always, the value is in the comments.
