#Sean Parnell

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Oliver Willis at Daily Kos:

President Donald Trump continues to make questionable choices on who will serve in key positions in his administration. His most recent picks include men who have promoted debunked conspiracy theories and another who has been accused of spousal abuse. Trump has selected conservative writer Darren Beattie to serve as acting under secretary of state for public diplomacy. Beattie ran the pro-Trump Revolver News website where he sold Trump gear including a shirt that said “it’s OK to deny 2020,” a reference to 2020 election conspiracy theories. Beattie has also claimed that the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol was a “clear hoax” carried out by the federal government. The new hire previously served in the first Trump administration. During that stint he was fired after it was discovered that he had spoken at a conference alongside white supremacists. Joe Kent, who twice failed to win a congressional seat in Washington, was selected by Trump to lead the National Counter Terrorism Center. The center is responsible for collecting intelligence from other agencies—including the FBI, CIA, and the Departments of Defense and Homeland Security—to assess threats and to formulate a unified response. When running for office, Kent gave an interview to a Nazi sympathizer and white supremacist. Kent also appeared in photographs at a fundraiser alongside the host, Greyson Arnold, who had previously argued that the U.S. should have sided with Nazi Germany in World War II. Kent also came to the defense of white supremacist Nick Fuentes when his account was banned by Twitter in 2021, writing, “Many are glad that their political rivals are targeted by the state & big tech, they hate Trump, @NickJFuentes & MAGA.” Trump has also selected failed Pennsylvania congressional candidate Sean Parnell to serve as the chief spokesperson at the Pentagon.

Trump appoints three highly unqualified men for key roles in 47’s Misadministration: Joe Kent, Sean Parnell, and Darren Beattie.

[politicaldilfs]

Alaska Governor DILFs

Bill Walker, Bill Sheffield, William A. Egan, Wally Hickel, Frank Murkowski, Jay Hammond, Sean Parnell, Mike Dunleavy, Tony Knowles, Steve Cowper. So basically every governor of Alaska was a DILF except for Palin. Honestly, Sean Parnell deserves a medal for putting up with Palin's big bag of crazy as Lt. Gov.

[aoawarfare]

Easter Rising

Easter Rising is one of the most well-known Irish rebellions. It caught the British by surprise (despite the Castle knowing all there was to know about the planned uprising) and lasted for five days before being defeated by the British Army. The Rising was concentrated in Dublin, with only a few countryside engagements. While the rebellion itself was a failure, the execution of its leaders and the determination of its survivors, turned it into a spiritual and political victory that set the stage for the Irish War of Independence and the Irish Civil War.

And it nearly didn’t happen.

Daniel O’Connell and the Young Irelanders

To understand why the Rising occurred, one most first familiarize themselves with Ireland’s long struggle against British colonialism.

In 1798, the United Irishmen coordinated a massive rebellion in Ireland that would clear the path for a Napoleonic French invasion. They would help the French overthrow the British Empire and earn their freedom. The rebellion was brutally suppressed by the British forces and served, in the British and Protestant Irish minds as a nightmarish example of what the Catholic Irish were “capable” of.

This rebellion was followed by another rebellion in 1803, led by Robert Emmet. He also coordinated with the French, but was forced to move the date of his rebellion up, jeopardizing any support he has previously organized. He issued a proclamation of the Provisional Government and expected the people to rise. It only lasted for a day before it was defeated by the British. Emmet was executed by the British.

After the failed rebellions, a modicum of progress was achieved in the 1820s/1830s when one of Ireland’s greatest statesmen, Daniel O’Connell campaigned for Catholic Emancipation i.e. the right for Catholics to sit in Parliament. This was granted in 1829.

Daniel O'Connell

O’Connell tried to repeal the Act of Union and asked that Ireland be allowed to govern itself independently while acknowledging the Queen as the Queen of Ireland as well as of England. However, O’Connell’s failing health and his refusal to do anything that would lead to bloodshed weakened his support and the repeal fell apart after he died.

Out of the ashes of O’Connell’s attempt to repeal the Union, rose the Young Ireland Movement. This group led the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848, which was defeated by the British. Many of the organizers were shipped off to prisons all over the British Empire, including Australia. One Young Irelander, Thomas Meagher migrated to America in time to volunteer for the Union Army’s Irish Brigade when the American Civil War broke out,

Another Young Irelander, James Stephens created the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB), a secret organization that would be responsible for Easter Rising and fill the ranks of the IRA.

Charles Parnell and Home Rule

Although O’Connell failed to repeal the Union, he paved the way for greater independence in Ireland. He proved that the British could be engaged through their own parliamentary government and that more could be achieved through negotiations than through violence. Charles Parnell took these lessons to heart and used his own position within England’s parliament to push for Home Rule.

Parnell was a politically astute Irishmen, associating with well-known nationalist organizations such as the IRB, while also using parliamentary procedures such as obstructionism to drew England’s attention to Irish issues. Parnell was able to capitalize on Irish resentment over land ownership and landlords to increase his party’s power within parliament, leading to his arrest.

While in prison he made a deal with Gladstone’s government, promising to quell violent agitation if Gladstone allowed renters to appeal for fair rent before a court. This, combined with the backlash following the Phoenix Park killings, broke the IRB’s power until the early 1900s. Parnell used his power to reintroduce Home Rule which combined a request for independent rule with agrarian reform. He also won the support of the Catholic Church. He reshaped his party, renamed it the Irish Parliamentary Party, and introduced a new sense of professionalism into its members. Other British parties would base their organization on Parnell’s tightly run party. He also helped passed several Land Acts that abolished the large Anglo-Irish tenant owned estates.

Just when Parnell was at his highest point of power and Home Rule seemed destined to become reality, a personal scandal ruined his political career. It turns out that Parnell was involved in an affair with a currently married woman. The Catholic Church, who had grown to distrust Parnell, used this to break his political power and even Gladstone turned his back on him. Parnell was defiant, splitting his party into the Parnellites and anti-Parnellites. John Redmond, another important Irish statesman, was a Parnellite. Parnell died shortly after, taking Home Rule with him.

John Redmond

After adjusting to the social change demanded by Daniel O’Connell in the 1820s/1830s and the trauma of Parnell’s scandalous fall from grace, Ireland’s future seemed bright. The mystical and ever elusive Home Rule seemed to be within the grasp of John Redmond, Parnell’s political and spiritual successor.

John Redmond

This bill promised a bicameral Irish Parliament to be set up in Dublin, the abolition of Dublin Castle (the center and reviled symbol of hated British colonialism and authority within Ireland), and a distinctive Irish representation in the Parliament of the U.K. This bill passed the House of Commons three times and was defeated in the House of Lords three times and was postponed indefinitely when WWI broke out.

While Home Rule’s fate was up in the air, Ireland itself was undergoing a social transformation. R. F. Foster’s book Vivid Faces does a fantastic job capturing the social experiences of the members of Irish Volunteers and IRA that I cannot recapture in this short post. However, it is sufficient to say that the members that crowded the language revival leagues and sports leagues wanted more than Home Rule. They wanted a revitalized and progressive Gaelic culture and identity.

The Irish, mostly Protestant, in, what is now, Northern Ireland were alarmed by the very idea of Home Rule and this renewed interest in Gaelic culture. They responded by creating the militaristic organization called the Ulster Volunteers in 1912. Their goal was to pressure the British government to nix Home Rule and to defend themselves from the Catholic “onslaught” should Home Rule pass into law.

The Irish nationalists in the rest of the Ireland responded by creating their own military organization: the Irish Volunteers in 1913. It was created by Eoin MacNeill and included members from the Gaelic League, Sinn Fein, and the Irish Republic Brotherhood.

Eoin MacNeill

The Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB) was a secret organization dedicated to Irish independence. Bulmer Hobson (who co-founded the Fianna Eireann with Constance Markievicz) combined the two organizations into the Irish Volunteers.

Redmond knew about the Irish people’s frustration. He promised the English that he would rally the Irish about the British cause and enlist in its armies if England promised to pass Home Rule. During a speech, Redmond-eager to prove that he was a man of his word-passionately encouraged Irish to enlist in the army and fight in France. This was the final straw for many nationalists and Redmond lost what little power he had over events. Redmond would try to regain control by co-opting the Irish Volunteers with assistance from Bulmer Hobson, but this only angered the nationalists. Tom Clarke, who was great friends with Hobson, considered it an act of treason and never spoke to his friend again.

Irish Volunteers and the IRB

The Irish Volunteers were never completely united and the battle for Home Rule drove a split within the organization between those who trusted Redmond and those who decided that Home Rule wasn’t enough anymore and that a bloody uprising was needed. Of the men who wanted to wait, Eoin MacNeill and Bulmer Hobson are the most famous. They believed that it was better to wait for British provocation before leading the people to the slaughter. They were also doubtful of their chances of success and did not believe in the glorious sacrifices that Patrick Pearse exalted in his speeches and writing.

The more militant group kept the name Irish Volunteers, even though many of them were also IRB members, and consisted of men such as Patrick Pearse, Tom Clarke, Seán Mac Diarmada, Joseph Plunkett, and Eamonn Ceannt. They believed that England’s difficulties meant Irish opportunity and they wanted to enlist German help in pulling off an uprising. These men were idealistic and, perhaps a bit naïve, but they were dedicated to their cause and to their country.

This committee knew they would not be able to win without arms and support, so, keeping their plans to themselves, they sent Roger Casement and Plunkett to Germany to present their plans for a German invasion that would coincide with an Irish rising. The Germans rejected this plan (maybe remembering what happened in 1798, when the French made a similar landing, weeks after a massive Irish uprising), but promised to send arms. Plunkett returned to Ireland while Casement remained in Germany to recruit Irish prisoners of war to the Volunteer’s cause.

The situation in Ireland, specifically Dublin, became even more complicated when James Connelly, head of the Irish Citizen Army-a group of socialist trade unionists-threatened to start his own uprising.

Bulmer Hobson

A meeting between Connelly and Pearse occurred and Connelly joined the military committee. Thomas MacDonagh joined shortly after, becoming the seventh and last member of the committee.

The Irish Volunteers were often seen drilling and practicing for some vague rebellion, so it wasn’t suspicious to the authorities or to MacNeil and Hobson to see units marching around. When Pearse issued orders for parade practice on Easter Sunday, MacNeil and Hobson took it at face value while those in the know, knew what it really meant. This surreal arrangement would not last for long and the committee’s secrecy nearly destroyed the very rising it was trying to inspire.

Seven Members of the Military Committee

Not only were the members of the committee the men most responsible for the rising, they were also the signatories to the Irish Republic Proclamation. This important document was the foundation for the IRA’s fight for freedom and was the death warrant for all who signed it. Below are short biographies on the seven members.

Patrick Pearse

Patrick Pearse was a school teacher and poet. He was a firm believer in reviving the Gaelic language and founded St. Enda’s College as a bilingual institution, focusing on Irish tradition and culture. Pearse is the man who represents the Rising best as he truly believed that the blood of martyrs would liberate Ireland. He was the spiritual leader of the rising and one of its most powerful martyrs.

Tom Clarke

Tom Clarke was an old hat at rebellions. He was a firm believer in violent uprisings and spent fifteen years in an English prison before joining the committee. He had joined the IRB in 1878 and was arrested for attempting to blow up London Bridge as part of the Fenian dynamite campaign in 1883. He was only released because of public pressure in Ireland and an endorsement from John Redmond, himself. Following his feud with Hobson over Redmond’s acceptance into the Irish Volunteers, Clarke became firm friends with Seán Mac Diarmada. Together they ran the IRB and helped plan Easter Rising.

Seán Mac Diarmada

Seán Mac Diarmada (also known as Sean MacDermott) was born in Corranmore, where he was surrounded by Irish history and reminders of British oppression. By the time he moved to Dublin in 1908, he was already a member of the IRB, Sinn Fein, the Gaelic League, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. He was also manager of the newspaper Irish Freedom which he founded with Hobson and Denis McCullough. He became close to Clarke and helped run the IRB. He was arrested briefly in 1914 for a speech against joining the British army but was released in 1915. Like Pearse, Mac Diarmada believed in the power of a bloody sacrifice and, besides Clarke, was the man most responsible for planning the rising.

Thomas MacDonagh

Thomas MacDonagh was assistant headmaster at St. Enda’s School and lecturer at University College Dublin. He was also a playwright and poet. He met Pearse and MacNeill through the Gaelic League and joined the IRB in 1915. He married Muriel Gifford whose sister, Grace, would marry Joseph Plunkett. He was also responsible in planning the funeral of Irish Fenian leader Jeremiah O’Donovan Rossa where Pearse would give one of his greatest speeches.

Joseph Plunkett

Joseph Plunkett came from a wealthy Dublin family. He contracted tuberculosis when he was young and spent considerable time in the Mediterranean and North Africa. When he returned, he joined the Gaelic League where he befriended MacDonagh. He joined the IRB in 1915 and was sent to German with Casement to negotiate for arms and military support.

Eamonn Ceannt

Eamonn Ceannt was a very religious and committed member of the Irish Volunteers. Like most Volunteers, he joined the Gaelic League when he moved to Dublin and became involved in nationalistic affairs after meeting Pearse and MacNeill. In 1907 he joined Sinn Fein and in 1915 he became a member of the IRB.

James Connolly

James Connolly was born in the Irish slums of Edinburgh and joined the British Army when he was fourteen. While serving in the army, he was involved in the Land Wars, sparking an interest in land issues and a deep hatred of the British. He deserted and became involved in the socialist movement in Scotland. He moved to Dublin when he heard that the Dublin Socialist Club was looking for a secretary and quickly transformed it into the Irish Socialist Republican Party. He, along with Arthur Griffith, protested the Boer War and he wrote a book about labor in Irish history that was very critical of Daniel O’Connell. In 1913, he co-founded the Irish Citizen Army with Jim Larkin, whose aim was to defend workers and strikers from the police. Connolly was initially disgusted with the Irish Volunteers, believing that they were too bourgeoise and didn’t have the guts to rebel against the British. It was only after meeting with Pearse and Clarke did he change his mind and support the Volunteers and the Rising.

Easter Rising Sunday

Easter Rising was a surprise for the British and for the leaders of the Irish Volunteers-Eoin MacNeill and Bulmer Hobson. Historian, Charles Townshend argues that Hobson and MacNeil were subsequently written out of Irish history because of their resistance to any violent rebellion in 1916 and it is only recently that they’ve returned to their proper place in history. While it is true that they were hesitant to lead a general uprising, it was for good reasons. The Irish Volunteers weren’t soldiers, despite all their training, and they didn’t have the weapons needed to fight a protracted rebellion. Additionally, it was doubtful that the general population would support their efforts. These concerns combined, made the Rising’s chances for success minimal.

This didn’t dissuade men like Pearse and Clarke, who planned the Rising right under MacNeill’s noses. To ensure full support of their efforts, the seven leaders of the Rising had the ‘Castle Document’ read during a meeting. This document was a plan to arrest the leaders of the Irish Volunteers should the English implement conscription. While it was a real document, it seems that the leaders may have played fast and loose with when it was going to be implemented. Either way, this was the type of repressive efforts that MacNeil believed were needed to ensure the people would support a rising of any kind. MacNeil gave orders to the men to resist and the seven leaders decided amongst themselves that the Rising would take place on 23rd April 1916. They didn’t tell anyone else though and wouldn’t until the last minute.

Then things began to unravel.

First, Roger Casement was arrested. Roger Casement had gone to Germany to recruit arms and assistance from the German government and to recruit Irishmen from the captured British soldiers. The Germans were less than supportive, and it seems Casement boarded the ship Aud to return to Ireland to either stop or postpone the rising. However, when he arrived in Ireland on either April 21st or 22nd, he was pick up by British police and placed in jail.

Then MacNeil and Hobson had their worst suspicions confirmed-Pearse and his comrades were secretly planning a rebellion without their support. There was a confrontation between MacNeil and Pearse on the 21st and MacNeil vowed to do everything possible-save warning the authorities-to stop the rebellion. However, the next day MacNeil was informed that the Germans had sent a boat full of supplies to Ireland. This seemed to convince him that things were firmly out of his control and he remained mostly mute about his feelings regarding the Rising. His opinions changed again when found out that Casement had been arrested and the arms had been picked up by the British. Feeling that this ruined what little chance the rebellion had to succeed, he spoke to Pearse once more. One can only imagine his disorientation when he found out that Hobson had been arrested by the IRB Leinster Executive out of fear that he would try to stop the rebellion. Why Pearse and his comrades never arrested MacNeil is unknown, but it speaks volumes about which man they were more threatened by.

Failing to convince Pearse that it was necessary to cancel the rebellion to avoid disaster, MacNeil wrote a counter-order, canceling the drills scheduled for Sunday. This counter-order took an already confused situation and turned it into a bewildering disaster. Units formed as ordered by Pearse and dispersed with great puzzlement and some anger and frustration. Pearse and his comrades met to discuss their next steps and decided the die had been cast. There was no other choice except to try again tomorrow, Monday, 24th, April 1916.

As can be imagined, the counter-orders have been a source of much anguish and gnashing of teeth. From the rebellion’s perceptive, it did more to ruin the Rising then the British. There is some belief that if the rebellion had occurred on Sunday as planned, with all the Irish Volunteers mobilizing, then it may have been successful. Some of this is definitely wishful thinking, as the plan for the rebellion was far from perfect to begin with. Have a larger showing of Irish Volunteers may have only meant more Irish dead at the end of the five days.

The more important question how did the decision by Pearse and his comrades to form a shadow chain of command within the Irish Volunteers affect operations? MacNeil would not have needed to issue the counter-orders if he had been in on the planning to begin with and there would have been no confusion on part of the Volunteers if commands were issued as they should have been. While it is true that Hobson and MacNeil did not want to rebel until conditions were more favorable for the Volunteers, the Rising leader’s decision to split their command in half was far more detrimental to their rebellion than anything else.

Easter Rising Monday

When the Rising began that Monday, only about half of the Irish Volunteers showed up in several key locations in Dublin and even fewer gathered in the countryside. Pearse and the others lead about 150 men down Sackville Street (now O’Connell Street) where they picked up stranglers and marched on the General Post Office (GPO). It was here they would establish their headquarters.

The General Post Office

The GPO was a formidable building and important location in Dublin, but there is some question as to whether it offered Pearse and Connolly the ability to effectively communicate with the other garrisons, especially when it was cut off from the southern half by the Castle and Trinity College.

Whatever its military significance, it became a politically powerful building. After they took the GPO, two Irish flags were hung-one was yellow, green, and orange/yellow and the other was green with a golden harp. Then Pearse read outloud the Irish Proclamation of the Republic to the newly ‘liberated’ people. This proclamation was signed by all seven leaders of the Rising-Pearse, Clarke, Ceannt, Mac Diarmada, MacDonagh, Connolly, and Plunkett-and it would later serve as their death warrant.

Whether because he read the proclamation or simply during the stress of the times, Pearse became the unofficial president and general of the Volunteers-although there were claims following the Rising that Clarke was the actual president. Additionally, the name Irish Republican Army (IRA) came out of this makeshift government. They wanted an official name for their army. It originally started as the Army of the Republic, which was changed to the IRA and became official and everlasting in the 1920s.

There was a sense of futility combined with military spirit in the GPO. While men like Pearse had always spoke of the need to wash Ireland in martyr’s blood, even practical men like Connolly seemed to believe that they were going to be slaughter. Yet, Pearse and the other leaders still struggled to develop a military command structure and government while also taking the city. As Pearse became the center of the Rising, Connolly took command of the military forces, sending out orders that his secretary, Winifred Carney, wrote on her typewriter.

While this was happening, the battalions that showed up, quickly dispersed to vital positions throughout the city.

To the east of the GPO, was the Four Courts-the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal, the High Court, and the Dublin District Court. This was taken by the 1st battalion commanded by Edward Daly.

Edward Daly

Daly was the youngest man to serve as commandant and was Tom Clarke’s brother-in-law. Daly sent a small company under the command of Sean Heuston to take the Mendicity Institution (one of Ireland’s oldest charities). Heuston’s original orders (when GPO expected an immediate response from the British Army) were to hold the position for a few hours to give GPO time to get organized. Heuston would hold on for three days.

Southeast of the Four Courts was the South Dublin Union. This was taken by the Fourth battalion led by Eamon Ceannt, one of the seven signers of the proclamation and planners of the rising.

West of the South Dublin Union was Jacob’s biscuit factory. This was taken by the second battalion commanded by Thomas MacDonaugh, another signer of the proclamation.

West of the biscuit factory was St. Stephen’s Green, a large park. This was taken by Connolly’s Citizen Army commanded by Michael Mallin.

Michael Mallin

Mallin was Connolly’s second in command co-founder of the Socialist Party of Ireland. Constance Markievicz, a fascinating and colorful member of the Volunteers, Citizen Army, and, later, IRA, was his third in command. They tried to take Shelbourne Hotel on the north-east side of the park, but didn’t have the sufficient manpower. The British would position troops in the hotel by Monday night.

Northeast of St. Stephen’s Green was Boland’s Mill. This was taken by the Third battalion, commanded by Eamon de Valera. De Valera was a mathematics professor and had joined the Irish Volunteers out of a sense of nationalism, but only reluctantly became an IRB member. He would later distance himself from the IRB, professing a disdain for secret societies.

While the rebels certainly took a large part of the city, Dublin was surrounded by five police barracks. To the northeast there were the Royal and Marlborough barracks, to the southwest there was the Richard Barracks, to the very south was the Portobello barracks, and to the southeast was the Beggars Bush Barracks.

Additionally, the Castle, the center of British colonialism in Ireland was in the very center of Dublin, and the Volunteers didn’t take it. There was a futile attempt early Monday afternoon, but for reasons that are still unclear, it wasn’t successfully. The Volunteers also failed to take Trinity College and the telephone exchange in Crown alley, allowing the government to control communication and repair the lines that had been cut. Additionally, they failed to take Dublin’s two railways or Dublin Port and Kingstown. This would, later, enable the British to bring in army reinforcements.

There has been a lot of puzzlement over these failures, but it may have simply between due to the lack of manpower and the confusion caused by the counter-orders. There were mild gunfights throughout the day and the Volunteers waited nervously for Britain’s response. They expected it to be hard and fast, but this was furthest from the truth.

That Monday morning there were a total of 400 British soldiers on hand to respond to the rebellion. Historian Charles Townshend claims that there were 100 for each of the four barracks (Richmond, Marlborough, Royal, and Portobello). Despite knowing about the preparation for the Rising and the arms the Germans had sent, the British officials didn’t expect anything to happen that day.

The small force that engaged the rebels during Monday afternoon, were unable to displace the Volunteers. This was a short-lived victory for the rebels however, as by Monday night General Lowe had taken command along with an additional 150 troops from Belfast, and a colonel brought up the artillery from Athlone. He could expect more reinforcements from England the next day. Lowe’s plan was to establish communication along the Kingsbridge-North Wall-Trinity College line, cutting the city in half, and isolating the rebel forces from each other.

Martial law was declared, leaving Dublin’s fate in the military’s hands.

Tuesday, 25 April

By Tuesday morning, historian Charles Townshend estimates that the British military strength was up to 3000 men and Lowe estimated the rebels to be about 2000 strong, but he knew little else. He feared that the rebellion could spread to the countryside and so he requested additional reinforcements.

Despite not knowing the exact situation, Lowe’s men were able to achieve a few victories. By the end of Tuesday, they had dislodged Mallin’s men from St. Stephen’s Green and into the Royal College of Surgeons. A unit attempted to repair a section of the damaged railroad at Amiens Street but were attacked by the rebels positioned along Annesley Bridge. They fought for two hours before the British were forced to retreat.

That night, the British were able to position the four 18 pounder field guns and the guns on the HMS Helga. The British would use the artillery to great effect on Wednesday, focusing their fire on Liberty Hall, O’Connell Street, and Boland’s Mill. Connolly had once said that Britain would never fire artillery at Dublin because it was a modernized capitalistic city. One wonders what Connolly’s thoughts were during the intense bombardment.

Francis Sheehy-Skeffington

Tuesday was a day of small engagements while General Lowe assessed the situation, but that didn’t mean it wasn’t a day of tragedy. The shock of the rebellion shattered the complacency that had taken over the Irish government. With a crisis on their hands, the military responded swiftly and harshly. An example of the kind of repression the military would use during the rest of was week was the arrest of a pacifist, feminist (he had adopted his wife’s name) and prominent Irish social figure-Francis Sheehy-Skeffington.

Francis Sheehy-Skeffington

Sheehy-Skeffington was vehemently against the militarism that had taken over the Irish Volunteers and was out Tuesday trying to discourage looters. He was arrested by British Lieutenant Morris and taken to Portobello Barracks. Later that night Captain J.C. Bowen Colthurst wanted to go lead a raiding party up to Harcourt Rd. (south of St. Stephen’s Green) and he took Sheehy-Skeffington as a ‘hostage’. On the way there, he killed a young man named Coade before ransacking a house owned by the alderman Tom Kelly. He arrested two men, Thomas Dickson and Patrick McIntyre, and took them back to the barracks. He reviewed the papers he found at the alderman’s house and the papers on Sheehy-Skeffington. Wednesday morning, he took the three men out to the yard and shot them, claiming they were dangerous men and he shot them to prevent the men from escaping.

The commander of Portobello Barracks, Francis Vane, was not there during the shooting. When he found out, he demanded Colthurst’s arrest. Instead, the bodies were buried in the yard, Hanna Sheehy-Skeffington was not told about her husband’s death, and Colthurst broke into her house to find evidence that Francis Sheehy-Skeffington had helped planned the revolution. Hanna eventually found out what happened to her husband. Vane pressed to prosecute Colthurst and Vane lost his command while Colthurst kept his rank.

Colthurst was finally arrested May 9th and would later be court-martialed and convicted of insanity. He was sentenced to Broadmoor Hospital, but was released in 1918 and resettled in Canada. Vane was dishonorably discharged from the army and went on to become involved with the Boy Scouts.

Wednesday, 26 April

During Wednesday, the British tightened their grip on the city. Using their artillery to bombard positions such as O’Connell Street and Boland’s Mill, Lowe sent his new reinforcements from England into the city to further cut the rebels off from each other.

One unit was sent to attack Heuston’s position at Mendicity Institute. With only 26 Volunteers against hundreds of British soldiers, Heuston held until the British were so close, they could throw grenades into the building. His troops were the first rebels to surrender.

The Sherwood Foresters, a unit that had arrived from Britain, were sent down Grand Canal Street, near Beggar’s Bush Barracks. They were held up where Grand Canal meets Mount Street by heavy rebel fire. The Volunteers had fortified various positions along the street, meaning that the Foresters were caught in their cross-fire as they repeatedly tried to take this position. After five hours of fighting and losing 240 men wounded and killed, they defeated the rebels and took the position, but many historians have wondered why they didn’t try another path into Dublin.

Thursday 27th, and Friday 28th April

Thursday and Friday were some of the bloodiest days during the Rising. One of the greatest battles in the countryside, the Battle of Ashbourne, in which the Fingal Battalion defeated a RIC detachment took place on Friday. Within Dublin, the famous battle for the South Dublin Union occurred on Thursday and the battle for the Four Courts waged during Thursday and Friday. Friday also saw the arrival of Commander-in-chief General Sir John Maxwell, who, perhaps, did more to ensure the spiritual and political success of the Rising than anyone else.

South Dublin Union

Cathal Brugha

Eamon Ceannt and his Vice-Commandant Cathal Brugha led the men at South Dublin Union. After a furious fight on Monday, their front had been mysteriously silent. On Thursday morning, reinforcements from Kingstown port arrived and attacked. The fighting here was vicious and Brugha, who insisted on fighting in the front line, was wounded twenty-five times and had to be sent to the medical staff on Friday. Still, they held throughout the week and even thought they had destroyed the entire British force that had attacked them.

Four Courts

The most famous fight of the Rising occurred in the Four Courts. This position was vital for the rebels as it protected headquarters and was near the center of town. The Volunteers were commanded by Edward Daly. On Wednesday, he sent troops out to take Linenhall Barracks, but didn’t have the men, so they set it on fire. The fire raged for most of the night. Meanwhile the British had taken Capel street, which meant Daly was now cut off from the GPO.

The British attacked Thursday morning. Men in armed trucks rolled down Bolton street and attempted to throw a cordon on King Street. However, the rebels had heavily fortified King street, and every inch was fiercely fought over. Eventually, the British had to drill through the inside walls and travel from house to house, wounding and killing many civilians. Daly had to pull his men back to the Four Court proper on Friday night. They were exhausted, but had fought long and hard.

General John Maxwell

General John Maxwell arrive in Ireland from London on Friday. His arrival signaled that London was no longer going to be nice and understanding with their “difficult Irish citizens”. He was a traditional army man, had served in Sudan, the Boer War, and the First World War. He was to be the formal commander-in-chief for Ireland, eclipsing the civil government that had been put in place, and he, more than anyway, helped create the rebel’s legacies. His first major contribution was to refuse any negotiations short of unconditional surrender. This was to have an important effect on the now tired, starving, and rattled rebels.

The artillery barrage had kept up since Wednesday and, despite their leader’s optimism, many commanders were beginning to doubt if they could last much longer. Then the fires started. It seemed that a shell had started a fire on Sackville Street, setting it ablaze. It spread around the GPO until the men inside could feel the heat through the walls. Then an oil works on Abbey Street caught fire. Friday morning, the women were sent out of the GPO. The building was hit by shells and it caught fire around 3 pm. Things were growing desperate. Connolly, who had spent all week checking posts and men, had been wounded in his left arm and leg on Thursday and had to be carried out on a stretcher. Fire had reached the GPO roof and many of the Volunteers had been cut off from HQ, left to defend themselves in their ever-shrinking fortified positions. An Irish Volunteer, O’Rahilly, who had passed out MacNeill’s counter-order, led a bayonet charge against the British troops and was mortally wounded.

Pearse decided to surrender.

Easter Rising Executions

The order was sent to all the units in Dublin and the few who had risen in the countryside, like the Fingal, Wexford, and Galway Battalions. Most of the troops did as they were told, and they were put in temporary holding cells until the British government could figure out what to do with them.

The British government’s goal was to squash all rebellion within Ireland, thus Maxwell ordered that all Sinn Feiners be arrested. Given the number of people arrested and the severity of the crisis, it was decided that the rebels would be tried by military court. It was decided that the men would be executed, but they could not handle the disgrace of executing the women.

The first three leaders to be executed were Patrick Pearse, Tom Clarke, and Thomas MacDonaugh. They were taken out of Richmond Barracks to Kilmainham gaol and shot on May 3rd.

Edward Daly, Willie Pearse (Patricks’ younger brother), Joseph Plunkett (who was allowed to marry his fiancée the night before), and Michael O’Hanrahan were executed on the 4th.

John MacBride was executed on the 5th.

Eamon Ceannt, Sean Heuston, Con Colbert, and Michael Mallin were executed on the 8th and Thomas Kent on the 9th.

Sean MacDermott and James Connolly were executed on the 13th. Connolly, still recovering from his wounds, was tied to a chair so the soldiers could shoot him.

The government in London had become alarmed with the executions by the 4th, but allowed them to carry on until it became clear that public opinion was decidedly against them. John Redmond pleaded for clemency and the Irish public, who had been detached from the rebels at best, were beginning to praise them. It seems that the fact the Rising lasted for so long combined with the civilians who had been murdered (like Sheehy-Skeffington) and swiftness of the executions turned the public against the British forces and towards the rebels.

Given this startling development, the British government decided to intern the remaining rebbels at various prisons and internment camps in England and Wales such as Frongoch, the “University of Revolution’.

The last Irish Volunteer to be executed was Roger Casement. He was tried for treason and was hanged on August 3rd.

Legacy

“That the authorities allowed a body of lawless and riotous men to be drilled and armed and to provide themselves with an arsenal of weapons and explosives was one of the most amazing things that could happen in any civilized country outside of Mexico.”-William Martin Murphy, statement to Royal Commission 1916

It is true that the Irish Volunteers lasted longer than anyone expected (maybe even longer then their own leaders expected), yet that alone cannot count as a victory. Despite their best efforts, the plans for the Rising were muddled and the secret nature of their work only hurt their cause. It tore their movement in two, creating a political vacuum that allowed the IRB to take control, but also created a legacy of distrust. There would always be those members who suspected the IRB and this suspicion that would continue into the Irish War of Independence and contribute to the Irish Civil War and the aftermath of the 1924 Army Mutiny.

Once the Rising started, the battalions quickly became isolated commands of their own, their connection to the GPO and the leadership fragile. There were several brave stands during the Rising, such as Heuston’s stand at the Medicity Institute, Ceannt’s stand at the Four Courts, and the Battle of Ashbourne in the countryside and no one can deny the courage or dedication of the men who rebelled.

However, it is also hard to deny the tragedy of the entire affair. It has been estimated that a total of 485 people had been killed and 2,600 had been wounded during the rebellion. Ireland lost many important men and women such as Francis Sheehy-keffington, Michael Joseph O’Rahilly (the O’Rahilly) and promising leaders such as Sean Heuston and Edward Daly. Dublin city had been bombarded, burnt, and filled with lead and the Rising pushed the English to establish a military governor, John Maxwell.

So, it was a disaster?

It may have been nothing more than another failed uprising had it not been for the brutal murder of men like Sheehy-Skeffington and the executions. One cannot completely fault John Maxwell. Governments and military men often fall into the trap of believing that a rebellion cannot survive without its leadership. The British never expected the survivors to pick up the torch light by the signers of the Irish Proclamation.

De Valera was scheduled to be executed, but was spared because of the change in public opinion. Michael Collins had originally been marked for harsher punishment (such as execution) but was saved because he thought he heard someone call his name and moved to the group marked for lighter punishment in an attempt to identify the voice. Once he joined that group, he just stayed there. These two men would be instrumental in shaping the Irish War of Independence and modern Ireland.

Additionally, men and women like Cathal Brugha, Richard Mulcahy, W. T. Cosgrave, Arthur Griffith, Constance Markievicz, Harry Boland, and many more all participated in Easter Rising, many were interned in prisons like Frongloch internment camp, and would later become vital to the IRA in one capacity or another.

Easter Rising provided these future leaders of Ireland a glimpse into what worked and what didn’t. Michael Collins, himself, was disgusted with the loss of life and Richard Mulcahy, the IRA’s future chief of staff, experienced guerrilla warfare for the first time during the Battle of Ashbourne. De Valera’s experience in Dartmoor prison gave him the reputation and confidence he needed to become President of the Dail. It also created a moment of everlasting brotherhood that created the esprit de corps needed to survive the Irish War of Independence War and the very same brotherhood that would tear Ireland apart during the civil war.

The legacy of Easter Rising will always be tangled with the legacy of the Irish War of Independence and the Civil War. Was it any different from other Irish rebellions? In some ways, yes, in some ways, no. Was Pearse right? Did Ireland need a bloody sacrifice to be free? It is hard to agree with Pearse when Ireland had made many such bloody sacrifices during its long history and would make many more from 1919 up to the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Can the full impact of Easter Rising be understood outside the context of the First World War and the technological advance that had been made in everyday life and in military affairs? Probably not.

The hardest part about assessing the Rising’s legacy is because of its larger than life narrative. The Rising was immortalized shortly after it was over by poets such as Yeats and, since many members of the IRA fought in the Rising, they added to this immortalization as they won independence and struggled to create a state. There was some reassessment in the 60s and 70s, but, as the 100 year anniversary revealed, Ireland still struggles to properly categorize and understand the Rising.

Despite the changing narrative surrounding the Rising, there is one thing that cannot be denied. The sacrifice of the men and women who fought will continue to challenge and inspire us as we worked to undo the damage caused by colonialism and small nations continue to fight to be free.

If you like this post, join my Patreon

References:

Foster, R. F. Modern Ireland 1600–1972

Townshend, Charles. Easter Rising: the Irish Rebellion

Townshend, Charles. the Republic

Foster R.F. Vivid Faces

Coogan, Tim Pat. Michael Collins: the Man Who Made Ireland

Coogan, Tim Pat. Eamon de Valera: the Man Who was Ireland

Fanning, Ronan. Eamon de Valera: a Will to Power

Valiulis, Maryann Gialanella. Portrait of a Revolutionary: General Richard Mulcahy and the Irish Free State

Images-Wikicommons

Bulmer Hobson-https:// commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bulmer_Hobson.jpg

Eoin MacNeill: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eoin_MacNeill.jpg

GPO Easter Rising 1916-By RossGannon1995 [CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)%5D, from Wikimedia Commons

Edward Daly-Public Domain

Michael Mallin-By National Library of Ireland on The Commons [No restrictions, Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Francis Shehy Skeffington: By photographer not identified [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Cathal Brugha: See page for author [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The O’Rahilly: By National Library of Ireland on The Commons (The O’Rahilly) [No restrictions, Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

[your-daily-snl]

Jeffrey's, starring two Jeffrey's employees (Jimmy Fallon, Pierce Brosnan) with the trendiest insults of the week.

Original Air Date: 2000

[actualhumancryptid]

I don't like what this portends, because it looks like we're following the anti-trans fucking horror show overseas. Unblocked article below.

Sean Parnell and Olivia Ireland January 28, 2025 — 4.52pm

Queensland has become the first state to restrict hormone therapy for young people, ordering public health facilities cease offering such interventions to new patients with gender dysphoria.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls on Tuesday said the immediate “pause” was justified on safety grounds, due to allegations around the authority for services provided to 17 young people in far north Queensland.

But Nicholls said the restrictions would also allow Queensland to conduct its own review of the medical evidence around puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormone therapy provided to people under the age of 18.

Nicholls said an external evaluation of the statewide Queensland Children’s Gender Service, completed last year under the former Labor government, had wrongly set out to determine “how is the service delivered, not whether the service ought to be delivered”.

He said a reviewer had yet to be appointed, but would be consulted on the terms of reference and be required to report back within 10 months.

The Queensland LNP last year joined Pauline Hanson’s One Nation Party in adopting a policy to ban puberty blockers.

The WA Liberal Party wants to follow Queensland’s lead if it wins the state election in March, promising to ban puberty blockers while awaiting the findings of a review to determine whether the ban is warranted.

Other states also offer hormone therapy as part of gender-affirming healthcare, with some variation in the consent and approval processes.

Before the Queensland election in October, LNP leader David Crisafulli called for an evidence-based approach while at the same time claiming Queensland was out of step with the rest of the world.

The UK government banned the routine use of puberty blockers in December.

In announcing the review, Nicholls said there was “widely contested international evidence” around the use of hormone therapy for young people with gender dysphoria.

“Queensland has not yet undertaken its own considered review of that evidence,” he said, noting that France, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Sweden had also imposed restrictions.

However, Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown on Tuesday declared Queensland “an outlier state”, while Eloise Brook from the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH) warned the LNP government was putting young people at risk.

“Hormone treatments for the small number of young people who need them are essential health care,” Brook said. “The evidence shows that denying access to this care will cause young people immeasurable trauma, contributing to depression, anxiety and in some cases self-harm.”

The federal Labor government and Coalition opposition said it was a matter for the states.

But, with an election due within months, and an apparent lack of national consensus, Queensland-based Deputy Nationals Leader Matt Canavan called for a federal ban.

“The drugs they use have not been tested and approved for gender transition services and young children are not mature enough to make such life-changing decisions,” Canavan said.

“We should not treat our kids as guinea pigs.”

The evaluation of the Queensland Children’s Gender Service heard patients and their families “reported the care is extremely comprehensive, considered, safe, and evidence-based,” and staff did not coerce or rush decisions.

The incoming Queensland LNP government put a stop to work implementing the recommendations from the evaluation – which had highlighted “long waitlists and demands from consumers to access the service” – and the further expansion of the service.

The local allegations around the “apparently unauthorised” provision of services in Cairns will be the subject of two separate investigations, Nicholls said, with those findings also to be considered in the broader review.

Nicholls said the allegations were raised in May 2024, investigated locally, and relayed to him in December.

“While this review is taking place, there is a need to maintain confidence in the public health services … so today I am also announcing an immediate pause on new public patients receiving hormone therapy for those who are under the age of 18,” he told reporters.

Nicholls said patients already receiving hormone therapy would be able to continue – there were 547 in mid-2024 – and other services would still be available to young people with gender dysphoria.

A spokesman for the state’s Labor opposition said the government’s decision “impacts some of our most vulnerable”.

“Ultimately, it should be a medical discussion and decision between an individual and their doctors, not one made by politicians,” the spokesman said.

It is not the first time the Queensland LNP has been criticised for its health policies. After a campaign mired by debate over abortion laws, Crisafulli took the extraordinary step of banning parliament from discussing the issue.

[nonesuchrecords]

A recording of the current Tony-nominated Broadway show Illinoise: A New Musical will be released digitally May 31 on Nonesuch. A sneak peek of two album tracks—“Chicago (Reprise)” and “The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is Out to Get Us!”—is available here. Details of the CD and LP release date coming soon.

The new work features music and lyrics by Sufjan Stevens based on his album Illinois, a book by Justin Peck and Jackie Sibblies Drury, and direction and choreography by Peck, with new arrangements by Timo Andres and music supervision and direction by Nathan Koci.

The album’s band includes Elijah Lyons, Shara Nova, Tasha Viets-VanLear, Christina Courtin, Sean Peter Forte, Domenica Fossati, Daniel Freedman, Kathy Halvorson, Nathan Koci, Eleonore Oppenheim, Brett Parnell, Brandon Ridenour, Kyra Sims, and Jessica Tsang. 

[yourreddancer]

Today in Politics, Bulletin 64. 2/4/25

Today in Politics, Bulletin 64. 2/4/25 Ron Filipkowski Feb 5 ∙ … Trump insanely said the US is going to occupy Gaza at a joint press conference with Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu tonight: “The US will take over the Gaza Strip - and we will do a good job with it too. We’ll own it. We’ll level the site.” He then said we are going to go in there and develop it with new properties - it is oceanfront property after all.

… When asked by a reporter if he was talking about a permanent occupation of Gaza by the US: “I do see a long-term ownership position” for the US. He then said he would use military force if necessary.

… Trump in the Oval Office earlier today: “The Gaza has not worked. It has never worked. I think they should get a good fresh piece of land. I don’t know how they could want to stay. It’s a demolition site. If we could find the right piece of land or numerous pieces of land and build them some nice places - could be Jordan, could be in Egypt.”

… I’m sure this won't increase the threat of terrorist attacks against US citizens at home and abroad. If you had a European vacation planned for this summer, you might want to cancel it. I’m going to Quebec province in August, although at this rate that might not be very safe for Americans either.

(THIS GUY IS CERTIFIABLY FUCKING INSANE!!)

… Earlier today, demented Trump said if Iran assassinates him he “left instructions” to “obliterate” their country. He said this from the Oval Office while announcing new sanctions against Iran and warning them not to try and retaliate that way: "If they did that, they would be obliterated. I left instructions.”

… Trump recently pulled the security details of Mike Pompeo, John Bolton and others. They had those details because they received numerous credible assassination threats from Iran.

… But Trump’s new right-wing white nationalist conspiracy theorist State Department Spokesman Darren Beattie said last September that he really thinks our own intelligence agencies have been trying to have Trump killed, not Iran: “It's more likely that the intelligence officials telling Trump that Iran is behind assassination attempts are actually the ones behind the assassination attempts, than it is for Iran being behind the assassination attempts.”

(A GIRL CAN DREAM............)

… Acting DC US Attorney Ed Martin issued a statement after Musk complained that his 6 DOGE employees were identified by name on social media: “Our initial review of the evidence indicates that certain individuals and/or groups have committed acts that appear to violate the law in targeting DOGE employees. We are in contact with FBI and other law-enforcement partners to proceed rapidly. We also have our prosecutors preparing.”

… I guess that First Amendment stuff the ‘Free Speech Absolutist’ used to whine about is out the window now.

… During the transition, Martin served as the Chief of Staff to Trump’s Budget Director Russ Vought. Vought was a Chief Architect of Project 2025.

… Musk responded to Martin’s statement: “Don’t mess with DOGE.”

(NOTE - THIS ISN'T EVEN A LEGAL DEPT AND EVERYTHING EMO MUSKRAT IS DOING IS ILLEGAL!!!)

… Axios reported that about 20,000 federal employees have accepted the buyout offered to them last week by Musk, which is only about 1% of the federal government workforce. That number is way lower than he expected, as Musk reportedly predicted that 5-10% would accept the offer. However, the offer is open until this Thursday so we will see if more people fall for this.

… Trump nominated right-wing podcaster Sean Parnell to be Pete Hegseth’s Chief Pentagon Spokesperson and Asst. Sec Def. Trump endorsed Parnell for Senate in PA in 2022, but he dropped out of the race when he lost custody of his children after his wife testified in court that Parnell abused her and their children by choking her and pinning her down, and also struck one of their children in a fit of rage.

… Great wingman for Hegseth at the Pentagon after-hours parties.

… Hegseth announced that the first flights of migrants to Guantanamo Bay started today. Trump’s executive order allows for up to 30,000 to be housed their while their deportation cases are litigated.

… 2025’s oddest couple has Bernie Sanders and Josh Hawley teaming up to co-sponsor a bill the cap credit card interest rates at 10%, which was one of Trump’s many campaign promises. Hawley: “Credit card interest rates are out of control. Rates have DOUBLED in recent years. In 2022 alone, credit cards charged Americans $105 billion in interest. Today Bernie Sanders and I are teaming up to introduce a 10% cap on interest rates.”

… Sanders: “When large financial institutions charge over 25% interest on credit cards, they are not engaged in the business of making credit available. They are engaged in extortion and loan sharking.”

… It will be interesting to see who in the Senate tries to block this from happening.

… Trump said that he wants other countries to start housing our prison inmates, and President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador said he is willing to accept the offer: "We have offered the US the opportunity to outsource part of its prison system. We are willing to take in convicted criminals (including convicted US citizens) into our mega-prison (CECOT) in exchange for a fee. The fee would be relatively low for the US but significant for us, making our entire prison system sustainable."

… It has been settled law in the US for a couple centuries that it is illegal for our inmates to be sent to a foreign prison. Human rights groups have also called for CECOT to be closed because of mistreatment of inmates.

… Immigration Law expert Aaron Reichlin-Melnick: “Okay, but that's not a thing. I don't care what Bukele says, the US cannot legally banish Americans - such authorities died centuries ago and are the relic of a time of terra nullius. It just is not legal under any modern international laws either.”

… China announced retaliatory measures against the US after Trump's 10% additional tariff took effect on all Chinese goods. They announced an additional 15% tax on coal and liquefied natural gas, and a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, large cars and pickup trucks exported by the US. China also announced new export controls on more than two dozen metal products exported by the US.

… China also retaliated by announcing they have opened up an investigation into Google, Nvidia, and Intel for monopolistic practices by the companies.

… Canadian MP Charlie Angus told Meidas Touch that Trump lost the tariff battle: “He blinked. He choked. Two days ago, he was telling us that if we didn’t give up our nationhood, the tariffs would stay on. Then we hit him with $125 billion in tariffs. We pulled KY booze off our shelves. Then we said, ‘You’re getting another $25 billion right after that.’ The market started to tank, and suddenly, he said, ‘Oh, didn’t you guys already have a plan to deal with the border back in December? I love that—I’ll take that.’ This is Mr. Art of the Deal.”

… Even Laura Ingraham thought Trump declaring victory on this was BS: “I’m not too impressed with Canada’s response. A Fentanyl Czar? What’s that gonna do? Trump saw a huge negative reaction to this from Wall Street, from the market, from all the establishment types. Maybe some of his advisors said, ‘Whoa, we need to rethink this.’”

… Canada’s Ambassador to the UN Bob Rae was asked on Fox if it is true that Canada made new concessions to Trump because of the tariff threat: “Not true. Many of those expenditures were already announced by the PM many weeks ago.”

… WaPo columnist Catherine Rampell on CNN: “Trump is trying to repackage the status quo as a victory. That's what the leaders of these foreign countries are learning. You don't actually have to give Trump anything. You just have to let him announce victory on TV.”

… Sen. Susan Collins says she saved Maine from Trump again: “I am pleased that the Trump Admin is pausing the tariffs on Canada to evaluate the economic impact on both our nations. In my many conversations with Admin officials over the weekend, I sought to make them aware of the potential costs of these tariffs. From home heating oil, gasoline, and petroleum products, to Maine’s paper mills, forest products businesses, and agricultural producers, the proposed tariffs on Canada would be detrimental to Maine families and our local economies. As the Admin assesses next steps, I’ll work to ensure Mainers have a seat at the table.”

… What a relief that Mainers have a fighter like Susan on our side.

… Rep. Warren Davidson was asked by CNN’s Kaitlyn Collins whether Canada gave up anything: “Is there a tangible concession in your view? Davidson: Yeah, absolutely. Collins: What’s new? Davidson: It’s a commitment from Trudeau that wasn't there to help with fentanyl. Collins: He announced that plan, though 6 weeks ago. Davidson: Well, at least he's reiterated it.”

… He reiterated it. Art of the Deal, baby. MAGA!

… CNBC reported that Trump suggested the US government could buy TikTok with the new ‘Sovereign Wealth Fund’ he said he is creating with taxpayer dollars. Trump also claimed he could raise the money to buy it with tariffs. He also said we would pay no income tax because of his tariffs. Tariffs will solve all our problems.

… NYT reports that a DC judge just awarded the Proud Boys’ trademarks to the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church. Proud Boys can’t legally use the name and the church can seize the proceeds of any merchandise sold with that name or logo. The church sued the Proud Boys after they destroyed Black Lives Matter signs outside their building. They got a $1 million judgment which PBs refused to pay, so the judge ordered this as an alternative.

(NOTE- WHAT ABOUT JAILING THE PB'S ASSES UNTIL THEY PAY UP?????)

… Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio said the decision was a “betrayal of justice.” He was recently pardoned by Trump.

… Italian Green Party politician Andrea Zanoni filed a complaint with a court in Italy accusing Donald Trump Jr. of illegally killing an endangered Ruddy Shelduck bird near Venice, Italy during a recent hunting trip. Local environmentalists and Italian MPs have joined the formal complaint and called for an investigation.

… Junior was reportedly on a trip to Italy with his new girlfriend after ending his engagement with Kim Guilfoyle, and was seen in a video posted by Field Ethos, which he is part-owner of, dressed in camo posing with several dead ducks he just killed, which included one rare amber colored duck that just happened to be an endangered Ruddy Shelduck. Junior says on the video while pointing at it: “I'm not even sure what it is.'

… It is illegal in Italy to kill a Ruddy Shelduck.

… The FBI complied with Trump’s demand to hand over the names of every FBI agent who had any involvement whatsoever on the investigation or prosecution of any case related to the J6 insurrection. CNN reports that FBI employees fear everyone on the list will be fired. More than 5,000 names of career employees were submitted.

… Deputy AG Emil Bove’s letter demanding the names included this language: “Upon receipt of the requested information, the Office of the Deputy Attorney General will commence a review process to determine whether any additional personnel actions are necessary.”

… Nine FBI officials who worked on J6 cases filed a class action complaint in the DC Circuit against DOJ arguing that their names and information about them should not be released to the public.

… DOJ has already fired every attorney who worked to prosecute any of the cases.

… The lawsuit stated: “Donald Trump has made repeated public pronouncements of his intent to exact revenge upon persons he perceives to be disloyal to him by simply executing their duties in investigating acts incited by him and persons loyal to him.”

… RFK Jr was voted out of committee today on a straight party-line vote. Senator and physician Bill Cassidy, who was subject to an intense pressure campaign because it was obvious to everyone he knew Kennedy was unfit, caved to MAGA mob: “Kennedy and the Admin reached out, seeking to reassure me regarding their commitment to protecting the public health benefit of vaccination. He assured me that he and I would have an unprecedentedly close, collaborative working relationship if he is confirmed. We will meet or speak multiple times a month. This collaboration will allow us to work well together and therefore to be more effective.”

… Cassidy continued his lame excuses for cowering in fear: “Kennedy has asked for my input into hiring decisions at HHS, and this aspect of the collaboration will allow us to represent all sides of those folks who are contacted me over this past weekend. He has also committed that he would work within current vaccine approval and safety monitoring systems and not establish parallel systems.”

… Sen. Raphael Warnock: "Donald Trump said he was going to allow Kennedy to 'go wild' on health. 'Go wild.' Of all the things that I can think of that I'd like to see an HHS Secretary do, 'go wild' is not on the list. He's unqualified, and I dare say everybody here knows it."

… Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) told Fox: “I hope he goes wild and actually finds a way to reduce the cost of health care.”

(NOTE: MEDICARE FOR ALL, YOU FRIGGING MORON!)

… Tulsi Gabbard was also voted out of Committee on a straight 9-8 party line vote as Republicans who expressed “grave concerns” all caved to pressure.

… Trump’s Deportation Czar Tom Homan said on Sean Hannity’s show that he might arrest NJ Governor Phil Murphy. Hannity: “The governor of NJ basically admitted that he knew someone that didn't have full documentation, that he was hiding over in his garage. Homan: We will look into it. If he knowingly is harboring and concealing an illegal alien, that's a violation, I will seek prosecution.”

… Homan is also predicting a war on the southern border: "It's gonna become violent. You're gonna see violence on the border. It's unfortunate, but we know it's coming. Border Patrol is prepared. It's great to have the military on the southern border. They're prepared."

… NBC reports that the Trump Admin has blocked access to secure communications for hundreds of USAID employees abroad — including many who are currently working in dangerous war zones.

… Rep. Sarah McBride to CNN on Musk trying to shut down USAID: “If they can get away with this, with USAID, they can do it anywhere. And that means that no part of the federal government, including programs like Medicare and Social Security, will be safe from this admin. They lied during the course of the campaign when they said that they wouldn't be implementing Project 2025. Well, this is project 2025, so we cannot take them at their word when they say that Social Security and Medicare are protected.”

… The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on FBI nominee Kash Patel on Thursday morning.

… WaPo reports that Trump is about to sign an Executive Order to begin the process of abolishing the Department of Education.

(NOTE - HE CANNOT ABOLISH ANY DEPARTMENTS!!!! THEY ARE PUT INTO PLACE BY CONGRESS, AND FUNDED BY CONGRESS! SOMEBODY, IRAN, FBI, NEEDS TO LUIGI THIS GUY!!)

… Trump will attend the Super Bowl in New Orleans this weekend. He is the first sitting president to attend the Super Bowl, which is ironic since he boycotted the league for years because it has supposedly “gone woke,” and even said earlier this year that the league because had been “ruined” by rule changes.

… Fox Digital reports that Republicans on the House Budget Committee could not agree with each other on spending cuts, so they have pushed back the timetable to write it up into legislation. Deficit hawks on the committee rejected Mike Johnson’s plan for $900 billion in spending cuts with about $300 billion in new spending.

… President Zelensky told AP that the Trump Admin’s plan to begin peace talks with Russia while excluding Ukraine is a huge mistake: "If there will be direct talks between America and Russia without Ukraine, it is very dangerous, I think. They may have their own relations, but talking about Ukraine without us – it is dangerous for everyone."

… Special Envoy Keith Kellogg told Fox that Trump "will lead" the negotiations: "I think most people should be very comfortable in the fact that he knows exactly what he’s doing. He knows where to apply pressure, where not to apply pressure. But more importantly, that he will create leverage, leverage both with Ukrainians and the Russians."

(NOTE - TRUMP DOESN'T KNOW SHIT!!! HE HAS THE READING CAPABILITY OF A THIRD GRADER, AND ABSOLUTELY NO KNOWLEDGE OF WORLD HISTORY!!!)

… Elon Musk posted that White South Africans are being discriminated against in their country so they should be allowed to come here and get citizenship. He responded ‘Yes’ while posting this: “White South Africans are one of the few population groups that are fiscally positive when immigrating to Europe. We should allow more immigration of White South Africans.”

… The only Africans that Musk wants to allow to come to the US are the White ones. What a surprise.

(NOTE- EMO MUSKRAT CAME HERE ON A STUDENT VISA, QUIT SCHOOL, AND LIED ABOUT IT ON HIS CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION! THE OBAMA OR BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SHOULD'VE INVESTIGATED IT, DENATURALIZED HIS ASS AND DEPORTED HIM!!)

… Ron DeSantis announced a “2nd Amendment Summer” where people will pay no sales tax for firearms and ammunition from Memorial Day to July 4 in Florida. People will still have to pay sales tax on everything else - just not guns because that’s what we want to encourage people to buy more of.

… PBS says people who run Head Start programs in multiple states report that funding has been shut off for some programs. Joel Ryan with Washington State Head Start: “It feels like a rolling blackout A lot of programs are getting error messages or sorry messages," when trying to access their funding/accounts. He told PBS that Head Start programs will have to close for lack of funding for rent, payroll, etc. if this isn’t resolved quickly.

… New State Dept Spokesman Darrin Beattie issued a statement to his co-workers at Revolver News saying goodbye: “We are, of course, best known for directly challenging the official narrative of January 6—and we are especially proud that President Trump, who recently and heroically pardoned the January 6 political prisoners, has himself cited our reporting on this issue frequently and favorably.”

… Lovely. All the best people.

(NOTE - ANOTHER FUCKING TRAITOR!!)

… The NYT reports that the State Department has fired about 60 contractors who work for its democracy, human rights, and labor bureau. Those things are apparently not much of a priority anymore for our government.

… Waffle House has announced they will be adding a $0.50 surcharge on every egg they sell in response to the soaring cost of eggs under the Trump administration. From their statement: "Consumers and restaurants are being forced to make difficult decisions. While we hope these price fluctuations will be short-lived, we cannot predict how long this shortage will last."

… The Admin is focused on starting a new war in the Middle East. Complaining about egg prices is so 2024.

[worldbytenews]

Council, developer taken to court over plans for a new Brisbane hotel​on February 5, 2025 at 12:38 am

The owners of the Soho Brisbane are taking legal action over plans for a 15-storey hotel that would overlook their establishment, Roma Street Parkland and the CBD. ​The owners of the Soho Brisbane are taking legal action over plans for a 15-storey hotel that would overlook their establishment, Roma Street Parkland and the CBD.    National Queensland Hotels By Sean Parnell February 5, 2025 —…

[babyenemychild]

Trump announces new picks including deputy director of the CIA, chief Pentagon spokesman

SEE MORE

[qubixo1]

Trump names Michael Ellis, Joe Kat and Sean Parnell for titles

President Donald Trump continues to choose new people to its ADMING Section, referring to the latest 3 times in a number of times listed on Monday. Only two weeks after the office, Trump announced that Michael Ellis will serve as a trick of Cia. Ellis, who would not need the approval of the US Senatete of the Senatete, will work under the director Circroctor Johnclifter. Trump wrote that the…

[metacriticc-news]

Trump Names Michael Ellis, Joe Kent and Sean Parnell in positions

President Donald Trump continues the appointment of new people in his second administration, appointing three recent protrusions in a series of social places on Monday. Just two weeks after taking office, Trump announced that Michael Ellis will serve as a deputy CIA director. Ellis, who will not need to approve him American Senate, will work under the CIA by director John Ratcliffe. Trump wrote…

[justinspoliticalcorner]

David Corn at Mother Jones:

It is hardly surprising that a political movement that has as its godhead a convicted felon and inveterate liar who attempted to overturn an election and incited a violent assault on the US Capitol to retain power would within nanoseconds exploit the assassination attempt at a Donald Trump rally that left one attendee dead. But the utter brazenness of this effort has been stunning. Before crucial details were known—who’s the shooter? why did he do this?—MAGA was out in full-force to blame President Joe Biden, Democrats, and progressives for this shooting by stirring up anti-Trump sentiment. Leading the way in unhinged right-wing responses, Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) called for Biden to be arrested for “inciting an assassination.” Even after it emerged that Thomas Matthew Crooks, the alleged shooter, was a registered Republican (who apparently made a $15 donation to a liberal political action committee in 2021), the crap kept coming. Sean Parnell, a right-wing commentator who in 2021 suspended his Senate campaign in Pennsylvania after his wife accused him of spousal and child abuse, tweeted at Biden: “It happened because of this sort of BS rhetoric from you & the rest of your party. It’s sickening. It needs to stop.”

At this point, there was not yet any indication the shooter had been influenced by anything any politician had stated. J.D. Vance, the ultra-thirsty Republican senator from Ohio who is angling to be Trump’s veep pick and who once compared Trump to Hitler, said the same: “Today is not just some isolated incident. The central premise of the Biden campaign is that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian fascist who must be stopped at all costs. That rhetoric led directly to President Trump’s attempted assassination.” On CNN, GOP consultant Scott Jennings remarked, “The rhetoric around him over the last few weeks, that if he wins an election our country will end, our democracy will end, it’s the last election our we’ll ever have. These things have consequences.”

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) quickly proclaimed that Biden “is responsible” for the shooting. She then went further than blaming the Ds for their anti-Trump rhetoric and retweeted a post from a MAGA activist who explicitly accused the Democrats of being behind the shooting: “The Dems realized it’s too late to switch out their candidate so they attempted to kill ours instead.” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene voiced the same dastardly message: “Democrats wanted this to happen. They’ve wanted Trump gone for years and they’re prepared to do anything to make that happen.” Greene’s remark suggested the Democrats were somehow involved in this attempted assassination. These comments from the Republicans and MAGA extremists were reckless and absurd. For years, Trump has been pushing an ugly narrative: Joe Biden and the Democrats are in league with antifa, Black radicals, and communists to destroy the nation. Trump has said this zillions of times. In both the 2020 and 2024 campaigns, he has exclaimed that if Biden is elected “we may not have a country anymore.” He has repeatedly preached an apocalyptic sermon casting his political rivals as bent on annihilating the United States. He has depicted Biden and his allies as an existential threat to America.

And, of course, Trump has repeatedly encouraged violence—most infamously on January 6. But with this shooting his MAGA allies quickly spotted an opportunity for a rubber-glue propaganda campaign to characterize the Dems as the true threat to democracy and civility and concoct a massive deflection. One of Biden’s chief lines of attack on Trump is that he presents a danger to the republic. Now the Trump crew had a chance to turn the tables and they eagerly grabbed it. Ultimately, the MAGA crowd doesn’t have to win the argument that Biden endangers democracy. They merely need to use it to muddy the waters and undercut the Democrats’ main case against Trump. [...] The attempted assassination of Trump was a horrific event that claimed the life of one person and further traumatized American politics. It also triggered a flood of bullshit. The MAGA world rushed to take advantage of the shooting to remake Trump, who has essentially condoned political violence by vowing to pardon January 6 rioters, into a martyr of political violence and to portray Democrats as the perpetrators of such violence. It is a foul act but a true reflection of the black-is-white reality-denialism of Trump and and his MAGA following.

The attempted assassination of Donald Trump brought out a boatload of bad faith claims from right-wing media pundits and GOP politicians such as J.D. Vance, Mike Collins, Scott Jennings, and MTG falsely blaming the Democratic Party, progressives, President Biden, and/or the media for the attempted assassination.

See Also:

Lucid: MAGA Narratives about the Trump Assassination Attempt

Mediaite: Rep. Lauren Boebert Flat Out Declares ‘I Do Believe Joe Biden is Responsible for the Shooting’ in Stunning Interview

HuffPost: After Assassination Attempt, Republicans Say It’s Out Of Bounds To Call Donald Trump A Threat To Democracy

Vox: Heated rhetoric is dangerous, but honest disagreement is necessary for democracy

[head-post]

Zelensky suspected of meddling in US election

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used US military property to campaign for Vice President Kamala Harris during a visit to Pennsylvania on Monday, The Federalist reports.

On another trip to ask the US government for money and ammunition, Zelensky toured a munitions plant in Pennsylvania with Governor Josh Shapiro, a known supporter of Kamala Harris, and other Democrats, including Senator Bob Casey. Zelensky arrived in Scranton, Pennsylvania (the birthplace of President Joe Biden, who is often mentioned) aboard a US Air Force C-17 aircraft, images of which he used to promote his visit. In a message recorded from inside the plane, Zelensky said:

“This fall will determine what’s next in this war.”

Sean Parnell, former Pennsylvania Republican candidate for US Senate, said at a Trump rally Monday:

“Zelensky is in Pennsylvania today, signing bombs with Gov. Shapiro. Zelensky is also attacking J.D. Vance in the biggest, most important battleground state in the country during an election year. Folks, if that ain’t foreign election interference, I don’t know what is.”

Notably, Zelensky’s trip came a day after The New Yorker magazine published an interview in which he criticised former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio. Zelensky took note of Trump’s response at a debate about the war in Ukraine, in which the Republican said he wanted the war to end. Zelensky said:

“Trump makes political statements in his election campaign. My feeling is that Trump doesn’t really know how to stop the war even if he might think he knows how. With this war, oftentimes, the deeper you look at it the less you understand. I’ve seen many leaders who were convinced they knew how to end it tomorrow, and as they waded deeper into it, they realized it’s not that simple.”

The Ukrainian leader also called Vance “too radical,” saying his plan to end the war with Russia was “just slogans.” Zelensky said:

“For us, these are dangerous signals, coming as they do from a potential Vice-President. I should say that it hasn’t been like this with Trump.” 

“I don’t take Vance’s words seriously, because, if this were a plan, then America is headed for global conflict,” he continued, comparing a negotiation with Russia to appeasement of Adolph Hitler prior to World War II.

Dan Caldwell, public policy advisor at Defense Priorities, posted on social media:

“The Biden-Harris admin is using military assets to fly a foreign leader into a battleground state in order to undermine their political opponents.” 

In response to an enquiry from The Federalist, the Department of Defence did not deny the use of US military funds for the trip, but declined to comment on Zelensky’s statements or his apparent campaign work.

Without mentioning Trump by name, Zelensky appeared to go on to criticise the former president later in the interview when he criticised world leaders for seeking a working relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which Trump often emphasises as key to foreign policy success. Zelensky said:

“A lot of world leaders want to have some sort of dealings with Putin, to reach agreements, to conduct some business with him. I look at such leaders and realize that they are very interested in playing this game — and for them, unfortunately, it really is a game. But what makes a real leader? A leader is someone whom Putin needs for something, not a person who needs Putin. Flirting with him is not a sign of strength. Sitting across the table from him might make you believe you’re making important decisions about the world.”

Ironically, Zelensky also said:

“I think Ukraine has demonstrated the wisdom of not becoming captured by American domestic politics.”

During his trip to Pennsylvania, Zelensky visited the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant. According to Military.com, the plant is one of the few in the country to produce 155mm artillery shells. The US has already supplied Ukraine with 3 million such shells.

The artillery shells that Zelensky inspected and signed along with Shapiro have a range of 15 to 20 miles, but Zelensky has been persistently seeking longer-range missiles to fire at Russia. However, the Biden administration has not approved these munitions and claims that the Ukrainian military already has the ability to bombard Moscow with its own drones.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian president was criticised by Donald Trump and his son after Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in the US. The presidential candidate called the Ukrainian president a “salesman” at a rally of his supporters. Trump said:

“I see Zelensky has arrived. I consider Zelensky the greatest salesman in history. Every time he comes to our country, he comes back with $60bn. Billions!”

Trump’s son wrote a post where he criticised Zelensky for his words in an interview with the New Yorker magazine, where he said that Trump “doesn’t really know how to stop a war.” Donald Trump Jr. wrote:

“So, a foreign leader who has received billions of dollars in funding from the American taxpayer comes to our country and has the audacity to attack the Republican Party’s nominee for president? And he does this right after a pro-Ukrainian bigot tried to kill my father? Shameful!”

Read more HERE

[harrystormauthor]

REQUIEM FOR "AMERICA'S SHERIFF"

This chilling Reader Rant won’t be forgotten soon, if ever. Parnell, As one of the many people who used to work for you, I have a message for you. I hope you end up seeing this. Remember your first term as sheriff? Remember all the good people you brought with you and promoted to command level positions? Remember Chief Deputy Matt Cawthorn, Captain Steve Smith, Captain Sean Lippe, Captain…

[ulkaralakbarova]

When her mother falls for a wealthy man, Lina Cruz must move in with her new stepfather and transfer from an urban East Los Angeles public high school to an exclusive prep school in Malibu, where she struggles to fit in with her affluent new peers. After snooty cheerleading captain Avery blocks Lina from varsity, Lina recruits her best friends from her old school to help her whip the pathetic junior varsity cheerleading squad — the Sea Lions — into fighting shape. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Lina: Christina Milian Evan: Cody Longo Avery: Rachele Brooke Smith Sky: Holland Roden Isabel: Laura Cerón Henry: David Starzyk Christina: Nikki SooHoo Treyvonetta: Gabrielle Dennis Kayla: Meagan Holder Gloria: Vanessa Born East LA Girl #2: Janelle Martinez East LA Girl #1: Jessica Martinez Victor: Brandon Gonzales Cholo: Christopher Martinez Whitney: Brittany Sarkisian Hot Guy: Carlos Diaz Shoe-vite Girl: Julia Lehman Rich Girl: Megan Hubbell Eavesdropper #1 / Sea Lion: Alexander McCarthy Eavesdropper #2 / Sea Lion: Kyle McCarthy Announcer: Lisa Arturo Self: Джулиана Ранчич All Star Jaguars Dancer: Eric Butts All Star Jaguars Dancer: Greg Farkas All Star Jaguars Dancer / Dancer: Janelle Ginestra All Star Jaguars Dancer / Dancer: Lauren Gottlieb All Star Jaguars Dancer: Danielle E. Hawkins All Star Jaguars Dancer: Theresa June-Tao All Star Jaguars Dancer: Devin Jamieson All Star Jaguars Dancer: Jordan Johnson All Star Jaguars Dancer: Michael Lim All Star Jaguars Dancer: Bryan Marsh All Star Jaguars Dancer: Andrea McQueen All Star Jaguars Dancer: Brittany Anne Pirtle All Star Jaguars Dancer / Dancer: Liz Porter All Star Jaguars Dancer: Kristy Rios All Star Jaguars Dancer: Brian Schulze All Star Jaguars Dancer: Bailey Stump All Star Jaguars Dancer / Dancer: Devin Walker All Star Jaguars Dancer: Brad Weber All Star Jaguars Dancer: Tori Wirgler All Star Jaguars Dancer: John Witters All Star Jaguars Dancer: Elle Young All Star Jaguars Dancer: Chris Zuehlke East L.A. Squad Dancer: Daniel Altman East L.A. Squad Dancer: David Carmon East L.A. Squad Dancer: John Cronin East L.A. Squad Dancer: Neda Emamjomeh East L.A. Squad Dancer: David Ezell East L.A. Squad Dancer: Leon Henderson East L.A. Squad Dancer: Megan Honore East L.A. Squad Dancer: Dominique Kelley East L.A. Squad Dancer: Chanel Malvar East L.A. Squad Dancer: Carissa Martin East L.A. Squad Dancer: Candace Montez East L.A. Squad Dancer: Nicole Niestemski East L.A. Squad Dancer: Carina Olis East L.A. Squad Dancer: Sean Patrick Parnell East L.A. Squad Dancer: Daniel Pera East L.A. Squad Dancer: John Rames East L.A. Squad Dancer: Marquita Scott East L.A. Squad Dancer: Allysa Shorte East L.A. Squad Dancer: Monica Soto East L.A. Squad Dancer: Isaac Tualaulelei East L.A. Squad Dancer: Julianne Waters Sea Lion: Jeffrey Alarcon Sea Lion: Paulette Azizian Sea Lion: Shaylene Benson Sea Lion: Britton Bickel Sea Lion: Mike Burns Sea Lion: William Caldwell Sea Lion: Kassie Cook Sea Lion: Marty Dew Sea Lion: Aisha Jamila Francis Sea Lion: Rebekah Giles Sea Lion: Erin Yvonne Sea Lion: Jeremy Hudson Sea Lion / Dancer: Chris Moss Sea Lion / Dancer: Katrina Norman Sea Lion: Shannon Pape Sea Lion: Jonathan Rice Sea Lion / Dancer: Jenny Robinson Sea Lion: Gina Starbuck Sea Lion: Dollar Tan Sea Lion: Jordan Wentz Cholo Squad Dancer: Noel Bajandas Cholo Squad Dancer: Kenny Harlow Cholo Squad Dancer: Oren Michaeli Cholo Squad Dancer: Oscar Orosco Cholo Squad Dancer: Jonathan ‘Legacy’ Perez Cholo Squad Dancer: Michael Vargas Cholo Squad Dancer: Roman Vasquez Cholo Squad Dancer: Ivan ‘Flipz’ Velez Dancer: Ryan Adams Dancer: Brandon Henschel Film Crew: Editor: Richard Halsey Costume Designer: Ruth E. Carter Editor: Michael Jablow Hairstylist: Sheryl Blum Writer: Alyson Fouse Executive Producer: Armyan Bernstein Executive Producer: Charlie Lyons Original Music Composer: Andrew Gross Director: Bille Woodruff Writer: Elena Song Producer: Sean McNamara Makeup Artist: Martha Callender Supervising Sound Editor: Charles Maynes Stunt Coordinator: Julius LeFlore Assistant Editor: ...