Monthly Archives: August 2024

Campaign Finance: the tide

14 Wednesday Aug 2024

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the PAC which gathered signatures for the initiative on women’s reproductive rights, women’s health care, and access to abortion now on the November ballot:

C232407 08/14/2024 Missourians for Constitutional Freedom Elizabeth Mannen 150 Carondelet Drive Unit 2801 Clayton MO 63105 Wells Fargo Wealth Management 8/14/2024 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

Previously:

Reproductive Freedom and Health Care will be on the November Ballot (August 13, 2024)

Reproductive Freedom and Health Care will be on the November Ballot

13 Tuesday Aug 2024

Posted by in Uncategorized

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“Stop the war on women, we will not be hushed”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2024
[….]

Ashcroft Issues Initiative Petition Certificates

Jefferson City, Mo. —– Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft today issued certificates regarding four initiative petitions filed with his office. Signatures for petitions 2024-038, 2024-086, 2024-160, and 2024-165 were submitted to the secretary of state’s office before the statutory deadline – May 8.

To receive a Certificate of Sufficiency, a minimum number of valid signatures must be obtained in six of the eight congressional districts in Missouri. Initiative petitions meeting sufficiency requirements will be placed on the November 5 statewide ballot – these include: 2024-038, 2024-086 and 2024-160.

Initiative Petition Summary:

Petition Number Subject Type of Amendment Sufficient / Insufficient

2024-038,Minimum Wage and Earned Paid Sick Time Statutory Sufficient

2024-086 Reproductive Health Care Constitutional Sufficient

2024-160 Sports Wagering Constitutional Sufficient

2024-165 Osage River Gambling Boat License Constitutional Insufficient

[emphasis added]

From Missourians for Constitutional Freedom:

Missouri Abortion Rights Initiative Petition, Amendment 3, Officially Verified and Set for the November Ballot

August 13, 2024

More than 380,000 Missourians from All 114 Counties Signed the Petition to End Missouri’s Cruel Abortion Ban at the Ballot Box

Missouri — Today, the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office officially verified that Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, the coalition committed to ending Missouri’s abortion ban, submitted enough signatures to put the Right to Reproductive Freedom Initiative on the ballot on November 5, 2024. A YES vote on Amendment 3 will give Missouri women and doctors the freedom to make decisions around pregnancy — including abortion, birth control, and miscarriage care — free from political interference.

Rachel Sweet, Campaign Manager for Missourians for Constitutional Freedom, said:

“This is a major step forward for our campaign and for Missourians who want to end our state’s cruel abortion ban. The successful submission of more than 380,000 signatures, collected from all 114 counties in Missouri, is a testament to the hard work and dedication of thousands of volunteers and supporters who believe we must end Missouri’s total abortion ban.”

“As we turn our attention to the November ballot, it’s clear Missourians overwhelmingly support reproductive freedom and will have the chance to make their voices heard at the ballot box. We are ready to fight so all Missourians can take back the freedom to make their own health care decisions.”

Mallory Schwarz, Abortion Action Missouri [2024 file photo].

Mallory Schwarz, Executive Director for Abortion Action Missouri, said:

“Right now in Missouri, abortion is banned, patients are being turned away from emergency rooms, and doctor’s hands are tied by politicians. This amendment is about making sure pregnant Missourians get the care they need without delay or restrictions.”

“A yes vote ends the abortion ban so that Missouri patients, families, and doctors can make personal and private decisions about pregnancy and abortion care, without politicians interfering. This amendment, this effort to end Missouri’s abortion ban is Missouri-grown. Missourians from Cape Girardeau to Maryville have been working together and taking action to make this initiative a reality. We’re committed to this cause because we live here; we’ve grown up here; we have families here; and we are taking back what’s ours.”

Tori Schafer, ACLU Missouri [2024 file photo].

Tori Schafer, Director for Policy and Campaigns for ACLU of Missouri, said:

“Voting YES on this amendment ends Missouri’s extreme, cruel abortion ban. Amendment 3 is crucial for restoring fundamental rights and ensuring that all Missourians have access to reproductive health care. This is about safeguarding our freedoms and protecting the health and dignity of every person in our state so that decisions around abortion, birth control, and miscarriage care are left up to patients and their families – not politicians.”

Dr. Selina Sandoval, Associate Medical Director for Planned Parenthood Great Plains Votes, said:

“Patients’ lives are at risk every day in Missouri because extremist politicians banned abortion. We can and we are going to change that in November. As a physician, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating impact this ban has had on Missouri patients, many of whom travel hours from home if they can get an appointment, while others simply cannot access care. In all my years of training – medical school, residency, fellowship – I was never taught how to explain to a patient why their rights depended on their zip code. As Missourians, we deserve better, and I am grateful to the volunteers and advocates who have worked tirelessly to make sure my hands are not tied by politicians and my patients can access life-affirming care.”

Margot Riphagen, Vice President of External Affairs for Planned Parenthood Great Rivers Action, said:

“Missourians have been suffering under a total abortion ban with no exceptions, leaving women and families in unimaginable circumstances. Politicians in Jefferson City have stripped away access to essential reproductive health care, forcing Missourians to face dangerous pregnancy complications without the care they need, particularly in rural parts of the state where access to reproductive care is already limited.”

“This cruel and unjust ban has put countless lives at risk and denied people the fundamental right to make their own health care decisions. By passing this amendment, we can end Missouri’s total abortion ban and ensure that Missourians regain access to comprehensive reproductive health care. It’s time to put control back in the hands of individuals and protect the health and dignity of our communities.”

To join our campaign, sign up at moconstitutionalfreedom.org.

###

Keep Abortion Safe and Legal”

Previously:

Chutzpah (Kansas) (August 4, 2022)

Campaign Finance: Not too sure about that (January 16, 2024)

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – women’s rights initiative petition for 2024 ballot (January 18, 2024)

Campaign Finance: Remember Kansas? Missouri is next. (January 19, 2024)

Campaign Finance: own it (January 19, 2024)

Campaign Finance: We’re not in Kansas anymore (January 19, 2024)

Mark Alford (r) – failure to read the womb, again (January 21, 2024)

Campaign Finance: More (January 22, 2024)

Campaign Finance: and more (January 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: It does, but not in the way you think. (January 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: and even more (January 26, 2024)

Campaign Finance: “No one expects the anti-choice imposition” (January 26, 2024)

Campaign Finance: this is the beginning, not the end (February 1, 2024)

Campaign Finance: keep it coming (February 4, 2024)

Campaign Finance: philanthropy (February 6, 2024)

Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – volunteer training, petition signing, rally – Kansas City, Missouri – February 6, 2024 (February 6, 2023)

Rev. Holly McKissick – Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – Kansas City – February 6, 2024 (February 7, 2024)

Rabbi Doug Alpert – Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – Kansas City – February 6, 2024 (February 7, 2024)

Dr. Iman Alsaden – Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – Kansas City – February 6, 2024 (February 8, 2024)

Hartzell Gray – Missourians for Constitutional Freedom – Kansas City – February 6, 2024 (February 8, 2024)

Campaign Finance: the world in which they want you to exist (February 9, 2024)

Signing, Everywhere, All at Once (February 10, 2024)

Campaign Finance: definitely a global impact (February 16, 2024)

Campaign Finance: forward (February 21, 2024)

Campaign Finance: still more (February 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: more forward (February 26, 2024)

Campaign Finance: keep it coming in (March 5, 2024)

Signing the Petition – Sedalia, Missouri – March 17, 2024 (March 17, 2024)

Campaign Finance: there’ll be more (March 20, 2024)

Signing the Petition – Warrensburg, Missouri – April 5, 2024 (April 5, 20204)

Campaign Finance: sign the petition (April 10, 2024)

Sign the Petition (April 15, 2024)

Signing the petition in Lexington, Missouri (April 23, 2024)

Campaign Finance: on several levels (April 27, 2024)

Signing the Petition in Raymore, Missouri (April 28, 2024)

Campaign Finance: guess what’s next (April 29, 2024)

This morning in Jefferson City, Missouri – delivering the signed petitions (May 3, 2024)

This morning in Jefferson City, Missouri – delivering the signed petitions – part 2 (May 3, 2024)

Abortion Rights Rally in Jefferson City – May 3, 2024 – Press Gaggle (May 4, 2024)

Campaign Finance: coming up on the agenda (August 6, 2024)

Campaign Finance: pouring sand into a desert

13 Tuesday Aug 2024

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Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C000953 08/12/2024 MO Republican Party David Steward PO Box 1724 Maryland Heights MO 63043 World Wide Technology CEO 8/12/2024 $27,400.00

[emphasis added]

C180599 08/12/2024 Nexus PAC Invenergy Transmission LLC One South Wacker Suite 1800 Chicago IL 60606 8/12/2024 $6,000.00

[emphasis added]

C091068 08/12/2024 House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc Invenergy Transmission LLC One S Wacker Ste 1800 Chicago IL 60606 8/12/2024 $50,000.00

C091068 08/12/2024 House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc Old McDonald PAC 901 E Battlefield Rd Springfield MO 65807 8/12/2024 $20,000.00

C091068 08/12/2024 House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc Ann Wagner for Congress PO Box 50 Ballwin MO 63022 8/12/2024 $20,000.00

C091068 08/12/2024 House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc MO Republican Attorneys for Civil Justice PAC PO Box 1792 Jefferson City MO 65102 8/12/2024 $15,000.00

C091068 08/12/2024 House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc HTH Companies, Inc 239 Rock Industrial Blvd Ste 108 Union MO 63084 8/12/2024 $20,000.00

C091068 08/12/2024 House Republican Campaign Committee, Inc Citizens for Jeff Myers PO Box 572 Warrenton MO 63383 8/12/2024 $12,500.00

[emphasis added]

They always have more than they’ll ever need.

Is someone going to tell him?

12 Monday Aug 2024

Posted by in Congress, Mark Alford, social media

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Mark Alford (r) [2023 file photo].

Today:

Congressman Mark Alford
[August 12, 2024]
Restoring Trust in Journalism: The Need for Truth and Integrity in Media

Reflecting on my 35-year journey in the news industry, I can’t help but think of one of my heroes, Walter Cronkite. He was known for his integrity and trustworthiness—qualities essential in journalism. People trusted him to deliver the facts, even when they were uncomfortable to hear. You never quite knew where he stood on the issues; he reported the news objectively, like hitting a golf ball straight down the fairway.

But today, legacy media has lost its true north: telling the truth. The advent of cable news in the 1980s introduced a 24-hour news cycle, and with it came the need to fill endless airtime. In the pursuit of ratings, news channels began to prioritize the loudest and most strident voices, moving away from objective reporting and toward becoming part of the news themselves. This shift has led to a troubling trend where media outlets focus more on sensationalism than on delivering factual and unbiased information.

President Donald Trump famously called certain media outlets “fake news,” a term that, regardless of its political implications, pointed to a broader issue. Instead of staying objective, many news organizations got into a public battle with the President, further eroding public trust. This ongoing conflict has only deepened the divide, making people question the reliability of the news they consume.

As we face these challenging times, it’s crucial to remember the fundamental role of journalists: to tell the truth. The media plays a vital role in our democracy by holding those in power accountable. However, with this responsibility comes with the commitment to report the truth without bias.

Here’s a thought: What if journalists took an oath similar to the Hippocratic Oath in medicine? A commitment to do no harm, to tell the truth no matter what, and to serve the public with integrity. While the government cannot and should not mandate rules to the media due to First Amendment protections, a pledge like this could remind journalists of their duty to the public and help restore trust in the profession.

In the end, journalism should not be about picking sides or creating narratives; it should be about presenting facts and letting the truth speak for itself. Only then can the media hope to regain the trust of the American people.

This you, Mark (r)?:

‘It was always a fight’: Mark Alford was controversial inside Kansas City TV station [November 2, 2022]
[….]
Nearly all of the former colleagues who spoke to The Star described Alford as allowing his personal views to shade his presentation of the news. One former colleague said Alford had a tendency to “wear his politics on his sleeve when he was on the news desk.”
[….]

Some of the responses to Mark Alford’s social media post:

Agree FOX ” News” should have to change their name.

Heh.

How about you focus on the oath you took. Tell the truth, stop the lying, stop supporting those willing to shred the Constitution, stop lying.

So you are telling us that “Entertainment” is more accurate than truthful news?
Tell that to Fox and their lawsuit that lost as they admitting guilty to LIES!
Oh, wait! You are auditioning to get a job on those Entertainment platforms ,aren’t you??

And your body language, during this “interview” speaks for itself. You know you are lying and can’t look straight into the camera!!!!!

Start with yourself “do no harm” .

How about restoring trust in our elected officials. How about holding elected officials accountable for spreading lies and disinformation?

Ask Mark Alford (r) about the “Speech and Debate” clause.

If you wanted to fix the media, you should have stayed in it. You lecture on Sunday about not being negative. Today you say it is not about choosing sides. You have to be one of the biggest hypocrites on the planet.

Yet Trump puts out a fake news release, last week .he calls calling out fake news,every time he is called on his actions ,and lies he does not like that, yet at the same time any truth comes out , it is fake news or a witch hunt [….]

“I think being a liberal, in the true sense, is being nondoctrinaire, nondogmatic, non-committed to a cause – but examining each case on its merits. Being left of center is another thing; it’s a political position. I think most newspapermen by definition have to be liberal; if they’re not liberal, by my definition of it, then they can hardly be good newspapermen. If they’re preordained dogmatists for a cause, then they can’t be very good journalists; that is, if they carry it into their journalism.” Walter Cronkite 1973

Radical. Progressive. Woke. You use these regularly and then you think you are qualified to lecture people.

I think that if your media source gets sued for $787 million for lying then it isn’t a reliable media source..

Integrity and trustworthiness are two qualities you are severely lacking, Congressman Mark Alford . Cronkite would be disappointed.

Really??? I had to stop watching Fox 4 because you would editorialize almost every story. Thank goodness I can watch it again.

“Faux News channel, fascist groupies” – protest sign, circa 2003- 2004.

“I used to be a local morning infotainment newsreader.”

11 Sunday Aug 2024

Posted by in Congress, Mark Alford, social media, Uncategorized

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Mark Alford (r) [2023 file photo].

From Mark Alford (r):

Congressman Mark Alford
[August 9, 2024]
There is a stark contrast in how Trump and Vance answer questions from the media, and how Kamala Harris hides from the media.
Kamala-meleon flip-flops her answers on issues and hides from the media.
The media must do its job and demand answers from the Democrat Nominee.
[….]

Some of the responses:

Oh for fucks sake [….] Keep grasping Mark.

Mark how are you willing to keep up the deception?

“As you call her.” How childish that you, too, resort to this immature tactic. But you praise the convicted felon, so it’s not surprising.
You are correct that there is a stark difference in how Harris and Walz answer questions compared to Trump and Vance. Harris and Walz speak the truth. Trump speaks like the student giving an oral book report for the book he never read. Vance just spews the party propaganda.

How many lies can you tell in a press conference. The Orange coup cult leader told numerous fact checked lies at his press conference. [….]

Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check…

Hey look, it’s the founder of Project 2025 on trump’s private plane. Probably just a coincidence. Oh, and JD Vance wrote the forward of his book about Project 2025 (The book release has been pushed back to after election day). That was probably just a coincidence as well.
[….]

Trumps lies or never answers the question.

Congressman Mark Alford. I wondered when your imposter syndrome would show itself, and you didn’t disappoint. I’m not surprised successful women bring out your juvenile name calling, as Kamala Harris holds a college degree, a Juris Doctor, was District Attorney, City Attorney, was elected Attorney General twice, former US Senator, and is the sitting Vice President of the United States. The fact she’s a woman of color and so accomplished clearly chaps your ass.
Considering you barely got out of high school and hold no college degree at all – (didn’t you drop out your freshman year of college?) and have nothing substantial to show in either your work history or your numerous failed business ventures, I am not surprised the adolescent level from which you operate results in you slandering one of the most successful women of color in this country. Your emotional intelligence is right on par with the other milksops commenting here. Your former neighbors were right when they told me you were a snotty, condescending, little man.
“When a man tells you who he is, believe him” – Maya Angelou

They do have strong opinions.

Campaign Finance: to infinity and beyond

10 Saturday Aug 2024

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the PAC propping up Mike Kehoe’s (r) gubernatorial campaign:

C180684 08/10/2024 American Dream PAC Conservative Leadership for Missouri 456 Ivywood Dr. Ballwin MO 63011 8/9/2024 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

Mike Kehoe (r) [2022 file photo].

Previously:

Campaign Finance: apparently, an unending supply (July 29, 2024)

Campaign Finance: dreaming on (August 1, 2024)

It can’t be both

10 Saturday Aug 2024

Posted by in Congress, Mark Alford, social media

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It’s one of the other.

Mark Alford (r) [2023 file photo].

Mark Alford (r) asked a question:

Mark Alford
[August 9, 2024]
How’s everyone doing tonight? What’s on your mind?

One response:

I am worried because I have been overhearing many people at my job singing the praises of the democratic prospects for president. I just don’t understand how anyone could vote for the destruction of our constitution and therefore our country.

A different response, a little later:

My fear is another stolen election. The way the media is fawning over Harris/Walz is setting it up as they skew the numbers.

This is why we can’t have nice things.

Simply disappeared

09 Friday Aug 2024

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“…People simply disappeared, always during the night. Your name was removed from the registers, every record of everything you had ever done was wiped out, your one-time existence was denied and then forgotten…” – 1984

Today in a rural area of a battleground state:

Because, you know, duct tape will do in a pinch.

There’s that

09 Friday Aug 2024

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Pete Buttigieg (D) [2019 file photo].

Yep.

Pete Buttigieg @PeteButtigieg
Come to think of it, denigrating the worth of a soldier’s service based on whether he deployed to a war zone is…kind of like denigrating the worth of a woman’s citizenship based on whether she happens to have children.
9:28 PM · Aug 7, 2024

Trump sycophant says what?

08 Thursday Aug 2024

Posted by in Congress, Mark Alford, social media

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Mark Alford (r) [2023 file photo].

Congressman Mark Alford
[August 6, 2024]
Tim Walz has failed as the Governor of Minnesota.
He allowed rioters to loot and burn his state’s cities, and he’s a dream for the Progressive Democrats who want to destroy our country.
Americans deserve better.

Fascist tool.

Some of the responses:

“Don’t lift these guys up like they’re some kind of heroes. Everybody in this room knows–I know it as a teacher–a bully has no self-confidence. A bully has no strength. They have nothing.” Governor Tim Walz on Trump.

Gov Walz is a border Governor.

Unlike Mike Parson (r).

Well, what is even worse,is how you have failed Missouri’s 4th District Mark, you are a member of the Do Nothing Republicans, because that is what you all do. Trump had his shot, he didn’t fix the border, let’s not go backwards with Republicans, let’s go forward.

Trump called Walz in 2020 to praise him about how well he handled the George Floyd protests. Does trump know that you’re talking shit about his friend, Tim? Trump said he did a great job!
(Before you try to deny it, it’s on tape. )
[….]

If only you could be a quarter of the man he is.

You’re weird.

We see what you did there.

If Walz is such a failure, maybe he can move to Missouri and fail here. We could use the improvement. Minnesota is #4 compared to Missouri #35 per US News and World Report.
[….]

Do you think a statement like this will win more undecided votes or loose you more undecided votes? You are in a safe district it really doesn’t matter what you say. How will statements like this by you and other republicans play in districts currently held by republican representatives that Biden won in 2020? The only reason there is a current republican majority is because of 19 or 20 republicans in democrat districts. You cannot afford to loose moderate voters in those districts or you will be in the minority.

Heres a short list of his accomplishments while actually being a leader for his State.
*School breakfast and lunch for ALL children
*Strong labor protections
*Protections for LBGTQ
*Paid sick leave
*Reproductive rights
*1 Billion investment in
housing, including first
time buyers and low
income assistance
*Legalized cannabis
*Gun safety
*Cut child poverty by 1/3
And he has a kitty.
All alford has done is fill a litter box.

The republicans persist in alienating more segments of American society.

So right Mark. He’s disgraceful.

[….] Why is Walz disgraceful? Please make a list of what he has done that makes him disgraceful, because I’d like to know more about him. What’s he done you consider disgraceful? I do know he made sure every single kid in school in Minnesota is fed. What do you have against seeing every single child in school with a free breakfast and lunch? You’d rather see a kid hungry than a child fed? What do you have against anyone getting a free college education if their parents make under $80K a year? Why do you frown so much on education and allowing someone to better themselves? Walz spent $1 billion on housing for the homeless, vets, the working poor, the middle class, put kids in warm homes out of the cold. What’s wrong with any of that? Do you take the stance, I’ve got a roof over my head, now screw everyone else? Why are you like that? Walz enshrined abortion rights into the state constitution – why, but especially why as a woman, do you support stripping anyone of their personal health care choices, especially in a matter of life and death? Why do you feel you have the right to dictate to anyone what they can do with their body? Tell me what is deep within you that makes you consider all of this disgraceful? I’ll wait.

Congressman Mark Alford Gov Tim Walz spent 25 years serving in the National Guard. He signed up when he was 17. Please tell me what kind of military service you’ve got, Congressman Mark Alford? How long were you in the National Guard? Which branch of the military did you serve in? When did you enlist to serve, and in what branch?

Walz wants children to be fed and not go hungry.

Minnesota rank – Crime 22 / Economy 26 / Education 17 / Fiscal Stability 7 / Health Care 16 / Infrastructure 9 / Environment 2 / Opportunity 12 Missouri rank – Crime 45 / Economy 25 / Education 30 / Fiscal Stability 10 / Health Care 45 / Infrastructure 34 / Environment 17 / Opportunity 15. (US News & World Report Rankings) Sure, it’s Walz that is the failure.

[….] Now do Missouri and the results of 23 years of Republican controlled #MOLEG

School teacher and football coach cares for Minnesota kids. What has JD done for kids?
[….]

When you use words like progressive – woke – liberal I assume you mean decent & kind people who care about their fellow man.

Thank goodness Harris picked a pro Union guy as her VP! Let’s bring back the Middle Class that the GOP has been trying to destroy since Reagan!!!!

Yes Congressman Mark Alford we Americans do deserve better.
Mark, #yourefired.

He served in the military, was a teacher and a football coach, he owns guns and likes to hunt, and he believes the government should stay out of people’s private lives. I remember when that would have described the perfect GOP candidate. But now the GOP is gone and MAGA has replaced it with grifters and white nationalists. I guess if you’ve been on TV, you’re qualified to govern?!?

Still, not a convicted felon.

Tim Walz is a better choice than JD Vance.

It’s tough for you Mark, because both states start with the letter M, but you are in MISSOURI.

[….] Alford has and continues to fail the Missouri 4th district. He has no accomplishments.

Walz announcement adds $10 million in donations and no one had to ask Egypt for bags of caeh.
DonOld can’t say that.

We see what you did there.

Not according to their overall ranking. Missouri ranks near the bottom in everything. Walz will be a great VP and most of all he isn’t weird.
[….]

Mark Alford’s idea of a proper role model:

Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check. Arraignment. Check.