Morning Martini

Zac and Shelly Brown are ending their relationship. The country singer and his jewelry designer wife have announced they are separating after 12 years of marriage. The couple, who were married in 2006, have five children together—Joni, Justice, Lucy, Georgia and Alexander. The duo released a joint statement to E! News, focusing on the love and commitment they have for their family and how they are embarking on different paths. The Browns concluded the statement with a message for others: “Family comes in all different forms, we would like to ask that rather than commenting or spending any energy towards this, that you take this moment to send love to your family, in honor of ours.”

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Former Bachelor contestant, Cristy Caserta, has died. The lawyer, who competed on season 15 of the show, has passed at the age of 38. Caserta collapsed on Thursday while at a training class. She was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced dead. The office of the Broward County (Florida) Medical Examiner said the “cause and manner of her death is still under investigation.”

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“Devil’s Triangle” doesn’t mean what liberals think it means. The phrase was referenced in young Brett Kavanaugh’s high school yearbook, and immediately the dirty old pervs on the left assumed it meant three way sex between teenagers. But in a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee, a group of four of Kavanaugh’s high school classmates said it was actually a drinking game very similar to quarters, but with three glasses of beer. If it was also a reference back in the early ‘80s to three way sex, they say they were unaware. Bolstering that, two other men who attended Boston College with one of Kavanaugh’s high school classmates, Matthew Quinn, have also come forward attesting that Quinn went on to introduce them to this “Devil’s Triangle” game and that it definitely did not involve sex.

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Protesters led by celebrities took over a senate office building on Thursday. Actresses Amy Schumer and Emily Ratajkowski led an enraged mob opposed to Brett Kavanaugh as they shouted “We believe Christine Ford!” The throng was addressed by New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren before some 300 protesters were arrested by U.S. Capitol police. The protesters in part were furious about the newly released FBI background investigation, which Democrats insist is shoddy and incomplete.

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There’s more evidence of the “Kavanaugh Effect”—that is, surging Republican enthusiasm to vote in the midterms because of the Dem smear campaign against Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court. Smaller dollar donations to the National Republican Congressional Committee’s over the past week are up 175 percent compared with the previous month. The gap in enthusiasm to vote has also closed According to a new NPR-Marist poll, July’s ten point enthusiasm gap in favor of Democrats has evaporated. That now stands at just two percent, well within the margin of error. All is evidence the left’s strategy to stop Kavanaugh might backfire in an epic way.

—QUOTABLE: “The Supreme Court fight has energized conservatives in an undeniable way,…The Republican Party does three things: cut taxes, kill terrorists and confirm judges. When we do those things, we energize our base and are also appealing to independent voters.” -NRCC communications director Matt Gorman

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President Trump’s approval rating has hit 50 percent, according to a new Rasmussen poll. While 50 percent approve, 49 percent also disapprove—a sharp divide. 37 percent strongly approved of Trump’s job performance, and 40 percent strongly disapproved. The Rasmussen daily tracking poll is the only poll that tracks the president’s job approval every day.

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Sen. Lindsey Graham has suddenly earned a reputation as a street fighter. And on Thursday he brawled, rhetorically, with a protester. After giving the media comments about Brett Kavanaugh’s upcoming confirmation vote, the South Carolina Senator was interrupted by a protester demanding Kavanaugh take a polygraph. “We’ve humiliated this guy enough, and there seems to be no bottom for some of you,” Graham said, turning directly to the protester, adding sarcastically maybe we could throw him in water to see if he floats.

—QUOTABLE: “It will never be enough. If you don’t believe he is a gang rapist, if you don’t believe he is a stumbling, bumbling drunk, serial sexual predator, maybe you will believe he lied about how much he drank in high school. Threw ice at a party. Or he doesn’t have the temperament. Lets vote. I’m more confident than ever.” -Graham

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Fence-sitting Republican senators Susan Collins and Jeff Flake appear satisfied with the newly released FBI report probing Brett Kavanaugh’s background. The probe was ordered by the White House after the Senate Judiciary Committee advanced Kavanaugh’s nomination to the full senate amid allegations of sexual impropriety. 

Collins said: “It appears to be a very thorough investigation but I’m going back later to personally read the interviews.”

And Flake said: “We’ve seen no additional corroborating information.”

Both are moderate Republicans thought to be the critical swing votes that will determine whether the Senate will vote to confirm Kavanaugh in an expected Saturday floor vote.

Meanwhile, Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley urged the senate to end this and just take the vote: “I trust that career agents of the FBI have done their work independent of political or partisan considerations. That’s exactly what senators from both sides asked for. Now it’s up to senators to fulfill their Constitutional duty and make a judgement.”

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is moving ahead with a critical test vote on the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh. It will be on Friday morning at 10:30. The procedural vote will both pave the way for a final vote on whether to confirm the embattled SCOTUS nominee, and it will gauge support. Three Republican senators—Arizona’s Flake (Jeff), Maine’s Susan Collins, and Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski—are still very much in question, but statements by Collins and The Flake strongly point to their willingness to vote yes and stop this insanity from repeating itself. If Friday’s vote goes as planned, McConnell is likely to call for a final vote over the weekend.

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Brett Kavanaugh acknowledged he “might have been too emotional” in Senate testimony he gave one week ago. In the testimony he was defending himself from allegations he’s an abusive, alcoholic, perverted, sexual assaulting gang rape ringleader in high school and college—all without a shred of evidence. But in a Wall Street Journal op-ed on Thursday, he said he can be trusted to be an “even-keeled” Supreme Court justice and admitted he might’ve been a little too pointed in his criticism. The op-ed was published a day before a key Senate procedural vote that would move his nomination to the final stage—a floor vote. Kavanaugh wrote that he always treats others with “utmost respect.” The rhetorical question is, will Senate Dems apologize for how they treated him?

—QUOTABLE: “I was very emotional last Thursday, more so than I have ever been. I might have been too emotional at times. I know that my tone was sharp, and I said a few things I should not have said. I hope everyone can understand that I was there as a son, husband and dad. I testified with five people foremost in my mind: my mom, my dad, my wife, and most of all my daughters.” -Kavanaugh in WSJ

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Jesse Eisenberg – 35

Nicky Hilton – the other Hilton sister – 35

Paul Thomas – Good Charlotte bassist – 39

James Valentine – Maroon 5 guitarist – 40

Kate Winslet – Actress, Titanic – 44

Grant Hill – former Detroit Pistons forward – 46

Guy Pearce – actor, The Count of Monte Cristo – 51

Neil DeGrasse Tyson – 60

Karen Allen – Actress, Raiders of the Lost Ark – 67

BORN ON THIS DATE

Bernie Mac – Actor, Ocean’s 11; comedian – 1957

Donald Pleasance – Actor, Halloween – 1919

Ray Kroc – McDonald’s pioneer – 1902

Chester Arthur – POTUS 21 – 1829

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1550

Spanish Conquistador Pedro de Valdivia founds Concepción, Chile.

It was close to the border of Spanish-controlled territory and the lands of the Mapuche.

The town functioned as a military settlement for brass in the Spanish army occupying South America. Four years later, natives overran the village and destroyed it. But the Spaniards were unfazed, and built it again in 1555.

### 
1582

This date is the first of ten that are … well, lost, in Italy, Poland, Portugal, and Spain.

Those countries switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar effective the day after October 4th. But in order to get on the same page as other countries already using the Gregorian calendar, the date following October 4th 1582 would be October 15th.### 
1869

FA Spofford and Matthew G Raffington receive a patent for a “water velocipede.”

It was a rudimentary paddleboat. The invention was one of many similar vessels patented around that time as upperclass folks looked for new activities on the water.

### 
1947

Harry Truman addresses the nation from the White House – he’s the first to do so.

In the speech, he implores Americans to conserve use of grain to aid Europe, which was rebuilding from six years of war.

People were asked to give up meat on Tuesdays and poultry on Thursdays. The initiative did not last long, as the Marshall Plan was quickly successful in rebuilding Europe.

In 1948, Truman became the first president to broadcast a paid political ad on TV.

### 
1953

The New York Yankees beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in game six of the World Series, marking their fifth consecutive championship.

It was the fourth time in 11 years that the Yankees beat the Dodgers to win all the marbles.

Two years later, the Dodgers would get their first MLB championship – against the Yankees.

### 
1962

The first James Bond movie is released in the UK.

The flick pitted James Bond against Dr. Julius No, an evil villain with an underground base, plotting to thwart an American space launch.

Sean Connery starred as the tuxedoed superspy.### 
1990

The first film with an NC-17 rating hits theaters.

Henry & June stars Uma Thurman, Fred Ward, and Maria de Medeiros. It contained lady-on-lady action, which caused the adult rating. It also got an Oscar nomination for cinematography.

NC-17 replaced the X rating, which had come too associated with pornography

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Citing conflicts of interest in city government the Minneapolis Police Department is seeking an outside agency to investigate the domestic abuse claims against Rep Keith Ellison D-MN.

A Minnesota socially liberal political party in Minnesota called the Democratic Farmers Labor Party has been seeking a full investigation into domestic abuse charges brought against Ellison who is the Deputy Director of the DNC and the Democratic nominee for Attorney General in Minnesota.

A former girlfriend,
Karen Monahan has accused Ellison of domestic abuse stemming from an incident
in Ellison’s home in 2016.

A report
that was commissioned by the DFL and lead by a city prosecutor and investigator
determined that there was insufficient evidence to proceed as Monahan would not
turn over a video of the incident she claims to possess.

Ellison’s
son, Jerimiah is on the Minneapolis City Council and therefore citing a conflict
of interest the Minneapolis Police Department is turning the investigation over
to an outside agency yet to be named.

The Dakota
County City Attorney has aid they will not review any further information regarding
the incident until there is a report by an outside law enforcement agency.

The post Minneapolis Police Referring Ellison Case Elsewhere appeared first on Morning Martini.

Bret Kavanaugh is not only a Supreme Court nominee but now he’s a certified conservative cause and may have the same affect in uniting the right against Democrats much like Hillary Clinton was in 2016 which propelled Donald Trump to the White House.

While the
outcome is yet to be decided the Democrats and the media may have made a gross
miscalculation by attacking the nominee over unfounded accusations and dragging
his family through a horrible and unnecessary ordeal all to protect abortion
rights.

Liberals and
the media have cast a well-qualified, amiable and by all accounts a mildly
conservative judge as a booze guzzling, girl groping frat boy and sexual
predator.

It’s likely that whatever issues divide the right , they will be set aside to rise up and turn out in droves at the midterms and will likely take a large number of independents with them. They empathize with Kavanaugh and strike back against the unfounded accusations by putting themselves in his position to have to defend against an indecent that allegedly happened 36 years ago despite no evidence and denials by witnesses named in the accusations.

The right is
set to deliver a stunning defeat to the left and their complicit media partners
much like they did in 2016.

The post Will Kavanaugh Saga Reunite the Right? appeared first on Morning Martini.

As the FBI
supplemental report made its way through the Senate and the potential end of a
drama that has gripped the nation approaches Senate Majority Leader Mitch
McConnell has set the initial vote for Friday (today) with the final roll call
vote likely to take place on Saturday.

The
nomination teeters on a thin 51-49 Republican Majority in the Senate. Should
the vote end in a 50-50 tie Vice President Mike Pence would cast the deciding
vote.

The post Procedural Vote Set for Friday appeared first on Morning Martini.

Sources
within the White House reports that there is no corroborating evidence against Supreme
Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh in the supplemental FBI report that was submitted
for review on Thursday.

Senators on
the Judiciary Committee will review the report first followed by the rank and
file of the Senate. The fate of the Kavanaugh nomination rests with the 100
Senators.

As expected
the Democrats who agreed to the supplemental investigation last week as well as
the time frame have complained that the FBI hasn’t interviewed enough
witnesses. Most likely because the FBI hasn’t dug up any evidence against the
nominee deemed credible to scuttle the appointment.

In the
absence of any corroborating evidence the Senate will still be left with
nothing but accusations and denials that will still force wavering Republicans
like Jeff Flake R-AZ, Susan Collins R-ME and Lisa Murkowski R-AK to choose
whether to vote with their party and red state Democrats like Joe Manchin D-WV
and Heidi Heitkamp D-ND to go against their constituents and face the consequences
in the mid terms.

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TODAY IS—World Smile Day! This day was created by Harvey Ball, who also created the smiley face; arguably the first emoji. Concerned about the commercialization of the smile, Ball created a day to focus on spreading joy and love to everyone. He passed away in 2001, but his legacy lives on through the Harvey Ball World Smile Foundation, which carries on his message of peace and love. To celebrate today, brighten the world with a smile.

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Kourtney Kardashian and Luka Sabbat are “becoming more exclusive” a source has told E!. The 39-year-old reality star and the 20-year-old actor were recently spotted at dinner with Kardashian sister Kendall Jenner and friends. The new couple was spotted together earlier in the day shopping in West Hollywood. Another source revealed to E! that the mom of three is “having fun with [Sabbat]” and “every time they say goodbye she can’t wait to see him again”.

The post Getting Serious appeared first on Morning Martini.

Meghan Markle’s dog is a feminist icon. While meeting with the Survivors’ Network, a group that supports survivors of sexual abuse, Meghan and Harry were gifted a unique piece of art. Director of the group, Jay Breslaw, gave the royals an illustration of Meghan’s rescued beagle, Guy. In the drawing the dog’s owner, who is not depicted, asks “Who’s a good boy?” to which Guy responds, “A boy who makes every effort to dismantle the patriarchy (whilst keeping in mind intersections with other forms of oppression)”. Now obviously, Guy, being a dog, he cannot make up his mind on where he stands on cultural issues, but the picture was “lovely” regardless.

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Lamar Odom was not kidnapped. The 38-year-old’s manager has shut down the rumor—started by Radar Online—that Odom was held hostage over a gambling debt. The rumor stated that he was kidnapped while visiting a alleged girlfriend Savanna Waldrop and her 2-year-old daughter. Zoul El Fassi told E! that “the kidnapping is false, it’s a lie, it’s made up. He does know [Waldrop]. He’s not going to deny that but she was just a girl he used to party with”. The former NBA star’s publicist also made a statement saying he “does know [Waldrop], however she was merely an acquaintance”. Odom has been working on his health and getting basketball ready after announcing in July that he will be playing again…in China. Khloe Kardashian’s ex is reportedly in the United States to do a meet and greet before he heads back over the ocean to get ready for basketball season.

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