Campaign 2024 Pimm Fox Campaign 2024 Pimm Fox

Meeting with Macron: A Dog’s Breakfast

France has been a significant supplier of military equipment to Qatar in recent years, particularly in aircraft, helicopters, and armoured vehicles. Some of the most notable deals include:

Rafale Fighter Jets (€6.7 Billion)

Contract Overview: Qatar signed a deal with Dassault Aviation in 2015 for 24 Rafale fighter jets. In 2017, Qatar ordered an additional 12 jets, bringing the total to 36 Rafales.

2. NH90 Helicopters (€3 Billion)

Contract Overview: Qatar ordered 28 NH90 helicopters from Airbus Helicopters in 2018.

MBDA Missile Systems

Contract Overview: As part of Qatar’s broader defence deals with France, the Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles and Exocet anti-ship missiles were included in the contracts.

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Flossi Pulls Her Weight in North Carolina Rescues

Mule trains were an essential mode of transport in the American West during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Mules were prized for their strength, endurance, and ability to navigate rugged terrain, making them perfect for transporting goods.
Here are some of the famous mule trains that played critical roles in shaping history:

 1. Death Valley Mule Teams and Borax Trains

   - Famous Route: Death Valley, California

   Purpose: Mule teams were instrumental in the borax industry, particularly in transporting borax from the mines in Death Valley to the nearest railhead in Mojave, California, 165 miles away.

   - Notable Mule Team: The 20-mule teams became legendary, often called the 20-Mule Team Borax teams. These teams typically consisted of 18 mules and two horses, pulling large wagons loaded with borax across the desert.

   - Legacy: The 20-mule teams became iconic symbols of the American West and were immortalised by the Pacific Coast Borax Company, which used the image in its advertising for 20-Mule Team Borax.

 2. Mormon Handcart Companies and Mule Trains

   - Famous Route: From the Midwest to Salt Lake City, Utah

   Purpose: Mormon pioneers traveled westward in search of religious freedom, using handcarts and mule-drawn wagons to carry their belongings. Many Mormon companies utilised mule trains to transport heavy supplies, including provisions for the journey.

   - Notable Events: The Mormon Trail saw thousands of settlers using mule trains to navigate harsh environments on their way to Utah in the mid-1800s.

 3. Butterfield Overland Mail Mule Teams

   - Famous Route: The Butterfield Overland Mail Route ran from St. Louis and Memphis to San Francisco, covering nearly 2,800 miles across the American Southwest.

   Purpose: The Butterfield Overland Mail Company extensively used mule trains to deliver mail, cargo, and passengers across the desert regions of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California.

   - Significance: Mule trains on the Butterfield route became famous for their reliability in moving mail across vast distances despite the dangers posed by the harsh desert environment.

 4. Colorado Mining Mule Trains

   - Famous Route: Leadville, Aspen, and other Colorado mining towns

   Purpose: In the late 1800s, the mining boom in Colorado required large amounts of equipment, food, and supplies to be transported to remote mining camps in the Rocky Mountains. Mule trains navigated the narrow, winding trails leading to towns like Leadville and Silverton.

   - Notable Contribution: These mule trains were critical for the success of the silver and gold mining industries, ensuring that necessary supplies reached miners in isolated areas.

 5. The Santa Fe Trail Mule Trains

   - Famous Route: The Santa Fe Trail was a major trade route connecting Missouri to Santa Fe, New Mexico.

   - Purpose: Mule trains were frequently used to carry goods along the trail, including manufactured products from the eastern U.S. and silver and furs from the Southwest.

   - Legacy: The Santa Fe Trail helped establish trade between the U.S. and Mexico and played a crucial role in the westward expansion of the U.S. Mule trains were integral to this commerce.

 6. John Wesley Powell’s Mule Train

   - Famous Route: Through the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon

   - Purpose: During his 1869 expedition to explore the Grand Canyon and map the Colorado River, John Wesley Powell used mule trains to carry supplies overland and support the exploration.

   - Significance: Powell’s mule trains helped supply the explorers, allowing them to conduct one of the most famous explorations of the American West.

 7. California Gold Rush Mule Trains

   - Famous Route: The goldfields of Northern California

   - Purpose: Mule trains were essential for transporting mining equipment, provisions, and gold during the California Gold Rush of the 1840s and 1850s.

   - Notable Contribution: Many miners depended on mule trains to transport gold from the remote mining camps to towns like Sacramento and San Francisco.

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Flossi, Family and Politics

Yes, there have been instances where family members of political candidates have publicly spoken out against their family members, encouraging voters to oppose them. Here are some notable examples:

 1. Ronald Reagan's Family:

   - Patti Davis, the daughter of President Ronald Reagan, was known for her public opposition to her father's policies during his presidency. While she didn’t explicitly campaign against him, she criticized his administration on issues such as nuclear disarmament, women's rights, and LGBTQ+ rights. She even participated in protests against Reagan’s policies.

   - Ron Reagan Jr., his son, also distanced himself from his father's conservative political stance, particularly later in life. He became an outspoken liberal and even endorsed Democratic candidates like Barack Obama in 2008.

 2. Mary Cheney and Liz Cheney:

   - Mary Cheney, the daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, publicly criticized her sister, Liz Cheney, when Liz ran for Senate in Wyoming in 2013 and opposed same-sex marriage. Mary Cheney, who is openly gay and married to her partner, viewed this as a personal attack, and their disagreement became widely publicized during Liz's campaign.

 3. Kellyanne Conway and George Conway:

   - While not a candidate herself, Kellyanne Conway, a key advisor to President Donald Trump, was publicly criticized by her husband, George Conway, who is a well-known conservative lawyer. George became an outspoken critic of Trump, frequently tweeting against him and even co-founding the Lincoln Project, an organization of Republicans working to defeat Trump in the 2020 election.

 4. Mitt Romney and His Niece:

   - In 2016, Mitt Romney (the 2012 Republican presidential candidate) delivered a harsh critique of Donald Trump during the GOP primary. Although this wasn’t exactly a family member speaking against a candidate, Romney's niece, Ronna McDaniel, who was a Trump supporter, disagreed with Romney's stance. She later became chair of the Republican National

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Flossi at The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of the United States has upheld certain doctrines of immunity for sitting presidents, particularly in cases involving civil liability and official duties. However, the scope and limits of this immunity have been debated and refined over time.

Key Cases:

1. Nixon v. Fitzgerald (1982):

   - Ruling: The Supreme Court held that the President has absolute immunity from civil damages liability for actions taken while performing official duties as President. This case involved a former federal employee, A. Ernest Fitzgerald, who sued President Richard Nixon for retaliation and wrongful termination. The Court ruled in favor of Nixon, establishing that the president could not be sued for official acts as part of presidential responsibilities.

   - Significance: This case reinforced the concept that a president must be able to perform their official duties without fear of personal liability or civil lawsuits that could distract them from their role.

2. Clinton v. Jones (1997):

   - Ruling: In contrast to Nixon v. Fitzgerald, the Court ruled that a sitting president is not immune from civil litigation for actions that occurred before taking office unrelated to official presidential duties. This case arose from a lawsuit by Paula Jones against President Bill Clinton, alleging sexual harassment. The Court held that the president could be sued for private actions committed before taking office.

   - Significance: The decision clarified that the president does not enjoy absolute immunity from lawsuits for conduct unrelated to their official duties.

3. Trump v. Vance (2020):

   - Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled that a sitting president is not immune from state criminal subpoenas seeking personal financial records. This case arose from an investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance into President Donald Trump's financial records. The Court rejected the argument that a president is completely immune from investigation, allowing the subpoena to proceed.

   - Significance: This decision reinforced the principle that no citizen, including the president, is above the law and that the president is subject to judicial processes in specific contexts, such as criminal investigations.

Conclusion:

The Supreme Court has upheld the doctrine of presidential immunity in specific contexts, particularly concerning official acts while in office (as in Nixon v. Fitzgerald). However, it has also limited this immunity, as seen in cases like Clinton v. Jones and Trump v. Vance, where it ruled that presidents are not immune from civil or criminal proceedings for actions unrelated to their official duties.

These rulings highlight a balance between protecting the president's ability to perform their constitutional duties and ensuring accountability under the law.

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