The AP has released documents showing the NYPD Intelligence Division infiltrated and spied on liberal groups. Some activists are mentioned by name. The officers attended meetings, rallies and after-parties.

Here's a sample document.

More documents are available at the Associated Press website here.

With "supporters" like Pat Robertson, Tim Tebow does not need detractors. Robertson said:

And you just ask yourself, okay, so Peyton Manning was a tremendous MVP quarterback, but he’s been injured. If that injury comes back, Denver will find itself without a quarterback. And in my opinion, it would serve them right.”

Calls himself a Christian. What a despicable man. Tebow needs to learn to get away from these people.

Speaking for me only

I thought I was out of touch. Jeralyn friend Geraldo makes me look like I'm on top of all new trends:

GERALDO RIVERA: Well, I have a different take, Brian, on that. I believe that George Zimmerman, the overzealous neighborhood watch captain should be investigated to the fullest extent of the law and if he is criminally liable, he should be prosecuted. But I am urging the parents of black and Latino youngsters particularly to not let their children go out wearing hoodies. I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin's death as George Zimmerman was.

Hoodies? Really? Maybe 10 years ago this kind of mindless rant would have been timely. But railing against hoodies is as timely as railing against tatoos. Hell, I have hoodies. (Which makes hoodies pretty uncool if you ask me.) Geraldo needs to get out more.

Speaking for me only

Open thread.

George Zimmerman is innocent until proven guilty just like every other American citizen. That Dr. Drew and his cohorts would be finding him guilty on camera is patently irresponsible. What's next? A mob lynching? Remember the Ox-Bow Incident.

Trayvon Martin is dead at the hand of Zimmerman. Yes, a rope was not involved. But Zimmerman (and Geller) appear to be the ones unfamiliar with the lessons of The Oxbow Incident. Was Martin innocent until proven guilty? Last I looked, Zimmerman remains a free man. It's not news, but Geller surely is clueless.

Someone agrees with me:

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Hillary Clinton's protegee and replacement in the Senate, says she'll ask the Secretary of State to run for President in 2016. [...] "I'm going to be one of the first to ask Hillary to run in 2016," Gillibrand told BuzzFeed, saying she "certainly hope[s]" Clinton will run for president.

"I think she would be incredibly well-poised to be our next Democratic president," Gillibrand said. "I think she's extremely well prepared. I think her experience as Secretary of State has not only elevated her stature and experience, but she's proven she's someone who can get things done and I think she'd be an outstanding candidate."

Also this: "Gillibrand's words also a rebuke to her own governor, Andrew Cuomo, who also appears to be positioning himself for a future White House run." STOP Cuomo!!!

Speaking for me only

Bump and Update: Multiple French News sites are now reporting Mohamed Merah is dead. It's been confirmed by police. Three police officers were wounded, one seriously.

This comes after a long, continuous and loud blast of what sounded like automatic weapons. Police now say Merah fired at them and they fired back in self-defense. Apparently, he started shooting at them while in the bathroom and then jumped out the bathroom window. There are even reports he may have died from the fall rather than the gunfight. An autopsy will be performed. Added: He didn't die from the fall but a shot to the head as he jumped from the window. [More....]

The picks:

Wisconsin +4 over Syracuse; Michigan State -5 over Louisville; Ohio State -7½ over Cincinnati; North Carolina -10½ over Ohio; Marquette -1½ over Florida; Indiana +9 over Kentucky; Baylor -6 over Xavier; NC State (+8) over Kansas.

Open Thread.

A justice of the New Zealand High Court has granted Kim Dotcom $60,000. a month to live on while awaiting the outcome of the U.S. extradition request.

In a decision released today, the court said a $20,000 monthly living allowance would come from the interest paid on the $10 million Dotcom has invested in NZ government bonds. The remaining $40,000 will be paid in monthly installments from a $301,000 bank account he has had returned to him.

One of his two 2011 Mercedes was also ordered returned. (He had a 2011 Mercedes-Benz G55 AMG, with the license plate "POLICE” and a 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML63.)

No ruling yet on whether the procedurally defective restraining order will result in him getting all seized property back.

I'll be offline this afternoon, here's an open thread, all topics welcome.

The Supreme Court today ruled defendants have the right to effective assistance of counsel during plea bargain negotiations.

The cases are Lafler v. Cooper, No. 10-209, and Missouri v. Frye, No. 10-444.

In Lafler, the court said where a defendant rejects a plea offer on the advice of counsel and proceeds to trial, in order to show counsel was ineffective,

[H]e must show that but for the ineffective advice, there is a reasonable probability that the plea offer would have been presented to the court, that the court would have accepted its terms, and that the conviction or sentence, or both, under the offer’s terms would have been less severe than under the actual judgment and sentence imposed.

K-i-s-s-i-n-g. Football makes no sense to me. The Denver Broncos have signed a $96 million 5 year contract with Peyton Manning. Our local news reports it's the Biggest Contract Ever in NFL history. Manning didn't play last season due to multiple surgeries for neck injuries. Everyone seems to think he'll be able to play but no one seems to know for sure. Here's Manning today on the state of his neck:

“Could I play this Sunday? Yeah, I could,” Manning said. “I don’t know if I’d play as well as I’d like, but I could.”

His neck is apparently enough of a concern that his new contract has a neck injury waiver. But he's guaranteed $18 million for this season, meaning even if he re-injures his neck the first week, or his old neck injuries resurface, causing him to sit out the remainder of the season, he's guaranteed $18 million. Who wouldn't take that deal?

So what do the Broncos say about the possibility Manning's injuries will prevent him from being the Greatest Player Ever? [More...]