Members of an American Bar Association (ABA) Media Law committee commissioned a report on Donald Trump's litigation history. The New York Times reports that the commissioned report, written by Susan E. Seager, a former journalist, and a First Amendment lawyer, concluded he was a "libel bully" who "has never won a single speech-related case filed in a public court."

According to the New York Times, the ABA is not publishing the report because, get this, it is afraid of being sued by Trump. (The ABA spokesperson denies this is the reason.)

Alarmed by Donald J. Trump’s record of filing lawsuits to punish and silence his critics, a committee of media lawyers at the American Bar Association commissioned a report on Mr. Trump’s litigation history. The report concluded that Mr. Trump was a “libel bully” who had filed many meritless suits attacking his opponents and had never won in court.

But the bar association refused to publish the report, citing “the risk of the A.B.A. being sued by Mr. Trump.”

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As if you needed another reason to vote for Hillary Clinton, here it is: She has a $10 billion plan for drug abuse, which does not include funds for enforcement.

Her $10 billion proposal calls for boosting federal spending in five areas: prevention, treatment and recovery, first responders, prescribers and criminal justice reform. Over 10 years, Clinton calls for sending $7.5 billion to states, which could receive up to $4 in federal dollars for every $1 of state money they spend on the problem. States would need to show concrete proposals in one of the five areas to receive the money. The remaining $2.5 million would go toward the federal Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant program.[More...]

I don't know who else still uses Facebook, but Donald Trump does. Dissatisfied with media coverage of his campaign, his campaign aides have started nightly broadcasts of the day's campaign events from Trump Tower. It's his version of "Nightly News -- My Way." They air on his FB page.

Supposedly this is not related to recent reports he would launch a media company after he loses the Presidency.

Although shot to mimic a news program, the broadcast was essentially a campaign advertisement with only glowing coverage of Trump and sharp criticism of his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. After about 40 minutes the broadcast cut to live coverage of Trump's speech from Tampa, Fla.

Oprah on the TD Jakes Show, to air Thursday.

There really is no choice people. All the people sitting around talking about they can't decide...You hear this all the time, people saying "I just don't know if I like her." She not comin' over to your house. You don’t have to like her. You do not have to like her. Do you like this country? You better get out there and vote. (my emphasis)

“Do you like freedom and liberty? Do you like this country? Okay. Do you like democracy or do you want a demagogue? Okay, there you go.

I happen to like Hillary Clinton. I've met her a few times, asked her questions at campaign and blogger events and heard her speak in person up close at house parties and in big crowds many times over the past decade.

But for those of you who don't like her, Oprah is right. Please don't let your emotions about someone you've never met and probably never will meet put our nation's future and our children's future in jeopardy. [More...]

I wrote this yesterday and forgot to press the "publish" button. The U.S. Navy announced a Navy chief petty officer serving as an advisor in Northern Iraq has been killed:

A Sailor assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 3 based in Coronado, California, died Oct. 20 after sustaining injuries while deployed to Iraq. Chief Petty Officer Jason C. Finan, 34, of Anaheim, California, was serving in an advisory capacity to the Iraqi coalition force supporting Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq.

U.S, Naval Institute News reports he was killed when an improvised device exploded during the Iraqi Forces push to retake Mosul from ISIS:

Finan was killed when an improvised explosive device exploded...Developing an EOD capability has been important due to the Islamic State planting roadside bombs and booby-traps as they have moved throughout the region.

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Gloria Allred strkes again. She's now representing an adult film star who claims Trump offered her $10,000 in 2006 to come to his hotel suite in Tahoe -- she had already been in the suite that evening with some other women when she alleges he kissed them all without permission -- after she left, she says he called her and offered her $10,000 to return. Trump denies her claims.

Maybe she's jumping on the bandwagon. Maybe she's telling the truth. Does anyone care except him and his family? At this point it doesn't matter how many allegations there are or whether they are false. His presidential ship sailed into oblivion after the recording with Billy Bush surfaced.

Donald Trump isn't the only one having a bad week. Chris Christie's aide today testified he knew of the lane closure plan a month ahead of time.

Talking Points Memo has the details of Bridget Kelly's testimony.

In bombshell testimony Friday, Bridget Anne Kelly said that she told New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie that access lanes to the George Washington Bridge would be closed for a traffic study a month before the plan actually was carried out in September 2013.

The former deputy chief of staff testified that the governor approved the study, which prosecutors allege actually was cover-up for a revenge plot against a local Democratic mayor.

Christie picked the wrong horse to ride with Trump. When Trump doesn't get elected, he'll be left in the dust.

The Washington Post tonight reports "Donald Trump is in a funk " Bitter, hoarse and pondering, ‘If I lose. . .’" At a campaign rally today (attendance for which was noticeably smaller than usual), Trump said:

“What a waste of time if we don’t pull this off,” Trump said. “You know, these guys have said: ‘It doesn’t matter if you win or lose. There’s never been a movement like this in the history of this country.’ I say, it matters to me if we win or lose. So I’ll have over $100 million of my own money in this campaign.”

“So, if I lose,” Trump continued as the crowd remained unusually quiet, “if I lose, I will consider this —”

He didn't finish the sentence. The Post also perfectly sums up Trump's past week [More..]:

Twitter is down here, part of an earlier DOS (denial of service) attack that may have also hit Amazon and Netflix. I can get Amazon and Netflix now, just not Twitter.

Here is the DYN company's status page with updates. (Their website seems to be down.)

Trump got booed at the Al Smith Charity dinner. He's toast and he knows it.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

I agree with Vogue Magazine: Hillary's best takedown of Trump during the debate was comparing their experience:

“I think it’s really an important issue he raised, the 30 years of experience. Let me just talk briefly about that.

You know, back in the 1970s, I worked for Children’s Defense Fund, and I was taking on discrimination against African-American kids in schools. He was getting sued by the Justice Department for racial discrimination in his apartment buildings.

In the 1980s, I was working to reform the schools in Arkansas. He was borrowing $14 million from his father to start his businesses.

In the 1990s, I went to Beijing and I said women’s rights are human rights. He insulted a former Miss Universe, Alicia Machado; called her an eating machine.

And on the day I was in the situation room, monitoring the raid that brought Osama bin Laden to justice, he was hosting The Celebrity Apprentice. So I’m happy to compare my 30 years of experience, what I’ve done for this country, trying to help in every way I could, especially kids and families get ahead and stay ahead with your 30 years. And I’ll let the American people make that decision.”

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CNN/ORC poll results: Hillary won the debate 52% to 39% for Donald Trump

Trump's campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, was incoherent and blubbering during her post-debate interview with CNN's Dana Bash. She got so flustered, she walked out on the interview. First she said Donald Trump would respect the results because he is going to win. It went downhill from there.

The media is unanimous: Trump blew himself up like a suicide bomber in refusing to say he will accept the results of the election.

Bye, Bye Mr. Carnival Barker. Even NBC and the Apprentice won't take you back. May your brand sink like quicksand.

CNN's Van Jones: "You cannot polish this turd."

Channel changer time: Some blonde in a strawberry colored dress with a high-pitched whiny voice is rattling on like a speed-freak. Bye CNN.

Hillary has a 92% chance of winning the election, according to the New York Times.

During the debate, Trump said he'll have to look at the results before deciding whether to accept it.

The third and final debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump begins in a few minutes.

I don't think it's Trump's last chance -- he had that a while ago. I hope Hillary does well.

Here's a thread to discuss it.

Update (the end): Trump was horrible. If he prepared, it didn't show. There were no hand shakes at the beginning or end. Shorter version: Trump may not accept the results of the election.

He certainly does not have the temperment to be President. He doesn't know how to debate -- he only knows how to name-call. He called Hillary "such a nasty woman." He also said, "John Podesta said some terrible things about you and boy was he right." He says Sanders says she has bad judgment. Hillary responds that Bernie is supporting her and that Bernie said "Trump is the most dangerous person to run for President in American history."

Trump is losing this debate badly. He limped into it and he didn't help himself. [More...]

Taco trucks have built a wall around the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas to protest his labor stance.

Members of Culinary Union 226 are building a wall of taco trucks outside of Trump International Hotel ahead of the third presidential debate on Wednesday. At least five taco trucks will sit outside the resort next to Fashion Show mall and across the street from Wynn Las Vegas. All plan to dole out free tacos as an estimated 400 people rally.

"We’re protesting Donald Trump’s hotel here in Vegas, where a majority of workers voted to unionize, and shamefully Trump has failed to sit down at the table with them," Democrat Ruben Kihuen, who is running to represent the 4th Congressional

CNN says the union represents more than 50,000 workers in Nevada.

The Trump hotel is one of the very few on the Las Vegas Strip that does not have union-negotiated contracts for its workers.

I happened to have watched Khloe Kardashian's season on Celebrity Apprentice. I was outraged when Trump fired her because he learned she had missed a day of work on the show to attend alcohol classes for a DUI.

Today the Los Angeles Times reports on his real beef with Khloe: She was too heavy and not as attractive as her sisters.

“What is this? We can’t even get the hot one?” he reportedly said, referring to Kardashian’s sister, Kim. “Why don’t we fire Khloe? She is a fat piglet. Why did we get the ugly Kardashian?”

Via Huffpo, a third source and Apprentice editor, states: [More...]