Liberty In Peril

                                                                                              formerly,

                                                                                       The Llano Ledger

4-20-18

Our country has lost a truly great former First Lady.  A woman who had incredible strength and resolve.  NPR reports:

"Former first lady Barbara Bush died Tuesday at the age of 92, according to a family spokesman.  A statement issued on Sunday by the office of former President George H.W. Bush said that Bush had elected to receive "comfort care" over additional medical treatment after a series of hospitalizations.

"Bush will go down in history as one of just two women to be both the wife of a U.S. president and also the mother of one. She was as famous for her undyed hair and fake pearls as she was for her self-deprecating humor, and she made it clear — from the moment she moved into the White House — that she was going to be a different kind of first lady from her very glamorous predecessor, Nancy Reagan."

Indeed, a breath of fresh air.

"Barbara Bush certainly wasn't afraid to laugh at herself," said first lady biographer Myra Gutin. "She worked very hard to show that she was just a real person."  "Gutin says Bush was popular in part because she was a throwback to old-fashioned values and because she pushed back against popular conventions of beauty.  When she was about to become first lady, she quipped, "My mail tells me that a lot of fat, white-haired, wrinkled ladies are tickled pink."  "That's vintage Barbara Bush," says Gutin."

Indeed, it was.

"Her down-to-earth image was all the more remarkable for someone who grew up in a suburb of Manhattan as part of the aristocracy and married aristocracy as well."

Yet, there certainly wasn't anything phony or pretentious about her.  Called it like she saw it.

"When her husband dived into politics, Barbara Bush dutifully took on the role of political wife, campaigning for him. But longtime family friend Rob Mossbacher Jr. said her supportiveness should not be mistaken for submissiveness.  "She was as far away from a 'Stepford wife,' or some sort of namby-pamby, you know, 'sweetness and light' [wife] that you could get," Mossbacher said.  Indeed, Barbara Bush — known as the "Silver Fox" — could be as tough as she could be charming. Her grandkids named her "The Enforcer." But the rough-and-tumble of politics roiled her at times — especially, as she herself said, attacks aimed at her son, George W. Bush.  "Sometimes I just wanna give people a piece of my mind," she once quipped. "But of course, as George would say, 'Wouldn't be prudent!'"

What loving mother wouldn't?  ... But...she was more than willing to do it herself.  LOL.  Get this.  CBS News reports:

"Bush remembered his mother as "warm and wonderful until you got out line, then she wasn't too warm and wonderful." Laura Bush called her "fierce" and a "great role model" as she became first lady herself.  In her final days, Bush said his mother was strong, lucid and funny. "She and I were needling each other," he said, recalling a joke his mother told one of her doctors in Texas.  "The doctor came in and she turned to the doctor and said, 'You want to know why George W. is the way he is?' And the doctor looked somewhat surprised. And she said, 'because I drank and smoked when I was pregnant with him.'"

One tough, strong woman who will be sorely missed.

4-20-18

Think American female fighter pilots don't have the right stuff?  Luckily, one was piloting a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 passenger jet when it  catastrophically lost an engine.  CBS News reports:

"Tammie Jo Shults, the  Southwest Airlines pilot who made an emergency landing Tuesday after the jet apparently blew an engine, got hit by shrapnel and lost a window, is being praised for her "nerves of steel" in helping to prevent a far worse tragedy after the catastrophe killed one passenger and left seven others hurt. Shults was at the controls of the Dallas-bound Flight 1380 when it made an emergency landing in Philadelphia, said her husband, Dean Shults.  The twin-engine Boeing 737 that left New York with 149 people board was hit by shrapnel that smashed a window and damaged the fuselage, killing a passenger and injuring seven others, authorities said. The pilot took the plane into a rapid descent as passengers using oxygen masks that dropped from the ceiling braced for impact.  Shults was among the first female fighter pilots in the U.S. military, according to friends and the alumni group at Shults' alma mater, MidAmerica Nazarene.  Shults was a 1983 graduate of the university in Olathe, Kansas, where she earned degrees in biology and agribusiness, said Carol Best, a university spokeswoman told The Kansas City Star."

4-20-18

Trump is certainly nominating unfit, homophobic, Islamaphobic, bigoted, nazi assholes for high office.  ABC News reports:

"Former CIA director Mike Pompeo is facing a testy Senate confirmation hearing Thursday as he vies to become the next secretary of state."

As well, he should be.  Couldn't be a worse choice for this position, -- than John Bolton, of course.  LOL.

"Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are questioning Pompeo, known for his hawkish views, where he stands on major policy issues including military action in Syria, a nuclear summit with North Korea and the fate of the nuclear deal with Iran. Given his tight-knit relationship with President Donald Trump, Democrats want to know whether he can put partisan politics aside."

He'll be like the rest of them, Trump's lap dog.  LOL.

"New Hampshire Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen asked Pompeo: "You graduated from Harvard law school, you're an attorney. Do you think special counsel Mueller's investigation is a witch hunt?  "Ma'am, I'm going to not speak about any of the three investigations that I have been a participant in today," Pompeo responded.  Shaheen pressed him: "Do you think the president has the authority, recognizing your legal background, does the president have the authority to fire special counsel Mueller on his own?  "I'm in no position to make a comment on that legal question," he answered."

These hearings are no more than an egregious waste of time.  Each questioner should continue to ask the very same unanswered question until his or her time expires.  Then, the next questioner should do precisely the same.  Same question over and over and over again.

"Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat, asked, "Do you believe special counsel Mueller's investigation is an attack on our country and all we stand for?" quoting Trump referring to the FBI raid on the office and home of his private attorney Michael Cohen.  "I hope you'll take this the right way. As the director of the C.I.A. I've been involved in that investigation," Pompeo said. "Anything I say with respect -- I want to avoid that today. I apologize I can't speak more fully.."

Yes, you can.  But won't.  No question, you're part of the problem.  Your gutless refusal to answer legitimate questions of grave concern to the public exposes the grievous lack of transparency that's become a ubiquitous scourge as our formerly great country continues to deteriorate.

"When Coons asked, should Trump try to fire Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, "would you resign your post as secretary of state in order to demonstrate that we are a nation of laws, not of men?" Pompeo answered, "Senator, I haven't given that question thought. My instincts tell me no. My instincts tell me my obligation to continue to serve as America's senior diplomat will be more important as [at?] increased times of turmoil."

You have no principles, Mr. Pompeo.  You've become part of the problem.  Go along to get along.  A gutless, unfit, homophobic, Islamaphobic, national socialist piece of shit.  -- A fascist who will gutlessly goose step in line with his fuhrer, the Trump nazi.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-20-18

Limited attack on Syria. The Washington Post reports:

"Western leaders warned Syria on Saturday that they could launch further missile strikes if chemical weapons are used again, while the pre-dawn attacks were denounced by Damascus and its backers as illegal actions that would carry repercussions.  But one major worry appeared to ease: That the coordinated attacks by the United States, France and Britain late Friday could have set off a direct confrontation with Syria’s most powerful military partner, Russia."

The Russians aren't that stupid.  Would lose the confrontation provided it remained conventional.  If escalated to nuclear, whole world loses.

"At the Pentagon, the director of the Joint Staff, Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, said the more than 100 missile strikes delivered a blow to the “heart” of Syria’s chemical weapons network. He acknowledged, however, that Syria retained “residual” capacity, but gave no details on the scope of what could be left."

Where have we heard this before?

"There was, however, a wider sense of relief that the strikes on three targets — believed to be research and storage cogs in Syrian’s chemical weapons production — had not caused Russian casualties, which could have led to a direct confrontation between Washington and Moscow."

That risk may be overblown.  Especially, since Russian mercenaries allegedly suffered several hundred killed-in-action in an earlier bombing raid and the Russian military did not react.

"McKenzie confirmed there was no Russia response and said Syrian air defenses had “no material effect” on the incoming barrage. Earlier, Russian officials said some missiles were intercepted by the Soviet-made antimissile batteries used by Syrian forces."

Again, the Russians aren't stupid:

"But there were no signs the Russian military was preparing a retaliatory response that could bring Moscow and Washington into direct confrontation.  Syrian television called the attacks a “flagrant violation” of international law, and Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, derided them as a “military crime.”

Use of chemical weapons is a war crime.  Forget?

"But apart from Tehran and Moscow, which support the Syrian government, much of the world saw the U.S.-led strikes as justified and hoped it would prove a deterrent to Bashar al-Assad’s regime."

Hard to believe that's true.  Especially, since it clearly hasn't worked in the past.

"British Prime Minister Theresa May called the three-nation attacks a success and were “right and legal” in response to the Syrian government’s suspected use of chemical weapons a week ago in rebel-held Douma, killing dozens of people.  The head of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, predicted: “This will reduce the regime’s ability to further attack the people of Syria with chemical weapons.”  Washington, Paris and London said they have proof, without identifying it, that chlorine gas caused victims to suffocate."

This 'proof' should have been publicly released.

"Inspectors from the international Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons were expected to make their initial foray Saturday to Douma. They will collect soil samples and talk to witnesses in attempts to pin down what occurred."

What took so long?  Should have happened a week ago.  Yet, they're still being denied access to the site by Assad and the Russians several days after their arrival.

"Defense Secretary Jim Mattis called the overnight attacks a “one time shot.” French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said no more attacks were planned for now but threatened more strikes if the Syrian military used chemical weapons again.  “A perfectly executed strike last night,” tweeted President Trump. “Thank you to France and the United Kingdom for their wisdom and the power of their fine Military. Could not have had a better result. Mission Accomplished!”

Think so?  Truly believe the Syrian dictator has gotten the message?

"The attack involved munitions fired from aircraft and naval vessels, including about 100 Tomahawk cruise missiles, according to a Defense Department official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss operational details. The Pentagon also employed the B-1 strategic bomber."

Fortunately, all aircraft returned safely.

NBC reports:

"While Syrian television reported that the nation's air defenses had responded to the strikes, "none of our aircraft or missiles in this operation were successfully engaged" by the regime of President Bashar al-Assad, said Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  "The Syrian response was remarkably ineffective," he told reporters Saturday morning."

CBS News reports:

"Pentagon spokesperson Dana White said Saturday the U.S. and its allies "successfully hit every target" in airstrikes in Syria overnight. The U.S., U.K. and France and U.K. launched the strikes Friday night Eastern Time in response to the Syrian regime's alleged use of chemical weapons last weekend. In total, the U.S. used 105 weapons against three targets.  "I can assure you we took every measure and precaution to strike only what we targeted and –– and we successfully hit every target," White told reporters Saturday.  White said the U.S. believes it has "significantly crippled" Syrian President Bashar Assad's ability to carry out a chemical weapons attack. White said the mission in Syria remains defeating the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), but the U.S. will not stand by while Assad attacks "innocent Syrian people."

... But it's okay if he uses conventional weapons to continue the slaughter?

Think there isn't ongoing trouble in Trump paradise?  Get this.  The Washington Post reports:

"President Trump on Monday put the brakes on a preliminary plan to impose additional economic sanctions on Russia, walking back a Sunday announcement by U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley that the Kremlin had swiftly denounced as “international economic raiding.”

Gets worse:

"Sometime after Haley’s comments on CBS, the Trump administration notified the Russian Embassy in Washington that the sanctions were not in fact coming, a Russian Foreign Ministry official said Monday.  The Trump team decided to publicly characterize Haley’s announcement as a misstatement. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement Monday: “We are considering additional sanctions on Russia and a decision will be made in the near future.”  Privately, another White House official said Haley got ahead of herself and made “an error that needs to be mopped up.”

Think so?  Believe it?

"But other administration officials expressed skepticism that Haley had merely misspoken. They said Haley is one of the most disciplined and cautious members of the Cabinet, especially when it comes to her public appearances. She regularly checks in with Trump personally to go over her planned statements before she sits for television interviews.  Haley issued no clarifying statement on Sunday after news organizations, including The Washington Post, reported prominently that the new sanctions would be announced Monday based on her comments to CBS.  Asked Monday morning why it had taken 24 hours for the administration to walk back Haley’s comments, one White House official said only that there had been confusion internally about what the plan was."

Think the Trump Regime is not in disarray?  ... Or, that Trump somehow, some way, isn't beholden to Putin?

NPR reports:

"On Sunday, Haley, appearing on CBS' Face the Nation, said the U.S. was ready with a new round of economic sanctions on Russia for its backing of Syrian President Bashar al Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons.  President Trump, who was reportedly watching as Haley made the remarks, "grew angry, according to an official informed about the moment. As far as he was concerned, he had decided no such thing," The New York Times reports."

Hard to believe Haley got it wrong.  This woman is way too careful.  Love her or hate her, agree or disagree with her, she's exceptionally professional, well-prepared.

"What ensued was something of a public spat between Haley and Larry Kudlow, the White House economic adviser.  Kudlow said of Haley "There might have been some momentary confusion about that," a remark that apparently did not sit well with the ambassador, who issued a statement of her own to Fox News: "With all due respect, I don't get confused."

To date, certainly appears so.  This spat is apparently indicative of quite a f--k-up in the White House, likely centering on the Trump nazi himself.

"As The Associated Press notes, "The White House had been struggling to explain Haley's remarks amid reports that [the president] put the brakes on the new sanctions. Several administration officials have disputed that characterization, saying Haley was out of the loop."  The news agency says: "The feud appeared to quiet down after ... Kudlow called Haley to apologize Tuesday afternoon, a White House official said. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity to describe private discussions."

Imagine that.  Trouble in Trump nazi 'paradise.'  Who'd 'a 'thunk' it?

"Earlier Tuesday, Kudlow told reporters during a briefing in Florida that Haley 'got ahead of the curve' when she said the U.S. would be slapping new sanctions on Russia on Monday in retaliation for the country's support for Syria's Assad government after its latest suspected chemical attack."

Think Kudlow isn't simply protecting his fuhrer, the Trump nazi?  Get this:

"Also ahead of the curve appeared to be Russia's Kommersant newspaper — a publication known for deep sources within the Russian government. The paper published an April 15th report — the same day Haley made her public remarks on sanctions — claiming to US Ambassador to Russia John Huntsman had also delivered a formal letter to Moscow warning of impending new U.S. penalties over "support of the Syrian regime."

Wake up.  Trump is unfit.  To her credit, Haley refused to figuratively fall on her sword.  Should not.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-20-18

Think Trump's a happy camper?  His Supreme Court nominee has turned out not to be quite as national socialist, fascist, nazi, etc., as the Trump nazi had expected him to be.  LOL.  Doesn't your heart break?  NPR reports:

"The Supreme Court declared a clause in federal law, requiring the deportation of immigrants convicted of a "crime of violence," unconstitutionally vague Tuesday.  It's a blow to the Trump Justice Department, and came at the hands, ironically of conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch, who sided with the court's liberals in a 5-4 decision.  In 2015, the court also held that a clause alluding to a "violent felony" in the Armed Career Criminal Act was unconstitutionally vague."

Tough, isn't it?  Think this won't 'stick in the craw' of both the racist AG Sessions nazi, and his fuhrer, the Trump nazi?

CBS News reports:

"The Supreme Court says part of a federal law that makes it easier to deport immigrants who have been convicted of crimes is too vague to be enforced.  The court's 5-4 decision Monday concerns a provision of immigration law that defines a "crime of violence." Conviction for a crime of violence subjects an immigrant to deportation and usually speeds up the process. Justice Neil Gorsuch, President Trump's first appointee to the court, joined with the four liberal justices in making the decision."

How about that?  Amazing, isn't it?  Think there'll be no howls of protest from the Nazi Right?  Sour grapes?  LOL.

"A federal appeals court in San Francisco previously struck down the provision as too vague, and on Monday the Supreme Court agreed. The appeals court based its ruling on a 2015 Supreme Court decision that struck down a similarly worded part of another federal law that imposes longer prison sentences on repeat criminals."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-20-18

Now and then, there is justice in a de facto fascist police-state quickly transitioning to the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich.  NBC reports:

"Hector Barajas-Varela has proudly worn his U.S. military uniform many times before, but on Friday it took on a new meaning."

Most certainly did.  About time.

"The Mexico-born U.S. veteran, who waged a decade-long fight to return to the U.S. after his deportation in 2010, traveled from Tijuana, Mexico to San Diego, California and officially became a U.S. citizen.  “I’m home today,” said Barajas-Varela to cheers from family, supporters and veterans groups outside the city's Department of Homeland Security building.

    "Hector Barajas-Varela, is a deported veteran. Today he will cross the border and become a US citizen in a naturalization ceremony in San Diego after @JerryBrownGov pardoned him. @nbcsandiego @deported_vets #Mexico #DeportedVet @TLMD20 pic.twitter.com/oHCgOZevUM
    — Melissa Adan (@MelissaNBC7) April 13, 2018"

Long overdue.  This veteran should never have been deported.  Outrageous injustice.

"Barajas-Varela, who enlisted in the Army in 1995, was honorably discharged in 2001 after receiving numerous accolades and awards, including the Army Commendation Medal and Humanitarian Service Medal. Following his service, he had difficulty adjusting to civilian life. His struggles with substance abuse, plus a no-contest plea to shooting at an occupied vehicle, resulted in his deportation in 2002."

No veteran should ever be deported from the country he honorably served and protected.  No matter what happens subsequent to that service.

"After being unable to adapt to life in Mexico, a country that he found unfamiliar, he made his way back into the U.S. before being deported again in 2010, Barajas-Varela said in an interview with the Associated Press.  Supporters of deported veterans’ rights say former soldiers who face difficulties adjusting to civilian life, including substance abuse or other mental health or physical issues, should receive treatment instead of deportation orders."

That's right.  To do otherwise is an atrocious injustice.

"As he fought his deportation, Barajas-Varela founded the Deported Veterans Support House in Tijuana, known as the “Bunker,” with the help of the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs in San Diego. Last year a congressional delegation, including Rep. Joaquín Castro, (D-TX), visited the center and advocated for the deported veterans. "Many of us believe that they should be allowed to become citizens," said Rep. Castro."

That's right.  They honorably served this country.  ... The least our country can do for them.

"Barajas-Varela received a full pardon from Gov. Jerry Brown last year.  In his statement, Gov. Brown said Barajas “has shown that since his release from custody, he has lived an honest and upright life, exhibited good moral character and conducted himself as a law-abiding citizen.”  According to the ACLU, Barajas-Varela is one of the more than 230 U.S. Armed Forces war veterans who have been deported. In 2016, there were more than 300,000 veterans living in the U.S. who were not born in the country, a third of whom had not processed their citizenship — one of the benefits they are promised when they enlist."

A country that fails to honor its promises is no country at all.  ... Right, Mr. 'President?'

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-20-18

Trump is not a happy camper.  The Washington Post reports:

"President Trump lashed out Friday at former FBI director James B. Comey on Twitter, calling him a “weak and untruthful slime ball” who deserved to be fired “for the terrible job he did.”  “It was my great honor to fire James Comey!” Trump wrote in his first remarks since advance copies surfaced of Comey’s upcoming book that includes blistering descriptions of Trump and his presidency.  In a pair of tweets, Trump accused Comey of leaking classified information and lying to Congress under oath. And Trump said Comey’s handling of an investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server while secretary of state would “go down as one of the worst ‘botch jobs’ of history.”

Kettle calling the pot black.  LOL.  From the 'president' himself:

"James Comey is a proven LEAKER & LIAR. Virtually everyone in Washington thought he should be fired for the terrible job he did-until he was, in fact, fired. He leaked CLASSIFIED information, for which he should be prosecuted. He lied to Congress under OATH. He is a weak and.....
    — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 13, 2018

    ....untruthful slime ball who was, as time has proven, a terrible Director of the FBI. His handling of the Crooked Hillary Clinton case, and the events surrounding it, will go down as one of the worst “botch jobs” of history. It was my great honor to fire James Comey!
    — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 13, 2018"

Think this man fit for the presidency?  Think Comey isn't figuratively 'drawing blood?'  Get this:

"In an attempt to blunt the impact of the new book, the Republican National Committee is waging a widespread campaign to undercut Comey’s credibility, including a new website that dubs the former FBI chief as “Lyin’ Comey.”

If Comey is indeed a liar, why not just dismiss him as such, then ignore him?  Instead, Trump and his henchmen stupidly give him credibility.  Make sense?  LOL.

"On Friday, the RNC sent an email to reporters highlighting several tweets from journalists and pundits that questioned the timing of Comey’s book, including some that said Comey should have waited until after the Mueller probe was over to weigh in. Playing off the title of Comey’s book, the subject header on the email was: “A Higher Royalty.”

Clearly, Republicans are running scared.  Certainly, know the noose is figuratively tightening as Mueller zeroes in on Trump and his closest henchmen.

NPR reports:

"Comey fires countless fusillades against the president who fired him in May 2017, summing up at the end: "[T]his president is unethical, and untethered to truth and institutional values." Trump's leadership, Comey says, is "transactional, ego driven and about personal loyalty."

So what else is new?  LOL.

"He compares Trump's insistence on a "silent circle of assent" to the code observed in the Mafia crime family that Comey helped bust as a young prosecutor in New York City."

The Washington Post reports:

"Former FBI director James B. Comey said in his first televised interview since being fired that he believed Donald Trump was “morally unfit to be president” and that it was “possible” that the Russians had material that could be used to blackmail him.  In a wide-ranging conversation with George Stephanopoulos broadcast on ABC late Sunday, Comey took aim at Trump in no uncertain terms, comparing his administration to a mafia family, likening his presidency to a forest fire and asserting there was evidence that he had committed a crime.  He said that he would not favor impeaching Trump to remove him from office, because that “would let the American people off the hook and have something happen indirectly that I believe they’re duty-bound to do directly” — meaning through elections. But he made clear his view of whether Trump was fit to hold the position.  “This president does not reflect the values of this country,” Comey said."

Does not.  Comey, however, is a bit premature in letting Trump off the hook vis a vis impeachment.  Certainly, depends on the outcome of the Mueller investigation.

CBS News reports:

"In his first media interview since being fired in May 2017, former FBI director James Comey said he believes President Trump is "morally unfit" to be president.  Comey made the statement in an interview with George Stephanopoulos that aired Sunday night on ABC's 20/20. "A person who sees moral equivalence in Charlottesville, who talks about and treats women like they're pieces of meat, who lies constantly about matters big and small and insists the American people believe it, that person's not fit to be president of the United States, on moral grounds."

Sadly, all presidents lie, -- but not like this one.  Not a day passes where Trump does not repeatedly boldfaced lie.  No more than a congenital liar. -- Lying by a president can certainly make the Chief Executive look like an idiot.  Can remember as a kid back in 1960 when Eisenhower denied Soviet claims they had shot down an American U-2.

Made the president look like a fool when the Soviets produced the pilot in front of television cameras.  ... Eisenhower had supposedly denied the shoot-down to protect the pilot had he indeed been shot down and still eluding capture.  -- Have to remember electronic communications were nowhere near as sophisticated and refined as they are today.

"Comey also told Stephanopoulos he can not say for certain whether Mr. Trump is compromised by the Russians. "It always struck me and still strikes me as unlikely, and I would have been able to say with high confidence about any other president I dealt with, but I can't. It's possible," he said.    When asked if Mr. Trump obstructed justice with respect to his fired National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, Comey said "possibly." He continued: "I mean, it's certainly some evidence of obstruction of justice. It would depend and -- and I'm just a witness in this case, not the investigator or prosecutor, it would depend upon other things that reflected on his intent," he said."

Noose is certainly figuratively tightening.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-20-18

Noose figuratively tightens.  CBS News reports:

"Federal prosecutors said in a court filing Friday that the criminal probe that led them to raid the offices of President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, is focused on the attorney's "personal business dealings" and has been going on for months. In the filing with a court in New York, prosecutors blacked out a section describing what laws they believe Cohen has broken, but they said the "crimes being investigated involve acts of concealment" and suspected fraud."

Strange bedfellows?  ... Trump and Cohen?  LOL.

"They also made clear that investigators have been gathering extensive evidence for some time as part of an ongoing grand jury investigation. Agents, they wrote, had already searched multiple email accounts maintained by Cohen after securing an earlier search warrant.  None of those emails, they added, was exchanged with Mr. Trump."

Fascinating, isn't it?

"In a footnote, the prosecutors wrote that although the investigation was referred to prosecutors in New York by special counsel Robert Mueller, it was proceeding independently.  The U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan made the filing after lawyers for Cohen and Mr. Trump asked a judge to block the Justice Department from reviewing records seized Monday in FBI raids on Cohen's apartment, hotel room, office and safety deposit box.

"In a court hearing before U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood, Cohen's lawyers asked to examine the seized documents and electronic devices. The lawyers said they should be allowed to identify which of the documents are protected by attorney-client privilege before prosecutors get to look at them.  An attorney for the president, Joanna Hendon, appeared as well, telling the judge that Mr. Trump has "an acute interest in these proceedings and the manner in which these materials are reviewed."  "He is the president of the United States," she said. "This is of most concern to him. I think the public is a close second. And anyone who has ever hired a lawyer a close third."

We have no king or queen in a democratic republic.  The president is no better than anyone else.

"But Assistant U.S. Attorney Tom McKay told the judge that he believed the proceedings were an attempt to delay the processing of materials seized in the search.  "The issues here are straightforward," he said.  Of Mr. Trump, McKay said: "His attorney-client privilege is no greater than any other person who seeks legal advice."

Goddamned right.  Nor should he expect or receive anything but equal treatment.

"FBI and Justice Department officials have refused to say what crimes they are investigating, but people familiar with the investigation have told The Associated Press the search warrant used in the raids sought bank records, business records on Cohen's dealing in the taxi industry, Cohen's communications with the Trump campaign and information on payments made to a former Playboy model, Karen McDougal, and a porn actress, Stephanie Clifford, who performs under the name Stormy Daniels. Both women say they had affairs with Mr. Trump.  Ordinarily, documents or communications seized from a lawyer by FBI agents would be reviewed by a team of Justice Department lawyers not directly involved in the investigation to determine which documents were relevant to the probe, and which should be off-limits to investigators because of attorney-client privilege.  The judge said prosecutors believed either a special "taint team" of government lawyers should decide what evidence can be properly viewed by criminal prosecutors. Or, they said, the court could appoint a special master for that purpose.  Hendon asked for a delay in court proceedings until at least Monday, saying she needed to research the law.

'Can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with bullshit,' right, Counselor?

Plot thickens.  Get this.  NBC reports:

"Sean Hannity, the Fox News host who has been waging war on the air against special counsel Robert Mueller and is an outspoken advocate for President Donald Trump, was revealed Monday as one of only three clients that Michael Cohen, the president's personal attorney, had during 2017 and 2018.  In a court filing earlier in the day, Cohen had sought to shield Hannity's name from becoming public. Cohen said he had three clients: Trump; Elliott Broidy, the former deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee, who impregnated and then paid a woman with whom he had an affair; and a third party that Cohen said did not want to be identified.  During Monday’s proceedings, U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood ordered Cohen’s attorney to disclose the client's identity. The client is Hannity, Cohen's lawyer said."

Small world, isn't it?  Consider the following:

"It is not known why Cohen was representing Hannity.  Hannity addressed the news on his AM radio show, claiming that while he never retained Cohen in the "traditional" sense, they still had attorney-client privilege.  "Michael never represented me in any matter, I never retained him in the traditional sense as retaining a lawyer, I never received an invoice from Michael, I never paid legal fees to Michael," Hannity said, before adding, "We definitely had attorney client privilege because I asked him for that but, you know, he never sent me a bill or an invoice or did I actually officially retain him."  Hannity later said that he "might have handed him 10 bucks."

Big spender.  LOL.

    "Michael Cohen has never represented me in any matter. I never retained him, received an invoice, or paid legal fees. I have occasionally had brief discussions with him about legal questions about which I wanted his input and perspective.
    — Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) April 16, 2018"

Nothing quite like having friends in high places, is there?  LOL.

"The TV host has been a consistent backer of Trump, both on-air and off, and has repeatedly blasted Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. He has also frequently defended Cohen in the days since the FBI raided Cohen's home and office.  "As I have been warning, Mueller is out to get the president and it appears at any cost," Hannity said last Monday on his Fox News program, hours after news of the raid broke.  “Now keep in mind, Cohen was never part of the Trump administration, or the Trump campaign,” he said then. "This is now officially an all-hand-on-deck effort to malign, and if possible, impeach the president of the United States."

Jesus Christ.  Give me a break.  If there is no criminal activity, there will be no impeachment.  What are you so afraid of, Sean?  The truth?

"On the next evening's show, he slammed the FBI's raid as "an unprecedented abuse of power." The next day, he called it "highly questionable."  Until now, Hannity had not disclosed that he had a relationship with Cohen during his radio show or television program."

Why not?  Viewers had a right to know.

    "The @MichaelCohen212, executive VP to @realDonaldTrump joined me in studio today to discuss the #TrumpPhenomenon pic.twitter.com/reEaksFaX4
    — Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) August 10, 2015

"Ethics experts immediately questioned why he, or Fox News, hadn’t previously revealed the tie.  “Why doesn’t @FoxNews have a conflict of interest policy requiring Hannity to disclose his personal interest in the Cohen search when commenting on it?” tweeted Walter Shaub, the former director of the independent Office of Government Ethics."

That's right.  Good question.  Certainly, needs to be answered.

CBS News reports:

"President Donald Trump's personal attorney has been forced to reveal that one of his clients is Fox News host Sean Hannity, CBS News' Jeff Pegues confirmed Monday. Lawyers for Michael Cohen argued in court on Monday that they could not identify Hannity because he asked that his name not be disclosed in connection with an FBI seizure of Cohen's files. But Judge Kimba Wood made one of the lawyers identify him in open court.  After Wood demanded Cohen's team reveal the name of the client, an audible gasp went out in the courtroom when Hannity's name was announced, Pegues said."

Plot thickens.  CBS News reports:

"Fox News host Sean Hannity, who admitted Monday that he had sought legal advice from President Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen, also retained the services of two other Trump-connected lawyers, according to The Atlantic."

Fascinating, isn't it?  What the hell is going on here?

"The magazine reported on Tuesday that an Oklahoma radio station, KFAQ, received a cease-and-desist letter from Jay Sekulow and Victoria Toensing in May 2017. The two attorneys were operating on behalf of Hannity, and sent the letter in response to an accusation made against him on the station by Debbie Schlussel, a conservative activist."

Trouble in nazi 'paradise?'

"Sekulow is now Mr. Trump's personal lawyer for the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Toensing and her husband, Joseph diGenova, were set to join the president's team last month until Sekulow announced they were unavailable due to "conflicts." All three lawyers are regular guests on Hannity's Fox program."

What webs we weave.

"Schlussel claimed on an April 2017 KFAQ broadcast that Hannity had been "creepy" to her, and that he had invited her to his hotel room. Hannity publicly denied the allegations and said that he was considering his legal options."

Jesus Christ.  Couldn't be, could it?  LOL.

"This letter provides notice that Ms. Schlussel's statements are false and defamatory," said the letter to the station from Sekulow and Toensing, a copy of which was obtained by The Atlantic. "Continued publication will result in further exposure to liability because of continued harm to Mr. Hannity's impeccable reputation."

Think so?  LOL.  Bit full of himself, isn't he?

"E.W. Scripps, KFAQ's parent company, acknowledged to CBS News on Tuesday that the station had received the letter from Hannity's lawyers.  "We can confirm that KFAQ received a letter from Sean Hannity in May 2017 demanding retraction of the station's interview with Debbie Schlussel," Scripps said in a statement. "KFAQ and its parent company E.W. Scripps declined to retract any statements in the interview. We cannot provide a copy of the letter. The letter KFAQ received was not from Michael Cohen."

Stand up.  Stand tall.  Otherwise, this shit will never end.

"On Tuesday, Fox News released a statement saying that while the network "was unaware of Sean Hannity's informal relationship with Michael Cohen and was surprised by the announcement in court yesterday, we have reviewed the matter and spoken to Sean and he continues to have our full support."

Why not?  Conveniently, forget?  Fox has become no more than a mouthpiece for the Trump nazi.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-20-18

Think Trump's not desperate?  CBS News reports:

"That President Donald Trump has been running his own parallel communications shop inside the White House probably won't come as much of a surprise. A source told CBS News on Thursday that Mr. Trump called on Wednesday and asked the source to go on television -- to call for Mr. Trump to fire special counsel Robert Mueller.  Meanwhile, on Thursday afternoon, the president tweeted a message that took a more subdued tone than that of his cable news spinning allies: "I have agreed with the historically cooperative, disciplined approach that we have engaged in with Robert Mueller (Unlike the Clintons!). I have full confidence in Ty Cobb, my Special Counsel, and have been fully advised throughout each phase of this process."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-20-18

Trump's certainly not a happy camper vis a vis California.  The Washington Times reports:

"President Trump said Wednesday that California is going through a “revolution” regarding its sanctuary city policy."

Think so?  Isn't border security a federal responsibility?  Hasn't our national socialist governor here in Nazi Texas instructed us so?

"Gov. Jerry Brown, California Democrat, said last week that the National Guard would head to the border, but would not assist with anything regarding immigration enforcement."

Why should they?  Why cooperate with a lunatic, narcissistic, nazi fuhrer desperately emulating Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, circa 1933?

    "There is a Revolution going on in California. Soooo many Sanctuary areas want OUT of this ridiculous, crime infested & breeding concept. Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW!
    — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2018"

The president remains achingly psychotic.  Determinedly divorced from reality.  What 'revolution?'  Fortunately, none yet.  Hopefully, not ever.  Yet, there is an unmistakable rumble throughout our formerly great country.  Too deaf to hear it?  An unwanted dreaded second American revolution catastrophically looming.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-20-18

Never ends.  Corruption, abuse, waste.  The Washington Post reports:

"The $43,000 soundproof phone booth that Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt had installed in his office last year violated federal spending laws, the Government Accountability Office said Monday.  In an eight-page letter to lawmakers, GAO general counsel Thomas H. Armstrong said the agency failed to notify lawmakers that it was exceeding the $5,000 limit for agency heads to furnish, redecorate or otherwise make improvements to their offices. In addition, Armstrong wrote, the agency also violated the federal Antideficiency Act, “because EPA obligated appropriated funds in a manner specifically prohibited by law.”

The problem with this ruling is achingly simple.  No one will likely be criminally prosecuted.  Until this happens en masse, nothing changes.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-20-18

What webs we weave.  LOL.  The Washington Post reports:

"President Trump has promised a top Senate Republican that he will support congressional efforts to protect states that have legalized marijuana — defusing a months-long standoff between Sen. Cory Gardner and the administration over Justice Department nominees."

Think Trump doesn't need all the friends he can get?  LOL.

"In January, the Colorado Republican said he would block all DOJ nominations after Attorney General Jeff Sessions issued a memo that heightened the prospect of a federal marijuana crackdown in states that had legalized the substance. Gardner’s home state made recreational marijuana legal in 2014.  In a phone call late Wednesday, Trump told Gardner that despite the DOJ memo, the marijuana industry in Colorado will not be targeted, the senator said in a statement Friday. Satisfied, the first-term senator is now backing down from his nominee blockade.   “Since the campaign, President Trump has consistently supported states’ rights to decide for themselves how best to approach marijuana,” Gardner said Friday. “Late Wednesday, I received a commitment from the President that the Department of Justice’s rescission of the Cole memo will not impact Colorado’s legal marijuana industry.”

Trust the Trump nazi and his racist AG sidekick, the Sessions nazi?  LOL.

"He added: “Furthermore, President Trump has assured me that he will support a federalism-based legislative solution to fix this states’ rights issue once and for all. Because of these commitments, I have informed the Administration that I will be lifting my remaining holds on Department of Justice nominees.”

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-20-18

Nazism reigns in the Trump Regime.  CBS News reports:

"Immigrant advocates are outraged by a U.S. government decision to put on hold a program that helps tens of thousands of immigrants navigate the country's complex immigration court system. The $8 million-a-year program, which provides legal orientation to immigrants in deportation proceedings, is on hold pending review, according to the U.S. Department of Justice, which oversees immigration courts.  This move, which came to light this week, angered immigrant advocates, who called the assistance a lifeline for asylum seekers and other immigrants fighting deportation without lawyers.  "Every day this program is not in operation puts family unity at risk, harms our communities, and infringes on the right of all people to make informed decisions about their legal claims," the New York-based Vera Institute of Justice said in a news release."

... As clearly intended by the racist AG Sessions nazi, and his fuhrer, the Trump nazi.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-20-18

Fireworks.  NPR reports:

"An epic throw-down happened Thursday on Capitol Hill over the role of the federal government. The topic: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the agency created in the wake of the 2007-08 financial crisis.  On one side was the Trump administration's acting director, Mick Mulvaney, who believes the bureau's powers are excessive and unchecked. On the other was Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., who led the creation of the bureau to protect consumers from abuses by everything from big banks to student loan providers to fly-by-night loan sharks."

Think she didn't figuratively kick his ass?  Make him look like an idiot?

"In Thursday's hearing of the Senate banking committee, Warren faced off with Mulvaney.  "I want to take a look at what would have happened if you had gotten your wish and the CFPB had been abolished," she said. Since its creation, the bureau has returned a total of $12 billion to consumers by clawing back money from companies that cheated them. The people who benefited, Warren says, included seniors, students and active-duty military.  "Here's what you don't get, Mr. Mulvaney. This isn't about me. This is about about active-duty military. It's about first responders and students and seniors and families ... and millions of other people who need someone on their side when consumers get cheated," Warren said.  She added: "You are hurting real people to score cheap political points."

This fascist son of a bitch is doing this for one reason and one reason only.  To line the pockets of his corporate masters who in turn line his.

CBS News reports:

"Warren began her questioning by Mulvaney by saying that "mortgage lenders ripped off families" before the 2008 crisis that precipitated the CFPB's creation. She then noted that Mulvaney has repeatedly voted in favor of legislation that would have eliminated the CFPB, which he has called a "sick, sad" joke in the past.

    ".@MickMulvaneyOMB has been bringing up my name a lot lately when talking about the @CFPB. But what he doesn’t get is that this isn’t about me. It’s about the millions of Americans who want someone to go after the companies that cheated them. pic.twitter.com/FFNuxFU0rD
    — Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) April 12, 2018"

Doesn't matter to the Mulvaney nazi.  Forget?  He's bought and paid for.  How he lines his pockets, -- doing the will of his corporate masters.

"Mulvaney acknowledged that he had voted that way, prompting Warren to begin listing off the CFPB's successes. "In 2015, the CPBB went after CitiGroup for cheating its credit card customers," Warren told Mulvaney. "CFPB forced CitiGroup to return $700 million to people that it cheated. Now, if you had gotten your way, and the CPFB had been abolished in 2012, that $700 million would be in CitiGroup's bank accounts right now, instead of in the pockets of thousands of Americans, right?"

"Not necessarily," Mulvaney responded. "The Office of the Control of Currency also has jurisdiction over those actions and could have brought the same action."

"Oh, I see," Warren then said. "That could have brought the same actions. That's the same agency that didn't bring those actions before the crash of 2008 and that didn't bring this particular case. But, you know, let's not kid ourselves, let's not pretend that you hope that some other agency would do that work, Mr. Mulvaney."

Have to give her credit.  Certainly, stuck it to the clueless nazi son of a bitch.  Wasn't finished, though.  LOL.  Get this:

"Warren then produced a list of 11 bills that said would have made it "harder for states and other federal agencies to protect consumers and to hold cheaters accountable."  Her questioning then continued in the same fashion, with Warren touting actions that the CFPB had taken and Mulvaney saying that the same results could have been achieved without the Bureau. At one point, Warren noted that the CFPB shut down a company called Top Notch Funding that was defrauding 9/11 first responders with medical problems."

Couldn't happen, could it?  LOL.

"Mr. Mulvaney, if the CFPB had been abolished like you wanted, Top Notch Funding might still stealing from 9/11 first responders, right?" Warren asked.

"They might be," Mulvaney responded. "Or the [Federal Trade Commission] might have enforced the law…"

"Or some other agency might have magically intervened when they didn't," Warren shot back, interrupting Mulvaney.

"Why would it be more magic to have the [Federal Trade Commission] do it rather than the Bureau?" Mulvaney asked. "Because they have a history of not doing this," Warren responded."

More than met his match.  Precisely, what these nazi assholes desperately need.

In follow up to the above, think Republican nazis aren't not only anti-consumer but hopelessly racist? The Washington Post reports:

"The Senate on Wednesday voted to kill a five-year-old Obama administration policy warning auto lenders not to discriminate against minority borrowers.  The legislation, which passed 51 to 47 largely along party lines, is the latest Republican rebuke of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s history of aggressive tactics. Sen. Joe Manchin III (W.Va.) was the only Democrat to vote in favor of the measure.

"Democrats and consumer advocates cautioned that rescinding the CFPB guidance would encourage bad behavior in the more than $1 trillion auto finance market. “Many auto dealers are actively discriminating against people of color. This behavior is pervasive, and the CFPB’s guidance would help to end it,” said Karl Frisch, executive director of the consumer watchdog organization Allied Progress. “They may try to dress it up with political spin, but today the Senate endorsed discrimination.”

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-20-18

Standing up to injustice.  NBC reports:

"The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit challenging what it calls a pattern by President Donald Trump’s administration of detaining undocumented immigrants seeking to legalize their status based on marriages to U.S. citizens.  The proposed class action was filed late on Tuesday in federal court in Boston and alleges that immigration officials have been illegally separating families while a noncitizen spouse was seeking lawful immigration status.  “These actions are not only inhumane but they are unlawful,” Adriana Lafaille, a lawyer with the ACLU of Massachusetts, said at a press conference."

Don't Republicans claim to be the party of the family?  Are they anything more than liars?  In the mold of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-20-18

Resistance.  To insanity.  NBC reports:

"Kentucky’s new law banning a common procedure for second-trimester abortions was temporarily put on hold when a federal judge signed an order setting the stage for another courtroom battle between the state and the American Civil Liberties Union.  Under the joint consent order signed late Thursday, state officials agreed to take no action to enforce the law pending a ruling on the ACLU’s request for a preliminary injunction."

-- A fight against Republican nazis hellbent on forcing their outrageously perverse ideological and religious views on all.  ... In direct violation of the First Amendment Establishment Clause, church-state separation, that is, freedom from religion.

“This brings immediate relief to women across Kentucky who have had their appointments canceled and care delayed if not pushed entirely out of reach,” Andrew Beck, senior staff attorney for the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project, said Friday. “In the meantime, we’ll continue to fight this law and look forward to seeing the state in court.”

Nazism must be fought.  Tooth and nail.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-20-18

Is intent to commit a crime the same as committing a crime?  Think so?  Believe it ought to be?  How about having a criminal thought?  The following is a most interesting case that raises a myriad of such increasingly timely questions.  NPR reports:

"The Vermont Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that prosecutors did not have enough evidence to hold without bail a man accused of planning a mass shooting at a high school in February. The ruling may bolster renewed calls by the defense to dismiss the case."

Seatbelts on.  Carefully, consider the following:

"Jack Sawyer, 18, is accused of plotting a mass shooting at his former high school in Fair Haven, Vt. He was arrested on Feb. 15, just one day after a shooting at a Parkland, Fla., high school that left 17 people dead, and several others wounded. Now, Sawyer faces felony charges of attempted first-degree murder, attempted aggravated murder and attempted assault with a deadly weapon – crimes which carry a potential life sentence without the possibility of parole.  The case has fascinated legal experts who say it is forcing Vermont to grapple with the difficult issue of when intent to do something becomes an actual crime."

Where to draw the line?

"Prosecutors point to Sawyer's statements and actions as proof of his intent:

    *On the day of the Parkland tragedy, he allegedly sent Facebook messages to a friend saying he approved of the shooting and was planning to shoot up his own former high school.
    *There were also social media posts attributed to Sawyer, under the pseudonym Klebold — a reference to Dylan Klebold, one of the shooters in the deadly 1999 Columbine school shooting that reportedly fascinated Sawyer.
    *Prosecutors say Sawyer moved back to Vermont from a school for troubled teens in Maine and, in February, he bought a shotgun and ammunition, allegedly, to carry out his plan."

How about the following?  Get this:

"And then there's the 31-page diary Sawyer allegedly wrote titled, "Journal of an Active Shooter." An entry dated Dec. 1, 2017, references Fair Haven Union's School Resource Officer Scott Alkinburgh.

    "The biggest thing I'm trying to figure out right now is how can I get as far as I can into the shooting before cops bust me first and shoot me dead. I know that I'm going to have to take officer Scott out first, but what's the best way? I'm thinking that I'll go in a few days prior to scope things out and see if he can typically be found in his office. I'm intending to just blow his f****** head off before he can even draw his gun or think about what's happening, but I can only hope with that one. If he kills me first, all of this will be pointless since I won't make the impact and chaos I plan to create. I don't think it'll be too big of an issue figuring out though. Probably just shooting his head point blank is the best way to go."

Think all the above more than sufficient?  Think again.  Far more complicated than that legally.  Believe it ought to be?

"But long-time defense attorneys counter that Vermont sets a high bar when it comes to proving a crime was attempted.  "In Vermont in order to prove an attempt you have to prove intent to commit a particular crime and you have to prove that they took an overt act towards the commission of that crime," says attorney David Sleigh. "The crime also needs to be stopped or interfered with by some outside action."  Attorney Dan Sedon says proving intent is hard enough, but it becomes even harder when the case involves a teenager.  "Because teenagers are to some extent prone to dramatic statements and dramatic gestures," he says.  Neither attorney is involved in the case."

Interesting, isn't it?   Quite a conundrum, no?   Err in the direction of public safety, create a fascist police-state?  Or, err on the side of liberty and let someone go who eventually murders?  Impossible choice at first blush.  Gets tougher:

"Vermont Defender General Matthew Valerio, whose office is representing Sawyer in his criminal case, takes it a step further: "The bottom line is there likely wasn't even a crime here."  But Rutland County State's Attorney Rose Kennedy argued in court that had the state waited until Sawyer showed up at the school and began shooting, people would have died.  Administrators at Fair Haven Union High School say they're extremely disappointed with the court's ruling and have had to reassure parents that they've got adequate security in place."

More complicated than that, however:

"Vermont Superior Judge Thomas Zonay ruled last month that Sawyer's words and actions went beyond mere preparation and warranted continued incarceration without bail."

Think so?  What would you do had you been the judge?  Think this a no-brainer?  Think again:

"Defender General Valerio says he wasn't surprised to see Judge Zonay's ruling overturned by the state's Supreme Court.  "I can sit around all day with a list of the people I don't like and talk about the ways I'd like to hurt them and what I'd do if I had the chance," Valerio says. "But that's not a crime that's fantasy."  Sleigh agrees and applauds the high court's decision.  "They got the law exactly right and didn't give in to the temptation of abandoning 100 years of precedent to address a situation that's caused widespread panic," he says."

Ever get angry at someone?  Have a few thoughts you shouldn't have had?  Express a fantasy?  Big mistake in today's culture.  Your sorry ass could wind up in jail.  Especially, in a goddamned de facto fascist police-state quickly transforming to the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich.

"Sleigh believes had the court ruled otherwise it would have set a dangerous precedent.  "Where does this expansion stop when we have high publicity incidents that we don't want to see re-occur, and where does the intersection between preventing possible wrong bump up against the interference with someone's ability to think and speak?" Sleigh asks. "I think that's a serious concern and I think Vermont has distinguished itself over the years with a very high bar to prove attempts in these sorts of situations."  Sleigh and others say the Supreme Court's ruling effectively reverses Judge Zonay's earlier decision and makes a dismissal likely."

Draconian laws to protect the public against every possible negative outcome in life destroy liberty.  Truly want to go that route?  Franklin got it quite right.  Anyone willing to trade liberty for security deserves and winds up with neither.

"The court wrote in closing, "The Legislature is tasked with enacting such laws as the people of Vermont think necessary. This court is bound to apply the law in agreement with statute and this Court's own earlier decisions. The Legislature can, if it chooses, deviate from this long-established standard by passing a law revising the definition of attempt."

Jesus Christ.  Precisely, what happened over the decades.  Called bastardizing the Constitution.  Eviscerating the Bill of Rights for the sake of political expediency, ersatz 'security.'

"Vermont defense attorney Dan Sedon believes that's exactly what lawmakers need to do so the courts have another option, a charge that would fall between disorderly conduct and attempted murder."

Jesus Christ.  Same old shit.  Encroachment, evisceration of all civil and constitutional rights and liberties to consolidate government power, not provide security.  Always abused.  When will we ever learn?

"We ought to come up with something akin to 'you can't shout fire in a crowded theater' and 'you can't talk about shooting up schools,'" Sedon says. "There's no legitimate speech content there that's justified by the First Amendment."

Think not?  Carefully, consider the difference between both examples.  The former leads directly to injury as people stampede out.  The latter does not necessarily do the same if there is no immediate threat to commit the crime.  There is a difference.  Think if such a law is passed it won't be abused to prosecute someone merely for talking about such a crime?  Worse?  Fantasizing it?

Forget?  One thing to threaten.  Another to talk, think, fantasize about such a crime.  There is the danger of criminalizing free speech in direct violation of the First Amendment.  This right has already been abused by imposition of terroristic threat laws.  A gutless public doesn't seem to understand life is dangerous.  Can't protect everyone against every negative consequence of human behavior.  The attempt to do so eviscerates liberty.

Think novelists, comedians, reporters, editorial writers, bloggers, etc. won't be falsely targeted by their enemies?  Where do you draw the line?  This is yet another direct attempt to abrogate free speech rights as guarantied by the First Amendment.  We've become a gutless society desperately in search of 'protection.'  Land of the free?  Home of the brave?  Hell, no.  Land of the enslaved.  Home of the gutless.

"Other states, such as Minnesota and New Jersey, have enacted such laws involving terroristic threats and Sedon believes it may be time for Vermont to follow suit."

Truly believe this will prevent such atrocities?  Or, simply eviscerate liberty.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-20-18

Think our legislators live on the same planet as the rest of us?  Consider the following from the latest newsletter from Rep. Mike Conaway:

"Introducing the Next Farm Bill

"Rural America is hurting. Over the last five years, net farm income has been cut in half. Natural disasters and global markets distorted by predatory trade practices of foreign countries, including high and rising foreign subsidies, tariffs and non-tariff barriers, have resulted in huge production losses and chronically depressed prices that are today jeopardizing the future of America's farm and ranch families."

Guess who's making money, greedily lining their pockets?  Apparently, Conaway hasn't shopped at HEB lately.  The corporate management suite is certainly lining its pockets off the backs of farmers and ranchers.  To say nothing of huge conglomerates who never get enough.  Producers and consumers are taking it hard in the rump, -- without the Vaseline.  As usual, Conaway has his head figuratively securely lodged up his sorry, clueless ass.

"This week, I introduced the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2) – critical legislation to address the economic challenges facing the nation's farmers and ranchers, while making historic investments in opportunities for SNAP recipients."

Crock of shit:

"The farm bill keeps faith with our nation's farmers and ranchers through the current agriculture recession by providing certainty and helping producers manage the enormous risks that are inherent in agriculture. The farm bill also remains faithful to the American taxpayer and consumer. Under the farm bill, consumers will continue to enjoy the safest, most abundant and most affordable food supply in the world, and taxpayers will reap the more than $112 billion in budget savings projected under the current law."

Empty rhetoric. Alice In Wonderland.  Devoid of reality.

"Ensuring an affordable food supply is important to every citizen, but it is absolutely critical to the most vulnerable among us who struggle every week to put food on the table. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is reauthorized under the farm bill, is essential to helping many Americans feed themselves and their families."

In the process of being eviscerated for years by Republican nazis and clueless Democrats.

"The farm bill also keeps faith with these families by not only maintaining SNAP benefits but by offering SNAP beneficiaries a springboard out of poverty to a good paying job, and opportunity for a better way of life for themselves and their families."

Jesus Christ.  Boldfaced lie.  Patently, false.  Republicans refuse to force employers to pay a livable wage.  Won't share the wealth.  Democrats remain out to lunch since November 22, 1963.  Conaway, like all politicians, is an achingly delusional, self-serving liar:

"I'm excited to share our vision with the American people – and eager for people to see the details of a proposal that offers people real hope and promise.  I'm also looking forward to quickly moving this farm bill through the House and working with the Senate to deliver a farm bill to the president's desk that is on time, as the president has asked us to do."

Like his fuhrer, the Trump nazi, Conaway remains hopelessly psychotic.  Does not live on the same planet as the rest of us.

"Our nation's debt is growing at an alarming and unsustainable rate. I have been a staunch advocate for the Balanced Budget Amendment throughout my time in Congress, because I believe that the best way to get our nation back on track is to use the same technique as American families across the country: not spending more money than we take in."

Then, why the hell did Republicans pass tax legislation that's already skyrocketing the national debt?  Worse?  Tax breaks that remain permanent for the corporate management suite, temporary for individual filers?

"Thursday, the House of Representatives voted on H.J.Res. 2, proposing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Although the majority of the House of Representatives voted to pass this amendment by a vote of 233-184, it did not receive the two-thirds majority required to pass a Constitutional amendment.  Unfortunately, the majority of my Democrat colleagues do not share the concerns of Americans across our country and they would rather spend with abandon than make tough choices about what we can realistically afford as a nation. However, this will not stop Republicans from continuing to promote smart policies to get America's fiscal house in order. It's up to us to protect the America we know and love for future generations to come."

How?  By passing a permanent tax break package for the top of the food chain that is projected to lead to trillion dollar deficits?  Clearly, the Congressman's head figuratively remains so securely lodged up his ass it's clouded his vision, compromised his perception of reality.  Alice In Wonderland.

His achingly warped belief permanent tax breaks for the top of the food chain will lead to sustained growth that will reduce the deficit and national debt is wishful thinking.  Not sustainable.  Certainly, not been in the past when tried.  Point of diminishing returns always quickly reached.  Precisely, why the national debt continues to skyrocket.

To line the pockets of the top of the food chain, that is, the corporate management suite as well as the rich.  Does this off the backs of the middle class that no longer earns a livable wage.  Precisely, why this voodoo economics embraced by Republican nazis is not sustainable.  Worse?  Why an unwanted dreaded second American revolution catastrophically looms. Hear the rumble?  Nero fiddles, while Rome burns.

Why is it Republican nazis have no problem eviscerating social programs that benefit the bottom and middle class, yet continue to approve military spending that skyrockets the national debt?  Simple.  To line the pockets of their war-profiteering corporate masters, who in turn line theirs.  ... Right, Congressman?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-20-18

Trump nazi exercises pardon power.  NPR reports:

"President Trump took the extraordinary step Friday of overruling the judgment of his predecessor, George W. Bush, and granting a pardon to I. Lewis Libby Jr., who served as chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney.  Libby, known as "Scooter," was convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in 2007 in connection with the leak of a CIA officer's identity. Bush had commuted Libby's sentence but did not issue a full pardon."

For damned good reason.

"I don't know Mr. Libby, but for years, I have heard that he has been treated unfairly," Trump said in a statement from the White House. (Full statement below.) "Hopefully, this full pardon will help rectify a very sad portion of his life.'"

Our nazi fuhrer, as usual, has no clue what he's talking about.  Readers are reminded an undercover CIA agent, -- Valerie Plame was outed.  For no reason other than the sake of political expediency.

"The Libby pardon is only the latest twist in a story of spies, leaks, accusations of hidden motives and abuse of power. In pardoning Libby, Trump, who complains almost daily about leaks, put himself in the peculiar position of pardoning a man convicted of involvement in a national-security leak."

That's right.  Nothing quite like boldfaced hypocrisy, is there?  To say nothing of aching aggressive stupidity.

"There has been no indication that Trump had a particular interest in Libby's case until recently, when John Bolton, an ally of Cheney's, took over as national security adviser at the White House."

Fascinating, isn't it?

"Democrats reacted sharply to Trump's pardoning. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and California Rep. Adam Schiff, ranking member of the House intelligence committee, linked the pardoning to the Russia investigation. Pelosi said the pardon shows Trump is willing to pardon those who lie under oath — and that is a "threat" to the Mueller investigation "and to our democracy."

Precisely, why he did it.  Send a message to offenders and prosecutors alike.

"On the day the President wrongly attacks Comey for being a “leaker and liar” he considers pardoning a convicted leaker and liar, Scooter Libby. This is the President’s way of sending a message to those implicated in the Russia investigation: You have my back and I‘ll have yours.
    — Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) April 13, 2018"

No question.  Legalized obstruction of justice.  -- Trump does have the constitutional power to pardon, however.

"Asked about it at a briefing with reporters, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders disputed the notion that the president pardoned Libby to send a message in the Russia probe.  She called it the "right thing to do" and wouldn't comment further on why he did it because Trump doesn't know Libby."

Not-so-cleverly disingenuous, isn't it?

"Conservatives have long championed Libby's cause, but Bush, while commuting Libby's 2 1/2-year sentence, thus saving him from prison, refused to pardon him.  Pressed repeatedly by Cheney at the time of Libby's conviction, Bush asked a team of White House lawyers to examine the case. But when they concluded that the jury had substantial reason to convict, Bush told his vice president that he would not pardon Libby, prompting an angry Cheney to reply, "You are leaving a good man wounded upon the field of battle."  In his own book, Bush said he was taken aback by the harshness of the remark. "In eight years, I had never seen Dick like this, or even close to it. I worried that the friendship we had built was about to be severely tested."  Indeed, according to friends of both men, the relationship never was the same between the two men."

"The Tush's" problem was aggressive stupidity.  "Slick Dick" Cheney's?  Raw Nazism.

"In pardoning Libby, Trump has not done much concrete for Cheney's former chief of staff. Libby was disbarred after his conviction but reinstated in 2016. In some jurisdictions, a convicted felon also loses the right to vote, but in the District of Columbia and Maryland, felons can vote once they have served their time in prison.  A pardon grants forgiveness for a crime, not exoneration, but many see it as removing the stigma of a conviction.  Trump's pardon may send another message — that he is willing to use his pardon power to reward loyalists and to punish prosecutors he sees as running amok."

Precisely why, should Democrats retake the House later this year, the president will likely be impeached.  Would certainly tie him up the rest of his term, instantly making him a lame duck no matter the outcome.

"The saga that led up to Libby's conviction began in 2003 when Joseph Wilson, a former diplomat, wrote a New York Times op-ed column, contending that Cheney had deliberately ignored evidence showing that Iraq was not seeking to acquire material needed to build nuclear weapons.  Wilson's claim, undercutting the justification for waging war against Iraq, was based on material he gathered in Niger for the CIA.  To undercut Wilson's claim, administration officials told reporters that he had been sent on the fact-finding mission at the behest of his wife, Valerie Plame, who worked at the CIA.  Publication of that leak blew her cover, a potential federal crime. Libby was not charged with disclosing a CIA officer's identity, however. Nor was the man who actually did blow Plame's cover, former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage. But Armitage readily admitted his involvement to prosecutors and a grand jury."

What webs we weave.  Effectively ended the agent's career.  No one prosecuted for that crime.

"Libby, however, was convicted on four counts of obstruction of justice, lying to the FBI and lying to the grand jury. He maintained that the differences between his testimony and others was just a matter of a different recollection of events.  In all, eight witnesses, many of them high-ranking members of the Bush administration, contradicted Libby's testimony. And the judge in sentencing him called the evidence "overwhelming."  Bush, in examining the case afterward, was willing to save Libby from going to prison by commuting his sentence, but he was not willing to pardon him.  Plame said in a statement Friday afternoon that "Trump's pardon is not based on the truth," reiterating that Bush reviewed the facts and decided against a pardon."

Instead of doing the right thing and remaining out of the matter, the Trump nazi again made a jackass of himself.  For the sake of ersatz political expediency.  Again, offering proof positive of his egregious unfitness for office, sore lack of judgment.

"Fitzgerald, the prosecutor in the case, also said in a statement that Trump's decision to pardon Libby "purports to be premised on the notion that Libby was an innocent man convicted on the basis of inaccurate testimony caused by the prosecution. That is false. There was no impropriety in the preparation of any witness, and we did not tell witnesses what to say or withhold any information that should have been disclosed. Mr. Libby's conviction was based upon the testimony of multiple witnesses, including the grand jury testimony of Mr. Libby himself, as well as numerous documents."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Highly reminiscent of our outrageously bought and paid for judiciary, Llano County prosecutors, Sheriff Bill Blackburn and his criminal SS jackbooted bastards in black who continue to egregiously disgrace themselves and the badge, do as they please regardless of the law and Constitution, carefully consider the following.  It's appalling.  Runs against the grain of everything our formerly great country once stood for.  No longer.

We've lost ourselves.  No heart and soul.  The following?  Appalling.  NBC Universal reports:

"A video obtained by NBC News shows U.S. Border Patrol agents attempting to break international law by forcing an injured and mentally unstable man back into Mexico by falsely claiming that he is not in their custody, failing to identify him and assuming he is Mexican because "he looks like it."  U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) provided the video after a whistleblower first alerted NBC News to the existence of the footage. The anonymous videographer was ready to film the encounter because Mexican agents had identified the area as a place where American agents frequently tried to deport migrants covertly, according to a source close to the Mexican government."

If true, raw nazism.  Highly reminiscent of Nazi Germany circa 1933.

"The incident occurred at the U.S.-Mexico border in Calexico, California on March 27, 2017 and sparked a complaint by Mexican officials to CBP, which launched an investigation that ended with the agents being reprimanded, but ultimately keeping their jobs."

Couldn't be, could it?  Surprised?  Why?  Forget?  We live in a goddamned fascist police-state quickly transitioning to the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich.

"Under an agreement between the U.S. and Mexico, Mexican nationals must be properly repatriated through the Mexican consulate, a process that includes fingerprinting and confirming the person's identity. Only then can they be sent back across the border on foot or by other means.  If a migrant is not Mexican, such as the tens of thousands crossing from Central America each month, the migrant must be deported by plane back to his or her home country.  The identities of the persons in the video are unknown to NBC News and CBP is withholding their names for privacy reasons.  After being deterred by Mexican agents, as seen in the video, the U.S. border agents allowed the man to walk into traffic on the U.S. side of the border."

Jesus Christ.  This, now, the American Way?

"Later, and not captured on film, U.S. agents left the man in a park on the American side of the border and lost track of his whereabouts for nearly a month, NBC News has learned. A concerned citizen called the local police when she noticed the man's "erratic" behavior in the park and he was taken to a hospital for evaluation, according to a law enforcement source."

Again, this now, the American Way?

"On April 19, U.S. border agents encountered him again trying to enter the U.S. from Mexico. Only then was the man taken to be processed at the Mexican consulate, where it was determined he was in fact a Mexican national and had been arrested 16 times for illegal entry to the U.S. in Arizona, Texas and California, the law enforcement source said.  Without following the proper procedure, the agents had previously been unable to determine the man's identity, if he had a viable case for asylum or whether he had a criminal background.  The breach of protocol would have also allowed CBP to avoid cataloging the apprehension in the agency's database — numbers that President Donald Trump has sought to drive down under his administration to show the rewards of his tough stance on immigration."

Precisely, why nothing ever changes.

"In the video, our actions were not consistent with our normal procedures. Corrective action was taken to ensure all our agents understand their responsibilities of adhering to established processes, practices, and policies," said Assistant Chief Patrol Agent David S. Kim."

Think so?  Think the very same won't happen again?  Hasn't already?

"A spokesman for CBP said the footage captured is an "isolated incident."

Think so?

"But a recent survey by the American Immigration Council of 600 immigrants who were sent back to Mexico found that more than half of the respondents did not receive their repatriation documents and just as many were not asked if they feared returning home, the preliminary question for assessing asylum claims."

Imagine that.  Couldn't be, could it?

"The advocacy group's study also found that almost a quarter of the respondents reported being victims of abuse or aggression by U.S. immigration authorities."

Then again, what would one expect from a de facto fascist police-state soon to become the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich?

"In a recent high-profile case involving the deportation of a recipient of DACA, a federal program that has allowed children brought into the U.S. illegally by their parents to remain, Juan Manuel Montes, 23, claimed he was forcibly returned to Mexico by CBP agents in the middle of the night. Montes said in a lawsuit that he was told to keep walking until he found himself on the Mexican side of the border. Montes, who was later arrested for attempting to re-enter the U.S., has since dropped the lawsuit."

Fascinating, isn't it?

"Immigration attorneys say that agents failing to follow proper deportation protocol is not new to the Trump administration, but they fear these incidents could become more frequent as agents have been given more power to enforce immigration law against non-criminal migrants."

Jackbooted storm troopers.  Reminiscent of Hitler's Third Reich.  Circa 1933.  Worst?  Likely to come.  Unless we finally wake up.  Before too late.

"Attorneys have seen for years the denigration of legal protections for immigrants at the border when CBP fails to follow proper procedure, including turning away asylum seekers at the border and denying them the opportunity to seek protection and summarily deporting people without due process in clear violation of U.S. and international law," said Greg Chen, director of government relations for the American Immigration Lawyers Association."

Matters not to the Trump nazi and his henchmen.  As our formerly great country continues to deteriorate.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Amazing how short-sighted politicians remain, -- and hopelessly desperate.  The Washington Times reports:

"Some of the conservative movement’s biggest names urged President Trump Thursday to use NAFTA negotiations as a way to get around a Democratic filibuster and push through major cuts to government regulations."

Surprised?  Why?

"In a letter to the president, the conservatives urged him to tuck the REINS Act, which would give Congress a veto over any new major Executive Branch regulations, inside a newly negotiated North American Free Trade Agreement."

Precisely, why there is no longer any faith or trust in government.  Exactly, why our formerly great country continues to deteriorate, unwanted dreaded second American revolution catastrophically looms.

"Including it in NAFTA would allow Congress to pass the REINS Act on a majority vote, thanks to the fast-track trade negotiating powers Congress gave to the executive branch in 2015.  That would give Republicans a chance to circumvent Democrats, who have threatened to filibuster to block the REINS Act should it come up as a stand-alone bill."

Think when, not if, Democrats retake the Senate, they won't do precisely the same to stymie a Republican filibuster?

"The NAFTA tactic could prove enticing for Mr. Trump, who has repeatedly demanded the Senate scratch its filibuster rules, which have given Democrats a veto over much of the White House agenda."

Of course, the Trump nazi would find this tactic most appealing.  Why wouldn't he?  Has no ability to see, perceive anything beyond the tip of his nose.  Cares only about immediate here and now.  Perception to a nazi remains black and white.  No shades of gray.  No brilliant hues of color.

“We endorse this strategy,” the two dozen conservative leaders said in their letter to Mr. Trump. “Incorporating this package into NAFTA would allow you to submit it to the Senate under fast-track Trade Promotion Authority, protected from filibuster.”

At what price in the not-so-distant future?

"The REINS Act — whose full title is Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny — has been a major goal for pro-business Republicans.  It would give Congress a more direct say in any regulations the administrative state writes that would sap the economy."

At what price?  Health of the citizenry?  Damage to the environment that will cost far more to remedy in the long run?  Amazing how myopic the Nazi Right remains.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Amazing, isn't it?  -- How government determinedly, continually, figuratively shoots itself in the ass.  Yet, never seems to learn from this not-so-carefully engineered, appallingly ignorant, stupidly self-inflicted, hopelessly concerted ass f--king.  Without the Vaseline or KY.  Fox News reports:

"Three years after Chinese hackers stole security clearance files and other sensitive personal information of some 22 million U.S. federal employees, cyber-defenses at the Department of Interior, which hosted White House Office of Personnel Management (OPM) servers targeted in the theft, were still unable to detect “some of the most basic threats” inside Interior’s computer networks — including malware actively trying to make contact with Russia."

Outrageous, isn't it?  True national security issue the Trump nazi and his equally ignorant henchmen cluelessly ignore.  -- Must not be forgotten lining the pockets of the corporate management suite remains Job 1 to Trump and his people.  Precisely, why he's activating the National Guard to patrol the border before building "The Wall."  Has no time left to deal with true national security issues.

... Too busy f--king with the psychotically incomprehensible, nurturing insane narcissism, lining his pockets with emoluments, securely planted on the taxpayer tit to finance his continual trips to his Florida shangri-la., -- to take care of the nation's business.  List can go on and on.  Worse?  Day is night, night is day, and shit smells perversely sweet in Trump's achingly convoluted, increasingly psychotic world.

"In a 16-month examination of Interior’s ability to detect and respond to cyber-threats, evaluators from the department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) also discovered that Interior’s technicians simply did not implement a sweeping array of mandatory, government-wide defensive measures ordered up after the disastrous OPM hack, didn’t investigate blocked intrusion attempts, and left “multiple” compromised computers on their network “for months at a time,” according to a redacted OIG report issued in March."

Yet, the Trump nazi ignores this pressing national security threat in favor of psychotically forcing the issue on the trade deficit with China.  Stunning, isn't it?

Gets worse.  Get this:

"Ultra-sensitive security clearance files have since been moved to the Defense Department, but, among other things, the OIG report noted that:

- sensitive data at Interior could be taken out of the department’s networks “without detection.”

- network logs showed that a computer at the U.S. Geological Survey, an Interior bureau, was regularly trying to communicate with computers in Russia. The messages were blocked, but “the USGS facilities staff did not analyze the alerts.”

- dangerous or inappropriate behavior by network users — including  the downloading of pornography and watching pirated videos on Russian and Ukrainian websites — was not investigated.

- computers discovered to be infected with malware were scrubbed as soon as possible and put back into use—meaning little or no effort went into examining the scope and nature of any such threats to the broader network. This happened, the OIG team noted, with one intruder they discovered themselves.

- simulated intrusions or ransomware attacks created by the examiners were carried out with increasing blatancy without a response—in the case of ransomware, for nearly a month

- After the devastating OPM hack, which was discovered in April 2015, the department didn’t even publish a lessons-learned plan for its staffers based on the disaster. The OIG inspectors reported that Interior started to draft an “incident response plan” that month to deal with future intrusions, but “did not publish it until August 2017”— two months after the OIG team had finished their lengthy fieldwork.

- Distressingly, the report also notes that the department’s cybersecurity operations team was not privy to a list of Interior’s so-called “high-value IT assets” prepared by the Chief Information Officer, “due to its sensitive nature.”

"In other words, the people tasked with protecting Interior’s most important information sites were not told what they were."

Fascinating, isn't it?  Consider the source of the above material.  What's usually a mouthpiece for the Trump regime, Fox News.  Worse?  The above just scratches the surface of the article.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Think the above disturbing?  Gets worse.  NPR reports:

"The Department of Homeland Security says it has seen activity in Washington, D.C., of what appear to be rogue surveillance devices that could be used to hijack cellphones, listen to calls and read texts."

Surprise, surprise.  Law enforcement is already using these devices.  With no warrant.  No court order.  Comes as a surprise some foreign entity may be doing the same?

"But it says it's not able to actually track down where they are, because that would require more funding."

Jesus Christ.  Give me a break.  LOL.  Never ends.

"It's not clear who is deploying the unauthorized devices, which are known as IMSI catchers or Stingrays and may legally be sold only to public safety and law enforcement officials. The agency has previously warned that the devices could be used by hackers, criminals and spies to gather information."

The far greater threat remains unbridled law enforcement which routinely uses these devices with no warrant against innocent American citizens.

"This is believed to be the first time the U.S. government has publicly acknowledged the devices in Washington, according to The Associated Press."

Jesus Christ.  Again, give me a break.  Why isn't this government reining in its criminal jackbooted bastards in blue, right, Sheriff?

"In response to a query from Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, DHS said that it has "observed anomalous activity in the National Capital Region (NCR) that appears to be consistent with International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) catchers."  The agency added that it believes "the malicious use of IMSI catchers is a real and growing risk." Wyden wrote to DHS in November asking for information about the use of IMSI catchers by foreign intelligence agencies."

Far more important question?  Why aren't cell providers protecting us against warrantless theft of data by the criminal jackbooted bastards in blue, right, Sheriff?

"The devices, which can be as small as a suitcase, work by mimicking actual cell towers."

Why hasn't this problem been solved?  Why aren't providers protecting us against both the criminal jackbooted bastards in blue as well as others accessing, stealing data with no warrant, no court order?

"IMSI catchers trick cellphones into thinking they're connected, as normal, to a network like Verizon or AT&T. But the devices hijack the phone's signal, and in some cases, intercept the contents of calls and texts. The IMSI catchers take advantage of a vulnerability built into the system. Phones using 3G or 4G technology can authenticate cell towers, but phones on older 2G systems cannot tell between real and fake towers."  DHS also said that it was "aware of anomalous activity" outside of D.C. that "appears to be consistent with IMSI catchers," though it isn't able to pinpoint the activity to "specific entities or devices." The letter also stated that the "use of IMSI catchers by foreign governments may threaten U.S. national and economic security."

So does egregiously out of control law enforcement.  ... Right, Sheriff?

"It's not clear that anything has been done about this, aside from DHS reporting its findings to "federal partners."

Come as a surprise?  Especially, when law enforcement is doing precisely the same?  Stealing data, no warrant.  No authorization.  Nothing.

"DHS told Wyden that it is "not aware of any current DHS technical capability to detect IMSI catchers." That would require more funding, it said."

Think so?  Wake up.  You're being f--ked over.  Bamboozled.  Lied to.  Get this:

"But companies who make the devices have for years been putting out maps that suggest a significant presence of the surveillance equipment in Washington.  For example, as Carol reported, a marketing executive from the company CryptoPhone drove around Washington looking for IMSI catchers in 2014 – and he says he found 18 in less than two days."

Hear the rumble?  That deaf?  An unwanted dreaded second American revolution catastrophically looming.

"That map, released by The Washington Post, showed areas of surveillance clustered around government buildings such as the Capitol and the White House. It's worth noting that "some security experts are skeptical that the CryptoPhone can pinpoint with accuracy the location of the IMSI catchers," Carol reported.  According to the AP, "the Federal Communications Commission, which regulates the nation's airwaves, formed a task force on the subject four years ago, but it never produced a report and no longer meets regularly."  Wyden said in a statement that the FCC has not held phone companies accountable "despite repeated warnings and clear evidence that our phone networks are being exploited by foreign governments and hackers."

Worse than that?  The exigent threat to life, liberty, all civil and constitutional rights and liberties infringed by the criminal jackbooted bastards in blue who are accessing this data with no warrant, no court order, nothing but their own authority.  The greatest threat to national security resides in no foreign power, no terrorist organization, not even the criminal element.  Resides in government.  All levels and branches.  Wake up.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Consider the following.  Think lawmakers don't remain determinedly, hopelessly clueless?  The Washington Post reports:

"The Kentucky legislature passed a sweeping tax overhaul this week, and now lawmakers are asking Gov. Matt Bevin to sign a bill that would slash taxes for some corporations and wealthy individuals while raising them on 95 percent of state residents, according to a new analysis."

This continues?  Think it couldn't trigger the unthinkable?

"The proposal arrives on the Republican governor's desk at a charged moment in Kentucky politics: The bill flew through the legislature on short notice, and thousands of teachers went to the State Capitol building earlier this week to protest cuts to their pension system."

As usual, the bottom and middle class are royally looted to line bottomless pockets at the top of the food chain.  Unsustainable.  Could eventually trigger the unthinkable, unwanted.

"Bevin's position on the tax overhaul, Kentucky's biggest in more than a decade, remains unknown. He said in a statement that the bill and the state budget, which was also passed by the legislature and is awaiting his signature, may not be “fiscally responsible.” Bevin has until April 13 to sign or veto the bill or send it back to the legislature with modifications.  The plan would flatten Kentucky's corporate and personal income-tax rates, setting both at 5 percent. Currently, Kentucky's corporate tax rate runs between 4 and 6 percent, while its income-tax rate ranges from 2 to 6 percent. The new flat rate of 5 percent for everyone means that small companies and Kentuckians with below-average incomes will face tax hikes, and higher earners will get tax cuts."

Not sustainable.  Especially, as our formerly great country continues to deteriorate, split apart at the seams.

"The bill attempts to make up for those cuts by nearly doubling the cigarette tax and imposing sales taxes on 17 additional services, including landscaping, janitorial work, golf courses and pet grooming. The state's nonpartisan legislative staff estimated the plan will, on net, raise money, although other experts are skeptical."

Stupidly passing the buck.  Think the bottom and middle class don't know they're being fleeced?

"Residents of Kentucky, like everyone else in the country, are also affected by the federal GOP tax law passed in December. The Kentucky plan shares some characteristics of that overhaul, including the proposal to lower taxes faced by some businesses. But in contrast with the congressional GOP effort, Kentucky Republicans are aiming to avoid dramatically increasing the deficit.  That is one reason the Kentucky plan includes an expansion of the sales tax, which is expected to hit most state residents. Overall, the plan would give an average $7,000 tax cut to the richest 1 percent of Kentuckians, who average more than $1 million of annual income, according to a report released Wednesday by the nonpartisan Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. But 95 percent of the state's taxpayers would see a tax increase, and those earning between $55,000 and $92,000 a year would face the largest tax increases — about $213 a year, the analysis found."

Voodoo economics.  Just like the Trump tax cuts, which remain temporary for individuals, permanent for corporations.  Also, skyrocket the national debt.  -- Which the Trump nazi is concertedly taking advantage of to fill the swamp, not drain it.  LOL.

"Meanwhile, someone earning $8 million a year — such as John Calipari, the head coach of the University of Kentucky men's basketball team — would receive a tax cut of close to $80,000 a year, said Jason Bailey, the executive director of the center. As a share of their income, the poorest Kentucky residents would face the biggest tax hikes, in part because of the increase in the cigarette tax, according to Bailey."

Do these achingly ignorant, Aryan arrogant, hopelessly greedy bastards truly believe this ass-f--king sustainable?  Won't eventually spark the unthinkable?  An unwanted dreaded second American revolution catastrophically looming.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

The bullshit and deception never end.  Get this.  The Washington Post reports:

"Immigration and Customs Enforcement appears to have ignored a directive from Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to prevent the deportation of noncitizen troops and veterans, seeking to remove a Chinese immigrant despite laws that allow veterans with honorable service to naturalize, court filings show."

Come as a surprise?  Apparently, the criminal jackbooted bastards in ICE answer only to their fuhrer, the Trump nazi.

"Xilong Zhu, 27, who came from China in 2009 to attend college in the United States, enlisted in the Army and was caught in an immigration dragnet involving a fake university set up by the Department of Homeland Security to catch brokers of fraudulent student visas.  Zhu paid tuition to the University of Northern New Jersey, created by DHS to appear as a real school, long enough to ship to basic training using the legal status gained from a student visa issued to attend that school.  Then ICE found him and asked the Army to release him for alleged visa fraud. He left Fort Benning, Ga., on Nov. 16, 2016, in handcuffs as an honorably discharged veteran. He was detained for three weeks and released."

How about that?  Kangaroo justice, -- alive and well in Nazi America.

"Zhu is waiting for a Seattle judge’s ruling on his removal proceedings, which are based on allegations by ICE that he failed to attend classes in violation of his student visa. His attorney says his client is a victim of federal entrapment."

You think?    -- Nothing this government says and does can be trusted any longer.  Nothing at all.  Jackbooted bastards lie like hell.  With impunity.

"Zhu’s case comes amid Trump administration pressure on immigration judges to speed up deportation proceedings in an apparent move to adjudicate more removals, aligning with President Trump’s stated goals.  But it also comes after Mattis said he would protect certain immigrant recruits who enlist through a program designed to trade fast-tracked citizenship for medical and language skills. Those assurances followed sustained controversy over how the Pentagon has exposed more than a thousand foreign-born recruits to deportation. A background-screening logjam began in late 2016 when fears of insider threats slowed clearances to a glacial pace."

Do this to a military veteran who's served honorably?  You're a piece of shit.

“Anyone with an honorable discharge … will not be subject to any kind of deportation,” Mattis told reporters at the Pentagon in February, describing exceptions for those who commit a “serious felony” and anyone who has been authorized for deportation in an agreement he said was made with DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.  Zhu’s attorney, retired Army officer Margaret Stock, told The Washington Post those exceptions do not apply to him.  DHS referred questions to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Spokesman Jonathan Withington declined to comment, citing the pending litigation. ICE declined to provide a comment attributable by name.  But through court documents, ICE has interpreted the Mattis directive applies to a narrow group of foreign recruits that exclude Zhu. It’s unclear whether ICE consulted with the Pentagon on the subject, or if the agency has moved to deport other immigrant recruits since Mattis spoke in February."

Gets worse:

"Zhu graduated from basic training on June 9, 2016, and was handed over to ICE custody months later, after the Army lost a battle to retain him, Stock said. Zhu was included in a group of “holdovers,” an Army term he disdains that refers to soldiers who fail training.  That wasn’t him.  “It made me nauseous to be lumped into that group,” he told The Post."

From all accounts, this man was a good soldier.  An asset to the military.

"How Zhu got in his predicament is a strange, bureaucratic odyssey after he graduated from Beloit College in Wisconsin in 2013. He wanted to become a U.S. citizen, so he decided to enlist through the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI) program that his father in China had read about. It trades expedited citizenship for language and medical skills in short supply among U.S.-born recruits.  The program was designed by Stock and implemented in 2009, with more than 10,000 troops rotating through since then.  But it was temporarily shelved at the time Zhu tried to enlist in 2013, so he needed a way to keep his status. U.S. Quickly, a company that provides education consultation to immigrants, told him that the University of Northern New Jersey was approved by DHS to authorize curricular practical training, a type of school credit for his work at Apple as a customer support technician.  DHS certified his studies, and he paid the university $8,000. He took his new I-20 form as proof of lawful status to obtain a driver’s license, Stock said, all while the sting operation fooled students. As part of Operation Triple Lindy, undercover agents posed as university administrators, and the school website promised “an exceptional educational experience.”

Duplicity, treachery of the highest order.

"U.S. Quickly did not return a request for comment."

Imagine that.  Couldn't be, could it?

“Nobody knew the school was fake,” Stock said, including Zhu, who said it would be “suicide” to knowingly attend a fake school given that he would soon be screened by government agencies, including DHS. Stock said DHS never reimbursed the $8,000 Zhu paid the fake school.  A class-action lawsuit of students alleging entrapment was dismissed in October because ICE had not determined whether it was taking further action.  USCIS has delayed Zhu’s open naturalization request, Stock said. On Tuesday, she filed a suit against DHS with the U.S. District Court in Washington state to force a decision."

Good to see someone's fighting for this guy.

"Zhu was released after seven months of service, according to court documents obtained by The Post. His driver’s license from Washington state has “veteran” printed on it.  His status should mean that he can proceed with citizenship. Laws in place since World War I say noncitizens who leave the military under “honorable conditions” are eligible for naturalization.  But ICE disputes the circumstances.  Jordan L. Jones, an ICE assistant chief counsel, said in a Seattle federal immigration court filing on March 29 that Mattis was actually referring only to recruits who came to the country illegally as children and enlisted later through DACA as those who are protected.  Zhu is removable “despite his honorable discharge,” Jones wrote, adding the judge, John F. Walsh, cannot dismiss proceedings."

Jesus Christ.  Raw nazism.  Highly reminiscent, Nazi Germany, circa 1933.  Kangaroo justice.  Trump nazi's Fourth Reich.

"Stock said Mattis could not have meant only DACA recipients because they overwhelmingly naturalize in the military and are only a small portion of foreign recruits who enlist.  “They’re ignoring what Mattis said,” Stock said.  When asked to clarify Mattis’s remarks, Pentagon spokesman Maj. David Eastburn referred to the February statement. Mattis previously said he wants to preserve the MAVNI program.  Zhu, a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese, could have proved useful in uniform as the U.S. military focuses on countering an increasingly aggressive China and Russia.  Instead, deportation looms, including threats from Zhu’s former homeland.  A former State Department official told The Post in July that Chinese-born U.S. military recruits who are deported to their native land may face harsh confinement and interrogation."

Why would anyone in their right mind wish to migrate here?  This man, while not yet an American citizen, is an American patriot.  Needs to be protected.  Think not?  Wake up:

"If deported, Zhu would probably return to his home town in Chongqing. It features an unusual memorial for a communist nation: a bust of Army Gen. Joseph Stilwell, who commanded U.S. and Chinese forces from the city during World War II. A library named after President Franklin D. Roosevelt is also there, Zhu said.  But the city also brims with hostility toward the United States.  Zhu said that after he graduated in 2013, local authorities investigated allegations of corruption involving his father, a businessman. They obtained his phone and viewed instant messages in which he and his son discussed Zhu’s future military service. The authorities were suspicious and called his son unpatriotic, then let him go without charges after 48 hours, Zhu said.  The episode rattled his father.  “If you get a chance,” he told his son, “don’t ever think about coming back.”

We've lost our country.  Certainly, no longer a democratic republic.  Land of the free?  Home of the brave?  Wake up.  Land of the enslaved.  Home of the gutless.  Trump's Fourth Reich.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Amazing how politicians line their pockets, isn't it?  ... Then call it something else other than what it is.  CNN reports:

"The House Ethics Committee has extended its investigation into whether Tennessee Republican Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. misused $100,000 from campaign and leadership PAC funds on personal expenses -- including baby showers and wedding showers at a country club -- as detailed in a new report made public Wednesday.  The 57-page report from the Office of Congressional Ethics, a nonpartisan ethics entity, recommended that the committee conduct further review of Duncan and his family's use of campaign funds for their own vacations and expenses.  Duncan, the longest-serving Tennessean in Congress, announced last year he will not seek reelection for his seat."

Wonder why?

"Duncan denied the accusations, saying in a statement that he has "never personally taken one penny out of my campaign account for personal or family expenses."

That right?

"The staffer for the OCE prepared a report on my campaign spending that is so false and misleading that it is almost ludicrous," his statement added. "She has made a ridiculous accusation that I 'may' have converted a very large amount of money to my personal use when practically all of it was spent buying meals for campaign workers, supporters, contributors, and constituents, many of whom I did not even know."

Think so?  Consider the following:

"The report says that Duncan spent $24,903.93 in personal travel, including one trip that cost $15,091 in December 2014 to Greenbrier Resort with "family and friends," some of whom were campaign supporters -- the same resort where the House and Senate GOP held their retreat this year.  The report also revealed that since 2008, Duncan's campaign committee has spent $11,917.32 on membership dues for a social club in Knoxville and $11,996.48 on private parties at the social club that may not have been political events.  The report also found that the club billed Duncan $11,996.48 for events at the club that weren't political events, including $6,310.41 for bridal showers and engagement parties, $3,172.19 for baby showers, and $2,483.88 for other celebratory dinners."

Get this:

"When asked about the baby showers, Duncan told the OCE that his wife Lynn organized some baby showers, wedding showers, and other events "for various women who had supported us in campaigns, which I always thought that was a good thing to do because ... I relied on my wife to help me with women."

Bet he did.  ... Nothing quite like lining their pockets and yours, is there?

"Lynn Duncan told the OCE that she would usually distribute gifts to "people that've helped in political campaigns over the years. And, everything. And if it's somebody that's been very active for us, then I say yes."

Jesus Christ.  How about that?  One hand washes the other, no?

"The committee said in the it plans to continue investigating the matter. With the Ethics Committee's extension of the probe into his spending, it's likely he won't be in office anymore when the investigation concludes.  "The Board finds that there is substantial reason to believe that Rep. Duncan's campaign committee and leadership PAC expended funds that were not attributable to bona fide campaign or political purposes," the report said. "Accordingly, the Board recommends that the Committee on Ethics further review the above allegation that Rep. Duncan converted campaign funds from the campaign committee or the leadership PAC to personal use in violation of House rules, standards of conduct, and federal law."

If indeed the case, prosecute his sorry ass.  What will it take to end this shit?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Amazing how the high and mighty expect and demand special treatment.  CBS News reports:

"Several weeks after taking the helm of the Environmental Protection Agency, Administrator Scott Pruitt was running late and stuck in Washington, D.C., traffic. Sources tell CBS News that he wanted to use his vehicle's lights and sirens to get to his official appointment, but the lead agent in charge of his security detail advised him that sirens were to be used only in emergencies.   Less than two weeks later that agent was removed from Pruitt's detail, reassigned to a new job within the EPA."

Fascinating, isn't it? Coincidence?

"Special Agent Eric Weese, a 16-year veteran of the EPA, was replaced by Pasquale "Nino" Perotta. Perrotta now leads Pruitt's unprecedented 24-hour Protective Service Detail, which determined that Pruitt needed to fly in first class because of "specific, ongoing threats associated with the Administrator's air travel." The security detail, "shifted his class based on certain security protocols that require him to be near the front of the plane," the EPA wrote in a letter last month."

Like luxuries and perqs of first class?

Get this.  Read it carefully:

"Pruitt's lavish travel, which totals more than $182,000, according to the Environmental Integrity Project, has included first class domestic and international flights for him and his security detail, private charters and a military jet. Reports on his expensive travel arrangements began a torrent of negative headlines over the past several months that peaked over the last week with stories examining his housing arrangements and very generous raises for two of his staffers. The bad publicity has cast an ethical cloud over the EPA administrator that's put him in danger of being the next casualty in the Trump Cabinet."

Called lining your pockets off the taxpayer dime.  Firmly planted on the taxpayer tit.  Milking it for all its worth.

"I can't make any statements about the future of Scott Pruitt," White House spokesman Hogan Gidley told Fox News Thursday."

That right?

"In a statement, EPA chief of staff Ryan Jackson told CBS News, "We have no knowledge of anyone being removed from the detail for not using lights and sirens."  Asked why Weese was removed, an EPA spokesman said "We do not comment on personnel matters within EPA's protective service detail."

Couldn't be a congenital liar like his fuhrer, the Trump nazi, could he?

"Recently however, two Democratic senators wrote a letter to the EPA asking, "Under what circumstances did the prior Special Agent in Charge leave?"  Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Tom Carper also said in the letter that they want to know why Perrotta and one of his business partners received an EPA security contract. Perrotta, they noted, citing the Associated Press, runs a side business called the Sequoia Security Group. His business partner, Edwin Steinmetz, who runs another security company, was awarded a $3,000 contract to sweep Pruitt's office for bugs. "Two other contracts," both under the $3,500 threshold for public reporting, "were given for the purchase of biometric locks."

Nothing quite like kickbacks are there?  Ever wonder why our formerly great country is in such great debt?  Certainly, not from the peasants being paid a livable wage.

"These facts raise questions about Mr. Perrotta's compliance with EPA regulations and concerns that he may have used his position at the agency to influence the award of EPA contracts to a person or company in which he has a financial interest," the Senators wrote."

You think?

"Perrotta did not immediately respond to a request for comment."

What the f--k could he say to justify the unjustifiable?

"Steinmetz told CBS News he can't confirm or deny any clients, but said, "We are under the required bid limit so they got a fantastic price. No one received a kickback for the service."

Believe it?

In another article, CBS News reports:

"Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt's concern with his safety came at a steep cost to taxpayers as his swollen security detail blew through overtime budgets and at times diverted officers away from investigating environmental crimes.  Altogether, the agency spent millions of dollars for a 20-member full-time detail that is more than three times the size of his predecessor's part-time security contingent.  New details in Pruitt's expansive spending for security and travel emerged from agency sources and documents reviewed by The Associated Press. They come as the embattled EPA leader fends off allegations of profligate spending and ethical missteps that have imperiled his job.  Shortly after arriving in Washington, Pruitt demoted the career staff member heading his security detail and replaced him with EPA Senior Special Agent Pasquale "Nino" Perrotta, a former Secret Service agent who operates a private security company.  An EPA official with direct knowledge of Pruitt's security spending says Perrotta oversaw a rapid expansion of the EPA chief's security detail to accommodate guarding him day and night, even on family vacations and when Pruitt was home in Oklahoma. The EPA official spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.  Perrotta also signed off on new procedures that let Pruitt fly first-class on commercial airliners, with the security chief typically sitting next to him with other security staff farther back in the plane. Pruitt's premium status gave him and his security chief access to VIP airport lounges."

This nazi son of a bitch is clearly lining his pockets off the taxpayer dime.  Firmly planted on the taxpayer tit.

"The EPA official said there are legitimate concerns about Pruitt's safety, given public opposition to his rollbacks of anti-pollution measures."

Give me a break.  Think the citizenry is happy with his endless personal spending at taxpayer expense?  Get this:

"But Pruitt's ambitious domestic and international travel led to rapidly escalating costs, with the security detail racking up so much overtime that many hit annual salary caps of about $160,000. The demands of providing 24-hour coverage even meant taking some investigators away from field work, such as when Pruitt traveled to California for a family vacation.  The EPA official said total security costs approached $3 million when pay is added to travel expenses."

Think someone's not lying?  Get this:

"EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox said late Friday that Pruitt has faced an "unprecedented" amount of death threats against him and his family.  "Americans should all agree that members of the president's cabinet should be kept safe from these violent threats," Wilcox told the AP.  A nationwide search of state and federal court records by AP found no case where anyone has been arrested or charged with threatening Pruitt. EPA's press office did not respond Friday to provide details of any specific threats or arrests."

Imagine that.  Couldn't be a congenital liar like his fuhrer, could he?

"Pruitt has said his use of first-class airfare was initiated following unpleasant interactions with other travelers. In one incident, someone yelled a profanity as he walked through the airport."

Tough shit.  Called free speech.  F--k the nazi.

"The EPA administrator has come under intense scrutiny for ethics issues and outsized spending. Among the concerns: massive raises for two of closest aides and his rental of a Capitol Hill condo tied to a lobbyist who represents fossil fuel clients.  At least three congressional Republicans and a chorus of Democrats have called for Pruitt's ouster. But President Donald Trump is so far standing by him.  A review of Pruitt's ethical conduct by White House officials is underway, adding to probes by congressional oversight committees and EPA's inspector general.  Pruitt, 49, was closely aligned with the oil and gas industry as Oklahoma's state attorney general before being tapped by Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump has praised Pruitt's relentless efforts to scrap, delay or rewrite Obama-era environmental regulations. He also has championed budget cuts and staff reductions at the agency so deep that even Republican budget hawks in Congress refused to implement them."

Lining his pockets and those of his closest staff off the taxpayer dime.

"EPA's press office has refused to disclose the cost of Pruitt's security or the size of his protective detail, saying doing so could imperil his personal safety."

Bullshit.  The taxpayers are entitled to how much he's looting the public.

"But other sources within EPA and documents released through public information requests help provide a window into the ballooning costs. In his first three months in office, before pricey overseas trips to Italy and Morocco, the price tag for Pruitt's security detail hit more than $832,000, according to EPA documents released through a public information request.  Nearly three dozen EPA security and law enforcement agents were assigned to Pruitt, according to a summary of six weeks of weekly schedules obtained by Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island.  Those schedules show multiple EPA security agents accompanied Pruitt on a family vacation to California that featured a day at Disneyland and a New Year's Day football game where his home state Oklahoma Sooners were playing in the Rose Bowl. Multiple agents also accompanied Pruitt to a baseball game at the University of Kentucky and at his house outside Tulsa, during which no official EPA events were scheduled."

Gets worse:

"On weekend trips home for Sooners football games, when taxpayers weren't paying for his ticket, the EPA official said Pruitt flew coach. He sometimes used a companion pass obtained with frequent flyer miles accumulated by Ken Wagner, a former law partner whom Pruitt hired as a senior adviser at EPA at a salary of more than $172,000. Taxpayers still covered the airfare for the administrator's security detail.  Pruitt's predecessor, Gina McCarthy, also had a security detail. But it numbered about a half dozen, less than a third the size of Pruitt's. She flew coach and was not accompanied by security during her off hours, like on weekend trips home to Boston.  Pruitt was accompanied by nine aides and a security detail during a trip to Italy in June that cost more than $120,000. He visited the U.S. Embassy in Rome and took a private tour of the Vatican before briefly attending a meeting of G-7 environmental ministers in Bologna."

A junket.

"Private Italian security guards hired by Perrotta helped arrange an expansive motorcade for Pruitt and his entourage, according to the EPA official with direct knowledge of the trip. The source described the Italian additions as personal friends of Perrotta, who joined Pruitt and his EPA staff for an hours-long dinner at an upscale restaurant.  Perrotta's biography, on the website of his company, Sequoia Security Group, says that during his earlier stint with the Secret Service he worked with the Guardia di Finanza, the Italian finance police."

That's not all:

"The EPA spent nearly $9,000 last year on increased counter-surveillance precautions for Pruitt, including hiring a private contractor to sweep his office for hidden listening devices and installing sophisticated biometric locks for the doors. The payment for the bug sweep went to a vice president at Perrotta's security company.  The EPA official who spoke to AP said Perrotta also arranged the installation of a $43,000 soundproof phone booth for Pruitt's office.  At least five EPA officials were placed on leave, reassigned or demoted after pushing back against spending requests such as a $100,000-a-month private jet membership, a bulletproof vehicle and $70,000 for furniture such as a bulletproof desk for the armed security officer always stationed inside the administrator's office suite.  Those purchases were not approved. But Pruitt got an ornate refurbished desk comparable in grandeur to the one in the Oval Office.  Among the officials who faced consequences for resisting such spending was EPA Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Kevin Chmielewski, a former Trump campaign staffer who was placed on unpaid administrative leave this year."

All this deserves criminal investigation.  Think there's a snowball's chance?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Amazing how Republican nazis accuse worthless Democrats of bastardizing the news, i.e. 'fake news.'  Then, hypocritically do worse.  Far worse.  LOL.  The Washington Post reports:

"First Sinclair Broadcast Group got lacerated by the public and other news organizations for its controversial promotional campaign. Now some political candidates are joining in."

You think?  Couldn't be, could it?  LOL.

"The company is facing calls by Democrats to withdraw campaign ads from Sinclair-owned TV stations in response to the promotions, in which Sinclair ordered its journalists to read from a corporate script about “fake news.”

Amusingly, all bullshit.  Yet, journalists gutlessly read what they were forced to read.  Instead of standing up to their masters.

"Maryland businessman David Trone, a congressional candidate from Montgomery County, was the latest to pledge not to run commercials on the four Sinclair stations in the Baltimore and Washington areas. Thus far, only two others have made that pledge, but it could signal the start of a larger national boycott by Democratic politicians."

Democrats finally willing to stand up to the Trump nazi and his shills?  Couldn't be, could it?

"Sinclair, headquartered near Baltimore, required TV anchors at its stations around the country to appear in the promotional spots, with each reading from an identical script written by company executives. While the script wasn’t explicitly political, it echoed language used by President Trump in disparaging the news media."

Nearly word for word.  Took their cue from the Trump nazi who clearly owns their ass.  Jesus Christ.  Goddamned pathetic.  Best these clueless bastards have to offer?  Didn't even do it creatively.  LOL.

“Unfortunately, some members of the media use their platforms to push their own personal bias and agenda to control exactly what people think,” the script said. “This is extremely dangerous to our democracy.”

Certainly, precisely what Fox News does on a daily basis.  Pot calling the kettle black.  Crock of shit.  No more than an infomercial for the Trump nazi and his henchmen.  --Not talking just about political commentators, however, the entire Fox News website.  ... Which used to be reasonably unbiased vis a vis the news.  No longer.  Not since Trump took office.  Sinclair?  No better.  Goddamned disgrace.

"A video compilation of dozens of anchors all reading the same copy went viral this week, igniting criticism of Sinclair, which owns 193 TV stations, the largest chain in the country. Viewers called and emailed the stations to criticize what they saw as a Trump-friendly corporate message that trampled on the independent traditions of local TV news."

Goddamned right.  Forfeited all credibility for the sake of political expediency.  To please their nazi fuhrer.

"Sinclair executives have expressed befuddlement about the backlash, emphasizing in public statements and memos to staff that the campaign was merely aimed at outrageous unsubstantiated claims that have circulated on social media, such as the “Pizzagate” conspiracy theory or bogus reports about the pope endorsing Trump."

Worse than disingenuous bullshit, the above is no more than a boldfaced lie.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Tennessee has apparently gone nazi.  NPR reports:

"For the second time in less than a month, Tennessee's GOP state lawmakers have declined to proceed on legislation condemning white nationalist and neo-Nazi groups. On Monday, roughly three weeks after a Democratic-sponsored resolution died in committee, GOP state Rep. Ryan Williams quietly requested that the Republican version of the measure be withdrawn.  The new version was nearly identical to the one put forth by Democratic Rep. John Ray Clemmons in the days immediately following the white nationalist rally last August in Charlottesville, Va. After those demonstrations descended into deadly violence, Clemmons' brief resolution stated that "we strongly denounce and oppose" the beliefs underpinning white nationalism — and urged law enforcement to recognize these and neo-Nazi groups as terrorist organizations."

Gutless fascists.  Hitler and Mussolini?  High-fiving from their fiery perches.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

How many innocent death row inmates have been executed in Texas?  Nazi Right wants to accelerate the process.  Texas Standard reports:

"Texas is re-upping a request to “opt in” to a federal law that would speed up the execution appeals process in the state, potentially leading to quicker executions.  Houston Chronicle reporter Keri Blakinger says this would set a shorter time limit on part of the federal appeals process. Currently the limit is set at one year, and this would reduce the window of time to six months.  “So it means that defense lawyers only have six months to prepare a key filing that starts off the federal appeals process,” Blakinger says. “To do that filing, they have to re-investigate what can, at that point, be years of a case. They have to go back and find any lawyering mistakes. They have to go back and find anything that might help an innocence claim.”  Blakinger says, in the current system, inmates can be on death row for many years."

How many of them were exonerated after spending decades in prison for a crime they did not commit?

“I think the thought is that this would cut down on the length of the appeals process and possibly benefit murder victims’ family members who would not have to wait as long to see what they believe is justice done,” Blakinger says."

Jesus Christ.  Achingly wrong question.  How many additional innocent people who have committed no crime will consequently be murdered by the State of Texas?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Lies and deception perpetrated by the Trump nazi continue unabated.  NBC reports:

"President Donald Trump touted the urgency of tougher security measures along the border between the United States and Mexico Thursday, claiming that women trying to cross the border in immigrant caravans “are being raped at numbers never seen before.”  "Yesterday, it came out where this journey coming up, women are raped at levels that nobody has every seen before," the president said at a White House tax reform event in White Sulphur Springs, W.V. "They don't want to mention that, so we have to change our laws."

This man's a liar.  Again, offered no proof.

"On Thursday, Trump did not provide any evidence to support his claim that rapes are taking place, nor did he identify its source.  Trump used an event in West Virginia, billed as a tax reform roundtable, to talk border security, immigration and voter fraud. He also took the opportunity to hammer West Virginia's Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, who is seeking re-election this year."

Trump's a congenital liar.  Wouldn't know truth if it figuratively bit him hard on the ass.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

More of the same.  NPR reports:

"The Trump administration announced two measures late Friday to further restrict illegal border crossings.  The president issued a presidential memorandum ending a policy commonly called "catch and release," which released illegal immigrants from detention as they awaited an immigration court hearing.  The memo directs various government agencies, the Departments of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, Justice and Defense to report within 45 days on measures they are taking to end "catch and release."  For example, the Defense Department is instructed to identify all existing facilities, including military sites, that can be "used, modified, or repurposed to detain aliens for violations of immigration law" at or near U.S. borders.  Within 60 days, the Departments of State and Homeland Security will report on diplomatic efforts to force countries to accept the repatriation of their nationals.  Within 75 days, the attorney general and secretary of homeland security will submit a report identifying additional resources needed to "expeditiously end catch and release practices."

Here's the problem.  Goes far beyond humanitarian concerns about effectively imprisoning those whose only crime is crossing the border:

"Critics say the president is using the specter of a migrant invasion to justify the detention of asylum-seekers.  "Asylum-seekers in the U.S. already face formidable challenges to being protected," said Clara Long, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch. "That includes lengthy court backlogs, lack of legal representation for people who cannot afford an attorney, already prolonged detention, and widely inconsistent rates of granting asylum across the country, with some jurisdictions denying almost 90 percent of claims while others deny fewer than 25 percent."  Earlier in the day, Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered federal prosecutors to adopt a "zero tolerance" policy toward people trying to enter the United States from Mexico illegally by targeting first-time offenders. Traditionally, people who were caught trying to cross the border for the first time were charged with misdemeanor crimes.  Now Sessions says, under a "zero tolerance" policy, illegal entry should be prosecuted to the "extent practicable." The order contained few specifics on how that policy will be implemented."

Nazi America.  Ala Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini.  No sanctuary for the persecuted.  Time to ask the French to remove the Statue of Liberty from New York Harbor.  No more than a ruse in the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich.

Yet, it's okay for Trump's sons to loot taxpayers for business expenses.  CBS News reports:

"President Trump's sons' visit to Dubai this week has costed taxpayers a minimum of $73,000 in security costs, according to government purchase orders viewed by CBS News. The purchase orders describe the costs for United States Secret Service agents to stay at hotels close to the Trump property and car service for the trip listed as being from March 26 through April 8.  The trip is for the family business and not related to any government work.  Secret Service spokesperson Mason Brayman emailed CBS News in response to a request for comment on the trip: "The Secret Service is conducting a protective operation in the UAE. As a matter of practice we do not comment on the specifics of protectee's trips."

Got to protect them from being seen firmly planted on the taxpayer tit.

"Eric and Donald Trump Jr. traveled to Dubai to spend time with the Trump Organization's Middle East business partner Hussain Sajwani and his family. Sajwani's daughter is getting married, according to the Trump Organization and tweets from Sajwani.  Sajwani tweeted a picture of himself with President Trump's sons Friday, saying, "Yesterday, I was delighted to host my dear friends and business partners @donaldjtrumpjr & @erictrump for a very special occasion in my family's life."

    "Yesterday, I was delighted to host my dear friends and business partners @donaldjtrumpjr & @erictrump for a very special occasion in my family’s life. We were celebrating my daughter Amira’s wedding. pic.twitter.com/QOiHLwGaPF
    — Hussain Sajwani (@HussainSajwani) April 6, 2018"

This is a business expense.  Why aren't these hopelessly greedy bastards reimbursing the taxpayers?

There's more:

"The Trumps also went to Dubai to visit "the team at Trump International Golf Club, Dubai," according to a statement from a spokeswoman for the Trump Organization emailed to CBS News. Nearby, there is another Trump property under construction: the Trump World Golf Club, which was designed by Tiger Woods according to the Trump Organization.  So far compared to 2017, the Trump sons' travel has been somewhat curtailed, with just one other international trip to India for Donald Trump Jr.  Ivanka and Jared Kushner recently took the Trump Organization aircraft to Wyoming for a getaway with the extended Kushner family. The local mayor of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was invited onto the plane and posted pictures to Twitter.  CBS News previously reported that the extended Trump family vacation to Aspen, Colorado, during last year's spring break cost more than $300,000 in taxpayer funds for security costs."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Sen. Ted "Screws Loose" Cruz sorely lacks courage.  Remains no more than an Aryan arrogant, hopelessly gutless national socialist.  The Statesman reports:

"During a campaign stop in Austin on Wednesday night, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, answered questions from constituents.  Including one from a woman who took issue with Cruz’ stance on health care.   The woman approached Cruz and read the following from a piece of paper:

“I’m a woman over 50 who, as of February 7th, has seven active pre-existing conditions. I’m not counting being female and a survivor of abuse. I purchase my individual policy on the health insurance exchange. If you force me into a high-risk pool, you will either bankrupt me or kill me. I take your threats of medical aggression personally and seriously and, I can assure you, I’m not the only Texan who does. My question is, ‘Will you pledge to submit to a DNA test to prove that you’re human?’”

Jesus Christ.  How about that?  Readers are reminded, at last check, healthcare coverage for congressional legislators costs taxpayers some $9,000 annually.

"Cruz responded by saying, “Ma'am, if you want to engage in insults that's your prerogative, but I'm not going to reciprocate,” and thanking her for attending."

Once again, the nazi element in our formerly great country has clearly proven precisely how condescending, patronizing, Aryan arrogant it remains.  Achingly clueless.  Forget?  The Cruz nazi gets his.  You get f--ked.  The way to have handled this was to engage the constituent.  Calmly inquire as to her personal circumstances, frustration with the system.  Seek common ground, solutions to the immediate problem.

Instead, our aggressively stupid, nazi Senator chose to dismiss her.  An Aryan arrogant, useless son of a bitch concerned only with his issues, best interests, not those of his constituents.  Serves only himself and his corporate masters who line his pockets.  Until this changes, think an unwanted dreaded second American revolution does not catastrophically loom?

The Senator clearly has a 'let 'em eat cake' mentality that does not bode well for a country clearly tearing apart at the seams.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Think the Second Amendment isn't under vicious attack by clueless 'judges' warming the bench?  CBS News reports:

"A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging Massachusetts' ban on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines, saying in a ruling released Friday that the weapons fall beyond the reach of the Second Amendment. U.S. District Judge William Young said assault weapons are military firearms and aren't protected by the constitutional right to "bear arms." Regulation of the weapons is a matter of policy, not for the courts, he said."

Jesus Christ.  This achingly clueless, Aryan arrogant piece of shit has deliberately violated his oath of office to uphold the United States Constitution.  Imposed his perverse ideological views from the bench.  Deliberately abrogated the Second Amendment right to the last best defense against corrupt, abusive, murderous government.  As wisely intended by the Founders.

"Other states are equally free to leave them unregulated and available to their law-abiding citizens," Young said. "These policy matters are simply not of constitutional moment. Americans are not afraid of bumptious, raucous and robust debate about these matters. We call it democracy."

This achingly haughty, clueless excuse for a 'judge' remains unfit to warm the bench.  No more than an exigent threat to life, liberty, all civil and constitutional rights and liberties.  As our formerly great country transitions from a goddamned de facto fascist police-state to the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich.

"Democratic state Attorney General Maura Healey said the ruling "vindicates the right of the people of Massachusetts to protect themselves from these weapons of war."

Jesus Christ.  Apparently, this lawyer has never ever read the Second Amendment.  Has no clue.

"Strong gun laws save lives, and we will not be intimidated by the gun lobby in our efforts to end the sale of assault weapons and protect our communities and schools," she said in a statement. "Families across the country should take heart in this victory," she said."

Victory?  What victory?  This lawyer has deliberately, knowingly abrogated the right of the people to the last best defense against outrageously corrupt, abusive, murderous government.  As clearly, intended by the Founders.  She remains a disgrace.  Unfit for office.  An exigent threat to life, liberty, all civil and constitutional rights and liberties.

"Jim Wallace, executive director of the Massachusetts gun owners group, said Young's upholding of Healey's crackdown on copycat assault weapons gives the attorney general "unbridled authority" to interpret laws as she pleases.  "Everyone in the state should be really concerned about that," Wallace said. "What if the next attorney general isn't a friend on one of your issues?"

Nazi government.

"Wallace said he couldn't yet say whether they will appeal the ruling."

Why not?  This bullshit needs to be immediately challenged.

"The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Second Amendment allows Americans to have guns in their homes for self-defense and blocked local governments from banning handguns.  But the court last year turned away an appeal from Maryland gun owners who challenged the state's ban on assault weapons."

If constitutional rights and liberties are not vigorously defended, they are quickly bastardized, then lost.  Wake up.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Think Facebook can be trusted?  Consider the following.  CBS News reports:

"Facebook has been secretly deleting some messages CEO Mark Zuckerberg sent through its Messenger application, an option that hasn't been available to most of the social network's 2.2 billion users. The company says it has been removing Zuckerberg's messages from the inboxes of various people for several years. The recipients of Zuckerberg's messages weren't informed before that happened."

Couldn't be, could it?  LOL.

"Facebook is making the acknowledgment Friday after TechCrunch first reported the tactic.  Facebook says it began erasing the messages of Zuckerberg and a few other top executives in 2014 after computer hackers obtained and released emails from Sony Pictures executives. The Sony messages included disparaging remarks about movie stars and other people in the entertainment industry."

'Don't do as I do, do as I say?'  LOL.

"Although the ability to automatically delete sent texts hadn't been previously available, Facebook says it now plans to make it available to all users. The company apologized for not doing so sooner."

Jesus Christ.  Spare us.  Continue to have a Facebook account?  You're stupid.  Get what you deserve.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Think Trump isn't a congenital liar?  NPR reports:

"At an event billed as a roundtable discussion about taxes in West Virginia, President Trump went off script Thursday afternoon, and notably repeated a claim about voter fraud that has repeatedly been proven false.  "In many places, like California, the same person votes many times — you've probably heard about that," Trump said. "They always like to say 'oh that's a conspiracy theory' — not a conspiracy theory folks. Millions and millions of people."

Wake up.  This son of a bitch is a liar:

"It's not the first time Trump has claimed widespread fraud in California, or nationally. Just a few weeks after the 2016 election, Trump tweeted that there was "serious voter fraud in Virginia, New Hampshire and California," but his campaign declined to provide further evidence.

    "Serious voter fraud in Virginia, New Hampshire and California - so why isn't the media reporting on this? Serious bias - big problem!
    — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 28, 2016

"The political fact-checking site Politifact gave the claim that there was "serious voter fraud" in California a "Pants On Fire" rating at the time."

Wake up.  Trump is a liar.  A congenital liar.

"Elections officials and nonpartisan observers in California said there were no widespread reports of voter fraud," Politifact's Chris Nichols wrote. "The state has some of the most stringent voter verification laws in the country. Allegations of fraud are so rare that Los Angeles County, the state's largest county, does not track them."

"On Thursday, The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University tweeted in response to Trump's remarks, "study after study has shown that voter fraud is vanishingly rare, and voter impersonation is nearly non-existent."

That's right.  This man can't stop lying.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Time to clean house.  Don't think so?  CBS News reports:

"Rep. Blake Farenthold, the Texas Republican under scrutiny for using $84,000 in taxpayer funds to settle a sexual harassment claim, officially resigned on Friday. Farenthold had already announced he wouldn't run for reelection, after initially saying he would run.  His resignation became effective 5 p.m. Friday.  "While I planned on serving out the remainder of my term in Congress, I know in my heart it's time for me to move along and look for new ways to serve," Farenthold said in a statement."

About time.  LOL.

"Farenthold had said he would repay the $84,000, but there is no record or claim that he has done so yet. Farenthold has been the subject of a House Ethics Committee review. That review was launched after a report that former Farenthold communications director Lauren Greene received an $84,000 taxpayer-funded settlement after suing the congressman in 2014 for sexual harassment, gender discrimination and a hostile work environment. Farenthold has denied the sexual harassment allegations against him.  "I want to be perfectly clear. The charges that were made are false," he said in a statement posted to Facebook in December. Farenthold did admit he "allowed a workplace culture to take root in my office that was too permissive and decidedly unprofessional."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

The Israeli aggressor continues to murder Palestinian protesters.  NPR reports:

"Palestinian health officials say eight Palestinian protesters were shot dead by Israeli fire at border demonstrations Friday, including a Palestinian photojournalist wearing a protective vest marked, "Press." This caps a week of the largest demonstrations and worst violence that Gaza has seen in years.  The Israeli army had no immediate comment on the deaths."

What could it say?  How do you justify the unjustifiable?  Blatant murder?

"The total death toll from a week of protests is at least 29, according to Palestinian health officials.  On Friday, thousands of Palestinians once again gathered to demonstrate near the border with Israel "for the right to return to lands in today's Israel," as NPR's Daniel Estrin reported from the scene."

Their land.  Commandeered in 1948 with the blessing of Europe, the United States, and the UN.

"Palestinians say this is a peaceful demonstration. In a series of protest encampments, families fly kites and food trucks are parked to support the demonstration.  Israel accuses the Hamas militant group, which controls Gaza, of trying to turn the border area into a combat zone. Daniel said he heard gunfire and saw tear gas in the area immediately next to the border. Black smoke billowed from the area, he said, as young Palestinians brought tires down to the border to burn. Some threw rocks at the soldiers."

Think Texans wouldn't do the same if Mexican troops tried to retake Texas?

"Palestinians are actually calling today the 'Day of Tires,' because they said they were going to burn tires to create a smokescreen so that Israeli soldiers on the other side of the border fence wouldn't be able to see them," Daniel added.  Among those reported wounded today was a Palestinian photojournalist, as Daniel reported. "Photos show him wearing a protective vest marked PRESS."

Israeli occupiers are behaving like savages.

"Israel maintains it is simply protecting its border and its troops. It has released video that appears to show several Palestinians trying to break through the border fence.  Rights groups have criticized Israel for disproportionate use of force against people who pose no immediate threat. Videos circulated on social media appear to show Israeli forces firing at Palestinians some distance away from the fence."

Savages.

"And while Hamas is vocally backing these demonstrations, which are intended to last six weeks, many Palestinians are participating because of the dismal living conditions in Gaza."

Directly due to the Israeli occupiers:

"The area has been under blockade by Israel and Egypt for a decade. Gazans get only a few hours of electricity every day and have extremely limited water. The unemployment rate is at more than 40 percent."

Think this situation sustainable?

"Palestinians said last week when the protest began, hundreds were injured by Israeli fire. Israel has disputed that, said that only tens of Palestinians were injured," Daniel reported. At a hospital he visited – one of many treating wounded people in Gaza – "they said that they had had at least 100 people in surgery for serious wounds."

Like Trump, the Israelis lie.

"Protest organizers are vowing to continue demonstrating for six weeks, until mid-May."

Surprised?  Why?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Trust government? The Washington Post reports:

"The Census Bureau plans to ask people if they are U.S. citizens in the 2020 count of the nation’s population, igniting fears that the information could be used to target those in the country illegally."

Precisely, as intended by the racist AG Sessions nazi, and his fuhrer, the Trump nazi.

"The decision has become a lightning rod for controversy. More than a dozen states and at least six cities have sued to block the Trump administration from adding the question to the 2020 Census, alleging that it would depress turnout in states with large populations of immigrants. The decennial survey is key to determining how federal funding is spent nationwide.  Census officials said the question is being reinstated for the first time since 1950 to help enforce the Voting Rights Act and that there are safeguards in place to prevent any abuse of the information. It is illegal to release information that would identify individuals or families."

Matters not.  The bastards still do it.  Have a history of doing so:

"But that does not mean that census data has not been used to target specific populations in the past.  In fact, information from the 1940 Census was secretly used in one of the worst violations of constitutional rights in U.S. history: the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.  In papers presented in 2000 and 2007, historian Margo J. Anderson of the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee and statistician William Seltzer of Fordham University found evidence that census officials cooperated with the government, providing data to target Japanese Americans."

No problem with this?  None at all?  Wake up.  Who's next?  Forget?  When the rights of any of us are abrogated, the rights of all of us remain in severe jeopardy.

"The Japanese American community had long suspected the Census Bureau of playing a role in the push to banish 120,000 Japanese Americans, mostly living on the West Coast, into nearly a dozen internment camps after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, according to former commerce secretary Norman Mineta.  Mineta, who lived in San Jose, was 11 when he and his family were sent to live in an internment camp in Heart Mountain, Wyo.  For decades, though, census officials denied that they had played any role in providing information."

Goddamned traitorous, treasonous, treacherous liars.

"According to Anderson and Seltzer, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and military intelligence agencies began pushing in late 1939 to relax census confidentiality rules in the hope of accessing data on individuals. But the effort was opposed by Census Bureau Director William Lane Austin.  After the 1940 presidential election, however, Austin was forced to retire. He was replaced by J.C. Capt, who backed efforts to remove confidentiality provisions. Capt’s efforts helped clear the way for other agencies to access the information on Japanese Americans.  In 2000, Anderson and Seltzer found documents that showed officials with the Census Bureau had provided block-level information of where those of Japanese ancestry were living in California, Arizona, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho and Arkansas.  The revelations prompted Kenneth Prewitt, then director of the U.S. Census Bureau, to issue a public apology. Prewitt wrote: “The historical record is clear that senior Census Bureau staff proactively cooperated with the internment, and that census tabulations were directly implicated in the denial of civil rights to citizens of the United States who happened also to be of Japanese ancestry.”

Think the racist Sessions nazi and his fuhrer, the Trump nazi won't repeat history?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Too little, too late. The Washington Post reports:

"Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg expressed contrition for allowing third-party apps to grab the data of its users without their permission and for being “too slow to spot and respond to Russian interference” during the U.S. election, according to his prepared remarks published by the House Energy and Commerce Committee."

Rings hollow.  Readers are reminded sharing and sale of personal data is precisely how Facebook makes money.  A business model that remains incompatible with privacy.

"Zuckerberg plans to open his remarks with a familiar recitation of the social media platform's ability to link far-flung people together but then pivot into an acknowledgement of Facebook's increasingly visible dark side."

For years, Zuckerberg and cohorts ignored the inevitable.  Despite all handwriting clearly on the wall.

"It’s clear now that we didn’t do enough to prevent these tools from being used for harm as well," Zuckerberg plans to tell lawmakers."

An impossible, unsolvable conundrum, -- when your business model is sharing and sale of personal data.

"That goes for fake news, foreign interference in elections, and hate speech, as well as developers and data privacy. We didn’t take a broad enough view of our responsibility, and that was a big mistake. It was my mistake, and I’m sorry. I started Facebook, I run it, and I’m responsible for what happens here."

Then do the right thing.  Resign in disgrace.  Take personal responsibility for the ruse Facebook has clearly turned out to be.

"The company has been reeling since the November 2016 election during which phony news reports spread widely on its platform and Russian operatives mounted an ambitious campaign to divide American voters, damage Democrat Hillary Clinton and bolster the chances of Republican Donald Trump."

The greatest problem with all this is the fact there were no controls in place to quickly identify and combat this problem.  Facebook was too busy lining its pockets, expanding with no thought as how best to proceed.  Then again, when your business model is based on sharing and selling, marketing personal data, what true alternative is there to egregious invasion of privacy?

Corporate excesses nearly always come back to figuratively bite the corporate management suite hard on the ass:

"Facebook appeared to be recovering from those controversies until last month’s revelation that a political consultancy hired by Trump and other Republicans improperly gained access to data on 87 million Facebook users, including 71 million Americans. The company acknowledged last week a separate problem in which “malicious actors” were able to identify and collect data on Facebook users on such a massive scale that most of the company’s 2.2 billion users were affected."

More frightening?  Data breaches yet to be discovered and/or reported.  Hard to believe this is the end of it.  Here's why:

"As the company has mobilized to quell rising political opposition, including the possibility of major legislation affect how technology companies handle user data, Facebook also is battling government investigations in the United States and Europe. The Federal Trade Commission is investigating violations of a 2011 consent decree over privacy policy at Facebook that could lead to record fines against the company."

Not good enough.  Nowhere near.  Heads need to roll.  People belong in prison.

"Zuckerberg also plans to appear before a Senate committee hearing on Tuesday. Those remarks are expected to be similar.  "It’s not enough to just connect people, we have to make sure those connections are positive," Zuckerberg plans to say in his testimony. "It’s not enough to just give people a voice, we have to make sure people aren’t using it to hurt people or spread misinformation. It’s not enough to give people control of their information, we have to make sure developers they’ve given it to are protecting it too."

Impossible.  There is no way to prevent developers from lining their pockets.  Forget?  Greed rules.  Only viable way to protect data is not collect it.  Not possible when the business model is sale, marketing of that data.  Precisely, why determined effort of Facebook executives to limit image damage remains so achingly disingenuous, pointless.

"Facebook has announced a series of measures in recent weeks to tighten how handles user data, bring new transparency to who's behind political advertising and work more openly with outside researchers, who long have complained that the company's platform was walled off from meaningful analysis of its content and impacts."

Non-sequitur.  At best, Band Aid on an arterial wound.

NPR reports:

"There are a lot of regrets coming out of Silicon Valley these days as the dark side of the tech revolution becomes increasingly apparent. From smartphone addiction to the big scandal involving the misuse of personal information from some 87 million Facebook users.  Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg expressed her regrets in an interview last week with NPR. "We know that we did not do enough to protect people's data," Sandberg said. "I'm really sorry for that. Mark [Zuckerberg] is really sorry for that, and what we're doing now is taking really firm action."

Again, rings hollow.  Precisely, how Facebook made its money, grew exponentially.  ... By selling and sharing, marketing user data.  Still think it doesn't?

"But the remorse coming out of Silicon Valley isn't just from high-profile leaders like Sandberg and Zuckerberg. Investors and people who worked to build some of the problematic technologies are also taking the blame; some are even turning their attention to fixing the problems."

They're all to blame.  Got filthy rich.  Sharing and selling, marketing data.  More to the point and ferociously pointedly?  How do you fix the problem when the horse is already out the barn?

"When Sandy Parakilas went to work for Facebook in 2011, he says, he deeply believed in its mission of bringing the world closer together and building community. At the time, the Arab Spring was in full bloom and social media companies were getting credit for helping to launch a revolution."

What revolution?  In reality, what they were truly doing was empowering the corporate management suite and their bought and paid for shills in government to enslave the work force and the citizenry.  How could they have been so achingly naïve?  What planet did they live on?  How many of us were questioning this every step of the way as privacy intrusion exponentially grew?  Did so unchecked.  Unquestioned.  For the most part, unaddressed.

"I was extremely excited about the power of social media to advance democracy all over the world," Parakilas says."

Direct opposite occurred.  Regimes grew more repressive, more controlling of Internet access.  So did Google and others who blocked Tor and VPNs in a determined effort to track, steal data:

"But his optimism would be tempered by the reality of Facebook's hunger for raw data about its users. He didn't like the direction it was going.  "They have a business model that is going to push them continuously down a road of deceiving people," he says. "It's a surveillance advertising business model."  Parakilas says he tried to warn his managers at Facebook that they were at risk of putting private information into the wrong hands. But the company was growing fast and making money. Its leaders believed connecting people was inherently good."

Disingenuous crock of shit.  What they were truly doing was lining their pockets off sale and sharing of personal data.  Marketing private data.

"Many of its earliest investors believed in its mission too. But now Roger McNamee, who helped mentor Zuckerberg, says he feels bad about what's happened, "because at the end of the day these were my friends. I helped them be successful. I wanted them to be successful."

None of this was thought through.  None of it.  Just the bottom line.  Ultimate ramifications?  Irrelevant to those supremely concerned with seemingly boundless profit.  Fabulous wealth.

"As part of his penance, McNamee helped found the Center for Humane Technology. The center is trying to "realign technology with humanity's best interests." Parakilas has also joined the effort as an adviser.  While Facebook may be in the headlines now, there is plenty of regret going around Silicon Valley from people who were part of other companies.  Guillaume Chaslot joined Google/YouTube in 2010. He too started as a true believer. "We could only make things better if people were more connected," he says. "If everybody could say what he wanted to say, things would naturally get better."  But Chaslot says he noticed the main goal at YouTube wasn't to inform people; it was to keep people watching videos for as long as possible. "This goal has some very bad side effects and I started to notice the side effect as I worked at YouTube," he says."

This problem has been an issue for years.  Is now only coming to a head?

"Among the side effects he noticed: People tended to get only one point of view on a topic — and not always the right one. For example, a search for "moon landing" might bring up videos from conspiracy theorists arguing that NASA faked the whole event.  Chaslot tried to create an algorithm that would show people different points of view. But, he says, his bosses weren't interested."

Why would they be?  Forget?  'It's the money, stupid.'  Gotten so perverted and ass backwards our narcissistic nazi president now falsely claims accurate reporting is 'fake news.'  Even Fox News itself, separate from the talking heads, has now become no more than an infomercial for the Trump nazi and his henchmen.

"A spokesperson from the company says it has updated its algorithms since Chaslot left. According to the company, it no longer just tries to keep people on the site for as long as possible; the goal is to measure through surveys how satisfied users are with the time they spend on the site."

Jesus Christ.  Give me a break.  If what you're saying is indeed true, why do you continue to block Tor?  So you can track?  Line your bottomless pockets?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Noose figuratively tightens.  NBC News reports:

"The FBI on Monday raided the office of Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, a person with knowledge of the matter told NBC News.  Federal prosecutors for the Office for the Southern District of New York executed search warrants at a law office located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza and seized documents related to a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller.  "Today the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York executed a series of search warrants and seized the privileged communications between my client, Michael Cohen, and his clients," Cohen's lawyer, Stephen Ryan, said in a statement. "I have been advised by federal prosecutors that the New York action is, in part, a referral by the Office of Special Counsel, Robert Mueller."

Imagine that.  Think this didn't rattle Trump's cage?

"He added, "The decision by the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York to conduct their investigation using search warrants is completely inappropriate and unnecessary. It resulted in the unnecessary seizure of protected attorney-client communications between a lawyer and his clients. These government tactics are also wrong because Mr. Cohen has cooperated completely with all government entities, including providing thousands of non-privileged documents to the Congress and sitting for depositions under oath."

That so?

"The New York Times, which was the first to report the story, said that the search warrants were in connection with several topics, including a payment to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star who alleges that she had an affair with Trump."

Couldn't be, could it?

CBS News reports:

"The F.B.I. raided Trump attorney Michael Cohen's office and seized material related to, among other things, his payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels, also known as Stephanie Clifford, CBS News' Pat Milton confirms.  A person familiar with the matter confirmed that law enforcement agents conducted searches Monday at his New York office and the New York residence of President Trump's long time attorney, seizing documents and other material. A court warrant authorizing the raid was obtained. It is unclear what investigation the raid stems from."

Interesting, isn't it?

"The New York Times reported the raid of Cohen's office Monday.  The Times reported that federal prosecutors in Manhattan obtained the search warrant after the special counsel in the Russia probe, Robert Mueller, sent a referral. The Times said that the search "does not appear to be directly related to Mr. Mueller's investigation, but likely resulted from information he had uncovered and gave" to New York prosecutors."

Plot certainly thickens.

"Cohen has admitted paying Clifford -- whose stage name is Stormy Daniels -- $130,000 after she said she had an affair with President Trump over a decade ago. The Times also reported that Cohen's lawyer, Stephen Ryan, said that Cohen has cooperated with authorities and turned over documents to congressional investigators looking into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.   The F.B.I. also took Cohen's emails, tax documents and business records from his office, The Times reported, citing a person familiar with the search."

Trump can't be a happy camper.  Investigation certainly seems to be closing in.

NBC News reports:

"Stormy Daniels says in a new court filing that she always believed Donald Trump was a party to her non-disclosure agreement and would not have accepted $130,000 in hush money if she knew he had not signed it."

Why would she?

"In fact, that understanding continued even after I signed the documents. Until approximately February of this year, I was unaware that Mr. Trump did not sign the Settlement Agreement, and I had no idea that Mr. Trump would later claim that he was not a party to the Settlement Agreement.  "Had I known that Mr. Trump was not going to sign both documents or that he was going to later claim that he was not a party to the Settlement Agreement, I would have never signed either document nor would I have accepted the $130,000 payment."

CNN reports:

"Former US Attorney Preet Bharara said Monday that the FBI raids of Michael Cohen's office and hotel room were done by officials who were all "handpicked" by President Donald Trump.  "If the reporting is true, particularly the part about this being approved by the Southern District of New York Attorney's Office which I used to lead, are all people who are Republican, and all people who have basically been handpicked by Donald Trump," Bharara, now a senior CNN legal analyst, said on "The Situation Room."

Fascinating, isn't it?  Didn't Trump claim Democrats were to blame for the raid?  LOL.

"Earlier, Trump slammed the raids affecting his personal attorney as a "disgraceful situation" and "an attack on our country." A White House official said Trump had been watching TV reports, and that the President knew about the raid before the news broke.  The Monday raids included the Loews Regency hotel where Cohen has been staying, according to a source familiar with the matter. There were approximately a dozen FBI agents involved, the source said.  "For folks who don't appreciate this, to do a search on an attorney's files, residence, office -- that's a very sensitive thing that requires the personal approval of the United States attorney himself in consultation with main Justice," Bharara said."

Extremely interesting, isn't it?  A U.S. Attorney wouldn't have executed such a raid without sufficient probable cause to convince a judge to sign a search warrant.  Remember, this involves the president of the United States, his legal counsel, lawyer-client privilege, etc..  Readers are reminded lawyer-client privilege does not protect against disclosure of intended criminal activity.

"Stephen Ryan, a lawyer for Cohen, said in a statement that the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York had executed "a series of search warrants" and "seized the privileged communications" between Cohen and his clients. Ryan called the search "completely inappropriate and unnecessary," and said federal prosecutors had told him it stemmed partially from a referral by the office of special counsel Robert Mueller. Bharara commented on the significance of the execution of the raid by the FBI, and the fact that it was conducted by the the Southern District of New York.  "It's being done because people think it's very serious, people think it's totally warranted and people think there's evidence of a significant enough nature that you're going to risk doing something sensitive like raiding a law office," Bharara said."

Apparently, the U.S. Attorney suspects criminal activity.  Must have had sufficient probable cause for a judge to have signed the warrant.

The Washington Post reports:

"President Trump has howled in all caps for nearly a year as the Justice Department has delved deeper and deeper into his orbit. Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III indicted his former campaign chairman. Then he secured a guilty plea from his former national security adviser. All the while, Mueller and his investigators have spent hours questioning White House officials about whether the president had sought to obstruct justice.  But the FBI’s seizure on Monday of privileged communications between Trump and his private lawyer, Michael D. Cohen — as well as documents related to a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, the adult-film actress who has alleged a sexual affair with Trump — was a particularly extraordinary move that opens a whole new front in the converging legal battles ensnaring the administration."

Noose is figuratively tightening.  What is of particular significance is the fact Republican officials seem to have been responsible for this latest move.

"Cohen is Trump’s virtual vault — the keeper of his secrets, from his business deals to his personal affairs — and the executor of his wishes.  “This search warrant is like dropping a bomb on Trump’s front porch,” said Joyce White Vance, a former U.S. attorney in Alabama.  Mark S. Zaid, a Washington lawyer, said the seizure of Cohen’s records “should be the most concerning for the president.”  “You can’t get much worse than this, other than arresting someone’s wife or putting pressure on a family member,” he said. “This strikes at the inner sanctum: your lawyer, your CPA, your barber, your therapist, your bartender. All the people who would know the worst about you.”

Precisely, why Trump had an immediate melt-down.  LOL.

"The president spent much of Monday afternoon glued to the television. Aides said Trump watched cable news coverage of surprise raids on Cohen’s Manhattan office, home and hotel room by FBI agents, who took the lawyer’s computer, phone and personal financial records after a referral from Mueller.  As the sun began to fall in Washington, Trump offered reporters his initial reaction: “It’s a disgraceful situation.”

What it is is a criminal investigation.  Indication no one is above the law, -- including the president of the United States.

“I have this witch hunt constantly going on,” Trump said. “That is a whole new level of unfairness,” he added, leaving no doubt that he views Monday’s actions as a personal affront. Trump called Cohen “a good man” and went on to criticize Attorney General Jeff Sessions, saying he had made “a very terrible mistake for the country” by recusing himself from the Russia probe."

Sessions had no choice.

"Asked why he had not fired Mueller, Trump left the door open. “We’ll see what happens,” he told reporters. “Many people have said, ‘You should fire him,’ ” the president added."

Should you fire him and your fellow Republicans refuse to impeach you for obstruction of justice, Mr. 'President,' our formerly great country would undergo a constitutional crisis that would make Watergate and the Nixon Era look like a walk in the park.

"Shortly after the raids began Monday morning, Trump received a heads-up at the White House. He huddled in the Oval Office with Ty Cobb, the White House lawyer who oversees its handling of the Mueller probe, as well as with White House counsel Donald McGahn and White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly, officials said.  Other aides said they did not understand what was happening and struggled to pinpoint the significance of the seizures. Many officials sought to keep their distance from the developments, deferring comment until a strategy was determined.  Aides said they viewed Trump’s late-afternoon comments to reporters as a necessary venting session. He had been grousing privately about Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein, a Trump appointee who oversees the Mueller investigation because of Sessions’s recusal."

His juvenile, achingly empty comments, are indication of gross unfitness for office.  Inability to rationally deal with a crisis of his own making.

"He complained about Rosenstein again Monday in private, a White House adviser said, and stewed all afternoon about the warrant to seize Cohen’s records, at times raising his voice. Trump said that Rosenstein approved the warrant, that he wished Rosenstein was not in the job and there was no one making the prosecutors follow the rules, the adviser said. Trump complained sharply about Sessions and Mueller and asked detailed questions about who was behind the move — and said that people would be more critical of such a warrant if it wasn’t intended to damage the president.  Still, a senior White House official said late Monday that no “imminent” personnel changes were expected."

Jesus Christ.  Pathetic, pitiful.  At first blush, this restores some small semblance of faith, trust in a judicial system that has been out to lunch for quite some time.  This is supposed to be a democratic republic under the United States Constitution and rule of law.  Not a goddamned narcissistic, lunatic, nazi fuhrer.

"It was unclear if Trump talked to Cohen, with whom he recently dined at Mar-a-Lago, the president’s private club in Palm Beach, Fla.  Trump “won’t like that Cohen is in the crosshairs, but you have to remember: He’d prefer the heat be on Cohen than on him,” said one of the president’s advisers, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share a candid assessment. “His goal will be to figure out how much vulnerability he has.”  This was Trump’s first crisis without Hope Hicks, the recently departed White House communications director who knew her way around the broader Trump orbit, getting to the bottom of what was happening, counseling the president and intuiting how he would want the situation handled."

Jesus Christ.  Achingly, pathetic.  Even our worst presidents in recent history such as Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Clinton, Reagan, Carter, George W. Bush "The Tush," his old man, Bush "The First, etc., were men who were quite capable of rationally standing on their own two feet.  Not this jackass.

"There was fear in Trump’s orbit that the president is liable to erupt in anger in coming days, escalating his attacks against Mueller at a time when his attorneys are negotiating a possible interview. And there was concern in some quarters that Trump, who has been shaking up his administration in recent weeks, may also seek to terminate Mueller."

Would be a colossal mistake.  Obstruction of justice.

"Without a lead attorney in Dowd’s absence, Trump has absorbed some advice from a number of legal commentators on cable news, including Alan Dershowitz, a retired Harvard Law School professor who has made supportive comments about the president.  “This may mark the end of the kind of cooperation that Trump’s lawyers have been involved with,” Dershowitz said Monday in an interview. “Cooperation doesn’t seem to have much payback. Maybe it’s better to go into a defensive fight mode.”

One aging idiot trying to lead another:

"Dershowitz advised Trump to use “every legal tactic available to him” to fight Mueller and the FBI. He said the president could “assert” his rights as Cohen’s client and “go into court and seek to demand returned every bit of information that is arguably lawyer-client privilege before anybody has a chance to read anything.”

Aching, lunacy.  Unbridled desperation.  Doesn't your heart bleed?

"Tim O’Brien, author of the Trump biography “Trump Nation,” said the seizure of records from his private attorney probably would “smell of a mortal threat” by Trump. And, O’Brien added, “He is historically prone not to sit back and let the chips fall where they may. He is historically prone to come out with guns blazing.”

Should he do so, only offer proof positive of his mental unfitness for office.

"Cohen has long been a fixer for Trump, as well as his family and business, and associates said he was disappointed when he was not brought officially on board the campaign, and again when he was passed over for a coveted White House job.  “He’s done the dirty work that the president hasn’t wanted to do himself, and he’s been doing it for a decade,” O’Brien said."

May also be what finally brings not only this lawyer down, but the Trump abomination as well.

NPR reports:

"What is attorney-client privilege? Did the FBI and Justice Department violate it with their actions on Monday?  The privilege means that investigators generally can't access whatever someone says to his or her attorney. The idea is that this encourages a client to get a lawyer and to communicate openly and fully with that lawyer.  "Generally speaking, the relationship between an attorney and client is protected," says Harry Sandick, a former assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. "As a society, we value legal advice and the right to get it without someone looking over your shoulder."  But that doesn't mean that attorney-client privilege is a magical blanket that covers any and all scrutiny. It doesn't. There are, in fact, a number of exceptions.  Perhaps the most frequently cited is known as the "crime-fraud exception." Boiled down to the basics, this says that discussions between a lawyer and client about a future crime or fraud are not privileged. Conversations about past crimes, however, are."

Quite nuanced, isn't it?

"Sandick points to a few other notable exceptions. If a lawyer is communicating with a third party, for example, those conversations are not privileged. Or if a lawyer is giving business advice, that is not protected either.  FBI special agents and Justice Department officials could be looking for those kinds of elements in the electronic devices, papers or other materials they seized from Cohen.  "There are lots of things a lawyer might retain that aren't covered by privilege," Sandick says."

Gets trickier:

"To conduct a search, law enforcement authorities convince a judge why they believe a crime may have been committed and why they expect to find evidence for their investigation in the home or office they want to inspect.  The rules are even trickier for lawyers because of the privilege afforded to the work between them and their clients. That is why Justice Department officials at the highest levels had to approve Monday's activities — Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein reportedly signed off on them personally.  If investigators see something in plain view while executing a search warrant, they can collect it. This gets a little tricky when it comes to electronic files, but there are specific rules governing computer searches, Sandick says.  The general rule, he says, is that if investigators see something of interest beyond the scope of the search warrant when they're looking at electronic files, they may need to go back to a judge and seek a new warrant."

Consider the following:

"Now, back to the question of attorney-client privilege: If investigators seize privileged materials, such as electronic communications, in a raid, that kicks into gear a special process that creates a "clean team" to review those items.  "This is an independent team, typically comprised of lawyers and investigators, that will review the seized documents for any privileged information," says Michael Moore, a former U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Georgia.  "They will then isolate that information from the regular investigative team. In essence, they wall themselves and the information they find that might be privileged off from the investigation."  The goal is for the clean team to protect a defendant's right to enjoy the privileged communications with an attorney — while the team can see materials protected under the privilege as it goes through the evidence, the lawyers prosecuting the case cannot."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Once in awhile, there is justice.  Not often, but occasionally.  The Washington Post reports:

"A federal appeals court ruled Monday that employers cannot justify paying a woman less than a man doing similar work because of her salary history — a move advocates say will help close the wage gap between the sexes."

What took so long?  Should have happened fifty years ago.

"The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit sided Monday with the California math consultant at the center of Rizo vs. Fresno County of Education, who argued that considering prior compensation when setting a worker’s pay perpetuates gender disparities and defies the spirit of the Equal Pay Act."

You think?

“The Equal Pay Act stands for a principle as simple as it is just: men and women should receive equal pay for equal work regardless of sex,” wrote Judge Stephen Reinhardt in the opinion. “The question before us is also simple: can an employer justify a wage differential between male and female employees by relying on prior salary? Based on the text, history, and purpose of the Equal Pay Act, the answer is clear: No.”

Still a long way to go:

"In the United States, women earn an average of 82 cents for every dollar paid to men, according to the latest Pew Research Center analysis of median hourly earnings.

"Black women earn about 63 percent of what white men make, and the share is 67 percent for Hispanic women."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Think Trump and his fellow nazis are 'draining the swamp?'  Wake up.  CBS News reports:

"America's federal deficit will top $1 trillion by 2020, two years earlier than prior estimates, as tax cuts and federal spending hikes take effect, the Congressional Budget Office said on Monday.  That budget gap -- the amount by which the U.S. government spending exceeds revenue -- is then forecast to remain above $1 trillion through 2027."

Voodoo economics.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

When there is no reproductive freedom, there is no freedom at all.  According to the hopelessly ignorant, aggressively stupid Nazi Right, reproductive freedom is no more than ladies keeping their panties up, legs crossed.  No longer flies in Nazi Mississippi, however.  They're fighting back.  Determined to stand up to this goddamned bullshit.  NPR reports:

"Abortion-rights advocates are challenging dozens of Mississippi's abortion restrictions in federal court. The state's Republican governor, Phil Bryant, recently signed the most restrictive abortion law in the country, banning abortion after 15 weeks' gestation.  Last month, in response to a suit from the Center for Reproductive Rights, a judge quickly moved to temporarily block the 15-week abortion ban in the state.  A newly expanded lawsuit filed by CRR, the Mississippi Center for Justice and other local attorneys challenges what advocates say are unconstitutional barriers to Mississippi women seeking abortions.  In the lawsuit, advocates call the new law "only the most recent salvo in what has been a 25-year legislative campaign to eliminate women's constitutional right to access abortion in Mississippi."

Outrageously, unconstitutional.  Nazis forcing their perverse ideological and religious views on all by statute.  Direct violation of the First Amendment Establishment Clause, church-state separation, that is, freedom from religion.

"Among the restrictions named in the suit are a 24-hour waiting period for women seeking the procedure; a ban on physicians using telemedicine to provide abortion consultation or dispense medication abortions; and rules known as "TRAP" laws that abortion-rights attorneys say place unnecessarily cumbersome health and safety regulations on facilities that provide abortions (in 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down similar rules in Texas).  The suit's lead plaintiff is Jackson Women's Health Organization, the only clinic providing abortions in Mississippi. Speaking with reporters by phone, clinic owner Diane Derzis said women are forced to make repeated trips to her facility to obtain the procedure.  "These laws are designed for one purpose only, and that's to put us out of business as well as removing a woman's right to decide her future," Derzis said."

That's right.  Precisely, the intention of these goddamned nazis.

"In a press release, CRR President and CEO Nancy Northup says there is a "coordinated strategy to undermine or eliminate women's constitutional rights to legal abortion with deceptive laws and unnecessary regulations" in Mississippi."

Not only there, but here in Nazi Texas as well.  Elsewhere throughout our formerly great country.  Raw nazism.  Concerted attack on reproductive freedom by nazis determined to force their fascist religious views on all by statute.

"In Bryant's 2014 State of the State address, he announced a goal "to end abortion in Mississippi." When he signed the 15-week ban last month, Bryant tweeted, "I am committed to making Mississippi the safest place in America for an unborn child."

This man is no more than an outrageously haughty nazi determined to force his outrageously perverse religious views on all.  This fascist son of a bitch is out of uniform.  No swastika armband.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Greed trumps life.  Literally, figuratively, and in reality.  LOL.  The Washington Post reports:

"Donald Trump in the late 1990s helped lobby New York City officials to drop a proposal to require expensive fire sprinklers in older apartment buildings, including his Fifth Avenue condominiums at Trump Tower, according to a safety expert involved in the debate.  “He [Trump] fought against it. He did not want sprinkler protections in those buildings because of the cost,” John Viniello, former president of the National Fire Sprinkler Association, said in an interview. Viniello said he was involved in discussions with city officials and opponents in the real estate industry.  As discussions continued, Trump called city officials to argue against the sprinkler measure, citing concerns about installation costs and vandalism, according to news reports at the time."

Unbridled greed.

"It is unclear whether a sprinkler system would have controlled a fire that engulfed a Trump Tower apartment Saturday, killing a longtime resident and injuring six firefighters, none critically.  Todd Brassner, 67, an art dealer known as a friend of pop art icon Andy Warhol, was found unconscious and unresponsive when firefighters arrived Saturday at Unit 50C. Brassner’s apartment was “virtually entirely on fire,” New York City Fire Department Commissioner Daniel A. Nigro said. Brassner died later that night."

There's more:

"Trump has not commented on the death or injuries. The Trump Organization did not comment on Trump’s lobbying efforts on the sprinkler issue but said in a statement that it was in “constant communication with the New York Fire Department, who arrived on the scene within minutes of receiving our call.” It said it sent prayers and condolences to Brassner’s family."

Big shit.  'Considerate' of the clueless bastards, isn't it?

"Fire safety advocates said the Trump Tower blaze highlights a gap in safety requirements for high-rise residential apartments around the city built before 1998, when fatal fires in two high-rise apartments prompted efforts by Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and City Council members to expand sprinkler requirements.  “Sprinklers always save lives. It’s a pretty commonly known fact,” said Robert O’Brien, a retired New York firefighter and member of the International Fire and Life Safety Experts, in an interview."

Wouldn't want to confuse the hopelessly greedy Trump nazi and his henchmen with the truth, would we?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-13-18

Our nazi president and his henchmen continue to protect the banks.  The following is appalling.  Gross dereliction of duty.  CBS News reports:

"In the 135 days since the Trump administration took control of the nation's consumer watchdog agency, it has not recorded a single enforcement action against banks, credit card companies, debt collectors or any finance companies whatsoever.  That's likely no fluke: Mick Mulvaney, appointed acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in late November, promised to shrink the bureau's mandate and take a much softer approach to enforcement, and records reviewed by The Associated Press indicate he has kept his word.  A review of a CFPB database obtained by the AP through a Freedom of Information request shows that the bureau issued an average of two to four enforcement actions a month under former Director Richard Cordray, President Obama's appointee. But the database shows zero enforcement actions have been taken since Nov. 21, 2017, three days before Cordray resigned."

Trump and his henchmen remain an exigent threat to consumers and the rule of law:

"Before Mulvaney, the bureau used enforcement actions to extract billions of dollars in relief for consumers from financial companies and to stop companies from doing harm. Bank of America was ordered to return $727 million to consumers for deceptive credit card practices in 2015 — the largest award in the bureau's history — but the CFPB has issued dozens of smaller actions to get relief for student borrowers, victims of debt collection companies and bank customers.  In the roughly seven years it has been in existence, the bureau has returned $3.97 billion in cash back to American consumers through enforcement actions and an additional $7.93 billion in other types of relief, such as lower loan balances or debt relief, based on the CFPB's records. The bureau estimates roughly one of every 10 Americans has received some sort of reimbursement or relief due to the bureau's enforcement work since it was created.  Despite that direct relief to consumers, Republicans — including Mulvaney when he was representing South Carolina in Congress — accused the bureau of overreach. Mulvaney once called the bureau a "sick, sad joke" of an agency."

A raucous, boot clicking, goose stepping, treasonous, treacherous, traitorous Sieg Heil!, Mr. 'President?'

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-6-18

Highly reminiscent of our outrageously bought and paid for judiciary, Llano County prosecutors, Sheriff Bill Blackburn and his criminal SS jackbooted bastards in black who continue to egregiously disgrace themselves and the badge, do as they please regardless of the law and Constitution, carefully consider the following.  It's appalling.  Runs against the grain of everything our formerly great country once stood for.  No longer.

How can anyone expect justice from a U.S. Supreme Court that has at least 5 Republican nazis warming the bench? The following?  Appalling.  Nazi Germany circa 1933.  The Washington Times reports:

"The Supreme Court ruled Monday that a police officer could not be personally sued for civil damages over a shooting where he felt the community was endangered by a woman wielding a knife — overturning an appeals court decision."

Jesus Christ.  These nazis are determined to protect the criminal jackbooted bastards in blue no matter what they do.  Where the f--k were the Democrats?  Out to lunch as usual?

"The Arizona police officer, Andrew Kisela, had shot Amy Hughes four times after she ignored calls from three police officers to drop her weapon, which she held while standing within six feet of her roommate, Sharon Chadwick."

Couldn't have used a taser?  Baton?  Why the hell aren't these gutless jackbooted pieces of shit not trained as unarmed United States Marines, -- to disarm the perpetrator.  'Shoot first, ask questions later' has clearly become the mantra of gutless, cowardly law enforcement.

"The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled the shooting appeared to be extreme and Ms. Hughes, who was seriously injured, could sue, but the Supreme Court said the officer appears to have acted reasonably."

F--k these nazis.  These clueless fascists clearly support the jackbooted bastards in blue no matter what they do.  In direct violation of their oaths of office to protect and defend the United States Constitution.  Remain oblivious to the rumble.  Too deaf to hear.  -- An unwanted dreaded second American revolution catastrophically looming.

“This is far from an obvious case in which any competent officer would have known that shooting Hughes to protect Chadwick would violate the Fourth Amendment,” the Supreme Court said in its unsigned opinion Monday."

Jesus Christ.  The heads of these clueless, achingly fascist 'justices' remain figuratively, securely lodged up their clueless nazi asses.

"The justices sent the case back to the 9th Circuit for more action."

Jesus Christ.  'Can fix ignorant, can't fix stupid.'  As Nero fiddled when Rome burned, so do these pieces of shit ignore reality.  As our formerly great country continues to deteriorate.  Transitions from the goddamned de facto fascist police-state we now live in to the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich.

Coup de grace?  Kicker?  Get this:

"The Supreme Court said given most officers would have believed the police conduct was lawful, Officer Kisela has qualified immunity from a civil suit."

Horse shit.  Here's why:

"Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who dissented along with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, said Ms. Hughes had the knife down at her side, didn’t commit any illegal act and wasn’t suspected of a crime. She noted the other two police officers didn’t open fire, and one of them testified he had wanted to continue using verbal commands.  Ms. Chadwick later said said she didn’t feel threatened by her roommate. She said Ms. Hughes was threatening to hurt Ms. Chadwick’s dog if she didn’t make good on a $20 debt.  “If this account of Kisela’s conduct sounds unreasonable, that is because it was,” wrote Justice Sotomayor."

This is precisely why this nazi court continues to present an exigent threat to life, liberty, all civil and constitutional rights and liberties.  Continues to legislate its outrageously perverse ideological and religious views from the bench.

NPR reports:

"The court's decision came without ordering full briefing or argument, a rare step indicating that the majority thought the case easy to decide."

Frightening, isn't it?  Appalling, as well.  This is a nazi court.  Five Republicans.  Clearly, the problem is bipartisan, however.  Forget?  Only two Democrats in dissent.  That means seven bipartisan nazis remained able and willing to continue the outrageously egregious bastardization of this issue:

"The unsigned, eight-page opinion said that under clearly established law, "the reasonableness of a particular use of force must be judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, rather than with the vision of 20/20 hindsight," and the court reiterated that the "calculus of reasonableness" must allow for "the fact that police officers are often forced to make split-second judgments — in circumstances that are tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving...."  Even if the shooting in the Hughes case did amount to excessive force, "a proposition that is not at all evident on these facts," the court said, the officer who shot Hughes would still not be liable. Under the court's "qualified immunity" doctrine, said the court majority, the officer would be immune from any lawsuit because his conduct did not violate "any clearly established statutory or constitutional right" that "a reasonable person could have known" about."

They've bought the bullshit.  Drunk the Kool Aide.  -- Clearly, doomsday revolution clock advances dangerously close to midnight.

"Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing for herself and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, strenuously dissented. Noting that two of the three officers on the scene thought it "unnecessary to use deadly force," the dissenters observed that Hughes was "nowhere near the officers, had committed no illegal act, was suspected of no crime, and did not raise the knife in the direction of the other woman or anyone else."

The seven nazis on this court could not, would not be confused with the truth.

"This is not the kind of case that the Supreme Court normally disposes of without briefing or argument, contended Sotomayor. "The relevant facts are hotly disputed" and the question of immunity in these circumstances is, "at the very best, a close call." Yet, instead of letting the case go to a jury, the court has "intervened prematurely, purporting to correct an error that is not at all clear."

Again, this remains an egregiously out of control nazi court that does not portend well for the future.  Our formerly great country continues to come apart at the seems.  An  unwanted dreaded second American revolution catastrophically looms.  Yet, fascists on the court remain oblivious, out to lunch.

"The court's "unwarranted" overturning of the lower court's decision in this case, she said, is "symptomatic" of a "disturbing" and "one-sided" approach to excessive force cases, where police are almost always protected, and the victims of excessive force have little to no recourse."

This continues?  Could very well spark the unthinkable.  Wake up.  We already live in a de facto fascist police-state quickly transforming to the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich.  Increasingly, unsustainable.

Here's the bottom line as our formerly great country continues to deteriorate:

"In the hands of the current court, she charged, the doctrine of limited immunity for police is being transformed into "an absolute shield for law enforcement officers."

Hear the rumble?

"The court, she concluded, is not only "wrong on the law," it is sending "an alarming signal" to police and the public alike. It tells police they "can shoot first and think later," and it tells the public that "palpably unreasonable conduct will go unpunished."

... As repeatedly stated in this publication, ad nauseum.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-6-18

Joe Biden's head figuratively remains where it's been for decades, -- up his ass.  CBS News reports:

"Vice President Joe Biden blasted what he called "the prostitution of the Second Amendment" by gun rights activists at the University of Pennsylvania on Thursday. He made the remarks while participating in wide-ranging discussion with the university's president, Amy Gutmann.  "I think the Second Amendment is being badly interpreted, it's not consistent with what our founders intended," said Biden when discussing gun policy. He added, "What's happened here is the nation as a whole has decided it can no longer, in my view, continue to turn a blind eye to the prostitution of the Second Amendment here and can no longer turn a blind eye to the enormous damage being done not just in our schools but on our streets."

First, Biden conveniently forgets the last best defense against outrageously corrupt, abusive, murderous government remains a well-armed citizenry.  Precisely, the intention of the Founders when they wrote the Second Amendment.  Second, remarkable, isn't it, that Democrats rightfully criticize 'conservative' Republican  judges for a 'strict constructionist' approach to interpreting the Constitution, yet now do precisely the same in their approach to bastardizing the Second Amendment to promulgate gun control?  Glaring hypocrisy.

"Biden hailed the work of young activists who led the "March For Our Lives" rally in Washington and across the country. He said the students of Parkland, Florida have forced an "awful lot of elected officials" to "rip the bandaid off" of where they stand on gun-related issues.  "This was totally, thoroughly spontaneously on the part of the students, there was no adult inspiration for this. They insisted and that's why guys like me who led in the gun issue did not show up to speak, we wanted to make sure everybody knew this was a spontaneous, thoroughly spontaneous effort on the part of young people," said Biden of the marches."

Hey, Joe?  These kids have an excuse for their failure to think this issue thoroughly through, -- lack of experience, ignorance of history.  What the hell is yours?  Aggressive stupidity?  'Can fix ignorant, can't fix stupid.' Forget?

"He added, "These millions of kids, they're impacting on their parents' sense of responsibility and you're going to see it in the polls, you're going to see it change, it's already a movement, it's real and I predict to you it's not going to stop."

Should it continue to its not-so-logical conclusion, could very well wind up being the spark that set off the unthinkable.  An unwanted dreaded second American revolution catastrophically looming.  No way in hell will the citizenry tolerate disarmament.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-6-18

Think Ann Coulter, poster girl for the Nazi Right, has no heart?  No soul?  Remains anything more than the Ice Princess?  She's met her match, -- and then some.  LOL.  CBS News reports:

"Fox News' Laura Ingraham announced Friday she would be taking a vacation the next week to celebrate Easter with her family as advertisers have dropped her show after she criticized a Parkland school shooting survivor. Her supporters have launched the hashtag #IStandWithLaura."

Stand with a nazi idiot?  Worse, proud to stand with such an idiot?  LOL.

"In April 2017, embroiled in an advertiser boycott, Fox News' Bill O'Reilly announced he would be taking vacation for Easter. He was later fired by the network."

Breaks your heart, doesn't it?  LOL.

"Eleven companies so far have withdrawn their ads from Ingraham's Fox News program after she feuded with a survivor of the Parkland, Florida, school shooting over Twitter. The Atlantis, Paradise Island resort; Office Depot, Jenny Craig, Hulu, Nutrish, TripAdvisor, Expedia, Wayfair, StitchFix, Nestlé and Johnson & Johnson said they would pull ads from the show."

Figurative kiss of death.  The count has increased since then.

"Ingraham on Wednesday posted a mocking tweet of high school senior David Hogg, taunting him for not getting into some colleges he had applied to. In response, Hogg tweeted a list of advertisers on Ingraham's show and called on followers to contact them"

Guess what?  They did.  LOL.

"Nutrish was the first to say it would stop advertising on Ingraham's program, and other brands followed.  Ingraham apologized in a tweet the following day, citing "the spirit of Holy Week," and invited Hogg to appear on her show.

    "Any student should be proud of a 4.2 GPA —incl. @DavidHogg111. On reflection, in the spirit of Holy Week, I apologize for any upset or hurt my tweet caused him or any of the brave victims of Parkland. For the record, I believe my show was the first to feature David...(1/2)
    — Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) March 29, 2018

"Hogg dismissed her statement. "She only apologized after we went after her advertisers," he told the New York Times. Ingraham has stayed silent since her tweet on Thursday."

Despite the fact these kids are cluelessly doing all they can to abrogate the Second Amendment, that is, the last best defense against outrageously corrupt, abusive, murderous government, it's clearly a mistake to condescendingly, patronizingly dismiss them and their misguided efforts.  Worse, taunt the future generation that will soon take over where the rest of us have so miserably failed.  Better to substantively, rhetorically eviscerate their misguided efforts point by point in reasoned debate.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-6-18

Consider the following.  What do you think?  NPR reports:

"Fired Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin tells NPR's Morning Edition that political forces in the Trump administration want to privatize the VA — and that he was standing in the way.  "There are many political appointees in the VA that believe that we are moving in the wrong direction or weren't moving fast enough toward privatizing the VA," he said. "I think that it's essential for national security and for the country that we honor our commitment by having a strong VA. I was not against reforming VA, but I was against privatization."

Fascinating, isn't it?

"Those political forces may be why Shulkin says he wasn't allowed to speak out to defend himself against an ethics controversy over use of funds on a trip to Europe that he says was overhyped and intended to weaken him.  "This was completely mischaracterized," Shulkin said. "There was nothing improper about this trip, and I was not allowed to put up an official statement or to even respond to this by the White House. ... I think this was really just being used in a political context to try to make sure that I wasn't as effective as a leader moving forward."

Should never have allowed your wife to fly free courtesy of taxpayers.  Damaged your credibility.  Then again, privatization of the VA would turn out to be a colossal mistake.  At expense of our best and brightest.  To line corporate coffers.  No more than war profiteers.

"Shulkin's departure comes weeks after the release of an inspector general's report that was highly critical of an official trip he took to Europe last spring. Shulkin brought along his wife, paying for her travel with agency funds as the two enjoyed several days of tourism in between the secretary's official meetings. The report also said he had improperly accepted a gift of Wimbledon tennis tickets on the trip."

Think the following exculpatory?  Or, just an excuse:

"Shulkin told NPR that all expenses were approved in advance by an internal ethics committee and that when the inspector general later didn't like the expenditures, Shulkin wrote a check to the government."

He did write them a check.  Not good enough, however.  Needed to be criminally prosecuted.

"No one's ever mentioned what the purpose of this trip was," he argued. "This was the five allies conference, a trip that the VA secretary has participated in for 43 years with major allies. We had over 40 hours of direct meetings. I gave three separate lectures. This is our one forum where we share how to care for our veterans among all of our allies.  "This was being characterized as a European vacation, it was far from that. ... I went out, never used government money for that. The single expenditure spent was on a coach airfare for my wife who was officially invited. Everything was preapproved by our ethics committee. When the inspector general didn't like the way that my staff had handled the approval, I wrote a check back to the government."

Think the Inspector General lied?  Or, Shulkin is desperately trying to excuse the inexcusable?

Equally fascinating?  Get this:

"The White House has not replied to a request for comment on Shulkin's accounting of events."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-6-18

Think the Trump regime not for the rich, by the rich, to further enrich the rich?  LOL.  ABC News reports:

"For much of his first year in Washington, President Trump’s EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt occupied prime real estate in a townhouse near the U.S. Capitol that is co-owned by the wife of a top energy lobbyist, property records from 2017 show.  Neither the EPA nor the lobbyist, J. Steven Hart, would say how much Pruitt paid to live at the prime Capitol Hill address, though Hart said he believed it to be the market rate. The price tag on Pruitt’s rental arrangement is one key question when determining if it constitutes an improper gift, ethics experts told ABC News."

Never enough, is it?

“I think it certainly creates a perception problem, especially if Mr. Hart is seeking to influence the agency,” said Bryson Morgan, the former investigative counsel at the U.S. House of Representatives Office of Congressional Ethics. “That’s why there is a gift rule.”

Precisely.  Trump and his friends, however, truly believe they remain above the law and all the rules.  Forget?  Top of the food chain believes social rank enjoys and remains entitled to special privilege.

"Hart confirmed to ABC News in a brief interview that Pruitt had lived in the flat, which is owned by a limited liability company that links to an address listed to Hart and his wife Vicki Hart, a lobbyist with expertise in the healthcare arena. Steven Hart said Vicki Hart co-owns the condo. He said his wife was not the majority owner, but would not identify her partners."

Imagine that.

“I have no ownership interest,” he said. “Obviously, I know the owners.”

Forget?  It's who you know.

Think Pruitt will remain in office?  The Washington Post reports:

"Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt used an obscure provision in the Safe Drinking Water Act to increase the salaries of two close aides at the agency last month after the White House refused to boost their pay, according to two people with firsthand knowledge of the matter.  Sarah Greenwalt, 30, Pruitt’s senior counsel, and Millan Hupp, 26, his director of scheduling and advance, both worked with him in Oklahoma and are part of his inner circle at the EPA. Last month, he asked the White House Office of Presidential Personnel to give Greenwalt a 52 percent raise, bringing her salary to $164,200, and to award Hupp a nearly 33 percent increase, raising her salary to $114,590."

Got to take care of his own, doesn't he?  LOL.  Think the Trump nazi's a happy camper?  Get this:

"After the White House declined the request, according to people speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters, Pruitt reappointed both staff members under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act. The law allows the EPA chief to hire up to 30 people without presidential or congressional approval, which gave Pruitt the ability to set their salary levels himself."

Think this isn't the only Pruitt issue irritating "The Donald?"  ... Or, is the Trump nazi cheering him on?

"The move to raise the two salaries, first reported Tuesday morning by the Atlantic, is the latest example of Pruitt’s unorthodox approach to running the EPA and using federal money. Congressional Democrats and some ethics experts are increasingly questioning  aspects of his leadership and operation."

What's the problem?  LOL.  Taxpayers can afford the concerted ass f--king, can't they?  LOL.  ... With or without the Vaseline or KY of course.

"He is already under scrutiny on several fronts, including his frequent first-class travel, which aides attribute to the elevated security threat he has faced, and his arrangement with the wife of an energy and transportation lobbyist to rent her Capitol Hill condo unit last year for $50 a night. Under that rental agreement, Pruitt paid only for lodging on the nights when he stayed in the condo and did not pay an additional fee for his adult daughter to occupy a separate bedroom there."

Then again, Trump's not doing far worse?  LOL.  All those taxpayer-funded flights to his Florida shangri-la, to say nothing of all the emoluments, etc..

Coup de grace?  Epitome of Aryan arrogant cluelessness of the Trump nazi?  Get this:

"While the White House did not respond immediately for a request for comment, multiple senior administration officials confirmed Tuesday that President Trump called Pruitt Monday night to convey his support. White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly followed up with a call Tuesday morning to reinforce that message, officials said.  The president told Pruitt, “Keep your head up, keep fighting. We have your back,” according to these officials. CBS News first reported on the calls."

You're being royally f--ked by this goddamned fascist charlatan.  Support this piece of crap no matter what he does?  Get what you deserve.  Forget?  Profound stupidity is ultimately always amply 'rewarded.'

NPR reports:

"The head of the Environmental Protection Agency is fending off multiple accusations that he misused taxpayer funds and maintained improper ties to companies regulated by the EPA.  The scrutiny began months ago — the EPA Office of Inspector General started investigating Administrator Scott Pruitt's travel expenses in August 2017, after reports that he spent thousands of dollars on first-class plane tickets and a 24/7 security detail. But in recent weeks, a steady string of reports has painted a broader picture of a public servant with close financial ties to the industries he regulates and a desire to reward political appointees at the agency he runs."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-6-18

Think the following isn't appalling?  Indicative of a goddamned nazi dictator?  The Washington Times reports:

"The State Department will publish new rules this week that would require most visitors and immigrants to the U.S. to turn over their recent social media histories, carrying out one of President Trump’s key security enhancements from his extreme vetting executive order."

F--k the nazi and his equally fascist henchmen.  Needs to be challenged in court.

"Security experts have demanded the government collect more information from visitors and immigrants for years, but civil liberties groups have been wary of the move."

For damned good reason.

"Homeland Security had floated plans to track social media of immigrant applicants, but the State Department’s new proposal would apply to tourists and others coming on temporary visas. Some 14 million people would be affected by the request for information, the department’s documents say."

Foreign tourists should reconsider their plans to visit.  Figuratively hit the nazis in the White House where it truly hurts.  -- Pocketbooks of the corporate management suite.

"Don Crocetti, a former senior fraud investigator for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, said it makes sense to collect the information — but said officers need to stay within privacy rules, too."

Called goddamned double talk.  Talking out both sides the nazi ass.  Can't have it both ways.

"He said in the immigration context, looking at social media can help an adjudicator assess whether the story the applicant is telling for applying for a benefit rings true — such as in the case of a marriage petition."

Horse shit.  Any excuse at all to exponentially increase intrusiveness.  ... And jackbooted power.

"But Mr. Crocetti said someone’s refusal to turn over the passwords or other non-public social media information can’t be used on its own to deny approval."

Delusionally believe this won't happen?  Isn't the intent?  Unadulterated, disingenuous bullshit.  Precisely, why these bastards cannot be believed.  Have no credibility.  None at all.  Have egregiously, determinedly abrogated their oaths to protect and defend the United States Constitution.

“The use of social media is a wrench in their tool box. It’s not that you use that same wrench for everything you do, but it’s a wrench, it’s a different sized tool, and you use that selectively,” he said."

Goddamned bullshit.  Jackbooted nazis take every opportunity to abuse, impose, and consolidate power:

"The State Department said it already collects limited information about travel history and family relations. The new information will go beyond that to include prior passport numbers, information about family members, and a longer history of past travel, employment and contact information."

Why would foreigners even wish to visit a de facto fascist police-state soon to become the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich?

Readers are reminded the terror since 9/11 is homegrown.  Even 9/11 could have been prevented if the State Department had conducted full background checks on the terrorists.  Had heeded warnings of the flight schools the hijackers wished to only learn how to fly straight and level, not take off and land.

Not one head, however, rolled in the George "The Tush" Bush State Department.  Instead, gutless nazis in both major political parties concertedly, deliberately, cowardly eviscerated the Bill of Rights.  USA 'Patriot' Act, Homeland 'Security' Act, 'Real' ID Act, etc..  List can go on and on.  You've been hoodwinked, bamboozled, royally f--ked over by your government masters.  Most of you too damned stupid and gutless to fully understand the magnitude of this orchestrated f--king.

CBS News reports:

"The State Department wants to require all U.S. visa applicants to submit their social media usernames, previous email addresses and phone numbers, vastly expanding the Trump administration's enhanced vetting of potential immigrants and visitors. In documents to be published in Friday's Federal Register, the department said it wants the public to comment on the proposed new requirements, which will affect nearly 15 million foreigners who apply for visas to enter the U.S. each year."

Fascist police-state.  Further consolidation of Executive power by a fascist dictator, the Trump nazi.

"Previously, social media, email and phone number histories were only sought from applicants identified for extra scrutiny, such as those who have traveled to areas controlled by terrorist organizations. An estimated 65,000 people per year are in that category. "

Why travel to this nazi hell hole?  No more than a de facto fascist police-state, quickly transforming to the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich.

"The new rules would apply to virtually all applicants for immigrant and non-immigrant visas. The department estimates it would affect 710,000 immigrant visa applicants and 14 million non-immigrant visa applicants, including those who want to come to the U.S. for business or education, according to the documents."

Why bother to come?  Subject yourself to this goddamned bullshit?  Better yet, by not coming you deprive the Trump nazi's corporate masters of the money you would have spent here.  Figuratively hit these hopelessly fascist bastards where it hurts most, -- the pocketbook.

"The documents were posted on the Federal Register's website on Thursday but the 60-day public comment period won't begin until Friday's edition is published."

Matters not.  The nazi bastards will ramrod it through no matter what.

"If the requirements are approved by the Office of Management and Budget, applications for all visa types would list a number of social media platforms and require the applicant to provide any account names they may have had on them over the previous five years. It would also give the applicant the option to volunteer information about social media accounts on platforms not listed in the application."

Most 'considerate' of these fascists, isn't it?  F--k the bastards.  Insult to injury?  Coup de grace?  Get this:

"In addition to their social media histories, visa applicants will be asked for five years of previously used telephone numbers, email addresses, international travel and deportation status, as well as whether any family members have been involved in terrorist activities."

Jesus Christ.  Are these sons of bitches so stupid, so clueless, so hopelessly ignorant as to believe a family would rat out another family member who had indeed been involved in terrorism?  Give me a break.  These condescending, patronizing pieces of shit are determined, concerted, hopelessly ignorant idiots.  Dolts.

NBC News reports:

"Immigration and Customs Enforcement no longer automatically releases most pregnant immigrants detained by authorities, the Trump administration announced Thursday.  Instead, under the new policy, pregnant women are detained by ICE and assessed on a case-by-case basis on whether they should be released.  The change has been in effect since Dec. 14, 2017, Philip Miller, deputy executive associate director for ICE removal operations, told reporters on a conference call. ICE made the policy public after informing Congress about the change in an email Thursday.  According to a question and answer section on its website, ICE said it had updated its policy to end "the presumption of release" for pregnant detainees "to better align with the president's executive order."

Raw nazism, ala Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini.  Trump nazi's Fourth Reich.

“This new policy further exposes the cruelty of Trump’s detention and deportation force by endangering the lives of pregnant immigrant women,” Victoria Lopez, American Civil Liberties senior staff counsel, said in a statement.  In September, the American Civil Liberties Union and several advocacy groups complained to the Department of Homeland Security inspector general and the civil rights and civil liberties office that ICE was violating its policy on detention of pregnant women."

Fascist police-state, transforming to the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich.

"ICE stated that all detainees receive “necessary and appropriate health services, food and care. ICE detention facilities will continue to provide onsite prenatal care and education, as well as remote access to specialists for pregnant women who remain in custody.”

The jackbooted bastards are liars:

"But last November, Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate allegations of abuses of pregnant women in detention, including solitary confinement, shackling and lack of women's health services, according to a statement from Grijalva's office.  "For the Trump administration to further lower the bar and subject more women to these health risks is disgusting," Grijalva stated."

The mark of a nazi dictator. Wake up.  This fascist bastard and his henchmen present an exigent threat to life, liberty, all civil and constitutional rights and liberties.

Now, this lunatic wishes to put troops on the Mexican border to fight illegal immigration.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-6-18

Think the racist AG Sessions nazi isn't determinedly following in the footsteps of his mentor, Adolf Hitler?  NPR reports:

"The Trump administration has been trying to ramp up deportations of immigrants in the country illegally. But one thing has been standing in its way: Immigration judges often put these cases on hold.  Now Attorney General Jeff Sessions is considering overruling the judges."

How is this constitutional in a supposedly democratic republic?  Clearly, the United States Constitution has been egregiously bastardized over the decades to consolidate Executive power, create a de facto fascist police-state.  The Founders wouldn't recognize the formerly great country they established over two centuries ago.

"One practice that is particularly infuriating to Sessions and other immigration hard-liners is called administrative closure. It allows judges to put deportation proceedings on hold indefinitely. "Basically they have legalized the person who was coming to court, because they were illegally in the country," Sessions said during a speech in December."

Convoluted double talk coming from a racist nazi determined to further bastardize the United States Constitution.  In direct violation of his falsely sworn oath to protect and defend this very same Constitution.  This racist fascist bastard remains an exigent threat to life, liberty, all civil and constitutional rights and liberties.  A traitor.

"Sessions is using his authority over the immigration court system to review a number of judicial decisions. If he overturns those decisions, thousands of other cases could be affected. In this way, he is expected to end administrative closure, or scale it back."

How is the immigration court system under jurisdiction of the Executive Branch?  Why isn't it part of the Judicial Branch?  Independent of the DOJ and White House?  Goddamned fox guarding the chicken coop.  No true oversight, no check and balance rendered by another branch of government.  How is this constitutional?  If in fact it is, time for another amendment.  Indeed, one of the reasons why an unwanted dreaded second American revolution catastrophically looms.  Too deaf to hear the rumble?  Or, is the problem hopelessly gutless aggressive stupidity?

"The attorney general may also limit when judges can grant continuances and who qualifies for asylum in the United States.  This could reshape the nation's immigration courts, which are overseen by the Justice Department, and make them move faster. Sessions says he is trying to clear a massive backlog of cases that is clogging the docket.  But critics say he is weighing changes that would threaten the due process rights of immigrants, and the integrity of immigration courts."

Precisely what this racist nazi is desperately attempting to do.  Time for change.  Before too late.  Our formerly great country is coming apart at the seams.  All courts, every goddamned one of them including tax courts need to be independent of the Executive Branch.  Otherwise, the president is enabled to be no more than a tyrant.

"What he wants is an immigration court system which is rapid, and leads to lots of deportations," said Nancy Morawetz, who teaches the Immigrant Rights Clinic at New York University School of Law.  "It's really just an unprecedented move by the attorney general to change the way the whole system works," she said.  It's rare for an attorney general to exercise this power, but Sessions has done it four times in the past three months."

-- Certainly, one of the reasons why our formerly great country can no longer be considered a democratic republic.  No more than systemic abuse of power.  Creation of an achingly fascist dictatorship not accountable to anyone.

Worse?  Get this.  Indicative of a hopelessly Aryan arrogant nazi:

"Separately, for the first time, the Justice Department is setting quotas for immigration judges, pushing them to resolve cases quickly in order to meet performance standards."

Kangaroo justice.  Worthy of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, not a nazi president of the United States and his goddamned equally fascist henchmen.  Certainly, not in what is supposed to be a democratic republic.

"It's not just immigration lawyers who are worried about the effect of any changes. The union that represents immigration judges is concerned, too."

For damned good reason.

"A lot of what they are doing raises very serious concerns about the integrity of the system," said Judge Ashley Tabaddor, president of the National Association of Immigration Judges, "judges are supposed to be free from these external pressures."

Not in a de facto fascist police-state quickly transforming to the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich.

"The attorney general insists he's trying to make sure that judges are deciding cases "fairly and efficiently." And says he is trying to clear a backlog of nearly 700,000 cases."

The hell he is.  Direct opposite is the truth.  He's determined to railroad these defendants.  Deny them due process.  Constitutional rights as intended by the Founders.  Bastardized by the nazis in power last six decades.  This achingly diabolical racist nazi is a deluded congenital liar, just like his fuhrer, the Trump nazi.

NBC reports:

"The Trump administration has introduced production quotas for immigration judges in an effort to reduce enormous court backlogs, raising concern among judges and attorneys that decisions may be unfairly rushed.  The Justice Department's Executive Office for Immigration Review said judges must complete 700 cases a year to earn a satisfactory grade. The standards, which take effect Oct. 1, include six other measures indicating how much time judges should spend on different types of cases and court motions."

Goddamned de facto fascist police-state quickly transitioning to the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich.

"The measures are highly specific. A judge who completes more than 560 cases a year but fewer than 700 "needs improvement." Deciding fewer than 560 cases a year is deemed unsatisfactory.  The Justice Department said Monday that judges complete an average of 678 cases a year.  Under one benchmark, judges must rule the same day on every plea by asylum seekers to pass an initial threshold of establishing "credible" or "reasonable" fear to earn a satisfactory mark, unless the Homeland Security Department is responsible for them failing to show. Anything less than 80 percent is considered unsatisfactory."

Kangaroo justice.  ... Think Benito and Adolf aren't high-fiving from their fiery perches?

"The National Immigration Judges Association, whose recent collective bargaining agreement allows for performance metrics, strongly opposes the numerical targets and will explore options under federal labor law, said Dana Leigh Marks, a union spokeswoman.  "We believe the imposition of numerical performance metrics is completely, utterly contrary to judicial independence," said Marks, who is also an immigration judge in San Francisco. "We believe assessing quality is fine, not quantity."  Judges can argue that the nature of their cases justifies a lower completion rate, but Marks said keeping logs will add to their work burden and potentially create more backlog. She also said people may be more inclined to appeal decisions by arguing that the quotas denied them a fair hearing."

Hopefully, they'll have the wherewithal, financial and otherwise, to legally challenge this determined abrogation of justice.

"Laura Lynch, senior policy counsel for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said immigration attorneys were deeply concerned that cases will be "rushed through."

Precisely, the intention of our nazi fuhrer, and his sidekick, the racist AG Sessions nazi.  Mass deportation, ultimate goal of these nazis.

"Subjecting judges to numerical goals undermines one of the core principles of our judicial system, which is really a fair day in court," she said."

What's that?  Has been routinely denied most civilians for decades.  Not only the undocumented, but citizens incapable of paying for their day in court.  One of the reasons why the American dream is on life support.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-6-18

Trump remains delusional.  CBS News reports:

"The Washington Post's executive editor, Martin Baron, is firing back at President Trump for linking -- and attacking -- the paper and online shopping and shipping titan Amazon. The Post was purchased by Amazon's founder and chief executive Jeff Bezos in 2013.   "It's completely made up," Baron said in a phone interview with The New York Times, referring to Mr. Trump's attacks on the paper that have included claims that Amazon uses the Post as a "lobbyist."

Trump has lost his mind.  Wouldn't know truth if it figuratively bit him hard on the ass.

"I don't even know how to describe what goes through my mind," Baron said.  Last week alone, the president alleged the e-commerce site is taking advantage of the U.S. Postal Service and failing to pay enough in state and local taxes.

    "While we are on the subject, it is reported that the U.S. Post Office will lose $1.50 on average for each package it delivers for Amazon. That amounts to Billions of Dollars. The Failing N.Y. Times reports that “the size of the company’s lobbying staff has ballooned,” and that...
    — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 31, 2018"

This narcissistic fascist talks out his ass.  Does not back up what he falsely alleges.

"The White House has since insisted Mr. Trump's criticisms of Amazon are strictly policy-related. But Mr. Trump expanded that attack on Saturday morning, claiming, without offering any evidence, that Amazon is using The Washington Post as a "lobbyist." Mr. Trump said the newspaper should "REGISTER."

    '...does not include the Fake Washington Post, which is used as a “lobbyist” and should so REGISTER. If the P.O. “increased its parcel rates, Amazon’s shipping costs would rise by $2.6 Billion.” This Post Office scam must stop. Amazon must pay real costs (and taxes) now!
    — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 31, 2018"

Trump is clearly growing increasingly desperate as the Mueller investigation closes in on him and his henchmen.

"But Baron told the Times he will not be perturbed by the president's social media rants. "We cover him the way that we feel any president should be covered," he said.  The long-time editor flatly denied the president's claims that his paper acts as a lobbyist for Amazon. "There isn't anybody here who is paid by Amazon," he said. "Not one penny."  Baron also rebuffed Mr. Trump's assertions that Bezos has a hand in leading the Post's coverage. "I can't say more emphatically he's never suggested a story to anybody here, he's never critiqued a story, he's never suppressed a story," he said.  "If he had been involved in our news coverage, you can be sure that you would have heard about it by now," Baron added. "It hasn't happened. Period."

Growing desperation of the Trump nazi is not in the best interests of the American public.  Presents an exigent threat to life, liberty, all civil and constitutional rights and liberties.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-6-18

Delusionally believe the GOP to be the party of the family?  NPR reports:

"As people try to flee the war in Yemen — which U.N. agencies have labeled the "world's worst humanitarian crisis" — some Yemeni-Americans living in the United States have been able to get family members out of Yemen and to temporary safety in countries in East Africa. But the next step, to the U.S., is blocked.  While exact numbers are difficult to ascertain, it's clear that even some U.S. passport holders are at risk. For now, they're stuck, due to slow U.S. immigration processes affecting other family members and President Trump's ban on travel from eight countries, including Yemen. An NPR team recently learned of a dozen Yemeni-American families that have been split, with spouses or children in limbo abroad."

Due to the gutless lunatic nazi in the Oval Office and his henchmen.

"Among those affected are family members of Mohamed Hamza, a resident of the Bronx. He is one of many Yemeni-Americans who operate bodegas and cellphone stores across New York City. Just like previous waves of immigrants from Italy or Ireland, many work in America to support relatives whom they could not bring with them."

GOP party of the family?  Think so?

"What do you do is, every month, you send them the money," explained Zaid Nagi, the head of the Yemeni American Merchants Association and a U.S. citizen who has lived in the United States since 1994. "So you literally — you are a candle burning itself so for others to survive."  This is what Hamza did for about 20 years. He periodically returned to Yemen to see his wife and they started a family. He became a U.S. citizen. It all worked until Yemen's civil war broke out in 2015, and endangered the family.  Hamza's wife Saba and their 18-year-old daughter, who are not U.S. citizens, could not apply for U.S. visas from Yemen — it's so dangerous now that the U.S. embassy is closed. So they escaped in July 2016 across the Red Sea to reach Djibouti in East Africa. But, Hamza said, the U.S. consulate there has not yet given his wife and daughter visas.  "My family is separated," he said.  His 3-year-old son is a U.S. citizen, but since his older sister and mother are not, all three are stuck."

Gutless Republicans, party of the family?

"The toddler has a U.S. passport, but who's going to take care of him here?" Hamza said. He explained that he cannot care for his son alone in New York since he is working to support his family: "He has to stay with his mom and his older sister."

Yet extraordinarily gutless Republican nazis defend this shit.  Worse?  Claim to be Christians.

"In a windowless room in an apartment in Djibouti, 3-year-old Suleiman clambered into his mother Saba's lap and gave her a hug. He was clutching a blue U.S. passport — his passport.  Saba, Hamza's wife, misses her husband. "I wish I could be with him," she said.  After the war began, the family fled by boat. They found a place in this apartment building, which is filled with Yemenis.  Hamza came over in 2017, hoping to bring everyone home to the Bronx with him. He was able to take home three of his five children — two have green cards and one is a citizen — but Saba and Fatima have yet to receive visas and continue to stay in Djibouti with Suleiman.  "They left while I was asleep," Fatima recalled. "They didn't tell me because they didn't want to upset me." She was covered in a black abaya and niqab. All that was visible were her eyes, which welled up as she brushed away tears."

Trump's nazi vision of America.  Embraced by you delusional sick sycophants.  A raucous, boot clicking, goose stepping, treasonous, treacherous, traitorous Sieg Heil!?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-6-18

Finally, some semblance of justice.  In Florida.  CBS News reports:

"A jury has found the wife of Orlando gunman Omar Mateen not guilty of aiding her husband in the deadly attack.  Noor Salman was accused of aiding and abetting the attempted provision and provision of material support to a foreign terrorist organization and obstructing justice in connection with her husband's attack on the Pulse nightclub. She was found not guilty of all charges."

This woman should never have been charged.  Egregious abuse of prosecutorial authority, discretion.

"Prosecutors say Salman knew about Mateen's plans and did nothing to stop them. Her lawyers say she had no knowledge of what he intended to do and was mentally and physically abused by him. They say she wasn't an Islamic extremist.  The jury began deliberating at 1:42 p.m. Wednesday, following hours of closing statements from government prosecutors and defense attorneys that morning, reports CBS affiliate WKMG. They asked several questions about the charges Salman faced and closely examined the statement she made to the FBI in the hours after the attack.  She had faced up to life in prison."

Prosecutors miserably failed to get their 'pound of flesh.'

"Defense attorneys described Salman as an easily manipulated woman with a low IQ. They said Salman, who was born in California to Palestinian parents, was abused by her husband, who cheated on her with other women and concealed much of his life from her.  Attorney Charles Swift argued there was no way Salman knew that Mateen would attack the Pulse nightclub because even he didn't know he would attack it until moments before the shooting.  "It's a horrible, random, senseless killing by a monster," Swift said during closing arguments. "But it wasn't preplanned. The importance to this case is that if he didn't know, she couldn't know."

This woman was railroaded.

NPR reports:

"Her defense team argued that far from being an eager collaborator, Salman was instead a "simple woman" with a low IQ, susceptible to influence and abused by Mateen. While prosecutors asserted that Noor had given misleading statements to state and federal investigators, the defense maintained that she had been manipulated and mistreated during these interrogations."

That's right.  She was.  Should have remained silent.  Demanded an attorney.  Exercised her constitutional rights.

The Washington Post reports:

"The verdict is a major blow to federal and local law enforcement, which had hailed Salman’s arrest last January as a step toward justice and accountability for the massacre."

What they did was pile on.  Determined to convict someone, anyone for the crime perpetrated by her dead husband.

"After the verdict, Orlando Police Chief John Mina issued a statement saying: “I believe in our criminal justice system and am grateful for the jury’s hard work and thoughtful deliberation. Nothing can erase the pain we all feel about the senseless and brutal murders of 49 of our neighbors, friends, family members and loved ones.”  Orange County Sheriff Jerry L. Demings said more bluntly: “I am disappointed in the outcome of the trial and know that the victims and/or their families are more disappointed.”

You jackbooted bastards f--ked up.  Riled up the public in an attempt to get your 'pound of flesh.'  Should have made sure she had legal counsel before your jackbooted bastards interrogated her.  Sought justice, not revenge.  Fortunately, the jury saw through the ruse.

NBC Universal reports:

"When the jury acquitted Noor Salman on all charges on Friday in her trial for aiding and abetting Omar Mateen, her husband, in the 2016 Pulse massacre and obstruction of justice for allegedly providing conflicting statements to the FBI, it was indeed good news. She had been in solitary confinement for the past year, allowed one phone call a day with her young son, and faced the possibility of spending the rest of her life in prison for the crimes of the man she has accused of domestic violence.  But for many women, it is chilling to know this prosecution was even allowed to take place: The terrible tragedy at Pulse was exploited by a deceitful prosecution and the FBI to depict Salman as a terrorist supporter, when she was no more and no less than a survivor of domestic abuse at the hands of a mass shooter."

The criminal justice system is no longer about justice.  The goal now is convict someone, anyone.  Guilt?  Innocence?  No longer matters.  Irrelevant in a fascist police-state soon to be the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich.

"After surviving the violence and isolation to which Mateen subjected her, the FBI and the prosecution added to her trauma.  Her prosecution continued the cycle of dehumanization and terror Salman experienced in her marriage to Mateen. And, in today’s climate of Islamophobia and the War on Terror, her prosecution has alarming repercussions for Muslim women and for all survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault who are criminalized for the actions of their abusive partners."

-- Another side to this equation that 'conveniently' did not see the light of day during her prosecution.  Interesting, isn't it?

CBS News reports:

"The government's attorneys tried to prove Salman knew her husband, Omar Mateen, was planning the June 2016 attack that killed 49 people. Prosecutors said she was with Mateen when he purchased ammunition and cased possible locations like Disney Springs and that she told the FBI she knew his intentions."

All bullshit.  Get this:

"But defense attorneys said those statements were coerced, and there was no audio or video tape of the interrogation."

Carefully, reread the last quote.  No audio or video recording of the interrogation? What does that tell you?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-6-18

The following is heroic.  Uncommon valor.  NPR reports:

"A former FBI agent working on counterterrorism has been charged with sharing classified documents with a news organization, including documents that reportedly show that the bureau continues to use race and religion to profile potential targets.   Attorneys for Terry James Albury said in a statement that their client was "driven by a conscientious commitment to long-term national security and addressing the well-documented systemic biases within the FBI."

Hat's off for exposing these nazis bastards for whom and what they are.  Traitors.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-6-18

At least, a few are finally beginning to wake up.  NPR reports:

"Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright describes herself as an "optimist who worries a lot." And lately, it seems, there has been much to worry about.  Albright's new book, Fascism: A Warning, starts by describing how Hitler and Mussolini came to power in the 20th century, then warns about today's authoritarian rulers in Eastern Europe, North Korea, Turkey and Russia.  Albright, who was born in Czechoslovakia and fled with her family after the Nazis occupied the country in 1939, notes that the United States has traditionally been viewed as a nation that opposes authoritarianism and supports democratic principles and human rights, but that perception is changing — in part because of President Trump.  While Albright does not call Trump a fascist, she says that he is "the most anti-democratic leader that I have studied in American history."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-6-18

Why do we continue to financially and militarily support the murderous Israeli aggressor?  NPR reports:

"Nine Palestinians have been killed in clashes with Israeli troops along the Gaza border, Palestinian officials said.  The ages of those killed range from 16- to 38-years old, according to Palestinian health officials. Palestinian health officials tell NPR hundreds of Palestinians suffered from a range of injuries. AP reports the injuries were from live fire, rubber bullets or tear gas.  One of the nine dead was a man killed in the early morning before the demonstrations started. Israel says he was approaching the border and that an Israeli tank fired on him. Palestinian health officials said Israel targeted farmers in the area. In today's demonstrations, Palestinians threw rocks and firebombs toward Israeli troops on the border."

Raw nazism.  Highly reminiscent of their German Nazi oppressors before and during the Second World War.

"The clashes come as Hamas, which controls Gaza, organized protests for the annual day when Palestinian refugees demand to return to areas in what is now Israel. Israel has been warning Palestinians to stay away from the border fence."

It's their land.  Land that you stole, commandeered with the blessing of Europe, the United States, and the United Nations in 1948.  Land you lost due to your egregious excesses generations ago.

"Tensions are high, as Palestinians are staging big rallies along the border as part of what they're calling the "March of Return" protests, as Reuters reports:  "The protest marks 'Land Day,' an annual Palestinian commemoration of the deaths of six Arab citizens of Israel killed by Israeli security forces during demonstrations over government land confiscations in northern Israel in 1976.  "The demonstrators are demanding that Palestinian refugees be allowed the right of return to towns and villages which their families fled from, or were driven out of, when the state of Israel was created in 1948."

Legalized theft by what has become a nazi aggressor.

"The protests are planned to last through May 15, the 70th anniversary of the founding of Israel.  "The large crowds ... reflect the Palestinian people's determination to achieve the right of return and break the siege and no force can stop this right," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum, according to The Associated Press.  The Israeli army tweeted that Palestinian protesters were "rolling burning tires and hurling firebombs & rocks at the security fence & IDF troops, who are responding w riot dispersal means and firing towards main instigators." It said it has reinforced troops and warned that it "is prepared to respond to the violent riots planned throughout the Gaza Strip, if necessary."

Palestinians are heroically fighting back as best they can.  Israel and its benefactor, the United States, remain on the wrong side of history.  Eventually, the American public will wake up to this great evil.  Withdraw financial and military support to this aggressor.  When that happens, there will indeed be a day of reckoning.

... As the region unites, converges to fight the aggressor.  -- An aggressor that would likely use its nuclear weapons stockpile in a desperate final effort to take the entire region down with it.  To think all this could have been avoided had Israel chosen to make peace, withdrew to its pre-1967 borders.  Found a way to allow right of return to those displaced in 1948.

Come to some kind of reasonable accommodation with its Arab neighbors.  Realized the region is indeed heart and center of three of the world's great religions, -- Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.  Instead, stupidly chose to behave remarkably reminiscent of its German Nazi oppressors circa 1933.

Here is precisely why Israel will likely, sadly, wind up in the sea some day:

"Israel does not accept any right of return.  "No Israeli government would ever be likely to accept this demand, since it would spell the end of Israel as a Jewish-majority state," The Times of Israel writes. "Israel's position is that Palestinian refugees and their descendants would become citizens of a Palestinian state at the culmination of the peace process, just as Jews who fled or were forced out of Middle Eastern countries by hostile governments became citizens of Israel."

Never ends.  Aggressive stupidity, short-sightedness at its very worst.  Worse than that?  Unadulterated horse shit, -- since the Israeli aggressor apparently no longer believes in a two-state solution.

In follow up, the death count has sadly increased.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-6-18

Think this judge fit for the bench?  CBS News reports:

"A judicial board accused a New Jersey judge of violating rules of conduct when he asked a woman during a court hearing if she tried closing her legs to prevent an alleged sexual assault. State Superior Court Judge John Russo made the comment during a 2016 hearing on a restraining order the woman was seeking against a man she accused of forcing her to have sex."

No problem with this?

"According to a transcript contained in the complaint, when the woman described her encounter with the man, Russo asked her, "Do you know how to stop somebody from having intercourse with you?"  When the woman answered affirmatively and said one method would be to run away, Russo continued, "Close your legs? Call the police? Did you do any of those things?"

Think this clueless son of a bitch isn't blaming the victim for the crime?

"The complaint filed this week alleged Russo "mistreated the victim."  The panel also accused him of other instances of violating rules on judicial conduct, including ruling on an alimony case in which Russo acknowledged he knew both parties."

Think this piece of human excrement fit to sit on the bench?  Judge anyone?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-6-18

Think the following proper?

"Michigan State University spent more than $500,000 to keep tabs on the online activities of former Olympic gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar's victims and journalists covering the case, according to the Lansing State Journal.  The public-relations company Weber Shandwick billed the university $517,343 for more than 1,440 hours of work tracking social media in the month of January, the Journal reports.  Michigan State's Office of Communication and Brand Strategy monitored social media and news media activity involving the Nassar case previously and concurrently with Weber Shandwick, the newspaper notes.  "The firm billed for work done by 18 different employees, whose hourly rates ranged from $200 to $600 per hour," the Journal writes. "Five of those employees billed MSU for more than $50,000, including one who billed for $96,900 and another who billed for $120,893."

For what?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-6-18

What do you think of the following?  Good idea?  Bad one?  You decide.   NPR reports:

"Treading into ethically and legally uncertain territory, a New York end-of-life agency has approved a new document that lets people stipulate in advance that they don't want food or water if they develop severe dementia. The directive, finalized this month by the board for End Of Life Choices New York, aims to provide patients a way to hasten death in late-stage dementia, if they choose."

This issue is far, far different than controversial doctor-assisted suicide.  In the latter, a mentally competent person, suffering from a terminal disease, can receive a prescription for medication that will allow him or her to end life.  The physician can in no way administer the drug.  Has to be done by the terminally ill person himself or herself.

Someone suffering from dementia does not have the wherewithal to do so.  Comfortable with this new end of life directive?  What if you were that person?  Would you wish to be kept alive under such circumstances?  Yet, hard to believe denying even the demented food and water would not result in considerable pain and suffering.

Any viable solution to this problem?  Certainly, wouldn't want healthcare professionals to euthanize.  Think such power wouldn't be abused?

"The document offers two options. One option is a request for "comfort feeding" — providing oral food and water if a patient appears to enjoy or allows it during the final stages of the disease. Another alternative would halt all assisted eating and drinking, even if a patient seems willing to accept it."

Comfortable with this?

"Supporters say it's the strongest effort to date to allow people who want to avoid the ravages of advanced dementia to make their final wishes known — while they still have the ability to do so.  "They do not want their dying prolonged," says Judith Schwarz, who drafted the document as clinical director for the advocacy group. "This is an informed and thoughtful choice that needs a great deal of reflection and discussion."

Think that sufficient?  How do you ensure it's not abused?  By family or providers that could have financial motives.  Great deal of thought needs to occur before implementation of this new approach.

"But critics say it's a disturbing effort to allow withdrawal of basic sustenance from the most vulnerable in society.  "I think oral feeding is basic care," says Richard Doerflinger, an associate scholar with the Charlotte Lozier Institute, which opposes abortion and euthanasia. "It's what they want here and now that matters. If they start taking food, you give them food."

Quite a conundrum, isn't it?

"Advance directives are legally recognized documents that specify care if a person is incapacitated. They can confirm that a patient doesn't want to be resuscitated or kept on mechanical life support, such as a ventilator or feeding tube, if they have a terminal condition from which they're not likely to recover."

Even those directives are sometimes ignored.

"However, the documents typically say nothing about withdrawing hand-feeding of food or fluids.  The New York directive, in contrast, offers option A, which allows refusal of all oral assisted-feeding. Option B permits comfort-focused feeding."

Certainly, takes such matters to a much higher level, doesn't it?

"The options would be invoked only when a patient is diagnosed with moderate or severe dementia, defined as Stages 6 or 7 of a widely used test known as the Functional Assessment Staging Tool (FAST). At those stages, patients would be unable to feed themselves or make health care decisions."

Think protections against abuse sufficient?  More important, sufficiently thought out?  Comfortable with this?

"The new form goes further than a similar dementia directive introduced last year by another group that supports aid-in-dying, End of Life Washington. That document says that a person with dementia who accepts food or drink should receive oral nourishment until he or she is unwilling or unable to do so.  The New York document says, "My instructions are that I do NOT want to be fed by hand, even if I appear to cooperate in being fed by opening my mouth."

Profound issue, isn't it?

"Whether the new directive will be honored in New York — or anywhere else — is unclear. Legal scholars and ethicists say directives to withdraw oral assisted-feeding are prohibited in several states.  Many care facilities are unlikely to cooperate, says Thaddeus Pope, director of the Health Law Institute at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn., and an expert on end-of-life law. Doctors have a duty to honor patient wishes, but they can refuse if they have medical or moral qualms."

Certainly, true.

"Even solidly legal advance directives do not and cannot ensure that wishes are respected," Pope writes in an email. "They can only 'help assure' that."  Directors at End of Life Choices New York consider the document "legally sturdy," Schwarz writes, adding: "Of course it's going to end up in court."

Certainly, will.

Hard to believe this issue will ever be satisfactorily resolved.  Many only hope death comes before the above becomes an issue.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

4-6-18

How would you like to be this guy?  NPR reports:

"Scott Foster is a 36-year-old accountant who lives in Oak Park, Ill. More than a decade ago, he was goalie on Western Michigan's hockey team. These days he plays in a rec league at a rink called Johnny's Icehouse.  That rink is just a few blocks east of the arena where the Chicago Blackhawks play — and where, on Thursday night, Foster became a legend.  Just before faceoff against the Winnipeg Jets, the Blackhawks tweeted that they had signed Foster to an amateur tryout contract to be the team's emergency backup goaltender: EBUG, for short. The team pointed to his .875 save percentage at Western Michigan University and his earlier career for the Petrolia Jets of the Western Ontario Hockey League."

Think there isn't a kid who's dreamed of the following?

"The one-day contracts are generally unpaid, and Foster, a father of two young children, has come to the United Center before to be on call as backup goalie.  "Usually," he said, "I just head upstairs, watch the game from the press box, have a bite to eat, and head home."  The Hawks needed to have Foster around, just in case, because they were a little shorthanded on goalies since their standout netminder, Corey Crawford, is injured and Anton Forsberg got hurt just before the game.  Then fill-in goalie Collin Delia, making his own NHL debut, had to leave the game in the third period due to cramping."

As they say, the rest is history:

"That left just one man to preserve the Hawks' lead.  "I don't think I heard anything other than, 'Put your helmet on,' " Foster said later.  With Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville grinning, Foster took the ice.  And he stopped one shot after another — seven times blocking the Jets' attempts to score.  In a moment most rec-league players can recognize from our wildest dreams, the fans in the United Center began chanting his name."

Gets better:

"With Foster's able handling in the net, the Hawks sealed the win, 6-2.  "The initial shock happened when I had to dress," Foster told delighted reporters after the game. "You just kind of black out after that."  Foster even won the team belt, which goes to the player of the game.  "I think I'm just about hitting my prime," he joked.  For the moment, he has incredible (if minimal) stats: his save percentage is 1.000. That's even higher than the Hawks' Corey Crawford, who has twice won the NHL's goalkeeping trophy.  What a night."

Indeed.  Hat's off.

March 30, 2018

Highly reminiscent of our outrageously bought and paid for judiciary, Llano County prosecutors, Sheriff Bill Blackburn and his criminal SS jackbooted bastards in black who continue to egregiously disgrace themselves and the badge, do as they please regardless of the law and Constitution, carefully consider the following.  It's appalling.  Runs against the grain of everything our formerly great country once stood for.  No longer.

The United States Constitution, including the Bill of Rights, remains under ferocious attack as our formerly great country continues to nazify.  The Founders considered the Second Amendment the last best defense against outrageously corrupt, abusive, murderous government.  Consider the following.  Coming from a retired Supreme Court 'Justice' makes it even more appalling.  CBS News reports:

"Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens is calling for the repeal of the Second Amendment to allow for significant gun control legislation.  The 97-year-old Stevens wrote in an op-ed for The New York Times on Tuesday that a repeal would weaken the National Rifle Association's ability to "block constructive gun control legislation" and be a more "effective and more lasting reform."

-- To think this man swore an oath to protect and defend the United States Constitution.  ... Instead, he bastardized it.  Get this:

"Concern that a national standing army might pose a threat to the security of the separate states led to the adoption of that amendment, which provides that "a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." Today that concern is a relic of the 18th century," wrote Stevens.  In his essay, the former justice embraced legislation that would ban semiautomatic weapons, increase the minimum age for buying a gun from 18 to 21 years old and establishing a "more comprehensive" background check system on all purchases of firearms. Stevens was on the losing end of a 2008 ruling in which the high court held that the Second Amendment gives individuals the right to own a gun for self-defense. He had previously called for changing the Second Amendment to permit gun control.  Stevens said the decision in that case, District of Columbia v. Heller, "has provided the N.R.A. with a propaganda weapon of immense power." Stevens retired from the court in 2010, after more than 35 years."

Stevens remains poster child for term limits on the Supreme Court, -- as well as throughout all government.  This man would abrogate the right of the people to the last best defense against outrageously corrupt, abusive, murderous government.  ... Which remains the original intent of the Founders, despite his claims to the contrary.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

March 30, 2018

Never ends.  Dowd resigns.  CBS News reports:

"John Dowd — a top attorney on President Trump's personal legal team who said it's time for the Russia collusion probe to end — has resigned from the president's personal legal team, CBS News has confirmed.   "I love the president and wish him well," Dowd told CBS News."

You love a nazi dictator, Counselor?  A narcissistic congenital liar?  Remarkable.

"The New York Times first reported his resignation. Dowd joined Mr. Trump's legal team in June to help with matters related to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election meddling and any ties to Trump associates. On Saturday, Dowd made news when he said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein should "bring an end" to Mueller's investigation."

Gets worse:

"I pray that Acting Attorney General Rosenstein will follow the brilliant and courageous example of the FBI Office of Professional Responsibility and Attorney General Jeff Sessions and bring an end to alleged Russia Collusion investigation manufactured by McCabe's boss James Comey based upon a fraudulent and corrupt Dossier," Dowd wrote to CBS News.  "Just end it on the merits in light of recent revelations," he added."

Haven't you sworn an oath to protect and defend the United States Constitution, Counselor?  Where did you lose yourself, sir?

NPR reports:

"John Dowd, the veteran attorney leading President Trump's outside legal team, has tendered his resignation.  He declined to explain why he was leaving the team that is helping the president deal with Robert Mueller's special counsel investigation.  "I love the president and wish him well," Dowd said when reached on his cellphone by NPR.  The New York Times reported — and Dowd would not confirm — that he is leaving because the president was "increasingly ignoring his advice."

    "Breaking News: President Trump’s lead lawyer for the special counsel’s inquiry has resigned after concluding Trump was increasingly ignoring his advice https://t.co/EWXBKJR8WG
    — The New York Times (@nytimes) March 22, 2018"

As usual, there's far more to the story.  NPR reports:

"Dowd's resignation also comes just days after the president added a new lawyer to the team, Joe diGenova, who has been outspoken in his attacks on the Justice Department Russia investigation.  "There was a brazen plot to illegally exonerate Hillary Clinton and — if she didn't win the election — to then frame Donald Trump with a falsely created crime," diGenova said on Fox News in January.  Dowd was reportedly blindsided by the hire."

Amazing how Republican nazis continue to make all kinds of accusations with no proof.  No evidence.  Empty rhetoric.

In update, CBS News reports:

"Former U.S. attorney Joseph diGenova and his wife and law partner Victoria Toensing will not be joining the legal team representing President Trump in the Russia probe led by special counsel Robert Mueller. Mr. Trump's attorney Jay Sekulow said Sunday morning that "conflicts" prevented the pair from formally joining the legal team, but said they would assist in other areas.

"The President is disappointed that conflicts prevent Joe diGenova and Victoria Toensing from joining the President's Special Counsel legal team. However, those conflicts do not prevent them from assisting the President in other legal matters. The President looks forward to working with them," said Sekulow."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

March 30, 2018

Be interesting to see if the following has legs or substance to it.  ... More importantly,  if Mueller is investigating.  The Washington Post reports:

"Days after a woman accused U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore of sexual impropriety, two Moore supporters approached her attorney with an unusual request.  They asked lawyer Eddie Sexton to drop the woman as a client and say publicly that he did not believe her. The damaging statement would be given to Breitbart News, then run by former White House strategist Stephen K. Bannon.  In exchange, Sexton said in recent interviews, the men offered to pay him $10,000 and promised to introduce him to Bannon and others in the nation’s capital. Parts of Sexton’s account are supported by recorded phone conversations, text messages and people in whom he confided at the time."

Epitome of arrogance if indeed true.

"The effort to undermine Leigh Corfman’s allegations — beginning on Nov. 13, a month before the election — shows how far some of Moore’s most fervent supporters were willing to go to salvage an Alabama campaign that many hoped would propel a nationwide populist movement and solidify Bannon’s image as a political kingmaker."

How can any political operative be trusted?  Either party.

"In the phone conversations and texts, copies of which were obtained by The Washington Post, one of the men spoke of ties to Moore and Bannon while urging Sexton to help “cloud” the allegations, which included other women’s claims that Moore pursued them when they were teenagers and he was in his 30s.  “What they’re saying, all they want to do is cloud something,” Gary Lantrip, who attended at least one private fundraising event for Moore, said during a phone call recorded by Sexton. “They said if they cloud, like, two of them, then that’s all they need.”

Don't these nazis profess to be Christians?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

March 30, 2018

Think Bolton won't be a disaster?  NPR reports:

"President Trump has chosen John Bolton, a hawk on North Korea and Iran, to be his next national security adviser."

Rabid national socialist.

    "I am pleased to announce that, effective 4/9/18, @AmbJohnBolton will be my new National Security Advisor. I am very thankful for the service of General H.R. McMaster who has done an outstanding job & will always remain my friend. There will be an official contact handover on 4/9.
    — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 22, 2018"

Trump wants in his regime only those who agree with his outrageously perverse national socialist views.  Seems to be raiding Fox for his latest picks.

"In an interview on Fox News, where he had been a contributor, shortly after the news broke, Bolton called his appointment a "great honor" but seemed surprised that the Trump administration had announced the appointment so soon. Bolton was spotted earlier Thursday at the White House.  "It's always an honor to serve our country, and I think, particularly, in these times, internationally, it's a particular honor," Bolton said."

This fascist serves himself.  Be interesting to see how long he remains employed by the Trump nazi.  Think both alpha personalities won't clash?

"Democrats were quick to point out Bolton's controversial past. House intelligence committee Ranking Member Adam Schiff, D-Calif., suggested in a tweet that McMaster's departure and Bolton's appointment would put "our nation's security at risk."

    "It’s hard to escape the disquieting conclusion that the mass exodus of the “adults” from this Administration is putting our nation’s security at risk. Ambassador Bolton’s hawkish and conspiratorial thinking will only make matters dangerously worse.
    — Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) March 22, 2018"

Here's precisely what's so dangerous about the Bolton nazi.  CNN reports:

"John Bolton promised President Donald Trump that "he wouldn't start any wars" if he were hired to be the third national security adviser at the White House in just 14 months -- a claim that generated skepticism across Washington.  Bolton, a hawkish neoconservative, has advocated war with Iran and a pre-emptive strike on North Korea, and remains an unapologetic supporter of the Iraq War despite the flawed intelligence used to justify the US invasion.  So the claim that Bolton would avoid conflict, described to CNN by a source familiar with negotiations between the President and the former ambassador to the UN, raised eyebrows when news broke Thursday that Trump was ousting H.R. McMaster and replacing him with the 69-year-old Baltimore native.  For many, the concern is that the appointment of Bolton -- exactly the kind of advocate for US overseas intervention that Trump pilloried on the campaign trail -- marks a belligerent turn for the Trump administration that could doom attempts to save the Iran nuclear deal, increase the possibility of a clash with North Korea and ratchet up tensions with Moscow."

Think that's all?  Get this:

"The anxiety is as much about Bolton's track record -- a disdain for diplomacy, a thirst for military adventures and accusations that he manipulated intelligence in the lead-up to the Iraq War -- as it is about the role that he will now play in shaping US foreign policy.  The national security adviser's job is to act as a synthesizer of security issues across the administration, coordinating and summarizing for the commander in chief the various policy suggestions that come from the Pentagon, the State Department and other agencies.  A national security adviser offers his or her own analysis, and then conveys the president's policy decisions back down the chain and makes sure they're carried out.  But many express doubt that Bolton is wired to put aside his own views and offer the kind of impartial summary of diverse policy views that would help a president weigh all options, instead of emphasizing the more hawkish positions he prefers."

Worse?  National Security Advisor doesn't require Senate confirmation.

Consider the following:

"Sen. Chris Coons, a Democrat from Delaware, said, "Ambassador Bolton's stated positions on today's major issues, most notably North Korea's and Iran's nuclear programs, are overly aggressive at best and downright dangerous at worst."  "Let there be no mistake -- there is no war for regime change, anywhere, that John Bolton wasn't for," said Jon Soltz, an Iraq War veteran who serves as chair of VoteVets. "We are undoubtedly closer to a war in Korea now, and a war with Iran, with John Bolton as national security adviser and with Mike Pompeo as the nominee for secretary of state."  Some foreign policy analysts reported that the concern extends to US allies.  "I've spent the past week in Seoul and Tokyo," Abraham Denmark, director of the Asia Program at the Kissinger Institute, said in a tweet. "One question they raised repeatedly was if Bolton will be appointed" as national security adviser. This question, Denmark said, was "always asked with a mix of incredulity and dread. Asian allies will worry this indicates diplomacy is a farce and that military action is more likely."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

March 30, 2018

Trump's attack on the LGBTQ community continues.  NPR reports:

"The Trump administration released an order on Friday night that would disqualify most transgender people from serving in the military."

Notice the gutless timing, -- when media coverage would be at a minimum.  Clearly, by design.  Cowards.

"The new rules follow President Trump's calls last year for a complete ban on transgender military service. The White House said persons with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria — the medical diagnosis for those who receive treatment, often during their transition — are disqualified from serving except under "certain limited circumstances."   A statement issued from the White House said the president rescinded his previous memo on transgender military service and allowed Defense Secretary Jim Mattis to implement a new policy. But the somewhat contradictory plan has left many experts and transgender advocates confused over who would be allowed in and who would be kicked out."

Can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with bullshit.

"They could really discharge anyone who is transgender in the military. This is a categorical ban," said Matthew Thorn, president of the LGBT military association OutServe."

Another blatant attempt by the Trump nazi and his henchmen to impose their outrageously perverse ideological and religious views in direct violation of the First Amendment Establishment Clause, church-state separation, that is, freedom from religion.  Readers are reminded this new latest directive comes at a time when the earlier one is still under court injunction.  Readers are also reminded when civil and constitutional rights and liberties of some of us are abrogated, those of the rest of us remain in jeopardy. Who's next?

Once again, the Trump nazi's spokeswoman has disgraced herself:

"This new policy will enable the military to apply well-established mental and physical health standards — including those regarding the use of medical drugs — equally to all individuals who want to join and fight for the best military force the world has ever seen," White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Friday."

This woman lies, -- for a congenital liar, the Trump nazi.

Practical effect of this change?  Nothing, for the moment.  Get this:

"A Pentagon spokesman said early Friday that the new rules would have no immediate impact on recruiting policies because the military is still required to accept transgender individuals under the current law, the AP reported."

How about that?

"In a statement issued Friday, the Justice Department vowed to support the Pentagon's "lawful authority to create and implement personnel policies they have determined are necessary to best defend our nation," according the AP. But at the same time, the agency urged the courts to "lift all related preliminary injunctions" imposed after Trump tried to implement a complete ban last year."

Jesus Christ.  Nothing ever changes.  Same old bullshit.  Desperation clearly in display by the failing Trump nazi and his henchmen.  Raw nazism.  The following will be immediately challenged in court:

"Mattis outlined the new policy in a filing Friday in U.S. District Court in Maryland in a motion to dissolve a preliminary injunction blocking Trump's initial order banning transgender service.

    "Transgender persons with a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria are disqualified from military service with three exceptions:

    1) those stable in their biological sex for 36 months prior to accession

    2) those in service diagnosed with gender dysphoria who do not require a change of gender and remain deployable

    3) those in service who received a diagnosis before this policy took effect may continue in service in their preferred gender and receive appropriate medical treatment

    "Transgender persons who require or have undergone gender transition are disqualified from service.

    "Transgender persons without a history or diagnosis of gender dysphoria may serve in their biological sex."

Will not be taken lying down by opponents:

"In a statement, Lambda Legal Senior Attorney Peter Renn said administration's new plan "solves nothing."

    "The 'plan' unveiled today is nothing more than a transparent ruse cobbled together with spittle and duct tape designed solely to try to mask discrimination. A plan to implement an unconstitutional decree is an unconstitutional plan.

    "In 2016, after careful and deliberate study, the Pentagon determined that the prohibition on open service by transgender people lacked any foundation and lifted the ban. Since then, transgender troops had been serving openly and successfully — until President Trump unleashed his incendiary barrage of uninformed tweets.

    "We, along with our sibling organizations, moved quickly to block implementation of the plan, and every single federal court to look at this policy – six to date – has found that it reeks of undisguised and unlawful discrimination against qualified transgender people willing and able to serve our country, and blocked its implementation. That block remains in effect, notwithstanding the release of the plan today."

"Renn said that his group and another, Out-Serve-SLDN, will be in court early next week seeking a permanent injunction to block implementation of the plan."

When the rights of any of us are abrogated, those of the rest of us remain in dire jeopardy.  Who's next?

CBS News reports:

"The new policy was promptly assailed by congressional Democrats and civil rights groups. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi tweeted, "No one with the strength & bravery to serve in the U.S. military should be turned away because of who they are. This hateful ban is purpose-built to humiliate our brave transgender members of the military who serve with honor & dignity."

"Rep. Ted Lieu, D-California, tweeted about the "stupid bigotry from @realDonaldTrump," writing, "As a veteran who served on active duty, we focused on the mission. We didn't care if you were transgender, bald, gay, or had freckles. No evidence a trans sniper is less accurate or a trans pilot is less effective."

Goddamned right.  When wounded in combat, their blood is just as red as that of the rest of us.  When killed in action, remain as dead as any other service personnel killed in action.

"Democrats on the House Armed Service Committee said that the president's decision is "vicious, inhumane and utterly wrong," and they pointed out, "There are scores of transgender men and women serving in the military right now, under a policy that had already been established & vetted by DOD and validated by the courts."

What will you do about it, -- other than utter empty rhetoric?

"The Human Rights Campaign, the nation's largest LGBT civil rights organization, accused the Trump administration of pushing "anti-transgender prejudices onto the military."  "There is simply no way to spin it, the Trump-Pence Administration is going all in on its discriminatory, unconstitutional and despicable ban on transgender troops," said HRC President Chad Griffin."

That's right.  Who's next?

"Joshua Block, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union LGBT & HIV Project, said the policy "effectively coerces transgender people who wish to serve into choosing between their humanity and their country, and makes it clear that transgender service members are not welcome."

Expect anything less from a nazi demigod following in the steps of Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini?

"The issue has become mired in a complicated string of political statements, court decisions and policy reviews since Trump first stunned his administration with his tweets last July. It's unclear how much impact the court decisions will have on Trump's decision. Activist groups had worried the administration could enact such strict enlistment and health care restrictions that it would become all but impossible for transgender troops to join or continue serving.  Under guidelines presented in December, the Pentagon could disqualify potential recruits with gender dysphoria, those with a history of medical treatments associated with gender transition and those who underwent reconstruction. Such recruits could be allowed in if a medical provider certified they've been clinically stable in the preferred sex for 18 months and are free of significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas."

Needs to continue to be vigorously challenged in court.  Be interesting to see the reaction of non-transgender troops.  After all, many transgenders have heroically served in combat.  Came through for their fellow troops under horrendous conditions.  Saved lives, died honorably in service of their country.

This latest action by the Trump nazi and his henchmen is no more than yet another egregious example of outrageously gutless, homophobic, anti-LGBTQ bigotry.  Must not be forgotten there are an unknown number of transgenders who have received no treatment, surgery, etc., who have not come out of the closet.  Yet, have served honorably, heroically.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

March 30, 2018

CBS finally aired the Stormy Daniels interview on 60 Minutes.  Consider the following quotes:

"Anderson Cooper: Melania Trump had recently given birth to-- to a son, just a few months before. Did that-- did he mention his wife or child at all in this?

"Stormy Daniels: I asked. And he brushed it aside, said, "Oh yeah, yeah, you know, don't worry about that. We don't even-- we have separate rooms and stuff."

Jesus Christ.  His wife just gives birth and this is how he reacts?  His sick sycophants have no problems with this?

"Anderson Cooper: And you had sex with him.

"Stormy Daniels: Yes.

"Anderson Cooper: You were 27, he was 60. Were you physically attracted to him?

"Stormy Daniels: No.

"Anderson Cooper: Not at all?

"Stormy Daniels: No.

"Anderson Cooper: Did you want to have sex with him?

"Stormy Daniels: No. But I didn't-- I didn't say no. I'm not a victim, I'm not--

"Anderson Cooper: It was entirely consensual.

"Stormy Daniels: Oh, yes, yes.

"Anderson Cooper: You work in an industry where condom use is-- is an issue. Did-- did he use a condom?

"Stormy Daniels: No.

"Anderson Cooper: Did you ask him to?

"Stormy Daniels: No. I honestly didn't say anything.

"Anderson Cooper: After you had sex, what happened?

"Stormy Daniels: He said that it was great, he had-- a great evening, and it was nothing like he expected, that I really surprised him, that a lotta people must underestimate me-- that he hoped that I would be willing to see him again and that we would discuss the things we had talked about earlier in the evening.

"Anderson Cooper: Being on The Apprentice.

"Stormy Daniels: Right."

Think this man fit to be president?

"Daniels says she and Mr. Trump stayed in touch. She says he invited her to a Trump Vodka launch party in California, as well as to his office in Trump Tower in New York.

"Anderson Cooper: So he definitely wanted to continue to see you.

"Stormy Daniels: Oh, for sure. Yes.

"Stormy Daniels: And this was not a secret. He never asked me not to tell anyone. He called several times when I was in front of many people and I would be like, "Oh my God, he's calling." They were like, "Shut up, the Donald?" And I'd put him on speakerphone, and he wanted to know what I was up to and, "When can we get together again? I just wanted to give you a quick update, we had a meeting, it went great. There's-- it's gonna be spectacular, they're totally into the idea," and I was like mhmm that part I never believed.

"Anderson Cooper: Did you still get the sense that he was kind of dangling it in front of you--

"Stormy Daniels: Oh, for sure, oh yeah.

"Anderson Cooper: To keep you interested, to keep you coming back.

"Stormy Daniels: Of course, of course. I mean, I'm not blind. But at the same time, maybe it'll work out, you know?

"Anderson Cooper: Did you view it as this is a potential opportunity. "I'm gonna see where it goes?"

"Stormy Daniels:  I thought of it as a business deal."

Amazing, isn't it?  Think the First Lady agrees?

The following, if true, is horrendous:

"According to Daniels, Mr. Trump called her the following month to say he'd not been able to get her a spot on Celebrity Apprentice. She says they never met again and only had sex in that first meeting in 2006. In May 2011, Daniels agreed to tell her story to a sister publication of In Touch magazine for $15,000 dollars. Two former employees of the magazine told us the story never ran because after the magazine called Mr. Trump seeking comment, his attorney Michael Cohen threatened to sue. Daniels says she was never paid, and says a few weeks later, she was threatened by a man who approached her in Las Vegas.

"Stormy Daniels: I was in a parking lot, going to a fitness class with my infant daughter. T-- taking, you know, the seats facing backwards in the backseat, diaper bag, you know, gettin' all the stuff out. And a guy walked up on me and said to me, "Leave Trump alone. Forget the story." And then he leaned around and looked at my daughter and said, "That's a beautiful little girl. It'd be a shame if something happened to her mom." And then he was gone.

"Anderson Cooper: You took it as a direct threat?

"Stormy Daniels: Absolutely.

"Stormy Daniels: I was rattled. I remember going into the workout class. And my hands are shaking so much, I was afraid I was gonna-- drop her.

"Anderson Cooper: Did you ever see that person again?

"Stormy Daniels: No. But I-- if I did, I would know it right away.

"Anderson Cooper:  You'd be able to-- you'd be able to recognize that person?

"Stormy Daniels: 100%. Even now, all these years later. If he walked in this door right now, I would instantly know.

"Anderson Cooper: Did you go to the police?

"Stormy Daniels: No.

"Anderson Cooper: Why?

"Stormy Daniels: Because I was scared."

If the above is true, think Trump fit to be president?

In another article, CBS News reports:

"Michael Avenatti, who represents the woman who alleges she had an affair with Donald Trump and was paid to keep quiet about it, responded to a cease-and-desist letter from Mr. Trump's attorney, Michael Cohen, after Stormy Daniels said in a "60 Minutes" interview that she had been consistently threatened.  On "CBS This Morning" Avenatti accused Cohen of a history "thuggish" behavior. He also acknowledged that Daniels has been continually threatened for coming forward."

Fascinating, isn't it?  Apparently, Daniels is rattling the cages of the Trump nazi and his henchmen.

"When asked to respond to Cohen's demands for a retraction and apology, Avenatti demurred, responding, "We're only getting started. Michael Cohen has zero credibility. We're going to prove it. His statements thus far in connection with this matter are laughable. This is a man who has a history of thuggish behavior, using intimidation tactics, and trying to step on little people. And as it relates to my client, it's going to come to an end and we're going to show the American people exactly who Michael Cohen is."

Do so.  Provide proof.

"Avenatti said on Monday that he is in the process of trying to discover the identity of the man Daniels claims threatened her. "You can imagine how terrifying that was for my client," he said.  "Is she still being threatened?" asked co-host Gayle King. "Are you worried about her life? Is she worried about her safety?"  "Absolutely. She receives threats on a near-hourly basis. Now, we don't have anything tying those to Mr. Cohen or Mr. Trump, to be clear, but she's certainly scared for her safety and the safety of her family."

When you figuratively challenge someone at the top of the food chain, all bets are off.  Takes great courage to do so.  Hat's off to Ms. Daniels.  Expose the nazi son of a bitch for precisely whom and what he is.

The Washington Post reports in an editorial:

"Trump — the man who called his approximately dozen female accusers “liars” during the campaign, the man who can't or won't follow basic talking points while talking to Vladimir Putin — remains completely silent on Daniels. It's now mid-morning, and he hasn't responded to Daniels's big public spectacle with his own, despite Daniels having clearly baited him and his ego by saying she wasn't attracted to him.

    "Standout part of this interview is Stormy Daniels saying she wasn’t attracted to Trump. He was incredibly proud of the “Best Sex I Ever Had” NY Post front page. That won’t sit well.
    — Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) March 25, 2018"

Yet, the Trump narcissist remains silent.

"And his White House isn't saying much more — including declining for weeks to say whether Trump was party to that $130,000 hush-money payment Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen made to Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election.  Two White House spokespeople have now been asked about this, and both have offered some version of “Not that I'm aware of” while referring questions to Cohen — who isn't elaborating either. The sum total is that we still have no firm denial that Trump was involved in this payment, which makes the White House's efforts to dismiss this as salacious rumor-mongering much more difficult."

What appears to be happening here is the shit is finally hitting the fan.  How do you justify the unjustifiable?  Payment of hush money is always an issue.  Could be quite a legal one if election laws were broken.

NPR reports:

"Fresh off her Sunday interview with CBS's 60 Minutes to discuss her alleged sexual encounter with President Trump, adult film actress Stormy Daniels is suing the president's personal lawyer Michael Cohen for defamation.  The suit from Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, against both Trump and Cohen was amended Monday in the U.S. District Court in California, asking for a jury trial to settle the claim of defamation against Cohen.  Daniels says that Cohen defamed her when he put out a statement in February regarding the $130,000 payment he made to her just before the election, allegedly in exchange for her silence. In that statement to the media, Cohen said, "Just because something isn't true doesn't mean that it can't cause you harm or damage."

NBC News reports:

"The lawyer for adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who says she had sex with Donald Trump in 2006, has filed a motion in federal court asking for permission to depose the president and his lawyer, Michael Cohen.  The move comes amid a lawsuit against Trump, alleging that he never signed a nondisclosure agreement that his lawyer had arranged with Daniels, and just days after a revealing interview on CBS' "60 Minutes" in which she detailed an alleged affair with the married mogul and claimed she was threatened in 2011 if she went public.  The request was filed late Tuesday in a Los Angeles court and will be heard on April 30, Daniels' lawyer, Michael Avenatti, tweeted Wednesday morning.  In the court filing, Avenatti said each deposition would last for no more than two hours. He also filed a motion seeking a jury trial in no more than 90 days.  "We expect to be placing the president and his fixer under oath in the coming months," Avenatti said in a statement."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

March 30, 2018

Think Trump isn't growing increasingly desperate vis a vis 'the wall?'  The Washington Post reports:

"President Trump frequently said Mexico would pay for a wall along the southern border as he sought the presidency in 2016. Now, he is privately pushing the U.S. military to fund construction of his signature project."

Say what?  LOL.

"Trump, who told advisers he was spurned in a large spending bill last week when lawmakers only appropriated $1.6 billion for the border wall, has begun suggesting the Pentagon could fund the sprawling construction, citing a “national security” risk."

Who'd 'a 'thunk' it?  LOL.

"After floating the notion to several advisers last week, he told Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) that the military should pay for the wall in a meeting last Wednesday in the White House residence, according to three people familiar with the meeting. Ryan offered little reaction to the notion, these people said, but senior Capitol Hill officials later said it was an unlikely prospect."

You think?

"In another such interaction with senior aides last week, Trump noted that the Department of Defense was getting so much money as part of the $1.3 trillion spending package that the Pentagon could surely afford the border wall, two White House officials said. The Pentagon received about $700 billion as part of the spending package, which Trump repeatedly lauded as “historic.”

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

March 30, 2018

Amazing how both major political parties pay lip service to teachers, -- while concertedly screwing them out of what should be theirs.  The following is appalling. Seatbelts on.  NPR reports:

"America needs teachers committed to working with children who have the fewest advantages in life. So for a decade the federal government has offered grants — worth up to $4,000 a year — to standout college students who agree to teach subjects like math or science at lower-income schools.  But a new government study, obtained by NPR and later posted by the Department of Education, suggests that thousands of teachers had their grants taken away and converted to loans, sometimes for minor errors in paperwork. That's despite the fact they were meeting the program's teaching requirements."

Why would anyone wish to enter the teaching profession?

"Without any notice, [my grant] was suddenly a loan, and interest was already accruing on it," says Maggie Webb, who teaches eighth-grade math in Chelsea, Mass. "So, my $4,000 grant was now costing me $5,000."  Since 2008, the Education Department has offered these so-called TEACH grants to people studying to get a college or master's degree. The deal is, they get to keep the grant money if they spend four years teaching a high-need subject like math or science in schools that serve low-income families.  If they don't keep their end of the bargain, the grants convert to loans that need to be paid back. But, the study finds, many teachers believe they kept their end of the bargain but are now being asked to repay that money anyway."

No problem with this?

"FedLoan converted Webb's grant to a loan that she now has to pay back — with interest. At the time, she says, she was surprised. After all, she was meeting the grant's fundamental service requirements: teaching a high-need subject, math, in a low-income school. That was never in doubt.  "I knew I hadn't done anything wrong," Webb says, sitting at her kitchen table strewn with student homework that she is grading. "I knew I had done it right. And it was just so hurtful that they would do that."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Highly reminiscent of our outrageously bought and paid for judiciary, Llano County prosecutors, Sheriff Bill Blackburn and his criminal SS jackbooted bastards in black who continue to egregiously disgrace themselves and the badge, do as they please regardless of the law and Constitution, carefully consider the following.  It's appalling.  Runs against the grain of everything our formerly great country once stood for.  No longer.

Nothing quite like getting the shit beaten out of a victim at a white supremacist rally, then getting falsely charged.  CBS News reports:

"A black man who was severely beaten during a violent white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and then charged with misdemeanor assault in the same incident has been found not guilty.  Local news outlets report a Charlottesville judge said Friday it was clear DeAndre Harris didn't intend to harm the man who made a complaint against him."

Remember?  This is the very same nazi rally the Trump nazi defended at the time.

"Photos and videos of the Aug. 12 attack on Harris in a parking garage were widely shared online. Harris was left with serious injuries.  Harold Crews, state chairman of the North Carolina League of the South, sought the charge against Harris, who turned himself in after a warrant was issued."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Highly reminiscent of our outrageously bought and paid for judiciary, Llano County prosecutors, Sheriff Bill Blackburn and his criminal SS jackbooted bastards in black who continue to egregiously disgrace themselves and the badge, do as they please regardless of the law and Constitution, carefully consider the following.  It's appalling.  Runs against the grain of everything our formerly great country once stood for.  No longer.

Think the jackbooted bastards in ICE don't have blood on their hands?  ABC News reports:

" A couple fleeing immigration officials in a rural California farm town died after losing control of their sport utility vehicle and crashing into a power pole, police said.  The deaths on Tuesday happened as advocates for immigrants say U.S. immigration agents are increasingly using unmarked cars to pull over farmworkers in the state's agricultural heartland as part of the Trump Administration's heightened immigration crackdown in California."

Predators.

"The victims were identified as 35-year-old Santos Garcia and 33-year-old Marcelina Garcia.  Diana Tellefson, executive director of the United Farm Workers Foundation, said they were farmworkers living in Delano, about 140 miles (225 kilometers) north of Los Angeles, and were looking for work when immigration agents tried to stop them.  The couple, originally from the southern Mexican state of Guerrero, mainly spoke Mixtec, an indigenous language.  "The fact that they could not speak English or Spanish likely added to the fear they felt when they realized it was ICE stopping them," Tellefson said.  She said the couple left behind six children, ages 8 to 18, and a 1-year-old granddaughter."

Don't Republican nazis continue to proclaim the GOP the party of the family?

"Jennie Pasquarella, director of immigrants' rights at the ACLU of Southern California, said in a statement that her office in recent weeks has received multiple reports from California's farm-rich Central Valley about immigration agents staking out the roads farmworkers travel to get to work and pulling them over during early morning hours.  Pasquarella said immigration agents are reportedly pulling over farmworkers while in unmarked vehicles.  "As in this case, drivers and passengers stop, after being signaled to pull over, believing the officers to be police, but only come to learn after being approached, questioned, and arrested that the officers are actually ICE," she said in a statement."

Jackbooted predators.  A fascist police-state, --quickly transforming to the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich.  Should the nazi bastards ultimately succeed in removing millions, who will do the work American citizens remain unwilling to do?  LOL.

"Agency spokeswoman Lori K. Haley said the officers first went to the couple's home looking for another man wanted for deportation and followed the couple as they drove away.  Though Santos Garcia matched the description of the targeted man, the agency said he was not the person."

How about that?  Got their pound of flesh anyway.

"Santos Garcia, who had a 2014 DUI conviction, had voluntarily returned to Mexico three times between 2008 and 2017 and was removed once more in 2017, Haley said."

No problem now that he's dead.  Won't return.  Mission accomplished.  Unbridled evil.

"Marcelina Garcia had no prior encounters with the agency, she added."

Couldn't be, could it?  No longer a problem regardless, -- since she's dead.  Again, mission accomplished.  America at its very 'best.'

"As the officers departed the location of the attempted engagement, they came across the overturned vehicle and immediately dialed 911 for assistance," she said."

Big of the bastards, isn't it?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Highly reminiscent of our outrageously bought and paid for judiciary, Llano County prosecutors, Sheriff Bill Blackburn and his criminal SS jackbooted bastards in black who continue to egregiously disgrace themselves and the badge, do as they please regardless of the law and Constitution, carefully consider the following.  It's appalling.  Runs against the grain of everything our formerly great country once stood for.  No longer.

Forget?  Nazism has no regard for civil and constitutional rights and liberties.  None at all.  NPR reports:

"Activists across the country say they are being targeted by federal immigration authorities for speaking out at protests and accusing the government of heavy-handed tactics."

Raw nazism.  Egregious abrogation of the First Amendment.

"The Trump administration has warned that anyone in the country illegally could be arrested and deported under tough new enforcement rules. And federal officials deny allegations of retaliation."

Raw nazism.  Callous denial of allegations?   -- No more than blatant lies by these criminal jackbooted bastards:

"But the American Civil Liberties Union and other groups say they have documented two dozen cases of immigrant activists and volunteers who say they have been arrested or face fines for their work.  They say many of the activists who are undocumented don't have criminal records and only came to the attention of Immigration and Customs Enforcement because of their activism."

Jackbooted nazis in the image of their mentors, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini.

"Several of the arrests have garnered national and international attention.  Two of the undocumented activists who have been arrested and put in deportation proceedings have filed First Amendment lawsuits claiming their free speech rights have been violated.  In one of those cases, the United Nations Office of Human Rights waded into the controversy, calling on the U.S. government "to guarantee that no action, including detention and deportation, as a means of retaliation, is taken against" the activist."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Highly reminiscent of our outrageously bought and paid for judiciary, Llano County prosecutors, Sheriff Bill Blackburn and his criminal SS jackbooted bastards in black who continue to egregiously disgrace themselves and the badge, do as they please regardless of the law and Constitution, carefully consider the following.  It's appalling.  Runs against the grain of everything our formerly great country once stood for.  No longer.

At least a few federal judges are beginning to wake up.  CBS News reports:

"A federal judge barred the city of Los Angeles from enforcing nearly all of its remaining gang injunctions, according to a newspaper report on Thursday. The order by U.S. District Judge Virginia Phillips is the latest blow to one of the city's oldest and most controversial law enforcement initiatives, the Los Angeles Times said.  Phillips ruled that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is likely to prove that most of those subject to the remaining injunctions suffered a due process violation. The judge found the city did not give them an opportunity to challenge the civil restraining orders in court."

Ends don't justify the means.  Never have, never will.  Anyone denied due process means all of us are at risk of suffering the same.

"The decision is believed to mark the first time a judge has blocked Los Angeles officials from enforcing the injunctions, which were born from a time in the late 1980s and '90s when gang activity in the city gained national attention. Their use has been credited by law enforcement with helping reduce gang-related crime."

Ends don't justify the means.  Anyone breaks the law, enforce it.  Simple as that.  Don't preemptively trample all civil and constitutional rights and liberties for the sake of expediency.  If you do, who's next?

"The use of injunctions has been under increasing scrutiny since 2016, when the ACLU and the Los Angeles Youth Justice Coalition filed a lawsuit against the city.  Following an audit by the Los Angeles city attorney's office and the Los Angeles Police Department, 7,300 people were released last year from the conditions of the injunctions, which are civil court orders that can restrict someone from associating with friends, or even family members, in neighborhoods considered to be havens for certain street gangs. Violating the orders can result in arrest."

Raw nazism.  Blatant attack on all civil and constitutional rights and liberties for the sake of expediency.  Consolidation of jackbooted nazi power.

"Since 2000, the city has enforced injunctions against 79 separate gang sets, encompassing roughly 8,900 people, according to the city attorney's office. There were about 1,450 people still subject to the orders after last year's purge, according to a February court filing from the city attorney's office.  Thursday's order prevents the city from enforcing any injunctions that were granted before Jan. 19, 2018, the newspaper said."

What took so long?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Highly reminiscent of our outrageously bought and paid for judiciary, Llano County prosecutors, Sheriff Bill Blackburn and his criminal SS jackbooted bastards in black who continue to egregiously disgrace themselves and the badge, do as they please regardless of the law and Constitution, carefully consider the following.  It's appalling.  Runs against the grain of everything our formerly great country once stood for.  No longer.

In follow up to an earlier edition of this publication, CBS News reports:

"A woman who was arrested by San Diego Border Patrol agents -- as seen in a viral video -- has been released on her own recognizance. She is now back with her daughters, CBS Los Angeles reports.  Earlier in the day, The Associated Press reported that an immigration judge ordered Perla Morales-Luna released, saying the 36-year-old mother is neither a danger to society nor a flight risk.  Video of Morales-Luna's emotional March 8 arrest as her teen daughters looked on spread quickly on social media. At least one person could be heard crying uncontrollably as agents forced Morales-Luna into a vehicle and drove away."

Certainly, the Border Patrol got its shorts in a wad after release of the video:

"After the arrest, Customs and Border Protection sent out several tweets, claiming Morales-Luna was a "human smuggling facilitator" for a large criminal operation."

Offered no proof, no evidence of this claim.

"Immigration judge Zsa Zsa Depaolo said Tuesday it was not her place to consider the smuggling claims, and she "noted that three other people accused of ties to the trafficking claims were exonerated," according to the AP."

Couldn't be the jackbooted bastards in the Border Patrol lied, could it?

"In the days following her arrest, an attorney representing Morales-Luna said, "She's never been arrested for anything as far as we can tell, so we're at bit of a loss as to why they're alleging the alien smuggling issue."

Imagine that.  Couldn't be, could it?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Highly reminiscent of our outrageously bought and paid for judiciary, Llano County prosecutors, Sheriff Bill Blackburn and his criminal SS jackbooted bastards in black who continue to egregiously disgrace themselves and the badge, do as they please regardless of the law and Constitution, carefully consider the following.  It's appalling.  Runs against the grain of everything our formerly great country once stood for.  No longer.

Serve your country honorably in combat?  Then, get deported?  Think that justice?  ABC News reports:

"A U.S. Army veteran who served two tours in Afghanistan is in danger of being deported following a years-old drug conviction that sparked ICE's taking him into custody.  Miguel Perez Jr., a native of Mexico, came to the United States legally when he was 8 and grew up in Chicago as a legal permanent resident. He served two tours of duty in Afghanistan prior to being discharged from the Army in 2010 with a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder, according to ABC station WLS-TV in Chicago.  That same year, after he was discharged from the Army, Perez was convicted on a felony drug charge, for which he served about seven years in prison. After he got out, ICE, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency took him into custody. An ICE spokesperson said Perez was targeted for removal after the conviction, WLS reported."

Remember, this man is a combat veteran.  Served his country honorably.  Two tours in hellhole Afghanistan.  Raw nazism.  Courtesy of the Trump nazi and his henchmen.

"The attorney is appealing the court ruling, WLS reported. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat, has written a letter on Perez's behalf, according to WLS.  Perez remains in ICE custody."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Trump-Stormy Daniels saga continues unabated.  Plot thickens.  CBS News reports:

"Court documents obtained by CBS News indicate a lawyer for the Trump Organization is linked to the shell company attorney Michael Cohen created to pay $130,000 to Stephanie Clifford. Clifford, an adult film actress who goes by the stage name Stormy Daniels, has filed a lawsuit to break a confidentiality agreement about an alleged affair she had with President Trump in 2006 and 2007.  Jill Martin, who listed the Trump Organization as her employer on her LinkedIn page, is referenced in the documents as the counsel for Essential Consultants (EC LLC), with an address at the Trump golf club in Los Angeles. The documents were given to CBS News by Clifford's attorney, Michael Avenatti.  The court documents signed by Martin were part of confidential arbitration proceedings filed on Feb. 22, 2018. The documents say the claimant EC LLC is not required to notify Peggy Peterson -- an alias used for Clifford -- of court proceedings of a temporary restraining order preventing her from speaking."

This is at least the second lawyer involved in this fiasco.  Amazing how much time, money, and effort apparently have been expended attempting to protect the Trump nazi against himself.  Think this won't come back to figuratively bite all involved hard on the ass?

"In a statement to the Associated Press late Wednesday, the Trump Organization said Martin had worked on the filing in her "individual capacity" and the company "has had no involvement in the matter."

Believe it?

"Cohen has claimed he paid Clifford $130,000 in the final days of the 2016 campaign out of his own pocket. He said the Trump campaign and Mr. Trump did not know about the payment, although it has later been revealed he used his Trump Organization email to set up the payment. A Wall Street Journal report alleged Cohen grumbled that he never got repaid."

Doesn't it break your heart?

Clearly, not going away any time soon:

"A "60 Minutes" interview with Clifford is in the works, CBS News president David Rhodes confirmed Tuesday. Rhodes said the segment will air soon, despite reports of legal threats from Mr. Trump's lawyer. "

CBS News reports:

"Stormy Daniels' lawyer claims she was physically threatened by someone. The adult film actress' lawyer, Michael Avenatti, said on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" Friday that someone physically threatened his client — but he declined to reveal who allegedly threatened her."

Why not let it rip?  Why sit on this information?  Damages credibility.

The Washington Post reports:

"Michael Cohen, President Trump’s personal attorney, claims he has the right to seek at least $20 million in damages from porn star Stormy Daniels for allegedly violating a nondisclosure agreement 20 times."

Unchecked fear.  Desperation.  Unbridled.  LOL.  To silence Daniels.  Think Trump's not shitting in his pants?

"A lawyer for Cohen’s limited liability company, Essential Consultants, made the claim in papers filed in federal court Friday.

"Cohen also intends to force the dispute with Daniels, who alleges she was secretly paid to keep quiet about an affair with the president, out of the public eye and back into private arbitration, according to the court filing.  In a separate document also filed Friday, a lawyer representing Trump said he intends to join the push to return the proceedings to arbitration, in which all proceedings are confidential."

Desperation.  Unbridled.  To silence, stifle the accuser.  Amazing, isn't it?  This woman certainly has the Trump nazi figuratively by the cajones.  LOL.

"Michael Avenatti, a lawyer for Daniels, said the threat by Cohen and Trump to pursue millions of dollars in damages, and their efforts to take the matter behind closed doors, amounted to bullying of his client.   “To put it simply — they want to hide the truth from the American people. We will oppose this effort at every turn,” Avenatti wrote in an email. “The fact that a sitting president is pursuing over $20 million in bogus ‘damages’ against a private citizen, who is only trying to tell the public what really happened, is truly remarkable. Likely unprecedented in our history. We are not going away and we will not be intimidated by these threats.”

Hopefully, not.  Let it rip.  LOL.  Expose the nazi for precisely whom and what he is:

"Daniels has said in her own legal filings that she slept with Trump in 2006; then in 2016 — just days before the presidential election — she signed an agreement to stay silent about the affair in exchange for a payment of $130,000. The hush agreement required any disputes to be settled confidentially.  In late February, after Daniels embarked on a “Make America Horny Again” tour and her allegations became the subject of intense media interest, Cohen succeeded in persuading an arbitrator to issue a restraining order that prevented Daniels from speaking out.  But the porn star and her lawyer, Avenatti, pushed the secret deal into the open on March 6 when they appended it to a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. In that lawsuit, Avenatti contends that the nondisclosure agreement is invalid because Trump failed to sign it."

NPR reports:

"President Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen, is asking a federal court to enforce a nondisclosure agreement signed by porn star Stormy Daniels, claiming that the actress violated that pact and is liable to pay $20 million in damages."

Amazing, isn't it?  Nothing quite like determinedly and stupidly keeping this fiasco in the news.  LOL.  Think Cohen did the president a favor? Truly believe this will end well for the Trump nazi?

"The court filing was made through the limited liability corporation Essential Consultants that Cohen first established in 2016 to pay Daniels $130,000 to keep secret the details of her affair with Trump before he became president.  For the first time, Trump has joined the case, and the filing says, "Mr. Trump intends to pursue his rights to the fullest extent permitted by law."  Cohen is seeking to move the dispute with Daniels into private arbitration and out of the public sphere."

More figurative ammunition for Mueller?  LOL.

"Earlier this month, Daniels and her attorney, Michael Avenatti, filed suit in a Los Angeles court claiming that the nondisclosure agreement was invalid because Trump had never signed it. Cohen is seeking to move that suit from the California state court to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.  The $20 million represents a penalty of $1 million for 20 times Cohen alleges that Daniels has violated the terms of the agreement to remain silent."

... Think Daniels will gag on it?  -- So to speak.  LOL.

Get this:

"In a series of tweets issued late Friday, Avenatti accused Cohen and Trump of trying to bully his client.  "How can President Donald Trump seek $20 million in damages against my client based on an agreement that he and Mr. Cohen claim Mr. Trump never was a party to and knew nothing about?"

Good question.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Pressure increases on Trump.  CBS News reports:

"Former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal filed a lawsuit Tuesday in an effort to be released from a 2016 legal agreement that prevents her from discussing an alleged romantic relationship with President Trump.  McDougal, a former model, is suing the tabloid giant American Media, Inc. (AMI), which owns The National Enquirer. The lawsuit claims AMI worked secretly with Mr. Trump's associates and her own lawyer, Keith Davidson, to bury her story about an extramarital affair McDougal says she had with the president."

Let her talk, Mr. 'President,' let her talk.  Truth will set you free, Donny Boy.  LOL.

"McDougal signed a $150,000 deal with AMI for the story before the 2016 election. According to the lawsuit, AMI made the deal with McDougal to squash the story, a practice known as "catch and kill." She says that Davidson urged her to sign the contract with AMI, which would also allow her to write a series of columns for the tabloid and appear on its cover twice.   The lawsuit claims McDougal was not told AMI had no obligation to run articles she had written or that they were simultaneously negotiating deals to kill other negative stories about Mr. Trump, and that his representatives received constant updates throughout the negotiations last year."

How 'bout 'dat'?  LOL.

"AMI lied to me, made empty promises, and repeatedly intimidated and manipulated me," McDougal said in a statement Tuesday. "I just want the opportunity to set the record straight and move on with my life, free from this company, its executives, and its lawyers."

Let it rip, Ms. McDougal, let it rip.  No matter the personal cost.  The public has the right to know.  So do Trump's sick sycophants.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Think Mueller isn't already investigating the following matter?  NBC News reports:

"Two top House Democrats sent a letter to the White House and State Department Thursday saying that information from a whistleblower alleges officials are targeting career civil servants who supposedly don't support President Donald Trump."

Transformation to the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich.

"Reps. Elijah Cummings of Maryland, the ranking member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and Eliot Engel of New York, ranking member on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, said the whistleblower alleges that high-level officials in the Trump administration have been coordinating with an outside network of prominent conservatives, including former GOP Speaker Newt Gingrich and a former adviser to Dick Cheney, to devise ways to undertake a "cleaning" of long-serving employees at the State Department."

Surprised?  Why?

"Trump officials have described certain State Department employees as a "leaker and troublemaker," "turncoat" and "Obama/Clinton loyalists," according to emails the lawmakers said they obtained from the whistleblower."

Show us the emails.

"Over the past year, we have heard many reports of political attacks on career employees at the State Department, but we have not seen evidence of how extensive, blunt, and inappropriate these attacks are until now," the lawmakers wrote in the letter to White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan that seeks documents about staffing decisions and interviews with officials.  "They appear to have targeted these staffers despite being fully aware that they were career civil service employees and despite the career employees expressing willingness to support the policy priorities of the Trump Administration," their letter continues."

Release the emails.  The public is entitled to this information.

"Cummings and Engel quote from an email forwarded by Gingrich in which the former Cheney aide, David Wurmser, says, "I think a cleaning is in order here. I hear Tillerson actually has been reasonably good on stuff like this and cleaning house, but there are so many it boggles the mind..."  In one case detailed in the Cummings-Engel letter, a 12-year State Department veteran raised concerns about being targeted by a conservative news outlet and emailed her boss at the State Department for help. Her supervisor then forwarded her email to the White House, where officials used her work under the Obama administration to question her loyalty to Trump. The employee was removed from her detail at the department, the lawmakers said."

Release the emails.  Here is the problem:

"Cummings and Engel indicate that they have not confirmed the authenticity of the whistleblower emails.  The White House has not responded to the letter."

Surprised?  Again, why?  Noose certainly seems to be figuratively growing tighter and tighter.  Hopefully, Mueller is investigating all this and more.  Clearly, not only are the Trump nazi and his henchmen desperately trying to overload the bench with Republican national socialists, so too the entire Executive Branch.

The Washington Post reports:

"The whistleblower’s evidence appears to confirm a report from last year in Politico that Sahar Nowrouzzadeh, a State Department staffer who worked on the Iran deal, was reassigned after critical stories about her appeared in conservative media.  “Over the past year, we have heard many reports of political attacks on career employees at the State Department, but we had not seen evidence of how extensive, blunt, and inappropriate these attacks were until now,” Reps. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.) and Eliot L. Engel (D-N.Y.) wrote in the letter.  There is also evidence that several more career staffers beyond Nowrouzzadeh were targeted, according to a congressional aide who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss complaints involving personnel matters.  The aide said several such employees had been temporarily assigned to the National Security Council, where some complained to national security adviser H.R. McMaster that they were being set up for their jobs to be terminated."

The mark of a nazi fuhrer.

"Most of the targeted employees had worked on Obama administration initiatives no longer supported in the Trump administration, such as the Iran deal, or were considered insufficiently loyal to Trump and his agenda.  After McMaster intervened to stop the inquiries, the aide said, a White House official contacted the State Department to press his suspicions with senior aides to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. It is not clear that Tillerson approved or knew of the email exchanges between his aides assessing the politics and loyalties of these State Department staff."

One of the reasons McMaster may indeed be getting the boot from the Trump nazi.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

In a matter strikingly related to the above concerted effort to determinedly nazify government, consider the following.  NPR reports:

"A conservative group funded by billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch is turning its attention to a new front: promoting federal judges at the grass-roots level. Americans for Prosperity is willing to spend nearly $1 million to confirm judges this year. Those lifetime appointments could reshape the courts for a generation.  "The fact of the matter is that so much of what affects us in our daily lives plays out in the courtroom," said Sarah Field, the group's new vice president for judicial strategy.  But even more important than the money could be the firepower AFP wants to engage. The idea is to mobilize conservative activists across 36 states for key confirmation fights this year. That includes people who call their home-state senators, write letters and knock on doors."

To traitorously nazify an already egregiously compromised judiciary.

"AFP has already thrown its support behind one of President Trump's judge picks this year — Michael Brennan, a Milwaukee lawyer and ally of Gov. Walker.  AFP is buying digital ads to encourage a quick vote.  "This is a seat that has been vacant longer than any other seat on the federal bench and the people of Wisconsin deserve to see a judge confirmed on the 7th Circuit," said Sarah Field of AFP.  Kristine Lucius of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights said that's not the full story. Lucius pointed out that the current nominee, Michael Brennan, wrote an opinion piece supporting Republican efforts to block President Obama's pick for that same job. The delay strategy worked.  "And to think that that person who defended that right would now enjoy the nomination and be critical of the other senator who is exercising her own rights is the epitome of hypocrisy," she added."

Raw nazism.

"To me it's not surprising that the Koch brothers, billionaire corporate leaders, would want to invest their money in the fight to get judges to uphold their corporate rights," Lucius said. "They think this is money well spent because they are trying to tilt the bench. They are trying not to have rule of law that rules against them, but instead they want to get more people into lifetime positions that will rule in favor of corporate interests over individual interests."

National socialism, an exigent threat to life, liberty, all civil and constitutional rights and liberties.  Trump's Fourth Reich.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

The former FBI Deputy Director is groveling.  ABC News reports:

"The embattled former deputy director of the FBI, Andy McCabe, will have at most just a few hours on Thursday to encapsulate a 22-year career in public service and make the case to keep his job until he is officially eligible for his retirement benefits in a few days.  FBI officials concluded he should be fired for allegedly misleading internal investigators, but the final decision rests with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, according to a source familiar with a planned meeting at the Justice Department."

Think Trump isn't railroading the bastard?

"Those close to McCabe say he believes he did nothing wrong – there was a misunderstanding, they insist, and he acted quickly to clear it up.  McCabe is expected to impress that message upon career Justice Department officials when he sits down with them this afternoon inside the department’s Robert F. Kennedy building, a Pennsylvania Avenue landmark sandwiched between Capitol Hill and the White House."

If he's done nothing wrong and gets the boot, sue the living shit out of the Trump nazi, his sidekick the AG Sessions nazi, and all the other turds involved in the f--king.  Expose it all to the light of day.  Ferociously pointedly?  Why grovel?

Here's what's so terribly interesting about this:

"McCabe is worried that if he were to be fired in the next few days, before he is officially eligible for his retirement benefits, he could lose a full pension, according to sources familiar with McCabe’s thinking.  McCabe is not facing any charges for his conduct, and even some of those who have pleaded guilty to federal charges and admitted to lying to federal authorities have been able to retain their pensions.  Trump’s former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty earlier this year to lying to authorities about his contacts with a Russian official, has been able to retain the pension he accrued from 33 years of military service."

Why 'special treatment' for McCabe?  Because his wife's a Democrat?

"Similarly, in 2015, after former CIA director Gen. David Petraeus admitted to giving his mistress classified information and then lying to FBI agents about it, Petraeus was able to retain his pension, which reportedly pays him $208,000 a year.  Federal law states that government employees can lose their pension and benefits if convicted of a federal crime."

Here is precisely why the Trump nazi wants him sacked:

"McCabe’s pending departure has been fraught with political pressures from both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, as Republicans claim his wife’s failed Democratic run for state senate in Virginia means McCabe harbors political bias. McCabe, however, has always identified himself as a Republican, according to those who know him.  When news reports surfaced in December that McCabe was planning to retire four months later, President Donald Trump took to Twitter, alleging McCabe had ties to “Clinton Puppets” and accusing him of “racing the clock to retire with full benefits.” A month later, Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr. piled on, saying American taxpayers would be “stuck paying [McCabe] for the rest of his life.” Now Sessions — hoping to hold onto his own job in the midst of tensions with Trump — must ultimately decide McCabe’s fate."

Hopefully, Mueller is looking into all this.

In follow-up, McCabe got the boot.  The Washington Post reports:

"Attorney General Jeff Sessions late Friday night fired former FBI deputy director Andrew Mc­Cabe, a little more than 24 hours before McCabe was set to retire — a move that McCabe alleged was an attempt to slander him and undermine the ongoing special counsel investigation into the Trump campaign."

The AG Sessions nazi gutlessly executed the will of his fuhrer, the Trump nazi.  -- To protect his master, as the noose figuratively tightens around Trump as Mueller zeroes in.

"Sessions announced the decision in a statement just before 10 p.m., noting that both the Justice Department inspector general and the FBI office that handles discipline had found “that Mr. McCabe had made an unauthorized disclosure to the news media and lacked candor — including under oath — on multiple occasions.”  He said based on those findings and the recommendation of the department’s senior career official, “I have terminated the employment of Andrew McCabe effective immediately.”

To protect Trump.  Obfuscate.  Stonewall.

"The move will likely cost Mc­Cabe a significant portion of his retirement benefits, though it is possible he could bring a legal challenge. He responded on Friday night with a lengthy statement, claiming he was being targeted because he was a witness in special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s probe into whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia and asserting that his actions were appropriate. He also alleged former FBI Director James B. Comey knew about the media disclosure about which the inspector general has raised questions.  “This attack on my credibility is one part of a larger effort not just to slander me personally, but to taint the FBI, law enforcement, and intelligence professionals more generally,” McCabe said. “It is part of this Administration’s ongoing war on the FBI and the efforts of the Special Counsel investigation, which continue to this day. Their persistence in this campaign only highlights the importance of the Special Counsel’s work.”

Certainly, appears so.  Sue the living shit out of all those involved.  Whether or not you lose is nowhere near as important as shining the light of day on this abomination in the Oval Office and his henchmen.

"Trump tweeted early Saturday morning, “Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI - A great day for Democracy. Sanctimonious James Comey was his boss and made McCabe look like a choirboy. He knew all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI!”

Galling distortion of reality by the Trump nazi as the noose figuratively tightens as Mueller zeroes in on this abomination in the Oval Office.

"Michael R. Bromwich, Mc­Cabe’s attorney, said that he had “never before seen the type of rush to judgment — and rush to summary punishment — that we have witnessed in this case.” He cited in particular President Trump’s attacks on McCabe on Twitter and the White House press secretary’s comments about him on Thursday — which he said were “quite clearly designed to put inappropriate pressure on the Attorney General to act accordingly.”  “This intervention by the White House in the DOJ disciplinary process is unprecedented, deeply unfair, and dangerous,” Bromwich said."

Desperation by a lunatic nazi who fears impeachment, removal from office.  A failed presidency.

"McCabe, who conducted interviews with several media outlets in advance of his firing but declined to do so with The Washington Post, said in his statement he was “being singled out and treated this way because of the role I played, the actions I took, and the events I witnessed” when the president fired Comey as FBI director. Mueller is looking at that termination as part of his examination into whether Trump was attempting to obstruct justice."

Precisely, what this all appears to be, -- obstruction.

"McCabe said in the statement that his testimony before the House Intelligence Committee — which he believed accelerated the process against him — revealed he “would corroborate” Comey’s accounts of his interactions with Trump. Comey has said previously the president asked him for loyalty and, referring to the probe of the president’s former national security adviser, asked whether Comey would “let this go.”

Obstruction.

“The big picture,” McCabe said, “is a tale of what can happen when law enforcement is politicized, public servants are attacked, and people who are supposed to cherish and protect our institutions become instruments for damaging those institutions and people.”

A nazi dictator.

"Bromwich, himself a former Justice Department inspector general, suggested that office treated McCabe unfairly, cleaving from a larger investigation its findings on McCabe and not giving McCabe an adequate chance to respond to the allegations he faced. In his statement, Bromwich said McCabe and his lawyers were given limited access to the inspector general’s draft report late last month, saw a final report and evidence a week ago and were “receiving relevant exculpatory evidence as recently as two days ago.”  “With so much at stake, this process has fallen far short of what Mr. McCabe deserved,” Bromwich said. “This concerted effort to accelerate the process in order to beat the ticking clock of his scheduled retirement violates any sense of decency and basic principles of fairness.”

Appearance alone, speaks volumes.

NPR reports:

"Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired outgoing FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe on Friday even though he was on the doorstep of retirement and receiving his pension after two decades of service to the bureau.  President Trump responded on Twitter just after midnight Saturday morning, calling McCabe's firing "a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI - A great day for Democracy."

Quite the opposite.  A most tragic day for a supposed democratic republic commandeered by a demigod.

"In a statement issued immediately after his termination was announced, McCabe said the decision was politically motivated. "The big picture is a tale of what can happen when law enforcement is politicized, public servants are attacked, and people who are supposed to cherish and protect our institutions become instruments for damaging those institutions and people," McCabe said."

What it is remains no more than a desperate, egregious example of obstruction.

"Here is the reality," he added, "I am being singled out and treated this way because of the role I played, the actions I took, and the events I witnessed in the aftermath of the firing of James Comey. The release of this report was accelerated only after my testimony to the House Intelligence Committee revealed that I would corroborate former Director Comey's accounts of his discussions with the President. The OIG's focus on me and this report became a part of an unprecedented effort by the Administration, driven by the President himself, to remove me from my position, destroy my reputation, and possibly strip me of a pension that I worked 21 years to earn. The accelerated release of the report, and the punitive actions taken in response, make sense only when viewed through this lens."

A president who is clearly out of control, an egregious failure.

"The investigation flows from my attempt to explain the FBI's involvement and my supervision of investigations involving Hillary Clinton. I was being portrayed in the media over and over as a political partisan, accused of closing down investigations under political pressure. The FBI was portrayed as caving under that pressure, and making decisions for political rather than law enforcement purposes. Nothing was further from the truth. In fact, this entire investigation stems from my efforts, fully authorized under FBI rules, to set the record straight on behalf of the Bureau, and to make clear that we were continuing an investigation that people in DOJ opposed."

Obstruction of justice.

CBS News reports:

"Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe says the Justice Department's decision to fire him just two days before his retirement is part of the Trump administration's "war on the FBI." McCabe, who briefly led the agency after Director James Comey was fired, said his dismissal by Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Friday night was the latest attack on his credibility.  He has claimed he's being singled out because of what he witnessed in the aftermath of Comey's ouster."

Obstruction.

"McCabe was fired a day after FBI ethics officials recommended his dismissal, reports CBS News justice correspondent Paula Reid, and just before the expected release of an Inspector General's report which is expected to show that he shared information with the media about the agency's investigation into the Clinton Foundation.  In a statement, Sessions said McCabe, "lacked candor -- including under oath -- on multiple occasions… all FBI employees know that lacking candor under oath results in dismissal."  But McCabe pushed back hard, saying his firing is yet another attempt by the administration to undermine Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the U.S. election process, and allegations that Mr. Trump's campaign colluded with those efforts.  In a statement, McCabe wrote that he was, "being singled out and treated this way because of the role I played, the actions I took and the events I witnessed in the aftermath of the firing of James Comey."

Obstruction.

Trump clearly fears the Mueller investigation:

"Part of Mueller's probe is looking into whether President Trump was trying to obstruct justice by firing Comey.   McCabe said in his statement that the inspector general's report was fast-tracked after he told the House Intelligence Committee he would corroborate Comey's accounts of conversations he had with the president. Comey has testified that Mr. Trump asked if he would end an investigation into former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn.  McCabe spoke directly about the ongoing Russia investigation in his statement.   "It is part of this administration's ongoing war on the FBI and the efforts of the special counsel investigation, which continue to this day," he said. "Their persistence in this campaign only highlights the importance of the special counsel's work."

Indeed.  Precisely, why the Trump nazi remains determined to shut down the investigation.

In another article, CBS News reports:

"Fired FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe kept memos of his conversations with President Trump and what happened during the firing of former FBI Director James Comey, CBS News' Paula Reid reports. Reid reports that there should be copies within FBI files.

"Comey also kept memos from his conversations with Mr. Trump. A federal judge has ruled that those memos should remain secret for now."

The noose is figuratively growing tighter.  So is Trump's desperation:

"Shortly after McCabe's firing, Mr. Trump's personal lawyer, John Dowd, called on Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to "end" the Russia probe.

"I pray that Acting Attorney General Rosenstein will follow the brilliant and courageous example of the FBI Office of Professional Responsibility and Attorney General Jeff Sessions and bring an end to alleged Russia Collusion investigation manufactured by McCabe's boss James Comey based upon a fraudulent and corrupt Dossier," Dowd wrote to CBS News.

"Just end it on the merits in light of recent revelations," he added."

Fascinating, isn't it? Obstruction.

NPR reports:

"Congressional Republicans say they still support special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference even as the president continued his offensive Sunday against the investigation, as well as a recently fired high-ranking FBI official, Andrew McCabe.

"On Saturday, the President said the Mueller investigation "should never have been started in that there was no collusion and there was no crime," and Trump's personal lawyer, John Dowd, said the investigation should end.

"Late Sunday, however, White House Special Counsel Ty Cobb released a statement to the media saying that the "President is not considering or discussing the firing of the Special Counsel, Robert Mueller."

Mueller's firing would set off a constitutional crisis.

"Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., noted on NBC's Meet The Press on Sunday that figuring out whether Trump's 2016 campaign coordinated with Russia is only a section of Mueller's task, which is to investigate the Russian government's overall efforts to interfere with the election.  "It is not a collusion probe. It is much broader than that," Rubio said. "I remain confident that the special counsel is going to conduct a probe that is fair and thorough and is going to arrive at the truth."

That's right.

"Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., told CNN's Jake Tapper that he thought Mueller was "doing a good job" and that if Trump fired him, it "would be the beginning of the end of his presidency, because we are a rule-of-laws nation."

Certainly, used to be.

"When it comes to Mr. Mueller, he is following the evidence where it takes him and I think it's very important he be allowed to do his job without interference," Graham said. "And there are many Republicans who share my view."

Hopefully, that's true.  If not, and Mueller's investigation determines Trump engaged in obstruction and/or other crimes, Republicans will not be returned to office if Mueller is fired.

"And Republican Rep. Trey Gowdy, of South Carolina, told Fox News' Chris Wallace that Dowd should not be advising the President to push Mueller to end the investigation.  "If you've done nothing wrong you should want the investigation to be as wholesome and thorough as possible," Gowdy said."

That's right.

"Democrats also came out against the notion that Trump could be moving toward finding a way to end the investigation.  "The president is floating trial balloons about derailing the Mueller investigation," said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. "Our Republican colleagues, particularly the leadership, have an obligation to our country to stand up now and make it clear that firing Mueller is a red line for our democracy that cannot be crossed."

NPR reports:

"McCabe had taken notes and memos about his interactions with President Trump, similar to those prepared by his former boss and colleague James Comey, a source familiar with the issue told NPR. The source also said the McCabe documents corroborate Comey's account — which could play a key role in Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller's inquiry into obstruction of justice.  The McCabe memos are in the possession of Mueller's team of investigators, according to CNN and Axios. And McCabe already sat for an interview with Mueller's team, Axios also reported."

Think the following doesn't exponentially ratchet up pressure on Sessions?  Get this.  CBS News reports:

"Now-fired former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe oversaw a federal criminal investigation into whether Attorney General Jeff Sessions lacked candor when testifying before Congress last year about his contacts with Russian officials, a source familiar with the investigation tells CBS News' Paula Reid. Sessions fired McCabe late Friday, at the recommendation of FBI officials.  The investigation was opened before special counsel Robert Mueller was appointed, Reid reports. A Justice Department official says Sessions was not aware of this investigation until today."

Believe it?  Think so?

"ABC News first reported that McCabe had been in charge of the investigation into Sessions. Sessions' testimony raised alarm bells, but this is the first time it has been reported that there was actually a criminal probe of Sessions' actions."

How could Sessions not have known?  Believe Mueller isn't looking into this?  Issue to be investigated: did Sessions fire McCabe not only to do the will of his fuhrer in the Oval Office, but in revenge for the criminal investigation of not only the president but the Attorney General himself?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

More of the same.  NPR reports:

"A day after the Republican members of the House intelligence committee released their findings from the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 campaign, which cleared President Trump's campaign of collusion, Democrats from the committee said today it was "premature" for the majority GOP members to conclude the probe, and that they would keep investigating.  Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the top Democrat on the committee, called the Republican decision to shut down the investigation a "terrible disservice to the country and the American people," in announcing the release of a 21-page "status report" that laid out the Democrats' case to continue the probe.  "The decision to shut down the investigation before key witnesses could be interviewed and vital documentary evidence obtained will prevent us from fully discharging our duty to the House and to the American people," the report from the Democrats says."

Republicans on the committee have protected and coddled the Trump nazi every step of the way.  Be interesting to see what Mueller has to say when the criminal investigation is concluded.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Wake up.  Your personal data on Facebook is being misused.  Latest example?  Get this. The Washington Post reports:

"Late on Friday, Facebook made an unexpected announcement: The data firm Cambridge Analytica, hyped as integral to President Trump’s election, was suspended from the social network for using data collected improperly from Facebook users."

Much more on this as the story develops.  Reportedly, Mueller is also looking into this.

CBS News reports:

"We're used to operating through different vehicles in the shadows, and I look forward to building a very long term and secretive relationship with you." That's what Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix told undercover reporters from the U.K.'s Channel 4 News who posed as potential clients over a span of several months. Nix and two of his colleagues described a variety of underhanded methods they could use to influence elections, including but not limited to staging, filming and publishing fake bribery or sex worker stings against opponents, using former spies to conduct intelligence-gathering on political foes and various shades of online voter profiling."

Think you haven't been bamboozled?  Fed a steaming shovelful?

"The network aired the exposé Monday evening -- its reporters spoke with senior members of the company, including Nix, managing director Mark Turnbull and chief data officer Dr. Alex Tayler.  "The two fundamental human drivers when it comes to taking information on board effectively are hopes and fears, and many of those are unspoken and even unconscious -- you didn't know that was a fear until you saw something that just evoked that reaction from you," Turnbull explained in a meeting with a reporter posing as "Ranjan," a prospective client from Sri Lanka.  He continued, "And our job is to get, is to drop the bucket further down the well than anybody else to understand what are those really deep-seated underlying fears, concerns. There is no good fighting an election campaign on the facts because actually it's all about emotion."

Think these tactics acceptable in an American presidential election?  Have no problems being manipulated by a candidate and his/her henchmen?

"Turnbull said the data firm often digs up damaging information on politicians for its clients and discreetly pushes the information on the Internet.  "We just put information into the bloodstream of the internet, and then watch it grow, give it a little push every now and again like a remote control," he said. "It has to happen without anyone thinking, 'that's propaganda', because the moment you think, 'That's propaganda', the next question is, 'Who's put that out?' So we have to be subtle."  To hide its involvement, Turnbull said Cambridge Analytica often uses subcontractors to cover its tracks. "It may be that we have to contract under a different name -- a different entity with a different name so that no record exists with our name attached to it at all," he explained."

No problem with this?  Deception okay?  Underhanded tactics appropriate in all American elections?

"The company came under fire after Facebook suspended the data firm accusing it of violating its terms of services and storing data extracted from tens of millions of Facebook profiles.  Facebook alleges that users' data was taken without their permission, but in reality, it was extracted using a loophole in Facebook's app ecosystem at the time. Cambridge Analytica said a researcher built an app that provided a personality quiz to Facebook users, but Facebook claims the researcher then "lied to us" and passed the content onto Cambridge Analytica. That firm then used the data to build "psychographic profiles" about voters.  Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has announced that her office is launching an investigation into the data usage. Politicians in both the U.S. and the U.K. are demanding that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg explain how the data theft occurred and how the company plans to protect consumers."

The Washington Post reports:

"A British television station broadcast video Monday apparently showing the head of the data analysis firm Cambridge Analytica, which worked for President Trump’s 2016 campaign, talking about using bribes, traps involving sex workers and other unethical tactics to swing elections around the world.  The broadcast by Channel 4 News offered no evidence that such methods were used during Cambridge Analytica’s work for the Trump campaign, which paid the firm at least $6 million. But the broadcast sparked a fresh round of questions about a company already embroiled in controversy about its use of personal information from tens of millions of Facebooks users — the vast majority of whom had no idea their names, likes and work histories had been collected for political purposes."

If Trump and his henchmen had no intention of using such tactics, why would they have paid this company $6 million?

CBS News reports:

"Facebook (FB) shares fell nearly 7 percent Monday amid controversy over how Cambridge Analytica, which was hired by President Trump's 2016 campaign, was able to harvest personal data from more than 50 million Facebook users.  The 6.8 percent drop lopped nearly $40 billion off Facebook's market value.    Facebook says it initially gave out the data to a researcher who claimed it would be used only for academic purposes. Facebook claims the researcher then "lied to us" and passed the content onto Cambridge Analytica. That firm then used the data to build "psychographic profiles" about voters.  Investors are worried about the fallout for Facebook from prosecutors, regulators, and advertisers."

Should be.

"Massachusetts attorney general Maura Healey wrote on Twitter that her office is launching an investigation into the data usage. "Massachusetts residents deserve answers immediately from Facebook and Cambridge Analytica," Healey wrote.  Politicians in both the U.S. and the U.K. are demanding that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg explain how the data theft occurred and how the company plans to protect consumers."

Wake up.  Facebook is selling you out.

"Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut, on Monday urged the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Facebook, in a tweet calling the company's policies to protect consumer data a "hollow promise." He also urged Congress to examine what he described as links between Cambridge Analytica and "Russian state interests."

    "FTC should immediately investigate and sanction apparent breach by Facebook of its 2011 agreement guaranteeing protection of consumer info - now a hollow promise.
    — Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) March 19, 2018"

They're lining their pockets.  You're getting royally f--ked.  In the ass.  Without the KY.  Any questions?

In another article, CBS News reports:

"Amid the fallout over the revelation that a political consulting firm, Cambridge Analytica, obtained personal data from more than 50 million Facebook users without their permission, Facebook and some of its executives objected to the use of the phrase "data breach" to describe the controversy. Nicholas Thompson, a CBS News contributor and editor-in-chief of Wired magazine, said on CBSN on Monday that Facebook was "very upset" about the use of the word "breach" in a headline in the British newspaper the Guardian, which first broke the story over the weekend."

A f--king is a f--king no matter what you call it.  No matter how the bullshit gets spun.

"The newspaper has continued to refer to the incident as a breach in subsequent stories. Their reporting exposed how Facebook users' data was initially obtained through an app that collected information on people who took a personality quiz and all their Facebook friends, supposedly for academic research purposes only. The data was then provided to Cambridge Analytica, which helped the Trump campaign during the 2016 Republican primaries."

Don't think you've been hoodwinked?  Worse, don't care?

"Facebook Vice President Andrew Bosworth defended the company Saturday morning and denied that any "data breach" took place.  "This was unequivocally not a data breach," Bosworth said. "People chose to share their data with third party apps and if those third party apps did not follow the data agreements with us/users it is a violation. no systems were infiltrated, no passwords or information were stolen or hacked."

The son of a bitch is so goddamned Aryan arrogant he and his company won't take responsibility.  What does that tell you?

"Reporter April Glaser with the online magazine Slate posted to Twitter screenshots of tweets from Facebook Chief Security Officer Alex Stamos also taking issue with the phrase. The tweets appear to have since been deleted from Stamos' page.  "The recent Cambridge Analytica stories by the NY Times and The Guardian are important and powerful, but it is incorrect to call this a 'breach' under any reasonable definition of the term," Stamos says in one screenshot. "We can condemn this behavior while being accurate in our description of it."

    "Here are @alexstamos now deleted tweets on the app Cambridge Analytica used to harvest millions of Facebook users' data. pic.twitter.com/jPwRHUyW1w
    — april glaser (@aprilaser) March 17, 2018"

Wake up.

CBS News reports:

"The Federal Trade Commission is investigating whether revelations that data firm Cambridge Analytica harvested personal data from millions of Facebook users violates a previous order by the regulatory agency targeting Facebook, according to Bloomberg News.  Under that 2011 agreement, Facebook said it would make changes to protect its users' privacy, including providing them with "clear and prominent notice" and asking for their "express consent" before their information would be shared beyond their privacy settings.  "We are aware of the issues that have been raised but cannot comment on whether we are investigating," an FTC spokeswoman told CBS MoneyWatch. "We take any allegations of violations of our consent decrees very seriously as we did in 2012 in a privacy case involving Google."

The Washington Post reports:

"The Federal Trade Commission has opened an investigation into Facebook following reports that a data analytics firm that had worked with the Trump campaign had improperly accessed names, “likes” and other personal information about tens of millions of the social site’s users without their knowledge.  The FTC probe – confirmed by a source familiar with the agency's thinking and not authorized to speak on the record -- marks the most substantial political and legal threat yet to Facebook as it grapples with the fallout from Cambridge Analytica and its controversial tactics. And it could result in the U.S. government slapping Facebook with a massive fine."

Not good enough.  Nowhere near.

"At issue for the company -- and at the heart of the FTC probe -- is a settlement they reached with the agency in November 2011, ending an investigation that Facebook deceived users about the privacy protections they are afforded on the site.  Among other requirements, the resulting consent decree mandated that Facebook must notify users and obtain their permission before data about them is shared beyond the privacy settings they have established. It also subjected Facebook to 20 years of privacy checkups to ensure its compliance."

Apparently, not good enough oversight.

"Recently, though, former FTC officials have said that Facebook’s entanglement with Cambridge Analytica may have violated the company's legal agreement with the federal watchdog agency. Whistleblowers in recent days contend that Cambridge Analytica collected information about users and their friends under a since-ceased policy governing third-party apps on Facebook – then kept that data even after Facebook asked that it be deleted."

Looks like this may turn out to be quite a legal nightmare for Facebook:

"About 270,000 users downloaded Cambridge Analytica's app. But the firm was able to obtain personal information about their friends, who likely had no knowledge that their data was being collected. Roughly 50 million people may have been affected.  If the FTC ultimately finds that Facebook broke that agreement, it could fine the company $40,000 for each violation."

NPR reports:

"The British government says it is seeking a warrant to search databases and servers belonging to Cambridge Analytica, the London-based company accused of using data from 50 million Facebook users to influence the 2016 presidential campaign.  U.K. Information Minister Elizabeth Denham had demanded access to Cambridge Analytica's databases by Monday following reports that the company improperly mined user data from Facebook to target potential voters. However, after the firm missed the deadline, Denham told Britain's Channel 4: "I'll be applying to the court for a warrant."

Think Mueller isn't also looking into this?

NPR reports:

"Cambridge Analytica has suspended its CEO, Alexander Nix. The London-based company, which is accused of using data from 50 million Facebook users to influence the 2016 presidential campaign, announced the move Tuesday afternoon — one day after the release of a video that appears to show Nix acknowledging the firm's engagement in political dirty tricks.  "In the view of the Board, Mr. Nix's recent comments secretly recorded by Channel 4 and other allegations do not represent the values or operations of the firm," the company's board of directors said in a statement, "and his suspension reflects the seriousness with which we view this violation."

NPR reports:

"It's all a far cry from the beginning of the 2016 presidential campaign, when Cambridge Analytica waded into American politics with the goal of giving conservatives big data tools to compete with Democrats. Its big promise: developing detailed psychological profiles of every American voter, so that campaigns could tailor their pitches from person to person."

Have no problem being manipulated?

"We've been appealing to the same demographic on the same issue," Nix told NPR in February 2016, "yet how we nuance this engagement is completely different."  No, Cambridge Analytica couldn't fully capture the personality of every single voter. But here's how Nix pitched the company's approach at the time. Cambridge Analytica worked with researchers to develop "a 120-question survey that seeks to probe personality," he said. "And we've rolled this out to literally hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people across America."

Think Trump and his henchmen got their money's worth?

"The company asked all sorts of questions about personality and behavior. Then it scored people on traits like openness, extroversion and agreeableness — aspects of the typical "big five" personality traits.  Those results were mixed together with polls, voter records and online activity in order to create personality models for voters. Cambridge Analytica may not have talked to you, Nix said, but "if I talk to enough people who look like you, in terms of what data they have, I'd be able to quantify your personality based on the discussion I've had with other people."

No sense of intrusion?  Personal violation?

Gets worse:

"This week, the Times reported that Cambridge Analytica collected a lot of this information by breaking Facebook's rules. An outside researcher affiliated with Cambridge University, Aleksandr Kogan, developed an app for the company that required users to sign in using their Facebook accounts.  Facebook's rules at the time allowed the app to suck up information about all those users and, even more importantly, information about their friends. That data included education, location, the groups and pages they liked, their relationship status, and where they worked.  Kogan, who created the app, was allowed to collect all this information for academic purposes. What he wasn't allowed to do was pass the data along to a third party, instead of using it for research, as had been promised."

Still no sense of violation?  Satisfied with how Facebook protected your personal data?

Apparently and unremarkably, seems "Screws Loose" Ted Cruz used their 'services':

"All this data went into the company's much-hyped psychological profiles. While Cambridge Analytica is now associated with Donald Trump's general election campaign, it was Texas Sen. Ted Cruz who first employed the firm.  The Cruz campaign went all-in on political science theory and big data approaches to campaigning, and divided voters into six different psychological profiles during the early primaries. The campaign reached out to voters it grouped as "timid traditionalists" with different messaging than it did for "temperamental" voters, even if the calls, emails, and flyers were about the same Cruz stances on the same topics.  The psychological profiling got a lot of media attention after Cruz won the Iowa caucuses, especially after Nix publicly claimed credit for the win in a series of media interviews."

Apparently, Cruz's sick sycophants also don't seem to mind being similarly manipulated.  LOL.

Here's what's so interesting:

"But as the campaign advanced, the Cruz campaign became skeptical of the approach. It ultimately phased out the psychological profiling attempts after the South Carolina primary, even though Cambridge Analytica staffers remained attached to Cruz's campaign."

The question is why.  Certainly, not clear.

"In explicit contractual language, Cambridge Analytica affirmatively represented that all data used by them were obtained legally, that they would conduct their operations 'in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations,' and that they 'hold all necessary permits, licenses and consents to conduct its operations,' " Cruz spokeswoman Catherine Frazier said in an emailed statement this week."

How could they possibly know for sure?  Certainly, not clear.

"Cruz ended his campaign for president after the Indiana primary. With Cruz out of the race and Trump on his way to lead the Republican ticket, Cambridge Analytica began working for the GOP nominee. This shift paralleled the migration of the Mercer family, major Republican donors with a significant financial stake in the company."

Fascinating, isn't it?  Quite indicative of the fact those with enormous wealth can usually buy their way out of any scrape they find themselves in.  Until, of course, the shit finally hits the fan.  ... As now seems to be the case.

"While Cruz's campaign had embraced data science and was willing to experiment with political science theories that had never before been tested on the presidential level, the Trump campaign's data operation had been nonexistent. Shortly after winning the Republican nomination, Trump told the AP he viewed data as "overrated" in politics.  Still, Cambridge Analytica staffers embedded with Trump digital strategist Brad Parscale in his San Antonio office, and played a key role in the campaign's online efforts."

Eventually, will likely become clear who was ultimately responsible for hiring this firm during the Trump campaign.

"People involved in both the Cruz and Trump campaigns say they never used the data Cambridge Analytica illicitly acquired from Facebook. And both campaigns ultimately soured on both the company and its CEO."

Be interesting to see if this is indeed confirmed by the Mueller investigation.

CBS News reports:

"Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of social media giant Facebook (FB), released a statement Wednesday afternoon breaking his silence about startling reports that the company mishandled the personal data of millions of users. He wrote in a post on Facebook that there was a "breach of trust between Facebook and the people who share their data with us" and said the company "made mistakes" on what he referred to as the "Cambridge Analytica situation."  "We have a responsibility to protect your data, and if we can't then we don't deserve to serve you. I've been working to understand exactly what happened and how to make sure this doesn't happen again," Zuckerberg wrote."

Too little, much too late.  Same old, same old every time there is a f--kup that sees the light of day.  Wake up.  Facebook makes its money marketing your personal data.

Just the beginning.  Much more to come.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Think pressure on the lunatic Trump nazi isn't enormous and growing?  The Washington Post reports:

"The Trump administration on Thursday imposed fresh sanctions on Russian government hackers and spy agencies to punish Moscow for interfering in the 2016 presidential election, and for a cyberattack against Ukraine and other countries last year that officials have characterized as “the most destructive and costly” in history."

Too little, much too late.  Imposed only after enormous pressure was brought to bear, as the noose figuratively tightens.

"Sanctions also were imposed on individuals known as “trolls” and the Russian organizations — including the Internet Research Agency — that supported their efforts to undermine the election. Additionally, the administration alerted the public that Russia is targeting the U.S. energy grid with computer malware that could sabotage the systems."

Stunning change, isn't it?  ... Or, no more than a meaningless facade?  Get this:

"Taken together, the moves represent the administration’s most significant actions to date against Russia for its aggression against the United States, though analysts say their impact is mostly symbolic and noted that a number of the individuals and groups had already been subject to sanctions. Nonetheless, officials hope the actions will help deter tampering with this year’s midterm elections while signaling to Russia that Washington will not allow its attacks to go unchallenged."

Clearly, this failed president knows the pressure is on, exponentially increasing.

Believe the following credible?  Especially, coming from the source?  Get this:

“The administration is confronting and countering malign Russian cyber activity, including their attempted interference in U.S. elections, destructive cyberattacks, and intrusions targeting critical infrastructure,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. “These targeted sanctions are a part of a broader effort to address the ongoing nefarious attacks emanating from Russia.”

Think so?  ... Or, simply empty rhetoric not-so-cleverly designed to bamboozle, obfuscate.  'Ignore the man behind the curtain.'  Wizard of Oz unadulterated bullshit.

"The sanctions stand in contrast to President Trump’s reluctance to blame the Kremlin for its interference in the 2016 presidential race despite the U.S. intelligence community’s conclusion that Moscow did so.  They come after the United States, France and Germany joined Britain in denouncing Russia for a brazen poison attack that has left a former Russian spy and his daughter comatose in a Salisbury, England, hospital. On Wednesday, Britain expelled 23 Russian diplomats in retaliation.  The outgoing head of the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command has warned that if the United States does not take punitive or deterrent action against Russia, its malicious activity will continue."

You think?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Does this sound 'conservative' to you?  The Washington Times reports:

"President Trump has now amassed his first $1 trillion in debt, crossing that ignominious mark late last week — and analysts said it’s just a taste of what’s to come after the tax-cuts and spending spree of recent months.  Indeed, his next $1 trillion could come within a year, and one analyst said he could soon be staring at $3 trillion annual deficits if things go particularly badly in interest rates."

How is this conservative?  Where is the outrage of Republicans?

"It’s a major reversal for a president who during the campaign had said given eight years he could eliminate the debt entirely, but is instead looking at setting records for red ink.  “We are in for a rude awakening,” said Maya MacGuineas, president of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget.  Her organization calculated that with December’s tax cuts and January’s budget-busting spending deal, Mr. Trump has already signed legislation that will add at least $2.4 trillion to the debt in the next decade and, should Congress make those policies permanent, could add as much as $6 trillion."

No end to spending.  To line the pockets of the corporate management suite and top of the food chain.

Here's the truth.  Consider the source.  The Washington Times.  Bastion of conservatism in Washington:

"At that rate, the government will be paying $1 trillion a year in interest payments alone.  Mr. Trump at this time last year was crowing over the debt, which stood at $19.947 trillion and quickly dipped after his inauguration. He took to Twitter to demand credit.  “The media has not reported that the National Debt in my first month went down by $12 billion vs a $200 billion increase in Obama first mo.,” he wrote.  But the tally hit $20.957 late last week and stood at $20.958 trillion as of Wednesday — the latest numbers available from the Treasury Department."

Again, where is the outrage of the GOP?  Where?

How are Republicans conservative?  Readers are reminded the darling of the Republican Nazi Right, Ronald Reagan, took eight years to triple the national debt from $1 trillion to $3 trillion bucks.  How is that conservative?  How is what the Trump nazi's doing conservative?  How?  They're lining the pockets of their corporate masters and the rest of the top of the food chain.  Bottom and middle class continue to pay the price of this unbridled greed.  You're being royally f--ked.  Wake up.

CBS News reports:

"About a year ago, President Trump pledged to eliminate the national debt "over a period of eight years." But for the first time in history, the national debt surpassed $21 trillion this week, according to the U.S. Treasury.   The landmark comes shortly after Congress passed, and Mr. Trump signed, a suspension on the federal debt limit last month, allowing the government to borrow an unlimited amount of money until March 1, 2019."

Same old, same old.  No matter the party in power.  Get this:

"When Mr. Trump took office on Jan. 20, 2017, the national debt was $19.9 trillion, according to U.S. Treasury data. Since then, the GOP-led Congress has passed a $1.5 trillion tax cut bill and a two-year spending deal which, together, are expected to drive the deficit and debt further upward. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates annual deficits could top $2.1 trillion per year in the next decade, which would send the national debt soaring even higher."

Unbridled hypocrisy:

"Republicans railed against the national debt level under the Obama administration, when it jumped from $10.6 trillion to $19.9 trillion, nearly doubling, but few have been as outspoken about the situation with Republicans controlling Capitol Hill and the White House. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, held up the spending bill last month on the Senate floor, blistering Republicans for doing exactly what they had criticized the Obama administration for doing.  "I ran for office because I was critical of President Obama's trillion-dollar deficits," Paul said at the time. "Now we have Republicans hand-in-hand with Democrats offering us trillion-dollar deficits."  Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tennessee, called the national debt the "greatest threat to our nation" when it exceeded $20 trillion for the first time in September."

So what else is new?  Coup de grace?  Get this:

"But the ever-increasing national debt isn't a frequent topic for Mr. Trump, and when it does come up, he doesn't seem too concerned. He's said he's open to eliminating the debt ceiling entirely."

Truly believe Republicans conservative?  Wake up.  They're big spenders.  Just like Democrats.  Only difference?  Priorities.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Think Trump's not a liar?  Worse, a fool unfit for office?  The Washington Post reports:

"President Trump boasted in a fundraising speech Wednesday that he made up information in a meeting with the leader of a top U.S. ally, saying he insisted to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that the United States runs a trade deficit with its neighbor to the north without knowing whether that was true."

It's not.  Worse, Trump made a fool of himself.

“Trudeau came to see me. He’s a good guy, Justin. He said, ‘No, no, we have no trade deficit with you, we have none. Donald, please,’ ” Trump said, mimicking Trudeau, according to audio of the private event in Missouri obtained by The Washington Post. “Nice guy, good-looking guy, comes in — ‘Donald, we have no trade deficit.’ He’s very proud because everybody else, you know, we’re getting killed.  “... So, he’s proud. I said, ‘Wrong, Justin, you do.’ I didn’t even know. ... I had no idea. I just said, ‘You’re wrong.’ You know why? Because we’re so stupid. … And I thought they were smart. I said, ‘You’re wrong, Justin.’ He said, ‘Nope, we have no trade deficit.’ I said, ‘Well, in that case, I feel differently,’ I said, ‘but I don’t believe it.’ I sent one of our guys out, his guy, my guy, they went out, I said, ‘Check, because I can’t believe it.’  ‘Well, sir, you’re actually right. We have no deficit, but that doesn’t include energy and timber. … And when you do, we lose $17 billion a year.’ It’s incredible.”

What's incredible is the Trump nazi's abject lack of credibility:

"The Office of the United States Trade Representative says the United States has a trade surplus with Canada. It reports that in 2016, the United States exported $12.5 billion more in goods and services than it imported from Canada, leading to a trade surplus, not a deficit."

How can one have any faith or trust in a congenital liar?  Get this:

"In response to this story, Trump on Thursday went on Twitter to reiterate his false assertion that the United States has a trade “deficit” with Canada and said it was other countries that refused to accept that such imbalances exist.

    "We do have a Trade Deficit with Canada, as we do with almost all countries (some of them massive). P.M. Justin Trudeau of Canada, a very good guy, doesn’t like saying that Canada has a Surplus vs. the U.S.(negotiating), but they do...they almost all do...and that’s how I know!
    — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2018"

This man is delusional.  Trust him with his finger on the proverbial nuclear button?  Presents an exigent threat to life, liberty, all civil and constitutional rights and liberties.

Consider the following:

"In his 30-minute speech to donors in Missouri, Trump made a blistering attack against major U.S. allies and global economies, accusing the European Union, China, Japan and South Korea of ripping off the United States for decades and pillaging the U.S. workforce. He also described the North American Free Trade Agreement as a disaster and heaped blame on the World Trade Organization for allowing other countries to box in the United States on trade."

This man is a lunatic:

"Trump seemed to threaten to pull U.S. troops stationed in South Korea if he didn’t get what he wanted on trade with Seoul, an ally. He said that the country had gotten rich but that U.S. politicians never negotiated better deals. “We have a very big trade deficit with them, and we protect them,” Trump said. “We lose money on trade, and we lose money on the military. We have right now 32,000 soldiers on the border between North and South Korea. Let’s see what happens.”

Get this:

“Our allies care about themselves,” he said. “They don’t care about us.”

Aren't you talking about yourself?   Doing precisely the same, Donny Boy?  Your hypocrisy?  Stunning.

CBS News reports:

"But the Canadian government isn't sure what meeting Mr. Trump was referencing. A Canadian official told the National Post it may have been a conversation by phone, not in person, as the president suggested. The topic of trade deficits, that official told the Canadian paper, has come up more than once in conversations between the two leaders.  Mr. Trump doubled down on his claims on, where else, Twitter.

"We do have a Trade Deficit with Canada, as we do with almost all countries (some of them massive). P.M. Justin Trudeau of Canada, a very good guy, doesn't like saying that Canada has a Surplus vs. the U.S.(negotiating), but they do...they almost all do...and that's how I know!" the president tweeted Thursday morning.

    "We do have a Trade Deficit with Canada, as we do with almost all countries (some of them massive). P.M. Justin Trudeau of Canada, a very good guy, doesn’t like saying that Canada has a Surplus vs. the U.S.(negotiating), but they do...they almost all do...and that’s how I know!
    — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2018"

What's the problem, Mr. 'President?'  Short term memory loss due to aging?  Unbridled narcissism?  Issue of congenital lying?  Insanity?  All the above?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Think the following rational?  CBS News reports:

"America should create its own separate military space force, President Donald Trump mentioned in an offhand remark Tuesday that would change the course of U.S. space policy.

"Saying his national security strategy "recognizes that space is a war-fighting domain, just like the land, air and sea," Mr. Trump said at a San Diego Marine Corps base that he's considering "a space force" that would be the equivalent of the Air Force, Army and Navy.  Mr. Trump said at first he wasn't serious when he floated the concept, but "then I said what a great idea, maybe we'll have to do that."

Jesus Christ.  This man is nuts, a 'space cadet.'  LOL.

"This is more about boosting reconnaissance and cyber security than fighting in orbit, said Sean O'Keefe, who was both NASA administrator and Navy secretary under President George W. Bush.  Mr. Trump's own defense secretary and Air Force secretary argued vociferously against it when members of Congress pushed it last year, O'Keefe said. You can emphasize more help for the military in space without going to the massive organizational change and expense, he said."

To what end?  Fight space aliens?  LOL.  Certainly, line the pockets of Trump's cronies in the war profiteering corporate management suite.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Sexual assault in the military remains a problem.  Including sexual assault of children.  CBS News reports:

"Congress reacted Thursday to an Associated Press investigation into sexual assault among children on U.S. military bases by demanding the Defense and Justice departments explain how they will solve the problem.  The House of Representatives Armed Services Committee, meanwhile, said it had begun its own examination of the issue. And a top Democrat on the committee said she would call a hearing within six months."

Six months?  Why wait that long?  How many more victims during the interim?

"Four senators, including the veteran head of the Senate Armed Services Committee and two others who've made sexual assault a keynote issue, sent letters to the Pentagon and Justice Department with questions about sex assault among the military's children.  AP's investigation revealed that reports of sexual violence among kids on U.S. military bases at home and abroad often die on the desks of prosecutors, even when an attacker confesses. Other cases are shelved by criminal investigators despite requirements they be pursued. Many cases get lost in a dead zone of justice, AP found, with neither victim nor offender receiving help."

How can that occur?  Why is it tolerated?

"The report reveals an inscrutable system that fails these children at every level," wrote Sen. Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat."

Where are the commanders?  How could they not know this shit is going on?

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Consider the following.  Speaks volumes.  CBS News reports:

"A military analyst for Fox News said Tuesday that he was quitting the network because he believed it had turned into a propaganda machine for President Donald Trump's administration. Ralph Peters, a retired U.S. Army officer, said he told Fox at the beginning of the month that he did not want his contributor contract renewed.

"Over my decade at Fox, I was long proud of the association," Peters wrote in an email that was distributed to colleagues at Fox News, and first reported by BuzzFeed News. "Now I am ashamed."  Peters said he believed Fox had "degenerated from providing a legitimate and much-needed outlet for conservative voices to a mere propaganda machine for a destructive and ethically ruinous administration."  He criticized prime-time hosts for "profoundly dishonest assaults" on the FBI, the Justice Department, the courts, the intelligence community and special counsel Robert Mueller, who is conducting an investigation into the Trump administration's dealings with Russia. He accused the network of "scaremongering" with lurid warnings of deep-state machinations."

Response of Fox?  Get this:

"Fox said in a statement that the network did not want attributed to a specific spokesperson that Peters was entitled to his opinion, "despite the fact that he's choosing to use it as a weapon in order to get attention." Fox said it was proud of its opinion programming and prime-time hosts."

Raw nazism.  No more than a mouthpiece for their fuhrer in the Oval Office, the Trump nazi.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Think the racist AG Sessions nazi's not an idiot?  LOL.  The Washington Times reports:

"The Justice Department said in court Wednesday that Attorney General Jeff Sessions made an “error” in his memo laying out the legal problems with the Obama-era DACA program, as a federal judge repeatedly blasted the Trump administration for weak reasoning in revoking the deportation amnesty."

Couldn't be, could it?  LOL.  ... Is Sessions as truly simple-minded as he appears to be?  LOL.

"Government lawyers say the error isn’t enough to sink their case, arguing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is unlawful and the risks of trying to defend it in court were enough to justify the six-month phaseout the acting Homeland Security secretary initiated last year.  But Judge John D. Bates seemed skeptical, prodding government lawyers on what he suggested was questionable legal reasoning by the Justice Department and thin justifications from Homeland Security.  “There isn’t that much in the agency decision,” the judge, appointed to the bench by President George W. Bush, told the government."

Had to have been achingly lacking if a Republican appointee to the bench questioned it.  LOL.

"He repeatedly asked lawyers what would happen if he were to send the phaseout decision back to the department to try again.  Both sides agreed that depending on how the judge wrote that decision, it could mean kick-starting the DACA program again. That would mean not only taking renewal applications — which the department is already doing, thanks to two other judges’ orders — but even allowing perhaps tens of thousands of brand new Dreamers to sign up for DACA."

What webs we weave.  LOL.

At risk at getting lost in the legal weeds, consider the following:

"Acting Homeland Security Secretary Elaine Duke announced the phaseout Sept. 5, citing a letter from Mr. Sessions that told her to rescind DACA because it lacked legal backing.  In his letter, Mr. Sessions said DACA “was an unconstitutional exercise of authority by the executive branch.” He pointed to a ruling by a federal appeals court in 2015 that found a similar deportation amnesty for millions of additional illegal immigrants — a program called Deferred Action for Parents of Americans.  “Because the DACA policy has the same legal and constitutional defects that the courts recognized as DAPA, it is likely that potentially imminent litigation would yield similar results with respect to DACA,” Mr. Sessions said.  But Judge Bates said that was wrong. He said while courts had ruled DAPA was illegal because it cut procedural corners, no court had ruled it unconstitutional.  “So the attorney general is not correct” on how the 5th Circuit judges ruled, Judge Bates demanded of Kathryn C. Davis, a Justice Department lawyer.  She concurred: “It was an error to assert they reached a constitutional issue.”

Jesus Christ.  Sessions is an idiot.  Didn't anyone at DOJ read the letter before it was sent?  LOL.

"Judge Bates isn’t the first to call Mr. Sessions on the error in the memo.  The federal judge in New York who ruled against the phaseout last month also said Mr. Sessions got the legal issues wrong.  The Justice Department is appealing that ruling, and in briefs filed last week government lawyers said the mistake was “plainly harmless.”

To whom?  Certainly, not to Dreamers.

"In a statement to The Washington Times after Wednesday’s hearing, the Justice Department said Mr. Sessions’ letter was intended to reflect his own legal conclusions."

Give me a break.  Sessions is a lawyer.  Part of his training is precision in use of language.  The following is disingenuous bullshit:

“Read in its entirety, the attorney general’s letter should not be interpreted as attributing constitutional holdings to the Texas courts, but rather as invoking the legal grounds they adopted in support of his own view that DACA was unconstitutional,” the department said. “As the department of Justice correctly explained at argument, DACA violates separation of powers principles because the executive branch is taking action that Congress had chosen not to allow.”

An attempt to excuse the inexcusable.

"Legal analysts have faulted the government’s approach to defending the phaseout in courts.  Josh Blackman, an associate professor at the South Texas College of Law, has called parts of Mr. Sessions’ letter “confounding,” and has written that the Justice Department isn’t arguing it properly in the cases.  Mr. Blackman also wondered why the Justice Department has not rescinded an Office of Legal Counsel opinion issued in 2014 declaring DACA and DAPA legal.  Judge Bates wondered the same thing, saying he’d been looking in either Mr. Sessions’ or Ms. Duke’s documents for an explanation of why they were ignoring the OLC.  “It’s not there,” he said."

The problem appears to be Sessions is desperately trying to mold the law and Constitution to his racist and fascist ideology.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Carefully consider the following.  When the rights of any of us are abrogated, the rights of all of us remain in jeopardy.  NBC News reports:

"In picking Mike Pompeo for his new secretary of state, President Donald Trump asserted that Pompeo would "do a fantastic job," and social conservatives quickly praised the announcement.  LGBTQ advocates, however, were just as quick to point to Pompeo's extensive record — mostly as a congressman from Kansas, before becoming CIA director last year — opposing the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans and the potential negative impact he could have on them if confirmed."

Goddamned homophobic bigot.

"His nomination “could have serious consequences for the United States and LGBTQ people around the globe," Chad Griffin, president of the national LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement.  “Mike Pompeo’s longstanding opposition to LGBTQ equality makes him a reckless choice to lead our nation’s diplomatic efforts,” Griffin said, adding that "the State Department has a crucial role to play in advancing human rights" — a role that he said was already rapidly declining under Rex Tillerson, who was fired this week as secretary of state."

Raw nazism.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Handwriting's on the wall.  NPR reports:

"The U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up a Republican challenge to the newly drawn Pennsylvania congressional map ahead of the 2018 elections.  The decision means Republicans have few, if any, options remaining to try to stem a map that will almost certainly result in Democrats picking up potentially three or four seats and could make half a dozen or more competitive.  Tuesday is the filing deadline for candidates for Pennsylvania's April 26 primaries.  Last month, the Supreme Court also declined to block the state court decision that said the old GOP-drawn map violated the Pennsylvania Constitution."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Wells Fargo saga continues unabated.

"A federal investigation into Wells Fargo has broadened to include the bank's wealth-management division, according to a Wall Street Journal report Friday.  Wells Fargo is wrestling with the aftermath of a scandal in its retail banking unit in which, among other things, employees opened up millions of fake accounts without customer authorization.  The Justice Department is now investigating whether Wells Fargo made inappropriate recommendations or referrals, or failed to inform customers about potential conflicts of interest, the Journal reported, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter."

Until these bastards are criminally charged and prosecuted, nothing changes.  ... Right, Amanda?

"Meanwhile, Well Fargo (WFC) said earlier this week that CEO Tim Sloan received a $4.6 million raise, or a 35 percent pay hike, despite the bank continuing to face the fallout of its sales-practices scandal."

... While bank customers continue to get egregiously f--ked.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Consider the following regarding prescription medications.  ABC News reports:

"People are often overpaying for prescription drugs when they are charged the insurance copay at the pharmacy, according to a new study from the University of Southern California.  In many cases, the researchers found a significant price difference between the patient co-pay amount and the rate insurers paid for the drugs -- and the pharmacies are allowed to keep the difference under a policy called a "claw back."  "In 2013, almost one quarter of filled pharmacy prescriptions [23 percent] involved a patient copayment that exceeded the average reimbursement paid by the insurer by more than $2.00," USC’s director of health policy and economics, Geoffrey Joyce, and his research team said in the study.  On average, customers overpaid a total of $7.69 for prescription drugs, they said."

Get this:

"Some pharmacies are under a "gag clause," which says they are not allowed to tell customers about the price difference and the fact that they would pay less for their prescriptions by not using their insurance.  Gag clauses have recently been challenged in courts and some states do not allow them.  Joyce encourages patients to shop around for the best price on prescriptions to avoid price gouging and to ask pharmacists if paying cash would be cheaper than using insurance."

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

The Nazi Right continues to shamelessly lie about efficacy and safety of abortion procedures in a desperate attempt to force its outrageously perverse ideological and religious views on all.  Think not?  Wake up.  NPR reports:

"Abortions in the United States are safe and have few complications, according to a landmark new study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine."

Religious fascists falsely claim otherwise in a desperate attempt to impose their perverse religious views on all.

"The report, called "The Safety and Quality of Abortion Care in the United States," examined the four major methods used for abortions — medication, aspiration, dilation and evacuation, and induction — and examined women's care from before they had the procedure through their follow-up care.  "I would say the main takeaway is that abortions that are provided in the United States are safe and effective," says Ned Calonge, the co-chair of the committee that wrote the study. He's an associate professor of family medicine and epidemiology at the University of Colorado and CEO of The Colorado Trust.  Calonge says the researchers found that about 90 percent of all abortions happen in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. And complications for all abortions are "rare," the report says."

The Right falsely claims otherwise.  Restrictions imposed by Republican fascists, practicing medicine without a license, endanger women:

"But the report did find that state laws and regulations can interfere with safe abortions.  "Abortion specific regulations in many states create barriers to safe and effective care," the report says.  Calonge says those rules often have no basis in medical research."

They're based on the religious views of nazi legislators determined to impose their perverse ideological and religious views on all.  Direct violation of the First Amendment Establishment Clause, church-state separation, that is, freedom from religion.

"There are some requirements that require clinicians to misinform women of the health risks, that say you have to inform a woman that an abortion will increase her risk of breast cancer," he says.  There is no evidence that breast cancer follows abortion, for example, but five states require doctors to tell women there is a link, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that focuses on reproductive and sexual health."

Doctors are forced to lie by nazi legislators determined to force their religious views on all in direct violation of their oaths of office to protect and defend the United States Constitution.  Traitors.

"There are policies that mandate clinically unnecessary services like pre-abortion ultrasounds, separate inpatient counseling. There are required waiting periods," Calonge says."

All to make it as difficult and expensive as possible to obtain an abortion.

"According to Guttmacher, 27 states make women wait at least 24 hours for an abortion and 11 states require women to have an ultrasound before they can terminate their pregnancy."

Doctors object to transvaginal ultrasounds for two major reasons.  First, they're unnecessary.  The nazi element delusionally, condescendingly, patronizingly believes if a woman sees the image of the unborn child she will decline the abortion.  Horse shit.  They know exactly, precisely why they want the abortion before arriving.  Have thought about it hard and long before seeking the procedure.  Many refuse to view the image.  Second, doctors object to these unnecessary ultrasounds because they are invasive, amount to sexual assault since they are not necessary.

"And there are state laws that dictate who can perform abortions and where they can do them. Some require all abortions to happen in the equivalent of a hospital or surgery center. Others require a doctor to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital."

All unnecessary.  All imposed to make it as difficult and expensive as possible to obtain an abortion.

"The National Academies report says waiting periods and requirements for unnecessary tests can result in long delays because women may have to travel to get care and have trouble getting appointments.  "Delays put the patient at greater risk of an adverse event," the report says."

Wouldn't want to confuse condescending, patronizing, goddamned Republican nazis with the truth, would we?

"Hal Lawrence, the CEO of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, says the report settles the debate over abortion-restricting laws and regulations.  "Those sorts of laws have been totally debunked," he says.  He says the study shows most of those laws do nothing to improve women's health.  "Abortion is safer when it's performed earlier in gestation," Lawrence says. "And so delaying and making people wait and go through hoops of unnecessary, extra procedures does not improve the safety. And actually by having them delay, can actually worsen the safety."

So when a religious nazi does all he or she can to abrogate the right to abortion, know full well it's not based on science, but on warped religion.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

Nazism is alive and well in Mississippi.  In follow up to a recent edition, CBS News reports:

"Mississippi's governor has signed the nation's tightest abortion restrictions into law.   Republican Gov. Phil Bryant signed House Bill 1510 on Monday afternoon. It becomes law immediately and bans most abortions after 15 weeks' gestation. Bryant has frequently said he wants Mississippi to be the "safest place in America for an unborn child."

This goddamned nazi and his equally fascist compadres remain more than willing to force their outrageously perverse ideological and religious views on all.  In direct violation of the First Amendment Establishment Clause, church-state separation, that is, freedom from religion.

"The law's only exceptions are if a fetus has health problems making it "incompatible with life" outside of the womb at full term, or if a pregnant woman's life or a "major bodily function" is threatened by pregnancy. Pregnancies resulting from rape and incest aren't exempted."

Re-read the last quote.  Get raped and impregnated by anyone including a family member such as your father or brother, guess what?  The nazi element in the Republican Party will force you to carry it to term in Nazi Mississippi.

"Abortion rights advocates are calling the law unconstitutional because it limits abortion before fetuses can live outside the womb. The owner of Mississippi's only abortion clinic opposes the law and has pledged to sue."

Wake up, ladies.  Need to cross your legs in Mississippi, cut off your men until this insanity ends.

In follow up, CBS News reports:

"A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked a new Mississippi law that bans abortions after 15 weeks' gestation -- the most restrictive abortion law in the United States. The law took effect as soon as Republican Gov. Phil Bryant signed it Monday.  The state's only abortion clinic, Jackson Women's Health Organization, quickly sued the state, arguing the law is unconstitutional because it bans abortion weeks before a fetus can survive outside the womb.  U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves heard arguments Tuesday before granting the clinic's immediate request for a temporary restraining order that would block the law during the legal fight."

Great news.

"The Supreme Court says every woman has a constitutional right to 'personal privacy' regarding her body," Reeves wrote in a brief decision that quoted previous legal rulings on abortion. "That right protects her choice 'to have an abortion before viability.' States cannot 'prohibit any woman from making the ultimate decision' to do so."  Reeves said in court that the "ultimate question" is whether a state can ban abortion before viability. He asked: "Does the state have the right to trump the woman's right to have control over her decisions, over her body?"  Reeves did not rule from the bench but granted the temporary restraining order about an hour later, noting that lawyers for the clinic said a woman who is at least 15 weeks pregnant was scheduled to have an abortion Tuesday afternoon."

More to come as this story develops.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-23-18

More of the same, only worse.  NPR reports:

"After a federal judge put the brakes on Ohio's latest abortion restrictions, a group of Republican lawmakers is trying to take a step even further: banning all abortions in Ohio.  Under a bill introduced Monday, HB 565, the state would prohibit abortions even in cases of rape, incest or danger to a woman's life.  The proposal would allow criminal charges against both doctors and pregnant women seeking abortions and would characterize an "unborn human" as a person under Ohio's criminal code regarding homicide. That means abortions could be punishable by life in prison or even the death penalty."

All courtesy of nazi Republicans in the not-so-great state of Ohio.

"NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio criticized the proposal, calling it an obvious attempt to give the U.S. Supreme Court a chance to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision providing the right to have an abortion.  "Anti-choice extremists from the Ohio Statehouse to the White House are lining up their dominoes to topple Roe v. Wade and punish those who seek or provide abortion care," said executive director Kellie Copeland in a press release.  The measure was sponsored by state Reps. Ron Hood and Nino Vitale, and 18 more House Republicans signed on."

A raucous, boot clicking, goose stepping, treasonous, treacherous, traitorous Sieg Heil!, you nazi bastards.  You're out of uniform.  Where are your swastika armbands?  Traitors.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-16-18

Highly reminiscent of our outrageously bought and paid for judiciary, Llano County prosecutors, Sheriff Bill Blackburn and his criminal SS jackbooted bastards in black who continue to egregiously disgrace themselves and the badge, do as they please regardless of the law and Constitution, carefully consider the following.  It's appalling.  Runs against the grain of everything our formerly great country once stood for.  No longer.

Think the SS criminal jackbooted Border Patrol bastards any better than ICE goons?  CBS News reports:

"Video of a woman being pulled away from her weeping daughters on a California street and shoved into a U.S. Customs and Border Protection vehicle is drawing criticism of the manner in which federal agents are enforcing immigration laws. The incident occurred March 3 in National City, a community south of San Diego.  The video of the woman being apprehended by Customs and Border Protection agents in National City near San Diego was posted to Facebook Thursday morning, CBS Los Angeles reported."

In a fascist police-state quickly transforming to the Trump nazi's Fourth Reich, glaring sunlight can often be quite a useful disinfectant.

"Judith Castro-Gonzalez, a teaching aide, posted the video with a message in English and Spanish that read, "!Please share! It breaks my heart to know that this is the mother of one of my students[…] The brutalized, injustice that is happening in this country is sad  my people, this battle continues and we should not give up. I will be aware of the development of this case."

This is precisely what happened in Nazi Germany circa 1933.  Great evil thrives when gutlessly ignored.

"The Border Patrol says Perla Morales-Luna was identified as an organizer for a transnational criminal smuggling organization and was arrested for being in the country illegally.

    "Perla Morales-Luna was identified as an organizer for a transnational criminal smuggling organization operating in East County, San Diego. She was arrested as a result of a targeted operation on March 3, 2018, in National City for being in the country illegally.
    — CBP San Diego (@CBPSanDiego) March 9, 2018"

Show us proof.  Your word, as that of all law enforcement, means shit squat.  Lie like hell.  Do so with impunity.  Precisely, why you have no credibility.  None.

"It is not clear in what type of smuggling — drug, human or otherwise — authorities believe Morales-Luna was involved, CBS Los Angeles reported."

Precisely, why they have no credibility.  Determinedly remain non-transparent.  Do so to cover their asses.

"The arrest was described as "grotesque" by Benjamin Prado, coordinator for the American Friends Service Committee's San Diego U.S.-Mexico Border Program. Prado tells the Los Angeles Times that he's concerned about the "terror" the woman's daughters suffered."

Hitler and his goons did precisely the same decades ago.  Abuse of power.  To consolidate power, intimidate.  Precisely, what happens here in Nazi Llano County.  ... Right, Sheriff?

Response to the video was ferocious, leading the Border Patrol to step up efforts to defend the indefensible.  CBS News reports:

"The U.S. Border Patrol said Friday that agents acted appropriately during the videotaped arrest of a woman who was pulled away from her anguished daughters on a street in Southern California. The agency said 36-year-old Perla Morales-Luna recruited drivers to take people who crossed the border illegally to a house in National City, near San Diego.  The agency put her in deportation proceedings and is not pursuing smuggling charges."

Appears to be an attempt to sweep the entire fiasco under the rug.  If what she was allegedly doing that serious, why not prosecute her?  These jackbooted bastards have no credibility.  The above is one reason precisely why.

"The Border Patrol issued a more detailed response as criticism mounted. It said Morales-Luna declined to turn herself in after being contacted by phone in the smuggling investigation, and that she tried to flee in a nearby vehicle when agents confronted her on the street."

Show us the proof.  That you bastards are not, in fact, lying like hell to cover your asses.

Here's the problem:

"CBS News contacted three federal agencies Friday. None of them said whether criminal charges would be filed, but because Morales-Luna is in the country illegally, the U.S. does not have to disclose a reason why or if they deport her."

Raw nazism, ala Adolf Hitler, Nazi Germany circa 1933.  No due process.  No transparency.  The nazi way.

"The agency said officers faced "a barrage of insults and confrontational agitators" during the arrest."

Jesus Christ.  Truly believe these SS jackbooted bastards are intimidated by anyone?  Give me a break.

Would you believe the Border Patrol has problems vetting its own?  LOL.  ABC News reports:

"A U.S. border officer who is a Mexican native claimed he was born in Texas and illegally obtained a job with the law enforcement agency charged with protecting America's borders, authorities said.  Marco Antonio De la Garza Jr., an officer in southern Arizona, faces criminal charges for allegedly telling U.S. Customs and Border Protection and others in the government that he was born in Texas.  Employment requirements for Customs and Border Protection include providing proof of U.S. citizenship. It's unclear how De la Garza was able to get his job despite not being an American citizen."

This agency has no credibility.  None.

"An indictment filed Wednesday in Tucson said De la Garza lied about his citizenship in October during a background check update tied to his job.  The 37-year-old officer also is accused of making false statements about his birth country last year when he sought a U.S. passport.  The agency hired him in April 2012, spokeswoman Teresa Small confirmed in an email Friday. She did not provide further comment."

Jesus Christ.  If they can't properly vet their own, how can anything they say or claim be trusted?

"Cosme Lopez, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office, declined to comment on how the officer's true citizenship had been missed when he was hired.  Customs and Border Protection issued a statement saying De la Garza was arrested on Feb. 22 in Douglas, Arizona. The agency's statement, however, didn't reveal De la Garza's job status or explain how the agency came to hire a Mexican citizen as an officer."

Zero credibility.

In follow up to all the above, there are some at ICE who have honor, integrity.  The Washington Times reports:

"Top federal officials exaggerated the number of illegal immigrant criminals they had targeted for deportation in last month’s enforcement sweep in northern California, a former Homeland Security spokesman said in defending his decision to quit the department.  Both Attorney General Jeff Sessions and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Deputy Director Thomas Homan had said more than 800 illegal immigrants had managed to avoid capture after the Oakland mayor tipped the community off about ICE’s actions. Mr. Sessions said the 800 were criminals.  But James Schwab, an ICE spokesman who quit in the wake of the flap, told the San Francisco Chronicle those numbers were inaccurate and he lost a fight to tamp down on the wrong information.  “We were never going to pick up that many people. To say that 100 percent are dangerous criminals on the street, or that those people weren’t picked up because of the misguided actions of the mayor, is just wrong,” he told the paper."

Good to see there is indeed some integrity left at ICE.  Too bad Trump and Sessions have none.

"Immigrant-rights activists called Mr. Schwab a “patriotic public servant” for blowing the whistle.  “We all know that Trump lies on a daily basis. Now Sessions and Homan are following suit,” said Frank Sharry, executive director of America’s Voice. “They are not interested in letting the facts get in the way of the anti-immigrant story they are trying to tell.”

Sad, isn't it?  Un-American as well.

NPR reports:

"James Schwab has resigned from his job as a Department of Homeland Security spokesman, saying he didn't agree with Trump administration officials' use of "misleading facts" to attack Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf after the mayor issued a warning about an immigration sweep in late February.  "I quit because I didn't want to perpetuate misleading facts," Schwab told the San Francisco Chronicle. "I asked them to change the information. I told them that the information was wrong, they asked me to deflect, and I didn't agree with that. Then I took some time and I quit."

Honorable thing to do, expose the lying bastards for whom and what they are.

"In that four-day sweep through Northern California, Immigration and Customs Enforcement deportation officers arrested 232 people — but high-level federal officials, including President Trump, said Schaaf was to blame for 864 more people not being arrested. They pointed to her public warning of a pending raid, which she issued on Feb. 24, just as the operation was about to begin.  ICE agents had targeted more than 1,000 people in the sweep. After the raid, a Homeland Security official said it's common for a large-scale immigration sweep to net about a third of its targets, as member station KQED reports."

... Can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with bullshit.

"Trump called what Schaaf did "a disgrace," saying her warning was the sole reason that hundreds of people escaped arrest. His remarks amplified attacks by Attorney General Jeff Sessions and acting ICE Director Thomas D. Homan. Their claims were questioned by critics — and now by Schwab, a veteran public affairs officer who had worked at the Defense Department and NASA."

Trump and his henchmen remain congenital liars.

"I didn't feel like fabricating the truth to defend ourselves against [the mayor's] actions was the way to go about it," Schwab told the Chronicle. "We were never going to pick up that many people. To say that 100 percent are dangerous criminals on the street, or that those people weren't picked up because of the misguided actions of the mayor, is just wrong."  In his attack on Schaaf, Trump said 85 percent of the targeted immigrants had criminal records. But when KQED asked ICE to explain why the targeted people had been classified as threats to public safety, a spokeswoman cited only five, of the 864, who had been convicted of serious crimes.

"From KQED:

    "Of the 232 people arrested, ICE stated that 115, or just under half, had 'prior felony convictions for serious and violent offenses' or past convictions for 'significant or multiple misdemeanors.' The other half had no criminal history.

    "When asked to specify how many arrestees were felons, spokeswoman Danielle Bennett would only respond, 'all of those arrested were arrested for being in violation of immigration law.' "

A ruse.  A lie.  Disingenuous bullshit.  Willful failure to truthfully answer the question.

The Washington Post reports:

"Schaaf told The Post in an interview earlier this month that she decided to warn the immigrant community of the impending ICE raid for fear that the operation was not wholly targeting “criminals,” and that, instead, hard-working mothers or fathers without criminal records might end up arrested and deported.  She told the story of Maria Mendoza-Sanchez, a mother of four and nurse at an Oakland public hospital, who was deported last August despite having no criminal record.  “Maria Mendoza-Sanchez and her husband are an example of a couple that, under the previous administration, were considered low-priority for deportation,” Schaaf said. “And under this administration they were ripped away from their family. I was absolutely thinking of them when I made the decision to share the [ICE enforcement] information. I think it’s my responsibility as a person in power and privilege to share the information I have access to, to make sure people know what their rights are.”

Indeed.  Our formerly great country used to stand for precisely that.  No longer.

"On Monday, Schaaf applauded Schwab’s decision to resign.  “I commend Mr. Schwab for speaking the truth while under intense pressure to lie,” she said in a statement to The Post. “Our democracy depends on public servants who act with integrity and hold transparency in the highest regard.”  Schwab said that, before resigning, as he was faced with questions from reporters about Homan’s and Sessions’s comments, he hoped he could set the record straight and correct the idea that hundreds of dangerous criminals got away, thanks to Schaaf. But, when he brought his concerns to ICE, he said they told him to direct reporters to statements ICE or Homan had already made — to “deflect to previous statements,” as he put it.  “It’s the job of a public affairs officer to offer transparency for the agency you work for,” Schwab told the Chronicle. “I felt like we weren’t doing that. I’ve never been in a situation when I’ve been asked to ignore the facts because it was more convenient.”

Not a day passes where the very same doesn't occur at the White House.  Precisely, why Trump and his henchmen have no credibility.  No honor.  Cannot be trusted.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-16-18

Delusionally believe all judges have the temperament to sit on the bench?  CBS News reports:

"An appeals court has ordered a new trial for a man whom a judge, impatient with the defendant's disruptions, ordered to be jolted several times with 50,000 volts from a shock belt. The 8th Texas Court of Appeals in El Paso ordered the new trial for Terry Lee Morris."

Even in Nazi Texas, judges are not free to do as they please.  Nor rule as out of control tyrants on the bench, not subject to the rule of law, the Constitution, and/or judicial standards of conduct.

-- Not that his victim is a stellar citizen, however, but does deserve civil rights.  All defendants do.

"He was convicted in 2014 of soliciting a sexual performance from an underage girl. The court ruled that state District Judge George Gallagher of Tarrant County violated Morris' civil rights when he ordered a bailiff, on three occasions, to shock Morris as punishment for not giving proper answers to Gallagher's questions."

Petulant nazi bastard, isn't he?  Unfit to be dog catcher.  Needs to be removed from the bench.

"Shock belts are placed on defendants' legs. The appeals court said they are to be used only if a defendant becomes violent, not to enforce decorum."

Goddamned right.

 "While the trial court's frustration with an obstreperous defendant is understandable, the judge's disproportionate response is not. We do not believe that trial judges can use stun belts to enforce decorum," Justice Yvonne T. Rodriguez wrote in the appeal court's ruling, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram."

She's right.

"Gallagher declined to comment to the Star-Telegram."

Gutless nazi bastard.  Clearly, out of control.  An exigent threat to all civil and constitutional rights and liberties.

Cowardly fail to financially and/or materially support those fighting for all civil and constitutional rights and liberties at great personal cost and risk?  Get what you truly deserve.

3-16-18

The idiot in the Oval Office has again proven 'can fix ignorant, can't fix stupid.'  NBC News reports:

"President Donald Trump on Thursday approved new steel and aluminum tariffs, capping off a week's worth of controversy over his plans to impose the trade penalties.  "Today, I'm defending America's national security by placing tariffs on foreign imports of steel," Trump said in the White House Roosevelt Room, flanked by steel and aluminum workers, shortly before he signed proclamations imposing the tariffs. "You don’t have steel, you don’t have a country."

Think retaliation by trading partners won't be immediate and severe?

"The tariffs — 25 percent on imported steel and 10 percent on imported aluminum — will take effect March 23, a senior administration official told reporters."

Guess who ultimately pays?

"Mexico and Canada will receive immediate exemptions from the tariffs in the context of the ongoing NAFTA renegotiation talks, Trump said. There has been no specific timeline laid out by the administration for how long those exceptions might last.  "I have a feeling we'll make a deal on NAFTA," Trump said. If that happens, "there won't be any tariffs" on Canada or Mexico."

Aryan arrogant, highly delusional nazi, isn't he?

"As far as other countries that might seek exemptions, Trump said that in the coming weeks "we'll see whose treating us fairly and whose not treating us fairly."

Petulant narcissist.  Full of himself.

"While the White House has repeatedly said these tariffs should come as no surprise, the news has riled many GOP lawmakers, U.S. trade partners, and even some inside Trump's own White House. National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn resigned Tuesday following the president's unexpected announcement that he planned to enact the trade penalties."

Just the beginning.  The bottom and middle class will certainly bear the brunt of this latest insanity.  Expect to take it hard in the ass without the Vaseline.  Forget?  'Stupid is as stupid does.'  Remain silent?  Get your just deserts.

NBC News reports: