Saturday, December 31, 2016
TRUMP HINTS HE HAS EVIDENCE RUSSIA WASN'T BEHIND THE HACKS.
Former CIA agent Bob Baer finds Trump's attitude disturbing because Baer said the evidence is not based on interpretation but hard forensic facts and that's why the FBI printed the conclusions they came to.
So Trump's explanation should be interested--especially before the CIA report.
So Trump's explanation should be interested--especially before the CIA report.
NORWEGIAN OIL COMPANY PULLS OUT OF TARSANDS
At least five major multinational companies have pulled out of the Canadian tarsands since the Keystone XL Pipeline was cancelled by President Obama.
The Norwegian company instead is going to invest in wind power off our coasts and solar energy.
The Norwegian company instead is going to invest in wind power off our coasts and solar energy.
REMEMBER JAN 3 THE WORK BEGINS
January 3rd Congress convenes and the final assault on the social welfare net begins. It is not Obama's legacy that is at stake, it is the entire tradition of Social Security,Medicare and Medicaid and just plain health insurance. The long-term dream of the extreme right of the Republican party has been to roll back everything that began with FDR.
This Congress will seek to privatize more than just the social welfare net.
It is important that you flood your congress critters with your phone calls and even telegrams to make sure they have to do this in full public view.
Obama's legacy is safe. Unfortunately,he may be remembered as our last democratically elected President. I have been fortunate to see such a class act as my President and it was a privilege to live in his America.
This Congress will seek to privatize more than just the social welfare net.
It is important that you flood your congress critters with your phone calls and even telegrams to make sure they have to do this in full public view.
Obama's legacy is safe. Unfortunately,he may be remembered as our last democratically elected President. I have been fortunate to see such a class act as my President and it was a privilege to live in his America.
WASHINGTON POST DISTURBED
The Post in an editorial wonders why Trump acts so blissfully unaware of Russia's aggressive moves in foreign policy and incurious about their meaning to American national interests.
The post says Trump could be naive about geopolitics but says a dark question hovers of him. They say we don't know about private communications with Putin and the Russia by Trump and his colleagues and also the full extent of his business obligations to Putin. They find it disturbing that Putin just seems to act as if his problems will go away when Trump takes office.
Naturally they ask Trump to dispel the dark rumors surrounding him.
The post says Trump could be naive about geopolitics but says a dark question hovers of him. They say we don't know about private communications with Putin and the Russia by Trump and his colleagues and also the full extent of his business obligations to Putin. They find it disturbing that Putin just seems to act as if his problems will go away when Trump takes office.
Naturally they ask Trump to dispel the dark rumors surrounding him.
KID PRESIDENT RE-EMERGES ON NEW YEAR'S EVE
Kid President reappeared to lecture Trump. He says,:Don't be mean, be meaningful".
OK ,there is only one President with the Nobel Prize. He's just a kid.
OK ,there is only one President with the Nobel Prize. He's just a kid.
2016--A Year That Will Live In Infamy
Dave Barry didn't know how to cover the Obama years but he is back in his groove for a funny,horrible take on 2016.
A lawyer posting at Dailykos wondered why Trump seems to be scrounging for $10K to @20K pay days when it just raises the issue of conflicts of interests. He muses that the real thing Putin has on Trump is knowledge how poor he is. The lawyer seems to pick up Josh Marshall's obsession with the subject and Bloomberg seems to agree. The man has such over-whelming debt he needs to hustle for real cash.
Don The Con tweeted happy New Year to his enemies who lost so badly. No national unity from this man.
The Washington Post actually applauded President Obama's designation of Bear's Ears as a national monument and slapped down the Republican congresspeople who said it was executive overreach.
The President who could has been resettling 300 Syrian refugees before Trump takes office.
New York Mayor Bill deBlasio is organizing cities against Trump's anti-immigration policies. It is just practical--Do you really want the local cops to act as immigration lawyers?
Over 100 churches have united to form an underground railroad for undocumented immigrants.
Robert Reich urged President Obama to pardon the Dreamers kids so their records are clean. I like that idea.
A lawyer posting at Dailykos wondered why Trump seems to be scrounging for $10K to @20K pay days when it just raises the issue of conflicts of interests. He muses that the real thing Putin has on Trump is knowledge how poor he is. The lawyer seems to pick up Josh Marshall's obsession with the subject and Bloomberg seems to agree. The man has such over-whelming debt he needs to hustle for real cash.
Don The Con tweeted happy New Year to his enemies who lost so badly. No national unity from this man.
The Washington Post actually applauded President Obama's designation of Bear's Ears as a national monument and slapped down the Republican congresspeople who said it was executive overreach.
The President who could has been resettling 300 Syrian refugees before Trump takes office.
New York Mayor Bill deBlasio is organizing cities against Trump's anti-immigration policies. It is just practical--Do you really want the local cops to act as immigration lawyers?
Over 100 churches have united to form an underground railroad for undocumented immigrants.
Robert Reich urged President Obama to pardon the Dreamers kids so their records are clean. I like that idea.
Friday, December 30, 2016
BURLINGTON,VT. REPORTS NO RUSSIAN HACK TO ELECTRICAL GRID.
Apparently a laptop unconnected to the grid was isolated with the Russian malware. But no penetration of the electrical grid as reported. This was reported by the Burlington Free Press.
RESIST: STAY HEALTHY!
There are a few facts you should remember. I wrote when the ACA passed that the United States finally recognized health care as a right,not a privilege. The incoming government doesn't believe this. What Obama achieved was a dream dating back ti Theodore Roosevelt and it had eluded Republicans and Democrats ever since.
The Democrats never defended it during the by-elections and even during the 2012 election when Romney himself had established Obamacare in Massachusetts. Instead we got the whining over single payer.
Paul Krugman writes today in the New York Times about what repeal of Obamacare means. He points out that last year was a rough year for health insurance companies in the exchanges but this year and the next that will be erased. His point is that Obamacare never experienced the much heralded death spiral. But that the Republicans desire too repeal it will mean over 30 million will lack health insurance coverage. The majority of which are Trump voters.
Krugman makes the point that the desire to repeal it is to prove government programs don't work.
We are heading to this with the new Ryan Congress. Republicans aim to privatize the Veterans Administration,Medicaid, Medicare and good forbid, social security in the blind belief that the private sector performs better.
In reality, the repeal is only to give an immediate tax cut to the very wealthy. There is no plan to replace it, as Paul Krugman points out,but they will let it end after the 2020 election.
In the meantime, preventive care, lifetime limits ,etc. will be eliminated.
Please remember the Bush tax cuts to the wealthy was only one page as a bill. You will experience a blizzard of these one pages on everything from Medicare vouchers to school vouchers.
We do not have a healthcare system in this country and now there will no quarantees even to have the insurances. So stay healthy.
The Democrats never defended it during the by-elections and even during the 2012 election when Romney himself had established Obamacare in Massachusetts. Instead we got the whining over single payer.
Paul Krugman writes today in the New York Times about what repeal of Obamacare means. He points out that last year was a rough year for health insurance companies in the exchanges but this year and the next that will be erased. His point is that Obamacare never experienced the much heralded death spiral. But that the Republicans desire too repeal it will mean over 30 million will lack health insurance coverage. The majority of which are Trump voters.
Krugman makes the point that the desire to repeal it is to prove government programs don't work.
We are heading to this with the new Ryan Congress. Republicans aim to privatize the Veterans Administration,Medicaid, Medicare and good forbid, social security in the blind belief that the private sector performs better.
In reality, the repeal is only to give an immediate tax cut to the very wealthy. There is no plan to replace it, as Paul Krugman points out,but they will let it end after the 2020 election.
In the meantime, preventive care, lifetime limits ,etc. will be eliminated.
Please remember the Bush tax cuts to the wealthy was only one page as a bill. You will experience a blizzard of these one pages on everything from Medicare vouchers to school vouchers.
We do not have a healthcare system in this country and now there will no quarantees even to have the insurances. So stay healthy.
TRUMP OWNS RUSSIAN HACK.
The morning's tweets from Republicans blasted Trump on his refusal to acknowledge Russia's hacks. David Frum wrote this presents a dark cloud on Trump's victory.
Trump said about Putin's refusal to expell American intelligence agents that "i always knew Putin was smart." While Trump didn't comment on the sanctions put in place,he said he would get around to hearing the intelligence views next week.
Rudy claimed Obama--still the scapegoat--had incompetent or politicized intelligence.
John McCain said he will hold hearing starting January 9 on the Russian hacks.
This story is not going away. Expect the differences between the GOP to take a toll on the Trump presidency. Not tomorrow but once he makes real mishaps in policy.
Trump said about Putin's refusal to expell American intelligence agents that "i always knew Putin was smart." While Trump didn't comment on the sanctions put in place,he said he would get around to hearing the intelligence views next week.
Rudy claimed Obama--still the scapegoat--had incompetent or politicized intelligence.
John McCain said he will hold hearing starting January 9 on the Russian hacks.
This story is not going away. Expect the differences between the GOP to take a toll on the Trump presidency. Not tomorrow but once he makes real mishaps in policy.
HELP IS ON THE WAY: OBAMA TO MEET WITH DEMS ON THE HILL TO MAP OUT STRATEGY ON OBAMACARE.
President Obama said he was going to meet next week with the Democrats on the Hill to outline a strategy on Obamacare.
I've heard that the House Ways and Means are ready to roll on massive bills against Obamacare,Medicare,Medicaid and Social Security even before Trump takes office. Eliminating Medicaid or making it into a block grant allows debt-plagues GOP-led states to balance their budgets. Also it doesn't hurt them politically.
Price the HHS secretary has a screwball Medicare plan with another euphemistic name that makes recipients pay now more for medical expenses.
To counter this nonsense large coalitions of doctors, hospitals and healthcare providers are mobilizing against the GOP efforts.
I've heard that the House Ways and Means are ready to roll on massive bills against Obamacare,Medicare,Medicaid and Social Security even before Trump takes office. Eliminating Medicaid or making it into a block grant allows debt-plagues GOP-led states to balance their budgets. Also it doesn't hurt them politically.
Price the HHS secretary has a screwball Medicare plan with another euphemistic name that makes recipients pay now more for medical expenses.
To counter this nonsense large coalitions of doctors, hospitals and healthcare providers are mobilizing against the GOP efforts.
Thursday, December 29, 2016
OBAMA EXPELLS 35 RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS AND CLOSES TWO COMPOUNDS.
The Hill published the FBI AND HOMELAND SECURITY's report of the Russian hacking of the DNC. The intelligence community's response will come later.
Wednesday, December 28, 2016
PRESIDENT OBAMA FINALLY DESIGNATES BEAR;S EARS A NATIONAL MONUMENT.
President Obama finally did the last thing I wanted him to do--designate Bear's Ears in Utah a national monument. He preserved 1.35 million acres which will now be managed by several Indian tribes.
He also designated Golden Butte in Nevada ,almost 350,000 acres a monument.
He also designated Golden Butte in Nevada ,almost 350,000 acres a monument.
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
REMEMBER THIS:
THIS IS NOT WOODSTOCK.
Answer when asked why no one seems to want to perform at Trump's swearing in. Great line for the next four years.
Answer when asked why no one seems to want to perform at Trump's swearing in. Great line for the next four years.
OBAMA SITS NICELY ACROSS THE POLLS AT 56% APPROVAL.
Like it or not President Obama leaves Trump an economy in excellent position and a growth rate of 3.5%, near full employment,an inflation rate of 2.2% and the deficit cut by more than 25%.
Remember this because the first month Trump is in office he will claim he miraculously turned the economy around. I am already getting this from the right, who try and refute my statements on the economy. The Dow near 20,000 must be Trump's rally.
We went through this with W after Clinton. Then Bush and Fox News claimed Bush was saddled with the Clinton recession. This time you have been warned.
For a guy who experienced more assassination attempts and threats than all our Presidents combined, Obama did all right by us.
Now Obama's critics are trying to say he was the "worst foreign policy President" of all time. Apparently these pundits missed W. Richard Cohen in the Washington Post writes that because of No Drama Obama America has no prestige left.
I would humbly argue electing Donald Trump ends America as the leader of the free world. So now we are left with Trump relying on a triad of Taiwan,Israel and England. Bizarre.
Remember this because the first month Trump is in office he will claim he miraculously turned the economy around. I am already getting this from the right, who try and refute my statements on the economy. The Dow near 20,000 must be Trump's rally.
We went through this with W after Clinton. Then Bush and Fox News claimed Bush was saddled with the Clinton recession. This time you have been warned.
For a guy who experienced more assassination attempts and threats than all our Presidents combined, Obama did all right by us.
Now Obama's critics are trying to say he was the "worst foreign policy President" of all time. Apparently these pundits missed W. Richard Cohen in the Washington Post writes that because of No Drama Obama America has no prestige left.
I would humbly argue electing Donald Trump ends America as the leader of the free world. So now we are left with Trump relying on a triad of Taiwan,Israel and England. Bizarre.
NO ONE EVER EXPECTS THE INQUSITION--EXCEPT OBAMA.
Buried in the news was this little notice: President Obama signed the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act, which protects atheists,humanists and other freethinkers from religious persecution.
The Act condemns any group or government entity that specifically targets non-theists,humanists and atheists for their beliefs.
It also condemns any attempts to forcible legislate or compel "non-believers" or non-theists to recant their beliefs or to convert.
The Act condemns any group or government entity that specifically targets non-theists,humanists and atheists for their beliefs.
It also condemns any attempts to forcible legislate or compel "non-believers" or non-theists to recant their beliefs or to convert.
Monday, December 26, 2016
THOUGHTS ON THE AXELROD-OBAMA INTERVIEW
A group of psychologists wrote President Obama a letter expressing their concern that Trump does not have the mental health for executing the office of President. The letter became more poignant when you released that Trump tweeted he could defeat Obama when one sentence of an hour-long interview was quoted. But there is truth to the psychologists' letter.
David Axelrod asked his old friend how he avoided that craving of approval and applause that so many politicians have. He said Obama couldn't become President because he wasn't crazy enough. Axelrod stated Obama had been abandoned by his father and left for prolonged periods by his mother, which should have been a recipe for that craving. Obama's answer showed his self-awareness, which I am not so sure Trump has.
Trump's critical period of his adult life was when he had to have a gift of $30 million from his father, go through several bankruptcies in the age when Greed was good. During that period,Kurt Eichenwald writes Trump was heavy on amphetamines and put into a mental institution. It was be fascinating to hear what that experience was like. But Trump is hidden--everything essential is hidden. While Obama is not, which drove his critics while with searching for his secret Muslim marriage ring with his male lover or the libertarian candidate who says no one ever knew him at Colombia.
Obama in this interview laid out his view that culturally we have gotten to the place he wanted,especially with those under the age oif 30. Unfortunately, this wasn't translated in our political life. He claims that unless Democrats mount campaigns in the southern states ,yes,his Obama coalition can win the popular vote every time but that you have to govern.
He said that Mitch McConnell's strategy of obstruction was developed to mute Obama's message. McConnell felt that if Obama's agenda gained momentum through GOP compromise than it would dominate for a generation. Obama said that actually McConnell carried this off with amazing discipline in his GOP caucus.
What Axelrod and Obama talked about was his resurrection of the American economy. Here Axelrod questioned Obama over the Clinton campaign use of their economic message. Axelrod felt they just threw back whatever outrage Trump put out. Obama felt that Clinton was against a heavy and longterm media bias against her so that her economic ideas didn't get across. Obama reminded everyone that she didn't do so bad--she in fact won the popular vote.
Obama surprised me when he said that his administration put more resources in the rural areas than anyone had done in decades. He cited his work with Tom Vilsack, his Secretary of Agriculture. It was on this point he emphasized he could have put a majority of Americans together for his vision.
Through it all,you get a sense of a balanced personality with a touch of class. Listening to him just makes me happy and calmer. Which is maybe the effect of not being an older male with an authoritarian bent. We will all miss him, especially with Mr. blow horn alarming us for no real reason and today he badmouthed the economy, which anyone would love to inherit rather than the global dissolution Obama inherited from Bush. The Great Recession still has not registered on Republicans as anything they had to do with. That's all edited out of their worldview.
Obama says he is not going to get back into the fray for several months and will not opine on every Trump scheme. He says he will make statements on whether something is fundamentally against our values.
David Axelrod asked his old friend how he avoided that craving of approval and applause that so many politicians have. He said Obama couldn't become President because he wasn't crazy enough. Axelrod stated Obama had been abandoned by his father and left for prolonged periods by his mother, which should have been a recipe for that craving. Obama's answer showed his self-awareness, which I am not so sure Trump has.
Trump's critical period of his adult life was when he had to have a gift of $30 million from his father, go through several bankruptcies in the age when Greed was good. During that period,Kurt Eichenwald writes Trump was heavy on amphetamines and put into a mental institution. It was be fascinating to hear what that experience was like. But Trump is hidden--everything essential is hidden. While Obama is not, which drove his critics while with searching for his secret Muslim marriage ring with his male lover or the libertarian candidate who says no one ever knew him at Colombia.
Obama in this interview laid out his view that culturally we have gotten to the place he wanted,especially with those under the age oif 30. Unfortunately, this wasn't translated in our political life. He claims that unless Democrats mount campaigns in the southern states ,yes,his Obama coalition can win the popular vote every time but that you have to govern.
He said that Mitch McConnell's strategy of obstruction was developed to mute Obama's message. McConnell felt that if Obama's agenda gained momentum through GOP compromise than it would dominate for a generation. Obama said that actually McConnell carried this off with amazing discipline in his GOP caucus.
What Axelrod and Obama talked about was his resurrection of the American economy. Here Axelrod questioned Obama over the Clinton campaign use of their economic message. Axelrod felt they just threw back whatever outrage Trump put out. Obama felt that Clinton was against a heavy and longterm media bias against her so that her economic ideas didn't get across. Obama reminded everyone that she didn't do so bad--she in fact won the popular vote.
Obama surprised me when he said that his administration put more resources in the rural areas than anyone had done in decades. He cited his work with Tom Vilsack, his Secretary of Agriculture. It was on this point he emphasized he could have put a majority of Americans together for his vision.
Through it all,you get a sense of a balanced personality with a touch of class. Listening to him just makes me happy and calmer. Which is maybe the effect of not being an older male with an authoritarian bent. We will all miss him, especially with Mr. blow horn alarming us for no real reason and today he badmouthed the economy, which anyone would love to inherit rather than the global dissolution Obama inherited from Bush. The Great Recession still has not registered on Republicans as anything they had to do with. That's all edited out of their worldview.
Obama says he is not going to get back into the fray for several months and will not opine on every Trump scheme. He says he will make statements on whether something is fundamentally against our values.
LISTEN TO THE AXE FILES
David Axelrod interviews his buddy President Obama on his political journey, what he's going to do next and how Obama wants to strengthen the progressive message of the Democratic Party. He also reaffirms his "asporational speech" at the 2004 Democratic Convention which Axelrod said was galvanic. A great interview between long-time friends. You can access it on CNN.
70 Countries to Meet in Paris on the Middle East on January 15.
Even after securing a $35 billion security deal,Bibi concerned that Obama is going to trip him up again.
MARTIN LONGMAN IN WASHINGTON MONTHLY
Martin Long man writes that "Netanyahu Brought This On By Himself. For an excellent account of the mess Bibi got himself in,Longman's piece and today's article in the New York Times analyzes internal-Israeli politics on Bibi's hysteria over the UN Resolution that can't be undone by waiting for Trump.
A theme running through the analyses of Bibi's reaction is that he can't seem to make up his mind--the international community is almost universally opposed to Israel's policies and now it says that Bibi could go to the Hague, a position he actually agrees with.
Longman goes into the parliamentary debates in Israel on settlements and the court cases.
Martin Longman quotes Israeli pundits that Bibi has to choose between the international community and his hard right allies. They say he can't keep saying publicly to the West he is for a two-state solution and move ion the opposition direction.
This issue is just below the surface as Trump vows to move the American embassy to Jerusalem. Today the Washington Post wrote an article about the legal difficulties on doing this. Bibi said today he was rethinking his attitude toward the United Nations. Since Israel exists because of the UN recognition, what happens if they take it away.
A theme running through the analyses of Bibi's reaction is that he can't seem to make up his mind--the international community is almost universally opposed to Israel's policies and now it says that Bibi could go to the Hague, a position he actually agrees with.
Longman goes into the parliamentary debates in Israel on settlements and the court cases.
Martin Longman quotes Israeli pundits that Bibi has to choose between the international community and his hard right allies. They say he can't keep saying publicly to the West he is for a two-state solution and move ion the opposition direction.
This issue is just below the surface as Trump vows to move the American embassy to Jerusalem. Today the Washington Post wrote an article about the legal difficulties on doing this. Bibi said today he was rethinking his attitude toward the United Nations. Since Israel exists because of the UN recognition, what happens if they take it away.
METEOR BLADES LISTS ALL NATIONAL PARKS AND MONUMENTS CRESTED BY OBAMA.
This is a nice article with photos of a great Obama legacy in Dailykos. One commentor urged Obama to do one more--Bear's Ears in Utah. Senator Mike Lee wrote a waffling op-ed in the Post on why Obama should not because people in the state want assurances the private sector can exploit the land for resources and --oh--it's not clear as to the access by native Americans--like Obama would forget. Go for the Gold, Barack.
JOAN MCCARTER AT DAILY KOS EXPLAINS WHY YOU WILL BE HURT BY THE REPEAL OF OBAMACARE
I had a lunch with Democrats who obviously voted for Hillary Clinton but they seemed oblivious to the effects of the repeal of Obamacare on those with employer insurance.
Please read Joan McCarter's short piece on how you could get screwed with then repeal because the Patient's Bill of Rights also goes. She explains a case that benefited from eliminating lifetime caps for a man suffering from Leukemia.
Please read Joan McCarter's short piece on how you could get screwed with then repeal because the Patient's Bill of Rights also goes. She explains a case that benefited from eliminating lifetime caps for a man suffering from Leukemia.
TRUMP HAS 100 VACANCIES IN COURTS.
A simple solution to this is for Obama to appoint the 50 judges who have been cleared in hearings.
DERMER SAYS BIBI WILL SHARE INTEL ON OBAMA WITH TRUMP.
Bibi's new idea is that President Obama conspired with the other countries to produce the Security Council resolution against Israel.
In fact Bibi conspired with Trump to try and stop it. Dermer says the Trump people are free to release the info anytime.
Wanna bet the same day as Obama reveals the CIA report on Russian hacking.
In fact Bibi conspired with Trump to try and stop it. Dermer says the Trump people are free to release the info anytime.
Wanna bet the same day as Obama reveals the CIA report on Russian hacking.
OBAMA ADMITS IT--HE WOULD HAVE WON THIS YEAR!
Speaking on David Axelrod's podcast, President Obama said he would have mobilized the majority of Americans to support his inclusive vision of this country. He felt the key was bringing in the younger generation who grew up with tolerance.
No argument here. He did a good job as President and was an inspiring character. Unfortunately, he was better than the country he served.
No argument here. He did a good job as President and was an inspiring character. Unfortunately, he was better than the country he served.
PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNS THE EMMETT TILL ACT
The Emmett Till Act reopens the unsolved civil rights cases and stipulates that the DOJ and FBI must coordinate activity and report regularly. The interesting footnote is that the government has to keep informing the families of any progress.
Sunday, December 25, 2016
THE STOLEN SEAT AT THE SUPREME COURT
I commend the New York Times for their editorial on how the seat at SCOTUS was stolen from President Obama. I like how they recommend Trump submitting Merrick Garland for the seat as a gesture of reconciliation. Lots of luck. But depriving Garland of his rightful seat is a disgrace that should be remembered.
RESIST: VOTE!
The moaning of Democrats over Hillary Clinton's campaign is too much. So it's Obama and Hillary as the two top vote getters in American history. But we are told that the Clinton campaign knew she was 10% behind Obama in the white working class. Now we hear that the Sanders's staffers told her she was behind in the swing states.
But the Brennan Center has a different perspective. This was the first presidential election where Voter ID Laws were implemented in over one-half the states. It was the second election after Citizens United. The visible destruction caused by that court decision was the destruction of the Republican Party.
When I ran the Republican Institute, there was a bipartisan consensus that we needed to do more to get voter participation. 1992 was the nadir--about 45% of the electorate voted. This year it was about 54%. Compare that to any industrialized democracy. BREXIT got above 90% turnout.
It seems to me that a complete review of our voting system is needed. The early voting which favors the Democrats resulted in hundreds of thousands of votes being tossed out. And of course, when the city of Detroit is disenfranchised, you have a problem.
North Carolina is now considered a "partly-free" democracy with the coup against the Democratic governor.
There are systemic problems which Republicans have no interest to solve. Democrats must be where the people are and push,push,and push. But debating over Hillary Clinton will not work or help.
Why not get the people who never vote to go to the polls? That might make it more interesting.
But the Brennan Center has a different perspective. This was the first presidential election where Voter ID Laws were implemented in over one-half the states. It was the second election after Citizens United. The visible destruction caused by that court decision was the destruction of the Republican Party.
When I ran the Republican Institute, there was a bipartisan consensus that we needed to do more to get voter participation. 1992 was the nadir--about 45% of the electorate voted. This year it was about 54%. Compare that to any industrialized democracy. BREXIT got above 90% turnout.
It seems to me that a complete review of our voting system is needed. The early voting which favors the Democrats resulted in hundreds of thousands of votes being tossed out. And of course, when the city of Detroit is disenfranchised, you have a problem.
North Carolina is now considered a "partly-free" democracy with the coup against the Democratic governor.
There are systemic problems which Republicans have no interest to solve. Democrats must be where the people are and push,push,and push. But debating over Hillary Clinton will not work or help.
Why not get the people who never vote to go to the polls? That might make it more interesting.
D.R. TUCKER ON THE HEAT INDEX.
D.R.Tucker muses about a Trump administration stocked with climate deniers. But he says that it will take a Herculean effort to pull out of the Paris Accords because it is based on the 1992 Climate Treaty signed by George W. Bush.
D.R. Tucker actually believes the Kigali Accord on refrigerators ,etc. will do more to reduce carbon emissions than the Paris Accord.
Tucker believes that local initiatives on renewal energy sources must be pressed. Solar is now cheaper than natural gas for power plants and it is taking over more rapidly than thought.
We have to end this year with a tip of the cap to the media which never asked abut climate change in all the debates. Kudos to the winner of the 2016 Presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders for actually talking about it.
D.R. Tucker actually believes the Kigali Accord on refrigerators ,etc. will do more to reduce carbon emissions than the Paris Accord.
Tucker believes that local initiatives on renewal energy sources must be pressed. Solar is now cheaper than natural gas for power plants and it is taking over more rapidly than thought.
We have to end this year with a tip of the cap to the media which never asked abut climate change in all the debates. Kudos to the winner of the 2016 Presidential campaign, Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders for actually talking about it.
PRINCE CHARLES WARNS AGAINST XENOPHOBIA AND ANTI-IMMIGRANT POPULISM.
Prince Charles spoke about his father's generation fighting intolerance and the xenophobia that led to the persecution of the Jews by Nazi Germany. He warned against this atmosphere of intolerance.
LINDSEY GRAHAM PLANS TO CUT UN FUNDING OVER ISRAEL RESOLUTION.
In what will be the first of many attempts to cut UN funding,Lindsey Graham wants to punish the UN for their resolution against Israel.
GERMANY PLANS RESTITUTION OVER GENOCIDE IN NAMIBIA
Considered the first genocide in the 20th century,the slaughter of the Hereros in Namibia was actually studied by Nazi Germany as a precursor of the Holocaust. Germany has finally stated it is contemplating financial payments to the descendants of the victims.
BIBI GOES NUTS,RANTS ABOUT OBAMA
Bibi Netanyahu called in the American ambassador and ranted about Obama instructing the American delegation to abstain on the Security Council's resolution condemning Israel's expansion of settlements.
Bibi has contacted Trump before the vote and urged him to issue a statement to veto the resolution. The Trump campaign contacted Egypt's President Cessi to get the resolution pulled.
But there is only one President at a time and it didn't help Bibi intervened against Obama in the last election and went around him to address the Joint Session of Congress on the Iran nuclear pact.
Bibi has contacted Trump before the vote and urged him to issue a statement to veto the resolution. The Trump campaign contacted Egypt's President Cessi to get the resolution pulled.
But there is only one President at a time and it didn't help Bibi intervened against Obama in the last election and went around him to address the Joint Session of Congress on the Iran nuclear pact.
Saturday, December 24, 2016
Friday, December 23, 2016
Thursday, December 22, 2016
CRUZ AND LEE INTRODUCE FIRST AMENDMENT DEFENSE ACT
The FADA not only allows discrimination against the LBGT community by corporations but also anyone have heterosexual relations without being married. Is there any American these opeople won't go after?
OBAMA DISMANTLES NATIONAL REGISTRY
President Obama in reaction to Trump's reassertion of the Muslim registry wiped out that national registry which might have been used for this purpose.
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Tuesday, December 20, 2016
CBO SET DOWN STANDARDS FOR OBAMACARE REPEAL AND REPLACE
The CBO sent out a memo today saying that any repeal of Obamacare must have at least as good coverage of the original and the same rights. This is important because we have been hearing alot of nonsense on this.
For those who think it will not hurt them, remember ACA repeal also means the repeal of the Patients' Bill of Rights which means no pre-existing conditions, no lifetime limits on benefits and equality between men and women. It won't hurt you if you don't get sick.
For those who think it will not hurt them, remember ACA repeal also means the repeal of the Patients' Bill of Rights which means no pre-existing conditions, no lifetime limits on benefits and equality between men and women. It won't hurt you if you don't get sick.
DEMOCRATS ACCUSED BY POST OF USING TRUMP PLAYBOOK AGAINST TILLERSON
What that means is that Democrats are demanding Tillerson produce his tax returns to the Senate. How that could be objectionable is beyond me since in the America of laws all cabinet members were required by law to submit their tax returns.
Since this is a cabinet of billionaires ,I hope journalists do not let Betsy Devos get away with not submitting hers.
On Presidents,they submitted their tax returns because of a man named Richard Milhous Nixon. Even Nelson Rockefeller did it to secure the Vice Presidency.
Administration posts were never thought to be money-makers until Trump.
Since this is a cabinet of billionaires ,I hope journalists do not let Betsy Devos get away with not submitting hers.
On Presidents,they submitted their tax returns because of a man named Richard Milhous Nixon. Even Nelson Rockefeller did it to secure the Vice Presidency.
Administration posts were never thought to be money-makers until Trump.
On OBAMA'S ACTION ON THE ARTIC
President Obama used a 1953 law to ban drilling in the Arctic and the Atlantic Ocean. The reason is that Trump can't reverse it without going to congress.
Perhaps more important was that it was taken in conjunction with Justin Trudeau who banned drilling in the Arctic along the Canadian coastline. So it really is a much bigger deal than covered.
Perhaps more important was that it was taken in conjunction with Justin Trudeau who banned drilling in the Arctic along the Canadian coastline. So it really is a much bigger deal than covered.
HILLARY WON BY 2,864,964 VOTES
I would check out the search warrant issued for Huma Abedin's laptop. Not only was there no there there--such as in the quaint idea of probable cause, but Comey issued his letter before it had been delivered.
Now Colin Powell's e-mails were hacked,the DNC's were hacked,the US government's was hacked, but Comey could find no evidence that anyone had hacked Hillary's private email server but she was supposed to be "careless with classified documents." There never was any evidence and Comey knows it. He bluntly violated the Hatch Act and worked with Putin to sabotage a candidate for President of the United States.
Nate Silver has bugged like I am. Nate did analysis today of the post-Comey polls and found that Trump picked tip 4 points after the letter. Silver found that the polls we were reporting were accurate and that event stopped Clinton in her tracks.
Bill Clinton said that yesterday when he cast his elector's vote for his wife. The DNC sounds like sour grapes now but the data hold true.
This election is phony. And since Trump isn't taking any intelligence briefings,everything that happens after his inauguration is on his dance card. Asked where we were, Obama responded in a fine place. He will leave with the Dow around 20,000, nearly 13,000 above W,employment around 4.6%, inflation at 2.2%. So anything negative that happens is Trump and if a terrorist act happens it can't be like W, complaining they didn't have enough time. Obama made sure the Trump people had enough time, even though they refused to meet with the many intelligence agencies.
Hillary Clinton can be proud she drew more votes than any white male did for President. Only Barack Obama drew more.You think sexism had anything to do with Trump. The majority of attacks since he was selected have been against women.
HOUSTON:WE HAVE A CORRUPTION PROBLEM
Scott Spiecer says that is it is done openly it is not corruption.
Newt Gingrich says that Trump should pardon all his cabinet members when they break the ethics law and that the very rich can't be expected to observe the ethics laws. Newt also says that Trump should excuse his family when they break the nepotism law.
His sons are already auctioning off inauguration tickets.
The Trump campaign pressured the Kuwaiti embassy to cancel their holiday party at the Four Seasons and reschedule it for the Trump Hotel here in D.C.
Trump's Secretary of Interior is already linkers to a pattern of fraud when he served with the Seals.
This will be endless.
Newt Gingrich says that Trump should pardon all his cabinet members when they break the ethics law and that the very rich can't be expected to observe the ethics laws. Newt also says that Trump should excuse his family when they break the nepotism law.
His sons are already auctioning off inauguration tickets.
The Trump campaign pressured the Kuwaiti embassy to cancel their holiday party at the Four Seasons and reschedule it for the Trump Hotel here in D.C.
Trump's Secretary of Interior is already linkers to a pattern of fraud when he served with the Seals.
This will be endless.
Monday, December 19, 2016
THE FAITHLESS ELECTORS
Anti-Trump protesters gathered at the state capitals today to pressure electors to vote for anyone but Donald Trump.
Well, it didn't work out well. In Maine one Clinton elector decided to vote for Bernie Sanders but he was told that wasn't appropriate so he turned back to Clinton.
One Ohio state representative, who was a Trump elector, had to resign because she held an official position. She claimed the "far-left" had protested. She was replaced.
In Colorado,our former Marine Baca was replaced by a Clinton elector so he couldn't carry out his plan.
In Texas, the one known Trump elector voted for John Kasich and another for Ron Paul.
In Washington state,four Clinton electors went rogue. 3 for Colin Powell and 1 for Spotted Eagle, an Indian environmental activist. The state says they will prosecute.
Only 74,000 votes spread over three states separated the two major candidates. That is equivalent to 2 votes per precinct.
The US Elections Assistance Commission who told us the whole election wasn't hacked was hacked itself.A Russian-speaking hacker lifted the log-in credentials of 100 election people.
So an odor really does hang over this election.
Well, it didn't work out well. In Maine one Clinton elector decided to vote for Bernie Sanders but he was told that wasn't appropriate so he turned back to Clinton.
One Ohio state representative, who was a Trump elector, had to resign because she held an official position. She claimed the "far-left" had protested. She was replaced.
In Colorado,our former Marine Baca was replaced by a Clinton elector so he couldn't carry out his plan.
In Texas, the one known Trump elector voted for John Kasich and another for Ron Paul.
In Washington state,four Clinton electors went rogue. 3 for Colin Powell and 1 for Spotted Eagle, an Indian environmental activist. The state says they will prosecute.
Only 74,000 votes spread over three states separated the two major candidates. That is equivalent to 2 votes per precinct.
The US Elections Assistance Commission who told us the whole election wasn't hacked was hacked itself.A Russian-speaking hacker lifted the log-in credentials of 100 election people.
So an odor really does hang over this election.
EICHENWALD REVEALS TRUMP HAD A MENTAL BREAKDOWN IN 19990s.
Kurt Eichenwald revealed on the Fox News Show with Tucker Carlson, the same show that provoked a vicious twitter attack that provoked an epileptic fit by Eichenwald afterwards, that Donald Trump did indeed suffer a mental collapse in the 1990s when he was going bankrupt and that he had been using an amphetamine extract for his obsessive compulsive behavior. I posted that here first at the start of the campaign. But now it is serious as Trump assumes the presidency.
Sunday, December 18, 2016
YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A RUSSIA HAWK TO CARE
Josh Marshall wisely writes how Russia is a wounded nation and thus highly dangerous. And no Mitt Romney was not right when he said Russia was the gravest threat to the United States. Obama had it right in his press conference when he said Russia doesn't produce anything and its economy is a wreck. It's basically a regional power with nuclear weapons. And it can not be stressed enough that its economy is less than Italy's. Josh does point out Trump's mixed signals or things like the Baltics may tempt Russia to war.
I would say the danger is that Trump by his choice of gossip-fuel fanatics wants to imitate Russia and create a petrostate which would be just as unstable.
I would say the danger is that Trump by his choice of gossip-fuel fanatics wants to imitate Russia and create a petrostate which would be just as unstable.
CSIS'JAMES LEWIS WRITES ABOUT RUSSIAN HACKING.
Lewis has been an obscure expert of cybersecurity at CSIS. In today's Washington Post that the Russians have now surpassed China in the aggressiveness and magnitude of its effects. Unlike the Chinese who steal our weapons designs and company secrets, Russia aims to wreak havoc and subvert the democratic systems in the United States and Europe. Lewis points to their intrusion in Germany, the Ukraine and Sweden. He sees this activity as trying to erode democratic values.
TRUMP's AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL A BIG PUTIN FAN.
David Friedman, who belongs to an American organization which supports the settlements in Israel, believes Americans should only listen to two world leaders--Putin and Bibi. He says Putin will defeat ISIS, although he doesn;'t say when Putin will start fighting ISIS.
RESIST
Google,Microsoft and IBM have gone on record saying they would not assist in anyway a registry of Muslims. Kris Kovach, creator of Crosscheck voting purges, came to Trump Tower with a plan for one and Rep. King from New York proposed one publicly.
TWO SURPRISES IN DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
One Good--John Lewis stuck an amendment in that requires the US government to post how much wars in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria have cost.
One very Bad--the broadcasting boards for USIA and Radio Liberty have been eliminated. These were bipartisan boards to oversee the content of the broadcasts so they also include dissenting voices in the United States.
Now the President appoints the head of each broadcasting project and that person reports to the President. Global Trump Network.
One very Bad--the broadcasting boards for USIA and Radio Liberty have been eliminated. These were bipartisan boards to oversee the content of the broadcasts so they also include dissenting voices in the United States.
Now the President appoints the head of each broadcasting project and that person reports to the President. Global Trump Network.
#1 SCIENTIFIC PAPER OF 2016==BARACK OBAMA
This was his article for the Journal of the American Medical Association.
TRUMP: THE RUSSIAN PODDLE
Nick Kristof wants to remind you that Nixon's bugging of the DNC didn't affect the 1972 election but we don't know the effects of the Russian hacking on the 2016 election. But Kristof notes both Nixon and Trump responded terribly afterwards. Kristof wants to know why Putin is being rewarded by the Trump people.
As a good Africanist,Kristof notes Rex Tillerson had a horrible effect on Angola and Chad. Forget about the $500 billion deal with Putin.
As a good Africanist,Kristof notes Rex Tillerson had a horrible effect on Angola and Chad. Forget about the $500 billion deal with Putin.
DAVID FRUM WOULD LIKE TO REMIND YOU...
The GOP has only won the popular vote once in the last 7 elections and Trump doesn't have a mandate.
"DONALD TRUMP'S RACIAL IGNORANCE"
Michael Eric Dyson writes:
"It may be that Mr. Trump's views reveal something just as devastating as not caring for black people : not knowing us.
Mr. Trump is not alone in this deliberate ignorance, as postellection calls on the left to forget about identity politics have shown. If there is a dirty secret in American life, it is this: The real unifying force in our national cultural and political life,beyond skirmishes over ideology, is white identity masked as universal, neutral and ,therefore, quintessentially American. The greatest purveyors of identity politics today , and for the bulk of our country;s history, have been white citizens ."
"It may be that Mr. Trump's views reveal something just as devastating as not caring for black people : not knowing us.
Mr. Trump is not alone in this deliberate ignorance, as postellection calls on the left to forget about identity politics have shown. If there is a dirty secret in American life, it is this: The real unifying force in our national cultural and political life,beyond skirmishes over ideology, is white identity masked as universal, neutral and ,therefore, quintessentially American. The greatest purveyors of identity politics today , and for the bulk of our country;s history, have been white citizens ."
Saturday, December 17, 2016
WHAT DID TRUMP KNOW AND WHEN DID HE KNOW IT?
David Adkins in the Washington Monthly write the piece about how news of the Russian hacks are likely to linger as time bomb for Trump. If bugging the DNC brought Nixon down,what about Trump's relationship with Putin? He outlines the new talking points from the Trump campaign,which change daily. I like Keyyanne Conway's the best, "if Clinton and Obama had any love of this country,they would let bygones be bygones."
Obama made it clear a detailed report from the intelligence agencies would appear before the inauguration and we also have an FBI investigation that started in the summer of Russian contacts with the Trump campaign. Remember Roger Stone volunteering to testify?
Meanwhile Nate Silver and the great Sam Wang agree that late breaking voters went for Trump because of Comey's letter. The majority of voters who felt the economy was the issue went Clinton in the Midwest battleground states.
On the Comey letter, there seems to be a criminal conspiracy now that we know Huma Abedin never received as search warrant and Comey wasn't told of Anthony Weiner's laptop for 24 days. Expect more to come from this.
There are two sticks of dynamite still waiting to blow up.
Obama made it clear a detailed report from the intelligence agencies would appear before the inauguration and we also have an FBI investigation that started in the summer of Russian contacts with the Trump campaign. Remember Roger Stone volunteering to testify?
Meanwhile Nate Silver and the great Sam Wang agree that late breaking voters went for Trump because of Comey's letter. The majority of voters who felt the economy was the issue went Clinton in the Midwest battleground states.
On the Comey letter, there seems to be a criminal conspiracy now that we know Huma Abedin never received as search warrant and Comey wasn't told of Anthony Weiner's laptop for 24 days. Expect more to come from this.
There are two sticks of dynamite still waiting to blow up.
52% Want Electoral College Postponed;.
10th Circuit Court ruled on the Colorado case that it was unconstitutional to legally bind elector's vote. This applies to Utah,Wyoming, Kansas, Oklahoma,Colorado.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READING
Ta-Nehisi Coates "My President Was Black." On the meaning (And unmaking) of Obama's White House" Atlantic
"..Over the next 12 years,I came to regard Obama as a skilled politician, a deeply moral human being, and one of the greatest presidents in American history. He was phenomenal --the most agile interpreter and navigator of the color line I had ever seen. He had an ability to emote a deep and sincere connection to the hearts of black people , while never counting the hearts of white people.This was the core of his 2004 keynote, and it marked his historic race speech during the 2008 campaign at the Philadelphi's National Constitution Center-and blinded him to the appeal of Trump.("as a general proposition, it's hard to run for president by telling people how terrible things are," Obama once said to me.)
But if the president's inability to cement his legacy in the form of Hillary Clinton proved the limits of his optimism, it also revealed the exceptional nature of his presidential victories. For eight years Barack Obama walked on ice and never fell. Nothing in that time suggested that straight talk on the facts of racism in American life would have given him surer footing."
"..Over the next 12 years,I came to regard Obama as a skilled politician, a deeply moral human being, and one of the greatest presidents in American history. He was phenomenal --the most agile interpreter and navigator of the color line I had ever seen. He had an ability to emote a deep and sincere connection to the hearts of black people , while never counting the hearts of white people.This was the core of his 2004 keynote, and it marked his historic race speech during the 2008 campaign at the Philadelphi's National Constitution Center-and blinded him to the appeal of Trump.("as a general proposition, it's hard to run for president by telling people how terrible things are," Obama once said to me.)
But if the president's inability to cement his legacy in the form of Hillary Clinton proved the limits of his optimism, it also revealed the exceptional nature of his presidential victories. For eight years Barack Obama walked on ice and never fell. Nothing in that time suggested that straight talk on the facts of racism in American life would have given him surer footing."
THE INCREDIBLY TAINTED ELECTION.
President Obama held what probably was the last press conference on his term in office. In it he asserted again that Putin hacked into the DNC and Jon Podesta's emails. He avoided the question about Hillary Clinton's assertion that Comey's letter and the Russian hacks turned the election. President Obama wanted to assert the integrity of the votes and vote counts. As the Comforter in Chief, he tried to reassure the press and the American public that Trump would change when the heavy burden of the presidency descended on him. On the electoral college, he said that Democrats would one day win where the votes mattered. There was no mention of Clinton winning the election by 3 million votes. Slate felt that this was not the time for the No Drama Obama but I personally didn't know what he could have done.
Today state authorities around the country are ascertaining how much the Voter ID laws affected the election. Rightwing websites noted the problems in Detroit but blamed them on Democratic officials. As we have said at least 75,000 votes weren't counted there. Another 160,000 votes were not counted in Florida.
As for the "faithless " electors. The lone Republican holdout was threatened that if he didn't vote for Trump his wife and daughters would be raped. Yesterday, the right tried to smear him by saying he was not a 9-11 first responder. The "Hamilton" elector are Clinton electors who want to encourage their Republican colleagues not to vote for Trump but another Republican. It would take 37 courageous people to change the election.
Intresting fact--16 Democratic electors did not vote for JFK in 1960 but Harry Byrd. Previously to that was 6 in the election of 1885. By and large "faithless" electors amount to 1 every presidential election.
@9 states have binding laws on the electors. The recent case brought in Colorado by two Democratic electors was dismissed but Lawrence Lessig says the only laws that govern this are national and the constitution.
In the case of Democratic elector Michael Boca, a homer Marine, he faces a fine ,a year in county jail and was told most recently perjury for violating his oath as elector. He claims he has been in touch with Republican electors who are brainstorming on whether it should be Kasich,Mitt Romney, Colin Powell or Evan McMullin, the homer CIA agent. Throughout the week, the number mentioned is 20 to 30. But the GOP is monitoring their Facebook accounts.
The odds of another bizarre switch in this election are slim.
But make no mistake, this is a very tainted election that questions the legitimacy of Trump. He does not have any mandate, something the Democrats have to stress over and over again.
Friday, December 16, 2016
RESIST!
THE ACLU HAS RAISED $19 million since the election and has a white board to target areas where they will bring suit against the Trump administration. A key concern are immigrants and of course hate crimes.
The New York Times has brought in 125,000 new subscriptions since the election.
The New York Times has brought in 125,000 new subscriptions since the election.
PAUL KRUGMAN "YES,THE ELECTION WAS HACKED."
Krugman writes that we can't pretend any differently. Don't change the subject to campaign strategies and the like, this isn't normal. And that Trump won by 1% in Michigan,Wisconsin and Pennsylvania shows the hack worked. Trump comes to office with the barest of legal requirements and that doesn't spell any mandate.
Thursday, December 15, 2016
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
TRUMP SURROGATES NOW TRAVELLING TO MOSCOW.
Jack Kingston, a former congressman , arrived in Moscow to brief American businessmen there on what to expect. He said Trump would lift economic sanctions and seek to normalize relations. NPR actually ran down the itineraries of the Trump people going to MKoscow.
AMERICA'S GOV. JERRY BROWN PLEDGES FIGHT OVER CIMATE CHANGE
"IF Donald Trump turns off the Nasa climate control satellite,we will turn them own. We will launch our own satellites."
Brown pledged that the labs and universities collecting the climate change data will not be politicized. He also welcomed the federal employees now downloading the data to have it stored in California.
Brown pledged that the labs and universities collecting the climate change data will not be politicized. He also welcomed the federal employees now downloading the data to have it stored in California.
REP.DON BEYER ASKS THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTE TO BE POSTPONED.
My Williams College classmate and my current representative wants the electoral vote to be postponed until the electors are briefed on the Russian Hacking.
OR, WAS IT COMEY AND THE FBI WHO COOKED THE ELECTION?
Yesterday,Nate Silver regained his tweeter account to suggest several times that Comey's letter had mnore affect on the election results than did Russian hacking. Politico ran a piece using polling data that showed Hillary Clinton's momentum just died in its tracks after Comey released his letter.
Well, Vice Magazine has filed suit in the U.S. District Court here in D.C. asking that the FBI release all documents concerning internal office discussions about the election, their contacts with Rudy Guiliani, Steve Gannon and Breibart News.
Meawnhile in a Manhattan Court, a Federal judge is going to open the sealed warrant on Anthony Weiner's server to see whether there is a link to Comey's letter. Remember Josh Marshall wrote he was in touch with lawyers on this who said it was easy to go through all they files in a couple of days. And like Josh and his lawyer friends said they were all duplicates and then you had Comey's second letter saying nothing was found.
The motion before the Manhattan Court was started by a lawyer who was suspicious of the New York office who leaked regularly to Rudy Guiliani through their revered retired leader who was hired by Rudy and who had received a $1 million from Trump.
This confusing nexus is where Harry Reid suggests is the second Watergate. The New York FBI and the Trump campaign consoired to generate they actions that produced the first Comey letter.
Well, Vice Magazine has filed suit in the U.S. District Court here in D.C. asking that the FBI release all documents concerning internal office discussions about the election, their contacts with Rudy Guiliani, Steve Gannon and Breibart News.
Meawnhile in a Manhattan Court, a Federal judge is going to open the sealed warrant on Anthony Weiner's server to see whether there is a link to Comey's letter. Remember Josh Marshall wrote he was in touch with lawyers on this who said it was easy to go through all they files in a couple of days. And like Josh and his lawyer friends said they were all duplicates and then you had Comey's second letter saying nothing was found.
The motion before the Manhattan Court was started by a lawyer who was suspicious of the New York office who leaked regularly to Rudy Guiliani through their revered retired leader who was hired by Rudy and who had received a $1 million from Trump.
This confusing nexus is where Harry Reid suggests is the second Watergate. The New York FBI and the Trump campaign consoired to generate they actions that produced the first Comey letter.
GREG PALAST:"THIS WAS A JIM CROW ELECTION."
Greg Palast , investigating reporter for Rolling Stone, appeared on the Thom Hartman Show just after the Michigan Recount was terminated. He said that Hillary won Michigan and the Republicans were trying to squelch the news as much as possible. Over 75,000 votes in Detroit were not counted and the recount wouldn't allow them to be.
He has brought a petition to the Department of Justice on behold of Asian voters who claim Cross-Check, a voter purge system perfected by Kris Kovach, systematically purges minority names on voter lists. Palast says he told to the ACLU per on in North Carolina , who said that Cross-Check supressed the black vote.
This happens because if a name shows up in more than one state,Cross-Check presumes that person voted twice and therefore is automatically purged. For example, a James Brown showed up in Deteroit and another one in North Carolina. However, both had different middle names. But both are purged.
Palast spoke for some time with Jill Stein, who thought she would find Russian hacking in Wisconsin but instead she found minorities purged from voting lists.
Palast said that forget Hillary Clinton didn't run a good campaign or that the Russies manipulated the vote. It was pure voter suppression in key communities in the mid-Wesrt which gave you Trump.
He has brought a petition to the Department of Justice on behold of Asian voters who claim Cross-Check, a voter purge system perfected by Kris Kovach, systematically purges minority names on voter lists. Palast says he told to the ACLU per on in North Carolina , who said that Cross-Check supressed the black vote.
This happens because if a name shows up in more than one state,Cross-Check presumes that person voted twice and therefore is automatically purged. For example, a James Brown showed up in Deteroit and another one in North Carolina. However, both had different middle names. But both are purged.
Palast spoke for some time with Jill Stein, who thought she would find Russian hacking in Wisconsin but instead she found minorities purged from voting lists.
Palast said that forget Hillary Clinton didn't run a good campaign or that the Russies manipulated the vote. It was pure voter suppression in key communities in the mid-Wesrt which gave you Trump.
MARSHALL: THAT WAS WEIRD
Josh Marshall writes about the strange choice of Rex Tillerson as Secretary Of State. His take is that Tillerson has never been considered for a government job, never wanted it and never was selected as a diplomat,although he could have any ambassadorship by dint of donations.
He was not associated with Trump and indeed was recommended to Trump by Condi Rice, Bob Gates and James Baker,all anti-Trump people. At least Rice and Gates are consultants to Exxon-Mobil.
The selection process for State seemed to fall on the lines about who shared Trump's view on Russia. Romney did not and in fact argued over dinner with Trump on Russia's intentions. Today it is reported that Romney didn't apologize to Trump. But that seemed to be a cover on the Russia disagreement. Crocker was against changing policy to Russia. Petraeus seemed skittish about carrying out such a policy because he knew the military dimensions of it.
And as seems to be the case,someone suggested Tillerson, a CEO of a corporation with the 17th largest economy in the world. Someone mentioned that the best way to influence Trump is to be the last person to suggest something to him.
Amy Goodman ,I think, got it. She suggested that the $500 billion with Russia negotiated by Tillerson was the key. For Putin, it would change history. For ExxonMobil provide them with decades worth of oil and revenue. In fact,Exxonmobil stock rose with Tillerson named and the company basically said they would do fine with out him.
Environmentalists are outraged because ExxonMobil had started climate change research in the 1950s and by the late 1960s concluded it was a real problem and by the late 1970s stopped the research and instead funded a series of "think tanks" that distributed Climate denial materials. Currently, they are suing a number of environmentalists who has challenged these groups and who are legally trying to get ExxonMobil to disclose how they deceived their shareholders about climate change.
But Tillerson choice has more to do with the desire of the Trump group to form a strategic alliance with Russia, something Senate Republicans are resisting.
The transition team press conference made the choice sound glowing. They hyped Tillerson's managerial skills, which would be suited to an organization as large as the State Department. They talked about his personal knowledge of the world's players--mostly autocratic leaders. But they said, "His life is a story of rags to riches. A story only possible in America."
He was not associated with Trump and indeed was recommended to Trump by Condi Rice, Bob Gates and James Baker,all anti-Trump people. At least Rice and Gates are consultants to Exxon-Mobil.
The selection process for State seemed to fall on the lines about who shared Trump's view on Russia. Romney did not and in fact argued over dinner with Trump on Russia's intentions. Today it is reported that Romney didn't apologize to Trump. But that seemed to be a cover on the Russia disagreement. Crocker was against changing policy to Russia. Petraeus seemed skittish about carrying out such a policy because he knew the military dimensions of it.
And as seems to be the case,someone suggested Tillerson, a CEO of a corporation with the 17th largest economy in the world. Someone mentioned that the best way to influence Trump is to be the last person to suggest something to him.
Amy Goodman ,I think, got it. She suggested that the $500 billion with Russia negotiated by Tillerson was the key. For Putin, it would change history. For ExxonMobil provide them with decades worth of oil and revenue. In fact,Exxonmobil stock rose with Tillerson named and the company basically said they would do fine with out him.
Environmentalists are outraged because ExxonMobil had started climate change research in the 1950s and by the late 1960s concluded it was a real problem and by the late 1970s stopped the research and instead funded a series of "think tanks" that distributed Climate denial materials. Currently, they are suing a number of environmentalists who has challenged these groups and who are legally trying to get ExxonMobil to disclose how they deceived their shareholders about climate change.
But Tillerson choice has more to do with the desire of the Trump group to form a strategic alliance with Russia, something Senate Republicans are resisting.
The transition team press conference made the choice sound glowing. They hyped Tillerson's managerial skills, which would be suited to an organization as large as the State Department. They talked about his personal knowledge of the world's players--mostly autocratic leaders. But they said, "His life is a story of rags to riches. A story only possible in America."
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Monday, December 12, 2016
SOME GOOD NEWS
The disinvestment movement of fossil fuels that started in universities and has expanded to mutual funds and banks reports today that it has managed to pull $5.2 trillion from the fossil fuel industry.
Tomorrow Bill Gates will announce a multi billion program as part of the Paris Accords to invest in alternative energy sources.
If you want to help those who fight climate change, please DONATE to 350.org which was founded by Bill McKibben.
Tomorrow Bill Gates will announce a multi billion program as part of the Paris Accords to invest in alternative energy sources.
If you want to help those who fight climate change, please DONATE to 350.org which was founded by Bill McKibben.
THE CHIEF MOTIVE OF PUTIN MEDDLING
Rex Tillerson's nomination as Secretary of State should tip us off. He signed a $500 billion deal with Roznet,the largest Russian oil supplier to jointly explore for oil on 63 million acres of Russian land. It was the biggest oil deal in history and would have provided ExxonMobil with decades of an oil stream in an era where oil is more difficult to find.
Rachel Maddow had said the deal would have changed the direction of Russian history. Then Putin invaded the Ukraine and seized Crimea. U.S. sanctions and those of our allies stalled the deal.
All President Trump has to do is unilaterally lift the sanctions and then launch Tillerson to use the might of the United States to get others to lift their sanctions.
Which then brings us to the Paris Climate Agreement. Trump said he would evaluate it according to whether the United States would be put at a competitive disadvantage to CHINA. Which means he will pull out of it.
So Putin had real interests in this election, not just his hatred of Hillary Clinton.
Rachel Maddow had said the deal would have changed the direction of Russian history. Then Putin invaded the Ukraine and seized Crimea. U.S. sanctions and those of our allies stalled the deal.
All President Trump has to do is unilaterally lift the sanctions and then launch Tillerson to use the might of the United States to get others to lift their sanctions.
Which then brings us to the Paris Climate Agreement. Trump said he would evaluate it according to whether the United States would be put at a competitive disadvantage to CHINA. Which means he will pull out of it.
So Putin had real interests in this election, not just his hatred of Hillary Clinton.
TRUMP DOES PICK TILLERSON AS SECRETARY OF STATE.
An in your face gesture by Trump. The book on ExxonMobil by Steven Coll says that Tillerson preferred deals with autocratic or totalitarian regimes. And in fact steered Exxon Mobil to these opportunities. He felt he could avoid any oversight by a democratic government or be subject to the rule of law.
However,he has some strange quirks. Under his control,ExxonMobil recognizes claimed change and man's role in it. His argument is that oil helped billions out of poverty. His solution is terra-forming,radically changing the environment to a more agriculture friendly zone.
It will be interesting to see whether he advocates keeping America's commitment to the Paris Climate Change Accords.
No one knows his positions on nuclear proliferation, the Middle East, China or the developing world.
However,he has some strange quirks. Under his control,ExxonMobil recognizes claimed change and man's role in it. His argument is that oil helped billions out of poverty. His solution is terra-forming,radically changing the environment to a more agriculture friendly zone.
It will be interesting to see whether he advocates keeping America's commitment to the Paris Climate Change Accords.
No one knows his positions on nuclear proliferation, the Middle East, China or the developing world.
PHRASE OF THE DAY
Goes to Josh Marshall when he explains Kellyanne Conway's attack on Adam Schiff, a co-chair of the House intelligence committee. "An empire of world salad".
NOW IT GETS INERESTING
The CIA and other intelligence agencies are now actually concerned about briefing Trump because they fear the information will go directly to the Kremlin.
NOW THAT THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY HAS CONCLUDED RUSSIAN INTERVENED FOR TRUMP..
a war has broken out in the Republican party. Michael Gerson at the Washington Post comes out for briefing electors on the degree of Russian aid to Trump. FOX News devoted at least a half an hour on the intelligence report and followed up on the Hill with various GOP leaders demanding an investigation. They also pointedly remarked that at no time has Trump been critical of Russian behavior whether it was Crimea,the Ukraine or Syria.
They also followed up with Tillotson's relationship with Putin going back to the early 1990s. They said Tillotson was promoted to being CEO because he made the deals with Russia which would net ExxonMobile billions in profits. The tone of the program was very critical and they raised issues about Trump's stakes in Russia.
Kurt Eichenwald alerted everyone to tomorrow's story in Newsweek about how Turkey is using its Trump Tower as leverage over the United States government.
Keith Olbermann in his Resistance broadcasts proclaims we are being taken over by a coup and have lost our independence.
Mitch McConnell, who had been reluctant to pursue the Russian angle, has finally agreed that there has to be a bipartisan committee to investigate Russia's role in our election. And even more reluctantly the timid Paul Ryan finally agreed also to an investigation--as long as it does not call into question the results of the election.
I can not overestimate the firestorm in this town over the allegations about Russia intervening on Trump's behalf. Even Pence had to agree that all facts should be on the table.
They also followed up with Tillotson's relationship with Putin going back to the early 1990s. They said Tillotson was promoted to being CEO because he made the deals with Russia which would net ExxonMobile billions in profits. The tone of the program was very critical and they raised issues about Trump's stakes in Russia.
Kurt Eichenwald alerted everyone to tomorrow's story in Newsweek about how Turkey is using its Trump Tower as leverage over the United States government.
Keith Olbermann in his Resistance broadcasts proclaims we are being taken over by a coup and have lost our independence.
Mitch McConnell, who had been reluctant to pursue the Russian angle, has finally agreed that there has to be a bipartisan committee to investigate Russia's role in our election. And even more reluctantly the timid Paul Ryan finally agreed also to an investigation--as long as it does not call into question the results of the election.
I can not overestimate the firestorm in this town over the allegations about Russia intervening on Trump's behalf. Even Pence had to agree that all facts should be on the table.
KAISER FOUNDATION FINDS 58 MILLION HAVE PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS.
The point being that these 58 million could not get health insurance pre-ACA. And if the GOP repeals the ACA, they will not be able to again.
RECOUNTS BASICALLY OVER
Wisconsin finished their recount with only 25 votes gained by Clinton. Papers ballots weren't counted. They just ran the same optical scans through again.
In Pennsylvania, a federal judge ruled against the Green Party's motion to conduct a forensic audit.
In Michigan the courts ended the recount this weekend. Detroit still was disenfranchised.
In Pennsylvania, a federal judge ruled against the Green Party's motion to conduct a forensic audit.
In Michigan the courts ended the recount this weekend. Detroit still was disenfranchised.
Sunday, December 11, 2016
TRUMP CAMPAIGN CALLS FOR COMEY TO CRACKDOWN ON PROTESTS.
Resist. Use the dark internet--the one used by drug dealers and pedophiles. That will be the only way one can organize protests and demonstrations without detection.
The Trump Transition team is trying to persuade D.C. to withhold permits for demonstrations until March.
Some universities now are not calling themselves sanctuaries for immigrants while acting as them because they fear a cut-off in federal funds.
The Trump Transition team is trying to persuade D.C. to withhold permits for demonstrations until March.
Some universities now are not calling themselves sanctuaries for immigrants while acting as them because they fear a cut-off in federal funds.
POLITICO TWEETS
Politico tweeted that Trump's business dealing provide such conflicts that they will affect the electoral college vote.
NO, HE DIDN"T SAY THAT
John Bolton,soon-to-be number 2 at the State Department, said the DNC hacks were a "false flag operation" by the Obama Administration.
WSJ LETTER FROM THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY
The intelligence community responded quickly and openly to Trump's dismissal of their conclusions Russia played a role in our elections. The letter said this was an insult to the thousands of men and women who work tirelessly to defend this country. They particularly resented the charge that their conclusion was politicized.
ONE OF BEST BITS FROM REMNICK WITH OBAMA
David Remnick writes that Donald Trump asked President Obama would he be available if he needed him if there were race riots.
JON PARR AT DAILYKOS ON ANNUAL DEATHS FROM OBAMACARE REPEAL
Parr's article is a must see. The charts break out a state-by-state estimates of deaths caused by either Repeal, or Repeal and Delay. It could be a Vietnam every year.
NATE SILVER SAYS CLINTON WOULD HAVE WON IF NOT FOR COMEY LETTER
Nate Silver did an analysis of how Trump voters made up their minds in the last two weeks of the election. The margin was made up of Democrats and independents affected by Comey's letter about finding another cache of e-mails. That's why she lost the electoral college by 80,000 votes. Besides voter suppression and tossing out provisional ballots.
RESIST: LAWYER UP!
Immigrant NGOS urge Dreams not to be abroad when Trump is inaugurated or they can get back in the country.
Federal lands are owned by you and me. When the new Secretary of the Interior moves to privatize I would urge environmental groups to mount a class action lawsuit on behalf of the America people.
Federal lands are owned by you and me. When the new Secretary of the Interior moves to privatize I would urge environmental groups to mount a class action lawsuit on behalf of the America people.
SUNDAY MORNING
Michelle Obama In People Magazine says even though the election is over she will still criticize Trump for his polarizing rhetoric.
Bernie Sanders on Face The Nation thinks Trump has to re-affirm his commitment not to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid because the congressional Republicans are promising to do just that. Sanders urges Trump to tell the Republicans to back off.
Trump literally said he doesn't need intelligence briefings because he's "so smart."
The intelligence community is in an uproar because of Trump's insulting them. Watch this space in the future. This rift its a major concern. Trump still maintains the reports about Russia hacking our elections are ridiculous.
Since former Presidents have the right to request intelligence briefings at a presidential level, it seems to me Bill Clinton should request one .
Russian officials can't hide their glee over Russia winning the American election. Newsoutlets in Russia think that Trump's dismantling sanctions against Russia for the Ukraine and the Crimea will make Russia on the par with the United States. Please remember this is a country with the same GDP as Italy. Russian analysts say that the sanctions hurt Putin's allies badly and he wanted to get back at Hillary Clinton for this.
The Obama official who transitioned with Trump's ethics guy reports that the Trump people are not concerned about corruption.
Former Texas Governor Rick Perry is the likely new Energy Secretary. Maybe Trump doesn't know Rick Perry made Texas the leading solar energy state in the Union.
David Remnick gave an important interview with Der Spiegel where he talks about how Russian democracy was destroyed by Putin and how Trump toys with fascism. He says that millions will be disappointed by Trump.
In the New Yorker, Remnick conducted an interview with President Obama about his legacy. The interview held in three sessions started with the anticipation of a Clinton win and ended with Obama contemplating the GOP trying to destroy his legacy. Obama said he thought 75-80% of his achievements will be maintained. He cited the difficulty with eliminating regulations he put in place and other measures.
Trump again claimed on Fox News that he is studying the Paris Climate Change Agreement and said no one knows whether climate change is real and whether anyone should care about it.
While people like myself think Angela Merkel is the leader of the "Free World" and Joe Biden thinks Justin Trudeau, the alt right thinks Vladimir Putin is the leader of the free world because he made nationalism respectable and brought back Christianity to Russia. They really do think Putin is the leader of Christianity. Moscow has been a mecca for people like Pat Buchanan, David Duke,Robert Spencer and Nigel Farage.
David Brooks says the number of billionaires in Trump's cabinet doesn't bother the Trump populist because they just hate the managerial class and not those who made money.
Anthony West, The far-right African-American Colonel, says that General Mattis was selected for kill lots of Muslims.
Intelligence officers think Mattis is going to eat Trump's NSC adviser for lunch. Between Mattis and General Kelly at Homeland Security ,these people think the two generals will provide pushback against Flynn's hair brain schemes. This seems to be another example of "Oh it can't get any worse" type thinking.
Russia is delighted by Tillotson as Secretary of State since both countries can be petrostates. But no one knows what he thinks about any other issue.
Bernie Sanders on Face The Nation thinks Trump has to re-affirm his commitment not to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid because the congressional Republicans are promising to do just that. Sanders urges Trump to tell the Republicans to back off.
Trump literally said he doesn't need intelligence briefings because he's "so smart."
The intelligence community is in an uproar because of Trump's insulting them. Watch this space in the future. This rift its a major concern. Trump still maintains the reports about Russia hacking our elections are ridiculous.
Since former Presidents have the right to request intelligence briefings at a presidential level, it seems to me Bill Clinton should request one .
Russian officials can't hide their glee over Russia winning the American election. Newsoutlets in Russia think that Trump's dismantling sanctions against Russia for the Ukraine and the Crimea will make Russia on the par with the United States. Please remember this is a country with the same GDP as Italy. Russian analysts say that the sanctions hurt Putin's allies badly and he wanted to get back at Hillary Clinton for this.
The Obama official who transitioned with Trump's ethics guy reports that the Trump people are not concerned about corruption.
Former Texas Governor Rick Perry is the likely new Energy Secretary. Maybe Trump doesn't know Rick Perry made Texas the leading solar energy state in the Union.
David Remnick gave an important interview with Der Spiegel where he talks about how Russian democracy was destroyed by Putin and how Trump toys with fascism. He says that millions will be disappointed by Trump.
In the New Yorker, Remnick conducted an interview with President Obama about his legacy. The interview held in three sessions started with the anticipation of a Clinton win and ended with Obama contemplating the GOP trying to destroy his legacy. Obama said he thought 75-80% of his achievements will be maintained. He cited the difficulty with eliminating regulations he put in place and other measures.
Trump again claimed on Fox News that he is studying the Paris Climate Change Agreement and said no one knows whether climate change is real and whether anyone should care about it.
While people like myself think Angela Merkel is the leader of the "Free World" and Joe Biden thinks Justin Trudeau, the alt right thinks Vladimir Putin is the leader of the free world because he made nationalism respectable and brought back Christianity to Russia. They really do think Putin is the leader of Christianity. Moscow has been a mecca for people like Pat Buchanan, David Duke,Robert Spencer and Nigel Farage.
David Brooks says the number of billionaires in Trump's cabinet doesn't bother the Trump populist because they just hate the managerial class and not those who made money.
Anthony West, The far-right African-American Colonel, says that General Mattis was selected for kill lots of Muslims.
Intelligence officers think Mattis is going to eat Trump's NSC adviser for lunch. Between Mattis and General Kelly at Homeland Security ,these people think the two generals will provide pushback against Flynn's hair brain schemes. This seems to be another example of "Oh it can't get any worse" type thinking.
Russia is delighted by Tillotson as Secretary of State since both countries can be petrostates. But no one knows what he thinks about any other issue.
Saturday, December 10, 2016
REMINDER: EXXON MOBIL IS THE LARGEST CORPORATION IN THE HISTORY OF MANKIND
Read Steve Coll's History of ExxonMobil. He explores their shady dealings with countries around the world.
P.S. John Bolton was made Tillotson's Deputy.
P.S. John Bolton was made Tillotson's Deputy.
NATE SILVER TWEET
Nate Silver tweets that Clinton lost Pennsylvania,Wisconsin, Michigan and Florida by less than 1 pt. each. Without Comey and Russian hacking, she would have won each by 2 pts.
MOTHER JONES REPORTS EX-SPY FOR FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE GAVE FBI INFORMATION
Mother Jones reports that Harry reid wrote James Comey back in August to ask him to investigate Russia coordination with the Trump campaign. He requested the FBI investigate Paul Manafort and Paige, the American businessman who was advising Trump on national security.
Reid said that Comey was sitting on explosive information linking Trump to the Russian government. Apparently Mother Jones found out that a European intelligence agent, known as highly credible,provided the FBI with information that detailed Russia's long campaign to recruit Trump as a political asset. The spy said he got this from Russian sources.
Reid said that Comey was sitting on explosive information linking Trump to the Russian government. Apparently Mother Jones found out that a European intelligence agent, known as highly credible,provided the FBI with information that detailed Russia's long campaign to recruit Trump as a political asset. The spy said he got this from Russian sources.
EX-CIA AGENT BOB BAER SAYS RUSSIA HACKING IS CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS.
Baer says the hacking of Republicans should cause concern because now Trump and Congress are open to Russian blackmail. Baer says the election should be declared null and void and run again.
REX TILLERSON TRUMP'S SECRETARY OF STATE
Tillerson signed a $500 billion oil development deal with Vladimir Putin that would allow drilling in the Arctic and partnerships with the entire Russian oil industry in anywhere they drilled. He completed the deal while in Moscow the days after Obama put new sanctions on Russia after their annexation of Crimea. He was awarded the Medal of Friendship by Putin himself.
REMEMBER WHEN HILLARY WAS A SECURITY THREAT?
Throughout the campaign reporters like Kurt Eichenwald exposed the links between Trump and his key aides and son to Putin and Russia. This didn't gain traction--sort of like the first Watergate stories during the 1972 election.
Now the stories are emerging in full. The news media has no zeroed in on the full array of Putin-linked staff as well as Trump's new favorite for Secretary of State.
From the nominees this week for his cabinet, it looks like Trump is going full-Putin. The United States is to be a oil drilling platform. In other words, we are going to mirror Russia which is a big gas station with nuclear weapons. I sense this with Republicans this week actually defending Russia's human rights record.
Remember Cheney's energy empire? The whole idea was to invade Iraq and make it tougher for China to obtain a consistent oil supply. Now we have an alliance of the two massive oil and gas producers . And the hell with Americans.
Weirdly, this was Gore Vidal's idea during the Cold War that Russia and the United States were basically white nations and should ban together to prevent the rise of China.
Throw in the Trump desire to eliminate the inheritance tax and we are going into a plutocracy on steroids. Keep in mind, if you are a couple, you don't get taxed unless your estate exceeds $10 million or an individual it's $5 million. Eliminate it and your are a nation of super wealthy trust fund babies.
Now Paul Ryan is Trump's wingman. Cutting social security drastically next year,eliminating ACA to give a tax cut to the rich, and privatizing Medicare, you have a recipe for a societal disaster.
Now this week Congress passed a bill to research cures for Cancer,Alzheimer's and Diabetes. It was the last great Obama-era bill but what does Joe Biden's Moonshot mean if no average American can access the cure?
We are going back to the pre-Depression II economy of finance. That's why Goldman Sachs is occupying all the positions on the budget management and Treasury. You have to keep the oil platform financially sound.
The great Republican dream may run into a problem. Trump has turned against the intelligence agencies and publicly ridiculed them for the Russian allegations. He only takes a briefing a week and the Intel community knows what happens when a President-elect doesn't pay attention. Meanwhile they are in open revolt against his NSC adviser who has close ties to the newly reconstituted KGB.
Does anyone think they are going to shut up? At some point this stuff becomes a legal issue and a constitutional one. And no one will be able to hide.
Now the stories are emerging in full. The news media has no zeroed in on the full array of Putin-linked staff as well as Trump's new favorite for Secretary of State.
From the nominees this week for his cabinet, it looks like Trump is going full-Putin. The United States is to be a oil drilling platform. In other words, we are going to mirror Russia which is a big gas station with nuclear weapons. I sense this with Republicans this week actually defending Russia's human rights record.
Remember Cheney's energy empire? The whole idea was to invade Iraq and make it tougher for China to obtain a consistent oil supply. Now we have an alliance of the two massive oil and gas producers . And the hell with Americans.
Weirdly, this was Gore Vidal's idea during the Cold War that Russia and the United States were basically white nations and should ban together to prevent the rise of China.
Throw in the Trump desire to eliminate the inheritance tax and we are going into a plutocracy on steroids. Keep in mind, if you are a couple, you don't get taxed unless your estate exceeds $10 million or an individual it's $5 million. Eliminate it and your are a nation of super wealthy trust fund babies.
Now Paul Ryan is Trump's wingman. Cutting social security drastically next year,eliminating ACA to give a tax cut to the rich, and privatizing Medicare, you have a recipe for a societal disaster.
Now this week Congress passed a bill to research cures for Cancer,Alzheimer's and Diabetes. It was the last great Obama-era bill but what does Joe Biden's Moonshot mean if no average American can access the cure?
We are going back to the pre-Depression II economy of finance. That's why Goldman Sachs is occupying all the positions on the budget management and Treasury. You have to keep the oil platform financially sound.
The great Republican dream may run into a problem. Trump has turned against the intelligence agencies and publicly ridiculed them for the Russian allegations. He only takes a briefing a week and the Intel community knows what happens when a President-elect doesn't pay attention. Meanwhile they are in open revolt against his NSC adviser who has close ties to the newly reconstituted KGB.
Does anyone think they are going to shut up? At some point this stuff becomes a legal issue and a constitutional one. And no one will be able to hide.
PRESIDENT DUDLEY DORIGHT EXPLAINS HEALTH CARE
President Obama used his weekly address to announce it is open season for enrollment in Obamacare. But he alerted those of us who have health insurance through employers that if the GOP has its way the patients' bill of rights vanishes.
These items include No CAP ON PAYOUTS,which enables people with serious illnesses not to get caught in massive, crippling debt,NO PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS ( See Letter to TPM about someone who dealt with state insurance plans before), No PREVENTATIVE CARE--like your annual check up,NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN--rates were mnore for women before the ACA.
So think about yourself. My wife and I have bemoaning the down and out in our society under Trump--It's us.
And President Obama confirmed 30 million would lose their health insurance.
These items include No CAP ON PAYOUTS,which enables people with serious illnesses not to get caught in massive, crippling debt,NO PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS ( See Letter to TPM about someone who dealt with state insurance plans before), No PREVENTATIVE CARE--like your annual check up,NO DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN--rates were mnore for women before the ACA.
So think about yourself. My wife and I have bemoaning the down and out in our society under Trump--It's us.
And President Obama confirmed 30 million would lose their health insurance.
Friday, December 9, 2016
Aaron Blake Says Putin's Interference Proves Trouble For GOP
Blake says the Democrats are trying to get a bipartisan commission to investigate the Russian meddling into the election. He says that Lindsey Graham and John McCain believe it and are trying to persuade Senator Burr to open hearings on the subject. But Republicans fear retaliation from Trump who says it is a "laughing point" not a talking point. Blake cites a poll of Trump voters and Republicans where 55% believe that it is true Russia interfered with the election on behalf of Trump.
THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS THE RUSSIAN CONNECTION
The NYT's David Sanger reports that the Russians gave Wikileaks the DNC papers for the campaign but then kept the Republican files for later. The RNC had always denied they weren't hacked but now we know they were for purposes of blackmail.
It's time the Hamilton electors step up. It is not too late to save the country for unmitigated disaster.
And yes, Putin's business partner, the Exxon Mobil Ceo is in the final running for Secretary of State.
It's time the Hamilton electors step up. It is not too late to save the country for unmitigated disaster.
And yes, Putin's business partner, the Exxon Mobil Ceo is in the final running for Secretary of State.
TRUMP RESPONDS
The campaign tweeted out about the story about Russia's involvement in the American elections,"These are the same people who said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction."
Trump himself said that "I won the biggest electoral landslide of all time . (absolutely false.)
Trump "I'm going to make America
great again."
A couple of bits of information. Trump's original national security official has just gone to Moscow and his favorite Wisconsin sheriff just went there.
Trump himself said that "I won the biggest electoral landslide of all time . (absolutely false.)
Trump "I'm going to make America
great again."
A couple of bits of information. Trump's original national security official has just gone to Moscow and his favorite Wisconsin sheriff just went there.
MARSHALL SAYS STORY ABOUT RUSSIA A VERY,VERY BIG DEAL
Josh Marshall wants us all to remember today's story in the Washington Post about the consensus in the intelligence agencies that Russia was working hard to elect Trump. He also points out McConnell threatened the White House who wanted to share this with the public saying he would accuse Obama of politicizing the election.
I was wrong before apparently Russia groomed Trump after he brought Miss Universe to Moscow in 2013. The Russians have developed dossiers on all the sitting Republican congressmen.
David Corn of Mother Jones has been hot on this case by unearthing the secret memo by the CIA warning about this during the election campaign.
Rachel Maddow spent a big piece on her show tonight examining the claims and the charges that McConnell and Comey hit it from the Americamn people. Remember when Comey casually said they probably was an innocent explanation for the private server in the Trump Tower and the Alfa Bank in Moscow. Or maybe there wasn't.
I was wrong before apparently Russia groomed Trump after he brought Miss Universe to Moscow in 2013. The Russians have developed dossiers on all the sitting Republican congressmen.
David Corn of Mother Jones has been hot on this case by unearthing the secret memo by the CIA warning about this during the election campaign.
Rachel Maddow spent a big piece on her show tonight examining the claims and the charges that McConnell and Comey hit it from the Americamn people. Remember when Comey casually said they probably was an innocent explanation for the private server in the Trump Tower and the Alfa Bank in Moscow. Or maybe there wasn't.
TRUMP TAKES $12 MILLION FROM CAMPAIGN.
That's not the $1 million he's charging the Secret Service staying in Trump Tower. He also has added the secret service as an amenity offered the renters.
Thursday, December 8, 2016
BIDEN URGES TRUDEAU TO BE LEADER OF RULES-BASED INTERNATIONAL ORDER
Yesterday,Timothy Garton Ash wrote in the Guardian that Angela Merkel was the leader of the free world. Not coincidently,they German government charged the Russian government of destabilizing the German nation before the election with fake news stories and Wikileaks.
HE CAN'T DIVEST
Josh Marshall spent the early part of the primaries musing about the full extent of Trump's wealth. After the election, he told Democrats it really wasn't about any conflicts of interest. Today, Marhall finally realizing that Donald can't divest. He is too underwater,dependent on current and expanding cash flow. He can't put in a blind trust or he risks his empire coming part, collapsing tint bankruptcy.
I come at this differently. Trump's empire is $650 million in debt to Russian plutocrats linked to Putin and he owes $350 million to the National Bank of China.
Having Ivanka in his meetings with foreign leaders is all about expanding the family business. His call with the President Of Taiwan was about his desire to develop a resort on the northern end of the island.
As law professor Tribe said "he is a walking violation of the constitution the minute he enters the office."
How the Republicans will square the emoulment section of the constitution with the Trump presidency is anyone's guess.
I come at this differently. Trump's empire is $650 million in debt to Russian plutocrats linked to Putin and he owes $350 million to the National Bank of China.
Having Ivanka in his meetings with foreign leaders is all about expanding the family business. His call with the President Of Taiwan was about his desire to develop a resort on the northern end of the island.
As law professor Tribe said "he is a walking violation of the constitution the minute he enters the office."
How the Republicans will square the emoulment section of the constitution with the Trump presidency is anyone's guess.
Michael Moore's Complaint
Michael Moore has noted that Trump has only been to 3 of his daily briefings on security since he was elected. Obama administration officials have complained about the rest of the transition team not accepting security briefs.
President Obama's attempt to have a peaceful transition was a result of his experience after George W. Bush and he thinks it is crucial in this complicated day and age. People criticized him of phoning Hillary Clinton urging her to concede immediately so as not to prolong the suspense.
However, Michael Moore is right that if there is another terrorist attack it is on Trump. He had plenty of chances.
President Obama's attempt to have a peaceful transition was a result of his experience after George W. Bush and he thinks it is crucial in this complicated day and age. People criticized him of phoning Hillary Clinton urging her to concede immediately so as not to prolong the suspense.
However, Michael Moore is right that if there is another terrorist attack it is on Trump. He had plenty of chances.
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