July 31, 2018
By Bernie Becker
SOME TAX POLICY BUZZ: It’s never wise (click here) to bet that Washington can make substantive policy changes on taxes (or in lots of other areas, to be honest) in an election year — there’s a reason, after all, why Republicans raced to finish the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017.
And yet, there was a lot of excitement in the political world about Monday’s New York Times report that the Treasury Department was thinking about acting unilaterally to index capital gains to inflation.
It’s a change that conservatives like Americans for Tax Reform’s Grover Norquist have been seeking for a big chunk of President Donald Trump’s time in the White House, under the argument that the new policy would give another jolt to the economy. It’s also something that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin doesn’t seem quite sure that he can do on his own, and an idea whose economic impact he says still needs studying....
Remember the Tax Pledge? Enough is never enough. So, Munchen can stop promising greater job growth. It is a lie. This is Republican rhetoric coming true.
This is classic Reagan. Deregulation. When the USA ended it's dependency on coal-fired power plants, some were simply demolished. The USA was breathing easier in moving to the end of nearly 35 percent of their CO2 emissions.
So, when Trump won the election all the regulations regarding Old Republican Money such as coal mines were removed and the coal mines were once again open, but, in all honesty, how many jobs were returned? (click here)
The US Congress turned loose the USA coal mining to international markets and the cap on CO2 emissions of the USA are now exported. Mnuchin can lie and get away with it, but, the truth is known to Americans and they aren't doing all that much better and as years go by will do worse and worse. But, Wall Street is grooming itself for more tricks of the trade in their favor.
Get this. The Trump White House is the first to see significant increases in interest rates. Why? Because the immediate tax cuts of 2017 were dumped into the market and all sorts of spending occurred and stockholders received increases and retroactive dividends. The interest rates went up TO STEM INFLATION. Now, Munchkin, sorry Mnuchin, states capital gains needs to be attached to inflation rates to reduce the taxes the wealthy pay.
So, let me get this right. First, the Trump Tax Plan dumps enormous amounts of money that sincerely belonged to the USA Treasury into the private sector and real greed. Inflation is entering the picture because of all that dumping of monies and now Mnuchin wants to prevent those monies from coming back to the USA's treasury.
Cause inflation and repeat the greed. Sounds Republican to me.
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Fighting corruption in Pakistan, the people are dedicated to it.
July 31, 2018
Islamabad - Overseas Pakistanis and professionals (click here) are pinning high hopes on Imran Khan as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is set to form the next government, saying that the time has come to deliver on his vision of a new, prosperous Pakistan after winning the nation’s trust.
Pakistanis settled in the UK and professionals hailing from his hometown said that if incentives are given with genuine one-window facilitation to cut through red tape, they would mull over the option of investment for playing their role in the crippling economic crisis, they said in their separate comments.
Amman Yusaf, working in optometry in central London, said that it was encouraging to hear Imran Khan tap the potential of over seven million overseas Pakistanis fanned out across the globe to surmount the daunting challenge of eliminating corruption....
Islamabad - Overseas Pakistanis and professionals (click here) are pinning high hopes on Imran Khan as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is set to form the next government, saying that the time has come to deliver on his vision of a new, prosperous Pakistan after winning the nation’s trust.
Pakistanis settled in the UK and professionals hailing from his hometown said that if incentives are given with genuine one-window facilitation to cut through red tape, they would mull over the option of investment for playing their role in the crippling economic crisis, they said in their separate comments.
Amman Yusaf, working in optometry in central London, said that it was encouraging to hear Imran Khan tap the potential of over seven million overseas Pakistanis fanned out across the globe to surmount the daunting challenge of eliminating corruption....
It's Mueller Time.
These guys had more "up their sleeves" than they had sleeves.
There is nothing wrong with making money that is open and above board, but, this mess? Dear god how far would Paul Manafort go to ensure his pockets were lined with Russian ruples?
The land called The United States of America belongs to it's citizenry. Ukraine was being wrangled away from the citizens and Manafort was to blame. He was at the lead in electing Viktor Yanukovych to Ukraine's presidency. Ukraine's 2004 constitution was a beautiful document that was torn to pieces by the Russians. There was nothing stopping Manafort. He continued to reap the rewards of an American on foreign soil bringing ideas that worked and robbed the citizenry of their freedom. That is not in the best interest of the USA. Sooner or later, it becomes obvious this guy doesn't give a hoot about the USA.
After the Russian dominated Ukraine government fell he also racked in millions upon millions of dollars ruthlessly in promises he could never carry out. Over $16 million from a bank where the loan officer expected to become the Secretary of the Navy. That is a civilian position where people within the industry affiliated with the military frequently are appointed and they absolutely direct wealth into their former employer's banks. It isn't really corruption exactly because the US military would have conducted business with them anyway.
In all honesty, Manafort's particular type of corruption looks exactly like the White House and it's revolving door of appointees and cabinet members. It is like a Disneyland Ticket to national security clearance viewing the country from the side of government with Don, Jr. stating, I know a guy in the White House that might be interested in employing you for a while. It is like Virgin Atlantic when it was handing out vacation time to it's executives to play on other company playgrounds for a while, only this is the White House. So much for national security.
I am confident Robert Mueller's prosecutors will be successful. The country needs to pay attention, it is how powerful men go bad when they believe the Russian government is in control and there is nothing that can touch them.
July 31, 2018
By Carrie Johnson
Updated at 11:00 a.m. ET (click here)
Most tax and bank fraud cases are built on stacks of bland business documents and Internal Revenue Service paperwork — hardly the stuff of international intrigue.
But the trial of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, which began Tuesday in a suburban Washington, D.C., courthouse, promises to upend those low expectations.
Lawyers working for special counsel Robert Mueller plan to call witnesses they say demonstrate where Manafort spent his allegedly ill-gotten gains: custom-made suits; Persian rugs; landscaping fees; Land Rovers and Mercedes-Benz vehicles; and season tickets to the New York Yankees, among other items....
There is nothing wrong with making money that is open and above board, but, this mess? Dear god how far would Paul Manafort go to ensure his pockets were lined with Russian ruples?
The land called The United States of America belongs to it's citizenry. Ukraine was being wrangled away from the citizens and Manafort was to blame. He was at the lead in electing Viktor Yanukovych to Ukraine's presidency. Ukraine's 2004 constitution was a beautiful document that was torn to pieces by the Russians. There was nothing stopping Manafort. He continued to reap the rewards of an American on foreign soil bringing ideas that worked and robbed the citizenry of their freedom. That is not in the best interest of the USA. Sooner or later, it becomes obvious this guy doesn't give a hoot about the USA.
After the Russian dominated Ukraine government fell he also racked in millions upon millions of dollars ruthlessly in promises he could never carry out. Over $16 million from a bank where the loan officer expected to become the Secretary of the Navy. That is a civilian position where people within the industry affiliated with the military frequently are appointed and they absolutely direct wealth into their former employer's banks. It isn't really corruption exactly because the US military would have conducted business with them anyway.
In all honesty, Manafort's particular type of corruption looks exactly like the White House and it's revolving door of appointees and cabinet members. It is like a Disneyland Ticket to national security clearance viewing the country from the side of government with Don, Jr. stating, I know a guy in the White House that might be interested in employing you for a while. It is like Virgin Atlantic when it was handing out vacation time to it's executives to play on other company playgrounds for a while, only this is the White House. So much for national security.
I am confident Robert Mueller's prosecutors will be successful. The country needs to pay attention, it is how powerful men go bad when they believe the Russian government is in control and there is nothing that can touch them.
July 31, 2018By Carrie Johnson
Updated at 11:00 a.m. ET (click here)
Most tax and bank fraud cases are built on stacks of bland business documents and Internal Revenue Service paperwork — hardly the stuff of international intrigue.
But the trial of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, which began Tuesday in a suburban Washington, D.C., courthouse, promises to upend those low expectations.
Lawyers working for special counsel Robert Mueller plan to call witnesses they say demonstrate where Manafort spent his allegedly ill-gotten gains: custom-made suits; Persian rugs; landscaping fees; Land Rovers and Mercedes-Benz vehicles; and season tickets to the New York Yankees, among other items....
I am glad Giuliani did this. People now know what an unethical and unscrupulous person he is.
How can anyone explain to the country that even as Mayor of New York City he carried out unethical and corrupt practices? Some of the firefighters lost on September 11, 2001 may have lived had their radios worked.
July 31, 2018
By Jennifer Rubin
For months, (click here) I have been suggesting that cable news networks stop giving air time to Rudolph W. Giuliani, who often makes patently false statements, doesn’t appear to be doing any real lawyering for President Trump and intentionally misstates the law (unless he’s forgotten everything he learned as a prosecutor, in which case he is unfit to represent the president). Now, Trump and his real lawyers might agree that Giuliani should go away....
Guiliani has been to Russia. He visited there when he was running for the presidency himself. He may have met some of the same characters Paul Manafort met along the way. The difference between Guiliani and Manafort is the money and the depth at which Manafort became involved with communist Russia and promoting it's values in a then liberated Post-Soviet country.
I think the American people needed to see the right wing for what it is and Guiliani gave them a full tour.
July 31, 2018
By Jennifer Rubin
For months, (click here) I have been suggesting that cable news networks stop giving air time to Rudolph W. Giuliani, who often makes patently false statements, doesn’t appear to be doing any real lawyering for President Trump and intentionally misstates the law (unless he’s forgotten everything he learned as a prosecutor, in which case he is unfit to represent the president). Now, Trump and his real lawyers might agree that Giuliani should go away....
Guiliani has been to Russia. He visited there when he was running for the presidency himself. He may have met some of the same characters Paul Manafort met along the way. The difference between Guiliani and Manafort is the money and the depth at which Manafort became involved with communist Russia and promoting it's values in a then liberated Post-Soviet country.
I think the American people needed to see the right wing for what it is and Guiliani gave them a full tour.
I congratulate Isreal on their focus to improve the lives of the people still vulnerable.
Within northern Israel, the trauma comes from two sources, missiles and earthquakes. Israel has decided the two sources have similar outcomes to the people and are beginning to improve structures in the area.
Donald Trump's explanation of the USA southern border and whatever problems it might have is far from being the worst in the world. Can we please have a little perspective in DC? Sound like a plan?
July 11, 2018
...The head of the Home Front Command (click here) met last week with Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon over the funding of the plan. The funds will be disbursed over a five-year period and will not come from the security budget. The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee met in January to discuss the preparedness of the north for a confrontation. The head of the Home Front Command’s Physical Protection Division, Col. Golan Wach, presented data to the committing indicating that 27 percent of Israeli citizens lack proper shelter – be it a residential secure space, a private or public shelter or mass protection – that is suitable for a long-term stay. In older cities like Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Be’er Sheva, some 40 percent of residents lack proper shelter.
Within nine kilometers of the northern border, around 24 percent of residents of Jewish communities and 42 percent of residents of Arab communities have no proper shelter. The relative rates drop slightly up to 20 kilometers from the border to 21 percent and 38 percent, respectively, and stands at 35 percent and 41 percent, respectively, in the range up to 40 kilometers from the border.
Donald Trump's explanation of the USA southern border and whatever problems it might have is far from being the worst in the world. Can we please have a little perspective in DC? Sound like a plan?
July 11, 2018
...The head of the Home Front Command (click here) met last week with Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon over the funding of the plan. The funds will be disbursed over a five-year period and will not come from the security budget. The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee met in January to discuss the preparedness of the north for a confrontation. The head of the Home Front Command’s Physical Protection Division, Col. Golan Wach, presented data to the committing indicating that 27 percent of Israeli citizens lack proper shelter – be it a residential secure space, a private or public shelter or mass protection – that is suitable for a long-term stay. In older cities like Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Be’er Sheva, some 40 percent of residents lack proper shelter.
Within nine kilometers of the northern border, around 24 percent of residents of Jewish communities and 42 percent of residents of Arab communities have no proper shelter. The relative rates drop slightly up to 20 kilometers from the border to 21 percent and 38 percent, respectively, and stands at 35 percent and 41 percent, respectively, in the range up to 40 kilometers from the border.
I doubt Iran is the leadership Trump should be negotiating with, it's Hezbollah.
Russia is not the country in charge of the movements with Assad. Assad now has an autonomous ally in Hezbollah even if both are receiving backing from Russia.
The relationship Iran would have with Hezbollah is nothing more than support as requested. Hezbollah doesn't take orders. It is that reason, The West must engage talks and ask Assad to join the conversation to end the war and set up interim governments.
Trump has got it wrong.
Trump has got it wrong.
July 5, 2018
Hezbollah's role in the offensive near the border with Jordan and Israel's Golan Heights has also defied Israeli demands that Iranian proxies be kept away from its frontier - a fault line of the decades-old Arab-Israeli conflict....
Russia and Iran have no influence with Hezbollah. They support Hezbollah, but, there are not coordinated orders that can be changed because The West has found an agreement they like. The leadership in Lebanon might be of assistance to explain the dynamics involved.
July 6, 2018
Senior Hezbollah official Ali Daamoush (click here) dubbed the agreement reached between the Syrian rebels and government forces a defeat for Israel and the United States.
"What is happening in southern Syria is a big achievement for the Syrian army and its allies and a resounding defeat for America, Israel and their allies," Daamoush said during a Friday prayers sermon in Beirut....
Hezbollah has always wanted to have a regional role. For as long as I can remember the struggle was there. Now, with the advent and defeat of Daesh, Hezbollah is not turning back to shrink into it's habitat it has existed in for decades. They want land and governance. It is difficult to see anything short of that happening. They have nothing to lose. When a peoples has nothing to begin with, there is no reason to turn back.
Nasrallah has done this all his life. He, no doubt, would like to close with some peace if possible. They do have families they love.
Daesh was a turning point. The groups called terror groups like Hezbollah are not going to have a feel good moment to hand the reins of power to anyone. Nasrallah looks at his grandchild with worries of protectionism of his soul and the future. He is not turning back, the future for these groups are for governance so Daesh or any other vernacular of group will never, ever have a remote chance of rising again.
What someone like Nasrallah can appreciate however, is a future with a brain trust that can assure the future to be safe and prosperous enough to have peace and sanity in life. Readers might believe the baby is cute and happy and I am glad for that, but, this is not a planned assault for sympathy. Nasrallah had never sought sympathy, but, only status.
July 23, 2018
By Juliane Helmhold
Since the Second Lebanon War in 2006, (click here) Nasrallah has spent most of his time in bunkers out of fear for his life. Since then he only appeared in speeches broadcast from his hiding place.
In an interview with an Iranian TV station in March 2017, the Hezbollah leader revealed the strict security arrangements which his family had been living under and other personal details about his life.
"Security is a very important issue and we can not be complacent about it," Nasrallah said then. "I do not have direct access to the Internet, but I always know what is happening."...
Donald Trump needs to stop the dialogue with Middle East leaders on Twitter. This is hideous. He leaves himself and the country wide open to media exploitation. There is nothing Iran can say that Lebanon doesn't already know.
Russia and Iran have no influence with Hezbollah. They support Hezbollah, but, there are not coordinated orders that can be changed because The West has found an agreement they like. The leadership in Lebanon might be of assistance to explain the dynamics involved.
July 6, 2018
Senior Hezbollah official Ali Daamoush (click here) dubbed the agreement reached between the Syrian rebels and government forces a defeat for Israel and the United States.
"What is happening in southern Syria is a big achievement for the Syrian army and its allies and a resounding defeat for America, Israel and their allies," Daamoush said during a Friday prayers sermon in Beirut....
Hezbollah has always wanted to have a regional role. For as long as I can remember the struggle was there. Now, with the advent and defeat of Daesh, Hezbollah is not turning back to shrink into it's habitat it has existed in for decades. They want land and governance. It is difficult to see anything short of that happening. They have nothing to lose. When a peoples has nothing to begin with, there is no reason to turn back.
Nasrallah has done this all his life. He, no doubt, would like to close with some peace if possible. They do have families they love.
Daesh was a turning point. The groups called terror groups like Hezbollah are not going to have a feel good moment to hand the reins of power to anyone. Nasrallah looks at his grandchild with worries of protectionism of his soul and the future. He is not turning back, the future for these groups are for governance so Daesh or any other vernacular of group will never, ever have a remote chance of rising again.
What someone like Nasrallah can appreciate however, is a future with a brain trust that can assure the future to be safe and prosperous enough to have peace and sanity in life. Readers might believe the baby is cute and happy and I am glad for that, but, this is not a planned assault for sympathy. Nasrallah had never sought sympathy, but, only status.
By Juliane Helmhold
Since the Second Lebanon War in 2006, (click here) Nasrallah has spent most of his time in bunkers out of fear for his life. Since then he only appeared in speeches broadcast from his hiding place.
In an interview with an Iranian TV station in March 2017, the Hezbollah leader revealed the strict security arrangements which his family had been living under and other personal details about his life.
"Security is a very important issue and we can not be complacent about it," Nasrallah said then. "I do not have direct access to the Internet, but I always know what is happening."...
Donald Trump needs to stop the dialogue with Middle East leaders on Twitter. This is hideous. He leaves himself and the country wide open to media exploitation. There is nothing Iran can say that Lebanon doesn't already know.
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