Welcome to the USA where the wealthy protect the wealthy.

December 14, 2018
By Hank Winchester, Kelley Kosuda and Derick Hutchinson

Flint - Dr. Eden Wells (click here) will soon be on trial for involuntary manslaughter for her alleged role in the Flint water crisis. As the clock ticks down, Wells has just received a new job with the state, and taxpayers are footing the bill for her $180,000 salary.

Wells was previously appointed by Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder as the state's top medical executive. She remains in that role despite the charges, and now she's taken on a new job.

Her new position is one that was recently created. Some people believe it was created as a political move to protect Wells, who is at the center of the controversy.

Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said she can't believe Wells landed the new job.

Wells learned earlier this month that she will head to trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter and lying to a law enforcement officer....

I believe most Americans would agree with Mayor Karen Weaver.

Mayor Karen Weaver had the following to say:

“I wish at this point that I could be shocked by the actions of MDHHS and state government, but I simply cannot. There is a saying about when people show you who they are, you better believe them. Since the beginning of this crisis who they are has been made clear, I believe them,” Weaver stated.

“To create a new position, a classified position, with protections in place, one where she was the only applicant, it’s just plain insulting. I understand that you are innocent until proven guilty in this country; but I would love to see how many people are allowed to be bound over for trial on manslaughter, lying to a police officer, and obstruction, get a new position within the governmental structure, that is protected.  Not only is this a defiant laugh in the face of Flint residents, but this appears to be a blatant maneuver to keep the Governor-elect from making any decisions as far keeping or removing a very controversial employee.”...

The brain trust of the GOP is wanting. I have this nightmare that realizes far too late that the GOP's idea of education isolates the majority of Americans from higher education and returns the country to a time around the American Revolutionary War when only the wealthy could afford education at any level. The difference between the time of Benjamin Franklin and now is that those educated have no moral character or the appreciation of humanity. When I see someone like Dr. Wells elevated to high office through appointment I want to be pinched to wake me up from my nightmare only to realize I am awake.

Government officials need to investigate the death and decide what occurred during eight hours.

14 December 2018

Washington — A 7-year-old girl (click here) picked up with her father and dozens of other migrants along a remote stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border suffered seizures and spiked a high fever in immigration custody and later died, federal officials said.

An autopsy was scheduled to try to determine what killed the girl, who appeared to be dehydrated and suffering from shock and apparently had not had anything to eat or drink in days, they said.

The girl was found Dec. 6 near Lordsburg, New Mexico, by U.S. Border Patrol agents. She was in custody for about eight hours before she began having seizures, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol officials said. Emergency medical technicians discovered the girl’s fever was 105.7 degrees Fahrenheit (40.9 degrees Celsius), and she was airlifted to an El Paso, Texas, hospital, where she later died.

Most American parents know such a high fever is deadly. The question is why did the fever occur if she was in custody with her family for eight hours. There should have been adequate water available when the family was found.

Often Border Patrol agents carry bottled water with them to give to the people they find along the border, it just seems odd to me that a young girl this dehydrated would not have received attention by agents that are somewhat cautious about dehydraton in most circumstances.

The results of the autopsy could take weeks, officials said.

The Guatemalan girl’s death comes as increasing numbers of children and families are making the dangerous trek north from Central America and as immigration officials are being increasingly criticized for their treatment of migrants who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border. A review of what happened in the girl’s case will take place, federal officials said....

Who wants this in the White House?

December 13, 2018
By Tom Winter

Donald Trump (click here) was the third person in the room in August 2015 when his lawyer Michael Cohen and National Enquirer publisher David Pecker discussed ways Pecker could help counter negative stories about Trump's relationships with women, NBC News has confirmed.

As part of a nonprosecution agreement disclosed Wednesday by federal prosecutors, American Media Inc., the Enquirer's parent company, admitted that "Pecker offered to help deal with negative stories about that presidential candidate's relationships with women by, among other things, assisting the campaign in identifying such stories so they could be purchased and their publication avoided."

The "statement of admitted facts" says that AMI admitted making a $150,000 payment "in concert with the campaign," and says that Pecker, Cohen and "at least one other member of the campaign" were in the meeting. According to a person familiar with the matter, the "other member" was Trump....

The women were right to come forward. Unfortunately, they were strong armed and paid off to stay quite. Do I have to remind that Stormy Daniels was threatened in a parking lot while with her daughter? 

Donald Trump is having a difficult time of things these days and anything to distract from it will suffice. So, having a scandal run by lawyers is far better than admitting he probably said, "You know, if it were me and I could knock off a journalist or two, I would. But, you actually having that power is enviable," to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.

And on top of Congress making Trump's day a little sour, he could not beg his favorite lackey be Chief of Staff. I congratulate Chris Christie (click here) for moving on. The Trump administration is a snake pit and no one with any dignity wants to be a part of the inner circle.

If Trump had any sense at all he would keep Kelly on, assuming he wants to stay on as Chief of Staff. I suppose he can always hand it back to Bannon. No one is going to take that job. Trump needs to leave and then there would be people willing to work in the Executive Branch. No one is that foolish.

Donald Trump's mischief.

I suppose Flynn was coerced into sitting next to Putin, too.

Special Council and Former Director Mueller could have gone two ways with Flynn; he could have charged him with treason which would easily hold up or he could treat him with respect as a former military officer and recognize the truth provided to him and remove any sentence he was rightfully due. It makes sense to me that Special Council Mueller would opt for respecting a former military officer and give him the benefit of the doubt.

Me? I would have liked to see him charged with treason, but, that was not an option for telling the truth in cooperation.

Personally, I think Flynn and Trump are both real slimeballs. When one is fighting for the country and then decides the grass is greener on the other after he retires that is treason. Playing footsie with Vladimir Putin is a highly suspicious move by Flynn. What did he have to offer Putin besides insider information? Nothing. 

Flynn Intel Group, Inc. (click here)

44 CANAL CTR PLZ STE 400

ALEXANDRIA, VA, 22314-1548  United States

(703) 313-7040

Company Type: Parent

There is nothing wrong with a former military officer with some intelligence background forming a company with his son to officer private business and government SECURITY analysis and modifications, but, with Russia? Give me a break.

For his own reasons, Michael Flynn decided to march to the beat of a different drummer. And what I find more interesting than anything is that he not only was willing to work with Putin, but, ended up at the NSA with Trump. No one besides me finds that more than a coincidence?

Michael Flynn could have been easily charged with treason, but, he wasn't. He should be grateful to the country he once fought for in realizing he has been given another shot at his future. I rather he wouldn't have been given a break, but, I am not Robert Mueller.

December 14, 2018
By Chris Sommerfeldt and Denis Slattery

He should have known better. (click here)

Special counsel Robert Mueller unloaded on Michael Flynn’s legal team Friday for intimating the former national security adviser was lured into lying to the FBI, pointing out that someone who used to head a U.S. intelligence agency should not have to be reminded it’s a crime to mislead federal agents.

Citing Flynn’s extensive military and government experience, Mueller methodically detailed each step of the former Trump administration official’s lies about his presidential transition discussions with Sergey Kislyak, Russia’s former ambassador to the U.S.

“A sitting National Security Advisor, former head of an intelligence agency, retired Lieutenant General, and 33-year veteran of the armed forces knows he should not lie to federal agents,” Mueller charged. “He does not need to be warned it is a crime to lie to federal agents to know the importance of telling them the truth.”

Flynn’s attorneys repeatedly suggested in a sentencing memo earlier this week President Trump’s former top adviser had been tricked into lying because agents had not advised him to have an attorney present for an interview on Jan. 24, 2017 or explicitly spelled out to him that it’s illegal to lie to them.

Mueller — in one of his most pointed filings to date — wholeheartedly refuted that claim, not just because Flynn should have known better, but also because he was evidently “committed” to lie.

Specifically, Mueller noted Flynn first lied when he told The Washington Post via a spokesperson on Jan. 12, 2017 that he hadn’t discussed U.S. sanctions policy with Kislyak....