Saturday, May 04, 2019

Former White House advisor says Trump White House hid evidence from inve...

 Omarosa Manigault-Newman needs to make testimony before Congress.



Spain is correct to limit any political activity by Leopoldo L'opez.

Leopoldo Lopez is the original leader of the people's movement to end the socialist regime in Argentina. It was 2014 after the price of oil began to drop that Lopez came to the forefront in a movement against the socialist regime of Maduro.

Lopez is an interesting man. (click here) He studied in the USA at Harvard and received a Masters Degree in Public Policy. The fact he studied in the USA is not unusual for Venezuelans. He graduated from Harvard in 1996. Hugo Chavez never invested heavily in education. As a result the men (I don't know of many women graduates from Venezuela.) who achieved well in Venezuela were eagerly sent to the USA to study. Many Venezuelans that studied in the USA stayed in the USA. However, Leopoldo Lopez went back home to make the lives of the people better.

In 2014, with the collapse of oil commodities, he saw the handwriting on the wall and began to organize the people. He was arrested and jailed by Maduro. In the passage of events of the rebellion, Lopez was released from jail by the opposition movement to Maduro. He took up asylum in the Spanish embassy. He is there now. The Spanish Ambassador and Spain's leadership is correct in stating he will not participate in politics while in asylum.

I wish he could safely leave the country, but, in the last few days, Maduro has issued arrest warrants for him. They claim he committed murder and a variety of charges related to the rebellion. I don't believe the man committed murder and it is propaganda that Maduro managed to have the courts believe and issue warrants. 

It is important Leopoldo Lopez remain safely in asylum. He needs to behave himself and realize the people love him. Their loyalty to him should be enough for him to know he is still in their minds and hearts. Like a favorite son he needs to be safe and out of the public view. He is not needed to inspire the people.

3 May 2019
By Lucia Abellan

Spain’s acting foreign minister, (clck here) Josep Borrell, said on Friday that the government will “limit” the political activities of Leopoldo López, a leading opposition leader who has taken refuge at the Spanish ambassador’s residence in Caracas after attempting to lead a military uprising against the government of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.

“Spain will not allow its embassy to turn into a center of political activism,” said Borrell, who is on an official trip to Lebanon. According to UN figures, at least five people have died in clashes between protesters and security forces since Tuesday, when López was seen in the company of interim Venezuelan president Juan Guaidó at a military base, where their call for a military uprising failed....

It is important Spain continues to protect Lopez's asylum. Spain is correct in advocating for new elections with the understanding Lopez will not be involved politically.

May 3, 2019

Caracas - Spain's decision to harbor (click here) a prominent Venezuelan opposition activist is fueling tensions between both nations.

Activist Leopoldo López took refuge at the Spanish ambassador's home in the Venezuelan capital this week and spoke to reporters Thursday, urging people to support opposition leader Juan Guaidó.

That brought a rebuke from a Venezuelan diplomat Friday and deepened political tensions between Caracas and Madrid, which has urged Nicolás Maduro to allow fresh elections. Thousands of Venezuelans have fled the crisis in their country for Spain.

Venezuela's ambassador in Madrid told Radio Nacional de España that permitting López to urge Venezuelans to back the uprising is "inappropriate."...

New accounting rules resulted in a warning from Warren Buffet.

Regardless of the changes in reporting they are still paying zero in taxes and in many cases getting a refund check anyway.

May 4, 2019
By Arjun Reddy

Berkshire Hathaway (click here) reported first-quarter earnings of $21.7 billion on Saturday, a stark contrast to last year's first-quarter loss of $1.1 billion. The wide swing in net income is attributable to a new accounting rule which requires companies to now include changes in the market value of investment portfolios within earnings. Swings in derivatives values are also included....
Generally accepted accounting principles (click here) are a set of 10 accounting standards and guidelines created and maintained by the U.S. Financial Accounting Standards Board. Since the FASB established GAAP guidelines in 1973, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants have adopted GAAP as official standards of financial accounting. Both require all public and some privately held businesses, as well as external auditors, to adhere to GAAP standards in all aspects of financial reporting and auditing. The overall objective is to create consistency in financial reporting and financial statements and ensure financial statements contain reliable, concise, and understandable information.
...The company reported operating earnings, which excludes these elements, of $5.6 billion, a 5% gain from a year earlier. Earnings from Berkshire's investment in Kraft Heinz were excluded as the company as not yet reported first quarter results. Buffett recently criticized his investment in Kraft Heinz, saying he "overpaid" for the 27% stake.
The legendary investor and Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett has criticized the new rule, saying that the new it would "severely distort" the company's future quarterly results....