Bill Meyer is one of the most decently honest human beings on Earth. A while ago he performed an entire monologue about the Electoral College and why the USA has states like North and South Dakota.
I don't know if he knows the history of these very low population states or not, but, I ran across an article in a rather unique online publication called, "Alternet." I am fairly sure a walk to the library to validate the facts in this article is enough to make modern day Americans blood boil.
Here it goes. Evidently, "The West" was created out of gerrymandering. The difference between the state level gerrymandering and the low population states is a Congressional act or that of a presidential order.
Get this. It is about adding Republican Senators. The electoral college vote was sort of a side effect. The legislators of the time didn't consider an extra US House member as important as more US Senators.
Two days before (click here) the lame-duck President James Buchanan left office, he signed legislation carving off part of Utah Territory, which stretched across most of modern-day Nevada, about a third of Colorado and some of Wyoming, to form part of what we now know as Nevada. Congress would soon pass two more bills expanding Nevada at Utah’s expense.
This largely forgotten act of line-drawing enabled one of the most consequential gerrymanders in American history. Because the virtually unpopulated Nevada became its own territory, Republicans could admit it as a state just four years later. That gave the Party of Lincoln two extra seats in the Senate — helping prevent Democrats from simultaneously controlling the White House and both houses of Congress until 1893.
And why are there two Dakotas?
[T]he reason why there are two Dakotas — despite the fact that both states are so underpopulated that they each only rate a single member of the House of Representatives to this day — is because Republicans won the 1888 election and decided to celebrate by giving themselves four senators instead of just two.
By 2040, according to a University of Virginia analysis of Census population projections, about half of the country will live in just eight states — which means 16 senators for one half of America and 84 for the other half.
Just sayin'.
Love ya, Bill. Like, Assange in a Supermax? Really?
Saturday, May 11, 2019
From previous paragraph:
...The next day, on December 31 , 2016, Kislyak called Flynn and told him the request had been received at the highest levels and Russia had chosen not to retaliate as a result of Flynn's request.
***
Three stars as before to separate topics discussed within the Special Counsel report.
On January 6, 2017, members of the intelligence community briefed President-Elect Trump on a joint assessment-drafted and coordinated among the Central Intelligence Agency, FBI, and National Security Agency-that concluded with high confidence that Russia had intervened in the election through a variety of means to assist Trump's candidacy and harm Clinton's. A declassified version of the assessment was publicly released that same day.
Cup of tea:
Not much to say about that, except, the alarm sounded was never loud enough to reach Americans. They never realized and many that are No Information Voters don't still realize how they were manipulated by Russia and never question why Trump looked the other way, even when he realized the impact of the extent Russia was leveraging against Clinton.
Between mid-January 2017 and early February 2017, three congressional committees-the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) (Devin Nunes),...
Why does Devin Nunes, a dairy farmer, have a prominent position on the Intelligence Committee. Why hasn't he been replaced by California voters since 2003? He purposely blurs the lines between the Executive Branch and the Legislature. He even acts as a presidential spy on the US House at the very least. There has to be plenty of ethics violations he has accumulated. His constituency should know about his attack on the USA Constitution and why his activities with the President endanger the USA's government order in separation of powers. THIS IS NOT A CLUB. This is the government of the USA. If Nunes and Trump like each other's company so much they can go golfing together and travel to Marilogo together, but, Nunes should not be playing footsie with the Executive Branch for he purpose of politics. His salary is paid by the US House, not Trump.
... the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), and the Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC)-announced that they would conduct inquiries, or had already been conducting inquiries, into Russian interference in the election....
There was a considerable concern by the federal government regarding the hacking of the DCCC and the Clinton campaign. Rightfully so. the same thing can occur to any US Senator or US House representative.
The entire idea the investigation into the Russian influence of the 2016 election started with the "Deep States" is nothing more than Dopey, Dirty Donald Trump's strange imagination for the purpose of his propaganda.
Noteworthy though, that in spite of the concern there is little that has passed into legislation to end the invasion by Russia to remove the USA Constitution.
Below, in italics, is a job description for the Director of the FBI. I can't believe an entire department of the USA government had to have their job descriptions carried by a news agency in hopes of clarifying the importance of their work. That illustrates to me how very concerned the information industry is with all the lies and deceptions of this administration.
There is no way this was drummed up by some "Deep State" within the USA government. There are too many eyes reading reports and too many ears hearing testimony to even begin to start to worry there is some kind of rogue agency at work within the federal government.
...Then-FBI Director James Corney later confirmed to Congress the existence of the FBI's investigation into Russian interference that had begun before the election. On March 20, 2017, in open-session testimony before HPSCI, Corney stated:
"I have been authorized by the Department of Justice to confirm that the FBI, as part of our counterintelligence mission, is investigating the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, and that includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia's efforts .... As with any counterintelligence investigation, this will also include an assessment of whether any crimes were committed."
The investigation continued under then-Director Corney for the next seven weeks until May 9, 2017, when President Trump fired Corney as FBI Director-an action which is analyzed in Volume II of the report.
Other than the impending visit by Russia to the Oval Office and Trump's own problems with existing federal authority and permanent employees, there was no reason at all to terminate the Director of the FBI. Directors are hard enough to find and Trump just threw him out of the building. Amazing.
And he did it for political purposes. His followers demand the end of the Deep State. Dopey, Dirty Donald Trump is playing games and Comey gets thrown out of the building. That is the definition of a Banana Republic. The Director of the FBI, CIA and others, including Assistant AGs should be required to impeach and not simply fired. That goes for Special Councils as well and only Congress should be able to terminate their employment.
On May 17, 2017, Acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed the Special Counsel and authorized him to conduct the investigation that Corney had confirmed in his congressional testimony, as well as matters arising directly from the investigation, and any other matters within the scope of 28 C.F.R. § 600.4(a), which generally covers efforts to interfere with or obstruct the investigation.
28 C.F.R. § 600.4(a) (click here) Section (a) defines jurisdiction.
(a)Original jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of a Special Counsel shall be established by the Attorney General. The Special Counsel will be provided with a specific factual statement of the matter to be investigated. The jurisdiction of a Special Counsel shall also include the authority to investigate and prosecute federal crimes committed in the course of, and with intent to interfere with, the Special Counsel's investigation, such as perjury, obstruction of justice, destruction of evidence, and intimidation of witnesses; and to conduct appeals arising out of the matter being investigated and/or prosecuted.
During the course of the Special Counsel investigation, I believe there were all those activities.
intent to interfere
Intent to interfere means that the actual interference did not have to take place. We know Trump was desperately trying to end the Special Counsel investigation regardless of the fact no one in the DOJ would end it, until Barr.
It is reported there are at least four boxes of records destroyed by orders from Trump. Evidently, those records were from the inauguration and/or campaign.
We also know both Trump and Guilliani were openly seeking to intimidate Michael Cohen through perceived death threats. They were all intent and/or actual actions in regard to the Special Counsel report. I believe they are indictable. The incidents with intimidation of Michael Cohen also included his family. If the USA government allows such acts of intimidation it will be an impediment to the future as well. I think the complaints by others regarding destroyed boxes of evidence and intimidation of Michael Cohen and his family have to be investigated and charged.
President Trump reacted negatively to the Special Counsel's appointment. He told advisors that it was the end of his presidency, sought to have Attorney General Jefferson (Jeff) Sessions unrecuse from the Russia investigation and to have the Special Counsel removed, and engaged in efforts to curtail the Special Counsel's investigation and prevent the disclosure of evidence to it, including through public and private contacts with potential witnesses. Those and related actions are described and analyzed in Volume II of the report.
It is not possible to unrecuse oneself from a legal status regarding a legal matter. The reason the recusal took place was because of FACTS leading up to recusal. The entire concept is another unreality from Trump. It is worthy to realize the two attorneys that followed Jeff Sessions never recused themselves. Acting Attorney General Whitaker stated he had spoken with ethics and it was his decision. That seems fairly lame to me. If there was a reason to speak to eithics regarding recusal, there was a basis for it.
to have the Special Counsel removed
The president frequently discussed the fact Jeff Sessions should have never recused himself. That is the corruption of this administration coming through very loudly. The only reason Trump stated he did not want Sessions to recuse was for one reason and one reason only, to have the Special Counsel removed. That is obstruction. If obstruction of justice is allowed to exist, what happens to our justice system?
...what’s behind a recusal. (click here) The reason why you recuse yourself is because you are indicating that you have some kind of interest or conflict that prevents you from being ethically being able to impartially decide whatever the issue is, particularly in law.
Barring some kind of explanation as to why that conflict or issue no longer exists, there’s no way to take that back. Additionally, *even if* the conflict or issue no longer exists, it’s still what is called the mere appearance of impropriety (i.e. it doesn’t matter whether it actually is inappropriate or potentially conflicted/unethical, merely as long as it may appear to be that way). For this reason it usually doesn’t even matter that the conflict of interest has been resolved or is no longer at issue.
That person then has no business deciding upon the issue they are or were conflicted about....
***
This is the end of this section. I will continue reading in the next entry. Until later.
...The next day, on December 31 , 2016, Kislyak called Flynn and told him the request had been received at the highest levels and Russia had chosen not to retaliate as a result of Flynn's request.
***
Three stars as before to separate topics discussed within the Special Counsel report.
On January 6, 2017, members of the intelligence community briefed President-Elect Trump on a joint assessment-drafted and coordinated among the Central Intelligence Agency, FBI, and National Security Agency-that concluded with high confidence that Russia had intervened in the election through a variety of means to assist Trump's candidacy and harm Clinton's. A declassified version of the assessment was publicly released that same day.
Cup of tea:
Not much to say about that, except, the alarm sounded was never loud enough to reach Americans. They never realized and many that are No Information Voters don't still realize how they were manipulated by Russia and never question why Trump looked the other way, even when he realized the impact of the extent Russia was leveraging against Clinton.
Between mid-January 2017 and early February 2017, three congressional committees-the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) (Devin Nunes),...
Why does Devin Nunes, a dairy farmer, have a prominent position on the Intelligence Committee. Why hasn't he been replaced by California voters since 2003? He purposely blurs the lines between the Executive Branch and the Legislature. He even acts as a presidential spy on the US House at the very least. There has to be plenty of ethics violations he has accumulated. His constituency should know about his attack on the USA Constitution and why his activities with the President endanger the USA's government order in separation of powers. THIS IS NOT A CLUB. This is the government of the USA. If Nunes and Trump like each other's company so much they can go golfing together and travel to Marilogo together, but, Nunes should not be playing footsie with the Executive Branch for he purpose of politics. His salary is paid by the US House, not Trump.
... the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), and the Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC)-announced that they would conduct inquiries, or had already been conducting inquiries, into Russian interference in the election....
There was a considerable concern by the federal government regarding the hacking of the DCCC and the Clinton campaign. Rightfully so. the same thing can occur to any US Senator or US House representative.
The entire idea the investigation into the Russian influence of the 2016 election started with the "Deep States" is nothing more than Dopey, Dirty Donald Trump's strange imagination for the purpose of his propaganda.
Noteworthy though, that in spite of the concern there is little that has passed into legislation to end the invasion by Russia to remove the USA Constitution.
Below, in italics, is a job description for the Director of the FBI. I can't believe an entire department of the USA government had to have their job descriptions carried by a news agency in hopes of clarifying the importance of their work. That illustrates to me how very concerned the information industry is with all the lies and deceptions of this administration.
FBI Director (job description) (click here)The director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) manages the FBI, which describes itself as the “principal investigative arm” of the DOJ and a “full member of the U.S. Intelligence Community.” The director is appointed to a 10 year term by the president and confirmed by the Senate.
The FBI says it is “an intelligence-driven and threat-focused national security organization with both intelligence and law enforcement responsibilities.”
The agency says its investigative powers are the “broadest of all federal law enforcement agencies,” with the legal authority to investigate a broad array of cases ranging from domestic and international terrorism, to cyber crime, civil rights and white collar crime.
There is no way this was drummed up by some "Deep State" within the USA government. There are too many eyes reading reports and too many ears hearing testimony to even begin to start to worry there is some kind of rogue agency at work within the federal government.
...Then-FBI Director James Corney later confirmed to Congress the existence of the FBI's investigation into Russian interference that had begun before the election. On March 20, 2017, in open-session testimony before HPSCI, Corney stated:
"I have been authorized by the Department of Justice to confirm that the FBI, as part of our counterintelligence mission, is investigating the Russian government's efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, and that includes investigating the nature of any links between individuals associated with the Trump campaign and the Russian government and whether there was any coordination between the campaign and Russia's efforts .... As with any counterintelligence investigation, this will also include an assessment of whether any crimes were committed."
The investigation continued under then-Director Corney for the next seven weeks until May 9, 2017, when President Trump fired Corney as FBI Director-an action which is analyzed in Volume II of the report.
Other than the impending visit by Russia to the Oval Office and Trump's own problems with existing federal authority and permanent employees, there was no reason at all to terminate the Director of the FBI. Directors are hard enough to find and Trump just threw him out of the building. Amazing.
And he did it for political purposes. His followers demand the end of the Deep State. Dopey, Dirty Donald Trump is playing games and Comey gets thrown out of the building. That is the definition of a Banana Republic. The Director of the FBI, CIA and others, including Assistant AGs should be required to impeach and not simply fired. That goes for Special Councils as well and only Congress should be able to terminate their employment.
On May 17, 2017, Acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed the Special Counsel and authorized him to conduct the investigation that Corney had confirmed in his congressional testimony, as well as matters arising directly from the investigation, and any other matters within the scope of 28 C.F.R. § 600.4(a), which generally covers efforts to interfere with or obstruct the investigation.
28 C.F.R. § 600.4(a) (click here) Section (a) defines jurisdiction.
(a)Original jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of a Special Counsel shall be established by the Attorney General. The Special Counsel will be provided with a specific factual statement of the matter to be investigated. The jurisdiction of a Special Counsel shall also include the authority to investigate and prosecute federal crimes committed in the course of, and with intent to interfere with, the Special Counsel's investigation, such as perjury, obstruction of justice, destruction of evidence, and intimidation of witnesses; and to conduct appeals arising out of the matter being investigated and/or prosecuted.
During the course of the Special Counsel investigation, I believe there were all those activities.
intent to interfere
Intent to interfere means that the actual interference did not have to take place. We know Trump was desperately trying to end the Special Counsel investigation regardless of the fact no one in the DOJ would end it, until Barr.
It is reported there are at least four boxes of records destroyed by orders from Trump. Evidently, those records were from the inauguration and/or campaign.
We also know both Trump and Guilliani were openly seeking to intimidate Michael Cohen through perceived death threats. They were all intent and/or actual actions in regard to the Special Counsel report. I believe they are indictable. The incidents with intimidation of Michael Cohen also included his family. If the USA government allows such acts of intimidation it will be an impediment to the future as well. I think the complaints by others regarding destroyed boxes of evidence and intimidation of Michael Cohen and his family have to be investigated and charged.
President Trump reacted negatively to the Special Counsel's appointment. He told advisors that it was the end of his presidency, sought to have Attorney General Jefferson (Jeff) Sessions unrecuse from the Russia investigation and to have the Special Counsel removed, and engaged in efforts to curtail the Special Counsel's investigation and prevent the disclosure of evidence to it, including through public and private contacts with potential witnesses. Those and related actions are described and analyzed in Volume II of the report.
It is not possible to unrecuse oneself from a legal status regarding a legal matter. The reason the recusal took place was because of FACTS leading up to recusal. The entire concept is another unreality from Trump. It is worthy to realize the two attorneys that followed Jeff Sessions never recused themselves. Acting Attorney General Whitaker stated he had spoken with ethics and it was his decision. That seems fairly lame to me. If there was a reason to speak to eithics regarding recusal, there was a basis for it.
to have the Special Counsel removed
The president frequently discussed the fact Jeff Sessions should have never recused himself. That is the corruption of this administration coming through very loudly. The only reason Trump stated he did not want Sessions to recuse was for one reason and one reason only, to have the Special Counsel removed. That is obstruction. If obstruction of justice is allowed to exist, what happens to our justice system?
...what’s behind a recusal. (click here) The reason why you recuse yourself is because you are indicating that you have some kind of interest or conflict that prevents you from being ethically being able to impartially decide whatever the issue is, particularly in law.
Barring some kind of explanation as to why that conflict or issue no longer exists, there’s no way to take that back. Additionally, *even if* the conflict or issue no longer exists, it’s still what is called the mere appearance of impropriety (i.e. it doesn’t matter whether it actually is inappropriate or potentially conflicted/unethical, merely as long as it may appear to be that way). For this reason it usually doesn’t even matter that the conflict of interest has been resolved or is no longer at issue.
That person then has no business deciding upon the issue they are or were conflicted about....
***
This is the end of this section. I will continue reading in the next entry. Until later.
This was the paragraph I left off with yesterday.
There are a few people in this paragraph not previously introduced.
On December 29, 2016, then-President Obama imposed sanctions on Russia for having interfered in the election. Incoming National Security Advisor Michael Flynn called Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and asked Russia not to escalate the situation in response to the sanctions. The following day, Putin announced that Russia would not take retaliatory measures in response to the sanctions at that time. Hours later, President-Elect Trump tweeted, "Great move on delay (by V. Putin)." The next day, on December 31 , 2016, Kislyak called Flynn and told him the request had been received at the highest levels and Russia had chosen not to retaliate as a result of Flynn's request.
It was a Russian event and Former General Michael Flynn attended and was provided a seat right next to Vladimir Putin.
Interesting enough, Jill Stein was also in attendance, but, was not provided a seat next to the president of Russia. She and Flynn are also alone. Now, I am not saying I know the travel plans of these Americans, they may be traveling with spouses or a friend, but, it is noteworthy to realize they are seated at this table without anyone as a witness to conversations, except, other Russians. That isn't a smart thing to do. Both Flynn and Stein are compromised. The smart thing to do is to bring someone important to the gathering and insist they be seated next to them.
Putin had plans. He had the wife of Emir Kusturica sit next to Jill Stein. It was to allow Jill to feel at ease and comfortable. Putin always has an agenda. Ask any of the Russians at the table.
Sometimes public silence can be deafening or,(click here) for that matter, misleading.
For nearly two years now, the intelligence community has kept secret evidence in the Russia collusion case that directly undercuts the portrayal of retired Army general and former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn as a Russian stooge.
That silence was maintained even when former acting Attorney General Sally Yates publicly claimed Flynn was possibly “compromised” by Moscow.
The former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates was being to generous when she stated "possibly." There is ever indication Flynn was very compromised. Putin had made him a 'friend.' There is no "possibly" about that. Michael Flynn, Director of National Intelligence under Trump was compromised by the Russians.
No one serious about the national security of the USA will ever have the president of Russia as a friend. Not only was Flynn compromised, but, if monies changed hands and it was laundered Russian USA dollars, Flynn has broken the law and if those transactions were hidden in a bank somewhere, Flynn was guilty of more than possessing laundered Russian USA dollars. From one picture in the company of the wrong people with questionable context to that picture, the USA intelligence agencies have free rein to engage the question, "Is Michael Flynn, a former General of the USA, involved with Russia in a way that endangers the USA?"
End of discussion.
Don't think for one minute that Russian intelligence policy isn't as defined either. If a former Russia general was caught in the same circumstances, but, with Americans, there would be interrogations or worse.
The only way a Russian general would have friends that were Americans in a way that meant they could meet and enjoy dinner, a movie and a nightcap at an American home, is if that general defected. Even, then, there is Novichok.
Michael Flynn (click here) rose to the rank of lieutenant general over 33 years in the U.S. Army. He briefly served as President Donald Trump's national security adviser before resigning in February 2017. Later that year he pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI over reports of his contact with the Russian ambassador....
Michael Flynn was a target and a businessman. He as an intelligence officer. What was he thinking? That his military past would be erased once he was a civilian? That is a fantasy in the real world. If he wanted a more lucrative career after leaving the USA military he could have had it, either working for the USA or it's allies. But, Russia? Ain't no way that was going to turn out any differently than it did.
After three years as intelligence chief of the JSOC in Iran, he returned stateside for top bureaucratic posts, but was forced out as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014.
Donald Trump's company frequently have Russian women as residents for "birth tourism." So, for all intentions and purposes, Russia looks like a fairly normal country where women are allowed and even encouraged to give birth in the USA. Of course, the Russian government approves of such activities of Russian women.
But, from an American business perspective, it is good business. There is nothing and USA business is required to discourage. The business could close out such activity, but, then the Russian government would seek to open that venue anyway. So, for the Trump Company Russia is a good customer and the women seem nice, personable and very pregnant needing all the demands of any woman preparing to give birth.
Never in the wildest imagination of a Trump Company family member does Russia or China seem hostile or worrisome. It is easy then to state the USA is overbearing and oppressive in worrying about American national security in regard to an American business accommodating Russian women. To the Trump Company it is a win-win situation and the USA government should never be involved.
These Russian women are not spies. They are not interested in anything else, except, giving birth to a baby in the USA. Russian women, including the current woman of interest of Vladimir Putin, travel to Europe as well. Why? Because it is safer to do so.
So, these women can make friends with Americans and I am sure they do. But, the fact is the people they meet are not former intelligence officers. The dynamics at work are very different. Not every Russia that comes to American soil will be seeking to compromise the USA by hunting down information regarding national security. The dinner with Flynn and Putin is a far reach from activities of Russian Birth Tourists.
There is absolutely no reason to ridicule the FBI or CIA or the Special Counsel as "The Deep State." Their loyalty to the USA and their work is vital to American sovereignty and national security.
By the way, Birth Tourism is stated by the extreme right wing constituencies as something that should be controlled. Perhaps, but, don't have a double standard for Latin Americans because they are poor and come for asylum. The Russian babies born in the USA will have dual citizenship and Russia smiles at that fact.
Ambassador Kislyak is the rotund man in the picture. Oh, other than Donald Trump.
The other man in the picture is Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Lavrov has been Foreign Minister to Russia for as long as I can remember. He holds meetings with Russian young people and talks about the country. He is a decent person to watch when such interactions take place. He treats Russian young people with a great deal of respect and carries their concerns with him. I always believed if there could ever be a breakthrough in Russian - USA relations it would be with him. I am wrong. I would never expect such blatant disregard to American integrity by allowing this relationship with Trump to define the relationship with the USA.
Russia invested a great deal in the 2016 elections and it was more than money, it was a national identity that would put The West in the crosshairs to end democracy and freedom as we know it.
January 14, 2018
By Brennan Weiss
Sergey Kislyak, (click here) the former Russian Ambassador to the US and alleged spy, has been at the center of the FBI's investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election, including whether members of the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow to tilt the election in his favor.
But Kislyak, 67, was involved with Russian foreign policy in the US long before Trump even announced he was running for president. He's been at the forefront of US-Russia relations for decades....
Kislyak is no longer ambassador to the USA. He values himself as a Ukraine ethnic. Currently, he is an officer in the Federation Council, the upper chamber of the government. He represents Mordovia (click here), an ethnic oblast within Russia. It is considered autonomous because it has a representative to the government.
That is job security. That is what it is like being a Russian. They don't worry about the ups and downs of the stock market at The West does. They always have a job doing something. It only stands to reason that a former Russian ambassador would be provided a comfortable area of Russia to spend his later years of life. There are pensions in Russia. I suppose that is one of the socialist sides of Russia. But, in the past year the people were told their pensions would be cut due to financial struggles of the very large land mass country. Large countries such as Russia are difficult to defend at times. Russia has an exceptionally long northern coastline. But, I digress.
Just as a flavor to the kind of work the Russian Duma performs:
March 27, 2018
Russia's State Duma (click here) has approved legislation that would block websites that publish what the authorities deem to be "fake news" and penalizing websites that "insult" authorities, state symbols, and what the legislation vaguely describes as Russian "society."...
Sounds like Sarah Huckabee Sanders is already influenced by Russia and Russia's verbiage adapted from Trump's freedom of speech.
...The bill penalizing those who insult the authorities, state symbols, or Russian society was passed by a vote of 327-40, with one lawmaker abstaining.
The legislation would empower the state-run media watchdog Roskomnadzor to determine what constitutes "fake news."
It also sets maximum fines for publishing "fake news" of 100,000 rubles (more than $1,500) on individuals, 200,000 rubles (more than $3,000) on public officials, and 500,000 rubles (about $7,600) on companies.
The "fake news" bill says publications officially registered with Roskomnadzor, including online media outlets, will be given a chance to remove reports deemed as fake news before their websites are blocked....
My, my.
continued in next entry
On December 29, 2016, then-President Obama imposed sanctions on Russia for having interfered in the election. Incoming National Security Advisor Michael Flynn called Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and asked Russia not to escalate the situation in response to the sanctions. The following day, Putin announced that Russia would not take retaliatory measures in response to the sanctions at that time. Hours later, President-Elect Trump tweeted, "Great move on delay (by V. Putin)." The next day, on December 31 , 2016, Kislyak called Flynn and told him the request had been received at the highest levels and Russia had chosen not to retaliate as a result of Flynn's request.
Interesting enough, Jill Stein was also in attendance, but, was not provided a seat next to the president of Russia. She and Flynn are also alone. Now, I am not saying I know the travel plans of these Americans, they may be traveling with spouses or a friend, but, it is noteworthy to realize they are seated at this table without anyone as a witness to conversations, except, other Russians. That isn't a smart thing to do. Both Flynn and Stein are compromised. The smart thing to do is to bring someone important to the gathering and insist they be seated next to them.
Putin had plans. He had the wife of Emir Kusturica sit next to Jill Stein. It was to allow Jill to feel at ease and comfortable. Putin always has an agenda. Ask any of the Russians at the table.
Sometimes public silence can be deafening or,(click here) for that matter, misleading.
For nearly two years now, the intelligence community has kept secret evidence in the Russia collusion case that directly undercuts the portrayal of retired Army general and former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn as a Russian stooge.
That silence was maintained even when former acting Attorney General Sally Yates publicly claimed Flynn was possibly “compromised” by Moscow.
The former Acting Attorney General Sally Yates was being to generous when she stated "possibly." There is ever indication Flynn was very compromised. Putin had made him a 'friend.' There is no "possibly" about that. Michael Flynn, Director of National Intelligence under Trump was compromised by the Russians.
No one serious about the national security of the USA will ever have the president of Russia as a friend. Not only was Flynn compromised, but, if monies changed hands and it was laundered Russian USA dollars, Flynn has broken the law and if those transactions were hidden in a bank somewhere, Flynn was guilty of more than possessing laundered Russian USA dollars. From one picture in the company of the wrong people with questionable context to that picture, the USA intelligence agencies have free rein to engage the question, "Is Michael Flynn, a former General of the USA, involved with Russia in a way that endangers the USA?"
End of discussion.
Don't think for one minute that Russian intelligence policy isn't as defined either. If a former Russia general was caught in the same circumstances, but, with Americans, there would be interrogations or worse.
The only way a Russian general would have friends that were Americans in a way that meant they could meet and enjoy dinner, a movie and a nightcap at an American home, is if that general defected. Even, then, there is Novichok.
Michael Flynn (click here) rose to the rank of lieutenant general over 33 years in the U.S. Army. He briefly served as President Donald Trump's national security adviser before resigning in February 2017. Later that year he pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI over reports of his contact with the Russian ambassador....
Michael Flynn was a target and a businessman. He as an intelligence officer. What was he thinking? That his military past would be erased once he was a civilian? That is a fantasy in the real world. If he wanted a more lucrative career after leaving the USA military he could have had it, either working for the USA or it's allies. But, Russia? Ain't no way that was going to turn out any differently than it did.
After three years as intelligence chief of the JSOC in Iran, he returned stateside for top bureaucratic posts, but was forced out as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency in 2014.
Donald Trump's company frequently have Russian women as residents for "birth tourism." So, for all intentions and purposes, Russia looks like a fairly normal country where women are allowed and even encouraged to give birth in the USA. Of course, the Russian government approves of such activities of Russian women.
But, from an American business perspective, it is good business. There is nothing and USA business is required to discourage. The business could close out such activity, but, then the Russian government would seek to open that venue anyway. So, for the Trump Company Russia is a good customer and the women seem nice, personable and very pregnant needing all the demands of any woman preparing to give birth.
Never in the wildest imagination of a Trump Company family member does Russia or China seem hostile or worrisome. It is easy then to state the USA is overbearing and oppressive in worrying about American national security in regard to an American business accommodating Russian women. To the Trump Company it is a win-win situation and the USA government should never be involved.
These Russian women are not spies. They are not interested in anything else, except, giving birth to a baby in the USA. Russian women, including the current woman of interest of Vladimir Putin, travel to Europe as well. Why? Because it is safer to do so.
So, these women can make friends with Americans and I am sure they do. But, the fact is the people they meet are not former intelligence officers. The dynamics at work are very different. Not every Russia that comes to American soil will be seeking to compromise the USA by hunting down information regarding national security. The dinner with Flynn and Putin is a far reach from activities of Russian Birth Tourists.
There is absolutely no reason to ridicule the FBI or CIA or the Special Counsel as "The Deep State." Their loyalty to the USA and their work is vital to American sovereignty and national security.
By the way, Birth Tourism is stated by the extreme right wing constituencies as something that should be controlled. Perhaps, but, don't have a double standard for Latin Americans because they are poor and come for asylum. The Russian babies born in the USA will have dual citizenship and Russia smiles at that fact.
Ambassador Kislyak is the rotund man in the picture. Oh, other than Donald Trump.
The other man in the picture is Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Lavrov has been Foreign Minister to Russia for as long as I can remember. He holds meetings with Russian young people and talks about the country. He is a decent person to watch when such interactions take place. He treats Russian young people with a great deal of respect and carries their concerns with him. I always believed if there could ever be a breakthrough in Russian - USA relations it would be with him. I am wrong. I would never expect such blatant disregard to American integrity by allowing this relationship with Trump to define the relationship with the USA.Russia invested a great deal in the 2016 elections and it was more than money, it was a national identity that would put The West in the crosshairs to end democracy and freedom as we know it.
January 14, 2018
By Brennan Weiss
Sergey Kislyak, (click here) the former Russian Ambassador to the US and alleged spy, has been at the center of the FBI's investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 election, including whether members of the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow to tilt the election in his favor.
But Kislyak, 67, was involved with Russian foreign policy in the US long before Trump even announced he was running for president. He's been at the forefront of US-Russia relations for decades....
Kislyak is no longer ambassador to the USA. He values himself as a Ukraine ethnic. Currently, he is an officer in the Federation Council, the upper chamber of the government. He represents Mordovia (click here), an ethnic oblast within Russia. It is considered autonomous because it has a representative to the government.
That is job security. That is what it is like being a Russian. They don't worry about the ups and downs of the stock market at The West does. They always have a job doing something. It only stands to reason that a former Russian ambassador would be provided a comfortable area of Russia to spend his later years of life. There are pensions in Russia. I suppose that is one of the socialist sides of Russia. But, in the past year the people were told their pensions would be cut due to financial struggles of the very large land mass country. Large countries such as Russia are difficult to defend at times. Russia has an exceptionally long northern coastline. But, I digress.
Just as a flavor to the kind of work the Russian Duma performs:
March 27, 2018
Russia's State Duma (click here) has approved legislation that would block websites that publish what the authorities deem to be "fake news" and penalizing websites that "insult" authorities, state symbols, and what the legislation vaguely describes as Russian "society."...
Sounds like Sarah Huckabee Sanders is already influenced by Russia and Russia's verbiage adapted from Trump's freedom of speech.
...The bill penalizing those who insult the authorities, state symbols, or Russian society was passed by a vote of 327-40, with one lawmaker abstaining.
The legislation would empower the state-run media watchdog Roskomnadzor to determine what constitutes "fake news."
It also sets maximum fines for publishing "fake news" of 100,000 rubles (more than $1,500) on individuals, 200,000 rubles (more than $3,000) on public officials, and 500,000 rubles (about $7,600) on companies.
The "fake news" bill says publications officially registered with Roskomnadzor, including online media outlets, will be given a chance to remove reports deemed as fake news before their websites are blocked....
My, my.
continued in next entry
The only enemies the President of the United States of America has are those that consider the USA an enemy. If the President has other enemies, he needs to leave the office. There is no such thing as a political enemy or an enemy of an ally. Ukraine and it's people are not an enemy of the USA and Rudy Guiliani was acting unlawfully in seeking to find or make trouble for a political adversary in a legitimate election in the USA. In carrying out illegal activity in another country Guiliani can be arrested by the other government and/or an American agent within Ukraine when official documents were issued in the USA.
This is Rudy Guiliani. He believes his understood power is enough to bring a government to his service at any cost. WRONG!
This is Rudy Guiliani. He believes his understood power is enough to bring a government to his service at any cost. WRONG!
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