September 19,2019
By Julian E. Barnes, Nicholas Fandos, Michael S.Schmidt and Matthew Rosenberg
...It involves at least one instance (click here) of Mr. Trump making an unspecified commitment to a foreign leader and includes other actions, according to interviews. At least part of the allegation deals with Ukraine, two people familiar with it said....
Trump and Guiliani are in plenty of trouble. It is one thing to seek factual information from a foreign government that is an ally to the USA, it is quite something else to intimidate a sovereign government to create a story about a political opponent. These monies were to improve Ukraine's national security. It is unconscionable to even attempt intimidation of a foreign government.
September 10, 2019
By Viola Gienger
Vice President Mike Pence (click here) was about to finish a routine joint press conference with Polish President Andrzej Duda in Warsaw last week, when he got two astutely specific questions about his meeting the previous day with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy:
“Number one, did you discuss Joe Biden at all during that meeting yesterday with the Ukrainian President? And number two, can you assure Ukraine that the hold-up of [U.S. security assistance] has absolutely nothing to do with efforts, including by Rudy Giuliani, to try to dig up dirt on the Biden family?” Associated Press reporter Jill Colvin asked.
Pence answered the first question directly: “Well, on the first question, the answer is no.” His response to the second question was more interesting. He essentially demurred. But to decode the significance of Pence’s reply, it’s important to understand the recent history of Ukraine and U.S. policy toward the country. From there, we can unpack what’s at the bottom of the Trump-Giuliani efforts.
Those efforts yesterday became the focus of a new joint investigation by three House committees – Foreign Affairs, Intelligence, and Oversight and Reform. In letters to White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo seeking “any and all” related records and a list of personnel involved, the three Democratic committee chairs outlined a litany of meetings, phone calls, tweets and other threats, including the withholding of the $250 million of security aid the reporter had referenced in the question to Pence.
“President Trump and his personal attorney (Rudy Guiliani) appear to have increased pressure on the Ukrainian government and its justice system in service of President Trump’s reelection campaign, and the White House and the State Department may be abetting this scheme,” the chairmen wrote....
Thursday, September 19, 2019
The country doesn't need another bogus letter from Bill Barr.
If Barr is untrustworthy for his handling of the Special Counsel Report, he is absolutely untrustworthy AND interfering with the rule of law when it comes to a whistleblower complaint about Trump. If this was a whistleblower regarding President Obama it would be front page, above the fold news.
September 19, 2019
By Andrew Prokop
September 19, 2019
By Andrew Prokop
An internal Trump administration whistleblower (click here) has filed a complaint about “multiple acts” by President Trump, according to the New York Times’ Nicholas Fandos, Eileen Sullivan, Julian Barnes and Matthew Rosenberg.
Look this is the way I see it. Trump has loans backed by Russian oligarchs through Deutsche Bank. He has defaulted on those loans and the loans are being paid by the Russian Oligarchs. When the sanctions by Obama and the USA Congress hit hard in Russia, Putin stepped in and used the power of the Russian government to leverage the loans to Trump. BASICALLY, TRUMP'S INDEBTEDNESS is leverage over the USA Presidency.
There are a few foreign leaders that Trump would promise anything; Kim Jong Un or Vladimir Putin. Those are also the only leaders that is known to have multiple calls with Trump. I believe Trump would promise Putin anything, including delayed responses of USA nukes.
I don't think this is a mystery. If it wasn't so serious there would never be a whistleblower complaint. Trump never denounced the intervention by Putin and Russian intelligence in the 2016 elections. As far as I am concerned that is good as permission. "Russia if your listening...." Who says that?
The whistleblower account needs to go forward. Barr is way out of line. This guy still has his license?
Look this is the way I see it. Trump has loans backed by Russian oligarchs through Deutsche Bank. He has defaulted on those loans and the loans are being paid by the Russian Oligarchs. When the sanctions by Obama and the USA Congress hit hard in Russia, Putin stepped in and used the power of the Russian government to leverage the loans to Trump. BASICALLY, TRUMP'S INDEBTEDNESS is leverage over the USA Presidency.
There are a few foreign leaders that Trump would promise anything; Kim Jong Un or Vladimir Putin. Those are also the only leaders that is known to have multiple calls with Trump. I believe Trump would promise Putin anything, including delayed responses of USA nukes.
I don't think this is a mystery. If it wasn't so serious there would never be a whistleblower complaint. Trump never denounced the intervention by Putin and Russian intelligence in the 2016 elections. As far as I am concerned that is good as permission. "Russia if your listening...." Who says that?
The whistleblower account needs to go forward. Barr is way out of line. This guy still has his license?
In part, the complaint is about a troubling “promise” made during a conversation between President Trump and a foreign leader, per the Washington Post’s Greg Miller, Ellen Nakashima, and Shane Harris. But the Times reported Thursday that the complaint is broader than any one call or promise.
The complaint was passed on to the inspector general for the intelligence community, who determined it was credible and a matter of “urgent concern” — a legal standard that normally requires congressional oversight committees be notified. And, per a letter from the inspector general, he concluded the complaint “relates to one of the most significant and important of the DNI’s responsibilities to the American people.”
How is it Kushner has access to these documents, but, the US Congress doesn't?
How is it Kushner has access to these documents, but, the US Congress doesn't?
But Trump’s acting director of national intelligence has stepped in to block key congressional committee chairs from receiving the details of the whistleblower complaint — which some legal analysts say could be a violation of the law requiring they be informed.
So over the past week, Intelligence Committee chair Adam Schiff (D-CA) has been demanding answers. The inspector general briefed the committee Thursday morning, but still withheld details about the complaint’s subject matter.
The big picture is that this could be a major new scandal in the making. And the two huge questions are: which foreign leader? And what was the promise?
On Thursday morning, Trump responded on Twitter, calling the story “Fake News” and saying he wouldn’t have said “something inappropriate” on such a call....
Welcome to the Intelligence Community (IC) Whistleblowing website. (click here) If you are visiting this website because you are considering whether to make a protected disclosure, or because you are interested in learning more about them, you should know that whistleblowing has a long history in this country. Over 240 years ago, on July 30, 1778, the Continental Congress unanimously enacted the first whistleblower legislation in the United States, proclaiming that "it is the duty of all persons in service of the United States, as well as all other the inhabitants thereof, to give the earliest information to Congress or other proper authority of any misconduct, frauds or misdemeanors committed by any officers or persons in the service of these states, which comes to their knowledge." To this day, Federal law (including the Constitution, rules, and regulations) encourages, consistent with the protection of classified information (including sources and methods of detection of classified information), the honest and good faith reporting of misconduct, fraud, misdemeanors, and other crimes to the appropriate authority at the earliest time possible.
Consistent with that tradition and public policy, this website provides a general overview of lawful whistleblowing in the IC. It explains how individuals may lawfully disclose critical information to authorized recipients while protecting national security. You will find information about what lawful whistleblowing is; what individuals should report; how to blow the whistle lawfully; who handles a whistleblower complaint; why we have a whistleblower program; and what an individual's whistleblower protections are.
Whistleblowers are a key source of information for countering wrongdoing and enhancing the effectiveness of our government. Lawful whistleblowing through authorized disclosures, and passing the right information to the right people, reinforces our public policy of encouraging individuals working for our government, and particularly within our IC, to provide patriotic dissent while maintaining loyalty to individual elements within the IC and protecting national security.
Regardless of your reason for visiting this website, I hope you find its information helpful. To close on another historical note, I keep on my desk a plaque with a quote from Benjamin Franklin - a former government employee - who began his day by asking "What good shall I do this day?" Reporting wrongdoing through authorized means is not only a public and patriotic duty with a long tradition in this country, it is a good that can be done today.
Opening-day frenzy at first Costco store in China
"Go, Costco." It appears the Chinese middle class is a seriously growing aspect of quality of life. Very nice. Evidently, the overcrowding was not expected. Costco has experience in handling large crowds, especially on "Black Friday." It is nice to see the Chinese having the opportunity to improve their lives. This Middle Class is a huge victory for the USA. China is now exhibiting a "Consumer Economy." That means the Chinese will build stronger local economies and the DEMAND for a better life.
This is fantastic. Finally, China has a burgeoning consumer economy that will equate to that of the USA eventually. That means China is looking more like our allies, in Europe and Asia. Japan has a very high quality of life. Hopefully, China will, too.
This is fantastic. Finally, China has a burgeoning consumer economy that will equate to that of the USA eventually. That means China is looking more like our allies, in Europe and Asia. Japan has a very high quality of life. Hopefully, China will, too.
Trump is subverting the law. This law dates back to WWII. It has been a steadfast, regular publication of the USA.
Published by the Office of the Federal Register, (click here) National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents.
When is it published?
The Federal Register is updated daily by 6 a.m. and is published Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Title 44. PUBLIC PRINTING AND DOCUMENTS (click here)
Chapter 15. FEDERAL REGISTER AND CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
This was sent over the web today. The Federal Register is a very important archive. It is a common place to look for rules and regulations. This is a move by Trump to increase the cost of following rules and regulations. Lawyers and many others, including private companies subscribe to the Federal Register. If they have to look in more than on place for information regarding the government it will add higher personnel costs to find the laws, document and record them.
On October 15, 2018, (click here) requirements for the importation of fruits and vegetables that were previously located in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) were moved to FAVIR. You'll find them for relevant commodities in a new section titled "Additional Requirements." This change is a result of a rule published by APHIS on September 14, 2018 to streamline the approval process for fruit and vegetable imports. It's important to note that this rule did NOT add or change any requirements for the importation of a particular fruit or vegetable, it simply relocated the existing documented requirements. To learn more about the updated FAVIR and what has and has not changed, go to the Streamlining Approvals for Fruit and Vegetable Imports Web page at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/q56-streamlining.
Rulemaking by agency secretaries is well outlined. The rules of the USA federal government is not established willy-nilly.The rules that manifest because of LEGISLATION has a specific process. Trump and his secretary is disregarding ESTABLISHED LAW.
"A Guide to the Rule Making Process" (click here)
More on rulemaking (click here)
CARE.
The government at any level is supposed to CARE about Americans and the impact of law(s). The Federal Register is a central processing TOOL so ALL AMERICANS can find changes in rules and regulations.
Title 44. PUBLIC PRINTING AND DOCUMENTS (click here)
Chapter 15. FEDERAL REGISTER AND CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
This was sent over the web today. The Federal Register is a very important archive. It is a common place to look for rules and regulations. This is a move by Trump to increase the cost of following rules and regulations. Lawyers and many others, including private companies subscribe to the Federal Register. If they have to look in more than on place for information regarding the government it will add higher personnel costs to find the laws, document and record them.
On October 15, 2018, (click here) requirements for the importation of fruits and vegetables that were previously located in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) were moved to FAVIR. You'll find them for relevant commodities in a new section titled "Additional Requirements." This change is a result of a rule published by APHIS on September 14, 2018 to streamline the approval process for fruit and vegetable imports. It's important to note that this rule did NOT add or change any requirements for the importation of a particular fruit or vegetable, it simply relocated the existing documented requirements. To learn more about the updated FAVIR and what has and has not changed, go to the Streamlining Approvals for Fruit and Vegetable Imports Web page at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-health/q56-streamlining.
Rulemaking by agency secretaries is well outlined. The rules of the USA federal government is not established willy-nilly.The rules that manifest because of LEGISLATION has a specific process. Trump and his secretary is disregarding ESTABLISHED LAW.
"A Guide to the Rule Making Process" (click here)
More on rulemaking (click here)
CARE.
The government at any level is supposed to CARE about Americans and the impact of law(s). The Federal Register is a central processing TOOL so ALL AMERICANS can find changes in rules and regulations.
Hurricane Humberto is threatening the UK. Storm surge exceeding 30 feet.
The UK built significant sea walls about a decade ago. At the time those sea walls were calculated to be enough. The increasing heat in the troposphere is heating the ocean at the Air/Sea interface (click here). The effects on ocean turbulence is significant with a fraction of degree higher it becomes.
Until the warming of the troposphere continues to increase, the oceans and seas will reflect that with turbulence and sea level rise.
September 19, 2019
By Katie Sewell
Gradual weakening (click here) is now expected for the storm as it makes it track towards UK, where energy from the powerful hurricane will bring rain and fierce winds.
Bermuda is still feeling the effects of the hurricane, with powerful storm surges and swells impacting the island as Humberto passed by.
An NOAA buoy measured a wave of more than 30 feet Wednesday, it said.
Large swells will also continue to increase into tomorrow, the hurricane centre added....
Until the warming of the troposphere continues to increase, the oceans and seas will reflect that with turbulence and sea level rise.
September 19, 2019
By Katie Sewell
Gradual weakening (click here) is now expected for the storm as it makes it track towards UK, where energy from the powerful hurricane will bring rain and fierce winds.
Bermuda is still feeling the effects of the hurricane, with powerful storm surges and swells impacting the island as Humberto passed by.
An NOAA buoy measured a wave of more than 30 feet Wednesday, it said.
Large swells will also continue to increase into tomorrow, the hurricane centre added....
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