The unlikely candidates.

I congratulate US Senator Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump. They are having wildly successful campaigns. Their messages are needed and many Americans are finding their heroes in candidates the establishments have dismissed as jokes.

I encouraged US Senator Bernie Sanders and fully expected him to bring his vibrant campaign style with him. He has not disappointed. The answer is always grassroots and door to door works the best.

By David Jackson  
August 12, 2015

“Bernie-mania” (click here) may be generating a real political race in New Hampshire.

A new poll shows Bernie Sanders, the independent senator from Vermont, taking the lead over Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire, site of the nation’s first presidential primary of 2016.

Sanders leads Clinton 44%-37% among likely Democratic primary voters, according to the Franklin Pierce University/Boston Herald survey.

“His supporters are just more enthusiastic about him,” said Kelly Myers, the Marlin Fitzwater Fellow at Franklin Pierce University, which conducted the poll.

Vice President Biden, who has yet to announce whether he will run for president, is third in the New Hampshire poll at 9%. Three other Democrats — Martin O’Malley, Lincoln Chafee and Jim Webb — register at 1% or less....

Thank you, Bernie.

By Philip Bump  
August 12 at 5:06 PM

In the first major-outlet (click here) non-Internet poll since the Republican primary debate last week, it's almost not surprising that CNN/ORC finds Donald Trump retaining the lead in Iowa. Almost. It's still a bit surprising, given Trump's wobbly handling of criticism during the event.
So Trump's up — and Ben Carson has moved into second in the first caucus state. For months, Scott Walker held a sizeable lead in the state. Walker's now in third, according to CNN, with Carly Fiorina, winner of the pre-game debate, jumping into fifth behind Ted Cruz....

Congratulations, Donald. I hope addressing him as Donald is okay. I can't thank you enough. You have brought insight to needed policy to the political dialogue. So far we have heard your insight and annoyance with the move by Ford to Mexico, fervor to immigration and the call about China is spot on. 

I look forward to more dialogue about China and what needs to be done. You are the only Republican in the field actually citing serious issues and pledging to make a difference for the American people. 

I also encourage these two candidates to accept public monies after their primaries. This is the dollar amount on the tax forms the American people set aside to have funding for elections. I already know Bernie Sanders believes these monies are vital. I would hope Donald Trump would be generous of spirit in realizing there are people that believe in his message to donate to his campaign regardless of his lack of need. 

When people donate money they invest in the outcomes to those monies. Money is important to the lives of Americans. They don't separate themselves from their monies easily when it comes to political campaigns. The people that donated to Donald Trump's campaign would have their monies increased by his acceptance of public monies and would honor them. 

Accepting public monies will limit the ability to accept private monies to their campaigns, but, Bernie knows grassroots support is precious and more valuable than dollars. Even Chinese dollars. Donald is magnanimous about using his own funding, but, people are investing in him anyway and he doesn't have to worry about accepting enormous private donations.

The monies are there. Those accounts should be tapped and used to elect the next President. 

Good luck to both of you. The words simply do not exist to express appreciation to you both for the hope given the American people for 2016. We are a great country and these campaigns prove it.

It is just more lies by Jeb Bush. His brother's feelings must be hurt.

Jeb Bush is really nobody. He sincerely doesn't know how to be somebody because he knows nothing but rhetoric. 

August 11, 2015
11:23 AM 

Los Angeles — Jeb Bush (click here) is planning to issue a full-throttle attack Tuesday night on the Obama administration’s handling of Iraq and terrorism issues, asserting that Hillary Rodham Clinton “stood by” as secretary of state when the situation in Iraq deteriorated, creating the conditions that led to the rise of the Islamic State as the Obama administration reduced its troop level in Iraq.... 

Let's get this straight before people actually believe Jeb Bush has something to say. It is all an attempt to justify an illegal and immoral war and take the heat off "W." Supposedly Iraq was under control and a peaceful country when "W" left office. 

Hello?

June 3, 2016
By Malcolm W. Nance 

ISIS’s roots in Saddam Hussein’s Baath Party (click here) are deep — many of the group’s most devoted commanders, advisers and fighters started out as Baathists. The ex-Baathists essentially run ISIS, and their past is evident in the tactics they are using now.

After the 1963 coup that first gave the Baathists a share of power in Iraq’s government, Saddam became head of the secret Jehaz Al-Khass, or Special Branch, and collected meticulous dossiers on friends and enemies alike. Saddam used these dossiers to carry out a political putsch in the mid-sixties, as well as the bloodless 1968 coup that brought his party to full control of Iraq. From 1968 until 2003, Baathists controlled every aspect of Iraqi life and generalized the surveillance techniques that Saddam had used so effectively in his rise to power.

The Baath government amassed millions of personal records and forced its citizens to spy on family and friends for Saddam’s intelligence agencies....After the invasion, the Baathists held the key to the human terrain of Iraq. All of these Saddamist traditions have been carried on by his disciples in ISIS.

One of these is Samir Abd Muhammad al-Khlifawi, usually known as Haji Bakr, a former spy for Saddam who became chief of military operations for ISIS.

From as early as 2004, al Qaeda in Iraq gradually sought to transfer control of the Iraqi jihad from foreign fighters like Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Abu Ayyub al-Masri to local Iraqi commanders like Abu Umar al-Baghdadi. AQI became the Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) in 2006, just as many local captives were being released from U.S. military prisons such as Camp Bucca. One of them was Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the future caliph of ISIS. As an Iraqi, he had been held not with the high-value al Qaeda terrorists, but with low-level FRL and Iraqi religious extremist insurgents. At Bucca, al-Baghdadi formed bonds and apparently conceived the model that would eventually become ISIS, a consolidated force of Iraqi Sunni FRLs, joined with al Qaeda’s foreign fighters, that would take back their traditional tribal lands and then form a caliphate. That’s where he connected with Haji Bakr....

Interesting reading, isn't it? No? I find it very interesting.

The Bush legend of "W" go it alone war never bothered to reveal the fact they knew there was a lot of peril in entering Iraq and there would be no "Mission Accomplished."

Sorry, I have friends that stopped by. I'll be back.

I never get tired of hearing General Eric Shinseki regarding Iraq. Why? Because he states, "...because of all the ethnic pressures that could lead to other problems....to maintain a safe and secure environment...."

I don't want to hear how President Obama undid all the wonderful accomplishments of "W." The facts are very plain not matter how Jebby tries to spin the truth to protect "W" from sadness. See, I don't think Jebby really cares about the Iraq War or anything else, he simply doesn't want his families GREATNESS tarnished by the truth. 

The facts are OBVIOUS. The invasion into Iraq was a little too desperate to balance Halliburton's books and prevent Cheney from a lawsuit as CEO or worse. This outcome that exists today is NOT a surprise. There is a reason why "W" built a one billion US embassy in the Green Zone. The USA was suppose to have a permanent war in Iraq for the very reason Daesh exists today. The USA intelligence, the USA military, Interpol and every other major power, including Israel, in the world knew what was going to happen here. I do remember that Russia abandoned Syria's ports in the Mediterranean. That didn't happen because Russia ran with it's tail between it's legs to the Black Sea or other Russian interests.

THE TRUTH is that Jebby is trying to avoid is the FACT his brother "W" didn't give a damn about peace and knew full well this was going to destabilize the entire region.

This conversation occurred today.

In my travels through North Carolina I ran across an Archdale police officer who was investigating a robbery. He stated there was some increase in crime this summer. But, he said the worst problem they face is rape. He stated there has been an increase in rape in Burlington, North Carolina of women who found their dates on "Christian Mingle." 

I don't lie. The police officer was sincere and in disbelief a Christian dating cite would have this type of problem. He stated he and the area police are very worried about the problem and not being able to warn the women.

The sooner the better.

August 11, 2015

By Abby Sewell

This is a holding cell. I actually can't believe that I found this picture online. This is a perfect example of the over crowding in CJ. You can't see it but there is a toilet somewhere in this picture.

Setting a path (click here) for the future of the Los Angeles County jail system, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a plan to eventually move 1,000 offenders with mental health issues out of lock-ups as well as to build a new downtown jail.

The moves reflect the growing debate about how the county incarcerates inmates, particularly the mentally ill, who make up 20% of the roughly 17,000 people behind bars. Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey and others have called for a new approach that moves many mentally ill people out of jail and into treatment centers with hopes that they will get help and avoid committing more crimes.

The supervisors voted 3-1 to build a 3,885-bed jail downtown that would replace the decrepit Men's Central Jail, as well as to create a new women's jail in Lancaster. Supervisor Don Knabe voted no and Hilda Solis abstained....

Carley Fiorina will never be President or Vice President.

She lost a lot of jobs to China. She can't runaway from her past.

By MJ Lee

updated 9:39 AM ET, Mon May 4, 2015

...Fiorina's time at HP (click here) has been a political target in the past. When she challenged Sen. Barbara Boxer in 2010, the veteran California Democrat zeroed in on Fiorina's HP tenure.

"As the CEO of HP, Carly Fiorina laid off 30,000 workers. Fiorina shipped jobs to China," one Boxer ad claimed. "And while Californians lost their jobs, Fiorina tripled her salary, bought a $1 million yacht and five corporate jets."

Claire McCaskill is a wonderful US Senator.

Her policies domestically are impeccable, however, I strongly suggest she spend some time traveling and coming to understand our allies better.

She is stating she is worried about the monies involved in the Iran agreement and the willingness of allies to act in returning sanctions and controlling monies within the agreement.

She is correct. The USA's disapproval of the agreement will mean very little. It is called sovereignty and there is no way of controlling the actions of allies. If there is some kind of understanding in the Republican Senate that the USA will be throwing it's weight around and withdrawing from NATO, it will be received with mixed happiness among the war weary American public. 

There is definite skepticism by the Republicans in regard to allies. If one recalls the Republicans are more than willing to 'go it alone' when allies are not. The best example to that reality is Iraq. So, if the Republicans succeed to continue to demonize Iran it may be US Allies and the USA will be on opposing sides. If the USA thinks it will carry out another "Iraq Attack" into Iran they need to think again. It's all political rhetoric, but, sadly the Hawks in Congress will see it as a promise.

August 10, 2015
By Victor Beattie

Washington - Missouri Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill (click here) said she does not believe she and other uncommitted U.S. lawmakers feel under any pressure from either side as Congress weighs its support of the Iran nuclear agreement.

President Barack Obama, in a Sunday broadcast interview, warned congressional rejection of the deal would make the central goal of keeping Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons harder to achieve.

McCaskill, who has not yet committed to support or reject the agreement, said she is reaching out to the diplomats of countries holding Iranian assets to see if they will continue to respect international sanctions if the U.S. Congress rejects the deal....

Unfortunately, Claire McCaskill is wrongly questioning the integrity of US Allies. They were strong in enforcing sanctions when it mattered and brought Iran to the diplomatic table. The agreement is historic. It has many provisions to insure the protections of other countries and nations in the Middle East. There simply is no reason to question the ability of allies, along with our State Department to delay a vote in favor of the Iran Agreement. All the stupidity in questioning the agreement is political fodder in the USA, but, we know that reality when the politics turns into campaign promises after elections.

As an American that believes in the strength and resolve of our allies as exampled in the Minsk Agreement, I EXPECT the approval of the Iran agreement:

12 Feb 2015

By Roland Oliphant

The talks (click here) have produced two documents: a joint statement that sets intentions and broad objectives, and a more detailed 13-point Russian-language document entitled “A Complex of Measures for Fulfilment of the Minsk Agreement.”...

Our European allies could have turned their backs on Ukraine and sacrificed any understanding of peace with Russia after Russia broke the international agreement of non-interference in Ukraine politics and domestic affairs. But, the allies stood strong and today Ukraine has made progress to an open and invigorated country. There remains problems yet and Europe remains vigilant, but, they are not the scale of problems that could have existed. 

The idea any role by allies in the agreement with Iran is in question is outrageous. The spineless in the US Congress need to find their resolve and approve the multi-party agreement. The USA cannot afford more international skepticism and installation of fear. The USA's international standing has to improve and this agreement with our allies and Iran can provide that reassurance. The war mongering has to end. The USA has an obligation to prove diplomatic relations are important to the USA and this agreement is a sound step up that path.

This is from Swissinfo.com

The officers that drew guns on unarmed citizens need to be fired from their jobs. Part of the problem with "Police that kill" is the fact they take orders that result in the deaths of innocent people. The police of Ferguson are still carrying out actions that indicate the people are not yet safe.

August 11, 2015
By Carey Gillam and Scott Malone

...Police carrying shields (click here) rushed into a crowd of protesters around midnight, prompting many to scream and run away. Twenty-three people were arrested, some for throwing frozen water bottles and rocks at officers, according to the St. Louis County Police Department.

Authorities declared a state of emergency on Monday for the St. Louis suburb and surrounding areas after police officers shot and critically wounded a man in an exchange of gunfire Sunday night, marring what had been a day of peaceful demonstrations to commemorate the anniversary.

Ferguson resident Roberta Lynch, 51, one of the demonstrators on Monday evening, said relations between police and the community had improved little over the past year.

"They are doing the same old stuff, taking our rights," Lynch said. "They need to give us our space."

Monday's demonstrations capped a day of civil disobedience called by activists to protest against the shooting of Brown and other unarmed black men by police across the United States....

Have the economics of the community changed and improved?

The unrest after dark is known to be a problem. It has nothing to do with the protests. 

Michael Brown, Jr. wanted to change his circumstances. He was on the threshold of attending college. He was about change and justice. He never got his chance to break out of the oppressive poverty enforced by the governing infrastructure of Ferguson.

For a very long time the government of Ferguson financed itself on the backs of innocent people. The people of Ferguson need the opportunity of upward movement and better lives. Perhaps that will come with education or it might come in the organization of unions at their place of work, but, today the people of Ferguson should be improving their quality of life and proving that oppressive conditions can be removed when given full sunlight. 

I wish them well, congratulate them on their continued vigilance and I continue to hold Michael Brown, Jr. in my heart as well. 

POSTED 1:22 AM, AUGUST 10, 2015

 BY CNN WIRE

UPDATED AT 07:56AM, AUGUST 10, 2015

“Protesters are people who are out there to effect change,” Belmar said. There were “several people shooting, several rounds shot.”

FERGUSON, Missouri — A day of peaceful vigils (click here) to mark the one-year anniversary of Michael Brown’s shooting death turned ugly late Sunday night when protesters threw rocks and bottles at officers, and police critically injured a man who they say fired at them.

The unidentified man in his 20s was undergoing surgery early Monday morning.

He unleashed a “remarkable amount of gunfire” against the officers using a stolen handgun, St. Louis County Police Chief Jon Belmar said.

Belmar descried the attacks on the officers, saying they are hindering the city’s progress....

The face of CORRUPTION. He does not belong in leadership.

It is about votes and money. Today, Ted Cruz is his best friend.

August 10, 2015
By David Riley and Brian Tumulty, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle and USA TODAY

GREECE, N.Y. -- New York Sen. Chuck Schumer (click here) said Monday the U.S. should try to broker a better nuclear deal with Iran because a White House-backed plan has too many flaws.

In his first public remarks since announcing his opposition to the agreement Thursday evening, Schumer said he believes the odds are too great that Iran’s “ugly, dictatorial, theocratic regime” will hold on for another decade or so. It could use the deal to get rid of sanctions while continuing to cause trouble in the Middle East, he said.

“I believe we should go back and try to get a better deal,” he said. “The nations of the world should join us in that.”

Secretary of State John Kerry rejected the possibility of renegotiating....

Gaffs happen. I get the feeling the rift between Donald Trump and the Republican Party is growing ever wider.

August 8, 2015

By Jonathan Martin and Maggie and Haberman 
 

...“If your standard-bearer has to resort to that,” (click here) Mr. Erickson told hundreds of conservative activists in a packed Atlanta hotel ballroom on Saturday, “we need a new standard-bearer.”

With Mr. Trump at center stage Thursday in Cleveland, Fox News shattered television viewership records for a primary debate: Nearly 24 million people watched. But any hopes that Mr. Trump, the real estate developer and television celebrity, would try to reinvent himself as a sober-minded statesman, or that he would collapse under scrutiny and tough questions, vaporized in the opening minutes when he refused to rule out running as an independent candidate for president. His remarks Friday only furthered the impression that he also had no intention of speaking more carefully. Mr. Trump denied on Saturday that he had been implying that Ms. Kelly was menstruating. “I think only a degenerate would think that I would have meant that,” he said in an interview, insisting that he had been referring to Ms. Kelly’s nose and ears....

Pakistan is in an uproar about child abuse. Now that is what I call news.

Aug. 9, 2015

By Waqar Gillani and Salman Masood 

HUSSAIN KHAN WALA, Pakistan — Pakistani officials (click here) have initiated an investigation into allegations that a gang of men sexually abused more than 200 children and sold videos of the abuse.

The accusations have rocked the country, drawing the attention and condemnation of human rights activists and politicians in a case that involved subjects long considered taboo here.

At least 280 children under the age of 14 from three villages in eastern Punjab Province were said to have been subjected to sexual abuse by a gang of 15 men, who made videos to extort money from the children and their parents. Seven of the accused have been arrested, police officials said Sunday.

The accusations of abuse started trickling out last month as victims began to report it to the police, and last Tuesday, hundreds of residents staged a protest, accusing the police and local politicians of protecting the gang members and ignoring the accusations. Some of the protesters clashed with the police, and dozens of people were injured, including several police officers.

On Saturday, details of the abuse were carried by The Nation, a Lahore-based English-language newspaper, which reported that the gang members had drugged and intoxicated their victims, some as young as 6, and had recorded hundreds of videos. Some of the children stole jewelry and money from their parents to pay the men to stop them from making the videos public, according to the reports. The newspaper said many of the videos were sold to buyers and pornographic websites overseas....

The abortion debate is completely "W"rong.

The current debate about the origins of life doesn't concern the USA Constitution.

Huckabee can go on and on about the beginning of life all he wants, but, the US Constitution isn't interested in religious definitions.

The US Constitution is interested in citizenship. If argued correctly late term abortions are constitutional, especially when it is to save the woman's life and the well being of her family.

The US Constitution stipulates that the highest office in the land, President of the United States of American has to be occupied by "a natural born citizen."

Article II, Section 1 of the US Constitution:

No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; 

You can argue all you want about when life begins, but, the US Constitution has no interest in a baby until it is born. While the UNBORN are still in utero, there is no debate about the beginning of the LEGAL life of a citizen. It is not until the baby is born.

Roe v Wade was decided based in oppressive state law. It was decided because the lack of a safe abortion was killing women and leaving their families without wives and mothers. Roe v Wade was always about women, not about babies. 

The woman is the citizen, not the fetus. 

There is case law, four case law decision that defines "natural born citizen. United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 US 649 (1898) is the most interesting.

The Venus, 12 U.S.478 Cranch 253 253 (1814)

Shanks v. Dupont, 28 U.S. 3 Pet. 242 242 (1830)

Minor v. Happersett , 88 U.S. 162 (1875)

United States v. Wong Kim Ark, 169 U.S. 649 (1898)

In this case, Wong Kim Ark, the son of 2 resident Chinese aliens, claimed U.S. Citizenship and was vindicated by the court on the basis of the 14th Amendment.  In this case the Justice Gray gave the opinion of the court.  On p. 168-9 of the record, He cites approvingly the decision in Minor vs. Happersett:

At common law, with the nomenclature of which the framers of the Constitution were familiar, it was never doubted that

all children, born in a country of parents who were its citizens, became themselves, upon their birth, citizens also. These were natives, or natural-born citizens,

as distinguished from aliens or foreigners.

On the basis of the 14th Amendment, however, the majority opinion coined a new definition for “native citizen”, as anyone who was born in the U.S.A., under the jurisdiction of the United States.  The Court gave a novel interpretation to jurisdiction, and thus extended citizenship to all born in the country (excepting those born of ambassadors and foreign armies etc.); but it did not extend the meaning of the term “natural born citizen.”

CONCLUSION

Finally it should be noted, that to define a term is to indicate the category or class of things which it signifies.  In this sense, the Supreme Court of the United States has never applied the term “natural born citizen” to any other category than “those born in the country of parents who are citizens thereof”.

Hence every U.S. Citizen must accept this definition or categorical designation, and fulfil his constitutional duties accordingly.  No member of Congress, no judge of the Federal Judiciary, no elected or appointed official in Federal or State government has the right to use any other definition; and if he does, he is acting unlawfully, because unconstitutionally.

Selling debate tickets, what next?

Survey Monkey (click here)

I think Donald Trump is attracting the Republican voters that were with Mitt Romney. It seems to be the same solidified crowd. There are some shifting, but, it is  a surprising shift and says nothing about the expertise of the American press. All predictions got it wrong.

The overnight poll (click here) was conducted for 24 hours from Friday evening into Saturday. During that period, Donald Trump stayed in the headlines due to his negative comments about Kelly and was dis-invited from a major conservative gathering in Atlanta.
None of that stopped Trump from coming in at the top of the poll with 23 percent. Sen. Ted Cruz was next on the list with 13 percent. n

Megan Kelly baited the first question in the debate and it is very unprofessional, quite frankly. Mr. Trump stated it was a victimizing question and it was. It was intended to state Mr. Trump is not a true Republican and voters should throw their weight elsewhere. The electorate didn't fall for it because Donald Trump brought the unfairness to the forefront.

According to Survey Monkey:
The survey also finds a majority of Trump supporters say they would vote for him as an independent candidate for president, in the event he does not win the Republican nomination.

The American cable media hasn't got it right for awhile now. They are always trying to catch the ratings so they march to the same drummer. 2014 was a wash out for Democrats compared to the predictions of the cable media. There is a lot they got wrong. In 2014 the cable media looked like FOX did in 2012. They play a game called, "Make a wish and it will come true."

Both in 2010 and 2014 the private Republican pollsters got it right. The media wasn't even close.

The issue with Megan Kelly is masked as a gender bias of Trump. It isn't. Megan Kelly was attempting to prove there is only one man that is willing to abandon the Republican Party. I didn't think that was the purpose of debates. I thought it was to get ideas out and find out the sincere leaders for 2016. You know. Leaders. The people with ideas. Morals. Facts and figures that proves their point. Not simply rhetoric to play with people's emotions. Real positions on issues backed up by facts.

Wouldn't that be interesting. The way the debate was run, it was a beauty pageant (excuse the pun) and not a debate.

The first question of the debate was intended to stigmatize Donald Trump and now everyone is trying to play off it to gain a better standing with the Republican electorate. It is easier to try to score points from Trump than actually say something meaningful. That is pretty sad. 

You mean to tell me, that the only way for anyone other than, Donald Trump, to win the nomination is by vengeance of a principled man. If that is the case and the only way for another candidate to win the nomination is by attempting to defeat Donald Trump on anything less than merit; that isn't saying much about the Republican field. 

In the Survey Monkey poll, Scott Walker (The Rhetoric King) tumbled and his next stop is off the grid all together. The people are looking for substance and answers, not rhetoric. Rhetoric is not answering anything. Whatever. 

Whatever tickets are left over from seating the candidates staff are sold? Really? These audience are biased? That is corruption.

September 16, 2015 - CNN Republican Debate (click here)
Statement from the Reagan Library Foundation regarding debate tickets as of July 9, 2015: "At this time we don’t have any information regarding when or if seats will be available to the general public. Each candidate will be requesting seats for their associates, staff etc. Once we know that number it will be decided if seats will be open to the public. Please visit our web site @ reaganfoundation.org and also if you are a member you will get notification."

 
October 28, 2015 - CNBC Republican Debate
Statement from the University of Colorado Boulder concerning the availability of debate tickets:
"Ticket details are still being finalized, but an allotment of tickets for CU-Boulder students will be available. More details will be available in the coming months."

These debates are fund raising events. Amazing. Is there anything legitimate about them?

I am traveling and won't be back to my regular entries for the next week.

I'll check in as I can.

The Japanese are afraid of the change in their military readiness.

The seventieth anniversary of Hiroshma and Nagasaki has proven a point of conflict between the Japanese government and it's people. The survivors came to podiums to speak out at the increase in militarization of Japan. Pacifism has served Japan well and those that remember the WWII horror want to have nothing with an increase in Japan's military profile.

There was even a bike race around the bombs sites. Japan will never be a nuclear power, but, it lives in a dangerous neighborhood that includes an unpredictable North Korea. 

The world needs peace. Japan has been leading the way for a long time. 
 

August 9, 2015
By David McNeill

In the months (click here) after the United States dropped its atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, a new Japan emerged. Occupied by the allied forces to which it had surrendered, Japan adopted a new pacifist constitution, under which it would “forever renounce war”. In a country that was still losing tens of thousands to the effects of the bomb, the idea of peace was welcome.

At a commemoration of Nagasaki’s nuclear destruction on Sunday, those who lived through the horrors of 9 August 1945 warned that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe risked taking the country to the brink of a new war with his pledge to expand the role of the nation’s military forces.

“The security bills that the government is trying to push through would jeopardise our long-time movement for nuclear abolition and the hopes of hibakusha [atomic bomb survivors],” said Sumiteru Taniguchi, 86, to loud applause from the crowd in Nagasaki Peace Park. “We cannot allow this,” he said, looking directly at Mr Abe....

New Zealand is frozen.

Current water vapor satellite of Australia and New Zealand.

Wild weather sets in around the country (click here)

Updated 7 min ago 1:02 PM Sunday Aug 9, 2015

 

Heavy snow and bitterly cold southerlies are expected in parts of the country today. A big chill was expected for the central North Island.
MetService said snow showers above elevations of 400m were likely in eastern parts of Taihape and Taupo, and over Hawkes Bay and the southern Gisborne ranges.

The Desert Rd Sate Highway 1 after heavy snow fell on the region 08 August 2015. Photo / Instagram

Icicles on a window in Methven 09 August 2015 after heavy snow fell across the country yesterday. Photo / Instagram

The forecasters also warned of an active trough moving slowly north bringing "bitterly cold southerlies" across the central North Island.MetService expected snow in areas above 600m south of Wairoa, then in the ranges north of Wairoa from later this afternoon. 

 "Although snow accumulations look unlikely to reach warning criteria, higher level roads could be affected and the bitterly cold conditions could cause stress to vulnerable stock, especially as temperatures are not expected to rise significantly until at least mid-week," MetService added....

Clue to Democrats, access all communication lifestyles for debates.

The Democratic debates should not get mired down in cable access. Reach out to voters in all venues of communication. The Democratic campaigns have to reach people on all levels of communication. Senator Sanders prides himself on grass roots support. Fine. Congratulations, but, before the debates begin make sure the broadcast is reaching them.

Go to the voter, don't expect them to come to you. Traditional venues of communication are important, but, there is a far larger audience waiting to be involved. If they aren't involved in the process, they won't vote.

The debates should be respectful of all points of view that will bring valuable insight to help voters discern their positions. The debates should be rich in diversity of culture and reflective of the American people. They need to know the candidates are real with policies that work.

August 7, 2015

By Med James

It's been two days of harsh reckoning (click here) for the entertainment industry
as long-simmering concerns about declining pay-TV subscriptions boiled up in
quarterly earnings reports, leading investors to dump shares of media stocks
amid worries that a key Hollywood money pot is threatened.

The massive sell-off — one analyst called it "the media meltdown" — came after
Walt Disney Co. warned investors late Tuesday that profit from ESPN and other
cable channels would not be as robust as initially thought because fewer
consumers are subscribing to full pay-TV packages.

The sell-off continued Thursday as Viacom disappointed Wall Street with weak
sales. Over the last two days, Time Warner slid 10%, Disney shares dropped 11%,
Fox fell nearly 13% and Viacom plunged 21%....     

I didn't see the debate last night. From what I heard it was no impressive. I am hearing things like Donald Trump did not hurt himself last and and Rubio isn't ready. Rubio might be ready in eight years.

When I asked others what specifics were stated; they said "What specifics?"

So, it was an entirely rhetorical stage presence and Donald Trump got tired of the only paradigm of engaging the public and called everyone stupid. He's right.

See the reason Republicans say, "I'll create jobs without specifics is because they haven't got a clue." Donald Trump can stand through all the political hubris and rhetoric because in the real campaign he already has a track record regarding jobs creation. All he needs is his own record to stand on (which is global by the way) and then demand everyone else to do better.

There is nothing solid being said. One friend said it was a two hour commercial for Hillary Clinton.

There are eight more Republican debates of which will be a 90 exposure for every candidate on the podium if they are in every debate. That should be a strategy to build on. Ten minutes should build on the anticipated next 10 minutes of exposure and so on. Otherwise, the debate process will stamp an identity on every candidates' forehead and they'll either win or lose the nomination and be stuck with that branding for the rest of their national career.

This whole Planned Parenthood thing is a reason for Republicans to defund the government and cause another fiscal crisis.

Go ahead, make my day.

As soon as the Republicans refuse to pass the budget and causes a fiscal crisis again they all need to be charged with ethics violations. Every one of them included Speaker Boner and McConnell. File the ethics investigations in the Congress since it is based in political purposes.

Then the contracts in the private sector can sue the Congress for breach in contract and get their lost revenues anyway. 

Vladimir, Really? Good bye, F35.

There are two resolutions to this. The first get rid of all the cyber anything in the military or use the military capacity to launch false information to international hackers. 

The USA national defense is completely compromised if there is more and more investment into cyber anything. The reason Russia and China have a strong cyber capacity when it comes to the USA Infrastructure is because of the plans for widespread drone warfare. Just that simple. If the USA launched a mission into Russia with cyber capacity, the jets would fall into the oceans and never be found. It's a perfect crime. There would be no detection of the reasons the USA's national defense failed. And then it would be all over. No need for bombs, foreign troops would land and take over DC. 


August 6, 2015
By Jacob Brogan

According to NBC News, hackers (click here)—allegedly from Russia— compromised an unclassified email system used by more than 4,000 employees of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The attack apparently began on or about July 25 and was “coordinated  … via social media accounts.”

CBS News reports that classified elements of the network were not affected. Nevertheless, the unclassified servers remain offline, “and senior members of the Joint Staff were provided with an alternative means of exchanging unclassified e-mail.”

While NBC News suggests that Russia is the primary suspect, the actual source of the attack is not yet absolutely clear. CNBC says “a state actor” is responsible, but it does not say whether the attack “was sanctioned by the Russian government or conducted by individuals.” The “attribution problem”—the difficulty of determining who is responsible for an attack—is increasingly part of cybersecurity discussions....

Russian celebrated the first anniversary with sanctions. That is what that was all about.

August 6, 2015

By Andrew L. Kramer

...Following an order by President  Vladimir V. Putin, (click here) officials threw huge piles of pork, tomatoes, peaches and cheese into landfills and garbage incinerators.

The frenzy, remarkable even by the standards of Russia’s recent politicization of food supplies, was gleefully reported by Russian state television.

“You can see behind me cheese that was made nobody knows where, without labels,” Yekaterina Mironova, a journalist on Rossiya 24 television, standing before a gigantic mound of orange cheese rounds, as a bulldozer revved its engine in the background.

The offending cheese, she said, would be plowed into a landfill in the Belgorod region of western Russia....