I want a report from the CBO. Candidate Trump promised someone a tax cut for Christmas, but, it wasn't the people.
Lie number one:
...“As a candidate, I promised we would pass a massive tax cut for the everyday working American families who are the backbone and the heartbeat of our country,” Mr. Trump said. “Now we are just days away from keeping that promise. We want to give you, the American people, a giant tax cut for Christmas.”...
Real reason:
...The agreement would cut the corporate tax rate to 21 percent, which is lower than the current 35 percent rate but higher than the 20 percent that Mr. Trump had, until recently, said was nonnegotiable. The corporate rate would take effect in 2018, rather than 2019, as the Senate bill originally called for, according to a senior Republican congressional aide....
Chart to left (click here)
December 13, 2017
By Jim Tankersley, Thomas Kaplan and Alan Rappeport
Washington — The day after suffering a political blow (click here) in the Alabama special Senate election, congressional Republicans sped forward with the most sweeping tax rewrite in decades, announcing an agreement on a final bill that would cut taxes for businesses and individuals and signal the party’s first major legislative achievement since assuming political control this year.
Party leaders in the House and Senate agreed in principle to bridge the yawning gaps between their competing versions of the $1.5 trillion tax bill, keeping Republicans on track for final votes next week with the aim of delivering a bill to President Trump’s desk by Christmas. The House and Senate versions of the tax bill started from the same core principles — sharply cutting taxes on businesses, while reducing rates and eliminating some breaks for individuals — but diverged on several crucial details.
In the end, more of the Senate bill appeared to be included in the final version, though lawmakers continued to make significant changes from the legislation that passed either the House or the Senate...
This Blog is created to stress the importance of Peace as an environmental directive. “I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it’s hell.” – Harry Truman (I receive no compensation from any entry on this blog.)
Thursday, December 14, 2017
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
The Republicans have never been good at governing.
They are convinced if they throw money at a problem it will go away. Not so.
December 13, 2017
By Cristina Marco
...GOP lawmakers (click here) said after a closed-door meeting on Wednesday that assistance for communities affected by recent hurricanes and wildfires could also be included in the funding package. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.) told lawmakers that a final aid measure isn't ready yet, though it is likely to be higher than the Trump administration's $44 billion request, according to Rep. Dennis Ross(R-Fla.)....
The climate problem is never going to be solved by throwing money at it. It has to be solved with regulation of greenhouse gases. Hate might be an interesting motivation for elections, but, it doesn't solve anything.
October 4, 2017
By Danielle Paquette
...Male participation (click here) in the workforce was 73.3 percent in 2005, while today’s is 69.2 percent. Opioid use, now seen as a factor keeping men out of work, wasn't yet regarded as a national crisis, and immigration restrictions weren’t as tight. That made it easier for construction firms to find laborers in a hurry when it came time to fix things up.
In contrast, monthly job openings in the United States reached a record high this summer at 6.2 million. Then came the hurricane season's aftermath, adding on to those vacancies as communities began to put themselves back together.
Employers nationwide are complaining about a labor shortage, especially in traditionally male-dominated fields, such as manufacturing and construction. Business owners say a lack of skilled workers who can pass a drug test has stalled their growth....
Congress needs to fund the government period with a continuing resolution, NOW!
The Republican Congress hasn't got a clue about solving problems. All they understand is politics and not much of that. Their spectrum to their politics is narrow and does not allow for bipartisanship that will solve problems.
The natural disasters are not over in the USA. Devastation will continue and continue until greenhouse gases are under control. This is not my rule, it is Earth's rule.
The Republicans need to throw away their idea of a $1.5 trillion addition to the national debt. That money is already spent on disasters that haven't happened yet.
...From late August to mid-September, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma destroyed property across Texas and Florida, causing up to $200 billion in damages, according to an early estimate from Moody’s Analytics....
There is no end to a climate crisis when Congress continues to fund it with crony policies. There needs to be regulation or simply write a blank check to Earth going forward.
Let's see. $200 billion? Hm? I suppose there can be about 50 more tornadoes, hurricanes, landslides and wildfires that can occur before the national debt becomes so bloated, it will be tighter than a tick.
It is time for the USA scientists within the government to perform an assessment of the escalation of costs of natural disasters over the past 100 years and convert it to today's dollar. Be specific. Tornadoes increased in numbers, especially outbreaks, costing plenty of insurance dollars. Hurricanes have reached incredible costs, two of the most disastrous hurricanes occurred this year.
What happens to a First World country when it can no longer recuperate from natural disasters.
And, oh, yeah. Don't forget about sea level rise because the melting of Greenland, Iceland and Siberia has accelerated beyond any estimate out there.
Flooding of major coastal cities is the next nightmare for The West. Don't put it off long, you'll be sorry if you do.
Surviving the climate crisis takes KNOWLEDGE, PLANNING and REGULATION. The USA hasn't even begun to take on the future realizing Earth has control.
December 13, 2017
By Cristina Marco
...GOP lawmakers (click here) said after a closed-door meeting on Wednesday that assistance for communities affected by recent hurricanes and wildfires could also be included in the funding package. House Appropriations Committee Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.) told lawmakers that a final aid measure isn't ready yet, though it is likely to be higher than the Trump administration's $44 billion request, according to Rep. Dennis Ross(R-Fla.)....
The climate problem is never going to be solved by throwing money at it. It has to be solved with regulation of greenhouse gases. Hate might be an interesting motivation for elections, but, it doesn't solve anything.
October 4, 2017
By Danielle Paquette
...Male participation (click here) in the workforce was 73.3 percent in 2005, while today’s is 69.2 percent. Opioid use, now seen as a factor keeping men out of work, wasn't yet regarded as a national crisis, and immigration restrictions weren’t as tight. That made it easier for construction firms to find laborers in a hurry when it came time to fix things up.
In contrast, monthly job openings in the United States reached a record high this summer at 6.2 million. Then came the hurricane season's aftermath, adding on to those vacancies as communities began to put themselves back together.
Employers nationwide are complaining about a labor shortage, especially in traditionally male-dominated fields, such as manufacturing and construction. Business owners say a lack of skilled workers who can pass a drug test has stalled their growth....
Congress needs to fund the government period with a continuing resolution, NOW!
The Republican Congress hasn't got a clue about solving problems. All they understand is politics and not much of that. Their spectrum to their politics is narrow and does not allow for bipartisanship that will solve problems.
The natural disasters are not over in the USA. Devastation will continue and continue until greenhouse gases are under control. This is not my rule, it is Earth's rule.
The Republicans need to throw away their idea of a $1.5 trillion addition to the national debt. That money is already spent on disasters that haven't happened yet.
...From late August to mid-September, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma destroyed property across Texas and Florida, causing up to $200 billion in damages, according to an early estimate from Moody’s Analytics....
There is no end to a climate crisis when Congress continues to fund it with crony policies. There needs to be regulation or simply write a blank check to Earth going forward.
Let's see. $200 billion? Hm? I suppose there can be about 50 more tornadoes, hurricanes, landslides and wildfires that can occur before the national debt becomes so bloated, it will be tighter than a tick.
It is time for the USA scientists within the government to perform an assessment of the escalation of costs of natural disasters over the past 100 years and convert it to today's dollar. Be specific. Tornadoes increased in numbers, especially outbreaks, costing plenty of insurance dollars. Hurricanes have reached incredible costs, two of the most disastrous hurricanes occurred this year.
What happens to a First World country when it can no longer recuperate from natural disasters.
And, oh, yeah. Don't forget about sea level rise because the melting of Greenland, Iceland and Siberia has accelerated beyond any estimate out there.
Flooding of major coastal cities is the next nightmare for The West. Don't put it off long, you'll be sorry if you do.
Surviving the climate crisis takes KNOWLEDGE, PLANNING and REGULATION. The USA hasn't even begun to take on the future realizing Earth has control.
The words and identity below belong to this man.
US Senator Elect Doug Jones (click here)
He has known the middle class and hard times. He has valued family and the love and security it brings. He is a died in the wool Democrat and no one can deny that. He understands the value of UNION.
I congratulate US Senator Elect Doug Jones for running a good and decent campaign after living a life of dignity.
I congratulate the people of Alabama for electing a man that reflects their values and HOPE.
I expect a lot from Doug Jones. He was elected by the majority in Alabama, but, he would not have been elected if the African American vote didn't come out in full strength to turn the corner on abusive policies in Washington, DC.
When Senator Elect Jones gets to Washington, DC, he needs to be prepared for hard work and write bills that return fair voting rights to all Americans. I expect Senator Jones to seek to end poverty and low wages for the African Americans in Alabama.
Election Results (click here). Alabama is blue and not red.
Below are some statistical highlights, if they can be called highlights.
HIGHLIGHTS (click here)
I expect Senator Jones to bring about an Alabama the people desperately need. They need health care, they need good paying jobs, they need to work themselves into a home and begin to appreciate and bring about personal wealth.
I expect a great deal from Senator Jones. I expect him to set higher standards for the people serving Alabama and bring about the much needed changes it requires. The people of Alabama need Senator Jones and he needs to make their dreams come true.
Median Household Income in Alabama (click here)
Every one of these people need to have life better. 45-64 year olds never break into Upper Middle Class with an income over $60,000.
The upper middle class (in the USA) grew to 29.4% of the population in 2014, up from 12.9% in 1979, according to a new Urban Institute report. It defines this group as having household income of between $100,000 and$350,000 for a three-person family.
So, adhering to the national standard that defines Upper Middle Class (click here) as beginning at $100,000 annually, Alabama is a far cry from normal. There is absolutely no Upper Middle Class in Alabama. Heck, I expect even the MDs and Lawyers cry about their income.
August 11, 2016
By Leada Gore
March 31, 2017
By Brian Lyman
And the Alabama Legislature hasn’t changed its mind.
The failure of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) (click here) last week – at heart an attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – breathed new life into the expansion of Medicaid offered under the ACA. Some states that turned away from it, like Kansas and Virginia, are pursuing the expansion. For years, Alabama’s hospitals have pressed officials to expand Medicaid to make up for potentially devastating cuts to uncompensated care funds.
But the state’s General Fund budget chairs said this week they remain opposed to Medicaid expansion. Expansion would extend a limited program that chiefly covers children, elderly and the disabled to all able-bodied adults making up to 138 percent of the poverty line: $16,643 a year for individuals; $33,948 for a household of four....
I am very happy for the people of Alabama. I expect a lot of reform coming to that state, because, the people have spoken. Senator Doug Jones will bring a fresh new voice to Washington, DC on behalf of the people of Alabama. I expect the elected officials in Alabama to continue to change in realizing how much reform is drastically needed. Senator Jones can't do this by himself, he needs people in the Alabama state house to be willing to bring the kind of change Senator Jones can ask for in Washington, DC.
The people of Alabama want a moral voice in their government and one that puts the well being of the people first. The current state house doesn't even listen to the medical doctors that treat Alabamans.
Enough of the poverty and impoverishment. US Senator Elect Jones needs to take care of the people that had faith in him. He needs to put the people first and speak to their needs and well being.
There is one more thing. How does Senator Jones view Alabama football?
December 13, 2017
By Charlie Potter
While Alabama's game plan for top-ranked Clemson (click here) will be near the top of its to-do list in the coming days, so will monitoring the health of a bevy of UA's injured players...
He has known the middle class and hard times. He has valued family and the love and security it brings. He is a died in the wool Democrat and no one can deny that. He understands the value of UNION.
I congratulate US Senator Elect Doug Jones for running a good and decent campaign after living a life of dignity.
I congratulate the people of Alabama for electing a man that reflects their values and HOPE.
I expect a lot from Doug Jones. He was elected by the majority in Alabama, but, he would not have been elected if the African American vote didn't come out in full strength to turn the corner on abusive policies in Washington, DC.
When Senator Elect Jones gets to Washington, DC, he needs to be prepared for hard work and write bills that return fair voting rights to all Americans. I expect Senator Jones to seek to end poverty and low wages for the African Americans in Alabama.
Election Results (click here). Alabama is blue and not red.
Below are some statistical highlights, if they can be called highlights.
HIGHLIGHTS (click here)
- Alabama ranks in the top 10 in maternal mortality, lifetime intimate partner violence, excessive drinking, homeless family households, infant child care cost, and high childhood immunization coverage.
- The state ranks in the bottom 10 in the behaviors and outcomes categories.
- The prevalence of diabetes in women is the highest in the nation, along with high rates of obesity and physical inactivity in this population.
- Alabama ranks 49th in infant outcomes due to poor scores in infant mortality, low birthweight, neonatal mortality, and preterm birth.
- The state ranks in the bottom 10 in child mortality, protective home environment (ages 0 to 17), and neighborhood amenities.
I expect a great deal from Senator Jones. I expect him to set higher standards for the people serving Alabama and bring about the much needed changes it requires. The people of Alabama need Senator Jones and he needs to make their dreams come true.
Median Household Income in Alabama (click here)
Median Income Under 25 | $23,534 |
Median Income 25-44 | $41,342 |
Median Income 45-64 | $52,014 |
Median Income Over 65 | $38,847 |
Every one of these people need to have life better. 45-64 year olds never break into Upper Middle Class with an income over $60,000.
The upper middle class (in the USA) grew to 29.4% of the population in 2014, up from 12.9% in 1979, according to a new Urban Institute report. It defines this group as having household income of between $100,000 and$350,000 for a three-person family.
So, adhering to the national standard that defines Upper Middle Class (click here) as beginning at $100,000 annually, Alabama is a far cry from normal. There is absolutely no Upper Middle Class in Alabama. Heck, I expect even the MDs and Lawyers cry about their income.
August 11, 2016
By Leada Gore
...NerdWallet recently looked at the counties (click here) with the greatest number of personal bankruptcy filings per 100,000 residents. It found the median bankruptcy rate in the U.S. from April 1, 2015 to March 31 was 224 filings per 100,000 people. In the 10 counties with the highest number of bankruptcy filings - including one in Alabama - the rate was nearly four times greater, an average of 856 per 100,000 people.
The two counties with the highest bankruptcy rates are Shelby County, Tennessee (1,285 per 100,000 people) and Clayton, Georgia (1,096 per 100,000 people.) At number three nationally is Houston County, Alabama, with a bankruptcy rate of 940 per 100,000 residents....
...Overall, Alabama had 529 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 residents, second only to Tennessee.
I guarantee many of those bankruptcies are linked to health care costs in Alabama....Overall, Alabama had 529 bankruptcy filings per 100,000 residents, second only to Tennessee.
March 31, 2017
By Brian Lyman
And the Alabama Legislature hasn’t changed its mind.
The failure of the American Health Care Act (AHCA) (click here) last week – at heart an attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) – breathed new life into the expansion of Medicaid offered under the ACA. Some states that turned away from it, like Kansas and Virginia, are pursuing the expansion. For years, Alabama’s hospitals have pressed officials to expand Medicaid to make up for potentially devastating cuts to uncompensated care funds.
But the state’s General Fund budget chairs said this week they remain opposed to Medicaid expansion. Expansion would extend a limited program that chiefly covers children, elderly and the disabled to all able-bodied adults making up to 138 percent of the poverty line: $16,643 a year for individuals; $33,948 for a household of four....
I am very happy for the people of Alabama. I expect a lot of reform coming to that state, because, the people have spoken. Senator Doug Jones will bring a fresh new voice to Washington, DC on behalf of the people of Alabama. I expect the elected officials in Alabama to continue to change in realizing how much reform is drastically needed. Senator Jones can't do this by himself, he needs people in the Alabama state house to be willing to bring the kind of change Senator Jones can ask for in Washington, DC.
The people of Alabama want a moral voice in their government and one that puts the well being of the people first. The current state house doesn't even listen to the medical doctors that treat Alabamans.
Enough of the poverty and impoverishment. US Senator Elect Jones needs to take care of the people that had faith in him. He needs to put the people first and speak to their needs and well being.
There is one more thing. How does Senator Jones view Alabama football?
December 13, 2017
By Charlie Potter
While Alabama's game plan for top-ranked Clemson (click here) will be near the top of its to-do list in the coming days, so will monitoring the health of a bevy of UA's injured players...
Who's identity is this?
Born into a blue-collar family in Fairfield, Alabama – to a father who worked for U.S. Steel and a stay-at-home mom, one grandfather who was a steelworker and the other a coal miner – I am a product and lifelong resident of Alabama. I, too, spent some time working a union job in the steel mill between school. The respect I learned for my parents and grandparents – the hard work they did has shaped my respect for those who work to feed a family – and try to make their children’s lives better....
Who's words are those?
I will bring integrity back to Washington and back to Alabama politics. The people of Alabama have been embarrassed by corruption and a string of ethics investigations and convictions of people they placed into positions of power and trust. They deserve better. We all deserve better.
We are all tired of politicians who have been bought and paid for by special interests and who view the world through a partisan lens instead of considering the best interest of those they are supposed to represent. I will work for the betterment of all of the people of Alabama without regard for partisan politics.
Throughout my career, I have tried to demonstrate honesty, integrity and character while treating everyone as equals. I not only fulfilled my term as U.S. attorney, but continued as a special prosecutor to ensure the successful prosecution of two men who bombed a place of worship, killing four innocent little girls.
This race is not about Democrats or Republicans. It is about the people of Alabama – giving them honest answers while working to protect their health care, rights and economic interests.
I swore an oath to the Constitution. I vowed to protect the people of the United States against all enemies. I upheld that oath and ensured the folks who committed heinous acts never walked our streets again. I will take my oath as senator just as seriously and ensure I not only represent all the citizens of Alabama, but do so with integrity.
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
'I will not be silent': Kirsten Gillibrand responds to Trump Twitter attack (click here).
President Trump has openly BRAGGED about his sexual assaults on women. It is time it become part of the permanent record. US Senator Gillibrand has been instrumental in bringing these issues to the floor of the US Senate. She has been instrumental in addressing sexual assault in the military (click here).
This is an important issue and no one should be attempting to silence
Senator Gillbrand or prevent any investigation into the assaults on women by President Trump.
December 12, 2017
By Melissa Mahtani
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California (click here) condemned President Donald Trump's Tuesday morning tweet attacking Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, calling it "ugly and suggestive."
"It's beneath the office of the presidency for him to conduct himself that way," Swalwell told CNN.
At 8:03 a.m., the President tweeted: "Lightweight Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a total flunky for Chuck Schumer and someone who would come to my office 'begging' for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them), is now in the ring fighting against Trump. Very disloyal to Bill & Crooked-USED!"
This issue is not about Senator Gillibrand's integrity. She has a remarkable career and wonder life at home as a woman. This is about the misconduct of President Trump and his history of assaulting women.
President Trump's tweets are nothing short of bullying.
December 12, 2017
By John Bowden
Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley (D) (click here) on Tuesday reiterated his call for President Trump's resignation, explaining on CNN that the women who are accusing Trump should be treated the same as other victims of sexual misconduct.
Merkley told CNN's "New Day" that Trump's accusers should be heard and have their chance to tell their stories.
"I think we should give full opportunity for these women who the president completely discounted and said are inauthentic, unbelievable, never happened. It's only fair that we give them the full chance to tell their story before the American people," Merkley said.
When pressed by host Alisyn Camerota on why he would call for the president's resignation before hearing the women speak, Merkley responded that it came down to "accountability."
"Well, it's fundamental accountability," Merkley responded. "Alisyn, there were over 40 senators that said it was the right thing for Sen. Franken (D-Minn.) to step down. But if you believe that that's the case, wouldn't you also believe that it's the right thing for the president to step down? Who has a far more serious set of stories."
"He's grabbed women's butts, he's grabbed their breasts, he's grabbed their genitals. He's bragged about it in a variety of forms," Merkley continued. "It's just a horrendous list of treatment of women, and this is why if you called for Franken to step down, don't you have to also say it's the right thing for the president to step down?"...
December 12, 2017
On Monday, 56 House lawmakers (click here) with the Democratic Women’s Working Group wrote a joint letter calling for a congressional investigation into the allegations against Trump. They are joined by five U.S. senators who’ve called for Trump to resign—Cory Booker, Bernie Sanders, Jeff Merkley, Ron Wyden and New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, who spoke on CNN.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand: “President Trump should resign. These allegations are credible; they are numerous. I’ve heard these women’s testimony, and many of them are heartbreaking.”...
December 12, 2017
By Madeline Aggeler
In a particularly crass tweet on Monday morning, (click here) President Trump derided New York senator Kristen Gillibrand, saying that she would come to his office “‘begging’ for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them.)” A few hours later, Senator Elizabeth Warren came to Gillibrand’s defense, accusing Trump of bullying, intimidation, and slut-shaming.
Warren’s use of the term “slut-shame” isn’t quite accurate, because it implies Gillibrand did do the kind of “begging” Trump claimed, and is being unfairly shamed for it — more accurate terms for what the president did might be “flagrantly spouted misogynistic nonsense,” or “rage-tweeted like a petulant teen.”...
This is an important issue and no one should be attempting to silence
Senator Gillbrand or prevent any investigation into the assaults on women by President Trump.
December 12, 2017
By Melissa Mahtani
Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California (click here) condemned President Donald Trump's Tuesday morning tweet attacking Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, calling it "ugly and suggestive."
"It's beneath the office of the presidency for him to conduct himself that way," Swalwell told CNN.
At 8:03 a.m., the President tweeted: "Lightweight Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a total flunky for Chuck Schumer and someone who would come to my office 'begging' for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them), is now in the ring fighting against Trump. Very disloyal to Bill & Crooked-USED!"
This issue is not about Senator Gillibrand's integrity. She has a remarkable career and wonder life at home as a woman. This is about the misconduct of President Trump and his history of assaulting women.
President Trump's tweets are nothing short of bullying.
December 12, 2017
By John Bowden
Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley (D) (click here) on Tuesday reiterated his call for President Trump's resignation, explaining on CNN that the women who are accusing Trump should be treated the same as other victims of sexual misconduct.
Merkley told CNN's "New Day" that Trump's accusers should be heard and have their chance to tell their stories.
"I think we should give full opportunity for these women who the president completely discounted and said are inauthentic, unbelievable, never happened. It's only fair that we give them the full chance to tell their story before the American people," Merkley said.
When pressed by host Alisyn Camerota on why he would call for the president's resignation before hearing the women speak, Merkley responded that it came down to "accountability."
"Well, it's fundamental accountability," Merkley responded. "Alisyn, there were over 40 senators that said it was the right thing for Sen. Franken (D-Minn.) to step down. But if you believe that that's the case, wouldn't you also believe that it's the right thing for the president to step down? Who has a far more serious set of stories."
"He's grabbed women's butts, he's grabbed their breasts, he's grabbed their genitals. He's bragged about it in a variety of forms," Merkley continued. "It's just a horrendous list of treatment of women, and this is why if you called for Franken to step down, don't you have to also say it's the right thing for the president to step down?"...
December 12, 2017
On Monday, 56 House lawmakers (click here) with the Democratic Women’s Working Group wrote a joint letter calling for a congressional investigation into the allegations against Trump. They are joined by five U.S. senators who’ve called for Trump to resign—Cory Booker, Bernie Sanders, Jeff Merkley, Ron Wyden and New York Democrat Kirsten Gillibrand, who spoke on CNN.
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand: “President Trump should resign. These allegations are credible; they are numerous. I’ve heard these women’s testimony, and many of them are heartbreaking.”...
December 12, 2017
By Madeline Aggeler
In a particularly crass tweet on Monday morning, (click here) President Trump derided New York senator Kristen Gillibrand, saying that she would come to his office “‘begging’ for campaign contributions not so long ago (and would do anything for them.)” A few hours later, Senator Elizabeth Warren came to Gillibrand’s defense, accusing Trump of bullying, intimidation, and slut-shaming.
Warren’s use of the term “slut-shame” isn’t quite accurate, because it implies Gillibrand did do the kind of “begging” Trump claimed, and is being unfairly shamed for it — more accurate terms for what the president did might be “flagrantly spouted misogynistic nonsense,” or “rage-tweeted like a petulant teen.”...
Climate Action 100+...
...doesn't address the private family companies like Koch Industries.
July 19, 2016
By Riley Snyder
Charles and David Koch might be two of the people happiest about Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid’s impending retirement.
The Nevada Democrat’s undisguised disdain for the billionaire brothers’ bankrolling of conservative groups is well-documented, and Reid’s long crusade against the Kochs isn’t letting up as he nears retirement.
Kicking off a coordinated effort to draw attention towards conservative-leaning nonprofits and climate change skeptics, Reid zeroed in on the Kochs and accused them of being worse polluters than major oil companies.
"The company is among the worst in toxic air pollution in the entire United States," he said during a July 11 floor speech. "Koch Industries churns out more climate-changing greenhouse gases than oil giants Chevron, Shell and Valero."
July 19, 2016
By Riley Snyder
Charles and David Koch might be two of the people happiest about Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid’s impending retirement.
The Nevada Democrat’s undisguised disdain for the billionaire brothers’ bankrolling of conservative groups is well-documented, and Reid’s long crusade against the Kochs isn’t letting up as he nears retirement.
Kicking off a coordinated effort to draw attention towards conservative-leaning nonprofits and climate change skeptics, Reid zeroed in on the Kochs and accused them of being worse polluters than major oil companies.
"The company is among the worst in toxic air pollution in the entire United States," he said during a July 11 floor speech. "Koch Industries churns out more climate-changing greenhouse gases than oil giants Chevron, Shell and Valero."
They own the companies.
Climate Action 100+ (click here) is a five-year initiative led by investors to engage with the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters to improve governance on climate change, curb emissions and strengthen climate-related financial disclosures. To date, 225 investors with more than USD $26.3 trillion in assets under management have signed on to the initiative....
December 12, 2017
By Nicole Hasham
Shareholders (click here) have turned up the heat on the world's 100 biggest polluting companies including Australian firms BHP Billiton, Wesfarmers and Rio Tinto, in the first coordinated global effort by investors to force corporate action on climate change.
The Climate Action 100+ initiative, to be launched in Paris on Tuesday evening eastern standard time, will target 100 global companies responsible for an estimated 15 per cent of global emissions....
...Ms Herd cited Exxon Mobil, the world's biggest oil company, which was this year forced by a shareholder vote to be more transparent about the impact of climate change on its business.
"Engagement between investors and the companies they own is one of the core foundations of our economy and how it runs," she said.
If a company does not respond to investor demands on climate change, shareholder options include resolutions and votes, and divestment.
Investors who sign up to the effort can nominate companies to be added to the list.
Companies in the sectors of oil and gas, electricity and transport make up the bulk of the 100 companies. It also includes PepsiCo and Nestle, as well as the Wesfarmers group which includes Coles, Bunnings, Kmart, Target and Officeworks, as well as coal mine assets....
December 12, 2017
By Nicole Hasham
Shareholders (click here) have turned up the heat on the world's 100 biggest polluting companies including Australian firms BHP Billiton, Wesfarmers and Rio Tinto, in the first coordinated global effort by investors to force corporate action on climate change.
The Climate Action 100+ initiative, to be launched in Paris on Tuesday evening eastern standard time, will target 100 global companies responsible for an estimated 15 per cent of global emissions....
...Ms Herd cited Exxon Mobil, the world's biggest oil company, which was this year forced by a shareholder vote to be more transparent about the impact of climate change on its business.
"Engagement between investors and the companies they own is one of the core foundations of our economy and how it runs," she said.
If a company does not respond to investor demands on climate change, shareholder options include resolutions and votes, and divestment.
Investors who sign up to the effort can nominate companies to be added to the list.
Companies in the sectors of oil and gas, electricity and transport make up the bulk of the 100 companies. It also includes PepsiCo and Nestle, as well as the Wesfarmers group which includes Coles, Bunnings, Kmart, Target and Officeworks, as well as coal mine assets....
No subpoenas necessary. What is Congress waiting for?
Make these women safe. Women that speak out about sexual misconduct of men are hurt by their own stories. It is a strategy against women that has survived decades of mistreatment, assault, harassment and rape.
There are women at risk right now and no one is doing a darn thing about it. The USA has a diminished brain trust because women in the US Air Force Academy were sexually assaulted by other male cadets. They left. Their assailants graduated.
The USA has a real problem when it comes to defending the honor of women. It is time that problem ended. By this measure alone, women are still second class citizens valued as a sex object. The USA has to deal with it and it has to deal with it now!
11 December 2017
(L-R) Jessica Leeds, Samantha Holvey, and Rachel Crook
Three women (click here) who accused President Donald Trump of sexual misconduct have demanded a congressional inquiry.
At a New York City news conference, the trio accused Mr Trump of groping, fondling, forcibly kissing, humiliating or harassing them.
Three of them - Jessica Leeds, Samantha Holvey, and Rachel Crooks - detailed their allegations shortly beforehand live on television.
The White House said the women were making "false claims".
Monday morning's press conference was organised by Brave New Films, which last month released a documentary, 16 Women and Donald Trump, about the claims made by multiple women....
There are women at risk right now and no one is doing a darn thing about it. The USA has a diminished brain trust because women in the US Air Force Academy were sexually assaulted by other male cadets. They left. Their assailants graduated.
The USA has a real problem when it comes to defending the honor of women. It is time that problem ended. By this measure alone, women are still second class citizens valued as a sex object. The USA has to deal with it and it has to deal with it now!

(L-R) Jessica Leeds, Samantha Holvey, and Rachel Crook
Three women (click here) who accused President Donald Trump of sexual misconduct have demanded a congressional inquiry.
At a New York City news conference, the trio accused Mr Trump of groping, fondling, forcibly kissing, humiliating or harassing them.
Three of them - Jessica Leeds, Samantha Holvey, and Rachel Crooks - detailed their allegations shortly beforehand live on television.
The White House said the women were making "false claims".
Monday morning's press conference was organised by Brave New Films, which last month released a documentary, 16 Women and Donald Trump, about the claims made by multiple women....
Monday, December 11, 2017
This is one of the professionals writing about Ukraine. It is not his first publication.
The "Euromaidan," Democracy and Political Values in Ukraine (click here)
By Ivan Katchanovski
University of Ottawa
Ivan Katchanovski (click here) teaches at the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa. He was Visiting Scholar at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University, Visiting Assistant Professor at the Department of Politics at the State University of New York at Potsdam, Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto, and Kluge Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Kluge Center at the Library of Congress. He received his Ph.D. from the School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs at George Mason University....
This chapter examines (click here) the political system, attitudes towards democracy, and their determinants in Ukraine before, during and after the “Euromaidan.” The research question is as follows: What type of political system has emerged in Ukraine since the “Euromaidan?” The related research question is to what extent political values in Ukraine are supportive of democracy. This study is based on theories of democratic, semi-democratic, and authoritarian political systems, democratization, and political culture. This chapter compares political systems in Ukraine before, during and after the “Euromaidan.” It uses data from different waves of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems surveys, the Pew Global Attitudes surveys, and the World Values Surveys to examine attitudes towards democracy in Ukraine before and after the “Euromaidan” and to compare democratic preferences in Ukraine with those in Poland and Russia. This study also implements multiple regression analysis of the determinants of attitudes towards democracy. It discusses implications of its findings for the prospects for liberal democracy in Ukraine and for the international conflict over Ukraine....
By Ivan Katchanovski
University of Ottawa
Ivan Katchanovski (click here) teaches at the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa. He was Visiting Scholar at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University, Visiting Assistant Professor at the Department of Politics at the State University of New York at Potsdam, Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Department of Political Science at the University of Toronto, and Kluge Post-Doctoral Fellow at the Kluge Center at the Library of Congress. He received his Ph.D. from the School of Policy, Government, and International Affairs at George Mason University....
This chapter examines (click here) the political system, attitudes towards democracy, and their determinants in Ukraine before, during and after the “Euromaidan.” The research question is as follows: What type of political system has emerged in Ukraine since the “Euromaidan?” The related research question is to what extent political values in Ukraine are supportive of democracy. This study is based on theories of democratic, semi-democratic, and authoritarian political systems, democratization, and political culture. This chapter compares political systems in Ukraine before, during and after the “Euromaidan.” It uses data from different waves of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems surveys, the Pew Global Attitudes surveys, and the World Values Surveys to examine attitudes towards democracy in Ukraine before and after the “Euromaidan” and to compare democratic preferences in Ukraine with those in Poland and Russia. This study also implements multiple regression analysis of the determinants of attitudes towards democracy. It discusses implications of its findings for the prospects for liberal democracy in Ukraine and for the international conflict over Ukraine....
Tears are shed for the brave.
10 December 2017
by Louis Kolumbia
Dar es Salaam — Tanzania People's Defence Forces (TPDF) (click here) has said the bodies of 14 soldiers killed during an attack in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) will arrive either on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, December 10, the TPDF chief of staff, Lt-Gen James Mwakibolwa, said the government and the United Nations were collaborating to return the bodies of the fallen soldiers.
"TPDF has communicated with the families of the slain soldiers. The government will take appropriate measures, including investigating the incident at the scene," he said, noting that the names of slain soldiers would be disclosed later.
Describing the incident that claimed 14 lives of TPDF peacekeepers, wounding 44 with two still missing, Lt-Gen Mwakibolwa said the fallen soldiers were killed during an attack by the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)....
Unfortunately, when peacekeepers do their jobs well, this occurs. They stood their ground. They are very honorable people.
Reason for listing:
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) was listed on30 June 2014 pursuant to the criteria set out in paragraph 4 of resolution 2078 (2012).
Additional information:
The Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) was created in 1995 and is located in the mountainous DRC-Uganda border area. According to the United Nations Group of Experts on the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (“GoE”) 2013 final report, citing Ugandan officials and UN sources, in 2013 the ADF had an estimated strength of 1,200 to 1,500 armed fighters located in north-east Beni Territory of North Kivu province, close to the border with Uganda. These same sources estimate ADF’s total membership — including women and children — to be between 1,600 and 2,500. Due to offensive military operations by the Congolese Armed Forces (FARDC) and the UN Organization Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) conducted in 2013 and 2014, ADF dispersed its fighters to numerous smaller bases, and moved women and children to areas west of Beni, and along the Ituri-North Kivu border. The ADF’s military commander is Hood Lukwago and its supreme leader is the sanctioned individual Jamil Mukulu.
The ADF has committed serious violations of international law and UNSCR 2078 (2012), including as detailed below.
The ADF has recruited and used child soldiers in violation of applicable international law (UNSCR paragraph 4 (d))....
Heather Young's MILK will screen at Canada's Top Ten Film Festival in January
December 7, 2017
By Emma Smith
By Emma Smith
Halifax-based filmmaker (click here) Heather Young is booking herself another ticket to Toronto as her success at one of the world's largest international film festivals continues.
The 35-year-old NSCAD University grad will screen her short film MILK in the new year at an event organized by the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Canada's Top Ten Film Festival runs from Jan. 12-21 and features short and full-length films, as well as work by students.
While Young is the only Nova Scotian filmmaker selected this time around, the province has been well represented at TIFF thanks to filmmakers like Corey Bowles, who directed Black Cop, and Cape Breton's Ashley McKenzie, who directed Werewolf....
Zero tolerance is not a political strategy. It is to end the abuse of women and girls.
Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell, is pathetic in response to Roy Moore. He stated, "The people of Alabama will decide." Really? They won't decide to their best interest if the airwaves of polluted with permission to vote for the unthinkable.
That is not leadership, that is a surrender to the plutocrats. Who owns the US Senate? I think the tax bill speaks that truth out loud.
December 7, 2017
Senator Bernie Sanders (click here) said Thursday that President Donald Trump should consider resigning because of the infamous tape on which he was heard bragging about committing sexual assault. Sanders, one of Trump’s sharpest critics, was speaking after calling on Democratic Senator Al Franken to step down amid a series of allegations of sexual misconduct.
Appearing on CBS This Morning, Sanders was asked why there is growing pressure on Franken to resign while Republican Roy Moore has not been forced to pull out of the U.S. Senate race in Alabama. In his response, Sanders took the conversation a step further—to the man sitting in the Oval Office.
“We have a president of the United States who acknowledged on a tape, widely seen all over the United States, that he assaulted women, so I would hope that maybe the president of the United States might pay attention to what’s going on and also think about resigning. But if your point is that it’s not just Al Franken, then you’re absolutely right.”...
That is not leadership, that is a surrender to the plutocrats. Who owns the US Senate? I think the tax bill speaks that truth out loud.
December 7, 2017
Senator Bernie Sanders (click here) said Thursday that President Donald Trump should consider resigning because of the infamous tape on which he was heard bragging about committing sexual assault. Sanders, one of Trump’s sharpest critics, was speaking after calling on Democratic Senator Al Franken to step down amid a series of allegations of sexual misconduct.
Appearing on CBS This Morning, Sanders was asked why there is growing pressure on Franken to resign while Republican Roy Moore has not been forced to pull out of the U.S. Senate race in Alabama. In his response, Sanders took the conversation a step further—to the man sitting in the Oval Office.
“We have a president of the United States who acknowledged on a tape, widely seen all over the United States, that he assaulted women, so I would hope that maybe the president of the United States might pay attention to what’s going on and also think about resigning. But if your point is that it’s not just Al Franken, then you’re absolutely right.”...
There are rumors Vladimir Putin is running for President of Russia again.
11 December 2017
Russian President Vladimir Putin (click here) visited a Russian military air base in Syria on Monday and announced a partial pullout of Russian forces from the country.
Putin made a stopover at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria's coastal province of Latakia while en route to Egypt.
The base, in the heartland of Syrian President Bashar Assad's Alawite minority, has served as the main foothold for the Russian military campaign in Syria.
Speaking to the Russian troops at the base, Putin said that he had ordered the military to withdraw a "significant part" of the Russian contingent in Syria. He added in remarks carried by Russian news agencies that "if the terrorists again raise their heads, we will deal such blows to them they have never seen."...
3 March 2014
The trouble in Ukraine (click here) has left New Zealand in a critical position as it vies for selection to the United Nations Security Council, University of Otago politics professor Robert Patman says.
He said the heightened prospect of civil war in Ukraine, from Russia's incursion into Crimea, was ''the most challenging crisis for the world since the Syria situation''.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully had to move quickly to publicise New Zealand's stance on the issue, for favourable consideration in respect of Security Council selection in October, Prof Patman said....
Europe and NATO need to carry out their own investigation and bring about a resolve for the people of Ukraine.
December 11, 2017
An anti-corruption agency (click here) established in Ukraine two years ago was expected to be the driving force that would uproot the endemic graft that depleted the nation's resources and worried its Western allies.
But the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine instead has come under fire from allies of President Petro Poroshenko who are trying to curtail its operations and authority.
NABU chief Artem Sytnik told The Associated Press in a weekend interview that fear is behind the recent attempts by political and business elites to weaken the agency that was supposed to be a visible symbol of reform in Ukraine.
"The old and new elites are quite scared" after realizing "there are no untouchables anymore," Sytnik said....
Putin will take the wiff of corruption in Ukraine and turn it into a nationalist battle cry. To be frank, disarming Ukraine's national military and setting up oligarch militias under Yanukovych is about as corrupt as it gets. That is complete intimidation of citizens. The freedom Ukraine wanted was removed under Yanukovych's Ukraine dominated by oligarchs and oppressors.
July 25, 2017
By Steven Pifer
Following the visit to Kyiv by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (click here) earlier this month, President Petro Poroshenko said Ukraine would seek to meet the alliance’s membership criteria by 2020. On July 17, he stated that Ukraine would pursue a membership action plan....
...To be clear, Ukraine as a sovereign state has a right to choose its orientation and to join alliances. All member states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe—including Russia—accepted that in the 1975 Helsinki Final Act.
But NATO also has a say in who joins the alliance. It is difficult to see NATO saying yes to Ukraine in the foreseeable future.....
NATO is correct; Ukraine has yet to achieve a standard strong enough to be an ally of other countries already member states. NATO has to decide to investigate the corruption or abandon Ukraine as a failed state under it's current leadership. There maybe uncommon ground if President Petro Poroshenko is willing to move into agreements to purge the country of corruption while instilling a government worth consideration by The West.
Russian President Vladimir Putin (click here) visited a Russian military air base in Syria on Monday and announced a partial pullout of Russian forces from the country.
Putin made a stopover at the Hemeimeem air base in Syria's coastal province of Latakia while en route to Egypt.
The base, in the heartland of Syrian President Bashar Assad's Alawite minority, has served as the main foothold for the Russian military campaign in Syria.
Speaking to the Russian troops at the base, Putin said that he had ordered the military to withdraw a "significant part" of the Russian contingent in Syria. He added in remarks carried by Russian news agencies that "if the terrorists again raise their heads, we will deal such blows to them they have never seen."...
3 March 2014
The trouble in Ukraine (click here) has left New Zealand in a critical position as it vies for selection to the United Nations Security Council, University of Otago politics professor Robert Patman says.
He said the heightened prospect of civil war in Ukraine, from Russia's incursion into Crimea, was ''the most challenging crisis for the world since the Syria situation''.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully had to move quickly to publicise New Zealand's stance on the issue, for favourable consideration in respect of Security Council selection in October, Prof Patman said....
Europe and NATO need to carry out their own investigation and bring about a resolve for the people of Ukraine.
December 11, 2017
An anti-corruption agency (click here) established in Ukraine two years ago was expected to be the driving force that would uproot the endemic graft that depleted the nation's resources and worried its Western allies.
But the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine instead has come under fire from allies of President Petro Poroshenko who are trying to curtail its operations and authority.
NABU chief Artem Sytnik told The Associated Press in a weekend interview that fear is behind the recent attempts by political and business elites to weaken the agency that was supposed to be a visible symbol of reform in Ukraine.
"The old and new elites are quite scared" after realizing "there are no untouchables anymore," Sytnik said....
Putin will take the wiff of corruption in Ukraine and turn it into a nationalist battle cry. To be frank, disarming Ukraine's national military and setting up oligarch militias under Yanukovych is about as corrupt as it gets. That is complete intimidation of citizens. The freedom Ukraine wanted was removed under Yanukovych's Ukraine dominated by oligarchs and oppressors.
July 25, 2017
By Steven Pifer
Following the visit to Kyiv by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (click here) earlier this month, President Petro Poroshenko said Ukraine would seek to meet the alliance’s membership criteria by 2020. On July 17, he stated that Ukraine would pursue a membership action plan....
...To be clear, Ukraine as a sovereign state has a right to choose its orientation and to join alliances. All member states of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe—including Russia—accepted that in the 1975 Helsinki Final Act.
But NATO also has a say in who joins the alliance. It is difficult to see NATO saying yes to Ukraine in the foreseeable future.....
NATO is correct; Ukraine has yet to achieve a standard strong enough to be an ally of other countries already member states. NATO has to decide to investigate the corruption or abandon Ukraine as a failed state under it's current leadership. There maybe uncommon ground if President Petro Poroshenko is willing to move into agreements to purge the country of corruption while instilling a government worth consideration by The West.
China is a major power in the world and now everyone knows it.
I have to laugh at Plutocrats. They treat China as a market place and not a country. Wealth hungry plutocrats will rush to China to bring in cash flow so a CEO can actually say he is turning a profit for the company.
China is a major country that has been adding more and more military hardware to it's arsenal. It was a bit crippled about two decades ago, then it found scientists within it's ranks that has created an impressive navy, aircraft and space missions. China is more than a market place where plutocrats seek unfair profits, it is a country, a communist country and it is a powerful.
The best way for plutocrats to keep their immoral profits, is to beg for peace.
7 December 2017
Things are getting crowded (click here) in the airspace about North Korea, Taiwan, Okinawa and the South China Sea.
Beijing's been surging its combat aircraft into contested areas in a major demonstration of its strength - and as a warning to the United States and its Asian allies.
Beijing is being coy about exactly when and where it staged its demonstrations, choosing to reveal it had sent warplanes through "routes and areas it has never flown before" on the same day the US and South Korea launched large scale mock airstrikes involving 230 aircraft.
North Korea criticised the show of force, stating US President Donald Trump was "begging for nuclear war"....
China is a major country that has been adding more and more military hardware to it's arsenal. It was a bit crippled about two decades ago, then it found scientists within it's ranks that has created an impressive navy, aircraft and space missions. China is more than a market place where plutocrats seek unfair profits, it is a country, a communist country and it is a powerful.
The best way for plutocrats to keep their immoral profits, is to beg for peace.
7 December 2017
Things are getting crowded (click here) in the airspace about North Korea, Taiwan, Okinawa and the South China Sea.
Beijing's been surging its combat aircraft into contested areas in a major demonstration of its strength - and as a warning to the United States and its Asian allies.
Beijing is being coy about exactly when and where it staged its demonstrations, choosing to reveal it had sent warplanes through "routes and areas it has never flown before" on the same day the US and South Korea launched large scale mock airstrikes involving 230 aircraft.
North Korea criticised the show of force, stating US President Donald Trump was "begging for nuclear war"....
"Good Night, Moon"
The waning crescent
22.8 days old
43.1 percent lit
Last quarter moon (click here) will come on December 10, 2017 at 07:51 UTC; translate to your time zone. A last quarter moon always rises in the middle of the night, appears at its highest in the sky around dawn, and sets around midday.
A last quarter moon provides a great opportunity to think of yourself on a three-dimensional world in space. For example, it’s fun to see this moon just after moonrise, shortly after midnight. Then the lighted portion points downward, to the sun below your feet. Think of the last quarter moon as a mirror to the world you’re standing on. Think of yourself standing in the middle of Earth’s nightside, on the midnight portion of Earth.
Also, a last quarter moon can be used as a guidepost to Earth’s direction of motion in orbit around the sun.
Should have posted this last week:
Low in the western sky (click here) in the hours before dawn on Sunday, December 3, the path of the nearly full moon (shown in red) will carry it across the stars forming the triangular face of Taurus, passing in front of (or occulting) several bright stars as it goes. At around 9 a.m. EST, for observers in Central and northern Asia, northern Greenland, and northwestern North America, the moon will occult Aldebaran, Taurus' brightest star.
22.8 days old
43.1 percent lit
Last quarter moon (click here) will come on December 10, 2017 at 07:51 UTC; translate to your time zone. A last quarter moon always rises in the middle of the night, appears at its highest in the sky around dawn, and sets around midday.
A last quarter moon provides a great opportunity to think of yourself on a three-dimensional world in space. For example, it’s fun to see this moon just after moonrise, shortly after midnight. Then the lighted portion points downward, to the sun below your feet. Think of the last quarter moon as a mirror to the world you’re standing on. Think of yourself standing in the middle of Earth’s nightside, on the midnight portion of Earth.
Also, a last quarter moon can be used as a guidepost to Earth’s direction of motion in orbit around the sun.
Should have posted this last week:
Low in the western sky (click here) in the hours before dawn on Sunday, December 3, the path of the nearly full moon (shown in red) will carry it across the stars forming the triangular face of Taurus, passing in front of (or occulting) several bright stars as it goes. At around 9 a.m. EST, for observers in Central and northern Asia, northern Greenland, and northwestern North America, the moon will occult Aldebaran, Taurus' brightest star.
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