The Chinese tariffs on Agricultural products will hit large corporate farmers opposed to small family farms. The little local agricultural markets with local farmers will not be effected. These are specialty and organic farmers.

There is a new reality recently with some trucking firms that depend on the car industry (the backbone of the US economy) for their freight; they are asking their drivers for voluntary layoffs because the volume has suddenly dropped. That will not show up on this jobs report.

Donald Trump knowingly lies while defaming CERTAIN media organizations to create a new reality. FOX Mews (News)  profits from those lies (easily led down the primrose path) and now there is a FOX News Pimp as communications director in the White House. It is a perfect nexus to destroy the truth. Soon children in school will be saying the sky is purple and mean it.

It seems to me he is either taking lessons from Putin (who wants to drop bombs on the USA while Americans wallow in their FOX Mews (pussy) unreality) or this is actually the methodology that built the Trump Organization, which explains multiple Chapter 11 bankruptcies.

My sincerest sympathies to the family, friends and colleagues of Ed Schultz. He was a great journalist. He sought to understand people as well as write about them. He stood side by side with unions and made it well known that the loss of unions paralleled the loss of the Middle Class. Sixty-three years old is too young to die.

As a fan for many years I am saddened by his passing.

I don’t really know where to start with Scott Pruitt. He had many complaints against him that violated  American laws regarding his spending, but, he is a human rights abuser. 

The fact the Secretary of the US EPA is a human rights abuser can’t be overlooked, but, the extent to which this occurred is more a statement about the inability of Congress to move effectively to protect the American people from such an appointee. 

Scott Pruitt has decades of reputation of attacking the US EPA and stating he has been very frustrated with losing his cases. Scott Pruitt carried on and on about environmental regulation as Attorney General of Oklahoma. Oklahoma is an environmental disaster area. That is not an exaggeration. Oklahoma scientists, including those who work for the state, are equally as frustrated.

Pruitt’s nomination was made out of hubris and hate for the science that is needed to tame fracking earthquakes, methane emissions, contaminated drinking water and the deaths of innocent people from  that contaminated drinking water. The enormity of the reality of Scott Pruitt has to be addressed.

In reflection on his paranoia and extravagant spending, including openly practiced corruption needs to be understood. How could such a professionally crippled man make it to nomination yet passed into the powers of the EPA.

The reality of him should be studied to realize where democracy failed the people that would become his victims. There is right and wrong in this world. How did wrong find a place of preeminence within a federal agency created to protect Americans?

Bill Shine, former Fox News Executive spent his time at work for 20 years cleaning up sexual harassment cases. Twenty years of hiding sexual harassment cases at FOX News qualifies Mr. Shine for a close adviser in communications to the President since his own attorney Mr. Cohen no longer works for him and has his own problems. 

Mr. Shine was hired to handle the affairs by Mr. Trump, but, primarily the issues with Ms. Clifford.

NATO spending needs to be increased.

In an article in “Newsweek,” Defense Secretary Mattis warned the U.K. its defense spending is too low. The response from Russia is that the warning from Mattis is based in “Made up threats.” (Fake News)  All of a sudden Russia is an expert on Fake News.

Europe is exposed with several right wing politicians elected into power while Ukraine and Crimea remain the focus of Russian aggression which borders Europe. Mattis is very correct; now is not the time for military budget cuts in Europe.

I also found the Russian expedient reply more than interesting. It is my view that Russia wants propaganda to be successful in minimizing Europe’s defenses in order to give Russia a real chance at invading Ukraine without opposition.

General Mattis’s words along with a French assessment of North Africa will bring any debate to a close. NATO needs to come to terms with the need to beef up it’s defenses and increase defense spending to achieve those goals.

Currently Ukraine is completing it’s readiness to become a worthy ally to the West. Ukrainians are more than adequate allies and Europe should embrace it’s new ally and friend. I am not only looking forward to new economic opportunities with Ukraine, but, the addition of real military clout to the region within Ukraine’s expertise and knowledge.

The Baltic’s and Poland are country’s worth noting as incursion points into Europe and any increase in military spending for NATO will serve to stabalize those borders. Increased spending in NATO has absolutely nothing to do with the Korean Peninsula’s ambition to end hostilities and be free of nuclear weapons. Kim Jong Un can still lead the efforts for peace going forward. Nothing changes.

As a matter of fact, the only concern currently regarding a destabilized region is the vascillations of Turkey. But, that is a separate issue. 

General Mattis needs to present his overview of NATO to the US Congress. In bringing testimony to Congress, General Mattis should bring his counter parts from other NATO allies to speak as well.

If Moscow is denying involvement with the poisonings in the U K, then how secure are Russian chemical and biological stores of these deadly agents?

Russian denial of involvement in terrorist incidence like this and the Russian meddling in Western elections is getting to be an international joke. It is amazing, there is no Russian involvement yet there are Russians of a shrinking diaspora committing crimes. When will Russia own the fact, at the very least, it’s citizens are killing internationally? An absence of investigation and justice implies permission of their actions. Just stating Russia was not involved is not good enough, Russia must be an active player in arresting and trying these criminals.

More poisoning in Europe.

It has Russian intelligence written all over it and Russia does not extradite. This could go on forever. This is nothing but pure evil. Russia does not belong to the G8 if it continues hostilities in Ukraine and Crimea and refuses to extradite criminals.

NATO needs to suspend all travel with Russian people including the countries affiliated with Russian financial Agreements.

All of NATO, not just the U.K. It seems to me with Brexit underway this adds to the momentum to divide the countries.

Wow, what is going on?

Corruption, huh? 

What I always admired about journalism is it’s high practice standards. Journalism requires duplicity in their fact finding. Journalism, when times become difficult, can’t let it’s backbone slip. If the Tweets by Trump are inflammatory, lies or simply the wrong path for the country; journalism has to rise above it. The American people have turned time and again to the country’s great newspapers to protect them and the country. It seems to me great journalism is needed now more than ever.

Trump wants to distract the country from the Middle East and his aspirations to lead the region into war to change the map of those Great People. That is why Trump wants to meet with Putin. Trump wants control of the war that will change the map of the region. Putin wants an excuse to send nukes into Alaska.

Americans are counting on their press to be strong and filter out lies from the truth and advocate peace.

Come on now, we have work to do. Ethical, moral work. Rise above Tweets based in power and be truth tellers.

I have never read Twitter. I have only responded to it when it was pulled into the news by journalism. I don’t and never will read Trump’s Tweets. Not one.

Think about it and stop looking for the quick fix. Get your acts together on this one. I heard the US Senate has published their findings. That is a good start.

Enjoy the Fourth of July.

Later.

Senator McConell is lying. The 2016 obstruction of Judge Garland was a huge change in precedent. Nine months of obstruction and the reason of his rhetoric; “The People should decide.” So, McConnell does not love the country or the people, he loves the power and manipulated the power at the cost of the democracy of the people. He is not interested in governance or the US Constitution. The reason to race into a Supreme Court nomination is no longer the people’s will in the election of  2018.

My sincerest sympathies to the families and friends of those lost at “The Capital” in Annapolis, Maryland. They were five of the best of the best. They will be missed. The hate speech about the USA media must stop. NOW! 

There is more I need to write about the Robert’s Court, but, I am stealing time away from my vacation in early morning hours. I am not going to sit in front of screens nor with ear buds because of FOX News propaganda.

Best regards until later.

Hi,
My vacation is nice. Broke the rules and peaked at the news. Just one comment; Mr. Goudy knows better than anyone that federal investigations can take anywhere from five to fifteen years. I think, from what I saw Minority Leader Pelosi needs to request an ethics review of the men on the committee questioning Mr. Wray and the other guy, the Deputy AG, oh yeah, Rosenstein. Mr. Goudy and the really nasty liar were really out of line. Thank you. Back to vacation.🌈

School is out for the summer. I am taking some time for myself. 

Take a vacation this year. Spend time with the kids. Vacations create lasting memories and that is important. 

Until later.

I thought we could recognize the criminals at the border by their cantaloupe-sized calves and not the children they carry while asking for asylum.

Parents can be DNA tested to secure the children.

There are some languages the border children speak that are not clearly discernable to be Spanish. The parents in detention centres should be asked if they can speak these unusual dialects. There is a high possibility if the detained parents can help with translation, that is the child's parent.

If stock prices reflect the optimism of a company's future, US Steel is not booming as Trump states.

June 25, 2018
The stock market (click here) suffered a large decline on Monday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average finishing more than 300 points lower after having fallen by nearly 500 points earlier in the session. Other major benchmarks followed suit as the White House once again escalated its rhetoric on the trade front, threatening to put new limits on the ability of foreign investors to export technology from U.S. companies. Stocks that are particularly sensitive to trade issues took hits, but the overall momentum behind the entire market also got stopped in its tracks. Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX), Micron Technology (NASDAQ:MU), and U.S. Steel (NYSE:X) were among the worst performers on the day. Here's why they did so poorly....

...U.S. Steel cools off

Finally, shares of U.S. Steel lost 6.5%. Many investors would figure that the steelmaker could be a big beneficiary of tariffs on industrial metals, given that it will be able to defend itself against foreign competition in its home market. Yet the result thus far of tariffs has been higher prices in the U.S. steel market, and that's raising new concerns among steel consumers. At this point, many investors in U.S. Steel hope that the federal government will resolve its trade disputes amicably -- before disruptive price changes both in the U.S. and abroad have a negative impact on the steelmaker's fundamental business prospects going forward.

United States Steel is not on our top "Buy" list, but these 10 stocks areInvesting geniuses David and Tom Gardner just released their best stocks to buy now -- and it could pay to listen. Especially when you consider their average stock pick is up 353% vs. a mere 81% for the S&P 500.

Duterte takes on God. No surprise there.

26 June 2018

Manila: Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (click here) faced growing outrage on Tuesday (Jun 26) in his largely Catholic nation after calling God "stupid", the latest furore he has sparked with an unfiltered broadside.

Duterte took aim at the biblical creation story during a speech, raising the question of why God would create Adam and Eve and then expose them to temptation.

Imagine that a visa-free entry is an economic enhancement.

The economic uptick is nice, but, such visa-free entry will also provide for refugees from the Philippines which has undergone severe government upheaval. I congratulate Taiwan for it's generous spirit that is also improving their economy.

June 26, 2018
By Duncan DeAeth

Taipei (Taiwan News) – The current visa-free entry policy (click here) for citizens of the Philippines coming to Taiwan is set to expire at the beginning of July, however the Taiwanese government is considering an extension of the policy, which has successfully increased tourism and business with the southern neighbor.

According to Philippine media, Alfred Wang, the economic director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Manila said that the government is likely to extend the visa-free entry based on the increase in arrivals from the Philippines since the policy was implemented.

While speaking at a “Meet Taiwan” event in Makati, Wang was quoted by the Manila Standard as saying,“this measure had a definite positive impact to both countries. We are now negotiating with the Manila Economic and Cultural Office to help us make this reciprocal, but nevertheless, Taiwan is seriously considering to extend the courtesy.”

The visa-free program was implemented Nov. 1, 2017 and will expire on July 31, 2018....

Hate has legs and does not have borders.

June 26, 2018

Jeruslalem — An Associated Press journalist (click here) on Tuesday was prevented from covering a visit by Britain's Prince William to the prime minister's official residence after Israeli security agents questioned him about his religion and ethnic background.

Nebi Qena, the AP's chief television producer for Israel and the Palestinian territories, was held at the entrance to the residence for 45 minutes, forcing him to miss the event, while other journalists were allowed to enter. Netanyahu's office later apologized, citing "human error."

Qena is an ethnic Albanian from Kosovo and an Albanian citizen. He has been with the AP for 10 years, including three based in Jerusalem.

He said he was repeatedly questioned by security guards about his "ethnic origin." AP colleagues, on the scene and in the Jerusalem bureau, were asked by Netanyahu aides about Qena's religion and whether he was a Muslim as they tried to secure him entrance.

Qena had registered for the event ahead of time and been assured he would be allowed to enter. The AP was serving as the video press pool for international media.....

This is a very weak court.

This court can't seem to decide the First Amendment. In this case, the travel ban was scrutinized through the lens of statements by Trump on Twitter. There are obvious statements of hate in that lens. While the court boiled this down to a national security issue; it has been a significant length of time to bring about a national standard to determine who intends to harm Americans when traveling to the USA and who is not. I do hold up a reality that many people traveling to the USA have no intention to harm Americans.

I remind; the leader of the terrorists that carried out the attacks of September 11, 2001 came from Germany and the Germans warned "W" about Atta.

This administration continues to apply wide definitions to who is able and willing and plans to harm Americans. His reason for calling southern border crossers criminals and separating them from their children is because they will harm Americans. This is an underlying tone to this administration and the President chronically takes that tone where it should not go.

Chief Justice Roberts has stated the President has significant powers to carry out limits on travel to the USA. I am not impressed by Chief Justice Roberts and his cowering to the First Amendment and it's overriding authority over hate and discrimination.

I look forward to the continued court case and more decisions to be made.

June 26, 2018 

By Mark Sherman

Washington  – The Supreme Court (click here) on Tuesday upheld President Donald Trump’s ban on travel from several mostly Muslim countries, rejecting a challenge that it discriminated against Muslims or exceeded his authority.]

The 5-4 decision is the court’s first substantive ruling on a Trump administration policy.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion, joined by his four conservative colleagues.

Roberts wrote that presidents have substantial power to regulate immigration. He also rejected the challengers’ claim of anti-Muslim bias....            

Very few know Prince William has a proud heritage in ending the victimization of Jews during the Holocaust.

Hopefully, his visit isn't all ceremony but points to the human rights abuses occurring at Israel's borders. I am sure Princess Alice would approve.

26 June 2018

Britain's Prince William attends a ceremony at the Hall of Remembrance at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial in Jerusalem.

Prince William (click here) started his busy Israel tour Tuesday with a visit to Jerusalem's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

William arrived Monday night in the first-ever official visit by a member of the British royal family to the tumultuous region London once ruled.

The Duke met two survivors who escaped Nazi Germany for the safety of Britain. The memorial has recognized Prince William's great-grandmother, Princess Alice, as part of the Righteous Among the Nations for her role in rescuing Jews during the Holocaust....                   

Phyllis Schlafly lives.

Mona Charen makes a living by insulting the human conscience. The same old stupid idea that living in the 1950s was good.

Mona Charen lives in a world of Barbie dolls and let's pretend there is a perfect way forward as a woman in the USA. 

She needs to retire, what kind of shape is her 401K after 2008? Can she do that? She should. I think her own set of values would dictate she accept her place as a Grandmother and live to serve. Do I detect a wardrobe well preserved handed down from her conservative mother? What would a woman do without a good set of pearls? Maybe she doesn't understand where to find the New York fashion runway. Someone want to help her out of the doldrums and into a real life? Behaving is about oppression and eliminates the potential for achievement.

She must not have the vocabulary to ask, "What the heck happened to the presidency of Hillary Clinton?" I know that is a painful thought for conservatives, but, misogyny is still alive AT ANY COST, including inviting Russia to rule in the USA.

"Sex Matters" takes women back to being the victim of sexism and does not secure their dignity. Feminism is not an evil word.

#MeToo is a movement that empowers women away from "roles" for women into the real world of respect. No woman uses the act of sex to advance their careers within this movement. That is what has occurred across the spectrum since women entered the workforce and waking up to "be a woman" does not mean accepting assault by men holding power over their lives.

There are many places yet to advance the rights of women and children and accepting the 1950s as the best and only lifestyle isn't one of them.

Women are empowered by having control of their bodies and the political space carved out by Mona Charen will never bring happiness to women. She should address the plight of the women in the Working Poor and improve their oppression. As a rule, conservatives hate government dependency enough to seek a way out for even women.