Trump's National Security Adviser is untrustworthy, therefore, unqualified.

January 14, 2017
By AP

In this Dec. 12, 2016 file photo, (click here) National Security Adviser-designate Michael T. Flynn waits for an elevator in the lobby at Trump Tower in New York. The Obama administration is aware of frequent contacts between President-elect Donald Trump’s top national security adviser Michael Flynn and Russia’s ambassador to the United States, including on the day President Barack Obama hit Moscow with sanctions in retaliation for election-related hacking, a senior U.S. official said Friday, Jan. 13, 2017....

November 17. 2016
By Matthew Rosenberg and Maggie Haberman

They also both exhibit a loose relationship with facts: (click here) General Flynn, for instance, has said that Shariah, or Islamic law, is spreading in the United States (it is not). His dubious assertions are so common that when he ran the Defense Intelligence Agency, subordinates came up with a name for the phenomenon: They called them “Flynn facts.”

During the transition, General Flynn has been present when Mr. Trump has received his daily intelligence briefing. As national security adviser, he would have the last word on how the president should respond to crises such as a showdown with China over the South China Sea or an international health crisis like the Ebola epidemic.

But, like Mr. Trump, he would enter the White House with significant baggage. The Flynn Intel Group, a consulting firm he founded after he was fired by President Obama as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency, has hazy business ties to Middle Eastern countries and has appeared to lobby for the Turkish government. General Flynn also took a paid speaking engagement last year with Russia Today, a television network funded by the Kremlin, and attended the network’s lavish anniversary party in Moscow, where he sat at Mr. Putin’s elbow....

This is not about American jobs, this is about wealth and the ruthlessness that throws international relations to the wind.

Donald Trump is not working for Exxon-Mobile. He is putting American lives and Ukraine lives in danger.

Any man that believes better relations will secure the USA has serious issues with balancing his books. This puts Donald Trump and his cabinet in the powers of impeachment.

Russia's Putin wants to reconstitute the USSR. This is interesting because it was George H. W. Bush that claims his measures internationally caused the fall of the USSR. Now, Donald Trump wants to look the other way and provide a world with Exxon Mobile profiting from Russian wealth. So it thinks.

Start the preparations for impeachment, this is a national security issue and is providing even more drastic wealth to Wall Street. Russia will enjoy the reconstitution of the USSR and it will set USA foreign policy back 27 years.

January 14, 2017
Doug Stanglin and David Jackson 

President-elect Donald Trump (click here) says he will keep the latest sanctions on Russia in place "for a period of time" but is open to lifting them if Moscow cooperates on issues of mutual interest. Trump also says he is not committed to a longstanding agreement with China over Taiwan.

His remarks came in an hour-long interview with The Wall Street Journal on Friday.

While several sanctions on Russia were imposed in 2014 over its annexation of Crimea, the latest measures, as well as the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats, were imposed by the Obama administration last month in response to evidence Russia hacked Democratic Party officials during the presidential election....

I am not surprised Russia is begging for a change election in 2016. When Russia invaded Ukraine taking Crimea and eastern Ukraine it fell under international sanctions. Those sanctions caused Putin to pull in it's borders and institute nationalism and isolationism. It would not surprise me if the states within Russia were preparing for the final blow to Russian sovereignty and not just the fall of the USSR.


There are 14 major republics within the Russian borders. Those republics could absorb the 46 smaller oblasts. Oblasts are administrative districts. Russia is communist, it has assets it distributes throughout the country, so it can conduct itself without concern for economic viability of smaller oblasts. 

The removal of sanctions on Russia is a direct threat to the USA and it's sovereignty and safety. With Russia increasing it's wealth it will no doubt seek a stronger and more aggressive military and spread it's presence far beyond that exists today. That means in it's "...Friendship Pact" of 2001 (click here) with China should China launch aggression into the Pacific, Russia would be a full partner. That brings three of the major powers of the world into a conflict that will ultimately cause enormous numbers of deaths and potentially destroy any and all capacity of allies to survive afterward.

Russia has offered nothing in the way of reassurances and without sanctions the war against Ukraine will escalate and NATO will be drawn into a larger conflict.

Once Europe is engaged in conflict, it will weaken the military of the USA to defend itself as the military will be engaged elsewhere. The USA is still involved in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria (the undeclared war). Once the USA military is involved in Europe that will leave a far weaker resolve in the Pacific and China along with Russia will open still yet another war front. It will be World War Three and the result will be incredibly devastating for all peoples and all governments.

The White Supremacists of Europe are currently measuring their might should Europe fall into war.

World War Three will be the do all and end all war. There is no reason to engage peace. Russia and China will have their communist governments at stake. As far as Communists being some of the most hungry capitalists in the world, that is false. Motherland comes first and if that means swallowing the profits of Wall Street than all the better. 

World War Three will be the end of either democracy or communism and many, many innocent lives on all continents.

The Flint River Water Project is ongoing.

Impeach Snyder. I want to see the detailed study conducted by his office before Flint was changed to Flint River water.

January 13, 2017
By Tyler Clifford

Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine (click here) received a $500,000 grant Friday to support the development of a registry for victims of Flint's ongoing water crisis.

The one-year grant was awarded by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Servicesand will allow for the planning of a database that was recommended by the Flint Water Advisory Task Force. The registry will be used to monitor the long-term health of more than 100,000 people, primarily children, affected by the use of contaminated drinking water.

Of the funds, $450,000 will go to MSU and $50,000 will be held for a liaison position to work between MSU and MDHHS....

It is time to send Ms.Chelsea Manning home. She has no support in a man's prison.

January 13, 2017
By Charlie Savage

...But Ms. Manning, (click here) who is struggling to transition to life as a woman while enduring a bleak existence at a male military prison, has asked President Obama to commute the remainder of her sentence before he leaves office next week. She poses particular challenges as a prisoner, with a volunteer support network that helps bring global attention to her treatment, fragile mental state — she twice tried to commit suicide in 2016 — and need for treatment that the military has no experience providing.

Her request comes as the world is again focused on WikiLeaks and its founder, Julian Assange, whom her leaks made famous. The organization last year published Clinton campaign emails, obtained in a hacking, as part of what American intelligence officials claim was a covert Russian operation aimed at tilting the election to President-elect Donald J. Trump. (Ms. Manning declined to discuss WikiLeaks, saying only that her decision to send documents to it “was neither an endorsement nor an affiliation.”)

It also comes at a time of flux in the military’s policies on gender identity. Last June, the Obama administration rescinded a ban on transgender people serving in the military and began overhauling its practices, which eventually would include providing gender reassignment surgery. But Mr. Trump has derided the lifting of the ban as “politically correct,” raising the possibility that his administration may roll back the changes.

The White House declined to comment on Ms. Manning’s commutation request. The Army declined to comment about her situation at Fort Leavenworth, citing privacy laws....

Winter brings the homeless into focus as they seek heat and survival.

I stood outside a small house owned by a church today. It was 10:00 AM and the showers were beginning inside.

There was a line to the front door. See the church turned this small house over to the homeless to find comfort and safety during daylight hours.

The line dissipated quickly as soon as the doors opened to the house. There is one shower in that little house, where a person is allowed 15 minutes. The shower is only open for four hours. So, on any given day there are 16 showers provided in that tiny house.

When I arrived to observe what was occurring there were about 12 people already there which would mean anyone that came afterward had a rare chance at showering today.

But, as I stood there and observed I was astonished at the age of that 10 AM group. They were young adults. They weren't your standard homeless. They were young and appeared to be single.

We have a problem in the USA. The people that need to be heard have no megaphone. They are lucky they have a phone at all. I passed a public park and watched a young woman holding a flashlight examine each trash can as she passed them. Sometimes she would reach inside and take something out. The young woman was alone and about mid 20s.

There is something very wrong in the USA and the working poor is breaking into homeless individuals with their children scattered to the winds.

I observed another young woman with her jeans nearly off her bottom. This was no fashion statement, she was pregnant. I stopped and asked her if she could use some clothes and she said, "No, the baby will be here soon. Thanks, anyway." She was walking along with a service dog at her side. I asked why she had the dog and she stated, the counselors thought it would help and it does. She said she had already lost two children to a Division of Social Services and was hoping there would be room soon at a shelter so when this one was born she didn't have to give it up. She said she thought it would be different this time because she was with her husband, but, a week ago he left and never said why. She hadn't heard from him since. It is my opinion men are natural care givers when they are in the role of providing. From what she said they were homeless and nothing was getting better, so she doesn't think he could stand it anymore and left. She didn't know if he was alive or dead.

And she refused help with some clothes. I think she was still in shock of losing him and unsure of her future. The service dog gave her something to care about.

THERE IS A LOT WRONG PEOPLE.

THERE IS AN AWFUL LOST WRONG.

And the Democrats are worried about a message? I think it is time they listen to Rep. Barbara Lee.

Oh, yeah, for all those White Supremacists laughing at the homeless women, every one of them entered here as a living example were pretty white girls.

Is there a minority in the USA, other than the Secretary of HUD, that in the very least has been insulted by the Trump campaign and subsequent transition?

January 12, 2017
By Jen Hayden

“Inaugurations are celebratory events, (click here) a time to welcome the peaceful transition of power and honor the new administration. On January 20th, I will not be celebrating or honoring an incoming president who rode racism, sexism, xenophobia and bigotry to the White House.

“Donald Trump ran one of the most divisive and prejudiced campaigns in modern history. He began his campaign by insulting Mexican immigrants, pledging to build a wall between the United States and Mexico and then spent a year and a half denigrating communities of color and normalizing bigotry. He called women ‘pigs’, stoked Islamophobia, and attacked a Gold Star family. He mocked a disabled reporter and appealed to people’s worst instincts.  I cannot in good conscience attend an inauguration that would celebrate this divisive approach to governance....

The United States of America is not exclusively for the wealthy and privileged. This country is about the Middle Class and the vigilance in protecting it has been wanting for some times now.

The majority of the people in this country have known the Middle Class even if it is in poor repair and under attack. The Middle Class is under attack. That case was never more evident as the global economic collapse of 2008. It devastated the Middle Class and the USA had a new paradigm, the growing poor and working poor.

The welfare reform of Gingrich's contract with America has turned into a nightmare. It has cast the poor into a pit of the working poor. Now it takes three jobs working at minimum wage or less to support a family and that family doesn't own a home either.

The "W" years saw Americans settle for Black Friday stampedes and purchasing more Chinese products than American made. We saw our pets suffer with little to no oversight as to the products being brought to American docks. There is every indication the vicious crony politics that brought 911 and fear to our country will continue, but, only get worse with hate and prejudice mounting. There is something to be said for the 1960s love fests.

I do not believe Donald Trump. His views are too extreme and while he wants everyone to believe it is just politics there are indications it is not and the administration shows it.

It is up to the Democrats to build a strong campaign that focuses on the Middle Class and the economic strength of the Middle Class. It is the many people that move into better paying jobs and work long hours to find that first down payment that no longer exists.

Pope Francis was here and listened in Philadelphia I believe to a young couple stating how they have postponed marriage in order to save for their wedding and a home. Pope Francis listened and later answered all those people that came to him to plead their case. Pope Francis said the United States of America makes it to difficult to be in love, marry and raise a family in a safe and comfortable home.

GOT THAT!!!!!!!!!!

Pope Francis said the United States of America makes it to difficult to be in love, marry and raise a family in a safe and comfortable home.

Now, if the Democratic Party cannot get their arms around that and carry the battle flag, don't ask me who will and we as Americans are lost. 

Rep. Barbara Lee is more than correct. The cost of being American has gotten to be far to high. We sacrifice happiness in the way people are intended to live it far too much. We concentrate too much on extraneous issues of politics and completely miss the dire message our people need to hear from Democrats. Bring the Middle Class home again and return decency and happiness the very center of the message. 

The Pope made the argument years ago and everyone thought he just came to wave hello and increase the tithing. NOT! If anyone really paid attention his messages in New York City with the meeting of faiths and hearing the pleadings of the people in Philadelphia. Pope Francis is not an icon for money, he is an icon for quality of life. He wants leadership out of the USA to carry such values forward to be admired again, not for the opulence of a gold covered Las Vegas hotel, but, for the happiness of our people and the economy that brings.

Rep. Barbara Lee is correct. Every American life matters and it is up to the Democrats to bring this runaway Republican train to a stop!

Chaffetz needs to be investigated.

He is always barking about something and people leave him alone because they are afraid he'll bark at them.

This is an attempt at intimidation of the Office of Government Ethics. Chaffetz doesn't like it because the President Elect is under fire for many things, including, conflict of interest. I am sure the Office of Government Ethics has had to tolerate bigger menaces than Chaffetz.

Chairman Chaffetz should memorize and recite the 14 General Principles from the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Executive Branch employees. (May 2009) (click here)

Trump is a rule breaker. He is not happy following rules. He has been spoiled by years and years of exploiting contractors and golfing all in the same day. He has a company that is a family company and does not have an IPO nor does he want an IPO. So, if Chaffetz is going to try to intimidate the Office of Government Ethics he might just find himself with ethics violations himself. More than that, Intimidation is a form of harassment at the very least and that is a law and not an ethics violation.

January 13, 2017

The Republican chairman (click here) of the House Oversight Committee on Thursday issued a stern letter, including a veiled threat of an investigation, to the federal government’s top ethics monitor, who this week had questioned President-elect Donald J. Trump’s commitment to confront his potential conflicts of interest.

In an unusual action against the independent Office of Government Ethics, Representative Jason Chaffetz of Utah accused the office’s director, Walter M. Shaub Jr., of “blurring the line between public relations and official ethics guidance.”

He cited a bizarre series of Twitter posts that the office made in late November congratulating Mr. Trump for divesting from his business — even though Mr. Trump had made no such commitment. Mr. Chaffetz also said that the office had failed to adequately investigate Hillary Clinton, based on allegations that she had not properly disclosed fees paid for speeches she gave after leaving her post as secretary of state....

The 14 General Principles from the handy dandy pocket card

l. Public Service is a public trust. Well, there is a novel idea. Will Mr. Trump ever come to terms with the idea he is in service to the public? He rarely is an ethical man. He causes more contractor bankruptcies than anyone in the USA. I doubt seriously a day has been lived in his life where his ethics stopped his bad behavior.

2. Employees (the President of the USA is a government employee) shall not hold financial interest that conflict with conscientious performance of duty. 

Right. I suppose this is the one Chaffetz wants to carry out his intimidation tactics. Trump would say, it all depends what the definition of "conscientious performance" means.

See, what Mr. Chaffetz doesn't care about is that words are not manipulated when written with a meaning. I realize Republicans have their own dictionary, but, it is not recognized by Merrium - Webster. The Republican dictionary isn't published. Most corruption is a task to discover.

December 19, 2014
By Drake Baer

Conscientious people make connections. True. Connections. I hardly believe making connections with Russians to hide immoral and unethical behavior falls into that definition.

...Taken together, (click here) the research suggests that conscientiousness is the personality trait most often correlated with job performance. 

How do you know if you're conscientious? Conscientious people tend to be super organized, responsible, and plan ahead. They work hard in the face of challenges and can control their impulses. 

Psychologists classify conscientiousness as one of the "Big 5" personality traits, with the others being agreeableness, extroversion, neuroticism, and openness to experience. The other traits can predict certain workplace outcomes — extroversion is a great fit for highly social gigs like sales and openness to experience often leads to creativity — but conscientiousness is remarkable for the way it cuts across roles....

3. Employees will not engage in financial transactions using nonpublic government information or ALLOW the improper use of such information to further any private interest.

That one is really interesting. Does anyone actually see Kushner withholding government information from his financial interests? I mean, get real here. He may not have learned exactly how painful incarceration can be from others in his life.

If Trump's immediate family doesn't have more interesting lives than living in the White House there has to be some serious questions asked.

4. An employee shall not, except as permitted by subpart B of this part, solicit or accept any gift or other item of monetary value from any person or entity seeking official action from, doing business with, or conducting activities regulated by the employee's agency, or those interests may be substantially affected by performance or nonperformance of the employee's duties.

I think this is the Part B referred to, but, I could be wrong.

5 C.F.R. part 2635, Subpart B

B. Informational Materials

OGE has also added a limited exception for gifts of informational materials. 81 Fed. Reg. at 81,655-81,656 (to be codified at 5 C.F.R. § 2635.204(m)). This exception acknowledges that gifts of informational materials foster information sharing, benefit the agency and the Government, and accommodate the right of citizens to petition their Government. Under this exception, an employee will be able to accept informational materials if they:

(i) Are educational or instructive in nature;

(ii) Are not primarily created for entertainment, display, or decoration; and

(iii) Contain information that relates in whole or in part to the following categories:

(A) The employee’s official duties or position, profession, or field of study;

(B) A general subject matter area, industry, or economic sector affected by or involved in the programs or operations of the agency; or

(C) Another topic of interest to the agency or its mission.

An employee may not, however, accept informational materials exceeding an aggregate market value of $100 in any calendar year from any one source, unless the agency designee makes a written determination that the employee’s integrity or impartiality would not be questioned. In making the determination, the agency designee should consider the relevant factors set forth in the new section at 5 C.F.R. § 2635.201(b).

...or entity seeking official action from, doing business with, or conducting activities regulated by the employee's agency...

See, considering the relationship the USA has with Russia right now, any shift in the wind will be viewed as a very big problem. Mr. Trump and his family entourage are not coming into a new government as George Washington did. They are coming into a fairly young country of 240 years and 241 years as of July 4th. 

Mr. Trump has precedent that sets the tone to much of the relationships with other countries. Now, if Mr. Trump and let's say Chancellor Merkel were able to renegotiate the treaty Russia blatantly dissolved as a participant that might mean something. I would imagine Russia would have to adhere to Minsk II and additionally remove all military arsenals from the eastern border of Ukraine. Then there is that mess in Crimea. I really don't see much of what Putin's Russia wants as being successful within the new administration REGARDLESS of the naked pictures of "Golden Showers."

Now, the reason there won't be concessions to Russia is because the other parties of that treaty already have conceded all they are going to concede. There was no war with Russia. The reason there was no war with Russia is because the people of Ukraine would suffer incredible losses. That is simply not the way such issues should be resolved if HUMAN SURVIVAL is valued. The children of Ukraine are important people and the children of other countries would state the same. 

So. The idea Russia could simply waltz into the White House for a State Dinner is highly, highly unlikely anytime soon. 

MINSK II

5. Employees shall put forth honest effort in the performance of their duties. (Job Description)

6. Employees shall not knowingly make unauthorized commitments or promises of any kind purporting to bind the Government.

There goes the clothes allowance that got out of hand while in Paris.

7. Employees shall not use public office for private gain. 

That felt so go I want to write it again.

7. Employees shall not use public office for private gain.

JAIL TIME!

8. Employees shall act impartially and not give preferential treatment of any private organization or individual.

I think that is straight forward. The dangerous cliff here is if an employee believes they are above the law and simply don't have to think about being impartial. Although, even in Miss Universe pageants the judges are to remain impartial. I doubt it is going to be a problem. I don't think there are dressing rooms in the Oval Office either. There are gyms in the Congress though. I guess the Capital Police will have to stand a female officer at the Congressional Women's Dressing Room when Mr. Trump is in the building. "Trump in the House" has never meant more. 

9. Employees shall protect and conserve Federal property and shall not use it for other than authorized activities. 

That should not be a problem, Mr. Trump already values property.

10. Employees shall not engage in outside employment or activities, including seeking and negotiating for employment, that conflict with official government duties and responsibilities. 

That really throws the 'set up' Mr. Trump has for his interests in his business out the window. The Trump Organization is an international organization that conflicts with USA government business. The State Department in particular is going to have a very big problem with this. The States Department usually brings USA businesses to other countries to enhance the relationship between the two. But, in the case of Russia, the Secretary of State is going to have his hands tied a bit when he attempts to melt the ice between the USA and Russia and plow through agreements that make Russia wealthy, is against the current sanctions, violates trust with Germany and enhances Russia's ability to build nukes and wage war with the USA. 

Yep. There are going to be real problems with the cabinet officers as well as the White House. Wall Street CEOs really need to be careful not to mix business with sanctions.

11. Employees shall disclose waste, fraud, abuse and corruption to appropriate authorities. 

Now that is interesting. No golden parachutes, no three martini lunches, no abuse of the helicopter or jets, no vacation time, no sightseeing tours. Strictly business. I am sure the First Lady will appropriately charm every country's public as she should.

12. Employees shall satisfy in good faith their obligations as citizens, including all just financial obligations, especially those such as Federal, State and local taxes that are imposed by law.

WOW! Huh? I think Mr. Trump has some catching up to do.

13. Employees shall adhere to all laws and regulations that provide equal opportunity to all Americans regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age or handicap.

Interesting paradox. How does a White Supremacist distinguish himself as a White Supremacist without being unethical?

January 13, 2017
By Jasmine C. Lee

...“Donald Trump (click here) is rolling back the clock on diversity in the cabinet,” said Paul Light, a professor at New York University’s Wagner Graduate School of Public Service....

He has more than Reagan. No matter how one views the Trump's picks though there is only one African American in HUD. Even all the women are Caucasian. I think he is in trouble all ready, right? I mean he doesn't have to hire Democrats connected with politics. I wonder if any of his CEOs are actually Democrats or if they donated to his campaign in a way that is suspicious? Hm?

If there is one president that will never unite the USA, it is Mr. Trump.

And last, but, not least...

14. Employees shall endeavor to avoid any actions creating the appearance that they are violating the law or the ethical standards set forth in this part. Whether particular circumstances create an appearance that the law or these standards have been violated shall be determined from the perspective of a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts.

Interesting. Endeavor is a great word. Endeavor reflects the ability to discern right an wrong.

Merriam Webster - try hard to do or achieve something.

The USA had a space shuttle names "Endeavor." (click here)

The idea of someone reaching heights no one has before is a very good attribute of the meaning of endeavor. The word brings to mind dignity.

That is the problem with Mr. Chaffetz assaulting the Office of Government Ethics. It is a brash and idiotic action that requires apology more than anything else. One of the problems with the Trump Republicans is that they lack respect for the positions they hold. They make hideous laws and expect Americans to appreciate the abuse of power they render on a regular basis.

I was impressed with President-Elect Trump's stand to interrupt the Congressional action against the Office of Government Ethics. Now, Mr. Chaffetz is going to 'Do A Trump' and attack the same office Mr. Trump stated to leave alone.

Mr. Chaffetz is brash and outspoken, but, he is hardly a statesman. Perhaps, Mr. Trump will be more of a statesman than a bully.

This is what all the oilmen in the Trump administration would like to stop. TOO LATE!

January 11, 2017

Cornhusker Harvest project slated for commercial operations in 2019 (click here)

US developer Apex Clean Energy is exploring the feasibility of a 300MW wind project in southeast Nebraska.

Saline County officials have approved Apex’s request to install a meteorological tower for wind resource studies at the site, which spans parts of Fillmore and Saline counties.

The Cornhusker Harvest project has entered the Southwest Power Pool queue for 227.7MW and Apex expects to file for the remaining 75.9MW in the spring.

Existing high-voltage power lines and highways would limit the need for new infrastructure, said the developer.

Local property owners formed the Saline County Wind Association and have negotiated a common landowner wind lease agreement with Apex.

The developer estimates the Cornhusker Harvest scheme will generate annual tax revenue for the community of $3518 per megawatt, or about $1m.

Apex aims to start commercial operation in 2019.

The word from Japan is that investment in alternative energy is slowing BECAUSE they need to assess the amount of energy already produced in the country by these methods. Got that? Japan has invested and built so much alternative energy infrastructure it lost track of what is being produced. That is what happens when a country's people author a global initiative called, "Kyoto Protocol."

China has made considerable investments into alternative energies as well. China is turning toward it's grid to allow the alternatives to deliver 100 percent of what is being produced.

The USA is the only major country STUCK in the 1950s!

There are many reasons the international community is more than annoyed with the USA, the country with the largest historical CO2 in the world.

Oh, you don't think Trump's oilmen are going to penalize the work in alternatives?

Ready?

This is sick and Republicans state they appreciate competition, free market and less regulation. It depends what side of the fence they are on. This is all about cronies and keeping power.

January 12, 2017
By Heather Richards

A bill proposed by six state lawmakers (click here) would charge utilities a penalty if they use wind or solar energy to provide Wyoming consumers with electricity.

If Senate File 71 were law, there would be six permissible resources for generating electricity for Wyomingites, including natural gas and coal. Wind and solar are not on the list, except for individual use.

Utilities would have a year to reach the first compliance milestone of the bill, in which each company would have to get 95 percent of its Wyoming-sold energy from the approved resources.

The following year, 2019, companies must reach 100 percent compliance.

Under the bill, if electricity were generated by wind or solar in Wyoming to serve customers in the state it would come with a $10-per-megawatt-hour penalty. That penalty would be double the suggested tax hike on wind also under consideration this legislative session.

Two of SF 71’s co-sponsors, Rep. Tyler Lindholm, R-Sundance, and Rep. Scott Clem, R-Gillette, referred comment on the bill to Sen. Larry Hicks, R-Baggs, who did not respond to calls requesting an interview.

The bill is unsound, said Shannon Anderson, lawyer for the Powder River Basin Resource Council....

Clean Energy is the future and the future is here.

January 11, 2017
By Joshua S. Hill (click here)

A new study (click here) has concluded that states like Iowa, California, & Texas, which have strong clean energy industries, are also attracting businesses and creating jobs in the thousands.

The “groundbreaking study” released this week by the US Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) (click here) ranked all 50 US states based on the ease with which some of America’s “most recognizable brands” are able to procure domestic renewable energy. The study — Corporate Clean Energy Procurement Index: State Leadership & Rankings, compiled by Clean Edge on behalf of RILA and ITI — concluded that not only is a strong state clean energy program beneficial for creating economic growth and more jobs, but the report also showed that demand for clean energy among retailers and technology companies is expected to skyrocket to 60 gigawatts by 2025.

The ranking of America’s 50 states are as follows:...

Alabama is 50th with a score of 1.82. (click here) Does Alabama have clean and alternative energy in their vocabulary? Alabama leaders, if not impeached, might try introducing the language as a start.

This is a note that has been sent to a local congregation of Jewish citizens. The names of all have been changed.

...I want to share with you all that there is a heightened occurrences of bomb threats to Jewish community centers all over the country. All Jewish institutions received a note from the ADL with recommendations to insure security for our communities. One of the changes that we are going to incorporate on our Friday night services is that we will ask of you to use ONLY the Smith Street door. We are going to keep the Jones Street door locked during Friday night services and if you arrive a half hour after the service begins and the door is locked , please just ring the bell and Adam or Eve will let you in. Thank you for your understanding.

Wow! What an event we have waiting for our congregation this coming Shabbat. Smith, Jones, Aldie, Abraham and Jack are ready to be called to the Torah. We are expecting close to 200 people as no one wants to miss the abundance of joy that will fill our beautiful sanctuary on this joyous Shabbat. My prayer is that our Fab Five be sure to savor and enjoy the fruits of their hard earned success.

This is the terror that is circulating through the country because of the rise of White Supremacists.

How did we get here?

If Mr. Trump accepts the 2016 election hacking, then what is he going to do about it? It was therefore an illegitimate election?

Mr. Trump seems to think the ends justifies the means.

January 12, 2017
By AP

New York — In a combative and freewheeling news conference, (click here) President-elect Donald Trump said for the first time Wednesday that he accepts Russia was behind the election year hacking of Democrats that roiled the White House race. Looking ahead, he urged Congress to move quickly to replace President Barack Obama’s signature health-care law and insisted anew that Mexico will pay the cost of a border wall.

The hour-long spectacle in the marbled lobby of Trump’s Manhattan skyscraper was his first news conference since winning the election in early November, and the famously unconventional politician demonstrated he had not been changed by the weight of his victory.

He defiantly denied reports that Russia had collected compromising personal and financial information about him, lambasting the media for peddling “fake news” and shouting down a journalist from CNN, which reported on the matter. His family and advisers clapped and cheered him on throughout....

No prostitutes allowed.

TAKE note of January 11, 2017 everybody. (click here) Because there’s a chance that this was the day your mother/grandmother learnt what a golden shower was.

The term #goldenshower was trending worldwide on Twitter and you can thank a bunch of unverified documents involving US President-elect Donald Trump for that.

In fact, we may now have some clue as to why his hair is that particular hue ...

Why is this not a good thing? Because we have young people at risk and there should be no form of justification that can point to the White House or Congress.

January 11, 2017
By Heather Clark

Sacramento, Calif. — A controversial California bill (click here) that was signed into law this past September went into effect last week, exempting youth under the age of 18 from facing arrest and criminal charges for being involved in prostitution.

Senate Bill 1322 was introduced last year by Sen. Holly Mitchell, D-Los Angeles, and views teens and pre-teens involved in prostitution as being victims rather than criminals.

“Existing law makes it a crime to solicit or engage in any act of prostitution. Existing law makes it a crime to loiter in any public place with the intent to commit prostitution. This bill would make the above provisions inapplicable to a child under 18 years of age who is alleged to have engaged in conduct that would, if committed by an adult, violate the above provisions,” a summary of the legislation outlines.

Instead of arresting the teenager, the law directs that a police officer “who encounters a minor engaged in a commercial sex act shall report these circumstances as abuse or neglect of a minor to the county child welfare agency.” If the teen is considered to be in proximate danger, the Department of Social Services may place the young person into an environment that is deemed safe in order to get them off the streets....                 

I don't care who leaked the documents about the "Russian Dirty Dossier."

If USA intelligence leaked the information all the better. It will be one of the few times Clapper and I would agree.

11 January 2017
By James Wilkinson

The Director of National Intelligence (click here) told Donald Trump that he was 'dismayed' by leaks of an intelligence document that claimed, among other things, that the President-elect had hired Russian prostitutes.

Clapper also told Trump that he did not believe the leaks of the claims, which have yet to be substantiated by outsiders, did not come from within the US intelligence community.

'I expressed my profound dismay at the leaks that have been appearing in the press, and we both agreed that they are extremely corrosive and damaging to our national security,' he said in a statement....

Donald Trump has two vulnerabilities, sex and his big mouth. He should have known better than to succumb to an intimidation scheme by Russia. He was too willing to do anything it takes to build another casino and/or hotel.

The USA right wing is going to be ranting and raving this is another Democratic backlash from events that have no meaning. That isn't the case. The RNC had a compromised candidate and they didn't care.

DNI Clapper statement on Conversation with President-elect Trump. (click here)

There is a lot to be considered within this new reality regarding the USA's national security.

The media continuously states "we are in new territory with this administration." I guess there are reasons and none of them are good.

Everyone involved with information regarding the relationship between Trump and Russia is in question and can be prosecuted. I suggest the DOJ currently in the White House take a good look at this and act quickly. Trump has threatened to remove all the intelligence agents currently serving and replace them with loyalists. This is a cover up and shows culpability for any compromise of the USA.

Russia was really throwing it's weight around. It not only compromised a candidate in a presidential election, it was stating to Julian Assange there was a way to handle his isolation to end the problems; hence, Wikileaks cooperation with stolen DNC emails.

Wikileaks would have published them anyway, but, Assange was involved in his defaming of Secretary Clinton.

Comey. Comey's role in defeating Secretary Clinton is more than curious. His insistence in carrying out verbal attacks against Secretary Clinton needs investigation and he needs to resign as soon as possible. Given the current information regarding the intimidation of Trump and the knowledge of the intelligence agencies regarding same, what was Comey doing pushing the buttons for Trump.

President Obama needs to decide about many issues with the inauguration only days away. This was an illegitimate election and considering the degree of involvement of a foreign power the inauguration calls into question what will occur with this President-Elect. The USA has never had a traitor before about to be inaugurated, indeed we are in new territory.

...Clapper added that the dossier did not factor into a report made earlier by the US agencies that concluded Russia had attempted to influence the US election to ensure a Trump presidency.

'The IC has not made any judgment that the information in this document is reliable, and we did not rely upon it in any way for our conclusions.'

'However,' he added, 'part of our obligation is to ensure that policymakers are provided with the fullest possible picture of any matters that might affect national security.'...

There are many people involved and they include Republicans.

January 11, 2017
By Greg Miller, Ellen Nakashima and Karen DeYoung

As the nation’s top spies (click here) prepared to brief President Obama and President-elect Donald Trump on Russian interference in the 2016 election, they faced an excruciatingly delicate question: Should they mention the salacious allegations that had been circulating in Washington for months that Moscow had compromising information on the incoming president?

Ultimately, they concluded they had no choice. A 35-page dossier packed with details of supposed compromising personal information, alleged financial entanglements and political intrigue was already in such wide circulation in Washington that every major news organization seemed to have a copy.

“You’d be derelict if you didn’t” mention the dossier, a U.S. official said. To ignore the file, produced by a private-sector security firm, would only make the supposed guardians of the nation’s secrets seem uninformed, officials said, adding that many were convinced that it was only a matter of time before someone decided to publish the material....

Donald Trump does not have the character to be President of the United States of America. He allows compromise to enter his life through sexual activities he believes are his entitlement and secrecy that surrounds it. The two make for a very compromised Executive Branch and Congress considering the many people who know about these claims.

...The document was also at some point delivered to the FBI. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) acknowledged in a public statement Wednesday that late last year he had “received sensitive information that has since been made public” and, unable to assess its accuracy, delivered the file to Comey....

The British agent involved would be sought by adversaries to end his ability to validate the facts from fiction. Regardless of the knowledge by the public of the dossier, it does not make the world safer for Steele.

...It comes as it emerged that a former British spy has vanished after being named as the author of the 'dirty' file and fled his $1.9million mansion in fear telling his neighbour: 'Look after my cat.'

Ex-MI6 agent Christopher Steele was named as the author of the salacious Russian dossier.

Steele, 52, was seen fleeing his gated home yesterday and appears to have been in such a rush most of the lights were left on.

A security source said: 'He is terrified for his safety', adding he may now be abroad or in a safe house....

The interference in the USA elections is known. It is not only known, it was requested by Mr. Trump during a public speech. I strongly suggest the US DOJ act on what is known in anticipation of finding the sources of the information in the dossier. Where Russian women/prostitutes were involved, they will never be found. Very likely, Mr. Trump realized that. So, if the women are missing there are questions to ask of their whereabouts and potential for harm or worse all of which benefits Donald Trump.

July 2016: A large amount of material has been gathered on Trump based on sources, which is believed to be of huge consequence, if true. The allegations are passed to the FBI.

September 2016: The FBI asks for more information but gets no reply

How much information is enough information for the FBI. In the case of Hillary Clinton the mere idea of having additional information from a laptop owned by Anthony Weiner was all Comey needed. Comey's judgement is seriously in question. I don't find him trustworthy. Mr. Steele's reputation in authoring the information far exceeds the potential emails on Mr. Weiner's computer.

October 28: FBI Director James Comey announces the bureau will be investigating Hillary Clinton over mishandling of confidential emails

October 31: The document on Trump is leaked to David Corn, of the Mother Jones online political magazine who run a piece on the dossier without revealing its details

November 9: Trump is elected President...

...'And then, a former British ambassador to Russia independently was made aware of these findings and he took the information to John McCain – Senator John McCain of Arizona – in the period just after the election, and showed it to McCain – additional findings.

'McCain was sufficiently disturbed by what he read to take it to FBI director James Comey himself personally, they had a five minute meeting the two men, very little was said, McCain turned it over to him and is now awaiting what the FBI’s response is to that information.'

The identity of the former British ambassador has not been disclosed. 

end