Tuesday, February 05, 2019
Happy Birthday, Judah Samet. May he live to see many more. A very nice moment.
October 29, 2018
By Ryan W. Miller
Pittsburgh – Judah Samet (click here) was four minutes late to services on the Sabbath.
He always arrives on time, at 9:45 a.m. A conversation with his housekeeper on Saturday, though, kept him away from the massacre of 11 of his friends at the Tree of Life synagogue.
For the Hungarian-born 80-year-old, the targeted rampage at his place of worship was the second time anti-Semitism almost took his life. Samet survived 10 months in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during World War II and was just a stopped train ride away from Auschwitz.
Samet pulled into the parking lot of Tree of Life “around 9:49, maybe 9:50” on Saturday, he said. Then a man knocked on his car window....
October 29, 2018
By Ryan W. Miller
Pittsburgh – Judah Samet (click here) was four minutes late to services on the Sabbath.
He always arrives on time, at 9:45 a.m. A conversation with his housekeeper on Saturday, though, kept him away from the massacre of 11 of his friends at the Tree of Life synagogue.
For the Hungarian-born 80-year-old, the targeted rampage at his place of worship was the second time anti-Semitism almost took his life. Samet survived 10 months in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp during World War II and was just a stopped train ride away from Auschwitz.
Samet pulled into the parking lot of Tree of Life “around 9:49, maybe 9:50” on Saturday, he said. Then a man knocked on his car window....
Stop using the term "late term abortion," there is no such thing and it can be misinterpreted.
There are laws now that allow viable fetuses of abortion to be born and given neonatal care. The third trimester abortions can have a viable fetus IF it is normal and healthy. This entire idea of Late Term Abortion is a political football and nothing more.
...Though many media reports (click here) and other literature use the phrase ‘late-term abortion,’ it is not accurate and should not be used,” Hal Lawrence, M.D., executive vice president and CEO of ACOG, said in an email. “A full-term pregnancy is defined as a pregnancy with a gestational age between 39 weeks and 40 weeks, 6 days. ‘Late term’ refers to a pregnancy with a gestational age of 41 weeks to 41 weeks, 6 days. Abortions are not performed at ‘late term.’”
...Though many media reports (click here) and other literature use the phrase ‘late-term abortion,’ it is not accurate and should not be used,” Hal Lawrence, M.D., executive vice president and CEO of ACOG, said in an email. “A full-term pregnancy is defined as a pregnancy with a gestational age between 39 weeks and 40 weeks, 6 days. ‘Late term’ refers to a pregnancy with a gestational age of 41 weeks to 41 weeks, 6 days. Abortions are not performed at ‘late term.’”
He added, "Because different methods of inducing abortion are effective at different stages of pregnancy, abortions are sometimes categorized by whether they occur in the first or second trimester. Clinicians sometimes use the term ‘early abortion’ to refer to abortions that occur up to 70 days gestational age, when medication abortion using mifepristone and misoprostol are highly effective. The term ‘later abortion’ is sometimes used to describe abortions that occur after 12 weeks gestational age. Describing these abortions as ‘late-term’ is simply inaccurate."...
Wage increases for LABORERS in the USA cannot be talked about without discussing inflation.
7 September 2018
Annual wage growth (click here) hit a nine-year high in the US last month as the economy created more jobs than expected.
Average hourly earnings rose by 0.4% in August, pushing the annual rate of increase to 2.9% - the fastest pace since June 2009.
Annual wage growth (click here) hit a nine-year high in the US last month as the economy created more jobs than expected.
Average hourly earnings rose by 0.4% in August, pushing the annual rate of increase to 2.9% - the fastest pace since June 2009.
Hiring in the construction sector and in professional services helped the economy to add 201,000 jobs last month....
Annual inflation rate (click here) in the United States fell to 1.9 percent in December of 2018 from 2.2 percent in November, matching market expectations. It is the lowest inflation rate since August of 2017, mainly due to a decline in gasoline cost. On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged down 0.1 percent after a flat reading in the previous month and also in line with forecasts. It is the first monthly decrease in consumer prices in nine months, due to a 7.5 percent slump in gasoline prices. Inflation Rate in the United States averaged 3.27 percent from 1914 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 23.70 percent in June of 1920 and a record low of -15.80 percent in June of 1921.
The FED has been doing backflips to try to stem the inflation rate.
October 11, 2018
By Jeff Kearns
A gauge of underlying U.S. inflation (click here) was below estimates in September as used-car costs fell and housing rents cooled, signaling that price gains may remain close to where Federal Reserve policy makers want them amid an outlook for continued gradual interest-rate hikes.
Excluding volatile food and energy costs, the core consumer price index rose 2.2 percent in September from a year earlier, the same pace as in August and less than the 2.3 percent median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News, a Labor Department report showed Thursday. The broader CPI slowed to a 2.3 percent annual gain, the least since February, compared with forecasts for 2.4 percent.
The inflation figures partly reflect a 3 percent monthly decline in prices for used cars and trucks, the biggest drop in 15 years. While the dollar and 10-year Treasury yields initially fell after the report, Fed officials will have two more months of price figures in hand before their December meeting at which they’re projected to raise interest rates for a fourth time this year amid solid economic growth and consumer spending, boosted by tax cuts....
By Jeff Kearns
A gauge of underlying U.S. inflation (click here) was below estimates in September as used-car costs fell and housing rents cooled, signaling that price gains may remain close to where Federal Reserve policy makers want them amid an outlook for continued gradual interest-rate hikes.
Excluding volatile food and energy costs, the core consumer price index rose 2.2 percent in September from a year earlier, the same pace as in August and less than the 2.3 percent median estimate of economists surveyed by Bloomberg News, a Labor Department report showed Thursday. The broader CPI slowed to a 2.3 percent annual gain, the least since February, compared with forecasts for 2.4 percent.
The inflation figures partly reflect a 3 percent monthly decline in prices for used cars and trucks, the biggest drop in 15 years. While the dollar and 10-year Treasury yields initially fell after the report, Fed officials will have two more months of price figures in hand before their December meeting at which they’re projected to raise interest rates for a fourth time this year amid solid economic growth and consumer spending, boosted by tax cuts....
The net exporter of oil and gas now has greater pollution to be responsible for that results in a climate crisis needing more food stamps, not less.
...The massive spike in September & October 2017 was due to the massive hurricanes that struck the USA during that month. The spike of 3.4 million people distorted the chart too much, so I fixed the y-axis at 1 million so that the overall trend can still be seen. The spike would be much, much higher if Puerto Rico were in the SNAP program, but it is not. Instead, Puerto Rico gets a block grant to fund its own Nutrition Assistance Program (NAP), which fed about one-third of the island before Hurricane Maria. There are 3.4 million people in Puerto Rico, so if they were part of the SNAP system, the October 2017 bar on the chart above could conceivably go up another 3 million....
The USA is setting records in air pollution with it's net exports. Trump's economy is built on the backs of human lungs as well as heat-related storms that kill.
...WHO estimates that around 7 million people (click here) die every year from exposure to fine particles in polluted air that penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing diseases including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases and respiratory infections, including pneumonia.
Ambient air pollution alone caused some 4.2 million deaths in 2016, while household air pollution from cooking with polluting fuels and technologies caused an estimated 3.8 million deaths in the same period.
More than 90% of air pollution-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, mainly in Asia and Africa, followed by low- and middle-income countries of the Eastern Mediterranean region, Europe and the Americas....
Reagan was the first Republican to cheat the way to an economy by deregulating, but, Trump has set a record.
List of the current deregulation (click here)
New Rule: Climate Emergency | Real Time with Bill Maher (HBO) (click here for website of "Oil and Gas Climate Initiative )
To begin, Bill Maher is correct in drawing attention to Earth's climate. The petroleum industry has their own initiative, but, to be very frank $100 million is nothing compared to what it will take to end the climate crisis. This organization needs to be scrutinized for it's spending and it needs to work with the IPCC in order to sincerely make a difference.
There needs to be transparency to the funds and their use. I will point out that Shell stated openly the drilling in the Arctic is a poor idea and carries too much risk including the dangers to the climate. THAT is leadership.
If I read the tea leaves right, methane will be the new oil and this initiative will provide little to no relief from CO2 emissions generated by burning methane and will never seal the methane leaks their industry produces every year.
Start containing the effects of the Climate Crisis by ending the destruction of rainforest and begin to replace the biotic content of Earth in it's forests and other carbon sinks.
20 September 2018
By Adam Vaughan
There needs to be transparency to the funds and their use. I will point out that Shell stated openly the drilling in the Arctic is a poor idea and carries too much risk including the dangers to the climate. THAT is leadership.
If I read the tea leaves right, methane will be the new oil and this initiative will provide little to no relief from CO2 emissions generated by burning methane and will never seal the methane leaks their industry produces every year.
Start containing the effects of the Climate Crisis by ending the destruction of rainforest and begin to replace the biotic content of Earth in it's forests and other carbon sinks.
20 September 2018
By Adam Vaughan
ExxonMobil (click here) has joined the oil and gas industry’s flagship climate change project, reversing its decision not to join the alliance four years ago.
The company was a notable holdout when the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OCGI) was launched, but will now join European peers BP, Shell and Total in contributing $100m (£75m) to curb the impact of global warming.
The move is the clearest sign yet the US company is taking a more progressive stance on global warming.
Exxon, which promoted climate denial for years despite knowing about the risks since 1981, had shifted its tone on climate change under the leadership of Rex Tillerson. But while acknowledging global warming was real and linked to fossil fuel use, Tillerson said fears over climate change were overblown.
Darren Woods, who became the chief executive in 2017 when Tillerson became US secretary of state, has taken that shift further. “It will take the collective efforts of many in the energy industry and society to develop scalable, affordable solutions that will be needed to address the risks of climate change,” he said of the firm’s decision to join the OCGI.
Two other US oil companies, Chevron and Occidental Petroleum, have also joined the initiative, taking its total climate fund to $1.3bn....
The Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) fund (click here) - sometimes referred to as war funds - is a separate pot of funding operated by the Department of Defense and the State Department, in addition to their "base" budgets (i.e., their regular peacetime budgets). Originally used to finance the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, the OCO continues to be a source of funding for the Pentagon, with a fraction of the funds going to the State Department.
Since the OCO fund has very little oversight and is not subject to the sequestration cuts that slashed every other part of the budget in 2013, many experts consider it a “slush fund” for the Pentagon. For example, Todd Harrison, senior fellow for defense studies at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, found that the Pentagon was stashing an estimated extra $20 billion worth of non-war funding in the “operation and maintenance” accounts of its proposed 2014 war budget. Even Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has recently called the OCO "a road to nowhere."
...Congress appropriated approximately $103 billion for OCO in FY2017 (click here) (8.5% of all discretionary appropriations), $78 billion for OCO in FY2018 (5.5% of all discretionary appropriations), and $68.8 billion for OCO so far in FY2019. Discretionary appropriations for FY2019 are not yet final; a continuing resolution expired December 21, 2018....
Since the OCO fund has very little oversight and is not subject to the sequestration cuts that slashed every other part of the budget in 2013, many experts consider it a “slush fund” for the Pentagon. For example, Todd Harrison, senior fellow for defense studies at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, found that the Pentagon was stashing an estimated extra $20 billion worth of non-war funding in the “operation and maintenance” accounts of its proposed 2014 war budget. Even Secretary of Defense Ash Carter has recently called the OCO "a road to nowhere."
...Congress appropriated approximately $103 billion for OCO in FY2017 (click here) (8.5% of all discretionary appropriations), $78 billion for OCO in FY2018 (5.5% of all discretionary appropriations), and $68.8 billion for OCO so far in FY2019. Discretionary appropriations for FY2019 are not yet final; a continuing resolution expired December 21, 2018....
American lobster men and women have real reasons to emigrate to Canada.
By Penelope Overton
Lunar New Year (click here) is supposed to be the busiest time of the year for Tom Adams, whose company, Maine Coast, used to sell millions of pounds of lobster to China.
But the U.S.-China trade war has shut Maine Coast out of that market.
His old Chinese customers now buy their lobster from Canada, which can sell them a hard-shell version without the 25 percent import tariff. On a snowy Wednesday morning, on what should have been his busiest shipping day of the year, Adams waved at stacks of boxed lobsters waiting to be loaded on to cargo trucks at his newly expanded York facility and sighs.
“Last year, all of this and more would’ve been headed to China,” Adams said. “But now, we’re lucky if any of them are.”
Maine lobster dealers are struggling to manage the fallout from the U.S.-China trade war. Before the tariff, China was the second biggest importer of U.S. lobster, buying $128.5 million worth of it in 2017. The U.S. was on track to double its lobster sales to China before the tariff initiated by President Trump hit in July, according to trade data. Since then, U.S. lobster exports have all but dried up....
Beyond the obvious political agenda with American troops and tax dollars, what does Putin and Trump have in mind for the USA?
February 4, 2019
By Matthew S. Schwartz
Updated at 10:30 a.m. ET
An additional 3,750 troops (click here) will be sent to the Southern border to help install wire barriers and monitor crossings, officials said. The new deployment will bring the number of active-duty troops there to around 6,000.
In a tweet on Sunday, President Trump said that "STRONG Border Security" is necessary in the face of "Caravans marching through Mexico and toward our Country."
The announcement of new troops on Sunday comes just days before Trump is expected to discuss border security measures during Tuesday's State of the Union address....
The mass marches to the USA border under Trump have been more than curious. That has never occurred before in the history of the USA. I find all the mess about the USA southern border, including the largest drug haul, very odd. Record numbers of everything. Very odd.
December 20, 2018
By Thomas Gibbons-Neff and Mujib Mashal
Washington — The Trump administration (click here) has ordered the military to start withdrawing roughly 7,000 troops from Afghanistan in the coming months, two defense officials said Thursday, an abrupt shift in the 17-year-old war there and a decision that stunned Afghan officials, who said they had not been briefed on the plans.
President Trump made the decision to pull the troops — about half the number the United States has in Afghanistan now — at the same time he decided to pull American forces out of Syria, one official said.
The announcement came hours after Jim Mattis, the secretary of defense, said that he would resign from his position at the end of February after disagreeing with the president over his approach to policy in the Middle East....
By Matthew S. Schwartz
Updated at 10:30 a.m. ET
An additional 3,750 troops (click here) will be sent to the Southern border to help install wire barriers and monitor crossings, officials said. The new deployment will bring the number of active-duty troops there to around 6,000.
In a tweet on Sunday, President Trump said that "STRONG Border Security" is necessary in the face of "Caravans marching through Mexico and toward our Country."
The announcement of new troops on Sunday comes just days before Trump is expected to discuss border security measures during Tuesday's State of the Union address....
The mass marches to the USA border under Trump have been more than curious. That has never occurred before in the history of the USA. I find all the mess about the USA southern border, including the largest drug haul, very odd. Record numbers of everything. Very odd.
December 20, 2018
By Thomas Gibbons-Neff and Mujib Mashal
Washington — The Trump administration (click here) has ordered the military to start withdrawing roughly 7,000 troops from Afghanistan in the coming months, two defense officials said Thursday, an abrupt shift in the 17-year-old war there and a decision that stunned Afghan officials, who said they had not been briefed on the plans.
President Trump made the decision to pull the troops — about half the number the United States has in Afghanistan now — at the same time he decided to pull American forces out of Syria, one official said.
The announcement came hours after Jim Mattis, the secretary of defense, said that he would resign from his position at the end of February after disagreeing with the president over his approach to policy in the Middle East....
GOP Rep. to Obama: 'You Lie!' (click here for current DACA status - thank you)
Due to federal court orders, (click here) USCIS has resumed accepting requests to renew a grant of deferred action under DACA. USCIS is not accepting requests from individuals who have never before been granted deferred action under DACA. Until further notice, and unless otherwise provided in this guidance, the DACA policy will be operated on the terms in place before it was rescinded on Sept. 5, 2017. For more information, visit Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals: Response to January 2018 Preliminary Injunction.
This film loop proves the disrespect Republicans exhibit for any Democratic leader. It is disgusting and proves to USA enemies the hideous nature of our political system.
This film loop proves the disrespect Republicans exhibit for any Democratic leader. It is disgusting and proves to USA enemies the hideous nature of our political system.
Following yesterday’s announcement of the creation of the external Community Advisory Board, President Richard V. Homan, MD, appointed Gilbert Bland, as Chair of the Community Advisory Group. Mr. Bland is the former national President of the Minority Franchise Association of Burger King Corporation and charter member of its Inclusion Advisory Council. Mr. Bland currently serves as President and CEO of the Urban League of Hampton Roads and as a board member for the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, Sentara Healthcare, and the Hampton Roads Community Foundation. Mr. Bland’s past leadership roles include service on the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia as Chair, the Old Dominion University Board of Visitors, and James Madison University Foundation....
VMI needs to conduct their own investigation to diversity at the university as well. The statements on it's diversity page are a bit pathetic.
Diversity Makes a Difference (click here)
What do we mean when we talk about diversity in college?
Broadly speaking, diversity is the word we use to describe a mixture of individuals and ideas, and the traditions, belief systems and cultures that come with them.
So, what are we striving for when we want to see more diversity in college?
When most students seek diversity on campus, what they are seeking are opportunities to express themselves and find community with others who believe the same way, as well as opportunities to learn from those from different cultures and backgrounds.
Diversity can be promoted by the university in several ways. First, institutions should be making an effort to hire a varied faculty to teach students. But the school should also be doing the best they can to foster substantial interaction between people from different backgrounds. This prevents students and faculty from self-segregating and encourages positive connections....
Monday, February 04, 2019
I found US House Representative Mike Turner's (click here) response to questions about the thirteen indicted Russians (click here) in the Mueller Investigation glib, distanced and minimalized. He stated they were bloggers as if they were never a threat. Excuse me, but, those bloggers assisted Donald Trump into office and terrorized a portion of the USA population previous to the 2016 election. Those bloggers helped throw the election to Trump. Maybe Turner actually appreciates the efforts of the KGB directed bloggers.
He was also not worried about sanctions being removed by Trump after the legislature passed them. Is Mike Turner at all concerned for the integrity of the elections in the USA or is more interested in "winning" at any cost as Trump certainly likes to make known.
Obviously, the Republican response to the errant ways of the Trump Administration is to minimize the importance of the federal government and USA Constitution. They need to improve their concern for the country.
He was also not worried about sanctions being removed by Trump after the legislature passed them. Is Mike Turner at all concerned for the integrity of the elections in the USA or is more interested in "winning" at any cost as Trump certainly likes to make known.
Obviously, the Republican response to the errant ways of the Trump Administration is to minimize the importance of the federal government and USA Constitution. They need to improve their concern for the country.
Sunday, February 03, 2019
Budweiser | Wind Never Felt Better | 2019 Super Bowl Commercial (click here for the vicious hate by the petroleum industry of alternative energy - thank you)
Budweiser won my heart today. I am proud of a Wall Street company. They love the USA. They are heroes. Thank you.
The USA and its loss of status among nations since 2017 in the field of energy production will be featured next week. It can't be blamed on Budweiser. Thank you for your interest.
The USA and its loss of status among nations since 2017 in the field of energy production will be featured next week. It can't be blamed on Budweiser. Thank you for your interest.
Commercial Ads 2019 - Coca Cola - A Coke is a Coke - Super Bowl 2019 (click here for Coke's Diversity and Inclusion Policy - thank you)
Coke took the high road and took a risk in backing diversity in a Superbowl Ad. The employees of Coke should hold their heads higher today knowing their company represents the best of America.
I won't be watching the NFL Superbowl. It holds little interest for me knowing it is rigged. But, I respect those that love the sport and find it at the center of their lives at times.
This is a cute story entitled, "Here's a story about some dogs named, Brady," (click here) in respect for their devotion.
I won't be watching the NFL Superbowl. It holds little interest for me knowing it is rigged. But, I respect those that love the sport and find it at the center of their lives at times.
This is a cute story entitled, "Here's a story about some dogs named, Brady," (click here) in respect for their devotion.
Caution in regard to Venezuela.
Putin was just paid $1 trillion in gold for military coverage of the Maduro. Purin wants to control the petroleum assets of Venezuela and dictate the outcomes for countries that depend on Venezuela's petroleum. Putin wants this one bad. Strength Columbia first and then with gathered intelligence seek a way to end the conflict in Venezuela.
Putin and other allies may seek to export small arms to Maduro supporters. Not everyone receiving small arms with be Maduro supporters so the idea a civil war can break out will be ever present.
The best way to end the conflict in Venezuela is to strengthen the region around it, regardless of country. Stronger borders and control of refugees into reasonable camps will begin the process of Russian containment in the region. Rubio has a strong focus on Columbia, so he will be a strong asset for Columbia and the USA.
This is a near border conflict for the USA and kindly recall Russia has signed an agreement with Cuba, so the threat and the desire by Russia is real.
Entering Venezuela directly is a very bad idea. Too many people will be killed and it could explode into a regional war with every country surrounding Venezuela becoming a Russian asset. There is a good approach that will strength the countries and protect people. It is the worst case scenario that needs to be avoided for the stability of the region. The bloodshed has to come from Russia and not anyone else.
Putin practices brinkmanship and sends unsuccessful Russian mercenaries to test the waters, while his spy planes are shot down accidentally. Putin's conventional weapon warfare lacks expertise. His brinkmanship prevents failure in the field and loss of public support for his regime.
The entire circumstance with Venezuela is unfortunate, but, it does exist. The man that opposes Maduro and wants to lead Venezuela is seen in film footage unafraid to be among the people. He is benevolent and brave.
There is some talk that the Venezuelan Generals are not behind Maduro. That may or may not be the case. If they are loyal to the people, there is a real chance of ending all this mess peaceful. Then Venezuela has grounds to recall the $1 trillion in Russian assets back to the country as it backed an illegitimate dictator. When, not if, the change takes place the economic recovery will be vital to bring refugees home and allow the country to establish a lasting peace with a strong economy.
February 2, 2019
By Mariana Zuniga, Anthony Faiola and Rachelle Krygler
Caracas — Venezuela’s embattled president, Nicolás Maduro, (click here) faced challenges on multiple fronts Saturday, as massive anti-government rallies choked the streets, a top general defected and the opposition urged European powers to join the international alliance against him.
The dramatic events underscored the pressures mounting on Maduro. They also suggested the strategies ahead for opposition leader Juan Guaidó — an untested 35-year-old industrial engineer — as he tries to expand Maduro’s global isolation and appeals for the support of more Venezuelans.
Guaidó, who heads the opposition-controlled National Assembly, has won the backing of the United States and a host of other nations since declaring Maduro a usurper and himself interim president.
Across the nation, huge numbers of protesters — possibly hundreds of thousands — took to the streets....
Putin and other allies may seek to export small arms to Maduro supporters. Not everyone receiving small arms with be Maduro supporters so the idea a civil war can break out will be ever present.
The best way to end the conflict in Venezuela is to strengthen the region around it, regardless of country. Stronger borders and control of refugees into reasonable camps will begin the process of Russian containment in the region. Rubio has a strong focus on Columbia, so he will be a strong asset for Columbia and the USA.
This is a near border conflict for the USA and kindly recall Russia has signed an agreement with Cuba, so the threat and the desire by Russia is real.
Entering Venezuela directly is a very bad idea. Too many people will be killed and it could explode into a regional war with every country surrounding Venezuela becoming a Russian asset. There is a good approach that will strength the countries and protect people. It is the worst case scenario that needs to be avoided for the stability of the region. The bloodshed has to come from Russia and not anyone else.
Putin practices brinkmanship and sends unsuccessful Russian mercenaries to test the waters, while his spy planes are shot down accidentally. Putin's conventional weapon warfare lacks expertise. His brinkmanship prevents failure in the field and loss of public support for his regime.
The entire circumstance with Venezuela is unfortunate, but, it does exist. The man that opposes Maduro and wants to lead Venezuela is seen in film footage unafraid to be among the people. He is benevolent and brave.
There is some talk that the Venezuelan Generals are not behind Maduro. That may or may not be the case. If they are loyal to the people, there is a real chance of ending all this mess peaceful. Then Venezuela has grounds to recall the $1 trillion in Russian assets back to the country as it backed an illegitimate dictator. When, not if, the change takes place the economic recovery will be vital to bring refugees home and allow the country to establish a lasting peace with a strong economy.
February 2, 2019
By Mariana Zuniga, Anthony Faiola and Rachelle Krygler
Caracas — Venezuela’s embattled president, Nicolás Maduro, (click here) faced challenges on multiple fronts Saturday, as massive anti-government rallies choked the streets, a top general defected and the opposition urged European powers to join the international alliance against him.
The dramatic events underscored the pressures mounting on Maduro. They also suggested the strategies ahead for opposition leader Juan Guaidó — an untested 35-year-old industrial engineer — as he tries to expand Maduro’s global isolation and appeals for the support of more Venezuelans.
Guaidó, who heads the opposition-controlled National Assembly, has won the backing of the United States and a host of other nations since declaring Maduro a usurper and himself interim president.
Across the nation, huge numbers of protesters — possibly hundreds of thousands — took to the streets....
Trump knows he panders to White Supremacists for their vote, so he changes horses in midstream.
Donald Trump is playing into Governor Northam's fantasy of making this all go away. It is not going away. There needs to be an investigation of racism at VMI. Northam needs to resign for no other reason in that he is now crippled as a governor burdened with a scandal.
February 3, 2019
By Tom Porter
President Donald Trump in a tweet Saturday (click here) described a picture in which Democrat Virginia Governor Ralph Northam allegedly appears in blackface as “unforgivable.”
In a medical school yearbook photo that emerged Friday, one man, alleged to be Northam, appears in blackface, while another wears a KKK hood.
Northam initially admitted to being one of the men in the photo, then on Saturday withdrew his admission, and claimed that allegations he was in the photo were not true.
Trump on Saturday criticized Northam for the conflicting statements, and for recent comments about a Virginia abortion bill that Northam's critics claim defended infanticide.
“Democrat Governor Ralph Northam of Virginia just stated, “I believe that I am not either of the people in that photo.” This was 24 hours after apologizing for appearing in the picture and after making the most horrible statement on “super” late term abortion. Unforgivable!” tweeted the president....
Trump's pivot into late term abortion is a strategy by Virginia Republicans to change the topics of morality within the Virginia political dialogue. Somehow, late term abortion to save a woman's life is infanticide in the minds of the Virginia Republican Party. That is a sexist statement which nullifies the life of a woman in favor of a fetus. This is once again the twisted idiocy of the Republican dialogue. Somehow find a way to birth a baby while it's mother will die and then grow up without a mother. It is insanity and warped values of human life.
February 1, 2019
Culpepper - Authorities say a Virginia pregnancy center (click here) has been vandalized days after a debate over late-term abortion in the state capital sparked controversy nationwide.
Police said in a statement that the vandalism reported early Friday at the Pregnancy Center of Culpeper included spray-painted messages on the building and signs and a broken window. Images from the scene show the messages include "YOU HATE WOMEN" and "FAKE."
The center is one of the Pregnancy Centers of Central Virginia. The Christian nonprofit's website says it is "dedicated to women and families facing unplanned pregnancy" and doesn't perform or refer for abortions. President and COO DJ Carter says they haven't experienced vandalism before and he's unsure of the vandal's motivation. The organization is changing its name to Thrive Women's Healthcare....
February 3, 2019
By Tom Porter
President Donald Trump in a tweet Saturday (click here) described a picture in which Democrat Virginia Governor Ralph Northam allegedly appears in blackface as “unforgivable.”
In a medical school yearbook photo that emerged Friday, one man, alleged to be Northam, appears in blackface, while another wears a KKK hood.
Northam initially admitted to being one of the men in the photo, then on Saturday withdrew his admission, and claimed that allegations he was in the photo were not true.
Trump on Saturday criticized Northam for the conflicting statements, and for recent comments about a Virginia abortion bill that Northam's critics claim defended infanticide.
“Democrat Governor Ralph Northam of Virginia just stated, “I believe that I am not either of the people in that photo.” This was 24 hours after apologizing for appearing in the picture and after making the most horrible statement on “super” late term abortion. Unforgivable!” tweeted the president....
Trump's pivot into late term abortion is a strategy by Virginia Republicans to change the topics of morality within the Virginia political dialogue. Somehow, late term abortion to save a woman's life is infanticide in the minds of the Virginia Republican Party. That is a sexist statement which nullifies the life of a woman in favor of a fetus. This is once again the twisted idiocy of the Republican dialogue. Somehow find a way to birth a baby while it's mother will die and then grow up without a mother. It is insanity and warped values of human life.
February 1, 2019
Culpepper - Authorities say a Virginia pregnancy center (click here) has been vandalized days after a debate over late-term abortion in the state capital sparked controversy nationwide.
Police said in a statement that the vandalism reported early Friday at the Pregnancy Center of Culpeper included spray-painted messages on the building and signs and a broken window. Images from the scene show the messages include "YOU HATE WOMEN" and "FAKE."
The center is one of the Pregnancy Centers of Central Virginia. The Christian nonprofit's website says it is "dedicated to women and families facing unplanned pregnancy" and doesn't perform or refer for abortions. President and COO DJ Carter says they haven't experienced vandalism before and he's unsure of the vandal's motivation. The organization is changing its name to Thrive Women's Healthcare....
Saturday, February 02, 2019
Why are so many people upset with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?
The reason everyone is upset by the newly elected Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is that she won a Congressional seat away from a long time incumbent Democrat without much money. See, she is the way elections are supposed to work. She put together some information about herself and went door to door to speak to the residents in her district, introduced herself, asked them to vote for her and they did.
She did not have a huge war chest to run ads and send out flyers and the like, she used shoe leather. She is an example of why "Citizens' United" is wrongfully decided. There should be election laws that restrict money in politics to force those seeking election to face the voters. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the very essence of the constitutional political theater that should exist with every election.
She is an average American who decided it was time for a change and when she looked around and found no one ready to fill that space, she decided to fill it herself. She is doing a great job. She earned her place in Congress. She worked hard for it and now she is winning the hearts of Americans in her forthright belief in her ability to bring about the change she ran on.
She is a good person. My favorite statement by her is when she commented on a media article that tried to say she was a millionaire and lying to the public because she had some nice clothes in the early days of her office. She said, “If I walked into Congress wearing a sack, they would laugh & take a picture of my backside,” she wrote on Twitter. “If I walk in with my best sale-rack clothes, they laugh & take a picture of my backside. Dark hates light — that’s why you tune it out. Shine bright & keep it pushing.”
She is the youngest woman ever elected to Congress and I don't know why that is the case, except, Americans are convinced an election costs enormous amounts of money. The USA Constitution clearly states the minimum age for an elected House of Representative member is 25 years old. By 25 years old most adults have attained an education (In her case, she graduated cum laude from Boston University's College of Arts and Sciences in 2011, majoring in international relations and economics.), knows what the meaning of a dollar is, and has made at least one major purchase in buying a car. So, what does it take to be a Congresswoman other than knowing what life is like for her district and willing to make her vote count for those people?
When Rep. Ocasio-Cortez hears about a bill regarding international law and decisions, she actually knows where the country is on a map.
She also doesn't seem too engaged in distancing her constituents either (click here). She has a minimal Congressional website and a newsletter. What better than to reach out to constituents in a newsletter? SHE REACHES OUT TO THEM AND DOESN'T EXPECT THEM TO COME LOOKING FOR HER. Something tells me she holds herself accountable to them.
She is a breath of fresh air. She won without big money and she is anchored in doing the best job she can for her constituents while being accountable to them. I do believe that is called a moral character. She takes herself seriously and works hard to prove herself.
Yep. She is a threat.
Nothing here exonerates anyone.
February 1, 2019
By Jonathan Lemire and Mary Clare Jalonick
Washington — Senate investigators (click here) have evidence revealing the identities behind mysterious phone calls that Donald Trump Jr. had with blocked numbers during the 2016 presidential campaign, just days before he met with a Russian lawyer promising dirt on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
By Jonathan Lemire and Mary Clare Jalonick
Washington — Senate investigators (click here) have evidence revealing the identities behind mysterious phone calls that Donald Trump Jr. had with blocked numbers during the 2016 presidential campaign, just days before he met with a Russian lawyer promising dirt on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
Democrats have speculated that Trump Jr. was talking to his father, who has denied knowing anything about the controversial Trump Tower meeting with Natalia Veselnitskaya. But according to phone records provided to Congress, Trump Jr. spoke to Howard Lorber, a New York real estate executive, and Brian France, the former chairman of NASCAR, two people familiar with the records told The Associated Press....
Why those people? Endorsements for his father? Donations for the campaign? It only proves further that Don, Jr. was in a pivotal role with the campaign and then he met with Russians.
It would be nice to think this is all very innocent and these phone calls may be, but, the Trumps have shut down their charity for real reasons of impropriety. No one can call them innocent.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)