This Blog is created to stress the importance of Peace as an environmental directive. “I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it’s hell.” – Harry Truman
(I receive no compensation from any entry on this blog.)
April 19. 2019 By Kevin Billings U.S. District judge ruledThursday (click here) that the residents ofFlint, Michigan, can proceed with the 2017 lawsuit against the federal government for its poor response to the 2014 water crisis. Judge Linda V. Parker said that the government wasn’t immune to lawsuits in this circumstance. Parker based this decision on Environmental Protection Agency employees who knew there was lead leaching from the old pipes because of the Flint water not being treated properly and misled residents about it. "(The court) can today state with certainty that the acts leading to the creation of the Flint Water Crisis, alleged to be rooted in lies, recklessness and profound disrespect have and will continue to produce a heinous impact for the people of Flint," Parker said. Attorney Michael Pitt, who is representing Flint residents against the U.S., told the Detroit Newsthat Parker's ruling would "shake up the EPA."... Congress is getting serious. It is starting to feel like America again. April 19, 2019 By Melissa Nann Burke Washington— Michigan officials (click here) have provided congressional investigators with tens of thousands of documents related to the Flint water crisis since the start of the year. The office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is continuing to work "cooperatively" with the House Oversight and Reform Committee to produce the documents that the panel requested, Nessel spokesman Dan Olsen said this week. "Our office has already supplied the committee with tens of thousands of pages of documents, and we are diligently working to send the rest," Olsen said. Olsen added that, while some of the records provided to the committee have been submitted previously, "most of these pages of documents are new." The Attorney General's Officeis sending the documents in response to Oversight Chairman Elijah Cummings of Maryland, who in late December wrote to then-Gov. Rick Snyder asking he "fully comply" with the committee's 2016 bipartisan request for documents related to the water crisis.... Governor Whitmer is making Flint whole again. There are thousands of children and hundreds that became ill with Legionella Disease and there are many died from it. This isn't going to be ignored by anyone. NOT EVER AGAIN. What is that expression? "Never Forget."
April 15, 2019 When Michigan officials switched water sources for Flint, Michigan, from Lake Huron to the Flint River it introduced iron and lead into the water supply. Flint – The city of Flint (click here) is getting another $77 million in funding from the state to pay for water infrastructure improvements. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality announced a $77.7 million loan to the city. Interest will be zero percent and 100 percent of the principal will be forgiven, effectively making it a grant....
There is a Russian tape that Trump wanted stopped? Really. Why wasn't the Special Council able to obtain whatever existed of it and what does it say? Everyone wants to know what Russia has on Trump. Where is the tape? April 18, 2019 By Lisa Hagen ...The special counsel's report (click here) cites a memo drafted by then-FBI Director James Comey about his private briefing on the dossier to Trump on Jan. 6, 2017. Citing the memo, the footnote reads that Comey briefed Trump on the salacious nature of the tapes allegedly from his 2013 Moscow trip for the Miss Universe Pageant. Mueller's report also notes that the campaign was aware of the alleged tapes prior to Comey's 2017 briefing. Mueller says in the footnotes that Russian businessman Giorgi Rtskhiladze texted then-Trump attorney Michael Cohen about the tape on Oct. 30, 2016. According to the report, Rtskhiladze said he was told it was fake, but didn't relay that to Cohen. "During the 2016 presidential campaign, a similar claim may have reached candidate Trump. On October 30, 2016, Michael Cohen received a text from Russian businessman Giorgi Rtskhiladze that said, 'Stopped flow of tapes from Russia but not sure if there's anything else. Just so you know. …'" the footnote reads.... The Pee Tape? Russia knows about the Pee Tape, why shouldn't the USA know about it? ...The Crocus Group’s president is Aras Agalarov. (click here) It was Agalarov’s son, the Russian pop star Emin Agalarov, who brokered the June 9th, 2016 Trump Tower meeting between Donald Trump Jr. and a Kremlin-linked lawyer, who promised to deliver “official documents and information that would incriminate Hillary.”... Ya, gotta love text messaging, right? Crocus Group (click here) is one of the leading development companies in Russia. Founded in 1989, Crocus Group is responsible for over 4 million total square meters of developed property. "There are things I want to do in Russia." And he and his revolving door cabinet are using the USA government for their own purpose and not worrying one day about the people of the USA or the country's national security.
Crocus City, a multifunctional satellite city of Moscow
Crocus Expo, an exhibition center meeting the highest international standards
Crocus City Hall concert facility
Myakinino Metro Station
Manhattan Mixed-Use Residential-Commercial complex (construction ongoing, with 14 towers planned)
VEGAS chain of retail-entertainment stores, including VEGAS Crocus City, VEGAS Kashirskoye Shosse, and VEGAS Kuntsevo (opening in 2017)
VEGAS City Hall concert venue
Crocus City Oceanarium
Tvoy Dom chain of superstores, including Tvoy Dom Crocus City, Tvoy Dom Novaya Riga, Tvoy Dom Kashirskoe Shosse, Tvoy Dom Ostashkovskoe Shosse, and Tvoy Dom Voronezh
Crocus City Mall luxury shopping center
Crocus Fashion, comprising namebrand boutiques like Sergio Rossi, Casadei, Le Silla, DeNoVo, Alberto Guardiani, Artioli, Santoni, Cesare Paciotti, John Varvatos, G-Star, Ravazzolo, Tardini, Tony Ward as well as the department store Crocus Fashion and two Crocus Stock boutiques
Crocus Atelier Couture, an atelier of handtailored apparel
U-BOAT brand of luxury watches
Restaurants by Crocus Group, including Shore House (Crocus City), Shore House (Sea Breeze), Baku (Tvoy Dom Kashirskoye Shosse), Baku (Tvoy Dom Crocus City), Zafferano (VEGAS Kashirskoye Shosse), Zafferano (VEGAS Crocus City), Edoko (VEGAS Kashirskoye Shosse), Edoko (VEGAS Crocus City), Forte Bello (Crocus City), Fusion (Crocus City Mall), Casa Mia (Crocus City Mall), Traktir Pozharskago (Crocus City Mall), Asia Cafe (Crocus City Mall), Backstage (Crocus City), Nobu (B. Dmitrovka), Nobu (Crocus City), Rose Bar (B. Dmitrovka), Rose Bar (Crocus City), U diadi Maxa (VEGAS Crocus City), Vegas Café (VEGAS Crocus City), three restaurants in Agalarov Estate
Agalarov Estate suburban estate
Sea Breeze, an elite housing development in Azerbaijan
Agalarov House residential complex
Retail project BOXCITY
Crocus-Bank
Crocus Logistics customs terminal and logistics center
Crocus Insurance
Crocus Steamship
CROCUS GROUP
General Contractor for the Construction of Stadiums for the 2018 F.I.F.A. World Cup Championship in Kaliningrad and Rostov-on-Don
General Contractor for the Construction of the First Stage of the TsKAD (Central Ring Highway)
General Contractor for the construction of the Pavshinsky Pedestrian Bridge (Krasnogorsk, Moscow Oblast)
General Contractor for the Far Eastern Federal University on Russky Island (built for the 2012 APEC Summit, the first to occur in Russia)
The first Russian company to build a station of the Moscow metropolitan system (Myakinino) using private funds
Organizer of the 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place for the first time in Russia
Crocus Group. Developing the Future. Very, very cute. This is not the Pee Tape. This is an intimidation tape whereby a panel is passing around girly pictures. It must be tough being a womanizer. Donald Trump is completely compromised and will provide anything Russia wants to them. He needs to resign. He is an ineffective president that does nothing to benefit the country. Trump is a fool. He and Manafort are scared to death of Russia. The harder they squeeze Trump, the more they want. You idiot. There is no way out of this for anyone that has been involved including Trump's children who have dealt with Russia, except, to seek protection from the USA by providing the truth and ending the coercion. There is no way out Trump as long as you continue this charade. NO WAY OUT! July 11, 2017 By Robert Mackey IT TOOK FOUR years longer than he’d hoped, (click here) but on Tuesday the Russian oligarch Aras Agalarov finally succeeded in his aim of using Donald Trump to make his son Emin famous in the United States....
Having Donald Trump in the Oval Office, two years with complete negligence of oversight and tolerating lying in the Executive Branch has emboldened Russia. When I look at this picture it makes me realize that it was not a PR picture, it was a victory picture. Russia won. It wasn't about diplomacy, it was about surrender. The idea that Trump wants "...to do things in Russia..." (for his company) is to realize Trump has no sincere appreciation for the enemy standing in his office and the message that sends the world. The same silly ideas are imposed on North Korea for Trump. There are business ventures foolishly planning and making inroads for business in North Korea. Did they notice there are still missiles being fired near our allies in the Pacific? The USA has enemies, Russia is one of them. The only war prevention with Russia at this point are nuclear weapons. Realize,for all the diplomacy the USA has conducted since Bush 41 decided "A Family of Nations" was the path to peace, Russia never gave up brinkmanship or the idea of reuniting the USSR. Never. Not for one minute did Russia set aside all animosity and become a family member. There is still communism in the world that dominates the safety of human life even within the borders of countries embracing capitalism. There are oppressive regimes, dictators allowing the free and open slaughter of people because THEY COULD BE DRUG DEALERS in the Philippines. The Philippines used to be an ally and that faded with reports of sexual assault by Americans and the hatred of the USA military. Now, the Philippines is in ruins when it comes to the free will of the people and the practice of democracy. No different than Venezuela, the Philippines is not an ally, but, coveted by Russia as a platform in the Pacific. Immediately after Trump spoke with Duterte, IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARD, Duterte flew to Moscow to meet with Putin. That told Trump he has to come a long way to become one of them in order to be a part of them. Trump is chasing rainbows because he wants the wealth that lies within these countries and they don't even have strong consumerism. His rainbows have no pot of gold. The USA should never tolerate a president that places his own dreams of wealth ahead of the national security of the USA and Trump does exactly that. The American people need to realize the leadership of this extremist Republican arm are dangerous people. They are liars. I could not believe that Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the supposed pinnacle of Christian Evangelical leadership, is a liar. She didn't just lie to the people of the USA, but, she lied to the Special Council. She is another Rove. "Wait, wait, don't file charges, let me try to get this right with the Grand Jury." Rove appeared before the Grand Jury in regard to the Plame outing six times. He didn't appear for more information, he appeared before the Grand Jury because he didn't want to go to jail for his lies. The Special Council report is about a communist country that successfully influenced the supposed free and open elections of 2016. It worked. The Russian intelligence agency SET UP A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING there was a DEEP STATE. It was so successful politically, Trump wouldn't give it up and to think he is going to repent now is a fool's errand. We are talking about a current Executive Branch that used it's influence in Senate elections to intimidate the Republican majority in the US Senate to even conduct oversight for two full years. This isn't about politics as the Republicans have decided, IT IS ABOUT THE COUNTRY and the security of the country for adverse foreign influence. The American people need to take the Special Council report seriously and begin to prioritize the reality that the USA has allies and it has enemies and the "Family of Nation" idea may have been a good one, but, in REALITY, it compromised the USA and didn't benefit it in the way intended. Robert Mueller is a great American and a trustworthy ally of the American people. The country needs to appreciate that and embrace his work.
Forget the idea you are married and safe even if your spouse passes away. Surviving spouses can lose their home. The Housing Crisis - Part 2 - the Trump years. December 21, 2018 By David Dayen and and Rebecca Burns ...Mnuchin (click here) was a key architect of the GOP’s $1.5 trillion tax cuts, passed last December, which over the next decade will funnel 83 percent of its benefits to the top 1 percent of U.S. earners — including to himself. With a net worth of half a billion dollars, Mnuchin and his wife are in the top one-one hundredth of one percent.... Munchkin in his 2014 divorce proceedings he asked that his address be withheld. ...“Without the . . . large LAPD presence on scene, I do not think the protest would have been as placid as it was,” Mnuchin pled in a 2014 divorce filing in which he asked the judge to keep his address private. “I can only imagine the psychological harm that would have come to our minor children if they were at the house to see over 100 people protesting at their home.”... Somehow Munchkin can find trauma with his own children and their primary address, but, not with children of people displaced from their hoes for an overdue balance of 27 cents. Twenty - seven cents that was more than likely leveraged by the bank in some kind of fee and not part of the anticipated balance of the home. Nothing like homes that have appreciated in value by tens and hundreds of thousands only to lose it to the bank. Amazing. ...Never mind that the victims of OneWest’s operation includedseniors reportedly foreclosed on over $0.27, and a family with young twin sons evicted abruptly while still in the process of applying for a loan modification. Won’t someone please think of the children? Stories like these earned Mnuchin, who ran OneWest from 2009 to 2015, the nickname “Foreclosure King.” This apparently wounded him: During his confirmation hearings, he complained to senators that he has “been maligned as taking advantage of others’ hardships in order to earn a buck. Nothing could be further from the truth.”...
This Bud is for the Mueller Team as well as, of course, NASA and the Astronaut corp. Well done, team. Budweiser Discovery Reserve bottle caps represent humanity's footsteps on both the moon and the next frontier, Mars. April 14, 2019 By Robert Z. Pearlman ...Discovery Reserve American Red Lager (click here) draws its recipe from a Budweiser blend that dates back to the time of the Apollo moon missions. "This Bud's for those who challenged the odds and made the impossible, possible. Budweiser Discovery Reserve is our tribute tothis epic moment in history, one that will certainly continue to inspire generations of present and future explorers," said Ricardo Marques, vice president of marketing core and value brands at Anheuser-Busch, in a statement released on Tuesday (April 16). Discovery Reserve is brewed with medium-roast Voyager barley malt and features a "light hoppy aroma, a toasted barley malt taste with a hint of toffee and a sharp finish," says Budweiser. The lager's reddish color is meant to be reminiscent of the next frontier for humans, Mars. The Discovery Reserve bottle and packaging was inspired by both the history and future of space exploration. The 11 stars on the label represent the Apollo 11 mission, which landed astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrinon the moon's Sea of Tranquilityon July 20, 1969. Alternating bottle caps represent the historicboot prints on the moonand the ones that are still to comeon the Red Planet....
No congressional member, Senate or House, should be playing politics with this report. Some of the finest minds in the country dedicated themselves to compiling this report. They did so because they expected it to be taken seriously. Unfortunately, the majority of Congress has a redacted view of the facts. That needs to be overcome by leadership in both houses and both parties to bring their knowledge of the full report forward for Constitutional resolve. This better not be toyed with or dismissed as inconsequential. I know the younger members of Congress will take this seriously and will demand better leadership if a reasonable resolve does not honor those that wrote it.
I understand on Page 382 there are specific statements indicating there is a Constitutional mechanism that can be used to remove President Trump from office because he violated the law. I am not putting responsibility for impeachment on the Democratic majority of the US House. This is the US Senate's PROBLEM. Mitch McConnell needs to do the right thing and agree with the Special Council's findings and recommendations and carry out a vote to impeach after the House has it's trial and vote. This is now the responsibility of the American people to contact their US Senators to vote for impeachment as soon as they receive the trial results and vote from the US House. It is up to the American people to hold the US Senate responsible for their votes to remove Donald Trump from office. If there is a known simple majority of votes to carry out the impeachment after a fair trial in the US House, then and only then should Speaker Pelosi bring about impeachment proceedings. The findings are all there. The Special Council has found reasons for a Constitutional remedy to criminality by the president. There is absolutely no reason why the US Senate would not confirm the US House vote. There is no reason. The Special Council was overseen by the most respected and highly qualified person in the USA to carry out such an investigation. Also, it is all too obvious the affection and loyalty Trump has for Putin and Russia. The US Senate must be involved and if it isn't it is due to political priorities and not the best interest of the country. I don't want to hear how McConnell is going to bring it for a vote after it is known if the US House will impeach. McConnell MUST speak out to the American people about his firm support for actions in the US House. McConnell needs to clearly demonstrate he is not cowering to Trump and will conduct a successful vote to remove him. If McConnell hides in the political corner of Trump, he should no longer be in leadership or office. THERE IS TO BE NO FILIBUSTER TO PROTECT TRUMP.
I believe Congress has access to the unredacted report. It is still unclear that Congress has access to the supporting documents. I understand the public has access to a redacted copy of the report. I can't believe the depth the press is taking this seriously. Some are reviewing the redacted report live. That is dedication. It is nice. It is important the press stay engaged. I am no different than many other Americans that are interested, but, have a family and an upcoming holiday. I have much to do today. It will be important to me that the press engages the redacted report and bring brevity to it's findings. It is also important to me that Congress is satisfied with it's access to the unredacted material and the supporting documents. I thank all those diligently reading and pursuing the words and purpose of the Special Council and it's report. The truth is paramount and the country is counting on it. Until later...
Barr, "...the private and information of..." There is no definition to the SPECIFICS of that. Everyone has privacy and information.
His revolving door strategy reveals a very corrupt process while using the "right wing identity" as a buffer to discover. One of the best illustrations currently within the Trump Administration is the US Interior Department and I will start with the Former Secretary Zinke. Ryan Zinke is now working in the very sector he created when he was Secretary of the Interior. His new job was very well sculpted to insure there were no obvious legal issues that would deprive the company of his influence. April 16, 2019 Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke (click here) has a new job, making more than $100,000 a year with a gold-mining firm that’s pursuing project approvals involving the federal agency that Zinke left less than four months ago. Zinke said Tuesday that his work for Nevada-based U.S. Gold Corp., which focuses on mining exploration and development, would not constitute lobbying. But that company’s chief executive cited Zinke’s “excellent relationship” with the Bureau of Land Management and the Interior Department in explaining his hiring.... ...Karr says Zinke would receive a total of $114,000 a year in salary and stock as a board member and under a one-year consulting contract. The company’s filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission says Zinke will also receive an expense allowance of up to $120,000 a year. Zinke said his time in public office would be an asset at the mining company and in “making sure the environmental mitigation is done correctly.” “I understand the process,” he said. “There’s very few former state senators, congressmen and secretaries that know more about the process than I do,” said Zinke, who served in the Montana Legislature and the U.S. House before being appointed to lead the Interior Department.... The Interior Department contains the Bureau of Land Management which is highly coveted by Republicans because the land of the USA can be exploited for profit. We know that the integrity of the land is not important to Republicans, ie: Oklahoma seismic activity that has resulted in damage to the North America Craton, not just Oklahoma if that wasn't bad enough. But, as to Zinke, he knows the process the best because he wrote it and degraded any protective purpose by the BLM. Kindly take note the extent and frequency that Trump's cabinet and Executive Branch staff runs into ethics violations. I imagine Trump warns his appointees that if they run into ethics violations it is theirs to maneuver. Trump placed a fairly stout Ethics Policy in place along with an Ethics Advisor to assist any administration member with ethics issues. The most high profile use of this dynamic was Former AG Whitaker. He openly would not redact himself from the Special Council investigation even after seeking advice from the ethics advisor acting to benefit the Trump Administration. The Ethics Policy of Trump and it's advisor to the Executive Branch is a buffer to prevent blaming of Trump for any nefarious activities. What could be better but to have an entire process to protect Trump from scandal while his staffing exploits the government within reach of the Trump Cabinet. That entire process protecting Trump is an ethic issue, but, no one seems to realize it. But, as to the Interior Department and Zinke. If one recalls Hurricane Maria and Puerto Rico as if anyone could forget; there was a crony of Zinke that landed an enormous contract. October 23, 2017 By Steven Mufson, Jack Gillum, Aaron C. Davis and Arelis R. Hernandez ....Whitefish Energy is based in Whitefish, Mont., (click here) the home town of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. Its chief executive, Andy Techmanski, and Zinke acknowledge knowing one another — but only, Zinke's office said in an email, because Whitefish is a small town where "everybody knows everybody." One of Zinke's sons "joined a friend who worked a summer job" at one of Techmanski's construction sites, the email said. Whitefish said he worked as a "flagger." Zinke's office said he had no role in Whitefish securing the contract for work in Puerto Rico. Techmanski also said Zinke was not involved. Techmanski said in an interview that the contract emerged from discussions between his company and the utility rather than from a formal bidding process. He said he had been in contact with the utility two weeks before Maria "discussing the 'what if' scenarios" of hurricane recovery. In the days after the hurricane, he said, "it started to make sense that there was a need here for our services and others."... Of course, Zinke was involved, otherwise, why would Congress getting pressure from their cronies be up in arms and how does a very obscure company without the experience or personnel to honestly compete for a bidding contract get the ASSIGNMENT. Government contracts are usually bidded on by many qualified candidates. In this case, the bidding requirement was eliminated and Whitefish was suddenly in Puerto Rico while seeking enough employees to satisfy the lucrative contract. But, the corruption of Zinke doesn't end there. Mind you he was the only Interior Secretary in modern history or most likely ever in the history of the USA to display a personal "sovereign flag" over the US Interior Building in DC whenever he was in the office. If anyone understands the right wing extremist voter, it is not only white male dominated, but, also has all these quirky values like personal identity. So, Zinke, as is the tradition of Trump and his administration, displays all the crony values, including hate speech, to ensure a loyalty quotient to their presence in the government. That loyalty quotient is to buffer skepticism as to any adverse activity embarked upon by those in power. ie: Trump has yet to drain the DC swamp. As a matter of fact he increases it's weight at every turn. Zinke's corruption definitely lead to his current employment. I haven't even begun to define Zinke's blind spot with his Deputy Secretary, now Secretary of the Interior as Zinke's replacement. Zinke, with Trump permission and hubris, methodically went through national monuments to assess reductions of those lands to expose them to exploitation. The process used by Zinke and Trump was very invasive and caused alarm among the Americans that valued the land the most. Sure enough, those alarmed had a strong reason to be alarmed and today Zinke is profiting from the process he employed. ...The monument advisory committee, (click here) or MAC, "will provide information and advice regarding the development" of a first-ever monument management plan for Bears Ears, which President Obama designated in December 2016. A year later, Trump signed a proclamation that removed protections for 85 percent of the 1.35-million-acre Bears Ears monument (E&E News PM, Dec. 4, 2017).... Everyone I know remembers the invasion into national monuments by Zinke. This process of forming a "Monument Advisory Committee" is new and removes authority from the traditional management of PARK employees and the National Park Service. It places people from industry and the public at the same table to bargain for protected lands. This process at Bears Ears was purely ceremonial and the final outcome was determined before the process of the MAC was even written. Eight-five percent of land removed from protections of any national monument is an alarm and completely criminal. Zinke intended to exploit his position at the Department of Interior for ultimately his own income. Just because Zinke's new employer is not currently in Utah doesn't mean anything and the future is not set. ...But that company’s chief executive cited Zinke’s “excellent relationship” with the Bureau of Land Management and the Interior Department in explaining his hiring... Zinke specifically has his new job because he knows people and not because of his professional status dictates a career in mining. Zinke has never performed geologicals or cracked a mine in his life. This is more of the influence he exerted in Puerto Rico. The methodology will no doubt be the same. Zinke left the Interior Department because of ethics violations. And why not? If one can craft a motherload of money in the private sector who cares about ethics! As to his Deputy Secretary. Zinke's Deputy Secretary David Bernhardt is currently the Interior Department Secretary and under investigation for ethics violations. ALREADY? Bernhardt just got the job and how can he be in violation? Well. Because he worked under Zinke with one foot in the private sector and the other in DC. Bernhardt is known as a former lobbyist, but, he today he is so much more. This article is far ranging and reveals a completely corrupt and dangerous man that deals in power and money and not the interest of the country. Kindly recall first the continuous scandal of Trump's Oval Office and "Executive Time." It seems as though from the beginning a CALENDAR IS NEVER A CALENDAR. The Calendar of these men, including Trump, is a facade. It does not represent their true plans or activities. Behind the calendar, they are carrying out assaults against the USA government. April 8, 2019 by Jacob Holtzman Recently posted versions (click here) of acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt’s daily schedules contain at least 260 differences from his original schedules, with the newest records showing meetings previously described as “external” or “internal” were actually with representatives of fossil fuel, timber, mining and other industries, according to a review by CQ Roll Call.... The most disgustingly corrupt OPERATION by Bernhardt involves his continuing work with CESAR. He lawyered for CESAR as director and his methods are completely corrupt in that lawyering. But, there is every reason to believe he was continuing his work with CESAR and probably still a director while working for the USA government. The overlap is completely obvious. His published calendar put him in a far different place than a meeting with CESAR. ...Bernhardt was a director at CESAR, and represented the group in litigation against the Fish and Wildlife Service to enforce protections of the American eel. Environmentalists have said the case was a legal tactic to make the Endangered Species Act unworkable and force lawmakers to rewrite it. Visitor logs show that Sagouspe arrived at Interior at roughly 8:30 a.m. that day. The meeting is not on Bernhardt’s public calendar.... Many Americans are aware of the word "ecosystem" and the meaning behind that word. As a lawyer for CESAR, Bernhardt thought he could dismantle the Endangered Species Act by pitting one species as important and another as wrongfully protected. His method is based in lawyering and not conservation or knowledge of anything within the practice of Conservation Biology. Bernhardt in his practice with CESAR is completely corrupt and throws out the basis of entire professional practices of anything nature. His work with CESAR was ongoing as Zinke's Deputy. Realize now that the Trump Administration is not about the people or the country, but, about holding power, enriching oneself while dismantling long established law based in sound principles and practices, including sound science. All this corruption is completely litigable in court. The basis to USA law, especially as it impacts the Interior Department, is based in sound science, moral principles and sovereign land of the USA. It cannot be dismantled as it's existence is outside of lawyering. The existence of USA law is based in it's people and their professional practices. The law reflects the people and their elected officials that care about their constituencies and why the reason they were elected. This administration is corrupt to the core, is not providing important work in their seats of power and his seeking to dismantle well established law. Now, apply this ONE EXAMPLE to the entire Executive Branch and begin to realize the depth of the corruption and the danger to the country. I remind. There are nuclear capacity jets in Venezuela for the purpose of confronting the USA if troops interfere with Russian activities in that country. Russia has it's own wealth of natural resources in methane and petroleum. Russia does not need the USA. It needs the end of the moral global content of the USA, hence the end of the American people who are at the depths of USA law and policy. Today, Barr will attempt to end the cries by the people to see the work of the Special Council. It cannot stop with a news conference and a redacted report lead by a hero to the USA and a man dedicated to the country's sovereignty, Robert Mueller.
April 18, 2019 By Melissa Yeager If you're flying the evening of Wednesday, April 17, (click here) double-check your flight status before you head out the door — especially if your itinerary takes you through Dallas. Southwest and American airlines have preemptively canceled some Wednesday evening flights as meteorologists at the National Weather Servicepredict severe thunderstormsto move through the central and southern United States. American Airlines will have only two departures and no arrivals in Dallas after 9 p.m. Central Time on Wednesday. A spokesman said the decision resulted in four departures and three arrivals canceled at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport....
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Kim Jong Un has learned from Trump how to work a news cycle. He returned to testing missiles at the same time Bill Barr is creating a circus around the redacted Special Council report so as to not grab a lot of press and embarrass his puppet, the president of the USA.
In the 4 page personal assessment by Barr (click here) he opens the letter with "...a confidential report....." Why is it only confidential? I would expect it to be classified. I think Barr chooses his words for specific reasons. The word confidential feeds into the later statement that there are personal reportings about Trump that is not interesting, but, simply "personal." Personal issues are not classified, they are confidential. Barr both in his four page letter and his testimony structures his language to dummy down the fact there are real concerns. He deliberately distracts from the brevity of the Special Council report. His testimony to Congress uses the same strategy. Yes, strategy. I think Barr uses a strategy on behalf of Trump. He also states the letter is not a legislated requirement, but, his own decision to provide reassurance to the public. "I believe it is in the public interest to describe the report and summarize..." He clearly is preparing a political document. His own authorship of a letter is never required by law. This Special Council investigation was less than 2 years in existence, but, if reported accurately by Barr (which is always questionable) produced 2800 subpoenas. Nice round number, but, incredible to realize the depth of the investigation and the vitality of the Mueller team to unearth information that would result in that number of legal documents to support the investigation. The number 2800 is obviously not an exact number and reflects the estimation that Barr used to conduct his four page letter. However, in breaking down the number, kindly realize that is 127 subpoenas a month and approximately 6 per day with a 20 day work month. The volume of this work was considerable and included requests to 13 foreign countries. Indeed this is not a confidential report, it is a classified report. Once again Robert Mueller rises above the fray to exemplary work and a magnificent example of excellence to inspire any FBI agent. The Mueller Special Council will provide a model to the intelligence community whom continue to fight off foreign influence in our elections. That in and of itself is also noteworthy. The elections of 2016 and the Russian invasion into that election; which has been verified by this report; is well over three years ago at the start. Yet, there is little to no legislation that inhibits such broad-reaching attacks. The use of social media is extensive in this invasion and yet today we are still asking the Tech Sector to "pretty please" do something. Realizing the US Congress has yet to pass effective legislation to monitor, prevent and capture foreign invasion into our elections with cyber attacks and information manipulations as well as any actions of foreign agents is alarming and every American should be concerned. I believe Barr flat out lies on the second page of the four page letter. In the second paragraph he states, "...The Special Council investigation did not find that the Trump campaign or anyone associated with it conspired or coordinated with Russia in efforts to influence the 2016 campaign for U.S. presidential election...." In the picture of Flynn and Putin, what the heck is the general doing with his ear? An earbud for an interpreter? If there was an interpreter, who knows what Flynn actually heard and agreed to. The interpreter would not be a US certified interpreter. At any rate, there is just no denying Retired General Flynn was one of the most surprising members of the Trump campaign and administration, so willing to be a part of talks with Russia. It only reaffirms Trump's demands to establish a relationship with Russia through Putin. There is no way Barr can state there was no relationship between the campaign and Russia. Even public information dictates otherwise.
...Retired Lt. Gen Michael Flynn: (click here) Flynn wasa campaign adviserto Trump and then briefly his national security adviser. In November 2017 Flynnpleaded guiltyto lying to the FBI about his discussions with the Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the presidential transition. Flynn and Kislyak had discussed U.S. sanctions against Russia for election meddling. On the same day Flynn was sworn in, news reports said he was under investigation by agencies looking into Russian officials’ contact with close Trump associates. Flynn denied to the FBI that he discussed sanctions with Kislyak. Sally Yates, then-acting attorney general, told White House counsel Don McGahn that intercepts contradicted Flynn’s account of his Dec. 29, 2016, conversation with Kislyak. Flynn resigned after 24 days in his role. He later entered a plea agreement with Mueller. A federal judge in December 2018 delayed Flynn’s sentencing....
There is another thing about Flynn that I can't resolve for myself. Regardless of his state of employ by Trump, did he have anything to do with the highly classified material presented to Russia in the Oval Office? If not, who did? Trump is not that smart. That information, a matter of national security, is not protected by Executive Privilege in dealing with an enemy of the USA. Barr is lying. There is no denying it. He does not deserve the trust of the American people. Russia, Trump and the Republicans probably love Barr, but, there is no reason to trust him. But, to continue. The following statement that is supposed to be a quote, "(T)he (what is the deal with the parenthesis? If this is a direct quote it obviously was removed from a greater text that didn't carry the word "The"). Cut and paste, I guess. "(T)he investigation did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in it's election interference activities." I am going to state that again. "(T)he investigation did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with the Russian government in it's election interference activities." To begin there was definitely election interference activities established as conducted by Russa. That statement is definitive in it's conclusion there was election interference by Russia. The word "establish" also raises a red flag. There is nothing definitive by law that was established as indictable. But, the word establish leaves open the idea that the Special Council could not dismiss involvement. In other words, Mueller was not guaranteed a conviction so he did not charge anyone with a crime. That is all that says. We know the campaign staff was involved with the Russians and met with them. That involvement was not cyber related. Part of what Robert Mueller was faced with was protecting the institution of THE VOTE and whether a campaign conclusively interfered with THE VOTE. While the Russians definitely interfered with THE VOTE through cyber attacks and information manipulation, the Trump campaign did not have a role in that aspect of the election interference. Barr does later on page 2 explain there were two aspects to the Russian investigation conducted by the Special Council. When Barr makes the above statement he does not specify his understanding is that BOTH aspects were out of the question by the Special Council investigation. The meeting is probably a little murkier and Paul Manafort decided not to answer questions truthfully. He probably is scared silly of Russia. The IRA (Internet Research Agency) is a Russian based operation to effect elections and in this case USA elections. Of course, the Trump campaign did not work with the IRA. There was an "ask" by Trump via television to find emails that are supposed to have been on Hillary Clinton's home server. That "ask" immediately triggered the IRA to look for emails, the most obvious stop was the DCCC and the Clinton Campaign. Whether Trump knew there was an IRA and whether Putin would activate it at his asking was not determined, according to Barr. By most public media the only internet connection was one that existed between the Trump Company and a Russian bank while there were USA sanctions. The Barr Letter states, "...the Russian government's effort to conduct computer hacking operations...." Barr completely steers away from any personal contact between the Trump campaign, Trump and meetings and or contact facilitated by people like Flynn or Manafort as a back channel. In other words, second hand information provided by others (including family) that had direct contact with a Russian and/or a Russian agent. If all Barr addresses are computer affiliated activity, then he is definitely covering up the truth about the Trump Campaign. We know for a fact there were members of his family and his campaign that had direct contact with the Russians. YET, Barr limits his review to computer activity by the Russians in his report to Congress and then Congress' distribution to the public. Barr is completely eliminated, at least up to page 2, the FACT there was contact with the Russians by the Trump affiliates and quite possibly Trump himself. Barr is still not providing any reason to trust his idea of a summary. It is grossly errored. The Special Council found direct contact between the Clinton Campaign, the DCCC and Wikileaks facilitated by the IRA. Barr states that Russians have charges against them, but, while stating the Russians had provided information to Wikileaks, he does not state Wikileaks is implicated in any charges. Either both are involved, which the Special Council states, and both are implicated in charges or Barr is omitting information directly linked to Trump's friends. I believe Trump's friend is Roger Stone. Granted the trial is ongoing, but, he was indicted by the Special Council. Roger Stone's involvement is a direct link to Trump and I don't believe for one minute Stone never bragged to Trump about his success with the Russians and Wikileaks. One thing I realize is that these relationships with Trump are not a sterile issue. He does not live in a bubble, even in the White House OR MARALOGO. He moves freely among these people and speaks in code to them. Page 3 Obstruction of Justice "...addresses...most of which have been the subject of public reporting..." Oh, then there was no need for the Speical Council. Journalists were profoundly worried about the country. That may hold up as an argument considering the Pulitzer's presented to some really great journalism. That statement about the subject of public reporting completely contradicts Trump's "Fake News" nonsense. What happened to the 19 lawyers, 40 FBI agents and an innumerate number of staff with varying degrees of background and expertise? Nothing was noted, investigated or written by these folks? Obstruction is completely left up to cameras, journalists and pictures? I sincerely doubt that. Barr makes the Special Council sound torn about whether there was or wasn't a crime. Really? The department standards Barr so lovingly clings to is that there is no indictments of a sitting president. Barr uses his skills in creative writing to apply that department standard as a tool to evaluate the decision making of the Special Council. Here again, Barr is the author and not the Special Council which might explain the Special Council members objecting to this four page letter as a misrepresentation of their work. That is all obvious. Barr is pandering to anticipation by the public for the answers of a 22 month investigation regarding the security of the elections of the USA and all Barr offers is indecision. Doesn't that fit into the election dialogue of the Republican Supreme Leader? THE ONLY REASON any indictment of Trump is left to the AG is that the DOJ does not indict a sitting president. It has nothing to do with indecision or lack of evidence. The FACTS are suppose to go to the Congress who then decides if impeachment is a vital answer to the issue. AND, the idea that Trump is exonerated is nonsense. The DOJ CAN indict a sitting president BUT cannot ACT ON THAT INDICTMENT while the president is still in office. So, the entire idea of indecision is horse hockey. The Grand Jury can indict a sitting president, but, it cannot be acted on until out of office WHICH IS WHY the Congress receives unredacted facts with supporting evidence to determine if any criminal activity rises to impeachment. In making this determination (Barr conflates the two ideas of conspiracy and obstruction into one statement.) we noted that the Special Council recognized that "the evidence does not establish that the President was involved in any underlying crime related to Russian election interference," and that, while not determinative, the absence of such evidence bears upon the President's intent with respect to obstruction. Where does one begin with an AG that is engaged in creative writing and intended confusion. No one expects Russia and Trump or any of Trump's cohorts would have supervised the cyber election interference. Trump or his cohorts have proven to be not very smart, but, willing to breach the limits of law. We know that the Trump Company engaged in breaches of law in communicating with Russia and its banks during sanctions. We know the Trump Company was engaged in courting Russia regarding a Trump Tower in Moscow. We know the Trump Charities were disbanded because of violations of the public trust. For Barr to try to get away with exonerating Trump, he would have to confuse and blur issues and simply construct a letter that would provide Trump and the RNC with plenty of reasons to raise money. Never once does he state THE FACTS surrounding the confusion about obstruction and specifically why such facts were simply dismissed. Never once does he treat Congress with brevity and in confidence supplying real reasons for his letter. He simply writes about peripheral confusion. This was a letter to Congress. He treats them as if they don't understand legal terms, concepts, ethics or decision making. He sure as heck never trusts Congress with any facts. I don't see Barr as a competent practitioner of the law, so much as a partisan hack that did nothing but exert control. Page 4 of the letter is nothing but stating sections of law that exerts control. Never does he provide Congress with reasons to believe the review is even reflective of the actual Special Council report. Barr is not a competent practitioner of the law and certainly not a partner to Congress to even offer a review. Sorry, I have been busy and this is the first time I had some time to review the letter. I did want to do this before the Thursday deadline. I think the Congress and subsequently, the public are being HANDLED to benefit a political outcome and not entrusted with the best sovereign state of being for the USA. Barr's letter is an insult to the work of the Special Council and I apologize to all of them for all the good work they have performed. The results to date are admirable. end PS: I will review his Congressional testimony. Now, that was a piece of work if I ever saw one.
