Good night for now. While politics is funny at times and interesting at other times, if the news media doesn't report the events and news of the day, how does anyone know what is happening with a debate?

Al Shabab is suspected in a bomb explosion in Somalia. The Egypt airline was a model for terrorists. It doesn't matter the airport or where it is in the world, the boarding of passengers, crew and cargo including passenger baggage must have a security process to end this violence.

...wait for it, wait for it...Ahhhhhh...here it is. LOCAL ECONOMIES AMERICA, LOCAL ECONOMIES.

Don't let any stupid trade agreement take it away from you! A sovereign country can have a local economy without interruption to destroy American lives.

February 3, 2016
By Peter Eaves

Beneath the surface (click here) of the global financial system lurks a multitrillion-dollar problem that could sap the strength of large economies for years to come.

The problem is the giant, stagnant pool of loans that companies and people around the world are struggling to pay back. Bad debts have been a drag on economic activity ever since the financial crisis of 2008, but in recent months, the threat posed by an overhang of bad loans appears to be rising. China is the biggest source of worry. Some analysts estimate that China’s troubled credit could exceed $5 trillion, a staggering number that is equivalent to half the size of the country’s annual economic output.

Official figures show that Chinese banks pulled back on their lending in December. If such trends persist, China’s economy, the second-largest in the world behind the United States’, may then slow even more than it has, further harming the many countries that have for years relied on China for their growth....

Ukraine has applied to NATO. Corruption matters.

February 3, 2016

By Kateryna Choursina and Daryna Krasnolutska

Ukraine's government, (click here) splintering over issues from the war in the nation's east to faltering anti- corruption efforts, suffered a new setback as its reform-minded economy minister stepped down.

Aivaras Abromavicius, 40, a Lithuanian-born former fund manager, said Wednesday that he wouldn't be a "puppet" for officials he accuses of blocking overhauls of the ex-Soviet republic's economy and institutions. He said politicians, including one from President Petro Poroshenko's party, had pressured him to appoint "dubious people" at state-controlled companies. Government bonds slumped after his comments.

The minister's departure underlines growing dysfunction in Ukraine, where memories of broken reform promises from the 2004 Orange Revolution persist. The administration that took power in 2014 after a wave of pro-European protests has become bogged down by infighting and criticism over failing to rein in the vested interests that have controlled much of the economy for decades. Poroshenko, who must deliver reforms to maintain the flow of financial aid from allies such as the U.S. and the European Union, has promised personnel changes in the cabinet this month....

This is really not good news for the IMF. There will probably be hearings called. The fight for the heart of the nation isn't over yet.

Protesters lined the streets in New Zealand because of a signing ceremony of the PTT.

Intersections were blocked across the city, with protestors perched atop bamboo tripods at crossroad after crossroad. Former MP and one of the protest organisers Sue Bradford amid a crowd moving from the intersection of Albert St and Wellesley St towards Queen St and Wellesley St. Traffic was constantly disrupted by a free-roaming series of protest groups.

There are two flags in New Zealand recognized by citizens.

February 4, 2016
By David Fisher

There wasn't a single Kyle Lockwood flag to be seen. (click here)

Above the crowds protesting the signing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement were plenty of the current New Zealand flag, the tino rangatiratanga, United Tribes flag and the Mana Party banners. But not a single fern on black, blue or red.

Inside the SkyCity Convention Centre, the champion of the alternative design - Prime Minister John Key - signed the deal. Outside, angry but peaceful crowds roared their opposition.

It was a different protest to that usually seen in central Auckland.

While the protesters did march Queen St, they marched everywhere else as well.

Normally, there's one group. Today, they were everywhere. In the central city at lunch hour, there were as many as six intersections blocked off at once....

February 3, 2016
By Ann Wilding

US Trade Representative Michael Froman (click here) and Prime Minister John Key at the Trans-Pacific Partnership Signing Ceremony

Washington, DC  (Herald de Paris) -- According to the White House, (click here) on 4 February 2016 the much debated Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement, TPP, is due to be signed in New Zealand, at a Trade Minister level. However, in the United States, the Agreement is yet to be passed by Congress.

The agreement is, in essence, a free trade agreement. Twelve countries came together with the aim of liberalizing trade and investment in the Pacific Rim. Each country came to the negotiating table with a clear strategy and list of gains it wished to see. As with any negotiations in any sphere of business, each country won some gains and compromised in others. The United States has been most concerned about high taxes imposed on its product overseas.

As White House Spokesperson Josh Earnest explained directly to the Herald de Paris in a Press Briefing at the White House today, "Right now we've got 18,000 American goods that are facing taxes that are imposed by other countries and we believe we should cut those taxes." Likewise, for countries such as New Zealand and Australia, tariffs are a big issue and this agreement would provide immediate economic benefit for exporters, particularly from reduced tariff rates. The TPP also brings greater bargaining power to regional economies....

Earley resigned from the Detroit Public Schools. They are feeling the heat.

I would not doubt Earley might be offered immunity from prosecution to get to the truth of it all. I think the truth can be determined from other methods.

February 3, 2016
Congress is holding its first hearing (click here) today on lead poisoning in the water supply of Flint, Michigan. The crisis began after an unelected emergency manager appointed by Republican Governor Rick Snyder switched the source of Flint’s drinking water to the corrosive Flint River. Flint’s former emergency manager, Darnell Earley, refused to testify at today’s hearing despite a subpoena from the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. On Tuesday, Earley announced he was resigning from his current position as emergency manager of the Detroit Public Schools. One person that will be testifying is Snyder’s handpicked appointee to run the state Department of Environmental Quality, Keith Creagh. According to the Detroit Free Press, Creagh is expected to fault the federal Environmental Protection Agency for contributing to the Flint crisis, saying it "did not display the sense of urgency that the situation demanded."...

Turkey is not with the program. Again. It was a Russian surveillance plain according to Moscow.

What side is Turkey on? It is hard to tell. Is Turkey having a Ted Cruz moment? Not sure who it is?

What is it with this country, already? This could get ugly really quickly. Can the USA take over the leadership of Turkey as an ally? Why not? We did it in Iraq.

Moscow (AFP) - Russia's defence ministry (click here) on Wednesday accused Turkey of breaching the Open Skies treaty by refusing to allow a reconnaissance plane to overfly its territory near Syria, the latest salvo in an ongoing row as relations between the two countries hits a post-Cold War low.

"This creates a dangerous precedent over a lack of control of the military activity of a member state of the Open Skies treaty," the ministry said.

The Russian plane's itinerary for February 1-5 was transmitted to the Turkish army in advance but authorisation was refused with Ankara authorities claiming to have never received the request, the defence ministry added in a statement.

The 2002 Open Skies treaty, signed by over 30 nations including Russia, Turkey, the EU and the US, establishes a programme of unarmed aerial surveillance flights giving all participants the ability to gather information about military forces and activities of concern to them....

Give Erdogan a cell phone! 

This might explain it. The Kurds are demanding recognition of an agreement in the death of their people. Erdogan is avoiding responsibility.


February 3, 2016

A number of Kurdish politicians (click here) have claimed that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was aware of an agreement reached between the government and the pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) in February 2015 at the Dolmabahçe Palace to bring peace to the country and have accused him of claiming he did not know about the deal so as not to be held responsible for the bloodshed in the country's Southeast.

The discussion over whether the agreement on how to solve the country's decades-old Kurdish problem took place with Erdoğan's complete knowledge and approval has heated up again after former Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç recently said that Erdoğan was aware of the steps taken before and during the meeting at Dolmabahçe and the content of the 10-item document produced after.

HDP Diyarbakır deputy İdris Baluken, who was in the HDP delegation that took part in the meeting at Dolmabahçe, told Today's Zaman on Wednesday that Erdoğan was aware of the content of the talks and that it was he who then derailed the peace process. "Erdoğan is the one who expressed his objection to the establishment of a monitoring committee [to observe the course of events of the Kurdish talks in 2015] and denied the existence of a Kurdish issue. He is responsible for the current conflict-driven environment,” Baluken said. Over 200 civilians have been killed in recent months in clashes between the Turkish security forces and the terrorist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)....

Texas, now Florida.

Feb. 3, 2016

The state of Florida (click here) has declared a health emergency in four counties where Zika virus is present, CBS Miami reports.

Governor Rick Scott signed the order on Wednesday to cover Miami-Dade, Lee, Hillsborough, and Santa Rosa counties.

Florida health officials have confirmed that there have been nine cases of the mosquito-borne Zika virus in the state, all of which occurred in people who've traveled to Latin America and the Caribbean, where the virus has been spreading.

The disease, for which there is no vaccine and no specific cure, has been linked to a recent surge of birth defects in Brazil.

None of the cases in Florida have involved pregnant....

February 3, 2016

I don't know who Ted Cruz is. Just that simple. Ruthlessness and you'll excuse me, but, Ben Carson is African American. Ruthlessness. The RNC is going to stand for this? 

Additionally, when he was delivering his speech in New Hampshire he was completely different than his persona in Iowa. 

No doubt, I understand now. Ruthlessness and complete disrespect for the American people. The Republican electorate is nothing more than a pawn in his game. 

A man that hides his sincere identity can't be trusted. A question mark is going into the Oval Office? Who is Ted Cruz? Really? I don't think so.

Was Jane Addams a Progressive?

Nobel Prize Winner 1931.

...Miss Addams and Miss Starr (click here) made speeches about the needs of the neighborhood, raised money, convinced young women of well-to-do families to help, took care of children, nursed the sick, listened to outpourings from troubled people. By its second year of existence, Hull-House was host to two thousand people every week. There were kindergarten classes in the morning, club meetings for older children in the afternoon, and for adults in the evening more clubs or courses in what became virtually a night school. The first facility added to Hull-House was an art gallery, the second a public kitchen; then came a coffee house, a gymnasium, a swimming pool, a cooperative boarding club for girls, a book bindery, an art studio, a music school, a drama group, a circulating library, an employment bureau, a labor museum....

Jane Addams is an interesting study. She came from a family of means, yet she had to find strength within herself to overcome health challenges from a very young age. In growing into a woman she understood how unfair life could be. She was comfortable in life and never worried about her next meal, but, she had to reach beyond the normal experience of a young woman of such means and become vital to society in her own way.

She not only succeeded, but, defined compassion in society which moved people to do more than she could ever achieve alone.

This is what the young people in the USA are looking for. They are looking for the compassion of a society so they can achieve in their lives more than they ever could without the compassion of a society devoted to the achievement of their country. The achievement of our country is obtained by moving your citizens to act on the future while learning from the past. 

Our young people have been hurt and they have been hurt very deeply. Sure, they had a social movement to bring about an understanding of a reality not one person in government knew existed. NOT ONE. The USA asked them to go to war to fight an illegal and immoral war and then offered them educations funded by student loans and after their educational achievement dropped them off in a failing banking system and a world that had no future for them. That isn't just hurt, that is complete rejection of their birth right.

The American young people have developed a world they understand. It is not the world I would have for them. Anyone running for office needs to understand them, otherwise, they won't see the world ahead of them as friendly or fulfilling. 

The USA was once a great country when it held the compassion of Jane Addams in the the palms of their hands and was determined to change the reality of those that were left out in the margins. 

Jane Addams would never claim a political designation, but, she was a Progressive. Our American Young People need her back and they need her to fight for compassion and leadership to give them back the lives greed took from them.

65 thousand people petitioned the court to give Mr. Hill 5 years incarceration for the dog's death.

February 3, 2016

By Sarah Sacheli

Michael Earl Hill, 32, (click here) entered a surprise guilty plea Monday to a charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. Hill had been scheduled for a closed door meeting about his case, but insisted on pleading guilty instead, said lawyer Ahmad Ammar.

After his release, Hill will be on probation for three years and is banned from having a pet for 25 years.

“There is no other way to describe this act; it’s a despicable act of depravity,” assistant Crown attorney Craig Houle told the court.

Denied bail last month, Hill has spent the time since his Dec. 18 arrest in solitary confinement. His lawyer says Hill has been segregated from the rest of the inmates at the South West Detention for his own protection.

Court heard Monday and at Hill’s bail hearing the history of the 13-pound dog Hill abused. Jessica Hems and Adam Esipu had given the dog to Hill on Dec. 15 to surrender to the humane society. The couple had a newborn daughter who was allergic to the seven-year-old Patterdale terrier named Nos.

Hill took $60 from the couple to cover the fee to drop off a dog at the shelter. Two days later, Hems and Esipu were subjects of an intense social media campaign aimed at finding the dog’s owners....

It speaks to a person's character. "If you'll do that to a dog, what won't you do?"

There are still speeches being made by the US Representatives on the House Floor.

Representative Bobby Scott (click here) is on the Committee on Education and the Work Force. He states his members are already beginning to prepare legislation regarding the children in the country effected by water contamination.

He spoke for awhile and stated quite clearly the issues that children will face with lead poisoning and the efforts being made by his committee members to properly address these issues. 

He stated such handicaps are a demand on our education that is not always addressed. He wants to bring a bill before the Congress to find a better direction for the education of the children effects of which are 9000 at least in Flint under the age of six years old.

We have good people in the Congress and the USA is a better and stronger country due to people like those speaking on the floor of the US House today. This is problem that has exposed the underbelly of our political system. No more. 

The US House just passed a bill that is to reduce SEC requirements of small businesses.

Bill 1675 - passed (click here)

There were two concurrent resolutions regarding the inauguration of the president and vice president at the use of the capital and the awards of honor and the use of other facilities on capital grounds.

What is a Concurrent Resolutions (click here)

Matters affecting the operations of both the House of Representatives and Senate are usually initiated by means of concurrent resolutions. A concurrent resolution originating in the House of Representatives is designated “H.Con.Res.” followed by its individual number. On approval by both the House of Representatives and Senate, they are signed by the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate. They are not presented to the President for action.

They didn't vote on it, the Speaker simply passed it through the House.

Federal committee hearing on Flint.

Rep. Paul Gosar is trying to blame US EPA Secretary McCarthy for the lead poisoning in Flint.

Rep. Cummings reminds Mr. Creagh he is under oath and notes Mr. Creagh was assigned as Director of the Michigan DEA one month ago. Mr. Creagh states he does not recall any vote by the City Council of Flint to use the Flint River for water. Creagh doesn't recall because he was never there and hasn't been briefed about the crisis. 

A person at the City Council Meeting, Mr. Nealy, stated "It was Emergency Manager Ed Kurtz that made the decision to use the Flint River for the city of Flint." Mr. Nealy is validated by the former Mayor. 

Rep. Cummings asks why is it Governor Snyder is blaming the Flint City Council for the lead poisoning if he was taking complete responsibility for the poisoning. Rep. Cummings is infuriated with Keith Creagh that the people of Flint are paying for poisoned water they cannot even bath in.

Rep. Cummings wants the truth regardless of who is responsible. 

Rep. Mark Meadows received some texts about water quality issues and the failure of the EPA. What has that got to do with Flint? Since FOYA is under my subcommittee and FOYA is allowed to review documents. Within 21 days a request is suppose to be fulfilled, the EPA is not forthcoming with the documents requested. Mr. Edwards is stating the State of Michigan is more forthcoming than the EPA. Mr. Mark Meadows states EPA doesn't enforce it's own regulations. Mr. Beauvais, USEPA, states he will take it back to be sure that is fulfilled. Mr. Meadows states he doesn't care who it is but he is committed to get clarity on the issues and hold whoever is responsible regardless of politics.

Rep. Matt Cartwright notes Governor Snyder has been caught red handed poisoning the people of Flint, but, he apologized and then started to spread the blame around. That is what criminals do. They try to find an equivalency of blame. Mr. Cartwright stated states the city council has no responsibility in this issue and never voted for the replacement of their water supply with the Flint River. It was the Governor that sought fiscal infrastructure substitution at the cost of the health of Flint residents. 

Jerry Ambrose and Governor Snyder are hiding when they were suppose to be at the committee hearing today. There was a decision in 2012 at the Michigan DEP that opposed using the Flint River and then in 2014 there was a change of decision when the current Director of the Michigan DEP was not there. So, there is no testimony today as to what happened between 2012 and 2014 that now causes the poisoning of the people of Flint.

Rep. Hice - The Lead and Copper Rule needs to be updated every six years. The last time it was updated in 2007, the USEPA has been seeking information from all the stakeholders to come up with a comprehensive rule. The USEPA states the rule will be completed by 2017. Mr. Marc Edwards believes the US EPA has caused the Flint crisis worse. 

January 21, 2016
By Ron Fonger

...Del Toral wrote an interim report on high levels of lead (click here) n Flint water on June 24, 2015, months after other EPA officials had warned the state Department of Environmental Quality that the chemistry of Flint River water was appeared to be causing transmission pipes to leach contaminants such as lead into the water supply....

The journal record at Ron Fonger and all other news records from any form of media should become part of the federal record regarding Flint. It is a way of providing a way to understand the public perception of the actions of those acting out of reach of the public authority to have knowledge of dangers to their lives. There are probably several journalists that have been following this with deal and they know where they were stonewalled when trying to act on the behalf of the public.

Mr. Del Toral is not in the committee meeting room today.

Rep. Brenda Lawrence took over the testing of Flint's water last week and she is not interested in pointing fingers as a resolve to the meeting.

Mr. Russell wants to understand the core mission of the EPA and brings up the Lead and Copper rule. Mr. Beauvais states the rule has been revised a few times over the years. Rep. Russell states the Lead and Copper Rule hasn't been updated for 25 years. He offers no proof. Mr. Edwards states the US EPA has a cozy relationship with water authorities and is not doing their job. The US EPA was listening to the wrong people including the water in Flint. THE WATER IN FLINT WAS FINE BEFORE THIS GOVERNOR PUT MONEY BEFORE HEALTH. The Lead and Copper Rule was never violated by Flint BEFORE THE GOVERNOR TRADED A BALANCE SHEET FOR THE HEALTH OF THE PEOPLE OF FLINT. UNTIL THE POISONED WATER REACHED THE PEOPLE OF FLINT THE WATER WAS NEVER A PROBLEM.

Switching to the net:

http://www.c-span.org/video/?404078-1/hearing-contaminated-drinking-water-flint-michigan

Mr. Beauvais states the Michigan DEQ never followed the directions of the US EPA in regard to the corrosion. Rep. Russell states Mr. Beauvais is shifting the responsibility to the MDEQ. Russell wants to set up the EPA and the Obama Administration for the entire disaster in Flint.

Chairman Chaffetz states he has to keep order as a good chairman would do, so he is going to clarify some things. He states he has spoken with the US EPA and documents were due at the end of this week and finds the EPA cooperative.

Chaffetz is entering a June 24, 2015 from Del Torro stating high lead results in the water. April 27, 2015 Flint has not been operating in a corrosive control treatment. E-mail Ms. Headman, July 1st - The preliminary findings of the water should not have been released outside the agency. The four documents are entered into the record and the committee expects non-redacted versions by the end of the week. Susan Headman is being subpoenaed.  Mr. Early is vital to understand these decisions and he was invited to appear before the committee. Participation is not optional. Mr. Early is not in the room. 

LOOK, any fool understands with all the absences. They want to hear the direction and CYA of the committee so they know how to line up their own lies!

There are Flint residents in the room and clapped at the statement Early is going to be served a subpoena by US Marshalls. 

Chairman Chaffetz stated he thought it was important to clear the air and provide an understanding that the committee is taking this very seriously.

Rep. Tim Walberg has cleared up the understanding this is a human tragedy and not a natural disaster, but, he also believes it is a failure of government at all levels and how do we make it right and move forward.

If this committee is so very serious then get rid of the political shenanigans. 

Why has this taken so long Chairman Chaffetz? It is a minority community without fiscal resources to hire lawyers to end their suffering. THAT IS WHY!!!!!!!

Chairman Chaffetz you do not understand poverty in the USA. That speaks eons to the insensitivity of Republicans in general. How can you legislate without even knowing the people and treating those that do, namely Democrats, as second rate citizens. You know the ones that fuss and fume about reducing food stamps and medical protection for the YEAST POWERFUL OF ALL OF US.

Rep. Brenda Lawrence is apologetic for the failure of government at all levels. She notes the presence of  Wyatt, Early and Snyder should be at the meeting and there will be a second meeting.

Rep. Gary Palmer states the US EPA lost credibility. Yeah? Governor Snyder has no reason to still be in office. 

Ms. Walters is on the panel as a representative of the people of Flint.

There is a man at the back of the room with a pink sign stating; "Bring Democracy Back to Flint."

Mr. Kildee's name came up many times during the committee meeting. 

December 23, 2015
By Gary Ridley

..."My focus (click here) is on getting the kids help," Kildee said, adding such a health fund would be unprecedented. 

Kildee said he has met with members of the medical community — including Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, the director of Hurley Medical Center's Pediatric Residency Program, whose initial research first showed rising levels of lead in the blood of Flint children — to try to develop a medical response to what he called a "failure of government."...

I really do think with all the manipulation that will lead to lost documents and shredders; any record anywhere in Michigan or otherwise, including medical records of the residents, regarding this episode of the failure of our democracy needs to become a part of the federal record. I would think Ranking Member Cummings could be reached and decide to accept documents into the record. This is a failure of the USA democracy. A Governor dismissed the USA Constitution and plugged in his plutocratic authority. This is not minor. Those people were poisoned by the Governor because of his disdain for the lack fiscal solvency. 

Who is it that doesn't have the temperament for the presidency?

December 9, 2015
By Matthew Gault

If Donald Trump (click here) is your drunk uncle at Thanksgiving then Ted Cruz is the charming sociopath your sister brings to Christmas. During a speech at the Rising Tide Summit in Iowa, the freshman senator from Texas whipped the crowd into a frenzy by suggesting President Barack Obama wasn't doing enough to defeat radical Islam.

Cruz thinks he can do better. "We will utterly destroy ISIS," he said. "We will carpet bomb them into oblivion. I don't know if sand can glow in the dark, but we're going to find out."

That's right, Ted Cruz just promised to nuke the Middle East if elected.

The "nuke the Middle East" foreign policy is rare, but not unheard of here in Texas, where local politicians sometimes energize their base by promising to make peace with the Muslim world... at the end of a nuclear-tipped sword. But Cruz's nuclear option wouldn't be the end of America's troubles in the region, rather the beginning of a horrible new chapter

My point of view:

President Obama is choosing to visit the Islamic Center of Baltimore to speak to every Muslim in every corner of the world. He is especially reaching out to young and impressionable people. He is stating on a broad and public scale that he understands Allah and his people.

It is a matter of bringing those estranged by a false prophet home to their Islamic leaders that worship the real prophet.

President Obama probably thinks the visit is long overdue and it could not take place at a better time. 

Why a false prophet?

One example:

The intolerance of Christians. Mohammad accepted Jesus Christ as a prophet. Jesus Christ is not Allah and no one is pretending that is so. That would be false. But, currently al Baghdadi, the Saddam Ba'athist, kills Christians without a second thought. He brutally kills in heinous methods. There is no way al Baghdadi is an Islamic prophet. He is more like Satan than any other power within the conscience of the mind.

The truth about Iowa.

If there was ever a Republican candidate that deserves the title "Mr. Etch-A-Sketch" it is Ted Cruz.

Ted Cruz's true personality is unknown to the American people. He creates a persona for every issue and every primary he faces. The New Hampshire Ted is extremely different than the Iowa Ted. 

Donald Trump knew about three days before the Iowa Caucuses he was not going to be the first place winner. He softened his statements about expectations. It was obvious his own understanding of the outcome was known to him. He was far from second place only two weeks ago. His second place finishing was rather stunning. When he was endorsed by former Senator Scott Brown and stepped to the podium to speak his first words to his audience was, "I'll take any questions." They all wanted to discuss Iowa and Donald Trump could not get away from Iowa at least for the first day after that caucus. 

He needs now to address the New Hampshire Primary and his hopes for the country. By the way, the appearance of his family in support of him was really lovely. He also was a gentleman, gracious and a wonderful hero for those he asked to vote in the Iowa caucus. Those folks were majority of newly entering or returning vote in Iowa. That is always a good thing. He has own constituency, but, they have to be motivated to vote. Donald Trump, himself, has to ask for voters to come to the polls to vote for him. It is just the way it is. People vote because they feel important and will make a difference. Donald Trump followers are making a difference to bring back enthusiasm from those disillusioned by the election process.

Marco Rubio was not a surprise. He was in third place for quite some time. He is in the much coveted third place, but, that is all he can say. I didn't see his family at any point in time.

I was impressed by Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. We have two remarkable candidates for our Presidential nominee for 2016. They finished as equals. Hillary was correct to claim a victory, but, Bernie is awesome. He is a candidate of the people. I never thought I'd see such support for Bernie, I thought he was going to be looking forward to matching funds at best. But, his candidacy instills a great deal of hope for returning the USA to the American people and out of the clutches of the Plutocrats. NO, I do not believe Hillary Clinton is a plutocrat. Her biography is all that is needed when talking about her. She is simply devoted to the USA and it's most vulnerable people. We are lucky to have her. I found Bill's look on his face the truth about his support of his spouse. His expression was not manufactured and full of admiration. It was nice to see. I wish both candidates well and Bernie's spouse is just as endearing of her spouse.

Everyone have a good day.

Fox News is being inflammatory regarding President Obama's visit to the Islamic Society of Baltimore.

This is unfortunate, but standard for FOX News. Evidently, there are two Mosques in the region of Baltimore, Maryland. The other being "The Islamic Center of Maryland." In typical FOX News propaganda the President is going to the Maryland Mosque and not the Baltimore Mosque. I have not checked the rhetoric but according to FOX News the Islamic Society of Maryland is where extremists are attending services. FOX News could not be more inflammatory once again promulgating hate and fear by stating President Obama is backing terrorists at the Maryland Mosque. This is an obvious propaganda event to instill insecurity in the President and fear in Americans.
When does this stop?

Welcome to The Islamic Society of Baltimore, (click here) where we strive to serve the community with education, interfaith and civic relations, social and healthcare services, and much more.

The Islamic Center of Maryland (ICM) (click here) is a non-profit organization with an operational philosophy based on the Holy Qur'an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Muslim families who visit the ICM facilities work towards fulfilling their religious obligations and striving for spiritual, intellectual, social and economic well-being and advancement. The center provides various services to the community. For more information about these services, please visit the Center, subscribe to our weekly newsletter or by submit a contact us form.

Obviously, there is controversy illustrated by the article below. However, having an opinion and writing commentary is far different than fabricating hate speech for the ONE PURPOSE of promoting fear of Americans that worship within the Islamic faith. When is FOX News going to stop stoking fears and hatred? This is a deliberate act and not a mistake.

I am tired of hearing the hate of President Obama. This has to stop! It occurs here and on the floor of the US House. It is a symbiotic relationship between the Republicans and FOX News. These initiatives of fiction is hate is not part of the legal authority of the USA Spectrum of reporting the news. I have no doubt FOX News will state the location was a mistake, but, the hate filled dialogue is NOT.

Every other report on the President's visit today is correct, by the way. Everyone but FOX News. 

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before(click here): America, driven by fear, looks for someone to erase. In 2015, The Council on American–Islamic Relations reported the number of incidents targeting mosques in America reached a record, with 17 happening in November alone, all but two occurring in the wake of the attacks in Paris.

Barack Obama is visiting an American mosque Wednesday morning, the Islamic Society of Baltimore, for the first time in his presidency. The purpose of the visit, it seems, is an attempt to stem the tide of anti-Muslim rhetoric that has hit a fever pitch during this election cycle, specifically after the Paris attacks. This move is reminiscent of 2001, shortly after the 9/11 attacks, when George W. Bush went to a mosque to show Americans that Islam is, quote, “not the face of terror.”

The mosque, like all places of worship, is also a political battleground, depending on what the battle is. The battle today is the same as it has been for over a decade now: Muslims, asking to be seen as human in America, or, at the very least, asking to live a life that is not saddled with the fear of others....

The Baltimore Demonstrates following the death of Freddie Gray was addressed by the Islamic community:

Plainfield, IN 4/28/15) The Islamic Society of North America (click here) (ISNA) is disturbed over the escalation of violence and rioting shortly after the funeral of Freddie Gray, an African American male who died nearly two weeks ago in police custody.

In the past few days, what began as peaceful protests, have grown into wanton destruction, thievery, looting and arson, as well as uncalled-for attacks on first responders.

Such actions undermine and distract from the real issues that need to be addressed, namely police brutality, profiling and lack of accountability.

It is our hope that the rioters cease their destructive behavior, and that the Baltimore Police Department and the community that it serves, come together to resolve these issues in a constructive, peaceful manner.

Our condolences go out to the family and loved ones of Freddie Gray during this unfortunate time....

This is the only controversy that exists. The Washington Times, the most accurate and fair and balanced news print in the USA reported adverse findings on the Islamic Society of Maryland and Iran. It said the former President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, visited the Maryland Mosque during a visit to the UN. What visit was that, because, for the most part Ahmadinejad had limited access to the interior of the USA as his visa was restrictive to New York City and the United Nations building and assembly?

The Islamic Society of Fredericksburg is trying to build a new Mosque with some degree of resistance.  

Other than those issues the region is not really having problems. Now, if one wants to talk about violence and promoting hate we can talk about Texas and cartoons.