I doubt Iran is the leadership Trump should be negotiating with, it's Hezbollah.

Russia is not the country in charge of the movements with Assad. Assad now has an autonomous ally in Hezbollah even if both are receiving backing from Russia.

The relationship Iran would have with Hezbollah is nothing more than support as requested. Hezbollah doesn't take orders. It is that reason, The West must engage talks and ask Assad to join the conversation to end the war and set up interim governments.

Trump has got it wrong.

July 5, 2018

Hezbollah is helping to lead a Russian-backed offensive in southern Syria (click here) which has left over 250,000 people displaced, pro-Damascus sources said. The Iranian-backed militia's continued role in Syria exposes the limits of both Israeli and U.S. policy that hopes Moscow can get Iran and groups it backs out of the country.

Hezbollah's role in the offensive near the border with Jordan and Israel's Golan Heights has also defied Israeli demands that Iranian proxies be kept away from its frontier - a fault line of the decades-old Arab-Israeli conflict....

Russia and Iran have no influence with Hezbollah. They support Hezbollah, but, there are not coordinated orders that can be changed because The West has found an agreement they like. The leadership in Lebanon might be of assistance to explain the dynamics involved.

July 6, 2018

Senior Hezbollah official Ali Daamoush (click here) dubbed the agreement reached between the Syrian rebels and government forces a defeat for Israel and the United States.

"What is happening in southern Syria is a big achievement for the Syrian army and its allies and a resounding defeat for America, Israel and their allies," Daamoush said during a Friday prayers sermon in Beirut....

Hezbollah has always wanted to have a regional role. For as long as I can remember the struggle was there. Now, with the advent and defeat of Daesh, Hezbollah is not turning back to shrink into it's habitat it has existed in for decades. They want land and governance. It is difficult to see anything short of that happening. They have nothing to lose. When a peoples has nothing to begin with, there is no reason to turn back.

Nasrallah has done this all his life. He, no doubt, would like to close with some peace if possible. They do have families they love.

Daesh was a turning point. The groups called terror groups like Hezbollah are not going to have a feel good moment to hand the reins of power to anyone. Nasrallah looks at his grandchild with worries of protectionism of his soul and the future. He is not turning back, the future for these groups are for governance so Daesh or any other vernacular of group will never, ever have a remote chance of rising again. 

What someone like Nasrallah can appreciate however, is a future with a brain trust that can assure the future to be safe and prosperous enough to have peace and sanity in life. Readers might believe the baby is cute and happy and I am glad for that, but, this is not a planned assault for sympathy. Nasrallah had never sought sympathy, but, only status.

July 23, 2018
By Juliane Helmhold

Since the Second Lebanon War in 2006, (click here) Nasrallah has spent most of his time in bunkers out of fear for his life. Since then he only appeared in speeches broadcast from his hiding place.

In an interview with an Iranian TV station in March 2017, the Hezbollah leader revealed the strict security arrangements which his family had been living under and other personal details about his life.

"Security is a very important issue and we can not be complacent about it," Nasrallah said then. "I do not have direct access to the Internet, but I always know what is happening."...

Donald Trump needs to stop the dialogue with Middle East leaders on Twitter. This is hideous. He leaves himself and the country wide open to media exploitation. There is nothing Iran can say that Lebanon doesn't already know.

The United States of America has some of the best border laws in the world. Trump is "W"rong. Trump is about a political strategy.

THE BORDER PATROL does incredible work. They just caught and jailed an enormous effort to bring drugs to the USA. I believe that was last month. Our Border Patrol is as good as they get. 

Europe has suffered terribly within the past decade when there was a huge migration from very dangerous Middle East populations of young extremist men. They attacked Paris, there has been a mess in the UK and there were issues in security in the region. Turkey has very large populations of refugees. The USA is not effected at all in the same way. There were a few young men that caused trauma to the USA in mass killings and injuries, but, not to the extent of Europe.

President Trump has been able to identify migrants in the USA that have committed repetitive crimes, deported and returned to commit crimes again. The southern border isn't the only place where these migrants find their way into the country. It is a much bigger picture. As a matter of fact, the military has some interesting intelligence about the drug cartels and their movements along the coasts of the USA and North America. 

10 August 2017

Canada's migrant crisis: Hundreds crossing US border daily (click here)

Many follow tips they've seen on Facebook and YouTube and end up at an unofficial crossing at the end of a street in upstate New York.

Now, Trump will come up with some kind of rant about the Canadian border if he believes it will help his politics. The mess he creates is not necessary. The USA does just fine compare to the global community. We are hardly the most aggrieved country in the world in regard to migrants.

I would like to see Trump address the Russian women that come to the USA to give birth. Latin American women, NO; Russian women, YES.

January 10. 2018

By Cynthia McFadden

Alexandra Badanina (click here) posing with her daughter on a beach in Miami, FL.
New generations of U.S. citizens are growing up in Russia....

Miami — Lured by the charm (click here) of little Havana or the glamour of South Beach, some 15 million tourists visit Miami every year.

But for a growing number of Russian women, the draw isn't sunny beaches or pulsing nightclubs. It's U.S. citizenship for their newborn children.

In Moscow, it's a status symbol to have a Miami-born baby, and social media is full of Russian women boasting of their little americantsy....

Trump has nothing to say in defense of his bigoted priorities in creating criminals at the USA southern border. I am sure Russian women find better care in the USA, even Putin's kids aren't born in Russia, but, that is truer of Latin America than almost every other set of continents. Putin likes Europe and primarily the Scandinavian countries to have a dual citizenship for his children.

I am sure I don't have to say this....

...border crossers with and without children have rights. The "Trump Laws" that have been drawn up AFTER THE FACT are not valid, including the new revelations by the DOJ.

I realize the Judges aren't seeing it that way because the opportunity to bring a real argument on behalf of the border crossers seeking asylum (a class action) has YET to be made based in the 14th amendment. I think it is the fourteenth. In other words, the border crossers that were faced by revised administrative regulations called "Zero Tolerance" are actually a class protected by "The Grandfathering Clause."

The border crossers in this very turbulent event are a CLASS of human beings falling legally under the USA Constitution. THEREFORE, their status is still intact. They are a class of people discriminated against and forced into a parentless (deleted family) status. The border crossers as parents or not, have a right to be seen GRANDFATHERED into the immigration system UNDER THE OLD RULES. 

There has been litigation to end the child hostage taking to end border crossings. The lawyers have to realize this has been a TACTICAL motive by Trump. He has openly said as has the DOJ Jerk AG. The Alabama guy. Sessions. The TACTICAL approach has been decided by the immigration judges as illegal. The families had and continue to have to be put back together. THEREFORE, ALL the border crossers falling under these revised Trump REGULATIONS, including those that came without children that have no criminal record need to be reviewed AGAIN and placed BACK WHERE THEIR STATUS BEFORE obviously illegal regulations.

If we are to believe asylum seekers have rights under the USA Consitution then it is the entire constitution.

I found this a very curious attitude by Kavanaugh.

Kavanaugh assumes he is going to complete Judge Scalia's work. Really? I find that exceptionally arrogant and a manipulation.

Kavanaugh assumes there is more work to complete. ????? Judge Scalia did a lot of work in the decades he was on the Supreme Court. I don't recall Judge Scalia ever putting forward an agenda. I find an agenda by a Supreme Court Judge exceptionally worrisome. There is an agenda, Kavanaugh sees as directing? 

I think Kavanaugh is exceptionally immature if he has to adopt a curiously mysterious agenda of the Late Judge Scalia. He has few thoughts of his own? Bret Kavanaugh is not ready to be a Supreme Court Judge, but, during his questioning realize he is a product of the Federalist Society that wants to change the USA Constitution. Perhaps that is the agenda we need to understand in this case.

July 29, 2018
By Sol Wachtler

...Take, for example, (click here) Scalia’s view of the 14th Amendment, written after the Civil War granted citizenship rights to slaves. Perhaps its most significant part was the assertion that “no state” could “deny to any person” the “equal protection of the laws.” Because “gender” was not mentioned in the text, Scalia reasoned, the “equal protection” clause should not be applied to protecting citizens or other persons against gender discrimination. Justice Anthony Kennedy and four other justices did not agree with the textualists when they bestowed equal protection rights on gay citizens.

But in his Citizens United decision, striking down as unconstitutional major portions of the campaign finance law, Scalia found that corporations are “persons” and have a right to “free speech” through the 14th Amendment. So, a textual originalist could somehow find that the 14th Amendment can protect rights of slaves and corporations, but not women or citizens who are gay.

Scalia’s textual views of the Second Amendment in the District of Columbia v. Heller led him to conclude that the operative clause of the amendment was that “the right of the people to bear arms shall not be infringed,” without needing to be part of a “well ordered militia” — despite that language in the first half of the amendment.

The saving grace of that opinion was the provision that “the carrying of ‘dangerous and unusual weapons’ ” could be prohibited. The decision was vague on what kind of weapons and what kind of limitations would pass constitutional muster, but Kavanaugh seems to have little doubt. Dissenting from a recent D.C. Circuit Court ruling, Kavanaugh wrote, “Semi-automatic rifles, like semi-automatic handguns . . . are in common use by law-abiding citizens for self-defense in the home, hunting and other lawful uses,” and should not be banned....

Pre-conditions, no pre-conditions.

Guiliani loves the idea of 50 shades of grey.

If one looks close, Trump speaks out of both sides of his mouth. There is going to be a government shutdown and there isn't going to be a government shutdown. That level of vacillation is an attempt to keep control of the dialogue.

Trump solicited the Russians.

July 30, 2018
by Noah Feldman

...The Justice Department (click here) usefully summarizes what must be proved at trial to get a conviction:

1. - That the accused had specific intent to facilitate the commission of a crime by another;
2. - That the accused had the requisite intent of the underlying substantive offense;
3. - That the accused assisted or participated in the commission of the underlying substantive offense; and
4. - That someone committed the underlying offense.

Special counsel Robert Mueller’s team would first have to prove that Trump intended for the Russians to hack into Clinton’s campaign when he said on July 27, 2016: “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.”

Trump could defend himself by saying that he was joking. But that interpretation is arguably belied by the fact that he also told the Russians, “I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press” – which sounds like a rational argument, not a joke....

Mnuchin has learned politaspeak and continues to through "jobs" out there as if it is real.

Not to be confused as Ukraine as it is today. Manafort's actions occurred to place a Russian favored President in leadership. There was a 2004 Ukraine Constitution that was changed to have Yanukovych into power.

China owns $1.168 Trillion in USA national debt as of January 2018.

This Executive Branch administration is about as dirty as it comes. Trump wants to exonerate Viktor Vekselberg from Russian sanctions passed by Congress. Vekselberg has a cousin in NYC. His cousin, Andrew Intrater has an investment firm, Columbus Nova. Cousin or no cousin the Executive Branch should be distancing themselves from the Cohen investigation and instead, Trump is scared. He wants to make "nice, nice" with Vekselberg to win some kind of "favor" in regard to Manafort's trial. 

The Dems are not splitting hairs, the Russian oligarch Viktor Vikselberg is affiliated with Michael Cohen and they want answers:

July 27, 2018

Four Democratic senators (click here) want a New York financial firm linked to Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg to explain its hiring last year of Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s longtime personal attorney and emerging legal adversary....

When are the Republicans going to censure (click here) President Trump so he cannot continue to cause issues best handled by the investigators and appropriate prosecutors?

The extremist Freedom Caucus wants the impeachment of Rod Rosenstein. Rep. Jim Jordan, the pedophilia guy, pledges to have a vote. House Leader Paul Ryan is saying, the charges by Jordan does not reach the standard of High Crimes and Misdemeanors.

July 6, 2018

Washington (AP) — Long before Viktor Vekselberg (click here) was tied to a scandal over the president and a porn star, the Russian oligarch had been positioning himself to extend his influence in the United States.

Working closely with Andrew Intrater, an American cousin who heads the New York investment management firm Columbus Nova, Vekselberg backed a $1.6 million lobbying campaign to aid Russian interests in Washington. The cousin served as CEO of a Vekselberg company on that project, and the two men have collaborated on numerous other investments involving Vekselberg’s extensive holdings.

In early 2017, shortly before Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration, Intrater’s investment firm hired Trump’s personal attorney, Michael Cohen, as a consultant.

Now, Intrater’s investment firm is wrestling with the fallout from financial sanctions the U.S. Treasury Department lodged in April against Vekselberg, one of a group of oligarchs tied to Russian President Vladimir Putin....

July 30. 2018
By David Shortell 

Washington - Prosecutors (click here) from special counsel Robert Mueller's office said Monday that Paul Manafort earned $60 million from his work as a political consultant in Ukraine and challenged a motion by the former Trump campaign chairman's attorneys to exclude dozens of exhibits on the topic....

Hi,

The TCFF this week and it is a big deal.

There is an article in “USA Today” about women, American women and those that are adversely effected by childbirth. Some die.

The interventions to save these mothers are nothing more than GOOD PRACTICE.

Moms, even those delivering there second or third child, are dying from blood loss (blood carries oxygen in the blood) and the effects of high blood pressure.

The blood loss is not monitored. When the blood loss occurs the sponges, towels, etc (sheets) are not weighed. Do you believe this mess? The blood loss is so high without being replaced body systems fail and death can occur. Ya know, Americans know about blood loss because it is in nearly every visual anywhere, except commercials.

A pint of blood is unique in some ways with each individual and it generally weighs one pound. So if one checks any online household catalogue there are shipping weights. But, a woman laboring to give birth does so without any monitoring of blood loss. What has happened to America?

The other problem that removes mom from babies and created single Dad families is high blood pressure. Women that never had high blood pressure before can develop it during pregnancy, during childbirth or even afterwards because pregnant women are saturated in hormones and stuff happens. Get this, the blood pressures are being recorded BUT not treated in time causing strokes and death.

What that tells me is that THE MACHINES (labor/employee extenders) are working well, but, trained human eyes are not seeing it. The HEALTH SYSTEM is failing Americans. Lower costs at what price?

Women are giving birth on an assembly line. That works for “the norm” but women are falling through the cracks.

America does not have the best health care in the world. THERE IS PROOF!

Thank you for your interest and stopping by.

Until later...

A month or so ago there were cluster earthquakes in the northwest USA.

A study reported in “The Oregonian” July 27, 2018 by Douglas Perry stating, “The big one is coming.” 

The magnitude along the Cascadian Ridge of 700 miles will be between 8.7 and 9.2 Richter. It will a spawn a tsunami that will devastate the area. The article states the area is at least Portland northward to Seattle. That is a picture for major cities, currently there is seismic activity along the northern and southern boundary of the fault. Basically, prudent public policy has to extend along the entire fault.

A couple of things:

PNSN (Pacific Northwest Seismic Network) organized and managed by the University of Washington and the University of Oregon has significant graphs and information. This is not average public information, but, Americans can understand more than they are given credit. The university people have a long history recording the plate and seismic activity. Their website is pnsn.org. 

The thing that has to be addressed is the need for better monitoring of seismic activity and tsunami.

In an article by Reuters written by Sharon Bernstein entitled “U.S. Pacific Northwest under prepared for tsunami, says expert”. Ms. Bernstein reports after the January 2018 Alaskan quake of 7.9 quake which caused tsunami alarms along west coast; large areas of the northwest USA is at risk without alarms. They need to be installed and the public educated as soon as possible.

There can be no excuses and no public authority should utter one word about cost. These are American lives. Experts in the region have already assessed the region and know where tsunamis can cause death and damage. Evacuation routes are absent in some places and there is building going on in areas where it should never occur. 

In Hawai’i fissure eight is still very active and shows no signs of stopping with more than 700 homes lost.

Surprise, surprise.

After Elon Musk promised to replace lead pipes in Flint homes a letter is sent to Flint’s CFO, Hughey Newsome stating there are millions of state and federal monies available for Flint.

The article is in the Detroit News by Beth Leblanc.

The MDEQ states there is $138.2 million still available for Flint in state and federal monies.

Amy Epkey from MDEQ states the monies are all available. Mr. Newsome states one of the reasons the money has not been issued to satisfy contractors 100 percent is that the city’s staff is not yet hired since the emergency manager law was only recently lifted.

People need to get their ducks in order to pay the contractors and get the work done. No more stalling. The bad feelings that exist between the state and city regarding the bottled water is understandable, but, the contractors are a completely separate issue.

This is a relief to know the pipe replacement can go forward without worry. Let’s hope there are no more obstacles in returning health back to Flint. I think full payment to contractors is a matter of moving the community one step closer to returning well being. There are new jobs moving into Flint and safe water will move normalcy forward. The constant construction is a reminder to the shadow of the past.

Bill Benczkowski 

Epitome of obstruction of justice in Congress pursuing impeachment of Assistant Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. 

Benczkowski is a former executive of Russian Alpha Bank. He probably still has shares in it. Alpha Bank and the Trump Organization are synonymous.

There has never been this level of corruption into the highest offices in the federal government since the Revolutionary War and history of this country.

Vladimir Putin nominated him. The idiot knows nothing of criminal prosecution and if Congress is successful in impeaching an Assistant AG Benczkowski will slide into the spot. Giuliani is right obstruction of justice isn’t public.

It helps to have recognition when it comes to winning elections.

26 July 2018

Islamabad: Cricket star (click here) turned politician Imran Khan has declared victory for his party in Pakistan's historic elections, promising a "new" Pakistan.

Khan, who aspires to be the country's next prime minister, said in a televised address to the nation on Thursday that "thanks to God, we won and we were successful."...

Putin didn't have to pass on a soccer ball to Trump since the USA is hosting "The World Cup" in 2026.

I am sure the Qatar 2022 "World Cup" will celebrate the next one in 2026 and with the USA, that is if the country hasn't gone bankrupt due to Trump Tax Cuts.

Vladimir Putin (click here) passed a soccer ball to President Trump in Finland on Monday. It's unclear what the goal was. That said, many Americans didn't exactly get a kick of the gesture, and in the eyes of most, Russia was the day's big winner https://cnn.it/2JuG7vB

According to Adidas’ website, the digital technology is called “Near Field Communication” (NFC) which enables a phone or tablet to send “radio frequency signals” that interacts with the NFC chip. It allows players to access special information and games online after connecting. Adidas says the NFC tag cannot be modified and can only send information, not receive it.

Is there any IT that can't be changed to serve nefarious purposes?

This is the first Trump Administration official that states he knows what occurred in the TRUMP'S SECRET MEETING WITH PUTIN.

What is so difficult to talk about? They can talk to Kim Jong Un, but, they can't talk to US Senators in a respectful way simply doing their job of oversight.

US Senators are well aware of their responsibilities, now the Executive Branch has to cooperate and answer questions. This is not difficult or is it?

Anybody do a background check on Pompeo?

While I was watching "Dark Money," a really simple idea came through to me.

Americans spend real money on background checks for their babysitters, but, they do nothing to background check their representatives or even when electing a dog catcher.

December 13, 2017

You may be asking yourself (click here), "Why do I need a background check to babysit?" Chances are there are no skeletons in your closet. But Care.com families love background checks. And with good reason. They add a layer of trust. A proactive babysitter will run a background check on herself and have it available for families to see during the interview process. Having one available for parents may set you apart from other potential sitters as you'll appear responsible, prepared, and serious about the job....

One of the very clear messages that comes through in "Dark Money" is the use of all kinds of mail flyers that are negative, demeaning and nothing short of character assassination.

President Trump states to never believe what is seen or heard in the media, so do it yourself and when character assassination begins be armed to PROTECT YOUR VOTE by the background check personally conducted by oneself.

Am I right or am I wrong?

I am right and very, very correct. Early on in the election process when candidates are coming on board for primaries and later in the general election do a background check on them and see what turns up. The country may finally have legislators UNWILLING TO ACCEPT "Dark Money" if they know they can stand in full view of their background check and prove they are the candidate everyone believed them to be. 

NO MORE LATE ARRIVING MAIL FLYERS BACKED BY "DARK MONEY." 

I mean every word of it. No more last minute character assassinations of those standing tall to end the use of "Dark Money."

If I were running for office; I'd have my background check from a credible source in full view on my website. No surprises, just a person that loves the country and the people served.

Vladimir Putin is not worthy to speak the name of Nelson Mandela.

The BRIC's Summit (click here)

Vladimir Putin is nothing more than a thug. He has never, not one day in his life struggled for a cause to the depth of the soul of Nelson Mandela. In order for Russia to achieve in this world it desperately needs new and modern leadership that ends the oppression that exists under the KGB President.

President Vladimir Putin starts by praising former President Nelson Mandela. "During his entire life, he has been upholding and protecting the principles of equality, openness and fairness." 

"Mr Mandela's legacy is reflected in the activities if Brics."  

"The Disclose Act" was passed in Montana as a means of making elections truthful in regards to the donors of those that run for office. There are nine other states that have enacted similar laws and they are holding up.

May 23, 2018
By Jon King

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (click here) released an opinion this week in a longstanding debate over Montana Political Practices law. Montana Attorney General’s office spokesman Eric Sell explains.

"The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion yesterday [May 22] upholding Montana's campaign disclosure laws, these were laws passed by the 2015 legislative session called 'the Disclose Act'" Sell said. "This tightened up Montana's regulations requiring anyone who is engaging in political activity during elections to disclose where their finances come from."...

What began heavily under "W" was the use of 501(c)4 as a means to NEVER DISCLOSE those that donate in large amounts. That can also include hiding monies from foreign entities.

Up to "W", the 501(c)4 was something basically used by groups that had a bill or some sort of cause and wanted to raise money. It was to serve as a separate entity from a 501(c)3 which is nothing more than a charitable cause. The (c)3s can take donations, but, they must not participate in political campaigns in any way. 

The (c)4 was something let's say the American Cancer Society wanted to use for fundraising to bring forward permission to set up a research arm that required some-sort of congressional approval...let's say it is genetic research under "W"...and they would be involved in lobbying and educating lawmakers to provide such legal permission. That is what the (c)4s were designed to do. 

BUT.

Along comes "W" and turns the damn thing on it's head and all of a sudden Koch Industries throws a bunch of money into American politics through the 501(c)4. The Kochs' end up having a bi-product of their company that has spawned individual non-profits such as "Americans for Prosperity." The extremist use of the (c)4s have become the passion of "Dark Money," including, the money that comes in from foreign entities. The organization CLAIMING a 501(c)4 can take money from any source and spend it on elections. There is no requirement for 501(c)4 organizations to disclose their donors, so the money comes in from everywhere including Russia.

The documentary "Dark Money" shows an incredible state that gets little recognition for the love of fellow man and democracy, namely Montana.

It is a documentary that is very well done and yes, John Tester is asked to participate in the discussion within the film content. He is a farmer with his wife and also serves Montana in a capacity he was most needed.

Every American that loves the USA's democracy and wants it intact needs to see this documentary. 

"The Disclose Act" I want to live in Montana where people still love their fellow man and democracy.

July 26, 2018

A group of 11 House conservatives (click here) introduced articles of impeachment against Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, the Justice Department official who oversees special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

The move came Wednesday after months of criticism aimed at the department — and the Russia investigation in particular — from Trump and his Republican allies in Congress. Trump has fumed about Mueller's probe and repeatedly called it a "witch hunt," a refrain echoed by some of the lawmakers. The impeachment effort is led by North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows, who talks to Trump frequently and often defends him to his colleagues.

What else is there to know? Trump has been whining and crying about the Justice Department since he took office. He hasn't got the Justice Department he wants yet, one that bows on bended knee to the dictator everyday. I am confident Trump can't believe he still needs private attorneys. And let's face it, Trump can't even keep his own private attorneys working toward his best outcomes so much as his best cover-ups. Trump needs to have a distraction while Cohen tapes keep surfacing.

It is unclear whether there will be enough support in the party to pass the impeachment resolution, as Republican leaders have not signed on to the effort and are unlikely to back it....