What happens in Idlib will have long lasting consequences for millions of people, the region, and the world.
A report by the special envoy on Syria to the United Nations.
While Russia has warned the United States of a planned attack on Idlib it is apparently the Trump administration's decision to continue a military presence in Syria.
A warning, perhaps?
An analysis of the recent meeting between the most prominent players in the Syrian conflict, Russia, Iran and Turkey. And an interesting take on what the aftermath of the civil war in Syria holds for, in particular, the EU.
85 comments:
NewYorkTimes
Dallas police have finally released the identity of the Dallas police officer who got lost on the way home and then shot and killed a black man in his own home after he answered the door.
I can't help noting that they didn't make mention of how many times she fired, or whether or not she might have shot him in the back.
ABCNews has an article about ‛foreign’ interference in Sweden's upcoming election. The Swedish government suspects the Russians, but won't say so out loud for fear of either the Russians, or the Swedish fascists (not clear which).
It looks like the Sweden Democrats took 17.6% of the vote. An increase, yes, but not a mandate. Since Marcus is so good at giving predictions about how our country is turning, I will do the same for Sweden. I predict that if the Sweden Democrats actually do garner more influence, enough to make major changes in policy, many of the Swedish electorate will grow just as weary of them as we have of Donald Trump. They are a knee jerk reaction to the large influx of immigrants that Sweden has allowed into the country over the past few years.
I also predict that Russian influence in other people's elections will come back to bite them.
"Since Marcus is so good at giving predictions…"
I believe he was predicting them to come in at well over 17.6%.
Not lookin' good for the liberal Pope, who's not gonna get support from a lot of the old-line Catholic ‛establishment’:
"VATICAN CITY — The Vatican is preparing the 'necessary
clarifications' about accusations that top Vatican officials including
Pope Francis covered up the sexual misconduct of a now-disgraced
American cardinal…."
NBCNews
Reuters' headline: Sweden faces political impasse after far-right election gains
While Mr. Putin bears significant responsibility for breaking Syria, he has neither the skills nor the resources to fix it.
He will need help from the United States and other major countries to accomplish his goals of rebuilding Syria and reintegrating it back into the world. The United States has no obligation to rebuild Syria, but it can aid recovery in areas liberated from Islamic State fighters, while working with Russia to obtain reconstruction financing from the Gulf States and to prod Mr. Assad into a less despotic political model.
But Mr. Putin needs to know that none of that is possible if Idlib becomes a blood bath.
This is what I was referring to with my statement with the last video in the post. President Rouhani of Iran suggested at that last meeting that the EU should put up financing for the rebuilding of Syria. Kind of presumptuous considering Russia and Iran have contributed quite a bit to the Syrian destruction.
Sweden faces political impasse after far-right election gains
Marcus should be happy.
Lynnette: "I predict that if the Sweden Democrats actually do garner more influence, enough to make major changes in policy, many of the Swedish electorate will grow just as weary of them as we have of Donald Trump."
That would likely require you to know more than just a little bit aboout their actual politics, and I don't think you do. Fact is on their core issue of Migration they lead in popularity, it's just many people find them lacking in other areas.
Lynnette: "They are a knee jerk reaction to the large influx of immigrants that Sweden has allowed into the country over the past few years."
No they have steadily grown over quite some period of time and the increase in this election was actually lower even if the more acute migrant crisis came in between the last election and this one. They grew by 6% in 2014 BEFORE the 2015 immigrant crisis and only by about 4.5% this time.
Lynnette: "I also predict that Russian influence in other people's elections will come back to bite them."
There was no Russian meddling in our elections that anyone has even put forth a theory about just yet. Least not over here, even amongst the most anti-Russian news outlets no one is even raising that issue. There was some speculation into it BEFORE the elections but it never materialised in any way that anyone is speaking about.
Lee: "I believe he was predicting them to come in at well over 17.6%."
I did. And I was VERY surprised the result came in (at 17.6%) below 20%. I never really believed the hype that they might reach almost 30% but I saw 22-25% as a likely outcome. I thought for sure that they would beat the Moderates for second largest party and maybe even rival the Social Democrats for the top spot. They came in third WAY below the Social Democrats in the end.
My analysis is SD made a quite bad late election campaign. Our drowth and forest fires this summer put the environment quite high and SD are weak on that (tending to be akin to climate change deniers). Also for some reason the abortion issue got traction and SD viewing themselves as conservatives have a more restrictive agenda there, as opposed to the utltra liberal agenda all other parties here have with no questions asked abortions up until week 18.
We're a non-religous and very liberal country and even most "conservatives" really hold the abortion issue to be more or less a non-issue, so holding down the fort on that one was not so smart. Let the others pummel SD and put an anti-woman stamp on them.
Plus, the Social Democrats made a great finish (I am reluctant to admit). Pushed the right buttons and fought the right foes on the right issues.
But all in all, in an 8-party parliament 17.6% aint bad, and going from 12.9% to 17.6% with 100% of mainstream media villifying you aint bad either. But expectations were higher. Both mine and most folk's. Not the slam dunk I expected but a solid gain regardless.
Lynnette: "Sweden faces political impasse after far-right election gains
Marcus should be happy."
The situation regarding SD is exactly the same as it was during our last 4 years. They hold the swing vote between the Left and the Right block. The diffrence this time is the Left and Right and almost toe to toe, whereas last time around the Left had a more solid lead so they formed a minority government.
So the impasse is not really down to SD but more to the other major blocks hustling to get a working government together. SD can just sit pretty for the time being and wait out the inevitable, where a block invites them maybe not into government but to get influence in exchange for SD supporting that block. Hasn't happaned yet, but it will eventually.
I think for ya'll Americans it's strange to think of politics in terms of a multy party system.
Lynnette: "I predict that if the Sweden Democrats actually do garner more influence, enough to make major changes in policy,"
Also on that. They HAVE contributed to major changes in policy. For fear of losing their whole base to SD the Social Democrats shut the open borders in 2016 (you need an ID or Passport to get in even from Denmark these days) and have made a whole lot of other restrictive changes to our immigration poicies. Which is also one reason SD:s support was stymied, some of their proposed policies are already in effect. Some folks think that's enough.
Lynnette, from your article:
"the Sweden Democrats, who want the country to leave the European Union and freeze immigration."
That's almost a bit of Fakey News there. Yes they want to freeze all so called asylum immigration, but not say no to the UN mandated quota refugees.
And no, they do not directly advocate a Swexit but have in their program a point that they would like a referendum on the EU membership. This is a point they press less and less and I believe will scrap sooner or later, since such a referendum would NOT be met with a Swexit anyway. They will be coming up with a platform where they will want to influence the EU in a less federalist way but not leave it, before too long.
Someone I talked to recently said she was contemplating moving to South Carolina along the coast. I told her I would think twice about that. It wasn't just because of rising seas.
Hurricane Florence is set to strike the East coast.
Even for a major hurricane, Florence is a beast like no other.
A perfect storm of unfortunate circumstances means Florence could deal a devastating blow to the Southeast. Here's why this hurricane is especially dangerous:
Thank you, Marcus. That was a nice overview.
Fact is on their core issue of Migration they lead in popularity, it's just many people find them lacking in other areas.
This is what I meant that if they start to change policy too much they will lessen in popularity. I understand the immigration issue is important, but it seems a likely short term one. Once Sweden finds a balance, either through making it harder to immigrate to the country or through integration of the more moderate immigrants this issue will become a non issue.
You pointed out various things, such as abortion, that are pretty settled in Swedish culture, as religion is not as important as elsewhere. Just like the fear that immigrants will change Swedish culture too much the fear that the alt-right will do so will eventually raise its head.
I know you seem to think Trump is inevitable for us, but I don't believe that is really the case. There are too many not mainstream policy choices he is making. The problem we have is too many people are lazy. They don't pay attention to the news and they go with the superficial talking points that the campaign organizers throw out there. I hope, since that is all I can really do, that more people wake up to what Trump really is trying to do. Democracy is not his forte, it is authoritarianism. No, I don't care what Obama may or may not have done. He is nowhere near the extreme of a Trump.
They grew by 6% in 2014 BEFORE the 2015 immigrant crisis and only by about 4.5% this time.
Can you attribute that to a cause?
There was no Russian meddling in our elections that anyone has even put forth a theory about just yet. Least not over here, even amongst the most anti-Russian news outlets no one is even raising that issue. There was some speculation into it BEFORE the elections but it never materialised in any way that anyone is speaking about.
I believe there was a concerted effort by Russia to interfere in our political climate. I don't know about Sweden, that will be for you to decide.
"In what almost seems like a political law of nature, practically all
Western countries now have some 20-odd percent of the voting
population who, for one reason or another, don’t like immigrants. All
that happened on Sunday was that Sweden joined the club.
"Viewed from this perspective, the migration crisis of 2015 matters
much less to Sweden. Across Western democracies, the actual
number of immigrants in a country seems to play a minor role in
determining popular attitudes toward immigration."
ForeignAffairs
Predictably the Zimbabwisation of South Africa starts to escalate:
https://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2018/09/04/south-africa-in-recession-after-land-threat-shocking-drop-in-agriculture/
"The Business Day described the “shocking drop in agriculture,” which single-handedly tipped the economy into recession:
Most analysts had expected a moderate increase in GDP.
But the most shocking number in the statistics is the precipitous 29.2% decline in agricultural production over the second quarter."
Very shocking indeed that whites don't bother sowing the fields that the blacks have said they are gonna steal without compensation. Racist even. Why is whitey always so mean? Not even sowing the fields the poor blacks are gonna steal.
Perhaps you are unaware that South Africa is in the grips of a multi-year drought?
Vox reviews ‛House of Trump; House of Putin’ which documents a 30 year financial relationship between Trump enterprises and Russian government interests.
...documents a 30 year financial relationship between Trump enterprises and Russian government interests.
Of course there was.
It looks like Hurricane Florence is going to pause over South Carolina, making a more dangerous hit to those in its path.
Lynnette: I understand the immigration issue is important, but it seems a likely short term one. Once Sweden finds a balance, either through making it harder to immigrate to the country or through integration of the more moderate immigrants this issue will become a non issue."
No not by a long shot. Our experience so far is that we get the real problems with the second generation of immigrants, or immigrant kids who grow up and then start problems.
The afghans that came in the last years are an anomality because they are so prone to raping anything with a pulse. Hell, they can't even seem to see a ladies bicykle without humping it. They cause raping problems from the get go, it seems.
But in general it takes about 10 or so years for a new immigrant volume to get into drug dealing and shootings and whatnot. So we prolly have some serious problems to deal with once the floods from 2015 get more established.
Lynnette: "You pointed out various things, such as abortion, that are pretty settled in Swedish culture, as religion is not as important as elsewhere. Just like the fear that immigrants will change Swedish culture too much the fear that the alt-right will do so will eventually raise its head."
Well the Sweden Democrats had in their program totally free abortions up until week 12 and then after consultation permitted abortions until week 18. That would be pretty much in line with most other western nations.
As it is we have totally no question abortions up to week 18 and then after consultation abortions until week 22.
And we have had stories about miscarriages in week 21 where doctors managed to actually save the child in the end, so allowing abortion in week 22 might well be considered infanticide.
So, while I agree with SD about a tightening of these rules I still think it's a seriously bad thing to run a political campaign on, at this stage.
Lynnette: "I know you seem to think Trump is inevitable for us, but I don't believe that is really the case."
Of course it's not. It's just that with the hand you got dealt Trump was a serious candidate, and he won.
Lynnette: The problem we have is too many people are lazy. They don't pay attention to the news and they go with the superficial talking points that the campaign organizers throw out there."
I'd say it's YOU who is lazy and uninformed. The Trump voters took their time to get to his rallies and listened and made their minds up in face of the spite they received. YOU listen to the talking points from an agenda driven MSM and take that as Gospel. Who is the lazy one here?
"30 year financial relationship between Trump enterprises and Russian government interests."
Yeah, in 1988 Trump went to the then Soviet Union and made a deal with Putin, who was just a KGB colonel at the time, and they conspired to make Trump richer and Putin President of Russia and how in 30 years time Trump would pay Putin back politically by letting Assad gas babies. Then Putin didn't really trust Trump so he invited him back to Russia and supplied him with hookers who pissed on Trump in a sex-piss-fetish orgy on the bed that Obama had slept in, just for kicks. Then Putin haxxed the US election to put Trump into office.
Is that about it? Or did I miss some part of yall's storyline?
"The Trump voters took their time to get to his rallies
and listened and made their minds up in face of the spite
they received."
Most of the Trump voters I personally know--which includes most of my neighbors (this being Trump territory)--never attended a Trump rally, never saw Trump in person.
And how many of then saw Hillary in person?
Trump was villifid on almost every channel, except maybe for FOX, and yet he won. But Lynnette claims his voters were "lazy". Now IF they were "lazy" why didn't they just vote as the bulk of mainstream media told them to?
I hate that fucking von-oben stance ya'll have, like them know-nuttin rednecks were ill-informed and that's why this happened.
They know and knew just as much as you, prolly more even, and made a break from the politicaly correct elite class knowingly to vote for the alternative that was not popular.
On the other hand it's useful it ya'll keep thinking that so I am OK with your thoughts really.
BTW, those 30 years ago when Trump made himself a Russian stooge, who did he meat and plan that out with? Yeltzin? Or was he already on the russian gravy train in Gorbachevs time? Do tell Lee. How did that play out?
"And how many of then saw Hillary in person?"
The appropriate comparative question would be ‛How many Hillary supporters claimed that they were more diligent than Trump voters because they saw Hillary at a rally?’. The answer to that question would be, to my best knowledge: ‛None’.
"who did he meat and plan that out with?"
You have the link; read it for yourself if you're interested. Quit faining interest if you're not.
YOU listen to the talking points from an agenda driven MSM and take that as Gospel.
I don't have to listen to the MSM to decide whether or not I like or support Trump and his policies. I just have to listen to him to know that I do not.
As for all of those Trump voters that go to his rallies, like Lee, those I know who voted for him have never went to his rallies. When I refer to those who are lazy I am referring to those who voted for Trump and are not not paying attention to the consequences. Or if they are they are ignoring them. Many I talk to don't watch the news, any news. So I wouldn't consider them to be informed voters.
BTW, those 30 years ago when Trump made himself a Russian stooge, who did he meat and plan that out with?
I'll help...from Lee's link.
The very first episode that’s been documented, to my knowledge, was in 1984 when David Bogatin — who is a Russian mobster, convicted gasoline bootlegger, and close ally of Semion Mogilevich, a major Russian mob boss — met with Trump in Trump Tower right after it opened. Bogatin came to that meeting prepared to spend $6 million, which is equivalent to about $15 million today.
Bogatin bought five condos from Trump at that meeting. Those condos were later seized by the government, which claimed they were used to launder money for the Russian mob.
Lynnette: "Bogatin bought five condos from Trump at that meeting. Those condos were later seized by the government, which claimed they were used to launder money for the Russian mob."
Oh, so Russkie ill gotten gains is now the fault of the ones selling stuff to them? Well you can put half of the rich in London in jail then.
"Well you can put half of the rich in London in jail then."
If you'll think back, you'll recall I was criticizing the Brits for allowing the Russians to off-shore their ill-gotten money in London real estate long before Trump was ever President (or, running for President).
Don't reckon this'll interest Marcus much, but it looks like the Democrats are going to try a ‛Hail Mary’ long-shot on the Brett Kavanaugh nomination to the Supreme Court.
I'd very much like to see his nomination defeated, but I've not got much faith in this being the vehicle that interferes with the Republican stampede to confirmation.
Soooo almost 3,000 people didn't really die in Puerto Rico. It was all fake news, according to our dear leader.
*sigh*
I am left speechless at this latest moronic tweet.
Republicans in D.C. are counting on the President's tweets on the last hurricane to be quickly pushed out of the news by new news about the current hurricane.
So far today all of Trump's twitter activity has consisted of retweets regarding Hurricane Florence. It seems that his minders have been able to keep him off of the subject of the last hurricane (so far today).
Also, they've managed to keep him from any Twitter activity regarding Paul Manaforte. (Perhaps they haven't told him yet.)
A quick check of the FoxNews main webpage reveals that they've not put up any headlines regarding Paul Manaforte, so perhaps Trump doesn't know yet. (Although a check of their ‛politics sub-page does mention Manaforte down the page, in a less than prominent headline position.)
Lee: "If you'll think back, you'll recall I was criticizing the Brits for allowing the Russians to off-shore their ill-gotten money in London real estate long before Trump was ever President (or, running for President)."
I don't remember that, but if you say so I guess you said so.
Lee: "Don't reckon this'll interest Marcus much, but it looks like the Democrats are going to try a ‛Hail Mary’ long-shot on the Brett Kavanaugh nomination to the Supreme Court."
I DOES interest me, and I was of the opinion that Trump (for sure not Trump in person but a Republican, or more likely a group of Republicans, with knowledge bout these things) put forth a candidate that was as far right as they thought they could get away with, meaning Kavanaugh stood a good chance.
Used to be a Supreme Court nomination required 60 votes in the Senate. The Republicans have only a 51-49 advantage, so they changed the rules to say that 51 votes was enough.
Yeah, Kavanaugh is about as far right and as dedicated a political animal as they could find who'd not already been caught up in some sort of Republican scandal in the past (well, nothing proved yet anyway). So, yeah, he stands a real good chance.
So I bought THE book. I have heard rumors that some places can't keep it in stock. The woman I talked to where I bought it said that it had been flying off of their shelves.
It will be a while before I get to it. I am halfway through Comey's, which is very good, but I was distracted for a bit. I am also still reading "The Sixth Extinction" and a work of fiction. I tend to trade off depending on what mood I'm in. When I finish Comey's I'll start Woodward's. I will say that reading Comey's is rather like stepping back into a saner world. I miss that.
Oh, they also had "House of Trump, House of Putin". But I had already picked up "Fear" and I thought that was enough for today.
I have to say that Manaforte held out longer than Cohen. Maybe it was the family angle that was the difference.
I think Cohen was just shakier on the pardon thing than Manaforte. But, now Manaforte's already made his play for a pardon, and Trump's still just dangling the promise. Began to look like Trump was maybe just gonna dangle the promise and never actually come through with the actual pardon.
Allegations have come to light that Brett Kavanaugh was involved in some kind of sexual incident in high school. He, of course, denies anything happened. They are talking about this on CNN and the anchor is raising the question of whether or not this should delay the vote.
The survey results were 68% say "yes" and 32% say "no". The anchor weighed in that we should have more information, and the accuser should come forward. I tend to agree with this view, myself. She/he had a long time to come forward and if this person felt it necessary to do so now, they should put their name to the accusation.
Began to look like Trump was maybe just gonna dangle the promise and never actually come through with the actual pardon.
There is a reason that rats leave the sinking ship.
"She/he had a long time to come forward…"
The accuser is a she. And this probably won't derail Kavanaugh's ascent to the Supreme Court. (Assuming no other accusers come out of the woodwork.) There may be even bigger problems with Kavanaugh that the Republicans have managed to keep hidden in that 100,000 pages of Kavanaugh records they will not make available. So, they're gonna try their best to ram this through as fast as they can.
Journalists, smdh. So fake. Always fakin' a bunch of fakery.
https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/1040678572262916096
Check out the dudes in the background.
Other link:
https://twitter.com/gourdnibler/status/1040678572262916096
The way the journalists pants were whipping it looked like there was a strong wind. Perhaps the fakery is in the dudes in the background?
I think the damage from the hurricane striking the Carolinas is quite real. As are the deaths.
Trump finally managed to grab a breath this morning (after an uncharacteristically silent Saturday). He's not mentioned Manaforte, but he's back to denouncing the Mueller investigation as a ‛Witchhunt’. TrumpTweets
I see that the woman who anonymously accused Brett Kavanaugh of attempted forcible rape as a high schooler, back in the 80's, has decided to make her name known to the public.
I deem this change unlikely to derail the Republicans' attempts to fast-track Kavanaugh's nomination through the Senate before the Democrats can force the release of those 100,000 pages of documents still withheld from his days as counsel to the Republican President George W. Bush (Duyah).
I think they'll rush this through anyway. Something in those 100,000 pages they're scared of, and they don't wanna let that get out if they can help it.
Possible that this lady coming forward, allowing her name to be publicized, will encourage other women to step up, but probably not in time to derail Kavanaugh's confirmation (assuming, of course, that other women step up with accusations).
(Dubyah)
I think you are right, Lee, the Republicans won't let this accusation set them back from getting Kavanaugh confirmed. Unfortunately. This confirmation is just one step towards possibly changing, for the worse, the fabric of our country. If, as so many people suspect, Kavanaugh will act as a back stop for Trump if something does develop in the Mueller investigation that could lead to an attempt at impeachment.
There was something that I ran across recently that I found rather disturbing. I will type it here as it was a small thing.
Texas may cut Hillary Clinton, Helen Keller from curriculum
Austin, Texas - History curriculum in Texas remembers the Alamo, but it could soon forget Hillary Clinton and Helen Keller.
As part of an effort to streamline the social studies curriculum in Texas, the State Board of Education voted on Friday to change what students in every grade are required to learn. They voted to remove several historical figures, including Clinton and Keller.
The board also voted to add back into the curriculum a reference to the "heroism" of the defenders of the Alamo, which had been recommended for elimination, as well as Moses' influence on the writing of the founding documents, multiple references to "Judeo-Christian" values and a requirement that students explain how the "Arab rejection of the State of Israel has led to ongoing conflict" in the Middle East.
The vote Friday was preliminary. The board will take a final vote in November.
Removing figures from the curriculum wouldn't mean teachers are forbidden from teaching them, but they will no longer be required to do so.
A 15-member volunteer work group came up with a rubric for grading every historical figure to judge who is "essential" to learn and who wasn't. Out of 20 points, Keller scored a 7. Out of 21 points, Clinton scored a 5.
In contrast local members of the Texas Legislature got a prefect score, as did Barbara Jordan, Sam Houston, Stephen F. Austin and Henry B. Gonzalez. Students also are required to learn about the current president, governor and mayor.
Perhaps it was just me, but it seemed as if there were choices made to nurture a certain way of thinking, rather than to open up young minds, which is what I believe a good education to be.
I'm almost done with Comey's book. I have about 50 pages left. I believe I understand better the reasoning behind Comey's actions in disclosing that the FBI was reopening the investigation into the Clinton email issue when Weiner's laptop was found to contain thousands of her emails. Like so many people I was rather critical, if not annoyed, when he did that, believing as I did that it would detrimentally influence Clinton's chance at winning the presidency.
I think Comey is one of those rare individuals who does actually try to behave with integrity, and wanted to show that the institution that he worked for, the FBI, was held to that same standard. The FBI is supposed to be above politics, if run correctly. Because he had already informed Congress that the investigation was closed, he felt obligated to inform them when it was reopened. The upcoming election could have no bearing on his decision.
There is one thing I found a little odd, which really wasn't about Comey, but about Clinton. Comey talked about the interview she had with the FBI.
He says in the book:
Her lack of technological sophistication is evident in her memoir, "What Happened", in which she seems to intimate that her private server in Chappaqua was protected from hacking because it was contained in a home guarded by the Secret Service. Hacking a server is done through the internet, not by breaking the glass in a basement window.
I find it hard to imagine that an intelligent woman like Hillary Clinton doesn't know how hacking works. Unless she was thinking that the Secret Service was monitoring her server for cyber intrusion.
"I think Comey is one of those rare individuals who does
actually try to behave with integrity…"
Comey thinks so too, which makes him a pompous ass. However, he is an honest pompous ass. As much as I disagree with some of his decisions and with his reasoning, I've not doubted his sincerity and pomposity.
The biggest problem with Kavanaugh (other than that he is an intensely political animal and is not fit to serve on the Supreme Court on account of his belief that justice should be sold on the political market), the biggest problem is that he will be seen as an intensely political Justice and will bring the Supreme Court into further disrepute in the future.
Five ‛Republican’ Justices ended the 2000 election in favor of Dubyah, who then appointed Roberts and Alito, who then upheld Republican gerrymandering and corporate dark money in political campaigns, which lead to another minority President (Shorthands his own self), who has appointed two more right-winger Justices.
Gonna be obvious to many in the coming years that they've rigged the game. Kavanaugh will just make it worse.
"Roberts and Alito, who then upheld Republican gerrymandering
and corporate dark money in political campaigns…"
And also went along with the gutting of long-standing Civil Rights Acts' protections against discriminatory practices against minority voters.
It's beginning to look like some of the ‛establishment' republicans who've been demeaned by Trump are going to get some pay-back. Specifically, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee are both on record as now favoring a full hearing of the alleged victim's charges against Brett Kavanaugh. This may hold up his confirmation until after the mid-term election (which may actually work in the Republican's favor--the Bible Thumpers will come out in force to get an accused rapist on the Court)
Comey thinks so too, which makes him a pompous ass.
lol! I think he's just used to being in a leadership role and is conscious of trying to set a good example. Something that is sadly missing in some leaders. But I can see why he would make a good FBI director.
Specifically, Jeff Flake of Arizona and Bob Corker of Tennessee are both on record as now favoring a full hearing of the alleged victim's charges against Brett Kavanaugh.
She isn't going to let this go. She made that decision when she came forward with her identity. She is quite willing to testify. It may not change the outcome for Kavanaugh, as you say, but it may cause problems for Republicans who let this slide.
There is also the question of whether or not there are any other accusers out there.
Russia sells anti-aircraft systems to Syria and when Syria shoots down a Russian plane blames Israel. Hmmm...I gotta wonder at that. The surprise is that this kind of "friendly" fire hasn't happened before.
I would imagine that the ‛blame Israel’ strategy is for domestic consumption.
"A cargo ship is presently making the journey from
Vladivostok, on Russia's Pacific coast, to the German
port of Bremerhaven via the Arctic Ocean…"
WashingtonPost
Trump is tweeting victoriously this morning. Seems that the North Koreans have agreed to ‛denuclearize’ the Korean Penninsula. Trumptweets Left unsaid is the part where they're going to do that after certain unspecified steps are taken by Trump.
Aaaand Trump has included more Chinese goods in his tariffs, despite some companies, such as Walmart, objecting. This will hit lower to middle income people where it hurts, in their pocket books.
The cap for refugees entering the US has been lowered from 45,000 to 30,000.
Perhaps Russia will open its doors?
Or…maybe they'll make it to Sweden.
That thought had crossed my mind.
So, just a small aside here. We moved our office closer to the cities recently, not super close, but close enough so that when I come home at night I get a taste of rush hour traffic. I am starting to wonder if Marcus wasn't on to something when he talked about over population. There are a LOT of people out there. Something you don't always notice when you live in the suburbs.
(And also a LOT of terrible drivers.)
"(And also a LOT of terrible drivers.)"
We got enough people already, and a lot of them are indeed terrible drivers.
¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
I notice that the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation is still being hotly disputed. I really, really don't want him on the Supreme Court, but I'd reckoned there was nothing the Democrats could do to block him.
Beginning to look like they've got a shot at it, and may even be setting him up for a harder look even after he gets confirmed, assuming they can swing either branch of Congress over to a Democratic majority.
In Paris again. Beautiful city. Hope it gets to stay that way but unfortunately I have doubts. Went to the Cabaret at Moulin Rouge this evening, again, great show!. Everyone should try to see it at least once.
Well, it looks like they have started to go after the woman who has accused Kavanaugh of sexual assault when he was drunk at a party. Trump is now saying that if this had happened she would have accused him back then and charges would have been brought. Never mind that she was a 15 year old girl at the time. I'm thinking he would have been better off to keep his mouth shut.
Went to the Cabaret at Moulin Rouge this evening, again, great show!.
I checked out a couple videos on YouTube. It does look pretty spectacular. The food didn't look half bad either.
"I'm thinking he would have been better off to keep his mouth shut."
Republicans had, so far, been pleasantly surprised that Trump had been keeping his mouth shut. But I don't think they're surprised that it didn't last.
We had 3 1/2 inches of rain yesterday with some of the roads flooding at intersections and along the sides when the storm sewers were overwhelmed.
He was 17 she was 15 and they apparently fooled around. He tried to score, as any red blooded male youngster would, and she declined in the end. Pretty standard. And obviously shes not accusing him of rape even, but just saying he came on too strong. So he did stop his advance when she made it clear the limit was reached. Normal teen stuff.
Fast forward 36 years and the dude is suddenly Hitler?
Get real!!!
"Normal teen stuff."
Neither of them tell the story that way. So, I'm wondering…. Ya'll got some sort of official revisionary writer for these news stories in Sweden, or do you make this shit up all by yourself?
Fast forward 36 years and the dude is suddenly Hitler?
I don't think anyone is accusing him of being Hitler. But let me ask you this...if one of those immigrants to Sweden who have been accused of some kind of sexual misconduct with a woman were to, later in life, be up for a position to determine the laws for Sweden, would you support him without trying to determine the true facts?
In my paper today:
US Household wealth growing, but not equally"
A rising stock market lifted U.S. household wealth to a record $106.9 trillion in April-June quarter, the culmination of a decade of economic recovery but a gain that is concentrated largely among the most affluent...
America's richest 10 percent of households were nearly 120 times wealthier than the lower middle class in 2016, the most recent year for which figures are provided in a separate Fed report.
The top 10 percent had an average net worth of $5.34 million; for the lower middle class the figure was $44,700.
The rising value of the stock market contributed to the rising wealth to a large extent, which in turn affected the wealthiest households to a greater degree than lower income households.
I mention this because I just watched a video the other night where the fellow interviewed, when asked the question of where our next financial crises will be, replied he believed it would be a political/social crises that would be more likely. He was predicting the year 2020 as a possible tipping point. Health care costs would be one of the causes.
I talked to someone today who related the story of her neighbors whose daughter was injured while playing and they chose not to bring her into the hospital/doctor because they did not have health insurance. This is a family with four children. That does not bode well for our future.
WeeklyStandard does a friendly piece on the Sweden Democrats.
24 people killed in an attack on an Iranian military parade
At least 24 people were killed and 53 others injured in an attack on a military parade in Iran's southwestern city of Ahvaz on Saturday, Iran's state news IRNA said.
The dead and wounded were both military personnel and civilians including a journalist who were watching the parade, IRNA added.
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