Mueller was supposed to be investigating Russian interference into the election. But like with most fishing expeditions, it’s veered from it’s stated purpose.
“As posted earlier, the Mueller team appears to be larger in size than would be needed for an investigation into Russian meddling in the election, something I pointed out in Mueller legal team approaching size of entire US Attorney’s Office for Rhode Island.
That team and its staffing suggest that Trump would be at risk even if there was no underlying crime, Trump at risk from Comey/Mueller: If “they don’t get you on the crime, they get you on the process”.
There is the added problem that Trump’s conversations with James Comey appear to be part of the investigation, something that raises significant issues, Robert Mueller should step aside: Friends shouldn’t be investigating friends.
Recall that the Order from Acting Attorney General appointing Mueller did not authorize an investigation into everything Trump, but was restricted to matters related to Russian interference in the election (empasis added):
The Special Counsel is authorized to conduct the investigation confirmed by then-FBI Director James 8. Comey in testimony before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on March 20, 2017, including: (i) any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump; and (ii) any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation; and (iii) any other matters within the scope of 28 C.F.R. § 600.4(a).
Thus, Mueller is limited to continuing the pre-existing Comey investigation into Russian interference. That could include possible obstruction of justice in the course of that investigation, but would not expand to anything Trump ever did, even with regard to Russia.
Here are the pertinent excerpts from the Times interview on the issue of Mueller, and how investigating Trump family and business financial transactions not directly related to alleged Russian meddling in the election could cross a line in Trump’s view:”
——————-
“If Mueller is moving in this direction, then he has crossed — or is very close to crossing — the line into what isn’t supposed to happen in this country, finding the person then finding the crime. Even Kevin Drum at Mother Jones notes this problem:
I’ll confess to some mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, this stuff is all semi-related to Russia, and might therefore be relevant to the campaign issue. On the other hand, we’ve all seen what happens when special prosecutors get out of control and start investigating everything under the sun. So far this looks like it’s still legitimately tied to Mueller’s original brief, but it’s a close call.
There is a place where the doctrine was to find the person, then find the crime. It was in Russia’s predecessor, the Soviet Union. How ironic and inappropriate it would be if that is the direction Mueller is heading.”
“The Pew Research Center has a new survey confirming that, as you’d expect, Republicans have little love for institutions such as media and labor unions. What’s surprising, however, is the extent to which Republicans have grown hostile toward colleges and universities, and how quickly their attitudes have changed.
Pew found that 58% of self-identified Republicans and Republican-leaning independents believe that colleges and universities have a negative effect on “the way things are going in the country.” Only 36% disagreed. As recently as 2010, 55% of the GOP viewed colleges positively.
The shift Pew observed is too uniform to be random. This is a response to external conditions. The collapse of Republican support for colleges and universities coincides with the popularization of a militant brand of liberal political activism that gestates on campuses.”
———————-
“The Missouri story is indicative of the broader crisis at many American colleges. Increasingly, the evidence shows, they are places of strictly enforced intellectual, cultural and political homogeneity. That rigid conformity might be enforced from below by energetic activists, but it finds succor and rationalizations for its conduct from above.
A study of “Faculty voter registration in economics, history, journalism, law and psychology,” published in Econ Journal Watch last fall, found that at 40 leading universities, registered Republicans were outnumbered by their Democratic counterparts by a ratio of 11.5-1. This disparity isn’t new, but it has been exacerbated as identity politics polarizes the academy.
The Heritage Foundation’s Kim Holmes, author of The Closing of the Liberal Mind, blames the rise of multicultural studies departments. “If you’re going to have a Gender Studies Department, or something like that, the progressive assumptions are built into the very idea of the department, so you’re not going to hire any conservative professors,” Holmes said. If conservatives self-select out of programs like these, it follows that those who emerge from these programs will consider conservative ideas alien and threatening.
A 2015 survey by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA found that nearly 71% of freshmen believed that colleges should “prohibit racist/sexist speech,” and that 43% of incoming freshmen agreed colleges should “have the right to ban extreme speakers” from campus. This represents a spike in anti-free speech sentiment among students from earlier this decade.
These censorious impulses didn’t arise in a vacuum. The institute’s 2010-11 survey of college administrators, professors and staff found that nearly 70% of female college faculty believed that colleges should “prohibit” speech deemed racist or sexist. Nearly half of their male counterparts agreed.”
We have to clean up our own act. Republican leaders need to confront lies, ignorance and misbehavior even if it costs them their seats. Fox News execs need to clean up the cesspool they broadcast for much of the day. Each of us has a role to play with friends and family.
That’s a nice thought, but we love to swallow camels and strain at gnats.
We elected the current president because American workers haven’t had a real wage increase in decades, while Big Business freely ran amuck with unjust mergers, monopolies and unjust labor and businesses practices. And all this aided by Congress, who couldn’t dismantle fast enough the pesky banking laws and other legislation meant to curb these practices.
I guess I missed the Republican leadership outrage over these despicable acts. But suddenly the outrage is kindled over questionable meetings, or exaggerated attendance numbers? No wonder people just ignore them.
If Republicans (and Never Trumpers in particular) can do no better than foster outrage at the swarming gnats of DC innuendo and petty political intrigue, don’t be surprised that the rank and file don’t queue up to dutifully swallow more camels. No thanks, been there done that. ;–)
Debra, For at least fifty years, a huge percentage of Democrats have evidenced gross economic ignorance while blaming business, racism, sexism for their problems while refusing to take any personal responsibility for their own economic condition. Trumpkins have just followed that pattern while substituting immigrants and “globalists” as the boogeymen in place of racists and sexists.
The shift from a manufacturing economy to a service economy has created problems for some even as the shift from an agricultural economy to a manufacturing economy did in previous centuries. Interestingly, the young people I know are adapting well. They generally do not want to work in a manufacturing plant.
However, my comments yesterday were not directed at Ideological Trumpkins like you who I do not regard as conservatives, Republicans or part of “The Right”. Ultimately, I think most Ideological Trumpkins will wind up as Democrats supporting a younger version of Bernie Sanders. My comments yesterday were aimed at conservatives and Republicans. We must educate ourselves, and seriously try to understand the nation’s problems, so that we will never again be deceived by an ignorant demagogue like Trump.
AJ’s post at 6:37 raises very interesting issues. Is Trump’s sale of a mansion to a Russian oligarch for a huge and quick profit several years ago relevant? What about other “investments” by Russians in Trump ventures that may look like money laundering? What about debt from Trump ventures to Russian entities?
Trump’s secrecy and constant lying makes it hard to defend him. However, hopefully Mueller will properly restrain the scope of his investigation.
Taxpayers supporting plush government salaries and pensions will hit a crisis point in California and LA — if not nationwide — soon.
Fact is, government pay and benefits far outpace those seen most anywhere in the private sector. Leading the way locally for us is the dysfunctional DWP that’s been a mess for years, sending out faulty bills based on “estimates” for power usage while their employees recently won 22% in pay raises from the City Council over the next three years. Who gets 22% pay increases?
From one of our sister papers this morning:
“Workers who retire from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power enjoy a higher monthly pension, on average, than retired public employees from the city and county, according to an audit released this week by City Controller Ron Galperin. …
” … (David) Lewin (a professor of management at the UCLA Anderson School) said LADWP is in the same boat as many public agencies nationwide that are now dealing with the challenge of whether they ‘can afford’ to make the payments promised years ago. ‘And if they can’t, they have to find the money somewhere, whether it’s through tax increases’ or other methods, Lewin explained.”
Let me guess, tax or rate increases.
I believe the monthly pensions at DWP ran in the neighborhood of $5,000 to $6,000, just slightly below those for police and fire retirees. I can’t even imagine that (nor can most folks in the private sector, I’d say).
“Watching Rachel Maddow’s distressed little face come perilously close to losing her trademark snotty smirk as she informed her stunned fan base that ‘No, you haven’t died and gone to hell. This is your life now,’ was one of the highlights of my life. But I don’t get out much.”
“It’s “Made in America” week in Washington, D.C. You’d think this would be cause for bipartisan celebration. Who could be against highlighting the ingenuity, self-reliance and success of our nation’s homegrown entrepreneurs and manufacturers?
Enter Bill Kristol.
The entrenched Beltway pundit ridiculed a festive kickoff event on Monday at the White House, where President Donald Trump hosted companies from all 50 states to showcase their American-made products.”
“Maybe it’s just me,” killjoy Kristol tweeted, “but I find something off-putting about turning the White House into an exhibition hall for American tchotchkes.” (That’s the Yiddish word for useless trinkets.)”
————–
“It’s a crying shame D.C. is infested with effete talking heads whose only successfully manufactured product is condescending hostility toward the real movers and shakers in America. Patriotism is gauche and “off-putting” to incurable Trump-bashers like Bill Kristol, who supported Hillary Clinton and her foreign-subsidized pay-to-play cash machine over Donald Trump’s unapologetic nationalism.
Could Trump and his family’s own companies do better in hiring American and manufacturing in America? Sure. Could the White House be doing more to freeze foreign worker visas at both ends of the wage scale and truly put American workers first? Undeniably.
But to nastily deride the makers and job creators proudly showing off their wares in the nation’s capital at the invitation of our commander in chief takes a special level of anti-Trump lunacy and arrogance.
“Maybe it’s just me,” Kristol snarked as he heaped scorn on “Made in America” week. Yes, it is just you, Kristol, and the rest of your Beltway Swamp “schmendricks” who turn up their noses at the “tchotchkes” that help save lives, move mountains and break barriers across the galaxy.”
“February was a bad month for Larry Burruel and thousands of other retired Ohio iron workers. His monthly take-home pension was cut by more than half from $3,700 to $1,600.
Things have been rough in the Rust Belt, but this was a particularly powerful punch in the pocketbook for Burruel, who started in the trade at 19 and worked 36 years before opting for early retirement to make way for younger workers. Unfortunately, this sagging industry doesn’t have enough younger workers to pay for retirees like Burruel, whose pension plan is in what the U.S. Treasury Department calls “critical and declining status.”
Burruel and the 4,000 members of his Cleveland Iron Workers Local 17 pension plan are the canaries in the coal mine as far as pension cutbacks go. At least 50 Midwestern pension plans — mostly the kind jointly administered by trustees for a labor union and a group of employers — are in this decrepit condition. Several plan sponsors have already applied to the Treasury Department to cut back retirees’ allotments.
This cross-section of America includes more than a million former truck drivers, office and factory employees, bricklayers and construction workers who are threatened with cutbacks that could last the rest of their lives.
The Cleveland iron workers was the first to actually be approved for this triage under a 2014 law known as the Multiemployer Pension Fund Reform Act (MPFRA). Many pension advocates call it unfair.
“It was run through Congress in the dead of night, and President Obama — who was supposed to be for the working class — signed it,” complained Burruel. The MPFRA is overseen by attorney Kenneth Feinberg, known for dividing up huge settlements in cases such as the 9/11 terrorist attack and the BP (BP) oil spill in the Gulf.”
“Mining increased by 21.6 percent, after increasing 5.2 percent [in the fourth quarter of last year],” said BEA. “The first quarter growth primarily reflected increases in oil and gas extraction, as well as support activities for mining. This was the largest increase since the fourth quarter of 2014.”
The overall 4.7 percent growth in manufacturing reflected 5.0 percent growth in manufacturing of nondurable goods (i.e. products such as clothing and food) and 4.4 percent growth in the manufacturing of durable goods.
“Durable goods manufacturing increased 4.4 percent, after increasing 0.7 percent,” said BEA. “The first quarter growth primarily reflected increases in motor vehicles, bodies and trailers, and parts manufacturing, as well as machinery manufacturing.”
At the same time that mining, construction and manufacturing were booming, the finance and insurance sector declined by 2.1 percent.
Among other industries that declined during the quarter, according to the BEA data, were agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (-39.8%); utilities (-6.4%); retail trade (-3.6%); and arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services (-0.9%).”
“DNC Chair Tom Perez recently sent out a fundraising email to supporters claiming, “I know garbage when I see it,” citing that he once worked on a dump truck. It’s ironic that he referred to the GOP health care bill as a “flaming dumpster fire” because he has been presiding over the disaster that is the Democratic National Committee. The organization reported that May 2017 was its worst fundraising month since the Iraq War in 2003, and April 2017 was its worst fundraising month since 2009. In May, the DNC also reported that it has $1.9 million in debt. Despite the fact that former Secretary of Labor Tom Perez was recruited by Barack Obama to appease the party’s donors, lobbyists and PACs, even they have refused to prop up the failing brand.
“Not approving of the strategies laid out at a retreat for donors in January 2017, billionaires Mark Pincus and Reid Hoffman started their own political organization, Win the Future. As donors are increasingly tired of seeing their investments go to waste, many have started their own funds or used their access to take over leadership positions themselves—such as Florida billionaire donor Stephen Bittel did to become the Florida Democratic Party chair earlier this year. Democratic billionaire J.B. Pritzker is running for governor of Illinois, and billionaire Tom Steyer is debating running for governor of California. Haim Saban and James Simons poured millions into Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, but they have yet to be listed by the FEC as DNC donors in 2017. Additionally, George Soros has only given $33,900 to the DNC in 2017, but he poured millions of dollars into the Democratic Party in 2016.
Democratic voters have so far refused to fill the fundraising void left by the party’s corporate and wealthy donors. Tom Perez is a painful reminder that the Democratic establishment has suppressed reforms that would prove to voters that the party is prioritizing their interests. Democratic leadership subverted pro-Sanders DNC chair candidate Congressman Keith Ellison’s candidacy, ignored demands to ban superdelegates, and failed to re-enact the ban on lobbyist and PAC donations that Debbie Wasserman Schultz lifted to enable Hillary Clinton to keep up with Sen. Bernie Sanders’ fundraising. Perez’s Unity Tour with Bernie Sanders backfired; he was met with boos at several of the tour’s stops and supporters showed up in favor of Sanders—not the DNC.
Every opportunity for reform has been shut down by leadership, and Clinton campaign officials have been rewarded with leadership positions in the party or cushy mainstream media gigs. Facing calls for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to step down, top Democrats have made excuses for her unpopularity and the fact that Democratic congressional candidates lose when opponents say the candidate is her ally. Perez gave Keith Ellison a fabricated position as deputy DNC chair, which Ellison has used to try to manufacture party unity while the party’s establishment remains in power. In May 2017, former Emily’s List Executive Director and Clinton supporter Jess O’Connell was appointed to DNC CEO. Even though former DNC Interim Chair Donna Brazile left resigned in embarrassment after leaked emails revealed she violated the DNC Charter to help the Clinton campaign, she has remained on the organization’s payroll and the DNC sent out two separate fundraising emails from her in July.
Instead of acknowledging that reform is needed to change the direction of the party, Democratic leadership is doubling down on failed strategies and rallying behind unpopular, failing leadership. The DNC has tried to enthuse its supporters with marketing campaigns and slogans, but its efforts have fallen short.”
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I’m constantly being told by the media and never-Trumpers that Trump is hurting the R brand, yet they seem to be doing just fine, unlike their Dem counterparts.
“The Republican National Committee (RNC) raised a record $13.4 million in June, bringing its total 2017 fundraising to $75.3 million.
In a release provided first to The Hill, the RNC announced another strong monthly haul and has $44.7 million in the bank. It’s the most the RNC has raised in June of a nonpresidential year.
RNC Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel credited the record fundraising to the committee’s “loyal network of grassroots donors” due to their support for President Trump and the GOP’s agenda.”
“The investigation into female genital mutilation (FGM) in Michigan has now spread to five other states after authorities identified possible new defendants.
The lawyer for Dr. Jumana Nagarwala, the woman charged with performing FGM on numerous girls, disclosed this information in new court documents “to show the complexity of the case and explain why” the court should release her client “from jail to prepare for trial.
The Detroit News reported:
Nagarwala, 44, will fight to be released on bond during an 11 a.m. hearing Wednesday in front of U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman. She is the only person charged in the case being held without bond; clinic owner Dr. Fakhruddin Attar and his wife, Dr. Farida Attar, were released last month.
Federal officials have identified new targets in Los Angeles, Chicago and Minnesota, Nagarwala’s lawyer Shannon Smith wrote in a court filing Tuesday. She believes more people will be charged in federal court.
The Detroit News has learned federal agents are investigating at least one other person in New York. One criminal defense lawyer based in New York City declined to comment about the investigation during an interview Monday.
Smith, meanwhile, attacked the government’s case in a court filing Tuesday while arguing Nagarwala should be released on bond pending an Oct. 10 trial. Nagarwala has been held without bond since April.”
———————-
Germany is also noticing an uptick in mutilations, and child brides.
“A report from the feminist and women rights group Terre des Femmes states that the number of females in Germany who have had their genitals mutilated has risen sharply last year due to mass-migration — taking the total number of victims to 58,0000. Additionally, more than 13,000 minor girls are at risk of undergoing genital mutilation, a practice officially banned in Germany.
Female genital mutilation is the practice of removing external female genitalia, prevalent in Muslim majority regions of Africa, Asia and Middle East. It is carried out on minor girls without aesthetics and often in unhygienic conditions — resulting in infections, chronic diseases, and even death in some cases.
Terre des Femmes reported its finding in a press release issued on Tuesday:
There is constant rise in the number of women and girls living in Germany that are affected by genital mutilation. Presently more than 58,000 women [have had their genitals mutilated] and at least 13,000 girls are at risk. This raises the number of affected women by 10,000 compared to the figure of 2016. The number of girls at risk [of undergoing genital mutilation] has risen by 4,000. (…)
“The rise is to be attributed to sharp rise in migration from countries where genital mutilation is practised, said Charlotte Weil, expert for female genital mutilation at Terre des Femmes. This especially applies to Iraq, Eritrea and Somalia. The number of women of Iraqi nationality has gone up 61 percent and the girls has almost doubled by 118 percent.” [Translation by the author]
As shocking as the number may be, these are still moderate estimates. Terre des Femmes itself admits in the study that “undocumented girls and women, [as well as] already naturalised women and German girls who are potentially at risk [of undergoing genital mutilation] could not be taken into account in the data.”
The number of child brides is also on the rise in Germany. Official statistics put the number of child brides in the country up to 1,500 — many of whom are below the age of 14.”
The expansion of Mueller’s investigation is far more legitimate than the expansion of Kenneth Starr’s investigation. Starr went from investigating real estate deals, etc to discussing Clinton’s sex life. In the case of Mueller, investigating Russian meddling and pro Trump stance (as confirmed by Jr) could easily justify expanding into Trump’s business interests in Russia — he’s investigating Russian meddling — motive is important.
Perhaps universities are full of Democrats because its impossible to be educated and support today’s Republican party — an incompetent Congress and President. I can understand why the rich are Republican but the educated middle class?? Very rarely does the Republicans act in their interests. Social conservatives also tend to support the Republicans for the occasionally pro-life crumb they are fed but I wonder how much longer social conservatives can hold their noses and support Trump — without losing their moral high ground. As the Republicans continue to allow corruption and incompetence to be the rule not the exception, at what point do people throw in the towel on this group.
Mind you the DNC is as deaf as the Republican party. Their grassroots and base demand a swing to the left yet they, stuck in the 90s, are determined to triangulate and centre themselves. The UK Labour party allowed one person one vote for their new leader and were surprised when the grassroots elected leftist Corbyn. Party elite then tried to sabotage his leadership thinking his base support wouldn’t translate to election support. He then gained seats in the last election putting May in a minority position. The DNC needs to do the same — listen to the base and motivate the base by moving to the left. Sanders as an outsider candidate would have kept the upper midwest in the Democratic fold and won the presidency.
Pensions should be viewed as deferred wages. And thus any attempt to reduce or take away should be viewed as wage theft or fraud, and civilly as a breach of contract. In the public sector, pension trouble is often a failure of mgmt. They promise a deferred wage yet do not plan or budget for it. Each year, money should be said aside based on the wages paid that year in order to pay the pension acquired that year. I pay 11% of my wages into my pension each year, the gov’t matches it the year I contribute and this is managed by a third party. Hence my money will be there (unless the third party is a lousy investor — but so far the Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan is one the best performing funds not too mention one of the largest). Similarly in the private sector, the pension is often controlled by the company and is often last payee in a bankruptcy. Instead the company should pay the funds into a third party fund controlled by gov’t, union (workers) and corporation.
“Sarah Sanders will take over as White House press secretary after Sean Spicer resigned his post earlier in the day, incoming White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci said Friday.
“I’d like to announce formally that Sarah Huckabee Sanders is going to be the press secretary,” Scaramucci said.
Scaramucci made the announcement after Sanders introduced him to the White House press corps. Scaramucci said he would start in a few weeks, and Spicer, who has been serving as the interim communications director, said he would stay in his current job through August.”
That didn’t take long. I guess she wanted to be first. McCain’s prognosis isn’t good, but couldn’t you at least give him some time to digest it all and reach that decision on his own? Talk about in poor taste……
“Washington DC is a place for grand ambition, a place that no one gets without having something of a killer instinct. Usually it’s disguised a little better than in this WOWO interview with Kelli Ward, the woman who challenged John McCain in the 2016 primary, picked up here by CNN. Ward, a physician by trade, tells the Indiana station that the prospects for McCain’s health are “low,” and that he should get out of the way immediately in order to open up the seat for … Kelli Ward:
“I hope that Senator McCain is going to look long and hard at this, that his family and his advisers are going to look at this, and they’re going to advise him to step away as quickly as possible,” she said on Indiana radio WOWO 1190 AM. “So that the business of the country and the business of Arizona being represented at the federal level can move forward.” …
“I would never presume to say what someone’s prognosis is without having exams,” she said. “As a Christian, I know there can always be miracles. But the likelihood that John McCain is going to come back to the Senate and be at full force for the people of our state and the people of the United States is low. That likelihood is low. So in our state, we don’t have a quick special election or anything if someone retires or resigns or steps away from their position.”
In one sentence, Ward says she’d never offer a prognosis without doing an exam. Two sentences later, Ward does exactly that, a trick she tried on occasion during her primary fight, too. She may not be incorrect, and in fact might be likely to be proven correct, but Doctor Ward is still offering prognoses without any access to the patient’s information.”
The situation may feel very different after a string of ISIS-inspired attacks in France and Belgium that dominated headlines for weeks, but the numbers don’t lie: terrorism is on the decline worldwide, with the most significant drops measured in countries traditionally considered home turf for terrorists. Pakistan, for instance, saw a drop from more than 220 attacks in January 2014 to less than 50 in December last year.
There are still some worrying details in the data points. Attacks on western targets linked to ISIS have not diminished, though they haven’t gone up significantly either. This year’s five attacks is less than the total for the same time last year, despite a senior ISIS commander warning in November that it would now be turning its attention to “the land of the unbeliever.”
That hasn’t happened, at least not yet, in part because ISIS appears relatively inept at organizing attacks beyond its territorial bases in Syria and Iraq. Its attempts to disguise followers as refugees has largely failed, the State Department report suggests. So has its propaganda campaign, once considered its most potent recruiting tool.
According to the report, combined efforts between governments and social media companies have reduced ISIS’s presence on the internet by 75 per cent from August 2015 to August 2016. Its Twitter presence has plummeted by 45 per cent while its active media outlets have fallen to 17 at the beginning of 2017 from more than 40 in 2015. ISIS now relies on encrypted messaging apps like Telegram and Whatsapp to egg on angry criminals into carrying out lone wolf attacks with knives and trucks, a clear sign of its organizational weakness.
“Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced this week that the Justice Department will increase the use of civil asset forfeiture, the practice that allows law enforcement officials to seize property from persons who have been neither charged with nor convicted of any crime. “Civil asset forfeiture is a key tool,” Sessions declared. “President Trump has directed this Department of Justice to reduce crime in this country, and we will use every lawful tool that we have to do that.”
But civil asset forfeiture is not a “lawful tool.” It is an unconstitutional abuse of government power. The Fifth Amendment forbids the government from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Civil asset forfeiture turns that venerable principle on its head, allowing government agents to take what they want without the bother of bringing charges, presenting clear and convincing evidence, and obtaining a conviction in a court of law. It is the antithesis of due process.”
Not to worry, Kizzie. Richard Parker is a tree-hugger and is probably a semi-communist. I would ignore anything he says. He was raised outside of Texas, possibly in a place as alien as Iran, North Korea or New York. He has written a book and I found this review.
Wandering Views 
Mueller was supposed to be investigating Russian interference into the election. But like with most fishing expeditions, it’s veered from it’s stated purpose.
http://legalinsurrection.com/2017/07/mueller-found-the-man-trump-now-hell-find-the-crime/#more-221056
“As posted earlier, the Mueller team appears to be larger in size than would be needed for an investigation into Russian meddling in the election, something I pointed out in Mueller legal team approaching size of entire US Attorney’s Office for Rhode Island.
That team and its staffing suggest that Trump would be at risk even if there was no underlying crime, Trump at risk from Comey/Mueller: If “they don’t get you on the crime, they get you on the process”.
There is the added problem that Trump’s conversations with James Comey appear to be part of the investigation, something that raises significant issues, Robert Mueller should step aside: Friends shouldn’t be investigating friends.
Recall that the Order from Acting Attorney General appointing Mueller did not authorize an investigation into everything Trump, but was restricted to matters related to Russian interference in the election (empasis added):
The Special Counsel is authorized to conduct the investigation confirmed by then-FBI Director James 8. Comey in testimony before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on March 20, 2017, including: (i) any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump; and (ii) any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation; and (iii) any other matters within the scope of 28 C.F.R. § 600.4(a).
Thus, Mueller is limited to continuing the pre-existing Comey investigation into Russian interference. That could include possible obstruction of justice in the course of that investigation, but would not expand to anything Trump ever did, even with regard to Russia.
Here are the pertinent excerpts from the Times interview on the issue of Mueller, and how investigating Trump family and business financial transactions not directly related to alleged Russian meddling in the election could cross a line in Trump’s view:”
——————-
“If Mueller is moving in this direction, then he has crossed — or is very close to crossing — the line into what isn’t supposed to happen in this country, finding the person then finding the crime. Even Kevin Drum at Mother Jones notes this problem:
I’ll confess to some mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, this stuff is all semi-related to Russia, and might therefore be relevant to the campaign issue. On the other hand, we’ve all seen what happens when special prosecutors get out of control and start investigating everything under the sun. So far this looks like it’s still legitimately tied to Mueller’s original brief, but it’s a close call.
There is a place where the doctrine was to find the person, then find the crime. It was in Russia’s predecessor, the Soviet Union. How ironic and inappropriate it would be if that is the direction Mueller is heading.”
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They’re not against education, but they are against indoctrination masquerading as education.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2017/07/20/conservatives-hostile-higher-education-good-reasons-noah-rothman-column/478906001/
“The Pew Research Center has a new survey confirming that, as you’d expect, Republicans have little love for institutions such as media and labor unions. What’s surprising, however, is the extent to which Republicans have grown hostile toward colleges and universities, and how quickly their attitudes have changed.
Pew found that 58% of self-identified Republicans and Republican-leaning independents believe that colleges and universities have a negative effect on “the way things are going in the country.” Only 36% disagreed. As recently as 2010, 55% of the GOP viewed colleges positively.
The shift Pew observed is too uniform to be random. This is a response to external conditions. The collapse of Republican support for colleges and universities coincides with the popularization of a militant brand of liberal political activism that gestates on campuses.”
———————-
“The Missouri story is indicative of the broader crisis at many American colleges. Increasingly, the evidence shows, they are places of strictly enforced intellectual, cultural and political homogeneity. That rigid conformity might be enforced from below by energetic activists, but it finds succor and rationalizations for its conduct from above.
A study of “Faculty voter registration in economics, history, journalism, law and psychology,” published in Econ Journal Watch last fall, found that at 40 leading universities, registered Republicans were outnumbered by their Democratic counterparts by a ratio of 11.5-1. This disparity isn’t new, but it has been exacerbated as identity politics polarizes the academy.
The Heritage Foundation’s Kim Holmes, author of The Closing of the Liberal Mind, blames the rise of multicultural studies departments. “If you’re going to have a Gender Studies Department, or something like that, the progressive assumptions are built into the very idea of the department, so you’re not going to hire any conservative professors,” Holmes said. If conservatives self-select out of programs like these, it follows that those who emerge from these programs will consider conservative ideas alien and threatening.
A 2015 survey by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA found that nearly 71% of freshmen believed that colleges should “prohibit racist/sexist speech,” and that 43% of incoming freshmen agreed colleges should “have the right to ban extreme speakers” from campus. This represents a spike in anti-free speech sentiment among students from earlier this decade.
These censorious impulses didn’t arise in a vacuum. The institute’s 2010-11 survey of college administrators, professors and staff found that nearly 70% of female college faculty believed that colleges should “prohibit” speech deemed racist or sexist. Nearly half of their male counterparts agreed.”
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With regard to Ricky’s comment last night @7:28
That’s a nice thought, but we love to swallow camels and strain at gnats.
We elected the current president because American workers haven’t had a real wage increase in decades, while Big Business freely ran amuck with unjust mergers, monopolies and unjust labor and businesses practices. And all this aided by Congress, who couldn’t dismantle fast enough the pesky banking laws and other legislation meant to curb these practices.
I guess I missed the Republican leadership outrage over these despicable acts. But suddenly the outrage is kindled over questionable meetings, or exaggerated attendance numbers? No wonder people just ignore them.
If Republicans (and Never Trumpers in particular) can do no better than foster outrage at the swarming gnats of DC innuendo and petty political intrigue, don’t be surprised that the rank and file don’t queue up to dutifully swallow more camels. No thanks, been there done that. ;–)
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And finally, the NYT has some real news worth covering. Hat tip to Israel. :–)
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And more good news, I think, even though it’s a couple of days old.
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Debra, For at least fifty years, a huge percentage of Democrats have evidenced gross economic ignorance while blaming business, racism, sexism for their problems while refusing to take any personal responsibility for their own economic condition. Trumpkins have just followed that pattern while substituting immigrants and “globalists” as the boogeymen in place of racists and sexists.
The shift from a manufacturing economy to a service economy has created problems for some even as the shift from an agricultural economy to a manufacturing economy did in previous centuries. Interestingly, the young people I know are adapting well. They generally do not want to work in a manufacturing plant.
However, my comments yesterday were not directed at Ideological Trumpkins like you who I do not regard as conservatives, Republicans or part of “The Right”. Ultimately, I think most Ideological Trumpkins will wind up as Democrats supporting a younger version of Bernie Sanders. My comments yesterday were aimed at conservatives and Republicans. We must educate ourselves, and seriously try to understand the nation’s problems, so that we will never again be deceived by an ignorant demagogue like Trump.
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David French has maintained his sense of humor.
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One of the better articles I have read about the current situation:
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AJ’s post at 6:37 raises very interesting issues. Is Trump’s sale of a mansion to a Russian oligarch for a huge and quick profit several years ago relevant? What about other “investments” by Russians in Trump ventures that may look like money laundering? What about debt from Trump ventures to Russian entities?
Trump’s secrecy and constant lying makes it hard to defend him. However, hopefully Mueller will properly restrain the scope of his investigation.
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Debra, You and I are unique. I am the only Southern Paleo-Conservative who opposes Trump. You are the last pro-life Democrat.
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Taxpayers supporting plush government salaries and pensions will hit a crisis point in California and LA — if not nationwide — soon.
Fact is, government pay and benefits far outpace those seen most anywhere in the private sector. Leading the way locally for us is the dysfunctional DWP that’s been a mess for years, sending out faulty bills based on “estimates” for power usage while their employees recently won 22% in pay raises from the City Council over the next three years. Who gets 22% pay increases?
From one of our sister papers this morning:
“Workers who retire from the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power enjoy a higher monthly pension, on average, than retired public employees from the city and county, according to an audit released this week by City Controller Ron Galperin. …
” … (David) Lewin (a professor of management at the UCLA Anderson School) said LADWP is in the same boat as many public agencies nationwide that are now dealing with the challenge of whether they ‘can afford’ to make the payments promised years ago. ‘And if they can’t, they have to find the money somewhere, whether it’s through tax increases’ or other methods, Lewin explained.”
Let me guess, tax or rate increases.
I believe the monthly pensions at DWP ran in the neighborhood of $5,000 to $6,000, just slightly below those for police and fire retirees. I can’t even imagine that (nor can most folks in the private sector, I’d say).
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Some Friday humor — for those who enjoy “Ammo Girl”
http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2017/07/thoughts-from-the-ammo-line-176.php
“Watching Rachel Maddow’s distressed little face come perilously close to losing her trademark snotty smirk as she informed her stunned fan base that ‘No, you haven’t died and gone to hell. This is your life now,’ was one of the highlights of my life. But I don’t get out much.”
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Manufactured hate. There seems to be a lot of that where Trump is concerned, even from the right side. They just can’t help themselves.
https://townhall.com/columnists/michellemalkin/2017/07/19/manufacturing-hate-for-made-in-america-n2356686?platform=hootsuite
“It’s “Made in America” week in Washington, D.C. You’d think this would be cause for bipartisan celebration. Who could be against highlighting the ingenuity, self-reliance and success of our nation’s homegrown entrepreneurs and manufacturers?
Enter Bill Kristol.
The entrenched Beltway pundit ridiculed a festive kickoff event on Monday at the White House, where President Donald Trump hosted companies from all 50 states to showcase their American-made products.”
“Maybe it’s just me,” killjoy Kristol tweeted, “but I find something off-putting about turning the White House into an exhibition hall for American tchotchkes.” (That’s the Yiddish word for useless trinkets.)”
————–
“It’s a crying shame D.C. is infested with effete talking heads whose only successfully manufactured product is condescending hostility toward the real movers and shakers in America. Patriotism is gauche and “off-putting” to incurable Trump-bashers like Bill Kristol, who supported Hillary Clinton and her foreign-subsidized pay-to-play cash machine over Donald Trump’s unapologetic nationalism.
Could Trump and his family’s own companies do better in hiring American and manufacturing in America? Sure. Could the White House be doing more to freeze foreign worker visas at both ends of the wage scale and truly put American workers first? Undeniably.
But to nastily deride the makers and job creators proudly showing off their wares in the nation’s capital at the invitation of our commander in chief takes a special level of anti-Trump lunacy and arrogance.
“Maybe it’s just me,” Kristol snarked as he heaped scorn on “Made in America” week. Yes, it is just you, Kristol, and the rest of your Beltway Swamp “schmendricks” who turn up their noses at the “tchotchkes” that help save lives, move mountains and break barriers across the galaxy.”
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Donna,
They better enjoy it while they can. That gravy train is about to wreck, all over the US.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/slashed-pensions-another-blow-for-heartland-workers/
“February was a bad month for Larry Burruel and thousands of other retired Ohio iron workers. His monthly take-home pension was cut by more than half from $3,700 to $1,600.
Things have been rough in the Rust Belt, but this was a particularly powerful punch in the pocketbook for Burruel, who started in the trade at 19 and worked 36 years before opting for early retirement to make way for younger workers. Unfortunately, this sagging industry doesn’t have enough younger workers to pay for retirees like Burruel, whose pension plan is in what the U.S. Treasury Department calls “critical and declining status.”
Burruel and the 4,000 members of his Cleveland Iron Workers Local 17 pension plan are the canaries in the coal mine as far as pension cutbacks go. At least 50 Midwestern pension plans — mostly the kind jointly administered by trustees for a labor union and a group of employers — are in this decrepit condition. Several plan sponsors have already applied to the Treasury Department to cut back retirees’ allotments.
This cross-section of America includes more than a million former truck drivers, office and factory employees, bricklayers and construction workers who are threatened with cutbacks that could last the rest of their lives.
The Cleveland iron workers was the first to actually be approved for this triage under a 2014 law known as the Multiemployer Pension Fund Reform Act (MPFRA). Many pension advocates call it unfair.
“It was run through Congress in the dead of night, and President Obama — who was supposed to be for the working class — signed it,” complained Burruel. The MPFRA is overseen by attorney Kenneth Feinberg, known for dividing up huge settlements in cases such as the 9/11 terrorist attack and the BP (BP) oil spill in the Gulf.”
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Note: it’s all blue collar workers. The college guys have rigged the system in their favor.
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Aww, Sean Spicer resigned.
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And his replacement has been named.
Only question is, will he do the fandango? 🙂
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4718004/NYC-financier-reportedly-set-key-White-House-job.html
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Huh.
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/terence-p-jeffrey/boom-mining-216-q1-construction-56-manufacturing-47-bust-finance-and
“Mining increased by 21.6 percent, after increasing 5.2 percent [in the fourth quarter of last year],” said BEA. “The first quarter growth primarily reflected increases in oil and gas extraction, as well as support activities for mining. This was the largest increase since the fourth quarter of 2014.”
The overall 4.7 percent growth in manufacturing reflected 5.0 percent growth in manufacturing of nondurable goods (i.e. products such as clothing and food) and 4.4 percent growth in the manufacturing of durable goods.
“Durable goods manufacturing increased 4.4 percent, after increasing 0.7 percent,” said BEA. “The first quarter growth primarily reflected increases in motor vehicles, bodies and trailers, and parts manufacturing, as well as machinery manufacturing.”
At the same time that mining, construction and manufacturing were booming, the finance and insurance sector declined by 2.1 percent.
Among other industries that declined during the quarter, according to the BEA data, were agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (-39.8%); utilities (-6.4%); retail trade (-3.6%); and arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services (-0.9%).”
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Typical Democrats. Always running out of other people’s money to spend.
“DNC Chair Tom Perez recently sent out a fundraising email to supporters claiming, “I know garbage when I see it,” citing that he once worked on a dump truck. It’s ironic that he referred to the GOP health care bill as a “flaming dumpster fire” because he has been presiding over the disaster that is the Democratic National Committee. The organization reported that May 2017 was its worst fundraising month since the Iraq War in 2003, and April 2017 was its worst fundraising month since 2009. In May, the DNC also reported that it has $1.9 million in debt. Despite the fact that former Secretary of Labor Tom Perez was recruited by Barack Obama to appease the party’s donors, lobbyists and PACs, even they have refused to prop up the failing brand.
“Not approving of the strategies laid out at a retreat for donors in January 2017, billionaires Mark Pincus and Reid Hoffman started their own political organization, Win the Future. As donors are increasingly tired of seeing their investments go to waste, many have started their own funds or used their access to take over leadership positions themselves—such as Florida billionaire donor Stephen Bittel did to become the Florida Democratic Party chair earlier this year. Democratic billionaire J.B. Pritzker is running for governor of Illinois, and billionaire Tom Steyer is debating running for governor of California. Haim Saban and James Simons poured millions into Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign, but they have yet to be listed by the FEC as DNC donors in 2017. Additionally, George Soros has only given $33,900 to the DNC in 2017, but he poured millions of dollars into the Democratic Party in 2016.
Democratic voters have so far refused to fill the fundraising void left by the party’s corporate and wealthy donors. Tom Perez is a painful reminder that the Democratic establishment has suppressed reforms that would prove to voters that the party is prioritizing their interests. Democratic leadership subverted pro-Sanders DNC chair candidate Congressman Keith Ellison’s candidacy, ignored demands to ban superdelegates, and failed to re-enact the ban on lobbyist and PAC donations that Debbie Wasserman Schultz lifted to enable Hillary Clinton to keep up with Sen. Bernie Sanders’ fundraising. Perez’s Unity Tour with Bernie Sanders backfired; he was met with boos at several of the tour’s stops and supporters showed up in favor of Sanders—not the DNC.
Every opportunity for reform has been shut down by leadership, and Clinton campaign officials have been rewarded with leadership positions in the party or cushy mainstream media gigs. Facing calls for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to step down, top Democrats have made excuses for her unpopularity and the fact that Democratic congressional candidates lose when opponents say the candidate is her ally. Perez gave Keith Ellison a fabricated position as deputy DNC chair, which Ellison has used to try to manufacture party unity while the party’s establishment remains in power. In May 2017, former Emily’s List Executive Director and Clinton supporter Jess O’Connell was appointed to DNC CEO. Even though former DNC Interim Chair Donna Brazile left resigned in embarrassment after leaked emails revealed she violated the DNC Charter to help the Clinton campaign, she has remained on the organization’s payroll and the DNC sent out two separate fundraising emails from her in July.
Instead of acknowledging that reform is needed to change the direction of the party, Democratic leadership is doubling down on failed strategies and rallying behind unpopular, failing leadership. The DNC has tried to enthuse its supporters with marketing campaigns and slogans, but its efforts have fallen short.”
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I’m constantly being told by the media and never-Trumpers that Trump is hurting the R brand, yet they seem to be doing just fine, unlike their Dem counterparts.
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/342795-rnc-raises-134m-in-record-setting-june-haul
“The Republican National Committee (RNC) raised a record $13.4 million in June, bringing its total 2017 fundraising to $75.3 million.
In a release provided first to The Hill, the RNC announced another strong monthly haul and has $44.7 million in the bank. It’s the most the RNC has raised in June of a nonpresidential year.
RNC Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel credited the record fundraising to the committee’s “loyal network of grassroots donors” due to their support for President Trump and the GOP’s agenda.”
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So apparently Spicer’s resignation was in protest of the new hire
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Good. This barbaric practice needs to be rooted out and the people responsible held to account.
http://legalinsurrection.com/2017/07/michigan-female-genital-mutilation-investigation-spreads-to-other-states/
“The investigation into female genital mutilation (FGM) in Michigan has now spread to five other states after authorities identified possible new defendants.
The lawyer for Dr. Jumana Nagarwala, the woman charged with performing FGM on numerous girls, disclosed this information in new court documents “to show the complexity of the case and explain why” the court should release her client “from jail to prepare for trial.
The Detroit News reported:
Nagarwala, 44, will fight to be released on bond during an 11 a.m. hearing Wednesday in front of U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman. She is the only person charged in the case being held without bond; clinic owner Dr. Fakhruddin Attar and his wife, Dr. Farida Attar, were released last month.
Federal officials have identified new targets in Los Angeles, Chicago and Minnesota, Nagarwala’s lawyer Shannon Smith wrote in a court filing Tuesday. She believes more people will be charged in federal court.
The Detroit News has learned federal agents are investigating at least one other person in New York. One criminal defense lawyer based in New York City declined to comment about the investigation during an interview Monday.
Smith, meanwhile, attacked the government’s case in a court filing Tuesday while arguing Nagarwala should be released on bond pending an Oct. 10 trial. Nagarwala has been held without bond since April.”
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Germany is also noticing an uptick in mutilations, and child brides.
http://legalinsurrection.com/2017/07/female-genital-mutilation-child-brides-on-the-rise-in-germany/
“A report from the feminist and women rights group Terre des Femmes states that the number of females in Germany who have had their genitals mutilated has risen sharply last year due to mass-migration — taking the total number of victims to 58,0000. Additionally, more than 13,000 minor girls are at risk of undergoing genital mutilation, a practice officially banned in Germany.
Female genital mutilation is the practice of removing external female genitalia, prevalent in Muslim majority regions of Africa, Asia and Middle East. It is carried out on minor girls without aesthetics and often in unhygienic conditions — resulting in infections, chronic diseases, and even death in some cases.
Terre des Femmes reported its finding in a press release issued on Tuesday:
There is constant rise in the number of women and girls living in Germany that are affected by genital mutilation. Presently more than 58,000 women [have had their genitals mutilated] and at least 13,000 girls are at risk. This raises the number of affected women by 10,000 compared to the figure of 2016. The number of girls at risk [of undergoing genital mutilation] has risen by 4,000. (…)
“The rise is to be attributed to sharp rise in migration from countries where genital mutilation is practised, said Charlotte Weil, expert for female genital mutilation at Terre des Femmes. This especially applies to Iraq, Eritrea and Somalia. The number of women of Iraqi nationality has gone up 61 percent and the girls has almost doubled by 118 percent.” [Translation by the author]
As shocking as the number may be, these are still moderate estimates. Terre des Femmes itself admits in the study that “undocumented girls and women, [as well as] already naturalised women and German girls who are potentially at risk [of undergoing genital mutilation] could not be taken into account in the data.”
The number of child brides is also on the rise in Germany. Official statistics put the number of child brides in the country up to 1,500 — many of whom are below the age of 14.”
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The expansion of Mueller’s investigation is far more legitimate than the expansion of Kenneth Starr’s investigation. Starr went from investigating real estate deals, etc to discussing Clinton’s sex life. In the case of Mueller, investigating Russian meddling and pro Trump stance (as confirmed by Jr) could easily justify expanding into Trump’s business interests in Russia — he’s investigating Russian meddling — motive is important.
Perhaps universities are full of Democrats because its impossible to be educated and support today’s Republican party — an incompetent Congress and President. I can understand why the rich are Republican but the educated middle class?? Very rarely does the Republicans act in their interests. Social conservatives also tend to support the Republicans for the occasionally pro-life crumb they are fed but I wonder how much longer social conservatives can hold their noses and support Trump — without losing their moral high ground. As the Republicans continue to allow corruption and incompetence to be the rule not the exception, at what point do people throw in the towel on this group.
Mind you the DNC is as deaf as the Republican party. Their grassroots and base demand a swing to the left yet they, stuck in the 90s, are determined to triangulate and centre themselves. The UK Labour party allowed one person one vote for their new leader and were surprised when the grassroots elected leftist Corbyn. Party elite then tried to sabotage his leadership thinking his base support wouldn’t translate to election support. He then gained seats in the last election putting May in a minority position. The DNC needs to do the same — listen to the base and motivate the base by moving to the left. Sanders as an outsider candidate would have kept the upper midwest in the Democratic fold and won the presidency.
Pensions should be viewed as deferred wages. And thus any attempt to reduce or take away should be viewed as wage theft or fraud, and civilly as a breach of contract. In the public sector, pension trouble is often a failure of mgmt. They promise a deferred wage yet do not plan or budget for it. Each year, money should be said aside based on the wages paid that year in order to pay the pension acquired that year. I pay 11% of my wages into my pension each year, the gov’t matches it the year I contribute and this is managed by a third party. Hence my money will be there (unless the third party is a lousy investor — but so far the Ontario Teacher’s Pension Plan is one the best performing funds not too mention one of the largest). Similarly in the private sector, the pension is often controlled by the company and is often last payee in a bankruptcy. Instead the company should pay the funds into a third party fund controlled by gov’t, union (workers) and corporation.
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Fun while it lasted
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More;
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sarah-sanders-replaces-sean-spicer-as-white-house-press-secretary/article/2629359
“Sarah Sanders will take over as White House press secretary after Sean Spicer resigned his post earlier in the day, incoming White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci said Friday.
“I’d like to announce formally that Sarah Huckabee Sanders is going to be the press secretary,” Scaramucci said.
Scaramucci made the announcement after Sanders introduced him to the White House press corps. Scaramucci said he would start in a few weeks, and Spicer, who has been serving as the interim communications director, said he would stay in his current job through August.”
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Wow.
That didn’t take long. I guess she wanted to be first. McCain’s prognosis isn’t good, but couldn’t you at least give him some time to digest it all and reach that decision on his own? Talk about in poor taste……
http://hotair.com/archives/2017/07/21/ward-mccain-step-can-appointed-replace/
“Washington DC is a place for grand ambition, a place that no one gets without having something of a killer instinct. Usually it’s disguised a little better than in this WOWO interview with Kelli Ward, the woman who challenged John McCain in the 2016 primary, picked up here by CNN. Ward, a physician by trade, tells the Indiana station that the prospects for McCain’s health are “low,” and that he should get out of the way immediately in order to open up the seat for … Kelli Ward:
“I hope that Senator McCain is going to look long and hard at this, that his family and his advisers are going to look at this, and they’re going to advise him to step away as quickly as possible,” she said on Indiana radio WOWO 1190 AM. “So that the business of the country and the business of Arizona being represented at the federal level can move forward.” …
“I would never presume to say what someone’s prognosis is without having exams,” she said. “As a Christian, I know there can always be miracles. But the likelihood that John McCain is going to come back to the Senate and be at full force for the people of our state and the people of the United States is low. That likelihood is low. So in our state, we don’t have a quick special election or anything if someone retires or resigns or steps away from their position.”
In one sentence, Ward says she’d never offer a prognosis without doing an exam. Two sentences later, Ward does exactly that, a trick she tried on occasion during her primary fight, too. She may not be incorrect, and in fact might be likely to be proven correct, but Doctor Ward is still offering prognoses without any access to the patient’s information.”
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Some good news: http://www.macleans.ca/news/world/how-the-west-is-winning-the-war-on-terror/
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Ricky, have you seen this? (I haven’t read the article, but noted the headline.)
“Increasingly anti-business, Republicans have just about dismantled the Texas Miracle”
https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2017/07/19/increasingly-anti-business-republicans-just-dismantled-texas-miracle
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“Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced this week that the Justice Department will increase the use of civil asset forfeiture, the practice that allows law enforcement officials to seize property from persons who have been neither charged with nor convicted of any crime. “Civil asset forfeiture is a key tool,” Sessions declared. “President Trump has directed this Department of Justice to reduce crime in this country, and we will use every lawful tool that we have to do that.”
But civil asset forfeiture is not a “lawful tool.” It is an unconstitutional abuse of government power. The Fifth Amendment forbids the government from depriving any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. Civil asset forfeiture turns that venerable principle on its head, allowing government agents to take what they want without the bother of bringing charges, presenting clear and convincing evidence, and obtaining a conviction in a court of law. It is the antithesis of due process.”
https://reason.com/blog/2017/07/20/clarence-thomas-vs-jeff-sessions-on-civi
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Not to worry, Kizzie. Richard Parker is a tree-hugger and is probably a semi-communist. I would ignore anything he says. He was raised outside of Texas, possibly in a place as alien as Iran, North Korea or New York. He has written a book and I found this review.
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Now maybe William F. Buckley will not roll over in his grave.
http://money.cnn.com/2017/07/21/media/sean-hannity-buckley-award/index.html
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