[WASHINGTONPOST] That Wolf’s performance was not “normal” for the correspondents’ dinner is a testament to its timeliness and necessity — nothing is “normal” right now, and pretending otherwise out of a false sense of the fourth estate’s friendship with the executive would have been the real disgrace. Wolf called the Trump administration out for tearing down democracy. Then, the people who are supposed to care most about holding autocrats to account called her out in turn for, essentially, not being chummy enough. The performance was a tasteless display of sex jokes, bad words, Trump Derangement Syndrome and spiteful ad hominems. I've been watching, and except for unwinding a lot of dictatorial executive orders and the continuing pie fight with the press, I haven't seen any democracy torn down, though we did see the spectacle of an unhinged Democrat trying to assassinate a Congressional baseball practice.
That persistent chumminess is why Wolf’s performance, in the end, wasn’t really for the press. It was about us. "Us" is writing an op-ed in the Washington Post.
“You guys love breaking news, and you did it,” Wolf said to CNN. “You broke it.” To everyone else, she said: “You helped create this monster, and now you’re profiting off of him.” Instead of listening — to that or to Wolf’s final line, “Flint still doesn’t have clean water” — we got grumpy on Twitter. From Wikipedia: After a pair of scientific studies proved lead contamination was present in the water supply, a federal state of emergency was declared in January 2016 and Flint residents were instructed to use only bottled or filtered water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and bathing. As of early 2017, the water quality had returned to acceptable levels; however, residents were instructed to continue to use bottled or filtered water until all the lead pipes have been replaced, which is expected to be completed no sooner than 2020. Therefore, the water as returned to acceptable levels, but somehow it's running through lead pipes, which have to be replaced. The state of emergency dates to the last year of the Obama regime, and the pipes are to be replaced in two years, instead of overnight. It's all Trump's fault, though I'm not quite sure how.
Which means Wolf did a better job of defending the First Amendment than those who say that’s our business.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/01/2018 00:00 ||
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Link ||
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#1
Trump must have sensed that Wolf or someone else was going to use this as an opportunity to vent with Trump Derangement Syndrome. Or maybe he just thought the whole thing was just a terrible waste of time. Could be both.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
05/01/2018 10:59 Comments ||
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#4
“You guys love breaking news, and you did it,” Wolf said to CNN. “You broke it.” That seems true enough. If the networks hadn't aided and abetted the political criminals of the last two decades we would not have Trump now, we wouldn't need Trump now.
[McClatchey Report] The CIA can selectively divulge classified information to selected reporters in emails yet withhold that information from other journalists or members of the public when they seek the same information under the Freedom of Information Act, a federal judge in New York has ruled. So much for the FOIA request system and all of those meddling little people.
The decision appeared in the court record on Friday but became more widely disseminated Monday.
The ruling comes amid vigorous national debate over leaks to the media and the use of anonymous sources in covering national security news, including an ongoing FBI investigation into Russian attempts to influence the 2016 presidential election.
Judge Colleen McMahon of the Southern District of New York ruled that the CIA does not have to release parts of five emails senior CIA officials sent to journalists from the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times and The Washington Post in 2012. At the time, the CIA was facing pressure over links it may have had to a Pakistani doctor who helped American forces hunt down Osama bin Laden.
#1
A not so subtle, arse covering move bound to pay significant future 'Deep State' dividends. Not such good news for imprisoned Pakistani physician Shakil Afridi however. An upcoming presidential election required the scalp of Ben Laden.
One might almost suspect something going on behind the scenes. But that indicate a degree of cynicism toward our government.
The Klingons and the media working together, who knew? Brennan, Comey, and Clapper must be giving one another high-fives.
#8
I'd imagine this will be appealed. Imagine how bad of a decision it will be for the left long term if it is reversed at the end of the road.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
05/01/2018 10:39 Comments ||
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#9
ANYONE who leaks classified information is a traitor and needs to be tried, convicted and promptly executed. Anyone who receives that information and fails to immediately report it and who gave it also is a traitor should be executed alongside the leaker.
Coming from a man who neither spoke up before nor has a Korean last name. And probably never ran for dog catcher, either.
[PasteMagazine] Last week South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean "Supreme Leader" Kim Jong Un met at the border between the two countries to sign a historic agreement that provides a framework for cooperation and denuclearization which will, per terms in the agreement, lead eventually to the end of the decades-long Korean War. Sensational as this headline is, it also presents several obstacles and uncertainties, a major one being the wishes and interests of the United States, which, in spite of prevailing thought, might actually impede the peace process.
To be sure, over the last three months peace negotiations between the North and South have delivered a number of firsts for the two nations, still technically at war. They reopened direct bilateral talks and fielded a joint Olympic team. Kim has made persistent diplomatic overtures to other countries with stakes in the region, including a trip to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and a covert meeting with Mike Pompeo, soon to be our new Secretary of State. He’s got a meeting ahead with Donald Trump. The North Korean leader has also offered to have international observers come watch his government dismantle a major nuclear test facility.
#1
Wow, this man's ability to read minds is uncanny. He does it all throughout the article.
Why all the fuss about the Nobel prize? It's a joke. It was a joke when they gave it to Yasser Arafat, much less Obama.
South Korea doesn't want US troops. Where'd he get that idea? They regularly protest against them and the ROK army has the Nork situation well in hand.
Posted by: Herb McCoy ||
05/01/2018 22:28 Comments ||
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[Breitbart] Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) in-laws have ordered 10 massive cargo ships from the Chinese government since the senator’s wife Elaine Chao became Secretary of Transportation. The deep financial ties between the Chao family’s shipping business Foremost Group and the Chinese regime were first revealed in the #1 New York Times bestseller Secret Empires.
Foremost Group, which is owned by Sec. Elaine Chao’s father and Sen. McConnell’s father-in-law James S.C. Chao, signed contracts with a subsidiary of the state-owned China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) for four bulk cargo ships in June and September 2017. In December 2017, Chao’s company signed another contract with state-owned CSSC at Foremost’s New York office for two massive 210,000-ton ships. James S.C. Chao and two of Elaine’s sisters were in attendance. So, too, was the Consul General of China in New York, as well as representatives from the CSSC. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Then on January 31, 2018, Foremost Group ordered four more 210,000-ton ships from CSSC. Angela Chao, sister to Sec. Elaine Chao and Foremost’s Deputy Chairman, said she expects cooperation between the two entities to extend into the future. In January 2017, Angela Chao joined the board of the state-owned Bank of China.
The finances of Sec. Elaine Chao and her husband, Sen. Mitch McConnell, are closely tied to the Foremost Group. In 2008, James Chao gave a $5 million-$25 million "gift" to Sen. McConnell, more than tripling his net worth. Contracts with other Chinese state-owned enterprises make up a significant portion of Foremost’s business. James and Angela Chao previously served on the board of CSSC Holdings, a major contractor for the Chinese military and a key supporter of the PLA Navy.
#2
While our industrial base is decimated by cheap Chinese made products (McConnell and wife cashes in on getting that stuff over here with them big boats), McConnell comes out against tariffs while talking to farmers (about all that's left in this country now, share cropping) and Kentucky moon shiners.
But he has an idea to help the farmers and moonshiners, lets legalize hemp! Heck, with so many places legalizing grass, lets make a buck! That's what you call building a great nation, right?
#7
This is something Americans are still free to do. We can have de facto trade control by not buying Chinese.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
05/01/2018 11:04 Comments ||
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#8
I want to see how these people are going to get past the "Jones Act". which prohibits a foreign hulled boat from doing commerce from or to US ports.
#9
Kofi, IIRC correctly, the Jones Act only applies to cargoes shipped between US ports. This became an issue when relief supplies were delayed shipping to Puerto Rico.
Posted by: Rambler in Virginia ||
05/01/2018 17:46 Comments ||
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#10
Re #8, the key is "foreign flagged", not "foreign hulled". You can have your ship build anywhere, as long as you flag it as a US ship, Jones act doesn't apply to that ship. Of course, being US flagged means you have to have an American crew, which cost a lot more.
[Jpost] Tehran has an array of options at its disposal should it ultimately decide to attack Israel, ranging from missile strikes to hurting its allies.
Syrian dictator Bashir al-Assad met with Alaeddin Boroujerdi, the chairman of the Iranian parliament’s Committee for Foreign Policy and National Security, on Monday.
They seemed cheerful as rumors mounted that Iran would retaliate for air strikes in Syria that have allegedly killed Iranian personnel.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: trailing wife ||
05/01/2018 00:00 ||
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[6 views]
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#1
Iran wants to retaliate against Israel? They always want to do that.
Netanyahu has spilled the beans on the movement of Iran's nuke weapons records to Syria that came about as the result of Obama's B.S. agreement.
The question is how are the U.S. and allies going to retaliate against Iran? Are they going to use this as leverage to bring about a real de-nuke program in Iran? Are they going to use the threat of sanctions as well? Trump says he will decide what to do on May 12 if the Europeans don't come up with anything that's useful.
[BBC] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has revealed what he says are "secret nuclear files" proving Iran once covertly pursued nuclear weapons.
He said thousands of pages of material obtained by Israel showed Iran had deceived the world by denying it had ever sought nuclear weapons.
Iran agreed in 2015 to curb its nuclear energy programme in return for the lifting of sanctions.
It maintained that it had only been pursuing nuclear energy.
But Mr Netanyahu accused Iran of conducting a secret weapons programme until 2003 codenamed "Project Amad". He claimed Iran continued to pursue nuclear weapons knowledge after Project Amad was shuttered.
Iran pushed back against the claims. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted to say the evidence was a "rehash of old allegations" which had already been dealt with by the United Nations nuclear watchdog.
Iran's foreign minister accused Mr Netanyahu of a "childish" stunt to influence President Donald Trump's decision on whether to remain in a nuclear deal with Iran.
The US along with five other international powers struck a deal with Iran in 2015 to curb the country's nuclear programme.
Mr Trump, who has long threatened to scrap the Obama-era deal, said he had viewed part of Mr Netanyahu's presentation and said the situation was "not acceptable".
He said he would make a decision on whether to retain the deal on or before 12 May.
European powers have said they are committed to upholding the accord.
Mr Netanyahu said he had spoken to the leaders of France and Germany about Israel's intelligence and planned to send representatives to the two countries to discuss it.
A German government spokesman said the country would carry out a detailed analysis of Israel's intelligence, Reuters reported.
John Hughes, a former deputy director for sanctions at the US State Department who worked on the Iran deal, said he had not seen anything in the Israeli presentation that would change the deal.
"I think, frankly, this was a political statement meant to try to influence President Trump's decision on whether to pull out of the deal," Mr Hughes said. "I think it's mostly recycled material."
[Ynet] Analysis: Sunday night’s strikes against Assad army bases was likely part of a joint initiative launched from Syrian territory between Syrian rebels and other military forces armed with highly accurate missiles and rockets, making it difficult for Syria and Iran to hold Israel or the US accountable.
Who was behind Sunday night’s attack on several Assad army bases in Syria? As the clouds of smoke dissipate from the areas struck by missiles, it seems quite likely that whoever attacked the bases used by Syrian and Iranian-backed forces may have been trying to send a message.
According to that message, which was directed at both the Syrian regime and the Russians, as long as the Iranians military presence in Syria continues, a political agreement will remain impossible and the seven-year civil war won’t come to an end.
Continued on Page 49
Possible, but I bet he's never been anywhere near an AR. I'd imagine he moves in circles where guys with ear monitors carry concealed. I will guarantee you that people who are no way conservative talk to him at cocktail parties and in green rooms and editorial suites pretty much all the time...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
05/01/2018 10:44 Comments ||
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#4
Also, I am henceforth calling the spectator the Spic-fellator...
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
05/01/2018 10:49 Comments ||
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#10
Ben Stein is a funny fellow who's usually right. He is here, too -- about Waffle House, not about the AR.
The AR doesn't tell you to shoot people. It's a decent, lightweight rifle, reasonably accurate and fun to fire. If I could still see well enough to shoot, I'd prefer a slightly heavier bolt action, but that's just me.
He nailed the problem in the very first sentence and then rollicked off on the wrong track:
A few days ago, a man with a long history of mental illness and violence shot and killed four innocent people at a Waffle House in Tennessee.
The shooter had a long history of mental illness. All of these shootings feature the same common element, don't they? Only a complete lunatic (PC hissy fit from somebody to follow) to shoot up a restaurant, school, mall, church, kindergarten, baseball practice, or what have you for no reason.
We used to have cackle factories, nut houses, or assylums, call them what you will, for people who were nuts. Now they're not nuts, they "disturbed" or they're "troubled" and they're walking the streets and they're buying guns, regardless of what laws have been passed.
Looney bins were done away with as a result of a long series of horror stories based on a short string of actual facts. Just like nursing homes today, they required a significant chunk of money to maintain, and the costs kept getting heftier, so patients were "main streamed" and told to be good and take their meds, instead of remaining committed and being given their meds by the men in white coats.
Everybody felt ever so much more virtuous, superior in every way to our ignernt ancestors. Politicians were able to divert the funds released to contracts for their relatives and the guys who thought they were Napoleon Bonapart went shopping for artillery.
Posted by: Fred ||
05/01/2018 12:19 Comments ||
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#11
I have to disagree with you on one point, Fred.
Looney bins were done away with as a result of a long series of horror stories based on a short string of actual facts
Went thru the turn away from Mental Health facilities when I worked in CA hospitals. The reason was, first and always foremost, money. They are damned expensive and end up being longterm warehouses since "cures" are few and far between. The "horror stories" were just the pols' excuse for moving the money to other "needs".
#12
So is that "Ben Stein, AR Whisperer" or
"AR - Ben Stein Whisperer"?
Posted by: ar anonymous ||
05/01/2018 12:33 Comments ||
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#13
ARs kill people, his security wear the cute MP5.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
05/01/2018 13:14 Comments ||
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#14
I don't know... Having lived and worked in the shadow of one of those "Gulags for Lunatics" back when they had 20' chainlink fences topped by three strands of razor wire... I just don't know...
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[McClatchey Report] The CIA can selectively divulge classified information to selected reporters in emails yet withhold that information from other journalists or members of the public when they seek the same information under the Freedom of Information Act, a federal judge in New York has ruled.
[Breitbart] Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) in-laws have ordered 10 massive cargo ships from the Chinese government since the senator’s wife Elaine Chao became Secretary of Transportation. The deep financial ties between the Chao family’s shipping business Foremost Group and the Chinese regime were first revealed in the #1 New York Times bestseller Secret Empires.
