dbphoenix
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And look what we have here:
Donald Trump is allowing oil companies to conceal payments to foreign governments
And look what we have here:
Donald Trump is allowing oil companies to conceal payments to foreign governments
dbphoenix
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:
dbphoenix
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Andy Puzder Withdraws As Nominee For Labor Secretary
If Trump Really Cared About The Working Class, Puzder Never Would’ve Been Nominated
If Trump Really Cared About The Working Class, Puzder Never Would’ve Been Nominated
joseph1986
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if the russian communication with flynn was encrypted.....this may end up bigger than breach of trust
Pat494
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The US system is like any banana republic based on money hence anything secret has a monetary value and the media have deep pockets. So the leaks are many and very profitable.
dbphoenix
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That's pretty much a given.
joseph1986
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You have to love the position gop is in after this. Will they put party over nation on this one? Very interesting indeed.
dbphoenix
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That's what the House is doing. The Senate appears to have a bit more integrity.
You Can’t See Russia From The House, But The Senate’s Ready To Look At Trump’s Ties
dbphoenix
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One of the great achievements of free society in a stable democracy is that many people, for much of the time, need not think about politics at all. The president of a free country may dominate the news cycle many days — but he is not omnipresent — and because we live under the rule of law, we can afford to turn the news off at times. A free society means being free of those who rule over you — to do the things you care about, your passions, your pastimes, your loves — to exult in that blessed space where politics doesn’t intervene. In that sense, it seems to me, we already live in a country with markedly less freedom than we did a month ago. It’s less like living in a democracy than being a child trapped in a house where there is an abusive and unpredictable father, who will brook no reason, respect no counter-argument, admit no error, and always, always up the ante until catastrophe inevitably strikes.
--Andrew Sullivan
--Andrew Sullivan
dbphoenix
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About "Populism":
“Populism” might be the word of the year in American politics. It’s what propelled Donald Trump to the White House, and what Bernie Sanders used to nearly upend the Democratic Party. But long before Trump or Sanders attempted to harness populism to reach higher office, Fred Harris owned the term. He authored two books on the subject, traveled the country railing for economic fairness and ran for presidency on the promise of returning power to the forgotten people.
But now, with populism arguably at its high-water mark in American politics, Fred Harris isn’t excited. In fact, he’s appalled.
When Harris looks at Donald Trump’s campaign, he sees a vision of populism fundamentally opposed to the way he saw the movement. In the 1970s, Harris aimed to build political clout by creating new coalitions across boundaries of race, gender and class, uniting people on the basis of their shared struggle.
“Populism is simply about voting for your own interests instead of against your interests—with the knowledge that your interests are the same as the interests of everyone else,” Harris says.
In electing Trump, Fred Harris believes the people voted against their own interests, choosing a man who will enrich himself and not them. He sees Trump as a leader who has built walls between groups and emphasized their differences in order to gain power—in fact, Harris isn’t so sure that the president-elect’s views can even be called populist.
“It really pisses me off when they talk about populists being racists, and calling George Wallace and Donald Trump populists,” Harris says. “Trump populism is really just demagoguery. It’s not my kind of populism.”
--Richard Linnett
“Populism” might be the word of the year in American politics. It’s what propelled Donald Trump to the White House, and what Bernie Sanders used to nearly upend the Democratic Party. But long before Trump or Sanders attempted to harness populism to reach higher office, Fred Harris owned the term. He authored two books on the subject, traveled the country railing for economic fairness and ran for presidency on the promise of returning power to the forgotten people.
But now, with populism arguably at its high-water mark in American politics, Fred Harris isn’t excited. In fact, he’s appalled.
When Harris looks at Donald Trump’s campaign, he sees a vision of populism fundamentally opposed to the way he saw the movement. In the 1970s, Harris aimed to build political clout by creating new coalitions across boundaries of race, gender and class, uniting people on the basis of their shared struggle.
“Populism is simply about voting for your own interests instead of against your interests—with the knowledge that your interests are the same as the interests of everyone else,” Harris says.
In electing Trump, Fred Harris believes the people voted against their own interests, choosing a man who will enrich himself and not them. He sees Trump as a leader who has built walls between groups and emphasized their differences in order to gain power—in fact, Harris isn’t so sure that the president-elect’s views can even be called populist.
“It really pisses me off when they talk about populists being racists, and calling George Wallace and Donald Trump populists,” Harris says. “Trump populism is really just demagoguery. It’s not my kind of populism.”
--Richard Linnett
Mr. Charts
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To those US citizens who voted for Trump>
Are you having any doubts at all about what you did?
No one expects you would have voted for Clinton, but are you happy with the Trump presidency?
Would you prefer it if one of the other Republican candidates would have won the nomination?
Don't be reluctant to answer. We all look back on our lives with the benefit of hindsight and think we maybe should have made different decisions.
Are you having any doubts at all about what you did?
No one expects you would have voted for Clinton, but are you happy with the Trump presidency?
Would you prefer it if one of the other Republican candidates would have won the nomination?
Don't be reluctant to answer. We all look back on our lives with the benefit of hindsight and think we maybe should have made different decisions.
dbphoenix
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President Donald Trump is accusing Democrats of fabricating news reports about Russia because "they lost the election."
The president tweeted Thursday, "The Democrats had to come up with a story as to why they lost the election, and so badly (306)," he wrote, citing the number of electoral votes he banked to win the general election.
He continues, "so they made up a story - RUSSIA. Fake news!"
Trump asked his national security adviser, retired Gen. Michael Flynn, to resign this week when it was revealed that Flynn had discussed sanctions with a Russian diplomat before Trump took office.
U.S. intelligence agencies have also said the Russian government tampered with the presidential election in an attempt to help Trump win.
--Associated Press
I love this.
The president tweeted Thursday, "The Democrats had to come up with a story as to why they lost the election, and so badly (306)," he wrote, citing the number of electoral votes he banked to win the general election.
He continues, "so they made up a story - RUSSIA. Fake news!"
Trump asked his national security adviser, retired Gen. Michael Flynn, to resign this week when it was revealed that Flynn had discussed sanctions with a Russian diplomat before Trump took office.
U.S. intelligence agencies have also said the Russian government tampered with the presidential election in an attempt to help Trump win.
--Associated Press
I love this.
Mr. Charts
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dbphoenix
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As part of intelligence operations being conducted against the United States for the last seven months, at least one Western European ally intercepted a series of communications before the inauguration between advisers associated with President Donald Trump and Russian government officials, according to people with direct knowledge of the situation.
The sources said the interceptions include at least one contact between former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and a Russian official based in the United States. It could not be confirmed whether this involved the telephone call with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak that has led to Flynn’s resignation, or additional communications. The sources said the intercepted communications are not just limited to telephone calls: The foreign agency is also gathering electronic and human source information on Trump’s overseas business partners, at least some of whom the intelligence services now consider to be agents of their respective governments. These operations are being conducted out of concerns that Russia is seeking to manipulate its relationships with Trump administration officials as part of a long-term plan to destabilize the NATO alliance.
Moreover, a Baltic nation is gathering intelligence on officials in the Trump White House and executives with the president’s company, the Trump Organization, out of concern that an American policy shift toward Russia could endanger its sovereignty, according to a third person with direct ties to that nation’s government.
--Newsweek
The sources said the interceptions include at least one contact between former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and a Russian official based in the United States. It could not be confirmed whether this involved the telephone call with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak that has led to Flynn’s resignation, or additional communications. The sources said the intercepted communications are not just limited to telephone calls: The foreign agency is also gathering electronic and human source information on Trump’s overseas business partners, at least some of whom the intelligence services now consider to be agents of their respective governments. These operations are being conducted out of concerns that Russia is seeking to manipulate its relationships with Trump administration officials as part of a long-term plan to destabilize the NATO alliance.
Moreover, a Baltic nation is gathering intelligence on officials in the Trump White House and executives with the president’s company, the Trump Organization, out of concern that an American policy shift toward Russia could endanger its sovereignty, according to a third person with direct ties to that nation’s government.
--Newsweek
wackypete2
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This is not entirely true. We don't know what was discussed. Transcripts haven't been released. Flynn was let go because he lied to VP, Mike Pence about having conversations with Russia.
Meanwhile, the US stock market soars...good for retirees and others with 401K accounts, bad for those who choose to keep shorting the market.
Peter
wackypete2
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Don't let the left and media dissuade you: the latest Rasmussen poll shows Trump's approval rating at 55%. Not bad for 1 month in office without a complete cabinet and far better than the 40% pre inauguration approval rating.
Sure, there are some things I don't agree about what Trump is doing, and some mistakes will be made but I'm willing to give him a fair chance.
Sure, there are some things I don't agree about what Trump is doing, and some mistakes will be made but I'm willing to give him a fair chance.
dbphoenix
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WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans, who craved unified control of the government to secure their aggressive conservative agenda, have instead found themselves on a legislative elliptical trainer, gliding toward nowhere.
After moving to start rolling back the Affordable Care Act just days after President Trump was sworn in last month, Republican lawmakers and Mr. Trump have yet to deliver on any of the sweeping legislation they promised. Efforts to come up with a replacement for the health care law have been stymied by disagreements among Republicans about how to proceed. The same is true for a proposed overhaul of the tax code.
The large infrastructure bill that both Democrats and Mr. Trump were eager to pursue has barely been mentioned, other than a very general hearing to discuss well-documented needs for infrastructure improvements. Even a simple emergency spending bill that the Trump administration promised weeks ago — which was expected to include a proposal for his wall on the Mexican border — has not materialized, leaving appropriators idle and checking Twitter.
At this point in Barack Obama’s presidency, when Democrats controlled Washington, Congress had passed a stimulus bill totaling nearly $1 trillion to address the financial crisis, approved a measure preventing pay discrimination, expanded a children’s health insurance program, and begun laying the groundwork for major health care and financial regulation bills. President George W. Bush came into office with a congressional blueprint for his signature education act, No Child Left Behind.
But in the 115th Congress, the Senate has done little more than struggle to confirm Mr. Trump’s nominees, and Republicans ultimately helped force his choice for labor secretary, Andrew F. Puzder, to withdraw from consideration on Wednesday in the face of unified Democratic opposition.
The House has spent most of its time picking off a series of deregulation measures, like overturning a rule intended to protect surface water from mining operations. For his part, Mr. Trump has relied mostly on executive orders to advance policies.
The inactivity stems from a lack of clear policy guidance — and, just as often, contradictory messages — from the Trump administration, which does not appear to have spent the campaign and transition periods forming a legislative wish list. Democrats have also led efforts to slow the confirmation of nominees to Mr. Trump’s cabinet who might otherwise be leading the charge.
“When you spend a lot of time talking about policy and debating policy in the presidential campaign, it is far easier to be specific about legislation when you get into office,” said Austan Goolsbee, who served as the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers during the Obama administration. “President Trump spent the campaign fleshing out nothing in detail, so it’s not really a surprise that they can’t even agree on priorities, much less on actual legislative detail.” (more)
After moving to start rolling back the Affordable Care Act just days after President Trump was sworn in last month, Republican lawmakers and Mr. Trump have yet to deliver on any of the sweeping legislation they promised. Efforts to come up with a replacement for the health care law have been stymied by disagreements among Republicans about how to proceed. The same is true for a proposed overhaul of the tax code.
The large infrastructure bill that both Democrats and Mr. Trump were eager to pursue has barely been mentioned, other than a very general hearing to discuss well-documented needs for infrastructure improvements. Even a simple emergency spending bill that the Trump administration promised weeks ago — which was expected to include a proposal for his wall on the Mexican border — has not materialized, leaving appropriators idle and checking Twitter.
At this point in Barack Obama’s presidency, when Democrats controlled Washington, Congress had passed a stimulus bill totaling nearly $1 trillion to address the financial crisis, approved a measure preventing pay discrimination, expanded a children’s health insurance program, and begun laying the groundwork for major health care and financial regulation bills. President George W. Bush came into office with a congressional blueprint for his signature education act, No Child Left Behind.
But in the 115th Congress, the Senate has done little more than struggle to confirm Mr. Trump’s nominees, and Republicans ultimately helped force his choice for labor secretary, Andrew F. Puzder, to withdraw from consideration on Wednesday in the face of unified Democratic opposition.
The House has spent most of its time picking off a series of deregulation measures, like overturning a rule intended to protect surface water from mining operations. For his part, Mr. Trump has relied mostly on executive orders to advance policies.
The inactivity stems from a lack of clear policy guidance — and, just as often, contradictory messages — from the Trump administration, which does not appear to have spent the campaign and transition periods forming a legislative wish list. Democrats have also led efforts to slow the confirmation of nominees to Mr. Trump’s cabinet who might otherwise be leading the charge.
“When you spend a lot of time talking about policy and debating policy in the presidential campaign, it is far easier to be specific about legislation when you get into office,” said Austan Goolsbee, who served as the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers during the Obama administration. “President Trump spent the campaign fleshing out nothing in detail, so it’s not really a surprise that they can’t even agree on priorities, much less on actual legislative detail.” (more)
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