We live in an era when acts of terrorism happen with frightening regularity. The recent attack in lower Manhattan brought the sad reality of Islamic terror back to American soil again. Sayfullo Saipov drove a rented truck along a bike path blocks away from the site of the 9/11 attacks and plowed into unsuspecting people, killing eight.
Here's what we know. Saipov followed the instructions from ISIS-related social media accounts for lone wolf vehicular attacks. His own social media accounts included links to ISIS-related groups. Authorities found a note near the truck Saipov rented that declared — in Arabic — that ISIS would live forever. Witnesses reported that Saipov shouted "Allahu akbar," the Arabic phrase for "Allah is great," as he exited the truck.
"Allahu akbar." That's the sticking point that the mainstream media can't get around. It's as if the press can't bring themselves to admit that Islamic terrorism is Islamic, and the way they address that very phrase proves that they don't want to make the connection between Islamic terrorism and Islam.
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Monday, November 06, 2017
Teen Vogue Shutters Shortly After Publishing 'Guide to Anal Sex' for Teen Girls
The New York-based publisher, which has instilled a hiring freeze, will slash about 80 jobs, equal to a decrease of about 2.5 percent of its 3,000-person workforce. Budgets across departments are also expected to get a haircut, with the worst-performing divisions and magazines getting cuts of up to 20 percent. As part of that mandate, Condé is reducing the frequencies of most of its titles and will shutter Teen Vogue in print.
There's no mention of the controversy that most likely caused the huge dip in sales: the pushing of explicit and dangerous sexual practices on children. The Activist Mommy led a boycott of Teen Vogue that seems to have done the trick. Good riddance. The last few months have brought us these scintillating headlines from Teen Vogue.
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Company Comps Non-Smoking Employees for Their Co-workers' Smoke Breaks
While it seems that fewer and fewer people are smoking these days, there are still an estimated 36.5 million adults who smoke in the United States today. That's a lot of people. And that's a lot of smoking breaks taken throughout the workday.
When an employee of Piala Inc., a Tokyo-based organization in Japan, put a message in the company's suggestion box about how the smokers among the employees have been causing problems, the CEO, Takao Asuka, agreed. Since Piala, Inc. is located on the 29th floor of the building, the 30 or so employees (out of 120 total) who wish to take a cigarette break must go all the way down to the basement to do so. Each trip eats up about 15 minutes. And that can add up.
To address the issue, Asuka did something unexpected: he gave all non-smoking employees of Piala Inc. six extra days off per year to compensate. And some have already taken advantage of the new perk. Incredibly, four smoking employees have even kicked the habit as a result of the new policy.
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When an employee of Piala Inc., a Tokyo-based organization in Japan, put a message in the company's suggestion box about how the smokers among the employees have been causing problems, the CEO, Takao Asuka, agreed. Since Piala, Inc. is located on the 29th floor of the building, the 30 or so employees (out of 120 total) who wish to take a cigarette break must go all the way down to the basement to do so. Each trip eats up about 15 minutes. And that can add up.
To address the issue, Asuka did something unexpected: he gave all non-smoking employees of Piala Inc. six extra days off per year to compensate. And some have already taken advantage of the new perk. Incredibly, four smoking employees have even kicked the habit as a result of the new policy.
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Ex-Dallas Cowboys linebacker 'stabbed his wife to death'
A former Dallas Cowboys player has been arrested on suspicion of his wife's murder after her body was found in a Utah condo.
Anthony Darnel McClanahan, 46, is believed to have stabbed 28-year-old Keri 'KC' McClanahan repeatedly in the throat in the Park Regency Resort condominiums on Thursday.
And on Friday, charges were filed against him for allegedly kidnapping his son from school last month - behavior that he had allegedly tried to blame on injuries from his NFL days, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.
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Anthony Darnel McClanahan, 46, is believed to have stabbed 28-year-old Keri 'KC' McClanahan repeatedly in the throat in the Park Regency Resort condominiums on Thursday.
And on Friday, charges were filed against him for allegedly kidnapping his son from school last month - behavior that he had allegedly tried to blame on injuries from his NFL days, The Salt Lake Tribune reported.
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FBI report claims MLK had 'all-night sex orgies'
An FBI report has been declassified as part of the newly released John F. Kennedy assassination files, and claims Martin Luther King Jr had an 'all-night sex orgy' at a training workshop.
The report released on Friday was written just weeks before the revered civil rights leader was assassinated in 1968, and details allegations about a workshop King held earlier that year in Miami.
The FBI's sex smears against King have been well known for years, but the newly released 20-page report offers new insight into the harsh portrait the Bureau attempted to paint of him as he campaigned for civil rights and economic reforms.
It is not clear whether the FBI was able to confirm any of the salacious claims it included in the analysis, and they could not be independently verified.
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The report released on Friday was written just weeks before the revered civil rights leader was assassinated in 1968, and details allegations about a workshop King held earlier that year in Miami.
The FBI's sex smears against King have been well known for years, but the newly released 20-page report offers new insight into the harsh portrait the Bureau attempted to paint of him as he campaigned for civil rights and economic reforms.
It is not clear whether the FBI was able to confirm any of the salacious claims it included in the analysis, and they could not be independently verified.
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NFL Hall of Famer Nick Buoniconti pledges brain to science
The Miami Dolphins legend, 76, was diagnosed with dementia in May, and his doctors suspect he also suffers from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a critical disease which scientists believe is caused by blows to the head.
Speaking on Friday, Buoniconti cried as he said he is leaving his brain with the famed research team at Boston University, which diagnosed CTE posthumously in the late Patriots star Aaron Hernandez, in the hopes that he can help speed up attempts to diagnose CTE during life.
It comes a month after his son Marc, who was left paralyzed for life after a clash in a college football game 32 years ago, said he believes youth football should be banned.
'My life, as I know it, has been taken away from me,' Buoniconti wept on Friday, sat in a wheelchair next to his wife Lynn.
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State Colleges Now Teaching Cannabis, and Harvard Is Playing Catch-Up
With cannabis legalization spreading rapidly both within the US and abroad, job-seekers have been increasingly interested in academic programs geared toward landing a job in the emerging cannabis industry.
It’s sensible enough. More than half of all US states in have legalized medicinal cannabis, and eight and Washington, DC, have legalized adult use. As we reported earlier this year, those legal cannabis markets support nearly 150,000 full-time jobs as of 2017. The green rush is real.
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It’s sensible enough. More than half of all US states in have legalized medicinal cannabis, and eight and Washington, DC, have legalized adult use. As we reported earlier this year, those legal cannabis markets support nearly 150,000 full-time jobs as of 2017. The green rush is real.
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University Melts Down After A Sorority Girl Dressed As Pocahontas For Halloween
Reagan West, a member of OU’s Pi Beta Phi chapter, decided to dress up as a “Pocahottie” for Halloween as a way to stick it to political correctness,according to a now-deleted tweet.
The backlash against this costume decision was overwhelming on social media, with many leftists encouraging harassment against the offending sorority member.
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The New American Dream: Work Longer, Live Sicker, Die Sooner
With stagnant wages, rising cost of living (see shelter inflation), and a lack of savings, Americans are retiring later than ever before (if at all). But in a double-whammy for seniors, whose health is declining, their lifespans are shrinking offering them little if any time to enjoy the end of the American Dream walking hand in hand into the sunset on a faraway beach...
As Bloomberg reports, data released last week suggest Americans’ health is declining and millions of middle-age workers face the prospect of shorter, and less active, retirements than their parents enjoyed.
Here are the stats:
The U.S. age-adjusted mortality rate - a measure of the number of deaths per year - rose 1.2 percent from 2014 to 2015, according to the Society of Actuaries.
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As Bloomberg reports, data released last week suggest Americans’ health is declining and millions of middle-age workers face the prospect of shorter, and less active, retirements than their parents enjoyed.
Here are the stats:
The U.S. age-adjusted mortality rate - a measure of the number of deaths per year - rose 1.2 percent from 2014 to 2015, according to the Society of Actuaries.
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DNC gave Clinton control over campaign well before it was supposed to
The 2015 deal between Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee in which the group effectively ceded immediate control to the Clinton campaign was supposed to take effect only if Clinton won the primary process - but in effect, they gave her control well before that, according to a copy of the agreement published this weekend.
The publishing of the agreement this weekend follows former DNC interim Chairwoman Donna Brazile’s bombshell accusation Thursday that the party’s 2016 presidential primary contest between Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders was rigged by the DNC to hand the nomination to Clinton.
Brazile, also a onetime Clinton confidante and CNN commentator, made the claims in an article in Politico while touting a new book.
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The publishing of the agreement this weekend follows former DNC interim Chairwoman Donna Brazile’s bombshell accusation Thursday that the party’s 2016 presidential primary contest between Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders was rigged by the DNC to hand the nomination to Clinton.
Brazile, also a onetime Clinton confidante and CNN commentator, made the claims in an article in Politico while touting a new book.
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FBI Turns Over Hundreds Of Pages Of New Clinton Probe Documents
Now that obstructionist lawmakers have finally relented, Congressional efforts to investigate nefarious activities involving Democrats are finally moving forward following several bombshell revelations that the FBI may have turned a blind eye to controversial, potentially criminal actions involving powerful Democrats when FBI Director James Comey drafted a letter absolving Hillary Clinton and closing the bureau’s investigation into her alleged mishandling of classified information before she had even been interviewed.
The Senate Judiciary Committee opened an investigation into the bureau’s handling of the Clinton emails probe in September after these bombshell reports emerged, and today the Hill reports that the Feds have begun turning over to Senate investigators "hundreds of pages of memos" regarding the bureau's probe into Hillary Clinton's private email server.
The sources said the Justice Department notified the Senate Judiciary Committee late Friday and the FBI began transmitting memos soon after to assist Congress in its review of former Director James Comey's handling of the Clinton email case.
The memos detail how and when the bureau's leadership declined to pursue criminal charges against Clinton for transmitting classified information on her private email server as secretary of State, an investigation that has remained controversial since the 2016 presidential campaigns.
FBI officials declined to comment. "We don't have any information for you," spokeswoman Carol Cratty told The Hill.
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The Senate Judiciary Committee opened an investigation into the bureau’s handling of the Clinton emails probe in September after these bombshell reports emerged, and today the Hill reports that the Feds have begun turning over to Senate investigators "hundreds of pages of memos" regarding the bureau's probe into Hillary Clinton's private email server.
The sources said the Justice Department notified the Senate Judiciary Committee late Friday and the FBI began transmitting memos soon after to assist Congress in its review of former Director James Comey's handling of the Clinton email case.
The memos detail how and when the bureau's leadership declined to pursue criminal charges against Clinton for transmitting classified information on her private email server as secretary of State, an investigation that has remained controversial since the 2016 presidential campaigns.
FBI officials declined to comment. "We don't have any information for you," spokeswoman Carol Cratty told The Hill.
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Another Mueller Leak Suggests Charges Loom For Michael Flynn & Son
It appears Special Counsel Robert Mueller has a serial leaker. Following last weekend's well-timed leak of Manafort's looming arrest - which dominated the weekend media's speculation - NBC News reports sources familiar confirming federal investigators have gathered enough evidence to bring charges in their investigation of President Donald Trump's former national security adviser and his son.
As a reminder, Flynn was fired in February following public revelations that he had lied to Vice President Pence about his dealings with the Russian ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak.
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As a reminder, Flynn was fired in February following public revelations that he had lied to Vice President Pence about his dealings with the Russian ambassador to the U.S., Sergey Kislyak.
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State Senator Arrested For DUI, Lying To Police
Fiscally liberal South Carolina State Senator Paul Campbell has been charged with driving under the influence (DUI) and providing false information to law enforcement officers following an incident on a Lowcountry interstate this weekend.
Campbell – who double-dips as director of the Charleston International Airport – was reportedly involved in a collision on Interstate 26 near Ladson, S.C. late Saturday evening.
The collision reportedly took place sometime after 9:00 p.m. EDT. Campbell, 71, was arrested shortly thereafter by the S.C. Highway Patrol (SCHP) and booked at the Sheriff Al Cannon detention center in Charleston, S.C. shortly before midnight on Saturday.
As of Sunday morning, he was still detained at the facility pending a bond hearing.
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New FOIA Documents Reveal FBI Scramble To Preserve Records In Uranium One Scandal
An internet researcher has uncovered what appears to be proof that the FBI was investigating the Uranium One deal back in 2015 – months after the Peter Schweizer book Clinton Cash exposed the scheme, along with an article in the New York Times which laid out allegations of criminal malfeasance by the Clintons, their charitable foundation, and several associates.
Twitter user Katica (@GOPPollAnalyst) – who notably discovered Hillary Clinton’s IT guy ‘Stonetear’ asking Reddit users how to strip Clinton’s name from archived emails – discovered several Preservation and Records requests sent by an FBI special agent to various agencies involved in the approval of the Uranium One deal on August 28th, 2015, as first published by The Conservative Treehouse. Katica found the requests buried in an FBI file released via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Revealing Timeline
While the Clinton email investigation was launched in March of 2015 after it was revealed that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton used a personal server and non-approved email accounts to conduct government business, reports from August, 2015 revealed that the FBI investigation was actually a criminal probe – though most assumed it was simply covering Clinton’s mishandling of classified information and not the content of her emails.
What Katica discovered is that weeks after the criminal probe began, the FBI sent notices to every agency involved in the Uranium One approval process to preserve records.
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Twitter user Katica (@GOPPollAnalyst) – who notably discovered Hillary Clinton’s IT guy ‘Stonetear’ asking Reddit users how to strip Clinton’s name from archived emails – discovered several Preservation and Records requests sent by an FBI special agent to various agencies involved in the approval of the Uranium One deal on August 28th, 2015, as first published by The Conservative Treehouse. Katica found the requests buried in an FBI file released via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
Revealing Timeline
While the Clinton email investigation was launched in March of 2015 after it was revealed that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton used a personal server and non-approved email accounts to conduct government business, reports from August, 2015 revealed that the FBI investigation was actually a criminal probe – though most assumed it was simply covering Clinton’s mishandling of classified information and not the content of her emails.
What Katica discovered is that weeks after the criminal probe began, the FBI sent notices to every agency involved in the Uranium One approval process to preserve records.
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MORE Pelosi brain freeze: Confused about time of day, botches name of own guest
Prior to the start of a Friday press conference intended to attack President Trump’s tax cut proposal, Nancy Pelosi was handed a folder of what she was supposed to tell reporters.
It might have been good for her to actually browse it before stepping to the microphone.
As the House Minority Leader was waiting for several invited guests to file in behind her, she could hear muttering to herself, “Is it still morning?”
More/Video
It might have been good for her to actually browse it before stepping to the microphone.
As the House Minority Leader was waiting for several invited guests to file in behind her, she could hear muttering to herself, “Is it still morning?”
More/Video
Leak shows Russia funded investments via Kushner associate
Millions of recently leaked documents revealed that Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has significant business ties to a President Vladimir Putin's son-in-law, while Russia funded Facebook and Twitter investments through an associate of Jared Kushner.
The newly disclosed 13.4 million documents, called the Paradise Papers, have revealed secrets of more than 120 politicians worldwide including the secretive dealings of the Queen and the world's biggest businesses after being published by news organizations around the world on Sunday.
The files expose the ways that the rich and powerful are protecting their wealth using a web of offshore accounts. The documents were leaked to the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, which is the same publication that obtained last year's Panama Papers.
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists led a worldwide effort with 96 media organizations who went through the documents to report on their contents.
Among those implicated, the documents show that Ross failed to clearly disclose his interests with Putin's immediate family while he was being confirmed for his cabinet position with Trump's administration.
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The newly disclosed 13.4 million documents, called the Paradise Papers, have revealed secrets of more than 120 politicians worldwide including the secretive dealings of the Queen and the world's biggest businesses after being published by news organizations around the world on Sunday.
The files expose the ways that the rich and powerful are protecting their wealth using a web of offshore accounts. The documents were leaked to the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, which is the same publication that obtained last year's Panama Papers.
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists led a worldwide effort with 96 media organizations who went through the documents to report on their contents.
Among those implicated, the documents show that Ross failed to clearly disclose his interests with Putin's immediate family while he was being confirmed for his cabinet position with Trump's administration.
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Trump Era: Saudi Purge Signals Death Of Bush/Clinton Globalism
The Clinton and Bush era of the last 30 years is about to come to an end in light of the sudden Saudi Arabian purge of Clinton and Bush allies.
Brazile’s book “Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns that Put Donald Trump in the White House” contains several bombshells, including that Hillary Clinton did in fact rig the 2016 primary against Bernie Sanders, and that Brazile felt like a “slave” who feared for her life following the murder of DNC staffer Seth Rich.
“That means that Brazile knew Rich had been murdered for political purposes,” says insider Roger Stone, adding that Julian Assange of WikiLeaks confirmed his sources were not Russian, and were in “great physical danger.”
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Trump predicts Mueller will exonerate him if Russia probe conducted ‘fairly’
Days after his former campaign manager was indicted for money laundering, President Trump says he’ll be proven innocent in the Russia investigation if special counsel Robert Mueller treats “everything fairly.”
“Well I hope he’s treating everything fairly and if he is, I’m going to be very happy because when you talk about innocent, I am truly not involved in any form of collusion with Russia,” Mr. Trump told Sharyl Attkisson in an interview to be aired Sunday on Sinclair Broadcast Group. “Believe me — the last thing I can think of to be involved in.”
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“Well I hope he’s treating everything fairly and if he is, I’m going to be very happy because when you talk about innocent, I am truly not involved in any form of collusion with Russia,” Mr. Trump told Sharyl Attkisson in an interview to be aired Sunday on Sinclair Broadcast Group. “Believe me — the last thing I can think of to be involved in.”
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DOJ Sources: Sessions Has Not Recused Himself from Potential Uranium One Probe
Department of Justice (DOJ) sources disputed reports late Friday that Attorney General Jeff Sessions has recused himself from decisions involving potential investigations into alleged corruption surrounding a deal that gave Russia control of a large portion of U.S. uranium-mining capacity.
DOJ officials told the Free Beacon that Sessions has not recused himself from deciding how the Justice Department should respond to recent reports raising questions about the Obama administration’s approval of a 2010 purchase of Uranium One, which controlled 20 percent of U.S. uranium, by Russian energy company Rosatam.
Sessions, in his role as attorney general, could recommend an internal DOJ investigation into the matter or appoint an outside special counsel to handle it.
For months, President Donald Trump has blasted Sessions for recusing himself from the probe into Russian meddling in the election and Moscow’s alleged ties to the Trump campaign. The Sessions recusal led to the appointment of former Robert Mueller as special counsel in charge of the Russia probe.
More here
DOJ officials told the Free Beacon that Sessions has not recused himself from deciding how the Justice Department should respond to recent reports raising questions about the Obama administration’s approval of a 2010 purchase of Uranium One, which controlled 20 percent of U.S. uranium, by Russian energy company Rosatam.
Sessions, in his role as attorney general, could recommend an internal DOJ investigation into the matter or appoint an outside special counsel to handle it.
For months, President Donald Trump has blasted Sessions for recusing himself from the probe into Russian meddling in the election and Moscow’s alleged ties to the Trump campaign. The Sessions recusal led to the appointment of former Robert Mueller as special counsel in charge of the Russia probe.
More here
Massachusetts First to Ban Bump Stocks Since Vegas Shooting
Massachusetts on Friday became the first state to impose a ban on bump stocks since the deadly shooting at a Las Vegas music festival.
An appropriations bill that included a prohibition on the devices, which are designed to make semi-automatic rifles mimic the firing action of fully automatic weapons, was signed into law Friday by Republican Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. The Democratic-controlled Legislature gave final approval to the measure on Thursday.
Polito is Massachusetts' acting chief executive with Republican Gov. Charlie Baker on vacation outside of the state. Baker had previously expressed support for banning the devices.
Baker and Polito "support the Second Amendment to the Constitution and Massachusetts' strict gun laws," said Brendan Moss, a spokesman for the administration.
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An appropriations bill that included a prohibition on the devices, which are designed to make semi-automatic rifles mimic the firing action of fully automatic weapons, was signed into law Friday by Republican Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. The Democratic-controlled Legislature gave final approval to the measure on Thursday.
Polito is Massachusetts' acting chief executive with Republican Gov. Charlie Baker on vacation outside of the state. Baker had previously expressed support for banning the devices.
Baker and Polito "support the Second Amendment to the Constitution and Massachusetts' strict gun laws," said Brendan Moss, a spokesman for the administration.
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Man used ice cream truck to lure, sexually assault children
Isam Fathee Mohamed Rahmah, 51, of Durham, faces charges of first-degree kidnapping and indecent liberties with a child, Durham police said in a news release Friday.
Rahmah surrendered to authorities late Friday and is being held on a $1 million bond, according to Durham County records.
The truck, a red Ford van, had pictures of Popsicles on the side and back and would frequently be seen in the neighborhood.
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Williams: Liberals, Progressives and Socialists
Here's my question: Why are the horrors of Nazism so well-known and widely condemned but not those of socialism and communism?
What goes untaught — and possibly is covered up — is that socialist and communist ideas have produced the greatest evil in mankind's history. You say, "Williams, what in the world are you talking about? Socialists, communists and their fellow travelers, such as the Wall Street occupiers supported by our [former] president, care about the little guy in his struggle for a fair shake! They're trying to promote social justice."
Let's look at some of the history of socialism and communism.
What's not appreciated is that Nazism is a form of socialism. In fact, the term Nazi stands for the National Socialist German Workers' Party. The unspeakable acts of Adolf Hitler's Nazis pale in comparison with the horrors committed by the communists in the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the People's Republic of China. Between 1917 and 1987, Vladimir Lenin, Josef Stalin and their successors murdered and were otherwise responsible for the deaths of 62 million of their own people. Between 1949 and 1987, China's communists, led by Mao Zedong and his successors, murdered and were otherwise responsible for the deaths of 76 million Chinese. The most authoritative tally of history's most murderous regimes is documented on University of Hawaii Professor Rudolph J. Rummel's website, at http://www.hawaii.edu/powerkills, and in his book "Death by Government."
Whether it's the academic community, the media elite, stalwarts of the Democrat Party or organizations such as the NAACP, the National Council of La Raza, Green for All, the Sierra Club and the Children's Defense Fund, there is a great tolerance for the ideas of socialism — a system that has caused more deaths and human misery than all other systems combined.
There's much more 'forgotten' history here..
Congressman, Native American: When political correctness runs amok
The conversation happening in our nation in light of recent events is more about political correctness than the issue at hand. Neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and terrorists are bad people. The ideals of these groups are in opposition to everything our nation stands for and everything that holds true to our founding principles. Their hatred of people dissimilar to them is un-American and it should not be tolerated under any circumstances.
Days ago, my colleague in the Senate, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, announced that he plans to introduce legislation that would remove all of the statues in the U.S. Capitol that honored Confederate soldiers. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has also called for the elimination of such statues. I respect their rights as elected officials to put forth legislation they believe is in the best interest of their constituents, however I simply do not agree.
As a Cherokee, I can attest to the fact that Native Americans have been on the losing side of history. Our rights have been infringed upon, our treaties have been broken, our culture has been stolen, and our tribes have been decimated at the hands of our own United States government. Native Americans have faced centuries of atrocities to their people, their land, and their culture – all under various presidents who took an oath of office to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Let me ask you this: Is history not an opportunity to learn from one’s mistakes? When we fall short of the high standard we set for our nation and its citizens, we make mistakes. What's most important is that our nation remembers and learns from them. As soon as we forget about our history, we are bound to repeat the same errors.
More here
Days ago, my colleague in the Senate, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, announced that he plans to introduce legislation that would remove all of the statues in the U.S. Capitol that honored Confederate soldiers. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi has also called for the elimination of such statues. I respect their rights as elected officials to put forth legislation they believe is in the best interest of their constituents, however I simply do not agree.
As a Cherokee, I can attest to the fact that Native Americans have been on the losing side of history. Our rights have been infringed upon, our treaties have been broken, our culture has been stolen, and our tribes have been decimated at the hands of our own United States government. Native Americans have faced centuries of atrocities to their people, their land, and their culture – all under various presidents who took an oath of office to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Let me ask you this: Is history not an opportunity to learn from one’s mistakes? When we fall short of the high standard we set for our nation and its citizens, we make mistakes. What's most important is that our nation remembers and learns from them. As soon as we forget about our history, we are bound to repeat the same errors.
More here
Professor: Pledge of Allegiance an 'Instrument of White Nationalism'
A professor's op-ed for the Washington Post slammed the Pledge of Allegiance as "an instrument of white nationalism."
"While the language contained in the pledge is not overtly nativist or xenophobic, the spirit that animated its creation was steeped in this sort of bigotry," wrote Christopher Petrella, American cultural studies professor at Bates College.
Protests of the pledge are "necessary," he said, and defending them on free speech grounds is not enough.
"While defending pledge protests on free speech grounds is useful and necessary, it often draws attention away from the pledge’s political origins in nativism and white nationalism — roots that help us better understand the broader struggle for racial justice and full citizenship that drives these protests," Petrella said.
Francis Bellamy tapped into the bigotry of the times for his inspiration in writing the pledge, the professor said.
More enlightened perspective here..
"While the language contained in the pledge is not overtly nativist or xenophobic, the spirit that animated its creation was steeped in this sort of bigotry," wrote Christopher Petrella, American cultural studies professor at Bates College.
Protests of the pledge are "necessary," he said, and defending them on free speech grounds is not enough.
"While defending pledge protests on free speech grounds is useful and necessary, it often draws attention away from the pledge’s political origins in nativism and white nationalism — roots that help us better understand the broader struggle for racial justice and full citizenship that drives these protests," Petrella said.
Francis Bellamy tapped into the bigotry of the times for his inspiration in writing the pledge, the professor said.
More enlightened perspective here..
A ‘Comprehensive History’ of How the ‘Republican Party has Shafted Its Voters for Decades’
Rush Limbaugh gave an on-air review of Fox News host Laura Ingraham’s new book, Billionaire at the Barricades: The Populist Revolution from Reagan to Trump, praising it as an “excellent” and “comprehensive history” of the struggle between the Republican Party establishment and the grassroots voters who have been “shafted” by the party for decades.
From the transcript of Limbaugh’s October 23, 2017 show:
"Even though you have lived through a lot of or some of this, reading this book will remind you how much of it you have forgotten. She starts with the history of conservatism starting with Goldwater, and what she does among other things is she lays all the steps out chronologically that led to Donald Trump, that we didn’t elect Donald Trump last year, that Donald Trump’s not the product of just the Obama years.
"In fact, that Donald Trump is the product of the Republican Party trying to force establishment candidates down everybody’s throat, like McCain and like Romney, and she zeros in on the eight years of George W. Bush as having been devastating to the conservative movement.."
More here
From the transcript of Limbaugh’s October 23, 2017 show:
"Even though you have lived through a lot of or some of this, reading this book will remind you how much of it you have forgotten. She starts with the history of conservatism starting with Goldwater, and what she does among other things is she lays all the steps out chronologically that led to Donald Trump, that we didn’t elect Donald Trump last year, that Donald Trump’s not the product of just the Obama years.
"In fact, that Donald Trump is the product of the Republican Party trying to force establishment candidates down everybody’s throat, like McCain and like Romney, and she zeros in on the eight years of George W. Bush as having been devastating to the conservative movement.."
More here
Two shot, one fatally, outside church in Fresno
Two people were shot in the parking lot of St. Alphonsus Church in Fresno on Sunday and police were involved in a standoff nearby with someone believed to be the gunman, the Fresno Bee reports.
According to dispatch and eyewitness reports, the shooter got out of a vehicle, fired his gun at the victims who were shot inside a blue Toyota, and returned to the car to flee the scene.
Father Dominic Rajappa told the Fresno Bee that morning mass had just ended and churchgoers were leaving when gunfire broke out.
One person reportedly died. More than an hour later, her body, covered by a blue tarp, was still lying between two cars, according to the Fresno Bee. The other victim’s status was not immediately known.
More here
According to dispatch and eyewitness reports, the shooter got out of a vehicle, fired his gun at the victims who were shot inside a blue Toyota, and returned to the car to flee the scene.
Father Dominic Rajappa told the Fresno Bee that morning mass had just ended and churchgoers were leaving when gunfire broke out.
One person reportedly died. More than an hour later, her body, covered by a blue tarp, was still lying between two cars, according to the Fresno Bee. The other victim’s status was not immediately known.
More here
Cardin: Trump 'NOT ALLOWED to pre-emptively nuke North Korea'
Donald Trump does not have the authority to pre-emptively launch a nuclear strike against North Korea, a top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has claimed.
Senator Ben Cardin said Congress “has not authorised the use of force, so the President does not have the authority to pre-emptively use force”.
He added: “Now, the President is commander-in-chief, and when he makes orders obviously the military will follow those orders.
“What we are saying is under no circumstances should we be using nuclear weapons and we should not be looking at a pre-emptive strike.
“What we should be looking at is a surge in diplomacy.”
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Senator Ben Cardin said Congress “has not authorised the use of force, so the President does not have the authority to pre-emptively use force”.
He added: “Now, the President is commander-in-chief, and when he makes orders obviously the military will follow those orders.
“What we are saying is under no circumstances should we be using nuclear weapons and we should not be looking at a pre-emptive strike.
“What we should be looking at is a surge in diplomacy.”
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Even At A Dollar Store, It's Still Not Worth It!
Baltimore woman attacked by ten teens on Halloween
Baltimore officials say there were at least four similar attacks in the city's upscale Federal Hill neighborhood on Tuesday night, involving a group of around a dozen young males and females.
Cops have not released any description of the suspects, except to say that some appeared as young as 13.
'I feel lucky to be alive. It could have been a lot worse,' the female victim who was beaten and robbed told WMTW.
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HYPOCRITES! Google Employees Now Defending ‘Discrimination’ Against Conservatives
CNN has recently done a rigorous analysis about bias against conservatives in Silicon Valley. Discussions at Google have been leaked to Breitbart news and they definitely confirm what we’ve all been thinking. Conservative employees who bring up concerns about bias against them are usually ignored, scolded, or outright hostility against them ensues. Exhibit A is James Damore, who got fired after writing a response to diversity training that he was forced to go to. A majority of employees polled say that the culture of the company has not improved since they were brought on as employees. This poll was taken anonymously after the infamous departure of Damore.
In the leaked screen grab below, the evidence is starting to mount.
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BAD NEWS: It’s Been Exposed, Lynch And Holder Did FAR Worse Than We Thought
Is it any surprise that we are finding more and more evidence that suggests the Obama administration was corrupt? It would be one thing if Obama bragged about being the least transparent administration in the history of the country or if the media gave him and his administration a fair shake, but, as we all know, the Obamas and his sycophants in his cabinet could do no wrong in the eyes of the media, and he was scandal free, don’t you remember?
The hubris of this guy. Astonishing. After having accomplished nothing in his life except to stir race relations in Chicago and allegedly teach Constitutional Law, he became the president and will go down as one of the worst in history. Look no further than his two Attorney Generals. The most vile and corrupt of them all were supposed to be the nation’s top legal minds. Instead, they were puppets of the administration.
More/Video
The hubris of this guy. Astonishing. After having accomplished nothing in his life except to stir race relations in Chicago and allegedly teach Constitutional Law, he became the president and will go down as one of the worst in history. Look no further than his two Attorney Generals. The most vile and corrupt of them all were supposed to be the nation’s top legal minds. Instead, they were puppets of the administration.
More/Video
Insurers make billions off Medicaid
Medicaid is rarely associated with getting rich. The patients are poor, the budgets tight and payments to doctors often paltry.
But some insurance companies are reaping spectacular profits off the taxpayer-funded program in California, even when the state finds that patient care is sub-par.
Health Net, a unit of Centene Corp., the largest Medicaid insurer nationwide, raked in $1.1 billion in profit from 2014 to 2016, according to state data obtained by Kaiser Health News. Anthem, another industry giant, turned a profit of $549 million from California’s Medicaid program in the same period.
Overall, Medicaid insurers in the Golden State made $5.4 billion in profits from 2014 to 2016, in part because the state paid higher rates during the inaugural years of the nation’s Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Last year, they made more money than all Medicaid insurers combined in 34 other states with managed care plans.
“Those profits are gigantic — wow,” said Glenn Melnick, a health economist and professor at USC.
Alan Sager, a health-policy professor at Boston University, was surprised — and dismayed.
“California is being wildly open handed and excessively generous with insurers,” he said.
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But some insurance companies are reaping spectacular profits off the taxpayer-funded program in California, even when the state finds that patient care is sub-par.
Health Net, a unit of Centene Corp., the largest Medicaid insurer nationwide, raked in $1.1 billion in profit from 2014 to 2016, according to state data obtained by Kaiser Health News. Anthem, another industry giant, turned a profit of $549 million from California’s Medicaid program in the same period.
Overall, Medicaid insurers in the Golden State made $5.4 billion in profits from 2014 to 2016, in part because the state paid higher rates during the inaugural years of the nation’s Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Last year, they made more money than all Medicaid insurers combined in 34 other states with managed care plans.
“Those profits are gigantic — wow,” said Glenn Melnick, a health economist and professor at USC.
Alan Sager, a health-policy professor at Boston University, was surprised — and dismayed.
“California is being wildly open handed and excessively generous with insurers,” he said.
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Dominos Are Falling! Former DNC Chair Turns On Obama- Throws Him Under The Bus!
I thought I would be able to survive on the juicy, sweet, sweet tears of the leftists when Donald Trump won the presidency for quite some time. It turns out, it gets even more juicy.
Donna Brazile, former interim DNC Chairwoman is putting out a new book entitled, “Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns that Put Donald Trump in the White House.” In the book, she goes after the Obamas saying they left the party in massive debt after the reelection campaign in 2012. Don’t worry Donna, they left us all in debt too. 20 trillion to be exact. She also accused the Obamas of only paying off a portion of the debt. You’re lucky sweetheart, we Americans will never pay off our national debt. It is the albatross we didn’t ask for but it is the one we all have to bear.
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Donna Brazile, former interim DNC Chairwoman is putting out a new book entitled, “Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns that Put Donald Trump in the White House.” In the book, she goes after the Obamas saying they left the party in massive debt after the reelection campaign in 2012. Don’t worry Donna, they left us all in debt too. 20 trillion to be exact. She also accused the Obamas of only paying off a portion of the debt. You’re lucky sweetheart, we Americans will never pay off our national debt. It is the albatross we didn’t ask for but it is the one we all have to bear.
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Rand Paul Recovering from 5 Broken Ribs Suffered in Alleged Attack
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is recovering from injuries after an alleged assault at his home in Bowling Green on Friday, The Washington Post reported Sunday.
The Associated Press reported that Paul had five broken ribs.
Paul made his first public comment since the incident, tweeting his wife "Kelley and I appreciate the overwhelming support after Friday's unfortunate event. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers."
Robert Porter, a friend of Paul's, said "He didn't get any severe injuries to his face," but offered no further details. As for when Paul would return to Washington, Porter said it would be "a game day decision. Day by day."
Rene Bouchard, whose property abuts Paul's, was charged with fourth degree assault with a minor injury in the incident. Bouchard is an anesthesiologist. Paul, also a medical professional, is an ophthalmologist.
A motive is not known for the attack, but a registered nurse, Jeff Jones, who had worked with Bouchard, described him as having "liberal" politics.
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The Associated Press reported that Paul had five broken ribs.
Paul made his first public comment since the incident, tweeting his wife "Kelley and I appreciate the overwhelming support after Friday's unfortunate event. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers."
Robert Porter, a friend of Paul's, said "He didn't get any severe injuries to his face," but offered no further details. As for when Paul would return to Washington, Porter said it would be "a game day decision. Day by day."
Rene Bouchard, whose property abuts Paul's, was charged with fourth degree assault with a minor injury in the incident. Bouchard is an anesthesiologist. Paul, also a medical professional, is an ophthalmologist.
A motive is not known for the attack, but a registered nurse, Jeff Jones, who had worked with Bouchard, described him as having "liberal" politics.
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Reporter Calls For Ditching US Constitution… Bring Parliamentary System, or Elective Tyranny
When Matthews got punched over that insanity, he decided well… then let’s just ditch the Constitution and replace it with a parliamentary system. Dude, we fought a revolution over that. But I’m sure he was never taught about that either. Let’s look at what he said about the Senate first: “The problem is that the deck is stacked in favor of small states, which receive equal representation in the Senate despite dramatic variance in population. The Senate is a profoundly anti-democratic body and should be abolished.” Spoken like a true Marxist and a useful idiot to boot.
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Hillary Clinton Meets the Underside of the Bus
The Democratic Party, Donna Brazile, Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, and Jake Tapper were not very nice to their former headmistress, Hillary Clinton, at all this week. On Friday, a quick glance back at the resulting news cycle may seem on the surface to be full of new revelations, but in reality, it is not particularly new or surprising. Oddly enough, it actually seems a plausible thought that in the upcoming weeks, month, maybe years, perhaps conservative writers and pundits will be treating Hillary Clinton with better regard than her own liberal allies.
All is fair in love, war, and politics. This is demonstrated time and time again, yet for a superfluity of reasons, this week's unprincipled, spineless Democratic Party SOP hit job is especially extraordinary, considering the sheer scope of this target, and what it says about the two-faced, lying, conniving, calculating former colleagues and sycophants having participated.
Think about the unblushing shamelessness of which Donna Brazile has just shown herself capable. Even to conservatives watching this liberal-on-liberal, very public, very blatant power-grab, it might appear unusually savage. Donna Brazile came out so suddenly and conspicuously against Clinton with charges of "hijacking" the DNC for her own sake, at the cost of many by robbing the DNC of all its wealth; rigging the democratic process; and stealing the election from Bernie Sanders.
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All is fair in love, war, and politics. This is demonstrated time and time again, yet for a superfluity of reasons, this week's unprincipled, spineless Democratic Party SOP hit job is especially extraordinary, considering the sheer scope of this target, and what it says about the two-faced, lying, conniving, calculating former colleagues and sycophants having participated.
Think about the unblushing shamelessness of which Donna Brazile has just shown herself capable. Even to conservatives watching this liberal-on-liberal, very public, very blatant power-grab, it might appear unusually savage. Donna Brazile came out so suddenly and conspicuously against Clinton with charges of "hijacking" the DNC for her own sake, at the cost of many by robbing the DNC of all its wealth; rigging the democratic process; and stealing the election from Bernie Sanders.
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RAND PAUL ASSAULTED-At His Own House
On Friday afternoon, at 3:21 PM, Bowling Green, KY police responded to a call at the home of Senator Rand Paul. The Senator had been mowing his lawn when apparently a neighbor, Rene Boucher, is alleged to have come out of nowhere and tackled him, causing minor injuries. Senator Paul was not transported to the hospital. His attacker, Mr. Boucher was arrested and charged with 4th degree assault. According to Kentucky State Police, he was being held in the Warren County Detention Center but has since been released on $7,500.00 bond.
Kelsey Cooper, the Senator’s Kentucky Communications Director, said, “Senator Paul was blindsided and the victim of an assault. The assailant was arrested, and it is now a matter for the police. Senator Paul is fine.”
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Kelsey Cooper, the Senator’s Kentucky Communications Director, said, “Senator Paul was blindsided and the victim of an assault. The assailant was arrested, and it is now a matter for the police. Senator Paul is fine.”
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Antifa Fails! Low Turnouts At Their Nationwide ‘Refuse Fascism’ Protests
I was sent a live feed yesterday for the big cities to watch Refuse Fascism do their shtick. I was bored in 30 seconds flat. I thought there might be a chance of something happening later in the day or after the sun went down, but that did not materialize. Instead, I was treated to aging and wannabe hippies, and people who consider ‘angst’ a fashion trend. Meh.
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Former DNC Chair Donna Brazile Says She “Feared For Her Life” After Seth Rich Was Killed
Donna Brazile is just full of surprises this week. First, she outs the DNC and Clinton for rigging the primary against Bernie Sanders. This sounds planned to help the DNC lurch all the way to the left into communism, a la Bolshevik Bernie. She also nailed Debbie Wasserman Schulz and Barack Obama for financial incompetence and corruption. Now, we learn from her recently released book, that in the aftermath of WikiLeaks deciding to publish a cache of emails stolen from the DNC’s servers, she says she feared for her life after Seth Rich was murdered in a supposedly botched robbery. She became paranoid of Russians meddling in the election as well.
Brazile must have feared some shadowy and violent figures within the Clinton camp as well as the DNC. She thought they might blame her for the email leaks. Her fear supposedly ratcheted way up after Rich was killed. Many have speculated that Rich was murdered in a possible Democratic plot because of his role in leaking those same DNC emails to WikiLeaks. Brazile’s anxiety eventually spiraled out of control, to the point where she feared for her own life while serving as interim chairwoman of the DNC.
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Brazile must have feared some shadowy and violent figures within the Clinton camp as well as the DNC. She thought they might blame her for the email leaks. Her fear supposedly ratcheted way up after Rich was killed. Many have speculated that Rich was murdered in a possible Democratic plot because of his role in leaking those same DNC emails to WikiLeaks. Brazile’s anxiety eventually spiraled out of control, to the point where she feared for her own life while serving as interim chairwoman of the DNC.
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House Republicans Aim To Eliminate Tax Credits For Orphan Drugs
As part of a sweeping tax overhaul bill, House Republicans on Thursday proposed eliminating billions of dollars in corporate tax credits that have played a key role in the booming industry to develop drugs for rare diseases.
For more than three decades, pharmaceutical companies have claimed a 50 percent tax credit for the cost of clinical trials of orphan drugs, medicines intended to treat diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 people.
Sales of orphan drugs hit $36.1 billion last year, according to a report released last month by QuintilesIMS and the National Organization for Rare Disorders. And, according to EvaluatePharma's 2017 Orphan Drug Report, orphan drugs will account for nearly 22 percent of global prescription sales, excluding generics, by 2022.
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For more than three decades, pharmaceutical companies have claimed a 50 percent tax credit for the cost of clinical trials of orphan drugs, medicines intended to treat diseases affecting fewer than 200,000 people.
Sales of orphan drugs hit $36.1 billion last year, according to a report released last month by QuintilesIMS and the National Organization for Rare Disorders. And, according to EvaluatePharma's 2017 Orphan Drug Report, orphan drugs will account for nearly 22 percent of global prescription sales, excluding generics, by 2022.
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30 Stores That Will Be Closed on Thanksgiving 2017
Is Thanksgiving the new Black Friday? It seems like major stores are opening earlier and earlier on Thanksgiving weekend, offering door busters just when many families are sitting down to their turkey and stuffing.
While some shoppers don’t mind lining up on Turkey Day for a great bargain, other consumers have resisted the trend, arguing that Thanksgiving Day should be a time for everyone, including store employees, to stay home with family. In response to pushback from some shoppers, a handful of stores that were open on Thanksgiving last year, including Sears Hometown Stores, Stein Mart and Shoe Carnival, are staying shut this year.
While some shoppers don’t mind lining up on Turkey Day for a great bargain, other consumers have resisted the trend, arguing that Thanksgiving Day should be a time for everyone, including store employees, to stay home with family. In response to pushback from some shoppers, a handful of stores that were open on Thanksgiving last year, including Sears Hometown Stores, Stein Mart and Shoe Carnival, are staying shut this year.
Trump Launches Asia Trip With A Warning To North Korea
President Trump kicked off his Asia tour Sunday with a warning that the U.S. will use its military might, if necessary, to fend off hostile threats.
"No one — no dictator, no regime and no nation — should underestimate, ever, American resolve," Trump told U.S. and Japanese troops, assembled inside a flag-draped aircraft hangar at the Yokota Air Base in Tokyo. "We will never yield, never waver and never falter in defense of our people, our freedom and our great American flag."
It was a message aimed, at least in part, at North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whose aggressive nuclear and missile tests are expected to be a major focus of the president's trip.
In South Korea, Trump will visit Camp Humphreys, a newly-expanded military base that will ultimately house many of the 28,500 U.S. troops on the peninsula. The $11 billion base was largely paid for by South Korea. The White House wants to showcase the garrison as a positive example of "burden sharing."
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"No one — no dictator, no regime and no nation — should underestimate, ever, American resolve," Trump told U.S. and Japanese troops, assembled inside a flag-draped aircraft hangar at the Yokota Air Base in Tokyo. "We will never yield, never waver and never falter in defense of our people, our freedom and our great American flag."
It was a message aimed, at least in part, at North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whose aggressive nuclear and missile tests are expected to be a major focus of the president's trip.
In South Korea, Trump will visit Camp Humphreys, a newly-expanded military base that will ultimately house many of the 28,500 U.S. troops on the peninsula. The $11 billion base was largely paid for by South Korea. The White House wants to showcase the garrison as a positive example of "burden sharing."
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Congressman Harris to Host Constituent Town Hall Meeting
WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Andy Harris (MD-01) will host a town hall meeting to answer constituent questions about the newly-introduced Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and other topics under consideration in Congress. All residents of Maryland’s First District are welcome to attend the event and ask questions.
Date: November 11, 2017
Time: 4:00 – 5:00 PM
Location: Wicomico High School Auditorium,
201 Long Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804
Parking and the auditorium entrance are located on the Glen Avenue side of the school. For questions about the event, please contact Congressman Harris’ Washington, DC office at 202-225-5311.
Date: November 11, 2017
Time: 4:00 – 5:00 PM
Location: Wicomico High School Auditorium,
201 Long Avenue, Salisbury, MD 21804
Parking and the auditorium entrance are located on the Glen Avenue side of the school. For questions about the event, please contact Congressman Harris’ Washington, DC office at 202-225-5311.
AN AIRLINE CAPTAIN'S REPORT
My lead flight attendant came to me and said, "We have an H.R.. on this flight." (H.R. stands for Human Remains.)
"Are they military?" I asked.
'Yes', she said.
'Is there an escort?' I asked.
'Yes, I've already assigned him a seat'.
'Would you please tell him to come to the Flight Deck. You can board him early," I said...
A short while later a young army sergeant entered the flight deck. He was the image of the perfectly dressed soldier. He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldier.
The escorts of these fallen soldiers talk about them as if they are still alive and still with us. 'My soldier is on his way back to Virginia,' he said. He proceeded to answer my questions, but offered no words.
I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said no.
I told him that he had the toughest job in the military, and that I appreciated the work that he does for the families of our fallen soldiers. The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand. He left the Flight Deck to find his seat.
We completed our preflight checks, pushed back and performed an uneventful departure. About 30 minutes into our flight, I received a call from the lead flight attendant in the cabin.
'I just found out the family of the soldier we are carrying is also on board', she said. She then proceeded to tell me that the father, mother, wife and 2-year old daughter were escorting their son, husband, and father home. The family was upset because they were unable to see the container that the soldier was in before we left.
We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia. The father of the soldier told the flight attendant that knowing his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him was too much for him and the family to bear. He had asked the flight attendant if there was anything that could be done to allow them to see him upon our arrival. The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch the soldier being taken off the airplane.
I could hear the desperation in the flight attendants voice when she asked me if there was anything I could do. 'I'm on it', I said. I told her that I would get back to her.
Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form of e-mail like messages. I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher directly on a secondary radio. There is a radio operator in the operations control center who connects you to the telephone of the dispatcher. I was in direct contact with the dispatcher. I explained the situation I had on board with the family and what it was the family wanted. He said he understood and that he would get back to me.
"Are they military?" I asked.
'Yes', she said.
'Is there an escort?' I asked.
'Yes, I've already assigned him a seat'.
'Would you please tell him to come to the Flight Deck. You can board him early," I said...
A short while later a young army sergeant entered the flight deck. He was the image of the perfectly dressed soldier. He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldier.
The escorts of these fallen soldiers talk about them as if they are still alive and still with us. 'My soldier is on his way back to Virginia,' he said. He proceeded to answer my questions, but offered no words.
I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said no.
I told him that he had the toughest job in the military, and that I appreciated the work that he does for the families of our fallen soldiers. The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand. He left the Flight Deck to find his seat.
We completed our preflight checks, pushed back and performed an uneventful departure. About 30 minutes into our flight, I received a call from the lead flight attendant in the cabin.
'I just found out the family of the soldier we are carrying is also on board', she said. She then proceeded to tell me that the father, mother, wife and 2-year old daughter were escorting their son, husband, and father home. The family was upset because they were unable to see the container that the soldier was in before we left.
We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia. The father of the soldier told the flight attendant that knowing his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him was too much for him and the family to bear. He had asked the flight attendant if there was anything that could be done to allow them to see him upon our arrival. The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch the soldier being taken off the airplane.
I could hear the desperation in the flight attendants voice when she asked me if there was anything I could do. 'I'm on it', I said. I told her that I would get back to her.
Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form of e-mail like messages. I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher directly on a secondary radio. There is a radio operator in the operations control center who connects you to the telephone of the dispatcher. I was in direct contact with the dispatcher. I explained the situation I had on board with the family and what it was the family wanted. He said he understood and that he would get back to me.
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