President Barack Obama’s public comments about Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server – while the FBI was still investigating it -- raised “a suspicion” among some at the FBI that “there was a political bias...going on from the Executive Branch,” as one official told the Justice-Department inspector-general.
Several FBI officials told the inspector general they were concerned about "the potential impact on the investigation" after Obama told CBS's "60 Minutes" that Hillary made a "mistake" but she did not endanger national security. (See transcript of Obama's comments on CBS below.)
According to the report:
Former EAD [Executive Assistant Director] John Giacalone told the OIG, “[W]e open up criminal investigations. And you have the President of the United States saying this is just a mistake.... That’s a problem, right?”
Former AD [Assistant Director] Randy Coleman expressed the same concern, stating, “[The FBI had] a group of guys in here, professionals, that are conducting an investigation. And the...President of the United States just came out and said there’s no there there.” Coleman said that he would have expected someone in FBI or Department leadership to contact one of Obama’s national security officials, and “tell [him or her], hey knock it off.”
Michael Steinbach, the former EAD for the National Security Branch, told the OIG that the comments generated “controversy” within the FBI. Steinbach stated, “[Y]ou’re prejudging the results of an investigation before they really even have been started.... That’s...hugely problematic for us.”
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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, June 18, 2018
Kathy Griffin Tweets Profanities at First Lady
Comedian Kathy Griffin tweeted out a profanity-laden criticism of first lady Melania Trump after she released a statement calling for a bipartisan effort for immigration reform so that children of illegal immigrants would not have to be separated from their families anymore when they crossed the U.S. border, the Washington Examiner reported on Sunday.
In the tweet, Griffin said "F--- you, Melanie. You know damn well your husband can end this immediately... you feckless complicit piece of s---."
Griffin's deliberate misspelling of the first lady’s first name was alluding to a May tweet from Trump in which he spelled his wife's name that way, while the use of "feckless" was apparently a reference to Samantha Bee's criticism of Ivanka Trump as a "feckless c---" on her show in May, according to Fox News.
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In the tweet, Griffin said "F--- you, Melanie. You know damn well your husband can end this immediately... you feckless complicit piece of s---."
Griffin's deliberate misspelling of the first lady’s first name was alluding to a May tweet from Trump in which he spelled his wife's name that way, while the use of "feckless" was apparently a reference to Samantha Bee's criticism of Ivanka Trump as a "feckless c---" on her show in May, according to Fox News.
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To Combat Potholes, Cities Turn to Technology
They are a torment for motorists and a costly headache for transportation departments. Every winter and spring, potholes plague city streets and rural roads, causing drivers to curse and public works officials to shudder.
That’s why some local governments are turning to data and technology to find and fix potholes. Some are even trying to predict where they’ll open up.
In a growing number of cities, including Omaha, Nebraska; Hartford, Connecticut; and San Diego, residents can download an app for reporting potholes. In Houston, residents can check out the Pothole Tracker app or log on to a website and see graphics and chartsshowing the city’s progress in fixing them.
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That’s why some local governments are turning to data and technology to find and fix potholes. Some are even trying to predict where they’ll open up.
In a growing number of cities, including Omaha, Nebraska; Hartford, Connecticut; and San Diego, residents can download an app for reporting potholes. In Houston, residents can check out the Pothole Tracker app or log on to a website and see graphics and chartsshowing the city’s progress in fixing them.
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Fatal Collision In Somerset County
On 6-18-18 at 1552 hrs, Troopers from the Maryland State Police
Princess Anne Barrack, responded to a motor vehicle collision located at N/B Rt. 13 and Peach Orchard Rd, Somerset County, MD.
Upon Troopers arrival they located a single vehicle, box-truck that
drove off the roadway and struck several trees. The box-truck was
fully engulfed in fire. Pocomoke City Fire Department responded to assist with the fire. The driver of the box-truck was trapped inside the cab and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The driver will be transported to the Medical Examiner’s office for autopsy. The identity of the driver is not being released at this time. Due to several large trees being uprooted, north and southbound lanes of Rt. 13 had to be closed an extended time for tree removal.
Maryland State Police Crash Team and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement personnel responded to the scene to assist with the investigation. The crash investigation is ongoing.
U.S. Disaster Zones: Are You Living In A Place Where Disasters Are Common?"
With constant media bombardment of fears of a nuclear war, many have begun to prepare for a disaster. But government uncertainty isn’t the only thing on the minds of the masses. Volcanic activity appears to be increasing and earthquakes seem to be getting more severe.
That begs the question: do you live in a disaster zone?
In just the past 16 years, parts of Louisiana have been struck by six hurricanes. Areas near San Diego were devastated by three particularly vicious wildfire seasons. And a town in eastern Kentucky has been pummeled by at least nine storms severe enough to warrant federal assistance. These are obvious red flag areas, but what about the rest of the country?
The New York Times has put together a map showing which areas in the United States were subjected to the most disasters which caused monetary losses by ZIP code between 2002 – 2017.
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That begs the question: do you live in a disaster zone?
In just the past 16 years, parts of Louisiana have been struck by six hurricanes. Areas near San Diego were devastated by three particularly vicious wildfire seasons. And a town in eastern Kentucky has been pummeled by at least nine storms severe enough to warrant federal assistance. These are obvious red flag areas, but what about the rest of the country?
The New York Times has put together a map showing which areas in the United States were subjected to the most disasters which caused monetary losses by ZIP code between 2002 – 2017.
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"Terrified" San Francisco Tourists Shocked By Aggressive Vagrants, Discarded Needles, Dead Bodies
Syringes were visible, people were staggering, others had wide aggressive eyes.
San Francisco - a Democratic stronghold known for cable cars, quaint architecture and its diverse culture, has become a bastion of squalor and crime as city dwellers and visitors alike dodge aggressive, drug-addled vagrants. And it's beginning to scare the tourists...
An Australian couple visiting the city were shocked by what they saw after deciding to walk back to their hotel:
"Is this normal or am I in a 'bad part of town?' Just walked past numerous homeless off their faces, screaming and running all over the sidewalk near Twitter HQ and then a murder scene. Wife is scared to leave hotel now," reads a Wednesday posting by Reddit user /u/nashtendo.
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San Francisco - a Democratic stronghold known for cable cars, quaint architecture and its diverse culture, has become a bastion of squalor and crime as city dwellers and visitors alike dodge aggressive, drug-addled vagrants. And it's beginning to scare the tourists...
An Australian couple visiting the city were shocked by what they saw after deciding to walk back to their hotel:
"Is this normal or am I in a 'bad part of town?' Just walked past numerous homeless off their faces, screaming and running all over the sidewalk near Twitter HQ and then a murder scene. Wife is scared to leave hotel now," reads a Wednesday posting by Reddit user /u/nashtendo.
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"A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall"
As the Federal Reserve kicked off its second round of quantitative easing in the aftermath of the Great Financial Crisis, hedge fund manager David Tepper predicted that nearly all assets would rise tremendously in response.
"The Fed just announced we want economic growth, and we don't care if there's inflation... have they ever said that before?"
He then famously uttered the line "You gotta love a put", referring to the Fed's declared willingness to print $trillions to backstop the economy and financial makets.
Nine years later we see that Tepper was right, likely even more so than he realized at the time.
The other world central banks followed the Fed's lead. Mario Draghi of the ECB declared a similar "whatever it takes" policy and has printed nearly $3.5 trillion in just the past three years alone. The Bank of Japan has intervened so much that it now owns over 40% of its country's entire bond market. And no central bank has printed more than the People's Bank of China.
It has been an unprecedented forcefeeding of stimulus into the global system. And, contrary to what most people realize, it hasn't diminished over the years since the Great Recession. In fact, the most recent wave from 2015-2018 has seen the highest amount of injected 'thin-air' money ever:
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"The Fed just announced we want economic growth, and we don't care if there's inflation... have they ever said that before?"
He then famously uttered the line "You gotta love a put", referring to the Fed's declared willingness to print $trillions to backstop the economy and financial makets.
Nine years later we see that Tepper was right, likely even more so than he realized at the time.
The other world central banks followed the Fed's lead. Mario Draghi of the ECB declared a similar "whatever it takes" policy and has printed nearly $3.5 trillion in just the past three years alone. The Bank of Japan has intervened so much that it now owns over 40% of its country's entire bond market. And no central bank has printed more than the People's Bank of China.
It has been an unprecedented forcefeeding of stimulus into the global system. And, contrary to what most people realize, it hasn't diminished over the years since the Great Recession. In fact, the most recent wave from 2015-2018 has seen the highest amount of injected 'thin-air' money ever:
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"We Had Whistleblowers": Nunes Reveals "Good FBI Agents" Tipped Off Congress About Comey Team
Good FBI agents brought this to our attention."
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA) revealed that in late September 2016, "Good FBI agents" stepped forward as whistleblowers to tell them about additional Hillary Clinton emails "sitting" on Anthony Weiner's laptop.
"I've never actually said this before," said Nunes. "We had whistleblowers that came to us in late September of 2016 who talked to us about this laptop sitting up in New York that had additional emails on it."
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House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA) revealed that in late September 2016, "Good FBI agents" stepped forward as whistleblowers to tell them about additional Hillary Clinton emails "sitting" on Anthony Weiner's laptop.
"I've never actually said this before," said Nunes. "We had whistleblowers that came to us in late September of 2016 who talked to us about this laptop sitting up in New York that had additional emails on it."
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'Democrats are good at only three things, High Taxes, High Crime and Obstruction!' Trump doubles down on blaming Dems for forced separation of immigrant families on the border
President Donald Trump has doubled down on his insistence that Democrats are to blame for the separation of families at the border, saying his administration is merely following the rules established by the Obama administration.
'Democrats can fix their forced family breakup at the Border by working with Republicans on new legislation, for a change! This is why we need more Republicans elected in November,' Trump tweeted on Saturday.
'Democrats are good at only three things, High Taxes, High Crime and Obstruction. Sad!' he continued.
From April 19 to May 31, 1,995 children were separated from 1,940 adults who tried to enter the US illegally between official border crossings, according to Homeland Security statistics.
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'Democrats are good at only three things, High Taxes, High Crime and Obstruction. Sad!' he continued.
From April 19 to May 31, 1,995 children were separated from 1,940 adults who tried to enter the US illegally between official border crossings, according to Homeland Security statistics.
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Affordability Crisis: Low-Income Workers Can't Afford A 2-Bedroom Rental Anywhere In America
The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s (NLIHC) annual report, Out of Reach, reveals the striking gap between wages and the price of housing across the United States. The report’s ‘Housing Wage’ is an estimate of what a full-time worker on a state by state basis must make to afford a one or two-bedroom rental home at the Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) fair market rent without exceeding 30 percent of income on housing expenses.
With decades of declining wages and widening wealth inequality via the financialization of corporate America, and thanks to the Federal Reserve's disastrous policies (whose direct outcome is the ascent of Trump), the recent insignificant countertrend in wage growth for low-income workers has not been enough to boost their standard of living.
The report finds that a full-time minimum wage worker, or the average American stuck in the gig economy, cannot afford to rent a two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the U.S.
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With decades of declining wages and widening wealth inequality via the financialization of corporate America, and thanks to the Federal Reserve's disastrous policies (whose direct outcome is the ascent of Trump), the recent insignificant countertrend in wage growth for low-income workers has not been enough to boost their standard of living.
The report finds that a full-time minimum wage worker, or the average American stuck in the gig economy, cannot afford to rent a two-bedroom apartment anywhere in the U.S.
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Trey Gowdy: GOP will hit DOJ, FBI with ‘full arsenal’ to get documents
House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy said that House Speaker Paul Ryan led a meeting with senior Justice Department and FBI officials Friday, and claimed he “made it very clear” the House will use “its full arsenal of constitutional weapons to gain compliance” on outstanding subpoenas.
Gowdy, R-S.C., said on “Fox News Sunday” that Republican lawmakers’ actions could involve "the full panoply of constitutional weapons available to the people’s house."
However, it was not immediately clear which subpoenas or requests Gowdy was referencing.
In March, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte subpoenaed the Justice Department to obtain documents related to the FBI’s investigation of Hillary Clinton’s email server, potential surveillance abuses, and the decision to fire former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe.
The request totals roughly 1.2 million documents.
However, that subpoena is already being handled: FBI Director Christopher Wray announced in late March that he was assigning 54 FBI staffers to oversee the request, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions then tapped the U.S. attorney in Chicago, John Lausch, in April to oversee the production of troves of documents to Goodlatte.
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Gowdy, R-S.C., said on “Fox News Sunday” that Republican lawmakers’ actions could involve "the full panoply of constitutional weapons available to the people’s house."
However, it was not immediately clear which subpoenas or requests Gowdy was referencing.
In March, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte subpoenaed the Justice Department to obtain documents related to the FBI’s investigation of Hillary Clinton’s email server, potential surveillance abuses, and the decision to fire former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe.
The request totals roughly 1.2 million documents.
However, that subpoena is already being handled: FBI Director Christopher Wray announced in late March that he was assigning 54 FBI staffers to oversee the request, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions then tapped the U.S. attorney in Chicago, John Lausch, in April to oversee the production of troves of documents to Goodlatte.
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Second FBI Informant Tried To Entrap Trump Campaign With $2 Million Offer For Hillary Dirt: Roger Stone
Trump campaign aides Roger Stone and Michael Caputo say that a meeting Stone took in late May, 2016 with a Russian appears to have been an "FBI sting operation" in hindsight, following bombshell reports in May that the DOJ/FBI used a longtime FBI/CIA asset, Cambridge professor Stefan Halper, to perform espionage on the Trump campaign.
When Stone arrived at the restaurant in Sunny Isles, he said, Greenberg was wearing a Make America Great Again T-shirt and hat. On his phone, Greenberg pulled up a photo of himself with Trump at a rally, Stone said. -WaPo
When Stone arrived at the restaurant in Sunny Isles, he said, Greenberg was wearing a Make America Great Again T-shirt and hat. On his phone, Greenberg pulled up a photo of himself with Trump at a rally, Stone said.
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When Stone arrived at the restaurant in Sunny Isles, he said, Greenberg was wearing a Make America Great Again T-shirt and hat. On his phone, Greenberg pulled up a photo of himself with Trump at a rally, Stone said. -WaPo
When Stone arrived at the restaurant in Sunny Isles, he said, Greenberg was wearing a Make America Great Again T-shirt and hat. On his phone, Greenberg pulled up a photo of himself with Trump at a rally, Stone said.
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These European Countries Are Refusing To Accept The Unchecked Influx Of Migrants
Much has been written about the unchecked influx of migrants into Europe recently. As the EU promotes the warm, fuzzy, “inclusive” policies that are overwhelming countries with immigrants, some of those countries are bluntly starting to say, “no more.” At the same time, other countries seem to be quietly preparing for…something… without being quite so forthcoming about the event for which they are readying themselves.
Millions of refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Somalia are flowing into Europe, largely unchecked. This is because of a welcoming “open door” policy promoted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel back in 2015. Despite the backlash from Europeans,Merkel says she has “no regrets.”
But some overwhelmed countries have decided that enough is enough. They cite the refugees’ refusal to assimilate, increasing crime statistics (particularly against women), and no-go zones in which the migrants have banded together and created areas in which Europeans are not welcome.
The European Union is so displeased about this that they’ve taken 3 of their member countries to court for refusing to “share the burden of hosting migrants.”
I don’t have a crystal ball, but I wonder if we could see this disagreement becoming a catalyst for the dissolution of the European Union.
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Millions of refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Somalia are flowing into Europe, largely unchecked. This is because of a welcoming “open door” policy promoted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel back in 2015. Despite the backlash from Europeans,Merkel says she has “no regrets.”
But some overwhelmed countries have decided that enough is enough. They cite the refugees’ refusal to assimilate, increasing crime statistics (particularly against women), and no-go zones in which the migrants have banded together and created areas in which Europeans are not welcome.
The European Union is so displeased about this that they’ve taken 3 of their member countries to court for refusing to “share the burden of hosting migrants.”
I don’t have a crystal ball, but I wonder if we could see this disagreement becoming a catalyst for the dissolution of the European Union.
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Is The Federal Reserve 'Public Enemy Number One'?
When currency was backed by gold, a central bank’s main function was to maintain the value of the issued currency in terms of gold. For example, if a central bank created too much money against the gold reserves in the banking system, an increasing number of people would begin to exchange their currency for gold. To combat this, a central bank would be forced to raise interest rates and decrease the money supply. The higher interest rates would incentivize people to exchange gold for larger savings on deposit that earn interest. Banking reserves – gold – would return to the banking system and the economy would return to balance. The prime reason for insisting on defining currency in terms of a precious metal was to provide a self-correcting braking mechanism to the creation of money. As expressed by the great Wilhelm Röpke:
If in the production of goods the most important pedal is the accelerator, in the production of money it is the brake. To insure that this brake works automatically and independently of the whims of government and the pressure of parties and groups seeking “easy money” has been one of the main functions of the gold standard. That the liberal should prefer the automatic brake of gold to the whims of government in its role of trustee of a managed currency is understandable.”
The US dollar was backed by gold as recently as 1971. Any central bank in the world could present the Federal Reserve $35 and receive 1-ounce of gold in exchange. However, on August 15, 1971 – blaming it on the “gnomes of Zurich” – President Nixon “temporarily” broke the dollar’s last link with gold. Nixon closed the “gold window” and reneged on the promise to exchange an ounce of gold for $35. Since then, the system of credit in the US has been under the Fed’s complete control.
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If in the production of goods the most important pedal is the accelerator, in the production of money it is the brake. To insure that this brake works automatically and independently of the whims of government and the pressure of parties and groups seeking “easy money” has been one of the main functions of the gold standard. That the liberal should prefer the automatic brake of gold to the whims of government in its role of trustee of a managed currency is understandable.”
The US dollar was backed by gold as recently as 1971. Any central bank in the world could present the Federal Reserve $35 and receive 1-ounce of gold in exchange. However, on August 15, 1971 – blaming it on the “gnomes of Zurich” – President Nixon “temporarily” broke the dollar’s last link with gold. Nixon closed the “gold window” and reneged on the promise to exchange an ounce of gold for $35. Since then, the system of credit in the US has been under the Fed’s complete control.
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Somali Gang Drives by Maine Park and Shoots Park-Goers with Pellet Guns – Then Beats a Young Father to Death
Back in May a mob of Somali youths beat park goers with sticks and fists in Kennedy Park in Lewiston, Maine.
The mob of at least 20 youths laughed as they beat two men in the park.
At least one man required medical attention.
Now this…
This past week a Somali mob drove past Lewiston park and shot pellets and BBs at a group gathered there.
Several people pursued the car from the park.
A fight broke out on the street and one father of two was killed.
Police are investigating to make sure no racist words were exchanged during the beatings.
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The mob of at least 20 youths laughed as they beat two men in the park.
At least one man required medical attention.
Now this…
This past week a Somali mob drove past Lewiston park and shot pellets and BBs at a group gathered there.
Several people pursued the car from the park.
A fight broke out on the street and one father of two was killed.
Police are investigating to make sure no racist words were exchanged during the beatings.
More
On Father’s Day Danney Williams Calls on Bill Clinton to Take Paternity Test
Today is a happy day for most fathers and sons.
But not for Danney Williams.
Danney claims he is Bill Clinton’s illegitimate son.
The 27-year-old black man from Arkansas put new pressure on the former President and his wife Hillary.
Danney’s mother, a prostitute who lived in Arkansas in the mid-1980s, claimed she had sex with the the Arkansas governor at the time.
In her interview, Bobbie said that Clinton rubbed her belly and said, “Girl, that can’t be my baby.” But I knew it was. I just had this kind of woman’s feeling that this was his child”.
The liberal media ignored or attacked Danney Williams during the election.
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Report: Obama Presidential Library To Cost Taxpayers Nearly $200 Million
Public works projects surrounding the proposed Obama Presidential Center will cost taxpayers nearly $200 million, according to a report published Saturday.
The state of Illinois approved a $224 million budget, allotting $174 million for road work around the presidential center and an additional $50 million to renovate an above-ground railway station two miles away from the center, according to a report from the Washington Examiner.
Of the $224 million, nearly $200 million is expected to come from taxpayer funds, the report states.
The presidential center, located in the South Side neighborhood of Chicago, has drawn ire from activist groups and residents who say the center would provide limited benefits to the community.
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Breaking: Comey Under DOJ Investigation Over Mishandling Classified Info; Grassley Demands Info On Use Of Personal Email
DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz made a stunning admission during Monday Congressional Testimony that former FBI Director James Comey is under a separate and ongoing investigation over mishandling of classified information - when asked by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) about
Grassley: “Comey said he did not expect a report on his handling of classified information because, “That’s frivolous.” I don’t happen to think that it is frivolous. Question number one, Mr. Horowitz, are you investigating the handling of his memo and does that include the classification issues, and should Mr. Comey expect a report when it’s complete?”
Horowitz: “We received a referral on that from the FBI,” We are handling that referral and we will issue a report when the matter is complete, consistent with the law and rules that are–a report that’s consistent and takes those into account.”
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Grassley: “Comey said he did not expect a report on his handling of classified information because, “That’s frivolous.” I don’t happen to think that it is frivolous. Question number one, Mr. Horowitz, are you investigating the handling of his memo and does that include the classification issues, and should Mr. Comey expect a report when it’s complete?”
Horowitz: “We received a referral on that from the FBI,” We are handling that referral and we will issue a report when the matter is complete, consistent with the law and rules that are–a report that’s consistent and takes those into account.”
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The 5 Weirdest Things About Being a Conservative Who Doesn’t Love Trump
Donald Trump was not my cup of tea in the Republican primaries. Well, maybe he was my cup of tea, if the tea was bitter and poisoned. Suffice it to say, although I started out as a Trump fan, I was not rooting for him to win the GOP nomination. Although I could never vote for Hillary Clinton, I did not support Trump either. I wrote in Ted Cruz’s name, which I thought was essentially irrelevant because there was no chance Trump could win.
I don’t feel bad about not believing Trump could win because let’s face it, even a lot of “true believers” were starting to give excuses about whom they’d blame when he lost. In fact, if you believe Michael Wolff’s Fire and Fury (and I do in this case), even the Trump campaign thought it was going down to defeat. Since then, things have gotten a little weird for a number of reasons….
I don’t feel bad about not believing Trump could win because let’s face it, even a lot of “true believers” were starting to give excuses about whom they’d blame when he lost. In fact, if you believe Michael Wolff’s Fire and Fury (and I do in this case), even the Trump campaign thought it was going down to defeat. Since then, things have gotten a little weird for a number of reasons….
1. Trump has been a much better conservative president than I thought he would be
Maybe Trump is just jumping over a low bar because after listening to some of the crazier answers he gave during the primary season, I wouldn’t have put the chances of him nuking Norway at zero. On the other hand, maybe we don’t ask enough out of our Republican politicians because I am pretty sure that if you just focus on what he’s done and not what he says, Trump’s performance in office has been orders of magnitude better than Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio or John Kasich could have ever delivered. He’s cut regulations, pushed through tax cuts, smashed ISIS, recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, helped get the NFL back on the right path, delivered brutal beatings to the liberal press, got a lot of judges confirmed, the economy is killing it – it just goes on and on. Even Trump’s harshest critics on the Right would be talking about him as another Reagan if he were capable of controlling the words that come out of his mouth or the tweets he makes. Of course, if fire were wet, it would be water.
2. I’m really surprised the Democrats haven’t made an effort to bring any of the people who didn’t vote for Hillary back into the fold
Maybe Trump is just jumping over a low bar because after listening to some of the crazier answers he gave during the primary season, I wouldn’t have put the chances of him nuking Norway at zero. On the other hand, maybe we don’t ask enough out of our Republican politicians because I am pretty sure that if you just focus on what he’s done and not what he says, Trump’s performance in office has been orders of magnitude better than Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio or John Kasich could have ever delivered. He’s cut regulations, pushed through tax cuts, smashed ISIS, recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, helped get the NFL back on the right path, delivered brutal beatings to the liberal press, got a lot of judges confirmed, the economy is killing it – it just goes on and on. Even Trump’s harshest critics on the Right would be talking about him as another Reagan if he were capable of controlling the words that come out of his mouth or the tweets he makes. Of course, if fire were wet, it would be water.
2. I’m really surprised the Democrats haven’t made an effort to bring any of the people who didn’t vote for Hillary back into the fold
Iranian Feminist Says Western Feminists Make Things Worse for Her Cause at Home
Noted Iranian feminist Masih Alinejad wants her feminist counterparts in the West to stop what they think is being helpful or respectful.
Speaking Wednesday at a "Power Women Breakfast" sponsored by entertainment site The Wrap, Alinejad said, "I keep hearing in the West especially, Western feminists who go to my country — the female politicians — we don’t want to break the country’s law," which they use as an excuse to adopt the dress code forced on women by the country's Islamic regime.
Alinejad explained that the women of Iran "don’t want to be slaves," and "told by men or the law of the Islamic Republic of Iran what to wear."
She insists that -- as many Westerners suggest -- this isn't a "cultural issue" because "before the revolution we had the right to choose what we wanted to wear in Iran. Compulsion was never part of Iranian culture."
The recap post also says that Alinejad told the audience it was a "mistake" that "some Western feminists resisted legitimate criticism of the regime out of a desire not to appear in line with the policies of President Donald Trump."
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Speaking Wednesday at a "Power Women Breakfast" sponsored by entertainment site The Wrap, Alinejad said, "I keep hearing in the West especially, Western feminists who go to my country — the female politicians — we don’t want to break the country’s law," which they use as an excuse to adopt the dress code forced on women by the country's Islamic regime.
Alinejad explained that the women of Iran "don’t want to be slaves," and "told by men or the law of the Islamic Republic of Iran what to wear."
She insists that -- as many Westerners suggest -- this isn't a "cultural issue" because "before the revolution we had the right to choose what we wanted to wear in Iran. Compulsion was never part of Iranian culture."
The recap post also says that Alinejad told the audience it was a "mistake" that "some Western feminists resisted legitimate criticism of the regime out of a desire not to appear in line with the policies of President Donald Trump."
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ansas city bills parents $132,000 after child damages glass sculpture
The piece of art, “Aphrodite di Kansas City,” was on display at an Overland Park community center when the boy damaged it on May 19, the Kansas City Star reported. He was attending a wedding reception with his parents at the time.
“He probably hugged it,” the boy’s mother Sarah Goodman told the paper. “Maybe my son hugged a torso because he’s a loving, sweet nice boy who just graduated from preschool.”
More/Video
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/06/16/kansas-city-bills-parents-132000-after-child-damages-glass-sculpture.html
Case against Chinese restaurant owner sheds light on how Hispanic illegal immigrants find work
A federal case against a Chinese restaurant owner in Kentucky is shedding light on how Hispanic immigrants work in the country illegally, including what an investigator says are phone numbers for those immigrants to find work at Chinese restaurants nationwide.
The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that the owner of Asian Buffet in Shelbyville, 49-year-old Fei Zhou Tang, was charged with harboring people in the country illegally in a criminal complaint Thursday in Lexington federal court.
In an affidavit, U.S. State Department investigator Tracey Lunsford said one Hispanic immigrant whom she interviewed told her there used to be offices in Texas and Chicago for job referrals, but they switched to phones only after police raids. The Hispanic man, Salvador Salazar Gomez, said there “many phone numbers to call,” Lunsford wrote in the affidavit.
The affidavit says Tang housed immigrants in the country illegally in the other side of his duplex, and drove them to and from work. Tang has lawful permanent resident status.
When police searched Tang’s restaurant, employee Beth Tillman told officers that Hispanic immigrants used the number to find work and were charged about $700 to get a job, according to the affidavit.
More here
The Lexington Herald-Leader reports that the owner of Asian Buffet in Shelbyville, 49-year-old Fei Zhou Tang, was charged with harboring people in the country illegally in a criminal complaint Thursday in Lexington federal court.
In an affidavit, U.S. State Department investigator Tracey Lunsford said one Hispanic immigrant whom she interviewed told her there used to be offices in Texas and Chicago for job referrals, but they switched to phones only after police raids. The Hispanic man, Salvador Salazar Gomez, said there “many phone numbers to call,” Lunsford wrote in the affidavit.
The affidavit says Tang housed immigrants in the country illegally in the other side of his duplex, and drove them to and from work. Tang has lawful permanent resident status.
When police searched Tang’s restaurant, employee Beth Tillman told officers that Hispanic immigrants used the number to find work and were charged about $700 to get a job, according to the affidavit.
More here
Forward Mark Unread More Delete Spam Message View Subject: FBI, DOJ will feel 'full arsenal of constitutional weapons' if they don't comply with subpoena
House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy told "Fox News Sunday" that House Speaker Paul Ryan led a meeting Friday night with senior members of the DOJ and FBI, and made it clear that “there’s going to be action on the floor of the House this week if FBI and DOJ do not comply with our subpoena request.”
The House Judiciary Committee has requested more than a million
documents from the FBI and DOJ relating to the Hillary Clinton email probe, the firing of former top FBI official Andrew McCabe, and reported surveillance of a Trump aide during the 2016 presidential election.
But Republicans have accused the DOJ and FBI of stonewalling and
intentionally impeding their investigation, despite the agencies' claims
that fulfilling the request requires a careful review of the sensitive
documents.
Gowdy, R-S.C., said the GOP's action could involve "the full panoply of constitutional weapons available to the people’s house."
"I don’t want the drama; I want the documents."
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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/06/17/gop-will-hit-fbi-doj-with-full-arsenal-constitutional-weapons-if-dont-comply-with-subpoena-gowdy-warns.html
The House Judiciary Committee has requested more than a million
documents from the FBI and DOJ relating to the Hillary Clinton email probe, the firing of former top FBI official Andrew McCabe, and reported surveillance of a Trump aide during the 2016 presidential election.
But Republicans have accused the DOJ and FBI of stonewalling and
intentionally impeding their investigation, despite the agencies' claims
that fulfilling the request requires a careful review of the sensitive
documents.
Gowdy, R-S.C., said the GOP's action could involve "the full panoply of constitutional weapons available to the people’s house."
"I don’t want the drama; I want the documents."
More
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/06/17/gop-will-hit-fbi-doj-with-full-arsenal-constitutional-weapons-if-dont-comply-with-subpoena-gowdy-warns.html
Child Border Crossers Have Higher Standard of Living than 13M Impoverished American Children
Migrant children who cross into the United States either alone or with adults have a higher standard of living once they are put into federal care than the more than 13 million American children who are living in poverty across the country.
In Fiscal Year 2017, the federal government referred nearly 41,000 unaccompanied minor border crossers to the Unaccompanied Alien Children program which is facilitated by the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Data provided to Breitbart News reveals that each unaccompanied minor costs the federal government about $34,660 annually. This is a higher standard of living per child than the roughly 13 million American children who continue to live below the U.S. poverty line.
Those comfortable living conditions include lodging, meals, clothing, medical care, education, recreation, counseling, among other services.
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In Fiscal Year 2017, the federal government referred nearly 41,000 unaccompanied minor border crossers to the Unaccompanied Alien Children program which is facilitated by the Office of Refugee Resettlement.
Data provided to Breitbart News reveals that each unaccompanied minor costs the federal government about $34,660 annually. This is a higher standard of living per child than the roughly 13 million American children who continue to live below the U.S. poverty line.
Those comfortable living conditions include lodging, meals, clothing, medical care, education, recreation, counseling, among other services.
More
Nunes: There Will Be ‘Hell to Pay’ if DOJ, FBI Refuse to Turn Over Documents
On this weekend’s broadcast of Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” House Intel Committee chairman Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) said if the Department of Justice and FBI did not turn over documents related to the Russian investigation he has requested, there would be “hell to pay.”
Nunes said, “The deadline is this week. If documents do not begin to be turned over tomorrow and a clear way and path forward for everything else is not clear here in the next couple days, there’s going to be hell to pay by Wednesday morning because we can no longer — it’s not just about the committee chairman any longer. This is about rank and file members of Congress who continue to come up to me and say ‘what are you guys doing?'”
More/video
Nunes said, “The deadline is this week. If documents do not begin to be turned over tomorrow and a clear way and path forward for everything else is not clear here in the next couple days, there’s going to be hell to pay by Wednesday morning because we can no longer — it’s not just about the committee chairman any longer. This is about rank and file members of Congress who continue to come up to me and say ‘what are you guys doing?'”
More/video
The crazy reason the FBI didn't search the devices of Hillary Clinton's inner circle
While the FBI was investigating Hillary Clinton's secret server where she kept official emails out of the view of the authorities until her lawyers could scrub them, for some reason, agents never searched the Blackberries or other email devices belonging to her inner circle at the State Department.
Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz and his team received a crazy response when they asked FBI agents on the Hillary Clinton email investigation why not.
The agents' primary excuse was to point to "the culture of mishandling classified information at the State Department which made the quantity of potential sources of evidence particularly vast" (see page 153).
Put another way, the agents thought that they might find so much classified information on unauthorized servers and systems that they would become lost in the maze. Horowitz, in what can only be described as a generous admonition, counters by noting "that [this excuse] fails to acknowledge that the team was not required to take an all-or-nothing approach. For example, a middle ground existed where those devices belonging to Clinton’s three top aides - which the team determined accounted for approximately 68 percent of Clinton’s email exchanges - would have been reviewed, but devices belonging to other State Department employees would not."
This suggestion by Horowitz seems rather, well, obvious.
More here
Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz and his team received a crazy response when they asked FBI agents on the Hillary Clinton email investigation why not.
The agents' primary excuse was to point to "the culture of mishandling classified information at the State Department which made the quantity of potential sources of evidence particularly vast" (see page 153).
Put another way, the agents thought that they might find so much classified information on unauthorized servers and systems that they would become lost in the maze. Horowitz, in what can only be described as a generous admonition, counters by noting "that [this excuse] fails to acknowledge that the team was not required to take an all-or-nothing approach. For example, a middle ground existed where those devices belonging to Clinton’s three top aides - which the team determined accounted for approximately 68 percent of Clinton’s email exchanges - would have been reviewed, but devices belonging to other State Department employees would not."
This suggestion by Horowitz seems rather, well, obvious.
More here
A Father's Day problem in the working class
The plight of inner-city blacks that Patrick Moynihan chronicled in his 1965 paper The Negro Family is now the plight of middle-America working-class whites. The typical child born to white parents without a college degree is growing up without the benefit of married parents at home.
You could say there’s a fatherhood crisis in Trump Country.
Marriage is declining fast in the U.S. Only half of adults are married. It was about three-fourths a generation ago.
You might go along with theexplanation from the wonks at Vox.com, who say “the ‘decline’ of marriage isn’t a problem,” but is, rather, “a consequence of something good.” The argument for this is that women have been liberated by greater economic equality with men, and so now, they’re not forced to hitch their fortunes to a man.
But the data don't support this explanation. The retreat from marriage isn’t Wesleyan-educated feminists refusing to tie themselves to a patriarchal institution, or enlightened elites eschewing a tired tradition. The collapse of marriage is mostly among those with no college degrees who don't have great financial prospects.
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You could say there’s a fatherhood crisis in Trump Country.
Marriage is declining fast in the U.S. Only half of adults are married. It was about three-fourths a generation ago.
You might go along with theexplanation from the wonks at Vox.com, who say “the ‘decline’ of marriage isn’t a problem,” but is, rather, “a consequence of something good.” The argument for this is that women have been liberated by greater economic equality with men, and so now, they’re not forced to hitch their fortunes to a man.
But the data don't support this explanation. The retreat from marriage isn’t Wesleyan-educated feminists refusing to tie themselves to a patriarchal institution, or enlightened elites eschewing a tired tradition. The collapse of marriage is mostly among those with no college degrees who don't have great financial prospects.
More
FBI agents called Martin O'Malley a 'douche,' disparaged other politicians: IG report
Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, two FBI agents who exchanged texts mocking President Trump, also made derogatory comments about other officials from both political parties, including former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley who was called a “douche.”
The messages were disclosed in a long-anticipated report from the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General, released Thursday.
According to the report, Strzok and Page, who were engaged in an extramarital affair, sent at least five text messages referencing other political and government officials.
Strzok worked on the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server and the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election before he was removed from the latter probe. Page was a lawyer at the bureau, but resigned from her post there last month.
It’s unclear which of the two sent the messages.
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The messages were disclosed in a long-anticipated report from the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General, released Thursday.
According to the report, Strzok and Page, who were engaged in an extramarital affair, sent at least five text messages referencing other political and government officials.
Strzok worked on the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server and the investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election before he was removed from the latter probe. Page was a lawyer at the bureau, but resigned from her post there last month.
It’s unclear which of the two sent the messages.
More
WICOMICO COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS PROVIDE TIPS FOR KEEPING SAFE IN EXTREME HEAT
(Salisbury, MD) Extreme heat is forecasted for the coming days. Temperatures will be in the 90 degrees with the heat index reaching as high as 100 degrees. Infants, young children, young athletes, obese persons, those older than 65 years of age, and those persons with diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or a mental illness are at increased risk for a heat related illness. A heat-related illness can become life-threatening very quickly.
The Wicomico County Health Department urges everyone to practice these stay cool safety
tips:
· Seek air-conditioned environments such as malls, libraries and public places. Stay indoors.
· Schedule outdoor activities before 10:00 am and after 6:00 pm.
· Take a cool bath or shower.
· Minimize direct exposure to the sun, if you must be outdoors, seek shade.
· Stay hydrated – regularly drink water or other nonalcoholic fluids.
· Eat light, cool, easy-to-digest foods such as fruit or salads.
· Limit using the stove or oven to keep the house cooler.
· Check on others; co-workers, the elderly, and those living alone.
· Wear loose fitting, light-colored clothes.
· Bring pets indoors. If they must remain outside make sure they have shade and plenty
of clean, fresh water.
For up to date information, information on cooling centers and stay cool tips, visit the Health Department website atwww.wicomicohealth.org.
Lost Dog 6-17-18 UPDATE
He is a Boston terrier about 8 yrs old and about 15 lbs. Last seen near Fruitland Intermediate. Very friendly loves all people and animals. Not wearing a collar but he is chipped. Will answer to his name, Shannon. 410-251-6163
Mattis Pulls No Punches on China During Graduation Speech
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis pulled no punches against China during a college graduation speech he delivered Friday morning.
When describing threats the young Naval War College graduates would face, Mattis mentioned China’s “long-term designs” to rewrite the existing global order.
“The Ming Dynasty appears to be their model,” he began, “demanding other nations become tribute states, kowtowing to Beijing.”
The Ming Dynasty, which lasted from 1368 to 1644 AD, was a period of ambitious naval expansion that ended in overextension and ruin.
According to History.com, China launched “ambitious flotillas to expand the Chinese tribute system to other countries, sending ships to India, the Persian Gulf and the east coast of Africa.”
It started off well enough, with China exporting silk and welcoming a European presence in China. However, it also brought on “enormous fiscal problems that resulted in calamitous collapse.”
More
When describing threats the young Naval War College graduates would face, Mattis mentioned China’s “long-term designs” to rewrite the existing global order.
“The Ming Dynasty appears to be their model,” he began, “demanding other nations become tribute states, kowtowing to Beijing.”
The Ming Dynasty, which lasted from 1368 to 1644 AD, was a period of ambitious naval expansion that ended in overextension and ruin.
According to History.com, China launched “ambitious flotillas to expand the Chinese tribute system to other countries, sending ships to India, the Persian Gulf and the east coast of Africa.”
It started off well enough, with China exporting silk and welcoming a European presence in China. However, it also brought on “enormous fiscal problems that resulted in calamitous collapse.”
More
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