On Saturday, the House Committees released the 235-page transcript from Comey’s closed-door interview that was conducted on Friday.
Comey was defiant in his interview with GOP lawmakers and said he “didn’t remember” 71 times, “didn’t know” 166 times and said “I don’t recall” 8 times.
The fired FBI boss did admit to a few things, however.
James Comey testified that he withheld information from Attorney General Jeff Sessions about his meeting with Donald Trump.
Comey and the Obama Deep State engineered Sessions’s recusal!
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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, December 10, 2018
No way out for Clinton, Inc. corruption this time
The legal dodge used by James Comey to exonerate Hillary Clinton from her prima facie crimes in using an unsecured server for official business won’t be any help to the Clinton Foundation as it faces charges coming from whistleblowers.
Clinton Inc. criminal defense lawyers trying to hide behind the word “intent” won’t work because the Clintons were previously warned early and often about improper compliance:
.. internal legal reviews that the foundation conducted on itself in 2008 and 2011.
Those reviews flagged serious concerns about legal compliance, improper commingling of personal and charity business and "quid pro quo" promises made to donors while Hillary Clinton was secretary of State.
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Clinton Inc. criminal defense lawyers trying to hide behind the word “intent” won’t work because the Clintons were previously warned early and often about improper compliance:
.. internal legal reviews that the foundation conducted on itself in 2008 and 2011.
Those reviews flagged serious concerns about legal compliance, improper commingling of personal and charity business and "quid pro quo" promises made to donors while Hillary Clinton was secretary of State.
More
2020 Elections Forecast: Get Ready for Extreme Violence and Chaos
The Democrats and the Republicans are both positioning themselves for the next leg of the race, in the never ending cycle of political jockeying.
This should come as no surprise, as the 2020 elections will be here before we know it and once again, people will be taking to the street, campaigning for their candidate of choice in what will most certainly go down as one of the most violent, vicious elections this world has ever seen.
The left, still has no clear message, and is being driven further and further towards what appears to the average person to be a deep state of insanity, or as others call it, Trump derangement syndrome.
Sadly, this move is being exasperated by the MSM media, who have fully cast off any regard for unbiased, real reporting.
Declaring their full allegiance to the Democratic party, no matter the cost to their long term prosperity, they have gone "all in", alienating a large percentage of the population of the United States, who now view them as the "enemy" and will never trust them again.
The right on the other hand, have gone all in on Trump, who seemingly can do no wrong in their eyes, despite his many downfalls.
They view him as the anti globalist candidate, who is taking a battering ram to the "old establishment", while at the same time, is being constantly dogged by the MSM and even members of his own party, known as "never Trumpers".
Despite being the President of the United States, this puts Trump in a unique position of opportunity for the upcoming 2020 elections, the position of "underdog".
More
This should come as no surprise, as the 2020 elections will be here before we know it and once again, people will be taking to the street, campaigning for their candidate of choice in what will most certainly go down as one of the most violent, vicious elections this world has ever seen.
The left, still has no clear message, and is being driven further and further towards what appears to the average person to be a deep state of insanity, or as others call it, Trump derangement syndrome.
Sadly, this move is being exasperated by the MSM media, who have fully cast off any regard for unbiased, real reporting.
Declaring their full allegiance to the Democratic party, no matter the cost to their long term prosperity, they have gone "all in", alienating a large percentage of the population of the United States, who now view them as the "enemy" and will never trust them again.
The right on the other hand, have gone all in on Trump, who seemingly can do no wrong in their eyes, despite his many downfalls.
They view him as the anti globalist candidate, who is taking a battering ram to the "old establishment", while at the same time, is being constantly dogged by the MSM and even members of his own party, known as "never Trumpers".
Despite being the President of the United States, this puts Trump in a unique position of opportunity for the upcoming 2020 elections, the position of "underdog".
More
Black Dems Upset Pelosi Considering Committee Term Limits
Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA), the Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), said on Thursday that it is a “bad idea” for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to consider instituting term limits on committee chairs.
Pelosi said on Thursday that she was “sympathetic to the concerns that have been expressed” by some House Democrats regarding term limits.
“I think it’s a bad idea, I think it’s awful timing, and I think it’s a hell of a reward for all these chairmen who went out there traveling the country and busting their behinds to get Democrats elected,” Richmond told The Hill.
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Pelosi said on Thursday that she was “sympathetic to the concerns that have been expressed” by some House Democrats regarding term limits.
“I think it’s a bad idea, I think it’s awful timing, and I think it’s a hell of a reward for all these chairmen who went out there traveling the country and busting their behinds to get Democrats elected,” Richmond told The Hill.
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ICE arrests 105 in New Jersey
Foreign nationals from 24 countries — including four people with Interpol warrants for their arrests — were among the 105 arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a five-day sweep.
The agency announced the arrests Friday in a news release.
“Our focus has been and will continue to be on arrests of illegal aliens who have been convicted of serious crimes or those who pose a threat to public safety,” said John Tsoukaris, director of the Newark field office.
The people arrested ranged in age from 18 to 65 years old. The agency said more than 80 percent had either prior convictions or pending charges for a variety of crimes, including sexual assault on a minor, child abuse, possession of narcotics, distribution of narcotics, extortion, DUI, fraud, domestic violence, theft, possession of a weapon, robbery, promoting prostitution, aggravated assault, resisting arrest, endangering the welfare of a child, credit card fraud, insurance fraud, shoplifting, and illegal re-entry.
The agency said the pre-planned sweep targeted criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and other immigration violators.
Those arrested who are not already facing deportation will go before an immigration judge for removal proceedings.
More
The agency announced the arrests Friday in a news release.
“Our focus has been and will continue to be on arrests of illegal aliens who have been convicted of serious crimes or those who pose a threat to public safety,” said John Tsoukaris, director of the Newark field office.
The people arrested ranged in age from 18 to 65 years old. The agency said more than 80 percent had either prior convictions or pending charges for a variety of crimes, including sexual assault on a minor, child abuse, possession of narcotics, distribution of narcotics, extortion, DUI, fraud, domestic violence, theft, possession of a weapon, robbery, promoting prostitution, aggravated assault, resisting arrest, endangering the welfare of a child, credit card fraud, insurance fraud, shoplifting, and illegal re-entry.
The agency said the pre-planned sweep targeted criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and other immigration violators.
Those arrested who are not already facing deportation will go before an immigration judge for removal proceedings.
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Backdoor Lending: The Subprime Work-Around That Could Crush Your Retirement
The housing crash of 2008 is now 10 years in the rearview mirror, but the danger of another crisis lurks despite assurances to the contrary.
We’ve been told that the housing bubble and collapse was about predatory lending and high-risk borrowers who were duped into loans that they couldn’t afford. The massive regulatory response to the subprime crisis meant that banks were no longer allowed to behave badly. So they have chosen to behave differently – and that’s not a good thing, Pamela says.
“The largest source of mortgage lending in the United States is now being done by non-banks – financial entities that offer unsecured personal lending, business loans, leveraged lending, and mortgage services, but do not hold a banking license,” she says.
“As a result, they're not subject to standard banking oversight and can engage in risky lending.”
Where do they get the money to make these loans?
Wells Fargo coughed up $81 billion; Citigroup and Bank of America ponied up $30 billion each; and JP Morgan threw in another $28 billion.
“By funding these ‘shadow’ banks, the big financial players are still in the risky loan business,” Pamela says.
More
We’ve been told that the housing bubble and collapse was about predatory lending and high-risk borrowers who were duped into loans that they couldn’t afford. The massive regulatory response to the subprime crisis meant that banks were no longer allowed to behave badly. So they have chosen to behave differently – and that’s not a good thing, Pamela says.
“The largest source of mortgage lending in the United States is now being done by non-banks – financial entities that offer unsecured personal lending, business loans, leveraged lending, and mortgage services, but do not hold a banking license,” she says.
“As a result, they're not subject to standard banking oversight and can engage in risky lending.”
Where do they get the money to make these loans?
Wells Fargo coughed up $81 billion; Citigroup and Bank of America ponied up $30 billion each; and JP Morgan threw in another $28 billion.
“By funding these ‘shadow’ banks, the big financial players are still in the risky loan business,” Pamela says.
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Trump: Comey Told 245 Lies During Friday's Congressional Testimony
Republican lawmakers weren't the only ones who were frustrated by former FBI Director James Comey's repeated refusals to answer questions or provide further details - or his assertions that he simply couldn't recall - during his closed-door testimony before members of the House on Friday.
Following the release of the full transcript from Comey's testimony last night, President Trump lashed out against the former FBI director whom Trump summarily fired a few months in to his administration, accusing Comey of lying when he said he couldn't remember certain details or otherwise refused to answer questions (something Comey did, on the advice of a DOJ attorney, 245 times during the course of his marathon testimony). Furthermore, Trump said Comey lied when he said he didn't know Christopher Steele (the former UK intelligence agent who assembled the infamous Steele dossier) and that he didn't know who had signed off on investigations into four unnamed Trump campaign officials.
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Following the release of the full transcript from Comey's testimony last night, President Trump lashed out against the former FBI director whom Trump summarily fired a few months in to his administration, accusing Comey of lying when he said he couldn't remember certain details or otherwise refused to answer questions (something Comey did, on the advice of a DOJ attorney, 245 times during the course of his marathon testimony). Furthermore, Trump said Comey lied when he said he didn't know Christopher Steele (the former UK intelligence agent who assembled the infamous Steele dossier) and that he didn't know who had signed off on investigations into four unnamed Trump campaign officials.
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Comey transcript released: Ex-FBI boss claims not to know, remember key details in Russia case
Former FBI Director James Comey claimed “I don’t know” or “I don’t remember” in response to dozens of questions concerning key details in the Russia probe, according to a lengthy transcript released Saturday of his closed-door interview with congressional lawmakers.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., published the 235-page transcript as a part of an agreement with Comey.
The former bureau boss frustrated GOP lawmakers during Friday’s session, in large part because his lawyers urged him not to answer numerous questions. Comey is expected to return later in the month for another round, though blasted Republicans on his way out for what he called a “desperate attempt to find anything that can be used to attack the institutions of justice investigating this president.”
READ THE COMEY TRANSCRIPT
But while Comey insisted in the interview that “we never investigated the Trump campaign for political purposes,” the transcript shows he claimed ignorance or memory lapses in response to questions concerning key details and events in the Russia investigation, which some GOP lawmakers continue to claim was improperly conducted.
The transcript reveals lawmakers’ frustration with his lack of specifics.
Asked if he recalled who drafted the FBI’s “initiation document” for the July 2016 Russia investigation, Comey said, “I do not.” He again claimed not to know when asked about the involvement in that initiation of Peter Strzok, whose anti-Trump texts later got him removed from the special counsel’s probe.
When asked if the FBI had any evidence that anyone in the Trump campaign conspired to hack the DNC server, Comey gave a lengthy answer referring to Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation as to why he couldn’t answer.
“Did we have evidence in July of (2016) that anyone in the Trump campaign conspired to hack the DNC server?” Comey asked rhetorically. “I don't think that the FBI and special counsel want me answering questions that may relate to their investigation of Russian interference during 2016. And I worry that that would cross that line.”
More
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., published the 235-page transcript as a part of an agreement with Comey.
The former bureau boss frustrated GOP lawmakers during Friday’s session, in large part because his lawyers urged him not to answer numerous questions. Comey is expected to return later in the month for another round, though blasted Republicans on his way out for what he called a “desperate attempt to find anything that can be used to attack the institutions of justice investigating this president.”
READ THE COMEY TRANSCRIPT
But while Comey insisted in the interview that “we never investigated the Trump campaign for political purposes,” the transcript shows he claimed ignorance or memory lapses in response to questions concerning key details and events in the Russia investigation, which some GOP lawmakers continue to claim was improperly conducted.
The transcript reveals lawmakers’ frustration with his lack of specifics.
Asked if he recalled who drafted the FBI’s “initiation document” for the July 2016 Russia investigation, Comey said, “I do not.” He again claimed not to know when asked about the involvement in that initiation of Peter Strzok, whose anti-Trump texts later got him removed from the special counsel’s probe.
When asked if the FBI had any evidence that anyone in the Trump campaign conspired to hack the DNC server, Comey gave a lengthy answer referring to Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation as to why he couldn’t answer.
“Did we have evidence in July of (2016) that anyone in the Trump campaign conspired to hack the DNC server?” Comey asked rhetorically. “I don't think that the FBI and special counsel want me answering questions that may relate to their investigation of Russian interference during 2016. And I worry that that would cross that line.”
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The Speeding Exemption
In Orwell’s other book – Animal Farm – we read about a mutiny against the farmer by the livestock, who draw up a kind of Declaration of Rights premised on the idea that all animals are equal. This is painted on the side of the barn for all to admire.
Over time (and in the dead of night) caveats and exemptions are inserted – by the pigs – culminating in the new idea that some animals are more equal than others. The pigs begin wearing clothes, sleep inside the farmhouse – while the other animals sleep outside or in the unheated barn.
When it comes to driving fast, some two-legged animals are without doubt regarded by themselves as more equal than others.
And by the law, too.
If an armed government worker is in a hurry, it is justifiable (as he sees it – and as the law regards it) for him to drive very fast, indeed. As fast as he likes, really – there being no defined limit he must abide by.
“Too fast” is judged on a case-by-case basis – according to such doctrines as exigent circumstances, the exigence and the circumstance being subjective and interpreted by the armed government workers themselves – or by their higher-ups.
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Over time (and in the dead of night) caveats and exemptions are inserted – by the pigs – culminating in the new idea that some animals are more equal than others. The pigs begin wearing clothes, sleep inside the farmhouse – while the other animals sleep outside or in the unheated barn.
When it comes to driving fast, some two-legged animals are without doubt regarded by themselves as more equal than others.
And by the law, too.
If an armed government worker is in a hurry, it is justifiable (as he sees it – and as the law regards it) for him to drive very fast, indeed. As fast as he likes, really – there being no defined limit he must abide by.
“Too fast” is judged on a case-by-case basis – according to such doctrines as exigent circumstances, the exigence and the circumstance being subjective and interpreted by the armed government workers themselves – or by their higher-ups.
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CLINTON NIGHTMARE! Chief Financial Officer of Clinton Foundation Turns Government Informant on Crime Family!
Donations to the Clinton Foundation plummeted by 90% over a three-year period since Hillary Clinton lost the 2016 election to President Donald Trump.
But that may be the least of the her worries.
John Solomon from The Hill dropped another bombshell that will keep the Clintons up at night.
The former Chief Financial Officer of the Clinton Foundation has turned on the crime family and is now working as a government informant.
This could spell doom for the Clinton Crime Family.
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But that may be the least of the her worries.
John Solomon from The Hill dropped another bombshell that will keep the Clintons up at night.
The former Chief Financial Officer of the Clinton Foundation has turned on the crime family and is now working as a government informant.
This could spell doom for the Clinton Crime Family.
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Reminder: Rod Rosenstein Cleared Clintons in the Past - His Wife Lisa Barsoomian Represented Clintons in the Past!
Here’s a reminder on how conflicted the “acting” Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is and should be removed from office.
Senator Lindsey Graham sent a letter in June to Assistant Attorney General Rod Rosenstein about whether Rosenstein should recuse himself from the Mueller investigation due to his obvious conflicts with the case.
Graham should also request information about Rosenstein’s wife who represented the Clintons in the past.
According to sources as reported at FOX News –
Top Republican Senator Lindsey Graham is pressing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on whether the Justice Department official should recuse himself from the Robert Mueller investigation due to his own connections to the case. In a letter obtained by Fox News, Graham, R-S.C., asked Rosenstein whether he considers himself a “potential witness” in the Mueller probe in connection with the firing of FBI Director James Comey.
“If so, should you recuse yourself from further interactions with and oversight of the Mueller investigation?” Graham asked.
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Senator Lindsey Graham sent a letter in June to Assistant Attorney General Rod Rosenstein about whether Rosenstein should recuse himself from the Mueller investigation due to his obvious conflicts with the case.
Graham should also request information about Rosenstein’s wife who represented the Clintons in the past.
According to sources as reported at FOX News –
Top Republican Senator Lindsey Graham is pressing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein on whether the Justice Department official should recuse himself from the Robert Mueller investigation due to his own connections to the case. In a letter obtained by Fox News, Graham, R-S.C., asked Rosenstein whether he considers himself a “potential witness” in the Mueller probe in connection with the firing of FBI Director James Comey.
“If so, should you recuse yourself from further interactions with and oversight of the Mueller investigation?” Graham asked.
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Comey Testimony Released: Fired FBI Director Contradicts His Previous Testimony on Gen. Michael Flynn!
In a March 2017 briefing then-FBI Director James Comey had with the House Intel Committee, he told membersthat the FBI agents who interviewed General Flynn “saw nothing that indicated to them that [General Flynn] knew he was lying to them.”
Grassley also revealed Joe Pientka was the second FBI agent who joined Peter Strzok on January 24th, 2017 in an ambush style interview to take down General Flynn.
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Flashback: Podesta Brothers Tipped Off to File DOJ Disclosures Weeks Before Manafort Arrested for Same Crime!
It is now clear that there is one set of rules for Republicans and the working man — And there is another set of rules for crooked Democrats
In October 2017 The Gateway Pundit reported that the Podesta Group with exact timing somehow managed to file forms with the federal government that were 5 or more years overdue that Paul Manafort was charged for not filing.
Who tipped them off?
Mike Cernovich reported in February that John Podesta now seems as frightened as a little school girl when confronted with questions about the Podesta Group’s activities before the 2016 election –
How nervous are the Podestas?
Here is how John Podesta answered when asked about his brother Tony’s work for for foreign governments, in the now shut down Podesta Group. pic.twitter.com/QuGN0QpHeB
— Mike Cernovich 🇺🇸 (@Cernovich) February 19, 2018
Cernovich also notes that the Podesta’s filed forms in 2017, more than 5 years after they were due!
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In October 2017 The Gateway Pundit reported that the Podesta Group with exact timing somehow managed to file forms with the federal government that were 5 or more years overdue that Paul Manafort was charged for not filing.
Who tipped them off?
Mike Cernovich reported in February that John Podesta now seems as frightened as a little school girl when confronted with questions about the Podesta Group’s activities before the 2016 election –
How nervous are the Podestas?
Here is how John Podesta answered when asked about his brother Tony’s work for for foreign governments, in the now shut down Podesta Group. pic.twitter.com/QuGN0QpHeB
— Mike Cernovich 🇺🇸 (@Cernovich) February 19, 2018
Cernovich also notes that the Podesta’s filed forms in 2017, more than 5 years after they were due!
More
REVEALED: Deep State FBI Plotted to Remove Trump Before Mueller Witch Hunt
Opened Secret Obstruction Case Against US President BEFORE Special Counsel
These Bastards are more corrupt than we thought!
The Deep State Shadow Government plotted to remove President Donald Trump before dirty cop Robert Mueller was assigned as special counsel.
These rogue agents at the FBI and DOJ were determined to destroy President Trump by any means necessary.
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These Bastards are more corrupt than we thought!
The Deep State Shadow Government plotted to remove President Donald Trump before dirty cop Robert Mueller was assigned as special counsel.
These rogue agents at the FBI and DOJ were determined to destroy President Trump by any means necessary.
More
Kamala Harris insists she doesn't know anything, again, and again, and again
Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., doesn’t know anything — and that’s her best defense.
When news broke that the California Department of Justice settled a $400,000 sexual harassment settlement involving one of her longtime staffers, Larry Wallace, Harris was supposedly stunned.
The senator didn’t know that Wallace preyed on a female executive at the California Department of Justice while Harris was attorney general in 2016. The senator was similarly oblivious to the fact that Wallace was still a defendant in a lawsuit the next year when she decided to bring him to Washington to serve as a senior adviser.
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When news broke that the California Department of Justice settled a $400,000 sexual harassment settlement involving one of her longtime staffers, Larry Wallace, Harris was supposedly stunned.
The senator didn’t know that Wallace preyed on a female executive at the California Department of Justice while Harris was attorney general in 2016. The senator was similarly oblivious to the fact that Wallace was still a defendant in a lawsuit the next year when she decided to bring him to Washington to serve as a senior adviser.
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Victoria Toensing: Why has Mueller ignored Obama administration crimes?
The matter of Gen. Michael Flynn began with criminal conduct. But it was not committed by Flynn. The crimes were leaking the contents of classified telephone conversations between Flynn and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and revealing the identity of Flynn as a party to the conversations.
The sorry saga began with a January 12, 2017 column about the Flynn/Kislyak conversations by The Washington Post’s David Ignatius, who described his source as a “senior U.S. government official,” i.e., an Obama administration functionary. Whoever told Ignatius the fact of and substance of the eavesdropped conversations committed a felony by leaking classified information.
The second crime is publicly revealing a U.S. citizen’s identity as being a party to those conversations. When there is authorized intelligence collection of foreign officials, the identity of the U.S. person who is incidentally picked up during that collection is to be minimized (not disclosed), even within the U.S. government. Instead of the party’s name, the document substitutes “[U.S. Person].” There is a process for “unmasking”—obtaining the name of the undisclosed person--when the government official determines knowing the name is important to national security. A written request must be made to the collecting agency that is responsible for the document. Only a handful of officials are given that authority, e.g. NSA has only 20. Perhaps there was a valid need for an Obama official to know Flynn’s identity. That issue is irrelevant. Providing it to Ignatius was a crime.
In his column, Ignatius questioned whether Flynn violated The Logan Act, opining that Flynn’s discussions with Kislyak might have “undercut the U.S. sanctions.” Enacted in 1799 and last used over 150 years ago, The Logan Act prohibits (probably unconstitutionally) unauthorized U.S. citizens from negotiating with a foreign government. At the time, Flynn had been named President Trump’s national security advisor and was receiving checks as a member of the transition team. One hopes that in addition to talking to Kislyak he would also have been talking to officials from Canada, Israel, Mexico, and so on. Any thought that Flynn would be legally considered “unauthorized” to talk with foreign countries is risible.
More
The sorry saga began with a January 12, 2017 column about the Flynn/Kislyak conversations by The Washington Post’s David Ignatius, who described his source as a “senior U.S. government official,” i.e., an Obama administration functionary. Whoever told Ignatius the fact of and substance of the eavesdropped conversations committed a felony by leaking classified information.
The second crime is publicly revealing a U.S. citizen’s identity as being a party to those conversations. When there is authorized intelligence collection of foreign officials, the identity of the U.S. person who is incidentally picked up during that collection is to be minimized (not disclosed), even within the U.S. government. Instead of the party’s name, the document substitutes “[U.S. Person].” There is a process for “unmasking”—obtaining the name of the undisclosed person--when the government official determines knowing the name is important to national security. A written request must be made to the collecting agency that is responsible for the document. Only a handful of officials are given that authority, e.g. NSA has only 20. Perhaps there was a valid need for an Obama official to know Flynn’s identity. That issue is irrelevant. Providing it to Ignatius was a crime.
In his column, Ignatius questioned whether Flynn violated The Logan Act, opining that Flynn’s discussions with Kislyak might have “undercut the U.S. sanctions.” Enacted in 1799 and last used over 150 years ago, The Logan Act prohibits (probably unconstitutionally) unauthorized U.S. citizens from negotiating with a foreign government. At the time, Flynn had been named President Trump’s national security advisor and was receiving checks as a member of the transition team. One hopes that in addition to talking to Kislyak he would also have been talking to officials from Canada, Israel, Mexico, and so on. Any thought that Flynn would be legally considered “unauthorized” to talk with foreign countries is risible.
More
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/victoria-toensing-why-has-mueller-ignored-obama-administration-crimes
‘Doctors Without Borders’ Permanently Cancels Migrant Ferry Operations
The NGO announced the cancellation of their so-called “rescue” operations on Thursday, saying that due to government pressure they could not continue to operate the Aquarius vessel off the coast of Libya.
“This is the result of a sustained campaign, spearheaded by the Italian government and backed by other European states, to de-legitimize, slander and obstruct aid organizations providing assistance to vulnerable people,” the group claimed.
More here
Judicial Watch Victory: Court Orders Discovery into Clinton Email Scandal
I have said all along that, in their delaying, blocking, and obfuscating our attempts to get to the truth about Hillary Clinton’s email, the Justice and State Departments have been acting in bad faith by defending the evasion of the Freedom of Information Act and other email misconduct by Hillary Clinton.
Now, a federal judge is questioning their motives, as well, and ordering them to join us in rectifying this miscarriage of justice.
In a ruling excoriating both the U.S. Departments of State and Justice, U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth has ordered both agencies to join us in submitting a proposed schedule for discovery into whether Hillary Clinton sought to evade the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by using a private email system and whether the State Department acted in “bad faith” by failing to disclose knowledge of the email system.
The decision comes in our FOIA lawsuit related to the Benghazi terrorist attack.
Specially, Judge Lamberth ruled:
… the Court ORDERS the parties to meet and confer to plan discovery into (a) whether Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email while Secretary of State was an intentional attempt to evade FOIA; (b) whether the State Department’s attempts to settle this case in late 2014 and early 2015 amounted to bad faith; and (c) whether State has adequately searched for records responsive to Judicial Watch’s requests.
Terming Clinton’s use of her private email system, “one of the gravest modern offenses to government transparency,” Judge Lamberth wrote in his MEMORANDUM OPINION:
… his [President Barack Obama’s] State and Justice Departments fell far short. So far short that the court questions, even now, whether they are acting in good faith. Did Hillary Clinton use her private email as Secretary of State to thwart this lofty goal [Obama announced standard for transparency]? Was the State Department’s attempt to settle this FOIA case in 2014 an effort to avoid searching – and disclosing the existence of – Clinton’s missing emails? And has State ever adequately searched for records in this case?
***
At best, State’s attempt to pass-off its deficient search as legally adequate during settlement negotiations was negligence born out of incompetence. At worst, career employees in the State and Justice Departments colluded to scuttle public scrutiny of Clinton, skirt FOIA, and hoodwink this Court.
Turning his attention to the Department of Justice, the Court wrote:
Now, a federal judge is questioning their motives, as well, and ordering them to join us in rectifying this miscarriage of justice.
In a ruling excoriating both the U.S. Departments of State and Justice, U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth has ordered both agencies to join us in submitting a proposed schedule for discovery into whether Hillary Clinton sought to evade the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by using a private email system and whether the State Department acted in “bad faith” by failing to disclose knowledge of the email system.
The decision comes in our FOIA lawsuit related to the Benghazi terrorist attack.
Specially, Judge Lamberth ruled:
… the Court ORDERS the parties to meet and confer to plan discovery into (a) whether Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email while Secretary of State was an intentional attempt to evade FOIA; (b) whether the State Department’s attempts to settle this case in late 2014 and early 2015 amounted to bad faith; and (c) whether State has adequately searched for records responsive to Judicial Watch’s requests.
Terming Clinton’s use of her private email system, “one of the gravest modern offenses to government transparency,” Judge Lamberth wrote in his MEMORANDUM OPINION:
… his [President Barack Obama’s] State and Justice Departments fell far short. So far short that the court questions, even now, whether they are acting in good faith. Did Hillary Clinton use her private email as Secretary of State to thwart this lofty goal [Obama announced standard for transparency]? Was the State Department’s attempt to settle this FOIA case in 2014 an effort to avoid searching – and disclosing the existence of – Clinton’s missing emails? And has State ever adequately searched for records in this case?
***
At best, State’s attempt to pass-off its deficient search as legally adequate during settlement negotiations was negligence born out of incompetence. At worst, career employees in the State and Justice Departments colluded to scuttle public scrutiny of Clinton, skirt FOIA, and hoodwink this Court.
Turning his attention to the Department of Justice, the Court wrote:
Obama Admin. Approved Over $310M Offering Services to Illegal Immigrants
Former President Barack Obama’s administration approved multiple contracts totaling more than $310 million to a nonprofit organization offering legal advice to illegal immigrants during his final two full years in office, according to a report from the Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI).
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Obama awarded the contracts to the Vera Institute of Justice (Vera) for the “purpose of providing legal representation to unaccompanied alien children (UACs),” IRLI noted on Thursday.
The contracts ensured that Vera would provide “direct legal representation” to these UACs and connect them with sponsors.
Christopher Stone, one of Vera’s former directors, also has served as a president of liberal billionaire activist George Soros’ Open Society Foundations.
The Obama administration, however, appeared to overlook one key factor:
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Obama awarded the contracts to the Vera Institute of Justice (Vera) for the “purpose of providing legal representation to unaccompanied alien children (UACs),” IRLI noted on Thursday.
The contracts ensured that Vera would provide “direct legal representation” to these UACs and connect them with sponsors.
Christopher Stone, one of Vera’s former directors, also has served as a president of liberal billionaire activist George Soros’ Open Society Foundations.
The Obama administration, however, appeared to overlook one key factor:
Six Things to Know About AG Nominee William Barr
William Barr is a former U.S. attorney general, an advocate of investigating Hillary Clinton, and a bagpipe player for 60 years.
President Donald Trump announced Friday that he would nominate Barr, 68, to serve again as attorney general.
He previously served in the position from November 1991 to January 1993 under President George H.W. Bush, who died Nov. 30 and was laid to rest Thursday.
In confirming to reporters outside the White House that he would nominate Barr, Trump called the lawyer and former business leader “one of the most respected jurists in the country,” a “highly respected lawyer,” and “a terrific man, a terrific person, a brilliant man.”
Already, some Democrats are criticizing Barr for comments he has made in media interviews and op-eds.
If confirmed by the Senate, Barr would succeed acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, who took over after Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
“I did not know him until recently when I went through the process of looking at people, and he was my first choice from Day One,” Trump said of Barr. “Respected by Republicans and respected by Democrats, he will be nominated for the United States attorney general.”
Here are six things to know about the president’s pick to run the Justice Department.
President Donald Trump announced Friday that he would nominate Barr, 68, to serve again as attorney general.
He previously served in the position from November 1991 to January 1993 under President George H.W. Bush, who died Nov. 30 and was laid to rest Thursday.
In confirming to reporters outside the White House that he would nominate Barr, Trump called the lawyer and former business leader “one of the most respected jurists in the country,” a “highly respected lawyer,” and “a terrific man, a terrific person, a brilliant man.”
Already, some Democrats are criticizing Barr for comments he has made in media interviews and op-eds.
If confirmed by the Senate, Barr would succeed acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, who took over after Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
“I did not know him until recently when I went through the process of looking at people, and he was my first choice from Day One,” Trump said of Barr. “Respected by Republicans and respected by Democrats, he will be nominated for the United States attorney general.”
Here are six things to know about the president’s pick to run the Justice Department.
No way out for Clinton, Inc. corruption this time
Clinton Inc. criminal defense lawyers trying to hide behind the word “intent” won’t work because the Clintons were previously warned early and often about improper compliance:
.. internal legal reviews that the foundation conducted on itself in 2008 and 2011.
Those reviews flagged serious concerns about legal compliance, improper commingling of personal and charity business and "quid pro quo" promises made to donors while Hillary Clinton was secretary of State.
There is a great line in the fun movie, National Treasure, spoken by the accomplished, former Marine, Harvey Keitel, who was playing a very solid FBI Special Agent: “Someone has to go to prison Ben.”
One of the elements of a crime is that the criminal behavior has to be documented as being undertaken knowingly and purposefully, which is exactly what the whistleblower documents prove.
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Groom Loses It When He Turns To See His Best Friend During 'First Look'
Brianne says it was Timmy's idea to surprise her husband, David, during the first look.
"She was all about having a serious wedding, but I was like, 'We gotta do it'," Timmy told Yahoo.
It didn't take long for him to convince the bride to get on board. Then she roped the photographer into the scheme too.
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South Carolina fisherman hooks 17-foot great white shark: It was a 'monster'
As a charter fisherman who assists shark experts with their research by hooking and tagging great whites, South Carolinian Chip Michalove has come across a number of impressively-sized sharks throughout the years.
But none were more impressive than the “monster” great white he hooked earlier this week. Michalove told Fox News on Thursday he estimated the massive fish weighed 3,500 pounds and was roughly 17 feet in length.
Michalove hooked the shark, a female, at roughly 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday off the coast of Hilton Head. He was accompanied by Jon Dodd of the Atlantic Shark Institute at the time.
Michalove, who also tags sharks on behalf of experts at the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, wrote on Facebook the shark “spit the hook after a 15 [minute] battle.”
“After she threw the hook and came partially out of the water twice, she turned and chased the bait back to the boat as we reeled it back in,” he continued. “We dropped the bait back to her, but she wised up. She wouldn’t give us another shot.”
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But none were more impressive than the “monster” great white he hooked earlier this week. Michalove told Fox News on Thursday he estimated the massive fish weighed 3,500 pounds and was roughly 17 feet in length.
Michalove hooked the shark, a female, at roughly 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday off the coast of Hilton Head. He was accompanied by Jon Dodd of the Atlantic Shark Institute at the time.
Michalove, who also tags sharks on behalf of experts at the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries, wrote on Facebook the shark “spit the hook after a 15 [minute] battle.”
“After she threw the hook and came partially out of the water twice, she turned and chased the bait back to the boat as we reeled it back in,” he continued. “We dropped the bait back to her, but she wised up. She wouldn’t give us another shot.”
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She Claimed He Sexually Assaulted Her. The School Just Settled — With HIM.
Just weeks after a judge refused to allow a New Jersey college’s attempt to dismiss a lawsuit against it, the school settled with the student who brought the lawsuit.
John Doe, as he is referred to in court documents, brought the lawsuit after he was expelled from Rider University for allegedly sexually assaulting a female student. John met Jane Roe, as she is referred to in court documents, in the early morning hours of October 18, 2015. John and his friend, referred to as Joe Doe, returned from an off-campus party with three other friends. John was the designated driver and “not intoxicated.” Joe began talking to two women (Jane and her friend, referred to as Jane Roe 2) and John joined them.
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John Doe, as he is referred to in court documents, brought the lawsuit after he was expelled from Rider University for allegedly sexually assaulting a female student. John met Jane Roe, as she is referred to in court documents, in the early morning hours of October 18, 2015. John and his friend, referred to as Joe Doe, returned from an off-campus party with three other friends. John was the designated driver and “not intoxicated.” Joe began talking to two women (Jane and her friend, referred to as Jane Roe 2) and John joined them.
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Mother of all white flight to hit NY schools and De Blasio pretends he had nothing to do with it
New York is facing an educational disaster. Mayor Bill De Blasio's socialist plan to end meritocratic entry to New York's famed specialty schools - in performing arts, hard sciences, engineering, academic achievement - in the name of racial equality, is about to trigger a huge white flight. And not just white flight, Asian flight. Here's an excellent report from New York Post columnist Karol Markowitz:
In a push to improve diversity at District 15 middle schools in Brooklyn, Mayor de Blasio last week approved a plan to remove admission standards at all of them.
and
The announcement of the changes featured some blatant doublespeak. “The District 15 middle-school diversity plan will remove screens from all middle schools and will prioritize 52 percent of sixth-grade seats for students from low-income families, English-language learners and students in temporary housing.” Got that? They will remove screens and replace them with other screens.
The removal of standards won’t just be academic. Schools that previously focused on music or the arts will no longer be able to audition students. Students who have dedicated their lives to learning to play the cello will be in classes alongside kids who have no interest in the arts at all.
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In a push to improve diversity at District 15 middle schools in Brooklyn, Mayor de Blasio last week approved a plan to remove admission standards at all of them.
and
The announcement of the changes featured some blatant doublespeak. “The District 15 middle-school diversity plan will remove screens from all middle schools and will prioritize 52 percent of sixth-grade seats for students from low-income families, English-language learners and students in temporary housing.” Got that? They will remove screens and replace them with other screens.
The removal of standards won’t just be academic. Schools that previously focused on music or the arts will no longer be able to audition students. Students who have dedicated their lives to learning to play the cello will be in classes alongside kids who have no interest in the arts at all.
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The 6 Most Notorious Presidential Meltdowns in History
Presidents have been indulging in tantrums, snits, and meltdowns ever since George Washington swore an oath on the Bible in 1789 — some, admittedly, more often than others, and some using much more colorful language. Here are six instances when the United States president acted as truculently as a grade-schooler sent to bed without dessert.
Andrew Jackson, 1835
When Andrew Jackson was elected president in 1828, he was considered by many voters to be rough, uncouth, and unfit for office. Still, it wasn't until 1835 (toward the end of his second term) that someone took it in mind to do something about it, and unintentionally proved the point in the process. As Jackson was leaving for a funeral, an unemployed house painter named Richard Lawrence tried to shoot him, but his gun misfired — at which point the 67-year-old Jackson began shouting loud obscenities and clubbing Lawrence repeatedly on the head with his walking cane. Incredibly, a bruised, beaten, and bleeding Lawrence had the composure to withdraw a second pistol from his vest, which also misfired; he wound up spending the rest of his life in a mental institution.
Andrew Johnson, 1865
Andrew Jackson, 1835
When Andrew Jackson was elected president in 1828, he was considered by many voters to be rough, uncouth, and unfit for office. Still, it wasn't until 1835 (toward the end of his second term) that someone took it in mind to do something about it, and unintentionally proved the point in the process. As Jackson was leaving for a funeral, an unemployed house painter named Richard Lawrence tried to shoot him, but his gun misfired — at which point the 67-year-old Jackson began shouting loud obscenities and clubbing Lawrence repeatedly on the head with his walking cane. Incredibly, a bruised, beaten, and bleeding Lawrence had the composure to withdraw a second pistol from his vest, which also misfired; he wound up spending the rest of his life in a mental institution.
Andrew Johnson, 1865
Postal task force recommends changing employee pay, retirement
A task force led by the Department of the Treasury secretary and directors of the Office of Personnel Management and Office of Management and Budget has suggested that U.S. Postal Service restructure pay and retiree benefits to make the agency more cost-effective.
The task force, mandated by an April 2018 executive order, issued a report on increasing USPS financial sustainability Dec. 4, which advocated for both pricing and management changes to U.S. mail operations.
“The USPS is on an unsustainable financial path which poses significant financial risk to American taxpayers,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin in a news release. “President Trump tasked us with conducting a thorough evaluation of the USPS, and today’s report contains achievable recommendations that fulfill the president’s goal of placing the USPS on a path to sustainability, while protecting taxpayers from undue financial burdens and providing them with necessary mail services.”
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The task force, mandated by an April 2018 executive order, issued a report on increasing USPS financial sustainability Dec. 4, which advocated for both pricing and management changes to U.S. mail operations.
“The USPS is on an unsustainable financial path which poses significant financial risk to American taxpayers,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin in a news release. “President Trump tasked us with conducting a thorough evaluation of the USPS, and today’s report contains achievable recommendations that fulfill the president’s goal of placing the USPS on a path to sustainability, while protecting taxpayers from undue financial burdens and providing them with necessary mail services.”
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Clinton Body Count: Murders, Suicides, Mysterious Deaths Surround Bill & Hillary Clinton
White House Counsel Vince Foster shot twice with different caliber bullets, for example
Several scandals surrounding the Clintons ended with so many unexpected and suspicious deaths that the term “Clinton Body Count” emerged into the cultural zeitgeist years ago, only to be wiped by Google and other Clinton-friendly tech companies.
Several scandals surrounding the Clintons ended with so many unexpected and suspicious deaths that the term “Clinton Body Count” emerged into the cultural zeitgeist years ago, only to be wiped by Google and other Clinton-friendly tech companies.
Happy St. Nicholas Day! Could Santa be buried in Ireland?
Throughout Ireland, Germany, Belgium, France, and around the world today, Christians will engage in their own special traditions to celebrate St. Nicholas Day 2018.
Today (Dec 6) marks St. Nicholas Day 2018, a celebration of the heart-of-gold man—later known as Santa Claus—who traditions say is buried in Jerpoint Abbey, County Kilkenny.
St. Nicholas life story
St. Nicholas lived during the 4th century and was Bishop of Lycia in Turkey. He was canonized soon after his death in 346 AD and was buried in what is now called Myra, in modern-day Turkey. However, in 1169 his body was moved to Italy and afterward moved to Ireland by Nicholas de Frainet, a distant relative.
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Today (Dec 6) marks St. Nicholas Day 2018, a celebration of the heart-of-gold man—later known as Santa Claus—who traditions say is buried in Jerpoint Abbey, County Kilkenny.
St. Nicholas life story
St. Nicholas lived during the 4th century and was Bishop of Lycia in Turkey. He was canonized soon after his death in 346 AD and was buried in what is now called Myra, in modern-day Turkey. However, in 1169 his body was moved to Italy and afterward moved to Ireland by Nicholas de Frainet, a distant relative.
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Air Force study on EMP threat
U.S. military facilities involved in command and control of forces face a growing risk of disruption by an electromagnetic pulse attack or solar superstorm that could knock out all electronics at the strategic bases, according to a report.
The report by the Air Force Electromagnetic Defense Task Force, made up of civilian and military experts, also warns that EMP or geomagnetic disturbances could cause catastrophic damage and the loss of life in the United States.
“Multiple adversaries are capable of executing a strategic attack that may black out major portions of a state’s grid,” the report said. “An EMP attack affects all devices with solid-state electronics and could render inoperative the main grid and backup power systems, such as on-site generators.”
With heavy reliance on electronics, American society is not prepared to deal with the effects of either a nuclear weapon-caused EMP or a large solar flare that could disrupt critical electric-powered functions for months or years, the report says.
One of the key threats facing the military outlined in the report involves potential EMP attacks on command and control systems used to communicate with and direct military forces.
The report noted that flooding in 2017 at a military base incapacitated a major military command and control facility. Military mission operations were negatively affected for several days while repairs were made.
The report said America’s adversaries recognize that U.S. command and control systems are major targets in a conflict. They know that if the military’s ability to communicate is disrupted, then military effectiveness will be severely limited.
More here
The report by the Air Force Electromagnetic Defense Task Force, made up of civilian and military experts, also warns that EMP or geomagnetic disturbances could cause catastrophic damage and the loss of life in the United States.
“Multiple adversaries are capable of executing a strategic attack that may black out major portions of a state’s grid,” the report said. “An EMP attack affects all devices with solid-state electronics and could render inoperative the main grid and backup power systems, such as on-site generators.”
With heavy reliance on electronics, American society is not prepared to deal with the effects of either a nuclear weapon-caused EMP or a large solar flare that could disrupt critical electric-powered functions for months or years, the report says.
One of the key threats facing the military outlined in the report involves potential EMP attacks on command and control systems used to communicate with and direct military forces.
The report noted that flooding in 2017 at a military base incapacitated a major military command and control facility. Military mission operations were negatively affected for several days while repairs were made.
The report said America’s adversaries recognize that U.S. command and control systems are major targets in a conflict. They know that if the military’s ability to communicate is disrupted, then military effectiveness will be severely limited.
More here
Rep. Gaetz Blasts Comey's 'Selective Amnesia': 'Pretty Inconceivable to Me'
Rep. Matt Gaetz blasted James Comey for having "selective amnesia" during his closed-door testimony before the House Judiciary Committee.
The former FBI director spent six hours Friday testifying before lawmakers on a range of topics, including his handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe, the genesis of the Russia investigation and alleged bias at the bureau.
On "The Story" Friday, Gaetz (R-Fla.) said he was particularly interested in Comey's responses to questions about his June 2017 conversation with President Trump, in which Comey believes Trump may have obstructed justice by referencing the Michael Flynn investigation.
"As soon as Comey's done with the president, he prepares a memo and then meets with his senior team at the FBI. He couldn't tell us who was in the room, who was out of the room," Gaetz said, adding that Comey also did not share what senior officials like Andrew McCabe or Bill Priestap thought of the possible obstruction.
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The former FBI director spent six hours Friday testifying before lawmakers on a range of topics, including his handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe, the genesis of the Russia investigation and alleged bias at the bureau.
On "The Story" Friday, Gaetz (R-Fla.) said he was particularly interested in Comey's responses to questions about his June 2017 conversation with President Trump, in which Comey believes Trump may have obstructed justice by referencing the Michael Flynn investigation.
"As soon as Comey's done with the president, he prepares a memo and then meets with his senior team at the FBI. He couldn't tell us who was in the room, who was out of the room," Gaetz said, adding that Comey also did not share what senior officials like Andrew McCabe or Bill Priestap thought of the possible obstruction.
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http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/12/08/matt-gaetz-blasts-comey-selective-amnesia-during-testimony-house-judiciary-committee
Victoria Toensing: Why has Mueller ignored Obama administration crimes?
The matter of Gen. Michael Flynn began with criminal conduct. But it was not committed by Flynn. The crimes were leaking the contents of classified telephone conversations between Flynn and Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak and revealing the identity of Flynn as a party to the conversations.
The sorry saga began with a January 12, 2017 column about the Flynn/Kislyak conversations by The Washington Post’s David Ignatius, who described his source as a “senior U.S. government official,” i.e., an Obama administration functionary. Whoever told Ignatius the fact of and substance of the eavesdropped conversations committed a felony by leaking classified information.
The second crime is publicly revealing a U.S. citizen’s identity as being a party to those conversations. When there is authorized intelligence collection of foreign officials, the identity of the U.S. person who is incidentally picked up during that collection is to be minimized (not disclosed), even within the U.S. government. Instead of the party’s name, the document substitutes “[U.S. Person].” There is a process for “unmasking”—obtaining the name of the undisclosed person--when the government official determines knowing the name is important to national security. A written request must be made to the collecting agency that is responsible for the document. Only a handful of officials are given that authority, e.g. NSA has only 20. Perhaps there was a valid need for an Obama official to know Flynn’s identity. That issue is irrelevant. Providing it to Ignatius was a crime.
In his column, Ignatius questioned whether Flynn violated The Logan Act, opining that Flynn’s discussions with Kislyak might have “undercut the U.S. sanctions.” Enacted in 1799 and last used over 150 years ago, The Logan Act prohibits (probably unconstitutionally) unauthorized U.S. citizens from negotiating with a foreign government. At the time, Flynn had been named President Trump’s national security advisor and was receiving checks as a member of the transition team.
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https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/victoria-toensing-why-has-mueller-ignored-obama-administration-crimes
The sorry saga began with a January 12, 2017 column about the Flynn/Kislyak conversations by The Washington Post’s David Ignatius, who described his source as a “senior U.S. government official,” i.e., an Obama administration functionary. Whoever told Ignatius the fact of and substance of the eavesdropped conversations committed a felony by leaking classified information.
The second crime is publicly revealing a U.S. citizen’s identity as being a party to those conversations. When there is authorized intelligence collection of foreign officials, the identity of the U.S. person who is incidentally picked up during that collection is to be minimized (not disclosed), even within the U.S. government. Instead of the party’s name, the document substitutes “[U.S. Person].” There is a process for “unmasking”—obtaining the name of the undisclosed person--when the government official determines knowing the name is important to national security. A written request must be made to the collecting agency that is responsible for the document. Only a handful of officials are given that authority, e.g. NSA has only 20. Perhaps there was a valid need for an Obama official to know Flynn’s identity. That issue is irrelevant. Providing it to Ignatius was a crime.
In his column, Ignatius questioned whether Flynn violated The Logan Act, opining that Flynn’s discussions with Kislyak might have “undercut the U.S. sanctions.” Enacted in 1799 and last used over 150 years ago, The Logan Act prohibits (probably unconstitutionally) unauthorized U.S. citizens from negotiating with a foreign government. At the time, Flynn had been named President Trump’s national security advisor and was receiving checks as a member of the transition team.
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https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/victoria-toensing-why-has-mueller-ignored-obama-administration-crimes
Roads less traveled: Attempts by Minneapolis to boost biking aren't paying off
Bike lanes have become big in the Twin Cities. But can the traffic they carry justify the street space they consume?
Minneapolis city officials are committed to a vision of inducing residents and visitors to use public transportation or bicycles (or scooters) instead of automobiles. They believe in the “Field of Dreams” philosophy — “If you build it, they will come.” And inspired by that strategy, the city rolls on with its bicycle lanes and associated engineering changes.
Officials have boasted they are confident they can increase current bicycle use — from 5 percent of commuting (according to census data) to 15 percent in the years ahead. But what do we really know about the use of bicycles in Minneapolis?
The city does traffic studies periodically for a variety of purposes. And, yet, we residents have seen no proof that the 5 percent claim (small as it is) is even accurate. Because of this, I decided to undertake limited pilot research, in search of some actual facts about usage of the Minneapolis bicycle lanes that are, increasingly, inconveniencing those who choose not to, or are unable to, use a bicycle as their main mode of transportation.
Minneapolis city officials are committed to a vision of inducing residents and visitors to use public transportation or bicycles (or scooters) instead of automobiles. They believe in the “Field of Dreams” philosophy — “If you build it, they will come.” And inspired by that strategy, the city rolls on with its bicycle lanes and associated engineering changes.
Officials have boasted they are confident they can increase current bicycle use — from 5 percent of commuting (according to census data) to 15 percent in the years ahead. But what do we really know about the use of bicycles in Minneapolis?
The city does traffic studies periodically for a variety of purposes. And, yet, we residents have seen no proof that the 5 percent claim (small as it is) is even accurate. Because of this, I decided to undertake limited pilot research, in search of some actual facts about usage of the Minneapolis bicycle lanes that are, increasingly, inconveniencing those who choose not to, or are unable to, use a bicycle as their main mode of transportation.
Many ways exist to measure traffic, and each should be used to best fit the research objective. The objective here has been to determine whether the proportion of bicycles relative to other roadway vehicles justifies the proportion of roadway space allocated to bicycles.
Hence, the best measuring method is short, 10-minute counts of the number of bicycles and other vehicles that pass a given spot on the road. This method avoids “double counting” that could occur with longer time periods.
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Hence, the best measuring method is short, 10-minute counts of the number of bicycles and other vehicles that pass a given spot on the road. This method avoids “double counting” that could occur with longer time periods.
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Al Sharpton’s Daughter Bags $95,000 Settlement for Sprained Ankle
Al Sharpton’s daughter bagged $95,000 in settlement money from New York City for spraining her ankle on an uneven Manhattan street—even after posting photos of herself on social media climbing mountains and wearing high heels months after the fall.
Lawyers for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio paid Dominique Sharpton, 32, a $95,000 settlement after admitting the city had been aware of the cracked pavement but did not fix it.
“I sprained my ankle real bad lol,” Dominique Sharpton wrote in an Instagram post after she took a tumble in October 2014.
“After a thorough evaluation, we determined that settling this case was in the best interest of the city,” a spokesman for New York City’s Law Department said in a statement.
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Lawyers for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio paid Dominique Sharpton, 32, a $95,000 settlement after admitting the city had been aware of the cracked pavement but did not fix it.
“I sprained my ankle real bad lol,” Dominique Sharpton wrote in an Instagram post after she took a tumble in October 2014.
“After a thorough evaluation, we determined that settling this case was in the best interest of the city,” a spokesman for New York City’s Law Department said in a statement.
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With Virginia Becoming A Liberal Hellhole, A Familiar Anti-Gun Face Says He’s Running For Governor In 2021
For Republicans in Virginia, it’s time to face facts. We’re slowly becoming Maryland. Yes, we may have a Republican state legislature, but majorities in both houses hang by a thread. The Northern Virginia suburbs, where I live, are chock full of insufferable liberals who drive the direction of the whole state. The days of this state going to the GOP are over. The Obamaites infested the Old Dominion and never left. The next gubernatorial election is not until 2021, but we already have one anti-gun voice that says he’s in: state Attorney General Mark Herring.
If you don’t remember this man, he’s the one who tried to torch Virginia’s concealed carry reciprocity agreements with two-dozen states around Christmas time in 2015. In January of 2016, it was announced the then-Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffewould be restoring those agreements, however. Yeah, the anti-gunners were not happy. In February of 2016, McAuliffe signed a bunch of gun bills, including one recognizing gun permits from other states, into law. While I did not vote for McAuliffe, he did well on this deal with regard to our Second Amendment. Granted, he had a Republican legislature to keep a lot in check.
Herring will be a total disaster for gun rights, among other issues, and with a Democratic House of Delegates and state Senate, who knows what could emanate from Richmond (via WaPo):
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If you don’t remember this man, he’s the one who tried to torch Virginia’s concealed carry reciprocity agreements with two-dozen states around Christmas time in 2015. In January of 2016, it was announced the then-Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffewould be restoring those agreements, however. Yeah, the anti-gunners were not happy. In February of 2016, McAuliffe signed a bunch of gun bills, including one recognizing gun permits from other states, into law. While I did not vote for McAuliffe, he did well on this deal with regard to our Second Amendment. Granted, he had a Republican legislature to keep a lot in check.
Herring will be a total disaster for gun rights, among other issues, and with a Democratic House of Delegates and state Senate, who knows what could emanate from Richmond (via WaPo):
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Ex-FBI Assistant Director: Comey is a disgrace to the FBI, won't answer key questions on Clinton email scandal
The appearance of fired and disgraced FBI Director James Comey before two congressional committees Friday is a reminder of his brief but profoundly disappointing tenure leading the FBI – the outstanding law enforcement agency where I served for 24 years.
Unfortunately, members of the House Judiciary Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee were unable to get satisfactory answers from Comey regarding his illegal actions and violations of longstanding FBI and Justice Department regulations and procedures.
The chairmen of the two committees released a 235-page transcript Saturday of their interview with Comey.
According to a statement issued by the office of Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., Comey said “I don’t remember” 71 times, “I don’t know” 166 times, and “I don’t recall” eight times during his interview.
Comey flat-out refused to answer some questions dealing with the investigation now led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
“To the extent, I recall facts developed during our investigation of Russian interference and the potential connection of Americans, I think that's a question that the FBI doesn't want me answering,” Comey said in response to a question.
Comey’s record of lawbreaking and violations dealt with prosecution judgments, media leaks, the theft of government records and the conduct of objective investigations.
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Unfortunately, members of the House Judiciary Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee were unable to get satisfactory answers from Comey regarding his illegal actions and violations of longstanding FBI and Justice Department regulations and procedures.
The chairmen of the two committees released a 235-page transcript Saturday of their interview with Comey.
According to a statement issued by the office of Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., Comey said “I don’t remember” 71 times, “I don’t know” 166 times, and “I don’t recall” eight times during his interview.
Comey flat-out refused to answer some questions dealing with the investigation now led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
“To the extent, I recall facts developed during our investigation of Russian interference and the potential connection of Americans, I think that's a question that the FBI doesn't want me answering,” Comey said in response to a question.
Comey’s record of lawbreaking and violations dealt with prosecution judgments, media leaks, the theft of government records and the conduct of objective investigations.
More
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/ex-fbi-assistant-director-comey-is-a-disgrace-to-the-fbi-wont-answer-key-questions-on-clinton-email-scandal
Trump under unprecedented attack on multiple fronts
Everywhere President Trump looks, there are Democrats targeting him, from New York to Washington to Maryland, in the positions of lawmakers, prosecutors, state attorneys general, opposition researchers, bureaucrats and activist defense lawyers.
They are aiming at Russia collusion, the Trump Organization, the Trump Foundation, a Trump hotel, Trump tax returns, Trump campaign finances and supposed money laundering.
“The relentless assaults on this president from every front were previously unimaginable and absolutely unprecedented,” said Sidney Powell, a Texas appeals attorney whose book, “License to Lie,” takes on Justice Department corruption. “The ‘resistance’ has sunk to a new low which I hope they live to regret. They truly became ‘creeps on a mission to destroy the President.’”
Mr. Trump tweeted Thursday, “It’s called Presidential Harassment!”
All the while, what conservatives consider the most hostile press toward a president in modern times has fed the Russia collusion flames with hundreds of stories — some of them bogus. The right-leaning Media Research Center analyzed NBC, ABC and CBS evening newscasts and found that 90 percent of their Trump stories were negative.
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They are aiming at Russia collusion, the Trump Organization, the Trump Foundation, a Trump hotel, Trump tax returns, Trump campaign finances and supposed money laundering.
“The relentless assaults on this president from every front were previously unimaginable and absolutely unprecedented,” said Sidney Powell, a Texas appeals attorney whose book, “License to Lie,” takes on Justice Department corruption. “The ‘resistance’ has sunk to a new low which I hope they live to regret. They truly became ‘creeps on a mission to destroy the President.’”
Mr. Trump tweeted Thursday, “It’s called Presidential Harassment!”
All the while, what conservatives consider the most hostile press toward a president in modern times has fed the Russia collusion flames with hundreds of stories — some of them bogus. The right-leaning Media Research Center analyzed NBC, ABC and CBS evening newscasts and found that 90 percent of their Trump stories were negative.
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Baltimore Ravens condemn racist n-word tweets and homophobic slurs made on Twitter by their player Patrick Ricard
Old tweets by Baltimore Ravens fullback-defensive lineman Patrick Ricard resurfaced Sunday morning showing him repeatedly using the n-word and homophobic slurs with random Twitter users.
At least 15 tweets that were dug up showed the 24-year-old repeatedly calling people f****ts and using the n-word between 2011 and 2015.
The tweets emerged just as the Ravens were preparing to face off against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ricard, a second-year player, was inactive for Sunday's game against Kansas City, the day after the tweets came to light.
Ricard was also listed as inactive for last Sunday's game.
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At least 15 tweets that were dug up showed the 24-year-old repeatedly calling people f****ts and using the n-word between 2011 and 2015.
The tweets emerged just as the Ravens were preparing to face off against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ricard, a second-year player, was inactive for Sunday's game against Kansas City, the day after the tweets came to light.
Ricard was also listed as inactive for last Sunday's game.
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'Your time is up, white people': South African parliament targets next March for land expropriation
The South African parliament approved a motion that would set up an ad-hoc committee to recommend procedures on how land expropriation without compensation would work. Earlier, the parliament had approved the constitutional changes that would give the government power to take land from white farmers without paying for it.
IOL:
The motion was adopted with 183 votes in favour and 77 against. There were no abstentions.
Opposition parties had objected vehemently, with the Freedom Front Plus's Anton Alberts reiterating the party's threat that land expropriation would lead to instability.
"When the blood flows it will be on your hands," Alberts said in the direction of the ANC benches.
More
IOL:
The motion was adopted with 183 votes in favour and 77 against. There were no abstentions.
Opposition parties had objected vehemently, with the Freedom Front Plus's Anton Alberts reiterating the party's threat that land expropriation would lead to instability.
"When the blood flows it will be on your hands," Alberts said in the direction of the ANC benches.
More
Snow Emergency Lifted
Effective Monday 12/10/2018 at 2400 hours (12 AM), the Maryland State Police Berlin Barrack in Worcester County in conjunction with local agencies and the State Highway Administration will be lifting the Snow Emergency Plan.
Please use caution on roadways in and around the Worcester County area. Be mindful of black ice at night and try to limit travel after dark.
Please use caution on roadways in and around the Worcester County area. Be mindful of black ice at night and try to limit travel after dark.
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