Day: December 25, 2016

Israel: humbled Netanyahu places hopes in Trump

In this Dec. 11, 2016, file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at his office in Jerusalem. Netanyahu lashed out at President Barack Obama on Saturday, Dec. 24, accusing him of a “shameful ambush” at the United Nations over West Bank settlements and saying he is looking forward to working with his “friend” President-elect Donald Trump.

In defense of the Electoral College

“Electors cast their ballots for Donald Trump this week, but that has not ended calls to revamp or replace the Electoral College. While the disconnect between the electoral and popular votes may be cause for alarm, however, abolishing the Electoral College poses even greater dangers, particularly for liberals.

Fox’s Kurtz: Media Obsessed Over ‘GOP Civil War,’ Not So Much the Current Democratic One

On Fox’s MediaBuzz today, Howard Kurtz observed that there may not be as great an “in-depth examination of why the Democrats really lost” as opposed to when, say, Republicans were in the midst of “civil war.” Washington Examiner chief congressional correspondent Susan Ferrechio said that while Democrats make noise about everything from Russia to the FBI, “what’s being drowned out” is why they didn’t connect with the rust belt.

The Latest: Quiet morning for Obamas in Hawaii on Christmas

Authorities in central Maine say a man set his estranged wife’s house on fire during the middle of the night before fatally stabbing himself in front of responding officers. A central Maine man set his estranged wife’s house on fire during the middle of the night before fatally stabbing himself in front of responding officers, police said Sunday.

Bernie Sanders Says Donald Trump’s ‘Dangerous’ Nuclear Arms Race Talk Must Be Challenged

Sen. Bernie Sanders has made it known that Donald Trump should not go unchallenged by his congressional colleagues as troubling comments by the President-elect about nuclear weapons this week sparked alarm across the United States and the world. Following an initial out-of-the-blue tweet Thursday saying the U.S. should “expand” its nuclear arsenal followed by “clarifying” remarks Friday to MSNBC in which Trump said, ” Let it be an arms race ,” Sanders responded: “It’s a miracle a nuclear weapon hasn’t been used in war since 1945.

La La Land

Whenever I do a music thread or movie thread or something like that, lots of people in the comments say they’d like to see more such threads because it’s such a depressing time politically. I thought I’d do one on movie musicals.

More

FILE – In this Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016, file photo, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Attorney General Roy Cooper speaks with supporters at the Guilford County Democratic Party headquarters in Greensboro, N.C. Cooper, No… RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina’s next Democratic governor has seen a deal he helped broker to repeal the state’s law limiting LGBT protections fall apart and had several of his powers stripped away by the state’s Republican-dominated legislature. And he hasn’t even been sworn in yet.

CBB star Heavy D, 43, SPLITS from his fiancee Bryony Ann Harris,…

Melania Trump wears a VERY short dress to church for midnight mass in Florida – as the congregation goes wild for The Donald It’s a white-out! Winter Storm Europa brings blizzards, ice storms and freezing rain as it moves across the central states on Christmas Day – making travel by road and rail ‘dangerous if not impossible’ Pictured: The bloodied ear of flight attendant who was BITTEN by passenger en route to San Francisco when he was asked to stop smoking Look who got candy canes for Christmas! Prince George and Princess Charlotte enjoy their sweet treat as their parents take them to the church in Kate’s home village – where Pippa is getting married in May The Queen misses traditional Christmas day church service at Sandringham for the first time in 30 years as she is ‘recovering from a heavy cold’ but the rest of the Royal family attend Checking out the venue, Pippa? Bride-to-be and … (more)

Israel summons US ambassador as Netanyahu hits out at Obama

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a scathing attack Sunday on the Obama administration and summoned the US ambassador after its refusal to veto a UN Security Council resolution condemning Israel’s settlements in the West Bank. The United States abstained on the resolution, allowing it to pass, rather than vetoing it – as it usually does with resolutions it sees as overly critical of Israel, leading to US ambassador Daniel Shapiro being summoned, an Israeli official told CNN Sunday.

Gingrich: Obama ‘desperate frenzy’ to save legacy

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich in an interview that aired Sunday compared President Barack Obama’s legacy to a deflating doll and argued Obama is in a “desperate frenzy” to save it. “His legacy is like one of those dolls that, as the air comes out of it, shrinks and shrinks and shrinks,” Gingrich said.

Netanyahu Lashes Out at Obama Over Un Vote Acusses Onama of Ambush

AP reports Israel’s prime minister lashed out at President Barack Obama on Saturday, accusing him of a “shameful ambush” at the United Nations over West Bank settlements and saying he is looking forward to working with his “friend” President-elect Donald Trump. Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments came a day after the United States broke with past practice and allowed the U.N. Security Council to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem as a “flagrant violation” of international law.

Netanyahu Lashes Out at Obama Over Un Vote Acusses Onama of Ambush

AP reports Israel’s prime minister lashed out at President Barack Obama on Saturday, accusing him of a “shameful ambush” at the United Nations over West Bank settlements and saying he is looking forward to working with his “friend” President-elect Donald Trump. Benjamin Netanyahu’s comments came a day after the United States broke with past practice and allowed the U.N. Security Council to condemn Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem as a “flagrant violation” of international law.

Failed deal to undo LGBT law marks rocky start for governor

North Carolina’s Democratic Governor-elect fights an uphill battle against GOP majority after efforts to repeal the state’s ‘bathroom bill’ fall through The deeply divided state voted Republican in the presidential and senate races, but elected a Democratic governor, making Cooper’s job very difficult House Bill 2, commonly known as the ‘bathroom bill’ has been blamed for job losses, canceled events, and staining North Carolina’s reputation He hasn’t even been sworn in yet, but several of his powers have already been stripped away by the state’s Republican-dominated legislature North Carolina’s next Democratic governor faces a tough uphill battle in a state that voted Republican in the presidential and senate races.

Failed deal to undo LGBT law marks rocky start for governor

North Carolina’s Democratic Governor-elect fights an uphill battle against GOP majority after efforts to repeal the state’s ‘bathroom bill’ fall through The deeply divided state voted Republican in the presidential and senate races, but elected a Democratic governor, making Cooper’s job very difficult House Bill 2, commonly known as the ‘bathroom bill’ has been blamed for job losses, canceled events, and staining North Carolina’s reputation He hasn’t even been sworn in yet, but several of his powers have already been stripped away by the state’s Republican-dominated legislature North Carolina’s next Democratic governor faces a tough uphill battle in a state that voted Republican in the presidential and senate races.

PM calls in US envoy for ‘clarifications’ after US failed to veto anti-settlement UN vote

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday summoned US Ambassador Dan Shapiro for “clarifications,” after the US abstained in Friday’s United Nations Security Council vote demanding a halt to all Israeli settlement activity, enabling the resolution to pass. Netanyahu, who has publicly accused US President Barack Obama of “ambushing” Israel at the UN with the “shameful” resolution, reportedly told colleagues earlier Sunday that the diplomatic tussle was not yet over.

PM calls in US envoy for ‘clarifications’ after US failed to veto anti-settlement UN vote

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday summoned US Ambassador Dan Shapiro for “clarifications,” after the US abstained in Friday’s United Nations Security Council vote demanding a halt to all Israeli settlement activity, enabling the resolution to pass. Netanyahu, who has publicly accused US President Barack Obama of “ambushing” Israel at the UN with the “shameful” resolution, reportedly told colleagues earlier Sunday that the diplomatic tussle was not yet over.

Donald Trump says his decision to shut down his charity foundation…

Melania Trump wears a VERY short dress to church for midnight mass in Florida – as the congregation goes wild for The Donald ‘Congratulations to the baby daddy!’: Trump’s married communications director quits just two days after being appointed as female staffer hints in series of tweets that he has been involved in a ‘John Edwards’ style sex scandal Donald Trump says his decision to shut down his charity foundation is to avoid ‘any conflict with the role of president’ – but he won’t be able to legally end it while it remains under investigation What the Democrats don’t want you to know: Party lost more than 1,030 seats in state legislatures, governor’s mansions and Congress during Barack Obama’s presidency Look who got candy canes for Christmas! Prince George and Princess Charlotte enjoy their sweet treat as their parents take them to the church in Kate’s home village – where Pippa is … (more)

Donald Trump says his decision to shut down his charity foundation…

Melania Trump wears a VERY short dress to church for midnight mass in Florida – as the congregation goes wild for The Donald ‘Congratulations to the baby daddy!’: Trump’s married communications director quits just two days after being appointed as female staffer hints in series of tweets that he has been involved in a ‘John Edwards’ style sex scandal Donald Trump says his decision to shut down his charity foundation is to avoid ‘any conflict with the role of president’ – but he won’t be able to legally end it while it remains under investigation What the Democrats don’t want you to know: Party lost more than 1,030 seats in state legislatures, governor’s mansions and Congress during Barack Obama’s presidency Look who got candy canes for Christmas! Prince George and Princess Charlotte enjoy their sweet treat as their parents take them to the church in Kate’s home village – where Pippa is … (more)

Assessing the GOP’s tax system overhaul

Congressional Republicans are planning a massive overhaul of the nation’s tax system next year, a heavy political lift that could ultimately affect families at every income level and businesses of every size. Their goal is to simplify a complicated tax code that rewards wealthy people with smart accountants, and corporations that can easily shift profits – and jobs – overseas.

Assessing the GOP’s tax system overhaul

Congressional Republicans are planning a massive overhaul of the nation’s tax system next year, a heavy political lift that could ultimately affect families at every income level and businesses of every size. Their goal is to simplify a complicated tax code that rewards wealthy people with smart accountants, and corporations that can easily shift profits – and jobs – overseas.

Assange: Clinton win would have been a ‘consolidation of power’ in the U.S.

Hillary Rodham Clinton Assange: Clinton win would have been ‘consolidation of power’ Assange praises Trump for bringing ‘opportunities for change’ America’s Jews are at war MORE in a new interview, denying that any documents he released during the presidential campaign were damaging to the former Democratic nominee. Assange said he has been publishing documents on Clinton “for years” and that the leaks during the campaign were no different, he told Italian newspaper la Repubblica in an interview first published by The Guardian.

Assange: Clinton win would have been a ‘consolidation of power’ in the U.S.

Hillary Rodham Clinton Assange: Clinton win would have been ‘consolidation of power’ Assange praises Trump for bringing ‘opportunities for change’ America’s Jews are at war MORE in a new interview, denying that any documents he released during the presidential campaign were damaging to the former Democratic nominee. Assange said he has been publishing documents on Clinton “for years” and that the leaks during the campaign were no different, he told Italian newspaper la Repubblica in an interview first published by The Guardian.

Newt Gingrich: Donald Trump’s Twitter Foreign Policy Is ‘Brilliant’

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, an informal adviser to Donald Trump, spoke approvingly of the president-elect’s apparent desire to restart a nuclear arms race. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich praised the style and substance of Donald Trump ‘s suggestion for a new nuclear arms race , calling the president-elect’s use of Twitter to make major policy pronouncements “brilliant.”

Newt Gingrich: Donald Trump’s Twitter Foreign Policy Is ‘Brilliant’

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, an informal adviser to Donald Trump, spoke approvingly of the president-elect’s apparent desire to restart a nuclear arms race. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich praised the style and substance of Donald Trump ‘s suggestion for a new nuclear arms race , calling the president-elect’s use of Twitter to make major policy pronouncements “brilliant.”

Top story of 2016 in Maine: Legalized marijuana

In this Dec. 19, 2016 file photo, Lorry Fleming, center, of Bath, Maine, a supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, shouts at Donald Trump supporter Tom Thompson, left, of Topsham, Maine, outside the State House in Augusta, Maine, where the electoral college was meeting to elect the president. The split of Maine’s presidential electoral votes for the first time was among the state’s top stories in 2016.

Top story of 2016 in Maine: Legalized marijuana

In this Dec. 19, 2016 file photo, Lorry Fleming, center, of Bath, Maine, a supporter of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, shouts at Donald Trump supporter Tom Thompson, left, of Topsham, Maine, outside the State House in Augusta, Maine, where the electoral college was meeting to elect the president. The split of Maine’s presidential electoral votes for the first time was among the state’s top stories in 2016.

Trump adopting same behavior he criticized Clinton for

In this Dec. 13, 2016, file photo, President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the Wisconsin State Fair Exposition Center in West Allis, Wis. Trump is embracing some of his top attacks on Hillary Clinton as he forms his new administration, engaging in some of the same behavior he used against his rival during the presidential campaign.

Trump adopting same behavior he criticized Clinton for

In this Dec. 13, 2016, file photo, President-elect Donald Trump speaks during a rally at the Wisconsin State Fair Exposition Center in West Allis, Wis. Trump is embracing some of his top attacks on Hillary Clinton as he forms his new administration, engaging in some of the same behavior he used against his rival during the presidential campaign.