Month: January 2017

GOP Congress feels it has mandate to undo Obama’s agenda

In this Dec. 8, 2016 file photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., and others, listen as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Republicans’ grip on all levers of power stands as a mandate to the GOP-led Congress, which will move swiftly to try to undo eight years of outgoing President Barack Obama’s agenda.

GOP Congress feels it has mandate to undo Obama’s agenda

In this Dec. 8, 2016 file photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., and others, listen as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky., speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Republicans’ grip on all levers of power stands as a mandate to the GOP-led Congress, which will move swiftly to try to undo eight years of outgoing President Barack Obama’s agenda.

Donald Trump: No computer safe

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Donald Trump: No computer safe

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Birds of a feather

Anyone who has seen those election maps broken down by counties can see how geographically concentrated Democratic voters are, much to their party’s electoral disadvantage–once you move past narrow bands on the east and west coasts, there is a vast sea of red in between. Except for two kinds of blue pinpricks–the densely populated inner cities of Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, etc ., and the counties in which large universities are located.

Birds of a feather

Anyone who has seen those election maps broken down by counties can see how geographically concentrated Democratic voters are, much to their party’s electoral disadvantage–once you move past narrow bands on the east and west coasts, there is a vast sea of red in between. Except for two kinds of blue pinpricks–the densely populated inner cities of Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, etc ., and the counties in which large universities are located.

Trump’s winter nest is lavish Florida club

When President-elect Donald Trump rang in the new year this weekend, he did it with actor Sylvester Stallone, romance-novel cover model Fabio and a crowd of wealthy developers under the swaying palm trees at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. President George W. Bush had his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Trump’s winter nest is lavish Florida club

When President-elect Donald Trump rang in the new year this weekend, he did it with actor Sylvester Stallone, romance-novel cover model Fabio and a crowd of wealthy developers under the swaying palm trees at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. President George W. Bush had his ranch in Crawford, Texas.

Philly cops under Richard Ross: Steady as she goes44 minutes ago

Dozens of local and national journalists in late July packed into the bunkerlike room in the city’s Office of Emergency Management on Spring Garden Street, hurling questions at six Philadelphia officials about the impending Democratic National Convention. The performance, in retrospect, was quintessential Ross: measured, self-assured, and steeled by nearly three decades in the Philadelphia Police Department.

Philly cops under Richard Ross: Steady as she goes44 minutes ago

Dozens of local and national journalists in late July packed into the bunkerlike room in the city’s Office of Emergency Management on Spring Garden Street, hurling questions at six Philadelphia officials about the impending Democratic National Convention. The performance, in retrospect, was quintessential Ross: measured, self-assured, and steeled by nearly three decades in the Philadelphia Police Department.

Politicians said a lot of dumb things in ’16

As we plunge into 2017, we should at least rejoice in having a chance to mothball a lot of ridiculous statements made over the past 12 months by politicians who should have known better. Let’s never hear again the phrase “basket of deplorables,” which Hillary Clinton unfortunately used to describe Donald Trump supporters.

Today in History: Jan.

In 1893, the U.S. Postal Service issued its first commemorative stamp to honor the World’s Columbian Expedition and the quadricentennial of Christopher Columbus’ voyage. In 1921, religious services were broadcast on radio for the first time as KDKA in Pittsburgh aired the regular Sunday service of the city’s Calvary Episcopal Church.

Today in History: Jan.

In 1893, the U.S. Postal Service issued its first commemorative stamp to honor the World’s Columbian Expedition and the quadricentennial of Christopher Columbus’ voyage. In 1921, religious services were broadcast on radio for the first time as KDKA in Pittsburgh aired the regular Sunday service of the city’s Calvary Episcopal Church.

Preparing for the Normalization of a Neofascist White House

It is 2017, and shortly the White House will be inhabited by an unscrupulous, corrupt narcissist who has shamelessly mobilized the Neo-Nazi fringe of the Republican Party to get into power. Despite all the cries of ‘no’ to normalization on the left, Trump will be normalized by the same corporate media that virtually boycotted Bernie Sanders.

Preparing for the Normalization of a Neofascist White House

It is 2017, and shortly the White House will be inhabited by an unscrupulous, corrupt narcissist who has shamelessly mobilized the Neo-Nazi fringe of the Republican Party to get into power. Despite all the cries of ‘no’ to normalization on the left, Trump will be normalized by the same corporate media that virtually boycotted Bernie Sanders.

ACLU & CAIR Use Gold Star Father to Claim War on Iraq Was for Bill of Rights

Are you old enough to remember when liberal groups openly admitted that the war on Iraq was illegal and fraudulent, based on oil and profit and sadism? Well, can you recall when the proponents of the war claimed it was a defense against nonexistent ties to terrorists and nonexistent weapons? Even if you’ve wiped those memories, let me assure you, NOBODY ever claimed that attacking and destroying Iraq was necessary to protect civil liberties in the United States . Yet, in recent months the generic defense of murdering large numbers of people far away has taken over as the explanation for the war on Iraq.

ACLU & CAIR Use Gold Star Father to Claim War on Iraq Was for Bill of Rights

Are you old enough to remember when liberal groups openly admitted that the war on Iraq was illegal and fraudulent, based on oil and profit and sadism? Well, can you recall when the proponents of the war claimed it was a defense against nonexistent ties to terrorists and nonexistent weapons? Even if you’ve wiped those memories, let me assure you, NOBODY ever claimed that attacking and destroying Iraq was necessary to protect civil liberties in the United States . Yet, in recent months the generic defense of murdering large numbers of people far away has taken over as the explanation for the war on Iraq.

The Cory Booker Dilemma for Progressive Animal Activists

During the 2016 Democratic primary, I was very much a Bernie Sanders partisan. The candidate was so much on my mind, that when I was writing my biography of Ronnie Lee, founder of the Animal Liberation Front, my subject emailed me on more than one occasion to say I’d accidentally substituted his name with that of the Vermont senator’s in the manuscript draft! Now, there was a period during the primary in which it seemed that the animal activist group Direct Action Everywhere was only protesting at Sanders’ rallies.

Defying Donald Trump’s Kleptocracy

The family of Betsy DeVos, right, President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for education secretary, has a net worth of $5.1 billion. The final stages of capitalism, Karl Marx predicted, would be marked by global capital being unable to expand and generate profits at former levels.

Then came Trump

In the still sweet morning of December 26, people start preparing for the next blast of holiday cheer. Happy New Year!!! The Progressives from George Read-My-Lips Bush through the Clinton Inter-Lewd, George Endless-Wars-For-Peace Bush, and Barack the Destroyer managed to turn Ronaldus Magnus’ Morning in America into Mourning in America.

The economic war against ISIL: Airstrikes and financial measures aim to deplete militants’ funding

The Islamic State starts the new year with a drastically depleted bank account, counterterrorism officials say, following months of intensified efforts to deprive the Islamists of oil profits and other revenue used to finance military operations and terrorists attacks abroad. Coalition aircraft in the past 15 months have destroyed more than 1,200 tanker trucks – including 168 vehicles struck in a single air raid in Syria in early December – while also using new weapons and tactics to inflict lasting damage on the terrorists’ remaining oil fields, U.S. and Middle Eastern officials say.

Today in History

In 1893, the U.S. Postal Service issued its first commemorative stamp to honor the World’s Columbian Expedition and the quadricentennial of Christopher Columbus’ voyage. In 1921, religious services were broadcast on radio for the first time as KDKA in Pittsburgh aired the regular Sunday service of the city’s Calvary Episcopal Church.

Debris washes ashore amid search for small plane carrying 6

Debris washed ashore near an airport where a small plane carrying six people took off shortly before it vanished over Lake Erie near Cleveland, the city said Sunday. Authorities received multiple reports of debris washing ashore east of Burke Lakefront Airport, where a plane carrying a family of four and their two neighbors departed late Thursday.

What’s important?

I’ll indicate in advance that this is a personal and rambling note, promoted by several responses to what I wrote about the recent decision of the UN Security Council. And it is by no means the first time I’ve been provoked by what I’ve received from my Internet friends.

Credit Suisse: DOJ Settlement Resolution Provides Earnings Clarity

Credit Suisse’s litigation settlement with the DOJ over its pre-financial crisis mortgage-related underwriting and securitization practices provides better clarity over the bank’s litigation expenses over the upcoming years. Thesis : Progressive ROE normalization to just 7% by 2021 and book value of equity growth of 3%-5% year-over-year would project to generate annualized returns of ~10% over the next five years.