George Rebane
These thoughts are motivated by a letter2editor in today’s Union by Richard Van Steen. There this gentleman, who has graduated from TDS to TAD, tells us that all Americans who don’t want President Trump immediately impeached are traitors, pure and simple – kinda like the stuff he has between his ears.
Lately I’ve been a bit hard on our president’s foot-in-mouth twitter feeds and his tariffs derby (now beginning show some promise), so as one consigned to the nation’s population of irredeemably deplorable traitors, I should at least weigh in my ‘stubborn ounces’ to list some of the benefits we are enjoying in the new era of Trump.
- Deployed U.S. military forces in the Baltic states in response to Putin's threats and to reassure our NATO allies (WSJ, Jan. 30, 2017).
- Deployed defensive Patriot missiles in Poland to counter the build-up of Russian forces aimed at Europe (Newsweek, July 6, 2017).
- Kicked 60 Russian diplomats/spies out of the U.S. in response to chemical poisoning of a former Russian spy living in Britain (AP, March 26, 2018).
- Signed an executive order for a major upgrade of U.S. government cyber defenses against pilfering of our sensitive data by Russia (Reuters, May 11, 2017).
- Repelled an assault by Russian mercenaries in Syria on a U.S. position (NBC News, March 15, 2018).
- Implemented a comprehensive modernization of the U.S. military to deter Russia and China after years of neglect by Obama (CNBC, February 12, 2018).
- Provided anti-tank weapons that Ukraine has sought for years to defend against Russian aggression (Chicago Tribune, March 1, 2018).
- Imposed additional sanctions on Russian companies and oligarchs who are Putin allies in retaliation for his digital assault on U.S. energy firms (Roll Call, March 26, 2018).
- Pushed NATO member nations to double their defense spending from less than 2 percent to 4 percent of GDP, in line with U.S. spending (CNN, July 11, 2018).
- Challenged Europe's dependence on Russian natural gas, encouraging Europe to buy instead from the U.S. This would reduce Russia's export revenues and ability to extract strategic concessions from Europe by restricting essential gas deliveries in winter months, which Russia already did to Ukraine (PBS, July 11, 2018).
To this I would add Trump’s continuing triumph with the Ugly Fat Kid who now sees himself elevated to a world statesman and is eager to show everyone how he is dismantling nuclear facilities, and more remarkably having pictures of himself taken in a farm field to show both domestic and foreign audiences how he is now devoting more attention to feeding his hungry hordes. (more here) This is an image that neither his dad nor granddad cared to cultivate for obvious reasons. Trump has given the UFK a new hope of rebranding NK and, in the process, increasing the likelihood that he will not be assassinated by his inner circle, all of whom live in hate-filled terror of their Dear Leader.
Additionally, Trump is cajoling Congress to revise the misnamed ‘farm bill’ so that its major food stamps component will require its dependents who can work, to seek jobs in order to keep some benefits coming in. The House passed a version of it that will encounter rough sledding in the Senate. (more here and here) The Dems are dead set against anything that motivates any of their most reliable constituents to get themselves off the plantation. That has been the foundation of progressive public policy since at least the Great Society days of the late 1960s.
And finally, any such acknowledgement of the president’s accomplishments would be incomplete without citing that our economy has finally broken the through the stagnant Obama years which liberal economists assured us was to be the new normal. Our leftwingers have conveniently forgotten that 2% growth was supposed to have become the best we could hope for, and today their embarrassment continues to be covered by a constant stream of claims that the tax cuts and regulation rollbacks have had no effect on the economy’s resurgence, which they continue to characterize as “a blip” soon to return to Obama’s legacy of max 2% growth. Now I don’t contend that if we did return to Obamanomics, we really would continue to suffer under a stagnant economy. (more here)
President Trump knows in his bones that the only path forward for the country, both domestically and in foreign policy, requires first and foremost a strong and robustly growing economy. Nothing will work well for the US and the world if we don’t put our economy back in order, and doing the same ol’ same ol’ ain’t gonna cut it. Trump is trying something different while all the naysayers can do is scream ‘it’s not gonna work’, and what about all the Russia allegations that make you a traitor? Today’s Left is no different from Lenin’s Lads for whom denouncing someone was sufficient evidence to march them to the wall. That’s the important stuff they want us to focus on as we head toward November.
[1aug18 update] President Trump tweeted his recommendation (not an order) to AG Sessions to end the endless Mueller investigation. The investigation has demonstrated no progress in matters it was commissioned to investigate, and seems to be going all over the place seeking to show off reasons why we should still consider that his scandal-ladened team should not have their plug pulled. Were I king, or even a Congress critter, I would demand of such off course, long running investigations to make the following representations.
- If they are currently following an evidential trail that has a reasonable terminus in settling the matter under commissioned investigation, then make a statement to that effect, and give an estimate of the time required to conclude the investigation one way or another.
- Document the detailed backup to the claim under #1, along with the evidence in hand that advocates continuation, and seal this information with a sworn affadavit in an envelope to be held by the commissioning agency or court until such time as the investigation ends or is ended.
- When the investigation is concluded, indictments will be issued and/or its termination status is documented (i.e. describing what they then were investigating) and given to the commissioning agent. The sealed documentation under #2 will then be opened to confirm that the investigation was continued as described and properly executed. If that is not found to be the case, and the investigation ended irresolutely, then the investigator will be held to account.
Through such a process the government and people will be assured that what went on was the targeted investigation and not an open-ended witch-hunt, which is what it appears to all Americans who don’t believe Mueller’s apparent policy of ‘we’ll keep looking until we find something to pin on Trump.’ Consider this as another part of Rebane Doctrine.
George you must admit that Trump inherited a much better economy than did Obama.
Posted by: Paul Emery | 30 July 2018 at 11:51 AM
Paul, you must admit that Obama inherited half the national debt that Trump did, and that it was collapse of the Democratic Party sacred cows Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that caused the world of hurt that Obama inherited in the first place.
George, local IT tech Michael P. Anderson went on the record over a year ago that anyone not clamoring for Trump's removal was being treasonous... it isn't a new thought.
Posted by: Gregory | 30 July 2018 at 12:15 PM
So Gregory then you believe the economy was in worse shape in 2017 than it was in 2008.
Posted by: Paul Emery | 30 July 2018 at 12:39 PM
What words to that effect did I write, Paul?
Your straw man don't jump.
Posted by: Gregory | 30 July 2018 at 01:05 PM
PaulE 1151am - We talked about this, I've given it some more thought since then. My conclusion is that at best it's a toss up, and more likely from the point of recovery, Trump inherited a worse economy than did Obama. Why? Because our economic history demonstrates that had Obama just left things alone in 2009, the recovery would have traced the same pattern that it had from recessions for over a century. Instead Obama did about every dumb trick in the book to slow the recovery to a crawl, and then continued to pile on taxes, regulations, and stultifying laws to bake in the "new normal" of 2%/yr.
Trump inherited this mess and had to go through some considerable effort get things off the dime by repatriating offshore monies, reducing taxes, and rolling back butt-stupid regulations. He also had to appear to commerce and consumers like a president who understood the role of a resurgent and vibrant economy for impacting the future of America, this in order to get people out there again looking for jobs (specifically the minorities) and spending money for today AND tomorrow. What a difference an election makes, but your side is doing its damnest to get back in and roll us back on the path (to socialism) that Obama laid out for us, and showed us what it was like to walk it.
Posted by: George Rebane | 30 July 2018 at 01:05 PM
Why not compare the economy from 2013 to 2017? It looks to me like Obama was getting nowhere once the flurry of government cash died down.
I'm liking the word 'traitor'. It is so overused by the Left, that it'll end up in the same bin with 'fascist', 'vile', 'racist', 'hate', 'bigot', etc.
Listen, if you guys are so riled up, why don't you just start your revolution? A bunch of shrieking kids wearing masks in Portland just ain't cuttin' it.
Posted by: scenes | 30 July 2018 at 01:12 PM
Scenes
I have been called from participants on this blob a Facist, a Communist, a Nazi a Racist a Traitor a Sexist a on and on and on. Don't think that it's only the left that throws out accusations of being a Traitor or whatever.
Posted by: Paul Emery | 30 July 2018 at 01:38 PM
George
Lets start with the Stock Market George. Here's 2008:
The DJIA hit a market low of 6,443.27 on March 6, 2009, having lost over 54% of its value since the October 9, 2007 high.
Here's jan 2017 19,881.76
That's a tripling of the market George. Are you saying Trump inherited a worse stock market condition than Obama?
Posted by: Paul Emery | 30 July 2018 at 01:47 PM
PaulE 147pm - Did you not understand my 105pm? Why scurry for the stock market? Stock markets are not the defining parameter of an economy, they can sink or soar in a day if not minutes. Obama left Trump with a stagnant and sclerotic economy that required wisdom and a wholly different policy to revive. Obama needed to do nothing to revive our economy, he just had to get the f#ck out of the way - but that is not the way of central planners and controllers. Also see scenes' 112pm for another relevant observation. Obamanomics was the engine that couldn't - wind it up and watch it stand still.
Posted by: George Rebane | 30 July 2018 at 02:22 PM
re: Paul Emery@1:38PM "I have been called from participants on this blob a Facist, a Communist, a Nazi a Racist a Traitor a Sexist a on and on and on. "
It's 'fascist', from 'fasces', one of those bundle of sticks-with-an-axe thingies that lictors used to tote around.
If anyone called you a Nazi it was all in fun since you are obviously a Commie.
Enough with the equivalency arguments though. It's obvious that the Right (and more specifically the thing that the Right is becoming) got the brunt of nearly all of it and, more interestingly, nobody much cares anymore. All of those hated middle class folks with just regular jobs are starting to find something in common with each other and a bit of a shared political voice. The infamous silent majority is becoming less so.
Where do we end up? Dunno. But I rather like all the hullaballoo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb9x8cl-EEE
Posted by: scenes | 30 July 2018 at 02:25 PM
LOL! Paul coming to the aid, and now defending "O".
Jesus H. Christ Paul, we all lived through the same 8 crappy years
of "O", and now you try and "revise" it? You know damned well "O" ran the nation into the ground via regs and taxes.
The oil industry figured a way AROUND "O"andCo. They went to private lands to drill. Remember that?
"O"'s buds sure got rich on the taxpayer dime. Solyindra ring a bell?
Posted by: Walt | 30 July 2018 at 04:27 PM
A candidate for todays fakewnews of the day in the era of Trump -
https://freebeacon.com/politics/newsweek-frets-former-confederate-leader-stephen-austin-died-1836/
Too rich, newsweeks snowflakes do not even know when the civil war started!
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 30 July 2018 at 04:31 PM
I guess Paul wants to return to massive unemployment and choking taxes. You agree with the Queen of the DEMNED? "Unemployment, food stamps, and welfare are good for America" Paul must agree. That's what he bitching about. Trump put a BIG dent in all of that.
Posted by: Walt | 30 July 2018 at 05:08 PM
'I guess Paul wants to return to massive unemployment and choking taxes.'
Wont matter to him, he has his government subsidized KVMR and old fart fed benefits. Something tells me he gets the earned income tax credit so its others who get choked by taxes.
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 30 July 2018 at 05:21 PM
I would hate to have him as a Great Grandpa. "Gee.. Thanks Gramps,
No, I don't want to live in your basement."
Posted by: Walt | 30 July 2018 at 05:25 PM
,,,po' ol' Trump Lemming Cultists,,,TLC,
just can't stop making shit up,,,
http://theweek.com/speedreads/787256/donald-trump-jr-says-obama-never-broke-2-percent-gdp-growth-did-15-times
Posted by: '''M''' | 30 July 2018 at 05:42 PM
The Stock Market? Well, Facebook made 3.4 billion instead of the expert expectations of 3.5 billion and had a 40% growth in profit and that tanked Zuckie. The Stock Market is not Main St or an good indicator of the here and now.....only looks at tomorrow. Not a good economic indicator all in all.
Goods new for our friends suffering with TAD.
https://m.facebook.com/lastamericapatriots/photos/a.235087906641439.1073741826.235086849974878/1116296988520522/?type=3&source=48
https://m.facebook.com/RowdyConservatives/photos/a.217983685002343.55586.217926015008110/1388859127914787/?type=3&source=48
I can’t resist. Yep, he is a commie pinko.
https://m.facebook.com/RowdyConservatives/photos/a.217983685002343.55586.217926015008110/1388862501247783/?type=3&source=48
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 30 July 2018 at 05:42 PM
You go with that Dougy. LIB media tried to make "O" look good.
Funny how they would rail on one set of numbers,, then bury the revised DOWN GRADE in the obituary.
Nice try "lavender", Now go peddle your BS over at Mommy Jones.
Posted by: Walt | 30 July 2018 at 05:46 PM
13:53, 13:54, 13:55 ………..
“This information on the Trump Tower meeting — that’s not the best information Cohen has.” To which both Cooper and Dershowitz responded: “How do you know that?”
Avenatti stuttered, remarkably unprepared for the most obvious response to his ridiculous statement, then said he won’t explain how he knows these things. Dershowitz responded that Avenatti may have to answer that question in front of an ethics committee: “If they ask you how you had a conversation with a man who was represented by a lawyer and you didn’t ask his lawyer’s permission, and his lawyer is now apparently complaining about that.”
Dershowitz’s response was to stick to whether Avenatti committed an ethical violation: “Are you saying specifically that you were given permission by Michael Cohen’s lawyer to have that conversation with him in the restaurant? That’s a question you should answer specifically, because if you weren’t given permission to have that conversation with Michael Cohen you may have to answer to an ethics committee.”
This is uncontroversial. Dershowitz is an expert on this matter. Avenatti then immediately damned himself: “Alan, Alan guess who gave me permission? Michael Cohen. He gave me permission.”
Dershowitz replied that this is not enough. And he’s right. But it is enough to admit guilt on Avenatti’s part. He strongly implied he didn’t receive permission and therefore violated ABA code. Worst of all his attitude indicates he doesn’t care.
http://thefederalist.com/2018/07/30/harvard-prof-goads-michael-avenatti-admitting-broke-legal-ethics-rules/
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 30 July 2018 at 05:56 PM
Hoseman Bessee
Are you saying I don't deserve my Social Security ?
Posted by: Paul Emery | 30 July 2018 at 07:00 PM
Trumporama has been the most entertaining circus I have been to in a long time, better than Jersey Shore!!!
Posted by: '''M''' | 31 July 2018 at 06:50 AM
PE sez: "Are you saying I don't deserve my Social Security ?"
In the sense that it was subsidized, probably not. People at the lower end get more out than they put it, although it's not as extreme as Medicare.
If you had reported the tip jar to the IRS all of these years, you might be closer to break even.
Posted by: scenes | 31 July 2018 at 07:02 AM
shit gets real
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1024236805477097472
Trump vs the Pelline/Emery/Koch party. My money is on Mr. Two Scoops o' Ice Cream.
Posted by: scenes | 31 July 2018 at 07:05 AM
Trump announces illegal family reunification zone:
https://i.redd.it/92sufqgep7d11.jpg
Posted by: scenes | 31 July 2018 at 07:08 AM
One more.
I knew it all along.....
http://conservative101.com/nbcs-chuck-todd-accuses-trump-helping-economy-distract-russia-investigation/
Posted by: scenes | 31 July 2018 at 07:16 AM
,,,latest side show comedy routine by Trump,,,
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/07/30/ap-fact-check-president-trump-and-his-fictions-about-nato.amp.html
Posted by: ’’’M’’’ | 31 July 2018 at 07:18 AM
@7:16 am
Ah, more proof.
https://babylonbee.com/news/democrats-slam-trump-for-booming-economy/
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 31 July 2018 at 07:59 AM
Posted by: ’’’M’’’ | 31 July 2018 at 07:18 AM
It's good to see all the tired old hippies suddenly spring to the defense of NATO as they morph into Americas new Cold Warrior class!
Remember dugski....don't ask, don't tell.
Posted by: fish | 31 July 2018 at 08:05 AM
" tired old hippies suddenly spring to the defense of NATO as they morph into Americas new Cold Warrior class!"
I have to admit that it is a curiosity. I'm not sure what NATO is protecting against anymore. Also, the fact that the EU is a much tighter political union than was found in 1950's Europe might just imply they can look out for themselves.
The sad part is that it (Trumphate, mostly) keeps the US from pivoting to where the real national adversary will likely pop up, which is China. It's flat embarrassing.
I guess that you always fight the last war, but the mouth breathers in pussyhats aren't helping.
Posted by: scenes | 31 July 2018 at 08:35 AM
Posted by: scenes | 31 July 2018 at 08:35 AM
I'm not sure what NATO is protecting against anymore.......
Other than the buildings I'm not sure there's anything worth defending!
Russia it seems would rather sell Europe natural gas than roll tanks through the Fulda gap! Frankly.....Europe has a much bigger issue.....surviving the "cancer" threat that "multikulti" poses!
Thanks Brussels!
Posted by: fish | 31 July 2018 at 08:43 AM
@ 08:43
Thank goodness you are talking about it. I have been longing for a national conversation about the role of NATO in today’s world. Today’s role seems to be to contain Russia by expanding up to Russia’s borders, a act of provocation in and of itself.
NATO was never ever intended to encroach into the buffer zone countries between the East and West per NATO’s founder as his writings warned us against such current policies.
Not saying there is no place for NATO, albeit I wonder what Turkey is doing in NATO considering only 6-7% of its land mass is in Europe, but I digress. Neither am I saying defense is not important or pooh-poohing National Security concerns.
Guess the US is in NATO to pay for Europe’s defense. What, the other 28 member countries aren’t up to the job? Obliviously not. Only 6% of Germany's NATO troops are prepared for an mission lasting more than 30 days. Germany does not have the food, tents, or gear for a winter assignment lasting more than a week. All of it’s troop and cargo transport planes are currently inoperable, grounded, unfit and unsafe at any speed.
The EU started off as a economic union. Over time, it became a political union, which is the sole reason for Brexit. The very morning after Brexit, plans to form a EU army were thrown on the EU table. They were already drawn up and ready to go. Is NATO now just an EU Army? The EU’s economy is ten times that of Russia. Anybody see a problem here?
Trump was the first and only President in the Post War era to campaign on better relations with Russia. He said “Who knows, it’s worth a try.” Another trading partner...or (from the eyes of a businessman and builder) a way to get the US into Russia’s markets and maybe finding areas of agreements using trade to lower the temperature and open some doors in country to country relations. Heck, it’s one of the reasons we allow so many foreign students in the US....returning to their countries as mini ambassadors for our country. Guess it was not meant to be prima facie, yet Trump is undeterred. Worth a try and worth trying again.
Meanwhile, Germany took advantage of the opening and got Russian natural gas coming directly into their country from Russia passing through the Ukraine another smaller countries directly to Germany. Go figure. Guess we will be in another war if that pipeline is ever cut off by Putin..safeguarding Germany’s voluntary energy dependence on Russia, lol. Well, Angie is a former East German soldier.
Just a dialogue about the role of NATO would be a good start. So far that dialogue has been resisted mightily by the Cold War II warriors. . Ok, Cold War II warriors, containment is your goal. I get it. When Russia is driven into the arms of China and they become closer allies, what will be the policy then? More containment? Keep you friends close and your enemies closer.
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 31 July 2018 at 10:28 AM
BillT 1028am - In any discussion of NATOs role in Russian containment, one should consider -
1. Russia's declining workforce demographic,
2. Russia's growing problem with Islam,
3. China's interest in Russia is focused on getting control resource-rich eastern (trans-Ural) Siberia. China needs Russia for nothing else.
4. Russia has always attempted to integrate with Europe and become part of the European community of countries. But that requires a level of trust that disappeared with the Bolshevik revolution, and it has never returned.
Posted by: George Rebane | 31 July 2018 at 10:48 AM
Here is one for the po' ol' pollhead -
https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/07/31/cnbc-survey-59-approve-trumps-handling-of-economy-most-say-u-s-will-win-trade-war/
The future, he predicted, would feature Trump as America’s leader at least for another six years. “I think that not just because of the strong economy and the fact that people are going to see increasingly rising wages,” Romney said, “but I think it’s also true because I think our Democrat friends are likely to nominate someone who is really out of the mainstream of American thought and will make it easier for a president who’s presiding over a growing economy.”
https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/07/31/obama-aide-dan-pfeiffer-on-trump-2020-bid-democrats-should-be-very-very-worried/
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 31 July 2018 at 11:37 AM
Its the economy stupid -
WASHINGTON — U.S. workers saw their annual wages and benefits rise in the second quarter at the fastest pace in nearly a decade, a sign that the low unemployment rate is forcing employers to raise pay to attract and keep workers.
Pay and benefits for all U.S. workers increased 2.8 percent in the April-June quarter from a year earlier, the most since the third quarter of 2008. Total compensation for private industry workers — which excludes state and local employees — rose 2.9 percent, the best since the second quarter of 2008.
The unemployment rate is near an 18-year low of 4 percent, leaving employers scrambling to find the workers they need. There are more open jobs than there are unemployed workers, according to government data, for the first time since records began in 2000.
A separate measure of wages and salaries for private sector workers rose 2.9 percent in the past year, matching March's gain and the highest in nearly a decade.
http://www.startribune.com/pay-gains-for-us-workers-slowed-in-second-quarter/489623991/
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 31 July 2018 at 12:54 PM
Sure looking that way -
A Chicago-based newspaper columnist predicted re-election for President Trump in 2020 after witnessing first-hand the enthusiastic support for the president among blue-collar workers.
Neil Steinberg attended a recent appearance by the president at a U.S. Steel facility in Granite City, Illinois, outside St. Louis. He wrote about speaking to steel workers and seeing how Trump connected with the audience.
The workers, for their part, couldn’t give him a standing ovation because they never sat down.
I left the hall thinking: Donald Trump is going to be re-elected in 2020. The Democrats don’t have anyone who can touch him. Bank on it. Don’t hate me for being the one to tell you.
http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/07/31/chicago-columnist-after-trump-speech-dems-cant-touch-him-2020
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 31 July 2018 at 01:43 PM
Talk about desperate -
Because most of that land falls on the eastern, more conservative part of the state, one of the leaders of the group, Marcus Ruiz Evans, noted in a prepared statement that a side benefit would be to create a “buffer zone between Donald Trump's America and the new independent California Republic.”
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/31/california-secede-america-effort-752491
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 31 July 2018 at 05:41 PM
George R your site is truly wonderful in that you speak your opinion, and then allow others to express theirs also. So revealing who the real hypocrats are. Another local site always labels individuals extremists if they don't agree with the producer. And won't even let those who disagree do so. Those who do are hammered, and eventually censored. Too damned funny that this mentality has abused the meaning of liberal! Even funnier is those who inhabit that totalitarian website come to yours in order to express their viewpoint. Bless you're heart GR for your intelligence and generosity!
Posted by: Bonnie McGuire | 31 July 2018 at 07:51 PM
Emperor XI has no silk clothes -
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2018/07/30/trade-war-casualties-factories-shifting-out-of-china/
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 31 July 2018 at 09:28 PM
Back to NATO and Traitors. For a gut check, Pat Buchanan always has a good perspective on such matters.
http://buchanan.org/blog/is-putins-russia-an-evil-empire-129726
Posted by: Bill Tozer | 31 July 2018 at 10:13 PM
BonnieM 751pm - Thanks for the kind words Bonnie.
Posted by: George Rebane | 01 August 2018 at 06:50 AM
Its the economy stupid -
Medium-sized businesses, which employ 50 to 499 people, added the most payrolls in July as they created 119,000. Larger businesses, meanwhile, expanded their payrolls by 48,000. Small businesses, which employ one to 49 people, say payrolls grow by 52,000.
Meanwhile, the goods-producing sector saw payrolls increase by 42,000, led by a 23,000 gain in manufacturing jobs and 17,000 additions in construction.
"The labor market is on a roll with no signs of a slowdown in sight," said Ahu Yildirmaz, vice president and co-head of the ADP Research Institute. "Nearly every industry posted strong gains and small business hiring picked up."
https://www.cnbc.com/2018/08/01/adp-private-payrolls-increase-by-219000-vs-185000-estimate.html
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 01 August 2018 at 10:03 AM
Not a good start for the Muller team -
Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s prosecutors were lectured by a federal judge on Wednesday for the language they’ve used in the courtroom, as the trial of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort entered its second day.
U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III specifically told prosecutors to stop using the word “oligarch” to describe wealthy Ukrainians, whose dealings with Manafort are at the heart of the fraud charges he faces in northern Virginia federal court.
The judge said the term has a “pejorative” meaning and is not relevant in this case. Further, he cautioned that using it could suggest Manafort is associated with bad people – and guilty by association.
“It’s not the American way,” the judge said. He noted that wealthy donors like George Soros or the Koch brothers also could be considered oligarchs.
The Mueller team was later rebuffed again by Ellis when they tried to introduce photos that eventually would become public of Manafort’s closets filled with suits and high-end clothing.
While it’s part of their effort to paint Manafort as a tax scofflaw who spent big on luxury items, Ellis would not allow the photos for now.
“Enough is enough. We don’t convict people because they have a lot of money and throw it around,” he said.
Ellis has scolded members of Mueller’s team before, asserting back in May that the team was really interested in targeting President Trump.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/08/01/mueller-team-lectured-by-judge-in-manafort-case.html
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 01 August 2018 at 10:18 AM
https://www.breitbart.com/radio/2018/07/31/exclusive-don-luskin-trump-will-win-the-trade-war-because-china-is-a-fragile-lawless-slave-state/
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 01 August 2018 at 10:28 AM
BULLSEYE MR PRESIDENT AND MAD DOG!! Right between the weak spots! That insular arrogant Nazi emperor XI has 0itis, a massive delusion resulting from 0's kowtowing!
Take a minute and think about their internal process that made them think this was a good idea, TALK ABOUT INTERFERING IN OTHER COUNTRIES POLITICAL PROCESS! What say you Dems?
Perhaps all the socialist/dem/communist talk emboldened them. The pigs squealed loudly.
Beijing pushed back Thursday after Congress passed the 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), insisting that this bill which aims to curb malign Chinese activities must not become law.
Noting that the Chinese government has made its position known multiple times, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuang said, "We urge the US to discard its outdated cold-war and zero-sum mentality."
The US "must not let this bill containing negative Chinese-related content become law," he added, stressing that the US risks "undermining China-US relations and cooperation."
https://www.businessinsider.com/beijing-blasts-us-defense-bill-designed-to-check-china-2018-8
God Bless Mad Dog and The Prez for reminding them we are not supplicants and they do not dictate to us (well not all of us).
https://www.businessinsider.com/beijing-blasts-us-defense-bill-designed-to-check-china-2018-8
;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 02 August 2018 at 06:59 PM
Lets PILE ON!
The Atlanta Federal Reserve's GDPNow model, which uses available economic data to predict the current quarter's GDP growth, stood at 5% on Thursday, up slightly from an initial estimate of 4.7%.
https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-gdp-growth-q3-third-quarter-strong-2018-8
It sucks staying inside on these toxic air days but hey, its nice to help educate. ;-)
Posted by: Don Bessee | 02 August 2018 at 08:02 PM