US politics general thread

[rietrot]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news...rotection-order-velasquez-20180402-story.html

UCF student who idolized mass shooters online can buy guns, judge decides



ButtheFBI

Yeah America judges are idiots. I've been saying it all along.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

The Pruitt scandal train keeps running...

Scott Pruitt asked to use sirens in D.C. traffic and was told no for non-emergency

Several weeks after taking the helm of the Environmental Protection Agency, Administrator Scott Pruitt was running late and stuck in Washington, D.C., traffic. Sources tell CBS News that he wanted to use his vehicle's lights and sirens to get to his official appointment, but the lead agent in charge of his security detail advised him that sirens were to be used only in emergencies.

Less than two weeks later that agent was removed from Pruitt's detail, reassigned to a new job within the EPA.

Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Tom Carper also said in the letter that they want to know why Perrotta and one of his business partners received an EPA security contract. Perrotta, they noted, citing the Associated Press, runs a side business called the Sequoia Security Group. His business partner, Edwin Steinmetz, who runs another security company, was awarded a $3,000 contract to sweep Pruitt's office for bugs. "Two other contracts," both under the $3,500 threshold for public reporting, "were given for the purchase of biometric locks."

Special Agent Eric Weese, a 16-year veteran of the EPA, was replaced by Pasquale "Nino" Perotta.

Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Tom Carper also said in the letter that they want to know why Perrotta and one of his business partners received an EPA security contract. Perrotta, they noted, citing the Associated Press, runs a side business called the Sequoia Security Group. His business partner, Edwin Steinmetz, who runs another security company, was awarded a $3,000 contract to sweep Pruitt's office for bugs. "Two other contracts," both under the $3,500 threshold for public reporting, "were given for the purchase of biometric locks."

"These facts raise questions about Mr. Perrotta's compliance with EPA regulations and concerns that he may have used his position at the agency to influence the award of EPA contracts to a person or company in which he has a financial interest," the Senators wrote.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

F.B.I. Raids Office of Trump’s Longtime Lawyer Michael Cohen

The F.B.I. on Monday raided the office of President Trump’s longtime personal lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, seizing records related to several topics including payments to a pornographic-film actress.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan obtained the search warrant after receiving a referral from the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, according to Mr. Cohen’s lawyer, who called the search “completely inappropriate and unnecessary.” The search does not appear to be directly related to Mr. Mueller’s investigation, but likely resulted from information he had uncovered and gave to prosecutors in New York.

 

[greg0205]

^

@Limericking

There’s just been an FBI raid
On Cohen, who acted to aid
His longtime employer,
A mistress-enjoyer,
By getting such mistresses paid.

http://twitter.com/Limericking/status/983449491100577793

 

[OrbitalDawn]

LOL.

Trump: Farmers will understand if they get hurt in China trade spat

President Trump on Monday acknowledged that U.S. farmers could take a hit from trade disputes with China but said they will ultimately "understand" why the confrontation is necessary.

“But if we do a deal with China, if, during the course of a negotiation they want to hit the farmers because they think that hits me, I wouldn’t say that's nice. But I tell you, our farmers are great patriots,” Trump said.

 

[greg0205]

An Internal Email Contradicts Scott Pruitt's Account of Controversial Raises

An email that suggests Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt personally signed off on a controversial pay raise for a favored aide last month is roiling the agency.

In the last few days, top staffers became aware of an email exchange between one of two aides who received such a raise and the agency’s human resources division. In mid-March, Sarah Greenwalt, senior counsel to the administrator, wrote to HR in an attempt to confirm that her pay raise of $56,765 was being processed. Greenwalt “definitively stated that Pruitt approves and was supportive of her getting a raise,” according to an administration official who has seen the email chain.

 

[greg0205]

F.B.I. Raids Office of Trump’s Longtime Lawyer Michael Cohen

Jefferson Beauregard getting fired by tweet or Syrian bombing incoming in 3... 2...

 

[OrbitalDawn]

U.S. Deficit to Surpass $1 Trillion Two Years Ahead of Estimates

The U.S. budget deficit will surpass $1 trillion by 2020, two years sooner than previously estimated, as tax cuts and spending increases signed by President Donald Trump do little to boost long-term economic growth, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Seems totally legit.

Sessions Turned to Convicted Fundraiser for Advice on U.S. Attorneys

Preparing to restock the Department of Justice at the start of the Trump administration, Jeff Sessions sought out Elliott Broidy for recommendations. The Republican donor’s conviction in a political corruption case years earlier didn’t seem to be a problem.

 

[rietrot]

U.S. Deficit to Surpass $1 Trillion Two Years Ahead of Estimates

Exacly why the trade wars are needed.

 

[Techne]

Why Trump is more popular than ever
The near total irrelevance of the MSM is probably a bigly factor

It is quite funny that democrats now all of a sudden bitch and moan about trillion dollar deficits. Hypocrites.

These terrible deficits just once again demonstrate how elites screw over the average Joe and the politicians they elect. Bitching and moaning won't do anything to solve the ponzi monetary scheme. And neither the Republicans nor Democrats have the will or power to fix it.

 

[konfab]

[video=youtube;M28aYkLRlm0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M28aYkLRlm0[/video]

I love the conversation with that Neocon POS.

Tucker: What is the American national security interest that would be served by regime change in Syria?
Neocon: Well if you care about Israel...

 

[Pieter2008]

The real scary part is that 99% of the world has no idea what is going down at the moment.

And if you think this is just another "conflict" in the middle east - you've got a big surprise coming.

 

[Unhappy438]

Mueller Investigating Ukrainian’s $150,000 Payment for a Trump Appearance

Sure are a lot of witches turning up in this witch hunt.

 

[Techne]

[video=youtube;M28aYkLRlm0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M28aYkLRlm0[/video]

I love the conversation with that Neocon POS.

Tucker: What is the American national security interest that would be served by regime change in Syria?
Neocon: Well if you care about Israel...

Clever senator, he knows AIPAC butters his bread. And he is right, it is essential that the US bombs Syria if Israel is to complete its plan for a Greater Israel. Silly little goyim, don't you care for Israel?

Funny how bombing Syria has become a bipartisan chorus blasted to all earlobes by the MSM. The MSM owners must love it...

 

[access]

[video=youtube;M28aYkLRlm0]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M28aYkLRlm0[/video]

I love the conversation with that Neocon POS.

Tucker: What is the American national security interest that would be served by regime change in Syria?
Neocon: Well if you care about Israel...

lol so blatantly obvious


what is this american strategic interest in syria the senator is talking of?

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Sinclair TV chairman to Trump: 'We are here to deliver your message'

The chairman of Sinclair Broadcast Group met Donald Trump at the White House during a visit to pitch a potentially lucrative new product to administration officials, the Guardian has learned.

David D Smith, whose company has been criticised for making its anchors read a script echoing Trump’s attacks on the media, said he briefed officials last year on a system that would enable authorities to broadcast direct to any American’s phone.

“I just wanted them to be aware of the technology,” Smith said in an interview. He also recalled an earlier meeting with Trump during the 2016 election campaign, where he told the future president: “We are here to deliver your message.”

 

[OrbitalDawn]

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Cue blaming of Democrats.

Corker: Tax cuts could be 'one of the worst votes I've made'

Retiring Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker (R) said his vote on the GOP tax law could be one of the worst of his career if estimates that it will add $1.9 trillion to deficits over a decade prove correct.

“If it ends up costing what has been laid out here, it could well be one of the worst votes I’ve made,” he said at a Senate Budget Committee hearing on the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimate that produced the figure.

“I hope that is not the case, I hope there’s other data to assist, whether it’s jobs or growth or whatever,” Corker added.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Oh look, the NRA lied about this, too. How surprising.

NRA, In New Document, Acknowledges More Than 20 Russian-Linked Contributors

The National Rifle Association has accepted contributions from about 23 Russians, or Americans living in Russia, since 2015, the gun rights group acknowledged to Congress.

The NRA said in a letter to Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., unveiled on Wednesday, that the sum it received from those people was just over $2,500 and most of that was "routine payments" for membership dues or magazine subscriptions.

About $525 of that figure was from "two individuals who made contributions to the NRA."

Wyden has been querying the NRA about its Russia connections following press reports that suggest the FBI is investigating whether Russians might have tried to use the NRA or other political organizations as part of their attack on the 2016 election.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Pompeo failed to disclose Chinese business connection

CIA Director Mike Pompeo failed to disclose last year that he owned a Kansas business that imported oilfield equipment from a company owned by the Chinese government.

That omission, on the questionnaire Pompeo was required to fill out for Senate confirmation to lead the spy agency, could cause a problem for him in Thursday’s confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to be President Donald Trump's secretary of state.

The issue with the Chinese company, which was confirmed in a series of documents obtained by McClatchy this week, never came up during his confirmation hearings last year. Many senators contacted Wednesday were reluctant to comment until they had more information.