[Breitbart] Fox News reports: Critics who thought the U.S. opened the UN’s anti-Israel floodgates by abstaining on a vote condemning settlements last week say an obscure subsequent move by the world body to establish a "blacklist" of Israeli companies proved them right. That is correct, she too had a rather dark side.
Lost amid the angry words that followed the Dec. 23 UN Security Council vote that critics called an American betrayal of Israel was a Christmas Eve appropriation of $138,700 to fund a database of companies doing business in the West Bank. The measure puts UN prestige behind the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, say critics.
"The types of data they are talking about acquiring would be to form the basis for future sanctions against companies that did business on the West Bank," Fox News contributor and former U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton told FoxNews.com. "That’s the only purpose of it that I can see."
[NYT] LOS ANGELES -- Girding for four years of potential battles with President-elect Donald J. Trump, Democratic leaders of the California Legislature announced Wednesday that they had hired Eric H. Holder Jr., who was attorney general under President Obama, to represent them in any legal fights against the new Republican White House.
The decision by the Legislature to retain Mr. Holder, who is now a prominent Washington lawyer, is the latest sign of the ideological battle that may play out over the next four years between this predominantly Democratic state and Washington. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate for president, defeated Mr. Trump by more than four million votes here.
"Having the former attorney general of the United States brings us a lot of firepower in order to prepare to safeguard the values of the people of California," Kevin de León, the Democratic leader of the Senate, said in an interview. "This means we are very, very serious."
Mr. de León said he expected California to challenge Washington -- and defend itself from policies instituted in Washington -- on issues including the environment, immigration and criminal justice. He said California Democrats decided to turn to Mr. Holder as they watched Mr. Trump assemble his cabinet and begin to set the tone for his presidency.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
01/04/2017 11:06 Comments ||
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#3
"Having the former attorney general of the United States brings us a lot of firepower in order to prepare to safeguard the values of the people of California Mexican government," Kevin de León, the Democratic leader of the Senate, said in an interview. "This means we are very, very serious."
Fixed it for ya, Kevin.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
01/04/2017 11:08 Comments ||
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#4
I guess nothing ever came of the Congressional contempt charge against Holder. I recall something about Obama citing executive privilege and not prosecuting Holder despite a vote by Congress in the affirmative.
#5
I guess nothing ever came of the Congressional contempt charge against Holder.
If Repubs are smart (yeah, I know, big IF), they'd make sure that contempt of Congress charge hobbles / prevents Holder from doing his 'job', if it doesn't already.
#7
"Having the former attorney general of the United States brings us a lot of firepower.."
Not nearly as much firepower if most of his cronies are no longer working for the Justice department, and the rest have had the fear of God put in them.
[WAPO] A day of pageantry to open the 115th Congress and usher in a new period of Republican governance was overtaken Tuesday by an embarrassing reversal on ethics oversight, with the GOP gripped by internal division and many lawmakers seeking to shield themselves from extensive scrutiny.
The 19 hours of tumult was set in motion the night before behind closed doors at the Longworth House Office Building, where Republican lawmakers decided over the objections of Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) to amend House rules to effectively gut the independent Office of Congressional Ethics.
They awoke Tuesday to an intense public outcry. Social media lit up with criticism of representatives trying to rein in the ethics office created a decade ago in the aftermath of scandals. Angry constituents inundated their representatives’ offices with calls of protest. Journalists peppered lawmakers with questions. The halls of the Capitol felt chaotic.
Then, shortly after 10 a.m., came the loudest objection of all: A pair of tweets from President-elect Donald Trump scolding Congress for making the weakening of the ethics watchdog its "number one act and priority." He punctuated his second tweet with the hashtag "DTS" -- shorthand for "drain the swamp," one of his campaign-trail mantras.
"In two tweets, Trump wrote: “With all that Congress has to work on, do they really have to make the weakening of the Independent Ethics Watchdog, as unfair as it ........ may be, their number one act and priority. Focus on tax reform, healthcare and so many other things of far greater importance! #DTS” Link
#4
Republican lawmakers decided over the objections of Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) to amend House rules...
...a pair of tweets from President-elect Donald Trump scolding Congress...
The Mr. Trump quickly and effectively backed up the Speaker, very likely without the help being requested. That kind of quid earns a bunch of pro quo down the line. Especially because the Democratic press would have written endless stories about no-ethics Republicans -- I'd already seen the indignation start on Facebook.
And this is exactly the kind of thing it never would have occurred to President Obama to do.
#5
This independent Office of Congressional Ethics is in serious need of some changes if not just jettisoning it. However, making that the first order of business considering the bad optics was just foolish. I'm glad the President-elect jumped in. I think we will see a very hands on Presidency with Trump, and a yuuuuge amount of push back on the press and the slimy Democrats/RINO's.
They are not accustomed that.
Posted by: Andy de Medici5556 ||
01/04/2017 7:41 Comments ||
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#6
I would agree with Andy. While I don't know enough about the panel to venture an informed opinion, the optics on this is horrible. They definitely should have waited a few months.
#8
A lot of Democrats, especially the Black Caucus, don't like it, either.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
01/04/2017 11:43 Comments ||
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#9
Whose idea was this?
And pageantry? Who writes this crap? Stupid idea which must be struck down, whoever has the majority. As in, 'Oi, there was a bit 'o pageantry when I caught my child trying to grab a sugar cookie for breakfast.'
In a video from December 30, 2016, CNN used footage from Fallout’s hacking mini-game to show how “Russians” hack the United States.
This fact has been first spotted by by Reddit user “Poofylicious”, who put together the explainer:
US President Barack Obama’s decision to implement additional sanctions against Russia over unproven allegations about Moscow’s hacking efforts during the US Presidential Election has been already widely criticized. However, this has not stopped CNN using footage of a Fallout 4 computer to contribute to Obama’s effort to complicate the expected warming-up between Moscow and Washington as soon as Donald Trump officially enters the office.
Meanwhile, users already noted that it will be pretty hard for the Russians to hack the United States using the computers in Fallout 4. Computers in the video game are not connected to the internet: in this alternative history, the United States never makes it that far into the future.
Posted by: Frozen Al ||
01/04/2017 00:00 ||
Comments ||
Link ||
[11124 views]
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#1
LOL. Epic Fail.
The 'hacking terminal' in Fallout 4 (and 3) are more a guessing game than anything else.
As shown in the article you are given 6-8 or more words interspread with special characters and you get set number of 'tries' to select the 'password' After each failed selection it will tell you how many characters in the selected word are correct and in the correct position. So if you think about it you can almost always figure out which is the right word. And even if you dont' and use up all your attempts, it resets itself and you can try again in 30 wecond wiht a new puzzle and password.
Almost as easy to crack as Hillary's email server.
There was even an android app which would figure it out for you.
[USAToday] Two months after her election loss, Hillary Clinton plans to be in the crowd for the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
An aide to the Democratic nominee confirmed Tuesday that she and former president Bill Clinton will attend this month's ceremony, speaking on condition of anonymity until plans are announced publicly.
It will be the first joint public appearance by Trump and Hillary Clinton since the three presidential debates that preceded Trump's surprise election victory.
Bill Clinton will be one at least three ex-presidents at the Jan. 20 inauguration of Trump; George W. Bush and Jimmy Carter have also announced plans to attend.
Bush and former first lady Laura Bush "are pleased to be able to witness the peaceful transfer of power — a hallmark of American democracy," spokesman Freddy Ford said Tuesday.
Former president George H.W. Bush is not expected to attend because of health reasons.
As is tradition, current President Obama will also be at the inauguration of his successor.
[The Hill] The president-elect insinuated that the meeting was delayed because intelligence agencies don't have enough evidence to prove Russia's involvement.
"The 'Intelligence' briefing on so-called 'Russian hacking' was delayed until Friday, perhaps more time needed to build a case. Very strange!" Trump tweeted.
#2
The leftists are claiming the briefing was always scheduled for Friday. Haven't been able to verify that.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
01/04/2017 11:50 Comments ||
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#3
"mysterious senior intel coward" afraid to give his name claims the briefing was always scheduled for Friday... Yep, credibility is just dripping from the Mr. Mysterious...aka Ben Rhodes.
#4
If it was always scheduled for Friday, why would their boss, the future president who has up 'til now refused most government intel briefings, have thought it was scheduled for yesterday?
[Wash Times] President Obama will leave office after eight years of strutting even while sitting down, of preening even while standing up, of swanking while playing 18 holes. Yet he remains the first president in American history to cast no shadow. Jimmy Carter cast a pale and minuscule shadow. Lyndon Johnson cast an obscene shadow. Mr. Obama leaves absolutely no shadow, even in the moonlight.
Provide me with a picture of this president, standing beneath the white columned portico of the White House, the sun on his face, a gray shadow behind him and I will eat my hat. I might even eat your hat. The reason he casts no shadow anyplace is that there is no substance to him, not even a smudge. He is almost a totally illusory figure.
The last time I drew attention to Mr. Obama’s lamentable condition some readers scoffed at me and pointed to Obamacare, which has practically wrecked the health care system of millions of Americans. Surely that disaster casts a long and dark shadow behind the 44th president, they admonished. I remained serene. And what about Mr. Obama’s dealings with Israel, our most loyal ally in the Middle East? Just the other day one of his henchpersons ambushed Israel in the U.N. Security Council. Admittedly, there have been setbacks suffered by the United States while this incompetent was in office but I believe they will be short-lived. Donald Trump is coming to town and he is bringing with him an exceptional Cabinet. Already he is threatening to erase Mr. Obama’s foolishness, and he is doing it on Twitter. Wait until he is seated in the Oval Office with the power of the other two branches of government behind him. In the end, it will be seen that I was right, as I was right in calling the last election: Mr. Obama leaves no shadow, not even a legacy; Donald Trump won on Nov. 8.
President Trump will arrive at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue carrying an attache case bulging with executive orders to rescind and agency regulations to nullify. I am sure he is aware that for years the 44th president and his servitors have been promulgating regulations large and small to give the bureaucracy ever more intrusive control over business and the citizenry. Mr. Trump will as he promised cut the waste, rein in government, and "drain the swamp."
#3
I disagree. He will be an outspoken critic of everything Trump and the Republicans will do. he has a lemming-type following that will believe anything he says and he has an obedient media to give him all the air time he wants.
Posted by: Deacon Blues ||
01/04/2017 11:48 Comments ||
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#4
What Deacon Blues said - that's why he's renting (ha ha ha!) that house in Georgetown. He might as well renovate the garage to house the media.
(I mean have it renovated - I'd die laughing watching him try to rip sheetrock off a wall.)
#7
Oh he will continue to throw his little temper tantrums. Even after most people have realized he is bad news and shun him. He is looking forward to being about as influential as the Rev. Jessie Jackson is today.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.