[Daily Caller] Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Caller News Foundation, Chris Bedford, shed light on a hacking scandal Wednesday surrounding Democratic Rep. Yvette Clarke and her possible ties to Pakistan.
"These allegations bring a new kind of allegation to the whole Awan case. So far we’ve really been dealing with hacking and unauthorized access to networks, possibly ferreting information back to Pakistan," Bedford said on Fox Business’ "Mornings With Maria." "Now we actually have people who are implicating a chief of staff for a congresswoman, Yvette Clarke. Chief of staff Shelley Davis."
#3
Only the most incompetent of intelligence services would fail to exploit the long-standing placement and access of the Awan's. Espionage was most assuredly involved. And yes, "fiduciary malfeasance" is a very likely default and cover for action.
If however, gov't laptops and other IT related hardware were being illegally disposed of, it would be very instructive to learn where the proceeds ended up.
#4
Pooh stumbled. A pouch full of money.
Beside it, a pot labeled "hunny."
A bag for the Pak
And for Vinni a snack
Though it smelled just a little bit funny.
Cuz we can't possibly be as stupid as we look here, can we? And LCS and Lightnin' II are just clever ways to bankrupt copycat adversaries and divert resources to space... right? I know... y'all can't tell me. I'll go ask Santa.
[Townhall] A new study on racial disparities in police conduct found that differences in offending by suspects, not racism, explains officers' responses.
In the study "Is There Evidence of Racial Disparity in Police Use of Deadly Force?" professors from Michigan State and Arizona State universities analyzed officer-involved fatal shootings in 2015 and 2016. The report's abstract says: "We benchmark two years of fatal shooting data on 2016 crime rate estimates. When adjusting for crime, we find no systematic evidence of anti-black disparities in fatal shootings, fatal shootings of unarmed citizens, or fatal shootings involving misidentification of harmless objects... Exposure to police given crime rate differences likely accounts for the higher per capita rate of fatal police shootings for blacks, at least when analyzing all shootings. For unarmed shootings or misidentification shootings, data are too uncertain to be conclusive."
Two recent studies found cops more reluctant to use deadly force against blacks, including one by a black Harvard economist. Professor Roland G. Fryer Jr. concluded: "On the most extreme use of force -- officer-involved shootings -- we find no racial differences in either the raw data or when contextual factors are taken into account."
[Charlotte Observer] North Carolina will place new limits on how and when neighbors of hog farms can sue the agriculture businesses next door.
The state legislature gave final approval on Wednesday to a bill that restricts nuisance lawsuits against farms and other livestock and forestry operations. The state House voted 74 to 45 in the morning to override a veto that Gov. Roy Cooper issued on Monday. The Senate voted on Tuesday to reverse the governor's action.
"Overriding this veto and correcting Gov. Cooper’s unwise decision sends the clear message to our family farmers and rural communities that they have a voice in the legislature and that this General Assembly intends to give them the respect they deserve," Sen. Brent Jackson, a Sampson County Republican and farmer, said in a statement. "This was never a partisan issue or about politics, but about doing what is right, and I am glad we had bipartisan support in both chambers as we stand up for our farmers."
The North Carolina Farm Act, or Senate Bill 711, sparked heated debate in the General Assembly. Rep. Billy Richardson, a Fayetteville Democrat and attorney, and Rep. John Blust, a Guilford County Republican and attorney, gave impassioned speeches, urging their fellow lawmakers not to put any more limits on the hog farm neighbors. They said the curbs went against bedrock principles on which this country was built.
#1
The state legislature gave final approval on Wednesday to a bill that restricts nuisance lawsuits against farms and other livestock and forestry operations.
[DAWN] AFTER 15 years in power, both as prime minister and president of The Sick Man of Europe Turkey ...the only place on the face of the earth that misses the Ottoman Empire.... , Sultan Recep Tayyip Erdogan the First ... Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him. It's a sin, a shame, and a felony to insult the president of Turkey... is set to start a new term as president following his party’s election victory on Sunday. Securing just over 52pc of the vote, the veteran politician survived a challenge mounted by the opposition CHP. While Turkey indeed has come a long way under Mr Erdogan and the AKP’s watch, these successes should not lead to a democratically elected autocracy, as the Ottoman Turkish leader is set to assume a more powerful presidency, with the office of prime minister eliminated. By and large, the vote was fair and the turnout was high (over 80pc), though some observers said there were a few attacks on opposition candidates. As stated, Mr Erdogan will now occupy an even more powerful presidency, approved in a referendum last year; this concentration of powers is worrying and Turkey’s democratic gains must be preserved and strengthened under the new government.
Both internally and externally, Mr Erdogan faces numerous challenges. For example, his vow to go after the Kurdish PKK in Iraq and Syria will certainly not go down well with Turkey’s own Kurds. Moreover, the previous AKP-led government’s crackdown on opponents and those suspected to be linked to holy manFethullah Gülen ... a Turkish preacher living in Pennsylvania whom the current govt of Turkey considers responsible for all the ills afflicting Turkey and possibly the entire world... was a troubling development. Opponents of the government must be free to organise and express themselves, within constitutional bounds, and should not be subjected to a witch hunt. Turkey’s economic situation is also fragile, while the war in Syria next door is far from over. These complications require an inclusive approach from the new government. Whether it is the Kurds or political opponents, the new government in Ankara must take all segments of society along and tolerate differences. This will strengthen Ottoman Turkish democracy and block the path of quarters trying to grab power in an extra-constitutional manner, as was witnessed during the botched coup of 2016.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/28/2018 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Sublime Porte
[PJ] WASHINGTON -- House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said those pushing tariffs have to be mindful of the consequence of escalating taxes as President Trump threatened that Harley-Davidson would be "taxed like never before" for moving some operations overseas.
The company said the move is necessary because of the $3.4 billion tariffs the EU began levying Friday in retaliation for Trump's 25 percent steel and 10 percent aluminum tariffs. Nearly 40,000 Harleys were sold in the EU last year; the new tariffs on motorcycles jumped as high as 31 percent.
"Harley-Davidson maintains a strong commitment to U.S.-based manufacturing which is valued by riders globally," the company said Monday. "Increasing international production to alleviate the EU tariff burden is not the company’s preference, but represents the only sustainable option to make its motorcycles accessible to customers in the EU and maintain a viable business in Europe. Europe is a critical market for Harley-Davidson."
#1
Let Harley produce those 40K bikes overseas. Then tax the $340 billion/year of automobile imports at 30% so that production moves to America. Fair trade-off.
#3
As Eddie Munster fades into the sunset, he has to keep yammering. I sure hope we get good coverage of whatever lobbying shop picks him up and what companies they work for so I can spend my money elsewhere. Same goes for any boards of directors he winds up on.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/28/2018 10:36 Comments ||
Top||
#4
So trump is going after the EU tariffs. He is trying to help Harley our, and they show loyalty by moving production? Harley has a couple of problems. First is bad management. They make terrible decisions. From the outside it looks like family agendas and group think take over. But I'm not on the inside so I don't know. What we do know is motorcycle purchases are down 40% from ten years ago. Not just Harley. The EU is seeing a market growth in bike and Harley has worked hard at capturing it. Moving small parts of production outside the US on focused markets is ok. Harley is planning on making bike in the market for that market. No one in the US want an EU styled bike. So let them. The bad corporate decision was to go public and blame trump for something already in the works. Stupid, stupid.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
06/28/2018 10:39 Comments ||
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#5
Plenty of 'retired' HDs out there that grandpa is wanting to sell.
#7
When HD bought the business back from Brunswick/AMF they left quality behind and embraced mass manufacturing standards. So the market was flooded with inferior products.
But America didn't want to buy quality, they wanted cheap.
#9
My guess is that a lot of the HDs sold in the last 30 years were to Boomers looking to recapture their youth. As they have gotten older the allure of bug spattered teeth has gotten dim.
#10
You can get a used one for $4500-$5500 if you are willing to take care of the previous owner's neglect. Even worse than new cars when it comes to "the value halves when you drive it off the lot."
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
06/28/2018 18:47 Comments ||
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#11
Since we seem to have a lot of experts here, at Rantburg U, my car's (Mazda Damio) engine starting to go up and down when I stop at red light - anybody knows what it means?
#20
A lot of folks talk about the quality issues. Back in the amf days that's true. But Fridays Harley is as good as any bike out there. And with the new motors, they are just as fast.
Posted by: 49 Pan ||
06/28/2018 19:13 Comments ||
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#21
Thanks again (I was afraid it's something serious).
Should have put Willet in there - Already confirmed for fed circuit by Trump's appointment last year, so that greases the skids for the hearings and reduces the mudslinging the Dems can do.
FormerSupreme Court of Texas for 12 years, Cheif Justice for many of those. Willett’s jurisprudence emphasizes limitations on the state’s police power, broad views of economic liberty and property rights. Very qualified. And young in 40s. Means he will be on the court 30+ years.
Big Guy, reconsider.
Drop Barret. No real background record, and is a law school prof.
Thapar is a conservative, but he owes his career advancement to McConnell. Nuf said.
Kethledge's opinions speak well for him (he was the one that slammed the IRS lawyers for dodging around). He's a good one
Kavanaugh wrote a dissent about the upholding of Obamacare constitutionality. He's pretty good from what I read as well.
#2
Here’s the tweets from CBS reporter Jan Crawford confirming this
Really, from the Legacy Infotainment Enterprises? I can wait for the 'official' announcement. At this time in history, it wouldn't be beyond the WH to play games upon the media, just for grins.
[Wash Times] President Trump blasted Rep. Maxine Waters and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Wednesday, the morning after three primary upsets meant losses for the Democratic establishment.
Mr. Trump accused the two California congresswoman of weakening the country.
Congratulations to Maxine Waters, whose crazy rants have made her, together with Nancy Pelosi, the unhinged FACE of the Democrat Party. Together, they will Make America Weak Again! But have no fear, America is now stronger than ever before, and I’m not going anywhere!
‐ Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 27, 2018
Mrs. Pelosi and Ms. Waters have both been involved in politics since the 1980s.
However, Tuesday night’s elections shook up the Democratic Party.
Three Democratic primaries in New York, Maryland and Colorado resulted in more progressive wins for the party over more establishment candidates. Ben Jealous took the Democrat slot in Maryland’s gubernatorial race, and Rep. Jared Polis won the nomination in Colorado.
The biggest upset of the night was in New York, as newcomer Democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defeated Rep. Joseph Crowley. Mr. Crowley was in line for party leadership prior to his defeat Tuesday.
#3
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance,and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."-
~ Winston Churchill
#5
That is the genius of the tweets. The opposition is so obsessed with finding mistakes with the tweets they are blind to their own problems. And the best part is they can't help themselves.
[DAWN] THE Islamic parties that have experienced a steep decline in their electoral clout over the years are now going into the 2018 elections hoping for a better outcome. The revival of the, albeit truncated, Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) is aimed at regaining some lost political space for the religious elements. The coming together of the squabbling religious groups would certainly add to their electoral weight. But can the Islamic political alliance offer a viable alternative to the voters thus making inroads into the existing power matrix?
Essentially, a united front of the JUI-F and the Jamaat-e-Islami ...The Islamic Society, founded in 1941 in Lahore by Maulana Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi, aka The Great Apostosizer. The Jamaat opposed the independence of Bangladesh but has operated an independent branch there since 1975. It maintains close ties with international Mohammedan groups such as the Moslem Brotherhood. the Taliban, and al-Qaeda. The Jamaat's objectives are the establishment of a pure Islamic state, governed by Sharia law. It is distinguished by its xenophobia, and its opposition to Westernization, capitalism, socialism, secularism, and liberalist social mores... (JI), the two most powerful religious groups, the MMA may have a significant support base in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, but its influence in other parts of the country is debatable. The differences between the two major component parties over key political issues and their distrust of each other will make it more difficult for the alliance to repeat its 2002 success in KP. There is no indication as yet of the MMA making its presence felt across the country.
Continued on Page 49
Posted by: Fred ||
06/28/2018 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Jamaat-e-Ulema Islami
[DAWN] THE break between the Sharifs and the Chaudhry from Chakri is finally official with the announcement of PML-N ticket holders in his constituencies. A predictable end, it has been months, if not years, in the making. There is no doubt, however, that the rift grew wider as did Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf, then by the courts... ’s distance to power. If the differences started to become clear with the disqualification, the end was made official with the ticket distribution.
This is usually the routine for political separations ‐ they tend to happen once leaders are out of power.
In Nisar’s case, the final break came not over the end of the PML-N’s tenure but the latter’s (or rather Nawaz Sharif’s) refusal to give the party ticket to the former. The initial list of PML-N candidates had not mentioned any candidates for the constituencies Nisar Ali Khan had filed his papers from, leading to many a conjecture. Some felt that Shahbaz Sharif ...Pak dynastic politician, brother of PM Nawaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab... (who continues to maintain a better relationship with Khan than his brother) had prevailed while others felt that there had been a rapprochement between the party and the leader. But it turned out that Nisar and the party were not just on a break; it was over.
Admittedly, this is not unique to the PML-N; parties in Pakistain tend to revolve around individuals. As a result, any difference of strategy, principle or opinion ends up as an ugly clash of egos and a bitter separation. From the time of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto ...9th PM of Pakistain from 1973 to 1977, and 4th President of Pakistain from 1971 to 1973. He was the founder of the Pakistain Peoples Party (PPP). His eldest daughter, Benazir Bhutto, would also serve as hereditary PM. In a coup led by General Zia-ul-Haq, Bhutto was removed from office and was executed in 1979 for authorizing the murder of a political opponent... to the present generation, there appears to have been little change. Anyone not willing to prostrate before the reigning monarch has had to exit, ungracefully.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/28/2018 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
[DAWN] AN adversarial relationship between a free media and the state and public officials it seeks to cover is necessary and desirable in a democratic polity. In Pakistain, which has had long spells of undemocratic rule, such a relationship has often veered towards outright threats and violence against the media.
Today, as the country prepares to hold an unprecedented third consecutive on-schedule general election, there is a disturbing reality that confronts Dawn and its staff. Since late 2016, though with renewed and greater intensity since May 2018, the paper has been under attack in a wide-ranging and seemingly coordinated manner that includes its distribution being stopped in several areas.
While it has faced many strong challenges in the past, and will continue to do so with fortitude today, a campaign of disinformation, libel and slander, hate and virtual incitement to violence against Dawn and its staff has necessitated placing certain matters on the record.
One of the casualties of civil-military discord and strife in this country has been a free media that has embraced constitutional civilian supremacy. The publication of an article in this newspaper on Oct 6, 2016, ’Act against Lions of Islam or face international isolation, civilians tell military’, opened a new chapter of threats and intimidation against Dawn.
Following an unjustified state-led backlash, the newspaper pledged to cooperate with the authorities as required by the law, but defended the journalistic ethic of protecting one’s sources. Dawn’s editor and the news hound appeared separately before a government-constituted committee, comprising members of the civil and military intelligence, and were subjected to invasive, at times unacceptable, questioning for, cumulatively, many hours.
The effects of that insidious campaign against Dawn were continuing when the publication of a fully on-the-record interview with former prime minister Nawaz Sharif ... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf, then by the courts... last month brought a round of new, intensified attacks against the newspaper. The seemingly retaliatory measures taken against Dawn in recent weeks have been deeply alarming and should concern all free-thinking and democratic citizens of the country.
It appears that elements within or sections of the state do not believe they have a duty to uphold the Constitution and the freedoms it guarantees. Article 19 of the Constitution is explicit: "Every citizen shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, and there shall be freedom of the press."
The "reasonable restrictions" that Article 19 permits are well understood by a free and responsible media and have been consistently interpreted by the superior judiciary.
Dawn, like all free, independent media organizations, has never argued that it does not make journalistic mistakes and errors in editorial judgement. It considers itself accountable to its readers and fully submits itself to the law and Constitution. It welcomes dialogue with all state institutions. But it cannot be expected to abandon its commitment to practising free and fair journalism. Nor can Dawn accept its staff being exposed to threats of physical harm.
The highest authorities must take note and intervene appropriately.
Posted by: Fred ||
06/28/2018 00:00 ||
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Top|| File under: Govt of Pakistan
[American Thinker] Everyone who has ever participated in fruitless political discussions can guess what is going on. However, few people knew for sure why most of such discussions end inconclusively. It seems that now we know the answer: a study by Professor Ryan Murphy titled "Psychopathy by U.S. State." It's worth mentioning that Murphy's research is not politically motivated, like Rossiter's book The Liberal Mind.
Without going into the details of Professor Murphy's research methodology, we note that Connecticut is at the top of the psychopathic pyramid in America. It is followed by the states of California, New Jersey, New York, Wyoming, Maine, Wisconsin, Nevada, and Illinois. Virginia closes the top ten most "psychopathic states," whose populations show personality characteristics of antisocial behavior.
It is easy to see that the five states from this top psycho-list also occupy a place in the top ten states with the largest tax burden in America.
Most importantly, eight of the ten most psychopathic states in the U.S. voted for Hillary Clinton.
At the bottom of the psychopathic pyramid of America is the state of West Virginia. It is followed by Vermont, Tennessee, North Carolina, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Montana, Mississippi, and Indiana. Oregon closes the top ten least psychopathic states. Only Vermont on this list belongs to the half of the states distinguished by high levels of taxation, and the remaining nine are well known for their low taxes.
[National Review] College sports are usually enshrouded in scandal, but defenders reply that they do loads of good because they give "student-athletes" a chance at college they probably would not have otherwise. Even when that chance works out and the player graduates, he usually has a low-grade academic credential that bespeaks little gain in knowledge and skill.
In today’s Martin Center article, two economics professors, Jody Lipford and Jerry Slice, examine the impact of college sports. Who are the students who supposedly benefit from sports programs, and who pays for those benefits?
One of their findings is that sports programs are largely paid for by other students, but how much they have to pay varies greatly with the type of school. At a big university such as the University of North Carolina, the cost is spread over a huge number of students, so their outlay in additional fees comes to just a few hundred dollars. But at small schools, the extra cost heaped on the rest of the student body runs much higher ‐ over $1,500 per year. Pretty steep for many of them.
Lipford and Slice also conclude that the students who attend those smaller schools are generally less affluent and less well prepared for college education. Thus, sports have something of a reverse Robin Hood effect.
As you’d expect from good economists, the authors are concerned about the opportunity costs. They write:
Resources have alternative uses, and resources devoted to athletics could be channeled to academic support or lower tuition bills, especially today when the high cost of a college education and heavy student debt loads are being questioned.
I once asked a guest author for the Martin Center who is a New Zealand native what he thought about our penchant for college sports. He replied that in his country, college is for studying, not playing sports. Very sensible of the Kiwis. Emphasis added.
#2
...I graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1997, and for about ten years afterwards, the fundraising letters always managed to find me even with five moves in the meantime.
They finally stopped when I sent back a note that pointed out that the USC football coaches (it should be pointed out that all of them during that period were decent men who did work hard to get their players educated as well as win football games) made more than every single elected official in SC combined. Haven't gotten a letter or call since.
Mike
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski ||
06/28/2018 5:11 Comments ||
Top||
#3
Long time past for the old regents graft game to end. Put oversight directly in the hands of the pols in the Statehouse. They can divvy up who gets what schools. Suddenly the cost to 'my' kid to attend a state university or college comes into direct focus without layers of excuses for inaction.
#4
So they didn't consider how much the programs earned, nor the intangible benefits. They set out to prove something they already knew, and what do you know it worked.
Posted by: Herb McCoy ||
06/28/2018 10:22 Comments ||
Top||
#5
Really would need to see the Real Data because there is a smell of Bovine Scat here. At the Uni I attended there were two (2) different programs at work: the (#1) Semi-Pro Football/Basketball/Baseball Program that had its own funding stream and offered cut price tickets to student ID holders to attend games. They also depended on money from Bowl Games, product endorsements, tickets, and donations** for their revenue stream -- they were basically an independent entity on the financial side. And where there is money there is going to be corruption and, yes, it is going to stink.(**One Interesting *Donation* was that Alumni were offered progressively better seat locations for higher $donations$...)
Then there was the Second (#2) Group of Amateur Student Athlete Programs that had facilities for everything from Tennis to Swimming to Rugby to Chess -- this was supported by levies on the "Student Activity Fees" (i.e. the Student's pockets) and 'some' money from the "Semi-Pro" Athletic Department. But if you want to go play a game of Tennis *someone* has to pay for the upkeep, eh?
So it is a little more complicated, isn't it? I recommend that the authors go watch Chariots of Fire(1981) and fuel their nostalgia about how rich students could indulge in "student athletics" as a hobby in Ye Gold, Olde Dayes.
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.
[Daily Caller] Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Caller News Foundation, Chris Bedford, shed light on a hacking scandal Wednesday surrounding Democratic Rep. Yvette Clarke and her possible ties to Pakistan.
[Townhall] A new study on racial disparities in police conduct found that differences in offending by suspects, not racism, explains officers' responses.
[Charlotte Observer] North Carolina will place new limits on how and when neighbors of hog farms can sue the agriculture businesses next door.
... Turkey's version of Mohammed Morsi but they voted him back in so they deserve him. It's a sin, a shame, and a felony to insult the president of Turkey...
... a Turkish preacher living in Pennsylvania whom the current govt of Turkey considers responsible for all the ills afflicting Turkey and possibly the entire world...
[PJ] WASHINGTON -- House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said those pushing tariffs have to be mindful of the consequence of escalating taxes as President Trump threatened that Harley-Davidson would be "taxed like never before" for moving some operations overseas.
[Wash Times] President Trump blasted Rep. Maxine Waters and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi Wednesday, the morning after three primary upsets meant losses for the Democratic establishment.
... served two non-consecutive terms as prime minister, heads the Pakistain Moslem League (Nawaz). Noted for his spectacular corruption, the 1998 Pak nuclear test, border war with India, and for being tossed by General Musharraf, then by the courts...
...Pak dynastic politician, brother of PM Nawaz Sharif, chief minister of Punjab...
[DAWN] AN adversarial relationship between a free media and the state and public officials it seeks to cover is necessary and desirable in a democratic polity. In Pakistain, which has had long spells of undemocratic rule, such a relationship has often veered towards outright threats and violence against the media.
[National Review] College sports are usually enshrouded in scandal, but defenders reply that they do loads of good because they give "student-athletes" a chance at college they probably would not have otherwise. Even when that chance works out and the player graduates, he usually has a low-grade academic credential that bespeaks little gain in knowledge and skill.
Some students 'paid' more than others. No mention made in this article of the Sandusky-Paterno student victims. 
