Donald J. Trump wins Presidency

Make what you will of this:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-07-11/donald-trump-jr-releases-email-chain-about-russian-lawyer-meeting

When we discussed the latest sequel in the NYT story involving Donald Trump Jr and the Russian attorney who allegedly, but not really, had damaging information about Hillary Clinton, and who was supposedly working for the Russian government, although both she and the Kremlin deny this, we said that "in short, the situation could be resolved quickly and effectively once the Goldstone's email is presented."

12 hours later Donald Trump Jr has done just this, and moments ago he released the entire email chain from his conversation with Rob Goldstone, as well as the following explanation:

Emails, etc., at link.

An attempt to summarise the story so far......

http://www.salon.com/2017/07/11/insane-in-moscow-the-unbelievable-but-partly-true-story-of-the-zany-english-publicist-the-azerbaijani-pop-star-and-the-high-quality-son-of-the-president/

“Insane in Moscow”: The unbelievable but partly true story of the zany English publicist, the Azerbaijani pop sensation and the “high-quality” presidential offspring
Understand the Donald Trump Jr. scandal? Me neither! But Joel and Ethan Coen couldn't write a story this absurd

Latest health care bill collapses following Moran, Lee defections.

The Republican Party's efforts to gut former President Barack Obama's legacy health care law came to an abrupt -- if temporary -- halt Monday night.   Just hours after the Senate was gaveled back into session, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was handed two more public defections on his health care bill to overhaul Obamacare. The dramatic and simultaneous announcement from Sens. Jerry Moran of Kansas and Mike Lee of Utah means McConnell officially does not have the votes to even begin debate on his legislation to overhaul the Affordable Care Act.

The development deals a devastating blow not only to Republicans who have railed against the law for years, but also President Donald Trump, who campaigned on killing Obamacare and made repealing the law his top legislative priority since taking office.

"Regretfully, it is now apparent that the effort to repeal and immediately replace the failure of Obamacare will not be successful," McConnell said in a statement late Monday. He said the Senate would vote in the coming days on a bill that would delay the repeal of Obamacare for two years -- all as Trump called for a wholesale repeal of the law.

In announcing their opposition to the bill, Moran and Lee said they would vote "no" on the motion to proceed -- a vote that McConnell had hoped to hold this week but was already forced to postpone due to Arizona Sen. John McCain's unexpected absence from Washington.

"We should not put our stamp of approval on bad policy. Furthermore, if we leave the federal government in control of everyday healthcare decisions, it is more likely that our healthcare system will devolve into a single-payer system, which would require a massive federal spending increase," Moran said in a statement.

The surprise announcement was all the more devastating as Trump was trying to shore up support for the bill at a dinner at the White House. The group of attendees included Sens. Richard Shelby of Alabama, Steve Daines of Montana and James Lankford of Oklahoma. The three, like Moran, are reliably conservative senators who generally vote with McConnell on major bills.

After Moran and Lee's announcement, Trump tweeted, "Republicans should just REPEAL failing ObamaCare now & work on a new Healthcare Plan that will start from a clean slate. Dems will join in!"   More at link.

http://www.edition.cnn.com/2017/07/17/politics/health-care-motion-to-proceed-jerry-moran-mike-lee/index.html

It's beyond me why the supposedly richest, most advanced nation in the Western world cannot run a sane healthcare system that doesn't punish people for getting ill/shot/having serious accidents, LL.

I sometimes risk my blood pressure by reading Breitbart and other right-wing blogs on this subject, and have come to the conclusion that they just cannot stand the thought of anyone getting 'free' healthcare - they seem to think it's 'socialist' medicine. They don't grasp that they're not immune from illness, and anyone's life can change in an instant.

It's one of the reasons they've chosen to meddle in the Charlie Gard case - ignoring the fact that under the US system, the child would have been dead long ago. Between that and the God-bothering - they're all round the bend.

And it's ironic that one of the reasons this bill has failed is that Traitor McCain is hospitalized, having had a huge blood clot removed from his head. He, of course, is not only very rich, but benefits from the lavish Senatorial healthcare system.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/07/20/ive-been-through-worse-war-hero-mccain-tells-senate-pal-hell-be-back.html

Published July 20, 2017 Fox News

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President Trump releases statement about John McCain
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U.S. Sen. John McCain, who has been diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor, told Sen. Lindsey Graham over the phone Wednesday that he’s “been through worse,” and then went on to discuss health care and other policy issues.

McCain talked about the long road ahead regarding treatments, but said that he’s been though wars. Graham said McCain-- who is resting at his home in Arizona-- sounded resolved and determined.

“The disease has never had a more worthy opponent,” Graham said.

McCain was a prisoner of war in Vietnam for more than five years. Injuries from being tortured left the longtime Arizona senator unable to lift his arms above his head....etc.

Untrue; he actually broke his arms baling out - he didn't even manage to do that properly. Indeed, he got on so well with his captors he was nicknamed the Hanoi Songbird. He is widely detested by servicemen of that generation, who know the truth about him, and the planes he wrecked secure in the knowledge that his admiral father would have it all swept under the carpet, when other men would have been court-martialled.

I doubt if Traitor McCain is keen on meeting his Maker and explaining his fondness for terrorists, his arms deals, the death and misery he's caused throughout the world.

Or that his whole public image is a lie from start to finish.

The wife U.S. Republican John McCain callously left behind

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1024927/The-wife-John-McCain-callously-left-behind.html#ixzz4nM7gJIpY
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Trump legal team spokesman Mark Corallo resigns, reports say.

The spokesman for US President Donald Trump's personal legal team has resigned, media reports say.

Mark Corallo was a spokesman for Marc Kasowitz, who is defending Mr Trump in an inquiry into alleged Russian meddling in last year's election.

Reports said that Mr Corallo disagreed with the alleged strategy of Mr Trump's lawyers to discredit or limit the team directing the investigation.

There has been no comment from him or the Trump team.

Mr Corallo is close to Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading the Russia investigation, and has praised him publicly, Politico website reports.

He had grown frustrated with the operation of the legal team and the warring factions and lawyers, the report adds.

Mr Mueller has hired big names to join his team, which is also investigating whether there was any collusion with the Trump team, which both Russia and Mr Trump have denied.

Thanks, LL. I'v seen a few fairly reasonable American political commentators saying that the Dems have made a huge blunder with this 'Russia' business - because it is virtually impossible to follow it.

More allegations are made, more names chucked into the mix, more fake 'dossiers' created - and don't forget Traitor McCain's role in that - but there's never any meat. There are a great many things for which Trump can be criticised, but they're all being brushed to one side because the Dems keep screaming about Russia.

You're welcome. I personally am bored out of my mind by the US news, I just post it up. LL

Which is much appreciated, LL.

I know what you mean - it's an incomprehensible guddle and muddle, all of it. The whole mess, over everything, is starting to give the impression that far from being a super-modern, super-power, the US is falling apart.

Australian woman shot by US police 'did not have to die'.

An Australian bride-to-be shot dead by US police after dialling 911 "did not have to die", authorities have admitted.

Justine Damond, 40, was killed shortly after reporting what she believed was an active sexual assault in Minneapolis on Saturday.

The teacher was then shot by a police officer - but body cameras and a squad camera are not believed to have captured the incident.

Now Minneapolis's police chief has claimed Ms Damond's death "should not have happened".

On Friday, Janee Harteau said the force had failed to "protect with courage" and "serve with compassion".

Ms Damond's fiance, Don Damond, has claimed claimed police have shed little information surrounding the circumstances of her death.

Pleading with authorities, he said "piecing together Justine's last moments" would be a "small comfort".

At a press conference, police chief Harteau said: "Based on the publicly released information from the BCA [Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension], this should not have happened.

"On our squad cars you will find the words 'to protect with courage and to serve with compassion.' This did not happen."

She continued: "Having the information that was publicly available right now while recognizing there is an open BCA investigation, I believe the actions in question go against who we are as a department, how we train and the expectations we have for our officers.

"These were the actions and judgment of one individual.

"I want to assure Justine's family, our community and those in Australia that I will do everything in my power to make sure due process is followed and justice is served.

"I spoke to Justine's fiance this morning and I told him I was sorry for his loss and that this did not have to happen.

"And, again, Justine did not have to die."

Chief Harteau added that Officer Mohamed Noor and his police partner should have activated their body cameras before encountering Ms Damond.

From what I've read about this, LL, this killing was simply inexcuseable. Noor didn't have the slightest shred of excuse for shooting this poor woman.

Oh, and he was already under investigation over incidents involving women.

http://news.sky.com/story/sean-spicer-quits-white-house-reports-say-10956700

Sean Spicer has reportedly resigned as White House press secretary after a disagreement over a new communications director.

Financier Anthony Scaramucci was offered the job by Donald Trump on Friday morning.

The New York Times said that Mr Spicer "vehemently disagreed" with the appointment, telling the President it was "a major mistake".

Mr Spicer has been carrying out the communications director role alongside his duties as press secretary since Mike Dubke left in May.

This is a breaking news story.

We'll update this as we get more information.

Spicer resigns as White House press secretary.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- White House press secretary Sean Spicer, President Donald Trump's embattled spokesman during the first six months of his presidency, is resigning his position, according to two people with knowledge of the decision.

Spicer's decision appears to be linked to the appointment of a new White House communications director, New York financier Anthony Scaramucci. The people with knowledge of the decision spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the personnel matter publicly.

Spicer's daily press briefings had become must-see television until recent weeks when he took on a more behind-the-scenes role. Deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has largely taken over the briefings, turning them into an off-camera event.

Spicer spent several years leading communications at the Republican National Committee before helping Trump's campaign in the general election. He is close to White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, the former RNC chair, and several of the lower-ranking aides in the White House communications shop.

Scaramucci is expected to play a visible role as one of Trump's defenders on television. But Spicer and other officials questioned his hiring as communications director ahead of the president's push to overhaul the tax system and other policy issues. One of the officials said Spicer objected to Trump's vision for the future of the press operation.

Spicer's tenure got off to a rocky start. On Trump's first full day in office, Spicer lambasted journalists over coverage of the crowd size at the inauguration and stormed out of the briefing room without answering questions.

His fiery demeanor and tense on-camera exchanges were mocked on Saturday Night Live, with the role of Spicer being played by actress Melissa McCarthy.

Rather over the top, but quite interesting;

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-07-21/kunstler-fears-violent-revolt-soft-coup-against-trump-looms

I’d actually go further now than the “soft coup d’état” scenario that has Trump run over by the 25th amendment. It will happen, of course, but it will not satisfy anybody. Mike Pence will prove to be as ineffectual and unpopular as Trump, and he will be drowning in financial and fiscal problems, and he will get no help from the legislature in resolving any of it, and before too long there may be a general in the White House — or attempting to run things from someplace else, if he can. The whole nauseating spectacle will be attended by violent popular revolt of region against region and tribe against tribe in a great civil explosion of long-suppressed angst.

I saw one US commentator liken Trump, not to Hitler, but to Yeltsin - occasional flashes of brilliance, but a whirlwind of chaos in routine matters.

Minneapolis protests as police chief resigns over Justine Damond shooting.

The chief of police in Minneapolis has resigned at the request of the city’s mayor, Betsy Hodges, after Hodges said she had “lost the confidence of the people”.

Janeé Harteau has faced criticism for her handling of the shooting of unarmed Australian woman Justine Damond, as well as previous killings going back to 2013.

“I’ve lost confidence in the chief’s ability to lead us further,” said Hodges in a media statement. “And from the many conversations I’ve had with people around our city, it is clear that she has lost the confidence of the people of Minneapolis as well. For us to continue to transform policing ... we need new leadership at [Minneapolis Police Department].

Hodges’ own media conference later on Friday evening quickly descended into chaos as protesters angrily called for the mayor to resign as well, saying they “had been terrorized enough”. The crowd – a coalition of community groups pushing for police reform – drowned out her comments with chants of “Bye bye Betsy.”

Echoing the catchcry used in calls for justice after the 2016 shooting death of Philando Castile, they shouted: “If Justine don’t get it, shut it down.” The initial round of protests were led by Jonathan Thompson, a friend and coworker of Castile.

It seems that over 500 people have been killed by the police in the USA so far this year. LL

There have been a series of horrific incidents, LL, either like this one, where the victim was doing nothing wrong, or over minor offences like broken rear lights.

I've seen an interesting theory as to why this is happening; it doesn't apply in this case, because Officer Mohamed Noor is Somalian. Though Somalian culture isn't known for respecting women......

However - a lot of present-day officers are ex-army, and it's well-recorded that they treated civilians most viciously in the Middle East. Now, they're doing it at home to other Americans.

On top of that, younger officers are into this 'body building' cult, and taking steroids = roid rage.

IMO, it's all part of the picture of a society spinning into chaos, and Trump is the symptom, not the cause.

As you know, me and my kids lived in the USA for just under 4 years, we left because we were homesick for Europe.  Younger son went back, met a lady and decided to settle down over there.   He started to see changes in attitudes, then his partner wanted him to take US citizenship - they broke up on his refusal to do so.    He says, like me, that he won't be going back there again.   I look back on those 4 years with pleasure, believe me, we were happy there but, as I said, we are Europeans and the USA was too far away from our natural homeland.    I watch what is happening with sadness.   LL

IMO, it was 9/11 that was the catalyst for this - Americans had convinced themselves that they were untouchable, safe behind two oceans and two friendly neighbours. Especially as much of America's rise to world domination was mainly because they were the only un-wrecked industrial nation left standing after WW2.

My own theory is that 9/11 didn't just kill people and destroy buildings, it destroyed something in the American psyche. And they don't seem able to muddle through and carry on, as the UK and most of Europe does, possibly because our nations have been around for a very long time through good and bad.

The American religious Right is absolutely terrifying, but the Left's not much better, with its obsession with divisive, destructive identity politics. I just don't see any of this ending well, not with so much aggression and violence from every side.

Trump asserts all agree he has 'complete power' to pardon.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump said Saturday that he has "complete power" to issue pardons, an assertion that comes amid investigations into Russian interference in last year's presidential election. It was one of many topics that appeared to occupy the president's mind as the day broke.

On a day when most people are ready to forget about the issues that nagged them during the week, Trump revved up. In an early morning flurry of 10 tweets, he commented about pardons, former presidential rival Hillary Clinton, son Don Jr., health care, the USS Gerald Ford, the attorney general and other issues.

Trump said in one of his 10 messages: "While all agree the U. S. President has the complete power to pardon, why think of that when only crime so far is LEAKS against us. FAKE NEWS."

The Washington Post recently reported that Trump has inquired about the authority he has as president to pardon aides, relatives or even himself in connection with the widening investigation into Russian interference in the election and whether any Trump associates were involved.

The president has long criticized leaks of information about the investigation, and has urged authorities to prosecute leakers.

Trump maintains that no crimes have been committed.

One of Trump's attorneys, Jay Sekulow, said the president has not discussed the issue of pardons with his outside legal team.

Next week, Trump's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr.; his son-in-law and White House adviser, Jared Kushner; and Paul Manafort, his former campaign chairman, are scheduled to appear before Senate committees investigating Russian meddling.

Trump defended his son in one of the tweets, saying he "openly gave his e-mails to the media & authorities whereas Crooked Hillary Clinton deleted (& acid washed) her 33,000 e-mails!" Trump's namesake has become a focus of the investigation after it was revealed that he, Kushner and Manafort met with Russian representatives at Trump Tower in June 2016. Trump Jr. later released email exchanges concerning the meeting on Twitter, after learning that The New York Times was about to publish them.

The FBI investigated Clinton for using a private email server as secretary of state. She turned over thousands of pages of emails to the government, but deleted thousands of others that she said were personal or unrelated to her work as the nation's top diplomat.

Trump also complained Saturday about a Washington Post report that the Russian ambassador to the U.S. said he discussed election-related issues with Jeff Sessions when the men met during the 2016 presidential race. Sessions, now the attorney general, at the time was a U.S. senator and foreign policy adviser to Trump.

Trump tweeted: "A new INTELLIGENCE LEAK from the Amazon Washington Post,this time against A.G. Jeff Sessions.These illegal leaks, like Comey's, must stop!"

The Post on Friday cited anonymous U.S. officials who described U.S. intelligence intercepts of Ambassador Sergey Kislyak's descriptions of his meetings with Sessions.

The Justice Department said Sessions stands by his previous assertion that he never had conversations with Russian officials about any type of interference with the election.

Trump also said "Republican Senators must step up to the plate and, after 7 years, vote to Repeal and Replace" the Obama-era health care law. An effort to advance legislation collapsed in the Senate earlier this week after several Republicans said they wouldn't vote for the bill.

Trump ended the tweet with "Tax Reform and Infrastructure. WIN!"

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-fires-off-volley-angry-tweets-russia-probe-140003892--politics.html
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Trump Jr., Manafort may be interviewed privately by senators.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Donald Trump's eldest son and his former campaign chairman won't be forced to testify publicly next week and are instead discussing being privately interviewed by a Senate committee investigating Russia's meddling in the 2016 election, the panel said.

The Senate Judiciary Committee initially called for Donald Trump Jr. and Paul Manafort to appear at a public hearing Wednesday. But the top Republican and Democrat on the panel now say the men are negotiating the terms of their appearances, and lawmakers don't currently plan to issue subpoenas to compel their public testimony. More at link.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-jr-manafort-consider-private-interview-senators-071559092--politics.html

Confused.com.

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-07-22/cia-chief-warns-wikileaks-plotting-take-down-america-any-way-they-can

CIA Director Mike Pompeo remains inconsolably hostile toward whistleblower organization WikiLeaks, insisting they are a “non-state hostile intelligence service” and are plotting to “take down America any way they can and find any willing partner to achieve that end.

Oh, Wikileaks doesn't need to do anything. America's doing a bang-up job of taking itself down without any outside 'plotting'.

Trump expected to support Russia sanctions package.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has indicated that President Donald Trump would sign a sweeping Russia sanctions measure that requires him to get Congress' permission before lifting or easing the economic penalties against Moscow.

The House was scheduled to consider the sanctions package as early as Tuesday, and the bill could be sent to Trump before Congress breaks for the August recess. The legislation is aimed at punishing Moscow for meddling in the presidential election and its military aggression in Ukraine and Syria.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the newly appointed White House press secretary, said Sunday that the administration is supportive of being tough on Russia and "particularly putting these sanctions in place."

"We support where the legislation is now, and will continue to work with the House and Senate to put those tough sanctions in place on Russia until the situation in Ukraine is fully resolved," Sanders said on ABC's "This Week."   More at link.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/trump-expected-support-russia-sanctions-065136482.html
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Trump Lawyer: Supreme Court Decides If The President Can Pardon Himself.

President Donald Trump might be investigating whether he can pardon himself, according to the Washington Post on Friday, but the complicated legal question has many scholars and law experts scratching their heads.

One of Trump’s personal lawyers, Jay Sekulow, believes it would be the Supreme Court’s responsibility to adjudicate the matter, but denied that Trump’s legal team is examining the matter.

“If put in place, (a presidential pardon) would probably have to be adjudicated by the Supreme Court to determine constitutionality,” said Sekulow Sunday on ABC’s “This Week.” “There's academics that are arguing both sides of this. And as I said, we're not researching it. I haven't researched it because it's not an issue we're concerned with or dealing with.”   More at link.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-lawyer-supreme-court-decides-174609770.html

until the situation in Ukraine is fully resolved,

Probably a silly idea, but maybe if the US gave up its efforts to steal Sevastopol harbour? Oh, and apologised for the Cookie Coup? And for arming REAL neo-nazis?

It also seems to have escaped US notice that the EU is sick of this bombastic nonsense.