Trump era: Fascist dawn, or road to liberation?

[bjorb]

Trump: Europe is 'losing its culture' because of immigration

President Trump is railing against what he described as the migration of "millions and millions of people" into Europe, declaring that the continent is "losing its culture" to refugees and asylum seekers from the Middle East and Africa. In an interview with the British tabloid The Sun published Thursday, Trump said it is a "shame" that European leaders had allowed so many migrants to enter their countries.

“Allowing the immigration to take place in Europe is a shame," the U.S. president told the tabloid, which his owned by conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

"I think it changed the fabric of Europe and, unless you act very quickly, it’s never going to be what it was, and I don’t mean that in a positive way," he continued.

Trump's publicized comments came shortly after he arrived in the U.K. for a long-awaited trip on the heels of a tense set of meetings at the annual NATO summit in Brussels, where he delivered a blistering criticism of European allies and demanded that member nations pay more for defense.

The president's comments during his interview with The Sun, however, highlighted Trump's deeply held skepticism of immigration and resurfaced a line of attack that he had used often on the campaign trail — that Europe was being overrun by non-Europeans and was quickly becoming a shell of what it once was.

"I think you are losing your culture," he told the tabloid. "Look around. You go through certain areas that didn’t exist ten or 15 years ago." In fact, migration levels to Europe have declined recently, dropping to numbers more common prior to 2015, when an influx of people sought to seek asylum on the continent to escape conflict and humanitarian crises in the Middle East and Africa.

Back in the U.S., Trump has led a crackdown on illegal immigration, warning that a failure to secure America's southern border would result in criminals and drugs entering the U.S.

That crackdown, however, has become the subject of controversy for the Trump administration, after it was revealed that thousands of migrant children had been separated from their parents at the border as part of enforcement efforts.

 

[3DStudent]

This is heart-breaking and I feel disgusted.

I appreciate how Trump allows the families to come up and speak and share their story and pain. Anyone pointing out to this reality that affects so many is silenced as a racist.

The Left let in and protects the ANIMALS who do this kind of thing and are complicit of this horror.

About time we stop the invasion start deporting and restore law and order.

Trump Shares HORRIFIC Consequences of Sanctuary Cities

May her grandma RIP and my condolences to her and her family. I was thinking what role tribalism and nationalism play in this. You would respect your people and homeland more than those who are outsiders to you. Any criminal tendencies are amplified when you're not in your homeland, osit. Maybe not the best metaphor, but it reminds me of when teenagers go to a party and have no qualms about trashing the place.

 

[angelburst29]

Oh, this is just too funny! Touche' Sergey!

Last Friday, February 14th through the 16th, there was scheduled the Munich Security Conference, held in Germany. The Munich Security Conference is the world's leading forum for debate on international security policy. Pompeo was to meet with Lavrov but had requested that it remained "hushed-up" and kept under wraps. Lavrov's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, confirmed the meeting on her Facebook Acct. including a photo (below). U.S. media kept quiet but Russia let it out of the bag, using a photo from a Dec. 10th, 2019 meeting that was held at the State Dept. in Washington, D.C. Then Politico.eu picked up and released the story.

Julia Davis‏ @JuliaDavisNews Feb 14

https://twitter.com/x/status/1228495076382380032

A Russian journalist traveling with Lavrov said the U.S. side had requested that there be no press conference or joint statements and that photographers not even be invited to take a picture of the two top diplomats shaking hands.

Julia Davis‏ @JuliaDavisNews

https://twitter.com/x/status/1228495076382380032

Feb 14
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday in an encounter the American side apparently wanted to keep under wraps.
pic.twitter.com/ErUaROAqdG

5:43 PM - 14 Feb 2020

Russia's Lavrov, after Pompeo meeting, says felt more constructive U.S. approach

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo shake hands at the conclusion of a joint news conference at the State Department in Washington, U.S., December 10, 2019. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Monday after meeting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last week that he had felt a more constructive approach from Washington when it came to the U.S.-Russia strategic dialogue.

The two top diplomats met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday in an encounter that neither side has so far spoken about in detail.

“I felt certain small moves toward a more constructive approach by our American partners,” Lavrov said on his ministry’s website on Monday.

Lavrov said the two men had spoken about issues related to strategic dialogue between Russia and the United States and about arms control.

The last remaining major arms control treaty between Moscow and Washington, the New START accord, expires next year. Russia has said it is ready to extend it, but U.S. officials have called it flawed and outdated.

The treaty is the last major nuclear arms control treaty between the world’s two biggest nuclear powers and limits the number of strategic nuclear warheads they can deploy.


State Department keeps quiet as Pompeo meets Lavrov in Munich
State Department keeps quiet as Pompeo meets Lavrov in Munich

Russian officials publicize meeting that US side did not mention.

Feb. 15, 2020 - MUNICH — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference on Friday in an encounter the American side apparently wanted to keep under wraps.

The State Department made no announcement of the meeting, which took place in Lavrov's own dedicated meeting room at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof, where the major annual conference of politicians, policymakers and security experts is held. Pompeo's aides also did not provide any readout after the meeting ended.

Russian journalists traveling with Lavrov were aware of the meeting in advance, and wrote about it afterward.

Lavrov's spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, confirmed the meeting in a Facebook post, which included a photo of Pompeo in a hallway of the hotel, and Lavrov standing in a doorway a few steps behind him.

In the post, Zakharova wrote that Pompeo had said "good luck" to those gathered in the hallway, and cheekily added that those who heard it "gasped." "There are few to whom Americans now wish something good," she wrote.

Asked about the meeting by POLITICO, a State Department official confirmed that there had been a “pull aside” with Lavrov but gave no further details. The official denied that the State Department asked Russia not to publicize the meeting and said it did not normally issue readouts of "pull asides."

There was no mention of the meeting in a briefing by a senior administration official about U.S. efforts at the security conference. The official said Pompeo met with Masrour Barzani, prime minister of the Kurdistan region of Iraq, and that U.S. officials met with Israeli counterparts as well as with a senior EU foreign affairs official, Helga Schmid.

It was not immediately clear why the State Department did not disclose the meeting between Pompeo and his Russian counterpart in advance.

The secretary of state has had some tense interactions with journalists recently, including an outburst at a National Public Radio reporter, Mary Louise Kelly, after Pompeo became angry at being asked questions about Ukraine in an interview. After that outburst, the State Department barred another NPR reporter from traveling on Pompeo's plane.

A Russian journalist traveling with Lavrov said the U.S. side had requested that there be no press conference or joint statements and that photographers not even be invited to take a picture of the two top diplomats shaking hands.

After Pompeo speech fell flat, Pelosi says messenger may be to blame
After Pompeo speech fell flat, Pelosi says messenger may be to blame

After Pompeo speech fell flat, Pelosi says messenger may be to blame. ‘The west is winning’ didn’t win applause in Munich and US House speaker suggests problem was ‘source’ not substance.

Feb. 17, 2020 - It was a line that couldn't possibly miss, a surefire way to draw thunderous applause and bring a crowd full of true believers in the Western world order to its feet.

"The West is winning," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared to a packed hall at the Munich Secretary Conference. "We are collectively winning. We’re doing it together."

And yet it totally bombed. There was silence, not cheers. Video of the event shows people in the audience sitting, unmoved. Several people appeared to be on their phones, many had their hands in their laps. One man had two fingers pensively touching his chin. Two people seemed to be heading for the exit.

That session at the annual conference, which featured Pompeo's speech and an address immediately after by U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, perhaps most crystallized the yawning gulf that has opened up between the U.S. and its traditional European allies. And the crowd may simply not have agreed with Pompeo's assertion that the West is still ahead.

But in a brief interview on Monday at NATO headquarters in Brussels, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who attended the Munich conference, said it may be a rare case where blaming the messenger is actually appropriate.

New Lawsuit Seeks Records of Complaints About Mike Pompeo’s Conduct
New Lawsuit Seeks Records of Complaints About Mike Pompeo's Conduct - American Oversight

Publish Date: February 14, 2020 - American Oversight sued the Central Intelligence Agency and the State Department on Friday for records of complaints filed by employees concerning the conduct of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to shed light on potentially abusive conduct toward staff and journalists.

NBC’s Richard Engel reported in the fall of 2019 that according to former senior intelligence officials, Pompeo was “a bully to subordinates” while serving as CIA director. His behavior and “fits of ‘anger’” had even driven some employees “to quit or seek new assignments.” American Oversight filed Freedom of Information Act requests for records of and communications about any whistleblower complaints related to Pompeo’s reported conduct. The agencies’ failure to provide records in response led to today’s lawsuit.

As early as November 2018, reports began to surface of Pompeo’s berating of federal employees and retaliation against reporters for unflattering coverage. Last month, NPR reported that All Things Considered host Mary Louise Kelly had been called to a private meeting with Pompeo following an interview about Iran-U.S. tensions and the secretary’s involvement in the Ukraine scandal. There, Pompeo shouted, cursed and challenged Kelly to identify Ukraine on a blank map, then released a statement calling her a liar and claiming she misidentified Ukraine’s location.

The State Department subsequently dropped NPR’s Michele Keleman from Pompeo’s recent trip to Europe. The secretary later defended that decision by saying it sent “a perfect message about press freedoms” to the world. President Donald Trump praised Pompeo’s interactions during a news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying, “I think you did a good job on her.”

“Mike Pompeo bullies reporters, punishes people who ask tough questions, and throws tantrums when he doesn’t get his way,” said Austin Evers, executive director at American Oversight. “If the nation’s chief diplomat is willing to act like a child in front of the press, the public deserves to know how he treats his staff in private.”

The complaint is available here.

Part of Investigation:

• Mike Pompeo’s Political Ambitions and Influences

 

[Sol Logos]

Loved RTs analogy of Rodger Stone being accused of covering up the alleged Wikileaks / Trump / Russia collusion:

"Put another way, it's akin to convicting someone for trying to cover-up the existence of Sasquatch"

Roger Stone's conviction could be the last hope to save RussiaGate

The Trial of Roger Stone has reached its finale. After closely examining Stone's case, one thing becomes clear: it should never have gotten this far. Stone, long-time political operative and former Trump adviser, is due to be sentenced today in...

www.sott.net

It's bizarre to consider there's all these so-called smart people - lawyers, journalists, politicians etc. - getting up in every morning, putting on their expensive suits and spending years talking about fiction pretending it's reality. Isn't there much better things they could be doing with their time? Like for example - taking walks in nature, rummaging in the leaves, looking for Sasquatch footprints? They could even keep their nice suits on while doing it.

 

[SummerLite]

Interesting timing with this "suicide". Considering Haney's past as a whistle blower within the DHS, I'm wondering if he may have been considered a potential witness for the investigations that are occurring into the DOJ by Wm. Barr.

Philip Haney, a former Department of Homeland Security (DHS) official during the Obama administration who blew the whistle on shortcomings within his own agency, was found dead in California on Friday with a “gunshot wound” to the chest, several news outlets report, citing a statement from the law enforcement.

Although authorities have said the gunshot wound “appears” to be “self-inflicted,” stressing that the investigation is ongoing, 66-year-old Haney had been missing since February 19. and died from a gunshot wound to his chest two days later, Red State and Heavy reported.

While testifying as a whistleblower before the Senate Judiciary Committee in June 2016, Haney asserted that DHS ordered him to delete hundreds of files of people with links to Islamist terrorist groups. He argued that authorities could have prevented several terrorist attacks in the U.S. if DHS had not scrubbed specific data.

Gunshot wounds to the chest are uncommon in the case of suicides, data reportedly show. Haney’s death has triggered a wave of claims suggesting he may have been a victim of foul play.
Echoing some of the whistleblower’s friends, a number of senior congressional officials have expressed alarm to Breitbart News about this, noting that they do no believe Haney was suicidal.
Law enforcement found Haney’s body 40 miles east of Sacramento, California.
While testifying as a whistleblower before the Senate Judiciary Committee in June 2016, Haney asserted that DHS ordered him to delete hundreds of files of people with links to Islamist terrorist groups. He argued that authorities could have prevented several terrorist attacks in the U.S. if DHS had not scrubbed specific data.
The Washington Examiner learned from the Amador County Sheriff’s office that “deputies and detectives responded to reports Friday morning at 10:12 a.m. of a male subject on the ground with a gunshot wound in the area of Highway 124 and Highway 16 in Plymouth, California.”
“Upon their arrival, they located and identified 66-year-old Philip Haney, who was deceased and appeared to have suffered a single, self-inflicted gunshot wound. A firearm was located next to Haney and his vehicle. This investigation is active and ongoing. No further details will be released at this time,” the sheriff’s office reportedly declared in a statement.
Rep. Steve King (R-IA) said Haney “didn’t kill himself” as claimed by law enforcement who ruled his death a suicide. Haney was in possession of an archive of information he considered an insurance policy in case he was ever found dead, King asserted.
“Phil Haney was a friend & patriot. He was a target because of all he knew of Islamic terrorist coverups,” King wrote Saturday on Twitter. “He insured his life by archiving data that incriminated the highest levels of the Obama administration. Phil Haney didn’t kill himself. RIP, Phil.”
“If I am found dead, it wasn’t suicide,” Haney told multiple people, confirmed by two anonymous sources, the NOQ Report learned.
One America News Network (OANN) reporter and veteran intelligence officer of the U.S. Navy, Jack Posobiec, suggested on Twitter that Haney’s death could be a homicide.
“I can confirm at @OANN we are investigating the suspicious death of DHS whistleblower Phil Haney,” Posobiec tweeted on Saturday. “We have spoken with local sources that suggest this may have been a homicide”:
Authorities found Haney dead ahead of his plans to publish another book exposing problems within the Obama administration, according to the Examiner.
Citing unnamed sources, however, the Examiner also revealed that Haney “was recently in contact with top officials about returning to work for the DHS. Additionally, Haney was engaged to be married.”

 

[angelburst29]

I'll believe it - when it happens!

Federal Judge Orders Clinton to Sit for Deposition on Use of Private Email Account
Federal Judge Orders Clinton to Sit for Deposition on Use of Private Email Account

‎March‎ ‎02‎, ‎2020‎ - A federal judge has ordered Hillary Clinton to sit for a sworn deposition regarding her use of a private email account while serving as secretary of state.

U.S. District Court Royce Lamberth, a Reagan appointee, on Monday filed the order for Clinton to appear for a deposition in a five-year-old case brought by the conservative group Judicial Watch. The group filed a Freedom of Information Act request for Clinton emails pertaining to the 2012 attacks on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya.

Clinton has previously said she used a private server to read government email as a matter of convenience. The FBI investigated Clinton’s use of the server to read classified material and in July 2016 recommended against bringing charges in the case; however, in October that same year the FBI announced it would reopen the investigation after discovering previously unknown emails on the server. The investigation was publicly reopened just days before election day and is widely believed to have bolstered Trump’s prospects.

“To argue that the Court now has enough information to determine whether State conducted an adequate search is preposterous,” Lamberth wrote in his ruling. “Even years after the FBI investigation, the slow trickle of new emails has yet to be explained…Why did she think that using a private server to conduct State Department business was permissible under the law in the first place?”

Republican Senator to Issue First Subpoena in Hunter Biden, Burisma Probe
Republican Senator to Issue First Subpoena in Hunter Biden, Burisma Probe

‎March‎ ‎02‎, ‎2020‎ - The Republican chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee plans to issue the first subpoena related to the committee’s probe of Hunter Biden and Ukrainian energy Burisma Holdings.

Senator Ron Johnson said that it is his “intention to schedule a business meeting to consider a committee subpoena,” in a letter the Wisconsin Republican sent to members of the committee on Sunday.

Johnson plans to subpoena former Ukrainian embassy official Andrii Telizhenko, who worked as a consultant for the Washington-based Blue Star Strategies, a firm Burisma hired to combat accusations of corruption within the energy company.

“As part of the committee’s ongoing investigation, it has received U.S. government records indicating that Blue Star sought to leverage Hunter Biden’s role as a board member of Burisma to gain access to, and potentially influence matters at, the State Department,” Johnson wrote in his letter.

Internal State Department email exchanges reported last year showed that Blue Star leveraged the Biden name to secure a meeting between the gas company and State Department officials and then brought his name up again during that meeting. The meetings were part of a longstanding campaign to rehabilitate Burisma’s reputation in Washington following a corruption probe.

Biden obtained a lucrative position on the board of Burisma in 2014 after his father, Democratic 2020 candidate Joe Biden, became vice president. In that role, court records suggested he earned at least $50,000 a month advising the energy company on “transparency, corporate governance and responsibility, international expansion and other priorities,” as his position was described by Burisma.

Biden resigned from the board in April of last year, and it is unclear whether he was aware his name was being used by Blue Star in discussions with the State Department.

 

[angelburst29]

Linda Tripp, the career civil servant who ignited the impeachment of President Bill Clinton by tape-recording then-intern Monica Lewinsky, has died. She was 70.

Linda Tripp, Whistleblower in Monica Lewinsky Scandal, Dies at 70

‎April‎ ‎08‎, ‎2020‎ - Tripp was working in the Pentagon when she befriended Lewinsky, the former White House intern who was having an affair with the president. In 1997, she made 22 hours of surreptitious recordings of Lewinsky speaking about the affair, and then handed them over to special prosecutor Ken Starr.

To Clinton’s supporters, Tripp became one of the primary villains of the impeachment episode — a false friend who had betrayed Lewinsky’s confidence out of partisan motives. Tripp, however, remained unapologetic about her role in the scandal.

Speaking to the Slate podcast “Slow Burn” in 2018, Tripp said she hoped at the time that taping Lewinsky would ultimately benefit her. She also remained adamant that Clinton’s misbehavior with a 22-year-old intern deserved to be exposed.

“What I did do was make a conscious choice to say this is unacceptable, completely unacceptable for anyone, let alone the leader of the free world in the Oval Office,” Tripp told Leon Neyfakh, the podcast host.
Lewinsky recalled to Barbara Walters her feeling when she realized that Tripp had taped her: “Gutted and violated and betrayed. And scared.” “I have never been so afraid in my entire life,” she said. “I wanted to die.”

Clinton denied the affair when it was exposed in January 1998 — saying he “did not have sex with that woman.” He also denied the affair in a sworn deposition, leading to his impeachment on charges of obstruction of justice and perjury. After a 21-day trial in 1999, he was acquitted in the Senate.

In the podcast, Tripp said the impeachment scandal “doesn’t define my life.” She also said that had Clinton been truly censured, “we’d be in a different place today.”

“I think #MeToo would have been history and we would have been so much further along with ensuring that none of this happened in the workplace, making it the exception rather than the rule,” Tripp said.

 

[angelburst29]

Russia is ready to discuss hypersonic missiles and other arms control issues with the United States as part of wider discussions about strategic stability, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.
Russia says it's ready for hypersonic missile talks with U.S.

Russia says world powers have agreed to hold five-way summit, date to be agreed: RIA

The five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council have agreed to hold a summit, but the date and agenda are still under discussion, the RIA news agency cited Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as saying.

Turkey repeats working group offer to U.S. to solve row over Russian defense purchase

Turkey on Tuesday repeated an offer to the United States to establish a technical working group including NATO to help solve a dispute over Ankara's purchase of Russian missile defenses that angered Washington.

North Korea test fires multiple short-range anti-ship missiles
North Korea launched multiple short-range anti-ship cruise missiles into the sea and Sukhoi jets fired air-to-surface missiles on Tuesday as part of military exercises, South Korea's military said.

North Korean leader absence from anniversary event fuels speculation over health
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's absence from an important anniversary event this week rekindled speculation over his potential health problems, analysts said on Friday.

Recent North Korea missile test not particularly provocative: U.S. general

The top U.S. general said on Tuesday that North Korea's recent test of short-range missiles was not particularly provocative or threatening to the United States.

Trump to convene G7 leaders in video call to discuss pandemic
G7 seeks WHO review and reform, commits to coordinated virus response: White House
Leaders from the G7 group of industrialized nations on Thursday called for a review and reform process at the World Health Organization and agreed to ensure a coordinated global approach to the coronavirus pandemic, the White House said.


Trump halts World Health Organization funding amid coronavirus pandemic
Defeat virus first, criticize later, WHO envoy says after U.S. funding halt
U.S. gives $5 million to Palestinians amid pandemic, after years of aid cuts
CDC director says 19-20 U.S. states may be ready to reopen May 1

China, U.S. must cooperate amid coronavirus, top Chinese diplomat tells Pompeo
Pompeo urges full transparency on coronavirus in call with top Chinese diplomat, U.S. says
U.S. Pentagon chief criticizes China as misleading, opaque on coronavirus

U.S. Navy says Iran Revolutionary Guards navy harassed its vessels in Gulf
Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) vessels approached U.S. Navy vessels on Wednesday in a "dangerous and harassing" manner, the U.S. Navy said in a statement.

Iran detained Hong Kong-flagged ship before letting it sail: sources
A Hong Kong-flagged tanker was briefly detained in Iran before being freed after armed Iranian guards in speedboats directed the vessel into its waters while it was sailing through the Gulf of Oman, maritime security sources said on Wednesday.

Iranian vessels come dangerously close to American military ships: U.S. military

Eleven vessels from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy (IRGCN) came dangerously close to U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships in the Gulf, the U.S. military said on Wednesday, calling the moves "dangerous and provocative."

Iranian army acquires combat capable drones with 930-mile range: Defense minister
The Iranian armed forces have acquired three bomb-carrying drones with a range of 1,500 kilometers (932 miles), Defense Minister Amir Hatami said on state television on Saturday.

Iran says 'illegal' U.S. presence in Gulf causes insecurity: IRNA

Iran's defense minister on Friday dismissed U.S. reports of harassment by Iranian vessels as "baseless" and said the "illegal and aggressive" American presence in the Gulf was causing insecurity in the region.

Chinese ship seen moving south near Malaysia amid rising South China Sea tensions
A Chinese government survey ship embroiled in a standoff with Vietnamese vessels moved south near Malaysia, shipping data showed Thursday, amid accusations that China is using the pandemic to assert its presence in the South China Sea.

Chinese and Malaysian ships in South China Sea standoff: sources
A Chinese government survey ship is tagging an exploration vessel operated by Malaysia's state oil company Petronas in disputed waters in the South China Sea, three regional security sources said on Friday.

U.S. says China should stop 'bullying behavior' in South China Sea
The United States called on China on Saturday to stop "bullying behaviour" in the South China Sea and said it was concerned by reports of Beijing's "provocative actions" aimed at offshore oil and gas developments in the disputed waters.

U.S. says China may have conducted low-level nuclear test blasts
China may have secretly set off low-level underground nuclear test explosions despite claiming to observe an international pact banning such blasts, the U.S. State Department said in a report on Wednesday that could fuel U.S.-Chinese tensions.


Russia carried out anti-satellite missile test: U.S. military
Russia carried out a test of an anti-satellite missile on Wednesday, the U.S. military said, calling it an example of the threats the United States faced in space.

Russia to spell out stance on U.N. truce plea in coming days: Kremlin

Russia will spell out its stance on the United Nations' call for a global truce, so the world can focus on the coronavirus epidemic, in the coming days after consultations are completed, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

Russia's Lavrov, U.S. Pompeo discuss oil markets, coronavirus: statement

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo agreed on a call on Friday to continue coordinating efforts to overcome the crisis in oil markets and the challenges posed by the new coronavirus, a statement said.

Pompeo tells Russia's Lavrov any new arms control talks must include China

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told his Russian counterpart on Friday that any future arms control talks must focus on an American proposal for a new arms control accord that includes Russia and China, the State Department said.

 

[angelburst29]

Still in the planning stage ... "Operation America Strong"

Blue Angels And Thunderbirds' Secretive Plan To Soar Together Over American Cities Confirmed (Updated)

Operation America Strong will see the jets, as well as other aircraft, fly over multiple cities to promote "national unity."

April 22, 2020 - The Pentagon is indeed planning to have the U.S. Air Force's Thunderbirds and the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels overfly a number of American cities to highlight "national unity" in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The War Zone was among the first to report earlier this week that the U.S. military's two premier aerial demonstration teams had flown a rare cooperative training event at the Blue Angels' home base at NAS Pensacola in Florida and that there were other signs of secretive preparations for some form of nation-wide morale-boosting event.

The Washington Post's Dan Lamothe got the scoop on the plan, dubbed Operation America Strong, which is still wending its way through various formal approval processes, on Apr. 22, 2020. The idea "was conceived by senior military officers in the Pentagon and is meant to be a nonpartisan show of resolve," a senior U.S. military official told The Post.

"This is just a sincere thank-you," that same individual said. "It’s one way to acknowledge those who are pitching in."

The Thunderbirds are still at NAS Pensacola and continue to train. Today, Airshowstuff.com also spotted a pair of the Air Force demonstration team's F-16s deploying all-new red and blue smoke. A patriotic red, white, and blue smoke trail from the jets would be a very appropriate accompaniment to the Operation America Strong flyovers.

The exact schedule for Operation America Strong is unknown at this time, but the proposed plan involves the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels conducting flyovers over multiple cities both together and separately. Other aircraft, including bombers, may also be involved in flights close to their home stations. The Thunderbirds already flew over Las Vegas, Nevada and various locations in Colorado to salute those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this month.

None of the flyovers will involve acrobatic routines and the exact flight plans are reportedly intended to avoid crossing over areas where groups could congregate to discourage large gatherings and continue to promote social distancing. Crowds notably turned out in New York City last month to catch a glimpse of the hospital ship USNS Comfort as it arrived in New York Harbor, posing a potential public health risk.

The Pentagon has briefed the White House and members of Congress, including Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee, on the proposed flights. The Secretaries of the Air Force and the Navy also still need to formally approve the operation, as will the Secretary of Defense. Any municipalities where the flights will take place will also no doubt be involved in the planning process as the operation moves forward.

"I’m thrilled to see our military honoring the front-line health care workers who have been fighting every day against this silent killer," Senator Rick Scott, a Florida Republican who said he was aware of planning for the overflights. "They are all heroes deserving of our gratitude and honor."

However, there is already some criticism of the potential costs involved, with the jets alone costing tens of thousands of dollars each per hour to operate. Officials have pointed out that money for the demonstration teams, which have seen their schedules curtailed due to airshow cancellations because of the pandemic, is already in the Department of Defense's existing budgets. Reappropriating defense spending is a complex and time-consuming procedure requiring Congressional approval, as well.

The pilots assigned to the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels would likely still be flying their jets in order to meet flight hour requirements to maintain proficiency, as well. Maintenance and other personnel would still have to conduct routine training, as well. These are realities that The War Zone's own Tyler Rogoway previously pointed out when reports of a potential nation-wide flyover event first emerged, writing:

"Some will decry the cost of such an endeavor. While the funding for these teams is always a simmering debate, the fact is that they are all accomplished fighter pilots and support personnel who need to constantly train. Whether they are in or working on gray or colorfully painted jets doesn't change that. So, why not at least use that flight time to spread a positive message and give people a little joy in what has been bleak and uncertain period?"

UPDATE: 8:20pm EST:
President Trump has now publicly stated that Operation America Strong will take place in the "coming weeks." The Thunderbirds and Blue Angels "will be performing airshows over America's major cities and some of the cities that aren't major," the President announced, saying it would be a tribute to healthcare works and signal to all Americans to "remain vigilant" as the pandemic continues.

Comment: Just a guess, Trump was cordially invited and then had to decline, a special invitation by Putin to attend the May 9th, 2020 Victory Day Parade, marking 75 years to the end of WW11, which in turn was cancelled, due to the Coronavirus pandemic. This airshow will probably occur around that date?

Thunderbirds Flight over Las Vegas April 11, 2020 Long Version

Published on Apr 13, 2020 (2:02 min.)

Thunderbird thank you to healthcare heroes view from Chopper 13

Published on Apr 11, 2020 (26:41 min.)


Trump and Putin issue rare joint statement promoting cooperation

U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin issued a rare joint statement on Saturday commemorating a 1945 World War Two link-up of U.S. and Soviet troops on their way to defeat Nazi Germany as an example of how their countries can cooperate.

The statement by Trump and Putin comes amid deep strains in U.S.-Russian ties over a raft of issues, from arms control and Russia’s intervention in Ukraine and Syria to U.S. charges that Russia has spread disinformation about the novel coronavirus pandemic and interfered in U.S. election campaigns.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the decision to issue the statement sparked debate within the Trump administration, with some officials worried it could undercut stern U.S. messages to Moscow.

The joint statement marked the anniversary of the April 25, 1945 meeting on a bridge over the Elbe River in Germany of Soviet soldiers advancing from the east and American troops moving from the West.

“This event heralded the decisive defeat of the Nazi regime,” the statement said. “The ‘Spirit of the Elbe’ is an example of how our countries can put aside differences, build trust, and cooperate in pursuit of a greater cause.”

The Journal said the last joint statement marking the Elbe River bridge link-up was issued in 2010, when the Obama administration was seeking improved relations with Moscow.

Trump had hoped to travel to Moscow to mark the anniversary. He has been complimentary of Putin, promoted cooperation with Moscow, and said he believed the Russian leader’s denials of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Senior administration officials and lawmakers, in contrast, have been fiercely critical of Russia, with relations between the nuclear-armed nations at their lowest point since the end of the Cold War.

 

[angelburst29]

I feel, VP Pence used poor judgment in his recent visit to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, by not wearing a face mask, while at the Clinic?
Especially, since VP Pence leads the White House task force on COVID-19? Once, outside the building, he could remove it?

Mayo Clinic says it informed VP Pence of mask policy before visit

PBS Newshour Pence was the only dignitary not wearing a mask during the Tuesday visit.

Apr 28, 2020 - Vice President Mike Pence is checking out the Mayo Clinic's coronavirus testing facilities in Minnesota on Tuesday, but his visit risks being overshadowed by his decision not to wear a face mask in the medical facility.

Live coverage from the Rochester institution showed that Pence was the only dignitary not to wear a protective face mask as he toured the hospital's COVID-19 facilities, including in front of a Mayo employee who has donated plasma having already experienced a case of COVID-19.

Others in attendance, including Gov. Tim Walz and Minnesota 1st District Rep. Jim Hagedorn – who has Stage 4 kidney cancer, were wearing masks, as is hospital policy for all visitors.

The controversy surrounding the VP's decision forced the Mayo Clinic to issue a tweet that has been shared more than 1,500 times as of 2 p.m., clarifying that it had informed the vice president of the hospital's mask policy.

This tweet was deleted about 40 minutes later. BMTN reached out to the Mayo to ask why, and received a response that basically repeated the tweet, saying: "Mayo shared the masking policy with the VP’s office."

Star Tribune reporter Briana Bierschbach noted that Pence was the only person she had seen at the hospital Tuesday without a mask, and later shared a comment from Pence's office explaining his decision.
Pence is in town to get a closer look at the Mayo's growing testing capacity, which showed enable Minnesota to ramp up COVID-19 testing to handle 20,000 a day.

He did observe social distancing protocol to the extent that he elbow-bumped with those at the Mayo, as opposed to a hand shake.

The CDC is advising the wearing of masks or cloth face coverings to limit the spread of COVID-19. You can find its guidance here.

Masks4All? Not for Vice President Mike Pence It Seems
April 28, 2020 - Masks4All? Not for Vice President Mike Pence, it seems. On Tuesday, Pence visited the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, where he was photographed greeting a patient. Around him were a half a dozen officials, including Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Representative Jim Hagedorn, all wearing face masks, as was the patient they hovered near. Not so the vice president.

Since April 13, Mayo has required all patients and visitors to wear a mask or other face covering in accordance with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The policy states: “Patients and visitors are asked to bring their own face covering or mask to wear. If a patient or visitor does not have a mask, Mayo Clinic will provide one.”

Photos and video of a mask-less Pence quickly surfaced on social media. And the Mayo Clinic itself posted a tweet—deleted 40 minutes later—that read, “Mayo Clinic had informed @vp of the masking policy prior to his arrival today.”

Politico reported that masks were made available to Pence on Tuesday, citing two sources.

The Mayo Clinic has been partnering with the University of Minnesota to ramp up coronavirus testing. According to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Mayo’s national reference laboratory has already conducted 150,000 molecular diagnostic tests for COVID-19 nationwide.

“The president and I often talk about a whole-of-America approach; this is a whole-of-Minnesota approach,” Pence said after his visit. Pence said the White House is “very excited” about the prospect of antibody testing.

Pence’s refusal to wear a mask drew criticism from other government officials, including Brian Schatz, the U.S. senator from Hawaii, who tweeted: “When you don’t wear a mask, especially inside the Mayo Clinic, you are not being brave. You are showing that you think the rules don’t apply to you. And you are setting a dangerous example by ignoring experts.”

And California Rep. Ted Lieu tweeted, "Dear @VP Mike Pence: The mask is not to protect you, it’s to protect the patients at the Mayo Clinic. You had no right to violate hospital policy and put others at risk."

A few hours after his visit, Pence explained his decision. "As vice president of the United States I'm tested for the coronavirus on a regular basis, and everyone who is around me is tested for the coronavirus,” he told reporters. "Since I don't have the coronavirus, I thought it'd be a good opportunity for me to be here, to be able to speak to these researchers these incredible healthcare personnel and look them in the eye and say thank you.”

Last week, the New York Times reported that Pence doesn’t feel he needs to wear a mask because he has been tested and currently shows no symptoms—but as the paper noted, Pence could still contract the highly contagious novel coronavirus even though he’s previously tested negative.

“When the face-covering guidelines were developed, it was with the intention to not only protect yourself, but primarily to protect others from asymptomatic spread,” Pence’s spokeswoman Katie Miller told the Times. “Vice President Pence is negative for COVID-19 and is therefore not asymptomatic.”

Three weeks ago, citing guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the White House urged all Americans to wear masks in public settings, to help reduce the risk of spreading the coronavirus. But Pence, who just so happens to lead the White House task force on COVID-19, isn’t the only top government official who has balked at taking the government’s advice.

President Donald Trump also said he would go mask-free. “I just don’t want to wear one myself, it’s a recommendation,” Trump said at the time. “Somehow sitting in the Oval Office behind that beautiful Resolute Desk, the great Resolute Desk, I think wearing a face mask as I greet presidents, dictators, kings, queens...I don’t know, I don’t see it for myself.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...anner-main_pencemask-545pm:homepage/story-ans (Video)


Covid-19 injects uncertainty into US presidential election in Nov
Apr 26, 2020 - Analysts say impact of coronavirus on various demographic groups, voter turnout will be critical, as pandemic further fuels polarization.

Just six months to the presidential election in the United States on Nov 3, it is clear that it will be deeply influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic.

An election, which in a sharply polarised country was always going to be more fraught than usual, will now take place amid an economic crisis, a crushing debt burden - and a public health emergency.

 

[angelburst29]

MOSCOW (AP) ‎April‎ ‎29‎, ‎2020‎ — The Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday rejected U.S. arguments for fielding low-yield nuclear warheads, warning that an attempt to use such weapons against Russia would trigger an all-out nuclear retaliation.

Russia slams US arguments for low-yield nukes

The U.S. State Department argued in a paper released last week that fitting the low-yield nuclear warheads to submarine-launched ballistic missiles would help counter potential new threats from Russia and China.
It charged that Moscow in particular was pondering the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons as a way of coercion in a limited conflict — an assertion that Russia has repeatedly denied. The State Department noted that the new supplemental warhead “reduces the risk of nuclear war by reinforcing extended deterrence and assurance.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry sees it otherwise.

The ministry’s spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, commented on the State Department’s paper at a briefing on Wednesday, emphasizing that the U.S. shouldn’t view its new low-yield warheads as a flexible tool that could help avert an all-out nuclear conflict with Russia.

“Any attack involving a U.S. submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), regardless of its weapon specifications, would be perceived as a nuclear aggression,” Zakharova said. “Those who like to theorize about the flexibility of American nuclear potential must understand that in line with the Russian military doctrine such actions are seen as warranting retaliatory use of nuclear weapons by Russia.”

Zakharova cast the U.S. deployment of low-yield warheads as a destabilizing move that would result in “lowering the nuclear threshold.”

U.S.-Russian differences on nuclear arms issues come as relations between Moscow and Washington are at post-Cold War lows over the Ukrainian crisis and the accusations of Russian meddling in the U.S. 2016 presidential election.

Last year, both Moscow and Washington withdrew from the 1987 Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

The only U.S.-Russian nuclear arms control agreement still standing is the New START treaty, which was signed in 2010 by U.S. President Barack Obama and then-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. The pact limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers and envisages sweeping on-site inspections to verify the compliance.

Russia has offered to extend the New START that expires in February 2021, while the Trump administration has pushed for a new arms control pact that would also include China. Moscow has described that idea as unfeasible, pointing at Beijing’s refusal to negotiate any deal that would reduce its much smaller nuclear arsenal.

In a statement Wednesday marking the 10th anniversary of signing the New START, the Russian Foreign Ministry hailed the treaty as an instrument that helps ensure predictability in the nuclear sphere and reaffirmed Moscow's offer to extend it without any preconditions.

Exclusive: Trump says China wants him to lose his re-election bid

U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic is proof that Beijing "will do anything they can" to make him lose his re-election bid in November.

China says it has no interest in meddling in U.S. election
China has no interest in interfering in the U.S. presidential election, it said on Thursday, after U.S. President Donald Trump said he believed Beijing would try to make him lose his re-election bid in November.

 

[angelburst29]

Mark Levin on Sean Hannity show - 6 min. video - Levin starts out praising Trump for the work he has accomplished and at the 1:45 mark, he condemns the corruption involving Obama and the FBI and goes on to expose New York City Governor Andrew Cuomo.

Mark Levin: Barack Obama is one of the most corrupt presidents in history

‎May‎ ‎01‎, ‎2020‎ - 'Life, Liberty & Levin' host Mark Levin sounds off after the release of FBI documents on the questioning of Michael Flynn in the Russia probe.

Joe Biden denies sexual assault claims

May 1, 2020 - US presidential candidate Joe Biden has denied sexually assaulting a former staffer, saying the incident she claims occurred in 1993 “never happened”.

The presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden denied allegations from a former staffer who says he sexually assaulted her 27 years ago.

WASHINGTON, DC: Breaking his month-long silence for the first time, the presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden denied allegations from a former staffer who says he sexually assaulted her 27 years ago. “They aren’t true. This never happened,” Biden said in a statement.
Tara Reade, who worked for the then-senator in 1993, told several media outlets that he had sexually assaulted her in an empty corridor on Capitol Hill. She had previously accused him of inappropriate touching.

In the dozen interviews Biden has conducted since then, no one asked him about the allegations.

And journalists were often referred to a statement issued by his campaign vehemently rejecting the accusations as false. But further investigations led two new witnesses to come forward in support of Reade’s narrative, including a pro-Biden former neighbor to Reade who recalled the details of her assault.

That has exerted more pressure on Biden to publicly address the issue, which is increasingly seen as detrimental to his campaign, especially for a candidate who has put “character” and “honesty” as a central issue in this election.

In 2018, during the controversial nomination hearings of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, when he was accused by two women of sexual misconduct, Biden was unequivocal that the women should be believed.
“For a woman to come forward in the glaring lights of focus nationally, you’ve got to start off with the presumption that at least the essence of what she’s talking about is real, whether or not she forgets the facts,” Biden had said.

Reade is going on national TV on Sunday to tell her story again. Using Biden’s own words, an MSNBC anchor asked the former vice president whether the American public should start off with the presumption that the essence of what Reade is talking about is real.

Biden answered that women’s claims should be vetted, and repeated that in Reade’s case, such claims are not true.

In his statement, he said Reade’s story has changed repeatedly “in small and big ways.” He added: “While the details of these allegations of sexual harassment and sexual assault are complicated, two things are not complicated. One is that women deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and when they step forward they should be heard, not silenced. The second is that their stories should be subject to appropriate inquiry and scrutiny.”

Reade said she filed a complaint in 1993 with the Senate’s human resources department, but media outlets have not been able to track it down.

Biden says there is one place a complaint of this kind could be found: The National Archives. He requested that the secretary of the Senate ask the National Archives to produce any record of a complaint Reade alleged she filed, and make it available to the press.

He said he is prepared for such a document to be made public, reiterating that “to the best of my knowledge,” there has not been one complaint made against him in his 40-year career.

Reade believes the complaint is in Biden’s archives at the University of Delaware where, as is the practice of senators, he has established a library of personal papers that document his public records.

But under repeated questioning from the MSNBC anchor, Biden refused to authorize the university to run a search for Reade’s name within the files. And the university says it will not release the records until two years after Biden has retired from public life.

This is likely to spark even more controversy over the issue in the coming days and weeks.

Arizona-Based Air Force Jets Filled The Sky Over Phoenix For Jaw-Droppingly Huge Flying Salute

May 2, 2020 - What started with the Air Force's Thunderbirds flying over their hometown of Las Vegas in a show of support for those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic, has spread across the nation. Although the Thunderbirds and Blue Angels have gotten the most attention with their massive 12 ship, twin-formation flyovers, flying units throughout the country are doing the same with a wide mix of aircraft, from jet trainers to B-2 bombers. Air Force airpower based in Arizona, namely F-16 and F-35 fighters from Luke Air Force Base's 56th Fighter Wing, along with a KC-135 tanker from the 161st Air Refueling Wing based out of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, executed what just may be the biggest 'hold my beer' moment imaginable by putting an absolutely massive formation into the air that included 15 core aircraft, with as many as 18 being involved for portions of the flight.

The formation morphed as it flew over the Phoenix area, roaring over hospitals that are ground zero of the outbreak.

55th FW

55th FW

Videos from the flyover are downright remarkable and look more like something out of a major air campaign than a hometown flyover:

The sight of a sole KC-135 leading such a large number of 'chicks in tow' will be tough to top, but seeing how fast this trend within the Pentagon's flying communities has blossomed, anything is possible.

Published on May 1, 2020 (29:30 min.)

Published on May 1, 2020 (7:17 min.)

 

[SummerLite]

So, we're now having this horrendous issue with some Governors turning into tyrants. Years ago I read an article about the problems that where beginning to happen with the governors becoming "compromised". Although I don't recall the details, I wonder now if Soros may have been working behind the scenes to place these governors like he's been doing with other positions in the government. This is shocking! One tweet mentions how these govs are getting a lot of supportive airtime on CNN etc. Full article and interesting tweets.

https://www.wbal.com/article/448821/2/three-republican-lawmakers-sue-hogan-over-stay-at-home-order#

3 Republican Lawmakers Sue Hogan Over Stay At Home Order

Three Republican state lawmakers are among 18 plaintiffs suing Republican Gov. Larry Hogan in federal court, over the constitutionality of the state's stay-at-home order and the order banning gatherings of more than 10 people.The lawsuit was filed Saturday in U.S. District Court in Baltimore. One of the lawmakers, Del. Dan Cox, says that he was threatened with arrest on Saturday morning if he spoke at a ReOpen Maryland rally at the Francis Scott Key Mall in Frederick, where the group was starting a road caravan across the state. In court papers, Cox argues that he was warned by a senior law enforcement official that the “Governor has his sights on you” and that if I attend, ride along and speak at the Reopen Rally, I would potentially be arrested because certain individuals had indicated they may stop cars “and arrest you.”

The suit claims Cox than called Hogan's senior advisor Andrew Cassilly and Chief Counsel Mike Pedone "that if Del. Cox attends and speaks at the Reopen Rally he may be arrested."

Cox said he was threatened with arrest for violating the executive order where violators could face up to a year in jail and a $5,000 fine.
Cox declined comment on Saturday night, but talked about the incident in a Facebook post.

In the post, Cox describes himself as a delegate who, "fought hard in my Judiciary Committee for the Governor's legislative policies."
"However, the line of freedom that the Supreme Court has explained is sacred to our American values and our natural liberty, has been crossed. On behalf of 22,000 Marylanders and millions who agree in this State, it's past time Mr. Governor to lighten the heavy hand of your Executive Orders and stop picking winners and losers, and Reopen Maryland. Marylanders will not stand for continued house arrest and lock-downs and the destruction of our businesses and way of life."

The suit names Hogan, Health Secretary Bobby Neall, Deputy Health Secretary Fran Phillips and Maryland State Police Superintendent Col Woodrow "Jerry" Jones as defendants.
Del. Neil Parrott of Washington County and Del. Warren Miller of Carroll and Howard Counties are among the list of plaintiffs, who also include the owner of Adventure Park in New Market, the owner of the Antietam KOA Campground, two Iraq War veterans, and ten pastors.

Parrott, a Republican candidate in the 6th Congressional District did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment, but he announced the suit in a news release.
“Threatening a legislator with arrest for exercising his first amendment right to free speech is not only unconstitutional, it is wrong," Parrott said in his news release.

“Governor Hogan is trying his best and may have some good solutions, but even so, new laws like an edict ordering that masks must be worn need to come from the legislature, not the executive branch. I could not in good conscience sit idly by to watch our freedoms be taken away and to allow this to become precedent for future ‘emergencies’,” Parrott added.

A spokesman for Hogan commented on the lawsuit on Saturday night.
“We fully respect Delegate Cox’s right to protest, but that doesn’t entitle him to make false and baseless claims," Hogan communications director Mike Ricci told WBAL NewsRadio 1090 and FM 101.5.
"The overwhelming majority of Marylanders don’t agree with him, and don’t know who he is.”
Cox was due to address a group of protesters who were driving from Frederick to Salisbury.
ReOpen Maryland had organized the protest.

"We should’ve had the opportunity to adhere to certain rules and regulations rather than be shut down,” James Knowles, a Queen Anne’s resident, told The Baltimore Sun during a lunch stop in Kent Island during Saturday's protest.

Protesters made several stops as they drove across I-70, the Baltimore Beltway, I-97 and U.S. Route 50.

Group members pledged to follow social distancing guidelines by remaining in their cars, but many did not.

Jeff Hulbert, the founder of Patriot Picket, a pro-Second Amendment group, said responsibility for defending against the virus should be on individuals, not the government.

“What Governor Hogan should be doing is setting the guidelines and the guardrails, then we put on our personal protective equipment, we go to work, we go shopping, we go out to meet with friends, but we use our personal responsibility to take care of our own lives.”

At the final stop in Salisbury, participants gathered in a parking lot, where speakers, including U.S. Rep. Andy Harris, criticized the restrictions. Harris, a Republican, is also a licensed physician specializing in anesthesiology. He said he thinks enough is known about the virus now to start ending restrictions.

“Let’s let common sense prevail now. We know what’s safe and what isn’t,” Harris said to a cheering crowd of at least several dozen people. Most people did not wear masks and did not follow social distancing guidelines that call for staying at least 6 feet apart.
Harris also compared the restrictions in Maryland to North Korea.
Hogan responded to the protest and Harris's comments during an appearance Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."

"I think everybody has a right to protest and express their feelings,” Hogan said. “A couple of dozen people did so yesterday. And they have every right to do that. We - sadly, we had far more people die yesterday in Maryland than we had protesters.”

Hogan's comments came as Maryland officials on Sunday reported that the state has confirmed 989 new cases of the virus and 26 more deaths since Saturday.
On Harris' comparison of Maryland's restrictions to North Korea, Hogan said, "He's obviously got the right to say whatever crazy things he wants to say, but you know, I don't really need to respond to him."

 

[goyacobol]

I would place this post in the COVID-1984 thread but I think it should go here for better continuity.

As we "wait and see" maybe we need to reflect on the strange journey of Donald Trump and his declared war to "Drain the Swamp". I would propose that Donald Trump is maybe not so average "Joe six-pack" as he sometimes appears to his audience as the following article would propose anyway:

DONALD TRUMP - 156

Keeping in mind that his IQ could be in the 156 range then it is interesting that even he does not seem to be in favor of vaccinations as the following SOTT article would suggest.

Trump admits in 2015 interview he's never had the flu, vaccines filled with 'bad stuff'

His efforts so far seem to have not drained the swamp much less counteracted the MIC. But then I will "wait and see". Hopefully, he will at least not encourage mandatory vaccinations.

 

[JGeropoulas]

Keeping in mind that his IQ could be in the 156 range then it is interesting that even he does not seem to be in favor of vaccinations as the following SOTT article would suggest.

Trump admits in 2015 interview he's never had the flu, vaccines filled with 'bad stuff'

I watched an interview with Bill Gates, who said he met with Trump, who made the "bad stuff" comment. Gates said he told him that "we" didn't want to go down that road. Soon thereafter, RFK Jr. (who was set to be appointed to head Trump's new Vaccine Commission) says he was shut out of the White House and the Vaccine Commission fell by the wayside.