October 22, 2015


News Clips For The Day


http://www.cbsnews.com/news/joe-biden-opts-out-of-presidential-race/

Joe Biden opts out of presidential race
By STEPHANIE CONDON CBS NEWS
October 21, 2015



Vice President Joe Biden has decided to forgo a 2016 presidential bid, he announced Wednesday.

"I believe we're out of time -- the time necessary to mount a winning campaign," the vice president said from the White House Rose Garden with his wife Jill Biden and President Obama by his side.

The decision ends months of speculation about whether Biden would step up to challenge Hillary Clinton, the current front runner for the Democratic nomination and his former Obama administration colleague.

The vice president took his time to consider whether he and his family had the "emotional energy" to endure another campaign, following the tragic death over the summer of his 46-year-old son Beau.

"As my family and I have worked through the grieving process, I've said all along -- what I've said time and again to others -- that it may very well be that process, by the time we get through it, closes the window on mounting a realistic campaign for president - that it might close," Biden said Wednesday.

While his fellow Democrats gave him his space, pressure mounted for Biden to come to a decision as Democratic voters, party operatives and deep-pocketed donors considered which candidate to line up behind.

Biden was also running up against logistical deadlines: The first filing deadline for appearing on a 2016 primary ballot is November 6 in Alabama. Additionally, the Democratic primary debates are already underway; CBS News hosts the next Democratic debate on November 14 in Iowa.

The vice president insisted Wednesday that "there is no timetable" for the process of running for president. "The process doesn't respect or much care about things like filing deadlines, or debates and primaries and caucuses," he said.

Moreover, the vice president said he and his family have reached a turning point in their grieving process. Even so, he said he still believes he is out of time.

"While I will not be a candidate, I will not be silent," Biden continued. "I intend to speak out clearly and forcefully, to influence as much as I can where we stand as a party and where we need to go as a nation."

The vice president said the Democratic Party and the nation would "be making a tragic mistake" if they were to walk away from or attempt to undo the Obama legacy.

"Democrats should not only defend this record and protect this record, they should run on the record," he said. "We've got a lot of work to get done over the next 15 months... but let me be clear that we'll be building on a really solid foundation."

Biden stressed the significance of issues that are central to the Democratic Party platform, such as the need to address income inequality and pursue campaign finance reform.

"I believe the huge sums of unlimited and often secret money pouring into our politics is a fundamental threat to our democracy...the middle class will never have a fighting chance in this country as long as just several families, the wealthiest families, control the process," he said.

The vice president also declared, "I believe we need a moon shot in this country to cure cancer." While acknowledging the issue is personal for him, after his son's battle with brain cancer, Biden noted that the administration has increased funding for cancer research and development.

"I'm going to spend the next 15 months in this office pushing as hard as I can to accomplish this because I know there are Democrats and Republicans on the Hill who share our passion, our passion to silence this deadly disease," he said. "If I could be anything, I would have wanted to be the president that ended cancer because it's possible."

While Clinton has dominated the race for the Democratic nomination, there's clearly at least some thirst among Democrats for an alternative. Bernie Sanders, the socialist senator from Vermont, has drawn huge crowds to his campaign events, and he has stayed competitive with Clinton in polls in key states, as well as in terms of fundraising.

All the while, Biden had maintained a base of support. Polls throughout the year showed that Biden consistently won the support of at least 10 percent of Democrats nationally and in early-nominating states.

Biden's decision is good news for Clinton, though she hardly has a lock on the nomination. As her Democratic opponents work to keep her on her feet, Clinton will also have to fend off attacks from Republicans scrutinizing her use of a private email account and server, as well as her actions ahead of the September 12, 2012 Benghazi attack.




“While his fellow Democrats gave him his space, pressure mounted for Biden to come to a decision as Democratic voters, party operatives and deep-pocketed donors considered which candidate to line up behind. Biden was also running up against logistical deadlines: The first filing deadline for appearing on a 2016 primary ballot is November 6 in Alabama. Additionally, the Democratic primary debates are already underway; CBS News hosts the next Democratic debate on November 14 in Iowa. …. While Clinton has dominated the race for the Democratic nomination, there's clearly at least some thirst among Democrats for an alternative. Bernie Sanders, the socialist senator from Vermont, has drawn huge crowds to his campaign events, and he has stayed competitive with Clinton in polls in key states, as well as in terms of fundraising. All the while, Biden had maintained a base of support. Polls throughout the year showed that Biden consistently won the support of at least 10 percent of Democrats nationally and in early-nominating states.” …. Biden stressed the significance of issues that are central to the Democratic Party platform, such as the need to address income inequality and pursue campaign finance reform. "I believe the huge sums of unlimited and often secret money pouring into our politics is a fundamental threat to our democracy...the middle class will never have a fighting chance in this country as long as just several families, the wealthiest families, control the process," he said. …. "While I will not be a candidate, I will not be silent," Biden continued. "I intend to speak out clearly and forcefully, to influence as much as I can where we stand as a party and where we need to go as a nation."

“The vice president said the Democratic Party and the nation would "be making a tragic mistake" if they were to walk away from or attempt to undo the Obama legacy. "Democrats should not only defend this record and protect this record, they should run on the record," he said.” I’m glad to see a Democrat make this statement, because so many of our otherwise decent candidates have been afraid of facing the press, other candidates and the public at large with genuinely liberal ideas, especially economic issues. That’s is why Bernie Sanders took off like a rocket as soon as he started making lots of comments and stating his plans for the country. Things like free four year degrees at state-run universities and taxing the stock/bond investment incomes that make up the bulk of wealthy people’s personal finances are well within the Democratic Party’s values, and though they may technically be “socialistic” (along with Social Security, Medicare, etc) they are much needed and not unfair to people who make several million dollars a year. That kind of economic imbalance can only destroy our country from the inside. The fact that the ordinary Joe, or any other wage earner, is TAXED MORE HEAVILY WHILE MAKING LESS, should be a scandal among our voters. I have always liked Joe Biden. He’s fair and honest and “a mensch!”





http://www.cbsnews.com/news/freedom-caucus-not-convinced-yet-paul-ryan-should-be-speaker/

Freedom Caucus not convinced yet Paul Ryan should be speaker
By REBECCA SHABAD CBS NEWS
October 21, 2015

Photograph -- U.S. Representative Paul Ryan (R-WI) smiles as he arrives at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington October 20, 2015. REUTERS/Yuri Gripas - RTS5D9W REUTERS/YURI GRIPAS


Members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus on Wednesday said they're not convinced yet that Rep. Paul Ryan should be the next speaker of the House.

The group said it plans to meet with Ryan, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, later in the day to discuss conditions he laid out a day earlier.

"We've got a lot of work to do between now and Friday if that's his imposed deadline," Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kansas, House Freedom Caucus member and chairman of the Tea Party Caucus, told reporters Wednesday after a closed-door conference meeting.

Although Ryan does not need the Freedom Caucus to secure the nomination to be speaker, Huelskamp says that Ryan would need a substantial majority of its members to support him on the House floor, where he will need 218 votes to win.

Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, said Tuesday night he would give the major GOP caucuses until Friday to endorse him. House Republicans are now scheduled to vote by secret ballot for speaker next Wednesday and hold a floor vote next Thursday.

CBS News' Nancy Cordes asked Speaker Boehner, R-Ohio, how likely it is that the Freedom Caucus will back Ryan.

"I think that Paul Ryan would make a great speaker, but this decision is up to the members, and I thought that last night went very well, and hopefully by the end of the week, we will have a nominee," Boehner said.

Huelskamp said he wants to ask Ryan, "'What do you mean? You've got five demands? What exactly does that mean for the institution? What does that mean that you don't want to work weekends?'"

Ryan's conditions included converting the GOP from being "opposition party" to a "proposition party," updating conference rules, unifying House Republicans and having time to spend with his family.

"This position is very important," Huelskamp added. "It's two heartbeats away from the president. I don't think we should rush into filling that position."

The Freedom Caucus met Wednesday morning and its members said its endorsement of Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Florida, still stands.

Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Utah, a leading member of the group, said he's concerned Ryan is asking for more power in the speaker's office, rather than less power.

He added that Ryan's demand to repeal the motion to vacate the chair is a "non-starter." This is the motion that gives the rank and file members the power to oust the speaker. In July, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-North Carolina, filed a motion to vacate the chair to oust Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.

Asked whether Ryan's demand to repeal that privilege would affect whether he supports him, Meadows told reporters, "Obviously, it's a factor, but at this point, to characterize anything as a defining factor would be inappropriate."

Another Freedom Caucus member, Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Alabama, said he's "troubled" that Ryan is being pushed into a job he doesn't want. He's also unhappy with some of Ryan's previous policy positions on some issues, such as immigration reform.

"On a policy level, I would hope that Paul Ryan would take a position that would more consistent with the will of the American people and Republican voters," he said.

He added, " If the candidates for speaker remain as they are, I will be voting for Daniel Webster. That is, as of now, the candidate that has been endorsed by the House Freedom Caucus."

But other House Republicans who want Ryan to take the gavel said members of the Freedom Caucus are isolating themselves.

Rep. Peter King, R-New York, said that if group does not support Ryan, then it will prove that they're "out of touch with reality."

"I don't see who else it could be. If it's not Paul Ryan, I think it would be a disaster," he said. "We'd be in total disarray if it's not Paul Ryan."



http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/justin-amash-freedom-caucus-house-republicans-214819

The obsession of the House Freedom Caucus
Rep. Justin Amash insists the group that pushed John Boehner to the exits isn't just a bunch of bomb throwers. They want real reform in how the House works.
By Jake Sherman
10/15/15

Photograph -- Rep. Justin Amash, a leader of the House Freedom Caucus who helped plunge the House of Representatives into an unprecedented state of chaos, wants to talk about rules. | AP Photo


GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Most elected representatives host town halls in their districts to speak with constituents about solving the nation’s ills — slimming the bloated federal budget, say, or lifting up the poor and the middle class.

Rep. Justin Amash, a leader of the House Freedom Caucus who helped plunge the House of Representatives into an unprecedented state of chaos, wants to talk about rules.

The House rules. How he believes John Boehner didn't follow them, and how the chamber’s next leader needs to. Amash and his crew want a robust committee process. They would like more amendments and no more end runs to fast-track legislation to the House floor. If the next leader does those things, he or she might not have to constantly worry about the Freedom Caucus. Return to “regular order,” and the Republican Conference just might be able to return to normal.

“The problem isn’t that he isn’t conservative enough,” Amash told about 40 people here during a town hall meeting Wednesday evening, referring to John Boehner, who announced his resignation amid growing pressure from Amash’s group. “The problem is he doesn’t follow the process. He operated a top-down system, and still operates a top-down system because he hasn’t stepped down yet. Which means that he figures out what outcome he wants, and he goes to the individual members and attempts to compel and coerce us to vote for that outcome.”

Amash, a 35-year-old libertarian-minded Republican first elected in the tea party wave of 2010, is at the heart of a new power center in the House Republican Conference. With roughly 40 members, the Freedom Caucus has an outsized role in selecting the next speaker of the House. If its members vote as a bloc, which they say they intend to do, it essentially gives them veto power over the next speaker of the House.

Republican leaders see Freedom Caucus members as a bunch of bomb-throwing ideologues with little interest in finding solutions that can pass a divided government.

But that's a false reading of the group, Amash told his constituents. Their mission isn't to drag Republican leadership to the right, though many of them would certainly favor more conservative outcomes. It's simply to force them to follow the institution's procedures, Amash argued.

That means allowing legislation and amendments to flow through committees in a deliberative way, and giving individual members a chance to offer amendments and to have their ideas voted on on the House floor. Instead of waiting until right before the latest legislative crisis erupts, then twisting members’ arms for votes, they argue, leadership must empower the rank and file on the front end and let the process work its will.

“In some cases, conservative outcomes will succeed. In other cases, liberal outcomes will succeed. And that’s OK,” said Amash, who was reelected overwhelmingly last year after the U.S. Chamber of Commerce backed his Republican primary rival. “We can have a House where different coalitions get together on different bills and pass legislation. And then we present that to the Senate and we present it to the White House.

“The worst scenario,” Amash continued, “is where you have one person or a small group of people dictate to everyone else what the outcome is going to be in advance.”

During the town hall meeting, Amash talked about his desire to balance the budget, stop the National Security Agency from spying on innocent Americans and increase transparency in the political process.

But in the midst of the GOP's acute search for a new speaker, Amash spent the overwhelming majority of the hour-plus town hall on an extended discourse about the arcane rules that govern the House of Representatives.

Listening to him tell it, Washington today is a banana republic. He said he's asked by leadership on a weekly basis to waive the institution’s rules, a move to expedite legislating that most members view as a relatively minor vote. But Amash finds it maddening. He says he's threatened and coerced to support the party leadership — or else.

“Under this system, it’s very rigid, very controlled,” Amash said to overwhelmingly sympathetic nods from the crowd. “From Day One it's drilled into your head that you must waive the rules every time we bring one of these resolutions to the floor or else you’re not part of the team. ... And you need to stick with the speaker on everything. [So] it’s no surprise you have all these crises. It’s no surprise when you have one person or a small group of people always negotiating the outcomes and trying to find the votes afterwards.”

Of course, that’s what the establishment says of the House Freedom Caucus: that its roughly 40 members have just enough power to throttle progress and give Republican leaders a perpetual migraine, but no interest in the give and take required to get something done.

And allies of Boehner and House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy say they have been overly solicitous of all House Republicans. Current leaders say they use the committee process, and follow the rules — and when they don't, they say, it's to protect Republican members from tough votes or to advance an agreed-upon agenda.

Furthermore, they say the Freedom Caucus has, essentially, held the GOP hostage, demanding specific changes to House and party rules in exchange for support. Many of Boehner's many allies doubt the authenticity of the group's push and point to ideological demands to use budget reconciliation to repeal Obamacare, and its resistance to raising the debt ceiling.

Amash vows his group is focused on changing the way the institution works.

"It takes those members in the House Freedom Caucus to stand strong against the current system in order to change it," he said. "And if we didn’t stand together, I don’t think we’d be here today talking about who might be the next speaker of the House. So we need to make sure that we push for process reforms and continue to emphasize process. We’re not talking about the ideology."

Right now, the group — which is led by Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan — is supporting Daniel Webster, a little-known congressman from Florida at risk of soon losing his seat to redistricting, for speaker. Amash called Webster "a principled representatives and he cares most about process." But caucus members are keenly aware that others might get into the race, namely Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.

In an interview after the event, with his suit jacket in his hand and an aide in the wings, Amash said he spoke to Ryan last week about running for speaker.

"I felt it was important to have a conversation with people who might consider running, particularly because the House Freedom Caucus and a lot of other members have concerns about the process," Amash told POLITICO. He said he believes Ryan would "be open" to their requests "because he’s seen how the House has been dysfunctional under Speaker Boehner."

"But I’m not sure it’s in his nature, because he’s a policy wonk. He’s a self-described policy wonk." Amash added that Ryan would "have to persuade us" that he is willing to make changes to how the institution works.

"He’s a likable person," Amash added of Ryan. "And I know a lot of us have good relationships with him. But we need to hear how he’s going to run the House."

During the town hall, however, Amash appeared to take a shot at Ryan, saying "if someone is saying that they will only agree to be speaker if they have unconditional support, then that person is not fit to be speaker." People close to Ryan have said he's seeking unanimous support, but Amash later said it was a "general statement" that wasn't directed at Ryan, because he's not a declared candidate.

The Freedom Caucus flexed its muscle last week when the group endorsed Webster over McCarthy (R-Cailf.) and Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) for speaker. (McCarthy dropped out of the race shortly thereafter, citing the caucus endorsement as a real warning sign.) Now Amash's group is trying to extend its influence. He said during the town hall that the Freedom Caucus will meet with the moderate Tuesday Group next week to discuss "differences and misunderstandings."

Most people in the room agreed with Amash's take on the state of the House. But Robin Daning, a 65-year-old lifelong resident of Grand Rapids and a self-described libertarian like Amash, said the lawmaker sounded hypocritical.

"What he’s doing is saying we shouldn’t let a minority control the situation," Daning said. "But then on the other hand, the Freedom Caucus is trying to do the same thing. They’ll withhold votes and do different things to gum up the process. They're doing the same thing. They’re a minority, too."

But many others praised efforts by Amash and conservatives to topple Boehner. Amash also took questions about the Syrian refugee crisis — his father was a Palestinian refugee, he said — and a smattering of inquiries about the role of money in politics.

One man asked whether Amash will stick around Washington. He said he didn't know.

"I’ve always said I'll serve in Congress as long as I'm being effective," he said. "And I believe I am being effective. I believe I'm making a difference. And we’ve seen that difference. When I got to Congress you had a system that was really broken, and I started to talk about it. And here we are almost five years later, and that system that they put in place is starting to crumble. And we have a real opportunity here to change things."



CBS -- "We've got a lot of work to do between now and Friday if that's his imposed deadline," Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kansas, House Freedom Caucus member and chairman of the Tea Party Caucus, told reporters Wednesday after a closed-door conference meeting. Although Ryan does not need the Freedom Caucus to secure the nomination to be speaker, Huelskamp says that Ryan would need a substantial majority of its members to support him on the House floor, where he will need 218 votes to win. …. Huelskamp said he wants to ask Ryan, "'What do you mean? You've got five demands? What exactly does that mean for the institution? What does that mean that you don't want to work weekends?'" Ryan's conditions included converting the GOP from being "opposition party" to a "proposition party," updating conference rules, unifying House Republicans and having time to spend with his family. …. He added that Ryan's demand to repeal the motion to vacate the chair is a "non-starter." This is the motion that gives the rank and file members the power to oust the speaker. In July, Rep. Mark Meadows, R-North Carolina, filed a motion to vacate the chair to oust Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio. …. Another Freedom Caucus member, Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Alabama, said he's "troubled" that Ryan is being pushed into a job he doesn't want. He's also unhappy with some of Ryan's previous policy positions on some issues, such as immigration reform. "On a policy level, I would hope that Paul Ryan would take a position that would more consistent with the will of the American people and Republican voters," he said.”

“Rep. Peter King, R-New York, said that if group does not support Ryan, then it will prove that they're "out of touch with reality." "I don't see who else it could be. If it's not Paul Ryan, I think it would be a disaster," he said. "We'd be in total disarray if it's not Paul Ryan." It appears that the ultra-conservative newcomers of the last several years, though they make lots of noise, don’t have the support of the more moderate members. “From the “opposition party” to the “proposition party,” being a change from being mainly negative and combative to being a group who will listen to others (perhaps including Democrats?), there is emerging a desire to make more needed changes. Programs such as public education, the environment and even our national infrastructure have suffered as a result of many years of deadlock, as well as the ability of the poor to live a reasonably secure and comfortable life. Some Republicans even agree that the wealthy need to be taxed not only at a higher rate, but more effectively, and on their investment income. Most moderates are truly concerned about the huge and growing income gap and the fact that the great, stabilizing Middle Class is getting poorer and smaller all the time. I also want to say that in my opinion, though I’m not an economist, “trickle down” leads to economic depressions and thus to bad business rather than good business, which the Republicans always claim as their great skill.

The Republicans’ firm reputation as “the party of NO” is not a good one, even among many Republicans. Many people, not just a few, are really getting tired of battles without end and government shutdowns. So many of the more radical suggestions from that group are not laws that a moderate citizen of the US wants to have to live under; and the destruction of the Social Security system and its’ conversion to a system of personal savings accounts, medical programs, affordable housing, etc. would be a disaster. Most poor people make barely enough money to get by, much less having the ability to pay for private school and college, good health care, plenty of good fresh food, decent warm clothing and comfortable housing. There is an apartment set that is under Section 8 right now here in Jacksonville, Eureka Gardens, that is under the gun for having very much substandard conditions there. It’s in the news every day.

This article shows Ryan to be a moderate Republican, or at least one who wants to “get things done,” so that makes me think he has intelligence and a good attitude (for a Republican). For more on the group who oppose him, go to the following article which I have merely mentioned. It’s informational, including what the Freedom Caucus wants and who some of the members are. I didn’t copy any of it because the article is too long and the Freedom Caucus are in the minority. According to that article, however, not all moderates are stepping up behind Ryan in a supportive manner. Like so many people, they may be waiting to see “which way the wind blows.” A representative could lose the next election by championing the wrong people. Amash, interestingly, is of Palestinian heritage. I wonder what his stance on Israel is.
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/10/justin-amash-freedom-caucus-house-republicans-214819, “The obsession of the House Freedom Caucus,” Rep. Justin Amash insists the group that pushed John Boehner to the exits isn't just a bunch of bomb throwers. They want real reform in how the House works.” It seems they considered Boehner to be too dictatorial, or “top down” in the way he operated.





http://www.cbsnews.com/news/syria-bashar-assad-russia-vladimir-putin-war-on-terrorists/

Assad shows up to thank Putin for the save
CBS/AP
October 21, 2015

28 PHOTOS -- Fighting ISIS
Photograph -- putinassadmoscow.jpg -- Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, October 20, 2015. REUTERS
Play VIDEO -- Flash Points: What can the U.S. expect from Putin in Syria?

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DAMASCUS, Syria -- President Bashar Assad has traveled to Moscow in his first known trip abroad since war broke out in Syria in 2011, meeting his strongest ally, Russian leader Vladimir Putin. The two leaders stressed that military operations in Syria - in which Moscow is the latest and most powerful addition - must lead to a political process.

Russia later announced that Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry have agreed to meet in Vienna Friday with their counterparts from Saudi Arabia and Turkey to discuss the Syria crisis.

The surprise visit Tuesday reflects renewed confidence from the embattled Syrian president after Russia and Iran, another staunch ally, dramatically escalated their support recently as Moscow began carrying out airstrikes on Syrian insurgents and Tehran sent hundreds of ground forces.

A Syrian official confirmed Wednesday that Assad had returned to Damascus. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Putin said he had invited Assad, thanking him for "coming to Moscow despite a tragic situation in your country."

Assad flashed wide smiles as he shook hands with Putin and other officials. "We thank you for standing by Syria's territorial integrity and its independence," Assad told Putin.

CBS News correspondent Margaret Brennan reports that the timing of Assad's visit to Moscow surprised many U.S. officials, particularly given that he left Syria in the midst of the regime's largest counteroffensive in months.

A U.S. intelligence official referred it as a "photo-op with a failed dictator." The official said that U.S. intelligence finds it "interesting" that Assad chose to visit his patron in Moscow rather than his other patrons in Tehran as it "reinforces the notion" that he is "firmly under Putin's thumb."

Brennan reports that the U.S. assessment is that the Assad regime faces long odds of a military victory and Putin is not one to bet on a losing horse. Yet the U.S. is still unclear as to how far Putin will go to support one man.

As CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips reports, the visit was a clear sign of who's now running the show on the government side of the Syrian conflict, and it was a lot more than a simply courtesy call paid by Assad as Putin's jets have effectively become the Syrian air force.

On Tuesday, the U.S. and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding over safety procedures for aircraft flying over Syria. The memo includes specific protocols for air crews to follow over Syria, and establishes a ground communications link.

Late last week, as the final details were being negotiated, a Russian SU-30 Flanker jet fighter came within 1,500 feet of two American aircraft, the closest approach since Russia started flying airstrikes, reported CBS News correspondent David Martin.

Syria's conflict began in March 2011 after the government cracked down violently on largely peaceful protests against Assad's rule. The protests gradually became an armed insurgency and a civil war that has killed a quarter of a million people in the past five years.

Moscow, a traditional ally of the Assad family, started an air campaign on Sept. 30 against what it said are terrorist groups threatening Syria and Assad's rule. It became the latest international power to deepen its involvement into the increasingly intractable conflict that saw a mushrooming of armed groups, including the Islamic State of Syria and Iraq (ISIS) and al Qaeda.

Russia says it is targeting militants. But critics, including the U.S., say the Moscow military intervention helps props up Assad and is likely to fan the violence.

Putin said that along with fighting militants, Moscow believes that "a long-term settlement can only be achieved as part of a political process with the participation of all political forces, ethnic and religious groups."

"The Syrian people have been putting up a fight against international terrorism effectively on its own for several years, sustaining sizeable losses but it has achieved positive results recently," Putin said.

A statement posted on the Syrian presidency's official Facebook page said the meetings discussed the continuation of the military operations against terrorism in Syria, calling it the "obstacle" to a political solution.

"Terrorism which we see spreading today could have been more widespread and more harmful if it weren't for your decisions and steps, not only in our region," Assad told Putin in remarks carried by Arab media.

The statement said Assad had three separate meetings in Moscow: talks with Putin and his foreign and defense ministers, a closed-door meeting between the two leaders and a working dinner.

Commentators on Syrian TV hailed the visit as endorsement of Assad's legitimacy, reinforcing the notion that he must be part of a future political solution to the crisis.

"This lightning trip is a slap" to Assad's opponents, Syrian analyst Bassam Abdullah told state television channel Ikhbariyah after the visit, adding that it highlights the need for political meetings not just military action.

Abdullah described the meeting as "intimate" and reflecting a common vision and values between the two leaders. "There is a clear strategic shift in the region ... and it is happening fast," he said.

Television footage showed footage of Putin and Russia's foreign and defense ministers meeting with Assad, with the two leaders exchanging warm handshakes and smiles. Syrian government officials didn't say if anyone traveled with Assad and photos from the meeting didn't show a delegation accompanying the Syrian leader.

Assad said Russia's intervention was in line with international law and praised it as an effort to rid Syria and the region of terrorism.

Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov, in comments carried by Russian news agencies, declined to comment on any specific outcome of the talks.

Since June, Russia has played with the idea of a political transition that would envisage setting up some sort of interim government, and has discussed the issue with the U.S., Saudi Arabia, the Syrian opposition and others. Moscow's diplomatic efforts have brought no visible results so far, but Putin has insisted that a political solution for Syria remains his top goal despite the military action. He recently met with Saudi officials, staunch critics of Assad and supporters of the rebels fighting against him.

Moscow also has sought to alleviate the concerns of Turkey, a major economic partner and the second-biggest importer of Russian natural gas, which has been critical of Russia's intervention in Syria. Ankara also supports rebels fighting Assad.

Putin later called the Saudi King, the Saudi press agency reported, presumably to brief him about his talks with Assad ahead of the meeting in Vienna Friday.

Answering questions about Assad's visit to Moscow, Turkey's prime minister took a jab at the Syrian leader, reiterating his country's position that Assad should not have a role in Syria's future.

"If only he could stay in Moscow longer, to give the people of Syria some relief; in fact he should stay there so the transition can begin," Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu told reporters.

Davutoglu insisted that efforts to find a solution to the Syrian crisis should focus "not on a transition with Assad, but on formulas for Assad's departure."

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who was present at the talks and dinner with Assad on Tuesday, said in remarks carried by Russian news agencies that Moscow is not going to halt its military operation in Syria.

"With our support, Syrian government forces have turned from a retreat to an offensive, liberating a part of their territory from Islamic State militants," Shoigu said. "We are going to continue rendering the assistance to the legitimate Syrian authorities and create preconditions for a settlement of this conflict."

A week after Russia launched its airstrikes, Syrian ground troops, aided by allied fighters from Iran and Lebanon's Hezbollah, pushed their way into central and northern Syria in an attempt to drive out rebel and militant groups in control of territories there. So far, Syrian forces have seized a few villages but there has been no strategic victory. Many of the attacks have hit western-backed rebels and al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, but not ISIS, with its stronghold in eastern Syria.

The Russian airstrikes have allowed Syrian troops and their allies to launch multiple ground offensives in northern, central and southern Syria as well as in the rebel-held suburbs of the capital, Damascus.

Dmitry Trenin of the Moscow Carnegie Center said that Putin's meeting with Assad signals Russia's willingness to seek a political solution in Syria - but on its own terms.

"By summoning Assad to Moscow, Putin seeks to convert an early military success into political capital, by launching a political transition on his terms," he said.




“The surprise visit Tuesday reflects renewed confidence from the embattled Syrian president after Russia and Iran, another staunch ally, dramatically escalated their support recently as Moscow began carrying out airstrikes on Syrian insurgents and Tehran sent hundreds of ground forces. …. Commentators on Syrian TV hailed the visit as endorsement of Assad's legitimacy, reinforcing the notion that he must be part of a future political solution to the crisis. …. As CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips reports, the visit was a clear sign of who's now running the show on the government side of the Syrian conflict, and it was a lot more than a simply courtesy call paid by Assad as Putin's jets have effectively become the Syrian air force. …. The memo includes specific protocols for air crews to follow over Syria, and establishes a ground communications link. Late last week, as the final details were being negotiated, a Russian SU-30 Flanker jet fighter came within 1,500 feet of two American aircraft, the closest approach since Russia started flying airstrikes, reported CBS News correspondent David Martin. …. Since June, Russia has played with the idea of a political transition that would envisage setting up some sort of interim government, and has discussed the issue with the U.S., Saudi Arabia, the Syrian opposition and others. …. Moscow also has sought to alleviate the concerns of Turkey, a major economic partner and the second-biggest importer of Russian natural gas, which has been critical of Russia's intervention in Syria. Ankara also supports rebels fighting Assad. …. So far, Syrian forces have seized a few villages but there has been no strategic victory. Many of the attacks have hit western-backed rebels and al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, but not ISIS, with its stronghold in eastern Syria.”

While the outcome for Assad is in flux, with hints about his stepping down, the ISIS fighters are not yet being bombed except in a part that is loyal to Assad. Russia has made moves to mollify Turkey also, which is backing the anti-Assad forces, as we are, and they are moving to solidify their control. I get tired of reading about things like this, but regional wars over a disputed territory go on and on, and basically destroy the daily life for the common people. As a result, huge numbers of them are leaving for Western areas. If they keep it up, we may eventually have the same problems here.

First, I do believe we need to do more to defeat ISIS, and second, we need to make moves within the US to absorb more refugees and not all in the same neighborhoods so that they become an angry anti-governmental group. France has been in the news for ghettoes of Islamic people, some of whom have become violent, and I think they will be on our shores soon.

So far they seem to be more or less randomly ending up in our cities with some consolidation in Islamic neighborhoods. I haven’t tried to do any research to see how many ghetto-like neighborhoods have formed here. That worries me. There was a news article six months or so ago showing a city sidewalk, possibly in Chicago, I can’t remember now, that was literally full of Kaftan garbed derrieres up in the air. There was a mosque there that had issued a call to prayer.

I personally think it would be wise and more fair as well, if Muslims would do their praying indoors as Christians and Jews do. (I know. They all have to stop whatever they’re doing and face Mecca.) This is a secular nation which is dedicated to freedom of religion within reason. I am saying that because I notice there is very, very little representation of the magical and primitive groups like voodoo, “roots,” and other groups that sacrifice animals, etc. Likewise the Mormon Church in the late 1800s, under Federal government pressure, stopped having multiple wives. I think the “circumcision” of women and honor killings will also be suppressed or made directly illegal here, and no community that I know would the citizens allow “Sharia Law” to be recognized and in practiced over secular American law. There’s been some report of that already in some family matters, however. Lawyers and courts sometimes have to administer an overlap of laws in international matters.

Finally, those massive Islamic funerals in which hundreds of people walk down the streets chanting angrily are likely to cause local concern, with possible legal measures against them. That kind of thing looks entirely too hostile. Of course, we have something similar already here in police funerals and unscheduled or undisciplined Black Lives Matter marches. Recently they have taken to going out into the large main thoroughfares and stopping traffic. That is useless and pointlessly annoying. If their march could be scheduled and planned for a particular area and no other, then routes around those streets could be set up. Maybe we’ll just have to live with all of it in this country, and that may be the fairest way, but I do miss peace and quiet.





http://www.cbsnews.com/news/justin-trudeau-canada-to-end-airstrikes-against-isis/

Trudeau: Canada to end airstrikes against ISIS
AP October 20, 2015

Photograph -- Canada's Liberal leader and Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, October 20, 2015. REUTERS


TORONTO -- The stunning victory of Justin Trudeau will reverberate beyond Canada's borders after the Liberal Party leader emphatically ended a decade of rule by the most conservative leadership in the country's history.

Among the areas in which Trudeau differs from his predecessor, Conservative Stephen Harper: airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), climate change, immigration and whether relations with the U.S. should hinge on the future of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Trudeau said he spoke with President Barack Obama on Tuesday and told him he will remove Canada's six fighter jets from the U.S.-led bombing campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

Speaking at a rally in Ottawa, the 43-year-old Trudeau -- son of one of the country's most dynamic politicians -- underlined the sea change.

"I want to say this to this country's friends around the world: Many of you have worried that Canada has lost its compassionate and constructive voice in the world over the past 10 years. Well, I have a simple message for you on behalf of 35 million Canadians. We're back," he declared.

With Trudeau's decisive victory on Monday, Canadian voters reclaimed their country's liberal identity, giving the new prime minister a commanding majority in parliament that will allow him to govern without relying on other parties.

That means change in Canadian policies on a broad spectrum of issues.

"Trudeau will return Canada to its traditional approach in foreign affairs which is characteristic of every single government but Harper's," said Robert Bothwell, a professor at the University of Toronto. "Canada will go back to multilateralism, back to strong support for the United Nations."

There will be a "new way for Canada to be on the world stage," agreed Liberal lawmaker Marc Garneau, who won re-election Monday.

The son of the late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, who swept to office in 1968 on a wave of support dubbed "Trudeaumania" and governed for most of the next two decades, the younger Trudeau channels the star power - if not quite the political heft - of his father.

Tall and trim, he is a former school teacher and member of Parliament since 2008. He becomes the second-youngest prime minister in Canadian history and has been likened to Obama.

"The whole tone of the U.S.-Canada relationship will change. Philosophically Obama and Trudeau are much closer," Bothwell said.

The White House said Obama called to congratulate Trudeau on Tuesday afternoon and said in a statement the two leaders "committed to strengthening the countries' joint efforts to promote trade, combat terrorism and mitigate climate change."

Obama "also teased me about my lack of grey hair, but said I'd probably get some quite soon," the dark-haired Trudeau quipped at a news conference later.

Trudeau's victory will likely improve ties with the United States, at least for the remainder of Obama's presidency. Harper was frustrated by Obama's reluctance to approve the Keystone XL pipeline from Alberta to Texas and clashed with the president on other issues, including the Iran nuclear deal.

Although Trudeau supports the Keystone pipeline, he argues relations should not hinge on the project.

"Theoretically, Justin is for Keystone, but he can obviously jettison that," Bothwell said of the project, which Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton recently expressed opposition to. Republican contenders are for the project.

Antonia Maioni, a political science professor at McGill University, said the Obama administration will welcome the change in government. "Even on Keystone, Mr. Trudeau says he supports it, but he is not going to make it an issue of conflict with Obama," Maioni said.

Still, there are differences that could lead to friction with the U.S., including the decision to remove the jets from the campaign against ISIS. Harper had said such a move would hurt relations with the U.S.

Trudeau said Tuesday that the U.S. president understood his commitment to end Canada's involvement in the combat mission.

Trudeau has also vowed to take in 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of the year. Harper declined to resettle more Syrian refugees despite the haunting image of a drowned 3-year-old's body washed up on a Turkish beach after his family's failed attempt to immigrate to Canada, and some analysts have questioned whether Trudeau's goal is realistic.

Canada shifted to the center-right under Harper, who lowered sales and corporate taxes, avoided climate change legislation, strongly supported the oil and gas extraction industry and backed the right-wing government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Trudeau will have a more balanced approach to the conflict in the Middle East, analysts said.

"It certainly won't be the kind of blanket support for the Netanyahu regime that we saw from the Conservatives," Maioni said.

Trudeau has also vowed to consult the premiers of Canada's provinces in an effort to come up with a plan ahead of the Paris climate talks in November. Under Harper, Canada pulled out of the Kyoto Protocol, the emissions reduction program for rich countries, and the Conservative leader was perceived by environmentalists as more interested in protecting Canada's oil-rich region of Alberta -- which has the third-largest oil reserves in the world -- than efforts to stem the effects of climate change.

"Canada's days of being a less-than-enthusiastic actor on the climate-change file are behind us," Trudeau told the news conference in Ottawa.

Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto, said Canadian diplomats are delighted at Trudeau's election because Harper never let them speak without checking with the government first. "They've been totally marginalized. They've been told 'We don't care what you think,'" Wiseman said.

Harper, whose near 10 years as prime minister makes him one of the longest-serving Western leaders, will step down as Conservative leader after the crushing defeat, his party said.

During the campaign, Trudeau re-energized the Liberal Party, which suffered its worst electoral defeat four years ago, winning just 34 seats and finishing third behind the traditionally weaker New Democrat Party.

Trudeau, who has promised to raise taxes on the rich and run deficits for three years to boost government spending, said positive politics led to his victory.

Throughout the campaign, Trudeau's opponents pilloried him as too inexperienced, and he will be put to the test in the coming weeks with a series of global summits, including the Paris climate summit.

"It's going to showcase his lack of experience. He's going to be with world leaders and that's going to be a test," Maioni said.




“The stunning victory of Justin Trudeau will reverberate beyond Canada's borders after the Liberal Party leader emphatically ended a decade of rule by the most conservative leadership in the country's history. Among the areas in which Trudeau differs from his predecessor, Conservative Stephen Harper: airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), climate change, immigration and whether relations with the U.S. should hinge on the future of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. …. "I want to say this to this country's friends around the world: Many of you have worried that Canada has lost its compassionate and constructive voice in the world over the past 10 years. Well, I have a simple message for you on behalf of 35 million Canadians. We're back," he declared. With Trudeau's decisive victory on Monday, Canadian voters reclaimed their country's liberal identity, giving the new prime minister a commanding majority in parliament that will allow him to govern without relying on other parties. …. "Canada will go back to multilateralism, back to strong support for the United Nations." …. "The whole tone of the U.S.-Canada relationship will change. Philosophically Obama and Trudeau are much closer," Bothwell said. The White House said Obama called to congratulate Trudeau on Tuesday afternoon and said in a statement the two leaders "committed to strengthening the countries' joint efforts to promote trade, combat terrorism and mitigate climate change." Obama "also teased me about my lack of grey hair, but said I'd probably get some quite soon," the dark-haired Trudeau quipped at a news conference later. …. Still, there are differences that could lead to friction with the U.S., including the decision to remove the jets from the campaign against ISIS. Harper had said such a move would hurt relations with the U.S. Trudeau said Tuesday that the U.S. president understood his commitment to end Canada's involvement in the combat mission. …. Canada shifted to the center-right under Harper, who lowered sales and corporate taxes, avoided climate change legislation, strongly supported the oil and gas extraction industry and backed the right-wing government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. …. Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto, said Canadian diplomats are delighted at Trudeau's election because Harper never let them speak without checking with the government first. …. Trudeau, who has promised to raise taxes on the rich and run deficits for three years to boost government spending, said positive politics led to his victory.”

This is some of the best news I’ve seen in the whole time I’ve been doing this blog, and before that, too. The vice grip of big business greed and undemocratic thinking may be loosening. I can only hope that the Dems will win here in the US in 2016, not just for President, but in the legislature as well. See the following item on Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau as a man.


http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2015/10/20/justin_trudeau_canada_s_new_prime_minister_designate_is_worth_a_serious.html

Prime Minister-designate Justin Trudeau
A Serious Look at Canada’s New Prime Minister–Designate
By Christina Cauterucci
OCT. 20 2015

Portrait Photograph -- Justin Trudeau in Montreal on Oct. 20, 2015. Hello, Mr. Prime Minister. Photo by Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

For lovers of progressive politics and luscious locks, moving to Canada just became an even more attractive option.

By attractive, I mean—well, I’ll let brand-spanking-new prime minister–designate and prime select cut of grade-A statesman Justin Trudeau make the argument.

ADVERTISING

XXF_151020_Justin_Trudeau_3
GIF via Tumblr

Trudeau’s Liberal Party won a decisive victory in Monday’s election, besting the Conservatives by more than 10 points, and his piercing stare won a decisive victory over every single other thing in Canada.

XXF_151020_Justin_Trudeau_4
GIF via Tumblr

This political head of hair has come a long way to earn this triumphant moment, from a Pirates of the Caribbean shag-’n’-soul patch …


… to a passionate hippie flop …

XXF_151020_Justin_Trudeau_2
GIF via Makeagif

… to a tight slickback that recalls the sexual menace of one Patrick Bateman …

XXF_151020_Justin_Trudeau_5
GIF via Huffington Post

… to a trustworthy yet carefree coiffure.

XXF_151020_Justin_Trudeau_1
GIF via Scribblelive

And his family! The Trudeaus are a beautiful bunch who enjoy playing with light sabers and looking adorable.


Trudeau comes from equally charming, though slightly less dashing, stock—his ex–prime minister father Pierre dated Barbra Streisand and Kim Cattrall.

Pierre Trudeau
Rob Mieremet/Anefo/Wikimedia Commons

Oh Canada, indeed.

Christina Cauterucci is a Slate staff writer.