August 28, 2017


News and Views


MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS IN DANGER?

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/medicare-advantage-plans-2018-finding-health-insurance/
By WALECIA KONRAD MONEYWATCH August 28, 2017, 5:00 AM
Big changes expected in many 2018 Medicare Advantage plans

As if there isn't enough to worry about when it comes to finding health insurance, add this item to the list: Medicare Advantage.

Changes in plan structures and a dearth of insurers in rural areas may leave consumers with fewer choices and more confusion in the upcoming Medicare open enrollment period, which begins October 15.

Medicare Advantage plans, offered by private insurers, provide traditional Medicare coverage and often offer additional benefits such as dental, vision and Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage. Premiums, deductibles and co-pays vary significantly from plan to plan, so comparing costs and coverage each year — even if you are already enrolled — is critical.

Medicare Advantage is different from Medigap, which is designed to help fill the gaps in traditional Medicare coverage.

In the recent past, some Medicare Advantage plan members have been struggling to find the care they need, especially those who have acute or chronic illnesses. About one-third of people eligible for Medicare enroll in Advantage plans. A recent Government Accountability Office report found that a large number of Medicare Advantage enrollees, especially those in poor health, drop out of the plans because they have trouble getting access to the care they need. Of the 126 Medicare Advantage plans studied, the GAO found 35 of them had disproportionately high numbers of sick people dropping out.

Play VIDEO -- "Promise" Americans you won't cut Medicare, Sanders urges Trump

If you are part of a Medicare Advantage plan or considering Medicare Advantage in the upcoming sign up period, or if you are taking care of a loved one with MA coverage, here's a preliminary glimpse at what you need to watch out for in the year ahead.

Look for changes in your existing plan. If you're already enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, your insurer will likely send you information soon regarding 2018 plan details. Read this carefully. "Just because a plan works for you this year doesn't mean it will necessarily work for you next year." warned David Lipschutz, an attorney at the Center for Medicare Advocacy. Many insurers change their cost-sharing, premiums and prescription drug formularies (the list of drugs covered by the plan) each year, Lipschutz explained. Look closely at any changes your plan is implementing and compare that to other plans available in your area. Existing Medicare enrollees and first-time shoppers can compare Medicare Advantage plans and traditional Medicare on Medicare.gov.

Check your health network. Like all health insurance plans, Medicare Advantage insurers negotiate with hospitals, doctors and other health care providers to find the lowest cost providers each year. Those networks — both health maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations — are subject to change every year. In recent years, these provider networks have become smaller, with fewer specialists. These changes were among the main reasons Medicare Advantage enrollees dropped out of their plans, according to the GAO report. Always check to make sure the network on your plan or the plans you are considering include the providers you need to stay healthy. And check to see if more of the providers you need are available to you through traditional Medicare.

Rural consumers may be out of luck. Much has been said about rural counties left with only one or no insurance options on the Obamacare exchanges. State insurance commissioners, insurers and others have been working hard to successfully fill those gaps. In the meantime, the real dearth of coverage may exist among Medicare Advantage insurers. According to a recent report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, 147 counties, across 14 states have no Medicare Advantage insurer this year.

If you live in an area with no Medicare Advantage insurer you'll need to take the time to thoroughly understand traditional Medicare coverage and decide if a Medigap policy is right for you.

Get help while you still can. Your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) can help you sort through your Medicare options and compare Medicare Advantage plans. SHIPs are funded through the federal government and provide free health care counseling for Medicare recipients. The Trump Administration's budget proposal would cut funding for SHIP*s entirely, Lipschutz said. He suggested starting your health plan search now while this resource is still available. To find the SHIP in your state, click here.


SHIPS* :

https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/state-health-insurance-assistance-program/
State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
A state program that gets funding from the federal government to provide free local health coverage counseling to people with Medicare.

http://www.seniorsresourceguide.com/directories/National/SHIP/

What is SHIP?

SHIP is a free health benefits counseling service for Medicare beneficiaries and their families or caregivers. SHIPs mission is to educate, advocate, counsel and empower people to make informed healthcare benefit decisions. SHIP is an independent program funded by Federal agencies and is not affiliated with the insurance industry.
SHIP Counseling is free of charge

State Health Insurance Assistance Programs (SHIPs) provide free help to Medicare beneficiaries who have questions or issues with their health insurance. You can call a counselor or attend a workshop/presentation in your area

Do all States have SHIP Programs?

All States including Puerto Rico offer SHIP however the program can be known as something other than SHIP. Some of the different names States call the program are:

CLAIM, GeorgiaCares, HICAP, HICP, I-CARE, MMAP, Sage Plus, SHIBA, SHICK, SHIINE, SHIIP, The CHOICES Program, WSHIIP, etc.

Who Pays for the SHIP Program?

SHIPs are funded in part by state funds and by grants from the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS). The original program was founded in 1992 to provide Medicare beneficiaries with free, objective health insurance information and one-on-one counseling.

Who are the SHIP Counselors?

SHIP counselors are people from your community who have volunteered to be a counselor and they are trained in Medicare eligibility, benefits and options, health insurance counseling and related insurance products.

SHIP counselors are NOT connected with any insurance company, nor are they licensed to sell insurance or provide any legal advice.

A SHIP counselor will NOT make decisions for you. Their purpose is to assist you objectively and confidentially, and to empower you to make your own wise health care decisions.

SHIP Counseling is free of charge.

If you are eligible for Medicare, you are eligible for SHIP Counseling.

Looking for more information on Medicare – visit the Medicare Video Series www.MedicareTodayInc.com



THERE’S ONE VERY GOOD ASPECT ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE. IT IS ALMOST ALWAYS EXCITING, AND INTERESTING, AND OFTEN FUNNY. I LOVE COLBERT. HE CAN MAKE THE MOST HORRIBLE SUBJECT, LIKE KKK MEMBERS IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA A LITTLE LIGHTER. I DON’T CARE MUCH ABOUT POLLING STATISTICS, BUT PERSONALITIES, WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE HANDSOME GUYS OR GALS, HOW WELL THEY SPEAK, ETC. ARE ALL IMPORTANT INFORMATIONAL ADDITIONS FOR ME. IT’S AS GOOD A SHOW AS THE KENTUCKY DERBY. 2016 WAS A DOWNER FOR ME, HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE RESULT WAS SO DISTRESSING THAT I WAS KNOCKED FLAT FOR SEVERAL DAYS. IT PEPPED ME UP TO SEE HOW MANY OF MY FELLOW PROGRESSIVES WERE ALREADY IN FIGHTING FORM, AND THE INTERNET WAS ALIVE WITH COMPANIONSHIP. I ALSO AM REASONABLY SURE THAT THE DONALD WON'T BE IN OFFICE FOR FOUR YEARS. IT IS INTERESTING THAT IN THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE EVERY PERSON WHO THINKS THAT HE OR SHE MAY HAVE A CHANCE HAS JUMPED IN.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/everyone-s-running-president-2020-n796116
POLITICS AUG 28 2017, 11:56 AM ET
Everyone’s Running for President in 2020
by ALEX SEITZ-WALD

WASHINGTON — Look, there’s a Maryland congressman at the Iowa State Fair just being a "normal person enjoying the fair with my family." And there’s the mayor of Los Angeles stumping for a candidate in what just happens to be Manchester, New Hampshire. Oh, and over there, a billionaire former reality TV star (sound familiar?) is beating the president in polls.

Just six months after President Donald Trump's inauguration, and more than two years out from the first 2020 presidential nominating contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, every Democrat seems to think he or she could be the next president.

"The old saw that every senator wakes up humming 'Hail to the Chief' now includes just about any Democrat who isn't a convicted felon," quipped Jonathan Tasini, a progressive activist.

Even a fairly conservative list of potential candidates stretches beyond two dozen names and next year's midterm elections are likely to further swell the ranks of White House hopefuls.

Image: Dozen of Democrat's names mentioned in connection with the 2020 presidential race
Dozen of Democrat's names have been mentioned in connection with the 2020 presidential race. The list includes governors, mayors, senators, congressmen, business people and one former vice president. AP

The lengthiest primary ballot that New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner can remember was back in 1992, when Bill Clinton was one of 36 names on a list that also included Democrats Jerry Brown and Eugene McCarthy.

But in 2020, Granite State Democrats may have to print their ballot on rolls of butcher paper to keep up.

Beyond the party's blue chip names — roughly 11 senators, six governors, and one former vice president make most serious 2020 lists at this time — there's a flight of lower-profile but interesting Democrats who are generating some very early White House buzz.

Follow
US Rep Brendan Boyle ✔ @RepBrendanBoyle
The 2016 GOP field had 17 candidates. The 2020 Dem field may break that record. It's WIDE OPEN. #2020
9:30 PM - Jul 17, 2017
11 11 Replies 8 8 Retweets 37 37 likes

Twitter Ads info and privacy
Whether they're just trying to raise their profiles or are actually serious about running is impossible to tell, and many of them likely don't know where their testing of the waters will lead.

Typically, being mayor of the fourth largest city in Indiana is not a stepping stone to the presidency. Nor would losing a Senate race in Missouri be considered a key qualification for the Oval Office.

But there’s nothing typical about 2017.

Trump’s upset win shattered all the old "rules" about who can be a credible contender for commander in chief, while Hillary Clinton’s loss left no heir apparent to shoo away the pretenders. So seeing only upside, Democrats are rushing to test the unguarded waters.

Image: Sen. Bernie Sanders

Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks to campaign volunteers in Waterloo, Iowa, in Jan. 31, 2016. Alex Wong / Getty Images File

Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., may stand out, but only so much.

How about Pete Buttigieg, the compelling young mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who will headline the Progress Iowa Corn Feed next month, along with Sen. Jeff Merkley, the mild-mannered but fiercely progressive senator from Oregon.

WASHINGTON — Look, there’s a Maryland congressman at the Iowa State Fair just being a "normal person enjoying the fair with my family." And there’s the mayor of Los Angeles stumping for a candidate in what just happens to be Manchester, New Hampshire. Oh, and over there, a billionaire former reality TV star (sound familiar?) is beating the president in polls.

Just six months after President Donald Trump's inauguration, and more than two years out from the first 2020 presidential nominating contests in Iowa and New Hampshire, every Democrat seems to think he or she could be the next president.

"The old saw that every senator wakes up humming 'Hail to the Chief' now includes just about any Democrat who isn't a convicted felon," quipped Jonathan Tasini, a progressive activist.

Even a fairly conservative list of potential candidates stretches beyond two dozen names and next year's midterm elections are likely to further swell the ranks of White House hopefuls.

Image: Dozen of Democrat's names mentioned in connection with the 2020 presidential race

Dozen of Democrat's names have been mentioned in connection with the 2020 presidential race. The list includes governors, mayors, senators, congressmen, business people and one former vice president. AP

The lengthiest primary ballot that New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner can remember was back in 1992, when Bill Clinton was one of 36 names on a list that also included Democrats Jerry Brown and Eugene McCarthy.

But in 2020, Granite State Democrats may have to print their ballot on rolls of butcher paper to keep up.

Beyond the party's blue chip names — roughly 11 senators, six governors, and one former vice president make most serious 2020 lists at this time — there's a flight of lower-profile but interesting Democrats who are generating some very early White House buzz.

Follow
US Rep Brendan Boyle ✔ @RepBrendanBoyle
The 2016 GOP field had 17 candidates. The 2020 Dem field may break that record. It's WIDE OPEN. #2020
9:30 PM - Jul 17, 2017
11 11 Replies 8 8 Retweets 37 37 likes

Whether they're just trying to raise their profiles or are actually serious about running is impossible to tell, and many of them likely don't know where their testing of the waters will lead.

Typically, being mayor of the fourth largest city in Indiana is not a stepping stone to the presidency. Nor would losing a Senate race in Missouri be considered a key qualification for the Oval Office.

But there’s nothing typical about 2017.

Trump’s upset win shattered all the old "rules" about who can be a credible contender for commander in chief, while Hillary Clinton’s loss left no heir apparent to shoo away the pretenders. So seeing only upside, Democrats are rushing to test the unguarded waters.

Image: Sen. Bernie Sanders
Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks to campaign volunteers in Waterloo, Iowa, in Jan. 31, 2016. Alex Wong / Getty Images File

Former Vice President Joe Biden and Sens. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., may stand out, but only so much.

How about Pete Buttigieg, the compelling young mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who will headline the Progress Iowa Corn Feed next month, along with Sen. Jeff Merkley, the mild-mannered but fiercely progressive senator from Oregon.

Jason Kander, the in-demand former Missouri Secretary of State and failed Senate candidate, recently hired Bernie Sanders’ former Iowa caucus director and spoke at the Iowa Wing Ding dinner, a classic presidential stopover.

Next month, Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, who challenged Nancy Pelosi’s House Democratic leadership, and Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., an outspoken soldier-scholar, will headline the Iowa steak fry, where Clinton made her first 2016-related political appearance.

Eric Garcetti, the Jewish-Italian-Mexican-American mayor of Los Angeles, is making his first trip to New Hampshire Monday to campaign for a mayoral candidate there. And Julian Castro, Obama’s Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, just launched a PAC this month to support his widely known presidential ambitions.

And some of 2016’s also-rans are hoping for better luck next time.

Image: Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnson arrives at the premiere of "San Andreas" at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on May 26, 2015. Richard Shotwell / Invision via AP file

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has made multiple visits to Iowa and New Hampshire this year, telling NBC News he "just might” run. Ex-Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee, whose 2016 campaign launched with an appeal for the metric system, left the door open as well. "Americans are going through difficult political times now. I do have a proven resume of leadership as a Governor, U.S. Senator, and Mayor,” he told NBC News.

More interesting to some are the real outsiders who have made noises.

Actor Dwyane "The Rock" Johnson recently told GQ, "I think that it’s a real possibility," and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently hired Clinton’s former top pollster.

Mark Cuban, the Dallas Mavericks owner who famously got under Trump’s skin last year, was happy to engage reporters on 2020 after a poll showed him besting the president.

"It’s not a dream of mine to hold office. But if I think I can bring people together, reduce their stress and solve some important problems, then I have to give it serious consideration," Cuban told NBC News.

Rep. John Delaney, the little-known Maryland congressman who visited the Iowa State Fair, just formally announced his candidacy — earlier than anyone else in history. "I said to myself, I want to do this, and if I’m going to do it the right way, I need a lot of time to do it the right way," he said.

The bigger names have so far stayed away from Iowa or New Hampshire, but rumors are already swirling about who the state party has lined up for its big fall fundraiser.

Image: Mark Cuban
Mark Cuban attends a rally for Hillary Clinton on July 30, 2016, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
"My guess is after the Iowa primaries are over in June of 2018, you will see a flood of better known candidates. Other than Sanders, no one can claim to have any organizational leg up over anyone else and it will turn into a free for all," said Grant Woodard, a former state party official.

Either way, the field is shaping up to be a full-employment program for both Democrats and the Republicans looking to confound them.

America Rising, the Republican opposition research group, says its already actively tracking around 15 Democrats and expect it could reach into the dozens.

The Republican National Committee, meanwhile, has about 20 operatives split between its war room and opposition research shop who are monitoring speaking engagements and filing public records requests for various prospective Democratic candidates.

"With no clear leader on Democratic side, and a progressive base demanding strict adherence to ultra-liberal positions, the RNC’s research and rapid response teams will have plenty of material to show how extreme and out-of-step these folks are," said RNC spokesman Michael Ahrens.

For many Democrats, the driving question about running seems not to be "why?" but "why not?"

After all, their party has a history of electing outsiders. Jimmy Carter was almost entirely unknown beyond his native Georgia until he essentially invented super-early, retail-style campaigning in Iowa — the way everyone now does it, noted University of Iowa Prof. Tim Hagel.

"It's a good idea to come here, because you just never know," Hagel said.
CORRECTION (Aug. 28, 2017, 11:56 a.m.): An earlier version of this article misspelled the last name of South Bend’s mayor. It is Pete Buttigieg, not Buttiegige.

ALEX SEITZ-WALD
TOPIC ELECTIONS
FIRST PUBLISHED AUG 28 2017, 4:38 AM ET



TRUMP AND ARPAIO – JUST LIKE TWO PEAS IN A POD!

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/arpaio-pardon-trumps-law-and-order-vow-becomes-cynical-joke?cid=eml_mra_20170828
With Arpaio pardon, Trump’s ‘law and order’ vow becomes a cynical joke
08/28/17 08:40 AM—UPDATED 08/28/17 09:01 AM
By Steve Benen

Photograph -- Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is joined onstage by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio at a campaign rally in Marshalltown, Iowa, Jan. 26, 2016. Photo by Brian Snyder/Reuters

Over the course of seven months, Donald Trump has made several outrageous moves, but the president’s pardon of Joe Arpaio is among the toughest to defend.

To be sure, this is a story with multiple angles. The White House waited until late on a Friday evening, with much of the country focused on a major national disaster, to announce that the president was abusing his power to aid a political ally. It was a dishonorable act, done in a dishonorable way.

Arpaio, among other things, was accused of violating people’s civil rights. When a court ordered him to stop, the Arizonan ignored the order, which led a judge to find Arpaio guilty of criminal contempt. The racial aspect of this is tough to miss: on the heels of Trump’s inflammatory response to Charlottesville, the president delivered his first pardon to help his confederate – who deliberately targeted people of color – before he could face any consequences for his illegal actions.

In fact, in Friday night’s announcement, the president praised Arpaio for his crimes, which the disgraced former sheriff committed without remorse.

All of which raises some important questions about Donald Trump and his appreciation – or lack thereof – for the rule of law.

As a candidate, the Republican embraced the restoration of “law and order” – a phrase with a complex racial history – as of one of his campaign’s core promises. Elect Trump to the presidency, he assured Americans, and we’d see a president who’d demonstrate an unflinching commitment to law enforcement and forceful execution of the nation’s laws.

It wasn’t long before the vows were exposed as absurd. Once he was inaugurated, Trump fired U.S. attorneys under unusual circumstances, fired an acting U.S. Attorney General who dared to give the White House sound legal advice, and fired the director of the FBI in the hopes of derailing an ongoing investigation. The president hadn’t even been in office four months when it became painfully obvious that his interest in the rule of law was something of a joke.

But Friday night, when he hoped Americans weren’t looking, Trump took this broken promise in a farcical direction. A day later, a Washington Post report took the story in an even more alarming direction.

As Joseph Arpaio’s federal case headed toward trial this past spring, President Trump wanted to act to help the former Arizona county sheriff who had become a campaign-trail companion and a partner in their crusade against illegal immigration.

The president asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions whether it would be possible for the government to drop the criminal case against Arpaio, but was advised that would be inappropriate, according to three people with knowledge of the conversation.

Instead, Trump let the case go to trial, knowing all the while that he’d negate the ruling if, after Arpaio’s case was adjudicated, his politically ally was found guilty.

In case this isn’t obvious, a president isn’t supposed to intervene with the Justice Department about an ongoing criminal prosecution of someone the president likes. What’s more, note that Trump didn’t even bother to consult with his own Justice Department – or pay any attention to the department’s pardon protocols – before rescuing his right-wing pal who acted as if he were above the law.

There’s also the near future to consider. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is moving forward with his investigation into the Trump-Russia affair, and as of Friday night, everyone received a stark reminder that this president is comfortable abusing the powers of his office to keep his allies out of prison.

Indeed, it’s easy to imagine Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn waking up on Saturday morning with a spring in their step. After all, in Donald Trump’s America, loyalty to the law is nice, but loyalty to the president is almost literally a get-out-of-jail-free card.

Trump has told a staggering number of lies since entering politics, but his vow to restore “law and order” may be the most painfully ridiculous of them all. It’s difficult to guess where this story goes next, but let’s not forget that as recently as last month, the president reportedly sought information on his power to issue pardons to White House aides, members of his family, and even himself.

Trump boasted on Twitter soon after that “all agree” an American president “has the complete power to pardon.”

Buckle up.

Postscript: On Thursday afternoon, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was asked about the possibility of an Arpaio pardon. Referring to the officials involved in the pardon process, she replied, “I would imagine they go through the thorough and standard process, and when we have an announcement on what that decision is after that’s completed, we’ll let you know.”

Whether the press secretary was lying or ignorant is unclear, but this serves as a reminder of what Rachel calls the “silent movie” dynamic: this White House is simply not a reliable source of information on developments related to the Trump administration.

Explore:
The MaddowBlog, Donald Trump, Equality, Joe Arpaio, Race and Racism



ON IMPEACHING TRUMP, READ THIS ARTICLE AND ESPECIALLY THE NEXT, WHICH DESCRIBES THE CURRENT PROCESS. IF IT IS A STATISTICAL IMPOSSIBILITY THAT THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCEEDING IN THE PROCESS IN A WAY THAT ACTUALLY EJECTS SOMEONE LIKE TRUMP FROM THE PRESIDENCY, THAT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO REVISE THE LEGAL PROCESS.

THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CALLS FOR AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT – BUT THE DISCUSSIONS, CONCLUSIONS AND DECISIONS SHOULD NOT BE INFLUENCED POLITICAL PARTY AT ALL. WHY NOT GO AT IT BY SPECIAL COMMITTEES OF ORDINARY VOTERS. PEOPLE WHO ALREADY HOLD HIGH OFFICE ARE MORE LIKELY TO SKEW THE PROCESS, I THINK. WHAT ABOUT A LOTTERY SYSTEM TO DECIDE WHO REPRESENTS THE PEOPLE IN THE EXAMINATION OF THE LAW AND THE SUGGESTIONS AS TO WHAT CHANGES SHOULD BE MADE. AND THEN I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A DIRECT VOTE BY THE PEOPLE ON EACH QUESTION AS WE DO NOW.

THERE MAY BE MANY CHANGES, SO THE BALLOTING COULD TAKE MAYBE HALF AN HOUR PER VOTER IN THE CASE OF SUPER CAREFUL VOTERS WHO EXAMINE AND PONDER AS THEY READ. FINALLY, THERE SHOULD BE NO “ELECTORAL COLLEGE” OR “SUPERDELEGATE” TYPE BODY WHOSE SOLE FUNCTION IS TO DISCOUNT, FILTER, WATER DOWN OR COMPLETELY REPLACE WHAT “THE PEOPLE” HAVE DECIDED. JUST PERFECT AND WRITE UP THE NEW WORDING, PUT IT ON THE BALLOT, AND THEN HAVE, AS REPUBLICAN HOUSE MEMBERS LIKE TO SAY, “AN UP OR DOWN VOTE.” I’VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO SEE WHY THEY SAY IT THAT WAY, SINCE ALL VOTES ARE EITHER “UP” OR “DOWN” AND ALL SUCH VOTES ARE FINAL, AT LEAST ON AMENDMENTS. WHAT I THINK THEY REALLY MEAN, IS “LET’S GET IT DONE PRONTO AND WITHOUT ANY MORE CHANGES. I LIKE IT THE WAY IT IS!”

http://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-impeachment-warning-republicans-advisers-white-house-removal-odds-655951
U.S.
DONALD TRUMP IS BEING WARNED BY ADVISERS ABOUT IMPEACHMENT
BY CHRIS RIOTTA ON 8/28/17 AT 1:20 PM

Donald Trump's presidency already has been one of the most controversial in U.S. history, and its ending could be just as action-packed and unpredictable as his first seven months in office.

As the 45th president deals with his stalled agenda, his sinking approval ratings and the investigations into his presidential campaign's ties to Russia, White House advisers have reportedly been warning Trump about his potential political doom: the exhaustive impeachment process that could result in his removal from the Oval Office. And he isn’t doing himself many favors.

Related: Here’s how Donald Trump could actually be impeached

Republicans on Capitol Hill have become a subject of Trump's daily Twitter storms, with the president repeatedly denouncing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for the GOP's continued failure to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act. He has also warned others to fall in line and help pass his campaign promises or face the wrath of his 140 characters.

Follow
Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
It's very sad that Republicans, even some that were carried over the line on my back, do very little to protect their President.
4:14 PM - Jul 23, 2017
74,870 74,870 Replies 35,296 35,296 Retweets 133,904 133,904 likes

Follow
Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
If Republicans don't Repeal and Replace the disastrous ObamaCare, the repercussions will be far greater than any of them understand!
8:01 PM - Jul 23, 2017
28,095 28,095 Replies 22,111 22,111 Retweets 89,710 89,710 likes

"It's very sad that Republicans, even some that were carried over the line on my back, do very little to protect their President," Trump tweeted in late July. "If Republicans don't Repeal and Replace the disastrous ObamaCare, the repercussions will be far greater than any of them understand!"

His actions could spell disaster for Trump if special counsel Robert Mueller determines that his presidential campaign colluded with the Kremlin, or that the president attempted to obstruct justice at any point throughout his short tenure in politics. Either situation would swiftly encourage more Democrats to push for his impeachment—and if Trump doesn't have enough Republican allies, he could be ousted.

Several White House advisers have spoken with the president about his possible impeachment, and about how overcoming such proceedings would require friendships with the elected officials responsible for deciding whether he should remain in office, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

But Trump might just be positioning himself apart from the Republican Party ahead of 2018, a form of "triangulation" that could help him gain friendships across party aisles during a moment of presidential crisis, former Trump campaign adviser Barry Bennett explained.

"It’s right out of the Bill Clinton playbook…triangulation is something that [Clinton] perfected" during his own impeachment proceedings, Bennet told the Post. During that period, from 1998-99, Clinton managed to retain unanimous support against numerous articles of impeachment and avoided removal from office through his relationships with Democratic and Republican lawmakers alike.

Follow
Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
We were let down by all of the Democrats and a few Republicans. Most Republicans were loyal, terrific & worked really hard. We will return!
7:53 AM - Jul 18, 2017
34,847 34,847 Replies 16,666 16,666 Retweets 78,567 78,567 likes

But Trump is in an entirely different arena not even one year into his presidency, clashing with the entirety of the Democratic Party while continuing to denounce colleagues on his side of the aisle. If the president is unable to make inroads with influential leaders on Capitol Hill ahead of the 2018 midterm elections, impeachment seems inevitable. Is anyone’s guess at this point whether he can garner support from enough Republicans or any Democrats to keep power.

But when you look at the president’s Twitter feed, he doesn't seem all that concerned with making friends who will have his back in Washington.



“BUT GROUNDS FOR IMPEACHMENT LIE IN AN "OPAQUE" AND HIGHLY DEBATABLE GRAY AREA, EXPERTS SAY. THE REMOVAL PROCESS IS ENTIRELY POLITICAL, AND DOES NOT EQUATE TO ANY CRIMINAL CHARGES OR CONVICTIONS.” DOES THIS MEAN THAT IT’S A CHARADE, A KABUKI DANCE?

http://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-impeachment-odds-white-house-james-comey-testimony-removal-bets-621946
HERE'S HOW DONALD TRUMP COULD ACTUALLY BE IMPEACHED
BY CHRIS RIOTTA ON 6/6/17 AT 5:25 PM

The most critical moment thus far in the federal probe into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election will arrive Thursday, when former FBI Director James Comey testifies in front of the Senate intelligence committee just weeks after he was fired by President Donald Trump.

Democratic lawmakers have already gotten a head start on drafting articles of impeachment, claiming the president obstructed justice by firing the FBI director to ease the burden of the investigation on his new White House administration. But constitutional law experts tell Newsweek the exhaustive political process to remove the president could only begin when, and if, there’s enough evidence to suggest Trump committed "treason, bribery, high crimes and misdemeanors."

Related: Experts upgrade Trump's odds of impeachment

Keep Up With This Story And More By Subscribing Now

Comey's testimony will surely be pivotal in the ongoing Russian saga enveloping the Oval Office, though it’s unclear whether his statements will add fire to calls for the president's removal, or be viewed within the same divisions currently enveloping Trump's America.


Follow
CSPAN ✔ @cspan
.@RepAlGreen: “We will move forward, and as a matter of fact, I am currently crafting, drafting if you will, articles of impeachment.”
9:47 AM - May 23, 2017
200 200 Replies 392 392 Retweets 721 721 likes

Twitter Ads info and privacy
"The president stirs up a lot of emotions in people," Saikrishna Bangalore Prakash, a James Monroe distinguished professor of law at the University of Virginia and senior fellow at the Miller Center, tells Newsweek. "You're going to find a lot of people will go into Comey's testimony who hate Trump, and are inclined to think he’s already committed an impeachable offense, while others who love Trump will try to find falsities left and right in what he says."

Impeachment, which allows Congress to remove presidents before the close of their terms, begins when the House of Representatives votes on one or more articles of impeachment and at least one of those receive a majority vote. A chief justice of the Supreme Court then oversees a political trial in the Senate, in which a two-thirds vote is needed to force the president’s removal.

A president’s lawyers will spar with a coalition of House lawmakers (called managers throughout the impeachment trials), and the process can take years. If an impeachment is successful and a president is found guilty, he or she will immediately be removed and replaced by the vice president. Impeachments have only happened three times. Former Presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached but acquitted in 1868 and 1998-1999 respectively, while President Nixon resigned to avoid his 1974 impeachment.

Trump reportedly told Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak he fired Comey after facing “great pressure because of Russia,” and noting, "I’m not under investigation."

Democratic Representative Al Green of Texas says that’s enough to say the president in fact obstructed justice in an attempt to weaken the federal investigation into his campaign and administration. Other lawmakers have pointed to Trump’s various international business dealings and the Trump Organization’s profiting off the presidency as other grounds for impeachment, though the immediate focus has largely rested on the Russian investigation.

"This is about my position. This is about what I believe. And this is where I stand. I will not be moved. The President must be impeached," Green said May 17. "For those who do not know, impeachment does not mean that the President would be found guilty. It simply means that the House of Representatives will bring charges against the President. It's similar to an indictment but not quite the same thing."

Follow
Maxine Waters ✔ @RepMaxineWaters
Get ready for impeachment.
8:56 AM - Mar 21, 2017
14,726 14,726 Replies 44,835 44,835 Retweets 107,567 107,567 likes

But grounds for impeachment lie in an "opaque" and highly debatable gray area, experts say. The removal process is entirely political, and does not equate to any criminal charges or convictions.

Whether Comey provides a statement potentially capable of swaying right-leaning voters and independents’ support for Trump depends on what attitude the former FBI director brings to the table Thursday afternoon.

"The real question is which Comey shows up to testify: the talkative insider dying to dish the inside scoop on Trump's bizarre and increasingly unpredictable antics, or the tight-lipped G-man who keeps his own counsel and answers every second question with a no-comment," Jens David Ohlin, associate dean and law professor at Cornell Law School, tells Newsweek. "If it's the former it will be an unparalleled D.C. summer blockbuster that will provoke an epic Trump tweet-storm meltdown. But if it's the latter it will be an anticlimactic box office flop."

While Nixon and his administration attempted to argue impeachment cases needed to focus on a federal crime, Clinton’s opponents said his lies to the American public were all that were needed for his removal process to begin. Whereas the public and many Nixon voters eventually denounced Nixon and demanded his immediate resignation or impeachment, Clinton’s saga never fully amounted to the same level of criticism, allowing him to remain in office, albeit further embattled than ever.

What makes impeachment such a debatable issue is that any offense of an elected leader in the White House could eventually amount to what some consider a "high crime." The term, adapted from English law, traditionally provides parliament the power to hold anyone accountable for committing severe crimes that aren’t necessarily felonies.

"Impeachment is partly a perception question,” Prakash says. "Imagine Trump’s had several conversations with Vladimir Putin about how to harm Hillary Clinton’s prospects. There will be plenty of people who think it’s an impeachable offense, and others who would say it’s terrible, bad judgement, but doesn’t rise to their level of what an impeachable offense is."

Prakash says that such a high level of collusion with the Russian leader "would be damaging whether or not it’s impeachable," but that a GOP-controlled House may be less likely to kick off the process to remove a Republican president if support for impeachment from their constituents and independent voters wasn’t high enough.

As of now, polls show support for Trump's impeachment is higher than his approval ratings.



TRUMP RUSSIAN REAL ESTATE

https://www.yahoo.com/gma/trump-signed-letter-intent-russian-tower-during-campaign-204305541--abc-news-topstories.html?soc_trk=gcm&soc_src=dbb2094c-7d9a-37c0-96b9-7f844af62e78&.tsrc=notification-brknews
Trump signed 'letter of intent' for Russian tower during campaign, lawyer says
Good Morning America
BRIAN ROSS and MATTHEW MOSK
Good Morning America August 28, 2017

Photograph -- Trump signed 'letter of intent' for Russian tower during campaign, lawyer says

Four months into his campaign for president of the United States, Donald Trump signed a “letter of intent” to pursue a Trump Tower-style building development in Moscow, according to a statement from the then-Trump Organization Chief Counsel Michael Cohen.

The involvement of then-candidate Trump in a proposed Russian development deal contradicts repeated statements Trump made during the campaign, including telling ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos in July 2016 that his business had “no relationship to Russia whatsoever.”

The disclosure from Cohen, who has described himself as Trump’s personal lawyer, came as Cohen’s attorney gave congressional investigators scores of documents and emails from the campaign, including several pertaining to the Moscow development idea.

“Certain documents in the production reference a proposal for ‘Trump Tower Moscow,’ which contemplated a private real estate development in Russia,” Cohen’s statement says. “The decision to pursue the proposal initially, and later to abandon it, was unrelated to the Donald J. Trump for President Campaign.”

In a separate statement texted to ABC News, Cohen added that “the Trump Moscow proposal was simply one of many development opportunities that the Trump Organization considered and ultimately rejected.”

Cohen specifically says in his statement that Trump was told three times about the Moscow proposal.

“To the best of my knowledge, Mr. Trump was never in contact with anyone about this proposal other than me on three occasions, including signing a non-binding letter of intent in 2015,” his statement says.

Trump's Russian Business Connections Under the Microscope

Memory Lapse? Trump Seeks Distance From 'Advisor' With Past Ties to Mafia

Cohen also makes clear that he himself engaged in communication directly with the Kremlin about the proposal during the ongoing 2016 presidential campaign. His statement says he wrote to the press secretary for Russian President Vladimir Putin at the request of Felix Sater, a frequent Trump Organization associate who had proposed the Trump Moscow development.

“In mid-January 2016, Mr. Sater suggested that I send an email to Mr. Dmitry Peskov, the Press Secretary for the President of Russia, since the proposal would require approvals within the Russian government that had not been issued,” Cohen’s statement says. “Those permissions were never provided. I decided to abandon the proposal less than two weeks later for business reasons and do not recall any response to my email, nor any other contacts by me with Mr. Peskov or other Russian government officials about the proposal.”

The Trump Moscow development proposal, which was first reported Monday by The Washington Post, provides a new look at the relationship between the president’s real estate firm and Sater, a convicted felon who served a year in New York state prison for stabbing a man during a bar fight.

Sater is a controversial figure who served for many years as a federal government cooperating witness on a host of matters involving organized crime and national security. Sater had also traveled in Moscow with Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., in the mid-2000s and handed out business cards identifying himself as a “senior adviser” to Donald Trump Sr.

Trump had taken pains to distance himself from Sater. In one sworn deposition, regarding a Trump development in Florida on which Sater had worked, Trump said “I don't know him very well … if he were sitting in the room right now I really wouldn't know what he looked like.”

The emails show Sater and Cohen – friends since their teenage years growing up in Brooklyn – sharing their dreams of a Trump presidency.

In one, made public Monday by The Washington Post and New York Times, Sater writes: “I know how to play it and we will get this done. Buddy, our boy can become President of the USA and we can engineer it.”

And Sater adds, pointedly: “I will get all of Putins team to buy in on this.”

On Sept. 30, 2015, Trump Organization officials told ABC News that Sater had inflated his connections to the company. Alan Garten, a senior Trump Organization attorney, told ABC News that “there's really no direct relationship” between Sater and the real estate firm.

“To be honest, I don't know that he ever brought any deals,” Garten said.

That was the same month Sater brought the company the Trump Moscow development proposal, according to Cohen’s statement. Cohen’s statement notes that he did not share the proposal with others in his firm.

“Mr. Sater, on occasion, made claims about aspects of the proposal, as well as his ability to bring the proposal to fruition. Over the course of my business dealings with Mr. Sater, he has sometimes used colorful language and has been prone to ‘salesmanship,’” Cohen wrote. “As a result, I did not feel that it was necessary to routinely apprise others within the Trump Organization of communications that Mr. Sater sent only to me.”

Garten and an attorney for Sater did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

For five months, the Trump Organization gave serious consideration to the Moscow development idea. But Cohen told ABC News he scuttled the plan in January 2016, one year before Trump was sworn in as president.

“I abandoned the Moscow proposal because I lost confidence that the prospective licensee would be able to obtain the real estate, financing, and government approvals necessary to bring the proposal to fruition,” Cohen said. “It was a building proposal that did not succeed and nothing more.”

ABC News' Katherine Faulders, Cho Park and Alex Hosenball contributed to this report.



IS THIS A CONFESSION OF SORTS? "OUR BOY (TRUMP) CAN BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE USA AND WE CAN ENGINEER IT." HE BOASTED, "I WILL GET ALL OF PUTINS TEAM TO BUY IN ON THIS, I WILL MANAGE THIS PROCESS" AND SAID, "I WILL GET PUTIN ON THIS PROGRAM AND WE WILL GET DONALD ELECTED."

WELL, THIS HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS COMMUNICATION ON GETTING TRUMP INTO THE WHITE HOUSE, IS MORE OF A PROPOSAL THAN A PROVEN FACT, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT POINTS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. HOPEFULLY HE CAN PRODUCE THE EMAIL.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/report-trump-org-official-asked-putins-spokesman-for-help-on-moscow-trump-tower-project/
CBS NEWS August 28, 2017, 2:48 PM
Trump Org official asked Putin's spokesman for help on Moscow Trump Tower project - Report

Photograph -- NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 12: Michael Cohen (R), executive vice president of the Trump Organization and special counsel to Donald Trump, arrives at Trump Tower, January 12, 2017 in New York City. President-elect Trump continues to hold meetings Trump Tower. DREW ANGERER / GETTY IMAGES

Trump attorney Michael Cohen, a Trump attorney and executive vice president for the Trump Organization, sent an email in January 2016 to Russian President Vladimir Putin's personal spokesman during the U.S. presidential campaign last year to ask him for help in advancing Mr. Trump's business interests.

According to the Washington Post, documents submitted to Congress Monday include the email from Cohen to Dmitry Peskov, which reportedly says, "Over the past few months I have been working with a company based in Russia regarding the development of a Trump Tower - Moscow project in Moscow City," Cohen wrote, according to the Post, which cited a person familiar with the email. "Without getting into lengthy specifics. the communication between our two sides has stalled."

"As this project is too important, I am hereby requesting your assistance. I respectfully request someone, preferably you, contact me so that I might discuss the specifics as well as arranging meetings with the appropriate individuals. I thank you in advance for your assistance and look forward to hearing from you soon," Cohen wrote.

The email, the Post pointed out, is the most direct interaction yet known between a top Trump employee and a senior member of the Putin government. However, the New York Times' Maggie Haberman tweeted that the email address that Cohen used was a general email press address -- essentially along the lines of a press@kremlin.gov account.

CBS News' Jeff Pegues spoke with Cohen, who told him that the Trump Moscow proposal "was simply one of many development opportunities that the Trump Organization considered and ultimately rejected."

Cohen said that in "late January 2016, I abandoned the Moscow proposal because I lost confidence that the prospective licensee would be able to obtain the real estate, financing, and government approvals necessary to bring the proposal to fruition. It was a building proposal that did not succeed and nothing more."

Pegues also confirmed that Russian-born real estate developer Felix Sater was working with Cohen on the plan to develop the Moscow Trump Tower, which was to be a massive residential real estate project. Sater tried to convince Mr. Trump to come to Moscow to talk aobut [sic] the proposal. The work on the proposal was taking place at the same time Mr. Trump was running for president.

Sater wrote to Cohen at one point in 2015, "Our boy (Trump) can become president of the USA and we can engineer it." He boasted, "I will get all of Putins team to buy in on this, I will manage this process" and said, "I will get Putin on this program and we will get Donald elected." The Washington Post first reported Sater's correspondence with Cohen.



I WOULD LIKE FOR A LIST TO BE PUBLISHED OF WHAT EQUIPMENT THEY GET AND WHERE IT IS PLACED, WHAT SITUATIONS IT IS TO BE USED FOR, ETC. DEFENSIVE EQUIPMENT LIKE BODY ARMOR, SHIELDS AND HELMETS MAKE SENSE, BUT I DO NOT SEE HOW THEY WOULD USE ARMORED CARS, TANKS, HIGH POWERED AMMUNITION IN CITY NEIGHBORHOOD AGAINST THE CITIZENS. ALSO, POLICE TEND TO CALL DEMONSTRATIONS RIOTS, AND THAT IS UNFAIR. MORE STREET PATROLLING IN PAIRS, AND BETTER NEIGHBORHOOD RELATIONS SEEM MORE IMPORTANT TO ME. “AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE.” OH, YES, AND TRY NOT TO SHOOT PEOPLE WHEN THE ONLY CRIME INVOLVED IS A BROKEN TAILLIGHT OR TRYING TO RUN AWAY. TRYING TO RUN AWAY WHEN YOU’RE A BLACK PERSON AND YOU ARE FACED WITH THE POLICE IS NOT REALLY A SIGN OF GUILT SO MUCH AS FEAR. PEOPLE SHOULDN’T BE SHOT FOR “FEARING FOR THEIR LIVES.” THE CONCEPT OF “PROBABLE CAUSE” SHOULDN’T MEAN THAT A BLACK MAN IS SEEN ON THE STREET. SO, OKAY, THAT IS AN EXAGGERATION, BUT IT IS ALSO A PREVAILING PATTERN. SEE THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE ON RECENT CRIME STATISTICS: http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/08/politics/donald-trump-murder-rate-cities/index.html.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sessions-announces-end-to-obama-era-ban-on-surplus-military-equipment-for-police/
By EMILY TILLETT CBS NEWS August 28, 2017, 12:08 PM
Sessions announces end to Obama-era ban on surplus military equipment for police

Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced new measures the Trump administration is taking to support the nation's police force by eliminating Obama-era restrictions on law enforcement's ability to acquire excess military equipment from federal programs.

Obama bans some military equipment from local police
Play VIDEO
Obama bans some military equipment from local police

"These restrictions went too far, we will not put superficial concerns above public safety, we will do our best to get you what you need," said Sessions at the National Fraternal Order of Police conference in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday.

CBS News learned on Sunday that the Trump administration would renew the transfer, referred to as the "1033 program," of some surplus military equipment to state and local police agencies.

After the Ferguson, Missouri rioting in 2014, police were criticized for the use of military equipment like armored cars and large-cailber [sic] weapons on the streets. Obama ultimately signed an executive order halting many of the military surplus transfers. The executive action, which Sessions says Mr. Trump will sign sometime on Monday, will in effect reverse that.

"Good equipment saves lives," Sessions argued, saying the executive order will ensure officers "will get lifesaving gear you need and sends a strong message that we will not allow criminal activity to become a new normal, saving tax payers money in the process."

"We are not going to allow equipment no longer needed to be sitting idle when you could be using it," Sessions added.

Sessions, during his remarks, claimed that studies have shown equipment like kevlar vests and military-grade helmets reduce crime rates, the number of assaults on police officers and complaints against police forces.

He said by Mr. Trump taking executive action, the administration is making it "easier to protect yourself and your community" something he says will "aways [sic] be a priority of President Trump," whom he referred to as the "law and order president."

Sessions also used the morning speech as a moment to condemn "slander" against police, saying rising crime rates should come as no surprise amid "divisive rhetoric" against the police, which "treats police officers like they're the problem."

"This president stands with you, not just rhetorically, but in thought, word and deed," Sessions added. "I am proud to stand with you and the DOJ is proud to stand with you -- we have your back, we back the blue."

CBS News' Andres Triay contributed to this report.



“TRUMP FALSELY CLAIMS US MURDER RATE IS 'HIGHEST' IN 47 YEARS. THE PRESIDENT WAS QUICK TO PLACE BLAME FOR THE CRIME INCREASES -- WITHOUT CITING EVIDENCE -- ON UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT GANG MEMBERS.” WHAT ELSE??

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/08/politics/donald-trump-murder-rate-cities/index.html
POLITICS
Trump correctly cites rising crime rates in cities
By Jeremy Diamond and Elizabeth Landers, CNN
Updated 1:42 PM ET, Wed February 8, 2017

Video -- Trump to police leaders: We are proud of you

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Trump said "more than 4,000 were shot last year alone" in Chicago
"We've allowed too many young lives to be claimed," Trump said

Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump on Wednesday painted a dark picture of rising crime in American cities on Wednesday. But unlike a day earlier when he falsely claimed a record-high murder rate, Trump stuck to the facts.

The overall murder rate in the US's 30-largest cities in 2016 climbed "by double digits," he said, adding that the violent crime rate has ticked up in "many of our big cities."

The President added that "more than 4,000 were shot last year alone" in Chicago.

All of those statistics are true, based on the FBI's annual crime report and a report by the Brennan Center for Justice.

"We've allowed too many young lives to be claimed, and you see that, you see that all over," Trump said in his speech Wednesday before a gathering of major city police chiefs as he made the case for tougher law enforcement policies.

"This is a national tragedy and it requires national action. This violence must end and we must all work together to end it," Trump said, also correctly adding that 60% of murder victims under the age of 22 are African-American.

Trump's comments Wednesday came a day after he falsely claimed that the US murder rate is at a 47-year record-high -- a figure he incorrectly cited repeatedly on the campaign trail. 2015 brought the largest increase in the national murder rate in about half-a-century, but the national murder rate is still lower than it was 47 years ago.

Trump falsely claims US murder rate is 'highest' in 47 years

The President was quick to place blame for the crime increases -- without citing evidence -- on undocumented immigrant gang members.

"We'll take that fight to the drug cartels and work to liberate our communities from their terrible grip of violence. You have the power and knowledge to tell (Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly) who the illegal immigrant gang members are," he said.

Trump put his trust in the local law enforcement leaders gathered, saying the federal government could never be so precise and they knew the "good ones" and the "bad ones."

"And we'll get them out of our country and bring them back where they came from and we'll do it fast," he said.

But while Trump on Wednesday leaned on factual statistics to make his case that the US needs tougher crime policies, his statistics omitted important context and ignored statistics that paint a different picture than the one of doom and gloom that helped his successful campaign's "law and order" message gain traction.

The President reiterated a campaign trail promise that he has a zero tolerance policy for acts of violence against law enforcement.

"We must protect those who protect us," he said. "It's not fair."
Fact-checking Trump's claim on US murder rate 01:28

Violent crime saw a roughly 4% uptick in 2015 from the previous year. Still, overall crime continued to decline.
And despite the uptick in violent crime in 2015, violent crime has been on the decline for years.
The Brennan Center, which gathered crime data on the 30 largest US cities and is responsible for the figure Trump cited, noted that "violent crime still remains near the bottom of the nation's 30-year downward trend."

The Center also said that the uptick in violent crime and homicides is largely driven by increasing violence in specific cities, like Chicago.

"The 2016 murder rate is projected to be 14 percent higher than last year in the 30 largest cities," the Brennan Center said in its December 2016 report. "Chicago is projected to account for 43.7% of the total increase in murders."


WAS THIS, PERHAPS JUST A “MEET AND GREET,” RATHER THAN TALKS OF ANY CONSEQUENCE? I DIDN’T SEARCH DEEPLY, BUT I DIDN’T SEE ANYTHING. CURIOUS, I SEARCHED “FINLAND FAR RIGHT;” AND I FOUND AN ARTICLE WHICH ISN'T NEW; IT'S FROM 2015, BUT IT IS SIGNIFICANT IN IT’S CONTENT. THE ANSWER IS, "YES." I WANTED TO SEE WHY THE PRESIDENT WAS SO INTERESTED IN THEM. THEY'RE A FIND COUNTRY BUT NOT AS PROMINENT IN THE WORLD COMMUNITY AS GERMANY OR FRANCE. WE SHOULD, OF COURSE, ESTABLISH AS MANY GOOD RELATIONSHIPS IN EUROPE AS POSSIBLE. SEE BELOW.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-finland-president-sauli-niinisto-meeting-live-updates/
By BLAIR GUILD CBS NEWS August 28, 2017, 3:45 PM
Trump, Finnish President Sauli Niinistö meeting - live updates

President Trump will hold a joint news conference with President Sauli Niinistö of Finland Monday at 4:20 p.m. ET after meeting with him earlier in the afternoon.

The conference will mark the first time Mr. Trump has spoken publicly since Tropical Storm Harvey, and he is expected to comment on the devastation the storm has caused in Texas. During the course of the storm, Mr. Trump sent out multiple tweets, both relating to Harvey and otherwise. On Monday, the president also declared an emergency for Louisiana, which could see up to 25 inches of rainfall in some parts.

Follow
Donald J. Trump ✔ @realDonaldTrump
HISTORIC rainfall in Houston, and all over Texas. Floods are unprecedented, and more rain coming. Spirit of the people is incredible.Thanks!
7:01 PM - Aug 27, 2017
32,843 32,843 Replies 19,353 19,353 Retweets 90,096 90,096 likes

The president may also be questioned about his Friday-evening pardon of former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Mr. Trump plans to visit the flooding in Texas Tuesday where he will address the federal response to the natural disaster, which has affected roughly 6.8 million Texas residents and could reach up to $30 billion worth of damage.

Live updates:
Trump to update on Harvey
President Trump will begin the joint press conference. Officially, two deaths have been confirmed as a result of Tropical Storm Harvey.

Earlier, in his initial meeting with Niinistö, the president addressed the aftermath of the devastating storm.

"I look forward to the trip," Mr. Trump said of his upcoming visit to Texas.

He may return to the state or make a separate trip to Louisiana, where he has also declared a state of emergency.



https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/19/timo-soini-far-right-finns-party-finland-government
Jean-Baptiste Chastand
Tuesday 19 May 2015 06.11 EDT

Photograph -- National Coalition party leader Alexander Stubb, Centre party leader Juha Sipilä and Finns party leader Timo Soini (from left to right) will help to form a new government. Photograph: Mauri Ratilainen/Compic

Finland’s government is expected to include far right representation after the new prime minister, Centre party leader Juha Sipilä, confirmed that he was opening negotiations to bring the populist Finns party (PS) into coalition for the first time. The PS’s charismatic leader, Timo Soini, is poised to become a minister, probably with the finance or foreign affairs portfolio, after the party finished second in the general election on 19 April.

Sipilä said it was the “best option” to meet the challenges facing the country, notably the economy. He said he wanted a strong coalition capable “of making reforms and implementing those decisions”. The third partner in the coalition will be the conservative National Coalition party, led by outgoing premier Alexander Stubb. The coalition will have a comfortable majority, with 123 seats out of 200.

Along with Belgium and Greece, Finland is the third EU country with populist Eurosceptics in government

Negotiations have begun on a detailed agenda for government. The Social Democrats, part of the previous government, will be in opposition after their crushing election defeat.

Throughout the campaign, Soini, 52, assured voters he was ready to govern. He is a well-known Eurosceptic and a critic of the financial rescue package for Greece.

Soini avoided any reference to the euro on the campaign trail, though his party manifesto clearly states that Finland should renegotiate the terms of European Union membership and recover powers from Brussels. Soini also toned down his criticism of immigration, though he made no attempt to condemn the xenophobic comments of some other PS candidates.

There is a consensus view, shared by the three main parties that have governed in the past, that it is preferable to have the populists on board, rather than allow them to gain ground in opposition. Along with Belgium and Greece, Finland is the third EU country with populist Eurosceptics in government.

Although Sipilä may be able to come to terms with Soini, Finland’s stance on Europe will soon become an issue, particularly if he becomes minister of finance or foreign affairs. Stubb, the third leader in the coalition, advocates European integration and would like Finland to join Nato. However, like the other coalition partners, he has misgivings about helping Greece.

The three coalition partners will also need to agree on the severe austerity drive Sipilä is preparing in an effort to sort out the country’s finances, after enduring three years of recession and poor growth in 2015. The premier has announced that he intends to cut public spending by at least €6bn ($6.8bn) during his term of office.

He is also pushing trade unions and employers to agree on labour-market reforms to boost competitiveness. So far they have failed to agree on a common platform. The conservatives are prepared to implement drastic cuts in public spending, but the PS is more cautious. On several occasions, the PS has stated that austerity measures should not be too severe.

This article appeared in Guardian Weekly, which incorporates material from Le Monde



STILL BATTLING HARVEY, THREE DAYS IN, ARE SOME 12, 000 TEXAS NATIONAL GUARDSMEN IN HOUSTON NOW. I’M THINKING ABOUT THEM. I WAS THINKING ABOUT SENDING THE RED CROSS A MODEST (VERY MODEST) DONATION TODAY, BUT TIME GOT AWAY FROM ME AND I DIDN’T. I JUST IMPROVED MY CHANCES OF DOING IT TOMORROW. I WROTE MYSELF A NOTE. I SUGGEST YOU READ ALL THE WAY THROUGH THIS ARTICLE. I DIDN'T KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, THAT JUST GETTING OUR CLOTHES WET IN FLOOD WATER COULD INFECT US WITH TERRIBLE BACTERIA. I DID KNOW, FROM LIVING IN JACKSONVILLE, THAT THE FIRE ANTS AND PIT VIPERS ARE PREVALENT AND IN THE WATER. IF YOU MUST GO IN IT, WEAR THE HIGHEST PAIR OF BOOTS THAT YOU OWN.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/harvey-entire-texas-national-guard-activated/
By JUSTIN CARISSIMO CBS/AP August 28, 2017, 12:28 PM
Entire Texas National Guard activated in response to Harvey

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has activated the state's entire National Guard in response to Hurricane Harvey, the governor's office announced Monday.

That will raise the total number of guardsmen who are deployed to around 12,000. They will help with search, rescue and recovery efforts in the aftermath of the storm, the governor's office said.

"It is imperative that we do everything possible to protect the lives and safety of people across the state of Texas as we continue to face the aftermath of this storm," Abbott said in a news release Monday, adding that the state's National Guard is working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"While this is still a dangerous situation with a long response effort ahead, the state and people of Texas are resilient," FEMA Administrator Brock Long said in the release. "FEMA was here before the storm hit, and we will be here as long as needed, actively coordinating the full resources of the federal government, to support Gov. Abbott and the state."

Play VIDEO
Gov. Greg Abbott says Harvey has brought "one of the worst floods Houston has ever had"

Harvey made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane Friday night. With blustering 130 mph winds, it left hundreds of thousands of residents without power and houses with roofs blown off. The National Hurricane Center said early Sunday that Harvey, which became a tropical storm by Saturday afternoon, was causing "catastrophic flooding in southeastern Texas."

On Monday, Houston -- the nation's fourth-largest city -- was still largely paralyzed, and there was no relief in sight from the storm. With nearly 2 feet of rain still expected, authorities worried whether the worst was yet to come.

Water gushed from two reservoirs overwhelmed by Harvey as officials sought to release pressure on two dams that were at risk of failing from the immense floodwaters that have filled the city. The move aimed at protecting the downtown business district risked flooding thousands more homes.

Meanwhile, authorities continued plucking people from the floodwaters -- at least 2,000 so far, according to Police Chief Art Acevedo. At least 185 critical rescue requests were still pending on Monday morning. The goal is to rescue those people by the end of the day, Acevedo said.

With rain falling unabated, he said there was nowhere left for the water to drain.

In an interview with "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Abbott applauded the efforts of the Trump administration as state officials prepared for the worst.

"We're very appreciative of our fellow states as well as what the federal government has done," he said. "I gotta tell you the Trump administration has provided us everything that we need."


HEALTH THREATS IN HURRICANES, FROM RATTLESNAKES AND FIRE ANTS TO CHOLERA. SEE THIS INTERESTING ARTICLE FORM CBS.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/houston-flooding-biggest-health-threats-from-hurricane-harvey-flooding/
By ASHLEY WELCH CBS NEWS August 28, 2017, 3:12 PM
Biggest health threats from Hurricane Harvey flooding

75 Photographs -- Catastrophic flooding in Texas from Harvey

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, as reports of destruction from torrential rains and flooding continue to come in, a number of health hazards put Texas residents at risk.

At least two deaths have been attributed to Harvey, which has now been downgraded to a tropical storm, and thousands of people were forced to their rooftops or higher ground, overwhelming emergency workers who could not keep up with calls for help.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Tom Price declared a public health emergency in response to Harvey, and has sent more than 500 personnel and tons of medical supplies to the region.

As the rains continue and floodwater keeps rising, there are several health risks to keep in mind.

Drowning and injuries from floodwater

Floodwater poses a drowning risk for everyone, even for those who are strong swimmers. Swiftly moving shallow water can be deadly, quickly sweeping away anyone and anything in its path.

Play VIDEO
Catastrophic flooding in Harvey's wake across southeast Texas

Experts warn not to rely on a vehicle for protection, as it can be swept away or stall in moving water. Even a big rig truck driver found himself stranded on a Houston street and in desperate need of rescue.

Beware of fallen power lines. Never approach them and report any downed lines to authorities.

Finally, floodwaters may contain dangerous sharp objects such as glass or metal debris, and the uneven terrain beneath the water can be hazardous. Never walk barefoot through floodwater.

Infectious diseases

Floodwater may also contain a number of pathogens that can cause illness.

"Floodwater harbors bacteria, different viruses, and fungi, all of which can make people sick," Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, told CBS News.

One of the biggest concerns with floodwater is the possibility of cholera, a highly contagious bacterial disease causing severe diarrhea.

Cholera can spread when water is contaminated with infected feces and then others ingest it, either by drinking the water or consuming food that has come in contact with the water.

While cholera is far more common in third-word countries, Glatter says the possibility of it occurring in Texas "wouldn't be impossible."

"These types of bacteria can live in mixtures of murky water," he said. "It's possible to have this type of infection, especially if the water supply becomes contaminated."

Other infectious diseases that can be passed through floodwater include hepatitis A, typhoid fever, and Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that can cause muscle aches, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.

Catastrophic flooding in Texas from Harvey

If the water supply does become compromised, experts recommend only using bottled water for drinking, brushing your teeth, or bathing or boiling water before use. Keep informed about any warnings from local officials about the water supply.

People should also throw away any food that has come in contact with floodwater, even those that are wrapped or packaged in plastic. "There could be microbreaks in the plastic," Glatter said. "There's no way to know if it's been compromised."

Canned food is safe to eat, he said.

Open wounds or rashes exposed to floodwater can become infected and skin infections and conjunctivitis are also common after heavy flooding.

Avoid direct contact with floodwater whenever possible by wearing gloves and waterproof clothing and never walk barefoot through a flood.

"Often if your feet get waterlogged that's a set-up for getting infections, including fungal infections between the toes," Glatter said. "Wear high boots and keep your feet as dry as possible."

Health risks while cleaning up after flooding

If your house becomes flooded during the storm, Glatter says, carpeting and fabric-based furniture should not be salvaged.

"Bacteria can leach onto fabrics and lead to airborne infections," he said. "I would not recommend holding onto anything with fabric that absorbs floodwater."

Hard surfaces that have come in contact with floodwater, including walls, floors, stoves, and countertops should be thoroughly disinfected. Wearing rubber boots and gloves while cleaning homes is important to reduce risk of infection.

Mold is also common after heavy flooding and can exacerbate asthma, allergies, or other respiratory diseases like COPD. Mold can appear in as little as 24 to 48 hours after floodwater recedes.

"Don't touch it. Wear rubber gloves, wear a mask," Glatter said. "Try not to remain in any dwelling where there's mold."

Vector-borne diseases

After the rains subside, pools of standing water offer breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which can carry infectious diseases like West Nile and Zika virus.

Glatter recommends draining these pools when you see them and alerting authorities to larger areas of standing water.

Mental health concerns

Less often thought about, but just as important a concern as physical injury, is the mental health impact of a severe weather event like Hurricane Harvey.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common after a disaster, Glatter says.

"Families might be separated, homes are lost, finances are a big issue," he said. "Many people have a breakdown where they can't focus or handle all of the stress and it puts them at an increased risk of suicidal thoughts."

Glatter said it's important for doctors and health care providers to get ahead of this and screen for mental health issues. Counselors can aid people who are feeling overwhelmed by the damaging effects of the storm.

Ashley Welch
ON TWITTER»
Ashley Welch covers health and wellness for CBSNews.com



HERE IS ANOTHER OF THOSE VERY SICK AND SAD ACTIONS, WHOSE REASON IS EITHER UNKNOWN, OR HASN'T BEEN PUBLISHED IN HERE. KILLED BY HER NEIGHBORS? I HOPE WE WILL HAVE DETAILS SOON. SEE VIDEO POLICE PRESS CONFERENCE ON THIS REPORT. WAS THIS ONE OF THOSE SICK SCHEMES TO STEAL A BABY TO RAISE AS THEIR OWN?

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-cruel-and-vicious-act-of-depravity-charges-expected-in-savanna-greywind-death/
By CRIMESIDER STAFF CBS/AP August 28, 2017, 1:28 PM
"A cruel and vicious act of depravity": Charges expected in Savanna Greywind death

FARGO -- Two suspects in the death of a North Dakota woman who was eight months pregnant when she disappeared will be arraigned Monday afternoon on charges including conspiracy to commit murder, a prosecutor said.

Police Chief David Todd said the body of 22-year-old Savanna Greywind was found Sunday evening by kayakers in the Red River, which borders North Dakota and Minnesota, "heavily wrapped in plastic and duct tape" and stuck on a tree in the water.

The gruesome discovery came three days after authorities found a newborn they say is Greywind's in the apartment of her neighbors, 32-year-old William Henry Hoehn and a 38-year-old Brooke Lynn Crews. Todd said Crews told police that Greywind had visited her apartment Saturday to help her with a sewing project, and then left.

Authorities searched the apartment three times after Greywind was reported missing Aug. 19, and turned up nothing. But police developed "further information" that led them back to the apartment of Crews and Hoehn, Todd said in a statement released on Facebook. His department executed a search warrant there around 2 p.m. Thursday.

That's when they found the child with Crews. Crews and Hoehn were taken into custody and indicated to police that the infant was Greywind's but would not answer questions about her whereabouts.

The baby girl was alive and healthy. Authorities would not provide details about the child's manner of birth at a Monday press conference. Greywind's body was transported to Ramsey County to undergo an autopsy.

Hoehn and Crews will appear in Cass County District Court Monday afternoon to face charges of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit kidnapping and giving false information, the Cass County State's Attorney said Monday. The conspiracy to commit murder charge carries a maximum sentence of life without parole.

170824-newborn-found.jpg
The scene outside an apartment complex in Fargo, N.D., where Savanna Greywind's newborn was found, Aug. 24, 2017. KXJB-TV

They will have bond set but won't enter pleas. There are no other suspects.

An abandoned farmstead was also being searched in neighboring Clay County, Minnesota, after suspicious items found there by property owners indicated it might be a crime scene, Todd said. Officials wouldn't specify where they believe the slaying happened, other than to say they believe it's appropriate to charge the suspects with conspiracy to commit murder and kidnapping in Cass County, which encompasses Fargo.

A conspiracy charge requires an agreement between several people to commit a crime and "an overt act in furtherance of that conspiracy," Cass County state attorney Birch Burdick said.

The Clay County Sheriff's Office and investigators from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension are currently processing the farm, which is believed to have been abandoned for 20-30 years, reports the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. The owner of the property is reportedly cooperating with police.

Todd said the young woman was a "victim of a cruel and vicious act of depravity" and said officials will continue to pursue justice for her.

"Our sincere condolences and thoughts and prayers go out to the Greywind family as they suffer through this horrible loss," Todd said. "I'll tell you our hearts are heavy as we mourn the loss of this young lady."

The Star-Tribune reports Crews and Hoehn have been living together for about three years, citing court records from a domestic violence case against Hoehn last year. In that case, Hoehn was charged with pushing Crews into a bathtub during an argument in the same apartment where Greywind was last seen.

He was reportedly convicted of misdemeanor domestic assault in that case and sentenced to 30 days in jail, the paper reports.

Hoehn was also convicted in 2012 of felony child abuse for causing skull fractures his infant son suffered while in his care, the paper reports.



KKK USA VIDEO

HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=G7-UIKYAVXE
USA FILM FOOTAGE, 1920S AND FORWARD
PRESIDENTS, LARGE KKK MARCHES IN NEW YORK, WASHINGTON DC, AND OTHER THINGS FROM THAT TIME PERIOD.



EDWARDIAN TIMES PHOTOGRAPHY – VERY BEAUTIFUL FILMING.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9fkScBYcw8
BBC FOUR
Edwardians In Colour ep - Episode 02 Men of the World WnA - BBC Documentary
Herman R. Satterwhite
Published on Sep 14, 2015
Documentary series about Albert Kahn's photographic Archive of the Planet.

For a quarter of a century, Kahn supplied a team of photographers with the world's first colour camera system and dispatched them
Category
Science & Technology
License
Standard YouTube License