JULY 14 THROUGH 16, 2018


NEWS AND VIEWS


PAUL RYAN IS ALSO SPEAKING UP TO “CORRECT” TRUMP ON THE PUTIN/TRUMP TRYST. "THE PRESIDENT MUST APPRECIATE THAT RUSSIA IS NOT OUR ALLY." I PERSONALLY WONDER HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TRUMP TO REALIZE THAT HE IS ONLY INTERESTED IN CONTROLLING HIM AND USING HIM UNTIL HE IS SO DISCREDITED THAT HE WILL BE UNABLE TO WIN ANOTHER ELECTION, NOT THAT HE REALLY “WON” IN 2016. EVEN IF PUTIN SEEMS AT THE MOMENT TO BE HIS PERSONAL FRIEND, PEOPLE LIKE PUTIN DON’T HAVE “FRIENDS.”

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/07/16/house-speaker-paul-ryan-contradicts-trump-says-russia-meddled-2016/789061002/?csp=chromepush
Paul Ryan contradicts Trump: 'No question that Russia interfered in our election'
Jessica Estepa, USA TODAY Published 1:55 p.m. ET July 16, 2018 | Updated 2:14 p.m. ET July 16, 2018

PHOTOGRAPH -- U.S. lawmakers are criticizing President Trump, saying he missed an opportunity to hold Russia accountable for meddling in the 2016 U.S. election. USA TODAY

House Speaker Paul Ryan criticized President Donald Trump's handling of his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In a strongly worded statement, the Wisconsin Republican blasted the president's apparent acceptance of Putin's denial that Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential election.

"There is no question that Russia interfered in our election and continues attempts to undermine democracy here and around the world," Ryan said.

Ryan continued: "The president must appreciate that Russia is not our ally."

Trump appeared at a joint news conference with Putin, in which he accepted Putin's denials of meddling in the 2016 U.S. election and talked of his hopes for warmer relations with Moscow.



I’M GLAD TO SEE PEOPLE IN HIGH POSITIONS GOING AGAINST TRUMP. MOST REPUBLICANS HAVEN’T BEEN VERY BOLD ABOUT THAT, OR PERHAPS THEY ARE ACTUALLY ON HIS SIDE IN THE WAY HE IS TRYING TO RUN THE COUNTRY. NUNES HAS BEEN OPENLY AND DIRECTLY HELPING HIM SINCE HE ENTERED THE WHITE HOUSE. HOW MANY OF THE REPUBLICANS ARE ALSO FAR RIGHTISTS? SENATOR FLAKE HAS BEEN OUTSPOKEN AGAINST HIM IN THE WAY THAT I FEEL: I FEAR TRUMP’S ULTIMATE PERSONALITY POTENTIAL AS A HARDCORE STRONG-MAN FIGURE, AND IF ENOUGH REPUBLICANS SUPPORT HIM THEY WILL BE FURTHER CONTAMINATED BY HIS POISON.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/07/16/dan-coats-counters-donald-trump-russian-meddling-2016-election/789436002/?csp=chromepush
Intelligence chief Dan Coats counters Trump: 'We have been clear in our assessments of Russian meddling'
USA TODAY Published 3:02 p.m. ET July 16, 2018

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats underscored the intelligence community's assessment that Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, countering his boss, President Donald Trump.

"The role of the Intelligence Community is to provide the best information and fact-based assessments possible for the President and policymakers," Coats said in a statement. "We have been clear in our assessments of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and their ongoing, pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy, and we will continue to provide unvarnished and objective intelligence in support of our national security."

Coats' statement came hours after Trump stood next to Vladimir Putin at a news conference in Helsinki and accepted the Russian president's denials that his country had interfered in the U.S. election.



I THINK TREY GOWDY MAY BE PLANNING TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020. WHAT DO YOU THINK? ON THE OTHER HAND, MAYBE IT’S JUST ANOTHER REPUBLICAN GOOD COP BAD COP ROUTINE.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gowdy-to-trump-ask-putin-where-we-can-pick-up-the-25-russians-indicted-in-mueller-probe/
By EMILY TILLETT CBS NEWS July 15, 2018, 11:40 AM
Gowdy to Trump: Ask Putin where "we can pick up the 25 Russians" indicted in Mueller probe

VIDEO – FACE THE NATION TREY GOWDY

Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-South Carolina, says President Trump should ask Russian President Vladimir Putin where exactly "we can pick up the 25 Russians" who have indicted [sic] in special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

"I would ask the president to give some serious consideration, your first request of Vladimir Putin needs to be, 'Tell us which airport we can pick up the 25 Russians that tried to interfere with the fundamentals of our democracy,'" Gowdy told "Face the Nation" on Sunday.

Mr. Trump is scheduled to meet with Putin one-on-one in Helsinki, Finland, on Monday.

Gowdy suggested that Mr. Trump tell Putin: "If you really claim that you had nothing to do with it, then you should be as shocked as we were that your military being used to impact our election, tell us where your going to extradite those folks because an American grand jury indicted them for undermining our democracy."

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein announced the indictment of 12 more Russians on Friday for their alleged attempts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election. Rosenstein said the 12 defendants are all members of the Russian intelligence arm GRU, and attempted to interfere with the 2016 presidential election by "spear-phishing" volunteers and employees of Hillary Clinton's campaign.

In February, the Justice Department indicted 13 other Russians and three Russian companies for their alleged involvement in the effort to influence the 2016 race.

Gowdy noted that no American has been named in an indictment as having conspired with the Russians. Gowdy, who is a leading figure in a separate congressional probe into election interference, said that Mueller's investigation is not a "witch hunt" and instead said his focus is on what exactly did Russia do to the U.S. election system.

"This is an attack on all of us," Gowdy added of Russia's campaign.

Gowdy also weighed in on his contentious exchange with FBI official Peter Strzok during an all-day congressional hearing last week, alleging an "unprecedented level of bias" on Strzok's part.

Gowdy traded barbs with Strzok and even fellow colleagues during the joint session of the House Judiciary and Oversight Committee on Thursday, repeatedly slamming the FBI agent for his alleged bias against Mr. Trump. During a particularly fiery 15-minute exchange, Gowdy criticized Strzok's claims that he would "stop" Mr. Trump from taking office in the midst of the Hillary Clinton email investigation.

At one point, Gowdy became exceptionally frustrated with Strzok, declaring, "I don't give a damn what you appreciate, Agent Strzok, I don't appreciate having an FBI agent with an unprecedented level of animus working on two major investigations during 2016."

Gowdy told "Face the Nation" that private hearings with Strzok and Page were "much more constructive" than the public hearing on Thursday, calling similar public testimonies "a circus" and a "freak show."

© 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.




JAGUARS ARE ONE OF THE “BIG CATS,” BUT WHEN I SAW ONE AT THE JACKSONVILLE, FL ZOO HE SEEMED PRETTY SMALL TO ME – MAYBE TWO TO THREE FEET LONG AND ONE FOOT HIGH OR A LITTLE MORE. HE WAS LYING DOWN SO I COULDN’T JUDGE IT VERY WELL; SO, I JUST WIKIPEDIA’D THE SIZE OF AN ADULT JAGUAR, AND THE ONE I SAW WAS PROBABLY EITHER YOUNG, FEMALE OR UNDERSIZED. THE TYPICAL ADULT MALE IS: “MASS: 120 – 210 LBS (ADULT); HEIGHT: 2.1 – 2.5 FT. (ADULT, AT SHOULDER); LENGTH: 3.9 – 6.4 FT. (ADULT, NOSE TO THE BASE OF THE TAIL).” THAT IS NO SMALL CAT.

HOUSE CATS, MOSTLY AND MOST OF THE TIME IN A TYPICAL SITUATION, ARE SWEET AND DOCILE; BUT ALL CATS IN MATING SEASON, ALONG WITH FIGHTING COCKS, ARE AMONG THE ANIMALS THAT WILL KILL EACH OTHER IN A FIGHT. THE ZOOKEEPER DESCRIBED HIM, THOUGH, AS “A BIG GOOFBALL.” WELL, I’M GLAD HE’S FRIENDLY TO HUMANS. ALL THE CATS AND DOGS, THOUGH, ARE HUNTERS, AND ANYTHING OF A PROPER SIZE THAT RUNS IS PREY, SO ALWAYS STAND YOUR GROUND AS STRONGLY AS POSSIBLE. ESPECIALLY IF THE DOG IS LARGE AND MENACING, FACE IT WITH YOUR LEGS SPACED WIDELY AND YOUR ARMS WAVING, SHOUTING MEANWHILE. THAT’S TO GIVE THE DOG SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. I’VE DONE IT AND IT WORKS, OR DID FOR ME.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/audubon-zoo-new-orleans-jaguar-escapes-kills-6-animals-2018-07-14/
By JASON SILVERSTEIN CBS NEWS July 14, 2018, 4:47 PM
Jaguar escapes, kills 6 animals at New Orleans zoo

PHOTOGRAPH -- A photo of the jaguar from the Audubon Zoo. AUDUBON ZOO

A jaguar escaped from its habitat and killed six animals at the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans on Saturday, causing the zoo to shut down for the day. Zoo officials said this is the first time in at least 50 years that one of its animals has killed others.

"This is by far the biggest incident we've had, the biggest magnitude, the biggest tragedy we've had," Ron Forman, head of the Audubon Nature Institute, said in a news conference.

The 3-year-old male jaguar, Valerio, got out of his enclosure around 7:20 a.m., before the zoo opened, according to Managing Director Dr. Kyle Burks. He mauled four alpacas, one emu and one fox in nearby habitats before being sedated by a vet team nearly an hour after his escape, the zoo said. Three other animals were being treated after the incident. Officials said the killings appeared to stem from territorial disputes.

The jaguar was safely secured in his night house. Vice President and General Curator Jack Hamilton said the jaguar was "doing what jaguars do."

There were no human injures. The zoo shut down for Saturday, with plans to reopen Sunday morning.

"The animal care team is devastated by this tragic loss," the zoo said in a statement. "Today is a difficult day for the Audubon family."

Burks said the zoo will investigate the incident, including how the jaguar got free.

In a Facebook post in February, the zoo called Valerio the jaguar a "big lovable goofball" and encouraged visitors to see him in its "Jaguar Jungle" exhibit.

A few animals at Audubon have escaped over the years, including a 70-pound cub in 2001 and two monkeys in 2013, according to the Times-Picayune. But none of those incidents led to other animals being harmed or killed.

© 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.



ABOUT THE MUELLER INDICTMENTS, HERE ARE TWO RELATED AND VERY INFORMATIVE BBC ARTICLES. NONE OF THE INFORMATION IS NEW, I DON’T THINK, BUT TO HAVE IT COLLECTED TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE IS USEFUL.

#1 FOUR INTRIGUING LINES FROM MUELLER INDICTMENT -- CALL IT THE FRIDAY THE 13TH SURPRISE

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-44829972
Four intriguing lines in Mueller indictment
Anthony Zurcher
North America reporter
@awzurcher

PHOTOGRAPH -- Call it the Friday the 13th surprise.

In painstaking detail, Robert Mueller's special counsel team laid out what it alleges was a concerted effort by the Russian military to hack the Democratic National Committee and senior-level Clinton campaign officials and disseminate private documents in order to disrupt and influence the 2016 US presidential election.

The Russians also attempted to infiltrate local election systems and software, although Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein says that there is no evidence that they "altered the vote count or changed any election result".

The Trump White House has picked up on this line, issuing a statement reiterating that there have been no allegations of "knowing involvement by anyone on the campaign" or that the hacking "affected the election result".

That isn't what Mr Rosenstein and the special counsel's court filings concluded, however. The deputy attorney general said it was "not our responsibility" to assess to what extent Russian involvement influenced the 2016 election.

Who's who in Russia-Trump drama?
A guide to US legalese
All you need to know about Mueller inquiry

In fact, it is hard to deny that the hacks had a clear impact on US politics in 2016 - and exacted a heavy toll on Democrats and the Clinton campaign in particular.

As a result of the hacks, the head of the Democratic National Committee was forced from office on the eve of the party's national convention - a convention whose first few days were marred by protests from Bernie Sanders supporters angry about the contents of some of those Democratic National Committee emails.

John Podesta, the chair of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, had his personal correspondence exposed, including internal debates over political strategy, outlines of Mrs Clinton's greatest weaknesses and transcripts of her private speeches - excerpts of which were cited by Donald Trump in presidential debates and on the campaign stump.

Indeed, Mr Trump celebrated and amplified the revelations in the hacks, which were disseminated through DCLeaks and Guccifer 2.0 - both identified as fronts for Russian military intelligence - as well as Wikileaks, which is alluded to but not named in the Mueller indictment.

The hacks may not have changed the results of the 2016 election, but the effects were very real. It was as though a team's entire playbook was revealed just days before the Super Bowl. While the rules of football weren't changed and the scoreboard wasn't surreptitiously altered, that doesn't mean the outcome of the contest wasn't affected.

That, then, is the big picture revelation from Mr Mueller's most recent indictment - which comes in addition to the already announced indictments and plea agreements from 20 individuals and three Russian companies. The 29-page court filing contains a variety of other details and revelations that add to the growing picture of alleged Russian election meddling which the Mueller team is outlining.

'Russia, if you're listening…"

At a Florida press event on 27 July 2016, candidate Trump issued a now famous request.

"Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing," he said. "I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press."

The line shocked many at the time and has been cited repeatedly since then as evidence that Mr Trump was actively encouraging Russian attempts to acquire and disseminate emails from Mrs Clinton and her team.

Skip Twitter post by @BraddJaffy


Bradd Jaffy
✔
@BraddJaffy
VIDEO: Trump: "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing..."

11:07 AM - Jul 27, 2016
494
770 people are talking about this
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End of Twitter post by @BraddJaffy

The 27 July date makes an appearance in Mr Mueller's most recent indictment document, as well.

"On or about July 27, 2016, the Conspirators attempted after hours to spearphish for the first time email accounts at a domain hosted by a third-party provider and used by Clinton's personal office," the court filing reads. "At or around the same time, they also targeted seventy-six email addresses at the domain for the Clinton campaign."

While this isn't the first time Russians allegedly targeted the Clinton team, after Mr Trump's remarks the hackers escalated their efforts.

"It seems clear that the indictment is trying to make the connection with language like 'after hours' and 'first time'," tweeted conservative commentator - and Trump critic - Ben Shapiro. "But even Trump publicly saying he wants the Russians to do something and them doing it isn't collusion in any real sense."

It is, however, an uncanny coincidence.

A political 'war map'

The indictment sheet also documents a number of interactions between Americans and Russian military operatives, although it stresses that there are no allegations that those Americans knew the true identity behind the internet aliases with whom they were corresponding.

A Florida blogger and state lobbyist - possibly Aaron Nevins - exchanged messages with Guccifer 2.0 and acquired a trove of documents Democrats had compiled outlining the weaknesses of the party's candidates running for congressional office in Florida.

Mr Nevins told the Wall Street Journal that he had told Guccifer 2.0 in an email: "Basically if this was a war, this is the map to where all the troops are deployed."

Guccifer 2.0 also sent documents to a reporter "pertaining to the Black Lives Matter" movement.

In another paragraph, Mr Mueller's team notes that a congressional candidate directly asked Guccifer 2.0 for stolen documents about his opponent - a request that the hacker accommodated.

A long-time Trump man in the spotlight - but not the charge sheet

The Mueller indictment mentions that Guccifer 2.0 had direct communications with a person "who was in regular contact with senior members of the presidential campaign of Donald J Trump".

It goes on to quote emails that match communications that Roger Stone, a Trump friend and acquaintance for decades, said he had with Guccifer 2.0 in August 2016.

Image copyrightGETTY IMAGES

In those communications, Guccifer 2.0 asks Mr Stone to analyse some of his documents and offers to help the man who served as a Trump campaign aide early in his presidential bid.

"It would be a great pleasure to me," the hacker wrote.

In May Mr Stone told a television interviewer that he was "prepared" to be indicted by the special counsel.

"It is not inconceivable now that Mr Mueller and his team may seek to conjure up some extraneous crime pertaining to my business, or maybe not even pertaining to the 2016 election," he said. "I would chalk this up to an effort to silence me."

Mr Stone has denied that he had any knowing contact with Russian agents. That's an assertion that the Mueller team appears to have accepted - at least for now.

A conspiracy theory put to rest?

Back in May former Republican Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich suggested that the real source of the DNC hacks was Seth Rich - a former Democratic operative who was murdered in Washington, DC, in July 2016.

"It turns out it wasn't the Russians, it was this young guy who, I suspect, was disgusted by the corruption of the Democratic National Committee," Mr Gingrich said. "He's been killed, and apparently nothing serious has been done to investigate his murder."

It was a theory championed, as well, by conservative commentator and presidential confidante Sean Hannity - even though Washington, DC, police have concluded that the death was the result of a botched robbery.

Mr Trump himself has alluded to the conspiracy theories, frequently tweeting and wondering aloud why the Democratic National Committee did not allow federal investigators to conduct a forensic examination of the hacked email server.

Skip Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump

Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
Russia continues to say they had nothing to do with Meddling in our Election! Where is the DNC Server, and why didn’t Shady James Comey and the now disgraced FBI agents take and closely examine it? Why isn’t Hillary/Russia being looked at? So many questions, so much corruption!

7:25 AM - Jun 28, 2018
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63.8K people are talking about this
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End of Twitter post by @realDonaldTrump

Just over two weeks after his most recent tweet, the special counsel's office has pointed the finger of responsibility for the DNC hacks directly at the Russian military.

Given that Mr Trump was informed about the indictments earlier this week, but still referred to the Mueller investigation as a "witch hunt" in remarks on Friday, he probably will not tone down his criticisms of the probe or suggestions of Russian innocence - but perhaps he will no longer cite the DNC server hacks quite so frequently.
###


#2 -- TRUMP BLAMES OBAMA FOR DOING NOTHING IMMEDIATELY AFTER HE KNEW ABOUT THE RUSSIAN HACK, WHICH IS A COMMONPLACE LIKE DOG BITES MAN. TRUMP CRITICIZES OBAMA ONCE A DAY AT LEAST, OFTEN BY MAKING SOMETHING UP. THE THINGS THAT THE RIGHTWINGERS HAVE MADE UP ABOUT OBAMA AND HIS WIFE ARE TOO DISGUSTING FOR WORDS. WHY ARE WHITES SO AFRAID OF BLACKS? IF THEY’RE SO SUPERIOR, THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE A BLACK PERSON “MANO A MANO;” THEY DON’T NEED TO BE ABUSIVE.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-44833479
Trump criticises Obama over US 2016 election hack
JULY 14, 2018 34 minutes ago

PHOTOGRAPH -- The leaders will reportedly discuss US-Russia relations and national security issues on Monday

US President Donald Trump has criticised the administration of his predecessor Barack Obama over alleged Russian hacking to help him win the 2016 presidential election.

"Why didn't they do something about it?" he tweeted, adding that Mr Obama had been told about it before the vote.

It follows pressure on Mr Trump to cancel Monday's talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin following the indictment of 12 Russians on Friday.

Russia denies allegations of hacking.

Mr Trump is due to meet Mr Putin in the Finnish capital Helsinki.

Image Copyright @realDonaldTrump@REALDONALDTRUMP
Report
Russia said it was looking forward to the meeting.

"We consider Trump a negotiating partner," said Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov. "The state of bilateral relations is very bad. We have to start to set them right."

Four intriguing lines in Mueller charges
Who's who in Trump-Russia drama?

However the hacking allegations have sparked a heated war of words between Washington and Moscow.

US Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein insisted that "the goal of the conspirators was to have an impact on the election".

But Russia's foreign ministry said the claims were a "heap of conspiracy schemes" intended to "damage the atmosphere" before Monday's summit.

It said there was no evidence linking any of the dozen officials to hacking or military intelligence.

What are the allegations?

The 11-count indictment names the Russians defendants, alleging they began cyber-attacks in March 2016 on the email accounts of staff for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

They are accused of using keystroke reading software to spy on the chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and hack into the party's computers.

Mr Rosenstein said the conspirators used fictitious online personas, including "DCLeaks" and "Guccifer 2.0", to release thousands of stolen emails.

They are also accused of stealing the data of half a million voters from a state election board website.

What pressure is there to cancel the talks?

During a joint news conference with UK Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday, Mr Trump said he would "absolutely" ask the Russian president about alleged election meddling.

But top Democrats have urged him to cancel the planned summit altogether following the indictment.

Image Copyright @NancyPelosi@NANCYPELOSI
Report

"President Trump should absolutely cancel this meeting with Putin on Monday," said DNC chairman Tom Perez. "He is not a friend of the United States."

"President Trump should cancel his meeting with Vladimir Putin until Russia takes demonstrable and transparent steps to prove that they won't interfere in future elections," said Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.

A guide to US legalese
All you need to know about Mueller inquiry

On the Republican side, Senator John McCain said the summit "should not move forward" unless the president "is prepared to hold Putin accountable".

Media caption -- Putin laughs at political chaos in US
What's the big picture?

Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating US intelligence findings that Russians conspired to sway the 2016 election in Mr Trump's favour.

As of Friday, the inquiry has indicted 32 people - mostly Russian nationals in absentia - as well as three companies and four former Trump advisers.

None of the charges allege Trump advisers colluded with Russia to interfere with the presidential campaign.

18 revelations from Wikileaks emails
Why US fears Russia is hacking election

Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn and George Papadopoulos, a former foreign policy adviser, have pleaded guilty to making false statements about their contacts with Russians.

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his deputy Rick Gates were charged with money laundering relating to their political consultancy work in Ukraine.



A LITTLE DESK REFERENCE FOR THE MUELLER PROBE

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43976659
US legalese: A guide to special counsels, grand juries and subpoenas
2 May 2018

The special counsel inquiry looking at alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US election in favour of Donald Trump has dominated the Trump presidency.

But as more and more people become ensnared by the investigation, the more legally complex the front-page stories will get.

Here's a glossary of common US legal terms to help you navigate the news out of Washington.

Subpoena

A command under a court's authority for a witness to appear to give testimony or present documents. A person that does not comply with a subpoena can be charged with contempt of court.

Grand jury

A group of 16-23 citizens who consider evidence of criminal allegations and decide if there is probable cause to believe a suspect committed a crime. They have the power to issue subpoenas and ultimately decide if criminal charges should be brought and a suspect put on trial. Grand jury proceedings are kept confidential. Grand juries are very different to trial juries - they do not play any role in terms of deciding if a suspect is guilty or not guilty.

Indictment

A formal accusation against someone suspected of a felony (serious crime) after a Grand Jury finds probably cause.

'Pleading the fifth'

This is the right of someone to protect themselves from self-incrimination by refusing to testify or produce information. The phrase, known to many from legal dramas and courtroom scenes in films, refers to the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution, which says that no-one "shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself".

Affidavit

A written statement which is sworn to be true.

To be arraigned

When a criminal defendant is told of the charges against them in court and asked if they plead guilty or not guilty.

US attorney

A lawyer appointed by the president to serve for a term of four years as the chief federal law enforcement officer within a judicial district. There are 93 across the US and they represent the federal government - prosecuting and defending cases.

District attorney

A prosecutor at the level of a county or designated district within a state. The official may be appointed or elected.

Impeachment

A process whereby the US president can be removed from office by Congress. The House of Representatives can vote for articles of impeachment with a simple majority. The US Senate then tries the accused, but a two-thirds majority vote is needed to convict and remove a president from office. The two-thirds hurdle is significant - two US presidents have been impeached by the House (Andrew Johnson in 1868 and Bill Clinton in 1998) but both were acquitted by the Senate and so not removed from office.

Special counsel

A position which can be appointed by the attorney general when he or she decides that a criminal investigation of someone or something would pose a conflict of interest for the Department of Justice and that it would be in the public interest for a special counsel outside the department to lead that investigation.

Read more: What is Robert Mueller doing?

Obstruction of justice

Any interference with a judicial or congressional proceeding. It is commonly applied in cases where someone has tampered with evidence, intimidated a witness, or failed to report a crime, but the statute requires there to be a corrupt intent behind the action. Of the three presidents who have faced impeachment proceedings, two have been accused of obstruction of justice: Richard Nixon in 1974 and Bill Clinton in 2000.

Read more: Could Trump be guilty of obstruction of justice?

Deposition

An oral statement made under oath by a witness - the purpose being for parties to know all the facts about a case before trial.


###



IS THIS IRON LADY OF LITHUANIA THE ONLY HEAD OF STATE WITH THE INTESTINAL FORTITUDE TO BE HONEST ABOUT THE TYPE OF SOCIETY THAT RUSSIA IS THESE DAYS? I THOUGHT, BELIEVED THAT GLASNOST WOULD CURE THAT PROBLEM, BUT APPARENTLY NOT. PUTIN SEEMS TO ME TO BE THE MOST AGGRESSIVE LEADER IN RUSSIA WITHIN MY MEMORY, AND YET IN A SLICK AND CONNIVING WAY. IT MAKES ME VERY UNCOMFORTABLE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SEEMS TO WANT TO BE HIS “SIDEKICK” – HIS TONTO OR HIS ROBIN THE BOY WONDER.

IN THE WORDS OF LITHUANIA’S PRESIDENT DALIA GRYBAUSKAITE, “WE ARE NOT CRITICS, WE SIMPLY CALL RUSSIA’S ACTIONS BY THEIR REAL NAMES. THE KREMLIN CONDUCTS CONFRONTATIONAL POLICY, VIOLATES INTERNATIONAL LAW, DESTROYS THE GLOBAL AND REGIONAL SECURITY ARCHITECTURE, AND SEEKS TO DIVIDE EUROPE AND WEAKEN TRANS-ATLANTIC STRUCTURES. FOR THE KREMLIN, SILENCE SIGNIFIES CONSENT.” IN THIS ARTICLE BY THE DAILY BEAST, THEY HAVE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD AGAIN. LIKE THE LITTLE BOY IN THE GREAT OLD FABLE, SHE IS STATING IN MORE SOPHISTICATED WAYS, “THE EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES!!”

https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-president-who-dared-to-call-putins-russia-what-it-is-a-terrorist-state
IRON LADY
The President Who Dared to Call Putin’s Russia What It Is: A Terrorist State
Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite was blunt about her neighbor’s aggression after it took over Crimea—and in an interview, she sounds the alarm about her nation’s vulnerability.
MICHAEL WEISS
03.18.16 1:00 AM ET

Not many world leaders call Vladimir Putin a terrorist and get away with it.

But Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite refused to resort to diplomatic euphemism in describing Vladimir Putin’s aggression in Ukraine. “If a terrorist state that is engaged in open aggression against its neighbor is not stopped,” she declared in November 2014, about eight months after Moscow’s annexation of Crimea, “then that aggression might spread further into Europe.”

Sometimes referred to as the Baltic Iron Lady, Grybauskaite is outspoken about NATO’s responsibility to fortify its eastern periphery and forestall any future acts of Russian military adventurism into Europe. Lithuania, she has said, is “already under attack” from Kremlin propaganda and disinformation, a targeted campaign she considers the possible curtain-raiser to an invasion of her country.

The Daily Beast got in touch with Grybauskaite via email to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Article V’s relevance in the 21st century, the Mideast refugee crisis, and Lithuania’s vulnerability as the smallish neighbor of re-militarized and revanchist* Russia.

You were one of the few European heads of state to boycott the Sochi Olympics over the Kremlin’s crackdown on human rights, particularly LGBT rights. This was, of course, before the invasion of Ukraine and what many consider to be the West’s “waking up” to Putin’s Russia. What has Lithuania experienced during your presidency that made you an outspoken critic of Putin and his policies?

We are not critics, we simply call Russia’s actions by their real names. The Kremlin conducts confrontational policy, violates international law, destroys the global and regional security architecture, and seeks to divide Europe and weaken trans-Atlantic structures.

For the Kremlin, silence signifies consent. We cannot be complicit or create a climate of impunity that encourages dangerous behavior. That is why speaking the truth is our obligation.

RELATED IN WORLD NEWS --
Russia's Trump Summit Propaganda War
The World’s Beating a Path to Putin’s Door

U.S. President Donald Trump, right, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, left, gestures while speaking during their bilateral breakfast, Wednesday July 11, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

TRUMP, GUNNING FOR NATO, PITS GERMANY AGAINST RUSSIA

Along with Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, you used the word “terrorism” to describe the actions taken by Russian-backed separatists (and Russian soldiers) in Donbas. Obviously this is the word used by Kiev to describe its military response to these activities, but doesn’t accusing a major power of terrorism suggest that something more than sanctions is in order to confront it? What should NATO and the EU and United States be doing that they aren’t?

It’s evident that having a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council that occupies and annexes territories of its neighbors poses a serious threat to the international security system. This is the goal pursued by the Kremlin. Divide and rule is the name of the game.

We cannot accept any “new normal” in our relationship with Russia. With the war continuing in eastern Ukraine, Crimea occupied, and the Kremlin directly helping the murderous Assad regime to stay in power in Syria, cooperation cannot be built on blackmail and menace. The EU and NATO should see beyond Kremlin propaganda. The EU and NATO must have their own agenda with Russia, not be part of the Kremlin’s puppet show. That means expanding our influence in the neighborhood, strengthening our defenses, breaking barriers for trade, and protecting the rule-based international order.

Kremlin information warfare is particularly acute in the Baltic states. What is the Russian government trying to achieve in Lithuania? Is it seeking regime change by appealing to the Russian diaspora or fringe political movements here?

Propaganda and information attacks are part of hybrid warfare. They seek to provoke social and ethnic tensions, promote mistrust in government, discredit our history, independence, and statehood, and demonstrate that Western democracy is functioning on dual standards.

But the most dangerous goal of information warfare is to break the people’s will to resist and defend their state, and to create a favorable environment for possible military intervention. And the example of Ukraine is proof that conventional war in Europe is no longer theoretical.

Many Americans don’t count the trans-Atlantic relationship among their top foreign policy priorities. What does the fate of Europe, much less the fate of the postwar liberal democratic order, mean for the United States? Do we have to fear another world war? Do you see that as a proximate or remote possibility?

Perhaps there is less debate about the trans-Atlantic relationship because everyone agrees that it remains strong and must only be getting stronger. We all have the same perceptions of existing threats. What we should do now is take the necessary defense measures against those threats through NATO’s defense planning, updated defense scenarios, sufficient and credible deterrence, rapid reaction, and smooth decision-making process. We shouldn’t just fear war but do everything possible to make sure it doesn’t happen.

Lithuania has not been too directly affected by the Middle Eastern refugee crisis. There are only six Syrians living here, although members of your government have said they would welcome more. What policies should European countries be adopting with respect to this crisis? Do you agree with Gen. Breedlove that Putin is “weaponizing” refugees to try to undermine democratic societies and governments, namely Germany?

Migration routes can change very quickly, and all of us have to be prepared. We already see migrants coming through Russia to Norway and Finland.

Helping refugees is our duty. But it is also important to try to solve the problem at its source, use all diplomatic tools to find a peaceful solution, provide humanitarian support, engage more with Turkey and other countries in the region to fight smuggling networks, and give people support closer to home so they are not forced to choose a dangerous trip by sea.

Regarding Russia’s involvement, no one can deny that Russia’s support of Assad as well as airstrikes only contributed to the destabilization of the situation in Syria and made many more people flee their homes.

EU sanctions have not deterred Russia from continuing to arm and escalate in Ukraine. Just this last week we saw an uptick in violence in Donbas. Also, both the separatists and Kiev seem to be underreporting the violations of the ceasefire; the OSCE Monitoring Mission typically carries many more violations (by orders of magnitude) in its weekly reports. Are new sanctions a possibility? There seems to be more of a willingness by other countries in Europe to roll back the existing sanctions regime and return to business as usual with Russia.

The European Council agreed that the duration of sanctions against Russia is linked to the complete implementation of the Minsk agreements. We are nowhere near that. Russia continues to send its troops and military equipment to Donbas in direct violation of the Minsk agreements. Therefore I do not see a reason to discuss lifting sanctions or rolling them back. On the contrary, sanctions are the only thing that could force Russia to take its Minsk commitments seriously. And if the situation in Ukraine deteriorates, all options should be on the table for the EU to consider how to increase the cost of Russian involvement.

Russian corruption has been described as one of the country’s chief exports, alongside oil and gas. All of the Baltic states have suffered, since their independence, from gangsterism, issues with money-laundering, and so on. How bad is it the situation in Lithuania?

While the culture of corruption has its roots in the Soviet system, it is something that we have to fight ourselves. Lithuania is ranked 32nd in Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index. That’s 15 places up from five years ago. But there’s another 31 to go…We are focusing on fighting impunity, ensuring that responsibility is both unavoidable and sufficiently severe.

Ensuring competition and transparency in the energy sector is another area where there has been substantial progress, including by limiting Russia’s influence. Lithuania has successfully built the LNG terminal, which ensured the security of supply and fair competition in the gas market. We also unbundled energy supply from ownership, which helped us to create more transparent relations in our energy sector.

Similarly, Russian espionage in the Baltic states continues to be a major national security issue. One recalls the Hermann Simm case in Estonia and annual arrests of Chekists in the state security services. And the problem is just as bad, if not worse, in other former occupied states. Just today, it was announced that a military adviser to your Czech counterpart had his security clearance taken away because of his perceived closeness to Russia. Are you concerned about the infiltration of Lithuania’s security and intelligence establishment? Is counterintelligence in general something that NATO and the EU should place a greater emphasis on?

No one can be 100 percent sure that there won’t be such attempts. But we take all the national security threats very seriously. Our and NATO security services are vigilant and on high alert.

Are we in another Cold War, as Dmitry Medvedev said at the Munich Security Conference? If so, what does that mean for Western defense policy? Do we need a strategy of containment with respect to Russia?

With over 9,000 dead in Ukraine since the conflict started two years ago, the war is far from being cold. And Russia’s aggressive actions did not start with Ukraine. We should not forget its role in frozen conflicts throughout Eastern Europe or the 2008 war in Georgia.

The only containment strategy is not to underestimate the nature of the threat and be prepared to act in our own defense.


REVANCHIST*

https://www.google.com/search?q=REVANCHE&spell=1&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjY_8X__p_cAhXKqlkKHTXlBhkQBQgmKAA&biw=820&bih=483

REVANCHIST (ROOT WORD IS “REVANCHE” MEANING “REVENGE” – FRENCH)
re·vanche
rəˈväNSH/Submit
noun
noun: revanche; plural noun: revanches

A POLICY OR MOVEMENT aimed at achieving the RETURN OF A NATION'S LOST TERRITORY (frequently with reference to France's desire to regain Alsace–Lorraine after its annexation in the Franco-Prussian War).
"Sorel was no starry-eyed advocate of revanche in the decades following the defeat of 1871"

ORIGIN

French -- literally ‘revenge.’
Translate revanche to
Use over time for: revanche


TO SHOW MORE THAN JUST A FINE NEW VOCABULARY WORD, SEE THESE ARTICLES WHICH CAME UP WHEN I SEARCHED “PUTIN RUSSIA REGAIN ALASKA?” HOW IS THIS FOR “REVANCHE”?

I CAN SEE WHY TRUMP WANTS TO BE CLOSE WITH PUTIN, HE’S DEEPLY IN DEBT AND POSSIBLY IS BEING BLACKMAILED BY THE RUSSIANS, BUT WHAT IS PUTIN GETTING OUT OF THE DEAL? ANOTHER LAND GRAB? CRIMEA IS ON ONE SIDE OF RUSSIA, AND WE ARE ON THE OTHER, WITH A LITTLE WATER IN BETWEEN. ALASKA HAS TIMBER, OIL AND MINERALS, PLUS PROBABLY SOME VERY GOOD FISHING. PUTIN HAS ALSO SEEMED TO ME TO WANT TO REGAIN THE OLD SOVIET UNION OF THE 1950S, PERHAPS AS A GAME. (REVANCHE)

https://www.quora.com/Does-Russia-regret-selling-Alaska-to-the-Americans
Does Russia regret selling Alaska to the Americans?

Matthew Sutton, worked at History
Updated Sep 3, 2016 · Author has 3.3k answers and 3.8m answer views
Originally Answered: Why did Russia sell Alaska?

The Russians were primarily motivated by money when they decided to sell it to the US.

Alaska was fantastically profitable for awhile (from about 1820–1835), but the Russians depleted both the Aleut human and the seal populations within a generation. Furthermore the world market had become saturated with furs by the mid-1840 with North American and Siberian trapping rapidly driving down prices, while demand in an increasingly destitute China collapsed. Alaska has other vast resources (timber, fish, crabs, oil, copper, some coal, even some gold) but these weren't remotely exploitable or profitable in the mid-19th century. There was no immediately exploitable resource that was as profitable as sealing for Alaska in the 1850s. The interior remained largely unsurveyed, terra incognita until long after the Americans took possession (as in until aerial surveying starting in the 30’s). Furthermore the inland tribes were restive and the powerful Tlingit especially limited Russian colonial activities to the coast. Throughout the 1840s and 50s the Russian government was having to subsidize the ailing Russian-American Company’s operations.

By the middle of the 19th century, Alaska had been financially marginal for awhile and Russia was finding it difficult to keep it supplied and maintained via extremely long maritime routes (this was before the Trans-Siberian railway and Vladivostok being a major port.) Logistically keeping Russian Alaska fed and liquored up proved nearly impossible. Outside of plentiful salmon there was always a shortage of grain in Alaska; a perfunctory attempt to set up a "nearby" fort down in California (Ft. Ross in California) to grow wheat and trade for food with more southern tribes didn't really help much.

Russia had more pressing concerns closer at home than the poor, hopelessly remote colonial enterprise and was looking to unload the expensive enterprise at the end of the world. Like Napoleonic France and the Louisiana Purchase, it seemed like a good idea to sell it to the Americans before it eventually passed into British hands by force of arms. The British had just defeated Russia in the Crimean conflict, had surrounded the vast territory over land on the North American continent, could arm tribes in Alaska with impunity and sabotage Russian control, and had the overwhelming naval means to settle and exploit and supply the territory. Russia didn't have means or willpower to invest money in defending an already money losing colonial enterprise.

While the decision to sell Alaska for spare change seems absurd in a resource and territory-conscious 21st century, it was probably the best option the Russians then had available. Letting America take Alaska off its hands put a neutral power between the Russian Far East and often hostile British Canada, blunting any threat from the British to attack the Russian Far East. To attack Russian ports in Kamchatka or in the Sea of Okhotsk, the Royal Navy would have to operate across US shipping lanes to and from Alaska which almost certainly be a diplomatic deterrent to Britain which had fought a frustrating war to a draw with the USA in 1812, and had concern for its rapidly growing power below the longest undefended border on Earth (US-Canada).

Ridding itself of Alaska saved the Russian crown a fortune, netted some quick cash for the habitually broke Tsar, and established a neutral buffer in Alaska to discourage any Britsh encroachment on Russian territory (further saving Russia money in having to defend both it and its fledgling Far East ports). So as a sale it was very a smart move for generations afterwards. Russia already had more barely populated, subarctic taiga in Siberia than it knew what to do with (even today), and with its hands full in Europe, the Near East, Central Asia, and Far East Asia couldn't afford to worry about North America.

Not until the Klondike gold rush of 1898 and subsequent resource surveys in the 20th century (especially vast oil reserves in the North Slope) did the USA’s benefits from Alaska become fully known. Supplying Alaska was easier and cheaper for the Americans from developed agricultural regions along the West coast, with transcontinental rail lines, and with shorter shipping routes from SF and Seattle. Better and more efficient management, though heavily patriarchal, lead to better relations between the indigenous peoples and the American administrators. The Panama Canal made shipping from the US east coast to Alaska far cheaper, dependable and safer than old, serpentine Russian routes which ran through Turkish controlled Instanbul, British controlled Suez, Gibraltar, Hormuz, and around Cape Horn down in some of the roughest seas on Earth, then back through British controlled Singapore. The US enjoyed an uninterrupted and comparatively cheap line of communications with Alaska that 1867 Tsarist Russia did not. Alaskan fisheries could profitably sell to West coast US cities due to shorter distances and industrial refrigeration. Enjoying friendly relations with Britain the US could spend nothing in defense of Alaska (or anywhere for that matter) for generations, instead focusing on developing critical infrastructure there which Russia never could.

Overall the sale was a “win-win” for Tsarist Russia, USA, and arguably the Alaskans—quite a rare transaction in history.


SOME OF THE RUSSIA/ALASKA ARTICLES:

https://www.independent.co.uk › News › World › Americas
Mar 31, 2017 - Speaking about Alaska, Russian President Vladimir Putin previously ..... Russian activities in the Arctic were aimed at restoring navigation and ...

observer.com/2016/10/on-alaska-day-russians-still-dream-of-getting-alaska-back/
Oct 26, 2016 - The U.S. purchase of Alaska from Russia in 1867 has been ... Like the Japanese, who haven't lost hope of regaining control over the Kuril Islands ... (Vladimir Putin is set to visit Japan in December, and the islands will be first ...

https://www.npr.org/.../04/.../not-an-april-fools-joke-russians-petition-to-get-alaska-back
Apr 1, 2014 - President Vladimir Putin's annexation of Crimea is reigniting talk in Russia of taking back Alaska from the United States, which purchased the ...

150 Years After Sale of Alaska, Some Russians Have Second Thoughts
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/30/world/europe/alaska-russia-sale-150.html
Mar 30, 2017 - A bill of sale for the purchase of Alaska from Russia. ... of Vladimir V. Putin's presidency, and his projection of military might and cyberpower ... Memphis, said that irredentist calls to reclaim Alaska were not limited to extremists.





https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/11/politics/devin-nunes-leaves-rules-committee/index.html?utm_source=ADA_obamplify23&utm_medium=conversion_politicsrss&utm_campaign=cnn_PoliticsDesktopTablet2&utm_term=The+Daily+Beast&utm_content=Democrats+frustrated+Nunes+left+mid-hearing+after+questions+about+Russ
Democrats frustrated Nunes left mid-hearing after questions about Russia probe
Ashley Killough
By Ashley Killough, CNN
Updated 12:58 PM ET, Thu July 12, 2018

VIDEO – NUNES FACING TEST OF HIS DEFENSE OF TRUMP IN CROWDED PRIMARY 3:14

Washington (CNN)When California Republican Rep. Devin Nunes sat before a committee Wednesday to testify on a bill, Democrats tried to use the opportunity to question the House Intelligence Committee chairman on his investigation of Russian meddling and the 2016 presidential race.

But the Republican chairman of the House Rules Committee -- Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas -- allowed Nunes to leave the hearing before Democrats could fire off their questions, prompting criticism from Democrats.

Caroline Boothe, a spokeswoman for the Rules Committee, said the plan beforehand was that Nunes would give his opening statement on the related legislation before the committee -- the Intelligence Authorization Act -- then leave to attend other business, while Rep. Frank LoBiondo, a New Jersey Republican, would step in to take questions from the committee about the bill.

While Boothe initially said Democrats were made aware before the hearing that LoBiondo would be filling in for Nunes during the questioning, she later said that Democrats were not given advance notice.

Sessions, however, at the beginning of the hearing noted that Nunes would be leaving to attend other business.

However, Sessions went ahead and opened it up for questions while Nunes was still in the witness seat, and Democrats used the opportunity to start to ask about Russia.

RELATED: Nunes is demanding new information on Trump campaign and FBI informants

Rep. Norma Torres, a California Democrat, started asking a question about Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and a statement he previously made to the House Intelligence Committee.

Sessions interrupted her and abruptly broke up the committee for a five-minute recess to discuss the questioning with the top Democrat on the committee, Rep. Jim McGovern.

They resumed the hearing 18 minutes later, and Sessions dismissed Nunes from the witness table before Democrats could ask him more questions.

Democrats took issue with Sessions' dismissal of the House intelligence chairman.

"In all my years on the Rules Committee, I don't ever recall an instance where any member was prevented from asking questions of a witness," McGovern said in a statement. "What is Chairman Nunes trying to hide?"

Rep. Alcee Hastings, a Florida Democrat, said he had questions for Nunes about the bill and used some colorful language to knock Nunes for leaving the hearing early to go attend another hearing.

"He's already gone but I think that circumvents our responsibility," he said. "We are continuously mindful of members' other responsibilities, but if he had to go vote at Ways and Means, he's going to get many other opportunities to vote on the same crap that he's going there to vote on."

This story has been updated to include additional statements from Rules Committee spokeswoman Caroline Boothe.

CNN's Jeremy Herb contributed to this report.



HERE IS ANOTHER REALLY GOOD STORY. COME ON, CBS. GIN UP SOME MORE OF THESE.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-students-surprise-music-teacher-who-changed-their-lives-ponca-city-chorale-oklahoma/
By STEVE HARTMAN CBS NEWS July 13, 2018, 6:58 PM
Former students surprise music teacher who changed their lives

PONCA CITY, Okla. -- On quiet days, which they all are now, retired high school music teacher Robert Moore likes to pore over the list: The names of all 900 of his former students.

He spent 30 years directing one of the greatest high school choral groups in the country -- the Ponca City Chorale of Ponca City, Oklahoma.

"Wouldn't it be great to get those kids back together," he said.

Unbeknownst to Mr. Moore, a small group of students have been plotting a surprise for the past year. They lured him out to the country, and then hit him with the greatest gift a teacher can receive.

d2-hartman-otr-0713en-frame-2167.jpg
Former students surprised Robert Moore. CBS NEWS

From across America and three foreign countries, Robert Moore's former students returned, nearly 300 of them, all to tell him the huge difference he made in their lives.

Many went into education. Many more pursued music, including John Atkins, who graduated in 1976.

"I had a 25 year career singing with the LA Opera and all around the country and it wouldn't have happened without you," John said.

d2-hartman-otr-0713en-frame-3582.jpg
Robert Moore's former students performed for him at the Poncan Theatre. CBS NEWS

To repay their debt of gratitude, the students rented out the old Poncan Theatre and put on one last show for their mentor.

Their harmonic voices, and their cumulative success, are no doubt a testament to what a good teacher can accomplish in a career.

I say good teacher, which is different from a likable teacher.

Former students said "discipline was huge," and Mr. Moore was "not warm and fuzzy." But they said they would do anything they could to please him, and on that night, they did just that.

Tough teachers often go unappreciated for years. But if they're good, eventually the thanks do come thundering -- giving the teacher an opportunity, at last, to show his students how he felt all along.

To contact On the Road, or to send us a story idea, email us: OnTheRoad@cbsnews.com.



HERE’S ANOTHER UNFORTUNATE SWIMMING POOL STORY. THE MAIN IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE AND THE DRIVING WHILE BLACK STORIES IS THAT THE ALTERCATION IS BETWEEN A BLACK POOL USER AND A NON-OFFICIAL WHITE. THIS IS A TRUE AND UNAMBIGUOUS HATE CRIME. HER BITING THE OFFICER IS UNUSUAL, THOUGH, OR IS RARELY REPORTED. SHE SHOULD BE EXAMINED BY A PSYCHIATRIST, I THINK. BITING IS WHAT FIVE YEAR-OLDS DO.

NOT ALL HATE CRIMES LEAVE PEOPLE BLACK AND BLUE, AND THIS CASE CLEARLY QUALIFIES AS BEING HATE-BASED. MOST OF THE EVENTS ARE JUST EMOTIONALLY CRUEL LIKE THIS KIND OF THING. I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT I THINK THIS SIMPLY VERIFIES THE CRITICISM THAT NORTHERNERS HAVE ALWAYS LEVELED AT SOUTHERN WHITES. NORTHERN WHITES DO THESE THINGS TOO AND I THINK THEY ALL SHOULD BE CALLED OUT ABOUT IT.

THE NATIONWIDE REPUTATION THAT THE SOUTH HAS ALWAYS HAD, IN MY LIFETIME, IS BEING PROVEN ONCE AGAIN. IT PAINS ME, BECAUSE I WANTED THE SOUTH TO BE AN HONORABLE PLACE. I THOUGHT THIS HORSE WAS DEAD, BUT IT’S NO ACCIDENT THAT THE CAMPAIGN AND THE PRESIDENCY OF A RACIST PRESIDENT IS THE YEAST IN THIS VERY WHITE LOAF OF BREAD.

THESE PEOPLE FEEL SAFE DOING SUCH THINGS RIGHT NOW, WHEREAS BETWEEN 1964 AND 2016 PEOPLE WERE NOT NECESSARILY LOVING TOWARD EACH OTHER, BUT THEY WERE QUIET ABOUT IT IN MOST CASES. THERE IS APPARENTLY STILL A NEED FOR PRESSURE TO INSURE GOOD BEHAVIOR. THERE HAVE BEEN NO LESSONS LEARNED. THIS HIGHLY NEGATIVE SOCIETAL TREND WON’T LAST FOREVER, THOUGH, BECAUSE MOST “DECENT” WHITES FIND IT UNACCEPTABLE, AT LEAST I HOPE SO. I WONDER WHAT CHRISTIANS THINK ABOUT IT? THEY VERY RARELY SAY. WHY SO QUIET?

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pool-patrol-paula-story-black-teen-dj-simmons-speaks-out-assault-stephanie-sebby-stremple/
CBS NEWS July 14, 2018, 7:41 AM
Black teen speaks out after woman is charged with attacking him at pool

CBS THIS MORNING NEWS -- Stephanie Sebby-Strempel was caught on camera allegedly assaulting a black teen at a subdivision pool in Summerville, South Carolina RHE CAPERS
PHOTOGRAPH -- Stephanie Sebby-Strempel was caught on camera allegedly assaulting a black teen at a subdivision pool in Summerville, South Carolina RHE CAPERS

A South Carolina woman is facing assault and battery charges after allegedly hitting 15-year-old at a community pool and then biting an officer during her arrest. Stephanie Sebby-Stremple was caught on camera last month as she berated and appeared to strike Darshaun RocQuemore Simmons, who goes by DJ.

"She called me the N-word and she called me a punk," Simmons told CBS News' Michelle Miller. He says he was invited to the pool by a friend when Sebby-Stremple approached him. He says she verbally and physically assaulted him and forced him to leave.

"This lady walked up to us and was like ya'll have to leave," Simmons said. "We said, 'yes ma'am.' When I started walking out she just started hitting me... It was shocking."

The next day Simmons showed the cellphone video to his parents, who believe the attack was racially motivated.

untitled-collage-6.jpg
Stephanie Sebby-Strempel was caught on camera allegedly assaulting a black teen at a subdivision pool in Summerville, South Carolina RHE CAPERS

"It hurts. I could never imagine putting my hands on somebody else's child," Simmons' mother, Deanna RocQuemore, said.

The video sparked outrage online, where the woman was dubbed "Pool Patrol Paula" and the hashtag #PoolPatrolPaula went viral.

Simmons' father, Bryan, was upset by the lack of response from others at the pool.

"Of all of those adults there, there was nobody to step up and stop this lady. Say, 'Hey why are you hitting this young man?'"

Sebby-Stremple was arrested and charged with 3rd-degree assault and battery. She was also fired from her job. Simmons says he recorded the incident in case people wouldn't believe him.

This incident is drawing comparison to several other recent confrontations captured on video. These include a woman, dubbed "Permit Patty," calling the police on a black 8-year-old girl selling water on the sidewalk in San Francisco. Another woman called the cops on a black family barbecuing in an Oakland park. In Memphis, an apartment manager was fired after she called police on a black man for wearing socks at the pool.

And a video taken in a Chicago park shows a man harassing a woman for wearing a shirt with a Puerto Rican flag on it. That woman asked an officer standing a few yards away for help, but the officer appeared to ignore the confrontation. He has since resigned from the force.

Simmons' attorney Margie Pizarro says he handled the situation the right way.

"Here you've got a video, you've got audio, you've got still shots of what happened and it -- it speaks for itself," Pizarro said. "We saw him not retaliate, when we saw him walk away, that was something that was commendable."

Simmons says he's entered counseling to try to process the alleged assault. He said that from the incident he's learned he has a lot of "discipline" and "self-control."

Sebby-Stremple has been released on $65,000 bond and she is expected back in court on August 13. If convicted, she could face the maximum penalty for assault on a minor: 30 days in jail.

Her laywer [sic] said in a statement to "CBS This Morning," "There certainly are two sides to every story." The lawyer didn't offer any further comment.

© 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.



AND NOW FOR SOME GOOD NEWS ABOUT BLACK AND WHITE RELATIONS

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/nj-traffic-stop-leads-to-reunion-with-retired-cop-who-delivered-baby-more-perfect-union/
CBS NEWS June 26, 2018, 11:28 AM
"It was meant to happen": Routine traffic stop in New Jersey leads to unlikely reunion

Our series, A More Perfect Union, aims to show that what unites us as Americans is far greater than what divides us. In this installment, we share a story about a chance encounter leading to a reunion that was 27 years in the making.

With his body camera rolling, New Jersey State Trooper Michael Patterson pulled over a white BMW for a routine traffic stop. After some small talk, the man behind the wheel, retired police officer Matthew Bailly, realized they were from the same neighborhood and had crossed paths years before. The trooper's mom was key to the story.

"I was in labor and didn't realize it," Karen Patterson recounted. "Before you know it, I'm on the bed and Michael's head is crowning."

Every birthday, Michael Patterson's mother recounted the story of how a police officer helped his dad deliver him at home.

"It was years ago, it was the first baby I've delivered was that house, that's why I always remember the address," Bailly could be heard saying in Patterson's bodycam video.

"At the house?" Patterson asked.

"In the bedroom. Oh yeah, by myself," Bailly said.

"That was me. That was me," Patterson said.

"Get the hell out*," Bailly said.

"That was me!" Patterson replied.

"I'm like, 'Wow, is this really happening right now?'" Patterson recalled.

Bailly, Patterson and his mom had a chance to return to the scene of his birth 27 years later. But the reunion of the families almost didn't happen.

0626-ctm-mputrafficstopreunion-miller-1598874-640x360.jpg
Karen Patterson, Michael Patterson and Matthew Bailly CBS NEWS

"I'm not thinking about 'Hey, why don't you get out of the car let's take a picture together.' That's not going through my mind as a trooper," Patterson said. "But I drove over to his house, it wasn't far from the car stop… and I wrote him a note. I left it on his door and I said, 'Sir, my name is Michael Patterson, the trooper that just stopped you… My family suggested that we take pictures together, so you know, if you don't mind, just give me a call at your earliest convenience and maybe we'll connect.'"

He got that picture and a lot more.

"I'm grateful to Mr. Bailly for coming to assist and everybody asks why I get so upset, I get upset because I honestly don't know what would have happened had they not come to my aid," Karen said, choking up. "So I just want to tell Mr. Bailly I appreciate him coming to my aid."

"It was my pleasure. Great experience," Bailly said. "I think a greater power somehow made that meeting happen and I'm not sure where it's going to take us… and I'm willing to go on the journey."

"We're definitely going to stay in touch because this is a special relationship. I'm sorry," Karen said, getting emotional. "It's a special relationship… And it was meant to happen. Things just don't randomly happen like that."

"Yeah, some people might call it serendipity. What do you call it?" CBS News' Michelle Miller asked.

"Purpose," Patterson said.

Needless to say, Bailly was not ticketed. The universe seems to have wanted to bring them together for a long time. When Patterson was about 10 years old, they ran into each other in a grocery store. That meeting didn't leave much of an impression on young Patterson, but this time I think it might just last.

© 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.


WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?
“GET THE HELL OUT”*

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=get%20the%20hell%20out%20of%20here

THIS IS A SLANG TERM FOR “NO WAY,” OR A SIMILAR EXPRESSION OF ASTONISHED DISBELIEF. IN THIS CASE IT IS NOT A SLUR. THIS IS ONE CASE OF MY BEING UNABLE TO FIND THE APPROPRIATE DEFINITION AFTER FOUR OR FIVE TRIES, THOUGH I PERSONALLY KNEW IT WELL WHEN I WAS YOUNG, THOUGH WE WOULDN’T SAY THE “HELL” PART. SOMETIMES “URBAN DICTIONARY” IS THE BEST PLACE TO LOOK.



JACKSONVILLE IS DEFINITELY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF GLOBAL WARMING, CLIMATE CHANGE, OR WHATEVER IT SHOULD BE CALLED. THE WEATHER IS GETTING DARKER AND MORE MOIST, WITH RAIN AND MAYBE THUNDER ALMOST EVERY SINGLE AFTERNOON AND SOME MORNINGS; AND ALSO, LIKE IT OR NOT, IT’S HOTTER. I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE POWER OUTAGES ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON, CAUSING MY COMPUTER TO CRASH. I THINK WE’RE OVERWORKING THE POWER GRID WITH OUR AIR CONDITIONING.

THE WHOLE PURPOSE OF DENYING THAT THIS HEATING AND INCREASINGLY EXTREME WEATHER IS MANMADE IS SO THAT THE KOCH BROTHERS AND THE OIL COMPANIES CAN KEEP PUMPING OUT MORE FOSSIL FUEL, INCREASING THEIR INCOME AND PROFITS AND IGNORING THE EFFECTS ON THE CLIMATE. THE REPUBLICANS CARE ONLY ABOUT MONEY, AND NOT ABOUT HUMAN NEEDS.

THEY CHOOSE NOT TO ADMIT THEIR ROLE IN A DANGEROUS SET OF CHANGES. IS SEA LEVEL RISE DANGEROUS? ONLY IF YOU LIVE NEAR THE OCEAN. WE DO, HERE IN JACKSONVILLE. IS AN INCREASE IN THE DANGERS FROM THE ZIKA VIRUS A PROBLEM? ONLY IF YOU WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN OR CARE ABOUT THE PITIFUL CONDITION OF THOSE BRAIN-DAMAGED BABIES. ON THE OTHER HAND, WHAT WOULD WE DO IF WE WERE TO END UP WITH A MUCH LARGER THAN EXPECTED NUMBER OF MENTALLY DAMAGED PEOPLE WHO WILL HAVE TO BE TAKEN CARE OF ALL THEIR LIVES? THAT WOULD GET THOSE REPUBLICANS’ ATTENTION. WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THEM OR ALLOW ABORTION IN THOSE CASES. HOW WILL THE EVANGELICAL FUNDAMENTALIST CHRISTIANS FEEL ABOUT THAT? ARE FLOODING OR DESERTIFICATION UNACCEPTABLE? NOT IF YOU AREN’T A FARMER OR INTO REAL ESTATE. SO SEE? IT’S NO PROBLEM.

STILL, THE FACT THAT BY NOON EVERY DAY FOR A MONTH AND A HALF WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL HOURS OF DARK, RAINY, HUMID WEATHER HERE DURING THIS WHOLE SUMMER SO FAR. CERTAINLY WE GET RAIN SEVERAL DAYS A WEEK HERE IN THE SUMMER, BUT NOT LITERALLY EVERY DAY, AND IT ISN’T THIS CLOUDY ALL DAY TYPE OF RAIN, EITHER. IT’S JUST SHORT AND THRILLING THUNDER STORMS WITH HEAVY RAIN; IT CAN DROP ENOUGH RAIN TO CAUSE STREET FLOODING, BUT I DON’T MIND THAT AS MUCH AS DAY AFTER DAY OF CLOUDY WEATHER. IT HAS MADE THIS SUMMER, SO FAR, A DISCOURAGING AND DEPRESSING TIME.

I KNOW THIS WILL EVENTUALLY STOP, AND I CAN ALWAYS TURN ON THE AIR CONDITIONING AND EVERY LIGHT IN THE PLACE, SO THAT’S WHAT I’VE DONE; AND I’M LUCKY. THE COMPUTER HASN’T STOPPED WORKING TOTALLY, EVEN AFTER BEING KNOCKED OUT BY LIGHTNING TWICE JUST THIS AFTERNOON. I DO HOPE I DON’T HAVE TO BUY A NEW ONE.

OH, WELL. THAT’S MY WEEPING AND COMPLAINING SESSION FOR NOW. MAYBE THIS WEATHER WILL SOON STOP AND THE REST OF OUR SUMMERS WON’T BE LIKE THIS. MAYBE THERE WON’T BE SERIOUS FLOODING AT THE BEACH AND ON THE RIVER. THERE WILL PROBABLY BE A BREAK IN THE PATTERN PRETTY SOON.

http://www.jacksonville.com/article/20160203/OPINION/801242605
What will it take for us to take climate change, global warming seriously?
By Times-Union Editorial
Posted Feb 3, 2016 at 11:39 AM

Earth to mankind: You might want to pay more attention.

The Earth keeps getting hotter, the climate keeps getting more chaotic and the deniers are relying on mass conspiracy theories to justify their stances.

People tend to confuse climate and weather.

We also tend to confuse global warming with climate change.

The best way to think of climate is as long-term trends while weather is short-term.

Global warming adds another layer of heat on naturally occurring conditions.

In addition, climate change is better thought of as chaos produced by a heating of the Earth. The chaos can actually produce more extreme cold weather or wild variations of it.

Every reputable scientific agency continues to find evidence that the earth is warming beyond the usual ebbs and flows.

The latest news comes from NASA and NOAA, hardly a group of radical liberals.

“The whole system is warming up relentlessly,” said Gerald Meehl, a scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colo.

Last year was the warmest worldwide since recordkeeping began in 1880. It also seems that 2016 temperatures will set records, set in part by normal variations caused by the El Nino effect.

Nevertheless the average temperature last year surpassed the record set in 2014.

In fact, a look at trends shows that 15 of the 16 warmest years on record occurred since 2001, NASA scientists said, as reported in The Wall Street Journal.

Meanwhile, average global levels of carbon dioxide passed 400 parts per million for the first time last March, reports The Associated Press. While a little carbon dioxide is good for plant growth, too much is not good for the planet.

Imagine living with a small temperature that never goes away. What would that do to a body’s health?

The new temperature extremes are becoming so commonplace that they are becoming the new normal. Because all of this is so new, scientists can only estimate the effects. Will impacts be greater or less or simply more chaotic? This is all new at least in modern human history.

In addition, the amount of man-made heat energy absorbed by the sea has doubled since 1997, reports a study in the journal Nature Climate Change.

This study uses ocean-observing data used since 1870 and now includes high-tech models.

In short, the amount of heat now being absorbed in the oceans is off the charts. Impacts could be felt in ocean circulation, storm tracks and storm intensity.

While the oceans can absorb some heat, at some point more heat will stay in the air and land.

This study provides dramatic evidence that “humans are dramatically heating the planet,” reports Jeff Severinghaus of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography.

The chance of setting two straight years of global record temperature is 1 in 1,500 if the earth were not warming.

The chance with global warming: 1 in 10.

The human impact of this is difficult to comprehend. For instance, eight of the world’s deadliest 10 heat waves have occurred since 1997, reports The New York Times.

Something as simple as the spread of the Zika virus is speeded up by heat.

Warmer air incubates the virus faster, it makes the mosquito hungrier and it increases the mosquito population, reports The Associated Press.

FLORIDA IS IN DANGER

Ground Zero for climate change in America is Miami where the impacts of sea level rise can easily be seen.

Photos of flooding on sunny days are commonplace.


Flooding and coastal erosion could threaten Miami’s tourism and real estate sectors, reports The Miami Herald.

Miami Beach, for instance, has a $500 million plan to raise roads and install pumps. The mayor, however, is looking for state and federal aid.

If coastal real estate becomes uninsurable, for instance, the economic impact would be huge. This is causing business leaders to become more engaged in the practical impacts of sea level rise.

North Florida does not have the same sort of sea level challenges as Miami, but there is plenty of coastal waterways here that could be threatened by sea level rise. That is why smart planners are taking the threats into account.

SOLUTIONS CREATE JOBS

Some solutions to climate change are obvious with multiple benefits on many levels.

For instance, energy efficiency produces lower bills for customers while also taking a load off power plants. Energy efficiency efforts, such as insulation or smart thermostats, produce local jobs and create benefits that can last for many years.


In fact, the cheapest energy option often is conservation. The problem is coming up with upfront costs.

The business sector already sees the impact on the bottom line.

Examples from a White House paper:

» Apple runs all of its U.S. operations on 100 percent renewable energy. Google will be powering all new operations with 100 percent renewable energy.

» Bank of America has provided more than $39 billion in financing for low-carbon activities since 2007 and plans to increase funding substantially.

» Berkshire Hathaway is increasing its wind generation in Iowa and will retire 75 percent of its coal-fueled capacity in Nevada by 2019.

» Coca-Cola is going to reduce the carbon footprint of its drinks by 25 percent by 2020.

» General Motors is cutting energy intensity of its facilities by 20 percent from 2010 to 2020.

» Wal Mart is making regular cuts in energy use toward a corporate goal of reaching 100 percent renewable energy.



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