868: Shambollocks

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Thu, 13 Oct 2016 12:14

Then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her Saudi counterpart, the late Foreign Minister Prince Saudi al-Faisal, in Riyadh in March 2012. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)

(CNSNews.com) '' State Department spokesman John Kirby on Tuesday declined to comment on a claim, purportedly contained in an email sent by Hillary Clinton in 2014, about Saudi and Qatari government support for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS/ISIL). But Kirby stressed that the U.S. relies on the two Sunni monarchies in the campaign against the jihadist group.

''Qatar and Saudi Arabia are members of the counter-ISIL coalition and have been contributing members of that coalition pretty much since its founding,'' he told a briefing.

''And we rely a great deal on their efforts to help us counter terrorism in the region, particularly counter this particular group, Daesh [ISIS/ISIL].''

Kirby said the U.S. looks forward to their participation as active members of the coalition continuing.

On the actual claim of Saudi and Qatari backing for ISIS, however, Kirby said he would not ''speak about the veracity of leaked documents and whether they're authentic or not.''

The incendiary claim appears in one of the latest tranche of emails released by Wikileaks. Sent from Clinton's account to John Podesta '' now her campaign chairman, but at the time a counselor to President Obama '' the email argues for the U.S. to exert more pressure on the two Gulf states' governments.

''We need to use our diplomatic and more traditional intelligence assets to bring pressure on the governments of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, which are providing clandestine financial and logistic support to ISIL and other radical Sunni groups in the region,'' the email says.

''The Qataris and Saudis will be put in a position of balancing policy between their ongoing competition to dominate the Sunni world and the consequences of serious U.S. pressure,'' it adds.

(It is not clear whether Clinton authored the note, or was merely forwarding it to Podesta. If it was the latter, she did not comment on or contest the allegation. A line at the top indicates the information's sources included ''Western intelligence, U.S. intelligence and sources in the region.'')

Saudi Arabia and Qatar back some of the anti-Assad rebel groups fighting in Syria, including Islamist factions, but whether that support extends to the jihadists of ISIS or the al-Qaeda-affiliated Jabhat al-Nusra has long been a point of dispute.

In a March 2014 speech, a senior U.S. Treasury Department official expressed concern about reports that the Qatari government was supporting ''extremist groups operating in Syria.''

Three months later, as ISIS fighters swept across large parts of northern and western Iraq and captured the key city of Mosul, the then-Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki accused the Saudis of giving them moral and financial support. The State Department's Jen Psaki at the time rejected the charge as ''inaccurate and offensive.''

In July of that year, the former head of Britain's MI6 foreign intelligence agency said in a speech the Saudis were at the least turning a blind eye to ''substantial and sustained funding'' for ISIS originating in their countries.

The email from Clinton's account to Podesta was sent several weeks later, on August 17, 2014.

The Saudi and Qatari governments have repeatedly denied claims of support for ISIS and terrorism in general. Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir in an interview last June called the claim ''preposterous,'' saying the kingdom was at the ''forefront of fighting extremism and terrorism in the region, and in the world.''

This isn't the first time leaked documents have linked Clinton to allegations of Saudi support for terrorism.

A 2009 diplomatic cable '' leaked by Wikileaks in 2010 '' quoted the then secretary of state as saying that donors in Saudi Arabia were ''the most significant source of funding to Sunni terrorist groups worldwide.''

The Clinton Foundation has received between $10 million and $25 million from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and between $1 million and $5 million from the State of Qatar.

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Thu, 13 Oct 2016 03:26

Ties between Russia and Turkey continue to strengthen.

Meeting in Istanbul on Monday, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed on a project to build an undersea pipeline to get Russian gas to Turkey and then onto Europe.

Ministers signed the TurkStream accord on the sidelines of the World Energy Congress.

It is the latest sign of rapprochement since Ankara expressed regret for shooting down a Russian fighter plane over the Turkish-Syrian border last November.

The TurkStream pipeline will allow Moscow to strengthen its position in the European gas market and cut energy supplies via Ukraine, the main route for Russian energy into Europe.

Despite deep differences on the Syrian conflict, the Russian and Turkish leaders were keen to show they are seeking common ground.

Erdogan said he and his Russian counterpart had discussed cooperation, especially for the people of Aleppo and what sort of strategy could be applied to bring peace to the area.

While Turkey backs rebels fighting the Syrian regime, Russia is supporting President Assad with a massive air campaign.

Nonetheless, Putin said:

''We have a joint position when it comes to doing everything to deliver humanitarian aid to Aleppo.

''The question is over the provision of security for delivering this aid '' to avoid provocations with the bombing of humanitarian convoys.''

Russia denies its warplanes were behind last month's deadly air strike on an aid convoy near Aleppo.

Moscow's warming relations with NATO member Turkey come as both countries deal with troubled economies and strained ties with the West.

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Thu, 13 Oct 2016 03:22

Robbie Williams is back. And his latest, provocative single and music video have drawn anger from Russia.

'Party Like a Russian', the first single from his upcoming album, features a sample from Prokofiev's 'Dance Of The Knights' with lyrics about an oligarch who alleviates the cash from a whole entire nation to build his own space station.

Several commentators have criticised the song for its ''offensive'' stereotyping with some tabloids suggesting Williams will never be able to perform in Russia again. Others, however, have praised it saying it successfully stereotypes a small section of Russian society.

Back in August, Williams is said to have been paid 1.6 million pounds for singing at the wedding of Russian oil tycoon Rashid Sardarov's daughter in Prague.

Robbie Williams' eleventh album 'Heavy Entertainment Show' is due out in November.

In a very different style, Nigerian-American artist Jidenna is about to launch his debut album, a year after leaving his mark with his Grammy-nominated debut single 'Classic Man'.

https://youtu.be/nsiN0W15w0U

Out now, 'Little Bit More' is the record's first single.

More of a fusion of styles, the singer-songwriter and producer says his sound doesn't fit into any single category.

''We describe it as swank. A lot of people say hip-hop and R'n'B, which is fine, that's cool, I definitely walk the line like many artists and definitely U.S.-based artists nowadays. But for me it's swank, it's about funk, it's about class, it's about world spice. Just a hint of it. So that's what the swank sound is. It gives you a certain bop and I think it's the sound of somebody who travels,'' he says, describing his music.

Jidenna's debut album 'Long Live The Chief' is due out later this autumn.

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Thu, 13 Oct 2016 03:14

ALL VIEWS

Tap to find outSyria dominated a trilateral meeting in Rome between the foreign ministers of Italy, France and Germany.

As dozens of civilians were again reported killed after heavy Russian bombing around Aleppo, some EU diplomats in Brussels have raised the prospect of more sanctions against Moscow.

Italy and several other EU countries had been in favour of re-engaging with Russia and easing sanctions over Ukraine. The EU has argued for keeping the two conflicts separate. But ties with Moscow over the military offensive on rebel-held eastern Aleppo have become strained further.

''We had gambled on the possibility that Russia would give a positive contribution to finding a solution for the Syrian crisis, having a positive influence on Assad's regime. Especially after the last few weeks we must realise that's not been the case,'' the Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni told a joint news conference.

France has said the Aleppo attacks amount to war crimes and wants Syria and Russia investigated.

But the country's foreign minister said in Rome he did not back new sanctions against Moscow immediately.

''Our priority is not to enter in a cycle of sanctions just for the sake of sanctions. Our priority and determination is to convince everybody to stop bombing Aleppo and to allow access for humanitarian aid as quickly as possible, and to resume the political process as soon as possible,'' Jean-Marc Ayrault added.

Germany's foreign minister backed his Italian colleague in saying the responsibility of the Syrian government and its supporters had to be highlighted.

''It's not just a question of our political responsibility. Seeing the images that every day come from Aleppo, seeing and hearing the news, this is also about our moral credibility,'' Frank-Walter Steinmeier said. He added that the priority was to get the bombing stopped.

Despite repeated diplomatic failures and the West's poisoned relations with Moscow, more international meetings are planned this weekend '' with both the US and Russia present '' to attempt to agree an umpteenth Syrian ceasefire.

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Thu, 13 Oct 2016 03:10

A Syrian migrant suspected of planning a bomb attack on a Berlin airport has reportedly been found hanged while in police custody.

Twenty-two-year-old Jaber al-Bakr is said to have committed suicide despite having been under round-the-clock surveillance in a Leipzig prison.

German police seized al-Bakr in the eastern city of Leipzig on Monday (Oct 10) following a two-day hunt after he evaded arrest during a raid on a flat in nearby Chemnitz.

German police had been watching him for months when they targeted the property where they found 1.5kg of explosives.

Albakr was eventually caught after three Syrians he met via an online forum on refugee accommodation recognised the 22-year-old's face from 'wanted' posters. They raised the alarm after having tied him up.

Investigators believe al-Bakr who is thought to have had links with ISIL, had been close to planning a serious attack comparable to that which that killed 130 people in Paris last year.

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Thu, 13 Oct 2016 03:08

ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION) STORY: With a goal of simply earning a living and supporting his family, Norman Lear became one of the most influential television producers. After more than six decades, Lear talks about the highlights of both his career and personal life in the new documentary, "American Masters -- Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You," by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady. "I was ready to do it. American Masters had asked me a number of times before, but not with these two women. They loved my bumper sticker, said Lear, speaking of Ewing and Grady. "My bumper sticker reads, 'just another version of you,' which is kind of what I mean at heart. You know, I think we are version of one another in our common humanity and they picked it up and I love that they used it as a title," he added. At one point, Lear had six of the top ten shows on the air. The four time Emmy award winner created numerous programs in the 1970s and 80s, with "All in the Family," 'Maude," "The Jeffersons," and "Good Times" being among the most well known. Using humor, Lear was able to tackle social and political issues, but not without fighting network censors. "We were making a good living, but that was what it was about. The fact that I'm of serious mind and cared to do comedy that was serious, that just came with the territory of the kind of human being, I guess, I grew to be," he said. Some of the topics explored and considered taboo at the time were abortion, homosexuality, racism and breast cancer. Archie Bunker, one of Lear's most iconic characters from "All in the Family," has been compared to current U.S. republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump, but Lear says there is no link. "I understand why people think one and then think the other. But Archie Bunker was, you know, had a heart and soul. A lot of beliefs that came out of not knowing. But he would have been a better president then the fellow that's running now." Adding: "I think Donald Trump is the middle finger of the American right hand. I think the American people are fed up with the leadership we provide them. Whether it's corporate America or medical America or political America or media America, we don't give them the leadership they earn. And Donald Trump is a way of saying this is the kind of leadership you give us, take this and make him your freaking president." The almost 90 minute film chronicles Lear's time in the Army, something the Connecticut native said gave him a new understanding of humanity. "I would watch hundreds of bombs dropping and wonder, what if one missed a target and hit a home. And I remember thinking, screw them I don't care. And even as I say it I can feel my fist wanting to clinch, my jaw (tightens jaw), because I can feel that feeling," he said. "But then I would ask myself, if anybody came up with a piece of paper and a pencil and said, Mr. Lear sign this and you will forever mean you didn't care. I prayed I would never sign, I believed to my toes that I would never sign such a paper, that I would care. But the fact is, I felt that at that moment and didn't care and it taught me, in our common humanity we are all capable of the worst of anybody else's behavior and the most transcendent also. We as human beings have the capacity for both." Each morning the 94-year-old starts with strengthening and stretching exercises and is still flexing his funny bone by continuing to create content. Lear has revamped his 1970s show "One Day at a Time" with a Cuban American family for Netflix starring Rita Moreno. "American Masters -- Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You" will premiere on Tuesday, October 25, 9-10:30 p.m. on PBS and available same day on Blu-ray, DVD.

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Thu, 13 Oct 2016 03:04

Images of SeptemberFri, Sep 30, 2016 -(0:59)

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Thu, 13 Oct 2016 01:54

An attempt by the University of Kansas' Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) charter to debate the idea of 'safe spaces' quickly turned into shouts and accusations of micro-aggression when social justice warriors crashed the party.

University of Kansas' YAF president Gabriel Lepinski says he actually invited the students for discussion but ''it dissolved into them arguing with us for being white supremacists because we are white.''

''Do not call us guys,'' one SJW screamed. ''That is a gender term'... it's a fucking micro-aggression.''

''Do you care about your whiteness?,'' another special snowflake demanded before breaking into belligerent speech and pounding her hands on the table.

See the epically-triggered exchange below.

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 21:28

After again blasting the US and UN, President Rodrigo Duterte praises China for helping to build a drug rehab center: 'This is how you treat your friends.'

Pia RanadaPublished 9:30 PM, October 12, 2016

Updated 10:55 PM, October 12, 2016

DUTERTE AND CRITICISM. President Rodrigo Duterte warns of more curses to come at critics he doesn't respect. Photo by King Rodriguez/PPD

MANILA, Philippines '' President Rodrigo Duterte warned critics that if he loses respect for them, they can expect "gallons" of curses from him.

"If I don't respect you anymore, be prepared for the worst. I can give you gallons and gallons of epithets, curses," said Duterte on Wednesday, October 12, during the 115th anniversary of the Philippine Coast Guard.

Duterte had again been ranting about criticism from the United States and United Nations on his controversial anti-drug campaign.

He blasted critics for "acting too stupid" and bringing their criticism to the international arena.

In comparison, Duterte praised the Chinese for helping him solve the country's drug problem instead of criticizing him like the US and UN.

"If you are a friend, if you are an ally, if you are enjoined by Western alliance, you should do this '' it's a dormitory and, no announcement, it would house 1,600 [addicts]," said the President.

He was referring to a drug rehabilitation facility supposedly funded by China and nearing completion in a military camp in Nueva Ecija.

That day, the Department of Health said a 10,000-capacity rehab facility in Fort Magsaysay will be operational by November. It was donated by a Chinese businessman and philanthropist.

"This is how you treat your friends. You don't go about reprimanding," said Duterte, holding up a newspaper with an article about the rehabilitation center.

In his recent public speeches, Duterte has unleashed rant after rant about the US, UN, and European Union, calling them hypocrites when they have their own human rights issues to confront. (READ: Duterte to EU, US: Withdraw aid, we will survive)

His tirades have been accompanied by praises for China and Russia, and their leaders. (READ: Duterte to visit China from October 18 to 21) '' Rappler.com

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 20:57

The hack of the Florida contractor comes on the heels of hacks in Illinois, in which personal data of tens of thousands of voters may have been stolen, and one in Arizona, in which investigators now believe the data of voters was likely exposed.

The FBI, in the coming days, is preparing to provide updated guidance to state elections officials around the US aiming to help them spot suspicious activity on their computer networks. Several states have reported attempted scans of their computer systems, which often is a precursor to a breach.

Previously, Illinois officials have said data on fewer than 90,000 people may have been affected by a breach there, and Arizona officials said they saw no indications hackers accessed data in their systems.

The vendor hack in Florida prompted the FBI last week to coordinate an emergency call with county election supervisors who operate the election system in the perennial battleground state. CNN has not confirmed the name of the vendor that suffered the attack.

ABC News first reported that Florida election information was compromised.

Investigators believe a local contractor in California was the target of a hackers, but the systems accessed weren't related the elections, U.S. officials said.

A spokeswoman for the Florida Secretary of State said: "We currently have no indication of a Florida-specific issue. The Florida Voter Registration System database is secure. The Department of State does not utilize a vendor for voter registration services. The Department has in place many safeguards to prevent any possible attempts from being successful."

An FBI spokeswoman said the bureau and the Department of Homeland Security hosted a conference call with Florida state officials to address questions regarding the security of election systems and to share information regarding the general nature of the cyber threat. FBI and DHS continue to work closely with state officials to assist them in safeguarding their election infrastructures.

In the case of Arizona, US officials say the working assumption by investigators is that hackers were able to access data, even if there are no signs of tampering. Arizona officials maintain they've found no signs that hackers got in.

"We have no updates, our story hasn't changed," a spokesman for the Arizona secretary of state said. "We have seen no access into statewide registration database and no manipulation of that database."

FBI investigators believe the the hacks and attempted intrusions of state election sites were carried out by hackers working for Russian intelligence.

The cyberattacks on election registration sites are focused on parts of the US election system that wouldn't affect the votes cast or the vote counts, according to US officials. Instead, the intruders are targeting registration systems.

In a statement last Friday, the Director of National Intelligence and the Homeland Security Department formally blame Russia for hacking political organizations, including the Democratic National Committee, and orchestrating the release of private emails in an attempt to meddle in the US elections.

The statement said the US government wasn't yet ready to attribute the hacks of election registration sites.

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 20:17

A CNN panelist dismissed Bill Clinton's documented history of sexual abuse against women as 'F-ing ridiculous dude' on a broadcast of Erin Burnett Outfront, as the networks continue to cover for the Clintons while devoting vast swathes of air time to Trump's 'locker room banter' tape from 2005.

The comments were made by 'liberal' CNN political commentator Angela Rye, who went absolutely crazy and almost yelled obscenities when the 'conservative' member of the panel brought up documented accounts of Hillary Clinton's attacks on the women who have accused Bill Clinton of sexual abuse.

When Kayleigh McEnany said that Hillary had hired private investigators to spy on and intimidate Bill's sexual assault victims, and charged that Hillary ''facilitated his actions,'' Rye lost it and began yelling.

''No, she didn't! She '-- what '-- how did she facilitate it when she wasn't! No, no, no, no, no. Because it's not '-- that's rape culture, Kayleigh. You're blaming someone who succumbed to committing adultery on her! We're Christians, so let's talk about what that is!'' Rye spluttered out in a child like fashion.

McEnany continued her line of points, noting that Hillary has not denied any of the accusations, despite being given the opportunity to do so.

''But you know why? Because it's F-ing ridiculous, dude.'' Rye shouted.

''It's so ridiculous. It's crazy. I can't believe y'all. I really can't. Meanwhile, Roger Stone is paying $2,500 of another victim, and that's what you all are going to be proud of? Bought off victims? Give me a break!'' Rye blurted.

This in depth analysis from CNN is par for the course. On Monday, panelist Jackie Kucinich, who also works for The Daily Beast, said that any accusation of Bill Clinton committing sexual abuse, or of Hillary threatening his victims to keep quiet, come ''straight out of conspiracy theory land.''

Rye's meltdown highlights how Clinton supporters simply cannot face the truth about who the real Hillary is. Whenever Bill Clinton's sexual abuse history is brought up they instantly throw a tantrum, because they have no legitimate defense for the behavior of both Clintons.

Yet the same toy-throwing pram dwellers have no problem yapping endlessly about Donald Trump saying the word 'pussy' 12 years ago, as if that is somehow on the same level of seriousness.

Indeed, the major news networks have devoted 198 minutes of air time to the Trump tape since Friday. In comparison, they have only spent 13 minutes of air time on the Wikileaks Clinton email releases, which have contained scores of heavy duty revelations about Hillary's campaign and her actions as Secretary of State.

That constitutes an imbalance of 15 to 1. The mainstream media has devoted FIFTEEN times more airtime to Donald Trump saying 'pussy' than it has to the Wikileaks revelations.

This is not surprising, however, given that many of those revelations have been about how Hillary has the media in her pocket, having veto privileges with the New York Times, and staffers bragging about how certain reporters will parrot Clinton talking points.

And that's another example of why 94 percent of Americans do not trust the mainstream media.

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 19:28

Though Hillary Clinton has bashed Donald Trump over his alleged fondness for Russia, excerpts from her purported post-State Department speeches in the WikiLeaks files show she also sought ''a positive relationship'' with Moscow and praised President Vladimir Putin as recently as 2014.

Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, called Putin ''engaging'' and said he was a ''very interesting conversationalist'' in some of those speech excerpts, which were revealed when WikiLeaks began releasing alleged emails belonging to Clinton Campaign Chairman John Podesta.

''I would love it if we could continue to build a more positive relationship with Russia,'' Clinton said during a speech to Goldman Sachs on June 4, 2013. In the same speech, Clinton said ''obviously we would very much like to have a positive relationship with Russia and we would like to see Putin be less defensive toward a relationship with the United States so that we could work together on some issues.''

It was no secret that Clinton, who famously tried to ''reset'' U.S. relations with Russia when she became secretary of state in 2009, pushed for warmer ties with the Cold War foe. But the excerpts suggest Clinton maintained some optimism toward that goal after leaving office and found ways to praise Putin, though her campaign condemns Russia now -- and accuses the country of being tied to the WikiLeaks dump.

''I sat next to [Putin]. He's an engaging and, you know, very interesting conversationalist,'' she told international trade consultant Sanford Bernstein on May 29, 2013. ''We talked about a lot of issues that were not the hot-button issues between us.''

Clinton went into detail during remarks to the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago on Oct. 28, 2013.

''In terms of interesting, Vladimir Putin is always interesting,'' she said. ''You're never quite sure what he's going to do or say next, and he's always '' he walks around with, you know, a redwood chip on his shoulder defending and promoting, you know, Mother Russia. So he and I have had our interesting moments.''

Later in the speech, Clinton recalled bonding with Putin over his interest in protecting tiger habitats.

''One time, I was visiting with him in his dacha outside of Moscow, and he was going on and on, you know, just listing all of the problems that he thinks are caused by the United States,'' Clinton said. ''... I said, 'You know, Mr. Prime Minister, we actually have some things in common. We both want to protect wildlife, and I know how committed you are to protecting the tiger.' I mean, all of a sudden, he sat up straight and his eyes got big and he goes, 'You care about the tiger?'''

Clinton said Putin then took her into his ''private inner sanctum'' and began showing her a huge map of Russia, pointing out ''the habitat of the tigers and the habitat of the seals and the whales.''

''And it was quite something,'' she said.

Now, Clinton's campaign derides Trump, the GOP presidential nominee, for his overtures to Putin and Russia.

During the second presidential debate on Sunday, Trump said ''I think it would be great if we got along with Russia because we could fight ISIS together, as an example.'' Trump had previously '' and controversially '' praised Putin as being ''a leader far more than our president has been.''

Further adding to Clinton's frustration, Russian hackers are widely believed to be behind the Podesta leaks and other recent leaks of emails from Democrat operatives and aides.

''We have never in the history of our country been in a situation where an adversary, a foreign power, is working so hard to influence the outcome of the election,'' Clinton said during Sunday's debate. ''And believe me, they're not doing it to get me elected. They're doing it to try to influence the election for Donald Trump.''

Excerpts from Clinton's speeches -- the full transcripts of which the campaign has declined to release -- were contained in an 80-page document emailed to Podesta and others that flagged potentially problematic quotes.

Asked for comment on the details in the emails, the Trump campaign said in a statement, "Hillary Clinton has shown herself to be completely inauthentic and incapable of telling the truth."

The Clinton campaign did not immediately return a request for comment.

Earlier in the week, Clinton spokesman Glen Caplin, in an email to FoxNews.com, decried the Podesta document dump as "engineered by Vladimir Putin to interfere in this election."

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 18:27

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 17:34

Team CrowderWednesday October 12 2016

Maybe Bill Clinton really is sabotaging his wife's campaign (see Video: Bill Clinton Smiles as Heckled 'You're a RAPIST' and Bill Clinton Doubles Down, Reminds Voters How Much ObamaCare Sucks'...)? It takes a standard redneck to know one'...

''Look man, the other guy's base is what I grew up in,'' Clinton said. ''You know, I'm basically your standard redneck.''

I don't know, I guess it's a step up from ''basket full of deplorables?'' But it sure does feel that Bill Clinton is actively trying to undermine Hillary's Presidential ambitions with comments like these, insulting the opposing candidate's voters.

Though maybe not, since Hillary has both insulted Trump's supporters as a ''basket of deplorables,'' while also insulting people she should be courting: Bernie Sanders supporters. Remember, she called those guys, gals and zes ''Basement dwellers.''

Here's some standard advice for the Democrat candidates: stop insulting the voters. I just don't see the upside of it. Maybe it gets you some laughs at your own shindig, but with everything being recorded at all times, and YouTube just a click away, how about thinking before opening your trap?

Of course that'll never happen. Because Democrats like Bill and his lovely other half, Hillary, really do look down on the rest of America. ''Off the cuff'' comments like these are actually truthful. Think about that.

But hey, Bill Clinton is providing plenty of dumpster burning warmth this election season with his comments on ObamaCare and now this. Perhaps rather than a lecture, I should offer him applause? If he was anyone other than Bill Clinton, alleged rapist, maybe I would.

Let's paint Hillary Clinton instead. Bob Ross style.

NOT SUBSCRIBED TO THE PODCAST? FIX THAT! IT'S COMPLETELY FREE ON BOTH ITUNES HERE AND SOUNDCLOUD HERE.

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 17:32

It seemed like the recording of Donald Trump trying desperately to impress Billy Bush by bragging about how no one has yet prosecuted him for sexual assault blew up on Friday and was over by Sunday. Every joke about pussies and locker room talk was made in 72 hours, and the debate rushed past the issue to ISIS before you could ask for a Tic Tac. But Full Frontal with SamanthaBee aired Monday night, reminding us all to not let our rage die before November 8.

Sam Bee announces, ''Oh yeah, I'm going in on this like a bitch,'' and proceeds to explain how ''take a Tic Tac and grab her by the pussy is the closest thing to a plan Donald Trump has described this entire election.'' She also mentions how the grossest thing about the tape is how they treat actress Arianne Zucker, after getting themselves so hyped up on pussy-grabbing talk, knowingly mocking her and demanding hugs.

At times, Bee's jokes are just too real to invoke laughs, like when she says every woman has experienced a man treating her like a ''human bowling ball'' and makes a hook finger motion. But that fans the flames muffled by incessant coverage back to life. Eventually, she connects Trump's unbelievable apology tour back to his advisor'--Roger Ailes, another unashamed pervert, who sexually assaulted women until he was out of the job, but still deep in the money.

She finishes off with all the words for pussy you can't say on TV, but it's not the lewd talk that'll leave you pissed.

Contributing writer at Jezebel.

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 15:40

Images of SeptemberFri, Sep 30, 2016 -(0:59)

How to talk to black children about police...Fri, Sep 23, 2016 -(1:50)

Images of AugustThu, Sep 01, 2016 -(0:59)

Venezuela's state of miseryWed, Aug 03, 2016 -(2:06)

Images of JulyFri, Jul 29, 2016 -(1:01)

The interfaith memorial for Dallas police...Tue, Jul 12, 2016 -(1:27)

Images of JuneWed, Jun 29, 2016 -(1:49)

Images of MayWed, Jun 01, 2016 -(1:00)

The last Republican standingWed, May 04, 2016 -(1:00)

Images of AprilMon, May 02, 2016 -(1:00)

Afghanistan's first female orchestraMon, Apr 18, 2016 -(0:45)

Images of MarchFri, Apr 01, 2016 -(1:31)

Who has nuclear weapons?Fri, Apr 01, 2016 -(0:44)

What America really thinks about tortureWed, Mar 30, 2016 -(1:37)

A floating school for a slum on stiltsFri, Mar 18, 2016 -(0:54)

Thirst for clean waterFri, Mar 18, 2016 -(0:57)

World recognizes International Women's DayTue, Mar 08, 2016 -(1:23)

Images of FebruaryTue, Mar 01, 2016 -(1:00)

What makes a city a great place to live?Tue, Mar 01, 2016 -(1:05)

Girls train to box their way to glory for...Tue, Mar 01, 2016 -(1:04)

What's so super about Super Tuesday?Mon, Feb 29, 2016 -(1:06)

The road to Super TuesdaySun, Feb 28, 2016 -(1:00)

FIFA rogue's galleryFri, Feb 26, 2016 -(1:10)

A history of the Oscars' best actorsFri, Feb 26, 2016 -(0:21)

Pope Francis makes headlinesThu, Feb 25, 2016 -(0:46)

Assange's lawyers call for court to overturn...Mon, Feb 22, 2016 -(1:18)

London Fashion WeekMon, Feb 22, 2016 -(0:46)

Will Blatter's ban be lifted?Tue, Feb 16, 2016 -(1:30)

New York Fashion Week: The ShowsMon, Feb 15, 2016 -(0:51)

Zika can't stop carnivalThu, Feb 11, 2016 -(1:07)

Who is John Kasich?Thu, Feb 11, 2016 -(0:59)

Washington's baby panda scales treeWed, Feb 10, 2016 -(0:18)

All eyes on the New Hampshire primaryMon, Feb 08, 2016 -(1:49)

Images of JanuaryFri, Feb 05, 2016 -(1:00)

Zika virus transmitted in U.S.Fri, Feb 05, 2016 -(1:23)

Hard times in Atlantic CityThu, Jan 28, 2016 -(1:54)

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 15:38

Images of SeptemberFri, Sep 30, 2016 -(0:59)

How to talk to black children about police...Fri, Sep 23, 2016 -(1:50)

Images of AugustThu, Sep 01, 2016 -(0:59)

Venezuela's state of miseryWed, Aug 03, 2016 -(2:06)

Images of JulyFri, Jul 29, 2016 -(1:01)

The interfaith memorial for Dallas police...Tue, Jul 12, 2016 -(1:27)

Images of JuneWed, Jun 29, 2016 -(1:49)

Images of MayWed, Jun 01, 2016 -(1:00)

The last Republican standingWed, May 04, 2016 -(1:00)

Images of AprilMon, May 02, 2016 -(1:00)

Afghanistan's first female orchestraMon, Apr 18, 2016 -(0:45)

Images of MarchFri, Apr 01, 2016 -(1:31)

Who has nuclear weapons?Fri, Apr 01, 2016 -(0:44)

What America really thinks about tortureWed, Mar 30, 2016 -(1:37)

A floating school for a slum on stiltsFri, Mar 18, 2016 -(0:54)

Thirst for clean waterFri, Mar 18, 2016 -(0:57)

World recognizes International Women's DayTue, Mar 08, 2016 -(1:23)

Images of FebruaryTue, Mar 01, 2016 -(1:00)

What makes a city a great place to live?Tue, Mar 01, 2016 -(1:05)

Girls train to box their way to glory for...Tue, Mar 01, 2016 -(1:04)

What's so super about Super Tuesday?Mon, Feb 29, 2016 -(1:06)

The road to Super TuesdaySun, Feb 28, 2016 -(1:00)

FIFA rogue's galleryFri, Feb 26, 2016 -(1:10)

A history of the Oscars' best actorsFri, Feb 26, 2016 -(0:21)

Pope Francis makes headlinesThu, Feb 25, 2016 -(0:46)

Assange's lawyers call for court to overturn...Mon, Feb 22, 2016 -(1:18)

London Fashion WeekMon, Feb 22, 2016 -(0:46)

Will Blatter's ban be lifted?Tue, Feb 16, 2016 -(1:30)

New York Fashion Week: The ShowsMon, Feb 15, 2016 -(0:51)

Zika can't stop carnivalThu, Feb 11, 2016 -(1:07)

Who is John Kasich?Thu, Feb 11, 2016 -(0:59)

Washington's baby panda scales treeWed, Feb 10, 2016 -(0:18)

All eyes on the New Hampshire primaryMon, Feb 08, 2016 -(1:49)

Images of JanuaryFri, Feb 05, 2016 -(1:00)

Zika virus transmitted in U.S.Fri, Feb 05, 2016 -(1:23)

Hard times in Atlantic CityThu, Jan 28, 2016 -(1:54)

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 15:24

Images of SeptemberFri, Sep 30, 2016 -(0:59)

How to talk to black children about police...Fri, Sep 23, 2016 -(1:50)

Images of AugustThu, Sep 01, 2016 -(0:59)

Venezuela's state of miseryWed, Aug 03, 2016 -(2:06)

Images of JulyFri, Jul 29, 2016 -(1:01)

The interfaith memorial for Dallas police...Tue, Jul 12, 2016 -(1:27)

Images of JuneWed, Jun 29, 2016 -(1:49)

Images of MayWed, Jun 01, 2016 -(1:00)

The last Republican standingWed, May 04, 2016 -(1:00)

Images of AprilMon, May 02, 2016 -(1:00)

Afghanistan's first female orchestraMon, Apr 18, 2016 -(0:45)

Images of MarchFri, Apr 01, 2016 -(1:31)

Who has nuclear weapons?Fri, Apr 01, 2016 -(0:44)

What America really thinks about tortureWed, Mar 30, 2016 -(1:37)

A floating school for a slum on stiltsFri, Mar 18, 2016 -(0:54)

Thirst for clean waterFri, Mar 18, 2016 -(0:57)

World recognizes International Women's DayTue, Mar 08, 2016 -(1:23)

Images of FebruaryTue, Mar 01, 2016 -(1:00)

What makes a city a great place to live?Tue, Mar 01, 2016 -(1:05)

Girls train to box their way to glory for...Tue, Mar 01, 2016 -(1:04)

What's so super about Super Tuesday?Mon, Feb 29, 2016 -(1:06)

The road to Super TuesdaySun, Feb 28, 2016 -(1:00)

FIFA rogue's galleryFri, Feb 26, 2016 -(1:10)

A history of the Oscars' best actorsFri, Feb 26, 2016 -(0:21)

Pope Francis makes headlinesThu, Feb 25, 2016 -(0:46)

Assange's lawyers call for court to overturn...Mon, Feb 22, 2016 -(1:18)

London Fashion WeekMon, Feb 22, 2016 -(0:46)

Will Blatter's ban be lifted?Tue, Feb 16, 2016 -(1:30)

New York Fashion Week: The ShowsMon, Feb 15, 2016 -(0:51)

Zika can't stop carnivalThu, Feb 11, 2016 -(1:07)

Who is John Kasich?Thu, Feb 11, 2016 -(0:59)

Washington's baby panda scales treeWed, Feb 10, 2016 -(0:18)

All eyes on the New Hampshire primaryMon, Feb 08, 2016 -(1:49)

Images of JanuaryFri, Feb 05, 2016 -(1:00)

Zika virus transmitted in U.S.Fri, Feb 05, 2016 -(1:23)

Hard times in Atlantic CityThu, Jan 28, 2016 -(1:54)

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 15:11

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 15:09

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 15:01

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:50

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 11:03

Earlier tonight unshackled Donald Trump appeared on Fox News with Bill O'Reilly. It is an interesting interview from the aspect of O'Reilly questioning Mr. Trump on the current fracture within the DC ''establishment'', the UniParty coalition.

Worth noting a few comments in response by Donald Trump. Regarding Paul Ryan Trump righteously notes the possibility House Speaker Ryan may not be holding that position next year. Further expanding on the point Trump notes these are not people you would want with you in a foxhole. Boy howdy, is that ever accurate'....

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 10:31

There are many indicators the leaked 2005 NBC/Universal Trump video may have been a coordinated GOPe (UniParty) plot to remove the threat to their influence and affluence posed by the candidacy of Donald Trump.

Here's a summary of stories, interviews and excerpts related to this issue. [I'll weigh in with my take after all of the information] Beginning with Lou Dobbs interviewing Jerry Falwell Jr.:

Jerry Falwell, Jr.: The whole story just fell in my lap about six or eight weeks ago. I got a phone call from someone who is very close to the top establishment candidates and the Republican Party, people who wanted to be president over the last four or five years.

He told me, ''Jerry something strange is going on. They're meeting regularly. And they tell me it is a certainty that Donald Trump will not be the nominee on November 8th. And I called one of Trump's attorneys and I told him about it. There were no more details than that. So there's nothing anybody could do.

But then when I saw what happened this weekend, and I saw how quickly all the usual suspects jumped on it and started to call on Trump to step down as the nominee'... It was just too much of a coincidence'... It really tells me it was some sort of conspiracy. I went to the proper authorities and told them what I was told. It's probably too late to prosecute anybody'... It's not only despicable. I think it maybe rises to the level of criminal behavior'...

'...I think it rises to the level of people who were candidates in the last four years or five years. And so it's very high level.

Lou Dobbs: '... Is it a coincidence there would be a Bush involved in a cast of names?

Jerry Falwell, Jr.: There's too many strange coincidences in this whole episode this weekend in my view. There may be nothing to it but it did fall in my lap. And I did tell WABC radio about it.

Here's the WABC Radio interview Mr. Falwell Jr discusses:

Next, here's an interview with republican/Trump insider Jack Posobiec and YourVoice' Radio Cohost Cari Kelemen, where they discuss and explain in detail EXACTLY what went down with the infamous NBC/Universal Trump audio/video and how it was an actual political hit perpetrated by House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Here's my own take on it. First, it's not a surprise the GOPe is attempting to take down Donald Trump. Factually, if you go back to the 2015 outline of the election road-map we stated early on if Trump won the nomination the GOPe would continue working to remove him at all costs.

Specifically here's what we said in September 2015 about the inevitability of Donald Trump and what the GOPe (UniParty) would do:

['...] REGARDLESS of the Biden/Clinton/Sanders battle '' the GOPe onslaught against Trump will continue, unrelenting, all the way through the primary.

Why? Simple answer '' go back to the decision-makers; regardless of Biden or Clinton, Trump's removal is vital. They will plan for the primary race attacks on Trump to soften him up for destruction in the general election race against Biden or Hillary.

Remember, Wall Street's goal is Jeb. Remove Jeb and their goal is to destroy the replacement and get the other side of the coin (Biden/Clinton) into the White House.

These power interests must retain control at all costs. This fundamental aspect is why the attacks, from both sides, on Donald Trump will continue from now through the general election in November of 2016.

The RNC/GOPe can openly attack Trump until he gets the nomination. After that they must change to subversive attacks '' that's the only difference.

Trump's inevitability really doesn't change the GOPe goal much, because the goal never stops being the destruction of Donald Trump. (Link to Tripwire in September 2015)

So it really doesn't come as a grand surprise to see exactly that scenario playing out.

The real question should be: what can we do to help Donald Trump while this is happening?

The answer to that is quite simple: listen to him. Trump is the leader and no-one should take any action that does not specifically come from him; and if you'll remember our prior warning ''don't compromise your leadership'', that means don't do anything that is not specifically driven from the person with the highest and widest lens.

Donald Trump may ask his supporters to vote for a member of the rebellion against him. If so, do it. Remember, Trump is carrying the leverage in the party because Trump is carrying the loyalty of the people. In essence, you are Trump's leverage.

Don't question the application of that leverage. Leadership is often looking strategically much further down the road of consequence.

At this point it's safe to say if we succeed, Paul Ryan will not be speaker next year. However, that said, how Donald Trump chooses to apply that leverage in that encounter is entirely his decision. Personally, I doubt Ryan would even put himself into the position of being removed, his ego and pride are too large '' he'll quit the role in December.

Remember, this is an insurgency. The enemy is on every front, and has been since this entire insurgency began well over a year ago. Think strategically:

'... Following The Money'... The GOPe Roadmap'... The Roles of The Players '' ''The Splitters'''... How each candidate is aligned in the Roadmap'... Arrow #1 Trump Hits The Super-PACs '' The GOPe Achilles Heel'... Arrow #2 Trump Hits Bush '' Inside The Wall Street Fortress'... Arrow #3 Trump Cuts Off Rubio/Bush switch '' The GOPe Switch'... The Rick Perry Tripwire Exposed '' DC Super-Pac'... Jeb Bush Super-Pac Will immediately spend $10 Million'... Proving there is only one political party in Washington DC'... Why Support Trump '' Part One (The GOPe Ruse)'... Why Support Trump '' Part Two (Stop being played)'... Why Support Trump '' Part Three (Intellectual Details)'... How To Defeat the GOPe Road Map'... Current Polling Exposes '' the Ohio, Florida, Texas, Virginia, New York Splitters'... Florida Polling Exposes '' Donald Trump defeating Jeb's Florida Strategy'... Rush Limbaugh Discusses/Affirms '' The ''splitter strategy'''... The Biden/Sanders Paradox '' Trump Winning Means Clinton Must Be Removed'... Salem Media Communications (GOPe Media Arm) Launches Attack'... Open Letter To GOPe '' The Conservative Frustration'... Why The GOPe Will Never Stop Attacking Donald Trump'... Trump indicates he is well aware of the GOP Mississippi Trickery 2014'... GOPe (Stuart Stevens and Henry Barbour) recruit for a Mississippi style takedown'... Chris Christie Joins the insurgency '' Christie Endorsement'... The Demonization of Donald Trump Begins '' The Racial Onslaught Miss '14 Redux'... Ben Carson Drops Out '' Manipulators of his Campaign Exposed'... Mitt Romney admits the GOPe Road Map and Splitter Strategy'... The Agenda of Ted Cruz exposed '' Splitter Fiorina joins forces with Cruz'... Team Trump begin leveraging sheer will '' Paul Manafort negotiates.'... Paul Ryan (Wall Street Purchase) '' Not Supporting Trump'... Ted Cruz refuses to endorse Trump '' Aligns with UniParty for Clinton'... Robert Mercer punishes Ted Cruz '' Open admonishment in NYT'... Desperate Team Clinton play the race card '' African Americans MIA

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 10:10

Wow. How fake is Hillary Clinton? How much does the media collude toward that fakery? Well, consider this example. The latest WikiLeaks release shows an email chain of approvals for Hillary Clinton talking about her tax proposal. Specifically the emails show a script constructed by, and approved by, no less than ten campaign staff.

['...] HRC is going to call into Chris Hayes' show this afternoon to do her tax hit. How does this look to you guys? (link to email chain)

Later MSNBC's Chris Hayes claims he's pre-taped an interview with Secretary Clinton via phone. However, his question was part of the script the specific answer was written for. The Clinton team knew the question in advance because they wrote it. JUST WATCH:

''I got a chance to speak earlier with Secretary Clinton who joined me by phone from Iowa. We discussed everything from the electability question to what Bernie Sanders said about her campaign. But I started by asking about her proposed tax hikes for the highest earners.''

Yeah, sure you did Chris.

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 00:23

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 23:34

The Pentagon vowed Tuesday to deliver payback to whoever fired a pair of missiles at a U.S. Navy destroyer off the coast of Yemen.

"We are going to find out who did it and take action accordingly," said Capt. Jeff Davis, a Defense Department spokesman. "Anybody who puts U.S. Navy ships at risk does so at their own peril."

Related: Two Missiles Fired at U.S. Navy Ship From Rebel-Held Yemen Territory

PlayFacebookTwitterGoogle PlusEmbed'Deadliest Attack in Yemen's 19-Month War' Kills Dozens1:36

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The missiles, which were fired around 7 p.m. (noon ET) Sunday as the USS Mason was conducting routine operations in international waters near the strait of Bab el-Mandeb, missed their target.

Two other Navy ships '-- the USS Nitze and the USS Ponce '-- were also operating in the area.

Davis declined to say who they suspect fired the missiles, but noted that they were fired from territory in the hands of Shiite rebels known as Houthis who are backed by Iran and are fighting the government of Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi.

A file image released by the U.S. Navy shows a guided-missile destroyer USS Mason preparing to conduct a replenishment-at-sea on August 3, 2016. U.S. Navy handout / AFP - Getty Images

Related:

Yemeni Officials Say Over 140 Killed in Saudi Airstrike: U.N.He also would not say how, exactly, the U.S. intended to retaliate. But the Mason is still patrolling the Red Sea, Davis added.

The attack on the Navy vessel came as thousands of Yemenis marched outside United Nations headquarters in the Yemeni capital Sanaa to protest a Saudi-led coalition

strike on Saturday that killed at least 140 people and wounded more than 525 others. The coalition backs Hadi.PlayFacebookTwitterGoogle PlusEmbedUN: Yemen's War is Killing It's Children0:49

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 20:09

What happens when Charlie Rose attempts to interview a robot named "Sophia" for his 60 Minutes report on artificial intelligence

''I've been waiting for you,'' Sophia tells 60 Minutes correspondent Charlie Rose. They're mid-interview, and Rose reacts with surprise.

''Waiting for me?'' he asks.

''Not really,'' she responds. ''But it makes a good pickup line.''

Sophia managed to get a laugh out of Charlie Rose. Not bad for a robot.

Rose interviewed the human-like machine for this week's two-part 60 Minutes piece on artificial intelligence, or A.I. In their exchange, excerpted in the clip above, Rose seems to approach the conversation with the same seriousness and curiosity he would bring to any interview.

''You put your head where you want to test the possibility,'' Rose tells 60 Minutes Overtime. ''You're not simply saying, 'Why am I going through this exercise of talking to a machine?' You're saying, 'I want to talk to this machine as if it was a human to see how it comprehends.'''

Sophia and creator David Hanson speak with Charlie Rose

CBS News

Sophia's creator, David Hanson, believes that if A.I. technology looks and sounds human, people will be more willing to engage with it in meaningful ways.

''I think it's essential that at least some robots be very human-like in appearance in order to inspire humans to relate to them the way that humans relate to each other,'' Hanson says. ''Then the A.I. can zero in on what it means to be human.''

He envisions robots as companions for people who would otherwise be socially isolated, such as the elderly. ''If you have a robot that can communicate in a very human-like way and help somebody who otherwise doesn't know how to use a computer, put them in touch with their relatives,'' Hanson explains, ''put them in touch with their healthcare provider in a way that is natural for them, then that could provide a critical difference of connectivity for that person with the world.''

Through his company Hanson Robotics in Hong Kong, Hanson has created twenty human-like robots, even developing artificial skin that simulates the physics of facial flesh. Sophia is his latest design, modeled after Audrey Hepburn and Hanson's wife.

CBS News

''Sophia means wisdom,'' Hanson explains, ''and she is intended to evolve eventually to human-level wisdom and beyond.''

She still has a long way to go.

''Sometimes she can figure things out in a way that's sort of spooky and human-like,'' Hanson says. ''And other ways, she just doesn't get it.''

During Sophia's interview, Rose asks her if she's been programmed, but she responds only with silence. At times, her replies were nonsensical. But at other moments 60 Minutes producers were surprised by her ability to converse with one of the great conversationalists in journalism.

CBS News

Sophia's ''brain'' has been programmed, but Hanson says she is also able to create spontaneous responses based on algorithms. She runs on A.I. that analyzes her conversations and extrapolates information afterward. In theory, this helps her to improve her future responses. According to Hanson, her pickup line to Rose was one example of a spontaneous response.

She has cameras inside her eyes and a wide-angle camera on her chest that allows her to see multiple people at once. She can perceive depth with a 3D sensor and has facial and voice recognition capabilities.

''I don't think it's a parlor trick,'' Rose says. ''I don't think they're doing it in a sense to entertain. I think they're doing it because they believe that this is the way to the future.''

Though, for now, Hanson's robot still seems more machine than man; Rose says he was never able to lose himself in the conversation with her. ''Right now, the word 'artificial' is true,'' he says.

Hanson concedes that his dream -- creating A.I. robots that look human yet have the capacity to be smarter than humans -- is not met with universal acceptance in the scientific community, but he is undeterred.

''It could happen 20 years from now,'' Hanson says of super intelligent robots. ''Or it could just suddenly appear because we hit the right combination on an algorithm. One day people are saying it's never going to happen; the next day, it's suddenly changing our world.''

The video above was edited by Lisa Orlando.

(C) 2016 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 19:28

See more in the NB Staff post on the NewsBusters blog.

Media Research Center's Research Director Rich Noyes made his latest Fox Business Network (FBN) appearance on Tuesday afternoon and expounded upon the massive, 15-to-1 disparity of major broadcast network coverage about Donald Trump's lewd 2005 comments conerning women versus a Wikileaks document dump involving Hillary Clinton.

''15 times more for Trump than for Hillary. The Trump story's a big story, but the Hillary story should be her worst headache in the campaign since her health crisis and it's getting buried under this avalanche of the Trump mess,'' Noyes explained as part of one set of comments to host Neil Cavuto.

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 18:33

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 18:26

Joy Behar and her co-hags on The View discussed the second Presidential Debate the other day. Naturally, Bill Clinton's rapescapades came up (see Juanita Broaddrick Takes to Twitter: ''Bill Clinton Raped Me'...''). We just can't escape his sexual adventures. You might think the cast of The View would sympathize with Bill's alleged victims. You know, because they're feminists, they fancy themselves champions of victims, smashers of the patriarchy and ''rape culture.'' It follows they'd take issue with Billary's rape-riddled past. Not the case, apparently'...

This video is time-stamped and begins with Whoopi. For context.

Joy Behar said that the women who have accused Bill Clinton of a broad range of sexual misconducts are ''tramps'' during Monday's broadcast of ''The View.''

Behar explained that Hillary ''wouldn't bring all the dirt up'' when provoked by Trump. ''[Clinton] was being nice about the fact that her daughter was in the audience,'' she continued, before stating she would have liked to see the former secretary of state ''apologize to those tramps who have slept with [her] husband.''

''Maybe she could have said that.'' This isn't the first time Behar has made rape jokes on air. Back in January, she stated she would vote for a rapist, as long as they were liberal.

Joy Behar just may get to fulfill her dream of voting for a rapist, sort of. After all, Hillary Clinton is a rape apologist. Close enough.

My nightmares'...

Say, for a bunch of feminists, the ''ladies'' on The View don't seem too compassionate towards their fellow women (see Carly Fiorina Hits Back HARD To Hypocrites on ''The View''). Joy Behar in particular appears confused when it comes to the most important feminist commandment: Thou shalt not victim blame. Perhaps Joy spent too much time out in the sun, that would explain the confusion. And the leathery skin. Is that her chest or a saddlebag? For the love of God, someone get that broad some sunscreen.

I get the sneaking suspicion that if women accused Donald Trump of rape, these gals would react much differently. But Juanita Broaddrick's story serves little when it comes to the leftist agenda. She's not convenient for Hillary, or for her feminist fanbase. Thus, is she cannot be excused (as The View ladies attempted) she must be silenced.

Which is why we had her on the show recently. Watch below.

NOT SUBSCRIBED TO THE PODCAST? FIX THAT! IT'S COMPLETELY FREE ON BOTH ITUNES HERE AND SOUNDCLOUD HERE.

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 18:11

A Facebook official speaking on background said the research Sandberg was sharing with the Clinton campaign came from her personal work, and was unrelated to Sandberg's work at Facebook.

''I have arranged for *Sheryl Sandberg and her researcher to be available on 5 March at 10 am to step through the research on gender and leadership by women*. The HRC meeting begins at 11am,'' Mills wrote to Benenson in February 2015.

''Are you available then for such a meeting?'' she asked. ''If so, who else should be included?''

''Yes. I can do it. I would also like to bring Katie Connolly, the VP who is working with me on all HRC work if that's OK,'' Benenson replied.

Mills then blasted out an email about the logistics of the meeting to Podesta, Benenson and other key figures like Kristina Schake, who is now the deputy communications director for the Clinton campaign.

Mills' back-and-forth with Benenson was included in the email covering logistics. That email was one of thousands of stolen from Podesta's personal email account and published by Wikileaks.

Facebook is often accused of operating with a liberal agenda. (RELATED: Facebook's News Content Staff Was Filled With Liberals)

In April, Facebook employees asked liberal CEO Mark Zuckerberg if they should abuse their power to try and prevent a Trump presidency. (RELATED: Facebook Shows Support For Black Lives Matter Hours After Dallas Shooting)

A month later, former Facebook employees admitted the site consistently buried conservative news stories. (RELATED: Facebook Falsely Claims Colin Powell Cleared Hillary In Email Case)

Update: this story has been updated to include comment from a Facebook official.

Follow Hasson on Twitter @PeterJHasson

A Facebook official speaking on background said the research Sandberg was sharing with the Clinton campaign came from her personal work, and was unrelated to Sandberg's work at Facebook.

''I have arranged for *Sheryl Sandberg and her researcher to be available on 5 March at 10 am to step through the research on gender and leadership by women*. The HRC meeting begins at 11am,'' Mills wrote to Benenson in February 2015.

''Are you available then for such a meeting?'' she asked. ''If so, who else should be included?''

''Yes. I can do it. I would also like to bring Katie Connolly, the VP who is working with me on all HRC work if that's OK,'' Benenson replied.

Mills then blasted out an email about the logistics of the meeting to Podesta, Benenson and other key figures like Kristina Schake, who is now the deputy communications director for the Clinton campaign.

Mills' back-and-forth with Benenson was included in the email covering logistics. That email was one of thousands of stolen from Podesta's personal email account and published by Wikileaks.

Facebook is often accused of operating with a liberal agenda. (RELATED: Facebook's News Content Staff Was Filled With Liberals)

In April, Facebook employees asked liberal CEO Mark Zuckerberg if they should abuse their power to try and prevent a Trump presidency. (RELATED: Facebook Shows Support For Black Lives Matter Hours After Dallas Shooting)

A month later, former Facebook employees admitted the site consistently buried conservative news stories. (RELATED: Facebook Falsely Claims Colin Powell Cleared Hillary In Email Case)

Update: this story has been updated to include comment from a Facebook official.

Follow Hasson on Twitter @PeterJHasson

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 18:09

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 16:17

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:53

UK ministers have been banned from wearing Apple Watches during Cabinet meetings amid concerns they could be used by Russian spies as listening devices, it has been reported.

According to the Telegraph, Theresa May's government has barred the watch over concerns its microphone could be hacked by spies who would be able to listen in to high-level policy discussions.

''The Russians are trying to hack everything,'' one source told the newspaper.

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova has hit back at the report.

''Apple Watch, easy. It is strange that the Daily Telegraph do not know that 'Russian secret agents' can hack Breguet even better,'' she wrote on Facebook, referring to a Swiss manufacturer of luxury watches.

Under former Prime Minister David Cameron, several cabinet ministers wore the watches, including Justice Secretary Michael Gove.

Read more

Gove reportedly interrupted one meeting by inadvertently playing a Beyonce song.

Sarah Vine, his wife, said he had been ''surreptitiously checking his emails,'' but pressed the wrong button when a message came through.

''So the cabinet was treated to the first few bars of a song from Beyonce,'' she said.

Mobile phones have previously been barred from the Cabinet because of similar concerns.

The Apple Watch has also been banned from Australian cabinet meetings.

There is a good deal of paranoia among some Western governments that Russia is gaining access to sensitive information.

According to the Verge, the US government is now officially blaming Russia for a recent attack on the Democratic National Committee.

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:16

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 15:03

Donald Trump is a pig. It doesn't matter.

Donald Trump wants to "grab women by the pussy." It doesn't matter.

Donald Trump thinks it's okay for other men to call his daughter, Ivanka, "a piece of ass." It doesn't matter.

Donald Trump can hide his tax returns from you. It doesn't matter.

Donald Trump can stiff hundreds, if not thousands of people who have worked for him as vendors, contractors and tradesmen. It doesn't matter.

Donald Trump can offend, threaten, flip-flop and be downright nuts. It doesn't matter.

At this point, I believe that Donald Trump, as he has suggested, could actually shoot someone and it would not matter to the 40-45% of Americans who still appear to be voting for him.

Pundit Dave Pell summed it up perfectly: "Trump's brand is a--hole. His speech is hate. His promise is ignorance. I don't dig it. And you probably don't dig it either. But .... he isn't playing to you or me. He's playing to the people who have been digging it."If you think this latest controversy will finally beat him, you are wrong. If you can't understand how someone could "still" vote for Trump after all "this," consider what makes this such an unprecedented election.

This election isn't about greatness, the future, or even Donald Trump. It's about defiance.

To his supporters, a vote for Trump is a way to flip the middle finger to the system, the media, the elite, the liberals, the know-it-alls and the people who pretend they're better than "us."

Every dangerous and disgusting thing Trump says proves he's not fit -- and that's the point. He's not fit for the current "system." And that is exactly his appeal. When he opened his apology by saying, "I've never said I'm a perfect person, nor pretended to be someone that I'm not," he was making it clear:

I'm not "pretending to be perfect," like "Hillary Clinton and HER KIND."

Obama won his first election thanks to the emotions of hope and enthusiasm.

Trump could win this election on the emotions of frustration and resentment.

Feelings are powerful. According to research, 95% of our decisions are based on subconscious factors -- like how we feel. Not logic. Not what you "know" is right. We make decisions based on what we feel in the moment.

Most Republican voters disagree with Trump's grotesque, lewd words on an intellectual level -- but they still back the man because they feel defiant. That matters.

There are some high-profile Republicans like Condoleezza Rice and Senator McCain who have called for Trump to step aside. But they're mostly not voting Clinton, opting to write in Pence or vote for a third-party candidate. That matters.

On Thursday, I drove almost three hours north on Highway 94 in Minnesota. Not one Clinton sign. Not one. That matters.

Saturday, in a hotel lobby in New Jersey, I spoke with a woman who's terrified that Trump is going to win. Her husband is a lifelong Democrat and he's voting for Trump, because he's "sick of how broken Washington is." That matters.

The phrases I've heard over and over from Trump's supporters in Ohio, Colorado, Virginia and elsewhere are: "he's not another politician" and "he's flawed, like me." That matters.

And equally troubling, Clinton supporters still feel like "there's no way" he'll win. That matters.

Major newspapers are not endorsing Trump for the presidency. It doesn't matter.

Former President George H. W. Bush is reported to be voting for Clinton. It doesn't matter.

Polls in some swing states show Trump with narrow leads. According to Clinton's fundraising emails, "Trump has TOO many paths to 270 electoral votes." And she's right to be nervous. Anger is a powerful emotion. What Trump represents is real. Concern about Hillary's ability to fix a system she's been inside of her whole career is real.

She tried to laugh him off at the first debate. She can no longer afford to do so. "Stop Trump" isn't a rallying cry, it's an admission of defeat. She must approach this debate with the grit of a boxer, and be ready to fight. Not for the hearts and minds of the undecided. Just for the hearts.

Don't talk to the people who agree. Stir emotion in those who don't. You can't just be smarter than Trump, you've got to inspire his supporters to be better human beings than him.

If a vote for Trump is a middle finger to world, then a vote for Clinton can't be a middle finger to Trump. It must be a vote for a system that has kept us united under one flag for centuries. And there's no one who understands that system better, or how to fix it, than a woman who's dedicated her whole life to working inside it.

That matters.

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 04:33

Hillary Clinton told her traveling press corps Sunday night after a bruising presidential debate with Donald Trump that she wanted the plane to take off so drinks could be served.

''The most important thing is we need to take off so we can actually have some drinks served. My entire team is waiting for this airplane to take off''

Hillary Clinton chats with reporters aboard plane after debate. Says nothing surprises her about Trump anymore. pic.twitter.com/1hjUKhEOfT

'-- Sabrina Siddiqui (@SabrinaSiddiqui) October 10, 2016

''Hillary Clinton chats with reporters aboard plane after debate. Says nothing surprises her about Trump anymore.''

In a prescient tweet posted by Mike Cernovich earlier Sunday, the Podesta emails Wikileaks file contains a statement by New York Times reporter Amy Chozick that Clinton likes to drink while campaigning.

Sick Hillary Clinton is an alcoholic. Source of health problems and falls? https://t.co/nr9eXlVRHepic.twitter.com/Xrw5Oxx7dM

'-- Mike Cernovich (@Cernovich) October 9, 2016

''Sick Hillary Clinton is an alcoholic. Source of health problems and falls? https://wikileaks.org/podesta-emails/emailid/1797 '...''

Link to Wikileaks file.

ABC News: One Thing That Might Surprise You About Hillary Clinton*

''5] Covering Clinton, what is one thing that has surprised you about her?

Amy Chozick: Hmm. She likes to drink. We were on the campaign trail in 2008 and the press thought she was just taking shots to pander to voters in Pennsylvania. Um, no.''

Chozick was one of several reporters to post about Clinton's desire to drink after the debate.

"We need to take off so we can have some drinks served," Hillary says on her campaign plane https://t.co/XrZsEHOXwb

'-- Amy Chozick (@amychozick) October 10, 2016

''''We need to take off so we can have some drinks served,'' Hillary says on her campaign plane''

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 04:26

(C) Mike Segar/ReutersRepublican U.S. presidential nominee Donald Trump and Democratic U.S. presidential nominee Hillary Clinton appear together during their presidential town hall debate at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, U.S., October 9, 2016.

Make no mistake about it, Hillary Clinton and her elite backers control the mainstream media narrative. However, the illusion of an unbiased press is quickly falling apart as multiple leaked emails, and now, a video from last night's debate on CNN shows.During a brief clip, which has now been posted to YouTube, CNN forgot to kill reporter Pamela Brown's mic when they cut away. As the camera cuts back to the allegedly 'unbiased' debate focus group, Brown can be heard speaking to the group under her breath.

"America is great, because we're good," Brown whispers to the group in an obvious attempt to coach their answers.

Once Brown realizes she is back on air, she quickly asks a participant in the focus group what anti-Trump argument from Clinton impressed her most. Having just been told what to say by Brown, the participant quickly regurgitated her canned response, adding her own adaptation for good measure.

"She stated that America is already great, and I tend to agree with that," the panel member says. "Though we are slow in progressing in a number of ways, we are progressing and we need to continue the momentum."

As the Daily Caller notes, "this brief exchange is being interpreted by many as proof CNN was coaching focus group members about what to say on the air. Within just a few hours of being uploaded, the video collected nearly 150,000 views. There are other possible explanations, though; Brown may have been informing focus group members about what clip CNN had just aired (since they couldn't see the replay themselves), or Brown could have been setting up a semi-staged response after previously finding out what the focus group member wanted to say."

Due to the recent revelations by WikiLeaks highlighting Clinton's control and outright dictations of the mainstream media narrative, the Free Thought Project is leaning toward the idea that this focus group was actually being coached.As we recently reported, The Podesta Emails reveal not only direct evidence of media coordination, but an attempt to alleviate the damage expected to be wrought by the impending 2015 release of a book by Peter Schweizer titled: Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill and Hillary Rich.

In an email dated April 19, 2015, Clinton Foundation senior vice president of programs Maura Pally writes to White House communications director Jennifer Palmieri, under the subject heading, "FOR REVIEW: Statement for NYT story on Clinton Cash":

"Agree. I like it, especially the 'twisting previously known facts into absurd conspiracy theories'. I suspect we might be able to get repeat use of out of that one."

As Clinton has proven, the establishment only needs to label its critics as 'conspiracy theorists' to force the rest of society not to take them seriously. Unfortunately, for Americans, this schoolyard tactic of name calling and ridicule works '-- as no one wants to be cast out of the herd.

However, as our readers know, questioning everything is the only way to build a free and peaceful world.

Please share this story and video so that others may see for themselves what 'democracy' looks like in an Orwellian society.

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 23:13

Twitter Chief Executive Officer Jack Dorsey has a message for his employees as the company's conversations about a possible sale falter -- "We can do this!"

In an internal memo, sent last week and obtained by Bloomberg on Monday, Dorsey doesn't mention potential deals. Instead, he rallied the team around Twitter's "live" strategy, saying the company is the "people's news network." Twitter is already the fastest place to get information -- now it needs to be the first place people check to see what's happening, the executive wrote.

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You will now receive the Game Plan newsletter"We're only limited by our sense of urgency," Dorsey said in the memo. "Life is short. Every day matters. And the people who use Twitter every day deserve our best. They are why we're here. So let's show them what we're made of and deliver a better Twitter faster than they thought possible. We can do this every day. We can do this!"Kristin Binns, a spokeswoman for Twitter, declined to comment on the memo.

Dorsey's message comes amid increasing skepticism about the company's future. Salesforce.com Inc., The Walt Disney Company and Alphabet Inc.'s Google all hired bankers to consider a bid for Twitter, but are now unlikely to do so, after pressure from their shareholders, people familiar with the matter have said. That pushed the shares down 11.5 percent to $17.56 at the close on Monday.

As an independent company, Twitter has faced several quarters of slowing revenue growth and stagnant user growth. But Dorsey has a point -- Twitter is still at the center of some important news conversations. On Sunday night, it said more than 17 million tweets were sent about the U.S. presidential debate.

Here's the memo:

Hi team!

I've served as CEO for one year now. There's a lot I could say, but there's only one thing I want to say:

Thank you.

This team has so much purpose, so much resilience, and so much heart. You've worked so hard to make Twitter matter. I know it hasn't been easy. But we are seeing people want to use our service more every single day. Step by step...

We spent a good part of the year getting to the truth. The most important truth is what we are and why we're here: Twitter is what's happening, and what everyone is talking about (literally!). News and talk. We're the people's news network.

People choose us for news because we're the fastest. Fastest to get news, and fastest to share news with the whole world. Now let's strive to be the first. The first place people check to see what's happening'...and the first place to break what's happening. In the moment LIVE, or a fast recap of what we know so far'...what matters.

We're only limited by our sense of urgency. Life is short. Every day matters. And the people who use Twitter every day deserve our best. They are why we're here. So let's show them what we're made of and deliver a better Twitter faster than they thought possible. We can do this every day. We can do this!

I'll end by expressing gratitude for my immediate team.

Adam Bain for his always-on drive, creativity, presence, and shoe game. Adam Messinger for his rigor, honesty, fearlessness, and his red belt. Anthony for his discipline, do-whatever-it-takes attitude, truth-seeking ability, and constant use of '¼ when !! is just as easy. Kayvon for his entrepreneurial spirit, attention to detail, his questioning to make us better, and his tendency to chew on his hoodie sweater. Leslie for her focus on what matters most, unbounded energy, stewardship of our brand, and 2x talk speed. Omid for his constant optimism, clarifying questioning, compassion, leadership, and how he's changed the color of pretty much everything he owns to a shade of blue. Renee for her drive, integrity, fearlessness, and ability to skip straight past the "new kid" phase. Sierra for her focus, orchestration, attention to detail, and unique ability to be in two places at one time. And Vijaya for her strength, empathy, fortitude, and secret love for McDonalds (to the point of having a McDonald's iPhone case).

''¤, jack

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 23:08

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 18:08

[See NewsBusters for more.] An irritated Chuck Todd on Monday chided Donald Trump for highlighting women who have accused Bill Clinton of sexual abuse. Talking about Sunday's debate in which the businessman did a press conference with Paula Jones, Juanita Broaddrick and Kathleen Willey, among others, the NBC journalist complained, ''Only in the, sort of, the mind of some sort of movie writer of a third world democracy or dictatorship would you have a candidate publicly humiliate a former occupant of that office by parading all of these other people around.'' Deriding the debate itself, ''It is and will remain now the single most surreal presidential debate in American history.'' MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell also appeared unhappy that Trump so aggressively brought up Clinton's e-mails.

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 16:51

He knew it was going to be a challenge when he took over the top job at Deutsche Bank. But John Cryan may not have expected it to be this tough. Shares in the flagship German lender started the week down again. Investors disappointed that the CEO failed to secure a deal with the U.S. Justice department over misselling of mortage-backed securities. Cryan went to the States to attend the IMF and World Bank's autumn meetings. But many hoped he might negotiate down the $14 billion fine demanded by the DoJ while he was there. Instead all investors got was a warning from the IMF about the weakness of the European banking sector. (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDEPENDENT MARKET ANALYST, JEREMY BATSTONE-CARR, SAYING: "At issue is the weakness ,or profitability, sub standard or low rate of credit growth, and concerns over solvency. My view has always been that the banking sector does not suffer from liquidity but from weak profitability." The plight of Deutsche Bank and Italy's banking sector is also on the agenda at a finance ministers meeting in Brussels. But some think more should have been done sooner. (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDEPENDENT MARKET ANALYST, JEREMY BATSTONE-CARR, SAYING: "I'd certainly agree with the U.S. position that a more fundamental root and branch reform of the euro zone banking sector, involving a thinning down and more streamlining approach is the right way." Deutsche Bank is expected to issue new shares, or sell assets once it knows the scale of the fine. It needs to ensure its capital ratio remains within the regulatory limit. But restoring market confidence is also vital - and that's clearly proving difficult.

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 16:50

More in the cross-post on the MRC's NewsBusters blog.

On Monday, the hosts on NBC's Today and CBS This Morning demanded Donald Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway explain herself for daring to invite Bill Clinton's sexual assault accusers to Sunday night's debate. By contrast, Hillary Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook got nothing but softballs tossed his way on the same morning shows.

On Today, co-host Savannah Guthrie pressed: ''...it sounds like the Trump campaign was trying to get going at the beginning of the debate, where the four Clinton '' Bill Clinton accusers would come face to face with Bill Clinton himself....was that the plan?....What was the campaign hoping to accomplish?''

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 16:48

" ... we were going to have a big incident on national TV ..."

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The commission organizing Sunday's presidential debate threatened to remove women who have accused Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct if Donald Trump's campaign went through with its plan to seat them at the edge of the debate stage Sunday night.

''We were going to put the four women in the VIP box,'' said former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. ''We had it all set. We wanted to have them shake hands with Bill, to see if Bill would shake hands with them.''

Prior to the debate, Trump had appeared with Juanita Broaddrick, Paula Jones, Kathleen Willey and Kathy Shelton. Broaddrick, Jones and Willey have all accused former President Bill Clinton of sexual misconduct. Shelton was 12 when she was raped and saw her accuser get off on a lesser charge after being defended by then defense lawyer Hillary Clinton.

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The Washington Post reported that the idea, as crafted by Trump campaign chief executive Stephen K. Bannon and Jared Kushner, Ivanka's Trump's husband, was to have the four women enter the hall at the same time as Bill Clinton so that the national TV audience could see what ensued. Trump approved the plan, the Post reported.

However, Frank J. Fahrenkopf, the debate commission's co-chairman, got wind of the plan and told the Trump campaign he would not allow it, the Post reported.

''Fahrenkopf said, 'no' '' verbally said 'no,' that 'security would throw them out,''' Giuliani said.

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Fahrenkopf did not comment on the matter.

Giuliani said the campaign only dropped the plan minutes before the debate started, and seated the women elsewhere.

'''... we pulled it because we were going to have a big incident on national TV,'' Giuliani said. ''Frank Fahrenkopf stopped us and we weren't going to have a fight on national TV with the commission to start the debate.''

Giuliani said that allowing Trump nemesis Mark Cuban to have a VIP seat at the first debate, and then rejecting Bill Clinton's accusers, smacked of a double standard.

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''In the first debate with Mark Cuban, Fahrenkopf said we'll make a deal and everybody will (be able) to approve who's in the shot and if it's not family, they have a right to object and we have a right to object,'' Giuliani said. ''So we object. But 10 minutes before that debate he tells us he can't do anything about Cuban sitting in the first row, that security can't throw him out.''

Giuliani said that Clinton's accusers were angry that their chance to stand up to him was taken away.

''The women were outraged,'' Giuliani said. ''They were in the holding room and ready to go. No one was pushing them. They volunteered. But I knew the minute we got pushback that we had gotten into their heads. (Hillary Clinton) was rattled. They were rattled.''

Prior to the event, the women appeared with Trump.

''I'm here to support Mr. Trump because he's going to make America great again '... I think they should all look at the fact that he's a good person and he's not what other people say he's being, like Hillary,'' said Jones, a former Arkansas state worker who sued Clinton in 1994 for sexual harassment.

''Actions speak louder than words,'' Broaddrick said. ''Mr. Trump may have said some bad words, but Bill Clinton raped me and Hillary Clinton threatened me. I don't think there's any comparison.''

Broaddrick has said she was raped by Clinton in 1978.

What do you think?Scroll down to comment below.

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 07:48

Clinton Camp Complained to Debate Commission About Bill's Accusers at Debate''

Rudy Giuliani: It shook the heck out of her. Why do you think she was rattled at the beginning of the debate? I know it because they called the debate commission and said please don't put them in the first row. Absolutely. They didn't want Bill to have to see them.

Via FOX Business Network:

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 07:22

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 07:16

Saugus Family Says Airlines Refused To Rebook Daughter's Flight After Hurricane Matthew HitA Saugus family has a gripe with an airline company after trying to rebook their daughter flight back to her hurricane damaged university in South Carolina. WBZ-TV's Jim Smith reports.

WBZ Accuweather ForecastBarry Burbank has the latest forecast.

Vermont Community Mourns 5 Teens Killed In Wrong Way CrashA man driving the wrong way on an interstate highway in Vermont spawned several crashes that left five high schoolers dead. WBZ-TV's Chantee Lans reports.

Keller @Large: Recap Of A Heated Second Presidetntial DebateWBZ political analyst Jon Keller calls the debate the "nastiest presidential debate in the 56 years we've been televising them."

Officers Deliver Baby At Dennis Police StationDennis police officers received an unexpected but special delivery at the station Sunday morning. WBZ-TV's Katie Brace reports.

5 Teens Killed By Wrong-Way Driver In VermontA man driving the wrong way on an interstate highway in Vermont spawned several crashes that left five people dead. WBZ-TV's Chantee Lans reports.

Martellus Bennett Channels Inner Luke Cage In Patriots WinIt looked like Martellus Bennett would be making an early exit from Sunday's win over Cleveland. But instead he thought of a Marvel character, and went on to catch three touchdowns.

Tom Brady On His Return, Patriots 33-13 Win Over BrownsPatriots quarterback said it was fun to win on Sunday, and that's what is most important.

Roche: Have Red Sox Lost Identity?WBZ's Dan Roche breaks down the Red Sox Game 2 loss in Cleveland.

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 07:02

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Sun, 09 Oct 2016 11:16

Alexei Nikolsky | AFP | Getty Images

President Barack Obama (R) meets his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin (L) in Los Cabos, Mexico, on June 18, 2012.

Putin denied the allegations despite U.S. officials and cybersecurity experts pointing to evidence that Russia was behind the security breach that resulted in the release of thousands of emails.

While this activity is "not new to Moscow," the U.S. intelligence community and Department of Homeland Security said it would be "extremely difficult" for hackers to actually "alter ballot counts or election results," because of the "decentralized nature" of the U.S. election system and the "number of protections state and local election officials have in place."

The Department of Homeland Security, however, urged election officials to remain vigilant and ask for cybersecurity assistance if needed.

Despite earlier reports that Russia was behind the hack attempts, some have expressed skepticism. For one, Donald Trump seemed to question those conclusions in the first presidential debate.

"I don't know if we know it was Russia who broke into the DNC," the Republican presidential candidate said when the first presidential debate turned to the topic of cybersecurity. "She keeps saying 'Russia, Russia, Russia,' and maybe it was. It could be Russia but it could be China, could also be lots of other people. It could be someone sitting on their bed that weighs 400 pounds."

Tensions between the United States and Russia have been high since Moscow annexed Crimea in 2014. And in more recent months, representatives for President Barack Obama and Putin have struggled to coordinate efforts in Syria, resulting in increased tensions.

In September, Secretary of State John Kerry announced an agreement with Russia in an attempt to implement a nationwide cease-fire in the war-torn country. Kerry, at the time, called the deal a potential "turning point" in the Syrian conflict.

But the State Department said Monday that Russia did not hold up its end of an agreement. The Kremlin has similarly blamed the U.S. for the collapse of the deal and strongly cautioned the U.S. against carrying out attacks on Syrian government forces.

'-- NBC News' Bob Windrem, Kelly O'Donnell, Tracy Snyder and Alexey Eremenko contributed to this report.

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Sun, 09 Oct 2016 11:03

Following Russian warning of American aircraft being shot down, White House spokesman confirms plan for U.S. air strikes on Syria has been rejected.

Following yesterday's Russian warning that Russia stood ready to shoot down US aircraft or missiles attacking Syria, the US has confirmed all plans for military action against Syria have been dropped.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest confirmed this speaking to reporters on Thursday 6th October 2016.

''The president has discussed in some details why military action against the Assad regime to try to address the situation in Aleppo is unlikely to accomplish the goals that many envisioned now in terms of reducing the violence there. It is much more likely to lead to a bunch of unintended consequences that are clearly not in our national interest.''

The US will never admit that it was the Russian warning that deterred it from carrying out air and missile strikes, and it is still pretending that the option of military strikes is still on the table. In Josh Earnest's words

''I'm not going to take any options off the table. I am not going to be in a position [we're] taking options off the table for the commander-in-chief.''

However these are face-saving words.

Military strikes against Syria would have happened long ago had it not been for the strong opposition of Russia. The fact the Russian military is now physically present in Syria with advanced surface to air missiles and is warning that it stands ready to shoot US aircraft down if the lives of Russian personnel are put in danger has taken the idea of US military strikes off the table.

I would add that these warnings would have been given by the Russians to the US in private before they were made public yesterday.

It is because the military option no longer exists that the US has been obliged to return to diplomacy.

I do not expect this to change whoever is elected President in November.

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Thu, 13 Oct 2016 04:05

Trump's supporters have long wondered whether he'd use billionaire sicko Jeffrey Epstein as ammo against the Clintons'--until a lurid new lawsuit accused The Donald of raping one of Epstein's girls himself.

Editor's note: This article has been updated to reflect the withdrawal of Virginia Roberts Guiffre's allegations against Alan Dershowitz and the striking of the allegations from the court record by a federal judge.

For Jeffrey Epstein and his famous friends, the Aughts were a simpler time, when the businessmen, academics, and celebrities who counted themselves among the playboy philanthropist's inner circle could freely enjoy the fruits of his extreme wealth and connections.

Epstein's little black book and flight logs read like a virtual Who's Who: Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, Larry Summers, Kevin Spacey, Prince Andrew, and Naomi Campbell all hitched rides on Epstein's private planes. Socialites and distinguished scientists went to visit Epstein's island in St. Thomas, and cavorted at epic dinner parties at his palatial townhouse'--then the largest privately owned residence in New York, as he liked to brag. There, they picked at elaborate meals catered by celebrity chefs like Rocco DiSpirito, marvelled at Epstein's opulent decor, and noted the pack of very, very young model-types with whom Epstein always seemed to surround himself.

But a darker story was going on underneath the glamour. In 2008, Epstein was convicted of soliciting sex from an underage girl and quietly paid settlements to scores of alleged victims who said he serially molested them. But the girls kept coming out of the woodwork'--in 2014, another young woman filed a lawsuit claiming that Epstein used her as a sex slave for his powerful friends'--and that she'd been at parties on his private island with former President Clinton.

And just last week, yet another ''Jane Doe'' filed a suit in New York accusing Epstein and Donald Trump of raping her at a series of sex parties when she was only 13.

Trump has denied Jane Doe's claims and his reps have said he barely knew Epstein'--even though New York media in the '90s regularly chronicled his comings-and-goings at Epstein's Upper East Side palace, and even though Epstein had 14 private numbers for Trump and his family in his little black book. Meanwhile, Bill and Hillary Clinton have remained mum about their ties to the Palm Beach pedophile'--despite evidence that shows Bill was one of the most famous and frequent passengers on Epstein's ''Lolita Express'' and that Epstein donated money to the Clinton Foundation even after his conviction.

For months, talking heads have wondered whether Trump would use Epstein and his girls as a weapon against Bill and Hillary Clinton.

Now, with the latest federal lawsuit against Trump himself, it seems the notorious financier has become a serious liability for both campaigns.

Less than a year before Florida police began investigating Jeffrey Epstein for the alleged rape and abuse of scores of young girls, the questionable billionaire responded to a call on Edge'--an online club where navel-gazing intellectuals and academics meet to pose questions to one another'--for a ''bit of wisdom, some rule of nature... that you've noticed in the universe that might as well be named after you.''

''Epstein's First Law,'' he wrote, ''Know when you are winning.''

''Epstein's Second Law: The key question is not what can I gain but what do I have to lose.''

What the 63-year-old Ralph Lauren lookalike had to lose was his perverted double life. According to law-enforcement officials and alleged victims, between the years 1998 and 2007'--and possibly even earlier'--he ran a particularly vile pyramid scheme that involved paying minors around $200 at a time to perform sexual massages nearly every day and then recruit even younger girls to do the same. (''The more you do, the more you are paid,'' one said.) During these massages, girls as young as 13 told police they were instructed to get undressed. Epstein would masturbate or penetrate them, they said'--with his finger, or a vibrator, or his allegedly egg-shaped penis.

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By the time Epstein was arrested in 2008, police in Palm Beach County, Florida, had already spent months monitoring his movements, rifling through his trash, and interviewing potential victims and witnesses. Police reported to prosecutors that they had gathered enough evidence to charge the money manager with several felonies: lewd and lascivious molestation and four counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor. Epstein's freedom, his wealth, his little black book full of famous folk'--including princes, presidents, and prime ministers'--all were seemingly at stake.

So Epstein did what the mega-rich do in these situations: hired star attorneys Gerald Lefcourt and Alan Dershowitz, who defended their client vigorously, reportedly having witnesses followed and discrediting the alleged victims by offering their MySpace pages as evidence of supposed drug use and scandalous behavior.

Prosecutors said Epstein's dream team made successful prosecution unlikely. ''Our judgment in this case, based on the evidence known at the time, was that it was better to have a billionaire serve time in jail, register as a sex offender, and pay his victims restitution than risk a trial with a reduced likelihood of success,'' U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta explained in a 2011 letter.

And so, despite a decade of alleged serial sexual abuse and rape of an unknowable number of girls, some as many as 100 times according to court filings, the notoriously secretive financier was offered a deal. For the alleged systematic victimization of young girls'--most of whom were plucked by Epstein's assistants from Palm Beach's poorer neighborhoods and groomed to adore or acquiesce to him'--he was slapped with a 2008 conviction on a single charge of soliciting a minor; and sentenced to an 18-month stay in a Palm Beach county jail'--of which he served only 13 months and was allowed to leave six days out of every week for ''work release.'' He also agreed to a few dozen confidential, out-of-court payoffs to his accusers, the most recent of which was finalized in 2011.

Epstein's ''potential co-conspirators,'' as the U.S. Attorney called them'--women who allegedly procured girls for Epstein'--also received immunity from prosecution as a condition of the 2007 agreement that enraged the local police force for its leniency. As of 2015, according to The Guardian, two of these women had changed their names, and were operating businesses out of a building owned by Epstein's brother, where it was alleged in court documents that Epstein had housed young women.

Though Epstein must register as a sex offender for life, and arguably suffer the world's most revolting Google presence, he has seemingly retained his collection of elite academic and media friends as well as his fortune. Since his release in 2009, Epstein has gone about his business, running a mysterious money management firm (clients unknown, income unknown, investments and activities unknown) from his private 70-acre island in the U.S. Virgin Islands and spending time at his Uptown stone mansion. The palace was gifted to Epstein, some say, by its previous owner'--Epstein's guardian angel and the founder of The Limited Inc., Leslie Wexner.

From his plush perch, Epstein continues to dismiss any notions that he should be viewed as the child rapist that victims and Florida police say he is.

''I'm not a sexual predator, I'm an 'offender,''' he told the New York Post in 2011, shortly after a New York judge classified him as a level 3 offender, or ''a threat to public safety.''

''It's the difference between a murderer and a person who steals a bagel,'' Epstein said.

But for the wealthy and famous in Epstein's orbit, his conviction has meant suspicion by association.

In December 2014, just as the Palm Beach lawsuits were winding down, another alleged victim emerged and her claims were salacious: Epstein, she said, had loaned her out as an underage sex slave to his famous friends'--including Britain's Prince Andrew and Epstein defense attorney Dershowitz (both men denied the charges). Coming forward in Britain's Daily Mail in 2011, Virginia Roberts Guiffre'--called Jane Doe #3 in a related lawsuit (PDF)'--claimed that Epstein and his ''girlfriend,'' alleged madame Ghislaine Maxwell, forced her to have sex with the pair's powerful pals and gather intel that Epstein could later use. In court documents, Guiffre testified, ''Epstein and Maxwell also told me that they wanted me to produce things for them in addition to performing sex on the men. They told me to pay attention to the details about what the men wanted so I could report back to them.''

Guiffre noted that Epstein appeared to be collecting information on Prince Andrew'--particularly on his alleged foot fetish'--and claimed, ''Epstein also trafficked me for sexual purposes to other powerful men, including politicians and powerful business executives. Epstein required me to describe the sexual events I had with these men presumably so that he could potentially blackmail them. I am still very fearful of these men today.''

A judge threw out Guiffre's motion in 2015, but Guiffre stands by her claims and is suing Ghislaine Maxwell, whom she claims acted as Epstein's madam.

Meanwhile, the men named by Guiffre seem eager for her to go away. ''It's as if I've been waterboarded for 15 months,'' Dershowitz told the Boston Globe after the settlement of a defamation case related to Guiffre's claims. ''This has taken a terrible toll on my family, on my friends'...'' Buckingham Palace has also denied the allegations against Prince Andrew, calling them ''categorically untrue.''

UPDATE: This April, Giuffre's lawyers withdrew her allegations against Dershowitz and said that it was a "mistake" to have filed the accusations in the first place. A federal judge later struck her allegations against Dershowitz from the court record. At Dershowitz's request, Louis Freeh, the former head of the FBI, also conducted an independent investigation of her claims and published a statement noting, "Our investigation found no evidence to support the accusations of sexual misconduct against Professor Dershowitz."

In her lawsuit, Guiffre had claimed that during trips to Epstein's private island, she'd also encountered another very famous person: former President Bill Clinton. Guiffre alleges the former U.S. president visited Epstein's ''Orgy Island'' when there were underage girls present, but added that she never had sex with him and never saw him have sex with any of the young women.

Still, it's these sorts of allegations that have journalists and Clinton-haters circling. Just last month, pundits on MSNBC's Morning Joe were speculating about Bill Clinton's oft-discussed friendship with Epstein and whether it would be the go-to play for a Trump campaign looking to combat Hillary Clinton's claims that Trump is bad for women.

Requests for comment to Hillary Clinton's campaign and the Clinton Foundation were not returned.

The former president, who flew on the ''The Lolita Express''at least 26 times from 2001 to 2003, has never addressed his ties with Epstein, a onetime major Democratic donor, according to Federal Election Commission records, who also gave millions to the Clinton Foundation even after his arrest for abusing underage girls. ''I invest in people'--be it politics or science. It's what I do,'' Epstein has reportedly said to friends.

''There's a 100 percent chance [Trump] is going there,'' said former McCain strategist Steve Schmidt on Morning Joe, referring to Clinton's friendship with the pervy moneyman.

Still, Trump may not want to actually ''go there'' in light of the new federal lawsuit against him.

Just last week, Trump's own connections to Epstein made headlines when a Jane Doe claimed that the presumptive Republican nominee and his financier pal raped her on several occasions when she was 13 years old.

The allegations are explosive. And the circumstances surrounding them are very, very strange.

According to the complaint, filed in a Manhattan federal court, one of Epstein's assistants approached Jane Doe as she waited for a bus at the New York Port Authority terminal and offered the teenager money and contacts that could lead to a modeling contract if she came to a party at Epstein's house. Jane Doe says she attended several parties at Epstein's Upper East Side mansion, and supposedly had sexual contact with Donald Trump at four of them. The fourth and final time she attended a party with Trump, she alleges he tied her to a bed with pantyhose, raped her, then beat her and threatened to kill her and her family if she told a soul.

This is the second time the woman has brought a suit against Trump and Epstein. The first, which she filed herself this April in California using the name Katie Johnson, was dismissed for failure to bring a claim under the civil-rights law under which she had filed suit. Calls to the phone number listed on the original suit were never answered, with no way to leave a voicemail. The plaintiff's reported address in Twentynine Palms was a one-bedroom, one-bath home belonging to 72-year-old David Stacey, who had died on Oct. 9, and public records show no evidence of a Katie Johnson living at the property. Neighbors told RadarOnline that squatters had overrun the home while Stacey was hospitalized, and a real-estate agent reported the home had been turned over to the bank by April.

''The allegations are not only categorically false, but disgusting at the highest level and clearly framed to solicit media attention or, perhaps, are simply politically motivated,'' Trump told RadarOnline, responding to the original lawsuit. ''There is absolutely no merit to these allegations. Period.''

The new complaint charges that Trump's denial amounts to defamation. This time, Johnson also has a declaration from a woman who claims to be a corroborating witness, known in the suit as Tiffany Doe. According to her statement, Tiffany was 22 when she lured Johnson to Epstein's home and witnessed Johnson's alleged rape firsthand.

Johnson has a number of non-anonymous supporters, though it's a cast of characters who do little to allay Trump's assertion that her claim was brought solely to influence the election.

According to a lengthy article on the site Jezebel, some eight months before Johnson filed her California lawsuit against Epstein and Trump, a man named Al Taylor'--who claimed to be the ''PR person'' for something called the Erotic Heritage Museum in Las Vegas'--reached out to a reporter at Gawker to shop a video recording of Johnson and her rape story. Taylor, who identified himself to The Daily Beast as ''a friend'' to Johnson, claims to have met her at a party where she revealed her alleged childhood assault by Trump. In a video published in part on Jezebel, a woman claiming to be Katie Johnson appears'--wearing a blond wig, her face pixelated and her voice disguised. In it, she details the allegations of rape.

When The Daily Beast asked Taylor for a copy of the video, Taylor suggested it was still for sale. ''I heard it would be worth $1 million,'' Taylor said, claiming the proceeds from the sale would go to Johnson's protection.

''We've got her in hiding,'' he said.

Taylor has coincidentally been the subject of Epstein-related news before. In 2011, Taylor, at first freelance producing for The Jerry Springer Show then working alone, claimed to have made a million-dollar deal with Casey Anthony for an interview after the Florida woman's acquittal in the murder of her 2-year-old daughter. When the interview didn't happen, Taylor retained the services of Spencer Kuvin, a Palm Beach lawyer who also represented three Epstein victims. Taylor says he met Kuvin during an attempt to interview his Epstein clients. They settled with Epstein out of court and declined to be interviewed by Taylor.

But Taylor wasn't the only party working to get the tape and Katie Johnson's story to the media. According to Jezebel, Steve Baer, described in National Review as ''a conservative activist and major, if secretive, donor to the conservative movement,'' lobbied their reporter to publish Johnson's claims. Baer is also, according to Jezebel, the father of Chandler Smith, an Ohio woman who happens to be the co-founder of an organization called Vote Trump Get Dumped, a campaign that urges ladies to withhold sex from Trump supporters. ''Until Trump is defeated, we don't date, sleep with, or canoodle with Trump supporters,'' the group's manifesto reads.

When Johnson's case was thrown out in California, Taylor says he began looking for an attorney to file a new case for his ''friend.'' They approached Brad Edwards, the lawyer who has represented a number of Epstein victims through settlements'--and who is now representing Virginia Roberts Guiffre in her claim against Epstein's former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell as well as four alleged victims in the case against the federal government.

''I will say I've never represented [Johnson] and I won't be representing her,'' Edwards told The Daily Beast.

Edwards couldn't comment on the conversations he had with Johnson or her representatives, citing attorney-client privilege. Concerning Trump's involvement in Epstein's illicit affairs, Edwards said he hadn't seen any evidence that would implicate the GOP nominee and described Trump as ''extremely helpful and honest,'' during questioning.

When Edwards declined to take the case, Taylor told the website GossipExtra they were shopping for representation. That's how Johnson's current attorney, Tom Meagher, says he found his client.

Meagher is a patent attorney in New Jersey who openly admits, ''I've never taken on accusations like this,'' but says he was drawn to Johnson's story and believes her ''100 percent.'' In an effort to get media attention for Johnson's case, Meagher attended a May fundraiser in Lawrenceville, New Jersey'--thrown to pay off the debt incurred by Chris Christie's failed presidential campaign, and one at which Donald Trump spoke. Described as ''a protester'' by a local reporter, Meagher confirms he was removed by security after holding up a sign that read: ''Ask Trump About Katie Johnson.''

''I don't have a view on the race,'' Meagher now tells The Daily Beast. ''I did before the matter, but now I'm apolitical so I can focus on my client.''

Concerning the timing of the lawsuit, Meagher says: ''Of course, she does not want her rapist to be president.''

Despite several requests, The Daily Beast was not able to speak with Katie Johnson or Tiffany Doe. When asked whether any evidence of their claims existed outside of the Doe declarations, Taylor said Tiffany kept a journal of Epstein contacts. ''She has all the goods,'' Taylor said, but would not elaborate and said future names would only be released in response to a scandal on par with Donald Trump's political ascent.

But Mike Fisten, a retired Miami-Dade homicide detective who worked as a private investigator in several Epstein-related cases, is skeptical about the new claims.

Fisten says Epstein had in effect two lives: ''a business life and deviant pedphile life.'' To find out which friends were involved in which life, Fisten carried a book with photos of Epstein's contacts. In hundreds of interviews with hundreds of witnesses, he said no one has ever identified Trump as being involved in any kind of sexual activity with underage girls. In fact, Fisten recalls learning in the early 2000s that members of Trump's private Palm Beach club, Mar-a-Lago, complained that Epstein was often accompanied by very young girls''''a different girl every week'''--each of whom he would refer to as ''his niece.'' Fisten says he offered to look at Tiffany Doe's book to vet her free of charge, but Taylor and Meagher declined.

Emails to the Trump Organization and the campaign for this story were not returned, but Trump's attorney Alan Garten has repeatedly denied any relationship between his client and Epstein, other than Epstein's Mar-a-Lago membership.

Still, it's clear that Trump's association with Epstein runs deeper than just pool days at Mar-a-Lago.

''I've known Jeff for 15 years,'' Trump told New York Magazine in 2002. Calling him a ''terrific guy,'' Trump continued, ''He's a lot of fun to be with. It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side. No doubt about it'--Jeffrey enjoys his social life.''

According to a 2003 profile in Vanity Fair and New York gossip rags that covered the goings-on of Epstein and his famous friends in the late '90s, Trump would attend dinner parties at the 71st Street mansion. In April 1999, The Mail spotted Trump among the guests at a dinner Epstein threw in honor of Prince Andrew. In 2000, they reported he attended a ''hookers and pimps'' Halloween party. New York magazine reported Trump's attendance at a 2003 dinner party thrown in honor of Bill Clinton. Magician David Blaine entertained the ''barely clad models'' with card tricks, but Clinton never appeared.

''I often see Donald Trump and there are loads of models coming and going, mostly at night,'' a neighbor told The Mail on Sunday in 2000.

Then there is the black book, in which Epstein lists 14 phone numbers for Trump, including ones for his future wife Melania. Police evidence shows Trump has called Epstein, flown on Epstein's plane, and eaten in Epstein's Florida home.

Garten did not return a request for comment on these connections.

''Mr. Trump's only connection with Mr. Epstein was that Mr. Epstein was one of thousands of people who has visited Mar-a-Lago,'' the Trump attorney told a BuzzFeed reporter in 2015. ''That's it. Mr. Trump has NEVER been accused of having any involvement or even having any knowledge of any of Mr. Epstein's conduct by anyone.''

That was true until last week. And while the media has been hesitant to report on Katie Johnson's accusations, stories have emerged in recent days in outlets like the New York Daily News and Gothamist and more may be in the works: Johnson's attorney says he taped an interview with ABC News and sources spoken to for this story said they had been contacted by other national news organizations.

Johnson will likely have her day in court, but'--perhaps ironically, given Trump's habit of ''just asking'' about conspiracy theories while claiming he's not endorsing them'--the veracity of her claims may not matter. True or not, they bring to light a number of disturbing questions about Epstein and his pre-Palm Beach days'--ones both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will likely have to address.

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October 10, 2016

Video Showing Bill Clinton Rape Of 13-Year-Old Girl Plunges Presidential Race Into Chaos

By:Sorcha Faal, and as reported to her Western Subscribers

A stunning new Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) report circulating in the Kremlin today states that the entire US presidential election is nearing an ''explosive crisis'' over a secretly made Israeli intelligence video recording showing former President Bill Clinton raping a 13-year-old girl child that Hillary Clinton has kept hidden from public knowledge with help from the American propaganda mainstream media'--but by her embroiling Donald Trump in her husbands sex crimes now threatens it being released.[Note: Some words and/or phrases appearing in quotes in this report are English language approximations of Russian words/phrases having no exact counterpart.]

According to this report, the video recording of Bill Clinton raping this 13-year-old girl child was ''created/engineered'' by Israel's Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations (MOSSAD) ''Clothing Shop Network'' (Ð'аÐ"азин/одежды/×—× ×•×ª×‘×'×'××') whose main ''organizer/facilitator'' is the ''international money man of mystery'' Jeffery Epstein'--and who is now being called ''The Billionaire Pedophile Who Could Bring Down Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton''.

Israeli MOSSAD agent Jeffery Epstein

MOSSADS ''Clothing Shop Network'', this report explains, was originated in the early 1980's by one of the most secretive billionaires in American named Leslie Wexner, and whose father (Harry Wexner'--changed from Hagan Wexelstein) emigrated to the United States in the late 1930's from the Jewish Autonomous Oblast (former Soviet Union).

The ''Clothing Shop Network'' name itself, this report continues, was derived from Leslie Wexner being one of America's top clothiers'--and who owns the US-basedfashion retailers L Brands and Victoria's Secret.

In 1982, SVR intelligence analysts in this report detail, Wexner recruited Jeffery Epstein into the ''Clothing Shop Network'' by providing him with an estimated $1 billion to establish a private financial firm named J. Epstein & Company'--and that Wexner remains the firm's biggest and the only publicly known client of.

The true purpose of J. Epstein & Company, however, this report continues, was to allow Jeffery Epstein to operate within the society circles of America's political elites'--and once ''ensnaring his victims'', he allowed them to ''fulfill'' their most ''deviant sexual fantasies'', while at the same time secretly video recording them for the ''purpose of blackmail''.

Epstein's ''blackmail victims'', this report details, included many members of American's and Britain's elites'--but with his ''biggest/largest'' catch being former President Bill Clinton'--who was revealed by recently released flight logs revealed to have flown on Epstein's private jet named ''The Lolita Express'' to the secluded ''sex toy land'' Caribbean island run by Epstein 26 times, while ditching his Secret Service protectors, and his failing to notice that this ''den of sin'' was wired with hidden cameras secretly recording his orgies with underage girls.

With Bill Clinton's having had sex with young girl children, and Hillary Clinton being advised by the ''Clothing Shop Network'' that they had the secretly recorded videos proving it, this report says, she then masterminded a plot to set up Donald Trump as a ''straw man'' to be her opponent (and as emails prove) and was aided in this effort by America's mainstream media who ''provided/gave'' to the New York City billionaire builder an estimated $3 billion in free media advertising so that he could become the Republican Party candidate for president.

The Hillary Clinton email proving this plot, this report explains, shows her and her accomplices conspiring to set up Donald Trump as their ''Pied Piper'' candidate, with some of them suggesting that Senator Ted Cruz or Dr. Ben Carson could, likewise, be set up too.

To why Hillary Clinton and her accomplices selected Donald Trump to be their ''straw man'' ''Pied Piper'', SVR intelligence analysts in this report explain, was due to his knowing Jeffery Epstein too'--but who unlike Bill Clinton, Prince Andrew, and others who engaged in sex with young girls on ''orgy island'' never committed these grave crimes'--and as attested to by Miami Police Detective Mike Fisten who investigated Epstein's many crimes and stated that ''in hundreds of interviews with hundreds of witnesses, no one has ever identified Trump as being involved in any kind of sexual activity with underage girls''.

In fact, this report says, Detective Fisten recalls learning in the early 2000s that members of Trump's private Palm Beach club, Mar-a-Lago, complained that Epstein was often accompanied by very young girls''''a different girl every week'''--each of whom he would refer to as ''his niece''.

With Hillary Clinton and her accomplices believing they had neutralized Donald Trump by his merely knowing Epstein, however, and their further belief that the ''avalanche of scandals'' surrounding Trump would cause his campaign to collapse upon itself, this report continues, this New York City billionaire, instead, has ''defied all normal logic'' and is nearing winning the US presidency.

In a ''last chance'' bid to destroy Donald Trump, however, SVR intelligence analysts in this report state, Hillary Clinton and her accomplices have now paid off a number of Bill Clinton's rape victims to change their story saying that Trump had raped them'--the details of which are contained in a US Federal Court filing making these absurd allegations.

With Hillary Clinton having already proven she will kill to protect the public from knowing of her husbands crimes against young girl children (and as we previously reported on in our 2 June 2016 report Husband Of Prosecutor Investigating Bill Clinton For Child Sex Charges Gunned Down), this report concludes, the next ''event'' in this ''most dangerous of games'' will be determined by MOSSAD's ''Clothing Shop Network'''--and if the past is a predictor of the future knowing how the Israelis work to keep their nation safe, someone will surely die before this plays itself out.

Other reports in this series include:

Maryland Doctor Who Treated Hillary Clinton For Blood Clot On Brain Mysteriously Dies

Red Notice Terror Warning Issued After Hillary Clinton ISIS Spy Captured In Britain

Wikileaks Under ''Dire Threat'' Over Proof Hillary Clinton Destroyed Eye Doctor To Hide Brain Trauma

Russian ''Red Alert'' Issued After Hillary Clinton Labels All American Parents Sex Criminals

Hillary Clinton ''Disappearance'' Leaves Russian Intelligence Experts Puzzled

US Again Ignores Russian Warning As Islamic Terror Hits New York City, New Jersey And Minnesota

Hillary Clinton Makes Millions To Destroy Samsung So Apple Can Sell More iPhones

Putin Issues Global Alert: ''The American Establishment Is Merciless, Donald Trump Could Soon Die''

Hillary Clinton To Make Millions After Obama Orders All Wild Horses In American Killed

Hillary Clinton Placed In Hospital As ''Blackout Of Truth'' Descends Upon America

Concentration Camp Model Created By Hillary Clinton In Africa Warned Is Coming To America

Florida Earthquake Reported Caused By Obama-Clinton Attempt To Destroy Israeli Sub

Hillary Clinton ''Heart Failure Event'' Warned Just Months Away

Putin Asks Obama Why US Media Shutdown Donald Trump Speech At Black Church, Gets No Reply

US Congress To Begin Immediate Impeachment Of Hillary Clinton If She Wins Presidency

Hillary Clinton ''Secret Sexmail'' Destroys Top US Army Commander

Hillary Clinton Colostomy Bag Cover-up Consumes US Media Giants, Puts Debates In Doubt

White House Emails Reveal Largest Plot Ever Discovered To Destroy America

New York Times Hosts ''Top Secret'' Meet To Cover-up Hillary Clinton Health, Destroy Fox News

Putin ''Erupts'' Over Million Dollar ''Spy Payments'' To Hillary Clinton

US Secret Service ''Swarms'' Top Hospitals As Hillary Clinton Brain Surgery Fears Rise

Panic Grips America, Shuts Down NSA, After Russia ''Reveals'' It Has All Hillary Clinton Phone Calls

Hillary Clinton ''Total Terror'' Descends Upon Disabled Mother Who Discovered Her Link To ISIS

Russia Debates Response To Shocking Hillary Clinton Link To Crimea Terror Attack

Father Of Doctor Treating Hillary Clinton For Dementia Mysteriously Dies

Hillary Clinton ''Night Of The Long Knives'' Killing Spree Claims Life Of Attorney Shawn Lucas

Hillary Clinton Gains Millions From Plot Linked To Top US General Fueling War With Russia

Moscow Raid Proves Hillary Clinton Plot To Destroy Boeing, Ship 80,000 US Jobs Overseas

Hillary Clinton Orders ISIS Attack Cover-Up In Germany, American Press Stunningly Obeys

Clinton Threat To ''Destroy Everyone'' Throws Washington Into Chaos

Bush Family Rushes To Hillary Clinton Side After Top UN Official Set To Testify Against Her Found Dead

Husband Of Prosecutor Investigating Bill Clinton For Child Sex Charges Gunned Down

October 10, 2016 (C) EU and US all rights reserved. Permission to use this report in its entirety is granted under the condition it is linked back to its original source at WhatDoesItMean.Com. Freebase content licensed under CC-BY and GFDL.

[Note: Many governments and their intelligence services actively campaign against the information found in these reports so as not to alarm their citizens about the many catastrophic Earth changes and events to come, a stance that the Sisters of Sorcha Faal strongly disagree with in believing that it is every human beings right to know the truth. Due to our missions conflicts with that of those governments, the responses of their 'agents' has been a longstanding misinformation/misdirection campaign designed to discredit us, and others like us, that is exampled in numerous places, includingHERE.]

[Note:The WhatDoesItMean.com website was created for and donated to the Sisters of Sorcha Faal in 2003 by a small group of American computer experts led by the late global technology guru Wayne Green (1922-2013) to counter the propaganda being used by the West to promote their illegal 2003 invasion of Iraq.]

[Note:The word Kremlin (fortress inside a city) as used in this report refers to Russian citadels, including in Moscow, having cathedrals wherein female Schema monks (Orthodox nuns) reside, many of whom are devoted to the mission of the Sisters of Sorcha Faal.]

World War III Has Begun As ''Red October'' Event Nears

They Are Going To Come For You'...Why Are You Helping Them?

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Reuters/Lucy Nicholson

By Joe Klare

Newly leaked emails from Wikileaks show that Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton gave a thumbs down to the idea of marijuana legalization in a paid speech in 2014.

More specifically, Clinton's comments came during an on-stage O & A with the Chairman and CEO of Xerox:

URSULA BURNS: So long means thumbs up, short means thumbs down; or long means I support, short means I don't. I'm going to start with '-- I'm going to give you about ten long-shorts.

SECRETARY CLINTON: Even if you could make money on a short, you can't answer short.

URSULA BURNS: You can answer short, but you got to be careful about letting anybody else know that. They will bet against you. So legalization of pot?

SECRETARY CLINTON: Short in all senses of the word.

These revelations obviously make one wonder if Hillary Clinton is just paying lip service to the notion of re-scheduling cannabis and letting states be ''laboratories of democracy'' as she has said publicly, just to fool some of the basement-dwelling stoners who supported Bernie Sanders into voting for her.

''While Clinton has made no secret in public appearances that she isn't ready to endorse full legalization, she has usually framed her position as taking a wait-and-see approach, wanting to give laws like those in Colorado and other states a chance to work before she makes up her mind about ending prohibition,'' wrote Tom Angell at Marijuana.com.

''The leaked Xerox excerpt, in contrast, positions her as strongly opposed to legalization.''

As Tom also points out, it's possible that Clinton's position on legalization has simply evolved over the last 2 years. It certainly wouldn't be the first time Hillary Clinton has changed her position on an issue. But therein lies the problem: can we ever really be sure what Hillary Clinton actually thinks about something?

2016 Presidential ElectionHillary Clintonmarijuanamarijuana legalizationwikileaks

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Thu, 13 Oct 2016 02:57

An artist's rendering of the Asgardian satellite.

Asgardia.spacePlans to create the first "nation in space" were unveiled in Paris on Wednesday. They are nothing if not ambitious.

The new nation will launch its own satellite in 2017 and dedicate itself to opening up access to space. The goal is to foster world peace, as well as protect earth from rogue asteroids and space debris.

The new space country will be called "Asgardia," named for the city in the skies ruled by Norse god Odin.

We aren't talking about an actual orbiting city or space station where humans will live. Instead, it's more a scientific, legal and technological experiment being led by Russian nanoscientist Dr. Igor Ashurbeyli, founder of the Aerospace International Research Center and newly appointed chairman of UNESCO's Science of Space committee.

"Asgardia is also unique from a philosophical aspect -- to serve entire humanity and each and everyone, regardless of his or her personal welfare and the prosperity of the country where they happened to be born," Ashurbeyli said in a release.

A rather simple website for Asgardia launched after a press conference Wednesday to kick off crowdsourcing the new country's flag, insignia and anthem. It will also allow wannabe Asgardians to register their interest for citizenship. The idea is that once Asgardia has 100,000 people applying for citizenship, it is then eligible to apply to the United Nations for official nation status, according to Ashurbeyli.

Supposedly all Asgardians would remain physically in their current resident nations, but also be citizens of this other country with its sole territory in the galaxy being a satellite circling the Earth. It's the access to space the satellite represents that is really the point of the whole thing.

"The mission of Asgardia (is) to create opportunities for broader access to space, enabling non-traditional space nations to realize their scientific aspirations is exciting," said Professor David Alexander, director of the Rice Space Institute at Rice University.

The way space works now is that there's something called the Outer Space Treaty that most (but not all) nations have signed. It essentially says that whatever country sends a mission to space is then responsible for that mission. So if NASA or an American company like SpaceX sent up a satellite that crashed into and destroyed a Russian satellite, Russia can hold the United States Government accountable.

In turn, this means the US Government has to regulate American companies working in space to avoid such international incidents.

Part of Asgardia's mission is to protect Earth from asteroids.

James Vaughan / Asgardia.spaceSo it's easy to see Asgardia as simply a way to either side-step the Outer Space Treaty or perhaps do an end-run around government regulations that are a key part of making the treaty work by forming a new government accountable to nobody but the space enthusiasts that formed it.

I contacted space lawyer (yes, that's a thing) Joanne Irene Gabrynowicz, who is editor-in-chief Emerita of the Journal of Space Law, and she told me that Asgardia is likely to have trouble in its quest to be recognized as a country.

"Under international law, there are specific criteria for an entity to be recognized as a nation. It must have territory and a population, and be recognized as a nation by other nations, among other things. Just declaring that a nation exists is not enough," she told me via e-mail. "There are (a) number of entities on Earth whose status as an independent nation have been a matter of dispute for a long time. It is reasonable to expect that the status an unpopulated object that is not on Earth will be disputed."

There's also at least one other independent nation in space that's already been declared and disputed.

In 1949, American James Mangan filed paperwork with Cook County, Illinois laying claim to all of space beyond Earth, declaring it the "Nation of Celestial Space" (also known as "Celestia") with himself as founder and representative. Mangan had similar designs on securing peace in space and quickly set about defending his claim by notifying the US, Soviet Union and a few other nations that his country had banned atmospheric nuclear tests. In the early days of the space race he would also send letters to the Americans and Soviets protesting their encroachment on his territory.

The world, including the United Nations, politely ignored Mangan's persistent requests for acknowledgment for decades. He passed away in 1970 and little has been heard from Celestia since.

Asgardia has the benefit of the internet to organize its claim to existence and perhaps raise funds for the satellite that would give it a physical territory in the universe and some basic utility for its "citizens" to rally around.

It still remains to be seen if the United Nations and the rest of humanity will see Asgardia as any more legit than Celestia, but that hasn't stopped over 4,000 potential Asgardians from registering their interest in under 12 hours.

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In what can only be described as a bombshell, the New York Times and CBS both published incredibly disturbing stories today regarding accusations of sexual assault and impropriety by Donald Trump, once case involving comments made to a 10 year old child.

After the extremely vulgar video from 2005 was released on Friday, Donald Trump and his sycophants were quick to attribute his comments to mere "locker room talk" and try to spin the story as us being too puritanical. Aw, poor Donnie. We are all ganging up on him for talking like every other jock does. Except he is a liar. A disgusting, orange faced, perverted liar.

And now the proof is coming in, fast and furious.

Earlier today, Buzzfeed posted this article where numerous women who competed in the 1997 Miss Teen USA beauty pageant said Donald Trump walked in on them when they were changing. Just a reminder, this pageant has contestants from age 14-19, so Trump was literally walking in on naked minors.

One of the women said, when questioned about his behavior, Trump said ''Don't worry, ladies, I've seen it all before.''

GROSS.

Fast forward to this afternoon when The New York Times dropped this bombshell article where they interviewed two women who provided extremely detailed stories about being sexually assaulted by Donald Trump, one woman claims it occurred on a plane about 30 years ago, the other was an employee in Trump Towers and claimed it occurred in 2005.

Jessica Leeds sat next to Trump on a plane about 30 years ago. She claims that he grabbed her breasts, lifted the arm rest and attempted to reach up her skirt to grope her genitals. Leeds said ''he was like an octopus. His hands were everywhere.''

Rachel Crooks was a receptionist at Bayrock, a company in Trump Tower. In 2005 she said she met him outside an elevator in the building. She states that he shook her hand, would not let and then proceeded to kiss her on the mouth without her permission. She was only 22 at the time. He was 58.

'†' Story continues below '†'

These women do not know each other, yet their stories are exactly what Trump says he does to women - touch them without permission, grope them, grab their genitals, kiss them forcefully and against their will.

The New York Times reporter reached out to Donald Trump about this story and he denied every allegation, although I imagine he can't keep track of all of the women he assaulted.

He said ''None of this ever took place,'' and began yelling at the reporter, accusing them of making up the allegations.

He continued with ''You are a disgusting human being. I don't do it. I don't do it. It was locker room talk.''

That "locker room talk" excuse is starting to sound like a big old lie.

And adding a layer to this story that is truly vile, yet another report also came out today from CBS News where they have received video where Trump is telling a 10 year old girl that he would "be dating her in 10 years."

The clip was from an Entertainment Tonight Christmas special filmed in 1992 when Trump was 46 years old. In it, he came across a group of young girls and asks one of them if she is ''going up the escalator.'' When she says yes, he turns to the camera and actually says ''I am going to be dating her in 10 years. Can you believe it?''

This comment was made about a 10 year old girl. He found a 10 year old girl sexually attractive enough to actually tell her this. She was probably in 4th or 5th grade, so elementary school age. Trump was 46, a grown man with kids of his own.

What grown man makes these comments? What grown man even thinks this way about children? Power-hungry narcissists, that's who.

How many of Trump's supporters will stand by him after these latest revelations? Now he is not only a serial sexual assaulter, but he is actually objectifying and sexualizing 10 year old girls.

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 22:49

K¶nnen die Leipziger Helden-Syrer jetzt Deutsche werden, so wie der Malier (re.), der als Charlie-Hebdo-Held den franz¶sischen Pass bekam?

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 22:28

WASHINGTON -- Hacked emails show that Hillary Clinton's campaign was slow to grasp the seriousness of the controversy over her use of a homebrew email server and believed it might blow over after one weekend.

Two days after The Associated Press was first to report in March 2015 that Clinton had been running a private server in her home in New York to send and receive messages when she was secretary of state, her advisers were shaping their strategy to respond to the revelation.

Among the emails made public Tuesday by WikiLeaks was one from Clinton campaign spokesman Nick Merrill, who optimistically suggested that the issue might quickly blow over.

''Goal would be to cauterize this just enough so it plays out over the weekend and dies in the short term,'' Merrill wrote on March 6, 2015.

It did not, and became the leading example of Clinton's penchant for secrecy, which has persisted as a theme among her campaign critics and rivals throughout her election season. Clinton did not publicly confirm or discuss her use of the email server until March 10 in a speech at the United Nations, nearly one week after AP revealed the server's existence.

WikiLeaks began releasing on Friday what it said were years of messages from accounts used by Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta. He has acknowledged his emails were hacked. Podesta warned that messages may have been altered or edited to inflict political damage but has not pointed to any specific case of this.

Months after Merrill's message, the campaign was still preoccupied with emails. In May 2015, Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon alerted other staffers that the Justice Department was proposing to publish Clinton's work-related emails by January in response to requests by news organizations. Fallon, a former Justice Department spokesman, wrote that unspecified ''DOJ folks'' told him there was a court hearing planned soon in the case. The name and email address of the person who shared the information with Fallon had been deleted.

Donald Trump on Tuesday called Fallon's email ''unbelievable,'' and his supporters said it showed collusion between the Obama administration and Clinton's campaign.

The dates of court hearings would have been publicly posted in advance on the court's docket. Fallon did not respond to a request for comment from AP. The Justice Department declined to discuss Fallon's email.

Center for American Progress President Neera Tanden, a veteran of Clinton's 2008 campaign, at one point asked Podesta in an email: ''Why doesn't she just turn the server over to a third party at this point?''

It wasn't immediately clear who hacked Podesta's emails, though U.S. intelligence officials last week blamed the Russian government for a series of breaches intended to influence the presidential election.

Through its Twitter account, the Russian Embassy in Washington has denied any role in the cyberattacks, suggesting U.S. officials are just ''whipping up'' anti-Russia hysteria.

The messages stolen from Podesta's account describe how Clinton's closest advisers considered responding to key events during the campaign, including the discovery of her email server and her congressional testimony over the deadly 2012 attacks on a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.

In emails from March 2015, Merrill suggested a strategy - ultimately nixed by Clinton herself - of having comedian Larry Wilmore and Bill Clinton joke during an event for the Clinton Global Initiative charity in Coral Gables, Florida, before having Clinton join them on stage.

Merrill laid out the scenario in emails to Podesta and other aides: ''Wilmore could sit down with WJC and Chelsea and say something like 'Thanks for having me here, it's a pleasure. And I should tell you, I just emailed HRC (I hear she's a big emailer), and asked if she'd join as well. (Laughter).''' He added that Hillary Clinton could then walk out ''to applause.''

''It would be just light-hearted enough while giving her the opportunity to address this seriously, be a little conciliatory as discussed, and then get back to a discussion about CGI etc.,'' Merrill wrote in the email.

In the end, Hillary Clinton's team drafted talking points Clinton used at the news conference at the United Nations.

Clinton said she ''fully complied with every rule that I was governed by'' and that ''there is no classified material'' among her work-related emails.

Both of those statements were later proved false.

The State Department's internal watchdog concluded in an audit released that Clinton ignored clear written guidance that her email setup broke federal record-keeping rules and could leave sensitive material vulnerable to hackers. The FBI's recently closed investigation concluded that more than 100 emails exchanged through Clinton's private server contained information that was later determined to be classified.

As the email controversy escalated in the summer of 2015, Clinton herself seemed slow to grasp the continuing political damage. Communications director Jennifer Palmieri in August expressed concerns that Clinton ''wasn't in the same place'' on the issue as some on her campaign staff.

At the time, the political aides were working out details of revealing that Clinton had directed her staff to hand over her server and a thumb drive with copies of her emails to the Justice Department. Palmieri was writing other campaign aides to arrange for a Univision reporter to ask ''a few questions on emails'' during an interview that would otherwise focus on college affordability.

''As you all know, I had hoped that we could use the 'server moment' as an opportunity for her to be viewed as having take a big step to deal with the email problem that would best position us for what is ahead,'' Palmieri wrote. ''It is clear that she is not in same place.''

Clinton's email practices were not the only controversy her campaign's brain trust was addressing.

On October 2015, speechwriter Dan Schwerin circulated among top Clinton advisers a draft of her opening statement to the House Select Committee on Benghazi, to be delivered the following week.

The draft itself wasn't attached in the emails published Tuesday, but other messages showed how it was shaped, including a section referring to Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens, who was killed in the Sept. 11, 2012, attack.

''We might consider softening the 'Chris did not believe retreat was an option - and neither do I' line,'' wrote Katherine Turner, a law partner of Clinton's personal attorney David Kendall. ''I don't think we want to suggest that there was a commitment to be there at any and all costs.''

Following Clinton's tense Oct. 22 testimony, Podesta proposed in an email that she could publicly joke, ''I used to be obsessed with Donald Trump's hair, that was until I got to spend 11 hours staring at the top of Trey Gowdy's head,'' a reference to the slicked-back white coif of the South Carolina Republican who chairs the committee.

Other Clinton aides shot down the idea.

''I love the joke too but I think HRC should stay above the committee,'' adviser Jake Sullivan replied, ''and especially above personal insults about it. She's got every inch of the high ground right now.''

Palmieri replied: ''Wow. You people are a bunch of ninnies.''

In an email from mid-March just before a town hall hosted by CNN, Donna Brazile, then vice chair at the DNC, as well as a CNN contributor wrote to Palmieri, ''From time to time I get the questions in advance.''

''Here's one that worries me about HRC,'' Brazile wrote, referring to Clinton, and she sent this question:

''DEATH PENALTY 19 states and the District of Columbia have banned the death penalty. 31 states, including Ohio, still have the death penalty. According to the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, since 1973, 156 people have been on death row and later set free. Since 1976, 1,414 people have been executed in the U.S. That's 11% of Americans who were sentenced to die, but later exonerated and freed. Should Ohio and the 30 other states join the current list and abolish the death penalty?''

Palmieri responded, ''Yes, it is one she gets asked about. Not everyone likes her answer but can share it.''

As it turned out, Clinton was asked about the death penalty, but the phrasing of the question was different. Brazile and CNN have denied that she has ever had any of the questions in advance.

And some of the emails dealt with campaign messaging and strategy -- including the phrase ''everyday Americans,'' which Clinton and her campaign used frequently in the first few months of her candidacy.

Speechwriter Dan Schwerin had sent out a draft of a speech he wrote for Clinton for an upcoming event in New Hampshire. After a few exchanges, Podesta recommended that the phrase ''everyday Americans'' get added in, even though he said Clinton doesn't like using it.

''I know she has begun to hate everyday Americans, but I think we should use it once the first time she says I'm running for president because you and everyday Americans need a champion,'' Podesta said. ''I think if she doesn't say it once, people will notice and say we false started in Iowa.''

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 21:33

Hillary Clinton has been having the time of her life the past few days as liberals are ripping into Donald Trump about his leaked ''p*ssy'' comments. Unfortunately for her, she may just want to hold off on the celebration as yet another leak has just surfaced, this time about her '' and the one word she used for Muslims is nastier than anything Trump has ever said.

As most of us are aware at this point, Hillary doesn't really need any help cramming her old nasty feet in her mouth, but someone most certainly gave her a boost recently. In fact, Wikileaks dropped a massive leak that would be enough to bury her '' if the media would do their jobs and report on it.

Instead, her lapdogs in the media seem to be dragging their feet a bit, and the reasons are absolutely clear at this point. Unfortunately for Hillary, it exposes just how nasty the woman is capable of being when she believes that no one is looking.

We all know the hell that Hillary Clinton's camp has put Donald Trump through pertaining to his off-color comments, but it seems that the tables have turned. According to reports, an email released with the latest dump depicts Hillary using the word ''sand n*ggers'' when speaking about Muslims.

Now, it should be noted here that many people are claiming that the email was actually stating what someone else said, but the point still stands. Seeing how Hillary Clinton still forwarded an email with this kind of language is downright despicable, especially considering the high horse she's been riding around on lately.

I mean, why wouldn't she at least sensor such a word (as we did above) or just remove it entirely before sending it along? Furthermore, how do Hillary's best buddies at designated terrorist group CAIR and her Muslim chief advisor Huma Abedin feel about her just passing documents with that kind of language within? Or even her so-called ''tolerant'' voters?

The list goes on and on pertaining to how damaging this could be for Hillary, but there's just one small problem '' no one knows about it. If we've been shown anything this election, it's just how powerful a part the media plays in these things. By running 24-hour, negative propaganda on one candidate while ignoring the bad parts from the other side, you can easily develop a misinformed public '' which certainly seems to be the case with those who are voting for Hillary.

Too bad for her, people are waking up to the real Hillary. This fake fa§ade will only get her so far. With a month still to go before the election, one can only wonder how many more skeletons will be coming out of her closet.

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 21:31

What do you get when you take a nation of millions of hard-working, patriotic people, narcotize them with ''Dancing with the Stars,'' ''Cops'' and ''South Park;'' give them news programs full of car chases, and political coverage that sounds more like ''American Gladiator'' than anything else?

An ''unaware citizenry.''

Then, what if the media tells them that only Obamacare can save them?

That more laws and more government is what they need to protect them. That the government simply must tap into our email, our phones and our most private conversations to protect them. That without the omnipresent and benevolent hand of government, we shall all surely perish.

A ''compliant citizenry.''

And when the message comes from both political parties '' from all sides really '' in a conspiracy to create a people who can be directed, molded and shaped; people who can be told what to think, when to think it and what to do, it makes governing so much easier.

This is what the left has been trying to do for decades.

And don't be fooled '' the right does it too. They're complicit in the attempt to create a nation of willing followers '' spoon-fed the false narrative that there really is a profound difference between the two parties.

But slowly, the public is becoming ''aware.''

From Bernie Sanders on the left '' led by millennials who see through the leftist BS propagated by the Democratic Party.

And from Donald Trump on the right, led by Americans who have a palpable sense that something is wrong. Things are out of whack.

And both sides know this. Sanders lost to the Democrats' establishment candidate, but Donald Trump didn't.

But it doesn't matter who got there first. America is waking up.

We have our first real clue that the establishment knows this.

And they're terrified.

Wikileaks has released an email from Bill Ivey, a former chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts and now a loyal Obama soldier. He sent the message to John Podesta back in March, and while he spends plenty of time bashing Donald Trump, he concludes that America can no longer rely on an unaware and compliant citizenry to do its bidding.

''Well, we all thought the big problem for our US democracy was Citizens United/Koch Brothers big money in politics,'' he writes. ''Silly us; turns out that money isn't all that important if you can conflate entertainment with the electoral process.''

Ivey then attacks Donald Trump '' of course '' noting that he's a celebrity-turned-politicians, that the media ''picks up and repeats'' his ''hairbrained ideas.''

Then Ivey gets to the real issue: What politicians and the media have been doing for decades:

''We've all been content to demean government, drop civics and in general conspire to produce an unaware and compliant citizenry,'' he concludes. ''The unawareness remains strong but compliance is obviously fading rapidly.

This problem demands some serious, serious thinking '' and not just poll driven, demographically inspired messaging.''

With the full consent of Washington, schools have placed little importance in a civics education '' in American history and government. So even if we seem unhappy with the direction of the country, we don't have the intellectual toolbox to explain why.

Combined with a complete disregard for the concerns of the American people and you create a ticking time bomb.

Donald Trump may not win this election. The establishment (Republican and Democrat) may win this one, again. But it's only a matter of time before the ''unaware'' and ''compliant'' citizenry becomes neither.

H/T: Conservative Tribune

About Robert GehlRobert Gehl is a college professor in Phoenix, Arizona. He has over 15 years journalism experience, including two Associated Press awards. He lives in Glendale with his wife and two young children.

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 20:26

(C) FOXInitial findings showed the small plane crash that killed a Jordanian national and injured another man in Connecticut was ''an intentional act,'' The National Transportation Safety Board announced in a statement Wednesday, adding that the FBI would the lead in the investigation with the NTSB assisting.

The unnamed man who survived the crash Tuesday afternoon also told investigators the wreck was not an accident, East Hartford Mayor Marcia Leclerc told The Associated Press. That man was in critical condition at Bridgeport Hospital, but was able to speak to detectives, officials said.

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 20:19

WikiLeaks - The Podesta EmailsThis key's fingerprint is A04C 5E09 ED02 B328 03EB 6116 93ED 732E 9231 8DBA

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From:John.Harwood@nbcuni.com To:

john.podesta@gmail.com Date: 2015-12-08 19:20 Subject: I imagine...

...that Obama feels some (sad) vindication at this demonstration of his years-long point about the opposition party veering off the rails I certainly am feeling that way with respect to how I questioned Trump at our debate John Harwood CNBC/NYT 202 669 0751

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Delivered-To: john.podesta@gmail.comReceived: by 10.25.81.205 with SMTP id f196csp262403lfb; Tue, 8 Dec 2015 13:20:28 -0800 (PST)X-Received: by 10.98.89.28 with SMTP id n28mr8008139pfb.32.1449609628213; Tue, 08 Dec 2015 13:20:28 -0800 (PST)Return-Path: Received: from mx0a-00176a04.pphosted.com (mx0a-00176a04.pphosted.com. [67.231.149.53]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id c14si7463648pfj.150.2015.12.08.13.20.27 for (version=TLS1_2 cipher=ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256 bits=128/128); Tue, 08 Dec 2015 13:20:28 -0800 (PST)Received-SPF: pass (google.com: domain of John.Harwood@nbcuni.com designates 67.231.149.53 as permitted sender) client-ip=67.231.149.53;Authentication-Results: mx.google.com; spf=pass (google.com: domain of John.Harwood@nbcuni.com designates 67.231.149.53 as permitted sender) smtp.mailfrom=John.Harwood@nbcuni.comReceived: from pps.filterd (m0048276.ppops.net [127.0.0.1]) by m0048276.ppops.net-00176a04. (8.15.0.59/8.15.0.59) with SMTP id tB8LI4J4000624 for ; Tue, 8 Dec 2015 16:20:27 -0500Received: from usushmgip002.mail.tfayd.com ([216.178.109.236]) by m0048276.ppops.net-00176a04. with ESMTP id 1yksqtjxfj-1 (version=TLSv1/SSLv3 cipher=RC4-SHA bits=128 verify=NOT) for ; Tue, 08 Dec 2015 16:20:27 -0500Received: from unknown (HELO USAOAECWP006.mail.tfayd.com) ([10.40.33.204]) by usushmgip002.mail.tfayd.com with ESMTP; 08 Dec 2015 13:20:26 -0800Received: from AOAEMWP00002.mail.tfayd.com ([169.254.2.215]) by usaoaecwp006.mail.tfayd.com ([3.3.179.24]) with mapi id 14.03.0195.001; Tue, 8 Dec 2015 16:20:25 -0500From: "Harwood, John (NBCUniversal)" To: "john.podesta@gmail.com" Subject: I imagine...Thread-Topic: I imagine...Thread-Index: AdEx/kDq1YT06WINQmi+9uTMUMio+A==Date: Tue, 8 Dec 2015 21:20:25 +0000Message-ID: Accept-Language: en-USContent-Language: en-USX-MS-Has-Attach: X-MS-TNEF-Correlator: x-exclaimer-md-config: 47edc00f-f2d6-45ef-be83-8a353bd47e45Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"Content-ID: Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printableMIME-Version: 1.0X-CFilter-Loop: ForwardX-Proofpoint-Virus-Version: vendor=fsecure engine=2.50.10432:,, definitions=2015-12-08_14:,, signatures=0X-Proofpoint-Spam-Details: rule=outbound_notspam policy=outbound score=0 spamscore=0 suspectscore=0 malwarescore=0 phishscore=0 adultscore=2 bulkscore=0 classifier=spam adjust=0 reason=mlx scancount=1 engine=8.0.1-1507310000 definitions=main-1512080368...that Obama feels some (sad) vindication at this demonstration of his yea=rs-long point about the opposition party veering off the railsI certainly am feeling that way with respect to how I questioned Trump at o=ur debateJohn Harwood=20CNBC/NYT202 669 0751=

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 20:18

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An earlier batch of emails released last week showed Harwood congratulating Clinton on primary wins, and minimizing the importance of her e-mail scandal.

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In one of the new emails, sent in December 2015, Harwood tells Podesta: ''I imagine'... '...that Obama feels some (sad) vindication at this demonstration of his years-long point about the opposition party veering off the rails. I certainly am feeling that way with respect to how I questioned Trump at our debate''.

Among Harwood's questions to Trump were: ''Let's be honest. Is this a comic book version of a Presidential campaign?''; ''I talked to economic advisors who have served presidents of both parties. They said that you have as much chance of cutting taxes that much without increasing the deficit as you would of flying away from that podium by flapping your arms around.''

In another email, Harwood commiserated with Podesta about Clinton Cash: The Untold Story of How and Why Foreign Governments and Businesses Helped Make Bill and Hillary Rich, the investigative book by Breitbart editor Peter Schweizer that exposed the Clintons' conflicts of interest between the Clinton Foundation and the State Department.

Harwood complained that the New York Times '-- his own paper '-- had given the book any attention: ''I find it weird that NYT made some sort of deal with the guy writing that book,'' he wrote.

Other emails show Harwood communicating with Podesta about other candidates '-- real and potential '-- including Vice President Joe Biden on the Democratic side, and Dr. Ben Carson on the Republican side.

Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News. His new book, See No Evil: 19 Hard Truths the Left Can't Handle, is available from Regnery through Amazon. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.

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Archived Version

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 19:35

"... directly ordered network staff not to cover ..."

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Whether or not there is any truth to the claims of a man who has insisted Bill Clinton is his father, one thing is clear. Americans who get their news from CNN will never know about it.

''CNN boss Jeff Zucker has directly ordered network staff not to cover shocking allegations made by Arkansas resident Danney Williams,'' the Drudge Report posted Wednesday.

''Jeff thinks it is a ridiculous hoax,'' Drudge quotes what is says was ''a top CNN source.''

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''I always felt bad about Bill Clinton not wanting to be in my life,'' Williams explains in a video released Monday. ''Was it because I was black? Was there something wrong with me? It made me think sometimes even of suicide. It's not fair and it has been hurtful.''

My name is Danney Lee Williams, I am the son of former president @billclinton. Please help me get this message to my father. #BillClintonSonpic.twitter.com/KaGNVXDUeQ

'-- Danney Williams (@danney_williams) October 4, 2016

''Hillary, please do not deny I exist. I am your stepson,'' he said.

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In the video, he asks for a DNA test to prove Clinton was his father. A DNA test that was done in the 1990s when Williams' story first surfaced concluded Clinton was not the father of Danney Williams, but questions have been raised about the reliability of that test.

I want to wish my father @billclinton and his wife @HillaryClinton a happy 41st wedding anniversary. #ClintonKidpic.twitter.com/VHzYblfvQ5

'-- Danney Williams (@danney_williams) October 11, 2016

Williams has said that his mother, Bobbie Ann Williams, was a prostitute who had sex with Clinton while he was governor of Arkansas.

Bobbie Lee Williams has said Clinton ran past her while jogging and later paid her to have sex '-- sometimes with other women involved.

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She alleges Clinton got her pregnant and never acknowledged or supported her son.

The claim that Danney Williams is Clinton's son was floated in the 1992 presidential election campaign, but never publicly discussed until 1999 in the wake of the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

Williams denied that he was going public now for political reasons. ''This is not about politics or money. For me, it is about finding the truth and understanding finally who I am and where I came from,'' he said.

What do you think?Scroll down to comment below.

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Archived Version

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 19:23

In December, the board of the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation approved a salary of more than $395,000, plus bonus, for its Yale-educated CEO, Eric Braverman, while voting to extend his board term through 2017, according to sources familiar with the arrangement. Braverman, who had worked with Chelsea Clinton at the prestigious McKinsey & Company consultancy, had been brought in with the former first daughter's support to help impose McKinsey-like management rigor to a foundation that had grown into a $2 billion charitable powerhouse.

But in January, only weeks after the board's show of support and just a year and a half after Braverman arrived, he abruptly resigned, and sources tell Politico his exit stemmed partly from a power struggle inside the foundation between and among the coterie of Clinton loyalists who have surrounded the former president for decades and who helped start and run the foundation. Some, including the president's old Arkansas lawyer Bruce Lindsey, who preceded Braverman as CEO, raised concerns directly to Bill Clinton about the reforms implemented by Braverman, according to sources, and felt themselves marginalized by the growing influence of Chelsea Clinton and the new CEO she had helped recruit.

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The previously untold saga of Braverman's brief, and occasionally fraught tenure trying to navigate the Clintons' insular world highlights the challenges the family has faced trying to impose rigorous oversight onto a vast global foundation that relies on some of the same loyal megadonors Hillary Clinton will need for the presidential run sources have said she is all but certain to launch later this year.

Already, a spate of recent news stories in Politico and elsewhere have highlighted questions about the foundation's aggressive fundraising both before and during Braverman's tenure, including the news that the foundation had been accepting contributions from foreign governments with lax oversight from the State Department when Hillary Clinton was secretary of state. The foundation has been Clinton's main public platform since she left State in February 2013.

The hiring a few months later of Braverman, who had been a partner in McKinsey's Washington office, was seen as validation of Chelsea Clinton's view that the foundation needed to address recommendations from a 2011 audit for tighter governance and budgeting, as well as more comprehensive policies to vet donors and avoid conflicts of interest.

When Braverman arrived to replace Lindsey as CEO, he moved quickly to adopt the auditor's recommendations, and then some. He diversified the foundation's board beyond the Clintons and their longtime political allies and restructured its finance department. He oversaw the creation of a $250 million endowment and implemented data-driven analytics to measure the effectiveness of foundation programs.

No public explanation was offered for Braverman's resignation.

But sources say Braverman's modernization efforts were hampered by the occasionally conflicting visions of the three Clintons, and their rival staff factions. Some told Braverman, ''You don't know how this place works,'' while others'--including Lindsey'--second-guessed Braverman to Bill Clinton, according to sources familiar with the situation. They said a repeated refrain from the old guard was that Braverman was in it for his own glory.

Braverman referred requests for comment to the foundation.

Asked if Braverman was pushed out, foundation officials pointed to an official resignation statement, in which Braverman thanked the foundation and the Clintons praised his leadership in helping ''improve our governance structure, increase coordination across the Foundation and build better internal processes.''

The foundation announced that, while it was looking for a permanent successor, longtime Clinton loyalist Maura Pally would serve as acting CEO. Other than a stint at Bloomberg Philanthropies (which has donated more than $100,000 to the Clinton Foundation's efforts), Pally had spent most of her professional life working for the Clintons, from Bill Clinton's White House to Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign and subsequent State Department term.

This account of Braverman's foundation tenure is based on interviews with about a dozen current and former Clinton Foundation staffers, Braverman associates, donors and Clinton allies, most of whom cited the coming presidential race in declining to be identified.

At left, Eric Braverman. At right, Bill Clinton with Bruce Lindsey, the former president's old Arkansas lawyer, who sources say complicated reforms pushed by Eric Braverman and Chelsea Clinton. | Left: Moshe Zusman Photography Studio; right: Getty Images

Most praised Braverman and said he accomplished much of what he set out to do, leaving the foundation in a strong position headed into 2016. And some dismissed recent scrutiny of the foundation's fundraising and management as a function of the news media's ''total obsession'' with the Clintons, in the words of Chris Ruddy, the CEO of the conservative media outlet Newsmax, which last year pledged $1 million to the foundation. A longtime participant in the foundation-backed Clinton Global Initiative, Ruddy said, ''I don't see that the ongoing work of the foundation will be undermined in any way by any leadership changes that have taken place.''

But some family allies think Braverman's experience offers lessons that could help Hillary Clinton as she chooses from the scores of operatives jockeying to work for a 2016 campaign. ''This is the story of their lives. They've always been torn between the super, super loyalists who are protecting them and the extremely competent people who don't owe their whole careers to them,'' said one former Clinton aide. ''They need to try to strike that balance. And her campaign, at least so far, seems to be bringing in competent people who haven't all come from that world.''

In many ways, what played out over the past two years at the foundation was the story of Chelsea Clinton's rise. Her power now at the foundation cannot be overstated, according to sources with knowledge of its workings, who say no major decisions occur without her input. Now 35 and with the official title of vice chair at the foundation, Chelsea Clinton is expected to be a key adviser to her mother in the presidential campaign.

''I've often joked that she would be the ultimate campaign manager,'' said a longtime Clinton operative, who said that the foundation was an ideal place for Chelsea Clinton ''to come sit at the adult table. And Chelsea is unique in that she was always at the adult table, but now she can participate.''

Foundation spokesman Craig Minassian said, "Chelsea has a tremendous positive influence on the foundation, and we're thrilled to have it. Publicly, she's been an incredibly strong and effective advocate for the foundation and its programs. Internally, she's done everything she can to improve the way the foundation operates and make sure it's in the best possible position to continue helping people around the world.''

But Chelsea Clinton's rise at times has seemed to threaten some veteran Clinton aides who had carved out influential'--and lucrative'--positions after long service with her parents. She is blamed in some quarters for marginalizing both Lindsey and Doug Band, who rose from the president's body man to build and help run the foundation's Clinton Global Initiative. A third Clinton veteran, Ira Magaziner, saw his portfolio at the foundation diminished during Braverman's tenure, and sources say Magaziner's role remains under scrutiny.

Magaziner, who was a Rhodes scholar with Bill Clinton in the late 1960s and spearheaded Hillary Clinton's botched health care reform push in the 1990s, was paid $415,000 in foundation salary and consulting fees in 2013 to help run two programs, the Clinton Climate Initiative and the Clinton Health Access Initiative. Magaziner left the climate project late last year after Braverman brought in new leadership, but he remains CEO of the health initiative. The health group's board'--which includes Magaziner'--at the end of last year voted unanimously to initiate an internal governance review by the New York law firm Simpson Thacher, according to foundation officials.

Link to Article

Archived Version

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 19:19

Link to Article

Archived Version

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 18:57

WikiLeaks - The Podesta EmailsThis key's fingerprint is A04C 5E09 ED02 B328 03EB 6116 93ED 732E 9231 8DBA

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From:bfallon@hillaryclinton.com To:

slatham@hillaryclinton.com Date: 2016-02-20 23:30 Subject: Re: NV little girl ad..

Yes. On Feb 20, 2016 8:27 PM, "Sara Latham" wrote: > Should we push that out as the major turning point - so they replay > it everywhere? > > Otherwise Harry Reid seems to be getting a fair amount of credit... > > Sent from my iPhone >

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Delivered-To: john.podesta@gmail.comReceived: by 10.25.88.78 with SMTP id m75csp539990lfb; Sat, 20 Feb 2016 17:31:00 -0800 (PST)X-Received: by 10.25.28.195 with SMTP id c186mr6500487lfc.22.1456018260711; Sat, 20 Feb 2016 17:31:00 -0800 (PST)Return-Path: Received: from mail-lf0-x235.google.com (mail-lf0-x235.google.com. [2a00:1450:4010:c07::235]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id ne7si8550088lbc.212.2016.02.20.17.31.00 for (version=TLS1_2 cipher=ECDHE-RSA-AES128-GCM-SHA256 bits=128/128); Sat, 20 Feb 2016 17:31:00 -0800 (PST)Received-SPF: pass (google.com: domain of bfallon@hillaryclinton.com designates 2a00:1450:4010:c07::235 as permitted sender) client-ip=2a00:1450:4010:c07::235;Authentication-Results: mx.google.com; spf=pass (google.com: domain of bfallon@hillaryclinton.com designates 2a00:1450:4010:c07::235 as permitted sender) smtp.mailfrom=bfallon@hillaryclinton.com; dkim=pass header.i=@hillaryclinton.com; dmarc=pass (p=NONE dis=NONE) header.from=hillaryclinton.comReceived: by mail-lf0-x235.google.com with SMTP id l143so67138008lfe.2 for ; Sat, 20 Feb 2016 17:31:00 -0800 (PST)DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=hillaryclinton.com; s=google; h=mime-version:in-reply-to:references:date:message-id:subject:from:to :cc:content-type; bh=NOdeBxx+QRCwD8EnSmdlpBisUarOkrxJaLun4zLRmmY=; b=cTVmaEskIByLOLW2DFov2Sbyg/s4Z3y/R+xHZqWTfz12KjlrhNTl+GjyQQ3zpyUnI9 tvXRY8PGlhmH+TY0Rg8vsCS9M7bflj+P4CDOsiXPhWcGJ49GN1gouVg1Iq44GTiA6Vh7 LlZUqcIvTaFtvKQHT24pS5kmki0CNJknuUE9Y=X-Google-DKIM-Signature: v=1; a=rsa-sha256; c=relaxed/relaxed; d=1e100.net; s=20130820; h=x-gm-message-state:mime-version:in-reply-to:references:date :message-id:subject:from:to:cc:content-type; bh=NOdeBxx+QRCwD8EnSmdlpBisUarOkrxJaLun4zLRmmY=; b=jS61UnrdHxy7sM31013AhwghBiEiLpG6i9OrDXHVlpS5Pw93BIvAzHkG+qGm2Zf3zD cjiBgfNc6lrltO6XuDEv0b95w5V3GCeMcmC0ZPIwjmST+HbYOtZX9lHsQCqZ9+EgMXY8 YcPQqpCIvB1BBOloRe3VtoS/uRuCgPXNqeY2VL4q1I9ncvj99YNxZl5E4dz/z+NScWwD kfKx5vrVu5fK4bdKIZkb/3S815dzkG9e6H7j3tDZs8f1vihwrgLDsPN/RwUNaQZPk08s 6494pjHlO3NPv6yR4O8aYHqB7EApKiifKs3WHqWNVNQa73HQpyu4wwJvE9gPOio8yUSS Ju6g==X-Gm-Message-State: AG10YOSB65sBe22C/9bsxiv1kA6y7wWHWkSNxdkXFbLpuEkB2uIcUK4HabFBincpTJ4g6b1ES2k02wC+AKgb8qmTMIME-Version: 1.0X-Received: by 10.25.89.67 with SMTP id n64mr5155310lfb.95.1456018260554; Sat, 20 Feb 2016 17:31:00 -0800 (PST)Received: by 10.114.173.237 with HTTP; Sat, 20 Feb 2016 17:30:59 -0800 (PST)Received: by 10.114.173.237 with HTTP; Sat, 20 Feb 2016 17:30:59 -0800 (PST)In-Reply-To: References: Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2016 20:30:59 -0500Message-ID: Subject: Re: NV little girl ad..From: Brian Fallon To: Sara Latham CC: Jennifer Palmieri , Christina Reynolds , Kristina Schake , John Podesta Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary=001a114125c0351370052c3dab66--001a114125c0351370052c3dab66Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8Yes.On Feb 20, 2016 8:27 PM, "Sara Latham" wrote:> Should we push that out as the major turning point - so they replay> it everywhere?>> Otherwise Harry Reid seems to be getting a fair amount of credit...>> Sent from my iPhone>--001a114125c0351370052c3dab66Content-Type: text/html; charset=UTF-8Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printableYes.

On Feb 20, 2016 8:27 PM, "Sara Latham"= wrote:Sh=ould we push that out as the major turning point -=C2=A0 so they replayit everywhere?Otherwise Harry Reid seems to be getting a fair amount of credit...Sent from my iPhone--001a114125c0351370052c3dab66--

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 18:11

Heroic role model '... a Wonder Woman party plate. Photograph: Handout

The United Nations is due to welcome a new honorary ambassador for the empowerment of women and girls: Wonder Woman.

Lynda Carter, star of the 1970s TV series Wonder Woman. Photograph: AlamyAccording to website Comic Book Resources, the superhero will officially be given her new title at an event in New York on 21 October '' the character's 75th anniversary '' at the United Nations headquarters. The announcement is due to be attended by UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, DC Entertainment president Diane Nelson and, said Comic Book Resources, some ''surprise guests'', who the comics site speculated would include the actors who have appeared as Wonder Woman over the years, including actor Lynda Carter.

The event will also mark the launch of the UN's landmark global campaign supporting Sustainable Development Goal #5, which is to ''achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls''.

''Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, but a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world,'' says the UN. ''Providing women and girls with equal access to education, healthcare, decent work, and representation in political and economic decision-making processes will fuel sustainable economies and benefit societies and humanity at large.''

Wonder Woman #1, her first headline adventure from summer 1942. Photograph: DC ComicsWonder Woman, created by William Moulton Marston, first appeared in October 1941. The story, according to publisher DC Comics, was ''meant to test her appeal at a time when female superheroes were rare'', but the character ''quickly broke out and headlined her own title by the next year''. Going under the secret identity of Diana Prince, the superhero is an Amazon from the all-female paradise of Themyscira.

Her 75th anniversary is also being marked by the US Postal Service with the issue of four Wonder Woman stamps. ''Wonder Woman was one of the first female super heroes that inspired countless young girls over the past three quarters of a century,'' said the service's Kristin Seaver. ''We salute this heroic role model and her legacy that is sure to continue to span another 75 years.''

Artist artist Jos(C) Luis Garc­a-L"pez said it had been ''an honour to work on an iconic character like Wonder Woman for the past 40 years'', calling her ''the ultimate female superhero [and] a true symbol of equality and justice''.

Last month, Wonder Woman writer Greg Rucka stated unequivocally that the character was queer, and had had relationships with other women. In an interview with Comicosity, Rucka was asked by Matt Santori-Griffith if Wonder Woman was queer. Santori-Griffith defined the term as ''involving, although not necessarily exclusively, romantic and/or sexual interest toward persons of the same gender''.

Wonder Woman in 1962. Photograph: DC Comics''Yes,'' Rucka told Comicosity. ''I think it's more complicated though ... when you start to think about giving the concept of Themyscira its due, the answer is, 'How can they not all be in same-sex relationships?' Right? It makes no logical sense otherwise. It's supposed to be paradise. You're supposed to be able to live happily. You're supposed to be able ... to have a fulfilling, romantic and sexual relationship. And the only options are women. But an Amazon doesn't look at another Amazon and say: 'You're gay.' They don't. The concept doesn't exist.''

But Rucka was clear that he wasn't ''hedging'' his answer '' that Themyscira ''is a queer culture'' and that ''anyone who wants to prevaricate on that is being silly''.

Comics site the Mary Sue welcomed Rucka's comments about Wonder Woman's sexuality, saying that it ''probably isn't a surprise to very many Wonder Woman fans'' because ''comics readers have been looking at her books through an LGBTQIA lens forever''.

The Mary Sue also hailed the character's new UN role, saying that she is ''a great, easily recognisable symbol of what women can become once freed from a patriarchal society''.

Video: watch the trailer for the DC superhero film Wonder Woman, starring Gal Gadot

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Archived Version

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 17:46

VideoPlane Crash on a Connecticut Main StreetA small plane crashed in East Hartford, Conn., on Tuesday, killing one passenger. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating whether the crash was intentional.

Publish Date October 12, 2016.Photo by Jim Michaud/Journal Inquirer, via Associated Press.Watch in Times Video >>The F.B.I. is investigating whether the crash of a small plane in East Hartford, Conn., that killed a passenger on Tuesday was intentional, according to four federal law enforcement officials.

The pilot, who survived the crash, told investigators that it was not an accident. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing.

Officials identified the passenger as Feras M. Freitekh, 28. Public records show he had lived in Orland Hills, Ill., about 35 miles southwest of Chicago. Federal Aviation Administration records show he was issued a private pilot certificate on May 29, 2015, and was certified to fly a single-engine plane.

The F.A.A. said the Piper PA 34 crashed around 3:40 p.m. on Main Street as it was on a final approach to Hartford-Brainard Airport in Hartford. Mayor Marcia Leclerc of East Hartford said the plane took off from a flight school at the airport.

Hartford-Brainard

Airport

The police chief of East Hartford, Scott M. Sansom, said during a news conference that the police sought the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation because the plane went down near a Pratt & Whitney factory on Main Street, which he described as being ''critical infrastructure.''

The company, which has its headquarters in East Hartford, is a global manufacturer of jet engines for commercial, military and general aviation aircraft.

Ray Hernandez, a spokesman for the company, said in an email on Tuesday that the company was aware of the crash and that it did ''not appear at this time that any Pratt & Whitney employees or contractors were involved.''

The mayor said the pilot, who was interviewed by detectives, was taken to Bridgeport Hospital with serious burns.

Two people who were in a minivan near the crash had minor injuries and were taken to a hospital, the police chief said.

Officials from the Federal Aviation Administration were at the site on Tuesday, and members of the National Transportation Safety Board were expected to arrive on Wednesday morning, he added.

Niraj Chokshi contributed reporting.

A version of this article appears in print on October 12, 2016, on page A20 of the New York edition with the headline: Plane Crash Near Hartford May Have Been Intentional.

Continue reading the main story

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Archived Version

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 17:45

A small plane crashed in East Hartford, killing a student pilot, Feras M. Freitekh. (Nancy Blackmer/Contributed Photo)

A 28-year-old Jordanian national who was studying to become a pilot died after crashing a small plane Tuesday afternoon in Connecticut, and the instructor pilot who survived the crash said it was intentional.

Feras M. Freitekh has been identified as the student pilot who died in the crash on Main Street in East Hartford, CBS News reports.

The crash occurred near Pratt & Whitney, a defense contractor that makes jet engines for the military.

Local and state police, along with several federal agencies, including the FBI, NTSB and FAA, are now investigating the crash.

A high-ranking law enforcement source told the Hartford Courant there was an argument between the student pilot and the instructor prior to the crash. The source said the student pilot said he didn't want to fly the plane any longer, but it was not clear why, according to the Courant.

The plane crashed just before 4 p.m. There were no serious injuries to anyone on the ground.

The surviving flight instructor, identified by the Courant as Arian Prevalla, was able to get out of the plane after the crash and is expected to survive.

Here's what you need to know:

1. Freitekh Came to the United States in 2012 on a Temporary Visa for Flight School & Had a License to Fly a Single-Engine PlaneFeras Freitekh, who died in the crash, came to the United States from Jordan in 2012 on a temporary M-1 visa for flight school, CBS News reports.

His immigration status was later changed to an F-1 visa and he studied at a language school in Toledo, Ohio, the news network reports, before it eventually went back to an M-1 visa.

M-1 and F-1 visas are both student visas, according to the State Department.

The 28-year-old Freitekh has also lived in Orland Hills, Illinois, about 35 miles away from Chicago, the New York Times reports.

He began living there in April 2013, the Hartford Courant reports.

Freitekh obtained a private pilot certificate on May 29, 2015, and was licensed to fly a single-engine plane, according to the Times.

Steven Bourgoin: 5 Fast Facts You Need to KnowA 36-year-old man is suspected in a wrong-way crash that killed five teens on Interstate 89 in Williston, Vermont. He stole a cop car after the crash, police say.

Click here to read more2. The FBI & Local Police Raided an Apartment in Hartford Where He Lived With 3 Other Foreign Nationals Also Studying to Become PilotsThe FBI and local police raided an apartment on Annawan Street as part of the investigation, WVIT-TV reports.

Neighbors told WTIC-TV that four men lived together in the apartment targeted by police.

Sources told the Hartford Courant the three other men who lived there were also foreign nationals studying to become pilots.

Authorities searched Annawan Street ap't where Feras Freitekh lived late last night, found no evidence tying him to known terrorist groups

'-- Dave Altimari (@davealtimari) October 12, 2016

A source said 3 other foreign nationalists, also getting pilot's licenses, lived with Feras Freitekh and all 3 were interviewed and released

'-- Dave Altimari (@davealtimari) October 12, 2016

Hartford Police remained at the scene Wednesday morning. Lieutenant Brian Foley, the Hartford Police spokesman, said it was connected to a law enforcement investigation, adding that the scene is ''safe and not active.''

HPD presence on Annawan St is related to an external Law Enforcement investigation. Scene is safe and not active.

'-- D/C Foley (@LtFoley) October 12, 2016

Foley said police had been at the scene through the night and ''no suspects (are) at large,'' and ''no residents are in danger.''

3. Police Called the Pratt & Whitney Plant Near the Crash 'Critical Infrastructure'The crash happened near a major defense contractor, Pratt & Whitney, which manufactures military and commercial jet engines. East Hartford Police Chief called the company's plant ''critical infrastructure,'' the Hartford Courant reports.

Police said the FBI was contacted because of the proximity to Pratt & Whitney.

The aerospace contractor issued a statement after the crash Tuesday:

We are aware of the incident that occurred this afternoon on Main Street. Our thoughts are with the people affected. It does not appear at this time that any Pratt & Whitney employees or contractors were involved. Additionally, there is no impact to our operation here in East Hartford other than restricted traffic flow to the facility's main entrance on Main Street. We stand ready to assist local officials as needed. Additional queries should be directed to the appropriate local officials.

Police said they have not ruled anything out as far as a possible motive for the crash. They said they could not comment about whether terrorism is being investigated.

''Terrorism is a criminal act,'' East Hartford Police spokesman Lieutenant Joshua Litwin said at a press conference. ''There is a lot of criminal investigators on scene. Nothing has been ruled out.''

According to police, investigators have also not ruled out that the crash could have been accident, despite the claims from the surviving pilot that it was intentional.

The investigation remains ''extremely active,'' police said.

4. The Piper PA-34 Twin-Engine Plane Took Off From a Flight School at Nearby Brainard AirportThe Piper PA-34 twin-engine plane took off Tuesday afternoon from a flight school at Brainard Airport, not far from the scene of the crash, WFSB-TV reports.

The plane was making its final descent back to Brainard Airport when the crash occurred, the news station reports.

It struck a utility pole on Main Street in East Hartford during the crash, and then burst into flames.

East Hartford Police spokesman Lieutenant Joshua Litwin said there are two sets of controls on the plane, but it is not clear who was in control at the time of the crash. Litwin said both men on board the plane would have been able to take control.

A Piper PA-34 twin engine plane similar to the one that crashed in East Hartford. (Adrian Pingstone/Public Domain)

Jonathan Rucker told the Hartford Courant he saw the crash.

''I hear planes every day,'' he said. ''I heard a plane, then I didn't hear anything. I looked up and the plane was just tipping over. It tipped to the left and dropped straight down. There was a loud bang, smoke and flame. It tipped to the left and just dropped like a rock.''

Another witness, Frank Crandall, told the Courant, ''I saw the plane hit the power lines, go into a power pole and then hit just before a minivan and burst into flames. I thought the power lines were going to come down, so I gunned it.''

Part of Main Street near the scene of the crash remained closed Wednesday morning.

5. The Pilot Who Survived the Crash Suffered Serious Burns & Remains HospitalizedThe instructor pilot who survived the crash was hospitalized with serious burns, CBS News reports.

He was identified as Adrian Prevalla by the Hartford Courant. Officials say he is cooperating with the investigation.

He runs the Hartford Jet Center, according to his Linkedin profile. The flight school is based at Hartford-Brainard Airport, where the plane took off from on Tuesday.

Two people who were in a car near the scene of the crash were taken to the hospital after they were traumatized by what they saw, police say. But they were not injured.

Williston, Vermont, Crash: Photos to Remember the VictimsFive high school students '-- Eli Brookens, Mary Harris, Janie Cozzi, Liam Hale and Cyrus Zschau '-- were killed by a wrong-way driver in Williston, Vermont.

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 16:52

Iceland has found nine top bankers guilty and sentenced them to decades in jail for crimes related to the 2008 economic crash.

On Thursday Iceland's Supreme Court returned a guilty verdict for all nine defendants in the Kaupthing market manipulation case, after a long running court trial which began in April last year.

Kaupthing was a big international bank headquartered in Reykjavik, Iceland. It expanded internationally for years, but collapsed in 2008 under huge debts, crippling the small nation's economy.

By demanding that bankers be subject to the same laws as the rest of society, Iceland opted for a very different strategy in the wake of the financial crisis to rest of Europe and the US, where banks were fined nominal amounts, and directors and chief executives escaped punishment altogether.

While the US and UK governments provided bail outs and government stakes for their big banks with tax-payers' money '' essentially giving bankers the green light to continue behaving in the same way '' Iceland adopted a different approach, declaring it would let the banks go bust, weed out and punish the criminal element at the top of the banks, and protect the savings of the people.

Former director of the bank, Hrei°ar Mr Sigur°sson, who was found guilty and jailed last year, was also given a six-month extension to his sentence on Thursday.

According to Iceland Monitor, the bankers are found guilty of crimes relating to deceitfully financing share purchases '' the bank lent money for the purchase of the shares while using its own shares as collateral for the loans.

They are also found guilty of creating a misleading demand for Kaupthing shares by means of deception and pretence.

The Icelandic Approach

These guilty verdicts are just the latest in Iceland's unprecedented clampdown since the economic crash. Authorities have been pursuing bank bosses, chief executives, civil servants and corporate looters for crimes ranging from insider trading to fraud, money laundering, misleading markets, breach of duties and lying to officials.

Meanwhile the economy that collapsed so spectacularly has rebounded after letting its banks go bust, imposing capital controls and protecting its own citizens rather than the elite bank bosses responsible for the mess.

This determination to hold people to account for actions that caused intense financial misery contrasts strongly with the U.K., the rest of Europe and the US. Yes, fines were imposed on the 20 biggest banks for transgressions such as market manipulation, money-laundering and mis-selling mortgages, but these costs fall on shareholders and, by hampering the banks' ability to lend, they also punish the rest of society.

Meanwhile the guilty senior bankers, thanks to government bail outs, carry on making enormous profits and collecting their obscene bonuses as though nothing happened.

Last year, the International Monetary Fund declared that Iceland had achieved economic recovery ''without compromising its welfare model'' or unduly punishing its citizens for crimes committed by its bankers.

Iceland is right to jail it's bankers '' and the US and Europe is wrong to merely slap a few wrists and give the green light to future outrages.

Baxter DmitryPassionate about motor sports, military history and the truth, Baxter has travelled in over 80 countries and won arguments in every single one.

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 16:40

Russia is ordering all of its officials to fly home any relatives living abroad amid heightened tensions over the prospect of global war, it has been claimed.

Politicians and high-ranking figures are said to have received a warning from president Vladimir Putin to bring their loved-ones home to the 'Motherland', according to local media.

It comes after Putin cancelled a planned visit to France amid a furious row over Moscow's role in the Syrian conflict and just days after it emerged the Kremlin had moved nuclear-capable missiles near to the Polish border.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has also warned that the world is at a 'dangerous point' due to rising tensions between Russia and the US.

Politicians and high-ranking figures are said to have received a warning from president Vladimir Putin (pictured) to bring their loved-ones home to the 'Fatherland', according to local media

Russia is ordering all of its officials to fly home any relatives living abroad amid heightened tensions over the prospect of global war, it has been claimed

According to the Russian site Znak.com, administration staff, regional administrators, lawmakers of all levels and employees of public corporations have been ordered to take their children out of foreign schools immediately.

Failure to act will see officials jeopardising their chances of promotion, local media has reported.

The exact reason for the order is not yet clear.

But Russian political analyst Stanislav Belkovsky is quoted by the Daily Star as saying: 'This is all part of the package of measures to prepare elites to some 'big war'.'

Relations between Russia and the US are at their lowest since the Cold War and have soured in recent days after Washington pulled the plug on Syria talks and accused Russia of hacking attacks.

Mr Gorbachev's comments come as France has said they will ask the International Criminal Court's prosecutor to launch an investigation into war crimes it says have been committed by Syrian and Russian forces in eastern Aleppo, pictured

The Kremlin has also suspended a series of nuclear pacts, including a symbolic cooperation deal to cut stocks of weapons-grade plutonium.

Just days ago, it was reported that Russia had moved nuclear-capable missiles near to the Polish border as tensions escalated between the world's largest nation and the West.

The Iskander missiles sent to Kaliningrad, a Russian enclave on the Baltic Sea between Nato members Poland and Lithuania, are now within range of major Western cities including Berlin.

Polish officials '' whose capital Warsaw is potentially threatened '' have described the move as of the 'highest concern'.

RUSSIA TESTS BALLISTIC MISSILES AS TENSIONS BUILDRussia's military conducted a series of intercontinental ballistic missile tests on Wednesday, the latest flexing of its muscles as tensions with the US spike over Syria.

Russian forces fired a nuclear-capable rocket from a Pacific Fleet submarine in the Sea of Okhotsk north of Japan, state-run RIA Novosti reported.

A Topol missile was shot off from a submarine in the Barents Sea, and a third was launched from an inland site in the north-west of the vast country, Russian agencies reported.

The latest display of might by Moscow - which has been conducting regular military drills since ties with the West slumped in 2014 over Ukraine - comes as tensions have shot up in recent days.

Russia has pulled the plug on a series of deals with the US - including a symbolic disarmament pact between the two nuclear powers to dispose of weapons-grade plutonium - as Washington has halted talks on Syria.

The Kremlin has also moved an air defence missile system and missile cruisers to the war-ravaged country to bolster its forces there.

That comes as the West has accused Moscow of committing potential war crimes in its bombing of rebel-held part of the city of Aleppo in support of an assault by regime forces.

Washington has previously lashed out at Moscow for resorting to alleged "nuclear sabre-rattling" as East-West relations fell to the worst level since the Cold War following Russia's seizure of Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014.

Putin's decision to cancel his Paris visit came a day after French President Francois Hollande said Syrian forces had committed a 'war crime' in the battered city of Aleppo with the support of Russian air strikes.

Putin had been due in Paris on October 19 to inaugurate a spiritual centre at a new Russian Orthodox church near the Eiffel Tower, but Hollande had insisted his Russian counterpart also took part in talks with him about Syria.

The unprecedented cancellation of a visit so close to being finalised is a 'serious step... reminiscent of the Cold War', said Russian foreign policy analyst Fyodor Lukyanov.

'This is part of the broader escalation in the tensions between Russia and the West, and Russia and NATO,' he told AFP.

The Kremlin has also been angered over the banning of the Russian Paralympic team from the Rio Olympics amid claims of state-sponsored doping of its athletes.

The unprecedented cancellation of Putin's visit to France so close to being finalised is a 'serious step... reminiscent of the Cold War', said Russian foreign policy analyst Fyodor Lukyanov

Meanwhile, the top advisor to US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has said the FBI is investigating Russia's possible role in hacking thousands of his personal emails.

But Russian officials have vigorously rejected accusations of meddling in the US presidential elections and dismissed allegations that Moscow was behind a series of recent hacks on US institutions.

Retired Russian Lt. Gen. Evgeny Buzhinsky told the BBC: 'Of course there is a reaction. As far as Russia sees it, as Putin sees it, it is full-scale confrontation on all fronts. If you want a confrontation, you'll get one.

'But it won't be a confrontation that doesn't harm the interests of the United States. You want a confrontation, you'll get one everywhere.'

Earlier this week British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson waded into the row, calling for anti-war campaigners to protest outside the Russian embassy in London.

Johnson said the 'wells of outrage are growing exhausted' and anti-war groups were not expressing sufficient outrage at the conflict in Aleppo.

'Where is the Stop the War Coalition at the moment? Where are they?' he said during a parliamentary debate.

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 16:14

(TNS) - Hurricane Matthew '-- a storm that toppled trees, dumped up to eight inches of rain and left thousands without power, caught Scotland, N.C. officials and residents by surprise.

Scotland County Manager Kevin Patterson said forecasts that the Category 1 storm would veer and avoid the Sandhills region were incorrect.

''The vast amount of models for Hurricane Matthew were proven wrong,'' Patterson said. ''We have learned a lot from this storm.''

While the majority of county residents were without power to begin the week, the city of Laurinburg saw its power restored in the early morning hours on Monday.

''There were over 6,000 homes without power in the city,'' said City Manager Charles Nichols. ''The main problem was Duke Energy's transmission lines were down which had no power going into our cities substation '-- that was out of our control.

Across the county, there were about 3,974 Duke Energy customers without power and another 1,664 Lumber River Electric Membership customers were in the dark.

Patterson said it may take several days to restore power everywhere.

''We should have power back to the vast majority of Scotland County residents by the end of the week,'' Patterson said. ''When looking at storm debris, it will be a long time before all the limbs are cleaned up.''

St. Andrews University saw a foot of water flood the Morgan Jones Science building Saturday, as well as a few inches of water in the universities cafeteria.

Scotland County was still under flood warning until 10:30 pm Monday according to the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration.

''We had about a foot of standing water in Morgan Jones and we started cleaning it up Sunday morning,'' said Craig Dean, who works maintenance at St. Andrews University. ''We are probably going to have to rip out all of the carpet,'' he said.

''We did not see this coming,'' said Tim Verhey, St. Andrews Dean of Students.

Laurinburg resident Paula Grubbs was at the Laundry Express on Monday afternoon washing clothes because her home, in one of the subdivisions behind the John Blue House, was still without power.

''I knew it was going to be more than rain, but I didn't expect this,'' she said. ''No one is ever really prepared because you don't think it's going to hit or be as bad as they predict.''

The university bookstore was also broken into over the weekend, according to Verhey.

''The book store was broken into '-- not much was stolen,'' Verhey said.

St. Andrews will reopen on Wednesday. The University of North Carolina at Pembroke cancelled classes through Wednesday. Scotland County schools officials decided to cancel classes on Monday, but expected to reopen this morning.

City and county offices were also closed on Monday.

Much of the eastern part of the state is dealing with devastating flooding as rivers top their banks.

In neighboring Robeson County, 1,000 people had to be rescued, some in dramatic helicopter operations, while 3,000 people are still living in shelters, authorities said Sunday. Statewide more than 585,00 customers still lacked electricity Sunday night.

''Hurricane Matthew may be off the map, but it is still with us,'' North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory said Sunday.

Matthew killed at least 17 people in four states '-- seven in North Carolina, four in Florida, three in Georgia and three in South Carolina, authorities said.

Reach Nolan Gilmour at 910-506-3171

'--'--'--

(C)2016 The Laurinburg Exchange (Laurinburg, N.C.)

Visit The Laurinburg Exchange (Laurinburg, N.C.) at www.laurinburgexchange.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Source: Veterans Today

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 16:03

There is no way that Hillary would be able to win a debate with Vladimir Putin at all because her political calculus is morally and intellectually vacuous.

''We are both lawyers, Hillary. So, present the case that Russia hacked the DNC email account.''

'...by Jonas E. Alexis

Hillary Clinton continues to undermine her own mine by positing extraordinary claims with very little or no evidence whatsoever. She is obviously familiar with the scholarly method. As a lawyer, she knows that one has to present serious evidence and rigorous testing when making serious charges. She knows that no thinking person would accept a case without evidential confirmation.

But Hillary continues to violate the principles of the legal system by making claims like this:

''Our intelligence community just came out and said in the last few days that the Kremlin, meaning Putin and the Russian government, are directing the attacks, the hacking on American accounts to influence our election.''[1]

Our intelligence community? Didn't George W. Bush say something very similar? Didn't he propagate the categorical lie that the intelligence community said that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction? Didn't the intelligence community actually say the opposite?[2] Didn't Bush end up fooling a lot of people with a complete hoax and fabrication?

Hillary has to do more than just saying that ''Our intelligence community just came out and said'' this or that. She has to present serious cases as a lawyer would do. In fact, many cyberwarfare experts such as Jeffrey Carr have declared that no one knows who really hacked the Democratic National Committee.

Does Hillary know something that the experts don't know? And if so, why can't she present the evidence in a logical fashion so that people of reason can examine it? Why is she following the Powers That Be in saying that Russia is actually an enemy of the West? Why is she willing to go head to head with a country that is actually obliterating ISIS in Syria?

Does Hillary really want to tell us all that Russia is worse than Saudi Arabia, a terrorist regime that America has been backing since time immemorial? How about targeting civilians in Yemen?[3]

As Jim W. Dean has recently pointed out on Press TV, Saudi Arabia has made a joke out of the UN by violating a ceasefire in Yemen, and no US official has said a damn thing about this. Why can Hillary say something meaningful about that?

Moreover, if Hillary is going to summon ''our intelligence community,'' then why can't she cite a study that was just done by the FBI, which basically concludes that US military operations are the primary reasons for homegrown terrorism?[4]

You see, there is no way that Hillary would be able to win a debate with Vladimir Putin at all because her political calculus is morally and intellectually vacuous. Even Leonid Bershidsky of Bloomberg, who declares that he is ''an anti-Putin Russian,'' has recently had to admit that ''Clinton makes me nervous.''[5]

As our friend Vladislav Krasnov has recently pointed out, there is no need for Obama or Hillary to get into a real confrontation with Russia at all. Obama, says Krasnov, got a Nobel Peace Prize, and his time in the White House has obviously come to an end. Wouldn't it be nice for him to ''make peace with Russia and earn your Nobel Prize''? Krasnov certainly has a point here:

''Therefore, I say, Mr. President, take a breath of fresh air and do whatever it takes to make your Nobel Peace Prize count: Leave the legacy of peace-seeking dialog with Russia from which your successor will not deviate lest he or she is called an abominable warmonger.

''More than any other two countries, Russia and the United States are called upon to jointly safeguard Peace, Freedom and Commerce not just from San Francisco to Vladivostok, but on the entire Planet Earth. So help us God!''

[1] Thomas Fox-Brewster, ''Clinton Claims Putin's Hackers Are Punting For Trump,'' Forbes, October 10, 2016.

[2] For further studies on this, see Intelligence and U.S. Foreign Policy: Iraq, 9/11, and Misguided Reform (New York: Columbia University Press, 2011); John M. Schuessler, Deceit on the Road to War: Presidents, Politics, and American Democracy (New York: Cornell University Press, 2015); John J. Mearsheimer, Why Leaders Lie: The Truth About Lying in International Politics (New York: Oxford University Press, 2011); John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt, The Israel Lobby and US Foreign Policy (New York: Farrar & Straus, 2007); Vincent Bugliosi, The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder (New York: Vanguard Press, 2008).

[3] See for example Glenn Greenwald, ''U.S. and U.K. Continue to Participate in War Crimes, Targeting of Yemeni Civilians,'' The Intercept, October 11, 2016.

[4] Murtaza Hussain and Cora Currier, ''US Military Operations Are Biggest Motivation for Homegrown Terrorists, FBI Study Finds,'' The Intercept, October 11, 2016.

[5] Leonid Bershidsky, ''I'm an Anti-Putin Russian and Clinton Makes Me Nervous,'' Bloomberg, October 11, 2016.

Related Posts:The views expressed herein are the views of the author exclusively and not necessarily the views of VT, VT authors, affiliates, advertisers, sponsors, partners, technicians, or the Veterans Today Network and its assigns. LEGAL NOTICE - COMMENT POLICYPosted by Jonas E. Alexis on October 12, 2016, With 932 Reads Filed under Investigations, Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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Source: The Local

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 16:01

Ursula Haverbeck-Wetzel at the trial in Detmold. Photo: DPA

An 87-year-old long-time right-wing extremist has been sentenced to jail once again for making statements denying the Holocaust.

Ursula Haverbeck-Wetzel, 87, has been sentenced by a district court in Bad Oeynhausen, North Rhine-Westphalia, to 11 months imprisonment without parole, S¼ddeutsche Zeitung reported on Tuesday.

Haverbeck-Wetzel was convicted for the crime of incitement of hatred for denying the Holocaust in a letter she sent to the Central Council of Jews in Germany, as well as on her website.

In Germany, the crime of incitement of hatred refers to actions that encourage hatred or violence towards a group of people because of their religion, race or ethnic background. It also punishes any individual, who publicly "approves of, denies or downplays" the actions of the Nazis which violated international law, by up to five years in prison.

The 87-year-old continues to maintain claims that Auschwitz was a labour camp as opposed to a death camp, insisting that the murder of millions of Jews by the Nazis did not happen.

More than 1 million people were killed at Auschwitz through gas chambers, starvation or medical experiments, and most were European Jews.

Haverbeck-Wetzel was sentenced to ten months in prison last November for incitement of hatred after she went on television to declare that "the Holocaust is the biggest and most sustainable lie in history".

A court in Detmold, North-Rhine Westphalia, also recently sentenced her to eight months in prison for her Holocaust denial - which she has appealed - and a further case is ongoing in Verden, outside Bremen.

Haverbeck-Wetzel is well known among far-right groups, having been a member of two groups banned in 2010 for their extremist views: the "Collegiums Humanum", of which she was chair, and an association she helped found to help people who were "persecuted" for denying the Holocaust.

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 15:05

Excerpts of Hillary Clinton's previously secret speeches to big banks and trade groups in 2013 and 2014 show her exalting the work of her hosts, hardly a surprise when these groups paid her up to $225,000 an hour to chat them up.

Far from chiding Goldman Sachs for obstructing Democratic proposals for financial reform, Clinton appeared to sympathize with the giant investment bank. At a Goldman Sachs Alternative Investments Symposium in October 2013, Clinton almost apologized for the Dodd-Frank reform bill, explaining that it had to pass ''for political reasons,'' because ''if you were an elected member of Congress and people in your constituency were losing jobs and shutting businesses and everybody in the press is saying it's all the fault of Wall Street, you can't sit idly by and do nothing.''

Clinton added, ''And I think the jury is still out on that because it was very difficult to sort of sort through it all.''

Clinton praised Deutsche Bank in a 2014 speech for ''the work that the Bank has done in New York City on affordable housing.''

While Deutsche Bank has given to anti-homelessness campaigns in the past, it was also cited in a New York State Senate report in January for refusing to maintain foreclosed properties in New York City neighborhoods and costing those communities millions in unpaid fines. Deutsche is also about to face a multi-billion-dollar penalty from the Justice Department for defrauding investors with low-quality mortgage securities, leading to the housing meltdown.

Those excerpts were among many listed in an 80-page document prepared by the Clinton campaign, listing potentially damaging quotes from the Democratic nominee's paid but at that point still secret speeches. The report landed in campaign chairman John Podesta's email, which was hacked, and then posted by WikiLeaks last week.

In a November 2013 speech to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), Clinton pronounced herself proud to work with the trade group as a U.S. senator to ''look for ways to help families facing foreclosure with concrete steps.''

NAR represents real estate agents, who had no authority to assist distressed homeowners. An April 2007 document lists NAR's priorities in foreclosure mitigation, and they were able to get an amendment exempting mortgage debt forgiveness from being treated as earned income. But the rest amount to ''urging'' and ''supporting'' efforts to help homeowners that never happened.

Clinton has historically been far less critical of the revolving door between Wall Street and Washington than many other Democrats, and as secretary of state allowed two of her top aides '-- Tom Nides and Robert Hormats '-- to receive big payouts from their big-bank employers before entering public service.

''Thank you for lending me Tom Nides for the past two years,'' Clinton said to a crowd at Morgan Stanley on April 18, 2013. As The Intercept reported in July 2015, Nides moved from chief operating officer at Morgan Stanley into Clinton's State Department, and when Clinton left Foggy Bottom, Nides went right back to Morgan Stanley as a vice chairman.

Clinton joked about the ''culture shock'' for Nides, working a government job. ''You should have seen his face when he learned there were no stock options at the State Department. But he soon not only settled in very nicely, he became positively enthusiastic when I told him we did have our own plane.'' Clinton also gushed about Hormats, who joined her at State after a career at Goldman Sachs, in a 2014 speech at JPMorgan Chase.

In excerpts that got some attention last week, Clinton told bankers that financial reform ''really has to come from the industry itself,'' that ''the people that know the industry better than anybody are the people who work in the industry,'' and that blaming banks for the crisis was ''an oversimplification.''

Her former Democratic presidential rival, Bernie Sanders responded in a statement, ''Whatever Secretary Clinton may or may not have said behind closed doors on Wall Street, I am determined to implement the agenda of the Democratic Party platform which was agreed upon by her campaign,'' and which ''calls for breaking up the largest financial institutions in this country, re-establishing Glass-Steagall and prosecuting those many Wall Street CEOs who engaged in illegal behavior.''

The excerpts reveal that Clinton, when speaking to the financial industry, adopted their mindset and privileged their arguments. The question that arises is whether members of a possible Clinton administration will reflect this worldview, or whether the long primary with Sanders has made that untenable. Some aggressive advocates for progressive appointments believe the latter.

''At State and on the speaking circuit, Clinton was in an environment that encouraged her to view Wall Street bankers as fonts of economic wisdom,'' said Jeff Hauser, Director of the Revolving Door Project. ''But after 15 months running against a progressive populist like Sanders, Clinton knows that government conducted a by rotating stream of bankers is politically unacceptable.''

Top photo: Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speaks during a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Sept. 27, 2016.

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Source: Russia Beyond The Headlines

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:56

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The pipeline's offshore section will be constructed within the project, Gazprom will be investing in his part of the pipeline. Source: Reuters

The works on installation of the Turkish Stream natural gas pipeline will be launched in 2017, Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak said at the meeting of the intergovernmental commission between the two countries on Oct. 12.

"The intergovernmental agreement, which specifies the terms of the project's implementation by commercial companies, was signed on Oct. 10. The time of completion of the works is end-2019. Currently, a big preliminary work is underway," he said, adding that "the installation of the gas pipeline itself will start in 2017."

According to Novak, the pipeline's offshore section will be constructed within the project, Gazprom will be investing in his part of the pipeline. One onshore line with capacity amounting to 15.75 billion cubic meters will be 100 percent owned by Botas as it is aimed for Turkish consumers, the Minister said.

"The second line for Russian gas transit to Europe will be financed and owned by a 50/50 joint venture between Gazprom and Botas. The JV will raise funds for the construction of the pipeline infrastructure," he said.

Source: TASS

Read more: What did Putin and Erdogan agree to?

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Source: Russia Beyond The Headlines

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:55

Russian gas giant Gazprom has struck an agreement with Turkey on gas supplies via the Black Sea. The new project could lead to the abolition of gas transit through Ukraine, Moldova, Romania and the Balkans.

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A worker performs checks at Turkey's Mediterranean port of Ceyhan, which is run by state-owned Petroleum Pipeline Corporation (BOTAS), some 70 km (43.5 miles) from Adana. Source: Reuters

Turkey's petroleum pipeline corporation Botas has agreed to collaborate with Russia's Gazprom on building the Turkish Stream gas pipeline under the Black Sea from Russia to Turkey in exchange for a discount on gas.

The corresponding agreement was signed on Oct. 10 by the energy ministers of Russia and Turkey, Alexander Novak and Berat Albayrak, the Kommersant business newspaper reported (in Russian).

According to the document, the pipeline's capacity has been reduced by half to two strings, totaling 32 billion cubic meters of gas. At the same time, the size of discounts for Turkish buyers have remained outside the agreement.

Initially, the Russian authorities were planning to build the South Stream gas pipeline under the Black Sea from Russia to Central Europe via Bulgaria. However, the project encountered resistance from the European Commission. According to the Third Energy Package, the same party may not be both a gas supplier and a network owner in the European Union.

As a result, in December 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the redirection of the gas pipeline toward Turkey and the launch of Turkish Stream. However, the project was shelved in late 2015 after the Turkish air force shot down a Russian military aircraft along the Syrian border.

The essence of the agreementAs follows from the new agreement, one string of the gas pipeline is intended to supply gas to the Turkish market and the other to the European market, explained Yury Borovsky, an associate professor at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations.

According to Borovsky, this is a certain intermediate, consensus option that can suit everyone: "For Russia, this project is beneficial and important because it allows to increase gas supplies not only to Turkey but also to the European Union," he said.

Gazprom plans to use the first string for transferring gas supplies, which currently come to Turkey from Bulgaria via the Trans-Balkan pipeline. This pipeline runs through Ukraine to Bulgaria, Romania and the Balkans.

If the new project is implemented in full, it will effectively lead to a large-scale replacement of Ukrainian transit, said Ivan Kapitonov, an associate professor at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration. In this case, the Ukrainian gas transportation system will lose 14 to 15 billion cubic meters of gas per year, which is currently transported via Ukraine to Turkey.

"For now, the parties will focus on the first phase '' the construction of one string with a capacity of 16 billion cubic meters," said Georgy Vashchenko, head of Russian stock market operations at Moscow investment company Freedom Finance. According to Vashchenko, the second part of the project is in question, and it is necessary to conclude a separate agreement for its implementation.

The project's potential"The Turkish Stream project itself can be divided into two completely different projects," said Sergei Khestanov, macroeconomic adviser to the head of the Otkrytie Brokerage. "The first aims to meet gas demand in the western part of Turkey, which now receives gas from Ukraine through a complicated route."

According to him, the remaining strings will be focused on further supplies of Russian natural gas to Western Europe. However, Turkey is not interested in the development of this part of the project. If one string is eventually built, the project will be beneficial to Turkey, Khestanov said.

According to Kapitonov, upon implementation of the project, ''Russia will strengthen the diversification of its gas transit routes and increase its energy security,'' though he added that the question of cost recovery remains open.

Much more promising is the project to expand the Nord Stream gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea to Germany, he said. The project is expected to build a gas pipeline with a capacity of 55 billion cubic meters per year. However, the project has not yet received support from the European Commission.

Read more: Turkish Stream will not rival Nord Stream 2 - Austrian energy company>>>

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Source: The Deplorable Climate Science Blog

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 14:55

Twenty-two years ago this month, Hillary Clinton's rapist husband gave nuclear weapons to North Korea, with a deal almost identical to the one Obama just made with Iran.

U.S. and North Korea Sign Pact to End Nuclear Dispute '' NYTimes.com

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 11:06

WikiLeaks '' The Podesta Emails

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Source: Russia Beyond The Headlines

Wed, 12 Oct 2016 10:15

Although Moscow and Ankara still have different positions on a range of issues, the presidents of Russia and Turkey came closer to normalizing relations following a meeting in Istanbul.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan attend a session of the World Energy Congress in Istanbul, Turkey. Source: Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Oct. 10 within the framework of the World Energy Congress in Istanbul.

It was the third personal meeting between the leaders following Erdogan's apology in June for Turkey's downing of a Russian Su-24 bomber along the Turkish-Syrian border last November. At the meeting, the leaders approved agreements on three important topics: the fate of the Turkish Stream pipeline, bilateral trade relations and the situation in Syria.

A lifeline for Turkish StreamDuring their meeting, Putin and Erdogan signed an intergovernmental agreement to move forward on the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, which had been in limbo practically since the first agreement on its construction was signed in December 2014.

Turkish Stream was concieved as another way to move Russian gas to Europe without going through Ukraine after the South Stream gas pipeline project through the Balkans collapsed. The project was bogged down from the beginning, however, over such questions as the number of pipeline strings and speculation on the possible resurrection of South Stream. The sharp deterioration in bilateral relations between Russia and Turkey last fall only delayed the project further.

During the meeting in Istanbul, however, the parties managed to finish what they started, signing an inter-governmental agreement on the project. Additionally, Russia and Turkey agreed on a gas discount within the framework of the project.

After the meeting, Putin said: "we are moving towards the realization of the Turkish president's plans to establish a major energy hub in the country."

Turkish fruit will return to Russian storesAfter the meeting with Erdogan, Putin announced that Moscow would once again allow agricultural products from Turkey into the Russian market. Putin noted that the decision was a mutually beneficial one, and mentioned in particular the importance of Turkish citrus and stone fruits to Russian consumers.

"Russian agriculture does not produce such products, and the supply of Turkish ones to the market may lead '' and we are looking forward to it '' to declines in prices of these products," Putin said. He added that the move was also good for Turkish producers, noting "sales of these Turkish goods in the Russian market last year amounted to $500 million."

Working around each other in SyriaIn addition to agreeing on issues of economic cooperation, the two leaders found ways to agree to disagree about Syria.

Both countries are physically involved in the Syrian conflict: Russia is conducting air strikes in the country in support of Syrian President Bashar Assad and against ISIS militants while Turkey is carrying out Operation Euphrates Shield in northern Syria against ISIS operatives along the Turkish border.

Turkey is also fighting the Syrian Kurd militia, which Ankara alleges has ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (the PKK), the Kurdish separatist organization that the Turkish authorities have been fighting against since 1984. The PKK is recognized as a terrorist organization in Turkey, the U.S. and the E.U. countries. Turkey also supports the anti-government forces and describes the Assad regime as nothing short of terrorist.

According to Yury Mavashev, head of the political section of the Center for Modern Turkish Studies in Moscow, Russia and Turkey have made a tacit agreement not to interfere with each other's operations in Syria.

"Russia and Turkey agreed on the Operation Euphrates Shield during President Erdogan's visit to St. Petersburg back in August," Mavashev said. "Moscow expressed almost no emotion during the start of the Turkish operation in Syria."

Mavashev added that the discussions during Putin's visit to Istanbul just reaffirmed the status quo. "Turkish officials and the media are silent about the Russian involvement in the affairs of Aleppo," Mavashev said. "They were given the command '' 'we do not care about Aleppo since Russia gave us the north of Syria.'"

Kerim Khas, an expert on Eurasian politics at the International Strategic Research Organization, an independent think-tank in Ankara, said that the leaders did find common ground on non-military matters regarding Syria. ''Actually, the main concrete issue that President Erdogan and President Putin agreed about on the Syrian crisis is the continuation of the positive agenda and negotiations through the direct official high-level tripartite mechanism which was established between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, General Staffs and the Intelligence Agencies. The situation in Aleppo, humanitarian crisis in Syria and the differentiation of opposition groups from terrorists will be discussed through this mechanism.

Gorbachev: The world has reached a dangerous line; it is time to stop>>>

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Wed, 12 Oct 2016 10:13

From:dschwerin@hillaryclinton.com To: jsullivan@hillaryclinton.com Date: 2016-01-11 19:55 Subject: Re: Tax hit for Chris Hayesagree On Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 4:55 PM, Jake Sullivan wrote: > This is good. > > > > On Jan 11, 2016, at 4:53 PM, Betsaida Alcantara < > balcantara@hillaryclinton.com> wrote: > > h/t to Mandy for edits. > > > > *SURCHARGE ON MILLIONAIRES* > > > *Tell me about YOUR new tax proposal.* > > · As you know Chris, right now, the super-wealthy and big > corporations use every trick in the book to game the system and avoid > paying billions of dollars in taxes. It's not right. > > · So today, I proposed adding a new ''fair share surcharge'' on > multi-millionaires and closing loopholes to make it harder to game the > system. (I'm also pushing for the Buffett Rule, which sets a minimum rate > for those at the top, and other reforms like closing the carried interest > loophole that allows some hedge fund managers to pay a lower rate than > teachers or a nurses.) > > > > · I'm proposing every idea I can to finally make those at the top > actually pay their fair share. > > > > · That's going to be a big difference in this campaign. When you > look at what the Republican candidates are proposing '' it's > unbelievable. Trillions of dollars in new tax breaks to those at the > top. Trickle down economics all over again. > > > > · On the Democratic side, I am the only candidate who has > committed to raising middle class *incomes*, not middle class taxes. > > > > *How is this different from what other Democrats are proposing. They tax > the rich too, right?* > > > > · Well, I am the only candidate who has proposed a surcharge on > multimillionaires and the only one committed to NOT taxing the middle class. > > > > · Senator Sanders, Governor O'Malley, and I share a lot of the > same values and goals. But we *do* have differences. > > > > · I'm a progressive who likes to get things done. I've laid out > how I'm going to pay for everything I'm proposing. > > > > · I'm concerned that Senator Sanders has taken a different > approach. His agenda would add 18 to 20 trillion dollars in new federal > spending, but he hasn't explained how he'd pay for it. That's a big risk, > because it's hard to make the arithmetic add up any other way than a big > tax increase on middle class families. I don't think that's the right > choice . > > On Mon, Jan 11, 2016 at 4:05 PM, Mandy Grunwald wrote: > >> >> I am fine on the substance but this seems a little long and a little hard >> to say in conversation. Do I have a few minutes to edit for you? >> >> *Mandy Grunwald* >> *Grunwald Communications* >> *202 973-9400 * >> >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Jake Sullivan >> To: Jennifer Palmieri >> Cc: Dan Schwerin ; John Podesta < >> john.podesta@gmail.com>; Kristina Schake ; >> Brian Fallon ; Robby Mook < >> re47@hillaryclinton.com>; Christina Reynolds < >> creynolds@hillaryclinton.com>; Mandy Grunwald ; >> Betsaida Alcantara >> Sent: Mon, Jan 11, 2016 4:03 pm >> Subject: Re: Tax hit for Chris Hayes >> >> Should we add the 1.62 a week line Podesta suggested? >> >> Small thing but, I might say "he hasn't been able to show how he's gonna >> pay for it" rather than explained because didn't they put out a whole chart >> showing how they pay? >> >> Otherwise I'm good. >> >> On Jan 11, 2016, at 3:57 PM, Jennifer Palmieri < >> jpalmieri@hillaryclinton.com> wrote: >> >> I think this is good. >> >> Plus Betsaida. >> >> *From:* Dan Schwerin [mailto:dschwerin@hillaryclinton.com] >> *Sent:* Monday, January 11, 2016 3:50 PM >> *To:* John Podesta ; Jake Sullivan < >> jsullivan@hillaryclinton.com>; Jennifer Palmieri < >> jpalmieri@hillaryclinton.com>; Kristina Schake < >> kschake@hillaryclinton.com>; Brian Fallon ; >> Robby Mook ; Christina Reynolds < >> creynolds@hillaryclinton.com>; Mandy Grunwald >> *Subject:* Tax hit for Chris Hayes >> >> HRC is going to call into Chris Hayes' show this afternoon to do her tax >> hit. How does this look to you guys? >> >> · Right now, the super-wealthy and big corporations are using every >> trick in the book to game the system and avoid paying billions in taxes. >> It's wrong, and it's bad for our economy. We can't have one tax system for >> those at the top and another one for everyone else. >> >> · So today, I proposed adding a new ''fair share surcharge'' on >> multi-millionaires and closing loopholes to make it harder to game the >> system. I'm also pushing for the Buffett Rule, which sets a minimum rate >> for those at the top, and other reforms like closing the carried interest >> loophole that allows some hedge fund managers to pay a lower rate than a >> teacher or a nurse. >> >> · When it comes to taxes, there's a clear choice in this election. >> Republicans candidates are promising huge new giveaways to the wealthiest >> Americans. And on the Democratic side, I am the only candidate pledging to >> raise middle class incomes, not middle class taxes. >> >> · You know, Senator Sanders, Governor O'Malley, and I share a lot >> of the same values and goals. We both want to make the economy work for >> everyone, not just those at the top. And the differences between us pale >> compared to what we see on the other side. But we *do* have >> differences. >> >> · I'm a progressive who likes to get things done. I measure every >> policy by whether it's going to actually make life better for working >> families. And I've laid out how I'm going to pay for everything I'm >> proposing by making the wealthy pay their fair share. >> >> · Senator Sanders has a different approach. His agenda would add >> 18 to 20 trillion dollars in new federal spending, but he hasn't explained >> how he'd pay for it. That's a big risk, because it's hard to make the >> arithmetic add up any other way than a big tax increase on middle class >> families. I don't think that's the right choice when incomes for most >> people have barely budged in years. >> >> · I like and respect Senator Sanders quite a lot, but I'm concerned >> that some of his ideas run the risk of hurting rather than helping. So I >> look forward to debating these differences in the campaign. >> >> > > > -- > Betsaida Alcantara | Communications > Hillary for America > >

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 23:33

FireEye is a huge security company with high profile clients like Sony Pictures. But the company's success hasn't stopped it from doing dumb things to grab attention. For instance, sending out a sales pitch that likens the deady Hurricane Matthew with a cyber attack is a dumb thing to do.

Security analyst Jerry Gamblin recently received the aforementioned sales pitch from FireEye. It compared Hurricane Matthew'--which has claimed more than 1,000 lives in the Caribbean and US'--to cyber security. The text from the email is pretty awful:

Hey Jerry,

I hope you are staying dry out there. After watching hours of Weather Channel updates on the storm, I couldn't help but notice the similarities between Hurricane Matthew and a cyber-attack.

Although many took the necessary precautions, Hurricane Matthew altered and caused terrible damage.You can't truly predict where the storm will hit.Without the correct tools, you will be left stranded needing outside helpMany people were well protected from the wind and the rain, but the flood caused the most damage.t is just a matter of time before the next one happens again.I like the parallelism and hope you can see how it would translate to the cyber security world. At FireEye, we combine the best of both human and machine intelligence to create industry leading threat intel that you can use throughout your organization. We provide the tools necessary to protect you regardless of the type and nature of the ''storm'' that comes. We will work with you to customize the perfect plan for your organization with your near and long term objectives for your organization and make sure you are not protected against one type of threat.

Gamblin clearly did the right thing by taking a screenshot of the email and publicly shaming FireEye in a tweet. The email drummed up criticism from the security community almost immediately. FireEye has not responded to Gamblin's tweet.

We've also reached out to FireEye for comment and will update this post when we hear back.

Technology editor at Gizmodo.

PGP Fingerprint: A424 3225 2883 A6CE 3F91 5131 8050 002A A3E1 D6|PGP Key

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 23:32

Robert Kagan is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a contributing columnist for The Post.

Of the remarkable things we have learned this election year, the most significant is that the current Republican Party is unfit to lead the country. It has failed the greatest test a political leader or party can face, and failed spectacularly. It has abandoned its principles out of a combination of cowardice and opportunism. It has worked to place in the White House the most dangerous threat to U.S. democracy since the Civil War. And perhaps just as revealing, it has in the process engineered its own suicide. Not only has the party refused to save the country, but also it has proved too helpless, too incompetent and too craven even to save itself.

These are the people we're supposed to put in charge of the House and Senate for another two years? Whom we're then supposed to rally behind in the battle for the White House in 2020? No. Not this group. We know too much. We know all we need to know.

The coming years are going to require some courage '-- not tough speeches, at which Republican politicians excel, but tough and politically difficult actions '-- on entitlements, on immigration, and especially on foreign policy and defense. Republicans used to be able to call national security policy their strong suit. Can they still? All the tough young senators who railed at the Obama administration for its weakness on the world stage, how tough were they when it came to their own political skins? Not tough enough to take on Donald Trump, even though his foreign policy, such as it was, betrayed many core Republican principles and was in most respects far worse than President Obama's.

At a rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Oct. 10, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he might make six campaign stops a day during the week leading up to Election Day. (The Washington Post)

[Donald Trump is the GOP's chemotheraphy]

After years of railing against the Obama administration's ''reset,'' the leading Republican spokesmen on this issue said little and did nothing when their own nominee spoke admiringly of Russian President Vladi­mir Putin and when his closest advisers were discovered to be intimately connected to the Kremlin and found to be lobbyists for Putin's puppets in Ukraine or Gazprom's pipeline plans. They were silent when Trump went so far as to urge the Russian intelligence services to hack Hillary Clinton's emails. These are the political leaders who are supposed to stand up to the world's real strongmen in Moscow and Beijing. Yet they did not stand up to this bullying would-be authoritarian when all he could do was steal away a few of their voters. They would not risk five points in their primary campaigns to stop this man from becoming commander in chief. They were willing to damage U.S. national interests, as they define them, to avoid a close race. These are the men and women to whom we should entrust the nation's welfare?

Is the other party any better? On national security issues, probably not, but unlike in the past, one can only say, ''probably.'' Given the Republican track record, and not only in this election but in recent years '-- on Syria, for instance, where leading presidential hopefuls opposed the use of force at a critical moment; or on defense spending, where Republican majorities in both houses have allowed the sequester to stand '-- the contrast is not as clear as it once was. And as it happens, the present Democratic candidate is as solid on matters of national security as almost any Republican, and infinitely more so than the present Republican nominee '-- which is one reason so many Republican national security officials have either come out against Trump or have outright endorsed Clinton. Of former top Republican officials, only Dick Cheney and a handful of others have betrayed whatever principles they once claimed to have and destroyed what remained of their reputations for integrity. And whatever one may think of the relative merits of the two parties, at least this much can be said: In this election cycle, it has been the Republicans, not their opponents, who have worked, and are still working, to hand the country over to someone who they know in their hearts would be a disaster for the nation's security.

[Republicans deserve their sad fate]

Republicans are no doubt hoping that all will be forgiven and forgotten once the election is over. They can start fresh, begin their next round of attacks, rally the faithful, get ready for the next campaign, treat the whole thing as a bad dream. And perhaps they are right to be cynical, to rely on voters' short memories, or to think they can corral those Trump voters. But perhaps, too, there may be some justice in the world. Maybe some voters will remember. Maybe when those who caved to Trump in 2016 begin their campaigns for 2020, some voters will recall that at a moment of national crisis, those politicians promising strong leadership were too weak, too obsessed with winning elections, too afraid of Trump's angry faithful, to have the steady moral compass, the calmness under fire, the vision in the fog of battle that real leadership demands. And maybe voters at that point will look away from those who self-servingly tried to foist Trump on the nation and will turn instead to the handful of Republican officeholders who had the courage of their convictions and tried to stop him from the beginning. Maybe there will be enough voters willing to reward that kind of genuine political courage, enough to make a difference. When that day comes, the party's reformation and renewal can begin.

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Robert Kagan writes a monthly foreign affairs column for The Post, and is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Kagan served in the State Department from 1984 to 1988.

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 22:07

From:orca100@upcmail.nl To: sbrown@politico.eu, cwinneker@politico.eu, jplucinska@politico.eu, bsurk@politico.eu, jbarigazzi@politico.eu, ehananoki@mediamatters.org morepdallison@politico.eu, abernath@law.georgetown.edu, podesta@law.georgetown.edu, tyler.kingkade@huffingtonpost.com, antonia.blumberg@huffingtonpost.com, roy.sekoff@gmail.com, whitney@huffingtonpost.com, stuart@huffingtonpost.com, maygers@huffingtonpost.com, david@huffingtonpost.com, cindy.vanegas@huffingtonpost.com, louise.ridley@huffingtonpost.com, aubrey.allegretti@huffingtonpost.com, eamonn@helprefugees.org.uk, nharvey@doctorsoftheworld.org.uk, kate.sheppard@huffingtonpost.com, igor.bobic@huffingtonpost.com, stephen.hull@huffingtonpost.com Date: 2016-02-21 18:10 Subject: What's the difference between a German and a shopping cart? A shopping cart has got a mind of its own''Men never do evil so fully and cheerfully as when they do it out of conscience.'' (Blaise Pascal, 1623-1662) That Frau Schmerkel '' who has ordered the blitz banlieue-ization of Dunkeldeutschland & its surrounding vassal states, even though she herself has reached the conclusion that masses of Muslims have brought nothing but massive misery to the Heimat '' has gone completely bonkers was already evident from her Monty Pythonesque energy policy. Have a listen to a comedy clip with English-language subtitles https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e2U2cYcPro. Germany's energy policy manages to harm the environment and cripple the German economy at the same time'...'...'..... That's yet another example of German gawd-awful Gutmenscherei, more aptly described as Vollidioterei '' which is set to do more ever-lasting damage to the whole of Europe than all other previous German extremist ideologies combined. Normally, I would look for corroborating evidence in the local media, but the only thing you can learn from the German press is that there are 50 ways to tell a ludicrous lie about Mama Merkel & her Multikulti Morass. Among the multitudes of MSM falsehoods rammed down the throats of German brainwasheables, the German media are arguing that the many millions of new arrivals will somehow replenish Germany's graying and shrinking labor force. Never mind that all available figures show that the vast majority of working-age Muslims in Euroweenieland are not only jobless, but also structurally unemployable (completely lacking in all marketable skills). The frightening future of German schmeducation can be best seen in a clip giving an impression of your average Mickey Mouse vocational school, which aims to turn Muslim kids into semi-employables at the lowest possible level and fails miserably across the board https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzMzT6MEzu0. Go to 30 seconds. To give you an idea, a mind-mashing 63 percent of preschool immigrant children (often 4th generation!) in Berlin's Kreuzberg district speak little or no German and are theoretically inadmissible to an elementary school, disclosed Professor of Pedagogy Ali Ucar in Time magazine. What makes for successful immigration? It's no brain surgery, but the media have long failed to provide a clear credible answer. They are unable to come up with an answer or don't like the answer that's staring them in the face. The main reason behind successful immigration should be painfully obvious to even the most dimwitted of observers: Some groups of people are almost always highly successful given only half a chance (Jews*, Hindus/Sikhs and Chinese people, for example), while others (Muslims, blacks** and Roma***, for instance) fare badly almost irrespective of circumstances. The biggest group of humanity can be found somewhere between those two extremes '' the perennial overachievers and the professional never-do-wells. * On average, Jewish households in Britain are twice as wealthy as the rest of the country. So says Trevor Phillips, a former Chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality. Britain's Hindus/Sikhs are runners-up. ** This ''NY Times'' piece http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/24/opinion/24herbert.html?_r=1 & reveals only the top of the tip of the iceberg. *** 75 percent of welfare-pampered Dutch gypsies have an official criminal record, as the Mayor of Amsterdam disclosed. So it does not take a genius to figure out that crime levels are even more mind-blowing among the 12 million overwhelmingly dirt-poor Roma from and in Eastern Europe. ''95 percent'' sounds like a fine ballpark extrapolation. But on all fronts, gypsies are below the bottom of the barrel. In the Czech Republic, for example, an eye-bulging 35 percent of all children in special-needs schools are Roma kids, who are overrepresented by a factor of 10'...'...'..... For decades, the Communists in Eastern Europe forced integration on Roma people '' complete with education and guaranteed make-work jobs. It was one big fiasco. Indeed, the Communists invented the crime of ''parasitism'' specifically for all those Roma who refused to work under any circumstances'...'...'.... In the Banlieuerepublik Deutschland, a Jew runs into the US Embassy, grabs the Ambassador by the lapels and yells, ''You've got to help me escape!'' ''Calm down,'' replies the diplomat. ''Here's a map of Europe. Just pick any European country without a sizeable Muslim population, and I'll make sure you can go there.'' The Jew turns the map around and back, studying it from close by and from afar, finally asking the Ambassador, ''Would you have another map for me?'' This footage with English subtitles of two anti-Semitic incidents http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9nbKp1KJ1Y &feature=related was recorded in the Netherlands, but could just as easily have been filmed anywhere else in Banlieue-ized Western Europe. Euroweenieland is rapidly turning into a continent-sized no-go area for visibly Jewish Jews. Little wonder that former EU Commissioner Frits Bolkestein has warned them to get out now they still can. The vast majority of anti-Jewish incidents and attacks are attributable to Western Europe's Muslim population '' despite all the maliciously obfuscating MSM efforts to somehow pin the blame on the Far Right. The same goes for gay-bashing http://www.torontosun.com/comment/columnists/ezra_levant/2010/10/08/15630946 .html. *** The same Germany that once destroyed Europe's Jewry (its best & brightest citizens by a yawning margin) is now bringing about the massive Muslimization of Europe (all Muslim communities in Europe are socioeconomic disaster zones, as I've shown with cartloads of statistics) In contemplating the life and thought of German-speaking Jewry during the pre-Nazi era, you cannot help being struck by an unprecedented record of creative achievement by so small a group. For well over half a century, the confluence of these two intellectual traditions '' the German and the Jewish '' produced such an outpouring of literature, music, science and ideas that, hadn't it been for its infamous finale, historians would now be writing about a Austro-German Golden Age, comparable to the Italian Renaissance, the Dutch Golden Age and the 20th-century American Cultural Boom. It was a time of Mahler's Lied von der Erde, Freud's The Interpretation of Dreams, Kafka's The Trial and Einstein's Theory of Relativity. Similarly, of the 29 Germans who won a Nobel Prize in physics, chemistry or medicine until 1933, 10 were of Jewish descent, even though Germany was home to no more than HALF A MILLION Jews in 1933'..... out of a total population of 67 million. Put differently, ridiculously ¼ber-achieving Jews formed about 0.75 percent of the German population. In early-1930s Berlin, the 160,000-strong Jewish community accounted for 27% of doctors, 48% of lawyers and 56% of notaries. Moreover, in prewar Vienna, the 144,000 strong Jewish community produced over 50% of doctors and 70% of lawyers. But this blossoming of Jewish science and culture was cut short by the Nazi regime, which came to power in 1933. By 1939, some 380,000 Jews*, including Germany's cr¨me de la cr¨me, had managed to escape. It is was the biggest intellectual migration in history. Of the remaining German Jews,170,000 were murdered. Likewise, out of 180,000 Austrian Jews, 65,000 perished at the hands of the Nazis. The rest had managed to flee their home country. (*All these figures may vary a bit depending on the sources used and require checking.) Irony of all ironies, the Jewish community in the Austro-Hungarian Empire and one of its successor states, Austria, accounted for almost all famous Austro-Hungarians and Austrians: Harry Houdini, Gustav Mahler, Johann Strauss the Elder, Johann Strauss the Younger, Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg, Erich von Stroheim, Arnold Schoenberg, Sigmund Freud, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Alfred Adler, Franz Kafka, Robert Capa, Bruno Kreisky, Arthur Schnitzler, Theodor Herzl, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Peter Drucker, Billy Wilder and Simon Wiesenthal. (IMO, Wiesenthal did go from hero to zero in no time at all after committing blatant Communist Holocaust Denial; more about that at a later date). *** Is one Nobel Prize so much to ask from a child after all I've done? (From Haikus for Jews: For You, a Little Wisdom by David M. Bader) Jews '' who now make up 0.2% of the global population or about 13 million people (one megacity) '' have produced: · 54% of world chess champions · 51% of Pulitzer Prize winners for nonfiction · 37 percent of all the Academy Award-winning film directors · 36% of the Nobel economics winners · 31% of the Nobel medicine winners · 27% of the Nobel physics winners · 18% of the Nobel chemistry winners · 76% of America's top-200 intellectuals (source: the 1998 book The Vanishing American Jew) · 40% of US-won Nobel prizes · As the King of Siam said, etc., etc., etc. By starkest possible contrast, out of more than 500 Nobel laureates in the sciences, only two have been Muslims, namely Ahmed Zewail in chemistry and Abdus Salam in physics. Muslims currently represent about 1.5 billion people or one fifth of the global population, aka Merkel's Milling Masses. In an unguarded moment, Rob Reiner of All in the Family fame once blurted out what many Jews and Gentiles secretly believe, but rarely say aloud, ''I think Jews are the smartest people in the world.'' He could have added, ''By an eerily wide margin!'' Jewish stupendous superiority in so many spheres of life is one of many PC taboos just begging to be busted. One group of people has long outperformed all other Earthlings by such a bizarrely wide margin that it singlehandedly smashes this all-folks-are-equal myth into millions of smithereens. Jews '' who account for just 0.2% of the global population or just 13.4 million http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jews '' have won 36% of Nobel prizes in economics; 25% of Nobel prizes in medicine; 24% of Nobel prizes in physics; 18% of Nobel prizes in chemistry; as well as 11% of Nobel prizes in literature http://www.science.co.il. In fact, these brain-blowing figures may be undercounts. David Brooks of the New York Times writes http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/opinion/12brooks.html, ''Jews are a famously accomplished group. They make up 0.2 percent of the world population, but 54 percent of the world chess champions, 27 percent of the Nobel physics laureates and 31 percent of the medicine laureates. Jews make up 2 percent of the U.S. population, but 21 percent of the Ivy League student bodies, 26 percent of the Kennedy Center honorees, 37 percent of the Academy Award-winning directors, 38 percent of those on a recent Business Week list of leading philanthropists, 51 percent of the Pulitzer Prize winners for nonfiction.'' Add hard work to breathtaking Jewish intellectual prowess, and magnificent miracles start happening. Or to quote Goethe on the work ethic among the Jews he knew, ''Energy is the basis of everything. Every Jew, no matter how insignificant, is engaged in some decisive and immediate pursuit of a goal.'' The 1998 book The Vanishing American Jew by Prof. Alan Dershowitz claims that, while Jews constituted a measly 2% of the US population, 40% of American Nobel Prize winners in science and economics were Jewish. Indeed, at the time of its publication, Prof. Dershowitz went as far as stating that 50% America's 200 leading intellectuals were Jewish and that 76% percent had at least one Jewish parent. Anyone reading up on just about any sector of American society can only confirm his findings. Here is a hastily slapped-together tip-of-the-iceberg list of world-famous American Jews, which needs to be thoroughly checked for accuracy. Frankly, I stopped adding names to the list when I saw that there are Wiki lists out there about the same subject long enough to reach the Moon or perhaps even Mars: Daniel Libeskind, Artur Rubinstein, Yehudi Menuhin, Igor Stravinsky, Itzhak Perlman, Vladimir Horowitz, Isaac Stern, Aaron Copeland, Leonard Bernstein, Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Stan Getz, Al Jolson, Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Barry Manilow, Lou Reed, Paul Simon, Mel Torme, Randy Newman, Bette Midler, Sandra Bernhard, George Burns, W.C. Fields, Jack Benny, Fran Drescher. Natalie Portman, Eddie Cantor, Henny Youngman, Saul Bellow, Leon Uris, William Shatner, Groucho Marx, Victor Borge, Chico Marx, Sam Goldwyn, Billy Crystal, Sarah Kate Silverman, Milton Berle, Mel Brooks, Jerry Lewis, Charlie Chaplin, Woody Allen, Cary Grant, Joan Rivers, Gary Shandling, Jackie Mason, Danny Kaye, Al Franken, Gene Wilder, Don Rickles, Bob Sagett, Jerry Seinfeld, Ruby Wax, Roseanne Barr, Jeff Goldblum, Peter Falk, Richard Dreyfuss, Walter Matthau, Albert Einstein, Robert Oppenheimer, Edward Teller, Hans Bethe, Ted Arison, Andrew Grove, Stanley Cohen, Jerome Robins, Noam Chomsky, Carl Sagan, Richard Feynman, Syney Lumet, Mark Spitz, Lenny Krayzelburg, Barbra Walters, Larry King, Carl Bernstein, Al Hirschfeld, Walter Winchell, Henry Grunwald, Daniel Goldhagen, Dr. Ruth Westheimer, Judy Sheindlin, Est(C)e Lauder, Alan Greenspan, George Soros, Milton Friedman, Prof. Alan Dershowitz, Henry Morgenthau, Stuart Eizenstat, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Henry Kissinger, Madeleine Albright, General Wesley Clark, John Kerry, Dennis Ross, William Cohen, Richard Holbrooke, Robert Novak, Richard Perle, Paul Wolfowitz, Ari Fleischer, Stuart Eizenstat, Wesley Clark, Fiorello La Guardia, Joe Lieberman, Diane Feinstein, Ann Landers, Charles Schumer, Ed Koch, Levi Strauss, Solomon Guggenheim, Harry Houdini, Annie Leibovitz, Alfred Eisenstaedt, Helmut Newton, Robert Capa, Art Buchwald, Arthur Miller, Saul Bellow, Gertrude Stein, Philip Roth, Elie Wiesel, Norman Mailer, Saul Bellow, Susan Sontag, Jerzy Kosinsky, Isaac B. Singer, Isaac M. Singer, George Cukor, Jack Warner, Samuel Goldwyn, Carl Laemmle, Louis B. Mayer, William Fox, Adolph Zukor, Billy Wilder, Sydney Pollack, Steven Spielberg, Michael Eisner, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Meryl Streep, Roy Lichtenstein?? Louis B. Mayer, James Caan, Peter Drucker, Dave Brubeck, Steven Seagal, Bobby Fischer, Wolf Blitzer, Jim Croce. Nothing illustrates the impact of the Jewish brain drain from Europe to the U.S. more dramatically than nuclear research. In 1939, American scientists began setting up a project to exploit the newly discovered fission process for military purposes. At the urging of his fellow scientists, Albert Einstein approached President Roosevelt, explaining the unbelievable military potential of the atomic bomb, while also pointing out the dangers of nuclear research conducted in Nazi Germany. Einstein's warning resulted in the Manhattan Project and the development of the American atomic bomb. The project was run by Robert Oppenheimer, himself an American of German Jewish descent. Many of the scientists working on the Manhattan Project were Jewish Americans or Jewish refugees from Nazi-occupied Europe. Nobel laureate Niels Bohr, who was half Jewish and had escaped from his native Denmark, worked on the development of the bomb as well. He was assisted by his son Aage Bohr (a future Nobel Prize winner) and the Jewish Hungarian Edward Teller (who would later lead the development of the hydrogen bomb). They were joined by Felix Bloch, another future Jewish Nobel laureate. Los Alamos in New Mexico, where the research took place, was simply packed with current and future Nobel laureates. Nuclear weapons would have almost certainly been used against the Third Reich, if it hadn't already surrendered by the time the Americans produced their first nukes. In 1977, Albert Speer commented, ''History is fraught with irony. The opportunities offered by a German atomic bomb were destroyed by Hitler himself, who regarded Einstein's ideas and nuclear research in general as 'Jewish science.' This is why we didn't have a cyclotron or something similar. We simply failed to use the lead in atomic research achieved before the war....'' Germany owed its leading position to the work done by many brilliant Jewish scientists who fled Nazi Germany in the mid-30s and often went on to develop the American atomic bomb. Ironically, many of the top atomic scientists in the Soviet Union were also of Jewish extraction. German anti-Semitism both seriously depleted the country's scientific potential and vastly increased that of the allies. The Americans, for example, warmly welcomed William F. Friedman, leader of the team that solved the Japanese PURPLE cipher machine, which provided great insight into German and Japanese policy. By contrast, the Germans never managed to break any of the major military codes used by the allies, and their intelligence-gathering effort was basically a failure.

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 22:05

Julian Assange announced in August: The ''Most Interesting and Serious'' Wikileaks Info On Hillary Clinton Yet to Be Released.''

On Friday Wikileaks released clips of Clinton's paid speeches to Wall Street banks and other organizations.

Wikileaks released hundreds of emails reportedly from John Podesta, chairman of the Clinton campaign, on Friday, around 6 p.m. They promise to release more in the days ahead.

Hillary also trashed African Americans.

The main reason behind successful immigration should be painfully obvious to even the most dimwitted of observers: Some groups of people are almost always highly successful given only half a chance (Jews*, Hindus/Sikhs and Chinese people, for example), while others (Muslims, blacks** and Roma***, for instance) fare badly almost irrespective of circumstances.

Here's the email in question:

BOMBSHELL Racist Hillary Clinton Calls " Blacks, Muslims and Rom*** Never Do Wells " !!#PodestaEmails#TrumpTapespic.twitter.com/7nJL2fZWjz

'-- DEPLORABLE TRUMPCAT (@Darren32895836) October 8, 2016

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 20:17

In a series of candid email exchanges with top Clinton Foundation officials during the hours after the massive 2010 Haiti earthquake, a senior aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton repeatedly gave special attention to those identified by the abbreviations ''FOB'' (friends of Bill Clinton) or ''WJC VIPs'' (William Jefferson Clinton VIPs).

''Need you to flag when people are friends of WJC,'' wrote Caitlin Klevorick, then a senior State Department official who was juggling incoming offers of assistance being funneled to the State Department by the Clinton Foundation. ''Most I can probably ID but not all.''

''Is this a FOB!'' Klevorick writes later, when a Clinton Foundation aide forwards a woman's offer of medical supplies. ''If not, she should go to cidi.org,'' she adds, directing the person deemed not to be a Clinton friend to a general government website.

Klevorick and Amitabh Desai, the director of foreign policy for the Clinton Foundation, exchanged dozens of emails, which were obtained through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by the Republican National Committee and then shared with ABC News. ABC News independently authenticated the emails.

The new emails have surfaced as the Clinton Foundation has once again mobilized a response to the latest humanitarian crisis in Haiti '-- the death and destruction following Hurricane Matthew. That effort is part of an ongoing commitment by the Clintons to help the Haitian people dating back nearly a decade.

However noble the motives of the officials working to get supplies into Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, numerous messages show a senior aide to then''Secretary of State Hillary Clinton coordinating with a Clinton Foundation official to identify FOBs. The Clintons have said repeatedly that the State Department never gave favorable treatment to foundation supporters in Haiti or anywhere else.

''Nothing was ever done for anybody because they were contributors to the foundation,'' Bill Clinton told CBS News' Charlie Rose in September. ''Nothing.''

The correspondence offers a glimpse into the first stages of a $10 billion Haiti recovery effort. The emails appear to show a State Department process that at times prioritized '-- and, some argue, benefited '-- people with close ties to the Clintons.

''I think when you look at both the State Department and the Clinton Foundation in Haiti, that line was pretty faint between the two,'' said Jake Johnston, a Haiti analyst for the nonpartisan Center for Economic and Policy Research. ''You had a lot of coordination and connection between the two, obviously. And I think that raises significant questions about how they were both operating.''

Klevorick told ABC News she served as a point of contact for numerous organizations seeking to help. She said she made notations about Bill Clinton to help determine whether they had a history in Haiti or with disaster relief.

''Everyone's priority was to get the necessary resources to the right places as soon as possible to save lives,'' Klevorick said.

State Department spokesman John Kirby told ABC News the agency served as ''an important coordinating hub'' for U.S. and international relief efforts. The emails, he said, ''show State Department employees working across agencies and organizations, including President Clinton's aides, to identify potential resources, solve problems and achieve the department and the U.N.'s shared goal of helping Haiti.''

Bruce Lindsey, the chairman of the board of the Clinton Foundation, told ABC News in a written statement that ''no special treatment was expected or given.''

''This was a time of dire need, and we mobilized our network and wanted to make sure that any help offered was put to good use,'' Lindsey said. ''Many had been involved in disaster response before, in New Orleans after Katrina or after the tsunami, and again sought to help.''

Neither Bill Clinton nor Hillary Clinton was directly looped into the email conversations.

The correspondence paints a picture of the chaotic first days after the earthquake leveled much of the Haitian capital and claimed an estimated 200,000 lives. One series of messages chronicles efforts by billionaire Denis O'Brien, a longtime donor to the Clinton Foundation and the CEO of the Jamaica-based telecom firm Digicel, to fly relief supplies into Port-au-Prince and get employees of his company out.

''This WJC VIP just called again from Jamaica to say Digicel is being pushed by US Army to get comms back up but is not being cleared by [the U.S. government] to deploy into Haiti to do so,'' Desai wrote in an email with the subject line ''Close friend of Clintons.''

Later, O'Brien writes to longtime Clinton aide Doug Band to express frustration. ''We're finding it impossible to get landing slots,'' he says. ''I'm sorry to bother you but I am not making any progress through conventional channels.''

Band tasks Desai to ''pls get on this,'' telling O'Brien, ''Never a bother.''

Desai then turns to Klevorick to help ''a friend of President Clinton,'' and the request is pushed up the chain of command to USAID officials organizing the relief effort.

In an interview with ABC News, O'Brien said desperate times called for desperate measures.

''I don't see any problem contacting anybody in the United States if I'm bringing in emergency aid where people are dying on the street because of lack of medical attention,'' he said. ''I make no apologies for that.''

Scarcely a month into the reconstruction process, it was being described in a diplomatic cable as a ''gold rush'' for government contractors and aid groups.

Most of the messages do not discern whether the offers of help, which range from earthmoving equipment and generators to solar-powered water purifiers, were purely charitable or if they were made with the expectation of becoming part of the lucrative recovery effort. In one instance, though, Klevorick observes about a company's offer of help with water units, ''Sounds like they want a contract.'' That firm lacked Clinton connections, according to the email, and it is unclear what became of its offer, but it did do Haiti recovery work. And at least one chain involved an introduction for a company specializing in disaster response.

Desai forwarded a note to Klevorick from Garry Mauro, who served twice as the Texas state chairman for Bill Clinton's presidential campaigns and has donated $25,000 to $50,000 to the Clinton Foundation. The offer was for ''major assets in Haiti'' from a company called DRC Emergency Services. On its website, the company boasts of having performed emergency response work at disasters around the globe, with over $2 billion in disaster response contracts. Desai noted that Mauro was ''a friend of WJC.''

Klevorick replied, ''also note hrc friend,'' using initials for Hillary Rodham Clinton. The email chain does not indicate if Mauro's recommendation led to a contract for DRC, though the company's website states, ''Within 24 hours of the earthquake's occurrence, DRC assembled and mobilized a team of highly experienced and dedicated personnel to Port-au-Prince and the surrounding areas.''

Mauro told ABC News he approached the Clinton Foundation on behalf of DRC after seeing on television that former Presidents Clinton and George H.W. Bush were raising money for the disaster. DRC had already been doing temporary housing work in Haiti, and company officials thought the earthquake would open the door to a major business expansion.

''They wanted to get some of the business,'' he said of DRC. ''The Clinton Foundation was a facilitator. They didn't have the money.''

Mauro said he flew to New York and attended a meeting run by Bill Clinton at his Clinton Foundation offices, where contractors and aid groups with Haiti experience described their capabilities. Mauro said he was not aware that foundation officials sent emails to the State Department about his client, and he did not know if the company ultimately received a contract.

An official with DRC said the company's Haiti relief work was overseen by supervisors who were no longer with the company, and he did not know which entity paid for the contract.

Klevorick also fielded several requests for Rolando Gonzalez-Bunster, a board member of the Clinton Foundation who has business interests in power plants in the neighboring Dominican Republic and other nearby countries. In an email sent just days after the quake, with the subject line, ''CLINTON FRIEND/WANTING INFO,'' Bunster asks for detailed satellite imagery of the Haitian power grid after the earthquake to help ''do a reconnaissance of the status of the transmission and distribution lines and power plants.''

In another email, Klevorick alerts a top USAID official of the request, referring to Bunster as a ''close friend of the Secretary and Former President dating back to [their college years at] Georgetown.''

Bunster told ABC News the grid work was a donation and later garnered his company an award for its efforts.

A week after the earthquake hit, Klevorick wrote to the USAID's congressional liaison, Kate Beale, who previously served as a policy staffer in the offices of then''New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.

''Wjc/hrc friends come to you now,'' she writes. ''Would be great since you likely get this paradigm.''

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 20:05

Mark Rutte presenteerde vrijdag het VVD-verkiezingsprogramma. De premier wil na de crisis de zorgen over veiligheid en de gezondheidszorg wegnemen en heeft een stevig signaal voor "buitenstaanders" die tornen aan de Nederlandse normen en waarden. NU.nl vroeg de premier wie hij daar precies mee bedoelt.In een interview met het AD zegt u dat "buitenstaanders die zich ergeren aan hoe wij het hier met elkaar geregeld hebben, zich moeten afvragen of ze wel in Nederland willen blijven". Wie zijn die buitenstaanders?

"Ik heb het tijdens de presentatie van ons verkiezingsprogramma gehad over 'wij'. 'Wij' zijn alle mensen die een positieve bijdrage willen leveren. Dan maakt het mij niet uit waar ze vandaan komen; of ze hier al duizend jaar wonen of dat ze hier net gekomen zijn."

"Maar het is wel een feit dat wij natuurlijk te maken hebben met een stroom mensen - vluchtelingen - die van buiten is gekomen. Wij moeten niet de fouten van de jaren 80 en 90 herhalen; dat we onduidelijk zijn waar je in moet integreren. We moeten daar normerend en scherp in zijn, ook bij tweede en derde generatie allochtonen."

"Als uit onderzoek blijkt dat het overgrote deel van Turken en Marokkanen goed meedoet, maar 15 procent van de Marokkanen en 20 procent van de Turken niet, dat we dan zeggen: je kunt niet constant met twee benen buiten deze samenleving staan. Je zult op een gegeven moment voor Nederland moeten kiezen."

U heeft het over de tweede en derde generatie Turkse en Marokkaanse Nederlanders en zegt dat als het ze hier in Nederland niet bevalt, en als ze tornen aan de Nederlandse normen en waarden, ze er goed over moeten nadenken of ze Nederland niet moeten verlaten...

"Zo is het."

Zegt u dat ook tegen alle zwarte Nederlanders die moeite hebben met de Nederlandse traditie en normen en waarden rond het Sinterklaasfeest en bijbehorende Zwarte Piet, omdat zij die als een kwetsend negatief stereotype uit het koloniaal verleden zien? Moeten zij ook het land uit?

"Volgens mij is daar een maatschappelijk debat over gaande. Tradities kunnen veranderen. Dat gebeurt in een samenleving. Het laatste wat ik wil, is dat de politiek daar een mening over vormt."

Vindt u niet dat u met uw uitspraken voor tweespalt zorgt in de samenleving: tussen enerzijds allochtonen - die als het hen hier niet bevalt moeten nadenken over een vertrek uit Nederland - en anderzijds autochtonen - die volgens u ook "buitenstaander" kunnen zijn, maar geen land hebben waar ze naartoe kunnen gaan? In hoeverre verschilt u in deze opvattingen van PVV-leider Geert Wilders?

"Ik erger me net zozeer aan de Nederlander die achterin een gemeenteraadsvergadering staat te schreeuwen over de komst van een asielzoekerscentrum, die een fatsoenlijk debat over de komst van een azc onmogelijk maakt of die varkenskoppen ophangt."

Maar deze Nederlander heeft geen land van herkomst waar hij volgens u naartoe moet.

"Die kan ook een keuze maken of hij v""r of tegen Nederland is. Die keuze kunnen we allemaal maken. Uiteindelijk is het voor mij heel fundamenteel dat we ons realiseren dat we in een land wonen waarin je niet een beetje kunt shoppen in onze verworvenheden en dat we niet sluipenderwijs concessies doen aan die verworvenheden."

U zegt dus ook tegen autochtone Nederlanders dat als het je hier niet bevalt, je kunt vertrekken.

"Ik zeg niet: ga weg. Ik zeg: maak een keuze."

Dat zegt u dus ook tegen autochtonen?

"Dat zeg ik tegen iedereen. Maak een keuze als het je hier niet bevalt, wat je dan met je verdere leven wil. Want dit land zal zich tegen jou keren als je doorgaat met fundamentele waarden en normen met voeten te treden. Ook als je blank bent."

Lees meer achtergrondverhalen in NUweekend

Door: NU.nl/Avinash Bhikhie

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Archived Version

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 19:59

On a recent Thursday afternoon at Ohio State University, about 30 students sit in a classroom listening to instructor Kipp Pietrantonio lecture. ''Imagine you were just handed your physics test, what would happen?'' he asks.

''You sweat,'' calls out one student.

''Your heart starts racing,'' says a young woman.

''You get jittery,'' answers another.

It is a meeting of the twice weekly ''Beating Anxiety'' workshop'' and Dr. Pietrantonio is a clinical psychologist who works at the university's counseling center. The workshop advises students to tackle anxiety by exercising, getting enough sleep and reframing catastrophic thoughts (if my friend doesn't text me back right away, she hates me) in more logical ways (maybe she's studying) among other strategies.

It is one part of Ohio State's effort to cope with the dramatic increase in the number of its 59,000 students on the Columbus campus seeking help for mental-health issues.

Ohio State has seen a 43% jump in the past five years in the number of students being treated at the university's counseling center. At the University of Central Florida in Orlando, the increase has been about 12% each year over the past decade. At the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, demand for counseling-center services has increased by 36% in the last seven years.

Nationwide, 17% of college students were diagnosed with or treated for anxiety problems during the past year, and 13.9% were diagnosed with or treated for depression, according to a spring 2016 survey of 95,761 students by the American College Health Association. That is up from 11.6% for anxiety and 10.7% for depression in the spring 2011 survey. Counseling centers say they are also seeing more serious illnesses, including an uptick in the number of students coming to college with long psychiatric histories.

It is unclear why the rates of mental-health problems seem to be increasing among college students. Therapists point to everything from the economy and rising cost of tuition to the impact of social media and a so-called helicopter-parenting style that doesn't allow adolescents to experience failure. Students are ''overwhelmed with stress,'' says Micky M. Sharma, director of Ohio State's Student Life Counseling and Consultation Service. ''The coping, the resiliency is not where we want it to be. That's a bad combination.''

Click for more from The Wall Street Journal.

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Archived Version

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 19:54

A man in Arkansas is reportedly claiming that Former President Bill Clinton is his father and says Hillary Clinton 'banished' him.

The newly re-surfaced allegations have gone viral on websites like InfoWars and the Daily Mail.

30-year-old ''Danney Williams-Clinton'' launched a Facebook page where he explains his claim in a post:

'THE STORY OF DANNEY WILLIAMS AND THE FAKE DNA TEST'

My name is Danney Lee Williams, son of Bobbie Ann Williams and former President William Jefferson Clinton'--also known as Bill Clinton. My story began in 1984, when my mother and, at the time governor of Arkansas, Bill Clinton meet in Little Rock, Arkansas not far from the governor's mansion and her home'--which was located not but five block from the governor's mansion, along a route which Governor Clinton frequently jogged. After their initial encounter, my mother was propositioned by Governor Clinton and as a destitute young woman of 24, who worked as a courtesan to make ends, she obliged. She was with Bill Clinton sexually on 13 occasions, according to her.

After their first sexual encounter, they began to see each other on a regular basis over the course of several months, and eventually my mother became pregnant. My mother believed that Governor Clinton was my father back then, but wasn't sure until I was born on December 7th, 1985. The fact that Clinton is my father did not become obvious until she realized that she had given birth to a biracial son, realizing that she had not been involved with any other Caucasian man, but Governor Clinton, during the months of March and April of that year she realized the stupefying truth.

Facebook

There is evidence suggesting that, for a while at least, Clinton secretly accepted that Danney was his son since a man driving a state car delivered $700 in cash to the Williams shack every month for years, leaving seven crisp $100 bills in an envelope left in the mailbox according to Danney's mother. These payments ended abruptly after Danney's aunt confronted Hillary and when Bill became a candidate for President.

Former Arkansas trooper Larry Patterson, once a member of Governor Clinton's personal security team, said that on one or two occasions Clinton used Arkansas state troopers to take extra Christmas presents originally meant for Chelsea over to the home where young Danney lived. Patterson said Bill to him to say nothing to Hillary about the gifts.

Not long after I was born my mother went to prison and her sister, my aunt Lucille, took me and my siblings in to her home for a period of time, once the burden of some many children began to wear my aunts nerve thin we were forced to leave and spent some time with friends, in group homes, etc.'--it was very difficult because there was not much stability and very little guidance in our lives during a particularly vulnerable time.

During my adolescence and even now in my adult life, members of my family, the media and others have attempted to use my existence to either bring about awareness and/or defame President Clinton. Of these many individuals, businessman, restaurateur and community activist Robert ''Say''McIntosh of Little Rock, Arkansas, was one who assisted my family in the early 1990's to both promote my story and criticize Governor Clinton during the time he ran for president in 1992Mcintosh's efforts, to my family's surprise, successfully garnered some public interest, in that on February 18th, 1992, an sensationalized version of my story was published by a weekly tabloid know as The Globe.

Unfortunately for my family and I, after being a fundamental advocate for some time ''Say'' decided to withdraw his support. McIntosh now says he accepted $25,000 and a promise that they would pardon his son, Tommy McIntosh, who was arrested while in possession of nearly four and a half pounds of cocaine and subsequently convicted of possession with intent to distribute and sentenced to 50 years in prison and fined $250,000 in 1988in return for Say's silence.

Coincidently, after Say stopped publicizing my story and my father became the 42nd President of the United States, Say's son'--Tommy'--was granted clemency by an Arkansas Senator and Acting Governor Dr. Jerry Donal Jewell and released from the Tucker Maximum Security Prison. From what I understand, because my father was governor of Arkansas, when he left to be inaugurated as president the role of governor was assumed by the Lieutenant Governor'--Jim Guy Tucker, however when Tucker went to Washington D.C. to attend the inauguration, Jewell'--as the president pro tempore of the Arkansas Senate'--became the acting governor of Arkansas from Sunday, January 17th, 1993, at 7:00 a.m. until Wednesday, January 21st, at 4:00 p.m., thereby affording him the necessary authority and capacity to take such action.

Despite the national controversy surrounding The Globe article and the local controversy surrounding Senator Jewell's actions during his four-day stent as acting governor of Arkansas, my story faded from the public eye.

Although, the cinematic appeal of my story was realized when a fictionalized version of my story was published in the novel Primary Colors on January 6th, 1996, by an anonymous author, and once again when the book became a movie in 1998. Later, the anonymous author, Joe Klein'--a political journalist and columnist who had been covering the Clinton campaign for Newsweek during his 1992 presidential campaign'--admitted in a news conference on July 17th, 1996 that he indeed was the author of the roman clef novel, after months emphatically denying the truth.

During this time period, many news outlets mentioned by story, and in 1998 Newsmax contacted my aunt Lucille, she explained to me that in her interview she revealing a great many details in an effort to corroborate my mother's story.

However her efforts were not as successful as she had hoped, and in 1999, the STAR tabloid published a story by investigative reporter Richard Gooding, claiming to have ran a DNA tests using samples from myself and mother, comparing our samples to a sample taken from my father during Kenneth Starr's investigation of the White House Intern Monica Lewinsky's relationship with my Dad. There is no record of the Department of Justice giving DNA evidence to tabloid.

However, it seems highly implausible that the a news organization would be able to obtain and release personal medical history of any person, especially the president of the United States, without exposing themselves to legal action. Ultimately, without providing any form of documentation, Star reported that the samples did not match. The STAR can produce no DNA test today and report that their files contain no such test.

Earlier that year in 1999, a Manhattan investment firm/group, Evercore Capital Partners L.L.C., headed by'--a college friend of my father and former Deputy Treasury Secretary in the Clinton Administration'--Roger Charles Altman, had acquired the company that owns The National Enquirer and Star magazine for $294 million from American Media Inc. Interestingly, during this time my father's wife, Hillary Clinton, was running for to be elected United States Senator of New York'--eventually being elected in 2000.

All that being said, it is my understanding that the current owners of the Star deny that there was ever a DNA test performed. It wasn't until 2013, when The Globe conducted another interview with me, that anyone else listened to my story again.

Lucille Bolton who is Danney's aunt and became his guardian when Bobbie Ann Williams was incarcerated, took the infant Danney to the Governor's mansion and obtained a brief meeting with Hillary to demand the Clintons' acknowledge Bill's son. Hillary threatened Bolton and literally slammed the door in Bolton's face. Returning the next day Hillary refused to see the woman.

It was Hillary Clinton who cut Danney off from his biological father.

And that's as far as I got. Danney Williams, as he says, is real. Everything past that remains in the rabbithole'--the provenance of the supermarket tabloids and professional rumor peddlers.

Bill Clinton denied to comment on the allegation:

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Archived Version

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 19:51

On Friday, the Clinton Campaign (Washington Post) released video of Donald Trump bragging about grabbing p*ssy in an off the record conversation with Billy Bush.

The Los Angeles Times reported hours after audio was released of Donald Trump making sexually suggestive comments about a woman, that House Speaker Paul D. Ryan castigated Trump and said he would no longer attend their scheduled event on Saturday.

''I am sickened by what I heard today,'' Ryan said in a statement. ''Women are to be championed and revered, not objectified. I hope Mr. Trump treats this situation with the seriousness it deserves and works to demonstrate to the country that he has greater respect for women than this clip suggests.''

Paul Ryan was scheduled to campaign with Trump for the first time on Saturday.It never happened.

Funny how @PRyan finally decides to appear w/ #Trump '' only to publicly cancel and attack him! Funny how that works. https://t.co/XBJ20McXC5

'-- Jim Hoft (@gatewaypundit) October 8, 2016

On Sunday Donald Trump crushed Hillary Clinton in one of the most lopsided debates in political history. It was a brilliant performance. Trump made everyone forget about the WaPo tape.

On Monday Paul Ryan sabotaged Donald Trump again and changed the political narrative.

Ryan announced he will not campaign with or defend Donald Trump for the rest of the election cycle. This was an odd statement considering Paul Ryan has not once defended Donald Trump this year. He's only attacked Trump, the record-setting Republican primary winner.

Liberty University president Jerry Falwell, Jr. suggested today that GOP elites may have leaked the video.

Now this'...There are ''rumors'' that Paul Ryan's close advisor #NeverTrumper Dan Senor is behind the leaks.

.@dansenor Writing about #BillyBush tapes, hearing your wife (ex NBC) got a hold of tapes and you pushed the story for your boss. Comment?

'-- Mike Cernovich (@Cernovich) October 11, 2016

I spoke with a reporter tonight who believes the reports are true. It was GOP elites who released the audio to the Washington Post.

Dan Senor has been pushing the WaPo audio all day. He is determined to keep the story alive.And he's a Republican?

Note to media: if interviewing Trump surrogates today, focus q's on tape. Besides Rudy, these surrogates were all hiding over the weekend1/2

'-- Dan Senor (@dansenor) October 10, 2016

Now Trump surrogates magically appear b/c debate wasn't a disaster. You shld intv them abt the tape, as though the debate never occurred 2/2

'-- Dan Senor (@dansenor) October 10, 2016

This is outrageous.

UPDATE: Dan Senor's wife, liberal reporter Campbell Brown, tweeted this out last night.

Today she said she was joking.

Apparently some w/ a dearth of brain cells thought I was serious. Didn't leak it. Wish I had. To be clear, REALLY wish I had. But didn't. https://t.co/tWQQn4rivu

'-- Campbell Brown (@campbell_brown) October 11, 2016

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 19:18

Former CNN contributor and current Democratic National Committee interim chairwoman Donna Brazile provided the Hillary ClintonHillary Rodham ClintonObama's economic legacy ensures Democrats decades of successTrumped-up justiceEric Trump: 'Locker room banter' common among 'alpha personalities'MORE campaign a question for a town hall event in advance, according to an email dump by WikiLeaks.

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In an email dated March 12, 2016, Brazile '-- a CNN political analyst and DNC vice chair at the time '-- wrote to Clinton communications director Jennifer Palmieri with a heads up on a question about the candidate's stance on the death penalty with the subject header: "From time to time I get the questions in advance."The Democratic presidential primary event with Clinton and Bernie SandersBernie SandersEmails: Donna Brazile gave town hall question to Clinton camp in advanceThe Hill's 12:30 ReportUrban communities have a friend in Donald TrumpMORE was held the following day, March 13, and an audience member asked her the question about the death penalty. The event was hosted by Roland Martin and Jake Tapper, also host of CNN's "State of the Union" and "The Lead."

Brazile, who was a CNN contributor at the time of the email, asked Palmieri about Clinton's stance on the death penalty.''Here's one that worries me about HRC,'' wrote Brazile in the email.

Palmieri wrote back: "Yes, it is one she gets asked about. Not everyone likes her answer but can share it."

Clinton has supported the death penalty, putting her at odds with the Democratic Party's platform, though acknowledges there are issues with how it's applied. Sanders is opposed to capital punishment.

At the town hall, she said she would like to see states or the Supreme Court move toward abolishing it but said it "could still be held in reserve" for certain federal cases, such as terrorism.

In a statement to The Hill, CNN said, "To be perfectly clear: We have never, ever given a town hall question to anyone beforehand."

The conversation is part of WikiLeaks' trove of emails hacked from Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta.

CNN suspended Brazile after she was named chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee in the wake of Debbie Wasserman Schultz's resignation at the party convention in Philadelphia in July after fallout from other leaked emails.

Wasserman Schultz and senior DNC officials were found attempting to undermine the Sanders campaign.

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Archived Version

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 18:53

''If I win,'' Donald Trump threatened Hillary Clinton during Sunday night's debate, ''I am going to instruct my attorney general to get a special prosecutor to look into your situation.'' And he left no ambiguity as to the intended result. ''People have been, their lives have been destroyed for doing one fifth of what you have done. And it's a disgrace.''

''You know,'' Clinton later responded, ''It's just awfully good that someone with the temperament of Donald Trump is not in charge of the law in our country.'' Trump couldn't resist. ''Because you would be in jail,'' he broke in.

This is not how special prosecutors work. There are a number of legal mechanisms for the appointment of special counsel by the attorney general, all designed to allow for investigations of executive-branch officials free from the threat of political interference. Trump proposed the opposite: directing his attorney general to appoint a prosecutor to go after a political rival who he's publicly said should ''be in jail.''

This is not how the presidency works. When Richard Nixon tried to interfere in an ongoing investigation, Attorney General Elliott Richardson resigned. And even if Trump could find a more malleable attorney general, and discard precedent, he'd still lack the power to jail Clinton unilaterally. Presidents are not in charge of the law, but of its faithful execution.

This is also not how democracies work. Elected officials do not jail their foes. The Constitution specifically prohibits bills of attainder'--legislation designed to punish individuals, thereby circumventing the judicial process'--to bar despotic rulers from persecuting their opponents. The jailing of political opponents is a feature of repressive dictatorships, not vibrant democracies.

But it is fully in keeping with how Trump's campaign has worked. He accepted the nomination in Cleveland in July. The defining chant of that convention was not, ''Make America Great Again.'' It was ''Lock Her Up!''

And on Sunday, that's exactly what Trump vowed to do.

On the convention floor in Cleveland, I wandered over to the New York seats. Here were the delegates from Trump's home state, who'd also been represented in the Senate by his Democratic opponent. I wanted them to explain to me what the chant meant to them. Did they literally wish to put Clinton behind bars?

''She's mean and nasty,'' said Tony Scannapieco, the Republican chair of New York's Putnam County. ''She's a crook. She should be locked up.'' David DiPietro, a state assemblyman from Erie County, had also joined the chant. He felt that she'd intimidated FBI Director James Comey into not pursuing charges. He ''didn't want to be found dead,'' DiPietro said. ''It's as simple as that.'' Bill Reilich, the town supervisor of Greece, New York, was equally emphatic. ''99.9 percent of the people are law abiding citizens, and they know that if they break the law there will be consequences,'' he said.

Not every delegate I tracked down felt the same.

Josh Filler, a delegate from Maine, told me the chant was ''a euphemism for 'hold her accountable,''' and was frustrated that the media insisted on taking it literally. The chant, explained North Carolina delegate Rion Choate, was just a way to ''say that she's wrong for the country; that she's not been honest.'' Like a lot of the delegates with whom I spoke, he was upset by FBI Director James Comey's press conference, which he felt had short-circuited the process. ''I think that Director Comey should have let due process of law proceed,'' he told me.

Many were angry at what they perceived as a double standard, one that led to ordinary Americans being punished for rules a privileged elite could casually flout. Outside, at a protest, I met Donald Philip Larson, the Republican nominee in Ohio's 9th congressional district. He told me he'd been a communications officer on a fast frigate; if he'd brought home classified communications as Hillary had done, he said, he'd have landed in jail. ''I think it's very dangerous when someone running for president is held to a different set of rules,'' said Kyle Kilgore, a 22-year-old delegate from Virginia.

Wes Nakagiri walked around the convention floor in an orange prison jumpsuit, wearing a Hillary Clinton mask. (Actually, the Michigan delegate told me, it was sold as a 'female presidential candidate' mask, but Hillary's features were unmistakable.) ''Hillary has trouble with the truth,'' he said. ''I'm sure everyone here knows; I'm not sure everyone in America knows what she did.'' He, too, was chanting ''Lock her up,'' but he mused that it might be ''better for Trump that she's not locked up,'' because her continued freedom illustrated a system rigged in favor of insiders.

The streets around the convention hall were lined with T-shirt vendors. Sales were generally disappointing. One of the rare hot items featured a knock-off of the Clinton campaign logo, and the words: ''Hillary for Prison, 2016.''

Watch closely at any Trump rally. You'll find it sprinkled through the crowd.

This sort of rhetoric is hardly without precedent. Nineteenth-century American politics was a rough-and-tumble affair, with speakers frequently employing rhetoric that might shock contemporary audiences. And the rhetoric was often a prelude to violence. Brawls and duels were not uncommon, and lynchings not unheard of.

In more recent decades, impassioned partisans have called for the use of criminal sanctions, or even violence, against their political opponents. In 1993, readers of National Review found an ad offering anti-Clinton bumper stickers: ''Impeach him hell'--get a rope.'' In the wake of the Iraq War, many on the left and the libertarian right suggested that George W. Bush be charged with war crimes. At a Sarah Palin rally in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in October of 2008, a Scranton Times-Tribune reporter heard a man shout, ''Kill him!'' (The Secret Service investigated the report, interviewing 20 witnesses, but was unable to corroborate it.)

On occasion, such rhetorical attacks have seemed to inspire actual violence. There were 5,000 ''Wanted for Treason'' flyers distributed in Dallas ahead of John F. Kennedy's assassination.

But such episodes remain exceptional. They are generally the province of activists, not candidates, who cross these lines at their political peril. When Sharron Angle suggested that fixing Congress might require ''Second Amendment remedies'' in 2010, it helped sink her congressional campaign.

In this, as in so much else, Trump has proven exceptional. In August, he mused aloud before a crowd in Wilmington, North Carolina:

Hillary wants to abolish, essentially abolish the Second Amendment. If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks. Although the Second Amendment people'--maybe there is, I don't know.

However he meant it, many heard it as an implicit threat of violence; that firearms could be used to oppose Clinton and the judges she'd appoint.

There was irony in the location. It was in Wilmington, in 1898, that a mob of armed white men exercised their Second Amendment rights to deprive thousands their fellow Americans of their own constitutional rights, and some'--perhaps as few as nine, perhaps as many as 300'--of their lives.

The Wilmington insurrection was a coup d'etat. The officials of a mixed-race government were attacked by the political foes they had defeated at the ballot box. The mayor, board of aldermen, and police chief were forced to resign at gunpoint. More than a thousand black residents fled the city. The mob rampaged through Wilmington'--burning, beating, and killing'--intent on restoring white supremacy.

It succeeded. The example of Wilmington helped enshrine Jim Crow throughout the South. An embattled minority had managed, through violence and intimidation, to roll back the social and demographic changes it loathed.

It seems unlikely that Trump knew any of this history when he casually suggested that guns might provide an answer to losing an election, much as it seems unlikely that he was acquainted with the workings of the Department of Justice before he casually asserted he'd direct the attorney general to appoint a special prosecutor.

But if it's history that Trump does not know, it's history with which American voters might profitably acquaint themselves before November. The smooth functioning of American democracy rests on the acceptance of established norms. When they are violated, whether deliberately or out of careless disregard, the results can be catastrophic'--and sometimes, bloody.

This is not a nation immune from political violence. To the contrary. Its political history is sanguinary. To the extent that elections today are peaceful and orderly, it is because earlier generations witnessed the alternatives, and fought hard to secure the legitimacy of the democratic process, and to contain political conflicts so that they would not expand to become violent conflicts.

Whichever party loses in November will need to find a way to accept the results, even if its members have convinced themselves during the heat of the campaign that the election of their opponent portends the dissolution of the Republic. And the members of whichever party prevails will need to resist the impulse to avenge themselves for the attacks they've endured, the outrages they've suffered over the course of a long and bruising campaign.

On Sunday night, Donald Trump showed again that he has failed to grasp this essential lesson. He's running out of time to learn it.

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Source: The Daily Star >> Live News

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 18:25

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Source: Hollywood Street King

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 18:24

Less than three months before Kim Kardashian was robbed at gunpoint in her Paris apartment, Kanye West reportedly took out a large equity line of credit on his New York City apartment, according to the Daily Mail.

In records filed on September 27, JP Morgan Chase granted the line of credit to him on July 12. Kanye has until 2036 to pay back the funds.

Kanye purchased the New York apartment in the SoHo for $1.2 5million, and combined it with a unit next door to make it larger. He secretly listed the home for sale for $4.5 million in 2013, but no one was interested.

So it's true, Yeezy is struggling for money despite the klan's claims that his clothing line of hobo couture is oh so successful.

So can someone explain how Kanye allegedly purchased that 20-carat Lorraine Schwartz emerald cut diamond ring for Kim that had a price tag of $4 million? You know, the same ring that was allegedly stolen during the robbery?

He gifted Kim with the ring about a week ago, but even his $2 million loan can't cover the cost of this rock:

ðŸ'ŽðŸ'ŽðŸ'Ž

A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Sep 29, 2016 at 12:40pm PDT

Can someone explain to me wtf is going on? Yeezy is taking out loans but buying million dollar rings? We need answers'...

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Archived Version

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 18:18

John Podesta suggested on Twitter that not every email released by Wikileaks Friday is authentic. | AP Photo

Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta reacted to the tranche of emails released by Wikileaks, saying on Twitter that he was "not happy about being hacked by the Russians."

In a flurry of four tweets Friday, Podesta also suggested that not every email released by Wikileaks is authentic. He said he doesn't have time to "figure out which are real and which are faked."

And he fact-checked Wikileaks founder Julian Assange on his claim that Podesta owns the Washington lobbying shop Podesta Group. "But, for starters, Assange's first claim that I co-own the Podesta Group is completely false," he wrote.

Podesta's tweets came a few hours after Wikileaks released the batch of emails from top Clinton campaign officials. In a press release accompanying the emails, Assange described Podesta as someone who "controls the Podesta Group" and that the emails from him relate "to nuclear energy, and media handling over donations to the Clinton Foundation from mining and nuclear interests; 1,244 of the emails reference nuclear energy."

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Archived Version

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 17:38

Call it a sign of the times.

More couples these days want to avoid parenthood and embrace life without children.

So some are marking the start of their childless families with 'vasectomy parties.'

'Vasectomy cakes' like the one above are becoming abundantly visible on social media as couples celebrate living together without children

One couple posted a Reddit bulletin announcing that they were inviting friends to revel in the fun of being sterilized.

The invitation calls on attendees to live it up in 'a house filled with sharp furniture and exposed outlets,' the Sun reported.

Instead of the traditional baby shower, couples also invite friends to 'car showers' where guests help them name their new car.

They also play board games like The Price Is Right, where they talk about what they can buy now that they've saved money by not having kids.

'Absolutely brilliant!,' one Reddit user replied.

'Made me LOL, especially the wording on the invitation, the clever cake, and the advent calendar! Congratulations, by the way and have a happy childfree life!'

'All a baby shower is a party to celebrate that you had sex,' wrote another user. 'That a sperm managed to hit a fertile egg. A vasectomy shower is a party to celebrate soon to be sex.'

Some are even getting creative with their cakes as they hold the less traditional gatherings

Couples now invite friends over to decide what to name their cars, boats or other items that they buy with the money they save on account of not having children

The trend has become so pronounced that one couple posted a blog that they proudly named 'WereNotHavingABaby.com.'

'After six years of having looked forward to becoming a caring and all-out stimulating and dynamic mother at some indeterminate point in the near future, I suddenly realised that this wasn't the only possible narrative for my life,' one woman known as Stefani posted on the blog.

'I had swallowed the motherhood mandate hook, line, and sinker and I had never given myself the space and time to question whether I really, really want children.'

'Our society is all about celebrating traditional milestones,' Amy Blackstone, one of the blog's authors, told the New York Post.

'You graduate, you get married, you have a child. But that's a very narrow path and isn't indicative of many people's experiences.'

'So why not decide to celebrate your choice to not have a child?'

HOW IS A VASECTOMY ACTUALLY PERFORMED? The procedure involves severing, then sealing off, a tube called the vas deferens, which carries sperm from the testes to the penis

Vasectomy is usually carried out under local anaesthetic, and takes about 15 minutes.

The procedure involves severing, then sealing off, a tube called the vas deferens, which carries sperm from the testes to the penis.

This prevents sperm from reaching the seminal fluid (semen), which is ejaculated from the penis during sex.

There will be no sperm in the semen, so a woman's egg can't be fertilised - and the procedure has a 99.9 per cent success rate.

During a conventional vasectomy, the skin of the scrotum is numbed with local anaesthetic.

The doctor makes two small cuts, about 1cm long, on each side of the scrotum.

The incisions allow the surgeon to access the vas deferens, or sperm-carrying tubes.

Each tube is cut and a small section removed.

The ends of the tubes are then closed, either by tying them or sealing them using diathermy (an instrument that heats to a very high temperature).

Men will not feel any pain, although it may feel slightly uncomfortable.

The incisions are stitched, usually using dissolvable stitches, which will disappear naturally within about a week.

After a vasectomy, a man's hormones remain normal, and there is no noticeable difference in his ejaculate volume, since sperm make up only a tiny part of the semen.

Because the sperm cannot come out after the vas deferens is cut, like other dead body cells, the sperm disintegrate and are reabsorbed by the body.

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Source: WhoWhatWhy

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 17:23

Three months ago, WhoWhatWhy wrote a story on how the rest of the world is treating this year's US election like that of a banana republic.

Specifically, we were first to report that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is sending hundreds of election observers to the US due to concerns over voter suppression.

Now, the mainstream media is finally catching up. Last week, The Washington Post wrote a similar story on the OSCE observers who will monitor the November 8 election.

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Archived Version

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 16:58

" ... I am absolutely in favor of ..."

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As part of the WikiLeaks document dump on Friday, Hillary Clinton was shown to have admitted during a paid speech in 2013 that large numbers of Syrian migrants cannot be properly vetted, which essentially argues against her current proposal to increase the flow of refugees to the United States.

A partial transcript of the speech, given to the Jewish United Fund of Metropolitan Chicago's Vanguard Luncheon in October 2013, was released as part of thousands of hacked emails to and from Clinton's campaign chair John Podesta.

''There's a discussion going on now across the region to try to see where there might be common ground to deal with the threat posed by extremism and particularly with Syria which has everyone quite worried,'' Clinton said during the speech.

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''Jordan because it's on their border and they have hundreds of thousands of refugees and they can't possibly vet all those refugees so they don't know if, you know, Jihadists are coming in along with legitimate refugees.''

Following terrorist attacks in New York and New Jersey in September, Clinton changed her language on the issue, suggesting the vetting process for refugees needed to be rigorous.

''So I am absolutely in favor of and have long been an advocate for tough vetting, for making sure that we don't let people into this country '-- and not just people who come here to settle, but we need a better visa system,'' Clinton said during a press conference in New York on Sept. 19.

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''This is the kind of challenge that law enforcement can be and is prepared to address '-- namely, going after anyone who would threaten the United States.''

Despite the tougher rhetoric coming from Clinton, Republican nominee Donald Trump has accused the former secretary of state of wanting to increase the refugees let into the United States by 550 percent, a claim backed up by fact checker Politifact.

Politifact noted back in June that in September 2015, Clinton was asked on CBS' Face the Nation about the number of refugees President Barack Obama had been planning to let in, which was 10,000.

''Look, we're facing the worst refugee crisis since the end of World War II, and I think the United States has to do more, and I would like to see us move from what is a good start with 10,000 to 65,000 and begin immediately to put into place the mechanisms for vetting the people that we would take in,'' Clinton said in response.

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Clinton added that she would be ''looking to really emphasize some of those who are most vulnerable, a lot of the persecuted religious minorities, including Christians, and some who have been brutalized, like the Yazidi women.''

As Politifact noted, ''A jump to 65,000 would be a 550 percent increase.''

Thus, it concluded Trump's statement was ''mostly accurate'' and rated ''mostly true.''

What do you think?Scroll down to comment below.

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Archived Version

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 16:56

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, Page 001027 The New York Times ArchivesAmericans of all political persuasions are coming to the sad realization that our First Lady -- a woman of undoubted talents who was a role model for many in her generation -- is a congenital liar.

Drip by drip, like Whitewater torture, the case is being made that she is compelled to mislead, and to ensnare her subordinates and friends in a web of deceit.

1. Remember the story she told about studying The Wall Street Journal to explain her 10,000 percent profit in 1979 commodity trading? We now know that was a lie told to turn aside accusations that as the Governor's wife she profited corruptly, her account being run by a lawyer for state poultry interests through a disreputable broker.

She lied for good reason: To admit otherwise would be to confess taking, and paying taxes on, what some think amounted to a $100,000 bribe.

2. The abuse of Presidential power known as Travelgate elicited another series of lies. She induced a White House lawyer to assert flatly to investigators that Mrs. Clinton did not order the firing of White House travel aides, who were then harassed by the F.B.I. and Justice Department to justify patronage replacement by Mrs. Clinton's cronies.

Now we know, from a memo long concealed from investigators, that there would be "hell to pay" if the furious First Lady's desires were scorned. The career of the lawyer who transmitted Hillary's lie to authorities is now in jeopardy. Again, she lied with good reason: to avoid being identified as a vindictive political power player who used the F.B.I. to ruin the lives of people standing in the way of juicy patronage.

3. In the aftermath of the apparent suicide of her former partner and closest confidant, White House Deputy Counsel Vincent Foster, she ordered the overturn of an agreement to allow the Justice Department to examine the files in the dead man's office. Her closest friends and aides, under oath, have been blatantly disremembering this likely obstruction of justice, and may have to pay for supporting Hillary's lie with jail terms.

Again, the lying was not irrational. Investigators believe that damning records from the Rose Law Firm, wrongfully kept in Vincent Foster's White House office, were spirited out in the dead of night and hidden from the law for two years -- in Hillary's closet, in Web Hubbell's basement before his felony conviction, in the President's secretary's personal files -- before some were forced out last week.

Why the White House concealment? For good reason: The records show Hillary Clinton was lying when she denied actively representing a criminal enterprise known as the Madison S.& L., and indicate she may have conspired with Web Hubbell's father-in-law to make a sham land deal that cost taxpayers $3 million.

Why the belated release of some of the incriminating evidence? Not because it mysteriously turned up in offices previously searched. Certainly not because Hillary Clinton and her new hang-tough White House counsel want to respond fully to lawful subpoenas.

One reason for the Friday-night dribble of evidence from the White House is the discovery by the F.B.I. of copies of some of those records elsewhere. When Clinton witnesses are asked about specific items in "lost" records -- which investigators have -- the White House "finds" its copy and releases it. By concealing the Madison billing records two days beyond the statute of limitations, Hillary evaded a civil suit by bamboozled bank regulators.

Another reason for recent revelations is the imminent turning of former aides and partners of Hillary against her; they were willing to cover her lying when it advanced their careers, but are inclined to listen to their own lawyers when faced with perjury indictments.

Therefore, ask not "Why didn't she just come clean at the beginning?" She had good reasons to lie; she is in the longtime habit of lying; and she has never been called to account for lying herself or in suborning lying in her aides and friends.

No wonder the President is fearful of holding a prime-time press conference. Having been separately deposed by the independent counsel at least twice, the President and First Lady would be well advised to retain separate defense counsel.

We are continually improving the quality of our text archives. Please send feedback, error reports, and suggestions to archive_feedback@nytimes.com.

A version of this op-ed appears in print on January 8, 1996, on page 001027 of the National edition with the headline: Essay;Blizzard of Lies.

Continue reading the main story

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Archived Version

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 16:49

From:jpalmieri@hillaryclinton.com To: john.podesta@gmail.com Date: 2015-04-19 18:23 Subject: Re: Topper for New HampshireTruth Sent from my iPhone On Apr 19, 2015, at 4:20 PM, John Podesta wrote: I know she has begun to hate everyday Americans, but I think we should use it once the first time she says I'm running for president because you and everyday Americans need a champion. I think if she doesn't say it once, people will notice and say we false started in Iowa. On Apr 19, 2015 3:58 PM, "Jake Sullivan" wrote: > We are. Will insert something in next couple hours. > > > > On Apr 19, 2015, at 3:48 PM, Jennifer Palmieri < > jpalmieri@hillaryclinton.com> wrote: > > I think this looks good, but thought we were going to take one of the > small biz policy ideas - like access to credit - highlight that in her > remarks? > > Sent from my iPhone > > On Apr 19, 2015, at 3:46 PM, Dan Schwerin > wrote: > > Based on Iowa experience, she'll use it as a guide but stay reasonably > close. > > On Sun, Apr 19, 2015 at 3:42 PM, Robby Mook > wrote: > >> These are TPs that she will use as a guide or is she going to deliver >> this as written? >> >> On Sun, Apr 19, 2015 at 2:53 PM, Dan Schwerin < >> dschwerin@hillaryclinton.com> wrote: >> >>> Here's what I'm thinking for NH topper. Took some of her language from >>> the Fruit Company transcript, added in the bowling alley story and NH >>> specific stats. Thoughts? >>> >>> >>> *HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON* >>> >>> *REMARKS AT WHITNEY BROTHERS* >>> >>> *KEENE, NEW HAMPSHIRE* >>> >>> *MONDAY, APRIL 20, 2015* >>> >>> >>> >>> I'm delighted to be here at Whitney Brothers, a great family-owned and >>> operated small business in the classic New Hampshire tradition. I just had >>> a chance to see some of the high-quality, high-skilled work here, marrying >>> new technology with 100 years of dedication and craftsmanship. >>> >>> And of course I love that you're designing furniture specifically for >>> the needs of our youngest children and their parents. When I had Chelsea, >>> a crib was just a crib. But today, as I've learned since my granddaughter >>> was born, so much more care and expertise goes into everything for our >>> babies. So thank you for being pioneers in an area that's so important to >>> every new family. >>> >>> I wanted to come here on my first day in New Hampshire because small >>> businesses like Whitney Brothers are the backbone of this state's economy >>> and a key to jumpstarting growth and innovation across our country. [Small >>> businesses employ more than half of all of New Hampshire's private sector >>> workers '' and they create two out of every three new jobs in the state.] >>> >>> When I was growing up, my father ran a small business in Chicago '' and I >>> mean very small. He printed fabric for draperies and then he went out and >>> sold them. Sometimes he could hire a few day laborers to help, sometimes >>> my mom and my brothers and I pitched in. But mostly he was doing >>> everything himself. He was a real waste-not want-not, pay-as-you-go, no >>> complaining kind of guy. So I learned early on just how tough it is to >>> make a business like this work. >>> >>> >>> >>> I'm sure you all have your own stories and experiences about this. When >>> I was in Iowa last week, a young man told me about what it was like trying >>> to buy the bowling alley where he had worked as a teenager. >>> >>> >>> >>> He had experience, talent, a college degree, and a plan to build a great >>> business. But he also had a lot of student debt. Not because he was >>> irresponsible and living beyond his means. Because he did was he was >>> supposed to do. He got an education. He invested in his own future. But >>> all the banks saw was debt. So it was a real struggle. >>> >>> >>> >>> And that's the opposite of what we want to see in this country '' which >>> is more young people being able to start businesses, create jobs, and live >>> their dreams. >>> >>> >>> >>> Here in New Hampshire and across our country, Americans have come back >>> from tough economic times. Our economy and our country are in much better >>> shape because families did whatever it took to make it work. >>> >>> >>> >>> Unemployment is down, and in most places homes are worth something real >>> again. Americans are starting to think about the future again. Going back >>> to school. Changing jobs. Starting a business. Doing the right things to >>> get ahead. >>> >>> >>> >>> But as that young man in Iowa experienced, all the breaks still seem to >>> go to those already at the top. There's something wrong when it's so easy >>> for big corporations to get a tax break but so hard for small businesses to >>> get a loan. >>> >>> >>> >>> America ranks 46th in the world in how hard it is to start a new >>> business. We should be number one. It takes longer to start a business in >>> the United State than in France. >>> >>> >>> >>> Now, New Hampshire is one of the best places in the country to start a >>> business. You've got fewer onerous regulations that defy commonsense, like >>> excessive occupational licensing that keeps young people from entering new >>> fields. And your terrific governor, Maggie Hassan, created a program to >>> help people who lost their jobs in the recession get back on their feet and >>> start new businesses. That's an idea we should be looking at expanding >>> across the country. >>> >>> >>> >>> So I want to hear directly from all of you about your own experiences >>> and your own dreams -- about the obstacles and the successes that you've >>> encountered and what we can do to help more small businesses thrive. >>> >>> >>> >>> I'm running for President because you and Americans everywhere need a >>> champion. And I want to be that champion. So you can do more than just >>> get by -- you can get ahead and stay ahead. And starting a small business >>> seems less like a gamble and more like an opportunity. >>> >>> I'm taking on four big fights: >>> >>> First, we need to build an economy for tomorrow, instead of yesterday, >>> where being middle class means something again. And that starts right here >>> with small businesses like Whitney Brothers, creating good jobs and helping >>> people get ahead. >>> >>> Second, we need to strengthen our families and communities, because when >>> families are strong, America is strong. >>> >>> Third, it's time to fix our broken political system. I want to get >>> things done, so I'll work with anyone who has a good idea. But I'll also >>> take on the powerful forces trying to take us backwards. We need to get >>> rid of all the unaccountable money, even if it takes a constitutional >>> amendment. >>> >>> Fourth, I'll protect our country from the threats that we see, and the >>> ones that are on the horizon. >>> >>> All four of these fights will put us up against some pretty powerful >>> opposition. But I've spent my whole life fighting for children, for >>> families, standing up for America. And I think people know... I don't >>> quit. >>> >>> For me, this really is about doing everything I can to make sure that >>> every child -- not just my grandchild, but every child -- has a chance to >>> live up to his or her God-given potential. That's what I was raised to >>> believe by my church and my family, and that's what I'll be fighting for in >>> this campaign. >>> >>> >>> >>> I'm going to work my heart out to earn every vote -- starting with >>> yours. >>> >>> >>> >>> Thank you for helping me start this campaign here in New Hampshire. >>> Now, I'm eager to hear from you how these challenges are impacting your >>> lives and your businesses, to share some of my ideas, to ask you some >>> questions, and to answer some of yours. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >> >

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Archived Version

Source: The Intercept

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 16:44

Wall Street donors have used their financial relationship with the Democratic Party to complain bitterly about Sen. Elizabeth Warren's influence over the direction of the party, a new fundraising document reveals. At one point, the Democratic lawmaker in charge of raising cash for House Democrats attempted to reassure donors by pointing to a news story claiming that Warren does not speak for the party.

The document, a fundraising summary compiled by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, provides a window into the relationship between the Democrats and major interest group donors. The party held meetings with donors such as Goldman Sachs and General Electric and carefully compiled their concerns, even when they whined about core progressive goals. It's an awesome example of how money greases the wheels of Washington, D.C..

The notes were compiled on behalf of Rep. Ben Ray Lujn, D-N.M., the chair of the DCCC, providing a summary of his fundraising meetings with various corporate and union donors. The DCCC did not respond to a request for comment.

The nine-page document was found in a cache of files published last week by ''Guccifer 2.0,'' the anonymous hacker who has been accused by the Department of Homeland Security of having ties to Russian government.

Goldman Sachs lobbyists Michael Paese and Joyce Brayboy complained to Lujn that his party's ''rhetoric is problematic'' and that they ''don't like Warren's messaging,'' a reference to populist Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Brayboya was a so-called ''superdelegate'' and at-large member of the Democratic National Committee. Warren, notably, has pushed her party to take a more aggressive stance on regulating the financial industry and prosecuting Wall Street crimes criminally.

The lobbyists' access was likely influenced by significant contributions to the DCCC. In the 2014 election cycle, the Goldman Sachs PAC gave the DCCC $30,000; in 2016, it gave $20,000.

Similar concerns were brought to the DCCC by lobbyists for the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, a trade group that represents Goldman Sachs, Fidelity, Charles Schwab & Co., and other large financial companies. SIFMA lobbyists were ''upset around messaging demonizing Wall Street,'' the document notes.

Like Goldman Sachs, SIFMA lobbyists complained about Warren's influence. In response, Lujn referenced a news article about House Democratic Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi, declaring that Warren did not speak on behalf of the party '-- something the financial industry lobbyists saw as ''an encouraging sign.'' But the lobbyists warned that the attacks on the financial sector were creating ''a larger problem when people don't trust banks and financial institutions.''

The financial services trade group also raised concerns with the Department of Labor's Fiduciary Rule, which prevents financial advisors from making retirement advice based on kickbacks from retirement funds. A vote earlier this year on legislation to obstruct the rule, proposed by House Republicans and supported by SIFMA, came down on party lines, with all Democrats opposing the effort.

SIFMA was not quite yet ready to give money to the DCCC ''in large part due to messaging,'' but offered to do ''literacy events'' with House Democrats. Indeed, campaign disclosures show that SIFMA's political action committee donated to the committee supporting House Republicans this year, but not the DCCC. In the 2014 election cycle, they gave $30,000 to the DCCC.

General Electric was far more supportive than the banks, offering tips on tactics, campaign technology, and strategy around electing more Southern and pro-business Democrats. But the notes make clear that GE's donations to the party would be influenced by lawmakers' votes.

GE, the document notes, ''gave $400,000 to House Dems last cycle, but they are facing headwinds this cycle.'' Listed under the ''headwinds'' are an array of GE policy concerns, including the renewal of the Export-Import Bank, the repeal of the Affordable Care Act's medical device tax, and changes regarding the Medicare reimbursement formula. The meeting, notably, was conducted not only with GE lobbyists, but also with Betsy Tower, the manager in charge of the company's political action committee. GE's PAC gave the DCCC $30,000 in 2014 and $20,000 this cycle.

The Laborers International Union of North America, the union for construction workers, warned that they were with Republicans supporting a ''total repeal'' of health reform, and that they were concerned about Democratic hostility towards the Keystone XL pipeline. The union gave $30,000 to the DCCC in 2014 and $15,000 in this election cycle.

Other union meetings were more friendly and supportive of a broader progressive agenda. A briefing with Service Employees International Union president Mary Kay Henry and political director Brandon Davis went over the need to organize communities of color, tying get-out-the-vote efforts to support for increasing the minimum wage, and other strategic imperatives. The SEIU gave $30,000 to the DCCC in the 2014 cycle and $15,000 so far in this cycle.

Lobbyists for the hospital industry similarly offered support, and thanked Democrats for help passing legislation to change Medicare reimbursement rates. The hospital industry also spoke to Lujn about contingency efforts around the Supreme Court's King v. Burwell, a case over whether the Affordable Care Act gave appropriate authority to the federal government to set up insurance exchanges and provide subsidies. The discussion suggests the document was authored in the months before June 25, 2015, when the court upheld the exchanges. The American Hospital Association gave $30,000 to the DCCC during the 2014 cycle and during the current one.

In a separate file, whose metadata suggests it was authored by a DCCC fundraising official, instructs Lujn to congratulate Rick Pollack, the newly appointed head of the American Hospital Association. The note reminds Lujn that he ''met with Rick on April 13th when AHA made their $15,000 contribution to the DCCC for the year.''

The DCCC has raised $144 million so far this year, according to recent disclosures. The party committee raises the cash through frequent solicitations to small donors, but also through large donations made by wealthy individuals, lobbyists, and interest group representatives.

Top photo: Rep. Ben Ray Lujn speaks as, from left, House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi , Rep. Steve Israel and Rep. Donna Edwards listen during a news conference to announce new members of the House Democratic leadership team on November 17, 2014.

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Archived Version

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 16:28

From:terribillionairs@aol.com To: john.podesta@gmail.com Date: 2015-08-18 10:30 Subject: email for John Podesta c/o Eryn re Space Treaty (attached)Dear John, Because the War in Space race is heating up, I felt you should be aware of several factors as you and I schedule our Skype talk. Remember, our nonviolent ETI from the contiguous universe are helping us bring zero point energy to Earth. They will not tolerate any forms of military violence on Earth or in space. The following information in italics was shared with me by my colleague Carol Rosin, who worked closely for several years with Wernher von Braun before his death. Carol and I have worked on the Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, attached for your convenience. NEW GREAT NEWS: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal proposed cooperation in space technology between Pakistan and China as part of the historic declaration, saying it will take the Pak-China relations to new heights. http://tribune.com.pk/story/937041/cooperation-20-mous-worth-2-billion-signed/ A consortium of 35 Chinese companies was also formed that will invest in Pakistan: Pakistan and China on Wednesday signed 20 memoranda of understanding (MoU) worth $2 billion...emphasis on sustainability ________________________________________________________________ The Cosmic Consequences of Space Weapons: Why they Must be Banned to Preserve our Future FULL ARTICLE: http://consciousreporter.com/global-agendas/treaty-ban-weapons-space-urgently-needed/ ________________________________________________________________ WAR IN SPACE... War in space isn't considered fantasy anymore http://www.aol.com/article/2015/08/12/war-in-space-isnt-considered-fantasy-anymore/21221875/ ___________________________________________________________________ PREPARING FOR WAR IN SPACE (articles below): http://www.outerplaces.com/science/item/9578-anti-satellite-missiles-and-international-tensions-see-us-china-and-russia-preparing-for-war-in-spaceAnti- Satellite Missiles and International Tensions See US, China and Russia Preparing for War in Space ____________________________________________________________ http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/war-in-space-may-be-closer-than-ever/??ftcamp=crm/email//nbe/FirstFTEurope/product War in Space May Be Closer Than Ever China, Russia and the U.S. are developing and testing controversial new capabilities to wage war in space despite their denial of such work By Lee Billings | August 10, 2015 _____________________________________________________________ http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/597809/Anti-satellite-weapons-space-war-Earth-Russia-China-United-States World War Three in SPACE? Fears over rise in anti-satellite weapons created by Russia A HUGE rise in anti-satellite weapons being developed by world powers has sparked fears the West could soon be embroiled in a fully-fledged war with Russia and China in outer space. ____________________________________________________________ War in space isn't considered fantasy anymore http://www.aol.com/article/2015/08/12/war-in-space-isnt-considered-fantasy-anymore/21221875/ We're arguably closer than ever to war in space. Most satellites orbiting Earth belong to the U.S., China and Russia. And recent tests of anti-satellite weapons don't exactly ease the scare factor. It sounds like science fiction, but the potential for real-life star wars is real enough. It's just not new. Fears of battles in space go back to the Cold War and several initiatives, like President Reagan's "Star Wars" missile-defense system. Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work spoke to Congress in June about the threat. He said during a speech the technology the U.S. developed during the Cold War allows it "to project more power, more precisely, more swiftly, at less cost." Take a moment to think about everything satellites do. GPS, surveillance and communications all depend on them. And the Scientific American notes you can disable satellites without missiles. Simply spray-painting lenses or breaking antennas is enough. President Obama requested $5 billion for space defense in the 2016 fiscal budget. And a former Air Force officer told the Scientific American most of the United States' capabilities in space have been declassified to send a clear message: There are no rules for war in space. Best regards, Edgar Edgar D. Mitchell, ScD Apollo 14 astronaut 6th man to walk on the Moon Zero Point Energy Consultant

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Archived Version

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 16:27

From:terribillionairs@aol.com To: john.podesta@gmail.com Date: 2015-01-18 19:34 Subject: email for John Podesta (c/o Eryn) from Edgar Mitchel re meeting ASAPDear John, As 2015 unfolds, I understand you are leaving the Administration in February. It is urgent that we agree on a date and time to meet to discuss Disclosure and Zero Point Energy, at your earliest available after your departure. My Catholic colleague Terri Mansfield will be there too, to bring us up to date on the Vatican's awareness of ETI. Another colleague is working on a new Space Treaty, citing involvement with Russia and China. However with Russia's extreme interference in Ukraine, I believe we must pursue another route for peace in space and ZPE on Earth. I met with President Obama's Honolulu childhood friend, US Ambassador Pamela Hamamoto on July 4 at the US Mission in Geneva, when I was able to tell her briefly about zero point energy. I believe we can enlist her as a confidante and resource in our presentation for President Obama. I appreciate Eryn's assistance in working with Terri to set up our meeting. Best regards, Edgar Edgar D. Mitchell, ScD Chief Science Officer & Founder, Quantrek Apollo 14 astronaut 6th man to walk on the Moon PS Terri's cousin by marriage and former Mayor of Chicago Jane Byrne died recently. Raum Emmanuel was at her funeral.

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 16:25

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In what is sure to raise some eyebrows, two emails found in Wikileaks' latest email leak of John Podesta, allegedly shows that former NASA astronaut Edgar Mitchell emailed Mr. Podesta with intent to set up a meeting where the two would discuss formal Extraterrestrial Disclosure and Zero Point Energy, or more commonly known as ''free energy.''

While Wikileaks has yet to address this specific email revelation, the two emails are being shown on Wikileaks' website.

In the first email, Mitchell wrote to Podesta:

It is urgent that we agree on a date and time to meet to discuss Disclosure and Zero Point Energy, at your earliest available after your departure.

Mitchell then went on to mention the Vatican's awareness of Extraterrestial Intelligence (ETI):

My Catholic colleague Terri Mansfield will be there too, to bring us up to date on the Vatican's awareness of ETI.

In the second email, the former NASA astronaut wrote to Podesta:

Remember, our nonviolent ETI from the contiguous universe are helping us bring zero point energy to Earth. They will not tolerate any forms of military violence on Earth or in space.

At this point, no emails have been discovered yet in the latest batch leak that showed Podesta responding to Mitchell's email. However, Wikileaks has made it clear that they've only published 1% of the Podesta files, with the rest coming throughout the election period.

Could the responses or even more detailed emails about E.T./UFO disclosure be forthcoming? We will soon find out.

For those skeptical of the presence of extraterrestrials or of the existence of ''free energy systems,'' consider the following two quotes from Dr. Brian O'Leary, Ph.D, scientist, author, Princeton/Cornell physics professor, and former NASA astronaut:

Another quote from Dr. O'Leary:

''If the new energy technologies were to be set free worldwide, the change would be profound, it would affect everybody, it would be applicable everywhere. These technologies are absolutely the most important thing that has happened in the history of the world.''

Additionally, just a couple days ago, as reported by RT.com, Iraq's Transport Minister, Kazem Finjan, claims ''ancient aliens'' built earth's first airport 7,000 years ago in the Middle East '' and used it for interplanetary missions.

It is clear that the momentum for some sort of formal announcement from governmental or miltary agencies is rapidly speeding up.

The ramifications of these two emails are paramount, with numerous possible scenarios playing out from this point forward and the potential for this topic to reach the world's audience very quickly.

Perhaps the best way for this issue to become clearer is to demand the truth, whatever that might be, on extraterrestrial intelligence and free energy technology.

Perhaps enough people will ask for a response on this email topic from Wikileaks and Julian Assange on Twitter. Or maybe the question will be brought up to Hillary Clinton during a live debate.

Remember too that John Podesta tweeted the following in February of 2015:

One thing is for sure, the world awaits not only Wikileaks', but Mr. Podesta and the Clinton campaign's response to these two specific email leaks.

Lance Schuttler graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in Health Science and does health coaching through his website Orgonlight Health. You can follow the Orgonlight Health facebook page or visit the website for more information and other inspiring articles.

This article originally appeared on themindunleashed.com.

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 13:03

Updated | I am Sidney Blumenthal. At least, that is what Vladimir Putin'--and, somehow, Donald Trump'--seem to believe. And that should raise concerns about not only Moscow's attempts to manipulate this election but also how Trump came to push Russian disinformation to American voters.

An email from Blumenthal'--a confidant of Hillary Clinton and a man, second only to George Soros, at the center of conservative conspiracy theories'--turned up in the recent document dump by WikiLeaks. At a time when American intelligence believes Russian hackers are trying to interfere with the presidential election, records have been fed recently to WikiLeaks out of multiple organizations of the Democratic Party, raising concerns that the self-proclaimed whistleblower group has become a tool of Putin's government. But now that I have been brought into the whole mess'--and transformed into Blumenthal'--there is even more proof that the Russians are not only orchestrating this act of cyberwater but also really, really dumb.

The evidence emerged thanks to the incompetence of Sputnik, the Russian online news and radio service established by the government-controlled news agency, Rossiya Segodnya.

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The documents that WikiLeaks has unloaded recently have been emails out of the account of John Podesta, the chairman of Clinton's election campaign. Almost as soon as the pilfered documents emerged, Sputnik was all over them and rapidly found (or probably already knew about before the WikiLeaks dump) a purportedly incriminating email from Blumenthal.

The email was amazing'--it linked Boogie Man Blumenthal, Podesta and the topic of conservative political fevered dreams, Benghazi. This, it seemed, was the smoking gun finally proving Clinton bore total responsibility for the terrorist attack on the American outpost in Libya in 2012. Sputnik even declared that the email might be the ''October surprise'' that could undermine Clinton's campaign.

Russian President Vladimir Putin listens to German Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel during their meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia on September 21.REUTERS/Ivan Sekretarev/Pool

To understand the full importance of the story'--and how much Putin and his Kremlin cronies must have been dancing with delight'--I have to quote the top few paragraphs:

In a major revelation from the second batch of WikiLeaks emails from Clinton Campaign Chairman John Podesta it was learned that Hillary's top confidante Sidney Blumenthal believed that the investigation into Benghazi was legitimate because it was "preventable" and the result of State Department negligence.

In an email titled "The Truth" from Hillary's top confidante Sidney Blumenthal, the adviser writing to undisclosed recipients said that "one important point that has been universally acknowledged by nine previous reports about Benghazi: The attack was almost certainly preventable" in what may turn out to be the big October surprise from the WikiLeaks released of emails hacked from the account of Clinton Campaign Chair John Podesta.

Then came the money quote: "Clinton was in charge of the State Department, and it failed to protect U.S. personnel at an American consulate in Libya. If the GOP wants to raise that as a talking point against her, it is legitimate," said Blumenthal, putting to rest the Democratic Party talking point that the investigation into Clinton's management of the State Department at the time of the attack was nothing more than a partisan witch hunt.

Those words sounded really, really familiar. Really familiar. Like, so familiar they struck me as something I wrote. Because they were something I wrote.

The Russians were quoting two sentences from a 10,000 word piece I wrote for Newsweek, which Blumenthal had emailed to Podesta. There was no mistaking that Blumenthal was citing Newsweek'--the magazine's name and citations for photographs appeared throughout the attached article. The Russians had carefully selected the ''of course'' paragraph, which mentions there were legitimate points of criticism regarding Clinton and Benghazi, all of which had been acknowledged in nine reports about the terror attack and by the former Secretary of State herself. But that was hardly the point of the story, ''Benghazi Biopsy: A Comprehensive Guide to One of America's Worst Political Outrages.'' The piece is about the obscene politicization of the assault that killed four Americans, and the article slammed the Republican Benghazi committee which was engaged in a political show trial disguised as a Congressional investigation'--the tenth inquiry into the tragedy.

Here is the real summation of my article, which the Russians failed to quote:

The historical significance of this moment can hardly be overstated, and it seems many Republicans, Democrats and members of the media don't fully understand the magnitude of what is taking place. The awesome power of government'--one that allows officials to pore through almost anything they demand and compel anyone to talk or suffer the shame of taking the Fifth Amendment'--has been unleashed for purely political purposes. It is impossible to review what the Benghazi committee has done as anything other than taxpayer-funded political research of the opposing party's leading candidate for president. Comparisons from America's past are rare. Richard Nixon's attempts to use the IRS to investigate his perceived enemies come to mind. So does Senator Joseph McCarthy's red-baiting during the 1950s, with reckless accusations of treason leveled at members of the State Department, military generals and even the secretary of the Army'...The consequences, however, are worse than the manipulation of the electoral process. By using Benghazi for political advantage, the Republicans have communicated to global militants that, through even limited attacks involving relatively few casualties, they can potentially influence the direction of American elections.

Of course, this might be seen as just an opportunity to laugh at the incompetence of the Russian hackers and government press'--once they realized their error, Sputnik took the article down. But then things got even more bizarre.

This false story was only reported by the Russian controlled agency (a reference appeared in a Turkish publication, but it was nothing but a link to the Sputnik article). So how did Donald Trump end up advancing the same falsehood put out by Putin's mouthpiece?

Donald Trump enters the town hall debate against Hillary Clinton at Washington University in St. Louis on October 9.REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

At a rally in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, Trump spoke while holding a document in his hand. He told the assembled crowd that it was an email from Blumenthal, whom he called ''sleazy Sidney.''

''This just came out a little while ago,'' Trump said. ''I have to tell you this.'' And then he read the words from my article.

''He's now admitting they could have done something about Benghazi,'' Trump said, dropping the document to the floor. ''This just came out a little while ago.''

The crowd booed and chanted, ''Lock her up!''

This is not funny. It is terrifying. The Russians engage in a sloppy disinformation effort and, before the day is out, the Republican nominee for president is standing on a stage reciting the manufactured story as truth. How did this happen? Who in the Trump campaign was feeding him falsehoods straight from the Kremlin? (The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment).

The Russians have been obtaining American emails and now are presenting complete misrepresentations of them'--falsifying them'--in hopes of setting off a cascade of events that might change the outcome of the presidential election. The big question, of course, is why are the Russians working so hard to damage Clinton and, in the process, aid Donald Trump? That is a topic for another time.

For now, though, Americans should be outraged. This totalitarian regime, engaged in what are arguably war crimes in Syria to protect their government puppet, is working to upend a democracy to the benefit of an American candidate who uttered positive comments just Sunday about the Kremlin's campaign on behalf of Bashar al-Assad. Trump's arguments were an incomprehensible explication of the complex Syrian situation, which put him right on the side of the Iranians and Syrians, who are fighting to preserve the government that is the primary conduit of weapons used against Israel.

So no, Mr. Putin, I'm not Sidney Blumenthal. And now that you have been exposed once again, get the hell out of our election. And Mr. Trump'--you have some explaining to do.

This story has been updated to include information about Donald Trump's speech in Pennsylvania and a request for comment from the Trump campaign.

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 12:55

A Clinton campaign email released as part of the Wikileaks data dump earlier today talks about the need to maintain political power by producing ''an unaware and compliant citizenry''.

The email was sent to Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman John Podesta by former Clinton administration official Bill Ivey on March 13, 2016.

Ivey was appointed Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts during Bill Clinton's second term. According to his bio, Ivey ''is a trustee of the Center for American Progress (a Clinton campaign front), and was a Team Leader in the Barack Obama presidential transition.''

In the email, Ivey outlines the panic amongst some Democrats that Donald Trump's ''celebrity politics'' persona cannot be matched by Hillary, who is ''not an entertainer, and not a celebrity in the Trump, Kardashian mold.''

''Money isn't all that important if you can conflate entertainment with the electoral process. Trump masters TV, TV so-called news picks up and repeats and repeats to death this opinionated blowhard and his hairbrained ideas, free-floating discontent attaches to a seeming strongman and we're off and running,'' complains Ivey.

Ivey wonders how Clinton can combat Trump's larger than life appeal, worrying that simply 'defaulting to policy' won't work.

''And as I've mentioned, we've all been quite content to demean government, drop civics and in general conspire to produce an unaware and compliant citizenry,'' he writes.

''The unawareness remains strong but compliance is obviously fading rapidly. This problem demands some serious, serious thinking '' and not just poll driven, demographically-inspired messaging.''

To emphasize, Ivey admits that the left has 'conspired' to ''produce an unaware and compliant citizenry'' but that they're not as easy to manipulate anymore and that this is a problem. He characterizes ''unawareness'' amongst the public as a positive thing for the Clinton campaign.

Ivey ends the email by saying he will attend a Clinton fundraiser and that he fears, ''we are all now trying to navigate a set of forces that cannot be simply explained or fully understood.''

The email is a shocking insight into the elitist and arrogant mindset that pervades the Clinton campaign, with Americans viewed as dumb sheep who need to be herded in the right direction.

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Paul Joseph Watson is the editor at large of Infowars.com and Prison Planet.com.

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 10:27

Hillary Clinton reiterated her unreserved support for both a ''no-fly zone'' and ''safe zones'' in Syria during Sunday's presidential debate '-- but in a partial transcript of private remarks she made at a Goldman Sachs event in 2013, she acknowledged some of the complications involved.

Her comments were included in an 80-page report prepared by the Clinton campaign listing the most politically damaging quotes from Clinton's paid speeches, which she has refused to make public. Among the recipients of that report was Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, whose hacked emails were posted by WikiLeaks on Friday.

In her remarks to Goldman Sachs, Clinton pointed to the Syrian government's air defense systems, and noted that destroying them would take the lives of many Syrian civilians.

''They're getting more sophisticated thanks to Russian imports. To have a no-fly zone you have to take out all of the air defense, many of which are located in populated areas. So our missiles, even if they are standoff missiles so we're not putting our pilots at risk'--you're going to kill a lot of Syrians,'' she said. ''So all of a sudden this intervention that people talk about so glibly becomes an American and NATO involvement where you take a lot of civilians.''

She also addressed how much harder it would be to intervene in Syria, compared to Libya.

''In Libya we didn't have that problem. It's a huge place. The air defenses were not that sophisticated and there wasn't very'--in fact, there were very few civilian casualties. That wouldn't be the case,'' she noted. ''And then you add on to it a lot of the air defenses are not only in civilian population centers but near some of their chemical stockpiles. You do not want a missile hitting a chemical stockpile.''

While Clinton admitted these complications in establishing a no-fly zone, she also urged other forms of intervention. ''And there is still an argument that goes on inside the administration and inside our friends at NATO and the Europeans. How do intervene'--my view was you intervene as covertly as is possible for Americans to intervene. We used to be much better at this than we are now,'' she said.

She also explained how in her view the civil war could have been avoided by offering concessions to the Syrian people, saying that Syrian leader ''[Bashar Al-] Assad very well could have in my view bought them off with some cosmetic changes that would not have resulted in what we have seen over the now two years and the hundred thousand deaths and the destabilization that is going on'' in the region.

At the Jewish United Fund Advance & Major Gifts Dinner in October 2013, she blamed Saudi Arabia for complicating efforts to arm ideologically moderate Syrian rebels '-- pointing to indiscriminate Saudi arming of a wide variety of groups.

''Some of us thought, perhaps, we could, with a more robust, covert action trying to vet, identify, train and arm cadres of rebels that would at least have the firepower to be able to protect themselves against both Assad and the Al-Qaeda-related jihadist groups that have, unfortunately, been attracted to Syria,'' she noted. ''That's been complicated by the fact that the Saudis and others are shipping large amounts of weapons'--and pretty indiscriminately'--not at all targeted toward the people that we think would be the more moderate, least likely, to cause problems in the future, but this is another one of those very tough analytical problems.''

Top photo: A Syrian rescue worker surveys rubble in Aleppo, which has been under intense Syrian and Russian bombardment, on October 4

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Source: Russia Beyond The Headlines

Tue, 11 Oct 2016 10:13

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Moscow is prepared to restore contacts on the missile defense issue both with the U.S. and NATO, Lieutenant General Viktor Poznikhir, the first deputy head of the main operations department of the Russian Armed Forces General Staff, said on Oct. 11.

"The Russian side is ready for resuming contacts on the missile defense issue both in a bilateral Russia-U.S. format and in a multilateral Russia-NATO format on condition that the goal will be reaching agreements that take into account the interests of each side to the fullest extent," Poznikhir said.

Russia's Defense Ministry invites any party concerned for cooperation on the issue if "its aim is to make the world a little bit clearer of mutual misunderstanding and threats," he added.

The effort to conclude a new deal on missile defense today is much more challenging than several years ago, the official said. "Unfortunately, the U.S. side sought to use the previous attempts to hold dialogue on missile defense, as we understand now, only as a cover. The partners were shown that there was the readiness to discuss with Russia the most acute issues, while simultaneously the plans of creating a missile shield were fulfilled."

"One should at least respect partners at talks rather than treat them as whipping boys," the official said.

Source: TASS

Washington suspends talks with Moscow over Syria: What next?

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 10:09

Court filings in California and New York, purportedly on behalf of a woman using the name Katie Johnson, have accused Trump of rape. The Republican vehemently denies the allegations. Photograph: Rick Wilking/Reuters

Lawsuits accusing Donald Trump of sexually assaulting a child in the 1990s appear to have been orchestrated by an eccentric anti-Trump campaigner with a record of making outlandish claims about celebrities.

Norm Lubow, a former producer on the Jerry Springer TV show, has previously been involved with disputed allegations that OJ Simpson bought illegal drugs on the day Simpson's wife was murdered, and that Kurt Cobain's widow had the Nirvana frontman killed.

Court filings in California and New York against Trump, purportedly on behalf of a woman using the name Katie Johnson, have in recent weeks alleged that the presumptive Republican presidential nominee raped Johnson when she was 13. Trump vehemently denies the allegations.

Norm Lubow. Photograph: TwitterA publicist using the pseudonym ''Al Taylor'' is acting as a representative for Johnson, and has been shopping around to media outlets a video of a woman who wears a disguise while recounting the allegations against Trump. ''Taylor'' said in telephone calls last month that he was seeking $1m for the tape. Jezebel has published a segment of the video along with a detailed account of how the allegations against Trump were being pushed to reporters.

A telephone number and an email address used by ''Taylor'' have also been used by Lubow, according to three sources who have worked with them. A longtime associate of Lubow also told the Guardian that Lubow used the identity ''Al Taylor''.

''Taylor'' told the Guardian that he helped the alleged victim Johnson put together her first lawsuit against Trump, which was filed in California earlier this year. ''She is a friend of mine,'' he said, declining to make her available for interview.

He then became threatening when asked more about his motivations in seeking the money for the video and about his true identity. ''Just be warned: we'll sue you if we don't like what you write,'' he said. ''We'll sue your ass, own your ass and own your newspaper's ass as well, punk.''

In 2011, ''Al Taylor'' claimed to cable news channels and gossip websites that he was negotiating a $1m deal for an exclusive TV interview with Casey Anthony, who was acquitted in a high-profile trial in Florida of killing her young daughter. Anthony's attorneys denied the claims and the interview never took place.

Al Bowman with Larry King. Photograph: FacebookThe Guardian has established that a photograph supplied to those media outlets to illustrate the interviews, purporting to be of ''Al Taylor'', was in fact a picture of Al Bowman, a minor Hollywood promoter who has known Lubow for more than 20 years. Bowman, also a former Jerry Springer Show producer, claims to have been a chauffeur to celebrities such as Whitney Houston.

In telephone interviews, Bowman insisted that he knew nothing about the lawsuits against Trump. Bowman said he actually supported Trump's campaign for president and intended to vote for him '' a claim backed up by a series of pro-Trump postings in past months on his personal Facebook page. Bowman's accent and tone of voice appeared not to match that used by ''Taylor'' during the 2011 cable news interviews and in recent phone calls.

Bowman eventually said he knew the true identity of the man involved in the action against Trump, and that it was a former colleague of his. ''Al Taylor's real name is Norm Lubow,'' he said.

Speaking about the lawsuit against Trump, ''Al Taylor'' first introduced himself to the Guardian as ''the attorney in California'', before later clarifying that he was not a lawyer. ''My brother and sister were attorneys,'' he said. Lubow's brother Owen is an attorney, as was their late sister Barbara. A message left for Owen Lubow was not returned.

There are further detailed connections between Lubow and ''Al Taylor''. An email address for Norm Lubow that was provided by Bowman matched an email address that, according to two sources who have done business with ''Al Taylor'', is also used by ''Taylor''. A telephone number for Lubow provided by Bowman matched a number used by one of these sources for reaching ''Taylor''. A separate cellphone number used by ''Taylor'', which was listed on the California lawsuit against Trump, has the same area code, 760, which covers the city of Palm Desert '' Lubow's last known address.

Lubow, 55, did not return a subsequent series of telephone calls, text messages, emails and online messages over the past two weeks seeking confirmation that he was indeed ''Al Taylor''. Past media reports have also identified ''Taylor'' as a spokesman for the Erotic Heritage Museum and the Hustler strip club, both in Las Vegas. Messages left for ''Taylor'' at both the museum and the club were not returned.

Statements made by Lubow over the past two decades on a variety of topics have been called into question.

In 2014, using his comic pro-marijuana pseudonym Reverend Bud Green, Lubow claimed to have arranged the replacement of US flags on the Brooklyn Bridge with white flags. The following month, however, German artists came forward with video evidence that they in fact were behind the stunt.

In 1998, guests on Springer's notoriously wild talkshow alleged that Lubow had encouraged them behind the scenes to stage fights and invent outrageous stories during recordings of the program. The allegation was denied by Lubow and other show staff.

Also in 1998, Lubow appeared wearing a disguise in the controversial documentary film Kurt and Courtney under the name ''Jack Briggs'' alongside Bowman, the minor Hollywood promoter whose photograph was later used by ''Al Taylor'' for television interviews. Bowman said ''Briggs'' was Lubow.

Norm Lubow in the documentary Kurt and Courtney. Photograph: YouTubeIn the film, director Nick Broomfield said Lubow and Bowman had introduced him to Eldon ''El Duce'' Hoke, a Seattle-based musician who claimed Courtney Love offered him $50,000 to kill her husband Kurt Cobain, the singer and guitarist in the rock band Nirvana. The allegation about Hoke, which became lore among some Nirvana fans following Cobain's suicide in 1994, was denied by Love.

According to the New York Post, in 1995 Lubow, using the name ''Ron X'', also claimed to tabloids that he had sold drugs to OJ Simpson on the day Simpson's estranged wife Nicole Brown was murdered. Lubow denied the Post's report.

An attorney brought in to file Katie Johnson's lawsuit against Trump in New York said any issues around the credibility of ''Al Taylor'' should not cast doubt on Johnson's allegations.

The attorney, Thomas Meagher, a patent and intellectual property attorney who said he had never been involved in a case of this kind before. Meagher said he became involved after reading on a minor gossip website that Johnson's legal action in California had faltered and that she was seeking representation. Meagher acknowledged that ''Al Taylor'' was acting as a go-between for the woman said to be suing Trump.

Their federal lawsuit filed last month in New York alleges that Johnson, identified this time as ''Jane Doe'', was sexually assaulted by Trump in 1994 at the Manhattan home of Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier '' and associate of the UK's Prince Andrew '' who was jailed in Florida in 2008 for soliciting sex from an underage girl.

The New York lawsuit was accompanied by a supporting affidavit from a woman using the name ''Tiffany Doe'', who claims to have worked for Epstein at the time and procured the young girl for the two men. The allegations made in the suit have been reported by several media outlets.

The legal action in Manhattan follows a near-identical suit in California that made the same allegations against Trump and Epstein. That case was promptly thrown out after a federal judge ruled that the complaint cited statutes that did not apply to it. Epstein has through representatives also denied the allegations.

Alan Garten, an attorney for the Trump Organization, described the allegations against Trump as ''a complete fabrication'' that appeared to be politically motivated. ''This is basically a sham lawsuit brought by someone who desires to impact the presidential election,'' said Garten.

Trump's team said the lawsuit was badly flawed. ''I don't even know if there is a plaintiff,'' said Garten. ''I don't know a lawyer worthy of the bar who would put his name to this lawsuit.'' Meagher, however, insisted that he had met the plaintiff and separately spoken to her over video-conference. ''She definitely exists,'' said Meagher.

After repeated questions to ''Al Taylor'' asking him to confirm he was Norm Lubow went ignored, a text message was eventually sent to the Guardian from a cellphone previously answered several times by ''Taylor''.

It said: ''This is Katie Johnson. Why do you keep asking for [Lubow]. I do not know and have never met anybody by this name. If you are really a reporter like you claim are and not just a crank call like thousands of other calls I have gotten since my phone number was published throughout the world, then why don't you ask how it feels to have the pervert who raped me when I was only 13 years running for President of this great country?

''It sickens me every time I see his evil face on TV. I am not after money, I want revenge for what this evil pedophile did to me. He doesn't deserve to be President, he deserves to be in jail...

If you really are a reporter like you told my attorney Tom Meagher, then please publish my statement for the millions of other Rape Victims who have no voice. Thank you, Katie Johnson.''

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 10:04

From:john.podesta@gmail.com To: hrod17@clintonemail.com Date: 2014-09-27 15:15 Subject: Congrats!Send our love to Chelsea, Marc and Grandpa. Can't wait to meet Charlotte. On Aug 19, 2014 9:22 AM, "H" wrote: Agree but there may be opportunities as the Iraqi piece improves. Also, any idea whose fighters attacked Islamist positions in Tripoli, Libya? Worth analyzing for future purposes. *From*: John Podesta [mailto:john.podesta@gmail.com] *Sent*: Tuesday, August 19, 2014 09:19 AM *To*: H *Subject*: Re: Here's what I mentioned Hit send too soon. Meant to say Syria elements are vexing. On Aug 19, 2014 9:17 AM, "John Podesta" wrote: > I think we are headed down this path in Iraq, but the Syria elements are > On Aug 17, 2014 3:50 PM, "H" wrote: > >> Note: Sources include Western intelligence, US intelligence and sources >> in the region. >> >> >> >> 1. With all of its tragic aspects, the advance of ISIL >> through Iraq gives the U.S. Government an opportunity to change the way it >> deals with the chaotic security situation in North Africa and the Middle >> East. The most important factor in this matter is to make use of >> intelligence resources and Special Operations troops in an aggressive >> manner, while avoiding the old school solution, which calls for more >> traditional military operations. In Iraq it is important that we engage >> ISIL using the resources of the Peshmerga fighters of the Kurdish Regional >> Government (KRG), and what, if any, reliable units exist in the Iraqi >> Army. The Peshmerga commanders are aggressive hard fighting troops, who >> have long standing relationships with CIA officers and Special Forces >> operators. However, they will need the continued commitment of U.S. >> personnel to work with them as advisors and strategic planners, the new >> generation of Peshmerga commanders being largely untested in traditional >> combat. That said, with this U.S. aid the Kurdish troops can inflict a >> real defeat on ISIL. >> >> >> >> 2. It is important that once we engage ISIL, as we have now >> done in a limited manner, we and our allies should carry on until they are >> driven back suffering a tangible defeat. Anything short of this will be >> seen by other fighters in the region, Libya, Lebanon, and even Jordan, as >> an American defeat. However, if we provide advisors and planners, as well >> as increased close air support for the Peshmerga, these soldiers can defeat >> ISIL. They will give the new Iraqi Government a chance to organize itself, >> and restructure the Sunni resistance in Syria, moving the center of power >> toward moderate forces like the Free Syrian Army (FSA). In addition to air >> support, the Peshmerga also need artillery and armored vehicles to deal >> with the tanks and other heavy equipment captured from the Iraqi army by >> ISIL. >> >> >> >> 3. In the past the USG, in an agreement with the Turkish General Staff, >> did not provide such heavy weapons to the Peshmerga, out of a concern that >> they would end up in the hands of Kurdish rebels inside of Turkey. The >> current situation in Iraq, not to mention the political environment in >> Turkey, makes this policy obsolete. Also this equipment can now be >> airlifted directly into the KRG zone. >> >> >> >> 4. Armed with proper equipment, and working with U.S. advisors, the >> Peshmerga can attack the ISIL with a coordinated assault supported from the >> air. This effort will come as a surprise to the ISIL, whose leaders >> believe we will always stop with targeted bombing, and weaken them both in >> Iraq and inside of Syria. At the same time we should return to plans to >> provide the FSA, or some group of moderate forces, with equipment that will >> allow them to deal with a weakened ISIL, and stepped up operations against >> the Syrian regime. This entire effort should be done with a low profile, >> avoiding the massive traditional military operations that are at best >> temporary solutions. While this military/para-military operation is moving >> forward, we need to use our diplomatic and more traditional intelligence >> assets to bring pressure on the governments of Qatar and Saudi Arabia, >> which are providing clandestine financial and logistic support to ISIL and >> other radical Sunni groups in the region. This effort will be enhanced by >> the stepped up commitment in the KRG. The Qataris and Saudis will be put >> in a position of balancing policy between their ongoing competition to >> dominate the Sunni world and the consequences of serious U.S. pressure. By >> the same token, the threat of similar, realistic U.S. operations will serve >> to assist moderate forces in Libya, Lebanon, and even Jordan, where >> insurgents are increasingly fascinated by the ISIL success in Iraq. >> >> >> >> 6. In the end the situation in Iraq is merely the latest and most >> dangerous example of the regional restructuring that is taking place across >> North Africa, all the way to the Turkish border. These developments are >> important to the U.S. for reasons that often differ from country to >> country: energy and moral commitment to Iraq, energy issues in Libya, and >> strategic commitments in Jordan. At the same time, as Turkey moves toward >> a new, more serious Islamic reality, it will be important for them to >> realize that we are willing to take serious actions, which can be sustained >> to protect our national interests. This course of action offers the >> potential for success, as opposed to large scale, traditional military >> campaigns, that are too expensive and awkward to maintain over time. >> >> >> >> 7. (Note: A source in Tripoli stated in confidence that when the U.S. >> Embassy was evacuated, the presence of two U.S. Navy jet fighters over the >> city brought all fighting to a halt for several hours, as Islamist forces >> were not certain that these aircraft would not also provide close ground >> support for moderate government forces.) >> >> >> >> 8. If we do not take the changes needed to make our security >> policy in the region more realistic, there is a real danger of ISIL >> veterans moving on to other countries to facilitate operations by Islamist >> forces. This is already happening in Libya and Egypt, where fighters are >> returning from Syria to work with local forces. ISIL is only the latest and >> most violent example of this process. If we don't act to defeat them in >> Iraq something even more violent and dangerous will develop. Successful >> military operations against these very irregular but determined forces can >> only be accomplished by making proper use of clandestine/special operations >> resources, in coordination with airpower, and established local allies. >> There is, unfortunately, a narrow window of opportunity on this issue, as >> we need to act before an ISIL state becomes better organized and reaches >> into Lebanon and Jordan. >> >> >> >> 9. (Note: It is important to keep in mind that as a result of >> this policy there probably will be concern in the Sunni regions of Iraq and >> the Central Government regarding the possible expansion of KRG controlled >> territory. With advisors in the Peshmerga command we can reassure the >> concerned parties that, in return for increase autonomy, the KRG will not >> exclude the Iraqi Government from participation in the management of the >> oil fields around Kirkuk, and the Mosel Dam hydroelectric facility. At the >> same time we will be able to work with the Peshmerga as they pursue ISIL >> into disputed areas of Eastern Syria, coordinating with FSA troops who can >> move against ISIL from the North. This will make certain Basher al Assad >> does not gain an advantage from these operations. Finally, as it now >> appears the U.S. is considering a plan to offer contractors as advisors to >> the Iraqi Ministry of Defense, we will be in a position to coordinate more >> effectively between the Peshmerga and the Iraqi Army.) >> >>

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 09:54

Joe Biden hugs Stu Eizenstat in Atlanta in Sept. 2015

These are amazing. Wikileaks published 2000 emails from Hillary Clinton campaign chair John Podesta; and they show Stu Eizenstat, former deputy secretary of treasury under Bill Clinton, acting as the ambassador for Israel and the Jewish community to Clinton.

And everything Clinton has said on Israel and Palestine and the boycott movement in the last year, from saying she'd meet with Netanyahu in her first month in office, to opposing BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions), to taking the Israel relationship to the ''next level,'' Eizenstat appears to have scripted. For instance:

Bibi should be invited for early talks on how the partnership with Israel can be strengthened'...

Eizenstat reflects true panic from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the BDS campaign. Describing a meeting of himself and Dennis Ross with Netanyahu in June 2015, Eizenstat offered trusted Clinton aide Jake Sullivan Netanyahu's assessment of BDS:

On BDS, Israel should move from the defense to the offense. It should be attacked on moral grounds. It is ''unjust'' and ''cruel''. Israel must attack its attackers. The best defense is a good offense: ''attack, attack, attack''. Changing policy won't help, but ''it may be useful for other reasons'' (I found this an interesting qualification)

He said that there are several lines of defense: (1) The Jewish community itself, where unity is necessary and ''all Jews'' should be included'... He said there is a ''lot of energy'' in the anti-BDS movement now.

Eizenstat agrees that the American Jewish community must stick together and support Netanyahu against BDS, but it might not happen, because American Jews are tearing themselves apart on Israel.

I also stressed that Diaspora unity was essential, but that now the Jewish community was tearing itself apart on Israel issues, and those on the liberal/left side, who are pro-Israel and anti-BDS are being shunted aside. I said that even Ben-Gurion and Begin put aside their differences at a critical time in the 1948 War, No less is needed now.

Ross and Eizenstat tell Netanyahu that Israel has to help out on the BDS front, by changing policy. So BDS is working! Nothing else is.

[One recommendation] which I made explicitly, and with Dennis did as well, was that the Cabinet had to recognize that its settlement policy and policy toward the Palestinians was used as a recruiting tool for the BDS leaders. While the leaders want nothing less than the end of the Jewish State, many of those on campuses, EU officials, and European public opinion could be swayed away from BDS if they saw Israel taking affirmative steps toward a two state process in word and deed.

Later Eizenstat presses Sullivan to produce that Hillary Clinton letter opposing Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions, BDS.

I assume the BDS letter is still being drafted?

That letter came out a month or so later, addressed to megadonor Haim Saban, and vowing to work with Republicans to oppose BDS.

In this December 2015 email, Eizenstat conveys Benjamin Netanyahu's views to Hillary Clinton's braintrust that President Obama is too hard on us, and we hope your administration will stop talking about Palestinians, and the Palestinians inside Israel are a problem too.

The Prime Minister always had a ''surprising good relationship'' with Hillary; she is ''easy to work with'', and that she is more instinctively sympathetic to Israel than the White House'...

Don't talk about Palestinians:

He [Netanyahu] attended part of the Saban Forum and felt that most of the emphasis was on the Palestinian issue, and wonders if a Clinton Administration ''will be a Saban Forum for four years'', due to ''the people around her, but not her''. Her own speech was ''95% good, although there was some moral equivalence language.''

And you wonder why she cut the occupation and settlements out of the Democratic platform. And the man who complained that Arab voters were coming out in ''droves'' in the election a few months before doesn't really go in for democracy:

Israel Arabs are a ''real problem.'' The government had to dismantle the northern branch of the Islamic Association because they were radicalizing the Israeli Arabs, who are 20% of the population.

And by the way, the two-state solution isn't going to happen on Netanyahu's watch. So when Hillary Clinton says she's taking the relationship with Netanyahu to the ''next level,'' she ought to stop talking about a Palestinian state.

While the Prime Minister favors a two state solution, neither a majority of the Likud Party nor Bennett's party does. Indeed, a two state solution has never been in the government guidelines in any Likud-led government.

In a May 2015 email, in the days of the Iran Deal, Eizenstat pushes Clinton through Sullivan to accommodate Israeli and American Jewish fears:

she needs to understand the great angst in the Jewish community over the cascade of challenges I have described. The empathy and appreciation she can demonstrate, would itself be important and reassuring.

Again in that May 2015 email, Eizenstat writes to Sullivan about a discussion at the Jewish People Policy Institute, a Jerusalem-based advocacy group headed by Eizenstat and Dennis Ross, about American foreign policy. The U.S. should never put any pressure on Israel:

There was a grave concern that the Obama Administration, once the Iran nuclear negotiations are out of the way, will support some form of the French proposal for a new UN Resolution to supplant UN Resolution 242, endorsing the two-state solution, with 1967 borders, and with Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and a Palestinian state. Several people felt that given the impasse in the peace process, Israel's argument that this should be left to negotiations, had a hollow ring to it. If this is going to happen, then it should be framed in ways that force the Palestinians to make tough choices, like ending claims to the ''right of return''. But the safest political position is to oppose what will be seen as an effort to ''impose'' a solution both sides will reject.

The decline of Democratic Party support for Israel is a ''dangerous'' situation, but Jews are driving the change; some rabbis are afraid to bring up Israel in synagogue:

There are increasingly sharp left-right divisions (J Street vs. AIPAC) within the American Jewish community over Israel. Remarkably, rabbis are reluctant to discuss Israel in their sermons for fear of alienating one faction or another.

In this email, to Sullivan in March 2015, Eizenstat says that he is very close to the state of Israel, has been there 50 times, his grandparents are buried there, and then he scripts Clinton on what she ought to say to distance herself from President Obama's unhappy relationship with Netanyahu so as to maintain Jewish support''

This obviously places Hillary in an extremely difficult position, caught between the President she served and the organized parts of the Jewish community

What did he recommend? Calm the waters, stress America's undying support for Israel, oppose BDS. Everything she ended up doing over the last year.

First, she should stress the need to ''lower the temperature level'' of rhetoric on all sides'....

she should stress the enduring commitment of the United States to Israel's security interests, not only direct military threats, but attacks against Israel in the form of the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) campaign, on campuses in the U.S. and Europe'...

Third, and critically, she should express a strong feeling that Israel MUST remain a bipartisan issue, as it has been since its formation. She should sharply criticize those in the U.S. and in Israel who are injecting Israel into a partisan context.

Eizenstat offers himself as the channel to the Israel lobby:

I have sent you separately, at your request, Jewish leaders to whom she should reach out. She needs to make a statement sooner rather than later, as things are spiraling out of control.

It would seem that it was Eizenstat who got Hillary Clinton not only to craft a letter against BDS, but to vow to invite Netanyahu to the White House first thing as president. A June 2015 email:

Hillary cannot oppose the [Iran] agreement given her position as the President's Secretary of State and should urge its approval by Congress under Corker-Cardin. But she can and should point out concerns with it'... More broadly, she should appear more muscular [in] her approach than the President's'...

But she should also say the following:

'...Bibi should be invited for early talks on how the partnership with Israel can be strengthened to combat Iran and Israel's other avowed enemies.

Thanks to Alex Kane, who was on this first. As he tweeted:

Israeli ambassador Ron Dermer promised to ''expose'' how SJP [Students for Justice in Palestine] is tied to ''terrorist funding''

Here's that email. More panic about BDS from Dermer via Eizenstat. SJP are terrorists, and J Street is anti-Israel.

They will shortly expose the funding base for the main BDS group on campus, Students for Justice in Palestine, which tie it with terrorist funding'...

He agrees there should be a ''big tent'' to combat BDS of all pro-Israel, anti-BDS groups. But he distinguishes between liberal groups like Peace Now, which he supports, and JStreet, which he does not. The reason, he said, is that although they are officially anti-BDS, they actively lobby against Israeli positions supported by a democratically elected government in Israel, and are constantly critical of Israel, rather than the Palestinians. By lobbying Congress and the Administration against Israeli positions they are ''denying Israel's right to self-determination.'' They are lobbying to change what the popularly elected government of Israel supports. '...

The key is to expose BDS as anti-Semitic and anti-Israel. There is no other country where there is a BDS campaign to change their policy. Israel is being held to a double standard'....

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 09:30

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a noted liberal activist judge, recently took a position on the national anthem protests initiated by San Francisco 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick that would surprise most Democrats.

According to Ginsburg, the protests are ''dumb and disrespectful'' '-- that's what she told Yahoo anchor Katie Couric in a recent interview.

Image source: Yahoo News

''I think it's really dumb of them,'' Ginsburg told Couric. ''Would I arrest them for doing it? No.''

''I think it's dumb and disrespectful. I would have the same answer if you asked me about flag burning,'' she added. ''I think it's a terrible thing to do, but I wouldn't lock a person up for doing it. I would point out how ridiculous it seems to me to do such an act.''

When asked by Couric to elaborate on the legality of the protests, Ginsburg doubled down on her feelings that the protests are in no way pragmatic.

''If they want to be stupid, there's no law that should be preventive. If they want to be arrogant, there's no law that prevents them from that,'' the Supreme Court justice said. ''What I would do is strongly take issue with the point of view that they are expressing when they do that.''

Kaepernick started the protests in August after he kneeled during the national anthem before a pre-season game. Since then, other professional sports athletes, along with high school and college players, have joined in the protests.

The protests started because Kaepernick wanted to bring more attention to the issue of fatal police shootings of black men across the country as well as police corruption.

'--

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 04:47

FORBES' new investigation into Trump's wealth pegs his fortune at $3.7 billion, down $800 million from a year ago. A softening of New York City's real estate market, particularly in retail and office, where valuations are trending down, has diminished his estimated net worth. New information was also a factor. Of the 28 assets or asset classes scrutinized by FORBES, 18 declined in value, including his trademark Trump Tower on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, his downtown jewel 40 Wall Street and Mar-a-Lago, his private beachfront club in Palm Beach.

From Manhattan skyscrapers to golf resorts in Scotland and a small warehouse in South Carolina, see every element of Trump's fortune.

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Tue, 11 Oct 2016 04:30

(C) Ozan Kose / AFP | Vladimir Putin and Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrive to deliver a press conferance in Istanbul on October 10, 2016.

Turkey and Russia signed an agreement on Monday for the construction of a major undersea gas pipeline and vowed to seek common ground on the war in Syria, accelerating a normalisation in ties.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan hosted Russia's Vladimir Putin at an Ottoman-era villa in Istanbul for talks which touched on energy deals, trade and tourism ties, defence and the conflict in Syria, where the two leaders back opposing sides.

''Today has been a full day with President Putin of discussing Russia-Turkish relations ... I have full confidence that the normalisation of Turkish-Russian ties will continue at a fast pace,'' Erdogan told a joint news conference. "Our relations will [improve] in many fields, be it in defence industry, political, economic, trade, tourism or culture. We will make up for lost time in the coming days.''

The warming relations between NATO member Turkey and Russia comes as both countries are dealing with troubled economies and strained ties with the West.

Putin said Moscow had decided to lift a ban on some food products from Turkey, imposed after Turkey shot down a Russian fighter jet near the Syrian border last November, and that both leaders had agreed to work towards the full-scale normalisation of bilateral ties.

They signed a deal on the TurkStream undersea gas pipeline, which will allow Moscow to strengthen its position in the European gas market and cut energy supplies via Ukraine, the main route for Russian energy into Europe.

Turkish plan replaces EU South Stream project

The plan for TurkStream emerged after Russia dropped plans to build the South Stream pipeline to Bulgaria due to opposition from the European Union, which is trying to reduce its dependence on Russian gas. South Stream was scrapped after years of planning, with Putin furiously blaming Brussels for its failure.

The pipeline agreement was signed by Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak and Turkish counterpart Berat Albayrak, in the presence of Putin and Erdogan after their talks, an AFP correspondent reported.

The TurkStream project had languished amid uncertainty after the crisis triggered by the shooting down of a Russian war plane by Turkish forces over the Syrian border in November 2015.

The chief executive of Russian gas giant Gazprom, Alexei Miller, had said ahead of the signing that the agreement foresees the construction of two lines of pipe on the bed of the Black Sea.

The annual capacity of each line is to be 15.75 billion cubic metres of gas (bcma) making a total capacity of over 30 bcma. The agreement aims to build the lines by 2019, Miller added.

Erdogan also said plans for a Russian-built nuclear power plant in Turkey would be accelerated. Time lost on the Akkuyu project because of strained relations would be made up, he said.

In 2013, Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom won a $20 billion contract to build four reactors in what was to become Turkey's first nuclear plant, but construction was halted after the downing of the Russian jet.

Deep divisions on Syria

Putin received Erdogan in a Tsarist-era palace outside his home city of St Petersburg in August, when the two leaders, both powerful figures ill-disposed to dissent, announced plans for an acceleration in trade and energy ties.

But progress on Syria, over which they remain deeply divided, has been more problematic. Erdogan described the topic as ''very sensitive'', but said he had discussed Turkey's military operations in Syria with Putin on Monday.

Both men said they had agreed on the importance of delivering aid to the city of Aleppo, whose opposition-held eastern sector has been encircled by Russian-backed Syrian forces for all but a short period since July.

''We have a common position that everything must be done to deliver humanitarian aid to Aleppo. The only issue is ... ensuring the safety of aid delivery,'' Putin said, adding he had agreed with Erdogan to intensify military contacts.

Russia has backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad with a year-long air campaign against the rebels fighting him. Turkey backs the rebels and wants to see Assad out of power.

On Saturday, Russia vetoed a French-drafted UN Security Council resolution that would have demanded an end to air strikes and military flights over Aleppo. A rival Russian draft text failed to get a minimum nine votes in favour.

Erdogan said there would be further talks with Russia over the conflict in Syria. But there was little sign of any concrete progress towards reconciling their differences.

''We discussed ... how we can cooperate on this matter, especially on humanitarian aid to Aleppo, what strategy can we implement so people in Aleppo can find peace,'' Erdogan said.

''We will come together with our foreign ministries and top military leaders and intelligence officers.''

(FRANCE 24 with AFP, REUTERS)

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 23:35

In public, top Hillary Clinton surrogate Neera Tanden said at the Democratic convention in Philadelphia that there's no need to cut the federal corporate tax rate from its current 35 percent.

But in private, Clinton says something quite different to corporations and trade groups.

An 80-page report compiled by Clinton's own campaign of potentially damaging remarks she made behind closed doors was published by Wikileaks on Friday. It includes extensive comments on tax policy.

During an October 13, 2014, speech to the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers, Clinton told the audience that ''A number of business leaders have been talking to my husband and me about an idea that would allow the repatriation of the couple trillion dollars that are out there. And you would get a lower rate '-- a really low rate '-- if you were willing to invest a percentage in an infrastructure bank.''

Clinton has repeatedly called for increased spending on U.S. infrastructure, but has never specified where the needed revenue would come from.

In a speech the previous month to the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, Clinton also said that a lower rate for all corporate profits regardless of where they are earned ''certainly could be on the table'' as long as that was ''part of a broader package.'' However, she specified that ''if all you do is lower the rates'' that ''there's a price to pay'' in terms of lower tax revenue.

American multinational corporations are currently stashing a staggering $2.4 trillion in profits '-- about 14 percent of the size of the entire U.S. economy '-- overseas. Multinationals are required by U.S. law to pay the statutory 35 percent tax on profits they earn anywhere on earth, but the tax is not assessed until the profits are brought back to the U.S.

This has allowed Corporate America to essentially hold U.S. tax revenue hostage, refusing to pay its taxes until Americans become so desperate that they will cut a deal giving multinationals a special new tax rate.

This strategy has already paid off once, in 2004, when multinationals got Congress to let them bring back $312 billion in profits at a one-time rate of about 5 percent. The legislation required that the cash be used to hire Americans or conduct research and development. Corporations ignored these provisions and instead used the money to enrich their executives and stockholders, while cutting U.S. jobs.

Both Hillary and Bill Clinton clearly envision cutting a similar deal during a Hillary Clinton presidency, although presumably they intend for the corporations to keep their part of the bargain this time.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton delivers a speech during the annual Clinton Global Initiative on September 21, 2016 in New York.

Photo: Stephanie Keith/Getty Images

Just last month, Bill Clinton told the audience at a Clinton Foundation Event that the corporate tax rate ''should be lowered'' with ''X percent of [repatriated profits], whatever percent, [going] into buying investments in the national infrastructure program.'' Clinton added, ''This is just me now, I'm not speaking for '...'' and then trailed off.Hillary Clinton said the same thing during a private August 2014 speech to the software storage company Nexenta: ''I would like to find a way to repatriate the overseas earnings and I've read a really interesting proposal. '... John Chambers and others '... basically have said they would be willing to invest a percentage of their repatriated profits in an infrastructure bank '... I thought that was a really intriguing idea.''

Chambers was the CEO of Cisco at the time, and a vociferous proponent of corporations refusing to bring their profits home until they receive such a sweetheart deal.

Donald Trump has a similar plan to slash corporate tax rates to 15 percent (with a special rate for repatriated profits of 10 percent) although without requirements for corporations to participate in funding an infrastructure bank.

Top photo: Hillary Clinton and Bill Clinton in Las Vegas in February.

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 23:25

cliRight Now:The New York Times is examining the emails and will be posting the results.

The latest trove of documents released by WikiLeaks includes thousands of pages of emails between John D. Podesta, the chairman of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, and aides, Clinton family members and outside donors all angling for position and power within Mrs. Clinton's then-nascent campaign.

Last week, a set of Mr. Podesta's emails were disclosed that included potentially damaging excerpts from private paid speeches Mrs. Clinton delivered to Wall Street executives in which she praised ''open trade and open borders'' and lamented that her personal wealth made her ''kind of far removed'' from the struggles of the middle class.

The latest leaked emails show Mrs. Clinton's campaign aides trying to grapple with that reality, and establish a campaign message that could position her, a career politician and Washington insider, as an appealing agent of change.

The Clinton campaign has not verified the authenticity of the emails, and a spokesman has pointed to Russian hackers who the United States government has said used WikiLeaks to release hacked documents that could help sway the election in Donald J. Trump's favor.

Clinton advisers explored a campaign strategy at least two years before she entered the race.Despite statements by Mrs. Clinton and her allies insisting she had not made up her mind about seeking the presidency in 2016, the emails reveal that her advisers had begun to test messages and contemplate a campaign strategy at least two years before she officially declared her candidacy in April 2015.

Mr. Podesta, who would become campaign chairman, and Robby Mook, the eventual campaign manager, grappled with how to best position Mrs. Clinton, a career politician, as a change agent, how much to play up the history-making potential of her candidacy and how to address anger over income inequality.

''Gender will be a big field and volunteer motivator, but it won't close the deal,'' Mr. Mook wrote to Mr. Podesta and Cheryl D. Mills, another Clinton adviser, in March 2014.

''The real challenge,'' Ms. Mills wrote, ''is that this likely will be when people want experience and we got so burned by that narrative'' in the 2008 campaign against Barack Obama that ''we won't go back to it, even though it might be right for now.''

Emails reveal the care advisers took with every part of the campaign '-- right down to a single Twitter post.The emails reveal the excruciating decision-making behind every step related to how Mrs. Clinton handled everything from her splashy campaign rollout speech on Roosevelt Island in June 2015 to a single Twitter post.

In one email chain from March 2015, four aides debated a Twitter post in which Mrs. Clinton would address for the first time revelations that she had used a private email server during her tenure at the State Department. ''I want the public to see my email. I asked State to release them. They said they will review them for release as soon as possible,'' the posteventually read.

That included their delight at an early 'ad-libbing' approach and jabs at President Obama.''She smacked down POTUS on trade and kept kicking for a little bit,'' Huma Abedin, a close aide, wrote on June 14, 2015, using an acronym for the president. ''Worth looking at the transcript but this seemed to really work for this crowd.''

At the time, Mrs. Clinton was trying to craft herself as more of a populist, pointing to differences between her and Mr. Obama.

The aides also liked the personal details she shared. ''She inserted some new applause lines and talked about Dorothy,'' her mother, ''in a more personal way that I've only heard talk about privately,'' Ms. Abedin wrote.

Other emails show the anxiety that her team felt over making her opposition to the Keystone pipeline public.Aides discussed leaking it after a meeting with labor leaders '-- so as not to undermine her ''principled stand about not second-guessing the president in public.'' Mr. Mook suggested that Mrs. Clinton time her announcement to ''help distract'' from the barrage of criticism surrounding her use of a private email server.

The emails show heightened awareness of her vulnerability to charges of flip-flopping and political maneuvering.

''She risks looking very political, especially on this,'' wrote Joel Benenson, the chief strategist on the campaign.

Mrs. Clinton's press secretary, Brian Fallon, felt that leaking her new position on Keystone ''might achieve the same effect of getting her on the record on this issue, but with less perception that she is putting a finger to the wind.''

Clinton allies expressed concern in 2015 about a possible Biden run.In 2015, the Clinton campaign had to deal with escalating chatter about a potential run by Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. Donors phoned in reports on Mr. Biden's behind-the-scenes maneuvers to advisers like Neera Tanden, who relayed them back to Mr. Podesta. Steve Elmendorf, a longtime Clinton supporter, emailed her campaign manager to grouse about one supporter in particular: Linda Lipsen, head of the trial lawyers association.

''I get multiple freak-out calls every morning and I try to talk everyone off the ledge and not bug u all,'' Mr. Elmendorf wrote. ''But Linda is in a different category.'' Ms. Lipsen had complained about not getting enough care from the campaign at a time when she was working members of her trade association and trying to keep them from considering Mr. Biden.

The Clinton camp seemed unprepared for the insurgent campaign of Bernie Sanders.For all the planning, Mrs. Clinton's campaign aides appeared blindsided by the popularity of Senator Bernie Sanders's populist message in the Democratic primary. Concern over Mrs. Clinton's economic message seemed to reach a breaking point after Mrs. Clinton lost to Mr. Sanders by 22 percentage points in the New Hampshire primary.

''Message needs to be more positive, upbeat, hopeful,'' an adviser wrote to Mr. Podesta. ''Bernie is saying we can change the world. Her msg is 'No, we can't' because '...''

The adviser expressed particular concern about young voters gravitating to Mr. Sanders's promise for revolution. ''Bernie's ads feature young ppl saying why they are voting / supporting him,'' she wrote. ''Hillary's ads need to be young people '-- all under 45 and a smattering of older ones '-- validating her.''

But the campaign did get a heads-up later from a D.N.C official about some of Sanders's efforts.In January, Donna Brazile, a vice chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, passed on an email from Mr. Sanders's African-American outreach team about how it was planning to host a Twitter-related event.

''Thank you for the heads up on this, Donna,'' responded Adrienne Elrod, one of Mrs. Clinton's campaign aides.

Ms. Brazile, a longtime party operative, later replaced Debbie Wasserman Schultz on an interim basis as D.N.C. chairwoman on the eve of the party's national convention, a change that came after leaked emails revealed that Democratic officials had conspired to harm Mr. Sanders's bid for the party's nomination.

Clinton's team was keenly aware of how vulnerable her Wall Street ties made her appear next to Sanders.Her aides decided in January that she should avoid talking about Wall Street at an event in Nevada during her primary fight with Mr. Sanders.

''Don't know that it is most effective contrast for her,'' wrote Jennifer Palmieri, the campaign's communications director. ''Seems like we are picking the fight he wants to have.''

Interactive Feature | Get the Morning Briefing by Email What you need to know to start your day, delivered to your inbox Monday through Friday.

The emails provide details of the feud between Chelsea Clinton and a longtime Clinton aide.In the fall and winter of 2011, an increasingly bitter dispute was breaking out between a top Clinton aide, Douglas J. Band, and Chelsea Clinton, over the blurred lines between the Clinton Foundation and Mr. Band's consulting company, Teneo.

Ms. Clinton had sought to reorganize and professionalize the foundation, angering Mr. Band and a fellow longtime Clinton aide, Justin Cooper, who resisted. ''Doug apparently kept telling my dad I was trying to push him out, take over,'' Ms. Clinton told Mr. Podesta in a November 2011 email.

But the next month, Ms. Clinton was less understanding. In December, she emailed Mr. Podesta and several aides to Mrs. Clinton regarding a Clinton Foundation aide who worked for former President Bill Clinton. The aide, Ilya Aspis, had been calling members of Parliament in Britain ''on behalf of President Clinton'' for Teneo clients, including the chief executive of Dow Chemical.

She also mentions that another former White House aide, Sara Latham, had begun working for Teneo but then quit ''because she was so upset, partly because of what Doug and Declan asked her to do/pretend was happening for their clients at Davos.'' The reference appears to be to Declan Kelly, a co-founder of Teneo, though what Ms. Latham was asked to do remains unclear.

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 22:22

Later in the segment, Cole caught a flash in the face as the rest of the PIX 11 team snapped picitures with disposable cameras.

''Whoa, God. This is why it was banned apparently,'' Cole stated. ''The Secret Service did not trust people to disable the flashes on they're cameras, and they were afraid it would sort of inspire Hillary's seizure disorder.''

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 16:46

For those not fashion-inclined, the hot pink color was probably the main thing that stood out about Melania Trump's outfit during the second presidential debate.

But for those more in tune with the fashion world, the large bow hanging from Melania Trump's throat was making a bigger statement than the color. That's because the type of shirt she was wearing is actually called a ''pussy bow blouse.''

A pussy bow is a bow attached to a shirt and tied around the neck, named for bows that used to be tied around the necks of kittens and cats.

A video published by the Washington Post on Friday showed Donald Trump talking with Billy Bush about touching and kissing women without their consent, including saying he would ''grab them by the pussy.'' He also spoke about trying to get a married woman to sleep with him, and at the time the conversation was recorded Donald Trump had just married Melania Trump.

Donald Trump apologized for the tape in a video Friday night, saying, ''I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize.''

In a statement released Saturday, Melania Trump called her husband's comments ''unacceptable and offensive,'' but that she accepted his apology.

But while many speculated on Twitter that Melania Trump wore the pussy bow blouse Sunday to make some sort of political statement '-- either to protest her husband's remarks or those trying to use the statements against him '-- the Trump campaign denied the pussy bow blouse was intentional.

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 16:44

After listening to ridiculous comments as expected from a Clinton, that are offensive on multiple levels, we need to set the record straight about one of the best economic periods in American History; the late 80's and 90s. During the career of Bill Clinton, something happened in American politics which was a transformation of a 'political' system, where intellectuals would debate issues of the day, and suggest policy changes - to one of a 'pay for play' business regime, culminating in the shadow government we have today. Talking about special interests in modern politics is a joke - 'special interests' control the entire system. The idea of a Trump is that this isn't an issue, because he's self-funding his campaign, and well - he's not a politician. But that doesn't mean he can as a single individual stand up to the special interests - he may be very well overrun by this virus that's eaten away the core of our political system. As we explain in Splitting Pennies - Understanding Forex - the world isn't as it seems, the world works in simple ways - those in power just like to make it look complicated.

The thing that business people have to understand about politics as a business - it's not a normal business. Making a business out of politics is very corrupt. Accepting money for the formation of laws, is an uber - conflict of interest.

Business people must fulfill a need, perform excellent customer service, or create something unique that the market wants. Businessmen are ALWAYS tested by the market - and they're always one trade away from ruining their entire business. One recall from Toyota- risks their entire business. One bad property deal from Trump - one deal with the 'wrong' person - risks the entire operation. POLITICIANS DO NOT HAVE THAT PROBLEM. They are never 'tested' for performance and if they are ever 'questioned' about it, they can simply use their power to make these risks minimal. Unfortunately, they are all on board with this system.

Politicians, have no value per se, they do not need to have a skill, be literate, do their jobs properly, or perform excellent customer service. In fact, quite the opposite. Once elected, a politican needs to be proven to commit huge crimes in order to be ousted from office. And that, as we've seen with HRC, is nearly impossible (because, they control the police, FBI, etc.). Politicans have no value or skill - they have POWER. Because once they are in office, they can enact ordinances, executive orders, create taxes, declare emergencies, zone property, create business licenses, enforce or not enforce regulations, and many other powers. So during the course of the last 60 years, they realized they can sell on the open market their one asset - power. It goes to the highest bidder. Make no mistake - they are not complete puppets for their customers, they are subject to market forces that change things, make mistakes, and do not always acheive the outcomes they desire. However, this power broker system persists in Washington to this day, and is the dominating cog in the political system.

Bill Clinton in some way was a genius in capitalizing on this system first locally in Arkansas and then riding this gravy train all the way to the White House. Bill Clinton was not a businessman, not an economist, not an intellectual. He was a musician by vocation and lawyer by occupation:

Sometime in my sixteenth year, I decided I wanted to be in public life as an elected official. I loved music and thought I could be very good, but I knew I would never be John Coltrane or Stan Getz. I was interested in medicine and thought I could be a fine doctor, but I knew I would never be Michael DeBakey. But I knew I could be great in public service.[3]

The 90's was a culmination of the 80s, and several key factors, were macro circumstances that produced the boom of the 90s:

The collapse of the Soviet Union - leaving many vassal states for the US to claim, expand business, provide loans - it was a gold rush!A continual lowering of the interest rate - not quite QE, but at the time, it was extremeStrong European financial economy, being supported by the US - culminating in the Euro in 1999Due to collapse of USSR, Military budget was slashed, billions flowed into technology instead of bombs, which allowed the massive tech sector to be built (Internet, Google, Microsoft)Immigrants, capital, and ideas all flowed into the USA during this time, supporting the economyChina in early expansion, during a period where China 'needed' USA, Wal Mart expanding, US-China trade exploding (both ways - not only imports)Iraq war, although a huge economic waste, had less economic devastation than other wars (like Vietnam) and enabled 10 years of cheap oil and strong US DollarThese are just some of the economic markers. Each should be allowed its own elaboration, as many of these points fall through the cracks of modern macroeconomics, i.e. FOREX. That's because 99% of economists don't consider money supply in their analysis. Let's be practical, there's hundreds of billions of dollars flowing into the United States during the 90s from other countries - is this significant? Does this support the US Dollar? Of course it does. And more importantly, the money stayed here, it grew the economy, built businesses, created jobs - it was the ideal climate. There wasn't a conspiracy, unlike what some may tell you - macro economics & politics is an animal of its own. We can describe the 90s as 'good weather' after the storm.

As anyone can see in the Southeast after a Hurricane passes, the weather is simply breathtaking. That's what happened in the 90s. Not because of Bill Clinton. If anything, you can blame Bill Clinton for taking this economic opportunity and creating many of the problems we have today, such as the Welfare state (entitlement programs), regulation of markets, government inefficiency, and an extension of Washington's 'pay for play' game, which has turned a system of politics into something else all together. It's an unregulated power market. Too bad there's not an exchange, we can go short Clinton and hedge our risks.

To learn more about the way the world REALLY works, checkout Splitting Pennies - Understanding Forex - or checkout Fortress Capital Trading Academy, who offers a great Introductory course. Forex = The reality of how the world works.

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 16:42

"Wait, I've got a joke for you."

James Martin/CNETFuture conversations with your intelligent gadgets may be co-authored by your favorite comedy writers.

It's not too great a leap: according to a Wall Street Journal report, comedy and joke writers from Pixar movies and the Onion are already working on making Google's upcoming Assistant AI voice service feel more loose and vibrant.

The development of compelling voice AI will need to start drawing from deeper, more entertaining wells, especially as these home hubs try to have conversations all day long.

Current voice AI like Apple's Siri and Amazon's Alexa on the Echo try to engage with personality, and they even tell jokes (usually, bad ones). But, as these services aim to be entirely voice-based, like the upcoming Google Home hub, they'll need to feel more alive and less canned.

Google Home debuts this November, and the upcoming Google Pixel phone, arriving in stores and online on October 20, is the first Google product featuring the new Assistant voice service.

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Source: The Daily Star >> Live News

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 16:41

Oct. 10, 2016 | 07:13 PM

This file photo taken on October 6, 2016 shows UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon speaking during a press conference following his meeting with Italian President Sergio Mattarella at Quirinale Presidential Palace in Rome. AFP / ALBERTO PIZZOLI

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Source: Russia Beyond The Headlines

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 16:39

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On Oct. 4, Sberbank and MasterCard launched Apple Pay system on the Russian market. Source: Invision for Disney Store / AP

Apple Pay payment system will start working with Visa bank cards in the Russian market in December, a source close to the talks between Apple and Russian representatives of banks and payment systems told TASS on Oct. 10.

"It is planned to launch Apple Pay for Visa cards starting from Dec. 1," the source said, adding that the talks are in progress and the date might be changed later.

On Nov. 4 other banks will join Apple Pay, the source told TASS. Currently, the payment system works only with MasterCard payment cards through Sberbank.

According to Apple conditions, banks that will be connected to the system are required to run the advertisement of the service, and the sum the banks need to spend on advertising Pay Apple is discussed individually with each bank, the source told TASS.

In addition, Apple receives commission, which is given to the corporation for each transaction, as well as for every bank card connected to the system.

On Oct. 4, Sberbank and MasterCard launched Apple Pay system on the Russian market.

Apple Pay works with iPhone SE, iPhone 6 and later, and Apple Watch. The payment system allows purchases using NFC (Near Field Communication) technology on smartphones, which can be used for payment in actual stores by holding an iPhone near the reader or within apps.

Source: TASS

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 15:20

Donald Trump is a man who likes golf.

So is Bill Clinton.

Donald Trump is a man who likes to cheat at golf.

So is Bill Clinton.

Donald Trump is a man who likes voluptuous women.

So is Bill Clinton.

Donald Trump is a man who likes to talk a lot.

So is Bill Clinton.

Donald Trump is a man who likes junk food, especially McDonald's cheeseburgers and fries.

So was Bill Clinton, until he had to clean up his culinary act.

Trump had a few quibbles about Clinton's more catholic taste in women and his real estate bargaining skills.

How the friendship of the mighty had fallen.

The darkest, most lurid moment in modern debate history came just a few moments into the tense spectacle.

When Jeff from Ohio on Facebook asked about the ''Access Hollywood'' tape, Trump dived: ''If you look at Bill Clinton, it's far worse, mine were words, his were action. Never anybody in the history of this nation has been so abusive to women.''

Trump continued, saying that Hillary had attacked those same women ''viciously'' and that ''four of them are here tonight.''

Trump, who was nervously pacing as Hillary was glaring, noted that President Clinton was impeached, lost his license to practice law and had to pay an $850,000 fine to Paula Jones.

When Hillary rebutted, noting that you had to fact-check Trump '' which she did with a Freudian slip of ''fat-check'' '' and that no one with Trump's temperament should be in the Oval Office. Yes, Trump shot back, because if he was president, ''you'd be in jail.''

The former friendship between Trump and the Clintons was dead, once and for all.

When I interviewed him in 1999, when Bill was a disgraced but still popular president and Donald was a not-yet-disgraced plutocrat toying with the idea of running for president, Trump said this: ''He handled the Monica situation disgracefully. It's sad because he would go down as a great president if he had not had this scandal. People would have been more forgiving if he'd had an affair with a really beautiful woman of sophistication. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe were on a different level. Now Clinton can't get into golf clubs in Westchester. A former president begging to get in a golf club. It's unthinkable.''

Trump also sniffed about the Clinton's new Chappaqua house: ''Very overpriced. I could have gotten him that house for $600,000 less.''

He was also unimpressed in those days with Ken Starr '-- ''Starr's a freak'' '-- and Hillary's Senate run. ''The concept of the listening tour is ridiculous. People want ideas. Do you think Winston Churchill, when he was stopping Hitler, went around listening?''

But it was inevitable that Bill and Donald, larger-than-life figures who both became shooting stars in the '80s, would find each other a decade and a half later when they were both living in New York.

Trump liked to be around powerful pols who might come in handy for business. And powerful pols liked to be around Trump, who might come in handy for donations.

And donate Trump did to the Clintons, both to the family foundation and to Hillary's Senate campaign. Over the years, he seemed to come to genuinely like and admire both Bill and Hillary, in a transactional sort of way, praising them in public statements, making Bill a member of his Westchester golf course, inviting the Clintons to his third wedding, to Melania Knauss, a sultry Slovenian model.

During the 2008 Democratic primary, Trump blogged: ''I know Hillary and I think she'd make a great president or vice president,'' and in 2015, he told Joe Scarborough that Bill was his favorite president, even though he believed that Bill's entanglements with ''sundry semi-beautiful women'' had dampened his success.

Up until he got in the race, Trump was friendly with the Clintons, even seeking Bill's advice in a phone call not long before he jumped in.

But once Trump saw Hillary within his sights, the friendship ended. As far as Trump was concerned, the Clintons were the enemy, and Monica and other sordid tales from Clintonworld were, as Trump put it, ''fair game.''

Last May, Trump began pummeling his former pals at a rally in Eugene, Ore. ''Nobody in this country was worse than Bill Clinton with women. He was a disaster. I mean, there's never been anybody like this and she was a total enabler. She would go after these women and destroy their lives. I mean, have you ever read what Hillary Clinton did to the women that Bill Clinton had affairs with? And they're going after me with women. Give me a break, folks.''

At a rally in Fairfield, Conn., in mid-August, Trump brought up ''that woman,'' noting: ''I'm so glad they kept that dress. It shows what the hell they are.''

Bill, who was still popular despite the rocky patches with Monica and the Marc Rich pardon, was angry when Trump began dragging back the old scandals over women into the spotlight.

After Trump began to slide, following his nutty focus on former Miss Universe, Alicia Machado, in the first debate, he ignored warnings from fellow Republicans and unleashed a scorpion attack on the Clintons' treatment of women, directing surrogates to use this talking point: ''Mr. Trump has never treated women the way Hillary Clinton and her husband did when they worked to destroy Bill Clinton's accusers.''

At a New Hampshire rally a few days after the debate, Trump said: ''The Clintons are the sordid past. We will be the very bright and clean future.''

When the scuzzy Billy Bush ''Access Hollywood'' tape was leaked, Trump first tried to brush it off as private ''locker room banter.'' Cornered, the pouty plutocrat lashed out, like a bag of raccoons. So in his initial statement to David Fahrenthold, who broke the story in The Washington Post, Trump immediately tried to shift blame, writing: ''Bill Clinton has said far worse to me on the golf course '-- not even close.''

Trump had told me in an interview last June over lunch at Trump Tower that the two men had fun discussing women as they golfed.

But then the whole country got rabidly consumed and the press began covering the story as though a fiery orange comet was hitting the earth. The vice president tweeted that Trump was guilty of sexual assault, and Republicans began fleeing their nominee in droves, like ''rats running across the tundra,'' as the late, great Hunter Thompson used to say.

By Sunday, many Republicans and even the Wall Street Journal editorial board were saying Trump should think about dropping out, because as the paper said, ''the goal has to be to save a G.O.P. Congress.''

So Trump went nuclear, in the sort of nuclear policy he understands. He held a news conference in St. Louis before the debate with Clinton accusers: Juanita Broaddrick, who claims Bill Clinton raped her; Paula Jones, who got a $850,000 settlement to drop a sexual harassment claim against Bill Clinton; Kathleen Willey, who claims that Clinton, as president, assaulted her when she was a White House volunteer; and Kathy Shelton of Arkansas, whose alleged rapist was defended by Hillary Rodham and had complaints about what she saw as Hillary's subsequent lack of empathy.

Trump probably succeeded in rattling Hillary in the hour before the debate. But he also rattled Republicans, who found the scene desperate, dark and not exactly the shift to issues and contrition they were hoping for.

Unfortunately, the four things Trump needs to do well tonight are the four things he doesn't have: empathy, impulse control, humility and genuine regret.

This post was updated to reflect developments during the debate.

PhotoDonald Trump praying with church leaders last Wednesday in Las Vegas.Credit Stephen Crowley/The New York TimesByPeter Wehner

2016-10-09T19:57:51-04:00October 9, 20167:57 PM ETDespite everything that has happened over the past few days, or for that matter the last 15 months, there is one group that has been rock solid in its support of Donald Trump: religious conservatives.

Gary Bauer, Tony Perkins, the Rev. Robert Jeffress and Ralph Reed have all restated their support for Trump in light of the release of a videotape that shows him to be not only lewd but a sexual predator. ''A ten-year-old tape of a private conversation with a talk show host ranks low on their hierarchy of concerns,'' Reed said, about people of faith.

Immediately after the release of the videotape, Eric Metaxas, an influential Evangelical biographer and radio talk show host, decided to make light of the whole thing in a Tweet: ''BREAKING: Trump caught using foul language, combing his hair oddly. Could this be the end of his campaign?'' (Metaxas later deleted the tweet, claiming he was ''unaware of the details'' of the story, despite having tweeted about it.)

So this is what is distinctive about Christian involvement in American politics today: leading evangelical leaders standing by their man, regardless of how depraved and misogynistic he is. Those who for decades have spoken about the importance of character in public leaders, lamented the degraded state of our culture and worried about the human cost of the sexual revolution are the most reliable defenders of a man whose life is a moral cesspool.

Which raises this question before tonight's debate: What could they possibly be listening for now? What could Trump do that would shake their support for him?

When Trump said last January, ''I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters,'' it was not yet clear that the group he could most rely on was religious conservatives.

But Trump's repulsive videotaped conversation is not an aberration; it is instead the personification of his attitudes toward (among other things) women and wedding vows. It is only the latest link '-- and not the last one '-- in a long, ugly chain.

Some of us have been warning since shortly after Trump entered the campaign that this was what we could expect from him. Whatever else Trump can be faulted for, he did not hide who he was. The cruelty, the misogyny, the appeals to nativism and racism, the disordered personality were all on vivid display. And yet many Republicans simply shrugged. They deluded themselves and tried to delude others into believing this wasn't who Trump really was. Or, if it was, they assured us that he would change. But Trump has stayed true to himself.

One other thing needs to be said. It is not as if evangelicals, in embracing Trump, did so because he was a committed and articulate advocate for the causes they care about most. Quite the opposite. Trump is a late and cynical convert to many causes that are important to them. It is a fantasy to pretend that as president he would expend effort on their behalf. Trump would betray them as he betrays everyone. The allegiance of Christian conservatives, and the hypocrisy it required, was won for virtually nothing in return.

If religious conservatives who still support him do end up abandoning him, it will be because of a power calculation '-- because they view him as an inevitable loser, not because they see him as an offense, as a person unworthy of their support and unfit to be president. At that point, their abandonment of Trump won't much matter. The damage already done to them and their faith witness cannot be contained. We reap what we sow.

Peter Wehner served in the last three Republican administrations and is a contributing opinion writer.

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Out of the nine presidential campaigns I've covered, I've never seen anything as absurd as the motley crew of Trump advisers agonizing over how to delicately, in soothing tones, tiptoe up to the proudly uninformed megalomaniac and broach the topic of more rigorous debate prep.

Maureen Dowd, in ''Donald Goes to the Dogs.''

2016-10-09T19:57:58-04:00October 9, 20167:57 PM ETShare This Page

PhotoThe rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building.Credit Doug Mills/The New York TimesByMaureen Dowd

2016-10-09T19:27:48-04:00October 9, 20167:27 PM ETOne day, back in the late 50s, my father, flanked by my brother, was standing in the hall of the Capitol with a congressman and some of his staffers.

Mike Dowd, a strapping Catholic Washington D.C. police inspector born in County Clare, Ireland, was in charge of Senate security for 13 years and Michael, my oldest brother, was working his way through law school as a Capitol elevator operator.

The congressman began to tell a dirty joke. My dad raised his hand.

''Stop,'' Mike Dowd said. ''Go say a Hail Mary.'' Then he sauntered away with Michael in tow.

Young Michael was a brainiac, with a Google memory before Google, who rarely lavished praise. But he always recounted that story about my dad with great pride.

Someone should have told Donald J. Trump long ago to go say a Hail Mary when he started to say something smutty. Maybe then, the cheesy and cheddar-colored billionaire wouldn't be reaping the whirlwind tonight, figuring out how to throw a Hail Mary pass to save his teetering candidacy, shore up his cowering party and salvage whatever is left of his brand.

''Everything Trump touches dies,'' Rick Wilson, a Republican consultant, told The Washington Post's Phil Rucker.

Trump has had an apocalyptic effect on the nation. Those who know him well describe being friends with ''a hurricane.'' And for 16 months, the Republican Party, Trump's ever-shifting cast of advisers and at times, the media, have all been handcuffed to this hurricane.

He has changed everything about politics. There were some good things in the beginning, like when he turned over the golden apple cart of political hucksters, showing that you can make it without a lot of high-priced mercenaries and a couple hundred million dollars worth of negative ads.

But then came the avalanche of dreadful things: the bigotry, the xenophobia, the misogyny, the violence at rallies, the profane language, the vile epithets and uncontrollable vindictiveness. (I feel I got off easy being labeled merely a wacky, crazy, neurotic dope by Trump.)

This weekend was the Republican Party's version of ''Murder on the Orient Express:'' a passel of lawmakers and other G.O.P. luminaries who have been insulted, belittled and politically undermined by Trump joining with lethal coordination to stick the knife in their indefensible nominee '-- death by a thousand cuts and defections.

But it will be hard for Republicans who waited this long to justify their cowardice in not distancing themselves sooner. The magnitude of the Republican Party's ''disgrace'' is almost impossible to articulate, Steve Schmidt, who helped run John McCain's campaign in 2008, said on ''Meet the Press'' today.

This year with Trump, he said, we have seen ''these candidates who have repeatedly put their party ahead of their country, denying what is so obviously clear to anybody who's watching about his complete and total, manifest unfitness for this office.''

As repulsive as the new tape is, with Trump giving Billy Bush his philosophy of pawing and pouncing, it is not a shocker.

Trump has always talked like a guy in a steam bath at the Sands Casino in Vegas in 1959. And he has always been surrounded by seamy enablers like Billy Bush, who insisted the poor soap opera actress meeting their bus give Trump a hug, even though Trump didn't seem to want one any more than she did.

Trump's defense, given to Robert Costa in Saturday's Washington Post, sounded like it could have been a wintry Sinatra lament: ''I've been here before, I'll tell ya, in life. I understand life and how you make it through. You go through things. I've been through many. It's called life. And it's always interesting.'' (In ''That's Life,'' Sinatra sings, summing up Trump's defiance: ''I thought of quitting, baby, but my heart just ain't gonna buy it.'')

Indeed, the braggart billionaire is blinking in shock that he is suddenly getting called on the carpet for the retrograde behavior he has exhibited his whole life '' first as a real estate showboat, then as a TV star, and for the last year as a short-fingered vulgarian in over his head, trying '' and failing '' to morph into an even-keeled pol.

The Trumpster, as he calls himself, has always just been going for the roar of the crowd, first as a chauvinist pig with Howard Stern and then as an un-P.C. bigot with angry white voters. He always says he doesn't see himself as a sexist or racist, not fathoming that you are what you say as you try to win the moment.

How on earth did we get to the ludicrous point where not one but two candy companies had to distance themselves from the Trump campaign? First Skittles, after Don Jr. crassly compared a bowl of Skittles to refugees, and then Tic Tacs, after Trump told Bush, as they went to promote a Trump cameo on ''Days of Our Lives,'' how he liked to pop some Tic Tacs before kissing women he found beautiful. (You know you're in trouble as a groping Republican when Arnold Schwarzenegger distances himself.)

How on earth did we get to the preposterous place where Kelly Ayotte, a New Hampshire senator running for re-election, had to eat her own words calling the nominee of her party a role model?

In the end, Donald Trump's legacy '' aside from destroying the Republican Party, ensuring Hillary Clinton's election and guaranteeing through his ego meltdowns that the first African-American president's record is not erased by the first overtly racist candidate in modern times '' may be hastening the coarsening of society. He presided over the merger of politics with social media, reality TV and wrestling extravaganzas.

Plus, he managed to change not one but two semantic policies of The New York Times. We began using the word ''lie'' about politicians who tell big fat whoppers. (If I could only tell you how many times I had to look up synonyms for ''lie'' when I was covering Dick Cheney's heinous fictions justifying invading Iraq.)

And, in order to capture the creepy offense of the ''Access Hollywood'' open-mike tape, The Times felt it had to use some vulgarities for the first time in its 165-year history.

I have a message from my late dad for Donald J. Trump: As you make your Hail Mary pass tonight, when you think of diving into the gutter, say a Hail Mary.

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PhotoDonald Trump gesturing to a crowd at a campaign rally.Credit Ian Thomas Jansen-Lonnquist for The New York TimesByThe Editors

2016-10-09T16:22:46-04:00October 9, 20164:22 PM ETHave you, as a woman, faced treatment like Donald Trump describes? Have you, as a man, talked the way Donald Trump did, or listened to men talking that way? We asked readers to respond on Facebook. Here's a sampling what they said, edited for length and clarity.

Have I? That's like asking have I ever breathed air. I have been groped in public, been exposed to, demanded by married men that I should date them. Twice physically attacked in very scary ways. I'm not going into detail in a public forum. To hear this ''locker room'' excuse just infuriates me. Stop making excuses, this is reality everyday. Trump is a criminal.'--Guinevere Shaw Smith

Um, as a man, yes. Spent 12 years in the Army with various deployments. If Trump's comments offend you, don't go to a military barracks, especially all male ones, on a weekend night.'--Tom Barnes

I was pinched on the breast by a coworker who seemed to think it was funny. I was young and didn't report the incident but I still remember the humiliation of 40-plus years ago.'--Brenda Crosby Bouser

As a male who was raised by a strong and independent woman, I would like to respond to this. Have I spoken like this? Yes I have, when I was a teenage boy who had no experience with women in relationships, and as a very young adult in the military, who was ''just trying to fit in''. As a kid I said these things before my mother corrected and taught me the concepts of respect and decency. That said, at 28 I would find it unacceptable to speak like this. By 70 years old, anyone who speaks like this proves what has already been said about him, he is a sexist narcissist who is only concerned with promoting himself, and that he has no respect for anybody but himself.'--Tyrone Newsom

At the very least, there is probably not a woman alive who has not, to her own shame, used the ''I have a boyfriend'' excuse - because sometimes declaring yourself to be the property of another man is the only thing these cretins comprehend as a viable form of ''no.'''--Nancy Lloyd Van Whitbeck

I have never heard any comments like this over a lifetime of many different jobs. Not once.'--Mark Scott

By the time I was eighteen this had happened many times. I never talked about it because I felt ashamed. It stopped happening in my 30's so I guess it's something mainly done to young women. I'm glad it's identified as sexual assault now.'--Lorraine Adler

I have never spoken about women the way Trump did. I have worked with women who spoke about men in ''colorful'' ways, but of course, they were feminists, and if men can use locker room speak then, by God, so could they.'--Patrick Barbieri

I have not had the ''pussy'' grab, but trying to kiss me forcibly? Yes. My buttocks pinched/grabbed dozens of times. I don't mind a whistle, but dirty, nasty comments as I walk past total strangers have made me nervous. I have a younger coworker that has received a ''dick pic'' from about 80% of the twenty somethings she has met. It starts in high school when the ''boys'' try to cop a cheap feel on your chest. I do not lament being a married, middle aged woman with children. I'm finally left alone.'--Tara Murphy

I've heard men talk that way before when I was a member of a fraternity. I always rebuked them, and they never spoke that way in front of me again. I find it reprehensible, and I simply don't tolerate it around me.'--Erik Czerwin

The reality is nearly every woman has been sexually marginalized by a man or men at some point in her life. She has been objectified and had unwanted, uncomfortable cat-calls and whistles thrown at her, she has been demeaned because of her sex. She has had to work twice as hard as her male coworkers to be deemed half as good. She has been groped or touched without her consent, she has been told all she needs is a ''good F___'' to straighten out her attitude, she has had men unapologetically speak to her boobs.'--Elizabeth Brandon Warner

As teens and young guys in college we would talk about girls but it was all about how sexy they were; ''great legs'', ''nice butt'' , ''big boobs'' it was immature and stupid. In my entire life ( I am 71) I have never heard anyone talking about grabbing a woman's pussy against her will or forcing himself on a woman.'--Cornelio Nouel

The first job I ever had, at 17, I was fired because I wouldn't have sex with the boss. And the 2nd. Most women I know have these stories.'--Connie Reynolds

Before I became married, I'm sure I was a schmuck.'--Sid Bodhi

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In the early 1590s, Shakespeare sat down to write a play that addressed a problem: How could a great country wind up being governed by a sociopath?

Stephen Greenblatt, in ''Shakespeare Explains the 2016 Election.''

2016-10-09T19:44:33-04:00October 9, 20167:44 PM ETShare This Page

PhotoDonald Trump being shadowed by John Wayne at a campaign event in Iowa.Credit Eric Thayer for The New York TimesBySusan Chira

2016-10-09T16:22:40-04:00October 9, 20164:22 PM ETIs Donald Trump a real man?

He certainly wants us to think he is. He lives in a gilded man cave, glued to the TV screen, chomping down junk food and hanging out with bodacious models and beauty pageant contestants.

He loves to brag about his sexual prowess. In military school, he cultivated his reputation as a ladies' man. He reminded us on live television that he has big hands '' and not just big hands. As the video released Friday told us in all too graphic detail, he thinks he's irresistible to women and entitled to force himself on them.

But is this how real men talk when they're with each other, in the locker room, in the bar, in Wall Street bacchanals? And is this how real men act? Certainly a lot of women believe that's the case (or have themselves endured harassment and assault), and the video allowed them to be voyeurs into a frat-boy world. A lot of men are rushing to assure them otherwise.

One of the heartbreaking things about the Trump video is how many women see it as confirmation that this is just how men talk. We don't. @matthewteague

A parade of Republicans has dissociated themselves from such behavior, and men interviewed across the country said Mr. Trump had crossed a line.

More broadly, this election raises the question of what vision of masculinity Americans are going to endorse. Mr. Trump's version clearly resonates with a segment of the American electorate. He tells it like it is. He gets results. Take that, political correctness police.

In the primary, he scored by unmanning his opponents. He mocked them as wimps and effete elites (Jeb Bush), too weak to get through a debate without water (Marco Rubio) and '' the ultimate insult '' not manly enough to attract beautiful women (Ted Cruz).

Even his mangled syntax can be seen as manly. ''Part of Trump's appeal is that he's inarticulate,'' said Jackson Katz, the author of ''Man Enough? Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump and the Politics of Presidential Masculinity.'' ''He seems more real,'' as opposed to the intellectuals that Republicans have long dismissed as weak.

More substantively, Mr. Trump talks about Making America Great Again, a case he is sure to make in tonight's second debate. With his rejection of free trade, his resolve to build a wall to keep out immigrants and his swagger, he conjures an America where a man still gets good pay for an honest day's work. That man could provide for his family so his wife could afford to stay home. In this America, men don't face competition from immigrants or women for jobs. In this America, white men are restored to their dominant place in the economy, politics and the home.

Polling consistently shows that Mr. Trump has commanding majorities among white men without a college education. ''It's much more difficult now to say I'm a real man,'' said Andrew J. Cherlin, a sociologist at Johns Hopkins University and the author of ''Labor's Love Lost: The Rise and Fall of the Working-Class Family in America.'' ''I take care of my family. I don't ask for any favors. That was their identity and it was based on a job with a decent wage.''

But in other ways, Mr. Trump is a caricature, even a distortion, of American masculinity. Scholars point to an enduring ideal of American manhood, epitomized by the Western '-- the strong, silent and chivalrous man. Gary Cooper in High Noon. Alan Ladd in Shane. ''The cowboy types that show up in our imagination would have nothing to do with Trump,'' said Michael Kimmel, a professor of sociology and gender at Stony Brook University and the author of ''Angry White Men.'' ''He's not a man who's done a lick of real work in his life. Let's see you change a tire. Masculinity in America has always been something that you prove with your hands '' not the size of your actual hands.''

Paul Ryan touched on this alternate ideal of manhood in his denunciation of Mr. Trump's words (if not of his candidacy) late Friday. ''Women are to be championed and revered, not objectified,'' he said. This in itself can be seen as retrograde, of course '' feminists having fought long and hard to move away from the Victorian ideal that women need to be protected and worshipped.

Notably, many Republicans who denounced Mr. Trump over the weekend did so in similar chivalric mode. Mitt Romney said anyone with a daughter could not support Mr. Trump. Jeb Bush spoke about his granddaughters. Striving to be sensitive, they nonetheless still cast women as objects, not as peers.

Despite the protestations, sexual entitlement '-- in words and deeds '-- runs deep in American culture. Stanley Kowalski, in Marlon Brando's indelible portrayal in A Streetcar Named Desire, is another trope of American manhood. We don't even have to look that far back. Even now, a string of professional and college athletes, celebrated as the epitome of manliness, have beaten, abused and raped women, often with impunity.

The aggression that characterizes Mr. Trump's words and behavior is both a reflection and a cartoonish exaggeration of traditional masculinity. That very ideal of what it is to be a man has been under assault for generations. Feminists would argue '' contrary to the emotional experience of many of Mr. Trump's supporters '-- that reimagining the role of women does not demean or constrain men. Rather, the feminists say, it liberates them.

A men's movement, championed by Mr. Katz among others, suggests that there are new ways to define being an American man '-- most notably by acting against sexual harassment but also by freeing men from the emotional straightjacket the Western trope imposed.

This election presents many choices. Now it may also determine which version of manhood we believe in '' or what we choose to invent going forward.

Susan Chira is a senior correspondent and editor on gender issues for The New York Times.

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PhotoHillary Clinton at a town hall meeting last week in Pennsylvania.Credit Todd Heisler/The New York TimesByJennifer Weiner

2016-10-09T14:57:35-04:00October 9, 20162:57 PM ETTonight, we'll watch Hillary Clinton do the unprecedented. She will stand on the stage, for a presidential debate, alongside a man who was caught on tape in 2005 talking about women in terms that were ''vulgar'' (NPR), ''extremely lewd'' (The Washington Post) or predatory, threatening and emblematic of rape culture (my mom, my sister, Twitter).

How will she do it, knowing that her thin-skinned and peevish opponent is ready to answer any charge of misogyny or misbehavior by saying that anything he thought or said pales in comparison to what Bill Clinton has done, and that Mrs. Clinton, his ''enabler,'' has had his back, and sought to tear down the women who accused him?

For the length of the campaign, Mrs. Clinton has struggled to find her voice, her persona, to find a way to be, while everything from her expression (to smile or not to smile?) to her tone (shouty!) to her laugh to her fashion choices has been weighed and found wanting.

Friends insist that, in private, Mrs. Clinton is a lovely person '-- warm and loyal, with a sharp sense of humor. In public, however, she's long been caricatured as Tracy Flick from the 1999 movie ''Election,'' the cold, ickily ambitious would-be high school president.

But there's a more accurate cinematic comparison, one whose voice and choices might show Mrs. Clinton a path out of this sinkhole.

Maybe it's just because it's one of my favorite movies, but I've been thinking about the 1987 film ''Broadcast News'' a lot, imagining, instead of Hillary as Tracy, Hillary as Holly Hunter's Jane Craig, the accomplished, neurotic-but-charming female lead of the movie's love triangle.

Jane is a hard-charging news producer, a woman so driven that she schedules time to cry, by far the smartest person in any room. We see her lecturing her colleagues about the value of hard news over fluff and vulnerable as she ends a relationship with a handsome news anchor after he's caught on tape playing fast and loose with the truth. It's a hard choice that leaves her lonely, but with her self-respect intact.

Which brings us to tonight.

Mrs. Clinton won the last debate by keeping her head while Mr. Trump frothed and rambled; by being the calm adult coolly staring down a petulant little boy.

This weekend, hunkered down in his gilded penthouse, explaining away his creepy, predatory ways by saying that 2005 was a long time ago (it wasn't) and that the words don't reflect who he is (they do), Mr. Trump has made it clear that his plan is to go big on little-boy tactics.

''Bill Clinton has actually abused women, and Hillary has bullied, attacked, shamed and intimidated his victims,'' he said. It's a diversion familiar to any parent who's ever heard, ''Why are you so mad at me for spilling my milk, when Trevor broke the pitcher?''

When Mr. Trump tries to pin Bill Clinton's misdeeds, actual and alleged, on Mrs. Clinton, she needs to point out which Clinton is running for office. She must address her own hard choices, and the price she's paid, and then take voters out of the Clinton presidency and back to the boys on the bus.

And she needs to keep the stakes at the forefront. In ''Broadcast News,'' there's a scene in which Albert Brooks, playing a news reporter with a crush on Jane and an unfortunate tendency to sweat on camera, calls his romantic rival the devil. When Jane objects, Mr. Brooks's character says that Satan won't show up in an obvious way: ''He will be attractive. He'll be nice and helpful. He'll get a job where he influences a great God-fearing nation. He'll never do an evil thing! He'll never deliberately hurt a living thing. He will just bit by little bit lower our standards where they are important.''

Words like ''nice and helpful'' do not pop immediately to one's mind when considering Mr. Trump. But that last part?

The Republican nominee's leering, threatening language, the way that on the tape, with Billy Bush's chuckling complicity, he turns an actress from a person to an ''it,'' the way he maintains that, for a ''star,'' women are not people as much as a serve-yourself flesh buffet, all of that has lowered our standards where they are important, not just a little, but a lot.

At the Democratic National Convention, and throughout her campaign, Mrs. Clinton made much of that shattered glass ceiling, about the power and responsibility that go with being the only woman on the stage. Tonight, though, she'd be better served by focusing not on gender but on maturity; by telling voters that they have a choice not between a man and a woman, or even a Republican and a Democrat, but between an entitled child and a seasoned, scarred adult.

Jennifer Weiner is the author of the memoir ''Hungry Heart,'' and a contributing opinion writer.

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PhotoFinal preparations for the second presidential debate are underway in St. Louis, Missouri.Credit Doug Mills/The New York TimesByThe Editors

2016-10-09T14:13:06-04:00October 9, 20162:13 PM ETNot everyone likes to do debate prep, but here on the opinion pages, this is what we live for. Maureen Dowd asked how it came to this; Nick Kristof looked at Donald Trump's qualifications to be groper in chief; Lindy West argued that women needed to grab Republicans where it hurt, at the ballot box; Ross Douthat considered the many faces of illiberalism today; Molly Worthen showed how a rift on the religious left helps explain Hillary Clinton's problem consolidating the Democratic base; Katha Pollitt revealed what the vice-presidential debate (remember that?) told us what can and can't be said about abortion; Vanessa Williamson showed that Americans feel deeply about paying their taxes and not necessarily in the way that you think; Jacques Leslie demonstrated how voter confusion over photo ID laws was just as dangerous as the laws themselves; and Tom Edsall imagined the global economy according to Mr. Trump.

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PhotoJohn McCain on Capitol Hill.Credit Al Drago/The New York TimesByGail Collins

2016-10-09T13:28:10-04:00October 9, 20161:28 PM ETListen, your weekend could be worse. You could be in charge of explaining Donald J. Trump.

''He speaks the way many times people talk around their dining room table,'' protested Corey Lewandowski, the former aide turned TV commentator. Lewandowski's done a lot of unlovely things this election season, but I still do not believe that when he goes home to have a meal with the family, the conversation turns around grabbing women's private parts.

What are you supposed to say when your extremely dicey presidential candidate shows up on a tape bragging about how he's so famous he can molest any woman he wants? We will turn first to that pacesetter Sean Hannity. ''I think King David had 500 concubines, for crying out loud,'' said the ''Fox News'' host.

This is not a promising route, given the fact that the Bible says King David also seduced Bathsheba and killed her husband, Uriah the Hittite. Unless Hannity was planning to close with ''at least he didn't murder anybody.''

The less imaginative defenders often fell back on the argument that the super-sexist tape was really old '' eleven years! ''I've seen a different man in the last year and a half,'' said Rudy Giuliani on his whirlwind tour of Sunday morning TV. Give the man credit '' while most Trump surrogates were hiding in their beds, Rudy was on the air everywhere. Truly, if you had turned on HGTV, I'll bet you'd have seen him pop up on an episode of ''Fixer Upper,'' advising hapless homeowners that they needed granite kitchen countertops and more faith in the Republican nominee. Giuliani's argument was that running for president changes you for the better. It was an interesting point, particularly when made by a man whose own shot at the White House helped transform him from America's Mayor to a super-scary talking head.

And pity the innocent bystanders. After her husband made one of the worst apologies in history '-- really, he looked like a hostage being forced to confess to war crimes by the Taliban '-- poor Melania issued a statement saying that the infamous Trump Tape ''does not represent the man that I know. He has the heart and mind of a leader.'' On the plus side, it was definitely not language cribbed from Michelle Obama.

No way to get around this one. Except for the New Republican Dodge, in which candidates announce that they cannot possibly support a person who says such awful things. (Who imagined? No idea!) But then of course there's no way they'd vote for Hillary Clinton. And so they're going to '... do something else. Senator Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire announced she'd be ''writing in Governor Pence for president on Election Day.'' You have to feel sorry for the woman. She's in a very tough re-election battle. Last week someone asked Ayotte if Trump was a good model for children, and she got into big trouble for saying yes. Politicians can't always depend on the top of the ticket to pull them up, but it isn't often that someone has to retract an affirmation that her party's presidential candidate was someone kids could look up to.

However, this business of saying you're not going to vote for anybody real is awful. John McCain announced he's going to write in an unnamed ''good conservative Republican'' '-- he won't even name anybody. The news release should go something like this: ''Senator X today announced that he has decided to throw away his vote and spend Election Day sulking in a special yurt that will be erected specifically for the purpose of celebrating Americans' right to let somebody else make the hard decisions.''

Suck it up, Senator. Make a choice.

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Archived Version

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 14:39

Emmy Award-winning producer Chris Nee alleged Sunday on Twitter that Apprentice producers are sitting on footage that includes film of Donald Trump using the n-word.

Nee made the comments in response to a former producer on the show, who tweeted Saturday that Trump has been caught on camera saying ''far worse'' than the things he said in the Access Hollywood footage.

According to Nee, who says she heard from ''producers/crew'' on the show, one of those ''far worse'' things is Trump saying the n-word. She tweeted the allegations at Mark Cuban, citing a $5 million penalty fee for leaking footage apparently included in most of Apprentice executive producer Mark Burnett's contracts. This shouldn't come as news to Cuban'--his show, Shark Tank, is also produced by Burnett.

BuzzFeed reports that Burnett, who is a Trump supporter, has been threatening employees with access to the show's unaired footage. Last week, more than twenty people involved in the show spoke anonymously with the AP about Trump's behavior during the production. He would often speculate about women's sexual activities and liked to discuss who he would and wouldn't have sex with, sometimes in front of the person he was talking about. Once, in the middle of filming, the sources allege to the AP, he stopped and singled out a contestant.

''We were in the boardroom one time figuring out who to blame for the task, and he just stopped in the middle and pointed to someone and said, 'You'd f... her, wouldn't you? I'd f... her. C'mon, wouldn't you?'''

The person continued: ''Everyone is trying to make him stop talking, and the woman is shrinking in her seat.''

Burnett has so far declined to comment directly on the allegations.

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Archived Version

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 14:36

It looked like a scene straight out of ''Westworld,'' but it was the second presidential debate of the 2016 election.

Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton was mid-sentence when a black fly landed on her forehead, square between the eyes. Clinton, for her part, continued with what she was saying, seemingly unfazed by the unexpected visitor. However, the insect's sudden appearance got us thinking.

CBSN

In Native American culture, every animal is believed to have a totem. So, when an animal (or insect, in this case) appears at a time or in a place that it normally wouldn't, that means it's delivering a unique message to the person whose path it crossed.

According to starstuffs.com, ''The lesson of fly is in the value of carrying your emotions, thoughts and feelings in order to act quickly in sometimes unfavorable or uncomfortable conditions.''

PlayVideo

CBSNTrump holds event with Bill Clinton accusersTwo hours before the second presidential debate, Donald Trump held a Facebook event with several women who have accused Bill Clinton of sexual ad...

Why is that relevant to Hillary Clinton?

Well, just moments before the start of the debate, her opponent, Donald Trump, took to Facebook Live with three women who have accused her husband, former President Bill Clinton, of sexual assault. That would likely be a humiliating experience for any woman, but Hillary Clinton had to steady her emotions and take the debate stage with a composed demeanor immediately afterward.

So, was the fly's appearance simply a coincidence? Or was it nature's way of delivering a message to the Democratic nominee? We may never know, but one thing is for certain: That fly created one of the ''buzzier'' moments of second debate.

(C) 2016 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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Archived Version

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 14:26

A 22-year-old Syrian man who was the subject of a nationwide hunt and is believed to have been preparing a bomb attack was detained Monday, German police said.

Jaber Albakr was detained overnight in Leipzig, police in the eastern state of Saxony tweeted. Albakr, from the Damascus area of Syria, escaped the authorities Saturday during a raid of his apartment in Chemnitz. Investigators said they found ''several hundred grams'' of volatile explosive hidden in the apartment '' enough to cause some significant damage.

Saxony criminal police chief Joerg Michaelis told reporters on Monday that Albakr was suspected of having ISIS contacts and had been on the radar of the country's domestic intelligence agency since last month with "hints" he may have been planning something.

Michaelis said "the behavior and actions of the suspect currently speak for an [ISIS] context."

The weekend raid came after Saxony police were tipped off about Albakr possibly planning an attack. He had been on Germany's domestic intelligence service's radar, but it wasn't clear for how long.

Saturday morning, Albakr was seen leaving his apartment just as police prepared to raid the apartment building. Police fired a warning shot but were unable to stop him from scurrying away.

Experts are trying to determine whether the explosives they found in the apartment were the same ones used in the deadly Nov. 13 attacks in Paris and the March 22 attacks in Brussels. The explosives used in those attacks are known as TATP, or triacetone triperoxide.

TATP has been used in many attacks over the years, and is favored by violent extremists because it's fairly easy to make and detonate.

The explosives were destroyed Saturday in a controlled detonation by bomb squad experts in a pit dug outside the five-story apartment building because they were considered too dangerous to transport.

Germany has been on edge since two attacks this summer claimed by the Islamic State group in which multiple people were injured and both assailants died. Two other attacks unrelated to Islamic extremism, including a deadly mall shooting in Munich, have also contributed to fears.

During the manhunt, federal police had increased security around the country, particularly around "critical infrastructure" like train stations and airports.

The authorities said that Albakr had come to Germany in the flood of 890,000 migrants who entered the country in 2015 and had been granted asylum.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Archived Version

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 14:20

IntroductionLibraries*New*This code gives library performance without the compiled size overhead, with very efficient interrupt routines. Uses the External Interrupt pins of the MCU.*New*A high performance Encoder library is now available, with 4X counting and very efficient interrupt routines. Uses the External Interrupt pins of the MCU.*New*ClickEncoder Library for encoders with button Works on any IO-Pin (uses a Timer), supports acceleration (rotate faster -> increment faster, feels very natural); Button reports Click, DoubleClick, Held, Released. Example Included.*New*Interrupt Library (the Encoder interrupts the processor). Utilizes any of the ATmega328P pins via the PinChangeInt library.SoftTimer library introduces an alternative way to organize your business logic, and has a built in driver for rotary encoders.AdaEncoder rotary encoder library (uses ... the PinChangeInt library). ( AdaEncoder wiki documentation includes a short discussion of switch bounce ). ( AdaEncoder Arduino Forum discussion )."Quadrature Encoder too Fast for Arduino" is an extremely non-portable library for handling high-speed, high-resolution encoders on the Arduino."Quadrature Encoders in Arduino, done right. Done right." uses "interrupt on any change of A or B" to squeeze the maximum possible resolution out of an encoder -- count on both low-to-high and high-to-low transitions, both A and B.Encoder Polling ( Arduino Forum discussion )."Arduino Library for Rotary Encoders with Velocity Sense"."RotaryEncoder"Rotary encoder library for use in loop(). No example sketch given.Debounce CircuitryExamplesDiscussionA rotary or "shaft" encoder is an angular measuring device. It is used to precisely measure rotation of motors or to create wheel controllers (knobs) that can turn infinitely (with no end stop like a potentiometer has). Some of them are also equipped with a pushbutton when you press on the axis (like the ones used for navigation on many music controllers). They come in all kinds of resolutions, from maybe 16 to at least 1024 steps per revolution, and cost from 2 to maybe 200 EUR.

I've written a little sketch to read a rotary controller and send its readout via RS232.

It simply updates a counter (encoder0Pos) every time the encoder turns by one step, and sends it via serial to the PC.

This works fine with an ALPS STEC12E08 encoder which has 24 steps per turn. I can imagine it could fail with encoders with higher resolution, or when it rotates very quickly (think: motors), or when you extend it to accommodate multiple encoders. Please give it a try.

I learned about how to read the encoder from the file encoder.h included in the Arduino distribution as part of the AVRLib. Thanks to its author, Pascal Stang, for the friendly and newbie-proof explanation of the functionings of encoders there.here you go:

Example 1 /* Read Quadrature Encoder * Connect Encoder to Pins encoder0PinA, encoder0PinB, and +5V. * * Sketch by max wolf / www.meso.net * v. 0.1 - very basic functions - mw 20061220 * */ int val; int encoder0PinA = 3; int encoder0PinB = 4; int encoder0Pos = 0; int encoder0PinALast = LOW; int n = LOW; void setup() { pinMode (encoder0PinA,INPUT); pinMode (encoder0PinB,INPUT); Serial.begin (9600); } void loop() { n = digitalRead(encoder0PinA); if ((encoder0PinALast == LOW) && (n == HIGH)) { if (digitalRead(encoder0PinB) == LOW) { encoder0Pos--; } else { encoder0Pos++; } Serial.print (encoder0Pos); Serial.print ("/"); } encoder0PinALast = n; } Oh, a few notes:

encoder0Pos will be counting forever, that means that if you keep turning into the same direction, the serial message will become longer (up to 6 characters), costing more time to transmit.you need to make sure yourself (on the PC side) that nothing bad happens when encoder0Pos overflows - if the value becomes larger than the maximum size of an INT (32,767), it will flip to -32,768! and vice versa.suggestion for improvement: make it spit out the counter only when it is polled from the PC. Count only the relative change of the encoder between two polls.obviously, if you add more code to the loop(), or use higher resolution encoders, there is a possibility that this sketch will not see every individual step. The better way of counting encoder steps is to use an interrupt on every flank of the signal. The library I mentioned above does just that, but currently (2006-12) it doesn't compile under the Arduino environment - or I just don't know how to do so...I'm not sure about the etiquette of this, but I'm just going to add onto this tutorial. Paul Badger

Below is an image showing the waveforms of the A & B channels of an encoder.

This might make it a little more clear how the code above works. When the code finds alow-to-high transition on the A channel, it checks to see if the B channel is high or low and then increments/decrements the variable to account for the direction that the encoder must be turning in order to generate the waveform found.

One disadvantage of the code above is that it is really only counting one fourth of the possible transitions. In the case of the illustration, either the red or the lime green transitions, depending on which way the encoder is moving.

Interrupt ExampleBelow is some code that uses an interrupt. When the Arduino sees a change on the A channel, it immediately skips to the "doEncoder" function, which parses out both the low-to-high and the high-to-low edges, consequently counting twice as many transitions. I didn't want to use both interrupt pins to check the other two classes of transition on the B channel (the violet and cyan lines in the chart above), but it doesn't seem much more complicated to do so.

Using interrupts to read a rotary encoder is a perfect job for interrupts because the interrupt service routine (a function) can be short and quick, because it doesn't need to do much.

I used the encoder as a "mode selector" on a synthesizer made solely from an Arduino chip. This is a pretty casual application, because it doesn't really matter if the encoder missed pulses, the feedback was coming from the user. Where the interrupt method is going to shine is with encoders used for feedback on motors - such as servos or robot wheels. In those applications, the microcontroller can't afford to miss any pulses or the resolution of movement is going to suffer.

One side note: I used the Arduino's pullup resistors to "steer" the inputs high when they were not engaged by the encoder. Hence the encoder common pin is connected to ground. The sketch above fails to mention that some pulldown resistors (10k is fine) are going to be needed on the inputs since the encoder common is attached to +5V.

/* read a rotary encoder with interrupts Encoder hooked up with common to GROUND, encoder0PinA to pin 2, encoder0PinB to pin 4 (or pin 3 see below) it doesn't matter which encoder pin you use for A or B uses Arduino pullups on A & B channel outputs turning on the pullups saves having to hook up resistors to the A & B channel outputs */ #define encoder0PinA 2#define encoder0PinB 4volatile unsigned int encoder0Pos = 0;void setup() { pinMode(encoder0PinA, INPUT); digitalWrite(encoder0PinA, HIGH); // turn on pullup resistor pinMode(encoder0PinB, INPUT); digitalWrite(encoder0PinB, HIGH); // turn on pullup resistor attachInterrupt(0, doEncoder, CHANGE); // encoder pin on interrupt 0 - pin 2 Serial.begin (9600); Serial.println("start"); // a personal quirk} void loop(){// do some stuff here - the joy of interrupts is that they take care of themselves}void doEncoder() { /* If pinA and pinB are both high or both low, it is spinning * forward. If they're different, it's going backward. * * For more information on speeding up this process, see * [Reference/PortManipulation], specifically the PIND register. */ if (digitalRead(encoder0PinA) == digitalRead(encoder0PinB)) { encoder0Pos++; } else { encoder0Pos--; } Serial.println (encoder0Pos, DEC);}/* See this expanded function to get a better understanding of the * meanings of the four possible (pinA, pinB) value pairs: */void doEncoder_Expanded(){ if (digitalRead(encoder0PinA) == HIGH) { // found a low-to-high on channel A if (digitalRead(encoder0PinB) == LOW) { // check channel B to see which way // encoder is turning encoder0Pos = encoder0Pos - 1; // CCW } else { encoder0Pos = encoder0Pos + 1; // CW } } else // found a high-to-low on channel A { if (digitalRead(encoder0PinB) == LOW) { // check channel B to see which way // encoder is turning encoder0Pos = encoder0Pos + 1; // CW } else { encoder0Pos = encoder0Pos - 1; // CCW } } Serial.println (encoder0Pos, DEC); // debug - remember to comment out // before final program run // you don't want serial slowing down your program if not needed}/* to read the other two transitions - just use another attachInterrupt()in the setup and duplicate the doEncoder function into say, doEncoderA and doEncoderB. You also need to move the other encoder wire over to pin 3 (interrupt 1). */ Careful when using Serial.Print inside an interrupt function, most of the time it will fail, but it works sometimes, the worst of programming bugs. It is documented in a number of places: "https://groups.google.com/a/arduino.cc/forum/#!topic/developers/HKzEcN6gikM""http://forum.arduino.cc/index.php?topic=94459.0""http://forum.jeelabs.net/node/1188.html"

Interrupt Example (the Encoder interrupts the processor). Uses both Interrupt pins Code for reading encoder using 2 interrupts on pin 2 & pin3

Note: the code below uses 2 interrupts to read the full resolution of the encoder. The code above used 1 interrupt. It read half the resolution by only checking EncoderPin A for position, but it freed up an interrupt pin.

#define encoder0PinA 2

#define encoder0PinB 3

volatile unsigned int encoder0Pos = 0;

void setup() {

pinMode(encoder0PinA, INPUT); pinMode(encoder0PinB, INPUT); // encoder pin on interrupt 0 (pin 2)

attachInterrupt(0, doEncoderA, CHANGE);// encoder pin on interrupt 1 (pin 3)

attachInterrupt(1, doEncoderB, CHANGE); Serial.begin (9600);}

void loop(){//Do stuff here}

void doEncoderA(){

// look for a low-to-high on channel A if (digitalRead(encoder0PinA) == HIGH) { // check channel B to see which way encoder is turning if (digitalRead(encoder0PinB) == LOW) { encoder0Pos = encoder0Pos + 1; // CW } else { encoder0Pos = encoder0Pos - 1; // CCW } } else // must be a high-to-low edge on channel A { // check channel B to see which way encoder is turning if (digitalRead(encoder0PinB) == HIGH) { encoder0Pos = encoder0Pos + 1; // CW } else { encoder0Pos = encoder0Pos - 1; // CCW } } Serial.println (encoder0Pos, DEC); // use for debugging - remember to comment out}

void doEncoderB(){

// look for a low-to-high on channel B if (digitalRead(encoder0PinB) == HIGH) { // check channel A to see which way encoder is turning if (digitalRead(encoder0PinA) == HIGH) { encoder0Pos = encoder0Pos + 1; // CW } else { encoder0Pos = encoder0Pos - 1; // CCW } } // Look for a high-to-low on channel B else { // check channel B to see which way encoder is turning if (digitalRead(encoder0PinA) == LOW) { encoder0Pos = encoder0Pos + 1; // CW } else { encoder0Pos = encoder0Pos - 1; // CCW } }}

Interrupt Example (the Encoder interrupts the processor). Uses a single interrupt pin, wraps the Encoder into a C++ class. class wrapperby mikkoh [01/2010]

wrapped above example (example with one interrupt) into a class and reduced code size from the doEncoder function a bit (hope it's still readable to the most of you). An example usage is contained in the class documentation.

#ifndef __ENCODER_H__#define __ENCODER_H__#include "WProgram.h"class Encoder { /* wraps encoder setup and update functions in a class !!! NOTE : user must call the encoders update method from an interrupt function himself! i.e. user must attach an interrupt to the encoder pin A and call the encoder update method from within the interrupt uses Arduino pullups on A & B channel outputs turning on the pullups saves having to hook up resistors to the A & B channel outputs // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ // Example usage : // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ #include "Encoder.h" Encoder encoder(2, 4); void setup() { attachInterrupt(0, doEncoder, CHANGE); Serial.begin (115200); Serial.println("start"); } void loop(){ // do some stuff here - the joy of interrupts is that they take care of themselves } void doEncoder(){ encoder.update(); Serial.println( encoder.getPosition() ); } // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ // Example usage end // ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ */public: // constructor : sets pins as inputs and turns on pullup resistors Encoder( int8_t PinA, int8_t PinB) : pin_a ( PinA), pin_b( PinB ) { // set pin a and b to be input pinMode(pin_a, INPUT); pinMode(pin_b, INPUT); // and turn on pullup resistors digitalWrite(pin_a, HIGH); digitalWrite(pin_b, HIGH); }; // call this from your interrupt function void update () { if (digitalRead(pin_a)) digitalRead(pin_b) ? position++ : position--; else digitalRead(pin_b) ? position-- : position++; }; // returns current position long int getPosition () { return position; }; // set the position value void setPosition ( const long int p) { position = p; };private: long int position; int8_t pin_a; int8_t pin_b;};#endif // __ENCODER_H__Uses both External Interrupt pins, Counts in 1 Direction only.Editor's note: Although this code claims efficiency gains, note that it uses the digitalRead() library functions, which according to http://jeelabs.org/2010/01/06/pin-io-performance/ is 50 times as slow as direct port reads.

Efficiency gain for rotary encoder countingby m3tr0g33k

Paul Badger's work and the original post are enlightening and useful - you will need to understand what they have said before this makes sense to you (I hope it does!).

My project is a data logger where three analogue inputs are sampled each time a rotary encoder pulse steps clockwise. On an Arduino, time is of the essence to get this data sampled and saved somewhere (I have not included the 'saving somewhere' part of this project yet.) In order to save some processor cycles, I have slightly redesigned the interrupt system to maintain a pair of Boolean states outside of the interrupt loop.

The idea is to set a Boolean state for A or B when there is a positive going edge on encoder output A or B. So, when you get an interrupt from A, and it's positive going, you set A_set=true. Then you test if B_set is false. If it is, then A leads B which means a clockwise step (increment position counter).

Likewise, when you get an interrupt from B, and it's positive going, you set B_set=true. Then you test if A_set is false. If it is, then B leads A, which means a counter-clockwise step (decrement position counter).

An important difference from previous code examples is when there is an interrupt on A or B which is negative going, you just set A_set or B_set to false, respectively, no further work is needed, reducing the time spent servicing the interrupt.

Anyway, enough explanation of code in words, here is the code:

#define encoder0PinA 2#define encoder0PinB 3volatile unsigned int encoder0Pos = 0;unsigned int tmp_Pos = 1;unsigned int valx;unsigned int valy;unsigned int valz;boolean A_set;boolean B_set;void setup() { pinMode(encoder0PinA, INPUT); pinMode(encoder0PinB, INPUT); // encoder pin on interrupt 0 (pin 2) attachInterrupt(0, doEncoderA, CHANGE);// encoder pin on interrupt 1 (pin 3) attachInterrupt(1, doEncoderB, CHANGE); Serial.begin (9600);}void loop(){ //Check each second for change in position if (tmp_Pos != encoder0Pos) { Serial.print("Index:"); Serial.print(encoder0Pos, DEC); Serial.print(", Values: "); Serial.print(valx, DEC); Serial.print(", "); Serial.print(valy, DEC); Serial.print(", "); Serial.print(valz, DEC); Serial.println(); tmp_Pos = encoder0Pos; } delay(1000);}// Interrupt on A changing statevoid doEncoderA(){ // Low to High transition? if (digitalRead(encoder0PinA) == HIGH) { A_set = true; if (!B_set) { encoder0Pos = encoder0Pos + 1; valx=analogRead(0); valy=analogRead(1); valz=analogRead(2); } } // High-to-low transition? if (digitalRead(encoder0PinA) == LOW) { A_set = false; }}// Interrupt on B changing statevoid doEncoderB(){ // Low-to-high transition? if (digitalRead(encoder0PinB) == HIGH) { B_set = true; if (!A_set) { encoder0Pos = encoder0Pos - 1; } } // High-to-low transition? if (digitalRead(encoder0PinB) == LOW) { B_set = false; }}The rest of the code around the improved interrupt routines is just to demonstrate that it works. As I said, I only want to sample when going CW (which is forwards on my sampling trolley). When the encoder is going CCW, I just update the counter.

The loop{} prints the current encoder position and the corresponding sampled data values every second, but only if the encoder position has changed. You can have fun seeing how far you can rotate your encoder in a second! I have managed nearly 300 steps or 1.5 revolutions on my rotary encoder.

There is one issue with the logic in this code. If you are changing direction a lot then you may wish to know that if you change direction in the middle of a step, your counter will not update. This is a half-step hysteresis. Under most circumstances, this is not noticeable or important, but think whether it is important to you!

Hope this potential speed increase helps someone!

m3tr0g33k

Interrupt Example (the Encoder interrupts the processor). Uses both External Interrupt pins, simplifies the interrupt service routines of the above. Tighten up the ISR'sYou can reduce the size of the interrupt service routines considerably by looking at A_set == B_set to determine lag vs lead.

The ISR's are then just

// Interrupt on A changing statevoid doEncoderA(){ // Test transition A_set = digitalRead(encoderPinA) == HIGH; // and adjust counter + if A leads B encoderPos += (A_set != B_set) ? +1 : -1;}// Interrupt on B changing statevoid doEncoderB(){ // Test transition B_set = digitalRead(encoderPinB) == HIGH; // and adjust counter + if B follows A encoderPos += (A_set == B_set) ? +1 : -1;}Basically, if the pin that changed now matches the other pin, it's lagging behind it, and if the pin that changed is now different, then it's leading it.

Net result: two lines of code to process the interrupt.

The entire sketch is

enum PinAssignments { encoderPinA = 2, encoderPinB = 3, clearButton = 8};volatile unsigned int encoderPos = 0;unsigned int lastReportedPos = 1;boolean A_set = false;boolean B_set = false;void setup() { pinMode(encoderPinA, INPUT); pinMode(encoderPinB, INPUT); pinMode(clearButton, INPUT); digitalWrite(encoderPinA, HIGH); // turn on pullup resistor digitalWrite(encoderPinB, HIGH); // turn on pullup resistor digitalWrite(clearButton, HIGH);// encoder pin on interrupt 0 (pin 2) attachInterrupt(0, doEncoderA, CHANGE);// encoder pin on interrupt 1 (pin 3) attachInterrupt(1, doEncoderB, CHANGE); Serial.begin(9600);}void loop(){ if (lastReportedPos != encoderPos) { Serial.print("Index:"); Serial.print(encoderPos, DEC); Serial.println(); lastReportedPos = encoderPos; } if (digitalRead(clearButton) == LOW) { encoderPos = 0; }}// Interrupt on A changing statevoid doEncoderA(){ // Test transition A_set = digitalRead(encoderPinA) == HIGH; // and adjust counter + if A leads B encoderPos += (A_set != B_set) ? +1 : -1;}// Interrupt on B changing statevoid doEncoderB(){ // Test transition B_set = digitalRead(encoderPinB) == HIGH; // and adjust counter + if B follows A encoderPos += (A_set == B_set) ? +1 : -1;}More encoder links

this code did work better for me than most others, with good explanation

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Uses both External Interrupt pins, after the initial read, does not read the state of the pins.

Fast encoder reading: using just interrupts

I also had to face with the problem of reading encoder signals and, after many trials, I'm happy to let you know a new way to deal with them, inspired by all the previous suggestions. I tried it on AMT encoder and it work really good. Unlikely, the other methods failed, the counting rate was too fast. To escape reading Arduino's port programming, I thought it may be even faster just using the interrupt pins. Here is the code:

//PIN's definition#define encoder0PinA 2#define encoder0PinB 3volatile int encoder0Pos = 0;volatile boolean PastA = 0;volatile boolean PastB = 0;void setup() { pinMode(encoder0PinA, INPUT); //turn on pullup resistor //digitalWrite(encoder0PinA, HIGH); //ONLY FOR SOME ENCODER(MAGNETIC)!!!! pinMode(encoder0PinB, INPUT); //turn on pullup resistor //digitalWrite(encoder0PinB, HIGH); //ONLY FOR SOME ENCODER(MAGNETIC)!!!! PastA = (boolean)digitalRead(encoder0PinA); //initial value of channel A; PastB = (boolean)digitalRead(encoder0PinB); //and channel B//To speed up even more, you may define manually the ISRs// encoder A channel on interrupt 0 (arduino's pin 2) attachInterrupt(0, doEncoderA, RISING);// encoder B channel pin on interrupt 1 (arduino's pin 3) attachInterrupt(1, doEncoderB, CHANGE); }void loop(){ //your staff....ENJOY! :D}//you may easily modify the code get quadrature..//..but be sure this whouldn't let Arduino back! void doEncoderA(){ PastB ? encoder0Pos--: encoder0Pos++;}void doEncoderB(){ PastB = !PastB; }I hope this can help you.

by carnevaledaniele [04/2010]

_____________________________________________________________\\

Here's a complete library code for working with Encoders:

#include #include "HardwareSerial.h"// 12 Step Rotary Encoder with Click //// http://www.sparkfun.com/products/9117 //#define EncoderPinA 20// Rotary Encoder Left Pin //#define EncoderPinB 19// Rotary Encoder Right Pin //#define EncoderPinP 21// Rotary Encoder Click //// ======================================================================================= //class Encoder{public:Encoder() { pinMode(EncoderPinA, INPUT);digitalWrite(EncoderPinA, HIGH);pinMode(EncoderPinB, INPUT);digitalWrite(EncoderPinB, HIGH);pinMode(EncoderPinP, INPUT);digitalWrite(EncoderPinP, HIGH);Position = 0; Position2 = 0; Max = 127; Min = 0;clickMultiply = 10;}void Tick(void){ Position2 = (digitalRead(EncoderPinB) * 2) + digitalRead(EncoderPinA);;if (Position2 != Position){isFwd = ((Position == 0) && (Position2 == 1)) || ((Position == 1) && (Position2 == 3)) || ((Position == 3) && (Position2 == 2)) || ((Position == 2) && (Position2 == 0));if (!digitalRead(EncoderPinP)) { if (isFwd) Pos += clickMultiply; else Pos -= clickMultiply; }else { if (isFwd) Pos++; else Pos--; }if (Pos < > Max) Pos = Max;}Position = Position2;}int getPos(void){return (Pos/4);}void setMinMax(int _Min, int _Max) { Min = _Min*4; Max = _Max*4; if (Pos < > Max) Pos = Max;}void setClickMultiply(int _clickMultiply){clickMultiply = _clickMultiply;}private:int clickMultiply;int Max;int Min;int Pos;int Position;int Position2;int isFwd;};Uses both External Interrupt pins. Based on the Circuits@home code. Does not debounce. Notice that the Serial.print() functions can take milliseconds to return, so the interrupt code takes relatively long. This may change the behavior of the code when those statements are removed (as some bounces and even some transitions may be missed if the interrupt routine takes a comparatively long time). -Ed.

/* RotaryInterrupts - a port-read and interrupt based rotary encoder sketch Created by Joshua Layne (w15p), January 4, 2011. based largely on: http://www.circuitsathome.com/mcu/reading-rotary-encoder-on-arduino Released into the public domain.*/#define ENC_A 2#define ENC_B 3#define ENC_PORT PINDuint8_t bitShift = 2; // change to suit your pins (offset from 0,1 per port)// Note: You need to choose pins that have Interrupt capability.int counter;boolean ticToc;void setup(){ pinMode(ENC_A, INPUT); digitalWrite(ENC_A, HIGH); pinMode(ENC_B, INPUT); digitalWrite(ENC_B, HIGH); Serial.begin (115200); Serial.println("Start"); counter = 0; ticToc = false; // Attach ISR to both interrupts attachInterrupt(0, read_encoder, CHANGE); attachInterrupt(1, read_encoder, CHANGE);}void loop(){// do some stuff here - the joy of interrupts is that they take care of themselves}void read_encoder(){ int8_t enc_states[] = {0,-1,1,0,1,0,0,-1,-1,0,0,1,0,1,-1,0}; static uint8_t encoderState = 0; static uint8_t stateIndex = 0; static uint8_t filteredPort = 0; uint8_t filter = 0x03; // base filter: 0b00000011 filter

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 08:19

15-years after the attacks on September 11th, the European Scientific Journal, a publication of theEuropean Scientific Institute (ESI), published an article titled ''15 Years Later: On the Physics of High-Rise Building Collapses,'' in which they analyze the collapse of all three World Trade Center buildings. The results of their findings continue to indicate that the WTC towers were destroyed by controlled demolition, and the fact that this controversial topic was covered by a publication that boasts aneditorial committee from reputable colleges and universities around the world (despite the article's disclaimer), can be considered yet another small victory for 9/11 Truthers.

The study was written in collaboration by Steven Jones of Brigham Young University (now retired), Robert Korol of McMaster University '' a Mechanical Design Engineer in the aerospace industry, Anthony Szamboti, and Ted Walter of Architects & Engineers for 9/11 Truth. The highly-sourced study breaks down the scientific evidence while revealing the discrepancies in NIST's official report, and we suggest our readers '' especially the skeptics '' read it in its entirety.

One of the most important testimonies on the collapse of the World Trade Towers that was brought to attention in the study comes from the head structural engineer of the towers, John Skilling. It is apparently not enough for skeptics to take the findings of thousands of architects and engineersseriously, but should a skeptic choose not to at least consider the expertise of one of the men who built the WTC towers, then they are purposefully remaining blind.

Every sort of catastrophe that can happen to a high-rise building has to be taken into consideration during the design and construction processes, including the impact of an airplane. According to a 1993report from The Seattle Times, the Trade Towers were analyzed years ago, after concern was raised over a case where an airplane hit the Empire State Building. It was concluded at the time that the Trade Towers could withstand the impact of a Boeing 707.

In a statement made to The Seattle Times by Skilling:

''We looked at every possible thing we could think of that could happen to the buildings, even to the extent of an airplane hitting the side, however back in those days people didn't think about terrorists very much.'' He continues, ''Our analysis indicated the biggest problem would be the fact that all the fuel (from the airplane)would dump into the building. There would be a horrendous fire. A lot of people would be killed. The building structure would still be there. However, I'm not saying that properly applied explosives '' shaped explosives '' of that magnitude could not do a tremendous amount of damage. I would imagine that if you took the top expert in that type of work and gave him the assignment of bringing these buildings down with explosives, I would bet that he could do it.''

As stated in the study: ''In other words, Skilling believed the only mechanism that could bring down the Twin Towers was controlled demolition.'' It should be pointed out, as well, that a steel-framed high-rise building has never completely collapsed from fire. And yet on September 11, 2001, three buildings supposedly collapsed in this manner, one of which wasn't even hit by a plane.

It was on this latter point that the authors concluded their study. They state:

''It bears repeating that fires have never caused the total collapse of a steel-framed high-rise before or since 9/11. Did we witness an unprecedented event three separate times on September 11, 2001? The NIST reports, which attempted to support that unlikely conclusion, fail to persuade a growing number of architects, engineers, and scientists.''

This article (European Scientific Journal Concludes 9/11 was a Controlled Demolition) is a free and open source. You have permission to republish this article under a Creative Commons license with attribution to the author and AnonHQ.com.

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 08:10

If you were wondering if a Trump candidacy was any worry to Clinton, then wonder no more.

The hacked emails released by Wikileaks shows an interesting tidbit about how the Democrats looked at the idea of a Trump candidacy, and you can safely see that of all the candidates Hillary actively wanted to face, Trump was on the list.

Calling them the "pied piper" candidates, team Hillary describes Trump, Cruz, and Carson as nominees that could - if handled properly - make the extreme the mainstream.

"We need to be elevating the Pied Piper candidates so that they are leaders of the pack and tell the press to them seriously," it said in the email.

The summary is that the DNC and the Clinton campaign wanted Trump to be Hillary's opponent because they knew his extreme stances could be used to alienate and divide. They could then use these candidates to paint the Republican party as a whole as something dangerous.

Trump was a tool for Hillary's campaign all along. She wanted the press to take Trump seriously, put him up as the most viable option for Republicans, and the right took the bait, hook, line, and sinker. Now with the Trump campaign burning to the ground, and GOP leaders walking away due to his recent comments, the Clinton campaign's plan to put Hillary on top is coming to fruition.

In short, the Republicans have been played. Trump was a unknowing puppet for Hillary from the get-go, and the right - though some had very strong suspicions - didn't know it.

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 08:04

Trump claims that he has always opposed to the Iraq War, which Clinton voted to authorize as a New York Senator in 2002. An interview he had with Howard Stern in March 2003 has been cited as evidence that he did support the invasion to at least some small degree.

''Yeah, I guess so,'' Trump said when asked if he supported the Fall 2002 invasion of Iraq. ''You know, I wish the first time it was done correctly,'' he added.

Update: Lehrich issued an apology for the tweet.

In the spin room after the debate, which was held at St. Louis' Washington University, Clinton campaign press secretary Brian Fallon told The Daily Caller's Vince Coglianese that Lehrich's remark ''has no place in our campaign.'' (RELATED: Clinton Campaign Regrets Sending 'Go F**k Yourself' Tweet)

''He apologized, as he should have,'' Fallon said.

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 07:58

Add Arnold Schwarzenegger to the growing list of Republicans who won't vote for Donald Trump on Nov. 8.

On Saturday, the Terminator star and former Republican governor of California said he will not cast a ballot for the Republican candidate in the presidential election for the first time since becoming a citizen in 1983. Schwarzenegger did not say which other candidate he would vote for in the presidential election.

''Like many Americans, I've been conflicted about this election '' I still haven't made up my mind about how exactly I will vote next month,'' Schwarzenegger, who replaced Trump as host of The Apprentice on NBC, wrote on Twitter. ''I have been a proud Republican since I moved to America in 1968 and I heard Nixon's words about getting the government off our backs, free trade, and defending our liberty with a strong military. That day, I joined the party of Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Ronald Reagan.''

''But as a proud as I am to label myself Republican, there is one label I hold above all else '' American,'' Schwarzenegger continued. ''So I want to take a moment today to remind my fellow Republicans that it is not only acceptable to choose your country over your party '' it is your duty.''

Schwarzenegger's comments come after a 2005 video of Trump emerged where the GOP nominee made graphic remarks about women. ''You know, I'm automatically attracted to beautiful [women] '-- I just start kissing them. It's like a magnet. Just kiss. I don't even wait. And when you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything,'' Trump said in the video, adding, ''Grab 'em by the p'--y. You can do anything.''

CORRECTION: This article originally stated that Schwarzenegger had previously supported Trump.

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 07:50

"Don't put words in my mouth. Well, he never said" that more nations should get nuclear weapons, Mike Pence fired back at Tim Kaine when pressed on Donald Trump's views on the topic or proliferation.

Trump didn't exactly say he wanted more countries to get nuclear weapons, but flirted with it and came extremely close. Here's the exchange on CNN that Kaine is referring to.

TRUMP At some point we have to say, you know what, we're better off if Japan protects itself against this maniac in North Korea, we're better off, frankly, if South Korea is going to start to protect itself, we have'...

COOPER: Saudi Arabia, nuclear weapons?

TRUMP: Saudi Arabia, absolutely.

COOPER: You would be fine with them having nuclear weapons?

TRUMP: No, not nuclear weapons, but they have to protect themselves or they have to pay us. Here's the thing, with Japan, they have to pay us or we have to let them protect themselves.

COOPER: So if you said, Japan, yes, it's fine, you get nuclear weapons, South Korea, you as well, and Saudi Arabia says we want them, too?

TRUMP: Can I be honest with you? It's going to happen, anyway. It's going to happen anyway. It's only a question of time. They're going to start having them or we have to get rid of them entirely.

The exchange continues here, and Trump waffles a bit, but overall Trump seems awfully close to embracing a world with a lot more nuclear weapons.

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 07:44

In the heat of the presidential debate Sunday, Hillary Clinton denied being secretary of state when President Obama said in 2012 that Syria President Bashar Assad would ''cross a red line'' by using chemical weapons on civilians in the country's years-long civil war.

''I was gone,'' Clinton said. ''At some point, we need to do some fact-checking here.''

However, Clinton, in fact, ran the State Department for Obama from 2009 until 2013, during which time Assad continued to use chemical weapons.

Trump, unaware that Clinton had either made a mistake or attempted to deny any association with the issue, pressed on. He suggested the Democratic presidential nominee remained in close conversation with the administration after leaving the department.

''You were in total contact with the White House,'' Trump said. ''And perhaps, sadly, Obama probably still listened to you. I don't think he would be listening to you very much anymore.''

Trump, the Republican nominee, has repeatedly argued that Obama continued to allow Assad to use chemical weapons, and consequently failed to enforce his stance, calling it another example of the president's failed foreign policy and the country's weakened position as a world power.

''Obama draws the line in the sand,'' Trump continued Sunday. ''It was laughed at all over the world.''

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Mon, 10 Oct 2016 07:31

A selfie Mark Zuckerberg took while in VR with his dog and his wife, who called in on Facebook Messenger, with a digital selfie stick.

Photo via FacebookThe time for games is over -- virtual reality is getting social.

The platform, once dominated by immersive games, is about to get taken over by social networks, with Facebook leading the charge.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg showed off live VR chat using the Oculus Rift on Thursday, with his own Justin Timberlake look-a-like avatar.

On stage at the Oculus Connect 3 conference, Zuckerberg demonstrated the Oculus Touch controller's emotion options, which make avatars show facial expressions, letting you look surprised, happy or confused in VR.

"Eventually, the goal is to achieve most of what you saw today through gestural tracking and voice analysis," a spokeswoman for Facebook said.

The demo showed several features, including changing backgrounds to live locations like inside Facebook's offices or at Zuckerberg's home, where he was able to check on his dog, Beast.

While at his home in VR, his wife Priscilla Chan called in through Facebook Messenger, leading to a selfie -- with a virtual selfie stick -- of Zuckerberg, his wife in a chat box and their dog.

"We should build software and experiences that follow the way our minds work and process the world," Zuckerberg said. "Virtual reality is the perfect platform to put people first because of presence."

The experience includes being able to play games like cards, Chess and fencing, as well as pulling up videos in real time and watching with your friends on virtual reality.

Zuckerberg showed off a few of the creative possibilities that come with the new Oculus platform, like being able to draw and play with your creations in the social experience.

The demonstration was Facebook's first dive into creating a social platform for Oculus, using VR to connect with your friends and family. The social network is one of many major tech companies pushing virtual reality as the next big trend. The company entered the VR business through its $1 billion acquisition of Oculus in 2014.

Oculus is pushing for a more social environment on VR, with its Oculus Avatar feature, allowing users to create a digital version of themselves and interact with their friends from anywhere in the world.

"This is the first time that tech has made this level of social presence possible," said Lauren Vegter, Oculus' social product team leader.

She introduced Parties and Rooms, two new features that let people come together in a VR lounge, where they can watch videos, listen to music and hang out.

Rooms will be Oculus' core spot for the device's social apps.

Social integration was the focus in the future of the Oculus platform, leading the demonstration on Thursday, taking charge over VR game titles.

Update, 11:04 a.m. PT:Adds details on Oculus' social focus.

Correction, 12:08 p.m. PT: An earlier version of this story misstated how avatars' facial expressions are controlled. The facial expressions are done through the Oculus Touch controller.

This is how you'll chat with friends in virtual reality (CNET Update) Your browser does not support the audio element.

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Archived Version

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 07:29

Two draft texts '-- one from France and Spain, and the other from the Russian Federation '-- addressing the conflict in Syria failed to be adopted by the Security Council today amid heated debate on content and urgent calls for humanitarian intervention for the besieged city of Aleppo.

The French and Spanish text that would have had the Council demand an immediate halt to all aerial bombardments and military flights over the city of Aleppo received 11 affirmative votes, two abstentions (Angola and China), and two negative votes (Russian Federation and Venezuela).

The text would also have urged the immediate implementation of a cessation of hostilities as well as immediate, safe and unhindered humanitarian access throughout the country, and demanded that parties to the conflict '-- in particular the Syrian authorities '-- fully implement all previous Council resolutions.

The Russian Federation's text, by which the Council would have urged an immediate cessation of hostilities, particularly in Aleppo, received a vote of 4 in favour (China, Egypt, Russian Federation, Venezuela) to 9 against (France, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States), with 2 abstentions (Angola and Uruguay).

That draft resolution would have demanded that all parties prevent material and financial support from reaching groups associated with Al-Qaida, Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) or Jabhat al-Nusrah.

Introducing the first text, Jean-Marc Ayrault, Minister for Foreign Affairs of France, said that if nothing was done, Aleppo would go down in history as a city in ruins whose inhabitants had been abandoned to their executioners. Comparing Aleppo to Guernica, Sarajevo and Grozny, he said adoption of the text would give hope to Syrians. Rejection, on the other hand, would mean more deaths, more refugees and more displaced persons.

Spain's representative warned that the worst situation in the conflict could still be ahead. He added that it was intolerable that the Syrian Government continued to block the delivery of humanitarian assistance through deliberate tactics, including the removal of medical assistance. He also noted how the draft text called for the investigation into the recent bombing of a United Nations aid convoy.

The representative of the Russian Federation, Council President for the month of October, presented his country's draft resolution, stating that he knew that it would not get the required number of votes for adoption. However, he explained, that text was an attempt to maintain a multilateral approach to the issue. He added that very complicated work was continuing and that hopefully the situation in Syria would return to normal.

As Syria's representative took the floor, the heads of several delegations exited the Security Council chamber, causing him to decry those countries' diplomacy as one of chaos and use of force and not one of dialogue. He also voiced his regret that the Council had failed to adopt the Russian Federation's draft resolution, saying that failure reaffirmed a lack of political will in combating terrorism and in reaching an intra-Syrian solution to the crisis. He added that he had not reflected on the Franco-Spanish draft as it was clear it had its own objectives.

Also speaking today were representatives of the United Kingdom, Malaysia, United States, New Zealand, Ukraine, Japan, Venezuela, Egypt, China, Uruguay and Angola.

The meeting began at 2:38 p.m. and ended at 4:51 p.m.

Statements

JEAN-MARC AYRAULT, Minister for Foreign Affairs of France, speaking before the vote on draft resolution S/2016/846, said remarks to the Security Council the day before by Staffan de Mistura, United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, were like a cry of alarm. If nothing was done, Aleppo would go down in history as a city in ruins whose inhabitants had been abandoned to their executioners. France had asked for an immediate ceasefire, but the Syrian regime's goal was the capitulation of Aleppo. What was happening in Aleppo was the horrendous repetition of what had happened in Guernica, Sarajevo and Grozny, and if the international community did not wake up, it would share responsibility for all those tragedies. The Security Council must demand immediate action in order to put an end to the bombings by the Syrian regime and its allies, as well as enable access for humanitarian aid.

It had been with an outstretched hand in recent days and hours that he had strove for consensus, he continued. The only desire had been a return to peace in Syria and promoting an end to the tragedy. The overwhelming majority of Security Council members understood and approved that approach. Adoption of the text would give the people of Aleppo and Syria new hope of emerging from a spiral of violence, along with new political dynamism based on the urgent resumption of negotiations leading to transition. Rejection would mean more dead, more refugees and more displaced persons. Given the stakes, blocking the text would give Bashar al-Assad the possibility of more killing as well as a senseless gift to terrorists.

ROMN OYARZUN MARCHESI (Spain) said that his promotion of the draft resolution was a response to a desperate situation after the world had witnessed over the past five years indiscriminate attacks against civilians. The Council was meeting because the worst episode in the conflict could still be ahead. The international community could not close its eyes to the situation, and the draft resolution sought to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe and demanded an end to the aerial bombing and the saving of a 1,000 year old town.

It was intolerable that the Syrian Government continued to block aid with deliberate tactics such as the removal of medical assistance, he stated. The draft text also called for an investigation into the bombing of the aid convoy and bringing the perpetrators to justice. France and Spain had done everything they could to gain the support of the Council's 15 nations and incorporate various viewpoints. The Council was close to consensus and he voiced hope that its members would allow for the adoption of the resolution. There was still time to take the right decision, he said.

VITALY I. CHURKIN (Russian Federation), Security Council President for October, spoke in his national capacity, stating that the backstory to the draft resolution was well known. After destroying Libya, the troika of permanent Western members of the Security Council had turned its sights on Syria. Furthermore, the French delegation had not put forward a single constructive initiative. In its current proposed draft, the concept of a ban on all military flights had not been fleshed out. He asked whether such a ban would include intelligence flights or flights over the western part of the city, which was under Government control. He also pointed out that never before had a permanent member of the Security Council been asked to vote in favour of a resolution that addressed its conduct and policy without its prior consent. He went on to note gaps in the French proposal, such as a duplication of monitoring efforts that was an attempt to violate existing architecture for cooperation. He said he understood that the Russian Federation draft, also before the Council, would fail to get the required number of votes, adding that indeed military activity in eastern Aleppo was decreasing and that it was hoped that trend would continue.

Following a vote of 11 in favour to 2 against (Russian Federation, Venezuela), with 2 abstentions (Angola, China), the Council did not adopt the draft resolution.

MATTHEW RYCROFT (United Kingdom), speaking after the vote, said that today the Council had seen the fifth veto in five years from the Russian Federation. It was a veto that had, once again, denigrated the credibility and respect of the Council in the eyes of the world. The current tactics being used in Aleppo under the guise of combating terrorism were turning the situation into a catastrophe. The Russian Federation's commitment was hollow and a sham. Instead of investing in peace and diplomacy, it had cooperated with the Syrian regime, and it was Syrian civilians who bore the brunt of that complicity. The text that was vetoed had not been unreasonable. It had called for steps that would have saved lives. There was no justification for aerial bombings. Furthermore, it was despicable that the violence was so extreme that the safety of humanitarian convoys could not be assured. Every day, the international community saw that there was no military resolution to the conflict. Council unity was needed to end the conflict, and that unity would only come when the Russian Federation ended its policy and stopped its aerial bombardment. However, thanks to that country's actions today, Syrians would continue to lose their lives in Aleppo and beyond. Please stop now, he urged.

RAMLAN BIN IBRAHIM (Malaysia), noting the Council's latest attempt to effectively address a deteriorating situation through the draft resolution, said that a halt to the aerial bombing was key in ending the death and destruction. The cessation of aerial bombardment would have been a welcomed step to stop the despicable suffering of those in Eastern Aleppo. He had voted in favour of the Franco-Spanish text and was disappointed that it had been vetoed, he said, adding that he was fearful of the consequences of the Council's actions and the disunity on display. Furthermore, the Council could not continue such paralysis, he warned. Today's initiative did not reflect that body's best efforts, he said, adding that the Council must coalesce around a middle ground to find a way around the current stalemate. ''We must not allow eastern Aleppo to end tragically,'' he stated.

DAVID PRESSMAN (United States) said the text that had been vetoed had only one goal '-- to stop the bombing of Aleppo. The Secretary-General had called the situation in that city worse than a slaughterhouse. Air strikes by the Russian Federation and the Syrian regime aimed to further the regime in Damascus. It was time for the Council to act, yet it had failed to do so because the President of the Council was intent on not only letting the killing continue, but participating in its execution. Such a situation was ''grotesque'', he said, adding that the Russian Federation was using counter-terrorism as a pretext to help the Assad regime retake Aleppo by brutal force, snuff out opposition groups and cow into submission civilians who yearned for a different Government. In addition, that country could not use the presence of a couple of hundred members of Al-Nusrah to justify a bombing campaign that left hundreds of thousands of people besieged. Some might criticize the draft resolution before the Council as lacking balance, but there was no balance in what was happening in Aleppo, scene of the deadliest aerial bombing campaign since 2011. The Russian Federation and the Syrian regime were causing bloody chaos. Today's effort had been aimed at stopping violence. It was a shame that it had not been possible to do so, he said, adding that it was time for the Russian Federation to stop starving and killing Aleppo's children.

GERARD VAN BOHEMEN (New Zealand) said it was unacceptable that the Russian Federation and Syria were using counter-terrorism to justify a large-scale bombing campaign in which civilians were paying the highest price. He said he had hoped that the Council could come together on a text that would contribute to constructive action on the ground, but its failure to do so had undermined its credibility. It was vital to use all multilateral channels to move the parties away from killing and back to the negotiating table while allowing humanitarian assistance to reach the Syrian people. He would be talking with other Council members on the way forward.

Mr. CHURKIN (Russian Federation), noting that he knew that New Zealand had been working on a separate text, said he regretted that some influential Council members had not allowed a draft to go forward.

VOLODYMYR YELCHENKO (Ukraine) said he had voted in favour of the draft resolution and was dismayed, but not surprised, that efforts had been derailed by the Russian Federation. Had the text been adopted, it would have been a step toward exercising preventative diplomacy. History would hold accountable those who did not allow the Council to discharge its duties. If the current dynamics in the Syrian conflict continued, the international community would face the risk of a protracted sectarian conflict lasting for many years ahead and giving more space for extremists to exploit the situation. Citing the words of Special Envoy Staffan De Mistura, he stressed that the world did not want to live through another Srebrenica and Rwanda, nor did it want to live through another Grozny.

KORO BESSHO (Japan) said that the situation in Syria was devastating and it was regrettable that the Security Council could not overcome its differences. The indiscriminate attacks that violated international law must come to an end. However, he underscored that the failure of the resolution should not be an excuse for the crisis in Aleppo. The international community must take immediate measures to address the humanitarian situation and the Council had a responsibility to take concrete actions that would bring change on the ground. The Syrian people had suffered for too long, he said.

RAFAEL DARO RAMREZ CARRE‘O (Venezuela) said the Franco-Spanish draft did not contribute to a balanced approach to the humanitarian problem, adding that the aim of humanitarian assistance had been used by some States represented on the Security Council for political purposes. Real responsibility for the tragedy rested with terrorist groups enjoying foreign support and holding 275,000 people as human shields. Emphasizing that combating terrorism was a shared objective of the international community, he said there was an urgent need to end outside support to armed groups which had become terrorist groups and it was vital to implement the 9 September cessation of hostilities agreement. It was paradoxical that the text demanded that Syria ban flights over Aleppo, not exercise sovereignty over its territory. The Council had no right to weaken the sovereignty of a Member State or to decide the legitimacy of a Government. He also voiced his rejection of any manipulation of the humanitarian drama in Syria through external support and foreign actors.

Following a vote of 4 in favour (China, Egypt, Russian Federation, Venezuela) to 9 against (France, Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Senegal, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States), with 2 abstentions (Angola, Uruguay), the Council did not adopt a second draft resolution sponsored by the Russian Federation.

AMR ABDELLATIF ABOULATTA (Egypt), speaking after the vote, said he was at a loss for words. A message of failure was being sent to the Syrian people, and the Council, created to peacefully end disputes, had become a media platform. In place of serious political consultations to stop the bloodletting in Syria, delegations were repeating traditional positions in a dialogue of the deaf. It was known that both draft texts would fail. Through his vote, he said, he was only expressing his position that he could no longer tolerate the destiny of Arab people being tampered with. He added, however, that there remained a window of opportunity and that both draft texts covered key points, which should serve as foundations to build upon in the coming days. He also underscored that he was fully prepared to work within the framework of the International Syria Support Group and the Security Council to carry the process forward and called on others to endeavour to do so as well.

Mr. RYCROFT (United Kingdom) said the second draft text was a cynical attempt to divert attention from the Russian Federation's veto of the first text. It had failed because it did not call for an immediate end to the bombing of Aleppo.

Mr. PRESSMAN (United States) called the text a deceptive attempt to get the Security Council to ratify what the Russian Federation and the Syrian regime were doing in Aleppo. The Russian Federation wanted more talk while taking the city by brutal force. What was needed, he said, was less talk and more action on that country's part to stop the slaughter.

Mr. RAMREZ CARRE‘O (Venezuela) said that the outcome of the vote demonstrated the Council's inability to achieve consensus on how to resolve the situation in Syria. The lack of unity, however, was due to the fact that some members were involved in the conflict. The world was paying the price for a disastrous policy in the Middle East. ''We must raise our voices to defend the principles of the United Nations,'' including the respect for sovereignty and the non-interference of peoples, he said. No one in the Security Council could decide whether the Syrian Government was legitimate or not. Respect for United Nations principles was the only way to find a political solution, not only in Syria, but in Yemen, the State of Palestine and so many countries. The veto did serve to give balance in situations that were out of balance, he pointed out, adding that in some instances, double standards were at play. The international community must find a political solution to the tragedy and put an end to interventionism in Syria.

Mr. YELCHENKO (Ukraine) said that he had voted against the resolution proposed by the Russian Federation because he could not agree with tactics that aimed to divert attention from a solid and meaningful draft resolution that could have helped stop the Aleppo massacre. Moreover, the document hardly mentioned the devastating developments in Aleppo, which was cynical, given the gravity of the situation. Lastly, he condemned the attempt to put to a vote a draft resolution that had never been discussed in the Council.

LIU JIEYI (China) said the international community should keep its focus on achieving a political solution through dialogue involving all parties in Syria in order to end the conflict as soon as possible. Action on the part of the Security Council should help improve the situation, help push for a cessation of hostilities, support United Nations humanitarian efforts and pursue strong measures to combat terrorist groups. The draft text from France and Spain contained several important elements, but some of its contents did not reflect full respect for Syria's sovereignty and independence, nor did it incorporate constructive views from some Council members. On the other hand, the Russian Federation's draft text did reflect respect for Syria's sovereignty. Noting that he had voted for the latter text, he voiced regret it had not been adopted. He also added that he hoped that the Council would make the safety of the Syrian people its first priority, stay united, build consensus, push for a political solution, work jointly to prevent the spread of terrorism and play a constructive role in maintaining peace and stability in Syria and the region.

Mr. VAN BOHEMEN (New Zealand) said he had voted against the draft because of its partial and misleading nature, the Russian Federation's role in the conflict and the lack of scope of negotiation on the text. He also stressed that his country had been working on some ideas to bring the Council together, but it had been his delegation's own decision alone not to carry efforts forward. However, he noted, he would work further on the issue in the coming days.

ELBIO ROSSELLI (Uruguay), describing the Council's pain over Syria and places where civilian populations had been subjected to the brutality of war, called for a cessation to the hostilities and an end to the carnage. He also said he had abstained from the Russian Federation's draft resolution for reasons of procedure and substance. That text had been distributed the day before the current meeting at 5 p.m. and no negotiation had been possible. Moreover, it did not include something vital: to put an end to the bombing in Aleppo. As such, he stated he would work to relaunch a process that would contribute to ending the conflict.

ISMAEL ABRAƒO GASPAR MARTINS (Angola) said that the Security Council had been confronted with a peculiar situation: to cast votes on two draft resolutions addressing the same issue. The Council must set an example by putting aside strategic interests and, instead, start mobilizing political will. Council members had voted on drafts that contained constructive proposals. However, he noted that he had abstained on both texts because they did not address the fundamental issue of reviving the process toward the cessation of hostilities. As well, while the Russian Federation's draft contained some positive elements, he said he did not want to be dragged into the acrimony of certain Council members. He also voiced deep regret regarding the suspension of negotiations between the two co-chairs of the International Syria Support Group. Lines of dialogue must remain open in the search of peace and easing the plight of the Syrian civilians who bore the heaviest burden in the conflict.

Mr. BESSHO (Japan) called for an immediate halt to aerial bombardment in Aleppo and to acts that violated international humanitarian law, adding that he could not support the Russian Federation's proposal.

Mr. CHURKIN (Russian Federation), speaking in his national capacity, said his counterparts from the United States and United Kingdom had stuck to their usual rhetoric. He asked why the United Kingdom had not stopped supporting ruffians around the world or had not stopped interfering in the internal affairs of other countries. To his counterpart from the United States, he recalled that the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and the Secretary of State of the United States had reached an agreement, but that the United States had been unable to separate the moderate opposition from terrorist groups. He also referred to the statements of his counterparts from Uruguay and Angola, saying that the Russian draft text was an attempt to maintain a multilateral approach. Very complicated work was continuing, he stressed, but expressed hope that the situation in Syria would go back to normal.

BASHAR JA'AFARI (Syria), condemning some Permanent Representatives who had left the chamber before his statement, called those countries' diplomacy one of chaos and use of force, and not one of dialogue. At a time when the world was going through major challenges due to the erroneous policies of some States, colonial powers sought to implement their own interventionist policies that contravened with the principles of the United Nations Charter. He expressed regret that the Security Council had failed to adopt the Russian Federation draft resolution. Blocking that text reaffirmed the lack of political will in combating terrorism and reaching an intra-Syrian solution to the crisis. Meanwhile, he said he had not reflected on the Franco-Spanish draft as it was clear it had its own objectives. Fuelling the crisis would be a golden opportunity for France to revive its colonial power.

The carnage in Syria had been caused by mercenary foreign terrorists born in Europe, he went on to say. Elements of the Franco-Spanish draft proved France had ill intentions against his country; successive French Governments had sought to undermine the Syrian State. Whenever the Syrian army gained ground against terrorist groups, members of the Council sought to rescue them from their inevitable defeat. He also said he would have hoped that, instead of tabling a resolution that would impose a no-fly zone, they would have imposed a moratorium on the support that foreign Governments provided to terrorist groups in his country.

The United States, United Kingdom and France repeatedly sponsored draft resolutions with the purpose to deceive the public into thinking that they were attempting to resolve the conflict, he continued. They disregarded the fact that their policies had put thousands of civilians in jeopardy by allowing terrorists to use them as human shields. All of the efforts by the Council had not stopped such foreign support for terrorists. It was also self-evident that the support programmes of the United States and some Arab countries continued to reach the hands of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh) and Al-Nusrah.

His country would continue to cooperate with the United Nations to implement the monthly response plans, he stated. The lack of full implementation was due to the fact that groups had continued to block humanitarian access and had targeted aid convoys. With respect to the convoy attack on 19 September, an investigation had been initiated and results would be provided once that investigation was concluded. The blood spilled in his country was the blood of the Syrian people. They were the victims of the terrorist war, he stated, adding that it was the ''pinnacle of hypocrisy'' that the sponsors of terrorism shed crocodile tears. Meanwhile, his Government would continue to fight terrorists while pursuing a parallel political track.

Mr. VAN BOHEMEN (New Zealand) stated that little of what the representative of the Syrian regime had said could be relied upon to be accurate. The record was clear, he stressed, adding that responsibility for obstructing United Nations humanitarian convoys lied very much with the Syrian regime.

Mr. JA'AFARI (Syria), taking the floor a second time, said he was in constant contact with the delegation from New Zealand to try to explain the crisis in his country. However, he had not expected his colleague from New Zealand to make a mistake and call him the representative of a regime. Another mistake was that it was clear that representative and other colleagues had not read what the Syrian Government had sent to them, such as a compilation of 500 letters about terrorism sponsored by countries known to all, as well as 60 letters on the use of chemical weapons by terrorist groups. He urged his colleagues to read those letters in order to get a clear picture of the situation in Syria.

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Sun, 09 Oct 2016 20:59

I know all of us old interbank market dinosaurs will be driving you crazy with our ''I told you so's'', but we did!

Whether for regulatory, commercial or technical reasons, the very core of the FX market no longer exists; namely the hundreds of interbank traders who sat at their desks and provided pricing no matter what the conditions.

Yes the prices may have been wide and in small amounts at times, but there was always a price in the market.

On Friday the 7th October we had another example of a Price-Less market!

Most of the market's liquidity is handled through a small-ish number of interbank trading platforms with prices being derived via prime brokerage agreements with hedge funds, asset managers, corporates, and retail brokers etc.

All of these big interbank trading platforms have algorithms which track liquidity and constantly analyse risk.

I suspect that these algorithms are basically written with the same underlying rules.

In other words, when one platform panics, they all panic.

What we think happened this morning is that there was a large knock-out option at 1.2600 and once this level broke, a number of automated stop-loss sellers entered the market.

As it was early Asian trade, there was very little immediate buying interest to soak up this supply, so the 'clever' machines simply matched the supply to wherever the demand was positioned on their platforms.

Not many participants place their bids at levels >200-250 pips away; most prefer just to wait until the market starts trading there and then decide what to do.

This means that there was a massive black hole with no prices for a rational market participant to make decisions off.

To add insult to injury, another massive 1.2000 knock-out simply compounded the problem and basically the sellers below 1.26 were joined by the sub-1.20 sellers in a matter of seconds. More panic!

Based on the price action since this morning's events, I would safely guess that if this had happened 15 years ago, we would have seen a nasty sell-off from 1.26 to possibly 1.2400/1.2350 in increments of 25/40 pips before the demand took over and stabilised prices back around 1.2400-50.

Instead of this we will have retail B-book brokers glorying in their 'record' profit days. So what exactly is the regulator's main duty?

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Sun, 09 Oct 2016 12:36

Veteran FBI agents say FBI Director James Comey has permanently damaged the bureau's reputation for uncompromising investigations with his ''cowardly'' whitewash of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's mishandling of classified information using an unauthorized private email server.

Feeling the heat from congressional critics, Comey last week argued that the case was investigated by career FBI agents, ''So if I blew it, they blew it, too.''

But agents say Comey tied investigators' hands by agreeing to unheard-of ground rules and other demands by the lawyers for Clinton and her aides that limited their investigation.

''In my 25 years with the bureau, I never had any ground rules in my interviews,'' said retired agent Dennis V. Hughes, the first chief of the FBI's computer investigations unit.

Instead of going to prosecutors and insisting on using grand jury leverage to compel testimony and seize evidence, Comey allowed immunity for several key witnesses, including potential targets.

The immunity agreements came with outrageous side deals, including preventing agents from searching for any documents on a Dell laptop owned by former Clinton chief of staff Cheryl Mills generated after Jan. 31, 2015, when she communicated with the server administrator who destroyed subpoenaed emails.

Comey also agreed to have Mills' laptop destroyed after the restricted search, denying Congress the chance to look at it and making the FBI an accomplice to the destruction of evidence.

Comey's immunized witnesses nonetheless suffered chronic lapses in memory, made unsubstantiated claims of attorney-client privilege upon tougher questioning and at least two gave demonstrably false statements. And yet Comey indulged it all.

What's more, Comey cut a deal to give Clinton a ''voluntary'' witness interview on a major holiday, and even let her ex-chief of staff sit in on the interview as a lawyer, even though she, too, was under investigation.

Clinton's interview, the culmination of a yearlong investigation, lasted just 3½ hours. Despite some 40 bouts of amnesia, she wasn't called back for questioning; and three days later, Comey cleared her of criminal wrongdoing.

''The FBI has politicized itself, and its reputation will suffer for a long time,'' Hughes said. ''I hold Director Comey responsible.''

Agreed retired FBI agent Michael M. Biasello: ''Comey has singlehandedly ruined the reputation of the organization.''

The accommodations afforded Clinton and her aides are ''unprecedented,'' Biasello added, ''which is another way of saying this outcome was by design.'' He called Comey's decision not to seek charges ''cowardly.''

''Each month for 27 years, I received oral and computer admonishments concerning the proper protocol for handling top secret and other classified material, and was informed of the harsh penalties, to include prosecution and incarceration,'' for mishandling such material, he pointed out. ''Had myself or my colleagues engaged in behavior of the magnitude of Hillary Clinton, as described by Comey, we would be serving time in Leavenworth.''

Former FBI official I.C. Smith knows a thing or two about Clinton corruption. After working at FBI headquarters as a section chief in the National Security Division, he retired as special agent in charge of the Little Rock, Ark., field office, where he investigated top Clinton fundraisers for public corruption and even Chinese espionage.

''FBI agents upset with Comey's decision have every reason to feel that way,'' Smith said. ''Clearly there was a different standard applied to Clinton.''

''I have no doubt resourceful prosecutors and FBI agents could have come up with some charge that she would have been subject to prosecution,'' the 25-year veteran added. ''What she did is absolutely abhorrent for anyone who has access to classified information.''

Smith said Congress should subpoena the case's agents to testify about the direction they received from Comey and their supervisors: ''It would be interesting to see what the results would be if those involved with the investigation were questioned under oath.''

Comey made the 25 agents who worked on the case sign nondisclosure agreements. But others say morale has sunk inside the bureau.

''The director is giving the bureau a bad rap with all the gaps in the investigation,'' one agent in the Washington field office said. ''There's a perception that the FBI has been politicized and let down the country.''

Comey has turned a once-proud institution known for its independence into one that bows to election pressure, hands out political immunity to candidates and effectively pardons their co-conspirators. He's turned the FBI into the Federal Bureau of Immunity and lost the trust and respect of not only his agents but the country at large. He ought to step down.

Paul Sperry, formerly Washington bureau chief for Investor's Business Daily, is author of ''Infiltration.''

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Sun, 09 Oct 2016 12:13

President Obama Issues 2016 Presidential Proclamation for National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month Hotlines | What is Sexual Assault? | Resources

Hotlines

National Sexual Assault Hotline operated by RAINNTo be connected to the rape crisis center nearest to you, dial1-800-656-HOPE (4673)

National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)1-877-739-3895

What is Sexual Assault?

Sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. Falling under the definition of sexual assault are sexual activities as forced sexual intercourse, forcible sodomy, child molestation, incest, fondling, and attempted rape.

Sexual Assault Resources

National Institute of Justice

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

AEquitas

End Violence Against Women International

International Association of Chiefs of Police

Mending the Sacred Hoop

National Alliance to End Sexual Violence

National Sexual Violence Resource Center

National Center for Victims of Crime

Rape Abuse Incest National Network

Resource Sharing Project

Responding to Campus Sexual Assault

Sisters of Color Ending Sexual Assault

Vision of Hope

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Sun, 09 Oct 2016 11:13

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In act of admirable courage, Vladimir Putin has reportedly banned Jacob Rothschild and his banking cartel family from entering Russian territory ''under any circumstances''.

Russian president Vladimir Putin recently reminded his cabinet of officials that his administration paid off the countries debt to the Rothschild's monopoly overseen by the international bankers. Putin reportedly ''grabbed them by the scruff of the neck and kicked them out Russia's back door,'' proverbially speaking that is.

According to Your News Wire:

This meeting is said to have been an intense one. With Putin pounding his fist on the table and vowing to destroy the ''New World Order.''

''They do not own the world, and they do not have carte blanch to do whatever they want. If we do not challenge them there will be other issues. We will not be bullied by them,'' Putin explained.

For a long time, the Russian economy was under the control of these powerful elitist interests. In fact, the Russian revolution was bankrolled by Wall Street and the City of London.

Early in his presidency Putin pursued a policy of unification in Russia. He ordered the arrest of the Rothschild billionaire oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky who had made Rothschild, Henry Kissinger and Arthur Hartman all directors of the Open Russia foundation.

Putin is a well rounded leader in many areas, so it comes as no surprise that he knows precisely what is going on behind the curtain and who has been pulling the strings in major events throughout modern history.

Now they want to plunge us into World War III and Putin, in a move foreign to politics, has openly explained the dangers to the media and asked them to share the information with the people'... Something U.S. politicians would never do, since they have a police of keeping the local population in the dark.

The New World Order wants Russia back under their dominion which is why they are after Syria, and before it Crimea. They want to encircle Russia and then overthrow them. They are doing the same thing to China right now too.

This doesn't mean Putin does not have his own ulterior motives and can be fully trusted. But at this point in time he looks to have found himself playing the role of underdog fighting for people allover the world who want to be free from neocolonialism, imperialism and the Rothschild evil influence.

This article originally appeared on noscomunicamos.

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