I really don’t want to fall into the conspiracy theorist bucket, but I was thinking. what exactly was the catalyst that drove the Supreme Court to overturn Roe vs. Wade? I tried researching the percentage of Americans that are pro-choice – what I found was quite interesting, NPR – indicated 39% of those surveyed were pro-choice; CNBC indicated 55% of folk surveyed were pro-choice and PewResearch reported 61% of those surveyed were pro-choice. If you listen to the news it sounds like the majority of folk in the US have participated in the survey and are pro-choice. Nonetheless, some folk find it appalling that the majority of decision-makers across various states regarding a woman’s body are men! With that said, I’m concerned about what is the primary motivating factor for men to make such a decision and reverse the decision.
What The Ruling Said
In his majority opinion, Justice Samuel Alito, a Republican appointee by George Bush, explained that this right simply never existed. “Abortion presents a profound moral question,” he wrote. “The Constitution does not prohibit the citizens of each State from regulating or prohibiting abortion.” Roe, he wrote, wasn’t simply wrong — it was so wrong as to amount to an “abuse of judicial authority.”
Conspiracy Theories
(1) If laws are not changed based on the census of the majority – then perhaps they are changed or established by those with deep pockets, like the top twenty corporations in America.
(1a) Or, perhaps within one of those top twenty corporations there is a man (with deep pockets and a huge backing) that was emotionally destroyed by his wife/girlfriend or daughter who opted to terminate her pregnancy.
(1b) Or perhaps there is a woman within one of those organizations whose husband had an extramarital affair that resulted in an abortion being performed… naa that can’t be it.
Judge
Position
Samuel Alito (2006)
Roe was egregiously wrong from the start
Clarence Thomas (1991)
refused to state an opinion
Neil Gorsuch (2017)
refused to take a position
Brett Kavanaugh (2018)
Judges do not make decisions to reach a preferred result
Amy Coney Barrett (2020)
declined to say outright
John Roberts (2005)
declined to comment on Roe beyond saying he believed it was “settled as a precedent of the court.”
Note:
Trump vowed during his presidential campaign to put “pro-life justices on the court” with the explicit goal of overturning Roe.
Christian Nationalism has become an increasingly prevalent force in American politics as of late, especially with the election of Donald Trump and his heavily religious cabinet. Although this trend isn’t anything new, Trump’s election seems to have sparked a new fire in Christian Nationalists, who believe that the United States was founded as a Christian nation and shouldn’t be influenced by other religions or non-religious ideologies. While some feel that this kind of religious influence on government is valuable, others see it as antithetical to the core values of the United States and dangerous in its potential to violate the separation of church and state.
Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks for the entire GOP – they need to represent their voters – certain people – most of the people that vote for them and certain people – who are certain people?
Christian nationalism is the belief that Christianity should be the guiding force in American society and politics. This movement has been gaining ground in recent years, with support coming from both the Republican Party and some Democrats. The Founding Fathers were mostly Christians, and many of their ideals were based on Biblical principles. While the separation of church and state is an important part of American democracy, some people believe that Christianity should have a more prominent role in government. Christian nationalists often support policies that reflect their values, such as restrictions on abortion and LGBTQ rights. They also tend to oppose immigration, particularly from Muslim countries. Some critics argue that Christian nationalism is a form of bigotry, as it relies on stereotyping and fear-mongering to gain support. According to a recent study, about one-third of Americans believe in Christian nationalism – that is, the belief that Christianity should have a more central role in American life and politics.
What is Nationalism?
There are many definitions of nationalism and a functioning discussion about how best to characterize it, however, there are several recurring themes. Most scholars agree that nationalism starts with the belief that humanity is divisible into mutually distinct, internally coherent cultural groups defined by shared traits like language, religion, ethnicity, or culture. From there, scholars say, nationalists believe that these groups should each have their own governments; that governments should promote and protect a nation’s cultural identity; and that sovereign national groups provide meaning and purpose for human beings. Scholars point out that nationalism can lead to xenophobia, which is the intense dislike or prejudice against foreigners. Xenophobia can take various forms including violence and genocide. One scholar argues that Christian nationalists are not racist because they believe in multiculturalism within a dominant Anglo-Protestant culture.
The Difference Between Christian Nationalism and Protestantism
Protestantism is the largest sect of Christianity, and its name comes from the protests against certain Catholic doctrines in the 16th century. At its core, Protestantism is based on individual interpretations of scripture, which can lead to different beliefs even within the same denomination. Christian nationalism, on the other hand, is a political movement that puts Christians at the center of public life and supports policies that reflect biblical values. While Protestantism is a religious belief system, Christian nationalism is more of a political ideology.
What are the Effects of Christian Nationalism?
There are a variety of ways that Christian nationalism manifests itself in government. One way is through the religious affiliation of elected officials. Another way is through policies that give preferential treatment to Christianity or Christianity-based organizations.
First Amendment
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Separation of Church and State
One of the Founding Principles of the United States is the separation of Church and State. This means that there should be a clear delineation between religious institutions and government. Unfortunately, in recent years there has been a growing trend of Christian Nationalism in our country. This is the belief that Christianity should have a privileged place in our society and that our government should be based on Christian principles. This way of thinking is dangerous because it goes against the very principle on which our country was founded.
Although the words “separation of church and state” do not appear in the First Amendment, the establishment clause was intended to separate church from state. When the First Amendment was adopted in 1791, the establishment clause applied only to the federal government, prohibiting the federal government from any involvement in religion. By 1833, all states had disestablished religion from government, providing protections for religious liberty in state constitutions. In the 20th century, the U.S. Supreme Court applied the establishment clause to the states through the 14th Amendment. Today, the establishment clause prohibits all levels of government from either advancing or inhibiting religion.
The establishment clause separates church from state, but not religion from politics or public life. Individual citizens are free to bring their religious convictions into the public arena. But the government is prohibited from favoring one religious view over another or even favoring religion over non-religion.
Our nation’s founders disagreed about the exact meaning of “no establishment” under the First Amendment; the argument continues to this day. But there was and is widespread agreement that preventing the government from interfering with religion is an essential principle of religious liberty. All of the Framers understood that “no establishment” meant no national church and no government involvement in religion. Thomas Jefferson and James Madison believed that without separating church from state, there could be no real religious freedom.
The first use of the “wall of separation” metaphor was by Roger Williams, who founded Rhode Island in 1635. He said an authentic Christian church would be possible only if there was “a wall or hedge of separation” between the “wilderness of the world” and “the garden of the church.” Any government involvement in the church, he believed, corrupts the church.
Then in 1802, Thomas Jefferson, in a letter to the Danbury Baptist Association, wrote: “I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church and State.”
The Supreme Court has cited Jefferson’s letter in key cases, beginning with a polygamy case in the 19th century. In the 1947 case Everson v. Board of Education, the Court cited a direct link between Jefferson’s “wall of separation” concept and the First Amendment’s establishment clause.
Where Does Freedom Fit Into This?
When it comes to the relationship between religion and politics, the line between personal beliefs and public policy can often be blurred. This is especially true for Christians who may feel called to infuse their faith into every aspect of their lives—including their voting decisions.
Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
The two major political parties in the United States are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, but many Americans have trouble understanding how the two parties differ from one another in their beliefs and political platforms. In this article, we’ll examine three of the most talked-about differences between Republicans and Democrats, looking at Social Security, minimum wage, and foreign policy. Keep reading to find out more about these three topics, and to learn how they affect you!
Things They Agree On
We can all agree that the Republican and Democratic parties are two of the most influential political parties in the world. They both have a long history, dating back to the early 1800s. In the United States, these two parties dominate the political landscape. More than half of voters identify as either Democrat or Republican. There are some similarities between the two, but there are also some significant differences. Let’s take a look at them one by one:
-First, Republicans believe in small government with limited interference from federal agencies and high taxes on businesses while Democrats want more government involvement and lower taxes for individuals.
-Second, Republicans want to repeal Obamacare while Democrats want to keep it.
-Third, we see an interesting contrast when it comes to immigration reform: while the GOP wants stricter policies and laws that focus on illegal immigrants entering our country illegally through our borders, democrats support legislation focused on those who enter our country legally but overstay their visas.
Things they disagree on
Both Republicans and Democrats want what’s best for America, but they often disagree on the best way to achieve it. Here are three of the biggest areas where they differ 1) Healthcare – Republicans believe that free market forces will bring down costs and encourage innovation in the health care industry. Meanwhile, Democrats support a single-payer system like Medicare or Medicaid that covers everyone with government insurance. 2) Taxes – Republicans generally want lower taxes for businesses so corporations can invest more in themselves and create jobs. Meanwhile, Democrats favor raising taxes on higher earners to fund social programs that make sure everyone has access to things like education and healthcare. 3) Immigration – The debate is between protecting America’s borders versus providing a pathway to citizenship through comprehensive immigration reform with some form of amnesty so undocumented immigrants can become citizens.
The Platforms
When it comes to the economy, both parties want to create jobs, but they have different ways of going about it. The Republican Party favors cutting taxes and regulations to help businesses grow, while the Democratic Party favors investing in infrastructure and education to create a skilled workforce. As for immigration, the two parties also take very different approaches. While many democrats favor granting citizenship to undocumented immigrants and keeping borders open, republicans support building a wall along the Mexican border and cracking down on illegal immigration.
The mystery of Trump’s Following
Some say that Trump’s success is due to his reality TV background. Others say it’s his status as a political outsider. But there might be another factor at play: Trump understands how to appeal to people’s emotions. His speeches are filled with catchy slogans, exaggeration, and oversimplification. He can quickly switch gears from attacking opponents to praising himself in order to keep the audience engaged, but he does so without factual accuracy or nuance. For example, he has said we are going to make America great again when referring to how he would solve economic problems like unemployment or decreasing wages. His rhetoric suggests an ability to overcome obstacles with ease—which may have convinced some voters who felt left behind by globalization and left out of the recovery after the 2008 recession that they could vote for him because he was on their side—but also appeals more broadly to those who want change without any specifics about what that change would look like. Trump’s language helped him get through the primary season with fewer staff members than other candidates needed, which meant less vetting of what he said. Bottom line, he gives a voice to the uninformed, voiceless section of America.
Meanwhile, as we fight for murder, fight to stop murder, politicians are breaking the law, Black folk getting killed for abiding by the law and white women are kneeling against the law, this is happening.
I see a lot of posts about folk wanting world peace and praying for Ukraine. I’m most definitely NOT against praying but I’m also acutely aware that we WILL NEVER see world peace. We’ve NEVER seen it in the past and will not see it in the future according to my worldview and KJV.
So if that’s the case MsConcerned what should we do, you ask? That’s a good question, we should – from our own homes, restore relationships, be kind to our neighbors and find out what our true primary purpose is. We should first learn about the one and only true God, develop a relationship with Him, trust Him and love Him.
A little girl holding a teddy bear on a stoop does not have access to nutritional food, as the German narrator explains. 20 percent of people in America struggle to afford food, compared to Germany’s six percent. Help support GreatNationsEat so everyone can have access to food.
— Read on www.ispot.tv/ad/7PO1/great-nations-eat-germany-for-america
Great Nations Eat TV Commercial, ‘Germany for America’ – iSpot.tv
The federal debt ceiling will be reinstated on August 1, 2021, at around $28.5 trillion. At that point, the Treasury Department will begin using accounting tools at their disposal, called “extraordinary measures,” to avoid defaulting on the government’s obligations. The Treasury Department has estimated that these measures will be exhausted as soon as mid-to-late-September, while the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Bipartisan Policy Center and other outside analysts predict exhaustion in the fall near the start of the next fiscal year (e.g., likely September, October, or November). At that point, absent a new agreement to either raise or suspend the debt ceiling, the Treasury will be unable to continue paying the nation’s bills. Congress could address the debt ceiling through reconciliation, which provides for passage of legislation with a simple majority vote in the Senate.
The national debt is the total amount of outstanding borrowings by the U.S. Federal government, accumulated over our history. The Federal government needs to borrow money to pay its bills when its ongoing operations cannot be funded by Federal revenues alone. When this happens, the U.S. Treasury Department creates and sells securities. These securities are the debt owed by the Federal government. There are many different types of Treasury debt; bills, notes, and bonds are the most common ones. The various types of debt differ primarily in when they mature—ranging from a few days to 30 years—and in how much interest they pay. The United States has not run an annual surplus since 2001, and has thus borrowed to fund government operations every year since then.
The debt limit is a ceiling imposed by Congress on the amount of debt that the U.S. Federal government can have outstanding. This limit has been set at $28.4 trillion since August 1st, 2021.
It is also important to note that the debt limit is not a forward-looking budgeting tool that reveals what policymakers think are ideal levels of spending and revenue. Rather, it reflects the spending and revenue decisions debated and enacted in prior years by prior Congresses and Administrations; in fact, 97 percent of the current national debt stems from policy choices made before the Biden Administration took office in January 2021—choices made by both parties on their own and in a bipartisan fashion. The debt limit is the amount that the U.S. Treasury can borrow to pay the bills that have become due based on these prior policy decisions.
Once the debt limit is hit, the Federal government cannot increase the amount of outstanding debt; therefore, it can only draw from any cash on hand and spend its incoming revenues. The U.S. Treasury can also take certain “extraordinary measures” to extend how long it can continue to pay all the government’s obligations while staying below the limit. These measures include accounting techniques within several government accounts that temporarily reduce the amount of U.S. Treasury securities issued to those accounts. These actions include suspending new investments or redeeming existing investments early. By reducing the amount of outstanding Treasury securities, the level of outstanding debt temporarily falls, slightly extending the amount of time that the government can continue to satisfy its obligations.
When the U.S. Treasury exhausts its cash and extraordinary measures, the Federal government loses any means to pay its bills and fund its operations beyond its incoming revenues, which only cover part of what is required (about 80 percent in 2019). While the United States has hit the debt limit before, it has never run out of resources and failed to meet its financial obligations. Take the debt limit crises in 2011 and 2013, for example; the debt ceiling was raised in the former episode (Congress raised the cap by an explicit dollar amount) and suspended in the latter (Congress eliminated the debt limit entirely for a specified period of time) in time, before the U.S. Treasury ran out of cash and exhausted all extraordinary measures. More recently, in 2019, the United States once again hit the debt limit, but Congress suspended the ceiling, eliminating the cap until August 1st, 2021.
An Ohio police chief has resigned after he was reportedly caught putting a Ku Klux Klan sign on a black officer’s desk.
Anthony Campo, the chief of the Sheffield Lake Police Department, was caught on CCTV putting a piece of paper with “Klu Klux Klan” written on it, according to reports. He also laid out a jacket to look like robes worn by KKK members.
Yet – Ohio is the latest state considering legislation to prohibit public schools from teaching critical race theory, which views racism as systemic in the nation’s institutions and promotes race-based reverse discrimination to achieve equity.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Monday visited the Holocaust Museum and apologized for previously comparing coronavirus face-mask policies to the Nazi practice of labeling Jews with Star of David badges. But the Georgia Republican declined to walk back other controversial statements she has made, including one in which she compared the Democratic Party to Hitler’s party, the National Socialist German Workers’ Party. (Sonmez, 6/14)
Marjorie Taylor Greene, also known by her initials MTG, is an American politician, businesswoman, and far-right conspiracy theorist serving as the U.S. representative for Georgia’s 14th congressional district.
What concerns me the most it that in her current position representing Georgians that her belief system is no aligned with the facts. Additionally that no one is trying to remove her from office.
From the birth of modern civilization in 3rd millennia BC, almost every major ancient civilization used concept of prisons as a mean to detain and remove personal freedoms of incarcerated people. In those early periods of history, prisons were often used as a temporary stopgap before sentencing to death or life of slavery, but as time went on and our civilization developed, prisons started morphing into correctional facilities that started implementing the concept of rehabilitation and reform of prisoners. In addition of holding convicted or suspected criminals, prisons were often used for holding political prisoners, enemies of the state and prisoners of war.
The earliest records of prisons come from the 1st millennia BC, located on the areas of mighty ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia and Egypt. During those times, prisons were almost always stationed in the underground dungeons where guilty or suspected criminals spent their life either awaiting death sentence, or a command to become slaves (often working as galley slaves). Exception from that rule comes from the home of modern democracy – Greece. There, prisoners were held in the poorly isolated buildings where they could often be visited by their friends and family. Primary source of their detention were not dungeons, high walls or bars, but simple wooden blocks that were attached to their feet. Ancient Roman Empire however continued to use harsher methods. Their prisons were built almost exclusively underground, with tight and claustrophobic passageways and cells. Prisoners themselves were held either in simple cells or chained to the walls, for life or for time. As slavery was accepted norm in those days, majority of prisoners that were not sentenced to death were sold as slaves or used by the Roman government as workforce. One of the most famous uses for the slaves in Roman Empire was as “gladiators“. In addition to fighting in the arena (sometimes after lifetime of training in the special gladiator training houses, or Luduses), many slaves were tasked as a support workforce that enabled smoother run of the popular gladiator business. The most famous Gladiator battleground, the mighty ColosseumArena in Rome had a slave army of 224 slaves that worked daily as a power source of the complicated network of 24 elevators that transported gladiators and their wild animal opponents from the underground dungeons to the arena floor.
The United States government established the prison system in 1891. The Three Prison Act established funding for Leavenworth, McNeil Island and UPS Atlanta. It appears the first Federal prison was Leavenworth in Kansas. It started housing prisoners in 1906; however, prior to it opening federal prisoners were held at Fort Leavenworth military prison. Prisoners were used to build the facility.
Before the U.S. government passed the Three Prison Act, federal prisoners were held in state prisons. Today the Federal Bureau of Prisons houses inmates convicted of federal crimes. As of today the total number of inmates held in BOP operated facilities is 183,820 in 122 institutions, 27 residential reentry management offices and 11 privately managed facilities.
Time Log
1891 – Federal Prison System Established
Congress passes the “Three Prisons Act,” which established the Federal Prison System (FPS). The first three prisons – USP Leavenworth,USP Atlanta, and USP McNeil Island – are operated with limited oversight by the Department of Justice.
A steadily increasing backlog of disciplinary cases for Department of Correction staff is driving dysfunction at Rikers Island, a court-appointed federal monitor claims.
Steve Martin, the monitor overseeing the reform of Rikers, reports that the backlog has resulted in a “lack of timely accountability” for uniformed staff who allegedly broke the rules.
“The overall disciplinary process is convoluted and inefficient and the system is overwhelmed,” Martin detailed in his report posted Thursday in Manhattan Federal Court.
Rikers Island
Rikers Island island in the East River between Queens and the Bronx that is home to New York City’s main jail complex.[1] Named after Abraham Rycken, who took possession of the island in 1664, the island was originally under 100 acres (40 ha) in size, but has since grown to more than 400 acres (160 ha). The first stages of expansion were accomplished largely by convict labor hauling in ashes for landfill. The island is politically part of the Bronx, although bridge access is from Queens. It is part of Queens Community Board 1 and uses an East Elmhurst, Queens, ZIP Code of 11370 for mail.[2]
The island is home to one of the world’s largest correctional institutions and mental institutions,[3] and has been described as New York’s most famous jail.[4] The complex, operated by the New York City Department of Correction, has a budget of $860 million a year, a staff of 9,000 officers and 1,500 civilians managing 100,000 admissions per year and an average daily population of 10,000 inmates.[5] The majority (85%) of detainees are pretrial defendants, either held on bail or remanded in custody. The rest of the population have been convicted and are serving short sentences.[6] According to a 2015 study by the Vera Institute of Justice, it costs the city approximately $209,000 to detain one person for one year at Rikers Island.[7][page needed]
Rikers Island has a reputation for violence, both abuse and neglect of inmates, attracting increased media and judicial scrutiny that has resulted in numerous rulings against the New York City government, and numerous assaults by inmates on uniformed and civilian staff, resulting in often serious injuries. In May 2013, Rikers Island ranked as one of the ten worst correctional facilities in the United States, based on reporting in Mother Jones magazine.[8] Violence on Rikers Island has been increasing in recent years. In 2015 there were 9,424 assaults, the highest number in five years.[9]
In a 2017 report titled “Smaller, Safer, Fairer: A roadmap to closing Rikers Island”, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced his intention to close the jail complex at Rikers Island within 10 years, if the city’s crime rates stay low and the population at Rikers were reduced from 10,000 to 5,000.[10] In February 2018, a state oversight commission suggested that New York state might move to close the facility before that deadline. In October 2019, the New York City Council voted to close down the facility by 2026.
Question:
With the longevity of prisons in the US why is discipline unattainable?
WASHINGTON – A nascent effort by some conservative House of Representatives Republicans to form an “America First Caucus” to promote the policies of former President Donald Trump drew criticism on Friday for purported racial undertones in its founding document.
The effort is tied to first-term Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene and has a policy platform that promotes “a common respect for uniquely Anglo-Saxon political traditions” and advocates for infrastructure with esthetic value that “befits the progeny of European architecture,” Punchbowl News reported on Friday.
Yet my hope that the rise and eventual fall of Trump would provide an opportunity to reconfigure the sclerotic political gridlock that has come to characterize U.S. politics –seem increasingly distant now…
It’s a white, joyous Christmasfor convicts with connections to President Trump. The justice system — and the law enforcers who worked years to prosecute these cases — got a big lump of coal. I’ve read that people have been approaching tRump to ask for pardons for themselves, their clients — even their former clients.
Why it matters: This official has no role in the pardon process. The request is a sign of the final days free-for-all among people who want to be on Trump’s extensive pardons list for personal and political allies.
Last evening, Trump granted full pardons to 26 more people, including his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, longtime associate Roger Stone and Charles Kushner, father of Jared Kushner..
Manafort was one of the first major figures to be charged in the Mueller investigation.
Stone was charged and convicted for lying to investigators who were probing his contacts with WikiLeaks, which released damaging Democratic emails hacked by the Russian government during the 2016 campaign.
Charles Kushner is a developer who pleaded guilty in 2004 to filing false tax returns, retaliating against a witness and making false statements to the FEC as part of a prosecution by then-U.S. Attorney Chris Christie. True story: Manafort and Stone were once in business together. In the Reagan years of the early ’80s, Black, Manafort & Stone was one of the most formidable lobby shops in town.
The Trump administration sued Walmart today accusing its pharmacies of not properly screening questionable painkiller prescriptions and filling them, ultimately fueling nationwide addiction.
This Contract with Black America strikes at the heart of racism and presents a blueprint to achieve racial economic justice. It was written in the backdrop of the killing of George Floyd, which set off a wave of protests not seen since the Civil Rights Era of the 1950’s and ’60’s, and a global pandemic in which the Black mortality rate is more than double the White rate and in which 45% (nearly half) of Black-owned businesses closed. That the impact of something presumably random, such as a pandemic, however catastrophic, can be so linked to one’s racial identity is highly problematic – and further evidence that, as a nation, we are failing miserably. This links to a larger political and economic vulnerability, whether we’re in a pandemic or not: the immoral devaluation of Black lives has been ingrained in America’s political economy and is long overdue for a reckoning.
In many ways, immigration was the central issue of the Trump presidency. Hardline anti-immigrant rhetoric was key to his 2016 campaign. Once in office, he made aggressive — and deeply controversial — policy changes to limit both legal and illegal immigration.
Welcome to When We All Vote’s voting deadlines page! Be sure to always double check your state’s Secretary of State website for the most up to date information.
— Read on www.whenweallvote.org/deadlines/
Now that the Democratic President-Vice President ticket is set, and Vice President Biden with Senator Harris are going to be the Democratic ticket on the November ballot, I figured now is a good time to remind everyone that:
You’re not just voting for President.
You’re voting to prevent a 7-2 dangerous conservative majority on the Supreme Court. Note: 87 year old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is single-handedly fighting off all 10 plagues so she can hang on until we have a new president. This alone should be enough for historic turnout!
You’re voting for the next Secretary of Education, Housing Secretary and Attorney General.
You are voting for the “down” ballot, as well……to keep the House and to gain majority of the Senate in Congress.
You’re voting for federal judges.
You’re voting for the rule of law.
You’re voting for saving national parks.
You’re voting for letting kids out of cages.
You’re voting for clean air and clean water.
You’re voting for scientists to be allowed to speak and do something to protect us from climate change and pandemics.
You’re voting for greater transparency and confidence that the President isn’t using your tax dollars as a slush fund for his family and friends.
You’re voting for housing rights.
You’re voting for former incarcerated persons to be treated with dignity and assisted to be proud and productive members of society when they return.
You’re voting for everyone to be able to adopt a child without a lot of red tape.
You’re voting for Dreamers.
You’re voting so that there will be Social Security and Medicare when you retire…and in your children’s future.
You’re voting for veterans to get the care they deserve.
You’re voting for rural hospitals.
You’re voting so that everyone can have access to affordable health insurance.
You’re voting for teaching to be treated like the noble profession that it is and for teachers to be paid like the heroes they are.
You’re voting to have a President who doesn’t embarrass this country every time he attends an international meeting.
And you’re voting against allowing the USA to become yet another authoritarian regime.
You’re voting for sensible gun laws.
You’re voting for children born to Military Troops overseas to still be counted as US citizens.
You’re voting to curb homelessness and find solutions to affordable housing.
You’re voting to take measures to end the racial asset and wealth disparities.
You’re voting to defend women’s reproductive rights and a woman’s right to make all health related decisions regarding her body.
You’re voting to acknowledge the humanity and protect the safety of our family and friends in the LGBTQ+ community.
You’re voting to stop the normalization of white supremacy and dangerous bigotry in the mainstream.
You’re voting to rebuild a functional CDC to help prevent or eradicate dangerous pandemics like the coronavirus.
I know we can’t all agree on everything. Now, this is a two candidate race Biden or Trump. Those are our only choices. One of them will be our President as a result of this election.
The Biden-Harris ticket isn’t perfect. No ticket ever was and no ticket ever will be. Perhaps, for whatever reason, Vice President Biden and/or Senator Harris don’t pass your purity test. Just know this, they will be much better than four more years of 45. We must do all we can to ensure that the Biden-Harris ticket wins!!
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that employers cannot fire workers because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. In a 6-3 vote, the justices found that “an employer who fires an individual merely for being gay or transgender violates Title VII.” Read the Latest
In November 1898, in Wilmington, North Carolina, a mob of 2,000 white men expelled black and white political leaders, destroyed the property of the city’s black residents, and killed dozens — if not hundreds — of people.
For decades, the story of this violence was buried, while the perpetrators were cast as heroes.
The Wilmington Massacre of 1898 was a bloody attack on the African American community by a heavily armed white mob with the support of the North Carolina Democratic Party on November 10, 1898 in the port city of Wilmington, North Carolina.
Until 2013, Davis was the only female mayor in Compton’s history. On June 4, 2013,Aja Brownwas elected as Compton’s 2nd female mayor and the city’s youngest mayor. In 2004, Alita Godwin became only the secondblackwoman to serve as Compton City Clerk.
The more I hear from Trump the more I want to ______________________ fill in the blank.
President Trump suggested today that George Floyd is “looking down” from heaven and marveling at this month’s marginally positive jobs report, calling it “a great day” for the dead black man.
I’ve stopped to assess a few things since this year came in and as I looked at the bigger picture, the picture became much clearer:
A) Even though he thought he got away with Collusion with the Russians, he didn’t.
B) He wasn’t held accountable for Treasonous actions with Ukraine
C) He wasn’t held accountable for violating the various Emoluments Clauses
D) His Foundation was found guilty of Illegal use of funds and was shut down
E) His University was successfully sued and people recovered some money versus none
F) The investigation in campaign finance violations went nowhere due to GOP inaction.
E) So many ethics violations we still haven’t seen them all.
What this tells me is that the HUBRIS in his Mind and Heart only served to heighten his feelings of Invincibility that he truly feels like he can do ANY and EVERYTHING he wants without repercussions or remorse.
But this little Coronavirus changed that!
The loss of 40 Million jobs changed that!
The stock market falling changed that!
The suggestion to take unproven medicine to fight the virus just because he suggested it changed that.
The inference of injecting disinfectants inside the body confirmed he was an Idiot.
The Murder of George Floyd changed that!
The cowering in the WH basement with the lights out changed that!
The sacrilegious act of going to a church, not for prayer but a Photo Op changed that!
And now, he wants to dictate the term and circumstances if a Rah-Rah rally without regard to the Pandemic going on? He may change the venue, but he cant control the virus.
To me, it looks like GOD has let him climb to the high mountain he thinks he conquered, but it might actually lead to his spectacular downfall!
GOD always knows the Ending from the beginning and sometimes we just have to step back and watch HIM do HIS WORK. HE leaves no loose ends.
An ambassador serves as a personal representative of the President of the United States. Stationed in a foreign country, this position runs a U.S. Embassy that’s typically located in the capital city. Strong communication skills, an understanding of governmental relations and the ability to manage complex situations is essential for this job. Often, an ambassador is called upon to provide advice and information about the political climate and happenings in their assigned country. Similarly, an ambassador represents the United States’ standpoint on policy and all issues related to American interests. Supervising and protecting embassy employees is an important part of this job. Vigilance about national security and terrorism is of critical interest to a U.S. ambassador. At all times, an ambassador must be a role model for the United States and exhibit behavior befitting of a national diplomat.
Does Ivanka have experience as an ambassador, can she manage complex situations, does she have current knowledge of customs of other countries and political expertise?
Becoming an ambassador requires several years of experience along with extensive political connections. A track record of humanitarian work, alignment with a political party and working for a governmental agency are some of the key steps to becoming considered for this position.
Ivana Marie born October 30, 1981 is an American businesswoman, fashion designer, author and reality television personality. She is the daughter of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, and former model Ivana Trump. Ivanka is her father’s senior advisor and is also the first Jewish member of a First Family, having converted before marrying her Jewish husband, Jared Kushner.
What if Ivanka has trouble with a person or country – what will her father do? Remember the tweet about Nordstroms – “My daughter Ivanka has been treated so unfairly by @Nordstrom. She is a great person – always pushing me to do the right thing! Terrible!” Will he go after those that disagree with her on Twitter?
Let’s not forget about that New York law suit – New York state’s attorney general is accusing the four Trumps of violating not just norms but laws. It says their foundation made payments that were “unlawful because they benefited Mr. Trump or businesses he controls.”
Oh and another thing I’m concerned about – Nepotism
Remember the bilateral meeting between Trump and British prime minister when he asked Ivanka to briefly take his place at the conference table between Prime Minister May and the Chinese president, Xi Jinping. It’s not abnormal for a delegate to take the seat of a world leader at such an event. But when a conference aide tweeted a photo of Ivanka at the table, Twitter reacted with disdain at the clear nepotism, a response Ivanka must be getting used to. “This is strange,” noted Michael Mc-Faul, the U.S. ambassador to Russia under Barack Obama. “Very strange.” Even among some Trump loyalists, the breach of protocol was too much. “Excuse me,” said one former Trump adviser. “This is not a royal family, and she’s not the princess royal.” (In fact, “princess royal” is a term that some West Wing advisers apply to her, though never to her face.)
What is the big deal about self-dealing?
All nonprofits, including the Donald J. Trump Foundation, pay no taxes on income, earnings or assets. This exemption is made in exchange for their mission to serve the public good.
I’m not sure about Ivanka’s resume – is she capable of fulfilling such a tall order?
One night in August of 1996, four black men were arrested in connection to the shooting of Michael Lahood Jr., a white 26-year-old San Antonio law student. They were also found guilty of two robberies that took place hours before the event that changed many lives forever.
What is it when you are required to enter a password to read the news and there are no options to create or retrieve a #password @NewsOne. Roland Martin what’s up with that, what about our young children that somehow stumble across this topic – maybe doing a research paper or just want to see what’s going on as a first timer and the article is password protected – it’s News man – not a social media post about someone you hated in middle school!
Fabricated information that mimics news media content
Fake News that fabricate information that mimics true and fair news media content in form but not in organizational process or intent. Fake-news outlets, in turn, lack the news media’s editorial norms and processes for ensuring the accuracy and credibility of information. Fake news overlaps with other information disorders, such as misinformation (false or misleading information) and disinformation (false information that is purposely spread to deceive people). Much like Fox News swings every story in favor of the Republican Party. I just watch a clip of Laura Ingram spin the story of Trump’s read response to his chosen verbiage during the Putin Meeting as “…we all make mistake – look at what Obama did. It’s as she and other refuse to look at the body language of both Trump and Putin during the conversation regarding interferences with the 2016 election. What you don’t see is a report being ejected from the press conference.
Trump backtracked and tried to spin his Hel-sinking comments by claiming he misspoke; Trump tweeted that his meeting with Putin was “even better” than his meeting with NATO allies; Later that day one of Trump’s wives tweeted:
Important research outlining the need to create enhanced employment opportunities for Americans of all ages and at all stages in their careers through skills training and vocational education. #Reskilling#WorkforceDevelopment
I was thinking we have been doing this for decades – you might know some of the terms i.e. School, Teachers, Vocational School, College, Higher Learning and OJT.
Obama called these “strange and uncertain” times; the Treasury will no longer require nonprofits like the NRA to identify their financial donors to the IRS; and Mueller requested immunity for five potential witnesses in Paul Manafort’s trial.
We can debate about how and why Trump made it the Presidency – so what do we do now. We pray – stop getting so angry that all we can focus on are the crazy tweets between Trump and his wife Melania (I personally got caught up yesterday in all the #impeachtrump hoopla and could stop posting ImpeachTrump post and the phone and email list of all the senators – I lost my focus on all that is really important – for that I apologize to God myself and my readers) – take care of our families – humble ourselves and let God heal our land…
The President of the United States of American should not every stand before God and Country and denounce his own Administration and side with Russia! I simply can’t believe what I witnessed today!
We wake up have our morning coffee or tea, take a 20 minute jog, feed the dog and get the children off to school – meanwhile we (US) are dropping bomb all day long!
The US drops bombs everyday – According to new figures, the US dropped nearly three bombs every hour, 24 hours a day.
We live in a state of perpetual war, and we never feel it. While you get your gelato at the hip place where they put those cute little mint leaves on the side, someone is being bombed in your name. While you argue with the 17-year-old at the movie theater who gave you a small popcorn when you paid for a large, someone is being obliterated in your name. While we sleep and eat and make love and shield our eyes on a sunny day, someone’s home, family, life and body are being blown into a thousand pieces in our names.
Just in from Time Magazine – Congressional Republicans and some White House advisers are pushing President Donald Trump to halt the Administration’s policy of separating children and adults at the U.S. border while they keep looking for a political solution.
Just in from Time Magazine – Congressional Republicans and some White House advisers are pushing President Donald Trump to halt the Administration’s policy of separating children and adults at the U.S. border while they keep looking for a political solution.
Statue of Liberty Inscription
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Statue of Liberty – In honor of the statute’s intent to welcome immigrants, the U.S. government opened an immigration office on nearby Ellis Island in 1892. Between 1892 and 1954, Lady Liberty welcomed millions of immigrants who arrived at Ellis Island before continuing their journey into the United States. In 1883, Emma Lazarus’ “New Colossus” sonnet was selected to be the inscription at the statue’s base. Lazarus won that honor as part of a fundraising contest. In keeping with its tradition, the Statue of Liberty remains a symbol of American freedom and democracy.
Definition – Immigration – the action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country
Definition – Liberty – the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one’s way of life, behavior, or political views.
Trump on Twitter – “Separating families at the Border is the fault of bad legislation passed by the Democrats,” he tweeted. “Border Security laws should be changed but the Dems can’t get their act together! Started the Wall.”
President Barack Obama – helped assemble the lethal deportation machine that Trump is currently operating, forcibly expelling as many 2.5 million people, the cruelty of such a policy has no precedent.
Entry in the US – There are two means by which refugees can find haven in the United States: They can present themselves at an official port of entry, such as an airport or a highway checkpoint, or they can eschew these ports and enter the country on their own. (Although this method of entry is technically illegal, it has no bearing on their claims of asylum.)
As part of its “zero tolerance” policy, the Trump administration has elected to prosecute those who enter or re-enter the country illegally, even as their asylum claims are being processed.
Definition – Freedom – Isn’t free
Freedom Isn’t Free
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…
With President Donald Trump’s decision Tuesday to withdraw the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal, we thought a quick guide to the international agreement might be helpful.Who is involved?: Iran made the agreement with six countries — the U.S., U.K., Russia, France, China, Germany — and the European Union.
What does the deal do, in one sentence? The deal lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for stricter limits on Iran’s nuclear energy and enrichment programs.
How about some more specifics? Iran agreed to cut the number of its centrifuges in operation. (They can be used to enrich nuclear material to weapons-grade levels.) Leaders in Tehran also agreed to reduce the country’s stockpile of uranium, and redesign a specific facility so it cannot produce plutonium that could be used in a nuclear bomb. Finally, as part of the deal, Iran must give international inspectors access to facilities within 24 days of a request by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Timeline: Iran agreed to abide by these provisions for at least eight years. Some parts of the deal last 10, 15 or 25 years.
What if Iran violates the deal?: Sanctions against Iran would automatically “snap back” into place for 10 years.
France – stands to lose significant business dealings with Iran as a result of the reinstated sanctions. Losing deals to provide 100 new Airbus airliners, and opening a $5bn oil exploration project with Iran means real world economic consequences for a close ally of the United States.
Mike Pompeo – Secretary of State now has his work cut out for him. He must navigate the anger from Europe and Russia, while convincing North Korea that America will honour the deal they are currently negotiating.
What does the nuclear deal have to do with the oil price? – When Iran pledged to limit its nuclear ambitions to civil energy production under the deal with the P5+1 group of world powers – the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany – sanctions were lifted on its oil exports, giving a significant boost to global oil supplies.
What is Trump’s role?: Under U.S. law, every 90 days the president must certify that Iran is complying with the agreement. Trump did that twice, and then he decertified it in October. The larger decisions were whether to pull the United States out of the deal and/or reimpose sanctions.
Consequences: The deal, called a “framework” agreement, is officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. President Trump’s decision to withdraw the United States from the Iran nuclear deal has other consequ
1) It greatly undermines U.S. national interests by eroding its credibility, by splitting the United States from its European allies and the international community, by upending an agreement that effectively blocked Iran’s nuclear aspirations at the weapons level, and by wasting billions of dollars of political, financial, and human capital the United States invested to reach the JCPOA.
2) It erodes the pillars of the rules-based international system as it questions the independent power and diplomatic credibility of European states, especially if they are not able to safeguard the deal from American violations. Likewise, Trump’s decision undermines the value and significance of multilateralism and international institutions, especially those operating towards the global nuclear non-proliferation regime such as the IAEA.
3) it marks a turning point in the post-revolutionary history of modern Iran as the first major bitter experience of the country’s youth with the United States and the first direct public negotiation with America–inflaming Iranian nationalism, undermining the value of engaging the West, and shifting the domestic discourse to a hardline position. This was a gift to Ayatollah Khamenei as it undermines the platform of moderate President Rouhani, claiming he was right to tell everyone not to trust the Americans. Now Khamenei will turn to undermine the credibility of the Europeans by turning all eyes on the EU powers, before Iran uses the U.S. violation and withdrawal of the agreement to move beyond the deal.
Source: By Lisa Desjardins, Getty Images, Harvard Kennedy School
“I’m looking for somebody who has a little age, that has adult children, that kind of can connect with the bulk of the body here, Republicans and Democrats who are going through, back home the wife, the family
Chaplain – Who is a Chaplain of the United States Senate – According to Wikipedia – The Chaplain of the United States Senate opens each session of the United States Senate with a prayer, and provides and coordinates religious programs and pastoral care support for Senators, their staffs, and their families. The Chaplain is appointed by a majority vote of the members of the Senate on a resolution nominating an individual for the position. The three most recent nominations have been submitted based on a bipartisan search committee although that procedure is not required.
Chaplains are elected as individuals and not as representatives of any religious community, body, or organization. As of 2017, all Senate Chaplains have belonged to various denominations of Christianity, though there are no restrictions against members of any religion or faith group. Guest Chaplains, recommended by Senators to deliver the session’s opening prayer in place of the Senate Chaplain, have represented “all the world’s major religious faiths.” The current House Chaplain is Fr. Patrick J. Conroy, S.J., the first Jesuit priest to hold the position. Conroy was sworn in May 25, 2011. Conroy was asked to resign by House Speaker Paul Ryan, with an effective resignation date of May 24, 2018 becoming the first House chaplain removed in the history of Congress.
The Chaplain also provides pastoral care for members of Congress, their staffs, and their families, and provides or oversees religious programs such as Bible study, reflection groups, and the weekly Senate Prayer Breakfast. The Chaplain also often presides over religious ceremonies such as funerals and memorial services for current or past members and participates, offering delivering the invocation or benediction, at many official U.S. ceremonies, including White House events. In a January 2011 post on “On Watch in Washington”, the Chaplain of the Senate as well as the Chaplain of the House were included as part of “Obama’s Spiritual Cabinet”.
Minister – A personal attendant and helper, not a menial; a public functionary in the service of the state or of God, one engaged in the service of others – who were ministers in the Bible – Christ (as high priest in heavenly sanctuary) Joseph, Abishag, Joshua, Elisha, the attendant of the synagogue, the disciples, Paul.
The Story
Speaker Paul D. Ryan’s abrupt decision to dismiss the House chaplain Rev. Patrick J. Conroy much like stabbing him in the back, triggered an uproar on Friday under the guise of religion, pitting Republican against Republican and offering Democrats a political opportunity in a year already moving their way.
Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C) – said on Thursday –
“I’m looking for somebody who has a little age, that has adult children, that kind of can connect with the bulk of the body here, Republicans and Democrats who are going through, back home the wife, the family … that has some counseling experience … because what’s needed in the body here is people who can sit down with different members, male, female, Democrat, Republican, and just talk about what it is kind of to be up here,” Walker, a Southern Baptist minister and chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, told reporters Thursday.
“Padre, you just got to stay out of politics,” he recalled the speaker saying
Comment: What does the Bible say about politics? –
At the House Republican meeting, Mr. Ryan told lawmakers that complaints about Father Conroy’s pastoral care — not politics or prayer — led to his decision, according to several who attended. The speaker’s spokeswoman, AshLee Strong, said simply that he had “made the decision he believes to be in the best interest of the House.”
Comment: Shouldn’t one with “pastoral” training, education, most importantly he who has a relationship with the Lord be able to (if) guided by the Holy Spirit make a decision as to whether a Chaplain is “not” following the Holy Spirit in his prayers and/or decision-making?
The controversy exposed long-simmering tensions between Roman Catholics and evangelical Christians over who should be lawmakers’ religious counselor.
Comment: Who are the two groups and what is the history between Roman Catholics and Evangelical Christians?
And a public clash between Southern Evangelical Republicans and Northern Catholics could play to the advantage of Democrats, who are pressing hard to bring working-class Catholic regions in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin back into the Democratic fold.
Comment: What is the difference between Evangelical and Catholics – The Catholic faith has a distinctly traditional church-centered history. The Evangelical faith is based on Protestant theology, and members of the different Evangelical movements have a variety of options in how they worship God. These lead to differences in traditions, practices and views of salvation. Both Catholics and Evangelicals accept God as their primary authority. For Catholics, the church is the primary extension of God’s authority because Jesus founded the Christian church through St. Peter. For Catholics, the Bible supports what the church teaches. For Evangelicals, the Bible is the primary extension of God’s authority because it affirms God’s wishes and is the “Word of God.” Both Catholics and Evangelicals accept God as their primary authority. For Catholics, the church is the primary extension of God’s authority because Jesus founded the Christian church through St. Peter. For Catholics, the Bible supports what the church teaches. For Evangelicals, the Bible is the primary extension of God’s authority because it affirms God’s wishes and is the “Word of God.”
The controversy was heightened when Representative Mark Walker, Republican of North Carolina and a Baptist minister, said Thursday in an interview with the Hill newspaper that he hoped the next chaplain of the House might come from a nondenominational church tradition who could relate to members with wives and children.
Comment: Sounds like Mark Walker has control issues or is there another motive?
Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.), one of the leaders of the committee searching for a replacement for the ousted House chaplain, said the next spiritual leader of the House should be someone with a family who can better relate to and counsel lawmakers with spouses and children.
Declaration of Independence – WHEN in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation.
Comment: Jesus did not have a spouse or children
The controversy exposed long-simmering tensions between Roman Catholics and evangelical Christians over who should be lawmakers’ religious counselor. And a public clash between Southern Evangelical Republicans and Northern Catholics could play to the advantage of Democrats.
Comment: Who are Southern Evangelical Republicans and Northern Catholics and Jesuits?
Evangelicalism – Evangelical Christianity, or Evangelical Protestantism is a worldwide, transdenominational movement within Protestant Christianity, maintaining that the essence of the gospel consists in the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ’s atonement.
Jesuits – represent a society or an order that has been instituted by Pope Paul III to spread Christianity by all means possible. They hold the same core beliefs as Catholics do. In fact, they are considered rather more liberal than Catholics. However, this is just stereotyping, and no more as Jesuits remain a part of the catholic religious order.
Catholics – Another big difference is that evangelicals believe that it’s in the Bible that God speaks to us to tell us about himself and how he wants us to live. Catholics believe that he also speaks through the teachings of the Catholic church and the Pope. But Jesus said that only the Bible is the word of God, not the additional teachings of religious leaders (Mark 7:1-13).
In the interview, Father Conroy expounded on matters like sexual harassment and a possible spiritual crisis in Congress. He said he was asked during his job interview whether he had ever molested a child. And while he said he had never been asked to counsel a victim of sexual harassment or assault, he had handled cases of workplace abuse during his tenure in the House.
“Think about it: Who are the people who run for office?” he was quoted as saying. “Are they all highly skilled in every endeavor? No! They’re not. Many of them, I can tell you, don’t know how to say hello in the hallway, let alone work with office people who maybe they don’t think they have to listen to.”
The chaplain of the House said on Thursday that he was blindsided when Speaker Paul D. Ryan asked him to resign two weeks ago, a request that he complied with but was never given a reason for.
“This will have ramifications,” Mr. Jones said Friday afternoon. “This is bigger than Father Conroy and the House of Representatives. This is about religion in America.”
Comment: Much like Cain and Abel you know the story – Cain was a farmer and Abel was a shepherd. When it was time to offer sacrifices to God, Cain brought fruit from the ground and Abel brought the fat portions from some of the firstborn. God favored Abel’s sacrifice, but He didn’t extend that same grace to Cain. This rejection made Cain angry and God admonished Cain to do the right thing and his sacrifice would be accepted. Cain was also warned that if he refused to do the right thing—sin was ready to consume him. Albeit Conroy and Ryan are not brothers – Ryan has presented a picture of anger and murdering his brother Conroy in the House.
Politics – Romans 13:1 – 7
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. …
Fallacy – a mistaken belief, especially one based on unsound argument
Gun Control – is an illusion the moment it is thought of. Having the ability to control guns is a fallacy delivered to the residents of the United States by law makers and lobbyist to appease those for it and those against it. The deception of gun control that has caused families harmed at the hand of a gun man to actually think a loved one’s death was not in vain if measures are taken. It is an illusion meticulously crafted by the tempter. Gun control like a paradox – in Hamlet – I must be cruel to be kind. Interestingly the bias for gun control is based solely on the group’s interest at the moment – a tragedy occurs. The attempt to control guns by congress and other DC based groups is the most deceitful casuistry and subterfuge of the 21st century in front of American citizens who are looking for answers albeit in the wrong place. We won’t find solace and comfort for our loved ones who have been shot at the hands of a random gunman. Congress and other on the [Hill] have no experience in helping those in pain. For this type of pain we must look to a force that is greater than congress, picket signs and petitions. We must look to Alpha and Omega, may you find Him now.
#QOTD – Do you think the goal of closing the consulate is to keep people from gathering for visas etc., thereby making it a target for terrorists.
Below is the news excerpt story from Time:
(WASHINGTON) — The Trump administration expelled 60 Russian diplomats on Monday and ordered Russia’s consulate in Seattle to close, as the United States and European nations sought to jointly punish Moscow for its alleged role in poisoning an ex-spy in Britain.
Senior Trump administration officials said all 60 Russians were spies working in the U.S. under diplomatic cover, including a dozen at Russia’s mission to the United Nations. The officials said the administration was taking the action to send a message to Russia’s leaders about the “unacceptably high” number of Russian intelligence operatives in the U.S
What Is a Consulate – Consulates follow the lead of the Ambassador in engaging local government, civil society and other organization to address Mission priorities. In many instances, consulates, because of their location within a country, may serve as the primary actor in achieving one priority or another. So while the Embassy may place great importance on agricultural development, the real work with the local population will be done by officers in a consulate.
Consulates provide passport, birth registration and many others services for visiting or resident American citizens in a country. They also have consular sections which issue visas for foreign citizens to visit, study and work in the United States. Consulates work with U.S. and foreign law enforcement agencies to combat international crime.
Coordinating with the embassy, a consulate conducts commercial, information, education, and exchange programs to develop business partners and potential customers for US companies, work with the media and public entities to explain US policy, and encourage academic, scientific and artistic exchanges. They often have reference centers where foreign citizens can come to learn about the United States through printed and online media.
Russian Consulate Information
Russia Consulate Seattle, WA Information
Address:
600 University Street, Suite 2510, Seattle, WA. 98101
Contact Info:
Tel: (206) 728-1910
Fax: (206) 728-1871
Jurisdiction:
Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming
The Russia Consulate in Seattle provides Russian nationals and U.S. citizens or foreign nationals residing in the U.S. with passport and visa services. The Russia Consulate in Seattle no longer allows applications to be lodged by mail. For applicants who reside in the state listed above, Russia visa applications must be provided to the Russia Consulate either via a third party Russia visa expediting firm (Russia Visa Service) or in person at the Russia Consulate in Seattle.
Russia Embassy Visa Services
To obtain Russia visas through the Russia Consulate office in Seattle, applicants are encouraged to process visa documents through a Russia visa processing company. These companies work with the Russia Consulate in Seattle frequently and can provide you the best possible service.
Did You Know
California – the history of the official Russian representation office on the territory of modern consular district begins on February 14, 1852 – the date of signature of the Russian Emperor highest decree appointing businessman William Stuart Montgomery as a Vice Consul in San Francisco. This decision based on the increased activity of the Russian-American Company in California.
What Happens to the Staff When a Consulate Closes
Nowhere, usually. When an embassy/consulate closes even for just for a few days, its staffers—Americans and local employees—simply stay home. Meanwhile, they stop granting visas and other services.
#QOTD
Do you think the goal of closing the consulate is to keep people from gathering for visas etc., thereby making it a target for terrorists?
Lastly, the last time I checked the Seattle Consulate was not on the list closings.
Sellout according to Oxford’s Dictionary definition – a betrayal of one’s principles for reasons of expedience. Furthermore it states:
a betrayal of one’s principles for reasons of expedience.
“one of the biggest political sellouts in decades”
Candace Owens is the definition of Perfidiousness in her candid (pun intended) talk with Fox News
If crime has risen among Black Folk and Single Motherhood it was not because of a few democratic white men and women! That’s like saying school shootings have risen because Candace Owens is a Sellout.
Cross tolls in NY 10 times in a month and don’t pay and you would owe $50 for the tolls, $25 in fines and $1,000 in penalties within three months.
I heard this morning that one individual had received $14,000 worth of those extreme orange envelopes for tolls in New York yet the tolls range approximately from $1.30 – $5.00! As millions mount up in unpaid fines on the New York State Thruway’s crossing of the Tappan Zee, state officials announced a 3-week amnesty program Tuesday. Set to launch in February, it will give Tolls By Mail cashless tolling customers with open violations amnesty for the penalties if they just pay the tolls they owe. They stood in line for hours to have receive their amnesty.
A Synopsis of Fees
The New York E-ZPass program offers discounts on all city crossings and additional discounts for drivers on Staten Island and Rockaway. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority is currently proposing toll hikes, in various forms, and the fares listed below are subject to change.
The Bronx-Whitestone, Throgs Neck, and RFK Bridges and the Hugh L. Carey and Queens Midtown Tunnels charge a blanket $7.50 toll each way. E-ZPass holders in New York pay $5.33.
The Henry Hudson Bridge, a non-stop operation, allows New York registrants to pay $2.44 via E-ZPass, or $5 by mail in each direction.
Cross Bay and Marine Parkway bridges charge $3.75, in each direction for cash and out-of-state tolls, and $2 for New Yorkers. E-ZPass users in Rockaway pay $1.30.
The Verrazano Bridge’s $15 toll is charged to travelers paying with cash or an out-of-state E-ZPass. New York E-ZPass registrants pay $10.66 and Staten Islanders in the program pay $5.50.
If the first toll bill by mail is not paid by the customer, a $5 late fee is imposed on the second notice. If the second notice is also ignored, violation fees of $100 per toll are imposed — and those start at the end of the billing cycle. Cross 10 times in a month and don’t pay and you would owe $50 for the tolls, $25 in fines and $1,000 in penalties within three months.
Why am I #Concerned, I received 3 tickets each for $1.50 because I was driving a rental my car had been in an accident and was being repaired. I paid the $4.50, sent a letter, and a copy of the accident report to EZ Pass and their lawyers. I now owe $500!!! Lastly, after several calls to EzPass they stated the monies were posted to only one ticket. That means one of those tickets should have had a credit of $3.00!
Will Substitutes required to carry a weapon, if we can’t control the women and men who are having relationships with children how will we manage the emotions of adults with weapons in certain school districts?
Words spoken by your President – Donald Trump
“You don’t know until you test it, but I think, I really believe I would have run in there even if I didn’t have weapon.” stated Trump. The same one who thinks:
1. “We’re not bombing. We’re not doing much. We have a president that thinks ISIS has been contained. We have a president that doesn’t know what’s happening. So when you say we’re bombing, we’re not bombing.”
2. The Generals have been reduced to rubble…They have been reduced to a point where it’s embarrassing to our country…
3. “The other thing with the terrorists is you have to take out their families, when you get these terrorists, you have to take out their families. They care about their lives, don’t kid yourself. When they say they don’t care about their lives, you have to take out their families.”
4. “Torture works. Ok, folks?” You know, I have these guys – ‘Torture doesn’t work!’ – believe me, it works. And waterboarding is your minor form. Some people say it’s not actually torture. Let’s assume it is. But they asked me the question, ‘What do you think of waterboarding?’ Absolutely fine. But we should go much stronger than waterboarding.
5. “It is always a great honor to be so nicely complimented by a man so highly respected within his own country and beyond.” (regarding Vladimir Putin
6. “Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.”
7. “…My primary consultant is myself, and I have a good instinct for this stuff”
8. “These people are cowards. They’re not going to walk into a school if 20% of the teachers have guns — it may be 10% or may be 40%. And what I’d recommend doing is the people that do carry, we give them a bonus. We give them a little bit of a bonus,” Trump said. “They’ll frankly feel more comfortable having the gun anyway. But you give them a little bit of a bonus.”
9. “I’m very pro-choice,” Trump says. “I hate the concept of abortion. I hate it. I hate everything it stands for. I cringe when I listen to people debating the subject. But you still — I just believe in choice.” Later in an interview with Tapper –
TAPPER: Let me ask you about a few social issues because they haven’t been issues you have been talking about for several years. I know you’re opposed to abortion.
TRUMP: Right. I’m pro-choice.
TAPPER: You’re pro-choice or pro-life?
TRUMP: I’m pro-life. I’m sorry.
What am I #Concerned about: I must ask myself what would I do, I ponder what would have President Obama done. Who are “these” people he is referring to, did you know more than one-third of the shootings—34 percent—involved a shooter who was prohibited from possessing firearms?
If teachers get bonuses for carrying a weapon what will substitutes get considering a teacher‘s salary average about 3 times as much? Will Substitutes be required to carry a weapon, if we can’t control the women and men who are having relationships with children how will we manage the emotions of adults with weapons in certain school districts?
10. “Two Corinthians, 3:17, that’s the whole ballgame,” Trump said. (The relevant verse: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”)
I do not believe the Spirit of the Lord resides (with Trump at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC) however I do believe that God is not foolish and would not leave us nor forsake us. I remember another instance where all went awry for a man named Job and He stood on what he knew to be true, regardless of what his friends and family thought. Job was victorious and I am 1000% sure we can and will be victorious through these difficult times as well.
Source: Thirdway.com By Sanaa Khan
Source: CNN
Source: The Federalist
Source: The Washington Post
Source: Teacher Portal
Source Everytown Analysis
Republicans made two central promises. First, that the bill would simplify the U.S. tax code, allowing citizens to file their taxes “on the back of a postcard.” And second, that the overhaul would primarily benefit working Americans and the mid
As they pushed their sweeping tax bill through Congress, Republicans made two central promises. First, that the bill would simplify the U.S. tax code, allowing citizens to file their taxes “on the back of a postcard.” And second, that the overhaul would primarily benefit working Americans and the middle class. The first claim proved false.…
Roy Moore is uniquely disqualified from public office separate and apart from those terrible misdeeds.
These Trump supporters trying to rationalize CHILD MOLESTATION in order to justify voting for Roy Moore is so sickening, it’s almost scary.
Alabama legislators passed a law in July 2010 which makes it a felony crime for a school employee to engage in a sex act with a student. The class B felony crime comes with a punishment of two to 20 years in prison, if convicted.
The history of child protection in America is divisible into three eras.
Colonial Times to 1875;
1875 to 1962 – when nongovernmental organized child protection agencies began to increase;
1962 marks the era of government sponsored CPS;
One of the members of the panel states that 40 years ago in 1977 this type of behavior was typical of children in Alabama!
In Mobile Alabama on November 14, 2012 jurors listened to the closing arguments in Mobile County on a case of molestation and was unable to reach a moment. Defense attorney Walter Honeycutt reminded jurors during his summation at the girl was vague about when the oral sex occurred but that it was before a fish fry at about 3 p.m. The defendant testified that he could not have molested the child at that time because he regularly volunteered to cook fish fries on Friday afternoons during Lent at his church and would not have been around the girl.
Again – MOBILE, Alabama – A hung jury has led to a mistrial in the case of a midtown Mobile man accused of sexually abusing two young girls in their bedroom on Mother’s Day night 2013.
Roy Moore, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Tuesday’s Alabama special election, is credibly accused of sexually preying upon a 14-year-old girl and forcing himself upon a 16-year-old girl as a thirtysomething prosecutor.
He is uniquely disqualified from public office separate and apart from those terrible misdeeds.
He was twice removed as chief justice of his state’s highest court for disrespecting the rule of law: in 2003, for disobeying an order to remove a monument of the 10 Commandments; in 2016, for directing probate judges to ignore a U.S. Supreme Court ruling.
All I have to say is:
3The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts. 4A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. 5Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. 6Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.7Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince. 8A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth. 9He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
break and destroy any aggression, attempts of the enemy
(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said Sunday that women who accuse someone of sexual misconduct deserve to be heard, even if it involves President Donald Trump. “I know that he was elected, but women should always feel comfortable coming forward. And we should all be willing to listen to them,” Nikki…
Why won’t this happen – #Satan loves a #scandal so with that said…
We ask You #Lord #Jesus to break and destroy any aggression, attempts of the enemy to penetrate, curses resulting in the destruction of the mind, behavioral perversion, schemes of the enemy or wicked people, self condemnation and sexual perversion.
stadiums “are now having a very hard time filling up,
President Donald Trump claimed Tuesday that the National Football League is “having a very hard time” filling stadiums because Americans are “fed up” with players protesting during the national anthem.
But contrary to Trump’s tweet Tuesday, they did not all kneel during the anthem. Ten remained seated, four raised a fist, nine took a knee, and one remained off the field completely, according to an ESPN log.
Is NFL attendance down?
Trump claimed Tuesday that stadiums “are now having a very hard time filling up,” building on a Nov. 20 tweet that attendance was “way down.”
We audited the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) required conversion program activities to determine whether HUD ensured that public housing agencies (PHA) properly evaluated their distressed units and converted them to tenant-based rental assistance programs. We selected this program for review based on an approved internal audit suggestion in our annual audit plan. Our audit objective was to determine whether HUD adequately implemented its required conversion program to ensure that its PHAs complied with the procedures for the required conversion of distressed public housing developments to tenant-based rental assistance programs.
HUD did not adequately implement its required conversion program. Specifically, HUD did not properly identify potential projects requiring conversion and did not follow up to ensure that PHAs took action by conducting proper analyses to determine if listed projects should be converted to tenant-based rental assistance. HUD also did not apply available remedies when PHAs did not properly identify projects or implement required conversions. We attributed this deficiency to lack of oversight and miscommunication among the Office of Public and Indian Housing (PIH), Office of Field Operations; the Special Application Center; regional PIH field offices; and the PHAs. As a result, HUD did not require PHAs to identify and convert distressed projects, and up to $75 million in operating subsidies and capital funds could continue to be spent on projects that have not been determined to be physically viable or less expensive than tenant-based rental assistance.
We recommend that HUD develop and implement policies and procedures to identify potentially distressed projects and monitor and enforce the required conversion program. Additionally, we recommend that HUD determine whether nine PHAs provided appropriate documentation to support whether potentially distressed projects should be converted to tenant-based rental assistance and if conversion is required that it is accomplished timely, thereby ensuring that up to $75 million is used effectively for projects that are cost effective and have long term viability and ensuring that tenants receive other rental assistance.
Judge agrees to erase ex-NFL star Aaron Hernandez’s conviction in 2013 murder because he died before the appeal was heard.
The former New England Patriots tight end hanged himself in his prison cell last month while serving a life sentence in the killing of semi-professional football player Odin Lloyd.
Patrick Bomberg said Hernandez “should not be able to accomplish in death what he could not accomplish in life.”
Hernandez’s appellate attorney told the judge that the state’s highest court has applied the legal doctrine “without exception,” even in cases of suicide.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Judge Susan Garsh said she expects to issue a decision late Tuesday morning.
Lastly some argue that Jesus confirmed capital punishment and even His death on the cross confirms the belief that death for death is acceptable and appropriate. I on the other hand have this to say… Jesus did NOT die on the cross and He was hung for a crime that He had NOT committed and it was most assuredly cruel and unusual punishent.
Folk take drugs for one reason or another i.e. medical or recreational. Physicians prescribe drugs for medical reasons and/or for addicts who must get their fix and they want it “legally”. What happens when a Pharmacy does not have the prescribed drug or the Drug Dealer runs out of his/her “product” – very simply the consumer drives or walks to another pharmacy and the same thing for the addict on the street, not a situation in the world that will stop an addict from copping cocaine, heroin or any other pharmaceutical should the #monkey call.
Midazolam may cause severe breathing problems (eg, respiratory depression, respiratory arrest), especially when used for sedation in noncritical care settings. Respiratory depression and respiratory arrest could result in brain damage or death if not treated properly. Midazolam should only be used under appropriate close medical supervision.
Midazolam is used for – Reducing anxiety or producing drowsiness or anesthesia before certain medical procedures or surgery. It may also be given continuously to maintain sedation or anesthesia in certain patients. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Midazolam is a #benzodiazepine. It works in the central nervous system (brain) to cause sleepiness, muscle relaxation, and short-term memory loss, and to reduce anxiety.
In a story by Alan Blinder in the New York Times – The chemist Armin Walser who helped invent the sedative coupled with the fact that in Arkansas, a prisoner has not been put to death since November 2005 what is all the hoopla about now?
Midazolam is planned as the first of three drugs in the state’s lethal injections. The drug is intended to render a prisoner unconscious and keep him from experiencing pain later in the execution, when other drugs are administered to stop the breathing and heart. Why not obtain a comparable drug that provides the same effect at a LOWER COST!? Walgreens midazolam 1 bottle (118ml) 2mg/ml syrup $ 90.38.
SupremeCourt – In a 5-to-4 vote, the court ruled that using midazolam does not violate the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits “cruel and unusual punishment.” In executions, the drug has been used to induce unconsciousness before other drugs are administered to stop an inmate’s breathing and stop the heart.
Midazolam Gone Wrong – Dennis McGuire, convicted of the rape and murder of a pregnant woman in 1989, was executed in Ohio using a combination of two drugs that had never before been used in an execution. Attorneys for McGuire and medical experts argued that the use of the drugs represented an unconstitutional, “cruel and unusual” execution, because of the possibility that McGuire would be conscious and in pain as he died. “Ohio is taking drugs that are normally used for things like a colonoscopy, and they’re giving massive overdoses to kill people,”
Arkansas has executed Ledell Lee, the state’s first inmate to be put to death since 2005, for a 1993 murder. Lee was one of eight death row inmates Arkansas had planned to execute by April 30, the day before the state’s supply of the lethal injection drug midazolam expires.
Lastly some argue that Jesus confirmed capital punishment and even His death on the cross confirms the belief that death for death is acceptable and appropriate. I on the other hand have this to say… Jesus did NOT die on the cross and He was hung for a crime that He had NOT committed and it was most assuredly cruel and unusual punishment.
Wiretapping, Healthcare, Lies, Journalism, talk, talk and more talk. The radio, TV, Sirius XM, Twitter and Facebook are all alive and jumping from one Trump story to the next. Between his Tweets and Fact Finding reality TV has become a thing of the past. The question that is overwhelmingly at the front of my brain is why do folks believe all the false statements and lies that have been thrown at us. Then I read the article below and #reasoning has been clearly defined.
It’s one thing for me to flush a toilet without knowing how it operates, and another for me to favor (or oppose) an immigration ban without knowing what I’m talking about.
Virtually everyone in the United States, and indeed throughout the developed world, is familiar with toilets. A typical flush toilet has a ceramic bowl filled with water. When the handle is depressed, or the button pushed, the water—and everything that’s been deposited in it—gets sucked into a pipe and from there into the sewage system. But how does this actually happen?
…“illusion of explanatory depth,” just about everywhere. People believe that they know way more than they actually do. What allows us to persist in this belief is other people. In the case of my toilet, someone else designed it so that I can operate it easily. This is something humans are very good at. We’ve been relying on one another’s expertise ever since we figured out how to hunt together, which was probably a key development in our evolutionary history.
… our dependence on other minds reinforces the problem. If your position on, say, the Affordable Care Act is baseless and I rely on it, then my opinion is also baseless.
New discoveries about the human mind show the limitations of reason.
It is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks, including those committed by foreign nationals. The screening and vetting protocols and procedures associated with the visa-issuance process and the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) play a crucial role in detecting foreign nationals who may commit, aid, or support acts of terrorism and in preventing those individuals from entering the United States. It is therefore the policy of the United States to improve the screening and vetting protocols and procedures associated with the visa-issuance process and the USRAP.
PROTECTING THE NATION FROM FOREIGN TERRORIST ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq., and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and to protect the Nation from terrorist activities by foreign nationals admitted to the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy and Purpose.
(a) It is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from terrorist attacks, including those committed by foreign nationals. The screening and vetting protocols and procedures associated with the visa-issuance process and the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) play a crucial role in detecting foreign nationals who may commit, aid, or support acts of terrorism and in preventing those individuals from entering the United States. It is therefore the policy of the United States to improve the screening and vetting protocols and procedures associated with the visa-issuance process and the USRAP.
(b) On January 27, 2017, to implement this policy, I issued Executive Order 13769 (Protecting the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States).
(i) Among other actions, Executive Order 13769 suspended for 90 days the entry of certain aliens from seven countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. These are countries that had already been identified as presenting heightened concerns about terrorism and travel to the United States. Specifically, the suspension applied to countries referred to in, or designated under, section 217(a)(12) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1187(a)(12), in which Congress restricted use of the Visa Waiver Program for nationals of, and aliens recently present in, (A) Iraq or Syria, (B) any country designated by the Secretary of State as a state sponsor of terrorism (currently Iran, Syria, and Sudan), and (C) any other country designated as a country of concern by the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence. In 2016, the Secretary of Homeland Security designated Libya, Somalia, and Yemen as additional countries of concern for travel purposes, based on consideration of three statutory factors related to terrorism and national security: “(I) whether the presence of an alien in the country or area increases the likelihood that the alien is a credible threat to the national security of the United States; (II) whether a foreign terrorist organization has a significant presence in the country or area; and (III) whether the country or area is a safe haven for terrorists.” 8 U.S.C. 1187(a)(12)(D)(ii). Additionally, Members of Congress have expressed concerns about screening and vetting procedures following recent terrorist attacks in this country and in Europe.
(ii) In ordering the temporary suspension of entry described in subsection (b)(i) of this section, I exercised my authority under Article II of the Constitution and under section 212(f) of the INA, which provides in relevant part:
“Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate.” 8 U.S.C. 1182(f).
Under these authorities, I determined that, for a brief period of 90 days, while existing screening and vetting procedures were under review, the entry into the United States of certain aliens from the seven identified countries — each afflicted by terrorism in a manner that compromised the ability of the United States to rely on normal decision-making procedures about travel to the United States — would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. Nonetheless, I permitted the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant case-by-case waivers when they determined that it was in the national interest to do so.
(iii) Executive Order 13769 also suspended the USRAP for 120 days. Terrorist groups have sought to infiltrate several nations through refugee programs. Accordingly, I temporarily suspended the USRAP pending a review of our procedures for screening and vetting refugees. Nonetheless, I permitted the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to jointly grant case-by-case waivers when they determined that it was in the national interest to do so.
(iv) Executive Order 13769 did not provide a basis for discriminating for or against members of any particular religion. While that order allowed for prioritization of refugee claims from members of persecuted religious minority groups, that priority applied to refugees from every nation, including those in which Islam is a minority religion, and it applied to minority sects within a religion. That order was not motivated by animus toward any religion, but was instead intended to protect the ability of religious minorities — whoever they are and wherever they reside — to avail themselves of the USRAP in light of their particular challenges and circumstances.
(c) The implementation of Executive Order 13769 has been delayed by litigation. Most significantly, enforcement of critical provisions of that order has been temporarily halted by court orders that apply nationwide and extend even to foreign nationals with no prior or substantial connection to the United States. On February 9, 2017, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit declined to stay or narrow one such order pending the outcome of further judicial proceedings, while noting that the “political branches are far better equipped to make appropriate distinctions” about who should be covered by a suspension of entry or of refugee admissions.
(d) Nationals from the countries previously identified under section 217(a)(12) of the INA warrant additional scrutiny in connection with our immigration policies because the conditions in these countries present heightened threats. Each of these countries is a state sponsor of terrorism, has been significantly compromised by terrorist organizations, or contains active conflict zones. Any of these circumstances diminishes the foreign government’s willingness or ability to share or validate important information about individuals seeking to travel to the United States. Moreover, the significant presence in each of these countries of terrorist organizations, their members, and others exposed to those organizations increases the chance that conditions will be exploited to enable terrorist operatives or sympathizers to travel to the United States. Finally, once foreign nationals from these countries are admitted to the United States, it is often difficult to remove them, because many of these countries typically delay issuing, or refuse to issue, travel documents.
(e) The following are brief descriptions, taken in part from the Department of State’s Country Reports on Terrorism 2015 (June 2016), of some of the conditions in six of the previously designated countries that demonstrate why their nationals continue to present heightened risks to the security of the United States:
(i) Iran. Iran has been designated as a state sponsor of terrorism since 1984 and continues to support various terrorist groups, including Hizballah, Hamas, and terrorist groups in Iraq. Iran has also been linked to support for al-Qa’ida and has permitted al-Qa’ida to transport funds and fighters through Iran to Syria and South Asia. Iran does not cooperate with the United States in counterterrorism efforts.
(ii) Libya. Libya is an active combat zone, with hostilities between the internationally recognized government and its rivals. In many parts of the country, security and law enforcement functions are provided by armed militias rather than state institutions. Violent extremist groups, including the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), have exploited these conditions to expand their presence in the country. The Libyan government provides some cooperation with the United States’ counterterrorism efforts, but it is unable to secure thousands of miles of its land and maritime borders, enabling the illicit flow of weapons, migrants, and foreign terrorist fighters. The United States Embassy in Libya suspended its operations in 2014.
(iii) Somalia. Portions of Somalia have been terrorist safe havens. Al-Shabaab, an al-Qa’ida-affiliated terrorist group, has operated in the country for years and continues to plan and mount operations within Somalia and in neighboring countries. Somalia has porous borders, and most countries do not recognize Somali identity documents. The Somali government cooperates with the United States in some counterterrorism operations but does not have the capacity to sustain military pressure on or to investigate suspected terrorists.
(iv) Sudan. Sudan has been designated as a state sponsor of terrorism since 1993 because of its support for international terrorist groups, including Hizballah and Hamas. Historically, Sudan provided safe havens for al-Qa’ida and other terrorist groups to meet and train. Although Sudan’s support to al-Qa’ida has ceased and it provides some cooperation with the United States’ counterterrorism efforts, elements of core al-Qa’ida and ISIS-linked terrorist groups remain active in the country.
(v) Syria. Syria has been designated as a state sponsor of terrorism since 1979. The Syrian government is engaged in an ongoing military conflict against ISIS and others for control of portions of the country. At the same time, Syria continues to support other terrorist groups. It has allowed or encouraged extremists to pass through its territory to enter Iraq. ISIS continues to attract foreign fighters to Syria and to use its base in Syria to plot or encourage attacks around the globe, including in the United States. The United States Embassy in Syria suspended its operations in 2012. Syria does not cooperate with the United States’ counterterrorism efforts.
(vi) Yemen. Yemen is the site of an ongoing conflict between the incumbent government and the Houthi-led opposition. Both ISIS and a second group, al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), have exploited this conflict to expand their presence in Yemen and to carry out hundreds of attacks. Weapons and other materials smuggled across Yemen’s porous borders are used to finance AQAP and other terrorist activities. In 2015, the United States Embassy in Yemen suspended its operations, and embassy staff were relocated out of the country. Yemen has been supportive of, but has not been able to cooperate fully with, the United States in counterterrorism efforts.
(f) In light of the conditions in these six countries, until the assessment of current screening and vetting procedures required by section 2 of this order is completed, the risk of erroneously permitting entry of a national of one of these countries who intends to commit terrorist acts or otherwise harm the national security of the United States is unacceptably high. Accordingly, while that assessment is ongoing, I am imposing a temporary pause on the entry of nationals from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, subject to categorical exceptions and case-by-case waivers, as described in section 3 of this order.
(g) Iraq presents a special case. Portions of Iraq remain active combat zones. Since 2014, ISIS has had dominant influence over significant territory in northern and central Iraq. Although that influence has been significantly reduced due to the efforts and sacrifices of the Iraqi government and armed forces, working along with a United States-led coalition, the ongoing conflict has impacted the Iraqi government’s capacity to secure its borders and to identify fraudulent travel documents. Nevertheless, the close cooperative relationship between the United States and the democratically elected Iraqi government, the strong United States diplomatic presence in Iraq, the significant presence of United States forces in Iraq, and Iraq’s commitment to combat ISIS justify different treatment for Iraq. In particular, those Iraqi government forces that have fought to regain more than half of the territory previously dominated by ISIS have shown steadfast determination and earned enduring respect as they battle an armed group that is the common enemy of Iraq and the United States. In addition, since Executive Order 13769 was issued, the Iraqi government has expressly undertaken steps to enhance travel documentation, information sharing, and the return of Iraqi nationals subject to final orders of removal. Decisions about issuance of visas or granting admission to Iraqi nationals should be subjected to additional scrutiny to determine if applicants have connections with ISIS or other terrorist organizations, or otherwise pose a risk to either national security or public safety.
(h) Recent history shows that some of those who have entered the United States through our immigration system have proved to be threats to our national security. Since 2001, hundreds of persons born abroad have been convicted of terrorism-related crimes in the United States. They have included not just persons who came here legally on visas but also individuals who first entered the country as refugees. For example, in January 2013, two Iraqi nationals admitted to the United States as refugees in 2009 were sentenced to 40 years and to life in prison, respectively, for multiple terrorism-related offenses. And in October 2014, a native of Somalia who had been brought to the United States as a child refugee and later became a naturalized United States citizen was sentenced to 30 years in prison for attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction as part of a plot to detonate a bomb at a crowded Christmas-tree-lighting ceremony in Portland, Oregon. The Attorney General has reported to me that more than 300 persons who entered the United States as refugees are currently the subjects of counterterrorism investigations by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
(i) Given the foregoing, the entry into the United States of foreign nationals who may commit, aid, or support acts of terrorism remains a matter of grave concern. In light of the Ninth Circuit’s observation that the political branches are better suited to determine the appropriate scope of any suspensions than are the courts, and in order to avoid spending additional time pursuing litigation, I am revoking Executive Order 13769 and replacing it with this order, which expressly excludes from the suspensions categories of aliens that have prompted judicial concerns and which clarifies or refines the approach to certain other issues or categories of affected aliens.
Sec. 2. Temporary Suspension of Entry for Nationals of Countries of Particular Concern During Review Period. (a) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, shall conduct a worldwide review to identify whether, and if so what, additional information will be needed from each foreign country to adjudicate an application by a national of that country for a visa, admission, or other benefit under the INA (adjudications) in order to determine that the individual is not a security or public-safety threat. The Secretary of Homeland Security may conclude that certain information is needed from particular countries even if it is not needed from every country.
(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit to the President a report on the results of the worldwide review described in subsection (a) of this section, including the Secretary of Homeland Security’s determination of the information needed from each country for adjudications and a list of countries that do not provide adequate information, within 20 days of the effective date of this order. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide a copy of the report to the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Director of National Intelligence.
(c) To temporarily reduce investigative burdens on relevant agencies during the review period described in subsection (a) of this section, to ensure the proper review and maximum utilization of available resources for the screening and vetting of foreign nationals, to ensure that adequate standards are established to prevent infiltration by foreign terrorists, and in light of the national security concerns referenced in section 1 of this order, I hereby proclaim, pursuant to sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a), that the unrestricted entry into the United States of nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen would be detrimental to the interests of the United States. I therefore direct that the entry into the United States of nationals of those six countries be suspended for 90 days from the effective date of this order, subject to the limitations, waivers, and exceptions set forth in sections 3 and 12 of this order.
(d) Upon submission of the report described in subsection (b) of this section regarding the information needed from each country for adjudications, the Secretary of State shall request that all foreign governments that do not supply such information regarding their nationals begin providing it within 50 days of notification.
(e) After the period described in subsection (d) of this section expires, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, shall submit to the President a list of countries recommended for inclusion in a Presidential proclamation that would prohibit the entry of appropriate categories of foreign nationals of countries that have not provided the information requested until they do so or until the Secretary of Homeland Security certifies that the country has an adequate plan to do so, or has adequately shared information through other means. The Secretary of State, the Attorney General, or the Secretary of Homeland Security may also submit to the President the names of additional countries for which any of them recommends other lawful restrictions or limitations deemed necessary for the security or welfare of the United States.
(f) At any point after the submission of the list described in subsection (e) of this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Attorney General, may submit to the President the names of any additional countries recommended for similar treatment, as well as the names of any countries that they recommend should be removed from the scope of a proclamation described in subsection (e) of this section.
(g) The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the President a joint report on the progress in implementing this order within 60 days of the effective date of this order, a second report within 90 days of the effective date of this order, a third report within 120 days of the effective date of this order, and a fourth report within 150 days of the effective date of this order.
Sec. 3. Scope and Implementation of Suspension.
(a) Scope. Subject to the exceptions set forth in subsection (b) of this section and any waiver under subsection (c) of this section, the suspension of entry pursuant to section 2 of this order shall apply only to foreign nationals of the designated countries who:
(i) are outside the United States on the effective date of this order;
(ii) did not have a valid visa at 5:00 p.m., eastern standard time on January 27, 2017; and
(iii) do not have a valid visa on the effective date of this order.
(b) Exceptions. The suspension of entry pursuant to section 2 of this order shall not apply to:
(i) any lawful permanent resident of the United States;
(ii) any foreign national who is admitted to or paroled into the United States on or after the effective date of this order;
(iii) any foreign national who has a document other than a visa, valid on the effective date of this order or issued on any date thereafter, that permits him or her to travel to the United States and seek entry or admission, such as an advance parole document;
(iv) any dual national of a country designated under section 2 of this order when the individual is traveling on a passport issued by a non-designated country;
(v) any foreign national traveling on a diplomatic or diplomatic-type visa, North Atlantic Treaty Organization visa, C-2 visa for travel to the United Nations, or G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-4 visa; or
(vi) any foreign national who has been granted asylum; any refugee who has already been admitted to the United States; or any individual who has been granted withholding of removal, advance parole, or protection under the Convention Against Torture.
(c) Waivers. Notwithstanding the suspension of entry pursuant to section 2 of this order, a consular officer, or, as appropriate, the Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or the Commissioner’s delegee, may, in the consular officer’s or the CBP official’s discretion, decide on a case-by-case basis to authorize the issuance of a visa to, or to permit the entry of, a foreign national for whom entry is otherwise suspended if the foreign national has demonstrated to the officer’s satisfaction that denying entry during the suspension period would cause undue hardship, and that his or her entry would not pose a threat to national security and would be in the national interest. Unless otherwise specified by the Secretary of Homeland Security, any waiver issued by a consular officer as part of the visa issuance process will be effective both for the issuance of a visa and any subsequent entry on that visa, but will leave all other requirements for admission or entry unchanged. Case-by-case waivers could be appropriate in circumstances such as the following:
(i) the foreign national has previously been admitted to the United States for a continuous period of work, study, or other long-term activity, is outside the United States on the effective date of this order, seeks to reenter the United States to resume that activity, and the denial of reentry during the suspension period would impair that activity;
(ii) the foreign national has previously established significant contacts with the United States but is outside the United States on the effective date of this order for work, study, or other lawful activity;
(iii) the foreign national seeks to enter the United States for significant business or professional obligations and the denial of entry during the suspension period would impair those obligations;
(iv) the foreign national seeks to enter the United States to visit or reside with a close family member (e.g., a spouse, child, or parent) who is a United States citizen, lawful permanent resident, or alien lawfully admitted on a valid nonimmigrant visa, and the denial of entry during the suspension period would cause undue hardship;
(v) the foreign national is an infant, a young child or adoptee, an individual needing urgent medical care, or someone whose entry is otherwise justified by the special circumstances of the case;
(vi) the foreign national has been employed by, or on behalf of, the United States Government (or is an eligible dependent of such an employee) and the employee can document that he or she has provided faithful and valuable service to the United States Government;
(vii) the foreign national is traveling for purposes related to an international organization designated under the International Organizations Immunities Act (IOIA), 22 U.S.C. 288 et seq., traveling for purposes of conducting meetings or business with the United States Government, or traveling to conduct business on behalf of an international organization not designated under the IOIA;
(viii) the foreign national is a landed Canadian immigrant who applies for a visa at a location within Canada; or
(ix) the foreign national is traveling as a United States Government-sponsored exchange visitor.
Sec. 4. Additional Inquiries Related to Nationals of Iraq. An application by any Iraqi national for a visa, admission, or other immigration benefit should be subjected to thorough review, including, as appropriate, consultation with a designee of the Secretary of Defense and use of the additional information that has been obtained in the context of the close U.S.-Iraqi security partnership, since Executive Order 13769 was issued, concerning individuals suspected of ties to ISIS or other terrorist organizations and individuals coming from territories controlled or formerly controlled by ISIS. Such review shall include consideration of whether the applicant has connections with ISIS or other terrorist organizations or with territory that is or has been under the dominant influence of ISIS, as well as any other information bearing on whether the applicant may be a threat to commit acts of terrorism or otherwise threaten the national security or public safety of the United States.
Sec. 5. Implementing Uniform Screening and Vetting Standards for All Immigration Programs. (a) The Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence shall implement a program, as part of the process for adjudications, to identify individuals who seek to enter the United States on a fraudulent basis, who support terrorism, violent extremism, acts of violence toward any group or class of people within the United States, or who present a risk of causing harm subsequent to their entry. This program shall include the development of a uniform baseline for screening and vetting standards and procedures, such as in-person interviews; a database of identity documents proffered by applicants to ensure that duplicate documents are not used by multiple applicants; amended application forms that include questions aimed at identifying fraudulent answers and malicious intent; a mechanism to ensure that applicants are who they claim to be; a mechanism to assess whether applicants may commit, aid, or support any kind of violent, criminal, or terrorist acts after entering the United States; and any other appropriate means for ensuring the proper collection of all information necessary for a rigorous evaluation of all grounds of inadmissibility or grounds for the denial of other immigration benefits.
(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in conjunction with the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, and the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit to the President an initial report on the progress of the program described in subsection (a) of this section within 60 days of the effective date of this order, a second report within 100 days of the effective date of this order, and a third report within 200 days of the effective date of this order.
Sec. 6. Realignment of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for Fiscal Year 2017. (a) The Secretary of State shall suspend travel of refugees into the United States under the USRAP, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall suspend decisions on applications for refugee status, for 120 days after the effective date of this order, subject to waivers pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. During the 120-day period, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Secretary of Homeland Security and in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall review the USRAP application and adjudication processes to determine what additional procedures should be used to ensure that individuals seeking admission as refugees do not pose a threat to the security and welfare of the United States, and shall implement such additional procedures. The suspension described in this subsection shall not apply to refugee applicants who, before the effective date of this order, have been formally scheduled for transit by the Department of State. The Secretary of State shall resume travel of refugees into the United States under the USRAP 120 days after the effective date of this order, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall resume making decisions on applications for refugee status only for stateless persons and nationals of countries for which the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence have jointly determined that the additional procedures implemented pursuant to this subsection are adequate to ensure the security and welfare of the United States.
(b) Pursuant to section 212(f) of the INA, I hereby proclaim that the entry of more than 50,000 refugees in fiscal year 2017 would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and thus suspend any entries in excess of that number until such time as I determine that additional entries would be in the national interest.
(c) Notwithstanding the temporary suspension imposed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security may jointly determine to admit individuals to the United States as refugees on a case-by-case basis, in their discretion, but only so long as they determine that the entry of such individuals as refugees is in the national interest and does not pose a threat to the security or welfare of the United States, including in circumstances such as the following: the individual’s entry would enable the United States to conform its conduct to a preexisting international agreement or arrangement, or the denial of entry would cause undue hardship.
(d) It is the policy of the executive branch that, to the extent permitted by law and as practicable, State and local jurisdictions be granted a role in the process of determining the placement or settlement in their jurisdictions of aliens eligible to be admitted to the United States as refugees. To that end, the Secretary of State shall examine existing law to determine the extent to which, consistent with applicable law, State and local jurisdictions may have greater involvement in the process of determining the placement or resettlement of refugees in their jurisdictions, and shall devise a proposal to lawfully promote such involvement.
Sec. 7. Rescission of Exercise of Authority Relating to the Terrorism Grounds of Inadmissibility. The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, in consultation with the Attorney General, consider rescinding the exercises of authority permitted by section 212(d)(3)(B) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(d)(3)(B), relating to the terrorism grounds of inadmissibility, as well as any related implementing directives or guidance.
Sec. 8. Expedited Completion of the Biometric Entry-Exit Tracking System. (a) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall expedite the completion and implementation of a biometric entry exit tracking system for in-scope travelers to the United States, as recommended by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.
(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the President periodic reports on the progress of the directive set forth in subsection (a) of this section. The initial report shall be submitted within 100 days of the effective date of this order, a second report shall be submitted within 200 days of the effective date of this order, and a third report shall be submitted within 365 days of the effective date of this order. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit further reports every 180 days thereafter until the system is fully deployed and operational.
Sec. 9. Visa Interview Security. (a) The Secretary of State shall immediately suspend the Visa Interview Waiver Program and ensure compliance with section 222 of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1202, which requires that all individuals seeking a non-immigrant visa undergo an in-person interview, subject to specific statutory exceptions. This suspension shall not apply to any foreign national traveling on a diplomatic or diplomatic-type visa, North Atlantic Treaty Organization visa, C-2 visa for travel to the United Nations, or G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-4 visa; traveling for purposes related to an international organization designated under the IOIA; or traveling for purposes of conducting meetings or business with the United States Government.
(b) To the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of State shall immediately expand the Consular Fellows Program, including by substantially increasing the number of Fellows, lengthening or making permanent the period of service, and making language training at the Foreign Service Institute available to Fellows for assignment to posts outside of their area of core linguistic ability, to ensure that nonimmigrant visa-interview wait times are not unduly affected.
Sec. 10. Visa Validity Reciprocity. The Secretary of State shall review all nonimmigrant visa reciprocity agreements and arrangements to ensure that they are, with respect to each visa classification, truly reciprocal insofar as practicable with respect to validity period and fees, as required by sections 221(c) and 281 of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1201(c) and 1351, and other treatment. If another country does not treat United States nationals seeking nonimmigrant visas in a truly reciprocal manner, the Secretary of State shall adjust the visa validity period, fee schedule, or other treatment to match the treatment of United States nationals by that foreign country, to the extent practicable.
Sec. 11. Transparency and Data Collection. (a) To be more transparent with the American people and to implement more effectively policies and practices that serve the national interest, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall, consistent with applicable law and national security, collect and make publicly available the following information:
(i) information regarding the number of foreign nationals in the United States who have been charged with terrorism-related offenses while in the United States; convicted of terrorism-related offenses while in the United States; or removed from the United States based on terrorism-related activity, affiliation with or provision of material support to a terrorism-related organization, or any other national-security-related reasons;
(ii) information regarding the number of foreign nationals in the United States who have been radicalized after entry into the United States and who have engaged in terrorism-related acts, or who have provided material support to terrorism-related organizations in countries that pose a threat to the United States;
(iii) information regarding the number and types of acts of gender-based violence against women, including so-called “honor killings,” in the United States by foreign nationals; and
(iv) any other information relevant to public safety and security as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General, including information on the immigration status of foreign nationals charged with major offenses.
(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall release the initial report under subsection (a) of this section within 180 days of the effective date of this order and shall include information for the period from September 11, 2001, until the date of the initial report. Subsequent reports shall be issued every 180 days thereafter and reflect the period since the previous report.
Sec. 12. Enforcement. (a) The Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall consult with appropriate domestic and international partners, including countries and organizations, to ensure efficient, effective, and appropriate implementation of the actions directed in this order.
(b) In implementing this order, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including, as appropriate, those providing an opportunity for individuals to claim a fear of persecution or torture, such as the credible fear determination for aliens covered by section 235(b)(1)(A) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(A).
(c) No immigrant or nonimmigrant visa issued before the effective date of this order shall be revoked pursuant to this order.
(d) Any individual whose visa was marked revoked or marked canceled as a result of Executive Order 13769 shall be entitled to a travel document confirming that the individual is permitted to travel to the United States and seek entry. Any prior cancellation or revocation of a visa that was solely pursuant to Executive Order 13769 shall not be the basis of inadmissibility for any future determination about entry or admissibility.
(e) This order shall not apply to an individual who has been granted asylum, to a refugee who has already been admitted to the United States, or to an individual granted withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture. Nothing in this order shall be construed to limit the ability of an individual to seek asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture, consistent with the laws of the United States.
Sec. 13. Revocation. Executive Order 13769 of January 27, 2017, is revoked as of the effective date of this order.
Sec. 14. Effective Date. This order is effective at 12:01 a.m., eastern daylight time on March 16, 2017.
Sec. 15. Severability. (a) If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this order and the application of its other provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.
(b) If any provision of this order, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid because of the lack of certain procedural requirements, the relevant executive branch officials shall implement those procedural requirements.
Sec. 16. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
When a nation becomes possessed with a spirit of commercial greed, beyond those just and fair limits set by a due regard to a moderate and reasonable degree of general and individual prosperity, it is a nation possessed by the devil of commercial avarice
Free Speech – According to Fox News – President Trump tweeted early Thursday that if schools like University of California, Berkeley, do not allow free speech, it may cost them federal funding.
Okay class here the deal on “Free Speech” Protected vs. Unprotected Speech
Freedom of speech includes the right:
Not to speak (specifically, the right not to salute the flag). West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943).
Of students to wear black armbands to school to protest a war (“Students do not shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate.”). Tinker v. Des Moines, 393 U.S. 503 (1969).
To use certain offensive words and phrases to convey political messages. Cohen v. California, 403 U.S. 15 (1971).
To contribute money (under certain circumstances) to political campaigns. Buckley v. Valeo, 424 U.S. 1 (1976).
To advertise commercial products and professional services (with some restrictions). Virginia Board of Pharmacy v. Virginia Consumer Council, 425 U.S. 748 (1976); Bates v. State Bar of Arizona, 433 U.S. 350 (1977).
To engage in symbolic speech, (e.g., burning the flag in protest). Texas v. Johnson, 491 U.S. 397 (1989); United States v. Eichman, 496 U.S. 310 (1990).
Freedom of speech does not include the right:
To incite actions that would harm others (e.g., “Shouting ‘fire’ in a crowded theater.”). Schenck v. United States, 249 U.S. 47 (1919).
To make or distribute obscene materials. Roth v. United States, 354 U.S. 476 (1957).
To burn draft cards as an anti-war protest. United States v. O’Brien, 391 U.S. 367 (1968).
To permit students to print articles in a school newspaper over the objections of the school administration. – …did you know this? Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier, 484 U.S. 260 (1988).
Of students to make an obscene speech at a school-sponsored event. Bethel School District #43 v. Fraser, 478 U.S. 675 (1986).
Of students to advocate illegal drug use at a school-sponsored event. Morse v. Frederick, __ U.S. __ (2007).
Source: U.S. Courts
Only one arrest was made at Berkely – According to Legal Insurrection –
Wednesday night’s riots at the University of California, Berkeley (University of California–Berkeley is ranked #20 in National Universities) quickly turned violent, with some agitators even throwing explosives at police officers, yet it appears not a single arrest was made.
In fact, according to a university press release issued the night of the riots, “no arrests had been made by UCPD as of 9:30 p.m.,” with other outlets reporting the following morning that still no arrests had been made throughout the night.
He is a British journalist, author, entrepreneur, public speaker, and senior editor for Breitbart News, a far-right news and opinion website – Wikipedia.
His events have sparked protests over his inflammatory comments about women and minorities – for example:
Yiannopoulos proudly represents the “alt-right,” an Internet-based ideology propagating views commonly associated with white supremacy and white ethnonationalism. He was banned from Twitter after spearheading a racist harassment campaign against African-American actress Leslie Jones last year, and frequently lashes out against what he considers a liberally biased media landscape, according to JoeMyGod
In a statement Yiannopolous , Rwas asked – How he obtained credentials for the presidential briefing, he replied, “I’m a senior editor at America’s most influential news outlet. How the f–k do you think?”
Individuals have been rioting since the assassination of Julius Ceaser of the Rome – yet interestingly one person may have been arrested in the Berkeley riot. Riots are a form of civil disorders characterized by disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence, vandalism or other crime. Riots often occur in reaction to a perceived grievance or out of dissent. Historically, riots have occurred due to poor working or living conditions, government oppression, taxation or conscription, conflicts between races or religions, or even the outcome of a sporting event. Some claim that rioters are motivated by a rejection of or frustration with legal channels through which to air their grievances.
Cleveland – On the morning of April 6, 1970, 350 to 400 whites, mostly students, gathered outside of Collinwood High School and began throwing rocks at the school, breaking 56 windows. Police often had to resort to arresting Collinwood students when fights and demonstrations went too far. According to the Plain Dealer 11 persons were arrested after a series of incidents involving fistfights between Negroes and whites, beatings and vandalism.”
Minneapolis – What started out as a lunchtime food fight in a Minneapolis high school ended in a massive brawl involving hundreds of students and police officers wielding canisters of Mace.
New York- Columbia University protests of 1968 were among the many student demonstrations that erupted over the spring of that year after students discovered links between the university and the institutional apparatus supporting the United States’ involvement in the Vietnam War, as well as their concern over an allegedly segregatory gymnasium.
I point out the various riots that have occurred over the course of time at various educational institutions to note that when individuals and/or groups are moved by their passions the need to show their thoughts are sadly coupled with physical violence. Yet the President of the United States has elected via “freedom of speech” to indicate that Federal Funding should be a consequence of – freedom to use a form of communication, i.e. symbolic speech…
When a nation becomes possessed with a spirit of commercial greed, beyond those just and fair limits set by a due regard to a moderate and reasonable degree of general and individual prosperity, it is a nation possessed by the devil of commercial avarice, a passion as ignoble and demoralizing as avarice in the individual; and as this sordid passion is baser and more unscrupulous than ambition, so it is more hateful, and at last makes the infected nation to be regarded as the enemy of the human race. To grasp at the lion’s share of commerce, has always at last proven the ruin of States, because it invariably leads to injustices that make a State detestable; to a selfishness and crooked policy that forbid other nations to be the friends of a State that cares only for itself. Pike
“When office and wealth become the gods of a people, and the most unworthy and unfit most aspire to the former, and fraud becomes the highway to the latter, the land will wreak with falsehood and sweat lies and chicane.”
Sally Yates – just shameful, when you disagree – you get fired, and you are the Assistant Attorney General. Sounds sadly like the You’re Fired TV show, this is not how the government is run or at least that’s not how it was run 11 days ago.
This was the definition of the Attorney General’s role – which will now include – …unless you disagree with the President of the United States, You’re Fired!
The mission of the Office of the Attorney General is to supervise and direct the administration and operation of the Department of Justice, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Bureau of Prisons, Office of Justice Programs, and the U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals Service, which are all within the Department of Justice.
The principal duties of the Attorney General are to:
Represent the United States in legal matters.
Supervise and direct the administration and operation of the offices, boards, divisions, and bureaus that comprise the Department.
Furnish advice and opinions, formal and informal, on legal matters to the President and the Cabinet and to the heads of the executive departments and agencies of the government, as provided by law.
Make recommendations to the President concerning appointments to federal judicial positions and to positions within the Department, including U.S. Attorneys and U.S. Marshals.
Represent or supervise the representation of the United States Government in the Supreme Court of the United States and all other courts, foreign and domestic, in which the United States is a party or has an interest as may be deemed appropriate.
Perform or supervise the performance of other duties required by statute or Executive Order.
“Justice, divorced from sympathy, is selfish indifference, not in the least more laudable than misanthropic isolation.”
Research Questions for High School – History Class – February 1, 2017
Probably the most effective means an agency has of remaining powerful is entering alliance with influential interest groups.
Most federal agencies must share their functions with related states agencies.
One complication surrounding the federal bureaucracy is the fact that the Constitution does not mention departments or bureaus.
In the first Congress, it was decided that appointed federal officials would be removable by the president alone.
James Madison argued that the president alone must be able to fire a federal employee because otherwise he would not be able to control his subordinates.
During most of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, appointments to the civil service were based primarily on patronage.
The importance of the federal bureaucracy today can be measured in part by the total number of federal employees or, more accurately, by the discretionary authority of its appointed officials.
If you worked in a senior position on a successful presidential campaign and the new president then wished to have your advice while in office, you would be most likely appointed to a Schedule C position.
One advantage of the merit system to presidents is that it protects them from patronage demands.
Which of the following statements about the firing of a bureaucrat is incorrect ——– make a list.
Sources: Martin Luther Ki, ng, Pike, The United States Department of Justice
Trump isn’t the enemy or the problem, when we default to becoming emotionally moved by what he says or does, we’re in trouble. When we continue to post his comments and behavior we’re feeding the power that’s moving him. We should ask ourselves what can we do individually and collectively to teach each other about our new found awareness of how government works here in America, learn from this. Feed your desire to learn and teach, look behind and pull some Black person along, help someone get up off the floor. Remove the clearly stated boundaries that define the echelons of your neighborhood. Be more do more share more and grow more. Again I say if we were truly Americans, there would be no separate rules and amenities to help us along…
If you know right from wrong, you go to jail. If you don’t, you go to a mental institution.
If the rule is: If you know right from wrong, you go to jail. If you don’t, you go to a mental institution.
If that be true: Prisoners have chosen to do wrong
Why is the government giving some prisoners the vote, in the UK this option was reviewed.
Having initially said prisoners serving up to four years would get the vote, ministers now plan to give the vote to only those prisoners sentenced to serve a year or less. However, they are aware this policy will be tested in the courts and they might lose again.
Why only up to 4 years? Let’s suppose this was the USA, I don’t know but are the Electoral votes comprised of all residents?
Prisoners are counted at the location of the prison. However, I would suspect they are released to their hometown.
Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson has been chosen by President-elect Trump as his nominee for secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Like wiper blades on a windshield he’…
Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson has been chosen by President-elect Trump as his nominee for secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Like wiper blades on a windshield he’s going to attempt to wipe away some key decisions that allow a certain population of people to obtain housing.
Interestingly the bias for gun control is based solely on the group’s interest at the moment – a tragedy occurs. The attempt to control guns by congress and other DC based groups is the most deceitful casuistry and subterfuge of the 21st century in front of American citizens who are looking for answers albeit in the wrong place. We won’t find solace and comfort for our loved ones who have been shot at the hands of a random gunman. Congress and other on the [Hill] have no experience in helping those in pain. For this type of pain we must look to a force that is greater than congress, picket signs and petitions. We must look to Alpha and Omega, may you find Him now.
nald Trump claimed Tuesday that the National Football League is “having a very hard time” filling stadiums because Americans are “fed up” with players protesting during the national anthem.
“When office and wealth become the gods of a people, and the most unworthy and unfit most aspire to the former, and fraud becomes the highway to the latter, the land will wreak with falsehood and sweat lies and chicane.”
Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson has been chosen by President-elect Trump as his nominee for secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Like wiper blades on a windshield he’…