What goes through my my mind when I read the news with my morning coffee. …Or for the Simon's Rockers in the group, this is my response journal.
: HHS plans hours-long shutdowns of ObamaCare site during enrollment period | TheHill
Yes, it’s better than nothing. And yes, it is definitely better than any alternative proposed by the G.O.P. and the Right but it’s still a heaping pile of shit. What a bloated, ill-conceived mess!
: Tree hides portrait of state’s 1st woman elected governor – ABC News
Wow, beyond childish, that is downright lame.
The president called on NFL owners to fire players who protest during the national anthem, and ridiculed rules changes meant to protect players….
…Trump, apparently, is the only person in America who wants to see a more dangerous game of football.
Trump: Fire NFL Players Who Protest; Football Is Too Soft | SI.com
sigh….
NBA star Stephen Curry was dis-invited from the White House on Saturday by President Trump.
Trump rescinds Stephen Curry’s invitation to White House | New York Post
Presidential…
It’s pretty obvious the Cheeto has no idea what that word means…
A key vacancy in the State Department is creating friction between the European Union and United States over a new agreement affecting thousands of U.S. companies that do business in Europe.
The agreement, known as the privacy shield, allows businesses to swiftly send personal data across the Atlantic, something that affects a huge swath of U.S. companies, from Facebook and Apple to Netflix and Google.
Without the shield, companies that operate in Europe would have to enter into special contracts to transfer personal data.
EU officials are worried that the Trump administration has yet to nominate an ombudsman at the State Department to oversee complaints from Europeans about the access U.S. national security agencies may have to their data.
Trump vacancy raises consternation with Europe | TheHill
hmmmm
…there is a significant divergence between the actual and perceived scope of First Amendment freedoms. More specifically, with respect to the questions explored above, many students have an overly narrow view of the extent of freedom of expression. For example, a very significant percentage of students hold the view that hate speech is unprotected. In addition, a surprisingly large fraction of students believe it is acceptable to act—including resorting to violence—to shut down expression they consider offensive. And a majority of students appear to want an environment that shields them from being exposed to views they might find offensive.
Views among college students regarding the First Amendment: Results from a new survey
hmmm
Oscar and Irma Sanchez, both of whom are undocumented immigrants living in Texas, were arrested while awaiting a serious surgery for their two-month-old son, highlighting the excruciating human cost of President Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant crusade.
Undocumented Parents Arrested at Children’s Hospital While Awaiting Their Infant Son’s Surgery
sigh….
After a wave of high-profile White House departures this summer, staffers who remained are reaching out to headhunters to discuss their next moves.
…Political appointees want to leave for myriad reasons, according to recruiters, Republican operatives, and White House officials. Morale is low, the Russia investigations only seem to grow in scope, and constant churn at the top has left some staffers without patrons in a workplace known for back-biting and a tribal-like attitude.
…“There will be an exodus from this administration in January,” said one Republican lobbyist, who alone has heard from five officials looking for new gigs. “Everyone says, ‘I just need to stay for one year.’ If you leave before a year, it looks like you are acknowledging that you made a mistake.”
Staffers are already laying the groundwork through networking, lunches, and resumes sent to D.C.-based executive recruiters, so that they can a land new job by the start of 2018. Two headhunters confirmed that they had heard from multiple White House staffers.
…The White House has already shed senior staff. Roughly 23 White House staffers have also resigned or been fired since January including high-profile departures such Trump’s first chief of staff Reince Priebus, chief strategist Steve Bannon, and former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to lesser-known appointees such as Michael Short of the communications shop, Derek Harvey of the National Security Council, or former deputy chief of staff Katie Walsh.
…It’s not clear whether controversy over Trump’s policy positions will make it harder for people to find work. Former press secretary Sean Spicer has struggled to land a role as a paid network or cable news contributor because of concerns about his credibility.
Trump aides begin looking for the exits – POLITICO
hmmmm
Facebook has agreed to provide details to congressional investigators about ads purchased by Russians to influence the 2016 presidential campaign, and on Thursday vowed greater transparency in political advertising. But some …senators want to make those pledges mandatory.
The moves come amid mounting pressure from Congress to release the Russian-related ads….
…writing legislation that would require web platforms with more than one million users to publicly disclose the names of individuals and organizations that spend more than $10,000 on election-related advertisements.
The sites would also have to provide a copy of the advertisement, and disclose details about the targeted audience, the number of people who view the ad, the time and date it was published, the amount of money charged and the buyer’s contract information.
Facebook’s cooperation on Russian ads doesn’t stop Democrats’ demands – POLITICO
hmmmm
The announcement follows the publication of a KyCIR investigation into the Louisville Metro Police Department’s relationship with federal immigration agents.
hmmmm
Trump and his Cabinet have repeated baseless claims that thousands of Massachusetts residents “brought in on buses” voted illegally in New Hampshire, which we originally rated Pants on Fire.
…A voter can prove domicile using a New Hampshire driver’s license, a vehicle registration in the state, or a non-driver ID or other government issued photo identification that lists a New Hampshire address.
…in some towns, providing a form issued by a New Hampshire college or university is sufficient to prove domicile. In Manchester, a voter can prove domicile by presenting a monthly bill, a medical bill, pay stubs showing a current address, or postmarked mail within the last 30 days. Other towns accept similar documentation.
…cited 5,313 votes cast with out-of-state IDs, but New Hampshire law says there’s nothing inherently fraudulent about them, as a person can lawfully vote in New Hampshire while holding motor vehicle registration or a driver’s license in another state.
Is there evidence of voter fraud in New Hampshire, as Kris Kobach said? Not really | PolitiFact
hmmmm
Special counsel Robert Mueller has asked the White House to turn over documents related to some of President Trump’s most controversial actions in office, including his dismissal of former FBI Director James Comey.
…Mueller is also interested in the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of Trump’s first national security adviser, Michael Flynn, as well as an Oval Office meeting with Russian officials during which Trump reportedly said the Comey firing relieved “great pressure” on him.
Mueller has also requested documents related to the White House response to media questions about a June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower between the president’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., and a Russian government lawyer promising dirt on Hillary Clinton.
Mueller requests White House documents related to Trump conduct: report | TheHill
hmmmm
Critics argue that civil asset forfeiture program’s abuses outweigh its benefits.
Has asset forfeiture gone too far? Truck seizure case sparks outrage, a call for change | Fox News
Although the truck incident is unfair it is far from the most egregious example of asset seizure gone wrong. Apparently the truly outrageous thing here is that this dude is a white republican???
Asset seizure IS wrong but this case is nothing compared to what’s out there.
Police in Oklahoma City on Tuesday night fatally shot a deaf man who they say was advancing toward them with a metal pipe as witnesses yelled that the man was deaf and could not hear them.
Lt. Matthew Lindsey arrived at the address and encountered 35-year-old Magdiel Sanchez, who was on the porch holding a 2-foot metal pipe with a leather loop in his right hand. Lindsey called for backup and Sgt. Christopher Barnes arrived.
….”In those situations, very volatile situations, when you have a weapon out, you can get what they call tunnel vision or you can really lock into just the person that has the weapon that’d be the threat against you,” [said the person who doesn’t understand it is the cops jobs to protect, not kill in cold blood, even if their pansy asses are scared.]
….Police ordered Sanchez to drop the weapon and get on the ground, Mathews said. Both officers had weapons drawn — Lindsey had a Taser and Barnes a gun. Sanchez came off the porch and was walking toward Barnes.
Oklahoma City Police Fatally Shoot Deaf Man Despite Yells Of ‘He Can’t Hear’ : The Two-Way : NPR
…And instead of listening to bystanders or (more importantly) using the taser they already had drawn they killed him in cold blood.
Screw the tunnel vision bullshit. If a person can’t fight their instincts enough to overcome that, they have no business carrying a gun , let alone a badge.
These officers should be in prison. They committed cold blooded murder. Anyone who attempts to justify their action is aiding and abetting them and should be tossed into a dark and depressing prison right along with them.
Police used a technique called kettling on Sunday night to box in dozens of people at a busy downtown intersection and arrest them for failing to disperse.
As arrests are made, protesters question the tactics used by St. Louis police | Metro | stltoday.com
hmmmm
Riot police trampled an elderly woman in St. Louis as activists poured into the streets to protest a white former officer’s acquittal for the shooting death of a black man. Judge Timothy Wilson ruled that an audio recording of Stockley declaration that he was going to “kill this motherf*cker” was only an “ambiguous” statement that was not a definite desire to kill.
WATCH: St Louis cops trample elderly woman then handcuff her during police brutality protest
Sigh…
An unmarked police vehicle drove backwards down a street near protests after making an arrest on Sunday night, police said.
VIDEO: Police vehicle reverses through crowd of protesters – KMOV.com
what???
STLPD have confirmed they are investigating this person, who is indeed an officer, but they will not comment further at this time.
Investigation underway after St. Louis officer accused of postin – KMOV.com
hmmm
The court decided there is currently no reliable, scientific test for marijuana impairment.
SJC decides field sobriety tests not scientific evidence for pot
hmmm
The finale of the state’s legislative session was a primal scream aimed at the president.
California tears into Trump – POLITICO
hmmmm
“I mean, think of it, do we want Vladimir Putin or drug cartels to be influencing American elections?” Ann Ravel asked in 2015.
Facebook & Russian election meddling: The FEC’s Ann Ravel sounded the alarm in 2015 — Quartz
hmmmmm
San Diego has started washing its downtown streets with bleach in an effort to combat an outbreak of hepatitis A that has killed at least 15 people and infected nearly 400.
The infectious disease has largely infected homeless people in the coastal California city, and part of the issue is an apparent shortage of public restrooms in areas where the population congregates.
San Diego Washing Streets With Bleach To Combat Hepatitis A Outbreak : The Two-Way : NPR
Jeezus…
That study said refugees brought in $63 billion more in government revenue over the past decade than they cost agencies.
Trump administration officials reject report on refugees: report | TheHill
sigh…
CNN says Manafort was under observation for years — except while he worked for Trump.
hmmmm
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