Category: Domestic Affairs,

Ben Carson’s family is bizarrely involved in HUD

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,Leave a comment

No one can quite figure out why the family of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson keeps hanging out around HUD, New York and ProPublica report. Carson’s wife, Candy, has “been spending far more time inside the department’s headquarters at L’Enfant Plaza than anyone could recall a secretary’s spouse doing in the past,” with Candy confusing things even more when she slipped an awkward “we” into a speech about the work Carson’s department would be doing.

In addition to “the omnipresent Mrs. Carson,” there are also the unexpected contributions of Carson’s second-oldest son:

Ben Carson Jr., who goes by B.J. and co-founded an investment firm in Columbia, Maryland, that specializes in infrastructure, health care, and workforce development, was showing up on email chains within the department and appearing often at headquarters. One day, he was seen leaving the tenth-floor office of David Eagles, the new COO, who was crafting a HUD reorganization to accompany the cuts. [New York/ProPublica]

Ben Carson’s family is bizarrely involved in HUD

weird…

“Crying Nazi” Christopher Cantwell gives himself up to police 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Chick Stuff,, Granite State,, Media and Culture,, Race,Leave a comment

Before achieving notoriety as the weeping Nazi — a dubious distinction he earned after posting an online video in which he cried at the prospect of being arrested for his actions in Charlottesville — Cantwell cut his political teeth as a men’s rights Activist. Those views were evident in his interviews during the Charlottesville rally, particularly when he condemned President Donald Trump for “giving his daughter to a Jew” on the grounds that “I don’t think you can feel about race the way I do and watch that Kushner bastard walk around with that beautiful girl.”

“Crying Nazi” Christopher Cantwell gives himself up to police – Salon.com

“Men’s rights” activists are typically less than men.

Civics, Community, and Allyship: Why We Chose Our Local Public School 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Modern Parenting,, Money, Class, and Poverty,, Race,, Schools,Leave a comment

When parents ask me where my daughter is going to kindergarten, I tell them my local, public, elementary school. Many are surprised, and follow the question up with “Oh! Is that a good school?” 

…Because it IS a good school, with loving parents, teachers, and administrators. Without the glossy brochures, the extra fancy professional development, the “team-building.”

Because there is no lottery, no admissions process, no waitlist. No back door secret enrollment policies. You live in this neighborhood; this school belongs to you.

Because it is a school brimming with potential and excellence, despite many families and people in our neighborhood who ignore it or don’t consider it worth attending and supporting

Because just as the grassy strip of parkway in front of my house is my responsibility to maintain for myself and my neighbors, my local elementary school is also that- my responsibility. My responsibility to patronize, to trust, to support.

Because unless I am intentionally placing my children in diverse settings, both socio-economically and racially, unless I am intentionally acknowledging and addressing the issues of school segregation that have divided this great city, I will raise a racist. I won’t mean to. But intentions are no longer enough. Unless I am forcibly putting her out in to the world, confident in her resilience, humanity, and grit, I will keep her cloistered and separate from the truth of what it really means to be an equal among equals.

Civics, Community, and Allyship: Why We Chose Our Local Public School – IntegratedSchools.org

Amen, like-minded parent.
A-f’ing-men.

* = I fucking hate the word “ally” and the word “allyship.” I think both of them sound patronizing and disconnected as all hell. So fuck that word choice but I’m with this guy on everything else he says.

White House rapid response director is out 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,Leave a comment

 the staffer the White House pays “$89,000 a year to spot and distribute positive stories from the mainstream media.”

HEMMING WAS SENIOR ADVISER for research at the RNC in the 2016 cycle and director of research on the Trump campaign. At the White House, he worked from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. every weekday and was a regular in reporters’ inboxes, blasting out stories favorable to the administration.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: White House rapid response director is out – POLITICO

 

hmmmm

Jury finds all 7 wildlife refuge occupiers including Ammon Bundy not guilty on all counts 

On By peanutgallerynhIn American Injustice System,Leave a comment

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – A federal jury has found Ammon Bundy and his six co-defendants not guilty on all charges for taking over a federal wildlife refuge in eastern Oregon earlier this year. 

Jury finds all 7 wildlife refuge occupiers including Ammon Bundy not guilty on all counts | KATU

I wonder if there is a way to conceal the race of a defendant from the jury… Anyone else wonder how long their treasonous asses would be sent to jail for if they weren’t white???

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin says bloodshed may be needed to protect conservatism

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,Leave a comment

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin said conservatives may need to turn to physical violence in order to protect the United States against contemporary liberalism. The Republican governor put forth the controversial suggestion after speaking of the “degradation of society” during an impassioned, 15-minute speech

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin says bloodshed may be needed to protect conservatism

Lord almighty…. Talk about un-American. This guy clearly hates the stars and stripes and everything it stands for. The only upside of this is stupid is as stupid does. Most of the idiots who would follow this guy’s lead are too stupid to know one side from the other and are just as likely to attack other conservatives as they are “contemporary liberals.”

Mexico isn’t going to pay for the border wall (um, no shit, Sherlock???)

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, The Americas,Leave a comment

If you knew anything about Donald Trump during the 2016 campaign, it was that he was going to build a wall on our southern border– and that Mexico was going to pay for it.

: BREAKING: Mexico isn’t going to pay for the border wall – CNNPolitics

<snort> if you bought that snake oil it is fitting for you to be choking on it right about now.

President Donald J. Trump Signs H.J.Res. 69, H.J.Res. 83, H.R. 1228, S.J.Res. 34 into Law

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Environment,, Media and Culture,, Privacy,, Science and Stuff,Leave a comment

On Monday, April 3, 2017, [Trump] signed into law:

H.J.Res. 69, which nullifies the Department of the Interior’s Fish and Wildlife Service’s final rule relating to non-subsistence takings of wildlife on National Wildlife Refuges in Alaska;

H.J.Res. 83, which nullifies the Department of Labor’s rule titled Clarification of Employer’s Continuing Obligation to Make and Maintain an Accurate Record of Each Recordable Injury and Illness;

…S.J.Res. 34 – which nullifies the Federal Communications Commission’s rule on privacy of customers of broadband and other telecommunications services.

President Donald J. Trump Signs H.J.Res. 69, H.J.Res. 83, H.R. 1228, S.J.Res. 34 into Law | whitehouse.gov

oy….

Nathaniel Richmond, father of Steubenville High School football player convicted of rape, shoots judge, killed by probation officer

On By peanutgallerynhIn Local Interest,Leave a comment

The man who shot a judge outside a county courthouse before being gunned down by a probation officer was the father of a Steubenville High School football player who was convicted of rape in 2013, authorities said Monday.

: Nathaniel Richmond, father of Steubenville High School football player convicted of rape, shoots judge, killed by probation officer

hmmmm

Donald Trump travel, family depletes Secret Service funds for agents

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Money, Class, and Poverty,Leave a comment

The Secret Service can no longer pay hundreds of agents it needs to carry out an expanded protective mission – in large part due to the sheer size of President Trump’s family and efforts necessary to secure their multiple residences up and down the East Coast.

…Agents must protect Trump – who has traveled almost every weekend to his properties in Florida, New Jersey and Virginia – and his adult children whose business trips and vacations have taken them across the country and overseas.

…Alles said the service is grappling with an unprecedented number of White House protectees. Under Trump, 42 people have protection, a number that includes 18 members of his family. That’s up from 31 during the Obama administration.

…Officials had hoped that the agency’s workload would normalize after the inauguration, but the president’s frequent weekend trips, his family’s business travel and the higher number of protectees has made that impossible.

…Always costly in manpower and equipment, the president’s jaunts to Mar-a-Lago are estimated to cost at least $3 million each, based on a General Accounting Office estimate for similar travel by former President Obama. The Secret Service has spent some $60,000 on golf cart rentals alone this year to protect Trump at both Mar-a-Lago and Bedminster.

…Eric Trump’s business travel to Uruguay cost the Secret Service nearly $100,000 just for hotel rooms. Other trips included the United Kingdom and the Dominican Republic. In February, both sons and their security details traveled to Vancouver, British Columbia, for the opening of new Trump hotel there, and to Dubai to officially open a Trump International Golf Club.

In March, security details accompanied part of the family, including Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner on a skiing vacation in Aspen, Colo. Even Tiffany Trump, the president’s younger daughter, took vacations with her boyfriend to international locales such as Germany and Hungary, which also require Secret Service protection.

Donald Trump travel, family depletes Secret Service funds for agents

…wait does the Donald know that protection extends to Tiffany? I mean, is he OK with that? Just kidding.. Sort of.

Trump Eliminates Plastic Water Bottle Ban in National Parks, Removes White House Bikeshare Station

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Environment,Leave a comment

…rescinded the 2011 “Water Bottle Ban” that allowed parks to prohibit the sale of disposable plastic water bottles. That same day, news emerged that the Trump administration removed a nine-slot Capital Bikeshare station at the White House that was requested and installed during the Obama years and used by staffers.

Trump Eliminates Plastic Water Bottle Ban in National Parks, Removes White House Bikeshare Station

What assholes, these guys.