Allies heaps scorn on Trump for spineless, weasel-like Paris douchebaggery

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

…”The blow to the international political credibility of the United States really cannot be underestimated.”

…Germany [said it] could no longer “completely depend” on the United States and that European leaders “must really take our destiny into our own hands.”

…Macron responded to Trump’s climate decision with a strong statement — delivered live at 10 p.m. in Paris on Thursday night — and sent a mocking tweet that read, “Make Our Planet Great Again.”

France, Italy and Germany released a joint statement on Thursday night saying the Paris deal could not be negotiated, despite Trump’s talk of getting a better deal.

…Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau …tweeted that he was “disappointed” in the U.S.’s decision.

…British Prime Minister Theresa May released a similar statement.

…Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, for instance, called Trump’s decision a “brutal act.”

…“My guess is, in the Kremlin, they are absolutely delighted,” Pifer, a former ambassador to Ukraine, said. 

“To the extent that withdrawing from the Paris accord looks like the United States stepping back from an area where the U.S. has been leader, that’s simply music to [Vladimir] Putin’s ears.” 

Diplomats said Trump’s tone could exacerbate his problems in dealing with other countries.

Globe heaps scorn on Trump for Paris exit | TheHill

Incompetent boobs destroying the United’s States position as a respected leader because they are too stupid to see the effects of their actions. Heaven help us all make it through the next 3.5 years alive…

Trump administration touts innovation, cuts funding for it 

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

Despite announcing plans to pull out of the Paris climate accord, President Donald Trump’s language and that of his EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt, seem at odds with the actions he proposes taking.

Trump administration touts innovation, cuts funding for it – CNNPolitics.com

cluster-f

House Russia probe veers close to dysfunction at end of rocky week 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,Leave a comment
A visibly angry House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said Friday she has met with House Speaker Paul Ryan multiple times to complain about Nunes never fully stepping away from the Russia probe — despite the California Republican’s promise two months ago that he would step aside.
“The behavior of Nunes — whatever we’re calling him, ‘Chairman Recused, ‘Un-recused, ‘I didn’t mean recuse, when I said and gave you the impression of recused’ — whatever that loosey-goosey (definition) is — is beneath the dignity of being a chairman of the intelligence committee,” Pelosi said.
The anger behind the scenes was reignited when Nunes signed off on four subpoenas sent by House Russia investigators to former national security adviser Michael Flynn and Trump lawyer Michael Cohen — and also issued three subpoenas on his own, seeking information from former Obama administration officials.

House Russia probe veers close to dysfunction at end of rocky week – CNNPolitics.com

Shady, unAmerican bs. Nunes needs to have some federal charges leveled at him. Yester-fucking-day.

Nunes-led House Intelligence Committee asked for ‘unmaskings’ of Americans 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,Leave a comment

The Republican-controlled House Intelligence Committee asked U.S. spy agencies late last year to reveal the names of U.S. individuals or organizations contained in classified intelligence on Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election, engaging in the same practice that President Trump has accused the Obama administration of abusing, current and former officials said.

The chairman of the committee, Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), has since cast the practice of “unmasking” of U.S. individuals and organizations mentioned in classified reports as an abuse of surveillance powers by the outgoing Obama administration.

…Democrats on the panel say they believe the latest direction of Nunes’s investigation is designed to deflect attention from the Russia probe. In April, Nunes was forced to recuse himself from the committee’s probe of Russia because of allegations he may have inappropriately disclosed classified information. Nunes has denied any wrongdoing.

Nunes-led House Intelligence Committee asked for ‘unmaskings’ of Americans – The Washington Post

hmmm

French Open bans Hamou over attempts to kiss reporter on live TV 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Chick Stuff,, Europe,, Media and Culture,Leave a comment

The episode drew ire on social media, including from French politician Cécile Duflot.”He kisses her by force, she tries to get away, he holds her by the neck and everyone… laughs #tired,” the Green MP wrote on Twitter (in French).

Quoted by the Huffington Post France, Ms Thomas described the player’s actions as “frankly unpleasant”.

“If I hadn’t been live on air, I would have punched him.”

French Open bans Hamou over attempts to kiss reporter on live TV – BBC News

Assault charges would be a nice touch.

The First Genome Data from Ancient Egyptian Mummies

On By peanutgallerynhIn Science and Stuff,Leave a comment

An international team of scientists successfully recovered and analyzed ancient DNA from Egyptian mummies dating from approximately 1400 BCE to 400 CE, including the first genome-wide nuclear data from three individuals, establishing ancient Egyptian mummies as a reliable source for genetic material to study the ancient past.

The First Genome Data from Ancient Egyptian Mummies

Wild!

Trial Nears For Minnesota Police Officer Who Shot Philando Castile 

On By peanutgallerynhIn American Injustice System,Leave a comment

Yanez told his partner that he thought the driver fit the description of a suspect in a convenience store robbery that happened down the road just a few days earlier. He told the driver and passenger that he was pulling them over for a broken brake light.

Seventy-four seconds after Yanez activated his squad lights, he fired the last of seven shots into the car, fatally injuring the 32-year-old driver, Philando Castile. As Castile slumped over, dying, his girlfriend, Diamond Reynolds, began live-streaming on Facebook. Her 4-year-old daughter watched from the back seat.

Now, Yanez faces manslaughter and weapons charges tied to the shooting. Jury selection begins Tuesday in what’s believed to be the first time a Minnesota police officer has been indicted for shooting a civilian while on duty.

…Castile, who worked for years as a school cafeteria supervisor, had a handgun he was licensed to carry in his pocket the night he was pulled over.

…According to the criminal complaint, Castile’s last words were: “I wasn’t reaching for it.”

…”The mere mention or presence of a firearm alone cannot justify the use of deadly force,” Choi says.

Trial Nears For Minnesota Police Officer Who Shot Philando Castile : NPR

There isn’t enough jail-time in the world for this lawless murderer but a conviction and incarceration in general population would go a long way in making example of what is not acceptable behavior for an officer of the law. It would probably also make him a corpse. In this case, that seems like something that more than resembles a fair and equitable outcome. Do unto others after all….

French Open bars Maxime Hamou for trying to kiss TV reporter during interview

On By peanutgallerynhIn Chick Stuff,, Europe,, Media and Culture,Leave a comment

The French Tennis Federation has revoked the accreditation of Maxime Hamou after he repeatedly tried to kiss a female reporter during an interview following his first-round loss in the French Open.

[Hamou] also held Eurosport TV journalist Maly Thomas around her neck as she tried to move away during a live interview at Roland Garros.

French Open bars Maxime Hamou for trying to kiss TV reporter during interview

That’s a good start, let’s see some actual charges. An example clearly needs to be made of idiots who think they are entitled to subjugate other human beings based on gender or skin color.

Belgium: Female students asked to wear low-cut tops to graduation 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Chick Stuff,, Europe,Leave a comment

The ULB Confessions page also published a response it had received from a student: “No one has the right to tell you how you should feel in your skin. Nobody has the right to tell you how to dress. No one has the right to tell you how to play your role as a woman. No one has the right to take away this freedom that has been (and is still being) obtained with such difficulty.”

Belgium: Female students asked to wear low-cut tops to graduation – BBC News

WTF?!

Donald Trump doesn’t seem to understand how the Senate works 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,Leave a comment

Getting rid of the legislative filibuster would make the way the Senate works entirely indistinguishable from the way the House works.The House is — and was designed to be — a majority-rule entity. From its founding in Article 1, Section 3 of the Constitution, which establishes that members of the House must stand for new terms every two years, the whole idea was that the House was the direct voice of the people — reflecting what they wanted at a given time.

That same Constitution — you may have heard of it — established six-year terms for senators, an attempt to differentiate it from the House and create the idea of the Senate as a more deliberate institution.

…Trump’s tweet is also wrong on the specifics of the two pieces of legislation — health care and tax reform — he is insisting would pass the Senate if not for its 60-vote rule.

…Trump is either blithely unaware of these things or simply doesn’t care. 

…In Trump’s mind, he’s the President so everyone — the Senate included — should be doing what he says and passing the legislation he wants passed.
Which, of course, is a gross misunderstanding of the separation of powers, the history of the Senate and the current legislative processes governing tax reform and the American Health Care Act.

Donald Trump doesn’t seem to understand how the Senate works – CNNPolitics.com

That’s what happens when you vote for someone who talks like a toddler: tjhey act like one too.

Officer Who Killed Tamir Rice Fired For Rule Violations On Job Application

On By peanutgallerynhIn American Injustice System,, Local Interest,, Race,Leave a comment

Timothy Loehmann, the police officer who shot and killed 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014, was fired by the Cleveland Police Department on Tuesday. At a news conference, city authorities announced that the reason for his termination wasn’t the deadly incident that brought him to national attention, but rather violations he committed in the course of his hiring process.

Officer Who Killed Tamir Rice Fired For Rule Violations On Job Application : The Two-Way : NPR

 

hmmm

Tamir Rice’s mother ‘relieved’ at firing of Timothy Loehmann, wishes Frank Garmback was fired 

On By peanutgallerynhIn American Injustice System,, Local Interest,, Race,Leave a comment

“What we don’t see out of today is any mention of accountability for the people at the city who permitted Loehmann to become an officer to begin with,” Chandra said. “There’s absolutely not a hint of that. There’s no explanation, there’s no accountability, there’s no accounting to the public for who it is that failed to check Loehmann’s application, to check his background and do proper do diligence before entrusting this man with a badge and a gun.”

Tamir Rice’s mother ‘relieved’ at firing of Timothy Loehmann, wishes Frank Garmback was fired | cleveland.com

 

sigh….

A Transit Officer Questioned A Commuter’s Immigration Status, A Fellow Passenger Intervened

On By peanutgallerynhIn American Injustice System,, Infrastructure and Transportation,, Local Interest,, Race,Leave a comment

In a Facebook post shared last Friday, Metro Transit Police Chief John Harrington said, “This afternoon, community members and partners alerted me to a situation in which one of my part time officers was witnessed asking an individual whether he was in the state illegally. I immediately called for an Internal Affairs investigation to gather the details about this incident and to report back to me as quickly as possible.”

He added, “It is not the practice of the Metro Transit police to inquire about the immigration status of our riders.”

As The Washington Post points out, when Minneapolis declared itself a sanctuary city in 2003, a city ordinance prohibited city employees (including police) from inquiring about a person’s immigration unless it’s directly relevant to a crime under investigation.

A Transit Officer Questioned A Commuter’s Immigration Status, A Fellow Passenger Intervened

Show me your papers, brown person!

White House Flashing Lights Video: Strange Red Strobe Light Flashes Bring Ambulance, Alzheimer’s Therapy Buzz

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,Leave a comment

“If it were ambulance lights flashing outside the White House, the lights would reflect on the walls. They don’t.”

“Spicer’s story makes sense if the ambulance was in the White House dining room making itself a sandwich. Can I see the visitor logs? No? OK.”

“Unless you mean the ambulance was inside the White House on the second floor. From a physics point of view the light is inside the WH.”

“It also seems odd the local news team watching the White House, trying to figure this out, would have missed an ambulance in front of them.”

White House Flashing Lights Video: Strange Red Strobe Light Flashes Bring Ambulance, Alzheimer’s Therapy Buzz

hmmm

Mike Dubke, White House communications director, quits 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,Leave a comment

The White House communications director has resigned only three months after being hired by President Donald Trump.Mike Dubke, an experienced Republican strategist, was hired in March to revamp the White House media strategy.

As part of the shake-up, White House press secretary Sean Spicer will reportedly hold on to his position, but there will be fewer media briefings.

The reshuffle follows reports of disarray in the White House communications team.

Mike Dubke, White House communications director, quits – BBC News

hmmmm