Trump’s treasury nominee tries to answer for foreclosure practices, ties to offshore entities 

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

Mnuchin, a veteran Wall Street investor, has also come under fire for his 2009 purchase of failed subprime mortgage lender IndyMac from the federal government. Mnuchin renamed the bank OneWest and ran it for six years.

Mnuchin purchased OneWest for $1.6 billion and sold the bank to CIT Group in 2015 for $3.4 billion.

He also faced scrutiny of his complex business interests. According to the memo from Democratic staff, Mnuchin initially failed to disclose his homes in New York City, Southampton, N.Y., and Los Angeles, as well as $15 million in real estate holdings in Mexico. Also missing was $906,556 worth of artwork held by his children.

On Thursday, Wyden accused Mnuchin of using loopholes in international tax law to shield millions of dollars from taxation. “I’m very troubled about this question of how you’re going to un-rig the system if you’ve got a record of taking advantage of tax shelters,” Wyden said.


Trump’s treasury nominee defends foreclosure practices, ties to offshore entities – The Washington Post

Oy….

Living in limbo: documenting life as a migrant in Libya

On By peanutgallerynhIn Middle East,Leave a comment

“Why, if they know they could die at sea, are they still coming?” That’s the question being asked by many Europeans about the continuing flood of migrants trying to cross from Africa to Italy, Greece and other parts of Europe in crowded, often unseaworthy boats, many dying in the attempt. I wanted to show what is happening on the other side of the Mediterranean, in Libya. Working in Libya is difficult and dangerous, even with a good knowledge of the country and good connections. We didn’t know what to expect.

Living in limbo: documenting life as a migrant in Libya | The Independent

hmmmm

Ricky Williams was stopped by Tyler police while in town for awards banquet

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

Ricky Williams was a first-round pick in the 1999 NFL draft. Former Texas running back and Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams was searched by Tyler (Texas) police in the parking lot of his hotel after he went for a walk in the city on Jan. 11. 

Ricky Williams was stopped by Tyler police while in town for awards banquet

GRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

…and fuck that bullshit noise about the tape measure!

Malia Obama went on secret trip to South America 

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

Mamani told the New York Times he had no idea who Malia was during the mountain excursion, instead thinking it was one of the other hikers who prompted the security — which came at the behest of President Obama, who called Bolivian President Evo Morales to request the extra personnel.“

There was a blond girl and we assumed she was the important one,” Mamani said.

Malia Obama went on secret trip to South America | New York Post

hmmm

After Facebook rants, Corpus Christi mayor resigns 37 days into term 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Gulf Coast Region,, Local Interest,Leave a comment

…Questions raised by local media after his campaign literature included on his educational resume a bachelor’s degree in engineering, though he refused to say where he earned it. Hours before resigning, he admitted in an interview with KIII-TV3 that he did not possess the engineering degree, though he possessed separate bachelor’s and master’s degrees and was employed as an electrical engineer at Sikorski Aeronautics for nine years.

McQueen repeatedly referred to himself during his campaign as an “aerospace engineer.”

Questions were also raised about McQueen’s hand-picked chief of staff, Shari Douglas, who also served as McQueen’s campaign treasurer. Public records show McQueen and Douglas list the same address as their home residence, but McQueen refused to answer questions about the nature of their relationship while naming her to a $60,000-per-year job as his top adviser.

After Facebook rants, Corpus Christi mayor resigns 37 days into term – UPI.com

hmmm

Painting depicting police officer as pig firing gun removed from Capitol display 

On By peanutgallerynhIn American Injustice System,, Media and Culture,, Modern Parenting,, Race,Leave a comment

“Art imitates life, but no critic has asked the fundamental question the painting begs: Why would a young student with hope, promise and purpose perceive our community and the police in such a manner?” the pair wrote.

The column concluded with: “David’s only comment is, ‘The art speaks for itself.’ It has spoken loudly. Now, who will protect American civilization, including our Constitution and democracy?”

Painting depicting police officer as pig firing gun removed from Capitol display – CBS News

hmmm

How blood feud is growing among the Syrian youth 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Middle East,, Modern Parenting,Leave a comment

The schism in the fabric of Syrian society is very evident and yet intricate at the same time.

…”Assad is worse than ISIL, believe me,” he continued. This judgement may raise a few eyebrows, but it shouldn’t, as this is an inevitable sentiment of young people watching their fellow countrymen killed in cold blood and evacuated from their homes.

…Tens of thousands of civilians – in the aftermath of an agreement – fled Aleppo, most of them with the bitter taste of evacuation, after enduring years of war.

Poverty, despair and hunger for revenge will drive the evacuated youth to restore their honour and self-worth. The evidence of this intense yearning is becoming more visible, warning all of us about an even more complicated situation in Syria.

…The destruction of their loved ones’ lives is the driving force for many young Syrians to get revenge against the regime for obliterating their families, houses, lives and everything else in its path.

…Recent research done by the Thomson Reuters Foundation revealed that the need to earn a basic living, a desire for a sense of purpose and revenge are the key factors that push young Syrians into joining extremist groups.

…If the revenge valve exploded in Syria, the current death toll would seem minor compared to what will happen next. The only way out of this bloodbath is the political compromise between the Syrians themselves and the international powers involved.

This option seems to be the most ridiculous, least honourable, solution for the youth whose hearts are full of hard feelings, while unfortunately being the only rational solution.

How blood feud is growing among the Syrian youth – Al Jazeera English

Hmmmm

The Curious World of Donald Trump’s Private Russian Connections 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Central Northern Asia and The Caucasus,, Domestic Affairs,, Money, Class, and Poverty,Leave a comment

Did the American people really know they were putting such a “well-connected” guy in the White House?

….Putin and his billionaire friends have plundered the wealth of their own people. They have also run numerous schemes to defraud governments and investors in the United States and Europe. From public records, using his renowned analytical skills, Henry shows what the mainstream news media in the United States have failed to report in any meaningful way: For three decades Donald Trump has profited from his connections to the Russian oligarchs, whose own fortunes depend on their continued fealty to Putin.

The Curious World of Donald Trump’s Private Russian Connections – The American Interest

hmmmm

U.S. intelligence report says Putin targeted presidential election to ‘harm’ Hillary Clinton’s chances 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Media and Culture,Leave a comment

Russian President Vladimir Putin personally ordered an intelligence operation against the U.S. presidential campaign and ultimately sought to help Donald Trump win the White House, according to a new U.S. intelligence report released Friday, shortly after the president-elect appeared to dismiss its key findings.

Putin both “aspired to help” Trump in November and to “harm” Trump’s rival, Democratic nominee and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, with leaks of pilfered emails and other covert activities, the report concludes in a dramatic expansion of official U.S. accusations against the Kremlin.

…Russian intelligence “obtained and maintained access to elements of multiple US state or local electoral boards,” adding that Russian spies began collecting information on equipment used in U.S. elections in early 2014.

…The report, which Obama had requested, is a joint product of the CIA, the FBI and the National Security Agency.

…In addition to stealing and dumping embarrassing emails from the Democratic National Committee and Clinton’s campaign, Russian intelligence officials also used state-funded broadcasts and third-party intermediaries, and paid social media “trolls” to spread false information and disparage Clinton, the report says.

…When it appeared that Clinton was likely to win, according to the report, Moscow “focused more on undercutting [her] legitimacy”

…[Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman, Sen. Richard] Burr said Russia had conducted a “direct and aggressive covert influence campaign” during the election.

“This is a troubling chapter in an ongoing story,” he added.

U.S. intelligence report says Putin targeted presidential election to ‘harm’ Hillary Clinton’s chances – LA Times

hmmmm

Canadian ‘detained in Turkey for allegedly insulting Erdogan’ 

On By peanutgallerynhIn Middle East,Leave a comment

A Canadian dual national is reportedly detained in Turkey for allegedly insulting the president.

Mr Erdogan has been accused of mounting a growing crackdown on freedom of speech.

Almost 2,000 cases for insulting Mr Erdogan have been opened in recent years.

They include a former Miss Turkey and a 16-year-old student.

Another man was found guilty of insulting the president and given a suspended one-year jail sentence after he shared images comparing Mr Erdogan to the fictional character Gollum.

Canadian ‘detained in Turkey for allegedly insulting Erdogan’ – BBC News

hmmmm

As it turns out … Bentley’s driver’s license closures were racial, after all 

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

US DOT concludes investigation, ALEA folds

When the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency announced the closure of 31 driver’s license offices in 2015, I printed out a blank map of the state’s 67 counties and began coloring in the ones that no longer had a place to get the most common form of photo ID.

Rural Alabama had been hit hard by the closures, but especially the Black Belt — the region of Alabama that takes its name first from the color of its rich soil but also from the concentration of African-Americans who live there. A few economic development projects aside, the Black Belt has always suffered the worst from Alabama’s sins, leaving its citizens with the least means the farthest distance from basic necessities, be it a job, simple trip to a grocery store, utilities like broadband internet.

…And for what? We now know the driver’s license closures saved little money — somewhere between $200,000 and $300,000, tops, according to Bentley’s former ALEA secretary Spencer Collier. The routine shortfalls in the General Fund budget typically range from $100 million to $200 million. The closures didn’t even scratch that. They were a naked act of political vengeance.

…”Based on its investigation, DOT has concluded that African Americans residing in the Black Belt region of Alabama disproportionately underserved by ALEA’s driver licensing services, causing a disparate and adverse impact on the basis of race,” the department said.

As it turns out … Bentley’s driver’s license closures were racial, after all | AL.com

sigh….

Former Fox News anchor Greta Van Susteren signs on at MSNBC

On By peanutgallerynhIn Domestic Affairs,, Media and Culture,Leave a comment

Former Fox News star Greta Van Susteren has joined MSNBC.

Former Fox News anchor Greta Van Susteren signs on at MSNBC – NY Daily News

She always has been a feckless, spineless, empty talking head who bent whichever way the prevailing wind blew, I don’t see the change here.

I mean, if you ever confused Greta Van Susteren with anything resembling journalistic integrity, well, you have bigger problems than which Cable news outlet you are watching.