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BOB WOODWARD: FEAR -- TRUMP IN THE WHITE HOUSE

It appears that Bob Woodward, a noted liberal who made his reputation (with Carl Bernstein) taking information handouts (leaks) from FBI Associate Director Mark Felt (aka “Deepthroat”) and reporting for the Washington Post. It is believed that this reporting is one of the proximate motivations for former President Nixon’s resignation. This led to a Pulitzer Prize for reporting, a book, “All the President’s Men,” and a movie starring Robert Redford as Dustin Hoffman as Bernstein.

Now, Woodward is back with a book on President Donald Trump timed to be released a few weeks before the November mid-term elections in the fashion of an “October Surprise.”  One only wonders how much of this information has been leaked by the FBI since Woodward was such a great conduit with the media years ago?

dr-1

The book Bob Woodward did not have the guts to write …

BOB-WOODWARD-FEAR

Bottom line …

More smoke and mirrors from the virtue-signaling salon wing of the progressive socialist democrats.

What Donald Trump did as a businessman before the election is not relevant, even if filled with the type of tales one might expect to be told about a high-flying New York real estate developer operating in a politically corrupt environment and coexisting with organized crime in the unions and building trades.

It was not Donald Trump that set up his own private email server to evade disclosures to the government, the Congress, the Courts, and the American public. A server which was hacked and compromised by foreign entities. And all of the document destruction, lying, obstruction of justice, and government corruption to allow Hillary Clinton to escape felony charges under the Espionage Act and various other felonies activities.

As for “colluding” with the Russians, it was the Hillary Clinton campaign that hired, through a law firm cut-out, Fusion GPS, a firm that was known to be lobbying for the Russians and provided the “Steele Dossier” which was shopped to the media and couldn’t gain traction until the intelligence community (James Clapper, John Brennan) pushed the FBI (Comey and cohorts) to give it a legitimacy it did not deserve and to use it as a pretext to spy on American citizens associated with the Trump campaign.

In the matter of the infamous Trump, Jr. meeting in Trump tower, it appears that the Russian operative involved met with the very same Fusion GPS before and after the meeting – and it had nothing to do with hacked emails, but lobbying to eliminate financial sanctions on Russian billionaire pals of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In the final analysis, this book is merely another part of the Hillary Clinton distraction and disinformation campaign to buy enough time to allow her, her corrupt husband, her corrupt foundation, and her corrupt friends from being held accountable for prosecutable crimes against the United States.

We are so screwed.

-- steve

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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FREEDOM OF THE PRESS UNDER THE PROGRESSIVE NEWS MEDIA

Freedom of the press does not mean insulting the President of the United States or behaving badly in the White House Oval Office…

One reporter is denied the opportunity to attend a White House press event due to her rude behavior in the Oval Office. This did not apply to her producers, cameramen, or other reporters from her network. Yet, almost everybody in the White House press corps as well as other media outlets tripped all over themselves virtue-signaling about “freedom of the press.” This has nothing to do with the freedom of the press, but everything to do with respect for the Office of the Presidency, behavior while in the Oval Office, and the common courtesy due the President of the United States.

It was only a short while ago when the people at her network denigrated her and her work when she worked for another media outlet.

Many a truth has been told in jest…

The Progress Media Motto

poem-cnn-msnbc

Bottom line…

The progressives speak about civility and holding conversations, but only when they object to something the opposition says or does. It is now time to hold a corrupt media responsible for destroying their own credibility and becoming partisan propaganda shills.

We are so screwed.

-- steve

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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VLADIMIR PUTIN'S REAL WEAPON: PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS & FRIGHTENED REPUBLICANS

In the history of the United States, no foreign sovereign nation-state has managed to divide the American people, dilute the culture of American exceptionalism, and to severely degrade the average citizen’s faith in their government and elected officials as thoroughly as the Democrat Party.

Never has an administration politicized and weaponized the agencies of the Executive Branch of the federal government to the extent of the Obama Administration.

We saw the BATFE provide weapons to Mexican drug cartels in order to affect domestic gun control legislation.

We saw the IRS deny tax exemptions to conservative organizations in order to cripple election fundraising.

We saw the Obama Administration’s top people, including President of the United State, lie to Congress and the American public to cover up illegal weapons transfers in Benghazi. Allowing brave Americans under attack to die rather than expose the Administration’s illegal activities.

We saw the Democrats mount a concerted campaign to cover-up the criminal activities of Hillary Clinton, including but not limited to the destruction of documents, lying to federal officials, obstruction of justice, among other illegal activities.

We saw the Democrats spy on an opposition political campaign as well as individual Americans.

We saw the Democrats obstruct justice by refusing to allow government agencies to forensically examine their computer server, and concocting a story about Russian hacking when it appears that the server breach was an inside job.

We saw the Democrats create a major controversy to cover up the fact that the DNC rigged their primary election activities to favor Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders.

And, worst of all, is the massive attack on candidate Donald Trump using a phony document and the weaponized federal agencies to attempt to distract from their own illegal activities and to force Trump from office. Using the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation to support unconstitutional and illegal activities.

Compare and contrast these activities with the purchasing of advertising in the social media to allegedly influence the outcome of an election. Or even more direct lobbying efforts that almost all foreign governments engage in using former Administration officials, law firms, and consultancies to affect American foreign and domestic policies.

The Attorney General refuses to engage…

Although Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself in limited areas, he just refuses to engage those who have usurped the power of his office and continue to obstruct lawful and legitimate congressional inquiries.

jeff-sessions

It is time to impeach both the Attorney General Jeff Sessions, for failing to protect and defend the constitution and end illegal activities on his watch, and the Acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, for various illicit activities occurring on his watch or by his own hand.

Bottom line…

Where are our statesmen? Where are our leaders? Where are our patriots? Hell, where are the men who are willing to stand up and honor their oath of office to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States?

We are so screwed.

-- steve

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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RADICAL FEMINISTS WEAPONIZE #MeTOO TO ATTACK PROMINENT MEN -- INCLUDING PROGRESSIVES

In the #MeToo era, a number of prominent Hollywood power players, mostly progressive socialist democrats have faced decades-old allegations of improper behavior which has cost them their lucrative and prestigious positions. Is this justice or the tyranny of a minority of radical feminists who want to remake America and erase the differences between the sexes? What about the statute of limitations and facing your accusers in a court of law before an impartial trier of fact? Is American justice dead and replaced by the rule of a politically correct mob? Are there nefarious reasons for this attack that have nothing to do with past misdeeds and everything to do with current court battles over the leadership of corporations? Check it out for yourself. 

In another expose of the alleged sexual escapades, author Ronan Farrow targets another major progressive Hollywood figure as an alleged sexual predator…

LES

Les Moonves and CBS Face Allegations of Sexual Misconduct -- Six women accuse the C.E.O. of harassment and intimidation, and dozens more describe abuse at his company.

For more than twenty years, Leslie Moonves has been one of the most powerful media executives in America. As the chairman and C.E.O. of CBS Corporation, he oversees shows ranging from “60 Minutes” to “The Big Bang Theory.” His portfolio includes the premium cable channel Showtime, the publishing house Simon & Schuster, and a streaming service, CBS All Access. Moonves, who is sixty-eight, has a reputation for canny hiring and project selection. The Wall Street Journal recently called him a “TV programming wizard”; the Hollywood Reporter dubbed him a “Wall Street Hero.” In the tumultuous field of network television, he has enjoyed rare longevity as a leader. Last year, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, he earned nearly seventy million dollars, making him one of the highest-paid corporate executives in the world.

In recent months, Moonves has become a prominent voice in Hollywood’s #MeToo movement. In December, he helped found the Commission on Eliminating Sexual Harassment and Advancing Equality in the Workplace, which is chaired by Anita Hill. “It’s a watershed moment,” Moonves said at a conference in November. “I think it’s important that a company’s culture will not allow for this. And that’s the thing that’s far-reaching. There’s a lot we’re learning. There’s a lot we didn’t know.” ‘'

[OCS: Stunning hypocrisy by another virtue-signaling Hollywood progressive socialist democrat who appears to be hoist on his own petard. And, it is ironic that Anita Hill, the archetype of a self-serving progressive socialist democrat activist who accused her boss, now Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, of sexual misconduct although taken in context, could have been explained as non-sexual workplace banter.]

But Moonves’s private actions belie his public statements. Six women who had professional dealings with him told me that, between the nineteen-eighties and the late aughts, Moonves sexually harassed them. Four described forcible touching or kissing during business meetings, in what they said appeared to be a practiced routine. Two told me that Moonves physically intimidated them or threatened to derail their careers. All said that he became cold or hostile after they rejected his advances, and that they believed their careers suffered as a result. “What happened to me was a sexual assault, and then I was fired for not participating,” the actress and writer Illeana Douglas told me. All the women said they still feared that speaking out would lead to retaliation from Moonves, who is known in the industry for his ability to make or break careers. “He has gotten away with it for decades,” the writer Janet Jones, who alleges that she had to shove Moonves off her after he forcibly kissed her at a work meeting, told me. “And it’s just not O.K.”

[OCS: Amazing that Moonves is being denied due process as all of these unverified allegations are decades old and cannot be tested in a court of law. Possibly promoted by women and their attorneys who are seeking national publicity and/or and a big payday?]

You can read the entire story at: Les Moonves and CBS Face Allegations of Sexual Misconduct | The New Yorker

Wait! What about Bill Clinton and his enabler Hillary Clinton…

Has anyone noticed that few radical feminists, normally progressive socialist democrats, and other liberals rarely attack Bill Clinton as a sexual predator whose allegations of rape are often overlooked at his is almost universally feted as an iconic figure? Has anyone complained about Hillary Clinton falsely and maliciously attacking Bill Clinton’s accusers and enabling his predications until this very day? Why are progressives so tolerant of Clinton’s cohorts like Ron Burkle whose jet was called “Air Fu*k One” when Bill Clinton was aboard? Or Bill’s pedophile buddy and his “Lolita Express” jet that ferried Bill Clinton to his private island?

Could this be a diversionary attack to remove Moonves?

Shari Redstone Calls for ‘Thorough, Open’ Investigation of Leslie Moonves by CBS

A representative for CBS controlling shareholder Shari Redstone has weighed in on plans for CBS to investigate sexual misconduct claims against chairman-CEO Leslie Moonves, defending Redstone against rumors that she has helped fuel the reporting on Moonves’ behavior to gain favor in the legal battle for control of the company.

The New Yorker is expected to publish a story today detailing allegations of inappropriate behavior by Moonves over his long career. The CBS board of directors responded, even before the story’s publication, that it would mount an investigation into the allegations.

“The malicious insinuation that Ms. Redstone is somehow behind the allegations of inappropriate personal behavior by Mr. Moonves or today’s reports is false and self-serving,” Redstone spokeswoman Sara Evans said. “Ms. Redstone hopes that the investigation of these allegations is thorough, open and transparent.”

Bottom line …

It appears that the radical feminists, normally supportive of progressive socialist democrats, are striking out against powerful men – even if they are powerful Hollywood, business or media executives.  Anything to destroy the patriarchy, from the constitution to works of art, are fair game for the radical feminists.

We are so screwed when we allow fringe elements to dictate to the majority which has since been cowed by political correctness, name and shame labeling, and the moral equivalency which allows one to ignore the important in favor trivial.

And let us not forget “cui bono?,” a legal Latin phrase which literally meaning "who benefits?."

-- steve

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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ANOTHER TRUMP VICTORY

Unlike President Obama who had a pattern and practice of disparaging and disadvantaging our friends and allies to provide aid, support, and comfort to our enemies or enemies of our allies, President Trump does not allow political correctness, moral equivalency, and multiculturalism to dictate his policies.

So it should come as no surprise that he has withdrawn $300 million taxpayer dollars from a bloated and corrupt United Nations agency, UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) which has approximately 20,000 mostly Palestinian employees and serves to prop up a Palestinian regime that refuses to recognize Israel, a U.S. ally in the region, and which is openly hostile to Israeli citizens.

UNRWA has already laid off 250 employees and is seeking funds from “friendly” (aka anti-Jewish) sources, mainly in Europe which may regard such donations as an affirmation of their anti-Semitism.

UNRWA is said to provide services to more than 3 million Palestinian refugees and has been working with so-called “refugees” since the foundation of Israel in 1948. Funny, one might have thought that the Palestinians would have developed some level of infrastructure and self-sustaining economy over 68 years. Let us not forget, these refugees voluntarily abandoned their homes and businesses believing that the upcoming Arab war which saw Israel attacked by overwhelming forces from all sides would drive the Jews into the sea and they would be free to return home and resume their lives. Surprise: it did not work out, and they were abandoned by their fellow Arabs and kicked out of Jordan and then Lebanon for being troublemakers and fomenting terrorism wherever they congregated. No wonder why they chose terrorists to lead their nascent community.

The Palestinians cut-off contact with Washington when Trump decided to follow existing U.S. legislation and move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, the true capital city of Israel. Prompting a Trump tweet …

trump-tweet

Bottom line …

The belligerent Palestinians are now protesting the reduction in jobs, one individual going so far as to set himself on fire. All the while, UNRWA is begging for “emergency funds.” Two comments: one, the emergency which began 68 years ago should have been long over; and two, 250 employees out of 20,000 is not meaningful except as a fundraising ploy.

I would rather spend the $300 million on fixing the inner cities of Chicago than giving another dime to the ungrateful Palestinians who openly support terror.

Good on Trump.

-- steve

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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A LOOK AT THE SOFT TYRANNY OF THE MINORITY IN THE CITY OF SANTA BARBARA

Criminalizing the service of plastic straws, stirrers, and cutlery…

no-straws

If you are wondering how the progressive socialist democrats advance their agenda that results in soft tyranny and the reduction in order freedoms, you need look no further than the Santa Barbara City Council which voted 7-0 to approve new ordinances ban plastic straws, stirrers, and cutlery and 6-1 to food service expanded polystyrene (Styrofoam). The ordinance will allow restaurant employees to be punished with up to six months of jail time or a $1,000 fine for multiple violations in giving plastic straws to their customers. Since each straw can be construed as a separate violation, it will be extremely easy to surpass the limits in a single afternoon.

The tyrannical ordinances are scheduled to take effect beginning on January 1, 2019. Coincidently, the same day I will not be spending my money in the city limits.

An excerpt from the plastic straw ordinance… 

City_Seal_400x400

AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA BARBARA AMENDING TITLE 9 TO ADD CHAPTER 9.165 TO REGULATE PLASTIC BEVERAGE STRAWS, STIRRERS, AND CUTLERY

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA BARBARA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. Title 9 of the Santa Barbara Municipal Code is amended to add Chapter 9.165 to read as follows:

9.165.030 Sale or Distribution of Plastic Beverage Straws Prohibited

A. It shall be unlawful for any food provider or beverage provider to use plastic
beverage straws, or to provide, distribute, or sell plastic beverage straws to any person.

B. Nothing in this section precludes a food provider or beverage provider from
using, providing, distributing, or selling non-plastic alternatives to plastic beverage straws, such as those made from paper, sugar cane, or bamboo, available to customers. Nonplastic alternative straws shall only be provided upon request.

C. No person shall distribute plastic beverage straws at any city facility or any
city-sponsored event.

9.165.060 Penalties and enforcement.

Violations of this chapter shall be enforced as follows:

A. For the first violation, upon a determination that a violation of this chapter has
occurred, city shall issue a written warning notice to the beverage provider or food
provider which will specify the violation and the appropriate penalties in the event of future violations.

B. Thereafter, any person violating or failing to comply with any of the requirements
of this chapter shall be subject to remedies specified pursuant to Chapters 1.25 and 1.28 of this code.

C. Each and every provision of plastic cutlery, plastic beverage straws, or plastic
stirrers without complying with the requirements of this chapter shall constitute a separate violation of this chapter.

D. The city attorney may seek legal, injunctive, or other equitable relief to enforce
this chapter.

SECTION 2. This ordinance shall take effect at 2:01 a.m. on January 1, 2019.

The full official plastic straw ordinance can be found here and the Styrofoam ordinance found here.at:

Really, we are invoking our “police powers” to enact laws which promote the public health, safety and general welfare of its residents – even if those laws make little difference and are mostly symbolic and designed to condition the public into easily accepting further laws, no matter how nonsensical.

Bottom line …

Once again, we find the radical progressive socialist democrats using environmentalism to reduce your freedom of choice. In this, the City of Santa Barbara is not alone, as a number of other municipalities have banned plastics including plastic bags. 

It is amazing that the City of San Francisco will vote to ban and enforce prohibitions against plastic straws but refuses to enforce laws on defecation in public which is rapidly causing the iconic city to be referred to as the “Sh*tty by the Bay” and causing conventions and tourism to seek better smelling venues without needles and other dangerous refuse.

It is now a race to the bottom as city officials virtue signal to their progressive socialist democrat brethren exactly how enlightened, caring and compassionate they and their policies indicate them to be.

Save me from the do-gooders because surely it is true: the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

We are so screwed.

-- steve

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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TRUMP TRADE POLICY: LOSE -- LOSE

The truth is that tariffs are little more than taxes on your own people to discourage the purchase of foreign products …

trade-tariffs

And that imposing taxes on your own people to induce the desired behavior of foreign governments is tantamount to shooting yourself to prove a point …

us-gth

Let us not forget that the original purpose of tariffs was to raise money to fund government activities, not to interfere with or control trade between independent sovereign nations.

But, it gets worse …

The Trump administration on Tuesday announced up to $12 billion in emergency aid to farmers caught in an escalating trade war, seeking to temper growing Republican dissent over President Trump’s trade policies.

The aid is designed to help farmers facing tariffs in China, Mexico and other countries that imposed the levies on U.S. products in response to Trump’s new tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. It is the latest sign that growing trade tensions between the United States and other countries are unlikely to end soon.

White House officials say farmers will begin seeing payments by September, and they hope the payments will quiet protests by farm groups and lawmakers — many of them Republicans — who contend that Trump’s confrontational trade policy is harming American farmers months before the 2018 midterm elections. <Source>

Bottom line …

Truth be told, the taxpaying consumers will be paying these additional subsidies to selected politically-connected groups to counter the malicious effects of trade tariffs. These are hidden taxes on the American people who would be up in arms should they be forced to write a check to the United States Treasury each time the made a purchase, or pay a surcharge on their income tax forms. Pretty much why the government hides much of the tax burden by having it collected by utilities, energy companies, and merchants.

We are so screwed.

-- steve

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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AMERICANS, CITIZENS AND CONSUMERS: WHO CAN YOU TRUST?

crying-eagle

You can't trust your government...

From political corruption and cover-ups to secret courts, secret laws, and secrete surveillance orders, most government workers have little or no knowledge of the U.S. Constitution or even the law. They listen to their leadership, supervisors, and peers -- rarely thinking for themselves about right and wrong. Especially if a decision to say "NO" would jeopardize their jobs.

You can't trust corporations...

The extent to which corporations are dominated by government rules, regulations, grants, contracts, tax relief, and licensing makes it almost impossible for a corporation to separate the interests of the citizen/consumer from the dictates of the government.

Many commercially available consumer products have built-in tracking mechanisms that insert GUIDs (Globally Unique IDentifiers) into files that identify both the originator and possibly the third-party relay of files and messages. Even today's printers are smart enough to micro-print identification numbers on printed pages.

And, a number of anti-virus/anti-malware programs that are designed to identify and eliminate foreign or compromising software appear to have build-in exceptions to government spyware.

Your can't trust your workplace...

In the name of efficiency, smart cards for area access and log-ins have now become universal tracking devices capable of monitoring your movements throughout the company. Some passively-powered cards may also be fabricated to transmit more than your location, acting as miniature bugs to capture conversations -- and possible later in the development cycle, video.

And, for those who attend school, it is not beyond the pale to find educational institutions monitoring your study habits using the onboard software on computers containing educational software. And as we have seen in a number of cases, compromising your microphone and camera to send audio and video to the mother ship.

You can't trust your car...

track-app

From the first days of denial, when General Motors OnStar denied that their embedded system could be used to surreptitiously listen and transmit in-car and near-car conversations to a central monitoring office, to complete exposure of that lie in a Nevada courtroom where the secret was publicly revealed in a court case.

How many people know of the 2014 case where the New York Police Department obtained a warrant to allow the SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio (equipped with the telematics feature) to activate and monitor the radio as a tracking device contained within the "target vehicle?" And SiriusXM complied.

Now one must assume that our vehicles are all equipped with locate and listen devices in addition to transmitting operating parameters (including location, speed, braking, and other engine parameters). In some cases, the devices turn from passive (listening and locating) to aggressive, including the ability to shut down your engine and locking your doors. Also affected are braking and speed-limiting.

You can't trust your house...

hack-house

The so-called IoT (Internet of Things) extends beyond portable electronic devices, to embedded controllers within your home that are capable of monitoring and communicating over the internet. Some devices are MESH-enabled to allow each device to act as a small receiver/transmitter to further extend communications range where a normal signal would be rendered ineffective by distance or radio-opaque barriers such as thick walls with metal studs.

LISTENING

Oops! How many saw the verified story where a device recorded a private conversation and then forwarded it to a random individual on the device’s contact list. Even if the activation, recording, and transmission were accidental, it is a clear demonstration of the dangers of wired devices – including televisions and systems purporting to improve your customer experience by spying on your behavior. Since all of this data is available with an administrative summons, warrant, or in lawsuit discovery, it appears that our devices are a clear and present danger to the Fourth and Fifth Amendment (Search, seizure, testifying against oneself) constitutional protections. Possibly note because of that “terms of services” agreement you voluntarily signed?

It is one thing to control and set your thermostat using your iPhone, but it is a whole different thing to allow the local power company to turn off your air conditioning on a hot day to solve their capacity issues.

The science behind compromising your safety and security...

CONVENIENCE-SAFETY-SECURITY

Behavior economics, using psychological insights into human behavior to explain, drive, or modify economic decision-making, tells us that it is far easier to incentivize individuals to perform some specific action than to compel them to do the very same thing. Thus a person who would not normally give up control of their air-conditioning to a third-party might be willing to overlook the negatives if they were incentivized to allow intrusive entry in exchange for lower electricity bills. In some cases, those smart meters, connected to a communications grid, might be able to do much more than transmit billing information to a central office. If compromised, they can shut-off the flow of electricity and thus cripple almost all of your devices without battery backup.

This type of thinking also extends to vehicle insurance where some insurers give you a discount for allowing them access to your OBD (On-Board Diagnostics) system embedded deep within your vehicle to allow them to calculate miles drive, speeds, excessive braking, and, in general, reckless driving.

Bottom line...

The threat of hacked systems extends far beyond the intrusion and manipulation of government systems, systems that control critical infrastructure such as electric, gas, water, and oil distribution, right into your hand or home.

An informed consumer considers the risks of convenience over security and safety -- even in the face of incentives.

An informed consumer considers that hackers are not always state-sponsored evildoers, but may be teenagers who think it would be a hoot to hack your fish tank's remote thermometer and fry the fish of someone they dislike.

An informed consumer considers that the threat vector extends beyond malevolent hackers and that the most virulent and damaging hacks may come from those who deliver your internet connectivity and want to monetize and distribute your behavioral data for their own purposes. Given that they force you to sign unilateral "terms of service" agreements which give them rights to your property and absolve them of all risks including those caused by their negligence, it might behoove you to support organizations such as the Electronic Frontier Foundation (eff.org) that are trying to amend analog legislation and laws for the digital age.

And, an informed consumer understands that there is nobody in the legal system or commercial service provider that will notify you that your device is about to be interrogated and provide you with the opportunity to object to the "search and seizure" of your property.

We are so screwed.

-- steve

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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CNN RELEASES TRUMP TAPE THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RUSSIA OR THE CAMPAIGN

What public purpose, other than the progressive socialist democrat’s prurient interest and CNN’s desire to grab ratings, is served to release tapes containing a conversation between Donald Trump and Michael Cohen? It is a recording of a commercial transaction that has nothing to do with the presidential campaign and is civil, not criminal in nature.

cohen-davis

 

(CNN) Presidential candidate Donald Trump is heard on tape discussing with his attorney Michael Cohen how they would buy the rights to a Playboy model's story about an alleged affair Trump had with her years earlier, according to the audio recording of the conversation aired exclusively on CNN's "Cuomo Prime Time."

The recording offers the public a glimpse at the confidential discussions between Trump and Cohen, and it confirms the man who now occupies the Oval Office had contemporaneous knowledge of a proposal to buy the rights to the story of Karen McDougal, a woman who has alleged she had an extramarital affair with Trump about a decade ago.

Cohen told Trump about his plans to set up a company and finance the purchase of the rights from American Media, which publishes the National Enquirer.

The recording, which was provided to CNN by Cohen's attorney Lanny Davis, was made in September 2016. <Source>

The use of Lanny Davis as Michael Cohen’s attorney – I wonder who is paying his legal fees – is deeply problematical as Lanny Davis appears to be part of the cabal out to disparage, denigrate, and ultimately call for the impeachment of the President. Primarily because he is proving he is willing to take action whereas Presidents that followed Ronald Reagan were mostly milquetoast paper tigers who talked tough, but rarely took decisive actions. And secondarily, he is undoing former President Obama’s progressive socialist agenda. 

There is little or no doubt in my mind that Michael Cohen is a slime-ball that is only surpassed by the progressive socialist democrat bottom-feeder Lanny Davis, President Clinton’s fixer and apologist.

Bottom line …

Lying while campaigning is not a crime or Barack Obama would be in prison. It appears that the progressive socialist democrats will do anything to disparage Donald Trump whereas they feted a philanderer like former President John Kennedy, murderer like Senator Teddy Kennedy and a rapist like former President Bill Clinton. Definitely a double standard on display for everyone to see.

It is now time to redouble our efforts to keep President Trump in office and to prevent the most wide-reaching and dangerous cover-up in the history of the United States from succeeding.

We are so screwed.

-- steve

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

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MR. PRESIDENT: CUT DOWN THIS POISONOUS TREE

In words echoing the late former President Reagan when he exhorted Russian President Gorbachev: Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! … It is now time to cut down the poisonous tree that is infecting and imperiling the American forest.

POISION-TREE-4

There is little doubt that the entire Russia collusion matter stems back to an effort by the Hillary Clinton campaign to illegally subvert an American presidential campaign and then bury the evidence when she became the President of the United States. Unfortunately for the progressive socialist democrats and those government officials who were willing to subvert the law to help Hillary’s election efforts, she was so unlikeable that she lost. Now, to cover up their criminal activities, these same government officials are engaging in further illegal activities, namely the destruction of documents and obstruction of justice. They are mounting, with the complicit knowledge of the mainstream media a disinformation campaign worthy of our intelligence agencies which appear to be implicated in the plot to subvert an election and bury the results of their perfidy.

There is little or no doubt in my mind that all of the craziness is manifest in a single poisonous tree and that most, if not all, of the spying on American citizens and bogus prosecutions can be traced back to Hillary’s fabricated and distributed narrative known as the “Steele Dossier.”

FISA Applications Confirm: The FBI Relied on the Unverified Steele Dossier  

On a sleepy summer Saturday, after months of stonewalling, the FBI dumped 412 pages of documents related to the Carter Page FISA surveillance warrants — the applications, the certifications, and the warrants themselves. Now that we can see it all in black and white — mostly black, as they are heavily redacted — it is crystal clear that the Steele dossier, an unverified Clinton-campaign product, was the driving force behind the Trump–Russia investigation.

Based on the dossier, the FBI told the FISA court it believed that Carter Page, who had been identified by the Trump campaign as an adviser, was coordinating with the Russian government in an espionage conspiracy to influence the 2016 election.

This sensational allegation came from Christopher Steele, the former British spy. The FISA court was not told that the Clinton campaign was behind Steele’s work. Nor did the FBI and Justice Department inform the court that Steele’s allegations had never been verified. To the contrary, each FISA application — the original one in October 2016, and the three renewals at 90-day intervals — is labeled “VERIFIED APPLICATION” (bold caps in original).

Steele has not been in Russia for about 20 years. In connection with the dossier allegations, he was merely the purveyor of information from the actual sources — unidentified Russians who themselves relied on hearsay information from other sources (sometimes double and triple hearsay, very attenuated from the supposed original source).

<Source: Carter Page FISA Applications: FBI Used Steele Dossier | National Review>

The fruit of the poison tree …

“Fruit of the poisonous tree is a legal metaphor in the United States used to describe evidence that is obtained illegally. The logic of the terminology is that if the source (the ‘tree’) of the evidence or evidence itself is tainted, then anything gained (the ‘fruit’) from it is tainted as well.”

Bottom line …

It is time for the President of the United States to direct Attorney General Jeff Sessions to appoint a special counsel and to relieve all of the top officials involved and bring all of these individuals before a grand jury. To the extent that the suspects will claim “interference with an ongoing investigation” and “obstruction of justice,” it appears that serious crimes have been committed under the color of authority and those involved are no longer competent to investigate themselves.

All of the current prosecutions based on the fruit of the poison tree should be discontinued and anyone convicted or sentenced should have those convictions and sentences reversed on the basis of prosecutorial conduct on behalf of the government. Should it be determined that the prosecutors were complicit in the scheme, they should be disbarred and sanctioned by the courts. Especially those who appeared before the FISA court where secrecy demands honest and faithful performance to protect innocent Americans.

It is also time to prosecute Hillary’s acolytes like Huma Abedin who transferred thousands of government-owned work-related documents, some classified, onto her private computer. It is also time to investigate Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and her Pakistani foreign nationals who compromised the Democratic server.

Nobody should be above the law, least of all the Clintons and their cohorts.

We are so screwed.

-- steve

“Nullius in verba”-- take nobody's word for it!
"Acta non verba" -- actions not words

“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”-- George Bernard Shaw

“Progressive, liberal, Socialist, Marxist, Democratic Socialist -- they are all COMMUNISTS.”

“The key to fighting the craziness of the progressives is to hold them responsible for their actions, not their intentions.” – OCS

"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." -- Marcus Aurelius

“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves, and traitors are not victims... but accomplices” -- George Orwell

“Fere libenter homines id quod volunt credunt." (The people gladly believe what they wish to.) ~Julius Caesar

“Describing the problem is quite different from knowing the solution. Except in politics." ~ OCS

| Comments (0)

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