TRAVEL BAN OBAMA DRIVEN, TRUMP ENFORCED
BY DAN VALENTI
PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY
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READ PLANET VALENTI in PRINT EACH WEEK IN THE COUNTY’S FINEST WEEKLY, THE BERKSHIRE COURIER. AT NEWSSTANDS EVERYWHERE.
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(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, TUESDAY JAN. 31, 2017) — Iraq, Iran, Libya, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Syria.
Chances are you’re not planning a vacation to any of those garden spots. Should there be any question that you would not anyone from there coming to your house without being thoroughly vetted, even supposing such a thing were possible? Likely not.
Reasonable people understand the need for extreme caution when it comes to national security. Reasonable people see such issues in non-partisan terms. For instance, they rightly point out that President Barack Obama signed the legislation that allowed the executive branch to impose travel restrictions targeting these seven nations, each of which has a Muslim-majority population.
An objective look at President Donald Trump’s actions, therefore, shows he has acted on a measure prudently put in place two years ago by his predecessor. Of course, this being President Trump, what Obama signed into law without protest has turned into the End of Civilization As We Know It.
Tears from the Pussyhats
The Pussyhats claim Trump’s action is directed against Islam, a declaration about as genuine as the tears generated for the cameras by Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY. In his bid for an Oscar, Schumer got the Sunday sniffles when he announced that the Democrats are “considering” legislation to overturn Trump’s order.
Trump had the perfect response: “I noticed Chuck Schumer yesterday with fake tears,” he said before a meeting with small-business leaders at the White House Monday morning. “I’m going to ask him who was his acting coach. Because I know him very well and I don’t see him as a crier. If he is, he’s a different man.”
Critics decried the suddenness of the travel ban. However, how else do you make a move like this? You need the element of surprise, since it prevents what Trump called the “bad ‘dudes’ out there” from “rushing into our country” if the move had been trumpeted a week or two in advance. As it is, Trump shared his intentions with the departments of State, Defense, and Homeland Security. This was not a unilateral action by a weak dictator but the collegial decision by a bold chief executive.
White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus said the administration’s lack of public notice was by design.
“I don’t think you want a grace period,” Priebus said. “Because then people who want to do bad things to Americans would just move up their travel date two days in order to get into the country before the grace period is over. … And if you ask, a lot of the people at the customs and border patrol would just tell you you’ve got to just rip off the Band-Aid and you have to move forward.”
The Pussyhats, out yesterday in farce though not in force in Pittsfield to protest the travel ban, have told a lot of lies in their response to this move by the President. One of the most egregious is that it’s an attack on Islam. In fact, the travel ban affects only would-be travelers from the seven nations, or just under 14% of the world’s Muslim population. Consider:
- The ban affects only residents of the seven countries.
- There are more than 40 other Muslim nations whose populations remain free to travel to the United States.
- The ban is temporary (90-days for citizens, 120 for refugees except Syria [indefinite]).
- Obama, not Trump, identified the seven as sources of terror.
- Obama signed the order for the ban. Trump merely exercised the power.
- Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said enforcement would be humane and professional.
Meanwhile, Trump means business. When the government’s top lawyer said the Justice Department would refuse to defend the new travel restrictions, Trump fired her, sending a message that needs no interpretation.
Acting Attorney General Sally Yates said Justice would not go to court to back the President’s actions. In a statement, the White House said Yates, an Obama appointee, “has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States” and portrayed her actions as political.
The move was classic — and brilliant — Trump. Yates had only days left on the job, since her successor for attorney general, Jeff Session, awaits Senate confirmation. The President named Dana Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, as acting attorney general until the Senate approves Sessions.
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“A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.” — Martin L. King Jr.
“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”
LOVE TO ALL.
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I don’t understand why there needed to be an Executive Order if there was already legislation in place to allow POTUS to shred green cards.
SHH
That’s a good question. The answer, as I understand it, is twofold: (1) The Exec Order is the enacting agent of the law put in by Obama, kind of like cocking the hammer of a gun and pulling the trigger. (2) the Order cleans up/clarifies.tweaks some aspects of the original Order.
But again, there was no Order enacted by Obama. Obama signed a law passed by Congress. And as much as this may “clarify” certain aspects of the administration’s role in implementing that law, it also creates new ambiguities.
It was an excuse to have a presser and get some headlines rather than enact substantive administrative law.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a good friend of Donnie Trump, disagrees with him about his Muslim ban. Trump should fire him
What’s the fun in that. But the obvious answer is he doesn’t work for him.
a little too obvious….most people probably got the sarcasm
Mr. Valenti,
Here is the text of last Friday’s Executive Order re homeland protection and plugging loopholes that existed in the Obama immigration programs.that allowed refugees into the U.S. with insufficient vetting.
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EXECUTIVE ORDER
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PROTECTING THE NATION FROM FOREIGN TERRORIST ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, including the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq., and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and to protect the American people from terrorist attacks by foreign nationals admitted to the United States, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Purpose. The visa-issuance process plays a crucial role in detecting individuals with terrorist ties and stopping them from entering the United States. Perhaps in no instance was that more apparent than the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, when State Department policy prevented consular officers from properly scrutinizing the visa applications of several of the 19 foreign nationals who went on to murder nearly 3,000 Americans. And while the visa-issuance process was reviewed and amended after the September 11 attacks to better detect would-be terrorists from receiving visas, these measures did not stop attacks by foreign nationals who were admitted to the United States.
Numerous foreign-born individuals have been convicted or implicated in terrorism-related crimes since September 11, 2001, including foreign nationals who entered the United States after receiving visitor, student, or employment visas, or who entered through the United States refugee resettlement program. Deteriorating conditions in certain countries due to war, strife, disaster, and civil unrest increase the likelihood that terrorists will use any means possible to enter the United States. The United States must be vigilant during the visa-issuance process to ensure that those approved for admission do not intend to harm Americans and that they have no ties to terrorism.
In order to protect Americans, the United States must ensure that those admitted to this country do not bear hostile attitudes toward it and its founding principles. The United States cannot, and should not, admit those who do not support the Constitution, or those who would place violent ideologies over American law. In addition, the United States should not admit those who engage in acts of bigotry or hatred (including “honor” killings, other forms of violence against women, or the persecution of those who practice religions different from their own) or those who would oppress Americans of any race, gender, or sexual orientation.
Sec. 2. Policy. It is the policy of the United States to protect its citizens from foreign nationals who intend to commit terrorist attacks in the United States; and to prevent the admission of foreign nationals who intend to exploit United States immigration laws for malevolent purposes.
Sec. 3. Suspension of Issuance of Visas and Other Immigration Benefits to Nationals of Countries of Particular Concern. (a) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, shall immediately conduct a review to determine the information needed from any country to adjudicate any visa, admission, or other benefit under the INA (adjudications) in order to determine that the individual seeking the benefit is who the individual claims to be and is not a security or public-safety threat.
(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit to the President a report on the results of the review described in subsection (a) of this section, including the Secretary of Homeland Security’s determination of the information needed for adjudications and a list of countries that do not provide adequate information, within 30 days of the date of this order. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide a copy of the report to the Secretary of State and the Director of National Intelligence.
(c) To temporarily reduce investigative burdens on relevant agencies during the review period described in subsection (a) of this section, to ensure the proper review and maximum utilization of available resources for the screening of foreign nationals, and to ensure that adequate standards are established to prevent infiltration by foreign terrorists or criminals, pursuant to section 212(f) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), I hereby proclaim that the immigrant and nonimmigrant entry into the United States of aliens from countries referred to in section 217(a)(12) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1187(a)(12), would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and I hereby suspend entry into the United States, as immigrants and nonimmigrants, of such persons for 90 days from the date of this order (excluding those foreign nationals traveling on diplomatic visas, North Atlantic Treaty Organization visas, C-2 visas for travel to the United Nations, and G-1, G-2, G-3, and G-4 visas).
(d) Immediately upon receipt of the report described in subsection (b) of this section regarding the information needed for adjudications, the Secretary of State shall request all foreign governments that do not supply such information to start providing such information regarding their nationals within 60 days of notification.
(e) After the 60-day period described in subsection (d) of this section expires, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the President a list of countries recommended for inclusion on a Presidential proclamation that would prohibit the entry of foreign nationals (excluding those foreign nationals traveling on diplomatic visas, North Atlantic Treaty Organization visas, C-2 visas for travel to the United Nations, and G-1, G-2, G-3, and G-4 visas) from countries that do not provide the information requested pursuant to subsection (d) of this section until compliance occurs.
(f) At any point after submitting the list described in subsection (e) of this section, the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Homeland Security may submit to the President the names of any additional countries recommended for similar treatment.
(g) Notwithstanding a suspension pursuant to subsection (c) of this section or pursuant to a Presidential proclamation described in subsection (e) of this section, the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security may, on a case-by-case basis, and when in the national interest, issue visas or other immigration benefits to nationals of countries for which visas and benefits are otherwise blocked.
(h) The Secretaries of State and Homeland Security shall submit to the President a joint report on the progress in implementing this order within 30 days of the date of this order, a second report within 60 days of the date of this order, a third report within 90 days of the date of this order, and a fourth report within 120 days of the date of this order.
Sec. 4. Implementing Uniform Screening Standards for All Immigration Programs. (a) The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall implement a program, as part of the adjudication process for immigration benefits, to identify individuals seeking to enter the United States on a fraudulent basis with the intent to cause harm, or who are at risk of causing harm subsequent to their admission. This program will include the development of a uniform screening standard and procedure, such as in-person interviews; a database of identity documents proffered by applicants to ensure that duplicate documents are not used by multiple applicants; amended application forms that include questions aimed at identifying fraudulent answers and malicious intent; a mechanism to ensure that the applicant is who the applicant claims to be; a process to evaluate the applicant’s likelihood of becoming a positively contributing member of society and the applicant’s ability to make contributions to the national interest; and a mechanism to assess whether or not the applicant has the intent to commit criminal or terrorist acts after entering the United States.
(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in conjunction with the Secretary of State, the Director of National Intelligence, and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, shall submit to the President an initial report on the progress of this directive within 60 days of the date of this order, a second report within 100 days of the date of this order, and a third report within 200 days of the date of this order.
Sec. 5. Realignment of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for Fiscal Year 2017. (a) The Secretary of State shall suspend the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for 120 days. During the 120-day period, the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Secretary of Homeland Security and in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall review the USRAP application and adjudication process to determine what additional procedures should be taken to ensure that those approved for refugee admission do not pose a threat to the security and welfare of the United States, and shall implement such additional procedures. Refugee applicants who are already in the USRAP process may be admitted upon the initiation and completion of these revised procedures. Upon the date that is 120 days after the date of this order, the Secretary of State shall resume USRAP admissions only for nationals of countries for which the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence have jointly determined that such additional procedures are adequate to ensure the security and welfare of the United States.
(b) Upon the resumption of USRAP admissions, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, is further directed to make changes, to the extent permitted by law, to prioritize refugee claims made by individuals on the basis of religious-based persecution, provided that the religion of the individual is a minority religion in the individual’s country of nationality. Where necessary and appropriate, the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security shall recommend legislation to the President that would assist with such prioritization.
(c) Pursuant to section 212(f) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), I hereby proclaim that the entry of nationals of Syria as refugees is detrimental to the interests of the United States and thus suspend any such entry until such time as I have determined that sufficient changes have been made to the USRAP to ensure that admission of Syrian refugees is consistent with the national interest.
(d) Pursuant to section 212(f) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), I hereby proclaim that the entry of more than 50,000 refugees in fiscal year 2017 would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and thus suspend any such entry until such time as I determine that additional admissions would be in the national interest.
(e) Notwithstanding the temporary suspension imposed pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security may jointly determine to admit individuals to the United States as refugees on a case-by-case basis, in their discretion, but only so long as they determine that the admission of such individuals as refugees is in the national interest — including when the person is a religious minority in his country of nationality facing religious persecution, when admitting the person would enable the United States to conform its conduct to a preexisting international agreement, or when the person is already in transit and denying admission would cause undue hardship — and it would not pose a risk to the security or welfare of the United States.
(f) The Secretary of State shall submit to the President an initial report on the progress of the directive in subsection (b) of this section regarding prioritization of claims made by individuals on the basis of religious-based persecution within 100 days of the date of this order and shall submit a second report within 200 days of the date of this order.
(g) It is the policy of the executive branch that, to the extent permitted by law and as practicable, State and local jurisdictions be granted a role in the process of determining the placement or settlement in their jurisdictions of aliens eligible to be admitted to the United States as refugees. To that end, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall examine existing law to determine the extent to which, consistent with applicable law, State and local jurisdictions may have greater involvement in the process of determining the placement or resettlement of refugees in their jurisdictions, and shall devise a proposal to lawfully promote such involvement.
Sec. 6. Rescission of Exercise of Authority Relating to the Terrorism Grounds of Inadmissibility. The Secretaries of State and Homeland Security shall, in consultation with the Attorney General, consider rescinding the exercises of authority in section 212 of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182, relating to the terrorism grounds of inadmissibility, as well as any related implementing memoranda.
Sec. 7. Expedited Completion of the Biometric Entry-Exit Tracking System. (a) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall expedite the completion and implementation of a biometric entry-exit tracking system for all travelers to the United States, as recommended by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.
(b) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to the President periodic reports on the progress of the directive contained in subsection (a) of this section. The initial report shall be submitted within 100 days of the date of this order, a second report shall be submitted within 200 days of the date of this order, and a third report shall be submitted within 365 days of the date of this order. Further, the Secretary shall submit a report every 180 days thereafter until the system is fully deployed and operational.
Sec. 8. Visa Interview Security. (a) The Secretary of State shall immediately suspend the Visa Interview Waiver Program and ensure compliance with section 222 of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1222, which requires that all individuals seeking a nonimmigrant visa undergo an in-person interview, subject to specific statutory exceptions.
(b) To the extent permitted by law and subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary of State shall immediately expand the Consular Fellows Program, including by substantially increasing the number of Fellows, lengthening or making permanent the period of service, and making language training at the Foreign Service Institute available to Fellows for assignment to posts outside of their area of core linguistic ability, to ensure that non-immigrant visa-interview wait times are not unduly affected.
Sec. 9. Visa Validity Reciprocity. The Secretary of State shall review all nonimmigrant visa reciprocity agreements to ensure that they are, with respect to each visa classification, truly reciprocal insofar as practicable with respect to validity period and fees, as required by sections 221(c) and 281 of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1201(c) and 1351, and other treatment. If a country does not treat United States nationals seeking nonimmigrant visas in a reciprocal manner, the Secretary of State shall adjust the visa validity period, fee schedule, or other treatment to match the treatment of United States nationals by the foreign country, to the extent practicable.
Sec. 10. Transparency and Data Collection. (a) To be more transparent with the American people, and to more effectively implement policies and practices that serve the national interest, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General, shall, consistent with applicable law and national security, collect and make publicly available within 180 days, and every 180 days thereafter:
(i) information regarding the number of foreign nationals in the United States who have been charged with terrorism-related offenses while in the United States; convicted of terrorism-related offenses while in the United States; or removed from the United States based on terrorism-related activity, affiliation, or material support to a terrorism-related organization, or any other national security reasons since the date of this order or the last reporting period, whichever is later;
(ii) information regarding the number of foreign nationals in the United States who have been radicalized after entry into the United States and engaged in terrorism-related acts, or who have provided material support to terrorism-related organizations in countries that pose a threat to the United States, since the date of this order or the last reporting period, whichever is later; and
(iii) information regarding the number and types of acts of gender-based violence against women, including honor killings, in the United States by foreign nationals, since the date of this order or the last reporting period, whichever is later; and
(iv) any other information relevant to public safety and security as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Attorney General, including information on the immigration status of foreign nationals charged with major offenses.
(b) The Secretary of State shall, within one year of the date of this order, provide a report on the estimated long-term costs of the USRAP at the Federal, State, and local levels.
Sec. 11. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
January 27, 2017.
GMH
Thanks for sharing the text of this order. It takes a while to plow through, but it is well worth it.
Waiting for any of the brainiac anti-Trumpers here to explain which specific aspect or language in this Order is unconstitutional.
Wait aren’t you the guy that was ripping people off at a gas station?
Matt, you need to stop this.
For real, dude, you’re a joke. Better odds at winning the Powerball tonight.
For real Matt, stop.
Still never have been, never will be, Matt.
Sure Matt
Why don’t you ask your mom what she calls me?
Tiny?
Quick Draw McTorch
Late, you’re a swarthy lowlife, but there’s someone out there for you.
Poor, poor Torchy.
Really?
Anyone see the story about Mike Case in the Eagle today?
What a PUTZ. He gets a big fat paycheck for supporting Baker. He doesn’t have to do a damn thing it that job, except not do what he did, watch porn on the job.
Threw away 91 big bills a year to yank it at his desk chair. Holy cow!
and right after the story broke hundreds of other government computers around the state were being scrubbed by their users….
We have an inquiry into Mike about this. It’s funny that, just like THE PLANET has to break news on the Crowne Plaza before The BB runs the story, same thing happened with this story. The Boston Globe had to publish first. Only then did The BB find out about it! Not good enough for the city’s lone daily.
Really?
Dan, my thoughts exactly.
Trump equals Chaos. Believe I tagged that one before the press. All in the name of the Planet, of course.
Dan, you report when others won’t. The clear difference is you are better at it. Also, you’re the only one with balls in the business.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UI-Y0CMGwxo
Almost no one is calling it unconstitutional just un-American. President Bannon is creating caos in America.Are you better off today than 10 days ago well that depend on if your white and a billionaire.
SC you are funny, of course we’re better off. Save some if your tears for tonight when President Trump picks Supreme Court justice. I know his a racist bigot.
Trump is a fraud.
You are a whiny parrot.
Trump is a fraud.
Matt, you are a fraud
Trump is a fraud.
President Bannon chief spokesman Donald Trump is making fake accusations.President Bannon is now pulling a Nixon and regressive are supporting this nonsense.
Indeed it does seem that Bannon does have his hand up Trumps back. Scary.
School committee chairwoman Yon gets a 51,200 a year retirement.Former principle of Ried school gets 68,000 in retirement with her husband a vice principle getting 57,000 for 125,000 per year sitting home.
Your current superintendent will retire on a current salary of 80%of 160,000 or 135,000 per year…..he and Yon want you to believe you don’t spend enough.
Super Citizen Kinnas and his wife rake in $70,395 plus Social Security. No state tax either for the SC
Are you condemning retirement? and are you really thinking that amount of money makes them “well off” or “rich”?
These lucrative pension deals fully explain public “service” in Pittsfield. They are unsustainable. The city needs pension reform — serious and soon.
right, but at the same time, through both employee contributions in some cases and public employer contributions, the pension system takes the place of social security, because neither party was paying into social security during that timeframe.
Agreed reform is needed, however, it is inexcusable for any employer, public or private, to break its contract to former employees because of improper management. That kind of malfeasance should be criminal.
They’re state pensions, not city pensions. The come from the same pot as your BCC friends draw from. The city pays nothing into them.
As usual the cry baby liberals never bother to actually read anything or educate themselves as to what is really going on. No, no, just jump up and down and protest. They usually can’t even explain what they are protesting against.
Yah, and,uh, what are you reading?
You need to turn the channel.
This is still to be decided. There seems little question that the president can suspend refugee resettlement and non-immigrants indefinitely on his own, but immigration may be a bit trickier.
Congress has said in the past that nationality cannot be used as a means to decide who gets to immigrate. On the other hand, U.S. law permits the president to “suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or non-immigrants” if he deems them “detrimental to the interests of the country.” So it could be a matter to be left up to the courts.
So, too, could questions about whether this particular order amounts to a religious preference. The First Amendment prohibits Congress from making such a preference, and even though this is an executive order, it’s still Congress’ job to set uniform rules for naturalization of citizens — and pass appropriations bills paying for the processes Trump wants to set up — which could potentially raise some thorny legal issues. The Trump administration says it believes it’s on solid legal ground, but Monday evening, Acting Attorney General Sally Yates said she wasn’t sure the order was lawful and wouldn’t defend it, at least for now, in court.
Looks like Case and Paul Babeu won’t be a guest interviewin anymore.
The Democrats are being obstructionists by holding up the confirmation of the Attorney General. This is a very important position and they know it. It’s not just the AG, but the rest of his Cabinet they are holding up. The Dems are exhibiting deplorable behavior. This is not just about them not liking Trump. They are doing a disservice to the American people by slow walking these confirmations. The media should be holding them accountable for their lack of action.
Really?
Did you say the same thing about the Republicans holding up the Supreme Court nomination from Obama?
No, I didn’t think so…..
Somehow, in your twisted little mind, that was okay. Right, Pat?
Since Obama was nearing the end of his eight year time as president, I think the GOP had the right to do what they did with Obama’s Supreme Court pick. They could have held hearings, but since they wanted to hold off the nomination, it would have been a waste of time. This situation has nothing to do with the Supreme Court fight, however, since Trump is president and he needs his team in place.
Really?
Pat, you make up convenient “alternate facts” in your head.
I can justify anything if you give me five seconds. That doesn’t make it right.
You’re being a hypocrite here, just admit it.
Gee I can’t recall who was doing it but some group not only held up but refused to consider a candidate for the supreme court under Obama. Hmmm, who was that now?
How about this possibility. Trump can find a better nominee than sessions.That all he has to do.
http://www.danzigercartoons.com/cartoons/alabama-voters
Meanwhile back at the kitchen table all the Dems up for mid-term re-election are carefully putting together stories as to why they must vote in favor of ALL Trumps cabinet members and the SCOTUS – I support you, except in cases when my pocketbook is affected – hahah – phonies…
I certainly will not vote for my incumbent DemocRAT officials.
Since when do we pick and choose what laws we are going to obey and what lies were not going to obey
“I think we have to understand where the Democrats are right now. I think they have been radicalized by this election, that the lesson they took from the election was Hillary was too moderate, that they need more Bernie or Elizabeth Warren. I think we’re going to see Trump derangement syndrome on the left where they are in denial,” ….Ted Cruz
P W is on Facebook so much I don’t know how he has time to do any work. Maybe his employer should look into that.
is he going to get a pension from Facebook?
So rich that today Diane Feinstein says to AG nominee Jeff Sessions about Acting AG Yates standing up to President Trump on his immigration ban:
“That is what an attorney general must be willing to do,” she said before adding she has “no confidence” Sessions would be able to stand up to the president.”
Does everyone remember Loretta Lynch standing up to anything Obama wanted her to do whether it was meeting with Bill Clinton at the airport and then Hillary being exonerated days later or following every partisan issue supported by the progressives. She was completely under the command of Obama and the progressives. Don’t forget Eric Holder being completely influenced as well.
Sleazy Eric Holder allowed 2,000 or so firearms to flow illegally into the hands of Mexican cartel.
Timothy Geithner didn’t pay his taxes from 2001 until 2004 while working at the International Monetary Fund. He said it wasn’t intentional and was a mistake, but this was serious for someone who was going to be Treasury Secretary under Obama, but he was approved by both Republicans and Democrats.
Now Dems are putting Steven Mnuchin’s nomination on hold because of alleged robo signing of mortgage documents while he worked for OneWest Bank so according to them he can’t be trusted to be Treasury Secretary. Naturally Elizabeth Warren is leading the charge against him. Mnuchin has said that OneWest Bank did not robo sign documents. Robo-signing of documents had become almost routine at the time, when millions of bad home loans overwhelmed banks and mortgage servicing companies. So for Dems to focus on this issue is ridiculous in my opinion.
This is another good reason why government should never have been involved in the mortgage industry in the first place. KEEP GOVERNMENT SMALL!!!
Pat..you guys brought that up and he didn’t run for president. Trump is our 1st welfare billionaire president…..we are allowed to assume he has not paid a nickel in taxes and he is living on your dime.
Yes!!!! Agreed, PATSY government manipulation of the mortgage industry and taxing advantages were another way to redirect wealth upwards.
America proselytized single family homeownership as ‘success’ and ‘stability’, and in the mean time, sucked up generations of workers’ wealth instead of reinvesting it in education, training, and upward advancement.
I like this new found wisdom, Patty cakes, keep it up!!!
Too many in Pittsfield right now have gone downward financially so not sure what you are talking about. That’s after 8 years of a Democrat as president. You know the party that used to be all about helping the working people of the country.
This started when the GI’s came home with the establishment of FHA and other home loan programs.
No, it shows the hypocrisy of Democrats.
Yet another great article! I am actually far more impressed by Trump than I ever expected to be. He has gotten down to business and gotten so much done. I hope all this stops the syrian refugees that were to be sent here to Pittsfield!
Wonder where the PussyHats and Chuckles were when Obama bombed the shit out of 5 of the Countries listed in the temporary travel ban. Hundreds of civilians died, why no protests. PussyHats are the frauds.
Trump is a fraud.
YON….51,000 for life is the average teacher retirement in the last 5 years.It’s only going much higher.Sheran will retire on 80% of 100k…80,000 a year teaching High School history…..its silly.
Max out retirement at 50k for everybody in ma.Average ss is 18k per year tops
Shakes want a cracker?
Trump is a fraud.
e-mails
Benghazi
SQUAK!!!
Anyone see Jesse Dubin advocating to keep Methusaluh Bar open after clear violations of the law. Jonny’s and Lach’s should file a suit, Lach’s was shut down after same kind of incident, no worse anyway. Thuze got a suspend with charity and probation, but stays open. Politics at it’s best. Dana is the only Board Member with any salt, the others are bullshitters.
hhmmm I wonder what “non-profit” the profits will go to ? This was a travesty of justice…worse than a Trump EO –
The other bars had to shut down and Methuselah Bar gets a tax write off.
Diane was my favorite member on that Board, until yesterday. I wish it never happened was her retort, then voted not to suspend. I’ll give you a mulligan on this one, hopefully you’ll get back to basics.
Good news. The drug companies are not going to have to test their products anymore. so they will be able to gt them to market faster to save lives…yippie!!!
Heh heh, I took the time to actually read Trumps. executive order. Chances are you are a run of the mill FB follower. News flash! Face Book is not news! Furthermore, all the ridiculous internet blogs featured on FB are not journalists. They are a bunch of clowns who steal miscellaneous bits and peices from other sources. They verify nothing. I am sick of people that make comments with no education on the subject.
Don’t even know how to use or get on facebook.
But you be careful out there those roads are slippery. Kinda like your buddy Trump.
Neither does Mr. Case apparently?
Yea…twitter is not fake
Safe some of the Skuaking, Supreme Court nominee tonight. Racist, racist skuak bigot bigot skuak, Bush’s fault skuak fraud blah blah blah. Trying to save you alittle time.
I could have voted for Trump and he said things I love…middle class tax cut and jobs to rebuild water pipes bridges …then he acted unstable….he is a very weird human being that lies and does not pay taxes…then act insane…tough to vote for a rich punk
Don’t quit your day job, I mean sitting on a downtown bench looking for cigarette butts.
I think he wants to be like Vince Mc Magon
Heh heh, apparently you don’t know how to research the subjects you comment. Typical liberal democrat, get a hat and go protest.
Thank you for your input.
Dan is talking about recycling of the same old players in the school system and alike, and he’s correct. The name for that might be Retreads.
How many times is PCTV going to show Donna and Parking meters, wtf.
Fifty two percent of Americans didn’t vote. Sound Familiar?
My law clerk nephew says Gorsuch and you can actually get 4 -5 in Las Vegas, that what the guy on tv said, crazy.
Paul Ryan’s a puke, has very little to do when Trump is in the room.
Hillary should have more aggressive and offensive during the debates. She would always mock Trump during campaign stops, really never got her message out like Bernie. Bernie would have beaten Trump easily but Clinton was dishonest not to let that happen, she sewed her own fate. Merida didn’t want Bill anywhere near the WH and although she outpolled Trump, he got the prize, that’s what counts. trump is the president and like I said many times, unless he does something really stupid, he will be our President. Let’s go forward for the next four and see what happens, the fifty or so percent that didn’t vote will make the difference next election, and it still might be Trump or Mr. Clean.
Even if you took away all of Hillary’s baggage, the fact that she was going to keep Obama’s agenda going didn’t help.A lot of Americans have had enough of Obama’s hope and change. Also the media helped, especially letting her campaign think they had it sewed up.
You could put 100 g on Gorsuch and get 180 g back this is easy, where do I do it?
according to tv any casino. It’s 8 now you can still do it?
My cousin is a Circuit Court Judge in Colorado where he’s from and knows Gorsuch very well,. Excellent choice she said.
Byron Wizzer White, ah yes, the Wiz.
Judge Gorsuch reminds me of Jimmy Stewart, just saying. I like him!
The City Council is clamouring for cuts in the school department, Why. They have NO CHOICE?
But our state and locals got Pay Raises first. When is our March!
Bunch of Phonies. We’ve hit the ledge.
Mike Case throws away a 90g job for porno. What the hell is going on. Disgrace to the uniform.
I’m assuming the fix was in. Councilor Amuso, at what point did you know the City was in financial dire straits, before the mega increases and bloat in the School Department, or did it just hit you like a ton of bricks. You Maam, should resign. Kerwood said we are already in deficit spending with Snow and Ice, no kidding,well you salt bare roads twenty four seven and plow down to the center of the earth, of course you’re going to run a deficit. Incompetence, get rid of these bozos next cycle.
Councilors asked are there any other department deficits? Just upkeep of buildings or improvements will keep the City in the deficit mode for many years. OPEB is a deficit. There are hundreds do problems with the next Budget, cutting isn’t essential, it has to be done, there is no revenue.
Mayor pay increase, school board stipend,Covanta boiler,Sabic, PEDA failure, beacon tax breaks and others, ugh,bloated school budget and OPEB obligations,top pay scale appointees,bad city lighting,Crime, inferior fire equipment,police dept union theft,north street going nowhere, health board clueless, building rubble sitting in the center of town, Tyler street renaissance overated,looks like a slum in most parts, ongoing internal police strife, terrible driving throughout the city, littering, shootings in broad daylight, knivings etc Gangs increasing,bar shootings on North Street,jaywalking, young men lingering with no hope, but refugees possibly on the way and will have more rights than the unemployed, insurance premiums are going up,up,up taxpayers in locals will foot the increase for every increase and mega pension. The list goes on and on and on and on…and on and on….
you’ve covered a lot of it,maybe Wahconah Lake?
Outright vulgar people? Eagle reporter Jen Smith was on the radio saying someone called her a racilal epitaph. Jen is a very fine person and was saddened and sickened to hear her say that. We love you Jen, keep you’re head up!
I was told this story (and shown evidence) by an EMT Emeritus, an old timey local LEO who said “Do with this what you please.”
CR#014303 Ashtabula County (OH) Sheriff’s Dept 09/21/1992.
The Gist: Officer Mike Case left a City of Pittsfield owned sniper rifle, scope & case (V=$800) in the parking lot of the Holiday Inn on Austinburg Road in Alachua, OH, forgetting to place it into his car, before going to training at Def Tec, about an hour away. He reported it as “stolen” from the parking lot after he returned about 2 hrs later.
Case WAS in the Army Nat’l Guard @ the time. Loss of a (military) weapon would’ve subjected him to a Courts Martial:
908. Art. 108. Military property of United States Loss, damage, destruction, or wrongful disposition.
“Any person subject to this chapter who, without proper authority- (1) sells or otherwise disposes of; (2) willfully or through neglect damages, destroys, or loses; or (3) willfully or through neglect suffers to be lost, damaged, destroyed, sold, or wrongfully disposed of;any military property of the United States, shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.”
HOWEVER, nothing was ever done to him by command nor did the incident get any press. WHY? Connections? Wife in the School Dept with connections? Dept “sniff?”
So I say unto YOU, “Do with it what you please.”
FYI: Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Office (Records)
North Chestnut Street
Jefferson, OH 44047
(440) 576-3545
But.. It was a City owned piece of equipment.
You miss the point. The City did nothing to him. Do you have to be spoon fed?
This site it better than the Boston Globe.