Category: Uncategorized

Trump defends Giuliani amid reports of federal investigation

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
So now they are after the legendary “crime buster” and greatest Mayor in the history of NYC, Rudy Giuliani. He may seem a little rough around the edges sometimes, but he is also a great guy and wonderful lawyer. Such a one sided Witch Hunt going on in USA. Deep State. Shameful!
2:11 AM · Oct 13, 2019Twitter for iPhone

US President Donald Trump has defended his lawyer Rudy Giuliani as a “legendary crime buster” and “wonderful lawyer” after a media report that prosecutors are investigating whether the former New York mayor broke lobbying laws in his dealings in Ukraine.

“So now they are after the legendary ‘crime buster’ and greatest Mayor in the history of NYC, Rudy Giuliani,” Trump said in a statement on Twitter.

 

via Trump defends Giuliani amid reports of federal investigation

Ex-Ukraine envoy testifies Trump tried to oust her: read her opening statement | US news | The Guardian

Marie Yovanovitch, center, arrives on Capitol Hill to testify before congressional lawmakers on 11 October.

via Ex-Ukraine envoy testifies Trump tried to oust her: read her opening statement | US news | The Guardian

As rivers and dams dry up, groundwater emerges as new battleground in fight for water – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

A man in a blue collared shirt and a cap sits in a buggy with grass in the background.

“To us, this inevitably means fruit and nut crops.”  1kg of almonds takes 860 liters of water to grow (ODT)

And big corporations are among those trying to cash in on it.

In farming country just north of Shepparton in northern Victoria, multi-million dollar agricultural investment corporation goFarm is buying up properties all over the district.

Documents obtained by the ABC from The Weekly Times show the company wants to control at least half of the Katunga Deep Lead Aquifer, an important groundwater resource for local farmers.

via As rivers and dams dry up, groundwater emerges as new battleground in fight for water – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

The Dud strikes again – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Peter Dutton has used his preferred diplomatic channel, 2GB, to mightily piss off our biggest trading partner by saying that the policies of the Communist Party of China are “inconsistent with those of Australia.”

Further wading into the mire, he proclaimed that “Australia is not going to allow university students to be unduly influenced by China, the theft of intellectual property or the hacking of government or non-government organisations.”

The reaction from the Chinese was predictable, calling his comments “irrational”, “shocking” and “baseless”.

via The Dud strikes again – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Old Dog Thoughts- Giuliani primed for a dump; China Art of the Con; The Great Wall of a deal/no deal by Trump.

Between China and America, we chose the wrong friend

Fighting Fake News with REAL, 13/10/19; Trump’s Tell’s; The US as our ally; An excuse to break the tariff dead line and then brag;

Trump impeachment inquiry: 10 developments you may have missed | USA News | Al Jazeera

Trump holds a campaign rally in Minneapolis, Minnesota [Leah Millis/Reuters]

via Trump impeachment inquiry: 10 developments you may have missed | USA News | Al Jazeera

US to deploy 3,000 additional troops to Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia News | Al Jazeera

The deployment is part of what the US has described as defensive moves following the attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities last month [File: Massoud Hossaini/Reuters] [The Associated Press]

Trump’s Troops for Oil, but not for Life of any Kurd (ODT)

via US to deploy 3,000 additional troops to Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia News | Al Jazeera

‘Bolton Went Ballistic’: New Report Finds at Least 4 Officials Were Panicked by Trump’s Ukraine Conduct | The Smirking Chimp

Trump declares all American Institutions corrupt and therefore has the right of executive privilige. The right od a Dictator (ODT)

By contrast, the new report paints a picture of widespread opposition to the president’s actions within his own White House.

Four, and possibly more, national security officials in the White House were concerned about Trump’s actions, according to the report, both before and after the president’s now-infamous July 25 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. In the call, Trump strongly indicated that U.S. assistance to Ukraine could be contingent on Zelensky giving him what he wanted, specifically: investigations into the 2016 election and former Vice President Joe Biden.

via ‘Bolton Went Ballistic’: New Report Finds at Least 4 Officials Were Panicked by Trump’s Ukraine Conduct | The Smirking Chimp

US warns of ‘serious consequences’ as Turkey continues offensive in north-eastern Syria – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Black plumes of smoke come off burning cars.

First the Trump Administration permitted the invasion by Turkey and now the media claims they are “warning against it. A whitewash in progress (ODT)

Key points:

Trump administration warns of “serious consequences” for offensive
Turkey vows to continue until all Kurdish militia forces are “neutralised”
Islamic State militants have escaped prison due to Turkish shelling

via US warns of ‘serious consequences’ as Turkey continues offensive in north-eastern Syria – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Trump’s Undeclared State of Emergency

https://www.juancole.com/images/2019/10/trumps-undeclared-state-of-emerg-750x422.jpg

What’s not so obvious is that this conspiracy extends to the rule of law. According to this skewed version of reality, corruption has penetrated the bedrock institutions of American society: the political sphere, the intelligence agencies, the mainstream media. Corruption has transformed the very fabric of politics, culture, and law.

To root out corruption, then, it’s necessary to step outside the rule of law. Donald Trump hasn’t declared a state of emergency. But he is acting as if he has (which, in case you’re wondering, is illegal). His decision not to cooperate with congressional inquiries, including the most recent impeachment inquiry, is also part of this unstated state of emergency.

via Trump’s Undeclared State of Emergency

Trump Shoots Man on Fifth Avenue | The Smirking Chimp

the President of the United States brazenly “colluded” with two foreign powers (to coin a term), publicly encouraging them to attack one of his domestic political opponents—the very thing the Founders most feared, and which they created the mechanism of impeachment to address. Yet the silence from the President’s party thus far has been deafening. Are we going to be a representative democracy ruled by law, or an autocracy led by a despot? Is the modern GOP really willing to burn the entire foundation of our republic to the ground in order to maintain its hold on power? (Rhetorical question. We know by now that they are.)

The modern Republican Party is about to decide just how savagely history will remember it. And if we as a nation allow them to get away with it, we deserve what we get.

via Trump Shoots Man on Fifth Avenue | The Smirking Chimp

Newstart ‘not transitional, $75 boost insufficient’: Australia Institute report | The Australia Institute

The Social Services Minister Refuses To Admit Whether Newstart Is Adequate, ‘Coz It’s Not

via Newstart ‘not transitional, $75 boost insufficient’: Australia Institute report | The Australia Institute

The Bill that Australia despised – » The Australian Independent Media Network

My thought for the day

I found it impossible to imagine that the Australian people could be so gullible as to elect for a third term a government that has performed so miserably in the first two and has amongst its members some of the most devious, suspicious and corrupt men and women but they did. (John Lord)

via The Bill that Australia despised – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Backstage in Canberra: who is lobbying our MPs?

The Grattan Institute similarly wants ministerial diaries to be published and has called for the lobbyist register to be linked to the orange passes.
Related Article
Lobbyists with orange “sponsored passes” have access to every office in Parliament Lambie also supports the five-year cooling-off period and wants the lobbying code of conduct to apply to anyone who lobbies, regardless of whether they are on the register. She says this should be policed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

“It will mean anyone who lobbies – whether they’re a third-party lobbyist for the mum-and-dad shop down the road, or an in-house lobbyist for Google – has to follow the same standards,” she wrote in 2017.

via Backstage in Canberra: who is lobbying our MPs?

Australia’s Right-wing stranglehold over public interest journalism

Fair and unbiased reporting is disappearing in Australia as the Coalition Government and Murdoch Mafia gain control of our news, writes Ranald Macdonald.

via Australia’s Right-wing stranglehold over public interest journalism

Old Dog Thoughts Trump Butchers Kurds; Christians Butcher Jews, LNP- Sally- The Regulator- AWU-Illegal.

Fighting Fake News with REAL, 12/10/19; LNP Regulator Raid not Valid; Turkey Pounds Kurds; Christians shoot Jews

Is Trump’s Syria Policy about to Loose 12,000 ISIL Terrorists on the World?

https://www.juancole.com/images/2019/10/is-trumps-syria-policy-about-to.jpg

via Is Trump’s Syria Policy about to Loose 12,000 ISIL Terrorists on the World?

After Turkish invasion, prison break fears at al-Hawl Islamic State detention camp

Women buy food at Al Hawl camp, Syria.

Covered because if they aren’t they are murdered Dutton’s Death Camps for Australian Women and Children (ODT)

Get us money or get us out of here,” the message from the desperate Russian Islamic State bride read. Writing in one of their encrypted Telegram groups, the women of al-Hawl detention camp in north-east Syria were trying to mobilise friends and family on the outside to organise a prison break.

via After Turkish invasion, prison break fears at al-Hawl Islamic State detention camp

Impeachment moves against Trump: Republicans scramble to fight back

Impeachment moves against Trump: Republicans scramble to fight back

Giuliani Associates Who Targeted Biden Arrested On Campaign Finance Charges | HuffPost

Mug shots of Igor Fruman (L) and Lev Parnas.

via Giuliani Associates Who Targeted Biden Arrested On Campaign Finance Charges | HuffPost

The Politics of Funding: Cash Crisis at the United Nations – » The Australian Independent Media Network

The situation has duly worsened. On Monday, Guterres suggested the possibility that the UN would run dry of cash reserves by the end of October. In a letter to the 37,000 employees based at the UN secretariat, the secretary general explained that, “Member states have paid only 70 per cent of the total amount needed for our regular budget operations in 2019. This translates into a cash shortage of $230 million at the end of September. We run the risk of depleting our backup liquidity reserves by the end of the month.”

Of the current amount of some $1.3 billion owed to the UN by members, the US boasts the lion’s share of arrears at $1 billion. This figure of imbalance has not prevented Trump, from venting about other members. “So make all Member Countries pay, not just the United States!”

via The Politics of Funding: Cash Crisis at the United Nations – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Housing crisis confirms Australia’s economy tanking – alone in the developed world – Michael West

Housing crisis confirms Australia’s economy tanking – alone in the developed world

via Housing crisis confirms Australia’s economy tanking – alone in the developed world – Michael West

Extinction Rebellion protests: Scott Ludlam’s bail conditions thrown out by magistrate

Scott Ludlam has bail conditions thrown out

Extinction Rebellion protests: Scott Ludlam’s bail conditions thrown out by magistrate

If you are under 34, you have never experienced a month of below average temperatures | Greg Jericho | Opinion | The Guardian

the sun rising over the sea at Manly

via If you are under 34, you have never experienced a month of below average temperatures | Greg Jericho | Opinion | The Guardian

Coalmine would take 3.3bn litres of water a year from Sydney catchment, agency warns | Australia news | The Guardian

Cordeaux Dam in NSW

At what cost has always been the question asked but never answered by the LNP (ODT)

via Coalmine would take 3.3bn litres of water a year from Sydney catchment, agency warns | Australia news | The Guardian

Old Dog Thoughts- Trump Republican Insanity. Left Protest Cost of Coal takes off.

Image may contain: text

Fighting Fake Newswith REAL 11/10/19; Republican pact with Insanity; Citizen Only Right Left Protest; Digging for Gold nobody wants the cost of Coal;

Turkey invades Syria ‘They didn’t help us in WW2’: Trump dismisses plight of Kurds facing Turkish onslaught in Syria

Tanks roll across a dusty road

‘They didn’t help us in WW2’: Trump dismisses plight of Kurds facing Turkish onslaught in Syria

 

This asylum seeker was shot in the head. Ice jailed him and gave him ibuprofen | US news | The Guardian

Rolando from Guatemala stands with his rosary beads at an Al Otro Lado office in San Diego.

via This asylum seeker was shot in the head. Ice jailed him and gave him ibuprofen | US news | The Guardian

Intercepted Podcast: The Trump Effect

via Intercepted Podcast: The Trump Effect

Scott Morrison’s relationship with Trump, views on foreign policy signals he is turning his back on Australians

Best buddies: Prime Minister Scott Morrison and US President Donald Trump in the US in September.

via Scott Morrison’s relationship with Trump, views on foreign policy signals he is turning his back on Australians

Boris Johnson’s father joins Extinction Rebellion protest, shrugging off British PM’s ‘uncooperative crusties’ tag – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Climate change protester in the streets of London, police officers next to them.

via Boris Johnson’s father joins Extinction Rebellion protest, shrugging off British PM’s ‘uncooperative crusties’ tag – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Labor are losing their nerve – » The Australian Independent Media Network

When the Coalition under Malcolm Turnbull won 76 seats in the 2016 election, it was generally accepted that Turnbull had “blown it” and the knives were quickly sharpened. Yet when the ad man wins 77 seats, he is hailed as a messiah that has delivered a decisive victory enabling the Coalition to do whatever they damn well please.

Let’s be clear about that election result.

Leaving out Queensland, in the rest of the country, Labor won 62 seats compared to the Coalition’s 54. That is a resounding victory.

We have the government that Queensland thrust upon us against the wishes of every other state and territory (except WA – the only other state where the Coalition won a majority of seats).

via Labor are losing their nerve – » The Australian Independent Media Network

The Coalition: Where protesting free speech is only a right for the Right

via The Coalition: Where protesting free speech is only a right for the Right

Return of Coalition Government threatens Australian values

It’s a principle of stability in a parliamentary democracy that, while you may be elected by a slim majority, you must govern for everyone. If you start rewarding those who gave you power at the expense of everyone else, you invite disorder on the state.

via Return of Coalition Government threatens Australian values

Linda Burney says Australia is the only first world nation with a colonial history that doesn’t recognise its first people in its constitution. Is she correct? – Politics – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Linda Burney's claim checks out

via Linda Burney says Australia is the only first world nation with a colonial history that doesn’t recognise its first people in its constitution. Is she correct? – Politics – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

United Nations human rights commissioner criticises Australia’s asylum-seeker policies – Politics – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

A close up of Michelle Bachelet speaking.

via United Nations human rights commissioner criticises Australia’s asylum-seeker policies – Politics – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Old Dog Thoughts- Yom Kippur What do Jews think od Trump? Betrayal has always a business and personal strategy of Trump, not Americans. 11,000 dead 20,000 critically wounded now MORE.

An Israeli flag in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights.

Fighting Fake News with REAL, 10/10/19; It’s Yom Kippur and Trump won’t be found on the jewish wall of the rightoeus; Kurdish allies competely betrayed; More fake posturing and stupidity;

New Washington Post Poll: 49% Of Americans Want Trump Out Of Office | Crooks and Liars

New Washington Post Poll: 49% Of Americans Want Trump Out Of Office

via New Washington Post Poll: 49% Of Americans Want Trump Out Of Office | Crooks and Liars

Here’s Another Impeachable Offense: Trump’s War on the Constitution – Mother Jones

It’s all OBSTRUCTION of a Co-Joint Congressional Committee (ODT)

via Here’s Another Impeachable Offense: Trump’s War on the Constitution – Mother Jones

After Trump Announcement, Syrian Kurds Brace for Turkish Invasion

FILE -- In this February 24, 2019 file photo, a U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighter talks on his radio at a check point near Omar oil field base, eastern Syria, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2019. The U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces defeated the Islamic state group in March but the Kurdish-led force is now facing protests by local Arab tribesmen in Deir el-Zour province. They are demanding better services, jobs and a bigger role in taking decisions in the predominantly Arab oil-rich and fertile region. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana, File)

via After Trump Announcement, Syrian Kurds Brace for Turkish Invasion

The state of play – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Just who does this Prime Minister think he is that on a thought bubble of his own wind, in the loneliness of his limited intellect, think that he can make decisions concerning our standing in the world with all the simplicity of a leader unsuited to the task?

It’s not often you can offend all sides of an argument.

My thought for the day

This American Conservative political strategy of painting everything as black as possible and then pretending it’s only they that have the answers is being duplicated in Australia. It seems Australians are falling for it. I thought we were brighter than that.( John Lord)

via The state of play – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Our political donations and lobbying systems are out of control | Anthony Whealy | Opinion | The Guardian

Illustration photo of Australian dollars

Where you have media like Murdoch, 2GB and Ch9 how on earth can you distinguish what’s business, political donation and lobbying. Let’s face it Alan Jones Andrew Bolt are paid lobbyists. (ODT)

via Our political donations and lobbying systems are out of control | Anthony Whealy | Opinion | The Guardian

“Driver’s licenses for workers to be restricted for the common good” – » The Australian Independent Media Network

There was a time when Indigenous Australian wages wern’t only less than half of the rest of Australia’s they were said to be government managed. $50 million went missing. Along with this “management” came an attached stigmatised negative reputation that has lasted 200 years that justified good white christian behaviour that prevented rather than assisted indigenous Australians to become like the rest of Australia. Debt, inheritance and capital gains were never and option. Only what they were given. They were and are still blamed for their historical demise.  Is it any wonder they went walk about? Today the LNP government is inviting the rest of Australia to join them with their new welfare card and all the obligations that come with it. Some Australian no matter their color are to be treated as the  Indigenous have for hundreds of years and we are now and only now it seems shocked. (ODT)

Stripping away people’s right to manage their own finances, making them second-class citizens, having to endure abuse and stigmatisation, being automatically branded as drug/alcohol abusers, being financially worse off due to extra fees and charges for using the card, plus penalties for when Indue fail to pay bills set up for direct debit is all OK by you?

Being denied opportunities to make ends meet by accessing cheaper options via markets, garage sales, eBay, buy/sell groups, many online stores, cash in hand sales/repairs etc, is OK by you?

via “Driver’s licenses for workers to be restricted for the common good” – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Corporate power – customer powerless – » The Australian Independent Media Network

The Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry revealed very clearly a major flaw in the Corporations Act.

The prime duty of the directors of a corporate body is to act in the best interests of shareholders, which, by implication means to maximise the profits for shareholders.

Nowhere is there any clear inference that, if the corporation provides a service to members of the public, its actions ought also to be directed to avoiding harm to the receiver of those services. Other legislation might well be invoked in those circumstances, but, in general, the corporation’s attention is firmly directed towards benefiting the shareholders. And if those who use corporate services are dissatisfied, they have to find other legal means to obtain satisfaction.

via Corporate power – customer powerless – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Now is NOT the time to be a ‘quiet Australian’ – » The Australian Independent Media Network

There is a disturbing trend emerging in Australia where the government is increasingly trying to silence the people.

They have painted unionists as lawless thugs and removed our ability to withhold our labour without their pre-arranged permission.

They have made charity funding dependent on them being uncritical of government policy.

They label conservationists and animal welfare groups as ecoterrorists and are pushing forward with legislation to make protesting unlawful if it causes any sort of disruption.

Public servants, journalists and whistleblowers face prosecution if they reveal what the government is doing.

They claim the gay community has “an agenda” and are therefore trying to introduce laws that make discrimination against them legal but discrimination against religious people illegal.

They dismiss school students who are concerned about inaction on climate change as being brainwashed by virtue-signalling elites and tell them to be quiet and get back to school.

via Now is NOT the time to be a ‘quiet Australian’ – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Government sanctioned murder of Australia’s natural habitat

via Government sanctioned murder of Australia’s natural habitat

Canberra economists expose the Coalition’s economic failures

Canberra economists expose the Coalition’s economic failures

Old Dog Thoughts- Real Domestic Violence looks like this and it’s LNP approved

The Minister for Defence, Linda Reynolds.

Fighting Fake News with Real,9/10/19; Face of real Domestic Violence; Australia lost it’s compassion and humour in 2013; Morrison’s Mate and his behavior;

Trump administration blocks testimony of central figure in impeachment inquiry

President Donald Trump with Gordon Sondland in 2018.

The waning of American Democracy and power in less than 3 years.  The moral bankruptcy of a Nation in full relief (ODT)

The Trump administration has blocked a planned deposition from Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union and a central figure in the Democrats’ impeachment inquiry, according to a statement by his lawyer.

Trump administration blocks testimony of central figure in impeachment inquiry

Time to Rebel | The Smirking Chimp

via Time to Rebel | The Smirking Chimp