Category: Uncategorized

Trump Says He Would Have Fought Off Parkland Shooter Without A Weapon

 

WASHINGTON ― President Donald Trump on Monday suggested that he would have personally fought off the school shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School even while not armed, despite the fact that he previously deferred military service due to bone spurs in his foot.

“I really believe I’d run in there even if I didn’t have a weapon, and I think most of the people in this room would have done that too,” he said during a White House event with the nation’s governors.

via Trump Says He Would Have Fought Off Parkland Shooter Without A Weapon

Huckabee Sanders Spins Trump’s Heroism Fantasy Into ‘Leadership And Courageous Action’ | Crooks and Liars

 

Huckabee Sanders Spins Trump's Heroism Fantasy Into 'Leadership And Courageous Action'

Why spin the unspinnable? Just leave it out there as it is, Sarah. “The president is speaking for himself” is all that needed to be said.

via Huckabee Sanders Spins Trump’s Heroism Fantasy Into ‘Leadership And Courageous Action’ | Crooks and Liars

Turnbull Hits Back At Criticism Of His Home’s NBN Connection: “14 Of The Bedrooms Don’t Have Internet Connectivity At All!” – The Shovel

Responding to reports that his harbour-side mansion had been specially connected to high-speed NBN, Malcolm Turnbull today pointed out that more than a dozen bedrooms, and at least one of the kitchens, are without internet connection altogether.

Asked what his message was to Australians who were still waiting for the NBN while he enjoyed a 100mbps plan, Mr Turnbull said, “I know how they feel”.

“There’s nothing more frustrating than ducking off to the butler’s quarters to get some work done, and then remembering that the new wi-fi doesn’t reach that far yet. So yep, I get it”.

Responding to a question from a small business owner who said he couldn’t download the files he needed run his office, Mr Turnbull said, “Have you tried the third study? I find the reception is often better there. Or, at a pinch, you could always go down to the entertainment room”.

via Turnbull Hits Back At Criticism Of His Home’s NBN Connection: “14 Of The Bedrooms Don’t Have Internet Connectivity At All!” – The Shovel

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‘Core group’ of repeat offenders behind home invasions, top cop says

“That happens, certain kids get out of custody and back to offending,” he said. ”We have got a core group of offenders who we have to work on all the time,” he said.

”When they are not in custody, they are offending. That’s what can happen.”

He added that social media helped offenders to gather and organise.

”You are talking about some core offenders putting a bad name to that whole community … they just see that as the way they are going to make money and get on with life for some reason,” Mr Ashton said.

via ‘Core group’ of repeat offenders behind home invasions, top cop says

The cost of the media’s abject failure to report Barnaby’s ‘private’ life 

 

Media silence enabled a successful attempt by the Government to withhold information from the New England electorate in order to achieve an outcome favourable to that government. Is there much more worthy of investigation, one has to ask, than the deliberate withholding of information from voters in order to influence the outcome of an election?

via The cost of the media’s abject failure to report Barnaby’s ‘private’ life 

Australian media joins fight against Rebel Wilson’s record defamation payout

“That aspect of the court’s decision has significant consequences for all media,” Goss added.

The first and primary consequence don’t defame people without verified comment which judges regard as being “loose with the facts”(OD)

via Australian media joins fight against Rebel Wilson’s record defamation payout

Disgraced senior ethics cop subject of previous racism complaints

He was only doing what Andrew bolt does for a job

Complaints about racist remarks made by the disgraced head of Victoria Police’s own Professional Standards Command were lodged more than a decade ago, but Brett Guerin continued to be promoted through the ranks, The Age can reveal.

Mr Guerin resigned in disgrace on Monday evening, after The Age published details of shocking racist and obscene comments he made under the online pseudonym “Vernon Demerest”.

via Disgraced senior ethics cop subject of previous racism complaints

‘Bad business’: Apple, Google, Amazon pressured to cut ties with NRA

Some of the biggest names in corporate America are coming under mounting pressure to cut ties with the National Rifle Association as gun safety activists on Friday intensified calls for a boycott in the wake of last week’s Florida high school massacre.

via ‘Bad business’: Apple, Google, Amazon pressured to cut ties with NRA

Corporate partners cut cord with NRA as gun control debate rages

 

The exodus of corporate names, ranging from a major insurer to car rental brands and a household moving company, occurred after the NRA launched a counter-offensive against a student-led campaign for tighter US gun ownership laws.

At the same time, gun control activists are stepping up pressure on Amazon.com Inc and other online streaming platforms to drop the online video channel NRATV, featuring gun-friendly programming produced by the NRA.

via Corporate partners cut cord with NRA as gun control debate rages

Just a flesh wound – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Image result for Images of sharri markson daily telegraph

Markson’s ‘analysis’ of these crisis talks reads like an apology to Joyce, as if everything got a bit out of hand, and he was never meant to lose his position as Nationals leader, Deputy PM and Cabinet Minister, and that this kerfuffle was not to be blamed on the poor innocent Daily Tele – any damage done was Joyce’s fault for not handling the story well. Markson writes:

‘The government got through the by election without the secret exposed’ – because Markson chose not to expose the secret – and Joyce’s resignation today ‘is down to his (Joyce’s) serial mismanagement of what could have been a one – or two-day story – which is all it was ever intended to be, for there was no vendetta against Joyce or malice towards him by The Daily Telegraph’.

You seriously couldn’t make this shit up. Sharri’s not making it up. Sharri, the journalist who ironically had to go ‘undercover’ to a journalism course at university in order to ‘expose’ the left-wing brainwashing of the media (ha!), who claimed not to know about Joyce’s affair, then did know, then apologised for knowing, and admitted she did know before after all, has laid it out very clearly. The Murdoch media is not interested in reporting about politics. They’re interested in playing politics. It’s just such a pity that so many Australians are still willing to be played.

 

via Just a flesh wound – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Turnbull says Joyce made ‘the right decision’ by quitting

Barnaby Joyce steps down as Deputy Prime Minister.

Malcolm Turnbull says Barnaby Joyce has made “the right decision” to quit his job as the Deputy Prime Minister because he faces difficult personal issues and a new complaint against him.

via Turnbull says Joyce made ‘the right decision’ by quitting

Care for ‘Conversation and Dinner’ With Don Jr.? First Family Access Possible With Purchase of Trump-Branded Apartment in India

Daniel S. Markey, who helped coordinate South Asia policy at the State Department during the George W. Bush administration, told the Times that it “is just bizarre” that “the president’s son would be going and shilling the president’s brand at same time Donald Trump is president and is managing strategic and foreign relations with India.”

The Post reports that Trump Jr.’s “unofficial” visit will also include delivering “a foreign policy speech on Indo-Pacific relations at an event with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”

via Care for ‘Conversation and Dinner’ With Don Jr.? First Family Access Possible With Purchase of Trump-Branded Apartment in India

Donald Trump hosts White House ‘listening session’, says arming teachers could prevent school massacres – Donald Trump’s America – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Empathy a needed reminder for the Don 5- “I hear you”

via Donald Trump hosts White House ‘listening session’, says arming teachers could prevent school massacres – Donald Trump’s America – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Despite Coal Lobby, Australia to Double Solar Energy in 2018 | Informed Comment

 

Despite Coal Lobby, Australia to Double Solar Energy in 2018

Australia’s march to solar power is a reason for climate optimism because it is happening under adverse circumstances. Australia has a big and important coal industry that spends millions on lobbying and election campaigns, and the Australian government is in its back pocket. They, too, have the fraud of “clean coal” hopes [that is not a thing]. The central government is no friend of renewables. Some state governments are deeply committed to dirty coal as well. Australia has a horrible environmental record and is among the worst carbon polluters per capita.

via Despite Coal Lobby, Australia to Double Solar Energy in 2018 | Informed Comment

The wheels have fallen off | The Monthly

Cory Bernardi on RN Breakfast this morning that he was aware of other ministers having sex with staffers. Paul Keating used to say good policy was good politics. Those were the days.

Apparently MP’s according to MP’s is that they are not bound by any rule other than don’t get caught. Journalists align themselves for information from inside of politics on the understanding that they never publicize or inform the public on the true nature of those that help them in their craft. It seems it’s a very closed industry which makes the public despondant and wise due to the fact that they above all are most aware of their ingnorance. It’s strange that silence is the currency of the elite wealthy corporate and political classes. Andrew Bolt readily attacks those he regards as the left on every singular aspect of their lives and trangressionsthat go back in  years and never accepts the changes that have occurred in their lives. How often have we seen him reveal the past lives of people in the audience of Q&A no quarter given or the rule of privacy there.

“In this ideas vacuum, and apparently timed minutely to the PM’s departure overseas, former prime minister Tony Abbott is grabbing headlines again [$], with a new big idea of winding back Australia’s annual immigration intake to the levels seen in the Howard years, from 190,000 to about 110,000 a year. In typically partisan fashion, Abbott says if the policy outrages the Labor Party, “so much the better”. ” This shows the  impossible problem solving nature of Mr Nope Nope Nope when it comes to politics of Abbott compared to what we once experienced with Bob Hawke and Australia moved forward.

The wheels have fallen off | The Monthly

Comic explainer: how does Islamic finance work?

Interest fuels the financial world. The money sitting in your bank account accrues it, and the credit cards in your wallet charge it. If you ever want money quick, you’re going to being paying a decent amount of interest for having that money now rather than later.

But under Islamic law, interest is explicitly forbidden.

via Comic explainer: how does Islamic finance work?

How We Fight Fascism

that the longer the stagnation and rot of a dysfunctional democracy went unaddressed, the more attractive fascism would become.

Zetkin warned, arises when capitalism enters a period of crisis and breakdown of the democratic institutions that once offered the possibility of reform and protection from an uninhibited assault by the capitalist class. The unchecked capitalist assault pushes the middle class, the bulwark of a capitalist democracy, into the working class and often poverty. It strips workers of all protection and depresses wages. The longer the economic and social stagnation persists, the more attractive fascism becomes. Zetkin would have warned us that Donald Trump is not the danger; the danger is the growing social and economic inequality that concentrates wealth in the hands of an oligarchic elite and degrades the lives of citizens.

via How We Fight Fascism

A belated ‘Recognition’ and a ‘new policy’ (Part 2) – » The Australian Independent Media Network

 

As things stand at the present, Australia’s Constitution does not recognise Indigenous or Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ prior occupation and custodianship of their land.

Actually, section 51(xxvi) allows special laws to be passed to the disadvantage of Aboriginal people, and section 25 enables state laws to disqualify people of a particular race from voting at state elections.

An expert panel recommended to remove sections 25 and 51(xxvi) and adopt new sections:

1) Add Section 51 (A) to recognise Aboriginal peoples’ occupation of the land and continuing relationship with lands and water. The section would also pay respect to culture, language and heritage, and state that the government can only make laws to the benefit of Indigenous People.

2) Add Section 116A specifically to prohibit racial discrimination for all Australians. It would forbid any government from discriminating against a person based on race, colour, ethnicity or national origin.

3) Add Section 127 (A) for recognition of languages and to acknowledge and protect the role that languages have in Aboriginal communities.

via A belated ‘Recognition’ and a ‘new policy’ (Part 2) – » The Australian Independent Media Network

‘They’re laughing their asses off in Moscow’: Trump on the attack over Russia probe

US President Donald Trump.

West Palm Beach: US President Donald Trump questioned the special counsel’s intensifying Russia probe on Sunday while attacking his own national security adviser, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hillary Clinton, former president Barack Obama, Congress, CNN and others in a nine-hour span of tweets that included swearing and grammatical errors.

The Twitter tirade coincided with a trip to Europe during which US officials and lawmakers told foreign policy leaders to ignore the President.

via ‘They’re laughing their asses off in Moscow’: Trump on the attack over Russia probe

Fox host falsely claims the deputy attorney general said indicted Russians “didn’t influence the outcome” of the election

via Fox host falsely claims the deputy attorney general said indicted Russians “didn’t influence the outcome” of the election

Trump’s Tweet

Russia started their anti-US campaign in 2014, long before I announced that I would run for President. The results of the election were not impacted. The Trump campaign did nothing wrong – no collusion!

So the Clinton email ivestigation had no effect

US grand jury indicts 13 Russian nationals for election meddling

Russian trolls created fake US social media profiles that posted messages in support of Donald Trump and paid for anti-Clinton ads, the indictment said.

The indictment said the Internet Research Agency, a Russian organisation, and the 13 Russian individuals began interfering in US political processes, including the 2016 presidential election, as early as 2014.

The Russian individuals allegedly posed as US citizens, stole identities and created fake social media accounts to communicate with “unwitting” individuals associated with the Trump campaign, the indictment said.

via US grand jury indicts 13 Russian nationals for election meddling

Almost $6 billion revenue, but CityLink operators pay no company tax

An artist's impression of the West Gate Tunnel.

CityLink toll road operator Transurban paid no company tax to the Australian government for three years despite revenues of nearly $6 billion.

via Almost $6 billion revenue, but CityLink operators pay no company tax

Coalition warned welfare overhaul could worsen poverty and unemployment | Australia news | The Guardian

Centrelink

The government’s planned overhaul of the welfare system could push the most vulnerable further into poverty and undermine their ability to get a job, the Australian Council of Social Service has warned.

Welfare advocacy groups are in Canberra this week mounting a final effort to convince Senate crossbenchers not to pass the harshest elements of the Coalition’s social security legislation.

The bill introduces tougher punishments for jobseekers who fail to meet their mutual obligation requirements and ends the ability for welfare recipients to notify the department of an “intent to claim”, should they find themselves unable to lodge a claim for social security in full.

via Coalition warned welfare overhaul could worsen poverty and unemployment | Australia news | The Guardian

News Corp expands its pro-Trump fakenews despite failing U.S. economy

Most TV news reports over the weekend cherry-picked Friday’s data on January’s jobs. The statistics were a mix of good news and bad. Total jobs increased. But so did people looking for work. The jobless rate for women decreased. But for men, it increased. The overall jobless rate did not go up. It did not go down either. Wages increased over the year. So did inflation.

Naturally, the pro-Trump media highlighted only the positive — in stark contrast to their approach through the Obama years.

via News Corp expands its pro-Trump #fakenews despite failing U.S. economy

What Journalists get wrong about Islam | Informed Comment

grandmosque

via What Journalists get wrong about Islam | Informed Comment

The Nunes Memo, Spirit Cooking and Pizzagate

The Nunes Memo, Spirit Cooking and Pizzagate

The Game Plan

Nunes and Trump know that Rupert Murdoch’s lying Fox Cable News will be happy to become The Nunes Memo Network 24/7. They know that Sinclair radio stations (which have virtually taken over radio news nationally) will play it up big time. They know that NewsMax and Breitbart and other right wing webzines will beat this drum continually. They know that YouTube celebrities with millions of followers such as Alex Jones will spread the word of the perfidy of the FBI, or the “Kenyan FBI” as they likely will call it.

They already have 36% of voters and just need to create doubts in or support for Trump in 15% of voters who are independents, and they keep winning politically.

Research shows that people with idees fixes don’t change their minds just because they are presented with factual information that challenges them. In fact, they dig in. Thus, by the time the minority Democratic report comes out, many Republicans will be so wedded to the Nunes narrative that it will be very difficult to dislodge their certainty.

via The Nunes Memo, Spirit Cooking and Pizzagate

#ICYMI: Is fake news, fake news? Who cares? Because politicians will decide for us! (VIDEO) — RT UK News

#ICYMI: Is fake news, fake news? Who cares? Because politicians will decide for us! (VIDEO)

via #ICYMI: Is fake news, fake news? Who cares? Because politicians will decide for us! (VIDEO) — RT UK News

Now everyone admits it: political donations buy access and influence

Market research for the Minerals Council has shown it is viewed less favourably than the coal sector it was accused of ...

And the politicians insist the money comes with no strings attached: it does not buy access or influence or favours or votes. But it does save taxpayers the cost of financing those election campaigns themselves.

Now the facade is slipping.

Like the government’s new independent parliamentary expenses authority – or a potential federal anti-corruption body – publicly funded campaigns would be another burden on long-suffering taxpayers.

But if we care about the integrity of our democracy we need to invest in it.

Simply put did Turnbull buy his primeministership? and who is he beholden to?

via Now everyone admits it: political donations buy access and influence

The Fox propagandists urging Trump to criminally investigate Robert Mueller

Several of Trump’s closest media allies, similarly seeking to protect the president by undermining the Mueller probe, have been declaring Mueller guilty of crimes and calling for his arrest and prosecution for months.

The Fox propagandists urging Trump to criminally investigate Robert Mueller

and

Fox News virtually ignored Trump refusal to enact election-related Russia sanctions

 

blog January 30, 2018 5:04 PM EST

 

Showdown in Afrin: Turkey’s Attack on Syria’s Kurds Threatens That Country’s Most Democratic, Pluralist Force | The Nation

 

Turkish Soldiers in Afrin

America turns it’s back on the ground force that ensured the defeat of IS the Kurds.

via Showdown in Afrin: Turkey’s Attack on Syria’s Kurds Threatens That Country’s Most Democratic, Pluralist Force | The Nation

Australia debates value of electric vehicles while China pushes ahead

Young Beijing resident Dan Hong charges her new electric vehicle at a public charging station.

Remember whewe said we were 20 years behind America well we are becoming 20 years behind the rest of the world. Cars, NBN, Science, Renewables etc etc etc

via Australia debates value of electric vehicles while China pushes ahead

Police on alert for ‘invasion day’ rally and far-right beach party

Liberal’s wish is a Cronulla Revival

Protesters march through the streets of the Melbourne CBD at an Indigenous rally in 2015.

Police are keeping a close eye on the potential for violent clashes at competing rallies on Australia Day, with Melbourne set to grind to a halt as thousands of protesters flood into the city on Friday.

via Police on alert for ‘invasion day’ rally and far-right beach party

The forgotten crises: the humanitarian emergencies the world ignored in 2017

 

Congolese protest against President Joseph Kabila's refusal to step down from power in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of ...

Top 10 most under-reported crises in 2017:

  • North Korea: Food shortages and oppression
  • Eritrea: Drought and repression
  • Burundi: Persecution and violence
  • Sudan: War and food shortages
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo: Conflict and displacement
  • Mali: Violence and malnutrition
  • Vietnam: Typhoon Doksuri
  • Lake Chad Basin (Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria): Conflict, hunger and displacement
  • Central African Republic: Violence, displacement and food shortages
  • Peru: Floods

via The forgotten crises: the humanitarian emergencies the world ignored in 2017

Australia pips US in global country ranking, thanks to Trump effect

A tourist helicopter circles the Statue of Liberty, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2018, in New York. The statue is closed due to the ...

The country also dropped from ninth to 14th in its ranking on gender equality.

Australia, meanwhile, ranked 5th in the world for ‘Quality of Life’, which included measures such as “economically stable”, “a good job market”, and well developed public health and education systems. However it did terribly on the “affordable” measure.

Our worst ranking was under ‘Heritage’, where we lost marks for not having “a rich history”.

The survey respondents also gave us a very poor score when asked if Australia “has great food”.

via Australia pips US in global country ranking, thanks to Trump effect

Deutsche Bank Investigating Jared Kushner, His Companies For Suspicious Money Transfers | Crooks and Liars

Deutsche Bank Investigating Jared Kushner, His Companies For Suspicious Money Transfers

Remember Bannon said it was all about “money laundering”

via Deutsche Bank Investigating Jared Kushner, His Companies For Suspicious Money Transfers | Crooks and Liars

Women’s March Draws Massive Crowds In Cities Across The Nation | HuffPost

“This march ― there’s a lot more rage and a lot more anger in this march, and I think we’re gonna see a lot of women out there defending those who didn’t have a voice before.”

via Women’s March Draws Massive Crowds In Cities Across The Nation | HuffPost

Gang crime: we need a more sophisticated understanding of African migrants

Illustration: Matt Davidson

Most stories in the media about Africa stick to well-worn paths of war, conflict and disaster, reinforcing narrow and negative images. Sometimes these preconceptions tap into older prejudices about the “dark continent” that hark back to the days of colonialism and slavery.

Dutton’s ignorance was revealed and amplified to the world during his prejidiced ‘Boomgate’ moment joking about the Pacific Islands with Tony Abbott on TV. He’s shown it to be even worse in his current response to the South Sudanese in Victoria. Andrew Bolt consistently uses the term ‘African” in a derogative and perjorative way  which exhibits the same level of unsophisticated ignorance that Racists use mimicking Trump in his opinion of ‘shithole ‘ countries. Dutton and Bolt really show Australia definitely the most predjudiced country in the region when they make us out to be the most shithole  when we are not. Melbourne in fact has been voted to be the most livable city in the world and they Dutton and Bolt, more than anyone, with access to media ensure everyone it’s not. Boomgate repeats and repeats and mirrors their bigoted un-Australian mentality.

via Gang crime: we need a more sophisticated understanding of African migrants

Turkey begins offensive against US-backed Kurdish in Syria

Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army fighters in the Syrian town of Azez near the border with Turkey, on Friday.

Turkey has complained for months about US support for the Syrian Kurds. Afrin is controlled by a Kurdish militia affiliated with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, which has waged a three-decade insurgency against the Turkish state.
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via Turkey begins offensive against US-backed Kurdish in Syria

Trump blames Democrats for government shutdown

Trump stayed in Washington for the weekend after he was unable to avert a government shutdown.

via Trump blames Democrats for government shutdown

Life, death and politics in Hawaii: 125 years of colonial rule

 

The effects of a political overthrow that happened 125 years ago in Hawaii could not have been felt more vividly this month. The fear and distress that cast a shadow over the Hawaiian islands on Saturday morning during a false missile alert is part of the legacy of American occupation.

Parallels of Colonial takeover of Hawaii apply to Indigenous Australian takeover.

Life, death and politics in Hawaii: 125 years of colonial rule

Alternative Facts: “Right-wing Gang Threatens People Of African Appearance” – » The Australian Independent Media Network

The impetus for Peter Dutton and his followers like Turnbull to criticise Victoria for lawless African gangs – as opposed to lawless caucasian groups like the ones threatening vigilante action or the youths who rioted in Torquay – was the trashing of an Airbnb. Unfortunately, it turns out that the Sudanese youth who did this were actually down from Sydney, so it’s not because of the Victorian State Government – it must be the fault of the NSW government. I can’t wait to hear the Federal flops attacking Gladys Berejiklian for her inability to maintain law and order.

via Alternative Facts: “Right-wing Gang Threatens People Of African Appearance” – » The Australian Independent Media Network

Victoria’s ‘gang crisis’ and how the election creates a double standard on crime | Australia news | The Guardian

 

 

Matthew Guy

via Victoria’s ‘gang crisis’ and how the election creates a double standard on crime | Australia news | The Guardian

10+ Controversial Illustrations That Expose The Dark Side Of Society

 

In spite of overwhelming historical evidence proving powerful elitists engage in child sex abuse, many of us pretend not to see/Artist Credit:

via 10+ Controversial Illustrations That Expose The Dark Side Of Society

Seriously, How Dumb Is Trump?

 

Even if Trump doesn’t read, can’t follow a logical argument, and has the attention span of a fruit fly, it still doesn’t follow that he’s stupid.

There’s another form of intelligence, called “emotional intelligence.”

Seriously, How Dumb Is Trump?

Cheap Renewables Undercut Nuclear Power

A nuclear power plant near Perry, Ohio. (Nuclear Regulatory Commission / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Cheap renewables are mounting a serious challenge to nuclear power, which in 2017 has had a difficult year. Key projects have been abandoned, costs are rising, and politicians in countries which previously championed the industry are withdrawing their support. Renewables, on the other hand, especially wind and solar power, have continued to expand at an enormous rate. Most importantly, they have got significantly cheaper. And newer technologies like large-scale battery storage and production of hydrogen are becoming economic, because they harness cheap power from excess renewable capacity. Advertisement This latest trend – the production of hydrogen from excess wind and solar power – raises the possibility of replacing natural gas, at least in part, for domestic heating and cooking and for power stations. Many existing gas pipelines and domestic networks are equally capable of taking natural gas, biogas and hydrogen, or a mixture of all three. The speed with which the transition is taking place has exceeded all official estimates. In favourable locations across the world, including th

Source: Cheap Renewables Undercut Nuclear Power