Category: Uncategorized

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NY Times: No Power, Hot Food Or Thanksgiving For US Troops At Mexican Border


 The New York Times has published a devastating depiction of the 5,600 US troops sent to the US/Mexican border.

Even though the migrant caravan isn’t expected to reach the border for weeks, and the Border Patrol & National Guard were more than equipped to handle the situation, the soldiers were deployed as part of Donald Trump’s explosive midterm election campaign promises.

But it turns out reality isn’t nearly as winning as a stump speech at a campaign rally.

There’s little electricity, no hot food, showers were only recently constructed, and most of the soldiers will miss not only Veterans Day with their families, but most probably Thanksgiving as well.

All so Donald Trump could whip up his followers.

From The New York Times:

The military’s morale issue is almost as worrisome. The deployment orders last until Dec. 15, meaning the troops will be on the border over Thanksgiving. They will have little to do beyond providing logistical support, unless Mr. Trump declares martial law. The troops will not be enforcing United States immigration law — that would run afoul of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, unless a special exception is made.

“When you give a soldier a real mission, you have less of a morale problem, even if it’s Christmas or Thanksgiving,” said Representative Anthony G. Brown, Democrat of Maryland and a former Army helicopter pilot who served in the Iraq war. “But when you send a soldier on a dubious mission, with no military value, over Thanksgiving, it doesn’t help morale at all.”

As it was at the bases in those early war zones, electricity at Base Camp Donna is scarce except to power lights and communications gear. In the last several days, the soldiers installed a small shower tent. Men and women have set hours for bathing. Permitted shower length: seven minutes.

There is no mess hall, just the brown, prepackaged M.R.E.’s. Military police officers patrol the perimeter at night, armed with handguns. The tents sleep 20 soldiers and have no electricity or air-conditioning. Phone charging is relegated to a few generators that power the spotlights around the living area.

Military experts estimate the deployment could cost as much as $200 million.

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French President Shades Trump: “Nationalism Is A Betrayal Of Patriotism”

At a ceremony on today commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a direct slap at Donald Trump’s “America first” approach to international affairs.
French President Emmanuel Macron

At a ceremony on today commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a direct slap at Donald Trump’s “America first” approach to international affairs.

“Nationalism is a betrayal of patriotism,” said Macron. “By saying, ‘Our interests first, who cares about the others,’ we erase what a nation holds dearest, what gives it life, what gives it grace and what is essential: its moral values.”

Trump, along with 80 other world leaders, was sitting just feet away from Macron at the time.

The Trumpster famously declared himself a “nationalist” recently as he campaigned for the midterm elections.

The video below shows the world’s leaders gathering for the ceremony, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Trump beamed at seeing, as well as part of Macron’s speech.

This comes just a day after Trump decided to skip a ceremony at an American cemetery honoring fallen WWI soldiers because of a light fall of rain.

The Twitterverse was more than happy to show off tons of photos of President Obama at past Memorial Day events in the rain.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

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SNL Says ‘Goodbye’ To Attorney General Jeff Sessions

With the news that Donald Trump fired his Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, one day after the midterm elections, how could SNL not say goodbye to their “Jeff Sessions” played by Kate McKinnon?

It’s time to pack up and get out, “Jeff,” but before you do some folks want to come say good-bye including Sarah Huckabee Sanders (Aidy Bryant), Mike Pence (Beck Bennett), Eric Trump (Alex Moffat), Donald Trump Jr. (Mikey Day) and Robert Mueller (Robert De Niro).

As Sessions wonders what else he could have done to please his boss (“I don’t understand what I did wrong? I put kids in cages. I said no to gays? What more did you want?”), Bennet’s Pence finds his mind wandering: “I’m sorry, I heard the words ‘gays in cages’ and I went somewhere crazy.”

And the Trump boys, Junior and Eric, check in with Sessions to see if they are going to get “some penis” (or subpoenas, but, whatever).

And then Mueller is the final goodbye, but at least he brings a going away present.

Watch below.

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Banner Day For Trump: Disses WWI Memorial Service Due To Light Rain, Threatens To Withhold Funds From California As The State Burns

A new forest fire raged on in California today, destroying more than 150 homes in Malibu, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, and Westlake Village areas.

A new forest fire raged on in California today, destroying more than 150 homes in Malibu, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, and Westlake Village areas.

Donald Trump took to Twitter to address the issue, but it wasn’t quite the ‘presidential’ tone California might have hoped for.

Trump’s take was to blame “gross mismanagement of the forests.” The Donald’s answer was to threaten “no more Fed payments” unless things were brought more inline with his thinking.

The head of the California Professional Firefighters was not amused.

“The president’s message attacking California and threatening to withhold aid to the victims of the cataclysmic fires is Ill-informed, ill-timed and demeaning to those who are suffering as well as the men and women on the front lines,” stated California Professional Firefighters President Brian K. Rice.

“At a time when our every effort should be focused on vanquishing the destructive fires and helping the victims, the president has chosen instead to issue an uninformed political threat aimed squarely at the innocent victims of these cataclysmic fires,” Rice added. “At this moment, thousands of our brother and sister firefighters are putting their lives on the line to protect the lives and property of thousands. Some of them are doing so even as their own homes lay in ruins. In my view, this shameful attack on California is an attack on all our courageous men and women on the front lines.”

It goes without saying that California sends FAR more money to the federal government than it ever gets back in support given that the Golden State is the 5th largest economy in the world.

For the President of the United States’ first reaction to be condemnation of the state rather than empathy for the Americans who are losing their homes was unsettling to say the least.

I’m of a mind to believe that Trump’s lack of empathy comes in part from the fact that he will never win the Golden State when he runs for reelection in 2020. So, I doubt he cares much for California.

Just ask Puerto Rico.

I’m not the only one who thought the response was less than ‘presidential.’

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Florida Orders Recounts For 3 Races Including Governor & Senate

And the recounts in Florida have been ordered!

Via the Orlando Sun-Sentinel:

After receiving unofficial election results from all 67 counties, Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner on Saturday officially ordered machine recounts in three statewide elections – U.S. Senate, Governor and Agriculture Commissioner.

Now, county election officials will feed ballots into machines to recount the results in those races. The second round of results is due to the state by 3 p.m. Thursday.

If the results show a margin of 0.25 percent or less, which appears to be the case in the most heated race between U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott for Senate, a hand recount is ordered. Results from a hand recount would be due Sunday, Nov. 18 at noon.

The votes cast in the U.S. Senate race were within 0.15 percentage points, a margin of less than 13,000 votes out of more than 8 million cast.

The Trumpster is none too happy about the news:

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Justin Trudeau Shades Trump For Skipping WWI US Cemetary Visit Due To Rain

Trudeau threw some non-too-subtle shade Trump's way as he spoke at Vimy Ridge, dropping his umbrella as the rain came down saying, "As we sit here in the rain, thinking how uncomfortable we must be these minutes as our suits get wet and our hair gets wet and our shoes get wet, I think it's all the more fitting that we remember on that day, in Dieppe, the rain wasn't rain, it was bullets."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaking in the rain
Donald Trump flew to France to observe the 100th anniversary of the signing of the World War One armistice with other world leaders, but is getting backlash for his decision to skip a memorial service at a U.S. cemetery there due to rain.

According to sources, rain is something that’s always planned for when it comes to presidential travel.

From Reuters:

Ben Rhodes, who served as deputy national security adviser for strategic communications under President Barack Obama, said the excuse about the inclement weather did not stand up.

“I helped plan all of President Obama’s trips for 8 years,” he wrote on Twitter. “There is always a rain option. Always.”

Despite the light rain, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a moving ceremony in Compiegne, northeast of Paris, to mark the 100th anniversary of the signing of the World War One armistice.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attended his own ceremony to pay tribute to Canadian troops killed at Vimy Ridge, on the battlefields of northeastern France.

Trudeau threw some none-too-subtle shade Trump’s way as he spoke at Vimy Ridge, dropping his umbrella as the rain came down saying, “As we sit here in the rain, thinking how uncomfortable we must be these minutes as our suits get wet and our hair gets wet and our shoes get wet, I think it’s all the more fitting that we remember on that day, in Dieppe, the rain wasn’t rain, it was bullets.”

Nicholas Soames, a British member of parliament who is a grandson of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill, tweeted,“They died with their face to the foe and that pathetic inadequate @realDonaldTrump couldn’t even defy the weather to pay his respects to The Fallen #hesnotfittorepresenthisgreatcountry.“

Veterans group VoteVets also found the rain excuse less than compelling tweeting, “Donald Trump complained about having to stand in the rain, to speak about the massacre in Pittsburgh, because it messed his hair up (more). Today, he will skip honoring fallen American heroes of WWI, and stay in his hotel room, because of some rain.”

And former U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns wrote, “Did the President really not visit the American military cemetery today in France? It is his duty to honor our soldiers who fought in 1917-18. Astonishing.”

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Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence Proclaim Stormy Daniels “Saint Tempestuous!”

My buddy Aaron Baldwin of San Francisco sends me this today:

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence recognize individuals who exemplify the Order’s commitments to Activism, community service, and the advancement of human rights with our highest honor: Sainthood. Stormy Daniels’ bravery in sharing her story and speaking truth to power earned her the respect and admiration of the Sisters.

We surprised her last night at her appearance at the Penthouse Club in North Beach in San Francisco and proclaimed her “Saint Tempestuous, Eye of the Hurricane of Truth and Stormer of the Barricades of Injustice!”

She was extremely overjoyed to see us and seemed truly humbled by the honor.

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Warwick Rowers 2019 Calendar Is Here, And There’s Video!

The Warwick Rowers are celebrating 10 years of their world-famous calendars featuring the UK athletes in the all-together for charity.

The calendars are not only tasteful eye-candy, but help to raise awareness for different charities.

From the Rowers’ website:

The Warwick Rowers project is a social enterprise and gay/straight alliance that dates back to 2009, when our first calendar was launched.

Producer Angus Malcolm and generations of male rowers at the University of Warwick Boat Club have since achieved global recognition through a fundraising initiative and public awareness campaign that delivers a range of products to around 80 countries every year and reaches more than 140 countries through its viral messaging.

The team has won a large number of awards for excellence, innovation and social impact, including twice being voted the UK Charity Calendar of the Year.

One of the charities designated for funds from the calendar is Sports Allies, which promotes sport, and especially team sport, as an inclusive and supportive route to personal growth for everyone. We are particularly keen to promote team sport for people who are excluded on the grounds of gender or sexuality.

Check out the video below and then head over to the Warwick Rowers website to buy here.

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Calum Scott’s “No Matter What” Shares His Deeply Personal Journey Of Acceptance

Calum Scott’s new music video “No Matter What”

The new music video for UK recording artist Calum Scott’s latest single, “No Matter What,” is certain to resonate with viewers on a deeply authentic level.

The powerfully emotional video chronicles Scott’s own personal journey of acceptance both of himself and of his family.

When I was a young boy I was scared of growing up

I didn’t understand it but I was terrified of love
Felt like I had to choose but it was outta my control

I needed to be saved, I was going crazy on my own
It took me years to tell my mother, I expected the worst
I gathered all the courage in the world

She said, “I love you no matter what

I just want you to be happy and always be who you are”
She wrapped her arms around me
Said, “Don’t try to be what you’re not
Cause I love you no matter what”
She loves me no matter what

The song and video also address how Scott’s friends changed how they treated him as he began to wrestle with his personal demons.

Calum Scott

“‘No Matter What’ is without question, the most personal song I have ever written and the one I am most proud of,” says Scott. “It’s a song born from loneliness and the heartbreaking but liberating tale of my coming-out experience.”

“What I love about this song is that it isn’t just limited to a story of sexual identity, but about the relationship between parent and child and acceptance as a whole,” he added.

Scott explains the song wasn’t included on the initial release of his debut album, Only Human, because, “I simply wasn’t ready at that time to give it to the world.”

“It felt too personal to share,” he continued. “But as with all of my songwriting, I’ve written this from the heart to try and inspire confidence and compassion in people and put some love back in to the world, which we could always use more of.”

The track is part of a new Special Edition of Only Human, set for release on November 30.

It’s been a whirlwind since Scott became a worldwide sensation after making the finals of Britain’s Got Talent in 2015.

His cover of Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” went viral with over 1.5 billion streams worldwide and was nominated for a Brit Award for Best Single.

Only Human, released in March 2018, hit #1 on iTunes in over 20 countries, sold more than 1.5 million in adjusted album sales, and is fast approaching 2 billion combined streams.

The critics have gushed.

“Scott’s stunningly pure voice is affecting enough in itself, but his lyrics on every one of the [album’s] tracks are vulnerable and raw.” – Billboard

“Calum Scott makes an impressive splash with his compelling debut album.” – The Huffington Post

Check out Calum Scott’s “No Matter What” below.

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Latrice Royale Celebrates Regaining The Right To Vote

Latrice Royale

This has been a great week for RuPaul’s Drag Race star Latrice Royale.

This morning, Royale was announced as part of the cast for the upcoming 4th season RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars.

But it was the voters in Florida on Tuesday night that really put the cherry on top of Royale’s sundae.

Approved by 65% of voters, Amendment 4, which restores voting rights to convicted felons as, was passed by the Sunshine State voters.

Before folks go crazy, the Amendment only applies to those who have completed their sentences and does not cover those convicted of murder or sexual offenses.

According to reports, this will affect nearly 1.5 million Floridians, including Royale.

Back in 2001, Royale (real name Timothy Wilcots) was busted for carrying both marijuana and Klonopin. Possessing the tranquilizer without a valid prescription is a felony in Florida.

Royale served a year in prison for his mistake.

But upon release, he found he could no longer vote as Florida had a lifetime ban for convicted felons. In other states, folks who serve time have their voting rights restored after being released from prison.

Now, to be technical, felons who completed their time in Florida could wait five years, petition for consideration, wait up to a decade to be approved…blah, blah, blah.

Before voting began on Tuesday, Royale took to social media imploring those in Florida to vote because he could not.

He wrote, in part, “I made a mistake! I paid for my crime! I pay my taxes! I spread #Love not #Hate I am my #Best self to date! I DON’T HAVE MY RIGHT TO VOTE! I urge ALL THAT HAVE A VOICE, PLEASE VOTE! Speak for people like me who can’t!”

And then came the results on Tuesday night.

Royale shared his elation on Twitter:

Royale told NewNowNext today, “It’s been unfair.”

““People say after you pay your debt, you can go back and become a productive member of society, but none of that happens,” he continued. “No one helps you get back on your feet, and now you can vote.”

The former ‘Miss Congeniality’ from RPDR Season 4 also thinks that different crimes should carry different consequences.

“I’m a nonviolent offender, not a child molester, or a pedophile,” said Royale. “I wasn’t standing in front of schools targeting kids.”

“What people need to understand is that we’re not all hardened or career criminals,” shared the 46-year-old. “I completed my sentencing, paid my debt to society, completed by parole, I’m doing better than I ever imagined I would, I’m inspiring people, and up until this week, I still couldn’t vote. I hope the people who have their voting rights restored exercise them and I hope activists, politicians, and all citizens educate themselves on this issue.”

Be sure to catch Royale and all the queens on RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars Season 4 beginning December 14 at 8/7c on VH1.

(h/t NewNowNext)