Category: Uncategorized

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President Explodes At “So-Called” Judge Who Blocked Travel Ban

Just hours after U.S. District Judge James L. Robart temporarily blocked the enforcement of President Trump’s immigration ban, the Donald took to Twitter (where else?) to complain about the “so-called” judge’s ruling.

Just two weeks into his presidency, and President Trump is openly questioning the legitimacy of the judiciary.

Not sure about the “so-called” part – Robart was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed in the Senate by a vote of 99-0. Hard to say Robart is being partisan with that pedigree.

Trump continued tweeting anyway:

I guess he hadn’t got all his temper tantrum out, so he started lashing out at any old enemy:

Still not done, President Babyhands resorted to campaign slogans:

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BREAKING: Federal Judge Blocks Trump Travel Ban

A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order from enforcing President Trump’s executive order banning immigration from 7 Muslim-majority countries.

From USA Today:

U.S. District Judge James Robart of Seattle on Friday issued a nationwide restraining order blocking the travel ban put in place by President Trump last week, KOMO news reported.

Trump’s ban, created through an executive order, sought to block people from seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the United States.

In issuing his decision, Robart was siding with Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who filed a suit to block key provisions of the president’s executive order, which also bars Syrian refugees from entering the country.

Outside the courthouse where Judge Robart had issued his ruling, Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson told reporters, “The decision shuts down the executive order immediately.”

That said, the executive order issued last week caused travel visas to be voided. So folks in those 7 countries would have to go back to their consulates in their countries to request new visas.

So, I don’t see this affecting anything soon. The Trump administration will undoubtedly run to an appeals court to have the restraining order struck down.

Stay tuned – developing story…

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Final Jobs Report For Obama Administration Shows 227,000 Jobs Added To Economy

Good news for the final month of President Obama’s administration: the economy added a robust 227,000 jobs, well above last year’s average monthly gain of 175,000.

This report accounts for 76 consecutive months of positive job growth – a run never seen in the history of the United States.

The unemployment rate moved up slightly to 4.8 from 4.7, mainly because more Americans started looking for work.

President Trump proudly boasted about the numbers, which is interesting since none of his policies had been implemented to have an effect on hiring.

Via The Huffington Post:

Trump used to love complaining about the Labor Department’s monthly report, which tallies the number of jobs gained and the unemployment rate.

The unemployment rate hovered around 5 percent for most of the presidential campaign, which economists consider a decently low number. “Don’t believe those phony numbers when you hear 4.9 and 5 percent unemployment,” Trump said last February. “The number’s probably 28, 29, as high as 35. In fact, I even heard recently 42 percent.”

But now, the same metric is suddenly real? #hypocrisy

Interestingly, Fox News suddenly found these numbers “fantastic” today when during the Obama administration better numbers than these were down played.

From Media Matters:

The positive coverage of the report is a complete turnaround for Fox, which went to great lengths to portray strong jobs reports in a negative light during the Obama administration.

In February 2015, the economy added 257,000 new jobs, but Fox was concerned that the unemployment rate ticked up by 0.1 points — the same increase the rate showed in today’s report. In October of that year, Fox & Friends stumbled through a news alert in which a host claimed the economy created “only 271,000 jobs … last month” even though that report, like the data released today, also beat expectations. Last January, Fox’s spin was to claim that 292,000 new jobs was “modest by historical standards,” though it was well over this month’s 227,000.

(source)

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News Round-Up: February 3, 2017

N2N Bodywear’s owner/designer Andrew Makay

Some news items you may have missed:

• Fashion designer Andrew Makay celebrates 20 years of success with his N2N Bodywear. The homegrown LGBT owned company grew from a corner in his bedroom to grossing millions each year in sexy, “next-to-nothing” swim, gym and fitness wear.

• According to Politico, Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka Trump were instrumental in convincing the president to not repeal President Obama’s 2014 executive order on LGBT protections.

• Woofy Prince Harry is apparently no fan of Donald Trump.

• Nordstrom Department store says “you’re fired” to Ivanka Trump’s fashion line due to poor sales. Only three shoe designs and one dress (marked down 40%) remain on the department store’s website.

• U.S. military officials say President Trump approved his first covert counterterrorism operation without sufficient intelligence, ground support or adequate backup preparations. Although White House spokesman Sean Spicer called the mission a success, one Navy Seal lost his life as well as at least 15 women and children. Strange definition of ‘success.’

• House Republicans have introduced legislation that would allow churches and religious organizations to keep tax-exempt status AND participate in partisan political activities. Remember that ‘separation of church and state thing…?

• German news magazine Der Spiegel’s latest cover (below). According to the artist, the comparison of Trump to ISIS was deliberate: “Both sides are extremists.”

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Poll: Trump Has Highest Disapproval Of Any Newly Elected President In History

According to the latest CNN/ORC poll, President Trump has the highest disapproval ratings of any newly elected president.

The survey shows that 53% of Americans disapprove of how Trump is handling his job, while 44% approve. Trump is the first president in U.S. history to have a net-negative rating so soon after taking office.

Trump’s high disapproval numbers are a departure from those of his predecessors.

Ronald Reagan’s initial approval rating of 51% was not that far above Trump’s current rating of 44% now. However, Reagan’s disapproval number (13%) was much lower than Trump’s.

George W. Bush fared much better – 57% approval in February of his first year in office, with only 25% disapproving.

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Viral Video: America First, The Netherlands Second

These videos are a part of the ongoing European series entitled “Every Second Counts“, which seek to poke fun at Mr.Trump’s declaration of “America First” during his inaugural address.

Here’s the video from the Netherlands:

Dear Mr. President, welcome to this introduction video about the Netherlands. It’s going to be a great video. It’s going to be absolutely fantastic.

We totally understand it’s going to be “America first.” But can we just say: the Netherlands second?

And, of course, Switzerland wasn’t going to leave this unchallenged. Check out their “invitation” video:

Dear Mr. President, welcome to this introduction video about Switzerland, the sexiest country in Europe. Look at those mountains those big fat mountains. We’re not flat, like for example the Netherlands. They’re so flat. Total disaster.

(h/t JoeMyGod)

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Kellyanne Conway Complains Media Never Covered ‘Bowling Green Massacre’ – Because It Didn’t Happen

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, who spends 24/7 deriding the media because they won’t give Trump positive strokes or “warm fuzzies,” stepped in it last night when she referenced the “Bowling Green massacre,” an event that never happened.

Reuters has the details:

On television late on Thursday, Conway spoke about two Iraqis who came to the United States and were radicalized, adding, erroneously, “and they were the masterminds behind the Bowling Green massacre.”

She then said: “Most people don’t know that because it didn’t get covered.”

In fact, in May 2011, two Iraqi men were arrested in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and charged with attempting to send weapons and money to al Qaeda in Iraq. They admitted to using improvised explosive devices against U.S. soldiers in Iraq.

Mohanad Shareef Hammadi and Waad Ramadan Alwan pleaded guilty and were sentenced to life in prison and to 40 years in prison, respectively. Neither was charged with plotting attacks within the United States, prosecutors said.

Conway later tweeted that she meant to say “Bowling Green terrorists” instead of “massacre.” And in another tweet, “Honest mistakes abound.”

And with that, the Twitterverse had a field day:

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New Music: Brooke Candy Feat. Sia “Living Out Loud”

Just in time for the weekend!

Rapper/singer Brooke Candy releases “Living Out Loud” ft. 8X Grammy nominee Sia today at all digital providers.

The track was produced by Jesse Shatkin (Sia’s “Chandelier,” Kelly Clarkson) and written by Geoffrey Early (Ziggy Marley, Beyoncé, David Guetta), Priscilla “Priscilla Renea” Hamilton (Rihanna, Fifth Harmony), Sia and Greg Kurstin (Adele, P!nk, Beck).

Speaking to Noisey last March, Candy shared, “The new record we’ve been working on together has a strong message, but the sound is more polished. I’ve been describing it as thoughtful pop, like Luscious Jackson meets Smashing Pumpkins meets Madonna. The melodies are clean and bubbly, but the message is real. I want to make music that makes people feel some sort of bliss. That makes people want to spread some sort of love and light onto this planet because I think we’re in a sort of dark age and the planet really needs it.”

Both artists have been open about their past troubles with substance abuse, and they put the issue front and center with “Living Out Loud:”

Twenty-four hours it’s a day at a time
Twenty-three lived a hell of a life
Twenty-two such a blur, it’s passing me by
Twenty-one I caught a glimpse of the light
Twenty drinks later in the back of a ride
Nineteen momma kicked me outta the house
Eighteen minutes ’till you bail me out
Seventeen magazine was telling the truth
When they said we all have issues

Just thinking out loud
Screaming so loud
Foolish and proud
Living out loud
Living out loud
Out loud

The track is imminently listenable: uber-melodic, strong hook, big house-pop beats and, of course, Sia’s iconic power vocals .

“Living Out Loud” is the first official single from Brooke’s upcoming debut album Daddy Issues which is set for release spring 2017.

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Betsy DeVos Advances To Final Vote In Senate For Education Secretary

Betsy DeVos

Donald Trump’s nominee for Education Secretary, billionaire Betsy DeVos, advanced to a final vote in the U.S. Senate today.

The Senate voted 52 to 48 on a procedural measure paving the way to the final confirmation vote, which the education committee chairman, Senator Lamar Alexander, said will happen early in the week.

Senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski have said they will not vote for her, the first Republicans to break party ranks and vote against one of Trump’s cabinet nominees. If one more Republican sides with Democrats against her nomination, DeVos will become only the 10th cabinet nominee in U.S. history rejected by Congress.

Many feel DeVos’ nomination is a reward for donating millions to conservative politicians (including 17 sitting senators) and organizations (like the virulently anti-LGBT  Family Research Council and Focus on the Family) in the past.

She is woefully under qualified for the position with no training or degrees in education.

Her confirmation hearings were a catastrophe, and have become the stuff of legend now.

Folks around the country are organizing calls to senators who may be that 3rd Republican to vote ‘no.’

The two most likely seem to be Senator Dean Heller of Nevada and Senator Rob Portman of Ohio.

Click on those links to make your voice heard. I’ve already reached out to Sen. Heller here in Nevada.