Tuesday, February 4, 2020

GOP STRATEGIST SAYS TRUMP WILL 'LIKELY' TRY TO IMPRISON JOHN BOLTON AFTER IMPEACHMENT VOTE



President Trump and John Bolton


Prominent Republican political strategist has warned that President Donald Trump may lean on the Justice Department to get revenge on former National Security Advisor John Bolton once the Senate has voted not to remove him from office this week.
Bolton has become a central figure in the impeachment debate surrounding Trump, with Democrats keen to have him testify in front of senators—while the political world eagerly awaits his tell-all memoir detailing his time in Trump's turbulent White House.
But according to a Vanity Fair article published Monday, Bolton's prominent role has put him squarely in Trump's crosshairs and at the top of an enemies list to be addressed once Republican senators acquit the president.
Rick Wilson, an author, analyst and long-time Republican operative, suggested that Bolton's only chance now was to leak his explosive book manuscript before the Senate vote, which is expected to take place Wednesday.,

For the rest of the story, see Newsweek article linked here:
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Monday, February 3, 2020

Democratic campaign: "It's clear that something has gone wrong"


Iowa Democratic Party officials are hunkered down in their war room tonight, with presidential campaigns in the dark over the delay in the reporting of caucus results.
Officials from two Democratic campaigns tell CNN they were told the app to tabulate results had crashed. They said they had not been given any other information. 
Representatives of presidential campaigns are not invited into the state party’s war room, which is standard practice. But as the night wore on without word, “It’s clear that something has gone wrong.”
A state Democratic official who was in the war room a short time ago said the mood was calm and the officials were committed to get the count right.
“More data takes more time,” the official said.  

Rush Limbaugh reveals to listeners that he has advanced lung cancer

Rush Limbaugh revealed Monday that he is fighting advanced lung cancer.
The 69-year-old conservative talk show host said he first realized that something was wrong during his birthday weekend Jan. 12 and got his diagnosis from two medical institutions nine days later. Limbaugh said he wanted to be open so that the public wouldn't start speculating about any future absences or changes to the show while he undergoes treatment.
"Worst thing that can happen is when there is something going on and you try to hide it and cover it up and eventually it’s going to leak and people are like why didn’t you just say it? Why’d you try to fool everybody," he said.

Terrorist shot dead by police after stabbing two people



A terrorist was shot dead by police after stabbing two people in what is believed to have been an Islamist-inspired attack in South London, UK.


Sudesh Amman was wearing a fake bomb vest when he attacked people on a busy street in the south London area of Streatham on Sunday afternoon.

Amman 20, from north London, had been released from prison just days earlier after serving time for spreading extremist material.

A decision had been made to keep Amman under 24 hrs armed police surveillance following his release, which resulted in an immediate response to his attack . 


Sunday, February 2, 2020

Four 100-year-old World War II veterans will participate in the Super Bowl coin toss

(CNN)As the NFL celebrates its 100th season, the commission has asked four 100-year-old World War II veterans to join in on the Super Bowl festivities.
The men will be honored for their service but will also play a special role at Sunday night's game. They are taking part in the official on-field coin toss ceremony before the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LIV game, the NFL announced on Friday.
Col. Charles E. McGee, will flip the coin, and be surrounded by Staff Sgt. Odón Sanchez Cardenas, Lt. Col. Samuel Lombardo and Cpl. Sidney Walton.
"As we culminate the NFL's 100th season, we're extremely proud to honor four World War II veterans celebrating 100 years of life," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a press release.
    "These four men deserve our gratitude for their tremendous contributions to the United States of America and we're thrilled to recognize their service on the country's largest stage."

    Britain to seek Canada-style free trade deal with EU


    LONDON -- Two days after Brexit, British officials pushed the European Union on Sunday for a Canada-style free trade arrangement as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson geared up for a key speech to spell out his government's negotiating stance.
    Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told Sky News that Britain will seek a deal that imposes very few tariffs even though he said Britain will not seek to align its regulations with the EU.
    "We are taking back control of our laws, so we are not going to have high alignment with the EU and legislative alignment with their rules,” Raab said. “We will want to cooperate and we expect the EU to follow through on their commitments to a Canada-style free trade agreement. That's what we are pursuing. There is a great opportunity here for win-win."
    EU officials, despite offering friendly words to the British public over the weekend after the divorce that took effect Friday night, warn that Canada only achieved largely tariff-free trade status by bringing many of its rules into line with EU regulations. EU officials fear that the U.K. could water down its environment or health and safety precautions, undermining EU businesses.

    Lady Gaga: 'I better hear no lip-syncing' at halftime show

    MIAMI -- Descending from the air, Lady Gaga kicked off a pre-Super Bowl concert by mimicking her entrance to her Super Bowl halftime performance three years ago, which earned her raved reviews.
    Headlining the big sports stage was a recurring theme of her Miami concert Saturday night, and the pop star sent a message to Sunday's featured performers: “I better hear no lip-syncing tomorrow!”
    Jennifer Lopez and Shakira will join forces to perform at Super Bowl 54 at the Hard Rock Stadium, when the San Francisco 49ers will take on the Kansas City Chiefs.
    Gaga has denounced lip-syncing since the beginning of her career, which kicked off in 2008 with her multi-platinum album, “The Fame.” Moments after delivering the sharp comment as she sat by the piano, she told the audience: “I love you Miami. I love you J. Lo. I love you Shakira.”

    Rashida Tlaib walks back boos aimed at Hillary Clinton at event for Sanders' campaign


    Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib walked back her actions after a viral moment showed her joining a crowd in booing Hillary Clinton during an event for 2020 candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders.
    A top political surrogate for the Vermont senator, Tlaib posted a string of tweets on Saturday, apologizing for letting her "disappointment" in the former secretary of state get the best of her.
    "I allowed my disappointment with Secretary Clinton's latest comments about Senator Sanders and his supporters get the best of me," Tlaib said. "You all, my sisters-in-service on stage, and our movement deserve better."

    Saturday, February 1, 2020

    US states join global push to ban animal-tested cosmetics



    LAS VEGAS -- A growing number of U.S. states are considering a ban on the sale or import of cosmetics that have been tested on animals, as advocates argue testing products such as lotions, shampoos and makeup on rabbits, mice and rats is cruel and outdated.
    The cause has gained support from consumers and many cosmetics companies, but the biggest hurdle is China, which requires that cosmetics sold in its large, lucrative market undergo testing on animals.
    California, Nevada and Illinois all saw new laws take effect this year that ban the sale or import of animal-tested cosmetics.
    The laws, which apply to tests performed after Jan. 1, aren’t expected to cause much disruption for the industry because many companies already use non-animal testing. Instead, they draw a line in the sand that puts pressure on the U.S. government to pass a nationwide ban and help end China's requirement that most cosmetics sold in that nation of more than 1.4 billion people undergo testing on animals by Chinese regulators.

    Lawmakers looking to end driver’s license suspensions over fines



    CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Both chambers in the West Virginia Legislature are considering legislation to end driver’s license suspensions over unpaid fines and court costs.
    The Senate Judiciary and House Technology and Infrastructure committees have received Senate Bill 563 and House Bill 4548 respectively.
    Delegate Danny Hamrick, R-Harrison, said the measures address economic and social issues.

    Pentagon to provide housing support to HHS for evacuees over coronavirus concerns

    The Defense Department on Saturday approved housing support for up to 1,000 people should they need to be quarantined upon return from their overseas travel due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to a statement.
    Officials from the Health and Human Services Department (HHS) requested DOD to provide several facilities capable of housing at least 250 people in individual rooms through the end of the month.
    "DOD personnel will not be directly in contact with the evacuees and evacuees will not have access to any base location other than their assigned housing," the statement said. "In accordance with [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines, all evacuees will be monitored for a period of 14 days."
    As has been the case at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, California -- where the first planeload of evacuees were taken -- the military will only provide housing support.

    Racism in soccer is an 'epidemic' that mirrors disturbing trends in Europe: Advocates


    Late last month, in the 63rd minute of one of the highest profile games on the English soccer calendar between Chelsea and Tottenham, officials were forced to stop play.
    It wasn't a yellow card or even a red card.
    Racism had apparently reared its ugly head once again -- a scourge that has been resurfacing in a number of professional sports in recent years.
    Antonio Rudiger, a black Chelsea defender, was seen complaining to the referee, with a gesture putting his hands under his armpits, to indicate that he believed he had been subjected to racist monkey chants from rival Tottenham supporters. The referee, Anthony Taylor, used a new protocol from UEFA, European soccer's governing body, to stop play. The new protocol, introduced in October 2019, allows for the referee to abandon the match if racist behavior continues after two warnings, issued by a stadium announcer.
    Three stadium announcements saying that “racist behavior among supporters is interfering with the game” followed in the remaining half hour, a surreal, confusing and sad spectacle for soccer fans watching on television and in the stands.

    UK leaves the European Union

    The UK has officially left the European Union after 47 years of membership - and more than three years after it voted to do so in a referendum.



    The historic moment, which happened at 23:00 GMT, was marked by both celebrations and anti-Brexit protests.



    In a message released on social media an hour before the UK's departure, the prime minister said: "For many people this is an astonishing moment of hope, a moment they thought would never come.
    "And there are many of course who feel a sense of anxiety and loss."
    He said some had worried the political "wrangle" would not end but it was his job to take the country forward.

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