monitoring Trump and relevant contemporary events

So you believe what these Jews say but do not believe what Islam says? Interesting.

I'd thought that the ultra-orthodox Jews are ... well, ultra-orthodox in the literal sense of the words.

but how did you draw that conclusion from my answer?

The bloc led by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is trailing in third place in Iraq's parliamentary elections, according to partial results.

With more than half of votes counted, a nationalist alliance between Shia Muslim cleric Moqtada Sadr and mostly secular groups is in the lead.

It is followed by a bloc linked to Iranian-backed Shia paramilitaries who fought the Islamic State (IS) group.

The elections are the first since Iraq declared victory over IS in December.

The final results are due to be announced later on Monday, triggering what are expected to be lengthy negotiations to form a new coalition government.

The US has called for an "inclusive government, responsive to the needs of all Iraqis".

Some 5,000 American troops are in Iraq supporting local forces in the battle against IS, a Sunni Muslim jihadist group.

On Sunday night, officials from Iraq's election commission announced the almost full returns from 10 of Iraq's 19 provinces, including Baghdad and Basra.

According to these early results:

The Saeroun (Marching Towards Reform) list - an alliance between Mr Sadr's Istiqama (Integrity) party and six mostly secular groups, including the Iraqi communist party - has the most votes in six provinces
Fatah (Conquest) - an alliance that comprises the political wings of militias in the Shia-led paramilitary Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) force and is led by former Transport Minister Hadi al-Amiri - is ahead in four provinces
The Nasr (Victory) Alliance of Mr Abadi, who is also Shia, is in third place
If Mr Sadr and his allies maintain their position, it will represent a stunning comeback for the cleric, the BBC's Martin Patience reports from Baghdad.

In contrast, our correspondent adds, the early results are a setback for Mr Abadi, who had hoped to capitalise on the defeat of IS to bolster his own chances.

Turnout in the election was 44.5% - much lower than in previous polls.

Moqtada Sadr,son of an assassinated Shia cleric, he rose to prominence after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 that toppled Saddam Hussein.

His fearsome Mehdi Army militia led two uprisings against US forces, whose withdrawal he consistently demanded, and was blamed for the killing of thousands of Sunni Muslims in the sectarian violence that plagued Iraq in 2006 and 2007.

Mr Sadr fled to Iran before the Iraqi government launched a crackdown on the Mehdi Army and remained in self-imposed exile until 2011, after playing a key role in the reappointment of then Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

In recent years, Mr Sadr has distanced himself from Iran and reinvented himself as an Iraqi nationalist and anti-corruption campaigner.

In 2016, his supporters stormed the parliament building in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone when the main political factions resisted their demands that Mr Abadi tackle corruption and replace the ministers in his cabinet with technocrats.

For this year's elections, Mr Sadr's party and its allies campaigned on a platform of fighting corruption and investing in public services.

After the announcement of the partial election results, supporters took to the streets of Baghdad's Sadr City district - named after his late father - to celebrate. One of them said the outcome signalled the start of a "new chapter for the Iraqi people".

Mr Sadr cannot be appointed prime minister as he did not stand in the election but his apparent victory could make him the kingmaker in the coalition negotiations.

Meanwhile Iraqi voters react to American bullying in the region.

American bullying in the region.

Some dozen members of an ultra-orthodox Jewish group joined the protest outside the embassy. They held signs that read "Jews worldwide condemn Israeli bloody brutality" and "Authentic Jewry never recognized the State of Israel." [Live on Israeli tv, reported by Judy Maltz]

Before Trump, we never did. But insofar as everything that can be checked out supports what Stormy Daniels said, and everything that can be checked out also shows that Trump not only lies but has been changing his lies almost daily for several weeks

the status of the porn profession has undergone a marked elevation by comparison.

In Trump World, this is morality.

This is the same guy who, when running for president, talked about breaking up NATO, (Putin's fondest wish),

even as he was waiting for Putin to give approval for Trump to build a Trump Tower in Moscow, a multi-million dollar deal.

This is the same guy who refused to divest himself of all his business holdings while president, enabling himself to profit off his own presidential decisions.

This is the same guy who sends his son-in-law Jared to negotiate for the US in delicate Middle East talks even though Jared has no experience in foreign affairs and has been talking to Kremlin-controlled banks about massive loans to save his billion dollar building project on Fifth Avenue.

Stormy has been doing nothing but applying the same principles of power, leverage and publicity that Trump has used throughout his career. The only difference is that, unlike Trump, Stormy does not believe in sacrificing America's national security to make money.

derides the past administration

The White House hoped Monday to put to rest a five-day controversy over a crass remark about Sen. John McCain. But the matter seemed poised to continue festering as the staffer in question, Kelly Sadler, declined to offer a public apology for saying the Arizona Republican is "dying anyway."

Instead, deputy press secretary Raj Shah said Sadler's remark -- made last week during an internal staff meeting -- had been "dealt with internally" and wouldn't comment further.

Over the weekend, a number of Republican lawmakers and officials expressed puzzlement at how the White House could allow Sadler's remark to go without a public apology.

In a phone call last week, Sadler called the senator's daughter Meghan McCain to apologize. In that conversation, Sadler indicated she would issue a public apology as well, according to a source familiar with the conversation.

But such a public acknowledgment of regret hasn't yet come forward, spurring the story into another week.

But insofar as everything that can be checked out supports what Stormy Daniels said, and everything that can be checked out also shows that Trump not only lies but has been changing his lies almost daily for several weeks

There is an NDA, what good does an NDA do if he admits to anything....

This is the same guy who, when running for president, talked about breaking up NATO, (Putin's fondest wish),

NATO should be paying their fair share, why should we be footing the bill for the EU who appears to be doing just fine economically.

You guys felt this same way about Reagan when he was taking down the USSR. Hated your own President in favor of a Communist regime.