monitoring Trump and relevant contemporary events

Dems’ plan to abolish border guard goes mainstream as Gillibrand, De Blasio echo calls

The idea was once relegated to the far-left. But the liberal push to abolish the federal agency that enforces federal immigration laws is going mainstream in the Democratic Party, with New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Mayor Bill de Blasio adding their support to the cause in the last 24 hours.

"I believe that [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] has become a deportation force … and that's why I believe you should get rid of it, start over, reimagine it and build something that actually works," Gillibrand said in a CNN interview Thursday night.

“We should abolish ICE,” de Blasio said Friday morning on WNYC radio.

The growing influence behind the push was underscored earlier this week with liberal primary challenger Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's shocking victory over Rep. Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., a member of party leadership.

With that controversy in the headlines, the abolition of ICE -- which has long been the purview of far-left sections of the Democratic Party base advocating for open borders and no deportations -- has moved from being a slogan on protest placards to an idea being mulled by rumored 2020 hopefuls.

"Based on the last week, Democrats apparently want to campaign on open borders, mass migration, & abolishing ICE," Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said on Twitter. "Give them points for honesty. Let's vote."

The UN migration agency's member states have rejected President Trump's nominee for director-general, making it only the second time in the agency's history that it will not be led by an American.

Ken Isaacs, an executive with a Christian charity, was eliminated after three voting rounds, AFP reported.

Mr Trump's anti-immigration policies, including separating children from parents, have been widely criticised.

The White House has also proposed cutting UN funding.

Mr Isaacs meanwhile has a history of anti-Islam comments.

Antonio Vitorino, a Portuguese former EU commissioner, has been elected to lead the International Organization for Migration (IOM) instead.

Diplomats said Mr Vitorino's bid had been helped by EU efforts to find a common response to the migrant crisis.

Mr Isaacs made his Twitter account private after his nomination for the IOM leadership in February led to criticism.

The Samaritan's Purse executive had previously described Islam to be an inherently violent religion on numerous occasions and retweeted xenophobic material.

He has also refused to recognise the link between human activity and climate change.

Having seen off Mr Isaacs' challenge in the leadership ballot, Mr Vitorino defeated the IOM's current deputy leader Laura Thompson, from Costa Rica, in a fourth round of voting.

He replaces veteran US diplomat William Lacy Swing.

The IOM has been led by an American throughout its 67-year history with one exception, from 1961 to 1969.

The New York Times seeks 'awkward,' 'troubling' sex stories from readers with erotic hotline

The New York Times is seeking “stories about sex that was troubling or awkward, hilarious or profound” from its readers and even set up a hotline so fans of the Gray Lady can share their intimate tales. The Times’ official Twitter account has sent numerous bizarre messages over the past week asking for erotic details of sexual encounters from its readers.

“Are you a young person who had an intimate experience that was anything but intimate? Divorced and confused after a night with someone you met on a freshly downloaded dating app? Married and have that thing you just never talk about? Or perhaps you’re in your 80s and can tell us a story that exemplifies how sexual communication has changed since the first time you had sex,” the Times wrote in the un-bylined story.

Earlier this week, Times’ former executive editor Jill Abramson slammed the paper for making “horrible mistakes left and right” in an email to The Daily Beast. Among the mistake recognized by Abramson was a “horrible” expose that said its own reporter, Ali Watkins, was reportedly dating at least two potential sources.

Perhaps Watkins should call the sex hotline and share her story.

Regarding your article - you do realize that DeBlasio is about as far over to the left as is possible, without falling through to another dimension. To term him as being Democratic mainstream is beyond comical.

(Keep in mind even changed his name in an attempt to blend in - born as Warren Wilhelm)

We actually have a couple of minus-fives today,

Liberal California Now Leads All Other States In Poverty

The Left’s first, last and only instinct is to throw more money at the problem, but California’s already done that. and guess what?

It’s not as though California policymakers have neglected to wage war on poverty. Sacramento and local governments have spent massive amounts in the cause.

The Trumpeters have made this thread more of a middle school cafeteria food fight

"Can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."

Portland ICE facility protest camp broken up by feds as crowds shout 'no racist police!'

The American flag is flying high again outside an ICE building in Portland on Thursday as Homeland Security police tear down tents set up by protesters who shut down the facility amid the national debate over President Trump’s immigration orders.

The Portland occupation at its peak appeared to include a few hundred people, who shut down the ICE facility on June 20 and taped signs to its exterior with messages including “Refugees Welcome” and “abolish ICE”, KATU reported.

The attorney’s office said earlier this week it started warning the protesters, through notices delivered on-site, that “individuals who continue to obstruct the entrance of this federal facility will be subject to arrest and prosecution in federal court.”

The clip, taken by a reporter from The Oregonian, shows officers standing shoulder-to-shoulder, holding batons.

Other officers were met with shouting from protesters, including chants of “no racist police”, KTPV reported. One protester was filmed walking down a row of officers, pointing in each of their faces and calling them “Nazis.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon described the federal response as a “law enforcement action” intended to re-open the property, according to KATU.

...protesters were arrested. It added that officials are trying to clear the driveway and parking areas around the property and Federal Protective Service officers will protect the building once everything is disposed.

"If you can't stand the trash, get out of the dumpster."

FBI's Strzok 'smug' and 'defiant' in House interview,

“Strzok was smug, defiant, and laughed off a lot of questions,” one congressional source told Fox News following the interview. The source also echoed earlier reports that Strzok refused to answer some questions on the advice of counsel.

Chairman of the House Freedom Caucus Mark Meadows, R-N.C., said during a break in the hearing Wednesday that “none of [his] concerns about political bias have been alleviated based on what I’ve heard so far.”