monitoring Trump and relevant contemporary events

You're starting to look ridiculous.

"Right Wing media and the Koch Brothers !" There must be a conspiracy. It can't be opposition to bad policy and inept governance.

You're starting to look ridiculous.

Hours after a poison gas attack in Syria killed dozens of civilians on Tuesday, President Donald Trump's intelligence advisers provided evidence Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad was behind the atrocity, officials said.

Trump, who had long said the top U.S. priority in Syria should be to fight Islamic State, immediately ordered a list of options to punish Assad, according to senior officials who took part in the flurry of closed-door meetings that played out over two days.

Confronting his first foreign policy crisis, Trump relied on seasoned military experts rather than the political operatives who had dominated policy in the first weeks of his presidency and showed a willingness to move quickly, officials involved in the deliberations said.

On Thursday afternoon, Trump ordered the launch of a barrage of cruise missiles against the Shayrat air field north of Damascus, which the Pentagon says was used to store the chemical weapons used in the attack.

"I think it does demonstrate that President Trump is willing to act when governments and actors cross the line ... It is clear that President Trump made that statement to the world,” Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told reporters.

Senior administration officials said they met with Trump as early as Tuesday evening and presented options including sanctions, diplomatic pressure and a military plan to strike Syria drawn up well before he took office.

“He had a lot of questions and said he wanted to think about it but he also had some points he wanted to make. He wanted the options refined,” one official said.

On Wednesday morning, Trump's military advisers said they knew which Syrian air base was used to launch the chemical attack and that they had tracked the Sukhoi-22 jet that carried it out.

Trump told them to focus on the military plans.

“It was a matter of dusting those off and adapting them for the current target set and timing,” said another official.


'YOU'LL SEE'

That same afternoon, Trump appeared in the White House Rose Garden and said the "unspeakable" attack against "even beautiful little babies" had changed his attitude toward Assad.

Asked then whether he was formulating a new policy on Syria, Trump replied: "You'll see."

By late afternoon on Thursday, the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff met at the Pentagon to finalize the plan for the military strikes as Trump headed to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida for a summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

At another meeting there, Trump signed off on the missile attacks and went to dinner with Xi.

Current Heads of state and government

Matteo Renzi
Czech Republic

Bohuslav Sobotka, 11th Prime Minister of the Czech Republic (Social Democratic Party)[567]
Ecuador

Rafael Correa,* 43rd President of Ecuador (PAIS Alliance)[568]
France

François Hollande,* 24th President of France (Socialist Party)[569]

Manuel Valls, 169th Prime Minister of France (Socialist Party)[570]
Italy

Matteo Renzi, 56th Prime Minister of Italy (Democratic Party)[571]
New Zealand

John Key, 38th Prime Minister of New Zealand (National Party)[572]
Scotland

Nicola Sturgeon, 5th First Minister of Scotland (Scottish National Party)[573]
Sweden

Stefan Löfven,* 33rd Prime Minister of Sweden (Social Democrats)[574]

Former Heads of state and government[edit]

Carl Bildt, Prime Minister of Sweden (1991–94) (Moderate Party)[575]
Tony Blair, 51st Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1997–2007) (Labour Party)[576]
Kim Campbell, 19th Prime Minister of Canada (1993-1993) (Conservative Party of Canada)
Laurent Fabius, 158th Prime Minister of France (1984–86) (Socialist Party)[577]
Vicente Fox, 55th President of Mexico (2000–06) (National Action Party)[578]
Julia Gillard, 27th Prime Minister of Australia (2010–13) (Labor Party)[579]
Nicolas Sarkozy, 23rd President of France (2007–12) (The Republicans)[570]
Atifete Jahjaga, 4th President of Kosovo (2011-16) (Independent)[580]

Members of national and supranational parliaments[edit]

Marianne Aasen

Terje Aasland

Rigmor Aasrud

Michèle Alliot-Marie

Marit Arnstad

Henrik Asheim

Nora Berra

Jan Björklund

Else-May Botten

Lise Christoffersen
Australia

Labor Party

David Feeney[581]
Helen Polley[582]
Bill Shorten, 27th Employment Minister (2011–13) (Opposition Leader)[583]
Wayne Swan, 14th Deputy Prime Minister (2010–13)[584]
Tim Watts*[585]
Cambodia

National Rescue Party

Sam Rainsy,* Finance Minister (1993–94) (Party Leader)[586]
Canada

Conservative Party

John Baird, 10th Foreign Minister (2010–15)[587]
Liberal Party

Alexandra Mendès*[588]
Colombia

Green Party

Claudia López[589]
European Union

Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe

Martina Dlabajová, Czech Republic[590]
Nadja Hirsch, Germany[591]
European People's Party

Nora Berra, France (2009–14)[592]
The Greens–European Free Alliance

Rebecca Harms, Germany[593]
Linnéa Engström, Sweden[594]
Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats

Seb Dance,* United Kingdom[595]
Gianni Pittella, Italy (Leader)[596]
Finland

Swedish People's Party of Finland

Anna-Maja Henriksson,* Justice Minister (2011–15) (Party Leader)[597]
France

The Republicans

Michèle Alliot-Marie, 185th Foreign Minister (2010–11)[598]
Socialist Party

Christiane Taubira, 204th Justice Minister (2012–16)[570]
Marisol Touraine, 94th Social Affairs Minister[570]
Germany

Alliance '90/The Greens

Katja Dörner[599]
Social Democratic Party

Katarina Barley*[600]
Manuela Schwesig, Family Affairs Minister[601]
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, 13th Foreign Minister[602]
Ireland

Independent

Jillian van Turnhout* (2011–16)[603]
Labour Party

Lorraine Higgins* (2011–16)[604]
Netherlands[605]

Democrats 66

Alexander Pechtold, Government Reform Minister (2005–06) (Party Leader)
GroenLinks

Jesse Klaver
Labour Party

Diederik Samsom
New Zealand

Labour Party

David Shearer, 33rd Leader of the Opposition (2011–13)[606]
Megan Woods[606]
National Party

Jami-Lee Ross[606]
Jono Naylor[606]
Green Party

James Shaw[606]
Norway[607]

Center Party

Marit Arnstad, 28th Transport Minister (2012–13)
Jenny Klinge
Geir Pollestad
Anne Tingelstad Wøien
Christian Democratic Party

Hans Olav Syversen
Anders Tyvand
Conservative Party

Henrik Asheim
Tina Bru
Peter Christian Frølich
Kristin Ørmen Johnsen
Arve Kambe
Siri A. Meling
Erik Skutle
Ove Bernt Trellevik
Labour Party

Marianne Aasen
Terje Aasland
Rigmor Aasrud, Gov. Admin. Minister (2009–13)
Åsmund Grøver Aukrust
Jan Bøhler
Else-May Botten
Lise Christoffersen
Gunvor Eldegard
Hege Haukeland Liadal
Ingrid Heggø
Kari Henriksen
Martin Henriksen
Per Rune Henriksen
Anniken Huitfeldt, Labor Minister (2012–13)
Ingvild Kjerkol
Tove Karoline Knutsen
Stein Erik Lauvås
Sonja Mandt
Torgeir Micaelsen
Odd Omland
Helga Pedersen, Fisheries Minister (2005–09)
Magne Rommetveit
Kåre Simensen
Tone Sønsterud
Arild Stokkan-Grande
Knut Storberget, Justice Minister (2005–11)
Eirin Kristin Sund
Anette Trettebergstuen
Lene Vågslid
Truls Wickholm

Liberal Party

Trine Skei Grande (Party Leader)
Ketil Kjenseth
Iselin Nybø
Sveinung Rotevatn
Progress Party

Tor André Johnsen
Pakistan

Movement for Justice

Shah Mehmood Qureshi, 20th Foreign Minister (2008–11)[608]
Pakistan People's Party

Farahnaz Ispahani* (2008–12)[609]
Spain

Spanish Socialist Workers' Party

Pedro Sánchez* (2009–11; 2013–16)[610]
Sweden[611]

Centre Party

Annie Lööf, Enterprise Minister (2011–14) (Party Leader)
The Liberals

Jan Björklund, Education Minister (2007–14) (Party Leader)
Birgitta Ohlsson, 5th European Affairs Minister (2010–14)[612]
Moderate Party

Anna Kinberg Batra (Party Leader)
Social Democratic Party

Margot Wallström, 42nd Foreign Minister[613]
Tanzania

Alliance for Change and Transparency

Zitto Kabwe* (2005–15) (Party Leader)[614]
Party of the Revolution

January Makamba[615]
United Kingdom

Conservative Party

Gregory Barker,* Climate Change Minister (2010–14)[616]
Simon Burns, Transport Minister (2012–13)[617]
Julian Fellowes[e][f][618]
George Osborne, First Sec. of State (2015–16)[619]
Labour Party

Roberta Blackman-Woods*[620]
Yvette Cooper,* Shadow Home Sec. (2011-15)[621]
Jeremy Corbyn* (Opposition Leader)[622]
Gloria De Piero, Shadow Youth Minister (2015–16)[623]
Stephen Doughty*[624]
Angela Eagle, Shadow First Sec. (2015–16)[625]
Chris Elmore*[626]
Mike Gapes*[627]
Lilian Greenwood, Shadow Transport Sec. (2015–16)[628]
Diana Johnson[629]
Barbara Keeley,* Dep. Leader of the House of Commons (2009-10)[630]
Siobhain McDonagh[631]
Chi Onwurah*[632]
Rachel Reeves, Shadow Social Security Sec. (2013–15)[633]
Jonathan Reynolds*[634]
Tulip Siddiq*[635]
Owen Smith,* Shadow Social Security Sec. (2015–16)[636]
Karin Smyth[637]
Jo Stevens,* Shadow Wales Sec.[638]
Wes Streeting*[639]
Catherine West[640]
Scottish National Party

Angela Crawley*[641]
Stewart McDonald[642]
Regional and municipal ministers, executive officials, legislators, and party leaders[edit]

Jozias van Aartsen

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari

Margaret Curran

Michaela Engelmeier
Argentina

Union for Liberty

Juan Pablo Arenaza,* Member: Buenos Aires Legislature[643]
Australia

Labor Party

Daniel Andrews, 48th Premier of Victoria[644]
Philip Dalidakis, Member: Victorian Legislative Council[645]
Cameron Dick, Queensland, Australia Minister of Health[646]
Lara Giddings, 44th Premier of Tasmania (2011–14)[647]
Tom Koutsantonis,* Treasurer of South Australia[648]
Jenny Mikakos,* Minister for Families: Victorian Legislative Council[649]
Martin Pakula,* Member: Victorian Legislative Council[650]
Annastacia Palaszczuk, 39th Premier of Queensland[651]
Jaala Pulford, Victoria Minister for Agriculture[652]
Fiona Richardson,* Member: Victorian Legislative Council[653]
Canada

Ontario New Democratic Party

Catherine Fife,* Member: Ontario Provincial Parliament[654]
Ontario Liberal Party

Glen Murray, Member: Ontario Provincial Parliament[655]
Germany

Alliance '90/The Greens

Sven Lehmann, co-Chair: Alliance '90/The Greens North Rhine-Westphalia[656]
Daniel Mack, Member: Hessian Parliament (2012–14)[657]
Katharina Schulze,* Member: Landtag of Bavaria[658]
Free Democratic Party

Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmerman,* Member: Düsseldorf Parliament[659]
Social Democratic Party

Michaela Engelmeier,* Member: Oberbergischer Kreistag[660]
Ralf Stegner,* Interior Minister of Schleswig-Holstein (2005-08) (Party Leader)[661]
Mexico

Jorge Guajardo, Ambassador to China (2007-13)[662]
Institutional Revolutionary Party

Ivonne Ortega, Governor of Yucatán (2007–12)[663]
Netherlands

People's Party for Freedom and Democracy

Jozias van Aartsen, Mayor of The Hague[664]
Nigeria

Obiageli Ezekwesili, Minister of Solid Minerals (2005–06) and Education (2006-07)[665]
Pakistan

Pakistan Peoples Party

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari,* Party Chairman[666]
Spain

Catalan Solidarity for Independence

Alfons López Tena, Member: Catalonian Parliament (2010–12)[667]
South Africa

African National Congress

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations[668]
Democratic Alliance

Helen Zille,* Premier of the Western Cape[669]
United Kingdom

Labour Party

Margaret Curran, Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland (2011–15)[670]
Kezia Dugdale,* Member: Scottish Parliament (Party Leader)[671]
Florence Eshalomi,* Member: London Assembly[672]
Iain Gray,* Member: Scottish Parliament [673]
Sarah Hayward, Leader: Camden London Borough Council[674]
Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London[675]
James-J Walsh,* Member: Lewisham London Borough Council

Not too sure what you are trying to say here... What I am saying is that Trump's DOD and DOS are grossly understaffed at this point and thus he must be relying on generals for advice. It's not like Bannon or Kushner are foreign policy or military experts...

Most of his supporters are the uneducated whites.

COMMUNIST PARTY UNITES BEHIND HILLARY
Rave 'coverage' of Democrat convention puts MSNBC to shame

“Back in the day when Stalinists Gus Hall and Angela Davis were regularly nominated by the party as presidential and vice presidential candidates every four years, the U.S. Communists actually had beefs with the Democrats,” he said. “But, in recent years, the party ceased those efforts in favor of a united front with the Democrats, with whom they have very few differences, if any.”

David Kupelian, managing editor of WND.com, had this to say earlier this year in a commentary on the shrinking divide between the two parties:“Amazing as it may seem, Barack Obama has dragged the entire Democratic Party so far leftward over the past seven-plus years that today’s Democratic Party has become almost indistinguishable from the Communist Party.

“If that sounds hyperbolic to you, just stop reading right now and pull up the CPUSA’s website,” he added. “Spend some time reading and digesting it. Try to discern any major differences between the Communist Party’s concerns, sensibilities and solutions – on issues from ‘gay’ rights, to unfettered immigration, to renewable energy, to wealth redistribution, to condemning cops as racist, to universal health care – and those of today’s Democratic Party.”

On a related note, there were reports over the weekend that Tillerson’s meeting with Vladimir Putin, who once gave Tillerson the Russian Order of Friendship award, had been removed from the schedule. A Trump administration official said this morning, “There was never a Putin meeting on any schedule.”

That claim appears to be completely untrue: a schedule published last week showed Tillerson was supposed to meet the Russian president on Wednesday.

This reminded me of something MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell told Politico, in reference to Trump administration officials: “I’ve never seen anything like this. I have never seen anything like this where people just flat-out lie. You know, black is white and white is black, and they mislead you.”

Gitmo has long been a powerful recruiting sergeant for jihadis, but some idiots will only accept the bleeding obvious when a Republican president says it.

@layman,
Why do you post this 'report' from Worldnetdaily,

“If that sounds hyperbolic to you, just stop reading right now and pull up the CPUSA’s website,” he added. “Spend some time reading and digesting it. Try to discern any major differences between the Communist Party’s concerns, sensibilities and solutions – on issues from ‘gay’ rights, to unfettered immigration, to renewable energy, to wealth redistribution, to condemning cops as racist, to universal health care – and those of today’s Democratic Party.”

Democrats must continue to oppose Trump.
http://observer.com/2017/03/congressional-democrats-must-continue-to-oppose-trump-gop/

Gov Hickenlooper for pres.

Multiple people injured in shooting at elementary school in San Bernardino

Multiple people were injured in a shooting Monday morning at an elementary school in San Bernardino in what officials are describing as a murder-suicide.