monitoring Trump and relevant contemporary events

McG: You ever wonder why the people attacking the pro-Trumpers generally wear masks? What are they afraid of if they are going there for a "peaceful" counter protest?

Lash: I commented about this before I saw it. I agree completely.

President insists on a carriage journey down The Mall to Buckingham Palace

Donald Trump waving from the Queen’s royal carriage is not a scenario many would have foreseen a year ago, but it has become a very real prospect, forcing security services to plan an unprecedented lockdown.

The White House has made clear it regards the carriage procession down the Mall as an essential element of the itinerary for the visit currently planned for the second week of October, according to officials.

Security sources have warned, however, that the procession will require a “monster” security operation, far greater than for any recent state visit.
[...]
Barack Obama chose to spare his hosts the task of securing the journey from Horse Guards Parade to Buckingham Palace when he was welcomed by the Queen in 2011. In a slight change of usual protocol President Obama arrived at the palace in an armoured motorcade.
... ... ...

Can't they get a stunt double for the queen?

If China doesn't join the US in exerting pressure on NK, it probably will be, but that seems to have changed and so I have new hope.

North Korea launched a ballistic missile Sunday morning from near its submarine base in Sinpo on its east coast, but the launch was the latest in a series of failures just after liftoff, according to American and South Korean military officials.

You ever wonder why the people attacking the pro-Trumpers generally wear masks? What are they afraid of if they are going there for a "peaceful" counter protest?

They certainly aren't above disrupting an otherwise peaceful event,

Last year, Alaska’s Obamacare marketplaces seemed on the verge of implosion. Premiums for individual health insurance plans were set to rise 42 percent. State officials worried that they were on the verge of a “death spiral,” where only the sickest people buy coverage and cause rates to skyrocket year after year.

So the state tried something new and different — and it worked. Lori Wing-Heier, Alaska’s insurance commissioner, put together a plan that had the state pay back insurers for especially high medical claims submitted to Obamacare plans. This lowered premiums for everyone. In the end, the premium increase was a mere 7 percent.

"We knew we were facing a death spiral," says Wing-Heier. "We knew even though it was a federal law, we had to do something."

Now other states are interested in trying Alaska’s idea, especially because Wing-Heier is working with the Trump administration to have the federal government, not the state, cover those costs.

President Hassan Rouhani said "The strengthening of the capability of the Iranian armed forces ... is only for defending the country ..." He said Iran has never had "aggressive aims."

He called Iran a “powerful country” that the U.S. cannot harm.

The US and China are working on a "range of options" on North Korea, the US top security adviser has said, as tensions mount over the country's nuclear and missile programmes.

Lt Gen HR McMaster told ABC News there was consensus that this was a "situation that just can't continue".

The comments come after a failed missile test launch by North Korea, and a massive military parade.

President Trump had earlier said China was "working with us" on the issue.

Iran knows they're next, as soon as we finish off Korea, so they're starting their combination of begging and bluffing early, eh?

Quote:

President Hassan Rouhani said "The strengthening of the capability of the Iranian armed forces ... is only for defending the country ..." He said Iran has never had "aggressive aims."

He called Iran a “powerful country” that the U.S. cannot harm.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-defence-rouhani-idUSKBN17H0G2?il=0



Yeah, right, eh?

I'm interested to know what caused you to have that feeling about Elizabeth II.

Quote:

You ever wonder why the people attacking the pro-Trumpers generally wear masks? What are they afraid of if they are going there for a "peaceful" counter protest?

I think it's safe to assume that some people go to these events with the intention of provoking violence and the masks are worn partly for camouflage and partly for the intimidation effect. They certainly aren't above disrupting an otherwise peaceful event, sort of like thevigilante bikers who were attending Trump campaign rallies. Political discourse would be greatly improved without the Brownshirt fringe from either side.

How Alaska fixed Obamacare/VOX

Quote:

Last year, Alaska’s Obamacare marketplaces seemed on the verge of implosion. Premiums for individual health insurance plans were set to rise 42 percent. State officials worried that they were on the verge of a “death spiral,” where only the sickest people buy coverage and cause rates to skyrocket year after year.

So the state tried something new and different — and it worked. Lori Wing-Heier, Alaska’s insurance commissioner, put together a plan that had the state pay back insurers for especially high medical claims submitted to Obamacare plans. This lowered premiums for everyone. In the end, the premium increase was a mere 7 percent.

"We knew we were facing a death spiral," says Wing-Heier. "We knew even though it was a federal law, we had to do something."

Now other states are interested in trying Alaska’s idea, especially because Wing-Heier is working with the Trump administration to have the federal government, not the state, cover those costs.

Nuke em...Nuke em all... AMERICA FIRST BABY!