monitoring Trump and relevant contemporary events

Finn dAbuzz wrote:

Hey, knock yourself out hating conservatives. It seems to give you the reason you need for getting out of bed in the morning.

That does appear to be the case.

An important piece for anyone trying to understand the American reality. Bernie Sanders was our last hope.

Sinclair’s TV deal would be good for Trump. And his new FCC is clearing the way.

When French voters resoundingly elected a centrist president rather than a right-leaning antiglobalist this month, one reason may have been the nation’s news media.

As a French newspaper editor commented: “We don’t have a Fox News in France.”

The United States certainly does have one. Pretty soon, it may have the equivalent of two.

Sinclair Broadcast Group has struck a deal with Tribune Media to buy dozens of local TV stations.

And what Fox News is for cable, Sinclair could become for broadcast: programming with a soupcon — or more — of conservative spin.

Already, Sinclair is the largest owner of local TV stations in the nation. If the $3.9 billion deal gets regulatory approval, Sinclair would have 7 of every 10 Americans in its potential audience.

...And Sinclair regularly sends “must-run” segments to its stations across the country. One example: an opinion piece by a Sinclair executive that echoed President Trump’s slam at the national news media and what he calls the “fake news” they produce.

How does he do it?

Quote:

How does he do it?

Graft, bribery, gangsterism, machine politics....

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) on Sunday responded to other Republican lawmakers’ pleas for less drama from President Donald Trump’s administration by saying that “people got what they voted for.”

Responding on CBS’ “Face The Nation” to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) request for “a little less drama from the White House,” Rubio compared Trump’s presidency to his campaign.

“People got what they voted for. They elected him,” Rubio said. “I don’t understand why people are that shocked.”

He said the drama surrounding Trump’s presidency is “unique,” but said it is “not much different” from Trump’s “very unconventional campaign.”

“And that’s what the American people voted for,” Rubio said.

Donald of Arabia

WHY SALLY YATES STOOD UP TO TRUMP
The former acting Attorney General reflects on the F.B.I., Michael Flynn, and how the President ended her career at the Justice Department.

It is hard to locate when President Trump first declared war on the government establishment, but the story may well begin on the night of January 30th. Three days earlier, Trump, prodded by his most ideological aides, had issued an executive order banning travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries. On the 30th, Sally Yates, the acting U.S. Attorney General, refused to defend the order, saying that she was not convinced that it was lawful. Trump reacted with a fury not seen in the White House since the Nixon era...

Doesn't Sanders own 6 or 7 homes now? Not bad for the meager salary a US Senator makes.

He only has a $174,000 a year salary. Which is really paltry by many standards. Yet he has 6 or 7 homes? I make just a bit over 6 figures, live in a depressed economic zone and can barely sustain 1.

How does he do it?

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn will invoke his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination on Monday as he notifies the Senate Intelligence committee that he will not comply with a subpoena seeking documents.

That's according to a person with direct knowledge of the matter. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private interactions between Flynn and the committee.

Flynn's decision comes less than two weeks after the committee issued a subpoena for Flynn's documents as part of the panel's investigation into Russia's meddling in the 2016 election.

Legal experts have said Flynn was unlikely to turn over the personal documents without immunity because he would be waiving some of his constitutional protections by doing so. Flynn has previously sought immunity from "unfair prosecution" to cooperate with the committee.

When French voters resoundingly elected a centrist president rather than a right-leaning antiglobalist this month, one reason may have been the nation’s news media.