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crickets
crickets's Journal
crickets's Journal
November 9, 2019
“Make America’s Parks Open Again,” Portland-Based Columbia Sportswear Company Pleads in New Ad Campaign
What an amazing woman. Hats off to you, Gert. Sounds like you raised a wonderful son who will continue leading the company in fine style.
I'd love a link for that article
In looking for it, I found these:
Remembering Gert Boyle, the Legend Behind Columbia
Her reputation grew even more in 2010 when a robber tied her up at gunpoint and she outwitted him by setting off a silent police alarm. When help arrived, she criticized the cop’s choice for wearing a North Face jacket.
Along with the wry laughs, Gert never forgot her immigrant roots or the importance of the outdoors to all Americans, and the company has been outspoken on those issues. When the President shut down the government and public lands in January, Columbia bought a full-page ad in the Washington Post that read: “Make America’s parks open again.”
“Gert’s story has been a real immigrant story,” Tim says. “She came here, welcomed into the United States at a time when there was strife around the world… hopefully we can learn from [her] how much impact immigrants can have today. I’m just amazed by how many people she impacted.”
Along with the wry laughs, Gert never forgot her immigrant roots or the importance of the outdoors to all Americans, and the company has been outspoken on those issues. When the President shut down the government and public lands in January, Columbia bought a full-page ad in the Washington Post that read: “Make America’s parks open again.”
“Gert’s story has been a real immigrant story,” Tim says. “She came here, welcomed into the United States at a time when there was strife around the world… hopefully we can learn from [her] how much impact immigrants can have today. I’m just amazed by how many people she impacted.”
“Make America’s Parks Open Again,” Portland-Based Columbia Sportswear Company Pleads in New Ad Campaign
"No party hates the outdoors except maybe the Donner Party," Columbia Sportswear CEO Tim Boyle told the news site Axios, in reference to the company's new ad that calls for national parks to be reopened.
The Portland-based company recently took out a full-page spread in the Washington Post to broadcast the message: "Make America's Parks Open Again."
"Walls shouldn't block access to parks," the ad reads, "and federal workers shouldn't be left in the cold. Work together to open our parks."
The Portland-based company recently took out a full-page spread in the Washington Post to broadcast the message: "Make America's Parks Open Again."
"Walls shouldn't block access to parks," the ad reads, "and federal workers shouldn't be left in the cold. Work together to open our parks."
What an amazing woman. Hats off to you, Gert. Sounds like you raised a wonderful son who will continue leading the company in fine style.
November 9, 2019
It's an overwhelming blizzard of lies. I can't even.
No, really. I can't get through them all. At first it's amusing, but somewhere between 12 and 18 the nausea sets in.
November 8, 2019
He continues various cringeworthy, whiny versions of "I don't wanna go." and "You can't make me!" until the bottom of page 9, where Schiff suspends proceedings and starts a clock. The time elapsed until Gaetz leaves is to be taken from time allotted for the minority to pose questions.
Top of p10 restarts the meeting with no explanation of how Gaetz was vacated. Most of the page involves explanation of parliamentary procedure which excludes people like Gaetz, with a comment from Jordan about no mention in PP re losing time. Schiff ignores this comment and asks if Jordan has an opening statement, which he does. Through most of p12, Jordan complains about how unfair impeachment is, and how the Dems are doing it all wrong.
*smh*
Gaetz is first asked to leave at the top of page 7
https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/full-transcript-of-testimony-of-fiona-hill-former-top-russia-adviser-to-the-white-house/289badae-624a-4258-8fca-ad19d817a30f/He continues various cringeworthy, whiny versions of "I don't wanna go." and "You can't make me!" until the bottom of page 9, where Schiff suspends proceedings and starts a clock. The time elapsed until Gaetz leaves is to be taken from time allotted for the minority to pose questions.
Top of p10 restarts the meeting with no explanation of how Gaetz was vacated. Most of the page involves explanation of parliamentary procedure which excludes people like Gaetz, with a comment from Jordan about no mention in PP re losing time. Schiff ignores this comment and asks if Jordan has an opening statement, which he does. Through most of p12, Jordan complains about how unfair impeachment is, and how the Dems are doing it all wrong.
*smh*
November 8, 2019
Agreed.
Regardless of how certain anyone is about their guess - what if you're wrong? You could put the wrong person and all of their loved ones in danger.
What if you're right? Same scenario.
Regardless, any name tossed out there draws the attention of a man-baby with mob connections. If you agree with or appreciate the message, why in the world would you want to hurt the messenger?
JoeOtterbein is right. This is another whistleblower. Respect their anonymity. You really may not know who it is and how much danger you might visit on them or their family.
November 8, 2019
Well said.
Thank you for saying this.
We're all angry that Trump is still in office. It's frustrating to think that people have stood by, said and done nothing, but in this case someone is saying something. It may seem cowardly to do it behind anonymity, but when you're dealing with an unstable mobster, painting a target on yourself is not a good idea.
We do not stand in this person's shoes. We don't know their circumstances. We can play all the guessing games we like, but we really don't know. You're right - even if one feels strong enough to stand up to someone, there are family and friends who could be put in danger, who may not be strong enough to weather the fallout and do not deserve the harassment or harm that could come from this.
Patriots come in all forms. Don't be so foolish and reckless as to demand names at this point. Their information is priceless. And so are their lives.
Well said.
November 7, 2019
For whatever reason, it sounds like they've decided to indicate that it's quite OK to boo; they just don't want any fighting going on. Given there will likely be alcohol involved, that's not an unreasonable concern.
SGA has clarified a bit:
https://www.al.com/news/2019/11/alabama-sga-warns-groups-protest-trump-during-lsu-game-risk-losing-reserved-seating.html“Some have misinterpreted my comment regarding “disruptive behavior.” As with other games this season, Organization’s Block Seating locations will be clearly marked, but at certain times, other students can and should have access to open seats. By disruptive behavior, we are asking students to be respectful to all students and staff and avoid altercations.
My email has nothing do with anyone’s First Amendment rights and I am sorry for any confusion. Please express yourself and especially your pride for the Tide.” [snip]
In a separate statement, Jackson Fuentes, SGA Press Secretary, said "The SGA strongly affirms its belief in free speech and the rights of all students to express their opinions. Today’s report erroneously assigned a political context to a message meant only to remind students about heightened security and the consequences of altercations or other behaviors unbecoming of a University of Alabama student, as defined in the Capstone Creed.
My email has nothing do with anyone’s First Amendment rights and I am sorry for any confusion. Please express yourself and especially your pride for the Tide.” [snip]
In a separate statement, Jackson Fuentes, SGA Press Secretary, said "The SGA strongly affirms its belief in free speech and the rights of all students to express their opinions. Today’s report erroneously assigned a political context to a message meant only to remind students about heightened security and the consequences of altercations or other behaviors unbecoming of a University of Alabama student, as defined in the Capstone Creed.
For whatever reason, it sounds like they've decided to indicate that it's quite OK to boo; they just don't want any fighting going on. Given there will likely be alcohol involved, that's not an unreasonable concern.
November 5, 2019
It's another distraction.
As others have pointed out, Republicans and RW pundits know not to out the whistleblower themselves because it's illegal. They know the press won't do it for the same reason. It's just something to make a lot of noise about to distract from the impeachment goings-on, especially as the damning testimony transcripts are released.
It's the same reason they're screeching about legal representation at the closed sessions. They know all of the people testifying have their own counsel present and are represented just fine. They also know that Trump has no reason or right to have representation there during this phase. It's in the rules, there's nothing unfair going on, but they can make a lot of noise all the same.
No way to refute the findings so far, no way to stop the oncoming impeachment train, so blather on about the process. It's all they've got.
November 4, 2019
https://twitter.com/CtObserve/status/1189356775192977408
Okay, let's say it was a slip of the tongue on Mulvaney's part. There's still the matter of voice translation protocols.
Trump's July 25 Phone Call With Zelensky May Have Been Taped
There is a tape or at the very least a digital version of the call, if it has not yet been destroyed. No need to rely on a human generated transcript at all.
Sure there's a tape
Mick Mulvaney confessed to more than their Quid pro Quos -- He let it slip that There Are Tapes“Let me ask you this — if we wanted to cover this up, would we have called the Department of Justice almost immediately and have them look at the transcript of the tape?” Mulvaney asked rhetorically on Thursday. “Which we did, by the way.”
https://twitter.com/CtObserve/status/1189356775192977408
Mulvaney admitted to having a tape of the call at his press conference.... [video]
Okay, let's say it was a slip of the tongue on Mulvaney's part. There's still the matter of voice translation protocols.
Trump's July 25 Phone Call With Zelensky May Have Been Taped
Yes, maybe there is a Trump White House taping system of calls, but the more likely scenario is that there is, or was before being deleted, a full artificial intelligence digital transcript of the July 25 Zelensky call. This could also be the case for innumerable other official Trump calls with foreign leaders that have been hidden away on the classified server, including calls with Putin.
If Trump tapes of official phone calls do not exist, artificial intelligence voice recognition software now has 95% and above accuracy rates.
That means, that taping system or not, a digital transcript of the July 25 call exists, or existed, and would provide a fuller knowledge of what Trump said to Zelensky, as well as open up the floodgates for full transcripts of Trump talking with other foreign leaders.
If Trump tapes of official phone calls do not exist, artificial intelligence voice recognition software now has 95% and above accuracy rates.
That means, that taping system or not, a digital transcript of the July 25 call exists, or existed, and would provide a fuller knowledge of what Trump said to Zelensky, as well as open up the floodgates for full transcripts of Trump talking with other foreign leaders.
There is a tape or at the very least a digital version of the call, if it has not yet been destroyed. No need to rely on a human generated transcript at all.
November 4, 2019
And there it is: Jared Kushner's intelligence source, the classified president’s daily brief.
Kushner's access to the president’s daily brief isn't a problem if he has the proper security clearances and respect for said clearances - but there is evidence that, while he does have clearances, they are not necessarily proper, and he clearly has not respected the boundaries involved in having them.
Remember Patricia Newbold?
Whistleblower says 25 people given White House clearance despite rejections
In the end, regardless of whether he was SWH Official 1 or SWH Official 2 or one of the other 25 candidates originally rejected for them, Jared Kushner got his security clearances, legally.
Chilling though it may be, it's possible Trump gave Kushner permission to do these things, thinking it was legal. He shouldn't have. It's not legal to knowingly send a man to his death, or to hand over a hit list to an autocrat looking to dole out reprisals. Using intelligence to make a buck is not legal, no matter who you are.
The systems and processes put in place to safeguard US intelligence are there for a reason. This is necessary to make sure that only those who can be trusted with intelligence are those who receive it. When the safeguards are bypassed, this *points up* is what can happen.
Jared Kushner is directly implicated in espionage and as an accessory to murder.
This should not have happened. It should not stand uninvestigated and unprosecuted.
In Death, Khashoggi Exposes the Corruption of Kushner and Trump
There are several bombshells involved with the story:
1. This information has been out in the wild for over a year, virtually ignored.
2. This is not the only time Trump has thought about giving up a US resident for almost certain execution. (See Fethullah Gulen, also mentioned in this article.)
3. Jared Kushner had to have a source for the classified intelligence he has been peddling, as well as permission to do what he did with it. Should he?
In Death, Khashoggi Exposes the Corruption of Kushner and Trump Nov 17, 2018
Putting aside the heinousness of the actual crime—to say nothing of MbS’s betrayal of the members of his own security detail, five of whom will likely be executed for their role in the operation—the Khashoggi affair has dramatic significance to the United States in general and to Donald Trump and Jared Kushner in particular. [snip]
With respect to the assassination, Trump and Kushner both have skin in the game. Saudi Arabia was the first state visit Trump made as president, a trip organized and pushed for by Kushner, who is chummy with MbS and has acted as the de facto ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Khashoggi was not banned from Saudi media for his criticisms of MbS, but rather for his criticisms of Donald Trump. More importantly, U.S. intelligence knew of a plan to lure Khashoggi back to arrest him, so the president and the de facto ambassador to Saudi Arabia must have also known. If they knew and did not share the information with Khashoggi, they are liable. [snip]
Why exactly are Trump and Kushner going to the mat for MbS? Is it to advance U.S. interests—or their own?
Last October, Jared Kushner paid an unannounced visit to Riyadh, where it’s reported that he stayed up until the wee hours talking “strategy” with the crown prince, apparently his new BFF. He allegedly gave MbS an “enemies list” culled from the classified president’s daily brief, which MbS seems to have used the following month to purge disloyal relatives from government and take their money. Also last October, Kushner’s company received a $57 million loan from Fortress Investment Group, which was recently purchased by SoftFund, a Saudi investment concern, to bail out its troubled property at One Journal Square in Jersey City. (A larger and more widely-reported loan, to bail out the troubled property at 666 Fifth Avenue, came the following summer, via Qatar.)
There is a term for the exchange of U.S. intelligence — or, worse, policy — for money. The term is espionage. It is punishable by death.
With respect to the assassination, Trump and Kushner both have skin in the game. Saudi Arabia was the first state visit Trump made as president, a trip organized and pushed for by Kushner, who is chummy with MbS and has acted as the de facto ambassador to Saudi Arabia. Khashoggi was not banned from Saudi media for his criticisms of MbS, but rather for his criticisms of Donald Trump. More importantly, U.S. intelligence knew of a plan to lure Khashoggi back to arrest him, so the president and the de facto ambassador to Saudi Arabia must have also known. If they knew and did not share the information with Khashoggi, they are liable. [snip]
Why exactly are Trump and Kushner going to the mat for MbS? Is it to advance U.S. interests—or their own?
Last October, Jared Kushner paid an unannounced visit to Riyadh, where it’s reported that he stayed up until the wee hours talking “strategy” with the crown prince, apparently his new BFF. He allegedly gave MbS an “enemies list” culled from the classified president’s daily brief, which MbS seems to have used the following month to purge disloyal relatives from government and take their money. Also last October, Kushner’s company received a $57 million loan from Fortress Investment Group, which was recently purchased by SoftFund, a Saudi investment concern, to bail out its troubled property at One Journal Square in Jersey City. (A larger and more widely-reported loan, to bail out the troubled property at 666 Fifth Avenue, came the following summer, via Qatar.)
There is a term for the exchange of U.S. intelligence — or, worse, policy — for money. The term is espionage. It is punishable by death.
And there it is: Jared Kushner's intelligence source, the classified president’s daily brief.
The President's Daily Brief (PDB), sometimes referred to as the President's Daily Briefing or the President's Daily Bulletin, is a top-secret document produced and given each morning to the President of the United States, and is also distributed to a small number of top-level US officials who are approved by the President, and includes highly classified intelligence analysis, information about covert operations of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and reports from the most sensitive US sources or those shared by allied intelligence agencies.[1] The PDB is also provided to the President-elect of the United States, between election day and inauguration.
The PDB is produced by the Director of National Intelligence,[2] and involves fusing intelligence from the CIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency (NSA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other members of the U.S. Intelligence Community.
The PDB is produced by the Director of National Intelligence,[2] and involves fusing intelligence from the CIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency (NSA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other members of the U.S. Intelligence Community.
Kushner's access to the president’s daily brief isn't a problem if he has the proper security clearances and respect for said clearances - but there is evidence that, while he does have clearances, they are not necessarily proper, and he clearly has not respected the boundaries involved in having them.
Remember Patricia Newbold?
Whistleblower says 25 people given White House clearance despite rejections
In the case of one person identified as "Senior White House Official 1," Newbold said that the background investigation had revealed "significant disqualifying factors, including foreign influence, outside activities ('employment outside or business external to what your office at the (Executive Office of the President) entails'), and personal conduct."
The director of Personnel Security, Carl Kline, overruled the rejection by noting in the file that "the activities occurred prior to Federal service." He did not, said Newbold, address each concern noted by her and by another adjudicator.
On the same day that she talked with Kline about the Senior White House Official 1, she also spoke with him about a second "very senior White House Official," referred to in Cummings' memo as "Senior White House Official 2," who had been rejected by her and another adjudicator. The reviewer, Newbold said, had written an "'extremely thorough'" 14-page summary listing disqualifying concerns including "foreign influence and outside activities." She said that Kline instructed her "do not touch" the case, and soon afterward, he overturned the rejection and approved the security clearance.
The director of Personnel Security, Carl Kline, overruled the rejection by noting in the file that "the activities occurred prior to Federal service." He did not, said Newbold, address each concern noted by her and by another adjudicator.
On the same day that she talked with Kline about the Senior White House Official 1, she also spoke with him about a second "very senior White House Official," referred to in Cummings' memo as "Senior White House Official 2," who had been rejected by her and another adjudicator. The reviewer, Newbold said, had written an "'extremely thorough'" 14-page summary listing disqualifying concerns including "foreign influence and outside activities." She said that Kline instructed her "do not touch" the case, and soon afterward, he overturned the rejection and approved the security clearance.
In the end, regardless of whether he was SWH Official 1 or SWH Official 2 or one of the other 25 candidates originally rejected for them, Jared Kushner got his security clearances, legally.
Virtually all of a president’s authority with respect to intelligence — to collect, to analyze, to classify, to declassify, and to grant or withhold clearances — is delegated to inferior officials within the executive branch, as it should be. But a president does not need the permission of an inferior executive branch official to act in this arena; ultimately, for instance, a president can classify or declassify intelligence as he sees fit. Broadly speaking, the information is for him to use, after all. [snip]
Interestingly, the rules that apply to the president here do not apply to those who work for him. If an inferior officer in a U.S. intelligence agency provided highly classified information to the Russians on his or her own accord (that is, without authorization), there would be serious consequences, ranging from losing a clearance, to losing a job, to going to prison. But, none of that is true for a president. Remember, the information is gathered and analyzed for him and he can essentially do what he wants with it.
Interestingly, the rules that apply to the president here do not apply to those who work for him. If an inferior officer in a U.S. intelligence agency provided highly classified information to the Russians on his or her own accord (that is, without authorization), there would be serious consequences, ranging from losing a clearance, to losing a job, to going to prison. But, none of that is true for a president. Remember, the information is gathered and analyzed for him and he can essentially do what he wants with it.
Chilling though it may be, it's possible Trump gave Kushner permission to do these things, thinking it was legal. He shouldn't have. It's not legal to knowingly send a man to his death, or to hand over a hit list to an autocrat looking to dole out reprisals. Using intelligence to make a buck is not legal, no matter who you are.
The systems and processes put in place to safeguard US intelligence are there for a reason. This is necessary to make sure that only those who can be trusted with intelligence are those who receive it. When the safeguards are bypassed, this *points up* is what can happen.
Jared Kushner is directly implicated in espionage and as an accessory to murder.
This should not have happened. It should not stand uninvestigated and unprosecuted.
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