All purpose news and politics thread part v: The quickening

[worstblogever]

I don't know enough about UK politics to know, well, who to root for. As in, is there any group or party or whatever that is worth supporting?

Labour, seems to be the best example of the left in the UK's politics.

[Tami]

Barr disputes key inspector general finding about FBI’s Russia investigation

Attorney General William P. Barr has told associates he disagrees with the Justice Department’s inspector general on one of the key findings in an upcoming report — that the FBI had enough information in July 2016 to justify launching an investigation into members of the Trump campaign, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Justice Department’s inspector general, Michael Horowitz, is due to release his long-awaited findings in a week, but behind the scenes at the Justice Department, disagreement has surfaced about one of Horowitz’s central conclusions on the origins of the Russia investigation. The discord could be the prelude to a major fissure within federal law enforcement on the controversial question of investigating a presidential campaign.

Barr has not been swayed by Horowitz’s rationale for concluding the FBI had sufficient basis to open an investigation on July 31, 2016, these people said.

Barr’s public defenses of President Trump, including his assertion that intelligence agents spied on the Trump campaign, have led Democrats to accuse him of acting like the president’s personal attorney and eroding the independence of the Justice Department. But Trump and his Republican allies have cheered Barr’s skepticism of the Russia investigation.

It’s not yet clear how Barr plans to make his objection to Horowitz’s conclusion known. The inspector general report, currently in draft form, is being finalized after input from various witnesses and offices that were scrutinized by the inspector general. Barr or a senior Justice Department official could submit a formal letter as part of that process, which would then be included in the final report. It is standard practice for every inspector general report to include a written response from the department. Barr could forgo a written rebuttal on that specific point and just publicly state his concerns.

Spokespeople for the Justice Department, the inspector general and the FBI all declined to comment.

[Kusanagi]

I don't know enough about UK politics to know, well, who to root for. As in, is there any group or party or whatever that is worth supporting?

On the left - right spectrum it goes

Green, Labour, Lib Dems, Tories, whatever the hell Farage's party is now.

Though there's also SNP in Scotland who are about level with Labour, but of the opinion they need to ditch the rest of the Union.

[Celgress]

Any help is very appreciated, thank you!

I will help you. PM me the link.

[Celgress]

UK (NATO) would be outgunned by Russia during an Eastern European Conflict

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-50567271

[jetengine]

I don't know enough about UK politics to know, well, who to root for. As in, is there any group or party or whatever that is worth supporting?

The last time the lib dems got in they were in a coalition with the Conservative party. They let the conservatives do what they liked, backstabbed their voters and let horrific austerity measures through so they could get a useless 5p bag tax.

Their current party is full of neo-liberals pissed off at Labours more left wing turn and former Conservatives who left because they wouldnt submit to the current Conservatives "Brexit or else" ideology.

Oh and their current leader has voted for Conservative mandates more often then most members of the conservatives.

[worstblogever]

On this date in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, as well as 2018, “Crazy/Stupid Republican of the Day posted profiles of U.S. Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi, an old pal of Mississippi Republicans like Haley Barbour and Trent Lott who like the both of them, has ties to the Neo-Confederate group, the Council of Conservative Citizens (which sure explains why he whines about the Voting Rights Act being “unfair” to the South), as well as ties to the anti-gay hate group, the Family Research Council (which explains why he tried to pass legislation to stop gay couples in the military from being able to get married). Sen. Wicker proposed a Personhood bill while in the house, the Life at Conception Act, which would have guaranteed Constitutional rights to zygotes, opposed Sen. Al Franken’s anti-rape bill in the Senate, and has falsely claimed the U.S. military has court martialed Christians for their choice of religion. So far in this session of Congress, Sen. Wicker has mostly stayed out of the headlines, but has voted to confirm every member of the Trump “Cabinet of Horrors”, for Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court (calling the credible accusations against Kavanaugh a “smear” by Democrats), as well as voted for the “skinny repeal” of the Affordable Care Act.

Wicker just won re-election with 59% of the vote in the 2018 elections, and will now be in office until 2024. It remains to be seen how loyal he will stay towards Donald Trump as the impeachment inquiry develops.

[Tendrin]

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-w...stems-thwarted

State election officials said Ohio detected and stopped an election-related cyberattack earlier this month, The Associated Press reported.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R) stated the “relatively unsophisticated” cyberattack took place Nov. 5 — Election Day — and originated in Panama but was traced back to a Russian-owned firm.
“They are poking around for soft spots,” LaRose told The Columbus Dispatch on Tuesday.
LaRose confirmed that the votes cast in Ohio that day were safe because the election machines and the ballot counters Ohio uses aren't connected to the internet.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Barr disputes key inspector general finding about FBI’s Russia investigation

Well, of course Droopy Dog Barr disputed the findings. After all, his job is to defend Trump, NOT the Constitution.

[InformationGeek]

Ummmmm... this... this is... this is... siiiiiiigh.

[worstblogever]

Well, of course Droopy Dog Barr disputed the findings. After all, his job is to defend Trump, NOT the Constitution.

I always thought Sen. Joe Lieberman looked like Droopy Dog.

William Barr looks more like Mr. Toad from "Wind in the Willows" to me.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

I always thought Sen. Joe Lieberman looked like Droopy Dog.

William Barr looks more like Mr. Toad from "Wind in the Willows" to me.

Hmm! You have a point there.

[Tami]

In Tense Exchange, Trump and Macron Put Forth Dueling Visions for NATO

LONDON — A once-cordial relationship between President Trump and President Emmanuel Macron of France devolved in a dramatic fashion on Tuesday, as the two leaders publicly sparred over their approach to containing the threat of terrorism and a shared vision for the future of NATO, a 70-year-old alliance facing existential threats on multiple fronts.

In a lengthy appearance before reporters, the president met a cool reception from Mr. Macron, who earlier in the day Mr. Trump derided as “very insulting” for his recent remarks on the “brain death” of the alliance. When asked to address his earlier comments on the French leader, Mr. Trump, a leader averse to face-to-face confrontation, initially demurred, but Mr. Macron was direct.

“My statement created some reactions,” Mr. Macron said. “I do stand by it.”

What followed was an extended, terse back-and-forth over trade, immigration, and Mr. Trump’s relationship with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey.

Mr. Trump’s interactions with the Turkish president are also sure to be closely watched. Mr. Erdogan, who has already upset NATO allies by purchasing a sophisticated Russian antiaircraft missile system, the S-400, is now threatening to oppose NATO’s plans to update the defense of Poland and the Baltic countries if the alliance does not join him in labeling some Kurdish groups as terrorists.

[Tami]

Appeals court refuses to block House subpoena for Trump’s financial records

NEW YORK -- A federal appeals court has sided with House Democrats seeking to obtain President Trump’s private financial records from Deutsche Bank and Capital One, stating that "the public interest favors denial of a preliminary injunction.”

The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit came in the ongoing legal battle Trump has waged over access to his private business records -- including two cases that have already reached the Supreme Court.

The New York-based appeals court upheld Congress’s broad investigative authority and ordered the two banks to comply with the House subpoenas for the president’s financial information. The case pre-dates the public impeachment proceedings in the House.

“The Committees have already been delayed in the receipt of the subpoenaed material since April 11 when the subpoenas were issued. They need the remaining time to analyze the material, hold hearings, and draft bills for possible enactment,” according to the ruling from Judge Jon O. Newman, who was joined by Judge Peter W. Hall.

The House Intelligence and Financial Services committees are seeking more than 10 years of financial records on Trump, his three oldest children – Eric, Don and Ivanka -- and Trump’s businesses. The committees, led by Reps. Adam Schiff and Maxine Waters, both California Democrats, say they need the records as part of broad investigations into Russian money laundering and potential foreign influence involving Trump.

Trump’s lawyers say the committees are pushing the boundaries of their powers to embarrass the president and their subpoenas serve no legislative purpose. The subpoenas would sweep up every debit card transaction and check written by Trump, his children and even his grandchildren, they said.

[AnakinFlair]

In Tense Exchange, Trump and Macron Put Forth Dueling Visions for NATO

Can NATO just kick Turkey out? Are they really that necessary at this point?