Saturday, April 9, 2016
Weekly Address: Playing by the Same Rules
In this week's address, the President highlighted two specific steps the
Administration took this week to make sure everyone plays by the same
rules.
Friday, April 8, 2016
The Secret Movement to Draft General James Mattis for President
By Tim Mak
Gen. James Mattis
doesn’t necessarily want to be president—but that’s not stopping a group
of billionaire donors from hatching a plan to get him there.
An anonymous group of conservative billionaires is ready to place their bets on a man dubbed “Mad Dog,” hoping to draft him into the presidential race to confront Donald Trump.
Think of it as a Plan B should Trump be nominated by the Republican Party in Cleveland: swing behind retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James Mattis and press him into service yet again as a third-party candidate.
Mattis
is the former commander of Central Command, which includes the
strife-afflicted conflict zones of the Middle East, North Africa, and
Central Asia, and has developed a reputation among troops as a general
officer who cares about the little guy. This reputation blossomed into the political realm during the 2012 presidential contest, when a Marine Corps veteran started an online campaign to write-in Mattis on presidential ballots—it ultimately lacked the backing to take off.
But
this situation involves far bigger players: Close to a dozen
influential donors—involving politically-involved billionaires with deep
pockets and conservative leanings—are ready to put their resources
behind Mattis. At their request, a small group of political operatives
have taken the first steps in the strategic legwork needed for a bid: a
package of six strategic memos outlining how Mattis could win the race,
in hopes of coaxing him in.
Click here for the full article.
Source: The Daily Beast
'Song of the Week': Get Together, 'The Youngbloods'
From The G-Man selects this as the Song of the Week in the wake of all the political and social upheaval in America and abroad. Listen carefully to the lyrics....and imagine the possibilities.
"G-Man"
President Obama Town Hall Meeting on the Supreme Court
President Obama participates in a town hall meeting with students and
faculty at the University of Chicago Law School on the Supreme Court and
the U.S. judicial system.
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
Making Health Care Better Series on Diabetes
The "Making Health Care Better" series will highlight the significant
progress made in improving the health system over the past seven years.
This first event will be focused on diabetes, and will feature experts
on diabetes within and outside of government, individuals living with
diabetes, and passionate diabetes activists. Through three panels and a
"lightning round" interview, the event will focus on advancements in
diabetes prevention, research, quality of care, and coverage.
Decision Making at the Federal Reserve
Janet Yellen and former Federal Reserve Chairs Ben Bernanke, Alan
Greenspan, and Paul Volcker spoke with CNN’s Fareed Zakaria about their
approach to decision making during their time at the central bank.
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
Analyzing Health Records Security
John Hopkins University’s Avi Rubin discusses the recent breach of
records systems at several U.S. health care companies, which resulted in
nearly 3.5 million records being compromised.
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
Discussion on Student Financial Aid and Voucher Programs
The New America Foundation releases a proposal to replace the current
federal financial aid model with a voucher program that would funnel
federal higher education funding through the states.
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
The Standard April 15 Deadline Extended Three Days
The New York State Department of Taxation
and Finance today reminded taxpayers that they can take three extra days
to file both their federal and state income tax returns this year. The
deadline is extended to Monday, April 18, 2016, because Washington, D.C. will celebrate Emancipation Day on Friday, April 15.
“The extended deadline provides a few
extra days for the millions of New Yorkers who file their taxes late in
the season,” said New York State Commissioner of Taxation and Finance
Jerry Boone. “However, just because there’s extra time to file doesn’t
mean you need to wait until April 18. You can complete your return now with the user-friendly software on our website, tax.ny.gov.
”The Tax Department’s online "e-file for
free" initiative enables taxpayers with federal adjusted gross incomes
under $62,000 to save the expense of hiring a preparer by filing both
their federal and state income tax returns at no cost.
Source: New York State Department of Taxation and Finance
'Flashback Friday': Hank Aaron Breaks Babe Ruth's Homerun Record
Published on YouTube on Nov 13, 2014
4/8/74: Vin Scully calls Hank Aaron's milestone home run as he passes Babe Ruth for the most career home runs.
Video courtesy of MLB.
Trailblazers in Black History: Rosey Grier
Uploaded to YouTube on Nov 1, 2008
Roosevelt
"Rosey" Grier, as a professional football player, was a member of the
original Fearsome Foursome of the Los Angeles Rams and played in the Pro
Bowl twice. This feature takes a look at the life and times of this NFL
great.
Video courtesy of Ready Cinematic.
Bernie Sanders: 'Of Course' Hillary Clinton's Qualified, Let's Focus on Issues
In an exclusive Town Hall on TODAY, Democratic White House hopeful
Bernie Sanders says that on Hillary Clinton's "worst day, she would an
infinitely better president" than either of the GOP front-runners. He
discusses women's rights and pay, his health care plan, how he would
break up big banks, and when he thinks sellers of guns should be sued.
Parents Sue NYC Education Department Over Violence in Schools
Several New York City parents and students have filed a class-action lawsuit against the city Department of Education alleging the nation’s largest school district has failed to protect children from violence and bullying. Tracie Strahan reports. (Published Thursday, April 7, 2016)
Click here for video.
Source: NBC News
Analysis: Black Leaders Supported Clinton's Crime Bill
The resentment that black social justice activists have been feeling
towards Bill and Hillary Clinton's 1994 crime bill reached its apex at a
Philadelphia campaign rally Thursday in which Bill Clinton was heckled
and faced down signs like "CLINTON Crime Bill Destroyed Our
Communities."
In February, Michelle Alexander, law professor
and author of "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of
Colorblindness" penned an essay titled, "Hillary Clinton doesn't deserve the Black vote."
The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement
Act of 1994 contained an expansion of the federal death penalty to
include drug offenses, the "Three Strikes, You're Out" rule, and
billions in funding for police, prisons, and states that made it harder
for people to get parole (though Mr. Clinton neglected to mention this
when he mentioned that most prisoners are incarcerated by the state).
But if Bill and Hillary Clinton were the pot,
black politicians, activists, and pastors were the kettle. Their support
of punitive measures actually paved the way for Clinton. It began with
the man Ebony Magazine called the "front-line general in the war on
drugs."
Click here for the full article.
Zuma’s Son Says He’ll Quit Gupta Mining Firm in South Africa
Duduzane Zuma
Reuters, 08/04 18:34 CET
By Tiisetso Motsoeneng and Zandi Shabalala
JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – South
African President Jacob Zuma’s son said on Friday he would sell his
investments in a mining firm owned by friends of his father amid
speculation that the wealthy family is wielding undue political
influence.
Duduzane Zuma’s announcement came days after First
National Bank, a unit of FirstRand, joined three other South African
companies in quitting as bankers and auditors of companies owned by the
Indian-born Gupta family.
In a memo to staff seen by Reuters, Oakbay Investments – a
holding company for Gupta businesses in South Africa – said it had
approached government departments including Zuma’s office to express
“deep disappointment” over decisions by banks to close its accounts.
The Presidency and Oakbay did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the content of the memo.
Citing “aspersions” against his own family, Duduzane said
he would also step down as a director of Shiva Uranium, the main
subsidiary of Oakbay Resources, which houses the Gupta family’s mining
assets.
Click here for the full article.
Source: Euronews
Algeria Bans French Journalist in Row Over Panama Papers
Reuters, 08/04 18:09 CET
PARIS (Reuters) – France has complained to
Algeria over its decision to deny a visa for a Le Monde reporter to
cover a trip by French Prime Minister Manuel Valls to Algiers after the
newspaper published details of Algerian officials named in the Panama
Papers.
Citing documents leaked from Panamanian law firm Mossack
Fonseca, Le Monde reported that Algerian Industry Minister Abdesselam
Bouchouareb set up an offshore company in Panama in April 2015.
Le Monde also published a front-page picture of President
Abdelaziz Bouteflika among leaders it said were named in the documents,
which detailed how rich and powerful figures across the world had
stashed away their wealth in secretive accounts.
Algeria summoned the French ambassador on Wednesday to
complain that French media reports on the issue were a “malicious
campaign” and it protested again on Thursday.
“We were informed of the intention to not issue a visa,” a French diplomatic source said.
Click here for the full article.
Source: Euronews
Ukraine Envoy Calls Dutch Vote ‘A Referendum for Eurosceptics’
Dutch voters decided to reject a trade deal between the EU and Ukraine in a referendum held on Wednesday.
Turnout was low, but it passed the 30 percent threshold to be valid.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte said he would reconsider the deal, even though the referendum result is not binding on his government.
Euronews correspondent Andrei Beketov spoke to Ukraine’s ambassador to the Netherlands and asked him for his reaction to the vote.
Andrei Beketov, Euronews: Your excellency….In your opinion, what is the message sent by the Dutch voters to Ukraine, and to the European Union?
Olexandre Horin, Ukrainian Ambassador to the Netherlands: This was a
referendum not about Ukraine. It was a referendum about the European
Union and it was a referendum for eurosceptics! So those who came to
vote they have voted for different things, but not for the association
agreement with Ukraine.
Click here for the full article.
Source: Euronews
Thursday, April 7, 2016
President Obama's Statement on the 22nd Anniversary of the Genocide in Rwanda
Twenty-two
years after the genocide, we stand with the people of Rwanda to
commemorate the more than 800,000 men, women, and children whose lives
were lost during 100 days
of unspeakable violence. We honor not just the victims but also those
who risked their lives to save others as well as the survivors who carry
the memories of these atrocities. On this solemn day, we remind
ourselves of our common humanity and shared commitment
to protecting civilians and ensuring that mass atrocities of this
magnitude never happen again.
Today,
even as the United States grieves with the Rwandan people, we are
inspired by the progress Rwanda has made in moving beyond these horrible
crimes and in building a more
peaceful and prosperous future for its citizens. The United States
Government and the American people will continue to extend our
friendship and partnership to Rwanda as we reconfirm our commitment to
protecting the vulnerable, to preventing mass atrocities,
and to upholding the inherent dignity of every human being.
Source: The White House, Office of the Press Secretary
$13.3 Million Provided to Continue the Fight Against Gun Violence in New York
Governor Andrew Cuomo today announced
more than $13.3 million in funding for law enforcement agencies to continue
fighting gun violence in the 17 counties currently participating in the state's
Gun Involved Violence Elimination – or GIVE -- initiative. This initiative
provides technical assistance, training and funds personnel, such as
prosecutors and crime analysts, as well as overtime and equipment.
"We've worked tirelessly to combat
gun violence across this state and prevent the senseless tragedies it
causes," Governor Cuomo said. "The GIVE initiative gives law
enforcement agencies the resources necessary for fighting gun violence in our
streets, and helps create a safer and stronger New York for all."
The GIVE initiative targets communities
served by 20 police departments in those 17 counties, which report 85 percent
of violent crime in the state outside of New York City. This is the second year
of a two-year contract, with agencies in those counties receiving the same
grant award as last year. The GIVE initiative is administered by the Division
of Criminal Justice Services. Its funding cycle begins July 1, 2016, and ends June
30, 2017. Those 20 police departments and their county law enforcement partners
– district attorneys' offices, probation departments and sheriffs' offices –
receive funding.
Click here
for the complete report.
Source: Press Office, Governor
Andrew M. Cuomo
NATO Operations: Remarks by the Secretary General
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg talked about challenges facing NATO
operations and previewed its upcoming summit in Warsaw, Poland. He said
many European allies were not investing enough in defense. Karen DeYoung
moderated a discussion with Mr. Stoltenberg following his speech.
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
Articles of Impeachment Against Alabama Governor Robert Bentley
Montgomery Advertiser State Government Reporter Brian Lyman joins
by phone to discuss the articles of impeachment filed in the state
legislature against Governor Robert Bentley (R-AL) over his romantic
relationship with a former staffer.
Click here for video.
Source: C-SPAN
Stanford Students Want Western Civilization Studies Back as the PC Backlash Begins
By Lizzie Crocker
Stanford students are voting on a plan to reinstate the controversial Western Civilization curriculum more than 25 years after Jesse Jackson helped kill it.
In 1988, the Rev. Jesse Jackson—then a contender for the Democratic Presidential nomination—joined students at Stanford in chanting, “Hey, hey, ho, ho Western Civ has got to go!”
With that spectacle, the university promptly dropped required courses in Western Civilization. Fifteen texts—a “core list” that included Plato, Voltaire, St. Augustine, and Marx and Engels—were replaced by a more diverse canon.
It was the beginning of a wave of protests against Western culture on college campuses in the 1990s that, today, has seen a resurgence in the form of trigger warnings on syllabi, safe spaces, and policed speech.
Can Cleveland Police Handle Volatile Republican Convention?
This article was published in partnership with The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization that covers the U.S. criminal justice system.
When the Republican National Convention storms
into Cleveland in July, the security challenges will be formidable, but
not just because the GOP is in turmoil.
The Cleveland Division of Police — which will
oversee the 1,500 cops on its roster and as many as 3,500 more borrowed
from elsewhere — is confronting its own serious internal disorder. It
will be the first police agency to take on a presidential nominating
convention while operating under federal oversight.
Whether that fact turns out to be a historical
footnote or something more troubling depends on a number of factors,
from the temperament of the crowds to the volatility of the convention
itself to the ability of Cleveland's commanders to rein in a department
that has been deemed seriously flawed for the way its officers use
force.
A two-decade-old federal law gives the U.S.
Justice Department authority to sue local law enforcement agencies that
refuse to reform. Seventeen consent decrees — the strictest form of
federal oversight — have been issued since 1997.
Click here for the full article.
Source: NBC News