caulfield12

Donnelly's order does not appear to interfere with most of Trump's directive, since the judge only moved to protect a limited number of individuals who were already on or were about to board flights to the U.S. when Trump signed his measure. Now, such travelers will likely be blocked from boarding flights in the first place. The legal battle is now expected to move to a series of individual cases filed in New York, Chicago and elsewhere Saturday, where immigrants will be seeking to be released from detention to travel or settle in the U.S. ACLU National Immigration Law Center Southern Poverty Law Center Asian Law Caucus Georgia Latino Alliance for Human Rights MALDEF The Asian American Justice Center LatinoJustice PRLDEF NDLON

Cynical view: Trump/admin already envisioned the courts would overrule, but he could still claim to have followed through on his campaign promises, win/win for his base. Judge Ann Donnelly, 57 Donnelly received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1981 from the University of Michigan. She received a Juris Doctor in 1984 from the Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University. From 1984 to 2009, she was a prosecutor in the New York County District Attorney's Office. From 1997 to 2005, she served as Senior Trial Counsel and from 2005 to 2009, she served as Chief of the Family Violence and Child Abuse Bureau. From 2009 to 2015, she served as a Judge of the New York State Court of Claims. Concurrent to her service on the Claims Court, she has served on the Bronx County Supreme Court, a Special Term for Election Matters, the Kings County Supreme Court and served on the New York County Supreme Court.[1][2] On November 20, 2014, President Obama nominated Donnelly to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, to the seat vacated by Judge Sandra L. Townes, who took senior status on May 1, 2015.[3] https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Donnelly The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, aimed to end earlier quota systems that gave preference to immigrants from European nations. As David Bier of the libertarian Cato Institute argues, this law prevents immigrants from being discriminated against based upon “the person’s race, sex, nationality, place of birth or place of residence.” If Trump wants a ban on entry from these countries — even temporarily — he needs Congress to pass that law, Bier argues. Trump is relying upon a 1952 law that allows president to “suspend the entry” of “any class of aliens” if they disadvantage the United States. But Bier and other legal scholars believe the 1965 law supersedes that right. “The 1965 law is clear,” said legal scholar Erwin Chemerinsky, the dean of the law school at the University of California at Irvine. “The law prohibits discrimination based on national origin. This is discrimination based on national origin.” The ACLU is also considering crafting a new challenge arguing that the executive order violates the establishment clause of the Constitution, which prevents the government from favoring one religion over another.

http://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/th...flight-2901615/ I wish those same Republicans would look at everything that FDR went through to fight for a new world order back in 1943. Hamilton vividly describes how, in the midst of directing military strategy in the largest conflict in human history, Roosevelt always kept his eye on postwar planning. With Congress and the public still suspicious of American involvement, he juggled various plans and proposals to make sure that this time, unlike after World War I, America would help keep the peace. He needed Churchill’s and Stalin’s support, which is why he kept trekking around the globe to meet them at summits. (To understand the strain on FDR, keep in mind that Roosevelt’s trip to meet Churchill at Casablanca in 1943 entailed a long train ride to Miami, a 10-hour flight to Trinidad, a nine-hour flight to Brazil, a 19-hour flight to Gambia and finally another nine-hour flight to Casablanca. All this for a man who was paralyzed, had a failing heart and had not taken a plane ride since 1932.) We're not just undoing Obama in 9 days, we're undoing the pillars that were put in place in 1943/44 to create an interconnected world of alliances which would bring about 71 years of lasting peace and expanding world incomes. https://fareedzakaria.com/2017/01/27/fdr-st...ming-to-an-end/ FDR started the long peace, under Trump it might be coming to an end In an essay in the New York Review of Books, Jessica T. Mathews points out that since 1945, Americans of both political parties have accepted three principles. First, that America’s security is enhanced by its broad and deep alliances around the world. Second, that an open global economy is not a zero-sum game but rather allows the United States to prosper and others to grow. And finally, though there was debate about whether dictatorships were to be “tolerated, managed, or confronted,” in the end there was a faith in democracy and its advantages. Mathews notes that for 30 years, Trump has attacked these views as costly naivete that has allowed the world to rip off America.

Dent in Pennslvania is the ONLY one to be really outspoken so far in the entire GOP Congress... https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/28/us/polit...p-news&_r=0 Ban likely to increase terrorist threat, not reduce it Can't wait to see the spin going on during Sunday morning political news shows...

In 1980, Ronald Reagan proposed an open border with Mexico. Let’s add this to some other Reagan quotes that illustrate my point very well, shall we? “I supported this bill. I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and who have lived here even though sometime back they may have entered illegally.” Oct. 21, 1984 debate on immigration bill being considered by Congress “We have consistently supported a legalization program which is both generous to the alien and fair to the countless thousands of people throughout the world who seek legally to come to America. The legalization provisions in this act will go far to improve the lives of a class of individuals who now must hide in the shadows, without access to many of the benefits of a free and open society. Very soon many of these men and women will be able to step into the sunlight and, ultimately, if they choose, they may become Americans.” Nov. 6, 1986 signing statement, Immigration Reform and Control Act http://samuel-warde.com/2014/11/ronald-reagan-open-border/ Reagans calls for an open border and for undocumented/illegal immigrants to all get work permits Just a handful of GOPers come out against the ban, no senators speak out, Ryan reverses himself https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/pa...m=.5267ea704729 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix...pm_politics_pop

Whereas Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and UAE do...And here we thought the GOP was against lawyers/lawsuits? Trump has certainly enriched the legal community on the last 9 days already, bigly! https://www.yahoo.com/news/bill-maher-says-...-163338484.html Bill Maher blames Dem losses on PC culture, apologizing for everyone and everything... https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-bans-refugees...-204455380.html Alarms remain over homegrown extremists (but that's okay, they're just angry white males venting about the government) So we are supported by the Czech Republic, where reporters intentionally trip fleeing immigrants (https://scallywagandvagabond.com/2015/09/petra-laszlo-hungary-reporter-trips-fleeing-syrian-refugees/) and blonde models like his ex-wife Ivana abound...and Russia, which is now passing a law to protect men from domestic violence accusations except when there is overwhelming physical evidence. Amazing.

CNN's headline right now is "Shockwaves" about the immigration ban andcreaction around the world...an America that doesn't lead is scaring the hell out of everyone. http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/28/politics/don...tion/index.html Ayoub said his group has already fielded calls from people around the world impacted by Trump's executive order, including from students and legal US residents who are citizens of the seven countries banned by Trump and are now stuck overseas. He said his organization fielded a call from a student who was blocked in Turkey from traveling to the US and cannot return to her studies in the US as well as other students on international trips who now cannot return to the US. Ayoub said the executive order "is causing a really destructive impact on the Arab and Muslim community and on the Iranian community in the US." ... The International Rescue Committee, a humanitarian aid and refugee assistance group, called Trump's decision to suspend refugee admissions "harmful and hasty" and noted that the US refugee program "makes it harder to get to the United States as a refugee than any other route." Refugees must undergo an extensive vetting process -- it typically takes more than two years to be admitted to the US as a refugee. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldvi...m=.3222b8772960 Nobel Prize winner Malala "heartbroken" Trump closing the door on children fleeing violence.... Many foreign leaders said they were aghast over the new US policy. Iran answered in kind by saying it would ban Americans from entering the country, calling Trump's action insulting. But the US leader did get backing from Czech President Milos Zeman, who praised him for being "concerned with the safety of his citizens."

What better way to kick off the day when you still have to prepare to talk to Abe, Merkel, Putin, Hollande, Turnbull... 3h3 hours ago Donald J. Trump ‏@realDonaldTrump ...dwindling subscribers and readers.They got me wrong right from the beginning and still have not changed course, and never will. DISHONEST 7,014 40.5K Donald J. Trump 3h3 hours ago Donald J. Trump ‏@realDonaldTrump Thr coverage about me in the @nytimes and the @washingtonpost gas been so false and angry that the times actually apologized to its..... 6,172 31.2K Donald J. Trump 3h3 hours ago Donald J. Trump ‏@realDonaldTrump The failing @nytimes has been wrong about me from the very beginning. Said I would lose the primaries, then the general election. FAKE NEWS!

http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/sena...ional-president Bernie Sanders calls Trump "a delusional president," starts mapping out grassroots strategy to fight back

Nikki Haley is "taking down names" (only for "for those who don't have the US' back) at the UN....seems she has been sent there to deliberately stir things up. New U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley in her first visit to the United Nations put U.S. allies on notice: "For those that don’t have our back, we’re taking names." After making made the remarks to reporters at U.N. headquarters in New York, the new U.S. envoy to the international organization did not take questions about what exactly she meant, saying only, "We will make points to respond to that accordingly." "This is a time of strength, this is a time of action, this is a time of getting things done," Haley added. Her remarks came three days after her nomination to represent the U.S. at the United Nations was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and two days after her visit to President Donald Trump at the White House. A senior administration official confirmed to ABC News earlier this week that the president is considering executive action that could cut U.S. funding to the United Nations as well as U.S. participation in international treaties. Trump Considering Executive Actions Targeting UN, International Treaties "This administration is prepared and ready to go in, to have me go in, look at the U.N., and everything that’s working we’re going to make it better. Everything that’s not working, we’re going to try and fix. And anything that seems to be obsolete and not necessary, we’re going to do away with," Haley said today. "But this is a time of fresh eyes, new strength, new vision, and a great day at the US UN." https://gma.yahoo.com/us-envoy-puts-un-alli...topstories.html Cory Booker goes after Trump, wonders why the media is treating him with "kid gloves" https://www.yahoo.com/news/cory-booker-call...-154037623.html

Just saw him as a priest/confessor in "Jackie" w/ Natalie Portman.

QUOTE (raBBit @ Jan 26, 2017 -> 04:38 PM) I totally agree with you on the bolded in the first post and that's really all you had to say and I am with you. Congress and bipartisanship is a broken system. I certainly don't act like the President can control the economy or all legislation. It goes without saying that it's incredibly hard for a president to get things done when you have congress split and battling with each other. The bolded in the second post basically is expressing the same idea but it's just unnecessary. Congress is a flawed system as you depicted in your first post. You have two opposing forces that disagree. Simple as that. I don't see the need to add that one is "insane." To say Congress is inept suffices but when you call a group ~250 people insane because they don't agree with your side of the aisle then your argument loses some of its validity. It takes two to fight. They'll fight until this democracy crumbles but it's not a matter of whether you support the left or right, they're both penetrated by special interests. They're both running on corporate money. They both have very little concern for the American people. It's a business and they're all complicit whether they're on your team on or not. To act as if one is superior to the other just emboldens this bastardized form of democracy we call our government. The rest not directed at bmags but just my opinion. Where I take issue with Pres. Obama is on things that aren't big public spectacles. Pres Obama running on the idea that he is a constitutional lawyer and all for freedom of information and then acting the way he did in office was a total deviation from what he sold himself as and a complete departure for what is good for the individual Americans. His expansion of the drone program and the murdering of all the civilians in the Middle East was a total deviation from the centrist, dove he purported himself to be. Then his administration had the gall to not even acknowledge the word drone for years while they're using cell phone data to blow up Yemeni's who may or may not be militants. That's not of public interest. That's not of Congressional importance. That's on him and his administration. Nobody on this site had their arms up in air or agreed with me when I brought it up in the past. I thought the left was suppose to be anti-war? I'll be interested to see the reactions if/when Trump (and he likely will) levies the same powers. But to the point that nobody talks about the big things once they're done - Nobody is talking about the loss of rights for Americans or the expansion of power. Nobody was talking about his use of the Executive order. His actions as President went beyond what the position was supposed to entail. He created precedent and brought a wider range of powers to the executive branch. That's a problem. All of these changes are available for Trump to exploit and the people who weren't even acknowledging it during Pres. Obama's administration are going to have a big problem when Trump flexes the newly afforded powers. Frankly, no one knows what Trump is actually capable of, but from a legal standpoint, Trump's capabilities as President are more diverse than any President before him because of changes and precedent brought on by the Obama Administration. That's not a bipartisan issue, that's an American issue. Here's the problem, nobody can ever know with 100% certainty what is good for Americans...whether it's Guantanomo Bay, The Patriot Act, enhanced interrogations/renditions or drone strikes. To say it's not of public interest is like the current administration arguing that Trump's taxes aren't important to anyone...we just don't or can't know, until we do know. Have you ever watched the movie Eye in the Sky? It's a pretty darned realistic case study in how these decisions get made. It's not indiscriminate carpet bombing wiping out thousands of civilians like the Vietnam War. Mistakes always are going to happen...but they have to be looked at in context. The intelligence mistake or overreading/political spin over Iraq lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths and an even more spilintered region now than 15 years ago. The fact of the matter is that NOBODY in the US had the appetite for another foreign war...and precision drone strikes against ISIS or Afganistan/Taliban or Syria or wherever prevents the lives of American servicemen being lost. Isn't that in our best interests? If the Obama admin always fell back to negotiations, sanctions and diplomacy...it would be accused of being weak and lacking the cojones to strike back against America's enemies, yes? This charge has been thrown at every Democratic admin since FDR/Truman, that Dems were somehow weak or soft. So how should we have eliminated those threats against America without putting boots on the ground, using subcontractors, negotiations/sanctions, CIA black ops, etc.??? As far as Yemenis not being relevant, are Syria, Paris, Belgium, Nice, Charlie Hebdo...? They're all interconnected. During the Clinton Administration, there was no hunger (after the Black Hawk Down incident) to go into Somalia, Sudan, the terorist training grounds for what would later end up in the 9/11 attacks. Or to help the victims of genocide in the Rwandan Civil War. But morally, President Clinton said he was wrong and that we had a leadership responsibility to help those in suffering when we had the resources to do so. A drone strike in 1997 or 1998 could have saved the lives of 3,000+ New Yorkers. They had their chances...they missed bin Laden a couple of times but weren't willing to authorize a war on the ground in Africa to take him out. What about today? We can't just bury our heads in the sands and return to isolationism. Should we just completely abandon Europe and NATO to Russia? Allow China to set the rules for the world? Nobody knows. The point is we can never declare Yemenis unrelated to the bigger fight against terrorism...for the same reason that there's another bin Laden that we have turned our backs on and ignored somewhere in the world right now plotting against the US. Maybe history will say we're the heroes if we strike back in retaliation in a righteous way only after being attacked directly on American soil first, but it's never so black and white as to say wiretapping/drone strikes/suspending the writ of habeas corpus is always "bad" or not in the interests of protecting American families.

QUOTE (southside hitman @ Jan 27, 2017 -> 08:47 AM) He said he wraps his bat and can't get to stuff inside, which was concerning enough to drop his likely ceiling. Take that for what you will. If he has close to the top bat speed in the minors despite this...it's not so difficult to fix. A switch-hitter, Moncada has electric bat speed and is dangerous from both sides of the plate. He has made notable improvements in his second pro season, adding more loft to his swing and more patience to his approach.Moncada's home run percentage per at-bat has risen from 2.6 in 2015 to 3.7 (6.2 in Double-A) this year, while his walk percentage per plate appearance has increased from 11.6 to 14.6. Moncada's best pure tool is his speed, which is well above average and earns 70 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale from some evaluators. He knows how to use it on the basepaths, where he has the acumen to steal a lot of bases with a high success rate (86 percent in pro ball). Moncada has been slowed, however, since spraining his left ankle in early August, and he attempted only one steal in 11 games after his return. Few players can match Moncada's offensive potential. He projects as a .280 hitter with 20 homers and 40 steals in his prime. While Moncada won't deliver those numbers right away, he should be an upgrade over Shaw and Hill. Not really a bat speed issue here... The difference is all the difference. While Benintendi proved he was ready to play every day by recognizing the ways he was being pitched to and adapting accordingly, Moncada has looked lost as Padres pitchers have challenged him with curveballs, sliders and changeups. In Tuesday night's 5-1 victory, he struck out four times on 20 pitches, 11 of which were fastballs. That came after Monday's 2-1 loss, in which he whiffed three times on 18 pitches, only three fastballs. "They've thrown a lot of [off-speed pitches] and it's been throwing me off a little bit," Moncada said through interpreter Daveson Perez. "But I just have got to work on seeing them better and making contact. These weren't my first strikeouts, and they won't be my last. Just got to keep moving forward and know that the players that strike out are the players that are actually playing in the game."

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 27, 2017 -> 09:20 AM) LOL, it has to me moved because its either not going to happen or we are all going to be paying for it. Half of those idiots also believe that we get almost nothing from Mexico that we cant get get here. Except for a HUGE percentage of things like fruits and vegetables. But other than that.... The biggest import is cars, with the U.S. spending $74 billion in 2015 for the hundreds of thousands of Chevrolet and Ram trucks, as well as Volkswagens, Fords, Hondas, Nissans and other brands that are assembled in Mexican factories. But cars are far from the only product that U.S. importers bring in from Mexico. Other key categories include machinery, medical instruments, and mineral fuels.The country is also the U.S.' second-biggest provider of agricultural products, with imports amounting to $21 billion in 2015. "It is very troubling for world food and agricultural markets for Administration spokespersons to bandy about terms like a 20% tax on all imports from Mexico or other countries,'' Tom Stenzel, President and CEO of the United Fresh Produce Association said in a statement. "Consider the impact on American consumers of a 20% hike in the cost of foods such as bananas, mangoes and other products that we simply cannot grow in the United States. Consider also what other countries would do to block U.S. exports in retaliation. As the Administration looks to incentivize manufacturing jobs in the U.S., we urge President Trump to consider the unique nature of food and not place a new food tax on American consumers." Fresh vegetables purchased from Mexico totaled $4.8 billion in 2015, according to the office of the Trade Representative. Snack food imports totaled $1.7 billion, while wine and beer $2.7 billion and processed fruit and vegetables peaked at $1.4 billion two years ago Representative Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, said in a statement that a tariff would not only "disrupt Texas commerce with our most important trading partner, but it would raise consumer prices by 20% on many goods, like so much of the fresh produce upon which we rely at this time of year.''

Red Sox, Yankees, Dodgers and Cubs fanbases create lots of page views and advertising dollars...

QUOTE (KagakuOtoko @ Jan 27, 2017 -> 08:50 AM) Has a presidential transition been this clusterf*** esque before? Maybe after Lincoln's assasination? Andrew Johnson. Ford taking over for Nixon? Nixon becoming president after everything that happened in 1968? Nothing comes to mind. https://www.yahoo.com/tv/hannity-trump-snl-...-043007340.html Coming soon, Sean Hannity as press secretary...

QUOTE (SCCWS @ Jan 27, 2017 -> 08:46 AM) Just wondering how current is this listing. Benintendi had over 100 AB in Boston last year so he shouldn't be considered a prospect. Someone who gets called up and stays on MLB roster is not a prospect to me but maybe Zips uses a different criteria. 130+ AB's to lose rookie status.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 27, 2017 -> 07:14 AM) They're on there as some of the 2 dozen vacancies, but that's only part of the issue - they haven't bothered coming up with nominees for many of the other positions on that graphic, many of whom require Senate confirmation. So basically, right now the State department is leaderless, there's no one to make the basic day-to-day decisions that happen when you're doing things like dealing with trade and visitation from foreign leaders, and it's not the fault of the Senate. And Tillerson basically has zero experience in diplomacy, now w/ nobody to rely upon for advice and guidance.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 27, 2017 -> 08:25 AM) I'm really starting to warm up to the idea of a Quintana for Glasnow/Keller/Newman trade. If they were to include Craig as a 4th piece, I'd probably take the deal. Obviously I'm willing to wait things out a bit longer for a legit positional headliner, but the offer mentioned previously would be a ton of talent to pass up. Keller is really shooting up the charts and I'm a huge fan of Newman. I think if the Sox believe Glasnow really is an elite starting pitching prospect, I'm struggling to see how the trade deadline could ever result in that much more talent. I know at some point we need to address the positional side of things, but I think we can eventually do some prospect for prospect trades for bats. A great example would be the Cubs. They have several positional guys who are blocked for the foreseeable future and could definitely use a young, major league starter. Something built around Glasnow & Jimenez could work for both sides. And the great news is we'd pretty much be set up the middle if you believe in Anderson (SS), Newman (2B), Moncada (CF), & Collins ©. That would leave us with only corner spots to fill via free agency or by leveraging our pitching depth. Jimenez? Lopez? Maybe Lopez is no longer eligible because of the 44 IP, you need 50 to lose rookie status, but also there's a number of days on the active roster clause too for rookies. Would have to check.

QUOTE (Chicago White Sox @ Jan 27, 2017 -> 08:25 AM) I'm really starting to warm up to the idea of a Quintana for Glasnow/Keller/Newman trade. If they were to include Craig as a 4th piece, I'd probably take the deal. Obviously I'm willing to wait things out a bit longer for a legit positional headliner, but the offer mentioned previously would be a ton of talent to pass up. Keller is really shooting up the charts and I'm a huge fan of Newman. I think if the Sox believe Glasnow really is an elite starting pitching prospect, I'm struggling to see how the trade deadline could ever result in that much more talent. I know at some point we need to address the positional side of things, but I think we can eventually do some prospect for prospect trades for bats. A great example would be the Cubs. They have several positional guys who are blocked for the foreseeable future and could definitely use a young, major league starter. Something built around Glasnow & Jimenez could work for both sides. And the great news is we'd pretty much be set up the middle if you believe in Anderson (SS), Newman (2B), Moncada (CF), & Collins ©. That would leave us with only corner spots to fill via free agency or by leveraging our pitching depth. Jimenez? Lopez? Maybe Lopez is no longer eligible because of the 44 IP, you need 50 to lose rookie status, but also there's a number of days on the active roster clause too for rookies. Would have to check.

QUOTE (Y2JImmy0 @ Jan 27, 2017 -> 08:15 AM) Keith Law has Yoan Moncada at #17, Lucas Giolito at #13, and Michael Kopech as the best pitching prospect in the league at #7 overall. 20 at-bats in the majors (coming out of AA) with 12 k's moved him down that much? That's nuts.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jan 27, 2017 -> 07:17 AM) The last sentence is 100% true. But nobody in modern history has been able to treat the entire non-conservative or liberal media...and especially the majority of countries in the world as the enemy, and survive. Threatening, mocking, bullying and non-payment might work as a successful business negotiating tactic to get the best deal, but it won't work for long diplomatically. It's going to cause Europe to band together and unite...Mexico/Canada with Central and South America, the signatories to the TPP with China, etc. Especially if Russia and the US start cooperating, with India joining in all likelihood. It would put the UK and Japan in extremely difficult positions as well. https://www.yahoo.com/news/mayor-miami-dade...-021840090.html Individual cities (Miami, Dade County) are already beginning to heed immigration detention requests...and we are one step closer to vigilantes and civilian posses forming to "assist" the government, ala George Zimmerman. The stage is nearly set for the looming battle over California regarding sanctuary cities. Trump will send the National Guard there as well? But the determination to keep campaign promises is verging on an obsession inside the Trump White House. Those close to the President believe that despite the uproar in Washington, the actions are being well received. "If you are somebody sitting at home, you say, 'Wow, there's a lot going on here.' The media bubbles on the coast are not the people Trump is talking to," said a senior aide . "The people that Donald Trump is talking to are the thousands of counties that he won." But Trump isn't dispensing with the Washington game entirely. He spent considerable time with congressional leaders this week, a big departure from Obama, who once joked to journalists who criticized his reluctance to socialize with top Republicans: "Why don't you get a drink with Mitch McConnell?" Lindsey Graham 17h17 hours ago Lindsey Graham ‏@LindseyGrahamSC Simply put, any policy proposal which drives up costs of Corona, tequila, or margaritas is a big-time bad idea. Mucho Sad. (2) Lindsey Graham 17h17 hours ago Lindsey Graham ‏@LindseyGrahamSC Border security yes, tariffs no. Mexico is 3rd largest trading partner. Any tariff we can levy they can levy. Huge barrier to econ growth /1

Consider that while the ban would make exceptions for "religious minorities" fleeing religious persecution in their home countries, it expressly denies entry to Muslim refugees fleeing religious persecution from Muslim governments. In other words, a Druze fearing oppression in Syria would be allowed in the United States under Trump's proposed ban, but a Sunni facing slaughter would not. A Christian fleeing discrimination in Yemen would be given entry, but a Shia facing death and starvation would not. A Baha'i seeking refuge from Iran would be welcomed in America, but a moderate Muslim family such as mine fleeing Islamic fundamentalism would not. Trump has also argued that the restrictions would focus on countries whose migrants could pose a threat to Americans. But this, too, is a lie. If this act were meant to safeguard the homeland from citizens from terror-prone countries, then it would include (which it reportedly doesn't) a ban on citizens from Saudi Arabia -- a country whose citizens have killed more American civilians than every other banned country on Trump's list combined. Indeed, of the 19 terrorists who attacked us on 9/11, 15 were from Saudi Arabia, two were from the United Arab Emirates, one was from Egypt and one from Lebanon. Not a single one of these countries are on Trump's banned list, though, with the possible exception of Lebanon, Trump has business ties in all of them. All of this proves that this executive order is nothing more than a cynical cover for what Trump has repeatedly promised would be a complete ban on Muslims entering the United States (Muslims he doesn't make a profit from, that is), and the full-frontal assault on the civil rights of Muslim citizens in the United States. That is not fear-mongering; it is not an exaggeration. It is explicitly what Trump vowed to do as president when he discussed creating a database for all Muslims in the United States; when he threatened to send American citizens to the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; when he assembled the most rabidly anti-Muslim Cabinet in recent memory, including a national security adviser who believes "Islam is not a real religion, but a political ideology masked behind a religion"; when he reportedly gets his views and policies about Muslims from officially designated hate groups. Cnn.com

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 26, 2017 -> 09:51 PM) <!--quoteo(post=3477047:date=Jan 26, 2017 -> 12:26 PM:name=BigSqwert)-->QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jan 26, 2017 -> 12:26 PM) <!--quotec-->The train wreck continues. The State Department’s entire senior management team just resigned <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"> Are we talking about the four highly-experienced senior level staff forced out (resigned, but under threat)? Or this is something different?

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/26/business...yp=cur&_r=0 WASHINGTON — Just days after President Trump spoke of a “running war’’ with the media, his chief White House strategist, Stephen K. Bannon, ratcheted up the attacks, arguing that news organizations had been “humiliated” by the election outcome and repeatedly describing the media as “the opposition party” of the current administration. “The media should be embarrassed and humiliated and keep its mouth shut and just listen for a while,” Mr. Bannon said in an interview on Wednesday. “I want you to quote this,” Mr. Bannon added. “The media here is the opposition party. They don’t understand this country. They still do not understand why Donald Trump is the president of the United States.”