Elerond

Veto power over new federal laws is quite significant power, although Germany's presidents usually use it only to prevent laws that they think are in violation of constitution and it has been only used eight times total by all the presidents I think.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-hotel-received-270-000-from-lobbying-campaign-tied-to-saudis-1496700739 President Donald Trump’s Washington hotel received roughly $270,000 in payments linked to Saudi Arabia as part of a lobbying campaign by the Gulf kingdom against a controversial piece of terrorism legislation last year. The payments—for catering, lodging and parking—were disclosed by the public relations firm MSLGroup last week in paperwork filed with the Justice Department documenting foreign lobbying work on behalf of Saudi Arabia and other clients. As part of a lobbying effort against the bipartisan Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act, or JASTA, Saudi Arabia’s Washington lobbyists and consultants spent approximately $190,000 on lodging, $78,000 on catering, and $1,600 on parking at the Trump International Hotel. The Daily Caller website first reported on the payments. Mr. Trump last month made Saudi Arabia the first stop of his first international trip as president, and described the country as a key ally in the war on terror and an important partner in bringing peace and stability to the Middle East. Saudi Arabia has been lobbying against JASTA, a law that was passed by Congress over former President Barack Obama’s veto. It allowed Americans to sue foreign governments over terrorists attacks. The payments to the Trump Hotel were made by one of MSLGroup’s subcontractors and reimbursed by the Saudi government, according to Michael Petruzzello, an MSLGroup executive. They were part of a lobbying campaign bringing American military veterans to Capitol Hill to advocate against JASTA, he said. All the hotel spending took place between Nov. 2016 and Feb. 2017, according to Mr. Petruzzello. Most of the payments to the hotel were made before Mr. Trump was officially sworn in as president, but some were in late January and early February—after Mr. Trump became president. Survivors and families of victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have been pushing for the law so that a lawsuit can proceed against Saudi Arabia for any alleged role in the attacks. The kingdom has denied any involvement and U.S. officials have backed that position. Ethics officials have raised questions about foreign government payments to the Trump Organization. Watchdog groups say the Trump Organization’s business with foreign entities, in particular governments that book rooms or events or other business at the Trump International Hotel near the White House, risks violating a constitutional provision that bars federal officers from accepting payments or gifts from foreign countries without Congress’s consent.

Ares

Wonder Woman was good, it gives hope that DC is finally realizing what makes good super hero movie, although they again have massive CGI final battle so minus points from that.

Technically he united EU leaders to think that USA is hostile state That's great. Anyone that is hostile towards the IV Reich is a good guy. It's good to hear that Isis and other rapists, child killing murders are now good guys

Technically he united EU leaders to think that USA is hostile state

I must say that I disagree in funding part, as in my opinion publicly funded TV can excellent competition to commercial channels if its is managed and supervised independently from the government. Of course there is constant risk of government influencing how it operates, which is the reason for independent supervision. Like for example how CEO of our national broadcasting company had to resign, because he first intervene how said company's newsroom write about our prime minister and then said that he don't need to listen the supervising body that checks that they follow ethical journalistic code. PS. I find it bit surprising that PBS has smaller operational budget than our national broadcasting company.

yeah, the problem is, why are we even there in the first place? In past 15 years it has mostly been to fight terrorism, which ironically has increased amount of terrorism and terrorists (at least most radical form which is the thing seen in the news). The only campaign against 'terrorist' was the Afghan one - and it had some ups and downs, but overall the propaganda target was achieved. Other campaigns led only to removal of safety barriers in the region... You forget that also Iraq war and Libya's intervention were partially justified with claims that Saddam and Gaddafi give support for terrorist and also in both of them propaganda target was achieved. Then there are constant drone strikes against possible terrorist targets. And now there are the fight against ISIS, strikes in Somalia, support operations in Nigeria, supporting Saudi Arabia's operations in Yemen and so on. And then there are home front hunt of terrorists and constant increase in security and ways to spot terrorist in internet and so on. Countries have spent trillions after trillions in fight against terrorism in only to claim that there is more terrorism in world than ever and even bigger need for new operations and new security measures.

yeah, the problem is, why are we even there in the first place? In past 15 years it has mostly been to fight terrorism, which ironically has increased amount of terrorism and terrorists (at least most radical form which is the thing seen in the news).

Efficiency is the wrong word, but rather quality and creative impulses. Still only seeing an assertion with no proof. I can not offer any personal story, but pretty much high marks music, art and litterature (Milton's Paradise Lost, The Beatles, Van Gogh, Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, T.S. Elliot, etc) were made during times when the artists were depressed or suffered. Anti-depressants as such alleviates such strong emotions required for a work of artist to be as visceral as it is. It doesn't shut the door to the dark inner world, but it muddles it's meaning to something grey not worth allocating to an idea. That being said, it works wonders on people who need it to be able to work everyday work. Artists stories are often big part of their work, which is why those artists that are known by everybody often have quite colorful lives. But also suffering is relative, like for example Van Gogh, one could argue that he was artist suffering from mental illness that drive him to self destruction and self harm who sold only one painting during his life. But he was also man who didn't actually earn a cent during his life and was still able to travel around Europe, go to brothels, bars, and so on regularly, because his life was paid by others who for various reasons supported his hippy life style. And there is also artists like Picasso, who found their greatness and thing that marks them in history books after they have gained fortune and good life. As Picasso become rich with good quality portraits other paintings, but he is remembered by painting style that he invented after he was already rich and respected artist. And there are artist like Tolkien whose path to world fame was in middle of suffering and good life. Tolkien fought in WWI, which is the suffering part, but then he was respected English professor with steady income that let him to write books that he wanted to write.

Quite lot Trump supporters seem to be quite generous and are willing to take even 700% increase in their premiums in order to give mainly Clinton voters cuts in their premiums.

Okay? Obamacare had failed and had to be voted on what like 54 times in under 4 years before it passed. Weren't those 54 votes by House of Representatives to repeal the Affordable Care Act either in full or in part.

Again, that's a blatant lie. The narrative was from the Fake News newspaper that Trump LEAKED a CLASSIFIED information he SHOULDN'T. The libtards claiming that US president shouldn't have contact with Russia are comical. The libtards claiming that intel shouldn't be shared with allies in a war are comical. The libtards claiming that AMBASSADOR is not a person who you inform when you want to pass intel to an ally are comical. But I guess that everything will fly as long as the outrage at the president doing what he should do would cover the fact that DNC killed a man because he leaked info on them to Wikileaks. HA! Good Fun! These are all false statements HA! Good Misleading

I would guess that it is because of these parts and that people don't know what was actually shared as it is highly classified. "The partner had not given the United States permission to share the material with Russia, and officials said that Trump’s decision to do so risks cooperation from an ally" "“This is code-word information,” said a U.S. official familiar with the matter, using terminology that refers to one of the highest classification levels used by American spy agencies. Trump “revealed more information to the Russian ambassador than we have shared with our own allies.”" Also it may play in that Russia is ally with Syrians (Syrian government) that USA and even Trump generally counts to be bad guys, so there is always question what intel you can give to state that fights against your agenda in the region that intel is about. But mainly I would suspect that fuss is about timing of and events themselves leading to this. In other words fuss is because of sum of things not because of singular thing.

Hard to say as it is classified in such extend that USA doesn't share it with their so called allies. As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining.... https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/864436162567471104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fyle.fi%2Fuutiset%2F3-9615503 ...to terrorism and airline flight safety. Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS & terrorism. https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/864438529472049152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fyle.fi%2Fuutiset%2F3-9615503

You don't necessary need to give much of details to compromise sensitive source. General details like type of action and general area in world may be enough in some cases as there isn't that many actors in that area of world with ability to give that type of intelligence. Because Russia and other players have their own intelligence gathering efforts that let them fulfill missing pieces fast when they get general direction where to look. So bragging, for example, about such intelligence actually tells that bragger most likely has not actually listened details abut intelligence briefings and isn't very detail oriented and up to date about things.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-revealed-highly-classified-information-to-russian-foreign-minister-and-ambassador/2017/05/15/530c172a-3960-11e7-9e48-c4f199710b69_story.html?utm_term=.b1e7bb6fb436 "President Trump revealed highly classified information to the Russian foreign minister and ambassador in a White House meeting last week, according to current and former U.S. officials, who said that Trump’s disclosures jeopardized a critical source of intelligence on the Islamic State. The information Trump relayed had been provided by a U.S. partner through an intelligence-sharing arrangement considered so sensitive that details have been withheld from allies and tightly restricted even within the U.S. government, officials said. The partner had not given the United States permission to share the material with Russia, and officials said that Trump’s decision to do so risks cooperation from an ally that has access to the inner workings of the Islamic State. After Trump’s meeting, senior White House officials took steps to contain the damage, placing calls to the CIA and National Security Agency. “This is code-word information,” said a U.S. official familiar with the matter, using terminology that refers to one of the highest classification levels used by American spy agencies. Trump “revealed more information to the Russian ambassador than we have shared with our own allies.”" Trump seems to go by old saying "keep friends away and enemies closer"

It didn't prevent Oirats getting defending Ming army's or did it prevent Mongol raiding parties looting settlements in Ming's empire, although after defeat for Oirats Ming dynasty build more heavily fortified wall in some areas, with lots of watch towers build all over it to give warnings about approaching raiding parties as Mongols continued to raid Ming settlements. Although when Manchu invasions that began in early 1600s, it let Ming troops held invasion forces reaching Chinese heartland. But efforts to held invasion forces demanded lots of troops which left capital city Beijing weak and which gave opportunity for rebel leader Li Zicheng and his troops to take control over it. This lead Ming general Wu Sangui to ally with Manchu forces and let them through in hopes that they take Beijing back from the rebels, which they did, but they then established their own ruling dynasty Qing, which lead to Chinese expansion beyond the wall and annexation of Mongolia. And the Great Wall was discontinued, although then Qing empire build their own wall Willow Palisade, which was not meant for defense but for migration control, in sense that Qing dynasty tried to prevent Han Chinese settling in Manchu and Mongol lands and in no man lands in near Korean border. Their palisades system failed to prevent Han migration and official constantly lamented how system don't prevent illegal migrants and eventually whole palisade system become just tax collection system (people that passed through the gates had to pay taxes) which was ended in 1920.

so, squandering billions of dollars on an ineffectual wall is ok? unforgiving terrain, rivers and private property make a secure border near impossible China probably didn't get the memo Great Wall of China is great example of putting lots of resources in ineffectual wall that failed to make their borders safe.

Watching old news clips about Bill Clinton firing William Sessions, gives indication that was much better orchestrated firing and reason that was given didn't go against what Clinton had in past said about Sessions. Also Clinton was more popular when he did his move than Trump has ever been. Meaning that it shows that Clinton was much better in political games than Trump and he was quite successful in putting Sessions in bad light and himself in good light. http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/president-clinton-fired-fbi-director-william-sessions-july/story?id=47323746

Evidence? Are her own promises enough evidence? http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/224564/marine-le-pen-wants-to-ban-french-jews-from-wearing-yarmulkes-and-having-dual-israeli-citizenship French presidential hopeful Marine Le Pen said that she would bar dual citizenship with non-European Union countries if elected. Earlier this week, the far-right leader reiterated her longstanding support for banning the wearing of yarmulkes in public spaces, as part of an overall ban on religious (mostly Muslim) attire. “The struggle against radical Islam should be a joint struggle and everyone should say, ‘there, we are sacrificing something,’” she told Israel’s Channel 2. “Maybe they [Jews] will do with just wearing a hat [instead of a yarmulke], but it would be a step in the effort to stamp out radical Islam in France.” Conveniently, Le Pen has never called to ban wearing crosses in public, having previously claimed that “the Catholic religion doesn’t have conspicuous symbols.” https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/87177/marine-le-pens-muslim-slaughter-ban-targets-kosher-meat/ While campaigning at a meat market near Paris, Marine Le Pen, the right-wing candidate in the ongoing French presidential elections, announced that, if elected, she would ban ritual slaughtering of animals. This announcement caused even more concern about the presidential candidate, whose anti-Muslim platform will also harm Jews. Read more at https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/87177/marine-le-pens-muslim-slaughter-ban-targets-kosher-meat/#1Y54RPY5HlOZzp6f.99 In Le Pen's campaign promises https://www.marine2017.fr/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/projet-presidentiel-marine-le-pen.pdf "Buried midway through the lengthy document at number 87, Le Pen promises to create an “improved” form of civil unions in the country to “replace” the equal marriage law passed under the current Socialist government in 2013. It would be a return to the former status quo for France, which only permitted same-sex couples to enter a contractual form of civil union (PACS) from 1999 until 2013. As well as plans to tamper with equality laws, Le Pen also outlines plans to restrict fertility services, ending assistance for gay couples wanting to have children." http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/02/14/frances-marine-le-pen-quietly-pledges-to-end-same-sex-marriage/

"Let's not forget that the new French leader married the woman who had sex with him when he was a teenager. LMAO At least, rape vcitims cna be leaeers so that is good. He was able to overcome being a victim of sexual assault... and, he married the peretrator." Age of consent is 15 in France, so in eyes of French people there was nothing criminal in their relationship. Although that is logic that we also use to accept child marriages in Saudi Arabia and some other countries which we see as friendly nations.

"Why would I want nazis to have power.? The EU is an organization founded on bullying and intimidation." At least it isn't founded on genocide of nations like some nazi countries that are EU's allies .

Le Pen isn't nazi because she is pro French (like Macro), but because she wants to take rights away from some citizens of France because she don't like them.

I think you got it wrong, they are not thin skinned. It wasn't about the joke, it's about causing damage. The right is taking every move from the leftist handbook and subverting it, this is what the left has been getting away with for years and now you begin to complain. Besides, its not even the first time that someone tries to shut Colbert down, it just the first time that the right tries to. But when you do what you say is reason why you hate certain group of people, you actually become same as those you are complaining about. Which means that right has become left (and left has become right) It is new world order, where people don't seem to realize that they are upside down.