And
Finally:
For those interested in upcoming Senate elections: Six Months Out: The 10 Most Vulnerable Senators in 2018. https://tiny.iavian.net/mvyi
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McCain refuses to go out gracefully. In his waning days a lot of bile is coming out of him. He never was an elegant Senator. https://tiny.iavian.net/mvux
And:
Are matters about to get BIBLICAL' Shock warning as Iran and Israel head for WAR. https://tiny.iavian.net/mvzi
Anything is possible and I have been writing war was only a matter of time and perhaps that time is now. The question is whether there are cooler heads in control in Iran and I seriously doubt it and I also doubt Iran is ready and/or understands the punishing they will receive if they miscalculate Israel's ability and Netanyahu's determination.
Bibi will not allow his life/career to be defined by Israel's extermination. He has no personal animus towards Iranians but he will do what he has to to defend his people and nation.
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Kim continues to pursue the FBI and Rosenstein like a hound dog. (See 1 below.)
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Aphorisms can be clever. I believe these are:
skydiving is not for you.
To produce reproductive organs.
At least we're not Mississippi
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MATCH FOR NATURAL STUPIDITY.
This from a very dear and long time friend and fellow memo reader. I totally concur.
Everything he cites, most Democrats, liberals, far lefties and progressives oppose. (see 2 below.)
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This from one of the finest security analyst I ever had the pleasure to work with.a friend of long standing and a fellow memo reader. I seriously doubt whether anti-Trump advocates will comprehend what this author has written. (See 3 below.)
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Dick
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1) About That FBI ‘Source’
Did the bureau engage in outright spying against the 2016 Trump campaign?
By Kimberley A. Strassel
The Department of Justice lost its latest battle with Congress Thursday when it agreed to brief House Intelligence Committee members about a top-secret intelligence source that was part of the FBI’s investigation of the Trump campaign. Even without official confirmation of that source’s name, the news so far holds some stunning implications.
Among them is that the Justice Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation outright hid critical information from a congressional investigation. In a Thursday press conference, Speaker Paul Ryan bluntly noted that Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes’s request for details on this secret source was “wholly appropriate,” “completely within the scope” of the committee’s long-running FBI investigation, and “something that probably should have been answered a while ago.” Translation: The department knew full well it should have turned this material over to congressional investigators last year, but instead deliberately concealed it.
House investigators nonetheless sniffed out a name, and Mr. Nunes in recent weeks issued a letter and a subpoena demanding more details. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein’s response was to double down—accusing the House of “extortion” and delivering a speech in which he claimed that “declining to open the FBI’s files to review” is a constitutional “duty.” Justice asked the White House to back its stonewall. And it even began spinning that daddy of all superspook arguments—that revealing any detail about this particular asset could result in “loss of human lives.”
This is desperation, and it strongly suggests that whatever is in these files is going to prove very uncomfortable to the FBI.
The bureau already has some explaining to do. Thanks to the Washington Post’s unnamed law-enforcement leakers, we know Mr. Nunes’s request deals with a “top secret intelligence source” of the FBI and CIA, who is a U.S. citizen and who was involved in the Russia collusion probe. When government agencies refer to sources, they mean people who appear to be average citizens but use their profession or contacts to spy for the agency. Ergo, we might take this to mean that the FBI secretly had a person on the payroll who used his or her non-FBI credentials to interact in some capacity with the Trump campaign.
This would amount to spying, and it is hugely disconcerting. It would also be a major escalation from the electronic surveillance we already knew about, which was bad enough. Obama political appointees rampantly “unmasked” Trump campaign officials to monitor their conversations, while the FBI played dirty with its surveillance warrant against Carter Page, failing to tell the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that its supporting information came from the Hillary Clinton campaign. Now we find it may have also been rolling out human intelligence, John Le Carré style, to infiltrate the Trump campaign.
Which would lead to another big question for the FBI: When? The bureau has been doggedly sticking with its story that a tip in July 2016 about the drunken ramblings of George Papadopoulos launched its counterintelligence probe. Still, the players in this affair—the FBI, former Director Jim Comey, the Steele dossier authors—have been suspiciously vague on the key moments leading up to that launch date. When precisely was the Steele dossier delivered to the FBI? When precisely did the Papadopoulos information come in?
And to the point, when precisely was this human source operating? Because if it was prior to that infamous Papadopoulos tip, then the FBI isn’t being straight. It would mean the bureau was spying on the Trump campaign prior to that moment. And that in turn would mean that the FBI had been spurred to act on the basis of something other than a junior campaign aide’s loose lips.
We also know that among the Justice Department’s stated reasons for not complying with the Nunes subpoena was its worry that to do so might damage international relationships. This suggests the “source” may be overseas, have ties to foreign intelligence, or both. That’s notable, given the highly suspicious role foreigners have played in this escapade. It was an Australian diplomat who reported the Papadopoulos conversation. Dossier author Christopher Steele is British, used to work for MI6, and retains ties to that spy agency as well as to a network of former spooks. It was a former British diplomat who tipped off Sen. John McCain to the dossier. How this “top secret” source fits into this puzzle could matter deeply.
I believe I know the name of the informant, but my intelligence sources did not provide it to me and refuse to confirm it. It would therefore be irresponsible to publish it. But what is clear is that we’ve barely scratched the surface of the FBI’s 2016 behavior, and the country will never get the straight story until President Trump moves to declassify everything possible. It’s time to rip off the Band-Aid.
Correction
The FBI briefed House Intelligence Committee members about a top-secret intelligence source but did not allow them to see documents. An earlier version of this article misstated this.
The FBI briefed House Intelligence Committee members about a top-secret intelligence source but did not allow them to see documents. An earlier version of this article misstated this.
I like the list of 13 things that I, as a senior American citizen, want. Trump is at least talking about issues that most Americans are concerned about. My mantra about Trump is this: Truthfully, We are usually in agreement with most of what he says but wish someone else was saying it. We are offended by his brash manner. We are getting older and our tickers aren't what they used to be, but what matters is that he covers most of the 13 things we as seniors want, at least I do for sure.
1. Hillary: held accountable for her previous wrongs!
2. Put "GOD" back in America!
3. Borders: Closed or tightly guarded!
4. Congress: On the same retirement & healthcare plans as everybody else.
5. Congress: Obey its own laws NOW!
6. Language: English only!
7. Culture: Constitution and the Bill of Rights!
8. Drug-Free: Mandatory Drug Screening before & during Welfare!
9. Freebies: NONE to Non-Citizens!
10. Budget: Balance the damn thing!
11. Foreign Countries: Stop giving them our money! Charge them for our help! We need it here.
12. Term limits for congress
And most of all.
13. "RESPECT OUR MILITARY AND OUR FLAG!"
We the people are coming!
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3)Trump Rolls On
3)Trump Rolls On
OK. Are there any other world leaders out there? If so, they shouldn't bother coming to work. Take a holiday. Enjoy the coming summer in the northern hemisphere and the coming winter in the south. Just go home. Relax. Trump's got ya covered.
He does it, yet again.
He has killed the Iran nuclear "deal."
Trump knows how to do foreign policy. We've had to put up with decades of condescending lectures from the traditional foreign policy "elites" on how difficult foreign policy is, how it's just more complex than YOU could ever understand, don't try it at home, leave it to the experts. It seems that our President is following in the foot-steps of Ronald Reagan and even blazing a few paths of his own when it comes to foreign policy. Amazing how a clear articulation and demonstration of strength and a refusal to accept the standard bromides produces different results. What's that definition of crazy? Shall we say, President Trump is destroying the world order in order to save the world? Sounds good.
The mullahs in Teheran, the murderers in ISIS, Pyongyang and Damascus, as well as the virtue-signaling, pearl-clutching bien pensants in Hollywood, media, academe, and all the capitals of the Far Abroad, now know they're dealing with a different sort of U.S. President. Thank the Lord this President has followed the Diplomad's long-standing foreign policy dictum, "Do not listen to the Europeans,"
The "deal" with Teheran was a classic convoluted mess so favored by the Euros and their admirers such as John Kerry. I have written a great deal about that "deal" (here, here, here, and here, for example, and there's lots more). Don't want to repeat all I have said before except to restate that this was a classic con job. Of course, the Iranians and the Europeans are upset over President Trump's bold announcement that we are walking away from this "deal." As I have noted before, the deal guaranteed Iran's acquiring a nuclear weapon, and in the meanwhile mostly European and Russian companies could make a lot of money off the Iranian regime whose bank accounts became flush with billions of dollars and euros magnificently and magnanimously provided by the Obama misadministration in the dead of night.
I conducted my own highly "scientific" poll. Yesterday, I was at my local gun store, doing a little shopping in the wake of having received my concealed carry permit. Four "customers" were siting on chairs in the back of the little semi-rural gun store ("Green Acres"!) when the president came on the TV to announce the end of the Iran deal. All four broke into spontaneous applause, with one elderly gent wearing a Korean War Vet cap, telling his wife, "The President has done a great thing!" There the science is settled, and now . . .
Let the fainting begin!
We are hearing cries of outrage from Obama, Kerry, and Clinton, of course, who see their "legacy" coming apart. The Iranians are running to Russia and Europe trying to save a vestige of the deal to make sure the goodies keep flowing. Kerry, of course, is repeating his anti-American antics of decades ago: just as he did with the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong delegations in Paris during the Vietnam War peace talks, he has been running around in Europe trying to strike some sort of "deal" with Iran to undermine the US president. Kerry does treason quite well.
Among the many curious things being said is that Trump's walking away from this deal, imperils the ability to reach a deal with North Korea. Well, yes, it does imperil the ability to reach a deal like the one with Iran, but that's what we don't want! While the fainters fainted, newly minted Sec. State Pompeo flew into Pyongyang to set up the forthcoming meeting between Kim and Trump, and flew out bringing home three American hostages. Sounds like Kim is more than willing to deal, and Trump has his measure of the man.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy is opening in Jerusalem, and the pearl-clutchers can't believe that the world has not come to an end, yet again. The Saudis and other Arabs are making friendly noises towards Israel, and, clearly seeking Israeli support against Iran, and have supported Trump's move on the deal. They know from whence the threat comes, and it's not fromTel Aviv Jerusalem. The mullahs are right to be in panic mode.
I can't wait for President Trump to turn his full attention to the threat on our southern border and put an end to Mexican interference in our politics.
Roll on!
He does it, yet again.
He has killed the Iran nuclear "deal."
Trump knows how to do foreign policy. We've had to put up with decades of condescending lectures from the traditional foreign policy "elites" on how difficult foreign policy is, how it's just more complex than YOU could ever understand, don't try it at home, leave it to the experts. It seems that our President is following in the foot-steps of Ronald Reagan and even blazing a few paths of his own when it comes to foreign policy. Amazing how a clear articulation and demonstration of strength and a refusal to accept the standard bromides produces different results. What's that definition of crazy? Shall we say, President Trump is destroying the world order in order to save the world? Sounds good.
The mullahs in Teheran, the murderers in ISIS, Pyongyang and Damascus, as well as the virtue-signaling, pearl-clutching bien pensants in Hollywood, media, academe, and all the capitals of the Far Abroad, now know they're dealing with a different sort of U.S. President. Thank the Lord this President has followed the Diplomad's long-standing foreign policy dictum, "Do not listen to the Europeans,"
[T]he surest way to lose American lives and treasure is to listen to the Europeans. Europe has not gotten anything right on the world stage since, well, since . . . well, since at least the French Revolution.Let's not forget that since the USA became a significant player, the principal aim of European leaders has been to embroil the USA in Europe's wars, have the USA fix the messes caused by European leaders, but have the USA take instructions from Europe's leaders. Even Churchill, whom I admire immensely, was not immune; he desperately wanted the mighty US in WWII, but wanted to dictate the how and the where of the application of US power. We, of course, previously had seen the same thing in WWI, where the geniuses in the European high commands needed US troops in Europe to halt a resurgent Germany after the exit of Russia from the war, but did not want an independent US force. Vietnam and Libya were also two messes in which we became involved to bail out Europe. Let us also not forget that the long years of the Cold War involved the US footing the bulk of the bill for defense, allowing Europe to maintain Lego-town militaries and spend their wealth building cradle-to-grave social welfare systems, which relied on the despised US military for protection. It goes on and on . . uh, well, not any longer. Just as Reagan did before in rejecting European advice on how to handle the USSR, it seems that Trump has a very clear home-grown idea of how to do things in the interest of the United States. About time.
The "deal" with Teheran was a classic convoluted mess so favored by the Euros and their admirers such as John Kerry. I have written a great deal about that "deal" (here, here, here, and here, for example, and there's lots more). Don't want to repeat all I have said before except to restate that this was a classic con job. Of course, the Iranians and the Europeans are upset over President Trump's bold announcement that we are walking away from this "deal." As I have noted before, the deal guaranteed Iran's acquiring a nuclear weapon, and in the meanwhile mostly European and Russian companies could make a lot of money off the Iranian regime whose bank accounts became flush with billions of dollars and euros magnificently and magnanimously provided by the Obama misadministration in the dead of night.
I conducted my own highly "scientific" poll. Yesterday, I was at my local gun store, doing a little shopping in the wake of having received my concealed carry permit. Four "customers" were siting on chairs in the back of the little semi-rural gun store ("Green Acres"!) when the president came on the TV to announce the end of the Iran deal. All four broke into spontaneous applause, with one elderly gent wearing a Korean War Vet cap, telling his wife, "The President has done a great thing!" There the science is settled, and now . . .
Let the fainting begin!
We are hearing cries of outrage from Obama, Kerry, and Clinton, of course, who see their "legacy" coming apart. The Iranians are running to Russia and Europe trying to save a vestige of the deal to make sure the goodies keep flowing. Kerry, of course, is repeating his anti-American antics of decades ago: just as he did with the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong delegations in Paris during the Vietnam War peace talks, he has been running around in Europe trying to strike some sort of "deal" with Iran to undermine the US president. Kerry does treason quite well.
Among the many curious things being said is that Trump's walking away from this deal, imperils the ability to reach a deal with North Korea. Well, yes, it does imperil the ability to reach a deal like the one with Iran, but that's what we don't want! While the fainters fainted, newly minted Sec. State Pompeo flew into Pyongyang to set up the forthcoming meeting between Kim and Trump, and flew out bringing home three American hostages. Sounds like Kim is more than willing to deal, and Trump has his measure of the man.
Meanwhile, the US Embassy is opening in Jerusalem, and the pearl-clutchers can't believe that the world has not come to an end, yet again. The Saudis and other Arabs are making friendly noises towards Israel, and, clearly seeking Israeli support against Iran, and have supported Trump's move on the deal. They know from whence the threat comes, and it's not from
I can't wait for President Trump to turn his full attention to the threat on our southern border and put an end to Mexican interference in our politics.
Roll on!
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