UPDATE: Although most of the exit polls were showing conservative candidate Guillermo Lasso winning in Ecuador’s presidential elections, Ecuador’s National Electoral Council has released preliminary figures giving his opponent, Lenín Moreno, 51.1% of the votes cast, and Lasso 48.9%, with 96.22% of the votes counted. Lasso is challenging the results and it is reported … [Read more...] about (Update) Today’s Ecuador Elections May Decide if Julian Assange Finally Gets to Go ‘Home’
Senators Vow Major Russia Scandal Probe As Trump Lies, Bobs & Weaves
(THIS IS AN UPDATE OF A PREVIOUS POST. IT INCLUDES SEVERAL NEW DEVELOPMENTS) We have come to expect rabid partisanship from Republicans, who have spent the last eight years trying to undermine one president and the last 10 weeks trying to prop up another. But partisanship does not begin to explain, let alone excuse, why these selfsame Republicans, who for decades portrayed … [Read more...] about Senators Vow Major Russia Scandal Probe As Trump Lies, Bobs & Weaves
Trump Is Supposed To Be President Of All The People. Then Why Is He So Scared Of Them?
President Trump's fear of the people he is supposed to be leading is pathetically obvious. Trump isn't just staying away from his beloved castle in the sky on Fifth Avenue in New York in dread of the immense protests that would bring his motorcade -- and much of Manhattan -- to a halt. With the exception of weekends at Mar-a-Lago, golf outings and trips to the comfy … [Read more...] about Trump Is Supposed To Be President Of All The People. Then Why Is He So Scared Of Them?
Trump and the bear in the woods
By E.J. DIONNE JR. WASHINGTON -- It is jarring to see pro-Trump conservatives indifferent or even hostile to investigations of Russian intervention in the 2016 campaign. Just a few years ago (it feels like an eternity), conservatives were jumping all over President Obama for his Russian "reset" and his first-term eagerness to negotiate with Moscow. Even further back, … [Read more...] about Trump and the bear in the woods
Climate Politics: Environmentalists Need to Think Globally, But Act Locally
By Nives Dolsak and Aseem Prakash, University of Washington As President Trump pivots from a failed attempt to overhaul health care to new orders rolling back controls on carbon pollution, environmentalists are preparing for an intense fight. We study environmental politics, and believe the health care debate holds an important lesson for green advocates: Policies that… … [Read more...] about Climate Politics: Environmentalists Need to Think Globally, But Act Locally
Trump Builds a Watergate All His Own
by Michael Winship As the Trump Russia story continues to stutter forward, comparisons to Watergate are everywhere — and justifiably so. The revelations and denials, the slow unraveling of deception, the critical role of a free and independent press challenging the cover-up and digging for the truth are all very familiar, especially to those of us who actually were in … [Read more...] about Trump Builds a Watergate All His Own
Holocaust Survivor Confronts Trump’s Deportation Policies
Having had many relatives rounded up, hauled off to concentration camps and exterminated by the Nazis during World War II and having listened to the obscene threats by presidential candidate Trump to round-up and deport millions of undocumented immigrants, I was shaken to the core by a video I recently watched. It is the video of a Holocaust survivor of both the Auschwitz … [Read more...] about Holocaust Survivor Confronts Trump’s Deportation Policies
This one weird trick can solve all of Trump’s problems
WASHINGTON -- The name of the game is gaming the name. Politico last week reported on an innovative new policy from the Trump administration: An Energy Department official had directed staff "not to use the phrases 'climate change,' 'emissions reduction' or 'Paris agreement' in written memos, briefings or other written communication." A department spokesperson denied that … [Read more...] about This one weird trick can solve all of Trump’s problems
How Russia Benefits From a Trump Presidency
Quora Questions are part of a partnership between Newsweek and Quora, through which we'll be posting relevant and interesting answers from Quora contributors throughout the week. Read more about the partnership here. Answer from Ross Cohen, news junkie: If anyone doubts Russia is benefiting from the Donald Trump presidency, they just haven’t thought about it enough.… … [Read more...] about How Russia Benefits From a Trump Presidency
Berkeley County, SC a nonesuch of Catholicism (Guest Voice)
Berkeley County a nonesuch of Catholicism by Jordan Cooper The citizenry of our nation are the most clear evidence of the presence of God. The largest organized religion in the world is the Catholic faith and it is representative of the most high's blessings for all human beings. Berkeley County in the Upper Lowcountry of South Carolina has the most square miles in … [Read more...] about Berkeley County, SC a nonesuch of Catholicism (Guest Voice)
RECENT RUSSIA SCANDAL POSTS
The Moderate Voice has been following the Russia scandal involving the Trump campaign closely. Here's a list of some of the key posts: ***(UPDTATED) James Comey helped elect Donald Trmp, but could he now be his greast foe? ***Russia Scandal Update: Is Jared Kushner Stupid, Greedy or Both? ***(Updated) Russia Scandal Bombshell: Trump used Prince of Darkness to enhance Putin … [Read more...] about RECENT RUSSIA SCANDAL POSTS
Sussing Out Michael Flynn’s Blab-For-Immunity Bombshell: Choose Your Flavor
Is Michael Flynn's bombshell offer to testify about what he knows in return for immunity the end of the beginning or beginning of the end of the Russia scandal? Is Donald Trump's disgraced national security adviser really prepared to turn on him? Or is the offer none of those things? The answer to all these questions is "yes." That is to say that a case can be made … [Read more...] about Sussing Out Michael Flynn’s Blab-For-Immunity Bombshell: Choose Your Flavor
Special House Elections Often Precursor Of An Upcoming Wave Against Party In Control
Quote of the Day: "I think there's a huge appetite for tax returns.. uh, reform." - White House press secretary Sean Spicer on explaining the need to move on from healthcare to tax reform. President Trump's promotion of four House Republicans to his cabinet has given Democrats optimism that they can recover ground in a chamber where they hold just 193 of 435 House seats. … [Read more...] about Special House Elections Often Precursor Of An Upcoming Wave Against Party In Control
SAN DIEGO MOTORISTS LAUNCH “POT FOR POTHOLES” INITIATIVE
By Axle Broke April 1, 2017 (San Diego) –Last month, Supervisors voiced concerns over falling gas tax revenues and inadequate funding to repair roadways countywide. Today, motorists seeking solutions to roads battered by winter storms held a press conference to announce the “Pot for Potholes” ballot initiative to solve the region’s infrastructure problem. Supervisors, … [Read more...] about SAN DIEGO MOTORISTS LAUNCH “POT FOR POTHOLES” INITIATIVE
Moscow on the Potomac
The White House says that Donald Trump won't throw out the first ball at the Washington Nationals' home opener. He supposedly has a "scheduling conflict" (translation: he doesn't want to be booed), and I'm sure going AWOL is fine with the fans. Because they'd undoubtedly prefer to see the American pastime relaunched by someone whose regime is not suspected of engaging in … [Read more...] about Moscow on the Potomac
Shaking with Spicy (Cartoon and column)
A lot of journalists have pity and sympathy for White House Spokesman Sean Spicer. He has to be confronted by the national press corps on a daily basis and defend lies and crazy crap. Sure. You can have some sympathy for people who work for Donald Trump. You’re surrounded by a lot of creepy people. But it’s probably not so much of a problem if you’re a creeper yourself. No … [Read more...] about Shaking with Spicy (Cartoon and column)
MEXICO TO PAY FOR WALL
By Juana B. Back April 1, 2017 (San Diego) – In a surprise announcement this morning, President Donald Trump tweeted that Mexico’s president has agreed to pay for the border wall. The decision came after the winning bid was awarded to a Mexican contracting company, Puerto Abierto, following a four-day bidding process in March. “We’re going to build a HUGE wall. The … [Read more...] about MEXICO TO PAY FOR WALL
Russia’s Legal Corruption
Anne Applebaum explains how Russia corrupts its targets in The Washington Post. We already know that social media makes it much easier for the Russian state to spread disinformation. Less attention has been paid to the Russian private businessmen who make it much easier for the Russian state to win friends and buy influence than their Soviet counterparts did. Most … [Read more...] about Russia’s Legal Corruption
Voters’ support is slipping for congressional GOP even among Republicans
WASHINGTON — Republicans have had a tough month on Capitol Hill, and their poll numbers show it. Sixty-two percent of voters disapprove of GOP lawmakers in Congress, according to a new McClatchy-Marist poll, more than double the 27 percent who said they approve. That's a 10-point swing from February, when 57 percent of voters disapproved and… … [Read more...] about Voters’ support is slipping for congressional GOP even among Republicans
Japanese kitties request treats by ringing a bell
Who knew kitties could act so ... dog-like? This video (Japanese, Order side by side) is a sensation! https://twitter.com/b_ru_ru/status/847368727016259584 Who shot the video? What's the back story of the cats? All we know is what we see in the tweet. Quick video critique: good framing (not symmetrical); nice optics (high gloss table); good use of the rule of thirds; nice … [Read more...] about Japanese kitties request treats by ringing a bell