***Official Political Discussion Thread***

[cards93]

So they are blaming Obama admin now for Flynn. 

 

[elpablo21]

 
So they are blaming Obama admin now for Flynn. 

OMFG. Sean Spicer just said the Trump transition team didn't do *any* of their own vetting of Gen. Flynn before he entered the WH.
— Caroline O. (@RVAwonk) April 27, 2017

This is new—Spicer seems to be blaming the Obama administration for renewing Flynn’s security clearance. But Trump still hired Flynn as NSA. pic.twitter.com/gK6mPyOhdH
— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) April 27, 2017

 

[AEA18]

 

[EddieDoyers]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...ifi_push_breaking-news&utm_term=.be2351775ba9

Top Pentagon watchdog launches investigation into money that Michael Flynn received from foreign groups

The Pentagon’s top watchdog has launched an investigation into money that former national security adviser and retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn received from foreign groups, a new wrinkle in the downfall of President Trump’s ousted national security adviser.

The Pentagon office will try to determine whether Flynn “failed to obtain required approval prior to receiving” the payments, according to an April 11 letter from Defense Department Inspector General Glenn A. Fine to Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), the chairman of the House Oversight Committee. In the past, the Pentagon has advised retiring officers that because they can be recalled to military service, they may be subject to the Constitution’s rarely enforced emoluments clause, which prohibits top officials from receiving payments or favors from foreign governments.

Flynn received $45,000 to appear in 2015 with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a gala dinner for RT, a Kremlin-controlled media organization. He also worked as a foreign agent representing Turkish interests for a Netherlands-based company, Inovo BV, which paid his company $530,000 in the fall.

Defense Department guidelines warn that the department’s top financial officer, the comptroller, “may pursue debt collection” if a retired officer does not seek permission to accept foreign payments before doing so. Any debt collection due to an emoluments clause violation is capped at no more than what an individual makes in retirement pay during a period of unauthorized employment. In Flynn’s case, that is more than $35,000 for the three months of the Inovo project.

Flynn was fired as national security adviser in February after revelations that he misled Vice President Pence about the nature of his communications with the Russian ambassador to the United States. The pugnacious retired officer, who last year led “lock her up” chants about Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, filed paperwork as a foreign agent about three weeks later, on March 7.

Flynn’s lawyer, Robert K. Kelner, has argued that the retired general briefed the Defense Intelligence Agency, from which he retired in 2014, before and after his 2015 Russia trip.

But a letter DIA sent the House committee said that the agency has no record of Flynn seeking permission or approval to accept money from a foreign source, potentially countering Kelner’s argument. Kelner did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.

Flynn also did not seek permission from the U.S. government to work as a paid foreign agent for Turkish interests, U.S. defense officials said last month, raising the possibility that the Pentagon could dock his retirement pay. Navy Capt. Jeff Davis, a Pentagon spokesman, said then that the Defense Department was reviewing the issue. The Army had no record of Flynn seeking permission for that arrange, military officials said.

The issue involving Turkey emerged after Flynn retroactively registered in March with the Justice Department as a foreign agent for work that his company, Flynn Intel Group, carried out on behalf of Inovo BV. It is owned by Turkish businessman Ekim Alptekin, who is not a part of the Turkish government but has links to it.

Flynn’s company received three payments between September and November from Inovo BV before Trump was elected president and the arrangement was discontinued, according to Flynn’s filings. Flynn is the majority owner and chief executive officer of the Flynn Intel Group.

On Thursday, the White House deflected any criticism that they failed to properly vet Flynn to be Trump’s top security adviser. Press Secretary Sean Spicer said any improper actions by Flynn also flew under the radar of the Obama administration: The Department of Defense issued Flynn a new security clearance in 2016, and Flynn took his trip to Russian 2015.

“All of the clearance was made during the Obama administration, and apparently with knowledge of the trip that he took,” Spicer said.

But beyond checking Flynn’s security clearance, Spicer indicated the Trump administration didn’t do much other vetting — something that is typical.


When asked by reporters if the president had any regrets bringing Flynn on in the first place, Spicer said: “I think the president made the right decision at the right time, and it’s been pretty clear.”

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (Md.), the top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, also released an Oct. 8, 2014, letter Thursday in which a Defense Department lawyer warned Flynn upon his retirement from military service that he was forbidden from receiving payments from foreign sources without receiving permission from the U.S. government first.

“These documents raise grave questions about why Gen. Flynn concealed the payments he received from foreign sources after he was warned explicitly by the Pentagon,” Cummings said. “Our next step is to get the documents we are seeking from the White House so we can complete our investigation. I thank the Department of Defense for providing us with unclassified versions of these documents.”

Cummings also alleged that the White House was covering up by Flynn by not willingly releasing all documents associated with his case. Spicer disputed that later in the day saying that it was “not true” and he was “taken aback” by the accusation.

Bruce Anderson, a spokesman for the Defense Department inspector general, said that the investigation into Flynn began April 4. The watchdog’s office did not discuss the investigation publicly until after the House Oversight Committee released documents about it, and it typically does not disclose what it is reviewing while an investigation is underway.

The latest revelations from the Pentagon came as congressional Democrats put more pressure on Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, to make good on vows to investigate the Flynn matter.

Democrats on the panel reminded Chaffetz that for years he has warned witnesses that complying with committee requests “is not an optional exercise.”

“Your decisions on this investigation will have a profound impact on the faith that the American people have in Congress to act in an even-handed manner and fulfill our duty under the Constitution to exercise robust oversight of the Executive Branch, regardless of who occupies the White House,” the Democrats added.


Chaffetz announced on Wednesday that he is planning to take a medical leave of up to four weeks to repair screws implanted in his foot years ago after an accident. It is likely that House GOP leaders will appoint an interim chairman in his absence.

Two Republican members who emerged Thursday from the room with the documents about Flynn brushed off questions from reporters. But a group of Democrats on the committee addressed the media.

“The information that we received this morning was quite troubling. Actually, it left us with more questions, I would say, than answers,” said Rep. Val Butler Demings (D-Fla.).

Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) said they just came a classified briefing and could not discuss the material they reviewed. She said the materiel ought to be declassified for the American people “read it and judge for themselves.”

The Democrats demanded further documents from the White House.

“They have already told us they have documents with respect to General Flynn. And we’ve received zero documents,” said Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.). “So they’ve told us we have these documents and they’ve been widely reported in the press that they have the documents, yet they refuse to give it to Congress.”

Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Pa.) said that after reviewing the documents, he believes lawmakers should “keep digging” on Flynn.

Cartwright declined to share specifics about what the documents entail, but said Republican members of the oversight panel should be pushing the White House to release more information about what top administration officials knew about Flynn during the presidential campaign, transition and in the early days of Trump’s presidency.

 

[rillo561]

"Extreme vetting"

Elect a clown, you get the circus.

 

[elpablo21]

Chaffetz leaving Congress to spend more time with his foot. https://t.co/Bad4hckuni
— Clara Jeffery (@ClaraJeffery) April 27, 2017

 

[RustyShackleford]

I come back in here, see a ton of unread post, and it "Da Don/Libbies/4353D Chess post"

I'm just gonna kick back in my liberal bubble, sip on my Chai Tea Latte, and wait for solar energy to destroy coal country.

#LibbyPower

 

[noskey]

I come back in here, see a ton of unread post, and it "Da Don/Libbies/4353D Chess post"

I'm just gonna kick back in my liberal bubble, sip on my Chai Tea Latte, and wait for solar energy to destroy coal country.

#LibbyPower

Look at this libby, can't even keep up with da Don's invisible 3242-ABC intercontinental Mouse Trap plans and thinks da sun is gonna destroy da cooooooaaaaaaal train. Da sun ain't eem a part of this earth, b, how is it gonna come to America and destroy da Hemi? HOW SWAY? BUILD THAT WALL! BUILD THAT WALL!

 

[osh kosh bosh]

How is the language barrier in Canada? I hope it's not as awful as our language barrier in Belgium.
We technically have 3 native languages though the German speaking part of Belgium is pretty tiny. They do have their own German-speaking government.
The northern part of Belgium (where I live) is called Flanders and Dutch is the native language. The southern part is called Wallonia and French is the native language. The German speaking parts are located in the south as well. Brussels is kind of on the border between north and south and is mostly French-speaking. Dutch doesn't get you very far there.

The problem is that here in Flanders, learning French is mandatory and generally starts from the 4th or 5th grade. Depending on which study subject (think of it like "picking a major") you pick for the 7th grade and up, most students have German class too. As an example, for most of my highschool tenure I had 4 to 5 hours of Dutch class per week, 3 to 4 hours of French, 2 to 3 hours of English and 1 hour of German a week. I also took 1 year of Latin.
Generally when you graduate highschool in Flanders you should at least be competent if not fluent at French and you will probably speak some basic to decent German too.

The problem of the language barrier comes from our education policy on language, or rather lack thereof. Because Dutch, our native language in Flanders, is not taught mandatory in Wallonia.
In fact, most southerners don't speak Dutch at all. Zero. Even most of the southern politicians in our federal government can't speak Dutch, though the more high profile politicians are generally bilingual like our prime minister. However I've been to parliament a few times and figuratively speaking, half the chamber is filled with politicians wearing earpieces or headphones because they can't understand what the Flemish politicians are saying. I found it a pretty sad sight and it baffles me that this language barrier has existed from the day I was born with little to no change today.
While we learn French up here, not everyone can be a fluent French speaker and many people's French drastically weakens after completing education because it's never really used in Flanders outside of your education and certain jobs. I graduated from highschool as a pretty fluent French speaker but as I chose to go for a nursing bachelor's degree I've never really had to use my French since graduating. As a result, my French is far from what it used to be.
Whenever I'm in Brussels or Wallonia I just use English instead of French as it's practically my second native language and therefore more convenient.
I believe that this language barrier is one of the main contributors to our deeply flawed government and communication between the 3 language districts.
On top of that, our government system is also extremely complicated.
Belgium has 11 provinces, each with their own provincial government. The towns/cities have municipal or city governments.
But the 3 language districts also have their own government.
I live in the province of East-Flanders in a small rural town so we have a municipal government, the provincial government of East-Flanders and the Flemish government that covers all of Flanders. Then there's also the federal government.
Brussels has their own government because it's essentially right on the border between the Dutch and French speaking parts of the country. Brussels is bilingual but overwhelmingly French-speaking.
Wallonia has the Wallonian government that covers the French speaking part of the country, which is most of the south. However there is also a German district government, which covers the German speaking areas in the south.
When you add all of those together and consider that the south generally doesn't learn our native language, you can probably imagine what kind of effect that has on the country, our government and communication between the various governments, districts, ...
Especially on the border between north and south you can literally go from a Dutch speaking block to a French speaking block around the corner that doesn't understand a word of what you're saying and vice versa.

Do y'all in Canada mandatory learn both sides' native language?

In Canada, or at least where I grew up you take french classes through elementary school, middle school, then in high school it becomes optional. You also have the option of doing French immersion which basically the whole cariculum is in french and you are expected to speak french in class.

Unless you take french a immersion there is no way you will become fluent, the classes just give you basic basic french foundation, but unless you are forced to speak it you won't learn it. And by the time you leave high school you will forget a lot of it.

Like right now, I have a basic vocabulary, I know how to conjucate verbs, an semi decent understanding of masculine and feminine words. but If you started speking to me in french I would have a zero percent chance of understanding you unless spoke super slow.

but I grew up in a place that bordered Quebec so my french is probably better than 90% of canadians better west of ontario.


The only place you need french to get around is in Quebec, with the exception of Montreal and some of the cities that boarder Ontario. but everywhere else you don't need it.

Every product in canada has has french and english written on it, as are many signs and the prime minister has to be able to speak french (Hence why so many Prime Ministers are from Quebec)


Yeah Belgium sounds insane, nothing segregates people like language.

 

[harlemtothebronx]

 

I come back in here, see a ton of unread post, and it "Da Don/Libbies/4353D Chess post"

I'm just gonna kick back in my liberal bubble, sip on my Chai Tea Latte, and wait for solar energy to destroy coal country.

#LibbyPower

Look at this libby, can't even keep up with da Don's invisible 3242-ABC intercontinental Mouse Trap plans and thinks da sun is gonna destroy da cooooooaaaaaaal train. Da sun ain't eem a part of this earth, b, how is it gonna come to America and destroy da Hemi? HOW SWAY? BUILD THAT WALL! BUILD THAT WALL!

Fam.

I come back in here, see a ton of unread post, and it "Da Don/Libbies/4353D Chess post"

I'm just gonna kick back in my liberal bubble, sip on my Chai Tea Latte, and wait for solar energy to destroy coal country.

#LibbyPower

I'm just curled up on my microfiber sectional in my snuggie sipping my grande Flat White enjoying the show.

#LibbyPower

 

[ksteezy]

STAAAPPPPPPPPPPPP

 

[Nike Jordan]

Quebec is extremely protective of the French language.

 

[everysingletime]

Chinatown vid is so bizarre and surreal it was done in 2016.

That's an old video. You guys peeped the rebuttal video yet with an Asian guy interviewing Chinatown ppl?

 

[RustyShackleford]

I come back in here, see a ton of unread post, and it "Da Don/Libbies/4353D Chess post"

I'm just gonna kick back in my liberal bubble, sip on my Chai Tea Latte, and wait for solar energy to destroy coal country.

#LibbyPower

Look at this libby, can't even keep up with da Don's invisible 3242-ABC intercontinental Mouse Trap plans and thinks da sun is gonna destroy da cooooooaaaaaaal train. Da sun ain't eem a part of this earth, b, how is it gonna come to America and destroy da Hemi? HOW SWAY? BUILD THAT WALL! BUILD THAT WALL!

I just came back from buying some kale and Whole Foods and charging up my Prius.

You guys sound ridiculous, clean energy, free trade, and single payer are the future. Trump is gaming y'all.

I outchea cruising in the right lane and a reasonable speed, I ain't got no worries

#LibbyWave

 

[EddieDoyers]

I come back in here, see a ton of unread post, and it "Da Don/Libbies/4353D Chess post"

I'm just gonna kick back in my liberal bubble, sip on my Chai Tea Latte, and wait for solar energy to destroy coal country.

#LibbyPower

Look at this libby, can't even keep up with da Don's invisible 3242-ABC intercontinental Mouse Trap plans and thinks da sun is gonna destroy da cooooooaaaaaaal train. Da sun ain't eem a part of this earth, b, how is it gonna come to America and destroy da Hemi? HOW SWAY? BUILD THAT WALL! BUILD THAT WALL!

I just came back from buying some kale and Whole Foods and charging up my Prius.

You guys sound ridiculous, clean energy, free trade, and single payer are the future. Trump is gaming y'all.

I outchea cruising in the right lane and a reasonable speed, I ain't got no worries

#LibbyWave

Da Leafy Prius bruh? Pffft not enuf passing lane power in dat hooptie.
Just cop da hemi. Da oil coffers got u b

 

[whywesteppin]

Unless Rusty's girly car runs off libbie tears, he's not passing nobody. Except for me on my bike. But just watch, after I save up enough for da hemi, I'm gonna leave Rusty behind in a cloud of coal dust.

edit: Well, hold on a second. First I gotta save up for da gold chain. Then I got you right where I want you, Rusty!

edit2: Wait, wait, give me a minute. I forgot to factor in da cost of da storage for my ever-growing collection of shoes and jerseys. Give me another 2 years, Rusty. Or, as my calculations show, 67 weeks. Then I got you! My coal gonna melt you like da snowflake that you are!

edit3: OK, spoke too soon, guys, my apologies. After talking to da don himself, he schooled me on da inflation and da deflation and da economicals. Turns out da collection loses value over time because of storage conditions and an ever-shifting marketing landscape. Da supply and da demand and da hoo-ha and what nots. So my precise algorithmic computational calculations are subject to da error, as they say. Turns out I will need 13502 weeks, or da rest of my life, before I can cop da hemi. But then watch your ***, Rusty! I'm gonna cover you in glorious coal as I pass you in da left lane!

edit4: Sorry to keep doing this. I just discovered that da Prius can hit da speed limit pretty easily. As I am tight on da cash on account of da jewelry and da storage costs and da depreciation and what not and da savings account for da hemi and da income coming from a job that involves driving 24 hours, I can't afford to get a speeding ticket. So, Rusty, once I cop da hemi in 13502 weeks, can you do me a solid and go 5 mph below da speed limit so that I can pass you in da hemi? Thanks, bro, you're the best.

 

[ksteezy]

MUERTOOOOOOOOOO

 

[Mark Antony]

Chinatown vid is so bizarre and surreal it was done in 2016.

That's an old video. You guys peeped the rebuttal video yet with an Asian guy interviewing Chinatown ppl?

Yeah, an old video from 2016.

 

[jape]

 

[EddieDoyers]

Whywesteppin diddy boppin on da rookie rusty
Coal country is byke b!

 

[RustyShackleford]

Unless Rusty's girly car runs off libbie tears, he's not passing nobody. Except for me on my bike. But just watch, after I save up enough for da hemi, I'm gonna leave Rusty behind in a cloud of coal dust.

edit: Well, hold on a second. First I gotta save up for da gold chain. Then I got you right where I want you, Rusty!

edit2: Wait, wait, give me a minute. I forgot to factor in da cost of da storage for my ever-growing collection of shoes and jerseys. Give me another 2 years, Rusty. Or, as my calculations show, 67 weeks. Then I got you! My coal gonna melt you like da snowflake that you are!

edit3: OK, spoke too soon, guys, my apologies. After talking to da don himself, he schooled me on da inflation and da deflation and da economicals. Turns out da collection loses value over time because of storage conditions and an ever-shifting marketing landscape. Da supply and da demand and da hoo-ha and what nots. So my precise algorithmic computational calculations are subject to da error, as they say. Turns out I will need 13502 weeks, or da rest of my life, before I can cop da hemi. But then watch your ***, Rusty! I'm gonna cover you in glorious coal as I pass you in da left lane!

edit4: Sorry to keep doing this. I just discovered that da Prius can hit da speed limit pretty easily. As I am tight on da cash on account of da jewelry and da storage costs and da depreciation and what not and da savings account for da hemi and da income coming from a job that involves driving 24 hours, I can't afford to get a speeding ticket. So, Rusty, once I cop da hemi in 13502 weeks, can you do me a solid and go 5 mph below da speed limit so that I can pass you in da hemi? Thanks, bro, you're the best.

Step your coffers up b, us Prius Boyz outchea livin

#LibbyWave #HighOverheadButStillDoingIt #KaleGang

 

[stuntman mike]

 

[ksteezy]

#10$muffingang

 

[EddieDoyers]

I got enough kicks to sell for da MSRP doe u rookie Rusty

 

[ksteezy]

I can't deal, I picture Every post in the Ninjahood voice/accent