2017 - Page 55 of 105

CNN’s Gogi an American Success Story

May 31, 2017 Buck Banks

“To become chief business editor at NPR is a huge honor. In a way, it embodies the achievement of the American dream for me. I grew up in a very small town on a mountain top in a remote corner of India, where I couldn’t even have imagined this,” she wrote. “Nowhere else in the world can a person emigrate from another country and be measured not on their color, religion or creed, but on the merits of their accomplishments, perseverance and experiences of what one brings to the table. At the risk of sounding corny, I’ll say it: It is what makes America great.”

— Pallavi Gogi, a senior editor at CNNMoney, who is leaving her post to become the top business editor at NPR, reports Reliable Sources.

Fewer Refugees Arrive in U.S., with Declines in 46 states

May 30, 2017 Buck Banks

3,316

The number of refugees entering the United States each month has declined sharply so far in fiscal 2017, falling from 9,945 in October 2016 to 3,316 in April 2017, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. State Department data. All but four states reported declines in monthly arrivals.

CIA Would Consider Kushner’s Actions Espionage

May 30, 2017 Buck Banks

“I don’t want to overstate this because obviously there is a lot we don’t know… But I can’t keep out of my mind the thought that, if an American intelligence officer had done anything like this, we’d consider it espionage.”

— Former acting CIA director John McLaughlan, responding to reports that Jared Kushner “discussed setting up a secret communications line between Trump’s transition team and the Kremlin, The Hill reports.

Il Douche Channeled Il Duce at NATO Summit

May 29, 2017 Jon Ponder

LEFT: Il Douche - Donald Trump showing dominance after shoving Montenegrin PM Dusko Markovic (seen here at Donald's left) out of his way ; RIGHT: Il Duce - Benito Mussolini, fascist dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943 — LEFT: Il Douche – Donald Trump showing dominance after shoving Montenegrin PM Dusko Markovic (seen here at Donald’s left) out of his way ; RIGHT: Il Duce – Benito Mussolini, fascist dictator of Italy from 1922 to 1943

Donald Trump put his innate douche-iness on display on the world stage last week at the NATO Summit in Brussels, when he was caught on camera shoving the prime minister of Montenegro out of his way. The ugly moment when he put a hand on the prime minister to move him out of his way was followed by an even uglier moment when Donald moved to the front of the group and then stuck his chin out in a show of dominance a la Mussolini, the fascist Italian dictator known as “Il Duce.”

It’s more than perfect that Il Douche, the wannabe autocrat, channeled Il Duce, history’s most famous fascist.

[…]

Sanford: Trump Has ‘Unearthed Some Demons’

May 26, 2017 Buck Banks

“Respectfully, I’d submit that the president has unearthed some demons. I’ve talked to a number of people about it back home. They say, ‘Well, look, if the president can say whatever, why can’t I say whatever?’ He’s given them license… There is a total weirdness out there.”

— Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC), quoted by the Washington Post.

How Republicans ‘Normalize’ Violent Behavior

May 26, 2017 Buck Banks

“Every time something like Montana happens, Republicans adjust their standards and put an emphasis on team loyalty. They normalize and accept previously unacceptable behavior.”

— Conservative former talk show host Charlie Sykes, quoted by the Washington Post.

Boehner Doesn’t Want to Be President

May 26, 2017 Buck Banks

“I don’t want to be president. I drink red wine. I smoke cigarettes. I golf. I cut my own grass. I iron my own clothes. And I’m not willing to give all that up to be president.”

— Former Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), quoted by RigZone.

Cruz Failed to Disclose Campaign Loan from Goldman Sachs

May 26, 2017 Buck Banks

$1.1 million

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) “improperly accounted for loans he received from Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Citigroup Inc. during his 2012 campaign, saying the funds were his own personal contributions to the Senate race,” Bloomberg reports. “The finding, released on the FEC website, marked a rare instance of agreement among the agency’s five commissioners, who voted unanimously that the $1.1 million of loans from the banks should have been disclosed to voters.”

Trump’s GOP Condones Violence Against Reporters

May 25, 2017 Buck Banks

“Of course not. It’s not appropriate behavior. Unless the reporter deserved it.”

— Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), quoted by the AP, when asked if assaulting a reporter is appropriate behavior, following U.S. House candidate Greg Gianforte’s (R-MT) assault on a reporter on the eve of a special election in Montana.

Tourism Down 16 Percent Since Trump’s Election

May 25, 2017 Buck Banks

16%

The US tourism business is in trouble — and President Trump may be to blame, reports Business Insider. America’s share of international tourism has dropped 16% in March, compared to the same month in 2016, according to Foursquare data released Wednesday.

— Pallavi Gogi, a senior editor at CNNMoney, who is leaving her post to become the top business editor at NPR, reports Reliable Sources.

3,316

The number of refugees entering the United States each month has declined sharply so far in fiscal 2017, falling from 9,945 in October 2016 to 3,316 in April 2017, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. State Department data. All but four states reported declines in monthly arrivals.

“I don’t want to overstate this because obviously there is a lot we don’t know… But I can’t keep out of my mind the thought that, if an American intelligence officer had done anything like this, we’d consider it espionage.”

— Former acting CIA director John McLaughlan, responding to reports that Jared Kushner “discussed setting up a secret communications line between Trump’s transition team and the Kremlin, The Hill reports.

“Respectfully, I’d submit that the president has unearthed some demons. I’ve talked to a number of people about it back home. They say, ‘Well, look, if the president can say whatever, why can’t I say whatever?’ He’s given them license… There is a total weirdness out there.”

— Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC), quoted by the Washington Post.

“Every time something like Montana happens, Republicans adjust their standards and put an emphasis on team loyalty. They normalize and accept previously unacceptable behavior.”

— Conservative former talk show host Charlie Sykes, quoted by the Washington Post.

“I don’t want to be president. I drink red wine. I smoke cigarettes. I golf. I cut my own grass. I iron my own clothes. And I’m not willing to give all that up to be president.”

— Former Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), quoted by RigZone.

$1.1 million

“Of course not. It’s not appropriate behavior. Unless the reporter deserved it.”

— Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), quoted by the AP, when asked if assaulting a reporter is appropriate behavior, following U.S. House candidate Greg Gianforte’s (R-MT) assault on a reporter on the eve of a special election in Montana.

16%

The US tourism business is in trouble — and President Trump may be to blame, reports Business Insider. America’s share of international tourism has dropped 16% in March, compared to the same month in 2016, according to Foursquare data released Wednesday.

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“This is not going to be a win. And it’s not going to be a wave. It’s going to be a wipeout.”

— Democratic strategist Paul Begala, quoted by the New York Post.

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

Numerati

13%

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.