December 28, 2016

With new monuments in Nevada, Utah, Obama adds to his environmental legacy

Source: The Washington Post

By Juliet Eilperin and Brady Dennis December 28 at 5:00 PM

President Obama on Tuesday created new national monuments in a sacred tribal site in southeastern Utah and in a swath of Nevada desert, after years of political fights over the fate of site.

The designations further cement Obama’s environmental legacy as one of the most consequential — and contentious — in presidential history. He now has invoked his executive power to create national monuments 29 times during his tenure, establishing or expanding protections for more than 548 million acres of federal lands and waters.

Environmental groups have praised the conservation efforts, but critics say they amount to a federal land grab. Some worry that the new designations could fuel another armed protest by anti-government forces inspired by the Cliven Bundy family, such as the takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon this year.

Obama’s newest designations include two sprawling Western landscapes that are under threat, yet also where local residents are deeply divided on how the land should be used.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/with-new-monuments-in-nevada-utah-obama-adds-to-his-environmental-legacy/2016/12/28/e9833f62-c471-11e6-8422-eac61c0ef74d_story.html?pushid=breaking-news_1482962511&tid=notifi_push_breaking-news&utm_term=.7e7d44fd5021

December 28, 2016

Massachusetts delays retail sales of marijuana by six months

Source: Reuters

28 DEC 2016 AT 16:00 ET

Massachusetts lawmakers on Wednesday pushed through a surprise six-month delay in the retail sale of marijuana for recreational use, saying they needed more time to tinker with a legalization measure that voters approved last month.

Meeting during a holiday-shortened week, the state’s House and Senate voted to push back the licensing of cannabis shops from Jan. 1, 2018, until July 1 that year, according to a copy of the legislation posted online.

The delay frustrated those who championed a Nov. 8 ballot measure, easily approved by voters, to allow use of the drug by adults 21 and older in private places.

Personal possession, use and cultivation became legal on Dec. 15, making Massachusetts one of eight U.S. states to take that step since voters in Washington and Colorado first approved the idea in 2012. Wednesday’s legislation does not change that.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/massachusetts-delays-retail-sales-of-marijuana-by-six-months/

December 28, 2016

450 churches prepare to act as Trump-era 'underground railroad' for undocumented immigrants

Source: RawStory

DAVID FERGUSON
28 DEC 2016 AT 14:23 ET

A network of 450 houses of worship across the country are stepping up to act as a kind of “underground railroad” for undocumented immigrants under the nascent Donald Trump administration.

The New York Times said that these churches, synagogues and mosques are all part of the Sanctuary Movement — an interfaith movement that began in the 1960s, but which has undergone a revival in recent years as the U.S. has stepped up deportation of undocumented immigrants.

The Sanctuary Movement has gained even more momentum since the election of Republican Donald Trump, who has pledged to deport 2 to 3 million unauthorized immigrants who he says are guilty of crimes. While not every church has the space and resources necessary to physically shelter immigrants, all 450 organizations have pledged to provide “money, legal aid, food, child care or transportation,” said the Times‘ Laurie Goodstein.

“Jesus said we are to provide hospitality to the stranger,” said the Rev. Robin Hynicka of New York City’s Arch Street United Methodist Church. The Times noted that Hynicka cited “Matthew 25, in which Jesus instructs his followers to feed, house and clothe ‘the least of these,’ the poor and vulnerable.”

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/450-churches-prepare-to-act-as-trump-era-underground-railroad-for-undocumented-immigrants/

December 28, 2016

More signs that Trump is out of touch with reality

By Jennifer Rubin December 28 at 10:30 AM

A few days without an outburst. A plausible choice or two for his Cabinet. A succinct and searing comment on the vitriolic United Nations resolution attacking Israel. (“As to the U.N., things will be different after Jan. 20th.”) If you squint, you might see a weak light at the end of the 2016 tunnel, some faint flicker of hope that President-elect Donald Trump is stable, sane and responsible. But then, wham! In 140 characters or fewer, he reminds us how psychologically “off” he is, how a thin veneer of normalcy can easily be pierced. On Monday, he took credit for Christmas sales: “The world was gloomy before I won — there was no hope. Now the market is up nearly 10% and Christmas spending is over a trillion dollars!” On Tuesday, he praised himself in the third person. (“The U.S. Consumer Confidence Index for December surged nearly four points to 113.7, THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN MORE THAN 15 YEARS! Thanks Donald!”)

There you have it, once again: A man whose ego is so frail that he, like the rooster taking credit for the rising sun, sees all good news as a reflection of his own fabulousness. James Pethokoukis of the American Enterprise Institute is quoted in Politico as saying, “The president-elect judges his own personal wealth based on his own feelings. So on any given day, he could just decide based on his feelings that America is great.” (The first sentence is a reference to Trump’s own testimony in a 2007 deposition in which he asserted, “My net worth fluctuates, and it goes up and down with markets and with attitudes and with feelings, even my own feelings.”)

The narcissistic personality is ever-present. Every person is judged to be a “good guy” or a “loser” based on what he or she says about Trump. Every bad bit of news is the result of the no-good, sleazy, rotten, most-dishonest-people-he-ever-met media. Terrorist massacres are not tragedies, but vindication that he was “right” (right about exactly what is not clear). Trump’s seeming inability to take himself out of the equation and assess events, people and policies on their own merits remains the most frightening aspect of his impending presidency. He’d rather ignore a direct attack on American democracy than admit that Russia put its thumb on the scale in his election victory. His psychological need for affirmation, for love even, takes precedence over reality and the needs of the country.

Most Republicans for now are ignoring the prospect of a president whose psyche and intellect make him manifestly unfit to govern. They convince themselves that he is stable, is making excellent choices and in the maelstrom of a crisis will act logically and carefully. And if all that is wrong, if the real Trump is the one congratulating himself on a figure that merely reflects our hyper-partisanship (with Trump elected, Republicans now think things will be swell), what do they do then? Who on the White House staff or in Congress or in the Cabinet is capable of confronting him when his ego won’t accept reality or recognize dangers to the United States? Maybe that person is his 35-year-old son-in-law (who has never held office, worked in the public sector or served in any national security post) or Vice President Mike Pence. What keeps many up at night, however, is the worry that there is no one who can convince Trump that he is wrong. We wonder whether anyone is capable of telling him: “Mr. President, Russia really did attempt to meddle in our election, just as it has done to our European allies time and time again. Denying this makes you sound like a Russian stooge.”

Sure, all presidents have big egos. The problem arises when their psyche impairs their ability to function rationally. Let’s hope that there are courageous and effective people to save Trump from himself — and save the country, too.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2016/12/28/more-signs-that-trump-is-out-of-touch-with-reality/?utm_term=.70740340c64a&wpisrc=nl_popns&wpmm=1

December 28, 2016

The First 3 Bills Trump May Sign

December 28, 2016 By Taegan Goddard

Playbook: “The buzz bouncing around town: the Republican-controlled House is looking to take up three bills immediately after new members are sworn in next week: THE REINS ACT, legislation that would require Congress to approve new major regulations, MIDNIGHT RULES ACT, which allows Congress to disapprove of late-stage administration regulations en masse. Also: a RESOLUTION DISAPPROVING OF THE U.N.’S RECENT ISRAEL ACTION.”

“This is important, because it will give President-elect Donald Trump three bills he would be likely to sign early in his presidency.”

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https://politicalwire.com/2016/12/28/first-3-bills-trump-may-sign/

December 28, 2016

Ryan's Crackdown on Protests May Not Be Constitutional

Source: Political Wire

December 28, 2016 By Taegan Goddard

[link:http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/paul-ryan-livestream-constitution-232994Politico]: Paul Ryans new crackdown against protests on the House floor a direct response to the Democrats gun-control sit-in last summer is prompting questions from experts in both parties about its constitutionality. As part of a House rules package members will vote to approve in early January, House GOP leaders want to empower the sergeant-at-arms to fine lawmakers up to $2,500 for shooting video or taking photos on the chamber floor. But experts say Ryans proposal may run afoul of Article 1 of the Constitution, which says each House may punish its Members for disorderly behavior.

For more than 200 years that has been interpreted to mean any contested sanctions against lawmakers must be approved by the full House with a floor vote, attorneys steeped in congressional legal matters say.

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Read more: https://politicalwire.com/2016/12/28/ryans-crackdown-protests-may-not-constitutional/

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A 'puke doing something unconstitutional!?!?!? Nah, never!

December 28, 2016

Conservative radio host: Trump isn't smart enough to think beyond 140-character tweets

BRAD REED
28 DEC 2016 AT 08:14 ET

President-elect Donald Trump is going to continue firing off unfiltered tweets even when he heads to the Oval Office next month, and conservative radio host Charlie Sykes thinks it’s emblematic of his limited intellect.

Via Daily Kos, Sykes appeared on Lawrence O’Donnell’s show this week and explained that Trump simply lacks the discipline and curiosity to think beyond 140-character blurbs on social media.

“This is really going to symbolize the quality of this man’s thought,” he said. “I mean, there was a time when we had presidents who read books. Now we have presidents who write in 140-character messages.”

In fact, Sykes hinted that it wouldn’t make sense for Trump to try to use more traditional means of communication as president because his thoughts aren’t big enough to make them necessary.

more
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/12/conservative-radio-host-trump-isnt-smart-enough-to-think-beyond-140-character-tweets/

December 28, 2016

Trump Thanks Himself For Rising Consumer Confidence Index

Source: Talking Points Memo

By CAITLIN MACNEAL Published DECEMBER 28, 2016, 7:10 AM EDT

Donald Trump on Tuesday night gave himself a pat on the back for an uptick in the Consumer Confidence Index.

Donald J. Trump ✔
@realDonaldTrump

The U.S. Consumer Confidence Index for December surged nearly four points to 113.7, THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN MORE THAN 15 YEARS! Thanks Donald!

10:10 PM - 27 Dec 2016
13,773 Retweets 51,034 likes

The index rose to 113.7 in December, its highest level in 15 years. Lynn Franco, the director of economic indicators at the Conference Board said that the rise in consumer confidence in the economy could be attributed to "post-election surge in optimism for the economy, jobs and income prospects," according to ABC News.

Read more: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/trump-consumer-confidence-index

December 28, 2016

UPDATED Kerry says U.S. decision to abstain on U.N. settlement vote was 'in accordance with our ...

Source: The Washington Post

By Carol Morello December 28 at 11:31 AM

Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Wednesday that the United States allowed the passage a U.N. condemnation of Israels settlement policies as the only way to preserve a two-state solution on the verge of being destroyed.

In a response to Israeli criticism that the United States has abandoned and betrayed its closest ally in the Middle East, Kerry said no U.S. administration has done more for Israels security than the current one.

The vote in the UN was about preserving the two state solution, said Kerry, speaking from the State Departments Dean Acheson Auditorium. Thats what we were standing up for: Israels future as a Jewish and democratic state, living side by side in peace and security with its neighbors. Thats what we are trying to preserve, for our sake and for theirs.

Kerrys speech aimed to address some of the issues that have contributed to a toxic atmosphere between the Israeli government and the Obama administration even though Obama approved military aid for Israel worth $38 billion over 10 years, the largest of its kind in U.S. history.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/kerry-address-middle-east-peace-process-amid-deep-us-israel-strains/2016/12/28/d656e5fa-cd0a-11e6-b8a2-8c2a61b0436f_story.html?utm_term=.adfac2ef3b9b

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John Kerry harshly rebuked Israel over its settlements, saying the U.S. couldn't allow "a two-state solution to be destroyed"

Wednesday, December 28, 2016 12:00 PM EST

Secretary of State John Kerry, in one of his last speeches as secretary of state, said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel was allowing the agenda of the settler movement to define the future of Israel. But he said “there is still a way forward if the responsible parties are willing to act.’’

And he defended the Obama administration’s policy on Israel, citing what he called unprecedented military assistance and cooperation. “No American administration has done more for Israel’s security than Barack Obama’s,’’ he declared.

more
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/28/us/politics/john-kerry-israel-palestine-peace.html?emc=edit_na_20161228&nlid=57435284&ref=cta

December 28, 2016

Sell the Business, Not the Presidency, Mr. Trump - NYT Editorial Board

By THE EDITORIAL BOARDDEC. 27, 2016

In recent days, the Trump family has announced some steps that it says are intended to address the truckload of conflicts of interest that Donald Trump could bring to the White House next month, and that it is considering further measures. But so far, these steps fall well short of what Mr. Trump must do to protect his presidency from damaging accusations of corruption.

Experts believe that there is but one action that Mr. Trump can take to assure Americans that he is working to promote only their interests rather than his own fortune or his family’s. That is to appoint a trustee to sell his hotels and other businesses and put the proceeds into a blind trust operated by independent managers.

By doing that, he would eliminate the many pay-for-play opportunities and other forms of corruption that could be exploited by him and by corporations and foreign governments seeking to curry favor with his administration. Such a move would also be consistent with recent practice. To avoid the barest perception of wrongdoing, presidents from both parties going back 40 years put their assets in blind trusts or in Treasury securities and mutual funds, even though federal law didn’t require them to do so. Mr. Trump seems determined to flout this standard.

Instead of a detailed divestiture plan, Mr. Trump and his family have discussed several half-measures. One is to shut down the Donald J. Trump Foundation, which is already under investigation by the attorney general of New York, Eric Schneiderman, for alleged violations of state charity laws. According to the attorney general, the foundation solicited donations from people other than Mr. Trump when it was not registered to do so.

more
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/27/opinion/sell-the-business-not-the-presidency-mr-trump.html?emc=edit_th_20161228&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=57435284