checkpoints between some states? Why aren't all state's state laws all the same? Why is there an Interstate Commerce Commission to deal with trade issues between states? Why are there trade issues between states? Have you ever heard of the fights between Arizona, California, Colorado, Mexico and various Tribal Nations over the Colorado River?

We aren't all the same. We all have different issues and interests.

Do you really want Texas's interest in tar sand oil from Canada and the Keystone Pipeline permutations to "trump" Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, N Dakota and S Dakota's interest in not having "petroleum" or what ever chemical nightmare that keeps it "liquid" spills over fields over one the largest freshwater aquifers in the US?

It works the other way, too. Contrary to what some may hear, Trumpolini's wall is not that popular here, especially the closer to the border you go. Why are a bunch of conservative yahoos from up north trying to foist their wall on us? AND in that we're the second most populated state we're going to pay more than forty-eight other states for a project that will impact us more than forty-nine other states. One we don't want.

My point is its part of the checks and balances that allow us not to become victims of what T Jefferson called "the tyranny of the majority." For example: minorities get to vote regardless of how the majorities feel about it. Because we all have different interests and issues.

In these days of situational ethics we need to protect ourselves.

The Ecuadorian Embassy has reported Assange made his bed, took a shower and cleaned the cat's litter box at 6:30 AM EST.

Source: HuffPo


4 Arrested Over Alleged Plot To Bomb Muslim Enclave In New York
“If they had carried out this plot, which every indication is that they were going to, people would have died,” the Greece, New York, police chief said.

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By Nick Visser

<snip>

Investigators said they first heard of the plot after a student at Greece Odyssey Academy in Greece, New York, made an offhand remark during a lunch break, which prompted another student to report the comment to school officials. Greece Police Chief Patrick Phelan said authorities quickly responded to the report, conducting interviews and making arrests that same day.

The suspects allegedly planned to target the Muslim enclave of Islamberg, a small area in the Catskill Mountains about 150 miles from New York City, according to Reuters. Authorities later said they seized 23 weapons and three improvised explosive devices while carrying out search warrants. All of the firearms were legally owned by relatives of those arrested.

<snip>

The suspects were identified as Brian Colaneri, 20, Andrew Crysel, 18, and Vincent Vetromile, 19. They have each been charged with three felony counts of first-degree possession of a dangerous weapon and one felony count of fourth-degree conspiracy. An unidentified 16-year-old student was also charged with the same crimes but will be tried as a minor.

Phelan said school officials first became suspicious after a student reported the 16-year-old showing a photo on his phone to some friends in the school cafeteria. The student allegedly made a comment to the effect of “he looks like the next school shooter, doesn’t he?” which prompted the complaint.

<snip>

Read more: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bomb-islamberg-new-york-muslim-community_us_5c47ddc5e4b083c46d6399ea

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More about Islamburg: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamberg%2C_New_York

More privileged white kids in a private school.

‘If I were the White House, I would be concerned’: Ex-Trump aide gets spooked after Russia probe testimony

https://www.alternet.org/2019/01/if-i-were-the-white-house-i-would-be-concerned-ex-trump-aide-gets-spooked-after-russia-probe-testimony/

written by Cody Fenwick January 12, 2019

Sam Nunberg, one of President Donald Trump’s first aides from early on in his campaign in 2015, gave extensive testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee Friday as part of its investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

“They are doing an exhaustive investigation,” Nunberg said in an interview with NBC News.

The investigation, he explained, seems to be “narrowly focused on collusion.”

“If I were the White House,” he added, “I would be concerned.”

Nunberg has previously been subpoenaed to testify before Special Counsel Robert Mueller. He drew nationwide attention when he made a show, at first, of refusing the subpoena. He eventually complied and testified.

Nunberg is a close friend of Trump ally Roger Stone, who is believed to be target of Mueller’s investigation. Stone was Nunberg’s initial connection to the campaign, but Nunberg was fired early on because of his “racially charged Facebook posts,” according to NBC News.

<snip>

The former Trump aide described to NBC News an extensive grilling that lasted over four hours. The report explained:

In the interview with the Senate Intelligence Committee, Nunberg said he was asked about numerous former campaign staff members, the president’s children and other associates including: Roger Stone, Jerome Corsi, Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn, Tom Barrack, Michael Cohen, Steve Bannon, Donald Trump Jr and Eric Trump. He was also asked about Trump’s relationship with Aras Agalarov, a Russian oligarch, and his pop-singer son, Emin, who helped set up the 2016 Trump Tower meeting.


<snip>


Among the other topics raised Friday, Nunberg said, were the 2016 meeting in Trump Tower in New York with Trump Jr, Manafort, Kushner and a Kremlin-connected Russian lawyer offering them the promise of “dirt” on Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton; Trump’s travel to Moscow in 2013 for the Miss Universe pageant; the company’s interest in building a tower in the Russian capital.

NBC News reports that despite the relative comity among the Senate committee members, it may be difficult for them to reach consensus on their conclusions with regard to Trump campaign members’ collusion with Russian agents. The House Intelligence Committee, then led by Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), issued a partisan report last year backed only by the Republicans purportedly clearing Trump and his campaign of wrongdoing. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) has taken control of the committee since the new Democratic majority in the House was sworn in, and he plans to dig back into the investigation.

Michael Cohen to Testify Publicly Before House
by Aidan McLaughlin | Jan 10th, 2019, 3:25 pm 3123

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President Donald Trump‘s former lawyer Michael Cohen is set to testify publicly before the House Oversight Committee, Democrats announced on Thursday.

Cohen, who was recently sentenced to three years in prison after being charged with orchestrating illegal hush money payments to women alleging affairs with Trump during the 2016 election. He was also charged with lying to Congress about plans to build a Trump tower in Moscow in 2016.

Cohen said he will “give a full and credible account of the events that have transpired.”

“I thank Michael Cohen for agreeing to testify before the Oversight Committee voluntarily,” said Rep. Elijah Cummings, the House Oversight chairman.

The public hearing is scheduled for February 7, 2019. Rep. Adam Schiff, the chairman of the House intelligence committee, also said he would be seeking a closed door hearing with Cohen.

UPDATE: Cohen issued a statement addressing his hearing:

My statement regarding testifying publicly before Congress: pic.twitter.com/apNhAdfVds

— Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) January 10, 2019

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https://twitter.com/MudflapOfficial/status/1082838155147960321/video/1