Wild boars overrun ISIS position, kill 3 militants!

Source:
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/04/25/wild-boars-overrun-islamic-state-position-kill-3-militants/100876844/

Three Islamic State militants setting up an ambush in a bitterly contested area of northern Iraq were killed by a herd of stampeding boars, local leaders say.

Sheikh Anwar al-Assi, a chief of the local Ubaid tribe and supervisor of anti-ISIS forces, told The Times of London the militants were hiding on the edge of a field about 50 miles southwest of Kirkuk when the boars overwhelmed them Sunday. Five other militants were injured, al-Assi said. He said the group was poised to attack a band of local tribesmen who had fled to nearby mountains since militants seized the town of Hawija three years ago.

“It is likely their movement disturbed a herd of wild pigs, which inhabit the area as well as the nearby cornfields,” he said.

Today's Climate Rally in my rural little red-neck town!

Some folks think Colorado is all a nice Progressive, Blue State. Heh! If only! The fact is that once you get away from the urban areas like Denver or Boulder, Colorado reverts to its conservative ranching and farming roots. The county I live in went overwhelmingly Trumpf in the so-called election last November. Still, there's something new in the air these days and it began with our local march in support of the Women's March in DC. 500 women in pussy hats and our loyal friends and supporters mustered up to march down Main Street in a blizzard! This is amazing for a little town (pop 8,000) like mine. But people out here in Western Colorado are pretty ticked off by the Traitor and his cronies and they've been coming together in amazing new ways.

Todays rally in support of the Climate March nationally was no exception. We had people of all ages show up in the town park today for our rally and March. There were some pretty clever signs too like one that read "SKI TELLURIDE 2050!" and it showed a picture of a guy on WATER ski's. Three elementary school kids who had written winning poems or short essays in support of the environment came up to the stand to share their efforts - pretty darn cute and pretty darn good, too.

Once we got our march down Main Street under way, we were met with mostly cars honking their horns in approval and folks passing by giving us thumbs up signs. Naturally, there were a few Neanderthals who just didn't get it (the stupidity of Trumpf supporters never ceases to amaze me). One guy leaned out his car window and started shouting "USA! USA! USA!" at us. Talk about clueless. We all looked at one another and laughed and took up his chant "USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!!!!" Exactly the reason we'd all come out - because of concern for our beautiful state and our beautiful country. At least this time around, no one threatened to come back with their hunting rifles as has happened once or twice in the past. It was snowy and cold here but we Coloradans are tough and there was another great turn-out - over 400 people. YES! It's things like this that give me hope for our country despite the awful assault our democracy is currently under. If a gang of cowboys and Indians and old lady's and little kids and people with WATER ski's can get together and march in solidarity then everyone across this nation can.

Let's hear it for Cortez, Colorado, everybody! I love this place and I love my country!

Tutu Protests And Parties Break Out In Wyoming Over Senator's Remark (NPR News)

Tutu Protests And Parties Break Out In Wyoming Over Senator's Remark

Source:
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/04/28/526073329/tutu-protests-and-parties-break-out-in-wyoming-over-senators-remark?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=news


I love the following! Even conservative Wyoming (home state of Dick Cheney) is getting fed up! You go, my Wyoming neighbors! Maybe we Coloradans will put on some tutu's of our own and we'll all meet up for Rodeo Days in Cheyenne!

A week after Sen. Mike Enzi told high school students that a man who wears a tutu to a bar "kind of asks for" a fight, his constituents in Wyoming are wearing tutus to school and work — and, yes, to bars — on Friday. Enzi has apologized for his "poor choice of words."

Protest parties are also scheduled through the weekend, and on Friday, people have been using the #LiveandLetTutu hashtag to share images of themselves wearing tutus. One image posted today showed University of Wyoming student Tyler Wolfgang wearing a suit and a tutu, posing at a campus building that bears Enzi's name.

"Our hope with the state-wide [efforts] is that even in small communities we'll get a handful of people to share a photo of themselves in the bar wearing a tutu," one organizer, Patrick Harrington of Laramie, tells member station Wyoming Public Media, "so we can show Senator Enzi that he really is representing a large group of people and a really diverse group of people in Wyoming."

Those efforts include a "tutu family game night" at a church in Cheyenne. Pub crawls are planned in Laramie, Pinedale, and Sheridan; bars are offering discounts to anyone in a tutu, and at least one establishment is also contributing part of its proceeds to gay pride events.

Enzi has apologized for the remarks he made at Greybull High School, in which he told an unusual anecdote in response to a question about how he sees the LGBTQ community in Wyoming. As recounted by the Greybull Standard newspaper, Enzi said:

"I know a guy who wears a tutu and goes to bars on Friday night and is always surprised that he gets in fights. Well, he kind of asks for it. That's the way that he winds up with that kind of problem."

At the time, Enzi said his anecdote illustrated the need for civility and mutual respect, citing Wyoming's "live and let live mantra," as WPM reported. But he was quickly criticized for not succeeding in making that point — and for doing so in an inappropriate setting.

Wyoming Democrats Chairman Joe M. Barbuto said Enzi's comment "was ugly and indicative of a kind of backwards thinking that has no place in today's society."

On Tuesday, Enzi, 73, issued an apology, saying, "I regret a poor choice of words during part of my presentation."

He added, "None of us is infallible and I apologize to anyone who has taken offense. No offense was intended. Quite the opposite in fact, and so I ask for your understanding as well."

The plan for a tutu protest was met with enthusiasm in Wyoming, even prompting a tutorial on making one's own tutu in Laramie Thursday night.

Demonstrators were also urged to keep the issues of bullying and civil rights in mind, with Eliza Hanson urging her fellow protesters, "Wear your tutu's this weekend but please take it seriously. Some of us 'wear tutus' on a daily basis and I would really appreciate it if you didn't try and make a joke out of yourself while wearing one."

Hanson continued, "Respect the cause, respect the oppressed. Stand up for something, but be aware of yourself, and be aware of the image you will be branding us all as having. Most importantly, be safe. Much love to everyone."

I was talking to a friend today and she told me

that her employer held back her paycheck today because of confusion over the ACA and the Republican new so-called"health plan." Sounded like her employer was trying to pull a fast one since the ACA is still the law of the land at least for another day or two. But I guess her insurance was up for renewal, and they wanted her to choose a new plan. She said they want her to pay an extra $400/mo for even the cheapest available plan and she can't afford it. I guess the health insurance companies just can't wait to start raking in bigger profits because I also got a notice from the insurance carrier who just so happens to cover my prescriptions via Medicare/Medicaid and the AARP and coincidentally enough, I got their letter in my mailbox today of all days. I have a disability and I'm forced to take a number of meds to help me deal with it. Well, my insurance carrier informed me that they were dropping coverage on THREE medications that I have been taking for years and that have actually helped. In return they want to substitute some snake oil stuff that I know for a fact won't help my condition because I was prescribed these things years ago with a very bad outcome.

They told me I could file an appeal to have exceptions made or have my doc file an appeal (like he's really gonna have the time for that). I guess this is just a taste of the things to come when the republicans get rid of medicaid, so I can buy an I-phone instead. I'm mad as hell about this and foresee another exhausting morning tomorrow when I wake up and start making endless phone calls. OOOH, I hate 45 and the Republicans so very, very much!

Tea Party Group Organizes Mass(?) Rallies in Opposition to Indivisible Inspired Grassroots Marches

Trump supporters are trying to organize mass rallies of their own in order to counter the anti-Trump nationwide marches and rallies that seem to being springing up from Progressive grassroots groups everywhere, often under the inspiration and advice from Indivisible!

An offshoot of the Tea Party – Main Street Patriots – with backing from Breitbart organized two nationwide rallies in the past week – one on 2/27 and another scheduled for today, 3/04. I’ve been checking on the Internet, trying to find news about today’s rallies and their turnout numbers. So far, it’s been pretty sketchy (4 pm MST) -heard about a 30 second mention on NPR - but perhaps more info will begin to roll in from the media outlets as the day progresses.

Updated 5:00 pm MST:

I now see DU is reporting stories that "dozens" showed up in NYC and about 100 in the state capitol of Maine.

7:15 pm MST update:

Denver Post just reported "over 100" Trump supporters showed up in the Colorado State Capitol for today's rally. Clear skies and sunshine, too.

9:00 pm MST update (this will be my final update):

The Oregonian/OregonLive's Eder Campuzan reported that 200 Trump supporters showed up in Lake Oswego, Oregon and were met by about 700 ANTI-Trump demonstrators. There were also some reports of clashes between the two groups.

Local station KKCI in Iowa reported that “dozens of Trump supporters” showed up in the State Capitol in Des Moines.

Indianapolis Star reported that 35 – 40 Trump supporters showed up in support at the Indiana State Capitol.

While this random sampling of mine is admittedly haphazard, I did try to include a cross section of the country and I did not "cherry pick," looking for stories that showed only low turn outs. My sampling came from the first few local news sources that showed up each time I checked Google. I used local reports because I noticed that the national media is referring to "thousands" of Trump supporters turning out. While this is true : 35 + 200 + 40 + ... will eventually add up to thousands if there were enough demonstrators turning up in enough towns across the country, it gives the impression that there were mobs of Trump supporters clogging the streets. This is patently untrue.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, Deplorables - you certainly are turning out to be a wimpy group so far.

I also discovered some reporting of last Monday’s rally on February 27th on the state capitol steps in Denver as covered by Fox Denver outlet. I include this one for the pictures of the "mob" of Trump supporters. I know what the steps of the State Capitol in Denver look like - I've been there many times, and I know what a big demonstration in downtown Denver looks like. Hint: NOT like the one photographed by Fox.

Fox stated that about 350 people showed up at noon on a bright, sun shiny day. The Denver metro area has a population of around 3.3 million, BTW. Check out the pathetic “crowd” in the pix on the Fox Link.

In a way, I’m not surprised that the blue part of Colorado – mostly the big population centers in the Denver/Boulder area - would field such a small turn-out of Trump supporters. But compare this with the turn-out for the Women’s March for Unity on January 21 on the other end of the state in conservative rural Colorado. The turn-out and the march in my little town of Cortez, pop. 8,000 was amazing! There are only 18,000 or so residents in the entire county and 8 inches of snow was on the ground and still falling at the time of our march.

Conservative Montezuma County which went 80% for Trump in the election turned out 500 marchers AGAINST Trump in the middle of what was almost a blizzard - amazing. Things are starting to become VERY interesting...

Progressive groups in Montezuma County have THREE more marches scheduled for the 11th, the 18th, and the 25th of this month. Wish us well everybody!

Check out the picture of us all in the snow in The Four Corners Free Press!

Women’s March for Unity draws 500 in Cortez
January 21, 2017

Women’s March for Unity Saturday – a demonstration for civil rights and progressive causes and a protest against Donald Trump’s administration.

Braving eight inches of slushy snow, the Cortez marchers walked down Montezuma Avenue from City Park to City Market and back along Main Street. They carried signs ranging in tone from amusing to angry to passionate: “The 1950s are knocking – don’t open the door”; “Sex change for Trump”; “Tiny hands off public lands”; “There is no Planet B”; “My p—y grabs back”; and the now-classic “Love trumps hate.” Some quoted Bible verses, such as, “I was sick and you looked after me” – on a sign expressing concern about the future of health care in America.

Meanwhile, marches were occurring in every state in the union, according to published reports. In Colorado, 100,000 people gathered near Denver’s Civic Center, according to the Denver Post. The protests appeared to indicate a newly energized progressive movement after a divisive presidential election in which the popular-vote winner by some 3 million votes did not take office.

Montezuma County strongly supported Trump in the election, choosing him by a 2-1 margin over Hillary Clinton. But Saturday’s march occurred without incident, drawing mostly curious stares or supportive honking and waving from passing drivers.

I just want my country to be OK again!

This cascade of information that has been coming down about the Traitor and all his pals in high office is just making me sick and more than a little scared. Are the Reputinans going to be disloyal enough to quash all this stuff out of shear lust for power? It's all so completely awful and unbelievable, I just want to cry. I love my country and the thought that we may have lost it is keeping me from falling asleep tonight.

How Доналд Трамп makes me feel we're all living A GAME OF THRONES

A Game of Thrones (Mi vida loca!)

(Written in reply to a post comparing the election of Доналд Трамп to being handed a plate of fish heads)

________________________________________
We have indeed been handed a plate of fish heads. However, if one is starving, a plate of fish heads presents any number of delicious culinary opportunities. I look into my boiling kettle of fish heads, toil, and trouble and I see – The Game of Thrones!

Prince Joffrey now runs the country and while winter is NOT coming, global warming has arrived and biologists inform us that the planet is undergoing its 6th Great Extinction Event ever recorded in the fossil history of life on this planet. Many species will become about as common as Daenery’s dragons – of which I believe there were three in the entire world. A Great Wall is to be built on our southern borders, but there will be no commander with the integrity of Jon Snow to take control of it. Besides, Jon Snow was killed by his traitorous friends. So much for that thought. Joffrey has turned potential allies in Latin America and the Middle East into enemies. Those who were already our enemies have used the waves of hatred now emanating from our nation as a warning to become even more implacably set against us. They sell their opium poppies and collect ever more money from their sympathizers to increase there arsenals of weaponry and become bloated with blood lust. The Taliban is not exactly snoozing in the high mountain passes of Afghanistan as Joffrey raids the royal treasury to increase the size and might of our military in order to destroy our enemies – the illegal aliens, the refugees from famine and war, those who do not belong to a faith with the first letter “C.”

Thus, Joffrey hones his military skills and tactics (such as they are) here at home before making yet one more attempt to assault Afghanistan’s bitter mountains. We are a nation of refugees and illegal’s. Our ancestors were labeled as criminals by their countries of birth in the Old World. Perhaps they were forced out because of their religious beliefs. Perhaps they were caught in a round-up of outlaws in Ireland or Scotland for daring to strike back at the iron rule of the British Crown. As Pogo so famously said, “We have met the enemy and he is us.” Already, in today’s news, we see that hate crimes against members of the Jewish faith have escalated. Their cemeteries are desecrated, bomb threats are sent to their community centers and schools. And of course there’s the infamous and unconstitutional travel ban against the people of the seven nations of evil (Muslims). Let’s not forget either about the “Dreamers” who now face deportation or else go underground. The Statue of Liberty is a lying bitch who should be deported herself. Let the Frogs have her back. She’s no longer wanted here.

Melisandre holds the leaders of the Kingdom under her spell. Science has been turned up-side down and made a matter of faith, rather than fact. We do not “believe” in global warming. The 97% of all reputable scientists and scientific organizations that continue to sound the alarm about climate change are dismissed as paid off liars and scoundrels who have formed an evil conspiracy against the big petroleum corporations. My heart bleeds for Exxon and all the rest. Truly, it does. Scientists now communicate with one another in secret – no different than Galileo under the heel of the Inquisition. Yes, Prince Joffrey, the sun does indeed orbit around the earth. Ah, let us behead those heretics, anyhow. They were so boring. No more EPA, no more National Parks – those will be parceled out and given to Joffrey’s henchmen in the West.

And to the East – to the East we have King Putin who is busily rebuilding his Soviet Kingdom with the help of Joffrey behind the scenes. The stage has been set for the apocalypse as the rabble applauds and the curtain begins to rise for the next exciting act. Me, I have dibs on the role of Aerya. I’ll walk thru the riots with my wheelbarrow of fish heads and throw them at the Pussy Grabber.

I just got back from my grassroots Dem organizing group and I'm Psyched!

My community of about 8,000 souls is in highly conservative ranching and farming country on Colorado's Western Slope. But the turn-out at the progressive, grass roots organizing meeting I was at this evening was tremendous! It was a standing room only crowd. When we asked who was willing to serve as officers for the County Democratic Party, EVERYONE was! We ended up voting in TWO people for every position - Co-Chair 1 and Co-Chair 2,Vice Chair 1 and Vice Chair 2, etc, etc. And lot's of enthusiasm about community out-reach to other groups who share our concerns - everyone agreed that we should go out in our community and talk about health care, women's right, etc., etc - not just as Dems but as people who are deeply concerned about our town, our county, our state, and our country. Lot's of excitement over INDIVISIBLE, as well - a group already getting much attention on this forum and across the Country.
500 hundred people from this red county marched in sympathy with the Women's March in Washington. May not sound like much, but our entire county has a population of less than 20,000 - again, the vast majority conservative - so this was huge for we local Dems. One of the things that also impressed me was how well-educated, experienced, and determined this group of people is - far above the tea party crowd by several orders of magnitude. People like the ones I met tonight using the tea party tactics advocated by the progressive group INDIVISIBLE would be nearly unstoppable, IMO. I along with many others have been going from despair to hope to defiance during the insanity of the first 11 or 12 days of the Traitor's rule. But from what I witnessed tonight, people are more than willing to fight back and fight back HARD! If anyone is not participating in their local democratic party organizing - shame on you! Get out there with your own local Dems. You just may be as amazed as I was tonight! We CAN and WILL fight back!

Senate schedules 6:30 am vote on DeVos BY ALEXANDER BOLTON - 02/02/17 06:27 PM EST

Source: THE HILL

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has scheduled a vote at 6:30 a.m. Friday, an unusually early time, to advance Betsy DeVoss nomination to serve as secretary of Education.

Senate Republicans say they are getting fed up with Democratic obstruction and the extra early vote will allow them to get a head start in running time off the procedural clock.

McConnell is confident he will have the 51 votes he needs Friday to end debate on DeVos...

By voting at 6:30 a.m., Republicans have a chance of confirming DeVos by late Monday but if Democrats drag out the post-cloture debate for the full 30 hours, it could lag intoTuesday.

McConnell and other GOP leaders are confident that there will be no other Republican defections on DeVos. They expect she will win confirmation next week with 51 votes after Vice President Pence weighs in to break an expected tie...

- more



Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/317675-senate-schedules-630-am-vote-on-devos

At State Department, 'Dissent Channel' In High Gear With Refugee Ban Protests

NPR:

At the State Department, employees are expressing concern via an official dissent channel about the Trump administration's temporary visa and refugee ban.

At the State Department, there is an easy — and usually private — way for employees to register their concerns about U.S. policy. It's called the "Dissent Channel." And today, an unusually large number of foreign service officers are using it.

A dissent cable says Donald Trump's temporary visa and refugee ban "runs counter to American values" and could be "counterproductive."

Trump's Immigration Freeze Omits Those Linked To Deadly Attacks In U.S.

The White House claims it consulted for "many weeks" with the State Department before issuing its executive order on Friday, temporarily banning visas for citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries and suspending the U.S. refugee resettlement program.

State Department officials who were involved in the refugee program deny this. One retired ambassador, Laura Kennedy, says the executive order did not read as if it had been reviewed by State Department lawyers or by consular or refugee officials.

"It is just, as the dissent message makes clear, inconsistent with values, with security aims of the administration, with process, with any number of things," Kennedy says.

More - this is very good stuff coming in from National Public Radio right now!

http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2017/01/30/512494230/at-state-department-dissent-channel-in-high-gear-with-refugee-ban-protests?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=news