Oil as of 1:00 PM 28th is back up to $33.44 barrel; even with the Saudi's not backing off a single drop of production and the Iranians putting out 500,000 barrels a day now. Almost seems like the traders are playing with the market a bit? Feds did not raise rates and appears no rush too at the moment. But with gas at $1.65 to $1.70/ gallon for the moment, no one is complaining. Laugh now; cry later.
Army official: Security in Afghanistan is worsening Washington Post
Army Lt. Gen. John Nicholson Jr. testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, before the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination to become the next top American commander in Afghanistan. (Alex Brandon/Associated Press) WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama’s nominee to be the next American commander in Afghanistan said Thursday the security situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating and assured senators he will do a thorough review of the U.S. troop levels needed to stabilize the war-torn country. Army Lt. Gen. John W. “Mick” Nicholson, Jr., told the Senate Armed Services Committee he will have a better sense of conditions in Afghanistan within a few months.
Four Star he is replacing is "retiring". Bureaucratese for being forced out; did not get desired results even with not enough troops/ resources- shame on him. Good thing we have a Commander-in-Chief with his thumb on the pulse of the situation.
How the FBI Could Force DOJ to Prosecute Hillary Clinton
Published January 27, 2016 By Jim Geraghty, The National Review
Could the Hillary Clinton e-mail saga end with FBI Director James Comey resigning in protest?
Ken Cuccinelli, the former attorney general of Virginia, knows the laws regarding classified information firsthand. In his private practice, Cuccinelli defended a Marine lieutenant colonel court martialed on charges of possessing such information outside a secure facility. He says Clinton’s actions in the e-mail scandal clearly satisfy all five requirements necessary to sustain charges of mishandling classified material, and constitute a breach perhaps even more glaring than the one for which General David Petraeus was convicted.
Like Petraeus, Clinton was clearly “an employee of the United States government.” Like Petraeus, Clinton obtained and created “documents and materials containing classified information” through her work at the State Department. In response to a Congressional inquiry earlier this month, I. Charles McCullough, III, the inspector general of the intelligence community, declared that an intelligence official examined “several dozen e-mails containing classified information determined . . . to be . . . CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET, and TOP SECRET/SAP information” residing on Clinton’s server. (SAP is an acronym for ‘special access programs,’ a level of classification above top secret.)
Like Petraeus, Clinton “knowingly removed such documents or materials.” Cuccinelli points out that she actually committed this crime on a significant scale three separate times: First, by setting up her e-mail system to route messages to and through her unsecured server, then by moving the server to Platte River Networks, a private company, in June of 2013, and then by transferring the server’s contents to her private lawyers in 2014.
It is almost like we are being teased? Another article seemed to hint that Mr. Obama has just sent her an "all clear" on the investigation? Losing Mr. Comey would be a shame as he is noted for being a "Professional" and no politics kind of guy. But if it could somehow force a Trial or at least an indictment at this point would maybe be worth it?
Did Obama just send Hillary Clinton the all-clear on the FBI investigation?By Michael Goodwin Published January 27, 2016
New York Post
Each day brings new details about the classified information Hillary Clinton had on her homebrew server. The disclosures are inevitably followed by demands that she be indicted.
Color me skeptical that she will face criminal charges, especially after President Obama’s kind words for her.
His praise of Clinton’s experience in an interview, twinned with his comparison of Bernie Sanders as a “bright, shiny object,” were widely interpreted as a Clinton endorsement.
Correctly so, but there’s more to it. Obama wouldn’t be endorsing Clinton if he intended to let the Justice Department indict her. Thus, I believe his remarks also were meant to signal the all-clear on the FBI investigation.
As interviewer Glenn Thrush put it, Obama “couldn’t hide his obvious affection for Clinton or his implicit feeling that she, not Sanders, best understands” the complexity of the job.
While the White House insists that Obama remains neutral, Thrush quoted an aide saying the president is “clearly thumbing the scale for Hillary.”
Now, the above article would have a far better smell to it that the first one? She is far and wide Mr. Obama's best hope for that infamous third term to carry his programs to Glory. More Taxes; more spending; more ruling via Executive Fiat.
Got some really good news the other day. A Financial Investment Company where I have an IRA account sent me a " you have to start taking money from it or else" letter put out by the IRS. That was NOT the good news. The good news was I finally that guarantee on much longer I could expect to be a member of the living on this spinning globe we call Earth. The IRS has pretty much gave me another 25 1/2 years on THEIR actuarial tables.
For some time, I was wondering why so many folks were positive on the longevity they had left? I am somewhat ashamed I was never on a first name basis with God or His Beloved Son. So as a mere mortal, I just went day to day and did the best I knew how with no guarantees. That problem has been removed thanks to the U.S. IRS. And I hope you folks can understand tongue in cheek?
Going to the City Council meeting tonight. That is going to be interesting to say the least.
As I noted above, I did go to the Meeting (7:00 PM to about 8:15). Am adding this about 8:30 PM. It was interesting with the presentations as I suspected. The most was that of the Mayor, Council, Recorder all of whom did not ask for increases per se and most especially up too now for salaries. It is coming and since the end is close, it will have to begin to surface with the Budget Meeting on the 2d of February; possibly under the ambiguous "budget discussions".
Now even though I have been told time after time that NO ONE from the City reads my blog, Mr. Rapp did and I noted it would happen circle the wagons around the employee that I was questioning on where the snow blowers came from; the wearing of City apparel by both he and his wife in an off "shift" situation.
Mr. Rapp said the City had NO blowers and No manpower to run them if they did. Even had Mr. Metz up shooting out from behind a wheel of a Vienna Conestoga :-). Okay so no blowers and where ever they come from is a non event. I don't care if he hauled them in from his family or a junk shop sale. In fact I am going to do what separates an adult male from what I would call a man. I will say I was wrong on the blowers and apologize for any misconceptions I may have had or stated? See, is not a problem to admit one made an error. But takes a man to admit it. Learned that decades back.
However the issue of wearing City apparel because it helps to protect a person from whatever in the weather situation is still not a go with me. I would easily note the wearing of the coat by the missus was not addressed only protecting the lad from his wearing his coat. I will ask this: since they were clearing snow from driveways around them and not on the streets per se the argument is a little stretched. And even though they behaved as IF I had said nothing good about them doing those three driveways; I would say read earlier postings. I clearly Atta Boyed those efforts. But since this is an Election Cycle, it does appear a little iffy as no one out for the Gramma's in past years?
None of the above changes other issues that were not addressed so I am of the thought that I am still correct on that truck/ break times/ tool use borrowing. So I have no problem with saying when I am wrong and until more is shown still feel there are open issues.
Mr. Rapp and Mr. Metz gave Atta boys to all the Public Works folks as would be their wont and I have no problem with that. It just shows a denial level on that one or two or are possibly not up to snuff? I have noted several times with no hesitation that there are a lot of good folks working in the City.
Every entity has a bell curve with a couple on one end that are not quite where they should be and a few on the other end that carry the water for the whole place when the hammer hits the metal and something needs that extra effort. 'nuff said
(Paid for by the Candidate- Lawrence Wilson for Mayor of Vienna)