US Rep. Adam Schiff letter to Acting DNI Joseph Maguire – Re: Whistleblower Subpoena (13.09.2019)

Philippines: Senate President Vicente Sotto III signs the PHP3.757-trillion General Appropriations Bill for 2019 before its transmitted to President Duterte for review and signing (26.03.2019)

Philippines: Are there some porkies or not?

“One of the leading causes of obesity is the misbelief that, when it comes to juice, ‘100%’ means ‘sugar-free.” – Mokokoma Mokhonoana

In the Philippines, there been a long tradition of Pork Barrel or specific payout for government projects for Representatives in the Lower House, the House of Representatives and the senators in the Senate. Because this week has been hectic in touch with tradition. There are back and fourth. There is no end in sight for this rodeo. I will show pieces of it, because, I cannot make sense of it.

If there is, then there is, if its not, its not. However, after the recent week action in the headlines and following the wires. I got nothing. Because, even I am unsure. It is hard to know if there is Pork Barrel within the ratified Budget for 2019, which was ratified on Friday on the 8^th February 2019.

Let me show some statements that isn’t coherent, reporting that is not backing each other. From various of sources. Since I feel this is important, because there is lack of consistent messaging, therefore, the truth might surface later. However this is what I have by today.

GMA Reported: “Senators took exception to allegations by House appropriations chairman Rolando Andaya Jr. that they will get P3 billion each in pork allocation in the 2019 budget. Senate President Vicente Sotto III, in a text message, said the accusation of P3 billion per senator as pork “is a slur against the Senate.”” (Amita Legaspi – ‘ No P3-B pork in 2019 budget, senators insist’ (08.02.2019) link: https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/684334/no-p3-b-pork-in-2019-budget-senators-insist/story/).

CNN Philippines Reported: “He was referring to the funds that current House committee on appropriations chair Rolando Andaya said were illegal insertions made by Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno — a charge Diokno has repeatedly denied. Lacson said that around P51 billion of the controversial P75 billion funds have been distributed to all members of the House of Representatives in P20 million chunks. “Of this amount, 20 billion pesos was distributed equally among the almost 300 congressmen, which translates into P60 million per congressman plus additional allocations to those close to the leadership of the House of Representatives. These are all embodied in the General Appropriations Bill (GAB) or the House version transmitted to the Senate,” Lacson said” (CNN Philippines Staff – ‘Lacson: New House leadership continued pork barrel mess’ 08.02.2019, link: http://cnnphilippines.com/news/2019/02/08/lacson-andaya-arroyo-pork-barrel-2019-budget.html).

Manilla Standard Reporting: “In total, the Senate proposed some P25.4 billion in adjustments while the House introduced P20.65 billion in realignments or a total of P46.35 billion under the DPWH where legislators can identify specific projects. Andaya confirmed that each congressman will get P160 million in itemized projects” (Maricel Cruz and Macon Ramos-Araneta – ‘Congress approves budget’ 09.02.2019, link: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/mobile/article/287358).

Sen. Franklin M. Drilon Press Release: “The minority leader also denied reports that senators will get P3 billion in pork allocation, including a province in the Visayas getting more than P3 billion. He called the allegation “grossly unfair”” (Franklin M. Drilon – ‘Drilon says no to 2019 national budget’ 08.02.2019, link:http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2019/0208_drilon1.asp).

Sen. Leila M. de Lima Press Release: “Kudos to my colleagues in the Minority bloc – Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Senators Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros and Kiko Pangilinan – and, of course, to Sen. Ping Lacson, for their rejection of the pork-laden 2019 budget” (Sen. Leila M. de Lima – ‘Sen. Leila M. de Lima on her colleagues’ rejection of the pork-laden 2019 budget’ 09.02.2019, link: http://www.senate.gov.ph/press_release/2019/0209_delima3.asp).

We are clearly seeing mixed messages, but both sides of this. Where the allocated funds are seen as differently. Therefore, we will see if these allocated funds are for the Pork Barrel or not. Since, the various explanation for these funds are really special. They are showing something and how to interpret the budget itself.

If one side is lying, than they are receiving funds and telling porkies. I am not sure, because if it is, they have tried to be sophisticated, but somewhere the funds leaked out. Someone spoke out and then the ones loyal to the President and the Government calling it “offensive”. Which makes it all weird. Since, why should people lie about special pay-outs, wouldn’t that be a happy-day to see your bank-account to be pregnant?

The Pork Barrels are there maybe or maybe not. By this report and these statements, it could be anything. Certainly porky porkies and even slices of pork chop from those Pork Barrels. Peace.

White House: Memorandum for Matthew Georgs Whitaker (08.11.2018)

Post AG Jeff Sessions firing: Democratic House Representative retention letters to FBI, DOJ, DNI, NSA, CIA, IRS, Treasury, White House, SDNY, AUSA & Whitaker (07.11.2018)

Letter To Whitaker:

Letter to Pat Cipollone:

Letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray:

Letter to DNI Coats:

Letter to CIA Director Gina Haspel:

Letter to SDNY:

Letter to Stephen Mnuchin:

Letter to NSA Director Paul Nakasone:

Letter to IRS Commissioner Rettig:

 

Opinion: After the resignation of Sessions suddenly worried about Special Counsel Mueller’s Investigation!

Today, came yet another blow to the Department of Justice, as the President Donald J. Trump got his wish. He got rid of Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Even if that is victory for something, that one of the unfavorable West Wing goons left the White House. Still, there are lingering problems on the horizon, that cannot be escaped at first.

First the successor, which seems not to be the Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who is the man in-charge of the Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the man who gave him the opportunity to investigate in the first place. The successor, unless he or she recuses themselves, could interfere in funding and in collection of evidence gathering. Yet another level of tampering with the investigation.

Just like the President has done with firing Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Coomey, United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara and so on. The massive amounts of firing and tampering of evidence is a clear message from the President. He has long pushed the Attorney General Sessions. And today, the day after the Midterms, he unleash another salvo against the state.

There is nothing normal about this presidency, as there are several of the Trump Campaign Team of 2016, who has started to work together with Special Counsel, as they have pleaded guilty and gotten a plea agreement. Others has already started to serve time. There are Michael Flynn, Alexander Van Der Zwaan, George Papadopolous, Michael Cohen, Rick Gates, Samuel Patten, and Paul Manafort. That is just in the near sphere of the President.

This is not following the leads, as there been talks of grand jury of Roger Stone. Other wondering, when they are appearing to met with the Mueller. As there family members, as there Russian indicted and other people connected who is part of the case.

Therefore, with the knowledge from all these people, who have all been in close range of the President and within his sphere. There are a lot of evidence and gathering of intelligence, that could build a strong case against anyone. As the Special Counsel are collecting and building a case against the big-fish. That is why he has accepted plea agreements and going up the food-chain.

That is why today’s action is a sad one. That AG Sessions resigned or fired. Is a worrying sign, if the Republicans care, they would warn this and ensure the investigation continues. Nevertheless, but they have been spineless in actions towards the President. While we have to wait and see what this will do to Rod Rosenstein and his office as the Deputy. If the President dares to fire him, who resides over the Investigation.

Today, is not a good sign of the further implicated investigation, who is still going. As the President are trying to spite fear and also acts more reckless. Peace.

Opinion: Apparently, the Devil’s Triangle is already operating [GOP] at the Capitol Hill!

“WHITEHOUSE: Devil’s triangle?

KAVANAUGH: Drinking game.

WHITEHOUSE: How’s it played?

KAVANAUGH: Three glasses in a triangle.

WHITEHOUSE: And?

KAVANAUGH: You ever played quarters?

WHITEHOUSE: No (ph).

KAVANAUGH: OK. It’s a quarters game” (Washington Post – ‘Kavanaugh hearing: Transcript’ 27.09.2018).

I have been bugging out by this, not because Barney Stinson in How I Met Your Mother in the third season, episode 17 named the ‘The Goat’ explained what the Devil’s Triangle is or the “Devil’s Three way”. Which is two men and woman doing the nasty. However, what is bugging me is how one party has taken total control of the Capitol Hill and they doesn’t care of the checks and balances of the government. The only thing they value is to control and have power. Not for the message the party is sending.

That the day that Brett M. Kavanaugh was confirmed and voted in the Senate as the Associate Judge in the Supreme Court. The American Government is proven, that the values of the checks and balances of power is dying. The three branches isn’t checking each other, but just procedural manifested to fix it for the one party. Which happens to have the Executive Branch (President), the Legislative (Congress) and Judicial (Supreme Court). That is proven with what happen on the 5^th October 2018. As the Senate just got barely enough votes for having yet another judge at the Court. They did this without investigating the alleged crimes and cleaning the name of the judge. But this is in the same country, that you get shot in your car if your reaching for the dash in the wrong neighborhood.

The Capitol Hill is really become the devils triangle, where the moral backbone and proof that the Good Ol’ Party or the Republicans for that matter, does only live by one rule; theirs the rest can be screwed. If that is destroying families, deporting long-living now citizens and closing their borders. If it is hazardous trade policies, destruction of taxes and tax-relief for the riches, while the poorest are losing their benefits. The whole time has been a pillage to serve the donors and the multi-national corporations and not serving the public. The Republicans are really showing their imbalance and their greed.

The same greed is now showing with power. That the President is careless and reckless, that has been shown in business and now in politics. His ignorance and his blatant disregard for people have been shown since day one. That is why his petty politics also establish the precedence of controlling power, not ensuring the people are cared for or if the procedures are followed. As long as his use of the Executive Power is used for his personal agenda and not for the betterment of the Republic. That is why he has appointed a man like Kavanaugh. Even pushed it through, limited the scope of “investigation” and not even cared for the possible victims of the sexual assaults done by the judge. Because, as long as the Supreme Court has enough his side, he can take power again, when needed.

All three arms of the government is all under control for now by the Republicans. They have talked about caring about fiscal spending (scrapped it when they got in power), caring about procedure for appointments (not cared for that when they are power) and they are continuing this behavior. The last strike was with the Supreme Court this week.

They are serving the devils triangle, being two men screwing one woman. They are clearing screwing the lady justice and taking her from all angles. They are not leaving anything up to chance to secure yet another seat there. So, when in need like after the re-count of Florida for George W. Bush, they will have the upper-hand and enough votes to secure their causes. Just like whatever the Republicans are up to now.

What we do know now, is that no initial part of their play is about justice, rule of law or fair process. The whole government is about control, ensuring their men are in charge and at whatever cost. They will play victims, they will play petty and outrages, but only as a facade for their purpose. Just like they have done. They will do it again and again.

I just wonder, how long the US citizens accept to be screwed like this, in this devils triangle by the all the branches of government. Because, that is what is happening and the world is seeing it. Peace.

USA: House of Representatives – Commitee on Financial Services letter to Mnuchin “on the missing SARs documents from Trump Campaign Officials” (18.05.2018)

USA: MoU between the States of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island on joint Gun Safety legislation (22.02.2018)

USA: The “Thin Blue Line Act” is a shield to protect the Police, but not an amendment that will protect the civilians!

“Further, an excess of legislation defeats its own ends. It makes the whole population criminals, and turns them all into police and police spies. The moral health of such a people is ruined for ever; only revolution can save it.” – Aleister Crowley

This week a tabled law for House of Representative was voted in, not just any law, but one who is deciding the ability of the United States of America to put more convicts for certain crimes into death penalty. This act got the name “Thin Blue Line Act”, it was the Republican Representative of Florida Vern Buchanan. The bill had the massive amount of 21 Co-Sponsors some of them were Matt Gaetz (Florida- R), Lou Barletta (Pennsylvania – R), Tom Reed (New York – R), Ted Poe (Texas- R), Brian Babin (Texas – R) and Dana Rohrabacher (California – R). The rest was all Republican representatives as well, but just to give you an idea of who sponsored and who was behind it.

Why I am discussing this bill? Because the United States tries many times to lecture other nations about extra judicial killings and just behavior, but now in their own House of Representatives, inside the chambers who passes the laws. They have passed a significant law, that gives way to and will create possible more Police Brutality, instead of stopping the problem the Police has in the USA. The country where innocent often dies by the weapons in the hands of law-officers. In 2016 alone the Police Officers had a 145 deaths of those 63 by gunfire and 3 more by accidental gunfire. While the Police itself has had fatal shots and killed totally 963. This is official stats from the United States. Therefore, the issue is alive and the evident of vicious approach is clear.

H.R. 115^th says this: “To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide additional aggravating factors for the imposition of the death penalty based on the status of the victim”. As it continues it clear what imposition it needs, because who the victim is: “KILLING OR TARGETING OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: ‘‘(A) The defendant killed or attempted to kill, in the circumstance described in subparagraph (B), a person who is authorized by law— ‘‘(i) to engage in or supervise the prevention, detention, investigation, or prosecution, or the incarceration of any person for any criminal violation of law; ‘‘(ii) to apprehend, arrest, or prosecute an individual for any criminal violation of law; or ‘‘(iii) to be a firefighter or other first responder. ‘‘(B) The circumstance referred to in sub paragraph (A) is that the person was killed targeted— ‘‘(i) while he or she was engaged in the performance of his or her official duties;” (…) “‘‘(ii) because of the performance of his or her official duties; or ‘‘(iii) because of his or her status as a public official or employee.’’. Passed the House of Representatives May 18, 2017.

So the House of Representatives are clearly indicating with this law, that if Police Officers and Security Agents are getting in place where their life is in danger or they lose their life in their job. Than the Republic and State can prosecute the on penalty of death sentence. That means if someone put the life in danger for a Police Officer, the state can under the rule of law set precedence of what they deem as justice. This sort of law, does not answer if who fired the arms first or why the bullets hit the law-officers. Therefore, the amendment of the code for death penalty is just another shield for the Police, but not really securing the civilians or citizens. This sort of law and amendment of law will only seem to secure the lawful officers not anyone else.

This is all put forward for the ones who are either deemed unlawful or someone who breached the law already, a criminal and con-men, who are suddenly targeting the officers of law. That they are already criminal supposed to do more to conceal their crimes. So it is a possible car-chase or even just following a warrant, that if the defendant who might be unjustified deemed as a criminal, become even a greater suspect by the code of law. As the law now can give him or her a death penalty, as the possible criminal who is defending themselves against unjust lawmen can either lose their lives in a gun-rattling between officers and himself. And after the melee, the defendant can be charged with a sentence to death. So a possible amount of more innocent people dying behind bars or even get them charged for life.

Certainly this law is made to punish criminals even harder and in the time of Donald Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, this seems as possibility as their memos and orders are to give more power to the Police Officers and their Security Agents. Therefore, the possibility that the Senate would pass this amendment so they can charge even more people with the death penalty. But hey are not thinking of the Police Officers and Security Agents who are culprits themselves in violence in the United States. As the stats of 2016 are clearly telling. There are 66 Police Officers who died, while the Police Officers killed 963. This are evidence that the system is wrong, it isn’t only the Police Officers who should get shielded and death penalty on the defendants. It should be similar to the Police Officers if they kill someone innocent. That is if justice is the same and the same crime get similar sentence. But , that isn’t an idea that the Representatives of House is interested in. They are more involved in creating an atmosphere where they are solidifying their position, but not securing general justice in society. That is what sort of amendments does. This is to shield the Blue Lines, but making sure the defendants are not returning ever.

You can wonder if the Police Officers are shielded so much that they cannot be taken or getting charged if they are doing crime. This law should also incorporate that possibility, as the police officers in the United States has killed innocent civilians, shouldn’t they get the same sort of sentence for this? This was the Blue actually being a criminal and shooting without charges or warrants. They should also get the same treatment and charges, their authority and their role in society is to “serve and protect” not to “serve and neglect”. Therefore, they shouldn’t have the ability to stand over the civilians by all means, but serve them with justice and diligence. This sort of law will only make sure that more people get 25 to life, get sentence to death and make sure the ones who are possible criminals can be detained for life. Peace.