Tag: Trump Tower
Nepotism103: Cutting Corners to keep the Family Close [Kushner-Ivanka Edition]
Well, over the recent day, there been news of a John Kelly of last year trying to stop the White House from giving Security Clearance to Jared Kushner, surely there would be speculations into the wife as well, Ivanka Trump, who is the daughter of the President, both who are in informal or non-specific roles in the Trump Administration. They are there, but not really there. Which makes the whole arrangement more hectic.
However, ever since winning the election, these two, the power-couple behind the President. Has lingered around him. Not that they have any expertise or knowledge in public administration. No, they are just relatives of the President and therefore, trusted counsel. They are not what you say, career civil servants nor been ideological driven to get the position they are in. It is not because of their education or their profession, they have no experience and no merits to prove their value. Therefore, only the blood-line and the relations are the reasons.
That is why it is even more striking, that the power-couple behind the President are under fire today again. Because of an issue that lasted so long. They went so long without proper security clearances. It is now proven that the President demanded the son-in-law to get the Top Secret Security Clearance, even if he could be compromised, lied about foreign communications and other forms, which is used to prove scrutiny and eligibility for security clearances in the White House. The same was done by his wife Ivanka, as she also had revise her forms and information to the officials for Security Clearance.
These two wouldn’t have gotten away with it, if they weren’t related with the President. The White House has already been in a hot mess of the Security Clearances, as there been plenty with interim security clearances and not gotten properly integrated and following protocol, as the staff is supposed to be clear and trustworthy of such. As they are keeping state secrets and ensuring the safety of the Republic. However, instead there been plenty of questionable behaviour and connections, that even the ones who was already flagged and in question got appointed with the likes of Gen. Michael Flynn.
What we have seen and read is yet another step of nepotism. Where the President has resident and ruled in favour of his family and his closest kin over the Republic. Where the President are ordering for his own sake and not for the safety of the Republic. That is why Security Clearance given to Jared Kushner is done in spite of the laws. The same can be said about the position and abilities Ivanka has too in the White House. They are there because of the President and nothing else.
This is what Tin-Pot dictators does. This is what autocrats and tyrants do, because they doesn’t trust anyone else than family. This is like the mafia and crime-families, this is not actions made by government or public administrations, which are taken serious. They would hire and appoint people of expertise and merits in the fields. Not hire family members and give them ultimate security clearances without having an official office or position in the Cabinet.
Instead, they are two internal satellites within the West Wing. Doing whatever they like, as their mission, their value to staff is bound by family loyalty and not by any ordinary function. They are not afraid of being fired or retired. The family will always take care of them. They are as thick as thieves and maybe they are. Since the investigations are following them and they have to answer for the public for the orders and the appointment of themselves. Since, it is a public administration and not a Sopranos. Feel me?
Kushner, explain yourself, why you revised your documents a million times, John Kelly didn’t advance you and later you still got clearance! Explain, also Mr. President explain that and why Ivanka got a vital role, when none is doing anything significant. Peace.
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Opinion: Is the White House for Sale?
This is a question that the Americans should ask themselves? Because, I am wondering as a foreigner, if my Kingdom doled some funds on Jared Kushner or on Ivanka Trump’s bank-accountants. Would the Foreign policy will change because of that? That is a important paradigm shift from the Trump Administration.
Other, then being supportive of horrific migration policies towards immigrants and the ones who has liven there for generations, because it is only White America who deserves to live in the United States. The rest just living their and squatting there for time being. That is the memo the White House is sending out recently.
However, are the for rent signs on the lawn in front of the White House? Are there ads on Craigslist? Or is there unknown LLC that are in connection with the White House and delegates the newly operations from the Trump Organization abroad. As the Trump Organization and Kushner Companies continues to operate more abroad, getting loans from Qatar and Saudi Arabia. If not getting dozens upon dozens of Chinese Copyrights, while trying to build Hotels and Golf Courses all around the world.
Is this how the arrangements are done now? That you shake hands, trade-off deals with foreigners to companies in connected with the Trump Royal Family and then let-off the hook of the Nation in question. So if the need the US Army, the US Trade or lifting of sanctions, that will be softer after signing of deals with Ivanka or Jared. Because the Foreigners will deliver them a few silver coins, if their sanctions are lifted or trade of state companies get a better deal with the US; Because they gave some little money to the White House Royal Family.
The royal family, which is allowed to be revised over 40 times and as they didn’t follow procedure for their forms. Still to get security clearance and all the perks of the White House. This is happening as they are still enlarging their pockets and trading away their value at the Public Office. They are really playing high stakes with the Republic.
It is like they can buy and trade policies now, the foreign interference is evident and the change of narratives comes quickly, especially if the ones in this Trump Administration gets a pay-off. If there is need in a government agency, if the lobbyist or company needs changes of policies.
Remember pay someone off, especially pay off the Trump Family and relatives, then you get the princess and the whole kingdom. They are easily giving way, as long as the profits are returned and delivered to a random company of the Trump Organization. If it is money laundering or any other operation. As long as the Trump businesses get their cut, they don’t mind, that is what they do.
The White House is for sale, a giant haul sale and the evidence is in every story published, as the days go. I wonder how much does it cost to get them colluding with the Russians? Because surely that had a initial price. Surely, cost more than a box of crisps and a trademark in China. Peace.
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Ye’ is now a lost-one: Gone Full-MAGA, Co-Signing Trump on a song!
“And I’ll never let my son have an ego
He’ll be nice to everyone, wherever we go
I mean I might even make him be Republican
So everybody know he love white people” – Kanye West from the ‘New Day’ off the ‘Watch the Throne’ (Released in 2011).
I really didn’t want to comment on Kanye West, because what is there to say. He swallowed the “red-pill” and taken it so hard. It is hard to say anything else. If it is marketing scheme or pure love of Republican values? Who knows at this point?
I do not know about his brotherly love, I knew he met with Donald Trump on the 13th December 2016 and has continued from there. Who knows what really went down, as he has since then collected memorabilia and become brothers. Whatever that means for Trump who always needs some loyal snooze-buttons to further his agenda. As long as they steal the spotlight or not praising the President’s massive ego. Because that hurts him and then he will throw that person under the bus. Right now Ye is on the Trump-Train. For whatever reason that might be.
However, it is hard to make sense out of it, I had a feeling when he returned to Twitter, and was poetical and trying to mystic. That he had some sort of marketing plan behind it. Not like he would drop a project without any sort of foreplay. That wouldn’t be Ye. He needs the whole machine behind him, the orchestras and the whole company delivering the needs to played on every radio, be on the screens and be in talks of the town.
Now he steering into controversy. That must be because the beat he created to the recent song with T.I. sucked. The beat was boring and pale. It will not turn into fine wine, let me tell you that. It was neither soul or the beats we recognized from the past. Maybe it general laziness or that the controversy supposed to overshadow the quality of the song.
When Ye drops line like this on the ‘Ye Versus the People’, which was released yesterday:
“I feel a obligation to show people new ideas
And if you wanna hear ’em, there go two right here
Make America Great Again had a negative reception
I took it, wore it, rocked it, gave it a new direction
Added empathy, care and love and affection
And y’all simply questionin’ my methods” – Kanye West (Ye Versus the People, 27.04.2018).
It is hard to hear these bars, these lines and take it as nothing. Because the man in the past didn’t sound like this. We all change, like I have had a personal political journey with life. But I have my reasons for my changes. Its been from a liberal to more socialist view, because of the visions of benefits for society. I wonder what is his reasoning for rocking it? What did he do, other than the meeting? Did he say to Trump to hire Ben Carson for having a brother inside the Cabinet? Because there aren’t any or much positive political policies for Ye’ kind or African-American Community, either less and harder policies hurting these communities. If it is immigration wise or if it economical. These communities are hit hard, also the suspension of government funded programs and so-on. There aren’t much or anything Trump has done to make better for Ye.
Therefore, I have to take some bars from College Drop-Out that was released on 2004:
“Now niggas can’t make it to ballots to choose leadership
But we can make it to Jacob’s and to the dealership
That’s why I hear new music and I just don’t be feelin’ it
Racism’s still alive, they just be concealin’ it” – Kanye West (Never Let Me Down from the College Drop-Out, Released 10.02.2004).
It’s hard to hear the same man praising Trump and his agenda. A man that has no scruples to misuse White Supremacy, Anti-Immigration Slogans and let the state misuse ICE-Agents against own citizens. To get the support and Co-Sign from Ye. That is not easy, that is hard. Especially, when Ye used spit like this. It is hard and weird. No matter what reasons, it is hard. He has changed and Trump gave him a reason to do so, I guess. But at this point in time, the Republican’s are concealing their racism. They are doing it with the Dreamers, Muslim-Ban and everything else they can hit on minorities.
Therefore, it is weird to have Ye on this side of the political spectrum. It is like he is blind, because the President is praising him for his efforts. Taking a cup of tea in the Twinkle Tower in Manhattan and sipping the Kool-Aid. Who knows, but is not intelligent.
Even some bars from the Late Registration:
“Went from bein’ a broke man to bein’ a dopeman
To bein’ the President, look there’s hope man
This that inspiration for the Moes and the Folks man
Shorty come and see his momma straight overdosin’” – Kanye West (Crack Music from the Late Registration, 30.08.2005).
I don’t know if he plans to drop inspirational bars like in the future, because he switched to Luxury Rap and self-involved material long time ago. Just like Lil Wayne has to spit about Codein, Sex and Haters. That is just the game for these guys. However, there has been a social conscious side of Ye’, it is still there, but a dramatic shift in topics and defense.
“See that’s the problem with this damn nation
All Blacks gotta be Democrats, man, we ain’t made it off the plantation” – Kanye West (Ye Versus the People, 27.04.2018).
It is the narrative that has shifted, the defense of his acts now. Instead of being social conscious, he is now taking a very ordinary defense of Trump. It is like if we don’t like him, we have to be democrats. But that hasn’t been the direct issue, if it was the older conservative party, it would still have cracks, but it would have made more sense. That is why Powell and Rice was in the Bush administration. An Administration Ye’ spoke ill about, which did far less damage to the African-Community, than the current one. Even if the Bush Administration didn’t care much, they didn’t stop vital programs for the inner-cities and the poorest communities, in the same fashion as Trump. So the issues are really something significantly changed within the artist and person, Kanye West. Which wasn’t there in the past.
He is not the guy I used to listen too. Ye is gone full-MAGA. He will soon have talks directly with Tomi Lahren, be on Diamond & Silk, Hannity and whatever else craziness. Maybe even be on Fox & Friends and also InfoWars. Because why not? The hat shouldn’t be enough. If that is all, then it was easy treat from the President, instead of giving Ye something good for the time and energy. He is giving low-cost attribution for the Co-Sign and only one losing Ye. A fair trade for the President, indeed.
That is a victory for Trump in all of this, he get a Co-Sign and it cost him nothing. Not even 130k pay-off. Just barely minimum and a signature. Better then the rip-offs of Trump University. Ye took and shake his hand, thought he was brilliant and moved to become a supporter. If so. Kudos Ye, your not as socially conscious as I thought you were, your spirit wasn’t as enlighten as I thought. Because, the possibility of getting caught in the world-wind took you and now, you were let astray. Peace.
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The White House Sack-Race Continues: Secretary of State Tillerson sacked, because Trump is a ‘moron’!
The former Exxon-Mobile CEO and Russian Friendly Businessman Rex Tillerson was lucky enough to have 13 months as the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State had just left from meeting with Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta before his supposed travel to Western Africa and Sahel Region for the Security issues there, as well as the partner-states of the AFRICOM there. After visiting, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Kenya. Clearly, the Secretary never got the chance.
Not like the White House in this day and age, that people expect to have the positions for long. This is just over 30th people who has left the West Wing since January 2017. The turnover rate of appointed officials is huge and insane. But that is the way the stable genius works apparently. I was skeptic to the appointment of him, he seemed like the guy to circumvent the sanctions and be able to bring Exxon-Mobile and Gazproom into business. To make sure the oil dealing could happen.
While the big-shot Rex Tillerson was fired, the same happen to the President’s own assistant John McEntee, who was escorted out. Together with the resignation of Communication Director Hope Hicks and Chief Economic Financial Advisor Gary Cohn. The last few days has been brutal in regards to staff. This is just a little group of the people who has left the building. The stability of the administration is such a pale state, you would be worried if a I-Hop would lose this much of staff and had to recruit and train. You would be worried as a costumer if you knew the turnover at the particular shop was this big.
Tillerson, a man of 13 months, what did he do? Other than getting ridicule and being mocked by the President. This happens hours after he was in Kenya, but also after commenting on the spy-scandal in the United Kingdom. Where Tillerson said the Russians was involved in the poisoning of the spy. This is something that was countering the White House. Because the White House will not directly blame the Russians. Hence, since Tillerson went outside his safe space, he now lost his job. That is how it looks like.
Somehow, when writing about the White House, the Russian involvement always come snickering out of the wood-works, or in the sense of the Trump Administration. Out of the Tanning machine on the second floor. Tillerson was unaware of the firing, just like former FBI director James Comey was, as he was in Los Angeles for function of some kind. Now Tillerson came home early to Washington, since he canceled parts of his Africa trip. Clearly, the pressing issues was there, but he couldn’t solve it or Trump had cheerios on his mind.
What we do know, he has somebody to exchange him with CIA’s Mike Pompeo. One of his favorites. We will wonder how long he will in Trump’s graces, since fires and hires willi-nilly and isn’t hesitating.
Tillerson didn’t deliver for his former oil-company, you can wonder what he has achieved. Since the State Department hasn’t hired the needed staff in many regions. Therefore, not getting the knowledge or relationships needed to deliver the program of the staff there. But we are forgetting, in the Trump Administration, it is only Trump that matters. Not the state, nothing else. Making America Going Apeshit. That is what is happening.
Know that the Trump administration has no currently functioning State Department. They have a new head, but he will be clueless for while. Not like after 13 months Tillerson achieved anything. The reason is Trump and the leadership he has, with is praising his ego and nothing else. Peace.
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Opinion: Who will plead the fifth? Sorry, my bad, who want to be hired as the White House Communication Director now?
Yesterday, yet another White House Communication director resigned, the White House under the Presidency of Trump is weird. It is chaotic and this being bluntly. Now that the longest serving Communication Director Hope Hicks resigned, we know that the position isn’t any good. That is evident with the frequent changes of the position. Not weird as well, those incoherent messages of policy must be hectic for someone assigned to spread the information from there.
With that in mind that Michael Dubke, Sean Spicer and Anthony Scaramucci, all came and went. They all served in capacity, the one that we know the least about is Dubke, who was Priebus affiliate and worked in Right Wing Media in the past. Spicer came through the Republic party, while Scaramucci seemed more like a golfing-buddy turned apprentice at the White House. While the hiring of Hicks, was another fellow associate and employee directly from the Trump Organization.
Therefore, that she resigns is a sign of lost hope, after the public defence of boyfriend Rob Porter, and now questioned in the Russian Probe for 8 hours. Clearly, the pressure within the White House is hot. She was in an impossible position, where she couldn’t win. That was evident, with her history with Trump and her close association through business and campaigning. Therefore, if someone knows the real Trump, the man, the self-made legend in his own mind. Hicks would know by the years spent at the Trump Tower and by his side.
These other Communications Directors have not had this standing, they have not had the previous history, even if Scaramucci want to profess of his genuine friendship with him Like that is it, when he was hired and fired, quicker than toast of bread. It amazing that this shortly into his term, that he has 4 Communications Directors and so much changes of staff. It isn’t strange that many lacks Security Clearances and whatnot, they don’t get the time to even scrutinize the forms before the government agencies can dispense what sort of clearance they need or can get.
That Trump who promised to bring the best and brightest, clearly cannot pick them out of bucket, he just brings friends, cronies and family into it and hope they will solve the issues he creates. That is how it looks from the outside. It doesn’t look like a steady ship, it looks like it is sinking and with no moral authority, what so ever.
We can wonder if General John Kelly, the Chief of Staff will have any say in the newly open position or if any suitable candidate want to get there. By now it’s seemingly a position no one should want, because Trump destroy and deflect, lies and deceive anyone for his personal benefit. Therefore, if you want to walk on eggshells and trade his water, you should go there, but if you want a job worth having. Get hired somewhere else.
If there was someone out there who wanted this now, it must the likes of Katrina Pierson, Kayleigh McEnany or even Tomi Lahren. These are the ones who is suitable to be hired and fired, quickly one by one. Therefore, they can continue to spread the narrative and let Sarah Huckabee-Sanders continue to lie in public, just like her boss. It says a lot about the state of affairs, when individuals like these comes to mind, when you are thinking of someone to replace Hicks. Because any ordinary person doesn’t want to be in the line of fire, any ordinary person don’t want to be in a place where you know your days are numbered. It is just a matter of time, before your cut loose, just like the rest of them.
Now we can just wait and see, who will plead the fifth? Sorry, who will be the fifth Communication Director at the White House under President Trump. Peace.
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White House Chief of Staff Memo from John Kelly to McGahn, Hagin, Sessions, Coats and Wray – “Re: Improvements to the Clearance Process” (16.02.2018)
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Opinion: US Code might allow the White House to Appoint Trump Family Members, but it’s doesn’t make it less questionable!
“3 U.S. Code § 105 – Assistance and services for the President: (e) Assistance and services authorized pursuant to this section to the President are authorized to be provided to the spouse of the President in connection with assistance provided by such spouse to the President in the discharge of the President’s duties and responsibilities. If the President does not have a spouse, such assistance and services may be provided for such purposes to a member of the President’s family whom the President designates” (Cornell Law School).
I don’t know about you, but it’s just one of these days, where you see entitlement in the New York Gang or the Trump Administration. This was made and prepared for the President Donald J. Trump, as he was swearing-in and starting his term. Because the Office of Government Ethics (OGE), who is in-charge of checking and making the sure the personnel and staff is following the codes and procedures for their roles in government. Seriously, the OGE Lawyer worked the laws in his favor, even when I struggle to see it. My first question after reading the US Code 105 Title 5(d), did the President loose his wife? Therefore, because of his tragic loss, he needed counsel from son-in-law Jared Kushner and oldest daughter Ivanka Trump inside the White House. How can you spell the code wrong, “If the President does not have a spouse”. True she was in New York the first months of the Presidency. Still, she was still his spouse, meaning that “he had”. But before I rant, take a look into key parts of the reasoning for the appointments of his family inside the White House!
“Section 3110 of title 5, also known as the anti-nepotism statute, states that “[a] public official may not appoint, employ, promote, advance, or advocate for appointment, employment, promotion, or advancement, in or to a civilian position in the agency in which he is serving or over which he exercises jurisdiction or control any individual who is a relative of the public official.” 5 U.S.C. § 3110(b). The statute expressly identifies the President as one of the “public official[s]” subject to the prohibition, and a son-in-law is a covered “relative.” Id. § 3110(a)(2), (a)(3). Moreover, under Article II of the Constitution, the President exercises “jurisdiction or control” over the White House Office as well as over the rest of the Executive Branch. See Myers v. United States, 272 U.S. 52, 163–64 (1926); Inspector General Legislation, 1 Op. O.L.C. 16, 17 (1977). Less certain is whether the White House Office is an “agency”—a term that section 3110 defines to include an “Executive agency,” thereby calling up the definition of “Executive agency” generally applicable to title 5, see 5 U.S.C. § 3110(a)(1)(A); id. § 105. But whether or not the White House Office meets this definition (a subject to which we will return in Part II, infra), we believe that the President’s special hiring authority in 3 U.S.C. § 105(a) permits him to make appointments to the White House Office that the anti-nepotism statute might otherwise forbid” (Koffsky, P:2, 2017).
“A President wanting a relative’s advice on governmental matters therefore has a choice: to seek that advice on an unofficial, ad hoc basis without conferring the status and imposing the responsibilities that accompany formal White House positions; or to appoint his relative to the White House under title 3 and subject him to substantial restrictions against conflicts of interest. Cf. AAPS, 997 F.2d at 911 n.10 (declining, after holding that the First Lady qualifies as a “full-time officer or employee” of the government under FACA, to decide her status under the conflict of interest statutes). In choosing his personal staff, the President enjoys an unusual degree of freedom, which Congress found suitable to the demands of his office. Any appointment to that staff, however, carries with it a set of legal restrictions, by which Congress has regulated and fenced in the conduct of federal officials” (Koffsky, P: 16-17, 2017).
I will not jumping jacks around this OGE Lawyer Koffsky, but office that is run by the President is an Executive Office, that issues Executive Orders and Executive Memorandums. That if followed by current law and within provisions within the state because legal and acts that all citizens has to follow. To subject the White House into a sublime role of the state is demeaning, even if he needs support of the branches of government like the Courts and Congress. But that doesn’t make the White House into a playhouse for playboy bunnies, its the place where executive orders and legal minds meet to determine the future of the Republic. It’s insulting that Koffsky is belittling the office and the White House, so it fits legally President role and his ability to appoint family members.
Yes, the President is allowed to seek advice and that ad-hock with family members. That is without doubt, but that is different ones in while speak with an uncle in Louisiana before making a decision that matters for both United States and the World itself. There is problematic to hire family into the White House, as their supposed restrictions and the boundaries of their roles. Since the family bond will not be cut, but be ever present in the decision making.
That Jared Kushner is a Public Official is clear with his title and responsibilities, as a Senior Advisor to the President, who is working on American Innovation, Peace in the Middle East and combating the Opioid crisis in the United States. Ivanka Trump is by title the Assistance to the President. Both of them has had a public role and been acting as Public Officials. They have been there, traveling with the President and even taking his place when he was tired or wanted to relax. Like Ivanka Trump did during the G-20 in July 2017, when the not-elected family member took the seat G20 Leaders Table. So her assistance goes further than ordinary public officials. Since, this sort of role would usually end on Secretary of State and the Vice-President. However, it isn’t the case in the matter of Trump Family.
“Enforcement. While the statutory language bars the appointment of relatives as well as the acceptance of such appointments, enforcement of the prohibition may be limited. The remedy expressly provided for violating this prohibition states that the appointed individual “is not entitled to pay, and money may not be paid from the Treasury as pay” for that person. The statute itself does not require nor does it provide expressly for removal of the individual from the federal civilian position. As noted above, the provision was directed at stopping the practice of placing relatives on the government payroll, and thus the law assures that a relative so appointed may not be paid from federal funds for any such service. The statute likewise does not provide a penalty for the public official who appointed the individual. However, it may be noted that for some rank-and-file positions, not of a confidential or policy making nature, the appointment of a relative may involve a “prohibited personnel practice” by the appointing official” (CRS Report & Analysis, 2016).
Here is another one giving leeway for the possible hiring of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, that is if they are in their roles unpaid and with ranks. Even, that is an issue with the role of the Senior Advisor Kushner and all his positions, even the clearances he needs to be able to fulfill his duty at the White House. Ivanka has also been part of the close-knitted leadership of his fathers. She been part of meetings and such. So both of them has been have been close to confidential material most likely, as they work so close with their relative, the President.
Just like covered in People Magazine in January 2017: “Though Kushner’s appointment does not require Senate confirmation, it is a controversial one: Anti-nepotism laws forbid the hiring of relatives to Cabinet positions, but are less clear on whether they can be appointed to White House staff roles. In American history, anti-nepotism laws are actually a relatively recent development: They were put into place in 1967 by then-President Lyndon B. Johnson not long after one of his predecessor’s appointments raised eyebrows” (Pearl, 2017).
So even if the law and the Anti-nepotism law are put in place to accept family members in White House roles. Still, the nepotism is in full affect. There is no half-step on that. The United States should have a hard time accepting the appointment of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump as Senior Advisor and Assistant to the President. All of this has entitled them and given them a special role in the Executive Office of the United States. What is clear by the U.S. Code 105, title 5(d) and will always stand out for the provision in the code that said this: “If the President does not have a spouse, such assistance and services may be provided for such purposes to a member of the President’s family whom the President designates”.
The President has a spouse, his third wife, Melanie, therefore he doe not need such assistance and services. Instead, they are using the titles in the anti-nepotism statutes, they can most likely not be as valuable as these words. However, Koffsky wrote this: “or to appoint his relative to the White House under title 3 and subject him to substantial restrictions against conflicts of interest”. These words are saying that its set substantial restrictions to the office, even as the President has let them be a vital part of his term, Kushner is nearly saving half of America and the Middle-East. Ivanka is publicly part abroad and in Washington. It’s not like they are restricted in that manner, but creating conflicts of interests. That should worry anyone caring about the honest of the public office.
Therefore it was striking what Jason Chafetz said in January 2017: “According to Josh Chafetz, a professor at Cornell Law School and an expert in constitutional law and legislative procedure, the White House is not regulated in the same way as other administrative agencies. “The bigger issue for the administration is not so much about the technical bounds of these nepotism laws, but it just looks bad,” Chafetz said. “I don’t think there’s anything legal that can be done in terms of the appointment. It just looks like there’s a pattern of cronyism that has emerged, especially in conjunction with the cabinet appointments.” (Delkic & Mallin, 2017).
It’s enough. Peace.
Reference:
Koffsky, Daniel L. – ‘Application of the Anti-Nepotism Statute to a Presidential Appointment in the White House Office’ (20.01.2017)
Cornell Law School – ‘U.S. Code › Title 3 › Chapter 2 › § 105’ link: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/3/105
CRS Report & Analysis – ‘The Federal Anti-Nepotism Statute: Limits on Appointing, Hiring, and Promoting Relatives’ (12.01.2016) link: https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/nepotism.pdf
Delkic, Melina & Mallin, Alex – ‘Nepotism Laws Don’t Apply to Jared Kushner Appointment, DOJ Says’ (21.01.2017) link: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/nepotism-laws-apply-jared-kushner-appointment-doj/story?id=44951811
Pearl, Diana – ‘Donald Trump’s Son-in-Law Has Hillary Clinton to Thank for Skirting JFK-Inspired Nepotism Rules’ (11.01.2017) link: http://people.com/politics/jared-kushner-nepotism-laws-donald-trump/
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Opinion: Trump’s Turnberry is a loser in Aberdeenshire, while Energetica is winning!
In 2008, the business-mogul, the American businessman and Golf Estate builder Donald J. Trump came with giant promises and that a modern golf field in and around Aberdeen would not only be profitable, but also become a major boost of the economy in the North Eastern of Scotland. Now years after and thanks to ‘the Ferret’ and Rob Edwards tireless seeking of information. There are now evidence of the operation the last two years. This after the troubles with neighbors and destruction of the dunes. An environmental disaster done for supposed benefits of business gained by the golfing operation and the hotel on the property. Clearly, this has not happen.
Because on 12th July 2017, the Ferret got the information from the Aberdeenshire Council. This documents that was delivered are revealing of how the lacking promises are delivered to the North Eastern of Scotland. The Trump Organization evidently pumped their swagger-up and sold their tricks of trade without actually having what it takes to build a profitable and establishment worth visiting.
In 2014, the Golf Recreation Scotland Limited or the Turnberry at Minnie in Aberdeenshire lost before taxes £ 3,603,000. That is not a positive results, neither is it in 2015, when the company lost before taxes £ 8,396,000. So the business there isn’t cracking or growing, it is actually going terrible. Within two years lost nearly £ 12 million British Pound. That is not small pocket change and also worrying since the promises made are not in this regard.
Another fact from the document are that in 2014, the whole company had 344 hired, operating staff was 305 and 39 administrative. So as the time goes in 2015, the total staff is 337 working there, operating staff 297 and 40 administrative. Therefore, the company isn’t really big or having a strong impact of jobs, considering this was supposed to be a place that boosted economy. Not only is the golf-course losing money, it is also being short staffed and having few people hired.
The salaries in total has gone from £ 6,796,000 in 2014 and in 2015 it was £ 6,020,000. Therefore, the salaries paid out to the staff isn’t substantial for the changes of environment. The boost of the Aberdeenshire, is not happening now or near future. As the Turnberry at the Minnie.
The profits after the cost of sales in 2014 are £ 3,454,000 and in 2015 it were £ 3,725,000. So the profits have not really gone up. Even if the turnover went from £ 9,209,000 in 2014 and in 2015 it went to £ 11,410,000. Even if the turnover went up with £ 2,000,000, the profits went only up about £ 300,000. So the percentage after cost are minimal. This with the concerning level of staffing. It seems like the Turnberry isn’t made profitable or neither operational in a way that they promised the Scottish government in 2008.
Also, because of the issues with the profits, turnovers and the salaries. The taxation for 2014 were supposed to be £ 774,000, but because of losses they paid none. The similar was in 2015 it was £ 1,697,000, but because of the losses the there were none. So the Aberdeenshire and the North East of Scotland. Has really not earned a dime on it. The salaries haven’t been substantial either.
That this isn’t substantial in any sense that in Aberdeenshire alone, it is over 261,000 people. The total employment is at 132,100. The Turnberry or the Golf Recreation of Scotland and was in 337 people. Therefore, the promises was not kept. While Donald Trump has claimed the Energy building and the wind turbines destroying his business.
With the stark difference to Aberdeenshire Council:
“Energetica has attracted £260 million of a potential £750 million investment in its first five years. Construction spend of over £500 million (present value – PV) is expected across the Energetica business parks over the next 20 years. The gross jobs accommodated by new business space on the
parks could be expected to generate around £5.1 billion (PV) gross GVA per annum in 2025. New business space expected to be developed on the Energetica parks could accommodate around 12,400 jobs by 2025” (Aberdeenshire Council – Aberdeenshire Coucil, July 2016).
Therefore, the Energetica actually spends monies in the area, they will hire up to 12,400, which is massive amount of workforce. Also possible adding 12,400. Can doubt a golf-course that is already running badly, will get turnover or even since it losses money. The Energetica will spend fortunes and also generate money in Aberdeenshire. Totally different from what the golf-course will generate. The destruction of the Minnie dunes for the Turnberry clearly hasn’t paid-off.
Golf Digest in 2016 had this statement on the place: “Here is what Turnberry is not: A traditional, lay of the land, or lovably quirky links. The course, which has been through many iterations in between its use as an air base in times of war, has always been fairly straightforward, a fine examination of many shots with beautiful views” (…) “Turnberry makes no apologies for being an Americanized version of an authentic links. Trump added the same 10 foot wide ryegrass walkways that he insisted on through the dunes at Trump International in Aberdeen. While perhaps too clean and carpet-like for most, they do add an elegance to walks as your approach Ebert’s square tee boxes (which fight the landcape a bit)” (Geoff Schackelford – ‘DONALD TRUMP’S TURNBERRY: THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE DELIVERS WITH HIS RENOVATED AYRSHIRE COURSE’ 20.07.2016).
So clearly, his vision has to improve the experience, but business-wise it has been pathetic. With time the Trump Organization might earn monies on it. But right now, the promises are not kept. Neither, seems to be possible, the one that will make difference and boost to Aberdeenshire is the Energetica investments into clean-air and windmills in sea. Peace.
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Statement by U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin on Charlottesville and Yale Classmate’s inquiries (19.08.2017)
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