"The Obamas' non-stop jet-setter vacay continues. Sorry, Sasha."

Monica Showalter  "Continuing on in their new life as rich wastrels mooching off leftwing billionaires, the Obamas have continued their quest for non-stop vacation by posing for pictures on a $300 million luxury yacht owned by Hollywood bigshot David Geffen in Tahiti. The A-listers were there with them: Bruce Springsteen, Tom Hanks, and Oprah Winfrey on their longest of spring breaks on Marlon Brando's hideaway resort on Tahiti. Not exactly a hideaway given that the Daily Mail has the story and photos.

"I suppose they have a right to do it and if Gefffen wants to waste his money this way, no doubt in expectation of a future payoff when the next Democrat is elected, one supposes this is their prerogative.

"What's unseemly is how different it is from the picture they painted of themselves leaving office. President Obama said he intended to stay in Washington for the time being, renting out a luxury house in tony Kalorama. not to continue to politically meddle, he assured, but to ensure that his young daughter Sasha, now a high schooler at the exclusive Sidwell Friends Academy, got as much of a normal childhood as she deserved and could complete her high school without too much family trauma. Get a load of this treacly account here.

"Turns out that those needs went by the wayside, now that David Geffen's yacht beckoned. The house, it turns out, seems to have been an abode for onetime Obama consigliere Valerie Jarrett, who actually lives and cooks up political meddling plots there.

"The other unseemliness is that Obama made a big deal about public service being his post-presidency operating plan, serving others, returning to his community organizer roots, helping mentor young black men. Last December, he vowed to do the work of 'My Brother's Keeper' for life. Well, what's that promise compared to David Geffen's yacht?

"I could* care less if they want to be rich wastrels and get their pictures in the tabloids. But it's impossible not to be disgusted with how they marketed their exit originally to the public as so much selfless service and giving/ The only people they are serving are themselves."

*"Couldn't care less". Think about it.

Hopefully: How Don made Jong’s Nodong go wrong

From the UK Sun: "They say US agents may have infected the hi-tech electronics in tyrant Kim Jong-un’s rocket with an undetectable virus that caused a massive malfunction." . . .

"Experts later said it was possible the medium-range ballistic rocket, thought to be a Nodong, was brought down by a US cyber attack.

"North Korea is forced to import the high-tech electronics used in its missiles.

"US agents are believed to have infiltrated the supply chain and may have planted undetectable “malware” viruses inside Kim’s missiles.

"As soon as a launch was detected, a signal could have been delivered to the infected component via satellite from the US National Security Agency headquarters in Maryland.

"Defence analyst Paul Beaver said: “It is perfectly feasible the US brought down this missile.

“ 'Their cyber warfare capabilities are now highly advanced.

“ 'As soon as military satellites watching Sinpo detected an imminent launch, a team at the National Security Agency would have got to work." . . .

Wouldn't you love this to be more than wishful speculation?

http://legalinsurrection.com/2017/04/branco-cartoon-kim-jong/

VIDEO: Berkeley cops sit in patrol car and watch as Trump supporters attacked

The American Mirror  "There were numerous reports from those on the scene that Berkeley police largely stayed back as Antifa agitators took pot shots at Donald Trump supporters on Saturday.

“ 'As the violence escalated police in Berkeley stood down and retreated from the crowds,” reporter Tim Pool tweeted.

 Follow

Tim Pool 

✔@Timcast

As the violence escalated police in Berkeley stood down and retreated from the crowds. I have never seen so few police at an event like this

7:29 PM - 15 Apr 2017 · Berkeley, CA

 
•  1,5741,574 Retweets
 
•  2,8542,854 likes

“ 'I have never seen so few police at an event like this.”

"One observer claimed police “ran away,” despite several Trump rally attendees being attacked."

Even a leftist Mother Jones reporter saw this and reported on it.
Video

"Mother Jones reporter Shane Bauer saw two officers at a patrol car, not engaged in protecting citizens from violence."

Shane Bauer 

✔@shane_bauer

I tell a police officer I've been seeing people get beat up all day and they haven't been around. "Okay, and?" he says.

5:11 PM - 15 Apr 2017

 
•  8,7158,715 Retweets
 
•  8,2278,227 likes

“Hey, how come you guys are hanging back?” he asked an officer standing in an open door of the car and another sat in the back seat.
“That would be a question for the chief of police,” an officer sitting in the driver’s seat responded.
“You want a public statement, right?” the standing officer asked the reporter.
“I would refer you to our public information officer.”
“Do they told you to hang back?” Bauer said.
“As I said, I refer you to our public information officer,” the cop responded.
“I’ve been watching all day people get beat up pretty bad and I haven’t seen you guys around much,” Bauer said.
“Okay, and?” the officer responded.

"Numerous videos show Trump supporters being beaten in the streets as police failed to keep the two sides apart."ew image on Twitter

MEDIA BLACKOUT: First Lady Melania Trump’s Visit to Home for Abused Girls Goes Unreported

The Gateway Pundit   "How does the national media try to control how Americans perceive the Trump presidency? One way is to not report on actions that make the Trumps look good. Take for example the Good Friday visit by First Lady Melania Trump to HomeSafe, a home for abused girls in Lake Worth, Florida,located a few miles south of the the Winter White House at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach where President Trump is spending the Easter weekend with his family." . . .

First Lady Melania Trump visits HomeSafe, photo via HomeSafe.

"The First Lady’s visit to HomeSafe was unannounced, however a press release was issued by HomeSafe and several photos were posted online including at the @FLOTUS Twitter account.

"Yet, with the exception of the local Palm Beach Post and FootwearNews which focused on the shoes she wore to HomeSafe, no media reported on the First Lady’s visit." . . .

"Excerpt from the HomeSafeFL press release (photos here):

This morning, First Lady Melania Trump made a surprise visit to HomeSafe, and visited with the girls living in one of the five residential group homes run by the agency. Mrs. Trump brought gifts for each of the girls and spent time in the home visiting with all of them. In addition, she brought Easter Baskets and stuffed bunnies for other clients served by HomeSafe.

“We were thrilled to have the First Lady here and for our girls to spend time with her,” said Matthew Ladika, CEO of HomeSafe. “What a unique experience for them. This is something they will never forget.”

The First Lady spent about 45 minutes at the agency. The girls she visited with are victims of abuse, ages 12-17, who have been removed from their family and placed in HomeSafe’s residential program for treatment of the trauma they have suffered…”

Apparently not all in North Korea are robots

ISIS could take lessons on executions from the "little fat kid" Kim.

Report: North Korea soldiers face punishment for Kim Jong Un jokes

. . . "News of cadres of the second army corps slandering Kim Jong Un reached all the way to the People's Army's General Political Bureau, and the arrested cadres are to be severely punished," the source said.

"The group had "compared Kim Jong Un to a kindergartner," a joke that began to spread covertly across the military unit, according to the source.

"Other soldiers referred to Kim as a mentally ill patient in their jokes, the source said.

"Kim is so unpopular among the cadres that another joke, suggesting the North Korean leader is more outrageous than his father Kim Jong Il and grandfather Kim Il Sung combined, refers to him as "Kim squared." . . . 

"Kim is increasingly unpopular in the country.

"In December, anti-Kim propaganda leaflets that read, "Let us overthrow Kim Jong Un" were found in the city of Pochonbo." . . .

Retired British Colonel doesn't see war coming to North Korea

From the UK Sun: "This will not lead to a war"

By Richard Kemp, retired British Army Colonel

I DON’T think this will amount to anything at all. North Korea knows it cannot possibly survive an attack by them against either the US or its allies.

Its dictator would not last long, so I think there is no chance that they would initiate any serious military action.

The Americans are not interested in conflict with them, so they will not initiate anything.

I also believe the Chinese are interested in calming the situation down.

I think the actions of Trump in Syria and Afghanistan, if anything, make conflict with North Korea less likely.

Both the strikes he ordered were legitimate and proportionate, and sent  a message around the world that you do not mess with America anymore.

They signalled that you may have been able to mess with America under Obama  — but you cannot do the same with Trump or you will suffer for it.

That deterrent is far more likely to prevent a conflict than provoke it. So I would say don’t worry  — there will not be a conflict between the US and North Korea.

The statement added: “The closer such big targets as nuclear powered aircraft carriers come (to the Korean peninsula), the greater would be the effect of merciless strikes.”

But talk of pre-emptive action against the rogue state continues to swirl as experts estimated the country would be able to hit Western targets within four years.

Former CIA officer Dennis Wilder told ABC Kim would be able to strike at both the US west coast and Australia very soon if he was able to keep developing his missiles.

"US 'SABOTAGED KIM'S MISSILE LAUNCH' 

Former foreign secretary Malcolm Rifkind claims American intelligence has foiled similar nuke tests."

If we can hack the launches, how about we blow them up on the launch pads? Rockets can be replaced, but the launch facilities would be a whole 'nuther thing. TD

America’s enemies are emboldened by eight years of cowardice in the Oval Office

War: The Necessary Insanity  . . . "All of which gives context to the present moment. America’s enemies are emboldened by eight years of cowardice in the Oval Office. Our allies have become distrustful of us. To reverse all that, President Trump has sent a clear signal to the world, but it will take more than a few bombs to deter the madmen who intend to kill us. It will take popular support from Americans, support for a massive commitment to battle, and, if it comes to that, the endurance of tens of thousands dead. Is that insane?

"Half of all Americans are already more on the side of the enemy than on the side of freedom.

"Theirs is the true insanity."

N Korea missile launch fails, says South Korea

The cartoons capturing the imagination of Trump's America

America BBC  "Antonio Branco, an editorial cartoonist, is known for his conservative take on current affairs.

"He says he's a fan of a "president that talks directly to the people" and thinks conservatives are now getting their message across in online media after being slow to do so initially.

"Branco shares what he thinks about liberal "overreaction" to Trump and the current state of political speech."

Mr. Branco's site is at Comically Incorrect. As his cartoons demonstrate, Tony does not suffer fools gladly.

Much more here.

Car ploughs into group of people on the Sidewalk in Palma

Vlad Tepes Blog  "A driver of Northern African background drove onto the pedestrian walk at a main traffic road in Palma on Saturday morning. Five people who were waiting at a bus stop were injured, the Spanish sister newspaper of MM, Ultima Hora report on their webpage.

"The driver of the vehicle was arrested. He is being charged with battery and endangering the safety of the traffic. Word is that according to police, the young driver of Moroccan nationality lost control over the car. The car came to a stop at the outer wall of a branch bank.

"Panic broke out immediately after the accident at the scene of the accident at the Avenida Alejandro Rosselló near the central Plaza España. Police started a large scale operation to get the situation under control quickly. Initially, there is no information about the backgrounds of the accident which occurred around 10 AM CET.

"According to Spanish Media reports, the police are now investigating if it is a simple traffic accident, or if other motives could lie behind the incident.
One of the victims suffered grave injuries. Ultima Hora tweets that the injured are four tourists from the Northwestern Spanish region Galicia, all of them old age pensioners, and one young person from Palma." . . .

BareNakedIslam

Nikki Haley: A star is born on the UN stage

Washington Examiner  "Nikki Haley, on the job barely 12 weeks as ambassador to the United Nations, has become a driving force in President Trump's move to reassert American leadership abroad.

"This was most obviously on display in the days surrounding Trump's decision to punish Syria for using chemical weapons. In a globally televised presentation before the U.N. Security Council, the former South Carolina governor bluntly admonished Damascus for its barbarity, and, just as significantly, scolded Russia in similarly plain language for propping up dictator Bashar Assad.

. . . 

" 'She's doing a good job of talking tough, but that's not diplomacy," said a Republican who previously worked at the U.S. Mission to the U.N., and requested anonymity in order to speak candidly.

"Accomplishment at the U.N. is measured through critical resolutions and punitive sanctions. Americans, particularly conservatives, often dismiss the importance of U.N. action, but the organization carries weight in other countries. To deliver, Haley's is going to have to learn how to negotiate support for U.N. action from countries' whose interests, and values, aren't aligned with the U.S.

"That means winning over authoritarian countries like Russia that can't be swayed by the kind of eloquent public shaming the ambassador leveled recently during a U.N. session to discuss the crisis in Syria. It means securing the backing of moderate Muslim nations that can be persuaded to side with the U.S., but that, because of domestic politics, won't if Haley is too forceful an advocate for Israel, a key American ally." . . .

Former Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich In Bed With Kim Jong-Un

Make that "former congressman", but still a Democrat.

Fox Commentator In Bed With Kim Jong-Un

The main sponsor of the anti-THAAD tour is the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), a self-described “revolutionary Marxist party in the United States,” and its front, Act Now to Stop War & End Racism (ANSWER).
Individual endorsers of this campaign include Marxist academic Noam Chomsky and former Democratic Congressman Dennis Kucinich, who is now a Fox News contributor.

. . . "It’s fascinating that Kucinich is now a leader of the campaign against defending South Korea from a communist attack.

"His “message of solidarity to the Korean people in the struggle to oppose the THAAD missile ‘defense’ system” reads like something written by a North Korean propagandist. “THAAD is not a technology for peace,” Kucinich says. “It is for war.”

"Kucinich says, “It could be argued that the installation of such a system, whether it works or not, is a provocation (‘first the shield, then the sword’). Added to the joint U.S./South Korean military exercises, it places an additional burden of tension to already strained relations with the North. I would instead urge greater reliance upon the wonderful capacity of the Korean people to engage in diplomacy with the brothers and sisters in the North, to avert conflict.”

"It is signed by Kucinich with the biographical information, “Member of the United States Congress, 1997-2013. Democratic Candidate for President 2004 and 2008.”

"It certainly looks like a major figure in the Democratic Party is acting like a foreign agent for the North Korean regime. There seems to be more evidence of his work on behalf of Kim Jung-un than there is for Trump being a Russian agent." . . .

Trump’s MOAB Drop Triggered a Tweet You Need to Read

unofficialnetworks-meet-daniel-riley-former-marine-vail-skier-double-amputee

National Review  "I want you to read this tweet, sent after today’s MOAB drop and written by an American patriot and a man I’m privileged to know, Johnny (Joey) Jones:

“I lost my legs because my gov’t was afraid to use the tools they had and saw me as expendable. I wish I’d had this admin.”

In response to online argument, he further amplified his point:

“We begged to use bombs on the minefield ghost town I lost my legs clearing.”

And again:

“Because, I believe, more of us would’ve come home alive and whole if we’d used bombs to eradicate enemy safe havens – Feel free to disagree.”

. . . 

"By the way, I quote these tweets not to spark any anger against the man Jones is addressing, Daniel Riley (who’s also a vet and amputee; he lost his legs to an IED in Afghanistan), but to highlight an important and painful point about our almost 16-year-long war. Excessive American caution has cost American lives and American limbs, and it has left families and friends of the victims with deep psychological wounds. Those wounds would be grievous enough in the best circumstances, but they’re compounded by the fact that many of the decisions not to shoot, not to use artillery, or not to drop bombs were based on a combination of rules of engagement and military misjudgments that were transparently foolish at the time.
. . . 

"Obama was notorious for not only implementing strict rules of engagement but for vacuuming an enormous amount of military decision-making authority straight to the White House. It’s hard to think of a more disempowering practice. It’s hard to think of a practice better calculated to lead to timidity in the field. Trump seems to be bringing a change, and it’s a change that’s long overdue. "