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FBI: Russia, Iran have attempted to interfere with US election

US directory of national intelligence Ratcliffe announces the discovery

  • US has identified Russia, Iran as countries who have attempted to interfere with the US election
  • Has sent spoof emails designed to intimidate voters, incite unrest, damage Pres. Trump
  • Aware that Russia has obtained some voter information
  • intelligence community court threat, reacted swiftly
  • This is not a partisan issue
  • Prepared for actions by those hostile to democracy

The interference apparently came through emails threatening those who voted against Trump.

Radcliffe says that the email, apparently from The Proud Boys, is intended to hurt Pres. Trump. Of course, if a recipient was intimidated by the email, it might benefit Pres. Trump.
Regardless of the intentions, stopping interference in elections is certainly a prerogative. FBI’s Wray is on the wires saying:
  • The FBI will not tolerate 4 interference elections
  • Election infrastructure remains resilient

What’s priced in for the US election

It’s 76 days until the election

Biden and Trump picture
The deadlock in US economic stimulus negotiations highlights the political risk for the US coming out of the election. The sides simply can’t compromise.
At this point, you have to assume that most Americas have made up their minds about Trump, Biden and how they will vote.
In normal times, a Biden win would be the consensus. National polls in the past week show him from +4 to +11. Of course, these aren’t normal times and no one has forgotten the surprise on election night in 2016. Even with that, it’s worth remembering that Clinton won the popular vote by about what was expected, it was that a handful of states surprised. Her polling average was also only about +3% and she never reached this kind of spread.
Here’s how BMO sees it:

(more…)

Trump: Admin and Democrats are far apart on virus relief bill

You never know what the real state of play is

There have been so many positive and (mostly) negative reports from top officials about the state of play on negotiations. Ultimately, everyone believes in some kind of compromise and it could happen quickly. The congressional recess is Aug 6, so expect something right before that.
As for the near-term, expect Powell to offer several reminders to Congress to get moving.

Manifesto For 2015

Manifesto For 2015
 
Government has no right to confer economic benefit.
The benevolence of individuals, not government, creates a just community.
Rich and poor share responsibility to build society.
The greatest philosophy of governance is the balance of executive, legislative and judicial authority.
Civility is a worthy goal.
Government is incompetent in most areas in which it is currently active.
Theocracy kills.
Our challenges are planetary.
Humans are lonely without animals.
Glorifying thugs is civil suicide.
Union members are not the only people who work. 
Be circumspect in speech, for sowing wind reaps the whirlwind.
Propaganda attacks reason.
Wealth is a great good.
Benevolence is a great good.
Achievement is a great good.
The family is a great good.
Friendship is a great good.

Hitler's definition of democracy

Hitler, February 1945

Hitler, in speeches in Nuremberg and Munich, has given us definitions of democracy, yet these definitions are nowhere near explicit or conclusive. “Democracy in our eyes is a regime that is supported by the will of the people.(My New Order, 554) It is unclear as to whom Hitler means by “our eyes…”; one can assume he is talking of the German people. Furthermore, according to Webster, a regime is simply “a form of government or administration”. Hitler’s definition, in turn, becomes simple and obvious; the above definition taken literally does not waver from the consensus definition mentioned in the introduction; in fact it is broader, leading one to suggest that the word “regime” had negative connotations that were lost in the English translation.

Fortunately, Hitler has given us a more intricate definition of democracy, even likening it to an aqueduct or blood vessel: “Democracy is the canal through which bolshevism lets its poisons flow into the separate countries and lets work there long enough for these infections to lead to a crippling of intelligence and of the force of resistance.(My New Order, 405)