Joe Biden's Murica!

[adnj]

Biden-Harris Administration to Provide 804,000 Borrowers with $39 Billion in Automatic Loan Forgiveness as a Result of Fixes to Income Driven Repayment Plans

https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/ ... ment-plans

[SuperiorMan]

[adnj]

House Republicans propose planting a trillion trees as they move away from climate change denial



WASHINGTON (AP) — As Speaker Kevin McCarthy visited a natural gas drilling site in northeast Ohio to promote House Republicans’ plan to sharply increase domestic production of energy from fossil fuels last month, the signs of rising global temperatures could not be ignored. Smoke from Canadian wildfires hung in the air.

When the speaker was asked about climate change and forest fires, he was ready with a response: Plant a trillion trees.

The idea — simple yet massively ambitious — revealed recent Republican thinking on how to address climate change. The party is no longer denying that global warming exists, yet is searching for a response to sweltering summers, weather disasters and rising sea levels that doesn’t involve abandoning their enthusiastic support for American-produced energy from burning oil, coal and gas. ...

But the tree-planting push has drawn intense pushback from environmental scientists who call it a distraction from cutting emissions from fossil fuels. The authors of the original study have also clarified that planting trees does not eliminate “the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Planting one trillion trees would also require a massive amount of space — roughly the size of the continental United States. And more trees could even increase the risk of wildfires by serving as fuel in a warming world.

https://apnews.com/article/climate-chan ... bfa18b72c2

[adnj]

The latest state-by-state Biden vs. Trump poll results translated into electoral college delegates.

[The_Honourable]

Surprised this wasn't here sooner

Hunter Biden enters not guilty plea after deal falls apart

A plea agreement between federal prosecutors and Hunter Biden fell apart Wednesday after the judge refused to sign off on a deal that would have seen the president's son enter guilty pleas to two misdemeanor tax charges and enter a diversion program in lieu of pleading guilty to a felony gun possession count.

After the deal collapsed, Hunter Biden entered a not guilty plea.

The judge, Maryellen Noreika, deferred the decision on the plea deal, saying "you are telling me to rubber stamp the agreement." The parties have 14 days to brief her and the ruling could now be delayed for weeks.

Earlier in the hearing, Noreika questioned Biden on topics ranging from his history of addiction to his business ventures, both foreign and domestic.

Biden, in a blue suit, white shirt and a dark tie, appeared visibly frustrated as Noreika deferred the agreement.

U.S. Attorney David Weiss was present in the courtroom gallery, directly behind the prosecution team. When Hunter Biden arrived, he shook hands with each prosecutor, and waved to Weiss.

Soon after the hearing began, Noreika said she was confused by the deal's diversion agreement, which called for Biden to remain drug-free without committing additional crimes in order to see the gun charge dismissed.

While the defense lawyers and prosecutors wanted to keep that agreement separate from the tax matters, Noreika wanted to know if it was all part of a "package deal." Biden acknowledged that without the provisions of the diversion deal he would not be pleading guilty.

After the deal appeared to break down, the prosecutors and defense attorneys took three separate breaks to huddle and discuss ways forward. Inside the courtroom, Hunter Biden's attorney, Christopher Clark, at one point blurted out: "This was all negotiated!"

"I don't know what you're trying to accomplish," Clark said, speaking to prosecutors. "We'll rip it up!"

The effort was, in essence, high-stakes negotiation in real time, with a federal judge and a gallery full of reporters standing by. It failed.

Both sides had motivation to reach an agreement. For Hunter Biden, this was a chance to close the books on a tax investigation that has been hanging over him for years. For prosecutors, the deal avoided the risks of trying a case in Biden-friendly Delaware, against a defendant who failed to file taxes while in the throes of addiction.

The judge acknowledged the day's events had thrown the case a "curveball."

"I have concerns about the agreement," Noreika said. "I can't let him plea to something if he thinks he has protection from something and he doesn't."

The president's son had previously agreed to enter guilty pleas on the counts of willful failure to pay income tax, and admit to felony gun possession. Under the original agreement, it was unlikely the president's son would face prison time, which had angered Republicans.

Clark called the deal "null and void" after a prosecutor told the judge that Hunter Biden isn't immune from future charges in the investigation, including potential counts under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said as the hearing was wrapping up that "the president, the first lady, they love their son and they support him as he continues to rebuild his life."

"This case was handled independently, as all of you know, by the Justice Department under the leadership of a prosecutor appointed by the former president, President Trump," Jean-Pierre said. "So for anything further, as you know and we've been very consistent from here, I'd refer you to the Department of Justice and to Hunter's representatives who is his legal team obviously, who can address any of your questions."

What is Hunter Biden charged with and what was the plea deal?

Hunter Biden is charged with two misdemeanor tax offenses and a felony firearm offense.

The deal prior to Wednesday's court session included an acknowledgement that drug use was a contributing factor in his gun possession charge. A source with knowledge of the agreement said the diversion plan was expected to mean that for two years, Hunter Biden would have had to remain drug-free without committing additional crimes. If he fulfilled that successfully, the gun count would have been dismissed without a guilty plea.

The two misdemeanor tax charges relate to Hunter Biden's alleged willful failure to pay taxes for 2017 and 2018. A filing indicates that he earned more than $1.5 million in income each year. He has since fully repaid back taxes and fines, including $2 million reportedly paid to the federal government last year, with the help of a loan from his personal attorney. The felony gun charge relates to alleged possession of a handgun by a drug user in 2018. The filing identifies the gun as a Colt Cobra 38SPL, and Weiss said in a statement that Hunter Biden had it for 11 days in October 2018.

More: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/hunter-bid ... urt-judge/

[adnj]

Biden bans range of US high tech investments in China citing national security risk

The order – to be implemented next year – restricts investments in semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum tech and AI


China’s president, Xi Jinping, and Joe Biden meet at the G20 Summit on 14 November 2022. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order that will narrowly prohibit certain US investments in sensitive technology in China and require government notification of funding in other tech sectors.

The long-awaited order authorises the US treasury secretary to prohibit or restrict certain US investments in Chinese entities in three sectors: semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information technologies, and certain artificial intelligence systems.

Biden said in a letter to Congress he was declaring a national emergency to deal with the threat of advancement by countries like China “in sensitive technologies and products critical to the military, intelligence, surveillance, or cyber-enabled capabilities”.

The proposal targets investments in Chinese companies developing software to design chips and tools to manufacture them. The US, Japan and the Netherlands dominate those fields, and the Chinese government has been working to build up homegrown alternatives.

The move could fuel tensions between the world’s two largest economies, although US officials insisted the prohibitions were intended to address “the most acute” national security risks and not to separate the two countries’ highly interdependent economies. ...

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/ ... technology

[maj. tom]

The game is afoot because China is also putting huge taxes and export restrictions on rare earth metals needed to run the microchip and display tech world today. Plus they practically own much mining resources in Africa. China mines the majority of the rare earth metals today which leaves them with the burden of its pollution as well, while other countries just buy the product for manufacturing.

USA will need to find other sources and trade partners for the industry. Tech industry espionage will increase from China with that move from USA, as they seek to copy rather than innovate.

[adnj]

The conviction of a man for possessing a firearm while an "unlawful user" of drugs has been quashed by an appeals court, in a case that could offer fresh hope to Hunter Biden, who has been charged with the same offense.

Appeals court rules against longstanding drug user gun ban cited in Hunter Biden case

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court has ruled that drug users shouldn’t automatically be banned from having guns, marking the latest sign of upheaval in the nation’s firearm legal landscape and raising questions about a law cited in the case against Hunter Biden.

The opinion overturns the conviction of a Mississippi man, Patrick D. Daniels of Gulfport, who had two guns found in his car during a traffic stop last year and acknowledged using marijuana regularly but wasn’t accused of driving under the influence.

The appeals court cited the 2022 U.S. Supreme Court decision known as New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which said gun laws must have strong historical roots — a finding that led to challenges of many of the nation’s gun laws.

“Our history and tradition may support some limits on an intoxicated person’s right to carry a weapon, but it does not justify disarming a sober citizen based exclusively on his past drug usage,” the three-judge panel for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans wrote in Wednesday’s ruling.

The ruling raises questions about the future of the law, which also had a central role in the proposed plea deal for Hunter Biden, the president’s son.

Hunter Biden had been expected to acknowledge that he had a gun during a period when he was addicted to drugs but avoid prosecution on the count if he stayed out of trouble. The deal, which was roundly criticized by Republicans, also called for two guilty pleas on misdemeanor tax charges. But the future of the agreement is unclear after a judge raised concerns about it last month. ...

https://apnews.com/article/gun-ban-drug ... 932efd881a

[Dizzy28]

Speaking of Hunter Biden

Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday that the Trump-appointed US attorney who is investigating Hunter Biden has been given “special counsel” status after plea talks between the Justice Department and the president’s son fell apart.

This gives the senior prosecutor, David Weiss, more powers than a typical US attorney and puts the nation in uncharted territory – with three special counsels at the Justice Department currently investigating matters related to the sitting president, his son, and the previous president.

The move could also lead to a trial of President Joe Biden’s son.

Garland’s order appointing Weiss said he is authorized to “conduct the ongoing investigation … as well as any matters that arose from that investigation or may arise” as the probe continues.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/08/11/poli ... index.html

[adnj]

Biden’s age is a significant concern for voters

Three-quarters of the public think Joe Biden is too old to serve another term, including 69% of Democrats.

https://apnorc.org/wp-content/uploads/2 ... ne_AGE.pdf

[maj. tom]

I seriously want to believe that Biden has a plan with his 2024 VP on pulling a Gerald Ford as soon as he gets the 2nd term.

[SuperiorMan]

https://twitter.com/TuckerCarlson/statu ... 8844864846

[shogun]

lol. Poor Tuck, that clout/relevance chase eh easy since getting fired.

First he had to interview Trump and pretend to not "hate him passionately" after calling him "a demonic force" and leading an administration that had nothing to show. Now this claim. Rofl. Next week his special report on Bigfoot going woke and needing to be right-wing cancelled. Let's just hope Tuck doesn't swerve into slander and gets sued.

[redmanjp]

this might be the same guy

https://twitter.com/i/status/1699143909262151945

[shogun]

^Dude is a convicted felon and conman. Proves how much the right hates Obama though. Surprised Tucker was this desperate to escape his deepening irrelevance by platforming this dude, but I guess defamation suits mean nothing with Musk backing you?


Eminem hits Vivek Ramaswamy with cease and desist letter

In the letter dated Aug. 23, the company wrote to the presidential hopeful’s campaign it had “received communications from Marshall B. Mathers, III, professionally known as Eminem, objecting to the Vivek Ramaswamy campaign’s use of Eminem’s musical compositions (the ‘Eminem Works’) and requesting that BMI remove all Eminem Works from the Agreement.’

https://ijr.com/eminem-ramaswamy-cease-desist-letter/

[redmanjp]

'and requesting that BMI remove all Eminem Works from the Agreement.’ does that mean that at some point is WAS in fact part of the agreement to include his songs?

[adnj]

'and requesting that BMI remove all Eminem Works from the Agreement.’ does that mean that at some point is WAS in fact part of the agreement to include his songs?

Public venues must hold a license to play copyrighted works. Depending on the catalog licensor, political entities must also hold a license to play copyrighted works with the caveat that an artist can remove any copyrighted works from the license agreement at will.

Mathers action aligns him with a long list of artists who've demanded that certain politicians stop using their music in the past, including Bruce Springsteen, Adele, and more.

[Dohplaydat]

Eminem had really turned into a lil beyotch

[Dizzy28]

Biden became the 1st President to not be in NYC, Washington or Virginia for 9/11 commemorations and then proceeds to say he was at ground zero the day after back in 2001. Funny to see all the videos today showing him speaking at the Capitol on 9/12 at the special sitting of Congress that was called.

With the lost looks at the G20, his calling MBS Salam, then his mumble rap speech that followed and then his own staff cutting him off at his speech in Vietnam he has not been having a good week.

His dementia is getting harder to hide.

[Dizzy28]

It gets worse apparently

The US House of Representatives will open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, its most senior Republican has said. Kevin McCarthy said the inquiry would focus on "allegations of abuse of power, obstruction and corruption" into Mr Biden.

Republicans have been investigating the president since they took control of the House in January.

The hearings have found no concrete evidence of misconduct by Mr Biden.

They have, however, shed more light on business dealings by the president's only surviving son Hunter Biden, which Republicans say are questionable - and on Mr Biden's knowledge of his son's activities.

This is the first move in a political process that could result in an impeachment vote in the House of Representatives.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66779228

[zoom rader]

USA problems, can we get Rowlair impeached

[antlind]

It gets worse apparently

The US House of Representatives will open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, its most senior Republican has said. Kevin McCarthy said the inquiry would focus on "allegations of abuse of power, obstruction and corruption" into Mr Biden.

Republicans have been investigating the president since they took control of the House in January.

The hearings have found no concrete evidence of misconduct by Mr Biden.

They have, however, shed more light on business dealings by the president's only surviving son Hunter Biden, which Republicans say are questionable - and on Mr Biden's knowledge of his son's activities.

This is the first move in a political process that could result in an impeachment vote in the House of Representatives.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66779228

And rightly so. Biden is an idiot for ever running for President when he knew full well how much baggage his son is carrying. If he gets impeached then he has no one else to blame but himself and that idiot of a son.

[Dizzy28]

It gets worse apparently

The US House of Representatives will open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden, its most senior Republican has said. Kevin McCarthy said the inquiry would focus on "allegations of abuse of power, obstruction and corruption" into Mr Biden.

Republicans have been investigating the president since they took control of the House in January.

The hearings have found no concrete evidence of misconduct by Mr Biden.

They have, however, shed more light on business dealings by the president's only surviving son Hunter Biden, which Republicans say are questionable - and on Mr Biden's knowledge of his son's activities.

This is the first move in a political process that could result in an impeachment vote in the House of Representatives.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66779228

And rightly so. Biden is an idiot for ever running for President when he knew full well how much baggage his son is carrying. If he gets impeached then he has no one else to blame but himself and that idiot of a son.

You assume even in 2019/2020 that he had full mental faculties,

[redmanjp]

and now his son

https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/hunter-biden-indictment/index.html

What we're covering
Special counsel David Weiss has indicted President Joe Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, in connection with a gun he purchased in 2018. He is charged with three crimes — two counts for alleged false statements he made while purchasing the gun and a third count for possessing the gun while addicted to drugs. Read the annotated indictment.
Hunter Biden had previously reached a deal with Weiss to resolve the matter without charges, but that deal collapsed over the summer amid scrutiny from a federal judge and after a related tax deal unraveled.
Hunter Biden has been summoned to appear in court for an initial appearance on the charges, court filings show, but a date has not been set.
This is the first time the Justice Department has charged the child of a sitting president. The White House referred questions on the indictment to the DOJ and Hunter Biden’s personal attorneys, who say they plan to fight the charges.

[The_Honourable]

Can't see Hunter in jail with Joe as President. At the end of the day, that's his son and he would fight for him.

Probably a new plea deal.

[adnj]

Biden's attorney stated that he will most certainly cite the Bruen ruling and file a
motion for dismissal.

---------

Based on his admission, Daniels was charged with violating 18 U.S.C.
§ 922(g)(3), which makes it illegal for any person “who is an unlawful user
of or addicted to any controlled substance . . . to . . . possess . . . any firearm.”

An “unlawful user” is someone who uses illegal drugs regularly and in some
temporal proximity to the gun possession. See United States v. McCowan,
469 F.3d 386, 392 (5th Cir. 2006).
While Daniels was under indictment, the Supreme Court decided
Bruen. It clarified that firearms regulations are unconstitutional unless they
are firmly rooted in our nation’s history and tradition of gun regulation. See
142 S. Ct. at 2129–30. Daniels immediately moved to dismiss the indictment,
claiming that § 922(g)(3) is unconstitutional under that new standard.

https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/p ... 96-CR0.pdf

[adnj]

Biden trails Trump, Haley, Scott in 2024 race: poll

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4 ... race-poll/

[SuperiorMan]

Is the Master coming back with a vengeance?

[antlind]

Is the Master coming back with a vengeance?

There isn’t anyone to really challenge him. I’m willing to bet that he sits in the White House once again.

[Dizzy28]

Should have let his son be the bagman

New Jersey Democratic Senator Robert Menendez has been indicted for allegedly accepting hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes, according to the Justice Department. Prosecutors say Mr Menendez and his wife, Nadine, accepted gold bars and cash from three New Jersey businessmen. The senator and his wife accepted the money to "benefit the government of Egypt", prosecutors claim.

The charges come after a years-long Justice Department investigation. The pair each face three criminal counts: conspiracy to commit bribery, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, and conspiracy to commit extortion under color of official right.

The US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York is expected to hold a news conference at 11:00 EST (16:00 GMT) announcing the charges.

Prosecutors allege Mr Menendez and his wife accepted bribes including cash, gold, payments toward a home mortgage and a luxury vehicle from three New Jersey men: Wael Hana, Jose Uribe and Fred Daibes.

They did so in exchange for using Mr Menendez's influence and power as a senator to protect the three businessmen and to "benefit the Arab Republic of Egypt", according to the indictment.

Federal agents executed search warrants at Mr Menendez's home and found evidence of the bribery agreements, including over $480,000 (£391,000) in cash, much of which was "stuffed into envelopes and hidden in clothing, closets and a safe", prosecutors allege.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canad ... ium=social