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Portland hits feds with $500 fine every 15 minutes fence stands outside besieged courthouse

Sam Dorman
Fox News
Wed, 29 Jul 2020 00:00 UTC
Fed law enforcement officers
© Reuters/Caitlin Ochs
Federal law enforcement officers in Portland, Oregon
The city of Portland, Ore. is fining the federal government $500 for every 15 minutes it maintains unpermitted fencing outside of the federal courthouse that has faced nightly attacks amid ongoing protests and rioting.

City Commissioner Chloe Eudaly said in a statement Tuesday that the fencing is obstructing the street outside of the courthouse. As of Monday, she said, the federal government owed Portland $192,000.

"We intend to collect," said Eudaly, who added that she was
"committed to doing everything in my power to end this federal occupation and move forward with our community's reckoning with racial injustice and our efforts to transform our approach to policing and public safety."


Comment: So the first thing that comes to mind (in a violent uprising, where clearly help and leverage is needed) is blackmailing the federal government with a firm intent to collect? On a gripe over a fence?


Comment: Perhaps it comes down to 'what the rioters actually do' to indicate in how massively destructive the potential of their actions and the level of jeopardy for all concerned - versus a city's inability and unwillingness to self-correct a potentially deadly and ongoing situation it then appropriates for political assassination:
Oregon's governor claims she reached a deal with the Trump administration that will see a withdrawal of federal agents that were sent to Portland after a courthouse was attacked, but DHS says they are staying until violence stops.

"After discussions with the vice president and administration officials this week, the federal government has agreed to my demand and will withdraw these officers from Portland," Oregon's Governor Kate Brown said.

Part of the agreement will involve state troopers providing protection for federal buildings like the Mark O. Hatfield US Courthouse, which is where federal agents had been deployed after protesters attempted to burn it down, she added.

In her announcement, Brown called the federal authorities an "occupying force" and claimed they "brought violence" to the city, despite the fact that they were only deployed in the first place because protests had turned to rioting and damage to federal property.

Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf announced in his own statement about the agreement that there will be a "robust presence" of Oregon State Police in downtown Portland to ensure federal buildings and law enforcement officers do not become the targets of Black Lives Matter protesters.

"The violent criminal activity directed towards federal properties and law enforcement will not be tolerated, state and local leaders must step forward and police their communities," Wolf said, warning that the Department of Homeland Security will not tolerate such "criminal behavior."

In later tweets, Wolf clarified that federal agents will not be leaving until they know local authorities can properly protect law enforcement officers and federal property.

"We will maintain our current, augmented federal law enforcement personnel in Portland until we are assured that the Hatfield Federal Courthouse and other federal properties will no longer be attacked and that the seat of justice in Portland will remain secure."

Wolf also said he is glad Oregon is "correcting their months-long error."

Hours before Brown's announcement, President Donald Trump told the press at the White House that federal agents would not be leaving "until they secure their city" and warned that if it was not "secure soon," the federal government will have no choice but to "go in and clean it out."

The president later doubled down on these thoughts in tweets claiming "there would be no Portland" if the federal government had not stepped in, and they will do so again if Brown and Portland's mayor, Ted Wheeler, "do not stop the crime and violence."

This comes less than a day after Attorney General William Barr's tense hearing in front of the House Judiciary Committee, where several Democrats questioned Barr's decision to deploy federal authorities to the city of Portland, accusing agents of excessive force and of violating the rights of demonstrators.
What this all shows is the lack in comprehension for riot capability and what safeguards might be needed to limit destruction and ensure non-violence. Whether Portland had a plan, or not - it appropriated and aggrandized the situation for political leverage and blackmail. Priorities.

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Calendar

Democrats apoplectic as Trump floats delaying election over mail-in voting

David Jackson, Joey Garrison
USA Today
Thu, 30 Jul 2020 09:31 UTC

Comment: Trump is warming up for his re-election with some world-class trolling!


mail-in ballots
© static.politico
The machines are bad enough, what could possibly go wrong?
President Donald Trump on Thursday raised the prospect of delaying the November election because of the COVID-19 pandemic, though the president lacks the legal authority to delay elections on his own.

The idea drew bipartisan alarm and election experts noted a president does not have the power to change the date of an election. Others suggested Trump is seeking to sow doubt about the election results or distract from a new government report that found a historic contraction in the nation's economy.

Trump broached the subject of a delay in a tweet in which he complained about potential problems with mail-in voting, a concern he has floated without citing specific evidence for months. Tacked onto the usual complaint, Trump added: "Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???"


Comment: The president has rightful concerns regarding the protection and integrity of mail-in voting. So should the voters as there are scams-a-many:
See also:

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Arrow Down

'Momentary lapse of honesty?' US Defense Sec. Esper gaffes NATO must 'avoid peace in Europe'


RT
Thu, 30 Jul 2020 14:06 UTC
Esper/Tanks
© Reuters/Greg Nash/Ints Kalnins
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper • US military tanks
US Defense Secretary Mark Esper seemingly mistook the word 'peace' for 'war' when he made a gaffe in the middle of a speech on the relocation of American troops in Europe. Esper was delivering important news to reporters: the Pentagon has laid out a plan to withdraw nearly 12,000 American soldiers from its NATO ally Germany.

The blunder occurred just when Esper was arguing that Germany, as the "wealthiest country in Europe," can and should boost its defense spending.
"I've said that very publicly, I've said that very privately to my counterparts as well - about the importance of NATO, any alliance, sharing the burden so we can all deter Russia and... avoid peace in Europe."
The awkward phrase spurred jokes on Twitter, with some users calling the slip "a momentary lapse of honesty" and "the NATO slogan 2020."


The Pentagon is planning to pull out a third of its forces stationed in Germany and relocate a part of them across other NATO countries, including Belgium, Italy and Poland.

Comment: See also:

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X

Liberal fascism: YouTube outlaws content 'contradicting' World Health Organization

Catte Black
Off Guardian
Wed, 29 Jul 2020 00:00 UTC
TheYoutubemask
© Citizens for Europe/KJN
Google's "anti-misinformation" rules outright ban free debate and expression on Covid19. YouTube's censorship of alternative Covid19 narratives has become increasingly overt. Back on May 20th it released its still current 'policy' which unashamedly tells potential creators:

Don't post content on YouTube if it includes any of the following:

The list of unacceptable topics and views is fairly extensive
  • Denial that COVID-19 exists
  • Claims that people have not died from COVID-19
  • Claims that there's a guaranteed vaccine for COVID-19
  • Claims that a specific treatment or medicine is a guaranteed cure for COVID-19
  • Claims that certain people have immunity to COVID-19 due to their race or nationality
  • Encouraging taking home remedies instead of getting medical treatment when sick
  • Discouraging people from consulting a medical professional if they're sick
  • Content that claims that holding your breath can be used as a diagnostic test for COVID-19
  • Videos alleging that if you avoid Asian food, you won't get the coronavirus
  • Videos alleging that setting off fireworks can clean the air of the virus
  • Claims that COVID-19 is caused by radiation from 5G networks
  • Videos alleging that the COVID-19 test is the cause of the virus
  • Claims that countries with hot climates will not experience the spread of the virus
  • Videos alleging that social distancing and self-isolation are not effective in reducing the spread of the virus
Now we may all agree some of these banned opinions sound odd, even ridiculous. But that's not the point. Free speech includes the freedom to be odd, ridiculous and plain wrong. Once that right is gone - free speech no longer exists.

Comment: There are many examples, of how YouTube's 'push' comes to 'shove'. Here are just a few: This article is another example that pressure to censor is on the rise regarding coronavirus information:

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Bad Guys

Trump says US won't protect Germany: It 'pays Russia billions for energy'


RT
Thu, 30 Jul 2020 19:01 UTC
nord stream pipe line plant
© Reuters/Christian Charisius
Worker prepare pipes with concrete cover for the Nord Stream pipeline at a factory in Mukran on the Baltic island of Ruegen April 8, 2010.
US President Donald Trump has defended his decision to pull out almost 12,000 troops from Germany by invoking its gas imports from Russia. Washington has recently ramped up its efforts to block the deliveries.

"Germany pays Russia billions of dollars a year for Energy, and we are supposed to protect Germany from Russia. What's that all about?" Trump tweeted, shortly after Defense Secretary Mark Esper said the US would move out some 11,900 US soldiers from Germany, as opposed to the initial plan to withdraw some 9,500 personnel.

Trump has also cited the long-running row over NATO contributions, accusing Germany of failing to fork out its fair share of the costs for the military alliance.

Comment: Looks like some two-year old speculation is coming true: NATO is useless. The moment the Soviet Union collapsed it became 'surplus to requirement' and should have been shut down then. Trump knows Nord Stream is a fait accompli, but it's a useful club to cut NATO's drain on the US budget, which he feels may offset the loss of the EU market for US LNG. The defence industry, on the other hand, is terrified of losing its cash cow.

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Bad Guys

Big Tech hearing: Much posturing, no meaningful answers for the American public


RT
Thu, 30 Jul 2020 18:38 UTC
Jeff Bezos House Judiciary Subcommittee video conference
© REUTERS /Graeme Jennings
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos speaks via video conference during a hearing of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law in Washington, U.S., July 29, 2020.
While a much-awaited antitrust hearing was billed as an Inquisition for Big Tech kingpins, the CEOs were largely able to skirt questions and talk circles around lawmakers looking to bring web platforms under partisan control.

Wednesday's House antitrust subcommittee hearing saw representatives face down the billionaire heads of four tech giants - Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg, Apple's Tim Cook, Amazon's Jeff Bezos and Alphabet's Sundar Pichai - who fielded questions in nearly six hours of virtual testimony. Though countless empty slogans and assurances were offered in that time, little was actually said, however, as the reps tried and failed to press the CEOs on concerns of "anti-competitive" business practices and political bias on social media.

'Many a true word is spoken in jest'

Zuckerberg faced a flurry of questions on Facebook's penchant for buying up competitors. Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colorado) grilled Zuckerberg on the company's acquisition of platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp, arguing Facebook had become a social media monopoly.
In fact, as [subcommittee chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler] noted, you did tell one of Facebook's senior engineers in 2012 that you can, quote, 'likely buy, just buy any competitive startup, but it'll be a while before we can buy Google.' Do you recall writing that email?
Zuckerberg brushed off the claim, saying that while he did not remember the email, "it sounds like a joke." The congressmen, however, noted that it was sent "in regards to having just closed the Instagram sale" in April 2012.

Comment: See also: "Hate speech" is suppressed by Facebook before it's seen by anyone, admits Zuckerberg

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Chess

Feds won't leave Portland 'until there is safety': Trump rejects Oregon governor's claim that 'occupying force' is leaving city


RT
Thu, 30 Jul 2020 18:27 UTC
Portland riots
Less than a day after Oregon's governor claimed federal agents would leave Portland and let local officials handle Black Lives Matter protesters, President Donald Trump said they are going nowhere until things are under control.

In a Thursday morning tweet, Trump said Governor Kate Brown "isn't doing her job" and insisted that protesters must be cleared out and "in some cases" arrested. "If she can't do it, the Federal Government will do it for her. We will not be leaving until there is safety!" he wrote.


The tweet was posted less than a day after Brown announced she had reached an agreement with the Trump administration that would see a phased withdrawal of federal agents — who were originally deployed after demonstrators attempted to burn down a courthouse — from Portland, which has seen ongoing Black Lives Matter protests turn to rioting and violence.
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Bad Guys

Barr hearing shows both Reps & Dems as rabid partisans playing zero-sum 'gotcha' game

Scott Ritter
RT
Thu, 30 Jul 2020 16:53 UTC
Barr house judiciary hearing July 2020
© Pool via REUTERS / Chip Somodevilla
U.S. Attorney General William Barr testifies before the House Judiciary Committee on July 28, 2020
Unwilling to put Americans' needs above politics

The appearance of Attorney General William Barr before the House Judiciary Committee has put on display for the entire world the level of highly-charged, partisan political dysfunction that has paralyzed the US.

The hearing was never going to end well. But even the most jaundiced of American political observers could not have predicted the venality and animus that tainted every aspect of Attorney General William Barr's appearance before the Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee on July 28.

Barr, who had previously served as Attorney General under President George HW Bush, had never testified before the House Judiciary Committee. Anyone expecting a modicum of decorum befitting the inaugural appearance of the nation's premier law enforcement official before the legislative body, mandated to provide oversight of the American justice system, would have been greatly disappointed with the proceedings. The hearing was more than simply a travesty - it was a national embarrassment.

Comment:

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Calculator

"A slight uptick": German and UK officials hype 'possible new wave of Covid-19'

Bill Chappell
NPR
Tue, 28 Jul 2020 11:16 UTC
Gatwick
© Matt Dunham/AP
Parts of the European Union are at risk of a new wave of coronavirus cases, U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says. The bloc began lifting many internal border restrictions last month. Here, airline passengers walk out of a departures area last week at Gatwick Airport, south of London.
The European Union successfully flattened the curve of COVID-19 cases in the spring - but a second wave could be building in parts of the EU, according to both British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the head of Germany's disease agency.

"I'm afraid you are starting to see, in some places, the signs of a second wave of the pandemic" in Europe, Johnson said Tuesday.

"We don't know yet if this is the beginning of a second wave, but of course it could be," said Lothar Wieler, head of Germany's infectious disease agency, the Robert Koch Institute. His remarks were reported by Deutsche Welle.

Comment: So, despite flawed, mass testing the best those pushing the coronavirus agenda can claim is a "slight uptick" in cases, not deaths, all the while those countries enforcing the most draconian rules are witnessing their economies teetering on the brink of collapse:

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Bullseye

"No proven effectiveness": Dutch government will NOT force public to wear masks - Minister for Medical care

Bart Meijer
Reuters
Thu, 30 Jul 2020 21:10 UTC
masked shopper
© Paul Grover for the Telegraph
The Dutch government on Wednesday said it will not advise the public to wear masks to slow the spread of coronavirus, asserting that their effectiveness has not been proven.

The decision was announced by Minister for Medical Care Tamara van Ark after a review by the country's National Institute for Health (RIVM). The government will instead seek better adherence to social distancing rules after a surge in coronavirus cases in the country this week, Van Ark said at a press conference in The Hague.

"Because from a medical perspective there is no proven effectiveness of masks, the Cabinet has decided that there will be no national obligation for wearing non-medical masks" Van Ark said.

Comment: Like elsewhere in Europe, Dutch cases have 'risen' simply because testing has increased. As for masks, regardless of how one wears them, they're not designed to protect one from viruses: Also check out SOTT radio's:

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