What's in the news?

[Valerian]

It would seem that Conway is trying out her new role as a 21st century version of Joseph Goebbels...

Also, as a heads up, Trump signs executive order to roll back Wall Street regulations, created in the wake of the Great Recession: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2017/02/03/trump-to-sign-executive-order-calling-for-rollback-of-wall-street-reform/

Who's ready for yet another economic crash?

The "good" news seems to be that it will take a while to fully repeal the regulations -- an executive order alone won't do it, it still has to go through congressional channels.

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/finance/317594-3-truths-of-dodd-frank-regulatory-rollback

Legislative action is required to overturn laws. Even a Congress fully committed and unified toward eliminating the Dodd-Frank Act must carry that intent forward via a methodical process.

Unity is unlikely given the staunch consumer advocacy of lawmakers like Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Va.). In addition, consider that nearly a decade was needed to implement the rules that flowed from Dodd-Frank.

Undoing the same work would take as long, if not longer, given the newly-imposed hiring and wage freezes at Federal agencies.

In other words, DT's own hiring freeze will slow down this and probably also a lot of the other chaos he wants to cause things he wants to do.   

[Lustful Bride]

With the upswing in bullying and hate crimes in the name of Trump it's getting harder to ignore them.  Children as young as six are picking on kids on their way home from school and some of the foul mouths using Trump's name that I hear at the mall and grocery store remind me of stories of Nazis attacking gypsies and Jews from my history books.  Heaven help us if these people get any power.  At least the police are still allowed to arrest them if they assault you.

And on the other side of the spectrum you have the antifa starting riots and accusing everyone not with them of being a Nazi and worthy of being beaten or killed. Both the left and right are devouring the center and forcing them to join one side of the other. And eventually there wont be a center anymore to hold them up and it will all come down :(

[Beguile's Mistress]

And on the other side of the spectrum you have the antifa starting riots and accusing everyone not with them of being a Nazi and worthy of being beaten or killed. Both the left and right are devouring the center and forcing them to join one side of the other. And eventually there wont be a center anymore to hold them up and it will all come down :(

There really hasn't been a center for a long time.  For every time I've hear Trump used as an excuse for harassment or an attack on someone I've hear zero chants from the other side in retaliation.  There have been peaceful demonstrations by women and minorities against what is happening in this country but no violent around here.  I mentioned before about being accosted on the light rail by a man who touched me in an inappropriate way and was restrained and held for the police by two fellow passengers.  When the man suggested I "bend over and take it in the name of Trump" we all just looked at each other and laughed.  I'm not sure how we are supposed to give people like this a chance or be expected to overlook this type of behavior.  Had I been alone or with others who believed the way that man did who knows what would have happened.

I don't like the way things are and I know both sides need to exercise some restraint but excusing it as "locker room talk" or "boys will be boys" is just dangerous.  I know a lot of people who voted for Trump and don't have a problem with that.  We mostly agree to disagree.  Still, we've had to fire some people because of their belligerent attitude and speech because they wouldn't abide by company policy against harassment.  Many of our clients are experiencing the same issues.

[Beguile's Mistress]

President Trump mounted an all-out assault on financial regulation on Friday, announcing an array of steps to tear down safeguards enacted to prevent a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis and turning to the Wall Street titans he had demonized during his campaign for advice.

Trump signed a directive calling for a rewriting of major provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, crafted by the Obama administration and passed by Congress in response to the 2008 meltdown, the White House said. A second directive he signed is expected to halt and possibly require an overhaul of an Obama-era Labor Department rule that requires brokers to act in a client’s best interest, rather than seek the highest profits for themselves, when providing retirement advice.

Taken together, the actions constitute a broad effort to loosen regulations on banks and other major financial companies, put into motion by a president who campaigned as a champion of working Americans and a harsh critic of global elites. Those elites include Wall Street companies like Goldman Sachs, whose alumni now populate his Cabinet and economic advisory teams.

“We expect to be cutting a lot out of Dodd-Frank because frankly, I have so many people, friends of mine that had nice businesses, they can’t borrow money,” Mr. Trump said in the State Dining Room during his meeting with business leaders. “They just can’t get any money because the banks just won’t let them borrow it because of the rules and regulations in Dodd-Frank.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/03/business/dealbook/trump-congress-financial-regulations.html?emc=edit_na_20170203&nl=breaking-news&nlid=72754896&ref=cta&_r=0

[Lustful Bride]

Seems Dr. Seuss has something to say from beyond.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/dr-seusss-political-cartoons-re-emerge-amid-criticism-of-donald-trump/ar-AAmy9o3?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

[Lilias]

Seems Dr. Seuss has something to say from beyond.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/dr-seusss-political-cartoons-re-emerge-amid-criticism-of-donald-trump/ar-AAmy9o3?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

Dr Seuss is always relevant. As is Shel Silverstein, for when you need a breather.

[Anteros]

PA Lawmakers Pushing Dangerous Abortion Restriction: https://womenslawproject.wordpress.com/2017/02/03/action-alert-pa-lawmakers-pushing-most-dangerous-abortion-restriction-in-nation/

Arkansas passes law allowing rapists to sue victims who want an abortion: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/arkansas-abortion-law-that-will-let-rapists-sue-victims-husbands-second-trimester-a7561066.html

Women's reproductive rights in the west are more and more imperiled by right wing groups and "christian"integrists.


Trump Says He Cut Wall Street Reform Because His “Friends” Need Money: http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/02/trump-says-he-cut-wall-street-reform-because-his-friends-need-money?mbid=social_twitter

[Trigon]

PA Lawmakers Pushing Dangerous Abortion Restriction: https://womenslawproject.wordpress.com/2017/02/03/action-alert-pa-lawmakers-pushing-most-dangerous-abortion-restriction-in-nation/

Arkansas passes law allowing rapists to sue victims who want an abortion: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/arkansas-abortion-law-that-will-let-rapists-sue-victims-husbands-second-trimester-a7561066.html

Women's reproductive rights in the west are more and more imperiled by right wing groups and "christian"integrists.


Trump Says He Cut Wall Street Reform Because His “Friends” Need Money: http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/02/trump-says-he-cut-wall-street-reform-because-his-friends-need-money?mbid=social_twitter

It just keeps on coming!


Well...after just two weeks in office, Trump now faces over 50 lawsuits against him: http://www.npr.org/2017/02/02/513045408/after-2-weeks-in-office-trump-faces-more-than-50-lawsuits

No doubt there is going to be a lot more coming in the next few months!

[gaggedLouise]

There really hasn't been a center for a long time.  For every time I've hear Trump used as an excuse for harassment or an attack on someone I've hear zero chants from the other side in retaliation.  There have been peaceful demonstrations by women and minorities against what is happening in this country but no violent around here.  I mentioned before about being accosted on the light rail by a man who touched me in an inappropriate way and was restrained and held for the police by two fellow passengers.  When the man suggested I "bend over and take it in the name of Trump" we all just looked at each other and laughed.  I'm not sure how we are supposed to give people like this a chance or be expected to overlook this type of behavior.  Had I been alone or with others who believed the way that man did who knows what would have happened.

That's just about the dumbest attempt at a political assault I've heard of, both funny and scary - as you said, what could have hepened if the man had had a small crowd/a couple of bystanders on his side?

*changes out "Trump" with the names of various other politicians, American and European, and can't stop giggling*

[Cassandra LeMay]

“We expect to be cutting a lot out of Dodd-Frank because frankly, I have so many people, friends of mine that had nice businesses, they can’t borrow money,” Mr. Trump said in the State Dining Room during his meeting with business leaders. “They just can’t get any money because the banks just won’t let them borrow it because of the rules and regulations in Dodd-Frank.”

You know how it always is when people tell stories about what happened to "a friend of mine", how you always suspect that they are actually talking about themselves? It really does make me wonder about the state Trump's businesses are really in.

[Trigon]

You know how it always is when people tell stories about what happened to "a friend of mine", how you always suspect that they are actually talking about themselves? It really does make me wonder about the state Trump's businesses are really in.

I'm sure we will soon find out, once he brings the entire nation into the same state!

[Trigon]

Trump is hurling insults at the federal judge who blocked his executive order on the visa ban, thus beginning his assault on the Judicial Branch: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/04/us/politics/visa-ban-trump-judge-james-robart.html?_r=0

[Beguile's Mistress]

At least Judge Robart doesn't have an obvious ethnic association so we don't have to listen to Trump call his heritage into question.

[Nachtmahr]

You know how it always is when people tell stories about what happened to "a friend of mine", how you always suspect that they are actually talking about themselves? It really does make me wonder about the state Trump's businesses are really in.

Please do correct me if I'm wrong, but did I not at some point hear that Trump was doing so poorly with his fortune, that the bank wouldn't even give him full access to his inheritance? Like, they would basically drip-feed his cash to him in an allowance-like system, because of his blunders?

The details are a little fuzzy, and I don't remember all of it, but I'm pretty sure that was a thing. And also part of the reason why he started looking for major investors outside of the United States?

[Cassandra LeMay]

Romanian government withdraws controversial proposed decree that would have decriminalized some corruption after days of mass protests.

I sooo hope they won't try again in a little while. No way of telling, but I hope this really will make a change. *crosses fingers*

[Sara Nilsson]

Romanian government withdraws controversial proposed decree that would have decriminalized some corruption after days of mass protests.

I sooo hope they won't try again in a little while. No way of telling, but I hope this really will make a change. *crosses fingers*

They probably will, but this time hidden better. But for now at least victory!

[Anteros]

Romanian government withdraws controversial proposed decree that would have decriminalized some corruption after days of mass protests.

I sooo hope they won't try again in a little while. No way of telling, but I hope this really will make a change. *crosses fingers*

And people say protests don't work.
This is good news, but I don't believe one second the government won't try something else.

[Nachtmahr]

Romanian government withdraws controversial proposed decree that would have decriminalized some corruption after days of mass protests.

I sooo hope they won't try again in a little while. No way of telling, but I hope this really will make a change. *crosses fingers*

If nothing else, I suppose the Romanian people will have lost faith in this government, and that they won't be reelected in the future. That being said, I have no clue how elections work in Romania.

[Anteros]

Muslim Police Officer Says Fellow Cops Attacked Her, Tried To Rip Off Hijab: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/muslim-nypd-police-lawsuit_us_589639e9e4b09bd304bba715?

[Lustful Bride]

Daily dose of Feels.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/1-year-later-nigerian-witch-boy-healthy-heading-to-school/ar-AAmCpQV?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=HPCOMMDHP15

[Anteros]

Dakota Access Pipeline: Bureau of Indian Affairs Agents Are Being Deployed to Remove Water Protectors : http://jezebel.com/bureau-of-indian-affairs-agents-are-being-deployed-to-r-1792004367?utm_campaign=socialfow_jezebel_twitter&utm_source=jezebel_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

[ShadowFox89]

https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/861/

Three house representatives have put forth a bill to remove the EPA completely.

[Cassandra LeMay]

As this was intended for news from where people live that might not be reported widely, here's a story that I don't know if it should make me laugh or cry:

Last year someone fired shots at a house occupied by asylum-seekers here in Germany. That was pretty widely reported in the German media because gun crime is relatively rare here, and for serious attacks on refugee housing the preferred method seems to be arson, not guns. One asylum-seeker was hit in the leg, but no one died. Eventually police captured the shooter and his helpers (the guy who drove the car and provided the gun, another guy involved).

Now, during the trial it came to light that there was no racist motive at all. The shooter was after a man who put the moves on his girlfriend. So there was no racist element to the shooting. And the intended target didn't even live in that house. So why did they fire at that particular building?

The would-be killers entered the wrong street into the satnav of their car, which led them to the wrong building, then just fired at what they thought was the house they were looking for.   

[Trigon]

Trump's bid to restore the travel ban has just been rejected by the courts: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-38872680

One thing to keep in mind though is that the so-called Justice Department is now on record for making the argument that they don't believe that the individual states have the authority to challenge a presidential executive order.

[Anteros]

Allegations of police abuse in Paris suburb spark outrage: http://www.france24.com/en/20170205-allegations-police-abuse-paris-suburb-spark-outrage?ref=tw_i
For some reason  they dropped the rape charge for an assault charge.