Cranky believes some secrets must be kept

BULLY BOY PRESS &     CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL AID TABLE

CRANKY CLINTON INSISTS SHE WILL BE TOUGH ON WALL STREET.

WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY SHE REFUSES TO RELEASE TRANSCRIPTS OF HER HEAVILY PAID FOR PILLOW TALK TO THEM.

REACHED FOR COMMENT, CRANKY TOLD THESE REPORTERS, "A GOOD WHORE ALWAYS GETS THE MONEY IN ADVANCE.  AFTER THE JOHN'S SATISFIED, HE'S LESS WILLING TO PART WITH HIS MONEY."


FROM THE TCI WIRE:



Yes, starting with PARLIAMENT GONE WILD.


On Tuesday, the Iraqi Parliament got wild.

On Wednesday, it got wilder.

And Thursday?

It was off the chain.

AFP words it this way:

Iraqi lawmakers voted Thursday to remove the parliament speaker and his deputies from office, increasing political turmoil as the country battles jihadists and struggles with a financial crisis.
The chaos at parliament is a significant setback for Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, overshadowing his efforts to replace the current cabinet and preventing nominees from being brought to a vote.


The lead up to Thursday was an ongoing sit-in (against the list of proposed ministers).  Wednesday had been an emergency session.  Thursday was supposed to see a vote on the list.

Instead, it saw a vote on the Speaker of Parliament Salim al-Jabouri.

Mohammad Sabah (AL MADA) calls it a "dramatic" and a "raucous" session.

REUTERS notes that neither Haider nor al-Jabouri showed up for Thursday's session.

In fact, a lot of MPs failed to show up.  That's an important detail.

But those who did show up decided to table the proposed nominees, to table the issue of the three presidencies and instead launch a vote on whether to remove the Speaker.

Ali al-Badri, of the large Shi'ite block the National Alliance, insists the vote was unanimous.

But it wasn't agreed to by all the political blocs.


ALL IRAQ NEWS quotes State of Law Mp Kazem Sayadi declaring that they do not support the vote to remove the Speaker and insisting State of Law is one of the largest blocs in Parliament.

State of Law is the political alliance Nouri al-Maliki started.  Nouri was prime minister of Iraq from 2006 through 2014 and left unwillingly.  He wants to return to the post.

It's said on Arabic social media that he's formed alliances with Ammar al-Hakim (leader of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq) and Ayad Allawi (leader of Iraqiya).

If so, that would be a powerful group banded together in opposition to Haider al-Abadi.


ALSUMARIA reports MP Adnan al-Janabi insists that Saturday should see the Parliament voting on a new Speaker and, oh, by the way, Adnan's declared himself the interim Speaker.


But will such a vote take place?

These days, you can even question whether a session will be held.

But in terms of a vote taking place, the reports of the Speaker being voted out of office, while very dramatic, might not be very realistic.

NATIONAL IRAQI NEWS AGENCY notes 171 MPs were assembled for the session.


They have 328 MPs so 171 did not reach a quorum.

Without a quorum, no real vote took place.


RUDAW quotes Speaker al-Jabouri declaring, "I have no objections if the parliament wants me to leave my position but the vote was both inconclusive and unconstitutional."


 Pinned Tweet

Kirk H. Sowell ‏@UticaRisk 21h21 hours ago

#Iraq sum up today: vote removing speaker, likely invalid, leaves parl't w/o recognized legit leadership. Abadi's 2nd cabinet shuffle fails.

View conversation

11 retweets 9 likes

ALSUMARIA reports that Haider called on the Parliament to wisdom and patience.

Oh, yeah, he should talk, right?




RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"The laughable and long delayed Chilcot report"
"The Clintons racism is so in your face"
"Idiots of the week?"
"Glen Ford calls out the racism"
"Hillary's War Crimes and the liars who ignore them"
"The WASPs"
"A DANGEROUS WOMAN comes to NETFLIX"
"That classless Debra Messing"
"Hillary War Hawk Clinton"
"npr skews for hillary"
"Those Crackers at Blue Nation Review"
"THIS JUST IN! THE OLD DRUNK IN A STUPOR!"
"When you drink too much . . ."

When you drink too much . . .

BULLY BOY PRESS &     CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL AID TABLE

ELDERLY DRUNK TOM HAYDEN WENT OFF ANOTHER JAG AND ENDORSED HILLARY CLINTON.

THE OLD DRUNK WAS ON A DIFFERENT BENDER IN 2008.

HE'S BEING CALLED OUT FOR HIS LATEST PUBLIC INTOXICATION.

BUT OLD MAN HAYDEN REMAINS UNMOVED AS HE INSISTS, "AS LONG AS SOMEONE WILL CHANGE MY ADULT DIAPERS, I'M GOOD TO GO."



FROM THE TCI WIRE:




Murtaza Hussain (THE INTERCEPT) reports:


MORE THAN 90 PERCENT of young people in Iraq consider the United States to be an enemy of their country, according to a new poll.
After years spent justifying the war as a “liberation” of the Iraqi people, the survey casts further doubt on the success of that endeavor.



Today the US Defense Dept announced:


Strikes in Iraq

Attack, fighter and ground attack aircraft conducted seven strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq’s government:

-- Near Huwayjah, a strike struck an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL assembly area.

-- Near Hit, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed six ISIL machine gun positions and four ISIL fighting positions.

-- Near Mosul, two strikes struck two separate ISIL tactical units and destroyed four ISIL assembly areas and an ISIL fighting position.

-- Near Qayyarah, a strike destroyed an ISIL vehicle bomb.

-- Near Tal Afar, a strike produced inconclusive results.



Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target.



These bombings have been carried out daily since August of 2014.



Again, Murtaza Hussain reports:


MORE THAN 90 PERCENT of young people in Iraq consider the United States to be an enemy of their country, according to a new poll.
After years spent justifying the war as a “liberation” of the Iraqi people, the survey casts further doubt on the success of that endeavor.



And how has this addressed the problem of the Islamic State?

It has not.


The editorial board of THE PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE reminds:


The Iraqi government of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has its own problems, considered largely to be a result of the actions of its Shiite Muslim leadership in monopolizing authority in Baghdad, excluding the 35-percent Sunni Muslims who ruled the country from 1932 to the U.S. invasion in 2003. That piece of unwise religious discrimination is bad enough in itself, but it is joined by serious pushing and shoving among the Shiites themselves.



The refusal to address the persecution of the Sunnis, the refusal to bring the Sunnis into the government fully is what resulted in the rise of the Islamic State.


Until that's addressed, time's just being wasted.




RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"Talk Nation Radio: Gregory Shupak on the Case Agai..."
"Hillary the nightmare of Haiti"
"That Clinton way"
"Honduras haunts Hillary"
"She is not one of us"
"Blood thirsty Hillary's Honduran rampage"
"Brave Cher"
"Will the FBI save America?"
"THE GOOD WIFE done wrong"
"Why De Blasio's apology won't suffice"
"hillary's latest non-excuse"
"THIS JUST IN! SHE SURVIVED THE 90S GANG WARS!"
"Cranky responds to criticism"

Cranky responds to criticism

BULLY BOY PRESS &     CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL AID TABLE

CRANKY CLINTON CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO OFFER AN APOLOGY FOR HER RACIST "CPT" JOKE.

"GIVE ME A BREAK!" SNARLED CRANKY TO THESE REPORTERS.  "IF ALL THOSE PEOPLE HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IS HOW A JOKE FROM ME COULD HARM THEM, THEY HAVE PRETTY GOOD LIVES.  MAYBE THEY SHOULD FOCUS ON STOPPING THEIR KIDS FROM JOINING GANGS AND DOING SMACK?  MAYBE THEY SHOULD STOP THE LITTLE PREDATORS THEY RAISE FROM DOING DRIVE BYS?  MAYBE THEN BIGGIE SMALLS AND DEEPAK CHOPRA WOULD STILL BE ALIVE AND RAPPING!"

CRANKY STORMED OFF BEFORE THESE REPORTERS COULD ASK IF SHE MEANT TU-PAC.



FROM THE TCI WIRE:



Barack continues the war on Iraq.

Michael S. Schmidt (NEW YORK TIMES via HOUSTON CHRONICLE) notes the recent death of Staff Sgt Louis F. Cardin in Iraq:

It was the second time a U.S. service member had been killed in Iraq since President Barack Obama resumed military operations there nearly two years ago.In the days after Cardin's death, U.S. military officials were forced to disclose why he and the Marines were at the base, how Marines would be used in the future and how many U.S. troops were actually in Iraq. The new information illustrated how the conflict had quietly expanded far from the public's view, and raised questions about Obama's pledge to keep U.S. troops out of combat there.
"Just because the commander in chief says there won't be combat doesn't mean that will be the case," Cardin's brother, Vincent, a former Army infantryman, said in a telephone interview. "It doesn't take much for someone to launch a rocket and start a fight when you're in someone else's country. If that's not combat, I don't know what is." 
From the beginning, Cardin's mission in Iraq was secret.


William McGurn (WALL ST JOURNAL) observes tonight;

Are Marines combat troops?
In Barack Obama’s world, the answer is apparently not—not even when they are on the ground exchanging fire with the enemy. This is the fiction supported by Hillary Clinton and largely unchallenged by any of the three Republican candidates for president.
A recent headline in the Marine Corps Times summed it up this way: “Marines in Iraq technically not in combat but still getting some.”

Welcome to Mr. Obama’s hidden war. 


Indeed.


Today, the White House issued the following:

Readout of Vice President Biden’s Calls with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi and Iraqi Kurdistan Region President Masoud Barzani

The Vice President spoke separately today with the Prime Minister of Iraq, Haider Al-Abadi, and the President of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, Masoud Barzani, to reaffirm U.S. support for Iraq and the Iraqi people's ongoing fight against ISIL. The Vice President conveyed continued U.S. support for a unified, federal, and democratic Iraq, and encouraged close cooperation between the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government as they take steps to strengthen political unity and economic stability. The leaders underscored the urgency of sustained progress in the fight against ISIL and cooperation to liberate Mosul. The Vice President noted ongoing U.S. efforts to mobilize assistance for Iraq's economic recovery. The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to the strategic partnership between the United States and Iraq.


Whenever Iraqis want to decide their own fate, there's the White House rushing in to say "no."

Fear that Iraqi politicians would eject Haider al-Abadi as prime minister forced Secretary of State John Kerry to go to Iraq last week.

Heaven forbid Iraqis ever determine their own fate.


REUTERS reports:

Iraq’s parliament is unlikely to vote on a new Cabinet lineup proposed by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi in an attempt to curb corruption after lawmakers said Monday the dominant political blocs would name their own ministerial candidates.
Abadi last month presented parliament with a list of 14 names, many of them academics, to free the ministries from the grip of a political class he has accused of using a system of ethnic and sectarian quotas instituted after the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 to amass wealth and influence.


REUTERS reports that . . . but leaves out that this was a US-backed plan and that it went around Iraq's Constitution.

Also, are we supposed to be surprised by the reaction of Iraqi politicians?

Maybe if we were counting on REUTERS which only just discovered the objection.

But the April 2nd snapshot noted:

AL MADA notes that the proposed Cabinet was greeted earlier this week by a statement from KRG president Massoud Barzani who declared Haider's proposal had no importance and that it was long ago cleared there was no true partnership in the current government.
What's really amazing is how little objections to Haider's proposed Cabinet is covered by the international press.
There was an election in Iraq today.  Ammar al-Hakim was re-elected as the leader of the (Shi'ite) political body the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq.  And ISCI issued a statement that any political reforms (the Cabinet) should not weaken the law or increase political differences.
ALL IRAQ NEWS notes Ammar issued a statement as well when he noted reform did not equal proposing a new Cabinet.
Ammar held a press conference today where he expressed surprise by Haider al-Abadi's proposal to reform the Cabinet.  This as NATIONAL IRAQI NEWS AGENCY reports that there is strong division in Parliament over Haider's proposed Cabinet with some likening Haider's proposals to the start of a "dictatorship."
Meanwhile AL MADA notes that the Kurds continue to demand 20% of the positions on any new Cabinet while Haider's nominees are facing criticism from Sunni political blocs.
But it's the Shi'ite criticism that's emerging and the most vocal.  IRAQ TIMES notes State of Law MP Kazem al-Sayadi has declared that, no way, no how, will any former member of the Ba'ath Party sit in the Cabinet.
In addition, ALSUMARIA reports that the Coalition of National Forces are also voicing objection to Haider's proposal with MP Khaled Mafraji declaring that what Haider has done is both incorrect and illegal.
As if Haider's proposal didn't have enough problems to face, it's already minus one.
NATIONAL IRAQI NEWS AGENCY reports Nazar Muahmmad Salim al-Numan withdrew his name from consideration on Friday.  Haider had nominated him on Thursday to be the Minister of Oil.  He stated he was withdrawing his name due to a "lack of political consensus."
IRAQ TIMES notes additional criticism of Haider's proposal -- MP Ghaida Kmbh has come out against Haider's proposal to eliminate some ministries and combine others.
This was supposed to be an easy move.
But someone in the US government forgot that there are no easy moves in Iraq.


So today's 'news'?  Only a surprise if you weren't paying attention.

RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"The continued failures in Iraq"
"Hejira"
"Kat's Korner: Graham Nash Breaks Your Heart Again"
"Iraq and more"
"Graham Nash has a new album coming out"
"You are (still) watching MADTV"
"Hillary just suggested Barack's run the country on CPT?"
"hillary steps in it again"
"Hillary owes the country an apology"
"Again with the racism, Hillary?"
"You have to wonder"
"Graham Nash"
"Jerry White tells the uncomfortable truth"
"THIS JUST IN! HILLARY DICE CLINTON!!!!"
"She's got jokes"

She's got jokes

BULLY BOY PRESS &     CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL AID TABLE

CRANKY CLINTON IS NOT A RACIST.

AND SHE'S GOT A RACIST JOKE FOR YOU IF YOU NEED HER TO PROVE IT.

"COLORED PEOPLE TIME" IS APPARENTLY WHAT SHE'LL BE USING THIS DECADE INSTEAD OF "SUPER PREDATOR" TO INSULT AFRICAN-AMERICANS.

CRANKY CLINTON IS NOT A RACIST . . .

. . . IF YOU IGNORE EVERYTHING SHE SAYS AND DOES.


FROM THE TCI WIRE:




Elise Labott (CNN and State Dept unpaid employee) types, "U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry arrived for an unannounced visit to Baghdad on Friday, as the country's political crisis threatens the fight against ISIS."

Brett McGurkVerified account ‏@brett_mcgurk  Apr 8

Conferring w/@JohnKerry today in #Iraq. Key meetings w/PM, Speaker, FM, KRG PM. Focus: uniting forces against #ISIL.

30 retweets109 likes

Nathan King (CCTV) reports:

It was with ISIL in mind that Kerry made his unannounced stop in Baghdad. Iraqi government forces, with U.S. backing, are poised to retake Mosul, Iraq’s second largest city. Kerry had a message of encouragement.

[. . .]
Kerry’s visit comes at a time of continued division among Iraq’s politicians and ethnic groups. Sunnis are still not convinced that a Shiite dominated government in Baghdad is a better alternative than ISIL.


And Kerry does nothing to address this  or to call for Haider al-Abadi to address it.

Haider is the prime minister now because Barack and the Iranian government could agree on installing him.

The Iraqi people are not the ones picking their prime minister.  They have no say.


Arhsad Mohammed, Maher Chmaytelli, Stephen Kalin, Janet Lawrence and John Stonestreet (REUTERS) report:


U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, visiting Baghdad on Friday, urged Iraq not to let its political crisis interfere with the fight against Islamic State and voiced unequivocal support for Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi.

Abadi last week unsettled Iraq's political elite with a proposed cabinet reshuffle that aims to curb corruption by replacing long-time politicians with technocrats and academics.


Haider is doing what the US government wants, not what the Iraqi people want.

The lack of support from the Iraqi people is why so many Iraqi politicians can -- and have -- speak out agains the proposals.

Kerry feels the ongoing political crisis might "interfere."

Well, why not address that crisis?


In fact, when will that crisis be addressed.





RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"Wyoming Win Extends Sanders’ Streak"
"Miller Statement on Newly Released VA IG Wait-Time..."
"Sanders Challenges Clinton on Social Security"
"IAVA Applauds Establishment of New York City Depar..."
"US elections - before Bernie Sanders came Eugene D..."
"New Spike Lee Spot for Sanders to Air in New York"
"PBS BOOK VIEW NOW live streaming LA Times Festival..."
"John Does Iraq"
"U.S. State Department: Don't Hurt ISIS"
"GP ADVISORY Info for media: 2016 Green Convention ..."
"Sanders Links Clinton to Panama Papers Scandal"
"Victory for Bernie Sanders in Wisconsin as he turn..."
"Talk Nation Radio: Margaret Kimberley on Politics,..."
"Someone focuses on real issues"
"Hollywood Life is a piece of s**t liar"
"Your Server Barack"
"Is The Boss a children's movie?"
"'the boss' (spoilers)"
"THE BOSS"
"Clinton and fossil fuel money"
"Hillary Clinton Cheney"
"Harry Belafonte"
"That dark cloud hanging over Hillary"
"The Empty Return of Paul Krugman"
"When pressed, Bill Clinton goes all racist"
"And now they turn to racism . . ."
"Crooked Hillary Clinton is Titus Semple"
"Paul Krugman circles the toilet bowl yet again"
"Bill Clinton gets his racism on"
"what's the point of cracker barrel?"
"NETFLIX increases the price again"
"How in the world did we end up here?"
"The Originals (Freya bound)"
"Hillary strokes her war hawk"
"THIS JUST IN! BILL CLINTON'S DOG WHISTLES WIN HILLARY OVER!"
"Another Souljah moment for Bill"

Another Souljah moment for Bill

BULLY BOY PRESS &     CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL AID TABLE

CRANKY CLINTON SURROGATE BILL CLINTON WENT OFF ON BLACK LIVES MATTER ACTIVISTS.

REACHED FOR COMMENT BY THESE REPORTERS, CRANKY CLINTON DENIED ANY FEARS OVER POSSIBLE FALL OUT FROM THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMMUNITY, "WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GO ANYWAY?  I AM THEIR QUEEN.  NO, THIS IS JUST BILL DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST.  HAVING HIM ANOTHER SISTER SOULJAH MOMENT TO TRANSLATE TO WHITE PEOPLE THAT WE KNOW HOW TO KEEP THOSE PEOPLE IN THEIR PLACE.  AND WE DO.  GET ON MY WRONG SIDE AND WE'LL THROW THOSE SUPER PREDATORS BACK IN PRISON FOR A GENERATION.  LIKE WE DID IN THE 90S."


FROM THE TCI WIRE:




War Hawk and overweight pig at the trough Hillary Clinton made news today when she insisted that Senator Bernie Sanders had not "done his homework" on bank deregulation.

The sense of entitlement Hillary has always gets her into trouble.

Which is how the woman whose actions are the subject of an ongoing FBI investigation could date to criticize anyone else on having not done their homework.

Against all guidelines -- and common sense -- Hillary Diane Clinton set up her own e-mail server while serving as Secretary of State and used her own e-mail account.

This action put national security at risk.

Hillary Rodham Clinton has since insisted that she made a mistake.

But the reality is that she didn't do her homework.

If she had, she wouldn't be the subject of a federal investigation.

The one time First Lady also 'distinguished' herself on the topic of Iraq, of course.

She voted for the Iraq War and supported it for years.  She found her 'objection' to it only after public opinion turned against it.

At which point, Clinton was forced to comment in some way and did so by insisting that to was a "mistake."

It's been a "mistake" for various reasons though, of late, she's favored the excuse that the "mistake" was in trusting Bully Boy Bush.

Trusting Bully Boy Bush?

Yes, she tried to play the wronged woman in public yet again knowing that pathetic display earned her applause in the nineties.

Poor, poor, pitiful Hillary.

Her husband cheats on her.

She just didn't know.

But, of course, she did.

Bill cheated on her for decades.

Why does a woman stay in a marriage where her husband always strays?

Is Hillary really so physically unappealing that she thinks no other man would ever want her?

Is she so filled with self-loathing that she thinks she deserves to be repeatedly cheated on over and over?

Maybe it was greed?

At WSWS, Andre Damon notes:


Hillary Clinton, the Democratic frontrunner, has, together with her ex-president husband, made over $140 million in the eight years since the 2008 financial crash. She garnered a substantial portion of this wealth in speaking fees from major corporations and banks. In the first 15 months after she left her post as secretary of state in 2012, Clinton received $5 million in speaking fees, putting her squarely in the top 0.1 percent of income earners. Such payouts are, in the world of American politics, nothing more than a form of legalized bribery.


Greed can be a powerful motivator for staying in a marriage that brings so much public humiliation repeatedly.


Or  she maybe just like playing the victim?

Some people do get off on playing the victim.

Strangely, those who make a show out of playing the victim rarely are able to offer real or fake sympathy for actual victims.

Harper Neidig (THE HILL) reports Bernie

A CBS reporter tweeted that she asked the Vermont senator about Clinton's calls for him to apologize to Sandy Hook victims because of his stance against holding gun manufacturers liable for gun crimes. Sanders reportedly responded by saying that Clinton should apologize to the victims of the Iraq War, which she voted in favor of as a senator.

Votes have consequences.

Many Iraqis have been killed (over a million), many more have been wounded.  Many US troops have been killed, many more wounded.

Hillary, however, has been sitting pretty.

And she doesn't feel for the real victims of the Iraq War, she only feels and frets for herself.



RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"Iran and the US work together to prop up Haider (a..."
"THIS JUST IN! CRANKY CLINTON'S KEEPING IT REAL!"
"Cranky Clinton's getting real"
"Ay-yi-yi, postponed again"
"Again on Amnesty's death penalty report"
"She doth protest too much"
"the panama papers"
"Even more scandals"
"Hillary on the couch?"
"Pathetic Hillary, like a Lifetime movie"
"How I cleaned up big time (DVDs)"
"Twitter answers"
"Some people are right"

Cranky Clinton's getting real

BULLY BOY PRESS &     CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL AID TABLE

A STRING OF SEVEN LOSSES IN A ROW ISN'T DETERRING CRANKY CLINTON.

NO, SHE'S GETTING RRR-EEEEE-AAA-LLL!

"WHEN I TAKE THE WHITE HOUSE," SHE INSISTED TO THESE REPORTERS TODAY, "THE LINCOLN BEDROOM WILL BE CALLED 'THE MARY TODD.'  NOT ONLY THAT, LITTLE CUPCAKE JUSTIN BIEBER -- OR JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE -- WHICH EVER OF THEM IS YOUNGER AND STILL AT THEIR SEXUAL PEAK WILL BE DECLARED 'WHITE HOUSE STUD.'  IF CATHERINE THE GREAT COULD HAVE HORSES, WHO'S TO SAY MAMA CAN'T BREAK HERSELF OFF A FEW POP TARTS.  YOU FEEL ME?  YOU BETTER!"


FROM THE TCI WIRE:



She said yes to war and, increasingly, America is again saying no to her.

Senator Bernie Sanders has won the Democratic Party's Wisconsin primary.


US House Rep and Iraq War veteran Tulsi Gabbard Tweeted:

Tulsi Gabbard Verified account ‏@TulsiGabbard 3h3 hours ago

Tulsi Gabbard Retweeted Bernie Sanders

Congratulations @BernieSanders and many thanks to all who came out in #Wisconsin to show support - mahalo!

Tulsi Gabbard added,

Bernie Sanders @BernieSanders

Wisconsin, today you sent a strong message: when we stand together there is nothing we cannot accomplish. Thank you! https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/717523412692910080 …

296 retweets 843 likes

Earlier today, Jake Tapper observed on CNN's THE LEAD WITH JAKE TAPPER that a win in Wisconsin would be Bernie's sixth win in a row.

Who has the momentum?

Chew on that.

Robert Reich ‏@RBReich 4m4 minutes ago

Bernie Sanders won over 56 percent of the votes in the Wisconsin primary today – his sixth straight victory.... http://fb.me/7e59oLanw 

38 retweets 74 likes

Some are noting that in the same contest in 2008, Barack beat Hillary by only 2% more.  (Some figures for Bernie's win have him at 57.8%.)

That's not surprising.

As we noted back in February, based on what we were seeing on the college campuses we spoke on, Bernie's connecting in the same way Barack did.

The media narrative of Barack Obama?

Bernie Sanders holds those positions.

Bernie voted against the Iraq War, actually voted against it, unlike Hillary.

It was an issue for young voters in 2008 and it remains one in 2016.

Hillary failed to inspire in 2008, she fails to inspire in 2016.

She's running for president because . . . her husband was president?

Where is the enthusiasm, where is the inspiration, where is the reason for her campaign?




Where is the enthusiasm for Hillary?


She's always been a divisive figure.

She's always been unpopular.

And what, other than fear, would drive people to vote for her in a general election?

Maybe they like her lust for war?

Iraq lies in ruins, the people continue to suffer and Hillary's done nothing to atone for her "mistake" (her term) in voting for and supporting the Iraq War.


RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"Bernie's got the economy and fairness on his mind"
"Haider speaks -- Moqtada made him do it!!!!!"
"Record number of exections"
"When Hillary Meets The F.B.I."
"BATMAN V. SUPERMAN, women, comedy"
"Where's Maxwell?"
"abby, karen and valenie (knots landing)"
"What Bernie's Wisconsin victory means"
"One Tweet says it all"
"Green Party national convention"
"It was Bernie's night"
"THIS JUST IN! FRESH BLOOD, CRANKY NEEDS FRESH BLOOD!"
"Cranky prepares"

Cranky prepares

BULLY BOY PRESS &     CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL AID TABLE

CRANKY CLINTON PREPARED FOR HER WISCONSIN BLOOD BATH TODAY BY . . . WELL, BATHING IN BLOOD.

EXPLAINED CRANKY, "I NEED THE BLOOD OF VIRGINS AND NEWBORNS.  CLEARLY, WITH MY HUSBAND, I HAVE TO BE VERY WARY OF ALLOWING THE VIRGINS MUCH MOVEMENT OF MOTION.  BUT THIS IS WHAT I DO.  WE ALL HAVE OUR SUPERSTITIONS AND MINE IS THAT WITHOUT THE BLOOD FROM FRESH KILLS, I WILL NOT WIN.  SO THAT'S WHAT I DO.  THAT'S HOW I PREP.  I'M SURE IT SEEMS BORING.  BUT I'M JUST A REGULAR PERSON."

"PEOPLE OFTEN MISS THAT," CRANKY INSISTED AS SHE RUBBED THE BLOOD OF THE DEAD ON HER FACE.



FROM THE TCI WIRE:



Haider al-Abadi is the current prime minister of Iraq.  He was installed by US President Barack Obama in August of 2014.

He hasn't been very successful.

He was supposed to come up with a political solution to address the country's various crises but he's been unable or unwilling to do that and Sunnis continue to feel persecuted because . . . they are being persecuted.

This persecution began under the previous prime minister Nouri al-Maliki.  It led to the rise of the Islamic State in Iraq.  It continues to fuel the Islamic State in Iraq.

But Haider ignores that and so much more.

Mainly, he ignores the Constitution.

He took it upon himself, for example, to declare that Iraq had no vice presidents -- supposedly ousting three people out of their jobs.

But they still haven't been removed.  And it was really against the Constitution to go about it the way Haider did.

Ayad Allawi, Osama al-Nujafi and Nouri al-Maliki are the three vice presidents.

Currently, Haider's attempting to circumvent the Constitution again.

This time he wants to dispose of the Cabinet of Ministers and replace them with a new set of nominees.

That notions has already run into hiccups -- see Saturday's snapshot.

Another hiccup's emerged today.

Parliament's declaring that they will vote yes or no on his nominees . . . in batches.

Not all at once as he'd hoped.


Other problems he's facing include talks of a coup and, more recently, talk that a foreign government is eager to see him replaced.


ALSUMARIA reports Ayad Allawi is denying reports that during his visit with Frank Baker, the British ambassador to Iraq, the two discussed the need to replace Haider al-Abadi as prime minister.

That Allawi had to deny it says a great deal about just how believable the rumor is.


RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"More violence in the never-ending Iraq War"
"Hejira"
"Kat's Korner: Diana Ross releases a masterpiece (b..."
"Crooked Hillary, MARVEL AGENTS OF SHIELD, Diana Ross"
"ABC's highest rated sitcom"
"diana ross' new masterpiece"
"Diana Ross, Bernie Sanders"
"Diana Ross is The Wiz!!!!"
"Starving the poor and needy"
"Things to read"
"The better choice is Bernie"
"Great new album I'm in love with!!!!!"
"A classic album"

• Truest statement of the week
• Truest statement of the week II
• A note to our readers
• Editorial: What the media forgot to tell you about...
• Media Criticism not for the lazy (Ava and C.I.)
• Hey there, lonely boy
• The loser Hillary
• Tools & Fools
• Tweet of the week
• Moqtada's big gamble
• Political video must see
• This edition's playlist
• Labour's right is learning from the last civil war...
• Hillary Clinton greasy and bloated with oil and ga...
• Highlights

"THIS JUST IN! CRANKY RODHAM MILHOUSE NIXON!!!!"
"Cranky has a strategy"

Cranky has a strategy

BULLY BOY PRESS &     CEDRIC'S BIG MIX -- THE KOOL AID TABLE

CRANKY CLINTON CAN'T STOP LYING AND MAY HAVE OUTDONE HERSELF ON MEET THE PRESS TODAY.

REACHED FOR COMMENT, CRANKY DID NOT DENY HER LIES AND EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO INSIST THAT IT WAS A WINNING STRATEGY.

"AFTER ALL," SHE CACKLED, "LYING GOT RICHARD NIXON ELECTED NOT ONCE BUT TWICE.  IT WILL WORK FOR ME TOO!"

FROM THE TCI WIRE:


Yesterday, the White House issued the following statement:

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release

April 01, 2016

Readout of Vice President Biden’s Call with Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi of Iraq

The Vice President spoke today with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Al-Abadi to discuss the latest political and security developments in Iraq. The Vice President welcomed the Prime Minister's political reform efforts and reaffirmed continued U.S. support for steps, in concert with Iraqi political leaders, to strengthen transparency, national unity, and accountability.  The Vice President also underscored the critical importance of sustaining  momentum in the fight against ISIL and reviewed ongoing U.S. efforts to support Iraqi Security Forces.  The Vice President commended the Prime Minister for engaging constructively with the IMF to address fiscal challenges and unlock access to international financial assistance.

On political developments?

Elections.

We tried to make a point repeatedly this week.  Some caught it, some didn't.

You either oppose the notion that a new Cabinet can just be created or you pretend that Iraq didn't hold elections in 2014.


Haider's just going to form a new Cabinet.

That only happens after an election.

Iraq did have elections in 2014.



From the May 19, 2014 snapshot:





Reuters reports, "Preliminary results on Monday showed Maliki won at least 94 seats, far more than his two main Shi'ite rivals, the movement of Muqtada Sadr, which picked up 28 seats, and the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI), which won 29 seats."  Press TV reports, "Results released by Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission on Monday showed that the premier’s State of Law alliance garnered 92 out of 328 parliamentary seats. Maliki’s bloc won 30 seats in the capital Baghdad alone and won the first spot in 10 out of 18 provinces overall, while his main rivals are said to have gained between 19 and 29 seats in total." Sinan Salaheddin and Sameer N. Yacoub (AP) reports 92 as well and point out, "He will still need to approach other parties to piece together a broader majority coalition to get the first crack at forming a government as violence rages and instability grows."  Duraid Adnan and Tim Arango (New York Times) point out that these are "initial results -- still subject to challenges from various political parties" while stating Nouri won 93 seats.



But if elections took place, how can a Haider al-Abadi in 2016 propose a new Cabinet?

He can't.

Not per the Constitution of Iraq.

One member of the Cabinet can be ousted this way:


Eighth:
A. The Council of Representatives may withdraw confidence from one of the Ministers by an absolute majority and he is considered resigned from the date of the decision of confidence withdrawal. The issue of no confidence in the Minister may be tabled only on that Minister's wish or on a signed request of fifty members after an inquiry discussion directed at him. The Council of Representatives shall not issue its decision regarding the request except after at least seven days of its submission. 


The entire Cabinet can be ousted this way:


D. In case of a vote of withdrawal of confidence in the Cabinet as a whole, the Prime Minister and the Ministers continue in their positions to run everyday business for a period not to exceed thirty days until a new cabinet is formed in accordance with the provisions of article 73 of this constitution. 


But since when does the US government, the White House, really support rule of law in Iraq?


Never.

The only way a new Cabinet can be proposed is following elections.

Otherwise?

Otherwise, the Cabinet has to be shut down by Parliament via a vote withdrawing confidence.


Where is the faith in rule of law?

The US State Dept loves to give lip service to the rule of law in Iraq when it benefits their goals, otherwise they stay silent.

The United Nations and the White House could've called for new elections in Iraq if they wanted a new Cabinet.

But,per the Constitution, short of that the only way a new Cabinet comes about is via a vote of no-confidence in the Parliament.

The rule of law is followed or it's not.

AL MADA notes that the proposed Cabinet was greeted earlier this week by a statement from KRG president Massoud Barzani who declared Haider's proposal had no importance and that it was long ago cleared there was no true partnership in the current government.

What's really amazing is how little objections to Haider's proposed Cabinet is covered by the international press.


There was an election in Iraq today.  Ammar al-Hakim was re-elected as the leader of the (Shi'ite) political body the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq.  And ISCI issued a statement that any political reforms (the Cabinet) should not weaken the law or increase political differences.


ALL IRAQ NEWS notes Ammar issued a statement as well when he noted reform did not equal proposing a new Cabinet.

Ammar held a press conference today where he expressed surprise by Haider al-Abadi's proposal to reform the Cabinet.  This as NATIONAL IRAQI NEWS AGENCY reports that there is strong division in Parliament over Haider's proposed Cabinet with some likening Haider's proposals to the start of a "dictatorship."

Meanwhile AL MADA notes that the Kurds continue to demand 20% of the positions on any new Cabinet while Haider's nominees are facing criticism from Sunni political blocs.

But it's the Shi'ite criticism that's emerging and the most vocal.  IRAQ TIMES notes State of Law MP Kazem al-Sayadi has declared that, no way, no how, will any former member of the Ba'ath Party sit in the Cabinet.

In addition, ALSUMARIA reports that the Coalition of National Forces are also voicing objection to Haider's proposal with MP Khaled Mafraji declaring that what Haider has done is both incorrect and illegal.


RECOMMENDED: "Iraq snapshot"
"Sanders Campaign Statement on New York Debate"
"Clinton’s Close Ties to the Oil, Coal and Gas Indu..."
"Paralyzed Veterans of America Commends the VA for ..."
"Labour's right is learning from the last civil war..."
"Moqtada's big gamble"
"The Rebranding"
"The Originals (how could you do that to Freya?)"
"MY NAME IS NOT MOVIE"
"That awful Rodham Clinton"
"CLASSIC PICS?"
"Diana Ross will be at Staten Island's St George Theatre April 12th"
"She's lost Vegas?"
"Thoughts on Aretha and others"
"Tweet of the week"
"anthony weiner's weiner wasn't terrifying enough?"
"America needs a hilarious comedy"
"Life gets hard for Hillary"
"Still no jobs, jobs, jobs"
"shut it, jill stein"
"SHADES OF BLUE (Season one wraps up)"
"Shame on Hillary"
"More trash from John Nichols"
"As she did in 2008, Hillary has lost her hold on Black voters"
"Not crying for Jay Z"
"Hillary's gripe-gripe-whine-whine m.o."
"THIS JUST IN! CRANKY CLINTON'S CRAZY HAIR!!!"
"Cranky's haircut"