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Conservative Blogger
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Duterte wants US forces out of southern Philippines
Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday he wanted U.S. Special Forces out of his country’s south and blamed America for inflaming Muslim insurgencies in the region, in his first public statement opposing the presence of U.S. troops.
Washington said it had not received a formal request to remove U.S. military personnel. White House spokesman reiterated that Duterte had tendency to make “colorful comments” and drew a comparison with Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Duterte’s relationship with the U.S. has been a bit rocky since he became president in June. Duterte has been openly critical of American security policies aimed to chart a foreign policy that would not depend on America, his country’s treaty ally.
The U.S. military deployed troops to train, advise and provide intelligence and weapons to Filipino troops battling Al Qaeda-linked militant group Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines in 2002, but when most of them pulled out last year, the U.S. kept a few military advisers.
Duterte hasn’t specified on how he plans to pursue his wishes.
State Department spokesman John Kirby said Monday that the U.S. was aware of Duterte’s comments, but was “not aware of any official communication by the Philippine government to that that effect and to seek that result.” Kirby reiterated U.S. commitments to its ally.
In opposing the U.S. military presence in the southern Mindanao region, Duterte cited the killing of Muslims during a U.S. pacification campaign in the early 1900s, which he said was at the root of the long restiveness of minority Muslims in the largely Catholic nation's south.
"For as long as we stay with America, we will never have peace in that land," Duterte said in a speech to newly appointed government officials.
He showed photos of what he described as Muslim Filipinos, including children and women, who were slain by U.S. forces in the early 1900s and dumped in a pit in Bud Daho, a mountainous region in southern Sulu province. American soldiers stood around the mass grave.
"The special forces, they have to go. They have to go in Mindanao, there are many whites there, they have to go," he said, adding that he was reorienting the country's foreign policy. "I do not want a rift with America, but they have to go."
Last week at the ASEAN meetings, Duterte sparked controversy with his comments about President Barack Obama. He used the phrase "son of a bitch" in warning that he wouldn't accept lectures from Obama on human rights, which led to Obama canceling the meeting.
Despite the remark, the two leaders later shook hands and had a brief chat in a holding room where Duterte reportedly said his words were not directed at Obama.
Duterte, however, has continued to press his criticism of the American president.
In another speech late Monday, Duterte said for the first time that he deliberately skipped a meeting between Southeast Asian leaders and Obama at the summit in Laos out of principle. His spokesman said at the time that Duterte did not attend the meeting because of a migraine.
American colonial forces killed many Muslims in the southern Philippines more than a century ago "because you were here as imperialists, you wanted to colonize my country and because you had a hard time pacifying the Moro people," Duterte said in the speech.
While criticizing U.S. policies, Duterte has taken steps to repair relations with China, which were strained under his predecessor over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
Clinton's 'deplorables' gaffe touches off merch, meme frenzy
Just days after Hillary Clinton said she regretted calling half of Donald Trump supporters a “basket of deplorables,” some of those supporters are embracing the title -- while enterprising web retailers seize the moment by quickly churning out a line of "deplorables" merchandise.
Clinton made the comment at a fundraiser Friday, saying "you can put half of Trump supporters into what I call the basket of deplorables," and calling them "racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamaphobic, you name it."
Clinton walked back the remark the next day, with some commentators comparing it to Mitt Romney's "47 percent" gaffe.
Some pro-Trumpers, however, are adopting the "deplorable" name on social media, or at least having a lot of fun with it. One Internet meme that zipped around showed a doctored version of a poster for the 2010 movie “The Expendables,” replaced with key figures of the Trump campaign and conservative media, with the banner “The Deplorables.”
Former Trump adviser Roger Stone tweeted out the image Saturday, which features a cast of rogues including Stone, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Breitbart writer Milo Yiannopoulos, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and "alt-right" mascot Pepe the Frog.
Perhaps sensing a movement, a number of retailers began selling T-shirts and other merchandise that allows the “deplorables” to advertise themselves as part of Clinton’s despised group.
A T-shirt available for purchase on the Howie Carr Show’s website declares “Proud to be a Deplorable” while e-commerce website Etsy has a host of merchandise from various sellers, including mugs that label the drinker a founding member of “The Fraternity of the Basket of Deplorables” and a pendant that says simply: “Call me Deplorable – Trump 2016.”
Clinton says she didn't think pneumonia diagnosis disclosure 'was going to be that big a deal'
Hillary Clinton defended herself Monday over her campaign's lateness announcing her pneumonia diagnosis, saying she's "already met a high standard of transparency" while looking forward to returning to the campaign trail.
The Democratic presidential nominee told CNN in a phone interview she did feel dizzy and lost her balance while attending a 9/11 commemoration ceremony in New York, but now is "feeling so much better."
"I was supposed to rest five days, that's what they told me on Friday, and I didn't follow that very wise advice," Clinton said.
She told CNN her campaign didn't make her diagnosis on Friday public because "I just didn't think it was going to be that big a deal"
"I thought that I could just keep going forward and power through it, and obviously that didn't work out so well," she said.
When asked about her husband's comments in an interview with Charlie Rose to be aired on CBS and PBS that she occasionally has become dehydrated and gone through similar medical episodes in the past, Clinton said it is "something that has occurred a few times over the course of my life."
"I could feel how hot and humid it was. I felt overheated. I decided that I did need to leave, and as soon as I got into the air conditioned van, I cooled off, I got some water, and very quickly, I felt better," she said.
She added that now she is taking her doctor's advice "to just take some time to get over pneumonia completely."
As she is taking time off, Bill Clinton will host fundraisers and at least one campaign event while his wife recovers.
The former president will headline two fundraising events Tuesday in Los Angeles and a campaign event Wednesday in Las Vegas, Fox News learned Monday.
Hillary Clinton did call into a fundraiser event Monday night in San Francisco after she took to social media earlier in the day to give an update on her health.
“Thanks to everyone who’s reached out with well wishes!,” Clinton tweeted Monday afternoon. “I’m feeling fine and getting better.”
The incident Sunday -- in which Clinton appeared unsteady and needing assistance from aides -- has resulted in her and Republican rival Donald Trump each planning to release more personal health information.
The 70-year-old Trump said Monday that candidate health is now an “issue” in the White House race.
Clinton spokesman Brian Fallon said on MSNBC that the campaign will release more information in the next couple days.
Trump told Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” earlier Monday morning that he’ll be releasing “very, very specific” details from a recent physical.
“I think they’re going to be good. I feel great,” he said. Fox News has learned Trump plans to release those details during his appearance Thursday on “The Dr. Oz Show.”
As for Clinton’s health, Trump said: “Something’s going on, but I just hope she gets well and gets back on the trail.”
Clinton, 68, is resting at her home in Chappaqua, N.Y.
Her doctor revealed she had been diagnosed Friday with pneumonia, after the episode at the 9/11 memorial, in which Clinton was also seen stumbling on her way to her van when leaving.
Clinton’s doctor also said she had become “overheated and dehydrated” at Sunday’s ceremony, but is “recovering nicely.”
The incident fueled questions about Clinton’s health. Trump on Monday brushed aside any speculation that Clinton might be replaced as the Democratic nominee, but said of the candidate’s health: “I think it’s an issue.”
Trump, meanwhile, continued to criticize Clinton for saying -- before her health episode -- that half of his supporters fall into a “basket of deplorables.” Clinton has expressed regret for the remarks, but Trump said, “I think this is the biggest mistake of the political season.”
Even before Monday’s comments, Trump already had said both candidates should release detailed medical records.
Clinton’s campaign earlier released a July 2015 letter from Dr. Lisa Bardack describing Clinton as “a healthy 67-year-old female whose current medical conditions include hypothyroidism and seasonal pollen allergies.” The letter noted her elbow fracture in 2009 and concussion in 2012. Bardack detailed how Clinton had to undergo “anticoagulation therapy” to dissolve a clot, and experienced “double vision for a period of time,” after the concussion.
But the campaign has not released detailed records beyond that.
Former President Obama adviser David Axelrod rapped Clinton Monday on her "penchant for privacy."
Pence says voters have 'right to know' about medical records, hits back at 'deplorables' remark
Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence said Monday on "Special Report with Bret Baier" that the Trump campaign will continue to criticize Hillary Clinton's "basket of deplorables" remark, while adding that voters have a "right to know" about candidates' medical records.
The Indiana governor said he and Donald Trump "wish her well” after the Democratic presidential nominee suffered a medical episode at a 9/11 memorial in New York Sunday. Her doctor later said she was diagnosed with pneumonia on Friday and was being treated for dehydration.
"We’re praying for her swift recovery, (we) want to see her back out on the campaign trail," he said.
Pence told Baier that Trump had a physical on Friday, and he will release "all that information about his health and physical condition" soon.
"I think it's very appropriate our candidates make that information available," he said.
He later described Clinton's remarks at the Barbara Streisand fundraiser in New York as "shocking."
Pence responded to Clinton's accusations about Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin by saying that Trump is not endorsing the "small and bullying" Russian leader.
"Look, when Donald Trump and I said that the small and bullying president of Russia was a stronger leader on the world stage than this president and Secretary Clinton, that was not an endorsement of Vladimir Putin," Pence said. "That was an indictment of the weak and feckless leadership that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have practiced on the world stage."
Pence added that he and Trump "know what they're dealing with" with Putin, describing the leader harshly as a former KGB agent and authoritarian who has repressed the media, been associated with violence in his country and the invasions of Ukraine and Crimea.
"What you hear in Donald Trump is a man who is prepared to step onto the world stage as the leader of the free world and engage in diplomacy," he said.
Monday, September 12, 2016
Dolphins players kneel during National Anthem, Seahawks lock arms
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| Jelani Jenkins, left, Arian Foster, Michael Thomas and Kenny Stills kneel during the National Anthem. |
Related Image
Seattle Seahawks players and coaches stand and link arms during the playing of the National Anthem.
(AP)
"I chose to get involved to see if I could create change, raise awareness. And I want to make it clear that there is no disrespect to the military or to police officers —I'm not about that. I love everyone," said Miami's Jelani Jenkins, one of the Dolphins to kneel. "I would like to keep moving forward in the right direction with everybody: equal rights, equal opportunity. From my position, it doesn't seem that it's happening. That's why I took a stand."
Peters' gesture was the only one visible throughout the early games Sunday, as the anthems took on more significance because of the 15th anniversary of Sept. 11 attacks.
"I come from a majority black community from Oakland, California ... so the struggle, I seen it," Peters said after the Chiefs beat San Diego 33-27 in overtime. "I still have some family in the struggle. All I'm saying is we want to educate those, the youth that's coming up."
The four Miami players — Arian Foster, Michael Thomas, Jenkins and Kenny Stills — registered their protest shortly before kickoff. The four players stood while President Obama's message played regarding the 15th anniversary of 9/11 before taking a knee. All four stood at the conclusion of the anthem.
"If it's about the knee that people are upset about, every Sunday people of faith take a knee to give thanks to their lord and savior, whatever faith or religion that they are," Foster said. "It's not about a knee, it's not about the (symbolism), it's about the message. They say it's not the time to do this, but when is the time?"
Several teams, including the Chiefs and Seahawks, saw their players link arms during the anthem. Peters, the 2015 defensive rookie of the year, was the last person in the Chiefs line and had his arm free to raise it.
"He spoke up about something he felt he needed to speak up about," Peters said last week. "I salute him for that."
Broncos linebacker Brandon Marshall , a teammate of Kaepernick's in college at Nevada, took a knee during the anthem on Thursday night.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell weighed in on Kaepernick's protest last week as well, saying, "I don't necessarily agree with what he's doing."
Seattle's locker room was engaged in a lengthy discussion over the past few weeks about what type of message to send. The players enlisted coach Pete Carroll in the discussions almost from the start, and brought Dr. Harry Edwards to help direct the conversations.
"Gestures mean nothing without follow through. That's what Harry Edwards said and that's what I agree with," Seattle cornerback Richard Sherman said. "People get confused that you have to go out there and put on a show and make this gesture and make people aware of it, and we're more about action."
Wide receiver Doug Baldwin, who became a default spokesman for Seattle's actions, said the players are working to schedule a meeting with the mayor of Seattle and local law enforcement.
"We know that there has to be change and progress," Baldwin said. "Change is inevitable. Change will always happen. But you got to apply direction to change, and that's when it's progress. And so right now what we're doing as a team, we have a follow through."
Taped messages from Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush were played at each stadium. Bush attended the Giants-Cowboys match in Arlington, Texas, while Vice President Joe Biden was in Philadelphia for Browns-Eagles.
Peters' gesture was also a tribute of sorts to U.S. sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who won the gold and bronze medals, respectively, in the 200-meter race at the 1968 Olympics. Both then appeared on the medal stands with raised, black-gloved fists throughout the U.S. national anthem in what they called a "human rights salute."
And in the night game, New England's Martellus Bennett and Devin McCourty both held up their right arms. Teammate Danny Amendola was seen clutching the American flag unfurled on the field in Arizona.
The International Olympic Committee ordered Smith and Carlos expelled from the games because of the protest.
Rubio demands documents from Obama proving Iran money was not 'ransom'
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| Rubio: State Department should bar Clinton clearances |
“Each day brings new revelations about your administration’s efforts to deceive Congress and the American people regarding payments of billions of dollars to the world’s foremost state sponsor of terrorism,” Rubio wrote Saturday in a letter to President Obama. “The America people do not believe the story that your administration did not provide Iran an illicit and potentially illegal ransom payment.”
The administration in January announced an agreement between the U.S. and Iran to settle a failed, decades-old arms deal that included Washington returning to Tehran $400 million and an additional $1.3 billion in interest.
However, reports in early August revealed the initial $400 million was delivered on Jan. 17 -- the same day Tehran agreed to release four American prisoners. And Republicans are calling it a ransom.
At least some of the money was in foreign currency, and a video originating on Iranian TV purports to show bundles of the cash on pallets.
The letter from Rubio -- a failed 2016 presidential candidate now in a tough race for a second Senate term -- came two days after administration officials told House Republicans that Iran wanted "immediate access" to the $1.7 billion paid by the United States in cash.
Rubio also wants to know why the administration didn’t issue a check, which he says is the required method when a transfer is inappropriate, according to another U.S. code.
“Iran has pocketed this money and continued to hold and take more American hostages,” Rubio also wrote. “It has likely used this foreign currency to fund its military including its ballistic missile programs and to support Iran's terrorist proxies throughout the Middle East.”
Though the administration has claimed the payment and the prisoner release were separate incidents, it recently acknowledged the cash was used as leverage until the Americans were allowed to leave Iran.
State and Justice officials at the hearing Thursday defended the payment and its cash delivery.
Christopher Backemeyer, a deputy assistant secretary of state, said Iran wanted immediate access to the money, but he said he wasn't aware whether Iran had asked for cash. He said it was his understanding that the money was going to "critical economic needs" in Iran.
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