Our European allies no longer trust the U..
The Spy Revolt Against Trump Begins
“In a recent column, I explained how the still-forming Trump administration is already doing serious harm to America’s longstanding global intelligence partnerships. In particular, fears that the White House is too friendly to Moscow are causing close allies to curtail some of their espionage relationships with Washington—a development with grave implications for international security, particularly in the all-important realm of counterterrorism.
“Now those concerns are causing problems much closer to home—in fact, inside the Beltway itself. Our Intelligence Community is so worried by the unprecedented problems of the Trump administration—not only do senior officials possess troubling ties to the Kremlin, there are nagging questions about basic competence regarding Team Trump—that it is beginning to withhold intelligence from a White House which our spies do not trust.”
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Based on my anecdotal conversations with friends in other countries, I don’t dispute this. But why would Jared Kushner’s “news” outlet publish this?
After rereading the article, I think I may have answered my own question. This is a shot at Michael Flynn and our new version of court (as in royal) intrigue. Welcome to our new version of “by, for, and of the people.” We now have to interpret the political tea leaves to figure out what is going on in our country.
I would have to ask Alec Baldwin about that. Trumps next tweet might be about the poor ratings of Saturday night live the most pertinent news show on TV . .
Can’t read the whole article here, but there is clearly intrigue and danger in the moves of this administration.
Do read Peter Greene’s post today and look at the links to the supporting documents. These show that true-believers in a Christian theocracy have populated the cabinet and White House. Trump is the instrument for these individuals who are well organized and not eager to be exposed. One link in Greene’s post takes you to a member directory, 2014, with names and pictures of members of this cabal some now in charge of Trump,his appointments and policies. One of these members, Ken Blackwell, is from Cincinnati. He was on the Trump transition team in charge of selecting candidates for cabinet and other high posts bearing on domestic policies.
Laura H. Chapman
Has this not been a large part of the base forever . Its the old segregationist base that grew out of the Christian private academy movement . Trump himself worships only one God, Donald J Trump.
He is planning a divorce and expects to wind up in a camp
Iran nuke deal off: oops back on
China one nation policy off : oops back on
Obamacare repeal going to take a while
The wall ain’t not ever, ever gonna ever be built and paid for by Mexico
And North Korea will have to do a lot more than test a rocket to get a response.
The list of disappointments on red meat issues to the base, will grow while the real economic agenda of tax cuts, deregulation, privatization and Union busting marches forward. As for Russia buying elections have costs you think all those hackers work for nothing.
Well, Drump is challenged in the THINKING dept. i wonder about his basic literacy and numeracy abilities, and of course I wonder about his knowledge of history, geography, political science, general science, and anything beyond his ego.
How did the guy with personalty traits, actions and character of the stereotypical villain in every movie genre.a narcissist, a lair,angry vindictive… … get to be the President of the United States . Not for nothing he is the character that the whole theater cheers when he goes off the cliff . I suspect in short order he will be heading off a cliff to a collective sigh of relief.
He got to be president partly because he IS a misogynistic, xenophobic, racist, illiterate human being.
Isn’t that comforting?
Couple that with the fact that many of the people who actually CHOSE to vote were sick of the status quo and you had the perfect storm.
Tonight John Bolton said on Fox that we should go to war with North Korea and annihilate them. This was a guy the Donald was considering for Sec. of State. Let’s think about that. He’s admired and a advisor to Mike Flynn. Let’s think about how many North and South Koreans would be “collateral damage.” At a minimum.
How did that work out the last time we went to war in Korea I am sure that China would be just as thrilled today as they were in the Fifties. But there is nothing out of the mainstream about Bolton .Or should I say mainstream Republicanism
I’m not old enough to remember, Joel 🙂 😉 .
Cheap shot (LOL) neither was I . I suspect 1 million Chinese may not cross the boarder this time. Just enough weaponry to make this a very painful experience withna one million man North Korean Army . And a possible line in the sand that we dare not cross against a nuclear power
http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/china-tests-its-most-dangerous-nuclear-weapon-all-time-13626
(With a .,) Plus I was around but to young to do anything but play in my crib
cross posted at
http://www.opednews.com/Quicklink/The-Spy-Revolt-Against-Don-in-Best_Web_OpEds-Competence_Counterterrorism_Espionage_Security-170213-878.html#comment645194
I wrote 2 comments which I hope you all will read, even though they are not short. I cannot say this in 25 words or less.
COMMENT ONE:
Submitted by Susan Lee Schwartz on Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 4:41:12 AM
This was bound to happen; it was clear that he was not merely incompetent but DANGEROUS!
I knew his days were numbered when that fascist Bannon threw out of the Security Council — the Joint Chief of Staff and the Director of the CIA. I figured out that ‘messing’ with the spy agency and the military was going to make powerful enemies, and I knew the world was watching, and waiting for those behind the scene to emerge.
I assumed that the ‘intelligence community’ would know ‘wuz up’– i.e UNCOVER all the corrupt connections with Russian which abound in Trumpworld! Thanks to the 24/7 internet”.which works both ways– we are now getting a view that was hidden.
There are actually ARE people out there who know FACTS about Trump and pals — especially our intelligence community — and I figured they would not keep quiet for long. They know time is of the essence, because the time will come, when the internet can be limited to that which the fascists want us to hear!
I hope that this dangerous man does not pull the plug on the net. Right now, he uses it for his own purpose, but controlling the flow of information and preventing people from coming together, is going to be Bannon’s next task” trust me on that.
Look, technology transformed our lives, but now we face the unintended consequences of the new information technology — this chaotic landscape of the internet. The internet is a place where evil flourishes alongside goodness. One sees how people can be drawn to bad causes, and induced and convinced to bomb human beings. Yes, the internet gave us fake news, and it gave us Trump & alternative facts!
Trump used the net to get elected, BUT he never understood the speed at which truthful information, FACTS can spread, too! Moreover, because truth eludes him in his bubble, he underestimated just how powerful people who are watching behind the scenes, will react! Did he imagine that the intelligence community and the military would allow a fascist to continue undermining our laws and everything that America represented in the world
COMMENT 2
Submitted by Susan Lee Schwartz on Monday, Feb 13, 2017 at 4:46:08 AM
We are learning things, but it cannot stop there.
I think that today, we the people can RESIST like never before in history. The internet is a place where voices can reach out and call for people to work for truth and justice, and respect for THE LAW!
A resistance is running through the internet, as petitions and voices gather people together –unite them in a common purpose,because we love democracy even one that is flawed by politics. We will take back the America we know, for all its imperfections–> because we do not recognize or want the one Trump and Bannon invented.
The people are speaking loud and clear! I particularly love the strong voice of one man, a voice which gives us the facts we need, BUT ALSO, HE GOES TO THE NEXT STEP and explains clearly, the things we must do to move against tyranny! May I recommend to you, the voice of Keith Oberman. His series : “The Resistance,’ should go Viral.
My favorites IS THIS ONE, where he tells the media how they must handle this Liar in chief.
and Town Halls? You bet’ya!
The internet gives us access to each other, and WE THE PEOPLE in 2017 will not sit still for a dictator, or for the fascist regime that is insinuating itself into our EXECUTIVE OFFICE — one that spits on our allies, and covertly courts our enemies.
Even mainstream media ,like CBS, is out there with facts for a change, now that the intelligence community is coming forth.
I see Resistance everywhere.
Daily, I get potions to sign, and, BY THE WAY, Bernie’s The Revolution IS IN FULL SWING… here getting people to sign up: The email I got today, said: “It’s critical we organize and demonstrate. If the American people rise up, we can force Washington to listen. We need your help to make that happen.We cannot stop. That is why I am calling on you, some of the best organizers in Our Revolution, to sign up to lead rallies on February 25th, while Republicans are in their districts during the Congressional recess.If you live in a district with a Republican member of Congress, ask him/her to attend your rally and explain why they want to devastate health care in America while giving huge tax breaks to billionaire
Tweet away Donald, and get out of your bathrobe, turn off the the tv, and take a ‘road trip’ to greet your adoring public.
Boy, will you be in for a surprise when you meet us– WE the people! Out legislators are getting to meet us already, thanks to the internet.
Excellent , Yes I will be anywhere on the 25th .
Here is what I see is the good news . We see momentum (so far) only on the left . The streets are filled week days and week ends and it is still Winter, (except for Left Coast and Ellen) . If the right felt they could muster true counter demonstrations they would have. Even the March for life was pathetically small, there is a limit to how many prepubescent girls or shall I say pre sexually active teenagers you can stuff into buses. . I can not find a number from any media outlet .They all says thousands. How many thousands is left up to ones imagination. Compared to the 600,000 to a million at the Womans march . On top of another million Nation wide . If they could have delivered at that march they would have to counter the narrative on the left. If the crowd size was at all comparative full screen panoramic views of the crowd would have been provided by LittleHands with the help of the Park service. Instead we get relative close ups of Pence and Kelly Ann ConJob.
So yes Susan the answer is in the streets because PEACEFUL street protest, raises awareness . Yes call your congressman. But what the debate on fast track and TPP and the recent calls about nominations should demonstrate, is that the young intern in the office is the one taking your abuse . When a1000, 10,000 or a 100,000 show up at you representatives office. Or better yet his home, he gets the message loud and clear . If your angry enough to march your angry enough to vote. And we aint waiting till 2018 for a double Impeachment . I’ll settle for Ryan whose agenda is the same but who is almost normal compared to “F—-FaceVon Clownstic” and Cardinal Pence and his merry band of Royal Inquisitors . .
Every day I wake to a new nightmare.
Quote of the day “The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, while wiser people are full of doubt”. Bertrand Russell
What does this have to do with education?? Politics are NOT why I read your newsletter.
A leader of a cancer patient support group recently told me about a time when he updated the group on public policy. He explained how the sequestration process–freezing federal funding because Congress was unable to pass appropriations bills on time–was damaging cancer research planning activities at the National Institutes of Health. If they felt this was something they cared about, he encouraged the to contact their members of Congress. He told me that some of the members came up to him after the meeting and complained that they “didn’t come to a support group meeting for politics.” He explained that this was a public policy issue and it affected cancer patients; many of the members of the group wanted to be informed about this.
I am reminded of that story as I read your comment. I don’t know if you’ve read or have a copy of Diane’s book “The Death and Life of the Great American School American School System.” If you do, please check the quote on page 238 of the revised edition: “The basic responsibility of public education is to develop a sense of citizenship, an understanding of democracy, and a readiness to help improve one’s community and society.” If you believe this, then the topics Diane chooses to post are wholly appropriate. Many of us who value public education are appreciative and we get a lot out of the discussions they create. Education issues cannot be isolated from public policy–which requires the study of history, government, cultural issues, science, and many, many more issues. And these cannot be separated from the politics of our time.
Diane Ravitch, unlike Betsy DeVos, grasps that EDUCATION TAKES PLACE ON THE LANDSCAPE OF THE TIME. Tv and the internet is educating or future citizens, and in fact, television is the only way that TRUMP GETS HIS INFO https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/13/arts/television/john-oliver-last-week-tonight-trump.html
What Trump’s presidency means for education is crucial.
http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/11/09/what-does-president-trump-mean-public-education/
But Greg, I have to say this to you… there is no better place to get the REAL NEWS about what is AFOOT in America, at this unprecedented times. The people who inform Diane are the top minds in the nation. I depend on her to inform me, not just about schools, but about EVERYTHING…and I get 500 news feeds a day!
The publisher at the News-site where I write,http://www.opednews.com/author/author40790.html
once said to me, when I first began to post articles about education… that ‘the schools’ were not his focus as he focused on his bottom -up philosophy http://www.opednews.com/articles/Rob-Kall-s-Vision–A-Tran-by-Burl-Hall-Books_Change_Energy_Interviews-131110-706.html
I gave him a piece my mind about ‘SCHOOLS’ and the INSTITUTION OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, which ensures income equality for all future citizens, and how the loss o f autonomy of the teacher in her own practice, was the most destructive moment for DEMOCRACY in our history
Six years later, I am a trusted voice there in no small part because I cross-posted Diane’s blog
Moreover, Rob Kall’s new book contains a chapter devoted to EDUCATION, as he discusses it in the CONTEXT OF TOP-DOWN/BOTTOM UP– the destruction of everything as the top politicians and bureaucrats mandated an end to what is needed for the COMMON GOOD to be achieved, and how we have to rise up and end that… which is happening right now i our TOWN HALLS.
It is all connected Greg!
You Greg, are SOOOO lucky to have Diane to ‘hook you up’ with the real news.
Just say thank YOU!
Confused. I thought we were in agreement.