Category Blogger C0nservative Tree House

Mar 15 2025

Secretary of State Marco Rubio Outlines Steps Toward Peace in Ukraine v Russia Conflict


Posted originally on CTH on March 14, 2025 | Sundance

At the conclusion of a G7 summit in Quebec, Canada, Secretary of State Marco Rubio talks about the geopolitical realities of coming to a place where a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia is possible.

This is a very solid outline from Marco Rubio who appears to have found his ideal career position as U.S. Secretary of State.  Rubio simply shines in this role.  This is a 20-minute press conference where Rubio weaves through the narrative engineering, and puts the bigger picture of national security, economic security, and pragmatic U.S. foreign policy into a very well-presented package.

As the Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick interview yesterday was a ‘must watch’ segment, so too is this press conference by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.  WATCH:

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Mar 15 2025

President Trump asks President Putin to Spare the Lives of Ukraine Soldiers Surrounded in Kursk Region


Posted originally on CTH on March 14, 2025 | Sundance

After a daring maneuver, the Russian military have completely surrounded Ukraine forces in the Kursk region.  The Ukraine soldiers seemingly have been instructed to continue trying to fight on behalf of Zelenskyy.

President Trump is asking Russian President Vladimir Putin to spare the lives of the Ukraine troops.

[SOURCE] 

PRESIDENT TRUMP – “Crooked Joe Biden got us into a real “mess” with Russia (and EVERYTHING ELSE!), but I’m going to get us out. Millions of people are needlessly dead, never to be seen again…and there will be many more to follow if we don’t get the Cease Fire and Final Agreement with Russia completed and signed. There would have been NO WAR if I were President. It just, 100%, would not have happened.”

“Likewise, there would have been no October 7th with Israel, the pullout from Afghanistan would have been done with strength and pride, and would not have been the most embarrassing day in the history of our Country, it could have been a moment of glory. Also, there would not have been any perceptible inflation – Instead we had Record Setting, Country Destroying Inflation, like we have never seen before. Also, we would have had an impenetrable Border, with very few illegals getting in. Oh, what a difference A RIGGED & CROOKED ELECTION HAD ON OUR COUNTRY, AND THE PEOPLE WHO DID THIS TO US SHOULD GO TO JAIL! GOD BLESS AMERICA AND, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”  (Source)

The Kursk Tweet appears to be for public consumption.  It certainly appears to be a strategic message, likely coordinated by both the U.S. team and Russia.

Mar 15 2025

Trump Envoy Steve Witkoff Departs Airport


Posted originally on CTH onMarch 14, 2025 | Sundance

Just as Trump envoy Steve Witkoff departed Vnukovo airport, near Moscow, a series of inbound drone strikes from Ukraine (EU/NATO/UK) hit the area.  The airport was closed immediately following Witkoff departure.

This timed and targeted drone strike is yet another example of Ukraine/NATO/EU/UK provoking and antagonizing Russia as President Trump tries to assemble the outlines of a ceasefire.  This is the 3rd coordinated attack on Russia timed to coincide with President Trump’s team meeting with Russian and/or Ukranian officials.

Fortunately, Steve Witkoff was already exiting the airspace as inbound drones began hitting their targets.

The inbound drones in combination with the outbound Witkoff flight likely complicated the use of Russian air defenses.  The NATO team within Ukraine are playing with fire.

CTH ignores the western media reporting as we await President Trump and Steve Witkoff’s statements on the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.  Obviously, the U.S. team must be noticing the timing of the NATO attacks as they relate to the ongoing effort toward peace.

(VIA MSM) – Ukraine staged major drone strikes on Russian capital Moscow soon after accusing Vladimir Putin of seeking to thwart Donald Trump’s ceasefire demand.

A major oil refinery was also hit in a strike, triggering ten explosions followed by a massive inferno – just 55 miles from Putin’s £1 billion clifftop palace on the Black Sea.

Vnukovo airport – used by Trump envoy Steve Witkoff to leave Moscow after meeting Putin and his top officials – was closed.

It was the second major Ukrainian attack on Moscow in three days, and appeared to be a direct response to Putin setting multiple conditions for any ceasefire.

The inferno at Tuapse Oil Refinery came after ten deafening explosions, thought to be orchestrated by drones.

Huge flames and thick black smoke rose after the strike and the fire spread quickly. More than 120 firefighters fought the blaze.

Krasnodar regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev said: ‘The Kyiv regime attacked the oil complex in Tuapse. One of the gasoline tanks caught fire.’

Moscow was also rocked by drone strikes, causing car alarms to go off ‘en masse’, according to an eyewitness.

The strikes were close to Putin’s usual highway route from his official residence in Moscow to the Kremlin.

Another strike was close to a metro station, with further ones damaging roofs and windows of residential buildings. (more)

Starmer: “wait, Emmanuel, you’re going to do this while Witkoff is there?”

Macron: “Listen you little shit, he just put Tariffs on my wine. You want the money or not?”

Zelenskyy: “Eh, ok, ok, but this one is all you Frenchie.”

Mar 14 2025

Ahead of Meeting with President Trump Envoy Witkoff, Russian President Says He Agrees in Principle With Ceasefire Proposal


Posted originally on CTH on March 14, 2025 | Sundance

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that he agrees in principle with a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, but the terms need to be worked out, and he emphasized that it should pave the way to lasting peace.

The “root causes” of the conflict need to be discussed in advance of a cessation of hostilities in order for Russia to evaluate terms of a ceasefire, and who would ultimately be in charge of ensuring peace along a 2,000km point of confliction.

President Putin notes a discussion between himself, and President Trump is needed in order for both principals in control of the conflict to understand the terms of any agreement. Keep in mind, this press conference happens as President Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff prepares to enter a discussion with President Putin.

Beyond the Kursk operation where Putin has encircled the remaining Ukraine ground troops, an issue of importance to Russia, it appears that President Putin might be looking for President Trump to be the ‘peace enforcer.’

There’s going to be a lot more that comes very soon; however, it is prudent to be very careful when looking at western media on the issue of Russia’s response.

Putin will never trust the word of the EU, NATO, Ukraine control agents or Volodymyr Zelenskyy.  There is only one person to whom President Putin is willing to give a modicum of respect and trust, that’s U.S President Donald Trump.  It is an amazing dynamic.

Mar 14 2025

President Trump Holds Oval Office Press Conference During Meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte


Posted originally on CTH on March 13, 2025 | Sundance

President Trump holds a press availability in the oval office with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, an effeminate man of insufferable disposition.

During the press availability, President Trump took multiple questions from the media about the Ukraine-Russia war and current geopolitical events. Trump talks about trade practices with the EU and the end to the 1945 Marshal Plan that is scheduled for April 2nd with reciprocal tariffs.

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Mar 14 2025

Schumer Caves – Tells Democrats to Vote for Trump CR to Avoid Musk-Vought Controlling Shutdown


Posted originally on CTH on March 13, 2025 | Sundance

As expected, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has caved on the continuing resolution bill from the House.  Schumer called the decision a “Hobsons choice,” supporting the Trump CR vs letting OMB Director Russ Vought control the government in shutdown mode.  Schumer doesn’t want to see Elon Musk, DOGE and OMB downsizing government by giving them the power within a ‘shutdown.’

WASHINGTON DC – […] In a speech on the Senate floor on Thursday night announcing he would support the House-passed stopgap, Schumer said he had little choice as the Friday shutdown deadline loomed.

“Musk has already said he wants a shutdown, and public reporting has shown he is already making plans to expedite his destruction of key government programs and services,” said Schumer. “A shutdown would give Donald Trump the keys to the city, the state and the country.”

The White House would not telegraph its shutdown plans, including whether it would unilaterally halt federal programs and furlough workers. Nor would it detail the work DOGE could undertake if most of the federal government were non-operational.

But on Capitol Hill, Republican lawmakers were saying the quiet part out loud: By opposing the GOP’s funding plan in protest of Trump’s dismantling of government, Democrats would, in fact, be helping his cause. (more)

“Resist they much, and they must, about that, they much be committed”…

Mar 14 2025

Happy Schumer Shutdown Day!


Posted originally on CTH on March 13, 2025 | Sundance

This is a big day for potential winnamins.  We may just reach the “too much winning” phase.

Democrats are threatening to shut down government by not supporting the Continuing Resolution (CR) measure that passed the House and is about to reach the floor of the Senate.  This threat is awesome, and we can only hope it happens.

Personally, I think Chuck Schumer will tell eight of his Senate members to vote cloture on the CR (they need 60 votes) and then tell them to vote against the underlying bill on the floor (where only 51 are needed for passage).  However, the looney leftists in the base are stomping their feet and telling Schumer not to support the Trump CR measure.

If the CR is not passed, the govt goes into “shutdown mode” at midnight tonight and all “nonessential” employees, as determined by the Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought, are laid-off.

This is perfect for DOGE and the objectives of shrinking government very quickly.  Even Politico notes the Democrats are about to step on a rake.

WASHINGTON DC – […] There’s another reason the White House isn’t sweating a shutdown: Senior officials agree that when coffers run dry, the Trump administration — specifically Vought, the longtime cost-cutting conservative now running OMB — would have unprecedented flexibility to choose which agencies get to stay open and which don’t.

[…] It’s not hard to see Musk getting out his chainsaw and Vought finding a hammer.

“Musk in charge of furloughs in a shutdown? He’d be giddy. He’d be beside himself with joy,” the official joked.

A Democrat-triggered shutdown would be tough for the party for another reason as well: For weeks they’ve been lambasting Trump and Musk for tearing apart the government. Democrats in a shutdown would effectively have to argue that they’re trying to protect the government by shutting down the government.

Good luck making that argument to anyone outside the Democratic base. (read more)

Of course, Majority Leader John Thune could mess this up and give Chuck Schumer something in exchange for votes that we really don’t want, but that’s the problem counting on the UniParty to drive MAGA strategy.

The best-case scenario is that Schumer listens to his base, refuses to give Senate republicans any votes and then we watch the government “shut down.”  President Trump, Elon Musk and Russ Vought then decide which agencies and operations are essential while the rest of the government is closed. 😊 Perfect!

The bonus prize is that all the left-wing investments into Lawfare against Trump for reducing the size and scope of government, become moot.  In shutdown mode, all the lawsuits are useless.  lolol  Happy Winnamin Day!

Mar 14 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin Visits Frontline Troops in Kursk Region Ahead of U.S. Envoy Witkoff Traveling to Moscow


Posted originally on CTH on March 13, 2025 | Sundance

There are multiple media reports outlining ‘terms’ that Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced in order to establish the framework for a ceasefire. Every single one of those ‘western media reports‘ are fake news.  Putin has not made any statement of terms or conditions for a ceasefire.

What the media are doing is extrapolating on the prior terms Putin announced when he was trying to avoid war with Ukraine.  Those terms included: (1) No NATO membership for Ukraine, (2) no western boots-on-ground peacekeepers (IC ops), (3) Ukraine is denazified/demilitarised and (4) the 4 Donbass regions are accepted by Ukraine/NATO as Russian territory. Again, these were the previous pre-war terms.

President Putin visited the Kursk region where fighting was previously intense as Ukraine mounted a counteroffensive last year, and Russia has just completed retaking most of the area.  During his visit Russian President Putin made the following statement. [Source Kremlin]

“In this regard, I would like to, as you have already noted Some units that have shown themselves in the best way, I hear almost and you have named some of them every day, lately both in the morning and in the evening, I still want to name those that I have heard of.

These are the 76th Guards Air Assault Division, the 106th Guards Air Assault Division, 11th Guards Separate Air Assault Division brigade and 83rd Guards Air Assault Brigade, 56th Guards Air Assault Regiment of the 7th Air Assault Division, 155th Guards Separate Marine Brigade of the Pacific Fleet, 810th Marine Brigade Infantry of the Black Sea Fleet, 177th Guards Separate Marine Regiment of the Caspian Flotilla, the 34th Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade – in the last time, in the last week, probably, she acted especially actively, on the 22nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division, 1220th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 3rd motorized rifle division and the Akhmat special forces, which have already sounded here, the volunteer formation “Veterans”, which is distinguished by special audacity and efficiency, and all those who acted together with them. I would also like to thank the leadership of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff for what has been done Work.

Indeed, our task in the near future, in the shortest possible time to finally defeat the enemy entrenched in the territory of the Kursk region and still fighting here, to completely liberate the territory of the Kursk region, to restore the situation along the line of the state border. And, of course, it is necessary I would like to ask you to think in the future about creating a security zone along the state borders – this also needs to be thought about.

There is something else I would like to draw your attention to.

All people who are on the territory of the Kursk region, commit crimes against the civilian population here, counteract Our Armed Forces, law enforcement agencies and special services, in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation, are terrorists. So their actions are qualified by the Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia, and it is under these articles that “terrorism”, a criminal case was opened against them by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation.

Valery Vasilyevich has just mentioned the prisoners. But these people, of course, first of all, we must treat as terrorists in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation. We treat all people and must treat all people humanely in the future – everyone who has fallen into our hands. Together At the same time, I would also like to remind you that foreign mercenaries do not fall under the 1949 Geneva Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War.

And of course, I ask you to convey my gratitude to everything personal squad for what has been done recently. I very much hope that All the combat missions facing our units will certainly be have been fulfilled and the territory of the Kursk region will soon be fully liberated from the enemy.”  ~ Russian President Vladimir Putin, 3/12/25

That’s it.

That’s the total confirmed commentary from Russian President Vladimir Putin in advance of President Trump special envoy traveling to Moscow to discuss terms and conditions for a ceasefire as a result of the U.S-Ukraine delegation discussion in Saudi Arabia.

Putin would not make a statement before listening to Witkoff.  The Russian President is strategic, not emotional.

Western media are insufferable in their narrative spin and attributing statements that are non-existent.  Do not fall for the fake news.

Mar 13 2025

The Process President Trump Can Use to Release ANY Information, Regardless of Classification Level


Posted originally on CTH on March 13, 2025 | Sundance

The President of the United States is recognized in the U.S. Constitution as a person; the ultimate control authority within the Executive Branch of Government. President Donald J Trump is that person.

I am citing two examples below; however, the same approach applies to any information President Trump would want to release to the general public.  There is absolutely no way for the Administrative State to block or impede this approach.

Dear Mr. President and White House counsel:

Understanding the ordinary process of declassifying documents or releasing information is a request and authorization to the executive officers and stakeholders of classified information. And understanding the current authorization or request for information is not ordinary because the intelligence community stakeholders and Washington DC are averse to the interests of the office of the president; here is a process to cut through the chaff and countermeasures.

The background here is that any unilateral declassification request, demand or authorization by President Trump puts him opposition to a variety of corrupt interests.

As a direct result the executive office of the president will be facing legal action, likely from unified democrats and republicans in the legislative branch.  With that accepted, here is the most strategic approach.

In anticipation of litigation:

President Trump informs the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, that he wishes to have a full intelligence briefing on the following documents (more may be added), all documents are to be presented without a single redaction:

The full and complete records relating to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

The full and complete records relating to the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The President selects a date for this briefing and through direct orders to his chief of staff, Susie Wiles and National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, informs the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, to advise and coordinate with all executive branch intelligence officials, who were/are stakeholders in the compartmented intelligence products as described above, of their request be present for the briefing.

The White House counsel’s office is not to be informed of the intent or purpose of the meeting; however, the Presidents’ White House counsel is requested to attend. Further, all of the compartmented intelligence is to be collectively assembled by the ODNI (Gabbard) into one volume of a singular Presidential Daily Briefing (PDB) although each set might be file boxes.  There are to be eighteen printed copies of the PDB material assembled and secured for the briefing, post haste.

Additionally, the office of the president personally informs the ODNI (Gabbard) of the executives’ request to invite for the briefing each member of the legislative branch Intelligence Community oversight known as the Gang-of-Eight.

Immediately after the briefing by the executive level (cabinet) department officials, while remaining in a closed and classified session, the full and comprehensive content of this collective intelligence product will be discussed with the full assembly of the U.S. Legislative Branch Intelligence Oversight known as the Gang of Eight.

Therefore, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz is instructed to coordinate with the ODNI (Gabbard) for the attendance of the Gang of Eight: Speaker Mike Johnson, Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, HPSCI Chairman Rick Crawford, HPSCI Ranking Member Jim Himes, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, SSCI Chairman Tom Cotton and SSCI Vice-Chair Mark Warner. [Topic “TBD”]

In order to facilitate the briefing. Each member of the participating group will be provided with one full printed copy of the material assembled by the ODNI during the briefing.

[Each of the participants carries the prerequisite clearances, legal and constitutional authority to engage with the classified documents according to their position and status. Only the executive can assemble the product for Go8 review and feedback]

At the conclusion of the briefing; and after hearing from, and engagement with, each of the participating members of the executive intelligence offices and duly authorized legislative oversight representatives; and after listening to their opinion as to the subject material discussed; the president announces to the fully assembled leadership of both the Executive branch (cabinet) and Legislative branch (Go8), it is his opinion the National Interests of the United States can best be served with the American people having a full, transparent and honest review of the material assembled and discussed.

The President, no-one else, only the President, [with his affirmed constitutional power and protection – as acting within his official duty] then collects the printed portfolios [or boxes] as they were distributed to the participants, exits the briefing, and walks directly into the James Brady press briefing room within the White House; handing each of the awaiting twelve members of the national media a copy of the briefing material to be published on behalf of the American people.

At exactly the same time as President Trump enters the briefing room, one copy of the assembled portfolio is hand delivered, by President Trump only, to White House communications director with instructions to scan and release the content to the public through the White House website.

Done.

The American people are aware…

Mar 13 2025

Crazy Lawfare – DC District Judge Beryl Howell Now Rules President Trump Cannot Make National Security Decisions on Private Enterprise or Law Firms


Posted originally on CTH on March 12, 2025 | Sundance

In more than a few ways this decision is even more crazy than District Judge Beryl Howell’s prior rulings.

Judge Howell (pictured below) issued a temporary restraining order, blocking President Trump from barring the law firm of Perkins Coie from representing federal contractors.

There are a few outlines of the hearing HERE and HERE that essentially tell the story.  Consider this quote:

“When you say that if the president, in his view, takes the position that an individual or an organization or a company is operating a way that is not in the nation’s interests, he can issue an executive order like this and take steps to bar that individual, that entity, that company from doing any business with the government, terminate whatever contracts they’ve got, bar them from federal buildings,” Howell said. “I mean, that’s a pretty extraordinary power for the president to exercise.”

Yes, and that’s called the power of the presidency.  Apparently Judge Howell has never heard of ‘executive power’ that allows the elected President of the United States to determine what is in our nation’s best interests.  Approving his ability to make these decisions, is what that whole voting thing is all about.

Howell further pressed — what would happen if Trump were to “get annoyed” by the law firm representing Perkins Coie in this lawsuit and issue a separate order targeting them?

“If he made a finding that there’s a national security risk with a particular law firm, then yes,” Mizelle responded.

Chad Mizelle is not exactly the best voice to be making the DOJ argument, after all it was this knucklehead who as Rod Rosenstein’s counsel wrote the authorities for the Robert Mueller special counsel.  However, on this issue Mizelle is exactly correct.

Yes, the president has the ability to make decisions about national security threats and private enterprises who the President might feel are detrimental to the national security of our nation, like Perkins Coie.  Howell then went into crazyville to extend her logic.

The executive order, which Trump issued last week, “runs head on into the wall of First Amendment protections,” the judge concluded.

No. That’s not at all what the executive order does.  Perkins Coie is free to talk about how terrible Donald Trump is, free to rail against him, free to take to the public square and decry his approach, free to do and say anything they want; the law firm just cannot represent federal contractors or hold security clearances granting them access to materials that are national security matters.

The core of Beryl Howell’s decision boils down to her wanting to protect the business interests of Perkins Coie. Howell/Coie want the firm to retain access to clients who are federal contractors.

Even Perkins Coie didn’t try to keep their security clearances because they know the President has absolute plenary power to issue or remove them.

[…] The executive order also stripped security clearances from lawyers at the firm, but the firm has not challenged that provision. Under Supreme Court precedent, the president has nearly unfettered discretion to grant or remove security clearances.

Dane Butswinkas, a lawyer representing Perkins Coie, described the president’s order as “like a tsunami waiting to hit the firm.”

“It truly is life-threatening. … It will spell the end of the law firm,” he said. (source)

Apparently, stopping Perkins Coie from representing federal contractors will “spell the end of the law firm.”

That’s interesting.