Category The Governing Class -vs- The Governed

Apr 1 2023

Trump & Likely Gag Order to Create Imprisonment


Armstrong Economics Blog/Rule of Law Re-Posted Mar 31, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

Trump will now find himself silenced and whatever Free Speech he once had, will now be stripped away from him like the rest of his constitutional and human rights. We are about to witness just how corrupt our legal system truly is. This is George Soros’s puppet. Alan Bragg will now show the entire world that in the United States, there is no such thing as constitutional or even Human Rights.

Bragg will most likely seek a Gag Order in addition to a denial of bail, which no matter how ruthless the judge, will probably realize he cannot deny bail to a former President. Still, they will most likely put a Gag Order on Trump, and that way they can throw him in jail even indefinitely as they did to me using Civil Contempt of Court which is not a crime. If they charge him with Criminal Contempt, then he gets a trial by jury. Under Civil Contempt, you have ZERO rights and no right to a trial.

Because I did an interview in the Japanese press and told all my clients to file suit against the bank, they then put a gag order on me FOR LIFE to prevent me from providing my own clients with evidence against the bank. Normally, you are supposed to get more time if you do not assist the victims. Law means ABSOLUTELY nothing in court. They do as they like and the Constitution means absolutely nothing.

This is who I believe is a disgusting individual. I have been told he ran for office saying he would indict Trump. Screw NYC. Crime is off the hook. It is no longer a safe city to even go to visit. At the last coin show there, they robbed a dealer and stole his entire inventory when packing up to leave. That’s OK – but for Trump to pay money to a porn star warrants endless taxpayer money to be spent for this guy’s career.

BEWARE Mr, Trump. They kept me in prison on Civil Contempt from 2000 to 2007. I was released ONLY because I got to the Supreme Court and they ordered the government to explain how I could be held for 7 years without anything on statute 28 USC 1826 which had a maximum of 18 months. To avoid having to answer, they suddenly released me.

So forget the payment to a Porn Star

They can now gag trump, restrict his movements, and harass him to PREVENT him from running in 2024. They will listen to every word he says and are just going to wait to be able to throw him in prison on Civil Contempt indefinitely with ZERO Constitutional Rights. Welcome to the REAL America. They call it a “protective order” to protect the Government and Bragg as you are stripped of ALL your First Amendment rights.

Apr 1 2023

DOJ Celebrates First Criminal Conviction in U.S. History for Creating a Meme – The Future of The First Amendment Under the “Restrict Act” Clarifies


Posted originally on the CTH on March 31, 2023 | Sundance

Welcome to The United States of America in 2023, where we see the first ever criminal conviction of a U.S. citizen for creating a meme. A man created a picture determined to be illegal by a Dept of Justice focused on the arrest and incarceration of people working against the interests of a weaponized government.

We will see what happens on appeal.  After the jury remained deadlocked for three days, and after thrice telling the judge they were deadlocked, Judge Ann Donnelly threatened not to release them from duty unless and until they came to a decision on guilt.  The jury subsequently found Douglass Mackey, a 33-year-old who went by the name Ricky Vaughn on Twitter and a resident of Florida (insert DeSantis silence here), guilty of creating a meme against the interests of the U.S. government.

The DOJ Celebrates – Douglass Mackey, also known as “Ricky Vaughn,” was convicted today by a federal jury in Brooklyn of the charge of Conspiracy Against Rights stemming from his scheme to deprive individuals of their constitutional right to vote.  The verdict followed a one-week trial before United States District Judge Ann M. Donnelly.  When sentenced, Mackey faces a maximum of 10 years in prison.

Breon Peace, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Michael J. Driscoll, Assistant Director-in-Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office (FBI), announced the verdict.

“Mackey has been found guilty by a jury of his peers of attempting to deprive individuals from exercising their sacred right to vote for the candidate of their choice in the 2016 Presidential Election,” stated United States Attorney Peace.  “Today’s verdict proves that the defendant’s fraudulent actions crossed a line into criminality and flatly rejects his cynical attempt to use the constitutional right of free speech as a shield for his scheme to subvert the ballot box and suppress the vote.”

In 2016, Mackey established an audience on Twitter with approximately 58,000 followers.  A February 2016 analysis by the MIT Media Lab ranked Mackey as the 107th most important influencer of the then-upcoming Presidential Election.

As proven at trial, between September 2016 and November 2016, Mackey conspired with other influential Twitter users and with members of private online groups to use social media platforms, including Twitter, to disseminate fraudulent messages that encouraged supporters of presidential candidate Hillary Clinton to “vote” via text message or social media which, in reality, was legally invalid. (read more)

This is a dark day for our nation.  However, let this serve as a warning for what lies ahead as the United States Senate attempts to create criminal laws that will take control over online content.  This conviction for the expression of speech is the first of many if the Restrict Act is passed as written.

Apr 1 2023

Former DNI Ric Grenell Has a Message for All Republicans – This is Saint Crispin’s Day!


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on March 31, 2023 | Sundance 

I know you are angry, I’m angry, we are all angry. However, in the past 24 hours I am more filled with resolve than ever before.

Every whiteboard is cleared, every distraction is removed, everything is now singularly focused on this corrupt and manipulative war that is going to take place in the battlefield of presidential politics with Donald John Trump at the center of it.  I have prayed more in the past several weeks than in my entire lifetime and now we reach the phase where we lift our heads, get off our knees and confront this corrupt, conniving system.

I will share more later. In the interim, what former Acting Director of National Intelligence, Ric Grenell, describes in this video {direct rumble link here} is 100% what should happen.  However, I doubt the corrupt professional political class behind the schemes and manipulations would agree to it.  Grenell explains that every GOPe candidate should withdraw from the 2024 race, and immediately position their battlements in full alignment with President Trump.  WATCH:

“That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made
And crowns for convoy put into his purse:
We would not die in that man’s company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.”

“This day is called the feast of Crispian:
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when the day is named,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.

He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say ‘To-morrow is Saint Crispian:’
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars.
And say ‘These wounds I had on Crispin’s day.’

Old men forget: yet all shall be forgot,
But he’ll remember with advantages
What feats he did that day: then shall our names.
Familiar in his mouth as household words
Harry the king, Bedford and Exeter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester,
Be in their flowing cups freshly remember’d.

This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne’er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember’d;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne’er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin’s day.”

[From Henry V, Act IV]

Cold anger is displaced with the sense of resolute and purposeful rage…

Delicate sensibilities now dispatched like a feather in a hurricane…

This is a zero-sum conflict now!

Mar 31 2023

Earn Six Figures Without Working


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politics Re-Posted Mar 31, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

The US government has been on a spending spree over the past few years and there is absolutely no way they can ever pay the bill. Federal spending hit $4.45 trillion in 2019 in the wake of the pandemic, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). That figure hit $6.21 trillion as of the latest report, marking a 40% uptick in four years. What has changed?  

 This goes far beyond the Ukraine fiasco. While defense spending rose 18% over the past four years, nondefense spending shot up 43% to $941 billion. Spending on Social Security and retirement increased 33% from 2019 to 2023 as the Baby Boomer generation began to exit the workforce. Retirement has become a luxury with the current cost of living and many are opting to continue working rather than retire. Yet, the mentality of hard work paying off is dwindling. The effects of the pandemic can still be felt as the workforce dynamic has changed. The supplemental unemployment income distributed freely during the pandemic has had disastrous consequences. 

Spending on food stamps has increased by 102% from $63 billion in 2019 to $127 billion in 2023. Welfare support rose 50% as well from $32 billion to $48 billion. Unemployment costs have increased 32% over the past four years, despite the record-low unemployment rate. The US spent $53 billion on educational pandemic aid and $71 billion to help failing PBGC plans. The CBO now foresees a federal budget deficit of $1.4 trillion in 2023, and this number is expected to rise. 

Biden’s Build Back Better Act pushed for the largest welfare spending in US history. It pays NOT to work in Biden’s America. According to the Heritage Foundation: 

"Total government spending on the average poor family will rise from $65,200 per year to more than $76,400. When limited private earnings are added to this massive government spending, combined total resources will reach nearly $94,600 per year for the average poor family."

Biden repealed some of the reforms issued by the Clintons to boost reliance on government aid. People who choose not to work are eligible for unconditional cash grants funded by working taxpaying citizens. “Taxpayers would be required to pay larger sums to support welfare recipients, but recipients would have no reciprocal obligations,” the Heritage Foundation continued. Those who decide to marry receive less funding. Mothers who have children by multiple fathers receive more funding. Traditional values are punished. Why rely on family when you have the government? 

Some states pay six figures to “low-income” families through benefits and subsidiaries. A family earning nearly a quarter million per year could still qualify for ObamaCare subsidies, and in some states, families earning $300,000 annually still qualify. Unemployment benefits plus ObamaCare subsidies for a family of four are equivalent to the national median income in 24 states. Some states offer more than others. In New Jersey, a family of four can receive benefits up to $108,000 even if no one is working.  

Welfare was supposed to be a tool to help people during times of need. It should incentivize people to get back to work. Biden is giving your money to foreign countries. He is giving your money to US citizens who chose not to work. This is clearly socialism at play, as it does not pay to work in Biden’s crumbling America. 

Mar 31 2023

US Sent 365 Attack Craft to Confront Russia


Armstrong Economics Blog/Neocons Re-Posted Mar 31, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

QUESTION: Marty; It looks like NATO is preparing to invade Russia. What the hell is going on?

HR

ANSWER: Ads I have explained, the Neocons are in full control of US foreign policy. They are intent on starting a war BEFORE 2024. They have 300,000 troops on the border of Russia in Poland. The US has 365 attack aircraft ready to roll. They have used Ukraine to weaken Russia’s conventional forces. They think they can take Russia in less than one week. They believe that Russia will not push the button. What if they are wrong? They believe in their own propaganda.

They have waged a brilliant campaign. They pretend their warmongering is being patriotic. They do not care about America, its people, or anything honorable. They used Ukraine as cannon fodder and they will do the same with Americans. They are INTERNATIONALISTS and in their view, it is to dominate the world. Who cares about Americans? There are too many of us anyhow. Thin the herd is their view.

Welcome to World War III

Mar 31 2023

Trump is Indicted – This May Backfire in Spades


Armstrong Economics Blog/Politics Re-Posted Mar 30, 2023 by Martin Armstrong

Donald Trump is now the first former US president to face criminal charges after a grand jury in New York has voted to indict him on charges related to hush money payments to an adult film star. President Warren G. Harding (1865-1923), 29th President of the United States (1921-1923), has gone down as perhaps the worst president in America’s history. Harding’s legacy was overshadowed by corruption. He was surrounded by cronies which took his administration down the rabbit hole of amazing corruption.

Harding preferred to play poker and womanizer rather than tackle the serious questions of his time. Herbert Hoover, who succeeded Harding, said: “He was not a man with either the experience or the intellectual quality that the position needed.”

Nevertheless, despite Harding’s Administration having been one of the most corrupt in modern history, he was still honored on stamps when he died. Yet they still gave him a presidential funeral. It is hard to imagine that either the press or Washington would do the same for Trump. We have crossed the Rubicon with this indictment of Trump. This desperate attempt to try to damage his credibility to prevent him from running for president is now degraded American justice to the lowest possible level of the corrupt Ukrainian government which routinely imprisons political adversaries as well as a South American banana republic.

In all honesty, NEVER in all my career have I ever seen so many crazy fundamentals all culminate at the same time with the turning point in the Economic Confidence Model as we head into the next turning point of April 10th from cycles in Russia, Ukraine, banking crisis, and throw in this indictment of Trump that is just insane. If they really think this would reduce Trump’s chances of running,  they are seriously wrong. There is a growing number of people now who see the government as corrupt. This will only be seen as a desperate measure to protect Washington and the real swamp that always acts against the interests of the people. Next week was a Directional Change in many markets and we have panic cycles in May. It looks like this is s Smörgåsbord of political chaos and uncertainty.

Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney’s office, said they contacted Trump’s attorney to “coordinate his surrender” on an indictment that “remains under seal.” Trump will self-surrender and Bragg will probably seek pre-trial confinement without bail claiming a flight risk. Zelensky tried that with his former President. This is going to be a major game-changer in politics. Bragg has crossed the Rubicon, and that means Biden and his entire family could be indicted even when sitting as president. The laptop of Hunter and the bank records are grounds for impeachment and even removal from office in the case of Biden. Bragg has crossed the Rubicon and this indeed can be a political civil war.

Article II, Section 4:

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Mar 31 2023

President Trump Attorney Alina Habba Speaks to Tucker Carlson About Political Indictment


Posted originally on the CTH on March 30, 2023 | Sundance

Tucker Carlson frames the context of the accusations against President Donald Trump and then interviews one of President Trump’s civil attorneys Alina Habba. {Direct Rumble Link}

While Ms. Habba is not a criminal attorney for President Trump she notes the legal ramifications to the justice system from a radical leftist District Attorney running amuck. WATCH:

Mar 31 2023

Bunker Boy Gets a Redo


Posted originally on the CTH on March 30, 2023 | Sundance 

Before entering his latibulate phase, Bunker Boy Ron DeSantis transmits his political redo:

(Source)

A couple of notes.  First, notice how the statement is an assembly of every point Bunker Boy was previously criticized for not making (good job Karl).  Second, notice the account he used this time (good job Pushaw).   Lastly, SAY HIS NAME!

It was not part of their blood,
It came to them very late,
With long arrears to make good,
When the Saxon began to hate.

They were not easily moved,
They were icy — willing to wait,
Till every count should be proved,
Ere the Saxon began to hate.

Their voices were even and low.
Their eyes were level and straight.
There was neither sign nor show
When the Saxon began to hate.

It was not preached to the crowd.
It was not taught by the state.
No man spoke it aloud
When the Saxon began to hate.

It was not suddenly bred.
It will not swiftly abate.
Through the chilled years ahead,
When Time shall count from the date
That the Saxon began to hate.

~ Rudyard Kipling

Mar 31 2023

New York Times: President Trump Has Been Indicted by Manhattan Grand Jury – Indictment Under Seal, Terms for Arrest Ongoing


Posted originally on the CTH on March 30, 2023 | Sundance


Breaking moments ago, the New York Times is reporting that President Trump has been indicted by a Manhattan grand jury, the sealed indictment will be released in the next few days and the surrender of President Trump to law enforcement in New York City is being worked out.

(NEW YORK TIMES) – A Manhattan grand jury voted to indict Donald J. Trump on Thursday for his role in paying hush money to a porn star, according to four people with knowledge of the matter, a historic development that will shake up the 2024 presidential race and forever mark him as the nation’s first former president to face criminal charges.

The felony indictment, filed under seal by the Manhattan district attorney’s office, will likely be announced in the coming days. By then, prosecutors working for the district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg, will have asked Mr. Trump to surrender and to face arraignment on charges that remain unknown for now.

[..] Mr. Trump has consistently denied all wrongdoing and attacked Mr. Bragg, a Democrat, accusing him of leading a politically motivated prosecution. He has also denied any affair with the porn star, Stormy Daniels, who had been looking to sell her story of a tryst with Mr. Trump during the campaign.

Here’s what else you need to know:

♦ Mr. Bragg and his lawyers will likely attempt to negotiate Mr. Trump’s surrender. If he agrees, it will raise the prospect of a former president, with the Secret Service in tow, being photographed and fingerprinted in the bowels of a New York State courthouse.

♦ The prosecution’s star witness is Michael D. Cohen, Mr. Trump’s former fixer who paid the $130,000 to keep Ms. Daniels quiet. Mr. Cohen has said that Mr. Trump directed him to buy Ms. Daniels’s silence, and that Mr. Trump and his family business, the Trump Organization, helped cover the whole thing up. The company’s internal records falsely identified the reimbursements as legal expenses, which helped conceal the purpose of the payments.

♦ Although the specific charges remain unknown, Mr. Bragg’s prosecutors have zeroed in on that hush money payment and the false records created by Mr. Trump’s company. A conviction is not a sure thing: An attempt to combine a charge relating to the false records with an election violation relating to the payment to Ms. Daniels would be based on a legal theory that has yet to be evaluated by judges, raising the possibility that a court could throw out or limit the charges.

♦ The vote to indict, the product of a nearly five-year investigation, kicks off a new and volatile phase in Mr. Trump’s post-presidential life as he makes a third run for the White House. And it could throw the race for the Republican nomination — which he leads in most polls — into uncharted territory.

♦ Mr. Bragg is the first prosecutor to lead an indictment of Mr. Trump. He is now likely to become a national figure enduring a harsh political spotlight. (LINK)

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Mar 31 2023

Rand Paul Shreds Josh Hawley Over “Restrict Act” While Blocking Unanimous Consent and Reminding About Constitution and “Bills of Attainder”


Posted originally on the CTH on March 30, 2023 | Sundance 

Senator Rand Paul can be both frustrating at times and brutally purposeful at times.  While Paul is a legislative enigma and often a hot mess…. When he is incorrect, he is allowing the DeceptiCons to advance; but when he is correct on the core issue, Senator Paul can be brilliant.

Senator Josh Hawley took to the Senate floor yesterday to present a modified version of the “Restrict Act” as an alternative to the complete government takeover of all internet content – a worthy endeavor.

Hawley tried to strip out the DHS takeover component of the Restrict Act, and just present a bill that bans TikTok.   Senator Rand Paul refused to permit Unanimous Consent for the bill to proceed immediately to a vote.  Senator Paul slows down the Senate deliberations while asking some bigger questions.

The entire Hawley -vs- Paul debate is worth watching (there are two videos, one long – one short).  I sense that Hawley’s intent is good, but Rand Paul is on the right side of the argument.  The American people have never, not once, benefited from any legislative endeavor such as what is being proposed in the effort to ban TikTok.   It’s not about TikTok, it’s about freedom.

The originating debate is below the fold.  This segment is the shorter follow-up that follows Senator Paul blocking unanimous consent.   If you have time, watch both. If you do not have the time, this first one is solid enough to understand the arguments.  Notice how Senator Paul says everything inside this rush to ban is based on “speculation and conjecture.”  This is a point DC doesn’t want people to think about.  Nothing has been proven, only accused.  WATCH:

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WASHINGTON, March 29 (Reuters) – U.S. Republican Senator Rand Paul on Wednesday blocked a bid to fast-track a ban of popular Chinese-owned social media app TikTok, which more than 150 million Americans use, citing concerns about free speech and uneven treatment of social media companies.

“I think we should beware of those who use fear to coax Americans to relinquish our liberties,” Paul said on the Senate floor. “Every accusation of data gathering that has been attributed to TikTok could also be attributed to domestic big tech companies.”

Republican Senator Josh Hawley had sought unanimous consent for a TikTok ban bill. “It protects the American people and it sends a message to Communist China that you cannot buy us,” Hawley said, adding the app is spying on Americans.

“If Republicans want to continuously lose elections for a generation they should pass this bill to ban TikTok — a social media app used by 150 million people, primarily young Americans,” Paul said on the Senate floor. “Do we really want to emulate Chinese speech bans?… We’re going to be just like China and ban speech we’re afraid of?”

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said last week he expects the house will take up a bill to address TikTok but the timing is unclear. It is also not clear what a final bill to address TikTok might look like.

A small but growing number of Democrats and Republicans have raised concerns, citing free speech and other issues and have objected to legislation targeting TikTok as overly broad. (read more)

Longer debate…