Tag Archives: Hermitage Capital

Dec 8 2021

Sanctions and Starvation in Afghanistan


Armstrong Economics Blog/Middle East Re-Posted Dec 8, 2021 by Martin Armstrong

(Afghanistan-related designations are one of the few cases in which President Barack Obama’s administration imposed more economic sanctions (103) than President Donald Trump’s administration (24), which was publicly engaged in peace talks with the Taliban from 2018 to 2020 and issued fewer sanctions. (U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control; Sanctions Explorer))

When the US left Afghanistan at the end of August, they implemented harsher sanctions on the Taliban. Western aid to the nation vanished, and Afghanistan became isolated from the world economy. It was never America’s job to uphold Afghanistan, but the impact of abruptly leaving after two decades of occupation has caused insurmountable trouble to the people our troops fought to protect. Now, over half the country is likely to experience food insecurity and starvation this winter.

Of the 22.8 million Afghans facing food shortages, 8.7 million are expected to face famine. In addition to the Taliban’s utter ignorance on how to run a country, the nation has experienced its worst drought in decades that has killed off livestock and crops. The New York Times reported that Afghanistan’s wheat harvest will be cut by a quarter this year, and many rural farmers have abandoned cultivating their land entirely.

The World Bank recently voted to provide the nation with $280 million in previously frozen donor funds, but this is a small portion of the $1.5 billion in frozen assets. The US entered Afghanistan for 20 years and left without a plan under Biden. Over 7,057 servicemen and women have died in post-9/11 operations, and an additional 30,177 died of suicide. No one wins when it comes to war games

Dec 8 2021

Jussie Smollet Proclaims Himself the Most Famous Dindunuffin in History


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on December 7, 2021 | Sundance | 119 Comments

The most notorious hate crime hoaxer in the past few years took the witness stand in his own defense to proclaim he didn’t do anything wrong, when he set up his own fake racial attack using two brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo.

The two brothers testified to being paid $3,500 to pull-off the most transparent and goofy hate crime in recent memory. All of the witness statements align with CCTV footage, cell phone records and other evidence that showed the trio even rehearsed the late night fake crime. There is not a shred of evidence that counteracts the entire fiasco as a ridiculous hate crime hoax. Yet for some insufferable reason this case reached a courtroom.

The police knew it was a hoax, yet they spent 1,500 hours investigating it. The two pretend attackers admitted it was a hoax, and gave details of how it was done. The direct and circumstantial evidence all shows it was a hoax. Everything about the entire series of events proves it was a hoax crime, and yet Jussie Smollet claims it was real.

This is silly.

Closing arguments are expected tomorrow, and if the jury needs to debate this one, well, the justice system is a parody of itself.

CHICAGO – A Cook County jury will likely begin deliberating Wednesday in actor Jussie Smollett’s trial on charges he lied to police about being the victim of an alleged racist and homophobic attack nearly three years ago.

The defense rested its case Tuesday afternoon after the actor spent a tense two hours on the stand, at times getting testy under questioning from Special Prosecutor Dan Webb.

Judge James Linn released the jury around noon, telling them they would return Wednesday to hear closing arguments and then to weigh a verdict on the six counts of disorderly conduct the actor faces.

During testimony that spanned two days of trial, Smollett forcefully and repeatedly denied that he was involved in planning an alleged hoax attack in January 2019 on himself with brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo. The pair testified last week that Smollett masterminded the attack as a publicity stunt. (read more)

In my humble opinion, the Smollett hate crime was planned as part of the Kamala Harris presidential candidacy rollout.  Jussie Smollett just did a terrible job at pulling it off and the entire operation went sideways…. All of this nonsense is an outcome of that.

Dec 8 2021

Mitch McConnell Constructs Legislative Roadmap for Democrats to Raise Debt Ceiling Unilaterally


December 7, 2021 | Sundance | 213 Comments

There’s a lot of convoluted internal stuff, but essentially Mitch McConnell is going to set up a process for Democrats in the Senate to raise the debt ceiling by themselves.

Mitch will enlist the usual Decepticon suspects to change the senate rules, for one-time only, allowing democrats to raise the debt ceiling without having to enter negotiations and concessions for anything republican lawmakers want (like eliminating the Biden spending bill).

McConnell will need nine more republicans to change the process, but it looks like he’s going to be successful.

This will permit Democrats to raise the debt ceiling by approximately $2 trillion, so they can continue debate on Biden’s Build Back Better bill.   Yeah, Uniparty gonna Uniparty.

WASHINGTON DC – […] The Senate minority leader spent Tuesday selling his members on a convoluted strategy that would require at least 10 Republicans to approve legislation that would later allow Senate Democrats to raise the debt ceiling by a simple majority vote. After a leadership meeting and a Senate GOP lunch, McConnell said he’d done enough work to clinch the deal in a vote expected on Thursday. (read more)

So the Senate DeceptiCons will *claim* to be against the multi-trillion ‘Build Back Better’, fundamental change, spending bill.  Yet they will have facilitated the Democrats not having to negotiate or eliminate anything inside the BBB bill, by removing the leverage of the debt ceiling raise.  Yep, Uniparty gotta Uniparty – all courtesy of the DeceptiCon caucus.  I hate them.

President Donald Trump notes the Mitch McConnell nonsense in a statement:

“I’m watching Republican Senators talk about fighting the horrendous Build Back Better Bill that the Democrats will push forward, made much easier for them by the 19 Republican Senators who voted for the Democrats Unfrastructure Plan, which is only 11% Infrastructure, and also by McConnell incredibly giving the Democrats a two-month extension, which allowed them to get their act together. Now the Republicans start fighting a much harder war, and I told them this would happen. It’s pathetic! Those 19 Republicans, including the Broken Old Crow, should not be forgotten for what they have done and the absolutely horrible ramifications this Bill will have on the future of our Nation. Just like McConnell blew two Senate seats in Georgia, and wouldn’t fight the Rigged Presidential Election, he gave this one away also.” (link)

Keep in mind this is the end of the political career of Mitch McConnell regardless of the 2022 election outcome.  I doubt there’s anything that will shift McConnell’s position, he’s been doing this stuff for years; but only recently did more people wake up to it.

The last federal budget passed under regular order was signed into law in September of 2007 for fiscal year 2008.  Everything after that has been a series of continuing resolutions, omnibus spending, baseline budget expansions and debt ceiling increases.  There has never been a full budget process worked through in the past 14 years.

Dec 8 2021

Federal Judge Blocks Biden Federal Contractor Vaccine Mandate Nationwide


Posted Originally on the conservative tree House on December 7, 2021 | Sundance | 230 Comments

A federal judge in Georgia has blocked the vaccine mandate for federal contractors nationally.  A previous court order from another judge in Kentucky blocked the contractor vaccine mandate in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee [link].  This latest ruling blocks the contractor mandate nationally [link].

This is the latest defeat for the Biden administration against all three facets of the federal vaccine mandate: (1) Federal Contractors, (2) CMS Healthcare providers, (3) private sector employers with over 100 workers.

All three prongs of the White House federal vaccine mandate are now blocked by federal courts.

(Reuters) – A federal judge in Georgia issued a nationwide injunction that prevents the U.S. government from enforcing a COVID-19 vaccine mandate on federal contractors, temporarily shutting down the last remaining vaccine requirement by the Biden administration.

U.S. District Judge Stan Baker in Savannah, Georgia, said Congress did not clearly authorize the president to use procurement to impose a vaccine requirement on contractors that will have “vast economic and political significance.” (read more)

Dec 5 2021

Fredo Fired By CNN, Then Releases Statement


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on December 4, 2021 | Sundance | 174 Comments

CNN has fired 9:00pm anchor Fredo saying: “Chris Cuomo was suspended earlier this week pending further evaluation of new information that came to light about his involvement with his brother’s defense. We retained a respected law firm to conduct the review, and have terminated him, effective immediately. While in the process of that review, additional information has come to light. Despite the termination, we will investigate as appropriate.” (link)

In response the anchor stated: “This is not how I want my time at CNN to end but I have already told you why and how I helped my brother. So let me now say as disappointing as this is, I could not be more proud of the team at Cuomo Prime Time and the work we did as CNN’s #1 show in the most competitive time slot. I owe them all and will miss that group of special people who did really important work.” (link)

It sounds like the MeToo investigation is ongoing.  Fredo is a notoriously unintelligent narcissist; and, well, grandma’s rule applies.

Jim Acosta and Brian Stelter were on air at CNN when the news broke.  Their broadcast video is below:

Dec 4 2021

Is the US President a Pathological Liar?


Armstrong Economics Blog/Corruption Re-Posted Dec 4, 2021 by Martin Armstrong

Is the US president a pathological liar? You decide.

Dec 4 2021

Joe Biden’s Speech Writer Explains His Process


Armstrong Economics Blog/Humor Re-Posted Dec 4, 2021 by Martin Armstrong

Dec 4 2021

Marjorie Taylor Greene Releases Voice Messages From AOC Democrats Containing Graphic Death Threats


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on December 3, 2021 | Sundance | 323 Comments

Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene releases audio of voice mail messages from leftist Democrats who call into her office.

WARNING – The audio contains unstable Democrat voters using graphic and foul language as they issue violent death threats.  Do not let kids listen to this.

Dec 4 2021

DOJ Likely to Release Andrew Weissmann Version of Trump-Russia Report in Spring 2022


Posted originally on the conservative tree house on December 3, 2021 | Sundance | 167 Comments

Interesting report from Politico (using DOJ/FBI sources), highlighting a likelihood the DOJ will release another version of the Trump-Russia report in the spring of 2022.  From the description it sounds like the Andrew Weissmann version of the Mueller report.

If accurate; and there’s no reason at this point not to see this as likely; this could be considered the third leg of the 2022 election stool being constructed by the leftists who plan election strategies within the Lawfare group.

  • Leg one is the J6 Committee investigation and subsequent narrative findings.
  • Leg two is the DOJ investigation of audit groups, indictments and subsequent narrative.
  • Leg three would be the Andrew Weissmann report, and subsequent narrative.

.

Politico – […] An unpublished investigative compilation sometimes referred to as the “Alternative Mueller Report” has been located in Justice Department files and could be released soon, according to a letter filed in federal court Thursday.

[…] “At least for posterity, I had all the [team] members … write up an internal report memorializing everything we found, our conclusions, and the limitations on the investigation, and provided it to the other team leaders as well as had it maintained in our files,” wrote Weissmann in “Where Law Ends: Inside the Mueller Investigation.”

[…] The group Weissmann supervised in the special counsel’s office was called “Team M” after its primary target — former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. The team more directly focused on the ties between Russia and former President Donald Trump was known as “Team R.” (read more)

As we have noted for several years, and later admitted by former Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein, the special counsel team led by Andrew Weissmann -using the figurehead of Robert Mueller- was in full control of the U.S. Justice Department from May of 2017 to April of 2019.  Simultaneously, the Lawfare group allies outside the special counsel were collaborating with their friends in the Weissmann group.

The media, now writing about how an Andrew Weissmann version of the Mueller report will be released early next year, speaks further to the political motive operating inside the current DOJ.  It appears that Main Justice, in collaboration with the FBI, will be the strategy center for the Democrat’s 2022 election effort.

Last point…. again this highlights that pesky issue all of the conservative writers and Spygate opinion authors conspicuously avoid: “How is John Durham going to reveal everything that is claimed as hopeful and possible about the 2016/2017 deep state Trump targeting operation; yet simultaneously handle the involvement of Robert Mueller, Andrew Weissmann and the Special Counsel team who were specifically appointed to cover it up?”

The Robert Mueller special counsel team in 2017 through 2019 were an extension of the DOJ/FBI operation against Donald Trump in 2016 and 2017.

When Andrew Weissmann and crew entered the DOJ to effectively run the Trump-Russia investigation, their purpose was to: (1) continue what was ongoing; and (2) coverup all that came before.

AG Jeff Sessions recused himself, and DAG Rod Rosenstein became the co-dependent enabler for the Weissmann crew’s needs.

During a June 2020 Senate hearing, Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein openly admitted to being nothing more than the rubber stamp for every request.  Rosenstein approved every request, signed every authorization and agreed to every scope expansion Andrew Weissmann put in front of him.  There was nothing Rosenstein ever denied the Weissmann crew.

Team Weissmann, under the authorities of a blank-check special counsel, effectively ran Main Justice top to bottom for two years.  When you accept the framework Rosenstein later admitted was in place, then you understand that anything blocked from DOJ/FBI release (see Nunes pleas) was blocked by Weissmann Inc; and everything that ever came out of the DOJ/FBI was released by Weissmann Inc.   Reread that as many times as needed until it sinks in.

Why was the DOJ/FBI protecting Chris Steele source Igor Danchenko by not exposing the lies that John Durham is now making public in his indictments?   The answer is clearly visible in THAT specific moment in July of 2018 when Team Weissmann wrote a letter to the FISA Court increasingly distrusting of what the court was seeing and hearing from the OIG office.

Look at how the FISA was used by the Mueller investigation to continue its weaponization throughout 2017 and even into 2018. In July of 2018, long after the source material was debunked, the special counsel office was still telling the FISA court the predication for the FISA application and subsequent renewals was valid.

Drive this point home.  This is a key to understanding the scope of how weaponized the Mueller team was.

In July of 2018, the special counsel resistance group was lying to the FISA court in order to protect the cornerstone document that permitted them to weaponize the intelligence apparatus.

This letter was written July 12, 2018. It is NOT accidental that only a week later, July 21st, the special counsel released the FISA application under the guise of FOIA fulfillment.

Aside from the date, the important part of the first page is the motive for sending it. The Mueller team running the DOJ is telling the court in July 2018: based on what they know, the FISA application still contains “sufficient predication for the Court to have found probable cause” to approve the application. The resistance unit running the DOJ is defending the Carter Page FISA application as still valid.

On page #8 [Source Document Here] when discussing Christopher Steele’s sub-source, Igor Danchenko, the special counsel group notes the FBI found Danchenko to be truthful and cooperative.

This is an incredibly misleading statement to the FISA court, because what the letter doesn’t say is that 18-months earlier Danchenko, also known in the IG report as the “primary sub-source”, disavowed the content and informed the FBI that the material attributed to him in the dossier was essentially junk.

By July 2018, the DOJ clearly knew the dossier was full of fabrications, yet they withheld that information from the court and said the predicate was still valid. Why?

It doesn’t take a deep-weeds-walker to identify the DOJ motive.  In July 2018, Robert Mueller’s investigation was at its apex, and the people within that investigation were in control of the DOJ.  The Special Counsel wrote that 2018 letter to the FISA court to protect themselves.

This letter justifying the application and claiming that current information would still be a valid predicate therein, speaks to the 2018 DOJ needing to retain the validity of the FISA warrant.  The DOJ needed to protect evidence Mueller/Weissmann had already extracted from the fraudulently obtained FISA authority.  Protect the ‘fruit of the poisoned tree’, that’s the motive.

In July 2018, if the DOJ-NSD had admitted the FISA application and all renewals were fatally flawed, Robert Mueller/Andrew Weismann may have needed to withdraw any evidence gathered as a result of its exploitation. The DOJ in 2018 was protecting Mueller’s poisoned fruit.

If the DOJ had been honest with the court, there’s a strong possibility some, perhaps much, of Mueller evidence gathering would have been invalidated… and cases were pending.  The solution: mislead the court, ie. lie, and claim the predication was still valid.

That’s the bigger issue….

…And John Durham has yet to touch it.

Dec 3 2021

Pelosi: Rules for Thee but Not for Me


Armstrong Economics Blog/Corruption Re-Posted Dec 3, 2021 by Martin Armstrong

Rules for thee, but not for me! Nancy Pelosi, who wants to muzzle everyone, was spotted at a public event hosted by the California State Society without a mask. All children over the age of 2 were forced to wear masks, but the law did not apply to Pelosi. In fact, she was seen giving children fist bumps instead of handshakes while standing inches away from them. These politicians truly think we are dumb. Pelosi’s barefaced appearance comes just days after President Biden requested the public begin wearing masks again due to the omicron variant. “Sooner or later we are going to see cases of this new variant here in the United States,” Biden said days before omicron was detected in America. “Please wear your mask when you’re indoors, in public settings around other people.”

Pelosi knows the rules she helps to impose on others do not apply to her. She enjoys wearing masks on the House floor that match her pantsuits but has been seen disobeying mandates numerous times. Last year, after the state of California closed down all salons, Pelosi visited one without a mask to style her hair. “It was a slap in the face that she went in, you know, that she feels that she can just go and get her stuff done while no one else can go in, and I can’t work,” the salon owner told reporters. “We have been shut down for so long, not just me, but most of the small businesses and I just can’t – it’s a feeling – a feeling of being deflated, helpless, and honestly, beaten down,” she continued. Pelosi’s people responded by saying the salon had a special permit and rules that only applied to one individual in the entire state.

If Pelosi believed that masks would prevent her from contracting the virus, she would wear one. She is 81-years-old and in a high-risk demographic. Anyone who calls others “anti-mask” or “anti-vax” does not understand that the people imposing these restrictions do not believe in what they are selling.