Our Politics

Tag: donald trump

  • OurWeek In Politics (8/27-9/2/18)

    Here are the main events that occurred in Politics this week:
    1. Myanmar Government Accused By UN of committing Genocide Against Rohingya Muslims

    The government of Myanmar has been accused of committing genocide against the Rohingya Muslims according to a UN Report issued this week

    Myanmar’s military government has been accused of genocide against the Rohingya Muslims (who belong to the Hanafi sect of Sunni Islam) in a damning UN report released on Agust 29 that alleged that the Myanmar military was responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity against minorities across the country. The UN report said it found conclusive evidence that the actions of the country’s armed forces, known as the Tatmadaw, “undoubtedly amounted to the gravest crimes under international law” in Rakhine as well as in Kachin and Shan, states also beset by internal conflicts.

    The UN investigators were denied access to Myanmar by the government but interviewed 875 observers who had fled the country. They found that the military was “killing indiscriminately, gang-raping women, assaulting children and burning entire villages” in Rakhine, home to the Muslim Rohingya, and in Shan and Kachin. The Tatmadaw also carried out murders, imprisonments, enforced disappearances, torture, rapes and used sexual slavery and other forms of sexual violence, persecution, and enslavement, all of which constitute crimes against humanity. “The fact-finding mission’s powerful report and clear recommendations demonstrate the obvious need for concrete steps to advance criminal justice for atrocious crimes, instead of more hollow condemnations and expressions of concern,” said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “This report should eliminate any doubt about the urgency of investigating those responsible for mass atrocities.”

    Several countries have thus far condemned the ongoing human rights abuses in Myanmar. The US government announced that it had imposed economic sanctions on Myanmar security forces for what American officials said was their role in “ethnic cleansing” against Rohingya Muslims and “widespread human rights abuses” against other ethnic minority groups. Additionally, the government of Turkey has similarly condemned the actions of the government of Myanmar and has reportedly urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take appropriate steps to end the violence within the country. On the other hand, China, one of the strongest allies of the Myanmar military government, has called for a political solution to resolve the Rohingya issue, saying “unilateral accusations and pressure” will not work. Additionally, China criticized the US and its allies of hypocrisy regarding their stance on the plight of the Rohingya Muslims, noting that the US is also involved in efforts to suppress the rights of the Shi’a Muslims of Yemen through their support of the Saudi-led war in Yemen.

    2. Federal Court Strikes Down North Carolina Congressional Map

    A Federal Court decision this week has struck down North Carolina’s gerrymandered Congressional map, arguing that its existence is a violation of the 14th Amendment.

    On August 27, a federal court struck down North Carolina’s congressional map Monday, calling it an unconstitutional partisan gerrymander and throwing the state’s House elections into uncertainty just ten weeks before Election Day. It is unusual for courts to throw out a political map so close to an election, but district court judges wrote that the situation in North Carolina “presents unusual circumstances.” A three-judge panel issued the decision, noting that Republican state legislators had violated the First Amendment and the equal-protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment when they drew congressional lines that favored their party in 2011. Currently, ten of the state’s 13 House districts are held by Republicans, even though North Carolina is a swing state at the national level. Circuit Court Judge James Wynn wrote the majority opinion, and District Court Judge William Britt concurred. Former President Barack Obama appointed Wynn and Britt was appointed by former President Jimmy Carter in 1980. District Court Judge William Osteen Jr., a George W. Bush appointee, partially dissented in the decision.y

    The timing of the decision has left the North Carolina state legislature scrambling to come up with a revised election map. The court has given the North Carolina state legislature a chance to draw up a “constitutionally compliant” election map by September 17, less than three weeks away. On top of that, North Carolina has already held its 2018 congressional primaries. The court raised the option of candidates running in general election districts that were different than the ones in which their primaries were held. But the judges also floated the possibility that the state could instead hold primaries on Nov. 6, Election Day, and then hold special general election contests at a later date to be determined. “You don’t know the districts you’re running, and you don’t know when you’re having an election, so that’s my definition of chaos,” said Carter Wrenn, a Republican consultant in the state.

    https://youtu.be/CkAerrIz-48

    The decision also comes on the heels of a competitive election season in North Carolina, with several districts already in play for the Democrats. The DCCC has identified Democrats Dan McCready and Kathy Manning as top battleground candidates, and both of them have raised more money than their Republican opponents. McCready is set to face Republican Mark Harris in the 9th District outside Charlotte, while Manning is running against Republican Ted Budd in the 13th District. Meanwhile, Congressman George Holding’s campaign recently told supporters that he trailed Democrat Linda Coleman in a poll of North Carolina’s 2nd District. Additionally, the midterm election contests in North Carolina also may serve as a referendum on the performance of President Donald Trump, who barely won North Carolina in 2016 and currently has a low approval rating in the state.

    3. UN Releases Report Accusing The  Governments of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates  of Committing War Crimes In Yemen

    The UN released a report this week accusing the government of Saudi Arabia of committing war crimes in Yemen over the course of the four-year-long Yemen Civil War.

    Individuals at the highest level from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and the Sunni-led government of Yemen have committed violations of international law in Yemen that may amount to war crimes, UN experts have said in a report issued on August 28. The UN report discusses abuses including rape, torture, disappearances and “deprivation of the right to life” during the almost four-year Yemeni conflict, in which the Shi’a Houthi rebels and their allies are fighting against a Saudi-led coalition that backs the Sunni-led government of President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi. In a particularly damning section of the report, UN noted the Saudi-led coalition routinely failed to consult its own “no-strike list” of more than 30,000 sites in Yemen, including refugee camps and hospitals. They also said the Saudi air force had failed to cooperate with them about its targeting process. “Despite the severity of the situation we continue to see a complete disregard for the people in Yemen,” said Charles Garraway, one of the authors of the report and a former legal officer to the British army.

    The 41-page report, based on visits to many parts of Yemen, said coalition airstrikes had caused most of the documented civilian casualties, with residential areas, marketplaces, funerals, weddings, detention centers, religious sites and medical facilities hit. “There is little evidence of any attempt by parties to the conflict to minimize civilian casualties,” the group’s chair, Kamel Jendoubi, said in a statement. “I call on them to prioritize human dignity in this forgotten conflict.”

    The release of the report has sparked mixed reactions. James Mattis, the US Secretary of Defense, announced that the US would continue its steadfast support for Saudi Arabia in the conflict and that the US has seen “no callous disregard for human life” in the conflict. The government of Saudi Arabia similarly condemned the report, claiming that it has numerous inaccuracies and has mischaracterized the Saudi role in the conflict. Additionally, the United Arab Emirates foreign affairs minister, Anwar Gargash, said the report merited a response, but that the region needed to be preserved from “Iranian encroachment.” On the other hand, the Iranian government has pledged to step up their efforts to defend the Shi’a Muslims of Yemen from Saudi attacks and has urged the international community to put a stop to the War in Yemen and allow the Houthis to play a major role in the post-war settlement in Yemen.

    4. Florida, Arizona Primaries Set Up Fierce Fall Midterm Election Showdowns

    The results of the Florida and Arizona Gubernatorial and Senate Primaries have set up a fierce battle for control of Congress in the 2018 Midterm elections,

    On August 28, primaries in the states of Florida, Arizona, and Oklahoma were held, setting up a fierce fight for the fall midterm elections. In Florida, Tallahassee mayor and Bernie Sanders supporter Andrew Gillum won the Democratic primary by a relatively close margin. Assuming that he is victorious in November, Gillum would be Florida’s first African-American governor. On the Republican side, Congressman Ron DeSantis, a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, pulled an upset victory in the Republican primary and credited the Presidents support for him as the primary factor behind his victory, saying that with one supportive tweet, the president “put me on the map.” On the other hand, Gillum thanked supporters who embraced “our plan for a state that makes room for all of us, not just the well-heeled and the well-connected, but all of us.”

    In addition to the Florida Gubernatorial primary results, the Florida Senate Primary was held. On the Democratic side, Senator Bill Nelson was renominated with minimal opposition, whereas Governor Rick Scott easily won the Republican Primary. The Florida Senate race is currently one of the most hotly-contested ones of the election cycle and is one of the few potential bright spots in what is likely to be a bloodbath for the Republicans across the country. Currently, Rick Scott is leading longtime Senator Bill Nelson in the polls, due to his high popularity and broad name recognition across the state. Additionally, many Democrats are worried that Nelson is not a strong enough candidate and that Scott will massively outspend him.

    In Arizona, Congresswoman Martha McSally fended off a pair of conservative challengers to win the Republican Senate primary to fill the seat vacated by retiring Senator Jeff Flake, a prominent “Never Trump‘ Republican known for his Libertarian positions on many policy issues. The Arizona primary was shadowed by the death of John McCain, a towering figure who represented Arizona in Congress since 1982. Even though John McCain has received praise from both Democrats and Republicans this week, the three Republican candidates running to replace his retiring seat-mate Flake, including establishment favorite McSally, aligned themselves more with President Trump than the longtime senator.

    The results of both primaries show that Florida and Arizona continue both closely watched states, featuring growing minority populations that have bolstered Democratic candidates and Republican electorates that have become older and more conservative. The fall face-offs could well signal how both states will vote in the 2020 presidential election.

  • OurWeek in Politics (6/2-6/10/18)

    Here are the main events that occurred in Politics this week:

    1. President Donald Trump Alienates American’s Allies at G7 Summit Due to Erratic Behavior, Questionable Comments

    In his second G7 conference as President, Donald Trump and his erratic policies decrease certainty in the future role of the US in the eyes of European leaders.

    In his second G7 Summit since assuming office, President Donald Trump alienated the closest allies of the US at the annual summit of the group in Canada with his aggressive trade declarations and a surprising suggestion that Russia should be readmitted to the exclusive club of major economic powers. After leaving early, President Trump went on Twitter to blow up the agreement forged at the meeting. Trump exited the Quebec resort on June 9 where the group had gathered, leaving other world leaders whipsawed and uncertain about their future relationship with the US, to head to Singapore for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday. Trump’s actions added to the anxiety of longtime US allies, who are alarmed to see him lashing out against them while he is advocating for Russian President Vladimir Putin and cozying up to North Korea.

    Just hours after leaving the summit in Quebec on June 9, President Donald Trump abruptly retracted US support for a joint statement signed by every nation in the group and blasted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “meek and mild.” Firing off tweets from aboard Air Force One, Trump said he was reversing the US position in response to Trudeau’s comments at a press conference at the end of the summit. Trudeau had pledged to impose tariffs on the US in response to Trump’s recent steel and aluminum tariffs against Canada. “PM Justin Trudeau of Canada acted so meek and mild during our @G7 meetings only to give a news conference after I left saying that, ‘US Tariffs were kind of insulting’ and he ‘will not be pushed around,’” Trump tweeted. “Very dishonest & weak.” At his closing news conference after Trump left the summit early, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned that his country would respond to Trump’s trade moves, said the President’s argument that its trade policy threatened US national security was “insulting,” and added, “we will not be pushed around.”

    https://youtu.be/qKLU8_jDMaQ

    Most political observers feel that the G7 summit ended in abject failure and only served to highlight the ideological and political divisions between Trump and Western allies and fueled fears that the most successful alliance in history is beginning to erode. “What worries me most, however, is the fact that the rules-based international order is being challenged, quite surprisingly not by the usual suspects but by its main architect and guarantor, the US,” said Donald Tusk, the president of the European Council, said in Quebec before the spat over the communique. Additionally, German Prime Minister Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron described the G7 summit as a “sobering” and “depressing” experience due to their strong disagreements with Trump on issues ranging from international trade, diplomacy, and environmental policy. Perhaps the results of the G7 summit show that the role of international cooperation and agreements is becoming less and less important in the eyes of powerful countries such as the US.

    2. US Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Colorado baker in Same-Sex Wedding Cake Case

    The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Colorado baker who refused to make a cake for a same-sex couple.

    In a 7-2 ruling, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Colorado baker who refused to bake a cake to celebrate the marriage of a same-sex couple because of religious reasons. The court held that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission showed hostility toward the baker due to his religious beliefs. The ruling is a win for baker Jack Phillips, who cited his beliefs as a Christian but leaves unsettled the broader constitutional question of the balance between religious liberty and outright discrimination. The case was one of the most anticipated rulings of the term and was considered by some as a follow-up from the court’s Obergefell v. Hodges decision three years ago that made legal same-sex marriage at the national level. That opinion, also written by Kennedy, expressed respect for those with religious objections to gay marriage. Because Justice Clarence Thomas concurred in part, the judgment of the court on the case was 7-2 but the opinion on the rationale was 6-2 in favor of Phillips’s right to refuse service.

    Overall the reaction to the ruling has been mixed. Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Kristen Waggoner, who represented Phillips, praised the ruling and stated that “Jack serves all customers; he simply declines to express messages or celebrate events that violate his deeply held beliefs. Creative professionals who serve all people should be free to create art consistent with their convictions without the threat of government punishment.” She further added that the case “will affect a number of cases for years to come in free exercise jurisprudence. That’s how the court’s decisions work,” Waggoner also stated. On the other hand, Rachel B. Tiven, the head of Lambda Legal, called the decision a “limited, fact-specific victory” for religious conservatives. “The Court today has offered dangerous encouragement to those who would deny civil rights to LGBT people and people living with HIV. Religious freedom under our Constitution has always meant the right to believe whatever you wish but not to act on your beliefs in ways that harm others. The Court today alarmingly fails to heed that distinction,” stated Tiven in an interview following the court’s decision.

    3. Annual “Quds (Jerusalem) Day” Rallies Held in Iran in Protest of Israeli Policies & the Ideology of Zionism’

    The annual Quds Day rallies were held in Iran this week to protest Israeli policies regarding Palestine, as well as US imperialism throughout the world.

    Iran held its annual day of protest against Israeli policies and the political ideology of Zionism on June 8, determined to show defiance at a time of mounting pressure from the United States and its regional allies.”The US, Saudi Arabia, and Israel want to put Iran in a corner, but they don’t know that with this action they are threatening their own security,” said parliament speaker Ali Larijani to a crowd of several hundred thousand in Tehran.

    An estimated 20 million Iranians took to the streets in the capital and other cities for Quds (Jerusalem) Day, held every year since 1980 to show support for the Palestinian people and opposition to the human rights abuses carried out by the Israeli government ever since its inception 70 years ago. President Hassan Rouhani called for “all” Iranians to turn out for the rallies. Rouhani further stated the demonstrations must send a message “to the usurper Zionist Regime [Israel] that they have not forgotten the Palestinian land and the Holy Quds and the freedom of the Holy Quds is still the holy cause of the Iranian people and all Muslims.”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JqB3R9eWds

    In addition to Iran, several other Quds Day rallies were held throughout parts of the Middle East as well as in the UK, France, Germany, and Canada. This years’ rallies take on a high level of significance due to factors ranging from the decision by the Trump Administration to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, escalating Israeli human rights abuses against the Palestinian people, and the growing alliance between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

    4. President Trump says he is Likely to Support Ending Blanket Federal Ban on Marijuana

    President Trump surprised many observers this week with his announcement that he would be in favor of lifting the federal ban on Marijuana usage.

    President Donald Trump said he likely will support a congressional effort to end the federal ban on marijuana, a major step that would reshape the pot industry and end the threat of a Justice Department crackdown. Trump’s remarks put him sharply at odds with Attorney General Jeff Sessions on the issue. The bill in question (pushed by a bipartisan coalition) would allow states to go forward with legalization unencumbered by threats of federal prosecution. In contrast, Attorney General Sessions has ramped-up these threats and has also lobbied Congress to reduce current protections for medical marijuana. President Trump made his comments to a group of reporters on June 8 just before he boarded a helicopter on his way to the G-7 summit in Canada. His remarks came the day after the bipartisan group of lawmakers proposed their measure.

    One of the lead sponsors is Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO), who is aligned with Trump on some policy issues such as economics, but recently has fought with the administration over the Justice Department’s threats to restart prosecutions in states that have legalized marijuana. “I support Sen. Gardner,” Trump said when asked about the bill. “I know exactly what he’s doing. We’re looking at it. But I probably will end up supporting that, yes.” The legislative proposal, which is also championed by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), would reshape the legal landscape for marijuana if it becomes law. Trump’s support could also have a major impact, providing political cover for Republicans who worry about being tagged as soft on drugs.

    Despite the popularity of legalizing marijuana, the proposed bill still faces a difficult road ahead in Congress. A majority of Republican members of Congress, as well as several conservative Democrats such as Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), are opposed to reform in federal drug policy, arguing that marijuana is a dangerous substance that contributes to societal disorder.  Additionally, lobbying groups such as the National Narcotic Officers’ Associations‘ cautioned Trump against supporting the bill and instead endorsed Attorney General Session’s efforts to expand the federal War on Drugs.

    5. NASA Finds ‘Organic’ Substances Linked to Life On Mars, Potentially Increasing Public Support for Space Program

    NASA Finds Ancient Organic Material, possibly linked to life, on the Martian surface.

    The US space agency (NASA) says its Mars exploration vehicle has discovered chemical substances necessary for life. Scientists reported that NASA’s Curiosity Rover found large amounts of organic molecules in a thousands-year-old rock in an area called the Gale Crater. The area on Mars is believed to have once contained a large lake. The discovery of organic molecules suggests that ancient conditions on Mars may have supported life. Ashwin Vasavada a scientist working on the Curiosity project stated that the chances of being able to find signs of ancient life (perhaps even remnants of a humanoid civilization that existed millions of years ago) with future missions “just went up.” Additionally,  Jennifer Eigenbrode (an astrobiologist with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center) noted that there is a strong possibility that the organic molecules were, in fact, created by some form of ancient life on the Martian surface.

    The impact of these findings is significant because it may result in increased funding for space programs such as NASA, as well as higher levels of support for space exploration efforts by the US. Currently, the total budget for NASA stands at $18.4 billion, less than 0.5% of the federal budget. Additionally, an overwhelming majority of Americans today feel that the federal government spends far too much on space exploration and that the money would be better spent on education, public health, and developing alternative energy sources. The discovery of remnants of an ancient civilization on Mars might create the perception in the eyes of the American people that further space research and exploration is worth it and that the federal government should rethink its priorities to make such efforts a reality.

    https://youtu.be/NRav1Wi6elE

  • Donald Trump Convention Speech Summary

    Donald Trump Convention Speech Summary

    Yesterday, Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump gave his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention. After thanking the delegates and the American people for giving him the opportunity to accept the Republican nomination for President, Trump proclaimed that “the crime and violence that today afflicts our nation” will come to an end with a change in leadership.Trump then went on to focus on the perceived failures of the Obama Administration on issues such as crime, economic policy, and foreign policy. In particular, Trump mentioned that Hillary Clinton is to blame for much of the foreign policy issues currently facing the US due to the policies that she pursued as Secretary of State. Trump then stated that the US would continue to face the same problems so long as the leadership that failed to effectively manage them continues to stay in office.

    Trump then went on to discuss his position on a number of political issues and proclaimed that it would “put the American people first.” Trump first stated that millions of dissatisfied Democrats would join his movement because he will fix the system so it would work fairly for all Americans. Trump then went on to praise his running-mate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, stating that he is a “man of character and accomplishment.” Trump declared that his economic plan would create millions of new jobs and that he would pursue trade policies that would be beneficial to the American worker. Additionally, Trump pledged that law and order would be the priority of his administration and claimed that “there can be no lasting prosperity without law and order.” On foreign policy, Trump declared that he would abandon the “failed policy of nation building and regime change” in the Middle East and work with all of the allies of the US who share the goal of defeating ISIS and similar radical groups.Finally, Trump highlighted his hard-line position on immigration, pledging to build his proposed border wall, placing a ban on immigrants from countries that have been compromised by terrorism until a proper vetting mechanism is implemented, and placing limits on the number of refugees to be admitted to the US from countries such as Syria. When discussing his policy positions, Trump continued to express a high level of criticism towards Hillary Clinton, claiming that she is the preferred candidate of the powerful special interest groups and that her policies would only worsen the issues facing America.

    Overall, the reaction to Donald Trumps acceptance speech is mixed. When compared to earlier campaign speeches, Trump came across as more composed and his speech was relatively strong rhetorically. On the other hand, the tone of Trump’s speech as a whole was markedly negative. For example, Trump did not present an optimistic vision of America’s future and instead focused on the problems currently facing America instead. This is directly in contrast to prior convention speeches, where Presidential candidates focus on their positive vision of America and what they will do to make that vision a reality. Additionally, many of the allegations (in particular the claims he made regarding the rate of crime) made by Trump over the course of his speech proved to be false.