More hurricanes headed to the US and Caribbean
These storms are life altering and it’s hard because there’s nothing we can do about it.
Hurricane Maria was strengthening fast into a monster storm Monday as it barreled towards Martinique and Puerto Rico and the other Irma-battered Caribbean islands.
As of this afternoon, Maria had grown into a "rapidly intensifying" Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 125 mph and was just 45 miles east of Martinique, a French island that is home to some 400,000 people, the National Hurricane Center said.
Maria could grow into a "major hurricane" overnight and begin threatening the Virgin Islands on Tuesday evening and Puerto Rico by Wednesday morning, the hurricane center said.
Puerto Rico has not been hit by a Category 4 or 5 hurricane since 1928, said NBC News meteorologist Bill Karins.
Maria, however, could be "catastrophic" for Puerto Rico, which was largely spared by Hurricane Irma, Karins said. It passed 50 miles north of the island and caused only wave damage, but even that was enough to knock out power to around 1 million people.
"There's an excellent chance that Maria will be a major hurricane very close to Puerto Rico in 48 hours," he said, adding that it could also hit the Irma-devastated U.S. and British Virgin Islands.
Hurricane watches and warnings were in effect for Puerto Rico and a string of islands reaching from St. Lucia north to the U.S. and British Virgin Islands.
Tropical storm warnings and watches were also issued for Barbados, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Martinique, and Antigua and Barbuda, among others.
Bill O'Reilly's Accuser Arrested for False Allegation of Crime
A 2015 arrest by Detroit police of a key accuser of Bill O'Reilly for giving a false report of a crime has raised serious doubts as to her credibility.
In April, O'Reilly was fired from Fox News shortly after Perquita Burgess claimed the host made sexually suggestive comments to her, including calling her "hot chocolate."
Burgess worked at Fox News for several weeks in 2008 as a clerical temp.
Shortly after an April 1st New York Times report detailed sexual harassment allegations by several women against O'Reilly, Burgess called a 21st Century Fox hotline claiming alleged workplace misconduct by O'Reilly. 21st Century is the parent company of Fox News.
All of the allegations included in the Times report were more than a decade old.
Burgess's more recent allegations, however, played a significant role in O’Reilly’s termination at the network, a source close to Fox News told Newsmax.
"I had no idea who this woman was," O’Reilly told Newsmax. O'Reilly denied ever having a conversation with her.
"So when it came out, it was stunning," he said. The day after O'Reilly was fired, Burgess went public with her account in a high-profile appearance on ABC's "The View."
Burgess told the audience she noticed O'Reilly making a "grunt noise," or clearing his throat, when he passed by her desk.
She said on another occasion he remarked, "Looking good there, girl!"
Burgess, an African-American woman, also said O'Reilly once called out to her, "Hey, hot chocolate."
She said the remark was "very plantational."
According to Burgess's account, she found the alleged remarks and leering behavior "uncomfortable" and "embarrassing."
The day Fox announced his departure from the network, O'Reilly issued a statement saying the charges leveled against him were "completely unfounded."
Newsmax has obtained two documents that cast doubt on Burgess's credibility.
A Detroit Police report dated Feb. 11, 2015, documents Burgess's arrest on charges of making a false report and obstructing a court order.
According to the police document, Burgess called authorities and alleged her boyfriend had struck her in the face with a gun. Police said when they arrived at the scene Burgess "appeared intoxicated."
The arresting officer stated: "I asked Ms. Burgess where the gun was that she was struck with in the face, she replied there is no gun. I again asked her where the gun was, and if she had been assaulted. Ms. Burgess stated there was no gun, and he didn’t assault me!"
The boyfriend told police she had threatened him, saying she would call "the cops saying you hit me with a gun!"
According to the police document, Burgess was arrested for filing a false felony report and for violating a personal protection order.
In a statement provided to Newsmax, Lisa Bloom, Burgess's attorney, acknowledges the police report involving her client, but states that Burgess and her former boyfriend "both believe the charges were based on a misunderstanding and were not pursued by the police or prosecutors."
In another document, a social media user thought to be Burgess tweeted on Nov. 24, 2012: "… up until 10 years ago Laurence Fishburne could get every oz. of my hot chocolate."
Addressing that tweet, Bloom stated: "Ms. Burgess has used many terms to refer to herself, including on occasion 'bitch' and the N word. That does not give others – especially her superiors in her workplace – permission to use offensive language about her."
He added that he expects more revelations relating to his departure from Fox News.
"We have evidence, I can tell you, that is shocking. Physical evidence that will come out that is shocking," he said with emphasis. "I've seen it. So this is the first. There will be others."
Looking ahead to Trump's first UN General Assembly speech
Tomorrow at 10:30am ET, President Trump will address the UN general assembly. Here is what the President should say in his speech tomorrow. Knowing that much of the world is skeptical about Trump because of the media and the president’s actions are very negative so here’s what I would do. I would make my speech 80% about North Korea because that’s something on which most of the world the world can agree. Trump needs to be more statesman like and show the UN that you, as president, are looking out for the rest of the world. Then, after North Korea, he can bring up Iran because even though they’ve been quiet lately, they’re still a threat. This is an opportunity for President Trump to gain some credibility.
The annual gathering of world leaders will open amid serious concerns about Trump's priorities, including his policy of "America First," his support for the U.N. and a series of global crises. It will be the first time world leaders will be in the same room and able to take the measure of Trump.
For Trump, Tuesday's speech and the ensuing flurry of diplomacy presents an opportunity to more fully articulate a global agenda that has confounded allies and foes alike.
Administration officials say Trump is unlikely to unload on the UN in the way he has in the past. Instead, the President's aides are preparing an address that largely adheres to tradition by rallying countries behind condemnation of rogue regimes like North Korea and Iran.
The president on Monday praised U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who also spoke at the reform meeting and said he shared Trump's vision for a less wasteful U.N. to "live up to its full potential." The U.S. has asked member nations to sign a declaration on U.N. reforms, and more than 120 have done so. The president also kicked off his maiden speech at the world body by referring to the Trump-branded apartment tower across First Avenue from the U.N.
Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said Trump's criticisms were accurate at the time, but that it is now a "new day" at the U.N. An organization that "talked a lot but didn't have a lot of action" has given way to a "United Nations that's action-oriented," she said, noting the Security Council votes on North Korea this month.
Guterres has proposed a massive package of changes, and Haley said the U.N. is "totally moving toward reform."
Trump riffed on his campaign slogan when asked about his main message for the General Assembly.
"I think the main message is 'make the United Nations great.' Not again, 'make the United Nations great,'" Trump said as he left the U.N. building. "Such tremendous potential, and I think we'll be able to do this."
Trump also planned separate talks Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and French President Emmanuel Macron. U.S. national security adviser H.R. McMaster said "Iran's destabilizing behavior" would be a major focus of those discussions. He also was having dinner with Latin American leaders.
The United States is the largest contributor to the U.N. budget, reflecting its position as the world's largest economy. It pays 25 percent of the U.N.'s regular operating budget and over 28 percent of the separate peacekeeping budget — a level of spending that Trump has complained is unfair.
Poll: Most American’s don’t trust Trump to handle North Korea
A majority of Americans in a new survey doesn't trust President Trump to deal with the North Korea as the isolated country advances its nuclear and missile programs.
The NPR-Ipsos poll finds 51 percent of Americans question Trump's ability to handle North Korea. Forty-four percent of respondents say they do trust Trump to handle the conflict.
About three-quarters of Democrats, 77 percent, say they don't trust Trump to handle North Korea, while 81 percent of Republicans disagree.
The poll also finds that a majority of respondents thinks the U.S. has an obligation to protect its allies in East Asia.
Seventy-four percent of respondents agree that the U.S. has that obligation, compared to 13 percent who say it does not.
The poll was conducted from Sept. 11 to 12 among 1,005 adults. It was conducted before North Korea last week fired another ballistic missile over Japan.
Dr. Austan Goolsbee talks about President Trump’s first UN speech
I agree with a lot of what you said, Bill. President Trump needs to come off as a statesman and a diplomat when confronted with an international crisis. Most of the time I tell people to ‘be themselves’, but for Trump that’s the worst possible advice you could give him.
Lately, President Trump has stayed much more on script than in the beginning of his term. So, I do believe he is capable of delivering this message in a non- bellicose way, if he wants to. That is the wild card, we don’t know if he wants to act presidential or not.
The only topic I hope that he doesn’t bring up tomorrow is the refugee situation. When Trump talks about refugees a lot of the time he relates it to terrorism which would infuriate much of the UN.
Protesters don’t ease up causing 3rd night of violence in St. Louis
Protesters angry over the acquittal of ex-St. Louis police officer Jason Stockley, a white cop who was on trial for murder in the shooting death of a black man, attacked police, broke windows and flipped over trash cans Sunday night. More than 80 people were arrested, authorities said.
Early Monday, protesters were back in the streets of downtown St. Louis, locking arms on Market Street, a few blocks from the site of the previous night's violence.
"Protesters were mostly silent," said Bryan McClellan, who participated in the demonstration. "We want to achieve one goal -- an end to the disparate killings of black citizens at the hands of police."
It was the third night of protests, which began Friday after Stockley was acquitted in the killing of 24-year-old Anthony Lamar Smith. Though the Stockley incident happened almost three years before Officer Darren Wilson killed Michael Brown in nearby Ferguson, Missouri, the unrest in Ferguson renewed interest in the case.
Sunday night's demonstrations began peacefully, but erupted in violence after nightfall, officials said. Amid the melees that ensued, some protesters broke concrete flower pots and used the broken pieces as projectiles.
Sunday's vandalism unfolded in a "concentrated area," O'Toole said. Police arrested demonstrators after the violence, which included assaults and chemical attacks on officers, police said.
On Friday some protesters locked arms and prayed together, but within hours others smashed the windshield of a police vehicle and threw water bottles, rocks and bricks at law enforcement.
St. Louis police said the demonstrators later threw rocks at the mayor's home and that 11 law enforcement officers had been injured.
At least 33 people were arrested, according to a police tweet. Video footage showed officers using tear gas to disperse the crowds after police said the protests were considered an unlawful assembly. O'Toole said his officers used pepper balls.
On Saturday, peaceful protests also heated up with a group of protesters throwing bricks, rocks and projectiles with paint at police as officers tried to disperse the crowds. Nine people were arrested.
Politics became the main theme of Sunday night’s Emmys
Subtext became text when issues of race, gender and national politics, long a part of Hollywood awards shows, took center stage at the 69th Emmy Awards telecast Sunday night.
“You can’t deny that every show was influenced by Donald Trump in some way,” said host Stephen Colbert in his opening monologue. “All the late night shows, obviously. ‘House of Cards.’ The new season of ‘American Horror Story.’” Pause. “And of course next year’s Latin Grammys, hosted by Sheriff Joe Arpaio.”
Donald Glover became the first black director to win in the comedy category, for “Atlanta,” the FX show in which he plays Earn, a rap music manager and young father. When he won his second Emmy of the night, in the acting category, he was just as direct as Colbert.
“I want to thank Trump for making black people No. 1 on the most oppressed list,” he said. “He’s probably the only reason I’m up here.”
Alec Baldwin and Kate McKinnon, who spent the last year playing Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, respectively, on “Saturday Night Live,” won supporting actor and actress in a comedy series. “SNL,” which had its best season in years, won four Emmys on Sunday.
With the Creative Arts Emmy tally, it was the top winning show of the night and the excitement over “SNL’s” renaissance was palpable from the telecast’s opening minutes, during which Melissa McCarthy rode onstage atop a rolling podium dressed as former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer, a role she won an Emmy for this year as well.
Except, in the most striking collision of entertainment and politics since the former host of “The Apprentice” took office, it wasn’t McCarthy, it was actually Spicer. Colbert asked him how big he estimated the Emmy crowd to be: “This is the largest audience to witness the Emmys, period. Both in person and around the world!” said Spicer, referring to his now infamous news conference defending Trump’s exaggerations about his inauguration crowd. “Melissa McCarthy,” joked Colbert. “Everybody give it up!” Howls erupted from the audience, which included McCarthy, who did not seem amused.
The Emmy’s brought a staunchly anti-Trump edition of the annual ceremony — and perhaps no moment was more political than the feisty reunion of Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, and Jane Fonda. The three stars of the hit ’80s film 9 to 5 minced few words in terms of implying that President Trump is a sexist bigot.
After the Hollywood legends were greeted with an instant standing ovation from the audience at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, the perpetually luminous Parton kicked things off by commenting that she’d been wanting a reunion of the famously feminist farce ever since its 1980 release. And Fonda, the most notoriously outspoken of the trio, ran with the movie’s theme of standing up to sexism, noting, “Back in 1980, in that movie, we refused to be controlled by a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot.” Tomlin then followed up Fonda’s quip with, “And in 2017, we still refuse to be controlled by a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot.”
The Dallas school district might rename schools with Confederacy-Tied Names
A Dallas school district is researching the histories of more than 20 historical figures to determine if their connections with slavery or the Confederacy should prompt consideration of removing their names from district campuses.
The Dallas Morning News reports Dallas Independent School District administrators recommended changing the names of Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, Albert Sidney Johnston and William L. Cabell elementary schools last week.
District Chief of School Leadership Stephanie Elizalde says a list of 20 additional figures has been compiled based on their varied connection with the Confederacy. She says more research is needed to determine what action should be taken.
Other names that may be considered for change include Texas revolutionary and founder Sam Houston, U.S. President Thomas Jefferson and Dallas pioneer James Gaston.
I told you this was coming, which is why it is a necessity for everyone to read Killing England, which comes out tomorrow. The ultimate goal by the far left is to change the Constitution because they believe it supports white supremacy.
37 percent of Americans can’t name any of the rights guaranteed by First Amendment
A new survey released just ahead of the 230th anniversary of the close of the Constitutional Convention shows that nearly four in 10 Americans cannot name a single right protected by the First Amendment.
The survey, conducted in August by the University of Pennsylvania’s Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) and released on Sept. 12, showed 37 percent could not name any of the five rights protected by First Amendment, and only 48 percent could name freedom of speech.
“Protecting the rights guaranteed by the Constitution presupposes that we know what they are. The fact that many don’t is worrisome,” APPC Director Kathleen Hall Jamieson said in a news release. “These results emphasize the need for high-quality civics education in the schools and for press reporting that underscores the existence of constitutional protections.”
Mail Time!
- Thanks Bill, for your discussion on national debt. I believe the debt mentioned in the presidential campaign will not be front and center in the near future. I wish the politicians would pay attention now rather than waiting for forced confrontation.
- Bill, why do you keep saying we can never pay the debt? Why do you continually say that?
- Totally disagree with you, Bill, concerning DACA and the wall. We’ve been around this barn before and you of all people study history and knows it repeats itself. The president and lawmakers are not serious about immigration at all.
|
