Saturday, December 29, 2018

No Wall, No Government, No Border Crossings, No Pay

There is a particular phase of childhood all parents of toddlers experience with great frustration. It is called "the language of no" and is usually coupled with behavior called 'oppositional defiance'. In this developmental stage, toddlers begin repetitively saying 'no' and throw tantrums when they do not get their way. Further, it is conjectured that parents get a second chance at these same challenging behaviors when their children become adolescents. And, if these developmental behaviors are not resolved in adolescence, they may become a permanent fixed pattern of dealing with problems in adulthood.

"Specific Symptoms of Oppositional Defiant Disorder
  • A pattern of negativistic, hostile, and defiant behavior lasting at least 6 months, during which four (or more) of the following are present:
    • often loses temper
    • often argues with adults
    • often actively defies or refuses to comply with adults’ requests or rules
    • often deliberately annoys people
    • often blames others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior
    • is often touchy or easily annoyed by others
    • is often angry and resentful
    • is often spiteful or vindictive"  -psychcentral.com
Sound familiar?

Wednesday, December 26, 2018

Sorry Kevin Spacey, You Are Not Absolved of Sexual Predation


"The first accusation of sexual misconduct against Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey landed on Oct. 29, and a little more than a week later more than a dozen men —  including five who said they were teens at the time — have come forward to allege he sexually harassed, assaulted or attempted to rape them."
-USA Today 

On Christmas Eve, Kevin Spacey launched a bizarre video defending his behavior while trying to resurrect his dead in the water career. It can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=let+me+be+frank

Here is the best review of Mr. Spacey's pathetic attempt to rally public support:
Let Me Be Frank,” the video is tellingly titled after Spacey’s House of Cards character. And just like the eponymous track of another Frank (Sinatra), this insane video is Spacey’s version of “My Way.”
Any bit of oxygen in a room which Spacey is inhabiting must be his to own, you sense. He has now made himself the victim of events, just like so many accused men do, particularly ones likely surrounded by sycophantic flunkies and friends. It’s amazing how much blind self-affirmation and craven self-denial money can buy you.
...And today, Spacey chose to collide events yet again. He released the video on the same day prosecutors confirmed that Spacey was facing a charge for indecent assault and battery on a teenager at a Nantucket bar in July 2016. Spacey will be arraigned at Nantucket District Court on Jan. 7.
Last year, former news anchor Heather Unruh stated that the assault had happened to her son at a Nantucket bar. Her son was, said Unruh, a “star-struck, straight, 18-year-old young man who had no idea that the famous actor was an alleged sexual predator, or that he was about to become his next victim.”
As The Hollywood Reporter made clear, Spacey is still under investigation in Los Angeles and London, England, for other alleged sexual assaults.
Instead of a shred of atonement, explanation, or even reflection, in the video the tone Spacey essentially goes for is “I’m back, bitches.” (I’m no lawyer, but going full Frank Underwood-meets-Margo Channing in court, if that is now his plan, is a terrible real-world move.)"-Daily Beast

It does not matter what one's gender, sexual affiliation, religion, or political party is. Sexual predation is sexual predation. No one, even Kevin Spacey or Frank Underwood, is above the law. 

Our Draft Dodging, Individual-1 President Visits the Troops

Isn't it interesting that our military-avoidant President and his, "I don't care, do you?' wife end up in Iraq after firing the Secretary of Defense and being forced to stay in Washington because of his autocratic decision to shut down the government? Obviously trying to salvage the blistering attacks on his chaotic administration, Mr. and Mrs. Trump appeared to try to recover part of their Floridian fling for New Year's by attempting to care about our troops. Since Mr. Trump is not known for demonstrating any empathy or altruism, the Iraqi visit may be his only defense for proceeding with his initial New Year's Mar-a-Lago plans. What would make him face even more criticism for heading to Mar-a-Lago after visiting the troops?

"Want to party with the president on New Year’s Eve? If you’re not a member of Mar-a-Lago, expect to pay, big league.
Club guests will pay a hefty $1,000 to ring in the New Year at President Donald Trump’s private Palm Beach club, up from $750 last year and $575 the year before, according to Palm Beach sources." -HeraldMailMedia.com


  

Friday, December 21, 2018

Putin's Christmas Gift List to Trump

1. Shut down the US government.
2. Get General Mattis to resign.
3. Pull US troops out of Syria.
4. Start building Trump Tower Moscow.
5. Pardon all the Russians involved in Mueller 
    'witch hunt'.
6. Refer to the Ukraine as a Russian suburb.
7. How about a Mar-a-Lago vacation together?
8. Lock up Hillary Clinton.
9. Eliminate Russian sanctions.
10. Make Ivanka the Russian ambassador. 

Thursday, December 20, 2018

Secretary of Defense Mattis Resigns: Two Bite the Dust in One Week

Wow, President Individual-1 must have set a Guinness World Record for White House departures. 

Dear Secretary Mattis,
        Good luck on your impending retirement. We'll miss your offbeat military wit, strategic plans to eliminate 'everybody', and the lack of follow through with your empty promises (especially when you had the means, motive, and opportunity). BTW: could you take your equally compassionate muse, Kirstjen Nielsen, with you when you exit?

Fox's Tucker Carlson Is Worried about Gingerbread Cookie Sex

This week in the news we learned the President's National Security Adviser committed serious crimes, the economy is taking a downturn due to tariff's, a 7 year old while in custody at the border, Trump decides to pull out of Syria, and the government is about to be shut down. So, what is the breaking national crisis on Fox's Tucker Carlson's mind? Gingerbread men.

"On Tuesday’s (Tucker Carlson's) show, (guest,Tammy) Bruce lamented a recent decision by a coffee shop on the grounds of Scottish Parliament to rename “gingerbread men” “gingerbread people." -Huff Post

Who knew a cookie's penis, or lack thereof, could lead the news? Thanks Tucker, for your journalistic excellence in reporting on the cookie gender controversy. I can't understand why your advertisers are fleeing your program when you offer such Pulitzer Prize-worthy news.



Wednesday, December 19, 2018

Season's Greetings to My 'Unknown Region' Fans

Dear Unknown Region Fans,
         Happy Holidays and thank you for your immediate response to my blog postings. Within seconds of posting one of my scintillating blogs, you've clicked on me with your amazing blogger radar. Your ability to evade my blogger's traffic sources tells me you are either introverted visionaries or just plain shy blogger devotees. I am honored to have such fervent fans. Hopefully I have not disappointed you with my advocacy for democracy. You know, things like political integrity, freedom of speech, human rights issues, and astrology (I appreciate your patience for my quirky side). Others would suspect your interest in my blogs to be pesky bots. I choose not to indulge in such paranoid speculation. In the spirit of the season, I prefer to think of you as creative recluses longing for a simpatico connection. 

       Looking forward to the New Year with more 'Unknown Region' enthusiasts. 

Your mutual admiration fan,
Atira Aura






Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Flynn Flailed for Fallaciousness

A judge has suggested US President Donald Trump's former national security adviser sold out his country when he lied to the FBI about Russia contacts.
Michael Flynn was due to be sentenced, but his lawyers requested a delay after the judge's blistering comments.
Flynn pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying about his contacts with the Russian ambassador to the US.
He is the first Trump administration figure to face sentencing in the probe into alleged Kremlin election meddling.
Hours before Flynn turned up for the hearing in Washington DC, President Trump tweeted to him: "Good luck today in court."  -BBC News
Dear Individual-1,
       The witches are winning. Your Twitter spins are not as potent as their enchantments. Surrender, Dorothy.

Saturday, December 15, 2018

Zinke: Another One Bites the Dust

"President Donald Trump announced Saturday morning that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke will depart from his administration at the end of the year.

The departure comes amid multiple ethics investigations into Zinke as well as a staff shake-up among Trump administration officials, including the President's chief of staff. Trump announced Friday that his budget director, Mick Mulvaney, will become his acting chief of staff, replacing John Kelly, at the end of the year.
    The Justice Department is investigating Zinke for possibly using his office for personal gain following a referral from the Interior Department's inspector general, CNN has previously reported." -CNN
    Just in case you were wondering how many other people left the Trump constellation-see below.
    From CNN-Departed members of Trump's administration and orbit:

    Nikki Haley
    Mira Ricardel
    Jeff Sessions
    Don McGhan
    Joe Hagin
    Scott Pruitt
    Tom Homan
    Ty Cobb
    Nadia Schadlow
    Michael Anton
    Tom Bossert
    H.R. McMaster
    Hope Hicks
    David Shulkin
    Josh Raffel
    John Dowd
    John Kelly sworn in as Chief of Staff
    John McEntee
    Rex Tillerson
    John Feeley
    Gary Cohn
    David Sorensen***
    Rachel Brand
    Rob Porter
    Brenda Fitzgerald
    Taylor Weyeneth***
    Andrew McCabe**
    Omarosa M. Newman
    Marc Short
    Dina Powell
    Rick Dearborn
    Jeremy Katz***
    George Sifakis***
    Tom Price
    Keith Schiller
    Sebastian Gorka
    Steve Bannon
    Carl Icahn
    Ezra Cohen-Watnick
    Anthony Scaramucci
    George Gigicos
    Reince Priebus
    Derek Harvey
    Michael Short
    Sean Spicer
    Rich Higgins
    Mark Corallo
    Walter Shaub
    Tera Dahl
    Michael Dubke
    James Comey
    Angella Reid
    Vivek Murthy
    K.T. McFarland
    Katie Walsh
    Michael Flynn
    Sally Yates

    Friday, December 14, 2018

    ANOTHER AFFLUENZA FRAT BOY SKATES RAPE CHARGES


    FROM CNN: 'Jacob Walter Anderson was facing four charges of sexÏ…al assault that were dismissed because a plea bargain was reached on Dec. 10. As a result, instead of a trial, Anderson pleaded no contest to unlawful restraint and received a sentence that includes a $400 fine, a three-year probation, mandatory counseling and community service hours. He will also not serve any jail time nor have to register as a seχ offender.'

    As women are slammed for activism against sexual harassment and assault, we have a perfect example of why women are supportive of the 'me, too' and 'Time's Up' movements. Just like Brock Turner, Jacob Walter Anderson received a slap on the wrist for a horrendous rape. Women know this story well-we all know women who have endured sexual assault and keep silent. 

    The courageous victim in this case did not keep silent. She clearly articulated in her victim impact statement to the court, exactly how Jacob Walter Anderson raped and humiliated her. He is now free. She will spend her life trying to cope with the sexual assault. 

    Below is the victim's statement to the court. WARNING: her description of what she endured is sexually graphic.

    "Judge Strother,
    I am devastated by your decision to let my rapist Jacob Walter Anderson go free without any punishment. Rape is a violent crime that alters the victim’s life and the life of everyone around them forever. He stole many things from me the night he raped me. I will never be the same again.
    On February 21, 2016, when I was a 19 years old, sophomore at Baylor University, Jacob Walter  Anderson took me to a secluded area behind a tent and proceeded to violently and repeatedly rape me. He repeatedly raped me orally and vaginally while choking me, gagging me, and physically forcing my body into positions so he could continue to rape me. I had no control over my body and no way to stop him. (please see my original written police statement) When I collapsed on the ground he pulled down his pants and shoved his penis in my mouth and down my throat gagging me. When he forcefully picked me up and shoved me into a wall to rape me vaginally from behind he calmly and coldly said “It’s fine. You’re fine.” When I tried to pull up my pants or sit he shoved me to the ground and shoved his penis back down my throat and continued to choke me. When he forced me up again and started to rape me vaginally again I blacked out permanently. When I was completely unconscious, he dumped me face down in the dirt and left me there to die. He had taken what he wanted, had proven his power over my body. He then walked home and went to bed without a second thought to the ravaged, half-dead woman he had left behind.
    Jacob Anderson will most likely rape again. He is now free to roam society, stalk women and no one will know he is a seχ offender.
    Jacob Anderson and all rapists who get away with their crimes will never be cured, never change. If anything, they will be emboldened by their power over women and their ability to escape justice and punishment. They will think they are invincible and most definitely increase their violent pathological and predatory behavior.
    Everyone knows Jacob Anderson violently raped me repeatedly and almost killed me. The evidence is overwhelming. Now, I not only have to live with his rape and the repercussions of the rape. I have to live with the knowledge that the Mclennan County justice system is severely broken. I have to live with the fact that after all these years and everything I have suffered, no justice was achieved. I have to live with the fact that my rapist will go home smiling and happy and laughing at me. He stole my body, νirginity and power over my body and you let him keep it for all eternity.
    Hilary Laborde—where are you Ms. Laborde? Are you here in the courtroom? No? And you, Abel Reyna—where are you? Are you here? No? If I had the courage to come back to Waco and face my rapist and testify, you could at least have had enough respect for me to show up today. You both will have to live with this decision to let a rapist run free in society without any warning to future victims. I wonder if you will have nightmares every night watching Jacob rape me over and again. Of my body lying unconscious and alone in the dirt waiting to die. Of my face transforming in your nightmares into someone you love. Your mother, your daughter, your niece, your granddaughter, your best friend, your wife, your girlfriend.
    Jacob Walter Anderson. It must be horrible to be you. To know what you did to me. To know you are a rapist. To know that you almost killed me. To know that you ruined my life, stole my νirginity and stole many other things from me.
    I would have loved to have stayed at Baylor. Laughed and made memories with my friends. Learned from my professors. Run in the Baylor line one final time my senior year and walked in my graduation ceremony in my cap and gown with my family proudly cheering me on. I would love to be living away from home pursuing my career the way I had planned. Not be on medication. Not be getting therapy. Not be in and out of the doctor’s office. Not having nightmares. Not be triggered daily into anxiety. Not be fearful. Not be sad. Not be afraid of every man that looks at me or thinks I’m nice and just wants to meet me and get to know me. To be happy and carefree and enjoy daily life. I am none of these things because you raped me and almost killed me and stole them all from me.
    To the two women who created the petition of outrage over this plea, I thank you. To the over 85,000 people around the world who signed the petition to deny this plea, I thank you! To all my friends and family, doctor, teachers, and lawyers who believed in me and stuck with me over the past three years, I thank you. You held me up and kept me strong. To my parents and siblings, thank you. I would not be alive without you. You kept me going when I could no longer handle living. It’s been a very difficult three years. It will continue to be rough for a very long time. I know it has impacted all of you and yet you never left my side. You never stopped loving me. You never stopped protecting me. You never stopped fighting for me and you never left. You never left.

    Thank you."

    Kirstjen Nielsen Blames Migrant Girl’s Death on Her Family

    Image result for Scary picture of Kirstjen Nielsen


    "Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen blamed the death of a 7-year-old migrant girl in U.S. custody on her family, during an appearance on Fox & Friends early Friday morning.

    The girl from Guatemala arrived with her father in a group of 163 migrants at the U.S. border in New Mexico. She reportedly began having seizures after she was detained and had a temperature of more than 105 degrees. Officials said she had “not eaten or consumed water for several days.” She died about 24 hours after she was taken, by helicopter, to a hospital in El Paso where she died of dehydration and shock. The Washington Post reported it wasn’t clear if the girl was given food, water, or medical treatment before she fell ill." -Daily Beast

    Kirstjen Nielsen, channeling her best steely Nurse Ratchett on Fox News, explained it was the fault of a migrant family that their 7 year old died after being detained in El Paso. What's next, putting coal in their stockings? 

    Enduring the death of a child is emotionally catastrophic. Suffering this loss while attempting to flee for one's life is unimaginable. My condolences to the heartbroken family who came to this country seeking compassion and a chance at freedom. May your child rest in peace. 

    As for Ms. Nielsen, I hope you never have to bury one of your children while having people spit on your face. 

    Wednesday, December 12, 2018

    The Menage a Trois from Hell + Pence

    Trump's attempt at a political Eiffel Tower with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer failed miserably when rudely interrupted by a snoring Pence blow up doll. The seventeen minute titillating tape featured paraphilias such as masochism, sadism, agalmatophilia (Pence as mannequin), and autogynephilia (Pence dreamily visualizing himself as Pelosi). Trump, a known autagonistophiliac, was not getting off at Ms. Pelosi and Mr. Schumer's attempt at chrematistophilia. Though piquerism dominated the raucous trialogue, no one was seriously wounded thanks to Mr. Pence's providing somnophiliac relief.


    Tuesday, December 11, 2018

    TIME'S PERSON OF THE YEAR: THE GUARDIANS OF FREE PRESS


    Rest in Peace Mr. Khashoggi, along with all your fellow journalists who lost their lives persevering for the truth. And to those living journalists who daily risk condemnation, threats, torture, and death, we salute your courage. Let us never forget your contributions to a free and transparent democracy. Thank you for upholding the First Amendment.

    Sunday, December 9, 2018

    Good-bye to John Kelly and the Machiavellian Nick Ayers


    John Kelly, self-professed as "the lone bulwark against catastrophe" is leaving as Mr. Trump's Chief of Staff. Mr. Kelly, who should receive a medal of honor for reining in a suspected cognitively impaired Commander in Chief, is exiting while he still has any sense of sanity left. Thank you for your service, Mr. Kelly, and for your efforts to restore some semblance of stability in the Trump Sanitarium you've aptly described as "Crazytown". You have been relieved of further responsibility for containing the chaos-mad addicts of greed, power, and exploitation. 






    Enter Nick Ayers, Mike Pence's Chief of Staff, seen here on the left with his doppelganger character from 'Animal House', Hoover, the lawyer wanna be. Mr. Ayers has much in common with Hoover according to CNN: "...his finances and involvement with political dark money groups could become political baggage down the road. One of them, Freedom Frontier, for whom he consulted, is the subject of two recent ethics complaints, the most recent of which was filed with the IRS on Tuesday. That complaint, filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, contends the group's political spending exceeded legal limits in violation of campaign finance laws." Hoover would be proud.

    If Mr. Ayers is selected as Chief of Staff, his youth and naked ambition should enable him feel right at home. And, as far as alleged violations of campaign laws, he will have common ground with the president, inspiring Trump to write more  bitchy (or is that witchy) tweets about Mueller. 

    In true D.C. form, many GOPers are welcoming the potential Chief of Staff with their own brand of openness and warmth. Because Ayers "rubbed lawmakers on Capitol Hill the wrong way. Two senior Republican aides told CNN that Ayers' had "pissed a lot of people off," and that lawmakers were taken aback since Ayers was so new to the White House. "People were like, 'Who the hell is this guy?'" one of the aides said."


    Breaking news: dear Nick has decided not to accept the Chief of Staff position. Internal opposition to his appointment was the likely unofficial reason. Hoover will live on in a Trump PAC if Trump survives impeachment.








    Saturday, December 8, 2018

    The Alleged Felon and Traitor Known As Individual One



    "In two major developments this week, President Trump has been labeled in the parlance of criminal investigations as a major subject of interest, complete with an opaque legal code name: “Individual 1.”
    New evidence from two separate fronts of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation casts fresh doubts on Trump’s version of key events involving Russia, signaling potential political and legal peril for the president. Investigators have now publicly cast Trump as a central figure of their probe into whether Trump’s campaign conspired with the Russian government during the 2016 campaign." -Washington Post

    "Federal prosecutors released sentencing recommendations for two alleged criminals who worked closely with Donald Trump: his lawyer MichaelCohen, and campaign manager Paul Manafort. They are filled with damning details. But the most important passage by far is this, about Trump’s fixer: “Cohen himself has now admitted, with respect to both payments, he acted in coordination with and at the direction of Individual-1.”
    The payments in question, as the document explains, concern a payoff to two women who claimed to have affairs with Trump. The payments, according to prosecutors, were intended to influence the campaign, and thereby constituted violations of campaign finance law. They have not formally charged Trump with this crime — it is a sentencing report for Cohen, not Trump — but this is the U.S. Department of Justice calling Trump a criminal." -NY Intelligencer
    "The Trump Organization planned to give a $50 million penthouse in the planned Trump Tower Moscow to President Vladimir Putin while the company was in negotiations in 2016 to build the development, four people familiar with the matter told Buzzfeed News
    Michael Cohen, President Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, discussed the idea with Putin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov, two U.S. law enforcement officials told Buzzfeed." -The Hill
    "So often, the President would say here's what I want to do and here's how I want to do it and I would have to say to him, Mr. President I understand what you want to do but you can't do it that way. It violates the law."
    -Rex Tillerson, former Secretary of State



    Friday, December 7, 2018

    Presidential Harassment Joins the 'Me, too" Movement

    After reading today that Mr. Trump invented a new form of harassment, presidential harassment, I quickly jotted the following communique to him. If you would like to add your opinion, please feel free to contact him at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

    'Sorry, but there is no "me, too" movement for presidential harassment. You are supposed to have intestinal fortitude to handle the responsibilities of your office instead of whimpering about being the legitimate target of several judiciary probes. Your self-inflicted political wounds do not make you a victim; it makes you accountable for all the corrupt appointments, executive orders, and schemes you initiated to fatten your coffers. Mr. Mueller is about ready to come for you and your crooked family.  Get ready to reboot Nixon's, "I am not a crook" speech.'