Tell me again what benefit there was to re-electing Mitch McConnell, or giving Republicans the victory in the Senate?

Trade Promotion Authority or TPA contains fast-track provisions would allow Congress, under strict timelines, to consider trade deals with a simple up-or-down vote without any amendments or requirements of a Senate super-majority to end debate.
This would grant new power to the executive branch and reduce congressional ability to modify of block the TPP bill itself.  Obviously this would help Obama complete the final details of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), with the other 11 nations, a bloc that represents about 40 percent of the global economy.

(Via Washington Post)  President Obama won a big victory for his trade agenda Friday with the Senate’s approval of fast-track legislation that could make it easier for him to complete a wide-ranging trade deal that would include 11 Pacific Rim nations.

A coalition of 48 Senate Republicans and 14 Democrats voted for Trade Promotion Authority late Friday, sending the legislation to a difficult fight in the House, where it faces more entrenched opposition from Democrats.

(more…)

[HatTip Re-NewsIt] Remember the Valdosta State University student, Eric Sheppard Jr., who became a wanted armed felon after making threats against the university students following his flag stomping protest? (Full Backstory)

We previously exposed Sheppard’s affiliation with radical Islamic terrorists, and his affinity for, and expressions of, violence.
Apparently Eric Sheppard Jr. is still on the loose, and now he’s making terrorist threats against a local school community while thumbing his nose toward law enforcement who are making feeble, if any, efforts to capture him.

“Many still question the possibility of my surrendering to the people who call themselves ‘authorities’”. “To give you a simple answer, No. I will not turn myself over to any white man”.
Sheppard has contacted local Georgia media to state his intentions to cause a violent confrontation at Lownde’s High School graduation ceremonies and has stated he will “annihilate” anyone who comes after him.
(Via Valdosta Times) […] The comments were made in a rambling, profanity-laced “memorandum ultimatum” sent to The Valdosta Daily Times condemning white people and local police.
A brief video showing Sheppard wearing sun glasses and inside what appeared to be an SUV accompanied his statement. The video referenced a protest planned in conjunction with the graduation over the disputed death of teenager Kendrick Johnson at the high school more than two years ago. (more…)

Alternate Headline = Waco Police Now Claim They Are Being Attacked By Clint Eastwood and an Orangutan Named Clyde. (ie. Waco PD Leak Security Bulletin To CNN)

♦ Waco Research Thread 1 – The initial Shooting As Reported
♦ Waco Research Thread 2 – LEO Affidavits Inconsistent With Spokesperson Claims
♦ Waco Research Thread 3 – The Waco Police Narrative Continues To Evolve
♦ Waco Research Thread 4 – CCTV Video Refutes Original 3 Days of Police Claims
♦ Waco Research Thread 5 – Listen to the Waco PD Radio Traffic
♦ Waco Research Thread 6 – 14 Officers Were Shooting – Report: “Thousands of rounds”
NEW – To fully understand the following discussion about threats to law enforcement you must first travel back to February 20th of this year to understand the backdrop.
Previously CNN’s Evan Perez reported on an explosive story about a report leaked to him via the Department of Homeland Security, and Perez reported on the content saying DHS claims right-wing terror groups known as Sovereign Citizens were a bigger risk to national security than ISIS.

[…]”from sovereign citizen groups as equal to — and in some cases greater than — the threat from foreign Islamic terror groups, such as ISIS”.  (link)

What CNN was proclaiming -as content within the DHS report- was transparently helpful to an administration surrounded by increasing focus on ISIS terrorism, and ongoing ISIS brutality viewed on TV screens throughout the preceding several months.
The Perez claim seemed targeted to change the discussion and point the defining finger toward domestic white terrorism as a greater threat.  Actually, that’s exactly what he said. (more…)

State Dept. FOIA website keeps crashing – Try Here – We’ll keep trying to locate alternatives:  Update – Here They Are 

[scribd id=266273670 key=key-O4yewxM0fhUbEZ8FCYLM mode=scroll]
*Context Note* ALL of these emails were previously shared with the House Select Committee on Benghazi (Trey Gowdy – chair) several months ago.
When Hillary Clinton first admitted to the exclusive use of a private email system, during her tenure at Secretary of State, one of her main points of emphasis was that none of the emails she received (or sent) -from the non-secure network- were classified.

However, today the State Department has released a few (approx. 300) of those emails and many are redacted, some due to classified content. (more…)

A member of the Baltimore Dindu Nuffin crew was walking with police when he spots a camera.  He immediately begins reenacting the Freddie Gray routine.

IRONY – The death toll from the “Twin Peaks” shootout was greater than the total number of homicides Waco police investigated in all of 2014 – And all of the “Twin Peaks” dead were shot by police.

Previously Waco Police Spokesman W. Patrick Swanton stated 22 members of law enforcement were present prior to the outbreak of the shooting.  Including 10 members of the Waco SWAT unit, 2 sergeants, 1 rookie, the Asst. Police Chief and 4 state troopers.
Newly released information today includes the Waco Police stating 14 Waco PD officers were involved in firing shots which killed 9 bike club members and wounded 18 more.

The 14 officers involved in the gun battle are all now on administrative leave, which is standard protocol in officer-involved shootings, Swanton said. (link)

In addition Sgt Swanton previously stated that all of the 170 arrested bikers were known “criminal gang members”.  However, a review by the Associated Press of court records finds at least 115 of the 170 had no police records: (more…)

Against the backdrop of her initial ‘Direct Action’ charges coming under scrutiny from numerous legal analysts and scholars, a defiant State Attorney Marilyn Mosby took her demand for charges to a grand jury.   Here is the result:

Notes: Officers Brian Rice, Edward Nero and Garrett Miller (bicycle patrol) no longer charged with “False Imprisonment”. This is obviously the result of the knife found on Freddie Gray being illegal, unlike Mosby’s initial claims. However, Mosby modified the GJ request and they are now charged with “reckless endangerment”. She also added “misconduct in office” charges to each of the accused. (more…)

…Police are struggling to stop violence in West Baltimore, where officers have been routinely surrounded by dozens of people, video cameras and hostility while doing basic police work since the death of Freddie Gray, Baltimore Police Commissioner Anthony W. Batts said Wednesday. (link)…

BALTIMORE – Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake called the city’s recent spike in violence “disheartening” Thursday as police work to address a dramatic increase in homicides and nonfatal shootings.

“It’s extremely frustrating,” the mayor told reporters at a news conference. “It is disheartening, but I am still resolved to continue to reduce violent crime in our city.” (more…)

OMAHA – Omaha police officer and a suspect involved in a shootout Wednesday have died.   Kerrie Orozco, 29, a gang unit officer, was serving a warrant on the Metro Area Fugitive Task Force when she was shot.

Orozco is the 25th officer – and first female – in the department killed in the line of duty. Orozco had been taken to Creighton University Medical Center in extremely critical condition after being shot about 1 p.m. near Read Street and Martin Avenue.
Omaha police had responded to a “Help an officer” call at 30th Street and Martin Avenue. Officers were serving a felony arrest warrant about 12:55 p.m., said Deputy Police Chief Dave Baker. During the process of serving the warrant, shots were fired, he said. (more…)

We knew there would be CCTV video of both the inside and patio of Twin Peaks.
Because the local Police, who immediately reviewed the footage yet continued to mislead the public about the impetus of the confrontation and gunfire, the owner/operator of the Twin Peaks franchise shared video with reporters from the Associated Press.

WACO, Texas (Associated Press) — As gunfire broke out in the parking lot of a Texas restaurant, dozens of motorcycle riders ran inside seeking cover and tried to guide others to safety, security video reviewed exclusively by The Associated Press showed Wednesday.
The video suggests that Sunday’s deadly gunfight began outside the Twin Peaks restaurant, except for one round fired by a biker on the patio who then ran inside.
On the patio, bikers ducked under tables and tried to get inside. At least three people were holding handguns. One biker was seen running with blood on his face, hands and torso.
Before the shooting, the inside of the restaurant appears to be mostly empty. Bikers and other patrons can be seen walking to the windows facing the parking lot where most of the shooting happened.
When gunfire begins at 12:24 p.m., most bikers, other patrons and staff immediately run away from the windows and into the restaurant’s interior. At least three people can be seen holding handguns. (more…)