RSN: Pfizer Hikes US Prices for Over 100 Drugs on January 1, Defense Industry Revenue Forecast Gushes Over Global Turmoil, How the Huge Gas Leak Is Turning California's Porter Ranch Into a Ghost Town

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Sean Penn | El Chapo Speaks 
 
Sean Penn, Rolling Stone 
Penn writes: "They call him El Chapo. Or 'Shorty.' Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera. The same El Chapo Guzman who only two months earlier had humiliated the Peña Nieto government and stunned the world with his extraordinary escape from Altiplano maximum-security prison through an impeccably engineered mile-long tunnel." 
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More "Militia Members" Flocking to Oregon Bundy Occupation, Tensions Rise 
Jonathan Allen, Reuters 
Allen writes: "Several members of self-described militia groups have joined armed protesters occupying the headquarters of a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon, threatening to raise tensions in the week-long siege over land rights." 
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Pfizer Hikes US Prices for Over 100 Drugs on January 1 
Deena Beasley, Reuters 
Beasley writes: "Pfizer Inc., which plans a $160-billion merger with Ireland-based Allergan Plc to slash its U.S. tax bill, on Jan. 1 raised U.S. prices for more than 100 of its drugs, some by as much as 20 percent, according to statistics compiled by global information services company Wolters Kluwer." 
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New York Police Sergeant Facing Internal Charges in Chokehold Death of Eric Garner 
Laila Kearney, Reuters 
Kearney writes: "A New York City police sergeant is facing internal disciplinary charges for her role in the chokehold death of an unarmed black man whose fatal police encounter in 2014 spurred nationwide protests." 
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Muslim Woman Gets Kicked Out of Donald Trump Rally for Being Muslim 
Judd Legum, ThinkProgress 
Legum writes: "A Muslim woman was kicked out of a Donald Trump rally on Friday night for no apparent reason. The woman, Rose Hamid, told CNN that she 'came to the rally to let Trump supporters see what a Muslim looks like.' She stood silently with a t-shirt that read 'I Come In Peace.'" 
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Defense Industry Revenue Forecast Gushes Over Global Turmoil 
Lee Fang, The Intercept 
Fang writes: "The global aerospace and defense industry is out of its doldrums. According to a new report by the accounting firm Deloitte, 'the resurgence of global security threats' promises a lucrative 'rebound' in defense spending." 
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A French Rafale fighter aircraft takes off with bombs from the French aircraft carrier 

Charles-de-Gaulle on Nov. 23, 2015, in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, as part of 

Operation Chammal in Syria and Iraq against the Islamic State. 

(photo: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images)

he global aerospace and defense industry is out of its doldrums. According to a new report by the accounting firm Deloitte, “the resurgence of global security threats” promises a lucrative “rebound” in defense spending.

The report alerts investors that “revenue growth” is “expected to take a positive turn” due to the terrorism and war in the Middle East and the tensions in Eastern Europe and the South China Sea.

Many analysts predicted declining revenue for the weapons industry as the U.S. scaled down military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan. After all, as this chart from the Deloitte report shows, no other country even comes close to spending as much as the U.S. does.

But now governments around the world have moved swiftly to hike defense budgets to “combat terrorism and address sovereign security matters.”

The Deloitte report is almost giddy:

2015 was a pivotal year that saw heightened tensions between China, its neighbors and the US over “island building” in the South and East China Seas, and the related claims of sovereign ocean territory rights by China. In addition, Russia and the Ukraine are at odds related to Russia’s takeover of Crimea and their military actions in Eastern Ukraine. North Korea continues to threaten its neighbors with its nuclear ambitions and aggressive rocket launches. The Islamic State (ISIS) has become a key threat in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan and is involved in exporting terrorism to Europe, Africa, and elsewhere. The recent tragic bombings in Paris, Beirut, Mali, the Sinai Peninsula, and other places have emboldened nations to join in the fight against terrorism.

Several governments affected by these threats are increasing their defense budgets to combat terrorism and address sovereign security matters, including cyber-threats. For defense contractors, this represents an opportunity to sell more equipment and military weapons systems. Products, which are expected to experience renewed interest from buyers, include armored ground vehicles, ground attack munitions, light air support aircraft, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance electronic sensors, cyber protections, maritime patrol ships and aircraft, as well as provision for equipment maintenance and sustainment, as the military operations tempo is likely to increase and more missions are executed.

It is expected that a return to growth for defense subsector companies will likely occur, due to the increased interest by several involved nations as described above. In addition, many large, mainly US DoD defense programs representing billions of US dollars, are likely to start soon, enter the engineering manufacturing design phase, and reach low-rate or full-scale production over the next few years. These programs include Ohio Class Submarine replacement, F-35 fighter jet, KC-46A aerial refueling tanker, Long Range Strike Bomber, USAF T-X trainer, and Rafale fighter programs.

As for factors that might slow the global arms race, the report says little about diplomacy or peace movements. It does note that the fall in oil prices might eventually blunt the weapons-buying trend in the Persian Gulf, although not anytime soon.

In the U.S., as we’ve reported, defense contractors have bragged about pushing candidates toward adopting more militaristic policies. The libertarian trend in the Republican Party, for instance, has largely reversed itself and most candidates have adopted increasingly hawkish views.

How the Huge Gas Leak Is Turning California's Porter Ranch Into a Ghost Town 
Alexander Nazaryan, Grist 
Nazaryan writes: "As for the much-touted serenity of Porter Ranch, that's also gone. Methane is not a killer on the order of carbon monoxide, but medical research suggests it can cause a variety of chronic ailments, including bloody noses, headaches, vomiting, and rashes." 
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CLG: Obama signs $607 billion 'defense' bill, despite Guantanamo restrictions, Russia offers to help Japan shut down Fukushima reactors,

News Updates from CLG
27 November 2015

http://www.legitgov.org/
All links are here:http://www.legitgov.org/#breaking_news

Previous edition: Russian Su-24 fighter jet shot down over Syria - Russia MoD

Breaking: Police hunt two possible shooters near Planned Parenthood in Colorado Springs --SWAT, ambulances on scene --Nearby buildings likely evacuated (MSNBC live) | 27 Nov 2015 | A shopping center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, was on lockdown Friday as police searched for a[t least one] shooter near a Planned Parenthood facility there. At least three officers were injured, Commander Kirk Wilson with the Colorado Springs Police Department told reporters. Officials at hospitals in the area said they were expecting the arrival of four patients, one of whom had a gunshot wound to the arm. "We don't have the suspect yet and we do consider this still an active situation," Lt. Catherine Buckley told reporters. There could be hostages and there could be an additional shooter at large, she said.

Today's false flag: At least 3 officers, multiple civilians injured in ongoing active shooter situation at Planned Parenthood --'We still have a gunman that is out there' --police spokeswoman | 27 Nov 2015 | At least three police officers and multiple civilians have been injured in an ongoing active shooter situation at or near a Colorado Springs branch of Planned Parenthood on Friday afternoon. "We have confirmed that we have three officers that are injured. There are unknown number of civilians who have been injured," Police Lt. Catherine Buckley said. "The situation is still unstable, and the shooter is not contained." Earlier, Colorado Springs police Commander Kirk Wilson told media at the scene that police were still trying to get officers to the shooting area.

Moscow warns against US plans to continue training Ukrainian troopers | 26 Nov 2015 | The United States has launched a new phase of training of Ukrainian servicemen, a fact, which may have negative consequences for the future of the Donbas truce, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Thursday. US Navy Captain Jeff Davis, a spokesperson for the US Department of Defense, has recently said that the United States is starting a second phase of training of the Ukrainian army and is planning to train and equip six army battalions, including one special operations unit. Ukrainian troopers will undergo training according to the US Fearless [Puke] Guardian program launched in 2014. At its first stage, the United States trained and equipped the National Guard units, which are subordinate to Ukraine's Interior Ministry. Now, the US instructors will train army battalions.

David Cameron to make case for Syria air strikes | 26 Nov 2015 | David Cameron is to present his case to the Commons later for the UK launching air strikes against the so-called Islamic State group in Syria. The prime minister will urge MPs to back military action as he sets out a "comprehensive strategy" to tackle IS [I-CIA-SIS]. He will warn of the threat posed by the militant group to the UK and say the country should not "sub-contract its security" to others.

Russian missile cruiser off Latakia coast, ready to destroy dangerous air targets - Defense Minister | 25 Nov 2015 | Russia has deployed a missile cruiser near Latakia and is ready to take down any aerial targets threatening its airbase near the Syrian city, with long-range surface-to-air missiles. The move was announced on Tuesday after Turkey shot down a Russian Su-24 bomber conducting an anti-terrorist mission in Syria. Ankara claims it engaged the warplane over a violation of Turkey's airspace, but Moscow denies any violation and accused Turkey of aiding terrorists in Syria.

Ankara defends ISIS, Russia has data on Turkey's financial interest in oil from ISIS - PM Medvedev | 25 Nov 2015 | Some Turkish officials have 'direct financial interest' in the oil trade with the terrorist group Islamic State, Russian PM Dmitry Medvedev said as he detailed possible Russian retaliation to Turkey's downing of a Russian warplane in Syria on Tuesday. Medvedev said Ankara is protecting Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) [but still I-CIA-SIS] because of the illegal oil trade and revenues Turkish officials get from it. "The reckless and criminal actions of the Turkish authorities...have caused a dangerous escalation of relations between Russia and NATO, which cannot be justified by any interest, including protection of state borders," Medvedev said.

Russian pilot rescued by Syrian commando unit | 25 Nov 2015 | A Russian military pilot whose plane was shot down by Turkey and crashed in Syria arrived on Wednesday at an air base in Latakia province after being rescued by a Syrian army commando unit, Syrian and Russian officials said. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu told Russian news agencies that the man was rescued in a 12-hour operation which ended in the early hours on Wednesday and is now "safe and sound" at Russia's air base in the government-controlled area in Syria.

Russia offers to help Japan shut down Fukushima reactors | 26 Nov 2015 | Russia's state nuclear energy company Rosatom is ready to help Japan shut down the reactors at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. Japan has been struggling in its cleanup effort in the aftermath of the March 2011 nuclear accident. As of March 2015, about 600,000 tons of contaminated radioactive water was contained within tanks at the site, with the cleanup estimated to take up to 40 years...Earlier on Thursday, Russian media reported that Japan was planning to ask for Russian help in shutting down Fukushima.

Obama signs $607 billion 'defense' bill, despite Guantanamo restrictions | 25 Nov 2015 | U.S. President Barack Obama on Wednesday signed a 607-billion-U.S.-dollar annual defense [sic]  policy bill despite its continued ban on transferring detainees from the Guantanamo Bay military prison to the United States. Blasting the Republican-controlled Congress for maintaining language that hampers the closure of the Guantanamo military prison in the bill, Obama called the restrictions contained in the bill "unwarranted and counterproductive." ...Obama's statement also suggested some Guantanamo provisions in the defense bill might violate the Constitution.

Daily Kos

This says it all.

Thanks to The Middle Class is Drowning for the graphic.

White House placed on lockdown after fence-jumper caught --President Obama in residence at time of reported security breach --Incident comes amidst heightened security alerts after Paris attacks | 26 Nov 2015 | The White House was placed on lockdown on Thursday after a person jumped the fence, CNN reported -- adding that the jumper was immediately caught. Despite the quick capture, the presidential mansion was still on lockdown as the secret service conducted a security sweep of the area, ABC News and other media outlets reported.

Sounds like someone wouldn't play ball during a Sandy Hook-style false flag that went south: Mass. cop charged with bomb threat, staged shootout found dead in home | 27 Nov 2015 | A former Millis police officer who was charged in connection with a shootout hoax and fake bomb threat in September was found dead in his home Thursday morning. Bryan Johnson, 24, faced six charges stemming from a false bomb threat at Millis High School on Sept. 2 and a staged shootout with a non-existent driver on the same day. According to the Norfolk District Attorney's office, Massachusetts State Police detectives joined Millis Police officers at the residence of Johnson, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Thanksgiving Travelers Facing Tougher Security Measures | 24 Nov 2015 | Millions of Americans who take to the skies for the busiest travel period of the year, in the aftermath of terrorist attacks around the world, are expected to see longer security lines and more careful screening, more uniformed patrols and more bomb-sniffing dogs. The nation's railroads and highways will have heightened security, as well, but the vigilance will be most apparent at airports. On Monday, the State Departmentissued a worldwide travel alert for Americans because of the increased threat of terrorism. Late Monday, the F.B.I. and the Department of Homeland Security sent a joint bulletin to law enforcement agencies nationwide, warning of the possibility of "homegrown" terrorists trying to replicate the Paris attacks.

Trump Clarifies: 'I Want a Database for the Syrian Refugees,' Not All U.S. Muslims | 23 Nov 2015 | Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump faced a firestorm of criticism for remarks he made on Friday about implementing a national database for Muslims in the U.S. In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, Trump said that he never advocated for a mandatory registry of all U.S. Muslims, but does support a database for all incoming Syrian refugees. "Certainly I want a database for the Syrian refugees that are coming in… because nobody knows where they're coming from," said Trump.

Lawyer for Displaced Disney Workers: 1,200 American Workers in NY Are Training Their Foreign Replacements | 26 Nov 2015 | Sara Blackwell, the Florida attorney representing the former Disney workers that were replaced by foreign workers told Breitbart News Daily that there are 1,200 Americans in New York who will suffer the same fate as the Disney workers. "Right there in New York, 1,200 Americans are training their replacements" Blackwell said, adding that it's also "happening at AT&T right now." Blackwell is the attorney representing the 23 Disney workers who are preparing to suing Disney after they lost their job to foreign workers. This week, she filed a complaint with the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on behalf of the former workers alleging that they are victims of national origin discrimination.

Protesters to target Chicago shopping district on Black Friday | 25 Nov 2015 | Small groups of demonstrators gathered again Wednesday to protest the death of a black teen shot by a white police officer, and they urged supporters to join them in trying to shut down Chicago’s famous Michigan Avenue shopping district during the Black Friday shopping bonanza. About two dozen protesters gathered outside Mayor Rahm Emanuel's office a day after authorities released a graphic squad-car video showing the officer firing an entire magazine into 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. Jason Van Dyke was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder.

Chicago police officer who shot black teen 16 times charged with murder | 24 Nov 2015 | A white Chicago police officer has been charged with murder over the shooting death of a black teenager, just one day before a deadline by which a judge has ordered the city to release a squad-car video of the incident. Veteran officer Jason Van Dyke was indicted on Tuesday on a first-degree murder charge after shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald 16 times. The officer was denied bail at a hearing in Chicago's main criminal courthouse hours after the state's attorney, Anita Alvarez, announced the charges against him.

5 people shot near Jamar Clark protest site in Minneapolis | 24 Nov 2015 | Five people were wounded when gunfire erupted near a Minneapolis police precinct where demonstrators have been protesting the shooting death of Jamar Clark, police said. All were hospitalized late Monday night with non-life threatening injuries. Police are searching for three white males suspects.

Police destroy blind man's house and terrify his dog in bungled raid then leave him to clean up mess | 23 Nov 2015 |A blind man had his home raided by police by mistake - and was left to pick up the pieces himself. Jonathon Miller says the botched swoop on his Glasgow house has left him at least £500 out of pocket and forced him to take time off work. The housing officer says the bungled bust - which left his front door smashed in - could have been avoided with basic checks on his address. He has lodged a complaint with the force, saying it has caused lasting trauma to his dog and affected his health.

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Exposing Facts to the Misinformed Viewers of Fox News

Exposing Facts to the Misinformed Viewers of Fox Newsadded a new photo.

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RSN: Bush Blames Obama for Lack of Wars ('Follow-Through' on 'Threats')

It's Live on the HomePage Now:
Reader Supported News

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FOCUS: Juan Cole | Bush Blames Obama for Lack of Wars ('Follow-Through' on 'Threats')

Juan Cole, Informed Comment
Cole writes: "He said Obama hadn't 'followed through' on threats against al-Qaeda and Daesh (ISIL or ISIS), making the US look weak. 'In order to be an effective president ... when you say something, you have to mean it,' he said. 'You gotta kill 'em.'"
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This & that.....

Bill Moyers

 

"What someone is paid has little or no relationship to what their work is worth to society.

Does anyone seriously believe hedge-fund mogul Steven A. Cohen is worth the $2.3 billion he raked in last year, despite being slapped with a $1.8 billion fine after his firm pleaded guilty to insider trading?" - Robert Reich

How Much Does Society Gain from Hedge Fund Managers?

What someone is paid has little or no relationship to what their work is...

BILLMOYERS.COM

Russia shows USAID the door

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced it will close its offices in Russia.

RT.COM

Wisconsin Jobs Now

Get in the fight to raise Wisconsin's minimum wage by going to www.RaiseWI.organd getting signed up to take action!

GOP can't care for Americans.....

LEE CAMP

As Howard Zinn said - We don't have democracy when it comes to foreign policy...

“The Republicans are petrified, paralyzed by their tea party wing who really are more focused on suing the President of the United States for doing his job and investigating Benghazi for the 13th time.”

- Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz

DNC chair: GOP "strangled by extremism"

Congress went on summer recess without passing a border bill, and the DNC chairwoman says the GOP simply isn't interested in passing comprehensive immigration reform.

ON.MSNBC.COM

Occupy Democrats

EVERY American should support this bill.

Image by Omar Rivero.

169 MILLION FREE SCHOOL LUNCHES to feed hungry kids! Think about it!

LEE CAMP's photo.

 

This is the kind of shit I hate
Defense WASTE
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This & that ...... Caring for Our Planet!

NationofChange

Scientists from both Stanford University and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released a study on Friday showing that oil spills are causing death-by-cardiac arrest in tunas and other types of fish.

Toxins From Oil Spills Are Putting Fish Into Cardiac Arrest, Study Finds

nationofchange.org

For marine life, this Valentine’s Day is shaping up to be less about love, and more about heartache. Attempting to draw attention to marine animals...

Bernie Sanders

Network News Notices Climate Change:

The three major Sunday morning network television shows all featured conversations about climate change on Sunday. Now that’s news. Throughout all of last year, the same programs and Fox News Sunday devoted only 27 minutes – combined – to global warming. Up from just 8 minutes the year before. This Sunday on ABC’s This Week, host George Stephanopoulos discussed how to "get ahead" of climate change with Dr. Heidi Cullen, Climate Central's ...chief climatologist. The CBS program Face the Nation featured an interview with Dr. Marshall Shepherd, the former head of the American Meteorological Society. And on NBC’s Meet the Press, host David Gregory and scientist Bill Nye countered claims by Rep. Marsha Blackburn that there is no consensus that greenhouse gas emissions contribute to global warming. "But there is consensus," Gregory interjected. "Within the scientific community, there is consensus."
 

EARTH-The Operators' Manual's photo.

ETOM Quote of the Day:
“The problem is that there are effects, and the Greenhouse Effect is one of them, which have long time constants. If you don’t worry abou...t it now, it’s too late, later on.” - Carl Sagan in Congressional testimony, 1985
With the release of Cosmos 2.0 next month, it seemed appropriate to drop a Sagan quote. Did you know the original Cosmos and ETOM share the same producer, Geoff Haines-Stiles?
h/t Joshua Wolfe for the quote.

 Continue reading here: http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/news-notices-climate-change

Network News Notices Climate Change

sanders.senate.gov

The three major Sunday morning network television shows all featured conversations about climate change on Sunday. Now that’s news. Throughout all of last year, the same programs and Fox News Sunday...

With this level of Bloated Military Spending, how can any reasonable person justify slashing FOOD STAMPS?

Veterans For Peace's photo.

oh, yeah, that

 

How can we shift our national spending priorities? With such an enormous military budget, can we really justify cuts to other programs that focus on our domestic needs? What alternatives do we have?

Source: National Priorities Project

Center for Biological Diversity and Grist.org shared a link.

Oil spills break fishes’ hearts

grist.org

In honor of Valentine’s Day, BP should dedicate some hearts to fish that were exposed to its Deepwater Horizon spill — new research suggests that the spill may have broken theirs.

Liberal America's photo.

 

Oh snap! Thank Armed Democrats for this powerful message.

Wisconsin State AFL-CIO's photo.