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| Mike Pence |
Did Mike Pence grow a spine? A vigorous Pence lashed out at the “appeasement wing” of the Republican party that wants to end US support for Ukraine.
That’s rich coming from a guy who as vice president licked the boots of a president that he viewed as corrupt and morally bankrupt.
Pence told the Heritage Foundation on Oct. 19 that a “rising chorus in our party” wants the US to disengage from the wider world
He said:
“But appeasement has never worked, ever, in history. And now more than ever, we need a conservative movement committed to America’s role as leader of the free world and as a vanguard of American values.
“As Russia continues its unconscionable war of aggression to Ukraine, I believe that conservatives must make it clear that Putin must stop, and Putin will pay.
“There can be no room in the conservative movement for apologists to Putin. There is only room in this movement for champions of freedom.”
Mr. Conservative and Champion of Freedom was AOL when his old boss cozied up to his best buddy, Vlad.
Pence is on the promotional trail for his new autobiography, “So Help Me God,” and setting the stage for his own presidential run.
He will need divine intervention in order to snatch the GOP nomination from his old boss.
Keep on praying, Mike.
Publicis Groupe says “merci.” The French ad/PR combine chalked up an impressive 23 percent growth during the third quarter, sparked by strong performances in the US and Europe.
CEO Arthur Sadoun decided to reward staffers for the good financial results by awarding an “exceptional bonus” of one week's salary for half of the employees that do not have any variable remuneration.
“I also want to say a big ‘merci’ to all of our people for their outstanding efforts in a context where inflation is impacting the daily lives of many of them,” said Sadoun.
The bonuses will be paid in November in time for the holiday season.
Classy move.
Qatar clamps down on press. The 2022 FIFA World Cup will kick off on November 20 and the Reporters Without Borders group is worried about restrictions that will be placed on reporters travelling to the emirate.
The media credentials site says journalists will not be able to film or take pictures in residential properties, private business and industrial zones.
Those are the areas at which reporters covered the abuse of migrant workers.
“The Qatari authorities are misusing the accreditation system for journalists in order to ban them from covering certain subjects,” said Christophe Deloire, RWB secretary-general. “Qatar is clearly seeking to discourage, if not prevent, the foreign media from talking about anything other than football.”
Human Rights Watch reports that Qatar has introduced some labor reforms, though they are woefully inadequate in protecting workers’ rights and are poorly enforced.
Migrant worker deaths are not investigated, and their families are not provided reparations.
Qatar’s FIFA team has its work cut out.
Countering fake news. The Women’s Disinformation Defense Project is spending $5M to combat disinformation and fend off sexist or racial attacks on women running for office in the midterm election.
WDDP will hold media outlets and social media platforms accountable for spreading disinformation.
It will engage in media tracking, advertising, rapid response mobilization, media training, polling around the impacts of disinformation and development of the most effective counter narratives.
The group also will encourage voter turnout in support of the Senate runs of Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada), Val Demings (Florida) and Cheri Beasley (North Carolina), as well Michigan Governor’s Gretchen Whitmer’s run for re-election.
WDDP is a coalition of gender and racial justice organizations led by UltraViolet.
Emily’s List, Higher Heights for America, Planned Parenthood, Kairos, The League, NARAL Pro-Choice America and Women’s March are members of WDDP.
The hijacking of COP28 by the oil and gas crowd may spell the end of UN climate conferences... Demise of COVID emergency payments may be why people are down in the dumps about the economy... Guess who? Silicon Valley satelitte communications company slates merger with an unnamed SPAC.
There will always be a place for big ideas and sweeping changes, but don't underestimate the value of smaller steps and incremental advances.
The UAE may regret its decision to host the COP28 UN climate conference as activists plan to use the high-profile platform to highlight UAE's poor human rights record... Walter Kissinger learned how to speak like an American. His one-year older brother, Henry, did not. They both fled Nazi Germany in 1938... ESG makeover puts the emphasis on S for security.
The news announcing the death of Henry Kissinger, the last of the prevaricating politicians and so-called statesmen who stole my future and that of thousands of other young Americans, got me thinking about Walter Cronkite.
Joe Biden’s decision to skip the COP28 climate summit shows that he is tone-deaf to the fears of young Americans who consider tackling global warming a No. 1 priority... Americans are skeptical about the reasons why wealthy people donate to charity... Fox News sinks to a new low.
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Oct. 21, 2022, by Joe Honick
RE: Qatar restrictions of journalists: All network and independent reporters should consider a stock paragraph rectangular block at the end of reports that generally read:
"WE REGRET OUR INABILITY TO BRING YOU HUMAN INTEREST INTERVIEWS AND PHOTO COVERAGE FROM KEY RESIDENCES, BUSINESSES OR INDUSTRIAL SITES DUE TO QATAR OBJECTIONS OVER SHOWING LABOR AND OTHER SUBJECTS."
No doubt the Qatarians will object but might relent if journalists explain how such restraints will make the country and the games appear.