Mediaboss Marketing

"I am troubled by the timing and reasoning of Director Comey's termination," Senate Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr, a North Carolina Republican, said in a statement.

Arizona Sen. John McCain said he was "disappointed" by the incident. Sen. Bob Corker, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and occasionally advised the Trump campaign last year, said he also had concerns.

"Regardless of how you think Director Comey handled the unprecedented complexities of the 2016 election cycle, the timing of this firing is very troubling," said Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska in a statement.

Rep. Justin Amash, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said in a tweet that he would introduce legislation supporting the creation of an independent commission to investigate Russia's interference in the election.

Amash is one of four Republicans who have signed on to legislation that would force Trump to release his tax returns.

"While the case for removal of Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey laid out by Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein was thorough, his removal at this particular time will raise questions," Corker said in a statement. "It is essential that ongoing investigations are fulsome and free of political interference until their completion, and it is imperative that President Trump nominate a well-respected and qualified individual to lead the bureau at this critical time."

Other Republicans came to Trump's defense or placed the blame for Comey's firing squarely on the shoulders of the former FBI director.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, in an interview with Fox News' Bret Baier on Wednesday, said Comey was "compromised" and supported Trump's decision.

"I think the truth is James Comey, who is a worthwhile and dedicated public servant, I think he had just basically lost the confidence of a lot of Republicans and a lot of Democrats," Ryan said. "Most importantly, he lost the confidence of the President, and it is entirely within the President's role and authority to relieve him."

Ryan also dismissed calls for an special counsel or independent investigation into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.

"I think the intelligence committees are the ones that should do this," Ryan said.

"Today's announcement is likely the inevitable conclusion of Director Comey's decision last July to bypass the longstanding protocols of the Justice Department and publicly announce the reasons he had decided not to recommend an indictment of Hillary Clinton and to offer his personal views of Mrs. Clinton's actions," Republican Sen. Susan Collins said in a statement.

"Any suggestion that today's announcement is somehow an effort to stop the FBI's investigation of Russia's attempt to influence the election last fall is misplaced," Collins said. "The President did not fire the entire FBI; he fired the director."

The decision also had two traditional Republican allies apparently at odds. While McCain said Comey is "a man of honor and integrity, and he has led the FBI well in extraordinary circumstances," one of his closest friends -- Sen. Lindsey Graham -- said that he disagreed.

The South Carolina Republican, who is leading one of four investigations into Russia's interference in the 2016 election, said Tuesday he supports Trump's decision.

"Given the recent controversies surrounding the director, I believe a fresh start will serve the FBI and the nation well," Graham said in a statement Tuesday. "I encourage the President to select the most qualified professional available who will serve our nation's interests."

Republican Sen. Marco Rubio said he was not commenting on the firing specifically but expected the Justice Department's investigation to continue largely unchanged.

"I would expect the FBI to continue to function along the lines that we have come to expect it to function," the Florida Republican told CNN.

Sen. Jeff Flake, a Republican who's up for re-election next year, tweeted that he couldn't explain Trump's decision.

CNN's Manu Raju contributed to this report.

See the original post:
Comey firing troubles top Republican lawmakers ...

Q: Has Sen. John McCain renounced any affiliation with the Republican Party?

A: No. That claim was made in a fake news story published by asatirical publication.

I just read John McCain left the Republican Party, is this true?

Sen. John McCain is still a Republican, despite bogus reports that claim otherwise.

A story posted on WashingtonFeed.com says: Senator McCain has definitely renounced any affiliation with the Republican Party. It purports to quote the Arizona senator as saying, I am and always will be opposed to Donald Trump. In fact, Ive decided that any party that supports supports [sic] him supports the worst America has to offer. For that reason, Im leaving the GOP and Caucusing [sic] as an independent with the Democrats.

Facebook users flagged the story as potentially fake using the social networks tools for reporting a hoax. They were right to be suspicious.

McCain has not switched parties. That quote first appeared in an April 13 story by Americas Last Line of Defense, which falsely claimed that McCain made the announcement during an appearance on Fox and Friends. It was the second time this year that the website published a phony story calling McCain a traitor for purportedly leaving the GOP.

Regular readers of FactCheck.org know that Americas Last Line of Defense publishes fake stories as satire. A disclaimer on the site reads: Americas Last Line of Defense is a satirical publication that may sometimes appear to be telling the truth. We assure you thats not the case. We present fiction as fact and our sources dont actually exist.

Press releases published on McCains Senate website still refer to him as a Republican, as do his official Twitter and Facebook pages. There also has been no mainstream news coverage of a switch, such as there was when the late Arlen Specter, a longtime Republican senator for Pennsylvania, joined the Democratic Party in 2009.

As we have written before, fake news sites often copy content from one another. In this case, the Washington Feed copied its story from the Conservative Patriot blog, which published a paraphrased version of the fictional story fromAmericas Last Line of Defense.

But unlike WashingtonFeed.com, ConsPatriot.com includes a disclaimer that says, All the information on this website is published in good faith and for general information purpose only. http://www.conspatriot.com/ does not make any warranties about the completeness, reliability and accuracy of this information.

Rumors of McCain leaving the Republican Party are notnew. He has previously denied legitimate news reports that he had considered switching parties in the early 2000s.

In 2007, for example, the Hill, a congressional news publication, reported that former Democratic lawmakers said that McCain was close to leaving the Republican Party in 2001 after losing the Republican presidential nomination to George W. Bush.

But McCain said that wasnt the case.

As I said in 2001, I never considered leaving the Republican Party, period, McCain said, according to a statement released by his campaign, the Hill reported in 2007.

Editors note: FactCheck.org is one of several organizations working with Facebookto help identify and label viral fake news stories flagged by readers on the social media network.

WashingtonFeed.com. Boom: McCain Makes Major Announcement About His Future Republicans Cheering! Accessed 7 Jun 2017.

Americas Last Line of Defense. About Us. Accessed 7 June 2017.

Stryker. Breaking: John McCain Goes Full TRAITOR! Does the UNTHINKABLE! Thelastlineofdefense.com. 13 April 2017.

Kiely, Eugene, and Robertson, Lori. How to Spot Fake News. FactCheck.org. 18 Nov 2016.

Cusack, Bob. Democrats say McCain nearly abandoned GOP. Thehill.com. 28 Mar 2007.

McCain, John. McCain Applauds Senate Passage of Bill to Enhance Accountability and Protect Whistleblowers at VA. Mccain.senate.gov. 6 Jun 2017.

@SenJohnMcCain. U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of Senate Armed Services Committee. Twitter.com. Accessed 7 June 2017.

@JohnMcCain. About. Facebook.com. Accessed 7 June 2017.

Hulse, Carl. Specter Switches Parties. The Caucus Blog. New York Times. 18 Apr 2009.

Bailey, Chelsea. McCain Calls Trumps Dictator Praise Very Disturbing. NBCnews.com. 2 May 2017.

Watkins, Eli. McCain calls on Trump to clarify wiretapping claim. CNN.com. 14 Mar 2017.

Read more here:
John McCain Still a Republican - FactCheck.org

With all the controversies, scandals, tough headlines and reported infighting in the White House, it would have been easy for Republican power players speaking at this weeks E2 Summit to vent and bash the Trump administration -- but they didnt.

Those Republicans invited to speak at the annual E2 Summit this weekend -- far from Washington in Park City, Utah, -- have been some of the vocal critics of Donald Trump, but instead of distancing themselves from the president, they instead told friends and colleagues at the event they are cautiously optimistic about his administration and want to help it succeed.

Dont you want to help the president? Dont you think we all should? Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., asked the intimate crowd of businessmen and politicians from around the country.

We are much closer than we were just immediately following the election, the summits host, former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, said about Trump.

I think we have a president who is learning, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., agreed. Hes got a national security team that is as strong as I have ever seen.

Despite very public disagreements with the current president, all three of these men spoke kindly as they offered their advice, driving home the idea that they still think congressional Republicans and Trump could work together. They spoke about building bridges with the administration and their confidence in the current cabinet.

Graham, McCain and Romney all agreed, first and foremost, that the president needs to take a tougher stand on Russia and acknowledge the severity of Vladimir Putin's attempt to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election. Romney said that much of the conspiracy theories about Trump, his taxes and his staff could have been avoided had the president said outright, this is outrageous.

No one is suggesting it affected the outcome, but [Russians] tried to affect the outcome. This is outrageous, he said, suggesting Trump tell the country, I hope the FBI carries out a thorough investigation of who has anything to do with this and lets move on.

Instead, when you attack and say it is fake news, you just bring more and more attention and more and more people say, whats going on here?'... The more you stir a turd, the more it stinks, he continued.

Graham said Trumps relationship with Putin was his single biggest problem with the president, but added, again, that he wanted to help him.

He believes talking about Russian interference delegitimizes his win, Graham echoed. Thats not true.

The South Carolina senator urged that the president back the bill he and McCain authored to increase sanctions on Russia, and threatened to work to override a veto should the president refuse to sign it. I think it would serve the president well if we publicly say, This is right, we should punish Russia for interfering in our elections.

I will do anything I can to help this president, except give up my own judgment, he added.

McCain told the crowd he is glad the president is calling Graham, his former primary opponent, more frequently. Graham joked that he begged the president not to tweet on Thursday during the Comey hearing. Listening, these men said, could serve the president well.

I want you to understand, despite of all this clutter, that we can pull it off," Graham concluded his remarks. "We can do things that are good for this country and President Trump can be a consequential president. But if he doesnt adjust the way he is behaving and he doesnt let people help him, he is going to lose the last best chance our Republican Party has to change America and make our voice heard."

During the event, Graham also offered domestic policy advice. He complimented the presidents willingness to take bold actions and offered that he go big on environmental and immigration issues.

At the end of the day, the one thing I can tell you about Trump -- the good, the bad and the ugly -- he is willing to do things that no other Republican would think about doing, Graham said. How about a carbon fee?

He argued that the president could both reinvigorate the coal and clean energy technology industries by calling for the federal government to put a price on carbon. A rather liberal idea, Graham said, could have economic advantages for the country and political pluses for his party.

If you are from 18 to 35 [years old] this is a top-five issue for your consistency. Whether we like it or not, young people have been educated through movies and TV that we need to be better stewards of Gods creation, he said. We need to get into environmental game and not give it all to Al Gore.

Is it hard politics? Hell yes, he added. Trump might do it. I am going to advocate that he thinks big.

Romneys advice for the White House was statelier -- almost grandiose. Without naming Trump, he closed his speech with a soliloquy, which seemed to allude to the current president and what his ideas and term so far had meant for the reputation of the country.

If you want to make America great, youve got to believe in goodness, he said, becoming emotional and choked up at times. We stand with good people and good leaders."

What does this country represent? Human rights, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, a conviction that we should aspire for every person to have equal opportunity, he continued. Do we welcome the huddled masses of the earth yearning to be free? That's who we are. That's the cost in the ground in Arlington.

Read the rest here:
Romney, McCain and Graham urge Trump to act on Russia, listen to those offering help - ABC News

Former CBS News anchor Dan Rather is predicting that some Republicans could defect from President Trump if his poll numbers slip below 30 percent.

"They're afraid that he may have indeed committed some impeachable offense, and also they're hearing from home that a lot of their constituents have increasing concerns about the Trump presidency," Rather told CNN's Don Lemon.

"As long as he's able to hold that 35, 38 poll rating you may not see that, but I repeat for emphasis, once it gets down below 30 percent, you'll see some Republicans going the other way," said the longtime host.

Despite being saddled with a steady stream of controversies and consistently low approval ratings in his first months in office, Trump has largely maintained the backing of GOP lawmakers.

Trump's approval rating currently sits at 39 percent, according to a Real Clear Politics average of presidential job approval ratings. Among Republicans, his approval rating is much higher.

The president has faced mounting controversies, particularly related to the ongoing law enforcement investigation into Russian election meddling and possible collusion between his election campaign and Russia. Trump has repeatedly called the probe a "witch hunt" and has denied any wrongdoing.

The latest controversy came on Thursday, when fired FBI Director James Comey told lawmakers during a congressional hearing that Trump had once asked him in private conversation for a pledge of loyalty and then to drop the bureau's investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Republican lawmakers, including House Speaker Paul RyanPaul RyanDan Rather predicts Republican defect if Trump approval falls below 30 percent Ex-GOP rep: Ryans impeachment claim about Trump 'isnt true' Tom Brokaw: 'Trump ran as a big time exec, not as an apprentice' MORE (R-Wis.), acknowledged that the president's requests may have been inappropriate, but defended his actions as rookie mistakes the result of Trump's lack of government experience.

But some of Trump's highest-profile policies have spurred backlash, as well. His decision last week to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate accord, for example, sparked nationwide protests and prompted vows by numerous business leaders, governors and mayors to uphold the agreement in spite of Trump's announcement.

A Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted in the wake of Trump's decision found that nearly six in 10 Americans oppose withdrawing from the climate deal.

Go here to see the original:
Dan Rather predicts Republican defect if Trump approval falls below 30 percent - The Hill (blog)

"All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development."

Article 1 in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)

This Sunday, Puerto Ricans will cast their votes in a political-status referendum, exercising their democratic right to decide the islands future. Self-determination is central to the rights of all Americans citizens, including Puerto Ricans, and it is arguably the defining principle of our democracy.

Unfortunately, even after 100 years of U.S. citizenship, and after hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans have served in the U.S. Armed Forces during wartime and peacetime, the more than 3.4 million residents of Puerto Rico lack rights equal to those of American citizens living in U.S. states. As an unincorporated U.S. territory, we cannot vote for the U.S. president, nor do we have voting representation in Congress. Yet, we are subject to federal laws which treat us unequally.

The passage of the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA) last year further limits our local self-governance. More importantly, Puerto Rico's current territory status has led to a multitude of unequal, inconsistent, and disjointed federal laws and policies that have severely limited the islands development, and contributed greatly to the current fiscal, economic and demographic crisis that is the worst in our history.

This includes the Medicaid Cliff, a disaster averted in the short-term, that may yet cost as many as 600,000 American citizens and at least 93,000 family members of veterans access to healthcare benefits they would receive as residents of any U.S. state. The crisis has also led to a staggering exodus of young Americans from Puerto Rico, over 400,000 in the last decade alone, which robs our communities of innovation and inspiration, and increases costs for states at the receiving end of this migration as well as for the federal government.

To truly address Puerto Ricos immediate and long-term prospects for economic growth and prosperity, it is essential to resolve the current unequal and undemocratic territory status that has persisted for over 100 years. After the 2012 plebiscite on Puerto Rico's political status where a clear majority (54 percent) opposed continuing the current territory status and among those that voted for a non-territorial option 61 percent supported statehood Congress asked the Government of Puerto Rico to carry out a voter education campaign and a new plebiscite on, "options that would resolve Puerto Rico's future political status."

Accordingly, on June 11, 2017, millions of Puerto Ricans will participate in a plebiscite to definitively answer this question, by choosing between statehood, free association/independence, or current territorial status.

The inclusion of the last option retaining the status quo is directly tied to Governor Ricardo Rossells commitment to ensure the plebiscites legitimacy and in correspondence with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) April 13th letter after their review of the original plebiscite ballot. There should not be any doubt that after the polls close on Sunday, the results must be considered to be the freely expressed will of the Puerto Rican people and a genuine act of self-determination. To further assure the transparency of the democratic process, the Puerto Rico Department of State has invited an independent-bipartisan group of respected political leaders to the island as electoral observers to oversee the process.

Importantly, the plebiscite also represents an important step in relation to the current reform process happening in Puerto Rico under PROMESA, and is representative of a demand to definitively define the future status of an island and people that need certainty in a time of incredible turmoil. I urge Congress to recognize the results of the upcoming plebiscite as what they are a legitimate, defining expression of self-determination, keeping in mind that resolving the status is not merely an important issue, it is the central issue for Puerto Rico.

If nothing changes and our failed territory status continues, overcoming this economic crisis will take far longer and require far more investment than ever needed before. It will only delay the islands economic, social and cultural recovery. Without the opportunity for self-determination, residents of Puerto Rico will be denied the opportunity to develop and contribute to the great American mosaic.

Congress must resolve Puerto Ricos status to unleash its full potential.

Carlos Mercader is the Executive Director of the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration.

Continued here:
Puerto Rico - The time for democracy is now - Fox News