Notations On Our World (Special Mid-Week Edition): On #ComeyFiring; @kittyhawkcorp & Other Thoughts...

As all know by now, the FBI Director was fired by President Trump.   It has been in the headlines and our team was keeping tabs on it over Twitter since yesterday.    The President himself has been tweeting as he called out  "Crying Chuck Scuhmmer" and lying Richard Blummenthal.    Our team found it of special interest how the so-called case was developed that led to the President dismissing the FBI Director.   Reporting from US Media indicates that the FBI Director found out about it through news reports (right as we broke the story here on our Twitter Feed).  Fox News has been at the forefront of noting how the firing was "overdue" (Tucker Carlson", how Comey was an embarrassment, (Sean Hannity" and the more conservative media (including Red State and others).   We also understand that the President's "Body Man" delivered the letter to the FBI Headquarters in Washington.    This is as the investigation into Michael Flynn is continuing as a number of his associates have apparently been subpoenaed.     

The White House sent out the Principal Deputy White House Press Secretary, Sara Huckabee Sanders, to push the Trump Administration talking point that the FBI Director had lost the confidence of the rank and file last night.   She was on CBS News Red & Blue program last night noting that she had just received messages from numerous FBI rank and file officers noting how Director Comey had lost the trust and confidence and it was time for new leadership.  She also noted that a "President Hillary would have fired him".    What must be noted, though, is that The FBI Director does serve at the Pleasure of the President and can be dismissed without cause.    It is bound to be a very interesting White House Daily Press Briefing today--although our team is not certain what will be achieved in 30 minutes.  

As we went to press, we are seeing the Vice President, Mike Pence, defending the President and noting how "grateful" he was for the President's decision as he has once again has been tasked with "explaining away" the President's actions.   He noted about how the country needs to move "past the politics of the past year"--yet he seems not to address that the President contributed to the very difficult politics today.    As our team was assessing overnight developments, we picked up this from the Twitter Feed of the +The New York Times Eric Lipton that was telling about the state of affairs right now : 

  

As we went to press here, there is live coverage of the Secretary of State meeting the Russian Foreign Minister which is very interesting as the Russian Foreign Minister is also scheduled to see the President later on today.     In the meantime, there is a new President in South Korea, China continues its' ascendancy with "Belt and Road,", Iran is continuing a very vibrant President Campaign as the UK continues its' election campaign that may see a radical redrawing of the political landscape as "Brexit" begins.   And more importantly, Larry Page's flying car, Kitt Hawk, will be on Sale later on this year!! :)

Never a dull moment.....

Notations From the Grid (Tuesday Edition) : On #France; #Iran & South Korea

Iran's President Attending the Opening of a rail line (Source http://www.president.ir)

The Presdent-Elet of South Korea (Source: http://www.aljazeera.com)

The President Elect of France (Source: http://www.france24.com) 

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South Korea has elected a liberal as President after almost 10 years of conservative rule.    It is interesting to note how the same dilemma facing the new South Korean President Elect is being faced in France as well as the New President Elect prepares to take office on May 14.     Both have problems with majorities in their legislatures.   There is also the on-going elections in Iran as well as we noted in our last edition of Notations.  

 Iran's elections is starting to get especially interesting in light of President Rouhani's latest campaign speeches.    He has gone after the main conservative challenger, Raisi (the head of the Quds Foundation) hard with allegations of corruption and his conduct as of the high ranking judicial officials of the past 38 years.      Social Media (especially Instagram) has been abuzz of the on-going efforts--including the accounts of Jamaran.ir (affiliated with Khomeini's grandson) along with the official account of President Rouhani Himself.    Iran's Official News Agency, though, continues to be supportive of the President as domestic media continues to be on the attack.    This is as Iran and Pakistan are in a diplomatic tug of war in the aftermath of the death of Iranian Guards--and as Iran and Saudi Arabia are at it in the aftermath of comments by the Saudi Deputy Crown about attacking Iran. 

As France awaits the formal swearing in of President-Elect Macron , one interesting opening was how his Former Boss, Manuel Valls, has agreed to join Macronm's Party and contest a legislative seat for his party.  Manuel Valls noted the Socialist Party to be "dead". As Europe breathes a sigh of relief, London is anxious.   this is as grassroots movements are starting to take shape to further transform Europe beyond what is already known as epitimozed by what we received here in #outsiders from the organizatoin co-founded by the firebrand former Finance Minister of Greece:

You decide! On May 21, local elections will be held in Croatia’s capital, Zagreb. A progressive green-left platform called “Zagreb is OURS!” offers an opportunity to oust the populist Milan Bandic, an infamous former social-democrat known for his involvement in major corruption scandals, who has governed the city for the past 16 years. With the rise of nationalism, populism and historical revisionism in Croatian society, these local elections will have a major influence on national politics and daily life in the country. DiEM25’s CC has determined that the political program of Zagreb is OURS! is in accordance with our Manifesto and European New Deal. The program advocates the return of decision-making power to neighborhoods, and creates models where citizens collectively decide on how the city should be governed and develop. DiEM25 is a pan-European movement where its members take key decisions collectively. So all members of all nationalities – that means you! - get to decide what our position should be for this vital election. Should we support Zagrab is OURS!, or not? Just head over to the Members Section to make your choice! The deadline for this vote is Wednesday, May 17. DiEM25 members have previously engaged in democratic discussions to arrive at their positions for French elections, the Brexit referendum, as well as the Italian constitutional referendum. This is the first time DiEM25 members are voting on whether to support a candidate in local elections. The creation of new “Rebel Cities” is a major struggle which concerns all progressives in Europe, so please do vote. Carpe DiEM! Erik Edman Deputy Volunteer Coordinator

      

    Interesting times.....

Notations From the Grid: On #IranElection2017

President Rouhani of Iran On the Campaign Trail

The elections in Iran are a focus of ours this week as we assess it to present the latest on the eve of the Elections.    What we just picked up during our morning review on the "Grid" is telling in how President Rouhani went after his chief conservative rival, Ebrahim Raissi:

In Hamedan today, #Iran's incumbent Pres Rouhani indirectly attacked rival Raisi: Ppl don't want those who executed & jailed for last 38 yrs pic.twitter.com/roeSmBYxnO

— IranHumanRights.org (@ICHRI) May 8, 2017

Raissi was part of a committee that decided on executions some 25 years that continues to haunt  Iran up to this day.   What must be noted, though, is that Rouhani's own Justice Minster was part of that Committee and was implicated in taped conversations with then-Deputy Supreme Guide of the Revolution, Ayatollah Montazeri who reminded the Committee that they would be forever condemned for what they have done.    The son of Ayatollah Montazeri released the audio of the conversations, was condemned by the special court for the clergy (headed by Raissi), condemned to losing his clergy pedigree and 21 years in Prison--currently suspended.