2010 US Presidential Election

[Marky Bunny]

BBC.CO.UK/Politics
Monday May 16th 2016

National referendum on "equal marriage" to be announced in Queens Speech

The BBC understands that a National referendum on "equal marriage" and the "death penalty" will be included in the Queens Speech on Wednesday.

It is understood that it will be included in a National Referendum believed to be held in October on bringing back the death penalty for certain crimes, something that was included in the 2013 Conservative manifesto.

Many on the Conservative back benchers are going to happy with the Death Penalty vote but no so much regards "equal marriage". We understand that a final agreement within the Cabinet was reached over the weekend.

 

[Marky Bunny]

NBS.COM
Wednesday May 18th 2016

Grant wins GOP Oregon Senate nomination

David Grant, the Mayor of Bend has won the Republican Senate nomination unchallenged.

Grant will be taking on Senator Robert Greys, who is looking to win a sixth term. The state is regarded at a Presidential level to be a safe Democratic state, but President Bartlet only carried the state back in 1998 by 10,000 votes. In recent years at a local level it has started to trend Republican with a Republican Governor and the other Senate seat being taken by Curtis Ryan two years ago against Ricky Rafferty.

Most current polls have Greys ahead although not by the margin that he and his campaign would want (most are just outside the margin between 6-8 points).

 

[Marky Bunny]

BBC.CO.UK/Politics
Wednesday May 18th

National Referendum day at heart of Queens Speech

The government's planned new laws have been set out by the Queen including a National Referendum day on Thursday October 13th on the issue of equal marriage and on the return of the death penalty for certain crimes as Child murder and terrorist attacks.

The speech also includes plans for further rail expansion and the continued re-opening of many routes shut by the infamous Beeching Act in 1963. Plans to include votes on the UK continuing to hold oversees dependencies such as the Falkland Islands have been put on hold. The other major reform is the introduction of the list system (as used by the Scottish and Welsh Assembly's) for local County Council elections from next year. The election of County Governors will remain un-changed.

 

[ajm8888]

May 20th, 2016:

NHK World News
Breaking news!

Chinese President Rushed from Event for Unknown Reasons
Beijing: In Chongqing President Qian Min of the People's Republic was just rushed from a visit to a Foxcon factory by his security people. The reason was not yet given though. The Presidential plane left for Beijing twenty minutes later. The reason has yet to be given.

 

[Marky Bunny]

NBS.COM
Friday May 20th 2016

Democratic Washington gubernatorial race looks to be a two horse race

With Democratic voters going to the polls this coming Tuesday in the Washington Gubernatorial primary, polls suggest it is a clear two horse race between Michelle Grissom (Daughter of former Senator Tom) and Congressman Dan Wilder. The beaten 2012 candidate William Wiley jnr is way behind.

A match up between either Grissom or Wilder against incumbent Republican Sean Boone shows a basic dead heat. In a race with Wiley jnr Boone has a ten point lead.

1. Michelle Grissom 47%
2. Dan Wilder 45%
3. William Wiley jnr 8%

 

[ajm8888]

Friday May 20th, 2016:

NHK WORLD NEWS

Qian's Daughter has heart attack, security crackdown in progress.

Beijing: In Beijing the police and security services have been active through the day going after various animal rights activist connected to PETA organization. All related to a leather shop Qian Ju, age 25, visited this morning. The press secretary for President Qian said.

"The shock Qian Ju received was enough to trigger her previous heart issues. She had a history of heart murmurs but nothing to suggest that she would have a heart attack. We have full faith in the doctors abilities to help Ju. President Qian and his wife are in hospital awaiting news on their daughter's condition"

 

[ajm8888]

May 23rd, 2016

BBC News

Chinese government cracks down on PETA in response to "leather shop."

Beijing: Spokesmen for President Qian stated that the family is gathered around Qian Ju, The president's daughter. "She is recovering from her heart attack and the doctors put her recovery as very good. However she is to stay in hospital for observation for a period of a week."

The government spokesman also said the government over the course of the weekend has arrested 1200 people connected to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals organization. Of the 1200 arrested the Chinese claim to have arrested 85 foreign nationals. The government of China stated while it is unlikely to keep all those they have arrested but those connected to the "leather shop" will be kept in China for causing subversive activity.

The PETA leather shop was a graphic display that would look like it had belts, jackets, purses and other materials made from leather and animal hides. These hid graphic displays, like beating hearts in purses, blood painted on belts, and other graphic displays. On the outside it looked like a leather shop to those that wanted to look at it. What the group failed to realize is what a shock it may unleash on a person with a heart condition.

The Chinese government has stated regardless of nationality any person involved in the leather shop they will be tried for causing subversion and spend time in prison doing hard labor. President Qian wrote a statement that said: "PETA frequently targets China and acts as if our advances are nothing. We will now take the needed legal measures to go after PETA."

 

[KingCrawa]

BBC.CO.UK

Monday 23rd May 2016

ARCHBISHOP OF YORK CONDEMS GOVERNMENT’S REFERENDUM PLANS

During an interview with BBC Look North, this morning, the Archbishop of York condemned the government’s plans for a pair of national referendums on bringing back the death penalty and introducing equal marriage.

Matthew Walsh was being questioned about the English churches new community engagement plan, “Prayer and People” which was announced last week, when he was asked about his opinion on the referendums proposed in the Queen’s Speech.

The Archbishop condemned the idea of bringing back the death penalty, calling it “morally and unquestionably wrong.” He said it was not “the states place to take the place of God, and decide who lives and who dies.” However when questioned about the equal marriage referendum he prevaricated slightly before describing it as a “complex issue that will require serious debate over the next few months.”

Archbishop Walsh, who is the most senior member of the churches Anglo-Catholic wing has spoken out against the concept of equal marriage before, arguing that marriage, is between one man and one women. A statement issued by Bishopsthorpe Palace this afternoon clarified that “the Archbishop was simply giving his personal opinion. He was not speaking on behalf of the church.”

Lambeth Palace has yet to issue an official statement on the Churches view on the proposed referendums.

 

[Tim Thomason]

The Wall Street Journal, Monday, May 23, 2016

The Need For Election Reform, and How I Will Fund It

By Franklin Hollis

The electoral process is broken. Thanks to countless court cases and a hostile congress, campaign finance reform has been thoroughly trashed. Ten years ago, we were on the verge of fixing these systems, but in ten years, we have done the exact opposite. On my website, electionreform.hollis, I have proposed a simple seven-point plan to tackle these issues. With contributions from former Democratic Senator August Adair, author of the old Adair-Clark Campaign Finance Law, and Republican Congressman Joe Steele, breaking from his party on so thorough of an issue, this plan is the best way forward for the country I hold dear.

The plan has innumerable supporters, from C.J. Cregg to Mike Reed. From Matt Santos to Richard Lassiter. From Andy Seldes to Mark Kerrison. I intend, for all candidates willing to sign the pledge pushing election reform, to match any and all contributions to their campaigns, up to $1 Billion over the course of the next two election cycles. Reform isn't easy, but it's absolutely, entirely necessary if we want the American people to have a voice in their own elections.

Franklin Hollis is the former CEO and Chairman of the Hollis Computing Group, known as the developer of the modern smartphone. He has a net worth over $60 Billion and is the fourth richest person in the world. Since 2007, Hollis has managed the Hollis Foundation, which has donated over $15 Billion towards infrastructure projects in over 78 countries.

 

[Marky Bunny]

NBS.COM
Tuesday May 24th 2016

Ted Marcus backs Hollis reform plan

Ted Marcus, the film director, producer and donator to the Democratic party has publicly thrown his support to the campaign reform plan of Franklin Hollis announced yesterday in the Wall Street Journal.

Marcus a major campaign donator to the Democratic party said he was prepared also support any candidates who also supported campaign reform across both parties. "I am pleased to support Franklin Hollis plan and ready to give to any candidate who supports reform".

Marcus who has threatened in the past to run for Democratic Presidential nomination refused to rule out a run in 2018 "I am always going to look at a Presidential bid, I need to see what our candidates say about campaign reform and gay marriage".

 

[KingCrawa]

BBC.CO.UK

Wednesday 25th May 2016

Bishop Denounces Equal Marriage Plan

Following on from the Archbishop of York’s statement on Monday, yesterday the Bishop of Sheffield the Rt Reverend Hugh Carver denounced the government’s referendum plans during a debate in the House of Lords.

The Lords were debating the Referendum portion of the Queen’s Speech when the Bishop rose to speak, “I am afraid I cannot countenance what this government is suggesting,” he said, “they are seeking to be both regressive and progressive at the same time and that is something no government can do. I must agree with what my good friend the Archbishop of York said yesterday when he said that the government has no right to decide who lives and who dies. That is God’s right. However I would go one step further than he did and must say that the state has no right to legislate on marriage either. I have no problem with people being in gay relationships, or in civil partnerships, but the Bible says that marriage is between a man and a women and it is not the governments place to try and change that.”

The Bishops words have been condemned by members of both parties and leading gay rights campaigners, though as of yet Number Ten has said nothing.

A noted advocate of the Church playing a stronger and more vocal part in everyday life, this is not the first time Bishop Carver has courted controversy. In 2014 he referred to the Spanish Government as “despotic” due to their actions during the Gibraltar crisis.

He studied at Ridley Hall in Cambridge and among other roles Carver taught for a number of years at Cranmer Hall in Durham. He was made Bishop of Ludlow in 2004 and translated to Sheffield in 2009.

The Bishop of Sheffield Hugh Carver

(Photo by David Threlfall)

 

[Marky Bunny]

NBS.COM
Wednesday May 25th 2016

Grissom and Wilder result too close to call

With 98% of all districts reporting the election to be the Democratic candidate for Governor in Washington is too close to call and by most observers a "virtual dead heat". Grissom's lead is understood to be just 310 votes

Most of the polls going into election day had Michelle Grissom with around a narrow two point lead over Congressman Dan Wilder, but it seems Wilder has picked up support as the campaign of the 2012 nominee William Wiley jnr collapsed. Wiley jnr looks to have only won around 3% of the vote, well under half of which the polls had been predicting.

The current tally is Grissom on 730,117 votes (48.47%) to Wilder's 729,807 (48.45%) with Wiley jnr only with 46,301 votes (3.08%) The Democratic primary is an open primary with all registered voters including Republicans and Independents able to vote.

 

[Marky Bunny]

BBC.CO.UK/Politics/PMQ's
Wednesday May 25th 2016

Benn defends Samuels referendum plans at PMQ's and calls for House of Lords Reform

In one of the most unusual Prime-Minister's Question Times for years, Labour Leader Andrea Benn used her questions to defend the Prime-Minister and the Government's referendum's plans.

She praised the vote for equal marriage and pledged the full support of the Shadow Cabinet to campaign for a yes vote. "I wanted the Prime-Minister to know that he has the full of my Shadow Cabinet" adding "for the first time and probably the last time" which was greeted by laughter from all sides of the chamber. On the death penalty vote she added her support for the public vote but added "This a very difficult and emotive subject, there are strong views on both sides" and "it would be down each person to make that decision".

Benn then urged the Prime-Minister to "look again very strongly" at House of Lords reform following the remarks made during a debate on the Queens speech made by the Bishop of Sheffield Hugh Carver "What Bishop Carver said in another place yesterday, was wrong on all his points. I find it a moral outrange that in the 21st century we still have unelected Bishops that are able to make this actions. They are not accountable to anyone. Everyone in this House is accountable to the voters, the Bishop of Sheffield is accountable to no-one". Samuels thanked Benn for "her support both in public and in private". On House of Lords reform he added that the Government was looking once again at plans that he had been abandoned by the Meyer, Graty and Green Governments adding "Nothing was off the table".

Liberal Democrat Leader Robert Richardson offered his support on the equal marriage vote. The Conservative back bench awkward squad were managed to have been kept in check by the Whips for today's session at least.

 

[ajm8888]

Wednesday May 25th, 2016:

CNN.COM

25 Americans arrested in PETA crackdown in China.

Beijing: The Chinese Ministry of State Security announced of the 85 foreign nationals arrested in China last weekend 25 were Americans. The MSS in statement released stated, "That once we determine involve the in the leather shop operation the foreign nationals will be released to the embassy of their nationality. But only if they are not involved. If they are involved the MSS will keep them for further questioning. From there it is unknown."

The detention of many foreign nationals has caused the White House to ask for the PRC to release all foreign nationals they are detaining in connection to the leather shop. The Chinese foreign ministry has not replied to the request.

The Chinese government stated in the foreign nationals involved in PETA in China it included 6 British citizens, 7 French citizens , 5 Russian citizens, 4 Spanish citizen, 5 Canadians, and a plethora of others. The names have not been made public.

 

[Marky Bunny]

NBS.COM
Wednesday May 25th 2016

Breaking News Breaking News

Grissom wins Washington Gubernatorial Primary

Michelle Grissom has been declared the winner in the Democratic Gubernatorial Primary by the margin of 418 votes over Congressman Dan Wilder.
Grissom polled 740,719 votes (48.46%) to Wilder's 740,301 (48.44%). William Wiley jnr did far worse than expected polling just 47,194 votes (3.10%).

Wilder conceded defeat with generous praise to both his opponents and declared that Grissom "had his full support and endorsement" to defeat Governor Boone in November.

Grissom is expected to make a victory statement some time during Thursday morning.

 

[Marky Bunny]

NBS.COM
Wednesday May 25th 2016

Price wins Washington State Republican primary

Kathy Price, the President pro tempore of the Washington State Senate swept the Republican Senate primary to take on Democratic Senator Andrew Howard.

Howard, a member of the Liberal wing of the Democratic is widely believed to be looking at a Presidential run in 2018 is expected to easily defeat Price. Many on the Republican side believe that Howard is beatable or at worst Price can damage his hopes of running for the Presidency, much as Rob Cole did in New York in 2012 against Andrew Thorn.

 

[Marky Bunny]

BBC.CO.UK/Politics
Thursday May 26th 2016

Chinese Ambassador summoned to the Foreign Office over the six Britons held in China

The Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom was summoned to the Foreign Office today regarding the arrest of six Britons in China last weekend.

The Foreign Secretary Fiona Wallace spoke to the Ambassador Liu Yung for around thirty minutes. A Foreign Office spokesman described the talks as "business-like" but said "The Foreign Secretary made it clear that the Government wanted the release of our six citizens within days".

Fiona Wallace is expected to make an emergency statement to the House of Commons on Friday regarding the Situation after the Labour Shadow Foreign Secretary Jack Coll requested an urgent question on Thursday afternoon.

 

[ajm8888]

Friday May 26th, 2016:

China Central Television

Qian Ju to spend several more weeks in hospital

Beijing: At the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army Doctor Zhou Boqin, lead cardiologist at the hospital said the President's daughter, Qian Ju, will spend several weeks in hospital to recover from her ordeal. "With her previous heart operations we had to install a new artificial valve. The shock of seeing these hearts and blood from this gory display shocked the poor girl. I think she was shocked by the violence of the display that it triggered her heart attack."

Doctor Boqin said that the President and his wife have been coming every day to visit Ju. "It is different to see such busy people dropping their schedules to ensure their daughter is recovering. They are happy she is still alive and recovering."

President Qian has not made a public appearance since last Friday. He is still governing and has not been considered incapacitated under the constitution.

Later today The Ministry of State Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Justice will hold a press conference later today about the members of PETA and foreign members as well.

 

[ajm8888]

Friday May 26th, 2016:

NHK World News

Chinese government to release most of PETA prisoners, foreign nationals ringleaders.

Beijing: In the Zhongnahai, China's White House, First Ranked Secretary of the Central Secretariat of Communist Party of China just told the press that most of the PETA members arrested will be released. The ringleaders will be kept in China as these foreign nationals are considered a flight risk.

First Ranked Secretary of the Central Secretariat of the Communist Party of China, Cui Ye said, "Of the twelve hundred we arrested last week we have released eleven hundred forty-seven that includes seventy foreign nationals. We will send the foreign nationals to their respective embassies that their passports say they come from. At least three from Russia will be arrested upon entering their embassy for destruction of a pig farm near Rostoff."

"We will not be returning fifteen foreigners to their home countries. These fifteen are the ringleaders of the operation to cause harm and chaos to the families of leading figures in the Communist Party. The location shop, the papers it was advertised in, and other media was directed to maximize the likelihood that they could target the families of Party members."

Mr. Cui then presented a display of the jackets displayed, with muscle fibers and blood, hand bags with false beating hearts inside. "This is some of the items displayed to cause disgust, anger and fear. It was taken to extremes and caused illness and health issues. Two others heart attacks occurred at the shop, one of which is the wife of the Construction Minister. The police reported before the shop opened a line that stretched the length of a block. Upon entering the police reported fifty-three faintings, numerous accounts of public vomiting, and plenty of people suffering shock. Several people were doused with buckets of blood, one was the Construction Minister's wife."

"The ringleaders of the this operation, " Cui said, " have all admitted that they are responsible and want to go to prison. None of the fifteen foreigners said they applogize for causing the health issues for dozens of people. We shall move ahead to indict them. Of the fifteen, six are American, one is British, two are French, one is Australian, one is Canadian, one German, one Japanese, one Italian and one Dutch. We shall allow them to get legal representation from their embassies but the ringleaders have said they are willing to go to jail."

Secretary Cui stated President Qian will make a public announcement on Sunday in regards to the events involving his daughter.

 

[ajm8888]

Monday May 30th, 2016:

BBC.CO.UK/NEWS/WORLD/ASIA/CHINA

Qian's speech comes swinging at PETA and West

Beijing: At the Zhongnahai, President Qian Min gave a scathing assessment of the People for the Ethnically Treatment of Animals in his speech yesterday, calling them "dishonorable hypocrites". Qian also attacked the west for "allowing a Hornet to nest in his house"

Qian Min who has been absent from press conferences for a week gave his first press conference in a week. He opened with an unusual statement for Chinese politics. Qian Min talked about his feelings. Rarely in Chinese culture does one talk about how they feel in public. He expressed his fears at loosing his daughter and that he wanted to burn the PETA organization to the ground. However, President Qian said "Ju would be mad if I did that. I think she would understand me jailing people but not wiping out an entire organization like the terrorist scum they are."

Qian then discussed how under his administration and the Premier's, China has made great strides towards towards a cleaner environment and improved animal rights. "PETA's actions seem to be an insult directed at me and my country. I outlawed bile bears, I made the sale of rare animal parts for medicinal purposes illegal, and I have made moves towards outlawing cat and dog meat eating in this nation. Yet PETA's actions hurt those with the same cause, like the Chinese Animal Protection Network. A group my daughter has helped." Qian then listed the achievements the moderate animal rights group had accomplished and compared it to the dismal record of PETA.

President Qian then said he was angry at PETA by the added factor his daughter had the day before been proposed to by her boyfriend. "Her Fiancé asked me Monday that week and I gave him permission." Qian stated, "My rage at the near loss of my daughter was amplified by my fears of not being able to see her married."

Qian turned from his daughter towards the West. He said he was displeased with many countries reactions to the mass arrest in Beijing and Shanghai of PETA members. "We have arrested far more than twelve hundred people in other mass arrests for subversive causes in the past. Yet they are upset we did not return fifteen. As we speak seventy of the involved foreign nationals are heading home, either they are at their embassies or are on their way. The fifteen ringleaders when arrested admitted to security services their involvement in the "leather shop". We cannot ignore their pleas of guilt. Even if it is out of pride and not guilt." Qian stated to the West he intends to see they (the PETA activists) get some time in a Chinese prison. Qian still believed the Western nations would like people involved to get a slap on the wrist, and not get a harsh sentence. "I expect the Americans and British to be unhappy with the government's decision and to complain loudly."

Qian took questions but they were pre-screened. Most solidified his position he took in the statement.

The President closed by saying he now looks forward to coming home after his American Trip in June as his daughter will be out of hospital a few days after he returns.