#DistrictDaily

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Why District Daily?

The Ministry has fallen. But seriously. 

“It is important,” Dumbledore said, “to fight, and fight again, and keep fighting, for only then could evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated.” –The Half-Blood Prince

I started a blog for three reasons. First, I needed an outlet for my frustration. Second, because I could not find a satisfactory blog that was archiving the daily "lowlights" (they are certainly not "highlights") of He Who Must Not Be Named. Third, and most importantly, I created the blog to avoid becoming desensitized or apathetic about Executive Orders or any other Executive action. 

On February 19, 1942, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 authorizing the military to designate areas in which any or all persons can be excluded. In this case anyone with Japanese ancestry living on the West Coast. My grandmother was one of those 130,000 Japanese Americans, that was round up and forced to leave their home. In 1980, a Commission, appointed by President Carter, concluded the incarceration was product of racism.

A famous jedi once said, "fear is the path to the dark side." The greatest problem I have with this President (and I have a number of them) is that he encourages Americans to be fearful and hateful, instead of curious and hopeful of cultures, religions and people we do not understand.

"Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew.Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me." -Martin Niemoller

They already came for my grandmother, and I was not there to speak out. But I am here now. #ICantBeQuiet #RebellionsAreBuiltOnHope #Solidarity

[districtdaily]

Executive Orders v. Executive Memoranda?

January 28, 2017

Executive Actions: catch-all term that describes any action taken by a President including Executive Orders, Actions, Memoranda and Proclamations. PBS

Executive Order: a specific type of presidential action — an official, legally binding mandate passed down from the president to federal agencies under the executive branch. They are numbered and required to be printed in the Federal Register. PBS

Executive Memoranda: Essentially an Executive Order but it does not have an established process for how the president issues it, making it more difficult to track. PBS

Executive Proclamations: Mainly used for ceremonial purposes and usually seldom carry any legal effect. PBS

[districtdaily]

Syrian Refugees Permanently Suspended From US Entry

January 27, 2017

On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, a day meant to remember how the spread of anti-semitism cost millions of Jews who their lives, people expected the leader of the free world to make a statement. He did. 

The White House the following press release: “Together, we will make love and tolerance prevalent throughout the world.” Good right? But not to fast...

A few hours later, He Who Must Not Be Named signed another Executive Order entitled, “Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States” halting admission of refugees into the United States. [Editor’s Note: White House did not put up the Executive Order, link is to New York Times and Washington Post articles that did.] 

Highlights of Executive Order:

(1) US will not admit people who engage in religious persecution or oppress Americans based on race and sexual orientation.  (Section 1. 3rd paragraph). 

“The United States cannot, and should not, admit those who do not support the Constitution, or those who would place violent ideologies over American law. In addition, the United States should not admit those who engage in acts of bigotry or hatred (including “honor” killings, other forms of violence against women, or the persecution of those who practice religions different from their own) or those who would oppress Americans of any race, gender, or sexual orientation.”

(2) Temporary ban would affect seven countries: Iraq, Iran, Syria, Yemen, Sudan, Libya and Somalia (Section 3. paragraph 3)

“(c) To temporarily reduce investigative burdens on relevant agencies during the review period described in subsection (a) of this section, to ensure the proper review and maximum utilization of available resources for the screening of foreign nationals, and to ensure that adequate standards are established to prevent infiltration by foreign terrorists or criminals, pursuant to section 212(f) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), I hereby proclaim that the immigrant and nonimmigrant entry into the United States of aliens from countries referred to in section 217(a)(12) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1187(a)(12), would be detrimental to the interests of the United States”

(3) 120 day suspension of all refugees, permanent suspension of all Syrian refugees, limits entry to 50,000 refugees FY17. (Section 5. paragraphs 1, 3 & 4)

“...Upon the date that is 120 days after the date of this order, the Secretary of State shall resume USRAP admissions only for nationals of countries for which the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence have jointly determined that such additional procedures are adequate to ensure the security and welfare of the United States.”

“(c) Pursuant to section 212(f) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), I hereby proclaim that the entry of nationals of Syria as refugees is detrimental to the interests of the United States and thus suspend any such entry until such time as I have determined that sufficient changes have been made to the USRAP to ensure that admission of Syrian refugees is consistent with the national interest.”

“(d) Pursuant to section 212(f) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f), I hereby proclaim that the entry of more than 50,000 refugees in fiscal year 2017 would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and thus suspend any such entry until such time as I determine that additional admissions would be in the national interest.”

The Effects? 

Christian in the Middle East will be prioritized. Washington Post

Unaccompanied refugee minors living in camps now cannot fly to the United States to live with foster families. Washington Post

100,000 refugees in FY17 were authorized, that will now drop to 50,000. Washington Post

Other Facts:

2015 pole: 78 percent of Americans favored equal consideration for refugees regardless of religion. Washington Post

Syrian refugees already go through a complex and multitiered vetting process that takes. Washington Post

Vetting already takes 9 months to two years. Washington Post

Xenophobia is alive and well in the United States.

[districtdaily]

Immigrants Are No Longer Welcome...And Neither Are Some Federal Agencies

On January 25, 2017 

“Sanctuary jurisdictions across the United States willfully violate Federal law in an attempt to shield aliens from removal from the United States.  These jurisdictions have caused immeasurable harm to the American people and to the very fabric of our Republic. Tens of thousands of removable aliens have been released into communities across the country, solely because their home countries refuse to accept their repatriation.  Many of these aliens are criminals who have served time in our Federal, State, and local jails.  The presence of such individuals in the United States, and the practices of foreign nations that refuse the repatriation of their nationals, are contrary to the national interest.” 

No, you did not just read an Orwellian novel excerpt. That was an Executive Order issued today, “Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States”. 

But that was not all. A second Executive Order was issued, “Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements”

“Transnational criminal organizations operate sophisticated drug- and human-trafficking networks and smuggling operations on both sides of the southern border, contributing to a significant increase in violent crime and United States deaths from dangerous drugs.  Among those who illegally enter are those who seek to harm Americans through acts of terror or criminal conduct.  Continued illegal immigration presents a clear and present danger to the interests of the United States.” ...

Sec. 2.  Policy.  It is the policy of the executive branch to:

(a)  secure the southern border of the United States through the immediate construction of a physical wall on the southern border, monitored and supported by adequate personnel so as to prevent illegal immigration, drug and human trafficking, and acts of terrorism. 

P.S. American’s taxpayers will be paying for the wall.

He Who Must Not Be Named wants to cut federal spending by reducing funding to agencies or eliminating them all together.  Times researched the cost of each agencies to the American tax payer. 

Corporation for Public Broadcasting $1.37

National Endowment of the Arts $0.46

National Endowment for Humanities $0.46

Civil Rights Division at the Department of Justice $0.48

Office of Violence Against Women no cost was named

UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change $0.03

[districtdaily]

“The President Does Believe That”

January 24, 2016 

He Who Must Not Be Named went to the Hill and told Congressional leaders he would have won the popular vote had it not been for three to five million “illegals.” Familiar? NPR fact checked and yes, he made the claim before.  

Mr. Spicer confirmed the story and told the press pool, “the President does believe that.” Note: there is no evidence to support the belief.  Reporters and Democrats were not the only ones scratching their heads, Senator Lindsey Graham was quoted, “share with us the information you have about this or please stop saying it."

Censorship is alive and well:

“Climate change” was removed from the EPA’s website. The EPA communications team was told to remove the website's climate change page, which contains links to scientific global warming research, as well as detailed data on emissions according to Reuters. But don’t worry, there is an AltUSNatParkService where they pinned “You can take our official twitter, but you can’t take our free time.”

“LGBT” “Civil Rights” and “Health Care” were all removed the White House website the day of Inauguration. 

HHS, EPA, Dept. of Interior, Dept of Ag. have been told to limit communication with the public. White House is looking into this.

[districtdaily]

Global Gag Rule Reinstated

On January 23, 2017, He Who Must Not Be Named issued more Presidential Memoranda. To be clear, there is not much of a difference between an Executive Order and Presidential Memoranda, both have force of law on the Executive branch. His memoranda included :

Federal Hiring Freeze. The federal government will have to make due with less. Contractors are not to be hired.

Mexico City Policy (Global Gag Rule) Reinstated. According to the Atlantic, the rule prohibits foreign organizations that receive U.S. family-planning funds “from providing counseling or referrals for abortion or advocating for access to abortion services in their country.” 72 hours into the presidency and abortion is being threatened.

Abandoned Trans-Pacific Partnership. Upended a traditional bi-partisan agreement with 12 nations for global trade. “Declared an end to the era of multinational trade agreements that defined global economics for decades” according to the New York Times.

It should also be noted that Pope Francis conducted an interview where he warned about populist leaders, like Adolf Hitler. He did not specifically mention He Who Must Not Be Named by name.

[districtdaily]

“Alternative Facts”

On January 21, 2017, controversy peaked as to just how large the 2017 inauguration crowd was after a side by side comparison of crowds in 2013 and 2017 circulated. The White House, in their first press conference, decided to weigh in on the issue:

Press Secretary Sean Spicer, “This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration — period — both in person and around the globe.” The New York Times reported, “There is no evidence to support this claim.” Memes and hashtags were created #SeanSpicerFacts 

“Alternative Facts.” Kellyanne Conway went on Meet the Press to explain Mr. Spicer’s remarks. NBC Chuck Todd replied "Alternative facts are not facts. They are falsehoods.” Thus, another hashtag was born #alternativefacts and twitter had a field day.

It’s worth mentioning that the Women’s March on Washington also took place on January 21, drawing a crowd 3x the size according to the New York Times.

[districtdaily]

Inauguration Day

On January 20, 2017, He Who Must Not Be Named was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. Before the day was over the following occurred: 

The 18 minute Inaugural Address had to be fact checked. Washington Post conducted a fact check. Also worth noting he used the phrase “American carnage” when describing the country’s status.

He Possibly violated the Presidential Records Act.  He deleted a tweet where he misspelled “honered” according to US News.

Signed an Executive Order to begin repealing back the Affordable Care Act. CBS reported the Order instructed the agencies to minimize the burden of President Obama’s signature accomplishment.