Congress Against the World

US reportedly may abstain from UN vote condemning Cuba embargo

Summary - After 54 years of isolation the embargo placed on Cuba from the U.S might possibly be lifted. The UN vote for the lift in the embargo could be in a month, following four administration officials who weren't allowed to speak on the matter hinted at the unprecedented abstention of the U.S for the vote. Obama has had his mind set on the embargo lift since last December and been acting on it for the last few months, announcing that Washington and Havana would normalize diplomatic relations, re-opening both countries embassies, and chipping away at U.S restrictions on trade and travel to Cuba. Obama and Castro have been meeting recently talking about the cooperation individually and together they could be take to end the blockade policy for the benefit of both peoples, and though they have not mentioned the UN vote, Cuba will introduce a resolution, as it has for the last 23 years, at the upcoming General Assembly criticizing the embargo and demanding it's end. The U.S has lost each vote by increasing margins with only Israel's support in last year's vote. U.S has not decided how to vote but according to officials the U.S is more likely to vote against the issue rather than abstain. It will mostly rely on what's in the resolution, the resolution will not be pre-judged before it's final.

 Question(s) - President Obama has complete disapproval from Senate, what do you think
 we should do? What are the repercussions if we go through with lifting the embargo?

Why is America viewed as the biggest threat to world peace?

http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/Why-the-US-is-the-Biggest-Threat-to-World-Peace-20150117-0024.html

Summary: Our nation as a whole has always centered it's exceptional history on things that leave our citizens with pride and a patriarchal essence. Roughly 405,000 people have been killed as a result of the violence and infrastructure damage of the U.S.-led War in Iraq. The U.S. leads the world in military spending, with more than $7.6 trillion spent on the military and homeland security since 9/11. The rise of ISIS in Iraq has been traced to the US war in the country. In an article on ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the New York Times explained, “At every turn, Mr. Baghdadi’s rise has been shaped by the United States’ involvement in Iraq – most of the political changes that fueled his fight, or led to his promotion, were born directly from some American action.” Almost every current issue within and out of our nation has rooted back to the United States in some way. war crimes and military industrial complex are consistently propped up by the concept of U.S. exceptionalism. These bullets and beliefs make the U.S. the biggest threat to world peace. 

This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address: 
 "http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/Why-the-US-is-the-Biggest-Threat-to-World-Peace-20150117-0024.html". If you intend to use it, please cite the source and provide a link to the original article. www.teleSURtv.net/english

This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address: 
 "http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/Why-the-US-is-the-Biggest-Threat-to-World-Peace-20150117-0024.html". If you intend to use it, please cite the source and provide a link to the original article. www.teleSURtv.net/english

This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address: 
 "http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/Why-the-US-is-the-Biggest-Threat-to-World-Peace-20150117-0024.html". If you intend to use it, please cite the source and provide a link to the original article. www.teleSURtv.net/english

This content was originally published by teleSUR at the following address: 
 "http://www.telesurtv.net/english/opinion/Why-the-US-is-the-Biggest-Threat-to-World-Peace-20150117-0024.html". If you intend to use it, please cite the source and provide a link to the original article. www.teleSURtv.net/english

Kim Davis Loses Another Bid to Stall Gay-Marriage Case

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/kim-davis-loses-bid-stall-gay-marriage-case-33991752

Date: 10/24/15

Summary: After a federal judge gave Kim Davis a mandate to license all couples that are eligible for marriage after she defied him, she has been working to stall it, asking the judge to postpone the mandate. She had been in jail for 5 days after refusing to give marriage licenses, despite the recent legalization of gay marriage. While in jail, her deputies began to issue licenses to the couples who had been denied licenses and sued Davis with the American Civil Liberties Union, omitting Davis' information on the documents. Despite numerous appeals over the mandate by Davis saying that she shouldn't have to issue more licenses since the couples who sued her had received licenses, they were all rejected, whether on technicalities or based on the fact that it what she was asking for would deny the right of all eligible couples to get married. The  American Civil Liberties Union is also asking the district judge to make Davis reissue the licenses due to doubt over their validity. 

Question(s): Do you think that the judge should force Davis to reissue the licenses that may be invalid? Does the judge have the power to mandate Davis to license all couples? 

Appeals court reverses ruling that found NSA program illegal

Link - http://www.cbsnews.com/news/appeals-court-reverses-ruling-that-found-nsa-program-illegal/

Date- 8/28/2015

Summary - A federal appeals court, in a somewhat surprising move, overwhelmingly reversed a lower appeals court decision in May that said the NSA Surveillance Program was excessive.  The NSA program was created following 9/11, but the extent of phone collection was unclear until Edward Snowden's revelations in 2013 that the NSA collected the phone numbers of all calls made and received as well as the length of each call.  In 2013, a US District Judge ruled that collection was likely unconstitutional but allowed the program to continue while under appellate review.  The DC Circuit is the highest appeals court and all three of its judges spoke negatively of the case.  One judge said the government wouldn't provide the necessary information to help the challenge to the program while another judge said the challengers needed to show they were targeted by the surveillance program.

This decision is especially interesting because Congress passed a law in June that phases out the bulk collection of phone records by the NSA, even though the FISA (double secret classified court) court claimed the USA Patriot Act of 2001 allowed the program.  The new law from Congress requires phone companies to keep all phone records and allows the government to search the records without any warrant.  Any further judicial decisions are irrelevant as the program shifts according to the new law, however, big brother will be collecting all phone records until then.

Question (s) - Do you know what the NSA does?  Are you willing to give up some freedoms in order to have more security?  Is the mass collection of phone records worthwhile?

Obama Immigration 2015: Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Lawsuit Dismissed By Court, Citing ‘Unsupported Speculation’

Link - http://www.latintimes.com/obama-immigration-2015-sheriff-joe-arpaios-lawsuit-dismissed-court-citing-unsupported-335464

Date - 8/17/2015

Summary - President Obama announced an Executive Order on immigration in November of 2014.  His 2012 Order dealt with DACA, deferred action on children, in which the INS would not deport children brought illegally before the age of 18.  The 2014 Order dealt with DAPA, deferred action on parents, in which parents who entered illegally, but whose children are citizens, would not be deported.  A notoriously conservative and outspoken sheriff from Phoenix, Joe Arapaio, brought a suit against Obama by claiming DAPA would lead to an increase in crime.  The D.C. District Court of Appeals dismissed the suit, claiming that Arapaio does not have standing in the case, which means he cannot prove injury.  Arapaio's lawyer hopes the U.S. Supreme Court will agree, though the next step is the 5th Circuit Court in New Orleans.  Interestingly, the 5th Circuit is currently deciding a case brought by Texas against Obama for DAPA.  The Texas suit has been granted standing and a federal court issued a ruling in February against Obama's plan.  Texas reasoning was based on the claim immigrants will cost more money for public services, such as driver's licenses.  While the 5th Circuit has not rendered its final ruling, it did rule in May against lifting the hold on DAPA, arguing "public interest favors maintenance of the injunction" against DAPA.

Question(s) - Was Obama within his constitutional powers in implementing an action that is widely popular?  Why did Obama pass this executive order (what does cartoon say)?


By the way, here is a funny video on the bill, I mean executive action.