On Monday, President Donald Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson by tweet. Despite the scores of administration officials who have been ousted, escorted out or simply left, Trump is still managing to make an indelible mark on the federal government, installing scores of conservative judges to lifetime appointments, gutting hard-won regulations and slashing vital social safety net programs. In the same tweet in which he fired Tillerson, he announced two promotions: CIA Director Mike Pompeo would be his new secretary of state, and Deputy CIA Director Gina Haspel would replace Pompeo to head the spy agency.Haspel's career at the CIA spans more than three decades. Her work is shrouded in secrecy, but two things are well known: She ran a CIA "black site" where people were brutally tortured, then she helped cover up the torture through the destruction of videotapes, against presidential orders. These alone should immediately disqualify her for confirmation by the U.S. Senate."Would I … [Read more...] about Amy Goodman and Denis Moynihan: ‘Bloody Gina’ Haspel’s disqualifying record of CIA torture
Arizona vital records
Charles Barkley, Dick Vitale rip into Oklahoma’s selection for NCAA tournament
TBS' NCAA selection show may not have been a hit with viewers Sunday, to say the very least, but one aspect of the telecast that went over well was Charles Barkley's questioning of Oklahoma's inclusion in the tournament. It may not have been a complete shock to see the blunt-spoken Barkley taking issue with the underwhelming at-large selection, but some ESPN viewers might have been surprised to see Dick Vitale, college basketball's foremost cheerleader, expressing even more unhappiness about the Sooners' bid.Each had a different critique of Oklahoma, with Barkley noting the way the Sooners stumbled badly down the stretch and Vitale wondering how they could have been chosen over in-state rival Oklahoma State. While Vitale offered his gripes to ESPN's cameras, Barkley had the opportunity to grill the tournament's selection committee chairman, Bruce Rasmussen.Oklahoma started 14-2 but lost 11 of its final 15 games, including an opening-round loss in the Big 12 tournament, to finish 18-13, … [Read more...] about Charles Barkley, Dick Vitale rip into Oklahoma’s selection for NCAA tournament
Charles Barkley and Dick Vitale rip into Oklahoma’s selection for NCAA tournament
Oklahoma’s Khadeem Lattin celebrates during his team’s watch party for the NCAA selection show. (Sarah Phipps/The Oklahoman via AP) TBS’s NCAA tournament selection show may not have been a hit with viewers Sunday, to say the very least, but one aspect of the telecast that went over well was Charles Barkley’s questioning of Oklahoma’s inclusion in the tournament. It may not have been a complete shock to see the blunt-spoken Barkley taking issue with the underwhelming at-large selection, but some ESPN viewers might have been surprised to see Dick Vitale, college basketball’s foremost cheerleader, expressing even more unhappiness about the Sooners’ bid. Each had a different critique of Oklahoma, with Barkley noting the way the Sooners stumbled badly down the stretch and Vitale wondering how they could have been chosen over in-state rival Oklahoma State. While Vitale offered his gripes to ESPN’s cameras, Barkley had the opportunity to grill … [Read more...] about Charles Barkley and Dick Vitale rip into Oklahoma’s selection for NCAA tournament
NCAA tournament: On Arizona State’s bid, USC’s disappointment, the selection process and the Pac-12’s underlying weakness
By Jon Wilner | [email protected] | Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: March 11, 2018 at 5:23 pm | UPDATED: March 11, 2018 at 5:23 pm As it pertains to the wobbly Pac-12, the NCAA Tournament selection committee got it right … and got it wrong. deserved to make the field ahead of USC. The Sun Devils had a better resume than the Trojans based on the committee’s stated criteria. (You can take issue with the criteria, but that’s another discussion.) However, the committee got it wrong in this regard: USC also should have made the field. The Pac-12 should have gotten four bids: Arizona, the champion, plus UCLA, ASU and USC as at-large entries. Instead, only UCLA and ASU made the field. The Bruins had the strongest resume of the three bubble sitters, followed by ASU and then USC (as explained here Saturday night).But the Trojans deserved to make the at-large field over several teams that squeaked in. Their resume is stronger in key areas than those of St. … [Read more...] about NCAA tournament: On Arizona State’s bid, USC’s disappointment, the selection process and the Pac-12’s underlying weakness
Vital on special teams but forgotten on offense, Jeff Janis must contemplate free-agent options
GREEN BAY — All season long, Jeff Janis bit his tongue and recited in his mind the same mantra.Whatever I can do to help the team, he told himself.And so, even as he continued to be a vital, core player on the Green Bay Packers’ special-teams units but persona non grata on offense, the fourth-year wide receiver never bellyached or complained as others passed him on the depth chart.But while he simply dedicated himself to being the best punt gunner he could be, his buddies back home in Michigan weren't as quiet."They’re a little more opinionated than I am,” Janis said with a smile.Now, as the NFL’s free-agent negotiating window opens on Monday, the Packers must determine just how much value Janis has to them.For while he helped punter Justin Vogel set a franchise record for net punting average (41.6 yards) on 71 punts, Janis played a paltry 50 offensive snaps. Janis wound up catching only two passes all season — a 12-yarder from backup Brett … [Read more...] about Vital on special teams but forgotten on offense, Jeff Janis must contemplate free-agent options