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  • Just How Damaging Can an Intelligence Leak Be? Turns Out, Pretty Damaging

    Samuel Alioto|Updated Mar 16, 2017

    There has been a lot of talk about leaks in Congress and in the White house, so we were wondering just how damaging a leak can be. Both President Donald Trump and Congressional Democrats have accused each other of leaking classified information. Turns out, loose lips really can sink ships, as one congressman proved in 1943. In June 1943, the deficiencies of Japanese depth-charge tactics were stupidly revealed in a press conference held by U.S. Congressman Andrew J. May, a...

  • Donald Trump Made $150 Million in 2005, Paying Taxes of $38 Million That Year.

    Samuel Alioto, Observer Staff Writer|Updated Mar 16, 2017

    When MSNBC's Rachel Maddow tweeted that she is in possession of Donald Trump's 2005 individual tax returns and would reveal them at 9 pm PST, she implied that it was a major story. But nothing Trump's 1040's prove MSNBC's repeated allegations that Trump is unfit to be President. The returns show that Donald Trump paid $38 million on income of $150 million, taking $103 million in legitimate deductions allowed to a person at his tax level and in his businesses. This is a tax...

  • SMCLC Decries Huge City of Santa Monica Luxury Hotel Development at 4th and Arizona Project

    Diana Gordon, SMCLC|Updated Mar 13, 2017
    1

    To ensure a robust environmental analysis, a transparent process, and a project that results in the greatest number of benefits and the least number of harms to Santa Monica's residents and businesses, it is critical that the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) include a reasonable range of alternatives. Well established case law and CEQA regulations clearly spell this out. An EIR must analyze a "reasonable range of alternatives to the project," with an emphasis on altern...

  • American Hospital Association Writes Critical Letter to Congress about The American Health Care Act

    Liz Miller|Updated Mar 12, 2017

    The American Hospital Association is not too happy with the GOP's proposed replacement for the Affordable Care Act (ACA, Obamacare). The American Health Care Act (AHCA) was first presented to the public this week, and almost immediately received bad reviews from both the left and the far right. One problem is that AHCA lacks real dollars and cents budget information. Without coverage estimates in place from the Congressional Budget Office, hospitals can't estimate how much...

  • NPC Protests White House Blackballing of News Orgs; "undemocratic, un-American and unconstitutional"

    Zane|Updated Mar 5, 2017

    Leaders of the National Press Club and the National Press Club Journalism Institute expressed shock Friday about the White House press secretary's decision to keep several news organizations which have written critical stories about President Trump out of one of his briefings. The White House Correspondents Association has protested the move. National Press Club President Jeffrey Ballou issued the following statement: I find it deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable...

  • U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Committed to Safeguarding the Right to Vote

    Zane|Updated Mar 5, 2017

    The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights issued a statement reaffirming its longstanding commitment to safeguarding the right to vote. President Donald Trump has announced his intention to set up a commission to investigate alleged massive voter fraud during the 2016 election. Neither the President nor any credible source has offered evidence to support the claim of widespread fraud. Therefore, we believe a commission would be misleading and an unnecessary diversion of public...

  • Kellyanne Conway on the Couch: "I'm surprised at what qualifies as news these days."

    Observer Staff |Updated Mar 3, 2017
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    Get your feet off the damn couch, Kelly Anne! Screamed Twitter as Kelly Anne Conway was asked to take a picture during President Donald Trump's meeting with the leaders of historically African American colleges. And so another Internet meme was born. On Social media, a debate raged over a photo showing White House adviser Kellyanne Conway’s casual posture while sitting on an Oval Office couch, she stressed to reporters Tuesday that the focus should instead be on the reason s...

  • City of Santa Monica Issues Possibly The Most Boring Press Release Ever, In Human History

    Observer Staff|Updated Mar 2, 2017

    This shocking press release just in from Constance Farrell, the City of Santa Monica's Information Minister. We give Santa Monica City Hall an A+ in Political Correctness. Please don't read it while driving, operating heavy machinery, or taking off from Santa Monica Airport: Santa Monica City Council Adopts Resolution Embracing Diversity and Clarifying the City's Role in Enforcing Federal Immigration Law SANTA MONICA, CA – At its meeting on Tuesday, February 28, 2017, the S...

  • Oprah Winfrey for President in 2020: Donald Trump's Worst Nightmare

    Observer Staff|Updated Mar 2, 2017

    Why would a billionaire even want to be President? All the responsibility, people on the other side politically hate you, secret service agents accompany you to the bathroom and beyond. I wouldn't want it. But Oprah apparently does. Oprah Winfrey may end up running for U.S. President, both inspired by and to challenge President Donald Trump. Her affirmative response to the question of would she run, is a reversal for Winfrey, who in 2015 told "CBS This Morning" she would not...

  • The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights Expresses Concern Over Trump Exec Orders

    Zane|Updated Feb 27, 2017

    By majority vote, the U. S. Commission on Civil Rights has expressed deep concern that recent Executive Orders – in particular, 13768 and 13769 -- promote and endorse religious and national origin discrimination, in contravention of our nation's core principles. Executive Order (EO) 13769 sets out different treatment for persons coming to the United States, and raises the specter of government endorsement of religious and possibly national origin discrimination. The C...

  • Tohono O'odham Nation Releases Video On Its Opposition To Proposed Border Wall

    Zane|Updated Feb 26, 2017

    The Tohono O'odham Nation has released a video, "There's No O'odham Word for Wall," detailing its opposition to the fortified border wall proposed by President Trump's recent Executive Order. The video also reiterates the Nation's commitment to continue working with federal, state and local agencies on border security measures with a proven record of success. The current international border was drawn through the Nation's traditional lands in Arizona and Sonora, Mexico, which...

  • EPA Workers' Union Responds to Scott Pruitt Confirmation

    Zane|Updated Feb 24, 2017

    J. David Cox Sr., national president of the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents more than 9,000 employees at the Environmental Protection Agency, today issued the following statement in response to the Senate's 52-46 vote to confirm Scott Pruitt as EPA Administrator: "As head of the EPA, Scott Pruitt will be responsible for leading the agency's efforts to ensure the safety of our air and water, repair our aging infrastructure of water lines and...

  • Hillary Clinton is Running for President Again, Says Former Bush Speechwriter Matt Latimer

    Stan Greene, Observer Staff|Updated Feb 20, 2017

    She'll be 73 in 2020; a year younger than Bernie Sanders is today. She has millions of diehard fanatical fans who love her. The former First Lady has never deviated from a messianic conviction, that she is destined to be the first female United States President. And she is doing everything one in her position would need to do in order to set up another run for the presidency, says Politico analyst and former GW Bush speechwriter Matt Latimer. Mrs. Clinton's 2020 run is...

  • General Keith Kellogg Named Acting Natl. Security Advisor as Mike Flynn Resigns

    Observer Staff|Updated Feb 16, 2017

    Former General Michael Flynn "Couldn't be 100% certain he hadn't discussed the lifting of sanctions with the Russian Ambassador to the US." So as a consequence, Flynn has resigned as National Security Advisor. As he resigned, many noted his loyalty to president Donald Trump. He was one of Trump's first backers, and led chants of "Lock her up!" at the Republican National Convention in July, 2016 referring of course, to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. "I inadvertently briefe...

  • As 9th Circuit Hears Appeal, LAX Protests Continue to Decry the So-called "Muslim Travel Ban"

    Nancy Kaufman|Updated Feb 9, 2017

    Sat, Feb 4th at Los Angeles International Airport, opponents and backers of President Trump's travel ban exercised their first amendment rights flanked by a team of LA's finest. Even though Federal Judge Robart temporarily suspended the President's executive order banning people from seven majority Muslim countries from entering the US, protesters in Los Angeles , among other cities across the United states, took to the streets for a second weekend in a row to protest Trump's...

  • California Drought Ends, But Controlling Santa Monica Refuses to End Restrictions

    Observer Staff, AP|Updated Feb 9, 2017
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    Sierra Nevada snow drifts are at a drought-busting 173 percent of average, with the most snow recorded since 1995, California water managers said Thursday. State water managers poked rods into drifts as high as tree branches to measure the snowpack. They found far more snow than at the height of California's more than five-year drought, when the measurement was done in almost-bare mountain meadows. "The winter storms across California are a welcome relief from five years of...

  • Catholic and Evangelical Leaders Object to EPA Nominee

    Zane|Updated Feb 7, 2017

    More than 70 Catholic and Evangelical leaders, backed by nearly 500 pro-life Christians from across the country, have written an open letter to President-elect Trump asking him to withdraw the nomination of Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and name someone with a better record of protecting human life from pollution. The full letter is below, along with the names of the 70 faith leaders (to add your name, go to http://www.creationcare.org/). Dear...

  • Evangelical Leaders Send Letter to Trump Condemning Muslim Ban

    Zane|Updated Feb 5, 2017

    A group of Evaqngelical Christian leaders sent a letter to Donald trump on Sunday, January 29, requesting that he allow refugee families resume movement into the United States immediately. They point out that refugees are already extremely well-vetted, and it is a part of Christianity to offer aid to those in need. Many Americans are stunned by the new President's executive order banning entry of nationals from seven different countries. Unlike an Obama order that temporarily...

  • City Approves $141,000,000 City Hall Annex,

    Observer Staff|Updated Feb 3, 2017

    On Tuesday, the Santa Monica City Council unanimously approved a 50,000-square-foot project that will cost $141 million, including finance costs. The excuse given for the extremely high cost ($2820/square foot) is that the building will be "sustainable" and be a candidate to win Green awards. $100 to $200 a foot are common figures for construction estimators. According to Constance Farrell, City Public Information Officer, the building will pay for itself in 30 years and...

  • Spineless Animal Page on Wikipedia Includes Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan

    Observer Staff|Updated Feb 3, 2017

    House Speaker Paul Ryan did not stand up to President Donald Trump on his recent ban of immigrants from 7 majority Moslem countries. As an apparent consequence, he was listed on Wikipedia's Invertebrate page, as one of the world's spineless animals. The page has Ryan listed below Horseshoe Crabs, but above "jellyfish, echinoderms, sponges and other worms." https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Invertebrate&oldid=762135165 Wikipedia has always been characterized by it's...

  • Small City to Erect The Most Expensive Public Building in World History

    David Garden, SM Resident|Updated Jan 24, 2017

    • Proposed building "massing" overhangs the historic City Hall building on the south side as it will project all the way to the sidewalk and disturbs the historically significant streetscape view of City Hall from Main Street. The historic landmark significance of City Hall is being chipped away at bit by bit. A recent example was the removal of the City Hall entrance steps during the construction of Ken Genser Square. • Proposed plans to win the Living Building Challenge (LB...

  • Astonishing Figure: City will spend $141,000,000 to build a 50,000 sft building.

    David Garden, SM Resident|Updated Jan 24, 2017

    Dear Friends and Neighbors, I am writing about my upcoming, January 24th, City Council appeal hearing of the $86 million that is about to be spent on an annex to the backside of the Santa Monica City Hall. The annex is officially being called the, "City Services Building." It is my opinion that this is an exorbitant amount of taxpayer money to be spent for only 50,000 square feet of space and 239 workers. Also, let's not forget that this $86 million will be financed with...

  • President Obama's Parting Letter to the American People

    Liz Miller|Updated Jan 24, 2017

    President Obama penned an emotional letter to the public, published Thursday, in which he thanks us for allowing him to serve as our president, and promises to be with us as American moves into the future. "I'll be right there with you every step of the way ... Yes, we can." These are words that so many Americans, most Americans, have been aching to hear. We miss you already, Mr. President. This is the full text of the Letter: It's a long-standing tradition for the sitting...

  • Obama's Approval Ratings Highest on Record since First Year in Office

    Zane|Updated Jan 24, 2017

    As President Obama passed the torch to President-elect Trump, The Harris Poll took a final look at America's feelings towards his time in office. For the first time since August 2009, just over half of Americans rate President Barack Obama positively. As his two-term Presidency comes to a close, 51% of adults say the President is doing an excellent or pretty good job overall. While Obama's positive ratings have been steadily climbing since March of 2016, this new rating is...

  • Donald Trump Receives Policy Statement from National Council of Churches

    Zane|Updated Jan 22, 2017

    BEFORE THE OATH OF OFFICE IS TAKEN Statement By Major Christian Organizations on President-Elect Trump's Policy Agenda and Political Appointments Washington, D.C., January 6, 2017-As our nation prepares for the Presidential Inauguration, we do so with the lasting residue of a divisive election season and an even more fractured past. Our faith teaches us to be ministers of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:11-21). That is why we urge President-Elect Donald Trump, who has said he...

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