Bernie Sanders drops out of 2020 presidential race

Bernie Sanders dropped out of the Democratic primary race

Sen. Bernie Sanders dropped out of the Democratic primary race Wednesday, paving the way for Joe Biden to be officially declared the party’s nominee.

Addressing supporters in a livesteam, the self-described Democratic socialist, 78, said the decision to suspend his presidential campaign was “difficult and painful” but he understood there was no path forward.

Still, he said, he will stay on the ballot in the remaining primary states to push his ideological agenda at the Democratic National Convention.

The announcement comes after the former vice president trounced the Vermont independent in three primaries.

It also comes as the nation grapples with the coronavirus pandemic and growing calls for primaries to be postponed to avoid big social gatherings, especially with no clear path to victory left for Sanders.

Biden defeated Sanders in Florida, Illinois and Arizona last month and holds a large delegate lead, 1,217 to Sanders’ 914.

A candidate needs to gather 1,991 delegates to be nominated at July’s Democratic National Convention.

The senator’s campaign looked all but finished when he suffered a heart attack on the campaign trail in October.

But Sanders stayed in the race and became the front-runner after a series of razor-thin victories in the early states of Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

However, Sanders lost his large lead when the Democratic Party rapidly coalesced against the self-described Democratic socialist outsider in early March to boost Biden’s ailing campaign.

Biden, 77, made a pitch to Sanders’ supporters during a livestreamed speech last month after thumping the Vermont senator in the last round of primaries, forecasting the fate of his upstart campaign.

“Sen. Sanders and I may disagree on tactics, but we share a common vision for the need to provide affordable health care for all Americans, reduce income inequality that has risen so drastically, to tackling the existential threat of our time, climate change,” he said.

“Sen. Sanders and his supporters have brought a remarkable passion and tenacity to all of these issues. Together, they have shifted the fundamental conversation in this country,” Biden added.

“So let me say, especially to the young voters who have been inspired by Sen. Sanders: I hear you. I know what’s at stake. I know what we have to do.”

Source New York Post

Trump’s press secretary Stephanie Grisham steps down: White House

Stephanie Grisham,  who never held a single press briefing in the White House
stepped down Tuesday.                                                                                         

President Donald Trump's chief spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham, who never held a single press briefing in a White House where Trump runs much of the communications himself, stepped down Tuesday.

The White House said Grisham would now work solely for Trump's wife Melania.

"First Lady Melania Trump is today announcing that Stephanie Grisham will be rejoining the East Wing full time as chief of staff and spokesperson," a statement said.

A replacement as White House press secretary will be announced in "the coming days," Grisham said.

Grisham took up the once high profile job in June last year but has been largely invisible, amid Trump's relentless campaign against what he considers unfairly critical journalists.

Grisham's departure could also signal the start of a wider personnel shake-up by Trump's new chief of staff Mark Meadows.

Meadows is the fourth person in that crucial job while Grisham was the third press secretary, having taken over from Sarah Sanders.

The longtime presidential tradition of daily West Wing press briefings held by the press secretary all but died under Sanders, who had a combative relationship with most journalists covering the White House.

Under Grisham, not a single such event took place, largely reflecting her boss' transformation of presidential public relations and his tempestuous relationship with the media.

Most of her public appearances took place in the shape of softball interviews on Fox News, which increasingly serves as the White House's conduit for getting its message to the country.

Trump tweets daily, sometimes well over a dozen times a day, putting out everything from random thoughts on politics to announcing major policies or personnel changes.

He also gives lengthy, frequent interviews to openly loyal hosts on Fox News.

But unlike previous presidents, he takes frequent questions from White House journalists before flying on the Marine One helicopter or during what used to be drama-free photo opportunities in the Oval Office.

Ironically, the abandoned White House briefing room has been given new life by Trump himself during the coronavirus crisis.

He now appears at the podium daily for marathon question and answer sessions.

During the briefings Trump is not accompanied by his press advisors and largely runs the events himself, choosing which reporters will speak and commenting on the supposed fairness of their questions.

Trump has made lashing out at journalists a pillar of his political brand, regularly calling reporters "fake" or "disgraceful" or "second rate" before television audiences of millions.

At his campaign rallies, he routinely encourages the large crowds to turn and boo the small group of journalists covering the event.

(Source: AFP)

UK Prince Harry says Trump is one of the 'sick people' running the world

Britain’s Prince Harry has blasted US President Donald Trump
during a hoax call from prankster  ...                                                

Britain’s Prince Harry has blasted US President Donald Trump during a hoax call from pranksters, saying the US leader has "blood on his hands" and is one of the "sick people" running the world, according to British media.

Russian hoaxers impersonating Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg and her father, Svante, telephoned the prince on two separate occasions earlier this year at his luxury home in Vancouver Island, Canada, according to The Sun newspaper.

The two phone conversations between Harry and Russian hoaxers Vladimir Kuznetsov and Alexey Stolyarov took place on New Year's Eve and January 22, according to the British newspaper.

Harry reportedly slammed Trump for his environmental policies, stating, "I think the mere fact that Donald Trump is pushing the coal industry is so big in America, he has blood on his hands." 

"Unfortunately the world is being led by some very sick people so the people like yourselves and younger generation are the ones that are going to make all the difference," he added.

Harry also told the fake Greta that she could "outsmart" the US president.

Greta has been asked to speak at several high-profile events, including at the United Nations (UN) and the US Congress, to urge immediate action against what she describes as a global climate crisis.

Back in December, the 16-year-old activist said talking to Trump at the UN Climate Change Summit in September would have been a waste of time since he would not have paid any attention.

Trump has dismissed climate change and is pulling the United States out of the 2015 Paris Agreement on global warming. Trump ridiculed the teenage activist in December after she was named Time magazine’s Person of the Year for 2019.

Trudeau says government will warn against international travel and tighten border to stop spread of COVID-19

Prime minister's wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, has tested positive for coronavirus

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is speaking to Canadians about the spread of COVID-19. Earlier today he said the federal government is considering closing the border to some international travellers. 0:00

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government will warn Canadians against all international travel and is considering tightening the border to some international travellers.

During an interview with Radio-Canada's Montreal morning show on Friday, Trudeau said the government is not closing the door to any idea and is assessing the situation on a day-to-day basis.

Asked if the government will close the Canadian border, Trudeau said: "We are in the midst of looking at this."

"We're in the midst of evaluating day-to-day what to do," he said. 

"As you've seen, there are recommendations not to travel outside of Canada. We're in the midst of co-ordinating with the Americans, obviously, on our borders, on our actions. We'll continue to evaluate what we can do and how we can keep Canadians in security and we won't close the door on any idea."

Federal ministers and health officials are providing an update on Canada's response at 11:30 a.m. ET. CBCNews.ca is carrying it live.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday evening that the U.S. was banning travellers from most parts of Europe, the same day the World Health Organization declared the global outbreak a pandemic.

The State Department also issued a global health advisory cautioning U.S. citizens to "reconsider travel abroad" due to COVID-19.

There are now 160 presumed or confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Canada. Trudeau is in self-isolation at home because his wife, Sophie, has tested positive.

Trudeau also said the government is looking at a set of common national guidelines to limit the spread of the coronavirus across the country.

On CBC Radio's The Current, Trudeau said the government will make a recommendation to Canadians not to travel internationally right now. An announcement on that will likely come later today, he said.

Trudeau said the government is also considering income-support measures to ensure people aren't worried about money when concerned about their own health and the health of their loved ones.

"We're going to be putting in place measures to support people to make sure that they can make ends meet, that they can focus on their families while we're going through a very difficult time economically," he told host Matt Galloway.

Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam confirmed that Canada is now advising against all international travel to limit the spread of the virus. She warned that travellers could be subject to another country's travel or quarantine restrictions, and if they become sick, could be in a health care system that is inferior to Canada's system.

On the border, Trudeau said steps that have been taken to date have "worked quite well" in limiting the number of cases; additional measures may now be required.

Reportage de HCN sur les manifestations du 4 octobre 2019 en Haïti

Haïti : les enjeux de la sortie de crise

Par:Louis Naud Pierre, Ph.D.
 
Haïti vit actuellement la plus grande crise de son histoire. Pour la surmonter, des propositions se multiplient. Leur point commun est l’établissement d’un lien de cause à effet entre : la défaillance personnelle des tenants du pouvoir actuels et le dysfonctionnement des institutions publiques, produisant la crise. La solution proposée est le départ de ces derniers et l’organisation d’une Conférence nationale. Le reste est un ensemble de formules qui se retrouvent déjà dans les divers documents-cadres de développement d’Haïti adoptés par l’État.

L’idée qui sera développée ici est la suivante : la crise actuelle est une crise de l’intégration et de la régulation de la société dont la structure de base, la Fanmi, se désorganise (Vieux S. H., 2007). Cette désorganisation consiste en une perte d’influence des valeurs et des règles du droit coutumier sur les attitudes des individus qui cherchent satisfaction à leurs désirs de biens rares que sont l’argent, le pouvoir et la gloire dans un monde de compétition sans foi ni loi autre que celle du plus fort et du plus impitoyable. Les institutions – comme l’école, l’entreprise, la religion et l’État, avec son cadre constitutionnel et légal –  destinées à intégrer les individus dans ce monde et à y réguler leurs rapports, ont été détournées de leur fonction. Elles ont été transformées par une élite néo-esclavagiste et cupide en ressources pour aliéner, puis exploiter une population totalement zombifiée. La prégnance de l’esprit d’hostilité empêche les individus –  qui souffrent de l’enfer inhérent à cette crise – de s’engager dans une discussion éthique en vue d’articuler les valeurs et les règles du droit coutumier avec celles du cadre constitutionnel et légal étatique et de se les approprier.

Louis Naud Pierre, Ph.D.
Sociologue/IDES.

Les Réflexions de Père Jean-Miguel Auguste sur l'Avenir d'Haïti.

Père Jean-Miguel Auguste 

Annoncée pour le début du mois de juillet, la note des Secteurs des affaires et des syndicats, est enfin publiée ce lundi 29 juillet, lors d'une conférence de presse. 

Mr Bernard Craan, représentant du Forum Économique du secteur privé, a crâné face aux caméras des médias. Les atermoiements, hésitations et imprécisions du document expliquaient, en partie, son manque d'aisance. Quelques heures plus tard, M René Momplaisir, du Secteur Populaire, a donné courageusement des précisions sur le triple objectif visé par les entités signataires : la démission et le départ du Président Jovenel Moise du pouvoir et son replacement par une personnalité issue d’un consensus.

D'entrée de jeu, j'ai trouvé que le document manquait de "punchs" et qu'il avait raté une échéance cruciale.

Ils ont attendu trop longtemps pour le publier. Ainsi ont-ils raté le timing. Ce document aurait du être publié quelques jours avant l'anniversaire des émeutes du 6 au 8 juillet de l'année dernière. Il aurait eu un tout autre impact politique et une bien meilleure réception par la population. 

De plus, j'avais suggéré à un ami initiateur qui m'avait mis au parfum, de le faire endosser et signer également par les nouvelles personnalités émergentes de la Société Civile qui, par leurs prises de position verbale ou épistolaire, soutiennent la lutte contre la corruption et promeuvent la Rupture avec la mauvaise gouvernance, l'amateurisme et l'injustice sociale. Il n'en fût rien. 

Le timing joue toujours un rôle important et déterminant dans la réussite de tout projet. À l'ignorer, les risques d'échec ne peuvent qu'augmenter. On est presque assuré d'échouer. 

Toutefois, pour que ce Document puisse être accepté et servir de base à un grand et vrai débat national, malgré ses diverses insuffisances, il faudrait qu'il reçoive l'appui de certaines organisations telles que les grandes confessions religieuses, les associations professionnelles, patronales et paysannes, les mouvements de jeunes, les leaders naturels et communautaires, les leaders politiques spécialement ceux de l'opposition radicale et  la Diaspora, bien que cette dernière ne soit nulle part mentionnée dans le document. 

Pour ma part, tout ce qui peut permettre de nous mettre ensemble est bien venu et peut servir à initier la Rupture.

Enfin si ce document, malgré ses faiblesses,  maladresses et  imperfections, peut servir de point de départ à une discussion sérieuse, crédible et honnête menant à une solution politique durable et profitable pour Haïti et pour tout le monde, ne ratons pas à nouveau le train. 

Dans des Réflexions antérieures, j'ai toujours encouragé les Secteurs économiques du Pays à accompagner le peuple Haïtien dans ses justes revendications. Aussi, cette première est une excellente initiative du Forum Économique, de l'Association des Industries d'Haïti et de la Chambre Franco-Haïtienne de Commerce et d'Industrie. Que tous ces membres du patronat puissent s'associer à la Coordination Syndicale Haïtienne, à la Centrale Nationale des Ouvriers Haïtiens, à la Confédération des Travailleurs Haïtiens et au Secteur Populaire Haïtien semble augurer positivement pour l'avenir. Mais cette collaboration entre des Secteurs à vocations différentes et à tendances plus souvent divergentes n'est pas suffisante. Pour réussir et déboucher sur quelque chose de vraiment nouveau, elle doit se transformer en une Alliance stratégique, seule capable de déjouer les plans macabres des hommes du PHTK pour se perpétuer au pouvoir, avec la complicité d'une partie de la bourgeoise et de la communauté internationale.

A cette phase du débat, toute erreur, toute trahison, toute discorde, toute désunion des groupes progressifs pour l'émancipation du peuple Haïtien, est périlleuse et suicidaire. Le moment de changer le cours de notre histoire est venu.

Sur cette terre de Dessalines, de Soulouque, de Dumarsais Estimé, donnons un nouveau souffle à notre destin de Nègres- Boussoles de liberté, de dignité et fierté.  Comme eux, nous devons toujours préférer la mort à la servitude, la solidarité des peuples à leur humiliation, la liberté et l'égalité pour tous à la ségrégation et aux vexations de tout genre. La vision d'une Haïti prospère et moderne est possible pour tous ceux et celles qui choisissent la Rupture ou la Révolution en lieu et place de la misère à laquelle les forces rétrogrades et de corruption, les receveurs de diktats et les mollusques de tous poils ont condamné la grande majorité des citoyennes et citoyens de ce pays. Une autre Haïti est possible.

Elle commence aujourd'hui, avec vous qui me lisez, si vous avez encore un peu de coeur et que vous aimez toujours sincèrement et viscéralement ce Pays.

Père Jean-Miguel Auguste

+13473378954

+50937470865

miguelnov19@gmail.com