Progressive..

 

In announcing his move from Seattle to Miami, Jeff Bezos has become the latest of a long procession of prominent business icons and celebrities to abandon blue state for red state America. As the man who built the trillion dollar tech behemoth Amazon, he is now the wealthiest American to flee to a low tax state. 

Washington state was, until recently, the only blue state with no income tax. For many years it also had no inheritance or capital gains tax. This light taxation on business investment and income contributed to Washington becoming one of the fastest growing states and a mecca for world-class businesses a list that includes Microsoft, Amazon, Costco and Starbucks.

But that’s all ended. Progressives in Seattle took charge and started their relentless "soak the rich" campaign.  This started with the state adopting a death tax that can reach 19% for millionaires and billionaires.  That’s one of the highest rates in the nation - all for the privilege of dying in Washington.  That is something Jeff Bezos has decided he will not do. 

Journalist..

 

Israel’s assault on Gaza has resulted in a mounting death toll among journalists and their families in the region.
According to tracking from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 31 reporters have been confirmed dead since the fighting began on Oct. 7. Twenty-six Palestinian journalists have been killed, as well as four Israelis and one Lebanese member.

“CPJ emphasizes that journalists are civilians doing important work during times of crisis and must not be targeted by warring parties,” said Sherif Mansour, the CPJ Middle East and North Africa program coordinator, in a statement to Yahoo News. “Journalists across the region are making great sacrifices to cover this heartbreaking conflict. Those in Gaza, in particular, have paid, and continue to pay, an unprecedented toll and face exponential threats. Many have lost colleagues, families and media facilities, and have fled seeking safety when there is no safe haven or exit.”Israel’s assault on Gaza has resulted in a mounting death toll among journalists and their families in the region.

According to tracking from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 31 reporters have been confirmed dead since the fighting began on Oct. 7. Twenty-six Palestinian journalists have been killed, as well as four Israelis and one Lebanese member.

“CPJ emphasizes that journalists are civilians doing important work during times of crisis and must not be targeted by warring parties,” said Sherif Mansour, the CPJ Middle East and North Africa program coordinator, in a statement to Yahoo News. “Journalists across the region are making great sacrifices to cover this heartbreaking conflict. 

Those in Gaza, in particular, have paid, and continue to pay, an unprecedented toll and face exponential threats. Many have lost colleagues, families and media facilities, and have fled seeking safety when there is no safe haven or exit.”
Biden" Israel has the right to..."

Stalemate..

 

Igor Zhovka, the deputy head of Zelensky’s office, on Saturday condemned an assessment by Ukraine’s military chief that the war with Russia is at a “stalemate,” deepening a feud in Kyiv which has heightened nerves about Western support for the conflict.

He was responding to an interview with military chief Valery Zaluzhny, who told The Economist that “we have reached the level of technology that puts us into a stalemate” and “there will most likely be no deep and beautiful breakthrough” in the war.

The tensions come at a pivotal moment in the war, with Kyiv’s slow-moving counter-offensive and the outbreak of violence in the Middle East sparking fears that Western financial and military aid could begin to flag.

The overall characterization of the conflict raised eyebrows in Ukraine and made international headlines.  Just a thought.

Deterent..

 

Soul..

 

 President Joe Biden says he believes Russian leader Vladimir Putin is a killer with no soul, and vowed that Putin soon “will pay a price”  ........

On the other hand, in Gaza..

Air action alone cannot eliminate Hamas and it will certainly kill many civilians. 

Cutting off supplies of food, water and electricity is an inhumane tactic that harms innocent people. 

Sending in troops, though, will result in vicious street-to-street fighting that will claim the lives of Israeli soldiers and militants as well as civilians caught in the crossfire.

Right..

 

Hate..

 

“I used to think that hate could be defeated, it could be wiped out. But I learned a long time ago, it can’t. It only hides. It hides. It hides under the rocks. And given any oxygen at all, it comes out. It’s a minority view, but it comes out, and it comes out raging. And it’s been given too much oxygen in the last four, five, seven, 10 years, and it has seen itself, whether it was – I remember spending time at the – you know, going to the – you know, the Tree of Life Synagogue, speaking with the – just –,” Biden said; he didn’t finish the sentence, instead continuing, “It just is amazing these things are happening – happening in America.”

Some are feeding it.  Just a thought.

Books..

 

Expel..

 

Run..

 

Since the start of the war, several Ukrainian officials have blamed their difficulty repelling Russia's invasion on the slow pace of deliveries by its allies.

However, in the Time report, an unnamed source identified as a close aide to President of Ukraine highlighted a different problem.

"We don't have the men to use them," the aide said in reference to the Western weapons.

Although Ukraine doesn't give public figures, Western estimates suggest it has suffered in excess of 100,000 casualties.

Time's report also noted that Ukraine is struggling to stop combat-age men fleeing the country.

Under the current legal regime of martial law, Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 are not supposed to leave.

However, 6,100 fighting-age men have been caught trying to leave with forged documents, State Border Guard spokesman Andriy Demchenko told AFP in September.

Desire for war placed by the leaders on their people who really don't want it.