Biden Administration Considering Sanctioning Chinese Firm Which Was Going to Hire Barbara Boxer as a Lobbyist
[guest post by JVW]
Reported yesterday:
The Biden administration is weighing a move to place sanctions on the Chinese video surveillance firm Hikvision, the Financial Times reported. The move would result in the first designation of a major Chinese tech firm under the Global Magnitsky Act.
The Commerce Department had previously added Hikvision to its export-control blacklist in 2020, over its role in constructing the mass surveillance apparatus used to surveil ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. The video-surveillance trade group IPVM recently published an interview with a Kyrgyz survivor of the Xinjiang camp system alleging that he saw Hikvision-branded cameras in his cell.
Then, last year, the White House designated Hikvision under its Chinese military companies list, which barred U.S. nationals from investing in the company.
The expected move to designate Hikvision under the Global Magnitsky Act will result in its addition to the Treasury Department’s Specially Designated Nationals List, blocking the company’s assets and prohibiting Americans from doing business with it.
I bring up this story because it pertains to a post I wrote almost sixteen months ago, regarding the Trump Administration’s eleventh-hour designation of Beijing’s treatment of the Uighur community as genocide:
So now how does the incoming administration respond? There is little doubt that China will complain about this last-second move and will furiously lobby behind the scenes for it to be rescinded (they tried to hire retired United States Senator Barbara Boxer to work on behalf of the firm who supplies the surveillance equipment used in the internment campus and throughout Xinjiang, but backlash against her registering as a foreign agent for the Chinese Communist Party led her to rather testily pull out of the arrangement). [. . .]
This is just a reminder of what an execrable Senator and truly awful person Barbara Boxer was and is. Unfortunately, not only was her successor no better in office, but she has also been more successful in rising to the top of the Democrat Party sewer. But I suppose the retired Senator can find other work representing the interests of the brutal butchers who run the People’s Republic of China, perhaps as an emissary to Apple, Disney, or the NBA.
– JVW
I’m sorry, America. I know we’re in a close race with New York, Massachusetts, Illinois, and other states, but I’m afraid that we Californians elect the absolute worst people to public office of any state in the union.
JVW (020d31) — 5/5/2022 @ 9:45 am@1. … Making America ‘grate’ again. 😉
“And loving it!” – Maxwell Smart [Don Adams] ‘Get Smart!’ NBC/CBSTV, 1965-70
DCSCA (cfbfd2) — 5/5/2022 @ 9:57 amI think Jane Harmon was pretty good — and really hold it against Nancy Pelosi for pushing her out.
Jim Miller (406a93) — 5/5/2022 @ 10:18 amI think Jane Harmon was pretty good — and really hold it against Nancy Pelosi for pushing her out.
I dunno. She was my Congresswoman. I think you make a good point that her personality conflict with San Fran Nan really derailed her career, but I thought Harman was the typical rich kid who bought a Congressional seat for her own amusement (she really lived with her husband in Washington DC pretty much year-round and her California beach home was more like a vacation home to her). I am told that her office’s constituent service was horrible, though I never used them for anything. And when she resigned her office just three months after winning reelection (and on the heels of her party losing its majority in the House) she stuck the state with something like a $2 million tab to hold a special election to fill her vacated seat. And, I almost forgot, she ran one of the most insipid campaigns for California Governor that I have ever seen. I saw her as really just a political dilettante, largely unserious.
JVW (020d31) — 5/5/2022 @ 11:13 amJVW – I judge Harmon mostly by what Michael Hayden says about her in “Playing to the Edge”, a fine book that I would recommend to almost everyone.
(As far as I can recall, nothing in that book contradicts what you were saying. A person can be a fine legislator, and miserable at constituent service.)
Jim Miller (406a93) — 5/5/2022 @ 12:08 pmFresh fences around the U.S. Supreme Court to keep American citizens away from it but keep the southern border wide open to let illegal aliens break into the USA is okay with Joe, Kamala, Nancy, Chuck, Steny and crew. ‘Attaboys’ all ’round; keep fanning the flames of American Populism, old farts.
… and Putin smiled; Xi just grinned.
DCSCA (28a351) — 5/5/2022 @ 12:23 pmJVW, She was mine, too, before they gerrymandered the area in 2000. Her constituent serve may have been poor, but she beat the doors off of Maxine Waters if you were white.
IIRC, that seat was a swing district, and Harman almost lost in 1994 in a disputed election. The seat was briefly Republican in 1998 (Harman was trying for Governor), but Harman won again in 2000.
The 2000 gerrymander moved a number of whitebread ares into Maxine Waters district, where they were never heard from again.
Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 5/5/2022 @ 12:35 pmAs a legislator, Harman was effective and not particularly partisan. She was just the kind of patrician you would want for the intelligence committee, and her background with Harman[-Kardon] gave her more technical chops than the usual.
Constituent service is primarily a staff job, and if it’s poor that’s a management issue.
Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 5/5/2022 @ 12:39 pmAs a legislator, Harman was effective and not particularly partisan.
It just seemed to me that she was the typical Coastal Los Angeles Democrat who voted with the GOP on defense matters because her district contained Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop, and a whole bunch of other military contractors, and who was favorable towards tax cuts for higher earners because her district was generally pretty wealthy. I can forgive her (somewhat) having all of the trendy social policy views given her constituency, but what rankled me is that she was one of those Dems who thought we could have low tax rates, high defense spending, and a broad-based social welfare system powered by big government bureaucracy. Again, I thought she was something of a dilettante.
Constituent service is primarily a staff job, and if it’s poor that’s a management issue.
To me, a Congressperson’s first priority should be constituent service, and if it is poor then that’s a direct reflection on the member. Harman liked appearing on CNN, Fox, and the other network news programs to opine on various topics, but maybe she should have been spending more time reading emails and letters from the people who deigned that she represent them in Washington (which, come to think of it, was the public employee unions, so maybe she was doing the right thing anyway).
JVW (020d31) — 5/5/2022 @ 1:16 pm@9. It just seemed to me that she was the typical Coastal Los Angeles Democrat who voted with the GOP on defense matters because her district contained Boeing, Lockheed, Northrop, and a whole bunch of other military contractors, and who was favorable towards tax cuts for higher earners because her district was generally pretty wealthy.
Exactly.
DCSCA (cb6078) — 5/5/2022 @ 1:55 pmGOOD! Boxer has gone to the dark side with clintons.
asset (4b223a) — 5/5/2022 @ 2:05 pmKarine Jean-Pierre to replace Jen Psaki as White House press secretary
White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre is replacing Jen Psaki as White House press secretary, President Biden announced Thursday.
Psaki will be leaving the White House on May 13, and her impending departure was expected. Longtime top Democratic adviser Anita Dunn is also returning to the White House as a senior adviser, focusing on the president’s policy and communications goals. – source, CBS News
DCSCA (cb6078) — 5/5/2022 @ 2:11 pmSo, the understudy moves up.
Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 5/5/2022 @ 2:51 pm@13. Karine Jean-Pierre (born August 13, 1977) is an American political campaign organizer, activist, political commentator, and author of Haitian heritage. She has been White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary since 2021. Jean-Pierre served as the chief of staff for Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris on the 2020 United States presidential campaign and was the first Black woman, and the first lesbian, to ever hold that position. She is set to become White House Press Secretary on May 13, 2022, following the expected departure of Jen Psaki.
Previously, Jean-Pierre was the senior advisor and national spokeswoman for MoveOn.org and a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC. She is also a former lecturer in international and public affairs at Columbia University. -wikibio
Her big plus is she essentially has no real world living knowledge of the Carter Administration to compare the current hell to.
… and Jimmy smiled.
DCSCA (cb6078) — 5/5/2022 @ 3:00 pm“the current hell”? Well, I suppose one could say that if they were “Czar” Putin, or one of his faithful followers, with more than 1 million Russians dead of COVID, the collapsing Russian economy, educated young people fleeing, the revival of NATO, and the defeats in Ukraine.
But not from the American point of view.
Jim Miller (406a93) — 5/5/2022 @ 3:39 pmMassachusetts in a landslide, JVW. No republicans in sight.
mg (8cbc69) — 5/5/2022 @ 3:50 pm@16. But not from the American point of view.
Pfft: from CNN no less:
CNN Poll: View of Nation’s Economy Is the Worst It’s Been Since 2011
Another award for Biden’s trophy case of malaise
https://www.uspresidentialelectionnews.com/2022/05/cnn-poll-view-of-nations-economy-is-the-worst-its-been-since-2011/
“Hello Parson, welcome to Hell!” – Ben Rumson [Lee Marvin] ‘Paint Your Wagon’ 1969
DCSCA (eafae0) — 5/5/2022 @ 4:45 pm^15.
DCSCA (eafae0) — 5/5/2022 @ 4:46 pmU.S. provided intelligence that helped Ukraine sink Russian warship
The United States provided Ukraine with intelligence that helped Kyiv attack and sink the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, the Moskva, in one of the most dramatic battlefield successes of the 71-day old war, according to people familiar with the matter.
The missile strike by Ukrainian forces in April, an extraordinary embarrassment for the Kremlin that deprived Russia of a key vessel in its military campaign, may not have been possible without the U.S. assistance, these people said, underscoring how deeply Washington has become enmeshed in Ukraine’s fight against Russia. It is unclear how many Russian sailors died in the attack, but U.S. officials believe there were significant casualties.- WaPo.com
This ain’t the Falklands, Joey; Too bad nuclear power Russia isn’t Aregentina and Ukraine isn’t like NATO member UK, Scranton Boy… or is it Wilmington this week:
‘Declassified cables show the U.S. felt that Thatcher had not considered diplomatic options, and also feared that a protracted conflict could draw the Soviet Union on Argentina’s side, and initially tried to mediate an end to the conflict through “shuttle diplomacy”. However, when Argentina refused the U.S. peace overtures, U.S. Secretary of State Alexander Haig announced that the United States would prohibit arms sales to Argentina and provide material support for British operations. Both houses of the U.S. Congress passed resolutions supporting the U.S. action siding with the United Kingdom.
The U.S. provided the United Kingdom with 200 Sidewinder missiles for use by the Harrier jets, eight Stinger surface to air missile systems, Harpoon anti-ship missiles and mortar bombs. On Ascension Island, the underground fuel tanks were empty when the British Task Force arrived in mid-April 1982 and the leading assault ship, HMS Fearless, did not have enough fuel to dock when it arrived off Ascension. The United States diverted a supertanker to replenish the fuel tanks of ships there at anchor as well as for storage tanks on the island – approximately 2 million gallons of fuel were supplied. The Pentagon further committed to providing additional support in the event of the war dragging on into the southern hemisphere winter: in this scenario the U.S. committed to providing tanker aircraft to support Royal Air Force missions in Europe, releasing RAF aircraft to support operations over the Falklands.
The United States allowed the United Kingdom to use U.S. communication satellites to allow secure communications between submarines in the Southern Ocean and Naval HQ in Britain. The U.S. also passed on satellite imagery (which it publicly denied[182]) and weather forecast data to the British Fleet.
President Ronald Reagan approved the Royal Navy’s request to borrow a Sea Harrier-capable Iwo Jima-class amphibious assault ship (the US Navy had earmarked USS Guam (LPH-9) for this[184]) if the British lost an aircraft carrier. The United States Navy developed a plan to help the British man the ship with American military contractors, likely retired sailors with knowledge of the ship’s systems.’ -source, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklands_War#United_States
DCSCA (9c4516) — 5/5/2022 @ 5:23 pmWaht do Americans say about jobs? That they are easy to find:
And about helping Ukraine? That they are in favor of it, even if it costs them at the pump:
The incompetent in the Kremlin is uniting Americans, and the West, against his brutal war.
Jim Miller (406a93) — 5/5/2022 @ 5:30 pmThe Kamala Dump is coming. They’re setting her up. Just listen to the self-righteous protestations of this cranky, crusty, old Birkenstock feminist with more miles on her than Voyager 2:
DCSCA (27ca4c) — 5/5/2022 @ 9:27 pmHillary Clinton on what happens if Roe v. Wade is overturned: “You have no idea who they will come for next” – CBS News
The GOP best be on alert; the positioning is happening; the rhetoric resounding. The party would wekcome her in a heartbeat over Kamala. The stink of one Last Hurrah is rising…
It’s gonna be Joe Biden/Hillary Clinton 2024 vs. Donald Trump and TBD VP. [LBJ took the second spot w/JFK in ’60 to the surprise of his Senate colleagues.] Voters vote for the top of the ticket and she won’t have to drudge and stump through the primaries– and should they win, Joe resigns due to health and age issues— and Hillary waltzes into the POTUS gig. If they lose, the loss is all on Joe. But remember, HRC got more of the popular vote than Trump did. You heard it here first. The Kamala Dump is in work.
“Don’t be silly. You’re taking the fall.” – Sam Spade [Humphrey Bogart] ‘The Maltese Falcon’ 1941
Massachusetts in a landslide, JVW. No republicans in sight.
The Bay State’s governor might disagree with you. I know he’s no Ronald Reagan, but he’s a damn sight better than the horrid Gavin Newsom.
JVW (020d31) — 5/5/2022 @ 9:40 pmThe Democrats aren’t going to dump a black woman for a white woman.
Bidenoptics.
norcal (3f02c4) — 5/5/2022 @ 9:42 pmOpen thread is coming tomorrow, guys. Don’t go jumping the gun.
JVW (020d31) — 5/5/2022 @ 9:55 pmGovna Baker makes mittens look like Reagan!
mg (8cbc69) — 5/6/2022 @ 1:56 amand Mittens made Ed King look like Trump
urbanleftbehind (27e6a7) — 5/6/2022 @ 4:53 amIt’s gonna be Joe Biden/Hillary Clinton 2024 vs. Donald Trump and TBD VP. [LBJ took the second spot w/JFK in ’60 to the surprise of his Senate colleagues.]
Factory Working Orphan (2775f0) — 5/6/2022 @ 5:10 amBesides the fact that Joe and Hunter would have to start figuring out ways to avoid tragic, unexplained deaths if this happened, the 1960 team was just a continuation of a longstanding Dem policy of nominating a northeastern or midwest liberal with a Dixiecrat VP to keep the South locked in. That kind of localist strategy really stopped being viable, for both parties, after Gore lost Tennessee in 2000.
I highly doubt Dems really want Hillary running any more than the Republicans do at this point. They have plenty of front groups now like BLM to use for fundraising ops, which was really the Clintons’ bread and butter and why they maintained power for so long. Also, the party is fully Obama’s creature at this point, and he isn’t going to let that power-thirsty hag poke her nose back in the tent for one last run when she no longer has anything left to offer.
The incompetent in the Kremlin is uniting Americans, and the West, against his brutal war.
Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 5/6/2022 @ 9:27 am“I remain a master Strategist”
—Darth Putin
Funny dissing of Russia.
Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 5/6/2022 @ 9:33 amhttps://twitter.com/i/status/1522562747824758786
The Democrats aren’t going to dump a black woman for a white woman.
Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 5/6/2022 @ 9:34 amThey are literally “superficial.”
Open thread is coming tomorrow, guys. Don’t go jumping the gun.
Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 5/6/2022 @ 9:36 amWe want it NOW! NOW!
@JVW Not trying to start a ruckus with you! 😉
whembly (7e0293) — 5/6/2022 @ 9:43 amSee this:
https://twitter.com/JuddLegum/status/1522563650724282368
THIS. Is the result we’re wanting as an outcome to Florida’s crackdown on Disney.
I’m interested if you’d want to revisit your stance in opposing the dynamic surrounding Florida’s reaction to Disney.
Interesting analysis of Russia’s deteriorating economic position from, of all places, al-Jazeera.
Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 5/6/2022 @ 9:44 amhttps://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2022/5/5/the-kremlin-blinks-first-in-the-geo-economic-war-over-ukraine
THIS. Is the result we’re wanting as an outcome to Florida’s crackdown on Disney.
Fair enough. Though I don’t think we can be certain that revoking the special district status was necessary for making these corporate marketing folks understand that wading into the culture wars consistently on the progressive side was a bad idea. As I said then, Florida had already won the battle against Disney; revoking the special district seemed to me to be cutting down the nets after a regular-season game.
JVW (020d31) — 5/6/2022 @ 11:39 am@27. You miss the point. Their status quo ticket is doomed. Experienced Senate leader LBJ wanted the top spot; vied for it at the convention w/JFK and was denied. But still abandoned his cozy Senate perch for to walk in JFKs shadow. Circumstances led him into the top spot but he would have tried for it after a JFK ter[s] as is.
DCSCA (2ecb41) — 5/6/2022 @ 11:59 amHillary wants to be president; believes she should be; has been vindicated by a popular vote count. And the media is on her side.
The #2 spot w/Joe is now hers for the asking “for the good of the party and country” given the doomed laughing and laughable Kamala’s incompetent job performance. And if you don’t believe this was broached over Bubba’s lunch w/Joey this week, there’s a bridge to Brooklyn priced just right with your name on it.
@34
whembly (7e0293) — 5/6/2022 @ 12:53 pm“Fair enough. Though I don’t think we can be certain that revoking the special district status was necessary for making these corporate marketing folks understand that wading into the culture wars consistently on the progressive side was a bad idea. As I said then, Florida had already won the battle against Disney; revoking the special district seemed to me to be cutting down the nets after a regular-season game.
JVW (020d31) — 5/6/2022 @ 11:39 am”
Except, I disagree with your premise that Florida had already won the battle against Disney prior to revoking the special district. Disney was on record that they’d would actively campaign against this bill and spend money to elect legislature to overturn it.
Without putting Disney’s special district on the table, I don’t Disney would’ve changed their behavior, nor do I think there would be momentum that would cause those PR firms to recommend other companies to stay out of non-related hot political issues.
Florida only won when the legislature exacted a price for Disney’s non-business related advocacy. That’s when you know Florida legislature and DeSantis’ tactic fully “won” the issue. And this PR firm’s recommendation for other companies to stay out of non-business related advocacy confirms that imo.
But still abandoned his cozy Senate perch for to walk in JFKs shadow.
Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 5/6/2022 @ 1:10 pmThen that luck in Dallas!
Florida, having reminded corporations that they don’t run things yet, will quietly find a way to walk that law back. Probably by losing some court case before a “liberal judge.”
Kevin M (eeb9e9) — 5/6/2022 @ 1:11 pm