Debbie Wasserman Schultz: just WTF ... by gimleteye

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, in recent years, has been a controversial figure within the Democratic Party and, formerly, a key ally of Hillary Clinton. Still, the congresswoman retains a loyal following in her Broward County district.

Now a bizarre story emerges of an untrustworthy staffer who is alleged to have committed financial crime and computer fraud. Imran Awan was employed by Wasserman Schultz although she had knowledge that he was potentially a threat to national security.

The Miami Herald and National Review reported that a Pakistani national, on Wasserman Schultz' payroll until last week, was arrested for a financial crime. Awan also had computer access to classified information in the House Intelligence Committee.

... take this to the bank: The case of Imran Awan, Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s mysterious Pakistani IT guy, is not about bank fraud. Yet bank fraud was the stated charge on which Awan was arrested at Dulles Airport this week, just as he was trying to flee the United States for Pakistan, via Qatar. ... As you let all that sink in, consider this: Awan and his family cabal of fraudsters had access for years to the e-mails and other electronic files of members of the House’s Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Committees. It turns out they were accessing members’ computers without their knowledge, transferring files to remote servers, and stealing computer equipment — including hard drives that Awan & Co. smashed to bits of bytes before making tracks.

The question, of course, is what else did Awan steal.

This is a big deal because Wasserman Schultz was head of the Democratic National Committee at a time when crippling security breaches were known to have occurred. These breaches, alleged to have been Russian incursions into unsecured computer servers and social media databases, may have cost Hillary Clinton the presidency.

If 2016 told American voters anything, it is that incompetence in computer security is a cardinal political offense. So what the hell is Wasserman Schultz doing, continuing to employ a computer hacker and fraudster in her own office, with access to national security information and, possibly, computer files of other government and political officials?

One has to hope that the FBI was tracking Mr. Awan's online movements, and that Wasserman Schultz was not covering for Awan -- she has publicly stated her concern for racial profiling in this case -- but instead was allowing a robust investigation to proceed.

In the meantime, while Republicans wipe their brow that for a brief minute attention swerves from President Trump, it is still the case that leading Democrats should question how much goodwill is left in the Broward congresswoman's account. And for God's sakes, lock down the computers and servers!

It Broke My Heart: I Did NOT Vote for Debbie Wasserman Schultz because of Big Sugar Donations. By Geniusofdespair

I voted for Tim Canova in the U.S. Rep race instead of Debbie Wasserman Schultz. I think Debbie did better in the Defede debate but he did not ask her about the massive funds she has taken from big sugar over the years. If she had returned the money from them this year, I would have voted for her.

I said before that voting on one issue is stupid but that sometimes one issue is a deal-breaker.

For me, the sugar money is a deal-breaker. I wish Defede had asked an environmental question. I know my vote will turn out to be a protest vote but I just had to send a message. Canova cares about our environment. Debbie Wasserman Schultz  just doesn't care enough about Florida's environment.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz: Poor constituent services. By Geniusofdespair

How hard is it to get an appointment for a Capitil Tour, requested over a month in advance? Apparently it takes many emails and phone calls to get it done if Debbie is your Congresswoman. Her staff was impossible. It is just a click away if you ask Bill Nelson. I never asked for anything from her office before in the decade plus she has been representing me. Once at the Capitol I still had to go back to her office to get House passes. Her staff could have volunteered info on  how I could get Senate passes too. They were not very enthused to talk to us. I hijacked Senate passes from a couple leaving the Senate chambers. The Capitol tour sucked because of all the rennovation scaffolding blocking everything.

By the way, the Abrazame campaign went very well in Washington...and not just with Hispanics, the Japanese and Chinese people were huggers.

Tim Canova: Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz Has a Sweet Tooth and It’s No Laughing Matter

Reprinted from Medium
Too often elected officials represent special interests — not the people. Let's take back our country and restore democracy.

Tim Canova is a candidate for the Democratic primary in Florida’s 23rd Congressional District, and Professor of Law and Public Finance at Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad College of Law, in Davie/Fort Lauderdale.


My opponent, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, doesn’t want you to know that she is part of the problem. She says that any criticism of her environmental record is “laughable.” She wants you to believe that only Republicans like Florida Gov. Rick Scott are really to blame for the toxic algae bloom which has left a swath of bacteria, disease, and death in its path from Lake Okeechobee all the way to the Florida coastlines. I visited the Saint Lucie River and Estuary last weekend and I was sickened by what I saw. Manatees and fish stranded in the filth, gasping for air and dying. It’s no laughing matter at all and neither is Wasserman Schultz’s record.

Unfortunately, Wasserman Schultz’s response to the crisis is to divert attention and blame to others. She doesn’t want voters to see that she’s been taking lots of campaign contributions from the Big Sugar companies and other agribusinesses that have created this environmental crisis by polluting Lake Okeechobee with chemical fertilizers, particularly phosphorous and nitrates, and pesticides. Nor does she want us to know that she has voted for huge subsidies for the sugar industry and other agribusinesses, as well as for delays in cleanups, while failing to deliver federal funds for any real solution.

"Semi Celebrities" Sightings in Wynwood. by Geniusofdespair

I was on NW 26th Street and NW 5th Avenue, on the way to Zach's Bakery.  Who do I run into doing his Real Estate shopping? None other than Jorge Perez. Of course I got it on my camera:

Jorge Perez looking over the hood, and Pinkie Girl (she talked like she was a real estate agent). What is he thinking? "All these one story buildings have to go?"

Here is where Art Patron/Developer Jorge Perez was going

Sideview of same building. It is Wynwood after all. I wonder what the meaning is of the Mural?  I wonder if it is forecasting its destruction?

Wynwood is such a hot spot I also ran into Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, head of the DNC, eating at Zach's Bakery.  Funny, I never saw her eating in her district, EVER. Actually, I never have seen her out and about campaigning in her district. Doesn't have to.

Debbie isn't a celebrity like "The Donald" -- no marshmallow hair or pastel pink tie but she is powerful presence in Democratic Circles.

Debbie was nice enough to pose for me. That suit, it is so...congressional looking?? She sure is buttoned up.

Speaking of "The Donald" he was in brain-dead Jacksonville on Saturday, where if you don't have a pick-up truck, you are nobody. Here is a photo that my niece sent. Sometimes his rallies have food, like "Have pancakes with the Donald." This one appears to be sans food. Foolish people, if they held out they could have gotten hamburgers or something.

Democrats had better vote for Debbie. By Geniusofdespair

The Republicans put forth a really, really scary candidate in the primary District 23, as if Juan Garcia wasn't scary enough.  Anyway watch this Daily Show video. Can you believe any human would endorse Joseph Joe (Allen West). And worse, that in Miami Dade County 1,325 voted for him.

Joseph Joe Kaufman The Republican Running Against Debbie Wasserman Schultz

 If you don't see the DAILY SHOW video about him, hit here.  It is hysterical.

The Daily Show
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,The Daily Show on Facebook

This is why you have to vote Democrats, don't take anything for granted. This guy might even make Allen West look good.

PolitiFact Florida Checked Congresswoman's Facts. By Geniusofdepsair

Here is some bad news to start your day:

Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Weston said:
"We’ve had nine inches of sea-level rise since the 1920s."

Politifact Fact Florida said, as reported in the Miami Herald:

"Her claim essentially matches the data collected by the National Oceantic and Atmospheric Administration. While there is considerable uncertainty about the future course of sea-level rises, Wasserman Schultz’s estimate of the historical rise appears to be on target."

We rate this claim: True.