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Ever wonder how politics turned into a take-no-prisoners blood sport? The New York Times bestselling author of Stonewalled pulls back the curtain on the shady world of opposition research and reveals the dirty tricks those in power use to influence your opinions.

Behind most major political stories in the modern era, there is an agenda; an effort by opposition researchers, spin doctors, and outside interests to destroy an idea or a person. The tactic they use is the Smear.

Every day, Americans are influenced by the Smear without knowing it. Paid forces cleverly shape virtually every image you cross. Maybe you read that Donald Trump is a racist misogynist, or saw someone on the news mocking the Bernie Sanders campaign. The trick of the Smear is that it is often based on some shred of truth, but these media-driven "hit pieces" are designed to obscure the truth. Success hinges on the Smear artist’s ability to remain invisible; to make it seem as if their work is neither calculated nor scripted. It must appear to be precisely what it is not.

Veteran journalist Sharyl Attkisson has witnessed this practice firsthand. After years of being pitched hit jobs and puff pieces, she’s an expert at detecting Smear campaigns. Now, the hard-hitting investigative reporter shares her inside knowledge, revealing how the Smear takes shape and who its perpetrators are—including Clinton confidant Sidney Blumenthal and, most influential of all, "right-wing assassin turned left-wing assassin" (National Review) political operative David Brock and his Media Matters for America empire.

Attkisson exposes the diabolical tactics of Smear artists, and their outrageous access to the biggest names in political media—operatives who are corrupting the political process, and discouraging widespread citizen involvement in our democracy.

The head of Britain’s electronic surveillance agency GCHQ* has resigned!

23 January 2017*

Robert Hannigan, who has held the post of GCHQ director since 2014, said he was stepping down for family reasons.
He said he was proud of his work but that 20 years in public service roles had “demanded a great deal of my ever patient and understanding family”.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said Mr Hannigan had “led the renewal” of national security capabilities to fight terrorism during his time at GCHQ.

Mr Hannigan was director general of defence and intelligence at the Foreign Office before taking over the leadership of GCHQ in 2014.

In a letter to the foreign secretary, he said he was proud of the work he had done and “how many lives have been saved in this country and overseas by the work of GCHQ” but added “now is the right time for a change in direction”.
Mr Hannigan said it was “right” that a new director be in place ready for GCHQ’s 100th anniversary in 2019, but he would stay in the post until a replacement was appointed.

‘Cyber defences’
Sources have told BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera that the resignation was not the result of any concerns over policy in the UK or in the US.

Mr Johnson thanked him for his service, saying he had “set the groundwork for a major transformation of our cyber defences” during his tenure.

There will now be an internal competition within government to identify candidates for the job. Recommendations will then be sent to Mr Johnson and Prime Minister Theresa May for a final decision.

Mr Hannigan was born in Gloucestershire and is a married father-of-two.

He was previously responsible for the UK’s first cyber security strategy, oversaw the first national security strategy, and chaired Cobra emergency committee meetings on terrorist incidents.

He also worked as principal adviser to then Prime Minister Tony Blair on the Northern Ireland peace process.

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-38723040

*23 January 2017 (A couple of days after the $$$$ hit the fan aka Muscular and the UK’s

GCHQ spying on Trump, his people and us, yes, you, me/us!

I'm convinced the whole "Trump team collusion with Russia" thing was manufactured as a cover-up for Obama administration spying.

Obama-ites assumed Hillary would be elected, and that the paper-trail of their domestic spying would remain deeply buried, out of reach of anyone trying to find the truth.

But oops, the election didn't go according to plan ... in an absolute panic, Rice, Jarrett, Rhodes et al were forced to come up with a plan to reverse-justify their snooping on American citizens. They knew their spying was likely to be discovered by the incoming Trump admin.

And indeed Rice's paper trail WAS found, but only after the fraudulent Russia story had already been hyped to high heaven by a cooperative MSM.

So the Obama-ites' panicky plan has been to try to (1) establish a pretext for the spying and (2) drown out the real story. I don't think either (1) or (2) can last.

Thank you for this post!

There is GOD and he did perform a miracle for all to see. GOD is that powerful and loving. The larger the miracle, the greater number to realize exactly what was seen.

Join us on the thread: AMERICA PRAYER VIGIL

This EASTER our LORD has once again been welcomed into our White House; HE has also been invited to join our servicemen and women stationed overseas. This is truly a special EASTER = RESURRECTION DAY!
h/t LS