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Title: The Patriot Post Digest 1-25-2018 Post by: nChrist on February 02, 2018, 02:59:44 PM ________________________________________ The Patriot Post Digest 1-25-2018 From The Federalist Patriot Free Email Subscription (http://patriotpost.us/subscription/new) ________________________________________ The Patriot Post® · Mid-Day Digest Jan. 25, 2018 · https://patriotpost.us/digests/53697-mid-day-digest IN TODAY’S EDITION Feinstein changes her tune on releasing material related to Russia. Trump heads to Davos with his “America First” message. Conservative Christians took a chance on Trump, and he’s delivered. Social Security fraud and E-Verify’s limited scope hamper immigration reform. Do Americans really want more government after all we’ve seen it do wrong? NYC pursues opioid suit all while ignoring ObamaCare’s role. Plus our Daily Features: Top Headlines, Memes, Cartoons, Columnists and Short Cuts. THE FOUNDATION “It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth — and listen to the song of that syren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those, who having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation?” —Patrick Henry (1775) IN BRIEF Feinstein Blames the Russians1 By Thomas Gallatin In a desperate attempt to prevent the public release of a classified FISA memo2 that purports to show the FBI abused the surveillance program for political aims, Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) sent a letter3 to the execs at Twitter and Facebook calling for them to investigate a supposed Russian social media effort pushing for the memo’s release. The letter states in part, “We are witnessing an ongoing attack by the Russian government through Kremlin-linked social media actors directly acting to intervene and influence our democratic process. This should be disconcerting to all Americans, but especially your companies as, once again, it appears the vast majority of their efforts are concentrated on your platforms. This latest example of Russian interference is in keeping with Moscow’s concerted, covert, and continued campaign to manipulate American public opinion and erode trust in our law enforcement and intelligence institutions.” In other words, Feinstein has just declared that anyone who believes the FISA memo — a memo several Republican members of Congress describe as “alarming” and “disturbing” — should be released is essentially a puppet of Vladimir Putin, and that is quite simply asinine. First off, the Russians didn’t start the #ReleaseTheMemo campaign; it was Republicans who first called for the release of this memo, written by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes. Secondly, was it not Feinstein who mere weeks ago unilaterally released4 the entire closed-door testimony of Fusion GPS co-founder Glenn Simpson’s testimony regarding the dubious Trump dossier? At the time, Feinstein argued that the American public had a right to know: “The American people deserve the opportunity to see what [Glenn Simpson] said and judge for themselves.” She further explained her rationale, asserting, “The innuendo and misinformation circulating about the transcript are part of a deeply troubling effort to undermine the investigation into potential collusion and obstruction of justice. The only way to set the record straight is to make the transcript public.” But now she’s singing a different tune. Using Feinstein’s logic, there currently is a lot of “innuendo” and probably “misinformation” flying around regarding exactly what the content of the FISA memo alleges. Why not release it to the public to “set the record straight”? Clearly, Feinstein is engaging in political gamesmanship. When releasing the information plays well for her agenda, she pulls the “American people have a right to know” card, but when the information could prove damaging to her agenda, then the narrative is one of needing to “protect” the American people and its institutions from the Russians. A free society must have a government committed to transparency in order to hold to account those who have been entrusted by citizens with the power to lead. Hiding potential corruption from the American public will cause greater distrust of government institutions and agencies than revealing the truth, no matter how ugly it may be. Therefore we in our humble shop unequivocally call for the public release of the FISA memo. ‘America First’ Visits Europe5 By Nate Jackson President Donald Trump is a dealmaker; don’t forget that in any major policy story. That includes his trip to Europe this week for the dreaded globalist World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He’s the first U.S. president to attend in nearly 20 years. “Will soon be heading to Davos, Switzerland, to tell the world how great America is and is doing,” Trump tweeted before his trip. “Our economy is now booming and with all I am doing, will only get better…Our country is finally WINNING again!” That, like so many other things Trump says and does, was a shot across the bow to Europe that the U.S. is under new management. Long gone are the Barack Obama days of apologizing for America and weakening our bargaining position. Trump also aims to convey that, thanks to his successful economic policies6, America is once again open for business and indeed will lead the world in that regard. Long gone are the stagnation years of Obamanomics. Leftmedia outlets opine that “America First” will be a “hard sell in Davos7.” Of course it is. European globalists (and their media mouthpieces, by the way) are much happier working with someone like Obama, who views America not as a world leader but as a nation guilty of imperialism and the like. Leaders like Germany’s Angela Merkel and France’s Emmanuel Macron wasted no time mischaracterizing Trump’s approach as “isolationist” and “nativist.” On the contrary. “This is about an America First agenda. But America First does mean working with the rest of the world,” said Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. “It just means that President Trump is looking out for American workers and American interests no different than he expects other leaders would look out for their own.” Gary Cohn, the head of Trump’s National Economic Council, echoed that talking point: “America First is not America alone.” What a difference a year makes. Top Headlines8 Trump seeks $25 billion for border wall, offers ‘Dreamer’ citizenship (Reuters9) President will announce $1.7 trillion infrastructure package at State of the Union (The Hill10) Federal spending set record during government shutdown (CNS News11) Pelosi “Armageddon” update: Starbucks to increase wages, improve benefits for 150K employees (Fox News12) Home Depot hourly employees to receive up to $1,000 bonus (Fox Business13) Amid deep partisan divide, Pence breaks tie to confirm religious freedom nominee (CNS News14) Trump: I am willing to talk to Mueller under oath (ABC News15) Thousands of FBI cellphones affected by glitch that lost Strzok-Page texts, officials say (Fox News16) Cecile Richards leaves behind brutal legacy as she steps down from Planned Parenthood amid federal investigation (The Daily Signal17) George Soros spent record amount lobbying during Trump’s first year (The Washington Free Beacon18.) Policy: To celebrate school choice, expand federal support for charter schools (Washington Examiner19) Policy: High-tax states should lower their taxes instead of trying to evade federal taxes (The Daily Signal20) For more of today’s news, visit Patriot Headline Report21. FEATURED ANALYSIS Trump Delivers on Values Promises22 By Caroline Camden Lewis George Barna’s recent book, The Day Christians Changed America, notes how Christian conservatives united in the 2016 election to preserve America’s past and secure her future. As the only one standing at the end the primary season, Donald Trump seemed an unlikely choice for a Republican presidential candidate. Though brash and unconventional, he also stood for the values important to Christian conservatives: the right to life and religious freedom. In the general election, Christian “Values Voters” saw a clear choice: someone who had the potential to stand for their values, and someone who absolutely opposed them. They chose to give Trump a chance. Now, a little over a year later, President Trump continues to break convention, speak his mind and stand up for polices that conservative Christians value. Last week, Trump became the first president in history to address23 the crowds at the March for Life, the pro-life march that began after the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. His address, which took place in the Rose Garden24, was broadcast via satellite to the crowds on the national mall. In his address, President Trump stated25: Title: The Patriot Post Digest 1-25-2018 Post by: nChrist on February 02, 2018, 03:00:52 PM ________________________________________ The Patriot Post Digest 1-25-2018 From The Federalist Patriot Free Email Subscription (http://patriotpost.us/subscription/new) ________________________________________ The March for Life is a movement born out of love. You love your families, you love your neighbors, you love our nation, and you love every child, born and unborn, because you believe that every life is sacred, that every child is a precious gift from God. … We are protecting the sanctity of life and the family as the foundation of our society. President Trump has proven himself to be a staunch pro-life ally26. He expanded the Mexico City Policy, which prevents $9 billion in foreign aid from funding the worldwide abortion industry. He stopped taxpayer funding for the UN Population Fund, which supports China’s forced abortion and sterilization program. He nominated Neil Gorsuch27 to the Supreme Court. He signed H.J. Res. 43 into law, which overturned a Barack Obama-era regulation prohibiting states from defunding certain abortion clinics in the federally funded family planning programs. He has stated strong support for the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, which would ban abortion after 20 weeks. The United States stands as one of only seven countries (which include China and North Korea) allowing abortions after 20 weeks’ gestation. Research reveals that unborn babies feel pain at 20 weeks, to the extent that babies at that age routinely receive anesthesia for in utero surgeries. Additionally, 63% of Americans support a ban on abortion after 20 weeks — in other words, it’s hardly an “extreme” position. Rather than celebrating the anniversary of Roe v. Wade as a day of “liberation,” President Trump recognizes the true issue at stake in the infamous Supreme Court decision: human dignity28. He proclaimed Jan. 22, 2018, the 45th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, as “National Sanctity of Human Life Day.” His proclamation29 reads: This is why we observe National Sanctity of Human Life Day: to affirm the truth that all life is sacred, that every person has inherent dignity and worth, and that no class of people should ever be discarded as “non-human.” Under his leadership, Health and Human Services (HHS) is protecting conscience freedoms compromised and even attacked under the previous administration. This month, HHS established30 a new Conscience and Religious Freedom Division within the HHS Office of Civil Rights. It will restore federal law enforcement of U.S. laws protecting conscious and religious freedom rights. OCR Director Roger Severino states, “No one should be forced to choose between helping sick people and living by one’s deepest moral or religious convictions, and the new division will help guarantee that victims of unlawful discrimination find justice.” Additionally, Acting HHS Secretary Eric Hargan stated, “President Trump promised the American people that his administration would vigorously uphold the rights of conscience and religious freedom. That promise is being kept today.” President Trump also announced Jan. 16, 2018, as Religious Freedom Day. In his proclamation31, President Trump stated, “Our forefathers, seeking refuge from religious persecution, believed in the eternal truth that freedom is not a gift from the government, but a sacred right from Almighty God.” He further connected religious freedom to human dignity, stating, “The free exercise of religion is a source of personal and national stability, and its preservation is essential to protecting human dignity.” In 2016, Christian conservatives took a chance on Donald Trump to champion their values of life and religious liberty. Today, it is clear he has delivered. MORE ANALYSIS FROM THE PATRIOT POST A De Facto Federal Government-Illegal Alien Alliance36 — Between known Social Security fraud and E-Verify laxness, it’s no wonder we have a major problem. Americans Want More Government?37 — New polling indicates that a growing majority of Americans see a more active government as a good thing. NYC Pursues Opioid Suit Despite ObamaCare’s Assist38 — Leftists are more interested in the money they can extract from frivolous lawsuits than they are in solving problems. BEST OF RIGHT OPINION Gary Bauer: Another FBI Revelation39 Bill Wagner: Shutdown Fallout40 Larry Elder: The Great S—hole Hypocrisy41 Victor Davis Hanson: Will Unfinished Train Overpasses Become California’s Stonehenge?42 Cal Thomas: High Taxes Produce a Moving Experience43 For more of today’s columns, visit Right Opinion44. OPINION IN BRIEF Nina Rees19: “This week is National School Choice Week, a time to celebrate the importance of giving parents the freedom to select a school that meets their child’s needs. A new poll from the American Federation for Children shows that school choice is highly prized by parents and voters. Fully 63 percent of likely voters support school choice, including a majority of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. Support for public charter schools is even higher, at 72 percent. … While President Bill Clinton provided early and essential support to charter schools, it was during the Bush and Obama administrations that growth really took off – from about 2,300 schools serving 600,000 students in 2001 to 6,800 schools serving more 3.1 million students last year. In more than 200 school districts across America, at least 10 percent of public school students are enrolled in charter schools. And in some cities, the share is much larger – more than 90 percent in New Orleans, around 50 percent in Washington, D.C., and about one-third in Indianapolis and Newark, N.J. … We hope the administration will continue to show a real commitment to choice by fighting for more funds for the federal Charter Schools Program. The CSP has amply demonstrated its effectiveness in making high-quality options available to the majority of parents who want to be able to choose their child’s school.” SHORT CUTS For the record: “Donald Trump speaks to Africans frankly. Africans need to solve their problems. You can’t survive if you are weak. It is the Africans’ fault that they are weak.” —Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni Observations: “America has always been divided. But the divide is typically policy based. The Left and the Right will either love or hate a president based on his beliefs and his ideas for how government should be run. With President Trump, the chasm is almost solely based on whether or not you like Trump as a human being. That’s new.” —Suzanne Venker Food for thought: “The biggest driver of illegal immigration isn’t on the supply side; it’s on the demand side. Immigrants, legal and illegal, come to America primarily to work. They stay because their employers, many of them Republicans, don’t care or don’t ask about immigration status. Democratic politicians, particularly in sanctuary cities, want to keep it that way. The wall, in theory, would stop illegal border crossings from Mexico, but it wouldn’t do anything about people who come here legally and then simply overstay their visas — about 42 percent of immigrants in the country illegally. … If Trump wanted a clear — and immediate — win on illegal immigration, he’d evolve and recognize that the wall’s greatest utility might be as a bargaining chip.” —Jonah Goldberg Blame-thrower: “This is what happens when the president of the United States, Donald Trump, repeatedly attacks members of the press simply for reporting facts he does not like.” —CNN’s Don Lemon blaming Trump for the guy who threatened to shoot people at CNN over fake news The Deep State: “[John] Kerry asked [a Palestinian Authority official] to convey a message to [Mahmoud] Abbas and ask him to ‘hold on and be strong.’ Tell him, he told [the official], ‘that he should stay strong in his spirit and play for time, that he will not break and will not yield to President [Donald] Trump’s demands.’” —The Jerusalem Post And last… “Government shutting down — partially — is not a disaster. The real disaster is paying $4 trillion a year to keep it running and getting such poor service in return.” —John Stossel Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform — Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen — standing in harm’s way in defense of Liberty, and for their families. We also humbly ask prayer for your Patriot team, that our mission would seed and encourage the spirit of Liberty in the hearts and minds of our countrymen. Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis Nate Jackson, Managing Editor Mark Alexander, Publisher |