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« on: February 12, 2015, 05:32:27 PM » |
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The Patriot Post Digest 2-12-2015
From The Federalist Patriot
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Daily Digest
Feb. 12, 2015
THE FOUNDATION
“Every man who loves peace, every man who loves his country, every man who loves liberty ought to have it ever before his eyes that he may cherish in his heart a due attachment to the Union of America and be able to set a due value on the means of preserving it.” –James Madison, Federalist No. 41, 1788
TOP 5 RIGHT HOOKS
Were Chapel Hill Murders a ‘Hate Crime’?1
Disturbing news out of Chapel Hill, North Carolina: The New York Daily News reports, “Deah Shaddy Barakat, 23, a graduate student at UNC-Chapel Hill, his wife Yusor Mohammad Abu-Salha, 21, and her sister, Razan Mohammad Abu-Salha, 19, were all found shot to death in a condo near the campus late Tuesday afternoon. Neighbor Craig Stephen Hicks, a vehement 46-year-old self-professed atheist, surrendered to police and has been charged in the triple homicide.” Naturally, the Left’s early storyline is that, because the victims were Muslims, this was a “hate crime” inspired by “American Sniper,” the NRA and Fox News. We’d argue that any time a human being is murdered it’s a hate crime – murder isn’t committed out of love. Religion absolutely motivates some murderers, but, as Barack Obama clearly illustrated recently2, for leftists, it’s a one-way street. As for Hicks, he is a leftist who intensely hates all religion, and police say he committed murder over a parking dispute. Kind of undermines the Left’s narrative, doesn’t it? More…3
Judge Strikes Down Ban on Interstate Sale of Handguns4
Magic happens when the courts start to interpret the Second Amendment using strict scrutiny, which holds the government to the highest standards in justifying laws. Missouri5 applied this level when it reformed its gun laws in August. Now, a Texas judge ruled6 the government’s requirement that a citizen purchasing a handgun must do so from an FFL dealer in their residing state violates the Constitution. This was challenged last June, when DC residents Andrew and Tracey Hanson tried to buy a handgun in Texas. In the decision, Judge Reed O'Connor wrote7, “The federal interstate handgun transfer ban is unique compared to other firearms restrictions because it does not target certain people (such as felons or the mentally ill), conduct (such as carrying firearms into government buildings or schools), or distinctions among certain classes of firearms (such as fully automatic weapons or magazine capacity). Instead, the federal interstate handgun transfer ban targets the entire national market of handgun sales and directly burdens law-abiding, responsible citizens who seek to complete otherwise lawful transactions for handguns.” This further cement’s AG Eric Holder’s failure8 to do anything with gun control. More…9
Meanwhile, check out the Pennsylvania town that put up “Not a Gun Free Zone10” signs.
Congress Sends Keystone Legislation to Obama11
Cue Barack Obama’s veto pen of doom. In a 270 to 152 vote Wednesday, the House sent a bill authorizing the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline to Obama’s desk. The president has warned he would veto the bill because he claims his administration hasn’t had enough time to review the environmental ramifications of the project. And while Obama’s arguments that a congressional authorization violates the separation of powers is rich, coming from the phone ‘n’ pen president, the real reason is that Obama wants to follow the bidding of his Environmental Protection Agency. On the House floor, Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) told the chamber, “This is the most federally reviewed pipeline in American history. This is an American issue. Majority of the American people support this. … It’s way past time to say yes.” Unfortunately, when Obama vetoes, Congress doesn’t have the votes to override his veto. This may be the first veto of many from the newly minted president of no. More…12
Boehner to Democrats: ‘Get Off Your A–’13
Now that the House has passed a measure to fund the Department of Homeland Security but block Barack Obama’s executive amnesty, Speaker John Boehner had a short but stern message for Democrat obstructionists who are threatening to prevent its passage in the Senate14: “The House has done its job. Why don’t you go ask the Senate Democrats when they are going to get off their a– and do something?” In order to pass, the bill needs the support of 60 senators – a feat that is looking unlikely. “Apparently,” said Rep. John Fleming (R-LA), “the strategy now with the Democrat minority is to block everything over there.” And here the Leftmedia has been telling us that Republicans are the “party of no.”
In other news, while Congress dithers, America has imported two immigrants15 for every job created since 2000.
Cease-Fire in Ukraine May Only Be Temporary Peace16
As the Gipper once said, “Trust, but verify.” After a night of talks, France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine worked out a cease-fire agreement that is supposed to take effect this Sunday. For months, Russian President Vladimir Putin has waged a proxy invasion in Ukraine because the country used to be the prized territory of the Soviet Empire17. And while the violence that has claimed more than 5,300 lives is set to end, the future is still uncertain for Ukraine. Separatists – proxy Russian troops – made territorial gains since the last cease-fire in September quickly disintegrated. Furthermore, Hot Air’s Jazz Shaw writes18, “There are a few things which hold me back from too much optimism here and the first one can be summed up in two words: Vladimir Putin. Any deal with Putin relies on the credibility of his word. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me 7,259 times, fire me and get a new negotiator.” In short, Putin wants this territory. He’s going to grasp for it, using troops or statecraft. More…19
For more, visit Right Hooks20.
Don’t Miss Alexander’s Column
Read BO’s Blinding Islamophilia21, on Obama’s real religious alliances.
If you’d like to receive Alexander’s Column by email, update your subscription here22.
RIGHT ANALYSIS
The Ambivalent Authorization to Avoid Fighting ISIL23
Barack Obama submitted to Congress his request for an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant24 on Wednesday. It’s so pathetic and restricted, however, it should be called the Authorization to Avoid Using Force at All Costs.
For the last six months, the Nobel Peace Prize winner has unilaterally justified limited airstrikes against ISIL (Jihadistan) as an extension of George W. Bush’s 2001 AUMF against al-Qaida and his 2002 AUMF against Iraq. But Obama’s new AUMF will repeal the 2002 one. His proposal bars any “enduring offensive combat operations” (using the word “enduring” is clearly a slap at Bush) and it expires after three years. We thought he was bad with senseless timetables before – now he’s setting them before he even gets started.
Obama has done nothing but burn bridges with Republicans, so it isn’t surprising to see resistance from the GOP-controlled Congress, especially that Obama’s AUMF doesn’t go nearly far enough. Naturally, it goes too far for Democrats, who aren’t willing to blindly follow their leader after he led them to a virtual bloodbath in the midterm elections. Besides, they’ve spent too much political energy since 2003 opposing “Bush’s wars” to eagerly defend this one.
“I have directed a comprehensive and sustained strategy to degrade and defeat ISIL,” Obama wrote in a letter to Congress, saying his AUMF was needed to “show the world we are united in our resolve to counter the threat posed by ISIL.” His attempts to show “resolve” – going so far as to name the airstrikes “Operation Inherent Resolve” – are classic propaganda. His only resolve is to avoid putting too many boots on the ground (never mind the boots in the air), and to hinder his successor with a three-year time limit. |
