The Patriot Post Digest 1-19-2016

________________________________________
The Patriot Post Digest 1-19-2016
From The Federalist Patriot
Free Email Subscription
________________________________________

Daily Digest

Jan. 19, 2016

THE FOUNDATION

“A free people [claim] their rights as derived from the laws of nature, and not as the gift of their chief magistrate.” —Thomas Jefferson, 1774

TOP RIGHT HOOKS

Democrats Want to Strip Immunity From Gun Companies1

Socialist Bernie Sanders was surprisingly moderate about the issue of gun control last May. The Washington Post wrote2 of Sanders' position then, “When socialism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a concealed firearm — without a permit.” Among the issues, Sanders voted on a National Rifle Association-backed bill in 2005 that affirmed gun companies had immunity if one of their firearms were used in a crime or murder — just like a car company would have if someone decided to drive the car into a crowd of people. But Hillary Clinton, the “realistic progressive,” believes that she has a backdoor policy that could dismantle the gun industry: remove that immunity from the nation’s firearms manufacturers. Her plan would choke up their legal teams with lawsuit after lawsuit when guns are used for illegal acts, not just when manufacturing defects cause firearms to fail.

This week, Sanders, who said he’s running “an issue-oriented campaign,” indicated he is moving toward Clinton’s position. Democrats in Congress introduced a law that would roll back essential parts of the 2005 immunity law and hours before Sunday’s debate Sanders said he would support it. He said in the debate that he’d “support stronger provisions,” but he doesn’t want to make it so a small, community gun shop is liable if it sold a gun later used in a crime. But that’s beside the point. The First Amendment is protected by legislation that prevents the sue-happy from muzzling someone’s free-speech rights, though the Left regularly attacks free speech and religious liberty. Clinton’s idea of stripping gun companies' immunity and siccing lawyers upon them is no less unconstitutional.

ACLU Forces NYPD to Consider ‘Equality’ Before Security3

For years, the New York Police Department viewed Islamic terrorism through a study titled “Radicalization in the West: The Homegrown Threat4.” It featured analysis from the RAND Corporation, studies of recent terrorist attacks in other countries, and studied how Muslim men radicalized to the point of attacking the West. Recently, the American Civil Liberties Union managed to force the NYPD5 to stop using the report to understand the metastasizing threat of Islamic terror. It was biased against Muslims, the ACLU insisted, and that obviously trumps security to the politically correct Left — once again illustrating the Left’s blithe disregard for how Islamic terror develops. Instead, they want national security to be an equal opportunity investigation, lumping right-wing extremists6 and Islamic terrorists in the same suspect file.

In related news, the House voted, with enough votes to override a veto, to send a bill to the Senate that would reform how Syrian and Iraqi refugees are screened7 before entering this country, ordering FBI background checks on them. Barack Obama and the Senate Democrats will fight, saying that the legislation isn’t compassionate, but the bill’s success in the House shows there is real concern over this administration’s refusal to diagnose the reason some Middle Eastern immigrants turn to violence.

Feel the Tax Bern8

While Republicans like Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are working on ways to lower taxes9, Bernie Sanders is rolling out a multitude of ways to raise them. And not just rate tweaks here and there; we’re talking tax hikes to the tune of nearly $20 trillion over 10 years10. Some $14 trillion in tax hikes on both businesses and individuals are meant to fund Sanders' single-payer health care plan11. But Bernie also wants to raise Social Security taxes, other payroll taxes, capital gains taxes, the death tax, corporate taxes, oil taxes and marginal income tax rates. As we’ve noted before, at least Sanders has the integrity to admit he’s a socialist. That ideology is exactly what inspires all these tax proposals, since the Left is all about certain people paying their “fair share” so that income can be redistributed to favored constituents. If you think the economy is in the ditch right now, just wait and see what would happen if Sanders got his way.

Robert E. Lee12

Today we take a moment to remember the birth anniversary of Robert E. Lee (1807-1870), one of the greatest military commanders in American history. He was also a great man of faith who gave his all for the cause of Liberty and states' rights.

There were many honorable men of the Confederate States of America, whose objective was, first and foremost, the protection of states rights, and decidedly not the continuation of abhorrent institution of slavery. For a better understanding on the issues of the day, read this perspective on Abraham Lincoln13, which was not included in your grade-school civics class. The honor we give these men has its roots in the founding of this great nation.

Mark Alexander notes in his essay, “Lincoln’s Legacy at 20013,” that “the causal case for states' rights is most aptly demonstrated by the words and actions of Gen. Lee, who detested slavery and opposed secession. In 1860, however, Gen. Lee declined President Abraham Lincoln’s request that he take command of the Army of the Potomac, saying that his first allegiance was to his home state of Virginia: ‘I have, therefore, resigned my commission in the army, and save in defense of my native state … I hope I may never be called on to draw my sword.’ He would, soon thereafter, take command of the Army of Northern Virginia, rallying his officers with these words: ‘Let each man resolve to be victorious, and that the right of self-government, liberty, and peace shall find him a defender.’”

Don’t Miss Patriot Humor

Check out Psst, Obama14.

If you’d like to receive Patriot Humor by email, update your subscription here15.

FEATURED RIGHT ANALYSIS
Could a Movie Derail Hillary Clinton for Good?16

By Paul Albaugh

Benghazi. Four Americans killed. A film with the recurring theme of a fading superpower that trades on its still-existing military power while trying to figure out its purpose. A movie depicting men who were denied everything yet gave everything they had to protect their fellow Americans.

“13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi” is the title of this newly released movie and it tells the story of what happened during the Sept. 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. consulate from the perspective of American fighters on the ground. According to The Washington Post, Paramount insists the film17 is “not political,” but the Post argues that it is political — even though former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is not mentioned by name and Barack Obama is mentioned only in passing. The Post has a point, but that’s only because Obama and Clinton politicized the attack from the beginning.

Further, while the movie does not directly attack the Obama administration, it does show the general incompetence, corruption and sluggish bureaucracy in Washington. And it shows what our guys on the ground went through having been abandoned by Obama and Clinton.

National Review’s David French, an Iraq war veteran, notes18, “The Benghazi controversy is the story of three great failures — the failure to either fortify or evacuate Benghazi when threats increased, the failure to adequately protect and support American personnel during the attack itself, and the repeated lies told the American public after the attack to minimize both the nature of the jihadist threat and the scale of the administration’s incompetence.”

________________________________________
The Patriot Post Digest 1-19-2016
From The Federalist Patriot
Free Email Subscription
________________________________________

As we have known from the start, the attack in Benghazi was not because of a YouTube video. Obama and Clinton lied in blaming a video because Obama desperately wanted to cover up his administration’s failure to recognize the escalating threat to American security in Benghazi and the Middle East generally, as well as the failure to respond to the attack with military force.

Further, Obama and Clinton lied in order to secure Obama’s re-election19. And now, Clinton, whose role with Benghazi among other scandalous activities should disqualify her from even being able to run for president, is still the leading contender for the Democrat nomination. That is absolutely appalling.

Equally appalling is that there are several Democrat politicians who have essentially accused our Special Forces20 who were on the ground in Benghazi of lying. That’s right, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) are accusing Kris Paronto and John Tiegen of lying about the order to “stand down.”

There is ample evidence from multiple testimonies that a “stand down” order was given. The CIA officer who was in charge at Benghazi denies21 having given the order as the movie alleges. Security operators interviewed by the author upon whose book the movie was based said the CIA chief did give a stand down order. Did he or didn’t he, and if so, was he directed by Washington?

When asked by CNN’s Jake Tapper if she had plans to see the movie, Clinton replied that she was “too busy campaigning22.” Yet she isn’t too busy to appear on the Jimmy Fallon Show, the Ellen DeGeneres show or to be interviewed by YouTube stars. She even had the audacity to mention that she had given testimony before Congress23 about Benghazi for 11 hours — as if the number of hours was a point in her favor.

So we have another lie. She isn’t too busy; she doesn’t want to see the truth. Perhaps she is using the two-hour time slot to come up with more lies for when she’s questioned by potential supporters. Her hopes that her role in Benghazi would fade have not turned in her favor.

On a final note, the movie illustrates some policy challenges for Republicans, too. National Review’s Stanley Kurtz writes24, “13 Hours ends by noting that Libya has become a failed state and a training ground for ISIS, subtly pointing the finger at Hillary’s misjudgment on the Libya campaign in a way that most Republicans so far have not.”

That’s because some of them favored intervention.

Republicans candidates had better be clear on their vision of foreign policy. They must make it known whether the United States will or won’t be in the business of removing dictators (like Libya’s Moammar Gadhafi), and whether America’s national security must be at stake before making such a move. And if we do remove a dictator, there should be clearly defined strategic objectives and follow-up actions in place.

Obama’s policy of removing Gadhafi with no strategic objective in mind was exactly wrong, as evidenced by the continuing turmoil there. And he undermined our objectives in Iraq by prematurely withdrawing25. Republican candidates need to seize the opportunity to zero in on the failed foreign policies of Clinton and her former boss. If there is ever a chance to beat the Islamic State, then we must first beat Clinton.

MORE ORIGINAL PERSPECTIVE

ANALYSIS: Cruz vs. Rubio on Taxes9
Expanding the Refugee Program Undermines Rule of Law26
College Sets April Aside to Trash White Americans27
University of CA Destroys Liberty to Fight Sexual Assault28
Obama Wages Limited Air War in Afghanistan29

BEST OF RIGHT OPINION

Stephen Moore: Don’t Thank Obama for Cheap Oil30
David Limbaugh: Seeing Bigots Under Every Rock31
Thomas Sowell: What Are Elections For?32

For more, visit Right Opinion33.

TOP HEADLINES

Supreme Court to Hear Obama Amnesty Challenge34
China’s Economic Growth Wanes to 25-Year Low35
Pentagon May Demote General David Petraeus36

For more, visit Patriot Headline Report37

OPINION IN BRIEF

Stephen Moore: “The big fall-off-your-chair moment during President Obama’s State of the Union address came when he proclaimed: ‘We’ve cut our imports of foreign oil by nearly 60 percent and cut carbon pollution more than any other country on Earth. Gas under two bucks a gallon ain’t bad, either.’ Sure, Mr. President. Take a bow for the smashing success of the very domestic oil and gas industry that you have tried to destroy. Even Obama couldn’t carry this off. The smirk on his face as he sang the praises of the oil and gas industry was unmistakable. Right after Obama boasted of these low gas prices, he reverted back to form, by sermonizing: ‘We’ve got to accelerate the transition away from dirty energy’ — by which he means fossil fuels. Then the hammer came down: ‘I’m going to push to change the way we manage our oil and coal resources, so that they better reflect the costs they impose on taxpayers and our planet.’ So, 30 seconds after toasting lower gas prices, he pledges to find ways to make gas more expensive. … For now, Obama, unbelievably, will hog the credit for lower gas prices that he never wanted in the first place, while he finds every way possible to make gas more expensive in the years to come. No wonder voters have grown so cynical of the political class.”

SHORT CUTS

Insight: “Experience should teach us to be most on our guard to protect liberty when the Government’s purposes are beneficent. Men born to freedom are naturally alert to repel invasion of their liberty by evil-minded rulers. The greatest dangers to liberty lurk in insidious encroachment by men of zeal, well-meaning but without understanding.” —Justice Louis D. Brandeis (1856-1941)

Faux rage: “I was very angry. I was very, very frustrated and angry that [the video of American sailors being captured by Iran] was released. I raised it immediately with the Iranians. It was not put out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the government directly, it was put out I think through the military over there, the IRGC [Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps], who is opposed to what we are doing.” —John Kerry

Race bait: “I don’t think [Obama’s] solely responsible for the country being so divided. We all are responsible for it. … Obama [is] being treated different because of … his race. I really believe that. … I think there have been … visible signs of disrespect for the man. And I’ve always said, if you don’t respect the man, respect the position.” —Rep. John Lewis

Hot air: “I believe the greatest business opportunity to come to the United States of America in a hundred years is climate change. And I put forward a plan to move us to a 100 percent clean electric energy grid by 2050 and create five million jobs along the way.” —Martin O'Malley

Alpha Jackass: “You know, everybody hates Ted [Cruz]. It’s a very tough thing. They all hate him for a lot of reasons, but they all hate him.” —Donald Trump

Braying Jenny: “I’m obviously not only against defunding Planned Parenthood, but I would like to see Planned Parenthood even get more funding because oftentimes it is both the first and the last resort for health care.” —Hillary Clinton

Late-night humor: “Vice President Joe Biden in a new interview said that he wakes up every day regretting that he didn’t enter the 2016 race. And every day Hillary Clinton holds the rag over his nose and he goes back to sleep.” —Seth Meyers

Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis!
Managing Editor Nate Jackson

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.