The Patriot Post Digest 4-22-2016

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The Patriot Post Digest 4-22-2016
From The Federalist Patriot
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Mid-Day Digest

Apr. 22, 2016

THE FOUNDATION

“No man is allowed to be a judge in his own cause, because his interest would certainly bias his judgment, and, not improbably, corrupt his integrity.” —James Madison (1787)

TOP RIGHT HOOKS

Clinton Raked in Money From Companies Seeking Influence1

More proof that the Clinton Foundation was never anything more than a pay-to-play slush fund for the world’s rich and powerful: After the Associated Press analyzed the places Hillary Clinton delivered paid speeches (for hundreds of thousands of dollars a pop), it found most of the banks and larger corporations were also heavily involved in politics. The AP reports2, “Federal records show almost all the 82 corporations, trade associations and other groups that paid for or sponsored Clinton’s speeches have sought to influence the government — lobbying, bidding for contracts, commenting on federal policy or contacting State Department officials or Clinton herself when she was secretary of state.” We’re shocked — shocked.

To date, the Clinton campaign has not released transcripts of those speeches and Hillary has steadfastly refused to do so. That’s not surprising, given that attendees of those speeches have said the remarks were glowing and complimentary of big banks like Goldman Sachs, and in a battle against Bernie Sanders' anti-Wall Street populism, she can’t have that come out. As Clinton once humble-bragged, she and her husband left the White House “dead broke3.” That was an obviously phony attempt to pander to the rest of us commoners, but even if it weren’t, the Clintons have turned their influence into vast wealth thanks to the dozens of corporations who invested in them, hoping to get returns when the Clintons once again returned to positions of power.

RNC Committee: Convention Rules Won’t Change4

When it comes to the rules that will govern the Republican National Convention, no news is news. During its meeting in Hollywood, Florida, the RNC’s Standing Committee on Rules decided5 that it was too late in the game to be changing the rules of the convention. Randy Evans, a committee member from Georgia, told the group Thursday, “We’re basically in the seventh inning of the ballgame, and I don’t think it’s right to change the rules.” Other members of the committee noted this was one of the most closely watched conventions in recent history. Any tweaks to the rules will be seen as the RNC trying to tip the playing field to one candidate or another, and the GOP can ill afford any more of that perception.

This means the Republican Party will head to the July convention imperfect rules and all. The convention will probably operate by House rules, not the more easily understood Roberts Rules of Order. Morton Blackwell, longtime member of the GOP’s rule committee, criticized6 Rule 40, the rule that dictates only votes for candidates that have won majorities in at least eight states be counted when the delegates cast their convention votes. In 2012, Mitt Romney’s campaign pushed for the rule to block insurgent candidates — at the time Ron Paul — from gaining traction in the gathering of delegates.

Left unchanged, the rules essentially mean John Kasich — who won only his home state of Ohio — is no longer viable. Some of us have known that for a while now. But it also all but prevents the GOP establishment7 from introducing a white knight candidate to ride in and snatch the nomination from Donald Trump or Ted Cruz. Some may worry this will lead to a candidate who won’t win against the Democrat nominee. But that’s not the point, columnist Jonah Goldberg writes8, as the historical goal of the convention was to help the whole party unify around one candidate. That alone will be a monumental task, given the tone of the primary so far.

Media Losing Its Grip on Dictating Gun Views9

When so-called “assault weapons10” were banned by the Bill Clinton administration in 1994, the overwhelming majority of Americans (80%) supported it. Now, not even a majority do. The turnaround is nothing short of remarkable. More Americans disapprove (53%) than approve (45%) today than they did 22 years ago — despite the increasingly vile attitude we see from mainstream media zealots. Yet this also helps explain why Americans are increasingly accepting of guns.

The mass media enjoyed a virtual monopoly over communication in 1994. That effectively gave the Left control over the narrative, and disinformation campaigns were easy to orchestrate. But all that began to change during the Information Age.

As Dean Weingarten of The Truth About Guns observes11, “Conservative talk radio had already begun to make inroads into American culture, and the Internet was just starting to become a viable method of mass communication. The opponents of the ban managed to include a sunset to the bill ten years in the future. By the time the sunset came due, enough people had learned the truth about ‘assault weapons’ to prevent an extension of the bill.” He adds, “Clearly emotion-based arguments and lies can sway an electorate to support gun control. But when the facts are disseminated, support diminishes. That’s why the proponents of civilian disarmament push so hard to pass gun control measures quickly.”

We see a similar reaction unfolding on the issue of background checks. Thank heavens we still have an open media. It’s no wonder the marketplace of ideas that has become a hallmark of conservative media is the Democrats' next point of attack.

BEST OF RIGHT OPINION

Ryan Anderson: ESPN Has a Right to Fire Curt Schilling. What Rights Do People of Faith Have?12
Mona Charen: Hands Off the Ladies' Rooms13
David Harsanyi: How Democrats Win Debates by Corrupting English14

For more, visit Right Opinion15.

FEATURED RIGHT ANALYSIS
Earth Day — Signing the Paris Climate Agreement16

By Michael Swartz

For this year’s rendition of Earth Day, the stakes couldn’t be higher. More than 130 nations will gather to formally sign the Paris Climate Agreement at the United Nations in New York. Nothing could better signify Earth Day than a global gaggle of government leaders burning fossil fuels on their way to forcing us to spend a lot of green to preserve a little green, all while expanding their control over our lives.

While Congress has not ratified the agreement — nor are there any plans to17 — the Obama administration argues that its own assent is all that is necessary. Once 55 or more nations that represent 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions sign, the Paris accord can become effective as early as November 201718. The United States and China, which has also pledged to sign, together make up 38% of emissions. Meanwhile, a number of smaller nations are willing to sign in the hope of becoming beneficiaries of the inevitable wealth transfer19 the UN is sure to facilitate.

We’ve talked about the racket known as Earth Day many times20 on these pages, but climate alarmists are now shrieking21 that 2016 will be the warmest year on record, and that we have to DO SOMETHING before the global average temperature rises more than two degrees Celsius from pre-industrial values. “We are at a critical juncture when it comes to preserving our climate,” warned Michael Mann, the “climate researcher” who’s best known for the discredited22 “hockey stick” graph of global temperatures over the centuries, and for his omission of relevant data23 that failed to support his theory.