The Patriot Post Digest 11-15-2016

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The Patriot Post Digest 11-15-2016
From The Federalist Patriot
Free Email Subscription
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Mid-Day Digest

Nov. 15, 2016

IN TODAY’S EDITION

The narcissist in chief takes some gratuitous swipes at his successor both domestically and on a tour to visit our allies.
The Left continues its temper tantrum while the media blames Trump.
A look at the possibilities for ObamaCare as the GOP takes control in Washington.
And more news, policy and opinion.

THE FOUNDATION

“In reality there is perhaps no one of our natural Passions so hard to subdue as Pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as one pleases, it is still alive, and will now and then peek out and show itself.” —Benjamin Franklin (1771)

TOP RIGHT HOOKS

Obama’s Obnoxious Condescension1

On Monday, Barack Obama held what we can only hope is his final press conference. Predictably, it was filled with both patronizing contempt and backhanded “compliments” directed at president-elect Donald Trump. In what has become his signature lecturing fashion, Obama played the role of the erudite elitist sneering at that rube, Trump.

Obama suggested that Trump really doesn’t know what he’s gotten himself into, and that he’s in over his head. “I think that he successfully mobilized a big chunk of the country to vote for him. Regardless of what experience or assumptions he brought to the office, this office has a way of waking you up. And those aspects of his positions or predispositions that don’t match up with reality, he will find shaken up pretty quick. Because reality has a way of asserting itself.” Translation: Yes, Trump won, but his ridiculous campaign ideas just won’t work, and he’ll learn that pretty quick.

Even The Wall Street Journal bought into Obama’s condescension, “reporting” that Trump “seemed surprised by the scope” of the job and that his aides were “unaware that the entire presidential staff working in the West Wing had to be replaced at the end of Mr. Obama’s term.” We’re not sure how such pathetic White House agitprop ended up in the Journal, but its normally astute editors should be ashamed.

Back to the press conference, Obama sneered, “I think it’ll be important for him to have the room, to staff up, to figure out what his priorities are, to be able to distinguish between what he was campaigning on and what is practical — what he can actually achieve.” Translation: Don’t dream too big, because your ridiculous plans are going nowhere. Obama continued, “You know, there are certain things that made for good soundbites but don’t always translate into good policy.” Of course, Obama knows a thing or two about soundbites that don’t translate into good policy. “If you like your plan, you can keep your plan,” anyone?

Obama also decided to play the role of amateur psychologist, saying, “There are going to be certain elements of his temperament that will not serve him well unless he recognizes them and corrects them.” This coming from a man who is possibly the thinnest-skinned narcissist to have ever occupied the Oval Office.

As he did when he campaigned for Hillary Clinton, Obama is attempting everything in his power to save his legacy. The fact is, it’s his legacy that won the election for Trump. It’s his legacy that a majority of Americans rejected. Obama needs to hear his own lecture. It’s time for him to graciously follow the lead of George W. Bush and remove himself from the political forum, for the good of the United States of America.

Failed Foreign Policy President Offers ‘Reassurance’2

Barack Obama began his first term with an “apology tour” — a phrase that describes Obama’s trotting around the globe to offer condolences for American exceptionalism and alleged U.S.-rooted “injustices.” It was a rejection of longstanding protocol and a blatant jab at his predecessor, George W. Bush, whose foreign policy included prosecuting the wars against jihadists in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But whatever one thinks of Bush’s decisions, it is more fallacious to believe Obama wrought anything better. In fact, his apology tour was the beginning of a profoundly failed foreign policy — one that, with the help of Hillary Clinton, resulted in the creation of the Islamic State3. It also did nothing to improve our allies' perception of the world’s lone superpower.

That’s not to say Donald Trump’s ascension hasn’t rattled the globe. But there’s rich irony in Obama using his final months to provide “reassurance” to those who fear populism will continue to reverberate. “I still don’t feel responsible for what the president-elect says or does,” he said in his first remarks overseas. “But I do feel a responsibility as president of the United States to facilitate a smooth transition.”

According to The Washington Times4, “President Obama embarks on his final foreign trip Monday, leaving behind a Donald Trump wave in the United States and heading straight into another Trump-like wave in Europe. The lame-duck president is hoping to reassure allies about the stability of U.S. policy, while the president-elect is gearing up to unravel some of Mr. Obama’s biggest foreign policy initiatives, including the Paris climate change agreement and the Iran nuclear deal.”

The Times continues, “Mr. Obama will be largely powerless to deal with rising concerns among European leaders that upcoming elections in Italy and France could be swayed by the same sort of anti-establishment forces that contributed to Mr. Trump’s victory and British voters' decision to leave the European Union. The U.S. president was on the losing side of both votes, and he’s also spoken out in support of the Italian prime minister’s proposed constitutional changes to consolidate power, a referendum to be held next month.”

Of course, what Obama won’t admit is that his socialist overreach created the Trump phenomenon. “People seem to think I did a pretty good job, so there is this mismatch between frustration and anger,” Obama said. “Perhaps the view of the American people was we just need to shake things up.”

He sought to belittle America by subjugating it to the rules and governance of other nations. Yet voters here and all over the globe are rejecting the policies this administration wants so badly to permanently instill. Trump has a lot to prove, both domestically and internationally. But that doesn’t change the fact that the departing president is underscoring the disaster of his own reign by offering our partners reassurance. After all, he created their apprehension.

Division and Vitriol5

According to a new Gallup poll, just 84% of Americans have said they accept Donald Trump as a legitimate president. What are the other 16% doing about it? Protesting, rioting, beating people and threatening jobs.

As protests rage in several of the nation’s largest cities over Trump’s election, the Leftmedia are content to act as apologists for the unruly and emotionally juvenile mobs. Chanting a variety of noxious complaints such as “Not My President,” protesters who evidently don’t have jobs — or as Trump has suggested, are professional agitators — have been demonstrating since last Wednesday. Some of them were bussed in6. Worst of all, at least one protester in the nation’s capital even held up a “Rape Melania7” sign, in reference to the incoming first lady. What vile human being would advocate such a thing?

The day after the election, Matt Maloney, CEO of popular food delivery service GrubHub, sent an email to his employees telling those who supported Trump to submit “your resignation because you have no place here.” He later claimed he wasn’t against people having voted for Trump. We in our humble shop have our doubts.

Leftmedia support the accusations and stoke fears by referring to a few rather obscure accounts of people — say, paid leftist protesters — shouting disparaging remarks toward Clinton supporters. Meanwhile the mainstream press conveniently ignores a much more disturbing video gaining wide play on social media. The video, shot in Chicago, shows an older white man under vicious assault by several black youths while others yell, “Beat his ass! You voted Trump! Don’t vote Trump!”

Where is Barack Obama calling out this deplorable behavior born out of bigoted and racist rage? For that matter, where’s Hillary Clinton? Bernie Sanders is practically alone among Democrats calling on leftists to cease their temper tantrums. The response demonstrated by many of these radicals is exactly why identity politics is so destructive, for it thrives on pitting groups against each other. The result is an increased divisiveness with little common ground.
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The Patriot Post Digest 11-15-2016
From The Federalist Patriot
Free Email Subscription
________________________________________

BEST OF RIGHT OPINION

Rich Lowry: America Is Not a Safe Space10
Thomas Sowell: What Now?11
Cal Thomas: Advising the President-Elect12

For more, visit Right Opinion13.

TOP HEADLINES

Keith Ellison Enters Race for DNC Chair14
Obama Punts Decision on Dakota Access Pipeline15
Chicago Vows to Remain Sanctuary City16
UVA Professors: No More Quoting Jefferson17

For more, visit Patriot Headline Report18.

FEATURED RIGHT ANALYSIS
Will Trump Repeal, Replace or Amend ObamaCare?19

By Paul Albaugh

Most conservatives remain relieved this week after Donald Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton last Tuesday. But much remains unknown about what Trump will try to do. He has laid out an agenda for his first 100 days20 in office and one of the first things on his agenda is repealing the atrocious monstrosity of ObamaCare.

Conservatives would love for Trump to push for a full repeal of the grossly misnamed “Affordable Care Act.” Despite an overwhelming majority of Americans loathing ObamaCare, it’s Obama’s signature accomplishment in his agenda to fundamentally transform America. Democrats in Congress have defended21 ObamaCare on every occasion and have all but declared war to preserve it — even though it cost them dearly in this election (not to mention 2010 and 2014).

Conservatives should fight back.

On the campaign trail, Hillary Clinton promised to keep and expand ObamaCare. Trump, on the other hand, promised to move “very, very quickly” on repealing ObamaCare. Republicans in Congress made dozens of moves during Obama’s tenure to push for repeal or for reforming the health care law but only one of those measures made it to Obama’s desk, where, of course, he vetoed it.

Trump’s own health care plan22, which he put out during his campaign, is quite reasonable. It calls for the complete repeal of ObamaCare, allowing health insurance to be sold across state lines, scrapping the individual mandate, implementing tax deductions for purchasing health insurance, and encouraging people who are healthy to put money into Health Savings Accounts. His plan also calls for Medicaid block-grants for the States and removing regulatory barriers for drug providers to enter the free market.

During an interview with The Wall Street Journal — on the heels of his White House meeting23 with Obama — Trump’s tone changed slightly and there is indication that he is open for compromise24 instead of full repeal of ObamaCare. Specifically, Trump indicated there are two particular provisions in the law that he’s willing to keep. In the Journal’s phrasing, he “said he favors keeping the prohibition against insurers denying coverage because of patients' existing conditions, and a provision that allows parents to provide years of additional coverage for children on their insurance policies.” He also stated, “Either ObamaCare will be repealed, replaced or amended.” Those may not be the exact words conservatives want to hear, but Trump has signaled that he’s willing to work with Republicans in Congress.

And by all indications, the Republican-led Congress is ready to get to work on dismantling ObamaCare25. House Speaker Paul Ryan said during a press conference, “This Congress, this House majority, this Senate majority has already demonstrated and proven we’re able to pass legislation and put it on the president’s desk.” Ryan added, “Problem is, President Obama vetoed it. Now, we have a President Trump who has promised to fix this.”

Senator Majority Leader Mitch McConnell echoed similar sentiments and stated that ObamaCare’s repeal is a priority for the GOP-led Senate. “It’s pretty high on our agenda as you know,” he said. “I would be shocked if we didn’t move forward and keep our commitment to the American people.”

The bill that was sent to Obama called for the repeal of the individual and employer mandates, Medicaid expansion, tax credits, medical device tax and Cadillac tax. In addition, it stripped the government of its authority to run the exchanges set up under the law and eliminated the fine for failing to comply with the mandates. Let’s see if Republicans can at least duplicate that effort.

Aside from Congress, Seth Chandler a visiting scholar at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center and professor at the University of Houston Law Center, says there are several things Trump can do immediately to start the repeal of ObamaCare. The first thing is to end cost-sharing reductions, which are payments the federal government makes to insurance companies that provide silver-level plans to consumers. Trump could also begin the rule-making process to roll back regulations implemented under ObamaCare, which include the contraception mandate and the essential benefits requirement.

Regardless of what takes place in the coming months, any steps to repeal and replace ObamaCare will be steps in the right direction. It will take time. But under a Trump presidency we must demand a significant shift away from the current health care disaster that we experienced under Obama.

MORE ANALYSIS FROM THE PATRIOT POST

Now That the 2016 Election Is in the Rearview Mirror26 — There is much to be done. Let’s get started.
Sanctuary City Advocates Won’t Go Quietly27 — Mayors across the country are declaring war on Trump’s immigration policy.

OPINION IN BRIEF

Rich Lowry: “Pity the anti-Trump protesters thronging the streets of American cities. Apparently, no one ever told them that they live in a geographically, economically and ideologically varied nation, and that about half of its inhabitants might support a Republican candidate for president. They mistook the country for the campus of Oberlin College. … One anti-Trump protester was seen the other day holding a sign reading ‘Your vote was a hate crime.’ It’s hard to imagine a better distillation of the coercive small-mindedness that prevails on college campuses. This attitude ensures a state of perpetual shock and outrage at the lived reality of a continental nation of more than 300 million free men and women. … Trump’s critics are certain that he is the champion of a blinkered worldview. But the election and its aftermath show that it is the self-styled citizens of the world who need to get out more.”

SHORT CUTS

Insight: “Journalism is popular, but it is popular mainly as fiction. Life is one world, and life seen in the newspapers is another.” —Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936)

For the record: “Clinton’s campaign outspent Trump by more than two-to-one. Pro-Clinton ads outnumbered pro-Trump ads by three-to-one. Independent groups (the ‘super PACs’) supporting Clinton outspent independent groups supporting Trump by three-to-one. The average contribution to Trump was smaller than the average contribution to Clinton. And on and on it goes. We’re told by campaign finance ‘reformers’ that we must restrict spending in politics so that ‘people’ can have their voices heard. But voters in 2016 ultimately chose the candidate without even a ‘real’ super PAC to speak of.” —Washington Examiner’s Bradley Smith

Legacy: “Historians are going to see [Obama] as a textbook definition of a guy who won on hope and change, who won with a wave of goodwill and who completely destroyed his presidency with liberal overreach, beginning with ObamaCare. And this is a rejection of [that] ideology.” —Charles Krauthammer

Keen sense of the obvious: “Obviously there are people who are feeling deeply disaffected — otherwise we wouldn’t have had the results we had in the election.” —Barack Obama

Boasting jackass: “The incoming administration doesn’t have to put out a huge number of fires. They may want to take the country in a significantly different direction, but they have time to consider what they want to achieve, and that’s a testament to the tremendous work my team has done over the last eight years. I am proud of it.” —Barack Obama

Alpha jackass: “On Nov. 8, the most powerful country in world history, which will set its stamp on what comes next, had an election. The outcome placed total control of the government — executive, Congress, the Supreme Court — in the hands of the Republican Party, which has become the most dangerous organization in world history.” —Noam Chomsky

And last… “Remember when CBS' Lesley Stahl made Hillary look into the camera and denounce thugs hired by the Democrat Party on her behalf? Me neither.” —Twitter satirist @weknowwhatsbest

Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis!
Managing Editor Nate Jackson

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