The Patriot Post Digest 1-17-2017

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The Patriot Post Digest 1-17-2017
From The Federalist Patriot
Free Email Subscription
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Mid-Day Digest

Jan. 17, 2017

IN TODAY’S EDITION

Another parting interview for Obama and a look at the sand castle he built.
Trump sets out to market ObamaCare’s repeal and reassure the worriers.
Obama’s DOJ takes a parting shot at police through its Chicago report.
And more news, policy and opinion.

THE FOUNDATION

“It is on great occasions only, and after time has been given for cool and deliberate reflection, that the real voice of the people can be known.” —George Washington (1796)

TOP RIGHT HOOKS

Obama’s Sand Castle1

On Sunday, CBS’s “60 Minutes” aired its exit interview with Barack Obama as they reminisced on his time in office. As the interview went on, it became increasingly clear that Obama rarely second guesses himself or his decisions. When asked what surprised him most upon taking office he answered, “I was surprised and continue to be surprised by the severity of partisanship in this town.” Seriously? The number one contributor to the partisanship over these last eight years has been Obama2.

As Charles Krauthammer commented, it was Obama who tried to govern the nation by pushing a hard “social democratic” agenda onto “a country that is 80% non-liberal.” That’s a recipe for partisan gridlock if ever there was one. And yet Obama remains mystified as to how to “crack the code” of the nation’s polarization.

Ironically, the answer Obama gave to a question on how he would advise Donald Trump provides the solution to “cracking the code.” Obama said, “The one thing I’ve said to [Trump] directly — and I would advise my Republican friends in Congress and supporters around the country — is just make sure that, as we go forward, certain norms [and] certain institutional traditions don’t get eroded, because there’s a reason they’re in place.” If only the constitutional scholar had taken his own advice and the Constitution seriously3.

In one of the more telling moments, interviewer Steve Kroft asked if Obama regretted his “red line” statement warning Bashar al-Assad not to use chemical weapons on his own people. Instead of owning the fact that it was a mistake because he never followed through, Obama obfuscated, hemmed and hawed and then, incredibly, said, “Regardless of how it ended up playing, I think — in the Beltway, what is true is Assad got rid of his chemical weapons.” Talk about revisionist history. Certainly, Obama doesn’t want to own his mistakes and miscalculations, but fortunately that’s not something he gets to decide for himself.

So, what should one think of Obama’s time in office? Of course opinions will vary, though Krauthammer put it well, saying that Obama may have done a lot, but his accomplishments are “all built on sand.”

Marketing ObamaCare’s Repeal4

“We’re going to have insurance for everybody.” That’s Donald Trump’s promise as he prepares to take office and the GOP congressional majorities begin unraveling5 Obama’s signature legislation. “There was a philosophy in some circles that if you can’t pay for it, you don’t get it,” Trump added. “That’s not going to happen with us.” He addressed folks losing their insurance, too. “It’s not going to be their plan,” he said of those covered under ObamaCare (and no, it’s not 20 million6). “It’ll be another plan. But they’ll be beautifully covered. I don’t want single-payer. What I do want is to be able to take care of people.” He also wants to make it less expensive, which shouldn’t be too difficult. Simply repealing ObamaCare’s coverage standards would go a long way toward reducing prices.

The challenge for Republicans has always been as much political as practical — how can they repeal a monstrosity while not appearing heartless? Trump is bridging that divide in his way, reassuring people that Republicans aren’t just going to abandon them as Democrats would have us believe. But Trump and the congressional GOP also know that serious reforms are necessary to stop or even slow the skyrocketing costs of health care exacerbated by ObamaCare. Repeal and replace will require some serious marketing chops, and Republicans haven’t been particularly adept in that department. It’s time they improve.

Top Headlines7

Trump Effect: GM plans $1 billion U.S. investment. (Bloomberg8.)

Trump Effect: Walmart touts plan to create 10,000 U.S. jobs. (The Wall Street Journal9)

Martin Luther King III and Trump have “very constructive” meeting. (The Hill10)

Alveda King, MLK’s niece: “I voted for Mr. Trump.” (The Washington Times11)

Why ObamaCare’s “20 million” number is fake. (The Daily Signal6)

Trump’s offers Russia end to sanctions for nuclear arms cut. (Reuters12)

Criminal illegal immigrants sent home after capture at southwest border. (Washington Free Beacon13)

Wife of Pulse nightclub jihadi Omar Mateen arrested in San Francisco. (ABC News14)

Monica Crowley bows out of Trump post after plagiarism affirmed. (Washington Examiner15)

Last man to walk on the moon Eugene Cernan, dies at 82. (Space.com16)

Policy: Let’s end criminalization without representation. (National Review17)

Policy: $20 Billion in farm subsidies doesn’t reach the poor, leaves them hungry. (Inside Sources18.)

Don’t Miss Patriot Humor

Check out Knock Knock Joke19.

If you’d like to receive Patriot Humor by email, update your subscription here20.

FEATURED RIGHT ANALYSIS
Chicago Police and the Need for Justice21

By Paul Albaugh

Many people have no doubt heard the familiar phrase, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power, corrupts absolutely.” This phrase is often used in the context of those who hold positions of political power, but it can be applied to other positions as well. Americans have witnessed this phenomenon at all levels of government and have seen CEOs, bankers, members of the military, media giants and even police officers abuse their positions. Humans, regardless of their position, are not immune to the tendencies that occur when given — or even desiring — authority.

When power is used to create or cause injustice, people’s lives end up ruined and communities and organizations are torn apart. In addition, live video footage of police in particular means viewers form immediate impressions, which in turn causes a loss of trust and confidence among the people who are supposed to be served.

Recent police incidents in Chicago reveal some disturbing trends that have done considerable damage to the entire department and what it is supposed to do — serve and protect. But there’s a huge caveat, too.

Barack Obama’s Social Justice™ Department released a report22 on Friday that ripped the Chicago police department for its actions over the past several years. The report highlighted incidents in which police officers were credibly accused of excessive force, abuse, shooting at fleeing and unarmed suspects, improper non-lethal force procedures and racial bias against blacks and minorities.

The report also alleges that there is inadequate training for police officers on the front end, and too little accountability on the back end — times when the bad actions of police officers were ignored, or at best there were very minor repercussions for officer misconduct. From the bottom to the top, the Chicago Police Department has many significant flaws, according to the DOJ.

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The Patriot Post Digest 1-17-2017
From The Federalist Patriot
Free Email Subscription
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On one hand, the report shows that there is indeed injustice that occurs from the very people who are supposed to uphold justice and act justly themselves. On the other hand, there is no doubt that leftists created and are using this report, which reveals the bad actions of a few, to paint a broader picture of abuse in order to pander to Democrat constituents.

Not too long ago, the Justice Department, under then-Attorney General Eric Holder, released findings of injustice23 from its investigation into the Ferguson Police Department. The DOJ’s report indicated that there was “disparate impact” — a favorite, albeit almost entirely fabricated term for Obama — because of what the DOJ determined to be racially motivated misconduct from the city’s police force.

In Ferguson, the police force was predominantly white and the majority of those arrested or involved with incidents with the police were predominantly black. The report was quick to point to racism and the city’s thirst for revenue, but mentioned few causes of the problems. The DOJ investigation, combined with a militarized police force everyone saw displayed on TV, no doubt compounded the problems the city faced.

Predictably, the DOJ’s attempt to “help” in Ferguson actually exacerbated the problems. In the ensuing months, police nationwide were discouraged from enforcing the law, while thugs — particularly black ones — were emboldened to commit more crime. The resulting crime increase can be attributed to the Ferguson Effect24.

Obama’s Justice Department wants to repeat this using the Chicago PD as an example, all to solidify Democrat votes within the black community.

The city of Chicago is of course, a much larger city and with a police force of 12,000, so it’s natural that there would be more numerous complaints of police misconduct. But that’s no excuse for the race-baiters who want to exploit the slightest incident.

There may be some real problems with Chicago’s police practices, and there are certainly other large cities facing similar challenges. There are always a few bad apples, including in police forces. The challenge is addressing potential causes of problems before they become problems. It’s worth reminding people that the majority of police officers are the good guys who simply want to do their job — to serve and protect the people of the communities in which they serve.

And no police officer is guaranteed to return to his family at the end of every shift.

During the last few years, there has been an increase in disrespect for police officers, fomented by Democrats and leftist organizations like Black Lives Matter. And their accomplices in the mass media pounce on every incident, running wall-to-wall coverage in service of The Narrative. Obama has been at the forefront of this war on cops25, and this report on Chicago is the latest salvo. Enough truth to be believable, but enough malice to be used for far worse purposes.

From a community perspective, the priority should be eliminating Democrat urban poverty plantations26 where criminals thrive, coupled with a renewed effort at the state and local level to mend trust with police. Until these things occur, Rule of Law and justice will not be served, and communities will continue to suffer.

MORE ANALYSIS FROM THE PATRIOT POST

Some of Obama’s ‘Greatest Hits’27 — NBC picks a few, but naturally they skip the biggest lies.
Animal Rights Activists Help End the Circus28 — Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey to close, marking the end of an era.
Incoming EPA Chief Gains Ammo Against CO2 Regs29 — Climate alarmists control the narrative because they make up evidence.
The WaPo’s Unfavorable Omission30 — “Trump will take the oath of office as the least-popular president in at least four decades.” But…
USA Today: ‘Whites Killed MLK’31 — USA Today published a racially tinged column with heinous accusation.

BEST OF RIGHT OPINION

Paul Kengor: Barack Obama’s Fundamental Transformation32
Dennis Prager: A Guide to Basic Differences Between Left and Right33
Gary Bauer: Lewis vs. Trump34

For more, visit Right Opinion35.

OPINION IN BRIEF

Paul Kengor: “Did Barack Obama fundamentally transform the United States of America, as he promised? The answer is absolutely yes. That fundamental transformation, however, has not happened in areas where many might have hoped (or feared) in 2008. It has not been a fundamental shift in the attitudes of the vast majority regarding the role of government, taxation, regulations, economics, education, or even healthcare, where Obama had his signature legislative achievement. It hasn’t happened in foreign policy, though Obama has made a seriously detrimental impact in regions from Eastern Europe to the Middle East. The reality is that the true fundamental transformation has been in the realm of culture, notably in matters of sexual orientation, gender, marriage and family. … When we look back at Barack Obama’s eight years, we should visualize not ObamaCare or something in foreign policy but the White House illuminated in rainbow colors on June 26, 2015, or a rainbow-haloed Obama coronated as the ‘first gay president.’ Those are the crowning images of the fundamental transformation of America that Barack Obama achieved.”

SHORT CUTS

Insight: “Socialism is the philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance and the gospel of envy.” —Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

For the record: “[The Trump-Russia dossier] is a garbage document. It never should have been presented … as part of an intelligence briefing. … So, Trump’s right to be upset about that. … And when people make mistakes, they should apologize.” —Bob Woodward

Demo-gogues: “Republicans have been harking for … almost seven years that they need to repeal the Affordable Care Act. … We can … go backwards … to a time where we might as well [have] lived in caves without medicine. Where a person with asthma couldn’t get insurance. Where a family member, if they fell ill and got cancer treatment, the family was destitute because they had bills of hundreds of thousands of dollars. And the Affordable Care Act protects every family in America. … Shame on the Republicans for wanting to get rid of it and go backwards as a nation.” —Rep. Tony Cardenas

Friendly fire: “I am befuddled as to why President Obama would want in his final days to [gut the ‘wet foot, dry foot’ policy for Cuban refugees]. … I don’t know why he did it now — why there was a need to do it.” —Rep. Luis Gutierrez

Alpha Jackass: “It’s a bunch of mediocre negroes being dragged in front of TV as a photo-op for Donald Trump’s exploitive campaign against black people.” —CNN’s Marc Lamont Hill scolding “non-expert” blacks meeting with Trump

And last… “It’s Inauguration Week, a time turn the page and leave behind the mistakes of the past… and to look ahead with new confidence to the mistakes of the future.” —Jim Geraghty

Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Managing Editor Nate Jackson

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