The Patriot Post Digest 2-3-2017

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The Patriot Post Digest 2-3-2017
From The Federalist Patriot
Free Email Subscription
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Mid-Day Digest

Feb. 3, 2017

IN TODAY’S EDITION

    Negligence had nothing to do with the dubiously reported “botched” Yemen raid.
    Morale is high at DHS as Trump has freed the agency to do its job.
    The GOP is facing the reality that lowering taxes must include spending cuts.
    And more news, policy and opinion.

THE FOUNDATION

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.” —Thomas Paine (1777)

TOP RIGHT HOOKS

The Truth About the ‘Botched’ Yemen Raid1

There are accusations being fomented by the Leftmedia that claim President Donald Trump’s first counterterrorism order resulted in a disastrous yet preventable episode in Yemen — the consequence, we’re now being told, of sheer negligence. Tragically, the operation took the life of SEAL Team Six’s Chief Petty Officer William “Ryan” Owens and other innocent bystanders. But the situation all came to a head when Reuters reported that “U.S. military officials [said] Trump approved his first covert counterterrorism operation without sufficient intelligence, ground support or adequate backup preparations.” This appears to be a blatant attempt to smear Trump’s reputation and further portray him as unsuited for the role of commander in chief.

First, The New York Times says, “Barack Obama’s national security aides had reviewed the plans for a risky attack on a small, heavily guarded brick home of a senior Qaeda collaborator in a mountainous village in a remote part of central Yemen. But Mr. Obama did not act because the Pentagon wanted to launch the attack on a moonless night and the next one would come after his term had ended.” In other words, the attack was planned before Trump even entered the Oval Office. So it wasn’t some hastily concocted operation.

Second, veteran David French. who has actual experience in combat, warns against buying the Leftmedia’s narrative2. He writes, “Absent truly extraordinary circumstances not outlined in the report, these officials seem to be relying on reporters' ignorance and willingness to believe anything about Trump … to deflect criticism of a dangerous operation that turned out to be even more dangerous than anticipated. That happens in war. It happened all the time when I was in Iraq.”

“People who haven’t been exposed to war with jihadists tend to think of firefights as precise affairs,” French continues. “Instead, they’re extraordinarily destructive, and the battle is waged against an enemy who intentionally and flagrantly violates the laws of war.” In conclusion: “None of this sounds unusual. … It’s an impressive feat of arms to assault an alert enemy in a prepared defensive position, defeat that enemy, and leave with valuable intelligence. So, no, don’t believe claims that Trump botched the raid in Yemen. He didn’t plan the operation, and we don’t want him planning operations. We want presidents to rely on professionals. But those same professionals will tell you that war is terrible by its very nature, and no president can guarantee victory without cost.”

By the way, the media outlets peddling these dubious reports are the same outlets that did everything they could to avoid covering Benghazi. Which truly was a preventable disaster.

DHS Experiences the Trump Effect 3

With all the Democrats' and Leftmedia’s hysterics over Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration, travel restrictions and reforming of visa vetting, combined with an over-the-top freakout of many Hollywood elites calling for resistance to Trump, one can hardly be faulted for wondering if there are any out there who are happy with Trump beyond those “deplorables” who voted for him, sizable though they may be.

Well, there is at least one government agency where members are reporting quite a boost in morale after Trump’s recent executive orders — the Department of Homeland Security. Over the last eight years, Border Patrol agents have felt like they were fighting a losing battle. Under Barack Obama’s “catch and release” directive, up to 80% of those illegals caught trying to enter were let go. Agents said that they felt handcuffed, unable to do their jobs. But now, says Shawn Moran, vice president of the National Border Patrol Council, “When Trump was elected, there was an increase in optimism among the agents, but nothing like what we’ve seen in the past few days.”

The DHS, once considered one of the worst places to work within the federal government according to staff surveys, has seen a sizable shift in morale. One Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, after hearing new DHS Secretary John Kelly’s public remarks to reporters on enforcing laws to protect Americans, said that it “re-energized a lot of us because for so long we’ve been vilified for doing our jobs, and here was someone finally standing up for us.”

As Trump said when he spoke last week at DHS headquarters, “Agents haven’t been allowed to do their jobs. That’s going to change.” And indeed, it looks like those at DHS are happy he’s been true to his word.

Top Headlines4

    Trump to dismantle Dodd-Frank Wall Street rules through executive orders. (USA Today5)

    Budget chief pick approved by Senate committee. (The Hill6)

    Economy adds 227,000 new jobs in January. (Market Watch7)

    Senate panel approves Trump EPA chief pick over Democrats' boycott. (Reuters8.)

    Senate votes to block Obama’s onerous coal waste removal rule. (The Hill9)

    GOP unveils bill to allow political activity by churches after Trump vows to “destroy” Johnson Amendment. (The Hill10)

    House votes to undo Obama gun control rule. (Washington Examiner11)

    Obama’s last money shower for the UN: $9.2 billion. (Fox News12)

    U.S. to issue new Iran sanctions, opening shot in get-tough strategy. (Reuters13)

    Under Leftmedia pressure, corporations cautious about Trump business advisory council. (Washington Post14)

    Policy: Americans shouldn’t have to subsidize campus lawlessness. (The Daily Signal15)

    Policy: Make all federal employees fireable. (National Review16)

FEATURED RIGHT ANALYSIS
Trump’s Tax Challenge17

By Lewis Morris

President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans have sounded off18 in recent weeks with their thoughts on what tax reform will look like, but they’re having trouble finding common ground on some key issues.

Trump has referred to placing import tariffs to offset the revenue lost by lowering business and income taxes. House Republicans are wary of this idea, and with good reason. It could create a trade imbalance and damage the fragile economy just when things might be turning around.

The House Republicans' plan19, however, might not be much better. They’re toying with the idea of taxing imports more aggressively while exempting exports completely. At the same time, they’re calling for a 20% drop in the corporate tax rate, with the tax revenue lost by this rate cut to be made up by what is euphemistically called a border adjustment — the taxing of imported goods but not exported goods.

Trump says the border adjustment is too complicated; that it relies on a lot of variables all moving in the right direction, including foreign exchange rates, the strength of the dollar relative to other currencies, foreign market behavior, trade, and American production and consumer purchasing.

[nChrist]

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The Patriot Post Digest 2-3-2017
From The Federalist Patriot
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Which path to choose now becomes the big question. Both proposals have big “ifs” attached to them. And there is concern that either plan runs the risk of not boosting middle American workers, which is where the real sustained tax crunch remains.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has gone so far as to suggest that the corporate tax rate be wiped out completely20. According to Lee, the money freed from the repeal of the corporate tax would stay in the country and be pushed back into the company or into workers' pockets. Or some combination of the two.

Lee suggests that the lost revenue could be offset by categorizing capital gains as income and taxing it at the regular income tax rate, which would almost double the capital gains tax from its current 20%. He claims that “investors could still come out ahead, just not as much as workers will, and only if they invest in the United States [emphasis in original].”

“Thus, this tax reform would not advantage workers over investors,” said Lee. “It simply levels the playing field that globalization and current policy have tilted against them.”

Lee’s plan is well-intentioned, but it carries its own set of risks. He believes that the capital gains hike will have a favorable effect on investments and won’t force that money overseas. But that’s still a theory.

Veronique de Rugy21 has made perhaps the best point in this current debate over tax plans:

“Some Republicans have apparently accepted the Left’s premise that pro-growth tax cuts are something that must be ‘paid for’ through increases in other taxes instead of with spending cuts or by simply letting the economy grow and bring overall tax revenue up along with it.”

The problem with the GOP plans is that they don’t involve real cuts. The federal government for too long has neutralized the widespread economic benefits of a set of tax cuts because they’re always counterbalanced by new taxes or fees elsewhere. Cutting one tax and raising another isn’t tax reform; it’s a shell game. The outcome of any substantive tax cut is going to mean spending cuts. Which is why the liberals fight them so vigorously.

Whatever plan the GOP develops for tax reform, it will need to stimulate business and put more money in workers' paychecks — both of which must happen to get the economy rolling.

MORE ANALYSIS FROM THE PATRIOT POST

    A New Definition of Free Speech22 — The Left’s intolerance of free speech is reaching new levels on college campuses.
    Tough Love, Texas Style23 — Gov. Abbott withholds funds from county that refuses to end sanctuary city policy.
    Is Education Nominee Headed for Rejection?24 — Probably not, but GOP defectors leave a razor-thin margin.
    No, Scalia’s Seat Wasn’t ‘Stolen’25 — The GOP took a gamble and won fair and square.
    Liberal Sexism Is on Fire26 — Leftists “can literally get away with crimes against women.”

BEST OF RIGHT OPINION

    Charles Krauthammer: Thank God for Harry Reid27
    Erick Erickson: Cutting Off Their Nose28
    David Limbaugh: Let’s Hope the Loony Left Keeps Exposing Itself29

For more, visit Right Opinion30.

OPINION IN BRIEF

Charles Krauthammer: “God bless Harry Reid. It’s because of him that Gorsuch is guaranteed elevation to the court. In 2013, as then-Senate majority leader, Reid blew up the joint. He abolished the filibuster for federal appointments both executive (such as Cabinet) and judicial, for all district and circuit court judgeships (excluding only the Supreme Court). Thus unencumbered, the Democratic-controlled Senate packed the lower courts with Obama nominees. Reid was warned that the day would come when Republicans would be in the majority and would exploit the new rules to equal and opposite effect. That day is here. The result is striking. Trump’s Cabinet appointments are essentially unstoppable because Republicans need only 51 votes and they have 52. They have no need to reach 60, the number required to overcome a filibuster. Democrats are powerless to stop anyone on their own. And equally powerless to stop Gorsuch. But isn’t the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees still standing? Yes, but if the Democrats dare try it, everyone knows that Majority Leader McConnell will do exactly what Reid did and invoke the nuclear option — filibuster abolition — for the Supreme Court, too.”

SHORT CUTS

Upright: “[Hollywood elitists] don’t have a choice now. [Trump is] our president. And it’s very dynamic and as divisive of an inauguration and time as we’ve had. At the same time, it’s time for us to embrace and shake hands with this fact. And be constructive with him over the next four years.” —Matthew McConaughey

For the record: “Had Donald Trump nominated Jesus Christ to the Supreme Court, the Left would march in protest of the Lord’s views on life and marriage. So wrapped up in the advance of one size fits all social justice, the Left will cut off its nose to spite its face.” —Erick Erickson

Alpha Jackass: “It’s a stunning thing that a white supremacist, [Stephen] Bannon, would be a permanent member of the National Security Council.” —Nancy Pelosi

Non Compos Mentis: “WAKE UP & JOIN THE RESISTANCE. ONCE THE MILITARY IS W US FASCISTS GET OVERTHROWN. MAD KING & HIS HANDLERS GO BYE BYE.” —Sarah Silverman

Goals: “[Abortion] helps to address the number of people we have on this planet. We feel that one of the ways that we can get to a sustainable population is to empower women to make choices about their own families.” —Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune

Flashback: “She knows that in this big, diverse country, democracy can’t work if all we’re about is trying to destroy somebody in the other party. If we demonize each other. If we block Supreme Court appointments — not because that’s how it’s supposed to work, but just because we didn’t win.” —Barack Obama on the campaign trail for Hillary Clinton

Late-night humor: “We’re now learning a little bit more about Neil Gorsuch. For instance, I read that he actually has a barn where he raises horses, chickens and goats. That experience will come in handy when he spends the rest of his life side-stepping all the crap in Washington.” —Jimmy Fallon

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.