The Patriot Post Digest 5-5-2017

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The Patriot Post Digest 5-5-2017
From The Federalist Patriot
Free Email Subscription
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Mid-Day Digest

May 5, 2017

IN TODAY’S EDITION

After slumping in March, the jobs market rebounded in April.
The symbolism and substance of Trump’s executive order on religious liberty.
House Republicans successfully pass their health care reform bill. Now to the Senate.
Daily Features: Top Headlines, Cartoons, Columnists and Short Cuts.

THE FOUNDATION

“To cherish and stimulate the activity of the human mind, by multiplying the objects of enterprise, is not among the least considerable of the expedients, by which the wealth of a nation may be promoted.” —Alexander Hamilton (1791)

TOP RIGHT HOOKS

Jobs Report Returns to Normal in April1

If April showers bring May flowers (and most of the U.S. should have plenty of color this year), what does a strong April jobs report foretell? Hopefully, a blossoming economy that can finally put Obamanomics behind it. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the economy added 211,000 new jobs in April, which helped reduce the headline unemployment rate to a 10-year low of 4.4%. The fuller measure U-6 rate dropped to 8.6%, the best since November 2007.

Recall that March’s jobs report was ugly, plain and simple. The BLS’s already paltry estimate of 98,000 new jobs that month was reduced even further today, with BLS now calculating just 79,000 jobs. On the flip side, February’s report actually improved, with BLS estimating 232,000 new jobs (the previous figure was 219,000). The consensus seems to be that bad weather served as an economic bludgeon in March. And that is most certainly a factor.

Remember too that first quarter GDP (0.7% growth) was in many ways a paradox. Consumer spending was not on par with other positive economic signals, and there are a few theories behind this disparity2. But the Leftmedia’s interpretation of it — that low GDP is a possible repudiation of Trumpnomics — doesn’t exactly add up. March’s jobs report gave ammunition to this view. But February’s and April’s reports don’t. The truth is that Obama spent all your money. Trump wants to let you keep it. While GDP might be low, businesses are hiring. The question is what happens from here.

It could be the consumers are being cautious, waiting to see what Congress does on important matters before flooding the economy with hard-earned cash. ObamaCare repeal3 and tax reform are huge factors for the economy, and the outcome of both remains to be seen. But reforming those two issues would do more than anything else to jumpstart the economy. In other words: Dear Senate, the ball’s in your court. Don’t blow it.

Religious Liberty — Symbolism and Substance4

On Thursday, Donald Trump signed an executive order touted as a significant step toward restoring religious liberties and protections which had been heavily eroded under Barack Obama. An early draft of the order leaked to the press in February had many conservatives expectant and hopeful of Trump enacting strong and broad protections for religious freedom and expression. Then came the actual order, leaving reactions mixed. As we said yesterday the order is a symbolically important rebuke5 of the last eight years, but it’s low on substantive change.

The executive order focuses primarily on three areas. One, the Trump administration will “vigorously promote religious liberty.” Two, the IRS will be advised to “exercise maximum enforcement discretion to alleviate the burden of the Johnson Amendment, which prohibits religious leaders from speaking about politics and candidates from the pulpit.” And three, the order provides “regulator relief for religious objectors to ObamaCare’s burdensome preventative services mandate, a position supported by the Supreme Court’s decision in Hobby Lobby.”

Trump’s order highlights the problem with executive orders in general — namely that they lack both the strength to undo existing law and the permanency of law. That’s not to say they aren’t substantive tools to affect change in and of themselves, or useful for inviting legal challenge or igniting legislative action. It remains to be seen if Trump’s order induces either, though we wouldn’t be surprised if his aim isn’t court challenges in particular. If religious liberty wins at the Supreme Court, it would be more lasting than any order he could sign.

Thus far the Left’s response to the order has been quite tepid, with both CNN and MSNBC describing it simply as “controversial,” their standard term for any socially conservative policy. Meanwhile, the American Civil Liberties Union, well known for challenging policies it views as discriminatory, says the order is nothing more than “an elaborate photo-op with no discernible policy outcome.”

In the end, it’s important to remember one thing: Trump frequently works to get things done through perception. Whether it’s immigration, trade, foreign policy, or various domestic issues, he confidently expresses big picture ideas that are inevitably slim on details but are designed to attract and motivate people. That’s no guarantee of success, but it’s his art of the deal.

Top Headlines6

Find out which Republicans voted against the House’s ObamaCare replacement bill. (The Daily Signal7)

NYT correspondent falsely reports House members voted to exempt themselves from GOP health care bill. (The Washington Free Beacon8.)

“Mandatory” federal health care spending now tops $1,000,000,000,000. (CNS News9)

U.S. lawmakers introduce bipartisan resolution to end campus free speech zones. (The Federalist10)

Poll: Plurality of Democrats say campuses should not allow speakers whose words are thought “hateful” or “offensive” by some. (Hot Air11)

St. Louis Post-Dispatch columnist who defended NRA quits after suspension. (Fox News12)

Hillary launching “Onward Together” PAC next week to rebuild her political influence. (Hot Air13)

Punishing sanctuary cities: Controversial Texas bill heads to governor’s desk. (Fox News14)

Bill Nye’s history is edited to satisfy transgender advocates. (Hot Air15)

Justice Department begins criminal probe into Uber’s use of software to help drivers evade local regulators. (CNBC16)

Policy: Trump’s executive order fails to address most pressing religious liberty threats. (Daily Signal17)

Policy: Puerto Rico shows governments do go bankrupt. (Investor’s Business Daily18.)

For more, visit Patriot Headline Report19.

FEATURED RIGHT ANALYSIS
The House GOP Moves the Ball Forward3

By Todd Johnson

As expected, the lead story coming out of Washington, DC, yesterday was the Republicans' passage of a bill in the House of Representatives to replace the grossly misnamed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. As with all legislation, there were winners and losers and Thursday’s activity was no different. The major victors included not only President Donald Trump but also Speaker Paul Ryan, Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and every GOP member of Congress who has campaigned against ObamaCare since it was first passed without a single Republican vote in March 2010.

The significance of the House’s bill cannot be understated for the Republican Party — it marks the first time that the House majority has been able to pass substantial legislation during Donald Trump’s presidency. The rocky path of the American Health Care Act is incredible considering that the first version of the bill20 didn’t even make it to the House floor for debate and a vote but a scant five weeks ago. It’s also important to note that Republicans had to start somewhere on undoing the damage inflicted by ObamaCare. The bill isn’t perfect, but it doesn’t have to be. Yesterday’s accomplishment is, as Paul Ryan stated, the first step in the process of making it happen.

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The Patriot Post Digest 5-5-2017
From The Federalist Patriot
Free Email Subscription
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The bill repeals many portions of ObamaCare, as The Hill reports21, “including its subsidies to help people get insurance coverage, expansion of Medicaid, taxes and mandates for people to get coverage.”

However — you had to know there was going to be a “however” — lost in the euphoric shuffle of many Republican supporters is that yesterday’s triumph is somewhat of a tainted political win for the Party. It only occurred after the Republican leadership violated some of its core principles22, and it keeps large portions of ObamaCare’s structure in place23.

Many Republican and Democrat voters and legislators were dismayed that the full bill24 was only made available for public viewing at 8:00 p.m. the night prior to the vote, that hearings and debate were limited on a topic that encompasses one-sixth of the U.S. economy25, and that the bill was not scored by the Congressional Budget Office prior to going to the floor.

Given how Republicans justifiably excoriated Democrats for the exact same things in 2010, that particularly stings.

While the passage of the bill was a milestone on the road to full repeal, the question for many supporters is, “At what cost?” Few expect the newly passed legislation to have a chance in its current form in the Senate. As Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch said in a statement26, “We will be working to put together a package that reflects our members' priorities with the explicit goal of getting 51 votes.”

Translation: Thanks, but we’ll do our own thing.

Which is why the “celebration” at the White House Rose Garden was very interesting to watch. We understand that President Trump and the GOP leadership were excited to have the bill pass, but yesterday’s display by the House caucus was akin to a marathoner celebrating at the 13-mile mark or a running back doing a touchdown dance at the 50-yard line. There’s an awfully long way to go in the process27.

That said, could it be that Trump and his team were using the celebration to put pressure on the Senate? If repeal is going to happen, Trump is going to have to lead and get the American people on board. Otherwise, skittish senators are unlikely to stick out their necks. Perhaps this Rose Garden celebration was step one in that process.

Another aspect of yesterday’s activity, the narrow margin of victory 217-213, reflects a Republican Party still coming to grips with how to leverage its power in the lower house. Many “moderate” Republicans who voted repeatedly for repeal while Barack Obama was there to veto it are now opposed to repeal when it can actually be accomplished. The defection of many “centrist” Tuesday Group Republican lawmakers, including moderates from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio, is a sign to party leadership that future legislation covering individual28 and corporate tax reform29, as well as infrastructure spending30, is going to be a challenge.

In short, the GOP has not coalesced into a unified, cohesive unit and the roll call7 reflects a political group still searching for an identity. How leadership handles these recalcitrant members will determine the success or failure of the First Session of the 115th Congress.

Life is all about managing expectations, especially when it comes to politics. Republican leadership would be wise to heed these words as they try to repeal ObamaCare fully. No one denies that Obama’s signature piece of legislation has been incredibly flawed and that it has created a considerable amount of confusion since it was signed into law. The Republican Party had seven years to put together a plan and yesterday’s efforts fell way short of ideal. But it’s a start. Only time will tell whether it will be considered the foundation a Pyrrhic victory or a substantial triumph.

MORE ANALYSIS FROM THE PATRIOT POST

Fixing the Democrats' Dodd-Frank Disaster31 — ObamaCare isn’t the only legacy item up for repeal or renovation. The massive financial sector regulatory bill is on the block.
Solar Industry Struggles32 — SEC is looking into the industries reporting numbers, adding to its bad publicity and stiff market competition.
About That Sustainable Organic Food…33 — Is organic food the best thing since sliced bread, or is it overpriced sophistry? Depends on who you ask.
‘Why Isn’t Communism as Hated as Nazism?’34 — Dennis Prager investigates the answers to this question for Prager University.

BEST OF RIGHT OPINION

Michael Barone: Cultural Appropriation: A Modest Proposal35
Jonah Goldberg: Is Empathy a Distraction in Health Care Debate?36
David Harsanyi: James Comey Didn’t Sink Hillary. Hillary Sank Hillary.37

For more, visit Right Opinion38.

OPINION IN BRIEF

Jonah Goldberg: “Empathy alone is dangerous and can distract us from rational thought and meaningful compassion. Which brings me back to Jimmy Kimmel. His story about his son aroused a riot of empathy across the nation. And he used that response to make an argument about health care policy that was largely devoid of any consideration of the facts, trade-offs or costs of what is the best way to deal with people, including babies, who have pre-existing medical conditions. He was largely wrong on the facts: Babies with dire medical conditions are covered by their parents' insurance, and when their parents are uninsured, doctors don’t just let the baby die on the table. That doesn’t mean there aren’t inequities in the system or that the current health care regime is anywhere close to perfect. But it is very difficult to have a rational discussion about the trade-offs inherent to any health care system — including socialized medicine — when all anyone can think about is the ordeal of a newborn baby and his loving parents.”

SHORT CUTS

Insight: “Society produces rogues, and education makes one rogue cleverer than another.” —Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)

Slippery slope: “ObamaCare is a disaster on the ground. What it’s done to our system, what it’s done economically, it’s in a death spiral, and politically, it ruined the Democrats. However, there is an irony and a hidden victory over these last several years — people’s expectations have changed. … The country is at a point where I think it believes in universal coverage. And once you are there, the ground has shifted and Republicans and conservatives are going to have a hard time arguing for a consumer-based, market-oriented health care system.” —Charles Krauthammer (And as we’ve warned, that was the Democrats' cunning and conniving plan all along.)

Foreign influence! “The French election is very important to the future of France and the values that we care so much about. Because the success of France matters to the entire world. I have admired the campaign that Emmanuel Macron has run. He has stood up for liberal values. He put forward a vision for the important role that France plays in Europe and around the world, and he is committed to a better future for the French people. He appeals to people’s hopes and not their fears. … I am supporting Emmanuel Macron to lead you forward.” —Barack Obama

The BIG Lie: “I affirm to you that we are raising our youth, our children, our grandchildren on a culture of peace. And we are endeavoring to bringing about security, freedom and peace for our children to live like the other children in the world along with the Israeli children in peace, freedom and security.” —Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas

Late-night humor: “American Airlines recently announced that they plan on cutting leg room in economy class, while United Airlines announced they’ll be cutting legs.” —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.