The Patriot Post Digest 2-15-2018

________________________________________
The Patriot Post Digest 2-15-2018
From The Federalist Patriot
Free Email Subscription
________________________________________

The Patriot Post® · Mid-Day Digest
Feb. 15, 2018 · https://patriotpost.us/digests/54168-mid-day-digest

IN TODAY’S EDITION

The mass murder in Florida reflects the worst in our culture in several respects.
Leftist poll-watchers aim to make it harder for overseas military personnel to vote.
Elizabeth “Fauxcahontas” Warren is blowing more smoke signals about her “heritage.”
Tax cuts are empowering American workers. Don’t tell Democrats.
Budget betrayal and the DC swamp’s habit of loading us with ever more debt.
Keith Ellison joins the list of Democrats with connections to Louis Farrakhan.
Plus our Daily Features: Top Headlines, Memes, Cartoons, Columnists and Short Cuts.

THE FOUNDATION

“When right, I shall often be thought wrong by those whose positions will not command a view of the whole ground.” —Thomas Jefferson (1805)

IN BRIEF

Florida Shooting — Reflecting the Worst in Our Culture1

By Thomas Gallatin

Almost as soon as news hit the airways yesterday of the mass murder of 17 students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, at the hands of a 19-year-old former student, the nation braced for the politicization of yet another atrocity. And as night follows day, anti-Second Amendment politicians took aim and launched their salvos. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) released a press statement2 that read in part, “Today, another American community is reeling from the horror of gun violence, perpetrated against innocent children. … Too many families have lost someone to the senseless epidemic of gun violence. Congress has a moral responsibility to take common sense action to prevent the daily tragedy of gun violence in communities across America. Enough is enough.” Recall it was just two weeks ago when Pelosi and her fellow Democrats refused to stand3 for the parents of two girls murdered by MS-13 illegal aliens.

Pelosi’s hypocrisy is nothing new, but it is a reflection of the worst in our culture. As we and many other defenders of Americans’ Second Amendment rights have pointed out time and time again, firearms are merely tools — the intent of the individual wielding the tool is where the problem lies. To attack the Second Amendment is to attack Americans’ Liberty itself. But political opportunists like Pelosi ignore the real cause of the problem and attack freedom.

The reality of the world is that people hurt others. And no matter the number of laws passed, nothing will change this fact. Taking away people’s rights to protect themselves doesn’t stop the evil; in fact, it only allows for the evil to grow. Too many people in Western culture have bought into the lie that people are essentially motivated by good, selfless impulses, when in truth the opposite is the case. How else does one explain evil?

With this latest atrocity, individuals who knew the killer were quick to acknowledge that they were not shocked that he would perpetrate this mass murder. It goes beyond his being described by several people as “weird.” In fact, a YouTube producer reportedly4 notified the FBI months ago regarding a comment he made claiming, “I’m going to be a professional school shooter.”

President Donald Trump also noted this, tweeting, “So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!” He’s absolutely right. When you see something, say something. And those warnings must be heeded.

The questions will be raised about what should have or could have been done to prevent this violent young man from engaging in this mass murder. What we do know is that Americans’ Second Amendment rights did not create this monster, and fixating on limiting gun rights as a “solution” to the problem only serves to punish the innocent for crimes of the guilty. This is a moral problem of the heart that politics is powerless to solve. Yet politicians like Pelosi chastise conservatives for defending Americans’ Second Amendment rights, while ignoring the blatant hypocrisy of demanding citizenship rights for illegal aliens who by definition are law-breakers.

Center for American Progress Eyes Quashing Military Vote5

By Jordan Candler

On the Center for American Progress (CAP) website is a May 12, 2017, article that discusses the “Five Truths About Voter Suppression6.” It begins by noting how America “has a troubled history of voter suppression.” But even though the U.S. is past its mid-20th-century Jim Crow epoch, “some lawmakers continue to pursue policies that would undermine our nation’s progress.” The organization takes issue with things like voter ID requirements and early voting scale-backs. Ominously, it warns, “The right to vote is a fundamental pillar of American democracy, but if the new administration succeeds, countless Americans could face barriers to voting ahead of the next election.”

Trump’s targeting Americans’ ability to fairly cast a vote is baloney, of course. In contrast, however, if CAP succeeds in its sinister plan, the military will find it exceedingly more difficult to take part in what CAP rightly calls “a fundamental pillar of American democracy.” Sadly, in addition to its supposed devotion to anti-voter-suppression methods, CAP also believes that efforts to thwart voter suppression should pertain only to select groups and constituents and be contingent on their voting records.

According to The Washington Times7: “After years of accusing states of voter suppression, the Center for American Progress, citing election security, wants to make voting tougher for Americans serving overseas in the military. The left-wing public policy group issued a report Monday, ‘Election Security in All 50 States8,’ that called for stricter standards to prevent cybermeddling in elections by foreign governments, including banning military stationed abroad from submitting ballots via email or fax. One state that allows such vote casting is Colorado. The center called on the state to ‘prohibit voters stationed or living overseas from returning voted ballots electronically.’”

In other words, CAP is calling for actual voter suppression by virtue of advocating prohibitions on the already limited voting abilities of soldiers. What would prompt such a turnaround? After all, the Times notes, “The report is something of a departure for the center, given its record of fighting for greater ballot access.” Here’s how: To the organization’s chagrin, the Armed Forces are a different breed. Responding to the report, Public Interest Legal Foundation’s J. Christian Adams hit the nail on the head. He rightly points out that the organization doesn’t “like that the military votes against their interests nearly all of the time.” Moreover, “CAP wants to make it easier for felons and criminals to vote, but wants to make it harder for fighting men and women overseas.”

In 1797, John Adams cautioned, “We should be unfaithful to ourselves if we should ever lose sight of the danger to our liberties if anything partial or extraneous should infect the purity of our free, fair, virtuous, and independent elections.” The Center for American Progress would probably claim that it agrees wholeheartedly with that statement. But the way in which it wants to discriminate against its political opponents tells us something very different. In this instance, those “political opponents” are the ones who fight to protect our freedoms — like voting. To put our military members in the crosshairs is adding insult to injury.

Top Headlines9

Bipartisan group reaches deal on immigration, fulfilling some Trump demands (The Washington Post10)

On law enforcement, sheriffs rate Trump’s first year an “A-plus” (The Daily Signal11)

Feds to repeal 298 tax regulations (The Washington Free Beacon12)

Trump endorses 25-cent gas tax hike (Axios13)

Empty jobs and high turnover mean Trump’s vow to hire the “best people” isn’t panning out (Bloomberg14)

Comey told Congress FBI agents didn’t think Michael Flynn lied (Washington Examiner15)

Flu season could cost businesses billions this year (CBS News16)

Opioid crisis has cost $1 trillion since 2001 (The Washington Free Beacon17)

Bitter cold at Winter Olympics chills global warming hype (The Washington Times18.)

South Korea agrees to pay North’s Olympic expenses (USA Today19)

Policy: Background checks are not the answer to gun violence (The New York Times20)

Policy: Pushing back on Iran: the Syrian civil war (American Enterprise Institute21)

For more of today’s news, visit Patriot Headline Report22.

FEATURED ANALYSIS
Tax Cuts Are Empowering the American Worker23

By Caroline C. Lewis

Since major tax cuts were passed by a Republican Congress (without a single Democrat vote) and signed by President Donald Trump, businesses across the country are investing in their employees though bonuses, investing in their companies through research and development, and investing in the U.S. worker by creating jobs. Companies are raising their hourly wages, investing in employee pension funds, and contributing to charities. President Trump has stated24, “When we began our push for tax cuts, I promised that our bill would result in more jobs, higher wages, and tremendous relief for middle-class families, and that is exactly what we have delivered.”

________________________________________
The Patriot Post Digest 2-15-2018
From The Federalist Patriot
Free Email Subscription
________________________________________

While Democrats railed against the tax cuts as being “Armageddon25,” the only visible disaster appears to be their own loss of power — the power of controlling people through class warfare rhetoric and empty accusations. Every time another company gives their employees a bonus, the Democrat lie of Armageddon becomes even more baseless, absurd and ridiculous.

The same goes for their other line of attack that raises and bonuses are “crumbs26.”

Americans for Tax Reform’s growing list27 of 346 companies giving bonuses, pay increases or 401(k) contributions reveals that 3.5 million Americans (and counting) are benefitting28 as a direct result of the new tax law. Companies issuing bonuses, wage increases, gifts of stock, 401(k) contributions, corporate charitable donations or other benefits include AT&T, Home Depot, Bank of America, Pfizer, FedEx, Lockheed Martin, Exxon Mobil, Walmart, Verizon, Apple, Fiat Chrysler, JP Morgan, Anthem, Lowe’s, Humana, Best Buy, CVS, Chipotle, Tyson Foods, Hostess Brands, Boeing, Comcast, Comerica Bank, and Southwest Airlines.

Trump’s tax cuts reveal the truth about the free market: When the market is free, the people are free. As F.A. Hayek, Nobel Prize winner in economics, stated, “Economic and political freedom are inseparable.” Fewer regulations and lower taxes free companies to thrive, and when companies thrive, workers thrive. And when workers thrive, the country thrives. Economic freedom grants both political and personal freedom.

Republicans’ Tax Cuts and Jobs Act stands as the most sweeping and comprehensive tax reform in the past 30 years. Tom Giovanetti, president of the Institute for Policy Innovation, a public policy research organization, writes29, “President Trump has already done more to grow the U.S. economy than the last four presidents and 28 years combined.” Lowering the corporate tax rate from 35% (the highest rate in the developed world) to 21% finally positions the United States to be competitive in a global economy. Giovanetti continues, “Beginning in 2018, the U.S. is once again the best place in the world to do business. … Look for companies to relocate their headquarters and facilities to the U.S., instead of U.S. companies moving offshore.” This means millions of American jobs for American workers. For example, Fiat Chrysler, has already announced30 plans to relocate back to the U.S. from Mexico, a move that will create 2,500 new jobs in Warren, Michigan.

Furthermore, as a result of the tax cuts, utility companies plan to lower prices for consumers. DTE Energy proposed31 a 3% energy rate cut for its customers, while Pepco, Baltimore Gas and Light, Pacific Power, Rocky Mountain Power and Commonwealth Edison also announced32 they would be reducing rates for customers.

In addition, recent polling reveals an increase in optimism. Americans with positive views of the U.S. economy are at a 17-year high according to a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll33. A recent UBS Investor Watch Report also revealed34 soaring optimism for business owners. The report indicates that 73% of respondents believe the recent tax reform makes business ownership more attractive. In addition, 72% responded as highly optimistic regarding the state of the current economy. This stands as the highest level since the financial crisis.

Last month, in his remarks35 to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Trump referred to this optimism, stating, “There has never been a better time to hire, to build, to invest, and to grow in the United States. America is open for business, and we are competitive once again.”

Ultimately the Trump tax cuts represent not only a triumph for the American worker, but a triumph for supply-side economics. Rather than the Keynesian theory of economics in which government spending “stimulates” the economy, supply-side economics posits that freeing the market, allows the market and the people to flourish. As a result of tax cuts, not government mandates, companies are paying higher wages, granting bonuses, contributing to 401(k)s, giving to charities and establishing family leave policies. The notion that big government, high regulation and class warfare present the solution to our country’s problems has begun to fade. In its place, freedom, enterprise and ingenuity have begun to live once more. Dream again, America. This is your time.

MORE ANALYSIS FROM THE PATRIOT POST

Fauxcahontas Blows More Smoke Signals40 — Elizabeth Warren tries to bolster her 2020 résumé with more Native American claims and attacks on Trump.
Budget Betrayal41 — With spending, the irresponsible mindset of both parties is the same, albeit for different reasons.
Ellison Joins List of Dems With Connections to Farrakhan42 — High-profile Democrats yearn to associate with the hateful Nation of Islam, and it’s bad for the country.
Video: Bill Murray on Why Comedy Is Harder Now43 — “Thinking about what resonates and what is common to all of us … [is] harder and harder to do.”

BEST OF RIGHT OPINION

Ann Coulter: Anatomy of a Coup44
Victor Davis Hanson: Who’s Really Winning the North Korea Standoff?45
Larry Elder: What Left-Wing Educators Don’t Teach During ‘Black History Month’46
Ed Feulner: Zoning Out on Free Speech47
Cal Thomas: The War That Never Ends48
For more of today’s columns, visit Right Opinion49.

OPINION IN BRIEF

Ann Coulter: “[Christopher] Steele’s dossier is not like a neighbor who hates you telling the police you’re cooking meth in your basement. The police still have to investigate, don’t they? First of all, if after 18 months of police work, the only evidence that you’re cooking meth in your basement is STILL your neighbor’s bald accusation, reasonable people will conclude that your neighbor is a liar. That’s what the Steele dossier is. It was the only evidence of Trump’s collusion with Russia 18 months ago, and it’s the only evidence of Trump’s collusion with Russia today. Moreover, it’s not just the informant who hates the target. The investigators do, too. This is more like a police officer calling the police on his wife, sending himself on the call, shooting her, then writing up the police report concluding it was a justified shooting. When your entire investigation turns on a handful of people with corrupt motives, maybe it’s time to call off the investigation.”

SHORT CUTS

Observations: “Kehinde Wiley, who painted [the official portrait of] former President Obama, is also known for portraits that depict black women holding the severed heads of white women. … After Kathy Griffin, I had hoped that we could at least agree that severed heads are never a good idea.” —Gary Bauer

Food for thought: “Reminder: make sure to announce your Lenten fast on social media so that everyone can be impressed with your stunning self-sacrifice.” —Matt Walsh

Actions speak louder than words: “The only enemy here is overreach. Now is not the time nor the place to reform the entire legal immigration system. Rather, this is the time for a narrow bill.” —Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY)

Inevitable jackassery: “Whoever says: —'A gun didn’t do this; a sick person did.‘ —'Thoughts and prayers to all the families.’ —'Now is not the time to discuss gun control.‘ Get lost. Get off my feed. You are not part of the America we need to strive for.” —Peter King of Sports Illustrated

Gun control broken record: “Don’t tell me tomorrow isn’t the appropriate time to debate gun violence. If you’re a political leader doing nothing about this slaughter, you’re an accomplice.” —Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT)

Braying Jackass: “To me, [Chief of Staff John Kelly is] somewhat reminiscent of Mike Flynn, to be honest. He just seems to have changed since he’s fallen into the orb of the president.” —former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper

Alpha Jackass: “It’s one thing to talk to Jesus. It’s another thing when Jesus talks to you. That’s called mental illness if I’m not correct. Hearing voices.” —Joy Behar slandering Mike Pence

Stopped clock: “She’s a bright, well connected, sadistic sociopath.” —WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in a leaked message about Hillary Clinton

And last… “What is far worse than hypocritically standing up for good in public while doing bad in private is to let your own private sins deter you from doing good in public. I would much prefer to see a wicked man be a hypocrite and vote for what is right and good, rather than choose consistency and advocate for wrongdoing.” —Dan McLaughlin

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. We also humbly ask prayer for your Patriot team, that our mission would seed and encourage the spirit of Liberty in the hearts and minds of our countrymen.

Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis

Nate Jackson, Managing Editor
Mark Alexander, Publisher