The Patriot Post Digest 3-16-2018

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The Patriot Post Digest 3-16-2018
From The Federalist Patriot
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The Patriot Post® · Mid-Day Digest
Mar. 16, 2018 · https://patriotpost.us/digests/54795-mid-day-digest

IN TODAY’S EDITION

Marco Rubio proposes year-round Daylight Saving Time. It’s a fantastic idea.
Leftmedia Trump Derangement Syndrome strikes again over trade comments.
Good news for undoing the onerous burden of Dodd-Frank.
Will Lamb’s win shepherd Democrats away from Nancy Pelosi?
Arnold Schwarzenegger preps a hypocritical lawsuit against Big Oil.
White House chaos is the new normal, James Levine’s fall, Nikki Haley’s warning and more.
Plus our Daily Features: Top Headlines, Memes, Cartoons, Columnists and Short Cuts.

THE FOUNDATION

“He that goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing.” —Benjamin Franklin (1758.)

IN BRIEF

Make Daylight Great Again1

By Nate Jackson

If Marco Rubio had proposed this during the 2016 campaign, he might be president. The Florida Republican senator introduced legislation this week to allow the nation to remain on Daylight Saving Time all year round — the “Sunshine Protection Act.” A companion measure, the “Sunshine State Act,” would at least let Florida keep the same time all year, though it would leave the rest of us in the dark during the winter. Dear senators: Pass the national bill.

There might not be another issue on which so many Americans agree — we all hate the biannual time change. Acclimating to a new daylight schedule every March and again every November probably ranks among our least favorite things. That’s exponentially true if you’re raising kids. (Can we get an “amen”?) Totally disrupting the space-time continuum twice a year leads to sloppy work by sleepy people, car accidents and other injuries, hordes of zombie children and a drastic increase in swearing. No rational human wants that to continue.

Now, of course there’s going to be disagreement over which time should become standard, but if you would rather stay on “standard” time, you’re obviously wrong. And probably a communist. Yes, if we remain on daylight time, mornings can be awfully dark in the middle of winter. But at least it wouldn’t be dark by 4:00 in the afternoon, which leads to all manner of woe, depression and socialist statism — especially among Yankees. Conversely, if we were forced to live the rest of our lives on “standard” time (a hilarious misnomer at present, given that “standard” time reigns for all of four months a year), mornings might be a little brighter in winter, but the sun would come up at ungodly hours in the summer. That would completely waste hours of useful light as people sleep in — or force people out of bed with kids who rise with the sun at 5:00 in the morning — while robbing us of the pure delight of summer evenings. You might as well outlaw puppies, swimming pools and summer grilling while you’re at it. Communist.

All of this is to say, thank you, Sen. Rubio, for giving us hope for a brighter future. All senators, Republican and Democrat alike, should rally to his banner. Americans disagree on so many things, but it’s obviously time to save time itself. Let’s come together for once and banish this scourge from our shores forever. Let’s unite for daylight!

Deranged Leftmedia Blasts Trump Over Debatable Issue2

By Thomas Gallatin

A sure sign of Trump Derangement Syndrome manifested by those who have fallen for this self-inflicted malady is the inability to honestly assess and report on both the words and actions of President Donald Trump. Those suffering from this intellectually debilitating condition interpret everything President Donald Trump says and does as being yet more evidence of him being nothing more than a narcissistic, illegitimate, bumbling clown — or Hitler. In other words, they can see no good in him. Therefore, those caught in this condition, like the Leftmedia, believe it is their duty to report only and always negatively about Trump, twisting his words if they must, in order to prove to the American people that Trump is the worst thing that’s happened to this country since the time change1.

Out of this Trump Derangement echo chamber, Americans on a daily basis are fed stories like this one from The Washington Post titled, “In Fundraising speech, Trump says he made up trade claim in meeting with Justin Trudeau3.” In the article, the Post blasts Trump for supposedly lying and then bragging about it. The Post asserts that Trump’s claim of the U.S. having a trade deficit with Canada is a total fabrication, but, as is often the case, the truth of the matter is not so simple. There is currently a debate4 as to whether the U.S. is actually running a trade deficit with Canada, as Trump has asserted. But what the Post’s reporters fail to do, due to their anti-Trump bias, is admit that the issue is not so cut and dried as they insinuate. Moreover, they blatantly mischaracterized Trump’s lighthearted and off-the-cuff remarks in an obvious bid to make Trump look foolish.

The Post noted that Trump made his remarks at a political fundraiser for Republican candidate Josh Hawley, who is taking on Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), but the paper then seemed to willfully mistake the rally for a press conference. The Post seemed appalled that Trump didn’t address the Leftmedia’s narrative on everything from the worn-out Russian collusion conspiracy to the alleged Stormy Daniels affair5. The Post also railed against Trump for daring to tout his presidential achievements6 thus far. Once again, this was a fundraising rally for a GOP Senate candidate.

There is such a thing as legitimate journalism that is fair and honest in covering Trump, and then there is the leftist #Resistance echo chamber of Trump Derangement Syndrome. Unfortunately, most of the mainstream media finds itself deep in the throes of the latter.

Top Headlines7

GOP senators call for special counsel to probe FBI over Russia (The Hill8.)

Study: Facebook’s newsfeed change “crushing conservative sites, boosting liberals” (The Daily Wire9)

ProPublica issues major correction to report about CIA nominee Gina Haspel’s10 role in torture program (Washington Examiner11)

Acquitted killer12 of Kate Steinle suing feds over “collusion” between feds and local cops in arresting him (California Political Review13)

Florida bans “free speech zones” at state colleges (The Daily Signal14)

The FBI knew about the Florida jihadist for a year before he murdered friend (The Daily Wire15)

Obama’s DOJ forced deletion of 500,000 fugitives from gun background check system (The Daily Wire16)

Australia bans bolt action rifle because of its scary “appearance” (Washington Examiner17)

Teacher on leave after questioning whether school would let pro-life students walk out, too (Reason18.)

Humor: Democrats announce all 2020 candidates will forego armed security to protest gun violence (The Babylon Bee19)

Policy: So long to the Iran deal (The Washington Free Beacon20)

Policy: Low-cost natural gas, the environmentally friendly fuel (Inside Sources21)

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

FEATURED ANALYSIS
Good News for Undoing Harmful Financial Regulation23

By Brian Mark Weber

Something very unusual happened on Capitol Hill this week.

Senate Republicans and Democrats joined together to pass the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act by a vote of 67-31. The bill was introduced by Republican Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho, and it’s all about undoing the damage of Barack Obama-era financial regulation legislation.

To a significant degree, the act repeals the Dodd-Frank Act of 2010, which Barack Obama and his fellow Democrats passed in response to the financial crisis of 2008 — massive government intervention to address the very same crisis that was caused by Democrat policies24 of too much government intervention in the banking industry. (It takes a special kind of gall to create a crisis and then claim credit for trying to fix it with more of the same.) Predictably, Dodd-Frank only made matters worse, but the measure passed by the Senate this week repeals key aspects of that ill-conceived legislation.

However, one aspect of the current bill that’s not being repealed is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau25, a cadre of unelected and unaccountable government bureaucrats. As such, the CFPB can create new financial regulations without approval from anyone. They can also adolescently join26 the #Resist Trump movement without consequence.

Nonetheless, the bill raises the threshold for banks considered “too big to fail” from $50 billion to $250 billion. Consequently, more mid-level banks will be spared the federal government’s undue regulatory stranglehold. In addition, the act would free local and regional banks from having to comply with a laundry list of federal regulations that are too costly and time consuming. Banks would also have greater autonomy in lending money to small businesses and individuals.

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The Patriot Post Digest 3-16-2018
From The Federalist Patriot
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This is how a free-market economy works. And Democrats are naturally opposed to letting the system function without the hands of the federal government pulling the strings. This bill certainly doesn’t wipe out all regulation, but it does restore some of the ability of small and mid-size banking institutions to operate efficiently and in the best interests of its customers. Claims that banks will now operate without any oversight are patently false.

But it’s not a done deal yet. The Washington Post reports27, “Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, has said that House Republicans will want to alter the Senate bill to reflect their priorities. But that could drive away the Senate Democrats needed to pass the legislation, and so the House will face significant pressure to accept the Senate legislation with few, if any, changes.” Republicans in the House want to be more aggressive in terms of rolling back regulations, so the passage of the Senate bill is clearly just a first step.

Nonetheless, the ultimate passage of the act will be good for the country and the economy.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders lauded the legislation’s passage, stating, “The bill provides much-needed relief from the Dodd-Frank Act for thousands of community banks and credit unions and will spur lending and economic growth without creating risks to the financial system.”

Despite the bipartisan support for this bill, Democrats were deeply divided over its passage. The Washington Post revealed that, according to an anonymous source, “after Warren called out red-state Democrats and other supporters of the bill by name in a fundraising appeal, Schumer encouraged her to stay focused on the substance in the debate.”

But why would such a prominent senator (and a potential 2020 presidential candidate), want to risk undermining unity among Democrats and position herself even farther to the Left than she is already? Because Warren’s whole shtick is based on creating the perception that financial institutions can’t be trusted. No, in her bizarre alternate reality, only the government can be trusted with managing our money.

Warren repeatedly spreads this narrative to appear to be for the “little guy,” even though policies like Dodd-Frank make it even harder for all the little guys out there. But Warren’s criticism of the reform bill wasn’t enough to keep 12 Democrats from joining the Republicans. This leaves Warren in a precarious situation heading into an election cycle in which her party seems to be thinking about perhaps maybe kinda inching toward the center28 in order to improve their chances of taking back the House.

Now the bill heads off to that lower chamber, where Republicans still have the power to cut through the red tape and regulations that burden our economy and make it harder for individuals to buy homes or start businesses.

Democrats have always relied on party unity to stand in the way of commonsense policies, but this time they’ve been divided by President Trump and congressional Republicans, who may finally be figuring out how to govern as the majority.

MORE ANALYSIS FROM THE PATRIOT POST

Schwarzenegger the Hypocrite Eyes Big-Oil Lawsuit31 — On oil companies: “If you walk into a room and you know you’re going to kill someone, it’s first-degree murder.”
Will Lamb’s Win Shepherd Democrats to New Leadership?28 — Running against Nancy Pelosi has worked for Republicans. Now it might work for Democrats.
White House Chaos Is the New Normal32 — Tillerson, perhaps McMaster, Shulkin and Sessions — administration turnover seems endless.
Nikki Haley’s Warning About Russia33 — Trump administration responds to increased Russian threat by announcing new sanctions.
James Levine: The Fall of ‘America’s Top Maestro’34 — After a suspension in December, the Met’s investigation concluded that Levine had to go.
Kudlow Brings a Welcome Voice to Trump’s Team35 — The longtime TV host and syndicated columnist argues for free trade, low taxes and light regulation.

BEST OF RIGHT OPINION

Gary Bauer: Left Hijacking a Tragedy36
Tony Perkins: Navy Floats Idea of Atheist Chaplains37
David Harsanyi: Larry Kudlow Is a Big Upgrade for the White House38
Rich Lowry: Don’t Bork Gina Haspel39
Erick Erickson: If a Conservative Speaks, Will Liberals Hear?40
For more of today’s columns, visit Right Opinion41.

OPINION IN BRIEF

Gary Bauer: “Reaction to the [walkout] protests split school districts across the country. Some promoted the protests, while others insisted students remain in class. In Sayreville, New Jersey, School Board President Kevin Ciak was clear — students who left the building would be suspended. ‘Schools do not have the ability to pick political issues,’ Ciak insisted. Good for him! Here in Washington, DC, students from area high schools headed to Capitol Hill for what was obviously a preplanned political rally. Well-known youthful reformers like Bernie Sanders, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi were waiting to join the demonstration against the Second Amendment. And of course, Bernie was protected by heavily armed guards. … Student organizers are quick to tell critics that they have a constitutional right to speak up. But, of course, they are speaking up to do away with the constitutional rights that the rest of us have to own firearms to defend ourselves and our families. Here’s an interesting mental exercise. Imagine that there were a major religious group with as much money as George Soros. Suppose it announced that it was asking schools all over America to release students for 17 minutes to pray for the victims of the Parkland shooting. Does anyone think for a second that the entire left-wing establishment would have embraced such a request for students to pray?”

SHORT CUTS

Insight: “The spirit of liberty is not merely, as multitudes imagine, a jealousy of our own particular rights, but a respect for the rights of others, and an unwillingness that any man, whether high or low, should be wronged and trampled under foot.” —William Ellery Channing (1780-1842)

For the record: “A few weeks later and security footage from Parkland is already surfacing. 5 months later and still not one second of video from Las Vegas.” —Matt Walsh

Upright: “Very disheartened to see many in media covering the Don Jr. divorce news with glee, making jokes and memes about it. Divorce is sad and hard on kids. I speak from experience. Let’s have some sympathy and restraint.” —S.E. Cupp

Holier than thou: “[Republicans are] coming after me because of my city, and they’re against LGBT, and they’re against poor children — that’s been my mantra, poor children in America that I’m here to support.” —Nancy Pelosi, who also accused Republicans of being “devoid of ideas about how they’re going to meet the needs of the American people”

Friendly fire: “Not soon enough.” —Sen. Heidi Heitkamp’s opinion of when Hillary Clinton42 should bug off

Tens of billions of dollars later… “I don’t agree with the America-first rhetoric.” —Bill Gates

Hypocrite: “I have huge respect for [Sean Hannity’s and Rachel Maddow’s] success, and I take nothing away from them. But … I don’t know where their partisan fights are getting us.” —CNN’s Chris Cuomo

Non Compos Mentis: “Like it or not, studies suggest that Clinton may not be wrong on white women voting like their husbands.” —The Washington Post

And last… “I remember with Occupy Wall Street, they seemed to think that by making a lot of noise and getting news coverage, someone would come up with a coherent solution for the problem they could only vaguely identify. That did not happen.” —Frank Fleming

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