The Patriot Post Digest 4-23-2018

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The Patriot Post Digest 4-23-2018
From The Federalist Patriot
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The Patriot Post® · Mid-Day Digest
Apr. 23, 2018 · https://patriotpost.us/digests/55521-mid-day-digest

IN TODAY’S EDITION

The DNC sues everybody for losing the 2016 election.
North Korea offers another olive branch, but we’ve seen this one before.
Will California split into three? There’s a proposal that could hit the November ballot.
Hillary: “I knew this would happen to me.”
Progressive ideology trumps student safety, even still in Broward County.
Well Fargo resists the resistance on guns.
Yesterday was Earth Day. A look back at it’s origins.
Plus our Daily Features: Top Headlines, Memes, Cartoons, Columnists and Short Cuts.

THE FOUNDATION

“There is no vice so mean, so pitiful, so contemptible; and he who permits himself to tell a lie once, finds it much easier to do it a second and a third time, till at length it becomes habitual; he tells lies without attending to it, and truths without the world’s believing him.” —Thomas Jefferson (1785)

IN BRIEF

Jackasses Bray Again: DNC Suing Trump Campaign1

Thomas Gallatin

Spite is a pretty lousy political message, but Democrats appear hell-bent on preaching it anyway. Case in point: On Friday the Democratic National Committee filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump’s campaign, the Russian government and WikiLeaks, alleging the three acted in an election collusion conspiracy. DNC Chairman Tom Perez claimed, “During the 2016 presidential campaign, Russia launched an all-out assault on our democracy, and it found a willing and active partner in Donald Trump’s campaign.” He added, “The conspiracy constituted an act of previously unimaginable treachery: the campaign of the presidential nominee of a major party in league with a hostile foreign power to bolster its own chance to win the Presidency.” In other words, Democrats need money and want their base to know that they are still committed to the #Resistance.

Trump responded, “Just heard the Campaign was sued by the Obstructionist Democrats. This can be good news in that we will now counter for the DNC Server that they refused to give to the FBI, the Debbie Wasserman Schultz Servers and Documents held by the Pakistani mystery man and Clinton Emails.”

Trump’s campaign manager, Brad Parscale, called the lawsuit a “sham … filed by a desperate, dysfunctional, and nearly insolvent Democrat Party.” He added, “With the Democrats’ conspiracy theories against the President’s campaign evaporating as quickly as the failing DNC’s fundraising, they’ve sunk to a new low to raise money, especially among small donors who have abandoned them.” Parscale also said that he would be working aggressively to uncover DNC corruption if the lawsuit were not immediately dismissed.

But the DNC’s ignoble lawsuit hasn’t earned the ire of just Republicans — many Bernie Sanders supporters responded negatively as well. Tim Canova, a Sanders supporter who challenged Wasserman Schultz in her 2016 primary, stated, “They [DNC] still haven’t done a postmortem of why they lost the election, because the explanation for everything is Russia.” He also astutely noted, “They were losing midterm elections before anything got hacked.”

Ironically, the DNC believes that ignoring both the voice of the people via the 2016 election results and the facts will constitute a winning formula for convincing voters that they are working to “save democracy.” Do they even know what that word means? (Never mind the fact that the U.S. is a constitutional republic, whose representatives are democratically elected.) Since the moment of Trump’s election victory, Democrats and their cohorts in the mainstream media have been incessantly beating the drum of a supposed Trump/Russia collusion conspiracy with no supporting evidence to justify the charge. Even Robert Mueller’s2 special investigation, ostensibly initiated to investigate Russian collusion, now appears to have given up on that narrative and instead looks to be angling for an obstruction case. This smells of the desperation of an organization that has run out of any constructive ideas and has instead relegated itself to the proverbial peanut gallery.

Kim’s Latest Olive Branch: No More Nuclear Tests3

Nate Jackson

Kim Jong-un, the dictator of North Korea and nuclear puppet of China4, announced over the weekend that the Hermit Kingdom will immediately suspend testing of missiles and nuclear weapons, as well as scrap its nuclear test site altogether. Of course, Kim couched the announcement as having achieved his goal of developing those weapons, making further testing unnecessary. And, notably, he stopped short of saying North Korea would dismantle its nuclear arsenal. Yet we’ve come a long way from regular missile tests and Kim’s threat5 last year of “thousands-fold” vengeance against the U.S.

“North Korea has agreed to suspend all Nuclear Tests and close up a major test site,” Trump said publicly. “This is very good news for North Korea and the World — big progress! Look forward to our Summit.” Privately, however6, Trump says he’ll believe it when he sees it. After all, the Kim family dictatorship has a long history of making promises only to break them, and Kim’s express purpose up until now was developing weapons capable of striking the U.S.

Kim is set to meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in next week and with President Donald Trump sometime in May or June. The latter meeting was announced7 on the same day Trump laid out his plan for steel tariffs8 that would hit China. Coincidence? Nope.

There is no doubt that apparent concessions by North Korea are in response to punitive sanctions9 issued last fall and, more recently, to Trump’s tariffs. Trade negotiations between the U.S. and China are indeed about unfair economic practices on the part of Beijing, but they’re also about convincing China to rein in North Korea. Progress may indeed be happening, even if Kim’s announcement is simply meant to keep talks on track for the time being.

Kim surely hopes that some olive branches will do the trick without having to abandon his nuclear program entirely. But one thing we’re fairly confident of: Trump won’t be making any Obama-Iran deals10. He won’t win a Nobel Peace Prize either.

Top Headlines11

Trump rightly complains it will take nine years to get all his nominations approved (The Washington Post12)

Senate panel may vote against backing Pompeo’s nomination for secretary of state (The Wall Street Journal13)

Iran says “either all or nothing” on nuclear deal (Reuters14)

Supreme Court takes on Trump’s travel ban (Washington Examiner15)

Future Democrat voters: Caravan of refugees arrives at U.S.-Mexico border and ask for asylum (The Daily Wire16)

McCabe to sue Trump admin for defamation, wrongful termination (The Hill17)

Four takeaways from the James Comey memos (The Daily Signal18.)

Waffle House attack stopped by a REAL heroic mass assault survivor: “I saw the opportunity and I took it” (The Tennessean19)

Former first lady Barbara Bush20 remembered in funeral service Saturday (Associated Press21)

Humor: DNC files lawsuit alleging nation should never, ever stop focusing on 2016 election (The Onion22)

Policy: Gorsuch defends the Rule of Law in immigration case (The Heritage Foundation23)

Policy: Four key questions before the Trump-Kim meeting (The Daily Signal24)

For more of today’s news, visit Patriot Headline Report25.

FEATURED ANALYSIS
Three Californias — Dreamin’ or Nightmare?26

Robin Smith

California, the most populous state in America, always manages to stay in the news. Whether it’s Democrats’ battle to protect criminal immigrants through the sanctuary state27 rebellion or boasting some of the highest tax rates in the nation (and then crying about28 their “fair share” after Republican tax reform), the Golden State is a bastion of far-left politics.

And if voters speak in the affirmative for CAL3 in the November referendum — and then Congress approves — the Left Coast could grow in its electoral blueness by creating three Californias.

Before you roll your eyes, states have reconfigured in America’s past. Granted, it’s been a while, but West Virginia was once part of Virginia, as was Kentucky. At our nation’s founding, on July 4, 1776, Tennessee was part of North Carolina. The evolution of territory that creates the federation of states that, together, create our nation has not been static. But is the prospect of having three states feasible, and is it really a good idea?

The CAL3 effort is led by Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tim Draper, who purports to see greater efficiency, accountability and lower taxes. The billionaire has worked his proposal significantly closer to a vote since his initial efforts starting in 2014. Now, having far exceeded the 365,880 signatures required on a statewide petition for a referendum, Draper has submitted a filing showing 600,000 supportive names to bring the proposal to a vote this November.

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The Patriot Post Digest 4-23-2018
From The Federalist Patriot
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Appearing last week on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight,” Draper cheerfully lobbied that smaller governments would be able to address the failures of the mammoth state, citing the explosion of homelessness29 and a failed education system in California. “I think that these three new states are going to empower people to realize what’s possible in government. The education system is just about the worst in all 50 states, and it’s the biggest state,” Draper posited. He had responded in an email to an earlier Fox News interview, “This is a great opportunity for Californians who want better education, safer streets, better infrastructure, better healthcare, lower taxes, and want to be empowered and represented in government.”

So what’s the CAL3 plan? The singular state would be carved into three sections — Northern California, Southern California and California — that would all operate as separate governments divided at county lines that would attempt to balance population. Some Californians, based on the current fights regarding sanctuary status, may find it advantageous to revamp and reconstitute their government, but the electoral math yields two Left states, Northern California and California, separate from the more conservative Southern California through careful cartography.

Northern California, as proposed in the referendum, would begin at the Oregon-California line in the north and include all citizens down to San Jose, just south of San Francisco. Its new neighbor, California, would span from Monterey to Los Angeles, hugging the coastline leaving Southern California to hold Fresno, Bakersfield and San Diego.

But is Draper’s effort driven by the desire for accountable government or just more government under Democrat control?

In the new governments, the current populations would produce 18 U.S. representatives for Northern California, 16 for California and 19 for Southern California, to go along with two U.S. senators for each of the three states. Overall, the Electoral College would add four votes. Politically, Democrats gain a boost despite the division.

Will it happen? It’s been tried before, twice in California30. The first was in 1859, when Californians wanted to split the state in two, but the War Between the States interrupted the effort. It happened again in 1941, when Northern Californians wanted to merge with Southern Oregonians to create a potential new state, Jefferson. Is the third time the charm?

Likely, no.

Not only must the voters of California support the measure, but the U.S. Senate and House would have to give it a thumbs up. That’s doubtful because other states might not be keen to dilute their own power in presidential politics. And Republicans are hardly keen to award Democrats at least two more senators.

Here’s a better idea, California. Instead of segregating your geography to reflect a homogenous set of Democrat ideas and to game the political math, why don’t you diversify your existing government to become more tolerant of ideas that actually work? Start with honoring existing laws that value citizenship and reducing the size of government, which should lower your tax burden and increase your working population — that, in turn, is a way to address those in the tent cities of the homeless and unemployed.

The real goal of increasing governments is to increase government power, not really empowering its citizens. Not only should voters say “No!” to CAL3, they should work against their existing failed state government. The California Dream has become a nightmare at the hands of radical leftists.

MORE ANALYSIS FROM THE PATRIOT POST

Hillary: ‘I Knew This Would Happen to Me’33 — “They were never going to let me be president,” Clinton complained on Election Night.
Earth Day 201834 — It’s no small irony that Nelson founded “Earth Day” on the centenary of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin’s birthday.
Wells Fargo Resists the Resistance on Guns35 — The Left introduces “Chokepoint II” — banks work to cut relations with gun sellers.
Progressive Ideology Trumps Student Safety36 — Two months after the Parkland massacre, all Broward County has to show for it is clear backpacks.
Threat of Lawsuit Pushes SPLC to Back Off ‘Hate’ Claim37 — A Muslim reformer was labeled as anti-Muslim by the infamous “anti-hate” watchdog.
Video: Wait… Obama Also Sent Troops to the Border?38 — Students at UC Santa Barbara were quick to denounce President Trump’s decision.
Video: Do You Have Any Republican Friends?39 — PragerU and Will Witt recently asked New Yorkers this question. Answers weren’t surprising.

BEST OF RIGHT OPINION

Gary Bauer: DNC Delusions40
George Will: Gorsuch Strikes Blow Against Administrative State41
Ken Blackwell: President Trump Can Counter OPEC and Achieve Energy Dominance42
Tony Perkins: Adoption Freedom: Caring for Children and Families43
Todd Starnes: Baptist Army Chaplain Faces Punishment for Religious Beliefs44
For more of today’s columns, visit Right Opinion45.

OPINION IN BRIEF

Gary Bauer: “The Democratic National Committee filed a lawsuit in federal court Friday against the president, his campaign, members of his family and Russia. The lawsuit claims that Russia hacked the DNC’s server in order to harm Hillary Clinton and elect Donald Trump, ‘whose policies would benefit the Kremlin.’ The idea that Trump’s policies would benefit Russia is laughable. He is rebuilding our military and pushing our allies to rebuild their militaries. He has been far tougher on Putin than Obama and Clinton ever were. The Left has never been tough on Russia. If anything, Putin would have preferred another liberal Democrat in the White House. Remember, my friends, Robert Mueller has already issued indictments against several Russians and Russian entities for their election-related meddling. Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein made it clear that no American ‘was a knowing participant in this illegal activity’ and nothing the Russians did affected the result of the election. What could the DNC possibly know that Mueller and Rosenstein don’t know? Speaking of things we don’t know, the Trump campaign should countersue and demand access to the DNC’s server. Perhaps then we could find out what the DNC was hiding from the FBI! This lawsuit is an act of utter desperation. It seems to me that Democrats have concluded that Mueller and his team of liberal lawyers are likely to exonerate the president, so they are launching some kind of preemptive publicity stunt to keep their radical base fired up for the elections.”

SHORT CUTS

The Gipper: “A leader, once convinced a particular course of action is the right one, must have the determination to stick with it and be undaunted when the going gets rough.”

Demo-gogues: “We believe that taxes should be everybody pays a fair share and that the richest and the most powerful should not be able to shove off to everybody else the cost of running the Army and paving the roads and keeping our schools open.” —Sen. Elizabeth Warren (What about wealthy Democrats shoving off to everybody else the cost of SALT deductions?)

Race bait: “Racialized oppression and dehumanization is woven into the very fabric of our nation — the effects of which can be seen in the lawful lynching of black and brown people by the police and the mass incarceration of black and brown lives in the prison industrial complex.” —ex-NFL quarterback-turned-unemployed-social justice warrior Colin Kaepernick46

The BIG Lie47, part I: “I’m an Italian-American. I came from poor Italian-Americans who came here. You know what they called Italian-Americans back in the day? They called them wops. You know what wops stood for? Without papers. I’m undocumented. You want to deport an undocumented person, start with me, because I’m an undocumented person.” —New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo

The BIG Lie, part II: “The FBI defines a mass shooting as 4 people killed (not including the shooter). Mass shootings occur in churches, in schools, at concerts, in waffle houses — just about anywhere. Except in other countries.” —Parkland gun control activist Emma González (Not a single U.S. mass shooting makes the list of the six most lethal shootings around the globe.)

Young and naïve: “Removing the assault and semi-automatic weapons from our Civilian society, instituting thorough background checks and mandatory waiting periods (and raising the buying age and banning the production of high-capacity magazines) are the ways to stop shootings in America.” —Emma González

And last… “Has the Broward County Sheriff considered hiring Waffle House patrons?” —Sean Davis

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