The Patriot Post Digest 3-4-2019

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The Patriot Post Digest 3-4-2019
From The Federalist Patriot
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The Patriot Post® · Mid-Day Digest

Mar. 4, 2019

https://patriotpost.us/digests/61543-mid-day-digest

THE FOUNDATION

“There is no part of the administration of government that requires extensive information and a thorough knowledge of the principles of political economy, so much as the business of taxation. The man who understands those principles best will be least likely to resort to oppressive expedients, or sacrifice any particular class of citizens to the procurement of revenue. It might be demonstrated that the most productive system of finance will always be the least burdensome.” —Alexander Hamilton (1788)

https://patriotpost.us/fqd/61540-founders-quote-daily

IN TODAY’S EDITION

Nuclear energy is clean, safe, and efficient. Yet leftists hate it.1
More and more voters — especially Democrats — are opting for socialism.2
Daily Features: More Analysis3, Columnists4, Headlines5, Opinion in Brief6, Short Cuts7, Memes8, and Cartoons9.

IN BRIEF

Socialist Green New Deal Rejects Nuclear Energy10

Thomas Gallatin

The Left’s obsession with environmentalism and more specifically climate change has little to do with protecting the environment. Instead, as we have repeatedly noted, the real motive behind the Left’s “green” agenda is red socialism — increasing government control over the economy.

This reality was made patently clear with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal11 (GND). Using apocalyptic warnings of the world ending in 12 years should the country not embrace her radical and absurd agenda — which would effectively destroy America’s entire economic system as we know it — AOC and her fellow travelers claim their cause to be a just one because they are simply trying to save the planet. But, as National Review’s David French astutely points out12, “When you read the [GND] you quickly realize that progressivism is the priority, not the environment. In other words, environmentalism and progressivism are wrongly treated as fundamentally inseparable.”

As for supposedly working to “save” the environment, the GND offers no practical real-world solutions. Where this may be most glaringly evident is in the GND’s rejection of nuclear energy. The resolution proposes that “100 percent of the power demand in the United States” would be met “through clean, renewable, and zero-emission energy sources.” But these energy sources “would not include creating new nuclear plants” and, in fact, “the plan is to transition off of nuclear and all fossil fuels as soon as possible.”

Yet, as Time magazine “Hero of the Environment” Michael Shellenberger argues13, the only truly “green energy” is nuclear power. “When it comes to generating power for billions of people, it turns out that producing solar and wind collectors, and spreading them over large areas, has vastly worse impacts on humans and wildlife alike,” he says. “I think it’s natural that those of us who became active on climate change gravitated toward renewables. They seemed like a way to harmonize human society with the natural world. Collectively, we have been suffering from an appeal-to-nature fallacy no different from the one that leads us to buy products at the supermarket labeled ‘all natural.’ But it’s high time that those of us who appointed ourselves Earth’s guardians should take a second look at the science, and start questioning the impacts of our actions.”

So why the Left’s aversion to nuclear energy? Maybe because it’s a proven, reliable, and cost-effective source of green energy that doesn’t necessitate a socialist takeover of the American economy. The fact is, nuclear power offers a more realistic means of meeting the Left’s loudly proclaimed environmental goals, but it does so via capitalism — and there’s the rub.

https://patriotpost.us/articles/61524-socialist-green-new-deal-rejects-nuclear-energy

Polling Populist Socialist Support14

Nate Jackson

The entire Democrat Party, from leadership to the grassroots, is moving far and fast to the left15. Poll after poll shows that many of the rank and file now prefer socialism to capitalism16. An avowed socialist named Bernie Sanders17 will be a formidable threat for the Democrat presidential nomination in 2020. And much of the field is running on Medicare for All and some version of the Green New Deal. No wonder President Donald Trump threw down the gauntlet on socialism in his State of the Union Address.

Thus, it’s no surprise to see more polling bearing this out. First up, Harvard University asked registered voters whether the U.S. economy should be “mostly capitalist” or “mostly socialist.” Some 65% chose capitalism, but a very troubling 35% favored socialism, including a majority of voters between the ages of 18 and 24. A similar percentage — 64% — identified the Democrat Party as promoting socialism. Among Democrats? The split was just 51% to 49% in favor of capitalism.

Second, a Public Opinion Strategies survey found that 77% of Democrats think the country would be “better off” by going socialist. Likewise alarming: 45% of surveyed registered voters agree, while just 51% disagree. Again, younger voters are the driving force here — those under age 45 favor socialism by a 53% to 40% margin.

Then again, an NBC News poll found that of a list of qualities or characteristics for a president — black, white, woman, homosexual, Christian, Muslim, someone under 40, someone over 75, etc. — voters are least enthusiastic about a socialist, followed closely by someone over 75. Bernie Sanders, call your office.

As for the first two polls and the overall trend, we’d argue that socialism’s favorability is a case of the average voter — especially young ones who don’t remember the Soviet Union — having no idea that socialism actually means government control of the means of production. Instead, they’re enticed by all the “free” stuff18 being dangled by Demo politicians to buy votes.

https://patriotpost.us/articles/61538-polling-populist-socialist-support

ON OUR WEBSITE TODAY

Featured Analysis: Methodists Hold Firm to Scripture … for Now19 — The nation’s second-largest Protestant denomination keeps the Biblical stance on homosexuality.
Embracing Caesar at the Expense of God20 — The Catholic Church’s recent summit on sexual abuse was a disgraceful failure.
Trump and Pence Speak at CPAC21 — Touting accomplishments made thus far and laid out their America First agenda moving forward.
Black History Month: What Do Black People Actually Want?22 — It’s a diversion to keep black people focusing on the past while letting the future slip away.
Humor Video: Bedtime Stories With Bernie Sanders23 — Putting kids to sleep with the ridiculous requirements of government regulation.

TOP HEADLINE SUMMARY

Seek and destroy: “The House Judiciary Committee will seek documents from more than 60 people and organizations as it begins investigations into possible obstruction of justice and abuse of power by President Donald Trump, the panel’s chairman said on Sunday. … As evidence of obstruction, [Jerrold] Nadler cited Trump’s May 2017 firing of FBI Director James Comey, who was leading an investigation into Russia activities in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and possible collusion with Trump’s campaign. … While the Mueller investigation is focused on specific crimes, Congress’ probes will cast a wider net, Nadler said.” (Reuters25)
“Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has announced he will seek the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, becoming the second governor to join a crowded field of candidates. … In 2013 Hickenlooper signed universal background checks into law and a ban on high-capacity ammunition magazines, but his pro-business centrist profile could be a turn-off for progressives in the party. He’s also been a strong supporter of Colorado’s oil and gas industry, which is sure to be a point of contention for some Democrats.” (NPR26)

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The Patriot Post Digest 3-4-2019
From The Federalist Patriot
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“Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, said on Sunday that he would support a resolution that would overturn President Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the southern border, appearing to provide the crucial vote needed for the Senate to pass the measure. ‘I stand with the president often, and I do so with a loud voice,’ Mr. Paul wrote in an opinion piece27 published late Sunday on Fox News’s website. ‘Today, I think he’s wrong, not on policy, but in seeking to expand the powers of the presidency beyond their constitutional limits.’ … Mr. Paul joins three other Republican senators — Susan Collins of Maine, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska — in backing the resolution. … Mr. Trump has said he would veto the measure, and it is unlikely that either chamber could muster the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.” (The New York Times28)
“Tax refunds are up from where they were this time last year by 1.3 percent following the fourth week of the 2019 filing season, according to new Internal Revenue Service data. To be more specific, the average tax refund has increased to $3,143 from $3,103 last February, according to cumulative statistics comparing the 2018 and 2019 filing seasons. Oddly enough, certain newsrooms have responded to this development with total silence. I say ‘odd,’ because it was just a few weeks ago that these same newsrooms rushed to report that tax refunds were smaller this year, suggesting either implicitly or explicitly that the decrease was tied to the Republican Party’s tax reform bill.” (Becket Adams, Washington Examiner29)
“The U.S. announced an end to its annual large-scale joint military exercises with South Korea on Sunday,” according to NBC News30, which adds that the drills “will be replaced by smaller training exercises.” But The Heritage Foundation’s Thomas Spoehr warns31 that this “could weaken U.S. and South Korean readiness in a conflict with North Korea.”
“The Department of Defense on Friday released a plan for President Trump’s proposed Space Force, asking Congress for $2 billion to fund it over the next five years. The proposal, sent to Congress on Wednesday, stipulates that 15,000 space-related military and civilian personnel will be transferred from other areas of the Pentagon to the Space Force. … With Democrats now in control of the House, the plan is expected to struggle to pass Congress, as it is not popular among Democratic legislators.” (National Review32)
“The Republican National Committee is making a concerted effort to court African-American voters ahead of the 2020 presidential election. The decision reflects a growing list of accomplishments President Donald Trump can credibly point to in the realm of expanding economic opportunities for minorities. … Despite the president’s success, his administration’s actions are not widely recognized and have received little attention from the national media. To get that message out, the RNC has launched a strategic initiative aimed at recruiting activists within the African-American community.” (The Washington Free Beacon33)
Humor: “My health care is none of your business,” says woman who demands that you pay for her health care (The Babylon Bee34)
Policy: “The Education Freedom Scholarship program proposed by Betsy DeVos and the administration’s congressional allies would be a huge step in the right direction,” John Schilling opines in National Review. Read more about “The Trump Administration’s Bold New School-Choice Plan35.”
Policy: Oregon is “the first state in the nation to impose statewide rent controls,” says The Daily Signal’s Joel Griffith, who calls this “a step in the wrong direction.” Read his explanation of why the rent controls will reduce the housing supply36.
For more of today’s editors’ choice headlines, visit In Our Sights37.

https://patriotpost.us/articles/61530-monday-top-headline-summary

OPINION IN BRIEF

Thomas Spoehr: “On Saturday, the Pentagon and South Korea’s Ministry of Defense announced an end to the joint military exercises that both countries normally partake in each spring. As justification, the Pentagon cited its ‘desire to reduce tension and support our diplomatic efforts to achieve complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in a final, fully verified manner.’ This is the wrong decision for the wrong reasons. Until now, the large U.S.-South Korea joint exercises had only been suspended. That was a questionable decision, but at least plausible given that nuclear negotiations with North Korea were actively underway. But this announcement is different. It permanently cancels the exercises. It comes on the heels of last week’s Vietnam summit between President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un, which resulted in no forward progress toward denuclearization — making the Pentagon’s justification even more inexplicable. … The best military is of little value unless it is properly trained. And by cancelling, not just suspending, these exercises, the U.S. is unilaterally lowering its readiness.”

SHORT CUTS

The Gipper: “We are for a provision that destitution should not follow unemployment by reason of old age, and to that end we have accepted Social Security as a step toward meeting the problem. However, we are against those entrusted with this program when they practice deception regarding its fiscal shortcomings, when they charge that any criticism of the program means that we want to end payments.” —Ronald Reagan

A blind squirrel finds a nut: “Here’s the deal — the conservative movement in this country … is now the leader on this issue of [criminal justice] reform. … Take some dadgum credit for being smart. Take some dadgum credit for getting it right.” —Van Jones

Slippery slope: “You cannot go too far on the issue of climate change. The future of the planet is at stake.” —Bernie Sanders

Braying Jenny I: “You’ve just called America’s most anti-LGBT elected leader ‘a decent guy.’ Please consider how this falls on the ears of our community.” —Cynthia Nixon’s memo to Joe Biden

Braying Jenny II: “I followed Pence’s history on LGBTQ Americans, and I don’t think that is a decent position.” —Elizabeth Warren, who probably thinks her fraudulent claims of Native American ancestry is decent

Belly laugh: “This is a time, my friends, when fundamental rights, civic virtue, freedom of the press, the rule of law, truth, facts, and reason are under assault. And make no mistake, we are living through a full-fledged crisis in our democracy.” —Hillary Clinton

Alpha Jackass: “Anti-choice advocates care about babies…until they’re actually born and need healthcare, parents with a living wage, quality education, and freedom from detention centers.” —Women’s March

And last… “The same people who accused Mark Meadows of being racist for bringing Lynne Patton to the House Oversight Committee hearing last week are the same people who continually dismiss Ilhan Omar’s anti-Semitism.” —Ryan Saavedra

https://patriotpost.us/articles/61539-monday-short-cuts

Join our editors and staff 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