THE FOUNDATION
"[T]he longest liver of you all will find no principles, institutions or systems of education more fit in general to be transmitted to your posterity than those you have received from your ancestors." --John Adams, letter to the young men of the Philadelphia, 1798TOP 5 RIGHT HOOKS
Netanyahu: Hamas Is ISIL
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Islamic State of Syria and the Levant (ISIL, or ISIS in some transliterations) and Hamas are "branches of the same tree," because they practice the same kind of savagery. "Hamas is ISIS, ISIS is Hamas. They're the enemies of peace. They're the enemies of Israel. They're the enemies of all civilized countries. And I believe they're the enemies of the Palestinians themselves. And I'm not the only one who believes that." Not only do they practice the same kind of terror, but ISIL is suspected of operating in Gaza. The flag of ISIL was seen at a funeral in Gaza several weeks ago, and users of ISIL web forums boast the group is operating in Gaza. Hamas denies the group's existence in its territory. Perhaps it's fear. Perhaps it's lying to cover up the obvious.Comment | Share
Republicans Have a 'Thread of Bigotry That Is Appalling'
Why attribute honest motives to your political opponents when you can besmirch their character instead? That's what we learn from DNC Chief Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who says Republicans are just evil when it comes to immigration. "This isn't about politics at all," she declared. "It's not about politics for the president, nor is it about politics for any of us who care." Au contraire. Everything is politics for the president. She continued, "They [illegals] essentially have become the backbone of our economy." Let's just say that's giving them too much credit. Furthermore, she said, "The Republicans have not only played politics with this for too long, but I think deeply embedded in too many of the Republicans in the House of Representatives is a thread of bigotry that is appalling." What's appalling is the gross political spin and character assassination critical to Democrats' approach to this or any other issue.Comment | Share
About That Active Democrat Delegate on Perry's Grand Jury...
We already knew that the indictment of Rick Perry was a pathetic political ploy. But those targeting the Texas governor may include someone on the grand jury. Rho Chalmers, one of the jurors, said, "For me, it's not a political decision. That's what a grand jury is about -- take the emotion out of it and look at the facts and make your best decision based on your life experience." Her high-minded pontification left out some key information: According to Media Trackers, she "was an active delegate to the Texas Democratic Party convention during grand jury proceedings." She "attended, photographed, and commented on an event with Democratic state Sen. Kirk Watson while grand jury proceedings were ongoing." But other than that, we're sure "it's not a political decision." No wonder Rick Perry is having fun with this one. More...Comment | Share
Pouring Cold Water on the Ice Bucket Challenge
The ice bucket challenge is all the rage on Facebook in recent days, and it has been an incredibly successful fundraiser for the ALS Association -- $42 million raised so far, compared to just $2 million last year. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often called Lou Gehrig's Disease after the famous baseball player who died from it. The challenge is to either donate $100 to ALS or dump a bucket of ice water on your head. It's certainly entertaining. But the ALS Association spends at least some of its money on embryonic stem cell research, which results in the destruction of embryos -- often those created solely for this purpose. While the National Institutes of Health, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, says embryonic stem cells "are thought to offer potential cures and therapies for many devastating diseases, research using them is still in its basic stages." In other words, all promise, no results -- which is not to say results would justify destroying embryos. Adult stem cells, on the other hand, which do not require the destruction of life, are currently being used to great effect. Something to think about before dousing yourself with ice water. More...Comment | Share
Doctor Cured of Ebola to Return to Mission Field
Dr. Kent Brantly, the victim of Ebola taken to Emory Hospital in Atlanta, walked out of the hospital cured of the disease. He and Nancy Writebol are the first patients to be treated for and cured of Ebola in the States. In Brantly's case, the Samaritan's Purse worker was the first person to be treated with ZMapp, an experimental serum designed to fight the virus. President of Samaritan's Purse Franklin Graham wrote an op-ed in USA Today defending the decision to bring Brantly back to the U.S. to treat him. "[O]ne of the first things he and his family wanted to know when they arrived in Atlanta was how soon they could return to medical work overseas. In other words, this drug is being used to save a doctor who will say thank you by returning to some of the darkest, dirtiest, loneliest places on earth to bring hope and healing to others." Furthermore, now that he's had Ebola, Brantly is immune to that particular strain of the virus. More...Comment | Share
For more, visit Right Hooks.
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RIGHT ANALYSIS
GAO Says Bergdahl Swap Was Illegal, Highlighting Incoherent Foreign Policy
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| Bergdahl |
Obama violated the legal requirement that the Executive Branch give Congress 30 days' notice on any negotiated release of a Gitmo prisoner. But he claimed his executive prerogative superseded the requirement and that his “signing statement” accompanying the 2013 Defense Authorization Act served as his bypass authority.
GAO disagrees with the president's claim. Additionally, GAO said, "[B]ecause DOD used appropriated funds to carry out the transfer when no money was available for that purpose, DOD violated the Antideficiency Act. The Antideficiency Act prohibits federal agencies from incurring obligations exceeding an amount available in an appropriation.” The mission to complete the deal reportedly cost $988,400.
Naturally, the Obama administration still insists its actions were lawful. But this administration cares nothing for Rule of Law, opting instead to do whatever is politically expedient.
As an example of the bad precedent, take the case of James Foley. In addition to a $132 million ransom, ISIL reportedly sought a prisoner swap in that case as well, and they are collecting hostages for such deals with us and other countries.
Incredibly, the National Security Council responded to such a proposal, saying, “[The U.S.] does not grant concessions to hostage takers. ... Doing so would only put more Americans at risk of being taken captive." Yet the administration deviated from that common sense notion with the Bergdahl swap. Was Bergdahl's life more valuable than Foley's? If so, why?
Speaking of Foley's murder by ISIL, Attorney General Eric Holder announced Thursday the Justice Department would investigate. "Those who would perpetrate such acts need to understand something," Holder said. "This Department of Justice, this Department of Defense, this nation -- we have long memories and our reach is very wide. We will not forget what happened and people will be held accountable one way or the other."
Evidently, Holder and his cohorts remember only what life was like before 9/11, when terrorism was treated solely as a criminal concern and not an act of war. But Holder is just taking a cue from his boss, who repeatedly boasted he "decimated" al-Qaida when all he did was quit fighting, allowing al-Qaida to regroup as ISIL. Now ISIL is stronger than ever.
In fact, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel warned Thursday that ISIL is "beyond just a terrorist group" and "beyond anything that we've seen." Why, then, is the Justice Department taking such a prominent role in responding to ISIL's barbarous murders? Maybe it's because the president still views them as the "JV team."
Meanwhile, ISIL says it's at war with the U.S., but State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf insisted Thursday that we're not at war with ISIL. “This is not about ISIL versus the United States,” she said. “They are killing anyone who gets in their way: Sunnis, Shia Muslims, Christians, Yazidis, Iraqis, Syrians -- anyone who gets in their way -- and now an American. ... They are at war with everybody they come into contact with." So they're not at war with the U.S. because they're at war with everybody?
Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said ISIL "will eventually have to be defeated," which will almost certainly entail countering them in Syria as well as Iraq -- "both sides of what is essentially at this point a nonexistent border." Our own nonexistent border is also a problem, Dempsey warned -- "because of open borders and immigration issues, [ISIL is] an immediate threat."
But Obama asserted that ISIL will "ultimately fail" because it "has no place in the 21st century," as if time itself will end the threat.
To summarize the positions of the Justice, Defense and State Departments, ISIL is a criminal enterprise posing a serious military threat that we must counter, though ISIL will fail because of history and we're not at war with them anyway. And all that was said just Thursday.
Such baffling incoherence in White House policy is itself a clear threat to our national security. And that's not to mention the erratic and detached behavior of the golfer in chief. The bottom line is that Obama's foreign policy malfeasance is going to cost us dearly.
Finally, on a related note, Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan did their first joint interview since 2012 Thursday critiquing Obama's foreign policy. “I believe the president has made extraordinary errors with regards to the Middle East that contribute to the growth of ISIS and the danger that it represents to us and to the world,” Romney said. “And one of those things was not putting in place a status of forces agreement that would allow us to have troops in Iraq. The president has a foreign policy which has failed. ... He underestimated the extent of the threat of terror in the world and specifically ISIS. And as a result now we find ourselves facing a very severe and horrific series of scenes on the world stage.”
The sight of the two together certainly drove home what our nation is sorely missing right now -- presidential leadership.
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You Probably Didn't Hear About This Police Shooting
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| Dillon Taylor |
Here is what is known: Dillon Taylor, a 20-year-old white man, his brother, Jerrail Taylor, 22, and their cousin were confronted by police outside a 7-Eleven. Cops were responding to a 911 call about a man they are saying matched Dillon Taylor's description waving a gun. Taylor was also facing an arrest warrant for violating probation connected to a felony robbery. Cops ordered him to the ground. According to his brother Jerrail, Dillon was wearing headphones at the time and did not hear them. Jerrail said that the officers pointed their guns at Dillon's face, and he was told to put his hands up, while another officer repeated the command to get on the ground. Jerrail claims that his brother reached down to pull up his pants so that he could get down on the ground, at which point an officer fired, fatally wounding Dillon.
Keep in mind the brother of the slain man gave this version of the story, and that Jerrail also has had his share of run-ins with the law. The Salt Lake City police department has released few details of the case. They stand by the officer's actions, but they have so far refused to confirm or deny whether there was actually a gun. Nor have they identified the officer, other than to say that he was "not white." Police chief Chris Burbank told reporters that the entire incident was captured by a body camera worn by one of the officers. He said that the video would be released at the "appropriate" time, along with the officer's identity.
So, there are two young men in different cities, both supposedly unarmed (which police could not have known) but with a criminal history, both shot by cops who were of a different race than the suspects. Facts in the Ferguson case indicate that Michael Brown assaulted the officer who ultimately shot him. Civilian witnesses and Dillon Taylor's family and friends claim he was unarmed when he was killed, though police have refused to comment on that aspect of the incident. In reaching for his pants, Dillon could have been reaching for a weapon. Brown became a national news story and his shooting sparked a riot and became the focal point of race baiters looking to cash in and play up the racist cop narrative that further stoked violence in Ferguson. Conversely, Taylor's death was barely reported and life continues pretty much as before in Salt Lake City.
In the Ferguson case, a black man was shot by a white police officer. That plays into the Left's race-baiting narrative of cops supposedly declaring war on black people. That means ratings. And in this case, it also meant a full-scale riot that took days to bring to a close, even by heavily armed police officers. In Salt Lake City, the man who was shot was white, and the cop is ... not white. Therefore, the Salt Lake City story runs against the racial narrative, and reporters can't, or won't, confirm the officer's race.
As Mark Alexander pointed out, if there is a war on black people in this country, then it is a war with other blacks. The latest national statistics on homicide and race tell the story. Blacks represent 13% of the population, yet half of all homicide victims were black. And over 90% of those murdered were killed by other blacks.
This is a disturbing trend that truly is a national tragedy. Yet, it gets no airplay, and it certainly doesn't get the attention of Barack Obama or Activist General Eric Holder. Stopping black-on-black crime would require real work to stop the cycle of poverty, crime, and lack of education that has plagued blacks for decades. It would mean admitting that the "Great Society" was a failure that has created nothing but a poverty-plantation base of Democrat support. It's more convenient to point fingers and stir racial animosity, because that draws headlines and makes it appear as if something is being done without expending any real effort.
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For more, visit Right Analysis.
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TOP 5 RIGHT OPINION COLUMNS
- Mona Charen: Obama and 'History'
- Jonah Goldberg: Obama's Small-Screen Worldview
- David Limbaugh: War on Christianity Still Alive and Well in America
- Michelle Malkin: The Jihadi Serial Killer No One's Talking About
- Stephen Moore: America's Worker Shortage: One Million and Counting
OPINION IN BRIEF
Author Booker T. Washington (1856-1915): "I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed."Columnist Mona Charen: "'History' is not an actor with a point of view and a direction. You cannot be on its 'wrong' side. Progressives tend to believe that the world is evolving, through some unseen but inexorable force, toward greater peace, equality, prosperity and justice. The great task for a leader of the United States, Obama appears to believe, is to get out of history's way. That's why it's a good idea to reduce our army to its smallest size since 1940, and to reduce the Marines by 8 percent. ... In Obama's telling, history is making American might unnecessary because the 'tide of war is receding.' Others believe that wars are won or lost. They don't ebb and flow like oceans. Sadly for the president and the country he leads, his own over-eagerness to disengage from global responsibilities and to back away from military commitments has stimulated just the sort of forces he describes as retrograde."
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Columnist David Limbaugh: "The First Amendment contains two religion clauses -- the free exercise clause, which guarantees that we may freely exercise our religion, and the establishment clause, which prohibits the federal government from establishing a national religion or national church. ... The purpose of both religion clauses was to promote religious liberty. ... But courts have twisted the establishment clause into a weapon against religious liberty. To argue that blessing a sneezing classmate constitutes the government's establishing or even supporting a particular religion is surreal. ... To those Christians who casually dismiss all this as beneath them because they want to focus on evangelizing and not politics, please understand that your ability to evangelize would evaporate in the absence of political freedoms. So if you want to be removed from the fight, I won't object, but please don't condemn those who willingly engage in this struggle so that you can continue to focus on evangelism."
Comedian Jimmy Fallon: "Missouri Governor Jay Nixon apparently sent the National Guard to Ferguson without letting the White House know first. When he heard he was left out of such an important decision, Obama said, 'Holy crap, I've been Bidened!'"
Semper Vigilo, Fortis, Paratus et Fidelis!
Nate Jackson for The Patriot Post Editorial Team
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.
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