DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Saturday, November 02, 2019
Joe Biden's Campaign Is Imploding
Ever since he announced that he was running for president, Joe Biden has been the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. And the good news for the Biden campaign is that he is still leading in most major national polls. But the bad news is that his numbers have been steadily falling. At one point, his average level of support in national polls was over 40 percent, but now it is down to just 26.7 percent.
And the really bad news is that Biden is falling behind other candidates in Iowa and New Hampshire. In fact, according to the latest poll Biden is now in fourth place in Iowa…
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And the really bad news is that Biden is falling behind other candidates in Iowa and New Hampshire. In fact, according to the latest poll Biden is now in fourth place in Iowa…
Joe Biden slipped into fourth place among presidential candidates in the 2020 Iowa caucuses, behind front-runner Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and a surging South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, according to a new poll released Friday.This wasn’t supposed to happen.
The Massachusetts senator polled at 22 percent, ahead of Vermont Sen. Sanders at 19 percent, Buttigieg at 18 percent and the former vice president at 17 percent, the New York Times/Siena College poll of likely participants in the caucuses showed.
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Pennsylvania Democrat apologizes for calling early miscarriages ‘just some mess on a napkin’
A Pennsylvania state lawmaker sparked an uproar on social media this week when she was seen on video describing early miscarriages as “just some mess on a napkin.”
State Rep. Wendy Ullman, a Democrat from Bucks County, made the remark Tuesday during a state House Health Committee hearing, according to reports.
On Friday, three days after the comment, Ullman posted an apology on Twitter.
“This issue is intensely important to me,” she wrote, “and that’s why I struggled for words. My words were poorly chosen, and I apologize. I remain steadfast that every single step of a medical process, including the handling of remains, should be decided by a patient and her doctor.”
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pennsylvania-democrat-apologizes-for-calling-early-miscarriages-just-some-mess-on-a-napkin
State Rep. Wendy Ullman, a Democrat from Bucks County, made the remark Tuesday during a state House Health Committee hearing, according to reports.
On Friday, three days after the comment, Ullman posted an apology on Twitter.
“This issue is intensely important to me,” she wrote, “and that’s why I struggled for words. My words were poorly chosen, and I apologize. I remain steadfast that every single step of a medical process, including the handling of remains, should be decided by a patient and her doctor.”
More
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pennsylvania-democrat-apologizes-for-calling-early-miscarriages-just-some-mess-on-a-napkin
NY Times: Refugees Needed to Fill ‘Void of Cultural Diversity’ in White Towns
As President Trump is set to lower refugee admissions for the third year, keeping his 2o16 campaign promise to significantly reform the program after almost four decades, the New York Times published a report this week detailing how Congolese refugees already living in the U.S. are looking to bring their foreign relatives to the country through the refugee resettlement program.
Those who support expanding refugee resettlement, the New York Times reports, say doing so is necessary for bringing “cultural diversity” to majority-white American towns like Missoula, Montana, which is more than 89 percent white and three percent Hispanic.
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Trump: 'The Whistleblower Must Come Forward'
President Trump tweeted on Friday night that the whistleblower, who complained about Trump's phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, "must come forward to explain why his account of the phone call with the Ukrainian President was so inaccurate," and why the whistleblower chose to work with Rep. Adam Schiff, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
A report by RealClear Investigations disclosed the name of an individual believed by many to be the whistleblower behind the complaint. According to that report, the individual has an extreme political bias. Not only is he a registered Democrat, but he's also an outspoken critic of President Trump and an Obama holdover who previously worked with Joe Biden. The alleged individual reportedly attended a state luncheon at the invitation of then-Vice President Joe Biden's office. It's also alleged the individual is a Democratic operative, responsible for numerous leaks, who helped instigate the investigation into Russian "collusion."
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A report by RealClear Investigations disclosed the name of an individual believed by many to be the whistleblower behind the complaint. According to that report, the individual has an extreme political bias. Not only is he a registered Democrat, but he's also an outspoken critic of President Trump and an Obama holdover who previously worked with Joe Biden. The alleged individual reportedly attended a state luncheon at the invitation of then-Vice President Joe Biden's office. It's also alleged the individual is a Democratic operative, responsible for numerous leaks, who helped instigate the investigation into Russian "collusion."
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California's Prop 47 leads to rise in shoplifting, thefts, criminal activity across state
SAN FRANCISCO – In a lighted garage on one of San Francisco's busiest streets, a young man in baggy trousers and messy brown hair pulled down his pants. He had been hiding two pairs of stolen jeans with the tags still on them. He handed them to another man waiting nearby, took some money, pulled up his pants and headed back into another store on Market Street — home to the city's high-end designers and big-chain retail shops.
The incident wasn't a one-off. These brazen acts of petty theft and shoplifting are a dangerous and all-too-common consequence of Proposition 47, a referendum passed five years ago that critics say effectively gives shoplifters and addicts the green light to commit crimes as long as the merchandise they steal or the drugs they take are less than $950 in value. The decision to downgrade theft of property valued below the arbitrary figure from felony to misdemeanor, together with selective enforcement that focuses on more “serious” crimes, has resulted in thieves knowing they can brazenly shoplift and merchants knowing the police will not respond to their complaints, say critics.
Over in the City by the Bay's famous Tenderloin district, Cassie, a 21-year-old mother of two and a former heroin junkie, told Fox News that when times were tough, she too has stolen from stores.
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https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-prop-47-shoplifting-theft-crime-statewide
The incident wasn't a one-off. These brazen acts of petty theft and shoplifting are a dangerous and all-too-common consequence of Proposition 47, a referendum passed five years ago that critics say effectively gives shoplifters and addicts the green light to commit crimes as long as the merchandise they steal or the drugs they take are less than $950 in value. The decision to downgrade theft of property valued below the arbitrary figure from felony to misdemeanor, together with selective enforcement that focuses on more “serious” crimes, has resulted in thieves knowing they can brazenly shoplift and merchants knowing the police will not respond to their complaints, say critics.
Over in the City by the Bay's famous Tenderloin district, Cassie, a 21-year-old mother of two and a former heroin junkie, told Fox News that when times were tough, she too has stolen from stores.
More
https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-prop-47-shoplifting-theft-crime-statewide
Hillary Clinton Laughs Off Question About Killing Jeffrey Epstein
Trevor Noah, host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” asked 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton about the conspiracies swirling around the death of billionaire accused sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
“Hillary, I have to ask you a question that has been plaguing me for a while. How did you kill Jeffrey Epstein?” Noah asked Thursday. “Because you’re not in power, but you have all the power. I really need to understand how you do what you do, because you seem to be behind everything nefarious, and yet you do not use it to become president. What is the game plan?
As Clinton began to answer, Noah cut her off, asking how she felt as the “boogeyman of the right.”
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“Hillary, I have to ask you a question that has been plaguing me for a while. How did you kill Jeffrey Epstein?” Noah asked Thursday. “Because you’re not in power, but you have all the power. I really need to understand how you do what you do, because you seem to be behind everything nefarious, and yet you do not use it to become president. What is the game plan?
As Clinton began to answer, Noah cut her off, asking how she felt as the “boogeyman of the right.”
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The Plundering Of Ukraine By Corrupt American Democrats
Top Dems are involved in the plundering of the Ukraine: new names, mind-boggling accounts. The mysterious ‘whistleblower’ whose report had unleashed the impeachment is named in the exclusive interview given to the Unz Review by a prominent Ukrainian politician, an ex-Member of Parliament of four terms, a candidate for Ukraine’s presidency, Oleg Tsarev.
Mr Tsarev, a tall, agile and graceful man, a good speaker and a prolific writer, had been a leading and popular Ukrainian politician before the 2014 putsch; he stayed in the Ukraine after President Yanukovych’s flight; ran for the Presidency against Mr Poroshenko, and eventually had to go to exile due to multiple threats to his life. During the failed attempt to secede, he was elected the speaker of the Parliament of Novorossia (South-Eastern Ukraine). I spoke to him in Crimea, where he lives in the pleasant seaside town of Yalta. Tsarev still has many supporters in the Ukraine, and is a leader of the opposition to the Kiev regime.
Oleg, you followed Biden story from its very inception. Biden is not the only Dem politician involved in the Ukrainian corruption schemes, is he?
Mr Tsarev, a tall, agile and graceful man, a good speaker and a prolific writer, had been a leading and popular Ukrainian politician before the 2014 putsch; he stayed in the Ukraine after President Yanukovych’s flight; ran for the Presidency against Mr Poroshenko, and eventually had to go to exile due to multiple threats to his life. During the failed attempt to secede, he was elected the speaker of the Parliament of Novorossia (South-Eastern Ukraine). I spoke to him in Crimea, where he lives in the pleasant seaside town of Yalta. Tsarev still has many supporters in the Ukraine, and is a leader of the opposition to the Kiev regime.
Oleg, you followed Biden story from its very inception. Biden is not the only Dem politician involved in the Ukrainian corruption schemes, is he?
Indeed, John Kerry, the Secretary of State in Obama’s administration, was his partner-in-crime. But Joe Biden was number one. During the Obama presidency, Biden was the US proconsul for Ukraine, and he was involved in many corruption schemes. He authorised transfer of three billion dollars of the US taxpayers’ money to the post-coup government of the Ukraine; the money was stolen, and Biden took a big share of the spoils.More
'Thin Blue Line' flag gifted to Montgomery Co. police won't be displayed
The flag is a "Thin Blue Line," or "Blue Lives Matter," flag that was presented to the police 5th District station in Germantown for National First Responders Day, according to the police department.
The department initially said it will be displayed at the station.
But Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich said today that won't be happening, because the flag is alarming to some.
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Why Kids Are Socialists and How to Start Fixing Itv
You may be happy with the state of the U.S. economy, but many young people aren’t. And as a result, a lot of them are embracing political extremism.
A recent poll by YouGov finds that half of all millennials — and even more of the generation that follows them — distrust capitalism. Seventy percent of millennials say they’d be willing to vote for a socialist. If you’re not shocked by this, it’s only because you’ve seen it before. But it ought to scare you.
It’s taken us almost 250 years to build this country, and we could wreck it in a single generation. At this rate, we will. In order to prevent the looming disaster, we need to be clear on what has gone wrong.
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A recent poll by YouGov finds that half of all millennials — and even more of the generation that follows them — distrust capitalism. Seventy percent of millennials say they’d be willing to vote for a socialist. If you’re not shocked by this, it’s only because you’ve seen it before. But it ought to scare you.
It’s taken us almost 250 years to build this country, and we could wreck it in a single generation. At this rate, we will. In order to prevent the looming disaster, we need to be clear on what has gone wrong.
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WALSH: ‘Happy Wife, Happy Life,’ And Four Other Pieces Of Horrible Marriage Advice
My wife and I celebrate our eighth wedding anniversary this week. By millennial standards, we have officially gained Old Married Couple status. To mark this new phase of our journey, I have started wearing Hawaiian shirts and fanny packs.
I am far from a relationship guru — if such a thing even exists — but I have learned a few things after eight years and four kids. I probably need another few years under my belt (or in my fanny pack, as the case may be) before I start dispensing marriage tips, but I can at least point out the bad ones. So, to celebrate eight years of matrimony, I thought I’d highlight the five worst, yet most common, pieces of advice often given to young couples. I am convinced that all of these morsels of faux-wisdom must originate with divorce attorneys:
1. “Never go to bed angry.”
Like most bad advice, this sounds nice in theory but can be lethal in practice. If you and your spouse are angry at the end of the day, you have two options: (A) Go to bed, sleep it off, wake up in the morning and realize that whatever you were mad about doesn’t really matter that much, or (B) fight it out until the wee hours of the morning, and still go to bed angry. The first option is almost always the better one.
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I am far from a relationship guru — if such a thing even exists — but I have learned a few things after eight years and four kids. I probably need another few years under my belt (or in my fanny pack, as the case may be) before I start dispensing marriage tips, but I can at least point out the bad ones. So, to celebrate eight years of matrimony, I thought I’d highlight the five worst, yet most common, pieces of advice often given to young couples. I am convinced that all of these morsels of faux-wisdom must originate with divorce attorneys:
1. “Never go to bed angry.”
Like most bad advice, this sounds nice in theory but can be lethal in practice. If you and your spouse are angry at the end of the day, you have two options: (A) Go to bed, sleep it off, wake up in the morning and realize that whatever you were mad about doesn’t really matter that much, or (B) fight it out until the wee hours of the morning, and still go to bed angry. The first option is almost always the better one.
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Judicial Watch Statement on House Resolution Vote
Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton made the following statement regarding the House impeachment resolution vote:
Today’s vote endorses an abusive process that rolls over the rights of President Trump and undermines the rule of law. This was no impeachment resolution – it was a coup resolution. This coup attack was corruptly formed and corruptly pursued. The U.S. Senate should rule out a trial on any so-called impeachment arising from the Pelosi-Schiff abuse of the U.S. Constitution.
In the meantime, Judicial Watch will continue its dozens of FOIA lawsuits that have already uncovered so much about the related abuse of President Trump – Spygate, which is the worst public corruption scandal in American history.
Judicial Watch
Today’s vote endorses an abusive process that rolls over the rights of President Trump and undermines the rule of law. This was no impeachment resolution – it was a coup resolution. This coup attack was corruptly formed and corruptly pursued. The U.S. Senate should rule out a trial on any so-called impeachment arising from the Pelosi-Schiff abuse of the U.S. Constitution.
In the meantime, Judicial Watch will continue its dozens of FOIA lawsuits that have already uncovered so much about the related abuse of President Trump – Spygate, which is the worst public corruption scandal in American history.
Judicial Watch
Michigan School District to Only Serve Muslim-Approved Meat
Public-school students in Dearborn, Michigan, will only be eating meat that is prepared according to Muslim traditions. Television station WXYZ reports the decision to only serve halal meat came about from a student advisory board. The school district said its new menu had nothing to do with religion. Yeah, right.
Let’s get real. It had everything to do with religion. And in Dearborn, Muslims are being provided an accommodation not granted to other religious groups. Public schools across the nation are cracking down on Christianity in the school house — all the while making room for prayer rugs in the classroom and Muslim meat in the cafeteria.
“Schools have never changed lunches to fit any other religious needs. If one needed a special diet due to religion or health, they did what all other students do, bring a lunch from home,” one irate mom wrote in a letter to the school superintendent.
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Let’s get real. It had everything to do with religion. And in Dearborn, Muslims are being provided an accommodation not granted to other religious groups. Public schools across the nation are cracking down on Christianity in the school house — all the while making room for prayer rugs in the classroom and Muslim meat in the cafeteria.
“Schools have never changed lunches to fit any other religious needs. If one needed a special diet due to religion or health, they did what all other students do, bring a lunch from home,” one irate mom wrote in a letter to the school superintendent.
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Congressman on Impeachment Committee Promoted Whistleblower Lawyer’s Group
Rep. Ted W. Lieu, who sits on the House Foreign Affairs Committee helping to lead the impeachment process, previously used his Congressional position to promote Whistleblower Aid, a small nonprofit started by the attorney for the so-called whistleblower at the center of the impeachment claims.
Upon its founding in September 2017 in the wake of Trump’s presidency, Whistleblower Aid blasted advertisements around D.C. actively seeking whistleblowers during the Trump administration.
The week that Whistleblower Aid commenced operations, Lieu promoted the group using language clearly meant to encourage anti-Trump whistleblowers.
“Now, more than ever, we need patriots to step forward and inform the public of any unlawful or inappropriate activity by government officials,” Lieu said in a statement about Whistleblower Aid issued from his office and posted on his Congressional website.
“Whistleblower Aid is exactly the type of organization the American people need to make sure government is held accountable,” Lieu continued.
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Upon its founding in September 2017 in the wake of Trump’s presidency, Whistleblower Aid blasted advertisements around D.C. actively seeking whistleblowers during the Trump administration.
The week that Whistleblower Aid commenced operations, Lieu promoted the group using language clearly meant to encourage anti-Trump whistleblowers.
“Now, more than ever, we need patriots to step forward and inform the public of any unlawful or inappropriate activity by government officials,” Lieu said in a statement about Whistleblower Aid issued from his office and posted on his Congressional website.
“Whistleblower Aid is exactly the type of organization the American people need to make sure government is held accountable,” Lieu continued.
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Rush Mocks Alleged Whistleblower, ‘Leaker’: ‘Pajama Boy in the Obama Ad’
RUSH LIMBAUGH: This whistleblower… He’s not a whistleblower! This is another thing. This guy’s a leaker! He’s not a whistleblower! His name is Eric Ciaramella. He’s 30-some-odd-years- old. I’ve got a picture. It looks like the Pajama Boy in the Obama ad that they ran back during, I think, the first term.
“Federal documents reveal that the 33-year-old Ciaramella, a registered Democrat held over from the Obama White House…” Why the hell was he still there? What do you mean, “held over”? This guy… I’ve probably seen this guy there. I’ve been to the Oval Office two or three times since Trump’s been president. I’ve been in the West Wing. I’ve probably seen this guy slithering around. It never even registered. Next time I go, I’m gonna keep a sharp eye for people I think might be John Brennan holdover plants, ’cause they’re obviously slithering all over the place.
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Louie Gohmert: Impeachment Push Is Actually More Like ‘Communist Revolution’
Democrats’ ongoing attempts to nullify the 2016 presidential election via impeachment of President Donald Trump is closer to a “communist revolution” than “civil war,” said Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) while guest-hosting Thursday’s edition of SiriusXM’s Breitbart News Tonight.
“I was quoted earlier today saying on the House floor something about civil war,” Gohmert said. “Well, it’s not a civil war that Republicans are engaged in. It’s the Democrats, but what is a better description than civil war is actually … a communist revolution.”
Gohmert continued, “Next thing you know you’ve got Trotsky over convincing the soldiers to support the Lenin of the place, and then boom, you have what people think will be a benevolent dictator and get things back on track and restore people’s rights, but you’ve just lost everything, that Caesar has now crossed the Rubicon, you’ve lost your republic, the little experiment in self-government, and now you’re dealing with a dictator.”
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“I was quoted earlier today saying on the House floor something about civil war,” Gohmert said. “Well, it’s not a civil war that Republicans are engaged in. It’s the Democrats, but what is a better description than civil war is actually … a communist revolution.”
Gohmert continued, “Next thing you know you’ve got Trotsky over convincing the soldiers to support the Lenin of the place, and then boom, you have what people think will be a benevolent dictator and get things back on track and restore people’s rights, but you’ve just lost everything, that Caesar has now crossed the Rubicon, you’ve lost your republic, the little experiment in self-government, and now you’re dealing with a dictator.”
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Elijah Cummings' wife admits she's 'thinking carefully' about running for late husband's congressional seat
The widow of Rep. Elijah Cummings is considering running for her late husband's Maryland congressional seat.
"I love Baltimore City, the counties of the 7th Congressional District, and the state of Maryland," Maya Rockeymoore Cummings told the Washington Post in a Thursday text. "I'm deeply committed to public service and I'm honored by the widespread encouragement I've received to continue Elijah’s amazing legacy. As I mourn the loss of my husband, I’m thinking carefully about the future and will make an announcement very soon."
The Democratic congressman died on Oct. 17 after entering Johns Hopkins Hospital for a heart procedure. He was 68 years old.
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"I love Baltimore City, the counties of the 7th Congressional District, and the state of Maryland," Maya Rockeymoore Cummings told the Washington Post in a Thursday text. "I'm deeply committed to public service and I'm honored by the widespread encouragement I've received to continue Elijah’s amazing legacy. As I mourn the loss of my husband, I’m thinking carefully about the future and will make an announcement very soon."
The Democratic congressman died on Oct. 17 after entering Johns Hopkins Hospital for a heart procedure. He was 68 years old.
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Hospital security guard who had sex dead body is SPARED jail time
A hospital security guard who was caught having sex with the body of a kindergarten teacher hours after she died of a heart attack has been spared jail and may even have his record expunged.
Cameron Wright, 23, was caught violating the body of 37-year-old April Parham in St. Francis Hospital in Memphis last August.
He was charged with abuse of a corpse, a class E felony in Tennessee.
On Tuesday, a judge granted his lawyer's motion for a diversion which, in effect, puts the case to one side.
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Cameron Wright, 23, was caught violating the body of 37-year-old April Parham in St. Francis Hospital in Memphis last August.
He was charged with abuse of a corpse, a class E felony in Tennessee.
On Tuesday, a judge granted his lawyer's motion for a diversion which, in effect, puts the case to one side.
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Hirono Makes Bizarre Argument Against Originalist Court Nominee
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D., Hawaii) attacked a judicial nominee Wednesday, charging that he would rule against suffrage for blacks and women if a hypothetical U.S. Constitution banned them from voting.
Hirono took issue with Trump judicial nominee Lawrence VanDyke's statement that he would "look to the Constitution" when considering whether laws were constitutional. She said during a Judiciary Committee hearing such an approach would threaten the voting rights of minorities and women if the Constitution had not already been changed to ensure voting rights for minorities and women.
"You testified that you would look to the Constitution and what was meant in the Constitution at the time that it took effect, with enactment, ratification, whatever," Hirono said. "This was back in 1789, when blacks couldn't vote and women couldn't vote. So if the Constitution had not been amended to let women and blacks vote, you would interpret the Constitution as not allowing these groups to vote?"
"Senator, the Constitution has been amended, and I'm thankful it has been amended," VanDyke said. The 15th Amendment banned states from denying the right to vote on the basis of race in 1870, while the 19th Amendment did the same on the basis of sex in 1919.
VanDyke is a judicial conservative who advocates for "originalism," the legal philosophy that the Constitution should be interpreted in accordance with how its words would have been understood at the time of its writing.
"If the Constitution had not been amended and you're applying the Constitution as it was enacted, 1789, the Constitution had not been amended to allow women and blacks to vote. By originalism, you would have to interpret the Constitution as not allowing these groups to vote. Isn't that right?" Hirono said.
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Hirono took issue with Trump judicial nominee Lawrence VanDyke's statement that he would "look to the Constitution" when considering whether laws were constitutional. She said during a Judiciary Committee hearing such an approach would threaten the voting rights of minorities and women if the Constitution had not already been changed to ensure voting rights for minorities and women.
"You testified that you would look to the Constitution and what was meant in the Constitution at the time that it took effect, with enactment, ratification, whatever," Hirono said. "This was back in 1789, when blacks couldn't vote and women couldn't vote. So if the Constitution had not been amended to let women and blacks vote, you would interpret the Constitution as not allowing these groups to vote?"
"Senator, the Constitution has been amended, and I'm thankful it has been amended," VanDyke said. The 15th Amendment banned states from denying the right to vote on the basis of race in 1870, while the 19th Amendment did the same on the basis of sex in 1919.
VanDyke is a judicial conservative who advocates for "originalism," the legal philosophy that the Constitution should be interpreted in accordance with how its words would have been understood at the time of its writing.
"If the Constitution had not been amended and you're applying the Constitution as it was enacted, 1789, the Constitution had not been amended to allow women and blacks to vote. By originalism, you would have to interpret the Constitution as not allowing these groups to vote. Isn't that right?" Hirono said.
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So Long, Wunderground!
“Aaron has written some new software for the website to enable anyone to have a blog, and we’d like you to start your own featured blog.” The speaker was Jeff Ferguson, a fellow Weather Underground co-founder. He and I were having the discussion on an April day in 2005 in our Ann Arbor office. Jeff was referring to one our awesome developers, Aaron Cowdin (WunderYakuza), who worked in the WU San Francisco office.
“What’s a blog?” I asked.
“It’s short for Web Log,” said Jeff Ferguson, “and it’s gaining popularity as a personalized way to communicate on the web.”
“A blog,” I snorted. “Great. Sounds like a waste of time. What am I supposed to write about?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’m sure you’ll think of something. We’d like you to post something three times per week. It might be a good way to get Weather Underground some media attention.”
“OK,” I said. “But I doubt I’ll want to do this for very long.”
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“What’s a blog?” I asked.
“It’s short for Web Log,” said Jeff Ferguson, “and it’s gaining popularity as a personalized way to communicate on the web.”
“A blog,” I snorted. “Great. Sounds like a waste of time. What am I supposed to write about?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “I’m sure you’ll think of something. We’d like you to post something three times per week. It might be a good way to get Weather Underground some media attention.”
“OK,” I said. “But I doubt I’ll want to do this for very long.”
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Ten Years After Fort Hood Massacre
The 11/5 Fort Hood massacre was the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil since 9/11.
For the president of the United States formerly known as Barry Soetoro, it was only “workplace violence,” not even “gun violence.” That prevented the survivors from getting the medals and medical treatment they deserved. For his part, Major Hasan never should have been in a position to attack them.
As Robert Spencer notes, Maj. Hasan told colleagues infidels should have their throats cut, heads chopped off, and boiling oil poured down their throat. He told students Islamic law trumped the U.S. Constitution and suicide bombings were justified. Hasan’s jihadist tilt was well known but his Army superiors “kept promoting him” even as the FBI tracked his terrorist contacts.
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America Doesn’t Need ‘Hate Speech’ Laws
Will someone in our free press stand up for free speech?
Just as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been harangued by politicians and legacy media journalists about not doing more to censor speech on his social media platform, an opinion column Tuesday in The Washington Post called for passing “hate speech” laws that take direct aim at undermining the suddenly problematic First Amendment.
Richard Stengel, a former editor at Time magazine who then served as the State Department’s undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs under President Barack Obama, argued that the First Amendment is outdated and that America’s unique protection for free speech just doesn’t work anymore.
Stengel wrote that while traveling the world and “championing the virtues of free speech,” he “came to see how our First Amendment standard is an outlier.”
Yes, the First Amendment is an “outlier,” and for that, we should be incredibly thankful as Americans. It is undoubtedly a cornerstone of American exceptionalism.
Not for Stengel, however.
Stengel wrote that our broad protections of free speech, which allow “hate speech”—however one may define that—“diminishes tolerance” and “enables discrimination.”
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Just as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been harangued by politicians and legacy media journalists about not doing more to censor speech on his social media platform, an opinion column Tuesday in The Washington Post called for passing “hate speech” laws that take direct aim at undermining the suddenly problematic First Amendment.
Richard Stengel, a former editor at Time magazine who then served as the State Department’s undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs under President Barack Obama, argued that the First Amendment is outdated and that America’s unique protection for free speech just doesn’t work anymore.
Stengel wrote that while traveling the world and “championing the virtues of free speech,” he “came to see how our First Amendment standard is an outlier.”
Yes, the First Amendment is an “outlier,” and for that, we should be incredibly thankful as Americans. It is undoubtedly a cornerstone of American exceptionalism.
Not for Stengel, however.
Stengel wrote that our broad protections of free speech, which allow “hate speech”—however one may define that—“diminishes tolerance” and “enables discrimination.”
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Whistleblower’s Lawyers Release Statement Threatening Journalists
Attorneys for the whistleblower whose complaint about President Trump’s July 25 phone call with Ukraine’s president sparked the Democrats’ impeachment inquiry issued a statement Thursday threatening legal action against journalists who publish “the name of any person who may be suspected to be the whistleblower.”
The New York Times was first to provide some details about the whistleblower behind the complaint that started the impeachment inquiry, reporting in late-September that the whistleblower is allegedly a CIA agent who was “detailed to work at the [Trump] White House at one point.” The Times noted that the whistleblower’s attorneys confirmed their client’s position with the CIA. In the following weeks, speculation continued to swirl and pressure mounted from Republicans, including Trump, for the identity of the whistleblower to be revealed.
This week, multiple outlets revealed the name that, as RealClearInvestigations’ Paul Sperry put it, is reportedly “an open secret inside the Beltway.” In response, the whistleblower’s attorneys, Andrew P. Bakaj and Mark S. Zaid, issued a release Thursday addressing “speculation” on the whistleblower’s identity.
“Our client is legally entitled to anonymity,” the statement reads.
More here
The New York Times was first to provide some details about the whistleblower behind the complaint that started the impeachment inquiry, reporting in late-September that the whistleblower is allegedly a CIA agent who was “detailed to work at the [Trump] White House at one point.” The Times noted that the whistleblower’s attorneys confirmed their client’s position with the CIA. In the following weeks, speculation continued to swirl and pressure mounted from Republicans, including Trump, for the identity of the whistleblower to be revealed.
This week, multiple outlets revealed the name that, as RealClearInvestigations’ Paul Sperry put it, is reportedly “an open secret inside the Beltway.” In response, the whistleblower’s attorneys, Andrew P. Bakaj and Mark S. Zaid, issued a release Thursday addressing “speculation” on the whistleblower’s identity.
“Our client is legally entitled to anonymity,” the statement reads.
More here
A Majority of White Democrats Have Become Non-Christian
In Obama's first year in office, 68% of white Democrats described themselves as Christians, 7% claimed to be members of other faiths, and 24% said that they had no religious affiliation.
A decade later, only 47% of white Democrats call themselves Christians. 10% are members of other faiths, and 42% have no religion.
A majority of white Democrats have ceased to be Christian.
The Obama era transformed the country and the party. It’s often observed that the Democrats of the JFK era are not the Democrats of today. But forget 1961, an era that is receding into the shadows of history. The Democrats of 2019 are not the Democrats of 2009. We are a different nation because of it.
The results of the Pew survey are startling and yet unsurprising. They explain why the Democrat debate stage included a cult leader and a call to go after churches and synagogues that don’t back gay marriage.
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A decade later, only 47% of white Democrats call themselves Christians. 10% are members of other faiths, and 42% have no religion.
A majority of white Democrats have ceased to be Christian.
The Obama era transformed the country and the party. It’s often observed that the Democrats of the JFK era are not the Democrats of today. But forget 1961, an era that is receding into the shadows of history. The Democrats of 2019 are not the Democrats of 2009. We are a different nation because of it.
The results of the Pew survey are startling and yet unsurprising. They explain why the Democrat debate stage included a cult leader and a call to go after churches and synagogues that don’t back gay marriage.
More here
A Herd Of Goats Saved The Reagan Presidential Library From A Raging Wildfire
Firefighters worked through the day Wednesday, trying to save the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library alongside hundreds of homes, farms, and businesses, from the “Easy Fire” that raged across Simi Valley, California, torching more than a thousand acres.
It turns out, though, that the more than 700 personnel fighting the blaze had a hand from some hairy fire abatement professionals: a herd of hungry goats.
That’s right: a herd of goats may have helped save the Reagan Presidential Library.
CNN reports that a “herd of as many as 500 goats” was given the run of a hillside, conveniently located between the fire and the Library, earlier this year. The goats ate all of the available vegetation in their grazing zone, creating a natural firebreak, and depriving the fast-moving Simi Valley wildfire of fuel.
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It turns out, though, that the more than 700 personnel fighting the blaze had a hand from some hairy fire abatement professionals: a herd of hungry goats.
That’s right: a herd of goats may have helped save the Reagan Presidential Library.
CNN reports that a “herd of as many as 500 goats” was given the run of a hillside, conveniently located between the fire and the Library, earlier this year. The goats ate all of the available vegetation in their grazing zone, creating a natural firebreak, and depriving the fast-moving Simi Valley wildfire of fuel.
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Ocean City Renews Effort To Handle Own 911 Calls
OCEAN CITY — Eliminating the need for 911 calls generated in Ocean City to be routed to Snow Hill before being relayed back to the resort’s emergency service providers remains a goal for resort officials.
For years, 911 emergency calls originating in Ocean City have been relayed to Worcester County’s call center in Snow Hill before being sent back to the appropriate emergency service providers in the resort. While the system has worked for the most part and no major lags in response times have been reported over the years, there remains the potential for critical seconds lost.
The issue is certainly not a new one and it was broached again this week during larger discussions on updating the resort’s strategic plan. Ocean City Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald said, by and large, the system does work.
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For years, 911 emergency calls originating in Ocean City have been relayed to Worcester County’s call center in Snow Hill before being sent back to the appropriate emergency service providers in the resort. While the system has worked for the most part and no major lags in response times have been reported over the years, there remains the potential for critical seconds lost.
The issue is certainly not a new one and it was broached again this week during larger discussions on updating the resort’s strategic plan. Ocean City Emergency Services Director Joe Theobald said, by and large, the system does work.
More
Reporter Found Info Challenging Warren’s Fired-For-Pregnancy Story. He Didn’t Report It.
Last April 10, a reporter who worked for The Wall Street Journal obtained records challenging Senator Elizabeth Warren’s oft-repeated claim that she was fired from her teaching job because she was pregnant.
He didn’t report it.
As National Review (NR) documents, Reid Epstein, who left the Journal to work for The New York Times nine days later on April 19, filed an open-records request with the Riverdale Board of Education for copies of public records regarding Warren’s time teaching at Riverdale during the 1970-1971 school year. NR said he got the school-board minutes on April 10, as shown by documents obtained by NR through the New Jersey Open Records Act.
New York Times vice president of communications Danielle Rhoades, attempting to explain why the Times hadn’t published the information initially, released a statement reading:
More here
He didn’t report it.
As National Review (NR) documents, Reid Epstein, who left the Journal to work for The New York Times nine days later on April 19, filed an open-records request with the Riverdale Board of Education for copies of public records regarding Warren’s time teaching at Riverdale during the 1970-1971 school year. NR said he got the school-board minutes on April 10, as shown by documents obtained by NR through the New Jersey Open Records Act.
New York Times vice president of communications Danielle Rhoades, attempting to explain why the Times hadn’t published the information initially, released a statement reading:
More here
Beto O'Rourke drops out of 2020 presidential race
Beto O'Rourke, the former Texas congressman who became nationally known in the 2018 midterm election and transferred that recognition into a presidential bid, has ended his 2020 campaign.
"Though it is difficult to accept, it is clear to me now that this campaign does not have the means to move forward successfully," the Democrat said in a letter posted to Twitter Friday. "My service to the country will not be as a candidate or as the nominee. Acknowledging this now is in the best interests of those in the campaign; it is in the best interests of this party as we seek to unify around a nominee; and it is in the best interests of the country."
O'Rourke came into the spotlight when he challenged Republican Ted Cruz for his Senate seat in historically red Texas. O'Rourke, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019, lost the 2018 race against Cruz by 2.5 percentage points.
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"Though it is difficult to accept, it is clear to me now that this campaign does not have the means to move forward successfully," the Democrat said in a letter posted to Twitter Friday. "My service to the country will not be as a candidate or as the nominee. Acknowledging this now is in the best interests of those in the campaign; it is in the best interests of this party as we seek to unify around a nominee; and it is in the best interests of the country."
O'Rourke came into the spotlight when he challenged Republican Ted Cruz for his Senate seat in historically red Texas. O'Rourke, who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2013 to 2019, lost the 2018 race against Cruz by 2.5 percentage points.
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Viewers blast Instagram influencer, 22, claims learning about WWII would hit millennials' mental health
Angry viewers have taken to social media to berate an Instagram influencer after he claimed learning about World War II would harm pupils' mental health.
Reality TV star Freddie Bentley, 22, told Good Morning Britain today that he thinks schools should trim back what they teach on the conflict.
'It was a hard situation, World War Two, I don't want anyone to think I'm being disrespectful,' he said, but added: 'I remember learning it as a child thinking "Oh my God it's so intense".'
His comments were met with fury on social media as viewers slammed his disrespectful remarks on Twitter, as one person fumed: 'You need to learn respect young man!'
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Reality TV star Freddie Bentley, 22, told Good Morning Britain today that he thinks schools should trim back what they teach on the conflict.
'It was a hard situation, World War Two, I don't want anyone to think I'm being disrespectful,' he said, but added: 'I remember learning it as a child thinking "Oh my God it's so intense".'
His comments were met with fury on social media as viewers slammed his disrespectful remarks on Twitter, as one person fumed: 'You need to learn respect young man!'
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It's On People, Smoking Joe's BBQ Is Fired Up And Ready For Business
