wnd--2020-07-14--'Additional individuals' step forward with evidence against Ghislaine Maxwell

Additional accusers of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein ’ s alleged madame , Ghislaine Maxwell , have come forward in the past week and expressed willingness to cooperate with the FBI , federal prosecutors revealed Monday .
New details about Maxwell ’ s arrest emerged in court documents filed Monday , in which prosecutors argued that Maxwell ’ s request for bail should be denied .
Prosecutors also disclosed that “ additional individuals ” have come forward with new evidence against Maxwell .
“ Additionally , and beyond the strong evidence set forth in the Indictment , in just the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the charges against the defendant being made public , the Federal Bureau of Investigation ( ‘ FBI ’ ) and the U.S. Attorney ’ s Office have been in touch with additional individuals who have expressed a willingness to provide information regarding the defendant , ” federal prosecutors for the Southern District of New York said in the filing “ The Government is in the process of receiving and reviewing this additional evidence , which has the potential to make the Government ’ s case even stronger , ” the prosecutors added .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a request for comment on this matter from the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Maxwell ’ s legal representation has argued that the government ’ s case against her is weak since the allegations against her took place in the 1990s .
Prosecutors argue that this argument ignores the specifics of the allegations , pointing out that multiple victims have “ provided detailed , credible evidence of the defendant ’ s criminal conduct.
” “ And while that conduct did take place a number of years ago , it is unsurprising that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defendant ’ s predatory conduct after all this time , as traumatic childhood experiences often leave indelible marks , ” the prosecutors say .
The prosecutors note in the filing that the victims ’ s recollections “ bear striking resemblances that corroborate each other and provide compelling proof ” that Maxwell was engaged in a “ disturbing scheme to groom and sexually abuse minor girls.
” These victims ’ accounts are also corroborated by documentary evidence and eye witnesses and supported by flight records , diary entries , business records , and more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powerful testimony of these victims , who had strikingly similar experiences with Maxwell , together with documentary evidence and witness testimony , will conclusively establish that the defendant groomed the victims for sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein , ” the prosecutors wrote .
This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact [ email protected ]

By Mary Margaret Olohan
Daily Caller News Foundation
Additional accusers of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s alleged madame, Ghislaine Maxwell, have come forward in the past week and expressed willingness to cooperate with the FBI, federal prosecutors revealed Monday.
New details about Maxwell’s arrest emerged in court documents filed Monday, in which prosecutors argued that Maxwell’s request for bail should be denied. Prosecutors also disclosed that “additional individuals” have come forward with new evidence against Maxwell.
“Additionally, and beyond the strong evidence set forth in the Indictment, in just the past week, and in response to the charges against the defendant being made public, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (‘FBI’) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office have been in touch with additional individuals who have expressed a willingness to provide information regarding the defendant,” federal prosecutors for the Southern District of New York said in the filing
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
“The Government is in the process of receiving and reviewing this additional evidence, which has the potential to make the Government’s case even stronger,” the prosecutors added.
The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this matter from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Maxwell’s legal representation has argued that the government’s case against her is weak since the allegations against her took place in the 1990s. Prosecutors argue that this argument ignores the specifics of the allegations, pointing out that multiple victims have “provided detailed, credible evidence of the defendant’s criminal conduct.”
“And while that conduct did take place a number of years ago, it is unsurprising that the victims have been unable to forget the defendant’s predatory conduct after all this time, as traumatic childhood experiences often leave indelible marks,” the prosecutors say.
The prosecutors note in the filing that the victims’s recollections “bear striking resemblances that corroborate each other and provide compelling proof” that Maxwell was engaged in a “disturbing scheme to groom and sexually abuse minor girls.”
These victims’ accounts are also corroborated by documentary evidence and eye witnesses and supported by flight records, diary entries, business records, and more, the prosecutors add.
“The powerful testimony of these victims, who had strikingly similar experiences with Maxwell, together with documentary evidence and witness testimony, will conclusively establish that the defendant groomed the victims for sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein,” the prosecutors wrote.
This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


wnd--2020-07-14--Gingrich: Trump needs to be more aggressive than Nixon or Reagan

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]
He may be the most optimistic American abroad , and when reached by phone Friday from Rome , the former speaker of the House offers an increasingly rare message to stateside Republicans resigning themselves to an ugly November : The charts—economic and medical and presidential—are far from promising at the moment .
A recession looms while cases of COVID-19 spike and the president slips further downward in the polls , but Gingrich starts with a different model less than four from the election , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a clue , ” he told RealClearPolitics .
How can the polls tell anyone anything , he added , when the “ elite media has been so unrelentingly hostile to Trump that an amazing percentage of people don ’ t want to even say his name.
” In other words , he believes in a silent majority .
So does the president , who regularly references that supposedly tight-lipped electorate on Twitter and at his rallies , contrasting them with the “ unhinged left-wing mob.
” Animating this voter bloc , then , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gingrich sees it , Trump only has to do a few key things to keep the White House .
First , he must put the economy back on track— “ people have to have a feeling by September that we are going to come out of this.
” ( Gingrich suggests a payroll tax cut . )
Second , he needs to manage the pandemic—Gingrich says that Italy got the virus under control “ and that ’ ll happen in the States.
” Third , he ought to double down on the culture @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last suggestion is the one directly under Trump ’ s control , and something Gingrich , who pioneered robust populist messaging to launch the Republican Revolution of 1994 , predicts “ will be substantially to his advantage.
” But can a culture war really be won right now ?
Millions have protested against police brutality since the death of George Floyd in May , and a majority of Americans support those demonstrations .
Both Republicans and Democrats have taken up the issue of police reform in Congress .
The left has gone even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and embracing demonstrations that end with toppled statues of once-revered figures : Asked about monument destruction recently , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi simply responded that “ people will do what they do.
” And that is exactly why the culture war campaign is in order , according to Gingrich .
Even when silent , he says , the majority is watching .
They have watched individuals fired for wrong opinions , such as the Boeing executive who was forced to resign after an op-ed he wrote opposing women in the military surfaced -- @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
They also watch when the powerful are forced to offer public apologies for espousing the “ wrong ” opinions , such as Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints , who quickly walked back comments about kneeling for the national anthem .
Gingrich sees this as an opportunity for Trump to draw a contrast between those looking to make a positive social change and others trying to capitalize on unrest to accrue power .
“ A very simple distinction , ” he said by way of example , “ is between Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slogan , and the Black Lives Matter organization , which is a Marxist , anti-American group.
” Trump has already done this to a certain extent .
Three days after condemning “ a new far-left fascism ” during his Mount Rushmore address , he told RCP in the Oval Office that , in fact , “ we are in a culture war.
” It ’ s an argument he feels comfortable making .
He blended cultural and political appeals in 2016 .
And Gingrich wants him to do it again , but differently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the elite media , ” Trump has “ got to have a more aggressive style than Nixon or Reagan.
” This won ’ t be a problem for the president , who attacked NASCAR and the Supreme Court all in the same week .
What will be difficult -- what has always been difficult for this president -- is narrowing his field of fire .
“ The question is , ” Gingrich explained , “ can he stay focused ?
” And focus is necessary because Joe Biden , the former vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strength of his comparative moderation , won ’ t be easy to demonize .
Here Gingrich has more advice for the Trump campaign , whom he speaks with on a regular basis .
“ Do n't talk about Biden , ” he argued .
“ Talk about Biden , Pelosi , and Schumer .
It ’ s the trio , it is what they would do collectively if they had the White House , the House , and the Senate .
I think the more people hear about that , then Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not all Republicans would agree that a more aggressive Trump is what ’ s needed .
They worried about his pugnacious populism when he first ran , first won , and throughout his first term .
Back on his heels during the pandemic and slipping in the polls , though , Gingrich sees aggression as his last best option .
To force Biden onto uncomfortable terrain , he suggests an attack on the Democrat ’ s left flank .
While the presumptive nominee branded himself as a moderate to win the primary , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progressive platform to appease the more extreme elements of his party .
To Gingrich , this looks like a weakness , and the Supreme Court just provided a perfect opportunity to exploit it , he said .
The court upheld an exemption to Obamacare ’ s contraception mandate in a case filed on behalf of the Little Sisters of the Poor last week , an order of Catholic nuns .
Biden quickly released a statement promising to end that exemption .
What more could Trump have asked for , Gingrich asks .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and “ Biden announces that he would sue the nuns again over contraception ?
” “ If he is going to stay with AOC and Omar and the rest of them , he has to be a radical , ” he argues .
“ And if he isn ’ t a radical , he won ’ t be legitimate ” in the eyes of the party ’ s left wing .
And so , the logic of the culture war campaign goes , maintaining legitimacy will force radicalism to the forefront .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump wins a second term .
[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]
By Philip Wegmann
Real Clear Politics
He may be the most optimistic American abroad, and when reached by phone Friday from Rome, the former speaker of the House offers an increasingly rare message to stateside Republicans resigning themselves to an ugly November:
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Newt Gingrich still believes Donald Trump can win.
The charts—economic and medical and presidential—are far from promising at the moment. A recession looms while cases of COVID-19 spike and the president slips further downward in the polls, but Gingrich starts with a different model less than four from the election, a simpler one.
“Nobody has a clue,” he told RealClearPolitics. How can the polls tell anyone anything, he added, when the “elite media has been so unrelentingly hostile to Trump that an amazing percentage of people don’t want to even say his name.” In other words, he believes in a silent majority.
So does the president, who regularly references that supposedly tight-lipped electorate on Twitter and at his rallies, contrasting them with the “unhinged left-wing mob.” Animating this voter bloc, then, is the task of 2020. As Gingrich sees it, Trump only has to do a few key things to keep the White House.
Do you agree with Newt Gingrich on this? Yes No Completing this poll entitles you to WND news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use You're logged in to Facebook. Click here to log out. 92% (24 Votes) 8% (2 Votes)
First, he must put the economy back on track—“people have to have a feeling by September that we are going to come out of this.” (Gingrich suggests a payroll tax cut.) Second, he needs to manage the pandemic—Gingrich says that Italy got the virus under control “and that’ll happen in the States.” Third, he ought to double down on the culture war—Gingrich says do it now.
That last suggestion is the one directly under Trump’s control, and something Gingrich, who pioneered robust populist messaging to launch the Republican Revolution of 1994, predicts “will be substantially to his advantage.”
But can a culture war really be won right now?
Millions have protested against police brutality since the death of George Floyd in May, and a majority of Americans support those demonstrations. Both Republicans and Democrats have taken up the issue of police reform in Congress. The left has gone even further by pushing to defund the police and embracing demonstrations that end with toppled statues of once-revered figures: Asked about monument destruction recently, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi simply responded that “people will do what they do.”
And that is exactly why the culture war campaign is in order, according to Gingrich.
Even when silent, he says, the majority is watching. They have watched individuals fired for wrong opinions, such as the Boeing executive who was forced to resign after an op-ed he wrote opposing women in the military surfaced -- more than three decades after the fact. They also watch when the powerful are forced to offer public apologies for espousing the “wrong” opinions, such as Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints, who quickly walked back comments about kneeling for the national anthem.
Gingrich sees this as an opportunity for Trump to draw a contrast between those looking to make a positive social change and others trying to capitalize on unrest to accrue power. “A very simple distinction,” he said by way of example, “is between Black Lives Matter, which is a terrific slogan, and the Black Lives Matter organization, which is a Marxist, anti-American group.”
Trump has already done this to a certain extent. Three days after condemning “a new far-left fascism” during his Mount Rushmore address, he told RCP in the Oval Office that, in fact, “we are in a culture war.” It’s an argument he feels comfortable making. He blended cultural and political appeals in 2016. And Gingrich wants him to do it again, but differently.
Because of “the hostility of the elite media,” Trump has “got to have a more aggressive style than Nixon or Reagan.”
This won’t be a problem for the president, who attacked NASCAR and the Supreme Court all in the same week. What will be difficult--what has always been difficult for this president--is narrowing his field of fire. “The question is,” Gingrich explained, “can he stay focused?” And focus is necessary because Joe Biden, the former vice president who secured the Democratic nomination on the strength of his comparative moderation, won’t be easy to demonize.
Here Gingrich has more advice for the Trump campaign, whom he speaks with on a regular basis. “Don't talk about Biden,” he argued. “Talk about Biden, Pelosi, and Schumer. It’s the trio, it is what they would do collectively if they had the White House, the House, and the Senate. I think the more people hear about that, then Biden’s votes will shrink very dramatically.”
Not all Republicans would agree that a more aggressive Trump is what’s needed. They worried about his pugnacious populism when he first ran, first won, and throughout his first term. Back on his heels during the pandemic and slipping in the polls, though, Gingrich sees aggression as his last best option.
To force Biden onto uncomfortable terrain, he suggests an attack on the Democrat’s left flank. While the presumptive nominee branded himself as a moderate to win the primary, since then he has adopted a historically progressive platform to appease the more extreme elements of his party. To Gingrich, this looks like a weakness, and the Supreme Court just provided a perfect opportunity to exploit it, he said.
The court upheld an exemption to Obamacare’s contraception mandate in a case filed on behalf of the Little Sisters of the Poor last week, an order of Catholic nuns. Biden quickly released a statement promising to end that exemption. What more could Trump have asked for, Gingrich asks. Biden is Catholic, Biden needs Catholic voters, and “Biden announces that he would sue the nuns again over contraception?”
“If he is going to stay with AOC and Omar and the rest of them, he has to be a radical,” he argues. “And if he isn’t a radical, he won’t be legitimate” in the eyes of the party’s left wing. And so, the logic of the culture war campaign goes, maintaining legitimacy will force radicalism to the forefront. This, Gingrich says, is how Trump wins a second term.
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]


wnd--2020-07-14--Marco Rubio: World cannot 'stand passively as Beijing suppresses free people'

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]
For decades , Americans rightly viewed Hong Kong as an outpost of freedom in China ’ s backyard , developing deep economic and cultural ties with the former British territory and its people .
But the People ’ s Republic of China ( PRC ) and the Chinese Communist Party ( CCP ) just wiped away that special status by passing an authoritarian national security law that will render Hong Kong almost indistinguishable from Beijing , Shanghai , or other cities in China .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ its economic and national security interests and the people of Hong Kong as the CCP solidifies control over the formerly autonomous city .
As Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross warned about the CCP ’ s tightening grip , “ The risk that sensitive U.S. technology will be diverted to the People ’ s Liberation Army or Ministry of State Security has increased.
” The Trump administration is already adjusting to this dangerous new reality .
At the end of June , it suspended export license exceptions for sensitive U.S. technology and prohibited the export @ @ @ @ @ @ @ More changes , it signaled , are forthcoming .
Those changes should target the CCP ’ s interests and those complicit in Hong Kong .
Recently , the administration announced visa bans for CCP officials who had undermined Hong Kong ’ s autonomy but left untouched the Hong Kong elite who traded away their city ’ s freedom .
Such sanctions should include at least the Hong Kong government ’ s politically appointed officials and Hong Kong ’ s delegates to the Chinese People ’ s Political Consultative Conference and the National People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national security law .
The administration should also use its authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to place secondary sanctions on key figures who fall in this category , as well as any business institutions that have acted as Beijing ’ s executors .
Because the new national security law fundamentally changes the business environment in Hong Kong , the State Department should also update its travel advisory to the city .
In 2017 , Beijing defined national security as resting on a foundation of economic security .
That law codified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ raid on Rio Tinto ’ s offices in Shanghai : when your business costs the CCP , your people will pay .
That politically motivated and unchecked policing power now extends into Hong Kong .
Travelers should beware .
The most challenging question is how hard to squeeze Hong Kong ’ s financial system , which until now served as an airlock between China and the world .
For their part , businesses can no longer assume their finances are safe in Hong Kong , as the new law explicitly states those funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a minimum , the administration should investigate fraud , especially by Chinese companies also listed in the United States , in Hong Kong to test how far Beijing is reaching into the city ’ s economy .
Dismantling the U.S. laws , treaties , and regulations that treat Hong Kong distinct from China will hurt Hong Kong economically , but the city ’ s special treatment was always premised on Beijing ’ s respect for its autonomy under the Sino-British Joint Declaration .
Xi Jinping demolished that agreement , signaling the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finance and commerce .
Of course , there is a human cost to Xi ’ s hostile takeover .
The national security law ’ s draconian provisions endanger the millions of Hong Kong people who participated in the demonstrations throughout the last year .
They have inspiringly continued to press for political , economic , and cultural freedom .
We should join with the UK — and encourage others to offer a safe haven for those whom Beijing will persecute .
My bipartisan Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act provides a blueprint for how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The looming crackdown , however , could outpace the legislative process .
The administration should prepare a profile of Hong Kong activists vulnerable to persecution to help the U.S. consulate identify those who should be eligible to come to the United States under existing programs .
Throughout history , authoritarian regimes have ruled by forcing people to accept fear and violence in their everyday lives .
We see this in western China , where the Communist Party is overseeing a slow-motion genocide of Uyghurs and other Muslims .
International companies regularly turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business is good in China .
Beijing is counting on the same complacency as it ravages the rights of Hong Kong ’ s people , but America can not allow it to be so .
We can not allow the world — other nations , international companies , and other observers alike — to stand passively as Beijing suppresses yet another free people .

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]
By Sen. Marco Rubio
Real Clear Politics
For decades, Americans rightly viewed Hong Kong as an outpost of freedom in China’s backyard, developing deep economic and cultural ties with the former British territory and its people. But the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) just wiped away that special status by passing an authoritarian national security law that will render Hong Kong almost indistinguishable from Beijing, Shanghai, or other cities in China.
America must now move quickly to protect its economic and national security interests and the people of Hong Kong as the CCP solidifies control over the formerly autonomous city.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
As Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross warned about the CCP’s tightening grip, “The risk that sensitive U.S. technology will be diverted to the People’s Liberation Army or Ministry of State Security has increased.”
The Trump administration is already adjusting to this dangerous new reality. At the end of June, it suspended export license exceptions for sensitive U.S. technology and prohibited the export of defense equipment to Hong Kong. More changes, it signaled, are forthcoming.
Those changes should target the CCP’s interests and those complicit in Hong Kong.
Recently, the administration announced visa bans for CCP officials who had undermined Hong Kong’s autonomy but left untouched the Hong Kong elite who traded away their city’s freedom. Such sanctions should include at least the Hong Kong government’s politically appointed officials and Hong Kong’s delegates to the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the National People’s Congress, which passed the national security law. The administration should also use its authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to place secondary sanctions on key figures who fall in this category, as well as any business institutions that have acted as Beijing’s executors.
Because the new national security law fundamentally changes the business environment in Hong Kong, the State Department should also update its travel advisory to the city. In 2017, Beijing defined national security as resting on a foundation of economic security. That law codified what we already knew from the 2008 raid on Rio Tinto’s offices in Shanghai: when your business costs the CCP, your people will pay. That politically motivated and unchecked policing power now extends into Hong Kong. Travelers should beware.
The most challenging question is how hard to squeeze Hong Kong’s financial system, which until now served as an airlock between China and the world. For their part, businesses can no longer assume their finances are safe in Hong Kong, as the new law explicitly states those funds can be frozen by Beijing. At a minimum, the administration should investigate fraud, especially by Chinese companies also listed in the United States, in Hong Kong to test how far Beijing is reaching into the city’s economy.
Dismantling the U.S. laws, treaties, and regulations that treat Hong Kong distinct from China will hurt Hong Kong economically, but the city’s special treatment was always premised on Beijing’s respect for its autonomy under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Xi Jinping demolished that agreement, signaling the end of Hong Kong as a global center for finance and commerce.
Of course, there is a human cost to Xi’s hostile takeover. The national security law’s draconian provisions endanger the millions of Hong Kong people who participated in the demonstrations throughout the last year. They have inspiringly continued to press for political, economic, and cultural freedom. We should join with the UK — and encourage others to offer a safe haven for those whom Beijing will persecute. My bipartisan Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act provides a blueprint for how to welcome Hong Kongers to the U.S. The looming crackdown, however, could outpace the legislative process. The administration should prepare a profile of Hong Kong activists vulnerable to persecution to help the U.S. consulate identify those who should be eligible to come to the United States under existing programs.
Throughout history, authoritarian regimes have ruled by forcing people to accept fear and violence in their everyday lives. We see this in western China, where the Communist Party is overseeing a slow-motion genocide of Uyghurs and other Muslims. International companies regularly turn a blind eye to the atrocities because business is good in China. Beijing is counting on the same complacency as it ravages the rights of Hong Kong’s people, but America cannot allow it to be so. We cannot allow the world — other nations, international companies, and other observers alike — to stand passively as Beijing suppresses yet another free people.


wnd--2020-07-14--Trump takes serious vow on fighting the left's 'culture war'

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]
At the foot of Mount Rushmore on the Fourth of July , President Trump redrew the battle lines of the election , describing the contest not just as a referendum on his handling of the economy or his response to the coronavirus , but as a struggle against those who aim “ to overthrow the American Revolution.
” He reiterated the message three days later , telling RealClearPolitics in an Oval Office interview that “ we are in a culture war.
” Trump had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under assault from “ a merciless campaign to wipe out our history , defame our heroes , erase our values , and indoctrinate our children.
” He said in his speech that “ an angry mob ” is working to “ tear down statues of our Founders , deface our most sacred memorials , and unleash a wave of violent crime in our cities.
” And on Tuesday the president told RCP that his party needed to enlist in the culture war or risk ruin .
“ If the Republicans do n't toughen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and protect our heritage and protect our country , ” he explained , “ I think they 're going to have a very tough election.
” The Independence Day address is already serving as a sort of ideological inkblot test .
To Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas , it was “ a magnificent speech , ” and the conservative National Review heralded Trump ’ s remarks as “ a triumph.
” But to Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois , reportedly under consideration to be Joe Biden ’ s running mate , the speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” and the New York Times labeled the address “ dark and divisive.
” Either way , Trump has hit on the message he believes will carry him to a second term .
He is not unaware of the spate of polling that shows Biden expanding his lead , numbers he takes seriously .
But Trump spoke longingly on Tuesday of a kind of campaign that is no longer possible amid a pandemic .
“ This was going to be a blowout , and then China hit us with the ‘ China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sudden , it discombobulated this country and the entire world .
Now , it 's a much closer situation , ” he said .
“ We were sailing to an easy victory .
Now , I have to fight for the victory , but I 've been fighting all my life .
That 's what I do .
I fight for victory.
” Many on the right are still concerned .
The conservative editorial board at the Wall Street Journal warned the president in a June 28 editorial that , unless Trump finds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for “ a historic repudiation that would take the Republican Senate down with him.
” Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa tweeted his concern , begging someone with “ access ” to the Oval Office to read it .
Trump has answered , but in many ways returned to form as some of the protests against police brutality have turned violent and statues of long-dead Founding Fathers have been toppled or defaced .
And while he insists a second term would be dedicated to policy hallmarks such as immigration , increased military spending and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-emphasize policing .
He told RCP that Chicago , where nearly 80 people were shot and 15 killed over the holiday weekend , was “ a travesty.
” He promised to focus on “ law enforcement in the cities ” and complained that when the federal government offered to send in support , mayors and governors had turned him down .
Trump has less than four months to convince the country that Biden is the face of the “ left-wing cultural revolution , ” a difficult task considering that the former vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rest of the Democratic primary field .
Any professed centrism , according to Trump , only serves to camouflage a regime change that would bring certain financial collapse and an encroaching state .
Losing the election , Trump said , would lead to “ a system that nobody ’ s going to want to be a part of , a system that will lead to another Venezuela.
” A Biden presidency , he argued further , would mean “ a massive and very deep depression in this country because he intends to raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programs that don ’ t work.
” Conservatives were thrilled with the political regrouping at Mount Rushmore .
But some shuddered at Trump 's decision two days later to ask Bubba Wallace , the only black driver in NASCAR and who successfully pushed auto racing ’ s governing body to ban the Confederate flag , to apologize after federal law enforcement concluded that a noose-shaped pull-down rope in his garage stall last month was not evidence of a hate crime .
The FBI and Justice Department found that the rope had been there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask if Wallace would apologize “ to all those great NASCAR drivers & officials who came to his aid , stood by his side , & were willing to sacrifice everything for him , only to find out that the whole thing was just another HOAX ?
That & Flag decision has caused lowest ratings EVER !
” To his critics , it was more confirmation of racism and an explicit defense of a treasonous symbol .
Addressing the controversy for the first time on the record , the president insisted the opposite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than [ that ] NASCAR made a decision , and not everybody agrees with that decision .
I did n't say that I did or did n't agree with that decision—I did n't say .
As far as I 'm concerned , it 's freedom of speech , ” he told RCP .
“ But a lot of people were hurt by that decision .
They were hurt .
They did n't have bad intentions , they were hurt .
And all I do is call it like I see it , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sees them will not end between now and November .
“ My instincts have been right .
I follow my instinct , ” the president said of how he will continue to campaign and advance the front in the culture war .
“ I follow the brain ; the brain has gotten me far.
” Seated behind the Resolute Desk and signing a thick stack of documents to formally nominate federal judges , the president rejected rumors and recent reports that he is privately uninterested in a second term and intends to self-sabotage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with all my breath , ” Trump told RCP , “ with every ounce of what I represent.
” [ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]
By Philip Wegmann
Real Clear Politics
At the foot of Mount Rushmore on the Fourth of July, President Trump redrew the battle lines of the election, describing the contest not just as a referendum on his handling of the economy or his response to the coronavirus, but as a struggle against those who aim “to overthrow the American Revolution.”
He reiterated the message three days later, telling RealClearPolitics in an Oval Office interview that “we are in a culture war.”
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Trump had warned at Rushmore that the country is under assault from “a merciless campaign to wipe out our history, defame our heroes, erase our values, and indoctrinate our children.” He said in his speech that “an angry mob” is working to “tear down statues of our Founders, deface our most sacred memorials, and unleash a wave of violent crime in our cities.”
And on Tuesday the president told RCP that his party needed to enlist in the culture war or risk ruin. “If the Republicans don't toughen up and get smart and get strong and protect our heritage and protect our country,” he explained, “I think they're going to have a very tough election.”
The Independence Day address is already serving as a sort of ideological inkblot test. To Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, it was “a magnificent speech,” and the conservative National Review heralded Trump’s remarks as “a triumph.” But to Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, reportedly under consideration to be Joe Biden’s running mate, the speech was an ode to “dead traitors,” and the New York Times labeled the address “dark and divisive.”
Either way, Trump has hit on the message he believes will carry him to a second term. He is not unaware of the spate of polling that shows Biden expanding his lead, numbers he takes seriously. But Trump spoke longingly on Tuesday of a kind of campaign that is no longer possible amid a pandemic.
“This was going to be a blowout, and then China hit us with the ‘China virus,’ and all of a sudden, it discombobulated this country and the entire world. Now, it's a much closer situation,” he said.
“We were sailing to an easy victory. Now, I have to fight for the victory, but I've been fighting all my life. That's what I do. I fight for victory.”
Many on the right are still concerned. The conservative editorial board at the Wall Street Journal warned the president in a June 28 editorial that, unless Trump finds a consistent message, he is heading for “a historic repudiation that would take the Republican Senate down with him.” Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa tweeted his concern, begging someone with “access” to the Oval Office to read it.
Trump has answered, but in many ways returned to form as some of the protests against police brutality have turned violent and statues of long-dead Founding Fathers have been toppled or defaced. And while he insists a second term would be dedicated to policy hallmarks such as immigration, increased military spending and a deregulated economy, he intends to re-emphasize policing.
He told RCP that Chicago, where nearly 80 people were shot and 15 killed over the holiday weekend, was “a travesty.” He promised to focus on “law enforcement in the cities” and complained that when the federal government offered to send in support, mayors and governors had turned him down.
Trump has less than four months to convince the country that Biden is the face of the “left-wing cultural revolution,” a difficult task considering that the former vice president campaigned as a moderate compared to the rest of the Democratic primary field. Any professed centrism, according to Trump, only serves to camouflage a regime change that would bring certain financial collapse and an encroaching state. Losing the election, Trump said, would lead to “a system that nobody’s going to want to be a part of, a system that will lead to another Venezuela.” A Biden presidency, he argued further, would mean “a massive and very deep depression in this country because he intends to raise taxes massively on everybody to pay for programs that don’t work.”
Conservatives were thrilled with the political regrouping at Mount Rushmore. But some shuddered at Trump's decision two days later to ask Bubba Wallace, the only black driver in NASCAR and who successfully pushed auto racing’s governing body to ban the Confederate flag, to apologize after federal law enforcement concluded that a noose-shaped pull-down rope in his garage stall last month was not evidence of a hate crime.
The FBI and Justice Department found that the rope had been there for months, and Trump tweeted to ask if Wallace would apologize “to all those great NASCAR drivers & officials who came to his aid, stood by his side, & were willing to sacrifice everything for him, only to find out that the whole thing was just another HOAX? That & Flag decision has caused lowest ratings EVER!” To his critics, it was more confirmation of racism and an explicit defense of a treasonous symbol. Addressing the controversy for the first time on the record, the president insisted the opposite.
“That tweet said nothing other than [that] NASCAR made a decision, and not everybody agrees with that decision. I didn't say that I did or didn't agree with that decision—I didn't say. As far as I'm concerned, it's freedom of speech,” he told RCP.
“But a lot of people were hurt by that decision. They were hurt. They didn't have bad intentions, they were hurt. And all I do is call it like I see it,” he added.
Calling them like he sees them will not end between now and November. “My instincts have been right. I follow my instinct,” the president said of how he will continue to campaign and advance the front in the culture war. “I follow the brain; the brain has gotten me far.”
Seated behind the Resolute Desk and signing a thick stack of documents to formally nominate federal judges, the president rejected rumors and recent reports that he is privately uninterested in a second term and intends to self-sabotage his campaign.
“I want it with all my breath,” Trump told RCP, “with every ounce of what I represent.”
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]


wnd--2020-07-14--Audit exposes how Facebook polices speech

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]
Facebook this week released the results of its long-awaited civil rights audit , which was two years in the making .
While most of the report focuses on issues of workplace diversity and content policies , an entire chapter is devoted to algorithmic bias , and references to the company ’ s growing reliance on artificial intelligence to moderate its platform are woven throughout the report ’ s 89 pages .
As Silicon Valley increasingly outsources censorship to opaque AI algorithms , what are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Like most of Silicon Valley , Facebook has rushed to replace its army of tens of thousands of human content moderators with AI algorithms .
In addition to the dramatic cost savings , AI moderation is scalable , allowing the company to review an ever-growing percentage of what its users say and share on its platform .
The word “ algorithm ” appears 73 times in Facebook ’ s report , signifying how central AI has become to the company ’ s future .
Just one year ago , 65 % of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first identified by one of its algorithms before any human reported it .
By March of this year , that number had increased to 89 % .
According to the report , Facebook “ removes some posts automatically , but only when the content is either identical or near-identical to text or images previously removed by its content review team as violating Community Standards , or where content very closely matches common attacks that violated policies .
… Automated removal has only recently become possible because its automated systems have been trained on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violating content and common attacks .
… In all other cases when its systems proactively detect potential hate speech , the content is still sent to its [ human ] review teams to make a final determination.
” The automated removal of reposts of past deleted hate speech is similar to the blacklists of known terrorism or child exploitation imagery the company uses and is relatively uncontroversial , preventing users only from reposting previously banned content .
Yet the acknowledgement that the company now goes beyond this to remove “ content very closely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ violated policies ” shows that Facebook ’ s algorithms now actually make their own decisions about what kinds of speech to prohibit .
That almost 90 % of the company ’ s hate speech removals were initiated by an algorithm means these black boxes of software code now codify the de facto “ speech laws ” of modern society .
Despite their enormous power , these algorithms are among the company ’ s most protected trade secrets , with even U.S. policymakers kept in the dark on their functioning .
Indeed , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of details of how often the algorithms are wrong or how much they miss , social media companies release only carefully worded statements and decline to comment when asked for the kinds of industry standard statistics that would permit further scrutiny of their accuracy .
Chapter 6 of Facebook ’ s audit opens with the acknowledgement that “ AI is often presented as objective , scientific and accurate , but in many cases it is not .
Algorithms are created by people who inevitably have biases and assumptions , and those biases can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what data is important or how the algorithm is structured , and by trusting data that reflects past practices , existing or historic inequalities , assumptions , or stereotypes.
” The chapter adds that “ as algorithms become more ubiquitous in our society it becomes increasingly imperative to ensure that they are fair , unbiased , and non-discriminatory , and that they do not merely magnify pre-existing stereotypes or disparities.
” While Facebook has built a number of tools and workflows internally to attempt to catch bias issues in its algorithms , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only help so much .
Truly mitigating bias requires a diverse workforce that can see the kinds of biases such tools aren ’ t designed to capture .
As the report notes , “ A key part of driving fairness in algorithms in ensuring companies are focused on increasing the diversity of the people working on and developing FB ’ s algorithms.
” Why are software tools and bias analyses not enough to truly minimize algorithmic bias ?
Because without a sufficiently diverse workforce , the biases found by those audits might not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ races to narrow its acceptable speech rules and flag posts by President Trump and other Republicans , its algorithms will in turn increasingly learn to flag posts by conservatives as “ hate speech.
” An AI fairness audit might flag that the algorithms are heavily biased against conservatives , but if Facebook ’ s workforce skews largely liberal , that bias might be considered a desired feature rather than a problematic one to be removed .
When Facebook proposed a new news feed algorithm in 2017 , its algorithmic bias audit showed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affected than other news outlets .
The company viewed this as a positive step towards reining in misinformation on the platform , while only the intervention of the company ’ s most senior Republican , Vice President of Global Policy Joel Kaplan , convinced its engineers to tweak the algorithm to lessen its impact on conservative news outlets .
In other words , AI bias audits and algorithmic fairness initiatives mean little when a company ’ s workforce is so homogeneous that the biases those tools uncover are considered positives to be encouraged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is especially important given that Facebook ’ s employee base , like the rest of Silicon Valley , skews overwhelmingly liberal .
Moreover , these issues extend far beyond liberal/conservative considerations .
Just 1.5 % of Facebook ’ s engineers and 3.1 % of its senior leadership identify as black .
As the audit notes , the company ’ s overwhelmingly white workforce presumably has little experience with race-based housing discrimination and thus Facebook ’ s advertising algorithms were originally designed to permit housing advertisements that illegally excluded certain races .
Algorithm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ designers don ’ t think to look for -- or don ’ t realize are problems .
Orwell had it wrong when he saw the government as ultimate censor .
As Facebook increasingly outsources its future to opaque AI algorithms that even it doesn ’ t fully understand , the future of our nation is increasingly being decided by a small cadre of unaccountable companies building secretive AI processes that have become the new de facto laws of acceptable speech in the United States .

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]
By Kalev Leetaru
Real Clear Politics
Facebook this week released the results of its long-awaited civil rights audit, which was two years in the making. While most of the report focuses on issues of workplace diversity and content policies, an entire chapter is devoted to algorithmic bias, and references to the company’s growing reliance on artificial intelligence to moderate its platform are woven throughout the report’s 89 pages. As Silicon Valley increasingly outsources censorship to opaque AI algorithms, what are the possible inadvertent consequences for democracy?
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Like most of Silicon Valley, Facebook has rushed to replace its army of tens of thousands of human content moderators with AI algorithms. In addition to the dramatic cost savings, AI moderation is scalable, allowing the company to review an ever-growing percentage of what its users say and share on its platform.
The word “algorithm” appears 73 times in Facebook’s report, signifying how central AI has become to the company’s future. Just one year ago, 65% of the hate speech posts the company removed were first identified by one of its algorithms before any human reported it. By March of this year, that number had increased to 89%.
According to the report, Facebook “removes some posts automatically, but only when the content is either identical or near-identical to text or images previously removed by its content review team as violating Community Standards, or where content very closely matches common attacks that violated policies. … Automated removal has only recently become possible because its automated systems have been trained on hundreds of thousands of different examples of violating content and common attacks. … In all other cases when its systems proactively detect potential hate speech, the content is still sent to its [human] review teams to make a final determination.”
The automated removal of reposts of past deleted hate speech is similar to the blacklists of known terrorism or child exploitation imagery the company uses and is relatively uncontroversial, preventing users only from reposting previously banned content.
Yet the acknowledgement that the company now goes beyond this to remove “content very closely match[ing] common attacks that violated policies” shows that Facebook’s algorithms now actually make their own decisions about what kinds of speech to prohibit. That almost 90% of the company’s hate speech removals were initiated by an algorithm means these black boxes of software code now codify the de facto “speech laws” of modern society.
Despite their enormous power, these algorithms are among the company’s most protected trade secrets, with even U.S. policymakers kept in the dark on their functioning. Indeed, even when it comes to the most basic of details of how often the algorithms are wrong or how much they miss, social media companies release only carefully worded statements and decline to comment when asked for the kinds of industry standard statistics that would permit further scrutiny of their accuracy.
Chapter 6 of Facebook’s audit opens with the acknowledgement that “AI is often presented as objective, scientific and accurate, but in many cases it is not. Algorithms are created by people who inevitably have biases and assumptions, and those biases can be injected into algorithms through decisions about what data is important or how the algorithm is structured, and by trusting data that reflects past practices, existing or historic inequalities, assumptions, or stereotypes.” The chapter adds that “as algorithms become more ubiquitous in our society it becomes increasingly imperative to ensure that they are fair, unbiased, and non-discriminatory, and that they do not merely magnify pre-existing stereotypes or disparities.”
While Facebook has built a number of tools and workflows internally to attempt to catch bias issues in its algorithms, the audit report acknowledges that such tools can only help so much. Truly mitigating bias requires a diverse workforce that can see the kinds of biases such tools aren’t designed to capture. As the report notes, “A key part of driving fairness in algorithms in ensuring companies are focused on increasing the diversity of the people working on and developing FB’s algorithms.”
Why are software tools and bias analyses not enough to truly minimize algorithmic bias? Because without a sufficiently diverse workforce, the biases found by those audits might not be seen as problems.
As Facebook races to narrow its acceptable speech rules and flag posts by President Trump and other Republicans, its algorithms will in turn increasingly learn to flag posts by conservatives as “hate speech.” An AI fairness audit might flag that the algorithms are heavily biased against conservatives, but if Facebook’s workforce skews largely liberal, that bias might be considered a desired feature rather than a problematic one to be removed.
When Facebook proposed a new news feed algorithm in 2017, its algorithmic bias audit showed that conservative news outlets would be significantly more affected than other news outlets. The company viewed this as a positive step towards reining in misinformation on the platform, while only the intervention of the company’s most senior Republican, Vice President of Global Policy Joel Kaplan, convinced its engineers to tweak the algorithm to lessen its impact on conservative news outlets.
In other words, AI bias audits and algorithmic fairness initiatives mean little when a company’s workforce is so homogeneous that the biases those tools uncover are considered positives to be encouraged rather than biases to be removed. This is especially important given that Facebook’s employee base, like the rest of Silicon Valley, skews overwhelmingly liberal.
Moreover, these issues extend far beyond liberal/conservative considerations. Just 1.5% of Facebook’s engineers and 3.1% of its senior leadership identify as black. As the audit notes, the company’s overwhelmingly white workforce presumably has little experience with race-based housing discrimination and thus Facebook’s advertising algorithms were originally designed to permit housing advertisements that illegally excluded certain races. Algorithm audits can’t spot what their designers don’t think to look for -- or don’t realize are problems.
Orwell had it wrong when he saw the government as ultimate censor. As Facebook increasingly outsources its future to opaque AI algorithms that even it doesn’t fully understand, the future of our nation is increasingly being decided by a small cadre of unaccountable companies building secretive AI processes that have become the new de facto laws of acceptable speech in the United States.


wnd--2020-07-14--Not funny: Now even comedy becoming a 'hate crime'

Ethnic jokes have been around for a long time .
In the upper Midwest , it 's frequently about Norwegians or Swedes .
In the United Kingdom , many start out , `` a Scotsman , Irishman and Englishman go to a pub . ''
But those jokes could become illegal , at least in Scotland , reports the Express of London .
A leading Scottish lawyer , Roddy Dunlop , explained a new Hate Crime and Public Order Bill in the Scottish Parliament seeks to extend `` hate crime '' protections to various characteristics , including religion , sexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that under the new proposal , the use of any words deemed `` abusive '' or `` likely '' to stir up hatred would be illegal .
Contending the law would impede free speech , he wondered whether or not `` stand up comedians will feel comfortable telling any jokes if this law is passed . ''
A Scottish government spokesman said the bill does not consider `` insulting '' a criminal offense , but the law punishes `` abusive '' words .
`` Abusive , '' noted the U.K. 's Christian Institute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Last month , a former deputy leader of the Scottish Parliament , Jim Sillar , criticized the bill , arguing it threatens those who reject transgender ideology .
Writing in The Spectator , he accused the government of `` virtue signaling '' and `` punishing any who assert biological fact . ''
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf , a member of the Scottish Parliament , has apologized for misrepresenting the legislation after discussing it in Parliament earlier this month .
He said that or a prosecution to take place , a person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and threatening , '' a lower threshold for conviction .
But opposition party members pointed out a perception of “ abuse ” could trigger a criminal complaint under the draft wording .
Scottish Parliament member Liam Kerr , a spokesman for the Scottish Conservative Party , had complained about the bill and got a letter from Yousaf apologizing for misrepresenting it .

Ethnic jokes have been around for a long time. In the upper Midwest, it's frequently about Norwegians or Swedes. In the United Kingdom, many start out, "a Scotsman, Irishman and Englishman go to a pub."
But those jokes could become illegal, at least in Scotland, reports the Express of London.
A leading Scottish lawyer, Roddy Dunlop, explained a new Hate Crime and Public Order Bill in the Scottish Parliament seeks to extend "hate crime" protections to various characteristics, including religion, sexual orientation and transgender identity.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Dunlop said that under the new proposal, the use of any words deemed "abusive" or "likely" to stir up hatred would be illegal.
Contending the law would impede free speech, he wondered whether or not "stand up comedians will feel comfortable telling any jokes if this law is passed."
A Scottish government spokesman said the bill does not consider "insulting" a criminal offense, but the law punishes "abusive" words.
"Abusive," noted the U.K.'s Christian Institute, is a synonym for "insulting."
Should comedy ever be considered a so-called 'hate crime'? Yes No Completing this poll entitles you to WND news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use You're logged in to Facebook. Click here to log out. 2% (2 Votes) 98% (110 Votes)
Last month, a former deputy leader of the Scottish Parliament, Jim Sillar, criticized the bill, arguing it threatens those who reject transgender ideology.
Writing in The Spectator, he accused the government of "virtue signaling" and "punishing any who assert biological fact."
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf, a member of the Scottish Parliament, has apologized for misrepresenting the legislation after discussing it in Parliament earlier this month.
He said that or a prosecution to take place, a person’s actions must be "abusive and threatening," a lower threshold for conviction.
But opposition party members pointed out a perception of “abuse” could trigger a criminal complaint under the draft wording.
Scottish Parliament member Liam Kerr, a spokesman for the Scottish Conservative Party, had complained about the bill and got a letter from Yousaf apologizing for misrepresenting it.


wnd--2020-07-14--Long-withheld notes reveal FBI believed Flynn was telling the truth!

Government notes about the FBI 's interview with former Trump national security adviser Lt. Gen Michael Flynn show the agents believed he was truthful and `` very open and forthcoming '' about his contacts with Russians .
Just the News investigative reporter John Solomon reported the evidence conflicts with the bureau 's charge that Flynn was lying to agents .
The handwritten notes by Tashina Gauhar , who then was a deputy assistant attorney general , said FBI agents during the Jan. 25 , 2017 , meeting told the Justice Department Flynn was `` telling truth as he believed it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] that what he said was true . ''
The notes were turned over to Flynn 's defense counsel this month .
A DOJ memo describing Flynn as `` very open and forthcoming '' said he did not commit any crime .
Nevertheless , Flynn was charged with lying in a prosecution that was part of special counsel Robert 's Mueller 's multi-million dollar special counsel investigation .
After nearly two years , Mueller found insufficient evidence to back the claim of Trump-Russia collusion .
Solomon reported the notes were written by Gauhar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and former DOJ and FBI official Dana Boente .
The notes add to the large body of belatedly released evidence indicating the FBI did not believe it had grounds to charge Flynn .
Boente wrote that the FBI believed Flynn was not an agent of Russia .
And the notes indicate the DOJ did n't believe a Logan Act prosecution was possible .
`` The notes also confirm previously released evidence showing the FBI planned on Jan. 4 , 2017 , to close down its investigation of Flynn but then reversed course , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FBI claimed to DOJ the reason it kept the Flynn probe open and interview him was because a news media leak of a classified transcript of his call with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak . ''
The case against Flynn now is before a federal appeals court , which ordered a trial court judge , Emmet Sullivan , to grant the DOJ 's request that the prosecution be dropped .
He 's refused so far and has asked the appeals court for another chance at making charges stick .
The U.S. Court of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is giving Flynn and the Department of Justice 10 days to respond to the petition from Sullivan for a rehearing .
Sullivan essentially moved from the role of judge to prosecutor when he refused the DOJ 's request to dismiss the case .
He 's continued despite orders from an appellate court .
Judge Neomi Rao , a 2019 Trump appointee , authored the opinion of the three-judge panel ordering Sullivan to dismiss the case .
She was joined by George H.W .
Bush appointee Judge Karen Henderson .
Rao wrote : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explains that in light of newly discovered evidence of misconduct by the Federal Bureau of Investigation , the prosecution can no longer prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any false statements made by Flynn were material to a legitimate investigation . ''
The judge said it is `` plainly not the rare case where further judicial inquiry is warranted . ''
`` To begin with , Flynn agrees with the government ’ s motion to dismiss , and there has been no allegation that the motion reflects prosecutorial harassment , '' Rao said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s motion includes an extensive discussion of newly discovered evidence casting Flynn ’ s guilt into doubt .
… Insufficient evidence is a quintessential justification for dismissing charges . ''
Flynn withdrew his plea of guilty to the charge of lying to FBI agents , claiming he was the victim of a `` perjury trap . ''
Evidence recently unsealed in the case confirmed his claim , showing FBI agents -- after the bureau was prepared to close the investigation for lack of evidence -- discussing how to get him to lie .

Government notes about the FBI's interview with former Trump national security adviser Lt. Gen Michael Flynn show the agents believed he was truthful and "very open and forthcoming" about his contacts with Russians.
Just the News investigative reporter John Solomon reported the evidence conflicts with the bureau's charge that Flynn was lying to agents.
The handwritten notes by Tashina Gauhar, who then was a deputy assistant attorney general, said FBI agents during the Jan. 25, 2017, meeting told the Justice Department Flynn was "telling truth as he believed it" and he "believe[d] that what he said was true."
The notes were turned over to Flynn's defense counsel this month.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
A DOJ memo describing Flynn as "very open and forthcoming" said he did not commit any crime. Nevertheless, Flynn was charged with lying in a prosecution that was part of special counsel Robert's Mueller's multi-million dollar special counsel investigation. After nearly two years, Mueller found insufficient evidence to back the claim of Trump-Russia collusion.
Solomon reported the notes were written by Gauhar, fired FBI lead investigator Peter Strzok and former DOJ and FBI official Dana Boente.
The notes add to the large body of belatedly released evidence indicating the FBI did not believe it had grounds to charge Flynn.
Boente wrote that the FBI believed Flynn was not an agent of Russia.
Should President Trump pardon Michael Flynn at this point? Yes No Completing this poll entitles you to WND news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use You're logged in to Facebook. Click here to log out. 88% (250 Votes) 12% (35 Votes)
And the notes indicate the DOJ didn't believe a Logan Act prosecution was possible.
"The notes also confirm previously released evidence showing the FBI planned on Jan. 4, 2017, to close down its investigation of Flynn but then reversed course," Solomon reported. "Remarkably, the FBI claimed to DOJ the reason it kept the Flynn probe open and interview him was because a news media leak of a classified transcript of his call with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak."
The case against Flynn now is before a federal appeals court, which ordered a trial court judge, Emmet Sullivan, to grant the DOJ's request that the prosecution be dropped. He's refused so far and has asked the appeals court for another chance at making charges stick.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit said it is giving Flynn and the Department of Justice 10 days to respond to the petition from Sullivan for a rehearing.
Sullivan essentially moved from the role of judge to prosecutor when he refused the DOJ's request to dismiss the case. He's continued despite orders from an appellate court.
Judge Neomi Rao, a 2019 Trump appointee, authored the opinion of the three-judge panel ordering Sullivan to dismiss the case. She was joined by George H.W. Bush appointee Judge Karen Henderson.
Rao wrote: "In its motion, the government explains that in light of newly discovered evidence of misconduct by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the prosecution can no longer prove beyond a reasonable doubt that any false statements made by Flynn were material to a legitimate investigation."
The judge said it is "plainly not the rare case where further judicial inquiry is warranted."
"To begin with, Flynn agrees with the government’s motion to dismiss, and there has been no allegation that the motion reflects prosecutorial harassment," Rao said. "Additionally, the government’s motion includes an extensive discussion of newly discovered evidence casting Flynn’s guilt into doubt. … Insufficient evidence is a quintessential justification for dismissing charges."
Flynn withdrew his plea of guilty to the charge of lying to FBI agents, claiming he was the victim of a "perjury trap."
Evidence recently unsealed in the case confirmed his claim, showing FBI agents -- after the bureau was prepared to close the investigation for lack of evidence -- discussing how to get him to lie.


wnd--2020-07-13--6 positive HCQ studies released? Yes!

6 positive HCQ studies released? Yes!

Stunning positive news on hydroxychloroquine ( HCQ ) was released in early July , potentially opening up medical freedom at the time of America 's celebration of our Declaration of Independence from British tyranny 244 years ago .
During the first six days of July , SIX positive clinical studies of HCQ were released : • three from the United States ( one from Michigan at Henry Ford Health System , and two from New York state , including one primary care outpatient study by Dr. Vladimir Zelenko ; • three from other countries ( Portugal , India and Brazil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HCQ given early in COVID-19 , alone or with zinc and azithromycin , reduces hospitalizations and deaths , with no serious heart or other adverse events .
Most media ignored these six positive studies , continuing to focus on fearmongering about HCQ `` dangers '' from now discredited , poorly designed and seriously flawed reports on use in critically ill hospitalized patients .
The Henry Ford study showed a 50 % reduction in the death rate when HCQ was used early in hospitalized COVID patients .
Dr. Zelenko 's even earlier outpatient intervention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approximately 80 % decrease in deaths .
These extraordinary results show how many lives can be saved with early HCQ treatment .
Henry Ford physicians , researchers and ethicists have filed an urgent application with FDA Commissioner Dr. Hahn for a new Emergency Use Authorization ( EUA ) for early , out-patient HCQ use in COVID-19 .
Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Institute in Dallas issued an urgent letter in support of the Henry Ford new outpatient EUA application , based on the remarkably positive outcomes in their own clinical study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own medical workers .
Baylor 's letter , from one of their cardiologists , showed benefit for a weekly prophylaxis regimen and described no adverse cardiac outcomes .
This directly rebuts the constant media hype about `` heart dangers '' of HCQ .
Baylor 's report of prophylactic benefits is profoundly important , not only for front-line medical workers , but also for law enforcement officers , paramedics , dentists/dental hygienists , truck drivers , food-processing workers , clergy , behavioral health professionals , factory and grocery store workers , essential distribution centers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ add further credibility to my April 10 letter to President Trump , which was signed by 1,305 physicians , medical workers and concerned patients asking for this new EUA .
The Henry Ford and Baylor studies add safety data to that accumulated since HCQ was first FDA-approved in 1955 , as well as safety reported in 2020 COVID-19 worldwide clinical outcomes , and the safety summaries of HCQ compared to current over-the-counter medicines presented to the Trump administration May 25 .
Americans urgently need to see this new and encouraging information to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The mainstream media is still suppressing such information , which can both save lives and help America reopen safely .
Since it was approved more than 65 years ago for malaria , and later for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis , HCQ has been safely used worldwide in hundreds of millions of patients .
More than 15 years ago , in the 2002-2003 SARS-CoV-1 outbreak , CDC conducted in-vitro studies that showed HCQ was a potent anti-viral agent .
Since the SARS-CoV-2 virus , initially recognized in China , has been spreading around the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in dozens of countries as a safe and effective treatment for the novel coronavirus causing COVID-19 .
In all reports , including the CDC findings published in 2005 , HCQ 's most important effect is to block viral entry into the cells and viral replication IF given within the first five days of symptoms .
Restricting HCQ use to only critically ill hospitalized patients has been one of the reasons for the high U.S. COVID death rate compared to countries using it prophylactically and early in the viral illness .
ALL viral illness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begun early , not late when patients are critically ill .
The U.S. situation is out of control , with people dying and businesses shut down because of FDA roadblocks and governors ' restrictive orders illegally overriding normal FDA regulations that allow physicians to prescribe any FDA-approved medication ( including HCQ ) however they deem medically appropriate .
Physicians in many states also face threats of investigation by their state medical boards for prescribing HCQ for COVID-19 , and state pharmacy boards direct pharmacists to refuse to dispense HCQ for COVID patients .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to treat patients has never happened before in my medical career .
At some point , the Trump administration has to take charge of this interference with effective medical treatment that is costing lives , and rein in the FDA and the state-by-state bureaucratic HCQ restrictions .
We need a massive grassroots effort to speak up on the FDA and White House websites in support of this new EUA Application from Henry Ford and Baylor physicians .
We must push for White House officials to see the urgency we physicians , patients , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health , our freedom , and our very lives are all at stake .

Stunning positive news on hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was released in early July, potentially opening up medical freedom at the time of America's celebration of our Declaration of Independence from British tyranny 244 years ago.
During the first six days of July, SIX positive clinical studies of HCQ were released:
three from the United States (one from Michigan at Henry Ford Health System, and two from New York state, including one primary care outpatient study by Dr. Vladimir Zelenko;
three from other countries (Portugal, India and Brazil).
All six studies showed that HCQ given early in COVID-19, alone or with zinc and azithromycin, reduces hospitalizations and deaths, with no serious heart or other adverse events.
Most media ignored these six positive studies, continuing to focus on fearmongering about HCQ "dangers" from now discredited, poorly designed and seriously flawed reports on use in critically ill hospitalized patients.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The Henry Ford study showed a 50% reduction in the death rate when HCQ was used early in hospitalized COVID patients. Dr. Zelenko's even earlier outpatient intervention with HCQ, azithromycin and zinc showed approximately 80% decrease in deaths. These extraordinary results show how many lives can be saved with early HCQ treatment.
Henry Ford physicians, researchers and ethicists have filed an urgent application with FDA Commissioner Dr. Hahn for a new Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for early, out-patient HCQ use in COVID-19.
Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Institute in Dallas issued an urgent letter in support of the Henry Ford new outpatient EUA application, based on the remarkably positive outcomes in their own clinical study of prophylactic use of HCQ in their own medical workers.
Baylor's letter, from one of their cardiologists, showed benefit for a weekly prophylaxis regimen and described no adverse cardiac outcomes. This directly rebuts the constant media hype about "heart dangers" of HCQ.
Baylor's report of prophylactic benefits is profoundly important, not only for front-line medical workers, but also for law enforcement officers, paramedics, dentists/dental hygienists, truck drivers, food-processing workers, clergy, behavioral health professionals, factory and grocery store workers, essential distribution centers and many others.
These respected institutions add further credibility to my April 10 letter to President Trump, which was signed by 1,305 physicians, medical workers and concerned patients asking for this new EUA.
The Henry Ford and Baylor studies add safety data to that accumulated since HCQ was first FDA-approved in 1955, as well as safety reported in 2020 COVID-19 worldwide clinical outcomes, and the safety summaries of HCQ compared to current over-the-counter medicines presented to the Trump administration May 25.
Americans urgently need to see this new and encouraging information to help relieve anxiety and fear about coronavirus. The mainstream media is still suppressing such information, which can both save lives and help America reopen safely.
Since it was approved more than 65 years ago for malaria, and later for lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, HCQ has been safely used worldwide in hundreds of millions of patients. More than 15 years ago, in the 2002-2003 SARS-CoV-1 outbreak, CDC conducted in-vitro studies that showed HCQ was a potent anti-viral agent. Since the SARS-CoV-2 virus, initially recognized in China, has been spreading around the world, HCQ has been widely used in dozens of countries as a safe and effective treatment for the novel coronavirus causing COVID-19.
In all reports, including the CDC findings published in 2005, HCQ's most important effect is to block viral entry into the cells and viral replication IF given within the first five days of symptoms. Restricting HCQ use to only critically ill hospitalized patients has been one of the reasons for the high U.S. COVID death rate compared to countries using it prophylactically and early in the viral illness. ALL viral illness we treat respond best to anti-viral medication begun early, not late when patients are critically ill.
The U.S. situation is out of control, with people dying and businesses shut down because of FDA roadblocks and governors' restrictive orders illegally overriding normal FDA regulations that allow physicians to prescribe any FDA-approved medication (including HCQ) however they deem medically appropriate. Physicians in many states also face threats of investigation by their state medical boards for prescribing HCQ for COVID-19, and state pharmacy boards direct pharmacists to refuse to dispense HCQ for COVID patients. Such political interference with doctors' ability to treat patients has never happened before in my medical career.
At some point, the Trump administration has to take charge of this interference with effective medical treatment that is costing lives, and rein in the FDA and the state-by-state bureaucratic HCQ restrictions.
We need a massive grassroots effort to speak up on the FDA and White House websites in support of this new EUA Application from Henry Ford and Baylor physicians. We must push for White House officials to see the urgency we physicians, patients, and our country are facing.
Our health, our freedom, and our very lives are all at stake.


wnd--2020-07-13--L.A. teachers: No classes until police defunded, charter schools shut

The Los Angeles Teachers Union is demanding that schools not open in the fall unless charter schools are closed and the police are defunded .
The demands were made in a policy paper that was approved by 83 % of teachers .
It calls on local authorities to `` keep school campuses closed when the semester begins on Aug. 18 , '' reported Just the News .
On Monday , Los Angeles and San Diego public schools announced they will start the school year remote-only in August .
In a joint statement , the districts said `` skyrocketing infection rates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear the pandemic is not under control . ''
The union 's provisions for reopening schools include sequestering students in small groups throughout the school day , providing students with masks and other forms of protective equipment , and re-designing school layouts to facilitate `` social distancing . ''
But the teachers , calling for `` local support , '' also want police departments defunded and charter schools closed .
The 35,000-strong union argues police violence `` is a leading cause of death and trauma for Black people , and is a serious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Earlier this month , Los Angeles School Police Chief Todd Chamberlain announced his resignation a day after the district school board approved a 35 % cut to its school police force .
`` After humbly serving my communities , departments and personnel over 35 years in law enforcement , I have been placed in a position that makes my ability to effectively , professionally and safely impact those groups unachievable , '' Chamberlain said in written a statement .
He said he could not `` support modifications to my position , the organization @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students , staff and families – that I believe will be detrimental and potentially life-threatening . ''
The LAUSD Board of Education 's vote shifted $ 25 million from the police budget to staffing that specially serves the needs of black students and a task force to study campus safety , reported KABC-TV in Los Angeles .

The Los Angeles Teachers Union is demanding that schools not open in the fall unless charter schools are closed and the police are defunded.
The demands were made in a policy paper that calls on local authorities to "keep school campuses closed when the semester begins on Aug. 18," reported Just the News.
On Monday, Los Angeles and San Diego public schools announced they will start the school year remote-only in August. In a joint statement, the districts said "skyrocketing infection rates of the past few weeks make it clear the pandemic is not under control."
The union's provisions for reopening schools include sequestering students in small groups throughout the school day, providing students with masks and other forms of protective equipment, and re-designing school layouts to facilitate "social distancing."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
But the teachers, calling for "local support," also want police departments defunded and charter schools closed.
The 35,000-strong union argues police violence "is a leading cause of death and trauma for Black people, and is a serious public health and moral issue."
The union conducted an an informal online poll drawing responses from 18,000 members, and 83% agreed with the board and bargaining team that schools should not physically reopen on Aug. 18.
Earlier this month, Los Angeles School Police Chief Todd Chamberlain announced his resignation a day after the district school board approved a 35% cut to its school police force.
"After humbly serving my communities, departments and personnel over 35 years in law enforcement, I have been placed in a position that makes my ability to effectively, professionally and safely impact those groups unachievable,'' Chamberlain said in written a statement.
He said he could not "support modifications to my position, the organization and most importantly, the community – students, staff and families – that I believe will be detrimental and potentially life-threatening."
The LAUSD Board of Education's vote shifted $25 million from the police budget to staffing that specially serves the needs of black students and a task force to study campus safety, reported KABC-TV in Los Angeles.


wnd--2020-07-13--The Bush Clan opens a 'second front' against Trump

I will begin this article by confessing that I was once a strong defender of George W. Bush , starting with the national conservative uprising triggered by the `` hanging chad '' political scandal in the Bush v. Gore election of 2000 .
I participated in a massive gathering of conservatives who descended spontaneously on the California Capitol in my then-hometown of Sacramento like a swarm of angry hornets , as other did in countless cities across America .
I 've since come to recognize that the Bush Clan has always been Deep State , it 's continuing political dynasty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican half of the Bush/Clinton/Obama/Romney Purple Uniparty .
I was not surprised , therefore , to see the Bush political war machine recently roll onto the 2020 election battlefield flying the flag of George Soros ' anti-Trump `` Purple Revolution . ''
In early June , Bush 43 announced his intention not to vote for Trump , and then , as reported by WND in early July , a new pro-Biden super-pac , `` 43 Alumni for Biden , '' was created by `` hundreds of former George W. Bush staffers … to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican voters who are dismayed and disappointed by the damage done to our nation . '
… 'not necessarily in full support of [ Biden 's ] political agenda but rather in full agreement with the urgent need to restore the soul of this nation . '
'' I predict this is just the beginning of a major `` second front '' in the elites ' war on Trump .
When we talk Deep State , we 're talking about a huge , multi-layered , multi-disciplinary , fully integrated network of Cultural Marxists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Humanism , its moral code of `` political correctness '' ( especially regarding sexual morality ) and the dogmatic cultural narratives that serve as `` scripture '' for them all .
Its roots go very deep indeed – all the way back to the late 1800s in America – but the most relevant period for this essay begins with the shady career of Deep Stater George H.W .
Bush .
Bush 41 was apparently high-level CIA under JFK and LBJ before becoming a pro-abortion Texas GOP congressman during Johnson administration .
Though he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declassified FBI memo from J. Edgar Hoover named 41 as the sole CIA representative verbally briefed on Nov. 23 , 1963 , about JFK 's assassination the day before .
There 's always been considerable buzz in conspiracy circles about his ( and LBJ 's ) possible role in that `` regime change . ''
And , of course , Bush 41 was later tapped in 1976 as CIA director by Gerald Ford .
I have long argued that `` Landslide Lyndon , '' America history 's poster boy for election fraud , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history ( until Obama ) .
From his infamous and unconstitutional 1954 `` Johnson Amendment '' banning churches from endorsing political candidates , to his `` War on Poverty '' agenda that created the federal entitlement system by which Democrats gained a seemingly unbreakable hold on nearly every big city in America , LBJ 's legacy was poisonous .
Yet the LBJ Presidential Library features a special tribute to Bush 41 , stating in part , `` The Bush and Johnson families share a long history and friendship , beginning in the 1950s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate with Prescott Bush , George H.W .
Bush 's father .
Although from different political parties , the two men enjoyed a productive working relationship steeped in mutual respect . ''
The Bush 41/LBJ `` productive working relationship '' hinted at a `` Purple Uniparty '' long before we started color coding the GOP as red and the Dems as blue .
The much-heralded Bush 43/Bill Clinton `` collegiality '' was further evidence .
Today , of course , we live in a world where Donald Trump 's paradigm shattering election in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fully that Bush 43 has now unashamedly joined the Dems and opened a second front in the war on Trump .
Former Massachusetts governor now Utah Sen. Mitt Romney has represented the Bush Dynasty on the battlefield since 2016 .
He pops up whenever his cheap shots against Trump can get the maximum media coverage , the most recent regarding the Roger Stone commutation .
Romney 's protégé , second-term Massachusetts Republican Gov .
Charlie Baker ( whom I ran against in 2014 and 2018 ) , has also sniped repeatedly at Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rhetoric .
( To show how cozy they all are , Baker 's purple party predecessor and close Obama buddy , Deval Patrick , transitioned from the Massachusetts governor 's office to a seat on the board at Romney-brand `` Bain Capital . ''
) Many `` Establishment Republicans , '' meaning Cultural Marxists who still pretend ( to varying degrees ) to be conservatives , have been forced to align with Trump to retain power , but now that Bush 43 has emerged from the shadows under the purple banner , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well .
Looking back I am now convinced that Bush 41 intentionally lost to Bill Clinton in '92 to fast-track the Marxist agenda , on the understanding that the Bush Clan would get back the baton in 2000 .
I believe that Bob Dole , John McCain and Mitt Romney were all Bush Team members tasked with taking a dive in their respective races , and that was the role Jeb Bush was intended to play for Hillary , before Trump upset their apple cart .
Looking forward I think the Bush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assets to bear against Donald Trump , and many people will be shocked at how deep the Deep State goes in the ranks of the GOP – especially among `` conservatives . ''
( Jeff Sessions is not an anomaly . )
I am especially concerned about Texas Gov .
Greg Abbot , since I believe the COVID-19 `` second wave '' is central to the anti-Trump strategy , and the media seem to be setting up Texas to be the New York of the second wave .
I 'm hoping Abbot is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his political ascendency was kick-started by appointment to the Texas Supreme Court in 1995 by then-Gov .
George W. Bush .
Time will tell if he is a Bush asset , but even if he is n't , there are many who are , and we 're about to see them step out of the shadows with guns aimed at Trump .
All that having been said , I still think Trump will win in a landslide , and for the first time since the start of the Marxist invasion we 'll know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the second Trump term – the Great American Swamp Draining – begins in earnest .
At least that 's my hope and prayer .

I will begin this article by confessing that I was once a strong defender of George W. Bush, starting with the national conservative uprising triggered by the "hanging chad" political scandal in the Bush v. Gore election of 2000. I participated in a massive gathering of conservatives who descended spontaneously on the California Capitol in my then-hometown of Sacramento like a swarm of angry hornets, as other did in countless cities across America. I've since come to recognize that the Bush Clan has always been Deep State, it's continuing political dynasty representing the top strata of the Red Republican half of the Bush/Clinton/Obama/Romney Purple Uniparty.
I was not surprised, therefore, to see the Bush political war machine recently roll onto the 2020 election battlefield flying the flag of George Soros' anti-Trump "Purple Revolution." In early June, Bush 43 announced his intention not to vote for Trump, and then, as reported by WND in early July, a new pro-Biden super-pac, "43 Alumni for Biden," was created by "hundreds of former George W. Bush staffers … to 'unite and mobilize a community of historically Republican voters who are dismayed and disappointed by the damage done to our nation.' … 'not necessarily in full support of [Biden's] political agenda but rather in full agreement with the urgent need to restore the soul of this nation.'" I predict this is just the beginning of a major "second front" in the elites' war on Trump.
When we talk Deep State, we're talking about a huge, multi-layered, multi-disciplinary, fully integrated network of Cultural Marxists who share the common religion of Secular Humanism, its moral code of "political correctness" (especially regarding sexual morality) and the dogmatic cultural narratives that serve as "scripture" for them all. Its roots go very deep indeed – all the way back to the late 1800s in America – but the most relevant period for this essay begins with the shady career of Deep Stater George H.W. Bush.
Bush 41 was apparently high-level CIA under JFK and LBJ before becoming a pro-abortion Texas GOP congressman during Johnson administration. Though he denied having been a spook, a declassified FBI memo from J. Edgar Hoover named 41 as the sole CIA representative verbally briefed on Nov. 23, 1963, about JFK's assassination the day before. There's always been considerable buzz in conspiracy circles about his (and LBJ's) possible role in that "regime change." And, of course, Bush 41 was later tapped in 1976 as CIA director by Gerald Ford.
I have long argued that "Landslide Lyndon," America history's poster boy for election fraud, was the most corrupt president in U.S. history (until Obama). From his infamous and unconstitutional 1954 "Johnson Amendment" banning churches from endorsing political candidates, to his "War on Poverty" agenda that created the federal entitlement system by which Democrats gained a seemingly unbreakable hold on nearly every big city in America, LBJ's legacy was poisonous. Yet the LBJ Presidential Library features a special tribute to Bush 41, stating in part, "The Bush and Johnson families share a long history and friendship, beginning in the 1950s when Lyndon Johnson served in the U.S. Senate with Prescott Bush, George H.W. Bush's father. Although from different political parties, the two men enjoyed a productive working relationship steeped in mutual respect."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The Bush 41/LBJ "productive working relationship" hinted at a "Purple Uniparty" long before we started color coding the GOP as red and the Dems as blue. The much-heralded Bush 43/Bill Clinton "collegiality" was further evidence. Today, of course, we live in a world where Donald Trump's paradigm shattering election in 2016 has exposed the Purple Uniparty so fully that Bush 43 has now unashamedly joined the Dems and opened a second front in the war on Trump.
Former Massachusetts governor now Utah Sen. Mitt Romney has represented the Bush Dynasty on the battlefield since 2016. He pops up whenever his cheap shots against Trump can get the maximum media coverage, the most recent regarding the Roger Stone commutation. Romney's protégé, second-term Massachusetts Republican Gov. Charlie Baker (whom I ran against in 2014 and 2018), has also sniped repeatedly at Trump and will likely soon escalate his anti-Tump rhetoric. (To show how cozy they all are, Baker's purple party predecessor and close Obama buddy, Deval Patrick, transitioned from the Massachusetts governor's office to a seat on the board at Romney-brand "Bain Capital.")
Many "Establishment Republicans," meaning Cultural Marxists who still pretend (to varying degrees) to be conservatives, have been forced to align with Trump to retain power, but now that Bush 43 has emerged from the shadows under the purple banner, some of them will show their true color as well.
Looking back I am now convinced that Bush 41 intentionally lost to Bill Clinton in '92 to fast-track the Marxist agenda, on the understanding that the Bush Clan would get back the baton in 2000. I believe that Bob Dole, John McCain and Mitt Romney were all Bush Team members tasked with taking a dive in their respective races, and that was the role Jeb Bush was intended to play for Hillary, before Trump upset their apple cart.
Looking forward I think the Bush Team will incrementally bring ALL of its assets to bear against Donald Trump, and many people will be shocked at how deep the Deep State goes in the ranks of the GOP – especially among "conservatives." (Jeff Sessions is not an anomaly.)
I am especially concerned about Texas Gov. Greg Abbot, since I believe the COVID-19 "second wave" is central to the anti-Trump strategy, and the media seem to be setting up Texas to be the New York of the second wave. I'm hoping Abbot is a true constitutionalist, but I know his political ascendency was kick-started by appointment to the Texas Supreme Court in 1995 by then-Gov. George W. Bush. Time will tell if he is a Bush asset, but even if he isn't, there are many who are, and we're about to see them step out of the shadows with guns aimed at Trump.
All that having been said, I still think Trump will win in a landslide, and for the first time since the start of the Marxist invasion we'll know who most of the Deep Staters are when the second Trump term – the Great American Swamp Draining – begins in earnest. At least that's my hope and prayer.


wnd--2020-07-14--Convict who killed family executed

Convict who killed family executed

( FOX NEWS ) -- A white supremacist who tortured and killed an Arkansas family -- including an 8-year-old girl @ @ @ @ @ morning in Indiana .
Daniel Lewis Lee , 47 , was injected with a lethal @ @ @ @ @ a.m. , just hours after the Supreme Court greenlighted the first federal execution to take @ @ @ @ @ slayings happened in 1996 after Lee and an accomplice robbed and shot William Frederick Mueller @ @ @ @ @ Mueller and his 8-year-old stepdaughter , Sarah Elizabeth Powell in Arkansas .

(FOX NEWS) -- A white supremacist who tortured and killed an Arkansas family-- including an 8-year-old girl-- was executed early Tuesday morning in Indiana.
Daniel Lewis Lee, 47, was injected with a lethal dose of pentobarbital at 8:07 a.m., just hours after the Supreme Court greenlighted the first federal execution to take place since 2003.
The slayings happened in 1996 after Lee and an accomplice robbed and shot William Frederick Mueller, his wife Nancy Ann Mueller and his 8-year-old stepdaughter, Sarah Elizabeth Powell in Arkansas.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-07-14--Hillary promotes conspiracy theory that Trump won't leave White House

( WASHINGTON EXAMINER ) -- Hillary Clinton argued people should be prepared for President Trump to resist leaving the White @ @ @ @ @ 2020 election .
Clinton , who lost the 2016 election to Trump , made the @ @ @ @ @ interview with The Daily Show 's Trevor Noah as they spoke about mail-in ballots and @ @ @ @ @ .
Noah asked Clinton if there was a scenario she could envision in which the @ @ @ @ @ argues that a couple instances of voter fraud are enough to invalidate of the election @ @

Hillary Clinton in an interview this week revived the conspiracy theory expressed earlier by presumptive Democrat presidential nominee Joe Biden that President Trump, if he loses the 2020 election, would not leave the White House voluntarily.
The Washington Examiner noted Clinton said the nation has to "be ready" for such a scenario.
"Well, I think it is a fair point to raise as to whether or not, if he loses, he's going to go quietly or not. And we have to be ready for that," Clinton said.
She continued, referencing questions that are being raised about voting by mail, and the fraud possibilities, "But there have been so many academic studies and other analyses, which point out that it's just an inaccurate, fraudulent claim."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Studies actually have documented the possibilities of vote fraud when ballots are mailed in.
Clinton, a two-time loser in the race for the Oval Office after her 2016 loss to President Trump, was being interviewed by Trevor Noah on The Daily Show when the subject of ballots, and associated problems, arose.
"Noah asked Clinton if there was a scenario she could envision in which the president loses the election but argues that a couple instances of voter fraud are enough to invalidate of the election results," the Examiner reported.
"Look, I want a fair election. If people get to vote and they, for whatever reason, vote for Donald Trump, OK, we’ll accept it. Not happily," Clinton said.
An earlier Examiner report noted that it was Biden who confidently claimed that the military will escort President Trump out of the White House should the incumbent lose in November, and refuse to leave.
The former vice president now has enough Democrat delegates to secure his party's nomination for president, and was on the same show back then, The Daily Show.
Biden charged that the president is "going to try and steal this election."
He said he's already given thought to what happens in the scenario he imagines in which President Trump loses the election, but doesn't leave the White House.
The report said, "Following what appeared to be a jump in the interview, Biden touched on retired military leaders who have spoken out against Trump in recent days over his threat to use military force to quell unrest in protests across the nation in response to the death of George Floyd in police custody. He also noted, 'so many rank-and-file military personnel saying, 'Whoa, we're not a military state. This is not who we are.''"
Biden then said, of the president, "I promise you: I am absolutely convinced they will escort him from the White House with great dispatch."
Responding to Biden's theory, Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh called it "just another brainless conspiracy theory from Joe Biden."
He charged Biden is trying to "undermine" the confidence in America's elections, and pointed out the obvious.
"It was the Obama administration that tried to subvert an election by spying on the Trump campaign in 2016, and Biden himself was part of the effort to sabotage the incoming Trump administration because they couldn’t live with President Trump’s victory," Murtaugh said. "President Trump has been clear that he will accept the results of the 2020 election."
Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary, described the idea as "ridiculous."