wnd--2020-12-28--'Climate catastrophists' using fossil fuels fears to target businesses

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy . ]
In recent years , climate change activists have increasingly turned their attention from issues like the Paris Climate Accord – which President-elect Joe Biden promises to rejoin – to corporate climate activism .
A small but vocal minority of climate catastrophists is pressuring large corporations into making lofty net-zero pledges and promising to divest from fossil fuels .
Many large investment firms and banks are joining a global energy discrimination campaign , refusing to fund businesses in fossil fuel production and other industries like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mining .
Even the Rockefeller Foundation , built with John D. Rockefeller ’ s oil riches , is now divesting from fossil fuels .
TRENDING : Deafening silence from 'Defund Police ' crowd as police rush to Ground Zero in Nashville In other areas , the energy companies are taking the lead themselves .
ExxonMobil , for example , recently announced that it will begin reporting what climate activists call “ scope 3 ” greenhouse gas emissions .
Scope 1 emissions refer to those generated by a company directly on its premises ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; and scope 3 are emissions not under a company ’ s direct control , such as those from its suppliers or distributors .
The goal of corporate climate activism is to stigmatize private companies with the “ sin ” of greenhouse gas emissions , even though these companies provide products and services that make our lives dramatically better .
If ExxonMobil starts a trend with its decision to report scope 3 , American businesses will be penalized not only for their own emissions but also for the emissions of all the businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that sincerely works to reduce its carbon footprint – and even if it does so using effective tools like direct carbon capture and utilization , rather than just buying carbon credits or offsets – would be penalized for each of its vendors ’ actions .
Common sense dictates that we shouldn ’ t be punished for what we can ’ t control .
And scope 3 has other problems : the process of tracking emissions across a supply chain means that emissions will be assigned to companies more than once .
Governments and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lighten up on scope 3 emissions for the same reason that they should refuse to kowtow to climate alarmists ’ demands : eliminating these emissions is a terribly expensive and harmful way to deal with climate change .
Globally recognized climate data models project that even banning all U.S. emissions by 2030 – that ’ s all gas-powered cars , all fossil fuels , and even all gas-powered appliances – would only help temperatures dip by less than a microscopic two-tenths of a degree by the end of the century .
In other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would cost to totally restructure our economy would barely move the global temperature needle .
Around the world , we ’ re suffering from climate change anxiety for nothing .
This is the best time in history to be alive .
Our lifespans , health , comfort , individual freedoms , and quality of life have improved dramatically since the Industrial Revolution .
Yes , average temperatures have risen slightly over that time , but we have become more resilient to Earth ’ s climate , not less .
You and I are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a climate-related natural disaster today than our great-grandparents were .
Holding businesses liable for not just their emissions but also their vendors ’ emissions is a nonsensical and counterproductive approach to climate change .
It won ’ t affect climate change – but it will punish companies for their success .
The Honorable Jason Isaac is Director of Life : Powered , a national initiative of the Texas Public Policy Foundation to raise America ’ s energy IQ .
He previously served four terms in the Texas House of Representatives .
[ Editor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ published by Real Clear Energy . ]

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy.]
By Jason Isaac
Real Clear Energy
In recent years, climate change activists have increasingly turned their attention from issues like the Paris Climate Accord – which President-elect Joe Biden promises to rejoin – to corporate climate activism. A small but vocal minority of climate catastrophists is pressuring large corporations into making lofty net-zero pledges and promising to divest from fossil fuels. Many large investment firms and banks are joining a global energy discrimination campaign, refusing to fund businesses in fossil fuel production and other industries like petrochemicals, agriculture, forestry, and mining. Even the Rockefeller Foundation, built with John D. Rockefeller’s oil riches, is now divesting from fossil fuels.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
In other areas, the energy companies are taking the lead themselves. ExxonMobil, for example, recently announced that it will begin reporting what climate activists call “scope 3” greenhouse gas emissions. Scope 1 emissions refer to those generated by a company directly on its premises; scope 2 are those emissions generated indirectly; and scope 3 are emissions not under a company’s direct control, such as those from its suppliers or distributors.
The goal of corporate climate activism is to stigmatize private companies with the “sin” of greenhouse gas emissions, even though these companies provide products and services that make our lives dramatically better. If ExxonMobil starts a trend with its decision to report scope 3, American businesses will be penalized not only for their own emissions but also for the emissions of all the businesses they work with. Even a business that sincerely works to reduce its carbon footprint – and even if it does so using effective tools like direct carbon capture and utilization, rather than just buying carbon credits or offsets – would be penalized for each of its vendors’ actions.
Common sense dictates that we shouldn’t be punished for what we can’t control. And scope 3 has other problems: the process of tracking emissions across a supply chain means that emissions will be assigned to companies more than once.
Governments and corporate leaders trying to appear eco-conscious should lighten up on scope 3 emissions for the same reason that they should refuse to kowtow to climate alarmists’ demands: eliminating these emissions is a terribly expensive and harmful way to deal with climate change.
Globally recognized climate data models project that even banning all U.S. emissions by 2030 – that’s all gas-powered cars, all fossil fuels, and even all gas-powered appliances – would only help temperatures dip by less than a microscopic two-tenths of a degree by the end of the century. In other words, the untold trillions that it would cost to totally restructure our economy would barely move the global temperature needle.
Around the world, we’re suffering from climate change anxiety for nothing. This is the best time in history to be alive. Our lifespans, health, comfort, individual freedoms, and quality of life have improved dramatically since the Industrial Revolution. Yes, average temperatures have risen slightly over that time, but we have become more resilient to Earth’s climate, not less. You and I are 98.9% less likely to die in a climate-related natural disaster today than our great-grandparents were.
Holding businesses liable for not just their emissions but also their vendors’ emissions is a nonsensical and counterproductive approach to climate change. It won’t affect climate change – but it will punish companies for their success.
The Honorable Jason Isaac is Director of Life:Powered, a national initiative of the Texas Public Policy Foundation to raise America’s energy IQ. He previously served four terms in the Texas House of Representatives.
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy.]


wnd--2020-12-28--Student privacy vanishing amid forced lockdowns and online demands

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Education . ]
Colleges and universities nationwide are failing to safeguard the digital safety and privacy of their students .
At the outset of the coronavirus pandemic , schools faced new challenges when they were thrown into remote learning because of shelter-in-place orders .
Now , running predominantly online classes , schools are relying on remote computer access and similar applications to proctor exams online .
These arrangements constitute both an invasion of privacy and a possible cybersecurity risk ; the schools are overlooking better alternatives .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is available .
Common options include taking a full view of a student ’ s monitor , disabling web browsers , disabling copy-and-paste functions , or some combination of these .
Some of the most commonly used methods are the most invasive , however .
ProctorU , one of the largest online-proctoring vendors , drew criticism for using facial-recognition technology , controlling mouse movements , and retaining the ability to disable background apps , which could cause a computer to operate in an unintended manner .
Examus claims to employ eye-tracking , scans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and “ emotion detection.
” TRENDING : Deafening silence from 'Defund Police ' crowd as police rush to Ground Zero in Nashville Students should not be expected to hand over this kind of access to their computers or be subject to this scrutiny , especially when they do not know what else the software has access to .
Some remote setups , similar to those that IT technicians use , give proctors access to various connections on a student ’ s computer .
A student at Boise State University discovered that the proctoring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connected ; he had to disconnect his second monitor just to access the test .
Such problems turn out to be commonplace , indicative of a high degree of surveillance .
How could the student know whether his information was being viewed or even recorded – with someone perhaps waiting to breach it ?
What were the retention policies for the recordings ?
These details were not disclosed to this student ’ s class .
Earlier this year , an executive at the online proctoring service Proctorio released the private-chat support logs of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a student ’ s critical tweet about the company .
Proctorio is now suing a security researcher at the University of British Columbia who tweeted negative views of its product .
Some recommend removing the testing software after exams are completed – but students trying to do so have reported that their completed tests were canceled after uninstalling the software .
In defense of the invasive proctoring , an article published by eLearning Industry argues that students taking classroom tests are usually observed – so they should also be remotely observable .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Computers contain troves of personal information .
A proctor watching students take tests in person can not see what a remote proctor might see , such as private communications and files .
In contrast to overreaching e-proctoring efforts , reasonable anti-cheat measures are available .
For example , Florida State University issued best practices for anti-cheating measures that focus on security within the test itself .
For example , the school can turn off the setting that immediately tells students whether their answers to test questions are correct .
This prevents students from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ innovative strategy , used by a University of California , Berkeley , computer science class , is to issue students a decryption key for the exam separate from the exam .
This can prevent unintended recipients from viewing it .
After decrypting the exam , the student then joins a private Zoom meeting , at which point they share their screen , which is recorded .
A proctor can then periodically join the Zoom meeting at his discretion to check on the student and can review the recording to ensure academic honesty .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ shields them from seeing one another ’ s environment .
The Berkeley instructor told students that all recordings of their displays would be purged after grading the exam .
That practice should be standard .
One reason that recording screen sharing is superior to remote access is that it lessens proctor surveillance of the students ’ personal effects .
Viewing the names of files , picture thumbnails , sticky notes containing passwords , and desktop shortcuts is over-intrusive , potentially embarrassing to students , and does not provide additional security .
We shouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These invasive practices led the UC Santa Barbara Faculty Association to issue a warning about ProctorU last May .
“ This service … mines the data of our students , ” the group declared , “ making them available to unspecified third parties , and therefore violates our students ’ rights to privacy , and potentially implicates the university into becoming a surveillance tool .
”

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Education.]
By Williamson M. Evers & Jonathan Hofer
Real Clear Education
Colleges and universities nationwide are failing to safeguard the digital safety and privacy of their students. At the outset of the coronavirus pandemic, schools faced new challenges when they were thrown into remote learning because of shelter-in-place orders. Now, running predominantly online classes, schools are relying on remote computer access and similar applications to proctor exams online. These arrangements constitute both an invasion of privacy and a possible cybersecurity risk; the schools are overlooking better alternatives.
A wide variety of online proctoring methods is available. Common options include taking a full view of a student’s monitor, disabling web browsers, disabling copy-and-paste functions, or some combination of these.
Some of the most commonly used methods are the most invasive, however. ProctorU, one of the largest online-proctoring vendors, drew criticism for using facial-recognition technology, controlling mouse movements, and retaining the ability to disable background apps, which could cause a computer to operate in an unintended manner. Examus claims to employ eye-tracking, scans of other people in the room, and “emotion detection.”
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Students should not be expected to hand over this kind of access to their computers or be subject to this scrutiny, especially when they do not know what else the software has access to. Some remote setups, similar to those that IT technicians use, give proctors access to various connections on a student’s computer.
A student at Boise State University discovered that the proctoring software knew how many monitors he had connected; he had to disconnect his second monitor just to access the test. Such problems turn out to be commonplace, indicative of a high degree of surveillance. How could the student know whether his information was being viewed or even recorded – with someone perhaps waiting to breach it? What were the retention policies for the recordings? These details were not disclosed to this student’s class.
Earlier this year, an executive at the online proctoring service Proctorio released the private-chat support logs of students and got Twitter to take down a student’s critical tweet about the company. Proctorio is now suing a security researcher at the University of British Columbia who tweeted negative views of its product.
Some recommend removing the testing software after exams are completed – but students trying to do so have reported that their completed tests were canceled after uninstalling the software.
In defense of the invasive proctoring, an article published by eLearning Industry argues that students taking classroom tests are usually observed – so they should also be remotely observable. The situations are not analogous, though. Computers contain troves of personal information. A proctor watching students take tests in person cannot see what a remote proctor might see, such as private communications and files.
In contrast to overreaching e-proctoring efforts, reasonable anti-cheat measures are available. For example, Florida State University issued best practices for anti-cheating measures that focus on security within the test itself.
For example, the school can turn off the setting that immediately tells students whether their answers to test questions are correct. This prevents students from sharing confirmed answers with others.
Another innovative strategy, used by a University of California, Berkeley, computer science class, is to issue students a decryption key for the exam separate from the exam. This can prevent unintended recipients from viewing it. After decrypting the exam, the student then joins a private Zoom meeting, at which point they share their screen, which is recorded. A proctor can then periodically join the Zoom meeting at his discretion to check on the student and can review the recording to ensure academic honesty. This private meeting keeps students separate and shields them from seeing one another’s environment. The Berkeley instructor told students that all recordings of their displays would be purged after grading the exam. That practice should be standard.
One reason that recording screen sharing is superior to remote access is that it lessens proctor surveillance of the students’ personal effects. Viewing the names of files, picture thumbnails, sticky notes containing passwords, and desktop shortcuts is over-intrusive, potentially embarrassing to students, and does not provide additional security. We shouldn’t be making desktop peeping easy.
These invasive practices led the UC Santa Barbara Faculty Association to issue a warning about ProctorU last May. “This service … mines the data of our students,” the group declared, “making them available to unspecified third parties, and therefore violates our students’ rights to privacy, and potentially implicates the university into becoming a surveillance tool.”


wnd--2020-12-28--How Joe Biden's life 'might unravel over the next 4 years'

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]
Around this time of year , the American public is inundated with a slew of holiday movies , most notably “ It ’ s a Wonderful Life , ” that are loosely based on the premise of Charles Dickens ’ “ A Christmas Carol.
” You know the drill : A once decent , hardworking person has become so obsessed with some ambition that he or she has lost sight of the important things in life .
Only divine intervention can turn things around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police ' crowd as police rush to Ground Zero in Nashville Well , Joe Biden , this is your life !
You wanted to be the president so bad that you ran three times — in 1988 , 2008 and 2020 .
Along the way , you sold your soul to the devil ( or at least to the Chinese ) and though you barely missed it , now the payment is coming due .
You don ’ t know all the details , but that song by Charlie Daniels keeps playing on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mirror — “ The devil went down to Georgia , / He was lookin ’ for an election to steal/ He was in a bind ’ cause he was way behind/ And he was willing to make a deal.
” Like a specter of all the presidents past , your old buddy Barack sounded a warning last year : “ You don ’ t have to do this , Joe , ” but that wasn ’ t true .
You did have to .
You wanted it so bad you could taste it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You already had all those .
You were a senator for 30-plus years .
But you wanted more — much more — and then you hit the jackpot .
Obama had asked you to join him in the White House as vice president .
That was heady stuff .
Suddenly you were in demand .
Not just one out of a hundred as you were in the Senate , but one heartbeat away from the Oval Office .
One whisper away from the president ’ s ear .
You could convert that into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the big enchilada .
Finally , you could put your ne ’ er-do-well boy Hunter to work -- schmoozing and partying around the world with your phone number for sale — and all you had to do was show up .
You were good at that .
You had made a career of that .
Tell a story , crack a joke , smile and sniff the girls ’ hair , and then back into the limo for the next stop .
It wasn ’ t always that way .
If the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the former vice president is the salt of the earth — a decent man who rose up from humble beginnings in Pennsylvania and Delaware to find himself in the corridors of power in Washington , D.C. , for the past 47 years because he wanted to make a difference , because he cared about the average working stiff .
So what happened ?
How did Regular Joe Biden become so corrupted along the way that he is now convincingly referred to by Sean Hannity and others as the head of the Biden crime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and our tale of potential redemption .
Let ’ s suppose that the scheming , manipulative dark forces that surround Biden in the Democratic Party succeed in installing him in the White House on Jan. 20 , 2021 .
What happens then ?
How will divine intervention work to bring him back to the light ?
In our version of “ Scrooged , ” President Biden toddles off to bed the night of his inauguration and has a terrible nightmare , during which Kamala Harris cackles something about an offer he can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have to resign , Joe .
Not yet .
Just do what I tell you , and you can keep playing house in the White House for many months to come .
No one has to know about your problems , but if you step out of line , there ’ s a little something called the 25th Amendment .
Never tried , but true.
” Joe screams and startles awake , but it seems like Harris isn ’ t a real monster after all -- she ’ s just the result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of beef , a blot of mustard , a crumb of cheese , a fragment of underdone potato.
” Joe falls back to sleep after taking a bicarbonate of soda , but when he wakes again he discovers that his nightmare is just beginning .
The special counsel that President Trump appointed on his way out the door to investigate Hunter ’ s troublesome laptop is starting to make life difficult .
Just how many incriminating emails could one recovering crack addict hoard on a hard drive anyway ?
It seems like there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Newsmax and Fox .
( By the way , what circle of hell is reserved for popinjays at the DOJ who leak to Fox News ?
The audacity ! )
The weeks and months that follow are not pleasant ones for Joe Biden , his son Hunter or his brother Jim .
It turns out that Trump was right about how hard it is to govern when you are under investigation for being a foreign asset .
Fortunately , Joe ’ s friends in the media and in Silicon Valley still have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tightening .
People are starting to talk .
It is particularly awkward that Trump appointed a second special counsel to investigate election fraud .
There was little chance anyone would ever be able to prove anything with 100 % certainty , but when more than a third of the voters believe you cheated your way into the White House , it makes it hard to put together legislative majorities for anything other than declaring Juneteenth a new national holiday .
Perhaps worst of all , no one on his team had thought of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country , so he is saddled with Republican legislatures in a majority of states working to redistrict U.S. House seats and guaranteeing that the last two years of his term will be served with a Republican-controlled House of Representatives .
Sure , he talked a good game about bipartisan government , but he preferred a bipartisan government with a Democrat majority .
How long does it take for the new Republican speaker of the House to convene an impeachment inquiry into Biden Inc. ’ s connections to the Chinese Communist Party or even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. history ” ?
( God , that was a good line — he needed to remember to thank his Pulitzer Prize-winning speechwriter for that one again ! )
Is there any chance he can stay in office till the end of his first term ?
Probably the only thing protecting him is his “ insurance policy.
” By selecting Kamala as his vice president , he had guaranteed that his good buddies in the Senate would never convict him of anything .
There was no way they would let a socialist become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how he convinced them to stop Bernie !
Only one small problem .
If they impeached him , they could impeach Kamala too .
She was part of the same deal : On election night they had all gone to bed well behind , but with smiles on their faces .
When they stopped counting votes in all the swing states , he knew it would turn out fine .
Reminded him of a sad song he used to know .
“ It ’ s a quarter to three./ There ’ s no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me./ So set ’ em up , Joe./ I got a little story I think you should know.
” Unfortunately , he isn ’ t the only one who knows that story .
There are a lot of people who know what happened in the wee hours of the morning of Nov. 4 , 2020 .
And in this nightmare scenario where Joe Biden becomes president of the United States , there is always the chance that sooner or later someone will decide to talk .
Maybe a lot of someones .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We 're drinkin ' , my friend , to the end of a brief episode/ Make it one for my baby and one more for the road.
” This , of course , is where President Biden is supposed to wake up and discover that it ’ s still the night before Inauguration Day after all .
In the tradition of these holiday movies , our hero now has a chance to save his soul : Should he go through with the worst mistake of his life or turn over a new leaf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cratchit and his family ?
If Joe gets a look at the way his presidency and his life might unravel over the next four years , it just might scare him straight before he has to live out the terrible consequences of his wrong choices .
So our story ends with a moment of redemption after all .
“ I wish I was never elected president in the first place , ” Joe shouts .
Don ’ t worry .
You weren ’ t !
Now , call the attorney general and tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think he should know .
Get it off your chest .
Remember , it ’ s a wonderful life — if you do the right thing .

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]
By Frank Miele
Real Clear Politics
Around this time of year, the American public is inundated with a slew of holiday movies, most notably “It’s a Wonderful Life,” that are loosely based on the premise of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”
You know the drill: A once decent, hardworking person has become so obsessed with some ambition that he or she has lost sight of the important things in life. Only divine intervention can turn things around.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Well, Joe Biden, this is your life!
You wanted to be the president so bad that you ran three times — in 1988, 2008 and 2020. Along the way, you sold your soul to the devil (or at least to the Chinese) and though you barely missed it, now the payment is coming due. You don’t know all the details, but that song by Charlie Daniels keeps playing on a loop whenever you look in a mirror — “The devil went down to Georgia,/ He was lookin’ for an election to steal/ He was in a bind ’cause he was way behind/ And he was willing to make a deal.”
Like a specter of all the presidents past, your old buddy Barack sounded a warning last year: “You don’t have to do this, Joe,” but that wasn’t true. You did have to. You wanted it so bad you could taste it.
Power. Fame. Money. You already had all those. You were a senator for 30-plus years. But you wanted more — much more — and then you hit the jackpot. Obama had asked you to join him in the White House as vice president. That was heady stuff. Suddenly you were in demand. Not just one out of a hundred as you were in the Senate, but one heartbeat away from the Oval Office. One whisper away from the president’s ear. You could convert that into more than a meal ticket. This was the big enchilada. Finally, you could put your ne’er-do-well boy Hunter to work -- schmoozing and partying around the world with your phone number for sale — and all you had to do was show up. You were good at that. You had made a career of that. Tell a story, crack a joke, smile and sniff the girls’ hair, and then back into the limo for the next stop.
It wasn’t always that way. If the official narrative can be credited, then the former vice president is the salt of the earth — a decent man who rose up from humble beginnings in Pennsylvania and Delaware to find himself in the corridors of power in Washington, D.C., for the past 47 years because he wanted to make a difference, because he cared about the average working stiff.
So what happened? How did Regular Joe Biden become so corrupted along the way that he is now convincingly referred to by Sean Hannity and others as the head of the Biden crime family? Therein lies the story, and our tale of potential redemption.
Let’s suppose that the scheming, manipulative dark forces that surround Biden in the Democratic Party succeed in installing him in the White House on Jan. 20, 2021. What happens then? How will divine intervention work to bring him back to the light?
In our version of “Scrooged,” President Biden toddles off to bed the night of his inauguration and has a terrible nightmare, during which Kamala Harris cackles something about an offer he can’t refuse:
“You don’t have to resign, Joe. Not yet. Just do what I tell you, and you can keep playing house in the White House for many months to come. No one has to know about your problems, but if you step out of line, there’s a little something called the 25th Amendment. Never tried, but true.”
Joe screams and startles awake, but it seems like Harris isn’t a real monster after all -- she’s just the result of indigestion: “An undigested bit of beef, a blot of mustard, a crumb of cheese, a fragment of underdone potato.”
Joe falls back to sleep after taking a bicarbonate of soda, but when he wakes again he discovers that his nightmare is just beginning. The special counsel that President Trump appointed on his way out the door to investigate Hunter’s troublesome laptop is starting to make life difficult. Just how many incriminating emails could one recovering crack addict hoard on a hard drive anyway? It seems like there is a never-ending stream of leaks going to Newsmax and Fox. (By the way, what circle of hell is reserved for popinjays at the DOJ who leak to Fox News? The audacity!)
The weeks and months that follow are not pleasant ones for Joe Biden, his son Hunter or his brother Jim. It turns out that Trump was right about how hard it is to govern when you are under investigation for being a foreign asset. Fortunately, Joe’s friends in the media and in Silicon Valley still have his back, but the screws are tightening. People are starting to talk. It is particularly awkward that Trump appointed a second special counsel to investigate election fraud. There was little chance anyone would ever be able to prove anything with 100% certainty, but when more than a third of the voters believe you cheated your way into the White House, it makes it hard to put together legislative majorities for anything other than declaring Juneteenth a new national holiday.
Perhaps worst of all, no one on his team had thought of stealing elections in local races across the country, so he is saddled with Republican legislatures in a majority of states working to redistrict U.S. House seats and guaranteeing that the last two years of his term will be served with a Republican-controlled House of Representatives. Sure, he talked a good game about bipartisan government, but he preferred a bipartisan government with a Democrat majority.
How long does it take for the new Republican speaker of the House to convene an impeachment inquiry into Biden Inc.’s connections to the Chinese Communist Party or even into “the most secure election in U.S. history”? (God, that was a good line — he needed to remember to thank his Pulitzer Prize-winning speechwriter for that one again!)
Is there any chance he can stay in office till the end of his first term? Probably the only thing protecting him is his “insurance policy.” By selecting Kamala as his vice president, he had guaranteed that his good buddies in the Senate would never convict him of anything. There was no way they would let a socialist become president! Heck, that’s how he convinced them to stop Bernie!
Only one small problem. If they impeached him, they could impeach Kamala too. She was part of the same deal: On election night they had all gone to bed well behind, but with smiles on their faces. When they stopped counting votes in all the swing states, he knew it would turn out fine. Reminded him of a sad song he used to know. “It’s a quarter to three./ There’s no one in the place except you and me./ So set ’em up, Joe./ I got a little story I think you should know.”
Unfortunately, he isn’t the only one who knows that story. There are a lot of people who know what happened in the wee hours of the morning of Nov. 4, 2020. And in this nightmare scenario where Joe Biden becomes president of the United States, there is always the chance that sooner or later someone will decide to talk. Maybe a lot of someones. And then it was all over.
“We're drinkin', my friend, to the end of a brief episode/ Make it one for my baby and one more for the road.”
This, of course, is where President Biden is supposed to wake up and discover that it’s still the night before Inauguration Day after all. In the tradition of these holiday movies, our hero now has a chance to save his soul: Should he go through with the worst mistake of his life or turn over a new leaf and order a Christmas goose for Bob Cratchit and his family? If Joe gets a look at the way his presidency and his life might unravel over the next four years, it just might scare him straight before he has to live out the terrible consequences of his wrong choices.
So our story ends with a moment of redemption after all.
“I wish I was never elected president in the first place,” Joe shouts.
Don’t worry. You weren’t! Now, call the attorney general and tell him you have a little story you think he should know. Get it off your chest. Remember, it’s a wonderful life — if you do the right thing.


wnd--2020-12-28--Trump ferociously attacks 'totally incompetent and weak' Supreme Court over election

President Donald Trump on Saturday lashed out at the Supreme Court as he doubled down on his claims of election fraud .
`` The U.S. Supreme Court has been totally incompetent and weak on the massive Election Fraud that took place in the 2020 Presidential Election .
We have absolute PROOF , but they don ’ t want to see it - No 'standing ' , they say .
If we have corrupt elections , we have no country ! ''
Trump tweeted , referring to the court 's ruling that Texas had no standing in a suit that sought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ four states .
The court includes three Trump appointees -- Justices Neil Gorsuch , Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett .
TRENDING : Deafening silence from 'Defund Police ' crowd as police rush to Ground Zero in Nashville The Democratic nominee Joe Biden has already won sufficient Electoral College votes to be the winner of the Nov. 3 vote .
However , the Trump campaign has insisted that there has been voter fraud in states that include Arizona , Nevada , Georgia , Michigan and Wisconsin , as well as Pennsylvania .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including affidavits alleging fraud sworn to by reported eyewitnesses , no court has yet ruled that widespread fraud materially affected the results of the presidential election .
`` A young military man working in Afghanistan told me that elections in Afghanistan are far more secure and much better run than the USA ’ s 2020 Election .
Ours , with its millions and millions of corrupt Mail-In Ballots , was the election of a third world country .
Fake President ! ''
he tweeted .
Trump said Republicans need to stand up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senators to step up and fight for the Presidency , like the Democrats would do if they had actually won .
The proof is irrefutable !
Massive late night mail-in ballot drops in swing states , stuffing the ballot boxes ( on video ) , double voters , dead voters , fake signatures , illegal immigrant voters , banned Republican vote watchers , MORE VOTES THAN ACTUAL VOTERS ( check out Detroit & Philadelphia ) , and much more .
The numbers are far greater than what is necessary to win the individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be contested , '' he tweeted .
`` Courts are bad , the FBI and 'Justice ' didn ’ t do their job , and the United States Election System looks like that of a third world country .
Freedom of the press has been gone for a long time , it is Fake News , and now we have Big Tech ( with Section 230 ) to deal with .
But when it is all over , and this period of time becomes just another ugly chapter in our Country ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ! ''
Trump tweeted .
Trump 's campaign filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 20 , calling for the court to hear its bid to reverse Pennsylvania Supreme Court rulings that have upheld what the campaign says was unconstitutional conduct by Pennsylvania officials .
The petition seeking to have the court hear the case claims Pennsylvania officials broke their own laws during the election .
On Thursday , however , the high court gave Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar until Jan. 22 to file a response , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days after the date the Constitution sets for the inauguration of the next president .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

President Donald Trump on Saturday lashed out at the Supreme Court as he doubled down on his claims of election fraud.
"The U.S. Supreme Court has been totally incompetent and weak on the massive Election Fraud that took place in the 2020 Presidential Election. We have absolute PROOF, but they don’t want to see it - No 'standing', they say. If we have corrupt elections, we have no country!" Trump tweeted, referring to the court's ruling that Texas had no standing in a suit that sought to throw out the election results in four states.
The U.S. Supreme Court has been totally incompetent and weak on the massive Election Fraud that took place in the 2020 Presidential Election. We have absolute PROOF, but they don’t want to see it - No “standing”, they say. If we have corrupt elections, we have no country! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2020
The court includes three Trump appointees -- Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The Democratic nominee Joe Biden has already won sufficient Electoral College votes to be the winner of the Nov. 3 vote.
However, the Trump campaign has insisted that there has been voter fraud in states that include Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, Michigan and Wisconsin, as well as Pennsylvania.
However, despite numerous claims of voting irregularities, including affidavits alleging fraud sworn to by reported eyewitnesses, no court has yet ruled that widespread fraud materially affected the results of the presidential election.
Trump made his case multiple times on Twitter.
"A young military man working in Afghanistan told me that elections in Afghanistan are far more secure and much better run than the USA’s 2020 Election. Ours, with its millions and millions of corrupt Mail-In Ballots, was the election of a third world country. Fake President!" he tweeted.
A young military man working in Afghanistan told me that elections in Afghanistan are far more secure and much better run than the USA’s 2020 Election. Ours, with its millions and millions of corrupt Mail-In Ballots, was the election of a third world country. Fake President! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2020
Trump said Republicans need to stand up to Democrats.
"Time for Republican Senators to step up and fight for the Presidency, like the Democrats would do if they had actually won. The proof is irrefutable! Massive late night mail-in ballot drops in swing states, stuffing the ballot boxes (on video), double voters, dead voters, fake signatures, illegal immigrant voters, banned Republican vote watchers, MORE VOTES THAN ACTUAL VOTERS (check out Detroit & Philadelphia), and much more. The numbers are far greater than what is necessary to win the individual swing states, and cannot even be contested," he tweeted.
....fake signatures, illegal immigrant voters, banned Republican vote watchers, MORE VOTES THAN ACTUAL VOTERS (check out Detroit & Philadelphia), and much more. The numbers are far greater than what is necessary to win the individual swing states, and cannot even be contested.... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2020
"Courts are bad, the FBI and 'Justice' didn’t do their job, and the United States Election System looks like that of a third world country. Freedom of the press has been gone for a long time, it is Fake News, and now we have Big Tech (with Section 230) to deal with. But when it is all over, and this period of time becomes just another ugly chapter in our Country’s history, WE WILL WIN!!!" Trump tweeted.
....But when it is all over, and this period of time becomes just another ugly chapter in our Country’s history, WE WILL WIN!!! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 26, 2020
Trump's campaign filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 20, calling for the court to hear its bid to reverse Pennsylvania Supreme Court rulings that have upheld what the campaign says was unconstitutional conduct by Pennsylvania officials.
The petition seeking to have the court hear the case claims Pennsylvania officials broke their own laws during the election.
On Thursday, however, the high court gave Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar until Jan. 22 to file a response, according to Fox News. That's two days after the date the Constitution sets for the inauguration of the next president.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-12-28--Trump signs Covid relief and government-funding bill days after floating veto

( CNBC ) -- President Donald Trump signed a massive coronavirus relief and government funding package into law Sunday , @ @ @ @ @ into a panic by suggesting he could veto the bill .
He refused to approve @ @ @ @ @ receiving it , blowing past a Saturday deadline to prevent an estimated 14 million people @ @ @ @ @ .
The measure extends the expanded jobless benefits into March , but millions are expected @ @ @ @ @ benefits covering these people due to Trump ’ s delay in signing the bill .
@ @ @ @ @ a $ 300 weekly supplement will also get the additional money later than they could @ @

(CNBC) -- President Donald Trump signed a massive coronavirus relief and government funding package into law Sunday, days after he sent Washington into a panic by suggesting he could veto the bill.
He refused to approve the legislation for days after receiving it, blowing past a Saturday deadline to prevent an estimated 14 million people from temporarily losing unemployment insurance.
The measure extends the expanded jobless benefits into March, but millions are expected to lose a week of benefits covering these people due to Trump’s delay in signing the bill. Unemployed Americans eligible to receive a $300 weekly supplement will also get the additional money later than they could have.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-12-29--McEnany explains Tapper's 'real problem' after CNN host launched 'baseless personal attacks'

( FOX NEWS ) -- White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany scolded Jake Tapper on Sunday after the liberal CNN @ @ @ @ @ , noting that his `` real problem '' is that she calls out the mainstream @ @ @ @ @ Tapper appeared on CNN ’ s hyperpartisan media program `` Reliable Sources '' to complain @ @ @ @ @ He was one of multiple CNN staffers who spent the hour airing grievances about the @ @ @ @ @ of the press during the widely mocked episode of the show .
Along the way @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t have McEnany on his program because she `` lies the way that @ @ @ @ @ people breathe , '' and therefore isn ’ t valuable to viewers .

(FOX NEWS) -- White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany scolded Jake Tapper on Sunday after the liberal CNN anchor called her a liar, noting that his "real problem" is that she calls out the mainstream media when it lies.
Tapper appeared on CNN’s hyperpartisan media program "Reliable Sources" to complain about the Trump administration. He was one of multiple CNN staffers who spent the hour airing grievances about the Trump administration’s treatment of the press during the widely mocked episode of the show.
Along the way, Tapper insisted that he doesn’t have McEnany on his program because she "lies the way that, you know, most people breathe," and therefore isn’t valuable to viewers.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-12-29--'Murdering Jews we will hang you' painted at Jewish cemetery

( HAARETZ ) -- Graffiti reading “ good Jew dead Jew '' and “ murdering Jews we will hang you @ @ @ @ @ gate of a Jewish cemetery near Madrid , Spain .
The graffiti , featuring spelling @ @ @ @ @ German-language words , were spray-painted in Hoyo de Manzanares , a northern suburb of the @ @ @ @ @ , the news site 20minutos reported .
The perpetrators also painted a Star of David @ @ @ @ @ German for “ out , ” on the gate .
Another slogan featured a mashup @ @ @ @ @ Holocaust and fairytale .

(HAARETZ) -- Graffiti reading “good Jew dead Jew" and “murdering Jews we will hang you” were written on the gate of a Jewish cemetery near Madrid, Spain.
The graffiti, featuring spelling mistakes in Spanish and some German-language words, were spray-painted in Hoyo de Manzanares, a northern suburb of the capital, on Wednesday night, the news site 20minutos reported. The perpetrators also painted a Star of David with the word Raus, German for “out,” on the gate. Another slogan featured a mashup of the Spanish-language word for Holocaust and fairytale.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-12-29--Biden calls transition 'obstruction' by Defense Department irresponsible

( FOX NEWS ) -- President-elect Joe Biden says his transition teams have `` encountered obstruction '' from President Trump @ @ @ @ @ the Defense Department and the Office of Management and Budget .
And the president-elect charges @ @ @ @ @ agencies that are critical to our security have incurred enormous damage '' during the Trump @ @ @ @ @ before and after he and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris took part in a virtual briefing @ @ @ @ @ security and foreign policy agency review teams , Biden also took aim at Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ international affairs and pledged to restore `` American leadership '' across the globe .

(FOX NEWS) -- President-elect Joe Biden says his transition teams have "encountered obstruction" from President Trump’s political leadership at the Defense Department and the Office of Management and Budget.
And the president-elect charges that "many of the agencies that are critical to our security have incurred enormous damage" during the Trump administration.
Speaking Monday both before and after he and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris took part in a virtual briefing with members of their national security and foreign policy agency review teams, Biden also took aim at Trump's "go-it-alone" approach to international affairs and pledged to restore "American leadership" across the globe.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-12-29--1,000 Pakistani girls forcibly converted to Islam every year

( AP ) -- KARACHI , Pakistan -- Neha loved the hymns that filled her church with music .
But @ @ @ @ @ sing them last year when , at the age of 14 , she was forcibly @ @ @ @ @ and married to a 45-year-old man with children twice her age .
She tells her @ @ @ @ @ low it occasionally fades away .
She all but disappears as she wraps a blue @ @ @ @ @ and head .
Neha ’ s husband is in jail now facing charges of rape @ @ @ @ @ but she is in hiding , afraid after security guards confiscated a pistol from his @ @ @ @ @ He brought the gun to shoot me , ” said Neha , whose last name @ @ @ @ @ using for her safety .

(AP) -- KARACHI, Pakistan -- Neha loved the hymns that filled her church with music. But she lost the chance to sing them last year when, at the age of 14, she was forcibly converted from Christianity to Islam and married to a 45-year-old man with children twice her age.
She tells her story in a voice so low it occasionally fades away. She all but disappears as she wraps a blue scarf tightly around her face and head. Neha’s husband is in jail now facing charges of rape for the underage marriage, but she is in hiding, afraid after security guards confiscated a pistol from his brother in court.
“He brought the gun to shoot me,” said Neha, whose last name The Associated Press is not using for her safety.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-12-29--Mormon church sued for allegedly covering up decades of Boy Scouts sex abuse

( AP ) -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was hit with several lawsuits Monday for allegedly @ @ @ @ @ abuse among Boy Scout troops in Arizona , marking the latest litigation before the state @ @ @ @ @ adult victims to sue .
The church “ must be held accountable in order to @ @ @ @ @ Mormon victims of childhood sexual abuse , ” Hurley McKenna & Mertz , a law @ @ @ @ @ sex abuse , said in a statement .
In the seven lawsuits each representing seven @ @ @ @ @ say church officials never notified authorities about abuse allegations .
Public records show members of @ @ @ @ @ were abused would tell church bishops about what they had experienced .
The lawsuits allege @ @ @ @ @ victims to keep quiet so the church could conduct its own investigation .
In the @ @ @ @ @ volunteers accused of sex abuse would be allowed to continue in their roles or be @ @ @ @ @ the suits said .

(AP) -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was hit with several lawsuits Monday for allegedly covering up decades of sexual abuse among Boy Scout troops in Arizona, marking the latest litigation before the state’s end-of-year deadline for adult victims to sue.
The church “must be held accountable in order to bring healing and closure to Mormon victims of childhood sexual abuse,” Hurley McKenna & Mertz, a law firm that focuses on church sex abuse, said in a statement.
In the seven lawsuits each representing seven different male victims, attorneys say church officials never notified authorities about abuse allegations. Public records show members of church-sponsored Boy Scout troops who were abused would tell church bishops about what they had experienced. The lawsuits allege bishops would then tell the victims to keep quiet so the church could conduct its own investigation. In the meantime, troop leaders and volunteers accused of sex abuse would be allowed to continue in their roles or be assigned to another troop, the suits said.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-12-29--House overrides Trump veto of $740 billion defense bill, sends to Senate

( CNBC ) -- WASHINGTON — The House voted Monday to override President Donald Trump ’ s veto of an @ @ @ @ @ placing the final steps of defying the Republican president in the hands of the GOP-led @ @ @ @ @ override Trump ’ s veto of the defense bill passed 322 to 87 on Monday @ @ @ @ @ vote next on whether to override the veto .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has @ @ @ @ @ on overriding the veto Tuesday .

(CNBC) -- WASHINGTON — The House voted Monday to override President Donald Trump’s veto of an annual defense spending bill, placing the final steps of defying the Republican president in the hands of the GOP-led Senate.
The measure to override Trump’s veto of the defense bill passed 322 to 87 on Monday evening. The Senate will vote next on whether to override the veto.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said his chamber would vote on overriding the veto Tuesday.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-12-29--President Trump, you must win now, 2024 is too late for America

I have the most important Christmas message ever for President Donald Trump .
I 'm one of the few who can deliver this message .
I understand the man .
I appreciate the man .
Even the liberal media have described me as President Trump 's fiercest champion since the day he came down that escalator in June 2015 .
The liberal Daily Beast called me `` the Las Vegas version of Trump . ''
Anthony Scaramucci said , `` Wayne Allyn Root was there for Trump before Trump was there . ''
Steve Bannon only days ago called me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – `` for Trump and the MAGA Movement . ''
And my current No .
1 bestselling book , `` TRUMP RULES , '' catalogs my 41 years of studying and modeling Trump and his rules of success .
It 's been a No .
1 Amazon bestseller in a dozen categories for the past seven weeks .
So , it 's a pretty well-established fact that I 'm No .
1 in President Trump 's corner .
So , no one is in a better position to tell him the cold , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time is now .
There is no tomorrow .
Winning again in 2024 is not going to happen .
You have to win now – for you , for your legacy , for the 74 million voters you love , for America , for American exceptionalism , for capitalism .
There is no tomorrow .
If you do n't win now , there is no chance for you in 2024 , for two reasons : First , because Democrats cheated and stole this election , without punishment ( so far ) .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this election , it 's all over for Republicans forevermore .
They stole the election with you in charge .
Who 's going to stop them when they 're in charge ?
That 's like letting the wolf guard the hen house .
It 's only going to get worse .
Second , the 2024 election will not matter , simply because America wo n't exist in 2024 – not the America we know now .
Democrats will destroy that America .
Trust me , this will be a foreign country by 2024 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tens of millions of new Democratic voters .
Democrats wo n't even need to steal elections anymore .
They wo n't need dead voters .
They wo n't need to stop counting at midnight on election night and add millions of emergency fake ballots in the middle of the night .
No more need for vans at 3 a.m. No more U.S .
Postal Service 18-wheelers filled with fake ballots rushed to Pennsylvania the day after the election .
No need to keep Republican witnesses out of the counting room .
They wo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes away from you .
That will all be old news by 2024 .
To paraphrase James Carville , it 's all about illegal immigration , stupid .
First , Democrats will legalize the 22 million to 32 million illegal aliens already in the country .
Next , they 'll knock down Trump 's wall and open the borders , offering free health care to anyone who comes , from anywhere in the world .
Tens of millions more foreigners will come to America .
Democrats will make sure they can all legally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any need for cheating and stealing elections .
Democrats will have 40 million to 60 million new Democratic voters by 2024 .
Almost all of them will legally vote Democratic in order to keep the bribes coming ( citizenship , welfare , food stamps , free health care , free college ) .
Cheating wo n't be necessary ever again .
America will cease to exist .
America will be a foreign nation – certainly foreign to Republicans and patriots .
So , as much as I love and appreciate you and everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President , there is no tomorrow for you .
2024 is a mirage .
You can never win again .
You wo n't even recognize America in 2024 .
It will be a country no Republican can live in , let alone run .
So , my Christmas message is simple : Your time to win is now .
You have to overturn a stolen election between now and Jan. 20 .
But that 's OK. You 've got this .
I 've studied your `` Trump rules '' for 41 years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ man of miracles .
Only you can pull this off .
You were born to do this .
You have the rules and tools to make the impossible possible .
I wrote the book .
I believe in you .
But it has to be now .
You 've got only a few days left .
After that , your window closes forever .
And so does the future of America .

I have the most important Christmas message ever for President Donald Trump. I'm one of the few who can deliver this message. I understand the man. I appreciate the man. Even the liberal media have described me as President Trump's fiercest champion since the day he came down that escalator in June 2015.
The liberal Daily Beast called me "the Las Vegas version of Trump."
Anthony Scaramucci said, "Wayne Allyn Root was there for Trump before Trump was there."
Steve Bannon only days ago called me "The OG" – original gangster – "for Trump and the MAGA Movement."
And my current No. 1 bestselling book, "TRUMP RULES," catalogs my 41 years of studying and modeling Trump and his rules of success. It's been a No. 1 Amazon bestseller in a dozen categories for the past seven weeks.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
So, it's a pretty well-established fact that I'm No. 1 in President Trump's corner. So, no one is in a better position to tell him the cold, hard truth ...
Mr. President, your time is now. There is no tomorrow. Winning again in 2024 is not going to happen. You have to win now – for you, for your legacy, for the 74 million voters you love, for America, for American exceptionalism, for capitalism. There is no tomorrow. If you don't win now, there is no chance for you in 2024, for two reasons:
First, because Democrats cheated and stole this election, without punishment (so far). If they get away with rigging and stealing this election, it's all over for Republicans forevermore. They stole the election with you in charge. Who's going to stop them when they're in charge? That's like letting the wolf guard the hen house. It's only going to get worse.
Second, the 2024 election will not matter, simply because America won't exist in 2024 – not the America we know now. Democrats will destroy that America. Trust me, this will be a foreign country by 2024.
By 2024, there will be tens of millions of new Democratic voters. Democrats won't even need to steal elections anymore. They won't need dead voters. They won't need to stop counting at midnight on election night and add millions of emergency fake ballots in the middle of the night. No more need for vans at 3 a.m. No more U.S. Postal Service 18-wheelers filled with fake ballots rushed to Pennsylvania the day after the election. No need to keep Republican witnesses out of the counting room. They won't even need computer systems to switch votes away from you.
That will all be old news by 2024. To paraphrase James Carville, it's all about illegal immigration, stupid. First, Democrats will legalize the 22 million to 32 million illegal aliens already in the country. Next, they'll knock down Trump's wall and open the borders, offering free health care to anyone who comes, from anywhere in the world. Tens of millions more foreigners will come to America. Democrats will make sure they can all legally vote.
Those two moves will erase any need for cheating and stealing elections. Democrats will have 40 million to 60 million new Democratic voters by 2024. Almost all of them will legally vote Democratic in order to keep the bribes coming (citizenship, welfare, food stamps, free health care, free college).
Cheating won't be necessary ever again. America will cease to exist. America will be a foreign nation – certainly foreign to Republicans and patriots.
So, as much as I love and appreciate you and everything you've done for America, Mr. President, there is no tomorrow for you. 2024 is a mirage. You can never win again. You won't even recognize America in 2024. It will be a country no Republican can live in, let alone run.
So, my Christmas message is simple: Your time to win is now. You have to overturn a stolen election between now and Jan. 20. But that's OK. You've got this. I've studied your "Trump rules" for 41 years. You are Houdini. You are a man of miracles. Only you can pull this off. You were born to do this. You have the rules and tools to make the impossible possible. I wrote the book. I believe in you.
But it has to be now. You've got only a few days left. After that, your window closes forever.
And so does the future of America.


wnd--2020-12-29--Sorry – the future is not bright

Sorry – the future is not bright

This will be my final syndicated column for the year 2020 .
My observation , based upon what has been this year , gives me grave concern for mankind as we approach the New Year .
As both a born-again Christian and an ordained minister , I see nothing that bodes well for the future , despite what people may desire to believe .
My perspective is based upon the Word of God , specifically Psalms 33:12 , which states , `` Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord '' ( KJV ) .
America 's God is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ god has descended to everything God Almighty condemns .
Sexual sin on every quantifiable level is not only celebrated , but it is practiced openly without shame .
Liars , thieves and the debauched are elevated to positions of admiration .
They are heralded as models of citizenry .
The so-called Christian church has been infested and infected with reprobates who practice the very behavior God abhors .
A nation whose governors boast that 100 % of all baby-killing facilities are operating without interruption and where city governments vote unanimously to keep homosexual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the economy , and at the same time houses of worship are ordered closed , can not be blessed by God .
A nation whose governors and mayors order the arrest of people for going to church , but keep liquor stores , cannabis stores and adult bookstores open can not be blessed by God .
It matters not whether one believes the Bible is the infallible Word of God or not .
God 's Word does n't require validation of authenticity by man .
The Word of God is the Word @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not men believe it .
A nation that celebrates bad as good and condemns good as bad can not and will not be blessed by God .
`` Woe unto them that call evil good , and good evil ; that put darkness for light , and light for darkness ; that put bitter for sweet , and sweet for bitter ! ''
( Isaiah 5:20 KJV ) My pastor , another gentleman and myself were having this very conversation following our Christmas Eve candlelight church service .
We spoke about the Apostle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is the fool who dismisses the truth of the Word of God .
It is the fool who believes the Word of God is out of touch with reality and modernity .
We discussed the immeasurable ignorance of those who glibly and pompously attempt to insult and belittle those of us who believe the Word of God without hesitation .
I wish I could point to a hopeful outcome for America , but from a biblical perspective I see none .
I would be a liar if I tried to convince @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , my final piece for the year , I would be remiss if I did not point out that prophecy can be delayed , but it can not be denied nor prevented .
We the people of America , and specifically those people who call themselves Christians , stand at the crossroads of eternity .
Not the eternity of America , but the eternity of our souls .
We can not save America , but we can share the good news of the Gospel in the time remaining .
( That is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . )
The horizon of America when viewed based upon the current civil , political , social and ecclesiastical elements of today point toward the end being nearer rather than further off .
This is my 23rd consecutive end-of-year column , and I daresay that I have never viewed that horizon with more conviction .
Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact [ email protected @ @

This will be my final syndicated column for the year 2020. My observation, based upon what has been this year, gives me grave concern for mankind as we approach the New Year.
As both a born-again Christian and an ordained minister, I see nothing that bodes well for the future, despite what people may desire to believe. My perspective is based upon the Word of God, specifically Psalms 33:12, which states, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord" (KJV).
America's God is no longer the Lord; America's god has descended to everything God Almighty condemns. Sexual sin on every quantifiable level is not only celebrated, but it is practiced openly without shame. Liars, thieves and the debauched are elevated to positions of admiration. They are heralded as models of citizenry. The so-called Christian church has been infested and infected with reprobates who practice the very behavior God abhors.
A nation whose governors boast that 100% of all baby-killing facilities are operating without interruption and where city governments vote unanimously to keep homosexual bathhouses open because they are deemed essential to the economy, and at the same time houses of worship are ordered closed, cannot be blessed by God.
A nation whose governors and mayors order the arrest of people for going to church, but keep liquor stores, cannabis stores and adult bookstores open cannot be blessed by God.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
It matters not whether one believes the Bible is the infallible Word of God or not. God's Word doesn't require validation of authenticity by man. The Word of God is the Word of God, irrespective of whether or not men believe it.
A nation that celebrates bad as good and condemns good as bad cannot and will not be blessed by God. "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20 KJV)
My pastor, another gentleman and myself were having this very conversation following our Christmas Eve candlelight church service. We spoke about the Apostle Paul's words in 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
It is the fool who dismisses the truth of the Word of God. It is the fool who believes the Word of God is out of touch with reality and modernity.
We discussed the immeasurable ignorance of those who glibly and pompously attempt to insult and belittle those of us who believe the Word of God without hesitation.
I wish I could point to a hopeful outcome for America, but from a biblical perspective I see none. I would be a liar if I tried to convince you of anything else.
In this, my final piece for the year, I would be remiss if I did not point out that prophecy can be delayed, but it cannot be denied nor prevented.
We the people of America, and specifically those people who call themselves Christians, stand at the crossroads of eternity. Not the eternity of America, but the eternity of our souls. We cannot save America, but we can share the good news of the Gospel in the time remaining. (That is not to be confused with a social gospel.)
The horizon of America when viewed based upon the current civil, political, social and ecclesiastical elements of today point toward the end being nearer rather than further off.
This is my 23rd consecutive end-of-year column, and I daresay that I have never viewed that horizon with more conviction.
Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication 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--2020-12-29--Family ejected from movie theater because handicapped girl couldn't mask up

It 's not surprising that some corporations are having trouble figuring out the COVID-19 mandates imposed by their local , state and federal governments .
Based on the flip-flops that have happened in recent weeks , it 's not clear the government knows what it wants .
But what is happening is that families are suffering from the uncertainty .
The latest case involves a family in Jacksonville , North Carolina , turned away from a movie theater on Christmas Eve because a handicapped child was unable to mask up .
It shows the manager of the AMC Theatre there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Family members were masked up .
However , the child , who was in a baby stroller and is non-verbal , was not wearing a mask .
She reportedly has a condition that precludes her from wearing either a mask or a face shield , '' Starnes explained .
`` Police were summoned to the theater and escorted the outraged family outside . ''
The mother of the child , Angela Crandall , wrote on Facebook , `` The outpouring of support far and wide for Sydney to walk into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by The Governor and as protected by the ADA , has been overwhelming .
I 've heard from people I rarely talk to and from people I 've never met .
I 've not heard from some who I can assume are just busy today or perhaps they are nervous to make such a stand . ''
She continued , `` But I ask you , if a person of color was denied access to a movie theater , or a woman , or a person of Muslim faith , or an elderly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ YOU do ?
What if this person were your child , your mother or your brother ?
We have come too far to let this happen to the most vulnerable group of people.
`` `` This is not about our family going to the movies on Christmas Eve .
It 's not about the money , as the manager of the theatre offered me my money back .
I would have paid three times the price of the ticket to have been allowed in , according to the law , without a struggle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or humanity .
It is about the law .
The order by the Governor is EXPLICIT as to the exemption for disabled people and masks , and no proof is required .
Asking me 'What is WRONG with her ? '
is not an acceptable response when you are confronted with violating the ADA . ''
It was only days earlier that WND had a report when United Airlines kicked the Orban family off a flight under similar circumstances .
There , the New York Post reported , the Orbans were traveling from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was Eliz Orban , her husband and their 2-year-old daughter .
The toddler did n't want to wear a mask and United 's policy calls for such disagreements to be met with removal from the plane .
`` We just got kicked off the flight because our 2-year-old would not put on a mask , and we tried , ” a tearful Eliz Orban said in a viral video posted to social media .
The video also showed footage of Orban 's husband , who was not named , trying to put the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here , you have to put this on , ” Orban 's husband told the girl .
“ You have to.
” But she covered her mouth with her hands , however , making the task impossible .
The family then is booted from the plane .
In September , a similar disaster occurred for American Airlines , whose officials ejected a 2-year-old over her refusal to wear a mask .
Southwest Airlines and JetBlue have had similar public relations headaches .
There also was the case of a woman born without hands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because she could not put on a mask .
Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact [ email protected ] .

It's not surprising that some corporations are having trouble figuring out the COVID-19 mandates imposed by their local, state and federal governments.
Based on the flip-flops that have happened in recent weeks, it's not clear the government knows what it wants.
But what is happening is that families are suffering from the uncertainty.
The latest case involves a family in Jacksonville, North Carolina, turned away from a movie theater on Christmas Eve because a handicapped child was unable to mask up.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Commentator Todd Starnes posted a video on the situation.
It shows the manager of the AMC Theatre there banning a disabled child from the theater.
"Family members were masked up. However, the child, who was in a baby stroller and is non-verbal, was not wearing a mask. She reportedly has a condition that precludes her from wearing either a mask or a face shield," Starnes explained.
"Police were summoned to the theater and escorted the outraged family outside."
Did the movie theater do the right thing by ejecting the family? 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. 3% (4 Votes) 97% (128 Votes)
The video:
The mother of the child, Angela Crandall, wrote on Facebook, "The outpouring of support far and wide for Sydney to walk into a local movie theater, unmasked as allowed by The Governor and as protected by the ADA, has been overwhelming. I've heard from people I rarely talk to and from people I've never met. I've not heard from some who I can assume are just busy today or perhaps they are nervous to make such a stand."
She continued, "But I ask you, if a person of color was denied access to a movie theater, or a woman, or a person of Muslim faith, or an elderly person were denied access, what would YOU do? What if this person were your child, your mother or your brother? We have come too far to let this happen to the most vulnerable group of people. "
"This is not about our family going to the movies on Christmas Eve. It's not about the money, as the manager of the theatre offered me my money back. I would have paid three times the price of the ticket to have been allowed in, according to the law, without a struggle. This isn't even about compassion or humanity. It is about the law. The order by the Governor is EXPLICIT as to the exemption for disabled people and masks, and no proof is required. Asking me 'What is WRONG with her?' is not an acceptable response when you are confronted with violating the ADA."
It was only days earlier that WND had a report when United Airlines kicked the Orban family off a flight under similar circumstances.
There, the New York Post reported, the Orbans were traveling from Denver to Newark International Airport.
It was Eliz Orban, her husband and their 2-year-old daughter.
The toddler didn't want to wear a mask and United's policy calls for such disagreements to be met with removal from the plane.
"We just got kicked off the flight because our 2-year-old would not put on a mask, and we tried,” a tearful Eliz Orban said in a viral video posted to social media. The video also showed footage of Orban's husband, who was not named, trying to put the mask on the girl.
"Come here, you have to put this on,” Orban's husband told the girl. “You have to.” But she covered her mouth with her hands, however, making the task impossible.
The family then is booted from the plane.
Today we got kicked off of a United flight going from Denver to Newark because our 2yo would not “comply” and keep her mask on. Go see the full IGTV on my Instagram @elizfulop 😷 pic.twitter.com/KXCICsBSMj — Eliz Orban (@elizfulop) December 12, 2020
In September, a similar disaster occurred for American Airlines, whose officials ejected a 2-year-old over her refusal to wear a mask.
Southwest Airlines and JetBlue have had similar public relations headaches.
There also was the case of a woman born without hands who was denied entry to a bookstore because she could not put on a mask.
Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication 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--2020-12-29--Mr. President, pardon Jon Woods, a victim of 'process crimes'

As it becomes obvious that President Trump may not be able to overcome the fraud stopping him from winning reelection , he is pardoning and commuting the sentences of conservatives wrongly targeted through the legal system .
Last week , he commuted the sentence of conservative former Congressman Steve Stockman , who had served almost three years of a 10-year prison sentence .
Now he needs to pardon Jon Woods , a conservative former Arkansas state legislator .
Woods is serving an 18-year sentence for process crimes involving a Christian college .
Sound familiar ?
The left loves to target @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they ca n't get them on real crimes , they get them on `` process crimes . ''
Woods was found guilty of conspiracy to commit mail fraud , wire fraud and money laundering .
That 's right , no real crime , just the fact something was mailed , some phone calls were made and some money was spent while what he was accused of was happening .
For example , `` money laundering '' sounds scary , but all it means is he used a cashier 's check to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bank account ( he was paying back someone for something unrelated ) because it was a large check and the recipient required it .
This is just like what happened to former Gen. Michael Flynn , Trump 's short-lived national security adviser .
He was accused of colluding with Russia , which no one believed and has since been disproven in regards to the Trump administration .
So they got him on the process crime of lying about having a conversation with a Russian .
He was eventually exonerated when it came out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that .
Prosecutors accused Woods of trying to profit from state money given to nonprofit agencies .
They said Woods directed $ 200,000 in state funds to Ecclesia , a Christian college , and a nonprofit that operates the school , in exchange for cash and other benefits .
The benefits were alleged to involve a consulting fee payment of $ 50,000 from the school 's president to a `` shell '' consulting company owned by Randall Shelton Jr. , who then transferred $ 40,000 to Woods .
There were other attempts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were unsuccessful .
Nine Arkansas legislators directed $ 592,500 toward the school , which was a common practice at the time when legislators were instructed to recommend nonprofits or government entities worthy of receiving leftover money from the general fund .
They did n't even have the authority to transfer the funds ; they merely recommended worthy candidates , and an independent board made up of county judges , mayors and community leaders made the decisions .
Ecclesia is a respected college , whose board members have included WallBuilders founder David Barton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boone .
Shelton 's consulting company was not a `` shell , '' but had just landed a commitment from the Walton Foundation ( Walmart 's charity ) to take part in a fundraiser for the college .
The charity was about to donate a large sum of money when the investigation scared it off .
Shelton 's payment to Woods had nothing to do with the college receiving state funds .
The two had been longtime associates , and it was a loan , which Woods later paid back .
The case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another former legislator , Micah Neal , who was also involved .
Neal was worried about being prosecuted himself .
He cooperated with government agents and secretly recorded Woods for over a year – but tellingly never caught Woods confessing to anything .
Yet he still testified that a conversation had occurred between him and Woods implicating Woods .
The truth is , Woods told the court that there were conversations recorded with him that would actually exonerate him .
His recorded conversations were stored on a laptop belonging to FBI Agent Robert @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The judge discovered that Cessario had failed to turn over 79 recordings .
The judge ordered Cessario to turn the laptop over .
Cessario refused , and instead wiped the laptop , brazenly admitting so to the judge !
He 'd taken it to a professional computer repair shop and paid them to wipe it .
His excuse was that he wanted to remove personal medical records .
This was odd since Cessario was about to file a medical malpractice lawsuit , so his medical issues would become public anyway .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bad faith , but failed to throw the case out .
He also withheld all of this from the jury .
Woods was convicted solely based on the testimony of Neal .
Since Woods refused to cave in and plead guilty in order to get a lighter sentence , prosecutors threw the book at him .
A judge appointed by Barack Obama sentenced him in 2017 to over 18 years in prison .
In contrast , Neal pleaded guilty to merely one count of public corruption and walked away with only home confinement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Criminal Defense Attorneys , no friend of conservatives , was so appalled by the case that they requested to file an amicus curiae brief in his appeal .
They said the government 's behavior by intentionally destroying the computer evidence was so outrageous that the only remedy is to dismiss the case .
Patty Wootton , who worked as a court supervisor for eight years in the area , was hired as a consultant on Woods ' case .
She said , `` this federal judge was not like any judge I had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bias was overwhelmingly obvious . ''
Sadly , Woods was not the only target .
The president of Ecclesia , Oren Paris III , was sentenced to three years in prison .
He pleaded guilty so prosecutors would not withhold $ 1.5 million in PELL grants from Ecclesia .
His famous sister , the singer-songwiter Twila Paris , posted a supportive statement on Facebook .
The consultant Shelton is serving a six-year sentence .
Woods had a stellar reputation in the Arkansas community .
Democrat Conner Eldridge , the U.S. Attorney who originally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for U.S. Senate against Republican Sen. John Boozman .
Sources in the community say that he saw tarnishing Ecclesia was a way to hurt Boozman , since Boozman and a close network of Republicans were associated with the school .
Eldridge ultimately lost the race .
This is a classic example of how the left operates on the dark side .
They target conservatives , especially Christian conservatives , through the criminal justice system because they know the legal system is dominated by the left .
Republican politicians have a bad habit of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right but turn out to be sellouts more concerned about fitting in , as we saw recently with the SCOTUS decision against the Texas lawsuit over the presidential election .
Meanwhile , felons all over the country who have been convicted of murder and rape ( with long rap sheets ) are being released to home confinement due to COVID-19 .
The MSM will not report on the other side of these types of cases .
The Flynn case is a breakthrough .
The pushback is finally starting against this corrupt tactic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ justice here .

As it becomes obvious that President Trump may not be able to overcome the fraud stopping him from winning reelection, he is pardoning and commuting the sentences of conservatives wrongly targeted through the legal system. Last week, he commuted the sentence of conservative former Congressman Steve Stockman, who had served almost three years of a 10-year prison sentence.
Now he needs to pardon Jon Woods, a conservative former Arkansas state legislator. Woods is serving an 18-year sentence for process crimes involving a Christian college. Sound familiar? The left loves to target conservatives involved with Christian activities, and if they can't get them on real crimes, they get them on "process crimes." Woods was found guilty of conspiracy to commit mail fraud, wire fraud and money laundering. That's right, no real crime, just the fact something was mailed, some phone calls were made and some money was spent while what he was accused of was happening. For example, "money laundering" sounds scary, but all it means is he used a cashier's check to pay for something coming out of his own bank account (he was paying back someone for something unrelated) because it was a large check and the recipient required it.
This is just like what happened to former Gen. Michael Flynn, Trump's short-lived national security adviser. He was accused of colluding with Russia, which no one believed and has since been disproven in regards to the Trump administration. So they got him on the process crime of lying about having a conversation with a Russian. He was eventually exonerated when it came out that he hadn't even lied about that.
Prosecutors accused Woods of trying to profit from state money given to nonprofit agencies. They said Woods directed $200,000 in state funds to Ecclesia, a Christian college, and a nonprofit that operates the school, in exchange for cash and other benefits. The benefits were alleged to involve a consulting fee payment of $50,000 from the school's president to a "shell" consulting company owned by Randall Shelton Jr., who then transferred $40,000 to Woods. There were other attempts to transfer state funds to nonprofits, but they were unsuccessful.
Nine Arkansas legislators directed $592,500 toward the school, which was a common practice at the time when legislators were instructed to recommend nonprofits or government entities worthy of receiving leftover money from the general fund. They didn't even have the authority to transfer the funds; they merely recommended worthy candidates, and an independent board made up of county judges, mayors and community leaders made the decisions.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Ecclesia is a respected college, whose board members have included WallBuilders founder David Barton, author Eric Metaxas and singer Pat Boone. Shelton's consulting company was not a "shell," but had just landed a commitment from the Walton Foundation (Walmart's charity) to take part in a fundraiser for the college. The charity was about to donate a large sum of money when the investigation scared it off. Shelton's payment to Woods had nothing to do with the college receiving state funds. The two had been longtime associates, and it was a loan, which Woods later paid back.
The case against Woods relied on the testimony of another former legislator, Micah Neal, who was also involved. Neal was worried about being prosecuted himself. He cooperated with government agents and secretly recorded Woods for over a year – but tellingly never caught Woods confessing to anything. Yet he still testified that a conversation had occurred between him and Woods implicating Woods.
The truth is, Woods told the court that there were conversations recorded with him that would actually exonerate him. His recorded conversations were stored on a laptop belonging to FBI Agent Robert Cessario, who was working with Neal. The judge discovered that Cessario had failed to turn over 79 recordings. The judge ordered Cessario to turn the laptop over. Cessario refused, and instead wiped the laptop, brazenly admitting so to the judge! He'd taken it to a professional computer repair shop and paid them to wipe it. His excuse was that he wanted to remove personal medical records. This was odd since Cessario was about to file a medical malpractice lawsuit, so his medical issues would become public anyway. The judge found that Neal had acted in bad faith, but failed to throw the case out. He also withheld all of this from the jury. Woods was convicted solely based on the testimony of Neal.
Since Woods refused to cave in and plead guilty in order to get a lighter sentence, prosecutors threw the book at him. A judge appointed by Barack Obama sentenced him in 2017 to over 18 years in prison. In contrast, Neal pleaded guilty to merely one count of public corruption and walked away with only home confinement and probation.
The National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, no friend of conservatives, was so appalled by the case that they requested to file an amicus curiae brief in his appeal. They said the government's behavior by intentionally destroying the computer evidence was so outrageous that the only remedy is to dismiss the case.
Patty Wootton, who worked as a court supervisor for eight years in the area, was hired as a consultant on Woods' case. She said, "this federal judge was not like any judge I had ever seen. … The judge's bias was overwhelmingly obvious."
Sadly, Woods was not the only target. The president of Ecclesia, Oren Paris III, was sentenced to three years in prison. He pleaded guilty so prosecutors would not withhold $1.5 million in PELL grants from Ecclesia. His famous sister, the singer-songwiter Twila Paris, posted a supportive statement on Facebook. The consultant Shelton is serving a six-year sentence.
Woods had a stellar reputation in the Arkansas community. Democrat Conner Eldridge, the U.S. Attorney who originally brought the charges, wanted to run for U.S. Senate against Republican Sen. John Boozman. Sources in the community say that he saw tarnishing Ecclesia was a way to hurt Boozman, since Boozman and a close network of Republicans were associated with the school. Eldridge ultimately lost the race.
This is a classic example of how the left operates on the dark side. They target conservatives, especially Christian conservatives, through the criminal justice system because they know the legal system is dominated by the left. Republican politicians have a bad habit of appointing judges who claim to be on the right but turn out to be sellouts more concerned about fitting in, as we saw recently with the SCOTUS decision against the Texas lawsuit over the presidential election.
Meanwhile, felons all over the country who have been convicted of murder and rape (with long rap sheets) are being released to home confinement due to COVID-19. The MSM will not report on the other side of these types of cases. The Flynn case is a breakthrough. The pushback is finally starting against this corrupt tactic. Trump has another opportunity to bring justice here.


wnd--2020-12-30--Joe Biden calls Kamala Harris 'president-elect'

( THE SUN ) -- PRESIDENT-elect Joe Biden slipped up yet again and accidentally referred to vice president-elect Kamala Harris @ @ @ @ @ the United States .
Biden made the remarks early Tuesday morning while delivering a speech @ @ @ @ @ Wilmington , Delaware , before asking the president to recommend Americans take the vaccine once @ @ @ @ @ .
`` I hope the president will clearly and unambiguously urge all Americans to take @ @ @ @ @ s available , '' the real president-elect said .

(THE SUN) -- PRESIDENT-elect Joe Biden slipped up yet again and accidentally referred to vice president-elect Kamala Harris as the future leader of the United States.
Biden made the remarks early Tuesday morning while delivering a speech regarding the Covid-19 crisis in Wilmington, Delaware, before asking the president to recommend Americans take the vaccine once it becomes available to them.
"I hope the president will clearly and unambiguously urge all Americans to take the vaccine once it’s available," the real president-elect said.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-12-30--McConnell blocks $2,000 stimulus checks, then ties them to unrelated Trump demands

( CNBC ) -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday blocked Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ’ s attempt @ @ @ @ @ to increase direct payments in the year-end coronavirus relief package to $ 2,000 .
The @ @ @ @ @ a bill that would boost the size of the checks to $ 2,000 from $ @ @ @ @ @ legal liability protections for internet platforms and create a commission to study election issues .
@ @ @ @ @ of President Donald Trump ’ s recent demands , which are unrelated , but would @ @ @ @ @ become law .
Through the bill , Republicans would both avoid the act of actually @ @ @ @ @ allow GOP senators running for reelection in Georgia ’ s Jan. 5 runoffs to express @ @ @ @ @ priorities .

By Andrew Trunsky
Daily Caller News Foundation
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced legislation authorizing direct cash payments of $2,000 Tuesday, but tied it to a repeal of Section 230 and an investigation into the president’s allegations of voter fraud.
Democrats immediately criticized McConnell’s bill, calling it a “poison pill” and warning that it would fall short of the necessary support needed to pass.
Congressional Democrats and President Trump have both pushed for $2,000 checks, and the president has pressured Senate Republicans to get behind the measure, warning that those who do not have a “death wish.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced legislation authorizing direct cash payments of $2,000 Tuesday, but with a catch to which Democrats will likely object.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The bill combines $2,000 payments with a repeal of Section 230, a provision that grants social media companies liability protections against content users post on their platforms, and the establishment of a commission to study allegations of voter fraud in the 2020 election.
Though Democrats supported President Donald Trump’s push for $2,000 checks, they have opposed his efforts to abolish Section 230 and investigate his allegations of fraud, giving McConnell’s bill little chance of becoming law.
McConnell has so far resisted holding a vote on any legislation regarding increased stimulus checks even as senators from both parties increase the pressure to do so. Vermont Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders said on Tuesday that he would filibuster the Senate’s override of the annual military bill, keeping the chamber in session through the New Year, unless it held a vote on $2,000 checks.
His effort was seconded by Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, who tweeted on Tuesday that “he would not consent to a vote on the bad defense bill… unless the Senate votes on $2k Covid relief for working people.”
But Democrats criticized McConnell’s altered bill, which is all but certain to fail to garner enough support.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said the bill was “a blatant attempt” to sabotage the passage of $2,000 checks, calling it a “cynical gambit” on Tuesday.
Connecticut Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy echoed Schumer, saying that “poison pills” are “just another way of telling the American people that this body doesn’t support $2,000 payments.”
Though legislation authorizing $2,000 checks has the support of Trump and passed the House of Representatives in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote, multiple Senate Republicans have come out against the measure.
Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey said the bill was “not sound economic policy” given its size, and Texas Sen. John Cornyn said that it was a distraction from the amount of relief that Congress already granted.
“This is just opportunistic on the part of the House [Democrats],” Cornyn said. “They’ve got an issue and unfortunately it seems to be drowning out all of the other good stuff we’ve done.”
McConnell’s bill appears to address all of Trump’s most recent demands made when signing the $900 coronavirus relief bill on Sunday. Specifically, he called to “start the process for a vote that increases checks to $2,000, repeals Section 230, and starts an investigation into voter fraud.”
McConnell’s bill does technically start the process, but as of Wednesday he has yet to schedule a vote on his legislation.
Despite the majority leader’s bill, Trump has continued to pressure Republican senators to pass legislation authorizing higher checks, tweeting on Tuesday that those who oppose doing so have a “death wish” and that passing higher checks “is the right thing to do.”
Several GOP senators have come out in support of the legislation, including Georgia Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. The two are running in dual Senate runoffs on Jan. 5 which will determine control of the chamber and whether Democrats can obtain full control of Congress and the White House.
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].