wnd--2020-02-10--Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, 'wokeness' was unleashed

Why do so many members of the Hollywood elite espouse such radical , leftist causes ?
Why are they so pro-abortion , so pro-queer activism ?
Why are they so passionate about saving trees and caring for cows ?
How and why did Hollywood become so `` woke '' ?
After Sunday 's Oscars , the Daily Mail ran this lengthy headline : `` And the award for the most self-righteous Oscars acceptance speech goes to … Joaquin Phoenix lectures about animal rights , Brad Pitt slams impeachment trial and Obama documentary director urges 'workers of the world to unite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Phoenix launched a passionate speech about animal rights , veganism and speciesism , '' while the director of an Obama documentary quoted Karl Marx and the Communist Manifesto ?
The elite , the mega-rich and the powerful called for the uprising of the oppressed working class ?
Other tag lines in the Mail included : • Hair Love creator Matthew Cherry advocated for the Crown Act , a California law that prohibits discrimination based on hair style or texture , in his speech .
• American Factory co-director Julia Reichert – who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Communist Manifesto .
• Janelle Monae opened the show by declaring herself a `` proud , '' `` black queer artist telling stories . ''
• Sigourney Weaver declared : `` All women are superheroes '' when she presented an award .
TRENDING : Pelosi fires off on reporter asking about SOTU tantrum : ' I do n't need any lessons from anybody' Yes , Hollywood has been `` woke '' for many years now , fashioning itself to be the prophetic voice of conscience .
And , the truth be told , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ causes , from animal rights to climate change , and from same-sex `` marriage '' to immigration .
In other words , for many of them ( if not most ; only God knows ) , this is not just a show .
They truly believe they are in the right .
They truly believe conservative religion is damaging people 's lives .
They truly believe we are destroying the planet .
To quote Joaquin Phoenix at length : `` I think whether we 're talking about gender and equality , or racism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights , or animal rights , we 're talking about the fight against injustice .
We 're talking about the fight against the belief that one people , one race , one gender , one species has the right to dominate , control , use and exploit another with impunity . ''
Not only so , but , `` We go into the natural world and plunder it of its resources .
We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow and then steal her baby , even though her cries of anguish are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poor baby cow ( after all , it is a living creature ) , but rip those human clumps of cells out of their mother 's wombs .
This is the hypocrisy of Hollywood .
But this does n't answer two fundamental questions .
First , why is this segment of the population so outspoken about social and political issues ?
Why do they claim to care so much ?
Second , why have they taken up positions on the extreme left with issue after issue ?
Obviously , we can only speak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a monolith .
But perhaps the answer to the first question is simply this : Everyone in Hollywood is involved with producing movies .
Most movies carry a message .
So , the people involved see themselves as messengers .
The editor of a major newspaper once told me that many journalists see themselves as having a prophetic role .
They do not just report the news .
They challenge injustice .
They seek to correct wrongs .
Consequently , some of their writing will reflect a particular bias .
Perhaps , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ play certain roles and screenwriters produce the scripts and directors oversee the process , they feel they are playing a prophetic role in the society .
They are telling stories that need to be told .
They are making social statements .
Consequently , they themselves have something to say .
( For my response to this , see here . )
But how , then , did their message become so slanted ?
Why a quotation from Karl Marx ?
Why the concern about inseminating a cow ?
This , in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up causes from a me-centered perspective .
( I would say `` man-centered , '' but that uses the dreaded `` m '' word .
To say `` human-centered '' does n't seem to cut it either . )
In other words , rather than seeing things from God 's perspective , they see things from an earthly perspective .
So , rather than see the meaning of marriage as God intended it for human flourishing and the well-being of society , they see the `` injustice '' of two women not being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they see animals as equal to humans ( since humans are not uniquely created in the image of God ) .
They even see trees as equal to humans ( and even better than humans , since trees are noble creatures that never hurt anyone ) .
As to how these views became so dominant in Hollywood , this would seem to reflect a process similar to that in our universities .
Specifically , after the counterculture shift of the 1960s , an increasing number of leftist intellectuals and artists and cultural influencers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now hold positions of dominance , effectively silencing and suppressing those who dissent .
Interestingly , though , many `` common people '' – the proletariat , if you will – are not having it .
As the Mail also reported , `` while the well-heeled crowd at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles applauded their speeches , their 'lectures ' nauseated the audience at home .
`` Many viewers took to Twitter to slam the stars as 'hypocrites ' and called the event the 'wokest Oscars ever . '
'' Perhaps a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tastes of many ?
Personally , I can appreciate how gifted many of these actors and writers and cinematographers and directors are .
I can appreciate the sacrifices some of them make for their trade ( in other words , their riches come with a price ) .
I can even appreciate their concern for the environment ( within reason ) and their compassion for animals ( again , within reason ) .
But when wokeness means quoting Marx , celebrating queerness and caring more for baby cows than for baby humans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hollywood , you need a spiritual awakening .
You are not yet truly woke .

Why do so many members of the Hollywood elite espouse such radical, leftist causes? Why are they so pro-abortion, so pro-queer activism? Why are they so passionate about saving trees and caring for cows? How and why did Hollywood become so "woke"?
After Sunday's Oscars, the Daily Mail ran this lengthy headline: "And the award for the most self-righteous Oscars acceptance speech goes to … Joaquin Phoenix lectures about animal rights, Brad Pitt slams impeachment trial and Obama documentary director urges 'workers of the world to unite.'"
What? "Joaquin Phoenix launched a passionate speech about animal rights, veganism and speciesism," while the director of an Obama documentary quoted Karl Marx and the Communist Manifesto? The elite, the mega-rich and the powerful called for the uprising of the oppressed working class?
Other tag lines in the Mail included:
Hair Love creator Matthew Cherry advocated for the Crown Act, a California law that prohibits discrimination based on hair style or texture, in his speech.
American Factory co-director Julia Reichert – who is fighting terminal cancer – quoted from The Communist Manifesto.
Janelle Monae opened the show by declaring herself a "proud," "black queer artist telling stories."
Sigourney Weaver declared: "All women are superheroes" when she presented an award.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Yes, Hollywood has been "woke" for many years now, fashioning itself to be the prophetic voice of conscience. And, the truth be told, many in Hollywood are passionate about their causes, from animal rights to climate change, and from same-sex "marriage" to immigration.
In other words, for many of them (if not most; only God knows), this is not just a show. They truly believe they are in the right. They truly believe conservative religion is damaging people's lives. They truly believe we are destroying the planet.
To quote Joaquin Phoenix at length: "I think whether we're talking about gender and equality, or racism, or queer rights, or indigenous rights, or animal rights, we're talking about the fight against injustice. We're talking about the fight against the belief that one people, one race, one gender, one species has the right to dominate, control, use and exploit another with impunity."
Not only so, but, "We go into the natural world and plunder it of its resources. We feel entitled to artificially inseminate a cow and then steal her baby, even though her cries of anguish are unmistakable."
So, pity the poor baby cow (after all, it is a living creature), but rip those human clumps of cells out of their mother's wombs. This is the hypocrisy of Hollywood.
But this doesn't answer two fundamental questions. First, why is this segment of the population so outspoken about social and political issues? Why do they claim to care so much? Second, why have they taken up positions on the extreme left with issue after issue?
Obviously, we can only speak in general terms, since Hollywood is not a monolith. But perhaps the answer to the first question is simply this: Everyone in Hollywood is involved with producing movies. Most movies carry a message. So, the people involved see themselves as messengers.
The editor of a major newspaper once told me that many journalists see themselves as having a prophetic role. They do not just report the news. They challenge injustice. They seek to correct wrongs. Consequently, some of their writing will reflect a particular bias.
Perhaps, in the same way, as actors play certain roles and screenwriters produce the scripts and directors oversee the process, they feel they are playing a prophetic role in the society. They are telling stories that need to be told. They are making social statements. Consequently, they themselves have something to say. (For my response to this, see here.)
But how, then, did their message become so slanted? Why a quotation from Karl Marx? Why the concern about inseminating a cow?
This, in my view, is the result of taking up causes from a me-centered perspective. (I would say "man-centered," but that uses the dreaded "m" word. To say "human-centered" doesn't seem to cut it either.) In other words, rather than seeing things from God's perspective, they see things from an earthly perspective.
So, rather than see the meaning of marriage as God intended it for human flourishing and the well-being of society, they see the "injustice" of two women not being allowed to marry.
That also means they see animals as equal to humans (since humans are not uniquely created in the image of God). They even see trees as equal to humans (and even better than humans, since trees are noble creatures that never hurt anyone).
As to how these views became so dominant in Hollywood, this would seem to reflect a process similar to that in our universities. Specifically, after the counterculture shift of the 1960s, an increasing number of leftist intellectuals and artists and cultural influencers rose to the top. And they now hold positions of dominance, effectively silencing and suppressing those who dissent.
Interestingly, though, many "common people" – the proletariat, if you will – are not having it. As the Mail also reported, "while the well-heeled crowd at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles applauded their speeches, their 'lectures' nauseated the audience at home.
"Many viewers took to Twitter to slam the stars as 'hypocrites' and called the event the 'wokest Oscars ever.'"
Perhaps a little too "woke" for the tastes of many?
Personally, I can appreciate how gifted many of these actors and writers and cinematographers and directors are.
I can appreciate the sacrifices some of them make for their trade (in other words, their riches come with a price).
I can even appreciate their concern for the environment (within reason) and their compassion for animals (again, within reason).
But when wokeness means quoting Marx, celebrating queerness and caring more for baby cows than for baby humans, then I have a simple message. Hollywood, you need a spiritual awakening. You are not yet truly woke.


wnd--2020-02-10--The 10 essentials on climate change – horror or hoax?

`` There 's one issue that will define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other – the urgent threat of changing climate . ''
– Barack Obama '' The utopian dreams of those who wish to radically reorganize the world to stop climate change are not a plausible global future . ''
– Theodore Nordhaus , co-author , `` An Ecomodernist Manifesto '' '' Climate change/global warming is the planet 's most pressing problem .
… Scientists unanimously agree .
… Extinction of the earth is now 10 to 12 years away .
… We need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this crisis .
… My children are scared at what they heard at school .
… I was jolted by what that actor said about the urgency of this issue .
… Time magazine 's person of the year and the pope and the United Nations are all alarmed .
… `` Is this apocalypse now ?
Terms like `` fracking , '' `` carbon footprint , '' `` fossil fuels '' and `` greenhouse gases '' can be intimidating as they increasingly swirl around us in our society – but what do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real : Do we understand what they 're talking about ?
TRENDING : Pelosi fires off on reporter asking about SOTU tantrum : ' I do n't need any lessons from anybody' I may not be a scholarly scientist , but I have been actively involved with environmental concerns and clean-up since serving as president of the student government at Cleveland State University in 1971 .
President Theodore Roosevelt is one of my environmental heroes , and I had activist Ralph Nader address our student body to raise awareness .
Recently , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flooding in Venice was a result of global warming .
I told her multitudes share similar questions and concerns .
Innocuous inquiries like this are healthy , but what about when the overseers of the Doomsday Clock alerted us recently that time is running out for the planet and now we have `` 100 seconds 'till the apocalypse '' ; or 80-year-old retired California Gov .
Jerry Brown 's calling for `` a quasi-religious transformation that has not yet occurred but MUST ( emphasis mine ) occur '' ?
Will you allow me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so you , your family , your friends and your church can understand what for many is a confusing topic ?
It 's really not as complicated as many believe , but we need to approach this with a biblically informed worldview and be fact-based , avoiding hysteria and fanaticism .
1 .
`` In the beginning God … '' ( Genesis 1:1 ) These are the opening words of the most read book in all of human history , which goes on to reveal that God created and controls the heavens and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , seedtime and harvest , cold and heat , summer and winter , and day and night will not cease '' ( Genesis 8:22 ) .
2 .
God gave us a responsibility to be good stewards of creation to `` replenish the earth and subdue it '' ( Genesis 1:28 ) .
Our duty is not to be wasteful or polluters but careful with water , heat , lighting , food and energy .
Littering ( contrast the grounds after certain leftist-leaning protests with peaceful rallies such as the March for Life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sewage ) in water is wrong !
I grew up a mile from Cleveland 's once-sickening Lake Erie but engaged with others for the incredible turnaround we see today .
3 .
We should be resourceful and innovative in looking for ways to save energy and keep a clean environment that honors God and His creation .
Electric cars solar panels , reasonable emission standards – they all have merit , and every person should take responsibility to curb man-made environmental problems .
Few are fooled by hypocritical high-profile actors and politicians scolding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and lavish yachts .
4 .
Scientists present their theories and findings on both sides of this issue , and there is no irrefutable , settled conclusion .
I encourage every openminded seeker of truth to watch : 1 ) The informative video by respected investigative reporter John Stossel , on climate-change myths ; and 2 ) The highly acclaimed film `` Climate Hustle '' ( now on Amazon Prime ) , which premiered in Paris and was directed by my 45-year friend Christopher Rogers .
Prepare for a `` woke '' moment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warming and cooling trends have been cyclical throughout history .
Not long ago there was concern for an approaching Ice Age .
Today , with recent warming trends on the planet , now the focus is on fires .
Are we acknowledging there have always been devastating natural disasters on our planet and dire doomsday predictions of apocalyptic catastrophes ?
6 .
Wisdom dictates objectively analyzing predictions made by so-called `` experts '' to steer clear of junk science and unsubstantiated claims by unqualified individuals making a fortune from climate change .
Environmental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of dollars from his film `` An Inconvenient Truth , '' speeches and involvement with boards and initiatives tied to the global warming cause .
Ten years after my fellow Tennessean 's predictions , I examined the accuracy of his 10 prognostications on his way to the bank .
7 .
`` If pollution on our planet contributes to warming trends , should n't we stop it ? ''
Reality check : The two main polluters in the world , Communist China and India , with 7.7 billion people and 37 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not cooperating in any meaningful way .
On a personal level , we all need to do our part .
If I flip some trash into a receptacle and miss my `` slam dunk , '' I turn around , pick up the trash and deposit it in the can !
8 .
The root problem in America is irresponsibly and irrationally politicizing this issue instead of approaching it wisely , affirmatively and cooperatively .
Angry , far-left global warming fear-mongers , dismissed as `` environmental-wackos , '' demand two things immediately : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fracking rock to release petroleum , a prescription that demonizes industries employing tens of millions of hardworking Americans when we are finally energy independent from Middle East oil ; and 2 ) Take the money from those involved with supplying our gasoline and redistribute the wealth to the poor and lower-income minorities under socialistic government control .
Totally realign the economy ?
Stop all drilling for oil ?
Redistribute the wealth under socialism ?
9 .
Is it realistic to support the astronomical costs and unrealistic ideas of a Green New Deal as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
The so-called `` climate crisis '' may require bold proposals , but they need to be rooted in reality not impossibility !
10 .
If a person does not find forgiveness and fulfillment in a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ and the adventure of advancing the gospel of His kingdom , he or she is susceptible to other `` causes '' to fill the void , such as total taxpayer-funded abortions up until the moment of birth or the supposed and imminent climate change crisis .
Time magazine 's Person of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named Greta Thunberg .
Her father told the BBC that her `` activism helped his daughter out of depression .
…Activism had changed the outlook of the teenager , who suffered from depression for three or four years before she began her school strike protest outside the Swedish parliament .
She was now 'very happy ' he said .
… She had previously stopped talking .
… She stopped going to school , he said of her illness . ''
Greta , like so many young people seeking meaning and a cause in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ climate-crisis activism as an opportunity to literally save the world !
She 's actually been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize .
In her own words , listen how global warming/climate change captivates her life : `` The climate crisis is not just about the environment .
It is a crisis of human rights , of justice and of political will .
Colonial , racist and patriarchal systems of oppression have created and fueled it .
We need to dismantle them all ! ''
Blaise Pascal was a precocious French mathematician , physicist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He told us , `` There is a God-shaped vacuum within the heart of every human being that can not be filled by any human thing but only by God Himself in the Person of Jesus Christ . ''
Here 's the deal : Henry David Thoreau famously stated , `` The mass of humanity live lives of quiet desperation . ''
Beyond considering the contents of this commentary , if you have not yet done so , will you accept the challenge to give your life fully to Jesus and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ones surrounding us in our generation ?

"There's one issue that will define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other – the urgent threat of changing climate." – Barack Obama
"The utopian dreams of those who wish to radically reorganize the world to stop climate change are not a plausible global future." – Theodore Nordhaus, co-author, "An Ecomodernist Manifesto"
"Climate change/global warming is the planet's most pressing problem. … Scientists unanimously agree. … Extinction of the earth is now 10 to 12 years away. … We need to consider not having children in light of this crisis. … My children are scared at what they heard at school. … I was jolted by what that actor said about the urgency of this issue. … Time magazine's person of the year and the pope and the United Nations are all alarmed. … "
Is this apocalypse now?
Terms like "fracking," "carbon footprint," "fossil fuels" and "greenhouse gases" can be intimidating as they increasingly swirl around us in our society – but what do they mean? And let's be real: Do we understand what they're talking about?
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
I may not be a scholarly scientist, but I have been actively involved with environmental concerns and clean-up since serving as president of the student government at Cleveland State University in 1971. President Theodore Roosevelt is one of my environmental heroes, and I had activist Ralph Nader address our student body to raise awareness.
Recently, a young Christian woman hesitantly wondered if current flooding in Venice was a result of global warming. I told her multitudes share similar questions and concerns.
Innocuous inquiries like this are healthy, but what about when the overseers of the Doomsday Clock alerted us recently that time is running out for the planet and now we have "100 seconds 'till the apocalypse"; or 80-year-old retired California Gov. Jerry Brown's calling for "a quasi-religious transformation that has not yet occurred but MUST (emphasis mine) occur"?
Will you allow me 10 minutes to present you 10 points so you, your family, your friends and your church can understand what for many is a confusing topic? It's really not as complicated as many believe, but we need to approach this with a biblically informed worldview and be fact-based, avoiding hysteria and fanaticism.
1. "In the beginning God …" (Genesis 1:1) These are the opening words of the most read book in all of human history, which goes on to reveal that God created and controls the heavens and weather. "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night will not cease" (Genesis 8:22).
2. God gave us a responsibility to be good stewards of creation to "replenish the earth and subdue it" (Genesis 1:28). Our duty is not to be wasteful or polluters but careful with water, heat, lighting, food and energy. Littering (contrast the grounds after certain leftist-leaning protests with peaceful rallies such as the March for Life) and dumping waste (plastic and sewage) in water is wrong! I grew up a mile from Cleveland's once-sickening Lake Erie but engaged with others for the incredible turnaround we see today.
3. We should be resourceful and innovative in looking for ways to save energy and keep a clean environment that honors God and His creation. Electric cars solar panels, reasonable emission standards – they all have merit, and every person should take responsibility to curb man-made environmental problems. Few are fooled by hypocritical high-profile actors and politicians scolding us and then boarding their private jets and lavish yachts.
4. Scientists present their theories and findings on both sides of this issue, and there is no irrefutable, settled conclusion. I encourage every openminded seeker of truth to watch: 1) The informative video by respected investigative reporter John Stossel, on climate-change myths; and 2) The highly acclaimed film "Climate Hustle" (now on Amazon Prime), which premiered in Paris and was directed by my 45-year friend Christopher Rogers. Prepare for a "woke" moment!
5. Recognize the reality that warming and cooling trends have been cyclical throughout history. Not long ago there was concern for an approaching Ice Age. Today, with recent warming trends on the planet, now the focus is on fires. Are we acknowledging there have always been devastating natural disasters on our planet and dire doomsday predictions of apocalyptic catastrophes?
6. Wisdom dictates objectively analyzing predictions made by so-called "experts" to steer clear of junk science and unsubstantiated claims by unqualified individuals making a fortune from climate change. Environmental crusader Al Gore has made hundreds of millions of dollars from his film "An Inconvenient Truth," speeches and involvement with boards and initiatives tied to the global warming cause.
Ten years after my fellow Tennessean's predictions, I examined the accuracy of his 10 prognostications on his way to the bank.
7. "If pollution on our planet contributes to warming trends, shouldn't we stop it?" Reality check: The two main polluters in the world, Communist China and India, with 7.7 billion people and 37% of the world's population, are not cooperating in any meaningful way. On a personal level, we all need to do our part. If I flip some trash into a receptacle and miss my "slam dunk," I turn around, pick up the trash and deposit it in the can!
8. The root problem in America is irresponsibly and irrationally politicizing this issue instead of approaching it wisely, affirmatively and cooperatively. Angry, far-left global warming fear-mongers, dismissed as "environmental-wackos," demand two things immediately:
1) Eliminate coal, gasoline and fracking rock to release petroleum, a prescription that demonizes industries employing tens of millions of hardworking Americans when we are finally energy independent from Middle East oil; and
2) Take the money from those involved with supplying our gasoline and redistribute the wealth to the poor and lower-income minorities under socialistic government control.
Totally realign the economy? Stop all drilling for oil? Redistribute the wealth under socialism?
9. Is it realistic to support the astronomical costs and unrealistic ideas of a Green New Deal as the antidote to the apocalyptic scenario presented? The so-called "climate crisis" may require bold proposals, but they need to be rooted in reality not impossibility!
10. If a person does not find forgiveness and fulfillment in a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ and the adventure of advancing the gospel of His kingdom, he or she is susceptible to other "causes" to fill the void, such as total taxpayer-funded abortions up until the moment of birth or the supposed and imminent climate change crisis.
Time magazine's Person of the Year in 2019 was a teenage girl named Greta Thunberg. Her father told the BBC that her "activism helped his daughter out of depression. …Activism had changed the outlook of the teenager, who suffered from depression for three or four years before she began her school strike protest outside the Swedish parliament. She was now 'very happy' he said. … She had previously stopped talking. … She stopped going to school, he said of her illness."
Greta, like so many young people seeking meaning and a cause in which to invest their lives, embraced climate-crisis activism as an opportunity to literally save the world! She's actually been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
In her own words, listen how global warming/climate change captivates her life: "The climate crisis is not just about the environment. It is a crisis of human rights, of justice and of political will. Colonial, racist and patriarchal systems of oppression have created and fueled it. We need to dismantle them all!"
Blaise Pascal was a precocious French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Christian theologian. He told us, "There is a God-shaped vacuum within the heart of every human being that cannot be filled by any human thing but only by God Himself in the Person of Jesus Christ."
Here's the deal: Henry David Thoreau famously stated, "The mass of humanity live lives of quiet desperation." Beyond considering the contents of this commentary, if you have not yet done so, will you accept the challenge to give your life fully to Jesus and then engage in reaching the depressed and desperate ones surrounding us in our generation?


wnd--2020-02-10--Long before Trump, we were a divided people

In a way , Donald Trump might be called The Great Uniter .
Bear with me .
No Republican president in the lifetime of this writer , not even Ronald Reagan , united the party as did Trump in the week of his acquittal in the Senate and State of the Union address .
According to the Gallup Poll , 94 % of Republicans approve of his handling of his presidency , in his fourth year , despite the worst press any president has ever received and the sustained hostility of our cultural elites .
Only Bush I in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Bush II in the first months of the 2003 Iraq War registered support like this .
Only one Republican , Sen. Mitt Romney , and only after having consulted God himself , joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi and voted with Sen. Chuck Schumer 's caucus to bring down the president .
TRENDING : Pelosi fires off on reporter asking about SOTU tantrum : ' I do n't need any lessons from anybody' When have Republicans ever exhibited the home-team enthusiasm they demonstrated during that State of the Union address and the post-acquittal gathering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working- and middle-class voters shown such support for a Republican as they do for Trump at his mammoth rallies ?
Heading for November , this is a party united .
But not only is Trump the great uniter of the GOP .
He is the great uniter of Democrats .
Every Democrat but three in the House voted to impeach and remove him .
Every Democrat in the Senate voted to convict and expel him from office and prevent his ever running again .
In Iowa and New Hampshire , evicting Trump from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that animated every candidate .
Getting Trump out of the White House seems far more important to Democrats than getting U.S. troops out of the endless Middle East wars .
But while he has made more than a small contribution to our savage partisanship , is Trump really the cause of the uncivil war in America ?
Or is his presidency , like Gettysburg , simply the battlefield upon which America 's cultural and political war is currently engaged ?
Consider .
Bernie Sanders ' nationalization of health care and abolition of private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grounded in a socialism that has never been reconcilable with Trump 's belief in the superiority of the private sector , a belief reflected in Trump 's tax cuts for corporations and individuals and his deregulation policies .
Democrats ' unanimous support for `` reproductive rights '' is in eternal conflict with the traditionalist belief in a God-given right to life , as well as with Trump 's pledge to nominate justices who will overturn Roe v. Wade .
Still , the battles over the Supreme Court nominations of Robert Bork and Clarence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brett Kavanaugh .
Immigration may determine the destiny of the West .
Yet , Democrats believe in tearing down Trump 's wall , an end to deportations , extending welfare benefits to border-crossers and granting sanctuary from border security agents for criminals here illegally .
That Americans of European descent , 90 % of the nation in 1960 , close to 60 % today , will , in 20 years , be less than half of the population , is for Democrats a cause of ceaseless celebration .
America , they contend , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place than we have ever known when a far smaller share of the population is white .
The greater the racial , credal , cultural and ethnic diversity , the better the country .
Yet , Americans of European descent , headed for minority status , provide 85-90 % of all Republican votes in presidential elections .
What Democrats are cheering portends the demographic death of the GOP .
Republicans are a more nationalist and populist party than they were in the Bush presidencies .
But the Democratic Party has become a politically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to explain stands he took when he was a moderate Democratic senator from Delaware .
His opposition to the forced busing of children from neighborhood schools into inner-city schools was attacked as racist .
He had to apologize for his friendship with Southern senators like Jim Eastland and his role in the Clarence Thomas hearings .
He has been made to confess for voting to authorize the 2003 war on Iraq .
Biden is far to the left of where he used to be as a senator .
Apparently , he has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is castigating his own party 's candidates for talking about `` reparations or any kind of goofy left-wing thing out there . ''
`` It 's like we 're losing our damn minds , '' said Carville .
Is Trump responsible for what Carville himself sees as an irrationality and irresponsibility taking on epidemic proportions inside the Democratic Party ?
Or has Trump 's success maddened Democrats into manifesting who they are and what they believe , and what may yet prevent them from being taken seriously as a party that can lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before Trump got here , and we will remain so long after he departs .

In a way, Donald Trump might be called The Great Uniter.
Bear with me. No Republican president in the lifetime of this writer, not even Ronald Reagan, united the party as did Trump in the week of his acquittal in the Senate and State of the Union address.
According to the Gallup Poll, 94% of Republicans approve of his handling of his presidency, in his fourth year, despite the worst press any president has ever received and the sustained hostility of our cultural elites.
Only Bush I in the first months of the 1991 Gulf War and Bush II in the first months of the 2003 Iraq War registered support like this.
Only one Republican, Sen. Mitt Romney, and only after having consulted God himself, joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi and voted with Sen. Chuck Schumer's caucus to bring down the president.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
When have Republicans ever exhibited the home-team enthusiasm they demonstrated during that State of the Union address and the post-acquittal gathering in the East Room? When have working- and middle-class voters shown such support for a Republican as they do for Trump at his mammoth rallies? Heading for November, this is a party united.
But not only is Trump the great uniter of the GOP. He is the great uniter of Democrats. Every Democrat but three in the House voted to impeach and remove him. Every Democrat in the Senate voted to convict and expel him from office and prevent his ever running again.
In Iowa and New Hampshire, evicting Trump from the Oval Office seemed the one issue that animated every candidate. Getting Trump out of the White House seems far more important to Democrats than getting U.S. troops out of the endless Middle East wars.
But while he has made more than a small contribution to our savage partisanship, is Trump really the cause of the uncivil war in America? Or is his presidency, like Gettysburg, simply the battlefield upon which America's cultural and political war is currently engaged?
Consider. Bernie Sanders' nationalization of health care and abolition of private health insurance for 150 million Americans is grounded in a socialism that has never been reconcilable with Trump's belief in the superiority of the private sector, a belief reflected in Trump's tax cuts for corporations and individuals and his deregulation policies.
Democrats' unanimous support for "reproductive rights" is in eternal conflict with the traditionalist belief in a God-given right to life, as well as with Trump's pledge to nominate justices who will overturn Roe v. Wade.
Still, the battles over the Supreme Court nominations of Robert Bork and Clarence Thomas predated by decades the battle over Brett Kavanaugh.
Immigration may determine the destiny of the West.
Yet, Democrats believe in tearing down Trump's wall, an end to deportations, extending welfare benefits to border-crossers and granting sanctuary from border security agents for criminals here illegally.
That Americans of European descent, 90% of the nation in 1960, close to 60% today, will, in 20 years, be less than half of the population, is for Democrats a cause of ceaseless celebration.
America, they contend, will be a far, far better place than we have ever known when a far smaller share of the population is white. The greater the racial, credal, cultural and ethnic diversity, the better the country.
Yet, Americans of European descent, headed for minority status, provide 85-90% of all Republican votes in presidential elections. What Democrats are cheering portends the demographic death of the GOP.
Republicans are a more nationalist and populist party than they were in the Bush presidencies. But the Democratic Party has become a politically correct institution where Joe Biden is forced to explain stands he took when he was a moderate Democratic senator from Delaware.
His opposition to the forced busing of children from neighborhood schools into inner-city schools was attacked as racist. He had to apologize for his friendship with Southern senators like Jim Eastland and his role in the Clarence Thomas hearings. He has been made to confess for voting to authorize the 2003 war on Iraq.
Biden is far to the left of where he used to be as a senator. Apparently, he has not moved far enough.
Even James Carville is castigating his own party's candidates for talking about "reparations or any kind of goofy left-wing thing out there."
"It's like we're losing our damn minds," said Carville.
Is Trump responsible for what Carville himself sees as an irrationality and irresponsibility taking on epidemic proportions inside the Democratic Party?
Or has Trump's success maddened Democrats into manifesting who they are and what they believe, and what may yet prevent them from being taken seriously as a party that can lead the nation?
We were divided long before Trump got here, and we will remain so long after he departs.


wnd--2020-02-10--Bernie and the football

Bernie and the football

Pelosi fires off on reporter asking about SOTU tantrum : ' I do n't need any lessons from anybody '

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wnd--2020-02-10--Emasculating West Point warriors

Emasculating West Point warriors

( FRONTPAGE ) -- If you are a good , committed cultural Marxist and your mission is to help dismantle the cultural , economic , and power structures in the capitalist West from within , how do you undertake such a grand task ?
How do you subvert an entire civilization ?
You undermine its foundations , and the most basic building block of all is the nuclear family .
To deconstruct the family successfully , you must subvert masculinity , because masculinity is the warrior spirit of that nuclear family .
To emasculate a civilization , you indoctrinate its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ typically associated with masculinity – such as aggression , competitiveness , and emotional self-control – are poisonous to society and even to boys and men themselves .
You convince men – especially society ’ s warriors – to reject their very nature altogether .
This January , cadets at West Point , the United States Military Academy , were required to attend educational events for “ Honorable Living Day , ” the academy ’ s third such day hosted during the short tenure of Superintendent Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams .
The first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eliminating sexual assault and harassment at the academy , which has been co-ed since 1976 .
The second , held last semester , called upon cadets , staff and faculty to improve the culture in order to combat sexual assault further .

(FRONTPAGE) -- If you are a good, committed cultural Marxist and your mission is to help dismantle the cultural, economic, and power structures in the capitalist West from within, how do you undertake such a grand task? How do you subvert an entire civilization? You undermine its foundations, and the most basic building block of all is the nuclear family. To deconstruct the family successfully, you must subvert masculinity, because masculinity is the warrior spirit of that nuclear family. To emasculate a civilization, you indoctrinate its youth to believe that the natural traits typically associated with masculinity – such as aggression, competitiveness, and emotional self-control – are poisonous to society and even to boys and men themselves. You convince men – especially society’s warriors – to reject their very nature altogether.
This January, cadets at West Point, the United States Military Academy, were required to attend educational events for “Honorable Living Day,” the academy’s third such day hosted during the short tenure of Superintendent Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams. The first was held last February and focused on eliminating sexual assault and harassment at the academy, which has been co-ed since 1976. The second, held last semester, called upon cadets, staff and faculty to improve the culture in order to combat sexual assault further.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-02-10--Brain food: Walnuts may slow cognitive decline

( STUDY FINDS ) -- LOMA LINDA , Calif. — The divided shape and folds of a walnut , looking @ @ @ @ @ brain , are visual cues to its properties as one of the healthiest brain foods @ @ @ @ @ that walnuts may even slow down cognitive decline in at-risk older adults .
Researchers at @ @ @ @ @ is the broadest and best-controlled study undertaken to date on the cognitive benefits of nut @ @ @ @ @ followed the results of nut consumption in 640 independent elderly people in two locations : @ @ @ @ @ Barcelona , Catalonia , Spain .
Over the course of the two-year study , the @ @ @ @ @ abstain from walnuts while the test group consumed walnuts daily .

(STUDY FINDS) -- LOMA LINDA, Calif. — The divided shape and folds of a walnut, looking something like a miniature human brain, are visual cues to its properties as one of the healthiest brain foods. New research has shown that walnuts may even slow down cognitive decline in at-risk older adults.
Researchers at Loma Linda University say this is the broadest and best-controlled study undertaken to date on the cognitive benefits of nut consumption.
The study team followed the results of nut consumption in 640 independent elderly people in two locations: Loma Linda, California and Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Over the course of the two-year study, the control group was asked to abstain from walnuts while the test group consumed walnuts daily.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-02-10--'No. 1 target of Obama's Deep State' Michael Flynn has sentencing put off 'indefinitely'

The government 's sentencing of Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn on his guilty plea to a Robert Mueller-orchestrated charge in 2017 of lying to investigators about conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in 2016 has been indefinitely postponed .
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan on Monday canceled a sentencing hearing that was planned for Feb. 27 `` until further order of the court . ''
In the process of withdrawing his guilty plea , Flynn has accused federal prosecutors of `` egregious government misconduct . ''
Already , prosecutors have been waffling on whether they want probation or jail for him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporter asking about SOTU tantrum : ' I do n't need any lessons from anybody' The government has asked for an extension of time to consider Flynn 's motion to withdraw his plea , but Flynn 's lawyer , Sidney Powell , said the Department of Justice should agree to the withdrawal .
`` Accordingly we oppose any further extension of the briefing schedule , '' she said .
The Gateway Pundit said the `` Obama Deep State '' has spied on Flynn since 2015 because he turned against President Obama and spoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rise of ISIS in Iraq .
`` So the Obama , Comey , McCabe , Strzok , Page , Brennan , Clapper Deep State set him up and ambushed him during the Trump transition by leaking his calls to then-Russian Ambassador Kislyak to the Washington Post ’ s David Ignatius . ''
Flynn 's counsel has accused the government of `` bad faith , vindictiveness and breach of the plea deal . ''
`` The prosecution has shown abject bad faith in pure retaliation against Mr. Flynn since he retained new counsel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` This can only be because with new , unconflicted counsel , Mr. Flynn refused to lie for the prosecution .
`` Justice is not a game , and there should be no room for such gamesmanship in the Department of Justice , '' they wrote .
Flynn hired Powell in 2019 , a former federal prosecutor , who filed a motion for dismissal in October .
The motion alleged the Justice Department manipulated Flynn 's FBI interview transcript , known as a 302 , to charge him with lying and was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former FBI lawyer Lisa Page edited Flynn 's 302 report then lied to the Justice Department about the edits .
Powell contended the case should be thrown out `` for outrageous government misconduct . ''
In November , a federal judge granted Flynn 's request to delay his criminal sentencing until after the release of the Justice Department inspector general 's report on alleged government surveillance abuses against the Trump campaign in 2016 .
But on Dec. 18 , D.C. federal court Judge Emmet Sullivan rejected Flynn 's claim that he was pressured @ @ @ @

The government's sentencing of Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn on his guilty plea to a Robert Mueller-orchestrated charge in 2017 of lying to investigators about conversations with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak in 2016 has been indefinitely postponed.
U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan on Monday canceled a sentencing hearing that was planned for Feb. 27 "until further order of the court."
In the process of withdrawing his guilty plea, Flynn has accused federal prosecutors of "egregious government misconduct."
Already, prosecutors have been waffling on whether they want probation or jail for him.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The government has asked for an extension of time to consider Flynn's motion to withdraw his plea, but Flynn's lawyer, Sidney Powell, said the Department of Justice should agree to the withdrawal.
"Accordingly we oppose any further extension of the briefing schedule," she said.
Politico reported the move indefinitely postponed the scheduled hearing.
The Gateway Pundit said the "Obama Deep State" has spied on Flynn since 2015 because he turned against President Obama and spoke honestly about his failed strategy that caused the rise of ISIS in Iraq.
"So the Obama, Comey, McCabe, Strzok, Page, Brennan, Clapper Deep State set him up and ambushed him during the Trump transition by leaking his calls to then-Russian Ambassador Kislyak to the Washington Post’s David Ignatius."
Flynn's counsel has accused the government of "bad faith, vindictiveness and breach of the plea deal."
"The prosecution has shown abject bad faith in pure retaliation against Mr. Flynn since he retained new counsel," Flynn's attorneys wrote earlier. "This can only be because with new, unconflicted counsel, Mr. Flynn refused to lie for the prosecution.
"Justice is not a game, and there should be no room for such gamesmanship in the Department of Justice," they wrote.
Flynn hired Powell in 2019, a former federal prosecutor, who filed a motion for dismissal in October. The motion alleged the Justice Department manipulated Flynn's FBI interview transcript, known as a 302, to charge him with lying and was withholding exculpatory evidence.
Powell presented evidence former FBI lawyer Lisa Page edited Flynn's 302 report then lied to the Justice Department about the edits.
Powell contended the case should be thrown out "for outrageous government misconduct."
In November, a federal judge granted Flynn's request to delay his criminal sentencing until after the release of the Justice Department inspector general's report on alleged government surveillance abuses against the Trump campaign in 2016.
But on Dec. 18, D.C. federal court Judge Emmet Sullivan rejected Flynn's claim that he was pressured to plead guilty.


wnd--2020-02-11--Why private speech doesn't tell us about a person's character

Very few things I have said have elicited as much negative attention as this : What people say in private tells little , if anything , about their character .
Left-wing critics have had a field day mocking me ( mockery is the left 's substitute for argument ) , but even some religious conservatives have taken issue with me ( without the mockery ) – do n't I know that it is precisely how we act in private that most clearly reveals our character ?
This issue , of course , originally arose as a result of what then-reality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to then- '' Access Hollywood '' host Billy Bush in 2005 .
I thought then , as I do now , that people greatly overstated the importance of the remarks – because they were made in private .
In order to understand why private remarks usually mean nothing , we need to make two critical distinctions : between private and public , and between speech and actions .
Here are the four categories : The last three are very important and , therefore , reveal a person 's character .
But what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Why ?
Because it does n't necessarily affect anyone ( except potentially the person hearing us ) .
This is so obvious that it is depressing that it needs to be spelled out .
It shows how small a role reason , especially moral reasoning , plays in many people 's lives .
We live at a time when what people feel > substitutes for thought and reason .
In the infamous `` Access Hollywood '' case , most people feel repulsed by what Trump said , and for most of them , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So , then , allow me to spell this out .
Does what you say to your therapist , which is obviously in private , reveal your character ?
No one believes so .
If a faithful married man were to tell his psychiatrist that he often fantasizes about having sex with women other than his wife – and for that matter , wishes he could grab women by their genitalia – would that reveal what type of person he is ?
If a woman , after years of taking care of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Alzheimer 's , were to tell her therapist or a close friend that sometimes she wishes her mother would die , would that tell us anything about the woman 's character ?
Ironically , the answer is yes – but in a completely different way than most people think .
If people say something ignoble in private but do n't act on what they say , that shows good character , not bad .
To cite another example , then-President Richard Nixon was taped making private comments about his dislike of many Jews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who hated Nixon used those tapes to label Nixon an anti-Semite .
But it was Richard Nixon as president who Israeli leaders credited with saving Israel during the Jewish state 's 1973 war ( the Yom Kippur War ) with Egypt .
Two years ago , Haaretz , Israel 's leading left-wing newspaper , wrote : `` Nixon stands out among presidents for taking the boldest risk for Israel : a much-needed arms airlift during the 1973 Yom Kippur War .
… Preoccupied by Watergate and mired in Vietnam , and against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risked a new war with the Soviets to save Israel .
Nixon 'made it possible for Israel to win , at some risk to his own reputation and at great risk to the American economy , ' historian Stephen Ambrose said . ''
A similar situation existed regarding former President Harry Truman .
According to biographers David McCullough and Merle Miller , in private , Truman often used the word `` kike '' when talking about Jews ( for example , he referred to New York City as `` kike town '' in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That is the Jewish equivalent of the N-word , a word he also often used in private .
Yet it was Truman in 1948 who , against the pleas of the entire State Department , was the first world leader to recognize the new state of Israel , and who , as president , racially integrated the U.S. armed services .
Maybe Truman and Nixon did n't like Jews .
As a Jew , I do n't give damn what you think about Jews .
I only care about how you treat Jews @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to heaven because I do not accept Christ .
But evangelicals are not only among my closest friends ; they are , by far , the Jews ' best friends today .
That 's what matters to me .
I do n't judge people by their theology any more than I judge people by their private statements .
Fools judge people by their theology and their private statements .
One more question for those who believe private speech tells us all we need to know about a person 's character : Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know ?
And if not , why not ?

Very few things I have said have elicited as much negative attention as this: What people say in private tells little, if anything, about their character. Left-wing critics have had a field day mocking me (mockery is the left's substitute for argument), but even some religious conservatives have taken issue with me (without the mockery) – don't I know that it is precisely how we act in private that most clearly reveals our character?
This issue, of course, originally arose as a result of what then-reality TV host Donald Trump said in private to then-"Access Hollywood" host Billy Bush in 2005. I thought then, as I do now, that people greatly overstated the importance of the remarks – because they were made in private.
In order to understand why private remarks usually mean nothing, we need to make two critical distinctions: between private and public, and between speech and actions.
Here are the four categories:
1. Private speech.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
2. Private actions.
3. Public speech.
4. Public actions.
The last three are very important and, therefore, reveal a person's character. But what we say in private is not important. Why? Because it doesn't necessarily affect anyone (except potentially the person hearing us).
This is so obvious that it is depressing that it needs to be spelled out. It shows how small a role reason, especially moral reasoning, plays in many people's lives. We live at a time when what people feel> substitutes for thought and reason. In the infamous "Access Hollywood" case, most people feel repulsed by what Trump said, and for most of them, that suffices to determine Trump's character.
So, then, allow me to spell this out.
Does what you say to your therapist, which is obviously in private, reveal your character? No one believes so. If a faithful married man were to tell his psychiatrist that he often fantasizes about having sex with women other than his wife – and for that matter, wishes he could grab women by their genitalia – would that reveal what type of person he is? If a woman, after years of taking care of her elderly mother, who suffers from Alzheimer's, were to tell her therapist or a close friend that sometimes she wishes her mother would die, would that tell us anything about the woman's character?
Ironically, the answer is yes – but in a completely different way than most people think. If people say something ignoble in private but don't act on what they say, that shows good character, not bad.
To cite another example, then-President Richard Nixon was taped making private comments about his dislike of many Jews. When this was revealed, people who hated Nixon used those tapes to label Nixon an anti-Semite. But it was Richard Nixon as president who Israeli leaders credited with saving Israel during the Jewish state's 1973 war (the Yom Kippur War) with Egypt. Two years ago, Haaretz, Israel's leading left-wing newspaper, wrote: "Nixon stands out among presidents for taking the boldest risk for Israel: a much-needed arms airlift during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. … Preoccupied by Watergate and mired in Vietnam, and against the advice of his Jewish adviser, Nixon risked a new war with the Soviets to save Israel. Nixon 'made it possible for Israel to win, at some risk to his own reputation and at great risk to the American economy,' historian Stephen Ambrose said."
A similar situation existed regarding former President Harry Truman. According to biographers David McCullough and Merle Miller, in private, Truman often used the word "kike" when talking about Jews (for example, he referred to New York City as "kike town" in a letter to his wife). That is the Jewish equivalent of the N-word, a word he also often used in private. Yet it was Truman in 1948 who, against the pleas of the entire State Department, was the first world leader to recognize the new state of Israel, and who, as president, racially integrated the U.S. armed services.
Actions (and public speech) matter, not private speech.
Maybe Truman and Nixon didn't like Jews. As a Jew, I don't give damn what you think about Jews. I only care about how you treat Jews. Most evangelicals believe I cannot go to heaven because I do not accept Christ. But evangelicals are not only among my closest friends; they are, by far, the Jews' best friends today. That's what matters to me. I don't judge people by their theology any more than I judge people by their private statements. Fools judge people by their theology and their private statements.
One more question for those who believe private speech tells us all we need to know about a person's character: Do thoughts tell us all we need to know? And if not, why not?


wnd--2020-02-11--Don't sit! Study says educators must stand against prolonged sitting

( STUDY FINDS ) -- LOS ANGELES — Modern offices and workspaces are coming around to the idea that employees @ @ @ @ @ while standing up .
While the average work or school day usually consists of sitting @ @ @ @ @ the time , more and more health research is finding that sitting for that long @ @ @ @ @ certainly isn ’ t doing our bodies any favors .
So , while the business @ @ @ @ @ , what about the educational sector ?
Angelia Leung , a dance professor at UCLA @ @ @ @ @ some ways university students can take a stand against prolonged sitting .
Leung ’ s @ @ @ @ @ of conclusions regarding how students can spend more time upright , such as taking hourly @ @ @ @ @ stretch during particularly long classes or more open classroom setups that allow students to walk @ @ @ @ @ study ’ s most notable finding was that educational culture and classroom etiquette expectations are @ @ @ @ @ in order for any of these solutions to catch on .

(STUDY FINDS) -- LOS ANGELES — Modern offices and workspaces are coming around to the idea that employees should be allowed to work while standing up. While the average work or school day usually consists of sitting down about 80% of the time, more and more health research is finding that sitting for that long day in and day out certainly isn’t doing our bodies any favors. So, while the business world is slowly taking note, what about the educational sector? Angelia Leung, a dance professor at UCLA, set out to uncover some ways university students can take a stand against prolonged sitting.
Leung’s study came to a number of conclusions regarding how students can spend more time upright, such as taking hourly breaks to stand up and stretch during particularly long classes or more open classroom setups that allow students to walk freely. However, the study’s most notable finding was that educational culture and classroom etiquette expectations are going to have to evolve in order for any of these solutions to catch on.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-02-11--Impeachment's big fail: No proof of Trump 2020 motive

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by RealClearInvestigations . ]
After a November impeachment hearing , Democratic Rep. Peter Welch of Vermont formed a press gaggle in the Capitol to discuss President Trump 's asking Ukraine about the Bidens ' dealings there .
A curious reporter asked : `` Have any of the witnesses been able to talk about what Trump 's actual motivations were ? ''
The normally eloquent Vermonter sputtered and stammered as he tried to formulate an answer .
`` Well , they — they — they — they do n't .
... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... Who knows what — I mean , the president 's motivation is sort of transparent — he wants to win the next election , '' Welch said .
`` He thought Biden would be a factor and he wants to take him out . ''
In other words , the 17 witnesses deposed by Democrats did not confirm such a corrupt personal motive .
Some offered opinions , but their opinions were no more conclusive than those of Welch or other Democrats — including the `` whistleblower '' who lit the impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` hero '' — reportedly he 's CIA analyst Eric Ciaramella , who formally advised Vice President Joe Biden .
But they have him to blame for their failed effort to marshal a bipartisan impeachment , to say nothing of convicting the president and removing him from office .
After all , they built their case largely on the whistleblower 's opinion — which he gathered from the opinion of a colleague in the White House — that Trump `` sought to pressure the Ukrainian leader to take actions to help the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He stated this as fact in the Aug. 12 complaint he filed under whistleblower protections .
But it was based on a conversation he had with his White House source , Lt. Col Alexander Vindman , who did n't know Trump 's intentions any more than the whistleblower did .
`` In the [ White House ] official 's view , '' the whistleblower wrote in a July 26 memo , `` the president had clearly committed a criminal act by urging a foreign power to investigate a U.S. person for the purposes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 . ''
Convinced or not , it was still just his `` view . ''
A presumption without proof .
But the whistleblower adopted it as gospel in his complaint .
And Democrats , in turn , adopted this same presumption as the foundation for their indictment against the president .
It is incorporated in their first article of impeachment , which alleges the president `` solicited the interference of Ukraine in the 2020 election '' in a way that would `` influence the election to his advantage . ''
Thus the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whistleblower presumed to be true about Trump , which he gathered from what his friend presumed to be true about Trump .
It was n't even second-hand information .
It was second-hand opinion .
So the first and most important article — `` abuse of power '' — was merely Democrats ' speculation built upon Ciaramella 's speculation built upon Vindman 's speculation .
This is where the case for impeachment broke down .
Not just in the Senate .
Or the House .
But from its origins in the so-called whistleblower 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the whistleblower made in assuming Trump had corrupt personal motives , the record of the July 25 call between Trump and Ukraine 's president shows the two leaders never talked about 2020 .
The transcript contains no reference to Trump 's reelection bid .
Nowhere does Trump even hint that his motive for the request was the presidential race .
And a parade of diplomats , White House officials and other witnesses offered no firsthand information to substantiate the notion that 2020 was on Trump 's mind .
More than 100 hours of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of subpoenas for documents produced no evidence to corroborate the whistleblower 's core allegation .
And the more than 30 hours of public hearings that followed were no more dispositive .
Motive was a major hole in the case from its genesis at the whistleblower 's desk at Langley .
In prosecuting crimes , showing motive is often essential to winning convictions .
In the impeachment of Trump , Democratic prosecutors failed not only to charge a crime , but they could not even prove that the president had a corrupt intent for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's leader for help investigating the Bidens .
They got no further than the whistleblower 's original conjecture .
To be sure , they never missed an opportunity to claim he did it to damage his political rival and `` cheat '' his way to victory in the 2020 election .
And while that might sound plausible to some , it was not provable .
They offered no documentary or testimonial evidence to actually substantiate that , despite U.S. lawmakers ' pleas for proof throughout the impeachment inquiry and trial .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , R-Texas , asked two witnesses : `` Did you overhear any conversations about how potential information collected by Ukraine on the Bidens would be used for political gain ? ''
Former National Security Council official Tim Morrison : `` No , sir . ''
Former U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker : `` No , I did not . ''
The next day , Hurd , a vocal Trump critic , posed the same question to then-U.S .
Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland , and got the same answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
No . ''
On the contrary , some of these same witnesses called by Democrats testified that Trump solicited Ukraine for legitimate purposes , such as cracking down on corruption — though prosecutors buried those parts of their testimony , inconvenient as they were to their case , and the major Washington media overlooked them .
Witnesses noted that it was plausible Trump suspended U.S. aid to Ukraine because he did n't want taxpayer money ending up in the hands of crooked oligarchs , such as the founder of the gas conglomerate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dollars for sitting on its board .
`` Whether Ukrainians within the company of Burisma had acted in a corrupt way or sought to buy influence , that 's a legitimate thing for Ukraine to investigate , '' Volker testified .
Asked specifically about investigating Biden , he replied , `` I do n't think anyone should be above the law . ''
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent testified that while serving in Kiev in February 2015 , he raised concerns directly to former Vice President Biden 's office that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ create the perception of a conflict of interest . ''
Even witnesses openly hostile to Trump conceded that the president may have had solid grounds for asking Ukraine to cooperate in probing the potential conflict .
Former NSC official Fiona Hill testified it was `` not actually completely ridiculous '' for Kiev to investigate the allegations of Burisma-Biden corruption .
Vindman , the whistleblower 's White House source ( whom the acquitted President removed from his NSC post last week ) , admitted he did n't know for sure what Trump 's motive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into '' the Biden 's dealings — and he listened in on the entire call .
`` I guess I — I do n't know what was in the president 's mind and if that was the intent , '' Vindman testified .
Ironically , Democrats complain Trump was acquitted only because the Senate trial was `` rigged '' to exclude their witnesses .
But Trump 's defense team surely would have used these witnesses ' prior statements to further weaken the Democrats ' case , which , borrowing from the whistleblower 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ukraine for `` his personal political gain '' in an effort to `` corrupt '' the 2020 election .
House managers ' impeachment case bombed in the Senate because they never even came close to proving the corrupt personal motive originally alleged by the still-protected whistleblower who sparked this whole firestorm .
In the end , the majority of the Senate simply did n't buy it .
Even the lone Republican defector — Mitt Romney — could cite no evidence that Trump acted with the corrupt intent required for proving Article I 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting to convict and remove the president from office on that single count , the Utah senator could only infer that the president was motivated by corrupt personal interests when he asked Ukraine 's leader to `` look into '' reports Biden forced Kiev to fire a prosecutor investigating his son .
`` The president 's insistence that they be investigated by the Ukrainians is hard to explain other than as a political pursuit , '' Romney speculated in a floor speech explaining his vote .
After listening to Democratic prosecutors make their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still left to guess about the president 's intent .
Absent direct evidence , he simply imputed sinister motives .
Fifty-two other senators , in contrast , found Trump not guilty .
This story originally was published by RealClearInvestigations .

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by RealClearInvestigations.]
By Paul Sperry
RealClearInvestigations
After a November impeachment hearing, Democratic Rep. Peter Welch of Vermont formed a press gaggle in the Capitol to discuss President Trump's asking Ukraine about the Bidens' dealings there.
A curious reporter asked: "Have any of the witnesses been able to talk about what Trump's actual motivations were?" The normally eloquent Vermonter sputtered and stammered as he tried to formulate an answer.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"Well, they — they — they — they don't. ... I don't think the witnesses. ... Who knows what — I mean, the president's motivation is sort of transparent — he wants to win the next election," Welch said. "He thought Biden would be a factor and he wants to take him out."
In other words, the 17 witnesses deposed by Democrats did not confirm such a corrupt personal motive. Some offered opinions, but their opinions were no more conclusive than those of Welch or other Democrats — including the "whistleblower" who lit the impeachment fuse.
Democrats lionize the whistleblower as a "hero" — reportedly he's CIA analyst Eric Ciaramella, who formally advised Vice President Joe Biden. But they have him to blame for their failed effort to marshal a bipartisan impeachment, to say nothing of convicting the president and removing him from office.
After all, they built their case largely on the whistleblower's opinion — which he gathered from the opinion of a colleague in the White House — that Trump "sought to pressure the Ukrainian leader to take actions to help the president's 2020 reelection bid." He stated this as fact in the Aug. 12 complaint he filed under whistleblower protections.
But it was based on a conversation he had with his White House source, Lt. Col Alexander Vindman, who didn't know Trump's intentions any more than the whistleblower did.
"In the [White House] official's view," the whistleblower wrote in a July 26 memo, "the president had clearly committed a criminal act by urging a foreign power to investigate a U.S. person for the purposes of advancing his own reelection bid in 2020."
Convinced or not, it was still just his "view." A presumption without proof. But the whistleblower adopted it as gospel in his complaint. And Democrats, in turn, adopted this same presumption as the foundation for their indictment against the president. It is incorporated in their first article of impeachment, which alleges the president "solicited the interference of Ukraine in the 2020 election" in a way that would "influence the election to his advantage."
Thus the impeachment was built on what an anonymous whistleblower presumed to be true about Trump, which he gathered from what his friend presumed to be true about Trump. It wasn't even second-hand information. It was second-hand opinion. So the first and most important article — "abuse of power" — was merely Democrats' speculation built upon Ciaramella's speculation built upon Vindman's speculation.
This is where the case for impeachment broke down. Not just in the Senate. Or the House. But from its origins in the so-called whistleblower's complaint.
Never talked about 2020
In spite of the leap the whistleblower made in assuming Trump had corrupt personal motives, the record of the July 25 call between Trump and Ukraine's president shows the two leaders never talked about 2020.
The transcript contains no reference to Trump's reelection bid. Nowhere does Trump even hint that his motive for the request was the presidential race. And a parade of diplomats, White House officials and other witnesses offered no firsthand information to substantiate the notion that 2020 was on Trump's mind.
More than 100 hours of deposition testimony from 17 witnesses and dozens of subpoenas for documents produced no evidence to corroborate the whistleblower's core allegation. And the more than 30 hours of public hearings that followed were no more dispositive.
Motive was a major hole in the case from its genesis at the whistleblower's desk at Langley.
In prosecuting crimes, showing motive is often essential to winning convictions. In the impeachment of Trump, Democratic prosecutors failed not only to charge a crime, but they could not even prove that the president had a corrupt intent for allegedly abusing his power in asking Ukraine's leader for help investigating the Bidens. They got no further than the whistleblower's original conjecture.
To be sure, they never missed an opportunity to claim he did it to damage his political rival and "cheat" his way to victory in the 2020 election. And while that might sound plausible to some, it was not provable. They offered no documentary or testimonial evidence to actually substantiate that, despite U.S. lawmakers' pleas for proof throughout the impeachment inquiry and trial.
In a Nov. 19 hearing, Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, asked two witnesses: "Did you overhear any conversations about how potential information collected by Ukraine on the Bidens would be used for political gain?"
Former National Security Council official Tim Morrison: "No, sir."
Former U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Kurt Volker: "No, I did not."
The next day, Hurd, a vocal Trump critic, posed the same question to then-U.S. Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland, and got the same answer: "Did I personally hear that? No."
Guessing about motive
On the contrary, some of these same witnesses called by Democrats testified that Trump solicited Ukraine for legitimate purposes, such as cracking down on corruption — though prosecutors buried those parts of their testimony, inconvenient as they were to their case, and the major Washington media overlooked them.
Witnesses noted that it was plausible Trump suspended U.S. aid to Ukraine because he didn't want taxpayer money ending up in the hands of crooked oligarchs, such as the founder of the gas conglomerate that paid Biden's son Hunter millions of dollars for sitting on its board.
"Whether Ukrainians within the company of Burisma had acted in a corrupt way or sought to buy influence, that's a legitimate thing for Ukraine to investigate," Volker testified.
Asked specifically about investigating Biden, he replied, "I don't think anyone should be above the law."
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent testified that while serving in Kiev in February 2015, he raised concerns directly to former Vice President Biden's office that his son's Burisma role "could create the perception of a conflict of interest."
Even witnesses openly hostile to Trump conceded that the president may have had solid grounds for asking Ukraine to cooperate in probing the potential conflict. Former NSC official Fiona Hill testified it was "not actually completely ridiculous" for Kiev to investigate the allegations of Burisma-Biden corruption.
Vindman, the whistleblower's White House source (whom the acquitted President removed from his NSC post last week), admitted he didn't know for sure what Trump's motive was for asking Ukraine to "look into" the Biden's dealings — and he listened in on the entire call.
"I guess I — I don't know what was in the president's mind and if that was the intent," Vindman testified.
Democrats' witnesses weaken case
Ironically, Democrats complain Trump was acquitted only because the Senate trial was "rigged" to exclude their witnesses. But Trump's defense team surely would have used these witnesses' prior statements to further weaken the Democrats' case, which, borrowing from the whistleblower's unsupported claim, posited that Trump pressured Ukraine for "his personal political gain" in an effort to "corrupt" the 2020 election.
House managers' impeachment case bombed in the Senate because they never even came close to proving the corrupt personal motive originally alleged by the still-protected whistleblower who sparked this whole firestorm.
In the end, the majority of the Senate simply didn't buy it. Even the lone Republican defector — Mitt Romney — could cite no evidence that Trump acted with the corrupt intent required for proving Article I's "abuse of power."
In voting to convict and remove the president from office on that single count, the Utah senator could only infer that the president was motivated by corrupt personal interests when he asked Ukraine's leader to "look into" reports Biden forced Kiev to fire a prosecutor investigating his son.
"The president's insistence that they be investigated by the Ukrainians is hard to explain other than as a political pursuit," Romney speculated in a floor speech explaining his vote.
After listening to Democratic prosecutors make their case for two weeks, Romney was still left to guess about the president's intent. Absent direct evidence, he simply imputed sinister motives. Fifty-two other senators, in contrast, found Trump not guilty.
This story originally was published by RealClearInvestigations.


wnd--2020-02-11--Not just Bidens! Kerry, Romney, Clintons, Pelosi, Soros are ALL tied to Ukraine

It 's not only former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter who have been accused of have nefarious connections to Ukraine .
Former Secretary of State John Kerry , Sen. Mitt Romney , R-Utah , Bill and Hillary Clinton , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and left-wing billionaire activist George Soros also have been named in investigative reporting , points out the Gateway Pundit 's Joe Hoft .
Hunter Biden is known for receiving more than $ 3 million from the corrupt Ukrainian firm Burisma , beginning two months after his father became Obama 's point man for Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boasting that he pressured Ukraine , with the threat of withholding aid , to fire the country 's general prosecutor while he was investigating Burisma .
On Sunday , Sen. Lindsey Graham , R-S.C. , who is pressing for investigation of the Bidens , scolded `` Face the Nation '' host Margaret Brennan , saying establishment media is `` so in the tank '' on the Biden scandal .
Regarding Kerry , Hoft pointed out that in early 2014 , the former Massachusetts senator visited Ukraine and offered $ 1 billion in aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the time , the Russian-backed president fled to Moscow and Russia invaded Ukraine .
Also in early 2014 , Kerry 's top campaign fundraiser , Devon Archer , visited Biden in the White House .
Biden then visited the campaign , and Archer , along with Hunter Biden , were named to the board of Burisma Holdings , Ukraine 's largest natural gas producer .
Hoft noted the Russian advance into Ukraine was suddenly stopped by a mercenary army assembled by billionaire banker Igor Kolomoisky , who some to believe to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hired Kerry 's former chief of staff , David Leiter , as a lobbyist , noted Hoft .
Kolomoisky had been placed on the U.S. visa ban list , but the ban was soon removed .
The month before Biden 's last trip to Ukraine , all investigations of Burisma were closed .
On Biden 's last day in office , Burisma and the Democratic Party-connected Atlantic Council signed cooperation agreements .
Hoft pointed out that a video has surfaced of Kerry bragging that he , Obama and Biden wanted the Ukrainian prosecutor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be fired .
Meanwhile , the Huffington Post reported that shortly after President Trump was inaugurated , a former top CIA official reported to be a top Romney aide joined the board of Burisma .
Joseph Cofer Black was hired to lead the company ’ s security and strategic development efforts , the report said .
Then there 's the Clintons , who received millions from Ukrainians over the years in donations to their family foundation .
From 2009 to 2013 , the Clinton Foundation received at least $ 8.6 million from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ headquartered in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev , the Wall Street Journal reported .
In 2008 , Pinchuk pledged a five-year , $ 29 million commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative for a program to train future Ukrainian leaders `` to modernize Ukraine . ''
Nancy Pelosi 's son Paul Pelosi Jr. , who went to Ukraine in 2017 , was a board member of Viscoil and executive at its related company NRGLab , which did energy business in Ukraine .
Shortly after his mother became the first woman speaker , he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year as its vice president for Strategic Planning , a no-show job for which he was not qualified .
The firm is also connected to the Clintons .
Last October , the Gateway Pundit reported Obama 's State and Justice Departments were assisting Soros in an attempt to control Ukraine .
Rudy Giuliani , the former mayor of New York and President Trump 's attorney , said in a recent interview the corruption in the Ukraine does n't stop with the Bidens , naming Soros as well .
The Epoch Times reported Soros @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York and California paid $ 50 million to sustain the investigation of Trump by former British spy Christopher Steele , the research firm Fusion GPS and a former staffer for Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California .
The revelation , the Epoch Times said , is part of the final report on Russian interference in the 2016 election released April 27 by the House Intelligence Committee .
The report concluded there was no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia .
Former Feinstein staffer Daniel Jones , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI in March 2017 that he was working on a project with Fusion GPS that `` was being funded by 7 to 10 wealthy donors located primarily in New York and California , who provided approximately $ 50 million . ''
Further , investigative reporter John Solomon , then writing for the Hill , reported Soros `` made some big bets during the last U.S. presidential election . ''
One was that Hillary Clinton would win the presidency .
Another was that he could reshape Ukraine ’ s government to his liking and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the former Soviet republic When Trump 's campaign gained momentum in the spring of 2016 , Soros sought help from the State Department to protect some of his investments , according to department memos obtained by Citizens United .
Then-Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland received repeated calls , emails and meeting requests from Soros , according to the memos .
For example , when Ukraine 's general prosecutor in 2016 sought to investigate a non-profit partially funded by Soros , the State Department pressured Ukrainian officials to drop the case .

It's not only former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter who have been accused of have nefarious connections to Ukraine.
Former Secretary of State John Kerry, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, Bill and Hillary Clinton, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and left-wing billionaire activist George Soros also have been named in investigative reporting, points out the Gateway Pundit's Joe Hoft.
Hunter Biden is known for receiving more than $3 million from the corrupt Ukrainian firm Burisma, beginning two months after his father became Obama's point man for Ukraine policy. Joe Biden is on record boasting that he pressured Ukraine, with the threat of withholding aid, to fire the country's general prosecutor while he was investigating Burisma.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
On Sunday, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who is pressing for investigation of the Bidens, scolded "Face the Nation" host Margaret Brennan, saying establishment media is "so in the tank" on the Biden scandal.
John Kerry
Regarding Kerry, Hoft pointed out that in early 2014, the former Massachusetts senator visited Ukraine and offered $1 billion in aid shortly after protesters took over the government. At the time, the Russian-backed president fled to Moscow and Russia invaded Ukraine.
Also in early 2014, Kerry's top campaign fundraiser, Devon Archer, visited Biden in the White House. Biden then visited the campaign, and Archer, along with Hunter Biden, were named to the board of Burisma Holdings, Ukraine's largest natural gas producer.
Hoft noted the Russian advance into Ukraine was suddenly stopped by a mercenary army assembled by billionaire banker Igor Kolomoisky, who some to believe to be the owner of Burisma.
Burisma hired Kerry's former chief of staff, David Leiter, as a lobbyist, noted Hoft.
Kolomoisky had been placed on the U.S. visa ban list, but the ban was soon removed.
The month before Biden's last trip to Ukraine, all investigations of Burisma were closed. On Biden's last day in office, Burisma and the Democratic Party-connected Atlantic Council signed cooperation agreements.
Hoft pointed out that a video has surfaced of Kerry bragging that he, Obama and Biden wanted the Ukrainian prosecutor looking into Burisma, Viktor Shokin, to be fired.
Mitt Romney
Meanwhile, the Huffington Post reported that shortly after President Trump was inaugurated, a former top CIA official reported to be a top Romney aide joined the board of Burisma.
Joseph Cofer Black was hired to lead the company’s security and strategic development efforts, the report said.
Clintons
Then there's the Clintons, who received millions from Ukrainians over the years in donations to their family foundation.
From 2009 to 2013, the Clinton Foundation received at least $8.6 million from the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, which is headquartered in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, the Wall Street Journal reported.
In 2008, Pinchuk pledged a five-year, $29 million commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative for a program to train future Ukrainian leaders "to modernize Ukraine."
Nancy Pelosi
Nancy Pelosi's son Paul Pelosi Jr., who went to Ukraine in 2017, was a board member of Viscoil and executive at its related company NRGLab, which did energy business in Ukraine.
Shortly after his mother became the first woman speaker, he was hired by InfoUSA for $180,000 a year as its vice president for Strategic Planning, a no-show job for which he was not qualified. The firm is also connected to the Clintons.
BOOM: Nancy Pelosi's son Paul Pelosi Jr. (who went to Ukraine in 2017) was a board member of Viscoil and executive at its related company NRGLab, which DID ENERGY Business in UKRAINE! And Nancy Pelosi appeared in a promotional video for the company!https://t.co/wlndLhPqLe — Patrick Howley (@HowleyReporter) October 3, 2019
George Soros
Last October, the Gateway Pundit reported Obama's State and Justice Departments were assisting Soros in an attempt to control Ukraine.
Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York and President Trump's attorney, said in a recent interview the corruption in the Ukraine doesn't stop with the Bidens, naming Soros as well.
See Giuliani in a Fox News interview:
The Epoch Times reported Soros and a group of wealthy donors from New York and California paid $50 million to sustain the investigation of Trump by former British spy Christopher Steele, the research firm Fusion GPS and a former staffer for Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California.
The revelation, the Epoch Times said, is part of the final report on Russian interference in the 2016 election released April 27 by the House Intelligence Committee. The report concluded there was no evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Former Feinstein staffer Daniel Jones, according to a footnote in the report, told the FBI in March 2017 that he was working on a project with Fusion GPS that "was being funded by 7 to 10 wealthy donors located primarily in New York and California, who provided approximately $50 million."
Further, investigative reporter John Solomon, then writing for the Hill, reported Soros "made some big bets during the last U.S. presidential election."
One was that Hillary Clinton would win the presidency. Another was that he could reshape Ukraine’s government to his liking and that his business empire might prosper in the former Soviet republic
When Trump's campaign gained momentum in the spring of 2016, Soros sought help from the State Department to protect some of his investments, according to department memos obtained by Citizens United.
Then-Assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland received repeated calls, emails and meeting requests from Soros, according to the memos.
For example, when Ukraine's general prosecutor in 2016 sought to investigate a non-profit partially funded by Soros, the State Department pressured Ukrainian officials to drop the case.


wnd--2020-02-11--Man allegedly exploits loophole to stay in USA, now linked to horrific string of elderly deaths

Authorities reportedly believe an illegal immigrant and alleged serial killer charged last year with capital murder in connection with the smothering of 12 elderly Texans may have killed as many as 22 victims .
According to Breitbart , Billy Chemirmir , a Kenyan immigrant in his 40s , was initially suspected of murdering 81-year-old Dallas resident Lu Thi Harris .
Further investigation , however , saw the Kenyan immigrant charged with killing 11 other women ages 76 to 94 -- all while serving as a home health-care assistant and aide .
And now , the revelation of recent lawsuits and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Kenyan immigrant may be under the gun for almost two dozen murders , seven of which transpired at Preston Place Retirement Community during the alleged killer 's initial spree , The Dallas Morning News reported .
Posing as a maintenance worker , Chemirmir is said to have entered and cased the homes of elderly residents within the apartment complex for small valuables , eventually returning to murder the owners of the possessions and steal their belongings for resale .
Preston Place staff was reportedly first made aware of Chemirmir 's suspicious behavior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who phoned higher management to inform them that an unfamiliar maintenance man had arrived to check on a leak she had never reported and knew nothing of .
The individuals notified apparently did nothing to address Nelson 's concerns .
She would be found dead in her living space just two days later .
It was not until Nelson 's neighbor , an anonymous 91-year-old woman , was resuscitated the next day , following an apparent murder and burglary attempted by Chemirmir , that information regarding the suspicious figure would be provided to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Judging from The Dallas Morning News ' reporting of recent events regarding the case , the alleged victims ' family members are rightly laying a substantial amount of blame at the feet of Preston Place 's management for negligently failing to meet the security needs of community residents .
According to initial reporting from Breitbart , however , relaxed attention paid to federal immigration law is just as much to blame for this slew of financially motivated murders as poor security management at Preston Place and other Dallas-Fort Worth retirement communities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a B-2 tourist visa , which he promptly overstayed , Chemirmir was eligible for deportation numerous times before his alleged killing spree and had been convicted of driving under the influence , trespassing , assault and obstructing a police officer , according to law enforcement .
Instead , however , Chemirmir was allowed to stay in the U.S. , exploiting a legal loophole to engage in what was reportedly a sham marriage with an American citizen in exchange for green card status .
The Kenyan immigrant still maintains that he is innocent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mounting evidence .
He is currently being held in the Dallas County Jail on $ 11.6-million bail and faces the death penalty should he be convicted when the first case , that of Lu Thi Harris , goes to trial in April 2021 .
And as the families of Chemirmir 's alleged victims wait for what any reasonable person would say is far too long for justice to be served , I would echo their grievances with Preston Place Retirement Community to our political representatives .
You have `` let us down .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If the state 's case against Chemirmir is true , it is not only a case against a single serial murder , but against Washington 's political establishment -- an establishment that seems to have decided that not only will stronger immigration laws not be pursued , but nothing will be done to ensure that those laws already on the books are enforced .
How hard would it be to establish a system by which visa-holders are monitored to ensure they do not overstay their welcome ?
And I 'm not talking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A grace period is more than reasonable -- so long as it is n't long enough to allow for four criminal convictions and the finalization of someone 's honeymoon plans .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

Authorities reportedly believe an illegal immigrant and alleged serial killer charged last year with capital murder in connection with the smothering of 12 elderly Texans may have killed as many as 22 victims.
According to Breitbart, Billy Chemirmir, a Kenyan immigrant in his 40s, was initially suspected of murdering 81-year-old Dallas resident Lu Thi Harris.
Further investigation, however, saw the Kenyan immigrant charged with killing 11 other women ages 76 to 94 -- all while serving as a home health-care assistant and aide.
And now, the revelation of recent lawsuits and amended coroners' reports seem to indicate the Kenyan immigrant may be under the gun for almost two dozen murders, seven of which transpired at Preston Place Retirement Community during the alleged killer's initial spree, The Dallas Morning News reported.
Billy Chemirmir, illegal alien, charged with killing at least 12 elderly women https://t.co/lIkGJjAgIB via @washtimes — FAIR (@FAIRImmigration) May 17, 2019
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Posing as a maintenance worker, Chemirmir is said to have entered and cased the homes of elderly residents within the apartment complex for small valuables, eventually returning to murder the owners of the possessions and steal their belongings for resale.
Preston Place staff was reportedly first made aware of Chemirmir's suspicious behavior in March 2018 by Miriam Nelson, who phoned higher management to inform them that an unfamiliar maintenance man had arrived to check on a leak she had never reported and knew nothing of.
The individuals notified apparently did nothing to address Nelson's concerns.
She would be found dead in her living space just two days later.
It was not until Nelson's neighbor, an anonymous 91-year-old woman, was resuscitated the next day, following an apparent murder and burglary attempted by Chemirmir, that information regarding the suspicious figure would be provided to investigators and an arrest would be made.
Judging from The Dallas Morning News' reporting of recent events regarding the case, the alleged victims' family members are rightly laying a substantial amount of blame at the feet of Preston Place's management for negligently failing to meet the security needs of community residents.
According to initial reporting from Breitbart, however, relaxed attention paid to federal immigration law is just as much to blame for this slew of financially motivated murders as poor security management at Preston Place and other Dallas-Fort Worth retirement communities.
April 2021 trial date set for Billy Chemirmir, accused of smothering elderly in Dallas, Collin counties https://t.co/GgG87ZbEjr — Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) February 8, 2020
Residing in the U.S. in July 2003 on a B-2 tourist visa, which he promptly overstayed, Chemirmir was eligible for deportation numerous times before his alleged killing spree and had been convicted of driving under the influence, trespassing, assault and obstructing a police officer, according to law enforcement.
Instead, however, Chemirmir was allowed to stay in the U.S., exploiting a legal loophole to engage in what was reportedly a sham marriage with an American citizen in exchange for green card status.
The Kenyan immigrant still maintains that he is innocent of the killings, however, despite mounting evidence.
He is currently being held in the Dallas County Jail on $11.6-million bail and faces the death penalty should he be convicted when the first case, that of Lu Thi Harris, goes to trial in April 2021.
And as the families of Chemirmir's alleged victims wait for what any reasonable person would say is far too long for justice to be served, I would echo their grievances with Preston Place Retirement Community to our political representatives.
You have "let us down."
You have let these families down.
If the state's case against Chemirmir is true, it is not only a case against a single serial murder, but against Washington's political establishment -- an establishment that seems to have decided that not only will stronger immigration laws not be pursued, but nothing will be done to ensure that those laws already on the books are enforced.
How hard would it be to establish a system by which visa-holders are monitored to ensure they do not overstay their welcome?
And I'm not talking about by a day or two. A grace period is more than reasonable -- so long as it isn't long enough to allow for four criminal convictions and the finalization of someone's honeymoon plans.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.