wnd--2020-08-18--Everything the left touches it ruins … now add science

More than two years ago , I wrote a column titled `` Whatever the Left Touches It Ruins . ''
I listed eight examples : – The universities .
– The arts : music , art and architecture .
– Sports .
– Mainstream Judaism , Protestantism and Catholicism .
– Race relations .
– Women 's happiness .
– Children 's innocence .
– And , perhaps most disturbingly , America 's commitment to free speech .
One should now add the sciences .
The COVID-19 pandemic has hastened the left 's ruining of science .
This had already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` objectivity , '' the most essential value in science – the very thing that makes science possible .
The left declares objectivity , which it now puts in quotation marks , a characteristic of white supremacy .
One example is that science departments in universities throughout America have declared their intention to hire physicists , biologists and other scientists based on gender and race , not scientific expertise .
A few years ago , all five candidates on the shortlist of applicants to the physics department of the University of California at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one male candidate with a specialty in extragalactic physics , '' reported Heather Mac Donald , `` to wonder why the school had even solicited applications from Asian and white men . ''
Mac Donald updated her findings in a piece published this week : `` The dean of the Jacobs School of Engineering at the University of California , San Diego , pronounced himself 'absolutely dedicated ' to turning the engineering school into an 'anti-racist organization . '
'' A recent example was the declaration by more than 1,000 doctors and other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previous warnings against public gatherings as health risks : `` As public health advocates , we do not condemn these gatherings ( mass protests against racism ) as risky for COVID-19 transmission .
We support them as vital to the national public health . ''
Yet another example of leftism overwhelming medical science is the medical profession 's denial of the benefits of hydroxychloroquine and zinc in the early days of a COVID-19 infection .
That physicians , including the Food and Drug Administration , would label a drug dangerous that has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ century , and by many thousands ( such as those with rheumatoid arthritis or lupus ) every day for decades , is a medical and moral scandal .
The medical profession has placed politics not only ahead of science but also ahead of saving lives .
The medical profession , the FDA and the CDC have lost the faith of half of the American people and , over time , will lose the faith of the majority of Americans .
It is difficult to envision the medical profession regaining its credibility in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most prestigious medical and scientific journals , The Lancet in the U.K. , withdrew an article it had published that dismissed the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in treating COVID-19 patients .
The article contained made-up data .
As The New York Times reported , Dr. Richard Horton , the editor in chief of The Lancet , called the paper retracted by his journal a `` fabrication '' and `` a monumental fraud . ''
The journal published the fraudulent study about the alleged dangers of hydroxychloroquine because of pressure from pharmaceutical companies , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use of hydroxychloroquine , a cheap , generic drug , and because the journal loathes President Donald Trump , who , when the first reports of successful treatment with hydroxychloroquine surfaced , had announced use of the drug could save lives .
Horton had labeled Trump 's withdrawal of U.S. funding of the World Health Organization `` a crime against humanity '' after the WHO 's politicization of the coronavirus , including behaving as a puppet of the Chinese Communist Party when it condemned Trump 's Jan. 31 ban on travel from China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the medical boards , the pharmaceutical boards , the FDA and the CDC for not allowing doctors to prescribe hydroxychloroquine in the early days following a patient 's diagnosis with COVID-19 and outside of a hospital setting , and the number killed by the doctors who could but would not prescribe hydroxychloroquine , is likely in the tens of thousands .
On my radio show , Yale University epidemiologist Dr. Harvey Risch said , `` Because we were blocked from using it ( hydroxychloroquine ) in the United States to the present point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ died . ''
Based on the retracted study in The Lancet , The Washington Post headlined `` Hydroxychloroquine Drug Promoted by Trump as Coronavirus 'Game-Changer ' Increasingly Linked to Deaths . ''
And social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter immediately remove any citation of a scientist who promotes hydroxychloroquine .
A fourth example is the American Psychological Association , or the APA , choosing leftism over psychology in declaring , `` 40 years of research ( show that ) traditional masculinity is psychologically harmful and that socializing boys to suppress their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and outwardly . ''
The one good thing to come out of the APA 's pathologizing masculinity is that people searching for a competent psychotherapist for themselves or their child now have an easy method by which to identify the incompetent : Simply ask the prospective therapist if he or she agrees with the APA statement .
If they do , or if they merely hesitate to distance themselves from it , you know you want another therapist .
Forthcoming columns will deal with more areas of life ruined by the left , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America itself .
As seen in their treatment of the statues of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson , the left can tear down , but it can not build .

More than two years ago, I wrote a column titled "Whatever the Left Touches It Ruins." I listed eight examples:
– The universities.
– The arts: music, art and architecture.
– Sports.
– Mainstream Judaism, Protestantism and Catholicism.
– Race relations.
– Women's happiness.
– Children's innocence.
– And, perhaps most disturbingly, America's commitment to free speech.
One should now add the sciences.
The COVID-19 pandemic has hastened the left's ruining of science. This had already begun with the left's attacks on "objectivity," the most essential value in science – the very thing that makes science possible. The left declares objectivity, which it now puts in quotation marks, a characteristic of white supremacy.
One example is that science departments in universities throughout America have declared their intention to hire physicists, biologists and other scientists based on gender and race, not scientific expertise. A few years ago, all five candidates on the shortlist of applicants to the physics department of the University of California at San Diego were females, "leading one male candidate with a specialty in extragalactic physics," reported Heather Mac Donald, "to wonder why the school had even solicited applications from Asian and white men."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Mac Donald updated her findings in a piece published this week: "The dean of the Jacobs School of Engineering at the University of California, San Diego, pronounced himself 'absolutely dedicated' to turning the engineering school into an 'anti-racist organization.'"
A recent example was the declaration by more than 1,000 doctors and other health care providers that despite all their previous warnings against public gatherings as health risks: "As public health advocates, we do not condemn these gatherings (mass protests against racism) as risky for COVID-19 transmission. We support them as vital to the national public health."
Yet another example of leftism overwhelming medical science is the medical profession's denial of the benefits of hydroxychloroquine and zinc in the early days of a COVID-19 infection. That physicians, including the Food and Drug Administration, would label a drug dangerous that has been used safely for more than half a century, and by many thousands (such as those with rheumatoid arthritis or lupus) every day for decades, is a medical and moral scandal. The medical profession has placed politics not only ahead of science but also ahead of saving lives. The medical profession, the FDA and the CDC have lost the faith of half of the American people and, over time, will lose the faith of the majority of Americans. It is difficult to envision the medical profession regaining its credibility in this generation.
One of the world's most prestigious medical and scientific journals, The Lancet in the U.K., withdrew an article it had published that dismissed the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine in treating COVID-19 patients. The article contained made-up data. As The New York Times reported, Dr. Richard Horton, the editor in chief of The Lancet, called the paper retracted by his journal a "fabrication" and "a monumental fraud."
The journal published the fraudulent study about the alleged dangers of hydroxychloroquine because of pressure from pharmaceutical companies, which have nothing to gain financially from widespread use of hydroxychloroquine, a cheap, generic drug, and because the journal loathes President Donald Trump, who, when the first reports of successful treatment with hydroxychloroquine surfaced, had announced use of the drug could save lives. Horton had labeled Trump's withdrawal of U.S. funding of the World Health Organization "a crime against humanity" after the WHO's politicization of the coronavirus, including behaving as a puppet of the Chinese Communist Party when it condemned Trump's Jan. 31 ban on travel from China.
The number of Americans killed by the medical boards, the pharmaceutical boards, the FDA and the CDC for not allowing doctors to prescribe hydroxychloroquine in the early days following a patient's diagnosis with COVID-19 and outside of a hospital setting, and the number killed by the doctors who could but would not prescribe hydroxychloroquine, is likely in the tens of thousands. On my radio show, Yale University epidemiologist Dr. Harvey Risch said, "Because we were blocked from using it (hydroxychloroquine) in the United States to the present point, probably at least 100,000 people have died."
Based on the retracted study in The Lancet, The Washington Post headlined "Hydroxychloroquine Drug Promoted by Trump as Coronavirus 'Game-Changer' Increasingly Linked to Deaths." And social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter immediately remove any citation of a scientist who promotes hydroxychloroquine.
A fourth example is the American Psychological Association, or the APA, choosing leftism over psychology in declaring, "40 years of research (show that) traditional masculinity is psychologically harmful and that socializing boys to suppress their emotions causes damage that echoes both inwardly and outwardly."
The one good thing to come out of the APA's pathologizing masculinity is that people searching for a competent psychotherapist for themselves or their child now have an easy method by which to identify the incompetent: Simply ask the prospective therapist if he or she agrees with the APA statement. If they do, or if they merely hesitate to distance themselves from it, you know you want another therapist.
Forthcoming columns will deal with more areas of life ruined by the left, including, most troubling of all, America itself.
As seen in their treatment of the statues of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, the left can tear down, but it cannot build.


wnd--2020-08-18--'Similar to an NPR pledge drive': Best Twitter reactions to 'weird' Democratic Convention

The virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention kicked off Monday night and viewers were quick to notice that it would not @ @ @ @ @ of years past .
The online convention began with actress Eva Longoria Bastón , the @ @ @ @ @ giving an opening speech .
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida commented that the choice @ @ @ @ @ out of touch .
Other Twitter users noted that the convention , held virtually during @ @ @ @ @ and “ weird.
” However , not all reactions to the opening of the online @ @ @ @ @ story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Content created by The @ @ @ @ @ available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
@ @ @ @ @ original content , please contact [ email protected ]

By Thomas Catenacci
Daily Caller News Foundation
The virtual 2020 Democratic National Convention kicked off Monday night and viewers were quick to notice that it would not be the same as conventions of years past.
The online convention began with actress Eva Longoria Bastón, the convention’s host, giving an opening speech. Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida commented that the choice for Bastón to host was out of touch.
Brilliant move! No one is more in touch with the challenges & obstacles faced by everyday Americans than actors & celebrities. https://t.co/nzHOniMHPN — Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) August 18, 2020
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Other Twitter users noted that the convention, held virtually during the coronavirus pandemic was awkward and “weird.”
Gotta be honest this convention is real weird. — Jill Filipovic (@JillFilipovic) August 18, 2020
I don’t think I can do this. — Mollie (@MZHemingway) August 18, 2020
Do you think Night No. 1 of the DNC will help the Democrats? Yes No Completing this poll entitles you to WND news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use You're logged in to Facebook. Click here to log out. 2% (2 Votes) 98% (119 Votes)
cringe — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) August 18, 2020
Tonally and aesthetically this DNC convention feels eerily similar to an NPR pledge drive. — Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) August 18, 2020
This is weird. — Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755) August 18, 2020
A convention consisting almost entirely of appearances by remote and musical montages feels like a Thanksgiving dinner consisting almost entirely of yams. — Jim Geraghty (@jimgeraghty) August 18, 2020
Washington Post reporter James Hohmann tweeted that the convention felt “like watching a national Zoom meeting.”
It feels like we are watching a national Zoom meeting. — James Hohmann (@jameshohmann) August 18, 2020
This is a good effort by the DNC, but you can already tell that a virtual convention is going to be tough. — Charles M. Blow (@CharlesMBlow) August 18, 2020
Not saying this was an easy task, but I don’t know how any persuadable voter would sit through this. — Philip Klein (@philipaklein) August 18, 2020
Watched for five minutes, sorry, did my best — Cam Kasky #BidenHarris2020 (@cameron_kasky) August 18, 2020
However, not all reactions to the opening of the online convention were negative.
The. Kids. Singing. The. Anthem. Knew #DNC2020 #DemConvention would make me tear up. Just didn’t expect to be bawling 5 mins in. — Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) August 18, 2020
Okay. The pro-Biden “unexpected voices” idea was a GREAT one, and Republicans Christine Whitman, Meg Whitman, Susan Molinari, and John Kasich testifying for @JoeBiden really sung. #DemConvention — S.E. Cupp (@secupp) August 18, 2020
Eva Longoria is good at this — John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) August 18, 2020
This story originally was published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


wnd--2020-08-18--Teachers ignore needs of kids, stage 'sickout' to cancel classes on 1st day of school

With the vast majority of Americans back at work , schoolteachers in an Arizona district staged a sickout Monday during what was to be their first day back in the classroom .
KTAR-FM reported a combined 109 members of the faculty and staff of the J.O .
Combs United School District in the Phoenix metro area said they would be absent , explaining that they do not feel safe being in the classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic .
If cases were on the rise in the Grand Canyon State , one could be somewhat sympathetic with the teachers and staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decline for the past six consecutive weeks .
After becoming one of the world 's coronavirus hotspots in June , Arizona has since `` flattened the curve '' to the point of reporting no new COVID-19 deaths on Monday and just 468 new cases , according to the state 's Department of Health Services .
Pinal County , where J.O .
Combs is located , had just 67 new cases on Monday out of a population of nearly a half million people .
Nonetheless , J.O .
Combs Superintendent Gregory A. Wyman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Facebook that an `` overwhelming '' number of faculty and staff disagreed with district governing board 's decision to reopen and indicated they would not be showing up for work , `` citing health and safety concerns . ''
`` Due to these insufficient staffing levels , schools will not be able to re-open on Monday as planned , '' Wyman said .
`` This means that all classes , including virtual learning , will be canceled .
At this time , we do not know the duration of these staff absences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-person instruction may resume . ''
Wyman concluded his letter by saying `` we are acutely aware of how polarizing this issue is '' and promising `` to continue to work closely with our employees and our families to develop solutions that provide a safe and healthy return to school . ''
The issue of school reopening is one communities are grappling with across the United States .
Arizona , like much of America , shut down its schools in March to slow the spread of COVID-19 , but Gov .
Doug Ducey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ districts .
The Department of Health Services has established three benchmarks as guidelines for the districts .
First , the area should have a decline in the number of cases for at least two weeks or a two-week case rate of less than 100 cases per 100,000 .
Next , the region should experience two weeks with hospital visits due to COVID-like illness being 10 percent or less .
Finally , the COVID-19 test positivity rate should be 7 percent or less .
Pinal County is currently at 10.3 percent .
KTAR reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school districts reopening even though they do not meet the guidelines .
“ We ’ re supportive of the districts , ” he said at a news conference Thursday .
CNBC reported that a German study released last month found that young people do not play a significant role in transmitting the coronavirus .
The medical faculty of the TU Dresden and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus tested approximately 1,500 students and 500 teachers in May for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies in their blood .
“ The results showed that out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ teachers from across 13 secondary schools in the region only 12 samples were found to contain antibodies against Covid-19 , ” the report said .
Further , 24 of the participants in the study had at least one known case of coronavirus in their households , yet only one of these participants was found to have the antibodies .
The study concluded that schools did not become coronavirus “ hotspots ” after reopening , as some feared would happen .
Further , NBC News assembled a panel of five pediatricians from around in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them offered the same assessment : It is safe to put kids back in the classroom .
“ In the U.S. , children make up about 22 percent of the population , but kids account for only 2 percent of coronavirus cases so far , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , ” the report said .
Dr. William V. Raszka , a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the University of Vermont ’ s Larner College of Medicine , said children are not good spreaders of the virus to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you are , probably the less likely you are to be able to transmit the disease , ” he said .
“ Once you get to high school age , you ’ re going to be a little bit more concerned , [ and ] once you ’ re in college age , you ’ re going to be a lot concerned , ” Raszka added .
The vast majority of Americans have returned to work , recognizing there is some level of risk in circulating out in public during a pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ arguably are among a safer population than many in the workforce .
Obviously , accommodations should be made for those with conditions that make them particularly susceptible to COVID-19 , but for most teachers and staff , it 's time to get back to work .
No one is forcing them back into the schools .
It 's a free country .
If they do not want to teach , they can seek other employment .
For those teachers who decline to return , school districts can either place them on leave without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get them back in class ) or inform them their services , or lack thereof , are no longer required .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

With the vast majority of Americans back at work, schoolteachers in an Arizona district staged a sickout Monday during what was to be their first day back in the classroom.
KTAR-FM reported a combined 109 members of the faculty and staff of the J.O. Combs United School District in the Phoenix metro area said they would be absent, explaining that they do not feel safe being in the classroom during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If cases were on the rise in the Grand Canyon State, one could be somewhat sympathetic with the teachers and staff, but the virus has been on the decline for the past six consecutive weeks.
After becoming one of the world's coronavirus hotspots in June, Arizona has since "flattened the curve" to the point of reporting no new COVID-19 deaths on Monday and just 468 new cases, according to the state's Department of Health Services.
Pinal County, where J.O. Combs is located, had just 67 new cases on Monday out of a population of nearly a half-million people.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Nonetheless, J.O. Combs Superintendent Gregory A. Wyman said in a letter to families posted on Facebook that an "overwhelming" number of faculty and staff disagreed with district governing board's decision to reopen and indicated they would not be showing up for work, "citing health and safety concerns."
"Due to these insufficient staffing levels, schools will not be able to re-open on Monday as planned," Wyman said.
"This means that all classes, including virtual learning, will be canceled. At this time, we do not know the duration of these staff absences and cannot yet confirm when in-person instruction may resume."
Wyman concluded his letter by saying "we are acutely aware of how polarizing this issue is" and promising "to continue to work closely with our employees and our families to develop solutions that provide a safe and healthy return to school."
The issue of schools reopening is one that communities are grappling with across the United States.
Arizona, like much of America, shut down its schools in March to slow the spread of COVID-19, but Gov. Doug Ducey has left reopening decisions with the school districts.
The Department of Health Services has established three benchmarks as guidelines for the districts.
First, the area should have a decline in the number of cases for at least two weeks or a two-week case rate of less than 100 cases per 100,000.
Next, the region should experience two weeks with hospital visits due to COVID-like illness being 10 percent or less.
Finally, the COVID-19 test positivity rate should be 7 percent or less. Pinal County is currently at 10.3 percent.
KTAR reported that Ducey did not take issue with school districts reopening even though they do not meet the guidelines.
“We’re supportive of the districts,” he said at a news conference Thursday.
CNBC reported that a German study released last month found that young people do not play a significant role in transmitting the coronavirus.
The medical faculty of the TU Dresden and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus tested approximately 1,500 students and 500 teachers in May for the presence of COVID-19 antibodies in their blood.
“The results showed that out of 2,045 blood samples collected from students and teachers from across 13 secondary schools in the region, only 12 samples were found to contain antibodies against Covid-19,” the report said.
Further, 24 participants in the study had at least one known case of coronavirus in their households, yet only one of these participants was found to have the antibodies.
The study concluded that schools did not become coronavirus “hotspots” after reopening, as some feared would happen.
Further, NBC News assembled a panel of five pediatricians from around in the country in July , and all of them offered the same assessment: It is safe to put kids back in the classroom.
“In the U.S., children make up about 22 percent of the population, but kids account for only 2 percent of coronavirus cases so far, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” the report said.
Dr. William V. Raszka, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at the University of Vermont’s Larner College of Medicine, said children are not good spreaders of the virus to adults, either.
“The younger you are, probably the less likely you are to be able to transmit the disease,” he said.
Every teacher at J.O. Combs USD called out sick today and that includes the people teaching virtually. They think they're the only people that don't have to do their jobs because of the virus. These fake teachers truly don't care about the kids. https://t.co/TQeOBEnvuc — Garret Lewis (@GarretLewis) August 17, 2020
“Once you get to high school age, you’re going to be a little bit more concerned, [and] once you’re in college age, you’re going to be a lot concerned,” Raszka added.
The vast majority of Americans have returned to work, recognizing there is some level of risk in circulating in public during a pandemic.
By being in the classroom, teachers arguably are among a safer population than many in the workforce.
Obviously, accommodations should be made for those with conditions that make them particularly susceptible to COVID-19, but for most teachers and staff, it's time to get back to work.
No one is forcing them back into the schools. It's a free country. If they do not want to teach, they can seek other employment.
For those teachers who decline to return, school districts can either place them on leave without pay (which might provide ample motivation to get them back in class) or inform them their services, or lack thereof, are no longer required.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-08-19--Would 2020 DNC accept Obama's 2004 speech?

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]
As his reelection campaign gathered momentum in the spring of 2012 , President Obama tossed a little rhetorical stink bomb at the opposition party .
Needling Republicans for their intransigence on taxes and the federal debt , Obama said the 21st century version of the Grand Old Party would be unrecognizable to its own patron saint .
“ Ronald Reagan , who , as I recall , is not accused of being a tax-and-spend socialist , understood repeatedly that when the deficit started to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to make a deal he would have to propose both spending cuts and tax increases , ” Obama said .
“ He could not get through a Republican primary today.
” TRENDING : How Obama 's infamous 'lie of the year ' came to light It was an argument reprised by Joe Biden four years ago .
But Democrats aren ’ t the only ones who have espoused such heresy .
In 2010 , Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham told Robert Draper the same thing : “ Ronald Reagan would have a hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Mike Huckabee made a similar point in 2011 ; Jeb Bush said it in 2012 ; and Bob Dole did so in 2013 .
This may be the wrong way to look at it , however .
Political parties evolve over time , as do politicians themselves .
Moreover , natural talents like Reagan and Obama don ’ t come along often , and when they do , they tend to get nominated .
Yet , a relevant parallel exists between those two past presidents that underscores Obama ’ s point about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the O-man himself .
Both men burst onto the scene with electrifying speeches that captivated the popular imagination .
In 1964 , Reagan ’ s nationally televised endorsement of Barry Goldwater was so galvanizing to conservatives -- and was subsequently delivered so many times by Reagan -- that it became known simply as “ The Speech.
” When Reagan first delivered it , Goldwater was about to lose in a landslide , but conservatives had found their muse anyway .
“ Reagan for President ” clubs sprung up spontaneously across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was launched like a rocket into national prominence by a stirring keynote address at the Democrats ’ nominating convention in John Kerry ’ s home state .
When he delivered it , Barack H. Obama was merely a state legislator in Illinois , little known outside of Springfield and the city of Chicago .
By the time he finished , Obama was a plausible Democratic Party presidential candidate in his own right .
But if one fast-forwards to 2020 , and applies Obama ’ s logic , a natural question arises : Could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Democratic convention ?
And if he did , would the delegates applaud politely and then privately suggest to the young man that he was in the wrong political party ?
Although Obama ’ s July 27 , 2004 , Boston keynote speech was lyrically written and flawlessly delivered , what made it so special was its reverence for America ’ s founding ideals , and an uplifting message that these ideals can still unite us as a people .
An African American man with the middle name Hussein , he began by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opening with a line offering the kind of praise for this country we rarely hear from the left side of the political spectrum these days : “ I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story , that I owe a debt to all of those who came before me , and that , in no other country on earth , is my story even possible.
” But this was not a speech about identity politics .
It was , instead , his version of “ the shining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s original source of greatness , Obama pointed out -- as had Abraham Lincoln , Frederick Douglass , and , yes , Ronald Reagan before him -- was the Declaration of Independence .
“ Tonight , we gather to affirm the greatness of our nation , not because of the height of our skyscrapers , or the power of our military , or the size of our economy , ” he said .
“ Our pride is based on a very simple premise , summed up in a declaration made over 200 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be self-evident , that all men are created equal .
That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights .
That among these are life , liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
’ ” These days , the Declaration of Independence isn ’ t viewed by those on the left as a source of pride , but of disappointment , even scorn .
The peculiar premise of the New York Times ’ “ 1619 Project ” is that America 's founding was not a noble experiment in self-governance but a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human beings .
Notwithstanding that this is historical bunk , it is the intellectual neighborhood inhabited in 2020 by the ascendant wing of the Democratic Party and much of the establishment media .
Freedom of speech ?
A trick to ensure white supremacy .
Pursuit of happiness ?
That ’ s your “ privilege ” talking .
But in 2004 , Barack Obama wasn ’ t an apostle of being “ woke.
” Alluding to both the Declaration and the Constitution , he said that our nation ’ s promise was present from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true genius of America , a faith in the simple dreams of its people , the insistence on small miracles , ” Obama said .
“ That we can tuck in our children at night and know they are fed and clothed and safe from harm .
That we can say what we think , write what we think , without hearing a sudden knock on the door .
That we can have an idea and start our own business without paying a bribe or hiring somebody ’ s son .
That we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fear of retribution , and that our votes will be counted -- or at least , most of the time.
” The most famous passage from that speech , one which many Obama supporters can still recite by heart , no longer fits the Democrats ’ militant approach to politics , however , and would be seen by today ’ s progressives as apostasy .
“ Now even as we speak , there are those who are preparing to divide us , the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Well , I say to them tonight , there ’ s not a liberal America and a conservative America ; there ’ s the United States of America .
There ’ s not a black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America ; there ’ s the United States of America . ''
It would be reassuring to hear some of those sentiments expressed in this year ’ s Democratic Party convention keynote address .
But doing so would constitute an explicit rebuke of liberalism , circa @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the left is the Black Lives Matter movement , which holds that there is most definitely a black America and a white America .
According to BLM 's view , the former is a community of people who have been ( and continue to be ) victimized in all manner of ways by racist systems set up by the latter , and America will remain an unjust society until those structures have been completely dismantled .
There is no tolerance for dissent of any aspect of this ideology , any who disagree are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a bigot .
The Democrats ' 2020 worldview is a far less inclusive vision than Obama espoused in 2004 , the opposite one , really .
But to crib one more time from his memorable address , “ In the end , that ’ s what this election is about .
”

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]
By Carl M. Cannon & Tom Bevan
Real Clear Politics
As his reelection campaign gathered momentum in the spring of 2012, President Obama tossed a little rhetorical stink bomb at the opposition party. Needling Republicans for their intransigence on taxes and the federal debt, Obama said the 21st century version of the Grand Old Party would be unrecognizable to its own patron saint.
“Ronald Reagan, who, as I recall, is not accused of being a tax-and-spend socialist, understood repeatedly that when the deficit started to get out of control, that for him to make a deal he would have to propose both spending cuts and tax increases,” Obama said. “He could not get through a Republican primary today.”
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
It was an argument reprised by Joe Biden four years ago. But Democrats aren’t the only ones who have espoused such heresy. In 2010, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham told Robert Draper the same thing: “Ronald Reagan would have a hard time getting elected as a Republican today.” Mike Huckabee made a similar point in 2011; Jeb Bush said it in 2012; and Bob Dole did so in 2013.
This may be the wrong way to look at it, however. Political parties evolve over time, as do politicians themselves. Moreover, natural talents like Reagan and Obama don’t come along often, and when they do, they tend to get nominated. Yet, a relevant parallel exists between those two past presidents that underscores Obama’s point about the Gipper, but which also applies to the O-man himself.
Both men burst onto the scene with electrifying speeches that captivated the popular imagination. In 1964, Reagan’s nationally televised endorsement of Barry Goldwater was so galvanizing to conservatives -- and was subsequently delivered so many times by Reagan -- that it became known simply as “The Speech.” When Reagan first delivered it, Goldwater was about to lose in a landslide, but conservatives had found their muse anyway. “Reagan for President” clubs sprung up spontaneously across the country.
Forty years later, Barack Obama was launched like a rocket into national prominence by a stirring keynote address at the Democrats’ nominating convention in John Kerry’s home state. When he delivered it, Barack H. Obama was merely a state legislator in Illinois, little known outside of Springfield and the city of Chicago. By the time he finished, Obama was a plausible Democratic Party presidential candidate in his own right.
But if one fast-forwards to 2020, and applies Obama’s logic, a natural question arises: Could he even give that speech today at a Democratic convention? And if he did, would the delegates applaud politely and then privately suggest to the young man that he was in the wrong political party?
Our ‘Pride’
Although Obama’s July 27, 2004, Boston keynote speech was lyrically written and flawlessly delivered, what made it so special was its reverence for America’s founding ideals, and an uplifting message that these ideals can still unite us as a people.
An African American man with the middle name Hussein, he began by embracing his unique heritage, punctuating the opening with a line offering the kind of praise for this country we rarely hear from the left side of the political spectrum these days: “I stand here knowing that my story is part of the larger American story, that I owe a debt to all of those who came before me, and that, in no other country on earth, is my story even possible.”
But this was not a speech about identity politics. It was, instead, his version of “the shining city on the hill.” America’s original source of greatness, Obama pointed out -- as had Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, and, yes, Ronald Reagan before him -- was the Declaration of Independence.
“Tonight, we gather to affirm the greatness of our nation, not because of the height of our skyscrapers, or the power of our military, or the size of our economy,” he said. “Our pride is based on a very simple premise, summed up in a declaration made over 200 years ago: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. That they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. That among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.’”
These days, the Declaration of Independence isn’t viewed by those on the left as a source of pride, but of disappointment, even scorn. The peculiar premise of the New York Times’ “1619 Project” is that America's founding was not a noble experiment in self-governance but a plot to ensure the subjugation of black human beings. Notwithstanding that this is historical bunk, it is the intellectual neighborhood inhabited in 2020 by the ascendant wing of the Democratic Party and much of the establishment media. Freedom of speech? A trick to ensure white supremacy. Pursuit of happiness? That’s your “privilege” talking.
But in 2004, Barack Obama wasn’t an apostle of being “woke.” Alluding to both the Declaration and the Constitution, he said that our nation’s promise was present from the founding.
“That is the true genius of America, a faith in the simple dreams of its people, the insistence on small miracles,” Obama said. “That we can tuck in our children at night and know they are fed and clothed and safe from harm. That we can say what we think, write what we think, without hearing a sudden knock on the door. That we can have an idea and start our own business without paying a bribe or hiring somebody’s son. That we can participate in the political process without fear of retribution, and that our votes will be counted -- or at least, most of the time.”
The most famous passage from that speech, one which many Obama supporters can still recite by heart, no longer fits the Democrats’ militant approach to politics, however, and would be seen by today’s progressives as apostasy.
“Now even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes,” he said. “Well, I say to them tonight, there’s not a liberal America and a conservative America; there’s the United States of America. There’s not a black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America; there’s the United States of America."
It would be reassuring to hear some of those sentiments expressed in this year’s Democratic Party convention keynote address. But doing so would constitute an explicit rebuke of liberalism, circa 2020. The animating ideological force on the left is the Black Lives Matter movement, which holds that there is most definitely a black America and a white America.
According to BLM's view, the former is a community of people who have been (and continue to be) victimized in all manner of ways by racist systems set up by the latter, and America will remain an unjust society until those structures have been completely dismantled. There is no tolerance for dissent of any aspect of this ideology, any who disagree are shouted down, silenced, and labeld a bigot.
The Democrats' 2020 worldview is a far less inclusive vision than Obama espoused in 2004, the opposite one, really. But to crib one more time from his memorable address, “In the end, that’s what this election is about.”


wnd--2020-08-19--Wind power called key to 'prosperous, clean future'

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy . ]
Never in my lifetime has our country faced such widespread challenges that disrupt nearly every aspect of daily life .
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned simple tasks like visiting grandchildren or getting a haircut into fraught decisions , and millions of Americans are struggling with loss of income or health complications .
There ’ s no way around it : parts of our economy and civil society have broken down .
There is a silver lining however -- breakdowns present an opportunity to rebuild @ @ @ @ @ @ @ choices in that rebuild , we can create a cleaner future and tens of thousands of new jobs along the way .
As we are in the fourth annual American Wind Week , wind energy can help us build that future .
TRENDING : How Obama 's infamous 'lie of the year ' came to light Today over 120,000 Americans spread across all 50 states have direct wind jobs , and wind power is one of the few industries creating new manufacturing jobs—over 530 U.S. factories build wind turbine components .
And these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ technician is the country ’ s second fastest growing job , according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics .
Our country is also just beginning to tap into our world-class offshore wind resources .
Virginia followed in Rhode Island ’ s steps this summer when it became the second state to host an offshore wind project , and the first in federal waters .
States up and down the East Coast have made substantial offshore wind commitments , and that means significant opportunities for dozens of different professions both along the East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where legacy oil and gas energy workers have the skills and experience from building ocean energy infrastructure that are needed for offshore wind projects .
And California may not be far behind .
In fact , offshore wind could create up to 83,000 jobs by 2030 and an entirely new domestic supply chain .
These are exactly the kinds of once-in-a-generation opportunities we can ’ t pass up if we want to succeed in our post-pandemic economic recovery .
Wind is also bringing nearly unmatched investment to the rural Wind Belt in America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas up through the Dakotas .
Many of these areas have struggled with population decline and retention of skilled young workers , and small tax bases can make funding essential services a challenge .
And that was before COVID added new obstacles .
However , wind projects offer rural communities new revenue sources that help them bridge budget shortfalls , invest in the future , and bring young people back home to careers that let them support a family .
Every year , wind projects pay over $ 1.6 billion in state and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These much needed funds help small communities improve their infrastructure , repair roads , hire new teachers , and expand emergency services and law enforcement capacity .
Before the pandemic , American wind power was on track to supply 20 percent of the country ’ s electricity by 2030 , up from just over seven percent today .
While the development pipeline of new wind projects remains large , and guidance earlier this year from the Department of Treasury shored up near-term projects , pandemic-induced challenges remain .
Our elected officials can help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affordable , clean energy for American families and businesses , while providing a boost to our struggling economy , with simple steps .
First , they can help developers by allowing for alternative financing options to the tax equity market .
Reductions in tax equity availability caused by the pandemic have created a situation where credit-worthy wind projects need additional options for securing construction capital .
A fix referred to as “ direct pay ” that allows developers to monetize federal tax credits will provide them with access to the capital needed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Second , the federal government can preserve the country ’ s offshore wind progress by extending the sector ’ s “ safe harbor ” period to seven years and allowing wind projects to demonstrate a continuous effort to make progress towards completion .
The additional time will help offshore wind project developers accommodate delays caused by the pandemic .
This move will help protect up to 83,000 jobs and $ 57 billion in investment by 2030 .
Harnessing the winds blowing off our shores and across our plains can help us build a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s seize this chance to restore our economy , clean our environment , and help wind build the future .
Tom Kiernan is CEO of the American Wind Energy Association .
[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy . ]

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy.]
By Tom Kiernan
Real Clear Energy
Never in my lifetime has our country faced such widespread challenges that disrupt nearly every aspect of daily life. The COVID-19 pandemic has turned simple tasks like visiting grandchildren or getting a haircut into fraught decisions, and millions of Americans are struggling with loss of income or health complications. There’s no way around it: parts of our economy and civil society have broken down.
There is a silver lining however-- breakdowns present an opportunity to rebuild, and if we make the right choices in that rebuild, we can create a cleaner future and tens of thousands of new jobs along the way.
As we are in the fourth annual American Wind Week, wind energy can help us build that future.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Today over 120,000 Americans spread across all 50 states have direct wind jobs, and wind power is one of the few industries creating new manufacturing jobs—over 530 U.S. factories build wind turbine components. And these careers are growing fast: wind turbine technician is the country’s second fastest growing job, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Our country is also just beginning to tap into our world-class offshore wind resources. Virginia followed in Rhode Island’s steps this summer when it became the second state to host an offshore wind project, and the first in federal waters. States up and down the East Coast have made substantial offshore wind commitments, and that means significant opportunities for dozens of different professions both along the East Coast and in the Gulf region, where legacy oil and gas energy workers have the skills and experience from building ocean energy infrastructure that are needed for offshore wind projects.
And California may not be far behind. In fact, offshore wind could create up to 83,000 jobs by 2030 and an entirely new domestic supply chain. These are exactly the kinds of once-in-a-generation opportunities we can’t pass up if we want to succeed in our post-pandemic economic recovery.
Wind is also bringing nearly unmatched investment to the rural Wind Belt in America’s heartland, which stretches from Texas up through the Dakotas. Many of these areas have struggled with population decline and retention of skilled young workers, and small tax bases can make funding essential services a challenge. And that was before COVID added new obstacles.
However, wind projects offer rural communities new revenue sources that help them bridge budget shortfalls, invest in the future, and bring young people back home to careers that let them support a family. Every year, wind projects pay over $1.6 billion in state and local taxes and landowner lease payments. These much needed funds help small communities improve their infrastructure, repair roads, hire new teachers, and expand emergency services and law enforcement capacity.
Before the pandemic, American wind power was on track to supply 20 percent of the country’s electricity by 2030, up from just over seven percent today. While the development pipeline of new wind projects remains large, and guidance earlier this year from the Department of Treasury shored up near-term projects, pandemic-induced challenges remain. Our elected officials can help wind power continue to grow, supplying affordable, clean energy for American families and businesses, while providing a boost to our struggling economy, with simple steps.
First, they can help developers by allowing for alternative financing options to the tax equity market. Reductions in tax equity availability caused by the pandemic have created a situation where credit-worthy wind projects need additional options for securing construction capital. A fix referred to as “direct pay” that allows developers to monetize federal tax credits will provide them with access to the capital needed to continue investing and creating new jobs.
Second, the federal government can preserve the country’s offshore wind progress by extending the sector’s “safe harbor” period to seven years and allowing wind projects to demonstrate a continuous effort to make progress towards completion. The additional time will help offshore wind project developers accommodate delays caused by the pandemic. This move will help protect up to 83,000 jobs and $57 billion in investment by 2030.
Harnessing the winds blowing off our shores and across our plains can help us build a prosperous, clean future. Let’s seize this chance to restore our economy, clean our environment, and help wind build the future.
Tom Kiernan is CEO of the American Wind Energy Association.
[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Energy.]


wnd--2020-08-19--Laura Loomer crushes 5 opponents to win GOP primary

( FLORIDA POLITICS ) -- Republican candidate Laura Loomer is going from right-wing social media star to congressional candidate after @ @ @ @ @ in Florida ’ s 21st Congressional District .
Loomer will now face incumbent Democratic Rep. @ @ @ @ @ Election after Frankel easily dispatched Guido Weiss in the Democratic primary .
Loomer was part @ @ @ @ @ the GOP nod .
Also running were Palm Beach State College professor Christian Acosta , @ @ @ @ @ , Air Force veteran Aaron Scanlan , the QAnon supporting Reba Sherrill and former IRS @ @ @ @ @

(FLORIDA POLITICS) -- Republican candidate Laura Loomer is going from right-wing social media star to congressional candidate after securing a win Tuesday night in Florida’s 21st Congressional District.
Loomer will now face incumbent Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel in the General Election after Frankel easily dispatched Guido Weiss in the Democratic primary.
Loomer was part of a six-person contest for the GOP nod. Also running were Palm Beach State College professor Christian Acosta, exotic animal advocate Elizabeth Felton, Air Force veteran Aaron Scanlan, the QAnon supporting Reba Sherrill and former IRS criminal investigator Michael Vilardi.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-08-19--Nick Sandmann to speak at Republican National Convention

( WLWT ) -- PARK HILLS , Ky. -- Former Covington Catholic student Nick Sandmann will be among the speakers @ @ @ @ @ .
Sandmann , who confirmed the news Tuesday afternoon on his Twitter page , will @ @ @ @ @ week , joining a lineup that includes South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem , Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ school safety activist Andrew Pollack and a variety of others .
Advertisement Sandmann found himself @ @ @ @ @ controversy after his face was depicted across social media as he stared at Native American @ @ @ @

(WLWT) -- PARK HILLS, Ky. -- Former Covington Catholic student Nick Sandmann will be among the speakers at the Republican National Convention.
Sandmann, who confirmed the news Tuesday afternoon on his Twitter page, will speak at the convention next week, joining a lineup that includes South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, Pennsylvania congressional candidate Sean Parnell, school safety activist Andrew Pollack and a variety of others.
Advertisement
Sandmann found himself at the center of a controversy after his face was depicted across social media as he stared at Native American protester Nathan Phillips.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-08-19--Will 'dam break' with Clinesmith's plea?

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]
News reports have downplayed the significance of former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith ’ s guilty plea , acknowledging he altered an official document in the government ’ s Trump-Russia collusion probe .
There has been some coverage , mainly because it is so rare to see FBI agents charged with a felony and because it is the first tangible result of U.S. Attorney John Durham ’ s sprawling investigation of the investigators .
But mainstream news outlets have minimized its importance .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and it deals with a relatively minor crime by a mid-level figure .
TRENDING : How Obama 's infamous 'lie of the year ' came to light That ’ s spin , and it ’ s wrong .
This plea is like finding water seeping from the base of a dam .
The problem is not one muddy puddle .
The problem is that it foreshadows the dam ’ s failure , releasing a torrent .
That ’ s what the Clinesmith plea portends .
Clinesmith acknowledges he altered an email from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a question about Carter Page .
Page is an American citizen and a Naval Academy graduate who spent considerable time in Russia .
His time abroad raised a question for the FBI ’ s counter-intelligence division .
Was Page a Russian agent ?
Or was he on our side , helping the U.S. gather intelligence about the Kremlin ?
The CIA would know .
The answer mattered because the FBI and Department of Justice were preparing warrants to spy on Page as a hostile foreign agent .
The CIA gave them a clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first warrant was issued : Page was working for us .
That answer was given to a still-unnamed FBI case agent , and we don ’ t know what he did with it .
Did he show it to those preparing the warrant applications ?
Why else would he even ask the CIA for the information ?
In 2017 , after Clinesmith was tasked to the Mueller investigation , their team asked him to clarify Page ’ s relationship with U.S. intelligence .
That ’ s when he took the CIA document and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” The altered document said Carter Page was not a CIA asset .
It was a deliberate lie .
Clinesmith is pleading guilty to inserting that word and changing the document .
That ’ s a felony .
What made his crime more significant is that the altered document was then presented to the secret court overseeing actions taken under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act .
The special counsel included it in the fourth FISA application to spy on Page .
All four were chock-full of deception and dishonesty , but misrepresented to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of them said there “ was probable cause that [ Carter Page ] was a knowing agent '' of Russia .
He wasn ’ t , and the applications ’ authors had plenty of reasons to know it .
Why were they so determined to spy on a relatively minor figure like Carter Page ?
Because he was involved in Trump ’ s world and knew many others who were .
James Comey ’ s FBI and Barack Obama ’ s White House wanted to know everything Trump was doing .
Page was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gen. Michael Flynn was an even better one , and we know he was exhaustively investigated . )
The FISA applications were meant to give some legal cover to this domestic espionage .
The FBI first tried to get a warrant on Page in summer 2016 , but the judges said it lacked sufficient evidence .
They fixed that by adding the now-discredited Steele dossier and got the first warrant in late 2016 .
The FBI and DoJ never told the FISA judges that the crucial addition was funded by Hillary Clinton and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unverified allegations , and produced by a biased , partisan investigator .
Clinesmith ’ s altered email was a later , and relatively minor , addition to this toxic mix .
What really mattered was less the inclusion of Clinesmith ’ s false document than the omission of the CIA ’ s truthful one .
The truth would have raised a bright red flag .
The judges would likely ask , “ If Page has worked closely with the CIA , how can you simply ignore that and say he is a Russian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an accurate document might have killed the warrant renewal and called the previous three into question .
The Mueller team wanted to avoid that , so they never let the FISA judges see the authentic document or know about it .
Their omission was fateful and almost certainly criminal .
Clinesmith ’ s plea deal matters mostly because it sheds light on Durham ’ s broader investigation and the malfeasance he ’ s uncovering .
To see that , let ’ s focus on the “ bullet points , ” which leave a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was no surprise to learn last week that Kevin Clinesmith had altered an official document .
Inspector General Michael Horowitz had already reported it , without naming the culprit .
Durham had that information and could have indicted Clinesmith long ago .
He didn ’ t because he was interviewing others about FISA abuses and didn ’ t want to give them any information from Clinesmith ’ s indictment .
Releasing that information now shows Durham has completed his work on FISA fraud .
• Other , more senior FBI officials must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though Durham hasn ’ t said so yet .
Some committed abuse themselves .
Others knew about it or should have known .
Still others must have discovered the misrepresentations , but failed to report them to the FISA court , as they were required to do .
Those failures are felonies .
• Clinesmith has said he gave other FBI members the true document , not just the altered one .
The 23rd paragraph of the charging information says Clinesmith “ provided the unchanged C.I.A .
email to Crossfire Hurricane agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ original wiretap application.
” That ’ s a smoking bazooka .
• How can Durham prove the CIA ’ s truthful information was circulated and then hidden ?
By thoroughly checking the FBI ’ s internal document system .
It should record everyone who received Clinesmith ’ s accurate ( unaltered ) document and those they later passed it to .
If the agents and lawyers merely discussed the falsification , then prosecutors will need several witnesses to substantiate it .
• The real leader of the Mueller team , Andrew Weissmann , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal problems .
On Friday , he tweeted , “ Clinesmith is charged with adding the words ‘ not a source ’ to an email about Carter Page , but nowhere does the charge say that is false , i.e .
that Page was a source for the CIA.
” Notice , Weissmann is not saying he knew nothing or that Page really was a Russian source .
He simply saying that a 180-degree change in the document ’ s wording doesn ’ t mean what your lying eyes think it means .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mueller team is sticking with their existing disclaimer .
Their report says they won ’ t speculate on `` whether the correction of any particular misstatement or omission , or some combination thereof , would have resulted in a different outcome . ''
In order words , “ We don ’ t see something .
We don ’ t say something .
And we don ’ t know if it matters.
” • Clinesmith actually worked on Robert Mueller ’ s team .
He was tasked from the bureau to work with that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ document to the FISA court .
That ’ s crucially important .
If attorneys on the special counsel team knew about his crime and did nothing to inform the court , if they continued to use a document they knew was fraudulent , they will face charges .
That would implicate Mueller ’ s team for the first time in illegal activity to undermine the Trump presidency .
That ’ s a much bigger matter than writing a biased report .
• We know from other declassified documents that it wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had false information .
All four applications did .
Indeed , they depended on it , especially on the Steele dossier .
Then-Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe testified that , without Steele , the warrants would not have been granted .
Yet none of the agents and prosecutors ever told the FISA court about fraud , misrepresentation , and bias from Steele , Clinesmith , or others .
• The Mueller team must have known Clinesmith ’ s actions were a problem .
They didn ’ t just get rid him , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s the meaning of an opaque footnote in their report , which said that the bureau , not the Mueller team , supervised “ an FBI attorney '' who worked for the special counsel .
Hey , it ’ s them , not us !
• This CYA footnote , clever as it is , does n't mean the Mueller team was ignorant of Clinesmith 's fraud when they submitted the FISA warrant application .
Nor does it absolve them of responsibility for failing to tell the court promptly when they suddenly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • Did Clinesmith act alone or did anyone tell him to alter the document ?
That ’ s a critical question , and Durham has not answered it yet .
Nor has he said who knew what Clinesmith had done .
Again , the key to proving that is either a paper trail or multiple cooperating witnesses .
We should get Durham ’ s answers when he issues more indictments .
Who Should Be Nervous ?
• Anyone who worked on Crossfire Hurricane with Clinesmith .
You can bet he is telling Durham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would require complete disclosure .
Durham could have charged him with a more serious crime , requiring a longer prison sentence .
Prosecutors don ’ t grant such leniency without getting something valuable in return ( unless they are investigating Hillary Clinton , whose top aides received immunity for free ) .
Durham is no such patsy .
He would not go easy on Clinesmith unless he got useful information in return .
• Real trouble looms for anybody on the Mueller team or elsewhere at the DoJ and FBI who knew that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change its meaning .
There ’ s even worse trouble ahead for those who ordered him to commit a crime .
To prove those charges , Durham needs documents or multiple eyewitnesses .
Clinesmith can point prosecutors in the right direction , but his word alone won ’ t do .
What Do We Still Need to Know About the FISA Investigation ?
• The main questions are “ how wide is this corruption ?
” and “ how high up does it go ?
” Those go well beyond Clinesmith ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other lies in the warrants .
• Does Durham have enough evidence—and fortitude—to charge senior officials who signed false applications ?
They will say , as former-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein did to Congress , that they relied entirely on subordinates to give them complete , honest information .
To rebut that , Durham needs hard evidence .
He may also feel he needs evidence of intent .
The higher up you go , the more evidence you need .
We talk , rightly , about equality under the law , but , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more unequivocal evidence to charge senior officials .
• Were all the lies and misinformation a concerted effort , a true criminal conspiracy ?
That will be one of Durham ’ s toughest calls , and it would need approval from Attorney General William Barr .
Such a charge would ignite a political firestorm , fueled by partisan media .
But , then , so does everything these days .
To return to the metaphor of the endangered dam .
.
.
the Clinesmith indictment is a telling puddle where the ground should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ troubling omen for those who violated Carter Page ’ s rights , spied on the Trump campaign , and systematically abused the powerful tools of law enforcement .
They are living downstream , and they should be worried .

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]
By Charles Lipson
Real Clear Politics
News reports have downplayed the significance of former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith’s guilty plea, acknowledging he altered an official document in the government’s Trump-Russia collusion probe. There has been some coverage, mainly because it is so rare to see FBI agents charged with a felony and because it is the first tangible result of U.S. Attorney John Durham’s sprawling investigation of the investigators. But mainstream news outlets have minimized its importance. It’s only one count, they say, and it deals with a relatively minor crime by a mid-level figure.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
That’s spin, and it’s wrong. This plea is like finding water seeping from the base of a dam. The problem is not one muddy puddle. The problem is that it foreshadows the dam’s failure, releasing a torrent. That’s what the Clinesmith plea portends.
What Did Clinesmith Admit?
Clinesmith acknowledges he altered an email from the CIA to the FBI, answering a question about Carter Page. Page is an American citizen and a Naval Academy graduate who spent considerable time in Russia. His time abroad raised a question for the FBI’s counter-intelligence division. Was Page a Russian agent? Or was he on our side, helping the U.S. gather intelligence about the Kremlin? The CIA would know.
The answer mattered because the FBI and Department of Justice were preparing warrants to spy on Page as a hostile foreign agent. The CIA gave them a clear answer in August 2016, before the first warrant was issued: Page was working for us. That answer was given to a still-unnamed FBI case agent, and we don’t know what he did with it. Did he show it to those preparing the warrant applications? Why else would he even ask the CIA for the information?
In 2017, after Clinesmith was tasked to the Mueller investigation, their team asked him to clarify Page’s relationship with U.S. intelligence. That’s when he took the CIA document and added a single word, “not.” The altered document said Carter Page was not a CIA asset. It was a deliberate lie.
Clinesmith is pleading guilty to inserting that word and changing the document. That’s a felony. What made his crime more significant is that the altered document was then presented to the secret court overseeing actions taken under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. The special counsel included it in the fourth FISA application to spy on Page.
All four were chock-full of deception and dishonesty, but misrepresented to the court as “verified.” All of them said there “was probable cause that [Carter Page] was a knowing agent" of Russia. He wasn’t, and the applications’ authors had plenty of reasons to know it.
Why were they so determined to spy on a relatively minor figure like Carter Page? Because he was involved in Trump’s world and knew many others who were. James Comey’s FBI and Barack Obama’s White House wanted to know everything Trump was doing. Page was one window into that world. (Gen. Michael Flynn was an even better one, and we know he was exhaustively investigated.)
The FISA applications were meant to give some legal cover to this domestic espionage. The FBI first tried to get a warrant on Page in summer 2016, but the judges said it lacked sufficient evidence. They fixed that by adding the now-discredited Steele dossier and got the first warrant in late 2016. The FBI and DoJ never told the FISA judges that the crucial addition was funded by Hillary Clinton and the Democratic National Committee, filled with unverified allegations, and produced by a biased, partisan investigator. Clinesmith’s altered email was a later, and relatively minor, addition to this toxic mix.
What really mattered was less the inclusion of Clinesmith’s false document than the omission of the CIA’s truthful one. The truth would have raised a bright red flag. The judges would likely ask, “If Page has worked closely with the CIA, how can you simply ignore that and say he is a Russian agent?” In other words, an accurate document might have killed the warrant renewal and called the previous three into question. The Mueller team wanted to avoid that, so they never let the FISA judges see the authentic document or know about it. Their omission was fateful and almost certainly criminal.
The Bullet Points That Leave a Bloody Trail
Clinesmith’s plea deal matters mostly because it sheds light on Durham’s broader investigation and the malfeasance he’s uncovering. To see that, let’s focus on the “bullet points,” which leave a bloody trail to larger crimes.
It was no surprise to learn last week that Kevin Clinesmith had altered an official document. Inspector General Michael Horowitz had already reported it, without naming the culprit. Durham had that information and could have indicted Clinesmith long ago. He didn’t because he was interviewing others about FISA abuses and didn’t want to give them any information from Clinesmith’s indictment. Releasing that information now shows Durham has completed his work on FISA fraud.
Other, more senior FBI officials must have been involved in these FISA abuses, though Durham hasn’t said so yet. Some committed abuse themselves. Others knew about it or should have known. Still others must have discovered the misrepresentations, but failed to report them to the FISA court, as they were required to do. Those failures are felonies.
Clinesmith has said he gave other FBI members the true document, not just the altered one. The 23 rd paragraph of the charging information says Clinesmith “provided the unchanged C.I.A. email to Crossfire Hurricane agents and the Justice Department lawyer drafting the original wiretap application.” That’s a smoking bazooka.
paragraph of the charging information says Clinesmith “provided the unchanged C.I.A. email to Crossfire Hurricane agents and the Justice Department lawyer drafting the original wiretap application.” That’s a smoking bazooka. How can Durham prove the CIA’s truthful information was circulated and then hidden? By thoroughly checking the FBI’s internal document system. It should record everyone who received Clinesmith’s accurate (unaltered) document and those they later passed it to. If the agents and lawyers merely discussed the falsification, then prosecutors will need several witnesses to substantiate it.
The real leader of the Mueller team, Andrew Weissmann, is still blowing smoke about these mounting legal problems. On Friday, he tweeted, “Clinesmith is charged with adding the words ‘not a source’ to an email about Carter Page, but nowhere does the charge say that is false, i.e. that Page was a source for the CIA.” Notice, Weissmann is not saying he knew nothing or that Page really was a Russian source. He simply saying that a 180-degree change in the document’s wording doesn’t mean what your lying eyes think it means.
Weissmann’s comment shows the Mueller team is sticking with their existing disclaimer. Their report says they won’t speculate on "whether the correction of any particular misstatement or omission, or some combination thereof, would have resulted in a different outcome." In order words, “We don’t see something. We don’t say something. And we don’t know if it matters.”
Clinesmith actually worked on Robert Mueller’s team. He was tasked from the bureau to work with that team, which then submitted his falsified document to the FISA court. That’s crucially important. If attorneys on the special counsel team knew about his crime and did nothing to inform the court, if they continued to use a document they knew was fraudulent, they will face charges. That would implicate Mueller’s team for the first time in illegal activity to undermine the Trump presidency. That’s a much bigger matter than writing a biased report.
We know from other declassified documents that it wasn’t just Mueller’s FISA application that had false information. All four applications did. Indeed, they depended on it, especially on the Steele dossier. Then-Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe testified that, without Steele, the warrants would not have been granted. Yet none of the agents and prosecutors ever told the FISA court about fraud, misrepresentation, and bias from Steele, Clinesmith, or others.
The Mueller team must have known Clinesmith’s actions were a problem. They didn’t just get rid him, they tried to shift the blame. That’s the meaning of an opaque footnote in their report, which said that the bureau, not the Mueller team, supervised “an FBI attorney" who worked for the special counsel. Hey, it’s them, not us!
This CYA footnote, clever as it is, doesn't mean the Mueller team was ignorant of Clinesmith's fraud when they submitted the FISA warrant application. Nor does it absolve them of responsibility for failing to tell the court promptly when they suddenly “discovered” it was inaccurate.
Did Clinesmith act alone or did anyone tell him to alter the document? That’s a critical question, and Durham has not answered it yet. Nor has he said who knew what Clinesmith had done. Again, the key to proving that is either a paper trail or multiple cooperating witnesses. We should get Durham’s answers when he issues more indictments.
Who Should Be Nervous?
Anyone who worked on Crossfire Hurricane with Clinesmith. You can bet he is telling Durham everything he knows. Any plea deal would require complete disclosure. Durham could have charged him with a more serious crime, requiring a longer prison sentence. Prosecutors don’t grant such leniency without getting something valuable in return (unless they are investigating Hillary Clinton, whose top aides received immunity for free). Durham is no such patsy. He would not go easy on Clinesmith unless he got useful information in return.
Real trouble looms for anybody on the Mueller team or elsewhere at the DoJ and FBI who knew that Clinesmith had altered the CIA email to change its meaning. There’s even worse trouble ahead for those who ordered him to commit a crime. To prove those charges, Durham needs documents or multiple eyewitnesses. Clinesmith can point prosecutors in the right direction, but his word alone won’t do.
What Do We Still Need to Know About the FISA Investigation?
The main questions are “how wide is this corruption?” and “how high up does it go?” Those go well beyond Clinesmith’s altered document. They include all the other lies in the warrants.
Does Durham have enough evidence—and fortitude—to charge senior officials who signed false applications? They will say, as former-Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein did to Congress, that they relied entirely on subordinates to give them complete, honest information. To rebut that, Durham needs hard evidence. He may also feel he needs evidence of intent. The higher up you go, the more evidence you need. We talk, rightly, about equality under the law, but, in practice, prosecutors want stronger, more unequivocal evidence to charge senior officials.
Were all the lies and misinformation a concerted effort, a true criminal conspiracy? That will be one of Durham’s toughest calls, and it would need approval from Attorney General William Barr. Such a charge would ignite a political firestorm, fueled by partisan media. But, then, so does everything these days.
To return to the metaphor of the endangered dam . . . the Clinesmith indictment is a telling puddle where the ground should be dry. It’s a troubling omen for those who violated Carter Page’s rights, spied on the Trump campaign, and systematically abused the powerful tools of law enforcement. They are living downstream, and they should be worried.


wnd--2020-08-19--DOJ fights to protect U.S. soldiers' personal property while they are overseas

The Justice Department launched a campaign on Tuesday to protect the belongings of U.S. soldiers deployed overseas with two lawsuits against companies that illegally sold off a soldier 's towed car and auctioned household goods left in storage .
The first lawsuit , filed in the Middle District of Florida , alleges Target Recovery Towing and Target Recovery & Transport of Tampa , Florida , violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act .
The complaint argues the company failed to get a court order before auctioning a car belonging to a U.S. Marine Corps sergeant .
TRENDING : How Obama 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to light The law provides financial and housing protections to service members and prohibits towing companies from selling their vehicles without a court order .
The law requires the companies – or leinholders – to find out if any property in their possession belongs to a service member and is therefore protected .
The complaint explains the car that Target sold had a military decal on it , contained military documents and had her address at a U.S. Marine Corps base .
`` Imagine returning home after honorably serving your country only to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and its contents are gone and lost to you forever as a result of a towing company 's callous disregard of the law , '' said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Justice Department ’ s Civil Rights Division .
`` The Justice Department is committed to protecting the rights of the men and women in our Armed Forces , and putting a stop to these unlawful business practices . ''
Maria Chapa Lopez , U.S. attorney for the region , said the law is clear .
`` We owe it to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rights while they are deployed protecting our rights and our freedom , '' she said .
The circumstances in the second case were similar .
This times it was household goods left in storage at PRTaylor Enterprises , doing business as Father & Son Moving & Storage in Billerica , Massachusetts .
The company auctioned the contents of two storage units that were rented by a U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant who was deployed overseas .
The same law makes it illegal to auction off service members ' belongings without a court order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ medals , a handmade dresser and other personal items were lost .
Dreiband said the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act outlawed the conduct for good reason .
`` No individual or organization should be able to get away with the kind of devastation this young man suffered when he returned home from an overseas deployment and learned that many of his most valued family mementos were gone , '' he said .
`` The law protects servicemembers from losing their property , including items of great sentimental value , because of their service .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ensure the servicemember `` receives just compensation and to prevent this from happening to another member of our military . ''
`` We must and will put an end to these unlawful business practices . ''

The Justice Department launched a campaign on Tuesday to protect the belongings of U.S. soldiers deployed overseas with two lawsuits against companies that illegally sold off a soldier's towed car and auctioned household goods left in storage.
The first lawsuit, filed in the Middle District of Florida, alleges Target Recovery Towing and Target Recovery & Transport of Tampa, Florida, violated the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
The complaint argues the company failed to get a court order before auctioning a car belonging to a U.S. Marine Corps sergeant.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The law provides financial and housing protections to service members and prohibits towing companies from selling their vehicles without a court order.
The law requires the companies – or leinholders – to find out if any property in their possession belongs to a service member and is therefore protected.
The complaint explains the car that Target sold had a military decal on it, contained military documents and had her address at a U.S. Marine Corps base.
"Imagine returning home after honorably serving your country only to find that your sole means of transportation and its contents are gone and lost to you forever as a result of a towing company's callous disregard of the law," said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. "The Justice Department is committed to protecting the rights of the men and women in our Armed Forces, and putting a stop to these unlawful business practices."
Maria Chapa Lopez, U.S. attorney for the region, said the law is clear.
"We owe it to all military servicemembers to vigorously protect their rights while they are deployed protecting our rights and our freedom," she said.
The circumstances in the second case were similar. This times it was household goods left in storage at PRTaylor Enterprises, doing business as Father & Son Moving & Storage in Billerica, Massachusetts.
The company auctioned the contents of two storage units that were rented by a U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant who was deployed overseas.
The same law makes it illegal to auction off service members' belongings without a court order. Military gear and mementos, service medals, a handmade dresser and other personal items were lost.
Dreiband said the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act outlawed the conduct for good reason.
"No individual or organization should be able to get away with the kind of devastation this young man suffered when he returned home from an overseas deployment and learned that many of his most valued family mementos were gone," he said. "The law protects servicemembers from losing their property, including items of great sentimental value, because of their service."
He said the lawsuit is meant to ensure the servicemember "receives just compensation and to prevent this from happening to another member of our military."
"We must and will put an end to these unlawful business practices."


wnd--2020-08-19--Facebook, Twitter scrubbed posts of hundreds of conservative users

Joe Biden has received preferential treatment from the social media giants , according to an analysis released Tuesday that found Facebook and Twitter scrubbed the posts of more than 260 conservative users .
The Media Research Center 's latest TechWatch Report said the organization has collected and independently verified incidents of censorship since March 2020 .
It found 129 of the incidents on Facebook and 131 on Twitter .
Donald Trump Jr. told MRC he plans to ensure Republicans do n't allow the `` seemingly coordinated campaign '' against his father to continue .
`` Since my father won the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engaging in a seemingly coordinated campaign to stifle and suppress right of center voices , '' he said .
TRENDING : How Obama 's infamous 'lie of the year ' came to light “ Though they will of course claim otherwise , the obvious goals of these left-wing tech companies is both to make my father a one-term president and to ensure Democrat control of Congress moving forward . ''
Trump Jr. told MRC that Democrats are `` willing to engage in blatant election interference to make those dreams a reality . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he said , `` hold immense power in our Republic '' and Republicans must take action .
`` It 's long past due for elected Republicans to finally take seriously the threats that these near-monopolies pose to our inalienable rights and hold them accountable legislatively for their abuses , '' he said .
MRC analysts Corinne Weaver and Heather Moon wrote that posting `` an innocent meme showing light coming from Biden 's eyes meant an immediate suspension on Twitter for anywhere between 12 hours and two months . ''
On Facebook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hugging , sniffing or kissing children and called his behavior `` creepy '' also had their posts removed .
Behavioral researcher Robert Epstein , whose studies of tech bias indicated Google shifted as many as 3 million votes to Hillary Clinton in 2016 , told Weaver and Moon the censorship is `` election interference '' that `` could be considered a valuable , undeclared , in-kind contribution to a political campaign , which is unlawful . ''
`` Facebook and Twitter openly deny working with Biden .
Yet the platforms appear to cover @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` Actions speak louder than words .
Both social media platforms are using their algorithms to muffle negative statements or jokes about Biden . ''

Joe Biden has received preferential treatment from the social media giants, according to an analysis released Tuesday that found Facebook and Twitter scrubbed the posts of more than 260 conservative users.
The Media Research Center's latest TechWatch Report said the organization has collected and independently verified incidents of censorship since March 2020. It found 129 of the incidents on Facebook and 131 on Twitter.
Donald Trump Jr. told MRC he plans to ensure Republicans don't allow the "seemingly coordinated campaign" against his father to continue.
"Since my father won the 2016 election, Big Tech has been engaging in a seemingly coordinated campaign to stifle and suppress right of center voices," he said.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
“Though they will of course claim otherwise, the obvious goals of these left-wing tech companies is both to make my father a one-term president and to ensure Democrat control of Congress moving forward."
Trump Jr. told MRC that Democrats are "willing to engage in blatant election interference to make those dreams a reality."
Facebook, Twitter and other tech companies, he said, "hold immense power in our Republic" and Republicans must take action.
"It's long past due for elected Republicans to finally take seriously the threats that these near-monopolies pose to our inalienable rights and hold them accountable legislatively for their abuses," he said.
Should action be taken against Big Tech for suppressing conservative voices? Yes No Completing this poll entitles you to WND news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use You're logged in to Facebook. Click here to log out. 96% (54 Votes) 4% (2 Votes)
MRC analysts Corinne Weaver and Heather Moon wrote that posting "an innocent meme showing light coming from Biden's eyes meant an immediate suspension on Twitter for anywhere between 12 hours and two months."
On Facebook, users who posted photos of Biden hugging, sniffing or kissing children and called his behavior "creepy" also had their posts removed.
Behavioral researcher Robert Epstein, whose studies of tech bias indicated Google shifted as many as 3 million votes to Hillary Clinton in 2016, told Weaver and Moon the censorship is "election interference" that "could be considered a valuable, undeclared, in-kind contribution to a political campaign, which is unlawful."
Posts deleted by Facebook include "a stammering Biden accidentally endorsing Trump."
Twitter has censored memes that highlight Biden's cognitive struggles.
"Facebook and Twitter openly deny working with Biden. Yet the platforms appear to cover for him," the MRC researchers said. "Actions speak louder than words. Both social media platforms are using their algorithms to muffle negative statements or jokes about Biden."


wnd--2020-08-19--Lockdown warning: 'Our families are starving,' they'll become 'revolutionary citizens real soon'

A military veteran business owner in Northern California lit into his county 's leaders at a board of supervisors meeting , warning that restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic are threatening the lives of his family and many others .
`` This is a warning for what 's coming ; it ’ s not going to be peaceful for much longer , '' Carlos Zapata told the Shasta County board in Redding , California , on Aug. 11 .
Zapata , who said the families of business owners who have been shut down are `` starving , '' was one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the meeting .
Redding.com reported that after the meeting , officials in Shasta County , which tends to vote Republican , blamed Democratic Gov .
Gavin Newsom for the restrictions .
TRENDING : How Obama 's infamous 'lie of the year ' came to light '' Our local health officer has not made any restrictions over and above what the state of California has , so we are doing all that we can to keep the county as open as possible , '' said Donnell Ewert , the county 's Health and Human @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , nevertheless , Zapata directed his animus to the county board .
`` I 'm pretty appalled at what 's going on .
At first we sat as concerned citizens , and we all wanted to best figure out how to navigate our way through this COVID thing , '' he said .
`` As we realized that it 's not as quite as dangerous as we thought it would be , I was absolutely appalled at the cowardice — and you guys are sitting here with your masks on — I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because I would be hiding my face if I was you for what you ’ re doing , '' he said .
`` I 'm a business owner and I 'm telling you , our families are starving , '' Zapata continued .
`` You guys can sit here with your jobs — you ’ re gon na sit here and get paid to fall asleep in your chair like that gentleman ’ s doing behind his mask right there , '' said Zapata .
`` Right now we 're being peaceful , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good citizens , that we 're peaceful citizens , but it 's not gon na be peaceful much longer .
And this isn ’ t a threat — I ’ m not a criminal , I 've never been a criminal but I ’ m telling you real good citizens are going to turn into real concerned and revolutionary citizens real soon , '' he said .
`` And nobody else is gon na say that .
I ’ m probably the only person that has the balls to say what I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re building and we 're organizing and we ’ ll work with law enforcement or without law enforcement , '' he said .
`` but you won ’ t stop us when the time comes because our families are starving !
Zapata said he went to war for the United States and is willing to fight again to save the country .
`` If it has to be against our own citizens , it will happen , '' he said .
`` And there 's a million people like me , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Open the county .
Let our citizens do what they need to do .
let owner of b do what they n to do to feed their families .
Zapata said he knows six veterans who have committed suicide after losing their jobs .
`` How do you feel about being complicit and perpetuating that -- the greatest hoax ever perpetuated on the American people ? ''

A military veteran business owner in Northern California lit into his county's leaders at a board of supervisors meeting, warning that restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic are threatening the lives of his family and many others.
"This is a warning for what's coming; it’s not going to be peaceful for much longer," Carlos Zapata told the Shasta County board in Redding, California, on Aug. 11.
Zapata, who said the families of business owners who have been shut down are "starving," was one of about 80 citizens who spoke at the meeting.
Redding.com reported that after the meeting, officials in Shasta County, which tends to vote Republican, blamed Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom for the restrictions.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
"Our local health officer has not made any restrictions over and above what the state of California has, so we are doing all that we can to keep the county as open as possible," said Donnell Ewert, the county's Health and Human Services Agency director.
At the meeting, nevertheless, Zapata directed his animus to the county board.
"I'm pretty appalled at what's going on. At first we sat as concerned citizens, and we all wanted to best figure out how to navigate our way through this COVID thing," he said. "As we realized that it's not as quite as dangerous as we thought it would be, I was absolutely appalled at the cowardice — and you guys are sitting here with your masks on — I don’t blame you for wearing masks because I would be hiding my face if I was you for what you’re doing," he said.
"I'm a business owner and I'm telling you, our families are starving," Zapata continued. "You guys can sit here with your jobs — you’re gonna sit here and get paid to fall asleep in your chair like that gentleman’s doing behind his mask right there," said Zapata.
Do you expect Americans to become violent in ending the lockdowns? Yes No Completing this poll entitles you to WND news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use You're logged in to Facebook. Click here to log out. 92% (613 Votes) 8% (54 Votes)
He then issued a warning.
"Right now we're being peaceful, and you better be happy we're good citizens, that we're peaceful citizens, but it's not gonna be peaceful much longer. And this isn’t a threat — I’m not a criminal, I've never been a criminal but I’m telling you real good citizens are going to turn into real concerned and revolutionary citizens real soon," he said. "And nobody else is gonna say that. I’m probably the only person that has the balls to say what I’m saying right now.
See the speech:
ICYMI Stop what you’re doing & listen to this man. He speaks for millions of fed up Americans. “Our families are starving.....the revolution is coming”. #ShastaCounty pic.twitter.com/pJRZY9io1r — Femme🇺🇸 (@RealBasedMAGA) August 18, 2020
"We’re building and we're organizing and we’ll work with law enforcement or without law enforcement," he said. "but you won’t stop us when the time comes because our families are starving!
Zapata said he went to war for the United States and is willing to fight again to save the country.
"If it has to be against our own citizens, it will happen," he said. "And there's a million people like me, and you won't stop us.
"Open the county. Let our citizens do what they need to do. Let owners of businesses do what they need to do to feed their families."
Zapata said he knows six veterans who have committed suicide after losing their jobs.
"How do you feel about being complicit and perpetuating that -- the greatest hoax ever perpetuated on the American people?"