thelibertydaily--2020-01-11--David Limbaugh: Pelosi’s Democrats Threaten Democracy in the Name of Protecting It

Did you notice how presidential President Donald Trump appeared at his press conference on Iran ?
It was a fitting symbol for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ’ s colossal failure in withholding the impeachment articles from the Senate .
Whatever Pelosi ’ s loony strategy — her unorthodox decision to withhold is only about strategy and not principle — she has ensured that the hyperpartisan impeachment will be viewed for exactly what it was .
For all the Democrats ’ manufactured impeachment drama , people seem to care less and less about their shameless effort to affix a scarlet letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Have you also noticed that no one can quite figure out Pelosi ’ s angle in refusing to deliver the articles ?
You would think that with something as momentous as impeachment , people would have some idea about Pelosi ’ s mindset , but instead we get an anarchy of disparate theories , none of which resonate because you can ’ t make sense out of anything so nonsensical — and wrongheaded .
It is inexcusable for her and her colleagues to have put the nation through that ordeal , representing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s impeachment and removal was of unparalleled urgency , only to discontinue the proceedings when she gets the House to vote for impeachment .
She would have us believe that she is bargaining for Sen. Mitch McConnell to accede to her demands on the conduct of the Senate trial .
For argument ’ s sake , let ’ s assume she ’ s shooting us straight .
Who in her right mind , including Pelosi , thinks that McConnell will or should bargain with Pelosi on this , when the impeachment trials are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not the House ?
Pelosi knew McConnell wouldn ’ t be that foolish or weak , so she obviously isn ’ t bargaining with him .
Maybe she ’ s posturing for political purposes , betting that her cute trick will ultimately put the Democratic House witch hunters in a more favorable light and Trump in a less favorable one .
Too bad for her — that ’ s not happening , either .
Consider : Pelosi crammed through an impeachment following an unfair , partisan proceeding that denied the president basic fairness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for alleged misconduct that , if true , doesn ’ t constitute a crime , much less a high crime or misdemeanor .
The Democrats ’ whole case was based on secondhand and speculative evidence , and partisan presumptions without any proof of Trump ’ s criminal intent .
Help us champion truth , freedom , limited government and human dignity .
Support The Stream » Now , having unilaterally denied Trump due process , she demands that McConnell give her assurances he won ’ t behave as badly as she has .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but not on McConnell .
McConnell owes her nothing , and he ’ s not going to give her anything .
He has already said he wants the Senate to apply the same rules that governed former President Bill Clinton ’ s trial , which was good enough for Democrats then — and remember that Clinton ’ s impeachment , unlike Trump ’ s , was bipartisan .
Another possible Pelosi motive is that she wants the impeachment stain to stand and is thus trying to deny Trump the chance to defend himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to denying him yet another right : a fair and speedy trial in the Senate .
It ’ s also rich that Pelosi is holding out for guarantees of fairness from Senate Republicans on procedure considering that some Senate Democrats such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren have essentially admitted that they ’ ve already made up their mind on the substance of the charges — and that Trump is guilty .
What ’ s the Actual Threat to Our Democracy ?
Pelosi contends that Trump is unfit for office because he abused his power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to “ our democracy.
” Yet by playing cynical games with a matter that is of grave importance to our system — the removal of the nation ’ s chief executive and commander in chief — she is abusing her power , obstructing the Senate from conducting its constitutional role in these proceedings and , thereby , interfering with “ our democracy.
” She ought to be impeached herself for putting the country through this charade .
Unfortunately for Pelosi and her ethics-challenged hatchet man Rep. Adam Schiff , an increasing number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tiring of her games and urging her to submit the articles .
As McConnell noted , “ Now , even fellow Democrats are expressing public concern over the Speaker ’ s endless appetite for these cynical games.
” By wrongfully withholding the articles of impeachment from the Senate , Pelosi has conclusively demonstrated that she and her Democrats are not crusading to protect “ our democracy ” from the dastardly Donald Trump .
They are trying to destroy Trump and are damaging “ our democracy ” in the process .
David Limbaugh is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His latest book is Guilty by Reason of Insanity : Why the Democrats Must Not Win .
Follow him on Twitter @ davidlimbaugh and his website at www.davidlimbaugh.com .
To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists , visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com .

Did you notice how presidential President Donald Trump appeared at his press conference on Iran? It was a fitting symbol for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s colossal failure in withholding the impeachment articles from the Senate.
Whatever Pelosi’s loony strategy — her unorthodox decision to withhold is only about strategy and not principle — she has ensured that the hyperpartisan impeachment will be viewed for exactly what it was. For all the Democrats’ manufactured impeachment drama, people seem to care less and less about their shameless effort to affix a scarlet letter to Trump’s presidential record.
Pelosi’s Angle on Trump’s Impeachment
Have you also noticed that no one can quite figure out Pelosi’s angle in refusing to deliver the articles? You would think that with something as momentous as impeachment, people would have some idea about Pelosi’s mindset, but instead we get an anarchy of disparate theories, none of which resonate because you can’t make sense out of anything so nonsensical — and wrongheaded.
It is inexcusable for her and her colleagues to have put the nation through that ordeal, representing to us that the matter of Trump’s impeachment and removal was of unparalleled urgency, only to discontinue the proceedings when she gets the House to vote for impeachment.
She would have us believe that she is bargaining for Sen. Mitch McConnell to accede to her demands on the conduct of the Senate trial. For argument’s sake, let’s assume she’s shooting us straight. Who in her right mind, including Pelosi, thinks that McConnell will or should bargain with Pelosi on this, when the impeachment trials are the sole prerogative of the Senate, not the House?
Pelosi knew McConnell wouldn’t be that foolish or weak, so she obviously isn’t bargaining with him. Maybe she’s posturing for political purposes, betting that her cute trick will ultimately put the Democratic House witch hunters in a more favorable light and Trump in a less favorable one. Too bad for her — that’s not happening, either.
An Unfair, Partisan Proceeding
Consider: Pelosi crammed through an impeachment following an unfair, partisan proceeding that denied the president basic fairness and due process. The impeachment was for alleged misconduct that, if true, doesn’t constitute a crime, much less a high crime or misdemeanor. The Democrats’ whole case was based on secondhand and speculative evidence, and partisan presumptions without any proof of Trump’s criminal intent.
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Now, having unilaterally denied Trump due process, she demands that McConnell give her assurances he won’t behave as badly as she has. That might work on Sen. Mitt Romney but not on McConnell. McConnell owes her nothing, and he’s not going to give her anything. He has already said he wants the Senate to apply the same rules that governed former President Bill Clinton’s trial, which was good enough for Democrats then — and remember that Clinton’s impeachment, unlike Trump’s, was bipartisan.
Another possible Pelosi motive is that she wants the impeachment stain to stand and is thus trying to deny Trump the chance to defend himself in the Senate — which is equivalent to denying him yet another right: a fair and speedy trial in the Senate. It’s also rich that Pelosi is holding out for guarantees of fairness from Senate Republicans on procedure considering that some Senate Democrats such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren have essentially admitted that they’ve already made up their mind on the substance of the charges — and that Trump is guilty.
What’s the Actual Threat to Our Democracy?
Pelosi contends that Trump is unfit for office because he abused his power, obstructed Congress and is a threat to “our democracy.” Yet by playing cynical games with a matter that is of grave importance to our system — the removal of the nation’s chief executive and commander in chief — she is abusing her power, obstructing the Senate from conducting its constitutional role in these proceedings and, thereby, interfering with “our democracy.” She ought to be impeached herself for putting the country through this charade.
Unfortunately for Pelosi and her ethics-challenged hatchet man Rep. Adam Schiff, an increasing number of Democratic and independent congressmen and senators are tiring of her games and urging her to submit the articles. As McConnell noted, “Now, even fellow Democrats are expressing public concern over the Speaker’s endless appetite for these cynical games.”
By wrongfully withholding the articles of impeachment from the Senate, Pelosi has conclusively demonstrated that she and her Democrats are not crusading to protect “our democracy” from the dastardly Donald Trump. They are trying to destroy Trump and are damaging “our democracy” in the process.
David Limbaugh is a writer, author and attorney. His latest book is Guilty by Reason of Insanity: Why the Democrats Must Not Win. Follow him on Twitter @davidlimbaugh and his website at www.davidlimbaugh.com. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.
COPYRIGHT 2020 CREATORS.COM


thelibertydaily--2020-01-11--Radicalized by the Quran? A Former ISIS Wife Shares Her Story

Ex-Muslims aren ’ t rare in the West .
You might not know it , considering the media ’ s adoring fascination with converts to Islam .
But when the “ apostate ” is a woman and former member of ISIS ?
Then she ’ s hard to ignore .
See Tania Joya .
She burst onto the scene in 2019 , interviewed in dozens of outlets .
Most of those homed in , understandably , on how she wound up in the “ caliphate.
” And on why she left , as well as on her ex-husband .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and covered those topics .
But I also delved deeply into how Islamic theology affected her .
I asked her whether that religion ’ s teachings are “ radical ” — or merely mainstream for most Muslims .
Tania was raised by “ non-practicing ‘ Ramadan Muslims , ’ ” of Bangladeshi extraction , in the U.K .
Despite their lack of piety , they forced her “ to read Quran every day.
” In fact “ the very first book that ‘ radicalized ’ me was the Quran , ” notably the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” [ surah IX:5 ] .
But what really set her on the path to joining ISIS ?
When her cousin , who had gone to Oxford University as a “ normal secular girl , ” joined Hizb al-Tahrir or “ Party of Liberation.
” This group is dedicated to re-establishing the caliphate and works in many countries .
( Here is HT ’ s website , and an article I wrote on the organization after attending one of their conferences . )
Joya bought fully into HT ’ s goal , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Because “ I felt they weren ’ t militant enough.
” An added benefit of becoming a more fundamentalist Muslim — someone who “ takes their religion seriously ” — was that this annoyed her Muslim Lite parents .
So she already had a fanatical personality , even before she met a kindred spirit and married him .
John Georgelas was from Plano , Texas , and had converted to Islam in September 2001 , while in college at Texas A & M. Georgelas , according to Joya , had had a rough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t get along well with his father , a West Point graduate , physician and Air Force officer .
Experiencing depression , the son turned to drugs .
John also encountered theological problems , according to Tania .
Raised a Greek Orthodox Christian , he was attracted to the idea of the “ militant ” Christ of the book of Revelation .
He was also troubled by the idea of the Trinity .
So under the influence of his Tae Kwon Do instructor , Georgelas became a Muslim .
He then spent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saudi funding .
The next year , 2003 , Joya met him on a Muslim dating site .
He traveled to the U.K. , where they married after all of three days in March 2003 .
Georgelas , even more than most Muslims , was an excellent memorizer .
He is said to have memorized the entire Hans Wehr Arabic-English dictionary .
He also read many classical Arab Muslim works , such as Ibn Khaldun and Ibn Hazm .
( Ibn Khaldun was a 14th century North African Muslim historian .
Among other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the caliph .
Ibn Hazm , 300 years earlier , lived in Islamic Spain and promoted a literal interpretation of the Qur ’ an . )
Georgelas thus became an expert on “ sharia law and the criteria for the caliphate.
” Together , he and Joya “ were motivated to find a group that could implement sharia.
” They lived in Damascus for some time but returned to the U.S. and he took a job in Dallas .
But in 2006 he was arrested for hacking into AIPAC , the American-Israeli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years in prison .
By then , he was supporting al Qaeda and decrying the “ U.S .
war on Islam.
” Joya , on the other hand , was becoming “ more Americanized ” but remained a loyal Muslim wife .
Out of jail and off probation by 2011 , he wanted “ to get out of the Dar al-Harb , ” the “ world of war , ” and flee to the “ other ” part of the world — in classical Islamic geopolitics , The “ Dar al-Islam.
” So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me and the children we had to make hijrah to a Muslim country.
” ( The original hijrah , or “ emigration , ” was that of Muhammad and the early Muslims from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD . )
They went to Egypt , under the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood ’ s Muhammad Morsi .
But then he was overthrown in a popular coup by General Abd al-Fatah al-Sisi .
Georgelas wanted to go to Sudan , she to Malaysia .
But they “ compromised ” on Turkey .
Istanbul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he took the pregnant Joya and their three children to Gaziantep , near Syria .
From there , he relocated them to the town of Azaz , which was run by ISIS .
John Georgelas became known as Yahya Abu Hassan , or Yahya al-Bahrumi , while part of ISIS .
( See Graeme Wood ’ s excellent 2017 article for details on him . )
Joya lasted there three weeks .
She persuaded her now-jihadist husband to let her and the children ( 8 , 4 and 18 months ) go .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ from an American family he treated me more nicely than women married to Arabs or Pakistanis.
” So “ the compassionate side of him let me take the kids and leave.
” Her husband dropped them off at the Turkish border , and the family eventually made it to Istanbul , then to the U.K. and finally Texas — thanks to John ’ s parents providing significant funds .
Help us champion truth , freedom , limited government and human dignity .
Support The Stream » Her Children Are Christians Now He remarried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ d left , fathering at least two more children .
Sometime in 2016 they stopped communicating , which they had done previously on Skype and Telegram — mainly for the kids ’ sakes .
Joya is unsure if he is alive , although some journalists have told her he is hiding out in Turkey .
According to Wood , John “ al-Bahrumi ” had become a respected Islamic scholar , responsible for much of the content in ISIS publications and even perhaps rising to the rank of second-in-command of the organization .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ street from John ’ s parents , in Plano , Texas .
The children are Greek Orthodox , while she herself “ went to a Unitarian church for a while , but it was full of hippies ” so she “ follows Jewish practices ” but has not converted .
ISIS draws men and women for a variety of reasons , according to Joya .
Some “ to get a wife ” ( or wives ) .
But it also attracts “ pedophiles.
” Remember , the founder of Islam “ was into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6 years old.
” Muhammad married Aisha when she was that age , according to Islamic sources .
He also had “ all those wives ” ( as many as 15 ) .
“ A lot of the young , naïve girls did not know what to expect .
We were told we had to obey our husbands .
A lot of these women went to Syria and got exploited — pimped out .
Contract marriages till the husband died , then you went to the next guy.
” ISIS , she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to behead people ” a rationale for doing so .
( ISIS is not alone in this within Islam , however . )
Still , the main reason Muslims joined ISIS was the caliphate and its emphasis on jihad .
Some she encountered also believed in the Mahdi , the Islamic messianic figure .
( Eschatology was in fact a main driver of ISIS , certainly according to its online publications . )
ISIS members fell into two camps .
The vast majority were Salafis , who aimed to imitate the “ worthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A small , but influential , minority were Zahiris — “ externalists ” or , literally , “ literalists.
” These , which included Joya ’ s ex-husband , believe the apparent meaning of a Qur ’ an or Hadith ( saying of Muhammad ) verse is the only one acceptable .
They reject analogizing from such texts to find new applications , something even Salafis will do .
But the two camps do agree vigorously on one major point : waging violent jihad .
Joya maintains that Salafis are the worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often told her husband “ if I wanted to live under them , I ’ d go to Saudi Arabia.
” The last major issue we discussed was “ de-radicalization.
” ( Joya now works with Clarion on setting up such programs for former “ Islamists , ” under the rubric of “ preventing violent extremism.
” ) Specifically we discussed the case of Shemima Begum , another British Muslim woman who joined ISIS but is not being allowed back into the U.K. Joya did point out that “ if a former bride @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Begum at last report was still living in a Syrian refugee camp .
She may thus feel constrained to defend ISIS .
But if someone like her were to be allowed back in to a Western country , how might she be deprogrammed ?
Joya says that such should be on probation for at least a decade while undergoing intensive education .
This should include non-Muslim value systems , human rights , and in this country , the Constitution .
ISIS supporters who claim to be rehabilitated must prove they can “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is what I gleaned from Tania Joya , that no other interview with her will touch .
“ My understanding is if you ’ re properly ‘ deradicalized , ’ you ’ re not even going to want to be a Muslim , after understanding where Islam comes from.
” Muhammad was “ illiterate , but Muslims are taught that he was perfect .
I probably have more knowledge of the world than he did.
” She also agrees with the theory that Islam ’ s founder was an epileptic .
Beyond that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ was into child marriages with women as young as 6 .
According to Islamic sources , Muhammad married Aisha when she was 6 and “ consummated ” the marriage when she was 9 .
And then there were “ all those wives ” Muhammad had — at least 15 .
The first Muslim was also “ a warlord who took captives and sold slaves — and we ’ re commanded to live as he did ?
!
” Deradicalizing thus hinges on getting someone who believes in Muhammad to question whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” and whether imitating him would be “ good for humanity.
” Is It Possible to Be a Moderate Muslim ?
The recent London Bridge attacker , Usman Khan , had asked to participate in a deradicalization program .
But , Joya emphasizes , “ the problem with these is they just say to the person ‘ you ’ re following the wrong interpretation of Islam.
’ ” The failure of such programs has been known for some time .
But Joya goes much farther , into territory uncomfortable for most .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Muhammad and the teachings of both Quran and hadiths , there is no right interpretation of Islam .
( I have been saying something similar for at least a decade , although I do think some Islamic sects are peaceful .
See any number of posts on my website , this article , this more recent one , and my book Sects , Lies , and the Caliphate . )
I asked her , “ Is it even possible to be a moderate Muslim ?
” Her response : “ Yes , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to ‘ reform ’ Islam say ‘ we ’ re going to get out the violence and reject jihad and misogyny and homophobia and antisemitism.
’ But then you have to go to the Qur ’ an and edit those out of that book.
” In addition , “ there are so many hadiths , especially in the [ collection of ] al-Bukhari , that talk about how jihad is more valuable than prayer , and that you can ’ t have an ummah [ community ] without the caliphate.
” A moderate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that ’ s it.
” “ Islam is just such a horrible ideology .
I want to get a black dog.
” Why ?
“ Just because Muhammad was so afraid of them.
” Timothy Furnish holds a Ph.D. in Islamic , World and African history .
He is a former U.S. Army Arabic linguist and , later , civilian consultant to U.S. Special Operations Command .
He ’ s the author of books on the Middle East and Middle-earth ; a history professor ; and sometime media opiner ( as , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s War Stories : Fighting ISIS ) .

Ex-Muslims aren’t rare in the West. You might not know it, considering the media’s adoring fascination with converts to Islam. But when the “apostate” is a woman and former member of ISIS? Then she’s hard to ignore.
See Tania Joya. She burst onto the scene in 2019, interviewed in dozens of outlets. Most of those homed in, understandably, on how she wound up in the “caliphate.” And on why she left, as well as on her ex-husband. I interviewed Ms. Joya last month by telephone and covered those topics. But I also delved deeply into how Islamic theology affected her. I asked her whether that religion’s teachings are “radical” — or merely mainstream for most Muslims.
Joya’s Radicalization
Tania was raised by “non-practicing ‘Ramadan Muslims,’” of Bangladeshi extraction, in the U.K. Despite their lack of piety, they forced her “to read Quran every day.” In fact “the very first book that ‘radicalized’ me was the Quran,” notably the part mandating “kill the idol worshippers” [surah IX:5].
But what really set her on the path to joining ISIS? When her cousin, who had gone to Oxford University as a “normal secular girl,” joined Hizb al-Tahrir or “Party of Liberation.” This group is dedicated to re-establishing the caliphate and works in many countries. (Here is HT’s website, and an article I wrote on the organization after attending one of their conferences.) Joya bought fully into HT’s goal, but not its program.
Why not? Because “I felt they weren’t militant enough.” An added benefit of becoming a more fundamentalist Muslim — someone who “takes their religion seriously” — was that this annoyed her Muslim Lite parents. So she already had a fanatical personality, even before she met a kindred spirit and married him.
From Christian to Muslim
John Georgelas was from Plano, Texas, and had converted to Islam in September 2001, while in college at Texas A & M. Georgelas, according to Joya, had had a rough home life. In particular he didn’t get along well with his father, a West Point graduate, physician and Air Force officer. Experiencing depression, the son turned to drugs.
John also encountered theological problems, according to Tania. Raised a Greek Orthodox Christian, he was attracted to the idea of the “militant” Christ of the book of Revelation. He was also troubled by the idea of the Trinity. So under the influence of his Tae Kwon Do instructor, Georgelas became a Muslim.
Together, he and Joya “were motivated to find a group that could implement sharia.”
He then spent time studying in Damascus, thanks to Saudi funding. The next year, 2003, Joya met him on a Muslim dating site. He traveled to the U.K., where they married after all of three days in March 2003. Georgelas, even more than most Muslims, was an excellent memorizer. He is said to have memorized the entire Hans Wehr Arabic-English dictionary.
He also read many classical Arab Muslim works, such as Ibn Khaldun and Ibn Hazm. (Ibn Khaldun was a 14th century North African Muslim historian. Among other matters, he laid out the qualifications for the caliph. Ibn Hazm, 300 years earlier, lived in Islamic Spain and promoted a literal interpretation of the Qur’an.) Georgelas thus became an expert on “sharia law and the criteria for the caliphate.”
Joining ISIS
Together, he and Joya “were motivated to find a group that could implement sharia.” They lived in Damascus for some time but returned to the U.S. and he took a job in Dallas. But in 2006 he was arrested for hacking into AIPAC, the American-Israeli Public Affairs Committee, and spent three years in prison. By then, he was supporting al Qaeda and decrying the “U.S. war on Islam.” Joya, on the other hand, was becoming “more Americanized” but remained a loyal Muslim wife.
Out of jail and off probation by 2011, he wanted “to get out of the Dar al-Harb,” the “world of war,” and flee to the “other” part of the world — in classical Islamic geopolitics, The “Dar al-Islam.” So, says Joya, “to save me and the children we had to make hijrah to a Muslim country.” (The original hijrah, or “emigration,” was that of Muhammad and the early Muslims from Mecca to Medina in 622 AD.)
They went to Egypt, under the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Muhammad Morsi. But then he was overthrown in a popular coup by General Abd al-Fatah al-Sisi. Georgelas wanted to go to Sudan, she to Malaysia. But they “compromised” on Turkey. Istanbul proved too expensive, however, so he took the pregnant Joya and their three children to Gaziantep, near Syria. From there, he relocated them to the town of Azaz, which was run by ISIS.
Leaving Her Husband
John Georgelas became known as Yahya Abu Hassan, or Yahya al-Bahrumi, while part of ISIS. (See Graeme Wood’s excellent 2017 article for details on him.) Joya lasted there three weeks. She persuaded her now-jihadist husband to let her and the children (8, 4 and 18 months) go. Joya says that “because he came from an American family he treated me more nicely than women married to Arabs or Pakistanis.” So “the compassionate side of him let me take the kids and leave.”
Her husband dropped them off at the Turkish border, and the family eventually made it to Istanbul, then to the U.K. and finally Texas — thanks to John’s parents providing significant funds.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Her Children Are Christians Now
He remarried, perhaps twice, soon after she’d left, fathering at least two more children. Sometime in 2016 they stopped communicating, which they had done previously on Skype and Telegram — mainly for the kids’ sakes. Joya is unsure if he is alive, although some journalists have told her he is hiding out in Turkey. According to Wood, John “al-Bahrumi” had become a respected Islamic scholar, responsible for much of the content in ISIS publications and even perhaps rising to the rank of second-in-command of the organization.
Joya remarried and now lives across the street from John’s parents, in Plano, Texas. The children are Greek Orthodox, while she herself “went to a Unitarian church for a while, but it was full of hippies” so she “follows Jewish practices” but has not converted.
Why People Join ISIS
ISIS draws men and women for a variety of reasons, according to Joya. Some “to get a wife” (or wives). But it also attracts “pedophiles.” Remember, the founder of Islam “was into child marriage with women as young as 6 years old.” Muhammad married Aisha when she was that age, according to Islamic sources. He also had “all those wives” (as many as 15). “A lot of the young, naïve girls did not know what to expect. We were told we had to obey our husbands. A lot of these women went to Syria and got exploited — pimped out. Contract marriages till the husband died, then you went to the next guy.”
ISIS, she said, also gives “psychopaths who want to behead people” a rationale for doing so. (ISIS is not alone in this within Islam, however.)
Still, the main reason Muslims joined ISIS was the caliphate and its emphasis on jihad. Some she encountered also believed in the Mahdi, the Islamic messianic figure. (Eschatology was in fact a main driver of ISIS, certainly according to its online publications.)
Two Types of ISIS Members
ISIS members fell into two camps. The vast majority were Salafis, who aimed to imitate the “worthy ancestors” of Muhammad’s time. A small, but influential, minority were Zahiris — “externalists” or, literally, “literalists.” These, which included Joya’s ex-husband, believe the apparent meaning of a Qur’an or Hadith (saying of Muhammad) verse is the only one acceptable. They reject analogizing from such texts to find new applications, something even Salafis will do. But the two camps do agree vigorously on one major point: waging violent jihad. Joya maintains that Salafis are the worst of the two, however, and often told her husband “if I wanted to live under them, I’d go to Saudi Arabia.”
Proper De-Radicalization
The last major issue we discussed was “de-radicalization.” (Joya now works with Clarion on setting up such programs for former “Islamists,” under the rubric of “preventing violent extremism.”)
“If you’re properly ‘deradicalized,’ you’re not even going to want to be a Muslim.”
Specifically we discussed the case of Shemima Begum, another British Muslim woman who joined ISIS but is not being allowed back into the U.K. Joya did point out that “if a former bride discredits ISIS, she will be attacked.” Begum at last report was still living in a Syrian refugee camp. She may thus feel constrained to defend ISIS. But if someone like her were to be allowed back in to a Western country, how might she be deprogrammed? Joya says that such should be on probation for at least a decade while undergoing intensive education. This should include non-Muslim value systems, human rights, and in this country, the Constitution. ISIS supporters who claim to be rehabilitated must prove they can “question their own religion.”
Remaining Muslim?
And here is what I gleaned from Tania Joya, that no other interview with her will touch. “My understanding is if you’re properly ‘deradicalized,’ you’re not even going to want to be a Muslim, after understanding where Islam comes from.” Muhammad was “illiterate, but Muslims are taught that he was perfect. I probably have more knowledge of the world than he did.” She also agrees with the theory that Islam’s founder was an epileptic. Beyond that, Islam’s “Perfect Man” “was into child marriages with women as young as 6.
According to Islamic sources, Muhammad married Aisha when she was 6 and “consummated” the marriage when she was 9. And then there were “all those wives” Muhammad had — at least 15. The first Muslim was also “a warlord who took captives and sold slaves — and we’re commanded to live as he did?!”
Deradicalizing thus hinges on getting someone who believes in Muhammad to question whether such a person was “perfect,” and whether imitating him would be “good for humanity.”
Is It Possible to Be a Moderate Muslim?
The recent London Bridge attacker, Usman Khan, had asked to participate in a deradicalization program. But, Joya emphasizes, “the problem with these is they just say to the person ‘you’re following the wrong interpretation of Islam.’” The failure of such programs has been known for some time.
But Joya goes much farther, into territory uncomfortable for most. She was adamant that considering the example of Muhammad and the teachings of both Quran and hadiths, there is no right interpretation of Islam. (I have been saying something similar for at least a decade, although I do think some Islamic sects are peaceful. See any number of posts on my website, this article, this more recent one, and my book Sects, Lies, and the Caliphate.)
I asked her, “Is it even possible to be a moderate Muslim?” Her response: “Yes, but only culturally. The people who want to ‘reform’ Islam say ‘we’re going to get out the violence and reject jihad and misogyny and homophobia and antisemitism.’ But then you have to go to the Qur’an and edit those out of that book.”
In addition, “there are so many hadiths, especially in the [collection of] al-Bukhari, that talk about how jihad is more valuable than prayer, and that you can’t have an ummah [community] without the caliphate.” A moderate Islam would just “have some holidays and that’s it.”
“Islam is just such a horrible ideology. I want to get a black dog.” Why? “Just because Muhammad was so afraid of them.”
Timothy Furnish holds a Ph.D. in Islamic, World and African history. He is a former U.S. Army Arabic linguist and, later, civilian consultant to U.S. Special Operations Command. He’s the author of books on the Middle East and Middle-earth; a history professor; and sometime media opiner (as, for example, on Fox News Channel’s War Stories: Fighting ISIS).


thelibertydaily--2020-01-11--Democrat Senators in 2020 Race Face Lengthy Down Time From Campaigns After Impeachment Goes to Senat

Democrat Senators in 2020 Race Face Lengthy Down Time From Campaigns After Impeachment Goes to Senate

Senate Democrats running for their party 's nomination for president are facing a lengthy down time from their campaigns .
Others , including Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg , will be on the trail shaking hands every day .
It 's because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , after three weeks of trying to extract favorable terms , said she will take steps next week to send impeachment articles to the Senate .
The trial is expected to result in an acquittal for the president since the GOP holds the majority and impeachment requires a supermajority vote of two-thirds .
TRENDING @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when she finds out mortgage has been paid off An analysis by The Hill said the submission of the articles `` almost certainly guarantees that the five Democratic senators still running for their party ’ s presidential nomination will remain in Washington in the weeks leading up to the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 3 , depriving them of critical facetime with voters . ''
`` Palpable effects '' are expected for Sens .
Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren , the report said .
`` By taking Sanders and Warren off the campaign trail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the impeachment trial could lend an advantage to their top rivals , former Vice President Joe Biden and former South Bend , Ind.
, Mayor Pete Buttigieg , who are polling at or near the top of the pack in Iowa , '' the report said .
Three other senators , Cory Booker , Michael Bennet and Amy Klobuchar , need strong performances in Iowa , and the Senate trial will be viewed as `` an unwelcome obstacle . ''
Klobuchar already has said she will need help from `` everyone on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absence .
A trial could start as early as Wednesday .
`` It 's unclear just how long the impeachment trial will last .
But there 's little doubt that it will mean spending critical time off the campaign trail , especially in the leadup to the Iowa caucuses , the first nominating contest of 2020 and one of the most crucial in the primary calendar .
No Democrat since former President Bill Clinton has won their party 's nomination without taking the top spot in the Iowa caucuses , '' the report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The impeachment proceedings began with accusations that Trump had sought to pressure Ukrainian officials to launch an investigation into Biden and his son Hunter .
And Republicans have repeatedly accused the former vice president of working to oust a Ukrainian prosecutor who had investigated an energy company that employed his son . ''

Senate Democrats running for their party's nomination for president are facing a lengthy down time from their campaigns.
Others, including Joe Biden and Pete Buttigieg, will be on the trail shaking hands every day.
It's because House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, after three weeks of trying to extract favorable terms, said she will take steps next week to send impeachment articles to the Senate.
The trial is expected to result in an acquittal for the president since the GOP holds the majority and impeachment requires a supermajority vote of two-thirds.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
An analysis by The Hill said the submission of the articles "almost certainly guarantees that the five Democratic senators still running for their party’s presidential nomination will remain in Washington in the weeks leading up to the Iowa caucuses on Feb. 3, depriving them of critical facetime with voters."
"Palpable effects" are expected for Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, the report said.
"By taking Sanders and Warren off the campaign trail for what will likely be weeks, the impeachment trial could lend an advantage to their top rivals, former Vice President Joe Biden and former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who are polling at or near the top of the pack in Iowa," the report said.
Three other senators, Cory Booker, Michael Bennet and Amy Klobuchar, need strong performances in Iowa, and the Senate trial will be viewed as "an unwelcome obstacle."
Klobuchar already has said she will need help from "everyone on the ground in Iowa" to mitigate her absence.
A trial could start as early as Wednesday.
"It's unclear just how long the impeachment trial will last. But there's little doubt that it will mean spending critical time off the campaign trail, especially in the leadup to the Iowa caucuses, the first nominating contest of 2020 and one of the most crucial in the primary calendar. No Democrat since former President Bill Clinton has won their party's nomination without taking the top spot in the Iowa caucuses," the report said.
The Hill said: "The impeachment proceedings began with accusations that Trump had sought to pressure Ukrainian officials to launch an investigation into Biden and his son Hunter. And Republicans have repeatedly accused the former vice president of working to oust a Ukrainian prosecutor who had investigated an energy company that employed his son."


thelibertydaily--2020-01-12--Tech Industry Full of ‘Diversity’ of Thought Hypocrites

WASHINGTON -- When the Consumer Technology Association announced that Ivanka Trump , elder daughter and adviser to President Donald Trump , would be a keynote speaker at CES 2020 , some of the very people who had been pushing for more female speakers , and more diversity in general , at the country 's premier tech confab actually protested .
Some , such as Forbes ' Carolina Milanesi , argued that Trump was a bad choice because she lacked tech credentials .
`` There are many more women who are in tech and are entrepreneurs who could run circles around @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future of work , '' Milanesi wrote .
On social media others were more honest : They maintained that the first daughter should n't have a place on the stage because , well , she is a Trump -- and a distaff Trump , which made for some rather crude and misogynistic nicknames typed by anonymous scolds .
Yes , as critics point out , Ivanka Trump would not be on the stage if she were not the president 's daughter .
Her job exists because of nepotism .
But : Ivanka Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I 'll bet former veep Joe Biden wishes he could say the same about his son Hunter 's tenure at Ukrainian energy company Burisma . )
And rather than designing a portfolio that starts with accessories or branding -- where she cut her teeth in the private sector -- Ivanka Trump has waded into some of the least glamorous corners of government policy and often appears at events with the most soporific member of the Trump cabinet , Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross .
On the stage Tuesday with Gary Shapiro , the head @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Las Vegas convention , Trump did not talk like the airhead fashionista her detractors see .
To the contrary , the 38-year-old talked about her lack of sympathy for employers who lay off workers and then complain that they do n't have enough skilled workers .
They should have taken the time to `` reskill '' those workers , she argued .
She also advocated for employment opportunities for former prisoner inmates and the need to not over-peddle four-year college as the ticket to career success .
Her workforce portfolio also puts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Salesforce co-CEO Marc Benioff -- to whom she gave a shout-out Tuesday -- and Apple CEO Tim Cook , whose firms have signed the White House Pledge to American Workers .
Not a bad look for the Trump re-election campaign , even if this conservative misses the days when the right derided `` crony capitalism . ''
There 's another 2020 angle here .
POTUS frequently says that he is a man of America 's `` forgotten '' workers -- and there 's his raised-in-Manhattan daughter championing those who do n't have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump haters crazy that Ivanka has embraced the lunchbox workforce and the wonky jargon that surrounds training issues , rather than voguing like the Barbie doll wannabe they want her to be .
That 's why they did n't want her to speak at CES 2020 .
They did n't want other people to see it .
This talk about Ivanka Trump lacking credentials -- it 's cheap perfume to hide the stench of left-wing intolerance in the tech industry .
Just ask Brendan Eich , the one-time Mozilla CEO who was forced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learned that he had donated $ 1,000 to a 2008 California ballot measure to limit marriage to one man and one woman .
Californians voted for the measure , by the way .
But six years later the tech world found Eich 's past opposition to same-sex marriage a corporate capital offense .
The tech world makes a lot of noise about promoting diversity , but it does n't apply to diversity of thought .
Contact Debra J. Saunders at dsaunders @ reviewjournal.com or 202-662-7391 .
Follow @ DebraJSaunders on Twitter .

WASHINGTON -- When the Consumer Technology Association announced that Ivanka Trump, elder daughter and adviser to President Donald Trump, would be a keynote speaker at CES 2020, some of the very people who had been pushing for more female speakers, and more diversity in general, at the country's premier tech confab actually protested.
Some, such as Forbes' Carolina Milanesi, argued that Trump was a bad choice because she lacked tech credentials. "There are many more women who are in tech and are entrepreneurs who could run circles around Trump on how technology will impact the future of work," Milanesi wrote.
On social media others were more honest: They maintained that the first daughter shouldn't have a place on the stage because, well, she is a Trump -- and a distaff Trump, which made for some rather crude and misogynistic nicknames typed by anonymous scolds.
Yes, as critics point out, Ivanka Trump would not be on the stage if she were not the president's daughter. Her job exists because of nepotism.
But: Ivanka Trump works without cashing a paycheck. (I'll bet former veep Joe Biden wishes he could say the same about his son Hunter's tenure at Ukrainian energy company Burisma.)
And rather than designing a portfolio that starts with accessories or branding -- where she cut her teeth in the private sector -- Ivanka Trump has waded into some of the least glamorous corners of government policy and often appears at events with the most soporific member of the Trump cabinet, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.
On the stage Tuesday with Gary Shapiro, the head of the CTA, which puts on the Las Vegas convention, Trump did not talk like the airhead fashionista her detractors see.
To the contrary, the 38-year-old talked about her lack of sympathy for employers who lay off workers and then complain that they don't have enough skilled workers. They should have taken the time to "reskill" those workers, she argued. She also advocated for employment opportunities for former prisoner inmates and the need to not over-peddle four-year college as the ticket to career success.
Her workforce portfolio also puts Trump shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Salesforce co-CEO Marc Benioff -- to whom she gave a shout-out Tuesday -- and Apple CEO Tim Cook, whose firms have signed the White House Pledge to American Workers. Not a bad look for the Trump re-election campaign, even if this conservative misses the days when the right derided "crony capitalism."
There's another 2020 angle here. POTUS frequently says that he is a man of America's "forgotten" workers -- and there's his raised-in-Manhattan daughter championing those who don't have college educations.
I think it drives Trump haters crazy that Ivanka has embraced the lunchbox workforce and the wonky jargon that surrounds training issues, rather than voguing like the Barbie doll wannabe they want her to be.
That's why they didn't want her to speak at CES 2020. They didn't want other people to see it.
This talk about Ivanka Trump lacking credentials -- it's cheap perfume to hide the stench of left-wing intolerance in the tech industry. Just ask Brendan Eich, the one-time Mozilla CEO who was forced to resign in 2014 after it was learned that he had donated $1,000 to a 2008 California ballot measure to limit marriage to one man and one woman. Californians voted for the measure, by the way. But six years later the tech world found Eich's past opposition to same-sex marriage a corporate capital offense.
The tech world makes a lot of noise about promoting diversity, but it doesn't apply to diversity of thought.
Contact Debra J. Saunders at dsaunders@reviewjournal.com or 202-662-7391. Follow @DebraJSaunders on Twitter.


thelibertydaily--2020-01-12--How To Get Closer To God If You Don’t Attend Church

With the new year and decade off to a chaotic start , here are four “ Godly exercises ” that can help reduce stress but don ’ t require working out .
Instead , you exercise your mind and soul with thinking beyond yourself — beyond the world , into the heavenly realm , and back down again with a new perspective .
Now , let ’ s get real .
Any talk of “ God ” can be threatening , especially if you are not a churchgoer — and part of a growing trend .
According to the Pew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the decline in the U.S — especially among the largest population group known as Millennials , born between 1981 and 1996 .
Alternatively , instead of participating in any traditional Judeo/Christian religion , characterizing oneself as “ spiritual ” is popular , non-threatening , and culturally acceptable .
Subsequently , if “ spiritual ” means that you believe in a universal power greater than yourself — or not sure exactly what you believe , but like the moniker — you are cordially invited to begin “ exercising.
” Truthfully , I despise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was invented by atheists reluctant to acknowledge that nature is God ’ s handiwork .
Therefore , let ’ s state the obvious : “ Nature is God and God is Nature.
” More specifically , God ’ s awesomeness is continuously on display .
For example , when I see the sun rise out of the ocean with the most magnificent color pallet , I am left with only one thought , “ Praise Be To God.
” Finding God in nature is obvious because He is everywhere .
Thus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mountains ; forest ; in the sky ; on the ocean or scuba-diving under ; watching the sunrise or set ; gazing at the moon and the stars —looking at anything not made by man — concentrate on feeling His presence .
Talk to him .
Seriously , it ’ s as elementary as , “ Hi God , thanks for creating this beautiful scene.
” Conversely , if you don ’ t believe He is the Creator , be bold enough to tell Him .
( He might “ answer ” you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prepared . )
If you are interested in reading what the Bible says about God in nature , here is a link to 100 short passages .
Thanking God for nature brings us to exercise No .
2 : Thanking God for the many blessings in your life is easy , and He appreciates it .
All you have to say is , “ Thank you , Lord , for ( fill in the blank ) .
” However , you should say it often , humbly , and with the utmost sincerity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most awesome power expects you to thank Him .
He wants you to acknowledge Him .
He never gets tired of you thanking Him for the people you love in addition to all the gifts , talents , success , financial resources , and good health that you might take for granted because life is fragile — and you never know what tomorrow will bring .
Then , when days turn dark , I firmly believe that adverse occurrences are also from God .
He utilizes both good and bad to advance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so that He can use us for His greater glory .
But granted , understanding tragedy in one 's life is very difficult , and people often grow closer to Him during those times .
One of my favorite and famous Bible passages addresses that topic with “ all things ” as the operative phrase : “ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him , who have been called according to His purpose ” ( Romans 8:28 ) .
If the concept of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are 100 Bible passages you might enjoy browsing .
Our third exercise invokes a concept that has preoccupied great religious and scholarly minds for centuries — and to this day .
For the record , I am neither a great religious or scholarly mind .
However , through my faith journey from Judaism by birth , to Christianity at age 20 — I know the following is true : God is around 24/7 .
He is eternal .
He is always there for you .
The problem is you don ’ t think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t think about Him at all .
The beauty of this exercise is that you can practice it anywhere , at any time .
Seek God in your mind and heart .
Ask Him into your life .
Ask Him a question about an issue that is troubling you .
It ’ s called prayer .
But if that word sounds too “ religious , ” call this exercise a “ conversation with God.
” God is not confined within the walls of a church .
( Although that is always a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Him is like opening a window , but you must first do the opening .
Here is a popular Bible passage on this topic : `` Ask and it will be given to you ; seek and you will find ; knock and the door will be opened to you ” ( Matthew 7:7 ) .
Are you motivated to seek and ask ?
Check out these Bible verses for inspiration .
Our last exercise encompasses all of the above .
After you “ practice ” finding God in nature , thanking Him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more compelled you will be to praise and glorify Him in your life with words and deeds .
That is because He will make His presence known to you .
I have no idea how or when , only that He will .
Once again , here are Bible passages to assist you with praising and glorifying God .
Finally , it is important to note that for the purpose of these exercises , you can either contemplate God or Jesus .
I will leave identity in HIS hands .

With the new year and decade off to a chaotic start, here are four “Godly exercises” that can help reduce stress but don’t require working out. Instead, you exercise your mind and soul with thinking beyond yourself – beyond the world, into the heavenly realm, and back down again with a new perspective.
Now, let’s get real. Any talk of “God” can be threatening, especially if you are not a churchgoer — and part of a growing trend. According to the Pew Research Center , church attendance and Christianity is on the decline in the U.S — especially among the largest population group known as Millennials, born between 1981 and 1996.
Alternatively, instead of participating in any traditional Judeo/Christian religion, characterizing oneself as “spiritual” is popular, non-threatening, and culturally acceptable. Subsequently, if “spiritual” means that you believe in a universal power greater than yourself — or not sure exactly what you believe, but like the moniker — you are cordially invited to begin “exercising.”
Finding God in Mother Nature
Truthfully, I despise the term “Mother Nature.” Surely it was invented by atheists reluctant to acknowledge that nature is God’s handiwork. Therefore, let’s state the obvious: “Nature is God and God is Nature.” More specifically, God’s awesomeness is continuously on display. For example, when I see the sun rise out of the ocean with the most magnificent color pallet, I am left with only one thought, “Praise Be To God.”
Finding God in nature is obvious because He is everywhere. Thus, the next time you are surrounded by mountains; forest; in the sky; on the ocean or scuba-diving under; watching the sunrise or set; gazing at the moon and the stars —looking at anything not made by man — concentrate on feeling His presence. Talk to him. Seriously, it’s as elementary as, “Hi God, thanks for creating this beautiful scene.”
Conversely, if you don’t believe He is the Creator, be bold enough to tell Him. (He might “answer” you in a profound way, so be prepared.) If you are interested in reading what the Bible says about God in nature, here is a link to 100 short passages.
Thanking God for nature brings us to exercise No. 2:
Thanking Him in General
Thanking God for the many blessings in your life is easy, and He appreciates it. All you have to say is, “Thank you, Lord, for (fill in the blank).” However, you should say it often, humbly, and with the utmost sincerity.
The “One” with the most awesome power expects you to thank Him. He wants you to acknowledge Him. He never gets tired of you thanking Him for the people you love in addition to all the gifts, talents, success, financial resources, and good health that you might take for granted because life is fragile — and you never know what tomorrow will bring. Then, when days turn dark, I firmly believe that adverse occurrences are also from God. He utilizes both good and bad to advance, sharpen and often “break” us so that He can use us for His greater glory. But granted, understanding tragedy in one's life is very difficult, and people often grow closer to Him during those times.
One of my favorite and famous Bible passages addresses that topic with “all things” as the operative phrase: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
If the concept of thanking God resonates with you, here are 100 Bible passages you might enjoy browsing.
Seeking Him/Asking Him
Our third exercise invokes a concept that has preoccupied great religious and scholarly minds for centuries — and to this day. For the record, I am neither a great religious or scholarly mind. However, through my faith journey from Judaism by birth, to Christianity at age 20 – I know the following is true: God is around 24/7. He is eternal. He is always there for you. The problem is you don’t think He is, or you don’t think about Him at all.
The beauty of this exercise is that you can practice it anywhere, at any time. Seek God in your mind and heart. Ask Him into your life. Ask Him a question about an issue that is troubling you. It’s called prayer. But if that word sounds too “religious,” call this exercise a “conversation with God.”
God is not confined within the walls of a church. (Although that is always a good place to find Him.) Seeking Him is like opening a window, but you must first do the opening.
Here is a popular Bible passage on this topic: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).
Are you motivated to seek and ask? Check out these Bible verses for inspiration.
Praising and Glorifying Him
Our last exercise encompasses all of the above. After you “practice” finding God in nature, thanking Him, seeking and asking Him — the more compelled you will be to praise and glorify Him in your life with words and deeds. That is because He will make His presence known to you. I have no idea how or when, only that He will.
Once again, here are Bible passages to assist you with praising and glorifying God.
Finally, it is important to note that for the purpose of these exercises, you can either contemplate God or Jesus. I will leave identity in HIS hands.


thelibertydaily--2020-01-12--FBI Attorney Dana Boente Signed FBI Response to FISA Court Abuse – Same Dirty Cop Who Signed Fraudul

FBI Attorney Dana Boente Signed FBI Response to FISA Court Abuse – Same Dirty Cop Who Signed Fraudulent Carter Page FISA Warrant

CORRUPT AS HELL !
FBI Attorney Dana Boente Signed FBI Response to FISA Court Abuse – This Is Same Dirty Cop Who Signed Fraudulent Carter Page FISA Warrant !
The FBI responded to the FISA Court ’ s request for information on what it will do to ensure FISA Warrants in the future are no longer fraudulent bags of garbage .
Based on who signed the FBI ’ s response , it ’ s clear that the FBI will do nothing to ensure the reliability and legality of FISA Warrant applications .
We reported over a month ago that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past few years about abuse and criminal actions by the Obama Administration .
These warnings were ignored until the latest actions after the DOJ ’ s devastating FISA Abuse report regarding the Carter Page FISA warrants .
What took so long ?
Jeff Dunetz reported at the Lidblog the following : After the Horowitz report was issued , Judge Collyer , head of the FISA Court , ripped the FBI for the falsehoods used on applications to wiretap former Trump campaign aide Carter Page .
The judge ordered the agency to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other abnormalities and recommend solutions to prevent falsehoods from ever happening again , all by January 10th .
But is Judge Collyer and the FISA court just as culpable as the FBI ?
The court was provided multiple warnings since 2016 that the warrant application process , especially in the case of Carter Page .
Dunetz reminded readers that the first warning the FISA Court had was in October of 2016 shortly before the 2016 election : Admiral Rogers ordered an audit of the FISA process and the results were shared with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ report was released with multiple redactions in April 2017 .
We reported in April of 2018 that the stunning April 2017 report covered results of an investigation or audit into FISA searches made by Obama ’ s NSA , FBI and DOJ during Obama ’ s time in office .
The report stated that James Clapper ’ s NSA had an institutional “ lack of candor ” .
Also , the FISA Court Ruling showed widespread abuse of the FISA mandate .
According to the report , Obama ’ s FBI , NSA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were against their 4th Amendment rights .
This went on for years .
One paragraph in the report states that 85 % of the Section 704 and 705 ( b ) FISA searches made during the time of the audit ( a few months in 2015 ) were non-compliant with applicable laws and therefore criminal .
For some reason this report led to little action from the FISA Court .
According to Dunetz , in 2017 , Landmark Legal Foundation , a Law Firm that has Mark Levin as Chairman tried to bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2018 Rep. Mark Meadows sent a letter to the Court asking Judge Collyer to investigate FISA abuses .
Dunetz then reported that Rep. Devon Nunez wrote to the FISA Court twice : Kimberly Strassel of the WSJ reported that twice in 2018 , Rep Devin Nunes sent a letter to Judge Collyer about the Carter Page warrant .
The first time ( Feb. ) , he asked the actual court hearings about the application for the warrant .
Four months later , Nunes sent her another letter .
This letter told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DOJ may have provided bogus information to the court regarding the Carter Page warrant application .
Judge Collyer responded to each letter by blowing Nunes off .
Dunetz noted that Judicial Watch later determined what Collyer omitted from her response to Rep. Nunez , that there was no hearing of the Carter Page FISA application .
To wrap up his post , Dunetz stated : The truth is that Judge Collyer and the FISA court is just as culpable for putting the U.S. through the Russiagate nightmare as the FBI .
Judge Collyer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years of personal hell , despite the fact he was an honest public servant .
Was she biased , lazy , or just protecting her turf ?
In the end , it doesn ’ t matter .
Her job was to protect the freedom of Americans–she failed .
Judge Collyer resigned her position as presiding judge on the FISA court as of Dec. She will remain as a Judge on the court until her term ends in March 2020 .
According to reports , she ’ s dropping the Presiding Judge responsibilities because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Currently only four of the eleven judges on the FISA Court were Trump picks .
The remaining seven members , including Collyer , were all Obama picks .
So finally the FISA Court takes action .
They sent a letter to the FBI to identify actions they will take to prevent fraudulent FISA warrant applications in the future .
The FBI responded on Friday with a bunch of garbage on how they will prevent future garbage applications from making it to the Court .
This was reported on Friday .
What wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s response was signed by Director Christopher Wray and Dana Boente .
Boente happens to be one of the individuals who signed one of the fraudulent Carter Page FISA warrants .
Clearly based on this response , the FBI is going to do nothing to fix the criminal activities within the FBI related to FISA warrant applications .
( Notice how they misspelled his first name ? )
Let ’ s hope Durham is performing a real investigation of the FISA Court abuse in his criminal investigation .
If not then there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Justice Department .
Time for indictments not bogus letters .

This is appalling!
The FBI responded to the FISA Court’s request for information on what it will do to ensure FISA Warrants in the future are no longer fraudulent bags of garbage.
Based on who signed the FBI’s response, it’s clear that the FBI will do nothing to ensure the reliability and legality of FISA Warrant applications.
We reported over a month ago that the FISA Court was warned multiple times over the past few years about abuse and criminal actions by the Obama Administration. These warnings were ignored until the latest actions after the DOJ’s devastating FISA Abuse report regarding the Carter Page FISA warrants. What took so long?
Jeff Dunetz reported at the Lidblog the following:
After the Horowitz report was issued, Judge Collyer, head of the FISA Court, ripped the FBI for the falsehoods used on applications to wiretap former Trump campaign aide Carter Page. The judge ordered the agency to go through their FISA warrants to find any other abnormalities and recommend solutions to prevent falsehoods from ever happening again, all by January 10th. But is Judge Collyer and the FISA court just as culpable as the FBI? The court was provided multiple warnings since 2016 that the warrant application process, especially in the case of Carter Page.
Dunetz reminded readers that the first warning the FISA Court had was in October of 2016 shortly before the 2016 election:
On October 24, 2016, NSA Director Admiral Mike Rogers told Judge Collyer of the FISA court that there were significant issues with the way the NSA was complying with its minimization procedures. This was three days after Judge Collyer approved the FISA warrant to spy on Carter Page.
Admiral Rogers ordered an audit of the FISA process and the results were shared with the FISA Court in October 2016 with the report was released with multiple redactions in April 2017. We reported in April of 2018 that the stunning April 2017 report covered results of an investigation or audit into FISA searches made by Obama’s NSA, FBI and DOJ during Obama’s time in office.
The report stated that James Clapper’s NSA had an institutional “lack of candor”. Also, the FISA Court Ruling showed widespread abuse of the FISA mandate. According to the report, Obama’s FBI, NSA and DOJ performed searches on Americans that were against their 4th Amendment rights. This went on for years. One paragraph in the report states that 85% of the Section 704 and 705(b) FISA searches made during the time of the audit (a few months in 2015) were non-compliant with applicable laws and therefore criminal.
For some reason this report led to little action from the FISA Court. According to Dunetz, in 2017, Landmark Legal Foundation, a Law Firm that has Mark Levin as Chairman tried to bring the issue to the Court. Then in 2018 Rep. Mark Meadows sent a letter to the Court asking Judge Collyer to investigate FISA abuses.
Dunetz then reported that Rep. Devon Nunez wrote to the FISA Court twice:
Kimberly Strassel of the WSJ reported that twice in 2018, Rep Devin Nunes sent a letter to Judge Collyer about the Carter Page warrant. The first time (Feb.), he asked the actual court hearings about the application for the warrant. Four months later, Nunes sent her another letter. This letter told the Judge that he uncovered evidence that the DOJ may have provided bogus information to the court regarding the Carter Page warrant application. Judge Collyer responded to each letter by blowing Nunes off.
Dunetz noted that Judicial Watch later determined what Collyer omitted from her response to Rep. Nunez, that there was no hearing of the Carter Page FISA application.
To wrap up his post, Dunetz stated:
The truth is that Judge Collyer and the FISA court is just as culpable for putting the U.S. through the Russiagate nightmare as the FBI. Judge Collyer allowed Carter Page to go through three years of personal hell, despite the fact he was an honest public servant. Was she biased, lazy, or just protecting her turf? In the end, it doesn’t matter. Her job was to protect the freedom of Americans–she failed. Judge Collyer resigned her position as presiding judge on the FISA court as of Dec. She will remain as a Judge on the court until her term ends in March 2020. According to reports, she’s dropping the Presiding Judge responsibilities because of health reasons. But—well—you decide.
Currently only four of the eleven judges on the FISA Court were Trump picks. The remaining seven members, including Collyer, were all Obama picks.
So finally the FISA Court takes action. They sent a letter to the FBI to identify actions they will take to prevent fraudulent FISA warrant applications in the future.
The FBI responded on Friday with a bunch of garbage on how they will prevent future garbage applications from making it to the Court. This was reported on Friday. What wasn’t reported was this – the FBI’s response was signed by Director Christopher Wray and Dana Boente.
Boente happens to be one of the individuals who signed one of the fraudulent Carter Page FISA warrants. Clearly based on this response, the FBI is going to do nothing to fix the criminal activities within the FBI related to FISA warrant applications. (Notice how they misspelled his first name?)
Let’s hope Durham is performing a real investigation of the FISA Court abuse in his criminal investigation. If not then there is absolutely no justice in the US Justice Department. Time for indictments not bogus letters.
Hat tip D. Manny


thelibertydaily--2020-01-12--Seb Gorka on Trump Doctrine: Beijing, Pyongyang, Moscow, Tehran ‘Now Know’ America’s Strength

America ’ s adversaries know there is “ no worse enemy ” than the United States under President Donald Trump ’ s leadership , assessed Sebastian Gorka , host of the America First radio show and former deputy assistant to the president , offering his remarks in an interview on SiriusXM ’ s Breitbart News Saturday with host Matt Boyle .
Gorka reflected on his work with Trump ’ s presidential transition team .
“ One of the first things we did on the official presidential transition team working for General Flynn , that great American patriot , and after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as transition teams are — to reach out to heads of state who wanted to congratulate the president-elect , and who the president-elect wanted to establish good relations with.
” Gorka continued , “ One of the most important objectives we had , especially in the Asia region , was to assure all of our friends [ and ] allies who had been intimidated for decades by Beijing — by communist China — who were very , very worried after eight years of capitulation under Obama — who traveled the world apologizing for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them that America is back , not the imperialistic America , not a colonizing America , but an America that follows in the footsteps of that great saying from President Ronald Reagan ; ‘ that shining city on a hill . '
” “ One of the things we , first things we planned for president after the inauguration was an extensive trip through the capitals of Asia … to send a very clear message that we ’ re back , ” recalled Gorka .
“ America is led by somebody who believes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marine Corps slogan goes , which I used whenever I was on media to explain the Trump doctrine , under the new president — America , no better friend , no worse enemy — and Beijing , Pyongyang , Moscow , Tehran , now know that very , very well.
” Trump ’ s political ascendance had redrawn previous political fault lines along geographical and professional lines , determined Gorka , drawing on his experiences during political campaigns events and rallies .
Gorka stated , “ When I traveled with the president on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember going into places like Ohio … Youngstown — Steel Valley — Ohio , deep Democrat strongholds , and you had salt-of-the-earth middle-class Americans chanting , ‘ U-S-A !
U-S-A !
Drain the swamp ! '
” “ This is one of the most significant things of the last four years , ” concluded Gorka .
“ The political landscape has been utterly redrawn , and within that the Democrat Party have become the extremists , the party of Antifa , the party of no borders , the party of supporting Iran.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Patriot channel 125 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eastern or 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Pacific

America’s adversaries know there is “no worse enemy” than the United States under President Donald Trump’s leadership, assessed Sebastian Gorka, host of the America First radio show and former deputy assistant to the president, offering his remarks in an interview on SiriusXM’s Breitbart News Saturday with host Matt Boyle.
Gorka reflected on his work with Trump’s presidential transition team.
“One of the first things we did on the official presidential transition team working for General Flynn, that great American patriot, and after the election, we were authorized — as transition teams are — to reach out to heads of state who wanted to congratulate the president-elect, and who the president-elect wanted to establish good relations with.”
Gorka continued, “One of the most important objectives we had, especially in the Asia region, was to assure all of our friends [and] allies who had been intimidated for decades by Beijing — by communist China — who were very, very worried after eight years of capitulation under Obama — who traveled the world apologizing for America — our job was to reassure them that America is back, not the imperialistic America, not a colonizing America, but an America that follows in the footsteps of that great saying from President Ronald Reagan; ‘that shining city on a hill.'”
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“One of the things we, first things we planned for president after the inauguration was an extensive trip through the capitals of Asia … to send a very clear message that we’re back,” recalled Gorka. “America is led by somebody who believes in America, and as a certain Marine Corps slogan goes, which I used whenever I was on media to explain the Trump doctrine, under the new president — America, no better friend, no worse enemy — and Beijing, Pyongyang, Moscow, Tehran, now know that very, very well.”
Trump’s political ascendance had redrawn previous political fault lines along geographical and professional lines, determined Gorka, drawing on his experiences during political campaigns events and rallies.
Gorka stated, “When I traveled with the president on to various rally sites, I just remember going into places like Ohio … Youngstown — Steel Valley — Ohio, deep Democrat strongholds, and you had salt-of-the-earth middle-class Americans chanting, ‘U-S-A! U-S-A! Drain the swamp!'”
“This is one of the most significant things of the last four years,” concluded Gorka. “The political landscape has been utterly redrawn, and within that the Democrat Party have become the extremists, the party of Antifa, the party of no borders, the party of supporting Iran.”
Breitbart News Saturday broadcasts live on SiriusXM Patriot channel 125 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eastern or 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Pacific
Follow Robert Kraychik on Twitter @rkraychik.


thelibertydaily--2020-01-12--U.S. and Taiwanese Officials Celebrate President Tsai’s Re-Election Victory Over Pro-Beijing Candida

U.S. and Taiwanese Officials Celebrate President Tsai’s Re-Election Victory Over Pro-Beijing Candidate

WASHINGTON , DC — American and Taiwanese officials celebrated President Tsai Ing-wen ’ s reelection on Saturday , in what is widely considered a rebuke to China .
Tsai won in a landslide victory over pro-Beijing candidate Han Kuo-yu , the mayor of Kaohsiung , the second largest city in Taiwan .
“ The people in Taiwan proved that democracy works , ” said Ambassador Stanley Kao , Taiwan ’ s top representative in Washington , D.C. , at an event marking the election .
James F. Moriarty , the top American diplomat in Taiwan , was also at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s a great morning for Taiwan and for all people who believe they should decide their own futures , ” he said .
“ In 2020 we will work closely together to advance our shared interests and values.
” Randy Schriver , until recently the assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs , echoed his remarks .
“ This is in fact a great day for all the people of Taiwan , ” said Shriver , chairman and founder of Project 2049 .
“ Its democracy is such a key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he added .
“ There will be many people in China wondering ‘ why can ’ t we go to the polls . '
” Since Tsai ’ s election in 2016 , China has ramped up diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan in an effort to isolate the self-governing island .
China considers Taiwan a breakaway province , while Taiwan maintains it is a separate nation and the only Chinese-speaking democracy .
The U.S. switched its diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China in 1979 but maintains robust informal diplomatic relations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taiwan defend itself against China .
China ’ s current president has pledged to reunite the two by 2049 , including by force .
Tsai ’ s party , the Democratic Progressive Party ( DPP ) favors the status quo between China and Taiwan , while Han ’ s party , the Kuomingtang ( KMT ) , favors closer relations with Beijing .
Tsai ’ s victory had been far from certain .
But after mass protests broke out last summer in Hong Kong against what protesters saw as Beijing ’ s increasing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under the “ one country , two systems ” policy , support for Tsai swelled .
Han “ never recovered from the political impact of the protests in Hong Kong , ” said Derek Mitchell , president of the National Democratic Institute , during a panel discussion at the event .
Noting Beijing ’ s efforts to spread disinformation ahead of the elections , the Center for Strategic and International Studies ’ Bonnie Glaser said Beijing “ has not succeeded in bullying and intimidating Taiwan.
” Jonathan Fritz , deputy assistant secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taiwan Coordination , said the U.S. would work to further strengthen the informal U.S.-Taiwanese relationship and “ to counter the unilateral efforts to change the status quo.
” Walter Lohman , director of the Asian Studies Center at the Heritage Foundation , called for closer ties between the U.S. and Taiwan , including a free trade agreement .
“ The timing is right on the U.S. side , ” he said .
In Taiwan , Tsai delivered a rousing victory speech that paid tribute to the “ courage and persistence ” of Taiwan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people of Taiwan , ” she said .
“ Together we have held on to this land of freedom .
Together we have held on to this stronghold of democracy.
” “ This is the prize of democracy , this is the weight of democracy , this is the taste of freedom , ” she said .
In a reference to Beijing , she said that she believed the “ other side of the Taiwan Strait has heard us , ” and called upon its leadership for dialogue .
She called for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unite and work together.
” “ Once again , today we hold on to freedom and democracy , tomorrow let us work together to overcome all sorts of challenges thrown at us , ” she said .
Russell Hsiao , executive director of Global Taiwan Institute , which co-hosted Saturday ’ s event , said , “ This is indeed a remarkable demonstration of democracy in action.
” “ Not all countries take the risk of letting their average citizens elect leaders , ” the Brookings Institution ’ s Richard Bush said during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Taiwan has been willing to take that risk for over 20 years.
” Follow Breitbart News ’ s Kristina Wong on Twitter or on Facebook .

WASHINGTON, DC — American and Taiwanese officials celebrated President Tsai Ing-wen’s reelection on Saturday, in what is widely considered a rebuke to China.
Tsai won in a landslide victory over pro-Beijing candidate Han Kuo-yu, the mayor of Kaohsiung, the second largest city in Taiwan.
“The people in Taiwan proved that democracy works,” said Ambassador Stanley Kao, Taiwan’s top representative in Washington, D.C., at an event marking the election.
James F. Moriarty, the top American diplomat in Taiwan, was also at the event to celebrate the occasion. “It’s a great morning for Taiwan and for all people who believe they should decide their own futures,” he said. “In 2020 we will work closely together to advance our shared interests and values.”
Randy Schriver, until recently the assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, echoed his remarks. “This is in fact a great day for all the people of Taiwan,” said Shriver, chairman and founder of Project 2049.
“Its democracy is such a key part of why Taiwan is internationally admired,” he added. “There will be many people in China wondering ‘why can’t we go to the polls.'”
Since Tsai’s election in 2016, China has ramped up diplomatic and military pressure on Taiwan in an effort to isolate the self-governing island. China considers Taiwan a breakaway province, while Taiwan maintains it is a separate nation and the only Chinese-speaking democracy.
The U.S. switched its diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China in 1979 but maintains robust informal diplomatic relations with Taiwan and a duty to help Taiwan defend itself against China. China’s current president has pledged to reunite the two by 2049, including by force.
Tsai’s party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) favors the status quo between China and Taiwan, while Han’s party, the Kuomingtang (KMT), favors closer relations with Beijing.
Tsai’s victory had been far from certain. But after mass protests broke out last summer in Hong Kong against what protesters saw as Beijing’s increasing violations of Hong Kong’s autonomy under the “one country, two systems” policy, support for Tsai swelled.
Han “never recovered from the political impact of the protests in Hong Kong,” said Derek Mitchell, president of the National Democratic Institute, during a panel discussion at the event.
Noting Beijing’s efforts to spread disinformation ahead of the elections, the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Bonnie Glaser said Beijing “has not succeeded in bullying and intimidating Taiwan.”
Jonathan Fritz, deputy assistant secretary of state for China, Mongolia, and Taiwan Coordination, said the U.S. would work to further strengthen the informal U.S.-Taiwanese relationship and “to counter the unilateral efforts to change the status quo.”
Walter Lohman, director of the Asian Studies Center at the Heritage Foundation, called for closer ties between the U.S. and Taiwan, including a free trade agreement. “The timing is right on the U.S. side,” he said.
In Taiwan, Tsai delivered a rousing victory speech that paid tribute to the “courage and persistence” of Taiwan.
“This evening belongs to all the people of Taiwan,” she said. “Together we have held on to this land of freedom. Together we have held on to this stronghold of democracy.”
“This is the prize of democracy, this is the weight of democracy, this is the taste of freedom,” she said.
In a reference to Beijing, she said that she believed the “other side of the Taiwan Strait has heard us,” and called upon its leadership for dialogue.
She called for all political parties in Taiwan to “unite and work together.”
“Once again, today we hold on to freedom and democracy, tomorrow let us work together to overcome all sorts of challenges thrown at us,” she said.
Russell Hsiao, executive director of Global Taiwan Institute, which co-hosted Saturday’s event, said, “This is indeed a remarkable demonstration of democracy in action.”
“Not all countries take the risk of letting their average citizens elect leaders,” the Brookings Institution’s Richard Bush said during a panel discussion at the event. “Taiwan has been willing to take that risk for over 20 years.”
Follow Breitbart News’s Kristina Wong on Twitter or on Facebook.


thelibertydaily--2020-01-12--NY Politician Allegedly Blames Wife Before DWI Arrest: ‘You Know How Women Drive’

The politician who was formerly the top Republican in the New York State Assembly allegedly told a tow truck operator that his wife was driving his state-issued car when it went into a ditch on New Year ’ s Eve .
The New York Post reported that in a witness statement , AAA employee Michael Scoville said when he arrived at the scene of the accident in the Ontario County town of Victor in western New York , Kolb ’ s 2018 GMC Acadia was “ down in the ditch , backed into the guide wire of a telephone pole.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s side of the car was open “ and a white male was leaning into the vehicle , ” Scoville said in the statement .
“ I saw the vehicle was running .
The male stood up and put his hands up and said ‘ My wife was driving !
’ he then said ‘ You know how women drive , ’ ” Scoville said .
Scoville , who did not use Kolb ’ s name in the statement , said the man claimed “ his wife was up in the house.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reportedly Helped Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in Middle East The AAA employee said in his statement that he called police because the vehicle hit the wire , thus turning it into a reportable accident , according to the Democrat and Chronicle .
Police said when they reached the scene , Kolb , 67 , was in the driver ’ s seat but was “ unsteady on his feet as he exited.
” Kolb showed “ significant signs of intoxication after a series of field test that were administered roadside , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level was reported at .16 — twice the legal limit of .08 — and he was arrested for driving while intoxicated .
Court documents said that when police interviewed Kolb , he had “ glassy bloodshot eyes , slurred speech , strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath , unsteady on his feet , and an oral admission of operating the motor vehicle.
” Kolb had reportedly been trying to turn into a driveway when he slid off the road and down an embankment .
On Jan. 3 , Kolb @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state assembly .
He also issued a statement saying he made “ a terrible lapse in judgment , one I have urged others not to make , and I take full responsibility for it.
” Not long before the accident , Kolb had written an Op-Ed on the subject of drinking and driving that was published by the Daily Messenger in Canandaigua , New York .
RELATED : Man Allegedly Robs His Fifth Bank in 2 Weeks After NY No-Bail Law Lets Him Walk “ As we prepare to revel in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important to remember to do so safely , ” he wrote .
“ Many of our holiday traditions , especially our New Year ’ s Eve celebrations , involve indulging in spirits .
Done safely , and in moderation , these can be wonderful holiday experiences .
However , tragedy can be only one bad decision away.
” “ December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month , and its message is important : do not operate a vehicle if your ability to do so is impaired .
Drunk driving is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vehicle passengers , bystanders and other drivers .
Please consider the ramifications of impaired driving , especially as we prepare to close out 2019 and welcome in a new decade , ” Kolb added .
“ There is no excuse for impaired driving .
Here in New York , we have taxis , ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft and a robust public transportation system .
Please , use these services , or a sober , reliable designated driver when making your way about town , ” he wrote .
We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The politician who was formerly the top Republican in the New York State Assembly allegedly told a tow truck operator that his wife was driving his state-issued car when it went into a ditch on New Year’s Eve.
The New York Post reported that in a witness statement, AAA employee Michael Scoville said when he arrived at the scene of the accident in the Ontario County town of Victor in western New York, Kolb’s 2018 GMC Acadia was “down in the ditch, backed into the guide wire of a telephone pole.”
The door to the driver’s side of the car was open “and a white male was leaning into the vehicle,” Scoville said in the statement.
“I saw the vehicle was running. The male stood up and put his hands up and said ‘My wife was driving!’ he then said ‘You know how women drive,’” Scoville said.
Scoville, who did not use Kolb’s name in the statement, said the man claimed “his wife was up in the house.”
The AAA employee said in his statement that he called police because the vehicle hit the wire, thus turning it into a reportable accident, according to the Democrat and Chronicle.
Police said when they reached the scene, Kolb, 67, was in the driver’s seat but was “unsteady on his feet as he exited.”
Kolb showed “significant signs of intoxication after a series of field test that were administered roadside,” court documents said.
His blood alcohol level was reported at .16 — twice the legal limit of .08 — and he was arrested for driving while intoxicated.
Do you think Kolb should resign from his assembly seat altogether? Yes No
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Court documents said that when police interviewed Kolb, he had “glassy bloodshot eyes, slurred speech, strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath, unsteady on his feet, and an oral admission of operating the motor vehicle.”
Kolb had reportedly been trying to turn into a driveway when he slid off the road and down an embankment.
On Jan. 3, Kolb resigned his post as minority leader of the state assembly.
He also issued a statement saying he made “a terrible lapse in judgment, one I have urged others not to make, and I take full responsibility for it.”
Not long before the accident, Kolb had written an Op-Ed on the subject of drinking and driving that was published by the Daily Messenger in Canandaigua, New York.
“As we prepare to revel in the upcoming holiday celebrations, it is especially important to remember to do so safely,” he wrote. “Many of our holiday traditions, especially our New Year’s Eve celebrations, involve indulging in spirits. Done safely, and in moderation, these can be wonderful holiday experiences. However, tragedy can be only one bad decision away.”
“December is National Drunk and Drugged Driving Prevention Month, and its message is important: do not operate a vehicle if your ability to do so is impaired. Drunk driving is not only dangerous to the driver, but to vehicle passengers, bystanders and other drivers. Please consider the ramifications of impaired driving, especially as we prepare to close out 2019 and welcome in a new decade,” Kolb added.
“There is no excuse for impaired driving. Here in New York, we have taxis, ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft and a robust public transportation system. Please, use these services, or a sober, reliable designated driver when making your way about town,” he wrote.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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thelibertydaily--2020-01-12--Ex-NFL Player Trades in Football Uniform for Army Uniform, Lives Out Childhood Dream

Former Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jimmy Legree has put a halt on his career as a professional athlete to enlist in the U.S. Army .
Like many boys , Legree knew from a young age that he wanted to serve in the military , but his plans changed when he began his football career at the University of South Carolina .
Legree graduated from the university in 2013 and began playing professional football for the Arizona Cardinals over two seasons in 2014 and 2015 , Fox News reported .
The trainee had also been signed briefly in 2014 by the Seattle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ route by going to college and playing football , but once that window was closed I reverted back to my Plan A , which was joining the military , ” Legree said in an interview with the Army .
TRENDING : During Obama Years , Biden Reportedly Helped Soleimani , Iran Gain More Power in Middle East The 28-year-old Legree began Basic Combat Training in early December at Fort Sill in Oklahoma and is currently assigned to D Battery , 1st Battalion and 19th Field Artillery .
He told KSAZ-TV “ I just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunity closed , I wanted to take advantage of it , so I just decided to jump up and get on it.
” Most would assume the transition from playing professional football to becoming a soldier would be somewhat difficult , but Legree didn ’ t appear to have an issue .
“ You have your head coaches and that ’ s similar to drill sergeants who are correcting any mistakes that you make , ” he said to the Army .
“ In football you wear a helmet and shoulder pads , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Advanced Combat Helmet ) and all your equipment.
” Legree ’ s parents never served in the military , but some of his extended family did .
However , that is not where the bulk of his motivation comes from .
His biggest inspiration has been former Cardinals player and Army Ranger Cpl .
Pat Tillman .
Legree told the Army that Tillman “ is definitely inspiring — his passion for the game and his passion for the country was motivation for me.
” In his interview with KSAZ , he said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and “ every day it is a mental challenge , and every day you have to remind yourself why you joined , why you ’ re here and get through the day the best way you can.
” RELATED : Famous Faces Who Passed Away in December 2019 His former teammates gave him their full support once he made the decision to enlist , and the recruiters were excited to get him in once they found out he played in the NFL .
The Army reported that Legree was described by Senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , humble and positive trainee .
Once he graduates from Basic Combat Training on Feb. 21 , Legree will be sent to Fort Gordon in Georgia , where he will be training to make a career as a communications specialist .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Former Arizona Cardinals cornerback Jimmy Legree has put a halt on his career as a professional athlete to enlist in the U.S. Army.
Like many boys, Legree knew from a young age that he wanted to serve in the military, but his plans changed when he began his football career at the University of South Carolina.
Legree graduated from the university in 2013 and began playing professional football for the Arizona Cardinals over two seasons in 2014 and 2015, Fox News reported.
The trainee had also been signed briefly in 2014 by the Seattle Seahawks.
“I went a different route by going to college and playing football, but once that window was closed I reverted back to my Plan A, which was joining the military,” Legree said in an interview with the Army.
The 28-year-old Legree began Basic Combat Training in early December at Fort Sill in Oklahoma and is currently assigned to D Battery, 1st Battalion and 19th Field Artillery.
He told KSAZ-TV “I just felt myself getting older and before this opportunity closed, I wanted to take advantage of it, so I just decided to jump up and get on it.”
Most would assume the transition from playing professional football to becoming a soldier would be somewhat difficult, but Legree didn’t appear to have an issue.
“You have your head coaches and that’s similar to drill sergeants who are correcting any mistakes that you make,” he said to the Army.
“In football you wear a helmet and shoulder pads, and here you wear your ACH (Advanced Combat Helmet) and all your equipment.”
Legree’s parents never served in the military, but some of his extended family did. However, that is not where the bulk of his motivation comes from.
His biggest inspiration has been former Cardinals player and Army Ranger Cpl. Pat Tillman.
Legree told the Army that Tillman “is definitely inspiring — his passion for the game and his passion for the country was motivation for me.”
In his interview with KSAZ, he said that he is proud to serve his country, and “every day it is a mental challenge, and every day you have to remind yourself why you joined, why you’re here and get through the day the best way you can.”
His former teammates gave him their full support once he made the decision to enlist, and the recruiters were excited to get him in once they found out he played in the NFL.
The Army reported that Legree was described by Senior Drill Sergeant Jason Aqui as a mature, humble and positive trainee.
Once he graduates from Basic Combat Training on Feb. 21, Legree will be sent to Fort Gordon in Georgia, where he will be training to make a career as a communications specialist.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.