westernjournal--2020-10-17--Top Dem Congressman Sweating as GOP Challenger Makes Election Day Push

The fourth-most-senior Democrat in the House of Representatives is facing a stiff challenge in the upcoming election , and his fellow Democrats are reported to be anxious .
Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon has represented that state ’ s 4th Congressional District for 33 years , and he ’ s a big part of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden ’ s plans moving forward , should Biden defeat President Donald Trump , specifically with regard to infrastructure .
Politico described DeFazio as “ an infrastructure maven who is primed to play a major role on one of Joe Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House next year .
He ’ s also been a key player in Congress ’ s stimulus funding stalemate , a strong proponent for airline relief who has even bucked Democratic leadership at times.
” But the long-serving Democrat ’ s district nearly flipped for Trump in 2016 , and this year he is facing a general election challenge from a young Afghanistan War veteran who has some star power behind him .
Alek Skarlatos , 28 , is running against Defazio on a platform of enforcing the country ’ s immigration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry and defending Second Amendment rights .
TRENDING : Checkmate : Twitter Will Have To Block a Government Website To Censor Hunter Biden Bombshell After Creative Move by GOP The former Army National Guardsman also happens to be famous for bravely helping to stop an Islamist gunman on a train headed for Paris in 2015 .
Skarlatos , and other unarmed heroes , subdued an armed gunman and saved untold lives .
The young man actually played himself in a Hollywood film directed by Clint Eastwood about the incident .
WARNING : The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of graphic movie violence that some viewers may find disturbing : “ You have shown that in the face of terror , you can resist , ” then-French President François Hollande told the heroes in 2015 , according to The Washington Post .
“ So you have given us a lesson of courage , of determination and therefore of hope.
” Skarlatos was named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour — France ’ s highest decoration .
The congressional candidate was born in 1992 , and represents a new generation of young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ represented Oregon in Congress since 1987 , which is five years longer than Skarlatos has even been alive .
On his official House website , the incumbent Democrat , who serves as chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure , highlights his support for balancing the federal budget , taking action on climate change and education , among other issues .
RELATED : Georgia Dem Ossoff Receiving Twice as Much in Big-Money Donations from California as He Is from Georgia His district includes the cities of Eugene and Corvallis , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state .
Politico noted that “ senior Democrats have grown nervous and officials acknowledge the race will be closer than they ’ d like.
” However , there is very little by way of publicly available polling , Oregon Public Broadcasting reported .
Skarlatos did outraise DeFazio by $ 1.2 million and outspend him by more than $ 900,000 last quarter .
“ I can ’ t outspend him .
We can ’ t even match him .
He raised more money in a quarter than I ’ ve ever raised in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can outwork him , ” DeFazio told some of his supporters Thursday .
Skarlatos has connected the three-decade House representative with anti-police sentiment , while liberal groups are trying to link the young hero to President Donald Trump .
If current trends continue , the race will be the most expensive congressional contest in Oregon ’ s history .
Meanwhile , the nonpartisan Cook Political Report forecasters has shifted it from a “ likely win ” for DeFazio to “ lean Democrat.
” A close ally to DeFazio told Politico that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and laid out the importance of DeFazio for Democrats ’ plans , should they retain or gain more power next month .
“ If the Democrats retain the House , he ’ s the sort of leader [ on infrastructure ] that you would want to see , ” said former President Ronald Reagan ’ s transportation secretary , Jim Burnley .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The fourth-most-senior Democrat in the House of Representatives is facing a stiff challenge in the upcoming election, and his fellow Democrats are reported to be anxious.
Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon has represented that state’s 4th Congressional District for 33 years, and he’s a big part of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s plans moving forward, should Biden defeat President Donald Trump, specifically with regard to infrastructure.
Politico described DeFazio as “an infrastructure maven who is primed to play a major role on one of Joe Biden’s biggest priorities if he wins the White House next year. He’s also been a key player in Congress’s stimulus funding stalemate, a strong proponent for airline relief who has even bucked Democratic leadership at times.”
But the long-serving Democrat’s district nearly flipped for Trump in 2016, and this year he is facing a general election challenge from a young Afghanistan War veteran who has some star power behind him.
Alek Skarlatos, 28, is running against Defazio on a platform of enforcing the country’s immigration laws, protecting Oregon’s timber industry and defending Second Amendment rights.
The former Army National Guardsman also happens to be famous for bravely helping to stop an Islamist gunman on a train headed for Paris in 2015.
Skarlatos, and other unarmed heroes, subdued an armed gunman and saved untold lives.
The young man actually played himself in a Hollywood film directed by Clint Eastwood about the incident.
WARNING: The following video contains vulgar language and scenes of graphic movie violence that some viewers may find disturbing:
“You have shown that in the face of terror, you can resist,” then-French President François Hollande told the heroes in 2015, according to The Washington Post. “So you have given us a lesson of courage, of determination and therefore of hope.”
Skarlatos was named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour — France’s highest decoration.
The congressional candidate was born in 1992, and represents a new generation of young Republicans.
DeFazio, meanwhile, has represented Oregon in Congress since 1987, which is five years longer than Skarlatos has even been alive.
On his official House website, the incumbent Democrat, who serves as chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, highlights his support for balancing the federal budget, taking action on climate change and education, among other issues.
His district includes the cities of Eugene and Corvallis, and much of the rural southwestern part of the state.
Politico noted that “senior Democrats have grown nervous and officials acknowledge the race will be closer than they’d like.”
However, there is very little by way of publicly available polling, Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.
Skarlatos did outraise DeFazio by $1.2 million and outspend him by more than $900,000 last quarter.
“I can’t outspend him. We can’t even match him. He raised more money in a quarter than I’ve ever raised in a year in my life. But we can outwork him,” DeFazio told some of his supporters Thursday.
Skarlatos has connected the three-decade House representative with anti-police sentiment, while liberal groups are trying to link the young hero to President Donald Trump.
If current trends continue, the race will be the most expensive congressional contest in Oregon’s history.
Do you think Republicans will take the House next month? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 95% (3126 Votes) No: 5% (177 Votes)
Meanwhile, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report forecasters has shifted it from a “likely win” for DeFazio to “lean Democrat.”
A close ally to DeFazio told Politico that the 73-year-old incumbent is taking his opponent seriously, and laid out the importance of DeFazio for Democrats’ plans, should they retain or gain more power next month.
“If the Democrats retain the House, he’s the sort of leader [on infrastructure] that you would want to see,” said former President Ronald Reagan’s transportation secretary, Jim Burnley.
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westernjournal--2020-10-17--Tucker Reveals the Undeniable Truth About Hunter Biden Emails

Hunter Biden ’ s alleged emails are quite the item of discussion at the moment .
There ’ d be more discussion , mind you , if the stories about it weren ’ t being censored on Twitter .
On Wednesday , the New York Post began running a series of stories derived from data contained on a MacBook Pro that Hunter Biden allegedly took in for repair and apparently forgot about .
The owner of the shop turned the computer over to the FBI , but not before making a backup of his own — one which has now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in particular , which involved Hunter Biden ’ s apparent willingness to peddle influence or get involved with those who assumed his role would involve peddling influence , were censored by social media giant Twitter .
One reportedly involved an email from a top executive in Burisma — the Ukrainian energy company upon whose board Hunter Biden sat — thanking Hunter for introducing him to his father , then-Vice President Biden .
The Biden campaign insists no meeting took place , although it can not confirm there wasn ’ t more casual contact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The other involved a deal in China which invoked “ [ t ] he big guy ” getting a cut of the action .
According to Fox News , sources have confirmed the “ big guy ” referred to Joe Biden .
TRENDING : Checkmate : Twitter Will Have To Block a Government Website To Censor Hunter Biden Bombshell After Creative Move by GOP While the Biden campaign has called the articles “ Russian disinformation , ” among other things , they haven ’ t expressly denied the MacBook was Hunter Biden ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now that more emails are purportedly leaking , they might have to take a less equivocal stand .
On Thursday , Fox News ’ Tucker Carlson said he ’ d obtained more emails purportedly from Hunter Biden ’ s MacBook .
At least one of those emails appears to have been obtained by other sources .
The message seemed to indicate part of Biden ’ s role with Burisma might be to deflect and quash investigations into the fugitive oligarch who co-founded the energy conglomerate .
“ On Nov 2 , 2015 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Burisma executive called Vadym Pozharskyi emailed Hunter Biden and his business partner , Devon Archer .
The purpose of the email , Pozharskyi explains , is to ‘ be on the same page about our final goals.
’ Including , but not limited to : a concrete course of action .
So what did Burisma want , exactly ?
Well , good PR , for starters .
[ Pozharskyi ] wanted ‘ high-ranking US officials ’ to express their ‘ positive opinion ’ of Burisma , and then he wanted the administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Carlson said on his show , “ Tuck Carlson Tonight.
” “ ‘ The scope of work should also include organization of a visit of a number of widely recognized and influential current and/or former US policy-makers to Ukraine in November , aiming to conduct meetings with and bring positive signal/message and support ’ to Burisma , ” Carlson added , citing the email .
Beyond that , Pozharskyi wanted to “ close down for [ sic ] any cases/pursuits ” against the fugitive Burisma executive , the Fox News host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the air .
Carlson thought this was essentially Burisma asking Hunter Biden to go to bat for them with his dad , saying it “ couldn ’ t be clearer what they wanted .
Burisma wanted Hunter Biden ’ s father to get their company out of legal trouble with the Ukrainian government .
“ And that ’ s exactly what happened .
One month later to the day , on Dec 2 , 2015 , Hunter Biden received a notice from a Washington PR firm called Blue Star Strategies , which apparently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration on Ukraine .
‘ Tucker Carlson Tonight ’ have exclusively obtained that email.
” “ Hello all , ” the email began .
“ This morning , the White House hosted a conference call regarding the Vice President ’ s upcoming trip to Ukraine .
Attached is a memo from the Blue Star Strategies team with the minutes of the call , which outlined the trip ’ s agenda and addressed several questions regarding U.S. policy toward Ukraine.
” RELATED : Tucker Carlson Nails Big Tech 's Biden Story Censorship : 'They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This , in other words , was a public relations firm linked to Burisma through Hunter Biden on a White House call involving Ukraine policy .
And then there came the firing of top Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin .
You may remember who precipitated that : The question is whether this firing was a knowing conflict of interest , an unknowing conflict of interest or — as some have claimed — a move to pre-empt an investigation into Burisma .
Tucker Carlson is in the latter camp .
“ The obvious question — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States threatening a tiny country like Ukraine to fire its top prosecutor ?
That doesn ’ t seem like a vice president ’ s role .
Well , now we know why , ” he said .
“ Viktor Shokin has signed an affidavit affirming that he was , in fact , investigating Burisma at the moment Joe Biden had him removed .
Shokin said that before he was fired , administration officials pressured him into dropping the case against Burisma .
He would not do that , so Joe Biden canned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s how things really work in Washington .
Your son ’ s got a lucrative consulting deal with a Ukrainian energy company , you tailor American foreign policy to help make him rich — our foreign policy .
Even at the State Department , possibly the most cynical agency in government , this seemed shockingly brazen.
” Shokin did indeed say this after his firing , although how much you believe this is highly dependent upon how much faith you put in Shokin , a man generally acknowledged to be inept @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that this was unusual in Ukraine , but the question of whether Biden pushed for the firing to enrich his son will always be a contentious one .
What ’ s clear is that , if these emails are accurate , Hunter Biden was expected to peddle his influence in Washington , D.C. , whether it be on behalf of Burisma ’ s fugitive oligarch or getting people fired .
It also makes Joe Biden look like he had a bigger conflict of interest in the matter than originally suspected .
There was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Post — in which one of the participants discusses a 2017 deal in China where there was a “ provisional agreement that the equity will be distributed as follows … 10 held by H for the big guy ?
” According to Fox News , one of the individuals on the email thread has confirmed the veracity of those emails , and sources told Fox that the “ big guy ” was Joe Biden .
Biden has again denied the charges and pointed to his taxes , which make no mention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So , is this just all an elaborate , phantasmal sham ?
Carlson would like you to consider the evidence .
“ If these emails are fake , this is the most complex and sophisticated hoax in history , ” he said .
“ It almost seems beyond human capacity .
The Biden campaign clearly believes these emails are real .
They have not said otherwise .
We sent the body of them to Hunter Biden ’ s attorney and never heard back.
” If only the computer repair shop had heard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Hunter Biden’s alleged emails are quite the item of discussion at the moment. There’d be more discussion, mind you, if the stories about it weren’t being censored on Twitter.
On Wednesday, the New York Post began running a series of stories derived from data contained on a MacBook Pro that Hunter Biden allegedly took in for repair and apparently forgot about. The owner of the shop turned the computer over to the FBI, but not before making a backup of his own — one which has now begun to leak.
Two Post stories in particular, which involved Hunter Biden’s apparent willingness to peddle influence or get involved with those who assumed his role would involve peddling influence, were censored by social media giant Twitter.
One reportedly involved an email from a top executive in Burisma — the Ukrainian energy company upon whose board Hunter Biden sat — thanking Hunter for introducing him to his father, then-Vice President Biden. The Biden campaign insists no meeting took place, although it cannot confirm there wasn’t more casual contact between the vice president and executive. The other involved a deal in China which invoked “[t]he big guy” getting a cut of the action.
According to Fox News, sources have confirmed the “big guy” referred to Joe Biden.
While the Biden campaign has called the articles “Russian disinformation,” among other things, they haven’t expressly denied the MacBook was Hunter Biden’s or that the emails were forged. Now that more emails are purportedly leaking, they might have to take a less equivocal stand.
On Thursday, Fox News’ Tucker Carlson said he’d obtained more emails purportedly from Hunter Biden’s MacBook.
At least one of those emails appears to have been obtained by other sources. The message seemed to indicate part of Biden’s role with Burisma might be to deflect and quash investigations into the fugitive oligarch who co-founded the energy conglomerate.
“On Nov 2, 2015, at 4:36 in the afternoon, a Burisma executive called Vadym Pozharskyi emailed Hunter Biden and his business partner, Devon Archer. The purpose of the email, Pozharskyi explains, is to ‘be on the same page about our final goals.’ Including, but not limited to: a concrete course of action. So what did Burisma want, exactly? Well, good PR, for starters. [Pozharskyi] wanted ‘high-ranking US officials’ to express their ‘positive opinion’ of Burisma, and then he wanted the administration to act on Burisma’s behalf,” Carlson said on his show, “Tuck Carlson Tonight.”
“‘The scope of work should also include organization of a visit of a number of widely recognized and influential current and/or former US policy-makers to Ukraine in November, aiming to conduct meetings with and bring positive signal/message and support’ to Burisma,” Carlson added, citing the email.
Beyond that, Pozharskyi wanted to “close down for [sic] any cases/pursuits” against the fugitive Burisma executive, the Fox News host said, again reading the email on the air.
Carlson thought this was essentially Burisma asking Hunter Biden to go to bat for them with his dad, saying it “couldn’t be clearer what they wanted. Burisma wanted Hunter Biden’s father to get their company out of legal trouble with the Ukrainian government.
Watch the latest video at foxnews.com
“And that’s exactly what happened. One month later to the day, on Dec 2, 2015, Hunter Biden received a notice from a Washington PR firm called Blue Star Strategies, which apparently had been hired to lobby the Obama administration on Ukraine. ‘Tucker Carlson Tonight’ have exclusively obtained that email.”
“Hello all,” the email began. “This morning, the White House hosted a conference call regarding the Vice President’s upcoming trip to Ukraine. Attached is a memo from the Blue Star Strategies team with the minutes of the call, which outlined the trip’s agenda and addressed several questions regarding U.S. policy toward Ukraine.”
This, in other words, was a public relations firm linked to Burisma through Hunter Biden on a White House call involving Ukraine policy.
And then there came the firing of top Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin. You may remember who precipitated that:
FLASHBACK: Joe Biden bragging about bribing Ukraine. “I said, you’re not getting the billion. … I looked at them and said: I’m leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you’re not getting the money. Well, son of a bitch. He got fired.” – Joe Biden pic.twitter.com/FTKU3mvRQx — Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) October 15, 2020
The question is whether this firing was a knowing conflict of interest, an unknowing conflict of interest or — as some have claimed — a move to pre-empt an investigation into Burisma.
Tucker Carlson is in the latter camp.
“The obvious question — why was the vice president of the United States threatening a tiny country like Ukraine to fire its top prosecutor? That doesn’t seem like a vice president’s role. Well, now we know why,” he said.
“Viktor Shokin has signed an affidavit affirming that he was, in fact, investigating Burisma at the moment Joe Biden had him removed. Shokin said that before he was fired, administration officials pressured him into dropping the case against Burisma. He would not do that, so Joe Biden canned him,” Carlson continued.
Watch the latest video at foxnews.com
“That’s how things really work in Washington. Your son’s got a lucrative consulting deal with a Ukrainian energy company, you tailor American foreign policy to help make him rich — our foreign policy. Even at the State Department, possibly the most cynical agency in government, this seemed shockingly brazen.”
Shokin did indeed say this after his firing, although how much you believe this is highly dependent upon how much faith you put in Shokin, a man generally acknowledged to be inept and/or corrupt in his position. Not that this was unusual in Ukraine, but the question of whether Biden pushed for the firing to enrich his son will always be a contentious one.
What’s clear is that, if these emails are accurate, Hunter Biden was expected to peddle his influence in Washington, D.C., whether it be on behalf of Burisma’s fugitive oligarch or getting people fired. It also makes Joe Biden look like he had a bigger conflict of interest in the matter than originally suspected.
There was also another email — previously reported on by the Post — in which one of the participants discusses a 2017 deal in China where there was a “provisional agreement that the equity will be distributed as follows … 10 held by H for the big guy?”
According to Fox News, one of the individuals on the email thread has confirmed the veracity of those emails, and sources told Fox that the “big guy” was Joe Biden. Biden has again denied the charges and pointed to his taxes, which make no mention of remuneration in a deal with China.
So, is this just all an elaborate, phantasmal sham? Carlson would like you to consider the evidence.
Will Hunter Biden be a problem for his father's campaign? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 95% (880 Votes) No: 5% (46 Votes)
“If these emails are fake, this is the most complex and sophisticated hoax in history,” he said. “It almost seems beyond human capacity. The Biden campaign clearly believes these emails are real. They have not said otherwise. We sent the body of them to Hunter Biden’s attorney and never heard back.”
If only the computer repair shop had heard back and none of this would have happened.
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westernjournal--2020-10-17--John Stossel: The Strange Tale of 2 Campgrounds I Visited During Lockdown

When COVID-19 hit , I quarantined in Eastern Massachusetts .
Biking around the woods , I noticed something strange .
There are two campgrounds near my house .
One is full .
Lots of people pitch tents or park trailers at a place called Maurice ’ s .
A short bike ride away is a much bigger campground that ’ s almost entirely empty .
Why ?
The empty campground is run by the state .
It has great facilities : a new paved road , new bathrooms , etc .
Signs direct people to campsites , even to group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people .
Dozens of picnic tables are turned upside-down .
What a shame .
This would be a great place to spend time during the pandemic .
TRENDING : Checkmate : Twitter Will Have To Block a Government Website To Censor Hunter Biden Bombshell After Creative Move by GOP I asked one of the few people camping , “ Why is this place so empty ?
” “ Everything is sold out , ” he responded .
Indeed , signs do say , “ Camp is Full.
” But the camp is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s so empty because of COVID , ” said another camper .
“ Why would COVID-19 make it empty ?
” I ask .
“ It ’ s camping !
You got lots of room.
” She agreed , saying she ’ s also wondered about that .
We asked the Massachusetts Department of Parks why its camp was largely empty .
They didn ’ t respond .
We kept calling and emailing until , nine days later , someone told us that they ’ d “ had difficulties hiring seasonal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Massachusetts had the highest unemployment rate in America .
The state offers to pay workers up to $ 25 an hour , including benefits .
Yet they can ’ t find people who ’ d work outdoors in a beautiful place in the summer ?
Maurice ’ s Campground managed to hire enough staff .
They have to because Maurice ’ s is privately owned .
If they don ’ t please customers , then they can ’ t stay in business .
“ If there was no staff , we were the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
RELATED : Cal Thomas : We Just Passed the Turning Point on the National Debt Gauthier innovates .
Sometimes campers have helped clean the camp or staff the office .
To save water , he charges customers 25 cents for six minutes in the shower .
At the state camp , water is free ; campers can waste all they want .
The government bought the property in 2019 for $ 3.6 million .
Last year , the camp ’ s revenue fell thousands short of its operating costs .
Now it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s largely empty .
Such clear demonstrations of the difference between public and private are everywhere .
But few people realize the reason why .
Recently , The New York Times published an Op-Ed by “ Sex in the City ” actress Cynthia Nixon about her dismay over seeing her kids ’ public school ’ s “ chaotic … and profoundly unsafe approach to reopening.
” By contrast , her Netflix production company was totally ready .
She ’ s become a politician , so she blames “ underfunding.
” She doesn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government-run schools spend more than $ 20,000 per student .
Her production company was ready because it ’ s private .
The bosses spend their own money .
Spend it well , and they profit .
Spend it badly , and they ’ re out of work .
That focuses the mind .
Governments spend other people ’ s money .
No one spends other people ’ s money as carefully as we spend our own .
The owner of Maurice ’ s Campground tries harder , and because of that , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ camp .
“ It ’ s kind of unfair , ” I say to Gauthier .
“ You have to compete against the government , which is losing all this money.
” He answers , “ Yeah , it ’ s not a great scenario , but what can we do ?
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website .
If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process here .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

When COVID-19 hit, I quarantined in Eastern Massachusetts. Biking around the woods, I noticed something strange.
There are two campgrounds near my house. One is full. Lots of people pitch tents or park trailers at a place called Maurice’s.
A short bike ride away is a much bigger campground that’s almost entirely empty. Why?
The empty campground is run by the state. It has great facilities: a new paved road, new bathrooms, etc. Signs direct people to campsites, even to group camping, but there are almost no people. Dozens of picnic tables are turned upside-down.
What a shame. This would be a great place to spend time during the pandemic.
I asked one of the few people camping, “Why is this place so empty?”
“Everything is sold out,” he responded. Indeed, signs do say, “Camp is Full.” But the camp is the opposite of full.
“I think it’s so empty because of COVID,” said another camper.
Do you think private companies are more efficient than the government? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 97% (72 Votes) No: 3% (2 Votes)
“Why would COVID-19 make it empty?” I ask. “It’s camping! You got lots of room.”
She agreed, saying she’s also wondered about that.
We asked the Massachusetts Department of Parks why its camp was largely empty. They didn’t respond. We kept calling and emailing until, nine days later, someone told us that they’d “had difficulties hiring seasonal employees.”
Really? This summer, Massachusetts had the highest unemployment rate in America. The state offers to pay workers up to $25 an hour, including benefits. Yet they can’t find people who’d work outdoors in a beautiful place in the summer?
Maurice’s Campground managed to hire enough staff. They have to because Maurice’s is privately owned. If they don’t please customers, then they can’t stay in business.
“If there was no staff, we were the staff,” says owner John Gauthier.
Gauthier innovates. Sometimes campers have helped clean the camp or staff the office. To save water, he charges customers 25 cents for six minutes in the shower. At the state camp, water is free; campers can waste all they want.
The government bought the property in 2019 for $3.6 million. Last year, the camp’s revenue fell thousands short of its operating costs. Now it loses even more money because it’s largely empty.
Such clear demonstrations of the difference between public and private are everywhere. But few people realize the reason why.
Recently, The New York Times published an Op-Ed by “Sex in the City” actress Cynthia Nixon about her dismay over seeing her kids’ public school’s “chaotic … and profoundly unsafe approach to reopening.” By contrast, her Netflix production company was totally ready.
She’s become a politician, so she blames “underfunding.” She doesn’t mention that New York’s government-run schools spend more than $20,000 per student.
Her production company was ready because it’s private. The bosses spend their own money. Spend it well, and they profit. Spend it badly, and they’re out of work. That focuses the mind.
Governments spend other people’s money. No one spends other people’s money as carefully as we spend our own.
The owner of Maurice’s Campground tries harder, and because of that, he serves many more campers than the taxpayer-subsidized camp.
“It’s kind of unfair,” I say to Gauthier. “You have to compete against the government, which is losing all this money.”
He answers, “Yeah, it’s not a great scenario, but what can we do?
© 2020 CREATORS.COM
The views expressed in this opinion article are those of their author and are not necessarily either shared or endorsed by the owners of this website. If you are interested in contributing an Op-Ed to The Western Journal, you can learn about our submission guidelines and process here.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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westernjournal--2020-10-17--You Think 2020 Is Bad? What Happened in 536 AD Makes This Look Like a Cake Walk

With 2020 winding down , many have been anxious to put to bed COVID-19 , wildfires , hurricanes , earthquakes , “ murder hornets , ” riots , attacks on police officers , unemployment and other natural and man-made disasters .
Many are also feeling the squeeze of the worldwide coronavirus lockdowns , which have had detrimental economic and mental health-related effects .
Will history however , show 2020 ’ s catastrophic events to be just a blip on the radar screen of time ’ s infinite continuum ?
Or could 2020 perhaps stack up to 536 A.D. , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worst year on record .
“ It was the beginning of one of the worst periods to be alive , if not the worst year , ” Harvard University historian Michael McCormick told Science Magazine in 2018 , referring to the year 536 in Europe .
A chain reaction of natural disasters was part of the year ’ s events .
( And that doesn ’ t even taken into account the “ Justinian ” plague that wiped out between a third and half of the Eastern Roman Empire ’ s population starting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Twitter Will Have To Block a Government Website To Censor Hunter Biden Bombshell After Creative Move by GOP According to Science Magazine , a then-mysterious fog darkened skies across parts of Asia , Europe and the Middle East , shrouding the sun for 18 months and keeping summer temperatures unusually low : “ Temperatures in the summer of 536 fell 1.5°C to 2.5°C , initiating the coldest decade in the past 2300 years.
” The frigid weather delivered snow that killed off crops — and in turn people — in China , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was this cold snap , which stretched until 545 A.D. , that has marked the time frame as the “ coldest decade on record in 2000 years , ” Science reported .
One of 536 A.D. ’ s chilly weather culprits was a heat source , according to Paul Mayewski , a glaciologist with the Climate Change Institute of the University of Maine .
Mayewski ’ s team , which McCormick co-led , reported during a 2018 seminar at Harvard that the ash from the eruption of a volcano in Iceland , compounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 11 years , created both physical and figurative darkness through the next century .
Michael Sigl of the University of Bern agreed with Mayewski ’ s findings about these volcanic explosions triggering cold summers , finding patterns that have evidenced similar connections in weather history during the last two millennia .
Backing their findings , Mayewski and his team uncovered volcanic matter that they believe drifted from Iceland to the Swiss Alps .
The team ’ s glacial discovery also literally unearthed an optimistic clue to an upturn in Europe ’ s economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the lead pollution encased in ice , suggesting an uptick in silver production .
Silver became a part of the comeback story for the European economy more than a century after the disasters first struck .
The world and the United States are already starting to see their own silver linings emerge before 2020 has even come to a close .
RELATED : Foundation Announces $ 250 Million Campaign To Give US Monuments PC Makeover The U.S. Department of Labor , for instance , reported earlier this month that new weekly unemployment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ March .
Some aspects of the pandemic , however , can not be measured by statistics .
Random acts of kindness that may have been performed during the 536 A.D. tragedies have been lost to time , but in 2020 , the current-day accounts have already made history .
Consider the story of 6-year-old Owen Colley , a boy living near Boston who sold handcrafted clay koala bears , raising more than $ 100,000 to benefit wildlife rescue groups in Australia following the brushfires .
Then there were the numerous selfless efforts to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffered because of the alleged actions of a few in George Floyd ’ s death .
Many restaurants , individuals and churches have paid it forward for police with recognition , meals and even local fundraisers .
Lastly , just as there was following the horrors of the sixth century , a precious metal has been predicted to help save the day .
Though it took over 100 years for silver production to restart the medieval economy , only a couple of weeks before COVID-19 peaked in most locations , it was already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to economically rebound into the future .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

With 2020 winding down, many have been anxious to put to bed COVID-19, wildfires, hurricanes, earthquakes, “murder hornets,” riots, attacks on police officers, unemployment and other natural and man-made disasters.
Many are also feeling the squeeze of the worldwide coronavirus lockdowns, which have had detrimental economic and mental health-related effects.
Will history however, show 2020’s catastrophic events to be just a blip on the radar screen of time’s infinite continuum? Or could 2020 perhaps stack up to 536 A.D., which one expert believes may have been the worst year on record.
“It was the beginning of one of the worst periods to be alive, if not the worst year,” Harvard University historian Michael McCormick told Science Magazine in 2018, referring to the year 536 in Europe.
A chain reaction of natural disasters was part of the year’s events. (And that doesn’t even taken into account the “Justinian” plague that wiped out between a third and half of the Eastern Roman Empire’s population starting in 541 A.D.)
According to Science Magazine, a then-mysterious fog darkened skies across parts of Asia, Europe and the Middle East, shrouding the sun for 18 months and keeping summer temperatures unusually low: “Temperatures in the summer of 536 fell 1.5°C to 2.5°C, initiating the coldest decade in the past 2300 years.”
The frigid weather delivered snow that killed off crops — and in turn people — in China, Ireland, Mesopotamia and Scandinavia. It was this cold snap, which stretched until 545 A.D., that has marked the time frame as the “coldest decade on record in 2000 years,” Science reported.
One of 536 A.D.’s chilly weather culprits was a heat source, according to Paul Mayewski, a glaciologist with the Climate Change Institute of the University of Maine.
Mayewski’s team, which McCormick co-led, reported during a 2018 seminar at Harvard that the ash from the eruption of a volcano in Iceland, compounded by two subsequent eruptions within the following 11 years, created both physical and figurative darkness through the next century.
Will 2020 outrank 536 A.D. as the worst year in recorded history? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 18% (70 Votes) No: 82% (321 Votes)
Michael Sigl of the University of Bern agreed with Mayewski’s findings about these volcanic explosions triggering cold summers, finding patterns that have evidenced similar connections in weather history during the last two millennia.
Backing their findings, Mayewski and his team uncovered volcanic matter that they believe drifted from Iceland to the Swiss Alps.
The team’s glacial discovery also literally unearthed an optimistic clue to an upturn in Europe’s economy following the natural disasters.
That treasure was the lead pollution encased in ice, suggesting an uptick in silver production. Silver became a part of the comeback story for the European economy more than a century after the disasters first struck.
The world and the United States are already starting to see their own silver linings emerge before 2020 has even come to a close.
The U.S. Department of Labor, for instance, reported earlier this month that new weekly unemployment claims dropped to their lowest level since March.
Some aspects of the pandemic, however, cannot be measured by statistics.
Random acts of kindness that may have been performed during the 536 A.D. tragedies have been lost to time, but in 2020, the current-day accounts have already made history.
Consider the story of 6-year-old Owen Colley, a boy living near Boston who sold handcrafted clay koala bears, raising more than $100,000 to benefit wildlife rescue groups in Australia following the brushfires.
Then there were the numerous selfless efforts to give back to police officers, who suffered because of the alleged actions of a few in George Floyd’s death. Many restaurants, individuals and churches have paid it forward for police with recognition, meals and even local fundraisers.
Lastly, just as there was following the horrors of the sixth century, a precious metal has been predicted to help save the day.
Though it took over 100 years for silver production to restart the medieval economy, only a couple of weeks before COVID-19 peaked in most locations, it was already forecast that gold may help the U.S. to economically rebound into the future.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-10-17--Watch: Man Storms LAPD Station and Steals Cop’s Gun, Then Things Really Get Crazy

If the events that occurred Sept. 26 at the Harbor Community Police Station in Los Angeles proved anything , it was that a police officer ’ s job is extremely dangerous .
Body camera footage released by the LAPD on Oct. 7 shows Officer Anthony Freeman being assaulted by a man inside the police station .
The man knocks Freeman to the ground , grabs his gun , repeatedly pistol whips the officer and then points the gun at him briefly .
WARNING : The following video contains graphic images that some viewers may find disturbing .
TRENDING : Checkmate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Government Website To Censor Hunter Biden Bombshell After Creative Move by GOP In the video , the assailant can be seen stealing Freeman ’ s gun and assaulting him before fleeing the scene .
Freeman ’ s blood then can be seen pooling on the lobby floor as he calls for help .
According to the Los Angeles Times , the officer later was treated at a hospital for cuts , bruises and soft-tissue damage .
The 36-year veteran was released from the hospital , but at the time of the video ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to work .
The suspect in the case , Jose Cerpa Guzman , 29 , escaped the scene but later was captured following a high-speed car pursuit , according to the Times .
Guzman has been charged with two counts of attempted murder on a peace officer and two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm , plus second-degree robbery and evading and resisting an officer .
Thankfully , according to retired LAPD SWAT Officer Steve Gordon , Guzman had possibly engaged the gun ’ s safety mechanism while assaulting the officer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from firing .
“ There ’ s a decent chance that the suspect inadvertently engaged the decocker safety on the pistol as he was striking the officer with it , ” Gordon told the Times .
At a time when police perhaps have never been criticized more , it is important to remember just how dangerous their jobs are .
That ’ s why it is important to comply with police — they never know whether a suspect is simply a law-abiding citizen fed up with the police , or whether a suspect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Not a Joke : Los Angeles Actually Votes To Form 'Unarmed Response ' Teams To Answer 911 Calls The rhetoric of Black Lives Matter is making police interactions more hostile by the day , leaving police more on edge with each new encounter .
It ’ s time for Americans to realize that police officers have a hard job .
They ’ re already under enough stress as it is .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

If the events that occurred Sept. 26 at the Harbor Community Police Station in Los Angeles proved anything, it was that a police officer’s job is extremely dangerous.
Body camera footage released by the LAPD on Oct. 7 shows Officer Anthony Freeman being assaulted by a man inside the police station.
The man knocks Freeman to the ground, grabs his gun, repeatedly pistol whips the officer and then points the gun at him briefly.
WARNING: The following video contains graphic images that some viewers may find disturbing.
In the video, the assailant can be seen stealing Freeman’s gun and assaulting him before fleeing the scene.
Freeman’s blood then can be seen pooling on the lobby floor as he calls for help.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the officer later was treated at a hospital for cuts, bruises and soft-tissue damage. The 36-year veteran was released from the hospital, but at the time of the video’s release, he had yet to return to work.
The suspect in the case, Jose Cerpa Guzman, 29, escaped the scene but later was captured following a high-speed car pursuit, according to the Times.
Do police officers have a more difficult job than ever before? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 100% (2452 Votes) No: 0% (5 Votes)
Guzman has been charged with two counts of attempted murder on a peace officer and two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm, plus second-degree robbery and evading and resisting an officer.
Thankfully, according to retired LAPD SWAT Officer Steve Gordon, Guzman had possibly engaged the gun’s safety mechanism while assaulting the officer with the weapon, which prevented it from firing.
“There’s a decent chance that the suspect inadvertently engaged the decocker safety on the pistol as he was striking the officer with it,” Gordon told the Times.
At a time when police perhaps have never been criticized more, it is important to remember just how dangerous their jobs are.
That’s why it is important to comply with police — they never know whether a suspect is simply a law-abiding citizen fed up with the police, or whether a suspect is a homicidal maniac.
The rhetoric of Black Lives Matter is making police interactions more hostile by the day, leaving police more on edge with each new encounter.
It’s time for Americans to realize that police officers have a hard job.
They’re already under enough stress as it is.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-10-17--Xi Jinping Tells Elite Amphibious Troops To ‘Prepare for War’

An elite amphibious assault unit of China ’ s People ’ s Liberation Army has been told to prepare for war by the country ’ s highest official .
The order comes as decades of tension between the People ’ s Republic of China and the Republic of China ( Taiwan ) could be nearing a violent conclusion .
Chinese President Xi Jinping made the comments Tuesday as he inspected troops at a base in Chaozhou , China , according to a release from the country ’ s Ministry of National Defense .
The base houses amphibious troops of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Corps .
According to the ministry ’ s release , Xi considers the Chinese marines to be an elite amphibious combat unit saddled with the duty of protecting the nation ’ s interests at home and abroad .
TRENDING : Checkmate : Twitter Will Have To Block a Government Website To Censor Hunter Biden Bombshell After Creative Move by GOP And naturally , these elite troops are expected to live and die for the Chinese Communist Party .
Taiwan News reported that Xi reminded troops of the CCP ’ s “ absolute leadership @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Xi told the elite troops to “ focus your minds and energy on preparing for war and maintain a high state of alert.
” This aggressive rhetoric is no doubt directed toward the Republic of China , which has most of its military force sheltered on the island of Taiwan some 100 miles from the communist-controlled mainland .
Marines from the People ’ s Republic would likely play a major role in any military engagement between the two nations .
The fierce order from Xi follows an apparent communist arms buildup on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marines could get a taste of military action soon .
As recently as August , amphibious assault armor and gear was being massed near the strait .
Bringing the island of Taiwan into the fold of greater China has long been a goal of the People ’ s Republic .
Despite the mainland vastly outnumbering Taiwanese forces , a partnership with the United States means the island could likely hold its own against waves of communist forces .
RELATED : Ad Exposing LeBron James ' China Hypocrisy Reportedly Rejected Over Fear of Upsetting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the People ’ s Republic of China after the coronavirus sprang from the country under suspicious circumstances , more global players could support Taiwan in the event of a military clash .
For the Chinese marines addressed by President Xi , fighting in a clash between the two Chinas is a very real possibility .
While it remains to be seen whether these amphibious troops truly are the elite combat units Xi thinks they are , there ’ s little doubt that they are preparing for military action .
We are committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

An elite amphibious assault unit of China’s People’s Liberation Army has been told to prepare for war by the country’s highest official.
The order comes as decades of tension between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan) could be nearing a violent conclusion.
Chinese President Xi Jinping made the comments Tuesday as he inspected troops at a base in Chaozhou, China, according to a release from the country’s Ministry of National Defense.
The base houses amphibious troops of the People’s Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps.
According to the ministry’s release, Xi considers the Chinese marines to be an elite amphibious combat unit saddled with the duty of protecting the nation’s interests at home and abroad.
And naturally, these elite troops are expected to live and die for the Chinese Communist Party.
Taiwan News reported that Xi reminded troops of the CCP’s “absolute leadership” over the country’s military.
Xi told the elite troops to “focus your minds and energy on preparing for war and maintain a high state of alert.”
This aggressive rhetoric is no doubt directed toward the Republic of China, which has most of its military force sheltered on the island of Taiwan some 100 miles from the communist-controlled mainland.
Will China move against Taiwan within the next year? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 78% (425 Votes) No: 22% (121 Votes)
Marines from the People’s Republic would likely play a major role in any military engagement between the two nations.
The fierce order from Xi follows an apparent communist arms buildup on the Taiwan Strait, hinting that these marines could get a taste of military action soon.
As recently as August, amphibious assault armor and gear was being massed near the strait.
Bringing the island of Taiwan into the fold of greater China has long been a goal of the People’s Republic.
Despite the mainland vastly outnumbering Taiwanese forces, a partnership with the United States means the island could likely hold its own against waves of communist forces.
As the world turns on the People’s Republic of China after the coronavirus sprang from the country under suspicious circumstances, more global players could support Taiwan in the event of a military clash.
For the Chinese marines addressed by President Xi, fighting in a clash between the two Chinas is a very real possibility.
While it remains to be seen whether these amphibious troops truly are the elite combat units Xi thinks they are, there’s little doubt that they are preparing for military action.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-10-17--Reported Biden Emails: Burisma Exec Said Hunter Biden’s Role Was To Halt Investigations

I ’ d hate to be involved in the censorship department at Twitter , at least for the next few weeks .
In case you hadn ’ t heard — and Twitter certainly hoped you didn ’ t — the New York Post began a running a series of stories Wednesday derived from data obtained from a laptop that Hunter Biden allegedly dropped off at a Delaware computer repair shop and never retrieved .
Before changing course , Twitter blocked users from sharing links to the stories in part because the company said the data was hacked and it didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that kind of journalism .
( Facebook has only throttled the distribution of the stories as opposed to an outright embargo on sharing . )
Some of the stories seem tawdry and unnecessary , granted ; if you know who Hunter Biden is , you know his personal struggles and you don ’ t need to see a picture of him with drug paraphernalia .
Of more legitimate interest are the emails recovered from the computer that he allegedly owned , which seem to suggest the president ’ s younger son was potentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to peddle influence in Washington , and potentially with his father .
Now come a new batch of reported emails from the computer , these being published by former Fox News executive Ken LaCorte .
In them , a top executive with Ukrainian energy giant Burisma reportedly describes part of Hunter Biden ’ s role with the organization as helping halt investigations into the oligarch who co-founded Burisma .
TRENDING : Checkmate : Twitter Will Have To Block a Government Website To Censor Hunter Biden Bombshell After Creative Move by GOP “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ advisor Vadym Pozharskyi , one of the company ’ s top executives , wrote to Hunter Biden and his partner Devon Archer that the company ’ s ‘ ultimate goal ’ in the hiring of a well-connected public relations firm was for US policy makers to help stop investigations , ” LaCorte wrote on his Media Action Network website .
Pozharskyi is the Burisma executive who , according to the Post ’ s reporting , emailed Hunter Biden thanking him “ for an opportunity to meet your father ” in a 2015 email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during Joe Biden ’ s tenure as vice president , of course .
It also would have undercut the Democratic nominee ’ s assertion his knowledge of his son ’ s dealings with the Ukrainian energy giant were essentially nonexistent .
According to Politico , the Biden campaign called the Post ’ s reporting “ Russian disinformation.
” Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said the campaign had “ reviewed Joe Biden ’ s official schedules from the time and no meeting , as alleged by the New York Post , ever took place.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that this doesn ’ t rule out a more informal interaction with the Burisma executive .
The alleged 2015 email was sent to Hunter Biden and Devon Archer , one of Biden ’ s co-partners in Rosemont Seneca Partners , a consulting/investment firm Hunter Biden co-founded .
In it , the Burisma executive seemed to indicate part of Rosemont Seneca ’ s work for Burisma would involve taking some of the heat off of Mykola “ Nikolay ” Zlochevsky , a Burisma co-founder who fled Ukraine in the wake of the 2013-2014 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Zlochevsky stood accused of ( now here ’ s a stunner ) corruption and theft while he served as natural resources minister in the Ukrainian government between 2010 and 2012 .
( Hunter Biden would join the board of Burisma in 2014 , during the tumultuous period following the demonstrations . )
In the email , Pozharskyi reportedly wrote that “ the suggested scope of work ” in a proposal from a third company , Blue Star Strategies , “ is largely lacking concrete tangible results that we set out to achieve in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the process.
” Blue Star Strategies is a consulting firm that has done work for Burisma .
It ’ s been alleged that Hunter Biden has ties to the firm , according to CBS News .
“ Also , it doesn ’ t offer any names of top US officials here in Ukraine ( for instance , US Ambassador ) or Ukrainian officials ( the President of Ukraine , chief of staff , Prosecutor General ) as key targets for improving Nikolay ’ s case and his situation in Ukraine , ” Pozharskyi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , this is done [ deliberately ] to be on the safe and cautious side , I can understand the rationale .
And if all parties in fact understand the true purpose of the [ Blue Star ] engagement and all our joint efforts , it ’ s ok and we should proceed immediately .
“ My only concern is for us to be on the same page re our final goals .
With this in mind , I would like us to formulate a list of deliverables , ” which included access @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly added .
“ The scope of work should also include organization of a visit of a number of widely recognized and influential current and/or former US policy-makers to Ukraine in November aiming to conduct meetings with and bring positive signal/message and support on Nikolay ’ s issue to the Ukrainian top officials above with the ultimate purpose to close down for any cases/pursuits against Nikolay in Ukraine.
” No matter what you may think of LaCorte — who remains a controversial figure in the media world — there are cases to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carry the same weight of provenance those published by the New York Post do .
If you ’ re a skeptic , you ’ d be curious why these emails weren ’ t released by the New York Post .
While most of the Post ’ s reporting is highly newsworthy — not just on Hunter Biden ’ s alleged influence-peddling in Ukraine but also in China — an email to Biden ’ s firm suggesting that the “ true purpose of … all our joint efforts ” was to “ close down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” would have been the first thing to go from that MacBook hard drive to the front page of the Post .
If the Post ’ s reporters either didn ’ t have the emails or couldn ’ t confirm their authenticity , LaCorte scoring the exclusive seems odd and deserves additional scrutiny .
However , speaking of provenance , LaCorte said he “ obtained these emails from the owner of a Delaware computer repair shop , John Mac Isaac , who said that a man he believed was a ‘ wasted ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mid-2019 , then never responded to multiple emails and phone calls to retrieve it.
” Isaac is the same source used by the Post .
“ In Delaware , after 90 days of abandonment the computer legally became the property of Mr. Isaac .
On reading the emails it contained , he became alarmed that it appeared to contradict the ‘ conspiracy theory ’ narrative regarding President Trump ’ s impeachment .
He then contacted the FBI , ” LaCorte wrote .
According to Isaac ’ s account , he turned the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a copy of the data for himself .
After he became convinced the bureau wasn ’ t acting , he notified federal officials and presidential attorney Rudy Giuliani ; Giuliani eventually helped make the data public .
Furthermore , while the Post may not have published the email about how Pozharskyi proposed — in an email to Hunter Biden and his business partner — a “ scope of work ” that involved closing down investigations into Zlochevsky , that email has been reported on by other media outlets — including Fox News — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t misinformation .
While no one has definitively confirmed the laptop or the totality of the data is Hunter Biden ’ s , no one from the Biden campaign has really denied it , either — which , if the whole thing is an elaborate 11th-hour hoax , would be the first thing anyone would do .
There have also been confirmations that some of the more sensitive email chains discovered on the computer were indeed legitimate .
Even the tawdry stories have lent weight to the fact this wasn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I don ’ t need to see a selfie of a shirtless Hunter Biden , a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and a facial expression that indicates he hasn ’ t mentally made contact with the planet Earth in quite some time .
I also don ’ t think a person in possession of that kind of photo is involved in a conduit for an elaborate Kremlin-originated deepfake designed to sink Joe Biden at the last minute .
That ’ s buttressed by the Biden campaign ’ s careful language regarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closest we got to a denial was from Biden campaign national spokesman Jamal Brown , who said that “ Twitter ’ s response to the actual article itself makes clear that these purported allegations are false and they ’ re not true and glad to see social media companies like Twitter taking responsibility to limit misinformation.
” Not only is this circular logic ( the message : Twitter censored the story because it was misinformation , and we can tell it was misinformation because Twitter censored it ) , it ’ s also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the sort — the platform ’ s explanation for censoring the articles was that its terms of service policy “ prohibits the use of our service to distribute content obtained without authorization .
We don ’ t want to incentivize hacking by allowing Twitter to be used as distribution for possibly illegally obtained materials.
” Those materials can still be completely factual — and indeed , much of this is being confirmed .
Twitter just didn ’ t want it distributed , which doesn ’ t say anything about the story ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lengths Twitter is willing to go to protect the Bidens .
In the meantime , if it turns out the emails LaCorte allegedly obtained are wholly factual , this presents more problems for Hunter Biden .
The whole scandal , after all , was helped along by a video in which Joe Biden bragged about getting a Ukrainian prosecutor who had once investigated Burisma fired .
The Democratic nominee ’ s defense for this ( which isn ’ t implausible ) is that the prosecutor was a thoroughly buyable disgrace , even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics .
This is both accurate and problematic : Corrupt though the prosecutor may have been , the former vice president had a massive conflict of interest due to his son ’ s work with Burisma .
If this email is indeed accurate — and Hunter Biden ’ s firm was told the “ true purpose ” of its work was to quash investigations into the fugitive Ukrainian oligarch who co-founded Burisma — that conflict of interest just got exponentially more problematic .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

I’d hate to be involved in the censorship department at Twitter, at least for the next few weeks.
In case you hadn’t heard — and Twitter certainly hoped you didn’t — the New York Post began a running a series of stories Wednesday derived from data obtained from a laptop that Hunter Biden allegedly dropped off at a Delaware computer repair shop and never retrieved.
Before changing course, Twitter blocked users from sharing links to the stories in part because the company said the data was hacked and it didn’t want to “incentivize” that kind of journalism. (Facebook has only throttled the distribution of the stories as opposed to an outright embargo on sharing.)
Some of the stories seem tawdry and unnecessary, granted; if you know who Hunter Biden is, you know his personal struggles and you don’t need to see a picture of him with drug paraphernalia. Of more legitimate interest are the emails recovered from the computer that he allegedly owned, which seem to suggest the president’s younger son was potentially using his positions with a foreign firm to peddle influence in Washington, and potentially with his father.
Now come a new batch of reported emails from the computer, these being published by former Fox News executive Ken LaCorte. In them, a top executive with Ukrainian energy giant Burisma reportedly describes part of Hunter Biden’s role with the organization as helping halt investigations into the oligarch who co-founded Burisma.
“The previously unreleased emails show that Burisma board advisor Vadym Pozharskyi, one of the company’s top executives, wrote to Hunter Biden and his partner Devon Archer that the company’s ‘ultimate goal’ in the hiring of a well-connected public relations firm was for US policy makers to help stop investigations,” LaCorte wrote on his Media Action Network website.
Pozharskyi is the Burisma executive who, according to the Post’s reporting, emailed Hunter Biden thanking him “for an opportunity to meet your father” in a 2015 email. That would have placed the meeting during Joe Biden’s tenure as vice president, of course. It also would have undercut the Democratic nominee’s assertion his knowledge of his son’s dealings with the Ukrainian energy giant were essentially nonexistent.
According to Politico, the Biden campaign called the Post’s reporting “Russian disinformation.”
Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates said the campaign had “reviewed Joe Biden’s official schedules from the time and no meeting, as alleged by the New York Post, ever took place.” The campaign did acknowledge, however, that this doesn’t rule out a more informal interaction with the Burisma executive.
Do you believe Hunter Biden was effectively selling access to his father? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 100% (1845 Votes) No: 0% (6 Votes)
The alleged 2015 email was sent to Hunter Biden and Devon Archer, one of Biden’s co-partners in Rosemont Seneca Partners, a consulting/investment firm Hunter Biden co-founded.
In it, the Burisma executive seemed to indicate part of Rosemont Seneca’s work for Burisma would involve taking some of the heat off of Mykola “Nikolay” Zlochevsky, a Burisma co-founder who fled Ukraine in the wake of the 2013-2014 anti-government Euromaidan protests in the country.
Zlochevsky stood accused of (now here’s a stunner) corruption and theft while he served as natural resources minister in the Ukrainian government between 2010 and 2012. (Hunter Biden would join the board of Burisma in 2014, during the tumultuous period following the demonstrations.)
In the email, Pozharskyi reportedly wrote that “the suggested scope of work” in a proposal from a third company, Blue Star Strategies, “is largely lacking concrete tangible results that we set out to achieve in the first place, mostly focusing on the process.”
Blue Star Strategies is a consulting firm that has done work for Burisma. It’s been alleged that Hunter Biden has ties to the firm, according to CBS News.
“Also, it doesn’t offer any names of top US officials here in Ukraine (for instance, US Ambassador) or Ukrainian officials (the President of Ukraine, chief of staff, Prosecutor General) as key targets for improving Nikolay’s case and his situation in Ukraine,” Pozharskyi reportedly continued.
“If, however, this is done [deliberately] to be on the safe and cautious side, I can understand the rationale. And if all parties in fact understand the true purpose of the [Blue Star] engagement and all our joint efforts, it’s ok and we should proceed immediately.
“My only concern is for us to be on the same page re our final goals. With this in mind, I would like us to formulate a list of deliverables,” which included access to top U.S. officials, the email reportedly added.
“The scope of work should also include organization of a visit of a number of widely recognized and influential current and/or former US policy-makers to Ukraine in November aiming to conduct meetings with and bring positive signal/message and support on Nikolay’s issue to the Ukrainian top officials above with the ultimate purpose to close down for any cases/pursuits against Nikolay in Ukraine.”
No matter what you may think of LaCorte — who remains a controversial figure in the media world — there are cases to be made for and against believing these emails carry the same weight of provenance those published by the New York Post do.
If you’re a skeptic, you’d be curious why these emails weren’t released by the New York Post.
While most of the Post’s reporting is highly newsworthy — not just on Hunter Biden’s alleged influence-peddling in Ukraine but also in China — an email to Biden’s firm suggesting that the “true purpose of … all our joint efforts” was to “close down … any cases/pursuits against Nikolay in Ukraine” would have been the first thing to go from that MacBook hard drive to the front page of the Post. If the Post’s reporters either didn’t have the emails or couldn’t confirm their authenticity, LaCorte scoring the exclusive seems odd and deserves additional scrutiny.
However, speaking of provenance, LaCorte said he “obtained these emails from the owner of a Delaware computer repair shop, John Mac Isaac, who said that a man he believed was a ‘wasted’ Hunter Biden had dropped off the computer in mid-2019, then never responded to multiple emails and phone calls to retrieve it.” Isaac is the same source used by the Post.
“In Delaware, after 90 days of abandonment the computer legally became the property of Mr. Isaac. On reading the emails it contained, he became alarmed that it appeared to contradict the ‘conspiracy theory’ narrative regarding President Trump’s impeachment. He then contacted the FBI,” LaCorte wrote.
According to Isaac’s account, he turned the computer over to the FBI but kept a copy of the data for himself. After he became convinced the bureau wasn’t acting, he notified federal officials and presidential attorney Rudy Giuliani; Giuliani eventually helped make the data public.
Furthermore, while the Post may not have published the email about how Pozharskyi proposed — in an email to Hunter Biden and his business partner — a “scope of work” that involved closing down investigations into Zlochevsky, that email has been reported on by other media outlets — including Fox News — lending some credence to the fact this isn’t misinformation.
While no one has definitively confirmed the laptop or the totality of the data is Hunter Biden’s, no one from the Biden campaign has really denied it, either — which, if the whole thing is an elaborate 11th-hour hoax, would be the first thing anyone would do. There have also been confirmations that some of the more sensitive email chains discovered on the computer were indeed legitimate.
Even the tawdry stories have lent weight to the fact this wasn’t just “Russian disinformation.” No, I don’t need to see a selfie of a shirtless Hunter Biden, a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and a facial expression that indicates he hasn’t mentally made contact with the planet Earth in quite some time. I also don’t think a person in possession of that kind of photo is involved in a conduit for an elaborate Kremlin-originated deepfake designed to sink Joe Biden at the last minute.
That’s buttressed by the Biden campaign’s careful language regarding the reporting on the information.
The closest we got to a denial was from Biden campaign national spokesman Jamal Brown, who said that “Twitter’s response to the actual article itself makes clear that these purported allegations are false and they’re not true and glad to see social media companies like Twitter taking responsibility to limit misinformation.”
Not only is this circular logic (the message: Twitter censored the story because it was misinformation, and we can tell it was misinformation because Twitter censored it), it’s also incorrect circular logic.
Twitter said nothing of the sort — the platform’s explanation for censoring the articles was that its terms of service policy “prohibits the use of our service to distribute content obtained without authorization. We don’t want to incentivize hacking by allowing Twitter to be used as distribution for possibly illegally obtained materials.”
The policy, established in 2018, prohibits the use of our service to distribute content obtained without authorization. We don’t want to incentivize hacking by allowing Twitter to be used as distribution for possibly illegally obtained materials.https://t.co/qx9rlzWH4O — Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) October 14, 2020
Those materials can still be completely factual — and indeed, much of this is being confirmed. Twitter just didn’t want it distributed, which doesn’t say anything about the story’s veracity but a whole lot about the lengths Twitter is willing to go to protect the Bidens.
In the meantime, if it turns out the emails LaCorte allegedly obtained are wholly factual, this presents more problems for Hunter Biden. The whole scandal, after all, was helped along by a video in which Joe Biden bragged about getting a Ukrainian prosecutor who had once investigated Burisma fired.
The Democratic nominee’s defense for this (which isn’t implausible) is that the prosecutor was a thoroughly buyable disgrace, even by the low standards of Eastern European politics.
This is both accurate and problematic: Corrupt though the prosecutor may have been, the former vice president had a massive conflict of interest due to his son’s work with Burisma.
If this email is indeed accurate — and Hunter Biden’s firm was told the “true purpose” of its work was to quash investigations into the fugitive Ukrainian oligarch who co-founded Burisma — that conflict of interest just got exponentially more problematic.
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westernjournal--2020-10-17--Man Miraculously Survives After Being Trapped Under Tree Log for Four Days

Ceplecha , 59 , has been through more than most in the past month and a half .
It all started on Thursday , Aug. 27 , when he decided to start taking down some trees on a steep slope on his property , just 150 yards from his home .
Living in the Minnesota River Valley , Ceplecha is an English teacher , an Army veteran and a man of faith .
All three of those traits helped him survive the harrowing ordeal that ensued .
As he was felling trees , one oak in particular “ bounced in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down , his daughter , Emma Ceplecha , told the Minneapolis-based Star Tribune .
The log came to rest on Ceplecha himself , pinning him and breaking one of his legs while crushing one of his feet .
TRENDING : Checkmate : Twitter Will Have To Block a Government Website To Censor Hunter Biden Bombshell After Creative Move by GOP “ It seemed to drag him and his legs underneath it , ” Emma explained to the Star Tribune .
“ It was a one-in-a-million kind of accident , he told us.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was no one to realize he didn ’ t come home , and no one could hear his cries for help .
And so he stayed there , in pain and at the mercy of the elements , for four days .
In order to keep from panicking or going mad , he kept his mind occupied .
He prayed , meditated , invented rhythms and imagined conversations with his children .
“ He kept his sanity by breaking down every day into hours , and each hour into 5-minute segments , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ As someone of a heavy faith , he prayed to himself often , and tried to distract himself from panic by meditating and inventing rhythms to follow from dawn to dusk.
” He knew a bit about his surroundings and was able to eat bugs and plants within arm ’ s reach .
“ He collected water in his hat and created a reservoir with his clothes , ” his daughter said .
“ He had a sweater he could wring out and drink that way.
” He had a weekly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would read the same book and discuss it on Sundays .
When he didn ’ t make the call , she assumed he was having phone troubles .
“ I knew he never would miss that call and at the very least he would have texted me to tell me he was busy , ” she said .
“ I should have listened to my gut.
” RELATED : Elderly Man Hailed as Hero After Saving Driver from Sinking Car When he didn ’ t show up to work at the school on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a welfare check .
It wasn ’ t until that evening , though , after Ceplecha ’ s concerned ex-wife started looking for him , that he was found .
“ He is a true survivor in every sense of the word , ” his GoFundMe reads .
“ He is also an Army veteran , a teacher , and a proud father .
Thank you for your support.
” He ’ d already beaten the odds making it through those four days of misery , but he ’ s faced an amputation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found .
“ I would like to say thanks to each and every one of you for your prayers , your well wishes , for contributing to this account , and for all the other things that have been done for me , ” he conveyed through the GoFundMe page in an update from Oct. 1 .
“ Friday afternoon I will be having my seventh operation .
The goal is to fix some of the tissue in my left leg that is not growing as it should .
After that operation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably need three more surgeries before my left leg is fully stabilized .
“ Now that my right leg has been amputated and it is healing , it is ready to be fitted with a prosthetic .
However , that has been put on hold until the left leg is fully recovered.
” As of Tuesday , he was reportedly seeing improved healing after getting a feeding tube and more protein .
The GoFundMe has raised nearly $ 6,000 so far , and hopefully with that and the prayers of family , friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make a full recovery and live a long time to tell his tale .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

There’s tough, and then there’s Jonathan Ceplecha tough.
Ceplecha, 59, has been through more than most in the past month and a half. It all started on Thursday, Aug. 27, when he decided to start taking down some trees on a steep slope on his property, just 150 yards from his home.
Living in the Minnesota River Valley, Ceplecha is an English teacher, an Army veteran and a man of faith. All three of those traits helped him survive the harrowing ordeal that ensued.
As he was felling trees, one oak in particular “bounced in a weird way” when it came down, his daughter, Emma Ceplecha, told the Minneapolis-based Star Tribune.
The log came to rest on Ceplecha himself, pinning him and breaking one of his legs while crushing one of his feet.
“It seemed to drag him and his legs underneath it,” Emma explained to the Star Tribune. “It was a one-in-a-million kind of accident, he told us.”
Seeing as how he lives alone, there was no one to realize he didn’t come home, and no one could hear his cries for help. And so he stayed there, in pain and at the mercy of the elements, for four days.
In order to keep from panicking or going mad, he kept his mind occupied. He prayed, meditated, invented rhythms and imagined conversations with his children.
“He kept his sanity by breaking down every day into hours, and each hour into 5-minute segments,” a GoFundMe started for him reads. “As someone of a heavy faith, he prayed to himself often, and tried to distract himself from panic by meditating and inventing rhythms to follow from dawn to dusk.”
He knew a bit about his surroundings and was able to eat bugs and plants within arm’s reach.
“He collected water in his hat and created a reservoir with his clothes,” his daughter said. “He had a sweater he could wring out and drink that way.”
He had a weekly tradition with Emma, where the two would read the same book and discuss it on Sundays. When he didn’t make the call, she assumed he was having phone troubles.
“I knew he never would miss that call and at the very least he would have texted me to tell me he was busy,” she said. “I should have listened to my gut.”
When he didn’t show up to work at the school on Monday, they called the sheriff for a welfare check. It wasn’t until that evening, though, after Ceplecha’s concerned ex-wife started looking for him, that he was found.
“He is a true survivor in every sense of the word,” his GoFundMe reads. “He is also an Army veteran, a teacher, and a proud father. Thank you for your support.”
He’d already beaten the odds making it through those four days of misery, but he’s faced an amputation, multiple complications and infections since being found.
“I would like to say thanks to each and every one of you for your prayers, your well wishes, for contributing to this account, and for all the other things that have been done for me,” he conveyed through the GoFundMe page in an update from Oct. 1.
“Friday afternoon I will be having my seventh operation. The goal is to fix some of the tissue in my left leg that is not growing as it should. After that operation, I have been told that I will probably need three more surgeries before my left leg is fully stabilized.
“Now that my right leg has been amputated and it is healing, it is ready to be fitted with a prosthetic. However, that has been put on hold until the left leg is fully recovered.”
As of Tuesday, he was reportedly seeing improved healing after getting a feeding tube and more protein. The GoFundMe has raised nearly $6,000 so far, and hopefully with that and the prayers of family, friends and acquaintances, he will be able to make a full recovery and live a long time to tell his tale.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
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westernjournal--2020-10-17--Not a Joke: Los Angeles Actually Votes To Form ‘Unarmed Response’ Teams To Answer 911 Calls

The Los Angeles City Council has unanimously voted to created a pilot program to send “ unarmed response ” teams to nonviolent calls which are currently handled by the city ’ s police department .
Every election we see a majority of voters in California cast ballots against their own interests , but its fascinating to watch elected Democrats not only vote for something with an obvious flaw , but to celebrate doing so .
The decision to explore keeping police officers away from some calls by the Democratic-run council was made this past week and hailed by the council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to KTTV .
Martinez said of the decision in a media release , “ Today marks a seminal moment in our City ’ s history in our efforts to reimagine public safety.
” “ Through this unarmed response pilot for non-violent calls , we will help Angelenos get the mental health and other support services they need from trained professionals .
We will also free up police officers to do the work they are trained to do , ” the council president added .
TRENDING : Checkmate : Twitter Will Have To @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden Bombshell After Creative Move by GOP “ Ultimately , this will also allow us to provide our Black and Brown communities with the resources they deserve.
” By a vote of 14-0 , the council voted to enact the program , according to KABC-TV .
The council said it will issue a proposal “ for a non-profit partner to implement a pilot program , and in addition seek recommendations from relevant departments on creating a new classification of city employees that would be responsible for responding to nonviolent calls for service that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gee , what could go wrong ?
A lot comes to the imagination when you look at the types of situations in which LA ’ s Democratic legislative body has deemed no longer essential for police officers to handle .
These include calls which are related to mental health , substance abuse and people making suicidal threats .
California ’ s leaders , all the way down to the municipal level , continue to thumb their noses at common sense .
In fact , really bad ideas are a national epidemic with regard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Watch : Man Storms LAPD Station and Steals Cop 's Gun , Then Things Really Get Crazy The party ’ s nominee for president , Joe Biden , actually said during his ABC town hall event Thursday that police officers need to learn to shoot violent criminals “ in the leg.
” “ You have to teach people how to de-escalate circumstances , de-escalate .
So instead of anybody coming at you , and the first thing you do is shoot to kill , you shoot them in the leg , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That statement obviously lacks any common sense , but the logic behind it is shared by many , including LA ’ s elected Democrats .
Hopefully , their decision to prioritize woke politics over the health and wellbeing of their citizens and soon-to-be unarmed first responders won ’ t backfire .
Of course , it probably will , especially when you look at other calls which will be relegated away from police and to crisis responders under the proposed program .
Some calls with a subject in a state of “ behavioral distress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police , nor will calls regarding “ conflict resolution ” and “ welfare checks.
” Unarmed responders in the coming pilot program might have a bit more insight into their roles with each respective call , and its details , but with regard to the bigger picture , this decision completely encapsulates the politics which have turned many of California ’ s cities into wastelands .
LA is a mecca for the homeless , and many of them are mentally ill and on drugs .
The city , like many others , also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killers and rapists , all of whom likely are behaviorally distressed and in a state of conflict prior to committing violent crimes .
As we know , the council ’ s unanimous decision to initiate a pilot program of unarmed responders for 9-1-1 calls is about pandering and politics .
But the council still had to make that clear in a media release obtained by KTTV .
“ Calling the police on George Floyd about an alleged counterfeit $ 20 bill ended his life , ” District 10 Councilman Herb Wesson said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with unarmed , trained specialists for the nonviolent crime he was accused of , he would be turning 47 years old today .
This plan will save lives , and I ’ m so proud of my colleagues on the Council for voting to move this forward.
” Following George Floyd ’ s death after Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for roughly nine minutes , elected officials in LA will now endanger the lives of local people in the name of social justice and perceived racial inequality .
This council is essentially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the decision .
The council told its citizens that its city ’ s cops are incapable of navigating situations which the department is and always has been , supremely qualified to handle .
If the city council thought troubled people in some situations reacted poorly to being corralled by cops , just wait until they find out how others will respond to being jammed up by unarmed bureaucrats .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The Los Angeles City Council has unanimously voted to created a pilot program to send “unarmed response” teams to nonviolent calls which are currently handled by the city’s police department.
Every election we see a majority of voters in California cast ballots against their own interests, but its fascinating to watch elected Democrats not only vote for something with an obvious flaw, but to celebrate doing so.
The decision to explore keeping police officers away from some calls by the Democratic-run council was made this past week and hailed by the council’s president, Nury Martinez, according to KTTV.
Martinez said of the decision in a media release, “Today marks a seminal moment in our City’s history in our efforts to reimagine public safety.”
“Through this unarmed response pilot for non-violent calls, we will help Angelenos get the mental health and other support services they need from trained professionals. We will also free up police officers to do the work they are trained to do,” the council president added.
“Ultimately, this will also allow us to provide our Black and Brown communities with the resources they deserve.”
By a vote of 14-0, the council voted to enact the program, according to KABC-TV.
The council said it will issue a proposal “for a non-profit partner to implement a pilot program, and in addition seek recommendations from relevant departments on creating a new classification of city employees that would be responsible for responding to nonviolent calls for service that are currently handled by police officers.”
Do you think the LA City Council decision will backfire? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 98% (318 Votes) No: 2% (5 Votes)
Gee, what could go wrong?
A lot comes to the imagination when you look at the types of situations in which LA’s Democratic legislative body has deemed no longer essential for police officers to handle.
These include calls which are related to mental health, substance abuse and people making suicidal threats.
California’s leaders, all the way down to the municipal level, continue to thumb their noses at common sense.
In fact, really bad ideas are a national epidemic with regard to Democrats and law enforcement.
The party’s nominee for president, Joe Biden, actually said during his ABC town hall event Thursday that police officers need to learn to shoot violent criminals “in the leg.”
“You have to teach people how to de-escalate circumstances, de-escalate. So instead of anybody coming at you, and the first thing you do is shoot to kill, you shoot them in the leg,” Biden said when addressing police reform.
That statement obviously lacks any common sense, but the logic behind it is shared by many, including LA’s elected Democrats.
Hopefully, their decision to prioritize woke politics over the health and wellbeing of their citizens and soon-to-be unarmed first responders won’t backfire.
Of course, it probably will, especially when you look at other calls which will be relegated away from police and to crisis responders under the proposed program.
Some calls with a subject in a state of “behavioral distress” will no longer be handled by police, nor will calls regarding “conflict resolution” and “welfare checks.”
Unarmed responders in the coming pilot program might have a bit more insight into their roles with each respective call, and its details, but with regard to the bigger picture, this decision completely encapsulates the politics which have turned many of California’s cities into wastelands.
LA is a mecca for the homeless, and many of them are mentally ill and on drugs.
The city, like many others, also has its share of domestic abusers, killers and rapists, all of whom likely are behaviorally distressed and in a state of conflict prior to committing violent crimes.
As we know, the council’s unanimous decision to initiate a pilot program of unarmed responders for 9-1-1 calls is about pandering and politics.
But the council still had to make that clear in a media release obtained by KTTV.
“Calling the police on George Floyd about an alleged counterfeit $20 bill ended his life,” District 10 Councilman Herb Wesson said. “If George Floyd had been met with unarmed, trained specialists for the nonviolent crime he was accused of, he would be turning 47 years old today. This plan will save lives, and I’m so proud of my colleagues on the Council for voting to move this forward.”
Following George Floyd’s death after Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for roughly nine minutes, elected officials in LA will now endanger the lives of local people in the name of social justice and perceived racial inequality.
This council is essentially insulting the Los Angeles Police Department with the decision.
The council told its citizens that its city’s cops are incapable of navigating situations which the department is and always has been, supremely qualified to handle.
If the city council thought troubled people in some situations reacted poorly to being corralled by cops, just wait until they find out how others will respond to being jammed up by unarmed bureaucrats.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.