westernjournal--2020-05-08--Op-Ed: The Case Against Red Flag Laws

Op-Ed: The Case Against Red Flag Laws

If you ’ ve been holding on to the presumption that gun confiscation will never take place in the United States , it ’ s time for you to wake up .
Gun confiscation is already here , and it ’ s not slowing down anytime soon .
As a result of the passage of red flag laws , 412 guns have been confiscated in Broward County , Florida ; nearly 200 have been confiscated in New Jersey and 148 have been confiscated in Maryland — and that ’ s just the beginning .
For years , leftists have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take away our firearms , that they just want to implement a few “ common sense ” gun control laws .
But they do want to take away our guns , and the red flag laws are the first step in a long process of doing exactly that .
Red flag laws inherently create opportunities for abuse of power and infringe on the right to bear arms , the right to due process and the right to a speedy and public trial .
Red flag laws allow family members , friends , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ request confiscation of legally owned firearms from individuals who allegedly pose a danger to themselves or to others .
Red flag petitions are filed in court , either online or in person .
Once a petition has been filed , a judge reviews the allegations and determines whether the individual in question should have their right and their property seized from them based on hearsay .
If the judge rules in favor of the accuser , law enforcement officers confiscate the firearms and ammunition of the accused .
The accused only receives the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when the police show up to confiscate their belongings , leaving these individuals without any opportunity to refute the claims made against them .
These individuals also lose any previously acquired firearms licenses and are also temporarily precluded from owning or buying other firearms until their case is resolved , which generally takes a year or more .
According to CNN , in Broward County , Florida , “ In every single case put before a court , judges approved the petitions on a temporary basis and with rapid speed — more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ petition came in .
Final orders were later issued in 87 percent of the cases.
” These are laws ripe for abuse if put in the hands of a judge who leans anti-gun .
Moreover , they give unprecedented power to law enforcement to seize citizens ’ private property .
The left is constantly trying to push the message that police officers are corrupt .
If those on the left are so frightened of law enforcement abusing their power , wouldn ’ t they be opposed to giving police officers the authority to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be clear , I ’ m not arguing that red flag laws are without merit .
If a deranged maniac is posting pictures of his rifle with the caption “ I [ want to ] shoot people with my AR-15 ” like the Parkland shooter , then yes , confiscate those guns immediately .
But an overwhelming majority of cases brought forth are in no way similar to incidents like that .
Take for instance Gary Willis , a law-abiding citizen who was killed by a police officer during a 5 a.m. raid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firearm on the grounds of his Fourth Amendment rights being violated .
Willis ’ niece , Michele Willis , told reporters that her aunt had requested a protective order against Willis .
She also said her uncle “ wouldn ’ t hurt anybody.
” This goes to show that the implementation of red flag laws puts one person ’ s word against another ’ s , and denies the accused the ability to defend themselves .
It ’ s an outright violation of the Sixth Amendment , whereby individuals have the right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chance to confront the accuser .
RELATED : A Message to US Politicians : If You Believe in America , Do n't Close Gun Stores Recently , a warrant was issued for the arrest of a Colorado woman who lied in order to use a red flag law to disarm a man whom she falsely claimed is the father of her son .
If someone is willing to lie about who their child ’ s father is , then what guarantee do we have that they ’ re not going to lie about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ individuals are falsely accused of committing crimes all the time .
That ’ s the entire purpose of having the Due Process Clause in the Bill of Rights .
If an individual hasn ’ t been convicted of a crime , they shouldn ’ t have to spend thousands of dollars and countless hours on end to defend themselves .
In criminal cases , the accused has the right to an attorney regardless of whether or not they can afford it , but since red flag laws fall under civil proceedings , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own money to dispute false claims .
The implementation of red flag laws goes against the very core principles of our justice system .
It is time for gun owners and Second Amendment supporters to wake up to the reality of the right to bear arms dwindling before our eyes .
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 .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read @ @ @ @

If you’ve been holding on to the presumption that gun confiscation will never take place in the United States, it’s time for you to wake up.
Gun confiscation is already here, and it’s not slowing down anytime soon. As a result of the passage of red flag laws, 412 guns have been confiscated in Broward County, Florida; nearly 200 have been confiscated in New Jersey and 148 have been confiscated in Maryland — and that’s just the beginning.
For years, leftists have been insisting that they don’t want to take away our firearms, that they just want to implement a few “common sense” gun control laws. But they do want to take away our guns, and the red flag laws are the first step in a long process of doing exactly that.
Red flag laws inherently create opportunities for abuse of power and infringe on the right to bear arms, the right to due process and the right to a speedy and public trial.
Red flag laws allow family members, friends, ex-partners and other acquaintances the right to request confiscation of legally owned firearms from individuals who allegedly pose a danger to themselves or to others. Red flag petitions are filed in court, either online or in person. Once a petition has been filed, a judge reviews the allegations and determines whether the individual in question should have their right and their property seized from them based on hearsay.
If the judge rules in favor of the accuser, law enforcement officers confiscate the firearms and ammunition of the accused. The accused only receives the notification of the petition filed against them when the police show up to confiscate their belongings, leaving these individuals without any opportunity to refute the claims made against them.
These individuals also lose any previously acquired firearms licenses and are also temporarily precluded from owning or buying other firearms until their case is resolved, which generally takes a year or more.
According to CNN, in Broward County, Florida, “In every single case put before a court, judges approved the petitions on a temporary basis and with rapid speed — more than half on the same day as the petition came in. Final orders were later issued in 87 percent of the cases.”
These are laws ripe for abuse if put in the hands of a judge who leans anti-gun. Moreover, they give unprecedented power to law enforcement to seize citizens’ private property.
Do you think red flag laws are ripe for abuse? 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% (83 Votes) No: 0% (0 Votes)
The left is constantly trying to push the message that police officers are corrupt. If those on the left are so frightened of law enforcement abusing their power, wouldn’t they be opposed to giving police officers the authority to search and seize private property?
To be clear, I’m not arguing that red flag laws are without merit. If a deranged maniac is posting pictures of his rifle with the caption “I [want to] shoot people with my AR-15” like the Parkland shooter, then yes, confiscate those guns immediately.
But an overwhelming majority of cases brought forth are in no way similar to incidents like that.
Take for instance Gary Willis, a law-abiding citizen who was killed by a police officer during a 5 a.m. raid because he refused to give up his firearm on the grounds of his Fourth Amendment rights being violated. Willis’ niece, Michele Willis, told reporters that her aunt had requested a protective order against Willis. She also said her uncle “wouldn’t hurt anybody.”
This goes to show that the implementation of red flag laws puts one person’s word against another’s, and denies the accused the ability to defend themselves. It’s an outright violation of the Sixth Amendment, whereby individuals have the right to a quick and speedy trial and the chance to confront the accuser.
Recently, a warrant was issued for the arrest of a Colorado woman who lied in order to use a red flag law to disarm a man whom she falsely claimed is the father of her son. If someone is willing to lie about who their child’s father is, then what guarantee do we have that they’re not going to lie about other circumstances?
We already know that individuals are falsely accused of committing crimes all the time. That’s the entire purpose of having the Due Process Clause in the Bill of Rights.
If an individual hasn’t been convicted of a crime, they shouldn’t have to spend thousands of dollars and countless hours on end to defend themselves. In criminal cases, the accused has the right to an attorney regardless of whether or not they can afford it, but since red flag laws fall under civil proceedings, the accused has no option but to spend their own money to dispute false claims.
The implementation of red flag laws goes against the very core principles of our justice system. It is time for gun owners and Second Amendment supporters to wake up to the reality of the right to bear arms dwindling before our eyes.
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.
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westernjournal--2020-05-08--32 Years After Teen’s Body Found Strangled on Side of Road, Suspect Finally Arrested

After three decades of mystery , the cold case murder of a 17-year-old Ohio teen named Barbara Blatnik has been solved thanks in part to DNA genealogical research .
The last time anyone saw Blatnik alive was around midnight on Dec. 19 , 1987 , when a friend dropped her off in Garfield Heights , Ohio .
The following day , Blatnik , nicknamed “ Barbie , ” was found dead alongside a local road near Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls .
She had been beaten , raped and strangled by someone who would remain a mystery for over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Falls Police arrested James E. Zastawnik , 67 , for the rape and murder of Blatnik , according to a City Cuyahoga Falls news release .
“ It is great to see justice done for Barbara Blatnik , ” police chief Jack Davis said .
“ The detectives who worked on this over the years never gave up on finding the killer.
” Donna Zanath , Blatnik ’ s sister , thought she would never see justice for her sister until the cold case was reopened last August , funded in part by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I always just kind of thought we were going to be one of those families that never knew , ” Zanath said in an interview with WKYC at the time .
DNA evidence underneath Blatnik ’ s fingernails was sent to the California firm Identifinders , which led them to Zastawnik ’ s family , and then to Zastawnik , the Akron Beacon Journal reported .
The Porchlight Project , founded by true crime author James Renner , who also serves as board president , provided the funding necessary to complete the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the first cold case The Porchlight Project attempted to solve .
RELATED : He Spent 45 Years in Prison for Crime He Did n't Commit , Turned to Art as His Escape “ It ’ s amazing , ” Renner told Akron Beacon Journal .
“ Everybody at Porchlight is celebrating right now .
We ’ re anxious to get some more cases .
This certainly helps .
It feels very good .
Hopefully , this is the answer the Blatniks have been waiting for.
” Zanath said nobody in the family @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s killer before , and was “ thankful ” that an arrest had finally been made .
“ Without James Renner , we wouldn ’ t be talking right now , ” an emotional Zanath said .
Colleen Fitzpatrick , forensic genealogist and founder of Identifinders International , said she was glad her organization could play a part in solving the murder .
“ We were very pleased to work with the Cuyahoga Falls Police using Genetic Genealogy to bring closure to the Blatnik family , ” Fitzpatrick said .
We are committed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

After three decades of mystery, the cold case murder of a 17-year-old Ohio teen named Barbara Blatnik has been solved thanks in part to DNA genealogical research.
The last time anyone saw Blatnik alive was around midnight on Dec. 19, 1987, when a friend dropped her off in Garfield Heights, Ohio.
The following day, Blatnik, nicknamed “Barbie,” was found dead alongside a local road near Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls. She had been beaten, raped and strangled by someone who would remain a mystery for over 30 years.
On Wednesday, Cuyahoga Falls Police arrested James E. Zastawnik, 67, for the rape and murder of Blatnik, according to a City Cuyahoga Falls news release.
“It is great to see justice done for Barbara Blatnik,” police chief Jack Davis said. “The detectives who worked on this over the years never gave up on finding the killer.”
This story is still unfolding, but it’s so satisfying to see cold cases like this being solved. Peace to Blatnik’s family and all whose hearts were broken by this. https://t.co/HpJDYBxB3Q — Amanda Garrett (@agarrettABJ) May 6, 2020
Donna Zanath, Blatnik’s sister, thought she would never see justice for her sister until the cold case was reopened last August, funded in part by the nonprofit organization The Porchlight Project.
“I always just kind of thought we were going to be one of those families that never knew,” Zanath said in an interview with WKYC at the time.
DNA evidence underneath Blatnik’s fingernails was sent to the California firm Identifinders, which led them to Zastawnik’s family, and then to Zastawnik, the Akron Beacon Journal reported.
Advances in DNA technology helped identify a Cleveland man as a suspect in the 1987 murder of 17-year-old Barbara Blatnik. Fantastic partnership between BCI, @CuyFallsPolice, the Porchlight Project and Identifinders International. https://t.co/GoM776c1fk — Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (@OhioAG) May 7, 2020
The Porchlight Project, founded by true crime author James Renner, who also serves as board president, provided the funding necessary to complete the genetic testing.
Blatnik’s murder was the first cold case The Porchlight Project attempted to solve.
“It’s amazing,” Renner told Akron Beacon Journal. “Everybody at Porchlight is celebrating right now. We’re anxious to get some more cases. This certainly helps. It feels very good. Hopefully, this is the answer the Blatniks have been waiting for.”
Zanath said nobody in the family knew or had seen her sister’s killer before, and was “thankful” that an arrest had finally been made.
“Without James Renner, we wouldn’t be talking right now,” an emotional Zanath said.
Colleen Fitzpatrick, forensic genealogist and founder of Identifinders International, said she was glad her organization could play a part in solving the murder.
“We were very pleased to work with the Cuyahoga Falls Police using Genetic Genealogy to bring closure to the Blatnik family,” Fitzpatrick said.
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westernjournal--2020-05-08--Biden’s Lead in Poll Tumbles as Trump Gains Support for Pandemic Response

A newly released Reuters/Ipsos poll evaluating President Donald Trump and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in a head-to-head matchup shows troubling news for Biden .
According to the poll , a lead once enjoyed by Biden has completely “ evaporated , ” while Trump ’ s numbers continue to ascend .
Reuters/Ipsos said that “ Joe Biden ’ s advantage over President Donald Trump in popular support has eroded in recent weeks as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee struggles for visibility with voters during the coronavirus pandemic.
” The poll , which was conducted online Monday and Tuesday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said they would support Biden in the general election , while 41 percent said they would vote for Trump in November .
Reuters noted the election is now “ a toss-up , as the results are within the poll ’ s credibility interval ” of plus or minus 3 percentage points .
That might sound less than comforting to supporters of the president , but when you take into account lingering questions about the reliability of polling when it comes to Trump along with the trend of shrinking support for Biden , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president ’ s re-election chances .
The former vice president ’ s support has collapsed by 6 points since a week ago and 8 points since April 21 , when a similar poll was conducted .
To put it simply , Biden is consistently losing support .
The poll also found that 45 percent of respondents had more confidence in Trump with regard to handling the economy and creating jobs .
A mere 32 percent of those polled felt Biden was the best candidate to get Americans back to work following the economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Trump ’ s ability to create jobs is increasing ; he holds a 13-point advantage over Biden on the issue , more than double his 6-point jobs lead in the April 21 poll .
Biden , who held an edge over Trump in the April poll on the issue of handling the country ’ s response to the coronavirus , is now behind in that aspect , as Trump has gained the confidence of many voters .
Of those polled , 37 percent said they think Trump is more qualified to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the health crisis , while 35 percent said Biden was better suited for that job .
The April poll showed Biden at the time enjoyed a moderate edge over the president on the issue of handling the coronavirus .
No matter how you view the credibility of polling , as it was wildly inaccurate going into the 2016 election , this is good news for Trump , and it comes amid months of negative media about his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and relentless attacks from Democrats .
The polling shows Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout a period of weeks as he has been highly visible throughout the country ’ s crisis .
Biden , meanwhile , has been relegated to holding digital briefings and media appearances from his Delaware home — while also facing a sexual assault allegation .
Reuters speculated that the allegation from former Senate staffer Tara Reade might be affecting Biden ’ s polling performance , but it could not conclusively link it to the Biden plunge .
Reade has alleged that Biden groped , kissed and digitally penetrated her during an unwanted advance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the situation was not yet clear in the Reuters/Ipsos poll , which showed 53 % of the American public said they were ‘ somewhat ’ or ‘ very ’ familiar with Reade ’ s allegation , ” Reuters reported .
A Monmouth University Poll released Wednesday , though , found that at least 86 percent of voters have at least heard of the allegation from Reade .
The poll found that respondents were generally split along party lines as to the credibility of the allegation , with Democrats being more dismissive of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to believe it .
Independents , who are likely to be the deciding factor in the general election , are more likely to believe there is credibility to the allegation than not .
“ Independents are more likely to feel that the allegation is true ( 43 % ) rather than not true ( 22 % ) , while 35 % have no opinion either way , ” Monmouth reported of the poll .
The fact that so many people are now aware of the allegation signals that it could become a major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the national media essentially suppressed the story for weeks .
The Reuter/Ipsos poll received responses from 1,215 American adults , 1,015 of whom identified as registered voters .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

A newly released Reuters/Ipsos poll evaluating President Donald Trump and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden in a head-to-head matchup shows troubling news for Biden.
According to the poll, a lead once enjoyed by Biden has completely “evaporated,” while Trump’s numbers continue to ascend.
Reuters/Ipsos said that “Joe Biden’s advantage over President Donald Trump in popular support has eroded in recent weeks as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee struggles for visibility with voters during the coronavirus pandemic.”
The poll, which was conducted online Monday and Tuesday, found that 43 percent of registered voters said they would support Biden in the general election, while 41 percent said they would vote for Trump in November.
Reuters noted the election is now “a toss-up, as the results are within the poll’s credibility interval” of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
That might sound less than comforting to supporters of the president, but when you take into account lingering questions about the reliability of polling when it comes to Trump along with the trend of shrinking support for Biden, it’s a good sign for the president’s re-election chances.
The former vice president’s support has collapsed by 6 points since a week ago and 8 points since April 21, when a similar poll was conducted.
To put it simply, Biden is consistently losing support.
The poll also found that 45 percent of respondents had more confidence in Trump with regard to handling the economy and creating jobs.
Do you think President Tump will be re-elected in November? 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% (1886 Votes) No: 3% (50 Votes)
A mere 32 percent of those polled felt Biden was the best candidate to get Americans back to work following the economic crisis created by the coronavirus.
Confidence in Trump’s ability to create jobs is increasing; he holds a 13-point advantage over Biden on the issue, more than double his 6-point jobs lead in the April 21 poll.
Biden, who held an edge over Trump in the April poll on the issue of handling the country’s response to the coronavirus, is now behind in that aspect, as Trump has gained the confidence of many voters.
Of those polled, 37 percent said they think Trump is more qualified to help the country claw its way back from the health crisis, while 35 percent said Biden was better suited for that job.
The April poll showed Biden at the time enjoyed a moderate edge over the president on the issue of handling the coronavirus.
No matter how you view the credibility of polling, as it was wildly inaccurate going into the 2016 election, this is good news for Trump, and it comes amid months of negative media about his handling of the coronavirus pandemic and relentless attacks from Democrats.
The polling shows Trump’s standing in the nonweighted polling increased throughout a period of weeks as he has been highly visible throughout the country’s crisis.
Biden, meanwhile, has been relegated to holding digital briefings and media appearances from his Delaware home — while also facing a sexual assault allegation.
Reuters speculated that the allegation from former Senate staffer Tara Reade might be affecting Biden’s polling performance, but it could not conclusively link it to the Biden plunge.
Reade has alleged that Biden groped, kissed and digitally penetrated her during an unwanted advance in 1993.
Biden has denied the allegation.
“The political impact of the situation was not yet clear in the Reuters/Ipsos poll, which showed 53% of the American public said they were ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ familiar with Reade’s allegation,” Reuters reported.
A Monmouth University Poll released Wednesday, though, found that at least 86 percent of voters have at least heard of the allegation from Reade.
The poll found that respondents were generally split along party lines as to the credibility of the allegation, with Democrats being more dismissive of the allegation and Republicans being more apt to believe it.
Independents, who are likely to be the deciding factor in the general election, are more likely to believe there is credibility to the allegation than not.
“Independents are more likely to feel that the allegation is true (43%) rather than not true (22%), while 35% have no opinion either way,” Monmouth reported of the poll.
The fact that so many people are now aware of the allegation signals that it could become a major campaign issue, despite the fact that some of the national media essentially suppressed the story for weeks.
The Reuter/Ipsos poll received responses from 1,215 American adults, 1,015 of whom identified as registered voters.
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westernjournal--2020-05-08--24 Cats Rescued from Parked Car with Temps Near 118 Degrees

Animal hoarding is a particularly sad type of hoarding , as it affects far more lives than just the person responsible .
Animals are innocent creatures , and many “ collectors ” start out with the best intentions , but without stringent care and population control , numbers of animals can quickly exceed an individual ’ s capacity to care for them .
When a hoarder is no longer able to care for their animal charges , they can make some desperation-fueled decisions that seem pretty wild to the rest of us — like cramming 24 cats into a car @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while outside temperatures are in the mid-80s .
Leaving any number of animals in a car in such a manner is unacceptable , but this case stood out for its extreme numbers .
The incident took place late last month in Southern California , in the parking lot of the Quality Inn Ontario Convention Center .
The situation became clear when the meowing coming from the car was noticed and the humane society was notified .
What they found was appalling .
“ Our Humane officers are on scene where 24 cats have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 118° , ” the Inland Empire Humane Society & S.P.C.A .
shared on April 26 .
“ The cats and kittens were meowing in distress and our Humane officers were able to successfully break into the vehicle and are now safely rescuing the cats.
” “ The cats had no water or fresh food in the Honda Civic in which they were trapped , ” an update from the humane society noted .
The car was filthy with cat urine and feces — the humane society described it as “ excrement infested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every corner of the car , including the trunk .
Thankfully , they were rescued in time .
“ They are now in the care of our veterinary staff that is assessing their health and will be rehabilitating them , ” the humane society shared in a follow-up post on the same day .
The owner , who was staying at the hotel , was “ issued 24 citations for crimes against animals and animal in vehicle , ” according to People .
RELATED : Brave Teen Boy Risks Life To Save Toddler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ horrifying enough in its own right , and it was a mercy that the 24 cats were alive and being cared for properly , but the case was far from over .
Less than a week later , humane society employees found themselves back at the same location , and this time what they discovered was even more sickening .
“ Our Humane officers have rescued 42 additional cats — including 10 sick and malnourished kittens — at the same location where 24 cats were trapped in a hot car with an inside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , ” they posted on May 1 .
“ Unfortunately , 24 of the 42 cats were deceased ( most likely for several weeks ) and were found crammed in a storage container at the site after a strong , putrid smell was reported .
“ After further investigation , it was discovered that there were 18 surviving cats hidden in the individual ’ s hotel room ; the same individual who had 24 cats trapped in their car .
“ All surviving cats are now safely being treated in our care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ animal cruelty .
Our veterinary team is assessing and caring for the cats , who will be available for Foster to Hold & Foster to Adopt !
” Despite the terrible conditions these cats and kittens have experienced , some time and proper care has done them a world of good .
“ They ’ re doing so well and are finally showing their true colors , ” the humane society posted on Wednesday .
“ They love being pet and snuggled and are ready to be fostered or adopted by YOU.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly skyrocket inside cars , and every year more animals are found dead or have to be rescued because people ignore safety guidelines .
“ Please DO NOT leave animals alone in a vehicle , ” the humane society urged .
“ It is illegal and they can experience severe trauma and irreparable damage when temperatures reach certain levels ( 85° outside is 119° in a vehicle ) .
“ Please keep the pets of our community safe and report any animals under dangerous conditions.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our editorial standards .

Animal hoarding is a particularly sad type of hoarding, as it affects far more lives than just the person responsible.
Animals are innocent creatures, and many “collectors” start out with the best intentions, but without stringent care and population control, numbers of animals can quickly exceed an individual’s capacity to care for them.
When a hoarder is no longer able to care for their animal charges, they can make some desperation-fueled decisions that seem pretty wild to the rest of us — like cramming 24 cats into a car and leaving them there with no water while outside temperatures are in the mid-80s.
Leaving any number of animals in a car in such a manner is unacceptable, but this case stood out for its extreme numbers.
The incident took place late last month in Southern California, in the parking lot of the Quality Inn Ontario Convention Center. The situation became clear when the meowing coming from the car was noticed and the humane society was notified.
What they found was appalling.
“Our Humane officers are on scene where 24 cats have been trapped in a car reaching upwards of 118°,” the Inland Empire Humane Society & S.P.C.A. shared on April 26. “The cats and kittens were meowing in distress and our Humane officers were able to successfully break into the vehicle and are now safely rescuing the cats.”
“The cats had no water or fresh food in the Honda Civic in which they were trapped,” an update from the humane society noted.
The car was filthy with cat urine and feces — the humane society described it as “excrement infested” — and cats were crammed in every corner of the car, including the trunk.
Thankfully, they were rescued in time.
“They are now in the care of our veterinary staff that is assessing their health and will be rehabilitating them,” the humane society shared in a follow-up post on the same day.
The owner, who was staying at the hotel, was “issued 24 citations for crimes against animals and animal in vehicle,” according to People.
The incident was horrifying enough in its own right, and it was a mercy that the 24 cats were alive and being cared for properly, but the case was far from over. Less than a week later, humane society employees found themselves back at the same location, and this time what they discovered was even more sickening.
“Our Humane officers have rescued 42 additional cats — including 10 sick and malnourished kittens — at the same location where 24 cats were trapped in a hot car with an inside temperature of 118° last Sunday (4/26),” they posted on May 1.
“Unfortunately, 24 of the 42 cats were deceased (most likely for several weeks) and were found crammed in a storage container at the site after a strong, putrid smell was reported.
“After further investigation, it was discovered that there were 18 surviving cats hidden in the individual’s hotel room; the same individual who had 24 cats trapped in their car.
“All surviving cats are now safely being treated in our care and the individual is facing charges for animal cruelty. Our veterinary team is assessing and caring for the cats, who will be available for Foster to Hold & Foster to Adopt!”
Despite the terrible conditions these cats and kittens have experienced, some time and proper care has done them a world of good.
“They’re doing so well and are finally showing their true colors,” the humane society posted on Wednesday. “They love being pet and snuggled and are ready to be fostered or adopted by YOU.”
Every year people are warned that temperatures quickly skyrocket inside cars, and every year more animals are found dead or have to be rescued because people ignore safety guidelines.
“Please DO NOT leave animals alone in a vehicle,” the humane society urged. “It is illegal and they can experience severe trauma and irreparable damage when temperatures reach certain levels (85° outside is 119° in a vehicle).
“Please keep the pets of our community safe and report any animals under dangerous conditions.”
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westernjournal--2020-05-08--Op-Ed: The Surprising History Behind Mother’s Day

Did you know that every year in the United States an estimated 113 million cards are exchanged on Mother ’ s Day ?
Or that Mother ’ s Day ranks as the second most popular holiday for gift-giving , just behind Christmas ?
We ’ ve grown so used to the annual exercise of buying flowers , cards and chocolates for Mom that we have forgotten the real meaning of Mother ’ s Day .
Mother ’ s Day has its roots in a Christian tradition in Europe called “ Mothering Sundays.
” On the fourth Sunday of Lent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” church or cathedral in the parish of their upbringing to attend a service .
It was common for families to be reunited on this day and for children working away from home , including children working as domestic servants , to be given the day off to visit their “ mother ” church .
Mother ’ s Day was not introduced in the United States until 1908 when a woman named Anna Maria Jarvis organized a Mother ’ s Day celebration at Andrew ’ s Methodist Episcopal church in West Virginia to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by her own mother , Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis , who founded Mothers ’ Day Work Clubs in 1858 to help women learn how to better care for their children and to improve unsanitary conditions that were causing high infant mortality rates in rural West Virginia towns .
Later , the elder Jarvis created “ Mothers ’ Friendship Day ” in 1868 to help Confederate and Union soldiers and their families unite in the wake of the brutal Civil War .
After years of petitioning to have Mother ’ s Day added to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts finally paid off .
President Woodrow Wilson made Mother ’ s Day a national holiday on the second Sunday of May , in memory of the day Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis passed away in 1905 .
And because Jarvis intended for Mother ’ s Day to honor “ the best mother who ever lived , yours , ” she opted for a singular possessive rather than a plural possessive .
Hence today we call this observation Mother ’ s Day .
Several years later , however , Jarvis denounced the holiday , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is quoted as saying , “ I wanted it to be a day of sentiment , not profit.
” In Jarvis ’ view , all of the flowers , cards and gifts cheapened the day and actually took the focus off honoring one ’ s mother .
This history is a good reminder that Mother ’ s Day is not ultimately about what we give our mothers .
It is about truly honoring our mothers .
Yet the practice of recognizing the value and role of the women who raised us has even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history and the faith of our founders .
Benjamin Rush , one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence , said this of mothers in 1787 : “ There is no fame in the world equal to this ; nor is there a note in music half so delightful as the respectful language with which a grateful son or daughter perpetuates the memory of a sensible and affectionate mother.
” RELATED : Here 's What Government-Run Health Care Means for Moms with Sick Kids Rush was reflecting on the Fifth Commandment in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and your mother , so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
” ( Exodus 20:12 ) There ’ s a reason why God calls us to honor our parents .
Mothers play an indispensable role in society .
Each mother has the opportunity to love , teach , train and instill biblical values and strong character in her children .
It is this far too often unrecognized service that holds together the social fabric of our great nation .
This Mother ’ s Day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mother or another woman on the motherhood journey .
A kind word , an affectionate hug or a heartfelt letter will be worth much more to our mothers than a thousand roses or boxes of chocolates .
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 .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Did you know that every year in the United States an estimated 113 million cards are exchanged on Mother’s Day? Or that Mother’s Day ranks as the second most popular holiday for gift-giving, just behind Christmas?
We’ve grown so used to the annual exercise of buying flowers, cards and chocolates for Mom that we have forgotten the real meaning of Mother’s Day.
Mother’s Day has its roots in a Christian tradition in Europe called “Mothering Sundays.” On the fourth Sunday of Lent, churchgoers would return to their “mother” church or cathedral in the parish of their upbringing to attend a service.
It was common for families to be reunited on this day and for children working away from home, including children working as domestic servants, to be given the day off to visit their “mother” church.
Mother’s Day was not introduced in the United States until 1908 when a woman named Anna Maria Jarvis organized a Mother’s Day celebration at Andrew’s Methodist Episcopal church in West Virginia to honor all mothers.
Anna was inspired by her own mother, Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis, who founded Mothers’ Day Work Clubs in 1858 to help women learn how to better care for their children and to improve unsanitary conditions that were causing high infant mortality rates in rural West Virginia towns. Later, the elder Jarvis created “Mothers’ Friendship Day” in 1868 to help Confederate and Union soldiers and their families unite in the wake of the brutal Civil War.
After years of petitioning to have Mother’s Day added to the national calendar, Anna Jarvis’ efforts finally paid off. President Woodrow Wilson made Mother’s Day a national holiday on the second Sunday of May, in memory of the day Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis passed away in 1905.
And because Jarvis intended for Mother’s Day to honor “the best mother who ever lived, yours,” she opted for a singular possessive rather than a plural possessive. Hence today we call this observation Mother’s Day.
Several years later, however, Jarvis denounced the holiday, claiming it had become over-commercialized. She is quoted as saying, “I wanted it to be a day of sentiment, not profit.”
In Jarvis’ view, all of the flowers, cards and gifts cheapened the day and actually took the focus off honoring one’s mother.
This history is a good reminder that Mother’s Day is not ultimately about what we give our mothers. It is about truly honoring our mothers.
Yet the practice of recognizing the value and role of the women who raised us has even deeper roots in our nation’s history and the faith of our founders.
Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, said this of mothers in 1787:
“There is no fame in the world equal to this; nor is there a note in music half so delightful as the respectful language with which a grateful son or daughter perpetuates the memory of a sensible and affectionate mother.”
Rush was reflecting on the Fifth Commandment in the Bible: “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12)
There’s a reason why God calls us to honor our parents. Mothers play an indispensable role in society. Each mother has the opportunity to love, teach, train and instill biblical values and strong character in her children. It is this far too often unrecognized service that holds together the social fabric of our great nation.
This Mother’s Day, find a way to honor your mother or another woman on the motherhood journey. A kind word, an affectionate hug or a heartfelt letter will be worth much more to our mothers than a thousand roses or boxes of chocolates.
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.
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westernjournal--2020-05-08--Teen Finds Stack of Cash Next to ATM Totaling Over $135,000

It isn ’ t every day that you find unattended cash lying around — and even when you do , it ’ s often in small denominations or in a lost wallet that makes it clear that the money belongs to someone .
But a bag of nameless cold , hard cash — $ 135,000 — just sitting next to an ATM ?
Not everyone would have been as honest as Jose Nuñez Romaniz from Albuquerque , New Mexico , but thankfully he was the one who stumbled across the scene .
According to CNN , 19-year-old Jose had helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , so he went to the ATM on Sunday to deposit some cash so he could make the online purchase .
When he approached the ATM , he spotted the clear bag filled with stacks of money .
“ I was in shock , ” he said , according to KOAT .
“ I didn ’ t believe I was looking at so much [ money ] .
” But there were many factors that prompted Jose to make the right decision .
First , he thought of his mother .
“ In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking about my parents , especially my mom , and if I came home with the money , what would she do.
” Second , he is studying criminal justice and wants to become a crime scene investigator , so that likely played a role in his decision making .
He called the police , and they came to retrieve the cash since the bank was closed .
“ This money could have made an incredible amount of difference in his life if he went down the other path , but he chose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right thing , ” Officer Simon Drobik said .
“ I think his values were established by the values they established at home , ” Police Chief Mike Geier said .
The cash was determined to have been accidentally left when someone came to refill the ATM .
Nuñez has walked away from this situation with far more than a verbal thank-you for his honesty .
Because he made the right choice , he has gained local fame , a cash thank-you from a local restaurant , sports merchandise , and perhaps most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Albuquerque Police Department .
“ ‘ It isn ’ t what we say or think that defines us , but what we do , ' ” the Albuquerque Police Department shared on Thursday .
“ Meet Jose , this week his selfless actions lead him to contact police and help return $ 135,000 in cash that he found near an ATM .
“ He is pursuing a degree in criminal justice .
Chief Geier and Mayor Tim Keller invited Jose to the Police Academy where he was recognized and honored for exhibiting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Pride and Respect.
” While Nuñez , 19 , isn ’ t old enough to be a cop just yet , he ’ s been invited to apply to become a Public Safety Officer in the meantime .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

It isn’t every day that you find unattended cash lying around — and even when you do, it’s often in small denominations or in a lost wallet that makes it clear that the money belongs to someone.
But a bag of nameless cold, hard cash — $135,000 — just sitting next to an ATM? Not everyone would have been as honest as Jose Nuñez Romaniz from Albuquerque, New Mexico, but thankfully he was the one who stumbled across the scene.
According to CNN, 19-year-old Jose had helped his grandfather locate some hard-to-find socks online, so he went to the ATM on Sunday to deposit some cash so he could make the online purchase.
When he approached the ATM, he spotted the clear bag filled with stacks of money.
“I was in shock,” he said, according to KOAT. “I didn’t believe I was looking at so much [money].”
But there were many factors that prompted Jose to make the right decision. First, he thought of his mother.
“In the back of my head I was thinking about my parents, especially my mom, and if I came home with the money, what would she do.”
Second, he is studying criminal justice and wants to become a crime scene investigator, so that likely played a role in his decision making. He called the police, and they came to retrieve the cash since the bank was closed.
“This money could have made an incredible amount of difference in his life if he went down the other path, but he chose … the integrity path and did the right thing,” Officer Simon Drobik said.
“I think his values were established by the values they established at home,” Police Chief Mike Geier said.
The cash was determined to have been accidentally left when someone came to refill the ATM.
Nuñez has walked away from this situation with far more than a verbal thank-you for his honesty.
Because he made the right choice, he has gained local fame, a cash thank-you from a local restaurant, sports merchandise, and perhaps most importantly, a job offer from the Albuquerque Police Department.
Would you have reported the money? Yes No
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“‘It isn’t what we say or think that defines us, but what we do,'” the Albuquerque Police Department shared on Thursday. “Meet Jose, this week his selfless actions lead him to contact police and help return $135,000 in cash that he found near an ATM.
“He is pursuing a degree in criminal justice. Chief Geier and Mayor Tim Keller invited Jose to the Police Academy where he was recognized and honored for exhibiting the pillars of APD: Integrity, Fairness, Pride and Respect.”
While Nuñez, 19, isn’t old enough to be a cop just yet, he’s been invited to apply to become a Public Safety Officer in the meantime.
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westernjournal--2020-05-08--Facebook Slaps Popular Anti-Trump Ad with ‘Partly False’ Warning Label

An anti-Trump ad released by the Lincoln Project has been labeled “ partly false information ” by one of Facebook ’ s independent fact-checking organizations .
The video was a spoof on Ronald Reagan ’ s “ Morning in America ” ad , and criticized the president for supposedly ignoring the coronavirus pandemic early on .
“ Mourning in America ” was released by the Lincoln Project , a group of anti-Trump Republicans including George Conway , the husband of counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway .
The warning slapped on the Facebook ad says that it was rated “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information in this post is a mix of true and false statements or it could simply be incomplete .
In some cases , the information is misleading.
” The Lincoln Project ’ s video criticized President Donald Trump ’ s response to the coronavirus pandemic and said the American economy is “ teetering on the verge of a new Great Depression.
” “ There ’ s mourning in America .
Today , more than 60,000 Americans have died from a deadly virus Donald Trump ignored , ” the video ’ s narrator said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more than 26 million Americans are out of work , the worst economy in decades.
” Facebook ’ s fact check was provided by PolitiFact , which said the ad was “ wrong on several levels ” and took particular issue with the ad ’ s claim that “ Trump bailed out Wall Street , but not Main Street.
” “ While there have been high-profile examples of larger corporations being awarded loans from a primarily small-business lending program ( and sometimes giving them back ) , this line in the ad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ According to Marc Goldwein , the senior vice president and senior policy director for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget , the existing coronavirus relief legislation “ generally bails out everyone.
” PolitiFact pointed out that any design flaws in the Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security Act are not only Trump ’ s fault .
It had to pass in the Senate and House to even make it to Trump ’ s desk , and it was approved with bipartisan support .
The CARES Act helps small businesses through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program was criticized when some larger businesses received loans and the program quickly ran out of money .
According to the Small Business Administration , there have been over 1.6 million loans approved through April 16 , with the net approved dollar amount totaling over $ 342 billion .
RELATED : Dems To Use Information Warfare Tool Against Trump Supporters on Social Media “ So contrary to what the ad argues , tens of billions of dollars are flowing to small business , ” PolitiFact wrote .
The fact-checker also pointed out that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ firms from benefiting from the PPP .
The CARES Act does provide the Federal Reserve with $ 454 billion in emergency lending authority to help eligible businesses , states and localities .
“ So while much of this aid will flow through banks , it was not created with bailing out Wall Street as its endpoint ; Wall Street is being enlisted to aid a wide range of companies within the U.S. economy , ” PolitiFact wrote .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our @ @ @

An anti-Trump ad released by the Lincoln Project has been labeled “partly false information” by one of Facebook’s independent fact-checking organizations.
The video was a spoof on Ronald Reagan’s “Morning in America” ad, and criticized the president for supposedly ignoring the coronavirus pandemic early on.
“Mourning in America” was released by the Lincoln Project, a group of anti-Trump Republicans including George Conway, the husband of counselor to the president Kellyanne Conway.
The warning slapped on the Facebook ad says that it was rated “partly false information” because “the information in this post is a mix of true and false statements or it could simply be incomplete. In some cases, the information is misleading.”
The Lincoln Project’s video criticized President Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and said the American economy is “teetering on the verge of a new Great Depression.”
“There’s mourning in America. Today, more than 60,000 Americans have died from a deadly virus Donald Trump ignored,” the video’s narrator said.
“With the economy in shambles, more than 26 million Americans are out of work, the worst economy in decades.”
Facebook’s fact check was provided by PolitiFact, which said the ad was “wrong on several levels” and took particular issue with the ad’s claim that “Trump bailed out Wall Street, but not Main Street.”
Were you surprised Facebook fact-checked an anti-Trump ad? 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: 90% (371 Votes) No: 10% (40 Votes)
“While there have been high-profile examples of larger corporations being awarded loans from a primarily small-business lending program (and sometimes giving them back), this line in the ad is inaccurate,” PolitiFact wrote.
According to Marc Goldwein, the senior vice president and senior policy director for the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, the existing coronavirus relief legislation “generally bails out everyone.”
PolitiFact pointed out that any design flaws in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act are not only Trump’s fault. It had to pass in the Senate and House to even make it to Trump’s desk, and it was approved with bipartisan support.
The CARES Act helps small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program, but the program was criticized when some larger businesses received loans and the program quickly ran out of money.
According to the Small Business Administration, there have been over 1.6 million loans approved through April 16, with the net approved dollar amount totaling over $342 billion.
“So contrary to what the ad argues, tens of billions of dollars are flowing to small business,” PolitiFact wrote.
The fact-checker also pointed out that regulations were implemented to keep private equity firms from benefiting from the PPP.
The CARES Act does provide the Federal Reserve with $454 billion in emergency lending authority to help eligible businesses, states and localities.
“So while much of this aid will flow through banks, it was not created with bailing out Wall Street as its endpoint; Wall Street is being enlisted to aid a wide range of companies within the U.S. economy,” PolitiFact wrote.
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westernjournal--2020-05-08--New Trump Ad Exposes Joe Biden’s Pro-China, Anti-Trump Campaign Strategy

The Trump campaign has released a scathing new ad reminding potential voters of former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s propensity to buddy up to communist China and his strategy of being little more than an obstructionist against America ’ s response to the coronavirus .
The ad , released Thursday and shared by Trump surrogates on social media , including Donald Trump Jr. on Instagram , is highly effective at portraying the presumptive Democratic nominee ’ s fondness for the country that unleashed the coronavirus on the globe with its campaign of disinformation .
Trump ’ s campaign manager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter .
“ During America ’ s crisis Biden protected China ’ s feelings , ” the ad declares while showing Biden in one of his apparent states of confusion .
The campaign spot then quotes Biden directly for talking about President Donald Trump ’ s “ record of … hysterical xenophobia.
” The quote is one Biden made after the China travel ban , in which he accused Trump of not listening to science on the coronavirus .
“ We have , right now , a crisis with the coronavirus , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 31 , Reuters reported .
“ This is no time for Donald Trump ’ s record of hysteria and xenophobia – hysterical xenophobia – and fearmongering to lead the way instead of science.
” The ad also questions Biden ’ s son , Hunter Biden , and his financial ties to Chinese banks , and says the former VP “ stands up for China while China tries to cripple America.
” The Trump campaign also hints at Biden ’ s apparent cognitive decline , noting Biden “ rejected ” the travel ban “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ad splices together clips of Biden saying , “ China is going to eat our lunch ?
” “ come on , man ” and “ they ’ re good folks , folks.
” “ What a beautiful history we wrote together , ” he says at another point .
The ad is part of a coming TV blitz against Biden , Fox News reported .
RELATED : Biden 's Lead in Poll Tumbles as Trump Gains Support for Pandemic Response The spot will reportedly start airing on national TV immediately as part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highlight Biden ’ s soft spot for America ’ s greatest geopolitical foe .
Donald Trump Jr. shared the ad on his Instagram page and labeled the candidate “ Beijing Biden.
” “ # BeijingBiden doesn ’ t have what it takes to lead this country through a crisis or stand up to China , ” Trump Jr. wrote .
Biden has been dismissive of China ’ s potential to harm American interests for many years , and his recent behavior has called into question his mental acuity — and rightfully so .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Beijing go back many years .
“ Let me be clear — let me be clear : I believed in 1979 and said so and I believe now that a rising China is a positive development , not only for the people of China but for the United States and the world as a whole , ” Biden said in an August 2011 speech in Chengdu , China , while serving as vice president .
In January of this year , Biden said , “ We talk about China as our competitor ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by doing that.
” “ But the idea that China is going to eat our lunch ?
It was like I remember debates in the late ’ 90s — remember Japan was gon na own us ?
Give me a break.
” Biden has also transformed from a gaffe machine to a political campaign manager ’ s worst nightmare in recent months .
The candidate has confused places , dates and other important issues with alarming regularity .
The Trump ad used its 60 seconds effectively to highlight that Biden is completely unfit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and touches on the candidate ’ s apparent cognitive decline .
You would imagine at some point the campaign will highlight the hypocrisy of Biden and his fellow Democrats on the # MeToo movement , seeing as Biden is facing an allegation of sexual assault , which he has denied .
But if the Trump campaign is seeking to portray Biden as unfit , hypocritical or generally incapable of handling the rigorous job of being president , it doesn ’ t need to dig too deep .
We are committed to truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Read our editorial standards .

The Trump campaign has released a scathing new ad reminding potential voters of former Vice President Joe Biden’s propensity to buddy up to communist China and his strategy of being little more than an obstructionist against America’s response to the coronavirus.
The ad, released Thursday and shared by Trump surrogates on social media, including Donald Trump Jr. on Instagram, is highly effective at portraying the presumptive Democratic nominee’s fondness for the country that unleashed the coronavirus on the globe with its campaign of disinformation.
Trump’s campaign manager, Brad Parscale, shared the ad on Twitter.
Fire in the hole! pic.twitter.com/Mxs3lsfap6 — Brad Parscale – Download our Trump 2020 App today! (@parscale) May 7, 2020
“During America’s crisis Biden protected China’s feelings,” the ad declares while showing Biden in one of his apparent states of confusion.
The campaign spot then quotes Biden directly for talking about President Donald Trump’s “record of … hysterical xenophobia.”
The quote is one Biden made after the China travel ban, in which he accused Trump of not listening to science on the coronavirus.
“We have, right now, a crisis with the coronavirus,” Biden said in Iowa on Jan. 31, Reuters reported. “This is no time for Donald Trump’s record of hysteria and xenophobia – hysterical xenophobia – and fearmongering to lead the way instead of science.”
Do you think Biden will still be the Democratic Party's nominee for president? Yes No
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The ad also questions Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, and his financial ties to Chinese banks, and says the former VP “stands up for China while China tries to cripple America.”
The Trump campaign also hints at Biden’s apparent cognitive decline, noting Biden “rejected” the travel ban “until he forgot he did.”
The ad splices together clips of Biden saying, “China is going to eat our lunch?” “come on, man” and “they’re good folks, folks.”
“What a beautiful history we wrote together,” he says at another point.
The ad is part of a coming TV blitz against Biden, Fox News reported.
The spot will reportedly start airing on national TV immediately as part of a $10 million campaign to highlight Biden’s soft spot for America’s greatest geopolitical foe.
Donald Trump Jr. shared the ad on his Instagram page and labeled the candidate “Beijing Biden.”
“#BeijingBiden doesn’t have what it takes to lead this country through a crisis or stand up to China,” Trump Jr. wrote.
Biden has been dismissive of China’s potential to harm American interests for many years, and his recent behavior has called into question his mental acuity — and rightfully so.
Examples of Biden’s fondness for Beijing go back many years.
“Let me be clear — let me be clear: I believed in 1979 and said so and I believe now that a rising China is a positive development, not only for the people of China but for the United States and the world as a whole,” Biden said in an August 2011 speech in Chengdu, China, while serving as vice president.
In January of this year, Biden said, “We talk about China as our competitor? We should be helping and benefiting ourselves by doing that.”
“But the idea that China is going to eat our lunch? It was like I remember debates in the late ’90s — remember Japan was gonna own us? Give me a break.”
Biden has also transformed from a gaffe machine to a political campaign manager’s worst nightmare in recent months.
The candidate has confused places, dates and other important issues with alarming regularity.
The Trump ad used its 60 seconds effectively to highlight that Biden is completely unfit for office on the China issue alone, and touches on the candidate’s apparent cognitive decline.
You would imagine at some point the campaign will highlight the hypocrisy of Biden and his fellow Democrats on the #MeToo movement, seeing as Biden is facing an allegation of sexual assault, which he has denied.
But if the Trump campaign is seeking to portray Biden as unfit, hypocritical or generally incapable of handling the rigorous job of being president, it doesn’t need to dig too deep.
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westernjournal--2020-05-08--Report: Rise in Suicide from Gov’t Shutdowns Could Cause More Deaths Than COVID in Australia

Australia might see more deaths from an increase in suicides relating to the coronavirus pandemic than from the actual virus , according to a report from a university in the country .
SBS News reported that mental health researchers at Sydney University ’ s Brain and Mind Centre are predicting a 25 percent to 50 percent uptick in suicides during the country ’ s lockdown , and potentially beyond .
Models from the university are predicting that an extra 750 to 1,500 suicides a year could end up being attributed to the financial and mental health toll created by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respond to it .
Up to 30 percent of those new suicide deaths could tragically occur among young people who are now overburdened by the pandemic and the fear and uncertainty surrounding it .
To make matters worse , the prediction of an increased suicide rate could play out over a prolonged five-year period .
Ian Hickie , the head of the university ’ s Brain and Mind Centre , told SBS News the arrival of the coronavirus in his country created a “ perfect storm ” for suicides .
“ It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is entirely consistent with past experience , ” Hickie said .
The university ’ s model — which used data from the 2009 global financial crisis , the Asian financial crisis of 1997 and the Great Depression — predicted that the mental health effects of people leaving school , rising unemployment and family issues will hurt the economy by reducing productivity , according to Breitbart .
Currently , there are about 3,000 suicides annually in Australia .
The 25 percent predicted increase is based on an unemployment rate of 10 percent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent , the university expects the suicide rate to increase by up to 50 percent .
Australia has currently reported 97 deaths from the coronavirus since the first cases were reported in Jan. 26 , according to numbers from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center .
The country had confirmed 6,914 cases as of Friday .
The deaths average out to fewer than one per day since the first cases were reported .
Meanwhile , an added 1,500 suicides annually would equate to roughly four additional deaths per day attributed to suicide .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ News his government is taking the predictions seriously and will do more to address the issue .
RELATED : Media Lies at Work : As NY Deaths Go Up , So Do Cuomo 's Polls - As FL Deaths Go Down , So Do DeSantis ' Polls The university prediction of increased suicides was limited to Australia , but suicides are certainly not an issue isolated to the land down under .
According to Worldometers , which tracks global statistics in real time , more than 377,000 people worldwide have committed suicide so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 270,000 have died from the coronavirus globally .
The global suicide rate thus already outpaces lives lost due to the coronavirus .
President Donald Trump drew flak from the media when he suggested in March that the government ’ s response to the virus can not be too heavy-handed , tweeting : “ WE CAN NOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF.
” Trump also cited his fear about an increased suicide rate coinciding with mass public lockdowns .
“ You ’ re going to lose more people by putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depression.
” Trump said during a Fox News town hall on March 24 .
“ You ’ re going to lose people .
You ’ re going to have suicides by the thousands.
” Other experts are warning that more people could soon be dying from other causes as well at a time when the majority of resources being directed to the pandemic .
The Telegraph reported this week that a reduced focus on tuberculosis by health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to an additional 1.4 million deaths from tuberculosis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next five years , as routine doctor visits and health screenings are not happening .
That ’ s without mentioning cancer screenings and other essential health services that have been put on hold .
The United Nations last month also warned of famines of “ biblical proportion ” due to the coronavirus pandemic .
U.N. executive David Beasley described the current global situation as “ the worst humanitarian crisis since World War Two , ” and added there are 130 million more people around the world who are now on the edge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dire warnings come as the efficacy of mass lockdowns is already being questioned .
According to the data from a newly released medical survey , roughly 66 percent of hospitalized coronavirus patients within New York state — easily the hardest hit by the pandemic — were admitted from the safety of their own homes .
“ But 66 percent of the people were at home , which is shocking to us , ” New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo said .
The information calls into question if the government ’ s cure for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the disease itself , or if we might already be there .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Australia might see more deaths from an increase in suicides relating to the coronavirus pandemic than from the actual virus, according to a report from a university in the country.
SBS News reported that mental health researchers at Sydney University’s Brain and Mind Centre are predicting a 25 percent to 50 percent uptick in suicides during the country’s lockdown, and potentially beyond.
Models from the university are predicting that an extra 750 to 1,500 suicides a year could end up being attributed to the financial and mental health toll created by the virus, and by shuttering society to respond to it.
Up to 30 percent of those new suicide deaths could tragically occur among young people who are now overburdened by the pandemic and the fear and uncertainty surrounding it.
To make matters worse, the prediction of an increased suicide rate could play out over a prolonged five-year period.
Ian Hickie, the head of the university’s Brain and Mind Centre, told SBS News the arrival of the coronavirus in his country created a “perfect storm” for suicides.
“It is shocking in terms of numbers, but it is entirely consistent with past experience,” Hickie said.
The university’s model — which used data from the 2009 global financial crisis, the Asian financial crisis of 1997 and the Great Depression — predicted that the mental health effects of people leaving school, rising unemployment and family issues will hurt the economy by reducing productivity, according to Breitbart.
Currently, there are about 3,000 suicides annually in Australia.
In hindsight, do you think lockdowns were an overreaction to the coronavirus pandemic? 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: 90% (305 Votes) No: 10% (35 Votes)
The 25 percent predicted increase is based on an unemployment rate of 10 percent, but if the jobless rate reaches 15 percent, the university expects the suicide rate to increase by up to 50 percent.
Australia has currently reported 97 deaths from the coronavirus since the first cases were reported in Jan. 26, according to numbers from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The country had confirmed 6,914 cases as of Friday.
The deaths average out to fewer than one per day since the first cases were reported.
Meanwhile, an added 1,500 suicides annually would equate to roughly four additional deaths per day attributed to suicide.
Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt told SBS News his government is taking the predictions seriously and will do more to address the issue.
The university prediction of increased suicides was limited to Australia, but suicides are certainly not an issue isolated to the land down under.
According to Worldometers, which tracks global statistics in real time, more than 377,000 people worldwide have committed suicide so far in 2020, while more than 270,000 have died from the coronavirus globally.
The global suicide rate thus already outpaces lives lost due to the coronavirus.
President Donald Trump drew flak from the media when he suggested in March that the government’s response to the virus cannot be too heavy-handed, tweeting: “WE CANNOT LET THE CURE BE WORSE THAN THE PROBLEM ITSELF.”
Trump also cited his fear about an increased suicide rate coinciding with mass public lockdowns.
“You’re going to lose more people by putting a country into a massive recession or depression.” Trump said during a Fox News town hall on March 24. “You’re going to lose people. You’re going to have suicides by the thousands.”
Other experts are warning that more people could soon be dying from other causes as well at a time when the majority of resources being directed to the pandemic.
The Telegraph reported this week that a reduced focus on tuberculosis by health care providers during the COVID-19 pandemic could lead to an additional 1.4 million deaths from tuberculosis and 6.3 million additional cases over the next five years, as routine doctor visits and health screenings are not happening.
That’s without mentioning cancer screenings and other essential health services that have been put on hold.
The United Nations last month also warned of famines of “biblical proportion” due to the coronavirus pandemic.
U.N. executive David Beasley described the current global situation as “the worst humanitarian crisis since World War Two,” and added there are 130 million more people around the world who are now on the edge of starvation because of the pandemic.
These dire warnings come as the efficacy of mass lockdowns is already being questioned.
According to the data from a newly released medical survey, roughly 66 percent of hospitalized coronavirus patients within New York state — easily the hardest hit by the pandemic — were admitted from the safety of their own homes.
“But 66 percent of the people were at home, which is shocking to us,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said.
The information calls into question if the government’s cure for the disease will indeed be worse than the disease itself, or if we might already be there.
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westernjournal--2020-05-08--Famous Statistician Blasts Media for ‘Basic Error’ in Coronavirus Reporting That Distorts the Truth

FiveThirtyEight editor and American statistician Nate Silver criticized the mainstream media on Thursday for not providing context to its stories to pursue an agenda of prioritizing stories that “ sound smart ” instead of the truth .
In particular , Silver was calling out reports of an increase in coronavirus cases that do not discuss the sharp increase in testing .
“ Not providing context on the increase in testing is such a basic error , and has been so widespread , that it ’ s revealing about the media ’ s goals , ” he tweeted .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stories ( ‘ narratives ’ ) that sound smart to its audience than in accuracy/truth per se.
” Silver was responding to author James Surowiecki , who pointed to stories from The New York Times and Axios that failed to highlight the increase in testing that could have resulted in the growth of coronavirus cases .
The statistician added that this doesn ’ t mean these news outlets are “ making stuff up or engaging in fake news.
” Instead , there are “ sins of omission.
” “ BTW , Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case counts , the media creates disincentives to do more testing because it makes the numbers look superficially worse , ” he tweeted .
“ One reason ( not the only one ) why we ’ re not pushing for testing as much as we should.
” Silver ’ s criticism prompted at least Axios to update its story , according to Mediaite .
An editor ’ s note at the bottom of the story reads , “ This story has been updated to clarify that increased testing could be part of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. is rising.
” RELATED : 'Man of God ' NFL Star Points Out Things To Be Grateful for During the Pandemic : 'There 's So Much' The New York Times ’ story does include a quote from Vice President Mike Pence who mentioned that more tests are becoming available so there will more than likely be an uptick in the number of coronavirus cases .
“ It ’ s important that as we see progress being made , and declining hospitalizations and emergency room admissions and positive rates going down , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they ’ re increasing testing , the number of cases that are going to be reported are going up , ” Pence said while giving advice to state governors .
“ But it ’ s all going to be a matter of making sure that the public sees the whole picture .
But it ’ s all progress.
” In another tweet , Silver added that the lack of straightforward communication probably made matters worse when it comes to the coronavirus response .
“ There ’ s been too much ‘ we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ and its alter ego cousin ‘ we don ’ t want to give people a false sense of complacency ’ going around since the start of the pandemic and it ’ s probably made matters worse than just communicating as straightforwardly as possible , ” he said .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

FiveThirtyEight editor and American statistician Nate Silver criticized the mainstream media on Thursday for not providing context to its stories to pursue an agenda of prioritizing stories that “sound smart” instead of the truth.
In particular, Silver was calling out reports of an increase in coronavirus cases that do not discuss the sharp increase in testing.
“Not providing context on the increase in testing is such a basic error, and has been so widespread, that it’s revealing about the media’s goals,” he tweeted.
“It’s more interested in telling plausibly-true stories (‘narratives’) that sound smart to its audience than in accuracy/truth per se.”
Not providing context on the increase in testing is such a basic error, and has been so widespread, that it’s revealing about the media’s goals. It’s more interested in telling plausibly-true stories (“narratives”) that sound smart to its audience than in accuracy/truth per se. https://t.co/abYbgkVFbj — Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) May 7, 2020
Silver was responding to author James Surowiecki, who pointed to stories from The New York Times and Axios that failed to highlight the increase in testing that could have resulted in the growth of coronavirus cases.
The statistician added that this doesn’t mean these news outlets are “making stuff up or engaging in fake news.” Instead, there are “sins of omission.”
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“BTW, Trump has figured this out! By focusing on case counts, the media creates disincentives to do more testing because it makes the numbers look superficially worse,” he tweeted.
“One reason (not the only one) why we’re not pushing for testing as much as we should.”
BTW, Trump has figured this out! By focusing on case counts, the media creates disincentives to do more testing because it makes the numbers look superficially worse. One reason (not the only one) why we’re not pushing for testing as much as we should.https://t.co/lDxP8CMueL — Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) May 7, 2020
Silver’s criticism prompted at least Axios to update its story, according to Mediaite.
An editor’s note at the bottom of the story reads, “This story has been updated to clarify that increased testing could be part of the reason the number of cases in the U.S. is rising.”
The New York Times’ story does include a quote from Vice President Mike Pence who mentioned that more tests are becoming available so there will more than likely be an uptick in the number of coronavirus cases.
“It’s important that as we see progress being made, and declining hospitalizations and emergency room admissions and positive rates going down, that all of these governors are also aware as they’re increasing testing, the number of cases that are going to be reported are going up,” Pence said while giving advice to state governors.
“But it’s all going to be a matter of making sure that the public sees the whole picture. But it’s all progress.”
In another tweet, Silver added that the lack of straightforward communication probably made matters worse when it comes to the coronavirus response.
“There’s been too much ‘we don’t want to scare people’ and its alter ego cousin ‘we don’t want to give people a false sense of complacency’ going around since the start of the pandemic and it’s probably made matters worse than just communicating as straightforwardly as possible,” he said.
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westernjournal--2020-05-08--Trump Responds to Killing of Jogger Ahmaud Arbery: ‘Very Disturbing’

President Donald Trump responded Friday morning to the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia , calling the video that appears to show the confrontation “ very disturbing ” but saying he was confident that the local authorities would handle the case properly .
“ I saw the tape and it ’ s very , very disturbing , ” Trump said in an interview on Fox News ’ “ Fox & Friends.
” “ I looked at the picture of that young man , he was in a tuxedo — in fact , you put it up — and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really good young guy.
” The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced Thursday that it had arrested Gregory McMichael , 64 , and his 34-year-old son , Travis McMichael , and charged them with aggravated assault and the murder of Arbery .
Arbery , 25 , was jogging on Feb. 23 in Brunswick when the McMichaels confronted him with two firearms .
During the encounter , Travis McMichael shot and killed Arbery , according to the GBI news release .
Gregory McMichael had previously told police that they pursued Arbery because they thought he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the area and Arbery had attacked them , ABC News reported .
A 28-second video circulating the internet reportedly shows the confrontation and spurred anger across the country .
As The Associated Press reported in a summary of the footage , “ The cellphone video , initially posted by a Brunswick radio station , shows a black man running at a jogging pace on the left side of a road .
A truck is parked in the road ahead of him .
One man is inside the pickup ’ s bed , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s side door .
“ The runner crosses the road to pass the pickup on the passenger side , then crosses back in front of the truck .
A gunshot sounds , and the video shows the runner grappling with a man in the street over what appears to be a shotgun or rifle .
A second shot can be heard , and the runner can be seen punching the man .
A third shot is fired at point-blank range .
Trump said that it was a “ very disturbing situation ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the family and the parents and the friends.
” The president expressed his confidence in Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp and the law enforcement officials to “ do the right thing.
” “ It ’ s a heartbreaking thing .
That was very rough , rough stuff , ” he said .
RELATED : WHO Comes Under Fire for Saying Kids Under 4 Should Be Taught About 'Early Childhood Masturbation' Kemp told reporters that the video was “ absolutely horrific , and Georgians deserve answers , ” NBC News reported .
In a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even though the agency is only days into its investigation , it will be conducted “ thoroughly and expeditiously to ensure justice is served.
” “ We know you want and deserve answers as quickly as possible , and we do too .
So when we ask for patience knowing it ’ s been over two months since the incident , we do so to allow our team to complete the investigation , ” the statement read .
“ We know this is difficult and is not only affecting the Brunswick community , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We thank you for your understanding.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

President Donald Trump responded Friday morning to the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, calling the video that appears to show the confrontation “very disturbing” but saying he was confident that the local authorities would handle the case properly.
“I saw the tape and it’s very, very disturbing,” Trump said in an interview on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.”
“I looked at the picture of that young man, he was in a tuxedo — in fact, you put it up — and I will say, that looks like a really good young guy.”
Watch the latest video at foxnews.com
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced Thursday that it had arrested Gregory McMichael, 64, and his 34-year-old son, Travis McMichael, and charged them with aggravated assault and the murder of Arbery.
Arbery, 25, was jogging on Feb. 23 in Brunswick when the McMichaels confronted him with two firearms. During the encounter, Travis McMichael shot and killed Arbery, according to the GBI news release.
Gregory McMichael had previously told police that they pursued Arbery because they thought he was involved in the recent burglaries in the area and Arbery had attacked them, ABC News reported.
A 28-second video circulating the internet reportedly shows the confrontation and spurred anger across the country.
As The Associated Press reported in a summary of the footage, “The cellphone video, initially posted by a Brunswick radio station, shows a black man running at a jogging pace on the left side of a road. A truck is parked in the road ahead of him. One man is inside the pickup’s bed, and another is standing beside the open driver’s side door.
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“The runner crosses the road to pass the pickup on the passenger side, then crosses back in front of the truck. A gunshot sounds, and the video shows the runner grappling with a man in the street over what appears to be a shotgun or rifle. A second shot can be heard, and the runner can be seen punching the man. A third shot is fired at point-blank range.
“The runner staggers a few feet and falls face down.”
Trump said that it was a “very disturbing situation” and his “heart goes out to the family and the parents and the friends.”
The president expressed his confidence in Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and the law enforcement officials to “do the right thing.”
“It’s a heartbreaking thing. That was very rough, rough stuff,” he said.
Kemp told reporters that the video was “absolutely horrific, and Georgians deserve answers,” NBC News reported.
In a Thursday statement, the GBI said that even though the agency is only days into its investigation, it will be conducted “thoroughly and expeditiously to ensure justice is served.”
“We know you want and deserve answers as quickly as possible, and we do too. So when we ask for patience knowing it’s been over two months since the incident, we do so to allow our team to complete the investigation,” the statement read.
“We know this is difficult and is not only affecting the Brunswick community, or Georgia, but the entire nation. We thank you for your understanding.”
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westernjournal--2020-05-08--Dick Morris: Fire Christopher Wray

Dick Morris: Fire Christopher Wray

The decision of the Department of Justice to drop all charges against former National Security Advisor Gen. Michael Flynn constitutes an admission of the most grievous and outrageous kind of misconduct by the chief investigative arm of the federal government : the FBI .
The DOJ acted to drop the charges only after the most blatant evidence emerged that FBI and DOJ operatives framed Flynn for political purposes .
The director of the FBI , Christopher Wray , can not and should not escape responsibility for the activities of the bureau .
He should resign immediately or President Trump should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and breathless notes exchanged by those who interrogated the general in the interview that led to his indictment for lying to the FBI indicates a deliberate effort to entrap General Flynn , have him unwittingly confess to a violation of the Logan Act , and/or get him to lie to his interrogators .
Operatives set a perjury trap for Flynn without even informing him that he was being interviewed in connection with an investigation .
As the incoming national security advisor , he naturally decided not to spill his guts and national secrets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him .
Had he been warned that he was the target and been given an opportunity for legal representation , he likely would have avoided the trap .
Flynn ’ s underlying offense was to discuss the charges of Russian interference in U.S. election with the Russian ambassador , something the incoming national security advisor would be remiss not to do .
But the entrapment of General Flynn is damnable for two other reasons .
First , he would have made a great national security advisor .
In fact , he was likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cozy , incestuous national security establishment that so ill-served the country under President Obama .
This is the same crowd that encouraged the president to negotiate the Iran nuclear accords with all their defects and approved the payment of billions to the terrorists in the Iranian regime , money that has been spent killing Americans and other innocent civilians .
Wherever Flynn went , he was the bull in the china shop .
As director of intelligence for American forces in Afghanistan , he booted the armchair staff out of headquarters and sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Taliban threats , rather than just catalog those that were already causing U.S. casualties .
Similarly , as director of national intelligence , he revolutionized our system and increased the emphasis on field agents rather than simply relying on technology to keep us posted on international developments .
As the incoming national security advisor , he would have been ruthless in purging the tell-them-what-they-want-to-hear culture that pervaded the council under Obama .
But he also stood directly in the path of the coup d ’ etat that was then unfolding under the watchful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CIA Director John Brennan .
This coup — based on concoctions enumerated in a phony dossier prepared at the behest of and paid for by the Hillary campaign — depended on regular leaks of disinformation to gullible reporters up and down the media food chain .
Were Flynn in charge , it was undoubted that these leaks would have been met with swift justice and administrative action , likely leading to the dismissal and perhaps the prosecution of the leakers .
RELATED : Mike Huckabee : Clear Proof of Flynn Setup Is Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ succeed with Flynn at the National Security Council and Brennan and his conspirators — including Comey , Strzok , Page and McCabe — were determined to keep him out .
Hence the framing of the general .
And , to make sure he left , they also arranged to investigate and develop charges against the general ’ s son that are likely as phony as the ones against him turned out to be .
Christopher Wray stood by as director of the FBI and let all this happen on his watch .
As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Judicial Watch and other conservative organs and the intrepid work of defense attorney Sidney Powell , Wray looked the other way .
He could have gotten at the truth himself , but chose not to do so .
He should be fired .
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 .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The decision of the Department of Justice to drop all charges against former National Security Advisor Gen. Michael Flynn constitutes an admission of the most grievous and outrageous kind of misconduct by the chief investigative arm of the federal government: the FBI.
The DOJ acted to drop the charges only after the most blatant evidence emerged that FBI and DOJ operatives framed Flynn for political purposes. The director of the FBI, Christopher Wray, cannot and should not escape responsibility for the activities of the bureau.
He should resign immediately or President Trump should fire him.
The evidence of emails and breathless notes exchanged by those who interrogated the general in the interview that led to his indictment for lying to the FBI indicates a deliberate effort to entrap General Flynn, have him unwittingly confess to a violation of the Logan Act, and/or get him to lie to his interrogators.
Operatives set a perjury trap for Flynn without even informing him that he was being interviewed in connection with an investigation. As the incoming national security advisor, he naturally decided not to spill his guts and national secrets to two FBI operatives sent to interview him. Had he been warned that he was the target and been given an opportunity for legal representation, he likely would have avoided the trap.
Flynn’s underlying offense was to discuss the charges of Russian interference in U.S. election with the Russian ambassador, something the incoming national security advisor would be remiss not to do.
But the entrapment of General Flynn is damnable for two other reasons.
First, he would have made a great national security advisor. In fact, he was likely to be too good, disrupting the cozy, incestuous national security establishment that so ill-served the country under President Obama.
This is the same crowd that encouraged the president to negotiate the Iran nuclear accords with all their defects and approved the payment of billions to the terrorists in the Iranian regime, money that has been spent killing Americans and other innocent civilians.
Do you think President Trump should fire Christopher Wray? Yes No
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Wherever Flynn went, he was the bull in the china shop. As director of intelligence for American forces in Afghanistan, he booted the armchair staff out of headquarters and sent them into the field to spot emerging Taliban threats, rather than just catalog those that were already causing U.S. casualties.
Similarly, as director of national intelligence, he revolutionized our system and increased the emphasis on field agents rather than simply relying on technology to keep us posted on international developments.
As the incoming national security advisor, he would have been ruthless in purging the tell-them-what-they-want-to-hear culture that pervaded the council under Obama.
But he also stood directly in the path of the coup d’etat that was then unfolding under the watchful eye and with the micromanaging of former CIA Director John Brennan.
This coup — based on concoctions enumerated in a phony dossier prepared at the behest of and paid for by the Hillary campaign — depended on regular leaks of disinformation to gullible reporters up and down the media food chain. Were Flynn in charge, it was undoubted that these leaks would have been met with swift justice and administrative action, likely leading to the dismissal and perhaps the prosecution of the leakers.
The coup simply could not succeed with Flynn at the National Security Council and Brennan and his conspirators — including Comey, Strzok, Page and McCabe — were determined to keep him out.
Hence the framing of the general. And, to make sure he left, they also arranged to investigate and develop charges against the general’s son that are likely as phony as the ones against him turned out to be.
Christopher Wray stood by as director of the FBI and let all this happen on his watch. As the truth became evident through investigation by Judicial Watch and other conservative organs and the intrepid work of defense attorney Sidney Powell, Wray looked the other way. He could have gotten at the truth himself, but chose not to do so.
He should be fired.
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.
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