westernjournal--2020-02-07--Trump Challenger Joe Walsh Ends Campaign After Getting Crushed in Iowa

Former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh has ended his 2020 Republican presidential nominee challenge against President Donald Trump after his campaign failed to receive more than 1.1 percent of the vote in Iowa .
“ I am ending my candidacy for president of the United States , ” Walsh told CNN ’ s John Berman on “ New Day ” Friday morning .
“ I got into this because I thought it was really important that there was a Republican — a Republican — out there every day calling out this president for how unfit he is.
” The Illinois Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump from being re-elected , “ nobody can beat him ” within the Republican Party .
“ It ’ s Trump ’ s party , John .
It ’ s not a party , it ’ s a cult , ” Walsh said .
“ He can ’ t be beaten in the Republican primary , so there is no reason for me or any candidate really to be in there.
” TRENDING : Romney Gave This Note to Every Republican Before His Impeachment Vote He bemoaned the fact that at least nine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and said the conservative media “ wouldn ’ t give me the time of day.
” “ Out there , every day , John , talking to Republican voters … I just became convinced that these folks have been fed nothing but lies and mistruths about President Trump and they can ’ t be gotten back , ” Walsh said .
The former representative has been fighting an uphill battle for the Republican nomination since he announced his candidacy in August .
According to an October Federal Election Commission filing , Walsh raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign in August and the end of September .
Walsh ’ s donations stack up as .04 percent of the overall $ 308 million raised last year by President Donald Trump ’ s fundraising operation , including his campaign and the Republican National Committee .
The Trump campaign and the RNC raised $ 125 million in the third quarter alone , according to The New York Times .
Walsh ’ s defeat in Iowa put the last nail in his campaign ’ s coffin .
RELATED : Desperate Biden Inserts Former Obama Aide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the more than 32,000 Republican votes cast in the Iowa caucuses , to end up with 1.1 percent of the vote .
Former Massachusetts Gov .
William Weld grabbed 426 votes and 1.3 percent of the total cast , while Trump secured 31,464 , votes or 97.1 percent of the total , according to The New York Times .
Following his Iowa defeat , Walsh wrote in a series of tweets about his plight for the nomination and how the Republican party no longer has a place for him .
“ But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservatives who are decent , principled , and respectful .
Conservatives who embrace all God ’ s children , acknowledge that climate change is real , get serious about our debt , abide by our Constitution , and tell the truth , ” he tweeted .
“ I hope to be a part of this new party .
This new movement.
” Weld is now the only candidate challenging Trump for the Republican presidential nomination .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards @

Former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh has ended his 2020 Republican presidential nominee challenge against President Donald Trump after his campaign failed to receive more than 1.1 percent of the vote in Iowa.
“I am ending my candidacy for president of the United States,” Walsh told CNN’s John Berman on “New Day” Friday morning.
“I got into this because I thought it was really important that there was a Republican — a Republican — out there every day calling out this president for how unfit he is.”
The Illinois Republican said that while he wants to stop Trump from being re-elected, “nobody can beat him” within the Republican Party.
“It’s Trump’s party, John. It’s not a party, it’s a cult,” Walsh said. “He can’t be beaten in the Republican primary, so there is no reason for me or any candidate really to be in there.”
Joe Walsh calls the GOP a “cult”: “(Trump’s) a threat to this country. He can’t be stopped within the Republican party. … The conservative media world, Fox News and all the rest wouldn’t give me the time of day. … They bow down in front of their king” https://t.co/ff5IuwAZzg pic.twitter.com/5EkjDcSokm — CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) February 7, 2020
He bemoaned the fact that at least nine states had canceled their Republican state primaries and said the conservative media “wouldn’t give me the time of day.”
“Out there, every day, John, talking to Republican voters … I just became convinced that these folks have been fed nothing but lies and mistruths about President Trump and they can’t be gotten back,” Walsh said.
Do you think anyone can beat Trump for the nomination? 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: 5% (2 Votes) No: 95% (38 Votes)
The former representative has been fighting an uphill battle for the Republican nomination since he announced his candidacy in August.
According to an October Federal Election Commission filing, Walsh raised $128,943.39 between the start of his campaign in August and the end of September.
Walsh’s donations stack up as .04 percent of the overall $308 million raised last year by President Donald Trump’s fundraising operation, including his campaign and the Republican National Committee.
The Trump campaign and the RNC raised $125 million in the third quarter alone, according to The New York Times.
Walsh’s defeat in Iowa put the last nail in his campaign’s coffin.
Walsh captured just 348 of the more than 32,000 Republican votes cast in the Iowa caucuses, to end up with 1.1 percent of the vote. Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld grabbed 426 votes and 1.3 percent of the total cast, while Trump secured 31,464, votes or 97.1 percent of the total, according to The New York Times.
Following his Iowa defeat, Walsh wrote in a series of tweets about his plight for the nomination and how the Republican party no longer has a place for him.
“But there needs to be a home for conservatives who are decent, principled, and respectful. Conservatives who embrace all God’s children, acknowledge that climate change is real, get serious about our debt, abide by our Constitution, and tell the truth,” he tweeted.
“I hope to be a part of this new party. This new movement.”
Weld is now the only candidate challenging Trump for the Republican presidential nomination.
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westernjournal--2020-02-07--John Kerry Flubs Anti-Gun Shtick: No One Needs an ‘AR-16 with a Long Clip’ To Hunt

Speaking at a campaign rally for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , former Secretary of State John Kerry flubbed his way through some anti-gun sentiment .
“ I ’ m a hunter , ” Kerry said Saturday in North Liberty , Iowa .
“ I ’ m a gun owner .
Been that all my life .
“ But I got news for you : There ’ s not a veteran here who would take an AR-16 with a long clip to go out and shoot a deer or shoot anything .
There has no business — Joe led the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ street.
” The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee was most probably referring to the commonly owned AR-15 modern sporting rifle , which is loaded by magazines , not clips .
Kerry ’ s statement that no veteran would utilize an AR semi-automatic rifle for deer hunting is questionable .
TRENDING : Romney Gave This Note to Every Republican Before His Impeachment Vote According to Field & Stream magazine , semi-automatic rifles were part of a “ whitetail revolution ” in deer hunting when Larry Benoit , one of the most celebrated trophy buck hunters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Sports Afield in 1970 .
Since then , the AR platform has grown in popularity among hunters — many of whom are military veterans — and today is regularly considered one of the top rifle picks for buck hunting by leading sportsman magazines .
Kerry ’ s remarks were yet another reminder that many who hold anti-gun views often speak ignorantly on the topic of firearms and their ownership .
The myriad examples of gun-control politicians and activists conflating firearm terms , misrepresenting ownership policies and even lying about laws on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ joke .
There is no other hot-button issue in America in which one side routinely misrepresents , fabricates and flummoxes its way through arguments .
As Becket Adams pointed out in an Op-Ed in the Washington Examiner : “ No one would cheer if a pundit said it ’ s easier to get a late-term abortion than Sudafed .
His audience would ask to see his homework .
No one would shrug it off if a legislator incorrectly referred to a ‘ trimester ’ as a ‘ semester.
’ No one would ignore @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his position on abortions in cases of rape and incest with a response that included something about the human body rejecting ‘ legitimate rape . '
” Are these ongoing mistakes by gun-control advocates a sign of true ignorance or something more — a philosophy by design intended to marginalize the subject ?
Speaking articulately upon the matter of guns and gun ownership provides a semblance of respect toward these issues and the people who care about them .
But the continual mistakes made by gun-control advocates indicate that the subject is pointless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also , unfortunately , marginalizes anyone who might care .
Ultimately , by obfuscating these issues , confusion ensues , and voters can wind up supporting policies they may not fully understand .
This could lead to Second Amendment rights being curtailed or perhaps one day revoked .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Speaking at a campaign rally for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, former Secretary of State John Kerry flubbed his way through some anti-gun sentiment.
“I’m a hunter,” Kerry said Saturday in North Liberty, Iowa. “I’m a gun owner. Been that all my life.
“But I got news for you: There’s not a veteran here who would take an AR-16 with a long clip to go out and shoot a deer or shoot anything. There has no business — Joe led the fight to get those things off the street.”
The 2004 Democratic presidential nominee was most probably referring to the commonly owned AR-15 modern sporting rifle, which is loaded by magazines, not clips.
Kerry’s statement that no veteran would utilize an AR semi-automatic rifle for deer hunting is questionable.
According to Field & Stream magazine, semi-automatic rifles were part of a “whitetail revolution” in deer hunting when Larry Benoit, one of the most celebrated trophy buck hunters, appeared with one on the cover of Sports Afield in 1970.
Since then, the AR platform has grown in popularity among hunters — many of whom are military veterans — and today is regularly considered one of the top rifle picks for buck hunting by leading sportsman magazines.
Kerry’s remarks were yet another reminder that many who hold anti-gun views often speak ignorantly on the topic of firearms and their ownership.
The myriad examples of gun-control politicians and activists conflating firearm terms, misrepresenting ownership policies and even lying about laws on the books have become an unfortunate and long-running joke.
Are the flubs often made by gun-control advocates a sign of true ignorance? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 98% (385 Votes) No: 2% (8 Votes)
There is no other hot-button issue in America in which one side routinely misrepresents, fabricates and flummoxes its way through arguments.
As Becket Adams pointed out in an Op-Ed in the Washington Examiner:
“No one would cheer if a pundit said it’s easier to get a late-term abortion than Sudafed. His audience would ask to see his homework. No one would shrug it off if a legislator incorrectly referred to a ‘trimester’ as a ‘semester.’ No one would ignore it if a pro-life senatorial candidate explained his position on abortions in cases of rape and incest with a response that included something about the human body rejecting ‘legitimate rape.'”
Are these ongoing mistakes by gun-control advocates a sign of true ignorance or something more — a philosophy by design intended to marginalize the subject?
Speaking articulately upon the matter of guns and gun ownership provides a semblance of respect toward these issues and the people who care about them.
But the continual mistakes made by gun-control advocates indicate that the subject is pointless and not worth getting right, which also, unfortunately, marginalizes anyone who might care.
Ultimately, by obfuscating these issues, confusion ensues, and voters can wind up supporting policies they may not fully understand.
This could lead to Second Amendment rights being curtailed or perhaps one day revoked.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-02-07--Iowa Constitutional Amendment Would End Legal Right to Abortion

A resolution proposing a constitutional amendment that states no fundamental right to abortion exists is advancing in the Iowa state legislature .
A subcommittee of Iowa ’ s House Judiciary Committee voted 2-1 on Tuesday to advance House Study Bill 577 , which proposes to alter the state ’ s constitution , according to the Sioux City Journal .
The full committee will now consider the proposal .
“ To defend the dignity of all human life , and to protect mothers and unborn children from efforts to expand abortion even to the day of birth , we the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this Constitution shall not be construed to recognize , grant , or secure a right to abortion or to require the public funding of abortion , ” the resolution reads .
TRENDING : Romney Gave This Note to Every Republican Before His Impeachment Vote A similar piece of pro-life legislation is advancing in the Iowa Senate , according to the Journal .
Senate Joint Resolution 21 “ proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa specifying that the Constitution of the State of Iowa does not secure or protect a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of abortion.
” Either proposal would have a long way to go before becoming part of the state ’ s constitution .
Both chambers of Iowa ’ s legislature would have to pass the pro-life resolution .
The exact same resolution would also have to be passed by next year ’ s state legislative session before the constitutional amendment itself comes before voters for approval , which could happen in 2022 .
Republican state Sen. Jake Chapman said the action in the Senate comes in response to the “ judicial activism of judges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ took for themselves the powers of the executive and legislative branches .
In 2018 , the Iowa Supreme Court also tossed out a bill that created a 72-hour waiting period before a woman could have an abortion .
“ When the Supreme Court of Iowa creates a new fundamental right under Iowa ’ s constitution , it is the responsibility of the legislature to push back and say this isn ’ t your authority , ” Chapman told the Journal .
.
Caitlyn Dixon of the Iowa Right to Life Committee told the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iowans want and all Iowans need.
” Conservative attorney Martin Cannon told the Des Moines Register that an amendment specifying there is no fundamental right to abortion would respond to “ unelected justices ” who “ inserted into the Iowa Constitution a fundamental right to abortion where it had never previously existed.
” “ The amendment in question is a reminder to the court that it gets its powers from us , and it gets its limitations from us also , ” he said .
This most recent push for an amendment began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reynolds called for it in her Condition of the State speech .
“ As we begin 2020 , I ’ m focused on the overall wellness of all Iowans , in every part of the state , in all stages of life , ” she said in her speech .
“ And when I say all stages of life , I mean to include the unborn , ” she added .
“ We must protect life by making clear , through an amendment , that our constitution does not grant a right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and unfortunately it ’ s necessary.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

A resolution proposing a constitutional amendment that states no fundamental right to abortion exists is advancing in the Iowa state legislature.
A subcommittee of Iowa’s House Judiciary Committee voted 2-1 on Tuesday to advance House Study Bill 577 , which proposes to alter the state’s constitution, according to the Sioux City Journal.
The full committee will now consider the proposal.
“To defend the dignity of all human life, and to protect mothers and unborn children from efforts to expand abortion even to the day of birth, we the people of the State of Iowa declare that this Constitution shall not be construed to recognize, grant, or secure a right to abortion or to require the public funding of abortion,” the resolution reads.
VICTORY! ! Iowa Committee Passes Amendment Confirming There’s No Right to Abortion https://t.co/litqYHmWFQ pic.twitter.com/0QSVZZHODK — LifeNews (@LifeNewsToo) February 6, 2020
A similar piece of pro-life legislation is advancing in the Iowa Senate, according to the Journal.
Senate Joint Resolution 21 “proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa specifying that the Constitution of the State of Iowa does not secure or protect a right to abortion or require the funding of abortion.”
Either proposal would have a long way to go before becoming part of the state’s constitution.
Do you support this amendment to Iowa's constitution? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 95% (40 Votes) No: 5% (2 Votes)
Both chambers of Iowa’s legislature would have to pass the pro-life resolution.
The exact same resolution would also have to be passed by next year’s state legislative session before the constitutional amendment itself comes before voters for approval, which could happen in 2022.
Republican state Sen. Jake Chapman said the action in the Senate comes in response to the “judicial activism of judges who rewrote our constitution” and wrongly took for themselves the powers of the executive and legislative branches.
In 2018, the Iowa Supreme Court also tossed out a bill that created a 72-hour waiting period before a woman could have an abortion.
“When the Supreme Court of Iowa creates a new fundamental right under Iowa’s constitution, it is the responsibility of the legislature to push back and say this isn’t your authority,” Chapman told the Journal. .
The amendment would nullify a 2018 Iowa Supreme Court decision granting abortion rights. “Iowans should retain the right, through their legislative body, to make these types of decisions. Not un-elected judges,” Republican Sen Jake Chapman said. #ialegis https://t.co/RRcbHrHufN — Stephen Gruber-Miller (@sgrubermiller) January 17, 2020
Caitlyn Dixon of the Iowa Right to Life Committee told the Journal “this amendment is what pro-life Iowans want and all Iowans need.”
Conservative attorney Martin Cannon told the Des Moines Register that an amendment specifying there is no fundamental right to abortion would respond to “unelected justices” who “inserted into the Iowa Constitution a fundamental right to abortion where it had never previously existed.”
“The amendment in question is a reminder to the court that it gets its powers from us, and it gets its limitations from us also,” he said.
This most recent push for an amendment began in January when Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds called for it in her Condition of the State speech.
“As we begin 2020, I’m focused on the overall wellness of all Iowans, in every part of the state, in all stages of life,” she said in her speech.
“And when I say all stages of life, I mean to include the unborn,” she added.
“We must protect life by making clear, through an amendment, that our constitution does not grant a right to abortion. It’s time, and unfortunately it’s necessary.”
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westernjournal--2020-02-07--Nancy Pelosi Claims Trump Looked ‘a Little Sedated’ at State of the Union

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sought to trash President Donald Trump on Thursday as she defended her behavior in ripping up Trump ’ s State of the Union message on live TV .
“ I tore up a manifesto of mistruths , ” Pelosi said .
“ It was necessary to get the attention of the American people to say , ‘ This is not true .
And this is how it affects you.
’ And I don ’ t need any lessons from anybody , especially the president of the United States , about dignity.
” Pelosi then seemed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ four more years ” as Trump took his place at the podium Tuesday to start his speech .
“ Is it OK to start saying ‘ four more years ’ in the House of Representatives ?
” she said .
TRENDING : Romney Gave This Note to Every Republican Before His Impeachment Vote “ Is it unheard of to have the president insult people there who don ’ t share his view ?
” Pelosi said , adding that Trump used his speech to “ misrepresent ” and “ present falsehoods.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entirely appropriate , and considering some of the other exuberances within me , the courteous thing to do , ” she said of her own behavior .
Pelosi claimed that she has extended all possible courtesies to Trump .
“ I extended the hand of friendship to him , to welcome him as the president of the United States to the people ’ s House , ” she said .
“ It was also an act of kindness , because he looked to me like he was a little sedated.
” “ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He didn ’ t want to shake hands ?
That meant nothing to me , ” she added .
However , Pelosi had used an image of herself with her hand extended on Twitter : RELATED : Pelosi May Have Violated Fed .
Law by Tearing Trump 's Speech , Gaetz Calls for DOJ Prosecution Pelosi ’ s comments did not play well on social media : During her weekly briefing , she defended her conduct and slammed Trump .
“ It ’ s appalling the things that he says , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up his falsehoods , ‘ Isn ’ t that the wrong message ?
’ No it isn ’ t , ” she said .
“ I thought that was a very dignified act.
” “ That was not a State of the Union .
That was his state of mind , ” she said , calling Trump ’ s speech a “ compilation of falsehoods.
” “ He has shredded the truth in the speech , he is shredding the Constitution in his conduct — I shredded his state of his mind address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sought to trash President Donald Trump on Thursday as she defended her behavior in ripping up Trump’s State of the Union message on live TV.
“I tore up a manifesto of mistruths,” Pelosi said.
“It was necessary to get the attention of the American people to say, ‘This is not true. And this is how it affects you.’ And I don’t need any lessons from anybody, especially the president of the United States, about dignity.”
Pelosi then seemed to take a shot at Republicans who chanted “four more years” as Trump took his place at the podium Tuesday to start his speech.
“Is it OK to start saying ‘four more years’ in the House of Representatives?” she said.
“Is it unheard of to have the president insult people there who don’t share his view?” Pelosi said, adding that Trump used his speech to “misrepresent” and “present falsehoods.”
“I think it was completely, entirely appropriate, and considering some of the other exuberances within me, the courteous thing to do,” she said of her own behavior.
Pelosi claimed that she has extended all possible courtesies to Trump.
Do you think Democrats will try to impeach Trump again if he wins re-election? 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: 96% (285 Votes) No: 4% (13 Votes)
“I extended the hand of friendship to him, to welcome him as the president of the United States to the people’s House,” she said. “It was also an act of kindness, because he looked to me like he was a little sedated.”
“He looked that way last year, too. He didn’t want to shake hands? That meant nothing to me,” she added.
However, Pelosi had used an image of herself with her hand extended on Twitter:
Democrats will never stop extending the hand of friendship to get the job done #ForThePeople. We will work to find common ground where we can, but will stand our ground where we cannot. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/ELJqR9q4xD — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) February 5, 2020
Pelosi’s comments did not play well on social media:
GOOD LORD, SERIOUSLY? NANCY, YOU’RE NOT ONE TO SAY SOMEONE LOOKS SEDATED – Nancy Pelosi: Trump Looked ‘a Little Sedated’ During SOTU https://t.co/8yrsq73Fg1 — Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) February 6, 2020
Pelosi says Pres Trump was sedated??? during the SOTU!!! That’s going too far. Dignity would be working for America and accepting defeat graciously. You have gone too far and really should shut your uneducated mouth. I’ll pray for you — Grandma On The Pond (@GrandmaPond) February 6, 2020
During her weekly briefing, she defended her conduct and slammed Trump.
“It’s appalling the things that he says, and then you say to me whether tearing up his falsehoods, ‘Isn’t that the wrong message?’ No it isn’t,” she said.
“I thought that was a very dignified act.”
“That was not a State of the Union. That was his state of mind,” she said, calling Trump’s speech a “compilation of falsehoods.”
“He has shredded the truth in the speech, he is shredding the Constitution in his conduct — I shredded his state of his mind address,” she said.
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westernjournal--2020-02-07--In SOTU Response, Dems Cite Kid Filling Pothole on His Own as Triumph for Party

When Michigan Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer gave the Democratic response to President Donald Trump ’ s State of the Union message , she sought to show that Democrats are the party of action in government .
However , one of the cases she used to make her point was that of a Michigan boy who filled potholes on his street because government didn ’ t get the job done .
Whitmer said she wanted to focus on young Americans who were getting the job done .
“ Monte Scott is 13 years old and lives in Muskegon Heights , Michigan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s street was covered in potholes .
They were ankle-deep , and he got tired of waiting for them to get fixed , so he grabbed a shovel and a bucket of dirt and filled them in himself .
“ During my campaign , people told me to fix the damn roads , because blown tires and broken windshields are downright dangerous , and car repairs take money from rent , child care or groceries .
And we , the Democrats , are doing something about it.
” TRENDING : Romney Gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Impeachment Vote Whitmer then talked about other Democratic efforts to support infrastructure improvements .
“ In Illinois , Gov .
J.B. Pritzker passed a multibillion-dollar plan to rebuild their roads and bridges , ” she said .
“ Gov .
Phil Murphy is replacing lead pipes in New Jersey .
“ All across the country , Democratic leaders are rebuilding bridges , fixing roads , expanding broadband and cleaning up drinking water .
Everyone in this country benefits when we invest in infrastructure.
” In March 2019 , more than two months after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , young Monte went out on a pothole-filled Muskegon Heights street with dirt and a shovel to fill in the holes himself .
Video of him went viral , and he became a national celebrity .
“ I [ took ] action on my own because the city wasn ’ t doing nothing about the potholes , ” he said at the time , according to MLive .
While he was working , Whitmer and state legislators were debating how best to deal with infrastructure repairs .
“ They need to start taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the stuff that they need to deal with , ” Monte said then .
“ I want them to tighten up.
” RELATED : Desperate Biden Inserts Former Obama Aide as Campaign Boss At the time he was fixing potholes , the young man had harsh words for government .
“ What are they doing with the money people are paying with taxes ?
” Monte asked , according to the Muskegon Times .
“ I want to go to college to be a mayor , ” he said .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go to the homeless shelter and help people .
I ’ d get them clothes and shoes and all the stuff they need to help them back on their feet .
I ’ d fix the roads and help out around the community .
“ I would have a big gathering for the community , where people could eat , play basketball and get together.
” At the time , Muskegon Heights Mayor Kimberley Sims lamented that “ the problem is so bad that he feels he has to do that , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sims — who was turned out of office last fall — said potholes are a symptom of a larger problem .
“ [ O ] ur overall funding system is broke , ” she said , adding that because Muskegon Heights is an economically struggling place , “ the tax base isn ’ t there that would be in most communities.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

When Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer gave the Democratic response to President Donald Trump’s State of the Union message, she sought to show that Democrats are the party of action in government.
However, one of the cases she used to make her point was that of a Michigan boy who filled potholes on his street because government didn’t get the job done.
Whitmer said she wanted to focus on young Americans who were getting the job done.
“Monte Scott is 13 years old and lives in Muskegon Heights, Michigan,” she said. “Monte’s street was covered in potholes. They were ankle-deep, and he got tired of waiting for them to get fixed, so he grabbed a shovel and a bucket of dirt and filled them in himself.
“During my campaign, people told me to fix the damn roads, because blown tires and broken windshields are downright dangerous, and car repairs take money from rent, child care or groceries. And we, the Democrats, are doing something about it.”
Whitmer then talked about other Democratic efforts to support infrastructure improvements.
“In Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker passed a multibillion-dollar plan to rebuild their roads and bridges,” she said. “Gov. Phil Murphy is replacing lead pipes in New Jersey.
“All across the country, Democratic leaders are rebuilding bridges, fixing roads, expanding broadband and cleaning up drinking water. Everyone in this country benefits when we invest in infrastructure.”
Do you think Whitmer's speech was persuasive? 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: 2% (27 Votes) No: 98% (1140 Votes)
In March 2019, more than two months after Whitmer took office promising to fix highways, young Monte went out on a pothole-filled Muskegon Heights street with dirt and a shovel to fill in the holes himself. Video of him went viral, and he became a national celebrity.
“I [took] action on my own because the city wasn’t doing nothing about the potholes,” he said at the time, according to MLive.
While he was working, Whitmer and state legislators were debating how best to deal with infrastructure repairs.
“They need to start taking action faster … They need to deal with the stuff that they need to deal with,” Monte said then. “I want them to tighten up.”
At the time he was fixing potholes, the young man had harsh words for government.
“What are they doing with the money people are paying with taxes?” Monte asked, according to the Muskegon Times.
“I want to go to college to be a mayor,” he said. “If I were mayor here, I would go to the homeless shelter and help people. I’d get them clothes and shoes and all the stuff they need to help them back on their feet. I’d fix the roads and help out around the community.
“I would have a big gathering for the community, where people could eat, play basketball and get together.”
At the time, Muskegon Heights Mayor Kimberley Sims lamented that “the problem is so bad that he feels he has to do that,” according to the Detroit Free Press.
Sims — who was turned out of office last fall — said potholes are a symptom of a larger problem.
“[O]ur overall funding system is broke,” she said, adding that because Muskegon Heights is an economically struggling place, “the tax base isn’t there that would be in most communities.”
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westernjournal--2020-02-09--Two NYPD Officers Shot Within 24 Hours in Separate ‘Assassination’ Attempts

Two New York City Police Department officers were shot in a spree that ended Sunday after the gunman suspected of being responsible for both incidents stormed a Bronx police station .
On Saturday night , one officer was injured when a gunman fired at two officers sitting in a parked vehicle .
On Sunday , a man later identified as Robert Williams , 45 , opened fire after entering the 41st Precinct police station in the Bronx .
“ He immediately pulls out a gun and fires multiple rounds towards the desk area , ” NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the New York Post .
“ He then walks into an area beside that desk and fires several rounds.
” Lt. Jose Gautreaux was shot in the arm .
Williams threw himself on the floor and surrendered when he was out of ammunition .
“ I will point out that this coward immediately lay down , but only after he ran out of bullets , ” Shea told reporters .
Shea said that Williams intended to kill police officers during his spree .
Sunday ’ s attack was recorded on the station ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not a liquor store robbery interrupted .
This was a premeditated assassination attempt .
It is only by the grace of God … that we are not talking about police officers murdered inside a New York City police precinct , ” Shea said , according to the Post .
The Sunday morning incident followed a Saturday night shooting in which a man believed to be Williams shot into a police van parked on a Bronx street , according to CNN .
Shea said that the suspect approached the van , which had its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
After getting an answer , the suspect fired a gun into the vehicle , Shea said , according to CNN .
The officer in the driver ’ s seat yelled , “ Gun !
” when the shooter pulled out a weapon .
Neither of the officers returned fire , Shea said .
The driver was hit in the neck near his chin but managed to drive off out of range so that he and his partner could exchange seats .
The gunman fled .
“ I just want to say his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how they handled the situation , and his partner , as far as getting him into the hospital in short order , ” Shea said , according to the New York Post .
“ It was a phenomenal job , keeping their cool.
” RELATED : Pentagon Makes Quarantine Housing Announcement as More US Virus Cases Appear Shea said Williams had been convicted of attempted murder in 2002 in an incident in which Williams shot one person , carjacked a vehicle , and was involved in a gunfight with police .
Shea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but had a court date coming on a new charge .
He did not give details of the current charges against Williams .
Shea noted that the shootings follow high-profile anti-police demonstrations in New York City .
They also come in an era where anti-police action is becoming more common .
“ Just remember these things are not unrelated , ” he said , according to CNN .
“ We have people marching in New York City last week and I condemned it and I condemn it right here again today — using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ should be speaking out against this , and you have to be careful about the words you use , whether it ’ s on social media or on written papers or speaking , because words matter and words affect people ’ s behavior.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Two New York City Police Department officers were shot in a spree that ended Sunday after the gunman suspected of being responsible for both incidents stormed a Bronx police station.
On Saturday night, one officer was injured when a gunman fired at two officers sitting in a parked vehicle. On Sunday, a man later identified as Robert Williams, 45, opened fire after entering the 41st Precinct police station in the Bronx.
“He immediately pulls out a gun and fires multiple rounds towards the desk area,” NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea said at a news conference, according to the New York Post. “He then walks into an area beside that desk and fires several rounds.”
Lt. Jose Gautreaux was shot in the arm. Williams threw himself on the floor and surrendered when he was out of ammunition.
“I will point out that this coward immediately lay down, but only after he ran out of bullets,” Shea told reporters.
Shea said that Williams intended to kill police officers during his spree. Sunday’s attack was recorded on the station’s surveillance cameras.
“This is not a liquor store robbery interrupted. This was a premeditated assassination attempt. It is only by the grace of God … that we are not talking about police officers murdered inside a New York City police precinct,” Shea said, according to the Post.
The Sunday morning incident followed a Saturday night shooting in which a man believed to be Williams shot into a police van parked on a Bronx street, according to CNN.
Do you think anti-police violence stems from violent leftist rhetoric? Yes No
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Shea said that the suspect approached the van, which had its emergency lights flashing and asked a question.
After getting an answer, the suspect fired a gun into the vehicle, Shea said, according to CNN. The officer in the driver’s seat yelled, “Gun!” when the shooter pulled out a weapon. Neither of the officers returned fire, Shea said.
The driver was hit in the neck near his chin but managed to drive off out of range so that he and his partner could exchange seats. The gunman fled.
“I just want to say his partner as well as him were heroic about how they handled the situation, and his partner, as far as getting him into the hospital in short order,” Shea said, according to the New York Post. “It was a phenomenal job, keeping their cool.”
#BREAKING: Video shows NYPD cops ambushed in the Bronx pic.twitter.com/SJxM3gV7AQ — NYC Scanner (@NYScanner) February 9, 2020
Shea said Williams had been convicted of attempted murder in 2002 in an incident in which Williams shot one person, carjacked a vehicle, and was involved in a gunfight with police.
Shea said Williams was paroled in 2017, but had a court date coming on a new charge. He did not give details of the current charges against Williams.
Shea noted that the shootings follow high-profile anti-police demonstrations in New York City.
They also come in an era where anti-police action is becoming more common.
“Just remember these things are not unrelated,” he said, according to CNN.
“We have people marching in New York City last week and I condemned it and I condemn it right here again today — using profanities against the Police Department. Everyone should be speaking out against this, and you have to be careful about the words you use, whether it’s on social media or on written papers or speaking, because words matter and words affect people’s behavior.”
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westernjournal--2020-02-09--Man Arrested After Allegedly Plowing Through Elderly Trump Volunteers’ Tent with Van

A 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an incident in which a van was driven through a tent set up by Republican Party volunteers in Jacksonville , Florida , as part of a voter registration drive .
Gregory William Loel Timm faces two counts of aggravated assault on a person 65 years of age or older , one count of criminal mischief and driving with a suspended license , according to First Coast News .
Mark Alfieri , who was among the volunteers , said the vehicle missed hitting the tent ’ s staffers by inches .
No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the blue , a man approached us in a van , was waving at us .
Kind of a friendly demeanor , thought he was coming up to talk to us , instead he accelerated his vehicle and plowed right into our tent , our tables , ” Alfieri said , according to WJAX .
He said he and five women were staffing the tent at the time .
“ After he ran over everything , he backed up , took out a cell phone , kind of recorded the damage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then proceeded to leave the complex , ” Alfieri said .
“ It happened so quickly , ” said volunteer Nina Williams , according to WIXT .
“ I just barely got out of the way.
” Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry , a Republican and former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida , cited the culture of hate that has become part of politics in his response to the attack .
The Duval County GOP said it will not back off its efforts to enroll voters .
“ We are outraged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our great volunteers , ” said Duval GOP Chairman Dean Black in a statement on the party ’ s Facebook page .
RELATED : The Left Ca n't Help But Gush over Mitt Romney a Short 8 Years After Completely Trashing Him “ The Republican Party of Duval County will not be intimidated by these cowards and we will not be silenced .
I call on every Republican in our great city to stand up , get involved , and show these radicals that we will not be intimidated from exercising our Constitutional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County GOP “ plans to redouble its efforts to register voters and will continue it ’ s [ sic ] fight with renewed intensity to re-elect President Donald Trump.
” President Donald Trump and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida each tweeted angry responses to the incident .
Police have not officially announced whether the attack was politically motivated .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

A 27-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an incident in which a van was driven through a tent set up by Republican Party volunteers in Jacksonville, Florida, as part of a voter registration drive.
Gregory William Loel Timm faces two counts of aggravated assault on a person 65 years of age or older, one count of criminal mischief and driving with a suspended license, according to First Coast News.
#JSO has arrested the suspect who drove through the voter registration tent in the area of 11900 Atlantic Boulevard. Gregory Timm has been charged with Aggravated Assault, Criminal Mischief, and Driving While Driver’s License Suspended. pic.twitter.com/zGKbR2VTg0 — Jax Sheriff’s Office (@JSOPIO) February 9, 2020
Mark Alfieri, who was among the volunteers, said the vehicle missed hitting the tent’s staffers by inches. No injuries were reported.
“Kind of out of the blue, a man approached us in a van, was waving at us. Kind of a friendly demeanor, thought he was coming up to talk to us, instead he accelerated his vehicle and plowed right into our tent, our tables,” Alfieri said, according to WJAX.
He said he and five women were staffing the tent at the time.
Do you blame the violent rhetoric of the left for this incident? Yes No
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“After he ran over everything, he backed up, took out a cell phone, kind of recorded the damage, made some obscene gestures at us and then proceeded to leave the complex,” Alfieri said.
“It happened so quickly,” said volunteer Nina Williams, according to WIXT. “I just barely got out of the way.”
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, a Republican and former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, cited the culture of hate that has become part of politics in his response to the attack.
Sadly, this happened. I spoke to the GOP chair. This is outrageous. The hate is toxic and dangerous. Thankfully no one was injured but certainly they are shaken after being targeted because they were registering voters. I’ve spoken to the Sheriff & of course his team is on this https://t.co/dRENZi0Bxq — Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) February 8, 2020
The Duval County GOP said it will not back off its efforts to enroll voters.
“We are outraged by this senseless act of violence toward our great volunteers,” said Duval GOP Chairman Dean Black in a statement on the party’s Facebook page.
“The Republican Party of Duval County will not be intimidated by these cowards and we will not be silenced. I call on every Republican in our great city to stand up, get involved, and show these radicals that we will not be intimidated from exercising our Constitutional rights.”
The statement said the Duval County GOP “plans to redouble its efforts to register voters and will continue it’s [sic] fight with renewed intensity to re-elect President Donald Trump.”
President Donald Trump and Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida each tweeted angry responses to the incident.
Law Enforcement has been notified. Be careful tough guys who you play with! https://t.co/1Pq0hOrzy2 — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 9, 2020
Thanking God that no one was injured in today’s politically motivated attack against @DuvalGOP volunteers today. https://t.co/qKaJ8takNB — Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 8, 2020
Police have not officially announced whether the attack was politically motivated.
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westernjournal--2020-02-09--Trump Responds to Viral Image Circulating: ‘This Was Photoshopped’

Color President Donald Trump angry after critics mocked him for a picture that appears to show the president with a well-defined line between his natural skin color and a deeper tan that covers most of his face .
A photo circulating on Twitter that was supposedly taken Friday at the South Lawn of the White House shows Trump with his hair blown back to reveal the difference in skin tone .
“ More Fake News .
This was photoshopped , obviously , but the wind was strong and the hair looks good ?
Anything to demean !
” Trump tweeted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ image argued back .
RELATED : As Media Reacts to Vindman Ouster , Trump Reminds Nation What Witness ' Boss Said If Trump were to wear makeup , he would follow in a long line of presidents who do , including his predecessor , former President Barack Obama .
In 2009 , Allure interviewed Lois Cassano , who had done the makeup for presidents from Richard Nixon through George W. Bush before making up Obama .
She said Obama used makeup to “ even out his skin tone.
” She said presidents know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role .
“ Anyone who has ever seen himself on television without makeup will never do that again .
Presidents understand that being made up is part of the job , ” she said .
She said that makeup , for a president , must be subtle .
“ All of our presidents have been men .
And when you make up a man , particularly when you make up a president , you don ’ t want the makeup to be noticeable .
Presidents spend a lot of time out among the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his makeup has to be light enough so that no one thinks , ‘ Oh my God .
What is with this guy ? '
” she said .
HuffPost writer Dana Oliver gushed over Obama ’ s makeup in 2013 , amid debate over whether he used bronzer for his inauguration to begin his second term .
“ CNN commentators even remarked that ‘ [ President Obama ] looks five years younger , ' ” Oliver wrote .
“ And while the editors here at HuffPost Style debated over how exactly did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Did his makeup artist try a different contouring and bronzer technique ?
Or did he take a [ sic ] hour out of his busy schedule to treat himself to a facial ? )
, we ’ ve got ta admit that he ’ s never looked better .
And we ’ ll note that the use of bronzer on men is not uncommon when it comes to HD camera coverage , especially in the colder winter months .
Whatever it is , it ’ s really working for him.
” We are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Color President Donald Trump angry after critics mocked him for a picture that appears to show the president with a well-defined line between his natural skin color and a deeper tan that covers most of his face.
A photo circulating on Twitter that was supposedly taken Friday at the South Lawn of the White House shows Trump with his hair blown back to reveal the difference in skin tone.
@realDonaldTrump returns to the White House from Charlotte, North Carolina. Photo by William Moon at the South Lawn of the White House on February 7, 2020 pic.twitter.com/n1a1Z93LrJ — White House Photos (@photowhitehouse) February 7, 2020
Trump denounced the image.
“More Fake News. This was photoshopped, obviously, but the wind was strong and the hair looks good? Anything to demean!” Trump tweeted.
More Fake News. This was photoshopped, obviously, but the wind was strong and the hair looks good? Anything to demean! https://t.co/t8ptYMCYHf — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2020
The account that first published the image argued back.
This picture was never photoshopped, but used the Apple smartphone’s photo app to adjust the color of the picture. — White House Photos (@photowhitehouse) February 8, 2020
The photo caused a buzz on Twitter.
“Here’s a pic of Trump wearing make-up lol at him,” is one helluva a take. Everyone on TV wears make-up, even men, and yes make-up improves your looks! Mike Cernovich, author of Gorilla Mindset, is pro-make-up! — Mike Cernovich (@Cernovich) February 8, 2020
The face ISN’T photoshopped. Here’s what it looks like when I photoshop OUT your orange spray paint job. pic.twitter.com/7VbDepzpqG — Andrew Wortman (@AmoneyResists) February 8, 2020
Tremendous hair! But we’d love you even if you were bald. The hateful left can’t change that. ❤?? — Steph (@steph93065) February 8, 2020
If Trump were to wear makeup, he would follow in a long line of presidents who do, including his predecessor, former President Barack Obama.
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In 2009, Allure interviewed Lois Cassano, who had done the makeup for presidents from Richard Nixon through George W. Bush before making up Obama.
She said Obama used makeup to “even out his skin tone.”
She said presidents know they need makeup because of their public role.
“Anyone who has ever seen himself on television without makeup will never do that again. Presidents understand that being made up is part of the job,” she said.
She said that makeup, for a president, must be subtle.
“All of our presidents have been men. And when you make up a man, particularly when you make up a president, you don’t want the makeup to be noticeable. Presidents spend a lot of time out among the voters, connecting with people, and his makeup has to be light enough so that no one thinks, ‘Oh my God. What is with this guy?'” she said.
HuffPost writer Dana Oliver gushed over Obama’s makeup in 2013, amid debate over whether he used bronzer for his inauguration to begin his second term.
“CNN commentators even remarked that ‘[President Obama] looks five years younger,'” Oliver wrote. “And while the editors here at HuffPost Style debated over how exactly did Obama achieve such a golden visage (Did his makeup artist try a different contouring and bronzer technique? Or did he take a [sic] hour out of his busy schedule to treat himself to a facial?), we’ve gotta admit that he’s never looked better. And we’ll note that the use of bronzer on men is not uncommon when it comes to HD camera coverage, especially in the colder winter months. Whatever it is, it’s really working for him.”
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westernjournal--2020-02-09--Side-by-Side Video Proves Warren Is Least Genuine Candidate Since Hillary

Are you an Elizabeth Warren fan who missed the post-debate coverage of her on Friday ?
Don ’ t worry .
You probably saw all of her best lines before .
If you think I ’ m just a conservative pulling some ruse , some cunning trick upon you , I ’ m merely extrapolating from two separate interviews she gave after Friday ’ s debate in New Hampshire .
Warren is nothing if not an energetic , spry septuagenarian and she managed to make time for both MSNBC and CBS News during the backstage press free-for-all .
Time for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wasn ’ t really in the ( peace ) pipe , however .
Take a look at this side-by-side assemblage , posted to Twitter by the fine folks from Townhall , which showed her interviews with the two outlets .
It might sound like this would produce some discordant melange of sound , the kind of squawking cross-talk you ’ re used to hearing on a contentious political chat show .
For reasons you ’ ll quickly grok , it didn ’ t : It started with a word-for-word recitation of the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ totally unrehearsed .
Then a talk about how she ’ s been “ fighting unwinnable fights all my life ” — like getting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau , a massively interventionist consumer financial “ watchdog ” that acts as a pit bull for the left ’ s agenda while being almost entirely ( and arguably unconstitutionally ) unaccountable to elected officials .
Another unwinnable fight : Her battle to “ take back a Senate seat from a popular incumbent Republican.
” Just so we ’ re clear on what this entails : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s death , a special election for his seat was held in 2010 , shortly after his 2009 passing .
In the most aberrational Senate election result of the 21st century , Brown scored a win in America ’ s most arguably liberal state over uninspiring Democrat candidate Martha Coakley because of a poor campaign , Democrat voter apathy and anger over Obamacare .
Two years later , no one in the Democratic Party made those same mistakes again and Warren became an incredibly unsurprising winner .
But the best commentary is this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re listening to this in stereo at times .
The words are almost exact — and you get the feeling she ’ s used them before .
This isn ’ t someone hitting the same points , she ’ s hitting the same syllables .
I understand the use of talking points — every candidate does it , even Donald Trump — but at some level your reactions can ’ t be mental cut-and-pasting of material that probably didn ’ t originate from you .
Some of the reactions : Ironically , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new .
In a slightly different faux pas , Warren seems to have lifted one of her jokes from the next-to-last debate from the 2016 standard-bearer .
I have to admit even I was brought to , if not laughter , a chuckle over that one .
It turns out , however , she might have been pulling a Joe Biden and lifting the line from someone else : “ I will be the youngest woman president in the history of the United States , ” Hillary said as she kicked off her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t see my hair turn white in the White House .
I ’ ve been coloring my hair for years.
” When it comes to disingenuousness , all I can say is this : Warren learned from the master .
At least Warren didn ’ t do it word-for-word then .
As for Friday , eh .
It ’ s not like anyone was going to notice , right ?
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Are you an Elizabeth Warren fan who missed the post-debate coverage of her on Friday? Don’t worry. You probably saw all of her best lines before.
If you think I’m just a conservative pulling some ruse, some cunning trick upon you, I’m merely extrapolating from two separate interviews she gave after Friday’s debate in New Hampshire.
Warren is nothing if not an energetic, spry septuagenarian and she managed to make time for both MSNBC and CBS News during the backstage press free-for-all.
Time for different answers for different networks? That wasn’t really in the (peace) pipe, however.
Take a look at this side-by-side assemblage, posted to Twitter by the fine folks from Townhall, which showed her interviews with the two outlets.
It might sound like this would produce some discordant melange of sound, the kind of squawking cross-talk you’re used to hearing on a contentious political chat show. For reasons you’ll quickly grok, it didn’t:
Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s running through the talking points in the spin room post-debate. pic.twitter.com/OYpG2j8rMU — Townhall.com (@townhallcom) February 8, 2020
It started with a word-for-word recitation of the “Nevertheless, she persisted” story, totally unrehearsed.
Do you think Elizabeth Warren will win the Democratic nomination? Yes No
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Then a talk about how she’s been “fighting unwinnable fights all my life” — like getting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a massively interventionist consumer financial “watchdog” that acts as a pit bull for the left’s agenda while being almost entirely (and arguably unconstitutionally) unaccountable to elected officials.
Another unwinnable fight: Her battle to “take back a Senate seat from a popular incumbent Republican.”
Just so we’re clear on what this entails: In the wake of Ted Kennedy’s death, a special election for his seat was held in 2010, shortly after his 2009 passing.
In the most aberrational Senate election result of the 21st century, Brown scored a win in America’s most arguably liberal state over uninspiring Democrat candidate Martha Coakley because of a poor campaign, Democrat voter apathy and anger over Obamacare. Two years later, no one in the Democratic Party made those same mistakes again and Warren became an incredibly unsurprising winner.
But the best commentary is this: It almost feels like you’re listening to this in stereo at times. The words are almost exact — and you get the feeling she’s used them before. This isn’t someone hitting the same points, she’s hitting the same syllables. I understand the use of talking points — every candidate does it, even Donald Trump — but at some level your reactions can’t be mental cut-and-pasting of material that probably didn’t originate from you.
Some of the reactions:
All I hear when @ewarren speaks is “lie, lie, pander pander, lie, lie, lie.” Pass. — D. K. USA?? (@DeniseK_USA) February 8, 2020
Her Cherokee name is Runs Through Talking Points. #Warren2020 — MacroAggressions ❌ (@DenierNyc) February 8, 2020
Geez that’s just weird. Even down to the gestures. — Jlisa (@Jlisa42067) February 8, 2020
Ugh she’s Hillary 2.0, completely scripted and disingenuous. — Swalwell’s Fart (@SwalwellF) February 8, 2020
Hillarybot 2.0 running the latest TalkingPoints software. — Jack Wade (@GKG_77) February 8, 2020
Ironically, the comparisons with Hillary-esque disingenuousness aren’t new. In a slightly different faux pas, Warren seems to have lifted one of her jokes from the next-to-last debate from the 2016 standard-bearer.
I have to admit even I was brought to, if not laughter, a chuckle over that one. It turns out, however, she might have been pulling a Joe Biden and lifting the line from someone else:
“I will be the youngest woman president in the history of the United States,” Hillary said as she kicked off her 2016 campaign in 2015. “You won’t see my hair turn white in the White House. I’ve been coloring my hair for years.”
When it comes to disingenuousness, all I can say is this: Warren learned from the master.
At least Warren didn’t do it word-for-word then. As for Friday, eh. It’s not like anyone was going to notice, right?
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westernjournal--2020-02-09--As Media Reacts to Vindman Ouster, Trump Reminds Nation What Witness’ Boss Said

President Donald Trump on Saturday said Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman was removed from his post at the National Security Council because he ’ d been a failure at his job .
On Friday , Vindman ’ s White House assignment with the NSC was terminated and he returned to duty at the Pentagon .
Also on Friday , Gordon Sondland , who as the U.S. ambassador to the European Union was a central figure in the administration ’ s dealings with Ukraine , announced that he was losing his job , according to Fox News .
Both men were key @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their impeachment inquiry .
On Saturday , Trump tweeted his comments about Vindman .
“ Fake News @ CNN & MSDNC keep talking about ‘ Lt .
Col. ’ Vindman as though I should think only how wonderful he was .
Actually , I don ’ t know him , never spoke to him , or met him ( I don ’ t believe ! )
but , he was very insubordinate , reported contents of my ‘ perfect ’ calls incorrectly , & ….was given a horrendous report by his superior , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publicly stated that Vindman had problems with judgement , adhering to the chain of command and leaking information .
In other words , ‘ OUT ’ .
” Trump tweeted .
In November , as Breitbart reported , Vindman ’ s then-boss at the National Security Council , National Security Director of Russia and European Affairs Tim Morrison testified to Congress that he had concerns about Vindman ’ s judgment , that Vindman had a tendency to go outside the chain of command and that he was suspected of leaking sensitive information .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ best judgment in terms of the policymaking process , ” Morrison said , according to Breitbart .
“ The President this morning made a series of obviously false statements concerning Lieutenant Colonel Vindman ; they conflict with the clear personnel record and the entirety of the impeachment record of which the President is well aware , ” David Pressman said in a statement , according to Fox News .
“ While the most powerful man in the world continues his campaign of intimidation , while too many entrusted with political office continue to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his service to our country as a decorated , active duty member of our military , ” Pressman said .
Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida said Friday there should be no hubbub over the removal of Vindman and Sondland from important positions in the Trump administration .
“ If freshening up that team going into the new post-impeachment era is helpful to the country , I ’ m all for it , ” he said , according to Fox News .
In particular , he said Sondland did not impress him during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment inquiry .
RELATED : Trump Responds to Viral Image Circulating : 'This Was Photoshopped' “ Whether that meant exceeding the scope of his authority or whether it meant just sort of the bungling of assignments , I do not think he came out of the impeachment looking like some great diplomat , ” Gaetz said “ I do not think it ’ s a surprise to see the president choose to make a change there [ and with ] Lieutenant Colonel Vindman , ” he said .
Gaetz said Trump has the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people on the NSC .
“ There have been a lot of concerns that the NSC may have emanated other leaks , ” Gaetz said .
“ That ’ s obviously never something you are always able to track down and fully prove in evidence , but I think you want a president , and national security advisor to have full confidence in the NSC.
” Trump was asked Friday about Vindman before the former NSC member was ousted .
“ Well , I ’ m not happy with him .
Do you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happy with him ?
I ’ m not , ” Trump said , according to a White House media pool report .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

President Donald Trump on Saturday said Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman was removed from his post at the National Security Council because he’d been a failure at his job.
On Friday, Vindman’s White House assignment with the NSC was terminated and he returned to duty at the Pentagon. Also on Friday, Gordon Sondland, who as the U.S. ambassador to the European Union was a central figure in the administration’s dealings with Ukraine, announced that he was losing his job, according to Fox News.
Both men were key witnesses who worked with House Democrats in their impeachment inquiry. On Saturday, Trump tweeted his comments about Vindman.
“Fake News @CNN & MSDNC keep talking about ‘Lt. Col.’ Vindman as though I should think only how wonderful he was. Actually, I don’t know him, never spoke to him, or met him (I don’t believe!) but, he was very insubordinate, reported contents of my ‘perfect’ calls incorrectly, &….was given a horrendous report by his superior, the man he reported to, who publicly stated that Vindman had problems with judgement, adhering to the chain of command and leaking information. In other words, ‘OUT’.” Trump tweeted.
….was given a horrendous report by his superior, the man he reported to, who publicly stated that Vindman had problems with judgement, adhering to the chain of command and leaking information. In other words, “OUT”. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2020
In November, as Breitbart reported, Vindman’s then-boss at the National Security Council, National Security Director of Russia and European Affairs Tim Morrison testified to Congress that he had concerns about Vindman’s judgment, that Vindman had a tendency to go outside the chain of command and that he was suspected of leaking sensitive information.
“He did not always exercise the best judgment in terms of the policymaking process,” Morrison said, according to Breitbart.
Vindman’s attorney shot back after Trump’s tweets
Was the president right to make these changes? Yes No
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“The President this morning made a series of obviously false statements concerning Lieutenant Colonel Vindman; they conflict with the clear personnel record and the entirety of the impeachment record of which the President is well aware,” David Pressman said in a statement, according to Fox News.
“While the most powerful man in the world continues his campaign of intimidation, while too many entrusted with political office continue to remain silent, Lieutenant Colonel Vindman continues his service to our country as a decorated, active duty member of our military,” Pressman said.
Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida said Friday there should be no hubbub over the removal of Vindman and Sondland from important positions in the Trump administration.
“If freshening up that team going into the new post-impeachment era is helpful to the country, I’m all for it,” he said, according to Fox News.
In particular, he said Sondland did not impress him during the diplomat’s performance during the impeachment inquiry.
“Whether that meant exceeding the scope of his authority or whether it meant just sort of the bungling of assignments, I do not think he came out of the impeachment looking like some great diplomat,” Gaetz said
“I do not think it’s a surprise to see the president choose to make a change there [and with] Lieutenant Colonel Vindman,” he said.
Gaetz said Trump has the right to be fully comfortable with the people on the NSC.
“There have been a lot of concerns that the NSC may have emanated other leaks,” Gaetz said. “That’s obviously never something you are always able to track down and fully prove in evidence, but I think you want a president, and national security advisor to have full confidence in the NSC.”
Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida also defended Trump.
Col. Vindman wasn’t “fired” he’s still an Army officer. He was assigned to NSC to serve the President who has a right to have people he trusts on his staff Sondland was a politically appointee. No point in having a political appointee who no longer has the Presidents confidence — Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) February 8, 2020
Trump was asked Friday about Vindman before the former NSC member was ousted.
“Well, I’m not happy with him. Do you think I’m supposed to be happy with him? I’m not,” Trump said, according to a White House media pool report.
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westernjournal--2020-02-09--Baseball Legend Hank Aaron Rips Astros, Says They Should Be Banned for Life over Sign-Stealing

The Houston Astros got off lightly in the team ’ s sign-stealing caper , according to baseball great Hank Aaron .
The Astros were found to have used a center-field video feed to steal the signs from an opposing team ’ s catcher , and then indicate the coming pitch to a hitter by banging on a trash can .
Houston General Manager Jeff Luhnow and Manager AJ Hinch were suspended and later fired over the incident , but no player was punished .
The team had to pay a $ 5 million fine and forfeited draft picks in 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
During an appearance Thursday on “ Today , ” Aaron , 86 , was asked whether the incident came as a shock .
“ I was surprised , ” he said .
When asked whether sign-stealing took place in his playing days , Aaron replied : “ They didn ’ t steal them that way.
” When asked if he thought the punishments were appropriate , Aaron said : “ No , I don ’ t. ” “ I think whoever did that should be out of baseball the rest of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interview , Aaron was asked whether Pete Rose , banned from baseball for gambling , should be in the Hall of Fame .
Aaron ’ s answer puts him at odds with President Donald Trump , who recently tweeted on Rose ’ s behalf .
“ Pete Rose played Major League Baseball for 24 seasons , from 1963-1986 , and had more hits , 4,256 , than any other player ( by a wide margin ) .
He gambled , but only on his own team winning , and paid a decades @ @ @ @ @ @ @ THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME .
It ’ s Time !
” RELATED : Chiefs Stars Address Potential White House Visit : 'That Would Be Great' Rose last week appealed for reinstatement , saying that the ban to which he agreed in 1989 was now unfair in the context of the Houston sign-stealing scandal , according to The Associated Press .
Many on Twitter supported Trump ’ s call to reinstate Rose .
But when it comes to the Rose case , Aaron had supporters , too .
So far , Major Leage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s lifetime ban from baseball .
The case of the Astros and a World Series-winning season seems to be a different matter .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The Houston Astros got off lightly in the team’s sign-stealing caper, according to baseball great Hank Aaron.
The Astros were found to have used a center-field video feed to steal the signs from an opposing team’s catcher, and then indicate the coming pitch to a hitter by banging on a trash can. Houston General Manager Jeff Luhnow and Manager AJ Hinch were suspended and later fired over the incident, but no player was punished. The team had to pay a $5 million fine and forfeited draft picks in 2020 and 2021, according to Fox News.
During an appearance Thursday on “Today,” Aaron, 86, was asked whether the incident came as a shock.
“I was surprised,” he said.
When asked whether sign-stealing took place in his playing days, Aaron replied: “They didn’t steal them that way.”
Hank is right the Astros players should have been penalized. Lifetime, my opinion no, but certainly suspensions, loss of WS title, WS $ to charity. They cheated their way to the 2017 title. Unacceptable @masnOrioles @mlb https://t.co/ij63kWXHVg — Jim Palmer (@Jim22Palmer) February 7, 2020
When asked if he thought the punishments were appropriate, Aaron said: “No, I don’t.”
“I think whoever did that should be out of baseball the rest of their lives,” he said.
During the interview, Aaron was asked whether Pete Rose, banned from baseball for gambling, should be in the Hall of Fame.
Do you agree with Hank Aaron about the Houston Astros? Yes No
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“No,” shot back Aaron.
Aaron’s answer puts him at odds with President Donald Trump, who recently tweeted on Rose’s behalf.
“Pete Rose played Major League Baseball for 24 seasons, from 1963-1986, and had more hits, 4,256, than any other player (by a wide margin). He gambled, but only on his own team winning, and paid a decades long price. GET PETE ROSE INTO THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME. It’s Time!”
Pete Rose played Major League Baseball for 24 seasons, from 1963-1986, and had more hits, 4,256, than any other player (by a wide margin). He gambled, but only on his own team winning, and paid a decades long price. GET PETE ROSE INTO THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME. It’s Time! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 8, 2020
Rose last week appealed for reinstatement, saying that the ban to which he agreed in 1989 was now unfair in the context of the Houston sign-stealing scandal, according to The Associated Press.
Many on Twitter supported Trump’s call to reinstate Rose.
While I’ve never been one to like the mixing of sport and politics, Donald Trump has absolutey nailed this. A great tweet. The statistics don’t lie and indeed Pete Rose has already, well and truly, paid the price for his mistakes of the past. He belongs in the HoF. https://t.co/iitPEz8aal — Dan (@DanClarkSports) February 8, 2020
He has a point I think Astros cheating was worse than what Pete Rose did, and no players were punished for cheating https://t.co/XHYKUoy5Jd — John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) February 5, 2020
The Hit King has a point. If Altuve can keep his 2017 MVP plaque, Batting Crown and World Series ring in the face of all the evidence against the Astros, then Pete Rose, the all time hits leader, deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. @MLB cannot have two standards. https://t.co/3jO6Mvevw2 — Jerry Hendrix (@JerryHendrixII) February 5, 2020
But when it comes to the Rose case, Aaron had supporters, too.
I’m with Hank Aaron on this one. No to Pete Rose. He bet on games he played in. What if the whole team did it? Just because it’s him?
If he does get in will it tell the story of how he bet on games? How much money he made? — ReSparkled ? (@ReSparkled_) February 8, 2020
So far, Major Leage Baseball agrees with Aaron about Rose’s lifetime ban from baseball.
The case of the Astros and a World Series-winning season seems to be a different matter.
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westernjournal--2020-02-09--House Managers Finally Lose Touch with Reality: ‘The President Is Not Exonerated’

The least-surprising verdict in recent history came down this past week when President Donald Trump was acquitted by the Senate after an impeachment trial that was never needed nor in any doubt .
The constitutionally mandated 67 votes to remove the president were never going to be there and the only real question was whether there would be any Republican defections .
( Mitt Romney of Utah , wringing his hands a bit for historical effect , managed to get a little more press coverage out of the whole shebang by voting “ yes ” on one of the two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ended Wednesday , but for some people , the hope lives on and the dream shall never die .
Two of these groups are the House Democrat impeachment managers and CNN hosts — and in an interview that aired Friday , the two had a meeting of the minds ( such as they may be ) in which the impeachment managers declared Trump really hadn ’ t been acquitted , even though he had been just two days earlier .
The seven members of the team sat down with Anderson Cooper on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the acquittal : First , the trial hadn ’ t been fair , the managers argued , presumably because they weren ’ t allowed to run the trial like the Marx Brothers routine the House impeachment inquiry had been .
Second , the president hadn ’ t been “ exonerated ” by the trial — a linguistic conflation of “ exoneration ” and “ acquittal ” that ’ s more than a little misleading .
CNN head Jeff Zucker said in October that Fox News was “ akin to state-run TV ” because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he must think of this sentence in CNN ’ s meta-news writeup of the sit-down in which the writer described the president ’ s post-acquittal address : “ The next day , Trump took a victory lap in a vindictive White House speech in which he gave no indication that he considered his actions wrong or regrettable.
” Because Trump “ gave no indication that he considered his actions wrong or regrettable , ” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York gave us the usual spiel about the president being emboldened because Republicans didn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And absent any consequences , to the extent that he perceives the acquittal as an exoneration , it ’ s a fake exoneration , ” Jeffries said .
“ But to the extent that the president perceives it as vindication of his bad behavior , his constitutional crime , his wrongdoing , then there is reason to believe that he will endeavor to do it again.
” The words “ exoneration ” and “ acquittal ” were put in close quarters not infrequently during the interview “ I think he ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lofgren said right off the bat .
When asked what she meant by that , Colorado Rep. Jason Crow helpfully mansplained for her : “ It ’ s hard to have an acquittal without a fair trial.
” “ And this was the first impeachment trial in American history where we didn ’ t have witnesses and documents , ” Crow said .
“ And I think the American people realize that , because , as we sit here right now , there are thousands of Americans walking into courthouses across the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oath , and they ’ re going to be sitting as jurors in trials .
And they ’ re going to hear from witnesses and documents .
And they ’ re asking themselves why Washington and Donald Trump should be any different .
And , of course , the answer is , it shouldn ’ t .
And they understand that.
” And they ’ re going to be asking themselves why are they not senators .
And they ’ re going to be asking themselves why the accused wasn ’ t brought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lower house of Congress .
And they ’ re going to be asking themselves why that impeachment inquiry wasn ’ t rigged so that the accused had virtually no defenses during it .
RELATED : James Woods ' 1st Message to Hillary After Returning to Twitter Was as Brutal as It Was Funny And what Jason Crow is saying is , they ’ re not going to understand that .
They ’ re not going to understand that impeachment was an inherently political process that isn ’ t a criminal trial .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Democrats wanted to turn it into the same three-ring circus the House impeachment inquiry was .
Or maybe they will understand all that , and this is a fatuous argument .
Equally fatuous was the equation of “ acquittal ” and “ exoneration ” by the impeachment managers .
“ Well , and back to the acquittal part of this , I would consider that fake news , because we did not have a fair trial , ” Florida Rep. Val Demings said .
It ’ s interesting you would call “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , considering even CNN ’ s been calling it that ( since that ’ s what it was ) and I thought calling the media “ fake news ” was eroding trust in our most critical institutions .
Beyond that , I think we should look at the deliberate intermixture of two similar-but-distinct words throughout the entire interview .
As per Merriam-Webster : • acquittal ( noun ) : a setting free from the charge of an offense by verdict , sentence , or other legal process .
• exonerate ( verb ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now , for most intents and purposes — but not all — Trump has been exonerated , the official accusation and any chance of statutory blame being placed upon him have both been lifted .
However , short of evidence that proves precisely the frame of Donald Trump ’ s heart and mind as he chatted on the phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky , there can be no total exoneration from two charges that technically aren ’ t even crimes .
So , in an extraordinarily weaselly way , the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re right , however , in the same way that almost no defendant — save on those episodes of “ Law & Order ” where the maid confesses on the stand to murdering the accused ’ s husband because of a broken-off affair — is ever truly exonerated .
There ’ s always someone , somewhere , who has a bit of doubt as to whether or not you did it .
In the case of Trump , if you ’ re a Democrat , I can guarantee you probably think he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ office .
But acquittal ?
Oh , yeah , that totally happened .
And it wasn ’ t just one of those routine procedural votes merely covered on C-SPAN .
If you wanted to avoid watching the epic fail last week of three years worth of impeachment saber-rattling , you had to turn on Netflix .
If you can make people believe these two words are one and the same , however , the hope is that things get muddier over time .
Was the president actually acquitted ?
Well , I mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — and here ’ s a 10-year retrospective special with Anderson Cooper interviewing the same seven House impeachment managers , and they certainly seem sure about it to me… To the extent they believe this , however , the Democrat House impeachment managers have lost reality ’ s orbit and drifted off into that comfortable space where it all kind of worked out because , hey , the president ’ s forever marked as having been “ impeached ” and history will vindicate them .
After all , they ’ ll get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Acquittal happened .
The fever dream has died .
The circus tents have taken up their stakes and packed themselves up .
You can have a few more days of talking about how “ vindictive ” the president was and how brave Mitt Romney is .
And then , yet again , this all goes away .
I ’ m sure there will be some fresh outrage to replace it , mind you , but I can ’ t really think of where you go after impeachment .
Can Pope Francis call an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ?
Does it have jurisdiction ?
And , if the answer is yes on both counts , would it be possible to schedule it around the time of the Republican National Convention ?
That ’ d be stellar .
The Democrats don ’ t have the specific heresy yet , but give them a few weeks and it ’ ll work itself out .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The least-surprising verdict in recent history came down this past week when President Donald Trump was acquitted by the Senate after an impeachment trial that was never needed nor in any doubt.
The constitutionally mandated 67 votes to remove the president were never going to be there and the only real question was whether there would be any Republican defections. (Mitt Romney of Utah, wringing his hands a bit for historical effect, managed to get a little more press coverage out of the whole shebang by voting “yes” on one of the two counts.)
The trial may have ended Wednesday, but for some people, the hope lives on and the dream shall never die. Two of these groups are the House Democrat impeachment managers and CNN hosts — and in an interview that aired Friday, the two had a meeting of the minds (such as they may be) in which the impeachment managers declared Trump really hadn’t been acquitted, even though he had been just two days earlier.
The seven members of the team sat down with Anderson Cooper on Friday and two arguments for the non-acquittalness of the acquittal:
First, the trial hadn’t been fair, the managers argued, presumably because they weren’t allowed to run the trial like the Marx Brothers routine the House impeachment inquiry had been. Second, the president hadn’t been “exonerated” by the trial — a linguistic conflation of “exoneration” and “acquittal” that’s more than a little misleading.
CNN head Jeff Zucker said in October that Fox News was “akin to state-run TV” because of its slant, so imagine what he must think of this sentence in CNN’s meta-news writeup of the sit-down in which the writer described the president’s post-acquittal address: “The next day, Trump took a victory lap in a vindictive White House speech in which he gave no indication that he considered his actions wrong or regrettable.”
Because Trump “gave no indication that he considered his actions wrong or regrettable,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York gave us the usual spiel about the president being emboldened because Republicans didn’t vote their way.
“And absent any consequences, to the extent that he perceives the acquittal as an exoneration, it’s a fake exoneration,” Jeffries said. “But to the extent that the president perceives it as vindication of his bad behavior, his constitutional crime, his wrongdoing, then there is reason to believe that he will endeavor to do it again.”
The words “exoneration” and “acquittal” were put in close quarters not infrequently during the interview
“I think he’s not been exonerated,” California Rep. Zoe Lofgren said right off the bat.
When asked what she meant by that, Colorado Rep. Jason Crow helpfully mansplained for her: “It’s hard to have an acquittal without a fair trial.”
“And this was the first impeachment trial in American history where we didn’t have witnesses and documents,” Crow said.
“And I think the American people realize that, because, as we sit here right now, there are thousands of Americans walking into courthouses across the country, and they’re taking their oath, and they’re going to be sitting as jurors in trials. And they’re going to hear from witnesses and documents. And they’re asking themselves why Washington and Donald Trump should be any different. And, of course, the answer is, it shouldn’t. And they understand that.”
And they’re going to be asking themselves why are they not senators. And they’re going to be asking themselves why the accused wasn’t brought before them after an impeachment inquiry by the lower house of Congress. And they’re going to be asking themselves why that impeachment inquiry wasn’t rigged so that the accused had virtually no defenses during it.
Do you think impeachment will turn out to help President Donald Trump's re-election? Yes No
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And what Jason Crow is saying is, they’re not going to understand that. They’re not going to understand that impeachment was an inherently political process that isn’t a criminal trial. They’re not going to understand the Democrats wanted to turn it into the same three-ring circus the House impeachment inquiry was. Or maybe they will understand all that, and this is a fatuous argument.
Equally fatuous was the equation of “acquittal” and “exoneration” by the impeachment managers.
“Well, and back to the acquittal part of this, I would consider that fake news, because we did not have a fair trial,” Florida Rep. Val Demings said.
“The president is not exonerated today.”
It’s interesting you would call “acquittal” fake news, Rep. Demings, considering even CNN’s been calling it that (since that’s what it was) and I thought calling the media “fake news” was eroding trust in our most critical institutions.
Beyond that, I think we should look at the deliberate intermixture of two similar-but-distinct words throughout the entire interview. As per Merriam-Webster:
acquittal (noun): a setting free from the charge of an offense by verdict, sentence, or other legal process.
a setting free from the charge of an offense by verdict, sentence, or other legal process. exonerate (verb): to clear from accusation or blame.
Now, for most intents and purposes — but not all — Trump has been exonerated, the official accusation and any chance of statutory blame being placed upon him have both been lifted. However, short of evidence that proves precisely the frame of Donald Trump’s heart and mind as he chatted on the phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, there can be no total exoneration from two charges that technically aren’t even crimes.
So, in an extraordinarily weaselly way, the House impeachment managers are right. They’re right, however, in the same way that almost no defendant — save on those episodes of “Law & Order” where the maid confesses on the stand to murdering the accused’s husband because of a broken-off affair — is ever truly exonerated.
There’s always someone, somewhere, who has a bit of doubt as to whether or not you did it. In the case of Trump, if you’re a Democrat, I can guarantee you probably think he’s guilty as the day he took office.
But acquittal? Oh, yeah, that totally happened. And it wasn’t just one of those routine procedural votes merely covered on C-SPAN. If you wanted to avoid watching the epic fail last week of three years worth of impeachment saber-rattling, you had to turn on Netflix.
If you can make people believe these two words are one and the same, however, the hope is that things get muddier over time. Was the president actually acquitted?
Well, I mean, there’s all this doubt — and here’s a 10-year retrospective special with Anderson Cooper interviewing the same seven House impeachment managers, and they certainly seem sure about it to me…
To the extent they believe this, however, the Democrat House impeachment managers have lost reality’s orbit and drifted off into that comfortable space where it all kind of worked out because, hey, the president’s forever marked as having been “impeached” and history will vindicate them. After all, they’ll get the media to write it.
No. Acquittal happened. The fever dream has died. The circus tents have taken up their stakes and packed themselves up. You can have a few more days of talking about how “vindictive” the president was and how brave Mitt Romney is. And then, yet again, this all goes away.
I’m sure there will be some fresh outrage to replace it, mind you, but I can’t really think of where you go after impeachment.
Can Pope Francis call an inquisition? Does the Vatican still do that? Does it have jurisdiction?
And, if the answer is yes on both counts, would it be possible to schedule it around the time of the Republican National Convention? That’d be stellar. The Democrats don’t have the specific heresy yet, but give them a few weeks and it’ll work itself out.
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westernjournal--2020-02-09--Audience Roars in Edited Buttigieg Video, But in Reality Not a Single Person Clapped

It ’ s not enough that Americans have to deal with fake news as they sort out the latest in politics coming over social media .
Now , according to an advocacy group , there is the issue of fake noise as well .
The Center for Popular Democracy Action , which goes by “ CPD Action ” on Twitter , recently slapped the Democratic presidential campaign of former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg for adding volumes of applause into a clip of Buttigieg speaking at a CNN town hall .
On Thursday , CPD Action posted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question related to his age .
“ Statistically , we run the risk of being the first generation in American history to actually be worse off economically than our parents if nothing is done to change the trajectory of this , ” Buttigieg said in the clip .
“ That ’ s not just a concern for our generation , it ’ s a concern that calls on us to build an alliance among generations to try to make sure the future really is better than the past.
” The video ends there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s campaign team , and raucous applause and cheers fill the screen as it goes to an ad telling viewers when to see the town hall .
One problem for those who cling to the notion of accuracy : The applause did not happen in real life .
The other version of Buttigieg ’ s comment shows that there was no madcap cheering to greet the words of the former mayor .
Instead , on a clip taken straight from CNN , Buttigieg had a few more words to say at the point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign cut off .
After he spoke without the least bit of cheering in evidence , he finished his answer and later received a smattering of polite applause .
CPD Action and others skewered Buttigieg in several tweets .
RELATED : Warren Responds After Minority Women Leave Her Campaign Because They Felt Like Tokens CPD Action supports Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont in the Democratic presidential contest .
In Monday ’ s Iowa caucuses , Buttigieg appears to have defeated Sanders , with Buttigieg getting 26.2 percent of the state delegate equivalents and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The New York Times .
However , no official winner has been declared .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

It’s not enough that Americans have to deal with fake news as they sort out the latest in politics coming over social media. Now, according to an advocacy group, there is the issue of fake noise as well.
The Center for Popular Democracy Action, which goes by “CPD Action” on Twitter, recently slapped the Democratic presidential campaign of former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg for adding volumes of applause into a clip of Buttigieg speaking at a CNN town hall.
On Thursday, CPD Action posted two versions of Buttigieg responding to a question related to his age.
“Statistically, we run the risk of being the first generation in American history to actually be worse off economically than our parents if nothing is done to change the trajectory of this,” Buttigieg said in the clip.
“That’s not just a concern for our generation, it’s a concern that calls on us to build an alliance among generations to try to make sure the future really is better than the past.”
The video ends there on the version tweeted by Buttigieg’s campaign team, and raucous applause and cheers fill the screen as it goes to an ad telling viewers when to see the town hall.
One problem for those who cling to the notion of accuracy: The applause did not happen in real life.
Does this seem sleazy to you? Yes No
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The other version of Buttigieg’s comment shows that there was no madcap cheering to greet the words of the former mayor.
Instead, on a clip taken straight from CNN, Buttigieg had a few more words to say at the point where the video sent out by his campaign cut off. After he spoke without the least bit of cheering in evidence, he finished his answer and later received a smattering of polite applause.
CPD Action and others skewered Buttigieg in several tweets.
So appropriate. As fake as his victory https://t.co/LSwZIkmHBU — Secular Talk (@KyleKulinski) February 7, 2020
This isn’t just an isolated edit. It’s part of a theme: Faking Black endorsements with the Frederick Douglass Plan. Faking Iowa victory before numbers came. Faking no fossil fuel money pledge. Faking small donations email scam.#SneakyPete will continue this. — CPD Action (@CPDAction) February 7, 2020
Mayor Pete is starting to look like an sleaze, willing you sink low to get ahead…. VIDEO: Buttigieg campaign busted for adding applause to town hall clip https://t.co/tImoQpOSR7 via @realdennislynch — TeamDML (@DMLNewsTeam) February 8, 2020
CPD Action supports Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont in the Democratic presidential contest.
In Monday’s Iowa caucuses, Buttigieg appears to have defeated Sanders, with Buttigieg getting 26.2 percent of the state delegate equivalents and Sanders getting 26.1 percent, according to The New York Times.
However, no official winner has been declared.
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