thestream--2020-05-25--A Conversation I Will Not Forget: Reflecting on Memorial Day in a Pandemic

Today is Memorial Day , an observance held annually in the United States on the last Monday in May .
On this day , we especially remember the more than 1.3 million Americans who have died in our nation ’ s wars .
As the son and grandson of soldiers and a proud and grateful American , I want to honor this day each year in the Daily Article and each day in my heart .
However , there is a companion theme on this Memorial Day I ’ d like us to consider as well .
A Nurse With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outpatient surgery last week .
I say that only to say that I interacted with several medical staff in the days leading up to and through the procedure .
Each of them was wearing a mask and gloves ; several were wearing protective gowns as well .
That ’ s because , so far as they knew , I was infected with COVID-19 and capable of spreading the infection to them .
One nurse with whom I spoke had an especially touching story .
When she and her colleagues were cleared to return @ @ @ @ @ @ @ daughter moved out of their home .
This daughter has been living with her older brother because her mother could become infected with SARS-CoV-2 at work and bring the infection home to her .
As a result , this nurse has not been in the physical presence of her daughter for two months .
They speak over Skype or Zoom every day , but it ’ s not the same .
I will not forget her or the tears in her eyes as she told me her story .
Thousands of healthcare workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Add to them the multiplied thousands of people working in other frontline capacities during this pandemic , from those who deliver groceries and supplies to those who police our streets to keep us safe .
Each of them is risking their life and their family to serve us .
How best can we observe this Memorial Day during a pandemic ?
Consider three biblical priorities .
Paul said of the Philippians , “ I thank my God in all my remembrance of you ” ( Philippians 1:3 ) .
Like him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today and express gratitude to God for them and their families .
Take time today to think about the 1.3 million women and men who have died to protect the freedoms you enjoy .
Envision their lives and sacrifice ; consider the years they lost in serving our nation .
If you know a member of their families , express your gratitude to them for the sacrifice their loved ones made for you .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to participate in the National Moment of Remembrance by stopping at 3:00 p.m. local time for one minute of silence .
If you know a veteran or current member of the military , find a way to express your gratitude to them as well .
Extend this commitment to the healthcare providers and other frontline workers you know .
Find a way to express your gratitude today and every day .
Paul said of the Ephesians , “ I do not cease to give thanks for you , remembering you in my prayers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he prayed for them , we should pray for those we are considering today .
Pray for our military and their families , asking God for their protection and encouragement .
Pray for those who have lost loved ones in the service of our country , asking God for their strength and peace .
And pray for our healthcare workers and others on the frontlines of this pandemic .
Ask God to keep them and their families safe .
Pray for them to feel the encouragement and gratitude of our nation .
Think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who chose to serve our nation at the cost of their lives .
Consider their families living with the pain of their loss .
Think about the women and men serving in harm ’ s way around the world , willing to die that we might live .
And consider the healthcare providers and other frontline workers who are serving us at risk to themselves and those they love .
You and I may not be called into their service , but we have our own kingdom assignments .
With our calling comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any cost .
Those God uses most fully are those who are most fully surrendered to his use .
Scripture teaches , “ Whatever you do , work heartily , as for the Lord and not for men ” ( Colossians 3:23 ) .
Paradoxically , this is the best way to serve the Lord and men .
Helen Keller noted : “ True happiness is not attained through self-gratification , but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.
” What “ worthy purpose ” will you serve with your life ?
Dr. Jim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forum .
His Daily Article reaches 1.5 million people monthly with subscribers in 226 countries .

Today is Memorial Day, an observance held annually in the United States on the last Monday in May. On this day, we especially remember the more than 1.3 million Americans who have died in our nation’s wars.
As the son and grandson of soldiers and a proud and grateful American, I want to honor this day each year in the Daily Article and each day in my heart.
However, there is a companion theme on this Memorial Day I’d like us to consider as well.
A Nurse With Tears in Her Eyes
I had minor outpatient surgery last week. I say that only to say that I interacted with several medical staff in the days leading up to and through the procedure. Each of them was wearing a mask and gloves; several were wearing protective gowns as well.
That’s because, so far as they knew, I was infected with COVID-19 and capable of spreading the infection to them.
They speak over Skype or Zoom every day, but it’s not the same. I will not forget her or the tears in her eyes as she told me her story.
One nurse with whom I spoke had an especially touching story. When she and her colleagues were cleared to return to work several weeks ago, her daughter moved out of their home. This daughter has been living with her older brother because her mother could become infected with SARS-CoV-2 at work and bring the infection home to her.
As a result, this nurse has not been in the physical presence of her daughter for two months. They speak over Skype or Zoom every day, but it’s not the same. I will not forget her or the tears in her eyes as she told me her story.
Thousands of healthcare workers have been infected with COVID-19 so far. Add to them the multiplied thousands of people working in other frontline capacities during this pandemic, from those who deliver groceries and supplies to those who police our streets to keep us safe.
Each of them is risking their life and their family to serve us.
How best can we observe this Memorial Day during a pandemic? Consider three biblical priorities.
One: Remember
Paul said of the Philippians, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you” (Philippians 1:3). Like him, we should remember those we are honoring today and express gratitude to God for them and their families.
Take time today to think about the 1.3 million women and men who have died to protect the freedoms you enjoy. Envision their lives and sacrifice; consider the years they lost in serving our nation. If you know a member of their families, express your gratitude to them for the sacrifice their loved ones made for you.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
I especially encourage you to participate in the National Moment of Remembrance by stopping at 3:00 p.m. local time for one minute of silence. If you know a veteran or current member of the military, find a way to express your gratitude to them as well.
Extend this commitment to the healthcare providers and other frontline workers you know. Find a way to express your gratitude today and every day.
Two: Pray
Paul said of the Ephesians, “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Ephesians 1:16). As he prayed for them, we should pray for those we are considering today.
Pray for our military and their families, asking God for their protection and encouragement. Pray for those who have lost loved ones in the service of our country, asking God for their strength and peace.
And pray for our healthcare workers and others on the frontlines of this pandemic. Ask God to keep them and their families safe. Pray for them to feel the encouragement and gratitude of our nation.
Three: Emulate
Think of the millions of women and men who chose to serve our nation at the cost of their lives. Consider their families living with the pain of their loss. Think about the women and men serving in harm’s way around the world, willing to die that we might live. And consider the healthcare providers and other frontline workers who are serving us at risk to themselves and those they love.
Those God uses most fully are those who are most fully surrendered to his use.
You and I may not be called into their service, but we have our own kingdom assignments. With our calling comes a commitment to fulfill that calling at any cost. Those God uses most fully are those who are most fully surrendered to his use.
Scripture teaches, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men” (Colossians 3:23). Paradoxically, this is the best way to serve the Lord and men.
The Path to “True Happiness”
Remember, then pray, then emulate.
Helen Keller noted: “True happiness is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.”
What “worthy purpose” will you serve with your life?
Dr. Jim Denison is the founder of the Denison Forum. His Daily Article reaches 1.5 million people monthly with subscribers in 226 countries.


thestream--2020-05-25--Federal Court Rejects Lawsuit Accusing California Gov. Newsom of Violating Religious Freedom

UPDATE : Gov .
Newsom unveiled plans on Monday for reopening California churches and allowing in-person religious services .
As Mercury News reports , “ Under the governor ’ s new guidelines , places of worship could reopen , pending approval from their county public health officials , on the condition that they limit attendance to 25 % of the building capacity or a maximum of 100 attendees — whichever is lower.
” A federal court has rejected a lawsuit by religious leaders accusing Democratic California Gov .
Gavin Newsom of violating religious freedoms of Californians .
The South Bay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ California , filed a lawsuit on May 8 accusing the California governor of violating the church ’ s First Amendment rights through his coronavirus stay-at-home orders , CNN reports .
But the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld California ’ s ban and ruled Friday that the ban does not violate the First Amendment , according to CNN .
The court also rejected the church ’ s request for a preliminary injunction .
Judges Jacqueline Nguyen and Barry Silverman , appointed by former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton , respectively , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Collins , appointed by President Donald Trump , dissented , writing : “ By explicitly and categorically assigning all in-person ‘ religious services ’ to a future Phase 3 — without any express regard to the number of attendees , the size of the space , or the safety protocols followed in such services — the State ’ s Reopening Plan undeniably “ discriminate [ s ] on its face ” against “ religious conduct.
” “ We ’ re dealing here with a highly contagious and often fatal disease for which there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ruling said , according to CNN .
“ In the words of Justice Robert Jackson , if a ‘ [ c ] ourt does not temper its doctrinaire logic with a little practical wisdom , it will convert the constitutional Bill of Rights into a suicide pact.
” The court ruling comes after President Donald Trump called on governors Friday to open houses of worship “ right now , ” warning that he would override governors ’ orders if they do not allow Americans to attend religious services .
“ The governors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now , ” Trump said .
“ For this weekend .
If they don ’ t do it , I will override the governors .
In America , we need more prayer , not less.
” The Department of Justice also told Newsom in a Tuesday letter that California ’ s plan for reopening the economy discriminates against religious believers .

UPDATE: Gov. Newsom unveiled plans on Monday for reopening California churches and allowing in-person religious services. As Mercury News reports, “Under the governor’s new guidelines, places of worship could reopen, pending approval from their county public health officials, on the condition that they limit attendance to 25% of the building capacity or a maximum of 100 attendees — whichever is lower.”
A federal court has rejected a lawsuit by religious leaders accusing Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom of violating religious freedoms of Californians.
The South Bay United Pentecostal Church in Chula Vista, California, filed a lawsuit on May 8 accusing the California governor of violating the church’s First Amendment rights through his coronavirus stay-at-home orders, CNN reports.
But the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld California’s ban and ruled Friday that the ban does not violate the First Amendment, according to CNN. The court also rejected the church’s request for a preliminary injunction.
Judges Jacqueline Nguyen and Barry Silverman, appointed by former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, respectively, ruled against the lawsuit. Judge Daniel Collins, appointed by President Donald Trump, dissented, writing:
“By explicitly and categorically assigning all in-person ‘religious services’ to a future Phase 3 — without any express regard to the number of attendees, the size of the space, or the safety protocols followed in such services — the State’s Reopening Plan undeniably “discriminate[s] on its face” against “religious conduct.”
As we head into the 3 day weekend — It’s unbelievably important that we act in a safe and responsible way. BE SMART. Wash your hands. Practice physical distancing. Stay local.#COVID19 has not gone away. Your actions could literally save lives. — Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) May 23, 2020
“We’re dealing here with a highly contagious and often fatal disease for which there presently is no known cure,” the ruling said, according to CNN. “In the words of Justice Robert Jackson, if a ‘[c]ourt does not temper its doctrinaire logic with a little practical wisdom, it will convert the constitutional Bill of Rights into a suicide pact.”
The court ruling comes after President Donald Trump called on governors Friday to open houses of worship “right now,” warning that he would override governors’ orders if they do not allow Americans to attend religious services.
“The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now,” Trump said. “For this weekend. If they don’t do it, I will override the governors. In America, we need more prayer, not less.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The Department of Justice also told Newsom in a Tuesday letter that California’s plan for reopening the economy discriminates against religious believers.
Eric S. Dreiband, the head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, reminded Newsom that Attorney General William Barr recently issued a statement emphasizing that “even in times of emergency, when reasonable and temporary restrictions are placed on rights, the First Amendment and federal statutory law prohibit discrimination against religious institutions and religious believers.” “Simply put, there is no pandemic exception to the U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights,” Dreiband said. California’s phase two reopening plan does not allow churches to reopen but does allow certain secular businesses to reopen with social distancing measures, which Dreiband called in his letter “differential treatment.” Newsom did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].


Why Memorial Day?

Why do we have Memorial Day ?
Because Lexington and Concord is not a downtown intersection .
Because Bull Run is not that crazy thing they do each year in Spain .
Because Rouge Bouquet is not something you order from FTD .
Because the Beaches of Normandy aren ’ t a spring break destination .
Because the Battle of the Notch has nothing to do with excessive weight gain .
Because Hamburger Hill is not a fast-food joint .
Because Desert Storm is not a Weather Channel special .
Because Tora Bora is not the Kingsmen ’ s follow-up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Benghazi compound isn ’ t a product to remove warts .
We have Memorial Day because since the fight for this nation began there have been men and women who have laid down their lives that we — and others worldwide — may be free .
We have Memorial Day because for so many this history is unknown and untaught .
We need Memorial Day because we so easily forget their sacrifice , and worse , because there are those eager to erase or pervert what the fallen — and this nation — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their all continue to rest in honored glory .
And may we who remain never rest in the fight to carry forward the bright banner of liberty .

A question:
Why do we have Memorial Day?
Because Lexington and Concord is not a downtown intersection.
Because Bull Run is not that crazy thing they do each year in Spain.
Because Rouge Bouquet is not something you order from FTD.
Because the Beaches of Normandy aren’t a spring break destination.
Because the Battle of the Notch has nothing to do with excessive weight gain.
Because Hamburger Hill is not a fast-food joint.
Because Desert Storm is not a Weather Channel special.
Because Tora Bora is not the Kingsmen’s follow-up to “Louie Louie.”
Because the Benghazi compound isn’t a product to remove warts.
We have Memorial Day because since the fight for this nation began there have been men and women who have laid down their lives that we — and others worldwide — may be free.
We have Memorial Day because for so many this history is unknown and untaught.
We need Memorial Day because we so easily forget their sacrifice, and worse, because there are those eager to erase or pervert what the fallen — and this nation — have done.
May those who gave their all continue to rest in honored glory. And may we who remain never rest in the fight to carry forward the bright banner of liberty.


thestream--2020-05-26--Judges Aren’t Kings. This One Didn’t Get the Memo

In the United States , we don ’ t have kings or queens of any variety .
Still , some judges apparently think they are philosopher-kings , and an order released last Tuesday by a federal district court judge in Texas shows he may be in that group .
Judge Fred Biery ’ s order that state officials allow mail-in voting for all eligible voters in upcoming elections seems totally disconnected from the law and reads like a manifesto from a wannabe philosopher-king , complete with rhetorical flourishes , endnotes , and appendices .
How the Decision is Disconnected from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state law are still working their way through Texas state courts — and federal courts often abstain from ruling in such situations .
Second , Biery brushed aside the concerns of state officials over potential voter fraud , stating in colorful language , “ The Court finds the Grim Reaper ’ s scepter of pandemic disease and death is far more serious than an unsupported fear of voter fraud in this sui generis experience.
” He went on to say , “ Indeed , if vote by mail fraud is real , logic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person.
” He acknowledges that between 2005 and 2018 , there were 73 prosecutions in Texas for voter fraud , but he buries in the endnotes that “ [ a ] lmost half of [ these fraud ] cases involved the improper use of absentee ballots , where voter fraud occurs most often.
” That ’ s consistent with information compiled by The Heritage Foundation in its election fraud database .
So , if half of the recorded voter fraud incidents in Texas involved absentee ballots , and research shows that is where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reject the state ’ s concerns that incidents of voter fraud will increase when the use of absentee ballots increases ?
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Also , as a matter of law , he granted relief to parties who didn ’ t ask for it and who weren ’ t even part of the lawsuit .
The suit was brought by three individuals who wanted to vote by mail in the upcoming Texas Democratic runoff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the chairman of the Texas Democratic Party .
Granting relief to these individuals wasn ’ t enough .
“ Though Republican voters are not parties to this case , the Court finds it would discriminate against Republicans not to afford them the same health safety precautions of voting by mail .
Accordingly , the court sua sponte concludes this Order shall extend to allow Republican voters to vote by mail as well should they claim disability because of lack of immunity from or fear of contracting COVID-19.
” As this case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ growing problem of federal district court judges disregarding the Supreme Court ’ s recent admonition against framing and ruling on the case as they see fit , rather than ruling on the case as presented by the parties .
The judge concludes his fanciful opinion by stating : “ For want of a vote , our democracy and the Republic would be lost , and government of the people , by the people and for the people shall perish from the earth.
” He opines that “ [ c ] itizens should have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carrier versus voting with disease carriers ” Really ?
That ’ s up to the state legislature to decide , not a lone federal judge .
In Texas , you already can vote by absentee ballot if there is a reason you can ’ t vote in person on Election Day , such as sickness or disability .
And those over 65 can vote absentee without an excuse .
It is not clear from his opinion where Biery thinks he gets the authority to decide how Texans will vote .
Not Just Legally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ top of that , his opinion makes a number of odd claims .
For example , it says that those who oppose going to all-mail elections want to return us to the “ not so thrilling days of yesteryear of the Divine Right of Kings.
” We are going to return to a monarchy unless everyone in Texas can vote through the mail ?
He also claims those opposing this are “ trading our birthright as a sovereign people for a modern mess of governing pottage in the hands of a few.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governing pottage ” seems to be his opinion .
His statement that “ [ f ] or those who have recently awakened from a Rip Van Winkle sleep , the entire world is mostly without immunity and fearfully disabled ” ignores the fact that residents of Texas can resume many in-person activities following appropriate social distancing guidance .
Apparently , it ’ s safe enough for Texans to shop at Walmart in person , but not safe enough for them to vote in person .
He does not even discuss the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with in-person voting , implementing all of the safety protocols recommended by experts At one point , Biery claims that allowing only those over 65 to vote by absentee ballot without an excuse violates the 26th Amendment , which lowered the voting age to 18 .
He ignores the 1969 case , McDonald v. Board of Election Commissioners , in which the U.S. Supreme Court said that although we have a fundamental right to vote , we don ’ t have a right to vote by absentee ballot through the mail .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sadly , the state ’ s only option at this point is to appeal to the 5th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals and hope for a quick ruling while also continuing to litigate the issue in Texas state courts .
The 5th Circuit temporarily stopped Biery ’ s order from taking effect while it considers the case .
This lone federal judge wrote that “ ‘ We the People ’ get just about the government and political leaders we deserve , but deserve to have a safe and unfettered vote to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s right .
But it raises the question : Who voted for him ?
Biery ’ s job was to call balls and strikes .
Unfortunately , that ’ s not what happened here .
Zack Smith is a legal fellow in the Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation .
Hans von Spakovsky is an authority on a wide range of issues—including civil rights , civil justice , the First Amendment , immigration , the rule of law and government reform — as a senior legal fellow in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies and manager of the think tank ’ s Election Law Reform Initiative .
Read his research .

In the United States, we don’t have kings or queens of any variety.
Still, some judges apparently think they are philosopher-kings, and an order released last Tuesday by a federal district court judge in Texas shows he may be in that group.
Judge Fred Biery’s order that state officials allow mail-in voting for all eligible voters in upcoming elections seems totally disconnected from the law and reads like a manifesto from a wannabe philosopher-king, complete with rhetorical flourishes, endnotes, and appendices.
How the Decision is Disconnected from the Law
First, issues of Texas state law are still working their way through Texas state courts — and federal courts often abstain from ruling in such situations.
Second, Biery brushed aside the concerns of state officials over potential voter fraud, stating in colorful language, “The Court finds the Grim Reaper’s scepter of pandemic disease and death is far more serious than an unsupported fear of voter fraud in this sui generis experience.” He went on to say, “Indeed, if vote by mail fraud is real, logic dictates that all voting should be in person.”
Hold on.
He acknowledges that between 2005 and 2018, there were 73 prosecutions in Texas for voter fraud, but he buries in the endnotes that “[a]lmost half of [these fraud] cases involved the improper use of absentee ballots, where voter fraud occurs most often.” That’s consistent with information compiled by The Heritage Foundation in its election fraud database.
So, if half of the recorded voter fraud incidents in Texas involved absentee ballots, and research shows that is where voter fraud most often occurs, why reject the state’s concerns that incidents of voter fraud will increase when the use of absentee ballots increases?
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Also, as a matter of law, he granted relief to parties who didn’t ask for it and who weren’t even part of the lawsuit. The suit was brought by three individuals who wanted to vote by mail in the upcoming Texas Democratic runoff primary election, the Texas Democratic Party, and the chairman of the Texas Democratic Party.
Granting relief to these individuals wasn’t enough. “Though Republican voters are not parties to this case, the Court finds it would discriminate against Republicans not to afford them the same health safety precautions of voting by mail. Accordingly, the court sua sponte concludes this Order shall extend to allow Republican voters to vote by mail as well should they claim disability because of lack of immunity from or fear of contracting COVID-19.”
As this case illustrates, there appears to be a growing problem of federal district court judges disregarding the Supreme Court’s recent admonition against framing and ruling on the case as they see fit, rather than ruling on the case as presented by the parties.
Chucking Aside Legislatures
The judge concludes his fanciful opinion by stating: “For want of a vote, our democracy and the Republic would be lost, and government of the people, by the people and for the people shall perish from the earth.” He opines that “[c]itizens should have the option to choose voting by letter carrier versus voting with disease carriers”
Really? That’s up to the state legislature to decide, not a lone federal judge. In Texas, you already can vote by absentee ballot if there is a reason you can’t vote in person on Election Day, such as sickness or disability.
And those over 65 can vote absentee without an excuse.
It is not clear from his opinion where Biery thinks he gets the authority to decide how Texans will vote.
Not Just Legally Wrong, But Just Plain Odd
On top of that, his opinion makes a number of odd claims. For example, it says that those who oppose going to all-mail elections want to return us to the “not so thrilling days of yesteryear of the Divine Right of Kings.” We are going to return to a monarchy unless everyone in Texas can vote through the mail?
He also claims those opposing this are “trading our birthright as a sovereign people for a modern mess of governing pottage in the hands of a few.” Unfortunately, the only “mess of governing pottage” seems to be his opinion.
His statement that “[f]or those who have recently awakened from a Rip Van Winkle sleep, the entire world is mostly without immunity and fearfully disabled” ignores the fact that residents of Texas can resume many in-person activities following appropriate social distancing guidance.
Apparently, it’s safe enough for Texans to shop at Walmart in person, but not safe enough for them to vote in person. He does not even discuss the fact that Wisconsin recently successfully held its primary election with in-person voting, implementing all of the safety protocols recommended by experts
At one point, Biery claims that allowing only those over 65 to vote by absentee ballot without an excuse violates the 26th Amendment, which lowered the voting age to 18.
He ignores the 1969 case, McDonald v. Board of Election Commissioners, in which the U.S. Supreme Court said that although we have a fundamental right to vote, we don’t have a right to vote by absentee ballot through the mail. That is a privilege, not a right.
Sadly, the state’s only option at this point is to appeal to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and hope for a quick ruling while also continuing to litigate the issue in Texas state courts. The 5th Circuit temporarily stopped Biery’s order from taking effect while it considers the case.
This lone federal judge wrote that “‘We the People’ get just about the government and political leaders we deserve, but deserve to have a safe and unfettered vote to say what we get.” He’s right. But it raises the question: Who voted for him?
Biery’s job was to call balls and strikes. Unfortunately, that’s not what happened here.
Zack Smith is a legal fellow in the Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Foundation.
Hans von Spakovsky is an authority on a wide range of issues—including civil rights, civil justice, the First Amendment, immigration, the rule of law and government reform — as a senior legal fellow in The Heritage Foundation’s Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies and manager of the think tank’s Election Law Reform Initiative. Read his research.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Signal


thestream--2020-05-26--Military Photo of the Day: Soaring Over Sweden

U.S. Air Force B-1 bombers conduct a joint training flyover above Sweden on May 20 , 2020 .
Have a @ @ @ @ @ your week , everyone !
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U.S. Air Force B-1 bombers conduct a joint training flyover above Sweden on May 20, 2020.
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thestream--2020-05-26--LGBT Sexuality and Persecution: What Are You Prepared to Do?

Growing up in the 1950 ’ s and 60 ’ s and reading what Revelation says about the persecution of Christians in the end times , I could only imagine that such apocalyptic scenarios must be way , way off in the future .
Surely beyond my lifetime .
We didn ’ t know anyone who didn ’ t go to church .
I couldn ’ t fathom how our culture could change that deeply and rapidly .
There was a little tension between Catholics and Protestants , but believing in God and going to church was not only acceptable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expected in some parts of the U. S. If you didn ’ t , you kept it quiet .
Today Christians are being asked to get out of town .
Most recently , Franklin Graham and Samaritan ’ s Purse were publicly excoriated for their views on Biblical sexuality and marriage after setting up a field hospital in Central Park that helped over 300 COVID-19 victims fight the disease .
On May 1st the openly gay Speaker of the New York City Council declared , “ It is time for Samaritan ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … This group … is led by the notoriously bigoted , hate-spewing Franklin Graham.
” The sexual revolution of the 60 ’ s continues , and its consequences are increasingly invading the lives , families and jobs of Christians .
A Michigan church has offered a workshop designed to help girls 12-16 who are “ struggling with the thoughts that they are Trans – Bi – Gay – or other “ to understand “ what the Bible teaches about sexuality.
” The pastor of the church and his family “ received death threats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from LGBT advocates.
” Michigan lawmakers labeled the workshop “ conversion therapy , ” demanding the state investigate and proposing legislation to make such workshops illegal .
The heavy-handed persecution of Colorado baker Jack Phillips for being willing to serve gay couples anything in his store , but refusing to create a cake that makes a statement that violates his conscience ( a wedding cake for gay marriage ) is well known .
Even after the Supreme Court ruled in his favor , a transgender lawyer filed against him again to create a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Phillips counter-sued for harassment and the case was dropped .
But just last month Phillips faced the same lawyer again in court .
This time he/she wanted a birthday cake , one half blue and one half pink , that celebrates not only the lawyer ’ s birth day but the “ birth date ” of the transition from male to female .
The litigation and persecution , begun in 2012 , goes on .
Parents ’ concerns over the increasing tension between public schooling and a Christian worldview , including values about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to home school their children .
This too may result in growing persecution .
( More in my next post . )
The LGBT activists ’ desire to persecute Christians like Franklin Graham , the Michigan pastor , Jack Phillips and Bible-believing parents flow logically from how they think about Christ followers .
They insist we are haters and bigots .
And yet the way they treat their own children gives the lie to their own words .
Every parent experiences those moments where your child disagrees with you .
And the older @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they may have for disagreeing with you .
It doesn ’ t mean that because you disagree with your children that you hate them .
Or that they hate you .
You may disagree on important things but still love each other .
Likewise , Christians may disagree with LGBT ’ s over sexual morality .
But it doesn ’ t mean we hate them .
To insist that we hate them and can not respect or love them because we disagree is a false dichotomy .
An intentional deception .
Please Support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
As Franklin Graham and Samaritan ’ s Purse have shown the world , we can disagree on the goodness of LGBT sexual behavior and still love them and accord them true respect as fellow travelers made in the image of God .
We see them through the eyes of Jesus Christ , who loves them and gave himself for them .
We can serve them and sacrifice for them because we care deeply for them .
But disagree on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not hate .
This is not fear or “ homophobia.
” It is love with respectful disagreement .
Where do we see this in the LGBT community ?
Neither are we bigots .
A bigot is someone who sees and treats others according to his own personal opinions and prejudices .
Holding to God ’ s standard of sexual morality may mean for many of us that we honor his word more than our own opinions .
If it were not for God ’ s Word I might not object to someone loving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whomever they want to marry .
But I trust that God knows far more than I do about the consequences of that view , especially upon children .
Especially upon our relationship with God and our eternal future .
Our supposed “ opinion ” is grounded in the wisdom of the ages , the Judeo-Christian foundation of Western Civilization , law and morality .
When disparaging Franklin Graham , New York Council Speaker Corey Johnson said , “ [ Graham ] calls the LGBTQ community ‘ detestable ’ and ‘ immoral.
’ He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to God , ’ …Samaritan ’ s Purse requires its volunteers to agree to a written affirmation ‘ that marriage is exclusively the union of one genetic male and one genetic female.
’ Hate has no place in our beautiful city.
” It is not simply Franklin Graham ’ s opinion that the LGBT sex is “ detestable ” and “ immoral.
” When he used those words he was quoting God ’ s words ( Leviticus 18 and Romans 1 ) .
Graham did not say that “ being gay is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deep line between a person ’ s identity and their behavior .
Graham actually said that teaching LGBT history that champions them as morally good victims of morally bad Christian oppression is “ an affront to God ” and a violation of the religious freedom of parents who wish to raise their children in their Christian beliefs .
Have Christians wrongfully persecuted LGBT ’ s ?
Yes .
Westboro Baptist comes to mind .
But they are the exception , not the norm .
And with the LGBT deliberate mischaracterization of “ hate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ curricula do not get it right .
As in my last post on The Atlantic ’ s article attacking Christian leaders for judgmental “ Christian cruelty ” in this pandemic , we can seek and offer the truth when Christians are unfairly mis-quoted .
Google the quotes , follow the attribution links .
Shine the light of truth on the deceptions .
I remember wishing back in the 70 ’ s , when the debate over the legalization of abortion raged , that the Bible spoke as clearly against abortion as it does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scripture is more inferential ( rescue those who are being dragged away to slaughter ; every human being is created in God ’ s image ) .
I could never imagine that America could approve of homosexuality — a sexual practice so clearly condemned by Scripture .
But now here we are .
And the persecution is real .
What are we prepared to do ?
We need to be praying , thinking and pre-deciding how we will respond .
Presidential candidate Joe Biden has promised that if he wins his first priority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act .
As National Review reported , “ The sweeping legislation would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics .
… It redefines sex to include gender identity , undermines religious freedom , [ and ] gives males who identify as females the right to women ’ s spaces.
” If it passes ( and it already passed in the House ) , parents will probably be required by law not to “ discriminate ” against their children ’ s interest in or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gender identity .
We need to pre-decide : Will we use preferred pronouns in order to keep from losing our jobs ?
Will we keep our children in public school classes teaching LGBTQ sex as good and healthy ?
Or classes that teach LGBTQ history ?
In some districts in California you can not opt out .
Will you stand by and let your daughter get medical treatment to become your son ?
Without being allowed to take her to a discussion group about Biblical sexuality at your church ?
What are we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pre-decide : Will we love and respect LGBT people we meet and open our homes in hospitality and friendship without compromising the truth should God lead us to speak it ?
Will we risk rejection for speaking it ?
Will we speak or vote for Biblical sexual morality in our churches and work for peace as far as it depends on us .
And if our church walks away from Romans 1 will we go with it ?
Or endure possible condemnation and loss of friendships and community ?
We need to pre-decide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that much to God ?
Is refusing to compromise really worth persecution ?
In the first Church Council the apostles debated what to tell the Gentiles about how to live in the light of all the Old Testament laws of Moses .
This is what they decided : Acts 15:19-20 “ …we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God , but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols , and from sexual immorality … , ” and a couple of dietary restrictions .
Out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , laws regarding sexual immorality made the short list and are repeated in the New Testament .
Do Not Compromise or Waver The book of Revelation makes it clear that in the end times , monstrously evil powers arise who will require complete submission .
They will make war on Christians who will be prohibited from buying or selling anything and even slaughtered .
One of those powers is the prostitute , Mystery Babylon , “ with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality , and with the wine of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have become drunk ” ( Rev 17:2 ) .
“ For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality ” ( Rev 18:3 ) And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints , and of all who have been slain on earth ” ( Rev 18:24 ) .
I ’ ve wondered if there might be a link between the sexual immorality of Mystery Babylon and the blood of believers .
Maybe the end-times persecution will not begin suddenly with the rise of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual immorality increases and becomes protected by law .
And Christians refuse to compromise .
I believe Jesus will return for us before we face all the oppression and plagues of the end times .
But , I ’ m far from certain .
If we face the terrible persecution described in the book of Revelation , may God give us the grace and strength to not compromise or waver .
We may think we would never deny Christ and take “ the mark of the beast.
” But how are we at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible that persecution of Christians over LGBT sexuality will increase in frequency and intensity and extend into that time ?
What we are prepared to do now in the face of this opposition may determine what we are prepared to do should we face those times .
Above all we need to pre-decide to love the LGBT community as Franklin Graham and Samaritan ’ s purse have done , as Jesus Christ does .
Beyond that , will we hold fast our belief in Biblical sexual morality , refusing to affirm the goodness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promote it in violation of God ’ s laws ?
May God give us strength now not to compromise or waver .
Lael Arrington is a national speaker and author of four books — most recently , Faith and Culture : The Guide to a Culture Shaped by Faith .

Growing up in the 1950’s and 60’s and reading what Revelation says about the persecution of Christians in the end times, I could only imagine that such apocalyptic scenarios must be way, way off in the future. Surely beyond my lifetime. We didn’t know anyone who didn’t go to church. I couldn’t fathom how our culture could change that deeply and rapidly.
There was a little tension between Catholics and Protestants, but believing in God and going to church was not only acceptable, it was respectable. Even culturally expected in some parts of the U. S. If you didn’t, you kept it quiet.
Today Christians are being asked to get out of town. Most recently, Franklin Graham and Samaritan’s Purse were publicly excoriated for their views on Biblical sexuality and marriage after setting up a field hospital in Central Park that helped over 300 COVID-19 victims fight the disease. On May 1st the openly gay Speaker of the New York City Council declared, “It is time for Samaritan’s Purse to leave New York City. … This group … is led by the notoriously bigoted, hate-spewing Franklin Graham.”
Persecution Ramping Up
The sexual revolution of the 60’s continues, and its consequences are increasingly invading the lives, families and jobs of Christians.
A Michigan church has offered a workshop designed to help girls 12-16 who are “struggling with the thoughts that they are Trans – Bi – Gay – or other “ to understand “what the Bible teaches about sexuality.” The pastor of the church and his family “received death threats, arson threats, and bomb threats from LGBT advocates.” Michigan lawmakers labeled the workshop “conversion therapy,” demanding the state investigate and proposing legislation to make such workshops illegal.
The heavy-handed persecution of Colorado baker Jack Phillips for being willing to serve gay couples anything in his store, but refusing to create a cake that makes a statement that violates his conscience (a wedding cake for gay marriage) is well known. Even after the Supreme Court ruled in his favor, a transgender lawyer filed against him again to create a cake to celebrate his/her gender transition. Phillips counter-sued for harassment and the case was dropped.
But just last month Phillips faced the same lawyer again in court. This time he/she wanted a birthday cake, one half blue and one half pink, that celebrates not only the lawyer’s birth day but the “birth date” of the transition from male to female. The litigation and persecution, begun in 2012, goes on.
Parents’ concerns over the increasing tension between public schooling and a Christian worldview, including values about sexual morality, are prompting increasing numbers to home school their children. This too may result in growing persecution. (More in my next post.)
Haters and Bigots?
The LGBT activists’ desire to persecute Christians like Franklin Graham, the Michigan pastor, Jack Phillips and Bible-believing parents flow logically from how they think about Christ followers. They insist we are haters and bigots. And yet the way they treat their own children gives the lie to their own words. Every parent experiences those moments where your child disagrees with you. And the older they get, the more good reasons they may have for disagreeing with you.
It doesn’t mean that because you disagree with your children that you hate them. Or that they hate you. You may disagree on important things but still love each other. Likewise, Christians may disagree with LGBT’s over sexual morality. But it doesn’t mean we hate them. To insist that we hate them and cannot respect or love them because we disagree is a false dichotomy. An intentional deception.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
As Franklin Graham and Samaritan’s Purse have shown the world, we can disagree on the goodness of LGBT sexual behavior and still love them and accord them true respect as fellow travelers made in the image of God. We see them through the eyes of Jesus Christ, who loves them and gave himself for them. We can serve them and sacrifice for them because we care deeply for them. But disagree on the standard of sexual morality. This is not hate. This is not fear or “homophobia.” It is love with respectful disagreement. Where do we see this in the LGBT community?
Neither are we bigots. A bigot is someone who sees and treats others according to his own personal opinions and prejudices. Holding to God’s standard of sexual morality may mean for many of us that we honor his word more than our own opinions. If it were not for God’s Word I might not object to someone loving whomever they want to love and marrying whomever they want to marry. But I trust that God knows far more than I do about the consequences of that view, especially upon children. Especially upon our relationship with God and our eternal future.
Grounded in Wisdom
Our supposed “opinion” is grounded in the wisdom of the ages, the Judeo-Christian foundation of Western Civilization, law and morality.
When disparaging Franklin Graham, New York Council Speaker Corey Johnson said, “[Graham] calls the LGBTQ community ‘detestable’ and ‘immoral.’ He says being gay is ‘an affront to God,’…Samaritan’s Purse requires its volunteers to agree to a written affirmation ‘that marriage is exclusively the union of one genetic male and one genetic female.’ Hate has no place in our beautiful city.”
It is not simply Franklin Graham’s opinion that the LGBT sex is “detestable” and “immoral.” When he used those words he was quoting God’s words (Leviticus 18 and Romans 1). Graham did not say that “being gay is an affront to God.” He draws a deep line between a person’s identity and their behavior.
Graham actually said that teaching LGBT history that champions them as morally good victims of morally bad Christian oppression is “an affront to God” and a violation of the religious freedom of parents who wish to raise their children in their Christian beliefs. Have Christians wrongfully persecuted LGBT’s? Yes. Westboro Baptist comes to mind. But they are the exception, not the norm. And with the LGBT deliberate mischaracterization of “hate” and “homophobia” their history curricula do not get it right.
As in my last post on The Atlantic’s article attacking Christian leaders for judgmental “Christian cruelty” in this pandemic, we can seek and offer the truth when Christians are unfairly mis-quoted. Google the quotes, follow the attribution links. Shine the light of truth on the deceptions.
How Will Christians Respond?
I remember wishing back in the 70’s, when the debate over the legalization of abortion raged, that the Bible spoke as clearly against abortion as it does against homosexuality. The pro-life argument from Scripture is more inferential (rescue those who are being dragged away to slaughter; every human being is created in God’s image). I could never imagine that America could approve of homosexuality — a sexual practice so clearly condemned by Scripture. But now here we are. And the persecution is real. What are we prepared to do?
We need to be praying, thinking and pre-deciding how we will respond. Presidential candidate Joe Biden has promised that if he wins his first priority will be the passage of the Equality Act. As National Review reported, “The sweeping legislation would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics. … It redefines sex to include gender identity, undermines religious freedom, [and] gives males who identify as females the right to women’s spaces.” If it passes (and it already passed in the House), parents will probably be required by law not to “discriminate” against their children’s interest in or desire to change their sexual orientation on gender identity.
We need to pre-decide: Will we use preferred pronouns in order to keep from losing our jobs? Will we keep our children in public school classes teaching LGBTQ sex as good and healthy? Or classes that teach LGBTQ history? In some districts in California you cannot opt out. Will you stand by and let your daughter get medical treatment to become your son? Without being allowed to take her to a discussion group about Biblical sexuality at your church? What are we prepared to do?
We need to pre-decide: Will we love and respect LGBT people we meet and open our homes in hospitality and friendship without compromising the truth should God lead us to speak it? Will we risk rejection for speaking it? Will we speak or vote for Biblical sexual morality in our churches and work for peace as far as it depends on us. And if our church walks away from Romans 1 will we go with it? Or endure possible condemnation and loss of friendships and community?
We need to pre-decide: Do our sexual ethics matter all that much to God? Is refusing to compromise really worth persecution? In the first Church Council the apostles debated what to tell the Gentiles about how to live in the light of all the Old Testament laws of Moses. This is what they decided: Acts 15:19-20 “…we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality …,” and a couple of dietary restrictions. Out of all the laws that Moses gave, laws regarding sexual immorality made the short list and are repeated in the New Testament.
Do Not Compromise or Waver
The book of Revelation makes it clear that in the end times, monstrously evil powers arise who will require complete submission. They will make war on Christians who will be prohibited from buying or selling anything and even slaughtered.
One of those powers is the prostitute, Mystery Babylon, “with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk” (Rev 17:2). “For all nations have drunk the wine of the passion of her sexual immorality” (Rev 18:3) And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints, and of all who have been slain on earth” (Rev 18:24).
I’ve wondered if there might be a link between the sexual immorality of Mystery Babylon and the blood of believers. Maybe the end-times persecution will not begin suddenly with the rise of the anti-Christ, but will rise steadily as sexual immorality increases and becomes protected by law. And Christians refuse to compromise.
I believe Jesus will return for us before we face all the oppression and plagues of the end times. But, I’m far from certain. If we face the terrible persecution described in the book of Revelation, may God give us the grace and strength to not compromise or waver.
We may think we would never deny Christ and take “the mark of the beast.” But how are we at facing persecution now? It’s possible that persecution of Christians over LGBT sexuality will increase in frequency and intensity and extend into that time? What we are prepared to do now in the face of this opposition may determine what we are prepared to do should we face those times.
Above all we need to pre-decide to love the LGBT community as Franklin Graham and Samaritan’s purse have done, as Jesus Christ does. Beyond that, will we hold fast our belief in Biblical sexual morality, refusing to affirm the goodness of LGBT sexuality or following laws that promote it in violation of God’s laws? May God give us strength now not to compromise or waver.
Lael Arrington is a national speaker and author of four books — most recently, Faith and Culture: The Guide to a Culture Shaped by Faith.
Originally published at LaelArrignton.com. Reprinted with permission.


thestream--2020-05-27--A Pro-Life Activist Looks at AKA Jane Roe

I don ’ t have any first-hand experiences of Norma McCorvey to offer .
The famous “ Jane Roe ” of the Supreme Court ’ s notorious Roe v. Wade decision , she ’ s claimed that the pro-life movement used her .
Pro-lifer leaders even paid her to tell the pro-life story .
So she says in the new documentary AKA Jane Roe , now streaming on Hulu .
I don ’ t believe it .
At least not entirely .
Yes and No Even if they have her on film saying it .
I don ’ t trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an agenda-driven posthumous hit job on someone who caused the pro-abortion side a lot of grief .
And the woman was on her deathbed and not well .
Shame on them .
I know the pro-life movement .
I ’ ve been involved in it for almost three decades .
I ’ m the face of the movement in Connecticut .
The movement ’ s good sides and its bad sides , I ’ ve seen them both .
Though the filmmakers had an agenda , does that mean their movie ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCorvey had her demons .
She didn ’ t have the polish of her pro-abortion handlers , which was one of the reasons she split from them .
The pro-choice movement used her .
Did the pro-life movement take her up because she was the perfect witness against Roe v. Wade ?
Of course .
Is it possible that eager pro-lifers pushed her into a role she didn ’ t really want to play ?
Is it possible that some manipulated her , unconsciously or even consciously ?
Of course .
Please Support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Is it implausible that she told the pro-lifers who first converted her “ I need money ” and they gave her money ?
No .
In fact , there are records to that effect .
But does the full blown narrative the filmmakers crafted automatically follow from that ?
No .
Is it the expose of the pro-life movement so many people say it is ?
Again , no .
I remember McCorvey ’ s famous conversion .
I remember @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she still supported abortion in the first trimester and that she was in “ the mushy middle ” .
Not exactly on-script for a paid pro-life hack .
I remember her moving descriptions of empty swings , how she realized those children weren ’ t there , were never born , because of something she helped set in motion .
She seemed to feel real sorrow .
Critics have said that the line ’ s too perfect .
She must have made it up , or someone gave it to her .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of thing a sensitive person would see .
I remember , even then , scorned pro-abortion journalists reacting to all of it with fury .
And with takes on McCorvey eerily similar to our own .
There was one half-sympathetic female reporter — at Rolling Stone ?
Ms. Magazine ?
— who wrote a whole article recalling her own history with McCorvey when she was pro-abortion .
She wrote about how needy McCorvey was .
How she would call the reporter late at night , crying .
Even how annoying the reporter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point was McCorvey never fit in with her pro-abortion handlers , socio-economic wise , she had deep issues .
This was ( the reporter felt ) , why she really switched sides .
The reporter wanted to offer some perspective , but also to throw cold water on McCorvey ’ s news-making conversion .
Just like AKA Jane Roe .
Speaking of conversions , how does one explain McCorvey ’ s later conversion to Catholicism ?
She said at the time that she was returning to “ the mother church of Christianity.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the evangelical pastor who baptized her — paid her to say that .
Or any Catholic , for that matter .
And what of Rev .
Rob Schenck , who appears in AKA Jane Roe explaining how he and other pro-life leaders use McCorvey ?
He ’ s already turned on the pro-life movement and now supports Roe v. Wade .
How can he be trusted to give an unbiased account when running down his previous associations is now his own paid schtick ?
And has a book to sell explaining how he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We can question how much he corroborates McCorvey ’ s last story .
Did the filmmakers manipulate a dying woman on her deathbed ?
Was the money McCorvey got after she became pro-life all really just the sleazy thing described in AKA Jane Roe ?
Or was some ( perhaps a lot ) of it simply what she was paid for taking a professional position in the movement ?
I don ’ t know .
As I said , some pro-lifers could have exploited her .
We ’ re people fighting for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people like the filmmakers want to keep vulnerable .
It would be easy to step over the line .
We don ’ t claim to be perfect .
We ’ re sinners just like everyone else .
But we do claim to know what ’ s true and good in this case .
Maybe Norma McCorvey joined us out of conviction or out of self-interest , or out of both .
Whatever the case , she was right when she defended the unborn .
Still , I don ’ t trust the filmmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ v. Wade than at any time since the late 1980s .
The moment feels very much like that period , the one that ran from about 1989-1992 .
Now , as then , the pro-abortion side will use their greater cultural power to hit us with every piece of propaganda that they can .
The lies will grow and grow .
Peter Wolfgang is president of Family Institute of Connecticut Action .
He lives in Waterbury , Connecticut , with his wife and their seven children .
The views expressed on The Stream @ @ @ @ @

I don’t have any first-hand experiences of Norma McCorvey to offer. The famous “Jane Roe” of the Supreme Court’s notorious Roe v. Wade decision, she’s claimed that the pro-life movement used her. Pro-lifer leaders even paid her to tell the pro-life story. So she says in the new documentary AKA Jane Roe, now streaming on Hulu.
I don’t believe it. At least not entirely.
Yes and No
Even if they have her on film saying it. I don’t trust the filmmakers. The film is obviously an agenda-driven posthumous hit job on someone who caused the pro-abortion side a lot of grief. And the woman was on her deathbed and not well. Shame on them.
I know the pro-life movement. I’ve been involved in it for almost three decades. I’m the face of the movement in Connecticut. The movement’s good sides and its bad sides, I’ve seen them both.
Though the filmmakers had an agenda, does that mean their movie’s entirely false? Probably not. Norma McCorvey had her demons. She didn’t have the polish of her pro-abortion handlers, which was one of the reasons she split from them. The pro-choice movement used her.
Did the pro-life movement take her up because she was the perfect witness against Roe v. Wade? Of course. Is it possible that eager pro-lifers pushed her into a role she didn’t really want to play? Is it possible that some manipulated her, unconsciously or even consciously? Of course.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Is it implausible that she told the pro-lifers who first converted her “I need money” and they gave her money? No. In fact, there are records to that effect.
But does the full blown narrative the filmmakers crafted automatically follow from that? No. Is it the expose of the pro-life movement so many people say it is? Again, no.
Her Famous Conversion
I remember McCorvey’s famous conversion. I remember her saying, even then, that she still supported abortion in the first trimester and that she was in “the mushy middle”. Not exactly on-script for a paid pro-life hack.
I remember her moving descriptions of empty swings, how she realized those children weren’t there, were never born, because of something she helped set in motion. She seemed to feel real sorrow. Critics have said that the line’s too perfect. She must have made it up, or someone gave it to her. But why? It’s exactly the kind of thing a sensitive person would see.
I remember, even then, scorned pro-abortion journalists reacting to all of it with fury. And with takes on McCorvey eerily similar to our own. There was one half-sympathetic female reporter — at Rolling Stone? Ms. Magazine? — who wrote a whole article recalling her own history with McCorvey when she was pro-abortion. She wrote about how needy McCorvey was. How she would call the reporter late at night, crying. Even how annoying the reporter found her.
The reporter’s point was McCorvey never fit in with her pro-abortion handlers, socio-economic wise, she had deep issues. This was (the reporter felt), why she really switched sides. The reporter wanted to offer some perspective, but also to throw cold water on McCorvey’s news-making conversion. Just like AKA Jane Roe.
McCorvey’s Later Conversion
Speaking of conversions, how does one explain McCorvey’s later conversion to Catholicism? She said at the time that she was returning to “the mother church of Christianity.” It seems unlikely that Flip Bentham — the evangelical pastor who baptized her — paid her to say that. Or any Catholic, for that matter.
And what of Rev. Rob Schenck, who appears in AKA Jane Roe explaining how he and other pro-life leaders use McCorvey? He’s already turned on the pro-life movement and now supports Roe v. Wade.
How can he be trusted to give an unbiased account when running down his previous associations is now his own paid schtick? And has a book to sell explaining how he left all that conservative stuff behind? We can question how much he corroborates McCorvey’s last story.
Did the filmmakers manipulate a dying woman on her deathbed? Was the money McCorvey got after she became pro-life all really just the sleazy thing described in AKA Jane Roe? Or was some (perhaps a lot) of it simply what she was paid for taking a professional position in the movement?
Untrusted Filmmakers
I don’t know. As I said, some pro-lifers could have exploited her. We’re people fighting for the lives of the unborn — lives the people like the filmmakers want to keep vulnerable. It would be easy to step over the line.
We don’t claim to be perfect. We’re sinners just like everyone else. But we do claim to know what’s true and good in this case. Maybe Norma McCorvey joined us out of conviction or out of self-interest, or out of both. Whatever the case, she was right when she defended the unborn.
Still, I don’t trust the filmmakers. We are closer to overturning Roe v. Wade than at any time since the late 1980s. The moment feels very much like that period, the one that ran from about 1989-1992. Now, as then, the pro-abortion side will use their greater cultural power to hit us with every piece of propaganda that they can. The lies will grow and grow.
Peter Wolfgang is president of Family Institute of Connecticut Action. He lives in Waterbury, Connecticut, with his wife and their seven children. The views expressed on The Stream are solely his own.


thestream--2020-05-26--California Church Asks Supreme Court to Block Newsom’s Coronavirus Restrictions

A California church has asked the Supreme Court to block Democratic California Gov .
Gavin Newsom ’ s restrictions on religious services .
South Bay United Pentecostal Church of Chula Vista , California , filed a petition over Memorial Day weekend saying that Newsom ’ s coronavirus restrictions “ arbitrarily discriminate against places of worship in violation of their right to the Free Exercise of Religion under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution , ” according to CNN .
The Supreme Court has not formally accepted the petition , CNN reported .
Newsom said Monday that churches may re-open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 people or 25 % capacity , according to CNN .
A lawyer with the Thomas More Society representing the church said the church will amend the petition to reflect the updated order as the challenge goes forward .
“ Based on a quick review of the California guidelines for a variety of industries , from food packing to manufacturing to indoor shopping centers , none have anywhere as strict a set of capacity controls as have been put on churches , ” Thomas More Society vice president and senior counsel Peter Breen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closest appears to be shopping centers , at 50 % of capacity.
” South Bay United Pentecostal Church initially filed a lawsuit on May 8 accusing the California governor of violating the church ’ s First Amendment rights through his coronavirus stay-at-home orders , CNN reported .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
But the 9th U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals upheld California ’ s ban and ruled Friday that the ban does not violate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The court also rejected the church ’ s request for a preliminary injunction .
News that the church is asking the Supreme Court to intervene came after President Donald Trump called on governors Friday to open houses of worship “ right now , ” warning that he would override governors ’ orders if they do not allow Americans to attend religious services .
“ The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now , ” Trump said .
“ For this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do it , I will override the governors .
In America , we need more prayer , not less.
” The Department of Justice also told Newsom in letter May 19 that California ’ s plan for reopening the economy discriminates against religious believers .
Newsom did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content @ @ @ @ @ @ @

A California church has asked the Supreme Court to block Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s restrictions on religious services.
South Bay United Pentecostal Church of Chula Vista, California, filed a petition over Memorial Day weekend saying that Newsom’s coronavirus restrictions “arbitrarily discriminate against places of worship in violation of their right to the Free Exercise of Religion under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,” according to CNN.
The Supreme Court has not formally accepted the petition, CNN reported.
Newsom said Monday that churches may re-open but that services must be limited to 100 people or 25% capacity, according to CNN. A lawyer with the Thomas More Society representing the church said the church will amend the petition to reflect the updated order as the challenge goes forward.
“Based on a quick review of the California guidelines for a variety of industries, from food packing to manufacturing to indoor shopping centers, none have anywhere as strict a set of capacity controls as have been put on churches,” Thomas More Society vice president and senior counsel Peter Breen told CNN Monday. “The next closest appears to be shopping centers, at 50% of capacity.”
South Bay United Pentecostal Church initially filed a lawsuit on May 8 accusing the California governor of violating the church’s First Amendment rights through his coronavirus stay-at-home orders, CNN reported.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
But the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld California’s ban and ruled Friday that the ban does not violate the First Amendment, according to CNN. The court also rejected the church’s request for a preliminary injunction.
News that the church is asking the Supreme Court to intervene came after President Donald Trump called on governors Friday to open houses of worship “right now,” warning that he would override governors’ orders if they do not allow Americans to attend religious services.
“The governors need to do the right thing and allow these very important essential places of faith to open right now,” Trump said. “For this weekend. If they don’t do it, I will override the governors. In America, we need more prayer, not less.”
The Department of Justice also told Newsom in letter May 19 that California’s plan for reopening the economy discriminates against religious believers.
Newsom did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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thestream--2020-05-26--Blue Crush: How a One-Party State is Crushing the Little Guy

Winston Churchill famously described Russia as a “ riddle wrapped in a mystery , inside an enigma.
” This characterization could easily apply to my home state — deep blue in political terms — Hawaii .
Ponder two riddles .
First , Hawaii ranked near dead last in COVID-19 cases among US states .
But it has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country ( skyrocketing from 3 percent to 34 percent ) .
Last week our feckless governor extended his “ shelter-in-place ” order to the end of June .
You may remember him .
Gov .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ back in 2018 , couldn ’ t find his Twitter log-in to instantly alert the public that the ballistic missile alarm sending residents into mass panic was a mistake .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Riddle two : Hawaii ’ s semi-tropical climate rivals only California ’ s Central Valley as the nation ’ s most idyllic environment for agriculture production .
But still the Hawaiian Islands import 90 percent of their food .
Hawaii ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ symptoms of a disease — not coronavirus but the crippling disease of one-party politics .
No Checks or Balances in the Echo Chamber The last Republican governor in Hawaii , Linda Lingle , termed out in 2010 .
Our current Democrat governor tied with the Connecticut governor for least popular in America , according to a survey in February this year .
In addition to the entrenched administration , the Hawaii Senate boasts 24 democrats and 1 republican .
The Hawaii House isn ’ t much better with 45 D ’ s and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor isn ’ t exactly doing a bang-up job either , devoting much of last year heroically banning single-use plastics with only one City Councilwoman out of nine voting , “ no.
” Today , it ’ s little wonder our state officials emulate Governors Newsome ( D-CA ) and Whitmer ( D-MI ) in stripping citizens of civil liberties and oh yeh , their jobs .
Lost in the media ’ s COVID-19 blizzard of half-truths is one key fact .
The roughly half of the population who can not work from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who can .
Imagine if policymakers and the white-collar workforce were informed their jobs are no longer “ essential ?
What if they had enough cash on-hand for one more month of rent ?
How fast would they hustle to put the economy back on the rails ?
I ’ m no class warfare agitator , But I ’ ll admit this enrages me .
The organic buying , espresso-sipping , Botox-injecting people have the power to tell the barrista and barber their jobs are non-essential .
Point of fact : you can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not sit down for a burger .
I guess when a public health official holds a press conference , we ’ re just meant to nod in bovine agreement .
Unemployed and Hungry ?
Get in Line , Son And how do you explain a once-great agricultural state , turned blue by a fifty-year Democratic stranglehold , that can ’ t feed itself today ?
We ’ re now distributing food to thousands from the parking lot of the Aloha Bowl stadium .
Given Hawaii ’ s isolation in the Pacific Ocean , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Getting ready for a crisis where shipping lines slow to a grind .
For instance ( to pick one of many examples ) by greenlighting a state-of-the-art dairy in Hawaii ( a much-needed investment by eBay founder , Pierre Omidyar ) ?
No .
They were too busy writing “ green ” regulations that will make our electricity as expensive as our food .
Hawaii State Senate Majority Leader Kalani English bragged , “ “ Hawai ‘ i was the first state in the nation to enact legislation that support the commitments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ( Listen to one hand clapping . )
How about forget about the wishes of the U.N. ’ s European intelligentsia for a while ?
Then repeal the Jones Act that created a monopoly in shipping thereby raising prices on virtually every ag import .
Or maybe stop promulgating laws that favor wind turbines over farms .
Perhaps devote more than half of one percent of the state budget to food and ag .
We ’ re the only state in the union where tractor-trailers can ’ t just roll across state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me for puncturing their illusion of moral supremacy and even though our Lord of the Flies politicians may dispatch more surveillance drones to keep my family in our cul-de-sac , I have a message for the Hawaii Democrats : Sorry , you ’ ve overplayed your hand .
Food insecure voters make unhappy voters .
Jason Jones is a senior contributor to The Stream .
He is a film producer , author , activist and human rights worker .
You can follow him @ TGCWithJason .

Winston Churchill famously described Russia as a “riddle wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.” This characterization could easily apply to my home state — deep blue in political terms — Hawaii.
Ponder two riddles. First, Hawaii ranked near dead last in COVID-19 cases among US states. But it has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country (skyrocketing from 3 percent to 34 percent). Last week our feckless governor extended his “shelter-in-place” order to the end of June. You may remember him. Gov. David Ige was the luminary who, back in 2018, couldn’t find his Twitter log-in to instantly alert the public that the ballistic missile alarm sending residents into mass panic was a mistake.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Riddle two: Hawaii’s semi-tropical climate rivals only California’s Central Valley as the nation’s most idyllic environment for agriculture production. But still the Hawaiian Islands import 90 percent of their food.
Hawaii’s economic dysfunction and food insecurity are symptoms of a disease — not coronavirus but the crippling disease of one-party politics.
No Checks or Balances in the Echo Chamber
The last Republican governor in Hawaii, Linda Lingle, termed out in 2010. Our current Democrat governor tied with the Connecticut governor for least popular in America, according to a survey in February this year.
In addition to the entrenched administration, the Hawaii Senate boasts 24 democrats and 1 republican. The Hawaii House isn’t much better with 45 D’s and 5 R’s. The Honolulu Mayor isn’t exactly doing a bang-up job either, devoting much of last year heroically banning single-use plastics with only one City Councilwoman out of nine voting, “no.”
Today, it’s little wonder our state officials emulate Governors Newsome (D-CA) and Whitmer (D-MI) in stripping citizens of civil liberties and oh yeh, their jobs.
Botox Safe. Haircuts Kill.
Lost in the media’s COVID-19 blizzard of half-truths is one key fact. The roughly half of the population who cannot work from home are getting screwed over by those who can. Imagine if policymakers and the white-collar workforce were informed their jobs are no longer “essential? What if they had enough cash on-hand for one more month of rent? How fast would they hustle to put the economy back on the rails?
I’m no class warfare agitator, but I’ll admit this enrages me. The organic buying, espresso-sipping, Botox-injecting people have the power to tell the barrista and barber their jobs are non-essential. Point of fact: you can get a facelift in Honolulu today but not sit down for a burger.
I guess when a public health official holds a press conference, we’re just meant to nod in bovine agreement.
Unemployed and Hungry? Get in Line, Son
And how do you explain a once-great agricultural state, turned blue by a fifty-year Democratic stranglehold, that can’t feed itself today? We’re now distributing food to thousands from the parking lot of the Aloha Bowl stadium.
Given Hawaii’s isolation in the Pacific Ocean, surely our leaders have been diligently preparing. Getting ready for a crisis where shipping lines slow to a grind. For instance (to pick one of many examples) by greenlighting a state-of-the-art dairy in Hawaii (a much-needed investment by eBay founder, Pierre Omidyar)? No. They were too busy writing “green” regulations that will make our electricity as expensive as our food. Hawaii State Senate Majority Leader Kalani English bragged, ““Hawai‘i was the first state in the nation to enact legislation that support the commitments and goals of the Paris climate accord.” (Listen to one hand clapping.)
The roughly half of the population who cannot work from home are getting screwed over by those who can.
How about forget about the wishes of the U.N.’s European intelligentsia for a while? Then repeal the Jones Act that created a monopoly in shipping thereby raising prices on virtually every ag import. Or maybe stop promulgating laws that favor wind turbines over farms. Perhaps devote more than half of one percent of the state budget to food and ag. We’re the only state in the union where tractor-trailers can’t just roll across state lines to bring us food.
Forgive me for puncturing their illusion of moral supremacy and even though our Lord of the Flies politicians may dispatch more surveillance drones to keep my family in our cul-de-sac, I have a message for the Hawaii Democrats: Sorry, you’ve overplayed your hand. Food insecure voters make unhappy voters.
Jason Jones is a senior contributor to The Stream. He is a film producer, author, activist and human rights worker. You can follow him @JasonJonesShow.


thestream--2020-05-26--Flim-Flam ‘Russia’ Evidence and a Must-Read Article

Opening an FBI investigation into a presidential campaign is supposed to be a huge deal .
If government officials are going to allege that members of a campaign — maybe even the candidate — are in cahoots with Russia ( ! )
, they ’ d better have the goods .
But a newly declassified memo ( another one ! )
makes it clear that the Papadopoulos “ evidence ” used to justify “ Crossfire Hurricane ” was really just flimsy hearsay .
They had to be looking for any pretext they could put together .
Since they had no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aussie diplomat Alexander Downer ’ s “ suggestion ” that Trump campaign advisor George Papadopoulos might be talking with Russia on the release of Hillary ’ s emails .
As John Solomon writes , “ [ Alexander ] Downer had heard the information about the Russians during a bar conversation in May 2016 from Papadopoulos , who had heard it two months earlier from a European professor who had heard it from Russians allegedly.
” The investigation , he says , was opened based on a “ third-hand ‘ suggestion ’ of wrongdoing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreign lobbying had occurred.
” It ’ s clear from the memo that the criminal basis for opening “ Hurricane ” was suspected violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act .
But the memo does not mention a single incidence of violating FARA .
Peter Strzok expressed reservations about the evidence he had , yet he pressed forward .
Sometimes , as they say , you ’ ve “ got ta go with what you got.
” Strzok both drafted the memo and approved the investigation himself , keeping the memo away from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ head of counterintelligence for the FBI , told Solomon , “ There is nothing in the [ electronic communication ] that meets the traditional thresholds for opening up a [ Foreign Agents Registration Act ] or [ counterintellgence ] investigation .
It appears hastily constructed.
” When asked if he would ’ ve approved this , Brock said , “ Not in a million years .
I wouldn ’ t have approved it as a squad supervisor , either .
This would have set off alarm bells in any FBI field for not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ All this is consistent with what Robert Ray said on “ Witch Hunt ’ , a Fox News special on Sunday night hosted by Gregg Jarrett .
He believes the Durham investigation likely will lead to indictments of Bureau officials .
“ It is a criminal investigation with grand-jury authority , and I don ’ t think the attorney general expects this is going to be just be left to the side of history without actual prosecutions being brought to hold those responsible accountable , ” he said .
“ Even if no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ result of this , this is a political scandal of the highest order and the American people should be paying attention.
” I would respectfully suggest to Mr. Ray that if no felony prosecution is ever brought , too many American people will not pay attention and it will be left to the side of history , thanks to media spin and leftist historians .
Laws have been broken , and there must be accountability if we ’ re ever going to fix this .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Speaking specifically on the Flynn prosecution , Ray said he trusted Durham to get to the bottom of the mishandling of his case .
Ray showed his mastery for understatement when he said , “ I imagine there are people in the know who may well have knowingly withheld information from the court and from defense counsel in connection with the Michael Flynn prosecution.
” Mr. Ray , we know they did that .
“ Knowingly ” is tough to prove , but we know they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ knew .
“ If it turns out that that can be proved , ” he continued , “ then there are going to be referrals and potential false statements and/or perjury prosecutions to hold those , particularly those in positions of authority , accountable.
” Speaking of Flynn , a new article dropped over the weekend that shines the harsh light of truth on what was done to him .
Eli Lake ’ s comprehensive piece in Commentary magazine fleshes out the story so thoroughly that I ’ d say “ THE RAILROADING @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And Why It Matters ” is an absolute must-read .
Still , there ’ s something Lake says upfront that I disagree with : that “ they suspected he [ Flynn ] was a Russian agent.
” Based on the attempts to set him up starting in 2014 , I don ’ t think they ever really believed it .
I think it was a story they created .
Anyway… Lake writes , “ According to both Rice ’ s memoir and a memo memorializing the meeting ( dated January 20 , 2017 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the FBI did in this sensitive matter should be “ by the book.
” In fact , nothing was done by the book — not by Obama ’ s deputies and not by Obama.
” We see from this article how furiously Strzok and Comey worked to keep the investigation alive through the only means they had : the ridiculously antiquated Logan Act .
Rosenstein ’ s recently declassified scope memo authorized Mueller to investigate whether Flynn had “ committed a crime or crimes by engaging in conversations with Russian officials during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only crimes that could possibly have been found would ’ ve been either outright espionage ( for which the FBI had found no evidence ) or a Logan Act violation .
Lake points out what we ’ ve been said all along : Flynn was not a private citizen conducting foreign policy , as is prohibited by the Logan Act , but rather acting in his official capacity as the incoming national security adviser .
“ The idea that Flynn was behaving illegally , let alone unethically or immorally or unconventionally , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the transition is beyond absurd , ” he writes .
Joe Pientka had written a memo to close the original Flynn investigation but had slipped up and not actually filed it .
Strzok , obviously delighted , was able to keep the case open .
The only reason Pientka ’ s memo has emerged now is that U.S. Attorney Jeff Jensen completed the review Barr had ordered and declassified documents in the case .
We get to read about Stefan Halper being paid as a “ confidential human source ” ( SPY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s affair ( not ) with Russian-born Svetlana Lokhova , described by Lake as a “ smear.
” Pientka ’ s memo says the investigation yielded so little that senior management had recommended closing the case before even interviewing Flynn .
The whole shameful process of determining how they would set Flynn up in his White House interview is discussed in detail .
Lake also explains why Flynn was not lying when he said sanctions weren ’ t discussed .
As Flynn told the Daily Caller , “ It wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 35 guys [ Russian diplomats ] who were thrown out.
” The memo said Fynn ’ s “ false statements and omissions impeded … the FBI ’ s ongoing investigation.
” Lake shows that “ Given what we know now , those words are more of a lie than anything Flynn said to the FBI agents who interviewed him.
” This was not only injustice against Flynn but also an assault on the peaceful transition of presidential power .
Shameful , and dangerous .
Postscript : Lake bookends his commentary with the story @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her up !
Lock her up !
” chant at a Trump rally , attempting to show irony .
This falls flat to me .
The cases are not equivalent ; we know beyond any doubt that Hillary actually did the things she was NOT prosecuted for .
Mike Huckabee is the former governor of Arkansas and longtime conservative commentator on issues in culture and current events .
A New York Times best-selling author , he hosts the weekly talk show Huckabee on TBN .

Opening an FBI investigation into a presidential campaign is supposed to be a huge deal. If government officials are going to allege that members of a campaign — maybe even the candidate — are in cahoots with Russia (!), they’d better have the goods.
But a newly declassified memo (another one!) makes it clear that the Papadopoulos “evidence” used to justify “Crossfire Hurricane” was really just flimsy hearsay. They had to be looking for any pretext they could put together.
A Third-Hand Suggestion
Since they had no evidence of criminality, they turned to Aussie diplomat Alexander Downer’s “suggestion” that Trump campaign advisor George Papadopoulos might be talking with Russia on the release of Hillary’s emails. As John Solomon writes, “[Alexander] Downer had heard the information about the Russians during a bar conversation in May 2016 from Papadopoulos, who had heard it two months earlier from a European professor who had heard it from Russians allegedly.”
The investigation, he says, was opened based on a “third-hand ‘suggestion’ of wrongdoing and the thinnest of suspicions that illegal foreign lobbying had occurred.” It’s clear from the memo that the criminal basis for opening “Hurricane” was suspected violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. But the memo does not mention a single incidence of violating FARA.
Peter Strzok expressed reservations about the evidence he had, yet he pressed forward. Sometimes, as they say, you’ve “gotta go with what you got.” Strzok both drafted the memo and approved the investigation himself, keeping the memo away from interagency oversight.
Kevin Brock, former head of counterintelligence for the FBI, told Solomon, “There is nothing in the [electronic communication] that meets the traditional thresholds for opening up a [Foreign Agents Registration Act] or [counterintellgence] investigation. It appears hastily constructed.”
When asked if he would’ve approved this, Brock said, “Not in a million years. I wouldn’t have approved it as a squad supervisor, either. This would have set off alarm bells in any FBI field for not meeting our standards for a predicate.”
Witch Hunt
All this is consistent with what Robert Ray said on “Witch Hunt’, a Fox News special on Sunday night hosted by Gregg Jarrett. He believes the Durham investigation likely will lead to indictments of Bureau officials.
“It is a criminal investigation with grand-jury authority, and I don’t think the attorney general expects this is going to be just be left to the side of history without actual prosecutions being brought to hold those responsible accountable,” he said. “Even if no felony prosecution is ever brought as a result of this, this is a political scandal of the highest order and the American people should be paying attention.”
I would respectfully suggest to Mr. Ray that if no felony prosecution is ever brought, too many American people will not pay attention and it will be left to the side of history, thanks to media spin and leftist historians. Laws have been broken, and there must be accountability if we’re ever going to fix this.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Speaking specifically on the Flynn prosecution, Ray said he trusted Durham to get to the bottom of the mishandling of his case. Ray showed his mastery for understatement when he said, “I imagine there are people in the know who may well have knowingly withheld information from the court and from defense counsel in connection with the Michael Flynn prosecution.” Mr. Ray, we know they did that. “Knowingly” is tough to prove, but we know they knew. They know we know they knew.
“If it turns out that that can be proved,” he continued, “then there are going to be referrals and potential false statements and/or perjury prosecutions to hold those, particularly those in positions of authority, accountable.”
The Railroading of Michael Flynn
Speaking of Flynn, a new article dropped over the weekend that shines the harsh light of truth on what was done to him. Eli Lake’s comprehensive piece in Commentary magazine fleshes out the story so thoroughly that I’d say “THE RAILROADING OF MICHAEL FLYNN, How It Happened And Why It Matters” is an absolute must-read.
Still, there’s something Lake says upfront that I disagree with: that “they suspected he [Flynn] was a Russian agent.” Based on the attempts to set him up starting in 2014, I don’t think they ever really believed it. I think it was a story they created. Anyway…
Lake writes, “According to both Rice’s memoir and a memo memorializing the meeting (dated January 20, 2017), the President stressed that everything the FBI did in this sensitive matter should be “by the book.” In fact, nothing was done by the book — not by Obama’s deputies and not by Obama.”
We see from this article how furiously Strzok and Comey worked to keep the investigation alive through the only means they had: the ridiculously antiquated Logan Act. Rosenstein’s recently declassified scope memo authorized Mueller to investigate whether Flynn had “committed a crime or crimes by engaging in conversations with Russian officials during the period of the Trump transition.” The only crimes that could possibly have been found would’ve been either outright espionage (for which the FBI had found no evidence) or a Logan Act violation.
Lake points out what we’ve been said all along: Flynn was not a private citizen conducting foreign policy, as is prohibited by the Logan Act, but rather acting in his official capacity as the incoming national security adviser. “The idea that Flynn was behaving illegally, let alone unethically or immorally or unconventionally, in discussing U.S. foreign policy with the Russians during the transition is beyond absurd,” he writes.
Joe Pientka had written a memo to close the original Flynn investigation but had slipped up and not actually filed it. Strzok, obviously delighted, was able to keep the case open. The only reason Pientka’s memo has emerged now is that U.S. Attorney Jeff Jensen completed the review Barr had ordered and declassified documents in the case. We get to read about Stefan Halper being paid as a “confidential human source” (SPY) and the concocted story of Flynn’s affair (not) with Russian-born Svetlana Lokhova, described by Lake as a “smear.” Pientka’s memo says the investigation yielded so little that senior management had recommended closing the case before even interviewing Flynn.
Shameful
The whole shameful process of determining how they would set Flynn up in his White House interview is discussed in detail. Lake also explains why Flynn was not lying when he said sanctions weren’t discussed. As Flynn told the Daily Caller, “It wasn’t about sanctions. It was about the 35 guys [Russian diplomats] who were thrown out.”
The memo said Fynn’s “false statements and omissions impeded … the FBI’s ongoing investigation.” Lake shows that “Given what we know now, those words are more of a lie than anything Flynn said to the FBI agents who interviewed him.”
This was not only injustice against Flynn but also an assault on the peaceful transition of presidential power. Shameful, and dangerous.
……………………
Postscript: Lake bookends his commentary with the story about Flynn joining in the “Lock her up! Lock her up!” chant at a Trump rally, attempting to show irony. This falls flat to me. The cases are not equivalent; we know beyond any doubt that Hillary actually did the things she was NOT prosecuted for.
Mike Huckabee is the former governor of Arkansas and longtime conservative commentator on issues in culture and current events. A New York Times best-selling author, he hosts the weekly talk show Huckabee on TBN.
Originally published at MikeHuckabee.com. Reprinted with permission