thestream--2020-05-14--So Obama Speaks, So It Is Done: The Latest in the Cruel Saga of Gen. Flynn

Friends , I have to issue a correction to my recent articles on Michael Flynn and Barack Obama .
In the Obama article I chided Obama for saying , when condemning William Barr ’ s decision to drop the charges against Flynn , that nobody ’ s gotten away scot-free with “ perjury.
” Since Flynn had not been charged with perjury , I said Obama got the whole thing wrong .
Except I ’ m the one who got it wrong .
Obama wasn ’ t making any mistake when he was talking about a perjury charge against Flynn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
To refresh , here is what Obama told his former staffers Friday , in a call his people leaked to the media : Then yesterday , Flynn ’ s judge , Emmitt Sullivan , made an unbelievable , highly unusual and incredibly dubious move .
He asked retired judge-turned-high-ticket-Swamp-lawyer John Gleeson to examine whether Flynn could be charged with perjury for wanting to change his plea .
This is outrageous , dangerous and utterly bewildering .
Then again , not so bewildering in the wake of Obama ’ s statement .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if Obama had hired a skywriter to swoop over the courthouse .
So Obama Speaks , So It Is Done We ’ ve seen this Obama move before .
Go back to April 2016 , the height of the Clinton email investigation .
Fox News asks Obama about it .
He shrugs : Hillary ’ s private email server was no big deal .
There ’ s classified , and then there ’ s classified .
She “ never would have intentionally harmed national security.
” Intent is not part of the statute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security .
( In fact , it has since been discovered she exposed some information so classified , even the classification is classified . )
A couple weeks later , Trump secures the nomination .
That same day FBI lawyer Lisa Page grumbles that this means there will be enormous pressure to close the Hillary investigation .
From whom ?
We find out soon enough .
Next day , according to White House logs , Page is at the White House for a meeting about the investigation .
( Oh , but Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get involved in investigations , he assures us .
Please read this Associated Press article about Obama ’ s interview .
Weigh it against what we now know . )
Within hours of the White House meeting , The Washington Post reports that “ U.S .
officials close to the matter ” have revealed Hillary likely won ’ t be charged since there ’ s no proof she intended to harm national security .
Which is not the statute , not even true — but it is word-for-word what Obama had said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ soldiers acted .
And sure enough , the Hillary case was soon closed , no charges were pressed , with James Comey using Obama ’ s exact rationale , not the law ’ s .
So it was spoken , so it was done .
Last week , after examining the FBI and Mueller actions targeting Flynn , veteran U.S. Attorney Jeff Jensen recommended the prosecution against Flynn be dropped .
The Attorney General agreed .
That should be the ballgame .
All that ’ s left is for Judge Sullivan to take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s nightmare .
According to former Whitewater deputy independent counsel Sol Wisenberg , “ The D.C .
Circuit … made it very clear you can not refute it if the government wants to dismiss the case.
” If the prosecutor wants to drop a case , the judge can ’ t do anything about it .
You bang the gavel and go home .
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But that ’ s not what has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s going to allow amicus curiea or “ friend of the court ” briefs to weigh in on why the charges should not be dropped .
Flynn ’ s lawyer Sidney Powell in response said Sullivan had rejected ‘ friend of the court ” briefs 24 other times in this case .
Two dozen times .
But now he ’ s allowing them , from an anti-Trump group called “ Watergate Prosecutors ” ?
Then Sullivan brought in ol ’ Judge Gleeson , a Clinton-appointee fresh off condemning Barr ’ s decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the case isn ’ t over , arguing Sullivan can refuse to dismiss the case .
And Techno-Fog noted , he ’ s a former colleague of Mueller prosecutor Andrew Weissman and he ’ s represented Obama Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates .
So much for impartiality .
They ’ re not even pretending anymore .
This is not a miscarriage of justice .
It ’ s a molestation .
You saw My Cousin Vinnie .
When the proof came in that Ralph Macchio was innocent of murder , the good ol ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fred Gwynn banged the gavel , and first-time lawyer Joe Pesci rode off with the lovely Marisa Tomei .
The judge didn ’ t suddenly decide to have another judge come in to hunt for another crime Ralph may have committed .
He didn ’ t bring in people who hated Ralph to say how wrong the prosecutor was for dropping the case .
My Cousin Vinnie got justice right , and it was a comedy .
Judge Sullivan has sworn to uphold justice , and this is a farce .
How bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the United States Supreme Court dropped a 9-0 decision against judges for pulling “ similar amicus antics , ” reports Mark Chenoweth in Forbes .
Sullivan is ignoring brand new and very loud precedent from the Supreme Court .
But he is listening to a former president who briefly taught constitutional law .
Sullivan ’ s unconstitutional antics were just one of the day ’ s big Flynn stories .
Yesterday we learned the names of the 39 Obama officials who “ unmasked ” Flynn .
Thirty-nine people who , inexplicably , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michael Flynn — all between the election and inauguration .
And what a curious gang of officials it is .
You ’ ve got your predictable suspects : Director of National Intelligence Clapper , CIA director John Brennan , FBI Director James Comey .
Clapper was asked about the unmasking today .
He claims he can not remember the details of why he wanted the reports unmasked .
And what about former UN ambassador Samantha Power ?
She swore under oath to Congress , during questioning by Rep. Lee Zeldin , “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related to General Flynn.
” She ’ d actually made seven requests .
Twice in one day .
When Roger Stone was accused of lying to Congress , Robert Mueller rolled up dozens of SWAT agents and a CNN crew to haul him away .
Even stranger , the U.S .
Ambassador to Italy John R. Phillips unmasked Flynn ’ s name .
What ’ s Italy got to do with anything ?
I thought we were hunting Russians .
However , we can speculate .
Italian intelligence was involved in the counter-intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Campaign .
Remember , AG Barr and U.S. Attorney John Durham went to Italy as part of their investigation into the originals of the Trump Russia black op .
The Flynn take down was part of that effort .
In my Obama article , I talked about the crucial January 5 , 2017 White House meeting where the strategy was conceived for igniting the Trump Russia Black Op .
You know what else happened that day ?
Obama ’ s Chief of Staff Denis McDonough unmasked Lt. Gen. Flynn .
Why ?
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unmasking Flynn ?
Particularly that day ?
Beginning to put the plan in action ?
What Did Joe Know and When Did He Forget It ?
However , the biggest surprise on the list of those who unmasked Flynn was one Joseph Biden , Vice President of the United States .
On January 12 , 2017 he requested an unmasking of Flynn ’ s name .
( Coincidentally , perhaps , the same date the Washington Post ran a story with illegally leaked information about Flynn .
It was the one crime we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world was Joe Biden doing involved in the unmasking of Flynn ?
Joe has some explaining to do .
After all , just two days ago , a foggy Biden admitted he knew of the Flynn investigation , but had nothing to do with it .
But here is direct evidence to the contrary .
What was his involvement ?
Will we ever know ?
Will he ever know ?
His growing dementia makes a convenient defense .
Of course , his campaign is insisting all this was routine .
If that ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ democracy is already over .
Those with power were keeping power by any means necessary regardless of elections or rule of law .
However , what happened to Flynn was not routine … at least not yet .
( More broadly , it was not routine for masking requests to triple during the 2016 campaign , and for Obama in his final days greatly expanding who got to see raw NSA intelligence . )
Joe Biden has far more explaining to do .
Those interested in justice have yet another reason to demand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the University of Delaware .
( Tara Reade being one , Ukraine being another , his China dealings being a third , Hunter Biden being a fourth , this being a fifth . )
And perhaps the one who has the most explaining to do , the one at the center of all the action and intrigue : former President Barack Obama .
Silent on the systematic and endemic abuse of power by those under him .
Loud on what should happen to Gen. Flynn .
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ JZmirak , of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration .
You can follow him at @ StreamingAl .
And if you aren ’ t already , please follow The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

Friends, I have to issue a correction to my recent articles on Michael Flynn and Barack Obama. In the Obama article I chided Obama for saying, when condemning William Barr’s decision to drop the charges against Flynn, that nobody’s gotten away scot-free with “perjury.” Since Flynn had not been charged with perjury, I said Obama got the whole thing wrong.
Except I’m the one who got it wrong. Obama wasn’t making any mistake when he was talking about a perjury charge against Flynn. He was issuing a directive instead.
To refresh, here is what Obama told his former staffers Friday, in a call his people leaked to the media:
There is no precedent that anybody can find for someone who has been charged with perjury just getting off scot-free. That’s the kind of stuff where you begin to get worried that basic — not just institutional norms — but our basic understanding of rule of law is at risk.
Then yesterday, Flynn’s judge, Emmitt Sullivan, made an unbelievable, highly unusual and incredibly dubious move. He asked retired judge-turned-high-ticket-Swamp-lawyer John Gleeson to examine whether Flynn could be charged with perjury for wanting to change his plea. This is outrageous, dangerous and utterly bewildering.
Then again, not so bewildering in the wake of Obama’s statement.
The signal couldn’t have been clearer if Obama had hired a skywriter to swoop over the courthouse.
So Obama Speaks, So It Is Done
We’ve seen this Obama move before. Go back to April 2016, the height of the Clinton email investigation. Fox News asks Obama about it. He shrugs: Hillary’s private email server was no big deal. There’s classified, and then there’s classified. She “never would have intentionally harmed national security.” Intent is not part of the statute. Though she sure did harm national security. (In fact, it has since been discovered she exposed some information so classified, even the classification is classified.)
A couple weeks later, Trump secures the nomination. That same day FBI lawyer Lisa Page grumbles that this means there will be enormous pressure to close the Hillary investigation. From whom? We find out soon enough. Next day, according to White House logs, Page is at the White House for a meeting about the investigation. (Oh, but Obama’s White House doesn’t get involved in investigations, he assures us. Please read this Associated Press article about Obama’s interview. Weigh it against what we now know.)
Within hours of the White House meeting, The Washington Post reports that “U.S. officials close to the matter” have revealed Hillary likely won’t be charged since there’s no proof she intended to harm national security. Which is not the statute, not even true — but it is word-for-word what Obama had said.
The directive had gone out. The soldiers acted. And sure enough, the Hillary case was soon closed, no charges were pressed, with James Comey using Obama’s exact rationale, not the law’s.
So it was spoken, so it was done.
Sound familiar?
The Torture of a Military Hero
Last week, after examining the FBI and Mueller actions targeting Flynn, veteran U.S. Attorney Jeff Jensen recommended the prosecution against Flynn be dropped. The Attorney General agreed. That should be the ballgame. All that’s left is for Judge Sullivan to take the administrative action of ending Flynn’s nightmare. According to former Whitewater deputy independent counsel Sol Wisenberg, “The D.C. Circuit … made it very clear you cannot refute it if the government wants to dismiss the case.” If the prosecutor wants to drop a case, the judge can’t do anything about it. You bang the gavel and go home.
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But that’s not what has happened. First, Sullivan decided he’s going to allow amicus curiea or “friend of the court” briefs to weigh in on why the charges should not be dropped. Flynn’s lawyer Sidney Powell in response said Sullivan had rejected ‘friend of the court” briefs 24 other times in this case. Two dozen times. But now he’s allowing them, from an anti-Trump group called “Watergate Prosecutors”?
Then Sullivan brought in ol’ Judge Gleeson, a Clinton-appointee fresh off condemning Barr’s decision in an editorial. Fresh off saying the case isn’t over, arguing Sullivan can refuse to dismiss the case. And Techno-Fog noted, he’s a former colleague of Mueller prosecutor Andrew Weissman and he’s represented Obama Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates.
Not Even Pretending
So much for impartiality. They’re not even pretending anymore. This is not a miscarriage of justice. It’s a molestation.
You saw My Cousin Vinnie. When the proof came in that Ralph Macchio was innocent of murder, the good ol’ boy prosecutor dropped the case. Judge Fred Gwynn banged the gavel, and first-time lawyer Joe Pesci rode off with the lovely Marisa Tomei. The judge didn’t suddenly decide to have another judge come in to hunt for another crime Ralph may have committed. He didn’t bring in people who hated Ralph to say how wrong the prosecutor was for dropping the case.
My Cousin Vinnie got justice right, and it was a comedy. Judge Sullivan has sworn to uphold justice, and this is a farce.
How bad a farce? Only one week ago, the United States Supreme Court dropped a 9-0 decision against judges for pulling “similar amicus antics,” reports Mark Chenoweth in Forbes. Sullivan is ignoring brand new and very loud precedent from the Supreme Court. But he is listening to a former president who briefly taught constitutional law.
Curious Collection
Sullivan’s unconstitutional antics were just one of the day’s big Flynn stories. Yesterday we learned the names of the 39 Obama officials who “unmasked” Flynn. Thirty-nine people who, inexplicably, asked to unmask intelligence collections that mentioned Michael Flynn — all between the election and inauguration.
And what a curious gang of officials it is. You’ve got your predictable suspects: Director of National Intelligence Clapper, CIA director John Brennan, FBI Director James Comey.
Clapper was asked about the unmasking today. He claims he cannot remember the details of why he wanted the reports unmasked.
And what about former UN ambassador Samantha Power? She swore under oath to Congress, during questioning by Rep. Lee Zeldin, “I have no recollection of making a request related to General Flynn.” She’d actually made seven requests. Twice in one day. When Roger Stone was accused of lying to Congress, Robert Mueller rolled up dozens of SWAT agents and a CNN crew to haul him away.
Even stranger, the U.S. Ambassador to Italy John R. Phillips unmasked Flynn’s name. What’s Italy got to do with anything? I thought we were hunting Russians. However, we can speculate. Italian intelligence was involved in the counter-intelligence effort launched against members of the Trump Campaign. Remember, AG Barr and U.S. Attorney John Durham went to Italy as part of their investigation into the originals of the Trump Russia black op. The Flynn take down was part of that effort.
In my Obama article, I talked about the crucial January 5, 2017 White House meeting where the strategy was conceived for igniting the Trump Russia Black Op. You know what else happened that day? Obama’s Chief of Staff Denis McDonough unmasked Lt. Gen. Flynn. Why? What’s Obama’s gatekeeper doing unmasking Flynn? Particularly that day? Beginning to put the plan in action?
What Did Joe Know and When Did He Forget It?
However, the biggest surprise on the list of those who unmasked Flynn was one Joseph Biden, Vice President of the United States. On January 12, 2017 he requested an unmasking of Flynn’s name. (Coincidentally, perhaps, the same date the Washington Post ran a story with illegally leaked information about Flynn. It was the one crime we know happened.) What in the world was Joe Biden doing involved in the unmasking of Flynn? Joe has some explaining to do. After all, just two days ago, a foggy Biden admitted he knew of the Flynn investigation, but had nothing to do with it. But here is direct evidence to the contrary.
What was his involvement? Will we ever know? Will he ever know? His growing dementia makes a convenient defense. Of course, his campaign is insisting all this was routine. If that’s true, America and its representative democracy is already over. Those with power were keeping power by any means necessary regardless of elections or rule of law. However, what happened to Flynn was not routine … at least not yet. (More broadly, it was not routine for masking requests to triple during the 2016 campaign, and for Obama in his final days greatly expanding who got to see raw NSA intelligence.)
Joe Biden has far more explaining to do. Those interested in justice have yet another reason to demand he release his public papers sealed at the University of Delaware. (Tara Reade being one, Ukraine being another, his China dealings being a third, Hunter Biden being a fourth, this being a fifth.)
And perhaps the one who has the most explaining to do, the one at the center of all the action and intrigue: former President Barack Obama. Silent on the systematic and endemic abuse of power by those under him. Loud on what should happen to Gen. Flynn.
If I were a Senator or Congressman, the first person I would call to testify about the biggest political crime and scandal in the history of the USA, by FAR, is former President Obama. He knew EVERYTHING. Do it @LindseyGrahamSC, just do it. No more Mr. Nice Guy. No more talk! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 14, 2020
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-05-14--Pelosi’s Coronavirus Bill Includes Billions for Eligible Illegal Aliens

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced her party ’ s coronavirus relief package , which includes billions of dollars in carve-outs for eligible illegal aliens , grants to sanctuary cities , and other protections for the undocumented community .
House Democrats released the HEROES Act on Tuesday , a bill that provides $ 3 trillion in stimulus funds to state and local governments , along with other industries affected by the coronavirus pandemic .
The legislation — which was not negotiated with the GOP or the Trump administration — includes $ 500 billion for state governments and $ 375 billion for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1,815-page bill also showed that it includes billions in payments to certain individuals living in the United States unlawfully .
Under a provision in the HEROES Act , recipients can receive stimulus money if they file taxes with a taxpayer identification number ( TIN ) , allowing many illegal aliens to be eligible for direct funds .
A TIN is an identifying number used for taxpayer purposes instead of a Social Security number .
The previous coronavirus relief package , the CARES Act , only allowed those who filed with a Social Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , leaving out illegal aliens .
The current bill , if passed , would also retroactively provide those using taxpayer identification numbers to obtain funds from the CARES Act , according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform .
The House speaker said in late April that Democratic leaders were in discussions to include a provision for taxpayer identification numbers in the next coronavirus relief package .
The bill “ pertains to the TIN provision giving illegal aliens access to any new stimulus payments and retroactively providing them with payments from the CARES @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government relations associate with the Federation for American Immigration Reform , told The Daily Caller News Foundation on Tuesday .
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“ FAIR estimates there are 14.3 million illegal aliens , meaning that in the last stimulus alone illegal aliens could have received over $ 17 billion in direct payments from the Federal government , ” Huennekens continued .
He added : “ This bill provides other relief to illegal aliens outside @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instance the eviction protection for renters .
The way the bill is written , illegal aliens also benefit from that protection because it is so broadly written.
” The legislation includes a multitude of other benefits for illegal aliens and the institutions that allow them to remain in the United States .
The HEROES Act , for example , calls on the Department of Homeland Security to release all illegal aliens under Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention who do not pose a “ threat to public safety or national security.
” The bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grants to law enforcement agencies , and specifically forbids the Trump administration from withholding these funds from agencies that refuse to cooperate with ICE , also known as “ sanctuary cities.
” Numbers USA , a nonprofit that advocates for less immigration into the United States , criticized the bill ’ s provisions regarding foreign workers .
“ House Democrats prioritizing foreign workers , legal and illegal , over unemployed and underemployed Americans in the middle of a crisis is shameful , ” said Numbers USA President Roy Beck .
Beck also derided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ expedite the permanent importation of foreign health care professionals , apparently to take the jobs of the tens of thousands of American health care professionals who have been laid off or furloughed during the pandemic.
” The HEROES Act , if it passes the House , is not expected to make it past the Republican-controlled Senate .
House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy called the bill a “ liberal wish list that has no chance of becoming law ” in a statement Tuesday .
Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publisher that can provide a large audience .
For licensing opportunities of our original content , please contact licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced her party’s coronavirus relief package, which includes billions of dollars in carve-outs for eligible illegal aliens, grants to sanctuary cities, and other protections for the undocumented community.
House Democrats released the HEROES Act on Tuesday, a bill that provides $3 trillion in stimulus funds to state and local governments, along with other industries affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The legislation — which was not negotiated with the GOP or the Trump administration — includes $500 billion for state governments and $375 billion for local governments.
A dive through the 1,815-page bill also showed that it includes billions in payments to certain individuals living in the United States unlawfully.
Under a provision in the HEROES Act, recipients can receive stimulus money if they file taxes with a taxpayer identification number (TIN), allowing many illegal aliens to be eligible for direct funds. A TIN is an identifying number used for taxpayer purposes instead of a Social Security number.
The previous coronavirus relief package, the CARES Act, only allowed those who filed with a Social Security number to be eligible for stimulus money, leaving out illegal aliens. The current bill, if passed, would also retroactively provide those using taxpayer identification numbers to obtain funds from the CARES Act, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform.
The House speaker said in late April that Democratic leaders were in discussions to include a provision for taxpayer identification numbers in the next coronavirus relief package.
The bill “pertains to the TIN provision giving illegal aliens access to any new stimulus payments and retroactively providing them with payments from the CARES Act,” Preston Huennekens, a government relations associate with the Federation for American Immigration Reform, told The Daily Caller News Foundation on Tuesday.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
“FAIR estimates there are 14.3 million illegal aliens, meaning that in the last stimulus alone illegal aliens could have received over $17 billion in direct payments from the Federal government,” Huennekens continued.
He added: “This bill provides other relief to illegal aliens outside of the recovery rebates. Take for instance the eviction protection for renters. The way the bill is written, illegal aliens also benefit from that protection because it is so broadly written.”
The legislation includes a multitude of other benefits for illegal aliens and the institutions that allow them to remain in the United States.
The HEROES Act, for example, calls on the Department of Homeland Security to release all illegal aliens under Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention who do not pose a “threat to public safety or national security.”
The bill also provides $300 million in federal grants to law enforcement agencies, and specifically forbids the Trump administration from withholding these funds from agencies that refuse to cooperate with ICE, also known as “sanctuary cities.”
Numbers USA, a nonprofit that advocates for less immigration into the United States, criticized the bill’s provisions regarding foreign workers.
“House Democrats prioritizing foreign workers, legal and illegal, over unemployed and underemployed Americans in the middle of a crisis is shameful,” said Numbers USA President Roy Beck.
Beck also derided a provision in the bill that would “expedite the permanent importation of foreign health care professionals, apparently to take the jobs of the tens of thousands of American health care professionals who have been laid off or furloughed during the pandemic.”
The HEROES Act, if it passes the House, is not expected to make it past the Republican-controlled Senate. House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy called the bill a “liberal wish list that has no chance of becoming law” in a statement Tuesday.
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].


thestream--2020-05-14--Americans Unite to Remember a Hero and Pray for His Family

On April 6 , 2008 , Staff Sgt .
Ronald J. Shurer II repeatedly scaled a jagged cliff to help save the lives of his U.S. Army teammates .
Just over 12 years later , the hero soldier turned U.S. Secret Service agent was forced to battle another enemy : cancer .
“ As many of you know , a year and a half ago , Ron was diagnosed with cancer — tough cancer , rough cancer , ” President Trump said at Staff Sgt .
Shurer ’ s 2018 White House Medal of Honor ceremony .
“ But he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has done everything he can .
That cancer — he ’ s been fighting it every single day with courage and with strength .
And he ’ s a warrior.
” Ron ’ s four-year cancer fight reached a critical stage on Wednesday , when the warrior ’ s wife and children announced on Instagram that their beloved husband and father had been unconscious for the past week .
On Thursday evening , the U.S. Secret Service announced that Ronald J. Shurer II had passed away at the age of 41 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ president Ron not only helped protect , but the same commander-in-chief who once placed the nation ’ s highest military award around his neck .
Ron was readmitted to the hospital on April 30 , just four days after celebrating his wife ’ s birthday with their two sons .
I spoke to Ron and Miranda on the phone on April 29 and will always treasure our conversation .
Though Ron was on oxygen and needed to take occasional breaks to catch his breath , I was amazed by his strength and equally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for her husband and two kids attending school remotely due to the coronavirus shutdown .
They both spoke with clarity and resolve about not only fighting cancer , but helping others battling the disease .
To fully understand Ron ’ s selfless nature , one must examine the Green Beret medic ’ s remarkable actions on that faraway mountain in Afghanistan ’ s Shok Valley .
“ When he reached the top [ of the mountain ] , one of his close friends , an Afghan interpreter , was already dead , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Two Americans had been shot : Dillon Behr and Luis Morales .
He treated them both to stabilize them and their condition .
Ron threw his body on top of Dillon to protect him from shrapnel .
“ It was there on that cliff that Ron realized that — I guess , he felt pretty much like that was it .
Right , Ron ?
” the president continued .
“ But Ron realized that this was probably the end .
Might be all over .
And as he recounts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked that my wife and son would be okay with what was going to happen .
Then I just went back to work . '
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
Two more of Ron ’ s Army brothers were shot in the harrowing moments that followed .
Despite great risk to his own life , Ron successfully treated their wounds .
“ But Ron was not done yet , ” President Trump said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the way up — and then rejoined the fight .
For more than six hours , Ron bravely faced down the enemy .
Not a single American died in that brutal battle , thanks in great measure to Ron ’ s heroic actions.
” As the massive outpouring in response to Miranda ’ s final Instagram update before her husband ’ s passing showed , a virtual army of faithful Americans weren ’ t done praying for him , either .
Just as on that day when God listened to a future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from atop a mountain , I believe He heard us praying for this American hero and his magnificent family .
“ And Ron , I just want to say , is an inspiration to everyone in this room and to every citizen all across our great land , ” President Trump said in 2018 .
“ Ron , our hearts are filled with gratitude and joy as we prepare to engrave your name alongside of America ’ s greatest heroes.
” America is eternally grateful to U.S. Army veteran and Secret Service agent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now our duty to pray for Miranda , Cameron , Tyler , and all who knew , loved and served with this legendary soldier .
Ron ’ s fight with cancer might have concluded , but his legacy of family , faith , resilience , selflessness and sacrifice will never die .
Note : This story was updated on May 14 , 2020 , at 6:27 p.m. EST to reflect the passing of Medal of Honor recipient Ronald J. Shurer .
Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Brothers Forever , Fire in My Eyes and the forthcoming Three Wise Men .
Follow Tom on Twitter @ TSileo and The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

On April 6, 2008, Staff Sgt. Ronald J. Shurer II repeatedly scaled a jagged cliff to help save the lives of his U.S. Army teammates. Just over 12 years later, the hero soldier turned U.S. Secret Service agent was forced to battle another enemy: cancer.
“As many of you know, a year and a half ago, Ron was diagnosed with cancer — tough cancer, rough cancer,” President Trump said at Staff Sgt. Shurer’s 2018 White House Medal of Honor ceremony. “But he has braved, battled, worked — he has done everything he can. That cancer — he’s been fighting it every single day with courage and with strength. And he’s a warrior.”
Ron’s four-year cancer fight reached a critical stage on Wednesday, when the warrior’s wife and children announced on Instagram that their beloved husband and father had been unconscious for the past week.
On Thursday evening, the U.S. Secret Service announced that Ronald J. Shurer II had passed away at the age of 41. The tweet was quickly retweeted by the president Ron not only helped protect, but the same commander-in-chief who once placed the nation’s highest military award around his neck.
Today, we lost an American Hero: Husband, Father, Son, Medal of Honor Recipient – Special Agent Ronald J. Shurer II. From a grateful Nation and Agency – your memory and legacy will live on forever. Rest In Peace. pic.twitter.com/stCRfifoSC — U.S. Secret Service (@SecretService) May 14, 2020
Ron was readmitted to the hospital on April 30, just four days after celebrating his wife’s birthday with their two sons. I spoke to Ron and Miranda on the phone on April 29 and will always treasure our conversation.
Though Ron was on oxygen and needed to take occasional breaks to catch his breath, I was amazed by his strength and equally inspired by Miranda as she helped care for her husband and two kids attending school remotely due to the coronavirus shutdown. They both spoke with clarity and resolve about not only fighting cancer, but helping others battling the disease.
To fully understand Ron’s selfless nature, one must examine the Green Beret medic’s remarkable actions on that faraway mountain in Afghanistan’s Shok Valley.
“When he reached the top [of the mountain], one of his close friends, an Afghan interpreter, was already dead,” President Trump said during the medal ceremony. “Two Americans had been shot: Dillon Behr and Luis Morales. He treated them both to stabilize them and their condition. Ron threw his body on top of Dillon to protect him from shrapnel.
“It was there on that cliff that Ron realized that — I guess, he felt pretty much like that was it. Right, Ron?” the president continued. “But Ron realized that this was probably the end. Might be all over. And as he recounts, ‘I just said a prayer and asked that my wife and son would be okay with what was going to happen. Then I just went back to work.'”
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Two more of Ron’s Army brothers were shot in the harrowing moments that followed. Despite great risk to his own life, Ron successfully treated their wounds.
“But Ron was not done yet,” President Trump said. “He charged back to the mountain — all the way up — and then rejoined the fight. For more than six hours, Ron bravely faced down the enemy. Not a single American died in that brutal battle, thanks in great measure to Ron’s heroic actions.”
As the massive outpouring in response to Miranda’s final Instagram update before her husband’s passing showed, a virtual army of faithful Americans weren’t done praying for him, either.
Praying 🙏🏻 for you sir. Just wanted to thank you for your service to our nation. Our service members who could not come home are NOT forgotten. Thank you again. You have our support through your procedure and praying for the best. 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 — 🇺🇦Coach Dickert Era | Cougs vs Everybody (@EtherDash) May 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/MvonVogler/status/1260821459695435776
Please keep Medal of Honor Recipient Ron Shurer and his beautiful family in your prayers. #ShurerStrong https://t.co/22OfjJHbJ4 — Janine Stange (@THEANTHEMGIRL) May 13, 2020
Just as on that day when God listened to a future Medal of Honor recipient’s prayer from atop a mountain, I believe He heard us praying for this American hero and his magnificent family.
“And Ron, I just want to say, is an inspiration to everyone in this room and to every citizen all across our great land,” President Trump said in 2018. “Ron, our hearts are filled with gratitude and joy as we prepare to engrave your name alongside of America’s greatest heroes.”
America is eternally grateful to U.S. Army veteran and Secret Service agent Ronald J. Shurer II. It is now our duty to pray for Miranda, Cameron, Tyler, and all who knew, loved and served with this legendary soldier. Ron’s fight with cancer might have concluded, but his legacy of family, faith, resilience, selflessness and sacrifice will never die.
Note: This story was updated on May 14, 2020, at 6:27 p.m. EST to reflect the passing of Medal of Honor recipient Ronald J. Shurer.
Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream. He is co-author of 8 Seconds of Courage, Brothers Forever, Fire in My Eyes and the forthcoming Three Wise Men. Follow Tom on Twitter @TSileo and The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-05-14--Trump, Countering Fauci, Says He Wants Schools Reopened

President Donald Trump called Wednesday for America ’ s schools to reopen , seeming to express disapproval of Senate testimony the day before in which a top public health adviser , Dr. Anthony Fauci , cautiously warned against reopening schools too early during the COVID-19 pandemic .
“ He wants to play all sides of the equation , ” Trump said of Fauci in remarks to reporters as he met at the White House with two governors .
While noting that he likes Fauci , Trump added : “ I was surprised by his answer .
… To me , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , especially when it comes to schools.
” Fauci , an immunologist who directs the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , is a leading member of the White House ’ s coronavirus task force .
He has become a familiar face to Americans through almost daily briefings that stopped only recently .
Colorado Gov .
Jared Polis , a Democrat , and North Dakota Gov .
Doug Burgum , a Republican , were with the president in the Cabinet Room as he answered a question about Fauci .
Both governors have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
“ I think they should open the schools , absolutely .
I think they should .
It ’ s had very little impact on young people , ” Trump said of COVID-19 , adding : And I think that if you ’ re an instructor , if you ’ re a teacher , a professor over a certain age — like let ’ s say 65 or maybe even , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 60 — perhaps you want to stay out for a little while longer .
But I think you should absolutely open the schools .
Our country has got to get back and it ’ s got to get back as soon as possible , and I don ’ t consider our country coming back if the schools are closed .
“ It ’ s had very little impact on young people , ” the president later said of the coronavirus pandemic , “ and I would strongly say [ schools ] should open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governors , it ’ s the governors ’ choice , but their state is not open if the schools aren ’ t open.
” The two governors spoke briefly about the situations in their states while reporters were present .
The president and Dr. Deborah Birx , response coordinator for the coronavirus task force , did not wear masks during the White House meeting .
Neither did Burgum and other officials from North Dakota .
However , Polis and accompanying Colorado officials wore masks , according to the White House press pool report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Asked about House Democrats ’ stimulus proposal , Trump at first seemed noncommittal , then turned negative on its chances in the Senate .
“ It ’ s , as they say , DOA , ” Trump said , using the acronym for “ dead on arrival.
” 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 licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

President Donald Trump called Wednesday for America’s schools to reopen, seeming to express disapproval of Senate testimony the day before in which a top public health adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, cautiously warned against reopening schools too early during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“He wants to play all sides of the equation,” Trump said of Fauci in remarks to reporters as he met at the White House with two governors.
While noting that he likes Fauci, Trump added: “I was surprised by his answer. … To me, it’s not an acceptable answer, especially when it comes to schools.”
Fauci, an immunologist who directs the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is a leading member of the White House’s coronavirus task force. He has become a familiar face to Americans through almost daily briefings that stopped only recently.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, a Republican, were with the president in the Cabinet Room as he answered a question about Fauci. Both governors have moved to reopen their states’ economies.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
“I think they should open the schools, absolutely. I think they should. It’s had very little impact on young people,” Trump said of COVID-19, adding:
And I think that if you’re an instructor, if you’re a teacher, a professor over a certain age — like let’s say 65 or maybe even, if you want to be conservative, 60 — perhaps you want to stay out for a little while longer. But I think you should absolutely open the schools. Our country has got to get back and it’s got to get back as soon as possible, and I don’t consider our country coming back if the schools are closed.
“It’s had very little impact on young people,” the president later said of the coronavirus pandemic, “and I would strongly say [schools] should open. It’s up to the governors, it’s the governors’ choice, but their state is not open if the schools aren’t open.”
The two governors spoke briefly about the situations in their states while reporters were present.
The president and Dr. Deborah Birx, response coordinator for the coronavirus task force, did not wear masks during the White House meeting. Neither did Burgum and other officials from North Dakota.
However, Polis and accompanying Colorado officials wore masks, according to the White House press pool report, although Polis removed his when speaking.
Asked about House Democrats’ stimulus proposal, Trump at first seemed noncommittal, then turned negative on its chances in the Senate.
“It’s, as they say, DOA,” Trump said, using the acronym for “dead on arrival.”
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].


thestream--2020-05-14--Undercover Video Journalist Sues Planned Parenthood, Kamala Harris, California AG for ‘Ongoing Consp

Undercover Video Journalist Sues Planned Parenthood, Kamala Harris, California AG for ‘Ongoing Conspiracy’

Center for Medical Progress President David Daleiden announced Wednesday he is suing Planned Parenthood , Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris and the Attorney General of California for an alleged “ brazen , unprecedented , and ongoing conspiracy.
” Daleiden ’ s lawsuit , filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California , claims Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the other defendants conspired to violate First and Fourteenth Amendment civil rights , according to a CMP press release .
The lawsuit comes as presidential candidate Joe Biden considers picking Harris as his vice president in the 2020 election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years-long conflict between Planned Parenthood and Daleiden , who has said that the organization profits from fetal body parts obtained through abortions .
Daleiden previously posed as a fetal tissue procurer and secretly recorded and published videos of Planned Parenthood employees in 2013 and 2014 allegedly discussing the sale of fetal body parts .
Planned Parenthood said the videos were deceptively edited , sued both Daleiden and CMP in March 2016 , and was awarded more than $ 2 million in damages in November 2019 after a jury ruled that Daleiden broke both @ @ @ @ @ @ @ filmed the Planned Parenthood workers .
According to Daleiden ’ s attorney Harmeet Dhillon , the prosecution of Daleiden was “ politically motivated , ” and targeted him “ based on the content of his speech , not the method of his journalism.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
“ Equally chilling is the way political patrons of then-AG Harris — Planned Parenthood and the National Abortion Federation , were closely involved in law enforcement and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the process , ” Dhillon said in statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Daleiden ’ s lawsuit contends that he was the first journalist to be criminally prosecuted under California ’ s recording law , adding that this was not because of the methods Daleiden used but because of what he uncovered through his investigation .
“ The California Attorney General first admitted that they are enforcing the video recording law solely based on how they feel about the message being published , and then further admitted they are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law as written , ” Daleiden said in a statement provided to the DCNF .
“ CMP ’ s undercover reporting has been corroborated by the successful prosecution of fetal body parts sales we reported in southern California , multiple Congressional investigations , and forensic video analysis , ” Daleiden added .
“ It is every reporter ’ s First Amendment right to underscore the gravity of their findings , especially when the politically powerful disagree with them.
” Harris , Planned Parenthood , and Becerra did not immediately respond to requests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

Center for Medical Progress President David Daleiden announced Wednesday he is suing Planned Parenthood, Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris and the Attorney General of California for an alleged “brazen, unprecedented, and ongoing conspiracy.”
Daleiden’s lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, claims Attorney General Xavier Becerra and the other defendants conspired to violate First and Fourteenth Amendment civil rights, according to a CMP press release. The lawsuit comes as presidential candidate Joe Biden considers picking Harris as his vice president in the 2020 election.
The new lawsuit stems from a years-long conflict between Planned Parenthood and Daleiden, who has said that the organization profits from fetal body parts obtained through abortions.
Daleiden previously posed as a fetal tissue procurer and secretly recorded and published videos of Planned Parenthood employees in 2013 and 2014 allegedly discussing the sale of fetal body parts.
Planned Parenthood said the videos were deceptively edited, sued both Daleiden and CMP in March 2016, and was awarded more than $2 million in damages in November 2019 after a jury ruled that Daleiden broke both federal and state laws when he secretly filmed the Planned Parenthood workers.
According to Daleiden’s attorney Harmeet Dhillon, the prosecution of Daleiden was “politically motivated,” and targeted him “based on the content of his speech, not the method of his journalism.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
“Equally chilling is the way political patrons of then-AG Harris — Planned Parenthood and the National Abortion Federation, were closely involved in law enforcement and prosecutorial decisions and actions at every step of the process,” Dhillon said in statement to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Daleiden’s lawsuit contends that he was the first journalist to be criminally prosecuted under California’s recording law, adding that this was not because of the methods Daleiden used but because of what he uncovered through his investigation.
“The California Attorney General first admitted that they are enforcing the video recording law solely based on how they feel about the message being published, and then further admitted they are not even trying to follow the text of the law as written,” Daleiden said in a statement provided to the DCNF.
“CMP’s undercover reporting has been corroborated by the successful prosecution of fetal body parts sales we reported in southern California, multiple Congressional investigations, and forensic video analysis,” Daleiden added. “It is every reporter’s First Amendment right to underscore the gravity of their findings, especially when the politically powerful disagree with them.”
Harris, Planned Parenthood, and Becerra did not immediately respond to requests for comment from the DCNF.
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].


thestream--2020-05-14--How Many African and Asian Kids Will Leftists Starve Just to Beat Donald Trump?

That ’ s an honest question .
It ’ s one you should pose to leftists who favor extending America ’ s lockdown indefinitely .
Who may have even convinced themselves that they care about the vulnerable .
First we had to flatten our way of life “ long enough to flatten the curve.
” We crushed the curve .
Even in New York City , the hospital system was never overwhelmed .
Now there are thousands of empty hospital beds even there .
Health care providers are going broke , since “ inessential ” procedures stay banned .
Trivial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ canals , and knee replacements — Botox-level frivolities like that .
We can worry much later about the casualties that causes .
Or we don ’ t have to , since they won ’ t get tallied or reported .
And certainly not blamed on the lockdown hawks .
The next goalpost was “ till we have enough masks and ventilators.
” That one whizzed past so quickly we barely noticed it .
Mention it now and you just seem stupid .
“ That ’ s so … mid-April 2020 , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t you listen to … Science ?
Believe facts over truth !
Trust Dr. Fauci , omigod you religious fanatics !
” That may or may not be a direct quote by Joseph Biden .
We couldn ’ t quite make out his words .
How about the goalpost : “ till we have secured nursing homes and protected the most vulnerable , who account for almost half the deaths in many states ” ?
Just kidding .
The left never cared about that .
Just ask Joe Biden ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the “ duty to die ” at age 75 , after which he ’ d would deny old folks life-saving medicine .
Or the governors of massive blue states California , New Jersey , Pennsylvania , and New York , who for long deadly weeks — sit down for this one , because it sounds like something made up by guys in tinfoil hats — dumped virus patients at nursing homes .
A growing backlash , which started largely here at The Stream , soon spread to Fox News .
Now some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reluctantly .
So there are still old folks left alive in those states , despite their governors .
What are the goalposts now ?
Do they stand at “ till we have a reliable vaccine and have forced everyone in America to take it ” ?
That ’ s a safe one , since five years will likely pass , with no guarantees on that score .
We think we know the real goalposts : Till the limping , battered economy drives enough blue-collar workers to deaths of despair , closes enough small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % dependent on government money to induce a national Stockholm Syndrome .
Then like a traumatized , battered Patty Hearst , Americans will numbly reach out and vote for their captors , the Democrats .
The very next day , the media sirens will sound the “ All-Clear !
” Perhaps we ’ re being unfair .
Maybe the people who cheered the destruction of General Mike Flynn , of Brett Kavanaugh and Mark Judge , of Nick Sandmann , Carter Page and George Papadopoulos aren ’ t as ruthlessly addicted to power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one way to find out .
Ask them how many African kids they ’ re willing to starve to beat Donald Trump , and retake the U.S. Senate .
No really , we ’ d like the number .
Is it one million , five , or ten ?
How many fragile countries devoid of white , Christian males are they willing to plunge into civil war ?
We already know that there ’ s no limit to the pain the left will inflict on America ’ s working class .
But to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white , and many voted for Donald Trump .
They might do so again .
So they kind of … deserve it .
( “ Bad voter , bad !
No job for you !
Get back in your crate.
” ) But what did the children of Sudan , Syria , and Pakistan ever do to our elites in Park Slope and Georgetown ?
Why should they suffer ?
And suffer they will .
We warned people back on April 13 , right here at The Stream .
At the time , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of global hunger and instability were a few heroes inside the Trump administration .
Of course , the media laughed them off .
If you ’ re a person single-mindedly focused on grabbing power at any cost , you tend to project your priorities onto others .
So few repeated their warnings .
But these genuine humanitarians whom President Trump tasked with preventing a global food catastrophe kept right on working .
They somewhat flattened the Hunger Curve , but it ’ s still liable to crush millions .
Especially inspiring is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family farmer , he serves as America ’ s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome .
He ’ s traveling the globe on creepy , empty airplanes trying to keep intact the fragile chain connecting food producers here in America with hungry nations sliding helplessly toward the brink of catastrophe .
Meanwhile record swarms of locusts ravage African nations , destroying their food stocks .
Ambassador Tom warned the world : That ’ s happening in Africa and the Middle East right now .
How long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too ?
David Beasley , executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme ( WFP ) is another hero in this battle .
He ’ s globetrotting trying to stave off a man-made human catastrophe .
On May 8 , Beasley issued a grim prediction .
As the Atlantic Council reports : Up to 300,000 people could starve to death every day if the COVID-19 pandemic ruptures global food supply chains—even more than the roughly 275,000 people who have died of the disease worldwide so far .
“ If farmers can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it impacts the rest of the population .
And if farmers aren ’ t out there planting , then next fall when it ’ s harvest time , there ’ ll be serious food shortages .
In Sudan , for example , there ’ s flooding .
And desert locusts are consuming a million acres of just-planted crops .
You ’ ve got a perfect storm of extraordinary proportions coming together right now.
” According to Beasley , 821 million people go to bed at night chronically hungry ; another 135 million are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the global food supply chain , that number could more than double to 265 million — roughly the population of Indonesia .
“ Acute means you ’ re on the brink of starvation , ” he said .
“ On any given day , we feed about 100 million people , of which 30 million get their only food from us .
You can go a few weeks exposed to a disease , but you can ’ t go two weeks without food.
” If economic deterioration continues and supply chains break down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have 150,000 to 300,000 people die of starvation every day for several months — at a minimum.
” Maybe you don ’ t believe Amb .
Tom .
Or Mr. Beasley .
Or us .
You think we ’ re being callous , partisan MAGA zealots who don ’ t “ believe science ” ?
Fine .
Don ’ t listen to us .
How about The New Yorker ?
Maybe we can agree it ’ s not a GOP mouthpiece controlled by the Christian Right or the Koch brothers .
Here ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yorker : “ COVID-19 Will Lead to ‘ Catastrophic ’ Hunger.
” In it , we hear from Arif Husain .
He ’ s the chief economist and director of research , assessment , and monitoring at the United Nations World Food Programme .
Husain notes the sudden spike in the millions of people suffering from “ chronic hunger.
” That means Husain then points to a second number , the total of those suffering “ acute hunger.
” That means people who normally are well-nourished as we are .
But their situation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of food .
That total has shot up as well , even before the virus : “ [ T ] hat number , in 2016 , was 80 million .
At the end of 2019 , that number was 135 million .
That ’ s almost a 70 per cent increase.
” All of that ’ s just background .
With the massive disruptions of the food chain supply , and economic damage thanks to our indiscriminate lockdown ?
Husain predicts our policies will make Or listen to The Nation , the furthest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported on May 4 : Even as people around the world grapple with the medical and economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic , many are also facing yet another great calamity : food scarcity .
Either for lack of funds or lack of supply ( or both ) , poor and newly jobless families are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain the food they need .
With both economic contraction and joblessness expected to accelerate in the coming months , the number of families facing food insecurity and starvation is bound to soar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travel imposed by governments around the world in response to the pandemic have also played havoc with global supply lines .
Many ships and planes remain idle because of such restrictions ( or because key employees are sick or afraid to show up for work ) , slowing the delivery of vital supplies and adding to a surge in food prices .
In East Africa , international efforts to combat a historic plague of crop-devouring locusts are being hampered by a slowdown in the delivery of pesticides .
The U.S. is the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , safe , clean food exports are one of the last lifelines of hundreds of millions of the poorest people on earth .
And our politicians are wantonly sabotaging that life-saving mechanism , allegedly to protect us from a disease we ’ re all going to be exposed to , sooner or later .
How do these people sleep at night ?
Editor ’ s Note : You can help combat world hunger .
Consider giving to Mission Feeding , a ministry of our parent organization , LIFE Outreach International .
LIFE ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proven answer to the nutritional needs of starving and malnourished children .
Each bowl of food contains vitamins and nutrients needed to stop the vicious cycle of malnutrition and death .
That ’ s why we say , “ There ’ s LIFE in every bowl , and hope for every LIFE !
” Click here to see how you can help .
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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at The Stream , and author or co-author of ten books , including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism .
Together , Jones and Zmirak wrote The Race to Save Our Century .

That’s an honest question. It’s one you should pose to leftists who favor extending America’s lockdown indefinitely. Who may have even convinced themselves that they care about the vulnerable.
First we had to flatten our way of life “long enough to flatten the curve.” We crushed the curve. Even in New York City, the hospital system was never overwhelmed. Now there are thousands of empty hospital beds even there. Health care providers are going broke, since “inessential” procedures stay banned. Trivial medical interventions like cancer screenings, root canals, and knee replacements — Botox-level frivolities like that. We can worry much later about the casualties that causes. Or we don’t have to, since they won’t get tallied or reported. And certainly not blamed on the lockdown hawks.
The next goalpost was “till we have enough masks and ventilators.” That one whizzed past so quickly we barely noticed it. Mention it now and you just seem stupid. “That’s so … mid-April 2020,” the smart set will scoff. “Why don’t you listen to … Science? Believe facts over truth! Trust Dr. Fauci, omigod you religious fanatics!” That may or may not be a direct quote by Joseph Biden. We couldn’t quite make out his words.
How about the goalpost: “till we have secured nursing homes and protected the most vulnerable, who account for almost half the deaths in many states”? Just kidding. The left never cared about that. Just ask Joe Biden’s virus expert Ezekiel Emanuel, who invokes the “duty to die” at age 75, after which he would deny old folks life-saving medicine. Or the governors of massive blue states California, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, who for long deadly weeks — sit down for this one, because it sounds like something made up by guys in tinfoil hats — dumped virus patients at nursing homes. A growing backlash, which started largely here at The Stream, soon spread to Fox News. Now some of these governors are finally backing down, reluctantly. So there are still old folks left alive in those states, despite their governors.
What are the goalposts now? Do they stand at “till we have a reliable vaccine and have forced everyone in America to take it”? That’s a safe one, since five years will likely pass, with no guarantees on that score.
We think we know the real goalposts: Till the limping, battered economy drives enough blue-collar workers to deaths of despair, closes enough small businesses, and makes sufficient Americans 100% dependent on government money to induce a national Stockholm Syndrome. Then like a traumatized, battered Patty Hearst, Americans will numbly reach out and vote for their captors, the Democrats. The very next day, the media sirens will sound the “All-Clear!”
The Children Will Suffer
Perhaps we’re being unfair. Maybe the people who cheered the destruction of General Mike Flynn, of Brett Kavanaugh and Mark Judge, of Nick Sandmann, Carter Page and George Papadopoulos aren’t as ruthlessly addicted to power as we suspect.
Ask Democrats how many African kids they’re willing to starve to beat Donald Trump, and retake the U.S. Senate. No really, we’d like the number. Is it one million, five, or ten?
There’s one way to find out. Ask them how many African kids they’re willing to starve to beat Donald Trump, and retake the U.S. Senate. No really, we’d like the number. Is it one million, five, or ten? How many fragile countries devoid of white, Christian males are they willing to plunge into civil war? We already know that there’s no limit to the pain the left will inflict on America’s working class. But to be fair, lots of them are white, and many voted for Donald Trump. They might do so again. So they kind of … deserve it. (“Bad voter, bad! No job for you! Get back in your crate.”)
But what did the children of Sudan, Syria, and Pakistan ever do to our elites in Park Slope and Georgetown? Why should they suffer?
And suffer they will. We warned people back on April 13, right here at The Stream. At the time, the only people warning about the threat of global hunger and instability were a few heroes inside the Trump administration. Of course, the media laughed them off. If you’re a person single-mindedly focused on grabbing power at any cost, you tend to project your priorities onto others. So few repeated their warnings.
The Shutdown Threatens the Food Lifeline
But these genuine humanitarians whom President Trump tasked with preventing a global food catastrophe kept right on working. They somewhat flattened the Hunger Curve, but it’s still liable to crush millions.
Especially inspiring is the work of Ambassador Kip Tom. A family farmer, he serves as America’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome. He’s traveling the globe on creepy, empty airplanes trying to keep intact the fragile chain connecting food producers here in America with hungry nations sliding helplessly toward the brink of catastrophe. Meanwhile record swarms of locusts ravage African nations, destroying their food stocks. Ambassador Tom warned the world:
When people can’t feed themselves, they lose hope, and when they lose hope, they migrate. When they migrate, we know they can become one of the 20 million victims of human trafficking. Or they get involved in arms movement. Or in a worst-case scenario, they get involved in extremism.
That’s happening in Africa and the Middle East right now. How long before it spreads to Latin America, too?
David Beasley, executive director of the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is another hero in this battle. He’s globetrotting trying to stave off a man-made human catastrophe. On May 8, Beasley issued a grim prediction. As the Atlantic Council reports:
Up to 300,000 people could starve to death every day if the COVID-19 pandemic ruptures global food supply chains—even more than the roughly 275,000 people who have died of the disease worldwide so far. … “If farmers can’t get food to the marketplace, it impacts the rest of the population. And if farmers aren’t out there planting, then next fall when it’s harvest time, there’ll be serious food shortages. In Sudan, for example, there’s flooding. And desert locusts are consuming a million acres of just-planted crops. You’ve got a perfect storm of extraordinary proportions coming together right now.” According to Beasley, 821 million people go to bed at night chronically hungry; another 135 million are acutely food-insecure. But as COVID-19 wrecks the global food supply chain, that number could more than double to 265 million — roughly the population of Indonesia. “Acute means you’re on the brink of starvation,” he said. “On any given day, we feed about 100 million people, of which 30 million get their only food from us. You can go a few weeks exposed to a disease, but you can’t go two weeks without food.” If economic deterioration continues and supply chains break down, he said, “you could have 150,000 to 300,000 people die of starvation every day for several months — at a minimum.”
Maybe you don’t believe Amb. Tom. Or Mr. Beasley. Or us. You think we’re being callous, partisan MAGA zealots who don’t “believe science”? Fine. Don’t listen to us.
How about The New Yorker? Maybe we can agree it’s not a GOP mouthpiece controlled by the Christian Right or the Koch brothers. Here’s the latest headline from The New Yorker : “COVID-19 Will Lead to ‘Catastrophic’ Hunger.” In it, we hear from Arif Husain. He’s the chief economist and director of research, assessment, and monitoring at the United Nations World Food Programme. Husain notes the sudden spike in the millions of people suffering from “chronic hunger.” That means
that, regardless of people’s circumstances, they go to bed hungry; it’s just normal for them. And that number, four years ago, in 2016, was 796 million. At the end of 2019, that number was 821 million.
Husain then points to a second number, the total of those suffering “acute hunger.” That means people who normally are well-nourished as we are. But their situation is fragile, and emergencies deprive them of food. That total has shot up as well, even before the virus: “[T]hat number, in 2016, was 80 million. At the end of 2019, that number was 135 million. That’s almost a 70 per cent increase.”
All of that’s just background. With the massive disruptions of the food chain supply, and economic damage thanks to our indiscriminate lockdown? Husain predicts our policies will make
an already really bad situation catastrophically bad. And what we are projecting, as we speak, is that there will be an additional 130 million people who will become acutely hungry in 2020.
Or listen to The Nation, the furthest left mainstream magazine in America. It reported on May 4:
Even as people around the world grapple with the medical and economic consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, many are also facing yet another great calamity: food scarcity. Either for lack of funds or lack of supply (or both), poor and newly jobless families are finding it increasingly difficult to obtain the food they need. With both economic contraction and joblessness expected to accelerate in the coming months, the number of families facing food insecurity and starvation is bound to soar. … The curbs on international trade and travel imposed by governments around the world in response to the pandemic have also played havoc with global supply lines. Many ships and planes remain idle because of such restrictions (or because key employees are sick or afraid to show up for work), slowing the delivery of vital supplies and adding to a surge in food prices. In East Africa, international efforts to combat a historic plague of crop-devouring locusts are being hampered by a slowdown in the delivery of pesticides.
The U.S. is the world’s breadbasket. Our highly efficient, safe, clean food exports are one of the last lifelines of hundreds of millions of the poorest people on earth. And our politicians are wantonly sabotaging that life-saving mechanism, allegedly to protect us from a disease we’re all going to be exposed to, sooner or later.
How do these people sleep at night?
Editor’s Note: You can help combat world hunger. Consider giving to Mission Feeding, a ministry of our parent organization, LIFE Outreach International.
LIFE’s Mission Feeding outreach has been a proven answer to the nutritional needs of starving and malnourished children. Each bowl of food contains vitamins and nutrients needed to stop the vicious cycle of malnutrition and death. That’s why we say, “There’s LIFE in every bowl, and hope for every LIFE!” Click here to see how you can help.
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.
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream, and author or co-author of ten books, including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism.
Together, Jones and Zmirak wrote The Race to Save Our Century.


thestream--2020-05-14--Dropping Money From Helicopters Isn’t Really a ‘Stimulus’

I wish the Trump administration wouldn ’ t call its massive virus-linked spending bills “ stimulus packages.
” If not for politics , would it ?
Because , in cold fact , this spending won ’ t stimulate much of anything .
At best it ’ s an emergency stop-gap .
We must ask ourselves some tough , basic questions to understand why .
Does demand create its own supply ?
Has a stimulus package ever worked ?
Logic is a misnomer here , contrarianism rules .
It ’ s John Maynard Keynes slowly strangling us from the grave .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending a trillion dollars more than we take in in tax receipts each year in good times ?
Is increasing spending when the economy slows a good idea ?
In an emergency , should we throw every caution overboard to rid the ship of all ballast ?
Did you have faith in Obama ’ s post-2008 stimulus package when he signed it ?
Or , like me , did you cringe and wonder when we ’ d reach a tipping point ?
This time the issue is different .
It ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down the economy .
Nor draconian laws , inept regulation , or the Fed raising interest rates too late and too quickly to burst a bubble .
The government imposed this viral depression .
Is it temporary ?
How easily can we get out of it ?
None of us wants a pandemic .
Valuing life is first in our hearts and minds .
But the cusp of economic implosion isn ’ t sitting well with us either .
What ’ s the answer ?
How much can all the government spending accomplish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember feeling uncomfortable with Maynard Keynes ’ basic premise .
That ’ s because it defies common sense .
He convinced the world that the government can deficit spend society into prosperity .
Our households don ’ t work that way .
Nor do our businesses .
Here , we certainly can ’ t spend our way to prosperity .
We must create value in other people ’ s minds so they ’ ll trade with us .
We supply advertising or sales efforts to bring them to us , then a quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so they ’ ll buy , and later , come back for more .
Our production , or supply , is the action of the economy .
Do we make more if we advertise , but no one responds despite how much we spend ?
Wouldn ’ t that eventually put us out of business ?
If we spend twice as much making our products and services as we efficiently could , do we make more money because we spent it with someone else ?
Of course not .
In business , spending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Successful entrepreneurship does .
We Lose a Buck on Each Sale , But We Make it Up on Volume !
Keynesians look to the aggregate , or all the spending in the whole economy .
They say if we increase consumption , we ’ ll increase prosperity !
To prove it , Keynes came up with spurious theoretical assumptions formed from old economic heresies .
His final book , The General Theory of Employment Interest and Money , first published in 1936 , popularized his form of demand-pull economics .
Ideas that were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professors .
Next they bewitched governments through the Western World .
Can you pinpoint the beginning of our public debt spiral ?
Did you know that the federal government ran a surplus for more than two-thirds of years from 1800-1930 ( Peter G. Peterson Foundation , 2018 ) , including in the first year of the Great Depression ?
The next year , 1931 , the “ progressive ” demand-pull ideas led President Hoover ( clearing my throat ) a “ progressive ” Republican , and Congress , to begin spending on public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Hoover also pressured businesses to keep employees on and not to reduce their pay , so they ’ d spend money to increase aggregate demand to drive the economy .
It didn ’ t take long for many of them to fail .
The big problem ?
Businesses create jobs , jobs don ’ t create businesses !
Spending doesn ’ t drive the economy , entrepreneurs do .
When we receive more in trade than we destroy when we make and sell something ?
The difference is our profit .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prices and sharing some profit with our customers to gain more market share .
Or , reinvest our increased working capital by hiring more employees .
Maybe increase advertising and production .
Or produce more desirable goods and services .
Consumers don ’ t drive the economy .
They must do the same thing first , for buying power , unless someone else supports them .
We create and exchange from both sides of a transaction .
Unproductive people don ’ t drive the economy by spending redistributed wealth because they don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Products , services , profits , and paychecks facilitate trade .
When you realize economics is production and trade , typically through a medium of exchange , or money , you recognize demand can ’ t come first .
We must produce value , so we have something in hand the other party wants .
We specialize and efficiently make better , more cost-effective products and services than we could by ourselves , supplying each other through trade .
Supply creates demand !
Don ’ t Mistake the Gas Gauge for the Gas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in your car .
It tells you if your tank is full .
It doesn ’ t fill it .
It follows , but doesn ’ t lead !
Keynes didn ’ t understand this , because he didn ’ t really believe in free markets .
In The General Theory , he threw classical ( free market , capitalist ) economics on its head in the first paragraph : Professor Keynes ’ higgledy-piggledy prose mirrors his arrogant elitist mind .
He had it all flipped around backward .
How else does one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government spending creates prosperity !
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues of Our Day .
You begin with the idea that bigger government is the answer to our problems .
The truth is , we create for each other .
The more industrious people we have , the more trading partners exist .
The more affluent people there are in a free society , the more opportunity there is for everyone else .
Controlled countries have rich cronies in bed with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nations have a large middle class .
What ’ s happening to ours ?
The pork-laden aid package the Republicans passed last month was more akin to an out of court settlement than anything else .
The government admits it ’ s forcibly closing down people ’ s livelihoods .
Fairness prescribes that it must pay .
Just remember , our children are on the hook for it too .
Without us getting back to work , there is no production value behind the printed and borrowed money they ’ re handing out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The only way we increase our standard of living over time is through increased productivity .
New technologies and better production methods allow us to produce more at any given time .
We then have more to trade and , therefore , to receive in exchange .
All the restrictions now and the slow rollout they ’ re talking about destroy our productivity , destroy profits , and massively reduce tax receipts to government as our debt skyrockets .
Taking away freedom takes away our prosperity in theory and practice .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses in the very short-run if it ’ s a temporary band-aid .
Preserving American livelihoods seems just , and it ’ s popular .
Still , it won ’ t drive the economy .
Now , just watch our debt to GDP ratio skyrocket .
Our state budgets will also come under much strain .
They ’ ll increasingly look to the federal government for a bailout .
Since the federal government has no money either , we ’ ll print and borrow all the more .
It all reveals why budgets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the debt in prosperous times from surpluses are so vital .
No surprise that the Democrats are demanding we spend trillions more .
They think that government and consumer spending drive the economy .
It ’ s also why they support so many draconian regulations .
They don ’ t understand that when they hinder entrepreneurs , they reduce output and trade .
Which makes each of us poorer in the long run .
President Trump must stop playing into the Democrats ’ hands .
Don ’ t call the vast spending from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ stimulus.
” At best , it ’ s a band-aid .
A stop-gap to buy us time before we get back to work .
Which had better happen soon , or the cascading waste and idleness could sink us .
We don ’ t want to Make the Depression Great Again .
James Malloy is the author of Economic Clarity or Political Confusion : The Classical Cure for Keynesian Debt & Deficits .
You can sample read , purchase his book , and explore his blog posts at : econclarity.com .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ website , or Twitter @ EconomicClarity .

I wish the Trump administration wouldn’t call its massive virus-linked spending bills “stimulus packages.” If not for politics, would it? Because, in cold fact, this spending won’t stimulate much of anything. At best it’s an emergency stop-gap.
We must ask ourselves some tough, basic questions to understand why.
Does Money Create Real Wealth?
Does demand create its own supply? Has a stimulus package ever worked? Logic is a misnomer here, contrarianism rules. It’s John Maynard Keynes slowly strangling us from the grave.
Do our politicians have good reasons for spending a trillion dollars more than we take in in tax receipts each year in good times? Is increasing spending when the economy slows a good idea? In an emergency, should we throw every caution overboard to rid the ship of all ballast? Did you have faith in Obama’s post-2008 stimulus package when he signed it? Or, like me, did you cringe and wonder when we’d reach a tipping point?
This time the issue is different. It’s not bad government policy that’s dragged down the economy. Nor draconian laws, inept regulation, or the Fed raising interest rates too late and too quickly to burst a bubble. The government imposed this viral depression.
Is it temporary? How easily can we get out of it? None of us wants a pandemic. Valuing life is first in our hearts and minds. But the cusp of economic implosion isn’t sitting well with us either. What’s the answer? How much can all the government spending accomplish?
Professor Keynes’ Magical Thinking
Many of us with economics degrees remember feeling uncomfortable with Maynard Keynes’ basic premise. That’s because it defies common sense. He convinced the world that the government can deficit spend society into prosperity. Our households don’t work that way.
Nor do our businesses. Here, we certainly can’t spend our way to prosperity. We must create value in other people’s minds so they’ll trade with us. We supply advertising or sales efforts to bring them to us, then a quality product or service at a reasonable price so they’ll buy, and later, come back for more.
Our production, or supply, is the action of the economy. Do we make more if we advertise, but no one responds despite how much we spend? Wouldn’t that eventually put us out of business? If we spend twice as much making our products and services as we efficiently could, do we make more money because we spent it with someone else? Of course not. In business, spending doesn’t drive the economy. Successful entrepreneurship does.
We Lose a Buck on Each Sale, But We Make it Up on Volume!
Keynesians look to the aggregate, or all the spending in the whole economy. They say if we increase consumption, we’ll increase prosperity! To prove it, Keynes came up with spurious theoretical assumptions formed from old economic heresies. His final book, The General Theory of Employment Interest and Money, first published in 1936, popularized his form of demand-pull economics. Ideas that were never mainstream before him became popular with professors. Next they bewitched governments through the Western World. Can you pinpoint the beginning of our public debt spiral?
Did you know that the federal government ran a surplus for more than two-thirds of years from 1800-1930 (Peter G. Peterson Foundation, 2018), including in the first year of the Great Depression? The next year, 1931, the “progressive” demand-pull ideas led President Hoover (clearing my throat) a “progressive” Republican, and Congress, to begin spending on public works projects to try to increase employment. Hoover also pressured businesses to keep employees on and not to reduce their pay, so they’d spend money to increase aggregate demand to drive the economy. It didn’t take long for many of them to fail.
Thinking Exactly Backwards
The big problem? Businesses create jobs, jobs don’t create businesses! Spending doesn’t drive the economy, entrepreneurs do. When we receive more in trade than we destroy when we make and sell something? The difference is our profit. We can compete with others by lowering our prices and sharing some profit with our customers to gain more market share. Or, reinvest our increased working capital by hiring more employees. Maybe increase advertising and production. Or produce more desirable goods and services.
Consumers don’t drive the economy. They must do the same thing first, for buying power, unless someone else supports them. We create and exchange from both sides of a transaction. Unproductive people don’t drive the economy by spending redistributed wealth because they don’t produce the value money represents. Products, services, profits, and paychecks facilitate trade.
Demand is like the gas gauge in your car. It tells you if your tank is full. It doesn’t fill it. Keynes got that backwards, and now the Democrats have too.
When you realize economics is production and trade, typically through a medium of exchange, or money, you recognize demand can’t come first. We must produce value, so we have something in hand the other party wants. We specialize and efficiently make better, more cost-effective products and services than we could by ourselves, supplying each other through trade. Supply creates demand!
Don’t Mistake the Gas Gauge for the Gas Tank
Demand is like the gas gauge in your car. It tells you if your tank is full. It doesn’t fill it. It follows, but doesn’t lead! Keynes didn’t understand this, because he didn’t really believe in free markets. In The General Theory, he threw classical (free market, capitalist) economics on its head in the first paragraph:
I shall argue that the postulates of the classical theory are applicable to a special case only and not to the general case, the situation which it assumes being a limited point of the possible positions of equilibrium. Moreover, the characteristics of the special case assumed by the classical theory happen not to be those of the economic society in which we actually live, with the result that its teaching is misleading and disastrous if we attempt to apply it to the facts of experience (Keynes, The General Theory of Employment Interest and Money, 1936, 3).
Professor Keynes’ higgledy-piggledy prose mirrors his arrogant elitist mind. He had it all flipped around backward. How else does one prove the opposite of reality? That government spending creates prosperity!
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
You begin with the idea that bigger government is the answer to our problems. The truth is, we create for each other. The more industrious people we have, the more trading partners exist. The more affluent people there are in a free society, the more opportunity there is for everyone else. Controlled countries have rich cronies in bed with corrupt politicians and many poor. Free nations have a large middle class. What’s happening to ours?
Not a Stimulus but a Settlement
The pork-laden aid package the Republicans passed last month was more akin to an out of court settlement than anything else. The government admits it’s forcibly closing down people’s livelihoods. Fairness prescribes that it must pay. Just remember, our children are on the hook for it too. Without us getting back to work, there is no production value behind the printed and borrowed money they’re handing out. In time, this spells disaster.
The only way we increase our standard of living over time is through increased productivity. New technologies and better production methods allow us to produce more at any given time. We then have more to trade and, therefore, to receive in exchange. All the restrictions now and the slow rollout they’re talking about destroy our productivity, destroy profits, and massively reduce tax receipts to government as our debt skyrockets. Taking away freedom takes away our prosperity in theory and practice.
What Happens Next
The aid can help save businesses in the very short-run if it’s a temporary band-aid. Preserving American livelihoods seems just, and it’s popular. Still, it won’t drive the economy. Now, just watch our debt to GDP ratio skyrocket. Our state budgets will also come under much strain. They’ll increasingly look to the federal government for a bailout. Since the federal government has no money either, we’ll print and borrow all the more. It all reveals why budgets that approximate balance and consistently paying down the debt in prosperous times from surpluses are so vital.
No surprise that the Democrats are demanding we spend trillions more. They think that government and consumer spending drive the economy. It’s also why they support so many draconian regulations. They don’t understand that when they hinder entrepreneurs, they reduce output and trade. Which makes each of us poorer in the long run.
President Trump must stop playing into the Democrats’ hands. Don’t call the vast spending from last month, or any new proposal a “stimulus.” At best, it’s a band-aid. A stop-gap to buy us time before we get back to work.
Which had better happen soon, or the cascading waste and idleness could sink us. We don’t want to Make the Depression Great Again.
James Malloy is the author of Economic Clarity or Political Confusion: The Classical Cure for Keynesian Debt & Deficits. You can sample read, purchase his book, and explore his blog posts at: econclarity.com. Feel free to contact him through his website, or Twitter @EconomicClarity.


thestream--2020-05-15--The View Host Was at the Top of Her Career — Here’s Why She Quit and Left It All Behind

Paula Faris was at the height of her career when she abruptly decided to leave it all behind .
Despite sweeping success as co-host of The View and co-anchor of Good Morning America : Weekend Edition , Faris was burnt out , exhausted and on a quest to refocus on what truly mattered .
“ I was at the height of my career … and I really felt like I was walking in my calling , my God-given calling , ” she recently told “ The Billy Hallowell Podcast.
” “ And I leaned in so hard to what we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work and to vocation … that I burnt out.
” Listen to Faris reveal why she walked away from her dream job : Faris , author of the new book , Called Out : Why I Traded Two Dream Jobs for a Life of True Calling , said her career was “ soaring , ” but that her personal life was failing .
From her marriage to her health , nothing was where she wanted it to be .
Faris , a longtime Christian , said she simply “ didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and that she had become consumed by her job .
“ I knew that I had taken it to an unhealthy place , ” she said .
“ I had become addicted to what I did , addicted to the accolade … accomplishment , and the high [ of ] the spotlight.
” Faris added , “ It became about what I was doing , and not who I was doing it for.
” Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political , Economic and Moral Issues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ departure from her hosting duties , it all came to a head .
Amid a flurry of chaos , the journalist faced a miscarriage , an emergency surgery , a concussion , a head-on car accident and a bout with the flu that turned into pneumonia .
“ My life just felt like it was falling apart , ” Faris said .
The personal pandemonium and the recognition that her career had overtaken everything else left Faris with the realization that she had misplaced her identity .
“ My identity had been so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she said .
“ Here I am a professing Christian and it wasn ’ t good enough to just be ‘ Paula . '
” So , the TV host stopped , paused and did the unthinkable : she quit both of her dream jobs .
At first , the transition was quite difficult .
“ I didn ’ t know what to do with myself , ” she said .
“ I had a full-on identity crisis.
” But Faris said she started getting herself rooted back into the Bible and began @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who spoke into her life about what truly matters .
Over time , it all came together .
And now she ’ s sharing her insights and realizations in Called Out , a new book that not only tells her story , but also inspires others not to fall into the same pitfalls of misplacing significance and identity .
“ God ’ s calling me into a different space now , ” Faris said of her journey .
“ My worth is not my work.
” And for anyone looking for guidance in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encouraging word : listen to God .
“ God speaks to you .
He speaks to you through people … and He speaks to you through that song on the radio … through scriptures and sermons , ” Faris said .
“ You just have to listen for God ’ s voice.
” This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider .
Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows .
You can get a free trial here .

Paula Faris was at the height of her career when she abruptly decided to leave it all behind.
Despite sweeping success as co-host of The View and co-anchor of Good Morning America: Weekend Edition, Faris was burnt out, exhausted and on a quest to refocus on what truly mattered.
“I was at the height of my career … and I really felt like I was walking in my calling, my God-given calling,” she recently told “The Billy Hallowell Podcast.” “And I leaned in so hard to what we’re told to lean into — to work and to vocation … that I burnt out.”
Listen to Faris reveal why she walked away from her dream job:

Faris, author of the new book, Called Out: Why I Traded Two Dream Jobs for a Life of True Calling, said her career was “soaring,” but that her personal life was failing.
From her marriage to her health, nothing was where she wanted it to be. Faris, a longtime Christian, said she simply “didn’t have an ease” in her spirit, and that she had become consumed by her job. “I knew that I had taken it to an unhealthy place,” she said. “I had become addicted to what I did, addicted to the accolade … accomplishment, and the high [of] the spotlight.”
Faris added, “It became about what I was doing, and not who I was doing it for.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
And before her departure from her hosting duties, it all came to a head. Amid a flurry of chaos, the journalist faced a miscarriage, an emergency surgery, a concussion, a head-on car accident and a bout with the flu that turned into pneumonia. “My life just felt like it was falling apart,” Faris said.
The personal pandemonium and the recognition that her career had overtaken everything else left Faris with the realization that she had misplaced her identity. “My identity had been so misplaced in what I did,” she said. “Here I am a professing Christian and it wasn’t good enough to just be ‘Paula.'”
So, the TV host stopped, paused and did the unthinkable: she quit both of her dream jobs. At first, the transition was quite difficult. “I didn’t know what to do with myself,” she said. “I had a full-on identity crisis.”
But Faris said she started getting herself rooted back into the Bible and began to surround herself with the right voices who spoke into her life about what truly matters.
Over time, it all came together. And now she’s sharing her insights and realizations in Called Out, a new book that not only tells her story, but also inspires others not to fall into the same pitfalls of misplacing significance and identity.
“God’s calling me into a different space now,” Faris said of her journey. “My worth is not my work.”
And for anyone looking for guidance in their own lives, she offered an encouraging word: listen to God.
“God speaks to you. He speaks to you through people … and He speaks to you through that song on the radio … through scriptures and sermons,” Faris said. “You just have to listen for God’s voice.”
This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider. Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows. You can get a free trial here.