thestream--2020-11-12--Why We Do Not Trust the Press

Why We Do Not Trust the Press

Until the election results are certified and the legal challenges are resolved , there is no president-elect .
But the media is working overtime to tell you otherwise .
We don ’ t believe them .
We can ’ t believe them .
Here in Connecticut , the state ’ s major newspaper is in a state of high dudgeon against its critics .
The Hartford Courant declares : “ Over the last four years , a fundamental misimpression has developed about how the media and newspapers such as the Courant view Trump .
To his GOP fans and followers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sort of a conspiratorial exercise because we don ’ t agree with his policies or his approach on key issues.
” It ’ s not just Trump voters who have such a “ fundamental misimpression ” of the media .
It ’ s conservatives and moderates of all sorts .
And liberal Democratic pro-lifers .
So why do so many believe the media tells the story it wants to tell ?
Could those people be on to something ?
The Courant does not ask the question .
They are not interested in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are all just enablers of racism ( and other bad things ) .
Our opinion doesn ’ t matter because we ’ re just wrong .
But it is an important question .
And while The Courant may not care about a large group of voters in the state for which it ’ s supposed to be the paper of record , the question deserves an answer .
So here ’ s our answer .
It ’ s a scene we witnessed with our own eyes .
The woman on the right heads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-abortion lobby .
The man leaning down is a candidate for office , the gentleman next to him a volunteer .
But it is the woman with the notebook that I wish to bring to your attention .
She is a reporter for the Middletown Press .
And she is wearing — forgive the vulgarity — a “ pussyhat.
” She showed up at a polling place on election day , chirpily declared “ I ’ m from the Middletown Press !
” and interviewed the NARAL crowd .
And only the NARAL @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I don ’ t expect reporters to be robots .
Reporters are human beings and human beings have worldviews .
But I do expect reporters to be professionals .
We don ’ t expect them to literally wear their politics on their head while they are on the job , interviewing our opposition and not even trying to get both sides .
We see more of this all the time .
That is , a too-cozy relationship between media , politicians , and those very powerful pro-abortion and anti-family forces against which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
The media like the Courant would have acted like this no matter which Republican was president .
They ’ ll act like this even if Joe Biden is president .
Did I say cozy ?
More like in bed with .
Who Do They Serve ?
Wondering whether a politician is serving the public good or his own cronies is , alas , a normal thing .
What is not normal is how the media has tipped the scales in its reporting throughout the Trump presidency .
The bias we have seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last one , goes far beyond the standard liberal bias .
It ’ s become political advocacy pretending to be journalistic objectivity .
The way the major media deal with Trump , his voters , and pro-lifers in general is an abdication of their professional responsibility .
They betray the trust that the public has invested in them .
The hat-wearing reporter from the Middletown Press is only an obvious example .
And that , dear Courant editors , is why pro-lifers have the impression of the media that we do .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a president-elect until some other profession besides yours confirms it .
Peter Wolfgang is president of Family Institute of Connecticut Action .
He lives in Waterbury , Connecticut , with his wife and their seven children .
The views expressed on The Stream are solely his own .

Until the election results are certified and the legal challenges are resolved, there is no president-elect. But the media is working overtime to tell you otherwise. We don’t believe them. We can’t believe them.
Here in Connecticut, the state’s major newspaper is in a state of high dudgeon against its critics. The Hartford Courant declares: “Over the last four years, a fundamental misimpression has developed about how the media and newspapers such as the Courant view Trump. To his GOP fans and followers, the media has engaged in some sort of a conspiratorial exercise because we don’t agree with his policies or his approach on key issues.”
It’s not just Trump voters who have such a “fundamental misimpression” of the media. It’s conservatives and moderates of all sorts. And liberal Democratic pro-lifers. So why do so many believe the media tells the story it wants to tell? Could those people be on to something?
The Answer
The Courant does not ask the question. They are not interested in the answer. To them, Trump voters are all just enablers of racism (and other bad things). Our opinion doesn’t matter because we’re just wrong.
But it is an important question. And while The Courant may not care about a large group of voters in the state for which it’s supposed to be the paper of record, the question deserves an answer.
So here’s our answer. It’s a scene we witnessed with our own eyes. The woman on the right heads the state chapter of NARAL, the pro-abortion lobby. The man leaning down is a candidate for office, the gentleman next to him a volunteer.
But it is the woman with the notebook that I wish to bring to your attention. She is a reporter for the Middletown Press. And she is wearing — forgive the vulgarity — a “pussyhat.”
She showed up at a polling place on election day, chirpily declared “I’m from the Middletown Press!” and interviewed the NARAL crowd. And only the NARAL crowd. All while wearing that hat.
I don’t expect reporters to be robots. Reporters are human beings and human beings have worldviews. But I do expect reporters to be professionals. We don’t expect them to literally wear their politics on their head while they are on the job, interviewing our opposition and not even trying to get both sides.
We see more of this all the time. That is, a too-cozy relationship between media, politicians, and those very powerful pro-abortion and anti-family forces against which we fight.
And you know what? The media like the Courant would have acted like this no matter which Republican was president. They’ll act like this even if Joe Biden is president. Did I say cozy? More like in bed with.
Who Do They Serve?
Wondering whether a politician is serving the public good or his own cronies is, alas, a normal thing. What is not normal is how the media has tipped the scales in its reporting throughout the Trump presidency. The bias we have seen these past four years, especially this last one, goes far beyond the standard liberal bias.
It’s become political advocacy pretending to be journalistic objectivity. The way the major media deal with Trump, his voters, and pro-lifers in general is an abdication of their professional responsibility. They betray the trust that the public has invested in them. The hat-wearing reporter from the Middletown Press is only an obvious example.
And that, dear Courant editors, is why pro-lifers have the impression of the media that we do.
And why we will not believe there is a president-elect until some other profession besides yours confirms it.
Peter Wolfgang is president of Family Institute of Connecticut Action. He lives in Waterbury, Connecticut, with his wife and their seven children. The views expressed on The Stream are solely his own.


thestream--2020-11-12--Meet 5 of the Newly Elected Republican House Members

Conservatives won House races on Election Day and many of these new members are expected to bring fresh perspectives to Capitol Hill as they represent millennials , minorities , people with disabilities and immigrants , among others .
Here are five of the House ’ s incoming freshman Republicans .
Kat Cammack defeated Democrat Adam Christensen to win Florida ’ s 3rd Congressional District with 57.2 % of the vote .
Cammack , 32 , is a former aide to Rep. Ted Yoho , R-Fla. , having served as his chief of staff , deputy chief of staff , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yoho , who is retiring after four terms .
Born in Denver into a family of cattle ranchers , Cammack is a strong Second Amendment advocate and committed to supporting farmers and ranchers .
The congresswoman-elect completed her bachelor ’ s degree at Metropolitan State University in Denver before earning a master ’ s of science degree in national defense and strategic studies at the Naval War College .
Cammack says she became active in politics in 2011 after her family lost their ranch , which she blamed on the Obama administration ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ program intended to help homeowners refinance underwater mortgages .
During her time working for Yoho , she established four new Veterans Affairs clinics in Florida ; crafted Project Putnam , intended to “ improve the economic , social , educational , and overall development of Putnam County ” ; and oversaw Yoho ’ s North Central Florida Human Trafficking Task Force .
Matt Harrison , Cammack ’ s husband , is a firefighter and paramedic .
Together they founded the Grit Foundation , a nonprofit supporting veterans , first responders , and local @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , will become the youngest member of Congress in modern history when he is sworn in in January .
Cawthorn defeated Democratic candidate Morris Davis to win North Carolina ’ s 11th Congressional District with 54.5 % of the vote .
Born and raised in the 11th District , which encompases much of the westernmost part of the state , Cawthorn hoped to join the Navy and attend the U.S .
Naval Academy in Annapolis , Maryland , to which Mark Meadows , former North Carolina congressman and current White House chief of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was forced to change his life plans when he sustained serious injuries in a car accident in the spring of 2014 that put him in the intensive care unit of a hospital for five weeks .
Cawthorn ’ s extensive injuries left him partially paralyzed and in a wheelchair .
The young congressman-elect says he can relate to people who feel they “ have been dealt a bad hand.
” Before running for Congress , he worked as a staff assistant in Meadows ’ district office and attended Patrick Henry College in Purcellville @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In 2019 , he started his own small real estate investment business .
In a campaign video , Cawthorn said that , as a millennial , he plans to bring a fresh perspective to Congress and is committed to saying “ no to high taxes [ and ] no to socialism.
” Byron Donalds defeated his Democratic opponent , Cindy Banyai , in a landslide , capturing 61.3 % of the vote in Florida ’ s 19th Congressional District .
On his website , Donalds , 42 , claims to be “ everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doesn ’ t exist : a Trump-supporting , liberty-loving , pro-life , pro-2nd Amendment black man.
” Donalds was raised by a single mother in Brooklyn , New York , and credits her for instilling in him a passion to “ leave future generations better than the current [ one ] .
” He settled in Florida after graduating from Florida State University in 2002 with degrees in finance and marketing .
He worked in insurance , banking , and finance for a number of years in southwestern Florida and became politically involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve in the state House of Representatives .
In 2017 , he was named a “ Champion of Economic Freedom ” by the nonprofit Americans for Prosperity , and in 2018 , the American Conservative Union Foundation honored him with its Award for Conservative Excellence .
Donalds is chairman of the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee of the Florida House of Representatives .
Criminal justice reform , education , and elder affairs are three of the issues he has focused on during his time in the state House .
The father of three sons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Naples , Florida .
He has served as a youth leader in his church and serves as a volunteer coach for local youth basketball and football leagues .
Donalds has received a 100 % rating from Florida Right to Life .
New Mexico native and small business champion Yvette Herrell won the election in New Mexico ’ s 2nd Congressional District with 53.9 % of the vote , with 95 % of the vote reported .
This was Herrell ’ s second congressional bid .
In 2018 , she was defeated by Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 3,800 votes out of more than 199,000 cast , according to Ballotpedia.org .
In their rematch , Herrell won the seat despite being outspent 3 to 1 .
Herrell , 56 , has committed to “ take New Mexico ’ s values to Congress and work across party lines , ” noting endorsements on her website from both former Democratic Rep. Harry Teague and former Republican Rep. Steve Pearce .
Herrell , a Heritage Action for America sentinel , served in New Mexico ’ s House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nation , she will be the third Native American woman to serve in Congress , according to the Las Cruces Sun-News .
As an entrepreneur , real estate agent , and former small businesses owner , Herrell says she is prepared to fight against big government overreach .
In 2018 , the Rio Grande Foundation ’ s Freedom Index ranked her in first place for upholding principles of economic freedom among more than 100 political leaders in the state .
Herrell doesn ’ t shy away from a discussion of the border wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it and to standing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents .
She also advocates for the growth of America ’ s military and says New Mexico would be an “ ideal location ” for the military to develop its new Space Force branch .
Congresswoman-elect Maria Elvira Salazar was born to immigrant parents who fled Cuba and came to America to escape Fidel Castro ’ s dictatorship .
Salazar , who turned 59 two days before the election , grew up in Miami and Puerto Rico , where her parents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She defeated Democratic freshman Rep. Donna Shalala in a rematch of their 2018 contest to win Florida ’ s 27th Congressional District , capturing 51 % of the vote , according to Miami ’ s Channel 4 , a CBS affiliate .
Shalala served as secretary of health and human services for eight years in the administration of then-President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 2001 .
Salazar has lived the American dream , attending the University of Miami before going on to Harvard University to earn a master ’ s degree in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successful career as a journalist , becoming a prominent anchor for CNN Español and later covering the Persian Gulf War and El Salvador ’ s civil war , the latter for Univision .
Salazar served as a Pentagon and White House correspondent for Univision for a number of years before becoming the bureau chief for its Central America division .
As the senior political correspondent for Telemundo in Cuba , Salazar interviewed Castro at the Cuban mission to the United Nations in 1995 .
The winner of five broadcasting Emmy Awards , Salazar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for freedom and uncovering oppressive , communist , and socialist regimes in Latin America , especially in Cuba , Venezuela , and Nicaragua , ” as noted on her website .
Salazar , who has two daughters and lives in Miami with her husband , is a staunch anti-socialist , writing on her website : “ Socialism isn ’ t a romantic ideal as those on the left want us to believe.
” She promises to “ fight so everyone can pursue the American dream.
” Virginia Allen is a news producer for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ co-host of The Daily Signal Podcast and Problematic Women .
Send an email to Virginia .

Conservatives won House races on Election Day and many of these new members are expected to bring fresh perspectives to Capitol Hill as they represent millennials, minorities, people with disabilities and immigrants, among others.
Here are five of the House’s incoming freshman Republicans.
1. Kat Cammack, 3rd District of Florida
Kat Cammack defeated Democrat Adam Christensen to win Florida’s 3rd Congressional District with 57.2% of the vote.
Cammack, 32, is a former aide to Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., having served as his chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, and campaign manager. She now will succeed Yoho, who is retiring after four terms.
Born in Denver into a family of cattle ranchers, Cammack is a strong Second Amendment advocate and committed to supporting farmers and ranchers.
The congresswoman-elect completed her bachelor’s degree at Metropolitan State University in Denver before earning a master’s of science degree in national defense and strategic studies at the Naval War College.
Cammack says she became active in politics in 2011 after her family lost their ranch, which she blamed on the Obama administration’s Home Affordable Modification Program, a program intended to help homeowners refinance underwater mortgages.
During her time working for Yoho, she established four new Veterans Affairs clinics in Florida; crafted Project Putnam, intended to “improve the economic, social, educational, and overall development of Putnam County”; and oversaw Yoho’s North Central Florida Human Trafficking Task Force.
Matt Harrison, Cammack’s husband, is a firefighter and paramedic. Together they founded the Grit Foundation, a nonprofit supporting veterans, first responders, and local law enforcement.
2. Madison Cawthorn, 11th District of North Carolina
Madison Cawthorn, 25, will become the youngest member of Congress in modern history when he is sworn in in January.
Cawthorn defeated Democratic candidate Morris Davis to win North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District with 54.5% of the vote.
Born and raised in the 11th District, which encompases much of the westernmost part of the state, Cawthorn hoped to join the Navy and attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, to which Mark Meadows, former North Carolina congressman and current White House chief of staff, had nominated him.
Cawthorn was forced to change his life plans when he sustained serious injuries in a car accident in the spring of 2014 that put him in the intensive care unit of a hospital for five weeks.
Cawthorn’s extensive injuries left him partially paralyzed and in a wheelchair. The young congressman-elect says he can relate to people who feel they “have been dealt a bad hand.”
Before running for Congress, he worked as a staff assistant in Meadows’ district office and attended Patrick Henry College in Purcellville, Virginia, for a time. In 2019, he started his own small real estate investment business.
In a campaign video, Cawthorn said that, as a millennial, he plans to bring a fresh perspective to Congress and is committed to saying “no to high taxes [and] no to socialism.”
3. Byron Donalds, 19th District of Florida
Byron Donalds defeated his Democratic opponent, Cindy Banyai, in a landslide, capturing 61.3% of the vote in Florida’s 19th Congressional District.
On his website, Donalds, 42, claims to be “everything the fake news media [say] doesn’t exist: a Trump-supporting, liberty-loving, pro-life, pro-2nd Amendment black man.”
Donalds was raised by a single mother in Brooklyn, New York, and credits her for instilling in him a passion to “leave future generations better than the current [one].”
He settled in Florida after graduating from Florida State University in 2002 with degrees in finance and marketing. He worked in insurance, banking, and finance for a number of years in southwestern Florida and became politically involved in 2016 when he was elected to serve in the state House of Representatives.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
In 2017, he was named a “Champion of Economic Freedom” by the nonprofit Americans for Prosperity, and in 2018, the American Conservative Union Foundation honored him with its Award for Conservative Excellence.
Donalds is chairman of the Insurance and Banking Subcommittee of the Florida House of Representatives. Criminal justice reform, education, and elder affairs are three of the issues he has focused on during his time in the state House.
The father of three sons, Donalds and wife Erika live in Naples, Florida. He has served as a youth leader in his church and serves as a volunteer coach for local youth basketball and football leagues.
Donalds has received a 100% rating from Florida Right to Life.
4. Yvette Herrell, 2nd District of New Mexico
New Mexico native and small business champion Yvette Herrell won the election in New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District with 53.9% of the vote, with 95% of the vote reported.
This was Herrell’s second congressional bid. In 2018, she was defeated by Democrat Xochitl Torres Small by a narrow margin of 3,800 votes out of more than 199,000 cast, according to Ballotpedia.org. In their rematch, Herrell won the seat despite being outspent 3 to 1.
Herrell, 56, has committed to “take New Mexico’s values to Congress and work across party lines,” noting endorsements on her website from both former Democratic Rep. Harry Teague and former Republican Rep. Steve Pearce.
Herrell, a Heritage Action for America sentinel, served in New Mexico’s House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. As a member of the Cherokee Nation, she will be the third Native American woman to serve in Congress, according to the Las Cruces Sun-News.
As an entrepreneur, real estate agent, and former small businesses owner, Herrell says she is prepared to fight against big government overreach. In 2018, the Rio Grande Foundation’s Freedom Index ranked her in first place for upholding principles of economic freedom among more than 100 political leaders in the state.
Herrell doesn’t shy away from a discussion of the border wall and says she is committed to completing it and to standing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents. She also advocates for the growth of America’s military and says New Mexico would be an “ideal location” for the military to develop its new Space Force branch.
5. Maria Elvira Salazar, 27th District of Florida
Congresswoman-elect Maria Elvira Salazar was born to immigrant parents who fled Cuba and came to America to escape Fidel Castro’s dictatorship. Salazar, who turned 59 two days before the election, grew up in Miami and Puerto Rico, where her parents instilled in her the value of freedom.
She defeated Democratic freshman Rep. Donna Shalala in a rematch of their 2018 contest to win Florida’s 27th Congressional District, capturing 51% of the vote, according to Miami’s Channel 4, a CBS affiliate. Shalala served as secretary of health and human services for eight years in the administration of then-President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 2001.
Salazar has lived the American dream, attending the University of Miami before going on to Harvard University to earn a master’s degree in public administration. She has had a successful career as a journalist, becoming a prominent anchor for CNN Español and later covering the Persian Gulf War and El Salvador’s civil war, the latter for Univision.
Salazar served as a Pentagon and White House correspondent for Univision for a number of years before becoming the bureau chief for its Central America division.
As the senior political correspondent for Telemundo in Cuba, Salazar interviewed Castro at the Cuban mission to the United Nations in 1995.
The winner of five broadcasting Emmy Awards, Salazar has been praised for her “passion for freedom and uncovering oppressive, communist, and socialist regimes in Latin America, especially in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua,” as noted on her website.
Salazar, who has two daughters and lives in Miami with her husband, is a staunch anti-socialist, writing on her website: “Socialism isn’t a romantic ideal as those on the left want us to believe.” She promises to “fight so everyone can pursue the American dream.”
Virginia Allen is a news producer for The Daily Signal. She is the co-host of The Daily Signal Podcast and Problematic Women. Send an email to Virginia.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Signal


thestream--2020-11-12--5 US Service Members Killed in Sinai Helicopter Crash

Five American troops were killed in a helicopter crash on Egypt ’ s Sinai Peninsula on Thursday .
The U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down on the small Tiran Island between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba , according to Fox News .
One American is said to have survived the crash , while ABC News reported that two additional international peacekeepers were killed .
That information was subsequently confirmed on the Multinational Force & Observers website .
“ During a routine mission in the vicinity of Sharm el-Sheikh , Egypt , nine members of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were involved in a helicopter crash , ” the statement said .
“ We are deeply saddened to report that eight uniformed MFO members were killed ; six U.S. citizens , one French , and one Czech .
One U.S. MFO Member survived and was medically evacuated .
Names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin .
“ The MFO will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the accident , ” the statement continued .
“ At this point , there is no information to indicate the crash was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death toll was later revised to five by the Pentagon .
ABC News noted that there are “ 452 U.S. military personnel among the force of 1,154 international peacekeepers ” on the Sinai Peninsula as part of the 1978 Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel .
The historic peace treaties were brokered by then-President Jimmy Carter .
“ Active duty military personnel were assigned to the mission for decades , but in recent years it has been carried out by National Guardsmen , ” ABC reported .
Please join The Stream in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve peace .
We also ask God to comfort and heal the U.S. service member who reportedly survived the crash .
As I wrote on Veterans Day , those who serve “ deserve the eternal appreciation and respect of a grateful nation.
” During this hour of tragedy and grief , we send our love and prayers to America ’ s newest Gold Star families and pledge to always honor and remember their loved ones .
Because of them , we are free .
Tom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Stream .
He is co-author of Three Wise Men , Brothers Forever , 8 Seconds of Courage and Fire in My Eyes .
Follow Tom on Twitter @ TSileo and The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

Five American troops were killed in a helicopter crash on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula on Thursday.
The U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter went down on the small Tiran Island between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, according to Fox News. One American is said to have survived the crash, while ABC News reported that two additional international peacekeepers were killed. That information was subsequently confirmed on the Multinational Force & Observers website.
“During a routine mission in the vicinity of Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, nine members of the Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) were involved in a helicopter crash,” the statement said. “We are deeply saddened to report that eight uniformed MFO members were killed; six U.S. citizens, one French, and one Czech. One U.S. MFO Member survived and was medically evacuated. Names are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
“The MFO will conduct an investigation to determine the cause of the accident,” the statement continued. “At this point, there is no information to indicate the crash was anything except an accident.”
The American death toll was later revised to five by the Pentagon.
https://twitter.com/DeptofDefense/status/1327024210259173376?s=20
ABC News noted that there are “452 U.S. military personnel among the force of 1,154 international peacekeepers” on the Sinai Peninsula as part of the 1978 Camp David Accords between Egypt and Israel. The historic peace treaties were brokered by then-President Jimmy Carter.
“Active duty military personnel were assigned to the mission for decades, but in recent years it has been carried out by National Guardsmen,” ABC reported.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Please join The Stream in praying for the families of the five American heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve peace. We also ask God to comfort and heal the U.S. service member who reportedly survived the crash.
As I wrote on Veterans Day, those who serve “deserve the eternal appreciation and respect of a grateful nation.” During this hour of tragedy and grief, we send our love and prayers to America’s newest Gold Star families and pledge to always honor and remember their loved ones. Because of them, we are free.
Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream. He is co-author of Three Wise Men, Brothers Forever, 8 Seconds of Courage and Fire in My Eyes. Follow Tom on Twitter @TSileo and The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-11-12--Mom Arrested, Daughter Taken to Hospital After Confrontation With Police Over Masks

A woman was arrested and her daughter tackled by school board police after refusing to wear a mask at a Florida school board meeting Tuesday , ABC Action News reported .
Kari Turner took her daughter , Alea Kench , to a Pinellas County School Board meeting that addressed mask requirements in the classroom , according to ABC Action News .
Kench planned on arguing against the policy in front of the board , according to 8 On Your Side When trying to leave the meeting , parents and kids were stopped by police if they were not wearing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Tampa Bay Times reported .
Debra Williams , a Pinellas mom , claims an officer held up handcuffs and chased her from the building , the Tampa Bay Times reported .
Williams witnessed the officers blocking another parent , Sam Stefano , from leaving the building .
“ They were holding her .
They would not let her leave , ” Williams said , per the Tampa Bay Times .
Stefano posted a video of the situation on Facebook , according to the Tampa Bay Times , writing “ I was blocked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I took my mask off while leaving.
” She continued , “ They refused to let me leave the building .
I put it on and they still refused to let me leave unless I gave them my information so that I wouldn ’ t be able to return , .
” Turner allegedly refused to wear a mask , ABC Action News reported .
She was arrested while her two children watched , per the Tampa Bay Times .
Stefano wrote in her Facebook post that she witnessed Turner ’ s daughter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ screaming for her mom , ” per the Tampa Bay Times .
Turner ’ s husband , Jeremey Kench , said police hurt his daughter ’ s hand to such an extent that he ended up having to take her to the hospital , 8 On Your Side reported .
Turner is being charged with trespassing , disorderly conduct , and battery , according to 8 On Your Side .
The school ’ s mandate extension passed 4-1 indefinitely , with plans to revisit the issue every three months , 8 On Your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not immediately respond to The Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment .
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 .

A woman was arrested and her daughter tackled by school board police after refusing to wear a mask at a Florida school board meeting Tuesday, ABC Action News reported.
Kari Turner took her daughter, Alea Kench, to a Pinellas County School Board meeting that addressed mask requirements in the classroom, according to ABC Action News. Kench planned on arguing against the policy in front of the board, according to 8 On Your Side
When trying to leave the meeting, parents and kids were stopped by police if they were not wearing a mask while walking through the building, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
It was a lovely day at the Pinellas County School Board meeting, until it wasn't. https://t.co/2h14xpfEFM — Marlene Sokol (@Marlenesokol) November 11, 2020
Debra Williams, a Pinellas mom, claims an officer held up handcuffs and chased her from the building, the Tampa Bay Times reported.
Williams witnessed the officers blocking another parent, Sam Stefano, from leaving the building. “They were holding her. They would not let her leave,” Williams said, per the Tampa Bay Times.
Stefano posted a video of the situation on Facebook, according to the Tampa Bay Times, writing “I was blocked at the top of the stairs because I took my mask off while leaving.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
She continued, “They refused to let me leave the building. I put it on and they still refused to let me leave unless I gave them my information so that I wouldn’t be able to return,.”
Turner allegedly refused to wear a mask, ABC Action News reported. She was arrested while her two children watched, per the Tampa Bay Times.
Stefano wrote in her Facebook post that she witnessed Turner’s daughter being reportedly “tackled to the ground screaming for her mom,” per the Tampa Bay Times.
Turner’s husband, Jeremey Kench, said police hurt his daughter’s hand to such an extent that he ended up having to take her to the hospital, 8 On Your Side reported. Turner is being charged with trespassing, disorderly conduct, and battery, according to 8 On Your Side.
The school’s mandate extension passed 4-1 indefinitely, with plans to revisit the issue every three months, 8 On Your Side reported.
The school board police did not immediately respond to The Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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--2020-11-12--Lessons From the Church Under Caesar

Lessons From the Church Under Caesar

We have been blessed with many liberties here in America , many of them unknown throughout human history .
And we should diligently guard those liberties .
It would be a terrible tragedy if we lost them , especially for the generations that will follow .
Few things are as precious as our freedoms .
At the same time , as followers of Jesus , it ’ s easy for us to lose our perspective because of those very liberties and freedoms .
It ’ s easy for us to become dependent on the government .
Or to put our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to believe that human limitations can put limitations on God .
Perish the thought .
With this in mind , we do well to think back to the situation of the first century church , living in the Roman Empire and subject to the Roman emperor , meaning men like Caligula ( 37-41 AD ) and Nero ( 54-68 ) .
According to one history website , “ Caligula was Rome ’ s most tyrannical emperor .
His reign from 37-41 AD is filled with murder and debauchery , to levels even his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The great-great grandson of Julius Caesar certainly left his mark by his possible madness and definitely horrific acts.
” Another website states , “ Historical accounts of Caligula may vary , but nearly all historians agreed on one dark fact : this deranged emperor placed very little value on human life .
In one twisted story , Caligula was supposedly meant to sacrifice a bull to the gods by hitting it over the head with a huge mallet .
At the last minute , Caligula had an even worse idea — he turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the leader of the empire .
As for Nero , where do we start ?
According to the historian Tacitus , “ to stop the rumor [ that he had set Rome on fire ] , he [ Emperor Nero ] falsely charged with guilt , and punished with the most fearful tortures , the persons commonly called Christians , who were [ generally ] hated for their enormities … .
Accordingly first those were arrested who confessed they were Christians ; next on their information , a vast multitude were convicted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of burning the city , as of ‘ hating the human race.
’ ” ( Yes , these early Christians were called “ haters.
” ) Tacitus continues : “ In their very deaths they were made the subjects of sport : for they were covered with the hides of wild beasts , and worried to death by dogs , or nailed to crosses , or set fire to , and when the day waned , burned to serve for the evening lights.
” Picture this happening in your city to your friends @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the reigns of Caligula and Nero , among others , that the early church thrived .
It was during these times of intense , unspeakable cruelty and persecution , that the gospel message flourished and grew .
And it was while the demented , murderous Nero was emperor that Paul wrote these words : “ Let every person be subject to the governing authorities .
For there is no authority except from God , and those that exist have been instituted by God ” ( Romans 13:1 ) .
Of course , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to governing authorities , as in cases where the authorities command you to do evil .
Accordingly , if you were a Christian living in Hitler ’ s Germany and were commanded to turn in any Jews you knew , the right thing would be disobedience — disobedience to man but obedience to God .
We always submit to the highest authority .
But that ’ s now what I want to focus on .
Instead , I want to draw our attention to the attitude of believers under a dictatorial regime .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ not take legal action against the government .
You can not protest ( unless you want to be killed in the process ) .
You can not change “ the system.
” Such matters are out of your hands .
But you can do something much more powerful .
You can spread the gospel .
You can advance God ’ s countercultural , spiritual kingdom .
You can liberate people ’ s hearts and minds .
You can bring healing and redemption .
You can be an agent of eternal change .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up .
And that ’ s what these early believers did , turning their world upside down .
The ultimate battle is a spiritual battle , and that battle can be waged regardless of what kind of government we ’ re under .
In fact , it is often during the hardest times that the church grows the most .
Just look at the explosive growth of the Church in Communist China over the last 70-80 years .
Or consider the church in Muslim Iran , which is growing as rapidly as any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ often does much better under persecution than under prosperity .
That ’ s why it doesn ’ t surprise me that the most precious , devoted Christians I have met in the world are Christians under persecution .
Conversely , it doesn ’ t surprise that , quite often , the most complacent Christians I ’ ve met have been Christians in the midst of abundant prosperity .
That ’ s why the church became much more compromised and worldly once Constantine Christianized the Roman Empire .
With the good came the bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mixture , as the Church became an appendage of a still-worldly empire .
Freedom and prosperity are gifts that can be easily abused .
It ’ s true , of course , that at different times in history ( including recently ) , radical Islam has virtually wiped out entire Christian populations in some parts of the world .
And it ’ s true that no one in their right mind would want to bequeath brutal persecution and mass killing on the generations to come .
Do Not Put Your Trust in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ must guard the freedoms and liberties God has given us here in America .
But let ’ s also be realistic .
Just as Donald Trump is not Jesus , Joe Biden is not the devil .
Neither is he Nero .
Biden may support gay “ marriage ” and transgender activism , but Nero “ castrated a boy named Sporus to make him womanlike , and then married him in a traditional ceremony , which included a bridal veil and a dowry , according to the Roman historian and biographer Suetonius ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do not believe for a moment that Biden would call for Christians to be set on fire and burned alive to illuminate the night .
Please !
( And for the record , we still do not officially know who our next president will be . )
So , while we work hard to preserve our freedoms and push back against those who seek to take them from us , we must never put our trust in the arm of flesh .
Paul ’ s counsel was simple : “ First of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supplications , prayers , intercessions , and thanksgivings be made for all people , for kings and all who are in high positions , that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life , godly and dignified in every way .
This is good , and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior , who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth ” ( 1 Timothy 2:1-4 ) .
Here in America , we should get involved in the political system as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the opportunity to do so .
But our trust is placed elsewhere .
The invisible kingdom is advancing , and no power in heaven or on earth can stop it .
Peter and Paul and a host of other first century Christians , all killed for their faith , would add their hearty Amen .
Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program .
His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads : Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
Connect with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

We have been blessed with many liberties here in America, many of them unknown throughout human history. And we should diligently guard those liberties. It would be a terrible tragedy if we lost them, especially for the generations that will follow. Few things are as precious as our freedoms.
At the same time, as followers of Jesus, it’s easy for us to lose our perspective because of those very liberties and freedoms. It’s easy for us to become dependent on the government. Or to put our trust in a worldly system. Or to believe that human limitations can put limitations on God. Perish the thought.
Meet Nero and Caligula
With this in mind, we do well to think back to the situation of the first century church, living in the Roman Empire and subject to the Roman emperor, meaning men like Caligula (37-41 AD) and Nero (54-68).
According to one history website, “Caligula was Rome’s most tyrannical emperor. His reign from 37-41 AD is filled with murder and debauchery, to levels even his infamous nephew Nero could not reach. The great-great grandson of Julius Caesar certainly left his mark by his possible madness and definitely horrific acts.”
Another website states, “Historical accounts of Caligula may vary, but nearly all historians agreed on one dark fact: this deranged emperor placed very little value on human life. In one twisted story, Caligula was supposedly meant to sacrifice a bull to the gods by hitting it over the head with a huge mallet. At the last minute, Caligula had an even worse idea — he turned and struck the priest instead.”
This was the leader of the empire.
As for Nero, where do we start? According to the historian Tacitus, “to stop the rumor [that he had set Rome on fire], he [Emperor Nero] falsely charged with guilt, and punished with the most fearful tortures, the persons commonly called Christians, who were [generally] hated for their enormities … . Accordingly first those were arrested who confessed they were Christians; next on their information, a vast multitude were convicted, not so much on the charge of burning the city, as of ‘hating the human race.’” (Yes, these early Christians were called “haters.”)
Tacitus continues: “In their very deaths they were made the subjects of sport: for they were covered with the hides of wild beasts, and worried to death by dogs, or nailed to crosses, or set fire to, and when the day waned, burned to serve for the evening lights.”
Yet the Church Thrived
Picture this happening in your city to your friends and family members.
Yet it was during the reigns of Caligula and Nero, among others, that the early church thrived. It was during these times of intense, unspeakable cruelty and persecution, that the gospel message flourished and grew.
And it was while the demented, murderous Nero was emperor that Paul wrote these words: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God” (Romans 13:1).
Of course, Paul did not call for unqualified submission to governing authorities, as in cases where the authorities command you to do evil. Accordingly, if you were a Christian living in Hitler’s Germany and were commanded to turn in any Jews you knew, the right thing would be disobedience — disobedience to man but obedience to God. We always submit to the highest authority.
Growth Under Persecution
But that’s now what I want to focus on. Instead, I want to draw our attention to the attitude of believers under a dictatorial regime. You cannot vote. You cannot take legal action against the government. You cannot protest (unless you want to be killed in the process). You cannot change “the system.” Such matters are out of your hands.
But you can do something much more powerful. You can spread the gospel. You can advance God’s countercultural, spiritual kingdom. You can liberate people’s hearts and minds. You can bring healing and redemption. You can be an agent of eternal change. You can challenge the system from the ground up.
And that’s what these early believers did, turning their world upside down.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The ultimate battle is a spiritual battle, and that battle can be waged regardless of what kind of government we’re under.
In fact, it is often during the hardest times that the church grows the most. Just look at the explosive growth of the Church in Communist China over the last 70-80 years. Or consider the church in Muslim Iran, which is growing as rapidly as any church in the world.
The church often does much better under persecution than under prosperity.
That’s why it doesn’t surprise me that the most precious, devoted Christians I have met in the world are Christians under persecution. Conversely, it doesn’t surprise that, quite often, the most complacent Christians I’ve met have been Christians in the midst of abundant prosperity.
That’s why the church became much more compromised and worldly once Constantine Christianized the Roman Empire. With the good came the bad. Governmental backing now produced a foreign mixture, as the Church became an appendage of a still-worldly empire.
Freedom and prosperity are gifts that can be easily abused.
It’s true, of course, that at different times in history (including recently), radical Islam has virtually wiped out entire Christian populations in some parts of the world. And it’s true that no one in their right mind would want to bequeath brutal persecution and mass killing on the generations to come.
Do Not Put Your Trust in the Arm of Flesh
To repeat: we must guard the freedoms and liberties God has given us here in America.
But let’s also be realistic. Just as Donald Trump is not Jesus, Joe Biden is not the devil. Neither is he Nero.
Biden may support gay “marriage” and transgender activism, but Nero “castrated a boy named Sporus to make him womanlike, and then married him in a traditional ceremony, which included a bridal veil and a dowry, according to the Roman historian and biographer Suetonius (circa A.D. 69).”
And I do not believe for a moment that Biden would call for Christians to be set on fire and burned alive to illuminate the night. Please! (And for the record, we still do not officially know who our next president will be.)
So, while we work hard to preserve our freedoms and push back against those who seek to take them from us, we must never put our trust in the arm of flesh.
Paul’s counsel was simple: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
Here in America, we should get involved in the political system as much as we are called to and have the opportunity to do so.
But our trust is placed elsewhere. The invisible kingdom is advancing, and no power in heaven or on earth can stop it.
Peter and Paul and a host of other first century Christians, all killed for their faith, would add their hearty Amen.
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test? Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.


thestream--2020-11-13--Why Should Christians Be Involved in Government?

With our nation in turmoil , we may be tempted to run and hide .
To just give up until “ Jesus comes.
” But we have a responsibility to stay in the fight .
It ’ s our calling and our honor as followers of Christ to champion His justice and practice His mercy with every action we take .
That includes what we say and do politically .
To read more about this and other similar topics , visit our Foundations page .
Marissa Hays works for LIFE Today – an innovative television talk show sharing the Gospel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She is honored to serve as the host of The Stream : Foundations and is perpetually passionate about proclaiming the name which is above every name : Jesus Christ !
Her deepest joy is found in studying the Old and New Testaments that point us to the perpetual glory and perfect love of our God ; believing that all Scripture is God-breathed , and therefore both beautiful and beneficial .
Marissa and her wonderful husband , Clark , live in Arlington , Texas , with their adorable son and affectionate pug .

With our nation in turmoil, we may be tempted to run and hide. To just give up until “Jesus comes.” But we have a responsibility to stay in the fight. It’s our calling and our honor as followers of Christ to champion His justice and practice His mercy with every action we take. That includes what we say and do politically.
Please watch as we continue our Foundations Video Series and visit our Foundations page to explore more.
Marissa Hays works for LIFE Today — an innovative television talk show sharing the Gospel message with people all over the world. Marissa is honored to serve as the host of The Stream: Foundations and is passionate about the unparalleled love and unprecedented grace available to us in Jesus Christ. She and her husband currently reside in Texas with their adorable son and affectionate pug.


thestream--2020-11-13--The Red Wave No One Saw Coming

The Red Wave No One Saw Coming

Had you spent any time in this northern suburb of Pittsburgh listening to voters , finding out what matters to them when it comes to schools , community growth , economic prosperity and the emotional impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns , you would have at least been skeptical of the media narrative and the polls that claimed suburban voters here are no longer center-right .
Not Republican per se , just center-right .
Most reporters certainly didn ’ t take the time to do so .
Instead , they relied on the scolding of our cultural curators in sports , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how these affluent , college-educated voters would vote .
Surely , reporters thought , these suburbs had fully embraced “ wokeism ” and rejected center-right values and principles .
They thought they would cave under the cultural pressure , push left and send a blue shock wave across the country with their votes .
These reporters put their faith in what they saw in polls or on Twitter , and they predicted the vilification of center-rightism would drag the country leftward .
Except the people who voted here , and in down-ballot races @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure .
By all accounts , Rob Mercuri should have never won the open state House seat .
His opponent , Emily Skopov , was well funded ; had the support of the teachers union , abortion rights groups and several climate change groups ; and supported Democratic Gov .
Tom Wolf ’ s restrictive approach to the pandemic .
Skopov possessed everything pollsters and the national narrative believed needed to win against a Republican : She ’ s female , progressive and was running for a seat with a changing demographic that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by almost 9 percentage points — again , repeating the same number she had when she ran against Republican former House Speaker Mike Turzai , who decided not to seek reelection this term .
Mercuri was not alone .
In another equally affluent suburb on the other side of the Allegheny River , Devlin Robinson took out Democrat state Sen. Pam Iovino , 53 % to 47 % .
In Oakmont , as of Thursday evening , powerful Democratic state House Minority Leader Frank Dermody was trailing Republican Carrie DelRosso , 52 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for decades in an affluent suburban district that hugs the Allegheny River , but she may fall short in 2020 .
Pollsters let President Donald Trump get in their way in understanding the electorate , and so did reporters and political scientists .
For a brief moment as a reporter , I struggled with lining up what the data was telling me .
It conflicted with what my reporting was telling me , with what voters were telling me and with what cultural cues were telling me .
So , I went back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Pennsylvania , Ohio , Michigan , Indiana and Wisconsin .
It turns out that the only place that blue wave existed was on Twitter or in a poll — never once in an experience or an interview .
Traditionally , a president , whether center-right or center-left , pushes the country in the opposite direction .
Former President Barack Obama pushed the country right three times , in 2010 , 2014 and 2016 , in reaction to his policies .
Former President George W. Bush pushed the country left in 2006 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country right in 1994 .
While Trump pushed the country slightly center-left in the 2018 midterm elections , his policies ( tax cut , trade deal , deregulation ) and the left ’ s insane pressure on our culture both pushed the country firmly back to center-right .
It could be argued that these competing forces ignited the beginning of a red wave that not only kept the coalition that placed Trump in office intact but also got bigger and more diverse , with Republicans winning the largest share of nonwhite voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just gain seats here in Pennsylvania in the state House and state Senate .
There is also a better-than-50 % chance that it won two statewide offices .
Republicans also gained state House and Senate seats in Ohio and West Virginia , while Democrats lost ground in North Carolina and Iowa .
And all that boasting and bragging about Democratic prospects of winning the Texas state House fell flat .
Republicans also increased their gubernatorial majority by reelecting all of the Republican governors up for election in 2020 and by flipping Montana .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 27 to 23 .
Despite having all of the money in the world ( half a billion at last count ) and all of the pressure culture placed on these voters , these voters showed up and voted for their communities .
In addition , Hispanic and black voters voted for center-right candidates in record numbers .
Why ?
Ask them .
A lot of that move to the right has to do with opportunity , aspiration , community and faith , concepts cable news talking heads never address .
They only assume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as an Ivy League women ’ s studies major on social justice , climate justice , pronoun justice and justice justice .
These voters — call them shy Trump voters or shy Tory voters — don ’ t hold larger institutions with the same regard that elites do .
In fact , they regard them with skepticism and are highly unlikely to give them information they consider private .
Center-Rightism Was Always Here Center-rightism didn ’ t defy the odds .
It was always present .
It ’ s just that too few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have a color or a geographical place , but it proved Tuesday evening that it is persistent and does not respond accordingly to outside cultural pressure .
Elitism also did not defy the odds .
Within hours of voting results rolling in , elites watched in horror as Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden did not win in a landslide and there was no blue wave .
They lived up to their cultural blindness and continued to avoid the reality that our country has moved not left over the last four years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missing how the conservative populist coalition that placed Trump in office has held together and grown , with many of those voters opting not to vote for him at the top of the ticket but happily turning out for other Republican candidates .
Salena Zito is a CNN political analyst , and a staff reporter and columnist for the Washington Examiner .
She reaches the Everyman and Everywoman through shoe-leather journalism , traveling from Main Street to the beltway and all places in between .

Had you spent any time in this northern suburb of Pittsburgh listening to voters, finding out what matters to them when it comes to schools, community growth, economic prosperity and the emotional impact of the COVID-19 lockdowns, you would have at least been skeptical of the media narrative and the polls that claimed suburban voters here are no longer center-right.
Not Republican per se, just center-right.
No Blue Wave
Most reporters certainly didn’t take the time to do so. Instead, they relied on the scolding of our cultural curators in sports, media and Hollywood as an indicator of how these affluent, college-educated voters would vote. Surely, reporters thought, these suburbs had fully embraced “wokeism” and rejected center-right values and principles. They thought they would cave under the cultural pressure, push left and send a blue shock wave across the country with their votes.
These reporters put their faith in what they saw in polls or on Twitter, and they predicted the vilification of center-rightism would drag the country leftward. Except the people who voted here, and in down-ballot races across the country, vigorously rejected that pressure.
Examples of a Red Wave
By all accounts, Rob Mercuri should have never won the open state House seat. His opponent, Emily Skopov, was well funded; had the support of the teachers union, abortion rights groups and several climate change groups; and supported Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s restrictive approach to the pandemic. Skopov possessed everything pollsters and the national narrative believed needed to win against a Republican: She’s female, progressive and was running for a seat with a changing demographic that is ascending and affluent.
She lost by almost 9 percentage points — again, repeating the same number she had when she ran against Republican former House Speaker Mike Turzai, who decided not to seek reelection this term.
Mercuri was not alone. In another equally affluent suburb on the other side of the Allegheny River, Devlin Robinson took out Democrat state Sen. Pam Iovino, 53% to 47%.
In Oakmont, as of Thursday evening, powerful Democratic state House Minority Leader Frank Dermody was trailing Republican Carrie DelRosso, 52% to 48%. Dermody has held for decades in an affluent suburban district that hugs the Allegheny River, but she may fall short in 2020.
Pollsters let President Donald Trump get in their way in understanding the electorate, and so did reporters and political scientists.
The Data Didn’t Add Up
For a brief moment as a reporter, I struggled with lining up what the data was telling me. It conflicted with what my reporting was telling me, with what voters were telling me and with what cultural cues were telling me. So, I went back out in search of that blue wave in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin.
It turns out that the only place that blue wave existed was on Twitter or in a poll — never once in an experience or an interview.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Traditionally, a president, whether center-right or center-left, pushes the country in the opposite direction. Former President Barack Obama pushed the country right three times, in 2010, 2014 and 2016, in reaction to his policies. Former President George W. Bush pushed the country left in 2006 and 2008. Former President Bill Clinton pushed the country right in 1994.
While Trump pushed the country slightly center-left in the 2018 midterm elections, his policies (tax cut, trade deal, deregulation) and the left’s insane pressure on our culture both pushed the country firmly back to center-right.
It could be argued that these competing forces ignited the beginning of a red wave that not only kept the coalition that placed Trump in office intact but also got bigger and more diverse, with Republicans winning the largest share of nonwhite voters since 1960.
Not Just Pennsylvania
Republicans didn’t just gain seats here in Pennsylvania in the state House and state Senate. There is also a better-than-50% chance that it won two statewide offices. Republicans also gained state House and Senate seats in Ohio and West Virginia, while Democrats lost ground in North Carolina and Iowa.
And all that boasting and bragging about Democratic prospects of winning the Texas state House fell flat.
Republicans also increased their gubernatorial majority by reelecting all of the Republican governors up for election in 2020 and by flipping Montana. The GOP lead in governors is now 27 to 23.
Despite having all of the money in the world (half a billion at last count) and all of the pressure culture placed on these voters, these voters showed up and voted for their communities.
In addition, Hispanic and black voters voted for center-right candidates in record numbers. Why? Ask them. A lot of that move to the right has to do with opportunity, aspiration, community and faith, concepts cable news talking heads never address. They only assume these voters are on the same page as an Ivy League women’s studies major on social justice, climate justice, pronoun justice and justice justice.
These voters — call them shy Trump voters or shy Tory voters — don’t hold larger institutions with the same regard that elites do. In fact, they regard them with skepticism and are highly unlikely to give them information they consider private.
Center-Rightism Was Always Here
Center-rightism didn’t defy the odds. It was always present. It’s just that too few people asked people why. It doesn’t have a color or a geographical place, but it proved Tuesday evening that it is persistent and does not respond accordingly to outside cultural pressure.
Elitism also did not defy the odds. Within hours of voting results rolling in, elites watched in horror as Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden did not win in a landslide and there was no blue wave. They lived up to their cultural blindness and continued to avoid the reality that our country has moved not left over the last four years but center-right.
They are also still missing how the conservative populist coalition that placed Trump in office has held together and grown, with many of those voters opting not to vote for him at the top of the ticket but happily turning out for other Republican candidates.
Salena Zito is a CNN political analyst, and a staff reporter and columnist for the Washington Examiner. She reaches the Everyman and Everywoman through shoe-leather journalism, traveling from Main Street to the beltway and all places in between.
COPYRIGHT 2018 CREATORS.COM


thestream--2020-11-13--Jordan Peterson’s Most Important Rule for Life

Nearly two years ago , friends purchased me a copy of Jordan Peterson ’ s best-selling book 12 Rules for Life .
I started the book shortly after receiving it , but somewhere along the way I got sidetracked and didn ’ t finish .
( This never used to happen to me , but raising three kids has altered my reading habits . )
With Peterson ’ s recent return to the public scene , I decided to return to the work .
I ’ m currently reading Rule # 12 ( “ Pet a Cat When You Encounter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and plan to review the work eventually .
But before tackling the entire book , it seemed appropriate to share the most important rule in Peterson ’ s seminal work , which has sold more than 3 million copies worldwide .
Take responsibility for your life .
That ’ s it .
It sounds simple , trite even .
It ’ s something you ’ d expect your father or grandmother to tell you after you screwed up or got fired .
Nevertheless , it ’ s a message sorely needed right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foreword to 12 Rules , agreed that is the primary lesson from Peterson ’ s book .
“ …the foremost rule is that you must take responsibility for your own life .
Period , ” writes Doidge , a psychiatrist , author and friend of Peterson .
( emphasis added ) To be clear , “ take responsibility ” is not actually one of Peterson ’ s 12 rules .
Still , Doidge ’ s assessment is correct and should come as little surprise .
Personal responsibility over one ’ s life is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offers throughout his book as an antidote to the chaos many of us feel today .
( It ’ s also a theme of his lectures and interviews . )
When Peterson says stand up straight , make good friends , set your own house in order first , tell the truth , make your bed , be precise in speech , etc.
, he ’ s not really concerned about how clean your room is .
He is instructing readers on how they can take control of their own lives .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Their agency .
The question is , why does this lesson suddenly feel so important ?
After all , Peterson ’ s message is not exactly new .
In many ways , his teachings channel some of the ancient Stoics , who millennia ago taught that the path to a peaceful and happy life was to master the one thing humans can truly control : themselves .
“ Where is the good ?
In our choices , ” the Stoic philosopher Epictetus once observed .
“ Where is the evil ?
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stoics was to not subject your own feelings , your own happiness , to external factors .
After all , we often have little control over events and circumstances and people .
The path to harmony and happiness is learning to control how we , as individuals , respond to these things .
The ideas of self-empowerment , self-control , and individual initiative are hardly unique to the Stoics , of course .
Other ancient philosophies explored these concepts to varying degrees , and the themes are interwoven in the American idea , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Benjamin Franklin ’ s Poor Richard ’ s Almanack and Ralph Waldo Emerson ’ s Self-Reliance .
The problem , as Peterson sees it , is Americans are no longer receiving these lessons .
In a 2018 interview with British GQ , Peterson was asked why people were so “ hungry ” for his message .
“ They are hungry for a discussion of the relationship of responsibility and meaning , ” Peterson responded .
“ We haven ’ t had that discussion in our culture for 50 years.
” This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human history , thinkers have explored this issue — how our individual choices intersected with living a life of meaning — perhaps above all others .
It was central to the philosophies of thinkers from Plato and Aristotle to Immanuel Kant and Nietzsche .
But Peterson says we no longer grapple with these questions .
Postmodern philosophy has taken us in new directions .
“ We ’ ve concentrated on rights and privileges and freedom and impulsive pleasure , ” Peterson says .
“ Those are all useful in their place , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not good .
Because if people are moored shallowly , then storms wreck them .
And storms come along.
” Leaning into responsibility is how humans learn to bear storms , which are inevitable .
As many know , Peterson encountered his own storm when his wife Tammy was diagnosed with terminal cancer in April 2019 , and he struggled with a dependency on the drug benzodiazepine .
Peterson survived his storm because his life was moored in responsibility , which offered meaning and strength .
When Peterson says we haven @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and meaning in our culture “ for 50 years , ” he ’ s alluding to a cultural shift that has taken place .
It ’ s not just that we don ’ t teach people how to take responsibility for their own lives ; it ’ s that in many ways we actively discourage them from doing so .
Woke culture , safe spaces and victimhood — each is a manifestation of a culture that has replaced individual responsibility with collectivist notions of injustice .
People are openly hostile to Peterson ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This is not to say that injustice is not real .
It is , and it always will be .
The problem is that in our quest of ridding the world of injustice , we ’ ve forgotten that we must first own and fix ourselves .
Moreover , Peterson ’ s message is not to ignore injustice .
His message is to take responsibility for your life despite the presence of injustice , which will always exist .
( Peterson has pointed out , for example , that studies show a parolee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ degree on whether the hearing judge ruled before or after her lunch .
Apparently , hungry judges are much less likely to be forgiving . )
This is how one becomes a ship that can weather storms — not by placing your power in things beyond your control , but by taking responsibility over the things you can .
The very fact that people can treat Peterson ’ s message as foreign , strange and worthy of their hostility is evidence of how necessary it is .
We should be thankful Jordan Peterson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miltimore is the Managing Editor of FEE.org .
His writing/reporting has been the subject of articles in TIME magazine , The Wall Street Journal , CNN , Forbes , Fox News , and the Star Tribune .

Nearly two years ago, friends purchased me a copy of Jordan Peterson’s best-selling book 12 Rules for Life.
I started the book shortly after receiving it, but somewhere along the way I got sidetracked and didn’t finish. (This never used to happen to me, but raising three kids has altered my reading habits.)
With Peterson’s recent return to the public scene, I decided to return to the work. I’m currently reading Rule #12 (“Pet a Cat When You Encounter One on the Street”), and plan to review the work eventually.
The Most Important Rule
But before tackling the entire book, it seemed appropriate to share the most important rule in Peterson’s seminal work, which has sold more than 3 million copies worldwide.
Take responsibility for your life.
That’s it. It sounds simple, trite even. It’s something you’d expect your father or grandmother to tell you after you screwed up or got fired.
Nevertheless, it’s a message sorely needed right now. Norman Doidge, who wrote the foreword to 12 Rules, agreed that is the primary lesson from Peterson’s book.
“…the foremost rule is that you must take responsibility for your own life. Period,” writes Doidge, a psychiatrist, author and friend of Peterson. (emphasis added)
To be clear, “take responsibility” is not actually one of Peterson’s 12 rules. Still, Doidge’s assessment is correct and should come as little surprise.
Personal responsibility over one’s life is an idea embedded throughout the rules Peterson offers throughout his book as an antidote to the chaos many of us feel today. (It’s also a theme of his lectures and interviews.) When Peterson says stand up straight, make good friends, set your own house in order first, tell the truth, make your bed, be precise in speech, etc., he’s not really concerned about how clean your room is. He is instructing readers on how they can take control of their own lives. He’s reminding them of their power. Their agency.
In many ways, his teachings channel some of the ancient Stoics, who millennia ago taught that the path to a peaceful and happy life was to master the one thing humans can truly control: themselves.
The question is, why does this lesson suddenly feel so important? After all, Peterson’s message is not exactly new. In many ways, his teachings channel some of the ancient Stoics, who millennia ago taught that the path to a peaceful and happy life was to master the one thing humans can truly control: themselves.
Our Choices
“Where is the good? In our choices,” the Stoic philosopher Epictetus once observed. “Where is the evil? In our choices.”
The message of the Stoics was to not subject your own feelings, your own happiness, to external factors. After all, we often have little control over events and circumstances and people. The path to harmony and happiness is learning to control how we, as individuals, respond to these things.
The ideas of self-empowerment, self-control, and individual initiative are hardly unique to the Stoics, of course. Other ancient philosophies explored these concepts to varying degrees, and the themes are interwoven in the American idea, and found in classic works, such as Benjamin Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanack and Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Self-Reliance.
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The problem, as Peterson sees it, is Americans are no longer receiving these lessons. In a 2018 interview with British GQ, Peterson was asked why people were so “hungry” for his message.
“They are hungry for a discussion of the relationship of responsibility and meaning,” Peterson responded. “We haven’t had that discussion in our culture for 50 years.”
This is an incredible statement. For most of human history, thinkers have explored this issue — how our individual choices intersected with living a life of meaning — perhaps above all others. It was central to the philosophies of thinkers from Plato and Aristotle to Immanuel Kant and Nietzsche.
Moored Shallowly
But Peterson says we no longer grapple with these questions. Postmodern philosophy has taken us in new directions.
“We’ve concentrated on rights and privileges and freedom and impulsive pleasure,” Peterson says. “Those are all useful in their place, but they’re shallow, and that’s not good. Because if people are moored shallowly, then storms wreck them. And storms come along.”
Leaning into responsibility is how humans learn to bear storms, which are inevitable. As many know, Peterson encountered his own storm when his wife Tammy was diagnosed with terminal cancer in April 2019, and he struggled with a dependency on the drug benzodiazepine.
Peterson survived his storm because his life was moored in responsibility, which offered meaning and strength.
Sadly, many people today are unmoored.
A Cultural Shift
When Peterson says we haven’t had a discussion on responsibility and meaning in our culture “for 50 years,” he’s alluding to a cultural shift that has taken place.
It’s not just that we don’t teach people how to take responsibility for their own lives; it’s that in many ways we actively discourage them from doing so. Woke culture, safe spaces and victimhood — each is a manifestation of a culture that has replaced individual responsibility with collectivist notions of injustice. People are openly hostile to Peterson’s message of owning your life.
This is not to say that injustice is not real. It is, and it always will be. The problem is that in our quest of ridding the world of injustice, we’ve forgotten that we must first own and fix ourselves.
Moreover, Peterson’s message is not to ignore injustice. His message is to take responsibility for your life despite the presence of injustice, which will always exist. (Peterson has pointed out, for example, that studies show a parolee’s fate hinges to a troubling degree on whether the hearing judge ruled before or after her lunch. Apparently, hungry judges are much less likely to be forgiving.)
This is how one becomes a ship that can weather storms — not by placing your power in things beyond your control, but by taking responsibility over the things you can.
The very fact that people can treat Peterson’s message as foreign, strange and worthy of their hostility is evidence of how necessary it is.
We should be thankful Jordan Peterson is back to deliver it.
Jonathan Miltimore is the Managing Editor of FEE.org. His writing/reporting has been the subject of articles in TIME magazine, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Forbes, Fox News, and the Star Tribune.
Originally published on FEE.org.


thestream--2020-11-13--Military Photo of the Day: Overlooking the Indian Ocean

The commanding officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain observes ships sailing in formation on November 4 , @ @ @ @ @ Ocean .

The commanding officer of the guided-missile destroyer USS John S. McCain observes ships sailing in formation on November 4, 2020, in the Indian Ocean.
Have a safe weekend, everyone.
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thestream--2020-11-14--Why I Haven’t Given Up, and Neither Should You

America , something is happening .
I hear the voices of Cubans , Venezuelans , and Eastern Europeans .
They have seen this happen before .
I know what I saw on election night .
It was not a blue wave .
It looked like smooth conservative victory , and I will not be gaslit into distrusting my own eyes .
In counties all across America , Trump dominated like never before .
Ohio , Florida , Texas , Iowa , and even Pennsylvania looked redder than ever , and this wasn ’ t exactly a surprise .
Trump performed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has in decades , and turned blue counties red .
He Led in Pennsylvania , Until … Republicans far outpaced Democrats in voter registration in Pennsylvania , and even the Amish turned out in record numbers .
By the end of the night , Trump led Pennsylvania by almost 600,000 votes , Sean Parnell ’ s race looked good , and it seemed like things were going to turn out just fine in the end .
Biden needed to carry the remaining votes by an insane percentage , and since Trump had won @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , it seemed that Pennsylvania , the keystone state of this election , was safely in Trump ’ s camp .
Something strange began to happen as Tuesday night turned to Wednesday morning .
In a number of key battleground states , we were told that they had simply stopped counting for the night .
Poll watchers and volunteers were told to go home , rest up , and come back in the morning .
Only , not everyone left , apparently .
After conservatives had gone home for the night , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , some with backpacks , some with wagons .
Perhaps they were just preparing for a long night of covert vote-counting .
Maybe those containers only held snacks and energy drinks .
Perhaps they carried something else .
Across the country , during the witching hour of the night , votes started rolling in , and somehow they all seemed to be for Biden to an impossible or at least improbable degree .
Something was wrong — this isn ’ t what happens during presidential elections .
In every election in my lifetime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in one night , perhaps with the exception of Bush v. Gore , which I ’ m admittedly not old enough to remember .
We are expected to believe that it is normal for poll workers to stop counting , that it is normal for vans to show up behind polling places at 3 and 4 a.m. with boxes , and wagons , and duffel bags .
We are expected to believe that those who riot and the streets and scream “ By any means necessary !
” would refuse to tear up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are expected to believe election is fair when we have every reason to feel that something has gone terribly awry .
If this election had been fair , they wouldn ’ t be boarding up the windows and refusing Republicans access to the process .
Without a seat at the table , without our court-ordered seat at the table , we must not give in to defeat .
There are now hundreds of sworn affidavits ( yes , those count as evidence in a court of law ) that claim election laws have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in this presidential election .
Project Veritas is sharing videos and updates multiple times a day now .
In Antrim County , Michigan , a “ software glitch ” caused at least 5500 Trump votes to go to Biden , and the same problematic electronic voting system , Dominion Voting , is used in over 1000 counties around the United states .
This election is not over .
The media does not have the power to decide an election .
Joe Biden does not have the authority to declare himself the winner .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ disputes , the election is not over .
If you take nothing else away from this piece , I want you to remember this : the court of public opinion is an important factor in deciding these cases .
If you give up hope now , we will lose .
We can not concede defeat until we know the fruits of these investigations .
If the judges believe that public opinion lies too heavily in favor of Joe Biden — if people ’ s minds are so set on the outcome that no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moment we lose .
Judges may simply wash their hands and decide not to stir the pot any further .
What We Saw I know what I saw .
Conservatives , you know what you saw .
I urge you to turn off the news that turned against the American people on election night , and keep your wits about you .
The deciding factor in this election will be the conviction of the American people .
On one last note : there is a reason for hope .
Trump supporters did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day .
In fact , turnout was so impressive that it took a very long time for the ( almost definite ) fraud to catch up , and the American people noticed what was happening .
It is worth remembering that we are blessed as Americans to have a President who never quits ; they have tried to overthrow and overwhelm this man for over 4 years , and he has come out on top every single time .
He doesn ’ t commit to fights he doesn ’ t know he can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we can win this fight , and I , for one , believe them .
Do not give up on President Trump when the fate of our Republic may rest on our hope and our courage .
If the time comes when we must concede defeat , so be it — God will be with us either way — but the time for concession has not yet arrived .
It is time for us to stick to our guns and fight for a man who has accomplished more in four years than we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time for us to take the slings and arrows that our commander in chief has fielded for four years .
Investigate examples of fraud , share them , and make sure your friends and neighbors know that this election is far from over .
We must not go gentle into that good night — without fair and free elections , the American light may never shine so brightly again .

America, something is happening. I hear the voices of Cubans, Venezuelans, and Eastern Europeans. They have seen this happen before. I know what I saw on election night. It was not a blue wave. It looked like smooth conservative victory, and I will not be gaslit into distrusting my own eyes.
In counties all across America, Trump dominated like never before. Ohio, Florida, Texas, Iowa, and even Pennsylvania looked redder than ever, and this wasn’t exactly a surprise. Trump performed better with minorities than a Republican candidate has in decades, and turned blue counties red.
He Led in Pennsylvania, Until …
Republicans far outpaced Democrats in voter registration in Pennsylvania, and even the Amish turned out in record numbers. By the end of the night, Trump led Pennsylvania by almost 600,000 votes, Sean Parnell’s race looked good, and it seemed like things were going to turn out just fine in the end. Biden needed to carry the remaining votes by an insane percentage, and since Trump had won the state with far less enthusiasm in 2016, it seemed that Pennsylvania, the keystone state of this election, was safely in Trump’s camp.
For more on the election the Democrats cheated to win, see Al Perrotta’s Be Careful for What You Cheat For and his other exposes of this election.
Something strange began to happen as Tuesday night turned to Wednesday morning. In a number of key battleground states, we were told that they had simply stopped counting for the night. Poll watchers and volunteers were told to go home, rest up, and come back in the morning.
Only, not everyone left, apparently. After conservatives had gone home for the night, other individuals returned, some with coolers, some with backpacks, some with wagons. Perhaps they were just preparing for a long night of covert vote-counting. Maybe those containers only held snacks and energy drinks. Perhaps they carried something else. Across the country, during the witching hour of the night, votes started rolling in, and somehow they all seemed to be for Biden to an impossible or at least improbable degree.
Something was wrong — this isn’t what happens during presidential elections. In every election in my lifetime, we have counted all the ballots in one night, perhaps with the exception of Bush v. Gore, which I’m admittedly not old enough to remember. We are expected to believe that it is normal for poll workers to stop counting, that it is normal for vans to show up behind polling places at 3 and 4 a.m. with boxes, and wagons, and duffel bags.
We are expected to believe that those who riot and the streets and scream “By any means necessary!” would refuse to tear up our ballots out of principle. We are expected to believe election is fair when we have every reason to feel that something has gone terribly awry.
Fair Elections Don’t Keep Republicans Out
If this election had been fair, they wouldn’t be boarding up the windows and refusing Republicans access to the process. Without a seat at the table, without our court-ordered seat at the table, we must not give in to defeat.
There are now hundreds of sworn affidavits (yes, those count as evidence in a court of law) that claim election laws have been violated, flagrantly and repeatedly, in this presidential election. Project Veritas is sharing videos and updates multiple times a day now. In Antrim County, Michigan, a “software glitch” caused at least 5500 Trump votes to go to Biden, and the same problematic electronic voting system, Dominion Voting, is used in over 1000 counties around the United states.
This election is not over. The media does not have the power to decide an election. Joe Biden does not have the authority to declare himself the winner. As long as there are unsettled legal disputes, the election is not over.
If you take nothing else away from this piece, I want you to remember this: the court of public opinion is an important factor in deciding these cases. If you give up hope now, we will lose. We cannot concede defeat until we know the fruits of these investigations. If the judges believe that public opinion lies too heavily in favor of Joe Biden — if people’s minds are so set on the outcome that no evidence can change it — that is the moment we lose. Judges may simply wash their hands and decide not to stir the pot any further.
What We Saw
I know what I saw. Conservatives, you know what you saw. I urge you to turn off the news that turned against the American people on election night, and keep your wits about you. The deciding factor in this election will be the conviction of the American people.
On one last note: there is a reason for hope. Trump supporters did turn out in overwhelming numbers on Election Day. In fact, turnout was so impressive that it took a very long time for the (almost definite) fraud to catch up, and the American people noticed what was happening.
It is worth remembering that we are blessed as Americans to have a President who never quits; they have tried to overthrow and overwhelm this man for over 4 years, and he has come out on top every single time. He doesn’t commit to fights he doesn’t know he can win. Trump and his team think we can win this fight, and I, for one, believe them. Do not give up on President Trump when the fate of our Republic may rest on our hope and our courage. If the time comes when we must concede defeat, so be it — God will be with us either way — but the time for concession has not yet arrived.
It is time for us to stick to our guns and fight for a man who has accomplished more in four years than we ever imagined was possible. It is time for us to take the slings and arrows that our commander in chief has fielded for four years. Investigate examples of fraud, share them, and make sure your friends and neighbors know that this election is far from over. We must not go gentle into that good night — without fair and free elections, the American light may never shine so brightly again.
Kat Bates is a writer and language-lover currently reading roughly all of the western canon at St. John’s College, Annapolis. Homeschool credits include: teaching her younger brother how to read, learning Latin, diagramming sentences, and falling in love with the history and the classics. Platonist, not Aristotelian. For more of her writing, see her two-part “Don’t Panic” series, written with her mother Mikki: A Homeschooler’s Guide to the Quarantine and A Homeschooler’s Guide to Online Resources.


thestream--2020-11-13--Joy Break: BYU Prays With Boise State Midfield After the Game

When we turn on our televisions or smart phones we are bombarded with news that brings us down .
Where are all the good stories ?
They ’ re still there .
Here ’ s one that we hope will bless you .
“ We started with prayer , we ’ re going to end with prayer , and we ’ re going to give the glory to God , ” Boise State team Chaplain Mark Thornton told Deseret News last week .
It was after Friday ’ s game between nationally ranked BYU and Boise State .
The Boise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ game , reported the Deseret News .
When he can , Thornton reaches out to opposing teams ’ chaplains to invite them to pray midfield following the games .
On Friday , Thornton found the head coach for BYU .
He told Coach Kalani Sitake that the Boise players were getting ready to pray .
“ Can we join you guys ?
” asked Sitake .
Of course , Thornton said yes .
Nearly the entire BYU team prayed with Boise State ’ s players .
“ I don ’ t know if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before in the years that I ’ ve been here , ” said Boise State co-captain Avery Williams .
“ That means a lot.
” Thornton said he thanked God for the opportunity to play the game .
“ We prayed for the guys who got hurt on both sides of the field , just for a quick recovery for them .
We blessed BYU and just prayed that they would continue to have a great season , and that we would continue to have a great season as well.
” ‘ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Down ’ Sitake told Deseret News that he wouldn ’ t have missed the prayer time .
“ We ’ re not going to turn that down , when a team invites our team to kneel down and praise God for the opportunity we had to play .
What a great invite from them .
I was really impressed with them the entire game , just a great program with wonderful sportsmanship and you know , hopefully we can be able to have that type of impact on other programs as well when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it ’ s such a big rivalry and we can be really physical with each other , compete really hard with each other and then drop our pride , drop our egos , drop what just happened for two to three hours and give thanks to God , that says something about both schools , ” said Williams .
“ Faith really unifies us , ” Williams added .
“ We have this relationship with God , and we realize there ’ s something much bigger than ourselves that we all are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an associate editor at The Stream .
You can follow her @ NancyFlory3 , and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

When we turn on our televisions or smart phones we are bombarded with news that brings us down. Where are all the good stories? They’re still there. Here’s one that we hope will bless you.
“We started with prayer, we’re going to end with prayer, and we’re going to give the glory to God,” Boise State team Chaplain Mark Thornton told Deseret News last week. It was after Friday’s game between nationally ranked BYU and Boise State. The Boise State Broncos pray before and after each game, reported the Deseret News. When he can, Thornton reaches out to opposing teams’ chaplains to invite them to pray midfield following the games.
Prayer on the Gridiron
On Friday, Thornton found the head coach for BYU. He told Coach Kalani Sitake that the Boise players were getting ready to pray. “Can we join you guys?” asked Sitake. Of course, Thornton said yes. Nearly the entire BYU team prayed with Boise State’s players. “I don’t know if an entire whole team has joined us before in the years that I’ve been here,” said Boise State co-captain Avery Williams. “That means a lot.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Thornton said he thanked God for the opportunity to play the game. “We prayed for the guys who got hurt on both sides of the field, just for a quick recovery for them. We blessed BYU and just prayed that they would continue to have a great season, and that we would continue to have a great season as well.”
‘We’re Not Going to Turn That Down’
Sitake told Deseret News that he wouldn’t have missed the prayer time. “We’re not going to turn that down, when a team invites our team to kneel down and praise God for the opportunity we had to play. What a great invite from them. I was really impressed with them the entire game, just a great program with wonderful sportsmanship and you know, hopefully we can be able to have that type of impact on other programs as well when we play them.”
“The fact that it’s such a big rivalry and we can be really physical with each other, compete really hard with each other and then drop our pride, drop our egos, drop what just happened for two to three hours and give thanks to God, that says something about both schools,” said Williams.
“Faith really unifies us,” Williams added. “We have this relationship with God, and we realize there’s something much bigger than ourselves that we all are all in for.”
Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.