thestream--2020-12-03--God Sees Through the Fog Even When We Don’t

Like many people , one of the first things I do when I wake up in the morning is to look out the window and check the weather .
Today , it was going to be partly sunny for sure .
It was just before sunrise , but I could already see light emerging on the horizon and bouncing off some high clouds .
I love watching the sunrise on my back porch , so I hurried downstairs , made myself a cup of coffee and opened the door to the back porch .
I was both surprised and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in , and my hopes to watch another beautiful sunrise across the lake were figuratively buried under a heavy cloud of white .
As quickly as the weather changed is how quickly I felt compelled to adjust my mood to the weather .
For me , sunny days often connote a “ get-up-and-go ” can-do attitude that lends itself to productivity .
My mind is lucid and focused , and it feels like there are no obstacles in my way , at least as far as the weather goes .
Foggy mornings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to stay put and turn introspective .
Fog carries with it an aura of uncertainty and can evoke feelings of hesitancy in us .
We can ’ t see through it to the other side , so we proceed cautiously .
Both literally and figuratively , it can play with our emotions .
What once was bright , clear , and full of color is now veiled in an opaque monochromatic sheet of mystery .
What we once saw for certain is now veiled in doubt .
Pulling from my experience this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other side of the lake .
I stare at it every day , yet when seen through the fog , do I question , not what ’ s on the other side , but what might be moving toward me that I can ’ t quite make out ?
Unforeseen threats and dangerous uncertainties could be a lot closer to me because my depth perception has been altered and affected .
In the presence of fog , I am preoccupied with “ what-ifs.
” I can ’ t help but marvel at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our collective , present set of circumstances .
Life feels very much like the unexpected fog that rolled into my morning today .
At the dawn of 2020 , it looked like the year was going to be like another partly sunny day .
Sure , there were clouds mixed in , but aren ’ t there always ?
We celebrated on New Year ’ s Eve just like we always do and approached January much like my approach to sunny days : optimistically .
And then the global fog rolled in .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ everything in a veil of thick , white haze .
What we thought we could see , we could no longer see .
What we knew was there for certain , we questioned .
It affected our moods , our perspectives and even our outlook on life , productivity , and the future .
No sooner did I sit down with my coffee ( mid-mood adjusting from sunny to foggy ) , that I felt the Lord asking me a question : Was it day or was it night ?
Obviously , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that fact .
It was not dark out , it was light .
Somewhere beyond the fog , beyond the sheet of white that made it difficult to decipher between earth and sky , the day had dawned , the sun had risen — just as it always does .
I immediately acknowledged my limited , horizontal perspective and made room for God ’ s unlimited , vertical one .
He was looking down , not across , the landscape of my life .
His eyes of heat and light burned right through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a perspective of perfect clarity .
In that moment , it was as if He was saying , “ Even through the darkest night and the deepest fog , I am shining a light that can not be overcome.
” A Light that Can not Be Overcome John 1:5 says , “ The light shines in the darkness , and the darkness has not overcome it.
” Has not overcome it .
Can not overcome it .
Will not overcome it .
Above the fog that I am experiencing — that we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The sun came up today , like it always does .
The dawning of light over all creation is trustworthy and sure .
Somewhere on the planet , the sun is coming up right now .
Day is dawning all the time .
The sunrise is not affected because we are affected by our horizontal circumstances or by our clouded perspectives .
The truth is daybreak can not be stopped .
Believers , let us all go on to maturity .
Let ’ s wake up more aware of the steadfast power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the fog .
We already know that Almighty God is shining out a light that can not be overcome .
We are recipients of that light as the prophet Isaiah says , “ The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light ; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness , on them has light shone ” ( 9:2 ) .
The light is greater than the darkness .
It is able to burn through the fog .
It is above the storm .
It is not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the dawn .
When we acknowledge Jesus as the Light of the world , even in the midst of our fog , it clears the way for His light to overcome through us .
We will know , firsthand , that His light is greater than the darkness of this present evil age .
It is able to burn through the foggy malaise trying to affect our mindsets .
It is above the storms that are blowing through our circumstances .
Finally , His light alone has dawned over our hearts expelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ souls for all of eternity .
His is a Light that can not be overcome .
We can rest assured that God sees through the fog even when we don ’ t .
Annemarie McLean is a four-girl mom , freelance writer , and co-founder of Brave & Beautiful , a ministry focused on challenging young women to live purpose-driven lives full of courage and character , while developing Christ-centered inner beauty .
Annemarie holds a journalism degree from Oral Roberts University , with graduate work in organizational leadership at Palm Beach Atlantic @ @

Like many people, one of the first things I do when I wake up in the morning is to look out the window and check the weather. Today, it was going to be partly sunny for sure. It was just before sunrise, but I could already see light emerging on the horizon and bouncing off some high clouds. I love watching the sunrise on my back porch, so I hurried downstairs, made myself a cup of coffee and opened the door to the back porch. I was both surprised and a bit disappointed. An unexpected fog rolled in, and my hopes to watch another beautiful sunrise across the lake were figuratively buried under a heavy cloud of white.
As quickly as the weather changed is how quickly I felt compelled to adjust my mood to the weather. For me, sunny days often connote a “get-up-and-go” can-do attitude that lends itself to productivity. My mind is lucid and focused, and it feels like there are no obstacles in my way, at least as far as the weather goes.
Foggy mornings, on the other hand, make me want to stay put and turn introspective. Fog carries with it an aura of uncertainty and can evoke feelings of hesitancy in us. We can’t see through it to the other side, so we proceed cautiously. Both literally and figuratively, it can play with our emotions. What once was bright, clear, and full of color is now veiled in an opaque monochromatic sheet of mystery. What we once saw for certain is now veiled in doubt.
Uncertainties
Pulling from my experience this morning, I know what lies on the other side of the lake. I stare at it every day, yet when seen through the fog, do I question, not what’s on the other side, but what might be moving toward me that I can’t quite make out? Unforeseen threats and dangerous uncertainties could be a lot closer to me because my depth perception has been altered and affected. In the presence of fog, I am preoccupied with “what-ifs.”
I can’t help but marvel at the uncanny parallel of this picture to our collective, present set of circumstances. Life feels very much like the unexpected fog that rolled into my morning today.
At the dawn of 2020, it looked like the year was going to be like another partly sunny day. Sure, there were clouds mixed in, but aren’t there always? We celebrated on New Year’s Eve just like we always do and approached January much like my approach to sunny days: optimistically. And then the global fog rolled in. Suddenly and without warning. It shrouded everything in a veil of thick, white haze. What we thought we could see, we could no longer see. What we knew was there for certain, we questioned. It affected our moods, our perspectives and even our outlook on life, productivity, and the future.
A Question from God
No sooner did I sit down with my coffee (mid-mood adjusting from sunny to foggy), that I felt the Lord asking me a question: Was it day or was it night? Obviously, it was morning and there was no denying that fact. It was not dark out, it was light. Somewhere beyond the fog, beyond the sheet of white that made it difficult to decipher between earth and sky, the day had dawned, the sun had risen — just as it always does.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
I immediately acknowledged my limited, horizontal perspective and made room for God’s unlimited, vertical one. He was looking down, not across, the landscape of my life. His eyes of heat and light burned right through the thickest fog, seeing every detail with a perspective of perfect clarity. In that moment, it was as if He was saying, “Even through the darkest night and the deepest fog, I am shining a light that cannot be overcome.”
A Light that Cannot Be Overcome
John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Has not overcome it. Cannot overcome it. Will not overcome it.
Light wins. Every time.
Above the fog that I am experiencing — that we are experiencing — the sun is shining. The sun came up today, like it always does. The dawning of light over all creation is trustworthy and sure. Somewhere on the planet, the sun is coming up right now. Day is dawning all the time. The sunrise is not affected because we are affected by our horizontal circumstances or by our clouded perspectives. The truth is daybreak cannot be stopped.
A Call to Maturity
Believers, let us all go on to maturity. Let’s wake up more aware of the steadfast power of the light than the temporary shrouding of the fog. We already know that Almighty God is shining out a light that cannot be overcome. We are recipients of that light as the prophet Isaiah says, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (9:2). The light is greater than the darkness. It is able to burn through the fog. It is above the storm. It is not only as sure as the dawn, it is the dawn.
When we acknowledge Jesus as the Light of the world, even in the midst of our fog, it clears the way for His light to overcome through us. We will know, firsthand, that His light is greater than the darkness of this present evil age. It is able to burn through the foggy malaise trying to affect our mindsets. It is above the storms that are blowing through our circumstances. Finally, His light alone has dawned over our hearts expelling the black cover of sin over our souls for all of eternity.
His is a Light that cannot be overcome. We can rest assured that God sees through the fog even when we don’t.
Annemarie McLean is a four-girl mom, freelance writer, and co-founder of Brave & Beautiful, a ministry focused on challenging young women to live purpose-driven lives full of courage and character, while developing Christ-centered inner beauty. Annemarie holds a journalism degree from Oral Roberts University, with graduate work in organizational leadership at Palm Beach Atlantic University.


thestream--2020-12-03--Military Photo of the Day: Fire Training in Kuwait

A U.S. Marine Corps expeditionary firefighting and rescue specialist extinguishes a training fire in Kuwait on November 23 , 2020 @ @ @ @ @ valiant Marine for serving our country overseas .

A U.S. Marine Corps expeditionary firefighting and rescue specialist extinguishes a training fire in Kuwait on November 23, 2020.
Thank you to this valiant Marine for serving our country overseas.
React to This Article What do you think of our coverage in this article? We value your feedback as we continue to grow.


thestream--2020-12-03--‘This May Be the Most Important Speech I’ve Ever Made’: President Trump Gives Update on Efforts to E

‘This May Be the Most Important Speech I’ve Ever Made’: President Trump Gives Update on Efforts to Expose Electoral Fraud

Yesterday , The Stream suggested the President should personally present his case on electoral fraud to the American people .
@ @ @ @ @ that .
Watch the full speech above .
The Stream has been closely examining evidence @ @ @ @ @ before Election Day .
See William Briggs ’ remarkable work analyzing the statistical data .
@ @ @ @ @ daily updates , especially this one summarizing the most convincing evidence of fraud .
John @ @ @ @ @ piece on Sidney Powell , who is leading the fight to expose Dominion .
And @ @ @ @ @ message on why this present battle is so incredibly important to the future of democracy @ @ @ @ @ the look out for , “ Everything You Need to Know About 2020 Election Fraud @ @ @ @ @ ’ t Let You Ask , ” a comprehensive list of all the evidence known @ @ @ @ @ published here within the next day or so .

Yesterday, The Stream suggested the President should personally present his case on electoral fraud to the American people. Today, he did just that. Watch the full speech above.
The Stream has been closely examining evidence for electoral fraud since even before Election Day. See William Briggs’ remarkable work analyzing the statistical data. Al Perrotta’s extraordinary daily updates, especially this one summarizing the most convincing evidence of fraud. John Zmirak’s excellent character piece on Sidney Powell, who is leading the fight to expose Dominion. And Tom Gilson’s crucial message on why this present battle is so incredibly important to the future of democracy.
Finally, be on the look out for, “Everything You Need to Know About 2020 Election Fraud, but the Media Won’t Let You Ask,” a comprehensive list of all the evidence known to date that will be published here within the next day or so.


thestream--2020-12-04--They Won’t Listen to Fraud Allegations Because They Hate Listening to Average Americans

“ Give me liberty or give me death ” – Patrick Henry “ I regret I have but one life to give to my country ” – Nathan Hale “ Come and take it ” – Texans at the Battle of Gonzalez “ I don ’ t give them hell .
I tell them the truth and they think it ’ s hell.
” – Harry Truman Others may have their great and fancy orators , but America ’ s got Americans .
Honest citizens with a pithy way of spitting into the eye of our foes and troubles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the high and mighty .
Last night , in Michigan , we saw such a moment .
Her name is Melissa Carone .
She is a sworn witness to massive wrong-doing in the election .
She was being brow-beaten by a legislator , dedicated not to truth but witness intimidation .
“ I know what I saw .
And I signed something saying that if I am wrong I can go to prison .
Did you ?
” Come and take THAT .
She speaks for every witness to every single media personality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this and an earlier fraud hearing has gone viral .
Seen 9 million times already .
Naturally , the Washington Post is running a hit piece on her this morning .
Naturally , the blue checks mock her as something out of an old Saturday Night Live sketch .
Man , do they hate Americans .
They deem her not credible .
Not for what she has to say , but who she is .
As if they can explain Biden ’ s non-credible vote spikes and inconceivable tallies in Detroit and a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those cities .
As if all the other witnesses in Michigan are not offering testimony that lines up with Carone .
As if Hollywood actresses wouldn ’ t be lining up to play Carone in an HBO movie about the election , if the shoe was on the other broken foot .
If you follow me on Twitter ( @ StreamingAl ) , you ’ ve probably picked up what is angering me the most about the snide , slick media ’ s dismissal of claims of voter fraud .
Every time they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfounded ” or “ crack-pot ” or “ desperate , ” what they are saying is every single one of the hundreds and hundreds of brave citizens who have come forward are liars .
These average citizens who know — because of the vicious Democrat seek-and-destroy , dox-till-they-drop campaign — that every effort will be made to wreck their lives .
Yet , they sign and continue to sign their name to affidavits , under penalty of law , swearing they have seen illegal , inexplicable , dubious and unconscionable election behavior .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in allowing a fair hearing .
A wholesale dismissal of what they have to say .
Not because of what they have to say , per se , but because of who they are .
“ Buzz off , smelly Deplorable .
Buzz off , you and the Orange horse ’ s ass you rode in on.
” Even if you are a Democrat .
Even if you ’ re no Trump supporter .
Even if what you are saying matches with what strangers in far away states are saying .
When President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t so much speaking for himself .
He was speaking for witnesses like Carone , and truck driver Jesse Morgan , and the riveting Indian-American Hima Kolanagireddy .
Experts like Matt Braynard , military cyberwarfare vets like Col. Phillip Waldron , and our own Stream contributor William Briggs .
( You can see Dr. Briggs ’ analysis of Arizona voting here , in the lawsuit filed last night by Sidney Powell . )
Trump was speaking for every one of the everyday Americans who just wants a fair and honest vote count .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ something stinks to high heaven .
My question is “ Where is Joe Biden ?
” Sure , during the campaign he refused to condemn BLM and Antifa for their violent war against Trump supporters , police and America itself .
But that ’ s because he owed them .
Part of his election scam was “ I ’ ll make this all go away.
” But where is Joe Biden today for the hundreds and hundreds of witnesses who saw something wrong and came forward to try and right it ?
Do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Does he not want to show the 74 million ( assuming you believe that ’ s the real count ) who voted for Trump that they have his attention and respect ?
Biden made a big deal of being the average Joe from Scranton .
What about average Jesse the Truck Driver ?
He helped keep mail rolling through Joe ’ s old home state during COVID .
He was called a hero then .
You going to let the media dismiss the hero , ignore him , treat him like a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Then again , maybe I ’ m asking too much of Biden .
After all , he is the candidate who said voters didn ’ t deserve to know his position on packing the courts .
He ’ s the one who called Trump supporters “ chumps.
” Who has time to listen to chumps about election fraud when there ’ s Iranian mullahs , Chinese party officials , and globalist leaders to schmooze ?
Today , Joe Biden is making it as stark as the Arizona desert that he has no respect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spent half a century maneuvering to lead .
Then again , perhaps he will give Melissa Carone ( and the countless like her ) a close listen … if he gets to sniff her hair .
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author , with @ JZmirak , of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration .
You can follow him at @ StreamingAl .
And if you aren ’ t already , please follow The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

“Give me liberty or give me death” – Patrick Henry
“I regret I have but one life to give to my country” – Nathan Hale
“Come and take it” – Texans at the Battle of Gonzalez
“I don’t give them hell. I tell them the truth and they think it’s hell.” – Harry Truman
“Let’s roll.” – Todd Beamer
Others may have their great and fancy orators, but America’s got Americans. Honest citizens with a pithy way of spitting into the eye of our foes and troubles. Speaking truth to power. Mic dropping the high and mighty.
Last night, in Michigan, we saw such a moment. Her name is Melissa Carone. She is a sworn witness to massive wrong-doing in the election. She was being brow-beaten by a legislator, dedicated not to truth but witness intimidation.
A Perfect American Moment
Watch this American citizen with a perfect American moment.
https://twitter.com/TrueCanuck11/status/1334306490392465409?s=20
“I know what I saw. And I signed something saying that if I am wrong I can go to prison. Did you?” Come and take THAT.
She speaks for every witness to every single media personality and politician.
Clips of Carone at this and an earlier fraud hearing has gone viral. Seen 9 million times already. Naturally, the Washington Post is running a hit piece on her this morning. Naturally, the blue checks mock her as something out of an old Saturday Night Live sketch. Man, do they hate Americans.
They deem her not credible. Not for what she has to say, but who she is. As if they can explain Biden’s non-credible vote spikes and inconceivable tallies in Detroit and a couple other swing state cities and only those cities. As if all the other witnesses in Michigan are not offering testimony that lines up with Carone.
As if Hollywood actresses wouldn’t be lining up to play Carone in an HBO movie about the election, if the shoe was on the other broken foot.
My Greatest Fury
If you follow me on Twitter (@StreamingAl), you’ve probably picked up what is angering me the most about the snide, slick media’s dismissal of claims of voter fraud. Every time they talk about “baseless” or “unfounded” or “crack-pot” or “desperate,” what they are saying is every single one of the hundreds and hundreds of brave citizens who have come forward are liars.
These average citizens who know — because of the vicious Democrat seek-and-destroy, dox-till-they-drop campaign — that every effort will be made to wreck their lives. Yet, they sign and continue to sign their name to affidavits, under penalty of law, swearing they have seen illegal, inexplicable, dubious and unconscionable election behavior.
The disrespect is infuriating. The disinterest in allowing a fair hearing. A wholesale dismissal of what they have to say. Not because of what they have to say, per se, but because of who they are. “Buzz off, smelly Deplorable. Buzz off, you and the Orange horse’s ass you rode in on.”
Even if you are a Democrat. Even if you’re no Trump supporter. Even if what you are saying matches with what strangers in far away states are saying.
Where’s Joe Biden?
When President Trump spoke yesterday, he wasn’t so much speaking for himself. He was speaking for witnesses like Carone, and truck driver Jesse Morgan, and the riveting Indian-American Hima Kolanagireddy. Experts like Matt Braynard, military cyberwarfare vets like Col. Phillip Waldron, and our own Stream contributor William Briggs. (You can see Dr. Briggs’ analysis of Arizona voting here, in the lawsuit filed last night by Sidney Powell.)
Trump was speaking for every one of the everyday Americans who just wants a fair and honest vote count. Including the tens of millions who know something stinks to high heaven.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
My question is “Where is Joe Biden?” Sure, during the campaign he refused to condemn BLM and Antifa for their violent war against Trump supporters, police and America itself. But that’s because he owed them. Part of his election scam was “I’ll make this all go away.”
But where is Joe Biden today for the hundreds and hundreds of witnesses who saw something wrong and came forward to try and right it? Do they not deserve his attention and respect?
Does he not want to show the 74 million (assuming you believe that’s the real count) who voted for Trump that they have his attention and respect?
Biden made a big deal of being the average Joe from Scranton. What about average Jesse the Truck Driver? He helped keep mail rolling through Joe’s old home state during COVID. He was called a hero then. You going to let the media dismiss the hero, ignore him, treat him like a dirty rag?
Asking Too Much?
Then again, maybe I’m asking too much of Biden. After all, he is the candidate who said voters didn’t deserve to know his position on packing the courts. He’s the one who called Trump supporters “chumps.” Who has time to listen to chumps about election fraud when there’s Iranian mullahs, Chinese party officials, and globalist leaders to schmooze?
Today, Joe Biden is making it as stark as the Arizona desert that he has no respect for the American people he’s spent half a century maneuvering to lead.
Then again, perhaps he will give Melissa Carone (and the countless like her) a close listen … if he gets to sniff her hair.
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-12-03--How To Stay Sane While Trying to #StopTheSteal

The story of 2020 election fraud is way too big for me to keep hold of .
It ’ s a multi-front war that spans much of our continent .
I ’ m just a behind-the-lines war correspondent trying to catch the story .
The Stream will soon publish ( and keep on updating ) a primer on the best evidence and most reliable sources concerning this story .
It ’ s for those of us in the Deplorable Media to do the job the Presentable Media won ’ t .
In fact , journalists aren ’ t just refusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote fraud .
They ’ re actively working to suppress it .
Likewise , major GOP figures and NeverTrump activists are trying to scare us into dropping this whole effort , and pretending that we all live in a 1950s civics textbook for children .
Instead of the boiling hell that is 2020 , A.D .
They want us to believe that we just happened to have a Red Wave on hundreds of down-ballot races across the country , but not for the president who ran at the top of the ticket .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a slightly used copy of the Steele Dossier you might be interested in .
So instead of trying to capture the whole big , messy reality of witnesses coming forward with their own evidence of vote fraud , let me offer some helpful observations on various fronts which I ’ ve been following .
Lin Wood has been heroic on many issues .
He helped Nick Sandmann win a massive settlement from media outlets that falsely labeled him as a racist , for smiling while white .
He ’ s helping Kyle Rittenhouse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man fights fraudulent murder charges for defending himself against a gang of rioters .
Now Wood is teamed up with Sidney Powell to expose the seemingly bottomless corruption of Dominion software , and the Georgia political establishment — including its top Republicans .
I share his suspicions about both the Georgia governor and its secretary of state .
It seems they made a corrupt bargain with Stacey Abrams to benefit their own political careers , throwing other Republicans , including President Trump , under the bus .
All that seems true .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop the Democrats from taking control of the U.S. Senate ( in Malcolm X ’ s words ) by any means necessary .
Fine .
By any legal means necessary .
The Democrats have promised to pack the U.S. Supreme Court and gut the key amendments in the U.S. Bill of Rights .
To add frivolous new states to the Union .
To eliminate the Electoral College .
In effect , to destroy the Constitution itself .
As inspiring as he is on many subjects , Wood isn ’ t infallible .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wood to suggest that Georgia Republicans should stay home and not vote against this hostile takeover , just in order to punish the Georgia GOP elite .
For one thing , it would punish our whole country .
For another , there ’ s no reason to think that the top hacks of the Georgia GOP even care that much about the Senate , or America .
If they are indeed as corrupt as Wood insists , all they care about is keeping their ill-gotten gains and staying out of prison .
So @ @ @ @ @ @ @ churchgoer in America at gunpoint to pay back a couple of crooks , okay , Mr. Wood ?
I ’ ve sent money to your fundraiser for Kyle Rittenhouse .
Please don ’ t help the left put all the rest of us behind bars too .
Yes , we must force the state of Georgia to fix its election procedures before any run-off happens , or else the Democrats will just steal those races too .
We can demand that without making crazy threats that amount to suicide notes .
The Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have seemed to him a clever train of thought at the time , Ross Douthat responded to my piece on Christians embracing loserhood as if it were a virtue .
Let me share it with you , and my answer : For far too long , the right has acted like a boxer in the ring , who sees his opponent pull out of his trunks a machete and a can of pepper gas , but doggedly keeps on fighting according to the Marquess of Queensbury Rules .
We can not engage in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the left ’ s playbook is forbidden to us .
But we ’ re under no obligation to pretend that our enemies fight fair , or forget the fact that a few months ago they were unleashing rioters on us .
The other day , one of the heroic attorneys fighting to Stop the Steal , Joe DiGenova , used some colorful language concerning the cybersecurity chief whom Donald Trump fired .
DiGenova said of Chris Krebs : “ That guy is a Class A moron .
He should be drawn and quartered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” This was not a death threat .
It was not a call for mob violence .
It was no different in form than Jesus ’ injunction that to avoid sin we should pluck out our eyes or cut off our hands .
It ’ s called hyperbole , and everybody recognizes it as such .
To insist otherwise is to reveal what you really think of Trump supporters : • That they ’ re either too dumb or uneducated to appreciate figures of speech .
Or • That their ranks are full @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the right dog-whistle to go postal .
But as usual , Ann Coulter said it better than I can : Keep fighting , keep praying .
This one ’ s for all the marbles , folks .
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream , and author or co-author of ten books , including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism .
He is co-author with Jason Jones of “ God , Guns , & the Government .
”

The story of 2020 election fraud is way too big for me to keep hold of. It’s a multi-front war that spans much of our continent. I’m just a behind-the-lines war correspondent trying to catch the story. The Stream will soon publish (and keep on updating) a primer on the best evidence and most reliable sources concerning this story. It’s for those of us in the Deplorable Media to do the job the Presentable Media won’t.
In fact, journalists aren’t just refusing to cover the exploding evidence of Democrat vote fraud. They’re actively working to suppress it. Likewise, major GOP figures and NeverTrump activists are trying to scare us into dropping this whole effort, and pretending that we all live in a 1950s civics textbook for children.
Instead of the boiling hell that is 2020, A.D.
They want us to believe that we just happened to have a Red Wave on hundreds of down-ballot races across the country, but not for the president who ran at the top of the ticket. If you believe that, I have a slightly used copy of the Steele Dossier you might be interested in.
So instead of trying to capture the whole big, messy reality of witnesses coming forward with their own evidence of vote fraud, let me offer some helpful observations on various fronts which I’ve been following.
The Georgia Runoff
Lin Wood has been heroic on many issues. He helped Nick Sandmann win a massive settlement from media outlets that falsely labeled him as a racist, for smiling while white. He’s helping Kyle Rittenhouse and his family, as that young man fights fraudulent murder charges for defending himself against a gang of rioters.
Now Wood is teamed up with Sidney Powell to expose the seemingly bottomless corruption of Dominion software, and the Georgia political establishment — including its top Republicans. I share his suspicions about both the Georgia governor and its secretary of state. It seems they made a corrupt bargain with Stacey Abrams to benefit their own political careers, throwing other Republicans, including President Trump, under the bus.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
All that seems true. It’s also true that we must stop the Democrats from taking control of the U.S. Senate (in Malcolm X’s words) by any means necessary. Fine. By any legal means necessary. The Democrats have promised to pack the U.S. Supreme Court and gut the key amendments in the U.S. Bill of Rights. To add frivolous new states to the Union. To eliminate the Electoral College. In effect, to destroy the Constitution itself.
Playing Chicken at 150 MPH
As inspiring as he is on many subjects, Wood isn’t infallible. It’s reckless in the extreme for Wood to suggest that Georgia Republicans should stay home and not vote against this hostile takeover, just in order to punish the Georgia GOP elite. For one thing, it would punish our whole country. For another, there’s no reason to think that the top hacks of the Georgia GOP even care that much about the Senate, or America.
If they are indeed as corrupt as Wood insists, all they care about is keeping their ill-gotten gains and staying out of prison. So don’t hold every gunowner and churchgoer in America at gunpoint to pay back a couple of crooks, okay, Mr. Wood? I’ve sent money to your fundraiser for Kyle Rittenhouse. Please don’t help the left put all the rest of us behind bars too.
Yes, we must force the state of Georgia to fix its election procedures before any run-off happens, or else the Democrats will just steal those races too. We can demand that without making crazy threats that amount to suicide notes.
The Democrats Showed Us the Way
In what must have seemed to him a clever train of thought at the time, Ross Douthat responded to my piece on Christians embracing loserhood as if it were a virtue. Let me share it with you, and my answer:
I would mildly suggest that this @JZmirak piece is missing an acknowledgment that a key temptation losers face is the temptation to tell themselves, “actually, we didn’t really lose.”https://t.co/fYTHSvGV2v — Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT) December 2, 2020
The Democrats for four years refused to accept their 2016 loss, and their sabotage and obstruction WORKED (on your theory, since you claim Biden won). Clearly that’s a WINNING tactic we need to emulate. — John Zmirak (@JZmirak) December 2, 2020
Remember how the Left lost all credibility by denying Trump’s legitimacy from 2016 on? No, I don’t either, because that tactic WORKED. So now we’re stealing it from them. Except we have legitimate grounds. — John Zmirak (@JZmirak) December 2, 2020
For far too long, the right has acted like a boxer in the ring, who sees his opponent pull out of his trunks a machete and a can of pepper gas, but doggedly keeps on fighting according to the Marquess of Queensbury Rules. We cannot engage in intrinsic moral evils, so much of the left’s playbook is forbidden to us. But we’re under no obligation to pretend that our enemies fight fair, or forget the fact that a few months ago they were unleashing rioters on us.
Don’t Be a Male Karen
The other day, one of the heroic attorneys fighting to Stop the Steal, Joe DiGenova, used some colorful language concerning the cybersecurity chief whom Donald Trump fired. DiGenova said of Chris Krebs: “That guy is a Class A moron. He should be drawn and quartered, taken out at dawn and shot.”
This was not a death threat. It was not a call for mob violence. It was no different in form than Jesus’ injunction that to avoid sin we should pluck out our eyes or cut off our hands. It’s called hyperbole, and everybody recognizes it as such. To insist otherwise is to reveal what you really think of Trump supporters:
That they’re either too dumb or uneducated to appreciate figures of speech. Or That their ranks are full of violent, unhinged thugs just waiting for the right dog-whistle to go postal.
But as usual, Ann Coulter said it better than I can:
Oh knock off the crap about the “DEATH THREATS,” you little girl in a pink party dress. “Shot at dawn” and “drawn and quartered” are known as “expressions.” https://t.co/pgM5zTwgTx — Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) December 2, 2020
Keep fighting, keep praying. This one’s for all the marbles, folks.
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream, and author or co-author of ten books, including The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and The Politically Incorrect Guide to Catholicism. He is co-author with Jason Jones of “God, Guns, & the Government.”


thestream--2020-12-03--Walter Williams: A Warrior For Liberty!

Walter Williams: A Warrior For Liberty!

On this second day of profound mourning for Professor Walter E. Williams , it is difficult to summarize the life and legacy of my friend with only a few words .
Walter ’ s loss is deep and personal for those of us who knew and loved him .
He believed in the power of liberty and he worked every day of his adult life to harness government and optimize individual liberty .
In times of grief , we often ponder the essence of the person who has passed from our realm to that of our creator God .
Indeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man ?
Wisdom of the mind ?
The generosity of the spirit ?
The kindness of the heart ?
Albert Einstein once noted that we should “ not try to become a man of success , but rather become a man of value.
” Although he enjoyed national renown , the essence of Professor Walter E. Williams was all of these .
Walter grew up in a tough Philadelphia neighborhood .
He knew the pain of a fatherless upbringing .
He learned hard lessons but used every life experience to teach self-reliance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had a brilliant mind and was himself a teacher , he often said he never stopped learning — particularly from his friend and fellow defender of liberty , Professor Thomas Sowell .
There was no subject too hot for Walter in his quest to educate and encourage personal responsibility and a foundational understanding of freedom .
From his brilliant 1998 book The Historical Origin of Christianity to the insightful 2011 treatise Race and Economics .
He wrote thousands of essays and editorials on every aspect of public policy and government .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deadly weight of being politically correct .
He told it and sold it as he saw it .
Walter ’ s sense of humor knew no bounds — and he knew how to use it .
He had a gift for creating a brilliant quip or funny story that made a hard point for liberty , designed to stick in the minds of those listening .
Professor Williams was a lauded economist , academic , educator , and relentless defender of Constitutional freedom as well as economic and individual liberty .
He lit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of our founding and national values .
Yet , if you asked Walter his most important job , he was likely to respond , “ Connie ’ s husband and Devyn ’ s dad.
” When Connie passed away unexpectedly in December of 2007 , Walter was shattered by the loss of his companion of fifty years .
Our hearts and prayers now extend to his daughter in her time of grief .
I was privileged to work with Professor Williams at The Heritage Foundation and as a fellow Policy Board Member at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us at ACRU mourn his loss as we celebrate his legacy and treasure his memory .
Walter leaves a lifetime of precious moments for his family , friends , and students , and Americans of all generations will continue to benefit from his insight and wisdom , even if they don ’ t realize it .
Amb .
J. Kenneth Blackwell is a policy board member of the American Constitutional Rights Union .

Patriot. Friend. Teacher. Student. Husband. Father. Legendary thinker. Christ follower.
On this second day of profound mourning for Professor Walter E. Williams, it is difficult to summarize the life and legacy of my friend with only a few words.
Walter’s loss is deep and personal for those of us who knew and loved him. He believed in the power of liberty and he worked every day of his adult life to harness government and optimize individual liberty.
A Man of Value
In times of grief, we often ponder the essence of the person who has passed from our realm to that of our creator God. Indeed, what is the essence of a man? Wisdom of the mind? The generosity of the spirit? The kindness of the heart?
Albert Einstein once noted that we should “not try to become a man of success, but rather become a man of value.” Although he enjoyed national renown, the essence of Professor Walter E. Williams was all of these.
Who Was Walter Williams?
Walter grew up in a tough Philadelphia neighborhood. He knew the pain of a fatherless upbringing. He learned hard lessons but used every life experience to teach self-reliance, dignity, and hard work. Although he had a brilliant mind and was himself a teacher, he often said he never stopped learning — particularly from his friend and fellow defender of liberty, Professor Thomas Sowell.
There was no subject too hot for Walter in his quest to educate and encourage personal responsibility and a foundational understanding of freedom. From his brilliant 1998 book The Historical Origin of Christianity to the insightful 2011 treatise Race and Economics. He wrote thousands of essays and editorials on every aspect of public policy and government.
He was a gifted commentator unencumbered by the deadly weight of being politically correct. He told it and sold it as he saw it.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Walter’s sense of humor knew no bounds — and he knew how to use it. He had a gift for creating a brilliant quip or funny story that made a hard point for liberty, designed to stick in the minds of those listening.
Professor Williams was a lauded economist, academic, educator, and relentless defender of Constitutional freedom as well as economic and individual liberty. He lit a path for every American seeking understanding of our founding and national values.
Yet, if you asked Walter his most important job, he was likely to respond, “Connie’s husband and Devyn’s dad.” When Connie passed away unexpectedly in December of 2007, Walter was shattered by the loss of his companion of fifty years. Our hearts and prayers now extend to his daughter in her time of grief.
Celebrating His Legacy
I was privileged to work with Professor Williams at The Heritage Foundation and as a fellow Policy Board Member at American Constitutional Rights Union. All of us at ACRU mourn his loss as we celebrate his legacy and treasure his memory.
Walter leaves a lifetime of precious moments for his family, friends, and students, and Americans of all generations will continue to benefit from his insight and wisdom, even if they don’t realize it.
Walter’s essence was liberty.
Amb. J. Kenneth Blackwell is a policy board member of the American Constitutional Rights Union.


thestream--2020-12-03--The Dangers of Joe Biden’s Extreme Abortion Agenda

In the aftermath of a singularly high-stakes election , as President Donald Trump fights to ensure that every legal vote is counted , Joe Biden claims to want to unify our nation and even “ heal ” our collective soul .
There is ample reason for skepticism .
By all indications , Biden and Kamala Harris have not changed their plans to lead from the extreme Left on issues like abortion , contrary to the will of the overwhelming majority of Americans .
The abortion lobby spent unprecedented sums to elect Democrats .
They expect swift fulfillment of their wish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ damage a pro-abortion White House could inflict through personnel choices , executive orders , and regulatory actions .
Personnel is policy , and President Trump assembled a pro-life dream Cabinet .
Vice President Mike Pence recently became the first sitting vice president to visit a pro-life pregnancy center , while Alex Azar and Mike Pompeo have led a united front in domestic and foreign affairs , standing up to pro-abortion radicals at the United Nations and spearheading a multinational coalition to assert that no international “ right ” to abortion exists .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most likely be stacked with abortion industry cronies , with disastrous results .
The Threat to Unborn Children and Their Mothers First on the list of executive orders is the reinstatement of taxpayer funding to groups that promote abortion overseas .
President Trump took the pro-life Mexico City Policy to a unique new level , expanding it to include all global health aid .
His State Department even ceased working with foreign NGOs engaged in the abortion business .
Biden could restore funding on day one and make the United States the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Next is the reinsertion of abortion in family planning .
Under President Trump , for the first time ever , abortion giant Planned Parenthood forfeited $ 60 million in Title X funding .
Also for the first time , pro-life pregnancy centers were welcome to apply for Title X funds .
A Biden administration could force these centers to be involved in abortion or risk losing federal aid .
Pro-life conscience protections , strengthened under President Trump , would also be on the chopping block .
No one — not pro-life health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moral objectors like Susan B. Anthony List — should ever be coerced to participate in the destruction of innocent human life .
Biden has promised to force the Little Sisters of the Poor to provide abortion-inducing drugs in their health plans .
Biden and Harris have both endorsed the idea of using the executive branch to scrutinize ( and presumably reject ) pro-life legislation brought forth in the states .
Their authority to carry out this aggressive violation of the separation of powers is dubious at best .
Like Roe v. Wade , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chosen representatives from enacting a variety of popular pro-life laws , like bans on discrimination abortions targeting unborn children with Down syndrome , or laws requiring parental involvement when minor girls seek abortions .
Perhaps most dangerous of all , abortion advocates are pushing to roll back Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) medical safety standards for chemical abortion drugs .
According to Charlotte Lozier Institute , abortion drugs are driving a worrisome uptick in the number of abortions nationwide .
A Biden-Harris administration could convert every post office and pharmacy into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goal of the abortion industry , which prioritizes profits over health and safety .
The threat to unborn children and their mothers is staggering .
What We Can Do What can pro-life advocates do ?
The unfortunate reality is that we have little to no control over executive actions .
However , we can work to stop the White House and congressional Democrats from eliminating the filibuster , expanding the Supreme Court , creating new pro-abortion states , or rolling back longstanding pro-life policies like the Hyde Amendment that save millions of lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it is significantly narrower .
In a strong rebuke to Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer , the American people sent a record number of pro-life women to Congress — 10 of whom flipped seats from blue to red .
In the Georgia runoff elections this January , we have a crucial opportunity to send the same message and keep Sen. Chuck Schumer and his allies out of power .
Susan B. Anthony List ’ s team is going all in to re-elect pro-life Sens .
Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue , working @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican majority that will serve as a firewall against efforts to expand abortion via Congress .
At the state level , we can work with lawmakers and other allies on strategies to challenge Roe and to stymie the expansion of chemical abortion .
Biden and Harris clearly have no mandate to impose their deeply unpopular abortion agenda .
We must remain vigilant and continue calling out their extremism , but if the 2020 elections prove anything , it is that we can win the long-term battle for life .
Marjorie Dannenfelser is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ B. Anthony List and author of Life is Winning : Inside the Fight for Unborn Children and Their Mothers .
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of 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 licensing @ dailycallernewsfoundation.org .

In the aftermath of a singularly high-stakes election, as President Donald Trump fights to ensure that every legal vote is counted, Joe Biden claims to want to unify our nation and even “heal” our collective soul. There is ample reason for skepticism. By all indications, Biden and Kamala Harris have not changed their plans to lead from the extreme Left on issues like abortion, contrary to the will of the overwhelming majority of Americans.
The abortion lobby spent unprecedented sums to elect Democrats. They expect swift fulfillment of their wish list. We must not underestimate the damage a pro-abortion White House could inflict through personnel choices, executive orders, and regulatory actions.
Personnel is policy, and President Trump assembled a pro-life dream Cabinet. Vice President Mike Pence recently became the first sitting vice president to visit a pro-life pregnancy center, while Alex Azar and Mike Pompeo have led a united front in domestic and foreign affairs, standing up to pro-abortion radicals at the United Nations and spearheading a multinational coalition to assert that no international “right” to abortion exists. In contrast, a potential Biden Cabinet would most likely be stacked with abortion industry cronies, with disastrous results.
The Threat to Unborn Children and Their Mothers
First on the list of executive orders is the reinstatement of taxpayer funding to groups that promote abortion overseas. President Trump took the pro-life Mexico City Policy to a unique new level, expanding it to include all global health aid. His State Department even ceased working with foreign NGOs engaged in the abortion business. Biden could restore funding on day one and make the United States the world’s top abortion exporter again.
Next is the reinsertion of abortion in family planning. Under President Trump, for the first time ever, abortion giant Planned Parenthood forfeited $60 million in Title X funding. Also for the first time, pro-life pregnancy centers were welcome to apply for Title X funds. A Biden administration could force these centers to be involved in abortion or risk losing federal aid.
Pro-life conscience protections, strengthened under President Trump, would also be on the chopping block. No one — not pro-life health care workers, or religious organizations, or moral objectors like Susan B. Anthony List — should ever be coerced to participate in the destruction of innocent human life. Biden has promised to force the Little Sisters of the Poor to provide abortion-inducing drugs in their health plans.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Biden and Harris have both endorsed the idea of using the executive branch to scrutinize (and presumably reject) pro-life legislation brought forth in the states. Their authority to carry out this aggressive violation of the separation of powers is dubious at best. Like Roe v. Wade, it would prevent the people and their chosen representatives from enacting a variety of popular pro-life laws, like bans on discrimination abortions targeting unborn children with Down syndrome, or laws requiring parental involvement when minor girls seek abortions.
Perhaps most dangerous of all, abortion advocates are pushing to roll back Food and Drug Administration (FDA) medical safety standards for chemical abortion drugs. According to Charlotte Lozier Institute, abortion drugs are driving a worrisome uptick in the number of abortions nationwide. A Biden-Harris administration could convert every post office and pharmacy into a virtual abortion center — a longtime goal of the abortion industry, which prioritizes profits over health and safety. The threat to unborn children and their mothers is staggering.
What We Can Do
What can pro-life advocates do? The unfortunate reality is that we have little to no control over executive actions. However, we can work to stop the White House and congressional Democrats from eliminating the filibuster, expanding the Supreme Court, creating new pro-abortion states, or rolling back longstanding pro-life policies like the Hyde Amendment that save millions of lives.
House Democrats retained their majority, but it is significantly narrower. In a strong rebuke to Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, the American people sent a record number of pro-life women to Congress — 10 of whom flipped seats from blue to red.
In the Georgia runoff elections this January, we have a crucial opportunity to send the same message and keep Sen. Chuck Schumer and his allies out of power. Susan B. Anthony List’s team is going all in to re-elect pro-life Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, working to reach one million voters to preserve the Republican majority that will serve as a firewall against efforts to expand abortion via Congress.
At the state level, we can work with lawmakers and other allies on strategies to challenge Roe and to stymie the expansion of chemical abortion.
Biden and Harris clearly have no mandate to impose their deeply unpopular abortion agenda. We must remain vigilant and continue calling out their extremism, but if the 2020 elections prove anything, it is that we can win the long-term battle for life.
Marjorie Dannenfelser is president of the national pro-life group Susan B. Anthony List and author of Life is Winning: Inside the Fight for Unborn Children and Their Mothers.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of 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--2020-12-03--‘Evangelicals Are More Involved in Politics Than in the Work and Purpose of Jesus Christ’ — Appearan

‘Evangelicals Are More Involved in Politics Than in the Work and Purpose of Jesus Christ’ — Appearance or Reality?

“ American Evangelicalism is no longer seen , in more and more instances , as Christian or part of THE Church .
It is viewed as a political entity .
This they have done to themselves by being more involved in politics than in the work and purpose of The Church of Jesus Christ.
” So wrote “ Jaunita ” in a comment here the other day .
Is she right ?
Has politics taken over our Christian ministry ?
That question has been around at least since 2007 , when David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons published unChristian : What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … and Why It Matters .
The culture complained then , too , that we were too political .
Notice , however , what 32-year-old “ Brandon ” says in the quote with which they open the chapter titled “ Too Political ” : From the inside he saw ministry .
From the outside he sees politics .
I ask , “ What did he expect ?
Was that supposed to come as some kind of surprise ?
” It reminds me of a question people asked me over and over again before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ If you Christians are so concerned about marriage , why don ’ t you put as much effort into stopping divorce as you do into stopping gay marriage ?
” I always answered bluntly : “ You have no idea what you ’ re talking about.
” They didn ’ t ; in fact , they couldn ’ t have .
The very question shows how little they know .
How many sermons do preachers preach on marriage every year ?
Thousands upon thousands .
How many small groups teach on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other in their marriages ?
Thousands .
How many hours do pastors spend in counseling ?
Many thousands .
How many marriage conferences and retreats are hosted by Christian groups ?
Thousands .
How many hours of TV , radio , and podcast time are focused on marriage ?
Thousands !
How many nonprofit Christian groups exist solely to support marriage ?
I don ’ t know — but I ’ m guessing thousands again here , too .
Churches at the time focused on marriage ministry over marriage politics by a factor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ internal ministry , though .
We don ’ t do our marriage counseling on FOX News , and we don ’ t hold our marriage conferences on the street at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue .
Brandon sees Christianity differently from the outside than he did on the inside .
Why should that surprise anyone ?
That ’ s just the nature of the activities .
Politics is external , so of course people on the outside will see more politics than pastoral care .
He was confusing external appearance with internal reality .
Something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brandon was in church .
It would have been about 1987 , based on his own timeline .
Christians had a real political presence then , too — the Moral Majority was formed in 1979 — but the intensity was nothing like it is today .
Back then , too , we could realistically call it a majority .
Now the weight of opinion has swung far over toward supporting gay marriage , and support for transgenderism and socialism aren ’ t far behind .
( We ’ re doing somewhat better on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be that our politics is more visible now because it ’ s more unpopular , more controversial .
It ’ s funny , though , how people seem to accept being political when liberal churches promote liberal politics .
They ’ re doing “ the Christian thing , ” supposedly .
Actually , they ’ re doing the culturally acceptable thing .
Liberal churches are right this far , though : Christianity was never a purely private religion .
Its moral system has never been purely private , either .
Love for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cultural mandates require that we care about the society we live in .
Caring about our society means caring about how we ’ re governed , and caring means involvement .
Uninvolved Christianity is partial Christianity .
No one individual can practice total Christianity , but together as a body we must make that our goal , our target .
So Jaunita ’ s question is wrong on two levels .
It ’ s not just that you can find us doing “ the work and purpose of the Church of Jesus Christ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the relative privacy of our church activities .
We ’ re also fulfilling the Church ’ s purpose in Christ when we do politics .
We have to do it in truth , grace , and integrity , under the guidance of Scripture and the Holy Spirit , naturally .
But if it looks unbalanced from the outside , let it look unbalanced from the outside .
If others disagree with us , let them disagree .
Our job isn ’ t to look good but to be good ; not to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ God faithfully .
The world doesn ’ t set our theology , it doesn ’ t determine our worship , and it doesn ’ t define our morality .
Let ’ s not let the world set our priorities or our agenda , either .
Less church involvement in politics ?
The world may not like it , but they don ’ t have to .
We could use more of it .
Tom Gilson ( @ TomGilsonAuthor ) is a senior editor with The Stream and the author or editor of six @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Good To Be False : How Jesus ’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality .

“American Evangelicalism is no longer seen, in more and more instances, as Christian or part of THE Church. It is viewed as a political entity. This they have done to themselves by being more involved in politics than in the work and purpose of The Church of Jesus Christ.”
So wrote “Jaunita” in a comment here the other day. Is she right? Has politics taken over our Christian ministry? That question has been around at least since 2007, when David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons published unChristian: What a New Generation Really Thinks About Christianity … and Why It Matters. The culture complained then, too, that we were too political.
Notice, however, what 32-year-old “Brandon” says in the quote with which they open the chapter titled “Too Political”:
20 years ago, when I was looking at Evangelical Christianity from the inside, it seems like a movement bursting with energy to spread good news to people. Looking at it from the outside today, this message seems to have been lost in exchange for an aggressive political strategy the demonizes segments of society.
From the inside he saw ministry. From the outside he sees politics. I ask, “What did he expect? Was that supposed to come as some kind of surprise?”
Appearance Versus Reality
It reminds me of a question people asked me over and over again before the Supreme Court’s Obergefell decision: “If you Christians are so concerned about marriage, why don’t you put as much effort into stopping divorce as you do into stopping gay marriage?”
I always answered bluntly: “You have no idea what you’re talking about.” They didn’t; in fact, they couldn’t have. The very question shows how little they know.
How many sermons do preachers preach on marriage every year? Thousands upon thousands. How many small groups teach on it, pray together, support each other in their marriages? Thousands. How many hours do pastors spend in counseling? Many thousands.
Politics is external, so of course people will see more politics from the outside.
How many marriage conferences and retreats are hosted by Christian groups? Thousands. How many hours of TV, radio, and podcast time are focused on marriage? Thousands! How many nonprofit Christian groups exist solely to support marriage? I don’t know — but I’m guessing thousands again here, too.
Churches at the time focused on marriage ministry over marriage politics by a factor of … thousands! It was mostly internal ministry, though. We don’t do our marriage counseling on FOX News, and we don’t hold our marriage conferences on the street at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
Brandon sees Christianity differently from the outside than he did on the inside. Why should that surprise anyone? That’s just the nature of the activities. Politics is external, so of course people on the outside will see more politics than pastoral care. He was confusing external appearance with internal reality.
Controversial or Culturally Acceptable?
Something else has changed, though, since Brandon was in church. It would have been about 1987, based on his own timeline. Christians had a real political presence then, too — the Moral Majority was formed in 1979 — but the intensity was nothing like it is today. Back then, too, we could realistically call it a majority. Now the weight of opinion has swung far over toward supporting gay marriage, and support for transgenderism and socialism aren’t far behind. (We’re doing somewhat better on abortion, thankfully.)
Uninvolved Christianity is partial Christianity.
So it could be that our politics is more visible now because it’s more unpopular, more controversial. It’s funny, though, how people seem to accept being political when liberal churches promote liberal politics. They’re doing “the Christian thing,” supposedly. Actually, they’re doing the culturally acceptable thing.
Loving Our Neighbor Means Being Involved
Liberal churches are right this far, though: Christianity was never a purely private religion. Its moral system has never been purely private, either. Love for neighbor and obedience to God’s cultural mandates require that we care about the society we live in. Caring about our society means caring about how we’re governed, and caring means involvement.
Uninvolved Christianity is partial Christianity. No one individual can practice total Christianity, but together as a body we must make that our goal, our target.
So Jaunita’s question is wrong on two levels. It’s not just that you can find us doing “the work and purpose of the Church of Jesus Christ” if you look for it in the relative privacy of our church activities. We’re also fulfilling the Church’s purpose in Christ when we do politics.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
We have to do it in truth, grace, and integrity, under the guidance of Scripture and the Holy Spirit, naturally. But if it looks unbalanced from the outside, let it look unbalanced from the outside. If others disagree with us, let them disagree. Our job isn’t to look good but to be good; not to be popular but to represent the image of God faithfully.
The world doesn’t set our theology, it doesn’t determine our worship, and it doesn’t define our morality. Let’s not let the world set our priorities or our agenda, either. Less church involvement in politics? The world may not like it, but they don’t have to. We could use more of it.
Tom Gilson (@TomGilsonAuthor) is a senior editor with The Stream and the author or editor of six books, including the recently released Too Good To Be False: How Jesus’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality.


thestream--2020-12-03--The Contested 2020 Election and the Arc of History

Right now , most Americans are not thinking about 2024 and the next presidential vote , let alone 2028 or beyond .
They are focused on the official outcome of the current elections , with the nation still divided over who actually won , even one month after election day .
But the arc of history swings much bigger than this , and a larger perspective can be helpful during such emotionally charged days .
Quite naturally , for those who are convinced there was electoral fraud , passions are running high .
After all , the idea that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off in front of our eyes is shocking beyond words .
Here , in America ?
Stolen , just as Trump predicted ?
This is an outrage .
For those who are convinced there is zero evidence of substantial fraud , passions are also running high .
Will Trump refuse to concede ?
Will tens of millions of his followers refuse to cooperate with a Biden government ?
Are we on the verge of civil war ?
We should earnestly hope and pray that sufficient clarity will emerge through our legal system that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( obviously , a very tall order ) .
The stakes are obviously very high .
But whatever that outcome may be , it ’ s helpful to step back and look at the bigger picture , one that unfolds over a period of years .
Think back to 1960 , when John F. Kennedy edged out Richard Nixon in the presidential nomination .
As noted by Jonathan Leaf in The Politically Incorrect Guide to the 1960s , “ The 1960 presidential race was one of the closest in history .
Nationally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Nixon out of almost 69 million cast.
” “ But , ” he continues , “ Kennedy ’ s ‘ victory , ’ however , was a fraud .
His election relied on the late appearance of masses of ballots that gained close victories for Kennedy in Illinois and Texas .
Had these two states gone to Vice President Nixon , Nixon would have won.
” Specifically , “ Vote fraud in Illinois , where Kennedy won by just 9,000 votes , was particularly egregious , ” and “ the corruption of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ Around midnight [ on Election Day ] Kennedy ’ s brother-in-law , Illinoisan Sargent Shriver , went to his room to cry when he realized that the Illinois results would likely tip the presidency to Nixon .
Then , Shriver received a sudden bit of unexpected good news : the late votes from Chicago were showing unprecedented Democratic majorities.
” What do you know .
There were even reports of dead people voting , to the point that one journalist , Earl Mazo , “ learned of a cemetery where every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he found a vacant , boarded-up house that was listed as the official residence of fifty-six voters in a ward whose results came in late for Kennedy .
Incredibly , Chicago ’ s official voter turnout dwarfed the national average , 89 percent to 63 percent.
” On and on the charges of fraud go , including many examples from Texas , the domain of Vice-Presidential candidate Lyndon Baines Johnson .
To this day , many historians believe that JFK was fraudulently elected .
There were actually prison sentences handed down .
Nixon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to drop his reporting of the scandal , saying , “ Our country can not afford the agony of a constitutional crisis ” in the midst of the Cold War .
Could it be , then , that Nixon was robbed ?
The Worm ’ s Eye View : But Then Watergate But that is the worm ’ s eye view of history , just as we have the worm ’ s eye view of the current electoral dispute ( again , understandably so ) .
As we look back with a bird @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something very different .
Three years later , JFK was dead , the victim of an assassin ’ s bullets .
Had he not been elected president , he would presumably not have been shot and killed .
This great American tragedy might never have occurred .
As for Nixon , whom Leaf says “ showed immense unselfishness and decency , ” things swung back in his favor .
He was elected president in 1968 , defeating Hubert Humphrey 301-191 in the electoral college .
Four years later , he was reelected in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It looked as if he was rewarded for his country-first vision in the aftermath of the 1960 election when he chose to unify the country behind JFK rather than pursue charges of fraud .
History , then , would remember Nixon as a strong president who was overwhelmingly elected to a second term .
And so , Nixon is better known as “ Tricky Dick ” then as a successful two-term president .
He never finished his second term .
The Last Chapter May Only Be The Last Chapter of a Four-Part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the point of sharing all this , since it doesn ’ t affect the results of the current elections ?
” The answer is simple .
It does affect our attitudes .
It does affect our strategies .
It does remind us that , what we might think is the last chapter of a book might be the last chapter of the first part of a four-part book .
The plot is only thickening .
Consider the story of Barry Goldwater and the conservative movement .
The publication of his 1960 book @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marked the emergence of the modern popular conservative movement ” ( Leaf ) .
Overnight , Goldwater became of a political icon .
In 1964 , he ran against LBJ , who had replaced JFK after his assassination , facing an obvious , uphill climb .
But Goldwater was also vilified and misrepresented by the press , leading to a stunning defeat , losing by the largest margin in the popular vote on record .
So much for the new conservative movement .
But again , that is the worm ’ s eye @ @ @ @ @ @ @ views shows us that , “ in 1980 , the seeds that Goldwater had planted two decades before suddenly bloomed with the election of Ronald Reagan ” ( Leaf ) .
To say it again : What do you know .
It is absolutely true , of course , that the results of these elections left their marks on our nation , for better or for worse .
Just think of LBJ ’ s “ Great Society , ” which resulted in a welfare state , to cite one case in point .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ outcome of the present election could have lasting consequences on the country .
But even so , we do well to think in larger , generational terms rather than to think of each election as the potential , apocalyptic end of America .
( Political rhetoric like this goes back to the first contest between Jefferson and Adams . )
And we do well to ask ourselves , “ What kind of world do we want to see for our children and grandchildren , and what we do need to do today to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The answer as to whether the arc of history bends towards justice will be largely determined by us .
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 .

Right now, most Americans are not thinking about 2024 and the next presidential vote, let alone 2028 or beyond. They are focused on the official outcome of the current elections, with the nation still divided over who actually won, even one month after election day. But the arc of history swings much bigger than this, and a larger perspective can be helpful during such emotionally charged days.
Passions are High
Quite naturally, for those who are convinced there was electoral fraud, passions are running high. After all, the idea that a theft of this magnitude could be pulled off in front of our eyes is shocking beyond words. Here, in America? Stolen, just as Trump predicted? This is an outrage.
For those who are convinced there is zero evidence of substantial fraud, passions are also running high. Will Trump refuse to concede? Will tens of millions of his followers refuse to cooperate with a Biden government? Are we on the verge of civil war?
We should earnestly hope and pray that sufficient clarity will emerge through our legal system that all sides will accept the final outcome (obviously, a very tall order). The stakes are obviously very high.
History’s Bigger Picture: Kennedy vs. Nixon
But whatever that outcome may be, it’s helpful to step back and look at the bigger picture, one that unfolds over a period of years.
Think back to 1960, when John F. Kennedy edged out Richard Nixon in the presidential nomination.
As noted by Jonathan Leaf in The Politically Incorrect Guide to the 1960s, “The 1960 presidential race was one of the closest in history. Nationally, only about 100,000 recorded votes separated Kennedy and Nixon out of almost 69 million cast.”
“But,” he continues, “Kennedy’s ‘victory,’ however, was a fraud. His election relied on the late appearance of masses of ballots that gained close victories for Kennedy in Illinois and Texas. Had these two states gone to Vice President Nixon, Nixon would have won.”
Specifically, “Vote fraud in Illinois, where Kennedy won by just 9,000 votes, was particularly egregious,” and “the corruption of the Chicago Democratic machine was … notorious.”
Does this sound familiar?
“Around midnight [on Election Day] Kennedy’s brother-in-law, Illinoisan Sargent Shriver, went to his room to cry when he realized that the Illinois results would likely tip the presidency to Nixon. Then, Shriver received a sudden bit of unexpected good news: the late votes from Chicago were showing unprecedented Democratic majorities.”
What do you know.
There were even reports of dead people voting, to the point that one journalist, Earl Mazo, “learned of a cemetery where every tombstone had produced a voter, and he found a vacant, boarded-up house that was listed as the official residence of fifty-six voters in a ward whose results came in late for Kennedy. Incredibly, Chicago’s official voter turnout dwarfed the national average, 89 percent to 63 percent.”
On and on the charges of fraud go, including many examples from Texas, the domain of Vice-Presidential candidate Lyndon Baines Johnson.
To this day, many historians believe that JFK was fraudulently elected. There were actually prison sentences handed down.
Nixon, for his part, urged Mazo to drop his reporting of the scandal, saying, “Our country cannot afford the agony of a constitutional crisis” in the midst of the Cold War.
Could it be, then, that Nixon was robbed?
The Worm’s Eye View: But Then Watergate
But that is the worm’s eye view of history, just as we have the worm’s eye view of the current electoral dispute (again, understandably so).
As we look back with a bird’s eye view, we see something very different.
Three years later, JFK was dead, the victim of an assassin’s bullets. Had he not been elected president, he would presumably not have been shot and killed. This great American tragedy might never have occurred.
As for Nixon, whom Leaf says “showed immense unselfishness and decency,” things swung back in his favor. He was elected president in 1968, defeating Hubert Humphrey 301-191 in the electoral college. Four years later, he was reelected in a landslide, defeating George McGovern 520-17.
It looked as if he was rewarded for his country-first vision in the aftermath of the 1960 election when he chose to unify the country behind JFK rather than pursue charges of fraud.
History, then, would remember Nixon as a strong president who was overwhelmingly elected to a second term.
But then Watergate happened.
And so, Nixon is better known as “Tricky Dick” then as a successful two-term president. He never finished his second term.
The Last Chapter May Only Be The Last Chapter of a Four-Part Book
You say, “What’s the point of sharing all this, since it doesn’t affect the results of the current elections?”
The answer is simple. It does affect our attitudes. It does affect our strategies. It does remind us that, what we might think is the last chapter of a book might be the last chapter of the first part of a four-part book. The plot is only thickening.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Consider the story of Barry Goldwater and the conservative movement. The publication of his 1960 book The Conscience of a Conservative likely “marked the emergence of the modern popular conservative movement” (Leaf). Overnight, Goldwater became of a political icon.
In 1964, he ran against LBJ, who had replaced JFK after his assassination, facing an obvious, uphill climb. But Goldwater was also vilified and misrepresented by the press, leading to a stunning defeat, losing by the largest margin in the popular vote on record.
So much for the new conservative movement.
But again, that is the worm’s eye view. The bird’s eye views shows us that, “in 1980, the seeds that Goldwater had planted two decades before suddenly bloomed with the election of Ronald Reagan” (Leaf).
To say it again: What do you know.
Think Generationally
It is absolutely true, of course, that the results of these elections left their marks on our nation, for better or for worse. Just think of LBJ’s “Great Society,” which resulted in a welfare state, to cite one case in point.
In the same way, the final outcome of the present election could have lasting consequences on the country.
But even so, we do well to think in larger, generational terms rather than to think of each election as the potential, apocalyptic end of America. (Political rhetoric like this goes back to the first contest between Jefferson and Adams.)
And we do well to ask ourselves, “What kind of world do we want to see for our children and grandchildren, and what we do need to do today to see those goals realized tomorrow?”
The answer as to whether the arc of history bends towards justice will be largely determined by us.
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--2020-12-03--Election Came Under ‘Coordinated Assault and Siege,’ Trump Says

President Donald Trump told Americans why he has not conceded the election in an unprecedented video message late Wednesday afternoon that he said “ may be the most important speech I ’ ve ever made.
” “ The constitutional process must be allowed to continue , ” Trump said in the speech recorded at the White House as his reelection campaign pursued litigation in several states and state legislatures investigated voter fraud .
“ We are going to defend the honesty of the vote by ensuring every legal ballot is counted and that no illegal ballot is counted , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ projected Nov. 7 that former Vice President Joe Biden had won the Nov. 3 election by garnering more than the necessary 270 electoral votes .
In the past two weeks , state legislative panels in the closely contested states of Pennsylvania ( 20 electoral votes ) , Michigan ( 16 electoral votes ) , and Arizona ( 11 electoral votes ) heard testimony from witnesses who alleged large-scale election fraud .
Concurrently , Trump ’ s legal team is challenging the election results in those three states as well as Georgia ( 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , and Wisconsin ( 10 ) .
“ All you have to do is watch the hearings and see for yourself the evidence is overwhelming .
The fraud that we ’ ve collected in recent weeks is overwhelming having to do with our elections , ” Trump said .
The president ’ s remarks , recorded and released without notice to the White House press corps , went for 46 minutes and offered the most detailed case yet for his challenges of the unofficial results .
The Electoral College will pick the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still plenty of time to certify the correct winner of an election , and that ’ s what we are still fighting to do , ” Trump said .
“ But no matter when it happens , when [ witnesses ] see fraud , when they see false votes , and when those votes number far more than is necessary , you can ’ t let another person steal that election from you.
” Trump said that while “ I don ’ t mind if I lose an election , ” he doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stolen .
He said “ our election system … is now under coordinated assault and siege.
” “ Ultimately , I am prepared to accept any accurate election result and I hope that Joe Biden is as well , ” Trump said .
However , he said : “ If we are right about the fraud , Joe Biden can ’ t be president .
We ’ re talking about hundreds of thousands of votes .
We ’ re talking about numbers like nobody has ever seen before.
” Trump complained about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting well before the campaign ’ s final weeks , as well as lack of safeguards against voter fraud .
“ We used to have what was called Election Day .
Now we have election weeks and months , and lots of bad things happened during this ridiculous amount of time , especially when you had to do almost nothing to exercise our greatest privilege , the right to vote , ” Trump said .
The president also spoke more about Biden .
“ My opponent was told to ‘ Stay away , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t need you , we ’ ve got it , ’ ” Trump said .
“ In fact , they were acting like they already knew what the outcome was going to be , they had it covered , and perhaps they did , very sadly for our country .
It was all very , very strange.
” Fred Lucas is the White House correspondent for The Daily Signal and co-host of “ The Right Side of History ” podcast .
Lucas is also the author of Tainted by Suspicion : The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Presidential Elections .
Send an email to Fred .

President Donald Trump told Americans why he has not conceded the election in an unprecedented video message late Wednesday afternoon that he said “may be the most important speech I’ve ever made.”
“The constitutional process must be allowed to continue,” Trump said in the speech recorded at the White House as his reelection campaign pursued litigation in several states and state legislatures investigated voter fraud.
“We are going to defend the honesty of the vote by ensuring every legal ballot is counted and that no illegal ballot is counted,” the president said.
Major media outlets projected Nov. 7 that former Vice President Joe Biden had won the Nov. 3 election by garnering more than the necessary 270 electoral votes.
In the past two weeks, state legislative panels in the closely contested states of Pennsylvania (20 electoral votes), Michigan (16 electoral votes), and Arizona (11 electoral votes) heard testimony from witnesses who alleged large-scale election fraud.
Concurrently, Trump’s legal team is challenging the election results in those three states as well as Georgia (16 electoral votes), Nevada (six), and Wisconsin (10).
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
“All you have to do is watch the hearings and see for yourself the evidence is overwhelming. The fraud that we’ve collected in recent weeks is overwhelming having to do with our elections,” Trump said.
The president’s remarks, recorded and released without notice to the White House press corps, went for 46 minutes and offered the most detailed case yet for his challenges of the unofficial results.
The Electoral College will pick the winner Dec. 14.
“There is still plenty of time to certify the correct winner of an election, and that’s what we are still fighting to do,” Trump said. “But no matter when it happens, when [witnesses] see fraud, when they see false votes, and when those votes number far more than is necessary, you can’t let another person steal that election from you.”
Statement by Donald J. Trump, The President of the United States Full Video: https://t.co/EHqzsLbbJG pic.twitter.com/Eu4IsLNsKD — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2020
Trump said that while “I don’t mind if I lose an election,” he doesn’t want to see an election stolen.
He said “our election system … is now under coordinated assault and siege.”
“Ultimately, I am prepared to accept any accurate election result and I hope that Joe Biden is as well,” Trump said.
However, he said: “If we are right about the fraud, Joe Biden can’t be president. We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of votes. We’re talking about numbers like nobody has ever seen before.”
Trump complained about the risk inherent in mail-in voting and early voting well before the campaign’s final weeks, as well as lack of safeguards against voter fraud.
“We used to have what was called Election Day. Now we have election weeks and months, and lots of bad things happened during this ridiculous amount of time, especially when you had to do almost nothing to exercise our greatest privilege, the right to vote,” Trump said.
The president also spoke more about Biden.
“My opponent was told to ‘Stay away, don’t campaign, we don’t need you, we’ve got it,’” Trump said. “In fact, they were acting like they already knew what the outcome was going to be, they had it covered, and perhaps they did, very sadly for our country. It was all very, very strange.”
Fred Lucas is the White House correspondent for The Daily Signal and co-host of “The Right Side of History” podcast. Lucas is also the author of Tainted by Suspicion: The Secret Deals and Electoral Chaos of Disputed Presidential Elections. Send an email to Fred.
Copyright 2020 The Daily Signal


thestream--2020-12-04--Intel Chief: China Targeting Members of Congress With ‘Massive Influence Campaign’

John Ratcliffe , the director of national intelligence , said Thursday that the Chinese government is targeting multiple members of Congress as part of a “ massive ” foreign influence campaign .
In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal , Ratcliffe said that Beijing is targeting lawmakers with six times the frequency of Russia and 12 times more than the government of Iran .
“ This year China engaged in a massive influence campaign that included targeting several dozen members of Congress and congressional aides , ” Ratcliffe wrote in the op-ed , entitled “ China Is National Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence shows that Beijing regularly directs this type of influence operation in the U.S. , ” he wrote , noting that he has briefed the House and Senate Intelligence Committees “ that China is targeting members of Congress with six times the frequency of Russia and 12 times the frequency of Iran.
” Ratcliffe , a former Republican congressman from Texas , said that in order to confront the emerging intelligence threat posed by China , he has reallocated $ 85 billion from the annual intelligence community budget to focus on China .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ U.S. intelligence has the resources it needs to give policy makers unvarnished insights into China ’ s intentions and activities.
” Ratcliffe expanded on his op-ed during an interview with CBS News .
“ They want laws and policies out of the United States that are favorable to China , ” Ratcliffe said of Chinese agents targeting U.S. lawmakers .
“ And what they ’ re really trying to do is through blackmail , through bribery , through overt and covert influence , trying to make sure that only laws that are favorable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community has also seen an uptick in “ malign ” diplomatic influence efforts directed at members of the incoming Biden administration , William Evanina , the top counterintelligence official at ODNI , said Wednesday .
“ We ’ ve also seen an uptick , which was planned and we predicted , that China would now re-vector their influence campaigns to the new administration , ” Evanina said at the Aspen Cyber Summit .
Ratcliffe made another startling revelation in his Journal op-ed .
He said that as part of Beijing ’ s “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s foremost military power , ” the Chinese government has “ conducted human testing on members of the People ’ s Liberation Army in hope of developing soldiers with biologically enhanced capabilities.
” “ There are no ethical boundaries to Beijing ’ s pursuit of power .
”

John Ratcliffe, the director of national intelligence, said Thursday that the Chinese government is targeting multiple members of Congress as part of a “massive” foreign influence campaign.
In an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, Ratcliffe said that Beijing is targeting lawmakers with six times the frequency of Russia and 12 times more than the government of Iran.
“This year China engaged in a massive influence campaign that included targeting several dozen members of Congress and congressional aides,” Ratcliffe wrote in the op-ed, entitled “China Is National Security Threat No. 1.”
“Our intelligence shows that Beijing regularly directs this type of influence operation in the U.S.,” he wrote, noting that he has briefed the House and Senate Intelligence Committees “that China is targeting members of Congress with six times the frequency of Russia and 12 times the frequency of Iran.”
Ratcliffe, a former Republican congressman from Texas, said that in order to confront the emerging intelligence threat posed by China, he has reallocated $85 billion from the annual intelligence community budget to focus on China.
“This shift must continue to ensure U.S. intelligence has the resources it needs to give policy makers unvarnished insights into China’s intentions and activities.”
DNI Ratcliffe tells @CBS_Herridge that China is using blackmail, bribery and covert influence to target members of Congress and make sure “only laws that are favorable to China are passed" pic.twitter.com/3hQ23hXvtF — Catherine Herridge (@CBS_Herridge) December 3, 2020
Ratcliffe expanded on his op-ed during an interview with CBS News.
“They want laws and policies out of the United States that are favorable to China,” Ratcliffe said of Chinese agents targeting U.S. lawmakers.
“And what they’re really trying to do is through blackmail, through bribery, through overt and covert influence, trying to make sure that only laws that are favorable to China are passed.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The intelligence community has also seen an uptick in “malign” diplomatic influence efforts directed at members of the incoming Biden administration, William Evanina, the top counterintelligence official at ODNI, said Wednesday.
“We’ve also seen an uptick, which was planned and we predicted, that China would now re-vector their influence campaigns to the new administration,” Evanina said at the Aspen Cyber Summit.
Ratcliffe made another startling revelation in his Journal op-ed. He said that as part of Beijing’s “aggressive plan to make China the world’s foremost military power,” the Chinese government has “conducted human testing on members of the People’s Liberation Army in hope of developing soldiers with biologically enhanced capabilities.”
“There are no ethical boundaries to Beijing’s pursuit of power.”
Copyright 2020 The Daily Caller News Foundation
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