Our Braveheart Moment

Perhaps the most gut-wrenching scene in Braveheart occurs when William Wallace discovers he has been betrayed by a man he thought of as a friend .
The heartbreak on Wallace ’ s face is far more terrible than the torture Wallace would later suffer .
You expect brutality from your enemies , but not from your friends .
Robert the Bruce had done what was politically expedient at the moment .
Betraying Wallace — and his own heart — increased his chances of becoming Scotland ’ s king .
Right now , a lot of people are doing what is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brash , unorthodox , charismatic , fearless leader who was overturning the status quo .
We know his enemies .
They have been swinging swords at his head , clubs at his knees , using every means , legal and illegal , to take him out for five years .
Right now , they are engaged in an extremely brazen effort to steal an election from him .
Oh , don ’ t give me your “ baseless allegations ” garbage .
You know it , and I know it .
You saw @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You know it in your gut .
And if you ’ ve closed your eyes to the mounting evidence , failed to research it yourself , failed to be honest with yourself , that ’ s on you .
And that is the heartbreaking part .
For the temporary political expediency of seeing Orange Man gone , otherwise good people are turning away from the fight for our country .
They are leaving bloodied on the streets those attacked Saturday in Washington , D.C. , by Antifa and BLM armies prowling the streets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away from the two Wayne County certification members who voted against certification , only to be doxed by their colleagues .
One revealed the schools his GOP colleague ’ s kids went to after calling her a racist .
He endangered her kids .
They are turning away from the rule of law , rules of fairness , rules of equal protection under the law .
Away from the things that made America the envy of the world , and the inspiration for millions “ yearning to be free.
” They are silent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ websites de-platformed , and legitimate news stories are censored .
They are silent as members of Congress and media figures call for hit lists on Trump supporters .
We look on them as Wallace looked on Robert the Bruce .
If we look closer , will we , too , see shame ?
We Know There ’ s a Target on Our Back We know there ’ s a target on our back .
That for many , supporting Trump is a career death sentence .
And for some , like Bernell Trammell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know that the dukes and earls and lords of the Swamp would be happy to see us routed on the field , even at the hands of a foreign enemy , even by betraying our founding principles .
As long as their own realms are protected .
We know the odds are long , the flaming arrows and charging cavalries come at us from all sides .
But know this : The shield of faith shall extinguish the flaming arrows .
While others trust their cavalries , we will trust in the name @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far from over .
The fight for a free and fair election is right .
Robert the Bruce felt shame for his betrayal .
That turned into bravery and support for the cause of liberty .
We pray this will happen in America .
Because this is not about one man .
It ’ s about one nation conceived in liberty .
It ’ s about millions of Americans , mocked and forgotten , demanding accountability .
It ’ s about millions of Americans not yet born who deserve to know “ liberty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even if our neighbors do not join the battle , if deceit is to carry the day , if we are to go down , if we are to be figuratively dismembered , if we are to be alone , at least we will leave with one word on our lips : “ Freedom.
” 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 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Streamdotorg .

Perhaps the most gut-wrenching scene in Braveheart occurs when William Wallace discovers he has been betrayed by a man he thought of as a friend. The heartbreak on Wallace’s face is far more terrible than the torture Wallace would later suffer. You expect brutality from your enemies, but not from your friends.
Robert the Bruce had done what was politically expedient at the moment. Betraying Wallace — and his own heart — increased his chances of becoming Scotland’s king.
Right now, a lot of people are doing what is political expedient to rid themselves of a brash, unorthodox, charismatic, fearless leader who was overturning the status quo. We know his enemies. They have been swinging swords at his head, clubs at his knees, using every means, legal and illegal, to take him out for five years. Right now, they are engaged in an extremely brazen effort to steal an election from him.
Oh, don’t give me your “baseless allegations” garbage. You know it, and I know it. You saw it happen with your own eyes. You know it in your gut. And if you’ve closed your eyes to the mounting evidence, failed to research it yourself, failed to be honest with yourself, that’s on you.
And that is the heartbreaking part. For the temporary political expediency of seeing Orange Man gone, otherwise good people are turning away from the fight for our country.
Abandoning Their Neighbors
They are leaving bloodied on the streets those attacked Saturday in Washington, D.C., by Antifa and BLM armies prowling the streets hunting MAGA supporters.
They are turning away from the two Wayne County certification members who voted against certification, only to be doxed by their colleagues. One revealed the schools his GOP colleague’s kids went to after calling her a racist. He endangered her kids.
They are turning away from the rule of law, rules of fairness, rules of equal protection under the law. Away from the things that made America the envy of the world, and the inspiration for millions “yearning to be free.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
They are silent as conservative voices are silenced, conservative websites de-platformed, and legitimate news stories are censored.
They are silent as members of Congress and media figures call for hit lists on Trump supporters.
We look on them as Wallace looked on Robert the Bruce. If we look closer, will we, too, see shame?
We Know There’s a Target on Our Back
We know there’s a target on our back. That for many, supporting Trump is a career death sentence. And for some, like Bernell Trammell, a literal death sentence.
We know that the dukes and earls and lords of the Swamp would be happy to see us routed on the field, even at the hands of a foreign enemy, even by betraying our founding principles. As long as their own realms are protected.
We know the odds are long, the flaming arrows and charging cavalries come at us from all sides.
But know this: The shield of faith shall extinguish the flaming arrows. While others trust their cavalries, we will trust in the name of the Lord. The fight is far from over. The fight for a free and fair election is right.
Robert the Bruce felt shame for his betrayal. That turned into bravery and support for the cause of liberty. We pray this will happen in America.
It’s About the Nation
Because this is not about one man. It’s about one nation conceived in liberty. It’s about millions of Americans, mocked and forgotten, demanding accountability. It’s about millions of Americans not yet born who deserve to know “liberty and justice for all.”
Yet, even if our neighbors do not join the battle, if deceit is to carry the day, if we are to go down, if we are to be figuratively dismembered, if we are to be alone, at least we will leave with one word on our lips: “Freedom.”
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--2020-11-20--Porter Wright Has Disgraced the Legal Profession by Unethically Abandoning Election Suit

Militant progressives have long been allowed to terrorize all kinds of for-profit businesses into bowing to their will .
Last week , however , this tactic became more dangerous than ever .
An anti-Republican group has successfully deployed cancel culture against the justice system itself , pressuring a law firm into withdrawing from an election suit it brought on behalf of the Trump campaign and a Republican voter .
The withdrawal of that law firm , Porter Wright , has caused what might have been the Trump campaign ’ s most promising election lawsuit to suffer a catastrophic collapse .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s argument : that Pennsylvania election officials acted to dilute the votes of Republicans .
If those allegations happen to be true , it will now be very difficult for them to be remedied through the court system .
This should be deeply troubling even if you personally believe that election malfeasance did not occur .
It goes without saying that , if Democratic voters had brought a lawsuit alleging election malfeasance , and a right-wing group like Gun Owners of America had bullied the Democrats ’ lawyers into abandoning the case @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of it .
These actions would rightly draw comparisons with the KKK and be decried as a quasi-terroristic manipulation of the election process .
But the unfortunate fact is that a column like this one will not change how bullies behave .
There will always be those who attack lawyers for upholding the rule of law and defending controversial or unpopular clients or cases .
What conservatives can influence is how the next law firm or other profit-driven entity responds to this kind of bullying .
With its panicked and hasty withdrawal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was duty-bound to protect .
Conservatives must act in concert to discourage the kind of grossly unethical behavior that Porter Wright exhibited .
Before November 9th , the prospects of Trump ’ s election litigation looked largely dismal .
While the President ’ s lawyers had filed many lawsuits , most of these suits — even if successful — could not have changed the outcome of the election in any state .
But things looked up for the campaign when Porter Wright , a large law firm with a respected election law practice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Pennsylvania federal court .
The gist of Porter Wright ’ s argument was that Pennsylvania election officials constructed a system which would filter out as many Republican votes as possible while letting Democratic votes through .
Pennsylvania did this in essentially two ways .
First , the suit claimed that Pennsylvania ’ s Secretary of State “ excised nearly every element of … verifiability ” from mail-in ballots , which were more likely to be from Democrats .
In contrast , in-person ballots — which were more likely to be from Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Secondly , the suit alleged that mail-in ballots were treated differently depending on whether they came from Democrat- or Republican-heavy counties .
If voters in Democrat-heavy counties submitted legally defective ballots , these voters were contacted and given an opportunity to cure their ballots .
In contrast , if voters in Republican-heavy counties submitted defective ballots , those votes were simply not counted .
The upshot is that that — rather than actually manufacturing fake ballots — Pennsylvania created “ an illegal two-tiered voting system ” designed to dilute the votes of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden .
Pennsylvania officials therefore violated the Equal Protection Clause , which — as the Supreme Court said in Bush v. Gore — means that a state may not “ by … disparate treatment , value one person ’ s vote over that of another.
” Importantly , Porter Wright did not just represent the Trump campaign .
Another of the firm ’ s clients , David John Henry , was an ordinary voter in Lancaster County — a Republican county which voted for Trump .
The complaint stated that , while many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have their votes counted , “ voters like Mr. Henry , who received no such opportunity , will not , as their votes were rejected as having been improperly cast and thus void.
” Porter Wright abandoned GOP voters out of cowardice , sabotaging their clients ’ interests .
The day after Porter Wright ’ s suit was filed , anti-Republican group The Lincoln Project announced a $ 500,000 advertising campaign targeting Porter Wright .
Begging the question against the lawsuit , The Lincoln Project accused the firm of “ trying to overturn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The campaign also attacked a much larger law firm — Jones Day — which represents the Pennsylvania GOP in a separate case .
The Lincoln Project is made up of members of the old GOP establishment who brought us such achievements as the War in Iraq .
Its founders include little-known associates of George W. Bush , Dick Cheney and John McCain .
The group ’ s main grievance against President Trump and the current GOP seems to be that Trump has abandoned the Bush-Cheney policy of spreading democracy in the Middle East @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to throw the White House and Senate to Democrats , thereby bringing the Republican Party to a permanent end .
If the Republican Party can no longer be the party of Halliburton , the Lincoln Project thinks , it may as well be nihilistically burned to the ground to establish one-party Democratic control .
The group evidently hopes — and not without reason — that Democrats will then embrace their foreign policy views and become the new party of permanent global war .
It was to this end that The Lincoln Project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Porter Wright .
Of course , if Porter Wright ’ s lawsuit had been frivolous , this would have accomplished nothing : the lawsuit would have floundered and died of its own accord , to Trump ’ s embarrassment .
Yet The Lincoln Project apparently believed that the suit might actually uncover systematic malfeasance — and was determined to stop it .
The other targeted law firm , Jones Day , immediately released a statement firmly stating that “ Jones Day will not withdraw ” from representing the Pennsylvania GOP .
In contrast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enough to betray its clients .
Only three days after filing their 86-page initial complaint , Porter Wright frantically withdrew from the case and ran screaming from the room .
This immediately turned the litigation into a circus .
The firm had dumped the suit into the lap of Linda Kerns , a Pennsylvania solo practitioner who had been assisting them , and two Texas attorneys .
These three attorneys probably recognized , correctly , that this complex litigation could only be competently handled by a sizeable firm .
This Monday , all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyer then gamely stepped up to the challenge , finding himself with less than 24 hours to prepare for an oral argument on Tuesday .
In its paroxysm of cowardice , Porter Wright may have sabotaged the interests of its clients beyond repair .
Porter Wright has undermined the integrity of the legal system and the legal profession .
Porter Wright ’ s actions are disgraceful in more ways than one .
For one thing , their withdrawal likely violated ethical rules that govern the practice of law .
The Trump campaign ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump campaign did not fire Porter Wright : they withdrew because of the political pressure .
One wonders if anyone even bothered to ask David John Henry , the voter , what he thought of the situation .
Since Porter Wright ’ s clients did not fire them , this means they were required to comply with Pennsylvania Rule 1.16 ( d ) .
This rule states that when a lawyer terminates representation , the lawyer “ shall take steps to the extent reasonably practicable to protect a client ’ s interests , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ client [ and ] allowing time for employment of other counsel.
” Legal ethics do not necessarily prohibit lawyers from being cowards , but they do prohibit lawyers from acting with selfish disregard for their clients .
If Porter Wright wanted to flee while complying with its ethical duties , it needed to give its clients notice and time to retain a new law firm .
Instead , the firm scampered three days into the suit , foisting the case onto a solo practitioner .
If Porter Wright had wanted to intentionally flout @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to imagine what more they could have done .
But Porter Wright has not just harmed GOP voters .
With its capitulation to cancel culture , Porter Wright has undermined a cornerstone principle of legal practice , codified as ABA Model Rule 1.2 ( b ) .
This rule , which is on the books in Pennsylvania and most other states , says that “ A lawyer ’ s representation of a client … does not constitute an endorsement of the client ’ s political , economic , social or moral views or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of political pressure , Porter Wright has legitimized the idea that to represent the rights of GOP voters is to affirm GOP policies .
If a law firm does not want to be identified with conservative policy views , they have signaled , then progressives can expect the firm to abandon conservative clients .
The principle behind 1.2 ( b ) is a significant part of what makes the rule of law possible in America .
Because criminal defense attorneys can represent murderers , all of our rights are safeguarded .
Because civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ACLU once did , all of our free speech rights are protected .
But if even the President ’ s campaign can not obtain competent election representation , everyone ’ s rights are in jeopardy .
Porter Wright has helped to create an America where — if a lawyer is going to represent a controversial client — he can be expected to explicitly endorse that client or withdraw from the case .
By abandoning Republican voters in this highly-public litigation , Porter Wright has undermined the integrity of the legal system and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of its cowardice .
Porter Wright should face a campaign of public opprobrium for betraying GOP voters .
No Republican should do business with Porter Wright again .
While this is a difficult truth for conservatives , the fact is that the militant left can not be allowed to monopolize the incentive structure that will motivate the next Porter Wright .
If conservatives do not respond to bullying with a defensive and counteracting pressure on those who bow down before it , then they will be condemning themselves to political exile and disenfranchisement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to call for and engage in boycotts , that faction will have dictatorial control over all for-profit businesses .
For example , progressives were able to bully Chick-fil-A by continually attacking the company over its donations to Christian charities like The Salvation Army .
But when Chick-fil-A compliantly ended donations to these groups “ to be clear about our message ” — effectively helping to stigmatize these groups — few conservatives were interested in responding with a boycott of their own .
This means that Chick-fil-A has strong incentives to obey the militant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same way , if Republicans continue to hire Porter Wright , they will be showing other election lawyers that it makes good financial sense to grovel before the demands of the militant left .
Any Republican candidates who hire the firm will therefore be helping to create a world in which conservatives can not obtain competent election representation .
This means that election fraud and other malfeasance is unlikely to be detected and remedied if it is perpetrated by progressives against their opponents .
The Lincoln Project ’ s planned advertising campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget .
Ideally , then , what is needed is for a Republican donor to put up an equivalent donation to a campaign criticizing Porter Wright for abandoning and undermining its clients .
Additionally , lawyers and legal commentators should write and share articles , blog posts and tweets which hold up Porter Wright to appropriate moral scorn for sacrificing its clients , and the integrity of the profession ’ s ethical rules , on the altar of its own craven wimpiness .
I am not suggesting that conservatives should engage in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the left , shaming people for expressing opposing viewpoints .
Yet , unless conservatives are going to surrender entirely , they must aggressively cancel the power of the cancellers .
With progressive cancel culture now putting its hands on the very scales of justice , it could not be more urgent that they do so .
Ian Huyett is a litigation attorney and an editor at Staseos .
He has published several academic articles on law and religion , including most recently How to Overturn Employment Division v. Smith : A Historical Approach @ @ @ @ @ @

Militant progressives have long been allowed to terrorize all kinds of for-profit businesses into bowing to their will. Last week, however, this tactic became more dangerous than ever. An anti-Republican group has successfully deployed cancel culture against the justice system itself, pressuring a law firm into withdrawing from an election suit it brought on behalf of the Trump campaign and a Republican voter.
The withdrawal of that law firm, Porter Wright, has caused what might have been the Trump campaign’s most promising election lawsuit to suffer a catastrophic setback. This is especially troubling given the suit’s argument: that Pennsylvania election officials acted to dilute the votes of Republicans.
If those allegations happen to be true, it will now be very difficult for them to be remedied through the court system. This should be deeply troubling even if you personally believe that election malfeasance did not occur.
It goes without saying that, if Democratic voters had brought a lawsuit alleging election malfeasance, and a right-wing group like Gun Owners of America had bullied the Democrats’ lawyers into abandoning the case, we would never hear the end of it. These actions would rightly draw comparisons with the KKK and be decried as a quasi-terroristic manipulation of the election process.
But the unfortunate fact is that a column like this one will not change how bullies behave. There will always be those who attack lawyers for upholding the rule of law and defending controversial or unpopular clients or cases. What conservatives can influence is how the next law firm or other profit-driven entity responds to this kind of bullying.
With its panicked and hasty withdrawal, Porter Wright has sabotaged clients that it was duty-bound to protect. Conservatives must act in concert to discourage the kind of unethical behavior that Porter Wright exhibited.
Porter Wright’s November 9 lawsuit made an intriguing legal argument.
Before November 9th, the prospects of Trump’s election litigation looked largely dismal. While the President’s lawyers had filed many lawsuits, most of these suits — even if successful — could not have changed the outcome of the election in any state. But things looked up for the campaign when Porter Wright, a large law firm with a respected election law practice group, filed a polished 86-page complaint in Pennsylvania federal court.
The gist of Porter Wright’s argument was that Pennsylvania election officials constructed a system which would filter out as many Republican votes as possible while letting Democratic votes through. Pennsylvania did this in essentially two ways.
First, the suit claimed that Pennsylvania’s Secretary of State “excised nearly every element of … verifiability” from mail-in ballots, which were more likely to be from Democrats. In contrast, in-person ballots — which were more likely to be from Republicans — were subject to strict verifiability checks.
Secondly, the suit alleged that mail-in ballots were treated differently depending on whether they came from Democrat- or Republican-heavy counties. If voters in Democrat-heavy counties submitted legally defective ballots, these voters were contacted and given an opportunity to cure their ballots. In contrast, if voters in Republican-heavy counties submitted defective ballots, those votes were simply not counted.
The upshot is that — rather than actually manufacturing fake ballots — Pennsylvania created “an illegal two-tiered voting system” designed to dilute the votes of Republicans and tilt the election to Joe Biden. Pennsylvania officials therefore violated the Equal Protection Clause, which — as the Supreme Court said in Bush v. Gore — means that a state may not “by … disparate treatment, value one person’s vote over that of another.”
Importantly, Porter Wright did not just represent the Trump campaign. Another of the firm’s clients, David John Henry, was an ordinary voter in Lancaster County — a Republican county which voted for Trump. The complaint stated that, while many Democratic voters who submitted defective ballots will have their votes counted, “voters like Mr. Henry, who received no such opportunity, will not, as their votes were rejected as having been improperly cast and thus void.”
Porter Wright abandoned GOP voters out of cowardice, sabotaging their clients’ interests.
The day after Porter Wright’s suit was filed, anti-Republican group The Lincoln Project announced a $500,000 advertising campaign targeting Porter Wright. Begging the question against the lawsuit, The Lincoln Project accused the firm of “trying to overturn the will of the American people.” The campaign also attacked a much larger law firm — Jones Day — which represents the Pennsylvania GOP in a separate case.
The Lincoln Project is made up of members of the old GOP establishment who brought us such achievements as the War in Iraq. Its founders include little-known associates of George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and John McCain. The group’s main grievance against President Trump and the current GOP seems to be that Trump has abandoned the Bush-Cheney policy of spreading democracy in the Middle East through cluster bombs. Their present goal is to throw the White House and Senate to Democrats, thereby bringing the Republican Party to a permanent end.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
If the Republican Party can no longer be the party of Halliburton, the Lincoln Project thinks, it may as well be nihilistically burned to the ground to establish one-party Democratic control. The group evidently hopes — and not without reason — that Democrats will then embrace their foreign policy views and become the new party of permanent global war. It was to this end that The Lincoln Project launched a half-million-dollar cancel culture campaign targeting Porter Wright.
Of course, if Porter Wright’s lawsuit had been frivolous, this would have accomplished nothing: the lawsuit would have floundered and died of its own accord, to Trump’s embarrassment. Yet The Lincoln Project apparently believed that the suit might actually uncover systematic malfeasance — and was determined to stop it.
The other targeted law firm, Jones Day, immediately released a statement firmly stating that “Jones Day will not withdraw” from representing the Pennsylvania GOP. In contrast, Porter Wright could not move quickly enough to betray its clients. Only three days after filing their 86-page initial complaint, Porter Wright frantically withdrew from the case and ran screaming from the room.
This immediately turned the litigation into a circus. The firm had dumped the suit into the lap of Linda Kerns, a Pennsylvania solo practitioner who had been assisting them, and two Texas attorneys. These three attorneys probably recognized, correctly, that this complex litigation could only be competently handled by a sizeable firm. This Monday, all three moved to withdraw.
Another Pennsylvania lawyer then gamely stepped up to the challenge, finding himself with less than 24 hours to prepare for an oral argument on Tuesday. In its paroxysm of cowardice, Porter Wright may have sabotaged the interests of its clients beyond repair.
Porter Wright has undermined the integrity of the legal system and the legal profession.
Porter Wright’s actions are disgraceful in more ways than one. For one thing, their withdrawal likely violated ethical rules that govern the practice of law. The Trump campaign’s public statements make clear that the Trump campaign did not fire Porter Wright: they withdrew because of the political pressure. One wonders if anyone even bothered to ask David John Henry, the voter, what he thought of the situation.
Since Porter Wright’s clients did not fire them, this means they were required to comply with Pennsylvania Rule 1.16(d). This rule states that when a lawyer terminates representation, the lawyer “shall take steps to the extent reasonably practicable to protect a client’s interests, such as giving reasonable notice to the client [and] allowing time for employment of other counsel.”
Legal ethics do not necessarily prohibit lawyers from being cowards, but they do prohibit lawyers from acting with selfish disregard for their clients. If Porter Wright wanted to flee while complying with its ethical duties, it needed to give its clients notice and time to retain a new law firm. Instead, the firm scampered three days into the suit, foisting the case onto a solo practitioner. If Porter Wright had wanted to intentionally flout these ethical obligations, it is hard to imagine what more they could have done.
But Porter Wright has not just harmed GOP voters. With its capitulation to cancel culture, Porter Wright has undermined a cornerstone principle of legal practice, codified as ABA Model Rule 1.2(b). This rule, which is on the books in Pennsylvania and most other states, says that “A lawyer’s representation of a client … does not constitute an endorsement of the client’s political, economic, social or moral views or activities.”
By withdrawing in the face of political pressure, Porter Wright has legitimized the idea that to represent the rights of GOP voters is to affirm GOP policies. If a law firm does not want to be identified with conservative policy views, they have signaled, then progressives can expect the firm to abandon conservative clients.
The principle behind 1.2(b) is a significant part of what makes the rule of law possible in America. Because criminal defense attorneys can represent murderers, all of our rights are safeguarded. Because civil liberties attorneys can represent neo-Nazis, as the ACLU once did, all of our free speech rights are protected. But if even the President’s campaign cannot obtain competent election representation, everyone’s rights are in jeopardy.
Porter Wright has helped to create an America where — if a lawyer is going to represent a controversial client — he can be expected to explicitly endorse that client or withdraw from the case. By abandoning Republican voters in this highly-public litigation, Porter Wright has undermined the integrity of the legal system and soiled the entire profession in the filth of its cowardice.
Porter Wright should face a campaign of public opprobrium for betraying GOP voters.
No Republican should do business with Porter Wright again. While this is a difficult truth for conservatives, the fact is that the militant left cannot be allowed to monopolize the incentive structure that will motivate the next Porter Wright. If conservatives do not respond to bullying with a defensive and counteracting pressure on those who bow down before it, then they will be condemning themselves to political exile and disenfranchisement.
If only one faction is willing to call for and engage in boycotts, that faction will have dictatorial control over all for-profit businesses. For example, progressives were able to bully Chick-fil-A by continually attacking the company over its donations to Christian charities like The Salvation Army. But when Chick-fil-A compliantly ended donations to these groups “to be clear about our message” — effectively helping to stigmatize these groups — few conservatives were interested in responding with a boycott of their own. This means that Chick-fil-A has strong incentives to obey the militant cultural left while ignoring conservatives.
In the same way, if Republicans continue to hire Porter Wright, they will be showing other election lawyers that it makes good financial sense to grovel before the demands of the militant left. Any Republican candidates who hire the firm will therefore be helping to create a world in which conservatives cannot obtain competent election representation. This means that election fraud and other malfeasance is unlikely to be detected and remedied if it is perpetrated by progressives against their opponents.
The Lincoln Project’s planned advertising campaign against Porter Wright had a half-million dollar budget. Ideally, then, what is needed is for a Republican donor to put up an equivalent donation to a campaign criticizing Porter Wright for abandoning and undermining its clients. Additionally, lawyers and legal commentators should write and share articles, blog posts and tweets which hold up Porter Wright to appropriate moral scorn for sacrificing its clients, and the integrity of the profession’s ethical rules, on the altar of its own craven wimpiness.
I am not suggesting that conservatives should engage in the same kind of cancel culture employed by the left, shaming people for expressing opposing viewpoints. Yet, unless conservatives are going to surrender entirely, they must aggressively cancel the power of the cancellers. With progressive cancel culture now putting its hands on the very scales of justice, it could not be more urgent that they do so.
Ian Huyett is a litigation attorney and an editor at Staseos. He has published several academic articles on law and religion, including most recently How to Overturn Employment Division v. Smith: A Historical Approach with Regent University Law Review.


thestream--2020-11-20--This Week at War: ‘Tremendous Sacrifices’

Thousands of American troops are coming home from war .
President Trump has decided to withdraw about 2,000 service members from Afghanistan and 500 from Iraq , according to the Pentagon .
The announcement was made Tuesday by acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller — himself a veteran of both post-9/11 conflicts .
“ In light of these tremendous sacrifices , and with great humility and gratitude to those who came before us , I am formally announcing that we will implement President Trump ’ s orders to continue our repositioning of forces from those two countries , ” Miller said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ established plans and strategic objectives , supported by the American people , and does not equate to a change in policy or objectives.
” Once the drawdowns are finished on January 15 , approximately 2,500 U.S. service members will remain in both Afghanistan and Iraq .
Secretary Miller noted that if needed , a significant number of American troops could return .
“ If the forces of terror , instability , division and hate begin a deliberate campaign to disrupt our efforts , we stand ready to ally the capabilities required to thwart @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grand total of 5,000 troops staying in Afghanistan and Iraq will still face danger , and so will hundreds of U.S. forces in Syria , as The Stream ’ s John Zmirak noted earlier this week .
Please continue to pray for all American warriors deployed overseas , as well as their families here at home .
All five U.S. Army soldiers killed in last week ’ s tragic helicopter crash on Egypt ’ s Sinai Peninsula have been officially identified by the Department of Defense .
One French and one Czech soldier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is said to be an accident but remains under investigation .
In addition to the seven soldiers killed , another U.S. service member was injured .
Please keep praying for this American hero , who is reportedly recovering in Israel .
“ It is with profound sadness that we mourn this tragic loss of life , ” Col. David Sentell , commander of Task Force Sinai , said in a statement .
“ Our thoughts and prayers are with the families , friends and loved ones of our fallen during this most difficult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation will continue to honor their sacrifice.
” Indeed .
We will never forget , nor will we ever stop praying for the loved ones of these fallen heroes .
A tenth American service member has died during the military ’ s ongoing war on coronavirus .
U.S. Army Reserve Sgt .
1st Class Calvin Ogletree III died of COVID-19 complications on November 12 , according to Military.com .
The 45-year-old Iraq war veteran from Lakeland , Florida , leaves behind his mother , sister , and brother .
Please join The Stream @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pentagon statistics , there have been 69,390 coronavirus cases inside military ranks , with 44,390 recoveries and 793 hospitalizations .
As we pray for all troops who are receiving COVID-19 treatment , we also thank each and every U.S. service member on the front lines of this pandemic .
Hundreds of members of the Maryland National Guard are finally back home after spending the past eleven months on an overseas deployment .
The brave men and women pictured in this moving photo album were part of Operation Atlantic Resolve , which was launched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Donbass involving Russia and Ukraine .
Welcome home , heroes !
Thank you for defending our freedom .
Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream .
He is co-author of Three Wise Men , Brothers Forever , 8 Seconds of Courage and Fire in My Eyes .
Follow Tom on Twitter @ TSileo and The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

Afghanistan and Iraq
Thousands of American troops are coming home from war.
President Trump has decided to withdraw about 2,000 service members from Afghanistan and 500 from Iraq, according to the Pentagon. The announcement was made Tuesday by acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller — himself a veteran of both post-9/11 conflicts.
“In light of these tremendous sacrifices, and with great humility and gratitude to those who came before us, I am formally announcing that we will implement President Trump’s orders to continue our repositioning of forces from those two countries,” Miller said. “This is consistent with our established plans and strategic objectives, supported by the American people, and does not equate to a change in policy or objectives.”
Once the drawdowns are finished on January 15, approximately 2,500 U.S. service members will remain in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Secretary Miller noted that if needed, a significant number of American troops could return.
“If the forces of terror, instability, division and hate begin a deliberate campaign to disrupt our efforts, we stand ready to ally the capabilities required to thwart them,” Miller said.
The grand total of 5,000 troops staying in Afghanistan and Iraq will still face danger, and so will hundreds of U.S. forces in Syria, as The Stream’s John Zmirak noted earlier this week. Please continue to pray for all American warriors deployed overseas, as well as their families here at home.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Honoring the Fallen
All five U.S. Army soldiers killed in last week’s tragic helicopter crash on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula have been officially identified by the Department of Defense.
PICTURED: Five US Army soldiers who were among seven killed in helicopter crash in the Sinai Peninsula https://t.co/A0uDoXy7n8 — Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) November 14, 2020
One French and one Czech soldier also died in the crash, which is said to be an accident but remains under investigation. In addition to the seven soldiers killed, another U.S. service member was injured. Please keep praying for this American hero, who is reportedly recovering in Israel.
“It is with profound sadness that we mourn this tragic loss of life,” Col. David Sentell, commander of Task Force Sinai, said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and loved ones of our fallen during this most difficult time. They should know that their nation will continue to honor their sacrifice.”
Indeed. We will never forget, nor will we ever stop praying for the loved ones of these fallen heroes.
COVID-19
A tenth American service member has died during the military’s ongoing war on coronavirus.
10th US Service Member Dies as Military Coronavirus Cases Near 100,000 https://t.co/LPjTSy6Ja8 — Military.com (@Militarydotcom) November 17, 2020
U.S. Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class Calvin Ogletree III died of COVID-19 complications on November 12, according to Military.com. The 45-year-old Iraq war veteran from Lakeland, Florida, leaves behind his mother, sister, and brother. Please join The Stream in praying for them.
According to Pentagon statistics, there have been 69,390 coronavirus cases inside military ranks, with 44,390 recoveries and 793 hospitalizations. As we pray for all troops who are receiving COVID-19 treatment, we also thank each and every U.S. service member on the front lines of this pandemic.
Coming Home
Hundreds of members of the Maryland National Guard are finally back home after spending the past eleven months on an overseas deployment. The brave men and women pictured in this moving photo album were part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which was launched in 2014 in response to the war in Donbass involving Russia and Ukraine.
Yesterday was a special day for members of the 729th QCSC who were welcomed home after their 11-month deployment in support of #OperationAtlanticResolve. From the @MDNG, welcome home! For more photos, check out the official #MDNG Flickr page:https://t.co/ohmUAxJnQn pic.twitter.com/q7mB2wjtwu — MD National Guard (@MDNG) November 18, 2020
Welcome home, heroes! Thank you for defending our freedom.
Tom Sileo is a contributing senior editor of The Stream. He is co-author of Three Wise Men, Brothers Forever, 8 Seconds of Courage and Fire in My Eyes. Follow Tom on Twitter @TSileo and The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-11-20--Military Photo of the Day: Osprey at Camp Fuji

A CV-22 Osprey prepares to take off at Camp Fuji in Japan following a combat search and rescue training exercise @ @ @ @ @ .

A CV-22 Osprey prepares to take off at Camp Fuji in Japan following a combat search and rescue training exercise on October 29, 2020.
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thestream--2020-11-20--I Know Sidney Powell. She Is Telling the Truth

Back in 2014 , I worked freelance for a public relations firm in New York City .
It was there that I met an unusual woman .
I didn ’ t know many lawyers or Texans , but I knew better than to chalk up her qualities to either her profession or her home .
It ’ s rare that I encounter someone who I ’ m afraid to argue with , because of her sheer brain power and towering personal rectitude .
But this was such a person .
This woman had quite a career behind her .
An @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a federal prosecutor — and quit , outraged at the corruption she saw among her colleagues .
She did more than quit .
Horrified by prosecutors hiding exculpatory evidence and targeting the innocent because of their personal politics , she became a defense attorney , to help people fight the feds .
She Gave Up Everything to Expose Abusive Prosecutors But that wasn ’ t enough .
At a huge financial sacrifice , she took time off from her practice to write a book .
And self-publish it .
And hire a public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , when media ignored it .
That book , Licensed to Lie , is absolutely chilling .
It shows innocent Americans , even a U.S .
Senator such as Ted Stevens of Alaska , unable to defend themselves against prosecutors with vendettas .
It recounts how innocent companies , like accounting firm Arthur Anderson , can be broken by biased and dishonest federal prosecutors , and left in ruins .
A real-life legal horror story , the book was too disturbing for me to read it through to the end .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I used to go to lunch with in midtown Manhattan .
In retrospect , I feel privileged .
I knew she was a powerhouse , but I little suspected what an historic role she would someday play .
When I saw that she was representing General Mike Flynn , I knew one thing for sure — that he was innocent .
Sidney ’ s not one of those lawyers who works for people she thinks are guilty as sin .
She wouldn ’ t have gone on Fox News , and One America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and coolly laid out his defense in a tone of righteous outrage if this were just some client .
Because the abuse of power and perversion of law Sidney witnessed made her more than just some lawyer .
It made her a crusader .
It made her … Joan of Arc .
The Theft of Our Election So watching the press conference with Jenna Ellis , Rudolph Giuliani , and Sidney Powell was different for me than for most .
I don ’ t know Ms. Ellis or Mayor Giuliani , though I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re cynical , partisan hacks , as Ross Douthat suggests .
Keep in mind that a week before the 2016 election , Douthat tried to suppress the pro-life vote for Trump by comparing a voting for Trump to shooting abortionists on the street .
That ’ s one way to keep a job at The New York Times , I suppose .
The Evidence Is Coming , to Federal Courts Near You I don ’ t have any evidence that Democrats used software invented in Venezuela to help socialist dictator Hugo Chavez steal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dominion was used by Democrats across multiple states to steal votes from Donald Trump to give to Joe Biden in the middle of the night , in just the strategic states where Trump was leading .
I don ’ t have that evidence , but the fact that Sidney Powell claims she does is enough to convince me .
This is a woman who gave up years of income she could have earned in her profitable practice to write , print , and promote a book no publisher would touch .
Its charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Its targets , like Andrew Weissman ( the protege of FBI director Christopher Wray ) wield too much power .
Tellingly , none of the people Powell exposed in Licensed to Lie have dared to sue her for defamation or libel .
She put herself out there as a target for such a suit by writing the book—with no publishing house ’ s attorneys on board to defend her .
But no one did , I ’ m sure because her charges were absolutely truthful .
Non-partisan legal expert Jonathan Turley is one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there .
He observed after watching the press conference that Powell and the rest of the president ’ s team took a similar risk today .
They accused a massive corporation , Dominion , with links to friendly billionaires like Soros and many foreign governments , of felonies .
Of colluding with corrupt election officials to steal the White House .
If these charges are false , their careers are finished .
If defamation lawsuits get launched — and I don ’ t see how Dominion has any choice but to file them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could lose her house and her license to practice law .
She ’ d be a pauper .
The same is true of Ellis , Giuliani , and anyone else on the president ’ s team .
But only if the charges are unsupported and untrue .
Given the death threats to election officials in Michigan , and the doxing of their children , for refusing to certify a corrupt election , I ’ d say Ms. Powell is risking a lot more than money .
Ranged against her is a vast media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Billion-dollar networks that trumpeted the Russia collusion hoax and Brett Kavanaugh ’ s “ teenage rape gang , ” then pretended that Nick Sandmann was some kind of neo-Nazi .
The same networks squelched the solid evidence from the Hunter Biden laptop , abetted by social media monopolies that silence ordinary Americans .
And of course , she has a whole team of Democrats ready to start a “ transition ” to an office it seems Joe Biden stole .
If they succeed , what do they have in store for her , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Let ’ s remember that Kamala Harris ’ old office is still trying to imprison David Daleiden , for exposing her old campaign donor , Planned Parenthood , on charges she corruptly launched .
I also know what the Democrats have in mind for this country , and for President Trump ’ s loyal supporters : re-education , on the model of conquered Nazi Germany : But there Sidney stood fearlessly on television , her voice quavering a little at the enormity of the evil she has helped to uncover .
Meanwhile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other “ squish ” venues sniped at her , and at Rudolph Giuliani , who faced down the hitmen of the New York Mafia , then broke its back .
One called the Trump team “ unhinged , ” and sniffed at its lack of “ dignity.
” If you think your country ’ s elections are being stolen , and your main concern is for keeping your “ dignity , ” then I don ’ t want you next to me in a foxhole .
You ’ ll switch sides if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a chance to save your skin .
I want someone like Sidney Powell , a whistleblower and a Christian patriot .
I hope her evidence is watertight and bullet proof—and frankly , that for the next few weeks she has taken to wearing Kevlar .
That ’ s how much I trust the people who want to silence her .
Please pray for her safety and the future of our democracy .
John Zmirak is a senior editor at The Stream , and author or co-author of ten books , including The Politically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Incorrect Guide to Catholicism .
He is co-author with Jason Jones of “ God , Guns , & the Government .
”

Back in 2014, I worked freelance for a public relations firm in New York City. It was there that I met an unusual woman. I didn’t know many lawyers or Texans, but I knew better than to chalk up her qualities to either her profession or her home. It’s rare that I encounter someone who I’m afraid to argue with, because of her sheer brain power and towering personal rectitude. But this was such a person.
This woman had quite a career behind her. An evangelical Christian, she’d been a federal prosecutor — and quit, outraged at the corruption she saw among her colleagues. She did more than quit. Horrified by prosecutors hiding exculpatory evidence and targeting the innocent because of their personal politics, she became a defense attorney, to help people fight the feds.
She Gave Up Everything to Expose Abusive Prosecutors
But that wasn’t enough. At a huge financial sacrifice, she took time off from her practice to write a book. And self-publish it. And hired a public relations firm to get it out to people, when media ignored it. That book, Licensed to Lie, is absolutely chilling. It shows innocent Americans, even a U.S. Senator such as Ted Stevens of Alaska, unable to defend themselves against prosecutors with vendettas. It recounts how innocent companies, like accounting firm Arthur Anderson, can be broken by biased and dishonest federal prosecutors, and left in ruins. A real-life legal horror story, the book was too disturbing for me to read it through to the end.
And its author was Sidney Powell, whom I used to go to lunch with in midtown Manhattan. In retrospect, I feel privileged. I knew she was a powerhouse, but I little suspected what an historic role she would someday play. When I saw that she was representing General Mike Flynn, I knew one thing for sure — that he was innocent.
Sidney’s not one of those lawyers who works for people she thinks are guilty as sin. She wouldn’t have gone on Fox News, and One America, and Newsmax, night after night and coolly laid out his defense in a tone of righteous outrage if this were just some client. Because the abuse of power and perversion of law Sidney witnessed made her more than just some lawyer. It made her a crusader. It made her … Joan of Arc.
The Theft of Our Election
So watching the press conference with Jenna Ellis, Rudolph Giuliani, and Sidney Powell was different for me than for most. I don’t know Ms. Ellis or Mayor Giuliani, though I don’t suspect that they’re cynical, partisan hacks, as Ross Douthat suggests. Keep in mind that a week before the 2016 election, Douthat tried to suppress the pro-life vote for Trump by comparing voting for Trump to shooting abortionists on the street. That’s one way to keep a job at The New York Times, I suppose.
There is nothing insane or unhinged about advancing false or extremely-unlikely claims if you have the cynical political goal of securing your client’s hold over a national political party and improving his chances in 2024. — Ross Douthat (@DouthatNYT) November 19, 2020
The Evidence Is Coming, to Federal Courts Near You
I don’t have any evidence that Democrats used software invented in Venezuela to help socialist dictator Hugo Chavez steal elections. Or that the Soros-linked company Dominion was used by Democrats across multiple states to steal votes from Donald Trump to give to Joe Biden in the middle of the night, in just the strategic states where Trump was leading.
I don’t have that evidence, but the fact that Sidney Powell claims she does is enough to convince me. This is a woman who gave up years of income she could have earned in her profitable practice to write, print, and promote a book no publisher would touch. Its charges were too explosive, I imagine.
Its targets, like Andrew Weissman (the protege of FBI director Christopher Wray) wield too much power. Tellingly, none of the people Powell exposed in Licensed to Lie have dared to sue her for defamation or libel. She put herself out there as a target for such a suit by writing the book — with no publishing house’s attorneys on board to defend her. But no one did, I’m sure because her charges were absolutely truthful.
Risking Bankruptcy, Disbarment, and Worse
Non-partisan legal expert Jonathan Turley is one of the few reliable commentators left out there. He observed after watching the press conference that Powell and the rest of the president’s team took a similar risk today. They accused a massive corporation, Dominion, with links to friendly billionaires like Soros and many foreign governments, of felonies. Of colluding with corrupt election officials to steal the White House.
The press conference was an explosion of potential defamation claims by individuals or companies. The only clear defense is truth. The team insists that it can prove these allegations. It may have to do so. https://t.co/03PbArmqYb — Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) November 19, 2020
If these charges are false, their careers are finished. If defamation lawsuits get launched — and I don’t see how Dominion has any choice but to file them, or go bankrupt — Sidney Powell could lose her house and her license to practice law. She’d be a pauper. The same is true of Ellis, Giuliani, and anyone else on the president’s team. But only if the charges are unsupported and untrue.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Given the death threats to election officials in Michigan, and the doxing of their children, for refusing to certify a corrupt election, I’d say Ms. Powell is risking a lot more than money.
What Trump’s Team Faces
Ranged against her is a vast media machine determined to suppress the truth. Billion-dollar networks that trumpeted the Russia collusion hoax and Brett Kavanaugh’s “teenage rape gang,” then pretended that Nick Sandmann was some kind of neo-Nazi. The same networks squelched the solid evidence from the Hunter Biden laptop, abetted by social media monopolies that silence ordinary Americans.
And of course, she has a whole team of Democrats ready to start a “transition” to an office it seems Joe Biden stole. If they succeed, what do they have in store for her, using the power of the White House? Let’s remember that Kamala Harris’ old office is still trying to imprison David Daleiden, for exposing her old campaign donor, Planned Parenthood, on charges she corruptly launched.
I also know what the Democrats have in mind for this country, and for President Trump’s loyal supporters: re-education, on the model of conquered Nazi Germany:
The DNC is talking about “deprogramming” Trump supporters, like pro-Nazi Germans after World War II. But yeah, @POTUS‘ supporters are unhinged conspiracy theorists. https://t.co/ZIZKMfFLZQ — John Zmirak (@JZmirak) November 19, 2020
But there Sidney stood fearlessly on television, her voice quavering a little at the enormity of the evil she has helped to uncover. Meanwhile the Vichy-conservatives over at National Review and other “squish” venues sniped at her, and at Rudolph Giuliani, who faced down the hitmen of the New York Mafia, then broke its back. One called the Trump team “unhinged,” and sniffed at its lack of “dignity.”
That display by Giuliani and Powell was unhinged, undignified, and came across as a mental breakdown. — Michael Brendan Dougherty (@michaelbd) November 19, 2020
Fox News reporter Kristin Fisher called Mr. Giuliani a “liar.”
Sniffy Vichy Conservatives
If you think your country’s elections are being stolen, and your main concern is for keeping your “dignity,” then I don’t want you next to me in a foxhole. You’ll switch sides if the enemy offers a chocolate bar, and a chance to save your skin.
I want someone like Sidney Powell, a whistleblower and a Christian patriot. I hope her evidence is watertight and bullet proof — and frankly, that for the next few weeks she has taken to wearing Kevlar. That’s how much I trust the people who want to silence her.
Please pray for her safety and the future of our democracy.
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--2020-11-19--Religious Freedom at Risk

Religious Freedom at Risk

400 years ago this month , a weary band of Christians from England came ashore in New England after a grueling 66-day voyage aboard the Mayflower .
The Pilgrims came for one purpose , which they spelled out in writing : “ for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.
” It was all about religious freedom .
They wanted to worship Jesus in the purity of the Gospel .
150 years after the Pilgrims came , the founders of this nation enshrined religious freedom in our national charter , the Constitution .
When the Constitution @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hesitations toward ratifying it .
Many of those who accepted it did so upon the assurance that religious freedom would be guaranteed .
Thus , the founders amended the Constitution with the Bill of Rights , the document ’ s first ten amendments .
First and foremost among these was religious freedom .
The first two freedoms enshrined in the First Amendment deal with religious liberty .
In effect , these liberties were understood to mean there would be no national denomination , and people were free to practice their faith as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the non-believer would be free to practice his lack of faith .
Jump forward to today , 400 years after the Pilgrims arrived — and , in the land for which they sought refuge , religious freedom is at risk .
With tongue and cheek , one wag asked , “ Can we uninstall 2020 and install it again ?
This version has a virus.
” That virus , COVID-19 , has been the excuse many anti-Christians bigots have used to try to hamstring churches .
We have seen in the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedom .
Just consider a few examples : • Last week a judge in California ruled that strip clubs should be allowed to re-open , despite the pandemic , because the First Amendment is not nullified by a virus .
And yet at the very same time , officials in California insist churches must be closed or severely limited because of the pandemic .
• The Supreme Court ruled in the Calvary Chapel v. Sisolak case ( July 24 , 2020 ) out of Nevada that it was okay for the state to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ services , but the casinos were allowed to operate more freely .
In his dissent on this case , Justice Neil Gorsuch declared , “ there is no world in which the Constitution permits Nevada to favor Caesars Palace over Calvary Chapel.
” • Abortion clinics have been deemed “ essential services ” by a number of liberal governors , while churches are categorized as “ non-essential.
” Rev .
John MacArthur is one of the most listened-to and respected Bible teachers in our time .
His church is in the greater Los @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one to speak out on political matters .
But after months of the pandemic and the way many state officials impair churches because of it , MacArthur decided that enough is enough .
He reopened his church — despite threats from state and local officials .
Jenna Ellis , MacArthur ’ s attorney from the Thomas More Society , said , “ Our position has been that L.A. County shutting down churches indefinitely amid a virus with a 99.98 % survival rate , especially when state-preferred businesses are open and protests are held @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the free exercise of religion.
” Kelly Shackelford of First Liberty , which also fights for religious freedom , told D. James Kennedy Ministries : “ All people have to do is look at the ‘ experts ’ saying , ‘ Well , you can ’ t sing at church , but oh yeah , the [ BLM and Antifa ] protests , we ’ re okay with that because that ’ s important.
” It would appear that Christophobic bigots are using the pandemic to curb religious freedom in a country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Christians Came Up With the Idea of Tolerance Author and speaker Bill Federer once told me in a TV interview : Tolerance was an American Christian contribution to the world .
Just as you drop a pebble in the pond , the ripples go out , there was tolerance first for Puritans and then Protestants , then Catholics , then liberal Christians , and then it went out completely to Jews .
Then in the early 1900s , tolerance went out to anybody of any faith , monotheist or polytheist .
Finally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out to the atheist , the secular humanist and the anti-religious .
And the last ones in the boat decided it was too crowded and decided to push the first ones out .
So now we have a unique situation in America , where everybody ’ s tolerated except the ones that came up with the idea .
And so when people say Christians are intolerant , we really need to correct them and say , “ No , we ’ re the ones that came up with the idea of tolerance.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice religious freedom .
It would be horrible to see the gift they bequeathed to the world uprooted in our time by secular fundamentalists .
Jerry Newcombe , D.Min.
, is a senior producer and an on-air host for D. James Kennedy Ministries .
He has written or co-written 32 books , such as The Unstoppable Jesus Christ , American Amnesia : Is American Paying the Price for Forgetting God ?
, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born ?
( with D. James Kennedy ) and the bestseller , George Washington ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) .
Learn more at www.jerrynewcombe.com and follow him on Twitter @ newcombejerry .

400 years ago this month, a weary band of Christians from England came ashore in New England after a grueling 66-day voyage aboard the Mayflower. The Pilgrims came for one purpose, which they spelled out in writing: “for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith.”
It was all about religious freedom. They wanted to worship Jesus in the purity of the Gospel.
A Nation Formed on Religious Freedom
150 years after the Pilgrims came, the founders of this nation enshrined religious freedom in our national charter, the Constitution.
When the Constitution was first written, there were some hesitations toward ratifying it. Many of those who accepted it did so upon the assurance that religious freedom would be guaranteed. Thus, the founders amended the Constitution with the Bill of Rights, the document’s first ten amendments.
First and foremost among these was religious freedom. The first two freedoms enshrined in the First Amendment deal with religious liberty. In effect, these liberties were understood to mean there would be no national denomination, and people were free to practice their faith as they saw fit. Implied in that is that the non-believer would be free to practice his lack of faith.
Today’s Assault on Religious Freedom
Jump forward to today, 400 years after the Pilgrims arrived — and, in the land for which they sought refuge, religious freedom is at risk. With tongue and cheek, one wag asked, “Can we uninstall 2020 and install it again? This version has a virus.”
That virus, COVID-19, has been the excuse many anti-Christians bigots have used to try to hamstring churches. We have seen in the last several months an unprecedented assault on religious freedom.
Just consider a few examples:
Last week a judge in California ruled that strip clubs should be allowed to re-open, despite the pandemic, because the First Amendment is not nullified by a virus. And yet at the very same time, officials in California insist churches must be closed or severely limited because of the pandemic.
The Supreme Court ruled in the Calvary Chapel v. Sisolak case (July 24, 2020) out of Nevada that it was okay for the state to limit how many people could attend worship services, but the casinos were allowed to operate more freely. In his dissent on this case, Justice Neil Gorsuch declared, “there is no world in which the Constitution permits Nevada to favor Caesars Palace over Calvary Chapel.”
Abortion clinics have been deemed “essential services” by a number of liberal governors, while churches are categorized as “non-essential.”
Rev. John MacArthur is one of the most listened-to and respected Bible teachers in our time. His church is in the greater Los Angeles area. He is generally not one to speak out on political matters. But after months of the pandemic and the way many state officials impair churches because of it, MacArthur decided that enough is enough. He reopened his church — despite threats from state and local officials.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Jenna Ellis, MacArthur’s attorney from the Thomas More Society, said, “Our position has been that L.A. County shutting down churches indefinitely amid a virus with a 99.98% survival rate, especially when state-preferred businesses are open and protests are held without restriction, is unconstitutional and harmful to the free exercise of religion.”
Kelly Shackelford of First Liberty, which also fights for religious freedom, told D. James Kennedy Ministries: “All people have to do is look at the ‘experts’ saying, ‘Well, you can’t sing at church, but oh yeah, the [BLM and Antifa] protests, we’re okay with that because that’s important.”
It would appear that Christophobic bigots are using the pandemic to curb religious freedom in a country that was born for religious freedom.
Christians Came Up With the Idea of Tolerance
Author and speaker Bill Federer once told me in a TV interview:
Tolerance was an American Christian contribution to the world. Just as you drop a pebble in the pond, the ripples go out, there was tolerance first for Puritans and then Protestants, then Catholics, then liberal Christians, and then it went out completely to Jews. Then in the early 1900s, tolerance went out to anybody of any faith, monotheist or polytheist. Finally, within the last generation, tolerance went out to the atheist, the secular humanist and the anti-religious. And the last ones in the boat decided it was too crowded and decided to push the first ones out. So now we have a unique situation in America, where everybody’s tolerated except the ones that came up with the idea. And so when people say Christians are intolerant, we really need to correct them and say, “No, we’re the ones that came up with the idea of tolerance.”
The Pilgrims sacrificed everything they had to practice religious freedom. It would be horrible to see the gift they bequeathed to the world uprooted in our time by secular fundamentalists.
Jerry Newcombe, D.Min., is a senior producer and an on-air host for D. James Kennedy Ministries. He has written or co-written 32 books, such as The Unstoppable Jesus Christ, American Amnesia: Is American Paying the Price for Forgetting God?, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? (with D. James Kennedy) and the bestseller, George Washington’s Sacred Fire (with Peter Lillback). Learn more at www.jerrynewcombe.com and follow him on Twitter @newcombejerry.


thestream--2020-11-19--DC Mayor Sued Over Arrest of Advocates Who Wrote Pro-Life Messages on Sidewalk

Pro-life groups are suing D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser over the arrests of advocates who wrote “ Black Preborn Lives Matter ” in chalk on the sidewalk .
The Alliance Defending Freedom filed a lawsuit this week on behalf of the Frederick Douglass Foundation and Students for Life against Bowser and the District of Columbia following the August arrests of two Students for Life members .
“ The Plaintiffs were prohibited from communicating their message , even though other messages are now permanently emblazoned along the streets of the District in a nearly identical format , ” the lawsuit said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ desired mural and the other permitted — and permanent — murals is the content of the message.
” The Metropolitan Police Department ( MPD ) arrested both 29-year-old Warner DePriest and 22-year-old Erica Caporaletti on an early August Saturday morning for chalking pro-life sentiments , including the slogan “ Black Preborn Lives Matter , ” on the road in front of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic .
“ City officials were not content to stop a message in temporary paint , ” Students for Life of America President Kristan Hawkins said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrested trying to express in chalk what they were not allowed to say in paint , ” she continued .
“ That kind of viewpoint discrimination can not be allowed to continue unchallenged.
” The arrests came after DC ’ s Mayor Muriel Bowser commissioned the “ Black Lives Matter ” slogan to be painted on the streets of DC earlier this summer .
The mural included the symbol of the D.C. flag — two horizontal bars topped by three stars — after which activists painted “ Defund the Police , ” making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ = Defund the Police.
” Bowser ’ s government removed the D.C. flag , but allowed “ Defund the Police ” to remain , The Washington Post reported .
“ The government can ’ t discriminate against certain viewpoints by allowing some voices to be heard while silencing others , ” ADF Legal Counsel Elissa Graves said in a statement .
She continued : “ Because of the city ’ s actions , Frederick Douglass Foundation and Students for Life of America weren ’ t able to participate in the public square as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prohibits the government from picking and choosing whose speech to allow.
” Bowser ’ s office declined to comment on the litigation to the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Attorney Harmeet Kaur Dhillon , who is the CEO of the Center for American Liberty , previously told the DCNF that the disparity in treatment in these cases is “ obviously viewpoint discrimination.
” “ I think it ’ s going to become clear as legal proceedings , which are probably inevitable , proceed on this matter that the city and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amendment precedent that bars treating similarly situated circumstances of free speech differently , ” Dhillon told the DCNF in August .
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 .

Pro-life groups are suing D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser over the arrests of advocates who wrote “Black Preborn Lives Matter” in chalk on the sidewalk.
The Alliance Defending Freedom filed a lawsuit this week on behalf of the Frederick Douglass Foundation and Students for Life against Bowser and the District of Columbia following the August arrests of two Students for Life members.
“The Plaintiffs were prohibited from communicating their message, even though other messages are now permanently emblazoned along the streets of the District in a nearly identical format,” the lawsuit said. “The only difference between the Plaintiffs’ desired mural and the other permitted — and permanent — murals is the content of the message.”
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) arrested both 29-year-old Warner DePriest and 22-year-old Erica Caporaletti on an early August Saturday morning for chalking pro-life sentiments, including the slogan “Black Preborn Lives Matter,” on the road in front of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic.
“City officials were not content to stop a message in temporary paint,” Students for Life of America President Kristan Hawkins said in a statement.
“Two students were arrested trying to express in chalk what they were not allowed to say in paint,” she continued. “That kind of viewpoint discrimination cannot be allowed to continue unchallenged.”
WATCH:
The arrests came after DC’s Mayor Muriel Bowser commissioned the “Black Lives Matter” slogan to be painted on the streets of DC earlier this summer. The mural included the symbol of the D.C. flag — two horizontal bars topped by three stars — after which activists painted “Defund the Police,” making the phrase appear “Black Lives Matter = Defund the Police.”
Bowser’s government removed the D.C. flag, but allowed “Defund the Police” to remain, The Washington Post reported.
“The government can’t discriminate against certain viewpoints by allowing some voices to be heard while silencing others,” ADF Legal Counsel Elissa Graves said in a statement.
She continued: “Because of the city’s actions, Frederick Douglass Foundation and Students for Life of America weren’t able to participate in the public square as other groups have. The First Amendment prohibits the government from picking and choosing whose speech to allow.”
Bowser’s office declined to comment on the litigation to the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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Attorney Harmeet Kaur Dhillon, who is the CEO of the Center for American Liberty, previously told the DCNF that the disparity in treatment in these cases is “obviously viewpoint discrimination.”
“I think it’s going to become clear as legal proceedings, which are probably inevitable, proceed on this matter that the city and it’s law enforcement have violated clearly established First Amendment precedent that bars treating similarly situated circumstances of free speech differently,” Dhillon told the DCNF in August.
WATCH:
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thestream--2020-11-19--With the Evidence of Election Fraud Mounting, Will the Media Finally Admit They Didn’t Do Their Job?

Lawyers for Donald Trump made an “ opening statement ” in a legal case by which they intend to show that the recent election was systematically , intentionally , criminally rigged to throw votes to Joe Biden .
“ I can prove to you Trump won Pennsylvania by 300,000 votes , ” said Rudy Giuliani .
“ He won Michigan by 50,000 votes.
” But “ it ’ s not about overturning elections on our part , ” said lawyer Jenna Ellis , “ it ’ s about preserving free and fair elections.
” And “ we will not back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Giuliani made no effort to hide his anger : “ You must cover this !
” What is at stake here is neither Trump nor Biden , but America ’ s entire identity as a constitutional democratic republic .
It ’ s about corruption on a scale never imagined in this country .
The president ’ s team presented a strong opening argument .
They didn ’ t present their evidence there .
That ’ s for later , in court .
But there can no longer be any doubt it exists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we on the verge of an electoral breakdown ?
” Sidney Powell answered , “ We ’ ve had the electoral breakdown , ” repeating , “ We ’ ve already had it.
” But the Constitution , she reminded the room , has a means for dealing with that , so we are not on the verge of complete decision-making collapse .
In the meantime , the executives and owner of the Canadian Dominion voting machine company have become hard to find .
SmartMatic voting software originates in communist Venezuela , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maduro .
George Soros is in the mix along with them .
How Will They Report This ?
How will the media report this ?
So far they ’ ve been irresponsible — irresponsible to the point of participating in the same corruption .
Giuliani blasted them .
One reporter brought up , “ over 20 cases have been dismissed.
” Ellis said merely , “ Look at the plaintiffs.
” Still angry , Giuliani told the reporter , “ You ’ re lying.
” He went on to explain that these cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their cases were dismissed for lack of standing .
Asked about lawyers who had run from the case , Giuliani said that person ’ s life had been threatened .
Their family members had received death threats .
“ That comes about because of the hysterical way you have covered Donald Trump and his administration , ” Giuliani told the press .
And , “ the censorship going on by big tech is almost as dangerous as the corrupted election .
Maybe even as important.
” Even witnesses “ don ’ t want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a vicious press , ” he said .
Someone Has To Be First to Buck the Bias And reporters and editors around the country are thinking , “ Oh , [ expletive deleted ] !
Busted.
” Yes , they know they ’ re busted now .
They know it ’ s true , and they know they ’ re not going to escape this one .
Count on it , though : They ’ re still going to try .
Right now you can bet news organization presidents are phoning each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a common front on this .
Somebody has got to say no to the bias .
Someone has got to go first .
Maybe a network news anchor will go rogue , off script , and report this news about the very real possibility of very real evidence of massive election fraud .
As if , you know , listeners might be interested to know ?
Or maybe a big-city newspaper publisher will say , “ Okay , it ’ s over , and we ’ ve been wrong .
We ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook will quit putting conservatives in social-media jail .
Whoever takes the risk , whoever takes the lead , will be a pariah to their colleagues , but a hero to the American people .
And who knows ?
Maybe more will follow .
Time for the Turnaround .
NOW !
It ’ s time for a turnaround .
Heaven help us , it ’ s years past time for a turnaround .
Over and over again , a complicit press has been hiding behind “ No evidence.
” Will they wake up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this do it ?
If not , then nothing will .
As I wrote earlier this week , their censorship , their silence , and/or their dismissal of these claims so far shows that they are That applies to Joe Biden himself , too , along with Kamala Harris , Nancy Pelosi , Chuck Schumer , Adam Schiff , and the rest of the Democratic leadership .
Every real leader in America must be invested in fair and free elections .
Their reactions tonight will tell us what kind of leader each one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If in fact fraud is demonstrated in court , though , we ’ ll have to ask the same question about him we ’ ll have to ask about every one of them : To what extent was he criminally involved himself ?
Before that , though , we need to hear from the media , and we need to hear the truth .
It ’ s long , long , long past time for a turnaround in the bias , the censorship , the outright corruption plaguing — and here I must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say “ plaguing the media , ” but no , this plague is on you , me , and all the American people being denied the crucial democratic benefit of a truly free press .
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 .

Lawyers for Donald Trump made an “opening statement” in a legal case by which they intend to show that the recent election was systematically, intentionally, criminally rigged to throw votes to Joe Biden.
“I can prove to you Trump won Pennsylvania by 300,000 votes,” said Rudy Giuliani. “He won Michigan by 50,000 votes.” But “it’s not about overturning elections on our part,” said lawyer Jenna Ellis, “it’s about preserving free and fair elections.”And “we will not back down, we will not be intimated.” Giuliani made no effort to hide his anger: “You must cover this!”
What is at stake here is neither Trump nor Biden, but America’s entire identity as a constitutional democratic republic. It’s about corruption on a scale never imagined in this country. The president’s team presented a strong opening argument. They didn’t present their evidence there. That’s for later, in court. But there can no longer be any doubt it exists.
One reporter asked, “Are we on the verge of an electoral breakdown?” Sidney Powell answered, “We’ve had the electoral breakdown,” repeating, “We’ve already had it.” But the Constitution, she reminded the room, has a means for dealing with that, so we are not on the verge of complete decision-making collapse.
In the meantime, the executives and owner of the Canadian Dominion voting machine company have become hard to find. SmartMatic voting software originates in communist Venezuela, with close ties to Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro. George Soros is in the mix along with them.
How Will They Report This?
How will the media report this? So far they’ve been irresponsible — irresponsible to the point of participating in the same corruption. Giuliani blasted them.
My goodness, what we have to go through to get you to tell the American people the truth! … Our goal is to go around the outrageous Iron Curtain of censorship, and get facts to the American people, that if you’d been a fair network, you’d have been reporting for the past two weeks. These are facts. … Our role here is to do your job for you, because you aren’t doing it.
One reporter brought up, “over 20 cases have been dismissed.” Ellis said merely, “Look at the plaintiffs.” Still angry, Giuliani told the reporter, “You’re lying.” He went on to explain that these cases were brought by private citizens, and their cases were dismissed for lack of standing.
Asked about lawyers who had run from the case, Giuliani said that person’s life had been threatened. Their family members had received death threats.
“That comes about because of the hysterical way you have covered Donald Trump and his administration,” Giuliani told the press. And, “the censorship going on by big tech is almost as dangerous as the corrupted election. Maybe even as important.” Even witnesses “don’t want to be exposed to the tender mercies of a vicious press,” he said.
Someone Has To Be First to Buck the Bias
And reporters and editors around the country are thinking, “Oh, [expletive deleted]! Busted.” Yes, they know they’re busted now. They know it’s true, and they know they’re not going to escape this one. Count on it, though: They’re still going to try. Right now you can bet news organization presidents are phoning each other, scheming how they can present a common front on this.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
Somebody has got to say no to the bias. Someone has got to go first.
Maybe a network news anchor will go rogue, off script, and report this news about the very real possibility of very real evidence of massive election fraud. As if, you know, listeners might be interested to know? Or maybe a big-city newspaper publisher will say, “Okay, it’s over, and we’ve been wrong. We’re coming clean now.” Maybe Twitter or Facebook will quit putting conservatives in social-media jail.
Whoever takes the risk, whoever takes the lead, will be a pariah to their colleagues, but a hero to the American people. And who knows? Maybe more will follow.
Time for the Turnaround. NOW!
It’s time for a turnaround. Heaven help us, it’s years past time for a turnaround. Over and over again, a complicit press has been hiding behind “No evidence.” Will they wake up now? Will they ever? Will this do it? If not, then nothing will. As I wrote earlier this week, their censorship, their silence, and/or their dismissal of these claims so far shows that they are
not at all sure Biden belongs in the White House, yet they’re virtually moving him anyway. The media stands fully behind him, repeating and repeating (and repeating and repeating) that questions about the election are “baseless” and “without evidence.” All this is precisely the opposite of what they ought to be doing and saying if they cared about democratic processes. “Let’s do this together. Let’s see who really got the most legitimate votes.”
Time to Stop the Corruption
That applies to Joe Biden himself, too, along with Kamala Harris, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, Adam Schiff, and the rest of the Democratic leadership. Every real leader in America must be invested in fair and free elections. Their reactions tonight will tell us what kind of leader each one of them is.
Especially Biden. If in fact fraud is demonstrated in court, though, we’ll have to ask the same question about him we’ll have to ask about every one of them: To what extent was he criminally involved himself?
Before that, though, we need to hear from the media, and we need to hear the truth. It’s long, long, long past time for a turnaround in the bias, the censorship, the outright corruption plaguing — and here I must interrupt myself. I was going to say “plaguing the media,” but no, this plague is on you, me, and all the American people being denied the crucial democratic benefit of a truly free press.
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.