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For Fri., Nov. 24, 2017
~All Gave Some~Some Gave
All~God Bless America
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — A second Alabama special Senate election poll has Judge Roy Moore, the GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate, up six points over radical leftist Democrat Doug Jones ahead of the December 12 election, Breitbart News has learned.
FAMOUS LAST WORDS
“President Donald Trump's near-endorsement of Alabama Republican Roy Moore followed days of behind-the-scenes talks in which he vented about Moore's accusers and expressed skepticism about their accounts.
“During animated conversations with senior Republicans and White House aides, the president said he doubted the stories presented by Moore's accusers and questioned why they were emerging now, just weeks before the election, according to two White House advisers and two other people familiar with the talks. ...
“Trump gave personal approval for White House counselor Kellyanne Conway to go after Moore's Democratic opponent, former U.S. Attorney Doug Jones, during a Monday interview on 'Fox and Friends,' which the president regularly watches, said one person with direct knowledge of the decision. Conway laced into Jones, saying that Alabama voters shouldn't be 'fooled' by him and hinted that the White House wanted Moore's vote on tax reform."
Katy Perry Reportedly Banned from China Indefinitely Because of This 2015 Sunflower Dress
Katy was scheduled to perform at the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show
By Peggy Truong
Katy Perry has been banned indefinitely from China, just days before she was scheduled to perform at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show in Shanghai, Page Six reports. According to sources, Chinese officials reversed a decision to grant Katy a visa after being made aware of a sunflower dress the singer wore during a 2015 concert in Taipei. At the time, Katy’s dress was perceived by China as her voicing support for Taiwanese anti-China protesters, who made the sunflower as part of their campaign the year before. At one point during her 2015 concert, Katy even draped a Taiwanese flag over her sunflower dress, further angering a country that has long refused to recognize Taiwan as its territory.
A local newspaper showing Katy Perry and her controversial dress and flag in April 2015.
Meltdown: Fewer Than 1 In 4 Minnesotans Want Franken To Stay In Senate
ED MORRISSEY
Al Franken’s colleagues on Capitol Hill and former colleagues on Saturday Night Live might be circling the wagons around him after two allegations of sexual harassment have emerged. The one group that really matters has not — his constituents. A new poll commissioned by local ABC affiliate KSTP shows that only 22% of Minnesotans believe Franken should remain in office, with the remainder split almost evenly between waiting out a Senate Ethics Committee investigation and an immediate resignation. Veteran political analyst Steven Schier notes that there is no good news for Franken anywhere in this poll:
TRENDING:
Hell Has Indeed Frozen Over: Hillary Clinton Consents to Interview on Conservative Radio
In less than a week since sexual harassment allegations were leveled against Minnesota Senator Al Franken, his approval rating has plummeted and many Minnesotans say he should resign, according to an exclusive KSTP/SurveyUSA poll.
In a poll conducted Monday night after allegations from a second woman were made public, only 22 percent of 600 Minnesotans surveyed said he should remain in office. Another 33 percent say he should resign, while 36 percent say he should wait for results of a Senate Ethics Committee investigation. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percent.
“To me the striking findings in this poll are first, that only 22 percent are behind Al Franken staying in office,” Carleton College Political Scientist Steven Schier said.
Schier (a friend of mine) also points out that the demographics are uniformly terrible for Franken, too. Even among Democrats, only 34% support Franken remaining in office, although only 14% want an immediate resignation. Nearly half — 46% — are holding their breath for the Ethics Committee report, or more likely, possibly waiting to see if anyone else comes forward” as KSTP describes Franken himself.a
Another interesting point that emerges is that women and men are roughly similar on the question, with men being slightly tougher on Franken. Thirty percent of women want an immediate Franken resignation, while 35% of men demand the same. Slightly more women than men want Franken to remain in office, but that’s a margin-of-error difference (23% and 21%, respectively). The proportions are largely the same as each other and the overall result.
What happens if Franken stays in office? Only 32% of Minnesotans will consider him effective, although given Franken’s backbencher status and lack of status within the caucus it might be tough to tell the difference. Even among Minnesota Democrats, only 52% think Franken will make an effective Senator under the circumstances. Furthermore, his approval ratings have plunged dramatically — from 53% a year ago to 36% now, just five points above Donald Trump’s in the state. Just how effective can a lame duck be?
If no one else comes forward after this, the dreary parade of perversion may pass Franken by and allow him to stick around until the end of his term in 2020. Franken’s crimes may fade in the blizzard of more serious allegations about assaults, cover-ups, and corruption on Capitol Hill, Hollywood, and the media. Even if he manages to do so, though, his political career is likely over in this state. Democrats have plenty of other potential candidates to run in that seat, and there’s simply no way the DFL will allow Franken to represent them in another election with that picture of Franken leering and groping a sleeping Leeann Tweeden:
In a poll conducted Monday night after allegations from a second woman were made public, only 22 percent of 600 Minnesotans surveyed said he should remain in office. Another 33 percent say he should resign, while 36 percent say he should wait for results of a Senate Ethics Committee investigation. The poll has a margin of error of +/- 4.1 percent.
“To me the striking findings in this poll are first, that only 22 percent are behind Al Franken staying in office,” Carleton College Political Scientist Steven Schier said.
Schier (a friend of mine) also points out that the demographics are uniformly terrible for Franken, too. Even among Democrats, only 34% support Franken remaining in office, although only 14% want an immediate resignation. Nearly half — 46% — are holding their breath for the Ethics Committee report, or more likely, possibly waiting to see if anyone else comes forward” as KSTP describes Franken himself.a
Another interesting point that emerges is that women and men are roughly similar on the question, with men being slightly tougher on Franken. Thirty percent of women want an immediate Franken resignation, while 35% of men demand the same. Slightly more women than men want Franken to remain in office, but that’s a margin-of-error difference (23% and 21%, respectively). The proportions are largely the same as each other and the overall result.
What happens if Franken stays in office? Only 32% of Minnesotans will consider him effective, although given Franken’s backbencher status and lack of status within the caucus it might be tough to tell the difference. Even among Minnesota Democrats, only 52% think Franken will make an effective Senator under the circumstances. Furthermore, his approval ratings have plunged dramatically — from 53% a year ago to 36% now, just five points above Donald Trump’s in the state. Just how effective can a lame duck be?
If no one else comes forward after this, the dreary parade of perversion may pass Franken by and allow him to stick around until the end of his term in 2020. Franken’s crimes may fade in the blizzard of more serious allegations about assaults, cover-ups, and corruption on Capitol Hill, Hollywood, and the media. Even if he manages to do so, though, his political career is likely over in this state. Democrats have plenty of other potential candidates to run in that seat, and there’s simply no way the DFL will allow Franken to represent them in another election with that picture of Franken leering and groping a sleeping Leeann Tweeden:
That’s if no other allegations arise in the meantime. And that’s a mighty big if. The bar has been set high in the state after two Minnesota state legislators resigned yesterday in separate sexual-harassment scandals, one from each party:
Two Minnesota state lawmakers hit by sexual misconduct allegations announced Tuesday they would resign, less than two weeks after they were accused of misdeeds that ranged from groping colleagues to persistent unwanted sexual advances and sexting.
Two Minnesota state lawmakers hit by sexual misconduct allegations announced Tuesday they would resign, less than two weeks after they were accused of misdeeds that ranged from groping colleagues to persistent unwanted sexual advances and sexting.
Democratic Sen. Dan Schoen, who allegedly grabbed a woman’s buttocks at a campaign event and made unwanted advances toward other women — including sending Snapchat photos of male genitalia to a female Senate employee — was the first to go, with his attorney saying Schoen had decided he could no longer be effective.
Hours later, Republican Rep. Tony Cornish said he would step down by Dec. 1. Cornish was the subject of an external investigation in the House into widespread sexual misconduct over his eight terms in office, including an anonymous lobbyist who told Minnesota Public Radio News that he propositioned her for sex dozens of times over the past several years and once forced her into a wall in his office while trying to kiss her.
Minnesotans aren’t in the mood right now for legislators who abuse their positions to perform lewd acts on unwilling others. If Franken intends to keep his Senate seat, he might want to move permanently to Washington DC.
Hours later, Republican Rep. Tony Cornish said he would step down by Dec. 1. Cornish was the subject of an external investigation in the House into widespread sexual misconduct over his eight terms in office, including an anonymous lobbyist who told Minnesota Public Radio News that he propositioned her for sex dozens of times over the past several years and once forced her into a wall in his office while trying to kiss her.
Minnesotans aren’t in the mood right now for legislators who abuse their positions to perform lewd acts on unwilling others. If Franken intends to keep his Senate seat, he might want to move permanently to Washington DC.
John Lasseter, Genius Behind Pixar And Disney Animation, Takes Leave Of Absence Amidst Sexual Harassment Allegations
ByBEN SHAPIRO @benshapiroOn Tuesday, head of Disney Animation John Lasseter took a leave of absence from Pixar after admitting “missteps” and “painful” conversations with staff. He did not specify the missteps or the content of the conversations. However, The Hollywood Reporter says that THR was about to release a report “detailing alleged misconduct by the executive at Disney/Pixar.” Lasseter is one of the biggest names in the history of animation; he’s responsible for Toy Story and Toy Story 2, and the man behind the revitalization of Disney animation that led to Frozen, Tangled, and Inside Out.
Here’s the text of Lasseter’s letter:
I have always wanted our animation studios to be places where creators can explore their vision with the support and collaboration of other gifted animators and storytellers. This kind of creative culture takes constant vigilance to maintain. It’s built on trust and respect, and it becomes fragile if any members of the team don’t feel valued. As a leader, it’s my responsibility to ensure that doesn’t happen; and I now believe I have been falling short in this regard.
I’ve recently had a number of difficult conversations that have been very painful for me. It’s never easy to face your missteps, but it’s the only way to learn from them. As a result, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the leader I am today compared to the mentor, advocate and champion I want to be. It’s been brought to my attention that I have made some of you feel disrespected or uncomfortable. That was never my intent. Collectively, you mean the world to me, and I deeply apologize if I have let you down. I especially want to apologize to anyone who has ever been on the receiving end of an unwanted hug or any other gesture they felt crossed the line in any way, shape, or form. No matter how benign my intent, everyone has the right to set their own boundaries and have them respected.
In my conversations with Disney, we are united in our commitment to always treat any concerns you have with the seriousness they deserve, and to address them in an appropriate manner. We also share a desire to reinforce the vibrant, respectful culture that has been the foundation of our studios’ success since the beginning. And we agree the first step in that direction is for me to take some time away to reflect on how to move forward from here. As hard as it is for me to step away from a job I am so passionate about and a team I hold in the highest regard, not just as artists but as people, I know it’s the best thing for all of us right now. My hope is that a six-month sabbatical will give me the opportunity to start taking better care of myself, to recharge and be inspired, and ultimately return with the insight and perspective I need to be the leader you deserve.
I’m immensely proud of this team, and I know you will continue to wow the world in my absence. I wish you all a wonderful holiday season and look forward to working together again in the new year.
John
The Hollywood Reporter detailed some of the allegations in a separate story. According to the outlet, actress and writer Rashida Jones alleged that Lasseter “made an unwanted advance” on her. And apparently Jones wasn’t the only one. Here’s the Reporter:
One longtime Pixar employee says Lasseter, who is well-known for hugging employees and others in the entertainment community, was also known by insiders for “grabbing, kissing, making comments about physical attributes.” Multiple sources say Lasseter is known to drink heavily at company social events such as premiere parties but this source says the behavior was not always confined to such settings. ... Some used a move they called “the Lasseter” to prevent their boss from putting his hands on their legs. ... The same source said he once noticed an oddly cropped photo of Lasseter standing between two women at a company function. When he mentioned that to a colleague, he was told, “We had to crop it. Do you know where his hands were?”
Pixar is one of the most profitable film companies in history; they’ve pulled in $6 billion domestically.
US jobless claims fall as record run persists
Washington (AFP) - New claims for US jobless benefits fell in mid-November, confirming the strength of American labor markets and continuing a record streak of low levels, official data showed Wednesday.
The result suggested November could see continued strong job creation as employment recovers from hurricane-related disruptions at the end of the summer.
Data were collected during the survey week for the Labor Department's monthly jobs report.
The record run of low levels could also be one more factor nudging the US central bank towards adopting a third interest rate increase for the year when it meets next month.
For the week ending November 18, new claims for unemployment insurance dropped by 13,000 to 239,000, matching analyst expectations.
The less volatile four-week average rose slightly to 239,750. Officials in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico continue to face difficulties in reporting jobless figures, according to the Labor Department.
Jobless claims have now held below 300,000 for 142 weeks, or nearly three years, the longest such streak since 1970.
Analysts say, however, that the levels in fact represent an absolute low, given the increase in the population in the last 47 years.
Though they can see big swings from week to week, jobless claims can be used to gauge the prevalence of layoffs and health of labor markets.
The Federal Reserve has reported a widespread labor shortage, as employers face difficulty filling vacant positions with qualified workers.
Analysts say under such conditions companies are reluctant to let workers go, fearing they may be hard to replace. But wage growth has remained sluggish.
The result suggested November could see continued strong job creation as employment recovers from hurricane-related disruptions at the end of the summer.
Data were collected during the survey week for the Labor Department's monthly jobs report.
The record run of low levels could also be one more factor nudging the US central bank towards adopting a third interest rate increase for the year when it meets next month.
For the week ending November 18, new claims for unemployment insurance dropped by 13,000 to 239,000, matching analyst expectations.
The less volatile four-week average rose slightly to 239,750. Officials in the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico continue to face difficulties in reporting jobless figures, according to the Labor Department.
Jobless claims have now held below 300,000 for 142 weeks, or nearly three years, the longest such streak since 1970.
Analysts say, however, that the levels in fact represent an absolute low, given the increase in the population in the last 47 years.
Though they can see big swings from week to week, jobless claims can be used to gauge the prevalence of layoffs and health of labor markets.
The Federal Reserve has reported a widespread labor shortage, as employers face difficulty filling vacant positions with qualified workers.
Analysts say under such conditions companies are reluctant to let workers go, fearing they may be hard to replace. But wage growth has remained sluggish.
Kathleen Sebelius: The Clinton White House doubled down on 'abusive behavior' and it's fair to criticize Hillary Clinton
By Pete Jones, The Axe Files
Kathleen Sebelius testifies as HHS Secretary before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in 2013.(CNN)As a wave of stories unfold about sexual harassment and assault by men in power, a senior Democratic leader says her party should reflect on how it handled such charges when they were leveled against former President Bill Clinton.
"Not only did people look the other way, but they went after the women who came forward and accused him," says Kathleen Sebelius, the former secretary of Health and Human Services and Kansas governor. "And so it doubled down on not only bad behavior but abusive behavior. And then people attacked the victims."
Sebelius extended her criticism to Hillary Clinton, and the Clinton White House for what she called a strategy of dismissing and besmirching the women who stepped forward—a pattern she said is being repeated today by alleged perpetrators of sexual assault—saying that the criticism of the former first lady and Secretary of State was "absolutely" fair. Sebelius noted that the Clinton Administration's response was being imitated, adding that "you can watch that same pattern repeat, It needs to end. It needs to be over."
Should Democrats turn their backs on Bill Clinton?The comments came during a conversation with David Axelrod on the latest episode of "The Axe Files," a podcast produced by the University of Chicago Institute of Politics and CNN.
While Sebelius was critical of both Clintons, she questioned whether the impeachment pursued by Republicans in Congress was the appropriate vehicle for addressing his transgressions.
Sebelius also refused to take a position on whether Sen. Al Franken, a Democrat, should step down in response to allegations of groping. She drew a distinction between Franken's reaction and those of Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore, movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and several others, who have denied accusations of sexual assault and sexual harassment.
"Franken has done something different than some of the other males involved," she said. "He first of all admitted behavior and apologized but immediately asked for an ethics investigation on himself." The others, she said, "have followed a very different path and it's a path that looks a lot more like what Bill Clinton did."
Sebelius acknowledged that the Senate Ethics Committee has a checkered history of policing such charges, but suggested that the intense focus on this issue will make it more difficult for the panel to ignore the behavior Franken had acknowledged or to bury its review in secrecy. "I don't think you can do that. And I think that Franken is likely to do some real soul searching in the meantime."
Recalling her own experiences in and around Kansas government decades ago, Sebelius, a former lobbyist and legislator, said she was saddened that the abusive behavior toward women she saw then is still pervasive today.
"It breaks my heart is to know that here we are 40 years later, and very much the same atmosphere prevails," she said. "And it's about power, it's never been about sex. It's all about power. And men who have power over women use that power and all kinds of ways."
Sebelius said that while she "had certainly my share of a variety of horrific situations, bosses," and people, that she was "protected, in that I didn't ever desperately need this job. I could walk out at any minute. I could walk away at any minute."
Calling for more attention on women who weren't in her comparatively privileged position, Sebelius said "there are so many women who can't do that; who need to feed their families; who need to be quiet because they are desperate for the work that they have and that, that needs to be blown up."
She also called on men to be part of the solution, urging them to "call out" other men for problematic behavior towards women. "I mean it's the same thing as having racial slurs joked about in a locker room," she said. "It's the same thing. You know people need to be called out and said that's not acceptable. We're not going to do that anymore. It's over."
Trump’s DOJ Stripping Citizenship from Child Molesters Obama Let Stay
BY BEN MARQUIS
Democrats attempt to portray themselves as the party that stands up for the well-being and safety of children — aside from their support of unlimited abortion, of course.
But recent news out of the Department of Justice would seem to belie that claim, as several immigrants naturalized as citizens who had been convicted of sexual crimes against minors were permitted to retain their citizenship and remain in the country during former President Barack Obama’s term in office.
Fox News first reported on lawsuits filed by the DOJ against five individuals to revoke their citizenship due to their having pleaded guilty to sex crimes against minors that occurred prior to being naturalized.
According to the Immigration and Nationality Act, individuals who obtain citizenship through the fraudulent concealment of disqualifying information can have their naturalized citizenship revoked — a common sense statute if there ever was one.
“Committing fraud in any immigration matter undermines the integrity of our immigration system, and is a betrayal of the American people’s generosity,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions stated in a DOJ press release. “It is especially appalling when it also involves the sexual abuse of children.”
But recent news out of the Department of Justice would seem to belie that claim, as several immigrants naturalized as citizens who had been convicted of sexual crimes against minors were permitted to retain their citizenship and remain in the country during former President Barack Obama’s term in office.
Fox News first reported on lawsuits filed by the DOJ against five individuals to revoke their citizenship due to their having pleaded guilty to sex crimes against minors that occurred prior to being naturalized.
According to the Immigration and Nationality Act, individuals who obtain citizenship through the fraudulent concealment of disqualifying information can have their naturalized citizenship revoked — a common sense statute if there ever was one.
“Committing fraud in any immigration matter undermines the integrity of our immigration system, and is a betrayal of the American people’s generosity,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions stated in a DOJ press release. “It is especially appalling when it also involves the sexual abuse of children.”
“The Department of Justice has a duty to prosecute these crimes vigorously, particularly so for individuals who commit fraud in the naturalization process,” he continued. “I am confident that justice will be done in these cases.”
“This Department will continue to fight to denaturalize immigration fraudsters and to protect the American people from sex offenders,” he added.
The release pointed out that all five individuals had committed crimes of a sexual nature against minors prior to being naturalized as citizens, which would render them ineligible for citizenship. However, they willfully concealed those crimes in the naturalization process, meaning they defrauded the government and should have their fraudulent citizenship status revoked.
All five cases had been referred to the DOJ by the Department of Homeland Security, specifically Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection, with an investigative assistant from Citizenship and Immigration Services.
“I commend the DHS personnel working diligently to remove dangerous criminals from our streets,” stated Elaine Duke, acting secretary of DHS. “Those who unlawfully procured citizenship by concealing crimes — especially sexual abuse of minors — should have their citizenship revoked.”
The release proceeded to detail the specifics of the five individuals whose citizenship should be revoked, and it is noteworthy that three of the five were naturalized at the tail end of the Clinton administration, one was naturalized a month after former President George W. Bush took office, and the fifth gained citizenship in 2004.
All pleaded guilty at some point to charges that stemmed from crimes committed prior to becoming a citizen, yet nothing was ever done about it, even as their guilt clearly disqualified them from retaining their citizenship.
All pleaded guilty at some point to charges that stemmed from crimes committed prior to becoming a citizen, yet nothing was ever done about it, even as their guilt clearly disqualified them from retaining their citizenship.
Indeed, Obama allowed convicted child molesters to stay in the country and retain their naturalized citizenship, as did Bush and Clinton.
As Front Page Mag pointed out, denaturalization is a basic tool of the government that can be used to strip the citizenship from individuals who never should have received it in the first place.
Unfortunately, as we saw through the Obama years, it was used far too infrequently, if at all. In fact, its infrequent use by Obama’s administration allowed convicted child molesters who had been naturalized — not to mention radicalized Islamist terrorists — to remain U.S. citizens even as they posed a real threat to society.
Thankfully, President Donald Trump and AG Sessions have put the safety and well-being of our nation and children ahead of the citizenship of criminal immigrants — as it should be.
Please share this on Facebook and Twitter so everyone can see how President Trump and Jeff Sessions are seeking to denaturalize the citizenship of immigrants who committed sexual crimes against children.
What do you think of Trump's DOJ moving to strip citizenship from immigrants convicted of sex crimes against minors?
Law Might Prevent Senate From Expelling Roy Moore
By Mark Swanson
By Mark Swanson
One of the many contingencies being floated by Senate Republicans regarding the impending election of Roy Moore, expulsion after the fact, is fraught with legal peril, a former House general counsel wrote for Politico.
Stan Brand writes that the Senate, after what would certainly be months of grueling hearings, could use "disorderly behavior" as the mitigating factor to expel Moore, who has been accused by nine women of wide-ranging sexual misconduct.
Two problems there, one bigger than the other, Brand writes:
For one, senators would need two-thirds vote to expel him.
However, more important is that Moore's alleged misconduct happened before he was a senator, meaning overturning the will of the people, who were well aware of his alleged improprieties, but voted him in anyway.
In the end, the Supreme Court case Powell v. McCormack dictates that as long as a candidate fits the qualifications — age, citizenship, residency — undoing the will of the people is not and should not be an easy undertaking, Brand writes.
"Can the Senate get away with expelling Moore regardless of these precedents? Maybe. Moore might have a tough legal case to make. But so would the Senate," Brand writes.
"The Powell case looms as an important warning that the power to expel might not be expansive enough to empower the Senate to disregard the will of the electorate — however distasteful it finds the conduct at issue."
Why Trump Is Right To Re-Designate North Korea A State Sponsor Of Terror
A regime that cares so little for its own citizens’ welfare won’t give two bits about citizens from other countries or hesitate to deploy weapons of mass destruction.
By Helen Raleigh
President Trump declared on Monday that the United States has re-designated North Korea as one of the “State Sponsors of Terrorism.” In his own words, President Trump called this “something that should have happened a long time ago.” He is right.
How North Korea Got On and Off the List
The United States will put countries that repeatedly support acts of international terrorism on the list of “state sponsors of terrorism (SST),” pursuant to three U.S. laws: section 6(j) of the Export Administration Act, section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act, and section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act. There are serious, more than symbolic, implications for any country put on the list, including:
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A ban on arms-related sales and exports.
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Requiring 30-day congressional notification of exports of dual-use goods.
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The United States will oppose loans from international agencies such as the World Bank to designated country.
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Limiting diplomatic immunity to allow families of terrorist victims to file civil lawsuits in the United States.
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Prohibiting any U.S. person from engaging in financial transactions with the government of designated SST country.
Prior to Trump’s announcement, there were three countries on the SST list: Iran, Sudan, and Syria. North Korea was first put on this notorious list in 1987, after its agents planted a bomb on South Korean Airlines Flight 858 and killed all 115 on board on November 29th, 1987.
North Korea has also been known to persistently abduct South Korean and Japanese citizens for decades, especially during the 1970s and ’80s. In 2002, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il openly acknowledged that his country kidnapped 13 Japanese citizens. Tokyo believes that as many as 800 missing Japanese could have been abducted by Pyongyang over the years.
Japan and South Korea are not the only two countries affected by North Korea’s orchestrated kidnappings. A 2014 United Nations report on human rights estimates that North Korea has kidnapped as many as 100,000 people from other countries through decades.
In 2008, during George W. Bush’s final year as president, his administration removed North Korea from the “State Sponsors of Terrorism” list to entice North Korea to return to nuclear weapon negotiations. As they say, the rest is history. North Korea used these negotiations to extract food and fuels from South Korea and the West, while secretly continuing to develop its nuclear weapons.
What Has Happened Since 2008
Removing North Korea from the SST list in 2008 failed to achieve its objective. The negotiations never bore much fruit. Instead, they provided North Korea with time and resources to continue accelerating its nuclear weapon development programs. Since 2008, North Korea has conducted five successful nuclear tests: 2009, 2013, in January and September 2016, and August 2017. Technically, North Korea is already a nuclear power.
Pyongyang has also made progress toward making a nuclear warhead small enough to attach an ICBM (Intercontinental Ballistic Missile), with the goal of reaching the United States. There is also evidence that Pyongyang is working with other “State Sponsors of Terrorism” such as Iran in illegal weapon trades and nuclear weapon development. Thus, Pyongyang’s nuclear weapon program has presented a grave security threat not only to people in the United States and South Korea and Japan, but also to the rest of the world.
Pyongyang has done more to terrorize people than its nuclear weapon program. In February 2017, Kim Jong-Nam, the half-brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un, was assassinated by two women hired by North Korea agents at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia. His assassins used VX nerve agent, a lethal chemical weapon banned by the United Nation.
In June, North Korea returned 23-year-old U.S. college student Otto Warmbier to his parents in a coma. Warmbier passed away just a few days later. There is sufficient evidence to believe Warmbier was tortured while he was illegally held by the North Korea authorities. North Korea still holds three Americans, one Canadian, and six South Koreans as political hostages.
The world should wake up by now that North Korea’s human rights abuses are closely linked to its nuclear ambitions. A regime who cares so little for its own citizens’ welfare won’t give two bits about citizens from other countries, or hesitate to deploy weapons of mass destruction to induce maximum harm to humanity.
What to Expect Now
It’s absolutely the right thing to do for President Trump to put North Korea back on the SST list. The day after he re-designated North Korea, the U.S. Treasury Department revealed a new round of sanctions. President Trump’s tweets may sound crazy and out of the norm sometimes, but his series of policy moves on North Korea has proved those who called him a “warmonger” wrong.
Trump has shown a laser focus on dealing with North Korea, from increasing sanctions to pressuring China to do more. He has systematically deployed non-military options while demonstrating U.S. military strength through military exercises with U.S. allies. Just this month, the president deployed three aircraft carrier groups to the Pacific in an immense display of American strength. The message to North Korea should be clear. Trump’s multi-faceted policy toward North Korea is a clear break with America’s feckless approach of the past.
It’s true that we don’t know if any of these policies will stop North Korea’s nuclear ambition. But history should have taught us that appeasement of evil only puts the world in grave danger.
Helen Raleigh is a senior contributor to The Federalist. An immigrant from China, she is the owner of Red Meadow Advisors, LLC, and an immigration policy fellow at the Centennial Institute in Colorado. She is the author of several books, including "Confucius Never Said" and "The Broken Welcome Mat." Follow Helen on Twitter @HRaleighspeaks, or check out her website: helenraleighspeaks.com.
Ted Nugent certainly gets an A+ for correctly answering the question of the animal activist.
Ted Nugent, rock star and avid bow hunter from Michigan , was being interviewed by a liberal journalist who also happens to be an animal rights activist. The discussion came around to deer hunting.
The journalist asked, "What do you think is the last thought in the head of a deer before you shoot him? Is it, 'Are you my friend?' or is it 'Are you the one who killed my brother?'"
Nugent replied, "Deer aren't capable of that kind of thinking. All they care about is what am I going, to eat next, who am I going to screw next, and can I run fast enough to get away. They are very much like the Democrats in Congress."
The interview ended.
Clinton Has Sick Reaction To Sex Scandal, It’s Disgusting
It appears that there is a serious issue of sexual misconduct in Hollywood and political circles. When former-President Bill Clinton was asked about one of the most recent news reports of sexual assault, his reaction was disturbing.
Sen. Al Franken (D-MN), is one of the latest men to be accused of inappropriate sexual behavior. According to The Washington Times, a reporter had the chance to ask former-President Bill Clinton his opinion of Franken’s behavior. Allegedly, the former-President gave a “half-smirk” and didn’t comment on the issue.
It started when NBC News reporter Tammy Leitner went to Puerto Rico to report on the hurricane damage the US territory sustained. While she was there, she ran into the 42nd president, Mr. Clinton, who was there for recovery efforts.
The NBC reporter had enough time to ask one question, and she chose to ask about the accusations against Sen. Franken by broadcaster Leeann Tweeden. Leitner discussed what happened during an interview.
“[Bill Clinton] has been back in the news with the Senator from New York, Kirsten Gillibrand, suggesting he would have had to resign in the current climate and, of course, Democrats facing questions about Senator Al Franken’s conduct,” the host, Kasie Hunt asked. “Any chance you talked to him about that?”
“I did, Kasie. I asked him about the Senator’s recent comments, and he looked at me, kind of half-smirked, and kept going. He wanted nothing to do with that, so he didn’t give us an answer,” Leitner answered.
Sen. Franken stands accused of kissing Tweeden during a rehearsal for a 2006 USO Tour. He scripted a scene where the two kissed and insisted that they practice it together.
Abortion inflicts horrific pain on the unborn. How long will we ignore it?
November 21, 2017 (Priests for Life) — “Does it hurt?” That is the question behind the bill that protects babies from abortion, babies in utero who are 20 weeks old and beyond.
The abortion debate has grown so absurdly abstract; it’s time to refocus on facts like how much it hurts unborn babies to be pulled apart at 20 weeks. This is when a baby is quite developed and about the length of a banana. We know the answer. In fact, any five-year-old probably knows the answer. But here we are. The mere fact that we have to remind people says a lot about this debate. It has lost all sensibility.
We are not seeing, hearing, or touching abortion; it has been turned into a philosophical argument about rights.There is a reason why the word “pain” precedes all others in the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. Pain is a universal human experience. It appeals to our human decency and common sense. People care about the suffering of others and, if they can eliminate it, they will. That’s why federal laws exists to protect cattle from unnecessarily feeling pain in the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. If we can do this for cattle, then certainly we must do even more for children.
We are not seeing, hearing, or touching abortion; it has been turned into a philosophical argument about rights.There is a reason why the word “pain” precedes all others in the Pain Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. Pain is a universal human experience. It appeals to our human decency and common sense. People care about the suffering of others and, if they can eliminate it, they will. That’s why federal laws exists to protect cattle from unnecessarily feeling pain in the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act. If we can do this for cattle, then certainly we must do even more for children.
There is plenty of research pointing to the pain children feel at 20 weeks in development, and in fact much earlier than that. The Charlotte Lozier Institute gathered testimony from scholars and experts, including doctors, neurologists, anesthesiologists, researchers and biologists.
An unborn baby at 20 weeks gestation “is fully capable of experiencing pain. … Without question, [abortion] is a dreadfully painful experience for any infant subjected to such a surgical procedure.” — Robert J. White, M.D., PhD., professor of neurosurgery, Case Western University
Yet there will always be those who will argue that unborn children are not persons with constitutional rights. They are too vested in guarding their precious abortion rights at all costs. This same side will claim it is junk science or that pain is a psychological construct or something subjective. Why should that distinction be important for them? Could it be because they, too, don’t want little persons with no constitutional rights to suffer? Would late term abortion be palatable if they believed these babies in utero are somehow numb to it? That’s says a lot about this debate as well.
It brings to mind the partial birth abortion case in which abortionist Dr. Timothy Johnson testified. The late Judge Richard Casey pressed him for an answer as to whether it ever crossed his mind if a fetus felt pain during late term abortions. Johnson avoided giving a straightforward answer, but the Judge Casey pressed him. Finally Johnson said, “no.” Why did he feel a need to say no? It is dubious that it never once crossed his mind that it might hurt a baby in the latter trimesters to have his skull crushed. Either he’s a liar or a sociopath.
This question of pain will be brought to the forefront soon. In a few short months the Senate will vote on this measure. Will we continue to ignore the gruesome pain of these children and keep late term abortion legal, or will we begin to address how barbaric our current abortion policy is?
Reprinted with permission from Priests for Life.
Reprinted with permission from Priests for Life.
G’ day…Ciao…
Helen and Moe Lauzier
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