In the future‚ when I think about the textbook definition of America’s failed pseudo-elite‚ I’ll think of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. In a Nov. 8 speech to Western state governors in Wyoming that was unearthed Monday‚ Cardona delivered this line about delivering technical assistance to states. “As‚ I think it was President Reagan‚ said—‘We’re from the government‚ we’re here to help‚’” he said. In case you don’t believe me‚ here’s a clip of the quote. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona just said with a completely straight face "I think it was President Reagan who said‚ 'We're from the government. We're here to help.’” pic.twitter.com/quRgs9nb7A— Greg Price (@greg_price11) November 27‚ 2023 That’s certainly not what Ronald Reagan said. The original‚ famous line comes from a 1986 press conference about agricultural policies in which Reagan said: “I’ve always felt the nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government‚ and I’m here to help.” Of course‚ Reagan was channeling the strong belief of many Americans at the time that the federal government had become too big and too intrusive‚ and was mostly incompetent at delivering solutions to the problems of American society. For those who know almost anything about the 40th president‚ it would be unthinkable to construe the Gipper’s ethos as one in which he suggests that the government is the first answer to our problems. Reagan wasn’t a huge fan of the Department of Education in his own day. He’d likely be even more horrified by the Department of Education in our day‚ since it is trying to force “gender- affirming care” on to schools around the country. On social media‚ Cardona was ruthlessly and appropriately mocked for the bastardized quote. It was quite a schooling. The Federalist’s Mollie Hemmingway called the misquote “chef’s kiss perfect.” I actually find it chef's kiss perfect that the Education Secretary is this ignorant of history. https://t.co/3x4TUOqprv— Mollie (@MZHemingway) November 27‚ 2023 Journalist T. Becket Adams called Cardona’s version of the Reagan quote “too on-the-nose even for absurdist fiction.” The "education secretary" misstating a well-known quote regarding bureaucratic incompetence is too on-the-nose even for absurdist fiction. Any good editor would send it back and say‚ "Too much." https://t.co/Q0VQIfR8nR— T. Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) November 27‚ 2023 David Marcus‚ another journalist‚ pointed out that one must be entirely detached from conservative ideas to use this quote in the context Cardona did. Imagine how little exposure to conservative ideas one would have to have while garnering various college degrees to possibly make this mistake. https://t.co/L2DG1Mr4Y8— David Marcus (@BlueBoxDave) November 27‚ 2023 I have a low view of our current crop of Biden administration officials‚ but this is surely one of the dumbest lines I’ve heard from that crew. Even the reliably liberal “fact-checking” website‚ Snopes‚ couldn’t quite twist Cardona’s statement into a half-truth. “Political pundits accused [Cardona] of ‘butchering’ or ‘misappropriating’ the quote‚ which is fair to say he did‚” Snopes noted. No kidding. Under the most charitable interpretation of Cardona’s statement being a botched joke‚ it’s worth asking whether it’s wise to couch the Biden administration’s policies in a quotation from Reagan intended to point out the incompetence of government. This moment is a good rejoinder to those who insist that the Department of Education is essential for quality education in this country. Has American education really improved since the department was created in 1980? What does it say that the man who now leads it seems to be lacking in a basic understanding of history? Whatever Cardona’s reasoning for botching the Reagan quote‚ it is an excellent illustration of the shallowness of our nation’s overcredentialed ruling class. Lacking both wisdom and a real education‚ they instead thrive on bland ideological conformity that stifles independent thought and elevates mediocrities. America has had plenty of corrupt‚ incompetent‚ sinister‚ and downright crazy politicians and government officials in the past. But never before in our history have we had such uniform incompetence and ignorance embedded in positions of power. Speaking of history‚ I’d say our country’s rulers should probably learn some of it before eagerly joining the mob in tearing our history down. Let’s say you buy into the progressive-era ethos of replacing constitutionally limited government with an empowered‚ educated elite. How can one look at our current system and conclude that trading in America’s long tradition of self-government ushered in the rule of wise philosopher- bureaucrats? I imagine even Woodrow Wilson would be horrified by the people who now have such power over our lives. This problem isn’t just about Cardona or the Biden administration. It’s about the current failures of Western civilization and the United States. When we think of the large and long-term failures of our government‚ when we think of the frayed and failing domestic institutions that have lost the trust of the American people‚ we should consider that our problem is not a few clowns in high places. The problem is an entire elite ecosystem that rewards the wrong values‚ that fails to develop the thinkers and leaders capable of leading a great society. Our leaders know little about where we came from and less about where we are going. Maybe one of the many reasons the leaders of our elite institutions stood by and watched‚ or outright cheered‚ when the mob came for the statues of our great men is that toppling monuments relieved them of embarrassing comparisons. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state The post Biden’s Education Secretary Butchers Famous Reagan Quote‚ Demonstrating Why Americans Fear Government ‘Help’ appeared first on The Daily Signal.

At the height of personal glory‚ a young man soon to become a husband thought only of God and service. According to KSL‚ quarterback Levi Williams of the Utah State Aggies announced Monday that he would forego his final season of college football eligibility in hopes of joining the Navy...

Three House Republicans who defied the mask requirement instituted by former House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) requested the U.S. Supreme Court hear their lawsuit. Reps. Thomas Massie of Kentucky‚ Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia‚ and Ralph Norman of South Carolina sued Pelosi after receiving $500 fines each for entering the House floor without masks. The lawmakers argue the pay deductions violate the Constitution’s 27th Amendment‚ “which prohibits salary adjustments for members of Congress from taking effect until after the next election‚” according to The Hill. “When we filed this lawsuit against Pelosi’s mask mandate‚ I said we would take it to the Supreme Court if necessary‚ and that is what it has finally come to‚” Massie wrote. After lower courts dismissed the lawsuit‚ the three House Republicans petitioned the Supreme Court to hear the case. When we filed this lawsuit against Pelosi’s mask mandate‚ I said we would take it to the Supreme Court if necessary‚ and that is what it has finally come to. “Republican Reps Take Challenge To Nancy Pelosi’s Mask Mandate To Supreme Court”https://t.co/V0VfXV4UFW — Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) November 28‚ 2023 The Hill reports: The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the defendants were all protected by the Constitution’s Speech and Debate Clause‚ which provides a shield against lawsuits and questioning for things lawmakers say and do as part of their legislative work. “The D.C. Circuit’s opinion ultimately places no limits on Speech or Debate Immunity‚” the Republican lawmakers’ attorneys wrote in their petition to the Supreme Court. “To let the D.C. Circuit’s opinion stand would be to render the Twenty-Seventh Amendment non-justiciable in violation of this Court and the D.C. Circuit’s own precedents and to open the floodgates to unfathomable discipline.” “The House Rules‚ under this Doctrine‚ could impose physical punishment‚ flogging‚ or even more medieval forms of punishment‚ upon members and‚ under the D.C. Circuit’s precedent‚ no judicial remedy would be available‚ the Eighth Amendment notwithstanding‚” the petition continued. House Democrats first established the mask mandate in summer 2020 and later implemented fines for violations. Members were fined $500 for the first mask offense and $2‚500 for subsequent offenses. Massie‚ Greene and Norman — among the handful of Republicans who were fined for flouting the rule — acknowledged violating the mandate in their petition‚ which was docketed Monday. The trio are asking the justices to take up their appeal to reverse the immunity ruling and proceed to weigh in on whether their pay deductions were constitutional. House GOP lawmakers who flouted chamber’s mask rule take legal fight to Supreme Court.https://t.co/kEkR1BPTKw — Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) November 28‚ 2023 The attorneys in our lawsuit against Speaker Pelosi just filed a Petition for Cert at the Supreme Court. Pelosi imposed salary reductions on me‚ @RepMTG‚ and @RepRalphNorman for our refusal to wear a mask in 2021. At issue: is the 27th amdt. to the Constitution even enforceable? pic.twitter.com/4sjiSGPpWN — Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) November 28‚ 2023 Daily Caller added: “In addition to concerns about pay increases‚ the Founders were also greatly concerned that diminishing congressional pay could be used to pressure Members from exercising independent judgment‚ which could prevent qualified men of modest means from serving in the new national legislature‚” the representatives wrote in their petition. “[F]inancial retaliation against members of Congress is a tool by which Members’ independence can be degraded‚” they wrote. “It is crucial that the Twenty-Seventh Amendment be given effect‚ lest there be another means by which members of Congress are subjected to retaliation for their decision to act in accordance with the desires of their district rather than the desires of the Speaker of the House.” The District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals held in June that the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause makes Pelosi and other named defendants‚ former House Sergeant at Arms William Walker and House Chief Administrative Officer Catherine Szpindor‚ immune from the lawsuit.

Authorities arrested an Overland Park‚ Kansas‚ pediatric neurologist for allegedly attempting to produce child pornography. Dr. Brian Aalbers was charged with a federal count of attempted production of child porn. The FBI has requested the public’s help gathering more information on the doctor due to the “nature of Aalbers’ profession and contact with children.” “The FBI Kansas City Division is asking for the public’s assistance regarding an ongoing investigation into Dr. Brian Aalbers‚ who has been charged with one count of attempted production of child pornography‚” FBI Kansas City posted Monday. #BREAKING – The FBI Kansas City Division is asking for the public’s assistance regarding an ongoing investigation into Dr. Brian Aalbers‚ who has been charged with one count of attempted production of child pornography. pic.twitter.com/SyRxaxm9Aj — FBI Kansas City (@FBIKansasCity) November 27‚ 2023 KCTV 5 reports: Aalbers was charged in federal court on Nov. 15. Law enforcement was made aware of allegations involving Aalbers and hidden video cameras. Later‚ the reporting party told KCPD Aalbers had sent text messages‚ including “I am going to jail/lose my license I do not want to die‚” and “I do not want my kids to see me dead.” Officers found Aalbers at a hotel and took him to a hospital for voluntary mental health treatment. Hospital staff took two laptops‚ tablets and a cell phone that had been in Aalbers’ backpack when he walked in‚ per the hospital policy. According to a probable cause document‚ Aalbers asked the reporting party to retrieve the electronics from the hospital and destroy them since they contained “bad stuff.” Search warrants on those devices resulted in the finding of video footage from December 2020 until the cameras were located on Oct. 28‚ 2023. The court document indicated there were videos of minor victims in states of nudity. “The forensic examiner has identified and flagged 1‚006 videos‚” according to the probable cause document. The United States Attorney’s Office‚ Western District of Missouri announced Tuesday a federal grand jury indicted Aalbers for producing and possessing child pornography. Overland Park‚ KS‚ pediatric physician Brian Michael Aalbers (KCMO) faces additional charge after being indicted today for producing &; possessing child pornography. https://t.co/JAFU0rFqDF @FBIKansasCity @kcpolice — U.S. Attorney WDMO (@USAO_WDMO) November 28‚ 2023 From the U.S. Attorney’s Office‚ Western District of Missouri: Brian Michael Aalbers‚ 49‚ of Kansas City‚ Mo.‚ was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Kansas City. Today’s indictment replaces a federal criminal complaint that was filed against Aalbers on Nov. 15‚ 2023‚ and includes an additional charge. Aalbers‚ a pediatric neurologist at Overland Park Regional Hospital in Overland Park‚ Kan.‚ remains in federal custody without bond until his trial. Today’s indictment retains the original charge of attempting to produce child pornography from Dec. 28‚ 2020‚ to Oct. 28‚ 2023‚ and includes an additional charge of possessing child pornography on Oct. 28‚ 2023.

Democrat Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont withdrew proposed regulations to phase out the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. The governor’s administration pulled the plug on the plan after learning opponents of the regulations had the votes to kill the proposal. “The legislature’s Regulation Review Committee was supposed to vote on these new emissions standards Tuesday‚” FOX 61 noted. With the proposal scrapped‚ Lamont’s administration must open talks on a new plan to pass the full General Assembly in 2024. Connecticut Governor dumps 2035 EV mandate. "Common sense has prevailed."https://t.co/Buf7bN1Adq pic.twitter.com/lMYihqqTxt — Steve Milloy (@JunkScience) November 28‚ 2023 FOX 61 reports: For months‚ legislative Republicans have been bashing these proposed regulations to phase out all new sales of internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035. This proposal comes from a bipartisan law passed in 2004‚ which tied Connecticut to California’s emissions standards. Republicans argue electric vehicles are unaffordable for most residents and would be hard to implement because the state power grid needs major upgrades. This opposition from Republicans and industry experts led to this last-minute change. “Setting practical policy‚ pragmatic policy is a far better direction for our air quality and our environment than setting a mandate that we have no plan how to roll it out‚” said state Sen. Stephen Harding‚ ranking member on the Environment Committee. A plan to phase out the sale of new‚ gas-powered cars in Connecticut by 2035 hit a roadblock this week when Gov. Ned Lamont pulled the plug on the proposal after facing mounting opposition. However‚ the fight isn't over. https://t.co/33BWx5EgWp pic.twitter.com/2LMlfVS22b — WTNH News 8 (@WTNH) November 28‚ 2023 “The Governor’s decision to pull proposed regulations banning the sales of new gas-powered vehicles is a prudent move considering the growing revolt from a diverse chorus of stakeholders with concerns ranging from electric grid capacity and reliability to the availability of charging stations and simple freedom of choice‚” House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora (R-North Branford) said‚ according to Patch. From Patch: Candelora said Democrats should “go back to the drawing board and develop a more realistic proposal that controls costs and protects consumer choice for Connecticut residents.” However‚ Gov. Ned Lamont held a press conference Tuesday in which he said he will continue with his plan for moving the state toward electric vehicles. He said instead of having the 14-member committee review the plan‚ it will now go to the full legislature during the 2024 session‚ according to The Hartford Courant. He said that the standards would follow numerous other states‚ including Virginia‚ North Carolina‚ Colorado‚ and New Mexico‚ with almost 40% of the American population moving in this direction. In a statement over the summer‚ Lamont noted that neighboring states “are taking decisive action to meet our climate pollution reduction targets‚” and that cars and trucks are the largest air pollution sector in the state. In related news‚ New Jersey moved forward with its plans to ban the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. REPORT: State Will Cease Sales Of New Gas-Powered Cars By 2035