Russian President Vladimir Putin loves to mock the United States and everything we do. His poker-faced announcement that he has endorsed Joe Biden in the 2024 election was more than just mockery. Putin’s statement was a factual condemnation of Biden’s presidency. Putin said he prefers Old Joe over former president Trump because Joe is an old school politician with more experience than Trump. Biden’s predictability and his “old school” approach to defense and national security makes this nation less safe. Remember‚ please that Obama’s first Secretary of Defense‚ Robert Gates‚ said in his 2014 memoir that Biden had been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue for the past forty years. In the decade since‚ Biden has only maintained that record. Remember‚ too‚ that when Obama was deciding on the Navy SEAL raid that culminated in the killing of Usama bin Laden‚ Biden was the only person in the room who tried to talk him out of it. (READ MORE from Jed Babbin: Biden Blackmails Israel) That‚ of course‚ is the foundation of the real reason Putin endorsed Joe. He did so‚ in Putin’s word‚ because Biden is more “predictable.” He certainly is‚ but only in the ways our enemies find advantageous. Consider Joe’s major accomplishments. Biden said in his last campaign that he wanted to end our “forever wars.” When Biden created a debacle by suddenly withdrawing from Afghanistan in August 2021 he — predictably — left behind dozens (hundreds?) of Americans and our Afghan allies to the Taliban’s mercies. And he abandoned several billions of dollars in U.S. military equipment that the Taliban found immediately useful. Putin and the Taliban — not to mention the ayatollahs in Iran — must have found that action quite amusing. As Fox News and others have reported over and over‚ Biden’s predictable action in opening our southern border has let approximately eight million illegal aliens into our country. Among them are the about 1.5 million “getaways” — people who have evaded the Border Patrol — many of whom have the intention of spying‚ committing acts of terrorism‚ and otherwise damaging our nation. The illegals now charged with beating up New York City police officers are allegedly members of the hyper-violent Venezuelan “Tren de Araugua” gang.  And they are only the latest example. Fox News’ Griff Jenkins and Bill Melugin have reported that hundreds of Chinese illegals have come in. It’s obvious to all but Biden and his border chieftain Alejandro Mayorkas that many must be members of the Peoples’ Liberation Army or employees of the Chinese Ministry of State Security‚ their principle spy agency. Putin must be chuckling at the “wokeness” that Biden has imposed on the U.S. military. He promotes generals who are deeply invested in wokeness and the military academies are teaching it. Don’t forget the Navy’s initiative last year — following the success of Bud Light — when it was recruiting enlisted people — unsuccessfully — using a transgender sailor. (READ MORE: Foreseeable Consequences) Last week‚ the Navy announced‚ in what passes for a major initiative these days‚ that sailors will henceforth be allowed to keep their hands in their pockets and wear false eyelashes. Old Vladimir must have really enjoyed that one. As this column has said — repeatedly — our generals and admirals should be concerned only with the lethality and readiness of our forces. All of Biden’s actions detract from both. And there’s not a whisper of concern from the people Biden has put in charge of our military. (Don’t forget that when Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin went missing for several days that no one — including Biden — missed him. If Donald Rumsfeld or Bill Perry or Frank Carlucci or Dick Cheney went missing for more than ten minutes‚ their presidents would have noticed.) Putin’s mind never wanders far from his goal of re-establishing the Soviet empire. As I’ve written elsewhere‚ Putin is a disciple of Alexandr Dugin. As Dugin wrote in his seminal work‚ “The Foundations of Geopolitics‚” if Ukraine isn’t brought under Russian dominance‚ he may as well not bother with the other countries that made up the Soviet empire. As the late Abba Eban wrote about the Palestinians‚ Biden never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity. When the Polish government asked his permission to send about a dozen MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine in March 2022‚ Biden — predictably — objected and the aircraft weren’t sent. They could have‚ possibly‚ made the difference between victory for Ukraine and defeat. We’ll never know. Biden has never articulated the need to help Ukraine‚ so the American public is left to wonder and Republicans are‚ for reasons known only to them‚ blocking further aid. If Biden were a leader he would have made at least a few major speeches setting out the case for aid to Ukraine‚ but he hasn’t and what he has said has fallen on deaf ears. Russia is making progress in its effort to conquer. In the latest attack‚ Ukrainian forces have withdrawn from the city of Avdiivka. That‚ in all likelihood‚ isn’t the result of the U.S. aid withheld so far‚ but our failure to help the Ukrainians will only help Putin. Biden’s predictability is factored into all our enemies’ calculations. Perhaps the worst proof of that is his pressure on Israel to accept a “peace” deal that would leave the Hamas terrorists in power in the Gaza Strip. He reportedly called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu an a**hole in a recent conversation when Netanyahu refused to accept Biden’s terms. For Israel to accept Biden’s terms‚ it would have to agree not only to leaving Hamas in power in Gaza but also to accept a Palestinian state‚ the so-called “two-state” solution. Netanyahu said that giving the Palestinians their own state would be a “grand prize” for terrorism. (READ MORE: Biden’s Random Bombings) Biden has gone so far as to make further aid to Israel dependent on its obeying all U.S. humanitarian laws. Those aspects of the existential war Israel is fighting are beyond reason but Biden’s insistence is proof positive that‚ as Putin said‚ Biden is an old school pol. Iran is close to developing nuclear weapons. How will Biden prevent that? He won’t and at this stage he can’t. Will he defend Taiwan against a likely Chinese invasion? He has said he would four times and his minions have each time backed away from his promise. Biden is‚ as Putin said‚ predictable. In the olden days of the Reagan administration‚ our enemies knew there were boundaries to acceptable actions and they never knew how strongly the Old Cowboy would react. Predictability is not a characteristic that a president should be known for. Biden’s predictability and his “old school” approach to defense and national security makes this nation less safe.   The post Putin Loves Biden appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

The framers of our Constitution understood that governmental power can be misused for partisan purposes. Therefore‚ they carefully designed a national government of limited powers‚ with separation of powers‚ and checks and balances. Unfortunately‚ later generations gradually removed most of the safeguards they had painstakingly built into our constitution: As I’ve written in TAS previously‚ “When government grows that big and powerful‚ politicians will find a way to warp power for their own ends.” (READ MORE from E. Donald Elliott: It Should Be Illegal for Politicians to Buy Votes With Our Money) Joe Biden and Co. have perfected techniques for using the expanded powers of the modern Administrative State to funnel money to their political supporters. First‚ Biden mandated by Executive Order that “at least” 40 percent of the $329 billion supposedly meant to fight climate change was to be directed to “disadvantaged communities” populated by racial minorities that voted overwhelmingly for Biden in the last election. Next Biden tried to “forgive” $430 billion in student loan debt‚ a blatantly illegal move that was eventually set aside by the Supreme Court — but the political damage had been done. Democrats got a double benefit with younger voters in the runup to the 2022 elections: they got credit for trying to give younger voters a $430 billion payoff‚ but then those nasty Republicans on the Supreme Court took away their gift. Let’s hope that OIRA‚ the Congress‚ or the courts … see this for what it is — a big payoff to the plaintiffs’ trial lawyers at your expense. Now comes Election Payoffs Part Three‚ which dwarfs the previous two: Biden and Co. are now trying to weaponize the enormous regulatory power of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)‚ an agency for which I once served as General Counsel‚ in order to shovel billions of dollars in contingent fees to the plaintiffs’ trial lawyers. Such plaintiffs’ lawyers are big contributors to political campaigns with 99 percent of their contributions going to Democrats according to one study.  Here’s how the latest scam to use your money to buy Biden’s re-election works. The EPA proposed a rule to regulate extremely low levels of “per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances” (PFAS)‚ a large class of chemicals used in a variety of consumer products. If adopted‚ the EPA’s proposed new rule would limit the levels of certain PFAS compounds in drinking water down to the unimaginably low level of 4 parts per trillion — which is equivalent to just four grains of sand in an Olympic size swimming pool. Meanwhile‚ the EPA quietly removed several PFAS compounds from its “Safer Choice” list of recommended ingredients for consumer products. (READ MORE: The Left Does Not Believe in the Rule of Law) If adopted‚ the EPA’s proposed rule for PFAS in drinking water may be the most expensive rule in the EPA’s history. The direct cost to water utilities to comply is estimated by the EPA at “only” about $1 billion per year‚ but the American Water Works Association (AWWA) says it would actually cost $3.8 billion per year. How much this will cost the average American family varies from a high of about $10‚000 extra per year to a low of about $100 per year depending upon the size of their water supply system‚ as shown in the chart below from an analysis by the distinguished engineering consulting firm Black &; Veatch for AWWA: However‚ the direct costs to comply are only a small part of the total costs of the proposed rule. A much bigger expense is that “the maximum contaminant levels that the EPA sets [for drinking water] will become target cleanup levels at Superfund sites and de facto cleanup levels at other sites.” (This results from an arcane aspect of Superfund law called the ARAR principle‚ which is explained here.) The lower courts have turned that casual one-liner into a legal doctrine that requires judges to give “super-deference” to agency judgments.  This one-two gut punch is likely to push several major U.S. chemical companies essential to our national defense into bankruptcy. Think I am exaggerating? One company‚ 3M‚ has already reached a settlement for $10 billion (yes‚ with a B) to settle only part of its PFAS liability. Time magazine says that was “just the tip of the iceberg” with plenty more to come. PFAS lawsuits will be a bonanza for plaintiffs’ lawyers‚ who typically take 20–33 percent of recoveries as their contingent fees. This multi-billion-dollar wealth transfer might be defensible if eliminating low levels of PFAS from drinking water really would save thousands of lives‚ but not a single study cited by the EPA actually shows any harm to human health from exposure to low levels of PFAS‚ including exposures to PFAS many times higher than the EPA’s proposed 4 part per trillion limit. Rather‚ the EPA relies on a few studies that show no toxic effects but only “subclinical effects‚” which are measurable changes in bodily functions within the range otherwise considered normal. (I am not a scientist‚ so I have checked with three Ph.D. toxicologists who all confirmed that my understanding is correct.) (READ MORE: The Worst Supreme Court Decision in History)  The EPA’s proposed new rule for the U.S. would be hundreds of times more stringent than what most other countries worldwide consider a safe level. That’s not industry propaganda but the conclusion of an international collaboration of independent scientists that recently won the prize as the best scientific paper of the year from a section of the prestigious Society of Toxicology. Slide from January 22‚ 2024 Shubik Lecture to the Toxicology Forum by Dennis Paustenbach Ph.D‚ DABT‚ FATS. Even the EPA’s own very slanted analysis of costs and benefits shows that the alleged benefits barely exceed the EPA’s greatly understated estimates of costs. Those costs will be paid for by everyone who drinks water‚ including you. The burdens are particularly crushing for smaller water systems and low-income areas. Tables 7-1 and 9-13 buried in the EPA’s 374-page economic analysis shows that the costs for these areas will exceed the benefits‚ even assuming the EPA’s exaggerated estimate of benefits. Getting bored by the technical details? Keep reading; the proponents of this huge waste of your money are counting on all the technical gobbledygook to prevent you and the rest of the public from understanding that you are being ripped off big time. The extremely low levels of risk from PFAS in drinking water and consumer products — if indeed there is any real risk at all — could not be the basis for successful personal injury lawsuits against the PFAS manufacturers and companies because plaintiffs would ordinarily have to prove in court that their alleged injuries are more probable than not to result from exposure to PFAS. So how to magically turn extremely low risks that do not meet the “more probable than not” test into a gravy train for lawyers? Get the EPA to regulate on a very precautionary basis and then sue the manufacturers for the additional costs of compliance. Think the courts will save us from this regulatory atrocity as they did for student loan forgiveness? Think again. The lower courts have developed a doctrine called Baltimore Gas &; Electric deference‚ after a 1983 case by that same name‚ in which the Supreme Court made a passing remark that “[w]hen examining this kind of scientific determination [making predictions‚ within its area of special expertise] at the frontiers of science as opposed to simple findings of fact‚ a reviewing court must generally be at its most deferential.”  The lower courts have turned that casual one-liner into a legal doctrine that requires judges to give “super-deference” to agency judgments “on the frontiers of science.” I call this “no look judicial review‚” and have advocated its abolition in an academic paper‚ but for now‚ that pernicious doctrine is still on the books; it gives judges an excuse to save themselves time and trouble by rubber stamping technical judgments like those in the EPA’s PFAS rulemaking. The only remaining line of the defense against such abuses of regulatory power is the White House Office of Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)‚ now headed by Richard Revesz‚ former Dean of NYU Law School and an eminent lawyer-economist whose confirmation on a bi-partisan basis I supported publicly. The EPA’s proposed PFAS rule is now undergoing final review at OIRA‚ and most of the needless expense could be avoided by setting a more reasonable limit‚ such as in the 20-to-40 parts-per-trillion range‚ while still fully protecting public health. However‚ making that change would probably require the EPA to repropose the rule for another round of public comment because that was not one of the options in the EPA’s original proposal‚ and OIRA is under a lot of pressure to get it out before a May 22 deadline so that it cannot be reconsidered by the next Congress under the Congressional Review Act after the November elections. Let’s hope that OIRA‚ the Congress‚ or the courts come to their senses and see this for what it is — a big payoff to the plaintiffs’ trial lawyers at your expense — with little or no benefit to public health. Note: The author represents that he has not received any compensation for this article‚ but he also discloses that the law firm with which he is associated represents multiple parties on all sides of various PFAS-related disputes. The post Biden’s Latest Political Payoff … With Your Money appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Oh‚ to be a conservative now that election season is nigh. For the record‚ I am a conservative and will likely spend the months leading up to Election Day comparing and contrasting the efficacy of various over-the-counter antacids. Despite the fact that the GOP nomination is essentially a foregone conclusion‚ it is no secret that within the conservative movement‚ the debate of Trump vs Non-Trump has created its fair share of internecine animus. Anyone who may have even a slight reservation about Trump risks being labeled a closet progressive and a RINO. Conversely‚ a conservative who saw some benefits of Trump’s term may find themselves characterized as a knuckle-dragging‚ red-hatted MAGA Neanderthal who clubs women over the head and feasts nightly on raw wooly-rhinoceros in his cave. And that’s just from the conservatives. As a conservative who has been ambivalent about Trump‚ is a former evangelical‚ and who earned a master’s degree as part of a now-defunct plan to become a pastor‚ I was interested in the film God &; Country‚ produced by Rob Reiner and set for release this month. I have a continued interest in religion and matters of faith and was excited to get permission to screen the movie in advance. An interview with the director did not come together by the time I hit my deadline. I planned to approach the film with an open mind and to see what I could glean from it. I thought to myself‚ “Who knows? The filmmakers may have some points to make.” The film is a 90-minute campaign ad designed to play on the fears of believers who may be suffering a crisis of conscience. God &; Country is somewhat of a study in contrasts. The viewer is treated to plenty of scenes of the January 6 riot and incendiary snippets from the likes of  Marjorie Taylor Greene‚ Robert Jeffress‚ John MacArthur‚ Greg Locke‚ and Charlie Kirk. Ralph Reed‚ Rick Wiles‚ Glenn Beck‚ and even Allie Beth Stuckey make appearances‚ as does Jerry Falwell and a number of televangelists whom the world has largely forgotten. There is also a generous helping of supercuts from various church services and gatherings like the Flashpoint Rally‚ CPAC‚ Reawaken America‚ and the January 6 riot. (READ MORE from Lincoln Brown: Distinctly American: Who Are RFK Jr.’s Supporters?) Interspersed with these vignettes of shock‚ awe‚ and shame are comments from various thought leaders‚ some of whom have or had some ties to the evangelical and conservative movements. These include Russell Moore‚ Phil Vischer‚ Skye Jethani‚ David French‚ and others. During the scenes depicting the violence and rhetoric associated with Christian Nationalism and‚ by default‚ the Right‚ the music is menacing. But when the various experts speak‚ the music is somber and even soothing. The critics speak in quiet‚ thoughtful tones‚ with kind and sometimes pained expressions. The viewer is offered a choice. They can throw their lots in with the crazy‚ violent anarchists who are hell-bent on creating a new theocracy‚ or they can join the calm‚ erudite intellectuals who want nothing but the best for us all. Aside from a few remarks that not all conservative Christians have joined the movement‚ the middle ground is left unexplored. At one point‚ a list of organizations that are moneymakers within the conservative movement is displayed on the screen. Among them are the Heritage Foundation and even Hillsdale College. Whether it is intended or not‚ the image implies that the organizations may be complicit in the efforts to fuse church and state. While the Heritage Foundation and Hillsdale College are certainly conservative‚ one can hardly call them hotbeds of revolution. One of the sins held up in the film is the opposition to CRT and the LGBTQ movements. A book-burning scene is even included. Along those lines‚ the clip of Jon Tigges being taken into custody by police at Loudoun County‚ VA‚ school board meeting flashes across the screen. Tigges‚ like many of the people at those meetings‚ was concerned about the sexualization of students and the mixed use of bathrooms. Of course‚ it would not be until later when the news broke that a student calling himself transgender had been accused of sexual assaults in girls’ bathrooms‚ and the school board was attempting to conceal the issue. With that revelation‚ those parents’ worst fears were confirmed. The film proposes that while a major cause célèbre of Christian Nationalism is abortion‚ the movement has its genesis in racism‚ specifically in the opposition to desegregation. While I am not sufficiently schooled in that era of history to categorically deny any connection‚ it is noteworthy that the popularity of the Left among people of color is decreasing and that it has lost allure for many such people. It also pointedly ignores the fact that there has been a rise in demand for minority-only spaces coming from the Left. The makers of God &; Country do not spare the rod when it comes to abortion. Simone Campbell‚ an attorney and nun who claims she has a nuanced view of abortion‚ asserts that the practice is not mentioned in the Bible. The case could be made for that‚ but the Bible does prohibit the taking of innocent life. In the writings of the Apostolic Fathers‚ one can find condemnations of abortion and the sexualization of children. The average man or woman in the pews may be able to claim ignorance of those writings. As a nun‚ Campbell must certainly be aware of both issues. I was talking about that scene with a friend of mine. This friend’s mother did not want her as she was an unplanned pregnancy. This was in the days before Roe v. Wade‚ and my friend said that her mother certainly would have aborted her if she could. The truth is‚ my friend’s mother gave her to a relative as soon as she was able to do so. My friend went on to become a dedicated and talented healthcare provider who has donated time and services to impoverished people in other countries. I would like to see Campbell sit down with my friend and tell her that she was nothing more than a “nuanced” choice. (READ MORE: The Allegations Against Tim Ballard Must Not Disrupt the Fight Against Human Trafficking) Similarly‚ the point is made that many Conservative Christians will donate time and money to stop abortion but dedicate little of either to assist new mothers. This is patently untrue. There are many Christian organizations devoted to that very cause. But acknowledging their existence and efforts runs contrary to the popular narrative the movie reinforces. Clips of January 6 make up much of the imagery in God &; Country. I do not agree with some conservatives that everyone who entered the Capitol that day was merely on a convivial‚ self-guided tour of the building‚ which included an unscheduled stop at the Nancy Pelosi Gift Shop. But it is disingenuous to claim that everyone there was on a mission to search and destroy and that an overthrow of the government was in progress. And it is not as if there was no precedent for such a thing. The nation and world watched when‚ not so long before January 6‚ progressive protestors took to the streets to loot‚ burn‚ and create chaos. And in the ensuing years‚ there have been incidents of leftist protestors occupying government buildings. While the Hamas terror attack on October 7 likely occurred after filming on God &; Country wrapped‚ one cannot deny the vitriol and the acts of violence aimed at Jews across the nation and the world. And much of it was reminiscent of that of the Third Reich. God &; Country strives mightily to point out the suspected sins and navigational errors of the Right while studiously avoiding those of the Left. During the film‚ Anthea Butler‚ the author of White Evangelical Racism‚ muses on what might happen in the unlikely event that the nation should become a dictatorial theocracy. She wonders what would happen to those who do not fit the Christian Nationalist demographic. That is a question that conservatives‚ even those who want nothing to do with Christian Nationalism‚ have been asking themselves in terms of the current trajectory of the nation. The media‚ academia‚ and at times‚ even the government itself have indicated that conservatives‚ and even people without political affiliation who subscribe to traditional viewpoints‚ will have no place in the future of America. Late in God &; Country‚ Skye Jethani makes the following assertion about Christian Nationalists: They’re told over and over and over again that “you’re in danger and you need to be more afraid. The enemy is wokeism‚ it’s CRT‚  it’s liberals.  It’s all these things that are dismantling America.” And it’s a really clear narrative: “Join us and you’ll have purpose and here’s your enemy.” Change the names‚ and how much does this message differ from those offered by many of those on the Left? The issue is not whether Christian Nationalism exists — and many conservatives‚ including myself‚ do not subscribe to the movement. The real questions are how prevalent it truly is and to what degree it will influence the next election. Setting aside Biden’s disastrous appearance last week‚ almost every conservative I know‚ including myself‚ was alarmed by Biden’s infamous “Red Speech.” Many saw that address as a blanket indictment of and warning about all conservatives‚ using a MAGA brush. God &; Country would have the viewer believe that there is a wild-eyed Trump supporter hiding under every conservative bed‚ waiting for their cue to commence operations. It is an attempt at a 21st Century Red Scare. Literally. French and Moore’s involvement in the film may be motivated by something beyond saving the soul of a nation. Writing at First Things‚ Meghan Basham reports that French and Moore have teamed with Duke Divinity consulting professor Curtis Chang to create a study for church groups called “The After Party.” The trio realized they would have difficulty pitching a progressive group study to evangelical Christian funders and turned to the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors’ New Pluralists project. Another donor is the One America Movement. The various benefactors of “The After Party” have supported promoting “the leadership of rural LGBTQ+ people” and “keeping fossil fuels in the ground” to prevent climate change. They have also advocated for abortion access and gender-affirming care for young people. (READ MORE: The Evangelical Divide) In America‚ one is free to support and promote whatever causes one cares about. The above-mentioned efforts do not often find homes in evangelical settings unless they are introduced subtly and under different flags. Small group curricula are staples of many churches‚ particularly those in the Evangelical movement‚ and present just such an opportunity. Basham points out that the aim is not to purge the church of politics but of the “wrong” kind of politics under the banner of being a better Christian: Creating a Bible study curriculum to teach churches how to engage politics is‚ by nature‚ a political act. That’s even truer if you’ve turned for financial support to unbelievers committed to advancing left-wing policies. If these critics of conservative evangelicals are correct that their Trump-voting brothers and sisters are sick with political obsession‚ then they have the same disease. One would be hard-pressed to identify evangelical voices who’ve done more to bring a divisive focus on politics into the pews — all under the pretense of de-escalation and bipartisanship. Not every Christian conservative‚ even those who may support the 45th President in the upcoming election‚ is interested in establishing a theocracy or the apotheosis of Donald J. Trump. In my experience‚ the majority of them are not. Many have an almost acute aversion to politics‚  at least outwardly. This may be due to the fact that they do not want an incursion by the world disrupting their church services or Bible studies. It may be because they do not want to frighten away potential seekers. The film does highlight the fact that there is a cadre of believers who hold that we are living in the End Times and that the Rapture and/or the Second Coming are nigh. And that assertion was accurate. However‚ many Christians‚ especially those who make up the target audience of God &; Country‚ are susceptible to societal peer pressure. They may not be “of the world‚” but they have to live in the world‚ or at the very least‚ live unmolested by it. Witness the popularity of “Duck Dynasty.” Christians everywhere were jubilant that a show about people who shared their beliefs was popular. While the mass appeal of the show began to wane‚ books by the members of the Robertson clan continued to appear on the shelves of Christian bookstores‚ even as beach towels bearing the image of Uncle Si with his teacup were finding their way to the bargain bins at Walmart. For a brief time‚ contemporary Christianity was cool. With the death of George Floyd and the rise of BLM and CRT‚ I saw several rural Evangelical Christians post the now-famous Black Square on social media and adopt decidedly left-wing stances. That was the direction in which the world was drifting at the time‚ and these people were terrified of being seen as standing on the proverbial wrong side of history. This is especially true of believers who came of age in the era of Post-Modern Christianity and were raised on the top-ten list at K-LOVE. (READ MORE: We Built Ugly Churches and Still Do Not Attract Young People: How Is This Possible?) One may accurately surmise that these are the people at whom God &; Country is aimed. The film is a 90-minute campaign ad designed to play on the fears of believers who may be suffering a crisis of conscience. These believers may think that they can retain their Christian identity while still meeting the ever-shifting demands of the secular‚ progressive‚ and popular culture. In some ways‚ It is the ultimate expression of the “Jesus is my boyfriend” mindset. It offers all of the “warm fuzzies” that come with being a member of the new Elect without the need for discernment. Ultimately‚ God &; Country was a disappointment. I went into it thinking‚ somewhat quixotically‚ that I might have my worldview challenged. Self-examination is necessary‚ if sometimes uncomfortable. Instead‚ I heard shouts from the echo chamber‚ with a strongly implied warning that any political stance other than progressivism is not only wrong but dangerous. The post <;i>;God &; Country<;/i>;: Deliver Us From Christian MAGA appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

MEMORANDUM DATE: February 19‚ 2024 FROM: Lee Atwater‚ Republican Party strategist (1951-1991) TO: Donald J. Trump‚ Republican Presidential nominee RE: 2024 Presidential Election vs. Biden I read about the NBC News national poll that had you leading Joe Biden 47 percent to 42 percent in the presidential race.  More importantly‚ you lead Biden on many key issues‚ including the border‚ the economy‚ competence‚ having the mental and physical health to be president‚ crime‚ and improving America’s standing in the world.  Biden only leads on abortion.  On Biden’s signature issue — he claims he is better at “protecting democracy” — the electorate is split.  And Biden’s approval rating is heavily underwater at 37 percent.   Even worse‚ Biden’s three-year average approval is only 40 percent. Matter of fact — like Yogi Bera said‚ it’s déjà vu‚ all over again.  In 1980‚ Jimmy Carter was in pretty much in the same spot.  And as you remember‚ Carter lost. (READ MORE from Adam Turner: The Ghost of Thurlow Weed Seeks Out Donald Trump) I believe that if you play things right‚ Joe Biden will be the new Jimmy Carter. I know that Joe Biden is worried about this.  That is why he is acting so desperate‚ and making such a big deal about “protecting democracy.”  And why he will also continue to call you a racist‚ a Nazi‚ and a dictator.   So‚ like some others have said‚ you should be hitting Biden hard on his economy‚ his foreign weakness‚ and his corruption. I’ll tell you what.  In 1980‚ Jimmy Carter was worried too.  He said Ronald Reagan was a racist‚ a Nazi‚ a right-wing fanatic‚ and a warmonger.  Carter was so obviously out of his mind‚ that after a while‚ no one took him seriously.  Barbara Walters characterized him as “vindictive‚ hysterical‚ and on the point of desperation.”  And even then‚ the mainstream media was not the friend of Republicans‚ and they were always looking for opportunities to bring us down. So‚ ignore this kind of baloney coming from Biden.  As Slick Willie would say‚ it couldn’t be used to sell p#$y on a troop train. The one political hit they do have with some force behind it‚ is abortion.  There‚ you are doing what you need to do‚ by moving to the middle.  Keep on doing this.  The Democrats are going to get some traction on abortion‚ with people who really care about this issue.  Don’t waste your time trying to convince these folks‚ who will never be convinced by you.  Stay in the middle‚ focus on eliminating late-term abortion and exemptions for rape and incest‚ with your supporters and swing voters in mind.  In the end‚ abortion won’t be enough for Biden. Other than that‚ the Biden team is reduced to hoping for one of their partisan law cases to come through.  Once again‚ keep doing what you are doing — talk about how this is all BS partisan politics.  Politics is all about narratives‚ and you have already crafted a compelling narrative‚ which the people are listening to. Because it is true. You also have a break with the timing of the cases against you.  The one most likely to be tried during this election year is the case from New York.  If that Soros prosecutor Bragg completes it‚ you and I both know you will be convicted by the biased left-wing jury.  But the Bragg case is incredibly weak‚ obviously partisan‚ and all about sex.  And what did my old friend Jim Carville say about Presidential sex scandals?  “In my world‚ you don’t abandon a guy over sex.  You stick with him.”  That advice should work for your voters‚ and those in the middle‚ too.  The Bragg case — that dog won’t hunt. Let me tell you something.  I have always believed that fear is a powerful motivator in politics.  The American people are afraid this year‚ because the economy has fallen apart‚ prices are through the roof‚ and the international scene is in chaos.  The American people also fear that Joe Biden‚ who his own Department of Justice thinks is too old and senile to be indicted for his multiple crimes‚ isn’t up to the job of being President.   (READ MORE: A Letter From Lincoln to Donald Trump) But you are.  So‚ like some others have said‚ you should be hitting Biden hard on his economy‚ his foreign weakness‚ and his corruption.  You should be comparing his sorry job as President to your jam-up job.  And most especially‚ you should be pounding him on the fact that his lights are on‚ but nobody’s home.  The U.S. needs a president who is as sharp as a tack‚ as stubborn as a mule‚ and a bull in the China shop‚ in order to make Congress listen to the people‚ and to scare off the foreign buzzards circling‚ such as Russia‚ China‚ and Iran.  Americans also want someone who can fight the deep state.  They want someone like you. Now‚ let’s talk about your “mean tweets” and other colorful commentary.  I agree with the others that you should pretty much hush up.  You never want to get caught up in a whopper.  And if you really need to say something mean‚ then use an escape route — give it to Junior.  A president needs to be presidential.  You should also be pickier about who you fight with.  Don’t punch down on people whose support you might want.   But‚ at the same time‚ don’t apologize for who you are.  Never show weakness‚ as it’s a sign of vulnerability.  Instead‚ just shrug off those “mean tweet” attacks‚ and tell them that this is how you are — you are a fighter — and the U.S. needs a fighter in the White House.  Now‚ more than ever.   If you do all this‚ that is going to be enough to win ugly.  And winning ugly is still winning. The debates are going to be a hoot.  Biden said no‚ of course.  That is because‚ as the Department of Justice just said‚ the old goat’s way past his prime.  He will make up some excuse why he won’t debate; but nobody will believe him.  They have eyes and ears. You need to make Biden own his weaknesses.  As in 1980‚ there are going to be some 3rd party candidates running.  So‚ when Biden ducks‚ hides‚ and crawfishes‚ you should agree to appear on the stage with all the candidates who are on the ballot.  (After all‚ polling shows that you benefit from the 3rd parties.)  Just like Reagan debated with Anderson.  All the nation’s attention will be focused on the debate‚ and on you‚ the one candidate with a real chance to win.  If you perform well enough‚ as Reagan did‚ Hidin’ Biden might be forced to join the next debate.  But I doubt it — he can’t even talk plain. And‚ of course‚ you already know what your closing statement on the debate stage is going to be: The American people need to ask themselves some questions.  Are we better off now than we were four years ago?  Is it easier for us to go and buy things in the stores than it was four years ago?  Is it cheaper for us to buy gas for our cars?  Is America as respected throughout the world as it was?  Do we feel that we are as safe‚ secure‚ and as strong as we were four years ago?   And can Joe Biden‚ the guy who can’t remember what he did yesterday‚ struggles to communicate and walk‚ the president who is going to take us back to those better days?  The answer to all of these questions is “no.”  I am the only candidate who can bring us back to where we want to go.  That is why I am running — to Make America Great Again.  Everyone is expecting you to say this‚ because it so fitting.  And Biden has no good reply to it.  And‚ sometimes‚ you need to give the people what they want. Say hey to Roger from me. Harvey LeRoy “Lee” Atwater (February 27‚ 1951 – March 29‚ 1991) was a Southern based United States political consultant and strategist for the Republican Party.  He was an adviser to Republican U.S. presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush and chairman of the Republican National Committee.  He still resides in an undisclosed location down in the deepest part of the South‚ where it is hot all the time‚ and where there are plenty of other American politicians to keep him company.   The post Make Biden Own His Weaknesses appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Republicans have increased their odds of winning back the U.S. Senate as former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced that he is running for the seat left vacant by retiring Senator Ben Cardin. This surprise move by Hogan is a strategic recruitment victory by the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell‚ as blue state Maryland joins a winnable electoral map that favors Senate Republicans in a presidential election year. Republicans have been reeling in losses these last few election cycles because they ran bad candidates in winnable races. The popular former two-term Republican governor left office with a 77 percent approval rating and considered running for Senate in 2022‚ but he declined. His repeated criticism of former Donald Trump led many pundits to speculate he would run as a third-party candidate ticket for “No Labels.” However‚ his endorsement of former Ambassador Nikki Haley for president clarified that he still wants to be a voice in the Republican Party. (READ MORE from Alex Adkins: San Francisco Swings and Misses on Crime‚ Theft‚ and Shohei Ohtani) In his announcement video‚ Hogan called for an end to petty partisanship‚ stating‚ “Washington is completely broken because that kind of leadership‚ that kind of willingness to put country over party‚ has become far too rare.” He offered a stern‚ pragmatic approach‚ saying‚ “I don’t come from the performative art school of politics. I come from the get to work and get things done school‚ and I’ll work with anyone who wants to do the people’s business.”. According to CNN political director David Chalian‚ Larry Hogan’s entrance into Maryland’s senate race is “Chuck Schumer’s nightmare.” As it currently stands‚ The Senate is 51-49 in favor of Democrats‚ but they are defending 23 of 34 seats in this year’s election. States like Ohio‚ Montana‚ and West Virginia are all states that Trump won in 2016 and 2020 and look to be prime pickups for Republicans in this race. Now‚ add Maryland into the mix as a new potential pickup. Republicans only need to flip two seats to deny Chuck Schumer his majority leadership. Winning Maryland has never been easy for Republicans. The last Republican senator to win an election in the Old Line state was Charles Mathias in 1980. President Joe Biden beat former President Trump by over 30 points in the most recent presidential election. Democrats outnumber Republicans by a 2-1 margin‚ which makes it difficult for any Republican to win. Hogan won his first race for governor in 2014 in an upset against then-Lt. Governor Anthony Brown. He prevailed in a landslide in his reelection to a second term as governor.  Interestingly enough‚ in 2018‚ Senator Ben Cardin ran for reelection and won 65 percent of the vote in Maryland‚ while Governor Hogan won his election by 12 points on the same ballot. It suggests that he’s the type of Republican who can win over moderates‚ independents‚ and a decent amount of Democratic voters. Running for governor is an entirely different dynamic than running for U.S. Senate. No ex-governor has won the Senate since Herbert Romulus O’Conor in 1946. Republican governors have difficulty winning senate races due to the nationalization of federal issues‚ and the same is true for democratic governors. (READ MORE: Freedom Conservatives: A Stand Against Progressivism and Populism) Not only does Larry Hogan have an excellent name ID as a successful two-term ex-governor‚ but his dad‚ former representative Larry Hogan Sr.‚ was a well-known congressman who represented the eastern portion of D.C. and was known for impeaching President Nixon as a party member. In Hogan’s announcement video‚ he shared his dad’s willingness to put country over party.  This approach is paying off so far. According to an independent poll from The Baltimore Banner‚ Governor Hogan is beating his most likely opponent‚ Angela Alsobrooks‚ 42 percent to 36 percent. Inside Elections has shifted the race from Solid Democratic to Likely Democratic. American United Inc.‚ a Hogan-based nonprofit issue advocacy group‚ raised around $975‚000 in 2022 and spent $1.8 million to promote Hogan further nationally. Republicans pouring in financial resources forces Democrats to spend more money in Maryland instead of allocating that money to more critical races. Hogan has never run in a presidential election. His feud with Trump at the top of the ticket could hurt him with Republican voters who see him as a squish. Nikki Haley would be the perfect nominee as she polls strongly with independent voters. Matthew Foldi of Spectator believes Republicans will come home for Hogan because “Republicans are tired of losing.”(READ MORE: Doug Ducey: The Right’s New Free-Market Champion) The stakes for control of the U.S. Senate have never been higher as Democrats plan to pass D.C. statehood‚ pack the court‚ and end the filibuster with an expanded majority. Republicans have been reeling in losses these last few election cycles because they ran bad candidates in winnable races. Larry Hogan will never be the most conservative senator‚ but he is a good Republican senator for a state like Maryland and can win. The post Larry Hogan Will Help Republicans Take Back the Senate appeared first on The American Spectator | USA News and Politics.

Dairy Queen is practically synonymous with its Blizzards‚ but the creamy‚ crunchy treats used to be quite contentious‚ particularly with candy companies.