I’m a gay New Yorker — and I’m coming out as a conservative

NY Post

Chadwick Moore, a 33-year-old journalist who lives in Williamsburg, had been a lifelong liberal. Then, last September, he penned a profile for Out magazine of Milo Yiannopoulos — a controversial alt-right extremist who is an outspoken critic of feminism, Muslims and gay rights (despite being openly gay himself). Although the Out story didn’t take a positive stance — or any stance — on Yiannopoulos, Moore found himself pilloried by fellow Democrats and ostracized by longtime friends.
Here, he tells Michael Kaplan his story — including why the backlash drove him to the right.

. . . "I realized that, for the first time in my adult life, I was outside of the liberal bubble and looking in. What I saw was ugly, lock step, incurious and mean-spirited.

"Still, I returned to the bar a few nights later — I don’t give up easily — and hit it off with a stranger. As so many conversations do these days, ours turned to politics. I told him that I’m against Trump’s wall but in favor of strengthening our borders. He called me a Nazi and walked away. I felt awful — but not so awful that I would keep opinions to myself.

"And I began to realize that maybe my opinions just didn’t fit in with the liberal status quo, which seems to mean that you must absolutely hate Trump, his supporters and everything they believe. If you dare not to protest or boycott Trump, you are a traitor.

"If you dare to question liberal stances or make an effort toward understanding why conservatives think the way they do, you are a traitor.

"It can seem like liberals are actually against free speech if it fails to conform with the way they think. And I don’t want to be a part of that club anymore." . . .

I’ve made some new friends and also lost some who refuse to speak to me. I’ve come around on Republican pundit Ann Coulter, who I now think is smart and funny and not a totally hateful, self-righteous bigot. A year ago, this would have been unfathomable to me.

Sears, Kmart Discontinue Online Sales Of 31 Trump Home Items

Zero Hedge   "The latest retailer to join the "anti-Trump resistance", is also the one which despite being closest to death managed to crush short sellers on Friday [4]after its stock soared on the announcement of yet another hail ymary restructuring: according to Reuters [5], Sears and Kmart are discontinuing online sales of 31 Trump Home items.

"An obvious publicity stunt meant to distract the public's attention from the company's chronic woes while hopefully attracting at least some of its discretionary dollars, Sears and subsidiary Kmart disclosed their decision on Saturday, saying it was "part of a push to focus their online business on the most profitable items." Of course, considering that Sears' Q4 losses rose 16% to $635 million, one would be curious to learn just what those "most profitable" items are.

"Neither Sears nor Kmart carried the Trump Home products in their retail stores, a Sears Holdings Corp spokesman said, which is why one wonders just how much of this decision was margin based, and how much, marketing.

" 'As part of the company’s initiative to optimize its online product assortment, we constantly refine that assortment to focus on our most profitable items," spokesman Brian Hanover said in a statement. "Amid that streamlining effort, 31 Trump Home items were among the items removed online this week," he said, adding those items can be found through a third-party vendor, without providing additional information about the products.

"The Trump Home collection includes lines of furniture, bedding and lighting, often from makers that supply Trump hotels, according to the collection's website." . . .

‘Milo Bill’: Tennessee legislation to protect free speech on campus named after Yiannopoulos

weaselzippers

The College Fix  “ 'We just want to ensure that our public universities give all students the right to free expression,” Hensley said at a press conference Thursday announcing the bill. “Too many times we’ve seen classrooms where the professor doesn’t want to hear both sides of an issue, we’ve heard stories from many students that, honestly, are on the conservative side that have those issues stifled in the classroom. We just want to ensure our public universities allow all types of speech.'”
. . .
“We are winning the war. And we will continue to win as long as students, and now defenders of free speech within the government, stand up to ivory tower intellectuals and left-wing administrators intent on shutting up any speech they don’t find convenient.”

American Thinker

These demonstrators are not the Tea Party  "An article titled "Republicans fear for their safety as Obamacare protests grow" recently appeared in Politico concerning the dangerous political climate facing Republicans across the country." . . .

Trump-hater Democrats losing the battle for hearts and minds
. . . "On November 8, I couldn't decide which candidate was worse, so I didn't vote for either.  I was on the fence.  Now every time I see a protest, I recoil.  Now I am solidly on Team Trump.  I intend to vote for him in 2020." . . .

Report: 72 convicted of terrorism from 'Trump 7' mostly Muslim countries

Weasel Zippers

Washington Examiner  "Since 9/11, 72 individuals from the seven mostly Muslim countries covered by President Trump's "extreme vetting" executive order have been convicted of terrorism, a finding that clashes sharply with claims from an appeals court that there is "no evidence" those countries have produced a terrorist.


"According to a report out Saturday, at least 17 claimed to be refugees from those nations, three came in as "students," and 25 eventually became U.S. citizens.


"The Center for Immigration Studies calculated the numbers of convicted terrorists from the Trump Seven:

— Somalia: 20

— Yemen: 19
— Iraq: 19
— Syria: 7
— Iran: 4
— Libya: 2

— Sudan: 1

. . . "These immigrant terrorists lived in at least 16 different states, with the largest number from the terror-associated countries living in New York (10), Minnesota (8), California (8), and Michigan (6). Ironically, Minnesota was one of the states suing to block Trump's order to pause entries from the terror-associated countries, claiming it harmed the state. At least two of the terrorists were living in Washington, which joined with Minnesota in the lawsuit to block the order."

Republic of Ireland banned 226 people from predominantly Muslim countries subject to Donald Trump's travel ban
. . . "The figures show that last year, 53 Somalians were refused leave to land, while 37 from war-torn Syria were also refused leave to land.
"An additional 46 Iranians were refused entry by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, while 26 Iraqis and 47 Sudanese were also refused entry.? . . .

The Time Has Come for 51

"The left would love to run a new socialist nation in North America, where it could tax brutally and spend wildly on transgender bathrooms, climate change initiatives, high-speed rail boondoggles, and a host of other agenda items championed by the purveyors of identity and environmental politics."

 

John Steinreich   "After nearly three decades in L.A. County, Nestlé will soon move its headquarters from California to Virginia.  This food services giant with an estimated $235 billion in assets worldwide will by the end of 2018 remove 1,200 jobs from a state that relies heavily on income taxes to fund its massive public sector.

"Nestlé's exodus follows other big employers, including Toyota, Campbell's Soup, Dunn-Edwards Paints, and eBay – which took with them tens of thousands of jobs – and mirrors the flight of mom-and-pop operations, entrepreneurs, families, and individuals who have ditched the once Golden State for places where the weather is less clement but the business and tax climate is welcoming.  With Republicans, conservatives, and Reagan Democrats hightailing it out of high-priced California, the remaining statist majority has a voice that is progressively increasing in volume, and with it, the call for a "Calexit" secession from the Union grows louder.  With some cynicism and a bit of righteous indignation, many Americans long to look westward to San Francisco, L.A., and Sacramento and wave goodbye and good riddance." . . .   Read more:

California secession leaders open an embassy - in Moscow!  Well, Bernie Sanders loved it there.

. . . "California gained an embassy in Russia last weekend, at least in the eyes of those who have promised to seek a statewide vote on secession, nicknamed “Calexit,” in 2018.

Louis Marinelli, a San Diego resident who is the leader of the group promoting an effort to turn the state into an independent country , organized the Moscow event that was publicized on social media.
“ 'We want to start laying the groundwork for a dialogue about an independent California joining the United Nations now,” he said in an email Monday." . . .

"I suspect that if Marinelli has his way, the California national flag will feature a hammer and sickle. Given our state’s progressive policies, one might be already hidden in the background."

Krauthammer; The travel moratorium: A hopeless disaster

Charles Krauthammer

"Stupid but legal. Such is the Trump administration’s travel ban for people from seven Muslim countries. Of course, as with almost everything in American life, what should be a policy or even a moral issue becomes a legal one. The judicial challenge should have been given short shrift, since the presidential grant of authority to exclude the entry of aliens is extremely wide and statutorily clear.

"The judge who issued the temporary restraining order never even made a case for its illegality.

"The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has indeed ruled against the immigration ban, but even if the ban is ultimately vindicated in the courts (as is likely), that doesn’t change the fact that it makes for lousy policy. It began life as a barstool eruption after the San Bernardino massacre when Donald Trump proposed a total ban on Muslims entering the country “until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on.”

"Rudy Giuliani says he was tasked with cleaning up this idea. Hence the executive order suspending entry of citizens from the seven countries while the vetting process is reviewed and tightened." . . .

About that Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

The Bay Area San Jose Mercury News stated the 9th Circus isn't as liberal as many say.  . . ." President George W. Bush appointed six of the court’s 25 active judges, but 18 have been appointed by Democrats, though the seven appointed by President Barack Obama are generally considered moderate, said University of Richmond Law School Professor Carl Tobias.
"Tobias called the notion that the 9th Circuit is liberal “dated.” Arthur Hellman, a federal courts scholar at University of Pittsburgh Law School, said the picture of where the court stands in relation to other circuits has become muddier." . . .

9th Circuit’s Opinion Is Wrong, But Its Impact Is Limited

The law that never was  . . .
. . . "Did judges Canby, Clifton, and Friedland each "faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon" them "as judge under the Constitution and laws of the United States"?  Their duty was to interpret and apply the law, specifically, 8 USC, sec. 1182(f).  If they believe that the law does not apply here, they had a duty to explain why.  If they believe that the law is unconstitutional, they had a duty to explain why.  They violated their duty.  They violated their oath.


"If you had to make a list of things that a judge could do that warrants impeachment, deliberately ignoring an applicable law that contradicts the judge's opinion would be on the list."

NY Dept Education apologizes for ‘Anti-Israel’ cartoon on statewide exam

"Continued Monitoring of Anti-Israel Activism in Public Schools is Necessary"

Legal Insurrection

"The New York Post reports:

The AJC petition condemned the cartoon as ‘blatantly anti-Israel, disparaging of Israeli soldiers … and is entirely inappropriate to include on a test administered to young minds.’
The petition, sent to Board of Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa as well as the education agency, demanded an apology.
After seeing the petition, AJC reported that a top Education Department official called the group to discuss the complaint.
The department, according to AJC president Jack Rosen, then issued the following statement:
‘We regret this test question was included in the Regents exam and apologize to those who were offended by it. We are reviewing our internal procedures to vet all questions to ensure inappropriate questions are not included on future exams.’
‘Political cartoons contained on Regents exams are sometimes very pointed and thought-provoking but they are never intended to represent the point of view of the Board of Regents or the Education Department on a given issue.”

Obama Attempts To Spin Iran Deal’s Obvious Failure As Trump’s Fault

"Iran’s leaders are aware that once Donald Trump is in office, the Iran deal is most likely going to be altered or dismantled. So why not thumb their noses at the United States?" 

The Federalist  . . . "But Obama may yet be able to blame this on Trump. He will argue that, despite this being done under Obama’s watch, Iran is reacting out of fear of the incoming Trump administration. Because the enrichment levels of the development aren’t yet known, Obama can claim that everything is going along swimmingly. If Iran chooses to enrich above the allowed level during Trump’s presidency, well, that’s on Trump.

"In an effort to fully cover his rear end, on Wednesday Obama declined to sign the legislation, thereby allowing it to become law on Thursday without his signature. While he maintains that the law doesn’t violate the terms of the nuclear deal, Obama also made it clear that he doesn’t think the legislation is necessary.

"Regardless of how Obama spins this, the Iran deal was poorly conceived from the start. It was always destined to implode, whether Republicans took power or not. Because Obama hasn’t led with bipartisan support from Congress, the Iran deal, much like his executive orders, is just another example of how the Obama legacy will evaporate after he leaves office. While he might try to place the blame on Trump and other Republicans, there’s only one person who’s really responsible. Talk about being on the wrong side of history."

She Persisted: Betsy DeVos Calm And Collected After Protesters Blocked Her From Entering DC School

Matt Vespa from Townhall

. . .

As The Washington Post's Emma Brown reports and the video above shows, DeVos was prevented by protesters from entering a Washington public school on Friday morning. After the demonstrators blocked the staircase she was trying to use and shouted at her, DeVos returned to her car, escorted by an aide. She later used another school entrance and went about her work.

"One of DeVos’ predecessors, Arne Duncan, tweeted whether you agree or disagree with her position on education; she needs to be let into public schools to do her job. Even Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, a member of the AFL-CIO, who is staunchly opposed to DeVos, said that she should be allowed to visit public schools. Her tweet came after she heard a protester blocked and almost knocked down the education secretary." . . . 

California Goes Confederate

powerlineblog.com

Victor Davis Hanson  "Since Clinton’s defeat, the state seems to have become unhinged over Trump’s unexpected election.

“ 'Calexit” supporters brag that they will have enough signatures to qualify for a ballot measure calling for California’s secession from the United States.

"Some California officials have talked of the state not remitting its legally obligated tax dollars to the federal government. They talk of expanding its sanctuary cities into an entire sanctuary state that would nullify federal immigration law.

"Californians also now talk about the value of the old Confederate idea of “states’ rights.” They whine that their state gives far too much revenue to Washington and gets too little back.

"Residents boast about how their cool culture has little in common with the rest of the U.S. Some Californians claim the state could easily go it alone, divorced from the United States.

"Sound a bit familiar?

"In December 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union in furor over the election of Abraham Lincoln.

"Lincoln did not receive 50 percent of the popular vote. He espoused values the state insisted did not reflect its own.

"In eerie irony, liberal California is now mirror-imaging the arguments of reactionary South Carolina and other Southern states that vowed to go it alone in 1860 and 1861.

"Like California, South Carolina insisted it could nullify federal laws within its state borders.

"Like California, South Carolina promised to withhold federal revenues.

"Like California, South Carolina and other Confederate states bragged that their unique economies did not need the Union.

"They boasted that “King Cotton” had created the wealthiest class in the United States. Silicon Valley now often assumes that Google, Facebook, Apple, and others are near-trillion-dollar companies that are a world unto their own." . . .

Analysis of the Ninth Circuit Court's Immigration Decision

legalinsurrection.com

A legal analysis of the Ninth Circuit's dangerous usurpation of presidential power
"Federal District Judge James Robart violated the Constitution in issuing a TRO (temporary restraining order) against President Trump's temporary entry ban for citizens of seven countries. Now a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed that stay.

"What we have here is a creeping constitutional coup. As long as President Obama was in charge and had a massive open door policy at our borders and at our airports, in violation of statutory law, the judiciary was content to be silent. But when Donald Trump became president and tried to use the powers of the Presidency to put some national security safeguards into place, the judiciary sprung into action. The judiciary has usurped the executive branch's powers and has created a parallel constitution, one that bears no relation to the founding document of our nation. The courts have now cited this parallel constitution to justify taking away the ultimate decision making authority concerning national security from the Presidency, to rest in their hands. The constitutional crisis and injury to our national security caused by this illegitimate decision cannot be overstated.

"What follows is an analysis of this travesty and the damage done to our system of jurisprudence and national security." . . . Read more:

Allan J. Favish  . . . "Title 8 United States Code, section 1182(f) , which was enacted as section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, is entitled “Suspension of Entry or Imposition of Restrictions by President” and states:

Whenever the President finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate. (Italics emphasis added.). . .   Read More.