Utah 'Monument' Was a Reward to a Clinton Donor

Daniel John Sobieski

"The shrinking in size of two national monuments in Utah by President Trump through executive order was a long overdue rebuke to federal land grabs that have enabled federal control of vast swaths of American land, particularly in the West. As the New York Times noted in 2016:" . . .
. . . 

"Phyllis Sorensen, head of the Utah chapter of the National Education Association, called Clinton's action "felonious assault," charging that "they are stealing from the schoolchildren of Utah." Stealing from children to reward Indonesian billionaire donors is a move typical of the Clintons.

"Before there was the pay-for-play Clinton Foundation, and the putting up of American national security for sale in the Uranium One deal with Russia, there was Bill Clinton creating the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, a monument to Bill and Hillary’s monumental corruption. "  

Then there is this:

Polar bears all over the place now, Native Alaskans say
. . . "So instead of starving, global warming is now causing bears to proliferate. We are supposed to be upset about it no matter what the truth is. It just goes to show that global warmers just can't get their stories straight. And they want to have their bears and starve them, too."

Report: Young People Say Being Called a “Snowflake” Damages Their Mental Health

Legal Insurrection

"Whether they like it or not, young people on the left have developed a reputation for being unable and unwilling to tolerate the views of others with whom they disagree. Speakers are routinely shouted down on college campuses and the views of conservatives are frequently described as dangerous.

The term “snowflake” was entirely self-earned. They built this. So it’s difficult to feel sympathy when they say they don’t like this description of them.

"Olivia Rugard of the Telegraph UK points to a recent study:

Don’t call us snowflakes – it damages our mental health, say young people

Being called a “snowflake” is damaging to mental health, young people say. Figures show that the majority of young people think the term is unfair – and even more think it could have a negative effect of its own.

The “snowflake generation” is a disparaging term now commonly used to refer to young people, who are perceived to be over-sensitive and intolerant of disagreement.

. . .
"Not all young people fit the description of a snowflake, obviously. A young man who worked at a gas station in my neighborhood recently enlisted in the Marines the day he turned 18. That’s not someone who needs a safe space.

"If Millennials and others truly want to shake the term loose, it’s not hard. It doesn’t even require enlisting in the armed forces. The choice is theirs."

Understanding Justice Kennedy in the Masterpiece Cake case.

Althouse  "I "live-blogged" my reading of it. You can read my 32-point post here." . . .

1. Empathy for the human beings on both sides of this controversy. Kennedy showed empathy for the gay people who face discrimination: If the cake-maker wins this case, he could put "put a sign in his window: we do not bake cakes for gay weddings," and that would be "an affront to the gay community." And there might be a movement to get all cake-makers to stop making cakes for same-sex weddings. But Kennedy also showed empathy for the cake-maker as he criticized the state for its lack of tolerance and respect for the cake-maker's religious beliefs. Kennedy seemed troubled not only about compelling the cake-maker to make cakes for same-sex weddings but also about requiring him to teach his employees that his religion is subordinate to the dictates of worldly government. Kennedy never seemed interested in the much-proffered answer that the the religious man could solve his own problem by getting out of the wedding-cake business. I'd say: Kennedy seems to care about the consequences to real people (whichever side wins).

2. Government hostility toward religious people. Not only did Kennedy chide the government's lawyer for the state's lack of tolerance and respect for religion (as noted in #1), he seemed willing to look into the subjective attitude of individual members of the 7-person commission that made the original decision that the cake-maker had illegally discriminated. One commissioner had said that using religion to justify discrimination is "despicable." . . . 

Fox Host Unveils Identity of Another Anti-Trump Member on Mueller’s Team

Western Journal  "A third member of special counsel Robert Mueller’s team has been revealed to have a strong anti-Trump bias, Fox News host Laura Ingraham said Tuesday.

"During an exclusive on Ingraham’s show “The Ingraham Angle,” it was revealed that Jeannie Rhee, the former deputy assistant attorney general for Obama’s Justice Department, is a member of Mueller’s legal team investigating alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

"Ingraham revealed that prior to joining Mueller’s legal team, she had provided legal advice to the Obama administration.

"It has also been discovered that Rhee provided legal representation for the Clinton Foundation, according to The Daily Wire." . . .

Jerry Seinfeld Endorses Roy Moore?

Ann Coulter  "It’s hard to disprove accusations from 40 years ago — that’s why we have statutes of limitations — but, despite that, there are a surprising number of problems with the allegations against Moore.

"One accuser has been called a liar by her own stepson, who says he’s voting for Moore. Another neglected to mention that Moore sent her brother to prison.

"In defense of one of Moore’s accusers, Gloria Allred produced a yearbook allegedly signed by Moore, apparently in two different inks and giving his title as “D.A.” He was not the district attorney and didn’t sign his name that way. Allred refuses to produce the yearbook for handwriting analysis or to deny that it’s a forgery.

"Contrary to what you have heard one million times a day on TV, there aren’t “multiple accusers.” There are two, and that’s including the one with the fishy yearbook inscription whose stepson says she’s lying.

"The other “accusers” claim he dated them when they were 16 to 19 years old and Moore was in his early 30s — or younger than Jerry Seinfeld was (39) when he dated 17-year-old Shoshanna Lonstein.

"That would also make Moore 15 years younger than Bill Clinton when he had a 22-year-old intern performing oral sex on him in the Oval Office. Moore’s date “accusers” say he did nothing more than kiss them." . . .

Not yet: Al Franken says report he is quitting the Senate is premature

Jewish Telegraphic Agency  "Sen. Al Franken denied a report that he had decided to quit the Senate after a seventh woman alleged sexual misconduct and half the body’s Democratic caucus said he should go.

"Minnesota Public Radio quoted an official who had spoken to Franken as saying he would quit on Thursday, but Franken denied it on Twitter.

“No final decision has been made and the Senator is still talking with his family,” Franken’s Twitter account said late Wednesday. “Please update your story.” . . .

Green’s Impeachment Resolution Rejected by House

Free Beacon   "Rep. Al Green's (D., Texas) resolution calling for President Donald Trump's impeachment was rejected by the House of Representatives on Wednesday. 

"A bipartisan 364 members voted to table Green's motion while 58 Democrats voted to move forward, Fox News reports. 
"Wednesday's vote was not an actual vote on whether to impeach the president, but a procedural one that could have ultimately led to an impeachment vote.
"Green, who has been a vocal critic of Trump, sent a memo to his colleagues prior to the vote.
" 'As I have said before, this is not about Democrats, it is about democracy," Green wrote. "It is not about Republicans, it is about the fate of our Republic. May everyone vote their conscience knowing that history will judge us all."
"Friends, whether we like it or not, we now have a bigot in the White House who incites hatred and hostility," Green wrote.
"The Texas Democrat initially introduced the resolution of articles of impeachment in October and spoke at length about Trump being unfit and deserving of removal from office.
"Democratic leaders have not supported the push to impeach Trump in fear it will make things difficult for the party as they go into the 2018 midterm elections."

House Overwhelmingly Rejects Impeachment Bill, Voted Down 364-58….

There are really two ways to look at this effort.  "One is that this attempt to impeach President Trump got slapped down hard today. The other is that there are now 58 Democrats willing to attach their names to this desperate action which their own leadership is officially against, at least for the moment. In either case, Rep. Al Green promised yesterday he would bring this to a vote and today he made good on that promise. The result was a bust.

Cartoon UPDATE! There's a Hillary Clinton Tree Topper for Those Still Sour About the Election — Really

UPDATE: Photosnark by Rich Terrell

The Declaration  "The so-called “Resistance” is going to an entirely new level — a Christmas level, to be specific.

"A UK-based company, Women To Look Up To, is selling 3D-sculpted Christmas tree toppers resembling former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for those who are still bitter over the results of the 2016 presidential election.

"The ornament, which is roughly $107, is intended to replace the traditional angelic being on top of the Christmas tree and has been dubbed the symbol of “Resistmas.” It’s earning quite a bit of attention on social media:
. . . 

"Not getting what you want for Christmas? Don't worry, this Hillary tree topper has an excuse for it! It will blame: Misogyny Racism Homophobia Islamaphobia James Comey Russia Bernie Sanders Wikileaks Deplorable elves and so much more...[sic]

To wit:

"It will blame:Misogyny RacismHomophobiaIslamaphobiaJames ComeyRussiaBernie SandersWikileaksDeplorable elvesand so much more..."

Hat tip to TimRunsHisMouth

Fmr. Conyers Intern: The Congressman Invoked Murdered Intern Chandra Levy When I Wouldn’t Sleep With Him

Weaseel Zippers photo

Free Beacon  "A former intern for outgoing Rep. John Conyers says the Michigan Democrat propositioned her, and when she rebuffed his advances, he brought up a Washington, D.C. intern who had mysteriously disappeared.

"Courtney Morse, now 36, told the Washington Post she was a 20-year-old student when she accepted an internship with Conyers' office. One night, he offered to drive her home, and once they arrived, he "wrapped his hand around hers as it rested in her lap, and told her he was interested in a sexual relationship."

"Morse reports that when she declined, Conyers suddenly brought up a then-unsolved disappearance of federal intern Chandra Levy. At the time, police believed Levy's disappearance may have been tied to an affair with Democratic Rep. Gary Condit. Condit was ultimately cleared after authorities charged a suspect with the intern's murder.

" 'He said he had insider information on the case. I don't know if he meant it to be threatening, but I took it that way," she told the Post. "I got out of the car and ran."

"Matthew Salomon, a member of the family Levy was staying with at the time, backed up Morse's version of events. He told the Post he approached Conyer's car to confront him, but the congressman drove away.

"Conyers announced his immediate retirement Tuesday after the reemergence of multiple accusations of sexual harassment from former staffers. In his speech, Conyers insisted his "legacy can't be compromised or diminished in any way.' "

ABC News' Brian Ross will not cover stories involving Trump, network says

CBS News  "ABC News reporter Brian Ross, who is currently suspended without pay, will no longer cover stories involving President Trump following his erroneous report last Friday about former national security adviser Michael Flynn. The network confirmed Tuesday the order by ABC News President James Goldston.

"Goldston expressed his anger over the error on an internal phone call to staff that was leaked to CNN. ABC declined a request by the Associated Press to make Goldston available for an interview Tuesday.

"Ross was suspended for four weeks without pay over the weekend. He had reported incorrectly that Mr. Trump, when he was still a candidate for president, had told Flynn to make contact with the Russians. That would have been a big development in the ongoing investigation over whether the Trump campaign worked with Russia to influence the election." . . .

"ABC’s Brian Ross’ report that Trump met with Russians during the election Friday crashed the stock market for an hour before it was refuted as bogus. He’s suspended. Now every TV reporter knows he can make millions by selling short and then reporting that Trump’s in real trouble this time."  Comedian Argus Hamilton

Tony Branco

Remember this Brian Ross story from 2012? This morning, on ABC, reporter Brian Ross suggested the Colorado movie theater shooter might be a Tea Party member:

 "An earlier ABC News broadcast report suggested that a Jim Holmes of a Colorado Tea Party organization might be the suspect, but that report was incorrect. ABC News and Brian Ross apologize for the mistake, and for disseminating that information before it was properly vetted."

Despite What the Left Says, Masterpiece Cakeshop is About Much More than Gay Discrimination

LawNewz

. . . "If you read this morning’s column by my colleague Elura Nanos and nothing else, you might think that Phillips is a horrible bigot who refuses to sell any of his baked goods to gay people. You might also think that there’s no reason why this case should have gotten to the Supreme Court in the first place, because obviously religious people are evil and it’s impossible to hold good faith beliefs that aren’t a guise for expressing hatred.

"Of course, none of this is true.

"Phillips has gone on record saying that he doesn’t judge anybody for how they live their lives. He just doesn’t see why he needs to be a part of it. He has said that if Craig and Mullins wanted to buy anything else from his shop, he would have been happy to sell it to them. Phillips just didn’t feel like he should have to create something for an occasion that he doesn’t want to be a part of, as it conflicts with his personal religious principles. Historically, marriage has been a religious institution, as is recognized by the authority this country gives to clergy members to officiate them. If a straight person had asked Phillips for a cake for a gay wedding, I’d imagine he’d refuse, because for Phillips, it’s not about the identity or sexual orientation of the customer, but the nature of the work." . . .

The Christian baker vs the Christophobic left

"The reality is that when leftists, including those on the Supreme Court, write about liberties they are actually thinking only of liberties that they endorse.  For example, the same leftists who scream that pornography is protected by the First Amendment tell us that peacefully trying to change a woman’s mind as she enters an abortion clinic is not protected by the First Amendment"

The Gay Marriage Ruling Supports the Baker   . . . "The Court has used similar language in previous decisions, including this quotefrom an abortion decision:

At the heart of liberty is the right to define one's own concept of existence, of meaning, of the universe, and of the mystery of human life

"The intent of both of these quotes was to declare that the individual’s right to define who they are and what they believe overrides cultural norms and the democratic process, in the case of gay marriage, and science, in the case of abortion.

"Such a belief, that we can define reality rather than recognize it, is a symptom of the elites’ abandonment of both God and science. Both statements only make sense if one assumes that the autonomous individual has the power to actually create their own reality; something that sane people know is impossible. While we have freedom to react to reality we cannot warp it to our wills.  Men can castrate themselves and wear makeup, but they cannot become women because their DNA does not change for example." . . .

The fascist nature of rulings by lower courts demanding that people deny their faith and offer sacrifices to leftist dogma is clear. In all cases, the gay people being “married” had absolutely no problem finding alternative sources for their “wedding” needs. Yet the lower courts have ruled that gay’s right to pick who they want to serve them overrides the First Amendment rights of those whose “…personal identity and belief” prevent them from supporting gay “weddings.”

Clarence Thomas facepalm: Oral arguments for Masterpiece Cakeshop

. . . "Justice Kennedy spoke to clarify the position set forth in his opinion inObergefell v. Hodges, where the justice not only voted to legally redefine the nation's understanding of marriage, but wrote the 5-4 majority opinion.  Yesterday, however, Justice Kennedy questioned if a Christian person, who serves all sexual orientations and holds no animus whatsoever against people who characterize

themselves by their attraction to members of the same sex, but who cannot create a cake or cooperate with two men or two women attempting to marry due to his sincerely held religious beliefs, can escape persecution from the state.

"After observing the oral arguments, I believe that there are four votes yes (Justices Alito, Gorsuch, Thomas, and Roberts) and four votes no (Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, Ginsburg, and Breyer).  I am hoping for the sake of the freedoms enshrined in the First Amendment that Justice Kennedy casts the last "yes" vote in the case to tilt the scales in favor of something that Jack Phillips has not experienced in our judicial system – namely, tolerance."

Bakery vs. bakeshop  . . . "Now, Phillips said that he would sell any of his premade cakes to anyone without restriction.  In this he was acting as a public accommodation.  But, he said, he will not create a cake that violates his religious principles.  That, he claimed, is his First Amendment right.  Thus, the battle lines were drawn, and the case proceeded up to the Supreme Court." . . .

Naturally there is at least one left-wing site calling the baker a "homophobic bigot".