Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Port Authority Jihadist Attack: Why the Rush to Civilian Court?

Political Cartoons by Gary Varvel

Andrew C. McCarthy
Intelligence agents need to know any information he has that might help us prevent another attack.
"If the New York Times is correct, it looks like Akayed Ullah, the Bangladeshi jihadist whose bomb detonated prematurely at the Port Authority Bus Terminal near Times Square during the morning rush hour, is going to be charged with terrorism crimes in civilian federal court. He’ll be prosecuted by my former office, the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York in lower Manhattan. The SDNY will be working the Joint Terrorism Task Force (mainly the FBI and the NYPD), just as these law-enforcement agencies are working together in the case of Saifullo Saipov, the West Side Highway jihadist who killed eight people and wounded a dozen others by ramming his rental truck into them a few weeks back. Ultimately, this may be the right way to handle the case. But I do not understand the rush to bring Ullah into federal court." . . .

"The only way to keep the country safe is to obtain and exploit intelligence."
Political Cartoons by Jerry Holbert

ISIS Message Two Weeks Ago Warned About ‘Christmas in New York’   "Via Fox News Insider:
As Americans were celebrating Thanksgiving, ISIS issued a cryptic message about “Christmas in New York.”
“We meet at Christmas in New York… soon,” the message stated, superimposed over an image of Santa Claus and crowds in Times Square.

The real problem with judging Judge Roy Moore

"I don't know if Moore is a good and decent man, but I do know that he was viewed as such until he became a danger to the Democrats in our nation's capital.  As for the accusations, he hasn't had his day in court, so I think it's only fair to keep from demonizing him until we hear courtroom testimony under oath.  Our system of justice says he's innocent until proven otherwise.  In the meantime, the voters of Alabama will make their decision at the ballot box."   Bob Weir
At odds with the Ramirez cartoon is this Lipscomb cartoon:  Thomas Lipscomb  . . . "No credible woman who has spoken out on Roy Moore yet has claimed he tried to force himself on her when she objected.  And to accept Corfman's allegation, given her account, we have to assume that all contact between Moore and Corfman took place in the less than two weeks before the Court ordered her custody switched to her father.
"Moore had an understandably delayed learning curve.  The teenage years give most of us the time to shake out some bad dating behavior.  And if we're honest with ourselves, most of us can remember some unfortunate experiences we hope others have forgotten.  But Moore thought he had to forage opportunistically, and rough wooing from a man in his 30s left problems young women were not so ready to overlook.  There is nothing abnormal or surprising here.
"The Washington Post's lead reporter breaking these claims against Moore is a big-city Alabamian with a classic leftist résumé, from Pacifica to the World Bank and Columbia Journalism School, as well as a period as a "community organizer."  She is a fine reporter, but culturally, Etowah Country, 40 years ago, is as foreign to her experience as it might be to Barack Obama." . . .

David French: The Comprehensive Case against Roy Moore  . . . "There does exist a fascinating moral question, here: To what extent should we honor undeniably brilliant and important men even after we learn of their profound moral failures? The short answer is that we can certainly honor their accomplishments while still recognizing and condemning their failures. The Declaration of Independence is one of the great documents in world history, yet that doesn’t make Jefferson’s reported treatment of his slaves acceptable or tolerable." . . .

. . . If you accept Moore’s behavior on the bench, you must accept that any judge can defy the Supreme Court whenever he sees fit." . . .

Let Alabama voters judge Roy Moore   . . . "Most of us outside Alabama had never heard of him until 2003, when he was removed from his position as chief justice by a judicial panel for refusing to remove a Ten Commandments monument he had installed in the rotunda of the Alabama Judicial Building to acknowledge the sovereignty of God.
"That made him a national figure, and it also made him a target for every left-wing anti-Christian, anti-Constitution, anti-American values cretin in the country.  Nevertheless, in 2012, Alabama voters overwhelmingly re-elected him as chief justice of Alabama's Supreme Court.  In 2016, he was suspended for upholding the sanctity of marriage as between one man and one woman.  It was then that he decided to seek a U.S. Senate seat in 2017.  That put him in a protracted and bloody war between traditional America and those who seek to redesign the culture into something never intended by the Christian Founders of this great nation."


Monday, December 11, 2017

Kate Steinle vigil trashed at UC Berkeley


Washington Examiner

Shortly after the crowd dispersed from the tribute, which was left on Sproul Hall steps (for students to pass by on their way to classes the next morning), part of the memorial was thrown in the trash (Photo: Berkeley College Republicans via Facebook)

"A large poster of Kate Steinle was torn down at the University of California, Berkeley hours after students held a vigil to reflect on her life and mourn the acquittal of the illegal immigrant charged in her death.
"The Thursday night vigil wasn't without controversy; as some students spoke, others nearby chanted in dissent.

“ 'They were shouting during my remarks, and throughout the vigil. Before, during and after,” Naweed Tahmas, external vice president of the Berkeley College Republicans, told the College Fix.
"After the vigil ended, a small memorial was left behind on the steps of Sproul Hall, including flowers, candles spelling out "Kate," and an easel with a large picture of Steinle’s smiling face. Before dawn, the poster of Steinle’s face was torn off the stand and put in the trash.
"Thirty-two-year-old Steinle was shot and killed in 2015 by a ricocheted bullet on Pier 14 in the Embarcadero district of San Francisco. President Trump frequently raised her death on the campaign trail, and her killing has been at the center of the debate over immigration laws and so-called sanctuary cities in the United States.

“ 'Last night we held a candlelight vigil in honor of Kate Steinle. This morning someone tore up our poster of her and threw it in the trash. This is typical at UC Berkeley, where honoring the legacy of someone who was killed by a 7-time felon and 5-time deportee is offensive,” the Berkeley College Republicans posted on Facebook Friday."
Notice the Kate Steinle memorial at the top of the steps.


Well, it isn't as if the killer used the wrong pronoun in addressing her. That cannot be tolerated.

Trump Blames NYC Terror Attack On Immigration Policies

Daily Caller

Police officers stand guard outside the New York Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City, U.S. December 11, 2017 after reports of an explosion. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson

"President Donald Trump called for immigration reforms Monday after a Bangladeshi immigrant allegedly exploded a pipe bomb in New York City.
“ 'Today’s attempted mass murder attack in New York City—the second terror attack in New York in the last two months—once again highlights the urgent need for Congress to enact legislative reforms to protect the American people,” Trump said in a statement.
"The alleged terrorist Akayed Ullah, 27, entered the U.S. in 2011 through extended family chain migration. The terror attack left four, including Ullah, injured.
"Statistics released by the White House revealed that 142,000 Bangladesh nationals have been permanently resettled in the U.S. on the basis of familial ties since 2005. (RELATED: More Than 70 Percent Of Immigrants Came From Chain Migration)
“ 'Today’s terror suspect entered our country through extended-family chain migration, which is incompatible with national security. My Executive action to restrict the entry of certain nationals from eight countries, which the Supreme Court recently allowed to take effect, is just one step forward in securing our immigration system. Congress must end chain migration,” Trump said." . . .

If Trump is a Nazi, how does one explain the joy in Netanyahu's face over Trump's actions?

Der Fuhrer Card  "Despite having supported the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital recently, Democrats are falling over themselves after Trump followed through."

Der Fuhrer Card - A.F. Branco political cartoon
conservativedailynews.com
. . . "But denying reality is how this game has long been played. In his speech after Trump’s announcement, Abbas talked at great length about Jerusalem’s history as a Muslim and Christian city. He made no mention of the fact that it’s also a famously Jewish city, having been established as the capital of ancient Israel 1,000 years before Jesus was born." . . .

Political Cartoons by Michael Ramirez

Ronnie Gordon
"President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel Wednesday sparked angry protests in the Middle East as well as hearty applause from Israelis. The reaction from Muslim groups was swift and angry. The Palestinians just recognized Austin as the capital of Mexico." Comedian Argus Hamilton

Nork Rocket Man family has the greatest DNA in the world


North Korea's newest claim: Kim Jong Un can control the weather  "North Korea has made many incredulous claims about the powers of leader Kim Jong Un and his family. Now it’s boasted of the greatest yet: He can control the weather.  
. . . 
"Still, unusual things do apparently happen at Mount Paektu. Kim's father, Kim Jong II, claimed that he was born on a secret military camp on the mountain and that his birth there coincided with the appearance of a double rainbow in the sky. 

"According to his official biography, Kim Jong II also claimed to be a master golfer who shot 11 holes-in-one in his very first game. At various times North Korean state media has reported that his son started driving at age 3 and is responsible for various medical breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer, Ebola and other serious illnesses." . . .

If the kid is so superhuman, why doesn't he make crops grow and food appear?
With the distinct possibility that Kim and the hunting hounds are the only things well-fed in the North, Examiner.com previously cited multiple sources that reported the famine was so severe, there have been more than a few reported cases of cannibalism.

North Korea’s state media claims Kim Jong-un ‘climbed’ 2,744m tall Mount Paektu in smart leather shoes  . . . "It continued: “His eyes reflected the strong beams of the gifted great person seeing in the majestic spirit of Mount Paektu the appearance of a powerful socialist nation which dynamically advances full of vigour without vacillation at any raving dirty wind on the planet.”

"New Funny Dear Leader Tongue Scraper Cleaner Dental North Korea Accoutrements"  Apparently fat kid Kim's dad was a babe magnet as well.

Two leading anti-Trump resistance groups, Refuse Fascism and the Workers World Party, are siding with the gulag-filled Stalinist hermit state of North Korea  . . . "Soros’s friends in the Democracy Alliance, a donors’ collaborative of wealthy left-wing one-percenters, may also be funding Trump-resistance groups like Refuse Fascism.

"Refuse Fascism has characterized the situation between the U.S. and North Korea as “the largest military power in the world bullying a small, isolated country and terrorizing the people of that entire region.' ” . . .
Kim Jong Il was a high achiever  . . . "While at Kim Il Sung University, he apparently wrote 1,500 books over a period of three years, along with six full operas. According to his official biography, all of his operas are "better than any in the history of music." Then there's his sporting prowess. In 1994, Pyongyang media reported that the first time Kim picked up a golf club, he shot a 38-under par round on North Korea's only golf course, including 11 holes-in-one. Reports say each of his 17 bodyguards verified the record-breaking feat. He then decided to retire from the sport forever."

Didn't defecate  "It is reported that Kim's official biography on the North Korean state web site, which has since been taken down, claimed that Kim did not defecate. Enough said."





North Koreans Filmed Mourning Kim Jong Il, But is Their Grief Real? [PHOTOS & VIDEO]  . . . "But an even more sinister explanation is also possible: the mourners could be completely faking their grief as a way to escape persecution, torture or execution by the new government, likely to be led by Kim Jong Il's son." . . .


Trump is cleaning up journalism

Don Surber   "Well, journalists had another stellar week of buying petards from Acme, setting the explosives off, and hoisting themselves high above the ground."


"The first ten days of December have seen:
  1. ABC News's Brian Ross lie about General Flynn's plea bargain.
  2. Reuters and Bloomberg News report on an imaginary subpoena of Trump's records at a German bank.
  3. CNN lie about Donald Trump Junior being tipped off about a WikiLeaks.
  4. David Weigel of the Washington Post lie about the size of the crowd at a Trump rally.
"Liars all of them.

"Byron Tau of the Wall Street Journal tweeted: "CNN corrects its earlier report, which appears to be an honest error from two excellent reporters."

"He's a fool." . . .

More late comments on the NFL

Thomas Lifson: NFL Anthem protests: the market speaks "No NFL teams are corporations with stocks traded on an exchange, so those of us convinced that the pusillanimity of the owners has damaged the value of their businesses have no market gauge to rely on. Except for one price signal on a publicly traded market: the value of aftermarket tickets to NFL games resold on sites like StubHub. Emily Zanotti writes on the Daily Wire:
It turns out, if you can still stomach a professional football game, you can now get tickets for about the same price as a couple of Starbucks lattes.
Check out the admission ticket prices at Chicago's Soldier Field.

. . . "Season tickets obviously are sold before the season begins, which means that next year’s season tickets should experience serous downward price pressure, unless the League takes action to change the blowback. But I expect that the most noticeable effect the owners will encounter will be reduced demand for luxury boxes. Companies pend vast sums on them because they create a pleasant, exciting atmosphere for their clients or associates. Inject political controversy into that experience and the advantages of the skybox evaporate."


NFL HELL: Ticket Prices Fall To $10 As Teams Struggle To Fill Stadiums



"Obviously, seats for the Bills (who are 6-6) and the Colts (who are even worse), aren't among the most in-demand tickets in the NFL. But even big-name teams aren't faring much better. Tickets to see the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field are going for around $20. Tickets to see the Green Bay Packers start at around $10.
"Not all teams are in the bargain basement, but tickets are available for nearly every NFL franchise at deeply discounted prices. The Pittsburgh Steelers have some of the nation's most rabid fans. But snagging a seat at Heinz field will run you only around $65. In previous seasons, Steelers tickets could cost as much as $250 per game — when you could get them.
"Things are getting so desperate, reportedly, that some NFL broadcasts are hiring extras to pose as fans. The listing is unconfirmed, but one Philadelphia newspaper claims that FOX advertised for "actors, models, and talent" to work Sunday's game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Los Angeles Chargers."
FOX seeks actors to be Los Angeles Rams fans for Eagles game
. . . "So, what does Los Angeles produce better than sports fans? Aspiring actors! And FOX is seeking them to be Rams fans for Sunday's pregame festivities, according to a casting call online: "Casting directors are now casting actors, models, and talent to work on Sunday, December 10th in Los Angeles, California.Producers are seeking the following types:We’re looking for LA’s biggest NFL fans to be a part of #NFLSunday’s Los Angeles Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles Pre Game Show!Calling all LA Rams fans!To audition for a role in the upcoming NFL Sunday pre-game show, check out the casting call breakdown below." . . ,

But even at these near give-away prices, photos of empty stadiums are still chocking social media as the league’s Week 14 begins.


Meet the MQ-25A Stingray — the US's response to threats like China's 'carrier killers'

Business Insider  "The US Navy's aircraft carriers have long given tactical advantage for the US military with its ability to deploy and project power on any shore around the globe. But recently, several of US adversaries have built long-range ballistic missiles known as "carrier killers". The MQ-25A Stingray is the Navy's response to threats like China's "carrier killer".

"EDITOR'S NOTE: This is footage of a prototype, the actual MQ-25A could look different."

Video at the link.

Remember when Democrats re-elected and celebrated a member of Congress who sexually preyed on teens? Then there's Big Bill...

Thomas Lifson  "Valerie Richardson of the Washington Times takes us down memory lane to an incident that Alabama voters need to seriously consider. You see, Democrats had no problem at all with one of their own Congressmen who solicited sex from teenagers who worked as congressional pages. Homosexual sex, in point of fact, and if anything, it seems to have shielded him. 
Massachusetts voters stood by Democratic Rep. Gerry Studds even after he was censured by the House in 1983 for his sexual relationship at age 36 with a 17-year-old male congressional page, as well as making sexual advances toward two other teenage pages.Far from dooming the Democratic Party, the episode barely registered at the ballot box. Democrats kept their House majority and gained Senate seats in 1984, while Studds was re-elected in his liberal Cape Cod district with 56 percent of the vote.He won re-election five more times and . . . . . . 

. . . "Spare me your self-righteousness, Dems. You honored a murderous predator as the “Lion of the Senate” (Don’t miss Jack Cashill’s searing account today on these pages)." . . .

Where in the World Is the 'Big He'[?]
Big Media have kept the former president from being a bigger part of the national conversation about powerful men using women, even though his actions make Franken and Conyers look like kids pulling girls' pigtails at recess.  Why?
Because he's still viewed as an icon, beloved by most Democrats and their media familiars; if he publicly acknowledges his sins, he stigmatizes the party and the press organs that covered for him for decades.
Hillary wouldn’t allow him to express remorse in any case, as her actions as "Bimbo enforcer," the enabler-wife of a sexual predator, would come under renewed scrutiny.  She has her pride, and she hasn’t given up on another run at the presidency.

 Steve Grammatico is the author of You Hear Me, Barack?  PC-Free Conservative Satire.
He blogs at youhearmebarack.blogspot.com.

Dave Barry’s 2017 Holiday Gift Guide

Miami Herald  "The holiday season is all about traditions, but these traditions differ from country to country around the world. For example:

▪ In Denmark, it’s traditional, on Christmas Eve, to fill a bathtub with oatmeal.
▪ In Russia, rural families observe the holidays by dressing a live sturgeon as a dental hygienist.
▪ In Bolivia, children place their shoes next to the fireplace at bedtime; when they fall asleep, the parents sneak out of the house and check into a resort hotel for several weeks.
These are just a few of the colorful international traditions that serve to remind us, as Americans, how weird foreign people are. Of course we have holiday traditions, too, but ours are normal:
▪ Our retail stores let us know that the holidays are here by putting up festive holiday decorations shortly after Labor Day.
▪ Our radio stations remind us of the true meaning of the season by playing sacred holiday songs, such as “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer.”
▪ Starbucks gets us into the holiday spirit by introducing a specialty seasonal coffee beverage containing a mutant holiday ingredient, such as giblets (the “Turkey-spresso”).
▪ And in an endless parade of TV commercials, sellers of automobiles, jewelry, liquor, power tools, etc., urge us, in the true spirit of the season, to give money to the poor.
"Ha ha! That last one was of course a joke. In fact these companies urge us to purchase their products. Because in the end, the most important holiday tradition of all is the tradition of buying things whether anybody needs them or not." . . .

Terror attack in New York:

. . . "Footage shows the moment pipe bomb malfunctions and explodes prematurely, injuring ISIS-inspired Bangladeshi, 27, wearing a suicide vest"

UK Daily Mail  

A suspect has been taken into custody after an explosion at the Port Authority subway station in New York City Monday morning. The suspect has been identified as a 27-year-old Bangladeshi national (pictured above) 

 "A Bangladeshi national in his 20s has been taken into custody with serious injuries after a suspected pipe bomb he was carrying malfunctioned and exploded prematurely inside a Midtown Manhattan subway station Monday morning.  
"The explosion happened around 7:20am, in an underground tunnel linking the Port Authority Bus Terminal to Times Square. The underground tunnel is a major thoroughfare for workers during the morning rush hour.
"The suspect, identified as 27-year-old Akayed Ullah, was found injured at the scene and rushed to Bellevue Hospital. He was wearing what appears to be a homemade pipe bomb attacked to his body with velcro and zip ties.  Authorities say Ullah is talking to investigators at the hospital. 
"Three other people also reported to local hospitals for minor injuries like ringing in the ears and headaches.  
"There have been reports that Ullah was inspired by ISIS. " . . .  

Video at the link.