10 Key Takeaways From The New York Times’ Error-Ridden Defense Of FBI Spying On Trump Campaign

You know you have hit the bullseye when Rush Limbaugh introduces you:

Rush Limbaugh

Mollie Hemingway

It's reasonable to assume that much of the new information in the New York Times report relates to leakers' fears about information that will be coming out in the inspector general report.

 The New York Times published an article yesterday confirming the United States’ intelligence apparatus was used to spy on Donald Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016.

Here are a few quick takeaways.

1. FBI Officials Admit They Spied On Trump Campaign

"The New York Times‘ story, headlined “Code Name Crossfire Hurricane: The Secret Origins of the Trump Investigation,” is a dry and gentle account of the FBI’s launch of extensive surveillance of affiliates of the Trump campaign. 

"Whereas FBI officials and media enablers had previously downplayed claims that the Trump campaign had been surveiled, in this story we learn that it was more widespread than previously acknowledged:

The F.B.I. investigated four unidentified Trump campaign aides in those early months, congressional investigators revealed in February. The four men were Michael T. Flynn, Paul Manafort, Carter Page and Mr. Papadopoulos, current and former officials said…
The F.B.I. obtained phone records and other documents using national security letters — a secret type of subpoena — officials said. And at least one government informant met several times with Mr. Page and Mr. Papadopoulos, current and former officials said.

"This is a stunning admission for those Americans worried that federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies might use their powers to surveil, leak against, and target Americans simply for their political views or affiliations. As Sean Davis wrote, “The most amazing aspect about this article is how blasé it is about the fact that the Obama admin was actively spying on four affiliates of a rival political campaign weeks before an election.”

"The story says the FBI was worried that if it came out they were spying on Trump campaign it would “only reinforce his claims that the election was being rigged against him.” It is easy to understand how learning that the FBI was spying on one’s presidential campaign might reinforce claims of election-rigging." . . .

Israel’s Interrogation of Captured Gazan Infiltrators Reveal Hamas’ Strategy

Israel Rising

. . . "Salim Abu Daher, 21, a resident of the Gaza Strip, was arrested on 28 April 2018 upon infiltrating into Israel in order to burn fields and groves. Officials learned the following from Salim:

1. Hamas is financing the violent action in the framework of which kite-borne firebombs are sent toward Israeli territory.

2. Hamas members in civilian clothing circulate among violent activists and supply gasoline for the kite-borne firebombs which are designed to ignite and burn Israeli fields.

"Other detainees revealed the following:

1. Hamas encourages children and young people to cross the fence.

2. Hamas militants in civilian clothes encourage children to try and cross the fence in order to steal IDF equipment.

"This resulted in an event on May 4th in which a 13-year-old youth was wounded while taking part in an attempt to infiltrate into Israeli territory in order to steal a security camera at Karni Crossing, east of Gaza City." . . .

Sleepless in Seattle: Head Tax Edition [VIDEO]

Rich Terrell

Victory Girls Blog  "The cuddly socialists of the Seattle City Council got together for some old fashioned Kurt Cobain headbanging Monday afternoon. They must have been wearing protective headgear, to protect eardrums from the yowling that went up as they passed their “scaled down” head tax on large employers.

"And they didn’t leave any council members out in the cold on the maneuver either. This blatant money grab was a 9-0 slam dunkaroo.

The Seattle City Council voted unanimously Monday to adopt a new tax on the city’s largest employers to help address homelessness.

The ordinance will impose a tax of $275 per employee, per year on for-profit companies that gross at least $20 million per year in the city — down from a $500-per-head tax that Mayor Jenny Durkan threatened to veto.

About 3 percent of Seattle businesses will be affected, according to the council.

“We have community members who are dying,” Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda before the 9-0 vote. “They are dying on our streets today because there is not enough shelter” and affordable housing.

"Oh, there is no doubt that there are people on the streets of Seattle in record numbers. But the council might want to look at a few of the economic factors (in addition to a relatively comfortable climate) driving that before they go raiding the pockets of the area’s larger employers." . . .

"Partner Of Slain Cop Reveals What Trump Told Him In Private Conversation – Wow"

Meanwhile Mayor de Blasio did not attend". . . the 109th mayor of New York City, made news of recent for all the wrong reasons (again). He elected to travel to Hamburg, Germany, to be part of the #Resistance, and forego the memorial service held for one of the New York City Police Department’s service martyrs, Officer Miosotis Familia, a 12-year veteran of the NYPD.". . . *

The left will condemn this photo in three...two...one...

Daily Caller  "President Trump gave an impassioned speech to the 37th Annual National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service at the U.S. Capitol Building Tuesday.

"During a deeply emotional moment, Trump invited up the family of slain NYPD officer, Miosotis Familia, onstage. The family was joined by Familia’s partner, Vincent Maher.

"Familia was executed while sitting in her NYPD cop car by a mentally disturbed gunman with anti-cop views. During the ceremony, Maher gave president Trump a challenge coin in honor of Familia and the two men shared a private conversation away from the microphone."

"Maher said that his former partner “loved” being a police officer and that it was “very unexpected” to be put on the spot by commander-in-chief.

"Maher said in conclusion that he appreciates Trump’s support of law enforcement, “I definitely feel the love from the higher ups these days as far as supporting law enforcement all over the country and it is nice to have it come from the top.” . . .

 CNN. Oops, no.

*. . . "Now, I don’t blame these Leftist politicians for anyone’s murder. I blame the murderer, alone, for that. But Bill de Blasio and Barack Obama certainly don’t have clean hands when it comes to the diminution of the relationship between police and the communities of color they serve."

Here Are The Five Senators Who Voted Against Haspel

If rejected, will she go on a years-long speaking tour to discuss all the reasons she did not get the post? Misogyny? TD

Daily Caller

If she passes confirmation, Haspel would become the first female director in the agency’s history of over 70 years

"A handful of senators on the Senate Intelligence Committee voted against President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the CIA Wednesday.

"The committee voted 10-5 Wednesday in favor of Gina Haspel, who must now be confirmed before the entire Senate body before she can become the next CIA director. (RELATED: Gina Haspel Passes Crucial First Step)

"Every Republican member of the committee voted in favor, including two Democrats — Sens. Mark Warner of Virginia and Joe Manchin of West Virginia. Four Democrats and one independent voted against Haspel, including:

• Dianne Feinstein of California
• Ron Wyden of Oregon
• Kamala Harris of California  (Naturally)
• Martin Heinrich of New Mexico
• Angus King of Maine, who is an independent

. . . 

93 Percent of Israeli Jews Support Trump’s Jerusalem Embassy Move

PJ Media

A full 93 percent of Israeli Jews support the move of the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of them said they support not only moving the embassy, but doing so now. Another 20 percent said they support the move, but disagree with the timing. They suggested Trump should have waited until he unveiled his plan for ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Support for the embassy move and the timing ran highest among Israeli Jews who identified as "national religious" (89 percent) as opposed to Haredi (77 percent), traditional (84 percent), or secular (60 percent). Secular Israeli Jews proved most likely to disagree with the timing (30 percent) and most likely to disagree with the move overall (8 percent).

Previously posted in the Tunnel Wall:

Rabbi Aryeh Spero writes: God uses this American President to Fulfill Prophecies and Move Our Embassy to Jerusalem.
The endorsement of President Trump by the Rabbi is not the main point pro or con; I feel the significance is the 70 year time span. TD

 How Trump is reshaping American foreign policy in the Middle East
"So, fearful of a crisis on his watch and like the frightened schoolboy giving up his lunch money to the bully, Obama was content to appease evil regimes, leaving problems to be cleaned up by better presidents than he. Hey, it worked with the Hollywood crowd. TD"

New York Daily News hits new low with disgusting Jerusalem embassy opening cover

How California’s primary could stop Democrats from retaking the U.S. House

LA Times  "California’s primary system could thwart Democrats and Republicans alike on June 5, shutting either party out of key races in the fall. Under the state’s top-two primary, the two candidates receiving the highest number of votes advance to the general election in November, regardless of party. Democrats fear that the high numbers of hopefuls on the primary ballot could split the vote and leave the party without candidates in high-stakes congressional races in November. Meanwhile, Republicans are worried they could be left off the ballot in the governor’s race and other statewide contests in November, giving their voters less of an incentive to turn out to vote for GOP House candidates." . . .

More text and graphics at the link...

Seeking asylum

Democrats: no longer my family's party

Democrats Skip U.S. Embassy Opening in Jerusalem 

 "Democrats' acknowledgement of the U.S. embassy opening in Jerusalem Monday was virtually non-existent. The Times of Israel reported that no Democratic members of Congress attended the ceremony.
"Former Sen. Joe Lieberman, told them he was “surprised” that “no sitting legislators from his former party were in Jerusalem for the embassy dedication.”
“ 'I hope that the Democratic members had [scheduling] conflicts and they had to be somewhere else,” he said. “I hope that they don’t see this as some kind of pro-Trump rally in Jerusalem. It’s not. Its a pro-US-Israel friendship-partnership-alliance rally. And it’s celebrating the strength of our relationship, which has been always bipartisan.' ” . . .

Boss Hogg Calls For Boycott Of Florida’s Most Popular Grocery Chain

Celebrity school shooting survivor and anti-Second Amendment activist David Hogg is struggling to stay relevant after his star turn as the snarling face of the left that lasted nearly two whole months.

Downtrend  "Celebrity school shooting survivor and anti-Second Amendment activist David Hogg is struggling to stay relevant after his star turn as the snarling face of the left that lasted nearly two whole months."

"Young Hogg burst onto the scene by climbing on top of the pile of dead bodies at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that included his own classmates and was regularly featured on CNN, MSNBC and even the Bill Maher show. The zenith of Hogg’s fame and power came with an Easter weekend joint-venture with the extremist Media Matters to unleash the social media mob against corporations that advertised on Fox News host Laura Ingraham’s show."  . . . 

witter Ads info and privacy

"This time it’s pretty clear that Hogg hasn’t a care in the world for his murdered classmates and has become a full-fledged Democratic party operative because his latest shenanigans are an effort to publicly shame the grocery giant for its support of Republican Adam Putnam in the Florida governor’s race this year." . . .

Children Of Slain NYPD Officer Thank Trump For Honoring Her Bravery

Daily Caller

"The children of slain NYPD officer Miosotis Familia who President Donald Trump honored on stage at the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service thanked him for the gesture during a Wednesday morning interview on CNN.
“In his speech he was talking about some stories of the fallen officers that I guess really stood out and one of those stories happened to be my mom’s story and the tragedy surrounding her death and when he invited us up on stage, a moment like that was very — it was very important and for my mom’s heroism and her legacy to be acknowledged by the president of the United States was a very special moment for us,” her daughter told CNN.
"Trump called Familia’s entire family on stage with him at the event. Trump held the hand of Familia’s  elderly mother throughout the end of his speech and helped her off the stage.
"Her son Peter recounted his feelings of having his family called on to the stage with Trump. “I was really happy that he called us up because I know that, you know, I’m honoring my mother and the fact that my mother’s name came out his mouth since he’s the president of the United States, I think that’s really huge, so, you know, I was delighted.”

Four socialist-backed candidates win Pennsylvania legislative primaries

Be afraid for America; very afraid. The leftist school curricula may be taking hold.

The Hill

Weasel Zippers photo

"Four Democratic candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) won primary elections for legislative seats in Pennsylvania on Tuesday.

"In the Pittsburgh area, Summer Lee and Sara Innamorato, Democrats who are both members of the DSA, won primaries for state House Districts 34 and 21.

"Lee and Innamorato defeated state Reps. Paul Costa and Dom Costa, both Democrats. They do not have Republican opponents in the general election.

"Costa congratulated Lee on her victory, telling the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that her campaign had done a better job getting people out to vote."

" 'They energized a lot of people, and they showed up at the polls,” he told the outlet." . . .