Not so fast Obama, your biggest scandal is unfolding before our eyes

Washington Times Opinion  "While speaking to a tech conference this week in Las Vegas President Obama 

repeated a claim he and many members of the media have made since his presidency came to an end. 

“ 'I didn’t have scandals, which seems like it shouldn’t be something you brag about,” Obama said. “But actually,” he said, “if you look at the history of the modern presidency, coming out of the modern presidency without anybody going to jail is really good. It’s a big deal.”

"The notion is obviously absurd on the face of it, for anyone who paid unbiased attention over the eight years of his presidency. Mark Hemingway and Hans Von Spakovsky have gone through the labors of detailing many (but not all) of the scandals of the Obama years. The short list includes Fast and Furious, Benghazi, IRS targeting, Solyndra, the Veteran Administration… how much time do you have?

"The fact that these troubling episodes have not risen (in some people’s minds) to the level of the multiple “Generic-Gate” scandals that crippled presidencies of the past is less a testament to Obama’s ethics than it is commentary on the two institutions charged with monitoring and exposing these dramas. " . . .

. . . "Make no mistake, Spygate is an Obama scandal and it involves Barack Obama, himself, in a very personal way. 

"First, the Spygate story is inexorably linked with the Clinton email drama, another Obama-era scandal that for some reason he gets to duck any responsibility for. Andrew McCarthy has been very thorough in explaining these very important links. " . . .

This just in:

'Scandal-free' Obama is daring Trump to bust corrupt members of his administration  . . . "Obama claims he had no scandals because he allowed no consequences, no matter what anyone ever did, no matter what laws they broke, which is not an argument to claim he had no scandals. In fact, as a leftist, he tended to let all kinds of miscreants and plagues on society out scot-free, starting with Bradley Manning, and moving on to all the criminals he let out via pardons, at least some of whom have resumed their lives of crime. It was quite a pattern with him, and signaled an inclination toward lawlessness, which only grew as his administration continued. 
"Three, Obama had a pliant press covering up for him, as the Washington Times notes in an op-ed about the latest garbage from him, headlined:" . . .

Jarrett and Obama are Behind Spygate. (Trump must be destroyed!)

It relates that at the urging of Jarrett, Obama canceled the operation to kill Osama bin Laden on three occasions before finally approving the May 2, 2011, Navy SEAL mission.  Seems she was concerned about the possible political harm to Obama if the mission failed[.] ... Edward Klein, author of the best-selling book about Obama, "The Amateur," once asked Obama if he ran every decision by Jarrett, and the president responded, "Absolutely." 

Daniel John Sobieski   Unless we assume the FBI went completely rogue, it is inconceivable that the deployments of personnel to spy on the Trump campaign and make provocative contact with its lesser members could have occurred without the full knowledge and control of the occupants of the Oval Office.

"Obama may claim a scandal-free administration, but after Fast and Furious, the targeting of the Tea Party by the IRS, the Benghazi cover-up, Hillary's emails, to name a few, Spygate is just the latest.  I use the plural "occupants" because while Barack Hussein Obama may have been nominally the president of the United States, at the heart of every one of these scandals and virtually every administration move was Valerie Jarrett, who arguably could be considered our first female president." . . .

. . . "If Obama ran every decision past Jarrett, the decision to plant spies in the Trump campaign certainly was among the most important.  Obama's legacy was important to Jarrett, perhaps even more important than to Obama himself.  She had to preserve it and ensure that the fundamental transformation of America continued.  If Hillary could not win, Trump must be destroyed." . . .  (Emphasis mine, TD) 

And with the full cooperation of entertainment media, NBC and CNN, among others, including impressionable school children. "Skulls full of mush" as it were.

Obama: I Had a Scandal-Free Presidency  "Well, yeah, if you didn’t look at any of the eight years."

Netflix Debuts The All New Dumb and Dumber Channel

American Digest

"The Peoples’ Cube Explains It All and the exciting offerings just around the corner with Barack and Michelle Obama do Netflix. And while no one yet has the slightest clue about the content, let us be the first to announce the list of potential titles.

"The Wire:  A team of Obama loyalists inside the DOJ and the FBI try to prevent a government takeover by wiretapping the presidential campaign of the Orange Monster.

"Orange is the New Black: The Orange Monster replaces the first black president in the Oval Office.

"The Odd Couple:  Season 1: Obama transforms America with his phone and his pen. Season 2: The Orange Monster comes and erases Season 1.

"One and a Half Men:  The life and times of Barack and Michelle Obama.

"Better call Saul Alinsky: Professional tips on community organizing from the masters of trade.

"Air America Rides Again: Barack and Michelle go on magical adventures, learning about the wonders of Global Warming, lowering the sea levels, and making up fun scientific facts across a variety of locations and time periods.

"The Americans:  Barack and Michelle Obama are two KGB spies in an arranged marriage who are posing as Americans in Washington, D.C., shortly after he is elected president.

"Tax and the City:  We’re better than you and you know it. So kick back, eat your kale, and watch us party like there’s no tomorrow. When we run out of food, we’ll blame the Republicans."

American Digest

The left and their effect on our nation

Update: Liberals Protest Trump Meeting With Parents Of Victims Of MS-13 And Police Working To Stop Gang  "Who protests parents of murder victims and trying to do something about a vicious gang? 
Democrats."

Baltimore's leftist prosecutor, Marilyn Mosby, now gets a cop killed
. . . "Now she let a thug out of the slammer against the arguments of juvenile services (who knew this guy well, with Abed calling him a 'one man crime wave) and off he went and killed a cop. Error five.

"It's an astonishing record of incompetence and harm." . . .

Mosby knew what he was like when she wanted him released

Trump turns North Korea into an attack on the Democrats claiming they are 'rooting against us in our negotiations'  . . . "Several Democrats criticized the president on Thursday after he withdrew from the North Korean summit."

Obama: My Netflix Show Is About ‘Training The Next Generation Of Leaders’   "Oh, goody. Can we say indoctrination, children? I knew we could."

Rachel Dolezal, the white woman who pretended to be black, charged with felony welfare fraud

University of Kentucky bias response team features ‘literal thought police’

"The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) is sounding the alarm on this policy." . . .

Dartmouth Survey Finds Democrat Students Are the Most Intolerant

. . . "According to The Dartmouth Survey, when it comes to someone who holds different political beliefs, Dartmouth University students who identify as Democrats are nearly two times as likely not to date such a person compared to Republican students.

"They’re also four times as likely not to trust such an individual, and almost six times as likely not to make friends with him/her.

"Democrats also are much less likely than Republican students to study and work on course projects with those of differing ideology.

"The Dartmouth notes feelings about free speech show a similar partisan divide. While 63 percent of Democrats believe free speech on campus is “very or somewhat secure,” only 21 percent of Republicans feel likewise." . . .

MS-13: Liberals are playing into a key aspect of Trump’s appeal.  . . . "A debate over whether it is okay to say bad things about gang members plays right into Trump’s hands.

"The “animals” kerfuffle was initially depicted as just the latest in a string of “gotcha” moments that proved the president’s bad character. But after it was made clear, even to some of his most ardent critics, that the comment was obviously a denunciation of MS-13 members, the discussion shifted into whether it was wrong even to characterize them in this manner." . . .

Democrats Blast Trump For High Gas Prices … After They Spent Years Trying To Force Them Up

IBD  "Hypocrisy Watch: Democrats hope they've found an issue that will re-energize the fading "Blue Wave" with the recent spike in gas prices. Never mind that the increase is temporary. Or that Democrats have for years tried to force gas prices up — permanently — through various tax hikes.

02:26

02:26

"According to the federal Energy Information Administration, average pump prices for regular gasoline hit $2.923 a gallon this week. That's up 55 cents compared with the same week last year, and the highest prices have been since November 2014.

"Sen. Minority Leader Charles Schumer and other Democrats plan to use this price spike to blast President Trump and, hopefully, improve their election chances in November.

"President Trump's reckless decision to pull out of the Iran deal has led to higher oil prices," Schumer said. "These higher oil prices are translating directly to soaring gas prices, something we know disproportionately hurts middle and lower income people."

"But Schumer, as well as the reporters covering him, should know that the high gas prices are the result of three factors that are beyond Trump's control.

"One is the fact that OPEC has tightened its production quotas to counter the huge increase in U.S. oil production thanks to the fracking revolution. Trump has been trying to boost production still more.

My fear of the American left, even at this late stage of life

Beginning in 2008, first as the "Squeaky Wheel" when Obama was nominated by the Democrat Party over fear of this party and what it had become. This fear has only worsened as I watched the vindictiveness of more and more Democrats and their effect on entertainment and news media along with academics, even into school curricula.

I'm almost seventy-nine at this posting, have lived through blackouts, air raid sirens, the Red Scare and the sixties - fearful times all. But those threats were from mostly without and capable of being stood against; now the evil is entrenched within this nation and made manifest in today's Democrats and those such as whatever Bernie Sanders is. Even the entertainment and news we watch force-feeds this anti-American cancer into our very culture.
For those reasons and more this statement has appeared at the right sidebar of the Tunnel Wall for over ten years and I have no plans as yet to remove it.  The Tunnel Dweller

From 2008: The Tunnel Wall blog  "Many of us fear the path America is being led down by our government, media and educational institutions and want to be sure they are watched fervently. It was a revelation to actually see how many Democrat elected officials have supported this massive swing to the left. One would have thought that, though liberal, they valued our free market system and

economic freedoms. It has become hard to believe the US is a right-of-center nation (as surveys claim) when the culture and its factions exert such a leftward pull on our politicians. On TV programs such as "Law and Order"- to name just one - leftist philosophies are promoted while conservative ones are debunked. Mainstream news programs are fountains of anti-Republican, -conservative propaganda.

"Foremost in memory is the shabby treatment meted out to President Bush at White House press conferences, press dinners and Hollywood functions. And of course we all know how Republicans and conservatives are the butt of late-night talk-show jokes.

"Even past noble causes and their current leaders have become withered, almost comical clones of their past heroes. Look at the regression from Dr. King to Al Sharpton. During those terrible days of black struggle to be treated as American citizens, we longed for the day an African-American could be elected president. Who wouldn't while seeing what happened to African-Americans as they merely tried to live life as others did by eating at a lunch counter or being welcome in all public places? Joan Baez and other activists would place their bodies between black children and their object-throwing taunters as they entered schools and we were stirred. We felt the day this nation elected a black President would show America had truly become America.

"But not this president; not Barack Obama.

"We envisioned a black president who would govern as an American who loved this country. One who loved America for her exceptional-ness; for having the character to overcome her worst elements; for all her economic strength that it was now possible for everyone to grasp the opportunity to share.

"But now we have some ominous dots to connect and a picture takes shape: William Ayres and his causes; Rev. Wright, Father Pfleger, Van Jones*, all preaching their hateful philosophies. We saw Cuban flags and pictures of Che Guevara on walls of Obama campaign offices; red Soviet flags flying over crowds in post-election rallies. We heard the socialist views spoken to Joe the Plumber and this administration's disdain for private enterprise. Then there is the continual ignorance displayed on foreign affairs along with a complete reversal of allies and enemies.

"The vast crowds of equally ignorant sycophants crying out in ecstasy and adoration for Barack Obama was not reassuring.

"Barack Obama's presidency has lifted a rock off the Democrat Party and revealed some ominous qualities that had long been off of our collective radar; that there are many Rev. Wrights and Bill Ayers sitting in Congress. We fear the effect these people have on our culture and nation and feel we must not let anything they do or say go unnoticed."
The Tunnel Dweller

* Add to the above list Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Maxine Waters, Hillary Clinton supporters, Kamala Harris, and well, all Democrats you saw wearing matching outfits, remaining seated at President Trump's State of the Union address. And oh, did I mention Hillary Clinton?. TD

 (Sources for the above illustrations unknown) 

Hillary carries her message

Townhall

Surprise: Congress Reacts to Summit Cancellation on Party Lines

Weekly Standard 

 . . . “ 'North Korea has a long history of demanding concessions merely to negotiate,” he said. “While past administrations of both parties have fallen for this ruse, I commend the president for seeing through Kim Jong-un’s fraud.”
"Nebraska senator Ben Sasse said much the same: “Kim Jong-un is a murderous despot and habitual liar. The president made the right call to cancel this summit. If North Korea wants diplomacy, it should know that half-measures and spin about its nuclear program won’t cut it.”
"Democrats, unsurprisingly, were not laudatory. Senator Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations panel, said the cancellation appeared the result of a lack of understanding and preparation on the part of the administration." . . .

The North Korean Summit Should Stay Cancelled   . . . "The North Koreans have been yanking our chain over the last week or so, presumably trying to establish their leverage and begin a negotiation over the negotiation. They seemed to make some progress, with Trump saying the other day that maybe we could settle for something short of complete, verifiable denuclearization, which is supposed to be our core demand. The president may have tempted the North Koreans into the gamesmanship by occasionally seeming over-eager to take credit for a stupendous diplomatic success (stripping North Korea of its nukes) that hadn’t happened yet and is unlikely to happen." . . .

Good Riddance to the North Korea Summit  "It was a bad idea from the start, and Trump must hold firm to his decision to cancel it."
. . . "Second, in tangible ways North Korea was already using the summit to leverage concessions. It was an ominous sign when the U.S. canceled a training exercise involving B-52 bombers. South Korean officials had reportedly “expressed concerns” that the exercise could raise tensions before the summit. It’s routine for North Korea to demand the cancellation of joint military exercises with South Korea. It’s not routine for the U.S. and South Korea to acquiesce to those demands." . . .

What Trump is really saying in his letter to Kim Jong Un

Politico  "President Donald Trump on Thursday canceled his planned summit with Kim Jong Un in a written letter. The cancellation of the meeting — scheduled for June 12 in Singapore — appears to be a major blow to Trump’s desire to land a legacy-making deal with North Korea to denuclearize.

"Below is the full text of the letter, annotated."

Read the full text here.

Wide open

Although some of Trump’s top advisers, including national security adviser John Bolton, believe there is almost no hope for cutting an amicable deal Kim, Trump is signaling that he’s not giving up hope for a potential Nobel Prize. It is unclear whether the possibility is still realistic. Much depends on how the North Koreans respond, presumably within the coming hours, and who wants a deal more.

So North Korea will continue to be a nation living in darkness

Trump cancels Singapore summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un

"Mr. Trump must be ready to walk away, as Ronald Reagan did at Reykjavik, Iceland, in 1986." Nick Eberstadt, WSJ

CNBC  "Sadly, based on the tremendous anger and open hostility displayed in your most recent statement, I feel it is inappropriate, at this time, to have this long-planned meeting," Trump wrote in a letter to Kim, which was released Thursday morning.
. . . 
"While much of the letter was written in conciliatory terms, including praise for North Korea's recent release of three America prisoners, the U.S. president also appeared to issue a threat that conjured memories of his war of words with Kim last year." . . .

"Trump has called Un’s bluff, and walked away before the talks even commenced."

Kim must have thought Trump would be like Obama and seek a meeting at any price. Expect ridicule from Democrats, calling Trump a failure.

In Foreign Policy, Donald Trump Is The Powerful Man Barack Obama Never Could Be

The Federalist

Some men have been so consumed by jealousy that they hate ‘the man’ simply because he is what they want to be and cannot achieve.

 . . . Part of the journalistic angst that Trump is that guy comes from the fact their savior, Barack Obama, just could never be. There are two big reasons Obama’s foreign policy had all the staying power of raw shrimp in a hot car. His natural inclination to agree with foreign dictators that America is an evil place in need of “fundamental change,” as he put it, hurt him when dealing with them.

"But what hurt him the most was his rank amateur status at anything involving the real world. He never stood in a room of powerful men used to getting what they want and trying to assert their dominance. He moved seamlessly through a world of academia, liberal activism, then politics. It’s not even reasonable to expect a man to stroll off the cushy world of liberal academia into a room of wolves and expect him to perform. He got eaten alive. Conservatives joked about that video of Obama curling women’s yoga weights, but maybe the mullahs of Iran were laughing too.

"And those mullahs respect Trump. They hate his guts, but they respect him. They just recently recovered from the sore stomach muscles they got from laughing at Obama’s capitulation, just in time to have Trump take Obama’s crappy deal and rip it up in front of their faces. So, let them burn American flags and Trump posters. They do so with the knowledge they can no longer treat the American president like a piñata." . . .

Cartoons added by TD

The Trump era has exposed the dark, vindictive, and oppressive side of liberalism, but that side has always existed.

Liberalism is not the "party of the people," as it has long claimed to be: it is, rather, a despotic philosophy that because of its intention of imposing "advanced" thinking on the masses can govern only through deceit and force. 

Progressives on the Brink  . . . "No American, regardless of party preference, should fail to see the seriousness of these events.  The Watergate break-in and the cover-up that followed made for a serious crime, but it was nothing compared to what is now alleged on the part of members of the Obama administration or on the part of Obama himself.  Disclosures are at last moving forward, with House committees pressing for FBI and Justice documents and Sen. Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, requesting communications among Bruce Ohr, Christopher Steele, and others relating to the anti-Trump dossier.

"If it is true that President Obama ordered Attorney General Lynch and Director Comey to avoid bringing charges against candidate Clinton and to spy on the Trump campaign with the intention of throwing the election to Clinton, and if high officials at the FBI knowingly requested a FISA warrant on the basis of evidence known to be false, these actions will represent the most serious political crimes in the history of the country. 

. . . 

"It's also possible, and more likely, that progressives will dismiss the seriousness of whatever crimes have been committed and engage in even more desperate measures.  If that happens, only the political will of the American people will stand in their way. "  

Jeffrey Folks is the author of many books and articles on American culture including Heartland of the Imagination (2011).

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