Obama tried to make every shutdown as painful as possible; here’s how Trump’s team is doing the opposite

Herman Cain

The last thing Obama wanted to do was apply skilled management tactics to minimize the pain for the public. He wanted everyone hurting, freaking out and upset because he knew the media would keep telling people the Republicans caused the shutdown.

. . . "But Obama exploited his shutdowns shamelessly for political purposes. The first thing that would always happen would be barricades and CLOSED signs at popular tourist attractions. Next you’d hear the sordid tales of furloughed workers and spoiled meat that would end up on your grocery shelves because there were no FDA inspectors to intercept it. (That’s now how it really works, but who cares when the narrative is working?)"
. . .

Photo added by TD

"Trump has done exactly the opposite. He has dispatched his budget people and his legal team to find every legal and administrative way possible to keep things running smoothly. There are limits to what the law allows, and there are limits to the resources available. But everywhere they can minimize the pain, they’re doing it. 

"Is Trump going to get credit for this in the media? Of course not. They’re going to portray the 25 percent shutdown as Armageddon regardless of what the facts really are. They’re going to blame Trump for what’s happening – even though it takes two sides to make a deal or not to make one – and they’re not going to make any distinction between a well-managed shutdown and one exploited baldly for political purposes." . . .

Lift Up Your Hearts: The Democrats Are in a Shambles

"America is truly blessed in unsuspected ways. Sleep soundly, Mr. President."

Conrad Black  "It is time to rekindle our political spirits in this new year, and to take stock of the subjects of encouragement.


"First, the takeover of the House of Representatives by the Democrats was, on balance, not as jarring to the vital organs as was feared. As a figure of horror, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has become almost like Bette Davis, one can believe she just acts the part, though she acts it convincingly. And she has earned her spurs as a Democratic legislator with staying power, the first speaker to serve non-consecutive terms since Sam Rayburn (D-Texas). She certainly didn’t get much back-talk from all those bushy-tailed Democrats who were going to send her off to knit antimacassars for her grandchildren. She does not, however, appear to be an effective spokesperson as leader of the opposition, and is strangely inarticulate for someone who must have spent more time in public speaking for the last 40 years than almost anyone in the country.

"A second source of happiness, despite the Democrats’ window-rattling ululations of joy, is that they have no mandate to do anything, and they have taken the bait the president dangled to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Pelosi at the White House three weeks ago. The Democratic leadership seems to think they can convince the country that the well-being of 800,000 federal employees, which could be ameliorated without capitulating on the spending bill, is more important than dealing with the protracted shambles in immigration, which most Americans acknowledge to be the country’s greatest problem.

"Third, the official debut of Schumer and Pelosi as leaders of the opposition where one of them is actually at the head of part of a branch of government, following the president’s address from the Oval Office on Monday, was a hilarious fiasco. They made an American Gothic apparition with forked tongues rather than a pitchfork and looked like an off-duty pantomime horse doing straight-up. They aren’t making it. They failed to convince anyone that a few weeks of furlough for government employees is more worrisome than the unarmed invasion of the United States by millions of unskilled foreigners.

 

"Fourth, Speaker Pelosi is shutting down her caucus-members who were calling for impeachment of the president, the surest sign that the whole idea is made of straw and hot air." . . . Full article.

Proof that most leftist critics of Israel don’t give a damn about Palestinians, they just hate Jews

Thomas Lifson  "One of the best and most conclusive tests of antisemitism among Israel’s many critics is whether or not they apply the same standards to others that they apply to the Jewish homeland. Virtually every time Israel responds to violence launched from Palestinian enclaves, we read and see stories damning it as “not proportional” or “callous” or ‘racist.”
"But what about when Palestinians are responded to by other nations?
"Writing in The Forward last year, Elizabeth Tusrkov published a very enlightening, and pretty conclusive examination of this question:
. . .

And yet, despite these horrors, no significant protests took place anywhere in the West or Arab world. The traditional champions of the Palestinian cause — those same people who have protested Israeli attacks on Gaza — have remained silent as the Palestinian Yarmouk refugee camp near Damascus in Syria was shelled by Russian and Syrian air forces, while militias loyal to the Assad regime enforced a brutal siege.

"If there was a chorus of condemnation of these attacks, and lionization of the Palestinians as anti-imperialists, it must have escaped my attention."

Exasperated Democrats try to rein in Ocasio-Cortez

Politico

The effort is part carrot, part stick. But it's far from clear the anti-establishment political novice can be made to play ball.

 

 

 But man, can she dance.

Govern; maybe not so much.

 

"Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is already making enemies in the House Democratic Caucus — and some of its members are mounting an operation to bring the anti-establishment, democratic socialist with 2.2 million Twitter followers into the fold.
"The effort, described by nearly 20 lawmakers and aides, is part carrot, part stick: Some lawmakers with ties to Ocasio-Cortez are hoping to coax her into using her star power to unite Democrats and turn her fire on Republicans. Others simultaneously warn Ocasio-Cortez is destined for a lonely, ineffectual career in Congress if she continues to treat her own party as the enemy.

Story Continued Below

“ 'I’m sure Ms. Cortez means well, but there’s almost an outstanding rule: Don’t attack your own people,” said Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.). “We just don’t need sniping in our Democratic Caucus.”

"Incumbent Democrats are most annoyed by Ocasio-Cortez’s threat to back primary opponents against members of their ranks she deems too moderate. But their frustration goes beyond that: Democratic leaders are upset that she railed against their new set of House rules on Twitter the first week of the new Congress. Rank and file are peeved that there’s a grassroots movement to try to win her a top committee post they feel she doesn’t deserve." . . .


h/t to Nikki Lund

 

Donald Trump to Jim Acosta: ‘Good Job! I Appreciate the Sales Pitch’

I worry that this newest kerfuffle can affect the Trump-Acosta relationship in a negative way.

Breitbart

“ 'Good job yesterday,” Trump said to Acosta after spotting him at the White House. “I appreciate your sales pitch.”

"Acosta filmed a video of a “steel slat” barrier on the Southern border, noting that there was no crisis there, which prompted wide-spread mockery on Twitter from Trump supporters." . . .

 

 

 

De Blasio builds ‘privacy fence’ around Gracie Mansion

 

 

 

The compassionate left in one photo

WATCH: CNN Contributor Anna Navarro Files Her Nails During Panel While Discussing Atrocities Due to Illegal Immigration  As Cortes was trying to describe the crimes and crime rate due to illegal immigrants and cited reports that conflict with the left’s narrative that the illegal alien crime rates aren’t anything to be worried about. While Cuomo flatly denied that any such reports exist — they do — Navarro made a show of sighing loudly, then pulled out her nail fail and began to attend to her nails for a moment.
“It’s fake news for you to inject BS and say that it’s equal to the real data,” Cuomo said of Cortes’s point.. . .. . . "After Navarro began doing her nails, Cortes took a shot at her disrespectful gesture.
“You can do your nails,” Cortes told Navarro. “You know who can’t do their nails are people who have been killed, Ana, by dangerous known illegal aliens who have been allowed to stay in this country because of the leftist policies that people like you promote in so-called sanctuary cities.”

"Navarro then complained that she was tired of being labeled a leftist, but Cortes didn’t care.
“ 'I don’t care if you’re tired of it. Go back to filing your nails,” Cortes said." . . .

CNN contributor at left

Gross: Ana Navarro Sighs, Files Her Nails During Discussion of Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants  . . . " 'You can do your nails," he fumed.  "You know who can't do their nails?  People who have been killed, Ana, by dangerous, known illegal aliens who've been allowed to stay in this country because of the leftist policies that people like you promote in so-called sanctuary cities."  Navarro dismissively waved her hand at the camera . . ."

The Ironies of Illegal Immigration

Victor Davis Hanson

Mexico does not explain why its citizens wish to leave their birth country — or why they are eager to enter a country ridiculed by the Mexican press and government.

. . . "Estimates suggest that there are eleven million to 13 million Mexican citizens currently living in the United States illegally. Millions more emigrated previously and are now U.S. citizens.
"A recent poll revealed that one-third of Mexicans (34 percent) would like to emigrate to the United States. With Mexico having a population of about 130 million, that amounts to some 44 million would-be immigrants.

"Such massive potential emigration into the United States makes no sense.

First, Mexico is a naturally rich country. It ranks 19th in the world in proven oil reserves and is currently the twelfth-largest oil producer. Mexico certainly has significantly more natural advantages than do far wealthier per capita Singapore, Taiwan, or Chile.
Mexico also is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations and earns billions in foreign exchange from visitors. It enjoys a temperate climate, is rich in minerals, and has millions of acres of fertile farmland and a long coastline." . . .
. . .
"Mexico — unlike, say, Japan or Switzerland, which are far less naturally endowed and yet far wealthier — has never fully adopted Western paradigms of free-market economics, constitutionally protected free speech, due process, gender equity, private property rights, an autonomous press, government transparency, an independent judiciary, and religious diversity and tolerance.

"To the degree that Mexico can make strides toward these goals, its population will stabilize and become more affluent — and also become less likely to emigrate." . . .

Don't believe Democrats for one minute when they tell you Mexicans love America and would be loyal citizens. Maybe, but here it looks otherwise:
U.S. soccer team booed in their own country as Mexican fans turn LA into an 'away' game     "Majority of 93,000 fans supported Mexico"
"If the U.S. soccer team were hoping for the home advantage during Saturday's Gold Cup final then they were in for a nasty surprise.
"Despite being the 'home' side in California's Rose Bowl stadium, the majority of fans - most of them American born of naturalized Mexicans - booed and jeered the U.S. team.
"The surprising scenes were followed by angry outbursts from U.S. team goalkeeper Tim Howard, who was visibly shaken after the entire post match ceremony was conducted in Spanish." . . .

Well, better them than what Western Europe has going for it. I can say that while working with children in barrios, I encountered gang members and was treated with nothing but kindness by them. TD
 

Justice Ginsburg “Not Even In DC” As Grave Health Rumors Swirl

DC Whispers  "Via comments from Dr. Sebastian Gorka last night, (as well as repeated whispers from the Supreme Court press pool) rumors are swirling that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was relocated to New York City and preparing to vacate her position due to illness. While some claim she continues to receive treatment and/or recover from her recent cancer diagnosis, others suggest she is in fact receiving hospice care in New York City and hasn’t been in Washington D.C. for several days. The truth perhaps can be found somewhere in the middle of both those extremes but what is undeniable is that should Ginsburg step down the battle to fill that vacancy on the Court will likely be as contentious and hard-fought as anything we’ve yet seen.

——-
"UPDATE: Some media push back against reports like those from Dr. Gorka indicate Justice Ginsburg is “recovering” from her cancer treatment and plans to rejoin the Court some time next month. Again, the truth likely is to be found somewhere in the middle of both extremes."  Read more.

Please Enjoy This Video Of Jim Acosta Owning Himself At The Border Wall

ForAmerica

The Federalist  "It’s starting to seem as though Jim Acosta is biased. His latest video report must truly be seen to be believed."

. . .
"Of course, Acosta thought he was undermining Trump’s “national emergency” narrative by depicting a relatively peaceful scene along a section of steel slats in McAllen, Texas on Thursday. Were he not so blinded by his own bias and thirst for retweets, Acosta may have realized the “tranquil[ity]” he encountered actually kind of makes Trump’s point about the wall. But that’s asking a little too much."
. . .
     

Josh Holmes

✔ @HolmesJosh     Expressing shock that there is no imminent threat as he walks along....a border wall. I think that’s the point, right?

. . . "Ever fueled by an aggressive self-awareness deficit, Acosta just couldn’t help but frame his 30-second video report as an indictment of Trump’s policy, making his self-own that much sweeter. The only disadvantage here is that we’re spilling another round of ink on Acosta, which is ultimately what the guy wants. What I want, on the other hand, is Burger King, so at least Acosta has that. "

Emily Jashinsky is culture editor at The Federalist. You can follow her on Twitter @emilyjashinsky .

CNN's Jim Acosta takes heat after showing border fence just might be working

“ 'Jim Acosta just posted one of the biggest self owns ever,” social media strategist Caleb Hull responded. ‘He's walking along the border where there's a wall in place talking about how there's nothing that ‘resembles a national emergency situation’ and ‘there's no migrants trying to rush.’ "That's because there's a wall, Jim.”

"Others swiping at Acosta included one of his former CNN colleagues Peter Hamby." . . .

 

ForAmerica

Ryan Saavedra

 

Not About the Wall: Democrats are Rejecting a Long List of Other Border Security Measures to Spite Trump

Katie Pavlich  . . . "Last week, Office of Budget and Management Acting Director Russell Vought sent a letter to the Senate Appropriations Committee outlining requirements for an adequate funding bill. 

"Appropriations bills for fiscal year (FY) 2019 that have already been considered by the current and previous Congress are inadequate to fully address these critical issues. Any agreement for the current year should satisfy the following priorities," the letter states. "The President requests at least $563 million for 75 additional Immigration Judges and support staff to reduce the backlog of pending immigration cases." 

"The current backlog for asylum claims made at the border is 800,000 cases. According to the Department of Homeland Security, asylum claims have increased by 2000 percent over the past five years and approximately 90 percent of them are thrown out in court. President Trump has also requested additional funding for 750 new Border Patrol Agents and $571 million for 2,000 additional Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents to help "address gang violence, smuggling and trafficking, and the spread of drugs in our communities."

"Meanwhile, President Trump is specifically providing more resources on requests Democrats have been making. They are the following:  .  .  .

 See the Democrat list here.

"Significantly, the President is requesting nearly as much funding for ICE detention beds as he is for a border barrier." . . .  (Emphasis mine, TD)

What a Socialist Really Wants

Socialism and communism are often presented as scientifically derived theories about economics and politics.  That's the pretentious academic surface.  In day-to-day practical terms, however, our left-wing visionaries try to answer this question: who should run the world?  Inevitable answer: They should.

 Bruce Deitrick Price    "What exactly is a socialist?  You could spend all day studying encyclopedias and not settle anything.  Using various definitions, you could probably prove that anybody is or isn't a socialist.
"So let's talk to a socialist.  Ignore the verbiage and look inside his head.  When someone announces to the world, "I'm a socialist," what is that person thinking?
"With this focus, everything becomes simpler.  Socialists may not be able to claim experience, learning, smarts, or success.  But they make up for all that by a boundless certitude about philosophical and political matters.  It's as if they, albeit atheists, are guided by a divine vision.
"What is the central assertion contained in that vision?  Here, I believe, is what the self-proclaimed socialist is saying to the rest of us:
" 'You pathetic losers are clearly not qualified to run your own lives.  Or if you think you are, you're probably in the grip of dangerous beliefs that need to be discarded.  All in all, it would be better if you stayed out of the way and let experts manage your life.  That would be I and my cronies."
"That's it.  "I'm a socialist" means "From now on, I'll be in charge, fortunately.  You can take a hike."
"What was the essence of Hillary Clinton's campaign?  She seemed to think she had a right to take charge and order everyone else around.  Saul Alinsky, her mentor, felt the same way.  I suspect that Obama agreed with both of them."

ABC News throws Bill Clinton under the bus; "Why now?" indeed

James Mullin  "This Thursday (January 10^th) in primetime the unthinkable happened: ABC ran a two-hour special describing what a screw-up, perv, and narcissist William Jefferson Clinton was.  A parade of ABC reporters/news folks chimed in, clucking how awful he really was at heart.  But isn’t this the network of George Stephanopoulos (the unbiased news anchor), Martha Raddatz (crying on live TV at the loss of Hillary Clinton in 2016), and Chris (the lesser) Cuomo?  How can this be?  Has the North Pole shifted?  Has the sun darkened? It was truly hilarious to watch the parade of objective ABC notables solemnly intoning what a reprobate Bill was throughout the Lewinsky fiasco.  It raises the question as to where were they in the 1990s when he was apparently molesting and raping his way from Arkansas north to D.C., and jeopardizing U.S. national security along the way (blackmail anyone?)? But it raises the yet even more tantalizing question of what has changed?  Why now?

"Despite the left’s inevitable ability to shoot itself in the foot (hats off to Mr. Maduro and the Chuck and Nancy American Gothic tableau), I’m still of the belief that there is some semi-intelligent if not beneficent being(s) (Soros, Bloomberg, Gates, Buffet, Zuckerberg, Kim Jong IL, Pee Wee Herman) that hold the strings behind the political/educational/media/cultural shift that has been ongoing in the U.S. and the West at large since the 1930s.  Take a few steps back and it’s hard to miss it.  If that’s the case, then someone(s) have decided that the Clintons are (finally) out.  But who is in?  Clearly a sea change is coming.  Last night did everything but to announce it with trumpets.  The question is, why and why now? "   Watch the full episode here

More here. Part 2
Part 3
Part 4