Turmoil: AOC’s chief of staff and spokesman both leaving her congressional office

Thomas Lifson  "What’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez going to use for brains now that her brain trust is leaving her congressional office?  Saikat Chakrabarti, the multi-millionaire entrepreneur who recruited Ocasio-Cortez to run for Congress and who became her chief of staff and Svengali, is leaving her office, it was revealed Friday. Also departing her congressional payroll is her Communications Director, Corbin Trent."
. . .
At right: Chakrabarti wearing a t-shirt picturing Subhash Chandra Bose, an advocate for Indian independence from Britain, who allied with Hitler and the Japanese during WWII.
. . . 
"Recall that Chakrabarti and his Justice Democrats colleagues held auditions for promising candidates to run against moderate Democrat incumbents in deep blue districts, reportedly screening a thousand people and finding Ocasio-[Cortez] and others. Seven of the candidates backed by the group won seats on the House:  Raúl Grijalva, Ro Khanna, Ayanna Pressley, Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Pramila Jayapal." . . .

Which guy told her to do this?

UK Daily Mail: AOC's top staffers RESIGN: Firebrand Democrat's Chief of Staff and her Communications Director announce they are both leaving her team after a string of controversies  . . . "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi critiqued members of the progressive arm of the Democratic party in an interview with The New York Times.
"She called out four female Democrats known as the 'Squad' describing them as having a 'public whatever and their Twitter world' who she claimed have no following or power.

"The 'Squad' consists of Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib and Ayanna Pressley - who also faced controversial comments from President Trump.

"It would later be revealed that Pelosi also warned colleagues not to tweet about other members.

"The statement particularly aimed at Ocasio-Cortez and her team, which could have referred to Chakrabarti's comments online. 

"The New York congresswoman later told the Washington Post that she thought Pelosi's words were 'outright disrespectful.'   

"AOC's office have since confirmed to the Examiner that Chakrabarti's departure was decided before and unrelated to the public clashes with House leadership." . . . 

Tony Branco

CNN's Don Lemon and, well, CNN as a whole brought this subject to mind

Five Core Principles of Journalism

1. Truth and Accuracy

Journalists cannot always guarantee ‘truth’, but getting the facts right is the cardinal principle of journalism. We should always strive for accuracy, give all the relevant facts we have and ensure that they have been checked. When we cannot corroborate information we should say so.

2. Independence

Journalists must be independent voices; we should not act, formally or informally, on behalf of special interests whether political, corporate or cultural. We should declare to our editors – or the audience – any of our political affiliations, financial arrangements or other personal information that might constitute a conflict of interest.

3. Fairness and Impartiality

Most stories have at least two sides. While there is no obligation to present every side in every piece, stories should be balanced and add context. Objectivity is not always possible, and may not always be desirable (in the face for example of brutality or inhumanity), but impartial reporting builds trust and confidence.

4. Humanity

Journalists should do no harm. What we publish or broadcast may be hurtful, but we should be aware of the impact of our words and images on the lives of others.

5. Accountability

A sure sign of professionalism and responsible journalism is the ability to hold ourselves accountable. When we commit errors we must correct them and our expressions of regret must be sincere not cynical. We listen to the concerns of our audience. We may not change what readers write or say but we will always provide remedies when we are unfair.
. . . More at the link.

How to spot fake weather stories

Good heavens, Baltimore!

Democrat Indifference to Baltimore's Inner-City Decline Harms Minorities

President Trump was correct to shine the national spotlight on Baltimore's woes, as decades of indifference and bad policy have proven ineffective in combating serious problems that must be addressed.  It is high time for Democrats to choose to shun indifference and failed policy rather than to shun President Trump and Republicans.  This can be a game-changer, benefiting disadvantaged Americans of all backgrounds and all political persuasions, and can deliver the salvation and freedom desperately desired and all too long denied.

Baltimore's Battered Face  . . . "You can’t blame this on President Trump. He is guilty of the sin of unvarnished observation, but responsibility for this lies with Democrats who have controlled Baltimore city for decades. The last Republican mayor in Baltimore city was Theodore McKeldin, who served when Lyndon Johnson was president. More than 50 years of liberal tyranny and oppression has successfully brought about a twisted dystopian reality in Baltimore and the world’s eyes are now on us. But it’s not because of President Trump; it’s because a half-century of liberal neglect gave the world something to look at, and it’s not pretty."  

Four fans unveil 'Trump 2020' banner at Baltimore Orioles game before security EJECTS them as angry spectators chant 'take it down!'

Baltimore’s Homicide Rate Is So High, Residents Could Claim U.S. Asylum If They Weren’t Americans
"People have long misunderstood and misrepresented Baltimore, my cherished hometown, but much of what President Donald Trump said this past weekend about Charm City was right on the nose. The president categorized Baltimore as a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess,” which sparked ire among his always-vocal choir of critics but offered no untrue information." . . .

Democrats Don't Care About Baltimore  . . . "Meanwhile, Baltimore -- the actual city, not the metaphor -- could desperately use some attention. If anything, Trump's tweets underplayed the crisis. Last year, the city recorded 309 homicides, a rate of more than 50 per 100,000 people. If Baltimore were a country, it would have the fourth-highest murder rate in the world, barely below Venezuela." . . .

Baltimore: Charm City Gone Terribly Wrong "Democrats and fake news media repeatedly use their tactic of shouting “racist” at anyone who dares to tell the truth about their failed exploitative policies.  Bill O’Reilly was ripped to shreds by leftists for his compassionate talking points memo in which he addressed issues plaguing black America: fatherless households, black-on-black crime, and more.  Leftists’ response was, how dare O’Reilly, a white guy, lecture blacks?  Folks, everything O’Reilly courageously said was 100% true.

"If Democrats were truly the advocates for blacks they claim to be, they would encourage blacks to assume responsibility for their lives.  Every issue plaguing blacks can and must be corrected by blacks." . . ,

Obama: good guy or bad guy?

Legal Insurrection: Establishment Democrats and Liberal Media Upset by Obama Bashing at Democrat Debates

"Wednesday’s debate was striking in the amount of time the candidates spent fighting not only with each other, but going after Obama’s record. At many times, it seemed like Biden was the only person who was standing up for the former president.

"This did not go unnoticed by other prominent Democrats.

"Alexander Bolton writes at The Hill:

Democrats express alarm over debate’s negative tone

Democratic lawmakers were left shaken and worried by Wednesday night’s bruising presidential debate, which left some fearing the fight will hurt the party and result in a damaged nominee.

Senate Democrats are frustrated that candidates are spending too much time and effort attacking each other for relatively small policy differences, while not focusing their ire on President Trump.

They worry the intraparty food fight is overshadowing what they see as the main goal: Drawing a clear contrast between the Democratic candidates and Trump on health care and other key issues.

Another scary statement in this piece:4321`“I’m of the view that we have always been a party of ideas,” said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.). “I think everybody should sort of consider that.”
When Democrats rule this nation, I wake up every morning, wondering what ideas they have in store for us today. TD

Michael Moore: Only Michelle Obama can save us from 4 more years of Trump
Mr. Big would know; he carries a lot of weight around Hollywood.
We predicted that as the Democrat presidential field looked likely to yield a sure loss to Trump, Democrats would turn their lonely eyes to Michelle Obama, possibly as late as the convention if it looked like a Bernie win.

• Get Ready for Michelle Obama 2020 (September 10, 2017)
• Michelle Obama 2020. Yes She Can. But will she run? (January 29, 2018)
• Michelle Obama 2020 coming into focus with Memoirs release just after 2018 midterms (February 25, 2018)
• Michelle Obama may be best Dem hope for 2020, but says she doesn’t want the job (April 7, 2018)
• Rasmussen Poll: Michelle Obama would beat Trump (November 19, 2018)
• Michelle Obama’s Grammys Buzz – A reminder of the mediocrity of Democrat presidential candidates (February 11, 2019)
• With Bread Line Bernie rising, expect Michelle-mentum (February 21, 2019)
• Don’t rule out Michelle Obama as Democrats’ Hail Mary Pass to prevent a Bernie apocalypse (April 24, 2019)

Lackluster presidential field causing desperate Dems to turn to hopes of Michelle Obama running  . . . "People who know her aver that Mrs. Obama is not interested in the presidency, that she enjoys her life of luxury and leisure, and would rather not run.  I've never met the woman, but she does not seem like Hillary Clinton in a lust for power.  She just said she has "zero interest" in running.

"On the other hand, she continues to share her home with Valerie Jarrett, who introduced her to her husband, who ran things while Barack was watching sports on TV, shooting hoops, and hitting golf balls, who most certainly is interested in political power."

I still consider this scenario unlikely.  Everything I have learned about it suggests that running a presidential campaign is trying and exhausting.  You have to really, really want to be president to put up with it.  And I sense that Mrs. Obama already resents what she had to put up with for her husband to become POTUS.  Can you imagine her campaigning with her heart full of resentment?

CNN did not ask a question about abortion

Silvio Canto, Jr.  "Am I the only one who found this surprising?  CNN did not ask a question about abortion during the two debates.

"In fact, even Planned Parenthood complained about it, according to this tweet:

In nearly 3 hours, there was not one question on abortion access or reproductive health care — despite the fact that the Trump administration is actively trying to dismantle our nation’s program for affordable birth control with a gag rule.

"No question about "reproductive rights"?  Wonder why?

"I would have expected, as the tweet suggests, for the candidates to unleash a fierce attack against President Trump.

"But no question was asked!

"I cannot read the minds of the moderators, but this could not be an honest oversight.  My guess is that they avoided this issue to keep former V.P. Biden from getting into another fight with the left wing.

"Or did the moderators run out of time or have too much to talk about?

"Sorry, but it's hard to believe that Democrats would have a debate and not have an opportunity to tell us about "reproductive rights."  Or maybe they have internal polling that tells them that later-term abortion is not playing well between the coasts."

This would have been a good question to ask:

The Dangerous Invective against Trump

Victor Davis Hanson
The continued litany of threats to physically assault or kill a president will haunt the country long after Trump is gone.

"Former vice president and current presidential candidate Joe Biden has bragged on two occasions that he would like to beat up President Donald Trump.
"In March 2018, Biden huffed, “They asked me would I like to debate this gentleman, and I said no. I said, ‘If we were in high school, I’d take him behind the gym and beat the hell out of him.’”
"Biden’s tough-guy braggadocio was apparently no slip. A year later, he doubled down on his physical threats.
“ 'The idea that I’d be intimidated by Donald Trump? . . . He’s the bully that I’ve always stood up to. He’s the bully that used to make fun when I was a kid that I stutter, and I’d smack him in the mouth.”
"Had former vice president Dick Cheney ever dared to say something similar of President Obama, what would the media reaction have been?
"Recently, Senator Corey Booker (D., N.J.), another presidential candidate, took up where Biden left off:
“ 'Trump is a guy who you understand he hurts you, and my testosterone sometimes makes me want to feel like punching him, which would be bad for this elderly, out-of-shape man that he is if I did that. This physically weak specimen.' ” . . .

‘Did Kamala Feed You These Talking Points?’ Tulsi DUNKS All Over Biased MSNBC Host

The media did not like this, Tulsi.  And in response, you had to be taken down; welcome to our world, TG.

Real Clear Politics  
. . .  "GABBARD: I want to break this down to what we are talking about today because you're talking about a meeting that took place three years ago.

"Every time that I come back here on MSNBC, you guys talk to me about these issues. It sounds like these are talking points that Kamala Harris and her campaign are feeding you because she's refusing to address the questions proposed to her.

"YASMIN VOSSOUGHIAN, MSNBC HOST: Congresswoman, it's important for the American people to have context about your foreign policy issues and where you stand. If you're leading with foreign policy and running for president of the United States, a meeting with Bashar al-Assad, which I’m sure you understand, is a very controversial meeting to take hence the reason why when you come on MSNBC it is important to talk to you about it. And of course every anchor has a different perspective and questions to ask of you.

"GABBARD: Every single time for three years? This is where the propaganda comes in."

Kamala (comma-la) Harris commented on her dust-up with Gabbard

HARRIS: Especially when some people are at zero or 1%, whatever she might be at. So I did expect that I might take hits tonight. But, you know, listen, this coming from someone who has been an apologist for an individual, Assad, who has murdered the people of his, you know, of his country like cockroaches. She who has embraced and been an apologist in a way to refuse to call him a war criminal. I can only take what she says and her opinion so seriously. So, you know, I'm prepared to move on.

 Kamala Harris stooped low to smear Tulsi Gabbard after getting taken-down by her in presidential debate  . . . "Rather than respond substantively to the issues, Kamala Harris’s campaign resorted to the lowest form of smear – one familiar to supporters of President Trump.  It’s “Russia! Russia! Russia!” all over again.

"Senator Harris left it to her press secretary, Ian Sams, to deliver the smear in a series of tweets:" . . .

"The Russian propaganda machine that tried to influence the 2016 election is now promoting the presidential aspirations of a controversial Hawaii Democrat"

With help from Hollywood, AKA the women of "The View":

. . . "The ladies of The View chimed in, with other smears of Tulsi, with Joy Behar noting “Republicans like her,” and then nodding her head [ominously], and Sonny Hostin calling her a “Trojan Horse.' ” . . .

Tulsi Gabbard Is Now A Russian Agent  . . . "You see, it couldn’t just be that Kamala Harris a terrible politician who has no business running for President. No, the only reason Gabbard attacked her is because the Russians made her do it. Do you sense trend yet? Anytime anyone threatens mainstream Democratic thought, it’s always the Kremlin’s fault. "Funny how that works.

"MSNBC’s Joy Reid, who’s never met a conspiracy theory she didn’t love, chimed in as well."

Wajahat Ali

✔@WajahatAli

 · Jul 31, 2019

Beware the Russian bots and their promotion of Tulsi Gabbard and sowing racial dischord, especially around Kamala Harris.

Joy Reid

✔@JoyAnnReid

It is notable that her purpose in these debates has been specifically to take Harris down.

"That’s called having a debate, Joy. That’s what the purpose of that gathering last night was. " . . .  Sheesh.

HISTORIAN: DEM THREATS AGAINST PRESIDENT REALLY 'SCARY'

Clarion News

"Any American in Santa Fe, New Mexico, or Keokuk, Iowa, or Fargo, North Dakota, who expresses a desire to “beat the hell” out of President Trump should expect a knock on the door from the Secret Service.
"Just to ask questions, you understand.
"But such violent rhetoric is becoming more common in the political arena, and Victor Davis Hanson warns in a Daily Signal column that there are “James Hodgkinsons” out there who turn those words into action.
"Hanson, a historian at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University and author of “The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won,” cited one of the more prominent threats to Trump.
"That’s from Joe Biden, who said, “If we were in high school, I’d take him behind the gym and beat the hell out of him.”
"Hanson noted that one year later, Biden “doubled down on his physical threats.”
"Biden stated: “The idea that I’d be intimidated by Donald Trump? … He’s the bully that I’ve always stood up to. He’s the bully that used to make fun when I was a kid that I stutter, and I’d smack him in the mouth.”
"Whew!
“ 'Had former Vice President Dick Cheney ever dared to say something similar of President Barack Obama, what would the media reaction have been?” Hanson speculated." . . ..

The Impossible Elegance of George Will

What do conservatives seek to conserve? “We seek to conserve the American Founding.” George Will

National Review

If progressives studied his latest brilliant tome, we’d have fewer progressives.

"George Will saved me from two unfortunate habits: overwriting and the Democratic party
"I model that remark after my favorite of Will’s many witticisms: “Football combines the two worst things about America: It is violence punctuated by committee meetings.” Will is rightly praised for his erudition. The Conservative Sensibility, the summa he has just published, is a tour de force. He is the dean of conservatism. But I don’t want to praise him for that, or not only for that.
. . . 
"Will’s writing style is more like Cary Grant’s suits: all dazzling simplicity. He is sober yet delightful, restrained yet vivid. In a word he is smart. It would be as shocking to come across a superfluous phrase or a turgid passage in Will as it would be to spot Grant looking like Bluto Blutarsky. . . . 

"Some Will gems from the past: 
“The nice part about being a pessimist is that you are constantly being either proven right or pleasantly surprised.” 

“Being elected to Congress is regarded as being sent on a looting raid for one’s friends.” 

“Freedom means the freedom to behave coarsely, basely, foolishly.” 

“A politician’s words reveal less about what he thinks about his subject than what he thinks about his audience.” 

“The future has a way of arriving unannounced.” 

After Her Shredding of Kamala, Drive-Bys Call Tulsi a Russian Puppet!

Rush Limbaugh  . . . "And no sooner did I give you the analysis that the media is claiming Russia is behind Tulsi Gabbard, here we have a story. This is from Breitbart. “Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA)’s campaign press secretary suggested Russia was behind Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) after she landed an effective blow on Harris’ record as a prosecutor during the Democrat debates on Wednesday night. Her press secretary, Ian Sams, tweeted shortly after the attack an NBC News article from February 2019 claiming the ‘Russian propaganda machine’ was promoting Gabbard.”

"Now, look at what’s happening. This, folks, is such a teachable moment, such an exciting moment. For three years — actually longer than that — but for three intense years the Democrats attempted to overturn the 2016 election with a bogus silent coup. It consisted of Obama DOJ and FBI people, intelligence, you know the drill. They all make up this story about the Russians stealing the election, colluding with Trump."

. . . "Tulsi Gabbard destroyed Kamala Harris. I don’t know if it’s gonna affect the primary, but just in terms of an attack it was effective. She just rip filleted her. And so what’s the retort? “The Russians are working with Tulsi Gabbard.” Russian bots are flooding Twitter today with likes and retweets of Tulsi Gabbard."

Kamala Harris Campaign Blames Russia for Humiliation by Tulsi Gabbard  . . . "Her press secretary, Ian Sams, tweeted shortly after the attack an NBC News article from February 2019 claiming the “Russian propaganda machine” was promoting Gabbard:

“ 'Reporters writing their stories with eyes on the modern-day assignment desk of Twitter, read this: ‘The Russian propaganda machine that tried to influence the 2016 election is now promoting the presidential aspirations of a controversial Hawaii Democrat,'” he tweeted. He later retweeted his tweet." . . .

Heaven help us when these people run this nation and anyone dares to speak out against them.

Tulsi Goes for the Throat: 'People Suffered' Under Kamala's 'Reign'  . . . " 'The people who suffered under your reign as prosecutor," said Gabbard, "you owe them an apology." It's fair to say that Harris received a major wound last night and it's likely that her easily-verifiable record will continue to dog her throughout her campaign." Gabbard Calls Harris's Flailing Response to Attacks 'Pathetic'

A Women’s Rights Group Is Enraged After After Biological Male Wins Women’s Weightlifting Match

Defiant America

Yay, Cece! You go, girl! But who's going to make her wear a Burkha in Saudi Arabia?

"A top-ranked runner in NCAA women’s track is dominating the competition and setting records one year after competing as a man at the same level.

"Cece Telfer. a biological male (transgender), won the women’s 400-meter hurdles last month and beat the second place competitor by over a full second.

"Transgenders continue to dominate women’s sport as Laurel Hubbard won three medals, two gold and one silver, in women’s heavyweight weightlifting competition in Samoa this month, Fox News reported.

"Women’s rights groups say that Hubbard, who competed for New Zealand in men’s weightlifting before her transition in her thirties, is having an “unfair” advantage against women and shouldn’t be allowed to compete in the Olympics in the women’s category.

"New Zealand-based lobby group “Speak Up For Women” called on the country’s Olympic committee and sports minister to “defend women’s sport,” Reuters reported.

"Hubbard, who competed for New Zealand in men’s weightlifting before her transition in her thirties, won two golds and a silver in three of the women’s heavyweight categories at the Games in Samoa earlier this month.

"She topped the podium ahead of Samoan runner up and Commonwealth Games champion Feagaiga Stowers in both categories, triggering outrage in the Pacific island nation.

"Fight on ladies; you have a lot of support! It is so totally unfair! It’s time to come back to reality—males were created with more strength and stamina!!!"

The 20 Strongest Arguments For and Against A Single Payer Health Care System

Business Pundit  "There’s hardly a faster way to turn a family dinner sour than by bringing up single-payer health care (“single payer”). Often known as universal health care, single payer has been an extremely polarizing topic for decades. Some of the basics of the debate include the fact that single payer is a method for organizing health care financing through the government. Single payer is primarily financed through taxes and pays the costs of essential health care for all residents of the state.

"The issue of whether or not the United States should adopt a single payer health care system has been at the forefront of national elections for decades. Common throughout the rest of the industrialized world, opponents of single payer often cite the differing needs, the role of America, and preferences of the American people as rationale against single payer. Add to that the fact that a majority of Americans are happy with their health care. Not to mention America’s current multi-payer health care system is the center of the world’s most cutting edge biomedical research. For many reasons, single payer is far short of a clear conclusion.  

"With that said, the United States is the only very highly developed nation without universal health care. That’s over 50 countries of diverse size, values, economic stature, and cultures. And many of these nations have implemented single payer successfully.  Add to that that many health outcomes in America aren’t getting better, and that Americans spend by far the most money on health care of any nation in the world. For many, the rationale for drastically changing our healthcare system is strong. With solid arguments on either side, we leave it to you to decide.  Is single payer health care really the right move for American health care?' . . .