Twenty-three nations embrace Trump peace plan, 7 in Middle East

Washington Examiner  "Nearly two dozen world leaders have signaled their openness to President Trump’s sweeping new peace plan for Israel and Palestine, ignoring claims in the U.S. media that it was dead on arrival to focus on it as a beefy starting point.

"A statement from Bahrain was typical of the reaction that has flooded into the White House since Trump unveiled the plan Wednesday. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs commends the United States of America for its determined efforts to advance the peace process,” Bahrain said.

"Qatar said in a statement that it “appreciates the endeavors of President Trump and the current U.S. administration to find solutions for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.”

"The plan has been three years in the making and is considered the most detailed ever by an American administration. It came on a very busy week that included the signing of the new North American free trade agreement, a major immigration victory in the Supreme Court, and the continued impeachment debate.

"With 23 governments applauding the peace plan, the world is “showing a willingness to receive our plan,” said an administration official. Some seven of those are in the Middle East.

"But the plan has also sparked violent protests in Palestinian areas such as the West Bank.

"Trump’s “Peace to Prosperity” plan links diplomatic and economic policy in a bid to settle the border issue between Israel and Palestine and provide a path to economic wealth for citizens.

"The president announced it with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his side, leading officials in Palestine and Iran to dismiss it, but prompting nations in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East to express openness to it." . . .

. . . 

The [Wall Street Journal] wrote: “The Trump administration has wooed officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, and other nations in the region in an effort to transcend the political impasse, and to some extent they are responding. The most important regional players—Saudi Arabia and the U.A.E.—both urged Palestinian leaders to accept the Trump plan as a basis for new talks with Israel, a move that would force them to make significant concessions, such as Israeli annexation of the Jordan Valley.”

No word at all as to what Mitt Romney will feel about it. TD

Trump Takes Out Another Top Terrorist In The Middle East

What? No due process?

Daily Wire  "President Donald Trump appears to have added another name to the list of terrorists that his administration has killed as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) reportedly launched a drone strike that killed the leader of Al Qaeda’s affiliate in Yemen.

Trumped

     “ 'The officials expressed confidence that the Qaeda leader, Qassim al-Rimi, was killed in a January airstrike in Yemen but were awaiting confirmation before making a public announcement,” The New York Times reported. “If confirmed, his death could represent a significant blow to the Qaeda affiliate, which remains one of the most potent branches of the terrorist group. The Yemen branch, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, has tried to attack the United States and Europe and is thought to still want to.”
     "The Times reported the CIA learned about al-Rimi’s location in November from an informant in Yemen and then started to track him using drones and other technology.
     "Thomas Joscelyn, a senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told the Times: “He was an Al Qaeda veteran whose career started in the camps in pre-9/11 Afghanistan. After he was busted out of prison, he was part of Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula’s relaunch management team, becoming their military commander.”
     "The news comes after a Trump-authorized drone strike killed Iranian terrorist leader Qassem Soleimani, Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force (IRGC-QF), in early January." . . .More...

Are Battle Lines Being Drawn? The Elements of Civil War Are Here

Canada Free Press

     "What started in whispers is now appearing in print…American Thinker, Market Watch, Huffington Post, Washington Times, National Review, Daily Wire, Breitbart, Real Clear Politics, and The New Yorker, among others. They are writing about the possibility of a second civil war in this country, a redo of            Democrats’ nullification of federal law, the insistent opposition and rejection of the lawful election of a president, the movement of many of our citizens to a more agreeable state, and acts of violence.
     "These elements of civil war are now with us once again…nullification, separation, rejection, and violence. We can argue on the order, but the same elements that 159 years ago transported this country from peace and unity into the hell of armed conflict have reappeared, complete with a great social issue of our own…abortion.
     "The Democrats’ past subversion cost 750,000 lives with hundreds of thousands wounded in a country of 31 million… an entire generation of sons nearly wiped out and/or maimed.
     "Liberalism was once a fight for liberty, civil rights, equality before the law, a color blind society, free-speech, limited government, a re-commitment to Judeo-Christian principles, equal opportunity, and support for capitalism. It has now evolved into a full-blown communist drive. If anyone wants to call it democratic socialism, they will only be kidding themselves. I will call it communism for the sake of accuracy.
     "The precursor to the American Civil War was the Nullification Crisis of 1832. Having originated in South Carolina, it advanced the idea that a state did not have to abide by federal law, that it could nullify laws it did not agree with, or were found to be damaging to their interests. President Jackson was ready to send federal troops to heel the defiant states, forcing them to obey federal law, but the legendary Senator Henry Clay of Kentucky stepped up, offered a compromise that averted disaster, but revealed deep divisions between the sides that would only get deeper. 
     "Today, in America, ICE agents, officers of the federal government, attempting to enforce immigration law are being ignored and/or disobeyed in spite of the deaths of thousands of American citizens. Twelve states, all blue, have nullified the Electoral College because it is in their political interest to do so." . . .

Democrats’ tent has become so large that they have lost control, allowing the crazies to take over. . .  

 Antifa Group Plans Rally Against NYPD, Says To ‘F*** S*** Up.’ Donald Trump Jr. Has Hilarious Response.  "A far-left Antifa group that has plans for an anti-police demonstration in New York City on Friday urged their followers to “f*** s*** up on J31 all day long.” That prompted a withering but also hilarious reply from Donald Trump Jr., who fired back on Twitter, “Too late … [The New York] mayor has been doing that for years now.' ” . . .

The Democrat's savage hatred of President Trump and of us

     In the Republican Primaries of 2016, I very much disliked Donald Trump and his abrasive insults- such as that of Carly Fiorina- leading me to declare my anti-Trump-ism. But when it became Trump vs. Hillary I thought of my child coming home from combat in a casket and who would I, a grieving parent, want to speak over my child? After Benghazi why would any parent want that woman doing such? 
     It became sickening to watch celebrities adoring a corrupt politician growing rich from her international dealings with adversaries and allies alike. She was even depicted as a brave and honorable woman running this nation's affairs, yet known to trusted news columnists as "a congenital liar". But the American left adores her and anyone like her as long as they are not on her right politically.
     The Trump-hating (I do not think that word is too strong if one considers the violence committed against Trump-supporters) left would have open borders and voting permitted by all down to reading age. That Trump-hating group includes our "entertainment" industry and "professional journalists" whose entire networks are committed to his removal from office and even destruction of all the Trump family has.

      President Trump stands between us and those who would take control of all we do, are, and now even think. They would have us wake up mornings wondering what new controls on our lives will go into effect that day, what we can no longer eat, or what freedoms we will lose; will our livelihood be taken away because of some opinion we held? Will someone in the "woke" culture find something we say or do to be "racist", the color of our house, perhaps? Even American history is held in contempt by them.
     Many of those who abhor this President also are "triggered" by the publications we choose, the TV networks we like and the convictions we have. We have witnessed the last three years how the left has bred hatred (remember Antifa assaults?) for us and this President to the point of relishing our death by some of them. I read comments expressing satisfaction that they were "so glad they destroyed Judge Kavanaugh's life". Imagine your family having to leave a room because of what Democrats are doing to your reputation. Remember Republican nominee Alito's wife leaving the room in tears; the cheerful, excited Kavanaugh family being ushered out, emotionally torn.
     Abrasive though he may be, we must not lose this man to the likes of Adam Schiff and his horde of scowling Democrats whom we are subjected to daily. The Tunnel Dweller

Why the hatred of President Trump?  "There is no need to recount in detail the vicious, daily attacks by the Democratic Party and Democratic media against President Trump.  The best example is Democratic Congressman Adam Schiff, AKA Shifty Schiff.  He just plain lies during committee hearings.  Worse, for example, on the September 29 episode of This Week with George Stephanopoulos, masquerading as journalism, George allowed Schiff to rant and ramble without interruption.  George asked Shifty why he made up the conversation between Trump and Ukraine's President Zelensky.  Shifty did not answer but went off on a prepared rant.  George did not interrupt to ask him to answer the question.  In sum, George acted as the straight man for Shifty.

"The question is, why this hatred?" . . .

The Dems, led by Ted Kennedy and Joe Biden, savaged Justices Bork and Justice Thomas.  The Dems again savaged Justice Kavanaugh.  They tried to destroy Justice Kavanaugh as they are trying to destroy President Trump.  The truth did not matter; the Dems just lied, as they do with President Trump.

Why Texans Don’t Want Any More Californians

California’s crisis isn’t that people don’t want to be there. Lots of people want to live near the Pacific coastline, but expensive housing has drawn a velvet rope around that economy for the richer, more educated, and old. The Golden State is slowly turning platinum—an exclusive and opulent shade of gray.

The Atlantic

Migrants from the Golden State could change the character of their new homes.

"Ascendant, as Americans in small towns and large cities alike cry out in trembling unison: Hey, where did all these Californians come from?

The writer won't discuss this
but I will.

"Talk of a “California Exodus” is sweeping the country—and so are anxieties about its effects on the rest of the West. In October, the Boise mayoral candidate Wayne Richey proposed at an election forum to build a $26 billion wall to keep out people moving from the Golden State. (His backup plan to stop the invasion of Boise? "Trash the place.”) A viral Wall Street Journal article recounted the plight of a small Idaho town buckling under the stress of thousands of inbound Californians. And this month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a warning on Twitter to Californians moving to his state: “Remember those high taxes, burdensome regulations, & socialistic agenda advanced in CA? We don't believe in that.” The sentiment was echoed in various warnings in Dallas newspapers about the awful “California-ing” of North Texas.

"In 2016, President Donald Trump swept the Republican primary with a simple message: Build a wall to keep out the immigrants. Today, a new anti-migration theme is sweeping the country: Build a wall to keep out the Californians.

"But is the California Exodus real?" . . .

Romney not welcome at CPAC after impeachment witness vote

Politico  "Sen. Mitt Romney will not be invited to this year's CPAC, the conservative conference's host chair announced Friday in the aftermath of senators voting not to hear additional witnesses in President Donald Trump's impeachment trial."

"The former party nominee and Sen. Susan Collins were the only Republicans to side with Democrats in voting to hear witnesses in the impeachment trial.
"The vote failed, all but guaranteeing Trump's acquittal next week.
"While CPAC has grown into a hotbed of Trumpian support, Romney has distanced himself from the president, garnering Trump's mockery and scorn.
"Trump's antipathy toward Romney long predates his impeachment, and the president has run supercuts of Romney's defeat in the 2012 presidential election to mock the senator.
"Romney called for more information as reports first circulated of Trump pushing Ukraine to investigate his political rivals.
""If the President asked or pressured Ukraine’s president to investigate his political rival, either directly or through his personal attorney, it would be troubling in the extreme. Critical for the facts to come out," Romney tweeted in September." . . .

California, There It Goes! Is America going down with it?

Lloyd Marcus: California's nightmare is spreading nationally

Listen to Lloyd Marcus's new song, "Trump Train".  . . . "Folks, it is pretty crazy out there in California.  We were not in San Francisco, where they give tourists maps to avoid piles of human excrement.  We rode past a private home with a rainbow sign stating that all gender identities were welcomed.  The restrooms at the San Diego airport car rental center had signs assuring gender-confused men that they are welcome into women's restrooms.

"The average gasoline price was around $4.60 per gallon.  We pay around $2.40 in West Virginia.

. . . "While turning down a pro-life Super Bowl ad featuring abortion survivors, Fox proudly announced its plan to feature the first drag queen Super Bowl ad.  Drag queens are a minuscule percentage of the population.  Pro-lifers are a huge segment of the population.  Why are so many major corporations giving mainstream America their middle finger while bending over backwards to please an extreme tiny minority of counter-culturists?" . . .

. . . Transgenders are destroying women's sports, winning every competition hands-down.  Hillary Clinton had to backpedal from her statement that cisgenders (real women) have a right to be concerned.  Hillary's cowardly retraction of her commonsense statement tells us she will surrender to the transgender agenda if she is ever elected president. 

. . . Bloomberg raves about California, promising to spread its intellectually superior policies across America.

"California is a state that seeks to remove all parental rights and ban homeschooling, forcing parents to surrender their children for LGBT, socialist/progressive, and anti-American indoctrination.  This is a state that coddles illegal aliens, showering them will freebies unavailable to legal residents, while legal residents struggle to survive.  This is a state that has ushered in the resurgence of medieval diseases because vagrants are allowed to set up tent cities and defecate on the streets.  Criminals who steal under a thousand dollars' worth of products are not charged.

"If Bloomberg or any of his fellow wacko Democrats is elected president, America will immediately fall backward, resuming the economic, cultural, and world leadership decline of the Obama years.  An endless list of new perversions will be forced upon us.  All who oppose will be shamed, destroyed, and thrown into jail."

Fully Automatic Media

The next time you read a denunciation of Mark Zuckerberg for his maddening refusal to censor Trump ads on Facebook, remember: The Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville was safer than the average Caribbean Day parade. The media want to make sure you have no way of knowing that.

Ann Coulter  "The tedium of the impeachment trial has at least allowed me to catch up on my reading. Apparently, there was a peaceful gun rights rally in Virginia last week that had the media in a panic.

"Today, I will explain how their hysteria about the gun rally is directly related to their hysteria about the Russians throwing the 2016 election with Facebook ads -- or, as MSNBC's Brian Williams put it, using Facebook, Instagram and Twitter "to turn Americans against one another, psychological and information warfare, that didn't stop with the election."
"First, the moral panic on guns:

“ 'Virginia's capital braces for gun-rights rally” -- The Associated Press“New fears tied to a pro-gun rally that's scheduled in Virginia” -- NBC News
“A gun rights rally in Richmond on MLK Day has people fearing a repeat of Charlottesville” -- Richmond Times Dispatch
As we have come to expect, the “newspaper of record,” The New York Times, bested them all:
“Virginia Capital on Edge as F.B.I. Arrests Suspected Neo-Nazis Before Gun Rally”

"Wow -- neo-Nazis! Wait, what did the arrest of “neo-Nazis” have to do with the Virginia gun rally?
"Not a thing, it turns out.
""The FBI had arrested three white guys with guns in another state the week before the rally. One of the men was an illegal alien from Canada. Three of the four charges against the men had to do with his immigration status.

"What does the arrest of an illegal alien and his accomplices in Maryland have to do with a gun rally in Virginia? As the Times explained, “Although the charges were not directly linked to the Richmond rally, law enforcement officials said the three men had discussed attending it.”
"Here's an idea for you, New York Times. Every time an African American is arrested for some infamous crime, cite that arrest in a headline claiming that people are “on edge” about a coming NAACP convention -- or maybe a meeting of black scientists.
"“Virginia Capital on Edge as F.B.I. Arrests R. Kelly Before NAACP Convention” (Just say Kelly had "discussed attending it"!)
"The media are liars, and they know they’re liars. We’ve been having gun rights rallies forever, and they’ve never turned into murderous bacchanals. How about some flood-the-zone coverage of Big Foot sightings?" . . .  More...

So E. Jean Carroll left an unwashed dress in her closet for 25 years?

Both by Mike Harris

Monica Showalter "E. Jean Carroll, with her hard-to-believe story about being assaulted or raped (her accounts vary) in the Bergdorf Goodman dressing room by one Donald Trump a quarter-century ago, isn't going away quietly.

"She's gotten her attorneys to send a demand to Trump to hand over a DNA sample so she can check if it's his male DNA that's still on the dress she claims to have worn, according to lab tests."

 First the Washington Post, then Here's the Axios account, which has more details:

. . . "She lost further credibility when she made a television appearance on Anderson Cooper's CNN program, focusing on President Trump's denial that he knew her, and not confirming Cooper's assertion that they knew each other.  She made it clear that what she really wanted was an affirmation that she was indeed attractive at one time, a pretty desperate thing, not the thing you want to be talking about if your purpose is to accuse someone of a crime, something that raises questions about whether something consensual went on, which Cooper did not pursue.  At the end, she declared rape "sexy," something CNN figured it had to cut her off on, given the credibility blow.  I wrote about that here." . . .

. . . "What leaps out at me from this is how disorderly this whole thing seemed. She kept an unwashed dress for thirty years in her closet, never taking it to the dry cleaner's? She was a fashionista, a fashion magazine editor, if it was a favorite dress, she'd have it dry cleaned. She didn't dry clean her clothes? And thirty years piled on? What kind of closet did she really have? 

"It's probably not the biggest point, but it's indicative of something kind of disorderly going on, probably consistent with the rest of her shambling account. What kind of woman leaves a fancy black dress uncleaned in her closet for 30 years?

"Probably someone trying to sell a book and trying to best Michael Avenatti in the 'bizarre attacks on Trump' sweepstakes."

Democrats who once abandoned her now use her in the 2020 campaign The same old Kavanaugh script.

June 2019: E. Jean Carroll loses more credibility ... and CNN tries to cover it up, twice
. . . "Obviously, the network that tried to foist Michael Avenatti on us as president earlier is not about to get into reporting for wherever the facts lead. Here's what they have up." . ..

Mike Harris

Mitt Romney: just who IS the man, anyway?

Image by Timothy Bishop  "Willard": "A young man with an unusual connection to rats
 uses them at his own sociopathic will."

After Impeachment Romney Turned On Trump – Mitt’s Own State Is Turning Against Him, His Approval Sinks  . . . "Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney lost support from Republicans and independents in his home state during the weeks after he called for witnesses in President Trump’s Senate impeachment trial…
"The poll shows the senator’s approval rating falling among Utah Republicans from September through December 2019, and independents also shifted to disapproving of Romney over the quarter.
"Ouch. After Mitt Romney voiced support for the Democrats’ impeachment trial scheme, his approval among Utah Republicans and independents dropped.
"Let’s be honest, this is not just about his statement on witnesses. The lines are pretty much drawn over impeachment." . . .

From the NY Times back in 2018: A New Mitt or the Same Old Weenie?

. . . "After Trump was nominated, Romney swore he’d never vote for him, although he backed off the obvious alternative of Hillary Clinton. No, Mitt was a proud and useless Mystery Vote*, musing about the relative advantages of going with the Libertarian or writing in his wife.When Trump won, Romney reappeared in a third incarnation, as the Secretary-of-State-in-Waiting who dined out with the president-elect, burbling about his “message of inclusion.” Then it became clear Trump was just dangling the nomination for the fun of seeing his old enemy leap up and down trying to grab it. No Cabinet Mitt.  . . . *Emphasis added by TD 

Failure of the Democrats’ Bloodless Assassination Attempt

 Conrad Black

The Democrats will have to give up their pretense of playing moral custodians of the national virtue against a monster who has usurped and abused power. They will have to try to find a presentable nominee from the puny harvest of their declared candidates to run against the incumbent fair and square.

"This most absurd and irresponsible of all assaults on the presidency in America’s rich history of low political chicanery is now down to a desperate gamble by the Democrats.

Democrats cannot possibly sustain the argument that they should have witnesses, whom they failed to call among the 17 they had in the House of Representatives (which they control) but the Republican Senate majority cannot call witnesses on behalf of the president.
"Peggy Noonan, the most believable of the media Trump-bashers because she is such a generally fair-minded person, proposed on January 25 in the Wall Street Journal that the Democrats call John Bolton, who they know would be a hostile witness against the president, and Mick Mulvaney, who could continue to explain his unforgivable butchery of an answer to a reasonable press question about political influence on foreign aid. In return, Noonan offered generously, the Republicans could call Joe Biden—who would then complete his flameout as a candidate or make a brilliant defense and clinch the nomination—and Rudy Giuliani, so the Democrats could try the Lev Parnas case for their own delectation. (Parnas is an indicted former associate of Giuliani negotiating his plea bargain.)
"This is fairness according to Peggy Noonan: a perfect bipartisan solution of four home-run witnesses for the Democrats and four prearranged strikeouts for the Republicans.
"Not even such a fatuous scenario as this would alter the outcome: there is no probative evidence that the president did what he is accused of doing, and what he is accused of is not illegal, not impeachable, and the entire episode is an outrage and a disgrace. As anti-Trump law professor Jonathan Turley testified at the House Judiciary Committee in December, the abuse of power that has occurred has been the impeachment of the president, not any act by the president that has come to light." . . .

A few pros and cons on the witness issue.

Rich Terrell

Key GOP Senator Announces Impeachment Witness Vote. Game Over?
. . . "The retiring Tennessee senator, who has nothing to gain (or lose) politically with his vote, announced on Twitter that "there is no need for more evidence to prove something that has already been proven and that does not meet the U.S. Constitution’s high bar for an impeachable offense.' " . . .
Why doesn't this logic affect the position of the Utah Weathervane?
. . . "Alexander's decision all but guarantees that the impeachment trial will conclude this weekend with a vote to acquit the president because, despite the defection of Sen. Susan Collins, who announced Thursday night that she will vote to call more witnesses, Republicans will likely have enough votes to block the motion. Republican Sens. Mitt Romney and Lisa Murkowski have yet to announce how they will vote, but it is thought their votes will not be needed." . . . Sen. Collins, not so much

Lindsey Graham Schools Democrats Over Impeachment Witness Debate

. . . "According to Graham, that is one of the most ridiculous claims being thrown out there by Democrats. On Thursday, Graham took to Twitter to address this oft-repeated claim by Democrats and prove how ridiculous it is.

“FACT: It was the House of Representatives who refused to pursue the testimony of the witnesses because they wanted to impeach the President before Christmas,” he explained. “Only in Washington would someone call that decision ‘Blocking Witnesses.’”

. . . "Impeachment may be over on Saturday, but make no mistake, the Democrats aren't done trying to undermine President Trump." . . .

Should Republican senators want witnesses?  . . . "In a courtroom, the prevailing theory would be to end the trial and celebrate acquittal. If you’re winning, there’s no need to take any risks.  But this is an impeachment trial and there are political implications. Senate Republicans are seemingly not considering the political benefits of calling witnesses, their only goal seems to be acquittal, as if this were a standard criminal trial. 

"The past few days have made it abundantly clear: the first witness for Democrats would be President Trump’s former National Security Advisor John Bolton and the Republicans' highest priority witness would be Hunter Biden, son of former Vice President Joe Biden.  If these witnesses are called, the next phase would allow Republicans to run away with the lead." . . . 

. . . "Consider the downside for Republicans if additional witnesses aren’t called.  If Bolton doesn’t speak in front of the Senate, the Democrats would accuse Republicans of a cover-up throughout the election season.  Bloomberg ads would ask what Republicans are hiding, and accuse Republicans of blocking witnesses without any regard for bipartisanship.  Democratic candidates Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren would ask why their Republican Senate colleagues don’t want to hear the whole truth.  The eventual Democrat nominee will bring a copy of Bolton’s new book with them everywhere, quoting it in stump speeches and mentioning it at campaign rallies.  Republicans can prevent these talking points by letting Bolton air his grievances now, 10 months before the election. 

"With witnesses, Republicans can continue their winning streak by exposing the Bidens.  The GOO can avoid the Democrat talking point that loose ends remain. Republicans have a winning argument, so they should prolong the platform on which they can argue it.  The GOP has an opportunity to run up the score, and they would be wise to do exactly that."

Wise counsel, but I do not believe this wisdom is a factor in Romney's decision. TD