More Democrats fear the party's image isn't just damaged – it's broken

  POLITICO Everyone agrees they lost the working class, but they’re deeply divided on where to place the blame — and what to do about it.

"Other Democrats, too, argue that where Trump has tapped into the frustrations of the working class in a way that feels organic, Democrats have come across as too erudite, to the point that working-class voters feel like they’re being talked down to."

"Democrats are having a full-blown identity crisis.

"Days after Kamala Harris’ defeat, the extent of their party’s failure is becoming increasingly clear. It’s bad enough that Democrats are still losing working-class whites, as they have in recent elections. Now, exit polls show blue-collar Latinos and some Black men, long a core part of the Democratic base, are abandoning the party, too, fueling electoral shellackings. Republicans flipped the Senate and are padding their majority. Democrats’ path to a majority in the House is narrowing. And Donald Trump won in what could only be described as a landslide in the modern era.

“ 'The Democratic Party needs to be rebuilt,” said Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. “We have become a party of elites, whether we abandoned working-class people, whether they abandoned us, whether it’s some combination of all of the above.”

"In interviews with 16 elected officials, party leaders and strategists, Democrats from both wings of the party agreed they have stopped knowing how to talk to the working class, once the very core of their identity. But they were deeply divided on where to place the blame — and what to do about it. Just like Donald Trump’s victory did in 2016 — and in 2020, when he lost by a smaller margin than expected — his return to the White House is fueling a raging debate between the party’s progressive and moderate wings about where to go from here." ...

No Trump bump: MSNBC hemorrhaging viewers since Election Day, sheds more than half of primetime audience

 MSN

"MSNBC exhausted every resource at their disposal to stop Donald Trump from achieving victory, eventually stooping to a plot to depict him as the second coming of Adolf Hitler, the most ruthless dictator in modern world history. It didn't work. The lies, the hysteria, and the besmirchment only made Trump more popular," Burack wrote. 

. . .""While MSNBC thought they may have struck gold with the election night ratings, they should have realized by now that Americans only tuned in so they could see the meltdowns, not that they viewed it as consistently and intellectually stimulating television," Houck told Fox News Digital. 

" 'During CNN's tumbles in past years, they were falling behind reruns of ‘Golden Girls’ and ‘Peppa Pig,’ so it's probably best if MSNBC doesn't look at their ratings anytime soon if they want to stay anywhere close to their happy place," Houck added. "Liberal viewers have to be emotionally, psychologically, and metaphorically distraught. They're beyond forlorn."

"Houck doesn’t believe finger pointing and MSNBC hosts continuing to push far-left talking points will bring back progressive viewers anytime soon. 

" 'The somber excuses blaming everyone from working-class women to Hispanic men to conservative media seem to be serving as only temporary balms to the scorching results. Chris Hayes and Alex Wagner have a brand to commit to where the only change the left will have to do is go even further left, so it's a stale product no one will want to listen to going forward," Houck said. 

"MSNBC has seen viewers jump ship on the heels of news they didn’t like in the past. In 2019, Rachel Maddow’s viewership took a dive when Special Counsel Robert Mueller declared there was no collusion between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia despite the far-left host spending years pushing the Russian collusion narrative." . . . 

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow famously pushed since-debunked theories tying former President Trump to Russia. Fox News

The New Senate Majority Leader Must Muzzle Adam Schiff

"Schiff has disqualified himself from defense-related committee assignments in the U.S. Senate.But California loved him enough to reelect him." TD

 American Greatness 

yle="font-family: arial;">"With the GOP’s regained Senate majority, the freshly-branded Majority Leader John Thune has a mountain of work ahead of him once he takes the gavel. He must confirm President-elect Trump’s cabinet nominees, pass legislation securing the border, and extend the expiring 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act benefiting more than 80% of individual taxpayers.

"But before any legislating can happen, the Senate must choose the membership of its committees. Thune must use his authority as Majority Leader to limit the committee assignments of one newly elected Senator: Democrat Adam Schiff of California.

"Schiff must be denied a position on any of the body’s committees centered around national security, intelligence, or foreign affairs, and any subcommittees that intersect with these areas. Schiff’s conduct on such a committee in the House of Representatives disqualifies him from any significant decision- or policy-making roles related to the defense and global standing of the United States.

"Schiff knowingly peddled lies accusing Donald Trump’s campaign of colluding with Russia to win the 2016 presidential election, using his position on the House Intelligence Committee and access to classified information to affirm its veracity. This includes his time as its chairman. Schiff claimed “more than circumstantial evidence” of the plot even as the committee interviewed numerous Obama Administration officials who admitted there was no direct evidence of Trump or his staff working with Russians. Only weeks before the Mueller report concluded Russian collusion was nonexistent, Schiff continued to insist, “You can see evidence in plain sight on the issue of collusion, pretty compelling evidence.” It was obvious then and even more obvious in hindsight that Schiff’s motive was to discredit and weaken President Trump, all at the expense of the United States’ international standing and an already fractured American public following a contentious election.

"When Republicans reclaimed control of the House two years ago, they took appropriate action against Schiff. Speaker Kevin McCarthy refused to reinstate Schiff’s membership on the Intelligence Committee, citing his “misuse of [the] panel,” undermining its role in national security and related oversight. Furthermore, the House censured Schiff for his lies, although he was anything but chastened.Politics doesn’t stop at the water’s edge for Adam Schiff, and the Senate must respond. It is within the Senate’s authority to reject committee memberships—Rule XXIV of the Rules of the Senate allows any Senator to demand a vote on the appointment of committee members. New Senate Majority Leader Thune must make use of this rule to firmly repudiate Schiff to strengthen the security of the United States.

Whoopi Goldberg claims NYC bakery ‘refused’ to make her a birthday dessert because of her ‘politics’

 NY Post

Staten Island bakery customers batter Whoopi Goldberg for dubious claim that she wasn’t served due to her liberal views: ‘Bulls–t’

 

"New Yorkers aren’t letting Whoopi Goldberg’s sourpuss act spoil their favorite spot for sweet treats, after she put a local bakery on blast on national TV, alleging they refused to serve her because of her lefty political beliefs."  . . .

“I think it’s ridiculous. Why would she come all the way to Staten Island for her cupcake? To make an issue? They’ve been here forever,” Deborah Bernaz, 68, said of the comic’s claims against the beloved 145-year-old Holtermann’s Bakery on Staten Island.

“I don’t think it has anything to do with politics. They’re a little Staten Island bakery. I think it’s bulls–t what she’s saying. Leave politics out of the bakery,”

"The actress and “The View” co-host went into full victim mode on Wednesday’s broadcast, grousing that Holtermann’s wouldn’t sell her the Charlotte Russe desserts she wanted to celebrate her 69th birthday on the show because of her “politics." . . .

Whoopi Goldberg claims NYC bakery refused service over "liberal views", bakery pushes against claims

Parody from the Babylon Bee: While Watching 'The View' In Hell, Hitler Surprised To Learn Holocaust Wasn't About Race   "HELL - Reports are coming out from the fiery underworld that even Adolph Hitler - the fascist dictator who is responsible for starting World War II and killing 6 million Jews - was caught by surprise when he heard Whoopi Goldberg's comments that the holocaust he started was "not about race."

"I was very explicit in my writings and speeches! I compared the Jews to rats and to germs! I appealed to social Darwinism and eugenics on a constant basis to justify everything I did for the master Aryan race! How could this Whoopi Goldberg not pick up what I was laying down!?" the mustachioed psychopath was overheard shouting in a thick German accent." . . .

Hilarity following the Trump-Biden meeting

Rajan Laad    "Just yesterday, Joe Biden welcomed President-elect Donald Trump back to the White House to kick off the transition between the current and the future administrations.

"There were kind words uttered on both sides.

“Well Mr. President-elect and former president, Donald, congratulations, and looking forward to having, like we said, a smooth transition. Welcome, welcome back,” said Biden.

“ 'Thank you very much, and politics is tough, and it’s, many cases, not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today, and I appreciate very much a transition that’s so smooth, it’ll be as smooth as it can get,” Trump responded." . . .

Rich Terrell

. . ."White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters that the meeting was “very cordial, very gracious, and substantive” and that Biden and Trump “discussed important national security and domestic policy issues facing the nation and the world.”

Few doubted that the meeting was cordial, because Biden seemed unable to restrain his beaming smile when the press covered their interaction.

"This meeting resulted in some hilarity on social media.

"Some pointed out the striking difference between the Trump-Obama and Trump-Biden meetings." . . .

"TRUMP and Biden will meet today. Wouldn’t mind being a fly on the wall for that conversation! Hmmmmm….

Biden > Sorry I called you Hitler Trump > Sorry I called you the worst President ever Biden > You beat Kamala but good Trump > Yes I did. Thanks for foisting her on your party Joe. Biden > I voted for you Trump > I figured you did Joe Biden > Want some ice cream Trump > Salute! To Making America Great Again

Iran's Nuclear Weapons Program Took a Yuge Hit

 PJ Media  

Iran could end this war right now by ordering Hamas to release the hostages, but for some reason, they seem to prefer getting their nuclear weapons research reduced to rubble.

 

" 'Israel's Oct. 26 retaliatory strike on Iran "destroyed an active top secret nuclear weapons research facility," according to an Axios report. The news outlet spoke to various U.S. and Israeli officials about the strikes, including one on Iran's Parchin Military Complex, a nuclear research facility that was "previously reported to be inactive."

" 'One former Israeli official briefed on the strike said it destroyed sophisticated equipment used to design the plastic explosives that surround uranium in a nuclear device and are needed to detonate it."

"Iran claims to have brought its military nuclear program to a halt in 2003, and yet the Taleghan 2 building at Parchin "was used for testing explosives needed to set off a nuclear device, according to the Institute for Science and International Security."

" 'They conducted scientific activity that could lay the ground for the production of a nuclear weapon. It was a top-secret thing. A small part of the Iranian government knew about this, but most of the Iranian government didn't," a U.S. official told Axios.

"What's interesting is that Israel knew about a nuclear weapons research facility that most of the Iranian government did not.

"The Mullah's Regime in Tehran must be fuming, and whatever form their retaliation takes, it likely won't be another missile barrage. Iran already tried two of those, one in mid-April and another on Oct. 1. The first barrage involved around 170 drones, over 30 cruise missiles, and more than 120 ballistic missiles — and almost zero results. Following Israel's assassination of Hezbollah chief thug Hassan Nasrallah, Iran's second missile attack consisted of about 200 ballistic missiles and, again, almost zero results. Israeli/Western antimissile forces are just that good.

"Clearly, the missile barrage approach isn't working — and everyone should give a silent prayer of thanks to President Ronald Reagan for getting the ball rolling on ballistic missile defense 40 years ago." . . .

Does Sonny Hostin Think She Cost Kamala Harris the Election?

PJ Media

 . . ." But honestly, as damaging as it was, I strongly believe the outcome of this election was baked into the cake well before she botched her response to Hostin's question."

Last month, Kamala Harris appeared on “The View” for yet another softball interview. During the show, co-host Sonny Hostin served up a golden opportunity for Harris to distance herself from Biden’s failures.

"Would you have done something differently than President Biden during the past four years?" Hostin asked.

"There is not a thing that comes to mind," Kamala replied.

"The moment was promptly exploited by the Trump campaign, which featured the exchange in campaign ads. 

"This week, in a recent episode of “The View” podcast, Hostin spoke with host Brian Teta about the exchange and the impact it had on the election.

“ 'One of the things that keeps coming up is, did Sonny Hostin personally cost Kamala Harris the election with her question?” he asked.

“ 'Oh wow, I wish I had that much power because I would have flipped it in the other way,” she replied." . . .

One Month In, And The Gov’t Is Already $257 Billion In The Red – DOGE Has A Lot Of Work To Do

Issues and Insights   Issues & Insights is run by seasoned journalists who were behind the Pulitzer Prize-winning IBD Editorials page (before it was summarily shut down). Our goal then and now is to bring our decades of combined journalism experience to help readers understand the top issues of the day. I&I is a completely independent operation, beholden to none, but committed to providing cogent, rational, data-driven, fact-based commentary that the nation so desperately needs. 

"On Tuesday, Donald Trump announced that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy would head the “Department of Government Efficiency.” That same day, the Treasury Department released a report showing why this effort is so desperately needed.

"In his announcement, Trump said that he’s assigned the two to “dismantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and restructure federal agencies.” It will, he said, “become, potentially, ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time.”

"At Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally in late October, Musk, when asked how much he thought he could “rip out of this $6.5 trillion Harris-Biden budget,” said: “Well, I think we could do at least $2 trillion.”

"Washington insiders scoffed at the entire idea of a “government efficiency” department or that these two government outsiders could somehow find $2 trillion to cut.

"The truth is a Manhattan Project-level effort will be needed to restore a semblance of fiscal responsibility to the federal government.

"This week, the Treasury Department released its first report of the new fiscal year, which began in October.

"What it found was that in just the first month, the federal government ran a deficit of $257 billion. That compares with a deficit of $66 billion in October 2023.

The massive jump is the result of a $76.6 billion drop in revenues compared with last year and a $114 billion hike in spending.  

Israel is a true American ally by every metric

Col. Lawrence Franklin (Ret.)    "Americans should be grateful that Israel had the courage and resolve to strike hard against the enemies of civilization. All free world democracies must salute Israel’s initiative when erstwhile allied media and politicians cautioned Jewish state leaders to de-escalate operations and refrain from actions that could lead to a wider war. Sunni Arab countries, especially those on the Arabian Peninsula who are targets for destruction by the Shia regime of revolutionary Iran and its allies, also have reason to be thankful.

While Israel acted resolutely in its own interest by launching crippling blows against Hezbollah’s military assets and political leadership, the beneficent results reverberate around the globe. Israel’s government, aware that Hezbollah was planning an imminent Hamas-style attack against northern Israel (like what took place on 7 October last year), struck first in what could be described as a pre-emptive retaliatory attack. 

Americans particularly owe a debt of gratitude to Israel for the targeted killing of the world’s leading terrorist mastermind, Hassan Nasrallah. The theological and political leader of Hezbollah was responsible for decisions that murdered countless innocents. Hezbollah was directly responsible for killing hundreds of American servicemen in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1983 by dispatching a suicide bomber via a truck bomb that destroyed their barracks." . . .

. . ."One additional benefit of the US/Israel alliance for which the American people should express some solidarity is improvement in border surveillance, the security of sensitive installations, and cyber security systems. The US effort to acquire an edge over China in new technologies is partly dependent on Israel’s highly talented human capital.

"Perhaps the most valuable benefit that America derives from its alliance with Israel is Israel’s willingness to serve as the tip of the spear to defend civilization against the axis of barbarism. An America weary from forever wars in Iraq and Afghanistan should praise its good fortune in having an ally that has been collegial enough to support Western values and US interests despite the risks of seizing the initiative, and that is independent enough to ignore those who counsel defeatist caution." 

Trump’s Magnificent Beginning

 Ann Coulter 

" I’ll have more on Trump’s immigration plans in another column, but for now, I just want to say muchas gracias to Alvin Bragg, Letitia James, Jack Smith, Fani Willis and the whole crew at The New York Times and other legacy media for getting Trump so mad that he might actually keep his campaign promises."

. . ."Yes, but he hired the people around him, including the nimrod. Anyone could see Trump was packing his administration with people who openly opposed his agenda, e.g. Nikki Haley, John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, half of Goldman Sachs and every kiss-ass, phony “four-star general” (meaning they promoted enough girls and transgenders to impress Senate Democrats).

"I was so sure he’d do it again, I tried to formulate a bet this year. The general idea would have been something like: I bet he’ll hire Nikki Haley, but not Kris Kobach.

"Luckily, I never made the bet, because boy, was I wrong!* Apparently, the left’s maniacal pursuit of Trump over the past four years has had an energizing effect on the man. What MSNBC is calling Trump’s plan for “revenge,” his supporters call “keeping his promises.”

"[*I wrote that before Trump announced his plan to make dog-killer and Afghan refugee-lover Kristi Noem head of the Department of Homeland Security. Please God, don’t let him blow this second chance of a lifetime! We’re not getting a third.

"[Obviously, I also didn’t know about Matt Gaetz, yet, either, but I assume that’s just a gag.]

"In a post on Truth Social this past Saturday, Trump announced that he will not be hiring open-borders neocons Haley or Pompeo. But he will be hiring Tom Homan, his acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), to serve as border czar (even though there’s no such title in the U.S. Code, so who the hell knows what that even means).

"Specifically, Trump wrote: “Tom Homan will be in charge of all Deportation of Illegal Aliens back to their Country of Origin.” (Kamala, you might want to jot that down.)

"To give you an idea of what an upgrade this is, Trump’s first head of Homeland Security was Gen. John “Trump Is Hitler” Kelly, who started off on the wrong foot, shall we say, when he announced at his Senate confirmation hearing that walls don’t work. (We’re still waiting for his position on roofs, floors and chimneys.)

"Instead, Kelly’s suggestion was to go after the root cause of illegal immigration — because that always works! Between Kelly and Kamala, perhaps someday we’ll get to the bottom of why wretched people from dirt-poor countries want to move to the world’s wealthiest, most generous welfare state. It’s a real baffler.

"Obviously, Zippy the Chimp would be an improvement over that. But Homan is actually terrific, by which I mean the idea of deporting illegals is not an impenetrable mystery to him. Ditto with Trump’s proposed deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller." . . .

If Joy Reid and her MSNBC cohorts are tragically miseducated, so are their viewers

Does MSNBC leadership take  note of Joy Reid's statements and her effect on the network's reputation? One might wonder if management fears what her megaphone and claims of racist persecution might have on angry MSNBC listeners. I would guess this is the comfort station for angry people, wouldn't you? TD

 ‘Pure race baiter’: Douglas Murray rips into Joy Reid over Trump comments

MSNBC host Joy Reid slammed over ‘race baiting’ black voters comments    

The unbridled racism of Joy Reid - Washington Examiner 

. . ."Reid has stopped criticizing people based on their actions, ideas, principles, and policies. Instead, she ignores facts and reality and jumps to attacking people based on their skin color. Consider there have been plenty of people who have emotionally cried during hearings and court testimonies — people of all races and genders. Yet, Reid felt comfortable demonizing white people because of their race in instances where race had nothing to do with anything. Her hateful rhetoric should be called out for the unbridled bigotry that it is. Furthermore, such things should not be tolerated in 2021, and Reid should be held accountable for her racism." . . .

Democrat J.B. Pritzker Gives Joy Reid a Reality Check About Trump's Deportation Plans – RedState   "After four years of chaos at the border leading to overwhelmed state and local resources, especially in cities like Chicago, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker went on MSNBC on Wednesday evening and said that he would do what he could to thwart Donald Trump's mass deportation plans. When you look past his surface-level defiance, though, there were some hard truths shared by Pritzker that left Joy Reid none too happy." . . .

. . ."Still, it's clear that Illinois will continue to operate as a sanctuary state regarding cooperation with the federal government. I've got a solution to that: Send more buses.

"Not every illegal immigrant will end up being deported even under Trump if for no other reason than logistics alone. In the meantime, states like Texas should continue to send Pritzker more "residents" for him to deal with. Make him collapse under the weight of his preferred policies. We'll see how protective he is when Chicago gets a few hundred thousand more illegal immigrants to pay for.

Bishop Strickland: Every bishop should state 'Francis no longer teaches the Catholic faith' - LifeSite

Bishop Joseph E Strickland; Lifesite News  

"Bishop Joseph Strickland strongly rebuked ‘silent’ US bishops in a powerful letter outside the USCCB meeting in Baltimore, warning them that God will punish those who do not speak out against ‘false messages constantly flowing from the Vatican’ under Pope Francis."

Listen to this article

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BeyondWords

Editor’s note: The following is an open letter by Bishop Joseph Strickland addressed to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) during their 2024 fall plenary assembly in Baltimore.

"You gather here today, present-day apostles, as the Church and, therefore, the world stand perched on the edge of a cliff. And yet you who are entrusted with the keeping of souls choose to speak not a word of the spiritual danger which abounds. Today we stand on the cusp of all that has been prophesied about the Church and the abominations which would come forth in these times, a time when all of hell attacks the Church of Jesus Christ, and a time when the fallen angels of hell no longer seek entry into her sacred halls but instead stand inside, peeking out of her windows and unlocking doors to welcome in more diabolical destruction." ... 

. . ."Do you not know that Our Lord will send forth His avenging angels to heap coals of fire upon the heads of those who were called to be His apostles and who have not guarded what He has given unto them?

"And yet almost all of you, my brothers, stood by silently watching as the Synod on Synodality took place, an abomination constructed not to guard the Deposit of Faith but to dismantle it, and yet few were the cries heard from you – men who should be willing to die for Christ and His Church.

"The Synod’s final document has been released, yet with the sleight of hand which is so characteristic of the Francis-controlled Vatican. By drawing attention to the issues which worried many, they have slipped in what was always their real goal without anyone even noticing. What they were after in the first place was the dismantling of Christ’s Church by replacing the structure of the Church as Our Lord instituted it with a diabolically-inspired new structure of “synodality” which in actuality is a new church that is in no way Catholic."

EXCLUSIVE: Bishop Strickland explains why he called out Pope Francis and other bishops

"In an exclusive interview with LifeSiteNews, Bishop Joseph Strickland explains why he has publicly called out Pope Francis for his denial of the Catholic faith and his fellow bishops for their silence on Francis’ dangerous errors.

"READ: Bishop Strickland: God will punish bishops for their silence while Pope Francis destroys the Church

John-Henry Westen: Bishop Strickland, it’s so good to talk to you immediately following what I think really will be a historic statement. Let me ask you first, what prompted you to make this statement and to make it now?

"Bishop Joseph Strickland: As I’ve said ever since last Tuesday, we have an opportunity, when the country has made a choice politically that at least opens the door for us to have the possibilities of moving our culture, our nation, the beloved people of God in this nation, closer to the Truth that is Jesus Christ. So I believe that’s a big part of what prompted me, at this moment, to be here.

"READ: Bishop Strickland: Trump’s election is an opportunity for Catholics to share the faith more boldly

"JHW: Well, very interesting. Now, one of the things with this statement that you just delivered is it can cost you. I mean, you’re making a statement that may very well have all sorts of ramifications for you. Were you not fearful of saying such a thing?

"BJS: Well, John-Henry, I think, as people of faith, we have nothing to fear, really, except to lose our inheritance to be children of God and eternal life. So, yeah, there are things in the world that we can lose, but Christ really clearly tells us we have to be willing to lose everything. And I don’t claim to be especially bold or brave, but it’s just very clear to me." . . .

Full Article here...

Case in point:   Pope Francis’ new preacher promotes homosexual reading of Scripture and Christ 

. . ."Father Roberto Pasolini has been appointed as the official preacher to Pope Francis’ personal household. Pasolini has explicitly encouraged Catholics to imagine that various Biblical figures, including King David, took part in homosexual relationships. In the same speech, Pasolini referenced the practice of some to imagine that Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, had homosexual relationships with his disciples. Pasolini described this as “way of trying to project into Scripture our own questions, our own curiosity.”