These are the remaining American hostages expected to be released in new Hamas-Israel cease-fire deal

 NY Post  "At least two American hostages are expected to be freed from Hamas in the first phase of the newly announced cease-fire deal between the terror group and Israel.

"Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, and Keith Siegel, 65, were both included on a list of 33 hostages Hamas agreed to free if the deal, revealed Wednesday, is ratified by the Israeli government when it convenes Thursday morning.

Sagui Dekel-Chen, 36, will also be released
 in the first phase of the deal.

"They are believed to be among the last three surviving Americans still held by Hamas

"The surviving Americans’ conditions remain unclear. The first wave of hostages expected to be released are supposed to focus on women, children, men over 50, and the sick and the wounded.

"Siegel was abducted along with his wife Aviva from Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists swept into Israel and made off with at least 250 hostages and killed around 1,200 people.

"The couple were kept in captivity together for 51 days, before Aviva developed a dangerous stomach infection and was released as part of the first cease-fire deal in November 2023.

"“I just don’t know what kind of Keith that we’re going to get back,” Aviva told Fox News in December." . . .

Democrat Senators, do you not know what Hamas did to women soldiers?

 

https://www.terrellaftermath.com/

Pete meets preachy females   "Was James Carville watching the hearings?  I hope that he was because we saw "the preachy females" in full force." . . .   

 

"In the end, it did not work because the lady senators were obnoxious. 

"This is from Philip Wegmann:

A decade of live television sharpened Pete Hegseth so much so that even Senate Democrats acknowledged his ability to mobilize the talking point during a confirmation hearing before the Armed Services Committee, marking another battle in an ongoing culture war. . . .

. . ."First, there was all of the outcry about women in combat.  Once again, they missed the point.  It's not about civil rights but having soldiers that can fight a war.  Women do serve honorably in the armed forces but their biological differences do limit their roles.  By the way, where is this public outcry calling for women to serve in combat?  Did I miss an issue?"

The evidence is overwhelming that the sadistic tactics Hamas terrorists used against the Israeli women and girls they brutalized on October 7th included rape, torture, and burning them alive.

Hamas Treats Captive Israeli Women as Animals  . . ."Sex-slavery is not only an ironclad aspect of Islam; it is a reflection of “piety,” as well captured by a 2015 report:

In the moments before he raped the 12-year-old [non-Muslim] girl, the Islamic State fighter took the time to explain that what he was about to do was not a sin. Because the preteen girl practiced a religion other than Islam, the Quran not only gave him the right to rape her -- it condoned and encouraged it, he insisted. . . .

May, 2024; never forget: We will dance again: Nova to hold concert to honor victims of festival massacre

Jerusalem Post

In memory of the Hamas massacre, this song was played as a memorial last year:

"This is a clip from the Nova Festival on October 7: A festival of joy, a festival of peace, a #festival of love...and a festival where #Hamas ruthlessly massacred over 260 innocent civilians and kidnapped countless more. There are no words to describe this incomprehensible tragedy. May the memories of the victims forever be a blessing, and may those who have been kidnapped return home safely soon."

Jews, Jews, And More Jews, And The Lessons We Could Learn   . . ."As with members of every other group, there are no doubt Jews who are avaricious, malicious, and mendacious, but I would suggest they, too, are a minority. In reality, the hatred directed at Jews has little to do with anything other than envy. People hate or dislike Jews because, in the aggregate, they’re so successful, and people focus this animus on the keys that empowered Jews: family, community, and education. (I am somewhat dumbfounded why so many of these manifestly smart people vote for Democrats, who are against virtually everything Jews have harnessed to succeed...)

"The fact that Jews make up such an incredible proportion of successful Americans should not be a reason to hate them but rather should be taken as a roadmap. Tony Robbins may have put it best: “If you want to be successful, find someone who has achieved the results you want and copy what they do, and you’ll achieve the same results.”

"While I doubt I could ever become a chess master, regardless of how much I practiced, the notion of strong families, strong communities, and a focus on education is a proven 3,000-year-old recipe for success. America would be far better off if more people followed it."

Celebrities turn on Dems, blast LA mayor for fire response: ‘Ruined our state’

New York Post

Big Hollywood names have started to turn on Los Angeles’ Democratic leadership, including Mayor Karen Bass, over the botched response to the wildfires raging across the ritzy, celeb-filled Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas.

"Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar led the charge, criticizing the Democratic leadership on Instagram for failing to direct the tens of thousands of Southern California residents trying to flee as the fires burned uncontained Wednesday.

"“City of LA you want everyone to evacuate yet you have complete gridlock and not one traffic cop on the roads helping,” Gellar wrote, tagging Bass and the city of Los Angeles.

"The Palisades Fire has been ravaging the celebrity-dotted neighborhood since Tuesday and has burned a horrifying 17,234 acres (27 square miles) over the past 36 hours.

"Actor James Woods, who lost his home in the Palisades Fire, vented on X that the wildfires weren’t caused by “climate change” but by “liberal idiots like Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass.”

" 'One doesn’t understand the first thing about fire management and the other can’t fill the water reservoirs,” he added.

"In a separate post, Woods wrote, “I took this last night from our beautiful little home in the Palisades. Now all the fire alarms are going off at once remotely. It tests your soul, losing everything at once, I must say.” . . .

Bad leaders — not climate change — are the reason the LA fires are burning California

California Ungovernable by Gav the Gov

 

Wonder Why California Is Burning? Mentally Ill Bureaucrats Are In Charge  "This man in a red wig, who insisted upon being called “they,” clearly states in this short video clip that, earlier in the summer, water was re-routed to protect endangered
salamanders. These critters are far more important than the lives and homes of human beings, AKA taxpayers, living in Los Angeles County. He goes on to say, without explaining what the hell it means, that “diversity is our our main priority here. Whatever we’re doing here, we are going to make sure that it is diverse.” Diversity of what? Salamanders are diverse and humans are now? THAT is why there was no water for firefighters to use when trying to save houses and human lives."

Gavin Newsom’s Leadership: A Series of Blunders and Failures  . . ."One of the most glaring issues has been California’s persistent homelessness crisis. Despite allocating over $20 billion in taxpayer dollars, the state still has the highest homeless population in the nation, showing little progress under Newsom’s leadership. This ongoing problem has not only strained public resources but also eroded the quality of life in many communities.

"Another critical failure is related to water management amidst recurring droughts. Although California faced several severe atmospheric river storms, the state has not improved its water storage capabilities. This has left farmers and communities struggling with water shortages, adversely affecting the agricultural sector and exacerbating the drought’s impact on daily life.

"Newsom’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic also drew significant criticism. His slow vaccine rollout and controversial decisions, such as attending a high-end dinner at the French Laundry restaurant while advocating for strict public health measures, undermined public confidence. These actions, perceived as hypocritical, fueled the recall effort against him and highlighted a disconnect between his policies and personal behavior.

"Additionally, Newsom’s approach to criminal justice, particularly the early release of convicted felons, has been controversial. His executive orders facilitating early releases have faced backlash for lacking transparency and potentially compromising public safety, further tarnishing his administration’s reputation.

"Finally, the ambitious but troubled High-Speed Rail project exemplifies poor management and wasteful spending. Initially, Newsom seemed poised to halt the project, yet billions of taxpayer dollars continue to be funneled into what many see as a financial black hole, with little to show for the investment.

"These examples illustrate a pattern of ineffective leadership and decision-making that has had real and negative impacts on California’s residents and resources . . ."

‘Hamas murdered them’: Israel receives ‘crushing news’ about bodies recovered in Gaza

Sky News Australia "Israel government spokesperson David Mencer has called out Hamas for “murdering” a hostage after the body of a 53-year-old man was found inside a tunnel in Rafah.

"The Israeli military says it has recovered two bodies from inside Gaza. "One of the bodies has been identified as Youssef Ziyadne, who was abducted alongside his son during the October 7 attack. " 'A crushing set of news for our people,” Mr Mencer told Sky News Australia. " 'We had hoped, even though we are now at 460 days, that this man and his son would be found alive, but, sadly, Hamas have murdered them.”

US, Israeli officials say hostage deal has been reached   

"A three-stage deal to release hostages has been reached • Ninety-eight hostages remain in Gaza, 33 to be released in first phase"

Megyn Kelly Blasts Democrat Women Senators as ‘Hysterical Fools’ Over Behavior in Hegseth Hearing (Language)

 Legal Insurrection  

“I was embarrassed for them. I was embarrassed for my sex and how they were behaving today.”

This is literally worse than active combat… pic.twitter.com/dgqCI0Wg0I

— David Santa Carla 🦇 (@TheOnlyDSC) January 14, 2025

"Megyn Kelly attended the Pete Hegseth hearings and was clearly unimpressed with questioning from the Democrat senators, particularly the women who she mocked as ‘hysterical fools.’ Anyone who watched Elizabeth Warren’s little show would surely agree.

"Kelly also praised Hegseth’s performance and said she now fully expects him to be confirmed.

"Transcript via Real Clear Politics:

MEGYN KELLY: No one laid a glove on him. He’s good. He’s got this. I have zero doubts now that he will be confirmed. Joni Ernst was the big question mark, and she was great today. She was very nice in her questioning of him, very respectful. That’s not a no vote, no way. And this is just the Senate Armed Services Committee he has got to he’ll get out of committee. And but like she was the big pivotal vote, even if Trump is going to lose, potentially McConnell, potentially Murkowski and Collins, which now they’re saying he might not. I don’t think Pete Hegseth has trouble. I think he’s going to get confirmed, and I don’t think anybody touched him. And really, to me, the story of the day was how some of these Democrat senators embarrassed themselves trying to…

Why do the women always have to be so sh*tty? Why do the women have to be like these hysterical fools? Why can’t they be more dignified? Tim Kaine was the worst, I should say that up front. The worst, the most disgusting, I should say. But he wasn’t like an hysteric. Mazie Hirono is so dumb. I can’t believe she’s a US senator. Kirsten Gillibrand… Oh my God, you are undermining the very cause that I know you so desperately want to promote right now. So I was embarrassed for them. I was embarrassed for my sex and how they were behaving today." . . .

No One Wants A Biden Presidential Library

 The Federalist  There is absolutely nothing commendable about Biden and his career, especially about his four years in the White House. 

Maybe it’s not a matter of asking who will visit the Joe Biden Presidential Library so much as it is a matter of asking this: Who will want to even pause and respect the man at all?

Biden has made us a lesser nation as he rules. TD

 . . ."Having visited a number of presidential libraries, I now find myself wondering: What will the future Joe Biden Museum and Library be like?

More to the point: Who is going to want to visit it? Who is going to want to be on staff there?

What has Biden accomplished? Half a century is a long time by any measure, but even more so when one devotes a lifetime to an ever-precarious career in politics. Surely there has to be something good in there to commemorate … right?

Perhaps not. Biden’s life and time in office have been thoroughly ridden with malpractice, corruption, and abuse of power. There is absolutely nothing commendable about Biden and his career, especially about his four years in the White House. If they are going to be remembered at all, it will be with derision and mockery.

How does a library accommodate that reality without descending into full-scale revisionism?

Will the official documents include the reams of tweets, laden with untruths and rhetoric, which may or may not have been composed by Biden himself? Might there be a video running of Biden’s contemptible behavior during the Clarence Thomas hearings in 1991? Will a kiosk have a loop playing of Biden’s “courageous” decision to step aside from the 2024 election?

When one considers the highlights of the Biden Library, the possibilities run from the ridiculous to the nigh-on criminal. It will take extreme massaging to make the Biden economy out to be a good one. Maybe the library will extol Biden’s bold vision when he bestowed upon George Soros the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Perhaps there will be a display of the ensembles worn by “Rachel” (Richard) Leland Levine.

Who is going to want to see this sort of thing on display? Who could possibly take it seriously?

No, Joe, It Ain’t So  . . ."That memorable moment comes to mind as President Joe Biden, with mere days left in his solitary term, takes to the pages of the Washington Post to write an op-ed titled: “Joe Biden: What Americans should remember about Jan. 6,” with the subtitle “Four years ago, our democracy was put to the test — and prevailed.”

"In which the president speaks one blatant untruth after another, illustrating exactly why Americans wanted him out of the Oval Office." . . . The American Spectator

Whom do you suppose wrote this for Joe?

Pete and the Kabuki Actors

RedState 

 Kabuki: More recently, Kabuki has entered general English as a synonym for theatrical. In the US, it is often used to describe politicians suspected of acting insincerely to please their supporters and/or attract maximum media attention.

"So here we go. Act 1 of the "Washington Kabuki Group's Traveling Action Show." Still smarting from last November's losing performance, which bombed spectacularly, the troupe has not yet figured out what the audience likes and what the audience hates. So the programs, which were printed up months ago, are still being distributed at performances because the DNC did not have access to public funds to produce new ones, and also because their Writer's Guild surely knows what the people want, whether the people want it or not.

And yesterday, as the curtain went up on one Peter Hegseth, the orchestra played its fanfare, and the group danced in on the stage before him. Still looks like it's gonna resemble last year's show. Don't think the reviews are going to be positive.

"Mr. Hegseth, you are not qualified to head the Department of Defense. You have managed a department with a budget of only 18 billion dollars," Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) quacked. "The DOD has a budget of 825 billion dollars. That's five katrillion times smaller...no bigger....wait....greater than, I mean...(almost shouting now) well have you ever conducted an audit?"

"Mr. Hegseth!" Mazie Hirono (D-HI) jumped in. "I don't think you're qualified to lead the DOD either. Tell me, would you consider using armed military force to attack Panama or Greenland? Hmmmmm?"

"My Turn! My Turn!" Liz Warren (D-MA) shoved Hirono aside to take center stage. "Mr. Hegseth! Do you still think women make inferior combat soldiers? Don't you realize that I, old as dirt, can easily lug an 85 lb artillery shell?"

Then, from stage left, in jumped Timmy Kaine (D-VA, failed presidential candidate and Big Shot Wannabe. It was time to grope the bottom of the barrel and get personal. 

"Mr. Hegseth, didn't you cheat on your wife? Hmmmm? Didn't you have a child with another woman while married to someone else? Hmmmm? And here in Washington, our nation's capitol, where half of the United States Congress is engaging in Sexual Congress with persons other than their spouses, you expect us on this committee to believe that your oath to the office — should you be confirmed — will mean anything when you cannot even keep your own oath to all of your wives? Hmmmmm?" . . .

Slate asks: But how did Kabuki, one of Japan’s most revered arts, come to signify loathsome fakery?

Do You Need To Be Reminded What Kabuki Theater Means In A Political Context?   "
Using the phrase “kabuki theater” in the context of Congress is something of a good old American metaphorical critique, describing a situation where actions are purely symbolic, staged and, ultimately, insincere performances. In the real world, Kabuki is a traditional Japanese form of theater best known for its elaborate costumes, stylized performances and exaggerated gestures. In the context of MAGA Mike's idiotic 118th Congress, the implication is that the actions, debates, negotiations, etc are being carried out for public display and political posturing rather than genuine attempts at substantive change or progress. It suggests that the proceedings are more about appearance or ritualistic performance than achieving meaningful outcomes. Sound familiar at all?" . . .

Hegseth's Media Chops Are a Huge Plus While Facing Frothing Democrats 

" As I told everyone who participated in our live blog on Tuesday, I am not a fan of televised confirmation hearings in the United States Senate. Regardless of which party is in power, the hearings are nothing more than an opportunity for a bunch of attention-starved egomaniacs to grandstand. Every senator knows going in to the hearing how he or she is going to vote, so the process is useless." . . . 

Victor Davis Hanson: Trump’s ‘Art of the Troll’ on Canada, Greenland, ‘Gulf of America,’ Panama Canal

 Daily Signal 

. . ."And the whole point is to reexamine the status quo across the board. It’s kind of an anti-woke argument, isn’t it? Everything is up for grabs, and if the woke people think they can rewrite the history and traditions of the United States, maybe don’t. Trump can, too." . . .

The Top 10 Dumbest Things Said By Democrats...On Tuesday

 Hot Air  All below are selected quotes from the main article at the link.TD

Sen. Mazie Hirono's message to American men: 'Just shut up and step up' - ABC News 2018

. . ."I usually know I've struck gold when the host of the program, Hugh Hewitt, turns to me during a break and says, "They really didn't say that, did they?" And by the time I wrapped up taping for the latest edition of my Duane's World podcast a little later, the idea percolated for encapsulating the day in a top ten list, not having any idea if there were really 10 dumb things that could legitimately make the list. 

"There are. Your arrangement may vary, but it's hard to defend the collection of inanity. So without further ado...

#10  Claire McCaskill - Republicans made the Hegseth nomination partisan for the first time
Appearing on MSNBC with Joy Reid, not a bright move to begin with, the former Missouri senator criticized the confirmation hearing in Senate Armed Services for Defense-nominee Pete Hegseth. Her beef? Those bad Republicans just aren't for caving. " . . .

#9 You people against boys playing in girls' sports are bigots, you know. 

#7  Mazie Hirono - When Is the D-Day Invasion of Greenland and the Panama Canal?

#6  L.A. Mayor Karen Bass - No Ragrets

#5  Dick Blumenthal - Come on, you haven't run anything as big as the Pentagon
One of the only two Dicks in the upper chamber, Blumenthal seems to think it's unwise to turn over such an important government apparatus to an amateur. 

"Oh, did I forget to mention that while running for the Senate as Connecticut Attorney General, he held several fundraisers as a megadonor for Barack Obama, whose qualifications to run the Pentagon, and the rest of the American Executive Branch for that matter, was serving as a community organizer out of the South side of Chicago? He might want to sit this one out. 

#4  Joe Biden - All hail the head of ASEAN, the president of Columbia.   ..."Five more days of this, folks. To Joe Biden, Colombia, Cambodia - what's the difference? He's on a roll."...

 #3  L.A. County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone - What's the DEI reference for homeless again? 

LA County cut fire budget while spending heavily on DEI, woke items: 'Midnight Stroll Transgender Cafe'

#2 Kamala Harris - All we need is just a little patience

#1  Mazie Hirono - I take it that you'd shoot protesters in the leg if ordered.  

Now there were a couple of contenders that didn't make the cut, chiefly Tim Kaine trying to call out Pete Hegseth on marital infidelities.

. . ."Oh, sure, the President of the United States got caught diddling with an intern in the Oval Office, leaving the essence of Bill behind on Monica Lewinsky's blue dress as a souvenir, but that's not worthy of scorn from Tim Kaine. That's in the past, don't you know. 
"But then you go all the way back to...October. 

"Doug Emhoff was married, shtupped and knocked up his babysitter, forced her into an abortion, divorced wife number one shortly thereafter, allegedly slapped around his next girlfriend before landing Kamala and becoming the Second Fella, and Tim Kaine is all smiles. He's shoulder-to-shoulder with him. I guess personal foibles don't seem to matter so much if you're a Democrat."   Video

Canadians Flee To U.S. After Doctors Threaten To ‘Unplug’ Their Son And Harvest His Organs

They don't even have time to wait till Biden is gone and Trump is President to find out if this treatment would be viable or not. TD

The Federalist  

Doctors were ‘constantly talking about’ harvesting Arthur’s organs, according to Tétrault.

. . ."Arthur at his first round of hyperbaric treatment. Courtesy of Nicolas Tetrault

. . ."Tétrault said the difference in Arthur’s treatment stems from the difference between American and Canadian hospital systems.

“ 'In Quebec, it’s a socialist hospital system where the patients are seen as an expense. In the U.S., a patient is seen as an income, as a client,” he said. “It makes the entire difference in the world.' ”