How about America returns to common sense?

"... the vast experiment against common sense that is liberalism."

Robert Curry  "Donald Trump's proposals – the ones driving so many people crazy – are simply policies that are good for America.  They are just common sense.  Because they are common sense, they deserve broad bipartisan support – which they are not getting.

"America once had common sense coming and going.  These days, not so much.

"America simply works better when common sense is abundant.  That is because the American system is designed to depend on common sense.  This fact earned America the title "the common sense nation," a title it once richly deserved.

"Common sense is consequently the best lens through which to examine what going on in this country.  We have a great example of this over at The American Spectator.  The article, written by George Neumayr, has so much to recommend it!

"Above all, Neumayr does what most needs to be done: he puts common sense precisely where it belongs – at the center of the political debate.  Which of these statements by Neumayr is the more perfect?

"This one?

Without common sense, without respect for the natural order of things, "conservatism" is useless. It is just destructive liberalism at a slightly slower speed.

"Or this one?

... the vast experiment against common sense that is liberalism.

. . .

Robert Curry serves on the Board of Directors of the Claremont Institute and on the Board of Distinguished Advisers of the Ronald Reagan Center for Freedom and Understanding.  He is the author of Common Sense Nation: Unlocking the Forgotten Power of the American Idea from Encounter Books.  You can preview the book here.

Burying Obama’s legacy from June 16, 2017

Caroline Glick  "It may very well be that this week was the week that Israel and the US put to rest former president Barack Obama’s policies and positions on Israel and the Palestinians.

"If so, the move was made despite the best efforts of Obama’s team to convince the Trump administration to maintain them.

"'The details of Obama’s policies and positions have been revealed in recent weeks in a series of articles published in Haaretz regarding Obama’s secretary of state John Kerry’s failed peacemaking efforts, which ended in 2014.

"The articles reported segments of two drafts of a US framework for a final peace treaty between the PLO and Israel. The drafts were created in February and March 2014.

"The article series is predicated on the assumption that Kerry and his team were on the precipice of a historic breakthrough between PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu. But a close reading of the documents shows that the opposite was the case.

"There are two reasons that Kerry had no prospects for reaching a deal.

"First, he, Obama and their advisers were too hostile to Israel and its citizens to ever convince Netanyahu that Israel’s interests would be secured." . . .

dinnertopics

It wasn't all Obama, though: McMaster Purges Pro-Israel, Anti-Iran Deal, Trump Loyalists, from the NSC  . . . "McMaster in contrast is deeply hostile to Israel and to Trump. According to senior officials aware of his behavior, he constantly refers to Israel as the occupying power and insists falsely and constantly that a country named Palestine existed where Israel is located until 1948 when it was destroyed by the Jews.

. . . 

"What hasn’t been reported is that it was McMaster who pressured Trump to agree not to let Netanyahu accompany him to the Western Wall. At the time, I and other reporters were led to believe that this was the decision of rogue anti-Israel officers at the US consulate in Jerusalem. But it wasn’t. It was McMaster." .  . .

Say it ain't so, media

Silvio Canto, Jr.  "During the famous White Sox trial over throwing the World Series, a boy allegedly went up to Shoeless Joe Jackson and said, "Say it ain't so, Joe!"  I guess the young fan was hoping Jackson would tell him the accusations were not true. 

"Some of us today are making plea to the news media: say it ain't so, media.  Say it ain't so that you downplayed the meeting between President Bill Clinton and Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

"For years we've heard, and some of us complained, that the media were in the tank for Democrats.  We just got more evidence that some in the media were indeed playing favorites in 2016. 

"This is the latest example from John Crudele: " . . .

A nation gets the leadership it deserves

Image by The Slammer

Solving the Debbie Blabbermouth mystery  "The disgraced former DNC chairwoman, whom Rush likes to call Debbie Blabbermouth Schultz, is under the biggest scandal cloud in Washington thanks to her former I.T. guy, Imran Awan.  Awan was the ringleader of what looks like a genuine Capitol Hill crime ring, which defrauded the government of millions from no-show tech jobs and various other scams.

"Awan is currently in jail, and Schultz isn't talking, nor being prodded much by the establishment media.  A lot of speculation has occurred, though, about Awan possibly blackmailing Schultz and other congressional Democrats through his access to their computers.  It is even suspected that Awan took this access and sold secrets from the House Intel committee, which Schultz would have, to a foreign power.  Given Schultz's fanatic defense of Awan, the idea is also out there that they were having an affair.

"I, however, am more of an Occam's Razor, simple explanation, "follow the money" kind of sleuth, and I would bet dollars to donuts that this is just a case of two inept crooks, Schultz and Awan, getting caught with their hands in the till.

"Schultz doesn't have any family money, but she lucked into high elective office almost right out of college.  She is well known as one of the poorest members of Congress, carrying huge debts. " . . .

As the saying goes, "never steal anything small."  The Clintons are proving the wisdom of that saying once again, judging by the current lack of interest from Congress and the Trump DoJ in looking any more into the various complicated Clinton scandals.  Indeed, Bill Clinton may well get off scot-free and go down in history as our age's Napoleon of Crime.  As for Debbie Blabbermouth, she's only going to the nearest federal women's prison.

As North Korea puts Guam in its crosshairs, harrowing WWII photos show the brutal battle fought by US Marines to liberate the island after it was invaded by Japan

So this is what a "Guam" is!

UK Daily Mail

"Stunning pictures show the American struggle to reclaim island of Guam after it was seized by Japan in 1941

"The Americans lost more than 1,700 men during the fierce fighting and the Japanese lost more than 18,000

"Guam was settled by seafarers from South East Asia in about 2,000BC but Europeans discovered it in 1521

"The Spanish claimed it in 1565 and colonised it in the 17th century but the US captured the island in 1898

"Now bustling Guam - threatened by North Korea - home to over 160,000 people with a booming tourist trade"

A US Marine is given water as he lies on a stretcher with bandages
covering his wounds after seeing action during the 1944 Battle of Guam

"After an eventful history under American rule - and three years under Japanese imperial rule - Guam has evolved into a flourishing economy of more than 160,000 people famous for its beautiful beaches and excellent food.

"But modern citizens of the island are faced with fresh anxiety over the nuclear threat from North Korea as Stalinist dictator Kim Jong-un makes Guam a target for his nuclear weapons and US President Donald Trump threatens remorseless retaliation. "

 

Two US soldiers plant an American flag attached to a boat hook on the beach at Guam, just eight minutes after U.S. Marines and Army assault troops landed on the Central Pacific island on July 20, 1944.

Guam has much to fear:

When Hitler found out about this, things were not pretty

Playing Into Every Female Stereotype, Women At Google Stay Home After Memo For Emotional Reasons

Liberal Logic 101

. . . "NPR reported that former Google employee Kelly Ellis said “some women who still work at the company stayed home on Monday because the memo made them ‘uncomfortable going back to work.'”

"James Damore, who penned the politically incorrect memo, was canned by the corporation intolerant of viewpoint diversity on Monday for allegedly “perpetuating gender stereotypes.”

"Ironically, the women too “upset” to go into work over a science and evidence-backed note are indeed playing into the worst gender stereotypes of all — the overly-emotional and irrational woman — and inadvertently proving what they are so fiercely attempting to deny: men and women are different." . . .

Google’s ‘tolerance’ requires repression.  Michael Barone writes:

“Part of building an open, inclusive environment,” said Google’s vice president “for diversity, integrity and governance,” “means fostering a culture in which those with alternative views, including different political views, feel safe sharing their opinions. But” — key word — “that discourse needs to work alongside the principles of equal employment found in our Code of Conduct, policies and anti-discrimination laws.”Similarly, Google’s CEO said Tuesday, “We strongly support the right of Googlers to express themselves. However” — key word — “portions of the memo violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace.”George Orwell would recognize this doublespeak. We totally support free speech except when we call it heresy. Tolerance requires repression.

The man who could launch WWIII: Commander in chief of North Korea's nuclear force warns of mid-August strike on Guam and ominously tells troops 'wait for my order'

Rich Terrell

The Gang that Couldn’t Threaten Straight  "Secretary of Defense James Mattis issued his own, much tougher statement. So the administration has something for everyone. You can choose the president’s bellicosity, the secretary of defense’s firmness, or the secretary of state’s palaver. Which reflects the administration’s true posture? Who knows? Does the Trump administration?"  Rich Lowry.

UK Daily Mail   "He is Kim Jong-un's shadow, following the North Korean president from missile launch to military parade.

"General Kim Rak-gyom is often seen smiling and joking with his subordinates but, much like his despotic leader, he is far more dangerous than his jovial exterior suggests.

"As head of North Korea's rocket command, he is believed to have his finger on the proverbial button, with as many as 60 suspected nuclear warheads at his disposal.

"Hours before Kim Jong-un announced he was looking into the logistics of striking the remote Pacific island, host to thousands of US servicemen and submarines, Donald Trump vowed 'fire and fury' if he threatened his country.

"General Kim Rak-gyom went one further by branding Trump's remarks 'a load of nonsense' - and the US president 'senile'." . . .

Dennis Rodman's posse

. . . "But a position as Kim's right hand man comes with its own, very unique set of hazards.

"In February, following a string of failed nuclear Intercontinental Ballistic Missile tests, it was reported that Kim Rak-gyom had not been seen in around six months, including at the 69th anniversary of the creation of the North’s military.

"He re-emerged a month later during a North Korean missile launch in which the military claimed it was practising to hit US military bases in Japan. 

"After successful missile launches which have angered world leaders, Kim Jong-un is also seen celebrating, hugging and sharing a celebratory smoke with the same three men." . . .

Eric Bolling sues reporter for $50 mln over lewd photo story Eric Bolling sues reporter for $50 mil over lewd photo story

Fox News Host Eric Bolling Fighting to Clear His Name

A report states that two women at Fox Business and one at Fox News received the images in text messages from Bolling. It is unclear why an alleged incident from years ago is only now coming to light.

CDN  

"Fox News Host Eric Bolling has filed a lawsuit against the Huffington Post reporter who wrote the story responsible for his being suspended.

"Yashar Ali reported that 14 anonymous sources told him that Bolling had texted lewd images to two of his female co-workers. None of the sources would go on the record and no actual charges or suits have been filed against Bolling.

"Bolling, through legal firm Kasowitz Benson Torres, LLP, filed a $50 million defamation suit against Ali on Wednesday.

"The suit is a defense, similar to that of Fox personality Sean Hannity, to push back against unnamed, unproven claims levied at Fox News most Conservative and popular voices. Hannity successfully fought off a false attack against him and Eric looks set to do the same."

Obama Blew All Opportunities With China And N. Korea

Noisy Room  "Obama along with Hillary Clinton and John Kerry gave us trade deals and climate change stuff….Obama did not understand Thucydides Trap and chose to ignore it. Steve Bannon and H.R. McMaster, along with General Mattis, are experts on it and President Trump is confused. Trump tells President Xi, he will honor the one China policy."

. . . 

Obama administration knew about North Korea's miniaturized nukes

It was clear what Obama officials were doing in 2013.  The DIA report represented inconvenient facts that threatened President Obama’s North Korea “strategic patience” policy -- a policy to do nothing about North Korea and kick this problem down the road to the next president.  Obama officials tried to downplay the DIA assessment to prevent it from being used to force the president to employ a more assertive North Korea policy. 

Beware the "Thucydides Trap" Trap  . . . "Similarly, survey today's strategic landscape. The BRICS countries — Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa — are making their ascent to regional if not world power. The Thucydides Trap suggests that dark days lie ahead for them and for America. But how likely is conflict between the United States and Brazil, India, South Africa, or even a prickly Russia? Not very, methinks.

"That leaves China. The trend lines in East Asia point to competition or even conflict. But trends are not fate. How events unfold will rest mainly with decisionmakers in Washington, Beijing, and other regional stakeholders. That — not a simple parable of rise and decline — is the lesson from Thucydides." . . .

Anti-Trump Fanatic Executes GOP Committeeman with Two Bullets to the Head — While His Wife Was Watching

The Gateway Pundit  "ABC6 reported:  A man is under arrest, accused of killing his next door neighbor in West Goshen, Chester County.
"Police have charged Clayton Carter, 51, in the shooting death of [GOP committeeman] G. Brooks Jennings.
"Shortly before 8 p.m. Monday, police responded to the 300 block of Box Elder Drive for a dispute between Carter and Jennings about cursing and video recording in the back yard. Police said they were able to resolve that dispute.
"Then at approximately 1 a.m. Tuesday, police say the neighbors got into another dispute. Carter told police that Jennings shined a light into his eyes while he was outside. Carter then allegedly pulled a car onto his lawn, shining the high beams of the car on Jennings’ property.
"Carter then allegedly retrieved a .380 semi-automatic handgun from his house and confronted the victim again outside."
"Officials say Carter shot Jennings once in the head, knocking him to the ground. Carter then allegedly stood over Jennings’ body and shot him once more in the head.
"The victim was on his own property, police said…
"…Jennings’ wife allegedly heard the first gunshot, then saw Carter stand over her husband as he fired the second shot.
"Police recovered two shell casings, the gun and a knife at the scene. One shell casing was located on Carter’s property. The second shell casing was found on the victim’s property, near Jennings’ body.
"Carter has been charged with murder and related offenses, and is currently being held at the Chester County Prison.
"Neighbor Brian Dougherty got emotional when speaking of Jennings.
"You don’t want to sound cliche, you see this on TV all the time, but he is probably the nicest, best guy I’ve ever met in my whole life. Really, seriously,” Dougherty said.
"Police say Carter had disputes with a number of other neighbors, and even pulled a gun on Jennings during a past altercation.
"Neighbors say Carter was a quarrelsome, argumentative man. Court records claim Carter had a history of disputes with multiple neighbors. His front yard was crowded with cars and hand lettered anti-Trump signs."

Trump Got Your Tongue, Media?

darkangelpolitics

Ann Coulter  . . . "Last week, the president joined Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.) to announce legislation that would make seminal changes to our immigration laws for the first time in more than half a century, profoundly affecting the entire country. 

"The media have chosen not to cover the RAISE Act (Reforming American Immigration for Strong Employment). This bill is their worst nightmare. 

"Instead of admitting immigrants on the basis of often specious "family" ties, the bill would finally allow us to choose the immigrants we want, based on merit, with points granted for skills, English proficiency, advanced degrees, actual job offers and so on. 

"Most Americans have no idea that we have zero say about the vast majority of immigrants pouring into our country. Two-thirds of all legal immigrants get in not because we want them -- or even because Mark Zuckerberg wants them -- but under idiotic "family reunification" laws. 

"The most important provision of the RAISE Act would define "family" the way most Americans think of it: your spouse and minor children. 

"Unfortunately, that's not how the Third World thinks of "family." In tribal societies, "family" means the whole extended clan -- adult siblings, elderly parents and brothers-in-law, plus all their adult siblings and elderly parents, and so on, ad infinitum. 

"Entire tribes of immigrants are able to bully their way in and, as legal immigrants, are immediately eligible for a whole panoply of government benefits. Suddenly, there's no money left in the Social Security Trust Fund, and Speaker Paul Ryan is telling Americans they're going to have to cut back." . . .

FLASHBACK 1994: Clinton Says Deal With North Korea Would Prevent Them Getting Nuclear Weapons

Still want Democrats to be in charge?

Weasel Zippers

Democrats have cost the US so much international respect for decades.