Amtrak Joe Couldn’t Be Bothered To Visit A Train Wreck

 Issues & Insights

Issues & Insights is run by the seasoned journalists behind the legendary IBD Editorials page. Our goal is to bring our decades of combined journalism experience to help readers understand the top issues of the day. We’re doing this on a voluntary basis, because we believe the nation needs the kind of cogent, rational, data-driven, fact-based commentary that we can provide. 

"A freight train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio, three weeks ago. Residents were ordered to evacuate and the cargo of toxic chemicals from five tanker cars was eventually released and set on fire. So far, Joe Biden hasn’t visited the scene, as is tradition for presidents when large-scale disasters strike. Instead, Biden officials have blamed Donald Trump, who hasn’t been president in more than two years, for the wreck. But even some media outlets are admitting it wasn’t his fault.

"Official word from the White House accuses “congressional Republicans and former Trump administration officials” for selling out “to rail industry lobbyists when they dismantled the Obama-Biden rail safety protections as well as EPA powers to rapidly contain spills.” The administration believes Trump, who beat Biden Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (who is utterly useless) to the site, and GOP lawmakers, owe “East Palestine an apology.” 

“ 'Congressional Republicans laid the groundwork for the Trump administration to tear up requirements for more effective train brakes,” Andrew Bates, a deputy White House press secretary, ranted on Wednesday, “and last year most House Republicans wanted to defund our ability to protect drinking water.”

"That last point must really eat at the White House. Bates issued the statement on the same day Trump showed up with 13 pallets of bottled water, nine of which he donated (and delivered by two moving companies based in Red States), for the East Palestine residents who are understandably fearful of their water supply. Seems the former president was doing the work of the federal agency that has “emergency management” in its name but had not arrived in the city until this past weekend.

"While the Biden administration is in full blame-Trump mode, it’s not yet clear why the Norfolk Southern train derailed. One National Transportation Safety Board has said that video of the wreck suggests that “mechanical issues on one of the rail car axles” are a possibility. Another report refers to “an overheated axle.” We’ve seen, as well, a report that a wheel bearing overheated and failed.". . .

Who first used the term ‘racist’? Correct it was a Communist!

 Dr. Rich Swier   "It seems that the term “racist” has been used to denigrate those who disagree with another’s politics. But who first used the term “racist”?

"The first use of the term “racist”, or “расист” in Russian, was Leon Trotsky in Volume 1 of his book Especially Development of Russia. Trotsky wrote,

Slavicophilism, the messianism of backwardness, built its philosophy on, that the Russian people and their church are still democratic, and the official Russia is a German bureaucracy planted by Peter. Marx noticed by this: “After all, in the same way, the Teutonic donkeys dump despotism Frederick II, etc., on the French, as if backward slaves do not need always in civilized slaves to go through the right training”. This is short the remark is completely exhausted not only by the old philosophy of Slavophiles, but also the latest revelations of the “racists”.

 "From March 1918 to January 1925, Trotsky headed the Red Army as People’s Commissar for Military and Naval Affairs and played a vital role in the Bolshevik victory in the Russian Civil War of 1917–1922. He became one of the seven members of the first Bolshevik Politburo in 1919.

"According to the World Socialist Web Site, Leon Trotsky (1879-1940) was, alongside Vladimir Lenin, the greatest revolutionary leader of the 20th century.". . .

Dilbert creator Scott Adams is the latest to be canceled

 Rajan Laad  "We know that the left is always looking for an opportunity to silence those who challenge their groupthink.  Their target isn't only conservatives, but anybody who disagrees with their worldview even in the slightest possible way.

"They left lives in the hope that contrarians to their groupthink will either misspeak or express a nuanced and detailed idea that can be extracted, stripped of context, and made to appear bigoted.  This gives them reason to mount a social media campaign and initiate cancelation.

"Yesterday, it was satirist and thinker Scott Adams's turn to be canceled.

"USA Today announced that it would stop publishing Adams's "Dilbert" cartoon because the people running the paper "lead with inclusion and strive to maintain a respectful and equitable environment for the diverse communities we serve nationwide."

"Cleveland's Plain Dealer newspaper also decided not to publish any of Adams's cartoons.

"John Hiner of MLive Media in Michigan wrote in an editorial, "We will work quickly to find a replacement that will entertain you and not violate basic standards of decency and respect for others."

"Many other outlets followed and did away with Adams.

"Adams has been producing "Dilbert" for three decades, and they are seen as a devastatingly satirical commentary on workplace policies.". . .

Joy knows derailments

Silvio Canto, Jr.

Last, but not least, "Scranton Joe" was in Kiev handing out dollars.  I'm not against supporting Ukraine against Putin.  However, Air Force One could have made a quick stop in Ohio and put the president in touch with people hurting from the derailment.  The first lady could have visited the area before going on her Africa mission. So we are left with no presidential visit, more horrible comments from Joy Behar, and residents in Ohio wondering why. 

"Trump Derangement Syndrome affects people in different ways.  Sometimes it drives a news network so far into the anti-Trump corner that it loses its viewers — say, CNN.  Often it is reflected in the lunatic things that people say, such as Joy Behar and her sidekick Asuncion.

"This is how Joy described the derailment in Ohio:

Joy Behar shocked audience members of "The View" on Thursday when she implied that Donald Trump–voting residents of East Palestine, Ohio, have nobody to blame but themselves for the toxic train derailment that's rocked the small town.

Gasps could be heard from the crowd after the comment by Behar, who also insinuated that the devastating Feb. 3 derailment was a result of the former president's actions in the White House.

"I don't know why they would ever vote for him, for somebody who, by the way, he placed someone with deep ties to the chemical industry in charge of the EPA's chemical safety office," said Behar, 80.

"What an irresponsible person.". . .

Here's ABC's @TheView co-host Joy Behar claiming Antifa doesn't exist during a segment on Sen. Ron Johnson's comments that he would've been afraid of the Capitol rioters had they been Antifa.

"He's scared of this fictitious idea of Antifa, a thing that doesn't even exist." pic.twitter.com/8SCtumxiZv

— Tristan Justice (@JusticeTristan) March 15, 2021

Alien Confused After Being Taken To Our Leader President Biden

The Babylon Bee "The aliens of planet Argonian V sent an emissary to contact earth, and he immediately said, "Take me to your leader." But even his advanced intelligence couldn't figure out what Biden was saying. Sad. Not good!"

When a leftist grand jury forewoman goes 'giddy' at the thought of arresting Donald Trump

David Zukerman

Unfortunately, with former Biden aide Jen Psaki now ensconced at MSNBC, the media opportunities for a TDS-stricken, yet giddy, Gen Zer have narrowed considerably.

 "The "giddy" (and arguably immature) 30-year-old forewoman of the Georgia grand jury, apparently charged by Fulton County district attorney Fani Wills to come up with some basis to indict former president Donald Trump, is just the latest citizen apparently afflicted with Trump Derangement Syndrome — whose effect leads the afflicted to look for ways and means to prevent Mr. Trump from seeking a second presidential term, preferably via incarceration for illusory "crimes" perceived only by those carrying the TDS virus.

https://twitter.com/i/status/1628432791510876160

"The first such carrier (not to gainsay the existence of TDS carriers during the early years of the Trump presidency when the name Adam Schiff, M.C., comes to mind) was, certainly, House speaker Nancy Pelosi, who, after failing to oust President Trump for a perfectly reasonable phone conversation with Ukraine president Volodomyr Zelensky, summer of 2019, went on to rip up Mr. Trump's final State of the Union address, for viewers to witness, and then concocted a second Trump impeachment for this president, with the Senate aspect taking place after Mr. Trump had peacefully left office.

"Thereupon, Ms. Pelosi arranged for a nine-member House select committee consisting of nine representatives suffering from TDS to the point where they, every member, including the two Republicans — chosen by Pelosi, too — could no longer distinguish their obligation to honor the rule of law . . ."

There’s something a bit disturbing about #EmilyKohrs acting giddy like the hot guy at the party just hit on her… pic.twitter.com/aLxbMICXm0

— Andy Ostroy (@AndyOstroy) February 22, 2023

How to win next year; Republicans need to fight today's battles, not yesteryear's

 Don Surber/ Substack

"Point out how racist and unAmerican CRT is. Democrats are going to portray Republicans as racist no matter what we do, so be proactive."  Don Surber

"Don Lemon was right when he said Nikki Haley is past prime. Oh, it is not her age. She is 5 years younger than the CNN presenter.

"Her ideas are past prime. She remains a neocon who seeks to appease her tormentors in the press. She’s a politician who says more tax cuts will solve everything. (And the band played on.)

"The world today is not what it was 8 years ago when Donald John Trump rode that golden escalator to the presidency.

"While the invasion from Mexico and Red China remain existential threats to America, new threats loom. NATO is on a zombie walk to a nuclear war with Russia, which was once a bear but now is a bearskin rug but with nukes.

"Trainwrecks and mysterious fires are wreaking havoc across America, either by design or just through the ordinary incompetence of the Cabinet of Tokens that Democrats installed under Biden. Let’s split the difference. The design was to appoint imbeciles and kick back and enjoy the collapse of America from within.

"How desperate is America today? Republicans are our only hope. We have to get them elected despite themselves. So here is what DeSantis or Trump (I will take either) must say and do to get elected president next year.". . .

Meghan McCain Calls Out Former ‘View’ Coworker Joy Behar for Her “Evil” East Palestine Comments

 

Decider  "She’s long gone from The View, but former co-host Meghan McCain still couldn’t help but chime in on a conversation from yesterday’e episode. McCain — who sat at the Hot Topics table from 2017 through 2021 — spoke out on Twitter shortly after Thursday’s show, where she blasted Joy Behar for her comments about East Palestine, Ohio Trump supporters.

During a conversation about the toxic chemical spill that took place in the Ohio town earlier  this month, Behar assigned blame to former president Donald Trump for his role in the incident.

“ 'I don’t know why they would ever vote for him,” Behar said on Thursday’s show. “He placed somebody with deep ties to the chemical industry in charge of the EPA’s Chemical Safety Office.”. . .

. . ."She then looked directly into the camera and pointed her finger, saying, “That’s who you voted for in that district: Donald Trump, who reduces all safety.”

"Her words made their way back to McCain, who couldn’t resist firing off her own defense on social media. The former View panelist, who is now a columnist for The Daily Mail, retweeted a recap of Behar’s comments, writing, “The people of east Palestine are currently in fear that they and their children will be getting cancer or worse from the derailment toxins in their land and water.”

"She added, “This is just an evil thing to say. I would say I can’t fathom this level of cruelty and elitism but sadly… I can.”

That Biden bid to blame Trump for the Ohio train wreck is falling apart

Now word is getting out to everyone else: Blaming Trump for this mess, amid a slow response from the Bidenites, (and a fast one from Trump himself, who sent water and burgers to residents), is not working as a spin narrative anymore. It's falling apart. Seems the biggest train wreck here is the Biden administration's credibility. That's obvious enough in their 'blame-Trump' response.

Corruption in U.S. at Worst Levels in Almost a Decade, According to New Transparency International Report

 

Foreign Policy.com  "Corruption in the United States is apparently at its worst in almost a decade, according to a new global report released Thursday by Transparency International. Advocates attribute the drop to declining trust in democratic institutions and poor oversight of pandemic-related financial aid.

"In the annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), the United States fell to a low of 67 out of a maximum possible score of 100, down from a high of 76 in 2015. By its nature, corruption is difficult to document, so the index relies on a variety of different sources to measure the level of perceived public sector corruption. The lower the score, the worse the corruption. Two-thirds of the 180 countries and territories included in the 2020 index scored below 50, with an average of 43. ". . .

". . .Scott Greytak, the advocacy director for the U.S. office of Transparency International, cited a broader “decay” in U.S. political institutions as a major contributor to the country’s declining rating. Gretyak noted that public confidence in U.S. elections has been undercut by disinformation and record-setting amounts of untraceable money in elections—especially in 2020, when twice as much was spent compared with 2016. 

“Second, and increasingly important, are these series of really bombshell exposés by media outlets that are demonstrating how much dirty money is flowing into the United States’ financial system,” he said, referencing a joint investigation published by BuzzFeed News and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists last year that confidence in U.S. elections has been undercut by disinformation and record-setting amounts of untraceable money in elections—especially in 2020, when twice as much was spent compared with 2016. 

“Second, and increasingly important, are these series of really bombshell exposés by media outlets that are demonstrating how much dirty money is flowing into the United States’ financial system,” he said, referencing a joint investigation published by BuzzFeed News and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists last year that revealed how major banks had knowingly allowed trillions of dollars of suspect financial transactions to go ahead, enabling drug kingpins, kleptocrats, and terrorists to move corrupt cash around the world. ". . .

Missouri AG Fires Dem Attorney Kim Gardner After She Refuses To Resign Over Public Safety Outcry

One down.

 Resist the Mainstream

"As violent crime spikes nationwide, conservative Republicans are pushing back against soft-on-crime policies advanced by progressive district attorneys, prosecutors and circuit attorneys.

 

"On Thursday, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) fired Democratic St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner (D) after she refused to step down amid controversy stemming from policies that allowed a repeat offender to commit a violent crime.

"The offender, Daniel Riley, was reportedly free on bond though officials were aware of multiple violations of his bond terms.". . .

. . ."The collision resulted in 16-year-old Janae Edmondson being pinned by Riley’s vehicle. Edmondson sustained significant injuries requiring the amputation of both legs.  

"Local reports note that Edmondson’s father provided emergency triage care, which likely saved the life of the young volleyball player. Janae remains in a hospital in critical condition.". . .

Democrat smirks

Giggly GA jury forewoman rushes to media to discuss Trump trial   "After a nearly eight-month investigation, a Fulton County special grand jury recommended on Tuesday that multiple people be indicted for allegedly interfering with Georgia’s 2020 presidential elections, and the national media had Donald Trump on their collection brain.

"The jury forewoman, Emily Kohrs, was a sudden media darling over the possibility of Trump being among those being indicted and she was downright giddy over all the attention she was getting, but her explanation of why she wanted to hear from the former president was enough to give one pause, regardless of their political affiliation.

" 'I wanted to hear from the former president, but honestly I kinda wanted to subpoena the former president because I got to swear everybody in and so I thought it would be really cool to get 60 seconds with President Trump, of me looking at him and being like, ‘Do you solemnly swear… I just thought that would be an awesome moment,” Kohrs said during an appearance on MSNBC.". . .

https://twitter.com/i/status/1628270518074761217

 https://twitter.com/i/status/1628270518074761217

pic.twitter.com/ZI4KDgPZXZ

— fernandø (@fernofalltrades) February 22, 2023

https://twitter.com/i/status/1628270518074761217

 Strzok, stroke, smirk

Updated: Joe's on his way back; on to East Palestine now? Oh...ok.

 Report: Buttigieg Will Visit Ohio Train Disaster Site on Thursday

East Palestine Mayor Calls Biden's Trip to Ukraine 'A Slap in the Face'

Buttigieg Finally Makes It to East Palestine, Did it go well or not?    . . .Buttigieg came with a hard hat and an attitude, at 7 a.m. in the morning.

Reporters tried to ask him questions but he blew them off and his press secretary got up in their faces. She said she didn’t want to have a conversation on camera for a public appearance with her boss, and that asking that she do so was “aggressive.”

Buttigieg: I Should Have ‘Spoken Sooner About How Strongly I Felt’ About East Palestine Derailment  . . ."Host Caitlin Huey-Burns asked, “I just have to ask, because it did take you a couple of days to respond publicly — or several days to respond publicly to this particular incident. Do you wish you would have spoken out sooner?”

"Buttigieg responded, “Yes. I was focused on just making sure that our folks on the ground were all set. But could have spoken sooner about how strongly I felt about this incident, and that’s a lesson learned for me.' ”. . .

*

Trump brought goodwill to East Palestine, Ohio while the Biden administration sniped at him  "Former President Donald Trump visited East Palestine, Ohio on Wednesday. He brought pallets of “Trump water”, food, and cleaning supplies. The residents of the small town were appreciative that Trump came and assured them that they were not forgotten.

"Details of Trump’s visit were not released to the public, no doubt for security reasons, yet there were Trump supporters who stood out in the rain along the street waiting to wave to him as his vehicle drove by. Trump was accompanied by Donald Trump, Jr., Senator J.D. Vance, Rep. Bill Johnson, and East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway,

"Trump met briefly with local leaders and first responders and the media at the local fire station. Though he did toss out a reference to fake news, Trump praised the media for covering the train derailment story and keeping it in front of the public. He told them he is donating thousands of bottles of cleaning supplies and pallets of bottled water that were collected through his Trump organizations.

"Trump was complimentary of Norfolk Southern. He tried to reassure the residents of its commitment to the town.". . .

UPDATE:Trump brought goodwill to East Palestine, Ohio while the Biden administration sniped at him  "Former President Donald Trump visited East Palestine, Ohio on Wednesday. He brought pallets of “Trump water”, food, and cleaning supplies. The residents of the small town were appreciative that Trump came and assured them that they were not forgotten.

"Details of Trump’s visit were not released to the public, no doubt for security reasons, yet there were Trump supporters who stood out in the rain along the street waiting to wave to him as his vehicle drove by. Trump was accompanied by Donald Trump, Jr., Senator J.D. Vance, Rep. Bill Johnson, and East Palestine Mayor Trent Conaway,

"Trump met briefly with local leaders and first responders and the media at the local fire station. Though he did toss out a reference to fake news, Trump praised the media for covering the train derailment story and keeping it in front of the public. He told them he is donating thousands of bottles of cleaning supplies and pallets of bottled water that were collected through his Trump organizations.

"Trump was complimentary of Norfolk Southern. He tried to reassure the residents of its commitment to the town.

“It means that the affected communities beyond the borders of East Palestine are going to be taken care of, and they’ve said so. They’ve said it loud and clear and I think they probably mean it,” Trump said.

"Whether you are a Trump supporter or not, this is something that Trump does well – he gets out there and mingles with those who feel forgotten by their government, especially in crises. In contrast, Scranton Joe who campaigned as a friend to the working man is nowhere to be found. He was flying back from Poland as Trump was in East Palestine. Where is all that Biden empathy?". . .