Much to the media's surprise, rioters, relatives, and Trump himself got no Trump pardons

Monica Showalter  . . . "While the press was left empty with no Trump self-pardon, for those who get them, it's a huge relief. Trump may have been kind of stingy with pardons, but he did extend another act of clemency, sort of like a pardon, that was extremely generous and heartening:

This, from Politico:

President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced he will offer Venezuelan exiles protection from deportation, a move he has considered for years but refused to do until his last full day in office. . .

. . . "It was sort of like extending a hand to a friend - Venezuelan-Americans after all voted for Trump in Florida in droves, they're known as Magazolanos in those parts, and with many still bringing family members in to save them from starvation, they needed a helping hand on deportations. LIke the pardons, Trump was helping his friends. And it made sense. They were, after all, people who fled a socialist hellhole, so the protection extended is a standing rebuke to all those in Congress and the press, who tell us socialism is just dandy. Besides socialism, they also fled election fraud -- Venezuela has famously rigged elections. It's not as if they've been voting for this socialist mess as some [refugees] from other places have -- they've been voting and seeing their votes cancelled. That alone puts them in empathy with President Trump and the sentiment has been returned." . . .

This hope is dormant for now: Exiles support Trump on his visit to Doral in South Florida

Japanese Trump supporters rally in Tokyo ahead of Biden's inauguration  . . . Some Trump supporters in Japan are drawn to his hardline stance against regional rival China. Others like Kobayashi are part of conservative Christian sects and there are those who are supporters of QAnon, a conspiracy theory that posits that Trump is secretly fighting a global cabal of child sexual predators that includes prominent Democrats, Hollywood elites and allies of " deep state ".

"Tokyo has seen several pro-Trump rallies since the election, with participants waving their campaign banners and wearing their distinctive red caps. Wednesday's march was smaller than some previous events." . . .

Biden to sign 15 executive actions on Day One

 Yahoo  "President-elect Joe Biden is expected to sign 15 executive actions upon taking office Wednesday, immediately reversing key Trump administration policies.

"Why it matters: The 15 actions — aimed at issues like climate change and immigration — mark more drastic immediate steps compared with the two day-one actions from Biden's four predecessors combined, according to incoming White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

"What they're saying: The actions are the first of many, Psaki said in a news release, as Biden works "to address the four crises that he's laid out" — COVID-19, the economic crisis, racial injustice and climate change.

"In the coming days and weeks we will be announcing additional executive actions that confront these challenges and deliver on the President-elect's promises to the American people," Psaki said, "including revoking the ban on military service by transgender Americans, and reversing the Mexico City policy."  

Highlights" . . .More here...

Joe Biden’s defining moment may come today . . .

“I call on my supporters to put aside the hatreds that poisoned our political discourse for far too long. We are all Americans, and we all deserve to have our rights and political standing honored. Let today be the day that our reconciliation begins.”

"Biden’s speechwriters and handler can come up with their own version of such a call – if they want to.

"But if they don’t, and Biden ignores the festering wounds that trouble the national political soul, then it is not his opponents, and not just the national interest that will suffer. As John Dietrich sagely advises Biden, the well-funded, well-equipped, and now well-experienced violent groups that have continued their demonstrations even up to yesterday could turn against him, becoming a Frankenstein’s monster seeking an actual insurrection, not some tragicomedy as happened two weeks prior." . . .

A well-earned thank you to President Trump...

. . .whom I disliked strongly during the 2016 primaries and into his early administration. But then the character of those who wanted to remove this President, from Democrats in Congress including those again in the new administration, thugocrats in Hollywood and on campuses, and a corrupt news media became fearfully plain to see.

Now we must live as Californians do, waking up every morning, wondering what new burdens will be laid on us all by the silliest of governments. The Tunnel Dweller

Illustration by Rich Terrell  at:

Donald J. Trump: On the Threshold of Greatness   "Despite the many ways in which he’s reviled today, I believe that history will record Trump as one of America’s greatest presidents. Looking at America’s most admired presidents, I was able to identify the four criteria needed to earn that accolade:" . . .

. . . "This is a life and death threat to the Republic unlike the life and death threats faced by other great presidents. This is an attack on American institutions and values from within and without. If President Trump can save the country from this attack, he will take his place in Mr. Rushmore. I believe that he will."

Biden’s Foolish Sabotage of the Keystone Pipeline

Yahoo  "Joe Biden has not yet been sworn in, but already, he is at war with American energy — which is to say, at war with American prosperity. Biden has promised to sabotage the Keystone XL pipeline, a privately financed, multi-billion-dollar project already under way, and “cancel it on his first day,” according to a briefing document cited by the BBC.

"The Keystone pipeline would, if it were allowed to, carry crude from the oil sands of Alberta to Nebraska, where the pipeline would link up with the existing distribution network to send that oil on to refineries in the Gulf of Mexico. This would benefit Canadian producers and their investors, American refineries and their large, excellently paid work forces — those good, high-paying, blue-collar jobs Biden talks about — and, most important, American consumers, who would have access to yet another source of fuel at attractive prices from a nearby friendly country. This sort of thing is the point of international economic cooperation.

"The notional case against Keystone is environmental in the main part, and in the lesser part an issue of Indian lands and rights. The environmental case is unsound: Canada has ratified the Paris agreement and takes environmental issues relatively seriously. Innovation and technological improvements have substantially reduced the greenhouse-gas emissions associated with Canadian tar-sands productions — by 30 percent since the 1990s, as the Canadian government calculates. Of course, it matters relatively little whether a gallon of gasoline in the tank of a Cadillac Escalade in Houston is refined from Canadian tar-sands oil or from West Texas oil — the relevant emissions come overwhelmingly from the point of combustion.

"Of course there are environmental challenges associated with the oil sands, as there are with any usable source of energy, including wind and solar. These are regulatory and practical challenges that are perfectly manageable. (Which is not the same thing as a guarantee that U.S. or Canadian authorities, or businesses, will manage them perfectly — that kind of oversight is hard work and a serious business.) The same is true of “fracking” and other petroleum-extraction practices. There are many reasonable ways to manage tradeoffs between economic development and environmental priorities — if environmentalists were interested in reasonable tradeoffs, which they aren’t. Biden, already looking over his shoulder at a restive progressive caucus, apparently intends to buy environmentalists off with other people’s money.

"Why?" . . .

CNN Pushes to Close Down Newsmax TV

Newsmax

No, NOT George Costanza.

"CNN is making no mistake about it: It wants to censor and close Newsmax from broadcasting as a cable news channel.

"Apparently jolted by the fact Newsmax has skyrocketed to become the 4th highest-rated cable news channel in the country, the liberal CNN is decrying what it calls Newsmax's "election denialism" and is seeking to have it "deplatformed" from cable and satellite systems across the nation.

"Oliver Darcy, CNN's leftwing media critic, has been demanding cable operators drop Newsmax, which is currently carried by every major system in the nation. Newsmax is also streamed free by most OTT platforms and devices.

"In a CNN column in early January, Darcy falsely claimed conservative media caused the protests at the Capitol on Jan. 6."

. . . 

"In a statement released Sunday, Newsmax said, contrary to Darcy's and Stamos' claims, Newsmax never denied the election results.

"The network called all contested states for Biden as they were certified and accepted him as president-elect Dec. 14, after the meeting of the Electoral College.

"Newsmax also noted, while it justifiably covered the president's allegations about the election, and interviewed his lawyers and supporters – as did Fox News and Fox Business News, it never said all allegations were true.

"The network did note, after years of CNN falsely claiming the Steele Dossier was valid and the Russian collusion claim against Trump was credible, it was never held accountable for its misreporting. Newsmax never called for CNN to be shut down."

Texas Governor Greg Abbott Slams the Vetting of National Guard Members for Ideological Purity

As Christopher Arps wrote at RedState, there are more troops guarding the inauguration than there are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan combined. This number is to give off the impression that Trump supporters are violent extremists who may try to storm the Capitol again. It’s more optics than it is for safety.

The National Guard 29th Division storms Omaha Beach on D-Day

 RedState  "Texas Governor Greg Abbott was absolutely disgusted by the “vetting” of National Guardsmen being sent to the Capitol for the swearing-in of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to be sure they wouldn’t disrupt proceedings or organize a coup.

"Abbott sent 1,000 members of the Texas National Guard to join the 25,000 National Guard troops to assist with the security detail during the inauguration. When the Washington Post released an article reporting that the Pentagon was going to vet the National Guardsmen for “extremist tendencies,” Abbott took to Twitter to torch the idea and make a threat of pulling Texas troops if they ever did this again.

“ 'This is the most offensive thing I’ve ever heard. No one should ever question the loyalty or professionalism of the Texas National Guard,” tweeted Abbott. “I authorized more than 1,000 to go to DC. I’ll never do it again if they are disrespected like this.”

Dave Barry’s Year in Review: 2020 was a year of nonstop awfulness

Miami Herald "We’re trying to think of something nice to say about 2020.

"OK, here goes: Nobody got killed by the murder hornets. As far as we know.

"That’s pretty much it.

"In the past, writing these annual reviews, we have said harsh things about previous years. We owe those years an apology. Compared to 2020, all previous years, even the Disco Era, were the golden age of human existence.

"This was a year of nonstop awfulness, a year when we kept saying it couldn’t possibly get worse, and it always did. This was a year in which our only moments of genuine, unadulterated happiness were when we were able to buy toilet paper.

"Which is fitting, because 2020 was one long, howling, Category Five crapstorm.

"We sincerely don’t want to relive this year. But our job is to review it. If you would prefer to skip this exercise in masochism, we completely understand.

"If, however, you wish, for some sick reason, to re-experience 2020, now is the time to put on your face mask, douse your entire body with hand sanitizer and then — to be safe — don a hazmat suit, as we look back at the unrelenting insanity of this hideous year, starting with...

January!....   Read more if you dare...

Biden Declares Economic Relief For Businesses Will Be Based Partly On Gender And Race

         Kyle Becker

kylenabecker

Jan 10 "If you don't vote for me, you ain't... receiving these government assistance checks"?

The Political Insider  "President-elect Joe Biden announced that economic relief for struggling businesses would be based partly on the gender and race of the owners.

"In a video posted to the Biden-Harris presidential transition team Twitter account, the soon-to-be President admitted his obsession with identity politics by noting skin color and gender would play a part in deciding who gets economic relief from the federal government.

“ 'Our focus will be on small businesses on Main Street that aren’t wealthy and well-connected, that are facing real economic hardships through no fault of their own,” Biden announced.

"He added, “Our priority will be Black, Latino, Asian, and Native American owned small businesses, women-owned businesses, and finally having equal access to resources needed to reopen and rebuild.' ” . . .

Earl Of Taint

Biden Taps Transgender Health Official With Horrifying COVID-19 Nursing Home Record

Tyler O'Neil

"On Tuesday, incoming President Joe Biden announced he would nominate transgender Pennsylvania Health Secretary Rachel Levine (born Richard Levine) for assistant secretary of health. Levine, a male who identifies as female, faced harsh criticism for removing his mother from a personal care home during the COVID-19 pandemic after he had directed nursing facilities to admit people who had previously tested positive for COVID-19. The elderly are at particular risk for the virus.

“ 'Dr. Rachel Levine will bring the steady leadership and essential expertise we need to get people through this pandemic — no matter their zip code, race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability — and meet the public health needs of our country in this critical moment and beyond,” Biden said in a statement. “She is a historic and deeply qualified choice to help lead our administration’s health efforts.”

"A graduate of Harvard and of Tulane Medical School, Levine also serves as president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

"In May, multiple members of the Pennsylvania State House demanded Levine’s resignation over “the horrific results of the [health] department’s COVID-19 policy” on nursing homes and other facilities under the department’s oversight. More than half (10,022) of Pennsylvania’s 19,390 COVID-19 deaths can be traced back to long-term care facilities. In May, long-term care facilities made up two-thirds of the state’s COVID-19 deaths and Levine reportedly delayed releasing public information about the state’s response to the virus in such facilities." . . .

Biden Endorses Transgender Activism for 8-Year-Old Children  . . . "In Decatur, Ga., a 5-year-old girl claimed she had been sexually assaulted in a girls’ restroom by a 5-year-old boy who identifies as “gender non-conforming” and who uses the girls’ restrooms. Yes, kids can sexually assault one another.

“ 'She went to the bathroom and she was pulling up her pants when one of her classmates came in the bathroom, a little boy. She tried to leave out of the bathroom, the little boy pushed her against the bathroom stall, basically pinned her up against there,” the mother said, summarizing her daughter’s story. “She asked him to stop, he wouldn’t.”

"The Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) investigated the case and “found conflicting evidence” about whether the boy “was in the girls’ bathroom and, if so, was there because of his gender identity,” but the boy’s father readily admitted that the boy uses the girls’ bathroom."

Democrats Cling Desperately to Trump Hatred

Conrad Black

The Democrats are not going to be able to hide much longer behind their Trump hatred. But it’s really all they’ve got.  

. . . "An inept, banal, unprincipled, shopworn waffler has been pushed and carried by his managers to the nation’s highest office. His party has the ability to enact much of its socialist program. In the next year, we will see from them a spectacle of incompetent federal administration that will make the most unsuccessful presidents of the past look like candidates for Mount Rushmore—assuming Biden’s peppier followers do not blow up that monument.

"They have made Donald Trump the leader of all who object to government-restricted freedom of expression, corrupt election practices, and the transformation of America into a socialist commune. At the moment of Joe Biden’s ultimate triumph, he and his ramshackle coalition of contending (and in some cases disreputable) interests are exposed in their ghastly infirmity. The totalitarian woke media will not be able to disguise this macabre farce for long."

Is Antifa advertising for rioters for Jan. 20?

Monica Showalter  "Independent journalist Andy Ngo posted an appalling group of rioter recruiting posters, purportedly from Antifa.

#Antifa are continuing to put out the call for riots throughout the U.S. on 20 Jan. These are some of their flyers for Seattle, northern California & Denver. pic.twitter.com/jcoYYHg7a6

— Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) January 18, 2021

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Antifa?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Antifa</a> are continuing to put out the call for riots throughout the U.S. on 20 Jan. These are some of their flyers for Seattle, northern California &amp; Denver. <a href="https://t.co/jcoYYHg7a6">pic.twitter.com/jcoYYHg7a6</a></p>&mdash; Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1351120439918125058?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

. . . These posters seem to be openly calling for riots and rioters, just as Democrats try to pin all opprobrium on Trump supporters. Where is the outrage?

A new badge of honor for President Trump. BUT....

http://www.terrellaftermath.com/

William Dodd   "Congratulations, President Trump!  You have been awarded your second badge of honor: another accusation of wrongdoing ("impeachment" in Washington parlance) by the ever-anxious-to-do-you-in House of Representatives and its leader, the Madam Pelosi.  What greater tribute could a man, who loves our country and cherishes its God-given freedoms, be granted than to be chastised by today's socialist-sympathizing, hate-filled politicians?  The first 2019 accusation against Trump went down in flames when the Senate refused to even consider the hollow claims presented by the House.  It remains to be seen if and when the Senate will consider the newest accusation.

"President Trump deserves unending credit and appreciation for what he has done over the past four years for our country and for those who love freedom — freedom that many who despise the president are working to take from us.  He has done more than any other president in history to strengthen our country and its economy and to pull it out of the socialist gutter that it has been floundering in for several generations." . . .

May Donald Trump continue to be motivated to battle on our behalf against the modern socialist movement that seems determined to destroy our country both from without and from within.  Godspeed, President Trump.

"My nightmare is unfolding before my waking eyes"  . . . "The English language will be stripped of its glory.  Already, conservative writers use “he and she” in place of “he”, and they write as if “everyone” is plural.  Words such as heroine and hostess are verboten.  A female presenter of a TV show is a “host.”

"The rot is everywhere.  In judicial opinions, gender-neutral words must be used. “Administratrix” and “brethren” and “Congressman” and “foreman” and dozens of others were vaporized by judges.  “He” and “she” may not be used as generic nouns.  New York State, Law Reporting Bureau, “New York Official Report Style Manual,” para. 12.1, pp. 101-103  . . .