Friday, November 24, 2023

First Hostages Released by Hamas Cross Out of Gaza –

No it doesn’t, at least not according to CNN’s “US official” source. It looks more like Biden’s tireless determination to keep hostaging a vital strategy for Hamas. It adds to the perception that Biden is applying pressure tactics on Israel to withdraw from Gaza and end the war while leaving Hamas enough capability to attack again.

Shani Louk, sadly, is a hostage who was slain, not freed.


 HotAir  "The first day of the Israeli-Hamas operational ‘pause’ has apparently delivered what it promised. For the first time since Hamas’ gruesome October 7 massacres, the violence has largely ceased — for now, even in southern Lebanon as Hezbollah has decided to pause unilaterally.

"And as promised, the Hamas terrorists have released 13 hostages from the 10/7 attacks in exchange for 39 Palestinian prisoners — women and children in both cases:" ...

Today’s deal is a testament to the tireless diplomacy and determination of many dedicated individuals across the United States Government to bring Americans home.

"No it doesn’t, at least not according to CNN’s “US official” source. It looks more like Biden’s tireless determination to keep hostaging a vital strategy for Hamas. It adds to the perception that Biden is applying pressure tactics on Israel to withdraw from Gaza and end the war while leaving Hamas enough capability to attack again.

"So what’s next? Hamas leader says they will abide by the ‘truce,’ but that its aims have not changed:. . ."

Tlaib and the Turncoats

Sad to say, but establishment Jewish groups, like a number of conservative groups, do not use the pressure tactics of the activist Left, which work a lot to change public opinion (or at least stifle opposing views) and move elected officials in their direction.

 Ken Reid - American Thinker  "Ardent anti-Israel Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D) thanked and praised one of the anti-Zionist Jewish groups that violent assaulted the Democratic National Committee headquarters on Capitol Hill on Nov. 15, where six officers were injured and Tlaib’s Democratic colleagues had to be whisked away by police for their safety.

"She told a Nov. 20 organizing webinar by the group If Not Now:  “As someone who is the only Palestinian American in Congress, when I am looking through and see you doing all of this,  it makes me march on floor a little bit stronger.  When I go on the house floor, despite being censured, your group makes me feel I am not alone.”

"Tlaib made no mention of the more than 200 Israeli and international citizens, including infants, who Hamas took hostage in its Oct. 7 assault on Israel, nor the more than 1,200 Israelis killed including decapitated babies and girls sexually mutilated at a kibbutz outside Gaza  

"But she said:

“One day, I pray that everything we are doing, my grandmother will be able to pick her olives and figs in a free Palestine.”

. . ." Along with the presidency, Republicans could capitalize in House districts if pro-Israel moderate Democrats are defeated by extreme socialists, if the GOP handles this with the correct candidates. 

"As such, GOP control of Congress and the White House in 2025 could temper the madness the far Left has stoked in this country, including anti-Semitism.  So there may be a silver lining in this cloud."

The fourth annual Hoax-of-the-Year awards!

 Eric Utter - American Thinker

A nip is in the air, frost or snow is on the ground, trees stand decorated in living rooms, and eggnog is in the refrigerator. Yes, it is that time of year again. Time to reveal the Fourth Annual Hoax-of-the-Year Awards! So grab a cup of your favorite cheer, take a seat by the fire…and read on. 

Flickr

. . ." As usual, there are a number of continuing hoaxes that deserve mention, such as The Any Number of Illegal Immigrants Make the Country Better and Richer Hoax. However, this hoax, stupefying as it is, may be on its last legs. Even some Democrats seem to be sobering up in this regard.

. . ."One hoax, not specific to 2023, deserves special mention: The World Is Rapidly Warming Because Of Gasoline-Powered Lawnmowers and Bovine Belches Hoax. This hoax has been around so long, it came hard on the heels of the 1970s The World Is Rapidly Cooling and We Are All Soon to Be Frozen Hoax. Remarkably, this hoax has been in existence longer than those who promulgate it told us the planet would last, even in the face of evidence that refutes their own “logic.” Therefore, I hereby recognize its longevity by granting it a Lifetime Achievement Award. (I reached out to Al Gore and Greta Thunberg, but, sadly, neither were available to receive the award.)

"This takes us to The White Supremacists Are Everywhere Hoax. Look, there’s one now! Oops, sorry, that was just Joy Behar." . . .

. . ."A part of me wanted to pick a fresher hoax, one uniquely associated with 2023. While this isn’t entirely true of the hoax I chose, it does seem like 2023 finally brought it to the forefront. So here it is, the Hoax-of-the-Year for 2023: The Any Number of Illegal Immigrants Make the Country Better and Richer Hoax. This is clearly not true of invasive species, and it is no less true of humans in general. Legal immigrants who wish to assimilate and work to make the country better are generally a blessing, a net positive. The indolent, the drug and human traffickers, the violent criminals, and those simply looking for a handout, are not. And no claims otherwise by “experts” or politicians can change that fact."

When The Dean Tore Down Posters Of Kidnapped Israelis -

  The Lid (lidblog.com)

The spirit of indifference to Jewish suffering, exemplified by M.I.T. Dean Lobdell tearing down Jewish anti-Nazi posters in 1934, lives on today—both among those who tear down posters of Jewish hostages and among university officials at M.I.T. and elsewhere, who seem incapable of unequivocally acknowledging the victimization of the Jews, without any ifs, ands, or buts.

"Controversy has erupted on American college campuses and elsewhere over anti-Israel who was putting up one of the posters. In addition to the college students who have torn down the posters, the vandals have included an attorney from the New York County public defender’s office, a Boston dentist, an employee of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and a professor at the Michigan Ross School of Business.

"Controversy has erupted on American college campuses and elsewhere over anti-Israel who was putting up one of the posters. In addition to the college students who have torn down the posters, the vandals have included an attorney from the New York County public defender’s office, a Boston dentist, an employee of the University of Pennsylvania Law School, and a professor at the Michigan Ross School of Business.

"It’s bad enough when seemingly respectable people, such as attorneys or professors, engage in reprehensible behavior. But what about when a  dean at a university is the one committing the vandalism?

"An incident of this nature occurred in Boston many years ago, but it sounds like something from today’s headlines–and its lessons are as relevant as ever.

"During the 1930s, several prominent American universities cultivated friendly ties with Nazi Germany. Prof. Stephen Norwood described in his book The Third Reich in the Ivory Tower how those schools invited Nazi representatives to speak on their campuses, participated in student exchange programs with Nazi-controlled universities, and sent delegates to Germany to take part in celebratory events at those institutions.

"The fact that German universities had purged their Jewish faculty members and hosted book burnings did not deter friendly overtures from schools such as Harvard, Columbia, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.)." . . .

Why Hamas Can Rightly Be Compared To Nazis: The Similarities Are Undeniable 

The discovery of an Arabic-language copy of Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” in a Gaza apartment last week helps provide the answer.

 . . ."Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was wrong to call US border facilities “concentration camps,” and Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene was equally off base when she labeled advocates of Covid vaccines “medical brown shirts,” which references Nazi stormtrooper uniforms. Abortion is not another Holocaust.

"The reason such comparisons are wrong is that they severely distort the facts, both by implicitly minimizing Nazi atrocities and wildly exaggerating the actions of whomever the current name-callers happen to be targeting.

"But when a comparison is valid — when a contemporary villain does something which indeed reaches the levels of Nazi barbarism  — then it needs to be acknowledged.

"And that’s why this time, it’s different.

"The Oct. 7 Hamas pogrom in southern Israel has changed everything — including aspects of our public discourse.". . .

Nearly a century after its release, Hitler’s manifesto of antisemitism and violence is still being used to kill Jews as effectively as ever.

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Brace Yourself For What's Coming in 2024 -

Victor Davis Hanson   "Victor Davis Hanson is the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow in Residence in Classics and Military History at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, a professor of Classics Emeritus at California State University, Fresno, and a nationally syndicated columnist for Tribune Media Services.

"He is also the Wayne & Marcia Buske Distinguished Fellow in History, Hillsdale College, where he teaches each fall semester courses in military history and classical culture. "Victor discusses current political and social events and ideas, and current and past cultural trends."

Pro-Hamas Protestors Interrupt Macy's Thanksgiving Parade by Gluing Themselves to the Ground –

  RedState  A group of anti-Israel protestors interrupted the biggest holiday parade of the year by forcing the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade to alter its route, according to several reports Thanksgiving morning.

According to those reports, the group - which was seeking to raise awareness for Palestinians but espousing pro-Hamas propaganda - was clad in white jumpsuits and carried with them a large banner that read "liberation for Palestine and planet."

. . .

This is the movement these silly, dangerous people support!

British journalist, Douglas Murray, talks about the horror stories emanating from the deadly mass terror attack on Israelis by Hamas (barenakedislam.com) 

Very graphic video of Hamas and Israeli children  May not open. You must know what Hamas did when learning of those who rally in support of them.

Speaking of pro-Hamas, you need to hear this"journalists". brilliant question:

How Israel's new laser defense system will turn the tables on Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran

 NY Post (nypost.com)


Israel’s defenses took a giant leap forward this week when — for the first time ever — it used a laser beam to shoot down an incoming rocket fired by terrorists in Gaza.

"This isn’t science fiction, but the product of years of research and experimentation.

"The US military is doing its own laser-beam or “directed energy” research, and Israel and the United States cooperate.

"Lockheed Martin and Israel’s Rafael are developing Iron Beam, and ultimately it can mean not only ground-based laser defenses but lasers to mount on ships and planes as well.

"Israel fielded the weapon for the first time in combat a few days ago, and it could change the country’s air defense posture in the next few years.

"It’s called Iron Sting and is part of the larger Iron Beam laser defense system.

"Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system is well known, and it works beautifully: 90% effective.

"But it is expensive: Each Iron Dome battery can cost $100 million, and each interceptor costs between $40,000 and $50,000.

"As Hamas fires its thousands of rockets and missiles at Israel — it’s fired an estimated 10,000 since Oct. 7 — the costs of defense mount and the supply of interceptors can run out.

"Iron Dome batteries typically have about 60 to 80 interceptor missiles at hand.

"What if Hezbollah or Hamas fires 100 missiles at one location?

"A laser system overcomes these problems." . . .

WATCH: IDF Releases Extensive Footage of Hamas Tunnels Under Hospital—Bathrooms, Weapons, Even A/C – RedState   . . ."Despite breathing hard and being in a terrifying place, she manages to deliver a powerful statement about what they’ve found:

As we move along, walking down that tunnel, now we know the network of tunnels that Hamas holds in Gaza underneath sensitive spots like hospitals, pulling the civilians of Gaza hostage and abusing their right to medical treatment, to human rights, to any base human right that they have. 

. . ."Here's a much longer tour, running at over nine minutes. "Dear world, is this enough proof for you?" the caption reads. IDF described the footage on their YouTube site: "IDF Spokesperson RAdm. Daniel Hagari reveals a hidden Hamas terrorism base beneath Gaza's largest hospital—stark proof of Hamas' direct threat to innocent lives." 

The liberal left continues its war on normal America

 Trumpenfreude strikes another business that made anti-Trump waves - American Thinker   "Trumpenfreude, which I believe is a word that Don Surber coined, happens when we get a warm glow learning about people who struck out at Trump or those close to him and, instead, managed to destroy themselves. While we should feel guilty about regular schadenfreude (e.g., delighting in other people’s misery), Trumpenfreude is something to be celebrated. The latest, somewhat delayed, comeuppance for a Trump hater is The Red Hen, the restaurant that, in 2018, proudly ejected Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her family in the middle of their meal.

At the time, the mainstream media, of course, lapped up the story of the brave restauranteur:" . . The announcement comes several years after The Red Hen faced massive scrutiny for removing Trump Administration Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and her family from the premises in the middle of their meal after triggered left-wing employees called the restaurant’s left-wing owner, Stephanie Wilkinson, requesting that she take action to remove the family from their midst.

Continuing this thread from earlier this week: The Tunnel Wall: Restaurant That Ejected Family of Trump Spokeswoman Closes!



We know so much about the Rainbow Bridge incident…except for the driver’s name

  Andrea Widburg - American Thinker  "Yesterday, the news was filled with reports of an attack at the Rainbow Bridge border crossing between the United States and Canada near Niagara Falls. It was a dramatic incident that ended with a fiery explosion. Very quickly, though, we were told, “Not to worry. It was just a guy speeding.” What we haven’t been told, though, is the names of the people involved. In this day and age of cynicism and paranoia, I find that silence weird.

"In the footage below, you can see the car at the very top of the screen, in the background, as it begins to soar:


. . ."CNN even gave us the driver’s age—56. 

"And that’s it. The news stories I can find are, at the latest, from early yesterday evening. Since then, there’s complete media silence.

"But have you noticed the one thing missing from this whole narrative? Yup, the couple’s identity.

"Now, it’s possible that they’re not releasing the name until relatives have been notified, but that’s not usually the case when something is headline news, the way this crash was. Instead, the names of the people involved instantly appear on social media. And given the level of detail we have about the couple—where they lived, how old the driver was, what they were doing that evening—you’d think someone would know their names." . . .

 Sources Tell Fox News NY Vehicle Explosion at Rainbow Bridge Border Crossing Is Attempted Terror Attack (resistthemainstream.com)   "Explosives were found in the vehicle that left the two vehicle occupants dead. One border officer and one civilian, a 27-year-old man, were injured in the blast and transported to Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital. . . 

. . ."An Iranian passport was found at the scene.

"All bridges are closed in the area and government officials in the region are on high alert. Several buildings have closed out of an abundance of caution.

"There is speculation the vehicle exploded prematurely and was headed to New York City’s annual Macy’s Day parade."

‘No Sign of Terrorist Activity’ in Vehicle Explosion at U.S.-Canada Border, Hochul Says | National Review Consider the source.

CNN Leaves Out Why Mother's Daughter Was an Israeli Prisoner –

This video doesn't cover why her daughter was arrested and detained. She attempted to stab an Israeli police officer.

 Twitchy   "There have been some really revolting takes trying to find some equivalence between Hamas releasing 50 hostages it took October 7 and Israel releasing 150 Palestinians from prison. What did the hostages do to be kidnapped aside from being Israeli? Israel isn't releasing hostages, it's releasing prisoners who were either convicted or awaiting trial. 

"CNN International decided to talk to the mother of one of the Israeli prisoners scheduled to be released." . . .

Another example of the idiocy American culture and the media have led us into:

"Yes, trans liberation. "Trans genocide." And the White House press secretary just honored Transgender Day of Remembrance and said that America grieves for the 26 transgender lives lost. Like the trans Antifa activist who shot at a cop."

Not Surprisingly, Climate, Trans Activists Align With Hamas Hostage-Takers –

  Twitchy

"It's pretty clear that when it comes down to it, all of these so-called activists are Marxists at their core. They're commies, and commies stick together. The co-founders of Black Lives Matter referred to themselves as "trained Marxists" — they just swapped out class for race and ran with the playbook.

"So it's no surprise that these activists have found a common cause with the Palestinian people. 

It was last Sunday in Amsterdam that the world's view of Greta Thunberg suddenly shifted. She was bundled up against the November chill, wearing a gray, quilted jacket as she stood on a stage in front of a vast crowd. Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders.

Event organizers estimate that 85,000 people turned out, making it perhaps the largest climate demonstration in the history of the Netherlands. But Thunberg, as shown by the black-and-white Palestinian kaffiyeh wrapped around her neck, had something else on her mind. As a climate justice movement, "we have to listen to the voices of those who are being oppressed and those who are fighting for freedom and justice." The reference was to the Palestinians.

. . .



Joe can’t BS his way to a second term

 The Aspen beat

People know we’re in a dangerous time and place. Joe Biden made it much more so. Connect the dots between Afghanistan, Ukraine and Gaza, and layer on top of that picture a porous border and a woke U.S. military. Voting for four more years of Joe is reckless.

"Joe Biden has always been considered not very bright and not very honest. Beyond that, he’s thin-skinned and hot-tempered according to White House staff. His ability to remember and his ability to think – never very good – are worsening. He’s spent 40% of his time in the White House not in the White House, but on vacation at the beach in Delaware.

"He has a creepy thing for other people’s young daughters which an irate dad might someday react to in a way Joe doesn’t anticipate.   

"As for his casual relationship with facts, he certainly lies on occasion, as when it comes to his family influence-peddling business, for example.

"But his real forte is simple BS’ing.

"He BS’es that he had conversations with an Amtrak conductor a year after the conductor died – a BS dropping that he’s repeated a dozen times even after being fact-corrected by friendly media like CNN.

"He BS’es that he earned academic awards that he didn’t. He BS’es that he earned three college degrees when he didn’t. He BS’es that the driver of the truck that was in an accident that killed his first wife was drunk, when he wasn’t – in fact, the accident was his wife’s fault.

"He BS’es about who he is and what he’s done. He BS’es that he was arrested when visiting Nelson Mandela. He has a history of plagiarism and cheating – the academic equivalent to BS’ing.

"He BS’es that he received an appointment to the Naval Academy, and was a football star. Untrue and untrue.

"He BS’es that he was at the 9/11 site the day after, while in fact it was nine days after. He BS’es that he used to drive an 18-wheeler; he never did.

"He gets away with this because the media lets him. They let him because they don’t want a Republican in the White House." . . .

 He’s spent 40% of his time in the White House not in the White House, but on vacation at the beach in Delaware. He has a creepy thing for other people’s young daughters which an irate dad might someday react to in a way Joe doesn’t anticipate. As for his casual relationship with facts, he certainly lies on occasion, as when it comes to his family influence-peddling