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Ruth King

EDUCATION Comments turned off

Making Marx Proud: Today’s Campus Lunacy By Lawrence W. Reed

By on August 25th, 2020

https://www.intellectualtakeout.org/making-marx-proud-todays-campus-lunacy/

Earlier this summer, a survey posted on Twitter posed this question: “If you were dropped 2,000 years back in time with nothing but the knowledge you have now, what would you do?”

A man named Timothy Snediker replied as follows: “Easy. I would find and assassinate Jesus of Nazareth. Theologically speaking, it would be really important to get him before his calling and ministry begins, so that gives me roughly a decade to make it to Palestine, locate the man and make my move.”

Shocking, isn’t it? It should be to any decent person, regardless of faith. You’re wondering, “Who is this Snediker guy? A prison inmate? A mental patient? A Satan worshiper?”

He’s actually a teaching assistant at the University of California-Santa Barbara, pursuing his doctorate in religious studies. If he had suggested the murder of Mohammed or Martin Luther King, you can bet he would be looking for work and none of us would care if he never found any. But he is ensconced at progressive UC-Santa Barbara, where a socialist religion teacher can advocate killing the most perfect man who ever lived and likely still land tenure.

It would not surprise me if some of this character’s students will soon be burning down businesses and police precincts, claiming simultaneously that certain lives matter, but not all. Ideas have consequences.

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ANTI-SEMITISM Comments turned off

“Get On With Your Lives!” – Oxford Professor Says “People Have Become Overly Frightened” Of COVID-19

By on August 25th, 2020

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/get-your-lives-oxford-professor-says-people-have-become-overly-frightened-covid-19

Even though BoJo’s system of localized COVID-19 measures seems to be working, the unrelenting hysteria peddled by the British press has left millions of Britons traumatized.

Now, Carl Heneghan, a professor of Evidence-based medicine at Oxford University, is calling for the government to intervene and “proactively reassure” his young students that the coronavirus won’t kill them if they contract it.

He said exaggerated fears of the virus have led to “people going about their daily lives misunderstanding and overestimating their risk,” something with which many Americans can probably empathize.

And as parts of north Manchester remain on ‘partial lockdown’, the professor said introducing local lockdowns could do more harm than good by forcing people into their homes, potentially infecting other vulnerable people who live with them, especially as the temperature drops.

Professor Heneghan’s work has led to a lowering of the official death toll after he revealed COVID-19 deaths were being counted even if someone had subsequently died of other causes.

As we learn more about the virus, the pandemic could end up no worse than a bad flu season, the professor said, with a touch of hyperbole.

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WORLD NEWS Comments turned off

Canceling British Pride Relegating a high-profile celebration of patriotism to the dustbin of history. Bruce Bawer

By on August 25th, 2020

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/2020/08/canceling-british-pride-bruce-bawer/

The first thing to know is that the BBC was never objective. In the 1930s, when Churchill was repeatedly warning his fellow members in Parliament about the dangers of Nazi Germany, the BBC refused him airtime to share his warnings with the general public. In the 1950s, BBC honchos fought tooth and nail against the breakup of their monopoly that finally permitted the introduction of commercial television.

Yes, Thatcher reformed the BBC. But after she was gone, Labour swiftly un-reformed it. Since then, the contents of programs on the Beeb, all of them financed by a hefty license fee extorted from British subjects on threat of imprisonment, have increasingly reflected the social attitudes, political opinions, and cultural tastes of hard-left north London nobs. During the Brexit debate, the Corporation systematically celebrated the EU and depicted Leave supporters as rubes, xenophobes, morons, and “Little Englanders.” Former BBC journalist Robin Aitken MBE, author of a book called Can We Trust the BBC?, recently complained that the BBC “doesn’t have the pulse of the country,” that it “portrays Britishness…in a negative light,” and that its slant is “quite Soviet in its intensity and its ubiquity.” In the run-up to the last general election, Boris Johnson dangled in front of voters the possibility of abolishing the BBC license fee.

Year in and year out, perhaps the only high-profile regular broadcast on the BBC that isn’t poisoned by far-left politics has been the Last Night of the Proms, the annual concert, aired live from Royal Albert Hall, at which audience members proudly wave the Union Jack and the BBC Symphony Orchestra rounds out the evening with lush, rousing arrangements of “God Save the Queen” and the traditional songs “Jerusalem,” “Land of Hope and Glory” and “Rule, Britannia.” 

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ISRAEL Comments turned off

Arabs and Muslims to Turkey’s Erdogan: “Why Don’t You Protest Against Yourself?” by Khaled Abu Toameh

By on August 25th, 2020

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/16394/turkey-erdogan-israel-uae

“Erdogan’s Turkey has been normalizing its relations with Israel since the establishment of Israel.” — Rawaf al-Soain, Saudi writer, Twitter, August 14, 2020.

“Erdogan is trading in the Palestinian cause. Turkey has had relations with Israel for more than 70 years, but it has done nothing good for the Palestinians all these years.” — Abdullah al-Bander, Saudi political activist, Twitter, August 18, 2020.

“The statement was actually issued by Erdogan, the official sponsor of terrorist groups in the region. He uses these groups to destabilize the Arab countries, including Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Egypt…. Only the terrorist groups see him as the Emir of the Faithful and Caliph of Muslims… Where is his support for the Palestinian cause when he directs all his support to Hamas and ignores the Palestinian Authority? He hosts wanted terrorists in Ankara and allows them to establish radio and television stations to preach the Muslim Brotherhood ideology.” — Adel al-Sanhoury, Egyptian columnist, youm7.com, August 21, 2020.

In a statement that has raised many eyebrows in the Arab world, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on August 14 that he is considering suspending diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and withdrawing the Turkish ambassador from Abu Dhabi.

Erdogan’s threat came in response to the agreement (“Abraham Accord”) between the UAE and Israel to establish normal relations between the two countries.

A joint statement issued by US President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE Crown Prince Mohammed Ben Zayed read:

“This historic diplomatic breakthrough will advance peace in the Middle East region and is a testament to the bold diplomacy and vision of the three leaders and the courage of the United Arab Emirates and Israel to chart a new path that will unlock the great potential in the region.”

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WORLD NEWS Comments turned off

Are Turkey and Greece Heading for War? by Uzay Bulut

By on August 25th, 2020

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/16395/turkey-greece-heading-for-war

Turkey has threatened to invade the Greek islands in the Aegean since at least 2018. A recent Egyptian-Greek maritime deal appears to have escalated Turkey’s regional aggression.

“Turkey’s policy is part and parcel of a broader strategy to expand Turkey’s influence in the Middle East, the Gulf, and Africa. The aim is to impose geopolitical dominion: an undisputed regional hegemonic regime whereby Turkey is be able to determine big and important developments…. It appears willing to use military force in order to impose its revisionist plans.” — Dr. Giorgos Kentas, Associate Professor of International Politics and Governance at the University of Nicosia, in an interview with Gatestone.

“Turkey is currently attempting a similar policy of revisionism against Greece. The aim is to impose a hegemonic regime over Greece’s maritime zones and/or maritime zones that Greece claims in Eastern Mediterranean.” — Dr. Giorgos Kentas.

“The Turkish economy found itself on its knees last time US President Donald Trump cared to send Erdogan a message over the arrest of American Pastor Andrew Brunson. What is keeping President Trump from doing that now?” — Anna Koukkides-Procopiou, a Senior Fellow and Member of Advisory Board of the Center for European and International Affairs of the University of Nicosia, interview with Gatestone.

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NATIONAL NEWS & OPINION Comments turned off

China’s Champion Dianne Feinstein Longtime apologist now acts as PRC asset. Lloyd Billingsley

By on August 25th, 2020

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/2020/08/chinas-champion-dianne-feinstein-lloyd-billingsley/

Back in April, Missouri attorney general Eric Schmitt, a Republican, filed a lawsuit charging that Chinese Communist officials are “responsible for the enormous death, suffering, and economic losses they inflicted on the world, including Missourians.”  For Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the  Missouri lawsuit was the problem.

“We launch a series of unknown events that could be very, very dangerous,” said Feinstein in a July 30, Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.  “I think this is a huge mistake.” As Feinstein doubtless knows, the Chinese company Build Your Dreams (BYD) , which bagged a $1 billion mask deal with California, is suing Vice Media for a story charging that BYD had links to the Chinese military and forced labor. Feinstein did not say if that lawsuit was a mistake, and possibly launch unknown events that could be very dangerous. On the other hand, she had only praise for the Chinese government.

“Where I live, we hold China as a potential trading partner,” Feinstein said in the hearing. “As a country that has pulled tens of millions of people out of poverty in a short period of time. And as a country growing into a respectable nation among other nations. And I deeply believe that. I’ve been to China a number of times. I’ve studied the issues.” Much of that study, it turns out, has been on location.

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NATIONAL NEWS & OPINION Comments turned off

What Will Replace the Police? Ten Historical Examples By Robert Oscar Lopez

By on August 25th, 2020

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/08/what_will_replace_the_police_ten_historical_examples.html

The future of local police departments has become a top election issue. Rasmussen released recent polls showing that Americans pay close attention to debates about law and order.  For instance, 50% of likely voters want to see harder crackdowns on urban unrest, while only 38% support continuing protests in cities.  Overall, 72% are concerned about recent reports of urban violence.  Over 60% of Americans said their feelings about the protests will have an effect on their November voting.

Perhaps we have found the Democrats’ Kryptonite.  Conservatives have noticed for quite some time that the left never showed adequate concern about far-left extremism (listen here).  The far left has greater numbers and, unlike the far right, is entrenched in major institutions like colleges.  The far left hopes to claim the anti-police violence as a historic win for its side (see here).  Democrats can’t claim that the Floyd protests had nothing to do with rioting.

Protests have become linked in Americans’ minds with riots.  The organization seen as leading these demonstrations was Black Lives Matter (BLM), whose premier issue was defunding or abolishing the police.  BLM leaders like Alicia Garza never hid their intent.  Most BLM activists rejected talk of mere reform as too weak and compromising.

Attempts by skittish Democrats like Jim Clyburn to disown anti-police slogans can’t undo the effect of many fellow Democrats’ embracing of a group whose trademark demand is shutting down police.  While some Democrats insist that “defunding” means simply reinvesting in alternatives to standard policing, Americans remain wholly unsupportive of replacing their local police departments with social workers, mental health respondents, charities, community elders, or healers — all stand-ins put forward by advocates of taking away police funding and firing cops.

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ELECTIONS Comments turned off

With Funding from the Left, NeverTrump’s Clown Show Hits the Home Stretch Julie Kelly

By on August 25th, 2020

https://amgreatness.com/2020/08/24/with-funding-from-the-left-nevertrumps-clown-show-hits-the-home-stretch/

There’s nothing principled about boosting a lawless FBI director and being paid millions from a leftist tycoon to perform the role of a Trump-hating conservative while concealing the truth from the public.

Last week, John Durham, the U.S. Attorney investigating possible crimes related to the FBI’s probe into Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and misconduct after the 2016 election, interviewed former CIA director John Brennan.

This week, James Comey, Brennan’s sidekick and partner-in-potential-crime, will join alleged NeverTrump “conservatives” in a counter-convention to protest the reelection of President Trump.

The permanent coup, as writer Lee Smith details in his new book, continues. And Trump-haters on the putative Right continue to abet the Democrats’ subversive but so far failed crusade to crush the president and everyone around him.

Despite attempts to portray him otherwise, there’s nothing conservative about Joe Biden or the Democratic Party—but the groupuscule known as NeverTrump wants to help drag the Biden-Harris ticket across the November finish line. Apparently ideas such as fixing the “racial wealth gap,” forcing farmers to grow crops without carbon emissions, repealing the Hyde Amendment, and reversing the imagined ills of “systemic racism,” all key planks in the party’s 2020 platform, are considered “conservative” by NeverTrump.

Now, with Trump’s reelection chances on the upswing—Biden’s lead in must-win states is slim and Minnesota now is considered in play—NeverTrump hopes its losing playbook for the past four years will finally secure a long-awaited victory.

NeverTrump’s counter-convention is laughably called the “Convention on Founding Principles.” The virtual gathering features a roster of scorned Trump aides, defeated Republican congressmen, and heretofore unknown “conservative” consultants and commentators. Comey, who misled a secret federal court among other offenses, will participate two days out of the four-day confab. (Comey, by the way, is an avowed Democrat.)

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ELECTIONS Comments turned off

The Stunning Gullibility Of ‘Republicans For Biden’

By on August 25th, 2020

https://issuesinsights.com/2020/08/25/the-stunning-gullibility-of-republicans-for-biden/

On the eve of the Republican convention, more than two dozen former GOP lawmakers endorsed Joe Biden for president. Trump Derangement Syndrome is spreading faster than COVID-19.

Retired Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake makes his case for supporting Biden by claiming Trump “is not conservative,” that Biden “will approach his constitutional role with the reverence and dignity it deserves” and “reach across the aisle.”

This is the same argument John Kasich, a former congressman and Ohio governor, made at the Democratic National Convention, when he reassured the public that Biden is “respectful” and won’t “turn sharp left” when he gets in office.

None of this makes any sense, yet a growing number of Republicans are buying into it.

First, how do these Republicans know Biden will “reach across the aisle”? They don’t. Their gullibility and naivete are a wonder to behold.

The truth is, there’s absolutely no reason whatsoever to believe Biden would stay in the center.

A Biden win will surely bring with it a Democratic-controlled House and Senate. We already know what will happen next, since it’s happened before. After Bill Clinton ran as a moderate, he immediately veered left upon taking office, raised taxes he’d promised to cut and tried to impose HillaryCare on the nation.

After Barack Obama wooed Republicans with his calm demeanor, his seemingly sensible positions, and the sharp crease in his pants, he spent the first two years imposing ObamaCare and the economy-crushing Dodd-Frank on the nation.

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ELECTIONS Comments turned off

CNN Unprecedentedly Interrupts President’s Convention Speech to Attack Him Daniel Greenfield

By on August 25th, 2020

https://www.frontpagemag.com/point/2020/08/cnn-unprecedentedly-interrupts-presidents-daniel-greenfield/

There is a basic protocol to these things.

The media is supposed to air convention events and then talk about them afterward. Instead, the media began talking over DNC events as they were happening, which is highly dubious, and made some of them even more unwatchable than usual, but it certainly didn’t interrupt Biden’s speech to begin attacking him.

CNN however decided to interrupt President Trump, falsely attack him, and begin a rambling defense of the Democrats under the guise of a ‘fact check’. If the media wants to conduct its editorializing and call them fact checks, the time to do that is after a presidential speech, not during it. And interrupting a convention speech is basically unprecedented. 

But precedents have been shattering right and left since around 2008 when the media stopped pretending to be anything other than the communications arm of the DNC.

The question is where does this go next.

Is CNN going to interrupt a State of the Union address or an address to the nation from the Oval Office next? It’s hard to say that it wouldn’t. 

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