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March 2020

WORLD NEWS Comments turned off

Turkey Confronts Greece with More Hordes of Syrian Refugees and Migrants Erdogan breaks deal with European Union to extort new concessions. Joseph Klein

By on March 13th, 2020

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/2020/03/turkey-confronts-greece-more-hordes-syrian-joseph-klein/

Turkey’s Islamist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is trying to engineer a mass invasion from Turkey into Greece of thousands of Syrian refugees and migrants. He has broken a deal reached with the European Union in 2016 to close its border with Europe to stem the flood of immigrants from the Middle East. He took Europe’s money that was part of the deal but is now reopening his country’s border with Greece to extort more concessions. “We will continue the current measure on our frontiers until all of our expectations are concretely met,” Erdogan said recently.

When Greece pushed back to protect its border from the invasion, Erdogan lashed out. “There is no difference with what the Nazis did and the images from the border,” he declared as he made unproven claims of “barbaric” tactics supposedly used by Greek border guards.

As Breitbart pointed out, “The slur against Greece is notable, as some 300,000 people were killed during the 1941 Nazi occupation of the country, which near-wiped out Greece’s Jewish population.” Then again, we should not be surprised. Erdogan is an avowed anti-Semite who has indulged in conspiracy theories blaming Jews for the world’s problems.

“Greece does not accept lessons in human rights and the respect of international law from the Turkish president,” said a spokesman for the Greek government. He claimed that Ankara’s actions were aimed at destabilizing Greece.

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MEDIA, NATIONAL NEWS & OPINION Comments turned off

The ‘Big Lie’ About Fox News Who really puts out the fake – and one-sided – news? Bruce Hendry

By on March 13th, 2020

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/2020/03/bruce-check-lib-guests-bruce-hendry/

Below is Part 7 of a new essay written by Bruce Hendry: Democrats, Progressives and Socialists. Stay tuned for the ensuing chapters. [See links to previous chapters below this article].

17. Global Warming.

There is probably no issue that better exposes all of the devices that Democrats use to advance their agendas than “global warming,” which is the ultimate “shiny object” distraction to what is really going on. There are only three choices on the matter; warming; cooling; or no change. Since the beginning of time, the planet’s climate has always been changing, so we rule out the no change opinion. Although this hasn’t prevented the warming crowd from re-naming their nemesis “climate change,” so they can avoid having to take a hard look at the facts and their implications. That leaves the real alternatives – warming or cooling.

The evidence that the earth is warming is convincing. This brings us head-to-head with their assumption that a warming planet is bad and that it is caused by humans. Without discussing the matter, the “climate change” alarmists just assume that the climate is warming and that’s bad. That leaves us with the single question of how to stop or reverse it.

The left is clear as to what to do about the problem, and that is to entrust governments with enough power to fix it. Sometimes it does make sense to give up some personal freedoms to give the government these powers. The powers given to the government to win World War II is a good example of that.

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POLITICS Comments turned off

Joe Biden’s Inaugural Address “I admit it, my fellow Belgians: I am not playing with a full deck.” Bruce Bawer

By on March 13th, 2020

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/2020/03/joe-bidens-inaugural-address-bruce-bawer/

Introductory note: After his latest round of primary triumphs, not only is Joe Biden confident that he will receive the Democratic nomination for president; he is so certain that he will be elected in November that he has already written his inaugural address. Someone close to the Biden campaign leaked the text of the speech to me, and the editors of Front Page Magazine have decided that it is in the public interest to publish it in its entirety. Okay, full disclosure: the person who leaked the text to me was Biden himself, who actually thought he was handing me a sandwich. – B.B.

President McKinley, Vice President Tyler, King Vidor, Queen Latifah, Duke Ellington, Earl Warren, Baron Trump, Judge Reinhold, ladies and gentlemen and others: this is a day that will live in infamy.

Today I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth. Four score and seven years ago I was born in the house my father built, although I can’t recall the address. Today it seems to me providential that Fate should have chosen Braunau on the Inn as my birthplace.

You may have gathered that an iron curtain has descended upon my brain. The mystic chords of my memory are on the fritz and then some. I have slipped the surly bonds of sanity. Old soldiers never die, they just fade away, and though I was never a soldier I am definitely headed south, cerebrum-wise.

But don’t cry for me, Argentina. Ich bin ein Hamburger. And a Frankfurter. And a spring roll. With Bosco! Mmm, Bosco!

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WORLD NEWS Comments turned off

Coronavirus: European Leaders Finally Acknowledge Scale of Crisis by Soeren Kern

By on March 13th, 2020

https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/15729/coronavirus-europe-crisis

The number of new coronavirus cases in Europe has been doubling, on average, every 72 hours.

“It has increased in some countries over the last two weeks by one thousand… There is nothing to stop that expansion… unless those societies move aggressively… including introducing social distancing…. We need to modify our behavior. We need to start practicing that now. We have to modify our behavior in ways that reduces the risk of transmitting the virus….” — Dr. Richard Hatchett, Chief Executive Officer of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.

“I think we need to start thinking in terms of the social risk. If I have a cold and I go to work and shake hands with my older colleague who has a chronic medical condition, I could be responsible for that colleague’s death. We all need to think about our responsibility to each other as we govern our behavior. We can’t view the epidemic in terms of our personal risk, we need to act collectively in a cooperative manner…” — Dr. Richard Hatchett.

Merkel said that her government’s top priority was to slow down the contagion to prevent a collapse of the German healthcare system.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has now reached more than 45 countries in Europe, where (as of March 12) more than 30,000 people have tested positive for the disease, according to a Gatestone Institute tally based on calculations from European health ministries.

The disease is spreading fast: more than 28,000 coronavirus cases (93% of all cases) in Europe were confirmed during just the first twelve days of March. The number of new cases has been doubling, on average, every 72 hours.

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BOOKS Comments turned off

A Psychological Study of Trump Worth Reading By Stephen Rittenberg

By on March 13th, 2020

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2020/03/a_psychological_study_of_trump_worth_reading.html

“I esteem biography, as giving us what comes near to ourselves, what we can turn to use.” —Samuel Johnson

Donald Trump inspires almost universal disapproval and scorn among wordsmith professionals in the mental health field.  He has been the target of diagnoses ranging from “pathological narcissism” to “bipolar disorder” to “dementia.”  

At last we can be grateful among the torrent of books about the president for one that justifies what Dr. Johnson called the “epidemical conspiracy for the destruction of paper.”

Sheldon Roth, M.D. has performed an important  service, not just to history, but to the field of depth psychology.  He has demonstrated ways in which it can illuminate the deep motivational wellsprings of a unique individual like Donald Trump.  His psycho-biography, Psychologically Sound: The Mind of Donald J. Trump, makes real and clear the truth of Wordsworth’s observation that “the child is father to the man.”

Trump is in the middle of a remarkable first term during which he has disrupted the various myths of our present-day wordsmith Utopians.  Their favored story has been of American decline, a decline well deserved by a racist and sexist country.  Donald Trump utterly dismissed this story, laughing at its politically correct absurdity.  His humor offends them while shattering their belief that presidents should be austere and solemn.  How did he manage to prevail in reviving American optimism, growing the economy while destroying the ISIS caliphate and reversing our appeasement policies toward Iran and China?  And he did all of this under constant siege by the wordsmith graduates of our elite universities and journalism schools.  Laughter and optimism helped.

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POLITICS Comments turned off

Joe Biden Blasts Trump’s Coronavirus Response, Then Plagiarizes Trump’s Plan By Matt Margolis

By on March 13th, 2020

https://pjmedia.com/trending/joe-biden-blasts-trumps-coronavirus-response-then-plagiarizes-trumps-plan/

On Thursday, Joe Biden slammed President Trump’s response to the coronavirus outbreak while speaking in Wilmington, Del., on Thursday afternoon. “The administration’s failure on testing is colossal and it’s a failure of leadership, planning, and execution,” Biden said. “This virus laid bare the severe shortcomings of the current administration.”

Biden went on to suggest things that should have been done. And if you thought they sounded familiar, you’re right, because immediately after blaming Trump for not doing enough, Biden suggested things that have, in fact, already been done.

Joe Biden said “no efforts should be spared” to get private labs and universities working to rapidly expand testing for coronavirus. Congratulations Joe, President Trump did this weeks ago when he ordered the FDA to allow hundreds of private labs and academic hospitals to rapidly begin testing for coronavirus.

Joe Biden also said that small businesses will need relief from the economic impact of the coronavirus. Congratulations, Joe, Trump literally called for $50 billion in liquidity to small business owners a day prior to Biden’s remarks and has asked Congress for even more relief.

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ISRAEL Comments turned off

Ruthie Blum:Israel vs. coronavirus: macro-genius, micro-idiocy

By on March 13th, 2020

https://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Israel-vs-coronavirus-macro-genius-micro-idiocy-620772

Israel’s impressive initiative in the battle to contain the coronavirus pandemic is not surprising. Aside from directing scientists to develop a vaccine for the novel strain as soon as it emerged in China and began to traverse borders, the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promptly adopted measures to slow its entry into and spread across country.
His efforts didn’t wane, even while campaigning for reelection, facing a looming court date for the beginning of his corruption trial and attempting to cobble together a coalition.

On the contrary, the pains he has taken to protect the public – from both illness and panic – have increased with every rise in the number of infected citizens and accompanying surge in home quarantines. Exhibiting true leadership, he has been giving press conferences to provide health directives and updates.On Wednesday alone, for example, he addressed the nation twice on this topic. First, he announced the injection of billions of shekels in aid to the health and small-business sectors, both of which are hurting from the current state of emergency.

“Corona is greatly affecting the global economy and our economy as well, [but] we are entering this crisis in a good situation,” he said. “The Israeli economy is in a better situation than most economies in the world. Unemployment is low, growth is high and the debt-to-GDP ratio is good. However, we have a great challenge here that we all are feeling and of which we are all aware. In our view, we can also deal with it in a way that will allow us to get through it successfully in peace – not without difficulty and not without sacrifice – but ultimately in peace, and I think that we can do this together in the best way possible.”

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NATIONAL NEWS & OPINION Comments turned off

‘Turtles on a treadmill’: Joni Ernst blasts ludicrous government waste in scathing Senate speech by Brad Polumbo

By on March 12th, 2020

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/turtles-on-a-treadmill-joni-ernst-blasts-ludicrous-government-waste-in-scathing-senate-speech

The dysfunction of the federal government is almost humorous until one remembers that we taxpayers are the ones footing the bill for the state’s foolishness.

Of course, few lawmakers in Washington actually seem to care, as both parties’ establishments have made peace with bloated budgets and sky-high deficits so long as their pet projects and interests get funded. Sen. Joni Ernst appears to be one of the rare and welcome exceptions, reminding us of her willingness to fight for fiscal conservatism with a scathing Senate speech Wednesday afternoon.

The Iowa Republican drew a spotlight to one particularly egregious example of waste, a taxpayer-funded study that blew almost a million dollars putting turtles on treadmills, both dead and alive, then comparing their speeds. And it’s not like this is some one-off fluke: The federal government spends taxpayer money on everything from scaring monkeys to the point of brain damage to funding the Pakistani film industry to subsidizing Serbian cheese production.

“Your tax dollars actually paid for a study that put turtles on treadmills,” Ernst lamented. “To no one’s surprise, it turns out that turtles are really, really slow. That’s what our tax dollars went to.”

“Now, how many of your tax dollars went to this study, exactly? Your guess is as good as mine … because there is no legal obligation for most federal agencies to disclose the price of government projects — even though the American taxpayers are paying for them,” the senator railed. “Folks, this is your money: So, shouldn’t you have a right to know how it’s being spent?”

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How to Get the Stock Market Back . By Amity Shlaes & Brian Wesbury

By on March 12th, 2020

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2020/03/12/how_to_get_the_stock_market_back.html

Election years make cowards of governments.  How else can you explain the White House response to the challenge of markets in panic over the new coronavirus? The Trump administration has moved into a defensive crouch. Its best ideas seems to be to rail at the Federal Reserve, or to reduce the payroll tax.  A quick-stim payroll tax cut may be just the ticket for an administration desiring to supply a momentary pocketbook break to a maximum number of voters. The president isn’t doing more because – or so goes the logic – to propose dramatic changes requiring legislation is to run the danger of humiliating rejection by Congress. And this White House, any White House, wants to look strong in an election year.

But the reality is that a temporary payroll-tax cut is a baby-step Keynesian move that won’t get America its market back. And one can’t count on the Federal Reserve, whatever it does, to restore our economy single-handedly. It’s worthwhile, therefore, to suspend disbelief for a moment and at least consider the “impossibles” — what could be done for markets by the White House and Congress if this were not an election year. There are plenty of measures that would bring the Dow Jones Industrial Average or the S&P 500 roaring back to where they were before the panic – or yet higher. And those increases would come not just because of post-panic euphoria, but also because the prospects for growth in the United States would ratchet upward. Herewith are four transformative growth proposals:

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POLITICS Comments turned off

FRANCIS MENTON: JOE BIDEN? YOU MUST BE KIDDING!

By on March 12th, 2020

https://us7.campaign-archive.com/?e=a9fdc67db9&u=9d011a88d8fe324cae8c084c5&i

Back in October, after looking some into the Hunter Biden/Burisma situation, and watching a few clips of Joe Biden on the campaign trail, I offered the following insightful prognostication:

I’m sorry to say that I don’t think Joe Biden is going to last much longer in this presidential contest.

That shows you what I know about these things.

The particular context there was a couple of posts I had just researched and written on the Ukraine affair, titled “The Bidens: Stone Cold Crooked” and “The Bidens: Stone Cold Crooked (2).” My conclusion in the two posts was that there was a lay-down case of corruption against Joe Biden in the Burisma situation, and I couldn’t even see what his defense would be. Yes, Joe could try saying “Sure I got my son $3 million in Ukraine by leveraging foreign aid money put up by U.S. taxpayers, but my motives were pure because I was also getting a corrupt prosecutor fired.” But why would or should anyone buy that line, when Joe could have told his son to get off the board before getting the prosecutor fired?

For several months after those posts, the impeachment business kept the Bidens’ graft in the news, and Joe gradually sank lower in the polls. But then impeachment ended, and now suddenly, after Super Tuesday and mini-Super Tuesday, Joe Biden has become the presumptive Democratic nominee. Really?

Many observers have attributed Joe’s revival to the sudden realization by the “party establishment” and the “donor class,” as the field of prospective candidates was narrowing, of how disastrous a Bernie Sanders nomination could prove to be for the party. If you are unsure of what the terms “party establishment” and “donor class” mean, I would commend to you this December 30, 2019 piece from the New York Law Journal with the headline “Big Law Chairmen and Prominent Trial Lawyers Help Drive Biden Fundraising.” It seems that Biden had just made a campaign finance filing revealing the identities of his top donors and “bundlers.” Summary:

Biden’s newly disclosed list of campaign bundlers includes Big Law chairmen, practice group leaders, prominent trial lawyers and tech and finance executives. The list of 250 names revealed the individuals and couples who have raised at least $25,000 for his presidential run.

Care to name some names?:

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