This week’s edition of the Appalachian Messenger has articles by:
Robert Gore
The Swarm
David DeGerolamo
Which Freedom Do You Want?
Francis W. Porretto
Wrongthink
T. L. Davis
Who Will Make The Call?
Click here for the April 28, 2017 edition.
Friday, April 28, 2017
The Appalachian Messenger April 28, 2017
This week’s edition of the Appalachian Messenger has articles by:
Robert Gore
The Swarm
David DeGerolamo
Which Freedom Do You Want?
Francis W. Porretto
Wrongthink
T. L. Davis
Who Will Make The Call?
Click here for the April 28, 2017 edition.
UN: Violation of international law if Obamacare is changed?
Via Billy
In his
letter, Puras expressed his “serious concern” over how proposed
legislative changes to Medicaid, tax subsidies, and the Obamacare
individual and employer mandates could deprive the American people of
the rights contained in his long title. And then he waved the banner of
international law. He cited broad clauses on health care in a number of
treaties to which the U.S. is a party and the opinions
of unaccountable members of the "UN Committee on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights" interpreting the treaty clauses. The Committee noted,
he said, that “there is a strong presumption that retrogressive measures
taken in relation to the right to health are not permissible and if any
deliberately retrogressive measures are taken, the State party has the
burden of providing that they have been introduced after the most care
consideration of all alternatives…”
The United Nations is once again sticking its nose into the
domestic affairs of the United States in violation of its own
charter (Article 2, para. 7). The Washington Post has uncovered a
transmittal letter dated February 2, 2017 from the UN Office of High
Commissioner of Human Rights, forwarding to the then acting U.S.
Secretary of State, Thomas Shannon, Jr., a complaint from one of the
UN’s Special Rapporteurs about plans to repeal and replace
Obamacare. This Special Rapporteur “on the right of everyone to the
enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental
health,” Dainius Puras, believes it is within his mandate to intervene
in the internal debate going on within the U.S. Congress and the
executive branch as to what to do about Obamacare.
More @ Front Page Magazine
The Deification of Lincoln (and of the American State)
Via Billy
“The violence of the criticism aimed at Lincoln by the great men of his time on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line is startling. The breadth and depth of the spectacular prejudice against him is often shocking for its cruelty, intensity, and unrelenting vigor. The plain truth is that Mr. Lincoln was deeply reviled by many who knew him personally, and by hundreds of thousands who only knew of him.”
–Larry Tagg, The Unpopular Mr. Lincoln: America’s Most Reviled President
In his book, The Unpopular Mr. Lincoln, historian Larry Tagg, a native of Lincoln, Illinois, constructs a powerful case that Abraham Lincoln was by far the most hated and reviled of all American presidents, North and South, during his lifetime. For example, in May of 1864 the New York Times labeled Lincoln “a perjurer, a usurper, a tyrant, a subverter of the Constitution, a destroyer of the liberties of this country, a reckless desperado, a heartless trifler . . . there is no circle in Dante’s Inferno full enough of torment to expiate his iniquities.”
“The violence of the criticism aimed at Lincoln by the great men of his time on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line is startling. The breadth and depth of the spectacular prejudice against him is often shocking for its cruelty, intensity, and unrelenting vigor. The plain truth is that Mr. Lincoln was deeply reviled by many who knew him personally, and by hundreds of thousands who only knew of him.”
–Larry Tagg, The Unpopular Mr. Lincoln: America’s Most Reviled President
In his book, The Unpopular Mr. Lincoln, historian Larry Tagg, a native of Lincoln, Illinois, constructs a powerful case that Abraham Lincoln was by far the most hated and reviled of all American presidents, North and South, during his lifetime. For example, in May of 1864 the New York Times labeled Lincoln “a perjurer, a usurper, a tyrant, a subverter of the Constitution, a destroyer of the liberties of this country, a reckless desperado, a heartless trifler . . . there is no circle in Dante’s Inferno full enough of torment to expiate his iniquities.”
More @ LRC
Charleston Has Possibly The Most Beautiful Housing Project in America
Via comment by Weaver on It's not elites vs. populists. It's cities vs. the...
Dated.
In Charleston, South Carolina sits perhaps the most beautiful housing
project in America. Built in a Romanesque Revival style, the William
Enston Home consists of free-standing cottages set on a leafy green
landscaped property. William Enston was a wealthy businessman in
Charleston involved in furniture, real estate and shipping. He left his
fortunate to the city of Charleston in 1859, with the stipulation that
it be used to build a home for elderly poor.
More @ Untapped Cities
Top Two Worst Jobs: Newspaper Reporter and Broadcaster. :)
Via Billy
Some people choose their careers while others sort of just fall into them. Apparently, we in the new media have one of the worst jobs of 2017, according to the website Career Cast.
But let’s start with the best jobs of the year.
Some people choose their careers while others sort of just fall into them. Apparently, we in the new media have one of the worst jobs of 2017, according to the website Career Cast.
But let’s start with the best jobs of the year.
More @ CBS
The Hill: Yes, blame Obama for the sorry state of the Democratic Party
Via Billy
In
the course of one day, Obama’s grand progressive movement had ended and
all that was left were crisis and chaos. Like a shocked animal, the
Democratic Party became a feral beast lashing out blindly,
indiscriminately — hoping a fang, a beak, or a claw would find its mark
and make the world right again.
When the Chair of the DNC, the Senate Minority Leader, and the Democratic nominee for President of the United States cannot differentiate themselves on the political spectrum (the difference between a Democrat and a Socialist) —Houston, we have a problem.
As President Trump continues to drive stakes through the heart of Barack Obama’s
legacy, the totality of the Democratic Party’s response has been to
fight back for fight’s sake — not for God, not for glory, not for
values, not for liberty, not for our children and posterity—but simply
to remain unyielding at every turn and to consider that victory.
After
the sun rose on Nov. 9, 2016, the shattering of the liberal dream had
been so dramatic and that Democrats suddenly realized there was no one
in charge.
Phones were silent.
Emails ceased.
DNC elites were scattering out of New York, and there were no signals from Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama to point the way forward. The flame was out.
More @ The Hill
Trump Signs New Executive Order To Get Rid Of Bad VA Employees, Protect Whistleblowers
Via Billy
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday establishing an office to help get rid of bad employees and protect whistleblowers at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Trump visited the VA offices Thursday and thanked veterans for their service, in addition to thanking employees who help veterans, while signing the executive order called “Improving Accountability and Whistleblower Protection at the Department of Veterans Affairs.”
“I’m honored also to be at the Department of Veterans Affairs because I will tell you this has been something right from the beginning of the campaign that does not get any more important for me than making life really great for our phenomenal veterans, that I can say,” Trump said.
“This executive order makes it clear that we will never ever tolerate substandard care for our great veterans,” he added.
“This is an important moment in the life of the VA,” Vice President Mike Pence said.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday establishing an office to help get rid of bad employees and protect whistleblowers at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Trump visited the VA offices Thursday and thanked veterans for their service, in addition to thanking employees who help veterans, while signing the executive order called “Improving Accountability and Whistleblower Protection at the Department of Veterans Affairs.”
“I’m honored also to be at the Department of Veterans Affairs because I will tell you this has been something right from the beginning of the campaign that does not get any more important for me than making life really great for our phenomenal veterans, that I can say,” Trump said.
“This executive order makes it clear that we will never ever tolerate substandard care for our great veterans,” he added.
“This is an important moment in the life of the VA,” Vice President Mike Pence said.
More @ Freedom Outpost
Businesses that use foreign workers are starting to explore the possibility of recruiting domestic labor
Via Numbers USA "Isn't this the point?"
President Donald Trump has systematically engineered a major crackdown on immigration during his first 100 days in office — even as courts reject his executive orders and Congress nears a spending deal that will deny him funding for a wall along the southern border.
The number of arrests on the U.S.-Mexico border plummeted in March
to its lowest level in 17 years — a strong suggestion that Trump’s
anti-immigration rhetoric is scaring away foreigners who might otherwise
try to enter the United States illegally. In addition, part of a
lesser-known executive order
that Trump signed in January gave federal immigration agents broad
leeway to arrest virtually any undocumented immigrant they encounter.
President Donald Trump has systematically engineered a major crackdown on immigration during his first 100 days in office — even as courts reject his executive orders and Congress nears a spending deal that will deny him funding for a wall along the southern border.
More @ Politico
Herman: 51 years later, a Texas serviceman comes home
Via Nguyễn Văn Bẩy
It’s amazing how so little can mean so much. Stick with me here and you’ll see what I mean. And you’ll agree.
In 1966, exactly 51 years ago Friday, a B-57 piloted by Air Force Capt. Robert Russell “Bear” Barnett, 32, was shot down in Laos. He was listed as presumed dead, body not recovered.
Barnett later was honored and his family was presented his medals at a Fort Sam Houston memorial service in San Antonio. A memorial marker there honors his service and remembers his life.
There was no funeral, no burial. And for the Barnett family, no closure.
Until now.
It’s amazing how so little can mean so much. Stick with me here and you’ll see what I mean. And you’ll agree.
In 1966, exactly 51 years ago Friday, a B-57 piloted by Air Force Capt. Robert Russell “Bear” Barnett, 32, was shot down in Laos. He was listed as presumed dead, body not recovered.
Barnett later was honored and his family was presented his medals at a Fort Sam Houston memorial service in San Antonio. A memorial marker there honors his service and remembers his life.
There was no funeral, no burial. And for the Barnett family, no closure.
Until now.
More with video @ My Statesman
The Latest 18th Century Fake News
The “fake news” pejorative has become commonplace in modern public discourse, so much so that social media outlets have taken it upon themselves to “police” so-called “fake news” stories and warn people about their dangers. This was largely due to the supposed impact “fake news” had on Trump supporters in 2016. To these self-appointed gatekeepers of truth, honesty, and the American way, nothing that contradicts their version of American history can be acceptable.
Their narrative goes something like this: America was created as a singular nation on the principles of “justice” and “equality.” You “anti-American” fools that argue the founding generation believed something different need to study Alexander Hamilton, John Marshall, and Abraham Lincoln [sic].
They clearly and correctly argued that the Union predated the States, just read the Declaration of Independence.
More @ The Abbeville Institute
Pikeville This Weekend
As June closes in, we at 12 Round Productions are in the final stages of edits for Lies of Omission, bringing together music, sound and B-roll to meet the deadline. The deadline is NOT June 1st, it is IN June, that timeframe has not changed.
But, aside from publicity and the like, I have seen my role diminish to the point that I can do something else with my time, which brings me to Pikeville, KY this weekend. In the post I wrote a few weeks ago, here, I mentioned that I thought this was necessary. It will be an important skirmish in the war on the First Amendment. These Antifa(s) are outright Communists and are dedicated to the disruption and disintegration of the United States as a republic. It can be summarized as nothing less and it is up to us, to show that we are not afraid of them and are, in fact, anxious to engage them, because we know that they are paid-for muscle and anti-American agitators.
More @ Christian Mercenary
Trump moves to protect US industry from cheap aluminum imports
Via Billy
President Trump on Thursday signed a memorandum that finds low-priced imported aluminum is a threat to U.S. national security, and encouraged the Commerce Department to prioritize an investigation that could lead to new import restrictions.
"The artificially low prices caused by excess capacity and unfairly traded imports suppress profits in the American aluminum industry, which discourages long-term investment in the industry and hinders efforts by American aluminum producers to research and develop new and better grades of aluminum," Trump's memo said.
President Trump on Thursday signed a memorandum that finds low-priced imported aluminum is a threat to U.S. national security, and encouraged the Commerce Department to prioritize an investigation that could lead to new import restrictions.
"The artificially low prices caused by excess capacity and unfairly traded imports suppress profits in the American aluminum industry, which discourages long-term investment in the industry and hinders efforts by American aluminum producers to research and develop new and better grades of aluminum," Trump's memo said.
More @ Washington Examiner
The Place of Christianity in History: A View from Without
In today’s
irreligious and indeed antireligious climate the fashion is to dismiss
Christianity as crude superstition, and to babble wisely about the
separation of church and state. This is unfortunate, and stupid, since
Christianity was the heart and soul of as yet the greatest civilization
the world has seen. Those who know nothing of it cannot understand the
last two thousand years and how our world came to be.
Renegade
Jews founded Christianity (most Jews soon wished they had not), as a
sort of heresy that got out of control, lost all resemblance to Judaism,
and eventually stretched across Europe, Russia, North and South
America, Australia, and the Byzantine Empire. In all of these it shaped
the culture, art, philosophy, literature, the very framework of mind.
Much of this was superb and remains unsurpassed.
More @ Fred On Everything
Trump complains Saudis not paying fair share for U.S. defense
Via Billy
President Donald Trump complained on Thursday that U.S. ally Saudi Arabia was not treating the United States fairly and Washington was losing a “tremendous amount of money” defending the kingdom.
President Donald Trump complained on Thursday that U.S. ally Saudi Arabia was not treating the United States fairly and Washington was losing a “tremendous amount of money” defending the kingdom.
In
an interview with Reuters, Trump confirmed his administration was in
talks about possible visits to Saudi Arabia and Israel in the second
half of May. He is due to make his first trip abroad as president for a
May 25 NATO summit in Brussels and could add other stops.
"Frankly,
Saudi Arabia has not treated us fairly, because we are losing a
tremendous amount of money in defending Saudi Arabia,” he said.
More @ Yahoo
Trump to sign order to open up more offshore drilling
Via Billy
President Trump on Friday will sign an executive order on opening up the U.S. coasts to more offshore drilling while reviewing a number of former President Barack Obama's marine monument and sanctuary approvals seen as barriers to offshore energy development.
The Executive Order Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy directs the Interior Department to begin a review of restrictive drilling policies for the outer-continental shelf, while reviewing regulations and the Obama administration's actions.
President Trump on Friday will sign an executive order on opening up the U.S. coasts to more offshore drilling while reviewing a number of former President Barack Obama's marine monument and sanctuary approvals seen as barriers to offshore energy development.
The Executive Order Implementing an America-First Offshore Energy Strategy directs the Interior Department to begin a review of restrictive drilling policies for the outer-continental shelf, while reviewing regulations and the Obama administration's actions.
More @ Washington Examiner
NRA determined to turn major election wins into permanent gun rights for Americans
Via Billy
Gun rights backers need to make sure that election victories translate into action on Capitol Hill and expanded support in the states, the National Rifle Association’s legislative chief said Thursday, a day ahead of President Trump’s speech at the NRA’s annual convention.
Enacting concealed-carry reciprocity, which would allow permit holders from one state to carry their weapons anywhere else in the U.S., is a top priority for the NRA now that the organization has a friendly Congress and a president it eagerly backed.
But Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, told The Washington Times that NRA members can’t become complacent in the post-Obama era.
Gun rights backers need to make sure that election victories translate into action on Capitol Hill and expanded support in the states, the National Rifle Association’s legislative chief said Thursday, a day ahead of President Trump’s speech at the NRA’s annual convention.
Enacting concealed-carry reciprocity, which would allow permit holders from one state to carry their weapons anywhere else in the U.S., is a top priority for the NRA now that the organization has a friendly Congress and a president it eagerly backed.
But Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, told The Washington Times that NRA members can’t become complacent in the post-Obama era.
More @ The Washington Times
Why can't House repeal Obamacare? Because a lot of Republicans don't want to
Via Billy
"We're going to go when we have the votes," Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday when asked when the House will pass a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. Lawmakers will not be constrained by any "artificial deadline," Ryan declared.
On March 24, when the Speaker pulled the GOP Obamacare bill before what would have been a sure defeat, he said, "We're going to be living with Obamacare for the foreseeable future."
But why? Republicans have 237 seats in the House. Repealing Obamacare will require 216 votes. Even with unanimous Democratic opposition, Republicans could lose 20 votes and still prevail on repeal. Why haven't they done it?
By this time, it's becoming increasingly clear that Republicans have not repealed Obamacare because a lot of Republicans do not want to repeal Obamacare.
The Republican-controlled House and Senate both voted to repeal Obamacare in January 2016. In the House, 239 Republicans voted for repeal, while three voted against it and four did not vote. President Obama, of course, vetoed the bill.
Now, with a president who would sign an Obamacare repeal, there's no way Republicans could get as many votes as last year.
"We're going to go when we have the votes," Speaker Paul Ryan said Thursday when asked when the House will pass a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare. Lawmakers will not be constrained by any "artificial deadline," Ryan declared.
On March 24, when the Speaker pulled the GOP Obamacare bill before what would have been a sure defeat, he said, "We're going to be living with Obamacare for the foreseeable future."
But why? Republicans have 237 seats in the House. Repealing Obamacare will require 216 votes. Even with unanimous Democratic opposition, Republicans could lose 20 votes and still prevail on repeal. Why haven't they done it?
By this time, it's becoming increasingly clear that Republicans have not repealed Obamacare because a lot of Republicans do not want to repeal Obamacare.
More @ Washington Examiner
House Committee Seeks Charges For Hillary Clinton’s IT Firm
Via Billy
A House committee is referring the head of a company that managed Hillary Clinton’s private email server to the Justice Department for obstruction of justice and making false statements.
Texas Rep. Lamar Smith, the chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the referral for Treve Suazo, the CEO of Platte River Networks.
“With a new administration in place, I am hopeful that the Department of Justice will appropriately respond to the referral. We cannot allow companies with valuable information to stonewall us in our oversight efforts,” Smith said in a statement.
A House committee is referring the head of a company that managed Hillary Clinton’s private email server to the Justice Department for obstruction of justice and making false statements.
Texas Rep. Lamar Smith, the chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, issued the referral for Treve Suazo, the CEO of Platte River Networks.
“With a new administration in place, I am hopeful that the Department of Justice will appropriately respond to the referral. We cannot allow companies with valuable information to stonewall us in our oversight efforts,” Smith said in a statement.
More@ The Daily Caller
Is a Management Shake-up Looming at Fox News?
Via Billy
As Fox News is roiled by lawsuits
and the ouster of Bill O’Reilly, the network’s co-president Bill Shine
has retained the backing of the Murdochs. On Monday, Rupert Murdoch took
network co-presidents Shine and Jack Abernethy to lunch at Marea, a seafood restaurant near Fox’s midtown headquarters — a highly public show of support.
But
privately, Shine is expressing concern about his future at the network.
According to three sources briefed on the conversations, Shine has told
friends he recently asked Rupert’s sons James and Lachlan — the CEO and
co-chairman, respectively, of network parent company 21st Century Fox —
to release a statement in support of him, but they refused to do so.
The sources said Shine made the request because of withering press
coverage of Fox News in recent weeks. A source added that Shine has
privately complained that Rupert “isn’t fighting for him” in the press,
which is why he wanted explicit support from the sons.
More @ New York Magazine
Who doesn’t want to see the first GOP millennial Latina beat the pants off of de Blasio for NYC mayor?
Via Billy
The latest entry into the New York City mayoral race should finally put to rest that old saw that the GOP is a party comprised of old white men.
New York Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, a Latina, threw her hat into the ring Tuesday, determined not only to be the Big Apple’s first millennial mayor, but to also break the stranglehold the Democratic Party has on big cities in the U.S.
The New York Times Metro desk reported:
The latest entry into the New York City mayoral race should finally put to rest that old saw that the GOP is a party comprised of old white men.
New York Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis, a Latina, threw her hat into the ring Tuesday, determined not only to be the Big Apple’s first millennial mayor, but to also break the stranglehold the Democratic Party has on big cities in the U.S.
The New York Times Metro desk reported:
More @ BIZPAC
Hensarling to move Dodd-Frank replacement next week, eyes Fannie and Freddie
Via Billy
House Republican legislation meant to replace the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law is headed to the floor soon, the chairman responsible for the bill said Thursday.
Rep. Jeb Hensarling, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, told reporters that the panel is scheduled to vote on the sweeping legislative package Tuesday and the full House will vote on it "shortly thereafter."
Although there is not more definite timing for the legislative package, the timetable is moving up amid uncertainty about other top Republican legislative goals, such as repealing Obamacare.
And Republicans also are eyeing relatively swift action to overhaul the bailed-out government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
House Republican legislation meant to replace the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial reform law is headed to the floor soon, the chairman responsible for the bill said Thursday.
Rep. Jeb Hensarling, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, told reporters that the panel is scheduled to vote on the sweeping legislative package Tuesday and the full House will vote on it "shortly thereafter."
Although there is not more definite timing for the legislative package, the timetable is moving up amid uncertainty about other top Republican legislative goals, such as repealing Obamacare.
And Republicans also are eyeing relatively swift action to overhaul the bailed-out government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
More @ Washington Examiner
China urges withdrawal of U.S. THAAD missile defense system in South Korea
Via comment byWeaver on Senior White House Official Says Military Preparat...
China said on Wednesday it had expressed serious concern to Washington and Seoul after the U.S. military started moving parts of its controversial THAAD anti-missile defense system to a deployment site in South Korea.
Speaking at a daily news briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China urged the U.S. and South Korea to withdraw the system.
Seoul and Washington say the sole purpose of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is to defend against North Korean missiles, but China is concerned the system's powerful radar can penetrate its territory and undermine its security and has repeatedly expressed opposition to it.
China said on Wednesday it had expressed serious concern to Washington and Seoul after the U.S. military started moving parts of its controversial THAAD anti-missile defense system to a deployment site in South Korea.
Speaking at a daily news briefing in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China urged the U.S. and South Korea to withdraw the system.
Seoul and Washington say the sole purpose of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is to defend against North Korean missiles, but China is concerned the system's powerful radar can penetrate its territory and undermine its security and has repeatedly expressed opposition to it.
A&E Interviews Gun Store Manager who Fought Back in L.A. Riots 25 Years Later
The A&E Network recently aired “L.A. Burning: The Riots 25 Years Later,” a documentary on the momentous Rodney King Riots. The documentary follows how the riots scarred L.A. and how they continue to affect people to this day, 25 years later.
Among the people affected by the riots were those who lived and worked in Koreatown, a Korean neighborhood in L.A. When riots and looting broke out in their community, Koreans famously took up arms in self-defense.
L.A. Burning interviewed one man who fought back, former gun store manager David Joo. “At that time I was at the gun store, and I happened to receive a phone call from my employer,” said Joo. “He also owned a jewelry store right down the block there.”
“And he said ‘David, we’re having a gunfight in here, so can you just come over and help us?'”
More @ Guns America
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)