The Unsung Hero Who Financed the American Revolution, and His Lesson for Today

The name that King George III is said to have called the “most damning name of all” on the Declaration of Independence was not that of Benjamin Franklin, John or Samuel Adams, or even John Hancock. Instead, it was businessman Robert Morris.

As the “financier of the revolution,” Morris deserves to be duly recognized for his role in the American founding.

Morris came from humble beginnings as an orphaned immigrant from England and served as an apprentice for a shipper-banker in Philadelphia. By age 24, Morris had already opened the London Coffee House while also leading a shipping and banking firm of his own. Through these endeavors, he quickly garnered wealth, influential connections, and renown in his community.

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Refugee Crisis Escalates in Europe as Some Countries Fight Back

Via David

 All Men

Tea party groups get revenge against IRS as judge approves $3.5 million payout

Via Billy

A judge late Wednesday signed off on the settlement between the IRS and hundreds of tea party groups, closing out the last major legal battle over what all sides now agree was unwarranted and illegal targeting for political purposes.

The IRS agreed to pay $3.5 million to groups that were wronged by the intrusive inspections, and insists it’s made changes so that political targeting can’t occur in the future.

A few issues are still being fought over in the courts — including whether former IRS senior executive Lois G. Lerner will be allowed to forever shield her deposition explaining her behavior from public view, and whether the IRS should pay attorney fees — but this week’s decision closes out five years of litigation over the targeting itself.

More @ The Washington Times

Confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court

Police at Texas Tech Praise Campus Carry: ‘No Longer a Target of Opportunity’ for Mass Killers

Ben Shapiro, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez spar after he offers $10,000 to debate her democratic socialist beliefs

Via Iver

Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro challenged democratic socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to a debate, offering to donate $10,000 to her campaign if she accepted -- but it triggered a sparring match online.

Shapiro initially tweeted a video on Wednesday in which he mocked Democratic National Committee chairperson Tom Perez for calling Ocasio-Cortez, a New York congressional candidate, the “future of the Democratic Party,” before issuing his challenge.

“Miss Ocasio-Cortez, I’m really excited that you’ve been elevated to that position and I would love to have a real conversation with you about the issues. You’ve noted that you think Republicans are afraid to debate you or talk to you or discuss the issues with you,” Shapiro said.

More @ Fox

What would the intelligence community's 'insurance policy' against Trump look like? By Sharyl Attkisson

 Benjamin Wittes was a close friend of FBI Director James Comey.

Let’s begin in the realm of the fanciful.

Assume, for the sake of argument, that powerful, connected people in the intelligence community and in politics worried that a wildcard Trump presidency, unlike another Clinton or Bush, might expose a decade-plus of questionable practices. Disrupt long-established money channels. Reveal secret machinations that could arguably land some people in prison.

What exactly might an “insurance policy” against Donald Trump look like?

He would have to be marginalized at every turn. Strategies would encompass politics, the courts, opposition research and the media. He’d have to become mired in lawsuits, distracted by allegations, riddled with calls for impeachment, hounded by investigations. His election must be portrayed as the illegitimate result of a criminal or un-American conspiracy.

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The Boer Republics under siege: Koos De la Rey: A Boer general like Lee, Jackson and Forrest

Via Mike

The Boer Republics of Transvaal and the Orange Free State in South Africa were under siege by the British Empire during the First Boer War from 1880 to 1881 and again during the more famous Second Boer War from 1899 to 1902.

The issues were Boer independence versus gold mining resources and empire. In 1879, just before the First Boer war, the British Army engaged migrating Zulu tribes during what was called the Anglo-Zulu War, which is more famous in the U.S. because of two famous battles: Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift. The heroism of a small detachment of 141 men, mostly from the 24th Welsh Foot (infantry) at Rorke’s Drift, for which eleven Victoria Crosses were awarded, was the subject of the American movie, Zulu. But before we continue the story of Koos De la Rey and the Second Boer War, it is important to summarize the state of South Africa from 1994 until today.

More @ The Tribune

Quinton Tellis appeals judge’s ruling clearing D.A. John Champion

Via Greg

Tellis faces another murder indictment in Monroe, Louisiana, where he’s accused of torturing 34-year-old Meing-Chen Hsiao to death.

A man accused of killing a Mississippi woman by setting her on fire is appealing a judge’s ruling clearing a prosecutor of misconduct, saying the judge used the wrong legal standard. Lawyers for Quinton Tellis on Thursday filed an appeal with the Mississippi Supreme Court asking justices to overrule a finding that Panola County District Attorney John Champion’s actions didn’t hurt Tellis’ case. Lawyer Darla Palmer argues in the filing that Circuit Judge Gerald Chatham asked the wrong question, and should have analyzed whether Champion broke rules against prosecutorial misconduct instead of declaring that the case could go forward because Tellis had suffered no harm.

More @ News 3

Antifa Professor's 3 Assault W/ Deadly Weapon Charges Get Dropped To Misdemeanor

Via Kirk 

Rip that 'uniform' off.

A former college professor who was charged with smashing multiple people over the head with a metal U-shaped bike lock during an antifa protest was sentenced to three years of probation on Wednesday.

Alameda County Superior Court records showed that on the day he was due in court for a preliminary hearing, Eric Clanton entered a “no contest” plea to one misdemeanor battery charge in accordance with a plea deal he made with the prosecutor, Berkeleyside reported.

Under the terms of the plea agreement, the felony charges against Clanton were dismissed, and an allegation that he had caused serious bodily harm was stricken as well, Berkeleyside reported.

A misdemeanor charge of committing a crime while wearing a mask was also dropped.

More @ Blue Lives Matter