There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. —Soren Kierkegaard. "…truth is true even if nobody believes it, and falsehood is false even if everybody believes it. That is why truth does not yield to opinion, fashion, numbers, office, or sincerity–it is simply true and that is the end of it" – Os Guinness, Time for Truth, pg.39. “He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God’s providence to lead him aright.” – Blaise Pascal. "There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily" – George Washington letter to Edmund Randolph — 1795. We live in a “post-truth” world. According to the dictionary, “post-truth” means, “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Simply put, we now live in a culture that seems to value experience and emotion more than truth. Truth will never go away no matter how hard one might wish. Going beyond the MSM idealogical opinion/bias and their low information tabloid reality show news with a distractional superficial focus on entertainment, sensationalism, emotionalism and activist reporting – this blogs goal is to, in some small way, put a plug in the broken dam of truth and save as many as possible from the consequences—temporal and eternal. "The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." – George Orwell “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” ― Soren Kierkegaard
The doctrine of hell is an unpopular teaching today, but that does not change the fact that it is a doctrine taught in God’s Word. Today, R.C. Sproul reminds us what we all deserve apart from the grace of God in Jesus Christ.
Lee Strobel’s journey from atheist journalist to Christian apologist has been told in literary and theatrical form through “The Case for Christ,” with the prolific author and preacher continuing to share the Gospel throughout his multi-decade career.
Strobel said the idea for his latest book came from an intriguing source.
“[The publisher] discovered something interesting,” he told CBN Digital. “They said, ‘We found that 200 times a second, around the clock, someone on planet Earth is typing into a computer search engine, basically the question: ‘Is God real?” And they said, ‘Why don’t you do a book addressing that?’”
Strobel said he loved the idea and took them up on the offer, diving into research and evidence found in science, history, and philosophy that “points toward the truth of Christianity.”
Watch Strobel explain:
“I love doing this project because I think it reflects a real curiosity in our culture about who God is,” Strobel said. “I think it’s incumbent on Christians to … always be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks us to give the reason for the hope that we have, and to do it gently and respectfully.”
Strobel made it clear that blanket claims from atheists that God doesn’t exist simply have no backing, regardless of where people fall on the theological scale.
“One thing that cannot be said by anybody legitimately is, ‘There is no evidence for God,’” he said. “You can say, ‘I don’t believe the evidence.’ You can say, ‘I reject that evidence.’ You can say, ‘I’m smarter than that evidence,’ but we can’t say that there is no evidence.”
Listen to them on the latest episode of “Quick Start”
The prolific author said discoveries in cosmology, the universe’s origin, physics, and other issues have offered newfound insight that he believes points to the existence of the Almighty.
Even biology and DNA, he said, point “compellingly toward not just the existence of a creator, but a creator who happens to match a description of the God of the Bible.”
In the end, Strobel said God so radically transformed his life years ago that he’s now on a mission to honor the Lord.
“I just want to spend the rest of my life helping people meet Jesus and have him transform their lives,” he said. “And open the doors of heaven for them.”
I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy (v. 1). This translation of the niv is possible, but the position of the word ‘Lord’ is debatable. The preferred and more literal rendering is, ‘I love, for the Lord heard the voice of my supplications’. Twice more in the psalm verbs are used without an object (‘call’ in v. 2; ‘believed’ in v. 10). The unusual expression may well draw attention to the intensity of the love that he felt for the Lord, just as John the apostle declared, ‘We love, because he first loved us’ (1 John 4:19). All through this psalm the covenantal name for God (Heb. yhwh, ‘Lord’) is used, and later the psalmist declares that he is a true covenantal servant (see v. 16).[1]
1. It is a point never to be forgotten, that if we love Christ, it is because he first loved us. 1 John, 4:19. Laying this down as the foundation, the superstructure must be proper. It was God the Father’s love that first gave us his dear Son; it was Jesus’s love that first prompted his infinite mind to love us. Reader! never love sight of these grand points of faith.[2]
1. “I love the Lord.” A blessed declaration: every believer ought to be able to declare without the slightest hesitation, “I love the Lord.” It was required under the law, but was never produced in the heart of man except by the grace of God, and upon gospel principles. It is a great thing to say “I love the Lord”; for the sweetest of all graces and the surest of all evidences of salvation is love. It is great goodness on the part of God that he condescends to be loved by such poor creatures as we are, and it is a sure proof that he has been at work in our heart when we can say, “Thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee.” “Because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.” The Psalmist not only knows that he loves God, but he knows why he does so. When love can justify itself with a reason, it is deep, strong, and abiding. They say that love is blind; but when we love God our affection has its eyes open and can sustain itself with the most rigid logic. We have reason, superabundant reason, for loving the Lord; and so because in this case principle and passion, reason and emotion go together, they make up an admirable state of mind. David’s reason for his love was the love of God in hearing his prayers. The Psalmist had used his “voice” in prayer, and the habit of doing so is exceedingly helpful to devotion. If we can pray aloud without being overheard it is well to do so. Sometimes, however, when the Psalmist had lifted up his voice, his utterance had been so broken and painful that he scarcely dared to call it prayer; words failed him, he could only produce a groaning sound, but the Lord heard his moaning voice. At other times his prayers were more regular and better formed: these he calls “supplications.” David had praised as best he could, and when one form of devotion failed him he tried another. He had gone to the Lord again and again, hence he uses the plural and says “my supplications,” but as often as he had gone, so often had he been welcome. Jehovah had heard, that is to say, accepted, and answered both his broken cries and his more composed and orderly supplications; hence he loved God with all his heart. Answered prayers are silken bonds which bind our hearts to God. When a man’s prayers are answered, love is the natural result. According to Alexander, both verbs may be translated in the present, and the text may run thus, “I love because Jehovah hears my voice, my supplications.” This also is true in the case of every pleading believer. Continual love flows out of daily answers to prayer.[3]
When you’ve examined the progress of your Christian growth, have you ever become discouraged–even to the point of questioning your salvation? Today, R.C. Sproul teaches that our assurance is a matter of where we place our trust.
Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.Psalm 73:24
From day to day and from year to year my faith believes in the wisdom and love of God, and I know that I shall not believe in vain. No good word of His has ever failed, and I am sure that none shall ever fall to the ground.
I put myself into His hand for guidance. I know not the way that I should choose: the Lord shall choose mine inheritance for me. I need counsel and advice; for my duties are intricate, and my condition is involved… The counsel of the infallible God I seek in preference to my own judgment or the advice of friends…
Soon the end will come: a few more years and I must depart out of this world unto the Father. My Lord will be near my bed. He will meet me at heaven’s gate: He will welcome me to the gloryland. I shall not be a stranger in heaven: my own God and Father will receive me to its endless bliss.
Glory be to Him who Will guide me here, And receive me hereafter. Amen.
“But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus.” 2 Corinthians 7:6
Owen Shramek lived for only twenty minutes after he was born. His father, Dustin, struggled with anger. During the first months after the baby’s death, Dustin admits he felt very little comfort from God. He prayed, “God, I know You are sovereign. I know that You are in control. But the least You could do is draw near to us and give us comfort.”
Well, on the six month anniversary, Dustin was reading through the mail. Letters came from God’s people all over the world. He came across the Bible verse: “But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus.” God was answering his prayer through fellow Christians!
Dear one, be comforted. We are part of the Body of Christ. And it’s through this Body that He ministers to us. Even in our darkest days.
“God, who comforts the downcast.” 2 Corinthians 7:6
Who else comforts like Him? The sweetest promises and whispered words of comfort, coming from us, can fall upon deaf ears to someone who is truly poor, melancholy, and distressed. As much as we may try to comfort them, it may only be a note or two of mournful resignation that you get in reply. You will bring forth no psalms of praise, no hallelujahs, no joyful sonnets. But let God come to His child, let Him lift up their head, and the mourner’s eyes glisten with hope. “’Tis paradise, if thou art here; If thou depart, ‘tis hell.”
You could not have cheered them, but the Lord has done it. “God, who comforts the downcast.” Even when there is no comfort to be found in the world, there is comfort in God. There is no physician among the creatures, but the Creator is Jehovah-Rophe (“The LORD who Heals“). It is marvelous how one sweet word of God will become whole songs for Christians. One word of God is like a piece of gold, and the Christian is the metal-worker who can hammer that promise out for whole weeks.
So, then, ogYou are like a poor dry well. When a pump is dry, you must pour water down it first to prime it, and then you will get water. So too when you are dry, go to God, ask Him to pour His joy in your heart, and then your joy will be full. Don’t go to earthly friends, for you may find them to be like Job’s ‘comforters’. Instead, go first and foremost to your ‘God, who comforts the downcast’ and you will soon say, ‘When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.” (Psalm 94:19)
Question: Where in your Bible do you most often turn when you’re seeking consolation?
Originally written by Charles Spurgeon. Updated to modern English by Darren Hewer, 2009 Used by Permission
IDF strike kills top Hamas politbureau member Ahmed Bahar Reports in Gaza on Friday announced that Israel eliminated Ahmed Bahar, a member of Hamas’ political bureau, as a result of an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) airstrike earlier this week. The senior member of the terrorist organization was reportedly injured in the IDF strike, and recently died of his wounds. Hamas, however, has not officially confirmed the reports.
White House security advisor discusses ‘dire’ Gaza situation with UNRWA head US Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer spoke with UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Commissioner General Philippe Lazzarini on Friday to discuss the “dire humanitarian situation” in Gaza.
Jan. 6 Capitol storming tapes released to public; 40,000+ hours of footage On Friday, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) released to the public more than 40,000 hours of footage from the January 6, 2021, Capitol storming. “Follow the link below to view the January 6th tapes for yourself,” Johnson posted on X,
Memphis Police Chief Claims Crime Is So Bad Not Even The Army Can Stop It Crime is so out of control in Memphis that police chief CJ Davis doesn’t think the Army can save the day. the situation in Memphis is far past bad. It’s downright appalling, and a stain on the entire country that criminals seem to run roughshod in a major American.(city)
Trans Activist Owner Of Miss Universe Pageant Goes Bankrupt One Year After Purchase Get woke, go broke strikes again? A year ago the Miss Universe Pageant made headlines after a Thai business tycoon, transgender activist and biological male named Jakapong Jakrajutatip purchased the organization for $20 million. For Miss Universe, however, the problems go deeper, with an insider judge for the pageant revealing that outrage over the trans controversy has damaged the brand. Ratings for the 2023 show which includes two trans contestants are expected to decline substantially.
Victor Davis Hanson: When Has War Even Been “Proportional”? When two sides go at it with roughly equal forces, weapons, and strategies, the result is often a horrific deadlock—like the four years of toxic trench warfare on the Western Front of World War I that resulted in 12 million fatalities. The purpose of war is to defeat the enemy as quickly as possible with the least number of causalities—and thereby achieve political ends. Proportionality in war is a synonym for lethal stalemate, if not defeat.
Trudeau’s Tumble: From Canada’s Golden Boy To Political Punchline Justin Trudeau’s career appears to be fading to blackface – as his approval ratings, which now suck, have plummeted thanks in no small part to housing and inflation woes fueling a firestorm of disapproval. Despite a safety net agreement with a left-leaning opposition that defers his political reckoning until 2025, the rumblings within his own party suggest Trudeau’s leadership is skating on increasingly thin ice.
Target doesn’t shy away from controversy with sale of ‘Pride Nutcracker’ The retail giant Target is once again at the center of controversy for another LGBTQ+ product: a “Pride Christmas Nutcracker Figure.” Target has been the subject of a national boycott because of its “pride collection,” likely contributing to declining sales for the last two fiscal quarters.
One Million Moms Calls for Boycott of Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade over Trans, Non-Binary Performers Over 30,000 people have signed a petition denouncing the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, as the upcoming event will feature both transgender and nonbinary performers in its lineup. “The non-binary and transgender extravaganza on display this Thanksgiving will be brought to you by Macy’s during their annually sponsored Thanksgiving Day Parade,”
Newsom Awarded Millions to Mosques Preaching Anti-Semitism, Groups Allegedly Tied to Hamas Of that money, $40 million has gone to “mosques whose leaders cheer the annihilation of Jews and Israel,” Despite California having a budget shortfall of $32 billion, Newsom confirmed last month that he would double funding for the program after the Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel that took place on Oct. 7.
ChatGPT maker OpenAI ousts CEO Sam Altman The board of the company behind ChatGPT late on Friday fired OpenAI CEO Sam Altman – to many, the human face of generative AI – sending shock waves across the tech industry. OpenAI’s Chief Technology Officer Mira Murati will serve as interim CEO, the company said, adding that it will conduct a formal search for a permanent CEO. The announcement blindsided many employees who discovered the abrupt management shuffle from an internal announcement and the company’s public facing blog.
Amir Tsarfati: Israel Is Sending A Message – Hamas Is No More Israel is a nation at war, and we are winning the fight. But despite my nation’s many victories over these last weeks, the fight still rages on. Hezbollah continues to threaten up north. Iran, the terrorist puppet master, has become fairly quiet, at least for them. This is likely because, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, they have recently upped their nuclear enrichment by 22 times.
Rashida Tlaib Event at Arizona State University Canceled Amid Backlash Arizona State University (ASU) has canceled an event featuring US Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) that was organized by anti-Israel groups and scheduled to be held on campus on Friday. An ASU spokesperson told The Algemeiner that organizers of the event — which included ASU’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) chapter — had circumvented school polices for organizing events on campus.
Erdogan Visit to Germany Highlights Activities of Pro-Hamas Turkish Lobby Groups Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s official visit to Germany on Friday was shrouded in tension over his constant attacks upon the State of Israel along with renewed interest in the German press concerning the activities of Turkish lobby groups in the country. There was little fanfare around Erdogan’s visit, which consisted of two private meetings with Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, while a planned trip to a soccer friendly between Germany and Turkey was canceled.
Volcanoes erupting around the world The Smithsonian Institute’s Global Volcanism Program reported this week that at least 19 volcanoes are currently erupting around the world. The organization was unconcerned about the wave of eruptions. There are about 46 ongoing volcanic eruptions on Earth (on land) right now. We live on an amazing planet. That is “normal”? The topic of “volcanoes” became relevant to the conflict in Israel. On Saturday, Hezbollah claimed to have fired a Burkan 2-H missile at Israel bearing a 100 kilogram warhead. Burkan means ‘volcano’ in Arabic. This type of cataclysmic seismic activity is mentioned specifically by the prophets as an aspect of the End-of-Days process. But Hashem God is the true God, He is the living God, and the everlasting King; at His wrath the earth trembleth, and the nations are not able to abide His indignation. Jeremiah 10:10
Very strong M6.7 earthquake hits Mindanao, Philippines A very strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.7 hit near the coast of Mindanao, Philippines at 08:14 UTC on November 17, 2023. The agency is reporting a depth of 78 km (48.5 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth, BMKG M6.9 at a depth of 54 km (33.5 miles).
Rivers overflow in Tanzania, causing severe floods and destruction Heavy rainfall since late October 2023 has severely affected northern Tanzania, especially the Arusha Region. The resulting floods and river overflows have led to at least 10 fatalities, displacement of approximately 90 families, and significant damage to houses and bridges. The worst-hit areas in the Arusha District include Muriet, Terrat, Elerai, Morombo, Lolovono, and Ngarenaro. Further heavy rainfall is forecasted for most of the country.
Are You Prepared For The Cataclysmic Earth Changes That Are On The Way? An absolutely massive volcanic eruption in Russia has created a cloud of dust and ash that is a thousand miles long…In recent days we have also seen a spectacular eruption of lava at Mt. Etna in Italy, volcanic activity has caused a brand new island to emerge off the coast of Japan, and thousands of people have been forced to evacuate in Iceland as volcanic magma races to the surface near the town of Grindavik. If you understand the period of world history that we are living in, then you already know that what we are experiencing now is just the tip of the iceberg.
Agenda 2030-style 15-minute City Being Constructed in Indiana Globalist forces are behind the construction of a 15-minute city in Lebanon, Indiana. Deep State plotters have already broken ground on a 9,000-acre development called the LEAP Project. We discuss the specifics of this project and the nefarious reasons for a 15-minute city.
Karen Kingston: Nanotechnology injected into our bodies damages our brains, minds and spirits Biotech analyst and med-legal advisor Karen Kingston revealed..nanotechnology particularly causes damage to the neurological system and, hence, to the brain, mind, and spirit. The industry has always known this, Kingston explained, remarking that even gold nanoparticles without biomarkers on them just love going to the brain.
Tedros the Terrorist urges countries to launch propaganda campaigns to foist WHO’s Pandemic Treaty onto citizens Ethiopian terrorist and human rights abuser Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus inverts the truth and outright lies about the Pandemic Treaty in an attempt to get countries to assist him in “actively countering false narratives.” As Reclaim the Net noted: “Tedros seems to be trying to not only persuade countries about ‘fake news, lies, conspiracy theories’ around this issue but also to get them to launch propaganda campaigns in favour of the accord, ASAP.”
Trudeau Issued Notice of Intention to Seek Prosecution For Complicity in War Crimes in Gaza Toronto, 16 November 2023 –Prime Minister Trudeau is one of four Canadian politicians who have been issued with a notice of intention to seek prosecution for aiding and abetting war crimes in Gaza. The notice was written by the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) Legal Working Group for Canadian Accountability (ICJP LWGCA) who are an independent organisation of lawyers, politicians, and academics who support the rights of Palestinians and aim to protect their rights through the law.
Top FDA Officials Accepted Jobs with Moderna After Playing Key Roles in the Licensure of COVID Jabs A new BMJ investigation reveals a “revolving door” between FDA officials tasked with regulating COVID-19 vaccines and the companies who manufacture them. Two high-level regulatory officials with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) involved in vaccine oversight accepted jobs at Moderna just months after signing off on the licensure of the company’s COVID-19 vaccine, according to a British Medical Journal (BMJ) investigation.
UN Security Council Resolution on Gaza War Passes Without Condemning Hamas The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution on November 15th that calls for “urgent and extended humanitarian pauses and corridors” for “a sufficient number of days” to allow full, rapid, safe, and unhindered access for UN agencies and partners throughout Gaza.
BRIAN MARK WEBER Despite an abundance of hype and massive government subsidies, the news keeps getting worse for electric vehicles.
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DOUGLAS ANDREWS A Black Hawk crash that claimed five elite warriors on Friday reminds us of the risk, the sacrifice, and the necessity of military service.
DOUGLAS ANDREWS By pushing for name verification on social media, the GOP presidential candidate betrayed an ignorance of the importance of free speech.
QUOTES Is the Fix In? “I want to talk about Governor Newsom. Want to thank him. He’s been one hell of a governor, man. Matter of fact, he could be anything he wants. He could have the job I’m looking for.” —President Joe Biden The BIG Lies “Inflation is falling. Groceries and gas are cheaper. Wages are rising. Democrats’ economic policies are working. Rather than try to cut Social Security to pay for tax breaks to the ultrawealthy, Republicans should join us in our efforts that actually help working families.” —Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) “Leaders of government and industry, you can count on the United States. We’re delivering on our promises and we’re doubling down on our progress.” —Joe Biden “Median household wealth has grown by 37% in real terms since before the pandemic.” —Joe Biden “Our model for growing is delivering real results for all Americans.” —Joe Biden “We’ve been very serious on dealing with the crime that we have seen just across the country.” —White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre “The following are some titles of books that have been banned from schools in Florida…. [Let me know] which book is pornography…. To Kill A Mockingbird, The Hate You Give, Forrest Gump, A Catcher In The Rye, The Hill We Climb, Girls Who Code, Atlas Shrugged, 1984, The Kite Runner, The Bluest Eye, A Wrinkle In Time, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Fault In Our Stars, etc etc.” —singer-songwriter Pink “[Filthiness] is not a issue that we’ve been sitting around waiting to solve.” —San Francisco Mayor London Breed Straight From the Horse’s Mouth “I know folks say, ‘Oh, they’re just cleaning up this place [San Francisco] ’cause all those fancy leaders are coming into town.’ That’s true because it’s true.” —California Governor Gavin Newsom Demagogues “We need another four years to continue to finish the job. … We have to be honest about the brick wall of MAGA extremism that we continue to run into when we’re trying to get things done for the American people.” —Biden Campaign Communications Director Michael Tyler “This conservative, MAGA-leaning Supreme Court has desecrated the Voting Rights Act, and we have not been able to get the Republicans in the Congress to renew it. And so a lot of black people are disappointed.” —Congressman Jim Clyburn (D-SC) regarding black constituent polling “There is a full-on intent by some very powerful people to attack so many of our hard-fought, hard-won fundamental freedoms and rights. And it is time that we then show them that we understand that the American people do believe in the foundational ideals of our country, which include the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body and not have our government tell her what to do; the freedom of our young people in particular to be free from the fear of gun violence and the need for reasonable gun safety laws; the freedom of people to be able to love who they love proudly and without judgment; the freedom of people to be able to have access to opportunity where we are not afraid to discuss diversity and equity and inclusion, understanding that that is part of how we will create a stronger economy and a stronger nation.” —Vice President Kamala Harris Lack of Self-Awareness Award “In this environment … it feels like there are forces that are trying to divide us. Let’s renew our sense of connection with each other and reinforce the importance of our unity. I think that’s really important.” —Kamala Harris Useful Idiots “[Last week’s] censure of free speech sent a message that grieving & fighting for your people is only valued if the people you’re grieving & fighting for are themselves deemed valuable. [Rashida Tlaib] stands for all humanity. She isn’t a danger to anyone.” —Congresswoman Cori Bush (D-MO) “They label us anti-Israel, they label us anti-Semitic, and they label us terrorists. They lie about us and they smear us. But we know the truth and the truth stands. … We are bound by our faith to demand a ceasefire now.” —Cori Bush “The surge of hate & violence against Muslims, Arabs & Palestinian Americans is alarming. It’s powerfully important that the Biden-Harris administration is developing a national strategy to counter Islamophobia. It’s up to all of us to ensure there’s no space for hate in America.” —Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) “There are people who seem to be upset that there are rabbis and other people of faith out here asking for ceasefire. And it’s bizarre because you would assume that if you are a religious leader, if you are a faith leader, that your number one priority would be to look into your faith, into the teachings of your faith, and to say, ‘I oppose violence.'” —Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) “By me calling for a ceasefire with my colleagues and centering humanity, I am uplifting deeply what it actually means to be Jewish.” —Congressman Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) “Ceasefire means there is no military solution, only a diplomatic and cultural solution.” —Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) Dezinformatsiya “Israel says Hamas militants are using hospitals as shields for fighters but hasn’t provided evidence of that.” —Associated Press “A child in Gaza [is] killed every 10 minutes.” —MSNBC’s Mehdi Hasan regurgitating Hamas propaganda “As BBC News covered initial reports that Israeli forces had entered Gaza’s main hospital, we said that ‘medical teams and Arab speakers’ were being targeted. This was incorrect and misquoted a Reuters report. We should have said IDF forces included medical teams and Arabic speakers for this operation. We apologise for this error.” —BBC “The problem isn’t inflation. It’s prices.” —Vox headline Leftmedia Hacks Shill for Biden “Biden needs expert political guidance. … Trump could win despite his flagrant criminality and deranged mental state. [J]ournalists need to better convey 2 realities: the US economy is doing well, not poorly. Biden at 80 is handling the job effectively right now.” —journalist John Harwood “Joe Biden’s economy is, honestly, pretty amazing: How come he doesn’t get credit?” —Salon’s Kirk Swearingen Orwellian “We’re very focused on the data we’re collecting from surveillance efforts, what’s being said on social media platforms, and we have launched an effort to be able to counter some of the negativity and reach out to people when we see hate speech.” —New York Governor Kathy “Big Sister” Hochul Hot Air “I don’t believe any politician can stop what is happening now. This [energy] transition is much bigger than any one party in the country … it’s not gonna happen. People are moving because the science is telling us we have to move in this direction. It’s not political. It’s not ideological.” —climate czar John Kerry “Climate change … is the ultimate threat to humanity.” —Joe Biden “Will we act with the speed and urgency necessary to dramatically curb carbon emissions and avert the climate catastrophe that threatens us all?” —Joe Biden “It’s the only existential threat to humanity. We either get this right or there’s not gonna be a whole lot of people around to talk about it.” —Joe Biden “I’m working with our Congress to dramatically increase international climate financing.” —Joe Biden Non Compos Mentis “Look, there’s lots of anti-Semitism. I happen … to be married to a rabbi, and I happen to really believe in my faith. And there’s a lot of homophobia. And I happen to be the first out lesbian as a labor leader in the country ever. And so this kind of attack of identity — that’s all rolled into it too.” —American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten “We’re embedding environmental justice principles into the DNA of federal agencies.” —Council on Environmental Quality Chairwoman Brenda Mallory “What would a second [Trump] term look like? It would look a lot like Vladimir Putin.” —Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) “President Harris is here to make sure we do this the right way.” —Joe Biden Belly Laughs of the Week “The president jokes about his age all the time. And we have to understand that with age has come wisdom.” —DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison “There has to be some more clarity in people understanding all that this president did.” —Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) “Someone 45 years of age couldn’t do what [Biden] does every day, but he does it.” —MSNBC’s Mike Barnicle “I feel so grateful that [Biden is] the man in charge of our country right now. He has the right temperament and experience.” —Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo
Many Americans nowadays take their freedom for granted, but complacency could lead to its loss. Freedom, including freedom of speech, religion, and economic liberty, is not a given but requires a strong foundation of truth and a realistic view of human nature. Christianity provides this foundation by revealing truth through God’s Word. Cultures with a strong Christian influence tend to have more freedom. There are so many today who aim to undermine this foundation, particularly within the educational system. I invite you to hear more.
(The Dissenter) Mike Johnson, the esteemed House Speaker and a reputed conservative Christian figure, is currently embroiled in a controversy that challenges his long-held pro-life stance. Allegations have emerged, accusing Johnson of covertly working against legislation aimed at ending abortion in Louisiana, a move that starkly contradicts his public persona and professed beliefs.
Mike Johnson, known for his meteoric rise within the Republican Party and his connections to the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), has, on the surface, been a vocal advocate for conservative Christian values, particularly on issues related to the sanctity of life. His public declarations have consistently aligned with the orthodox Christian doctrine that life begins at conception and must be protected.
However, in a revealing conversation between Pastor Jeff Durbin of Apologia Church and Pastor Brian Gunter of Louisiana, a different narrative has surfaced. The discussion details Johnson’s alleged behind-the-scenes maneuvers to kill House Bill 8813, titled “The Abolition of Abortion in Louisiana Act.” This bill, if passed…to continue reading, click here. To watch the video directly, have at ‘er.
This article was written and published at the Dissenter.
This week’s “No Shit Analysis” award goes to Eugene B. Rumer for his Wall Street Journal op-ed, It’s Time to End Magical Thinking About Russia’s Defeat. Only took him 22 months to figure this out. He may be a slow learner but give him some credit, he finally awakened from his dream world and is beginning to grasp that the Ukraine project is swirling down the toilet.
Eugene B. Rumer is a Senior Fellow at the Institute for National Strategic Studies, National Defense University, Washington DC. Previously, he served at the State Department, on the staff of the National Security Council and at RAND.
Despite his pedigree, he is struggling to acknowledge reality and still feels the need to spin nonsense. Here is an example:
Putin has reason to believe that time is on his side. At the front line, there are no indications that Russia is losing what has become a war of attrition. The Russian economy has been buffeted, but it is not in tatters. Putin’s hold on power was, paradoxically, strengthened following Yevgeny Prigozhin’s failed rebellion in June. Popular support for the war remains solid, and elite backing for Putin has not fractured.
Yep. Russia’s economy is so battered that it is headed toward 4% growth, its defense industry is out-producing Europe and the United States combined, it is manufacturing new, more deadly drones and the stores across Russia are filled to the brim. If that is “battered” give me some.
Poor Rumer just cannot admit that Russia is winning, which is why he opts for the awkward phrase, “no indications that Russia is losing.” Nope. Just the opposite. Plenty of indications Russia is winning. Moscow’s air defense system has thwarted Ukraine’s multiple, feckless attempts to inflict serious damage on Russian military assets and the Russian Army is in the process of carving up Ukrainian defenders trying to hang on to Avdeeka.
Rumer does enjoy a moment of clarity in this paragraph:
Putin can also look at his foreign-policy record with satisfaction. His investments in key relationships have paid off. China and India have provided an important backstop for the Russian economy by ramping up imports of Russian oil and other commodities. Instead of fretting about lost markets in Western Europe or Beijing’s reluctance to flout U.S. and EU sanctions, Putin has decided that it’s more advantageous in the short term simply to become China’s junior partner in the economic realm. Goods from China account for nearly 50% of Russian imports, and Russia’s top energy companies are now hooked on selling to China.
The West’s plan to topple Putin and carve up Russia is in tatters. And Rumer grudgingly admits that:
Putin does not feel any pressure to end the war or worry about his ability to sustain it more or less indefinitely. As winter approaches, the Russian army has mounted a limited ground offensive of its own and surely will expand missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, power plants, industrial sites and other critical infrastructure.
Just like Wylie Coyote, licking his wounds after another failed attempt to trap the Road Runner, Rumer frantically pages through his ACME plans book for a solution to deal with that dastardly Putin. His solution? Containment!!
But now is the time to transition to a long-term strategy that increases and sustains the pressure on the rogue regime in the Kremlin. There should be no illusions that any possible combination of short-term steps will be sufficient to force Putin to abandon his war.
What Western leaders conspicuously haven’t done is level with their publics about the enduring nature of the threat from an emboldened, revisionist Russia. They have indulged all too often in magical thinking—betting on sanctions, a successful Ukrainian counter-offensive or the transfer of new types of weapons to force the Kremlin to come to the negotiating table. Or they have hoped to see Putin overthrown in a palace coup.
Poor Eugene. He certainly is not an original nor deep thinker. He recommends the following course of action:
A policy of containment today would mean continuing Western sanctions, isolating Russia diplomatically, preventing the Kremlin from interfering in our own domestic politics, and strengthening NATO deterrence and defense capabilities, including sustained U.S.-European reinvestment in our defense-industrial base. It would also mean mitigating all of the damage—diplomatic, informational, military and economic—caused by Putin’s war.
This article is an example of schizophrenia by a member of the foreign policy brahmin class. Even though he admitted earlier in his article that Putin’s foreign policy is winning many friends, not only with China, but with the Global South countries, Rumer still clings to the fantasy that the West can “isolate” Russia. I suppose he is manifesting the definition of insanity — doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different outcome.
Rumer is a prime example of the bullshit that infects the foreign policy gurus of Washington when he writes:
Putin’s Russia has little of the hard power or ideological appeal that made the Soviet Union so influential in various parts of the world.
What? Russia has deployed more capable, advanced nuclear submarines than the Soviet Union ever had. Russia has fielded two hypersonic missiles while the United States is still floundering trying to produce one. Russia’s air defense systems surpass anything the West can offer. Russia is the only major industrial nation that is self-sufficient with energy and rare earth minerals. And Russia is now producing its own fleets of commercial air liners. Oh yeah, almost forgot. Russia’s space program is better and more robust than that of the United States.
I would love to see a survey of foreign dignitaries that asks them, which subway systems would you ride on after 10pm — New York’s or Moscow’s? Also worth noting that the Chinese did not have to ask Putin to clean up human feces from the streets of Moscow before they sent Xi for a sit down with Vladimir. Nope. That was San Francisco.
Rumer and his ilk are still locked into a Kissinger doctrine that asserts the only way the United States can be the top dog is to play off Russia against China. Good luck with that. These guys still refuse to recognize the the U.S. controlled “Rules Based Order,” created in the aftermath of World War II is dying. A new geo-political reality is emerging and there is no guarantee that the United States will be able to pretend to be the Colossus it thinks it is.
The United States political class is locked into a self-defeating delusion that Russia is still a communist state bent on World Domination. Any politician who suggests the alternative, i.e. that we need to deal with Russia as an equal and that we should stop treating Putin and his government as an enemy, will be tarred immediately as a Putin apologist and ostracized. Here is the hard truth — the political elite in both parties are using Russia as an excuse to engage in the same practices that were the cornerstone of Soviet policies during the Cold War. It is the United States that is locking up political dissidents. It is the United States Government that is collaborating with social media companies to quash dissent against the ruling class.
It is not the fault of Russia that black kids in inner-city schools are “graduating” from high school without being able to read or do algebra. It is not Russia’s fault that America’s southern border is wide open and being swarmed by millions of illegal migrants. It is not Russia’s fault that many of America’s largest cities are ravaged with narcotics addiction, violence and criminal activity. Look in the mirror America. Clean up your act. Then, maybe, you will have the moral authority to lecture other nations on human rights and freedom. But America, as it stands now, is a fractured country and shows no sign of righting itself.
Tensions are simmering in Washington as House Republicans intensify their probes into President Joe Biden’s alleged mishandling of classified documents and the family’s business dealings, sparking a fiery standoff with the White House.
The White House, meanwhile, has made clear to House Republicans that they won’t play ball – leading to accusations that the Biden White House is “obstructing” their investigative efforts.
Spearheaded by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY), the Republicans are aggressively pursuing over 20 subpoenas issued to Biden staffers and family members.
“We just received a letter from the Special Counsel to the president making it clear the White House intends to continue obstructing our investigation,” reads a post on X from House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY)
“We also need to know if these classified materials aided the Bidens’ global influence-peddling enterprise that brought in tens of millions for the Bidens and their associates,” Comer said on Friday. “This obstruction does not deter us, and we will continue to follow the facts and hold President Biden accountable to the American people.”
In a scathing four-page letter pushing back against the inquiry, a senior White House attorney, Richard Sauber, hit back, accusing the GOP of twisting facts and pushing a narrative loaded with “distortions and falsehoods.” Sauber’s letter lambasts the Republicans’ efforts as “congressional harassment” and a mere play to “score political points.”
Adding to the complexity, the White House accuses the Republicans of withholding critical information and shifting goalposts when their allegations are countered or debunked. This claim points to a deeper narrative battle, where each side accuses the other of misinformation and evasion.
Meanwhile, Hunter Biden’s representatives have dismissed the subpoenas as a political charade but have signaled a willingness for a public address at an appropriate time. Similarly, James Biden’s attorney has highlighted the committee’s review of private bank records, suggesting that the necessary transparency is already in play.
Remember when Democrats just up and impeached Trump twice with way less evidence?
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
We just received a letter from the Special Counsel to the President making it clear the White House intends to continue obstructing our investigation.
If President Biden has nothing to hide, then he should make his current and former staff available to testify…
Joe Biden has made it very clear that he will not cooperate with congressional Republicans investigating his stolen classified documents.
Robert Hur, the special counsel investigating Joe Biden’s stolen classified documents is not expected to bring criminal charges, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Rather, the special counsel will release a report on his investigation.
“The prosecutor investigating why classified documents ended up at President Biden’s home and former office is preparing a report that is expected to be sharply critical of how he and his longtime aides handled the material, but the probe isn’t likely to result in a criminal case, according to people familiar with the matter.” The Wall Street Journal reported.
The timeline of the classified documents scandal presented by Biden’s attorney is a lie.
House Oversight Chairman James Comer last Monday subpoenaed former White House Counsel Dana Remus for a deposition related to Biden’s stolen classified documents investigation.
“I’m issuing a subpoena to former White House Counsel Dana Remus to appear for a GOP Oversight Committee deposition related to President Biden’s mishandling of classified documents,” Comer said last Monday.
“Joe Biden may have kept sensitive documents related to his family’s foreign business schemes,” Comer added.
The
“We just received a letter from the Special Counsel to the President making it clear the White House intends to continue obstructing our investigation.” the Oversight Committee said on Friday.
“If President Biden has nothing to hide, then he should make his current and former staff available to testify before Congress about his mishandling of classified documents.” the committee said.
🚨 BREAKING 🚨
We just received a letter from the Special Counsel to the President making it clear the White House intends to continue obstructing our investigation.
If President Biden has nothing to hide, then he should make his current and former staff available to testify…
Joe Biden STOLE SCIF-designated classified documents and improperly stored them at the Penn Biden Center.
Biden also stored classified documents in his garage next to his Corvette where his son Hunter had access to the sensitive materials.
Nine boxes of documents were taken from Joe Biden’s lawyer’s Boston office and we have no idea what is in those boxes because the National Archives is covering up for Biden.
Joe Biden also withheld information from the Senate Intel Committee.
Not only will Joe Biden escape criminal charges after he stole classified material from a SCIF and likely used the documents to make money with his son Hunter and brother James, he won’t cooperate with congressional oversight.
FOX News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett joins ‘Fox & Friends Weekend’ to discuss the latest news emerging from former President Trump’s civil fraud case. #foxnews
Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee is calling for an investigation into the now-defunct House January 6 committee, accusing former and current lawmakers who served on the committee of “deliberately” hiding some of the footage from the Capitol riots.
Lee’s comments came after House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., began releasing more than 40,000 hours of footage taken at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, when protesters angry about the 2020 election results stormed the halls of Congress.
Highlighting the release of the footage in a series of posts to X, formerly known as Twitter, Lee called into question the character of former Republican representatives Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois.
“Why didn’t Liz Cheney and Adam Kizinger ever refer to any of these tapes? Maybe they never looked for them. Maybe they never even questioned their own narrative. Maybe they were just too busy selectively leaking the text messages of Republicans they wanted to defeat,” Lee wrote in a post to the platform, which included a video that purportedly showed Capitol police officers facilitating the passage of protesters through the building that day.
Cheney and Kinzinger, Lee wrote in another post to X, were “people who helped hide the J6 tapes” and “are cut out of the same cloth as those who will tell you that FISA 702 must be reauthorized without reforms—’because search warrants require too much effort.'”
“We need to investigate the J6 committee,” he wrote in another post.
Lee also took aim at the committee overall, as well as then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who appointed the select committee to investigate what took place at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
“Given the evidence they apparently suppressed, how much footage (and how many other records) do you think Nancy Pelosi and the J6 committee deliberately lost or destroyed?” Lee questioned in one post.
In response to a Friday post by Cheney, which included “some January 6th video” of disgruntled protesters tangling with Capitol police, Lee wrote, “Liz, we’ve seen footage like that a million times. You made sure we saw that — and nothing else. It’s the other stuff — what you deliberately hid from us — that we find so upsetting. Nice try.”
“P.S. How many of these guys are feds? (As if you’d ever tell us),” Lee added in his response to the former lawmaker.
In another post, Lee wrote, “Taxpayer dollars funded the sham J6 committee.”
The GOP senator also amplified a clip released Friday that shows an officer working inside the Capitol on January 6, 2021, who appeared uncuffed and released a protester. The protester could be seen in the clip giving a fist bump to what appeared to be another officer who was nearby at the time of his release.
“I walk through these doors every day — several times a day. I’ve never seen this happen,” Lee wrote in response.
In releasing the remaining footage from the Capitol on January 6, 2021, Speaker Johnson said in a statement: “When I ran for Speaker, I promised to make accessible to the American people the 44,000 hours of video from Capitol Hill security taken on January 6, 2021. Truth and transparency are critical.”
Some video was made available to the public on Friday, with the bulk of it to be released gradually over time, Johnson said.
Johnson said his decision to release the remaining footage “will provide millions of Americans, criminal defendants, public interest organizations, and the media an ability to see for themselves what happened that day, rather than having to rely upon the interpretation of a small group of government officials.”
Johnson said that roughly 5% of the footage would likely be held back due to “sensitive security information related to the building architecture,” and that some faces would be blurred “to avoid any persons from being targeted for retaliation of any kind.”
Joe Biden and Xi Jinping in San Francisco at APEC Summit.
This article by Susan Crabtree was originally published by RealClearPolitics and made available via RealClearWire.
The United States sent Chinese President Xi Jinping a dissonant message on human rights this week when the Biden administration and California officials rolled out the red carpet for the brutal dictator.
Xi’s 10 years as president are marked by a genocide against China’s Muslim minority, attempts to wipe out Tibetan culture, and persecution of Christians and followers of Falun Gong – not to mention a crackdown on democracy, religious freedom, and civil rights in Hong Kong.
Yet, during official and unofficial meetings this week, there was no mention of the long list of atrocities. Instead, Xi received an unusually warm reception.
On Wednesday night in the confines of San Francisco’s Hyatt Regency ballroom, America’s corporate chieftains gathered to fete Xi as a “guest of honor” at a banquet drawing nearly 400 attendees. The gala took place on the sidelines of the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, a gathering of 21 member countries to support free trade and business ties.
The executives were so excited to share the room with the Chinese president that they gave him two standing ovations before Xi uttered a word. American titans of business, including Apple’s Tim Cook and Blackstone’s Steve Schwarzman, Black Rock’s Larry Fink, Boeing’s Stanley Deal, and Pfizer’s Albert Bourla, joined Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to rub shoulders with Xi and a cohort of Chinese officials.
Tickets for the banquet started at $2,000 each, with several companies shelling out $40,000 to buy eight seats at a table in the ballroom and one at Xi’s table. After Xi’s remarks, attendees provided yet another standing ovation, according to Reuters.
Some executives made no attempt to hide their gushing. On the way into the Hyatt, Bridgewater Associates hedge fund founder Ray Dalio told the Financial Times that he was “excited to have this relationship [with Xi].”
If Dalio entered the hotel from the main lobby, he couldn’t have avoided the polar opposite scene and messaging. A Tibetan student activist named Tsela had strapped herself to a flagpole and was waving the Tibetan flag when Xi and his entourage arrived. Other activists from Students for a Free Tibet chanted “Murderer” at the Chinese leader, “Down with the CCP,” and “Human Rights in Tibet.”
An activist promoting democracy in Hong Kong displayed a bleeding wound in one tweet, along with a photo of menacing-looking men in surgical masks carrying long metal pipes. The activist complained that pro-Beijing forces were attacking her group outside the Hyatt Regency.
“Harassment and assault happening at the protest zone,” tweeted Anna Kwok, the executive director of the Hong Kong Democracy Council, Wednesday night.
Kwok has a HK$1 million bounty on her head from the Hong Kong government for helping organize the 2019 pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. While her Twitter accounts did not provide footage of the alleged attacks, she shared several messages threatening her life from pro-China social media accounts. One from an account that goes by @Chinaloverguy threatened to kidnap her, tie her up, and send her back to China.
“I do want the million dollar reward as i will first to tie you up with ropes then send you to a black market or simply send you back to HK myself,” the account warned.
Late Thursday afternoon, Kwok shared photos of her and several other Chinese pro-democracy activists meeting with Mark Lambert, the State Department’s China coordinator and deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of East Asia and Pacific Affairs. The meeting took place “just blocks” from the APEC summit.
“We’ll keep speaking up for our people and pushing for concrete action despite the transnational repression,” she tweeted.
Earlier Wednesday, Students for a Free Tibet complained on Twitter that it was “attacked” by 20 pro-Chinese counter-protesters in medical masks, whom the activists described as paid Chinese operatives. The alleged assaults occurred after the activists displayed an anti-Xi banner with the words, “Dictator Xi Jinping, Your Time is Up!” through openings in a garage structure. The activists said the group of pro-Chinese men in surgical masks grabbed the flag through openings on a lower level, pulling the banner and stealing it while nearly dragging the student activists over the ledge where they were holding onto and displaying the banner. Students for a Free Tibet also tweeted footage of a confrontation and scuffle when both groups converged in an elevator trying to leave the scene.
“This is the CCP. This is China. This is who APEC nations and the world are doing business with,” the group stated in the tweet.
In another episode of pro-China intimidation, several demonstrators in blue surgical masks carrying Chinese flags harassed a Uyghur woman toting a light-blue Turkmenistan flag now outlawed in China. Members of the pro-China contingent followed her closely, eventually enveloping her flag in a sea of larger Chinese flags.
Tibetan activist accounts identified the woman as Tursunay Ziyawudun, a Uyghur refugee now living in the United States who testified to Congress in 2022 that she had been raped and tortured by Chinese police in a “re-education” concentration camp. In her testimony, she detailed what she described as just one horrific episode in the CCP’s systematic targeting of young women for sexual abuse.
“Even in America, this is the reality of the CCP,” Students for a Free Tibet said in its tweet, referring to attempts by pro-Chinese counter-protesters to intimidate Ziyawudun.
Inside the summit’s lecture halls and ballrooms, there was a complete disconnect with the multiple anti-China protests taking place outside – and, at times, with reality. There was no mention of genocide or human rights abuses during Xi’s and Biden’s public remarks. Instead, Xi told the crowd he is ready to partner with America, and the world needs the two superpowers to work together.
“Whatever stage of development it may reach, China will never pursue hegemony or expansion and will never impose its will on others,” Xi said in remarks at the Wednesday night dinner. “China does not seek spheres of influence and will not fight a cold war or a hot war with anyone.”
At a press conference in San Francisco on Wednesday, Biden made waves by saying that he still considers Xi a dictator despite progress in reducing tensions in their relationship. On Thursday, however, Biden focused mainly on the positive, pledging not to “decouple” from China, explaining that the U.S. is instead “de-risking and diversifying our economic relations” with Beijing.
“Stable relations between the world’s two largest economies is not merely good for the two economies, it’s good for the world – a stable relationship is good for everyone,” Biden said, without acknowledging that his own State Department has officially deemed Xi’s persecution of the Uyghurs as genocide and has repeatedly placed China on official human rights and religious freedom blacklists.
Business and trade analysts argue that Xi’s speech is unlikely to dramatically shift his approach to bilateral business and trade relations. As the economic and geopolitical rivalry has intensified over the last few years, China has grown more suspicious of U.S. companies, cracking down on American consultancy firms and damaging investor confidence.
The Biden administration’s decision not to use the opportunity to send a firm human rights message, along with Xi’s open embrace from top American business executives, has dimmed hopes among human rights groups that Xi will curb his brutal persecutions and arbitrary arrests.
Rep. Mike Gallagher, the Republican chairman of the House Select Committee on China, railed against Xi’s dinner with U.S. business executives.
Gallagher sent a letter on Monday to the dinner’s hosts, the U.S. China Business Council and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, demanding a complete list of companies who paid to attend the gala.
“The U.S. business community needs to remove its golden blindfolds and realize that doing business with the CCP risks the safety of their employees, their shareholders, and the savings of millions of Americans,” Gallagher told Fox News Wednesday. “$40,000 may buy you a meal with Xi, but it can’t buy you a conscience.”
Other human rights leaders on Capitol Hill were also disappointed with the absence of any reference to China’s egregious human rights record during the summit’s official proceedings. Several members of Congress and advocacy organizations had pressed Biden to demand the release of three American citizens who have been held hostage in China for years before the two leaders met. At the very least, they wanted Biden to present to Xi a list of individuals the CCP has arbitrarily detained on false charges.
The timing of Biden’s meeting with Xi also coincided with several threats in Hong Kong against a group of U.S. lawmakers. Rep. John Curtis, a Utah Republican, was one of four members of Congress included in a Monday petition to Hong Kong’s High Court that would enable the territory’s law enforcement to arrest them if they travel to and are found in the city.
The others are Sen. Dan Sullivan, an Alaska Republican, and Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, as well as Reps. Young Kim, a California Republican, and James McGovern, a Massachusetts Democrat.
Curtis has introduced several Hong Kong-focused bills, including one that would implement sanctions on several top Hong Kong officials if international commissions determine they have violated international human rights laws.
The Utah congressman, who spent three years in Taiwan in the late 1970s, said he’s particularly distressed that San Francisco city officials didn’t provide greater free-speech protections for human rights protesters outside APEC.
“It’s an obvious attempt to intimidate, not just their own residents, but those of us who enjoy the freedoms we do here in the United States,” he told RealClearPolitics Thursday.
While Curtis agrees with Biden’s efforts to help thaw relations with China, he bristled at reports that American business executives gave Xi a standing ovation.
“I thought, they don’t know this man – they don’t know what he’s doing and all the atrocities that are happening in China.”
This article was originally published by RealClearPolitics and made available via RealClearWire.
As critical thinkers, it is essential to remain vigilant and question the growing influence of a select few people and giant corporations in our society.
This article aims to shed light on the potential dangers of introducing a social credit score system, a digital identity that tracks everything you do online, and a cashless society.
These emerging trends have the potential to reshape our lives in ways that can erode our privacy, autonomy, and freedom.
The Social Credit Score System
The concept of a social credit score system has gained traction in recent years, particularly with China’s implementation of such a system. In essence, it assigns a numerical value to each citizen based on their behaviour, both online and offline, impacting their access to services, jobs, and even relationships (1).
The dangers of a social credit score system lie in the potential for misuse and abuse. It can lead to discrimination against individuals with low scores, creating a society where people are constantly monitored and judged by an opaque algorithm.
This can also result in a chilling effect on free speech, as individuals may fear expressing their opinions due to the potential impact on their social credit score (2).
Digital Identity
A digital identity that tracks everything you do online is another cause for concern.
While proponents argue that such systems can improve security and efficiency, they also come with significant risks to privacy and personal freedom. Once all of a person’s online activities are tied to a single digital identity, it becomes much easier for governments or corporations to monitor and control them.
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