Israeli media reports that one of the child hostages was kept in the attic by a UNRWA teacher and barely given any food (not a shock for anyone who knows the UNRWA record).
Why is the US funding a group filled with those who coordinate with Hamas and are known to teach hate? https://t.co/1T29TBC9Gs
One of the released Israeli kidnapped kids, who was held for almost 50 days in the attic of a house, says he was held by an UNRWA teacher.
This teacher is a father of 10 children, who locked the hostage in the attic, didn’t provided him with any food or his medicine.
Another hostage was held captive by a a Gazan DOCTOR who continued to provide care to children in the hospital, but not the Israeli kid.
Teachers, Doctors, UNWRA staff, they’re all under Hamas’ control. They were there at the massacre on October 7th, and took part in holding hundreds of hostages, including women and children, captive.
But their largest donor is the US to the tune of over $344 million in 2022. The Biden admin chose to restore their funding. Are we really going to continue to pay for this?
Hamas is Palestine, and the people they chose to represent them. Hamas does all it does with their approval. Folks need to get that and stop with the “innocent civilians” nonsense.
Do you even know who that is, and what the occasion was, or does history start five minutes ago with you, like most brainless leftists? pic.twitter.com/SsIG2J5QMY
That’s the deceased Rosalynn Carter, at a funeral.
Hillary at Barbara Bush's funeral. It's a practically identical situation. Melania was also wearing a black dress under the grey coat. pic.twitter.com/kKCfGxz0l1
“Germany, the largest donor to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) operations in Gaza, stopped funding after an internal review found its learning materials glorify jihad and teach antisemitism.
UNRWAR’s $1.6 billion budget mostly comes from Western countries. America pledged $344 million to UNRWA in 2022. Germany pledged $122 million.
President Donald Trump’s administration pulled funding from UNRWA. President Joe Biden’s administration restarted it. Will they pull it again?
The German Development Ministry will freeze the entire budget. From i24News:
“With these conditions that urgently need to be changed, UNRWA is not making a contribution to a peaceful solution,” Human rights-focused politician Max Lucks, from the Greens party, stated, adding “Not a single cent from Germany should reach teachers who glorify the terror of Hamas.”
IMPACT-se led multiple policy meetings with the German government and legislature to raise this issue, presenting reports which showed Palestinian Authority (PA) schools celebrating the October 7 massacres, including UNRWA teachers and staff, in addition to learning material branded with the agency’s logo that glorifies violent jihad, antisemitism and violence against Jews.
“The UNRWA system has ultimately failed because too little help reaches the people and too much terror against the Palestinians and Israel has become possible. We urgently need other ways to ensure that the help reaches those who deserve it for a better life prospect,” the human rights policy spokesman for Germany’s second largest party, Christian Democrat Union (CDU, Michael Brand said in the press release statement.
The European Union already took steps to freeze 39 million euros from UNRWA and other Palestinian non-profits.
The EU said it would hold the money until the non-profits instill “procedures and tools used to enforce the contractual obligations stemming from the restrictive measures and anti-incitement clauses.”
Switzerland stopped the flow of 600,000 euros to Palestinian non-profits for the same reasons.
IMPACT-se and U.N. Watch released a report earlier this month, citing UNRWA teachers celebrating the October 7 massacre. Here are only a few examples:
UNRWA Gaza teacher Osama Ahmed posted “Allah is Great, Allah is Great, reality surpasses our wildest dreams” as the massacre was unfolding.
UNRWA school principal Iman Hassan justified the massacre as “restoring rights” and “redressing” Palestinian “grievances.”
Director of the UNRWA Khan Younis Training Center Rawia Helles, who is featured in and UNRWA campaign, glorified one of the terrorists as a “hero,” “raider,” and “prince of Khan Younis.”
UNRWA English teacher Asmaa Raffia Kuheil excitedly posted “7th, October, 2023! Sculpture the date!” adding a heart emoji.
UNRWA school administrator Hmada Ahmed posted “welcome the great October.””
“It’s getting nasty outside of the Fox News headquarters. The Anti-Israel protesters are fighting with the cops and even set one NYPD hat on fire.
The original intent was to disrupt the Rockefeller tree lighting ceremony, which is happening a block away.”
"You are in America right now" – A man with American flag CONFRONT Pro-Palestine protesters during 'Flood Tree Lighting for Gaza' Protest near Rockefeller Tree Lighting tonight. One protester tries to rip American flag away as someone shouts "AllahuAkbar" and "Free Palestine!" pic.twitter.com/j62uSV3msc
A pro-Palestinian marcher taunts NYPD officers, praising when police were either killed or shot: “Which one of y’all want to get Derek Chauvin’d? I’d give you that Chris Dorner treatment real quick!” pic.twitter.com/lRD4gOSgb1
Heavy Clashes and Arrests as NYPD takes down Pro-Palestine protesters outside of Fox News Christmas Tree, just a block away from Rockefeller Plaza during "Flood Tree Lighting for Gaza" Protest.
Disgusting, which is a great description of our media. CBS is trying to making terrorists the victim. They’re earning their “enemy of the people” label today.
Young Palestinian prisoners freed by Israel describe their imprisonment and their hopes for the future. https://t.co/N0wbrT7cui
I don’t think there’s any way to salvage whatever is left of your journalistic integrity at this point. And you’re flushing it all down the toilet for despicable and violent criminals.
The US seems to be beyond foolish in how foreign aid is given out. Another reason to fight tax increases. I don’t mind paying taxes for good, even for foreign aid, but that does not seem to be done often.
The treatment of Melania has always been pathetic. They just make themselves look foolish. Some of the treatment of other first ladies was also pathetic, including Michelle Obama.
Rep. Clay Higgins “The FBI’s involvement was deep, not just on J6, but on the days and weeks and months prior.”
“The FBI was not only involved in the actions on J6 from within. They had, over 200 agents embedded… dressed as Trump supporters before the doors were opened,” https://t.co/61hTYyHI8Mpic.twitter.com/6GQNgpa8NL
More: “And when you track the text threads and the communications within those groups and find the origins of suggestions of potential violence or an active occupation of the Capitol on January 6th, you’ll find that those messages were led by members of the groups that ended up…
“More: “And when you track the text threads and the communications within those groups and find the origins of suggestions of potential violence or an active occupation of the Capitol on January 6th, you’ll find that those messages were led by members of the groups that ended up to be the FBI agents that had infiltrated the group.””
—
Commentary: "Despite all of the FBI's activities, a Reuters report from August 2021 refutes that there was any 'centrally coordinated' plot to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Indeed, that was the entire point of the election challenges during the convening of the…
“Commentary: “Despite all of the FBI’s activities, a Reuters report from August 2021 refutes that there was any ‘centrally coordinated’ plot to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Indeed, that was the entire point of the election challenges during the convening of the Electoral College.
If Donald Trump wanted to overturn the 2020 election results, he would not have disrupted the Electoral College. He would have continued to pursue his legal challenges and the political challenge in Congress.
Trump would not have sent in unarmed extremists to disrupt the Electoral College in order to retain power.
This is not only illogical, it is absurd on its face.
Nonetheless, this ridiculous partisan narrative has constituted the basis for prosecuting a former president in what has devolved into a partisan show trial and tantamount to election interference. It is not only ironic, but a disgrace to our entire justice system.””
Meet Frank Tammaro, a 94 year old army veteran who was kicked out of his home at a senior center so they could make room for illegal immigrants. They didn’t offer Frank any money. They didn’t help him relocate. They just kicked him out and now he’s living with his daughter.… pic.twitter.com/tXBWyTYg1k
“Meet Frank Tammaro, a 94 year old army veteran who was kicked out of his home at a senior center so they could make room for illegal immigrants. They didn’t offer Frank any money. They didn’t help him relocate. They just kicked him out and now he’s living with his daughter.
The illegals now live in the former senior living center free of charge. Tax paying citizens are no longer welcome. The government of NYC is footing the bill using taxpayer money.
Americans are last in Bidens America. How can anyone vote for this?”
I worked on corporate financings for 6+ years as a transactional attorney
Each deal involves multiple specialists, which can include investment bankers, finance attorneys, real estate attorneys, tax attorneys, corporate attorneys, insurance agents, government agents, and… https://t.co/a5pcI3EKLg
“I worked on corporate financings for 6+ years as a transactional attorney
Each deal involves multiple specialists, which can include investment bankers, finance attorneys, real estate attorneys, tax attorneys, corporate attorneys, insurance agents, government agents, and corporate executives, in each case with decades of experience
The deals can take 6 months of research, negotiations, and contract drafting with lawyers that charge well over $1,000/hr
There are dozens of lengthy and highly sophisticated contracts and thousands of pages of due diligence
Every T is crossed and every i dotted to ensure the bank’s hundreds of millions are collateralized
In Trump’s case, his loans were repaid with interest and no defaults
Letitia James is an absolute nutjob to think there are any “victims” in these deals, never mind crimes committed
She is trying to criminalize the act of dealmaking itself and it will scare the financial industry away from NYC, further eroding that city’s once great reputation for business dealmaking”
Trump is blasting out press clippings on Truth Social about Deutsche Bank executive David Williams who testified yesterday in New York that Trump had "one of the strongest balance sheets we have seen and totally unlike any of our major redeveloper clients."
“Trump is blasting out press clippings on Truth Social about Deutsche Bank executive David Williams who testified yesterday in New York that Trump had “one of the strongest balance sheets we have seen and totally unlike any of our major redeveloper clients.”
Williams also testified that there was never a default event, and that it’s not unusual for banks to estimate a net worth differently than a client, bolstering Trump’s claim that banks do their own due diligence before issuing loans.
The only fraud being committed in New York is by Letitia James and partisan hack Judge Engoron.”
@9:35
Ben Carson is front runner for VP?!? I love it. I was thinking of him the other day when everyone was listing their main characteristics they want to see in a president. He fits the bill as far as I can tell.
~ … The Bible that sits on (House Speaker Mike) Johnson’s shelf, the one that tells him what to think about “any issue under the sun,” may not tell us how to formulate immigration policy or how much money to send to Ukraine. But it does condemn dishonesty, it does condemn cruelty, and if there is a clear theme that echoes throughout its pages, it’s one that “MAGA Mike Johnson” and his legion of evangelical supporters should take to heart: The ends do not justify the means. ~
Re: “Hamas is Palestine, and the people they chose to represent them. Hamas does all it does with their approval. Folks need to get that and stop with the “innocent civilians” nonsense.”
Hamas is known for responding to non-support with beatings and torture. So it is very possible that the kind of “support” they get is the kind that other dictatorial leaders get in that many are afraid to stand up to them. Not to mention that, IIRC, there haven’t been any elections for at least a decade and a half.
Here are a couple excerpts from the Wikipedia article on Hamas. This first one describes what happened after the conflict/war for power between Hamas and Fatah:
“Human Rights Watch estimates several hundred Gazans were “maimed” and tortured in the aftermath of the Gaza War. 73 Gazan men accused of “collaborating” had their arms and legs broken by “unidentified perpetrators” and 18 Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel, who had escaped from Gaza’s main prison compound after Israel bombed the facility, were executed by Hamas security officials in the first days of the conflict.”
Statistics on support for Hamas:
“A poll conducted in 2021 found that 53% of Palestinians believed Hamas was “most deserving of representing and leading the Palestinian people”, while only 14% preferred Abbas’s Fatah party.[617] At the same time, a majority of Gazans saw Hamas as corrupt as well, but were frightened to criticize the group.[618] Polls conducted in 2023 found that support for Hamas among Palestinians was around 27–31%.[619]
Public opinions of Hamas deteriorated after it took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007. Prior to the takeover, 62% of Palestinians had held a favorable view of the group, while a third had negative views. According to a 2014 Pew Research just prior to the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict, only about a third had positive opinions and more than half viewed Hamas negatively.”
Elsewhere, I see that polls show a wide range of statistics, some of which disagree with the ones mentioned in the above. But the point was made, as I did above, that with the fear of Hamas and Fatah (each one tends to kill or torture those think they oppose them), accurate statistics are hard to come by. That should be taken into account for whatever point a person wants to make on this issue. And it certainly should be taken into account in claiming that there are no innocent Palestinians.
One more little tidbit is that approximately 6% of Palestinians are Christians.
Ty, it is interesting because it enlightens a biblical truth — that no, the Scriptures don’t have specific answers for all of our political questions and disputes, there is room for disagreement there among believers.
But yes, Scripture has much to say about what God calls us to in terms of our character and comportment as people made in the image of God and as people who profess to belong to and follow Christ.
And, by implication also, it affirms the biblical truth that God continues to be in control of our universe, and our nation, and that relying on means that do not match to God’s commands for how we are to conduct ourselves are not actions we should follow. -dj
In times like these (and related somewhat to Kizzie’s last graph in @5:05), I think it also is helpful to remember Revelation 7:9, that God’s people come out of every nation, tribe and tongue. -dj
Perhaps the original piece explains that one graph best, saying that there has been a:
~ political ruthlessness that’s overtaken evangelical Republicans. They are inflexible about policy positions even when the Bible is silent or vague. They are flexible about morality even when the Bible is clear. … This should not be … ~ dj
So will we need the rest of the story here too? As if this is somehow defensible? I don’t care what a woman this age does short of actual violence, you don’t handle her this way. Pepper spraying a blind woman asking for help is cowardly and pathetic.
Just like the woman the other day.
The video is quite interesting. Abusing old blind women is now OK for police, but don’t you dare touch a minority who’s actually committing crimes…
SICKENING DISPLAY OF POLICE ABUSE: Cops Shove Woman to the Ground on J6 As She Chokes On Deadly CS Gas, Screams For Help: “I’m Blind… I Can’t Go Back… I Can’t Breathe” [WATCH] via @gatewaypundithttps://t.co/TnJ2VFBBEK
“SICKENING DISPLAY OF POLICE ABUSE: Cops Shove Woman to the Ground on J6 As She Chokes On Deadly CS Gas, Screams For Help: ‘I’m Blind… I Can’t Go Back… I Can’t Breathe’”
Perhaps the original piece explains that one graph best, saying that there has been a:
~ political ruthlessness that’s overtaken evangelical Republicans. They are inflexible about policy positions even when the Bible is silent or vague. They are flexible about morality even when the Bible is clear.
Admittedly I am not the brightest bulb in the pack and some of this makes my brain hurt… specifically on what are they inflexible and what are they not?
~ It turns out that the Bible isn’t actually a clear guide to “any issue under the sun.” You can read it from cover to cover, believe every word you read and still not know the “Christian” policy on a vast majority of contested issues. Even when evangelical Christians broadly agree on certain moral principles, such as the idea that marriage is a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman, there is widespread disagreement on the extent to which civil law should reflect those evangelical moral beliefs.
Though the Bible isn’t a clear guide for American foreign policy, American economic policy or American constitutional law, it is a much clearer guide for Christian virtue (such as honesty). ~
As for being flexible or accepting on issues that are clear in Scripture, one can point to the willingness to overlook issues of character in leadership or candidates.
Remember how horrified (rightly so) we all were during the Clinton Administration when the Monica Lewinski scandal was revealed and confirmed? (And before that when there were questions about Clinton’s personal moral behavior that surfaced during the first campaign?)
So do believers today give other politicians a pass — because they are “with us” — on the “same side” politically — when it comes to those issues of morality, truthfulness and conduct that are so clear in Scripture? -dj
The ruthlessness I see in the republican party is the persistent, arrogant propensity to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs through various means such as coups and the waging or financing of endless violence (usually accompanied with financial malfeasance). And the saddest part of all is to see so many evangelicals nodding in approval or shrugging their shoulders as though they are not accountable for any of it, or worse, as though it were a football game and our team is crushing the opposition. It’s sickening really.
As for Ben Carson, it’s precisely because of his excellent character and qualifications that I fervently hope he listens to Holy Spirit guidance in his own heart to make his political associations. If he’s Trump’s vp that’s great, if not, then that’s fine too. He was certainly an asset in Trump’s first administration, and I think he could be again. God bless him.
Debra, but foreign policy is precisely one of those areas where believers do have differences. Those with very differing views can (and do) come at those related issues from what they see as biblical standards — while recognizing other believers will see it differently.
Trump benefited greatly by having good, sound, upright people around him in his first term. I’m not as sure those kinds of folks would be chosen — or listened to much — in a second term from the tenor of Trump’s own recent remarks.
AJ – As I said in my comment yesterday, “This is not to say that it is okay to push a woman down the steps, but that the video lacked context about why that happened.”
DJ, Christians should always have a bias against killing and destabilizing other nations. We may disagree on particulars, but there should be incontrovertible overwhelming evidence when deciding to support killing–especially to the extent we have done. For example, I haven’t heard any such evidence here that supports our lengthening the war in Ukraine by sending them hundreds of millions (billions even) of military equipment and money–much of it unaccounted for. There is no evangelical outcry. I haven’t even seen a public discussion among evangelicals about the situation—the whole situation and our role in it. It’s more like the sickening nod of approval, or the shrugging shoulders of those who seem to think war of small practical consequence to their own lives. Until it isn’t.
We should be careful what we wish for. A few years ago I watched an interview of John Bolton, Trump’s Nat’l Security Advisor. He bragged that Trump was too dumb to plan a coup, but that he had been involved in the planning of many coups (under different administrations). Our propensity to support violence and instability will have consequences, both internally and externally. And yes, it is a character issue. In my opinion, the most consequential character issue for a national leader. It’s a low bar, and a great pity that most of our candidates can’t pass it.
Ukraine presents a situation — taking another view — where Russia’s aggression represents a serious destabilizing of that part of the world by a nation that is not a friend of democracy. So lending aid to Ukraine, which was invaded, is seen by others (of good will) as a way to support those victims and to hold the line of aggression.
The world is so interconnected and it’s not always a simple equation of just being opposed to war. No one wants war, no one thinks war is a keen idea.
But in a fallen world wars do happen causes for them can be just; I think that’s where our focus needs to go.
Not easy or simple black-and-white issues always, to be sure.
I appreciate the pacifism, I have a close personal affinity to that stance. But in the real world it’s not always something we can or should embrace without conditions.
Foreign policy, also now, is an issue that seriously divides conservatives; some of us feel there’s a new rise in isolationism which has proven to be deeply flawed in history. But pursing entanglements that perhaps aren’t wise or necessary also pose serious problems and risks.
I always have to realize, too, that none of us can know all of the moving parts and circumstances in these difficult matters; best intentions may not bring about good results. But it’s often almost impossible to know that on the front end of these wars and unrest that take on a life and course of their own. We do the best with the information we have.
A primary duty of our government, too, is to protect its citizenry. That’s a broad responsibility (in an often unstable world) and interpretations come into play. We’ve been blessed not to be geographically surrounded by enemies, but the world is small and getting smaller so that isn’t always an assurance.
We can pull inward, we’ve done that before, and we may be facing a time when we will chose to do that again. History will write that story however it may turn out. Perhaps it turns out well, we can’t know. -dj
This prompted me to pull out a older book I’ve had for years (but hadn’t looked at in some time), “Between Pacifism and Jihad: Just War and Christian Tradition” J Daryl Charles
Several writers lay out their different ideas in the (2005) book.
From the Introduction:
~ Is war ever — or never — justifiable? Should evil be confronted head-on in the present life? Is pacifism the Christian way? Doesn’t Jesus require of the Christian an ethic of nonviolence? Is coercive force always immoral? Are government and political power inherently evil? Aren’t we under obligation to ‘turn the other cheek’ when evil occurs?
Such are questions that plague us. But we have further doubts. Is there a difference between self-defense and defending an innocent third party? Between insult and assault? Should we come to the defense of others when oppressive injustice or crimes against humanity occur? If so, on what grounds? If not, why not? If we invoke religious faith, shouldn’t we trust that God in his sovereignty and without our “meddling” will protect others when evil occurs? …
… This is a book about difficult issues. It is about the ethics of war and peace, the use of force and military conflict. But difficult as these issues are, they are perennial, ever with us. … Early Christians agonized over them, and believers have continued to do so every since … ~
They’re failing in their duty to protect the country. We’ve been, and still are, being invaded by 10 million and counting. Our govt is doing all they can for the illegal invaders, and they’re doing so at the expense of actual citizens.
The heck with Ukraine, we need that money here, for the benefit of Americans, and to mass deport the invaders.
But the GOP “leaders” have too much to gain from their Boeing and other defense industry stock to give a crap. It’s a complete failure. Deal with that, then they can talk to me about Ukraine.
Wandering Views 
Good question.
“This is insane!
One of the released Israeli kidnapped kids, who was held for almost 50 days in the attic of a house, says he was held by an UNRWA teacher.
This teacher is a father of 10 children, who locked the hostage in the attic, didn’t provided him with any food or his medicine.
Another hostage was held captive by a a Gazan DOCTOR who continued to provide care to children in the hospital, but not the Israeli kid.
Teachers, Doctors, UNWRA staff, they’re all under Hamas’ control. They were there at the massacre on October 7th, and took part in holding hundreds of hostages, including women and children, captive.
Source: Israeli channel 12”
—–
—-
Hamas is Palestine, and the people they chose to represent them. Hamas does all it does with their approval. Folks need to get that and stop with the “innocent civilians” nonsense.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Double standards, again.
Meanwhile…..
That’s the deceased Rosalynn Carter, at a funeral.
They’re just so pathetic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This goes nicely with the first post. But the Biden admin is too stupid to see reality, or worse, they support their anti-Semitic efforts.
“Germany Pulls Funding to U.N. Palestinian Aid Group After Review Finds It Handed Out Antisemitic Material”
https://legalinsurrection.com/2023/11/germany-pulls-funding-to-u-n-palestinian-aid-group-in-gaza-after-review-finds-it-handed-out-anti-semitic-material/
“Germany, the largest donor to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) operations in Gaza, stopped funding after an internal review found its learning materials glorify jihad and teach antisemitism.
UNRWAR’s $1.6 billion budget mostly comes from Western countries. America pledged $344 million to UNRWA in 2022. Germany pledged $122 million.
President Donald Trump’s administration pulled funding from UNRWA. President Joe Biden’s administration restarted it. Will they pull it again?
The German Development Ministry will freeze the entire budget. From i24News:
“With these conditions that urgently need to be changed, UNRWA is not making a contribution to a peaceful solution,” Human rights-focused politician Max Lucks, from the Greens party, stated, adding “Not a single cent from Germany should reach teachers who glorify the terror of Hamas.”
IMPACT-se led multiple policy meetings with the German government and legislature to raise this issue, presenting reports which showed Palestinian Authority (PA) schools celebrating the October 7 massacres, including UNRWA teachers and staff, in addition to learning material branded with the agency’s logo that glorifies violent jihad, antisemitism and violence against Jews.
“The UNRWA system has ultimately failed because too little help reaches the people and too much terror against the Palestinians and Israel has become possible. We urgently need other ways to ensure that the help reaches those who deserve it for a better life prospect,” the human rights policy spokesman for Germany’s second largest party, Christian Democrat Union (CDU, Michael Brand said in the press release statement.
The European Union already took steps to freeze 39 million euros from UNRWA and other Palestinian non-profits.
The EU said it would hold the money until the non-profits instill “procedures and tools used to enforce the contractual obligations stemming from the restrictive measures and anti-incitement clauses.”
Switzerland stopped the flow of 600,000 euros to Palestinian non-profits for the same reasons.
IMPACT-se and U.N. Watch released a report earlier this month, citing UNRWA teachers celebrating the October 7 massacre. Here are only a few examples:
UNRWA Gaza teacher Osama Ahmed posted “Allah is Great, Allah is Great, reality surpasses our wildest dreams” as the massacre was unfolding.
UNRWA school principal Iman Hassan justified the massacre as “restoring rights” and “redressing” Palestinian “grievances.”
Director of the UNRWA Khan Younis Training Center Rawia Helles, who is featured in and UNRWA campaign, glorified one of the terrorists as a “hero,” “raider,” and “prince of Khan Younis.”
UNRWA English teacher Asmaa Raffia Kuheil excitedly posted “7th, October, 2023! Sculpture the date!” adding a heart emoji.
UNRWA school administrator Hmada Ahmed posted “welcome the great October.””
LikeLiked by 1 person
Biden’s America.
“Anti-Israel Protesters Fight With Cops, Set NYPD Hat on Fire a Block From Rockefeller Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony
The anti-Israel crowd has been targeting Christmas tree lighting ceremonies across the country.”
https://legalinsurrection.com/2023/11/nyc-anti-israel-protest-targeting-rockefeller-christmas-tree-lighting-ceremony/
“It’s getting nasty outside of the Fox News headquarters. The Anti-Israel protesters are fighting with the cops and even set one NYPD hat on fire.
The original intent was to disrupt the Rockefeller tree lighting ceremony, which is happening a block away.”
But don’t you dare be a parading GrandMa.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Disgusting, which is a great description of our media. CBS is trying to making terrorists the victim. They’re earning their “enemy of the people” label today.
Reality.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The US seems to be beyond foolish in how foreign aid is given out. Another reason to fight tax increases. I don’t mind paying taxes for good, even for foreign aid, but that does not seem to be done often.
The treatment of Melania has always been pathetic. They just make themselves look foolish. Some of the treatment of other first ladies was also pathetic, including Michelle Obama.
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Yay Bidenomics!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Been telling you this for years. This was orchestrated, initiated, and set off by the feds. It was always a fed op.
This is what treason looks like.
“More: “And when you track the text threads and the communications within those groups and find the origins of suggestions of potential violence or an active occupation of the Capitol on January 6th, you’ll find that those messages were led by members of the groups that ended up to be the FBI agents that had infiltrated the group.””
—
“Commentary: “Despite all of the FBI’s activities, a Reuters report from August 2021 refutes that there was any ‘centrally coordinated’ plot to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Indeed, that was the entire point of the election challenges during the convening of the Electoral College.
If Donald Trump wanted to overturn the 2020 election results, he would not have disrupted the Electoral College. He would have continued to pursue his legal challenges and the political challenge in Congress.
Trump would not have sent in unarmed extremists to disrupt the Electoral College in order to retain power.
This is not only illogical, it is absurd on its face.
Nonetheless, this ridiculous partisan narrative has constituted the basis for prosecuting a former president in what has devolved into a partisan show trial and tantamount to election interference. It is not only ironic, but a disgrace to our entire justice system.””
LikeLiked by 2 people
I like it.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It’s always Americans last with Democrats.
“Meet Frank Tammaro, a 94 year old army veteran who was kicked out of his home at a senior center so they could make room for illegal immigrants. They didn’t offer Frank any money. They didn’t help him relocate. They just kicked him out and now he’s living with his daughter.
The illegals now live in the former senior living center free of charge. Tax paying citizens are no longer welcome. The government of NYC is footing the bill using taxpayer money.
Americans are last in Bidens America. How can anyone vote for this?”
LikeLiked by 2 people
Useless.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Witch. Hunt.
“I worked on corporate financings for 6+ years as a transactional attorney
Each deal involves multiple specialists, which can include investment bankers, finance attorneys, real estate attorneys, tax attorneys, corporate attorneys, insurance agents, government agents, and corporate executives, in each case with decades of experience
The deals can take 6 months of research, negotiations, and contract drafting with lawyers that charge well over $1,000/hr
There are dozens of lengthy and highly sophisticated contracts and thousands of pages of due diligence
Every T is crossed and every i dotted to ensure the bank’s hundreds of millions are collateralized
In Trump’s case, his loans were repaid with interest and no defaults
Letitia James is an absolute nutjob to think there are any “victims” in these deals, never mind crimes committed
She is trying to criminalize the act of dealmaking itself and it will scare the financial industry away from NYC, further eroding that city’s once great reputation for business dealmaking”
“Trump is blasting out press clippings on Truth Social about Deutsche Bank executive David Williams who testified yesterday in New York that Trump had “one of the strongest balance sheets we have seen and totally unlike any of our major redeveloper clients.”
Williams also testified that there was never a default event, and that it’s not unusual for banks to estimate a net worth differently than a client, bolstering Trump’s claim that banks do their own due diligence before issuing loans.
The only fraud being committed in New York is by Letitia James and partisan hack Judge Engoron.”
LikeLiked by 2 people
@9:35
Ben Carson is front runner for VP?!? I love it. I was thinking of him the other day when everyone was listing their main characteristics they want to see in a president. He fits the bill as far as I can tell.
Debra
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Interesting quote from a column:
~ … The Bible that sits on (House Speaker Mike) Johnson’s shelf, the one that tells him what to think about “any issue under the sun,” may not tell us how to formulate immigration policy or how much money to send to Ukraine. But it does condemn dishonesty, it does condemn cruelty, and if there is a clear theme that echoes throughout its pages, it’s one that “MAGA Mike Johnson” and his legion of evangelical supporters should take to heart: The ends do not justify the means. ~
dj
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I like and respect Ben Carson — enough so that I would not want to see him tethered to what could be a Trump 2nd term. -dj
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Re: “Hamas is Palestine, and the people they chose to represent them. Hamas does all it does with their approval. Folks need to get that and stop with the “innocent civilians” nonsense.”
Hamas is known for responding to non-support with beatings and torture. So it is very possible that the kind of “support” they get is the kind that other dictatorial leaders get in that many are afraid to stand up to them. Not to mention that, IIRC, there haven’t been any elections for at least a decade and a half.
Here are a couple excerpts from the Wikipedia article on Hamas. This first one describes what happened after the conflict/war for power between Hamas and Fatah:
“Human Rights Watch estimates several hundred Gazans were “maimed” and tortured in the aftermath of the Gaza War. 73 Gazan men accused of “collaborating” had their arms and legs broken by “unidentified perpetrators” and 18 Palestinians accused of collaborating with Israel, who had escaped from Gaza’s main prison compound after Israel bombed the facility, were executed by Hamas security officials in the first days of the conflict.”
Statistics on support for Hamas:
“A poll conducted in 2021 found that 53% of Palestinians believed Hamas was “most deserving of representing and leading the Palestinian people”, while only 14% preferred Abbas’s Fatah party.[617] At the same time, a majority of Gazans saw Hamas as corrupt as well, but were frightened to criticize the group.[618] Polls conducted in 2023 found that support for Hamas among Palestinians was around 27–31%.[619]
Public opinions of Hamas deteriorated after it took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007. Prior to the takeover, 62% of Palestinians had held a favorable view of the group, while a third had negative views. According to a 2014 Pew Research just prior to the 2014 Israel–Gaza conflict, only about a third had positive opinions and more than half viewed Hamas negatively.”
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Elsewhere, I see that polls show a wide range of statistics, some of which disagree with the ones mentioned in the above. But the point was made, as I did above, that with the fear of Hamas and Fatah (each one tends to kill or torture those think they oppose them), accurate statistics are hard to come by. That should be taken into account for whatever point a person wants to make on this issue. And it certainly should be taken into account in claiming that there are no innocent Palestinians.
One more little tidbit is that approximately 6% of Palestinians are Christians.
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dj@2:14pm Why is that an interesting quotation?
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Ty, it is interesting because it enlightens a biblical truth — that no, the Scriptures don’t have specific answers for all of our political questions and disputes, there is room for disagreement there among believers.
But yes, Scripture has much to say about what God calls us to in terms of our character and comportment as people made in the image of God and as people who profess to belong to and follow Christ.
And, by implication also, it affirms the biblical truth that God continues to be in control of our universe, and our nation, and that relying on means that do not match to God’s commands for how we are to conduct ourselves are not actions we should follow. -dj
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In times like these (and related somewhat to Kizzie’s last graph in @5:05), I think it also is helpful to remember Revelation 7:9, that God’s people come out of every nation, tribe and tongue. -dj
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Perhaps the original piece explains that one graph best, saying that there has been a:
~ political ruthlessness that’s overtaken evangelical Republicans. They are inflexible about policy positions even when the Bible is silent or vague. They are flexible about morality even when the Bible is clear. … This should not be … ~ dj
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So will we need the rest of the story here too? As if this is somehow defensible? I don’t care what a woman this age does short of actual violence, you don’t handle her this way. Pepper spraying a blind woman asking for help is cowardly and pathetic.
Just like the woman the other day.
The video is quite interesting. Abusing old blind women is now OK for police, but don’t you dare touch a minority who’s actually committing crimes…
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2023/11/sickening-display-police-abuse-cops-shove-woman-ground/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=sickening-display-police-abuse-cops-shove-woman-ground
“SICKENING DISPLAY OF POLICE ABUSE: Cops Shove Woman to the Ground on J6 As She Chokes On Deadly CS Gas, Screams For Help: ‘I’m Blind… I Can’t Go Back… I Can’t Breathe’”
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Perhaps the original piece explains that one graph best, saying that there has been a:
~ political ruthlessness that’s overtaken evangelical Republicans. They are inflexible about policy positions even when the Bible is silent or vague. They are flexible about morality even when the Bible is clear.
Admittedly I am not the brightest bulb in the pack and some of this makes my brain hurt… specifically on what are they inflexible and what are they not?
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~ It turns out that the Bible isn’t actually a clear guide to “any issue under the sun.” You can read it from cover to cover, believe every word you read and still not know the “Christian” policy on a vast majority of contested issues. Even when evangelical Christians broadly agree on certain moral principles, such as the idea that marriage is a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman, there is widespread disagreement on the extent to which civil law should reflect those evangelical moral beliefs.
Though the Bible isn’t a clear guide for American foreign policy, American economic policy or American constitutional law, it is a much clearer guide for Christian virtue (such as honesty). ~
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As for being flexible or accepting on issues that are clear in Scripture, one can point to the willingness to overlook issues of character in leadership or candidates.
Remember how horrified (rightly so) we all were during the Clinton Administration when the Monica Lewinski scandal was revealed and confirmed? (And before that when there were questions about Clinton’s personal moral behavior that surfaced during the first campaign?)
So do believers today give other politicians a pass — because they are “with us” — on the “same side” politically — when it comes to those issues of morality, truthfulness and conduct that are so clear in Scripture? -dj
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The ruthlessness I see in the republican party is the persistent, arrogant propensity to interfere in other countries’ internal affairs through various means such as coups and the waging or financing of endless violence (usually accompanied with financial malfeasance). And the saddest part of all is to see so many evangelicals nodding in approval or shrugging their shoulders as though they are not accountable for any of it, or worse, as though it were a football game and our team is crushing the opposition. It’s sickening really.
As for Ben Carson, it’s precisely because of his excellent character and qualifications that I fervently hope he listens to Holy Spirit guidance in his own heart to make his political associations. If he’s Trump’s vp that’s great, if not, then that’s fine too. He was certainly an asset in Trump’s first administration, and I think he could be again. God bless him.
Debra
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Debra, but foreign policy is precisely one of those areas where believers do have differences. Those with very differing views can (and do) come at those related issues from what they see as biblical standards — while recognizing other believers will see it differently.
Trump benefited greatly by having good, sound, upright people around him in his first term. I’m not as sure those kinds of folks would be chosen — or listened to much — in a second term from the tenor of Trump’s own recent remarks.
-dj
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AJ – As I said in my comment yesterday, “This is not to say that it is okay to push a woman down the steps, but that the video lacked context about why that happened.”
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DJ, Christians should always have a bias against killing and destabilizing other nations. We may disagree on particulars, but there should be incontrovertible overwhelming evidence when deciding to support killing–especially to the extent we have done. For example, I haven’t heard any such evidence here that supports our lengthening the war in Ukraine by sending them hundreds of millions (billions even) of military equipment and money–much of it unaccounted for. There is no evangelical outcry. I haven’t even seen a public discussion among evangelicals about the situation—the whole situation and our role in it. It’s more like the sickening nod of approval, or the shrugging shoulders of those who seem to think war of small practical consequence to their own lives. Until it isn’t.
We should be careful what we wish for. A few years ago I watched an interview of John Bolton, Trump’s Nat’l Security Advisor. He bragged that Trump was too dumb to plan a coup, but that he had been involved in the planning of many coups (under different administrations). Our propensity to support violence and instability will have consequences, both internally and externally. And yes, it is a character issue. In my opinion, the most consequential character issue for a national leader. It’s a low bar, and a great pity that most of our candidates can’t pass it.
Debra
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Ukraine presents a situation — taking another view — where Russia’s aggression represents a serious destabilizing of that part of the world by a nation that is not a friend of democracy. So lending aid to Ukraine, which was invaded, is seen by others (of good will) as a way to support those victims and to hold the line of aggression.
The world is so interconnected and it’s not always a simple equation of just being opposed to war. No one wants war, no one thinks war is a keen idea.
But in a fallen world wars do happen causes for them can be just; I think that’s where our focus needs to go.
Not easy or simple black-and-white issues always, to be sure.
I appreciate the pacifism, I have a close personal affinity to that stance. But in the real world it’s not always something we can or should embrace without conditions.
Foreign policy, also now, is an issue that seriously divides conservatives; some of us feel there’s a new rise in isolationism which has proven to be deeply flawed in history. But pursing entanglements that perhaps aren’t wise or necessary also pose serious problems and risks.
I always have to realize, too, that none of us can know all of the moving parts and circumstances in these difficult matters; best intentions may not bring about good results. But it’s often almost impossible to know that on the front end of these wars and unrest that take on a life and course of their own. We do the best with the information we have.
–dj
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A primary duty of our government, too, is to protect its citizenry. That’s a broad responsibility (in an often unstable world) and interpretations come into play. We’ve been blessed not to be geographically surrounded by enemies, but the world is small and getting smaller so that isn’t always an assurance.
We can pull inward, we’ve done that before, and we may be facing a time when we will chose to do that again. History will write that story however it may turn out. Perhaps it turns out well, we can’t know. -dj
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This prompted me to pull out a older book I’ve had for years (but hadn’t looked at in some time), “Between Pacifism and Jihad: Just War and Christian Tradition” J Daryl Charles
Several writers lay out their different ideas in the (2005) book.
From the Introduction:
~ Is war ever — or never — justifiable? Should evil be confronted head-on in the present life? Is pacifism the Christian way? Doesn’t Jesus require of the Christian an ethic of nonviolence? Is coercive force always immoral? Are government and political power inherently evil? Aren’t we under obligation to ‘turn the other cheek’ when evil occurs?
Such are questions that plague us. But we have further doubts. Is there a difference between self-defense and defending an innocent third party? Between insult and assault? Should we come to the defense of others when oppressive injustice or crimes against humanity occur? If so, on what grounds? If not, why not? If we invoke religious faith, shouldn’t we trust that God in his sovereignty and without our “meddling” will protect others when evil occurs? …
… This is a book about difficult issues. It is about the ethics of war and peace, the use of force and military conflict. But difficult as these issues are, they are perennial, ever with us. … Early Christians agonized over them, and believers have continued to do so every since … ~
-dj
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Thanks for this coherent lucid discussion.
mumsee
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They’re failing in their duty to protect the country. We’ve been, and still are, being invaded by 10 million and counting. Our govt is doing all they can for the illegal invaders, and they’re doing so at the expense of actual citizens.
The heck with Ukraine, we need that money here, for the benefit of Americans, and to mass deport the invaders.
But the GOP “leaders” have too much to gain from their Boeing and other defense industry stock to give a crap. It’s a complete failure. Deal with that, then they can talk to me about Ukraine.
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