26 thoughts on “News/Politics 1-13-25

  1. The big news in MN will be our legislative process. The DFL were in total control for many years, but that control was partially broken this year. Because of one DFL candidate being caught lying about his residency, the Republicans have a one-person majority in the house for a short while. There are some lawsuits and voting issues still being decided. All the Dems now say they will not be at the start of the session tomorrow in order to stop a quorum. They are trying to vote for the leader to remain in Dem hands. It should all be quite interesting.

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  2. So anyone still confused by why Musk has raised the subject, or why the Labour (pedo) Party voted against an inquiry and a full accounting?

    https://x.com/Suffragent_/status/1878441666840776871?t=L4RdrI2jpHm1HCRQwzFATQ&s=19

    “In 2022, Labour MP Nazir Ahmed was convicted of raping a young boy, aged 9, in Rotherham.

    He was originally jailed for 3.5 years.

    However, this sentence was quietly reduced to just SIX MONTHS on appeal.

    The appeal judges were all Labour-voting liberals. Sickening.”

    —-

    An another…

    https://x.com/JimFergusonUK/status/1878377882483122405?t=p3sx1m_e4xaWGrsC3yHS7A&s=19

    “Exeter city Labour councillor at centre of child pornography probe

    An Exeter Labour City councillor is under police investigation for child pornography offences.

    Roger Spackman, 47, was arrested at a home address in Newtown for making pornographic photographs of children.The Labour councillor had a 12-year career in Devon’s child protection services.

    In 1998 he began working at Intervention Services for Devon County Council at a secure children’s home, occasionally working at other units. Before this, he was involved in the creation of Riverside Youth Café in Dawlish.

    From September 2001 he worked full-time at a Secure Children’s Home until his role was axed in redundancies in February 2010.

    Born in 1969, Spackman moved to Jamaica in 1972 before moving to Canada in 1974. After living in several Canadian towns and cities he returned to England in 1996.

    Alongside being a Labour city councillor, in recent years he claims to offer ‘software support’ for a major UK retailer.

    Between 2007 and 2010 he was Branch Secretary for the Devon County Council branch of UNISON – one of the largest in the UK.

    He also chaired Exeter Labour Group between 2010 and 2014.

    Cllr Spackman declined to comment when the allegations were put to him by a reporter.”

    ——-

    The Labour Party is loaded with pervs like these who prey on kids.

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  3. There’s more. 52 at least.

    https://x.com/MollyP25131886/status/1878447533275361310?t=TKJqdjKGKa2JDGhQQrrH_g&s=19

    “I was just checking how current this case is and came across a site about Labour pae..d.. 0…..A list of them! And not ancient history. What world am i in?!”

    —–

    https://labour25.com/

    ——

    This party of predators was never gonna give the victims justice. That’s why this matters, and why Musk brought it up. The UK has been given over to corrupt judges, leaders, and the invading hordes, all with a taste for minors. It’s disgusting.

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  4. Here’s why I say the judges are corrupt as well.

    3 Months?

    CONTENT WARNING!!!!

    https://x.com/JimFergusonUK/status/1878431452695810342?t=sT_UQvDW8_9w1OJHYTc6Gw&s=19

    “Labour Party super activist and Council Candidate Ian Rankin was jailed for having in his possession video material containing some of the vilest kinds of child sexual abuse.

    Police say it was some of the worst paedophile material they had ever come across. Some of the children were raped while tied to posts and ceiling beams.

    Most videos were of young children tied up and sodomised. Police raided Rankin’s home on the same day that he was standing for election in Labour held Lambert Ward.

    The shock from Falkirk Sheriff Court jury was palpable as the details of the videos were revealed. The prosecution explained that in one of the 45 videos, a six year old child was tied up, beaten and raped.

    After hearing the evidence some of the jury were reduced to tears.

    Consequently Ian Rankin from Kilsyth Road, Haggs, Stirlingshire was jailed immediately by Sheriff Andrew Murphy for three Months and put on the sex offenders register for a total of Seven Years.”

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  5. To add to DJ’s comment from last night. . . This was posted on Tim Challies’ site yesterday, and is worth giving it close consideration. With the various posts that go around on social media, we all need to be very careful about what we choose to share. It is way too easy to believe the worst of those we dislike or disagree with, especially, it seems, in the political realm. (The emphasis in bold is from me.)

    ~ ” There are few blessings richer than having a good name, and few honors greater than having an upright reputation. “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,” says Solomon, and “a good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume.”1 That being the case, it falls to us to tend to names carefully, to respect what others hold most dear. We might justify carelessness with another man’s trifles and trinkets, but most certainly not with his good name.

    Yet none of us can deny that we have often been reckless with what others count precious. None of us can deny that we have often besmirched a name rather than honored it, diminished it rather than strengthened it. We have found greater joy in being harsh than kind, in tearing down than building up. We have begun rumors, we have spread gossip, we have fostered false impressions, we have believed untruths, we have failed to love our neighbor as ourself. […]

    “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy,” says Jesus, and we prove we have been recipients of mercy when we dispense it in turn to our fellow man. And while that mercy comes in many forms—hearts that care, hands that help, words that strengthen—it also finds expression in protecting another person’s name.

    We act in mercy when we act in their good—to stop gossip rather than pass it on, to overlook offenses rather than make them known, to set aside unconfirmed information rather than believe it, to boast of God’s victories in a life rather than the world’s, the flesh’s, or the devil’s. This is true whether they are friends or family members, obscure or famous, Christians or unbelievers, for we get no free passes when it comes to lying, exaggerating, gossiping, and other such transgressions. It is no less a sin to gossip about a hated politician than a beloved parent, a wayward celebrity than a treasured friend, for all are created in the image of God, all have dignity and worth, all are to be objects of our love, all fall under the sacred banner of “neighbor.”

    Jesus says that the one who has been forgiven much will love much and in just that way, the one who has been shown much mercy will be eager to extend it to others. We who believe in Jesus Christ have been granted mercy beyond measure and, therefore, ought to be joyfully merciful in return—merciful even, and perhaps especially, to protect the precious blessing that is a good and upright name.” ~

    https://www.challies.com/articles/the-mercy-of-protecting-reputations/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2B7oYlL4OmsnKH_ZQZ3S8tN5uyJAdeZuNKPb-stVQsPRD3uyzfFxUYmYw_aem_XyO_oVyefKHMPVCCA4EO8Q

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  6. A few things here — Judges in the Westminster system are apolitical and are usually appointed on the basis of advice from legal associations to the prime minister and attorney general. There’s no way in knowing their political affiliations nor voting record. You can’t claim its a Labour or Liberal Democrat (two different parties) judge.

    Labour has been in power less than a year. The Conservatives have been in charge for decades so I’m not sure how Labour is responsible for any cover ups.

    A minority party like Reform UK can’t launch an inquiry. They can pretend and perform some theatrics but it will have no grasp of reality.

    A reminder that two inquiries have already looked into the allegations. The recommendations have been sitting on the shelf during the conservative party administrations. Labour has said they will implement the recommendations — surely more important than redoing an inquiry.

    Finally, this on-going debacle continues to demonstrate what an irresponsible font of misinformation X has become. Recently, Musk reposted a tweet stating looting was decriminalised in California. Of course this wasn’t true but did serve to worsen the situation. Irresponsible and close to criminal in some jurisdictions.

    hrw

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  7. After reading DJ’s comment on Hibbs, I had to go back and watch. Knowing he has strong opinions.

    But, really, I had no real problem with most of what he said. Maybe because I am just finishing the prophets, they (and God) have some rather strong words for folks not doing their duty. Paul took some folks to task, as did Jesus.

    As for the pulpit. Just read the World article on Burma, I have read about Germany and the War. I have some knowledge on American history and I believe some Christians are called to speak loudly when they see injustice (slavery and abortion and the trail of tears and other events come to mind). Will Hibbs tarnish the Christian reputation? I don’t think so any more than I do, being a fallen but redeemed human being.

    mumsee

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  8. mumsee, there’s a time and a place for that discussion. From the pulpit (I’m assuming but may be wrong this was from the church pulpit during worship) isn’t the place or time.

    It’s one of my issues with churches such as Calvary Chapel, they almost pride themselves on not being part of a denomination. But that also means not a lot of church oversight (which all churches and pastors need, our pastor would be the first to say that). Elders along with other oversight above the individual church helps preserve the purity of the church.

    Sermons shot from the hip — as this one appears to be — come with the danger of excesses and words carelessly spoken.

    If a strongly politicized pastor – as this one appears to be – wants to rail about the government, make it a midweek gathering (though I also would question the wisdom of that).

    Politics is a valid concern but should not be the focus of a Sunday worship service and sermon. Again, I’m making an assumption here that this was the setting for his remarks.

    • dj

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  9. No kidding, DJ (12:26).

    Mumsee, prophets called the people of God to account. Jesus overturned the tables in the temple, for instance, not in the courthouse. Pastors are called to preach Christ crucified, not to preach Gavin Newsom bad. Pray for wisdom in your leaders, even use poor political leadership as a (brief) sermon illustration, but don’t spend the time that God has given you to preach His Word to instead rail against politicians and political parties.

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  10. Our pastor has made comments about issues from the pulpit and that’s within the realm. But never politicians per se or political “parties.” And even comments about current cultural issues should never dominate or take center stage; as Cheryl pointed out, sermons on the Lord’s Day should focus always on the Law and the Gospel, Christ crucified.

    • dj

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  11. DJ and Cheryl,

    agreed generally. But I have no idea how long this guy preaches and if this three minute snippet comprised his entire message for the day. He said he was angry. A lot of folk are.

    Did Wilberforce use the pulpit for abolitionist speech? I know he gave talks and spoke in Parliament.

    How about Newton?

    mumsee

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  12. As for climate change, CA has been more than aggressive — spending a lot of money — in switching to alternative fuels and cracking down on fossil fuels. There may be other avenues that need more attention once the dust and ash settle and these fires are out.

    WSJ editorial:

    ~ “The Los Angeles wildfires are awful to behold, and perhaps they are bad enough to cause some rethinking by California’s political class. Instead of trying like Don Quixote to change the climate, they could spend their money on mitigating and adapting to the effects of climate change,” the board said. “The evidence doesn’t support the climate explanation since (among other reasons) California has had a dry climate and Santa Ana winds, even with hurricane-force gusts on occasion, for centuries.”

    “Water tanks were filled to capacity before the fires, but three that supplied the Palisades were quickly tapped out. Huge demand caused a loss of pressure, which made it harder to pump water uphill to refill the tanks,” the board wrote. “If fires are going to be more common, then overhauling water systems will be essential. But governments have limited resources and need to set priorities. And California’s politicians—state and local—prefer to spend money on income transfers and green subsidies that buy votes rather than infrastructure that pays off in the future.” ~

    • dj

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  13. FTR, I read some of the comments underneath that video, and while many of them said things like this is what the church in America needs, one said he left this church because the pastor is too political. If he got interviewed on Fox News, for instance, he’d show the interview at the beginning of his sermon.

    Mumsee, Moses was not a pastor to the people. He was sent by God as a prophet and the nation’s ruler, and God sent him to speak to Pharoah (who was not his own nation’s ruler, except that his own nation was then in slavery).

    Honestly I would say that if a pastor is invited to speak out on such issues as the wildfires and the political response, say on a news program, even there he should not say such things. He’d be wiser to say something like, “Of course there are many reasons for the devastation we are experiencing, and we might all have different opinions on some of that. But as a pastor, what I most want to tell people is that everything in this earth is temporary, whether you lose it to fire or earthquake or you hold onto it until your own death. Of far more significance is the question of where you stand in your relationship with the God of the universe, who not only loaned us all these good but temporary treasures, but who through Jesus Christ offers us a relationship with Himself, a relationship that cannot be destroyed by any earthly catastrophe. Many in our church are reaching out to friends and neighbors who have lost their homes, and the entire church family is praying for our community in this season. In fact, if you need prayer, we invite you to contact us.”

    We dare not become simply another political action committee!

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  14. No politics at Sunday morning service. I also left a church primarily for that reason. I do think it’s appropriate to use the church building for those types of activities if the people choose., but it’s usually asking for trouble since people often disagree about politics. Look at us. :–)

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  15. Yes, of course our beliefs impact every area of life, but that doesn’t mean that every opinion is appropriate to state in every venue. And God is the one who granted the pastoral calling, which is unique from the politician or the reporter.

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  16. Whoever shared that video on X added, “This is what BOLDNESS in the pulpit looks like!” But that is not the kind of boldness that is supposed to be in the pulpit. That boldness that a pastor should have is for the gospel and biblical truth.

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  17. In another part of the nation, the Atlanta (Dem) mayor is happily reporting that crime is down in Atlanta. I think he is working hard and making some good differences. He is an alumni of Georgia State where I attended. One thing reported was that 78% of the homicide cases have been completed as compared to a national average of below 60%. I hope they are being thorough and locking up the right people.

    We have a bird flu case in the county where my husband’s office is located. The person owns chickens. Now the news is reporting it may be mutating. Don’t all viral infections do that?

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  18. I watched the Hibbs interview on Harris’ show. I cringed a bit because my perception was he came across as a hip CA surfer dude. His analogy of this being akin to Hiroshima was off base in my view. His final thoughts were spot on in placing our hope in Christ…

    It is curious to me that any Dem politician seems to get a pass when stumping in mostly Black churches but not all. When conservative churches invite like minded believers to speak umbrage is taken.

    I do not want political stumping to happen in a church I attend. I am there to get into the Word amongst other believers. To worship our Lord God most high. To fellowship with other believers encouraging one another in matters that matter in our walk with Him.

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