Donald Trump, Please Change Your Mind

I hope that Donald Trump cancels the first scheduled debate and states that he will only debate Biden if Biden is officially nominated at the Democratic National Convention. I agree with those who speculate that the individuals behind the scenes in Biden’s administration might replace him at the convention if he performs poorly in the first debate. I hope Donald Trump doesn’t assist them by debating Biden before the Democratic National Convention.

Yesterday the Country Went Over a Cliff

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What You May Not Know About Your Right to Protest

I decided to write this after hearing Harold Ford Jr. talk about the pro-Palestinian demonstrators who blocked the Manhattan Bridge amid holiday travel for hours.  He said they had a right to protest as long as they were peaceful.  I have heard this many times before but did you know that just because a protest is peaceful it does not mean it is legal and is a protected right?

The following is from the Oregon ACLU written to help protesters so they know their rights:

“Generally, you have the right to distribute literature, hold signs, collect petition signatures, and engage in other similar activities while on public sidewalks or in front of government buildings as long as you are not disrupting other people, forcing passerby to accept leaflets or causing traffic problems.”

The ACLU goes on to say “The First Amendment does not protect speech that is combined with the violation of established laws such as trespassing, disobeying or interfering with a lawful order by a police officer.”

This notice also says that you do not have the right to remain on private property, including businesses, after being told to leave by the owner.

Your right to protest is very limited.  Remember this next time someone defends protestors who break the law.

First the Sunday People, then the Saturday People

"First the Saturday People, then the Sunday People" is a phrase attributed to the Arab world in the past.  It means that the Jews (the Saturday people) and then Christians (the Sunday people) were to be targeted as victims of jihad.

I thought of this phrase when I heard that Jews were rightly coming out against colleges and read the opinion piece in the NY Times called “What Is Happening on College Campuses Is Not Free Speech”.  It was written by three students at Yale, Cornell, and Brown.

These three wrote the following:

“All students have sacred rights to hold events, teach-ins and protests. And university faculty members must present arguments that make students uncomfortable. University campuses are unique hubs of intellectual discovery and debate, designed to teach students how to act within a free society. But free inquiry is not possible in an environment of intimidation. Harassment and intimidation fly in the face of the purpose of a university… Simply affirming that taunts and intimidation have no place on campus isn’t enough. Professors violating these rules should be disciplined or dismissed. Student groups that incite or justify violence should not be given university funds to conduct activity on campus.”

This op-ed was written in response to the pro-Palestinian protests and antisemitism at American universities.  It is indicative of the feelings of many American Jews and I agree with them whole-heartedly.  That said, I wonder what took them so long.

Did they write this article when conservatives were attacked and assaulted at universities? Did they write this article when U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Stuart Kyle Duncan attempted to speak at a Stanford event and was shouted down by protestors? Did they write this article when former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines was barricaded in a room at San Francisco State University for nearly 3 hours after she was physically assaulted following a speech to students about saving women's sports?

In the case of universities, they came for the Sunday people first (in this case conservatives) and the Saturday people said nothing.  Now they are coming for the Saturday people.  Hopefully, the actions being taken now will ensure that all forms of discrimination at universities are eliminated going forward.

My Take on the Ryder Cup

Seems like the last time the Americans won in Europe was in WWII.

If it Walks Like a Bribe....

Can you bribe a government official by giving money to their family? Let’s look at the policy for accepting gifts to see how the government’s General Services Agency (GSA) answers that question. The following is from the GSA’s training website https://training.smartpay.gsa.gov/rules-about-gifts:

Accepting Gifts

A gift is considered to be anything of monetary value. Examples include gratuities, favors, discounts, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance (forgiveness of a loan), services, training, transportation, travel, meals, lodging, etc.

An employee shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit or accept a gift from a prohibited source or a gift that is offered because of the employee's official position.

·         Direct acceptance means you, the account holder, accept the gift.

·         Indirect acceptance means that someone gives a gift, with your knowledge and acquiescence, to your spouse or child, a sibling or other dependent relative because of that person's relationship to you. A gift could also be indirectly given to a charitable organization, at your recommendation or designation.

Let’s stop pretending that we need to prove Joe Biden took money directly from Hunter’s shady business dealings to prove Joe accepted bribes. 

The Rank-and-File

I am tired of hearing about how leadership of our intelligence agencies are corrupt but how the rank-and-file agents are above reproach.

The FBI and CIA were established to protect the United States of America.  Any lower-level agent that covers for a compromised administration is not doing their job and should be fired and their pensions eliminated.

If I were Chairman Comer, I would make the following statement: A compromised president is a danger to the U.S.  Any agent that our investigation finds has covered for this administration will be fired.  If you have performed responsibly, you have our respect and will be protected.  If you have been part of, or complicit with, any illegal activity and do not come forward to this committee privately or openly, you will be held accountable.