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DECEMBER 11-12,  2022

WELCOME TO THIRD-WORLD TACTICS:  As inauguration day approaches for the new Congress, the Biden compound is getting ready to launch a smear campaign of unprecedented proportions.  From the New York Post: 

Just when you thought our politics could not get more poisonous, a recent meeting in California suggests the past is mere prelude. The Washington Post, which revealed the powwow, described it as Biden family “allies” planning an offensive to blunt any investigation into the Bidens’ alleged multimillion-dollar influence-peddling schemes.

Republicans will see it more like the gathering of the Legion of (Democratic) Doom. Some of the most controversial political operatives are involved in the all-hands-on-deck effort to protect the Bidens.

The California meeting’s host was none other than Hunter Biden’s friend, agent and lawyer, Kevin Morris. After Hunter was placed under investigation for, among other possible charges, tax evasion, Morris reportedly paid off as much as $2.8 million in back taxes for Hunter.

Morris, per the Washington Post, called for a “more aggressive” response to those seeking to investigate the alleged influence peddling. That plan includes hitting critics, such as Fox News, with possible defamation lawsuits. (For full disclosure, I appear as a legal analyst on Fox News.)

The paper also reported Morris “outlined extensive research on two potential witnesses against Hunter Biden — a spurned business partner named Tony Bobulinski and a computer repairman named John Paul Mac Isaac.” “Spurned” is hardly the sole or most relevant description of Bobulinski: The businessman was recruited by the Biden family to manage foreign deals and later directly contradicted President Biden’s claims that he knew nothing of those dealings. His testimony could present a serious threat in the coming House investigation in establishing not only the president’s knowledge but his possible receipt of proceeds from the deals.

What’s most interesting about the piece is why the Washington Post was given such access and such a detailed account. Generally, political operatives lay out scorched-earth campaigns in secret. But someone wanted this campaign to be public before the House can call any witnesses.

For key witnesses like Bobulinski, the message is about as subtle as a 2-by-4 to the head. The Washington Post is viewed as one of the most pro-Biden newspapers in the country and only recently admitted that the Hunter Biden laptop was authentic after pushing the false Russian-disinformation claim. Now the paper is detailing a plan that could create an open season on those who might try to substantiate the Biden family’s influence peddling.
Notably, the article stresses this effort is “operating separately from the White House.

COMMENT:  Read the rest.  We're in for an exciting January.   Stay inside during a snowstorm, turn on the heat, and watch the demolition derby. 

President Biden is in trouble, but, up to now, the Republicans have not had the power in Congress to investigate him.  That has now changed.  The GOP controls the House, and with that comes the full power to investigate, and to put witnesses under oath.  The damage to the Biden presidency could be fatal.  As you watch, please think of what you're seeing as Act 1 of the 2024 presidential election campaign. That's what it is.

December 12, 2022       Permalink 

AS THE NYPD GOES, SO GOES AMERICAN POLICING:  The New York Police Department is generally considered the best large-city department in the country.  It isn't perfect, and it's had its bad moments, but, overall, this majority-minority department sets a number of standards for other departments to shoot for.

So it's sad to see what's happening to the NYPD, but when we have cities run by leftists, apologists for criminals, and defund-the-police racketeers, who could expect anything else?  From Daily Mail: 

Thousands of New York City police officers have ditched the country's biggest police force and fled to other states for higher salaries.

Police department recruiters from other states, including Florida and Colorado have rushed to the Big Apple to persuade some of the city's 34,000 officers into relocating in exchange for higher pay and better work environments.

The retention rate among NYPD officers is rocky, especially since 1,225 officers have resigned through November before reaching five years at the police force, according to the New York Times. About 3,200 total have left this year, including retirees.

NYPD is experiencing its largest exodus since 2002 as salaries and increased hours appear not to be enough.

Some officers have flocked to the sunny state of Florida to receive a guaranteed sign-on bonus of $5,000 and funds to further their education at a state police academy.

Spero Georgedakis, a former Miami officer who now works to assist in cop relocation, recently posted a television ad for $20,000 per month to persuade NYPD cops to relocate to Florida, according to the news outlet.

The number of states advertising to New York officers is unclear, but generally, recruiters lead with higher pay and more benefits.

'We don't want to deplete New York City of their officers,' Georgedakis told the news outlet. 'But police are needed everywhere, and we want them to choose Florida.'

Amid the 'defund the police' and George Floyd protests, about 9,400 have left the NYPD since 2020, according to the news outlet. 

COMMENT:   More than anything else, a police officer wants respect, and appreciation for his work.  Try finding that in cities where the hard left prevails and the news organizations relish a good anti-police story.

December 11, 2022       Permalink

DECEMBER 9-10,  2022

A FIRM WARNING:  Despite its problems in Ukraine, Russia is expanding its nuclear capability.  Will America listen to the warning?  Remember, we just went through an entire political campaign without a single mention of foreign policy.  From The Hill: 

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Russia is “modernizing and expanding its nuclear arsenal” as its invasion of Ukraine continues and Russian President Vladimir Putin has made threats about using nuclear weapons in the conflict. 

Austin spoke on Friday at a ceremony for the new head of U.S. Strategic Command (Stratcom), Anthony Cotton. The agency is responsible for strategic nuclear deterrence, nuclear operations and missile defense. Cotton took over for Charles Richard, who had served in the role since 2019 and retired Friday. 

Austin acknowledged several challenges facing Stratcom in the near future, including the expanding Russian nuclear arsenal and Chinese nuclear forces that are growing, modernizing and diversifying. 

“And as the Kremlin continues its cruel and unprovoked war of choice against Ukraine, the whole world has seen Putin engage in deeply irresponsible nuclear saber-rattling,” he said. 
“So make no mistake. Nuclear powers have a profound responsibility to avoid provocative behavior, and to lower the risk of proliferation, and to prevent escalation and nuclear war,” he continued. 

Putin this week insisted that Russia’s nuclear arsenal would only be a “factor of deterrence” in the war with Ukraine, but he has repeatedly made threats throughout the nine-month war that have concerned U.S. and other officials worldwide. 

He has said that Russia would be willing to use nuclear weapons to defend its territory, but has clarified that includes the four regions of Ukraine that Russia seized and illegally annexed through illegitimate referendums in September. 

The referendums in the four regions — Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson — passed overwhelmingly but were condemned as not free or fair by much of the international community. 

Putin said in October that Russia does not intend to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, but President Biden questioned his intentions, noting that the Russian president repeatedly talks about nuclear weapons. 

Austin said Stratcom’s goal is to deter conflict and keep the peace, which he said means a secure, safe and effective U.S. nuclear arsenal as the “ultimate backstop” against attacks on the U.S. and its allies. 

COMMENT:  Bottom line, Russia remains exceptionally dangerous.  Many thought it had been neutralized by losing the Cold War, but Moscow is crawling back, and using advanced technology to do so.  Recall that Germany was on the losing end of World War I, yet started World War II 21 years later.

But, as a nation, we seem so uninterested.

December 10,  2022     Permalink

FINALLY, SOME REAL ATTENTION:  Attacks on power stations this week were not random, or minor.  We can expect more.  From MSN: 

PORTLAND Ore. (KPTV) - Following what authorities are calling a targeted gunfire attack towards power substations in North Carolina over the weekend, a federal memo warned substations in Oregon and Washington recently had “physical attacks on substations using handtools, arson, firearms, and metal chains possibly in response to an online call for attacks on critical infrastructure.”

The memo goes on to say the aim is “to cause widespread power failures with the potential impact of social disruption and violent anti-government criminal activity.”

Randall Blazak, a sociology professor and extremism researcher says there’s a reason behind substations being hit.

“We are seeing more chatter in the wake of the mid-term elections,” said Blazak.

“These are soft targets. Power stations aren’t surrounded by armed guards. The surveillance is minimal and it’s relatively easy to take a pot shot at a reservoir or a sub station and get away with it.”

In Woodland, Cowlitz PUD confirmed two of its substations had been vandalized.
“Cowlitz PUD is aware of vandalism on two of our substations in the Woodland area which occurred in Mid-November. At this time we do not have any further comment as this is an active investigation and we are cooperating with local, state and federal law enforcement. Our facilities have since been repaired.”

PGE also confirmed one of its substations in Clackamas County had been hit. A spokesperson for PGE said as it’s still an ongoing investigation, many details cannot be released at this time, but provided the following statement:

“PGE is coordinating closely with multiple law enforcement agencies on the investigation, including the FBI. The attack occurred at one of our substations in the Clackamas area. Attacks on electric infrastructure are serious crimes regardless of whether inspired by malicious intent or simple vandalism, and community members who see evidence of vandalism to electrical equipment or suspect a threat should report these to law enforcement.”

COMMENT:  Read the rest.  Don't be shocked if you get up one morning and find your lights out and your computer screen dark.  We've been warned about attacks on the power grid for yours.  As is usual with democracies, we don't notice until it actually happens.

December 9, 2022       Permalink