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Bumps in the Road: Trump vs. liar-nObama
by Michelle Malkin
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A Lawful Order and a Lawless Judiciary
By Paul Albaugh: It hasn't even been three weeks since Donald Trump was sworn in as president, but the executive orders he has issued have caused quite a stir. Leftmedia talkingheads, still unable to come to grips with the reality that Trump is president, have replaced their desks with fainting couches. Trump's order on refugees naturally has leftists outraged, but that only serves to highlight their hypocrisy because there have been Democrat presidents who have issued similar orders with little or no outcry.
The controversy over Trump's order on refugees reached a whole new level on Friday, when U.S. District Court Judge James Robart issued a temporary restraining order to stop it from taking effect. Robart's decision has in effect halted all of the states, not just plaintiffs Washington and Minnesota, from complying with Trump's order.
Robart reached his decision because he believes that the states of Washington and Minnesota had legal standing to challenge Trump's order. His argument is based on the legal concept that the state can sue as if it is essentially the guardian of its citizens — or, in this case, merely residents or would-be residents. Robart allowed the states to sue on behalf of groups of refugees, residents who currently hold visas or green cards, businesses who might want to employ refugees, and possibly the refugees themselves.
His decision temporarily blocks the Trump administration from enforcing Sections 3(c) and 5(a)-(c) of the order, which puts a 90 day halt on immigration from seven specific countries, a 120 day suspension on the refugee admission program and an indefinite suspension of refugees from Syria, who are particularly difficult to vet.
It also temporarily enjoins Section 5(e) of the order "to the extent section 5(e) purports to prioritize refugee claims of certain religious minorities." This is the only part of Trump's order that makes any reference to religion and it specifically allows for the secretaries of State and Homeland Security to jointly agree to admit refugees on a case by case basis if it is in the national interest.
On what grounds does Robart make such a decision? None. He simply declared that the two states were right and that Trump's order is both illegal and unconstitutional. Except that it's not. Not at all, as a matter of fact, and here's why: Writing for the Washington Examiner, Byron York notes how the Justice Department has completely demolished Robart's case against Trump's order.
York writes, "Robart's restraining order violates the separation of powers, encroaches on the president's constitutional and legal authority in the areas of foreign affairs, national security, and immigration, and 'second-guesses the president's national security judgment' about risks faced by the United States."
Michelle Bennett, a lawyer with the Justice Department, was quick and correct to point out that in matters of foreign affairs and national security, "Congress has delegated authority to the president to make these determinations." As a U.S. District Court judge, Bennett argues, Robart "doesn't have authority to look behind those determinations."
Or as National Review's editorial board puts it, "In our system, border security is a plenary power of the political branches; the judiciary has almost no authority over it."
The courts, including Robart, do not receive classified information on threats posed by terrorists from particular nations, nor do they receive information about organizations trying to infiltrate the United States. Further, the courts do not have information about potential gaps in the vetting process for refugees. Despite Robart's claim that no one has been arrested for being associated with terrorism, there have been 60 convictions of terror related offenses from the seven countries mentioned in Trump's order.
Trump's executive order has plenty of legal ground to stand on. The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 states: "Whenever the president finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate."
Washington State also claims that Trump's order prohibits the state from hiring migrant workers, which it asserts is a driver for the state's economy. However, the vast majority of people affected by Trump's order are foreign nationals who reside outside of the United States. Further, a state or a judge cannot block a president's order involving national security simply because it's not in the best economic interests of a state.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is set to take up this case later today. The law is certainly on Trump's side — if only he's make that case instead of getting embroiled in foolish and irrelevant Twitter rants. But the Ninth Circuit is heavily skewed left, so this case may very well reach the Supreme Court, where former federal prosecutor Andrew McCarthy warns Anthony Kennedy may very well vote with the Court's four leftists. If Robart and company prevail, it will set a dangerous precedent. And we will once again become firsthand witnesses of the "despotic branch" of government of which Thomas Jefferson warned.
~The Patriot Post
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Purge liar-nObama Intel Moles Leaks
Are Political Assassinations
by Rick Wells
{rickwells.us} ~ Representative Steve King, (R-IA) ventured into enemy territory on Wednesday, making an appearance on the CNN Newsday program with leftist agitator Alinsyn “Alinsky” Camerota... She attempts to diminish his point and redirect it in a manner that can only make sense to someone whose neuroreceptors have ceased to function properly, a libtard. She said, “Just so that I’m clear, the messaging to you, is more important and more significant than the content or the substance of what was discussed.” King puts into basic language that the philosophically challenged bobble-head may be able to comprehend, saying, “I think what’s most important here is the leaks that are coming out of the intelligence community, that appear to be designed to politically assassinate some of the members of the Trump administration, or at least weaken the Trump administration.”... http://rickwells.us/rep-steve-king-purge-obama-intel-moles-leaks-political-assassinations/
.Prison time predicted in Dems'
national-security scandal
by Garth Kant
Imran Awan pictured alongside former President Bill liar-Clinton
{wnd.com} ~ Democrats may have a major national security hacking scandal on their hands that’s on the brink of exploding into public view... Investigators, including Capitol Police, have been looking into whether classified or other sensitive information has been hacked by former information technology, or IT, staffers employed by Democrats in Congress. Now, a source has confirmed to WND that the problem is so big, it is being handled as a criminal matter. And the source says suspects will likely receive prison sentences. A House committee that deals with security-related issues is cooperating with Capitol Police in their investigation, according to the source...
.Emergency hearing sought
to stop NSA 'spying' on Trump
by Bob Unruh
{wnd.com} ~ Attorney Larry Klayman, the founder of Freedom Watch, is asking a federal court to hold an emergency hearing on the National Security Agency, alleging “likely” CIA “spying” on President Donald Trump... In an emergency supplement filed Wednesday with the U.S. District Court in Washington, he said the NSA and “likely the Central Intelligence Agency are continuing to violate the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution and related statutes.” Klayman charged the agencies spied on President Trump, the White House, his former National Security Adviser General Michael Flynn and others in his administration... http://www.wnd.com/2017/02/emergency-hearing-sought-to-stop-nsa-spying-on-trump/
.Trump Must Purge State Dept,
Come Down Hard On Intel Agencies
by Rick Wells
{rickwells.us} ~ Lou Dobbs has a few thoughts on “the left’s war on President Trump and the left’s actions are arguably nearing sedition... President Trump today slammed leakers following the resignation of General Michael Flynn as his National Security Adviser.” The President tweeted “the real scandal here is that classified information is illegally given out by ‘intelligence’ like candy. Very un-American!” Dobbs notes, “The President also praised columnist Eli Lake who says bureaucrats and former liar-nObama officials are possibly behind these leaks.” He plays a clip of the Lake comments, following that up with his view that, “I believe we’re witnessing a full on assault by the left here, the establishment, the left-wing national media, all working to bring down the Trump administration.” “In fact, a new analysis shows,” says Dobbs, “the network morning shows devoting 18 times the amount of coverage to a so-called White House crisis compared to the illegal leaks. Republican leaders also failing to speak out forcefully against those leaks and the leakers. But the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee is calling for the leakers, the nine unnamed current and former officials cited by the Washington Post, to be jailed.”...
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Defense Secretary James Mattis made the Trump administration stance on NATO pretty clear:
contribute or else
by Kevin Jackson
{theblacksphere.net} ~ While speaking to NATO in Brussels, Secretary Mattis repeated what then candidate Trump said during his campaign. Trump warned NATO that they member countries must do their part... Further, Trump hinted that total reliance on America to police the world has come to an end. How true is that. That one concept goes to show just how dependent on America most of Europe has become. As the panelist of Varney and Company suggested, Europe has spent so much on welfare and entitlements, they no longer have funding for defense. Stuart Varney commented, “Europe is incapable of defending itself.”... http://theblacksphere.net/2017/02/breaking-defense-secy-mattis-nato-huge-blow-un/
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Bumps in the Road: Trump vs. liar-nObama
by Michelle Malkin
{freedomsback.com} ~ The resignation of national security advisor Michael Flynn has the anti-Trump media declaring the new administration a “mess,” in “turmoil” and thrown into “chaos.”
Funny, these same Chicken Littles barely shrugged their shoulders during the turmoil-laden first 100 days of Barack loiar-nObama’s first term. Some perspective is in order.
Remember the withdrawal of liar-nObama’s pick for National Intelligence Council chairman, Charles Freeman, in March 2009? liar-nObama had tapped the former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia for the sensitive post despite abundant conflicts of interests. Freeman had served for four years on the board of the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, a company owned by the Chinese communist government. The state-owned firm has invested in Sudan and Iran. Freeman also led the Middle East Policy Council, a Washington, D.C.-based group funded by the Saudi government. And he chaired Projects International, a consulting firm that had worked with foreign companies and governments.
liar-nObama knew all that and looked the other way at Freeman’s role as a de facto lobbyist for Saudi royalty. Even worse, he ignored Freeman’s Jew-bashing and tyrant-coddling record with a Blame America axe to grind. Freeman carped that our country exhibited “an ugly mood of chauvinism” after the 9/11 attacks and condemned his fellow countrymen for connecting the dots of Islam and Saudi-funded jihad: “Before Americans call on others to examine themselves,” he fumed with Jeremiah Wright-style bombast, “we should examine ourselves.”
In fine form, Freeman inveighed against the “Israel Lobby” in his resignation letter.
The screed said less about Freeman than it did about the liar-nObama administration’s AWOL vetting system. Where were the watchdogs to guard against terror-friendly conspiracy-minded kooks slipping into sensitive intelligence positions?
The Freeman withdrawal came after a series of liar-nObama nominee withdrawals that the amnesia-suffering Beltway media has now conveniently forgotten in its haste to declare Trump’s transition the worst disaster ever.
By this time in liar-nObama’s first term, former Democratic New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson had withdrawn as Commerce Secretary nominee after both liberals and conservatives protested his long record of corruption and incompetence. His political horse-trading with private businesses — campaign donations for infrastructure projects, patronage jobs and board appointments — was so notorious it had earned him the moniker “Dollar Bill.”
At the time liar-nObama tapped him to lead the Commerce Department, Richardson was the subject of a high-profile probe and ongoing grand jury investigation into whether he traded New Mexico government contracts for campaign contributions. The White House transition team knew about the pay-to-play scandal involving a California company, CDR Financial Products. They knew that the FBI and federal prosecutors had launched a probe of CDR’s activities in New Mexico in the summer of 2008. They knew CDR was tied to a doomed bond deal in Alabama, which threatened to cause the biggest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. They knew CDR had raked in nearly $1.5 million in fees from a New Mexico state financial agency after donating more than $100,000 to Richardson’s efforts to register Hispanic and American Indian voters and to pay for expenses at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
It took 33 days before Team liar-nObama threw Richardson and his ethical baggage off the bus.
Richardson’s replacement, former GOP Sen. Judd Gregg, accepted and then quickly withdrew after disagreements over liar-nObama’s massive federal stimulus proposal and Democrats’ politicization of the Census.
Another Beltway barnacle, former Democratic South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle, was also forced to withdraw from his nomination as liar-nObama’s Health and Human Services secretary amid a storm of ethical scandal, conflicts of interest, and tax avoidance. That was compounded by Treasury Secretary Geithner’s admission of “tax goofs” involving his failure to pay $43,000 in federal self-employment taxes for four separate years (until, that is, he was tapped for his liar-nObama post). At least five other Treasury staff picks withdrew before the liar-nObama administration had reached the 100-day mark over tax problems, conflicts of interest, bad judgment and records of lax oversight of industry.
By the end of his first 100 days, liar-nObama had set a turnover record for an incoming cabinet with four major withdrawals. And by the hallowed 100-day mark, liar-nObama had announced less than half of the total Senate-confirmed Cabinet department positions he needed to fill, with only 10 approved — even though the Democrats had an overwhelming majority in the Senate at the time.
Yes, there will be significant bumps in the road and some tough lumps to take as President Trump builds his team. But a dishonest media and preening political establishment pretending there’s something “unprecedented” about such stumbles only discredit themselves.
Funny, these same Chicken Littles barely shrugged their shoulders during the turmoil-laden first 100 days of Barack loiar-nObama’s first term. Some perspective is in order.
Remember the withdrawal of liar-nObama’s pick for National Intelligence Council chairman, Charles Freeman, in March 2009? liar-nObama had tapped the former U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia for the sensitive post despite abundant conflicts of interests. Freeman had served for four years on the board of the China National Offshore Oil Corporation, a company owned by the Chinese communist government. The state-owned firm has invested in Sudan and Iran. Freeman also led the Middle East Policy Council, a Washington, D.C.-based group funded by the Saudi government. And he chaired Projects International, a consulting firm that had worked with foreign companies and governments.
liar-nObama knew all that and looked the other way at Freeman’s role as a de facto lobbyist for Saudi royalty. Even worse, he ignored Freeman’s Jew-bashing and tyrant-coddling record with a Blame America axe to grind. Freeman carped that our country exhibited “an ugly mood of chauvinism” after the 9/11 attacks and condemned his fellow countrymen for connecting the dots of Islam and Saudi-funded jihad: “Before Americans call on others to examine themselves,” he fumed with Jeremiah Wright-style bombast, “we should examine ourselves.”
In fine form, Freeman inveighed against the “Israel Lobby” in his resignation letter.
The screed said less about Freeman than it did about the liar-nObama administration’s AWOL vetting system. Where were the watchdogs to guard against terror-friendly conspiracy-minded kooks slipping into sensitive intelligence positions?
The Freeman withdrawal came after a series of liar-nObama nominee withdrawals that the amnesia-suffering Beltway media has now conveniently forgotten in its haste to declare Trump’s transition the worst disaster ever.
By this time in liar-nObama’s first term, former Democratic New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson had withdrawn as Commerce Secretary nominee after both liberals and conservatives protested his long record of corruption and incompetence. His political horse-trading with private businesses — campaign donations for infrastructure projects, patronage jobs and board appointments — was so notorious it had earned him the moniker “Dollar Bill.”
At the time liar-nObama tapped him to lead the Commerce Department, Richardson was the subject of a high-profile probe and ongoing grand jury investigation into whether he traded New Mexico government contracts for campaign contributions. The White House transition team knew about the pay-to-play scandal involving a California company, CDR Financial Products. They knew that the FBI and federal prosecutors had launched a probe of CDR’s activities in New Mexico in the summer of 2008. They knew CDR was tied to a doomed bond deal in Alabama, which threatened to cause the biggest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. They knew CDR had raked in nearly $1.5 million in fees from a New Mexico state financial agency after donating more than $100,000 to Richardson’s efforts to register Hispanic and American Indian voters and to pay for expenses at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.
It took 33 days before Team liar-nObama threw Richardson and his ethical baggage off the bus.
Richardson’s replacement, former GOP Sen. Judd Gregg, accepted and then quickly withdrew after disagreements over liar-nObama’s massive federal stimulus proposal and Democrats’ politicization of the Census.
Another Beltway barnacle, former Democratic South Dakota Sen. Tom Daschle, was also forced to withdraw from his nomination as liar-nObama’s Health and Human Services secretary amid a storm of ethical scandal, conflicts of interest, and tax avoidance. That was compounded by Treasury Secretary Geithner’s admission of “tax goofs” involving his failure to pay $43,000 in federal self-employment taxes for four separate years (until, that is, he was tapped for his liar-nObama post). At least five other Treasury staff picks withdrew before the liar-nObama administration had reached the 100-day mark over tax problems, conflicts of interest, bad judgment and records of lax oversight of industry.
By the end of his first 100 days, liar-nObama had set a turnover record for an incoming cabinet with four major withdrawals. And by the hallowed 100-day mark, liar-nObama had announced less than half of the total Senate-confirmed Cabinet department positions he needed to fill, with only 10 approved — even though the Democrats had an overwhelming majority in the Senate at the time.
Yes, there will be significant bumps in the road and some tough lumps to take as President Trump builds his team. But a dishonest media and preening political establishment pretending there’s something “unprecedented” about such stumbles only discredit themselves.
http://www.freedomsback.com/michelle-malkin/bumps-in-the-road-trump-vs-obama
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