The Front Page Cover "I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened"
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Featuring:
A Rash Leader in a Grave Time
Peggy Noonan
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"Know who you are standing with"
"Show me your friends and I'll show you your future"
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Why Wheaton College Is Right 
Wheaton College professor Larycia Hawkins created a stir last week by announcing she would wear a hijab, the head scarf worn by Islamic women, to "stand in religious solidarity with Muslims" during Advent. Hawkins was later suspended by the school, though not for the reasons presumed by secularists and even some Christians. To be clear: We believe there are numerous flaws in the way she spiritually rationalizes and physically chose to display solidarity. But that alone is not a sufficient reason for punishment. What got Hawkins suspended was a fundamental assertion in her statement: "I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book. And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God."
It's not difficult to see why this might raise some critical issues for a Christian school. In a statement, Wheaton wrote, "The freedom to wear a head scarf as a gesture of care and compassion for individuals in Muslim or other religious communities that may face discrimination or persecution is afforded to Dr. Hawkins as a faculty member of Wheaton College. Yet her recently expressed views, including that Muslims and Christians worship the same God, appear to be in conflict with the College's Statement of Faith."
As RedState's outgoing editor in chief and seminary student Erick Erickson points out, "Muslims are not 'people of the book' in common understanding among evangelicals, though they do descend from Abraham. They do not worship the same God. According to Islam, Allah neither begets nor is begotten — a line explicitly rejecting the trinity. Professor Hawkins and her supporters may wish to distract or may not even care, but Wheaton sets its hiring standards and requires fidelity to the Bible. Professor Hawkins' statement suggests a theological diversion not in keeping with Wheaton's standards." That's why the college's response isn't just justified, but warranted. -The Patriot Post
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Water Under the Historically Revisionist Bridge? There's an old saying attributed to Russians who endured the travails of Soviet totalitarianism: "The future is known — it's always bright — but the past keeps changing." According to Hollywood Reporter, Apex Entertainment is producing a feature movie entitled "Chappaquiddick," a film whose utterly twisted rationale is revealed by Producer Mark Ciardi: "I've done a lot of true life stories, many sports stories, but this one had a deep impact on this country. Everyone has an idea of what happened on Chappaquiddick, and this strings together the events in a compelling and emotional way. You'll see what [Senator Ted Kennedy] had to go through."
What Kennedy had to go through? How about what Mary Jo Kopechne had to go through?
Hollywood may wish to engage in another Orwellian effort stringing together events in a "compelling and emotional way," but pesky facts are indisputable: After a drunken Kennedy drove his car off Dike Bridge into Poucha Pond, the man who would become the "Lion of the Senate" extricated himself and left the 28-year-old Kopechne to drown.
According to Edgartown search-and-rescue head John Farrar, who reached the scene the next morning, Kopechne's corpse was positioned in a way that indicated she was searching for pockets of air. Farrar believes she lived for two hours after the crash. In other words, if Kennedy had merely knocked on the door of the nearest house — only yards away — and summoned that rescue squad, Kopechne might have survived. Not that anything Farrar said became part of the public record. "I was told outright by the D.A.'s office that I would not be allowed to testify on how long Kopechne was alive in the car," he told People magazine in July 1989. "They were not interested in the least in anything that would hurt Ted Kennedy." -The Patriot Post
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WITH YOUR SECOND CUP OF COFFEE
Many people remember Mother Teresa as a nun who helped the poorest of poor by fully immersing herself in their lives, living as they did in the slums of Calcutta, India begging for food to get by. So news that she will be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church comes no surprise. What may be surprising, however, is that a woman of seemingly unshakable faith had doubts about her ability to fulfill what she felt was her calling. As she once described: “The change was extremely difficult. In the convent I had lived without knowing what difficulties were. I had lacked nothing. Now everything was different. I slept where I happened to be, on the ground, often in hovels infested by rats. I ate what the people I was serving ate, and only when there was a little food.” Mother Teresa contemplated leaving Calcutta and returning to a convent life, but her faith in her mission compelled her to continue on, as she describes: “Among the poorest of the poor of Calcutta, I loved Jesus. When I love like that, I don’t feel suffering or fatigue.” -Fox News
Many people remember Mother Teresa as a nun who helped the poorest of poor by fully immersing herself in their lives, living as they did in the slums of Calcutta, India begging for food to get by. So news that she will be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church comes no surprise. What may be surprising, however, is that a woman of seemingly unshakable faith had doubts about her ability to fulfill what she felt was her calling. As she once described: “The change was extremely difficult. In the convent I had lived without knowing what difficulties were. I had lacked nothing. Now everything was different. I slept where I happened to be, on the ground, often in hovels infested by rats. I ate what the people I was serving ate, and only when there was a little food.” Mother Teresa contemplated leaving Calcutta and returning to a convent life, but her faith in her mission compelled her to continue on, as she describes: “Among the poorest of the poor of Calcutta, I loved Jesus. When I love like that, I don’t feel suffering or fatigue.” -Fox News
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HILLY’S DEATH STAR FULLY OPERATIONAL, BUT REBELS PERSIST
As Democrats assemble to debate Saturday in New Hampshire, look no further than today’s ABC News/Washington Post national poll to prove that Hilly Clinton’s death star is fully operational and has eclipsed her rivals. Pockets of the rebellion may have given Bernie Sanders a brief boost this week, but Clinton’s 31 point lead over Sanders in the poll zaps any notion that the force has shifted.
USA Today: “[T]here’s a growing sense of inevitability about Clinton’s candidacy. According to a recent CNN/WMUR survey of New Hampshire Democrats, about 60% said they think Clinton is most likely to win the primary there, up from 42% saying so in September….At the debate, her challenge is to maintain some distance from President nObama amid heightened concerns over terrorism without alienating the party’s base voters, for whom the president remains popular.” -Fox News
As Democrats assemble to debate Saturday in New Hampshire, look no further than today’s ABC News/Washington Post national poll to prove that Hilly Clinton’s death star is fully operational and has eclipsed her rivals. Pockets of the rebellion may have given Bernie Sanders a brief boost this week, but Clinton’s 31 point lead over Sanders in the poll zaps any notion that the force has shifted.
USA Today: “[T]here’s a growing sense of inevitability about Clinton’s candidacy. According to a recent CNN/WMUR survey of New Hampshire Democrats, about 60% said they think Clinton is most likely to win the primary there, up from 42% saying so in September….At the debate, her challenge is to maintain some distance from President nObama amid heightened concerns over terrorism without alienating the party’s base voters, for whom the president remains popular.” -Fox News
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Pakistani Taliban says ISIS leader Baghdadi ‘is not a Islamic Khalifa’
{BILL ROGGIO} ~ The Movement of the Taliban in Pakistan has yet again rejected the Islamic State and said its emir, Abu Bakr al Baghdadi, is unfit to lead an Islamic caliphate... The jihadist group, which is Pakistan’s largest Taliban faction, denounced Baghdadi and his Islamic State in a statement obtained by Reuters. “Baghdadi is not Khalifa (caliph) because in Islam, Khalifa means that he has command over all the Muslim world, while Baghdadi has no such command; he has command over a specific people and territory,” the Pakistani Taliban said. http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/12/pakistani-taliban-says-islamic-state-leader-baghdadi-is-not-a-islamic-khalifa.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LongWarJournalSiteWide+%28The+Long+War+Journal+%28Site-Wide%29%29
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Has The Left Overplayed Its Hand?
{Dan Lyman} ~ As we cross the bridge from 2015 into what will (hopefully) be the final year of life under Barack Hussein nObama, there is much to reflect upon, and even more to anticipate... Many believe we are approaching the most critical election in modern American history. Others wonder if we will actually make it to November in one piece. The damage the Left has managed to inflict on our society, thus far, is akin to what the streets would look like after a ‘Running of the Bulls’ if Pamplona were a gigantic fine china bazaar. The economic outlook gets bleaker by the day. The Resident has doubled the national debt since taking office, with the per-citizen share approaching $60,000. Labor participation numbers are staggeringly bad – nearly 103 millionworking-age Americans currently do not have a job. And for those who are fortunate enough to be employed, less than half are netting more than $30,000 per year. Half of all Americans are on some form on government assistance, with 47 million on food stamps..
Saudi Arabia 'Recruits' 34 Muslim Countries to Fight Terror
{Alice Greene} ~ Saudi Arabia surprised the world on Tuesday with the unveiling of an anti-terrorism military alliance including 34 mainly Muslim countries... which, according to Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will fight the Islamic State in Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, and Afghanistan. Is this coalition Saudi Arabia’s response to worldwide demands that the country to do something to fight the Islamic State – or is it a farce? Terrorism is a “disease which affected the Islamic world first before the international community as a whole,” said the Crown Prince. He vowed the new alliance will confront “the Islamic world’s problem with terrorism and will be a partner in the worldwide fight against this scourge.” On the surface, it seems like Saudi Arabia has capitulated to worldwide criticism that it become more involved in the fight against terror. Let’s remember, however, the accusations that claim Saudi Arabia to be a supporter of extremist Wahhabi mosques that promote terrorist views. .
Asks IDF Counter-Terrorism Expert What US Should Be Doing
{constitutionrising.com} ~ Judge Jeanine Pirro is joined by Aaron Cohen, a former IDF counter terrorism expert who is highly trained and skilled in meeting terrorism threats... She addresses the “see something say something” mantra of victim hood coming out of the know-nothing Jihadi Jeh Johnson at DHS. His recommendations carry little weight as the Secretary is doing everything he can to make us as vulnerable to attack as possible. He’s not only looking the other way to Islamic terrorist threats, he’s failed to follow-up on 9,500 revoked visas from suspected terrorists and deporting them. Johnson is a terrorist himself so he can be dismissed as at best irrelevant and most likely a serious threat to our nation. Cohen says we need to start getting very realistic about our defense, pointing out a variety of potential soft targets and the extreme vulnerability of Americans in everyday life. He points to Jeh Johnson’s color warning system, saying, “That’s cool, but it doesn’t really help us.” He recommends that the DOJ be able to “control the security of our security licensing process so that we can put private security at every public place.” http://constitutionrising.com/archives/23914.
Sen Jeff Sessions Exposes Blatant Lies Of Speaker Paul Ryan...
{constitutionrising.com} ~ The title and position of Speaker of the House have done nothing to improve the truth telling percentages and propensities of Paul Ryan... If anything he’s been liberated to go full nObama on us, lying with impunity about any topic at any time, defying all challenges and challengers to his claims. Ryan was completely devoid of conscience in his free-wheeling dispensation of falsehoods while promoting the TPP fast track, a secret bill that was classified, making it impossible for him to be refuted and exposed by his honest opposition. The crooked politician is telling similar untruths now about his sellout omnibus “nObama Enabling Act.” He has done so at every opportunity, but one particular interview with Michael Medved may prove problematic for the pathological piece of legislative trash. He engaged in what were some personal assaults on Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL), someone who isn’t concerned with political correctness or impressed by the Ryan persona and position. http://constitutionrising.com/archives/23897.
nObama Utters 6 Words About ISIS, Fox News Shred Him to Pieces {conservativetribune.com} ~ In what can only be described as a public relations ploy by the White House, President Barack nObama held a highly touted meeting with military leaders at the Pentagon on Monday to discuss his strategy to deal with the Islamic State group... Following the meeting, nObama gave a short speech to gathered media, laughably proclaiming, “we are hitting (ISIS) harder than ever.” According to Western Journalism, that self-congratulatory utterance by nObama didn’t sit well with some of the hosts of Fox News’ popular afternoon program “Outnumbered.”
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ISIS Sets Its Sights on the East
{Vijeta Uniyal} ~ The Islamic State (ISIS) is apparently planning to subjugate and conquer the ancient civilizations of the East as part of its worldwide jihad... The Islamic State's newly-released manifesto contains, among the ideological positions and strategic objectives of the self-proclaimed Islamic Caliphate, direct threats to Hindus and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The 130-page English-language manifesto, entitled "Black Flags from the Islamic State (2016)," was uploaded in early December on various online forums sympathetic to the Islamic State. Previously, in July 2015, ISIS had circulated another document declaring its ambitions of expanding its Jihad into India. This month's ISIS manifesto claims India as part of Islamic Caliphate and, referring to the recent resurgence of Hindus in the country, states: "a movement of Hindus is growing who kill Muslims who eat beef." http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/7050/isis-india-hindus.
Samir Kuntar killed in Syria airstrike
{Elad Benari} ~ Arab media reports on Saturday night claimed that Israeli rocket fire destroyed a building in the Jaramana district of Damascus... According to Russia Today, Hezbollah-linked terrorist Samir Kuntar was the target of the strike and was reportedly killed. Images from the scene show a collapsed multi-story residential building, with lots of rubble on the ground. Vehicles parked nearby appear to have been completely destroyed, the Russian news agency reported. According to Reuters, a number of rockets indeed hit a building in the Damascus district of Jaramana causing several casualties, but Syria's state media blamed "terrorist groups" - the term used by Bashar Al-Assad regime to describe rebels fighting against him - for the attack. Arab media reports claim Israeli attack in Damascus killed child murderer Samir Kuntar..
Fighting Islamic State with an eye on Iran
{Seth-J-Frantzman} ~ The crackle of warm fire reminds one of being on a camping trip. But this fire is kindled in an oil drum that has been cut in half and welded onto four staves... A giant blackened kettle steams with Kurdish tea. All around are sand-bagged positions, bunkers dug into the muddy hillside, and Kurdish flags flapping in the wind. Overhead the faint drone of coalition aircraft, monitoring ISIS, fades into the background. For 16 months, Hussein Yazdanpana has been fighting here with his Kurdish Peshmerga unit. Peshmerga are the military forces of the Kurdistan Regional Government. Like other Kurdish volunteers who fought ISIS to a standstill last year and then pushed the extremists back, Yazdanpana’s unit is connected to a political party. The Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), of which Yazdanpana is vice president, has its origins among Kurds from Iran, what they call Eastern Kurdistan..
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A Rash Leader in a Grave Time
Peggy Noonan
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{peggynoonan.com} ~ As tribune of the base Donald Trump is successful and inadequate. You see it in the Muslim question. His strength is that he responds to and appears to share the concerns of those who are legitimately worried about whom we allow into the United States—our visa protocols, our vetting, our standards. This is a national-security issue. We have entered the age of ISIS-inspired and ISIS-directed attacks on the West. The latter (Paris) have tended to be bloodier than the former (San Bernardino), because they involve more operatives, more simultaneous targets, more weapons. Whether inspired or directed, the idea of future hits in the U.S.—and everyone, from the most sophisticated desk-jockey intel analyst in Washington to the receptionist at your dentist’s office, will tell you they believe more are coming—is very much on the public mind..
A Paris here would change everything, transposing a detached debate about strategy into a hot and immediate political exigency. There is the real danger events will outstrip sober decision making. The smartest thing I’ve heard the past few weeks was the suggestion that America figure out the most effective and constructive things it could do after a Paris-style attack, and start doing them now. I hope everyone who runs the country is thinking about this. They’d better have a plan.
A Paris here would change everything, transposing a detached debate about strategy into a hot and immediate political exigency. There is the real danger events will outstrip sober decision making. The smartest thing I’ve heard the past few weeks was the suggestion that America figure out the most effective and constructive things it could do after a Paris-style attack, and start doing them now. I hope everyone who runs the country is thinking about this. They’d better have a plan.
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But to Mr. Trump. The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Michael McCaul, said Monday that U.S. intelligence officers believe ISIS terrorists are attempting to use the nObama administration’s Syrian refugee program to enter the country themselves: “I believe 2015 will be seen as a watershed year in this long war—the year when our enemies gained an upper hand and when the spread of terror once again awoke the West.” The director of the FBI previously told Congress the U.S. cannot adequately vet the 10,000 Syrians the administration wants to accept..
Under the circumstances public concern is entirely warranted. Good on Mr. Trump for addressing it—and, in addressing it, forcing other candidates to come up with their plans. Bad on Mr. Trump—very bad—for doing it in his usual way. Colorfully, yes—this is a man who knows how to break through the clutter!—but crudely, seemingly off the top of his head, and using his mouth as a blunt instrument. He doesn’t think it through, doesn’t anticipate legitimate pushback, doesn’t try to persuade, only declares. And of course he was confusing and contradictory. We’ll ban all Muslims! Including U.S. citizens returning from an overseas trip? Yes! No! It’s only temporary, a pause. It’s not about religion, it’s about security! He ignores civic and cultural politesse when that politesse is not just old sissy stuff but a melting-pot tradition that exists for good reason. In defense of his stand he evokes FDR’s actions during World War II, which included putting Japanese-Americans in internment camps. Mr. Trump seems to think that was a good thing because FDR did it. But it is regarded as an American embarrassment and a stain on FDR’s legacy. And this is not a Secret of History. Congress officially apologized for internment 27 years ago.
Under the circumstances public concern is entirely warranted. Good on Mr. Trump for addressing it—and, in addressing it, forcing other candidates to come up with their plans. Bad on Mr. Trump—very bad—for doing it in his usual way. Colorfully, yes—this is a man who knows how to break through the clutter!—but crudely, seemingly off the top of his head, and using his mouth as a blunt instrument. He doesn’t think it through, doesn’t anticipate legitimate pushback, doesn’t try to persuade, only declares. And of course he was confusing and contradictory. We’ll ban all Muslims! Including U.S. citizens returning from an overseas trip? Yes! No! It’s only temporary, a pause. It’s not about religion, it’s about security! He ignores civic and cultural politesse when that politesse is not just old sissy stuff but a melting-pot tradition that exists for good reason. In defense of his stand he evokes FDR’s actions during World War II, which included putting Japanese-Americans in internment camps. Mr. Trump seems to think that was a good thing because FDR did it. But it is regarded as an American embarrassment and a stain on FDR’s legacy. And this is not a Secret of History. Congress officially apologized for internment 27 years ago.
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All of this forced us into the nonsensical but at this point compulsive media cycle in which Mr. Trump says something rash, the media pounce, and Republican contenders are told they must denounce him or forfeit their place among the just and the good. Mr. Trump then announces he is misunderstood—that in fact he loves women, Mexicans, Muslims, whoever he has offended this week. Oddly enough, I think he is sincere about this and feels genuinely injured. But one thing an effective leader must always do is know what can be misunderstood and guard against it, what can be misconstrued and used to paint you—and your followers—as bigoted. Leaders try hard not to let that happen. It is the due diligence of politics.
All of this forced us into the nonsensical but at this point compulsive media cycle in which Mr. Trump says something rash, the media pounce, and Republican contenders are told they must denounce him or forfeit their place among the just and the good. Mr. Trump then announces he is misunderstood—that in fact he loves women, Mexicans, Muslims, whoever he has offended this week. Oddly enough, I think he is sincere about this and feels genuinely injured. But one thing an effective leader must always do is know what can be misunderstood and guard against it, what can be misconstrued and used to paint you—and your followers—as bigoted. Leaders try hard not to let that happen. It is the due diligence of politics.
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A continuing mystery of Mr. Trump is his failure to impose on himself political discipline. He has been front-runner for six months but he doesn’t act as if he has absorbed the fact that he could become the nominee. At this point he owes it to his country—he owes it to his own ambition!—to become disciplined in terms of statements and policy. It is possible for candidates to be vivid but careful, dramatic but responsible. When you’re winning you can’t just keep pulling it out of your orifices. Mr. Trump’s lack of discipline should worry his supporters. I know it doesn’t, but it should. Because indiscipline shows disrespect. And people pick up on it, they see it.
A continuing mystery of Mr. Trump is his failure to impose on himself political discipline. He has been front-runner for six months but he doesn’t act as if he has absorbed the fact that he could become the nominee. At this point he owes it to his country—he owes it to his own ambition!—to become disciplined in terms of statements and policy. It is possible for candidates to be vivid but careful, dramatic but responsible. When you’re winning you can’t just keep pulling it out of your orifices. Mr. Trump’s lack of discipline should worry his supporters. I know it doesn’t, but it should. Because indiscipline shows disrespect. And people pick up on it, they see it.
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It is odd too that, as the longtime front-runner, he doesn’t attempt to reassure those who will have some impact on his future, such as state and national party leaders. In his daily actions he could continue to excite his base while subtly signaling to party elders that while he might be an unusual nominee he would, in some recognizable way, be a responsible one. Instead he ties them in knots each day and embarrasses them. That limits his popularity, lowers his ceiling of support, and reinforces the idea he’s an impetuous flake.
It is odd too that, as the longtime front-runner, he doesn’t attempt to reassure those who will have some impact on his future, such as state and national party leaders. In his daily actions he could continue to excite his base while subtly signaling to party elders that while he might be an unusual nominee he would, in some recognizable way, be a responsible one. Instead he ties them in knots each day and embarrasses them. That limits his popularity, lowers his ceiling of support, and reinforces the idea he’s an impetuous flake.
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He tweets out taunts alerting party stalwarts to his continued popularity in the polls, and noting that while he does not intend to go third-party he certainly could. This is a form of blackmail: Nice little party you’ve got here. Shame if someone blew it up.
He tweets out taunts alerting party stalwarts to his continued popularity in the polls, and noting that while he does not intend to go third-party he certainly could. This is a form of blackmail: Nice little party you’ve got here. Shame if someone blew it up.
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GOP leaders seem to be doing the only thing they can—watch the process play out and hope for good outcomes. Sooner or later, they hope, the field will winnow and it will be Mr. Trump with his 35% versus one, two or three non-Trumps who’ll fight over the 65%. Party leaders’ position is delicate. They are certain they cannot win the presidency with Mr. Trump as the candidate. And they know they can’t win the presidency if embittered Trump supporters stay home or bolt. They can’t win with him and can’t win without his people.
GOP leaders seem to be doing the only thing they can—watch the process play out and hope for good outcomes. Sooner or later, they hope, the field will winnow and it will be Mr. Trump with his 35% versus one, two or three non-Trumps who’ll fight over the 65%. Party leaders’ position is delicate. They are certain they cannot win the presidency with Mr. Trump as the candidate. And they know they can’t win the presidency if embittered Trump supporters stay home or bolt. They can’t win with him and can’t win without his people.
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Meanwhile Mr. Trump’s supporters, like Mr. Trump himself, appear to care nothing for the GOP. They believe America is in danger and this is no time for party loyalty. In any case they haven’t felt that loyalty for years because the party has disappointed them for years. Mr. Trump is both the expression and a deepening cause of the party’s fissuring.
Meanwhile Mr. Trump’s supporters, like Mr. Trump himself, appear to care nothing for the GOP. They believe America is in danger and this is no time for party loyalty. In any case they haven’t felt that loyalty for years because the party has disappointed them for years. Mr. Trump is both the expression and a deepening cause of the party’s fissuring.
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The biggest reason has been the distance—the chasm—between the party elite at the top, who are more or less for illegal immigration, and the bulk of the party on the ground, who are opposed. In this case there is a chasm between elites concerned that they personally will look bigoted if they take action and voters concerned about who comes into America in the age of ISIS. It is a split, a distance; it is primarily the fault of the top, not the bottom; and Mr. Trump, who through his popularity could choose to be a bridge across the distance is instead functioning as a deepener of it.
The biggest reason has been the distance—the chasm—between the party elite at the top, who are more or less for illegal immigration, and the bulk of the party on the ground, who are opposed. In this case there is a chasm between elites concerned that they personally will look bigoted if they take action and voters concerned about who comes into America in the age of ISIS. It is a split, a distance; it is primarily the fault of the top, not the bottom; and Mr. Trump, who through his popularity could choose to be a bridge across the distance is instead functioning as a deepener of it.
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If the nominee is not decided in the primaries and everything is fought through at the convention—well, that will be some convention. In the old fashioned, fisticuffs sense.
If the nominee is not decided in the primaries and everything is fought through at the convention—well, that will be some convention. In the old fashioned, fisticuffs sense.
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