Trump supporters give Weekly Standard the boot

Formerly conservative magazine folds

The Weekly Standard magazine charted its own course for disaster with its intensely critical messaging on President Donald Trump. Once considered a conservative bastion, its relentless insulting of the pro-Trump reader base, has finally rung the magazine’s death knell.

The last issue will be published Dec. 17.

“All good things come to an end,” Bill Kristol, The Weekly Standard‘s co-founder and editor-at-large, tweeted. “We worked hard to put out a quality magazine, and we had a good time doing so.”

Is serious commentary in dramatically divided America intended to impart joviality or inform? Clearly, the Weekly Standard did neither.

Kristol, a one-time adviser to John McCain, must have developed a case of amnesia, forgetting these decisive election night results.

The Feb. 15, 2016 issue of National Review featured a vicious editorial that called then-candidate Donald Trump, “A threat to conservatism,” including critiques by nearly two dozen prominent conservatives united in their opposition to his candidacy. The cover was emblazoned with the words, “Against Trump.” Founded by William F. Buckley, who was in the forefront of the draft Goldwater movement, it now features articles like this one.

Conservative news magazines are not dying simply because of digital advances. The real cause is the lack of desire to take the pulse of their readers —- who overwhelmingly support President Trump. Not only has he put Justices Neil Gorsuch (2017) and Brett Kavanaugh (2018) on the U.S. Supreme Court, he is keeping his promises to the American people.

Denigrating this popular president, who generates massive, cheering crowds at rallies across the country, is not the route to keeping subscribers on-board.

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Jeff Flake’s flaky farewell

The Hillary Clinton and Kyrsten Sinema-endorsing Arizona Republic newspaper is in full-fledged grief mode as their amnesty-for-illegals promoter Jeff Flake gave his final speech before the U.S. Senate chamber Thursday.

The mournful gnashing of teeth is evident by the newspaper’s printing of the full text of Flake’s prepared remarks. Filled with self-serving pretentiousness and his own version of history, especially as it relates to his time spent in Africa where he lobbied as a registered foreign agent in D.C on behalf of a uranium mining company with ties to Iran. (A fact he obscured as he campaigned.) In his speech, he now claims he was drawn back to Africa (after serving a church mission there) to “evangelize for democracy and democratic values,” and “trying to ensure that Namibia emerged from the process of gaining its independence as a democratic country.”

He neglects to mention his generous $7,000+ per month salary — hardly chump change in 1990 — paid by Rossing Uranium for his efforts on its behalf. As a senator, Flake has received nearly $200,000 in quid pro quo contributions from mining interests and reliably voted against penalties on Iran.

While bashing President Trump, Flake also blurs the truth on why he’s leaving the U.S. Senate after a single term. It had everything to do with his bottom dragging 18% approval ratings in his home state. So  unpopular, he is even unable to garner support in his hometown community of Snowflake, Arizona, named after his ancestors. Arizonans overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump for President, delivering all 11 electoral and the majority of the popular votes to him.

With his days numbered, as a member of the Judiciary Committee, egotist Flake has insolently continued to block President Trump’s federal judicial nominees, who will be stonewalled by the Democrats after January.

Referring to his initial senate speech, which he identifies as his “maiden” speech, Flake pompously concludes his self-serving finale with a few veiled, and then more blatant, gag-inducing jabs:

“I noted then that it was an affirmation to me of the tumultuous seas through which our ship of state has sailed for more than 200 years, with many brilliant and inspired individuals at the helm, along with personalities ranging from mediocre to malevolent.  But our system of government had survived them all.

My colleagues, to say that our politics is not healthy is something of an understatement.  I believe that we all know well that this is not a normal time, that the threats to our democracy from within and without are real, and none of us can say with confidence how the situation that we now find ourselves in will turn out.”

Then comes the politically expedient, waffler Flake’s near admission of an upcoming political defector gig on Trump-hating CNN or MSNBC:

“Over the past two years, I have spoken a great deal on that subject from this chamber, and there will be time enough later to return to it in other settings.”

A threat?  A promise? Or both?

Pres. Trump refuses to cave on border wall

Democrat hypocrisy: Method acting comes to Washington

During a public, televised meeting with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Sen. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), President Trump announced he would be, “Proud to shut down the government for border security,” stating “border security is national security.” Funding for FY 2018 runs out Dec. 21.

Notice that Schumer refuses to make eye contact with the President as he says border security does not need a wall, and Pelosi repeatedly states the meeting should be held privately. Following the meeting at which she admonishingly shook her finger at the president, Pelosi later maligned his position on the border wall telling House Democrats, “It’s like a manhood thing for him. This wall thing.”

Democrat stalwarts, including Sens. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Chuck Schumer, joined a roster of 26 Democrat senators who aligned with 54 Republicans and embraced the Secure Fence Act of 2006, signed by Pres. George W. Bush.  A dozen years later, Democrat’s visceral hatred of President Trump has dramatically changed their perspective.  This brief but illustrative video is provided by the Washington Post, a staunchly liberal publication.

The Center for Immigration Studies reports 63% of non-citizen households access welfare programs compared to 35% of native households. Net cost to taxpayers for every illegal who sneaks into the United States has reached nearly $70,000 —- seven times the cost of deporting them —- about $70 billion, according to 2016 federal Census data. 

Breitbart News covered a Harvard-Harris poll revealing dreadful immigration news for Democrats. The overwhelming majority of Americans —- 80% —- agree with President Trump’s pro-American immigration agenda. Those surveyed said that legal immigration to the U.S. should be based on skills and merit, rather than the current system giving priority to chain migration, linked to family members already in the U.S.

Democrats have long been hypocrites on fundamental issues of importance to Americans, as we noted in 2012, in our post titled, “Dem gun hypocrites,” demonstrating the double standard of Second Amendment restrictionists, Sen. Chuck Schumer and former Sen. Dianne Feinstein who both have concealed carry permits, but don’t want you to have the same access.

Columnist Robb foolishly mourns Flake’s implosion

Robert Robb, the local newspaper’s Libertarian-leaning columnist, has written a eulogy lamenting the demise of the stone cold but still upright body of Sen. Jeff Flake. 

His earnest lament can be understood in the context of their shared laissez-faire views. In the truest sense, Libertarians are classical liberals who not only don’t believe the lines in the road apply to them, they go to great lengths to allege they are unjustly constraining rather than providing for safe travel.

In his paean to the failed Flake, Robb oddly describes the nearly out-the-door McCain toady as having been “a beacon for a conservative point of view that should have a place in American politics.”

Conservatives, both seasoned and new to the fold, would have difficulty with that ill-founded definition. Rather than sounding the clarion call for conservatism, Flake has been an angry obstructionist, making long-winded speeches denouncing President Trump to an empty senate chamber. Flake even wrote an anti-Trump tirade, with a title directly stolen from Barry Goldwater’s iconic 1960 volume, “The Conscience of a Conservative,” written two years before Flake was born. Never accused of being an intellectual, he likely thought the title was historical and in the public domain. Preceding the 2016 presidential election, Flake announced that neither he nor his family would vote for Trump — effectively supporting Hillary Clinton.

Since his lame duck status is coming to an end after he prudently decided against running for reelection with bottom dragging 18% approval ratings in his home state, Flake has been showing up on left-wing network programs, apparently auditioning for the contrarian defector position — always a hit with the left.

Flake’s latest dishonorable gambit is holding up the vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee on nearly two dozen of the president’s federal judicial nominees, linking their progress to protecting the Mueller ongoing investigation between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia, which has produced not a scintilla of evidence after nearly two years. Surely Robert Robb can’t believe this spitefulness is indicative of conservatism.

Robb bemoans what he views as the tragic demise of Sen. Jeff Flake’s political career. A tragedy is regarded a wretched circumstance over which a victim has no control. Blowing up your own future is masochistic.  Robb is so enthralled with Flake, he even alleges Flake doesn’t engage in mean-spirited politics, a trait he has honed and obviously mastered.  Slathering the less than admirable Flake with undeserved accolades is preposterous.

Robb concludes his commentary with these words: “Flake is a good man who practiced politics civilly and constructively. He was a beacon for a point of view that should have a place in American politics. That merits more appreciation than it is getting.”

Actually, uncivil Flake is getting what is known as the boomerang effect, receiving what he has thrown…exactly what he deserves.

The state’s newspaper of record reports that Flake is even held in low regard in his hometown of Snowflake, AZ — named in part for his founding ancestor, William Flake. The headline includes the words, “Jeff Flake’s name is mud.”

Gov. Ducey’s magical “fee” is actually a tax

Teacher pay hikes that “wouldn’t raise taxes,” find their funding source: YOU

Remember when Gov. Doug Ducey, vowed he would not be held hostage to teachers’ demands for a 20% pay hike, and then acquiesced, though promising no tax increases would be needed to fund their excessive demands for their part-time jobs?

Surprise!

Beginning Jan. 1, 2019 there will be a new, deceptively named “public safety fee“(notice it’s not called a tax) that will be tacked on to vehicle registrations. The newspaper headline says it takes effect Jan. 1, but the ADOT press release declares Dec. 1.  Which one of these charlatans to believe?

ADOT’s website is full service, providing a choice among 103 languages from Afrikaans to Zulu, and even has a readily accessible Civil Rights Division, in case your feelings were bruised during your work day. If that isn’t enough, it also hawks specialty license plates, “for that person who’s impossible to shop for.”

The $32 fee/scam, originally touted as $18, was projected to raise either $149 or $185 million yearly. The numbers fluctuate wildly depending on the “fee” and who made the projections.  When the word “stakeholders” is used, your suspicion antenna should be on high alert. ADOT itself announced it would actually be $265.6 million! Good luck in finding that news release now. This is the enabling legislation, signed by Gov. Ducey. The purpose of this “fee” is to free up highway safety money tapped into for educrats, according to this revealing news report.

On July 13, 2018 leftist editorialist Linda Valdez wrote, “What’s wrong with Phoenix raising taxes?” one of her loads of drivel passing for a column.  Valdez is a staunch cradle-to-grave advocate. With liberals, having the government provide for you throughout your lifetime is a core belief comparable to the religious fervor she so disdains. Of course, “the government” is us.

The rest of us hold the belief that taxes are our money, necessary for maintaining infrastructure (pipelines, utilities, roadways, bridges, and military preparedness), but often misspent. President Trump’s tax cuts have, in fact, spurred economic growth. Tax cuts, not tax increases, are the means of energizing the economy and empowering Americans.

Tell that to da Dems and da Ducey.

Outrage over speech? Why Rep. Stringer and not McCain?

David Stringer, a GOP State Representative from Prescott is accused of making racially obtuse, cringe-worthy remarks that have resulted in him being stripped of his vice-chairmanship position on the House Judiciary Committee and his seat on the House Education Committee.

The Prescott City Council interjected itself into the matter, toothlessly voting 6-1 that Stringer should resign from the legislature. The leaderless Arizona Republican Party even jumped into the fray, issuing a condemnation. Yet his comments fall far short of those uttered by the relentless amnesty-for-illegals-supporting John McCain when he picked on the gawky teenage Chelsea Clinton as being the “ugly” love child of Hillary Clinton and Janet Reno, specifically asking, “Do you know why Chelsea Clinton is so ugly? Because Janet Reno is her father.”

There were no loud voices denouncing McCain and demanding he resign. Silence accompanied McCain’s vulgar tirade directed at his wife, Cindy — the mother of 4 of his 7 children — in front of staffers and reporters. The AZ Republican Party neither condemned McCain nor asked for his resignation.  Nope.  They helped him get elected — over and over again. The Arizona Republic newspaper, piling on Stringer, heaped infinite eulogies on this marginal but arrogant man, who survived the Keating Five scandal that destroyed other senate careers, by selling out his associates.

Stringer’s remarks resulted in him being striped of key committee assignments. As a lawyer he should certainly know better in today‘s volatile political arena. But ultimately, it should be up to those who put him in office to take him out, not the self-important members of the Prescott City Council, the leftist, Hillary-endorsing newspaper or the McCain indulgent AZ GOP. He was returned to his seat by over 67,000 votes just last month. He stands for reelection in two years. If the voters so choose, they can replace — or keep — Rep. Stringer. This article, “So, What Did Representative David Stringer Really Say?” appeared in Prescott eNews.

Weighing Rep. Stringer against President Donald Trump, there is no question who should take precedence. It’s open to discussion whether Stringer— who easily won one of the two District 1 House seats last month would be reelected, but most of us pray Pres. Trump will be.

For that reason, we direct our readers to a recent National Review column by the brilliant Victor Davis Hanson, titled, “How Trump Can Translate His Policy Successes into Political Success.”

This is where the rubber meets the road.  The double standard in the media and the unfailingly McCain and Flake supporting Arizona Republican Party is more of a problem than the ill-considered comments of Rep. David Stringer.

Narcissist Jeff Flake continues to scam Republicans

Though nearly out the senate door due to embarrassing 18% approval ratings in his home state —- precluding even an arrogant egotist like the aptly named Flake from seeking reelection —- he nevertheless continues to act like a petulant child. By Spring of 2017, he was unable to garner enough supporters to fill a small room.

Lame duck Flake’s overriding obsession is hatred-driven. And the object of this scurrilous intensity is President Donald Trump, who is keeping his promises to the American people.  Unable to acknowledge the numerous accomplishments of the man he predicted would never be elected, Flake throws tantrums and engages in reckless, destructive actions. 

Flake has now chosen to act on his threats of stalling confirmations of the well-vetted federal judicial candidates, including six conservative Trump nominees to the Circuit Court and 15 others named to the District Courts. Flake did no such thing while his travel and basketball playing buddy Barack Obama occupied the Oval Office. Flake even worked double-time to get Obama’s last minute U.S. Supreme Court Democrat appointee, Merrick Garland, confirmed —- a task at which he fortunately failed. His latest foolish issue is having confirmations tied to a vote on a bill to protect Robert Mueller’s baseless Russia investigation, which has produced not a single shred of evidence implicating the president or his family. Senate majority Leader Mitch McConnell has called the bill, “a solution in search of a problem,“ although that logic fails to deter Flake.

Jeff Flake, like his mentor John McCain, had no trouble using the Republican party to get elected. They talked a good game while campaigning, but once safely back on the banks of the Potomac, they veered left, frequently colluding on issues such as amnesty for illegals with the most radical D.C. liberals. McCain forged alliances with Ted Kennedy, Dick Durbin and Charles Schumer, among others. Flake is partnering on this legislation with Delaware Democrat Chris Cooms. Flake’s neurotic loathing is so insidious President Trump’s historic achievements, such as being the first U.S. President in nearly 70 years to meet with the leader of North Korea and sign a treaty to denuclearize the volatile Korean peninsular —- are of no consequence to the chronically angry, self-absorbed, show-boating Flake.

The Senate Judiciary Committee, on which Flake is a member, canceled a Thursday vote on over 20 federal judicial nominations The Judiciary panel, with a slim 11-10 GOP majority, doesn’t have sufficient votes to advance nominees without his support. The new congress will be sworn in Jan 3, 2019.

It’s difficult to imagine that Kyrsten Sinema, the leftist Democrat who will replace Flake in the U.S. Senate, could be any worse.