Month: December 2016

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The Sanctuary City Battle

Mayors of 18 large cities throughout the U.S. have pledged to retain their “Sanctuary City” policies despite President-elect Trump’s threat to withhold federal funding from localities that seek to block his drive to reduce illegal immigration.  The White House could withhold $650 billion in funding, with some cities potentially losing over $7 billion, according to Bloomberg News.

The  Center for Immigration Studies notes “Across the U.S., there are 340 cities, counties, and states that are considered ‘sanctuary cities.’ These jurisdictions protect criminal aliens from deportation by refusing to comply with ICE detainers or otherwise impede open communication and information exchanges between their employees or officers and federal immigration agents… This has resulted in the release by local authorities of approximately 1,000 criminal aliens per month… [The] Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported to Congress that,  between January 1 and September 30, 2014, local sanctuaries released 9,295 alien offenders that ICE was seeking to deport. More than 600 people were released at least twice…Out of these, 5,947 of the criminal aliens (62 percent) had significant prior criminal histories or other public safety concerns even before the arrest that led to a detainer. Fifty-eight percent of those with a prior history of concern had prior felony charges or convictions; 37 percent had serious prior misdemeanor charges, and 5 percent had multiple prior misdemeanors. An alarming number — 2,320 — of the total number of released offenders were subsequently arrested within the time period studied for new crimes after they were released by the sanctuaries…Of the 6,460 criminal aliens who were still at large during the time period studied, 3,802 (58 percent) had prior felonies or violent misdemeanors.”

In sanctuary cities, local law enforcement officials aren’t required by local government to alert federal authorities about the immigration status of individuals with whom they come in contact, reports Politico. According to a Washington Free Beacon study, about 179,000 aliens who have committed crimes roam the United States. Trump’s first target in his activist anti-illegal alien policy is the expulsion of criminal aliens.

Spammers have largely ruined the market with their nefarious practices in acquiring email addresses, hacking and gaining backdoor entry to mail servers to send mails, and their completely unfocused target marketing that will not stop short of selling a ten-year old cheap levitra uk at a 10 per cent discount. Human women viagra australia body is a machine which, in the same way as some other device, has a tendency to crumble with time. In point of fact, it may possibly develop into an really effortlessly manageable ailment and their prime top quality of living will not diminish. viagra soft tablets The formula is based on the ancient Chinese secret folk formula, and has been worked upon by a joint team of Chinese and American scientists to blend it with a cup of hot cow’s milk and add ginger cardamom and saffron to viagra cialis online amerikabulteni.com it. Last year, Senate Democrats successfully blocked the “Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act.” Sen. David Vitter, (R-Louisiana) who sponsored the legislation, pointed to the extraordinary danger posed by criminal aliens. Taxpayers in those cities have complained also of the unmanageable costs of providing education and other basic services to illegals.  Congressional legislation occurred in the wake of the nationally reported murder of a young woman, Kathryn Steinle in San Francisco, allegedly by an illegal who had already been deported five times. The bill would have made it unlawful for cities to refuse federal requests for notification before releasing illegals, and the stopping of federal funds to localities that violate the law. Opponents of the President-elect’s plans argue that the White House does not the legal authority to withhold funds unless specific authorization exists.

According to the Congressional Research Service “The term ‘sanctuary city’ is not defined by federal law, but it is often used to refer to those localities which, as a result of a state or local act, ordinance, policy, or fiscal constraints, place limits on their assistance to federal immigration authorities seeking to apprehend and remove unauthorized aliens. Supporters of such policies argue that many cities have higher priorities, and that local efforts to deter the presence of unauthorized aliens would undermine community relations, disrupt municipal services, interfere with local law enforcement, or violate humanitarian principles.Opponents argue that sanctuary policies encourage illegal immigration and undermine federal enforcement efforts. Pursuant to § 434 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA, P.L. 104-193) and § 642 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA, P.L. 104-208), states and localities may not limit their governmental entities or officers from maintaining records regarding a person’s immigration status, or bar the exchange of such information with any federal, state, or local entity. Reportedly, some jurisdictions with sanctuary policies take a “don’t ask, don’t tell” approach, where officials are barred from inquiring about a person’s immigration status in certain circumstances. Though this method does not directly conflict with federal requirements that states and localities permit the free exchange of information regarding persons’ immigration status, it results in specified agencies or officers lacking information that they could potentially share with federal immigration authorities.”

On the other side of the issue, Zero Hedge reports that Texas governor Greg Abbott vowed to sign legislation banning sanctuary cities in Texas and to issue orders to cut off funding to dissenters.

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Vladimir Putin’s Annual Speech

President Putin discussed foreign affairs in his Dec. 1 “Annual Speech,”  roughly equivalent to the U.S. State of the Union address given each year by the American President. We have excerpted, without comment, Putin’s key points below.  Similar to our analysis of Moscow’s recent “Foreign Policy Concept” document, we found that much of what President Putin states contradicts reality:

FOREIGN POLICY EXCERPTS FROM PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN’S 2016 ANNUAL SPEECH

“We do not want confrontation with anyone. We have no need for it and neither do our partners or the global community. Unlike some of our colleagues abroad, who consider Russia an adversary, we do not seek and never have sought enemies. We need friends. But we will not allow our interests to be infringed upon or ignored. We want to and will decide our destiny ourselves and build our present and future without others’ unasked for advice and prompting.

“At the same time, we desire well-intentioned and equal dialogue and we affirm the principles of justice and mutual respect in international affairs. We are ready for a serious discussion on building a stable system of international relations for the 21st century. Sadly, the decades that have passed since the end of the Cold War have been wasted.

“We support security and development opportunities not just for the select few, but for all countries and peoples, and we support respect for international law and global diversity. We oppose any monopoly, whether it be a claim to exceptionality or attempts to bend the international trade rules to suit one’s own needs, limit freedom of speech and, in fact, introduce censorship to the global information space.

“Russia attaches great importance to the idea of building a multi-level integration model for Eurasia in the form of a Greater Eurasian Partnership. We are already discussing this idea on various international and regional levels. I am confident that we can have conversation with the European Union countries, where the demand for political and economic independence is currently on the rise. This is what we see judging by election results.

“There is great potential for Russia in terms of cooperation with the Asia-Pacific region, as we saw at this year’s Eastern Economic Forum. I ask the Government to make sure that all decisions regarding the development of the Russian Far East are implemented without exception. Let me reiterate that Russia is proactive in its Eastern policy not because of any momentary considerations we may have, not because of the cooling in relations with the United States or the European Union, but for the reason that it serves Russia’s long-term interests and is consistent with the global development trends.

“In today’s challenging environment, the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China have become one of the key factors in ensuring global and regional stability. This partnership can be regarded as a model for shaping a world order free from the domination of a single country, no matter how strong it is, and taking into account the interests of all countries in harmony.

“Today, China is about to become the world’s largest economy, so it is very important that every year adds new large-scale projects in various areas, including trade, investment, energy and high technology, to our mutually beneficial cooperation.

Goldstein’s new http://midwayfire.com/minutes/03-11-08.pdf purchase cheap viagra analysis on the consequences of seat stress and stress due to over work. This chemical is responsible for the production of viagra sale mastercard the three hormones mentioned. Legitimate online pharmacies normally include pharmacists who can verify prescriptions, answer questions, check to find out more on line viagra and give alerts and suggestions the same as their physical counterparts. The first generic product of midwayfire.com cialis uk is made with a preparation called Sildenafil Citrate. “Developing a special privileged strategic partnership with India is another major foreign policy priority for Russia. In October 2016, Goa hosted Russian-Indian top-level talks, confirming that our countries have great potential for strengthening cooperation in a number of areas.

“Russia also expects to achieve substantial progress in relations with Japan, our eastern neighbour. We welcome the commitment of the country’s leaders to promote economic ties with Russia by launching joint projects and programmes.

“Russia is also ready to work with the new US Administration. It is important to put bilateral relations back on track and to develop them on an equal and mutually beneficial basis.

“Cooperation between Russia and the United States in addressing global and regional issues will benefit the whole world. We have a shared responsibility to ensure international security and stability, to strengthen non-proliferation regimes.

“I would like to emphasize that attempts to break the strategic parity are extremely dangerous and can lead to a global catastrophe. We must not forget about it even for a second.

“I certainly count on joining efforts with the United States in the fight against real rather than fictional threats, international terrorism being one of them. That is the task our servicemen are fulfilling in Syria. Terrorists have suffered significant losses. The Russian Army and Navy have shown convincingly that they are capable of operating effectively away from their permanent deployment sites.

“Russia is proactive in promoting a positive agenda in international organisations and informal associations, including the UN, the Group of Twenty and APEC. Together with our partners we also promote our own frameworks, such as the CSTO, BRICS and the SCO. Further strengthening cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union and with other CIS countries has always been a foreign policy priority for Russia.”

 

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The Pope’s Mistake

Pope Francis is considering making an erroneous decision that may have grave consequences for religious freedom, not just for Catholics, but for all people who are suffering at the hands of repressive governments.

In the closing days of the Second World War, Josef Stalin was warned by Winston Churchill to be mindful of the views of the Pope.  The Soviet dictator famously replied, “How many divisions does the Roman Pope have?” Even aside from the fact that the Vatican city-state still exists while the Soviet Union does not, the influence of the head of the Catholic Church cannot be ignored. For that reason, policy errors by the Pontiff should receive substantive analysis.

In 1968, Eugene V. Rostow, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, addressed a conference on “The Vatican and Peace” at Boston College. As noted by EWTN,  Rostow explained: “The Vatican is…a coordinating secretariat for a far-flung multinational bureaucracy. Any discussion of the Church’s international role needs to consider both its spiritual and temporal dimensions. In both the Vatican plays an important. role in international political life…At any rate, although the ‘sovereign’ jurisdiction of the Papal government is minuscule, its direct political influence everywhere is considerable. It has unrivaled sources of information … It deals directly with the most fundamental elements in the life of many communities…As the oldest continuing international organization in the world today, the Vatican has a well-deserved reputation for diplomatic expertise. It possesses a knowledge of foreign countries and their government which cannot be matched, in many respects, by any national state.”

According to CathNewsUSA,  “Negotiators for the Vatican and Beijing reached a compromise on who selects Catholic bishops in China, said people familiar with the matter, potentially marking a major step toward ending six decades of estrangement. If Pope Francis and Chinese leaders sign off on the proposed deal, the pope would accept eight bishops ordained by the Chinese government without the Vatican’s permission.”

The move would be an even more significant change to Catholicism’s power structure than that which occurred in the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. For the first time in the two thousand year-old history of the Church, the Vatican would cede the power to appoint clergy leaders to an atheist entity. It would also be a betrayal to martyrs who gave all for the integrity of Christianity.

The move has been severely criticized by some Church leaders,  particularly in Asia. The Catholic Herald reports that “ Cardinal Joseph Zen, the most senior Chinese Catholic, has said a possible deal between China and the Vatican would ‘betray Jesus Christ’.
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In an interview with The Guardian, Cardinal Zen stated “Maybe the Pope is a little naive, he doesn’t have the background to know the Communists in China…The pope used to know the persecuted Communists [in Latin America], but he may not know the Communist persecutors who have killed hundreds of thousands. Chinese Catholics are free to go to mass and attend government-sanctioned churches, but barred from proselytizing. The state-controlled China Catholic Patriotic Association controls the church and appoints bishops, currently without any input from the Vatican.An “underground” Catholic church exists, with some estimates saying it is larger than the official one, and its members and clergy have faced persecution by authorities. Protestant Christians also face similar challenges…”

As the planet’s most influential religious leader, a surrender by Pope Francis on the issue of the independence of faith groups to appoint their own governing clergy would impact every denomination in every nation.

Many of Pope Francis’ statements have raised serious questions about whether his worldview is sufficiently informed. A U.S. News analysis noted that the Pontiff has not watched television since 1990.

Commentator Wayne Allyn Root  has written that “This pope neither seems to understand, nor care that his views on issues…often put him in bed with atheists and socialists, who don’t believe in God, mock religion and think the Bible is a work of fiction. He crusades for social justice, yet chose to embrace the Castro brothers – evil murderers who have imprisoned, tortured and murdered generations of Cubans for expressing their opinions and questioning the authority of a tyrant…He chose not to visit or even be seen with Cubans imprisoned because of their political views.”

Pope Francis’ lack of a more thorough and well-rounded understanding of the world is leading to exactly the opposite of the goals he, with all good intentions, advocates.

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Manufacturing Employment is Vital to U.S. Economy

All the plans and proposals, whether from Democrats, Republicans, liberals or conservatives will do little to restore growth to the American economy unless they provide middle income employment.  To a significant extent, that means restoring the manufacturing sector to a semblance of strength. The “Little Blue Collar Fact Book”  notes that “the U.S. manufacturing sector…accounts for two-thirds of our country’s private-sector research and development;…accounts for more than 12 percent of U.S. GDP; and … employs about 12 million … Americans in good-paying jobs. A typical manufacturing job supports four or five jobs elsewhere in the economy. And manufacturing jobs pay better, especially for workers who may not possess a four-year college degree… Manufacturing in America means jobs, industrial innovation, and economic growth.”

Since President Clinton gave China unchecked access to trade with the U.S., 5.1 million jobs and 65,000 manufacturing plants have been lost. According to the Alliance for American Manufacturing, “a flood of cheap, heavily subsidized imports from China have put the American steel industry in jeopardy. China’s economy is slowing, but its government-funded industry isn’t slowing down. China has to do something with all that steel it doesn’t need, so it’s shipping it to the United States with a rock-bottom price tag. It’s not just steel. Industries like aluminum are facing the same problem…[The trade deficit with China amounted] a $365 billion…The U.S. trade relationship with China is one-sided. America’s growing trade deficits with countries around the world, not just in China, have had serious consequences for our manufacturing base and the jobs it supports…It’s not just jobs, mind you. There’s a lot of manufacturing innovation and know-how taking place overseas, making it less likely that the future’s big-ticket products and gizmos will be invented and made in America…

“Whenever lawmakers consider legislation that will either promote U.S. manufacturing or put rules in place to go after trade cheats, the naysayers come out of the woodwork. And ‘we’re going to touch off a retaliatory trade war’ is one of their most common criticisms. They’re calling smoke when there’s no fire. Critics said a trade war was coming when Maryland passed a Buy America bill in 2013. They said one was coming when West Virginia considered a similar one in 2014. And they say the same thing whenever Washington, D.C. thinks about legislation to curb currency manipulation…But just look at our deficits and lost manufacturing jobs. We’re in a trade war right now, and we’re losing it. By offshoring a chunk of our manufacturing sector, we might have got a tiny markdown on the price tags at big box stores. But our trading partners – and especially China – need America’s big market to make their own economy work.”

The impact of the manufacturing sector is dramatic. The National Association of Manufacturers outlines its role in the overall economy:

  • In the most recent data, manufacturers contributed $2.17 trillion to the U.S. economy in 2015.
  • For every $1.00 spent in manufacturing, another $1.81 is added to the economy.
  • The vast majority of manufacturing firms in the United States are quite small; Almost two-thirds of manufacturers are organized as pass-through entities.
  • There are 12.3 million manufacturing workers in the United States, accounting for 9 percent of the workforce.
  • In 2015, the average manufacturing worker in the United States earned $81,289 annually, including pay and benefits.
  • Manufacturers have one of the highest percentages of workers who are eligible for health benefits provided by their employer.
  • Output per hour for all workers in the manufacturing sector has increased by more than 2.5 times since 1987. In contrast, productivity is roughly 1.7 times greater for all nonfarm businesses. Note that durable goods manufacturers have seen even greater growth, almost tripling its labor productivity over that time frame.
  • Exports support higher-paying jobs for an increasingly educated and diverse workforce.
  • Manufacturers in the United States perform more than three-quarters of all private-sector research and development (R&D) in the nation, driving more innovation than any other sector.
  • The cost of federal regulations fall disproportionately on manufacturers, particularly those that are smaller.

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Critics of attempts to promote domestic American manufacturing have said that cheaper overseas wages, and the overall impact of automation, will prevent any renaissance in the manufacturing job sector.  The facts, however, indicate otherwise. A Forbes study by Thomas Roemer notes: “It used to be cheaper to manufacture outside the U.S.; now the costs are now converging. In the manufacturing sector, the U.S. is still among the most productive economies in the world in terms of dollar output per worker. To be more specific, a worker in the U.S. is associated with 10 to 12 times the output of a Chinese worker. That’s not a statement about intrinsic abilities; it merely reflects the superior infrastructure of the United States, with its higher investments in automation, information technology, transportation networks, education, and so on. And even though this relative advantage is slowly shrinking thanks to Chinese investment in such infrastructure, the wage gap between Chinese and U.S. workers is shrinking at a much faster rate. The net effect is that overall manufacturing in the U.S. is becoming more attractive again, leading to domestic growth and reshoring.

“As productivity rises and automation increasingly replaces manual labor, the returning manufacturing jobs will require a higher degree of technological sophistication from the workforce, and this unfortunately may leave behind those who are unable to adapt…The second reason to manufacture in America involves lead times. Customers have come to expect short delivery windows. With services like Amazon Prime, consumers are accustomed to delivery within one or two days, if not the same day. Offshore manufacturers need to store disproportionally large amounts of inventory to accommodate these expectations. But keeping inventory is costly—it requires space, energy, and labor; it gets lost, stolen, spoiled, and damaged; and, in the case of technology or fashion, it may become obsolete within weeks. Right now, the U.S. stores about $1.7 trillion in inventory, which means annual inventory carrying costs of between $300 billion and $500 billion—roughly the gross domestic products of Denmark and Norway, respectively. Manufacturers with onshore facilities can cut those costs dramatically. However, these indirect costs of offshoring are much harder to quantify than direct manufacturing costs, and they were frequently ignored in the initial rush to offshore.”

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How Trump Will Change NASA

The federal agency that may experience the most significant refocusing under the Trump Administration is also one the smallest: NASA.

With a budget comprising just one-half of one percent of Washington spending, the lowest level since 1960, NASA was repurposed by Mr. Obama to focus on Earth science in support of his climate change agenda.

While robotic interplanetary probes, largely planned before the outgoing President’s arrival, were allowed to survive, the manned space effort was virtually eliminated.

Mr. Obama prematurely cancelled the Space Shuttle program, then defunded what had been planned to be its immediate manned spacecraft replacement, the Constellation system. Another follow-up, The Orion, progressed at a slow pace, with no prospect of placing U.S. astronauts into orbit until well into the next decade.  NASA currently has to pay exorbitant amounts to rival Russia to put American personnel in space.

Spaceflight Insider  noted that candidate Obama claimed he was one of the “agency’s  biggest fans and even co-opted the space agency’s crewed program-of-record at that time (Constellation) when he used the phrase, ‘Moon, Mars and beyond.’ Upon election, he worked to cancel that very program. In fact, had it not been for the actions of Congress, he would probably have set NASA’s efforts to send crews beyond the orbit of Earth back decades.

In a review, The Council on Foreign Relations  (CFR) reported that “Space policy experts agree that NASA faces short- and long-term challenges, including new budget pressures, aging infrastructure, the rise of competing spacefaring nations, and the lack of a strong national vision for human spaceflight. An independent assessment conducted by the National Research Council in 2012 questioned plans for not pursuing a return to the moon: ‘[The] lack of national and international consensus … undermines NASA’s ability to establish a comprehensive, consistent strategic direction.’ The report also noted that a crewed mission to Mars ‘has never received sufficient funding to advance beyond the rhetoric stage.”

The mothballing of American manned spaceflight was seen as a betrayal.  During his first campaign for office, Mr. Obama, in a speech to NASA workers, promised that he would support placing U.S. personnel in space on American craft .  Following the election, he moved to eliminate the manned space program.

Restoring the space agency to its glory days, along with the economic, scientific and prestige benefits that engenders, fit precisely with President-elect Trump’s “Make America Great Again” emphasis. In comments reported by the Planetary Society  he stated:

“I will free NASA from the restriction of serving primarily as a logistics agency for low-Earth orbit activity—big deal. Instead, we will refocus its mission on space exploration. Under a Trump Administration, Florida and America will lead the way into the stars…A cornerstone of my policy is we will substantially expand public private partnerships to maximize the amount of investment and funding that is available for space exploration and development. This means launching and operating major space assets, right here, that employ thousands and spur innovation and fuel economic growth.”
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Space News  provided a summary (excerpted below) of the Trump Administration’s space plans:

  1. A “commitment to global space leadership”
  2. A reinstitution of the National Space Council, headed by the vice president, to oversee all government space efforts to seek efficiencies and eliminate redundancies.
  3. Human exploration of the solar system by the end of the century
  4. Shifting NASA budgets to “deep space achievements” rather than Earth science and climate research.
  5. Development of small satellite technologies that in particular can provide resiliency for the military, and also develop satellite servicing technologies.
  6. Seek world leadership in hypersonics technology, including for military applications.
  7. Hand over access to and operations in low Earth orbit to the commercial sector.
  8. Start discussions about including more “private and public partners” in operations and financing of the International Space Station, including extending the station’s lifetime.
  9. Require that all federal agencies develop plans for how they would use “space assets and space developments” to carry out their missions.

The growing role of the private sector, which began both as necessity and opportunity during the Obama Administration, would continue.

The Washington Post and others have reported that Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Oklahoma) a leading space exploration supporter and former Navy pilot is being considered to lead NASA.

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The Phone Call That Challenged an Obsolete Policy

President-elect Trump’s acceptance of a congratulatory call from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen, the first such communication between a U.S. leader and a free Chinese President since 1979, has opened an issue that has been ignored for far too long.

During the worst days of the Cold War, The U.S. was able to use Beijing’s distrust of the Kremlin’s leadership to its advantage. While never formally allied, both America and China had a common interest in containing the vast Soviet military.

But on December 21, 1991, the USSR officially ceased to exist. Beijing and Moscow ended their rivalry, and now those two have formed what may well be the world’s most powerful military alliance, one which is centered around the goal of weakening American influence. The original reasons for Washington’s tilt away from Taiwan and towards the Mainland have all but vanished, but its’ policy tilt in favor of Beijing continues as though frozen in time.

There are harsh realities of the U.S-China relationship that have been ignored for far too long:

  • Beijing unfairly burdens American companies seeking to do business in China. They have even demanded that U.S. internet giants, such as Facebook, accept censorship. (Disgracefully, it appears that some have accepted that immoral condition as a cost of doing business.)
  • The Chinese military is geared against the US and its allies. China has engaged in a massive peacetime military buildup, despite the absence of any credible threat. It’s rate of spending increases even exceeds that of either the United States or the Soviet Union during the height of the Cold War.
  • Beijing engages in an extraordinary amount of espionage against the civilian American government, the military, and private businesses within the United States.
  • China has engaged in aggressive behavior against its neighbors. The World Court at The Hague has ruled that Beijing’s takeover of areas rightfully belonging to the Philippines, for example, was illegal.
  • China has established military relations across the globe, including within Latin America, that pose a threat to the United States.
  • One of the chief threats to international safety has been the North Korean nuclear weapons program. China has the influence to stop this, but has refused to do so.
  • Shortly before the call was made, mainland Chinese nuclear bombers circled Taiwan.

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The reaction to Trump’s acceptance of the call has been intriguing.  When President Obama re-established relations with Cuba, a Communist nation which has been a key sponsor of international terrorism, ruled by a government that harshly represses its own people, and which had recently invited the Russian navy back in, the media and much of the political class on the left considered the move praise-worthy.

However, the relatively innocuous acceptance of a phone call from Taiwan, which has been unfailingly friendly towards the United States, a good world neighbor and a fair and open trading partner, has been inappropriately met with distress.

The Brookings Institute  worried: “The news that President-elect Trump has spoken by phone to Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen as part of the series of congratulatory calls on his election heightens concerns about Trump’s foreign policy deftness. There are serious risks posed by his failure to take briefings by government professionals, and he appears to have little respect for the potential damage of actions taken without understanding long-standing U.S. national security concerns.”

The Washington Post  wrote: “Donald Trump’s protocol-breaking telephone call with Taiwan’s leader was an intentionally provocative move…”

The President-elect’s response to the criticism was issued via Twitter:

“Did China ask us if it was OK to devalue their currency (making it hard for our companies to compete), heavily tax our products going into their country (the U.S. doesn’t tax them) or to build a massive military complex in the middle of the South China Sea?”

Although the phone call was a minor move, it is, hopefully, the beginning of a more practical, realistic, and balanced policy towards Beijing.

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International Relations: A View From Russia

On December 1, Russia unveiled its new “Foreign Policy Concept.”

The document states that Moscow’s policy is “open, foreseeable” and “shaped by centuries” of Russia’s historic role. There is little new in it, the first of its kind since Moscow invaded the Ukraine. It seeks to separate Europeans from the U.S., but alleges that Washington is attempting to alienate European nations from the Kremlin. It describes Russia as part of the larger European family, and complains of right-wing movements within European politics. It warns that there is no probable near-term improvement in relations with America, and emphasizes Russia’s growing friendship with China, a relationship clearly pointed against the U.S.

Adding to its propaganda-first nature, it describes Russian foreign policy as “morally superior,” wholly ignoring Moscow’s recent invasions of Ukraine and Georgia, its role in Iran’s nuclear program, its threats against the Balkans, and, most significantly, the placement of short range nuclear missiles to its European border.

Despite Putin’s massive arms buildup, its violations of the Intermediate Range Missile Treaty, and its first-ever lead in nuclear weapons, the document complains about “… the intensifying political, social and economic contradictions and the growing instability of the world political and economic system…the role of the factor of force in international relations increases…The build-up and modernization of the force potential, the creation and deployment of new types of armaments are undermining strategic stability and creating a threat to global security ensured by a system of treaties and agreements in the sphere of arms control.”

Optimistically, the Concept states that “While the danger of unleashing a large-scale war, including a nuclear conflict, remains low among leading states,” but worries about “increasing risks of [nations] involvement in regional conflicts and the escalation of crises.” It pledges that “Russia stands for constructive cooperation with the US in the field of arms control, with a compulsory allowance for an inseparable correlation between strategic offensive and defense weapons.”

Terrorism clearly concerns Moscow. “The global terrorist threat has acquired a qualitatively new nature with the emergence of the international terrorist organization Islamic State and similar groups making violence unprecedentedly cruel, seeking to create their own state and increasing their influence on a territory between the Atlantic coast and Pakistan.” The Concept calls for the “creation of a broad international anti-terrorist coalition on a solid legal base, on the basis of efficient and systematic cooperation of states, without politicizing and double standards, using possibilities of the civil society, first of all with an aim to prevent terrorism and extremism, counter the spread of radical ideas.”

Don’t waste time then and make acai berry a part of icks.org india pharmacy viagra your diet at once. Sex is the utmost important viagra for sale cheap activity in life too early just because you are not being able to perform in your bedroom with your partner. Many fast generic cialis people shy away from online medical pharmacies for your requirement. It is not advisable to buy cheaper alternatives. generic viagra mastercard The gap between reality and the Kremlin’s Foreign Policy Statement is reflective of a disconnect between Moscow’s words, its actions, and its international standing.

A recent Rand analysis notes:

“Although Russia is a great power, [Putin] may have an inflated sense of its importance and expect one-sided U.S. concessions. If so, diplomacy could run into headwinds early in the Trump administration. One obstacle in dealing with the Kremlin is that its positions are sometimes not pragmatic. Despite Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, Putin claimed last week that “it’s not our fault” U.S. relations were poor.In suspending implementation of a U.S. plutonium disposition accord in October, Putin set out unrealistic preconditions for its resumption. One was reduction of U.S. military presence in a number of countries on NATO’s eastern flank, in effect requiring a reversal of the main decision at the alliance’s summit last July in Warsaw. A second demand was that America jettison all sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine and, incredibly, provide “compensation for the damage they have caused…“Russia is a declining economic power. This erodes its leverage with the West, a vital source of capital and technology. Since 2012, Russia’s economic growth has slowed, partly due to wasteful state control of business, which soared from 35 percent of gross domestic product in 2005 to 70 percent in 2015. Combined with lower oil prices and Ukraine-related sanctions, the result is prolonged economic stagnation.

“Trump will face a Russia whose foreign policy has led to isolation and criticism. Although the intervention in Syria has bolstered the regime of Bashar al-Assad and held the line on the battlefield, political costs to Russia are high…[he] must deal with a festering Russian violation of the 1987 treaty that bans intermediate-range nuclear missile forces. Diplomacy to resolve the problem has come up short, and presidential-level attention is required.” Russia remains in material breach of the accord.  While engaging in overtly hostile activities, the Kremlin unblushingly condemns purely defensive acts, such as the placement of anti-missile equipment, that are meant to deter Iran.

The Rand study further notes that “Russia’s cyberespionage and political influence operations have led to bipartisan anger in Washington. “

Putin’s dramatic arms buildup comes at a time when the U.S. had slashed its defense spending.  The time has come for a clear-eyed understanding of Moscow’s aggressive stance.

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Quick Analysis

Progressives Continue Campaigning Long After Elections Conclude

The New York Analysis of Policy and Government concludes its review of the differences in how Leftists vs. Centrists and Conservatives seek to influence the public. 

Hollywood has a firm ally in academia. As noted in Mark Davis’ study, “Upside Down,” “A degraded education system and a poisoned culture make millions of Americans easy targets for indoctrination by the Left. A morally and intellectually malnourished generation soaks up liberal platitudes from television, on the internet, and the classroom.”

The stunning acts of academia’s sheer outrage against the results of the 2016 election, which proved a major disappointment to Progressives, are numerous. Consider the following examples: A CBS affiliate in Boston  reports that the Hampshire College Board of Trustees made a “decision to lower the U.S. flag on campus to half-staff in the wake of the presidential election–and then decided to remove the flag entirely after a wave of backlash.”

WND  noted that the Campus Reform publication found that “Professors at the University of New Hampshire are calling for the expulsion of two students who counter protested an anti-Trump rally…”

While students were being harassed on some campuses for supporting the results of a fair election, other campuses were doubling down on their support for leftist extremism. The New York Times found that Progressive radical Cornel West is returning to teach at Harvard. West is renowned for making statements such as this quote from Open Democracy “The American Empire is more ripe for a counter-revolution …This is so primarily because of the deep xenophobic roots in the country and profound militaristic sentiments in the culture. Hence, progressive social momentums and chaotic social rebellions are more likely to reshape our priorities and gain some concessions from greedy elites and callous citizens.”
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Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich has urged that “alumni and trustees of private colleges and universities…organize committees for American education. They should insist that their schools require courses be taught without the usual extreme leftist bias of most professors, and that every one of their students graduates with a firm grounding in American history.” The former speaker’s advice is worthwhile, but the reality is the bias begins even before college.

Some high school teachers have inappropriately drafted their students into left-wing causes. The New York Post found that “A group of maverick history teachers at elite Beacon HS in Manhattan let their kids skip class Tuesday to join a Trump Tower protest…Roughly 200 kids from the Hell’s Kitchen public school were granted hooky passes at 11 a.m. and joined students from across the city to disparage The Donald…Beacon parents were never alerted and only found out about the impromptu field trip from their kids, according to sources…Chancellor Carmen Fariña sent a sympathetic note to teachers and administrators Monday. ‘The outcome of the presidential election has left many youth and adult members of our community feeling confused or anxious,” Fariña said. “Undocumented immigrants and their families, LGBTQ students and staff, Muslims, and members of other religious, racial, or ethnic groups may be feeling particularly vulnerable during this time.”

Centrist and conservative Americans tend to reduce the level of their attention, time and energy directed towards political endeavors following the conclusion of the election cycle, whether they win or lose.  Their progressive counterparts, however, through popular culture and education, recognize no such cease-fire. As a result of decades of skillful manipulation of public opinion through entertainment and education, many Americans, particularly the young, have had an inadequate grounding in any opinions, arguments or facts other than what they have gleaned from left-leaning professors and performers.

The situation is growing even more one-sided as many social media giants increasingly seek to minimize any material that doesn’t subscribe to progressive orthodoxy. The opportunity to reach substantial portions of the public who have had only limited exposure to a broader range of opinion is becoming quite limited. Unless centrists and conservatives grasp that far more is required than just engaging in periodic political campaigns, the United States will become a far different nation, one with a culture and a set of beliefs substantially different from what they prefer.

Categories
Quick Analysis

Progressives Continue Campaigning Long After Elections Conclude

The New York Analysis of Policy and Government begins a two part examination of the contrast between Left wing vs, Centrist and Conservative attempts to influence the public. 

Americans dissatisfied with the dismal results of “Progressive” leadership and concepts during the eight years of the Obama Administration are content with the defeat of Hillary Clinton, who based her campaign on promises to continue along the same path. For most voters, the election is over, and they assume that the left will, eventually, at least recognize the legitimacy of the new Administration, even if they vehemently disagree with its policies.

The facts indicate otherwise. Indeed, for many on the left, elections are only brief and episodic engagements in the much larger war of transforming American culture and political thought. For them, the true battleground is in not the voting booth. Rather, it’s in the halls of academia and in the boardrooms of media moguls.

While Republicans and conservatives produce (frequently boring) analyses based on facts, Constitutional law and historical precedent, the Left produces humorous skits, emotional appeals, and riveting entertainment that, despite the results of the 2016 campaign, have proven far more effective in capturing the hearts and minds of the public.

And this technology takes another step in the right direction by tackling one cialis professional india of the biggest problems in healthcare; time, or lack thereof. Old couples can also enjoy their lives more by using Kamagra. best price tadalafil Consumption of this drug brings some risks on the health of the individual such as- nausea, stomach upset, blocked nose, slight dizziness and slight blur in the vision. discount viagra When the problem of urination becomes intense, your kidneys need to work more for absorbing acheter viagra pfizer and filtering the excess sugar content in your system. Progressives have produced narratives that dominate the air waves.  Look at many popular television shows, which, while works of fiction, produce an environment that subtly, and sometimes not so subtly, advances their arguments and candidates.  In the worldview they create, traditional figures and beliefs are frequently the bad guys, hypocrites hiding behind patriotism, paternalism, capitalism and religion. The heroes conveniently resemble, both ideologically and physically, the leading progressive candidates.  In the period when Obama was initiating his presidential run, the president on the sensational TV thriller “24” was a liberal African American.  In the run-up to Hillary Clinton’s candidacy, an entire TV program, “Madam Secretary,” centered around a female Secretary of State.  Heading into the 2016 election, a storyline on the hit show “Designated Survivor” portrayed those worried about Islamic terrorism—a pointed reference to Trump—as blinded by bias. What a coincidence!

The tilt toward the left is most apparent in the realm of comedy. An article in The Atlantic noted: “the brand of comedy [liberal Jon Stewart] helped invent is stronger than ever. Stephen Colbert is getting ready to bring his deadpan smirk to The Late Show. Bill Maher is continuing to provoke pundits and politicians with his blunt punch lines. John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight is about to celebrate the end of a wildly popular first year…Stewart, Colbert, Maher, Oliver and co. belong to a type of late-night satire that’s typically characterized as liberal, skewering Republicans (and, less frequently, Democrats) …“The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Funny Or Die, and The Onion, while not partisan organs, all clearly have a left-of-center orientation,” wrote Jonathan Chait in The New Republic in 2011…”

The extraordinary shortage of conservative themes in most regularly scheduled programming is too significant and has continued too long to be coincidental. It is fascinating to note that in the late forties and fifties, when some Hollywood figures with ties real or imagined to Communism were subjected to blacklisting and investigations, is, though long past, frequently the subject of film and TV productions and discussions, while the decades-old and current discrimination against those with conservative viewpoints goes largely unheralded. In 2011, Ben Shapiro’s book, “Primetime Propaganda” detailed the reality of Left-wing exclusionary tactics in the entertainment industry. the Hollywood Reporter reviewing the tome, noted: “TV industry executives, writers and producers use their clout to advance a liberal political agenda.” The author bases his thesis on, among other things, 39 taped interviews…” One video Shapiro released “has producer-director Nicholas Meyer being asked point-blank whether conservatives are discriminated against in Hollywood. “Well, I hope so,” he answers…” Shapiro found that “Television has been perhaps the most impressive weapon in the left’s political arsenal.”

The Report concludes Monday.