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One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics
is that you end up being governed by your inferiors. -- Plato
(429-347 BC)
Friday, January 20, 2017
Senate Confirms Key National Security Cabinet Posts
Sen. John Boozman
by U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R-AR), Washington. D.C.: The Senate voted to confirm General James Mattis with a 98-1 vote after the presidential inauguration. Mattis was then sworn in by Vice President Pence as Secretary of Defense.
The Senate also voted 88-11 to confirm General John Kelly as Secretary of Homeland Security. He officially sworn in as the fifth Secretary of Homeland Security.
The transition period is over and the President deserves to have his cabinet selections in place. General Mattis and General Kelly are two men of integrity who will serve our nation extremely well in these key national security positions.
I encourage my colleagues to move quickly to confirm the remaining cabinet positions so that President Trump can begin to work with us to address the important issues facing our nation. Tags:U.S. Senator, John Boozman, senatee voted to confirm, General James Mattis, Secretary of Defense, General John Kelly, Secretary of Homeland SecurituTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
by Gary Bauer, Contributing Author: President Donald J. Trump - Today at noon, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. He took the oath of office on two Bibles, one used by Abraham Lincoln and one that his mother gave him in 1955.
My friend Vice President Mike Pence was sworn in by Justice Clarence Thomas (also a friend) on the Reagan Family Bible.
According to the Presidential Inaugural Committee, the Reagan Bible was opened to II Chronicles 7:14 when Vice President Pence took the oath of office, the same verse Reagan used during his inaugurations. The verse reads:"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." "America First" - President Trump's inaugural address was brief and direct. Anyone hoping that Washington might moderate Trump was sorely disappointed. His speech was an indictment of the political establishment, as well as the past eight years.
Veteran journalist Bob Schieffer said, "I'm telling you this was very strong stuff. . . I did not see any outreach either across the aisle. . . I mean, he basically took the hide off everybody sitting on that platform, telling them that politicians of Washington have prospered while the people out there had suffered and he said it's going to stop here and now."
President Trump took a very tough stance against radical Islam and hammered the themes that got him elected. In fact, moments after his address ended, CNN's website featured a picture of President Trump under the bold headline, "America First."
Below are some excerpts of President Trump's inaugural address."We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and to restore its promise for all of our people. Together, we will determine the course of America and the world for years to come. . .
"Today's ceremony, however, has very special meaning. Because today we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another . . . but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People. . . this moment is your moment: it belongs to you. It belongs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America. This is your day. This is your celebration. . .
"What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people. January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again. The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer. . .
"Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighborhoods for their families, and good jobs for themselves. These are the just and reasonable demands of a righteous public. . .
"We assembled here today are issuing a new decree. . . From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land. From this moment on, it's going to be 'America First.'
"Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families. We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. . . America will start winning again, winning like never before. . .
"We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world. . . We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones -- and unite the civilized world against Radical Islamic Terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth.
"At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other. When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice.
"The Bible tells us, 'how good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity.' We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity. When America is united, America is totally unstoppable.
"There should be no fear -- we are protected, and we will always be protected. We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, we are protected by God. . .
"It is time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget: that whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots, we all enjoy the same glorious freedoms, and we all salute the same great American Flag.
"And whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of Nebraska, they look up at the same night sky, they fill their heart with the same dreams, and they are infused with the breath of life by the same almighty Creator.
"So to all Americans, in every city near and far, small and large, from mountain to mountain, and from ocean to ocean, hear these words: You will never be ignored again. Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams, will define our American destiny. And your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way.
"Together, we will make America strong again. We will make America wealthy again. We will make America proud again. We will make America safe again.
"And, yes, together, we will make America great again. Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America."Other Observations -
After President Trump concluded his address, Reverend Franklin Graham offered a prayer. But before he did, he noted, "In the Bible, rain is the sign of God's blessing, and it started to rain, Mr. President, when you came to the platform."
Change has come to Washington. Less than an hour after President Trump was sworn in, the White House website was transitioned to reflect the new administration. Gone was the Obama Climate Change page, replaced with an "America First Energy Plan" that promises to "take advantage of the estimated $50 trillion in untapped shale, oil, and natural gas reserves, especially those on federal lands that the American people own."
Left-wing extremists are doing their best to ruin the celebration. Trump supporters were assaulted and several businesses had their windows smashed out. Rioters have been seen with hammers and crowbars. As of this writing, nearly 100 arrests have been made, and two police officers have been taken to the hospital.
The Trump/Pence team is already hard at work. Administration officials have drafted more than 200 executive orders for President Trump to consider. According to Reuters, the president is expected to sign several today and over the next few days taking the first "steps to crack down on immigration, build a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border and roll back . . . Barack Obama's policies."
We did it, my friends! We beat the Clinton machine. We beat George Soros and the left-wing media. We saved the Supreme Court from total liberal domination. Now we have a chance, with hard work and God's blessing, to restore our Republic.
Thank you for making this day possible!
---------------- Gary Bauer is a conservative family values advocate and serves as president of American Values and chairman of the Campaign for Working Families Tags:Gary Bauer, Campaign for Working Families, President Donald J. Trump, America First To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
Tags:Mainstream Media, Was in Rare Form, During Trump's Inauguration, PJ Media, videosTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
by Dick Morris: If Bill and Hillary looked dour at Donald Trump’s inauguration, it may have been more than just frustration and sour grapes at losing the election. As Obama passed into history and Trump took power as president, what didn’t happen may have had more consequence for the former first couple than what did take place: Obama did not pardon Hillary.
Now the coast is clear for a thorough investigation of Hillary both on charges of mishandling state secrets and of running a pay-for-play operation out of the State Department.
As president-elect, Trump vowed not to pursue Hillary and expressed the wish that she not be prosecuted, but said that it “was not something I feel very strongly about.” In a series of tweets on November 22nd, Trump said that a prosecution of Hillary would be “very divisive” and noted that the Clintons have “suffered greatly” already. But, significantly, he refused to say that he would take prosecution of Hillary “off the table.”
Anyone watching the inaugural ceremonies could not fail to note how deliberately President Trump avoided eye contact with either Clinton, passing right by under their noses rather than pause for a handshake.
For his part incoming Attorney General Jeff Sessions has promised to recuse himself from any investigation.
But the investigators themselves — in at least four US Attorney offices — are by no means letting up. If they find a case that Hillary ran afoul of the law in either scandal (pay for play or national secrets), it is quite likely that they will recommend prosecution. In that eventuality, it is hard to see either Sessions of President Trump refusing to bring the case.
Hillary’s only secure protection would have been an Obama pardon. But now she is exposed. She may have to face the fruits of her own criminality.
------------- Richard "Dick" Morris is an American political author and commentator who previously worked as a pollster, political campaign consultant, and general political consultant. He has worked on both sides of politics for candidates and his articles can be found at DickMorris.com. Tags:Dick Morris, Commentary, DickMorris.com, Hillary Clinton, no pardonTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
Why Trump Poses a Bigger Threat to the Left Than Reagan, According to Newt Gingrich
by Morgan Walker: President-elect Donald Trump poses a greater threat to the left than any other political leader in the last 100 years, Newt Gingrich proclaimed on the eve of Inauguration Day.
Speaking at The Heritage Foundation on Thursday, Gingrich predicted that the Trump administration will dismantle the Washington establishment, unlike anything America has ever seen.
“Trump is a direct moral threat to both the value system of the left—because he’s so politically incorrect—and to the power structure of the left,” the former House speaker said.
Trump will put an end to the liberal agenda pushed by the establishment since Franklin Roosevelt, Gingrich predicted.
“I believe it’s an opportunity to end the 84-year dominance of the left starting with Roosevelt in 1932,” Gingrich said. “[Ronald] Reagan didn’t end it, I didn’t end it. It has continued to be the dominant underlying force in American culture and government. We have a chance now to really do that.”
As the media becomes increasingly terrified and the left’s anticipation has risen, Gingrich said, it has become clear to me that there is no historical parallel to Trumpism.
Not even Reagan can serve as a model for a chief executive whose primary goal is to completely alter the current power structure, Gingrich noted.
“Reagan’s goal was to defeat the Soviet empire and, within the context of the traditional system, to accelerate economic growth and rebuild a belief in America and American history,” he said. “He didn’t spend a lot of time trying to take on the core value system of the left.”
Trump’s tackling of the left’s ideology is comparable to Margaret Thatcher’s annihilation of socialism in Great Britain during her years as prime minister.
Thatcher assailed socialism, “which is exactly what Trump should do,” Gingrich said. “Thatcher was a direct threat to both the value system and the power structure of the left in Great Britain.”
Gingrich suggested that while Trump may not be an ideological, traditional conservative, he has the ability to not only create jobs and stimulate the economy, but also to overpower the left’s agenda.
“He is not an ideological, traditional conservative, but he may be the most anti-left political leader of the last 100 years,” Gingrich said. “If they come together as a team and if they really focus on large-scale change, this will in fact be a historic opportunity.
Gingrich urged Trump voters to be both “noisily supported” of the administration and heavily critical of the elite news media.
“Every time the news media does something wrong, scream at them,” he said. “Just pound on them. Don’t pretend that we should pay attention to them in a positive way.” . . .
------------ Morgan Walker is a member of The Heritage Foundation's Young Leaders Program. Tags:Why, Trump Poses, Bigger Threat, to the Left, Than Reagan, Newt Gingrich, Morgan Walker, The Daily SignalTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
Trump’s Advisers Draft First-Day Energy Policy Changes
by Tsvetana Paraskova: Aides to Donald Trump have drafted a list of environmental policy and energy-related changes that he could sign within hours after he is sworn in as U.S. President on Friday, Bloomberg reports, quoting two people familiar with the transition team’s plans.
The list of immediate energy policy changes reportedly includes measures to rescind Obama’s orders that federal agencies take into account climate change when they give the go-ahead to pipelines or decide which areas should be open for drilling, Bloomberg sources say.
In addition, Trump’s advisers are said to be targeting the social cost of carbon and are proposing to suspend the use of that metric until reviewed and recalculated.
The transition team is also advising Trump to rescind an executive order from 1968 that gave the power to the State Department to determine if a cross-border pipeline and other energy projects serve the national interest, Bloomberg reports. It was that order that allowed the State Department to review the Keystone XL pipeline proposed by TransCanada and ultimately rejected by the Obama administration.
A day after Trump was elected U.S. President, TransCanada issued a statement, telegraphing its interest in reviving the defunct Keystone XL Pipeline, which would take Alberta tar sands to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries.
“TransCanada remains fully committed to building Keystone XL,” spokesman Mark Cooper said in the post-election statement. “We are evaluating ways to engage the new administration on the benefits, the jobs and the tax revenues this project brings to the table.”
Last month, a leaked memo showed some details on the priorities for the Trump administration, and they would mark a huge departure from the Obama era and upend longstanding U.S. energy policy if implemented.
Some of the items are predictable given Trump’s clear position on supporting oil and gas drilling and his opposition to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. For example, the memo says that Trump will withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, “hit the reset” on the Clean Power Plan, and increase leasing for oil and gas drilling on public lands.
----------------- Tsvetana Paraskova authored this article contributed by James Stafford the editor of OilPrice.com, the leading online energy news site, to the ARRA News Service. Tags:Tsvetana Paraskova, James Stafford, Oilprice.com Trump advisers, draft, energy policy changesTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
ARRA News Service: Doanld J. Trump was sworn in as the 45th President at Noon Eastern Standard Time. After being sworn in, President Donald J. Trump made the follow speech (as prepared for release - minor changes may have been made): Chief Justice Roberts, President Carter, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, fellow Americans, and people of the world: Thank you.
We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and to restore its promise for all of our people
.
Together, we will determine the course of America and the world for years to come.
We will face challenges. We will confront hardships. But we will get the job done.
Every four years, we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power, and we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for their gracious aid throughout this transition. They have been magnificent.
Today's ceremony, however, has very special meaning. Because today we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another, or from one party to another -- but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C. and giving it back to you, the American People.
For too long, a small group in our nation's Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished -- but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered -- but the jobs left, and the factories closed.
The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation's capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.
That all changes -- starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you.
It belongs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America. This is your day. This is your celebration. And this, the United States of America, is your country.
What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people. January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the rulers of this nation again. The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer.
Everyone is listening to you now.
You came by the tens of millions to become part of a historic movement the likes of which the world has never seen before. At the center of this movement is a crucial conviction: that a nation exists to serve its citizens.
Americans want great schools for their children, safe neighborhoods for their families, and good jobs for themselves. These are the just and reasonable demands of a righteous public.
But for too many of our citizens, a different reality exists: Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation; an education system flush with cash, but which leaves our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge; and the crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential.
This American carnage stops right here and stops right now.
We are one nation -- and their pain is our pain. Their dreams are our dreams; and their success will be our success. We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny.
The oath of office I take today is an oath of allegiance to all Americans.
For many decades, we've enriched foreign industry at the expense of American industry; subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military; we've defended other nation's borders while refusing to defend our own; and spent trillions of dollars overseas while America's infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay.
We've made other countries rich while the wealth, strength, and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon.
One by one, the factories shuttered and left our shores, with not even a thought about the millions upon millions of American workers left behind.
The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed across the entire world.
But that is the past. And now we are looking only to the future. We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power.
From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land.
From this moment on, it's going to be America First.
Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families. We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs. Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength.
I will fight for you with every breath in my body -- and I will never, ever let you down.
America will start winning again, winning like never before.
We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams.
We will build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and railways all across our wonderful nation.
We will get our people off of welfare and back to work -- rebuilding our country with American hands and American labor.
We will follow two simple rules: Buy American and hire American.
We will seek friendship and goodwill with the nations of the world -- but we do so with the understanding that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first.
We do not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow.
We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones -- and unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth.
At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, and through our loyalty to our country, we will rediscover our loyalty to each other.
When you open your heart to patriotism, there is no room for prejudice. The Bible tells us, "How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity."
We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, but always pursue solidarity.
When America is united, America is totally unstoppable.
There should be no fear -- we are protected, and we will always be protected.
We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, we are protected by God.
Finally, we must think big and dream even bigger.
In America, we understand that a nation is only living as long as it is striving.
We will no longer accept politicians who are all talk and no action -- constantly complaining but never doing anything about it.
The time for empty talk is over. Now arrives the hour of action.
Do not let anyone tell you it cannot be done. No challenge can match the heart and fight and spirit of America.
We will not fail. Our country will thrive and prosper again.
We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free the Earth from the miseries of disease, and to harness the energies, industries and technologies of tomorrow.
A new national pride will stir our souls, lift our sights, and heal our divisions.
It is time to remember that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget: that whether we are black or brown or white, we all bleed the same red blood of patriots, we all enjoy the same glorious freedoms, and we all salute the same great American Flag.
And whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of Nebraska, they look up at the same night sky, they fill their heart with the same dreams, and they are infused with the breath of life by the same almighty Creator.
So to all Americans, in every city near and far, small and large, from mountain to mountain, and from ocean to ocean, hear these words:
You will never be ignored again.
Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams will define our American destiny. And your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way.
Together, We will make America strong again.
We will make wealthy again.
We will make America proud again.
We will make America safe again.
And yes, together, we will make America great again. Thank you. God bless you. And God bless America.
Tags:President, Donald J. Trump, Inauguration Speech, sworn-in, speech, C-SPAN speechTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
. . . Inauguration 2017. It’s now time for President Trump puts his foot down putting an end to the Obama’s lawless agenda and get us back to the constitution.
Tags:Editorial Cartoon, AF Branco, A New Day, Inauguration Day, President Trump, puts his foot down, putting an end, Obama’s lawless agenda, get us back to, the constitutionTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
Well, that is what Senator Elizabeth Warren believes.
Grilling Republican Congressman Tom Price, the physician turned congressman Donald Trump picked to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, Warren demanded that Price answer a simple question: would he swear on a stack of medical books that he would never, ever “carry out a single dollar of cuts to Medicare or Medicaid eligibility or benefits.”
Trump had said he would not cut either program. But Price, who is known for his skepticism about the efficiency of government programs and has proposed cuts to the programs before, worries Warren.
So she demanded an answer, using words like “guarantee” and “safeguard.”
Price said neither “yes” nor “no.” Instead, he evaded the question.
Thoughtfully.
“What the question presumes is that money is the metric,” Dr. Price replied. “In my belief . . . from a scientific standpoint, if patients aren’t receiving care, even though we’re providing the resources, then it doesn’t work for patients.”
Elizabeth Warren, the doyen of progressive politicians for several years now, was mighty upset about Price’s attempt to switch the standard (“metric” is the buzzword for this) for judging a program to the practical from the simple, easy-to-demagogue-with disbursement tally.
She could have said, “We demand inefficiency; all we care about is the money. Actually helping people? Too complicated. But we sure can score points in debate when you try to cut something.”
What she said* was, “The metric is money.”
Same thing, actually.
Thus it is that government grows while real human welfare is ignored.
This is Common Sense. I’m Paul Jacob.
* Peter Suderman, over at Reason, sums it up like this: “What Warren seems to want from Price is a commitment to spend more regardless of a program’s results.” Suderman calls Warren’s reaction “a surprisingly blunt expression” of a view “that undermines the programs it is designed to defend.”
------------------ Paul Jacobs is author of Common Sense which provides daily commentary about the issues impacting America and about the citizens who are doing something about them. He is also President of the Liberty Initiative Fund (LIFe) as well as Citizens in Charge Foundation. Jacobs is a contributing author on the ARRA News Service. Tags:We Demand Inefficiency, Senator Elizabeth Warre, confirmation hearing, Tom PriceTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
by Kerby Anderson, Contributing Author: Today is the presidential inauguration. Not only is it a time when there is a peaceful transition of power, but it is also one of the few times when Americans can enjoy a little bit of pomp and ceremony.
Even at the beginning, there was excitement and large crowds. George Washington took office in 1789 in New York City to the sounds of ceremonial artillery and church bells ringing. He made his way through the large crowds to Federal Hall to take the oath of office.
Thomas Jefferson was the first president to be sworn in as president in Washington, D.C. By the time of his second inauguration, Jefferson rode on horseback from the Capitol to the president’s house. The procession that followed him eventually grew into the inaugural parade we will see today.
Some inaugurations were quite rowdy. Andrew Jackson opened the White House to the crowd and soon had to deal with a mob scene that almost destroyed the president’s house. Jackson had seen many battles but decided he better flee the house (through a back door or through a window, it is reported). The huge crowd drank heavily, destroyed furniture and china, and even ground cheese with their boots on the White House carpet.
Who the president selects to join him in an inaugural parade can make a statement about his views and beliefs. Abraham Lincoln, for example, invited African Americans to march with him during his second inauguration.
The format for the oath of office can be found in Article II of the U.S. Constitution. It is reported that at the end of the oath, George Washington added the words “so help me God.” That tradition continues to this day.
James Monroe was the first president to give an inaugural address to a crowd. Since that time, presidents have used the occasion to speak directly to the American people.
Today is inauguration day: a day where there will be speeches and celebrations. Let’s enjoy this peaceful transition of power.
----------- Kerby Anderson is a radio talk show host heard on numerous stations via the Point of View Network endorsed by Dr. Bill Smith, Editor, ARRA News Service Tags:Kerby Anderson, Viewpoints, Point of View, Inauguration Day, Donald J. TrumpTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
by Gary Bauer, Contributing Author: We are sending you this "Beginning of the Day" report because in just a few hours the Obama/Biden presidency will end. Obama set another record yesterday granting clemency to more than 300 prisoners. According to the Washington Post, Obama has granted more commutations and pardons than the past 12 presidents combined!
Thankfully, the Trump/Pence presidency is about to begin. The buildup to today's inauguration has been extraordinary. Yesterday was packed full of events, culminating in a huge concert at the Lincoln Memorial. The whole Trump family was there.
Lee Greenwood sang his classic hit, "God Bless The U.S.A." Soul star Sam Moore sang an incredible rendition of "America The Beautiful," and offered Trump his full support. As you know, many celebrities have refused to participate in the inauguration and those who are taking part have been viciously attacked.
In response to the criticism, Moore said, "We all as Americans need to unite behind our new president and give him a chance. . . I am not going to let them, the left side, intimidate me from doing what I feel is the right thing to do for the country." Good for him!
The United States Army Band "Pershing's Own" also played. There was a heavy emphasis on themes honoring our men and women in uniform and no one took a knee. The evening closed with a tremendous rendition of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and an incredible fireworks display. The crowd was electric.
What was so notable to me was the number of clearly middle class, blue collar Americans who came to Washington, D.C., to celebrate the election of a man who vowed to look out for the "forgotten men and women" of this country.
This morning, Donald and Melania Trump began the day at a church service near the White House.
Sadly, there are plenty of left-wing extremists in town. As we left a hotel a block from Pennsylvania Avenue last night, Carol and I ran into hundreds of radicals massing in the streets. The National Press Club, where the "Deploraball" was being held, was attacked by the mob. Riot police had to be called out.
Major intersections in Washington are blocked with heavy-duty vehicles -- buses, snow plows, dump trucks -- due to fears that someone may attempt an attack like those that took place in Nice, France, or Berlin, Germany. That is the age we are living in.
Of course, one of the main reasons Donald Trump and Mike Pence won was the economy. But I also believe that another reason people voted for the Trump/Pence team is because they believed these men better understand the age we are living in and are committed to defeating the jihadists who want us all dead.
I will send another report later in the day. But I urge each of you to pray for our country. Pray for Donald Trump, Mike Pence and the men and women coming into the new administration. Pray that plots to disrupt the inaugural events would be thwarted and that the peaceful transition of power -- a time-honored American tradition -- would be respected once again.
Fight Back! As I mentioned, the radical left is here in full force, in the streets trying to thwart the will of the electorate. Our friends at Breitbart report that there are least 75 radical groups participating in the protests.
Meanwhile, Democrats in the Senate are trying to make sure that the Trump Administration is hobbled as it takes office. Even when the demonstrations end and the protestors leave town, there will be plenty of opposition in this city from the political and media establishment.
---------------- Gary Bauer is a conservative family values advocate and serves as president of American Values and chairman of the Campaign for Working Families Tags:Gary Bauer, Campaign for Working Families, Gary Bauer, Campaign for Working FamiliesTo share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
Stalling The Confirmation Of Presidential Nominees En Masse Will Be Viewed, Rightly, As Just An Extension Of The Petty Politics That Americans Are So Strongly Rejecting’
Former Senate Majority Leaders Call Schumer Strategy ‘A Bad Idea’
FORMER SENATE MAJORITY LEADERS DOLE & LOTT: “The new minority leader in the Senate, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., has vowed that he and his fellow Democrats will aggressively target President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees as part of an effort to stretch the confirmation hearings of these accomplished Americans for months. Some advice from two people who’ve been there: It’s a bad idea. The American people said with a bold voice on Election Day that they want Washington to get into gear. Stalling the confirmation of presidential nominees en masse will be viewed, rightly, as just an extension of the petty politics that Americans are so strongly rejecting.” (Sens. Dole & Lott, “Schumer Should Follow Precedent On Trump Nominations,” USA Today, 1/11/17)
In 2009 Schumer said he hoped the Senate would “… confirm him [Tim Geithner] as quickly as possible.” “Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) dismissed the Geithner issues as ‘a few minor hiccups’ and said they would not derail his nomination. ... ‘Tim came to the committee, admitted he had made some mistakes and was very contrite. In my opinion, these mistakes were not at all disqualifying,’ added Schumer, a member of both the Democratic leadership and the Finance Committee. ‘I continue to strongly support his nomination and, given the tough economic conditions, hope we can confirm him as quickly as possible.’” (“PR Push May Save Geithner,” Politico, 1/13/09)
SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA):The Founding Fathers “… knew that the president would need help in administering this great and expansive nation. Without help, without a government that was staffed, justice would not be established, our common defense would be threatened, and the blessings of liberty we hoped to secure through our laws would go unfulfilled.” WARREN: “I rise today, Mr. President, to do something very simple. I ask my colleagues to give a simple vote to the President’s nominee to head the Environmental Protection Agency. This is not fancy or ambitious, it is just a basic principle of good government in our constitutional system. When the Founders of our Republic came together to write the Constitution, they knew that the President would need help in administering this great and expansive nation. Without help, without a government that was staffed, justice would not be established, our common defense would be threatened, and the blessings of liberty we hoped to secure through our laws would go unfulfilled. The Founders of our Republic gave to the President the task of nominating individuals to serve and gave us the responsibility to advise on and consent to these appointments. For more than 200 years this process has worked. Presidents over the years have nominated thousands of qualified men and women who were willing to serve in key executive branch positions.” (Sen. Warren, Floor Remarks, 5/15/13)
SEN. PAT LEAHY (D-VT) On Confirming Justice Officials: “… if it could be, my idea would be to go boom, boom, boom, boom, boom with them, and so the American people get a package as a whole. And I’d like to do all that, of course, before the inauguration.”REPORTER: “Can you say when you might expect to hold hearings or when you might hope to have the Senate vote on it?” SEN. PAT LEAHY (D-VT): “…I think, for the good of the American people, it would be very, very helpful if we could have a number of the key people in there… Let's see who's -- let's see if we can get a number of the key DOJ people who have to be nominated. I would like, if it can be worked -- and I don't know if it can -- but if it could be, my idea would be to go boom, boom, boom, boom, boom with them, and so the American people get a package as a whole. And I’d like to do all that, of course, before the inauguration.” (Sen. Leahy, Press Conference, Washington, D.C., 12/1/08; Minute 18
LEAHY: “Now, I would hope that we’d have a prompt confirmation so we can restore morale and purpose throughout the Justice Department. … we need the Justice Department to be at its best.” LEAHY: “Now, I would hope that we'd have a prompt confirmation so we can restore morale and purpose throughout the Justice Department. It’s important the Justice Department have its senior leadership in place without delay. The attorney general is the top law enforcement officer in the country. He’s a key member of the national security team. ... We need the Justice Department to be at its best.” (U.S. Senate, Judiciary Committee, Hearing 1/15/09;Minute 6)
SEN TIM KAINE (D-VA): “I think we owe deference to a president for choices to executive positions, and I think that that is a very important thing to grapple with. The American public choose someone to be president, they're giving that individual a mandate to govern, and that mandate includes the assembly of the team that the president feels is the appropriate team. …I approach any executive nomination with that in mind.” (U.S. Senate, Armed Services Committee, Hearing, 2/12/13)
SEN. ANGUS KING (I-ME): “…I think our role is not to substitute our judgment for the president, not to say this is who we would have necessarily hired. But the deference goes to the president to build his team.”(U.S. Senate, Armed Services Committee, Hearing, 2/12/13)
SEN. MICHAEL BENNET (D-CO):“I am worried about the willingness of other Americans to put their hand up and say ‘Let me serve’ for fear that they will get caught in the crazy politics of the Senate.”(Sen. Bennet, Congressional Record, S.1647, 3/19/2015)
FLASHBACK: President Barack Obama – Original 2009 Cabinet Nominations
The Cabinet includes the Vice President, and the heads of fifteen executive departments subject to Senate confirmation. There are also an additional seven Cabinet-ranked officials, six of whom are Senate confirmed. (The White House Chief of Staff is not).
Regarding President Obama’s first-term Cabinet members:
Seven were confirmed on January 20, 2009, the day he was sworn into office. These were 1) Ken Salazar (Interior), 2) Tom Vilsack (Agriculture), 3) Steven Chu (Energy), 4) Arne Duncan (Education), 5) Eric Shinseki (Veterans Affairs), 6) Janet Napolitano (Homeland Security), and 7) Peter Orzag (OMB Director). Five more were confirmed by the end of the first week.
Thirteen were confirmed by voice vote. These were 1) Ken Salazar (Interior), 2) Tom Vilsack (Agriculture), 3) Shaun Donovan (HUD), 4) Ray LaHood (Transportation), 5) Steven Chu (Energy), 6) Arne Duncan (Education), 7) Eric Shinseki (Veterans Affairs), 8) Janet Napolitano (Homeland Security), 9) Lisa Jackson (EPA), 10) Peter Orzag (OMB), 11) Susan Rice (UN Ambassador, 12) Christina Romer (Council of Economic Advisers), and 13) Karen Mills (Small Business Administration)
NOTES: 1. Bob Gates remained in office after being confirmed under the Bush administration 2. Bill Richardson withdrew from consideration and Gary Locke was eventually confirmed 3/24/2009. 3. Tom Daschle withdrew from consideration and Kathleen Sebelius was eventually confirmed on 4/28/2009. Tags:Petty Politics, democrats, satlling confirmations, en masse To share or post to your site, click on "Post Link". Please mention / link to the ARRA News Service. and "Like" Facebook Page - Thanks!
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