Below is my column in the Hill on the need for a new “Church Committee” to investigate and reform the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after years of scandals involving alleged political bias. In response to criticism over its role in Twitter’s censorship system, the FBI lashed out against critics as “conspiracy theorists” spreading disinformation. However, it still refuses to supply new information on other companies, beyond Twitter, that it has paid to engage in censorship.
Here is the column:
“Conspiracy theorists … feeding the American public misinformation” is a familiar attack line for anyone raising free-speech concerns over the FBI’s role in social media censorship. What is different is that this attack came from the country’s largest law enforcement agency, the FBI — and, since the FBI has made combatting “disinformation” a major focus of its work, the labeling of its critics is particularly menacing.
Fifty years ago, the Watergate scandal provoked a series of events that transformed not only the presidency but federal agencies like the FBI. Americans demanded answers about the involvement of the FBI and other federal agencies in domestic politics. Ultimately, Congress not only investigated the FBI but later impanelled the Church Committee to investigate a host of other abuses by intelligence agencies.
A quick review of recent disclosures and controversies shows ample need for a new Church Committee:
The Russian investigations
The FBI previously was at the center of controversies over documented political bias. Without repeating the long history from the Russian influence scandal, FBI officials like Peter Strzok were fired after emails showed open bias against presidential candidate Donald Trump. The FBI ignored warnings that the so-called Steele dossier, largely funded by the Clinton campaign, was likely used by Russian intelligence to spread disinformation. It continued its investigation despite early refutations of key allegations or discrediting of sources.
Biden family business
The FBI has taken on the character of a Praetorian Guard when the Biden family has found itself in scandals.
For example, there was Hunter Biden’s handgun, acquired by apparently lying on federal forms. In 2018, the gun allegedly was tossed into a trash bin in Wilmington, Del., by Hallie Biden, the widow of Hunter’s deceased brother and with whom Hunter had a relationship at the time. Secret Service agents reportedly appeared at the gun shop with no apparent reason, and Hunter later said the matter would be handled by the FBI. Nothing was done despite the apparent violation of federal law.
Later, the diary of Hunter’s sister, Ashley, went missing. While the alleged theft normally would be handled as a relatively minor local criminal matter, the FBI launched a major investigation that continued for months to pursue those who acquired the diary, which reportedly contains embarrassing entries involving President Biden. Such a massive FBI deployment shocked many of us, but the FBI built a federal case against those who took possession of the diary.
Targeting Republicans and conservatives
Recently the FBI was flagged for targeting two senior House Intelligence Committee staffers in grand jury subpoenas sent to Google. It has been criticized for using the Jan. 6 Capitol riot investigations to target conservative groups and GOP members of Congress, including seizing the phone of one GOP member.
The FBI also has been criticized for targeting pro-life violence while not showing the same vigor toward pro-choice violence.
Hunter’s laptop
While the FBI was eager to continue the Russian investigations with no clear evidence of collusion, it showed the opposite inclination when given Hunter Biden’s infamous laptop. The laptop would seem to be a target-rich environment for criminal investigators, with photos and emails detailing an array of potential crimes involving foreign transactions, guns, drugs and prostitutes. However, reports indicate that FBI officials moved to quash or slow any investigation.
The computer repairman who acquired the laptop, John Paul Mac Isaac, said he struggled to get the FBI to respond and that agents made thinly veiled threats regarding any disclosures of material related to the Biden family; he said one agent told him that “in their experience, nothing ever happens to people that don’t talk about these things.”
The ‘Twitter Files’
The “Twitter Files” released by Twitter’s new owner, Elon Musk, show as many as 80 agents targeting social-media posters for censorship on the site. This included alleged briefings that Twitter officials said were the reason they spiked the New York Post’s Hunter Biden laptop story before the 2020 election.
The FBI sent 150 messages on back channels to just one Twitter official to flag accounts. One Twitter executive expressed unease over the FBI’s pressure, declaring: “They are probing & pushing everywhere they can (including by whispering to congressional staff).”
We also have learned that Twitter hired a number of retired FBI agents, including former FBI general counsel James Baker, who was a critical and controversial figure in past bureau scandals over political bias.
Attacking critics
It is not clear what is more chilling — the menacing role played by the FBI in Twitter’s censorship program, or its mendacious response to the disclosure of that role. The FBI has issued a series of “nothing-to-see-here” statements regarding the Twitter Files.
In its latest statement, the FBI insists it did not command Twitter to take any specific action when flagging accounts to be censored. Of course, it didn’t have to threaten the company — because we now have an effective state media by consent rather than coercion. Moreover, an FBI warning tends to concentrate the minds of most people without the need for a specific threat.
Finally, the files show that the FBI paid Twitter millions as part of this censorship system — a windfall favorably reported to Baker before he was fired from Twitter by Musk.
Criticizing the FBI is now ‘disinformation’
Responding to the disclosures and criticism, an FBI spokesperson declared: “The men and women of the FBI work every day to protect the American public. It is unfortunate that conspiracy theorists and others are feeding the American public misinformation with the sole purpose of attempting to discredit the agency.”
Arguably, “working every day to protect the American public” need not include censoring the public to protect it from errant or misleading ideas.
However, it is the attack on its critics that is most striking. While the FBI denounced critics of an earlier era as communists and “fellow travelers,” it now uses the same attack narrative to label its critics as “conspiracy theorists.”
After Watergate, there was bipartisan support for reforming the FBI and intelligence agencies. Today, that cacophony of voices has been replaced by crickets, as much of the media imposes another effective blackout on coverage of the Twitter Files. This media silence suggests that the FBI found the “sweet spot” on censorship, supporting the views of the political and media establishment.
As for the rest of us, the FBI now declares us to be part of a disinformation danger which it is committed to stamping out — “conspiracy theorists” misleading the public simply by criticizing the bureau.
Clearly, this is the time for a new Church Committee — and time to reform the FBI.
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at George Washington University. You can find his updates online @JonathanTurley.
Professor Turley cites many FBI abuses, but ignores a major one: the “plot” to kidnap the beloved, bird-brain governor of Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer. https://www.woodtv.com/news/michigan/fbi-concocted-whitmer-kidnapping-plot-acquitted-man-says/ and https://www.theguardian. com/us-news/2022/mar/19/michigan-governor-kidnap-case-terrorists-fbi-dupes-gretchen-whitmer The Guaridan article quotes Mike German, a former FBI agent:
“Counter-terrorism tactics have evolved because there wasn’t a lot of international terrorism occurring on the US soil,” said Mike German,
author of Disrupt, Discredit and Divide: How the FBI Damages Democracy. “But there’s still pressure to make cases and that’s caused the FBI to
adopt this methodology of manufacturing terrorism plots.”
This column brings together the horrendous, polically-motivated abuses of power of the FBI, more tnan enough to justify its disinstitutionalization. The field workers should remain in their jobs, mostly, but the head of the Beast needs to be cut off. But that is politically impossible while the Democrats hold the White House, and the Senate, since Democrats rightly see the FBI, IRS, and federally other agencies as their auxiliary groups. Right now, Republicans need to agree among themselves that the agency will be abolished if and when Republicans regain the White House and control of Congress, which may be in 2024. They need to be ready to act NOW when that happens.
Jonathan: One last tidbit from this Holiday season. I took my young granddaughter to the local mall to see Santa. She got up on Santa’s knee with her wish list. I expected her to ask for the pony she has always wanted. Instead, in loud words she told Santa: ” Please don’t let Trump run again in 2024!”. Wow! Grandpa’s influence? I suppose so. In recent months over dinner with the kids I have told the parents of the danger of Trump running again. The parents, staunch Republicans, didn’t pay much attention. But one of my granddaughters did! Thank God for the younger generation! One thing struck me as we left the mall. All of Santa’s elves were applauding my granddaughter who held up her thumb with a smile as we walked away. See, there IS something to rejoice about in this holiday season.
It is a sad state of affairs when a child so young would be consigned to embrace political ideology…and that it is rewarded by cheering onlookers vying to signal their vaunted proffers of self-righteous virtue.
Oh, one more thing Santa. I hope the big guy gives you some of that stimulus loot so you can keep doing your good work. You get a gift and you get a gift and you get a gift.
Darren Smith: I forgot to mention that many of the parents waiting in line with their kids to visit Santa also applauded. But others were no as appreciative. It was about 50/50. I heard one parent say with disapproval: “What a spectacle!”. It didn’t appear either that Santa liked my granddaughter’s request. He said: “You can get down now child”. You have to understand I live in a very conservative state.
Another thing you don’t understand. I have never tried to get my three granddaughters to “embrace” my “political ideology”. They are too young. But they pick up on the things my wife discuss with their parents and friends–obviously. What I have tried to get my granddaughters to do is not to automatically accept everything they see or hear–at school or among their friends. I tell them to Q everything and to think independently–and to make decisions based on facts. “Critical thinking” is the mantra at my house. Too bad you apparently didn’t have a grandparent who would imbue you with similar values.
I expected her to ask for the pony she has always wanted.
You failed to remind her she got a jackασσ for a grandfather.
Your talking points comments on this forum merit mockery just like your employer, David Brock. But we understand you have to get paid somehow, and it beats abusing minorities in China’s labor camps making Apple iPhones for Joe Biden’s CCP handlers.
Estovir: Sorry, but my 3 granddaughters adore me. I have saved many of their drawings. One right here on the wall of my study says “We love you grandpa!”. As they should. I am a fountain of knowledge and inspiration. And I have set up a trust fund for them so they all can go to the college of their choice. If you have grandchildren what have you done for them lately?
And sorry again but I don’t work for David Brock. But I have purchased a large number of his books that I will be giving to my granddaughters when they go off to college. I will resist responding to your bizarre comment about “Joe Biden’s CCP handlers”. But if you know something on this subject I strongly suggest you report it to the FBI immediately! If Biden is controlled by the CCP that could be a threat to national security. But be careful. If you do report this to the FBI you may get a skeptical response. You might even be carried off to the looney bin where you belong!
DNC paid trolls of the David Brock ilk are like evangelical fundamentalists trolling pedestrians on street corners, distributing pamphlets and hurling 5-10 canned bible quotes aloud for all to hear. They are paid by their handlers, their talking points are not persuasive, their credibility is dung, which is to say you have no efficacy on this forum. I am not well liked by so called “conservatives” on here, Trump apologists get uppity with my anti-Trump comments, and COVID VAX denialists find my scientific acumen irritating. Yet they all take me seriously. You / Gigi / YNOT / Svelaz, and your online multi-personality profiles and coworkers at Correct the Record, not so much. But hey it’s a living!
tell Brock to find a boyfriend, get married, raise a family and go to Confession. True that would require interpersonal skills but he still has a heart beat, so there is still hope for him
best
Why Estovir,
You also forgot to insult my dogs & & old Tom Cat.
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“” are like evangelical fundamentalists trolling pedestrians on street corners, distributing pamphlets and hurling 5-10 canned bible quotes aloud for all to hear. They are paid by their handlers, their talking points are not persuasive, their credibility is dung, which is to say you have no efficacy on this forum. I am not well liked by so called “conservatives” on here, Trump apologists get uppity with my anti-Trump comments, and COVID VAX denialists find my scientific acumen irritating. Yet they all take me seriously. “”
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Your mRNA & other so called “Vaccine” Crap has positively demonstrated over the past 80-100 years it’s been an Absolute Failure.
When I 1st started watching the stats (70s/80s) on mental retardation (Autistic) where running 1 out 30000-35000, last I looked a couple 3 years back, New Jersey, was at 1 in 35 was Phk’d with your Vaxx S-crap model.
Like Trump I see you’ve some hugh issues with being a narcissist & with normalcy bias, but we’ve all our own demons to deal with.
Point being mRNA & the entire US Vax program is a Massive Health Menace, theat to humanity & should be outlawed/abandoned until a better plan can be drawn up.
Regardless, people will be called out & forced to admit to the , death to millions they’ve caused.
Go read their own papers & I’ll dig some them out again, just not at 2:45 in the morning.
Oky, Estovir writes: “Trump apologists get uppity with my anti-Trump comments, and COVID VAX denialists find my scientific acumen irritating.”
Oky, Estovir joined the “orange-hair” group unable to separate policy from hair color. Now he needs to concentrate on the meaning of the word love, instead of spending his time suffering over non-essentials. There is a bit of an ego problem peeping out. No one openly doubts his credentials, but many believe a vast amount of acumen concentrates within those who have questions about the vaccine.
I have many questions regarding the vaccine, but I took it. It is a leftist mindset that wants to limit discussion to one side of the story.
Musk Calls Out Fauci’s Gain-of-Function: ‘Should be Called Bioweapon Research As Function Referred is Death!’
by Kelen McBreen
December 28th 2022, 12:36 pm
Twitter CEO slams dangerous experimental research that led to release of Covid-19
He also revealed old Twitter employees had an internal ‘Fauci Fan Club’
Image Credit:
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Responding to a Twitter user posting about Dr. Anthony Fauci’s continuation of gain-of-function research after the Obama administration outlawed it domestically, the company’s new CEO Elon Musk suggested gain-of-function should be called “bioweapon research” going forward.
In the Wednesday morning comment, Musk also said the “function” being referred to in the term is “death” as the only thing being done is research to make viruses and diseases more lethal for humans.
“Fauci bypassed the moratorium on gain-of-function research to fund dangerous projects like EcoHealth Alliance’s work in Wuhan. He then worked internally to changed NIH’s definition of GoF to evade culpability. In 2022, he awarded more $ to Peter Daszak for more GoF research,” wrote Twitter user Year Zero – Rory Biller.
In response, Musk wrote, “‘Gain-of-function’ should be called ‘bioweapon’ research, as the function referred is death! What was the name changed to this time?”
Typo:
Regardless, people will be called out & forced to admit to the ,injury & death to millions they’ve caused.
https://banned.video/watch?id=6181c7a6c1526b2b326f7b88
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Estovir says:
November 14, 2022 at 7:47 PM
There is a growing body of evidence – really just relearning things we already knew, that too many vaccines is harmful to peoples immune systems.
Actually, no. If a vaccine results in an adverse event (AE) on someone or a group of individuals as contrasted to millions who had no AEs, chances are it was their immune system that was to blame, not the vaccine. To have an academic conversation (which I would prefer to do) requires all parties having a robust knowledge on the immune system and a healthy dose of genetics.
Vaccines are wonder drugs. Everyone should get vaccinated as their physicians recommend. Flu, COVID, and whatever your age group dictates, get them. Being an immigrant from humble origins, I know all too well that fear, superstition and cultural myths have a strong grip on immigrants thinking when it comes to health. You are not one of them, and you should educate yourself on these issues given you are an learned man. Start here:
Carter B, Zhao K. The epigenetic basis of cellular heterogeneity. Nat Rev Genet. 2021 Apr;22(4):235-250. doi: 10.1038/s41576-020-00300-0. Epub 2020 Nov 26. PMID: 33244170.
Carty M, Guy C, Bowie AG. Detection of Viral Infections by Innate Immunity. Bioch “” more……….
https://jonathanturley.org/2022/11/07/bidens-bottomless-pinocchio-washington-post-hits-the-president-with-rare-rebuke-for-repeated-false-claims/comment-page-1/#comment-2238727
Estovir,
After all this time since Jacobs v. Ms, Buck v Bell, Koramatsu (sic), I know the US Medical Systems has had more then a plenty of time to apply the Scientific Method to determine if the US vaccine schedule is more the just Safe & Effective, But they haven’t!
Yet there are ways many of us can tell rather then the Failure NIH/NIAID/CDC/HHS….
Like how many people died this year, age & of what? More Heart Attacks, Stokes, Blood Clots? How many Military & Professional Pilots have bee force out of flying After the mRNA shots? More…..
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The links inside this link below has the research info.
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“You may choose to look the other way, but you can never say again that you did not know.”
— William Wilberforce
Autism Prevalence Rates in U.S. and Northern Ireland Continue to Rise
by Barbara Loe Fisher and Rishma Parpia
Published June 14, 2021 | Health, Immune & Brain Disorders
https://thevaccinereaction.org/2021/06/autism-prevalence-rates-in-u-s-and-northern-ireland-continue-to-rise/
It’s illegal for govt’s to be doing Gain of Function research yet they continue to great risk to all of us world wide. More on that later.
If anyone looks somewhere between about 2000,2001 or 2002 was another bio-weapon released as I understand it, Sars CV1.
After it was over DOD, Darpa or the Pentagon had an after event report that was made public. In it is reportedly recommendations the next time in a Sars Cv event that Ivermectin or HCQ would wipe it out fast.
When Sars CV2 bio-chem-weapon came around some in the govt & pharma appeared to focus on only financial gains & cursed Ivermectin, HCQ & at least 4 other therapies as had the Govt admitted they work the they & Pharma couldn’t cash in on the Very Harmful mRNA crap shoot. And what a Crap Shoot it’s turned into, Snake Eyes.
It could be you were to busy but I’ve also noticed damn few mentioned ConLaw Dr Francis Boyle that warned millions of others & I that CV2 was on it’s way from China late 2019 or Jan 2020.
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About 52:00 Min.
UN Insider: Deep State Planning New Bioweapon Release
70,339 views
Dec 28, 2022
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The Alex Jones Show
The Alex Jones Show
Dr. Francis Boyle joins The Alex Jones Show to break down the Deep State’s plan to release a new bioweapon on the public.
https://banned.video/watch?id=63acb188779ce207727cd47e
the Basstards cooking up those Bio-Chem weapons need a short trial & dealt with to stop them & same for those that came up this CV mRNA Crap.
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iowan2 says:
December 28, 2022 at 8:11 AM
In a meta-analysis of 63 studies of ivermectin versus COVID-19 in humans, 100% of these have shown positive results. Studies were from all continents except Antarctica. Considered individually, 29 of those studies were found to be statistically significant regarding use of ivermectin alone. Over the 63 studies in meta-analysis, pooled effects showed 69% improvement in early treatment, and prophylactic use showed 86% improvement.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/health/ivermectin-is-safe-and-effective-the-evidence_4944960.html
Since we are talking about the government telling social media, and big tech what to censor, this is right on topic.
Ignore the statistics cited. Focus on the Government refusing to let the discussion of ivermectin, proceed. Instead the Government said it was useless, and implied it was dangerous. The Government (through twitter, etal) instead pushed unproven treatments that profited big pharma by the $billions. All the while, Millions of Anmerican’s died needlessly.
Ivermectin should have been prescribed prophylacticly to the vulnerable population. Instead, Medical Giants live NY Governor, Hocul Banned Doctors from prescribing a perfectly safe and effective treatment.
This is why the Government is constitutionally prevented from censoring speech.
https://jonathanturley.org/2022/12/26/when-the-fbi-attacks-critics-as-conspiracy-theorists-its-time-to-reform-the-bureau/comment-page-4/#comment-2249907
Dennis – I have a grandaughter. I feed her food, not propaganda.
Can you imagine, a nutter setting up propaganda lies for granddaughters over a decade in advance. That’s a dangerous obsession. I’m sure they’ll play along so gramps doesn’t start screaming and running out the front door with his high resolution printed sign off to the latest street quackery.
The sad thing is how the granddaughters will be abused in college.
Gramps can count his lucky stars he is in a “republican area” so he doesn’t have to worry about trans groomers and released pedos and an overabundance of street criminals and homeless tent cities. Another thing those nasty democrats take advantage of – a secure living provided by those terribly religious republicans for law and order.
Edwardmahl: I avoid “propaganda” with my granddaughters. I don’t know the age of your granddaughter. I have one who is 14. Because her parents both work the 3 girls have spent a lot of time at our house because we live nearby. One day my 14 yr old came into my study after school and sat down. After the usual discussion of what happened at school she asked me: “Grandpa, if I get pregnant can I get an abortion?” Wow! Right out of the blue! What to say? So I asked her: “Honey, have you discussed this with your parents?” She responded: “No, they wouldn’t understand. They would think I am having sex–which I’m not”. So, what do you tell your granddaughter? As a supporter of the right to an abortion I didn’t want to “propagandize” my granddaughter over the issue. So we simply talked about alternatives to pregnancy and other other health related issues. In my experience you can’t bs teenagers. They know if you are being straight with them. Today they know a lot more about sex, pregnancy and abortion than most of us did when we were the same age. So here is a Q for you. What would you tell your granddaughter in a similar situation?
“I tell them to Q everything and to think independently”
There is some hope for your grand daughters.
Independent thinking is the most important thing you can teach any child.
It is incredibly rare. Even more so today.
The next most important critical thinking skill is to get past first order consequences.
A law of physics is that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction.
In the world of human action that rule remains true but cascading.
A common aphorism was build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door.
But it is hard to build a better mousetrap.
It is hard to do ANYTHING truly better than it is already being done.
Most of us pretend otherwise – yet none of them have ever built a better mouse trap.
New ideas almost never succeed the first time. It takes many failures to get an idea right.
This is the norm. It is why free markets succeed and why government fails.
Everyone is sure they know a better way. Few have seriously considered more than the first order impacts of their “better way”
Most new ideas fail – not because of the obvious, but because of 2nd or 3rd order reactions
Just look arround you at the real world – you are surrounding by so much failure all over the place it is a wonder that the world does not decay into complete collapse – and that is a real danger.
150,000 Ukrainian mothers are deeply regretting that Trump didn’t get a second term.
DM:
“But one of my granddaughters did! Thank God for the younger generation! One thing struck me as we left the mall. All of Santa’s elves were applauding my granddaughter who held up her thumb with a smile as we walked away. See, there IS something to rejoice about in this holiday season.”
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Well, Dennis you’ve managed with your cogent arguments, dashing style and impeccable logic to convince an impressionable, noncritically thinking “young” child! Imagine what wonders you will work this year with, say, middle school students, or perhaps even mythical creatures like minimum wage elves. (You’re already up three or so of the latter.) The rest of us stand back in awe and disbelief. All varieties of disbelief.
Mespo727272, you should be a stand up comic.
I’m a George Carlin disciple, ya know!
NSFW:
Mespo727272: See my comment to to Darren Smith, It applies to you in spades!
Yeah that was funny!
I remember when I realized I wasn’t a Democrat. I was 18 years old. I’m 73 now.
In 2006 – YEARS before Ed Snowden and around the time that my US Senator MN (D) Mark Dayton got a NON-response to his Senate / FBI FOIA Request (2006 #1045193-000… I/we called the “Go F!ck Yourself Senator” response… then I was told that Dayton had suddenly decided he was going to vacate his 1st term seat… think about it…) associated to my reports to him about the USG IC & its not-so private”MILITARY INDUSTRIAL SURVEILLANCE” Strategic Partners Targeting / Weaponizing Malicious Illegal Surveillance and Felony Harassment of Innocent US civilians / citizens+++… my former employer Denver-based MASSIVE USG-IC / DOD Strategic Partner “Tele Tech Holdings (TTEC) / Tele Tech Government Solutions” ET AL / I met with then Minneapolis FBI Sr Investigative Supervisor Richard Ostrom who said he had never seen such an extraordinary claims supported by documented evidence. He promised to open an immediate investigation joining forces with the Chicago FBI White Collar Crime Task Force. Two weeks later I was informed that he suddenly “retired” and that I should come back and pick up my bankers box of lawfully obtained prima facie evidence. Dick disappeared… later / current CEO WAYPOINT a group of mostly former FBI / DOJ / SEC…USG officers & lawyers now acting as forensic investigators working for White Collar Criminal Defense clients. “Extraordinary claims requires extraordinary evidence.” Carl Sagan forget to mention the need for honest, legitimate / authentic government officials. Peace. Mark J. Novitsky Ephesians 6:12 Quod Est Necessariun Est Lictum
Btw Jonathan et al – I can also explain what really happened when my 2nd MN US (D) Senator suddenly forced to vacate his seat in 2019 Al “I can assure you this isn’t about spying on American citizens” Franken after investigating my warnings / claims. He said that “acting” in his capacity as the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Chair for “Privacy, Technology and the Law” as a freshman senator whilst NOT a lawyer or IT education… I assure you that he knew he was lying. – But in 2019 when he actually told SOME truth speaking at the “Open Market Institute” he exposed too much – saying that “BIG TECH” (what I call the “MILITARY INDUSTRIAL SURVEILLANCE COMPLEX” that I was a part of…) was the greatest threat to our democracy. One week later the pictures came out (the PG ones) and he decided to vacate his seat / resign… NOBODY came to his defense… the message was sent… later Chuck Schumer (Schomer / dual citizen) advised / warned anybody not reading from the script while on MSNBC…”DON’T MESS WITH THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY… THEY HAVE 6 WAYS FROM SUNDAY TO TAKE YOU DOWN!” – Hey Chuck… I seek some clarification / specificity because by all appearances… your warning implies that we all should fear the wrath of the Intelligence Community… Obviously I am not… I beat them in Denver Fed Court pretty-much pro-se with unlimited access to economic resources and powerful political connections. Imagine what I could do with a lawyer… Biggest CA is history… make the recent Facespook GDPR $725M & $225M Fines look like a parking ticket. Know Justice Know Peace. Mark J. Novitsky Ephesians 6:12
Ephesians 6:12,
Amen!
Sing It.
Abraham Lincoln kept this country together, but look how he did it! What’s the old saying, if you give up your freedom for safety you’ll have neither.
About the only criticism that seems to be a hill of beans to anyone, is if it comes from the NYT or the Washington Post. All other voices are irrelevant apparently, including the voice of Turley. How he can remain a Democrat is beyond me, much like Manchin, and a dozen or so more who should be mortified to be considered as political allies of Strzok and Christopher Wray.
Don’t reform the bureau, eliminate it. Where in the US Constitution is the FBI? It’s existence is illegal because it’s not there. If Dems and/or Reps think it should exist, add it as an amendment per the constitutional process.
A reasonable person might wonder where the various Inspectors General of our governnment were loitering while all of these wild fires of unconstitutional conduct were raging FOR YEARS through the Executive Branch.
Why do we have to rely on volutary disclosures from a billionaire who bought Twitter and discovery in the Missouri v Biden civil lawsuit to find out about illegal conspiracies that a platoon of Inspectors General are PAID to know about and report?
Attorneya General? — out to lunch.
Inspector General Horowitz? — MIA.
Intel Inspectors General? — one at least was conspiring in Impeachment Hoax #1 by changing the rules applicable to whistleblower complaints.
Other Inspectors General? — They are apparently number among those whose names shall not be spoken, because you almost NEVER (if ever) hear about any of them.
Updated December 21, 2022. This list of Big Tech execs with ties to the Democrat party and the deep state was first compiled in 2020. In light of the Twitter Files exposing the connections between Big Tech and intelligence agencies, we’ve updated this list to include all of the Twitter employees with intelligence ties who were mentioned in the Twitter Files.
https://www.glennbeck.com/blog/updated-decoding-the-democrats-extensive-ties-to-big-tech-2659002316
For those defending the rights of the People, this list will validate your concern that our government is actively partnering with private companies to violate the rights of the People. For those defending the government, this list won’t mean anything to you, as you need to actually have a boot on your neck before you become concerned about your rights.
The FBI cannot be reformed because it’s fundamentally the same corrupt organization created by J. Edgar Hoover. Hoover used the agency for nefarious purposes like collecting dirt on his political enemies which is how Hoover held his position until his death. Many presidents wanted to fire him but feared what Hoover had on them.
Judy, the difference between J. Edger Hoover and todays FBI is Hoover had the goods on everybody in Washington, many files on the political eleets. Today the ruling class controls the FBI.
Obama had such a database. Maxine exposed it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGgZ5M6KMt8
Wen, thank you for that video. I don’t doubt what Maxine said is true. Obama brought that database, like the true socialist (fascist) he is, to the federal government and then used the bureaucracy in a despotic manner.
Jonathan: Unless you live in LA having to go out to be with family and friends last night was like taking your life in your hands My wife and I played it safe and went to our neighbors next door for Xmas dinner. They cleared the snow on the driveway but that was still a challenge. We almost froze on the 2 min. walk!
But others, particularly in DC, were not as lucky. Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott pulled another of his political stunts. Last night he dropped off several busloads of migrants in front of VP Harris’ house in below freezing weather. Fortunately migrant advocate groups picked up the migrants and took them to a church shelter where they were able to get warm and have something to eat. The WH was quick in their response: “”Governor Abbott abandoned children on the side of the road in below freezing temperatures on Christmas eve without coordinating with any Federal or local authorities. This was a cruel, dangerous, and shameful stunt”. Indeed!
What is breathtaking is the extent to which Gov. Abbott will endanger the lives of women and children to further his political goals. Now when you look up the “Grinch who stole Christmas” you see Abbott’s photo!
You, sir, are a nose bleed. Five million known illegals have entered the country illegally in the past two years that we know about. How many more made it in without detection? Is the state of Texas obligated to take care of these people and what is the role of the federal government? To your way of thinking it is just fine for the Biden administration to break every law on immigration that puts women and children at risk isn’t it? Get your head out of your … and spend your time lobbying the WH and democrats to support laws already on the books to stop this continuing invasion. You and your kind are the reason America is turning into a banana republic and once she is gone there will be no bringing her back. Then I wonder what you will whine about?
People who enter this country and ask for asylum are NOT “illegals” because it’s not illegal to seek asylum. It IS illegal to cross the border by climbing a fence and evading Border Patrol. Those people are arrested and deported. Those seeking asylum are assigned a hearing date, and must prove they qualify for asylum. They are legally allowed to work and stay until their hearing. Technically, most probably do not qualify for asylum. They come here because here is better than Guatamala, Venezuela or wherever else they’re from. Most of them are not Mexican, because our good factory jobs moved there, contrary to Trump’s promise to return manufacturing jobs to the US. Until Congress does something about our asylum laws, there’s not really much we can do to stop them from coming. Plus, they are lied to by coyotes, who tell them Biden said they could all just show up and stay here. So, there really aren’t any “laws on the books” that Democrats are failing to enforce. The WH and Democrats have made it cleaer that they do not want thousands of people from South America showing up every month and asking for asylum–that’s another alt-right talking point. Republicans really don’t want to stop them because they are an endless pool of cheap labor–will take whatever dangerous or unsanitary working conditions are out there, don’t seek workers comp when they are injured, don’t file sex harassment or discrimination claims and don’t demand overtime. So long as there’s work, they’ll keep on coming.
All that said, taking people, including babies and toddlers, wearing nothing but a t-shirt, without a coat, or in some instances, without shoes, and depositing them on the streets of Washington, D.C., Chicago, New York or other northern cities in frigid conditions is a crime against humanity, and may well qualify as kidnapping or other crimes like reckless endangerment. If one of them were to die, the charges could be much more severe. Gov. Abbott has no authority to move people against their will to a place that endangers their lives, and to deposit them outside VP Harris’s residence is abusing vulnerable people for political purposes. In addition to being inhumae and despicable, it is also un-American. We don’t treat people this way. I couldn’t agree more that something has to be done.
“People who enter this country and ask for asylum are NOT “illegals” because it’s not illegal to seek asylum.”
They must do so in a special way or they are breaking the law. Additionally they can stay in Mexico until their claim can be adjudicated and they should have asked asylum in the first country they crossed. Those are the laws.
It seems you don’t understand d the financing of buildings, you are clueless about access on a public street in Britain and you are clueless where immigration is concerned. Do you have knowledge of anything?
@Dennis McIntyre
“Let’s Go Brandon” and his VP are the ones telling them to come to the US. They should be prepared to take care of them.
Yes, on Christ mas, “For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me. … Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”
The difference being, of course,that you didn’t give your neighbors stuff away. You gave your own.
Abbott didn’t give his own. The church and synagogue and volunteers with the Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network, who helped the immigrants in DC, did give their own.
Reading this made me laugh at the hypocrisy we see from the left. Leftists quote from religious texts but want to destroy religion. It is a typical Alinsky tactic, one that originates with Stalin.
Likely the same anonymous also wrote the following with a link already deleted.
“Volunteers spring into action after migrants left outside Harris’ home” The volunteers fed “140 migrants who were left by the roadside” in an affluent area.
Dark holes don’t permit much light, or he would be aware that El Paso, a much poorer area, is flooded with an immigrant population that might increase to 5,000 per day when title 42 expires.
https://nypost.com/2022/12/15/el-paso-braces-for-5000-migrants-per-day-post-title-42-as-feds-promise-6m/
One would expect anonymous to show signs of embarrassment based on the ignorance displayed.
Aninny:
“Abbott didn’t give his own.”
*****************************
Like an intelligent person who understands that subsidizing anything means you get more of it, Abbott summoned the Texas NG to put up barbed wire. That’s giving we can all get behind. And if you believe the NGO and charity scam let me know where to send your Florida deed.
BTW Jesus never said to disobey the law in some gushing signalling of virtue. Rather he said to render unto Caesar that which is his — the law. Leftists are so anti-Christ-like. Masters of non-sequiturs, too.
It’s not against the law to apply for asylum.
It is from inside the country you just snuck into.
You claim to be a lawyer, but apparently you haven’t read the law on where an asylum seeker can can be when applying for asylum. Too lazy?
Aninny;
And you claim to have a modicrum of sense – or else Correct the Record does. And that’s right, we bowed to Chamber of Commerce pressure and let the rabble apply after they violated US law and penetrated the border. Sorry, I forgot how lawless (i.e. Democratic) we’ve become. Either way, it’s an invasion with NGO’s teaching the horde how to lie on applciations about mythical persecution or harrassment when all most of them are are economic migrants taking money here and sending money there. Sorta Grinch-like. I’d shut down illegals tomorrow by just taxing remittances at 80% and then watch the drain on the Southern border swirl with activity as all these “Americans-in-spirit” rush back to the confines of whatever third world depot they’re from and have loyalty to. I’m betting we still keep the terrorists, criminals and drug dealers ’cause you know they “yearn to breath free” as they loot the “Golden Door.”
Here you go:
8 U.S. Code § 1158 – Asylum
U.S. Code
(a)Authority to apply for asylum
(1)In general
Any alien who is physically present in the United States or who arrives in the United States (whether or not at a designated port of arrival and including an alien who is brought to the United States after having been interdicted in international or United States waters), irrespective of such alien’s status, may apply for asylum in accordance with this section or, where applicable, section 1225(b) of this title.
(2)Exceptions
(A)Safe third country
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien if the Attorney General determines that the alien may be removed, pursuant to a bilateral or multilateral agreement, to a country (other than the country of the alien’s nationality or, in the case of an alien having no nationality, the country of the alien’s last habitual residence) in which the alien’s life or freedom would not be threatened on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, and where the alien would have access to a full and fair procedure for determining a claim to asylum or equivalent temporary protection, unless the Attorney General finds that it is in the public interest for the alien to receive asylum in the United States.
(B)Time limit
Subject to subparagraph (D), paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien unless the alien demonstrates by clear and convincing evidence that the application has been filed within 1 year after the date of the alien’s arrival in the United States.
(C)Previous asylum applications
Subject to subparagraph (D), paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien if the alien has previously applied for asylum and had such application denied.
(D)Changed circumstances
An application for asylum of an alien may be considered, notwithstanding subparagraphs (B) and (C), if the alien demonstrates to the satisfaction of the Attorney General either the existence of changed circumstances which materially affect the applicant’s eligibility for asylum or extraordinary circumstances relating to the delay in filing an application within the period specified in subparagraph (B).
(E)Applicability
Subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall not apply to an unaccompanied alien child (as defined in section 279(g) of title 6).
(3)Limitation on judicial review
No court shall have jurisdiction to review any determination of the Attorney General under paragraph (2).
(b)Conditions for granting asylum
(1)In general
(A)Eligibility
The Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General may grant asylum to an alien who has applied for asylum in accordance with the requirements and procedures established by the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General under this section if the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Attorney General determines that such alien is a refugee within the meaning of section 1101(a)(42)(A) of this title.
(B)Burden of proof
(i)In general
The burden of proof is on the applicant to establish that the applicant is a refugee, within the meaning of section 1101(a)(42)(A) of this title. To establish that the applicant is a refugee within the meaning of such section, the applicant must establish that race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion was or will be at least one central reason for persecuting the applicant.
(ii)Sustaining burden
The testimony of the applicant may be sufficient to sustain the applicant’s burden without corroboration, but only if the applicant satisfies the trier of fact that the applicant’s testimony is credible, is persuasive, and refers to specific facts sufficient to demonstrate that the applicant is a refugee. In determining whether the applicant has met the applicant’s burden, the trier of fact may weigh the credible testimony along with other evidence of record. Where the trier of fact determines that the applicant should provide evidence that corroborates otherwise credible testimony, such evidence must be provided unless the applicant does not have the evidence and cannot reasonably obtain the evidence.
(iii)Credibility determination
Considering the totality of the circumstances, and all relevant factors, a trier of fact may base a credibility determination on the demeanor, candor, or responsiveness of the applicant or witness, the inherent plausibility of the applicant’s or witness’s account, the consistency between the applicant’s or witness’s written and oral statements (whenever made and whether or not under oath, and considering the circumstances under which the statements were made), the internal consistency of each such statement, the consistency of such statements with other evidence of record (including the reports of the Department of State on country conditions), and any inaccuracies or falsehoods in such statements, without regard to whether an inconsistency, inaccuracy, or falsehood goes to the heart of the applicant’s claim, or any other relevant factor. There is no presumption of credibility, however, if no adverse credibility determination is explicitly made, the applicant or witness shall have a rebuttable presumption of credibility on appeal.
(2)Exceptions
(A)In general
Paragraph (1) shall not apply to an alien if the Attorney General determines that—
(i)the alien ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise participated in the persecution of any person on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion;
(ii)the alien, having been convicted by a final judgment of a particularly serious crime, constitutes a danger to the community of the United States;
(iii)there are serious reasons for believing that the alien has committed a serious nonpolitical crime outside the United States prior to the arrival of the alien in the United States;
(iv)there are reasonable grounds for regarding the alien as a danger to the security of the United States;
(v)the alien is described in subclause (I), (II), (III), (IV), or (VI) of section 1182(a)(3)(B)(i) of this title or section 1227(a)(4)(B) of this title (relating to terrorist activity), unless, in the case only of an alien described in subclause (IV) of section 1182(a)(3)(B)(i) of this title, the Attorney General determines, in the Attorney General’s discretion, that there are not reasonable grounds for regarding the alien as a danger to the security of the United States; or
(vi)the alien was firmly resettled in another country prior to arriving in the United States.
(B)Special rules
(i)Conviction of aggravated felony
For purposes of clause (ii) of subparagraph (A), an alien who has been convicted of an aggravated felony shall be considered to have been convicted of a particularly serious crime.
(ii)Offenses
The Attorney General may designate by regulation offenses that will be considered to be a crime described in clause (ii) or (iii) of subparagraph (A).
(C)Additional limitations
The Attorney General may by regulation establish additional limitations and conditions, consistent with this section, under which an alien shall be ineligible for asylum under paragraph (1).
(D)No judicial review
There shall be no judicial review of a determination of the Attorney General under subparagraph (A)(v).
(3)Treatment of spouse and children
(A)In general
A spouse or child (as defined in section 1101(b)(1)(A), (B), (C), (D), or (E) of this title) of an alien who is granted asylum under this subsection may, if not otherwise eligible for asylum under this section, be granted the same status as the alien if accompanying, or following to join, such alien.
(B)Continued classification of certain aliens as children
An unmarried alien who seeks to accompany, or follow to join, a parent granted asylum under this subsection, and who was under 21 years of age on the date on which such parent applied for asylum under this section, shall continue to be classified as a child for purposes of this paragraph and section 1159(b)(3) of this title, if the alien attained 21 years of age after such application was filed but while it was pending.
(C)Initial jurisdiction
An asylum officer (as defined in section 1225(b)(1)(E) of this title) shall have initial jurisdiction over any asylum application filed by an unaccompanied alien child (as defined in section 279(g) of title 6), regardless of whether filed in accordance with this section or section 1225(b) of this title.
(c)Asylum status
(1)In general
In the case of an alien granted asylum under subsection (b), the Attorney General—
(A)shall not remove or return the alien to the alien’s country of nationality or, in the case of a person having no nationality, the country of the alien’s last habitual residence;
(B)shall authorize the alien to engage in employment in the United States and provide the alien with appropriate endorsement of that authorization; and
(C)may allow the alien to travel abroad with the prior consent of the Attorney General.
(2)Termination of asylum
Asylum granted under subsection (b) does not convey a right to remain permanently in the United States, and may be terminated if the Attorney General determines that—
(A)the alien no longer meets the conditions described in subsection (b)(1) owing to a fundamental change in circumstances;
(B)the alien meets a condition described in subsection (b)(2);
(C)the alien may be removed, pursuant to a bilateral or multilateral agreement, to a country (other than the country of the alien’s nationality or, in the case of an alien having no nationality, the country of the alien’s last habitual residence) in which the alien’s life or freedom would not be threatened on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion, and where the alien is eligible to receive asylum or equivalent temporary protection;
(D)the alien has voluntarily availed himself or herself of the protection of the alien’s country of nationality or, in the case of an alien having no nationality, the alien’s country of last habitual residence, by returning to such country with permanent resident status or the reasonable possibility of obtaining such status with the same rights and obligations pertaining to other permanent residents of that country; or
(E)the alien has acquired a new nationality and enjoys the protection of the country of his or her new nationality.
(3)Removal when asylum is terminated
An alien described in paragraph (2) is subject to any applicable grounds of inadmissibility or deportability under section [1] 1182(a) and 1227(a) of this title, and the alien’s removal or return shall be directed by the Attorney General in accordance with sections 1229a and 1231 of this title.
(d)Asylum procedure
(1)Applications
The Attorney General shall establish a procedure for the consideration of asylum applications filed under subsection (a). The Attorney General may require applicants to submit fingerprints and a photograph at such time and in such manner to be determined by regulation by the Attorney General.
(2)Employment
An applicant for asylum is not entitled to employment authorization, but such authorization may be provided under regulation by the Attorney General. An applicant who is not otherwise eligible for employment authorization shall not be granted such authorization prior to 180 days after the date of filing of the application for asylum.
(3)Fees
The Attorney General may impose fees for the consideration of an application for asylum, for employment authorization under this section, and for adjustment of status under section 1159(b) of this title. Such fees shall not exceed the Attorney General’s costs in adjudicating the applications. The Attorney General may provide for the assessment and payment of such fees over a period of time or by installments. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require the Attorney General to charge fees for adjudication services provided to asylum applicants, or to limit the authority of the Attorney General to set adjudication and naturalization fees in accordance with section 1356(m) of this title.
(4)Notice of privilege of counsel and consequences of frivolous application
At the time of filing an application for asylum, the Attorney General shall—
(A)advise the alien of the privilege of being represented by counsel and of the consequences, under paragraph (6), of knowingly filing a frivolous application for asylum; and
(B)provide the alien a list of persons (updated not less often than quarterly) who have indicated their availability to represent aliens in asylum proceedings on a pro bono basis.
(5)Consideration of asylum applications
(A)Procedures
The procedure established under paragraph (1) shall provide that—
(i)asylum cannot be granted until the identity of the applicant has been checked against all appropriate records or databases maintained by the Attorney General and by the Secretary of State, including the Automated Visa Lookout System, to determine any grounds on which the alien may be inadmissible to or deportable from the United States, or ineligible to apply for or be granted asylum;
(ii)in the absence of exceptional circumstances, the initial interview or hearing on the asylum application shall commence not later than 45 days after the date an application is filed;
(iii)in the absence of exceptional circumstances, final administrative adjudication of the asylum application, not including administrative appeal, shall be completed within 180 days after the date an application is filed;
(iv)any administrative appeal shall be filed within 30 days of a decision granting or denying asylum, or within 30 days of the completion of removal proceedings before an immigration judge under section 1229a of this title, whichever is later; and
(v)in the case of an applicant for asylum who fails without prior authorization or in the absence of exceptional circumstances to appear for an interview or hearing, including a hearing under section 1229a of this title, the application may be dismissed or the applicant may be otherwise sanctioned for such failure.
(B)Additional regulatory conditions
The Attorney General may provide by regulation for any other conditions or limitations on the consideration of an application for asylum not inconsistent with this chapter.
(6)Frivolous applications
If the Attorney General determines that an alien has knowingly made a frivolous application for asylum and the alien has received the notice under paragraph (4)(A), the alien shall be permanently ineligible for any benefits under this chapter, effective as of the date of a final determination on such application.
(7)No private right of action
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to create any substantive or procedural right or benefit that is legally enforceable by any party against the United States or its agencies or officers or any other person.
(e)Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
The provisions of this section and section 1159(b) of this title shall apply to persons physically present in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands or arriving in the Commonwealth (whether or not at a designated port of arrival and including persons who are brought to the Commonwealth after having been interdicted in international or United States waters) only on or after January 1, 2014.
If they came to a port of entry, turned themselves in to Border Patrol and sought asylum, then they haven’t “snuck” into the United States. Have you seen the long lines? These people aren’t “sneaking” in. Why aren’t you pissed off at the hotels, restaurants, landscaping, housekeeping, roofing, construction and nanny services that keep enticing these people to come here by giving them work?
Posting the entire asylum code is meaningless. Only lawyers already trained and experienced in this specialty can actually “learn” anything, from this.
That you think this makes you look smart….not so much. Just the opposite
Response to Iowan 2 below: I posted the statute in response to the accusation by Anonymous: 1. I am lazy and haven’t bothered to look up the law; 2. I don’t know what I’m talking about when I say that it’s not illegal to seek asylum. Anonymous implies that someone can only seek asylum BEFORE entering the US. That’s not the law, but it is something I’ve heard on alt-right media. The law says: “Any alien who is physically present in the United States or who arrives in the United States (whether or not at a designated port of arrival and including an alien who is brought to the United States after having been interdicted in international or United States waters), irrespective of such alien’s status, may apply for asylum in accordance with this section or, where applicable, section 1225(b) of this title.” Trump tried to require aliens to apply before arrival-i.e., the “stay in Mexico” provision, but federal law establishes that they apply AFTER entering the US. Congress needs to act to change our asylum and immigration laws, which is something that’s been kicked around way too long, and now we’re in crisis, but it’s not the fault of either Biden or Democrats.Nevertheless, alt-right media and Trump keep on claiming we have “open borders”, which is a lie. We simply can’t take in all the people of Venezuela, Guatamala, Honduras or other South American countries who come here because they want a better standard of living. We have limits on the number of immigrants from other countries for valid reasons, but no limit on asylum, if they meet the criteria. That needs to change.
“Anonymous implies that someone can only seek asylum BEFORE entering the US. That’s not the law”
It is the law, anyone can request asylum at any US Consulate, Embassy anywhere in the world.
That has always been the NORMAL way to do so.
First I would note that US Consulates and Embassies are “The United States”.
Next, I have no idea what you have cited. Law is something passed by congress.
Regulations are enacted through a formal process by the executive.
Guidelines are quite often innaccurate nonsense put out by agencies.
You have not identified that what you have cited is actually law, or even regulation.
If the law was as you claim the courts would have struck down Remain in Mexico as in violation of the law.
They did not. In fact the courts continued to uphold remain in mexico for some time through the Biden administration.
ALJ’s under Biden are granting asylum are rates that can not be supported by the requirements of asylum law.
Which requires that the person seeking asylum must prove a reason to gear their own government.
I would support a broader basis for granting asylum. Regardless, no change in the law that standas a snowballs chance of passing is going to do more than triple the number of people granted asylum.
Most people attempting to immigrate to the US do not receive asylum, that is one of the harder ways to get in,
And tripling the numbers is not going to change that.
Of course it is the fault of Biden and Democrats.
The border was about 10 times more secure under Trump with the same ICE/CBP budget.
The current disaster is entirely the Biden Admins fault.
There is no avoiding responsibility.
You want different laws – fine I agree. we should relax our Asylum requirements.
Possibly make a few other changes.
But one of the reasons that Republicans will not negotiate with you, is because democrats have NEVER acted on good faith with regard to immigration.
US LAw authorized the Border wall in the mid eighties – it was a BiPartisan measure that also granted amnesty to 3.5M illegal immigrants in the US at the time. The amnesty happened, the Wall was never funded because Democrats renigged on their deal.
The same thing happened again in the late 90’s.
During the Obama administration – and far worse under the Biden administration – DHS CBP/ICE are NOT following the existing law.
DACA pissed alot of people off. You could have gotten something similar through negotiation – Even Trump was willing to agree to DACA in return for Border Wall Funding.
Instead democratic presidents just go lawless.
And you wonder why the law can not be changed ?
I would not Trust democrats in a negotiation. And I am far more favorable to increased immigration than Republicans.
But you can not make deals with people who do not behave honestly.
You do not understand the great cost to your own constant dishonesty.
Trust is crucial to everything in the world that requires people to work together.
No one works with or strikes deals with people they do not trust unless they have to.
In area after area – immigration being only one – Democrats are dishonest, game the system. Use ends justify the means tactics,
and lie. We saw a similar example in the “deal” made to pass the misnamed inflation reduction act.
In return for votes to pass that Democrats agreed to a vote on other measures.
They reneged after they got the IRA vote.
You can celebrate that you pulled a fast one on Manchin and republicans.
But you should not be surprised when no one will strike a deal with you in the future.
The “Big Lie” that Joe Biden had nothing to do with Hunter’s business dealings. that the Laptop was “russian Disinformation”.
And the mass censorship of the truth proves you are not moral.
Why should anyone work together with people who are not moral ?
Gigi, asylum is just about the least likely possible way to get into the US.
While Biden has doubled the rate at which asylum requests are granted, it is still a small percent of yearly legal immigrants.
To get asylum the applicant must PROVE a strong basis to fear death or imprisonment in their country for Political activity.
Economic hardship is not a legitimate basis for Asylum.
Nor is fear of criminals in your home country.
If we relaxed standards and trippled the rate at which asylum was granted it would still be a tiy fraction of all legal immigration.
It was 23 degrees in Texas where thousands are out in the cold because the Biden Administration doesn’t care about them, unless they can use them to attack the Republicans for TRYING to do something about the mess Biden made.
“Biden” didn’t “make” any “mess”. The problem is our immigration laws that allow for asylum without any quotas for individual countries like regular immigration has. I agree with those who oppose people coming here in mass numbers seeking asylum because, to be honest, it’s better to live in the US than in their home countries because we have better schools, transportation, health care and a higher standard of living. That’s not a valid reason to obtain asylum under the law, and they all do appear to have been coached on what to say. They still have to prove their case, and most probably can’t, so they probably wouldn’t qualify for asylum anyway. But they keep on coming because coyotes charge them massive amounts of money to “get them in” because they’ve been told that Biden will allow them to stay. That’s a lie, of course, and counter messages to refute these lies haven’t worked. VP Harris went to Guatamala and publicly said: “don’t come here”, but the message didn’t take. The asylum laws serve a purpose in the case of, for example, the Afghanis who helped us oppose the Taliban. Those people’s lives were endangered if they stayed in Afghanistan.
If our Vice President won’t go to the border then governor Abbot will bring the border to her.
“When the FBI Attacks Critics as “Conspiracy Theorists,” It’s Time to Reform the Bureau”
**********************************
Reform? Yeah, like St. George “reformed” the dragon.
Jonathan: Under the paragraphs titled “Biden family business: and “Hunter’s laptop” you allege the FBI has acted as a “Praetorian Guard” to protect the Biden family. So what are the facts? Federal agents investigating Hunter believe they have sufficient evidence to charge Hunter with tax crimes and a false statement related to a gun purchase. David Weiss, the AG in Delaware and holdover from the Trump administration, will decide whether to file charges. AG Garland has publicly stated the Weiss “is in charge of that investigation. There will not be interference of any political or improper kind. We put the investigation into the hands of a Trump appointee from the previous administration”. A far cry from what we saw when Bill Barr, your close friend, was in charge of the DOJ. You didn’t complain when Barr intervened to protect Trump’s cronies and used the FBI to do that.
For over a year you have alleged the Hunter laptop and now the “Twitter Files”, would show a Biden family “corruption scandal” of the century. So far just allegations without the meat! You say Hunter’s laptop would “seem [that’s the operative word when there is no proof] to be a target-rich environment for criminal investigations, with photos and emails detailing an array of potential [again, a revealing qualification] crimes…”. What I have seen of the “photos” are dick-pics and other pornography. If those are crimes a lot of us are in a heap of trouble! And what is your source for the alleged FBI attempts to cover up all this up? Well, of course, Fox News your employer. Hardly the source of reliable information.
Oh well, I expect you will keep pushing the Biden family “scandal”–all the way up to the 2024 election when Biden gets re-elected.
@Dennis,
I think you still have TDS.
The FBI did run cover for Biden.
There’s more than enough evidence in the public eye to confirm this.
The laptop contained information that would have buried Biden. The only idiotic thing is the GOP always looking for the OCT drop when they should have gone full press on the data when they first found out about it.
The FBI needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.
The only problem is that there aren’t enough honest cops to do that.
-G
What flavor of kool aid are they giving you today?
Yes, TDS.
Dennis- you just keep believing that there is nothing to the “Biden scandal”, that is just about Hunter, prostitutes and drugs, just like the media is coaching you to believe. But if you were to become informed independently as Mr Turley has, you might be surprised what the truth really is. Mr Turley and I are concerned about the FBI suppressing things linked to one political party. It should concern everyone, no matter whom you support
Cathy Busby: I am somewhat taken aback. It appears you are the only woman on this blog to disagree with me. “Gigi” often compliments me on my insightful comments. My wife was shocked by your comment criticizing me. If you know me you should realize I am somewhat tongue in cheek here.
That said, Hunter is being investigated by the AG in Delaware for possible tax and gun crimes. So far that’s it. For Turley the big “crimes” and the “Biden family scandal” is about Hunters overseas business ventures and how his father allegedly facilitated and financially benefiting from those activities. For Turley it is the “scandal” of the century. Have you seen any evidence of this? I haven’t. So Turley has to divert our attention by alleging the FBI has acted as a “Praetorian Guard” to cover up this scandal. I haven’t seen any proof of that either.
Now you say I should be “informed independently as Turley has…”. Really? Just look at Turley’s sources for his many columns. Turley echoes the views of his employer Fox News. Notice that his columns often come out the same day Fox features an article on the same subject. Turley also frequently echoes the views of the NY Post–another Rupert Murdock owned publication. Turley is paid to do this. He is virtually a political hack who is paid to provide an echo chamber for the views of Murdock. Is that thinking “independently”? If you don’t believe me the next time Turley has a column on some political issue go over and check Fox News. Invariably Fox will have featured the same issue–and they both take the same position. Coincidental? You would have to be really gullible to believe that.
When the GOP takes back control of the House in Jan. they will set up a special committee to investigate the alleged “Biden family scandal”. Hunter will be called to testify. Watch those hearings carefully. The Republicans will throw around a lot of mud to see if anything sticks. See if they come up with anything that proves Turley’s allegations. I doubt they will. But even if they don’t the hearings will serve the purpose of the GOP–to tarnish the image of Joe Biden so he can’t be re-elected in 2024. And that’s Turley’s goal too!
This is directed at the top management and “system”, not the employees following orders. The FBI largely missed the 9/11 response due to “mission-creep” and a bloated bureaucracy where the figurative “right hand didn’t know what the left hand was doing”.
Congress solved this problem after 9/11 with more mission-creep and bloated the bureaucracy even bigger. Making it far harder to operate. Congress instead of making the bureaucracy leaner and more agile, made it worse. Congress still hasn’t enacted all of the 9/11 Commission reforms.
According to newspapers, apparently what happened prior to 9/11 was that a flight instructor made a report to the FBI on very suspicious activity – that some flight students only wanted to learn how to take-off but not land in a plane. The instructor reported it to the local FBI field office and it was reported to the FBI HQ. Apparently since the bureaucracy was so large, the threat report was ignored by FBI leadership. Those guys then piloted planes on 9/11.
In 2014, The Intercept (www.theintercept.com) published a story “And the Winner of the 2014 War on Terror Financed Dream Home giveaway is…” by Ken Silverstein. Very good summary of the Bush era abuses of power.
Criticizing the bureaucracy “system”, not the FBI employees, shouldn’t Congress have made the bureaucracy leaner (preferably performance based financial incentives) instead of making bureaucracy more bloated?
Maybe disincentivize priorities like legal 1st Amendment activity and incentivize priorities like protecting Americans from physical harm.
If what has been released by Twitter is true (I presume it is), then the United States of America, our Constitution, and Laws, are in great peril. How to weed out the parties that no longer believe in the laws they swore to uphold becomes the question of the utmost importance.
Publius, here is one of the books that you can still buy. This book is not banned there are just school districts that don’t want to make this book available in Junior High Schools. You shouldn’t be so quick to buy into the banned book narrative without understanding the details. There is not one book that has been banned from publication. Do not be easily fooled. Here’s the book you decide. https://theiowastandard.com/shocking-images-from-book-gender-queer-which-is-stocked-in-school-libraries-across-iowa/
“THE DISASTROUS RISE OF MISPLACED POWER”
It might have been a great time to “reform the Bureau” after it facilitated and was complicit in the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy in the 1960’s, not long after President Dwight D. Eisenhower said, in part, the following.
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“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”
– President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Farewell Address (1961)
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/president-dwight-d-eisenhowers-farewell-address
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The communist (liberal, progressive, socialist, democrat, RINO, AINO) Deep Deep State is fully “woke” and likely invulnerable at this point. Kevin “The Bumpkin From Bakersfield” McCarthy, Ronaldo “The First Latino President” DeSantis, and even Donald “The Real President” Trump didn’t and don’t possess the audacity and resolve sufficient to seize power, as “Crazy Abe” Lincoln did, and terminate the problem with extreme prejudice.
“An FBI agent Told John Gotti: There’s A Plot To Kill You, I Hope They succeed.” It wouldn’t be violation of the law as long as they couldn’t prove anything.
Sammy “The Bull” Gravano gives testimony
The FBI gives its seal of approval.
No organization, including the FBI is monolithic. An organization is only as good as it’s top management. Bad management fits and taints the entire organization.
Subordinate FBI employees have to pay rent, mortgages, their kid’s college tuition, etc just like anyone else. When top management gives unconstitutional (illegal) orders that are disloyal to their Oath of Office, lower level employees get fired, demoted or punished if they don’t follow the agency culture (controlled by the top managers). Citing the “Nuremberg Defense” (following illegal orders) doesn’t pay the mortgage or college tuition of FBI employees. Bush destroyed that internal watchdog system at the turn of the century.
Most employees of any organization can’t just refuse to follow orders from their boss. FBI employees have expenses also, like all of us. The focus shouldn’t be monolithic, it should be the top managers.
The American Oath of Office (governs limits of job authority) is derived from a “wartime governing charter” – the U.S. Constitution. This loyalty oath is designed for both wartime and peacetime. It’s not optional-when-convenient but a legal restraint on authority.
Many of the agency top management are more “politician” than they are “oath-sworn constitutional officer”. The focus should be on the top managers, not the poor guys paying a mortgage and raising kids at the bottom.
[source: book titled “Disrupt, Discredit and Divide” by former FBI field agent by Mike German. One of America’s best experts on FBI reforms and the 1st Amendment).
When I was in high school, we learned about McCarthy and the Red Scare. And the Big Lie tactics.
As an adult, I lived through McCarthyism 2.0, with Adam Schiff in McCarthy’s role. Russia has infiltrated the Trump campaign and administration- exactly the kind of claims McCarthy made. Schiff has outright lied in interviews all along. Secret papers prove it “I have seen the evidence!” – just like McCarthy claimed.
The Red Scare saw good people cancelled from the jobs they were meant to do. I’m horrified by the similar cancellation of people today – especially by Hollywood, the news media, and big tech companies. The Twitter Files prove it, and is proof of crimes by Schiff and his allies in the government. In fact, I believe I (and every citizen and Person) have standing to bring suit against the companies and government because my first amendment civil rights have been denied (to see unpopular opinions and writings). Professor Turley, if you want to take the case, I would be all over it.
It’s really serious. The actual threat to Democracy. This country is supposed to be a Free (as in Liberty) country. Those who decry threats to Democracy are anti Liberty and are pushing for cancellation and censorship.
As far as censorship goes, it doesn’t matter which tribe (political party) you favor, the two main ones want to cancel and censor. Shame on them all. Proof? The Twitter files, republicans banning books about LGBT topics and saying the most horrible things about these people (good people!).
I’m not a fan of Trump. Didn’t vote for him, never would. Don’t like him at all – a horrible person. Yet he was the president of the United States. In what universe should he be censored? It’s supposed to be a Free country. Nazis get to March in Skokie IL and people get to fight their awful ideology with free speech and the ability to change the channel.
How terrible is it that The NY Times would conside/regret publishing an opinion piece by a sitting Senator. That’s your threat to Democracy.
It was rancid communism then and it is rancid communism now.
– Abolition of Freedom and Self-Reliance
– “From each according to his ability (to pay confiscatory and punitive taxation), to each according to his (parasitic and dependent) needs”
– Julius and Ethel Rosenberg
– Comrade General Secretary Franklin D. Roosevelt’s State Department et al.
– Witness, Whittaker Chambers, 1952
– Alger Hiss, Anti-American communist spy and adjutant of FDR
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Communist Principles Implemented in America
– Central Planning (Solar Panels, Electric Vehicles, etc.)
– Control of the Means of Production (Comprehensive, Pervasive and Unconstitutional Regulation)
– Redistribution of Wealth (Welfare, Food Stamps, Public Housing, Teachers Unions, WIC, SNAP, TANF, HAMP, HARP, TARP, etc.)
– Social Engineering (Affirmative Action, Quotas, Forced Busing, Rent/Wage Control, Fair-Housing, Non-Discrimination, etc.)