Commentary
The Kelly Lie
In a clear sign of her desperation, Vice President Harris stepped out of her Washington residence Wednesday to foolishly try to convince you that the leftist Atlantic magazine’s statements about Trump made by former Gen. John Kelly and other charges are to be believed.
Thanks to the investigative reporting of The Federalist, a number of individuals came forward to deny them, including two people who worked for former Vice President Pence, who is currently persona non grata.
Nick Ayers, former chief of staff to Pence, said “I was with them (Trump and Kelly) more than most, and his (Kelly’s) commentary is “patently false.”
Brig. Gen Keith Kellogg, Pence’s national security advisor, not only said Kelly “lied to the American people … Vice President Harris is a fraud.”
Cohen’s Double Talk
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, former Republican Sen. William S. Cohen from Maine (1979-1997), is the latest RINO to say he will vote for Kamala Harris rather than former President Trump, because she “is an internationalist who believes in the rule of law in a rules-based system that strives for global order and stability.”
“Ms. Harris believes that climate change poses a significant international security threat, according to Cohen.
In doing so, he doesn’t hesitate to attack the foreign policy of Trump, viewing his American first policy as “isolationist, xenophobic and white nationalist and fascist historical overtones.”
Coached by the Harris campaign, I’m sure, Cohen repeats the lie that Trump “has declared that his mission isn’t reconciliation but vengeance and retribution against those he considers ‘enemies of the American people.’”
But, but, but … Cohen is hoping you won’t recognize the incongruity of his views when Judy Woodruff at NPR sought his expertise as secretary of defense in the Clinton administration on the January 2021 transfer of power.
Asked if the military leaders were obligated to follow the orders of the commander in chief. “Yes,” he said, “if they were legal, ethical and constitutional. But they also have the responsibility to make a judgement.”
While Cohen was one of 10 living former defense secretaries to sign a piece in the Washington Post urging the Trump administration to allow a peaceful transition, where was he and the other nine signees when, in August 2021, the generals chose to follow Biden’s Afghan withdrawal orders, knowing it was the wrong decision, knowing it was political. Thirteen servicemen and women died needlessly.
“They have the right to walk away and say, Mr. President, we can’t carry out this order,” Cohen told Woodruff. “They are able to make that judgement, based upon their assessment of the situation. They are highly educated, highly trained.”
Surely, the generals were familiar with former defense secretary Robert Gates comment on Biden, “I think he’s been wrong on nearly every major foreign policy and national security issue over the decades.” Did they allow the stars on their shoulders to overshadow their judgement?
Now we have Cohen vouching Harris’s national security credentials, which he cannot detail other than to say she has promised to bridge America’s racial, ethnic, economic and cultural divides, a message he believes “should be welcomed abroad and at home.”
What about Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Iran, Yemen, China and Taiwan?
Harris’s Dilemma
We saw it happening. Biden’s embarrassing debate. Clooney turns on him. Pelosi tells Biden it’s over. Not happy, he steps aside. Endorses Harris, the first DEI-selected vice president.
About two hours later, Harris says she’s “honored to have the president’s endorsement,” adding it was her “intention to earn and win this nomination.”
With just 107 days until Election Day, she was visibly giddy, seemingly unaware of the task ahead. Being the first black woman to seek the presidency wasn’t enough. She had to unite the party and convince the nation that she could beat Donald Trump.
Now, less than two weeks from Election Day, she’s showing signs of desperation. It’s back to references to Hitler.
On Wednesday, Dana Perino, co-host of Fox’s “The Five” put it quite succinctly, as she viewed Harris’s dilemma:
As if she was giving Harris advice, Perino says, “No one is going to save you. You have to do this yourself and it’s getting late.”
Perino then put those 107 days in a nutshell: “They all got together at the convention … they lifted her up with the glowing speeches … and then said, ‘okay, there you go, everything is positive,’ and they put her out in the world, but she couldn’t say what she was going to do.”
And we saw all that happening, too.
More DEI Failures
The DEI selection of Kamala Harris as vice president is perhaps the most consequential mistake by Biden, but the requiring contractors for federal contracts to adhere to DEI when quoting to build electric vehicle charging stations and changing out lead pipes is turning out to be expensive considering the delays it has caused. Add to that the requirement to have union workers.
In the government’s most recent grant announcement, applicants will be evaluated on whether they use project labor agreements, whether they use a
“Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool,” and whether they give priority to “minority-owned businesses” for contracts and “people of color” for hiring.
No wonder the Washington Post refers to the program’s “painfully slow rollout.”
Epstein Part II
I’m sure readers of my October 23, 2024 edition, in which I featured the op-ed of Jonathan Epstein, who can’t get past Donald Trump’s lack of humility and immodesty to vote for him, but doesn’t plan to vote for Kamala Harris either, had a laugh.
Several readers of the Wall Street Journal made their thoughts known in letters to the editor:
Two readers commented on Trump’s use of “I” in his speeches. To that, Gerald Staraitis of Naperville, Illinois wrote: “Life means choices have to be made, and sticking your head in the sand is one. Mr. Epstein convinces me that the “I’s” have it.” Sonia Schwartz of Valley Stream, New York suggested, “Mr. Epstein count the number of “I’s” in his op-ed.”
Matt Reres of Heathrow, Florida writes that he has written to Trump on several occasions, “telling him to quiet down and focus on the issues, while being pleased with his choices for Supreme Court and other federal courts, his positions on immigration, Israel, and energy, “all clearheaded positive decisions for America. I will be holding my breath, and not my nose, when I vote on Nov. 5.”
“To many Americans, Mr. Trump often has the wrong speech but the right solution,” wrote Robert Kantowitz of Lawrence, New York.
Commenting on Epstein’s distaste of Trump, Nathan Silver of Bethesda, Maryland reminded readers of the advertising of StarKist tuna, with its clever line, “StarKist doesn’t want tuna with good taste, StarKist wants tunas that taste good.”
Then there was the odd choice of Ann H. Schwartz of New York, who said Trump lost her vote when he referred to Florida Sen. Marco Rubio as “Little Marco,” and “nauseates Republicans like me and former Rep. Liz Cheney.”
Senator Rubio endorsed Trump and is campaigning for the former president. As for Liz Cheney? She’s no longer a Republican and deserves to be ostracized.
I had to chuckle with Ms. Schwartz conclusion: “Not to cast aspersions on Vice President Harris, for whom I’m voting, but I’d happily vote for just about anyone over Mr. Trump.”
With American voters having some nine years to develop their own opinion of former President Trump’s character, Vice President Harris has just 11 days to convince you he’s a modern day Hitler. You have 11 days to show her you’re no fool. VOTE TRUMP.
May God continue to bless the United States of America.
