Dear Patriots,
We hope you are still luxuriating in family, friends and food.
Here is some good news you may have missed.
1- The wonderful reporter and writer, Selena Zito, tells the story of how people are working to revive places that have lost population due to economic changes.
This is a trend that we hope is repeated and that grows more vibrant. Offering families a way to live in smaller cities is a key to rebuilding a successful society.
Cambria County fights population loss in little, big ways
QUOTE: JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — Reggie Canal began the process of moving from New York City to this Cambria County city this past July. The Queens native is a financial adviser who has spent much of his life working in the five boroughs as well as various places abroad.
He was lured here for a number of reasons, including quality of life, affordability and the ability to start his own business in the main business district of a city, without breaking the bank.
The kicker, though, was the remote worker incentive, a pilot program that offered a cash motivation — $2,500 to be exact — to attract people to move to the county and take up residence.
The brainchild of local civic and business leaders with a boost from the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies, the program required applicants to agree to live here for a year.
“I have been to Taiwan, Hong Kong and France, and really none of them compares in terms of being a deeply connected community that is dedicated to making sure everyone is successful, not just the newcomers,” Mr. Canal said. “My friends ask me why I did it, then when they come visit, they get it.”
2- One would think our public health officials would want to learn from such experiences rather than doubling down on strategies that don’t seem to work well.
Scientists mystified, wary, as Africa avoids COVID disaster”
QUOTE: …there is something “mysterious” going on in Africa that is puzzling scientists, said Wafaa El-Sadr, chair of global health at Columbia University. “Africa doesn’t have the vaccines and the resources to fight COVID-19 that they have in Europe and the U.S., but somehow they seem to be doing better,” she said.
Fewer than 6% of people in Africa are vaccinated. For months, the WHO has described Africa as “one of the least affected regions in the world” in its weekly pandemic reports.
Some researchers say the continent’s younger population — the average age is 20 versus about 43 in Western Europe — in addition to their lower rates of urbanization and tendency to spend time outdoors, may have spared it the more lethal effects of the virus so far. Several studies are probing whether there might be other explanations, including genetic reasons or past infection with parasitic diseases.
3- Sometimes Twitter can be fun especially when a hard core liberal gets her stupidity exposed.
Maria Shriver gets schooled by Ted Cruz for uninformed slant on Rittenhouse acquittal
QUOTE: Shriver — who was a Peabody and Emmy award-winning journalist for NBC News — wrote on Twitter, “I’m trying to take a beat to digest the Rittenhouse verdict. My son just asked me how it’s possible that he didn’t get charged for anything. How is that possible? I don’t have an answer for him.”
“The idea that someone could be out with a semi-automatic weapon, kill people, and walk is stunning,” said the NBC News “special anchor.” “I look forward to hearing from the jury. This is a moment for them to explain how they came to their decision.”
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas): “Pretty stunning that she’s an @nbc anchor. She ‘doesn’t have an answer.’ Try this:
(1) He WAS charged with six counts. That thing that just finished was his trial. … (2) A jury of his peers found him not guilty. … (3) Why? The defense argued he was engaged in self-defense. … (4) What facts support self defense? – the three people shot all chased him, assaulted him and/or tried to grab his gun – ALL THREE were convicted felons (one served 15 years for child molesting) – the defense argued Rittenhouse feared for his life … (5) You might personally disagree, but the jury heard evidence & presumably concluded he was acting to defend himself from what he reasonably perceived to be an imminent threat to his life. … (6) Also, ALL THREE of the people shot were White (contrary to false media reports). … (7) Generally ‘white supremacists’ don’t shoot White people. … (8) Numerous Dem politicians & corporate media outlets (including your employer and especially @msnbc) recklessly alleged he was a white supremacist. … (9) NO evidence was adduced at trial to support that claim. … (10) A whole bunch of those corrupt media outlets are now retaining defamation lawyers, because they’re ALL about to get sued—and the liability could well be massive. @mariashriver hope that helps!”
Author Tony Shaffer: “I’m trying to take a beat to comprehend how a full grown man could drive off a bridge, leave a woman not his wife in the car, tell no one and let her drown…how is that possible? Why don’t we have an answer?”
4- There are clips of protesting going on all over Europe against the mandates and shutdowns. The corporate/leftist media does not want you to know about this. Did you know that last Saturday there was a massive protest in NYCity against all things Covid?
Hundreds Of Thousands Rebel Against Coercion
The first clip begins with a montage of video from cities across Europe where thousands of protesters took to the streets to demand an end to vaccine mandates and lockdowns. That is followed by a live report by Ben Harnwell in Rome.
“Over continental Europe this weekend there have been hundreds of thousands of people protesting against the Covid measures taken by the respective governments… The common theme between each and every single one of these countries is we are seeing a rebellion against coercion. That’s the key point here. Don’t think for the folks who are listening at home in the States that this is all on the other side of the Atlantic, and it’s not going to happen here.
This is out of control here in Europe and it is definitely coming to America.”
5- It just would not be Good News Friday without an item about the great Governor of Florida!
Gov. DeSantis (R) is once again protecting and caring for the citizens of his state. This time by cutting energy taxes!
Florida Governor Pushes For $1 Billion Cut in State Gas and Fuel Taxes
QUOTE: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Nov. 22 that he will ask state lawmakers to cut gas and fuel taxes by $1 billion in the upcoming January session of the legislature. DeSantis said that “nothing has pinched people more than these gas prices.” In addition to relief for Floridians via the tax cut, he called on fuel stations to reduce prices by 25 cents per gallon.
DeSantis said he is concerned that an increase in salaries and wages will not be enough to cover the rising costs of goods.
“Even if you start making more money, if the prices [for goods and fuel] are going up faster than your wages or salary, you’re actually losing money in this inflationary economy,” the governor said.
The governor added that he is pushing back on the Biden administration’s “inflationary pressures.”
6- Who knows what the future holds on suing the Left for lying about Rittenhouse. But, it is fun to read the list of options.
At the link is a list of 18 possible defamation cases!
Kyle Rittenhouse Can Sue Lots of People (and Media) for Defamation
QUOTE: Now acquitted of all charges, including several homicide charges, 18-year-old Rittenhouse has come to another crossroads: Will he spend more time in court to hold accountable the people and companies who defamed him?
If courts were to conclude that Rittenhouse is what is called a “limited public figure,” Rittenhouse will have to prove that these companies and individuals acted with “actual malice” — that is, with reckless disregard for the truth. For some false allegations, he would have to show how they damaged his reputation. But specific claims where he was wrongly accused of a felony — factual errors — would no doubt damage his reputation.
Since many high profile people voiced their thoughts before, during, and after the trial, it would be an extremely long article to list everyone who ever defamed Rittenhouse. That being said, here is a by no means exhaustive list of everyone he could sue for defamation.
7- We celebrate the Wall Street Journal refusing to fold to the leftist wokesters. They told them to go away and be quiet!
Wall Street Journal Won’t Cancel Thanksgiving Editorials
QUOTE: As we’ve explained throughout the fall, cancel culture is effective only when the target obeys. Cancel culture is a product of compliance, not power. Once a target says no, the progressives crumble and walk away in misery. The Wall Street Journal delivered the movement another blow this week.
Recently, some website called Change.org, which calls itself “the world’s platform for change,” published a petition that demands that the Journal stops posting its annual Thanksgiving editorials. The petition has gathered some 50,000 signatures.
Most outlets would have immediately obeyed Change’s demands, then issued an apology for their previous posts. However, the Wall Street Journal says it won’t comply.
“The editorials are popular with readers, who tell us they appreciate the sentiments about hardship and gratitude during what should be a unifying national holiday,” the Journal writes. “For decades we’ve run them with nary a discouraging word.”
The Journal says the two editorials recount the bravery and trials of the Pilgrims as they sought a better life in a new land.
So props to the Wall Street Journal for firing back, defending its editorials with reason, and not bowing to these unreasonable rodents.
The Wall Street Journal joins Netflix, Aaron Rodgers, Joe Rogan, Tucker Carlson, Dave Chappelle, and Dave Portnoy in the winnable fight against cancel culture. And each battle has further exposed the shallowness of the woke’s over-indexed influence.
8- In a very rare display of courage, the Women’s Tennis Association is standing up to China and demanding information on tennis star Peng Shuai who vanished after making public a sexual assault by a Communist Party big wig. Hold Fast!
WTA Boss Willing to Lose Huge Money In China Over Search For Missing Tennis Player
QUOTE: Unlike the NBA, which is unwilling to lose a dollar in China by speaking up about the treatment of Chinese citizens and residents, the Women’s Tennis Association says it’s fully prepared to lose a substantial chunk of money by pulling tennis out of China over the disappearance of Peng Shuai, who made sexual assault allegations against a top Communist Party official.
Steve Simon, the head of the WTA, has suggested that the organization is ready to give up funding it receives from the country to fund its WTA Finals and the WTA tournaments held in China throughout the season if Peng Shuai (ranked No. 192 in the world) isn’t accounted for. Such funding is estimated to be nearly $1.4 billion.
“We’re definitely willing to pull our business and deal with all the complications that come with it,” Simon said Thursday during an interview with CNN. “Because this is certainly, this is bigger than the business.” “Women need to be respected and not censored,” Simon added.
Peng, 35, has not been seen since early November when she accused Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli, 75, of forcing her to have sex with him after a round of tennis three years ago.
9- It is a good thing that more and more Americans are seeing through the lying, fake news!
Only 36% Believe Kyle Rittenhouse Media Coverage Was Fair
QUOTE: The latest polling from Rasmussen shows that only 36 percent of respondents believe the media coverage of Kyle Rittenhouse was fair
When 1,000 likely voters were asked, “How fair was media coverage of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial?” only 14 percent said “very fair,” while only 22 percent said “somewhat fair.”
Meanwhile, a clear plurality of 47 percent said the coverage was “not very fair” (19 percent) and “not at all fair” (28 percent). Eighteen percent had no opinion, which aligns pretty closely with the 24 percent who said they didn’t follow the story closely.
Here’s an even more stunning number… Only 15 percent said the coverage was biased in favor of Rittenhouse, while 23 percent said it was neutral. But another clear plurality (47 percent) said it was biased against Rittenhouse.
10- We love the way college football has played out this season. It has been a blast watching thousands of people cheering, celebrating, and singing in stadiums all over America defying all the mandates and fear mongering.
America Loves College Football Because College Football Loves America
QUOTE: When college football came roaring back in September, sticking it to the Faucian fear porn that gathering with fellow fans in stadiums (or with anyone, anywhere) wasn’t “smart,” fans cheered the camaraderie of mass sports gatherings — as well as the lack of politicized messaging, in contrast to the wokeness of pro leagues like the NFL.
It’s no secret that America loves college football, loves its flyovers and cheers and opportunities to show patriotic pride, and doesn’t want all of this tainted by politics.
Instead of pushing politics, the college football world understands that Americans want football from their football — and maybe (definitely) tailgating, halftime shows, military flyovers, and their team’s favorite sacred traditions like “The Wave” or “Jump Around” or “Country Roads.” We want to revel in the team spirit that gives us something in common with perfect strangers, instead of looking at everything through the lens of divisive identity politics. We want the chance, not just to gather, but to experience camaraderie with strangers after a year and a half of being told to avoid each other.
Judge Rules Local Missouri COVID-19 Orders Unconstitutional
QUOTE: A Missouri judge on Tuesday ruled that local COVID-19 orders violated the Missouri Constitution, ordering local health officials to rescind them.
Judge Daniel Green of Cole County wrote that the Department of Health and Senior Services unconstitutionally gave too much power to individual local health officials and directors. As a result, he ruled, those orders must be lifted, meaning that local health orders must be rescinded.
“This case is about whether Missouri’s Department of Health and Senior Services regulations can abolish representative government in the creation of public health laws, and whether it can authorize closure of a school or assembly based on the unfettered opinion of an unelected official. This court finds it cannot,” the judge wrote in his order.
12- PRAY!
Below is the writing of Benjamin Franklin, Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 Reported by James Madison.
In the beginning of the Contest with G. Britain, when we were sensible of danger we had daily prayer in this room for the divine protection. – Our prayers, Sir, were heard, & they were graciously answered.
All of us who were engaged in the struggle must have observed frequent instances of a superintending providence in our favor. To that kind providence we owe this happy opportunity of consulting in peace on the means of establishing our future national felicity.
And have we now forgotten that powerful friend? or do we imagine that we no longer need His assistance?
I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth – that God Governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?
We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that “except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without His concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better, than the Builders of Babel:
We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments by Human wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest. I therefore beg leave to move –
… that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of this City be requested to officiate in that Service—
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Hold Fast,
Defending The Republic
