Category Archives: 2016 Election

An attempted coup: The deeper story of the Obama administration use of intelligence services against the Donald Trump campaign

Earlier today, I received links to an 8-part series of recordings of a round-table discussion, made four days ago, hosted by John Batchelor, with (as his guests) a former federal prosecutor, and two Congressman, discussing the Russia-gate affair. This discussion was held on March 23rd, just before the release of Attorney General Barr’s letter summarizing the Mueller investigation.
john batchelor show

The discussion is the most complete recap of the Russia-gate events from 2016-2018. It is an invaluable discussion of the events from the perspective of Congressmen who had access to much of the information of what was going on behind the scenes, as well as commentary by McCarthy who has extensive background with the Justice Department.

Very much worth the time to carefully listen to all of the parts. I post these links so that they will be conveniently available to anyone who is interested in going deeper. H/T to my colleague Ken (Mookie) Pitts.

The participants were:

  • Andrew C. McCarthy, former Assistant United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, now a columnist for National Review
    (Mr. McCarthy led the 1995 terrorism prosecution against Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman and eleven others. The defendants were convicted of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.)
  • Thad McCotter, former Congressman, MI – 11th district, co-host
  • Devin Nunes, serving Congressman, CA – 22nd district, former chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, currently the ranking member

Part 1 of 8 (length = 9:49) Spring of 2016, Winter of 2017: Unmasking revealed by Cong. Nunes

Part 2 of 8 (length = 10:08) Obama Admin misuse of the Intelligence Agencies; Cong. Nunes Memo

Part 3 of 8 (length = 13:30) The Clinton-DNC Dossier that Christopher Steele was hired to write (or perhaps simply to sign?)

Part 4 of 8 (length = 8:07) The FISA application, the Obama counter-intelligence investigation, and the “principles” meeting

Part 5 of 8 (length = 7:05) Did Putin secretly call Trump to convince him to fire Comey? Collusion? Conspiracy?

Part 6 of 8 (length = 12:23) McCabe, Rosenstein, and the appointment of Mueller

Part 7 of 8 (length = 13.25) Obstruction of Justice? The “scope” memo / recusal?

Part 8 of 8 (length = 7:14) Justice Dept regs and the Mueller report / accountability for the abuse of powers?

Why I am a short term pessimist, but a long term optimist

marriage under fireI am a short term pessimist about the future of western civilization in general, and the United States in particular.

The culture war was lost in the 1960s & 1970s. Everything since has been a rear-guard, fighting retreat.

The Obergefell decision was not the Rubicon. We crossed the Rubicon 50 years ago.

The normalisation of sexual amorality and promiscuity began in the 1960s. Marriage was the primary target, and sustained shock after shock.

Promiscuity, unfaithfulness, abandonment, abuse, all contributed to the destruction of marriage. Sneering at it, demonizing it, jeering at it, and refusing to take it seriously all came long before the beginning of the new millenium.

Abolishing marriage legally came only after a substantial portion of the population had been persuaded to abandon it.

And this should not have been surprising. Marriage was and is the first institution. It is the institution upon which all other institutions, and indeed civilization itself is built.

Marriage precedes the state, in time, in the created order, and in importance. God did not say, on the 6th day, “Behold, I have created government, and it shall look after you and provide for all of your needs.”

To add the capstone of God’s gift of marriage, Hosea in the OT, and Paul in the NT, tell us that marriage is a picture of God’s relationship with his people and Jesus’ relationship with his church.

God, of course, knew what he was doing. Marriage is a great gift. It is for our good. It blesses us, it blesses our children, it blesses our community.

Those committed to the biblical view of marriage are an increasingly embattled minority. And that is why I am pessimistic about the short term future of civilization. The attacks on marriage, its abandonment and eventual abolition have left us in a dire situation.

men and marriageThe most imporant book you should read about the current collapse of civilization in the west (and in the USA in particular) is George Gilder’s Men and Marriage (original title: Sexual Suicide).

Gilder makes a compelling case that marriage is the tool that women use to civilize men. Take away marriage and young men remain uncivilized barbarians. Take away marriage, and older, rich men will commit serial polygamy – abandoning the wives of their youth and the mothers of their children for younger playthings – whom they will eventually abandon as well (after thoroughly exploiting them). Hint to women: The Sexual Revolution is not your friend.

In our current circumstances, marriage will not and cannot be restored by a political victory.

Christians are going to have to learn how to live as an oppressed and despised minority. We have once again been tagged as “haters of mankind.”

What to do?

I suggest reading the history of the persecuted church – across time and across geography.

The church converted the urban population of the Roman Empire, from 33AD to 300AD. It took several centuries. Constantine, the first Christian emperor, was not the cause of the conversion of so many Roman citizens. He was the result.

The church converted the barbarian tribes from 400AD to 600AD.

The church converted the Vikings, from 750AD-900AD.

That’s why I’m a long term optimist.

Committing to a biblical marriage may well be the most revolutionary thing you can do.

How do we then live? I would call you, my brothers and sisters, to commit to marriage. Honor it as an institution. For those who enter in to it, take the vows and the promises seriously. Committing to a biblical marriage may well be the most revolutionary thing you can do. Model for your children what love and commitment look like. Deny yourself for your spouse, and for your children. Be the living model of Christ’s love for his bride, the church.

Unless and until we do these things, we will have little impact on the culture.

We should not cease to have an answer for the hope that is in us.

We should not cease to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of Jesus, the Christ.

But we must show by our lives, as well as proclaiming with our lips, the good news of the kingdom.