Triad Conservative

Who Is Committing the Coup Against the Trump Presidency?

Some have blamed the Deep State for the attempted coup against Donald Trump.

But one Florida pastor and televangelist has spoken out with frankness regarding another key group:

Thomas Dalton, PhD. presents considerable evidence elsewhere that demonstrates Wiles is correct, at least in part; but the reality is a bit more complicated than Wiles' statements might suggest. The detail Dalton presents amounts to an overwhelming case that corroborates the central claim Wiles made in the video above.

We had posted about this topic here previously. In order to understand what is occurring, we must be willing to acknowledge the truth of the matter.

Ten Reasons GOP County Commissioners Should Nix a School Bond, and Refrain from Voting on It

The big news yesterday was that the Guilford County Schools system publicly announced the results of its second facilities study. It recommended $2 billion spent over 10-15 years. The plan would result in seven new schools built, and oodles of older schools rebuilt or closed. Renovations or additions also were discussed for many other schools.

This process, similar to the last, smacks of the consultants obtaining from the county schools system a "wish list".  The overall financial commitment suggested in each of the two studies is similar; but the detailed recommendations vary somewhat.

The GOP-controlled county commissioners' board now faces a crossroads. They had spent the better part of the last decade creating the appearance that they were more fiscally responsible than their democratic socialist counterparts. But a bond package of this magnitude would blow that perception to smithereens.

Jeff Phillips will soon be chair once again, replacing Alan Branson at the top. The commissioners should wait until Phillips assumes the lead before addressing this issue. I feel strongly that the GOP commissioners MUST NOT agree to place a bond issue on the ballot.

Here are the reasons: 

1. A bond issue would create unnecessary interest expense for taxpayers. Pay-as-you-go is a much better method because there is no interest expense.
2. Bond issues encourage overspending. We have seen this in the past with the school system.
3. There would be no check on the tendency of the school system to build excessively grandiose facilities, as we have seen in the past.
4. A bond issue would reward the school system for failing to maintain its facilities properly. Instead, the school system, which has reasonably high per-pupil expenditures, chooses to spend the monies at its disposal in other ways. Maintenance issues have been used for many years to justify new construction; but responsibly maintaining the properties is much cheaper than building anew.
5. A bond issue would result in a major property tax increase for county homeowners. This would happen after the leftist city of Greensboro has repeatedly raised fees and taxes on area residents. Raising both county and city taxes would further erode our competitiveness for good jobs to be located here.
6. The school system and the school board cannot be trusted to spend the monies responsibly and in a frugal manner.
7. Voters elected the GOP commissioners to office to see a much different approach-- a more fiscally responsible approach-- than that used by the democratic socialists. 
8. The Melderec crowd would get behind a bond issue with guns ablazing. In the past, we have seen them fund slick, expensive marketing campaigns delivered in a dishonest manner because they stand to benefit from these bond issues.
9. If the bond issue is, in fact, placed on the ballot, it will almost without question pass given the nature of the county's voting population; and given the fact that voters will not understand their taxes will jump dramatically.
10. Many conservative and/or Christian parents feel they cannot use the school system because of the manner in which it is managed, and because of what their kids would face. Parents often must spend their own money and/or time to access other alternatives: Christian schools, home schools, private schools, charter schools, etc. They feel they must do this because the school board and school system refuse to prioritize order and safety in the classroom. But traditional parents are also concerned with other issues-- the indoctrination of students toward cultural Marxism and socialism; the inappropriate cultural messaging on matters such as marriage, sex, family and culture; the failure to teach history and civics appropriately; and the school systems' opposition to the Christian worldview and the principles of our nation's founding. University schools of education produce teachers and administrators who often are prone to these tendencies. In addition, parents must be concerned that teachers and coaches (male or female) will enter into sexual relationships with their kids, or even rape or sexually assault them-- which happens with considerable regularity today.

I think the GOP county commissioners ought not even bring up a bond issue for a vote before the Board of County Commissioners. If they do, it will pass, because only one GOP commissioner voting in favor will result in it being placed on the ballot. They must have the discipline to refrain from even proposing a bond issue before the county board, or allowing a vote before that body. Because if they do, the war will be lost.

Yes!Weekly Heavily Implies Local Pro-lifers Trying to Save Black Babies are Racist

Several weeks ago, Triad City Beat, a local left-wing paper, published a call-to-arms for pro-abortion forces in the Triad to support Greensboro's abortion clinic that was having to contend with various pro-life measures and activities. The reporter was Sayaka Matsuoka.

Then this past week, Yes!Weekly-- another left-wing paper-- had an astonishing article that describes things taking place outside of the abortion clinic.

I had written here five weeks ago about the wonderful activities of Love Life Greensboro.

The Greensboro Pregnancy Center stations a van outside the clinic that offers free ultrasounds and counseling to pregnant mothers. Others also gather at the site in support of the abortion clinic, and against it.

In any event, the Yes!Weekly article labors over the fact that the Greensboro Pregnancy Care Center has few, if any, black employees; and that the local pro-life community is heavily white.

The church where Love Life Greensboro initially gathers-- the Destiny Christian Center-- is a black church that agrees to let the organization use its premises. Destiny is a biblically oriented black church.

Moreoever, the article conveniently declines to emphasize the fact that all of these pro-life individuals and organizations are trying to save babies who are disproportionately black. After all, if you were truly racist, you would not want those babies to be born. And yet, the pro-life community gives very generously of its time and resources to assure that those babies will survive.

The pro-abortion forces and individuals are the true racists, because they are systematically working to eliminate black babies.

The reporter who wrote the Yes!Weekly piece is Ian McDowell. He describes a scene outside the abortion clinic where approximately 800 had gathered. That is fairly remarkable. He also describes pro-abortion members of the religious left at the site who ignore scriptural teaching and lead the black babies to slaughter.

This article in Yes!Weekly is a bit reminiscent of the one I had recently seen published on the websites of the News and Record and the Raleigh News and Observer. That article asserted that a Jewish White House staffer was feeding content to a Jewish-controlled news agency that publishes anti-Semitic content. 

Now, we are to believe that pro-lifers trying to save black babies are racist. The profound stupidity is a sight to behold.

The fact is that there are demonic forces at work trying to assure that babies are killed, and trying to twist the truth to bolster that effort. The activity at the abortion clinic itself-- which has killed tens of thousands over the years-- is demonic. But similar forces are at work within the entire democratic socialist left; the religious left; the various political and fundraising entities that support Planned Parenthood and its allied organizations; and, of course, their media enablers and cheerleaders. They are all, in fact, inspired by evil.

It turns out that a scripture lesson many of us learned this week speaks to the reality of large numbers of anti-Christians around us motivated by evil.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (ESV):

¹⁰ ...(B)e strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. 

What's the Deal With All This Discussion About Ukraine?

Ukraine has been at the center of our national conversation for the last couple of months. President Trump requested that the current Ukrainian leader investigate the Biden's and/or that country's role in the hoax regarding interference with our 2016 presidential election. This set off a chain of events that the democratic socialists in Washington have used to justify impeachment proceedings against him.

But what is the deal with Ukraine? Why has it suddenly become so important?

We need to recall that Ukraine was part of the old Soviet Union. With the dissolution of that communist regime, the country has had elections periodically to decide how it would govern itself.

Approximately nine years ago, a pro-Russian regime was elected. Then, this regime was violently overthrown around 2014 with assistance from the European Union (EU) and the United States. Victoria Nuland was Obama's point person guiding this effort; and ironically she has also been involved in the Russia hoax against Donald Trump. (Nuland is married to Robert Kagan, the prominent Jewish neoconservative.)

I had written here five years ago that the new Ukrainian leadership installed by Obama and the EU really did not represent an improvement over the pro-Russian regime. Russia itself had been moving away from communism and toward Christianity. The United States and the European Union, however, were increasingly Godless and socialistic. The western nations had surrendered a big chunk of their moral high ground over Russia.

The new, corrupt Ukrainian regime was democratic socialist in the pattern of the European Union and the American Democratic Party. Ironically, this Ukrainian regime Obama's people had helped install also provided the opportunity for Hunter Biden to take advantage of his father's position to secure extraordinary, undeserved payment from Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company. It was this same regime that Joe Biden had intimidated to halt an investigation into that company using American aid as leverage.

The current Ukrainian leader, with whom Trump has been dealing, defeated the regime Obama and the EU had installed. The transition in that country has been from a pro-Russian regime to a corrupt democratic socialist regime to the current leader-- Volodymyr Zelensky.

When the socialists' plants during the recent impeachment hearings revealed that their agenda was to protect Ukraine against Russia, Pat Buchanan brought an important reality check. Ukraine is not part of NATO, and we are not committed or obliged to defend it against Russia.

But Daniel Flynn at the American Spectator demonstrates an insight that has otherwise been sorely lacking. Obama's people were pulling off an all-too-common corrupt practice when they provided aid to Ukraine and received considerations in return:

Foreign aid often serves as a philanthropic-sounding euphemism that masks self-dealing. American elites give other Americans’ money to foreign elites often under the guise of providing it to the people of the recipient nation. In return, American elites — or, in most cases, their immediate family members — profit from business deals in recipient nations with state-sponsored, state-created, or state-favored enterprises. This scenario occurred with Hunter Biden. And given the domestic outrage over Russia attempting to influence U.S. politics, the Biden influence over Kiev surely rankled many Ukrainians.

At home, so many in the political class cast a threat against their interests as a sin against the Constitution. Even if political motives nudged Trump’s interest in an investigation, corrupt conduct characterized Joe Biden’s glaring conflict of interest in Ukraine. Ukrainian interests fleeced Western taxpayers (and Ukrainian citizens). Joe Biden’s son profited handsomely.

MLB Plans to Eliminate Three Regional Minor League Baseball Teams

This bit of news came almost out of nowhere, it seems.

It was announced this week that Major League Baseball is eliminating 42 minor league baseball teams around the country.

Among those teams are three in this general region: the Burlington Royals, the Danville Braves and the Lexington Legends. Danville's team is an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. Many young Braves stars have cycled through Danville.

This seems to be an economic decision. I am not sure it is final. But if this happens, a lot of minor league baseball fans nearby will be very disappointed.

The linked article points out this decision will be viewed as particularly problematic by those localities that have plowed oodles of taxpayer monies into stadium facilities.

Wow-- Ukraine Indicts Head of Burisma

Are We Going to See a Governor Dan Forest in a Few Months?

The case for impeaching Governor Roy Cooper got a lot stronger today.

The long-awaited report from investigators hired by the North Carolina General Assembly was released today. Its findings arouse considerable concern that Governor Cooper engaged in extortion and abused his powers when Duke Energy applied for certain permits in connection with its proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline. In fact, the findings seem incontrovertible. Cooper acted in a corrupt manner, and needs to be held accountable.

It is now up to the Republicans in the General Assembly to decide what the consequences need to be. They have the power to impeach and to remove from office. The process is similar to that at the federal level-- the House impeaches; and the Senate convicts and removes from office. If they were to succeed, Dan Forest would presumably become governor.

One alternative is to turn the findings over to prosecutors. But the problem is that the state attorney general is a partisan democratic socialist, just like the governor. I am not sure whether there is another prosecutor with proper jurisdiction over these areas who is not a democratic socialist. They hardly ever go after their own, particular when a high office like governor is at stake.

In order to deal with this situation, the Republicans now have to demonstrate three characteristics they often do not have. First, they have to fight with courage. Second, they have to be really smart. And third, they have to communicate extremely well.

But they can't just let this information float out there without acting upon it.

I am taking the liberty of reproducing below a press release from Senator Harry Brown. It details the investigators' findings. The regional mainstream media is fully aligned with the socialists; and they will not report this story prominently or accurately. They will, however, attempt to undermine the Republicans if they try to do anything with it: 

PRESS RELEASE North Carolina General Assembly Senator Harry Brown   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: SenateRepublicansPress@ncleg.net November 20, 2019

 

 

Independent Investigators Conclude “Criminal Violations May Have Occurred” in Cooper Administration’s Handling of Pipeline Deal   Investigative Report: “Cooper improperly used the authority and influence of his Office to cause the ACP partnership to commit to a $55 million ‘Mitigation Fund’”   Investigative Report: “Cooper used the influence and authority of his Office to pressure parties…to enter an agreement that favored the solar industry at the cost of $100 Million to the ratepayers of North Carolina”

 

Raleigh, N.C. – Three retired federal agents hired by the North Carolina General Assembly to conduct an independent investigation of Governor Roy Cooper’s handling of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline permitting process released their final report today.   The summary of facts and conclusions is here and the full report is here.    This press release is divided into three sections: 1) the conclusions reached by the independent investigators; 2) new information about the ACP controversy that has not been previously made public; 3) background on the ACP controversy.   Independent Investigators’ Conclusions   The independent investigators assessed that the evidence reasonably supports the following conclusions:   ·     “The information suggests that criminal violations may have occurred” (page 79) ·     “Cooper improperly used the authority and influence of his Office to cause the ACP partnership to commit to a $55 million ‘Mitigation Fund’ that the Governor placed under his complete control” (page 79) ·     “Cooper used the influence and authority of his Office to pressure parties…to enter an agreement that favored the solar industry at the cost of $100 Million to the ratepayers of North Carolina” (page 79) ·     “No information was identified from the investigation to show Governor Cooper personally benefited” from his actions, although "additional information potentially exists with government agencies, private companies, and individuals that have not fully cooperated." (page 79)   New Information Uncovered by the Investigators   The independent investigators uncovered information that has not been previously made public. Below are three examples from the report.   ·     On December 19, 2017, Governor Cooper’s top advisor, Ken Eudy, told Duke Energy’s top lobbyist, Kathy Hawkins, that it would be Governor Cooper, not DEQ, making the final decision on the critical permit Duke Energy needed for the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. (page 39) ·     Governor Cooper and his staff have insisted that the Governor had no involvement in the permitting process.  ·     But a contemporaneous written account of the December 19 conversation between Ken Eudy and Kathy Hawkins, which Hawkins sent to Duke Energy CEO Lynn Good the day the conversation occurred, reveals that Governor Cooper was in charge of the permitting decision, not DEQ. Ms. Hawkins wrote to Ms. Good, “Ken Eudy said [the] Governor will make this decision versus Regan.” ·     In a January 17, 2018 phone conversation between Governor Cooper and Duke Energy CEO Lynn Good, Governor Cooper asked Ms. Good to increase the amount that Duke Energy would provide in its “mitigation fund.” (page 43) ·     Three days before the phone call, Governor Cooper’s staff rescinded North Carolina’s approval of a tri-state agreement that would have permitted tree felling for pipeline construction to begin in Virginia. Federal law permits tree felling to occur only between January and March.  ·     The day after the phone call, Governor Cooper’s staff un-rescinded the state’s approval for the tri-state agreement, and the Governor’s staff scheduled DEQ’s approval of the critical ACP permit.  ·     In the official records of the ACP permitting process released by the Governor’s Office, the date of the phone call between Governor Cooper and Ms. Good is wrongly labeled as taking place 10 days before it really occurred. ·     On February 8, 2018, the same day that Governor Cooper’s Director of Legislative Affairs told a legislative committee that Duke Energy’s “mitigation fund” was voluntary, Ken Eudy privately asked Duke Energy to prepare a letter saying that Duke Energy voluntarily created the “mitigation fund.” Duke Energy declined. (page 46)   Background on the ACP Controversy   The Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP), a joint venture between Duke Energy and Dominion Energy, is a planned $7.5 billion natural gas pipeline that will run from Virginia, through North Carolina, and into South Carolina.   To construct the pipeline in North Carolina, Duke Energy required several federal and state permits. The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) was responsible for determining whether to issue a critical state permit, called a 401 Water Quality Certification. State law governs when DEQ is to issue (or not issue) a 401 Water Quality Certification.   In late 2017, DEQ delayed issuing the 401 Water Quality Certification to Duke Energy. At the same time, negotiations were underway between the Governor's Office and Duke Energy over an environmental mitigation fund. Negotiations were also underway between the Governor's Office, Duke Energy, and the solar industry over a private dispute about the cost and quantity of solar energy purchased by Duke Energy from solar companies.   The CEO of Strata Solar, the solar company to whom Governor Roy Cooper leases his family land, asked the Governor to intervene with “Duke Energy leadership” on his behalf to resolve the dispute.   Between Friday, January 26, 2018 and Monday, January 29, 2018:    ·     DEQ issued the 401 Water Quality Certification;  ·     Duke Energy and the Governor's Office signed an amended environmental mitigation fund agreement that directed the funds to the Governor's exclusive control; and ·     an agreement was announced between Duke Energy and the solar industry that favored the solar industry.   The timing of the three events raised concerns that the Governor and his staff may have held up the 401 Water Quality Certification unless and until Duke Energy conceded on the altered mitigation fund and on the solar industry dispute resolution.   The Governor and his staff have said that the three items were not connected, and the decision on whether to issue the permit rested entirely with DEQ.   The legislature began asking questions related to the ACP permitting process in February 2018. The Governor's Office did not provide any responsive documents until December 2018.   In November 2018, the legislature hired three retired federal agents to conduct an independent investigation into the ACP permitting process, one of whom was named FBI Special Agent of the Year in 2017.   ###

Addendum 11/21: First in Freedom has more.

 

Christian Interest in Politics

James Kushiner, Touchstone: 

(A)uthentic Christianity itself has a revolutionary political aim. Douglas Farrow writes in his 2015 book, Desiring a Better Country: "Christianity is a very political religion. It aims at a polis, and not just any polis, but one whose builder and maker is God." Christianity is thus politically subversive, "for it has turned its back on the city that is built by men and populated with gods, in favor of the city that is built by God and populated by men. And it encourages others to do likewise."

Christianity is subversive, but for the sake of the city of man. Christians may boldly rebuke rulers and empires for "their more demonic dimensions," while they also take "a deep interest in those same cities and cultures," Farrow writes. "Unlike Jonah, it does not sit under a gourd on the hillside as a spectator to the destruction. It seeks, rather, to inculturate its own hope for the coming city of God within the city of man." Unlike "progressives," who put their hope in various utopian dreams, we anchor our hope in Jesus, to whom, we are certain, all authority has been given.

News and Observer, News and Record Falsely Smear Young Trump Aide

For the last 4.5 years, we have witnessed news stories and media drumbeats intended to muster up outrage about President Trump and opposition. New story lines toward these purposes seem to arise every 2-3 days.

This past week, it was about Stephen Miller, the young White House aide who essentially acts as Trump's immigration czar. Miller had previously worked on similar issues for Jeff Sessions in the U.S. Senate. He is extremely bright and brings substance to Trump's efforts. He therefore represents a threat to those who push excessive immigration-- legal and illegal-- for various reasons. Miller had apparently been feeding Breitbart News with some information by e-mail.

Never mind that we regularly witness a high level of coordination between the mainstream media and the democratic socialists. In fact, this was one of the revelations in the leaked DNC e-mails a few years ago.

What did the stupid Raleigh News and Observer and the stupid Greensboro News and Record claim this week?

• that Miller pushed "racist views to a far-right website"
• that he sent "anti-immigrant and white nationalist" ideas
• that Breitbart is "home to articles that promote racist, nationalist and anti-Semitic ideology".

Where to begin?

Breitbart espouses economic nationalism, not "white nationalism" or racism. It advocates border control and reduced immigration levels to raise the economic prospects of American citizens. Breitbart also understands the likely impact on future elections if the numbers of immigrants continue to rise. One need only to look at the recent election results in the state of Virginia to understand this dynamic.

Moreover, Breitbart has Jewish owners. Its leader-- Alex Marlow-- is part Jewish; and Breitbart employs other Jews also. The organization has an orientation toward Zionism and support of Israel.

The news agency also employs homosexuals; and is at least somewhat gay-friendly. Its political philosophy is fairly similar to that of Trump himself. That means the agency tends not to necessarily prioritize diminished spending and a constitutionally limited federal government. There is no evidence that Breitbart is racist. And it is not strongly conservative on all issues.

Now, let's talk about Stephen Miller. It turns out that Miller also is Jewish. According to the News and Record and the News and Observer, we are to believe that this Jewish fellow sent "white nationalist" ideas to a news agency owned and operated by Jews that promotes anti-Semitic ideology. It is patently absurd.

The report in these two newspapers relies upon information released by the Southern Poverty Law Center-- an organization that is highly corrupt and utterly discredited. The fact that they relied upon this organization is an indication that North Carolina citizens ought not rely upon these newspapers.

Vicious, Violent Left Attacks Son of Congressman Bishop at NC State

The mainstream media has not paid much attention yet to the incident that was first reported earlier today. At NC State, the son of Congressman Dan Bishop was involved with a national conservative group engaging in free speech activities. He was physically assaulted by the vicious, violent left because of this. Others in his group were assaulted also.

It is now up to the UNC Board of Governors, controlled by Republican appointees, to deal effectively with this situation. Thus far, they have proved to be unable and/or unwilling to deal with campus disorder stirred up by the democratic socialists and their comrades.

Their handling of the Silent Sam episode at UNC Chapel Hill was an unmistakable signal they transmitted that they would allow the left to get away with myriad abuses. They pronounced with their inaction that they are cowards, and afraid to do the right thing. 

They emboldened the left to push further and harder.

This is a very sad day for the state of North Carolina.