Pardon Me..

 

President Joe Biden's decision to pardon his son Hunter, after repeatedly promising that he wouldn't, has come under fire this past week. And now, a bombshell report out of Politico alleges that Biden's senior aides are contemplating issuing preemptive pardons to a slew of officials they think might be in the line of fire during President-elect Donald Trump's next term.  

Politico reports that "Biden's aides are deeply concerned about a range of current and former officials who could find themselves facing inquiries and even indictments.

The list of those reportedly being considered for a blanket, preemptive pardon includes Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and former Rep. Liz Cheney, who played active roles in Congress's Jan. 6 Committee, as well as Dr. Anthony Fauci, who was, of course, instrumental in implementing the most unpopular COVID-19 policies and who repeatedly contradicted himself in testimony before Congress.  

The very idea of a preemptive pardon is shocking—the exact kind of norm breaking that the Democrats love to accuse Trump of. Think about what a preemptive pardon means: It is a tacit admission that the Democrats believe that Fauci or Schiff committed crimes—that there would be something to find if one went looking—but also that the Democrats will not and would never go looking there. 

In other words, if Biden issues these blanket pardons, he will be ratifying the idea that was so aptly laid out by Peru's General Óscar Benavides: "For my friends, everything; for my enemies, the law."

Genocide..

 

It’s become increasingly clear that Israelis see and process their country’s military assault on Gaza in one way, and much of the rest of the world sees and processes it — and other Israeli actions — in a very different way.

This is not a mere matter of a polite divergence of opinion. It is a vast chasm that will generate increasingly weighty legal and political consequences. Without a significant measure of reality-checking and re-alignment, which is highly unlikely, Israel will find itself more and more isolated in the world. 

The latest chasm opened up when Amnesty International issued a report on Dec. 5 that declared, “Israel has carried out acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention, with the specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza.

Mind Diet..

 

Following the MIND diet for 10 years produced a small but significant decrease in the risk of developing thinking, concentration and memory problems, a new study found.

 MIND diet was specifically designed to combat cognitive decline, said lead study author Dr. Russell Sawyer, an assistant professor of clinical neurology and rehabilitation medicine at the University of Cincinnati Gardner Neuroscience Institute.

Among the MIND diet components are 10 brain healthy food groups — green leafy vegetables, other vegetables, nuts, berries, beans, whole grains, seafood, poultry, olive oil and wine,” Sawyer said in an email.

Five unhealthy food groups, red meats, butter and stick margarine, cheese, fried and fast foods, and pastries and sweets, are limited in the MIND diet, which helps reduce the intake of trans and saturated fats, Sawyer said.

Naughty..

 

Pay Taxes..

 

 Dec. 1, 2024, President Biden made the unexpected decision to pardon Hunter, despite previously assuring the public that no such action would be taken. 

This decision came after Hunter faced serious legal challenges, including federal gun charges and tax evasion. 

Jean-Pierre explained that the president had wrestled with this decision, ultimately believing that the justice system had been compromised by political motivations.

Jean-Pierre emphasized that Hunter was unfairly targeted due to his last name, stating, “Hunter was singled out, and because his last name was Biden, because he was the president’s son.” 

This sentiment reflects a broader narrative that the Biden family has been subjected to undue scrutiny and pressure.

Paying their fair share in taxes... that is what Democrats always say, to everyone else.

Traction..

 

Defensive..

Anti Drone magnet.

China’s A2/AD (Anti-Access/Area Denial) strategy has established a defensive “bubble” that could hinder U.S. naval operations and aircraft carriers near its First Island Chain. -By leveraging anti-ship missiles, drones, submarines, and aircraft, Beijing effectively denies access to adversaries without depending on aircraft carriers. 

The United States faces a challenge in countering this strategy, particularly in safeguarding Taiwan. 

 Most China watchers assume that leaders in Beijing always want to go on the offensive militarily, whether it is attacking Taiwan, taking more island territory, or exporting its authoritarian government system to other countries in the developing world. 

But another way to look at it is that China is playing defense, and it can accomplish this strong posture by focusing on anti-ship missiles, drones, plus manned fighters and bombers to create a defensive arc or bubble.

Just a thought.

Money..

A coalition of Black churches are calling for Al Sharpton to be suspended from MSNBC until an investigation is complete over payments he received from Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign. 

 The Harris campaign made two separate $250,000 donations to Sharpton’s National Action Network just ahead of Sharpton sitting down for an interview with the then-presidential candidate. 

The network previously said they were unaware of the payments . The donations were part of a flurry of payments to various groups for the campaign in a get out the vote effort for the election. The National Black Church Initiative, which represents more than 150,000 churches and 27.7 million members, released a statement this week calling for Sharpton’s suspension until an investigation into the matter is completed. 

 “This type of action puts a moral stain on the integrity of the Black Church,” the group wrote. The statement was released on Tuesday through Facebook and first covered by the Washington Free Beacon on Thursday.

Off..

 

Par-Don..

 

Joe Biden issued a full and unconditional pardon to his Hunter Biden on Sunday, a sweeping forgiveness for any crimes he may have committed or participated in between Jan. 1, 2014, and Dec. 1, 2024. 

The pardon specifically applies to Hunter Biden's federal gun charge and tax evasion cases. Hunter was convicted of three felony charges related to buying a gun in 2018 while battling drug addiction and lying about it on his application. He also pleaded guilty to nine tax evasion charges in September. Just a thought.