Chinese Chicanery, Racist Rejection of Reporters, and Fredo Flubs… Again: The Week in Review

Headline #1:          House GOP Members: COVID Likely Came from Wuhan Lab

A report generated by Republican members of the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee was obtained by media members with details being published on Thursday. The report claims there is “significant circumstantial evidence” that the COVID-19 pandemic was caused by a leak from the famed Wuhan lab in China.

Thoughts and Observations:

• Much of the mainstream press pooh-poohed this story because it doesn’t fit their narrative. The left and their media love China, and this news is highly damaging to the communist nation; obviously. While many of those same media members will hype the deadliness of COVID in their attempt to scare the heck out of us, they strangely lack any journalistic curiosity regarding the virus’ origins. Strange, isn’t it?
• If we’re really concerned about COVID and preventing outbreaks of similar viruses in the future, wouldn’t the first step be to conduct a root-cause analysis? And if one were to perform a root-cause analysis on the pandemic, wouldn’t the starting point be to determine COVID’s origins? When was the last time you heard any extensive discussions or coverage within the mainstream media on what started this whole disaster?
• The idea an unintentional lab leak isn’t new, and in fact it was theorized from the very beginning. David Ignatius, the Associate Editor from the Washington Post of all places, published a piece over a year ago in April 2020 on this very topic. What is new is that Republicans on the Intelligence Committee have seen more evidence to support the theory. And that development is momentous.
• China has been playing hide the pickle since late-2019, and Democrats and their media have been largely willing to play along, but there needs to be accountability, and we need to understand the history of the outbreak to better prepare for and prevent future pandemics. Republicans are pressing for additional probes from federal officials and they are correct to do so. We should watch the Democrats closely on how they respond. Lives could depend on it.
• The term “significant circumstantial evidence” may seem oxymoronic, but it isn’t. Circumstantial evidence is a legal term, and it can be critical in many situations, including in criminal cases. The fact is, with China’s aforementioned game-playing and cover-up, attaining material evidence is virtually impossible. Plus, it’s difficult to find indisputable prove from where microbes that are smaller than the head of pin came. Circumstantial evidence is likely to be the only evidence we ever come across.
• Remember who makes up the House Intelligence Committee. On the Democrat side, you have Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) who has zero credibility after having pushed the Russia Hoax for two years, and Rep. Eric “Boom Boom” Swalwell (D-CA) who bangs Chinese spies. On the Republican side, members include Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY)  who are both sharp, relentless and have high levels of integrity. Not only is this story big news, it’s also reliable.

Headline #2:          Chicago Mayor Lightfoot Won’t Grant Interviews to White Journalists

Chicago’s Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced on Tuesday that moving forward she will only grant one-on-one interviews to black or brown reporters, and justified the decision by explaining, “as a woman of color, as a lesbian, it’s important to me that diversity is put front in center.”

Thoughts and Observations:

• This is a natural progression. If one views every aspect of society through the lens of skin color and demonizes one such group (white folks) repeatedly, it only makes sense to take steps such as these to punish those evildoers. This type of discrimination is inevitable.
• Do you still think critical race theory advocates and Black Lives Matter are just a bunch of harmless, naïve, well-intentioned liberals? They’re not. There is nothing liberal about this nonsense, it’s racism; pure and simple. Traditional liberals would never support this type of bigotry. And get ready because stuff like this is just the beginning.
• Lightfoot is an absolutely awful mayor, and if she wasn’t female, black, and gay, she never would have been elected. In our March Top Ten list, she was rated as only the second-worst mayor in America, with New York’s Bill DeBlasio taking the number one spot. Does this development change that calculation? Should we reconsider and rate Lightfoot as the worst mayor in the country? Nope, not even close. That’s how bad Bill DeBlasio is.
• Lightfoot needs to go, and her being voted out of office looks like it could actually happen. She won’t lose to a Republican, because the last time there was a non-Democrat Mayor in the Windy City, a man named “Big” Bill Thompson held the office in 1931 when Herbert Hoover was in the White House. But challengers are lining up to run against Lightfoot in the Democratic Primary, and she is very beatable. Anyone with an ounce of common sense should be able to win easily.
• Is the mayor’s position illegal? Is making such exclusions by skin color against the law? Of course. But so is burning down cities which not only happened last summer across the country, it was applauded by Democrats and their media. So is jury tampering, yet the Chauvin jury was tainted in plain sight and everyone looked away. And so is filing false police reports like Jussie Smollett, yet the prosecutor brushed that case under the rug. The rule of law is fading fast in our country, and we need to get a grip on things. Fast.
• Once again, if we apply our patented Role Reversal Test to this incident, the reality becomes clear and indisputable. Imagine if a white, straight, male public official (let’s say, for instance, Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis) announced that he would only grant interviews to white journalists. Would that be a problem? Would the left and their media be having a collective conniption and calling DeSantis a racist? Of course, they would, and they would be correct. Lori Lightfoot is a racist.

Headline #3:         Fredo Cuomo Caught Advising Brother Andrew On Sex Scandal

We became aware on Thursday that CNN media personality Chris “Fredo” Cuomo has been giving his brother, embattled Democratic New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, advice on how to handle the multiple accusations against the governor of sexual harassment.

Thoughts and Observations:

• Our media and their lack of any journalistic standards has become such a joke, this news comes as no surprise, and has been greeted with mostly shrugging shoulders. But this story is outrageous. There’s nothing wrong with a brother giving another brother advice. There’s nothing wrong with journalists talking to politicians. And there’s nothing wrong with political commentators and experts advising public officials. But Fredo Cuomo purports to be a journalist, and journalists advising politicians is “highly inappropriate.”
• Fredo actually apologized for his behavior, stating “It was a mistake because I put my colleagues here, who I believe are the best in the business, in a bad spot.” He also went on to claim that he has never tried to influence CNN’s coverage of his brother, which is probably true. He doesn’t have to convince anyone in the mainstream media to go easy on his brother because the entire media establishment is just as sycophantic about the governor as Fredo is.
• It was difficult to imagine that CNN’s credibility could be damaged any more than it already was with their coverage of President Trump, but that is exactly what has happened with the Cuomo nonsense. From the beginning of the pandemic, Fredo was yucking it up with his brother on-air, raving about his brother’s performance with COVID, and essentially acting as a member of Andrew’s communications team. Yet when the sex scandal broke, Fredo turned around and ran, claiming he couldn’t talk about Big Bro. This entire situation has been ridiculous from day one.
• Among other problems with this latest Fredo misstep is the fact that the news has brough Gov. Cuomo’s scandals back in the limelight to some degree. Andrew Cuomo is, at the very least, guilty of a significant double-standard regarding his previous condemnations of sexual harassers, and quite possibly guilty of crimes. And his disastrous handling of nursing homes during the pandemic, and his subsequent cover-up, are even more devastating. But many in the media and across the country seemed to have forgotten about Cuomo. They had moved on, but now the attention returns. Perhaps it’s time for Andrew to send Fredo fishing and seated facing forward.

Headline #4:        SCOTUS to Hear Case on Mississippi Abortion Law

On Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a case challenging a Mississippi abortion law in the coming months, and the landmark case Roe V. Wade could be in the court’s crosshairs.

Thoughts and Observations:

• The court’s acceptance of Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization will result in the first major case in which abortion will be presented to the newly configured court. Since the appointment by former President Donald Trump of Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, there has not been such a case that has been heard. We will see if Trump’s appointees are indeed as conservative as we have hoped, and there is good reason for optimism.
• The issue at the root of the case is its prohibition of any abortion after fifteen weeks, with limited exceptions. The Mississippi law is significantly milder than those in other states regarding abortion, including Alabama and Arkansas, and should be a good litmus test for future rulings. Outlawing the murder of a fifteen-week-old fetus should be a no-brainer and could establish a roadmap for further legislative gains.
• The Pro-Life movement has been methodical in its approach to tearing down Roe V. Wade. Little by little, piece by piece, the brutality of Roe V. Wade is being dismantled. This is how protection for the unborn will ultimately be achieved, through litigation and reason.
• Roe V. Wade itself has been labeled as a horrible decision by pundits from both sides of the political spectrum – left and right – not because of its stance on abortion, but for its disregard of states’ rights. It should be this aspect of the ruling which ultimately brings it down. Nowhere in the Constitution is there a “right to privacy” as was stated in Roe V. Wade’s majority opinion 48 years ago and the federal government doesn’t have the authority to force states to recognize such ridiculousness; and that fact makes Roe V. Wade bad law and ripe for overruling.
• It will be fascinating to see where Chief Justice John Roberts lands with this case. He’s been a huge disappointment after having been appointed by President George W. Bush, often acting more like a Bill Clinton appointee with his leftist views. But Roberts is a Catholic, and supposedly a devout one. With the tenuous ideological balance of the court, we need Roberts to be a true conservative, and this could be his chance at redemption. Say a prayer and cross your fingers.

Headline #5:         Prince Harry Calls U.S. First Amendment ‘Bonkers,’ Backlash Follows

During a podcast last week, Prince Harry (aka the Duke of Sussex) made the eyebrow raising comment about this immortalized portion of the constitution, and conservative commentors everywhere weighed-in. “I’ve got so much I want to say about the First Amendment as I sort of understand it, but it is bonkers,” said Harry.

Thoughts and Observations:

• To begin, let’s consider the content of the First Amendment, which is only 45 words, concise and to the point. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Does that sound ‘bonkers’ to you? Perhaps you need to be royal, privy to billions of taxpayer dollars, and better than everyone else by virtue of your bloodline to understand its craziness.
• It’s comments like these that should flip a switch in every American’s brain reminding them of America’s greatness. The United Kingdom doesn’t have freedom of speech like we do, nor do any of their dominion nations such as Australia and Canada, and nor does virtually any other country on the planet. America is unique. America is wonderful. God Bless America.
• For those who accuse conservatives like myself of overreacting to Harry’s comments, you’re either ignoring reality or your part of the problem. The First Amendment, more than any other aspect of our Constitution, is what has made this country great. This growing appetite by those on the left for reining in its freedoms must be stopped.
• While I’ve never been a fan of Britain’s Royal Family, I’ve always respected their traditions and history, particularly as they relate to Britain’s overall legacy. Yes, the blemishes of their past are even greater than America’s, but America owes a large debt to Britain for our culture and our values. However, many of the individuals making up the Royal Family have been extremely unlikeable over the years. None of them, however, have been more unlikeable than Prince Harry. His lecturing, and wokeness, and holier-than-thou demeanor are beyond annoying. So, please Harry, shut up, go home and sit down. No one cares what you think.
• Sometimes as we get older, we begin to think of ourselves as sophisticated and mature; as having rid ourselves of childish inclinations. We’re all grown up now, we think. Then we come across a wanker like Prince Harry, and his alter-ego the Duke of Sussex. The urge to assign him with some juvenile nickname for this piece was almost uncontrollable, but I was able to resist, fortunately. Therefore, I’ll leave it to you, my faithful readers, to take the lead. Please feel free, and please be imaginative. I suggest you start with any of the following three portions of his title: Harry, Sussex, and Duke. There’s a lot of comedic content there, just begging to be exploited.

PF Whalen

PF Whalen is a conservative blogger at TheBlueStateConservative.com.  His work has appeared in multiple publications, including the Western Journal, Human Events, and American Thinker.  Follow him on Parler @PFWhalen

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

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