Biden Administration Declares Trump Cabinet Picks ‘Unqualified’

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U.S. — The party responsible for appointing a Transportation Secretary whose only relevant experience was an apparent love of for toy trains has declared Trump’s cabinet picks “unqualified.”

The Democratic Party, fresh off appointing a dude who wears dresses as a health minister, a guy who steals women’s luggage as nuclear weapons officer, and a Joker-costume-wearing lesbian who can’t answer questions as Press Secretary, felt that Trump’s choices did not have the proper credentials for their jobs.

“President-Elect Trump has beclowned himself with these appointments,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren, handing her makeup bag to Admiral Levine. “These are serious roles with real responsibilities. We need the absolute best, and — hey, has anyone seen my luggage?”

Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked if the White House had any official statement about Trump’s selections, to which Karine-Jean Pierre screamed, “I’m gay” and ran out of the room sobbing.

At publishing time, the people responsible for Afghani civilians hanging on to a cargo plane’s wheel well stated that Trump’s choice for Secretary of Defense was incompetent.

Can the Republican Senate protect the 2nd Amendment?

Donald Trump needs to protect the Second Amendment with Senate leadership choices who won’t negotiate our rights away.

Trump has already put forward a plan that, in the words of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., should earn him a space on Mount Rushmore.  But there is another problem with our ever persistent RINOs who insist on snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.  Although the First Amendment is being shored up, we have to be concerned with the prospects of the Second, simply because all of our rights are mutually supportive.

The best analogy for this is fortifications with interwoven fields of fire — a case where a gun emplacement can fire to cover another part of the fortification for mutual support.  These were prevalent during the time of the masterful development, writing, and ratification of the founding documents.

In other words, the First Amendment protects the Second, and the Second protects the First.  All the amendments are vitally important, and when one is weakened, the rest are weakened as a result.

The current problem is that Mitch McConnell has scheduled a vote for the Senate leadership this week, attempting to get this under the radar, while everyone is still celebrating the win and no one is paying attention to RINO shenanigans.  Unfortunately for them, many pro-freedom patriots are aware of this and are voicing their opinions on the matter, and it seems as though our politicians are “aghast at the effort.”  Braden from Langley Outdoors Academy has the latest rundown on this issue.

Part of the problem is that the three choices are insufficient, to say the least.  Thus, it’s up to pro-freedom patriots to offer alternatives to the current slate of RINOs, such as Kentucky senator Rand Paul, Texas senator Ted Cruz, Utah senator Mike Lee, or Missouri senator Josh Hawley.  This is why people are calling the U.S. capital switchboard to have the RINOs removed in favor of the far superior alternatives.

We had a fantastic victory last week.  There’s no reason to water it down by putting in place GOP RINOs who have a history of negotiating our rights away for absolutely no benefit.  Senate leadership is vitally important for implementing the Trump agenda, so there is no reason to go “wobbly” within a few days of defeating the Undemocratic party.

Court Vaporizes 50 Years of Environmental Law Leaving Trump’s EPA to Build on the Ashes

The US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit summarily vaporized 46 years of Federal environmental regulations. Writing in a case called Marin Audubon Society, et al v. FAA, et al, the majority of a three-judge panel ruled that the Council on Environmental Quality, a cabal inside the Executive Office of the President charged with ensuring that National Environmental Protection Act requirements are interpreted uniformly across the federal government, had illegally used the Federal Register to publish that guidance thereby giving citizens, agencies, and even the courts the impression that their internal guidance had the authority of law.

The decision was written by Karen LeCraft Henderson (George H. W. Bush) and A. Raymond Randolph (George H. W. Bush) with Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan (Joe Biden) dissenting, and it found:

As the parties argue the case, it centers on whether the Agencies complied with regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality, an entity within the Executive Office of the President.  We will not address these arguments.  The CEQ regulations, which purport to govern how all federal agencies must comply with the National Environmental Policy Act, are ultra vires.

Ultra vires means the CEQ was acting “beyond the legal scope of it authority.”

The court goes on to detail the shenanigans by which an advisory body with no regulatory authority was able to write environmental regulations for the entire United States for nearly a half-century just because it decided it could.

Making the case even more awesome is that it was set off by enviro-wackos suing the FAA for allowing sightseeing flights near some national parks. The enviros claimed the FAA used the wrong standard established by the CEQ to permit the flight. They ended up being right in a backhanded kind of way.

This decision throws the entire environmental regulation scheme governing the federal government into chaos. I suspect that many of the CEQs regulations will be reissued by other agencies, but after Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo (see The Supreme Court Firebombs the Administrative State and Tells Congress to Get Off Its Butt and Work) that slew the medusa called “Chevron deference,” the survival of those replacement regulations is not assured.

The silver lining is that Trump’s EPA, under Lee Zeldin (see We Have Another Trump Cabinet Pick: Lee Zeldin Gets the Nod), will get the first crack at reworking useless and expensive regulations.

Complete Decision

Marin Audobon Society vs. FAA by streiff on Scribd

Seventh Circuit Hears Oral Arguments in ‘Assault Weapon’ Ban Challenge

No, not the challenge to the gun and magazine ban that U.S. District Court Judge Stephen McGlynn found unconstitutional last Friday. The almost half-dozen lawsuits taking on the Protect Illinois Communities Act will be heard by the Seventh Circuit as well, but not for several months. Instead, today’s oral argument is in a case called Viramontes v. Cook County, which is seeking to undo the “assault weapons” ban first put in place by Cook County lawmakers in the early 1990s.

The ordinance, which was revised in 2006 and again in 2013, makes it “unlawful for any person to manufacture, sell, offer or display for sale, give, lend, transfer ownership of, acquire, carry or possess any assault weapon or large capacity magazine in Cook County.” Earlier this year U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer, a Clinton appointee, ruled in favor of Cook County and dismissed the claims brought by the plaintiffs.

Pallmeyer’s decision was based almost entirely on the Seventh Circuit’s denial of an injunction in yet another challenge to a semi-auto ban in Illinois. In Bevis v. Naperville, the appellate court ruled that both local and statewide bans on so-called assault weapons and large-capacity magazines are likely to withstand constitutional scrutiny because the arms in question are  “more like military weapons than those useful for self-defense.”

That decision was authored by Judge Frank Easterbrook; a Reagan appointee with a long history of upholding Illinois gun laws. In 2009, Easterbrook ruled that Chicago’s ban on handguns didn’t violate the Second Amendment because the Second Amendment’s protections didn’t extend to state and local laws. In 2015 Easterbrook ruled in favor of Highland Park, Illinois and its ban on “assault weapons”, arguing that even if arms that were in common use were prohibited, gun owners had other options available to them if they wanted a firearm for self-defense.

But Easterbrook is not a part of the three-judge panel that’s considering the constitutionality of Cook County’s gun and magazine ban today. Instead, Judge Diane Sykes (who’s authored a good ruling for gun owners), Judge Michael Brennan, and Judge Amy St. Eve will determine whether the county’s prohibition on modern sporting rifles and ammunition magazines that can hold more than ten rounds violate the Second Amendment.

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Armed Intruder Shot by Homeowner During Break-In Attempt in DeSoto, Texas

On Friday, November 8, 2024, at approximately 7:54 p.m., police were dispatched to an active disturbance in the 400 block of Raintree Circle, DeSoto, Texas. The caller, an adult female, reported to dispatch that an unknown adult male armed with a pistol was in her backyard. During the 911 call, dispatch could hear screaming as the suspect attempted to force entry through the rear garage door. Multiple neighbors also called 911, reporting gunshots in the area. Police arrived on scene at the victim’s residence by 7:57 p.m.

Upon arrival, officers encountered the victim in front of her home. She informed them that she believed she had shot the suspect, who was likely at the back of the property. Police searched the premises and found the suspect lying on the ground inside the garage, with a pistol nearby. The suspect, identified as 35-year-old Octavio Flores Mondragon, had sustained two gunshot wounds, one to the chest and another to the face. Officers secured the scene and administered first aid until an ambulance arrived. The suspect was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition.

The victim stated that she noticed a dark truck following her as she entered her neighborhood, and it pulled in behind her when she parked in her driveway. Concerned for her safety, she ran inside her home and called the police. She armed herself with her pistol as the suspect tried to break in, firing multiple shots to stop him. She then met officers at the front of her home when they arrived.

The suspect faces charges of Burglary of a Habitation with Intent to Commit Another Felony, a first-degree felony. No motive has been determined.

The pistol found beside the suspect is believed to be the firearm he had during the incident. [ya think?]

Here’s Trump’s Plan to Purge the Pentagon of the Woke Brass

President-elect Donald J. Trump is sending signals to the military brass. They’re going back to protecting our country, killing our enemies, and enhancing our national security. The era of woke nonsense and sensitivity training is over. The Wall Street Journal first reported on Trump’s plans for the Pentagon, alluding to the “chilling” effect it could have on the officer corps, but the president-elect has a mandate and should use it.

The reported executive order would create a “warrior board” of retired generals and other senior personnel who would review the leadership qualities of the officers in question. There’s no re-election effort lingering overhead either, so don’t be shocked if this executive is issued. It’s time to clean house (via WSJ):

The Trump transition team is considering a draft executive order that establishes a “warrior board” of retired senior military personnel with the power to review three- and four-star officers and to recommend removals of any deemed unfit for leadership.

If Donald Trump approves the order, it could fast-track the removal of generals and admirals found to be “lacking in requisite leadership qualities,” according to a draft of the order reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. But it could also create a chilling effect on top military officers, given the president-elect’s past vow to fire “woke generals,” referring to officers seen as promoting diversity in the ranks at the expense of military readiness.

As commander in chief, Trump can fire any officer at will, but an outside board whose members he appoints would bypass the Pentagon’s regular promotion system, signaling across the military that he intends to purge a number of generals and admirals.

The draft order says it aims to establish a review that focuses “on leadership capability, strategic readiness, and commitment to military excellence.” The draft doesn’t specify what officers need to do or present to show if they meet those standards. The draft order originated with one of several outside policy groups collaborating with the transition team, and is one of numerous executive orders under review by Trump’s team, a transition official said.

The warrior board would be made up of retired generals and noncommissioned officers, who would send their recommendations to the president. Those identified for removal would be retired at their current rank within 30 days.

There’s likely to be a media overreaction, and officers who engaged in this DEI/woke nonsense are likely to retire instead of fighting this board. Whatever the reason, I like the blueprint. Let’s see if the administration follows through.

Well, he wants a whole lot more than that, view that video, and I’m not sure he should what all he wants.

Trump Reaffirms Push for National Concealed Carry Reciprocity.

In a decisive message released this weekend, President-elect Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to protecting Second Amendment rights, announcing his intent to implement national concealed carry reciprocity once he takes office. This proposed legislation would require all 50 states to recognize concealed carry permits issued by any individual state, enabling gun owners to carry firearms legally across state lines without fearing discrepancies in local regulations.

Trump addressed the nation with a promise to uphold the right to self-defense, stating, “I will protect the right of self-defense wherever it is under siege, and I will sign concealed carry reciprocity. Your Second Amendment does not end at the state line.”

The announcement quickly gained traction, with the president’s son, Donald Trump Jr., a diehard hunter and shooter, enthusiastically sharing his father’s message on social media, writing, “Boom! My father just announced concealed carry reciprocity. The Second Amendment will stay and remain protected.”

This policy has long been part of Trump’s platform. Since his 2015 campaign, he has voiced support for a nationwide reciprocity measure, arguing that if a driver’s license can be universally recognized, so too should a concealed carry permit, which he describes as a “right, not a privilege.” During his 2020 campaign, he reiterated his stance, expressing readiness to sign a national reciprocity act if brought to his desk.

For gun owners and Second Amendment advocates, Trump’s pledge represents a significant step in ensuring that state borders do not interfere with their rights to self-defense. Many argue that reciprocity would eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic barriers, allowing law-abiding citizens to exercise their right to carry consistently across the country, and also help avoid ensnaring them in unwitting legal blunders because of different laws that follow no consistent standard from state to state.

As Trump prepares to take office, his announcement on reciprocity underscores a commitment to preserving gun rights nationwide, promising a potentially significant shift in the landscape of Second Amendment protections, a sea change from the current administration in the White House. While this is great news for gun owners, don’t expect national reciprocity to become the law of the land easily. Democratic state’s attorneys and anti-gun groups are already gearing up to fight every action Trump proposes to take even without knowing everything he plans to push legislatively. Expect the courts to become a rife battleground over gun laws for the next four years. That much will likely not change in the political landscape for the foreseeable future.

Below is Donald Trump’s entire statement shared on his website at DonaldJTrump.com.

This ain’t your father’s Donald Trump
This is the Lemon-scented Super Duper Ultra President Trump with OxiClean

Our once and future president Donald Trump is announcing his appointments to his next administration via Twitter and Truth Social, bypassing the media completely. This avoids a formal announcement and having to answer silly, loaded questions at press conferences asked by DNC water carriers who pose as reporters.

His new approach bodes well for his second term because the media will no longer control how the news is presented. Those following Twitter and Truth Social will get the news first and straight from the source.

But that’s not the only thing Trump is doing differently from 2016. Democrats are freaking out because Trump’s transition team won’t play by their rules.

The Hill said:

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said on Monday that President elect-Trump “and his transition team are already breaking” a law on presidential transition.

“Donald Trump and his transition team are already breaking the law,” Warren said in a post on the social platform X. “I would know because I wrote the law. Incoming presidents are required to prevent conflicts of interest and sign an ethics agreement.”

“This is what illegal corruption looks like,” she added.

And here is what legal corruption looks like.

Warren’s changing of the rules is why Trump hasn’t accepted federal money or office space because it comes with Democrat strings attached.

Earlier, the Economist reported:

Trump has steered clear of any government funding or office space so far, so distrustful are his allies of career civil servants and the Biden administration. That frees him to accept unlimited private donations. Cantor Fitzgerald Chief Executive Officer Howard Lutnick is running personnel while Linda McMahon, Trump’s former head of the Small Business Administration, is supervising the policy operation.

I recall in 2008 that Obama decided against accepting federal matching money for his presidential campaign because it would limit his fundraising. That pretty much ended Democrats and Republicans accepting the money because it wasn’t free. It came with strings attached, as does this money.

In order to get federal aid, Trump must sign an agreement with this administration, which is headed by the man who called Trump supporters garbage. The Hill said this agreement is done “so [the Democrat] staff may get their hands on relevant resources like facilities, documents, executive branch employees and national security information in the period between the election and the inauguration. Those agreements also feature an ethics plan.”

Sounds perfectly legit. Trade their privacy for a few bucks more.

The Hill also reported:

Last month, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) raised concerns in a letter to Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance over their campaign’s failure to enter into presidential transition agreements with the federal government. Raskin warned that the delay could have an unfavorable impact on the transfer of power in the upcoming year.

“Breaking the precedent set by every other presidential candidate since 2010, you have rejected these resources and refused to commit to a smooth transition,” Raskin wrote.

“Your actions depart from well-established norms of the federal government and demonstrate a spectacular disregard for the successful continuation of the essential institutions of American democratic government,” he added.

Like Hunter Biden, these entitled Democrats are spoiled rotten brats. They are dogs who keep chasing the car — only to crash when the driver slams on the brakes.

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The answer is “Hubris”

The question not being asked.

This Autumn has been rough for the Southeast. First, Hurricane Helene ripped up Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, and then Hurricane Milton hit a different part of Florida and tore it up.

And the season isn’t over yet.

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By now, you may have already heard about what happened down in Florida and may well have happened elsewhere. It turns out that personnel working for FEMA knocking on doors to see if people were eligible for federal funds were told to skip the homes of obvious Trump supporters.

After publication of this story, a FEMA spokesperson told The Daily Wire it was “deeply disturbed” and “horrified” by the employee’s actions, and that it has “taken extreme actions to correct this situation.”

“While we believe this is an isolated incident, we have taken measures to remove the employee from their role and are investigating the matter to prevent this from happening ever again,” the spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “The employee who issued this guidance had no authority and was given no direction to tell teams to avoid these homes and we are reaching out to the people who may have not been reached as a result of this incident.”

“This is a matter that we take extremely seriously and we are doing everything we can to make sure all survivors receive support from FEMA. To date, we have helped over 365,000 households impacted by both Hurricanes Helene and Milton in the state of Florida and have provided over $898 million in direct assistance to survivors.”

“We are horrified that this took place and therefore have taken extreme actions to correct this situation and have ensured that the matter was addressed at all levels. Helping people is what we do best and our workforce across the agency will continue to serve survivors for as long as it takes.”

That’s all fine and well.

Plus, the individual responsible for that, Marn’i Washington, has been fired from her position and the case has been referred to the Office of Special Counsel. That means she faces potential prosecution for her actions, which should most definitely happen.

However, while people are focusing on what happened—and for understandable reasons—I can’t help but ask the question no one else seems to be asking. Why did she think she could get away with it?

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“On every question of construction (of the Constitution) let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or invented against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed.”
–Thomas Jefferson, 1823