The Front Page Cover
~ Featuring ~
The Establishment Republican
Spending Epidemic
by Paul Albaugh
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Top Headlines
Trump's first international trip reveals that the Middle East is a priority. (The Daily Signal)
GOP tweaks to pre-existing conditions will likely affect just 0.5% of Americans. (The Federalist)
Report: ICE has 27 different databases for visa overstays, catches only 0.4%. (The Washington Free Beacon)
Texas governor signs anti-"sanctuary city" law. (The Washington Times)
Georgia governor signs campus gun measure. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
OIG report: More than 100 veterans died while waiting for care at Los Angeles VA. (The Washington Free Beacon)
EPA dismisses half of its scientific advisers on key board, citing "clean break" with liar-nObama administration. (The Washington Post)
Dozens of groups press Trump to exit Paris climate deal. (Washington Examiner)
Macron won a historic French election. (Time)
U.S. may send up to 5,000 more troops to Afghanistan. (The Washington Times)
Policy: Why Trump should pull out of the Paris climate change agreement. (The Daily Signal)
Policy: How court reviewing challenge to Trump's travel ban swung left under liar-nObama. (The Daily Signal) ~The Patriot Post
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Loretta Lynch Busted! Look What Nasty Thing
Leaked About Her And liar-Hillary Clinton
by Paris Swade
{libertywriters.com} ~ Catherine Herridge: “This is the most significant headline coming out of the investigation today… What we heard today for the first time were details about a document that related to Attorney General Loretta Lynch that had been obtained by Russian hackers. And that the document indicated that Lynch would do whatever it took to prevent criminal charges to be brought against liar-Hillary Clinton in the email probe.” https://libertywriters.com/2017/05/bombhshell-loretta-lynch-busted-look-nasty-thing-leaked-hillary-clinton/
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Signs
Bill Banning Sanctuary Cities
by Chuck Ross
{dailycaller.com} ~ Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill into law on Sunday banning sanctuary city policies... “Texas has now banned sanctuary cities in the Lone Star State,” Abbott said in a statement from his office posted on Facebook Live. “The reason why so many people come to America is because we are a nation of laws and Texas is doing its part to keep it that way.” The bill, which passed the Texas legislature earlier in the week, will effectively allow law enforcement officers to ask about immigration status during any detention situation, including during traffic stops...http://dailycaller.com/2017/05/07/texas-gov-greg-abbott-signs-bill-banning-sanctuary-cities-video/
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WH Budget Director Mick Mulvaney: "A Good Shutdown" Could Help Fix DC Gridlock; "Drain The Swamp"
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Manufacturing CEO Says He’s Investing $2 Billion in US Because of "Confidence in Trump"
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMqZhNYfoX0
VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tMqZhNYfoX0
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TUCKER: Atheists force Pa. city to remove bench with "God" quote
VIDEO: http://video.foxnews.com/v/5423758731001
VIDEO: http://video.foxnews.com/v/5423758731001
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WATCH: FRANCE 24 Live - #FrenchElection
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Marines Surprise World War II Vet With Special Gift
VIDEO: http://video.insider.foxnews.com/v/5424315867001
VIDEO: http://video.insider.foxnews.com/v/5424315867001
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by Jennifer Griffin
Iran test fires torpedo in the Strait of Hormuz
by Jennifer Griffin
{foxnews.com} ~ Iran test-fired a high-speed torpedo on Sunday, a senior U.S. defense official told Fox News, marking the latest provocative action from the Islamic Republic... The Hoot torpedo, which has a range of six miles, was fired in the Strait of Hormuz, where much of the world’s oil passes each day. It's unclear if the torpedo test was successful. The test was carried out in Iranian territorial waters and did not break any international protocols, but the advances Iran is making with this powerful torpedo -- which could travel at 250 miles per hour -- has Pentagon officials worried... http://www.foxnews.com/world/2017/05/08/iran-test-fires-torpedo-in-strait-hormuz.html
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The Establishment Republican Spending
Epidemic
By Paul Albaugh: Congressional negotiators in Washington reached a deal to fund the federal government through September, and it must pass by Friday to prevent a shutdown. Not that it's surprising, but the spending bill is not at all conservative — in fact it resembles something Democrats would have sent to Barack liar-nObama, who would have been delighted to sign it. To be sure, this spending bill is causing grassroots conservatives to wonder what it's going to take to win real spending reform in the Swamp.
Democrats Chuck clown-Schumer and Nancy Pulosi hailed the bill as a victory for Democrats. "Overwhelmingly, we were very pleased with the outcome — issue after issue," boasted clown-Schumer during his victory lap. "I would not say there's a major loss in here." And he has a legitimate point.
The legislation does not provide any further funding for a border fence along our southern border with Mexico. It does not eliminate money from "sanctuary cities" that fail to comply with federal immigration law. It does not cut funding at all for Planned Parenthood's abortion mills. In addition, the deal cuts only 1% of the EPA's budget and actually increases clean energy and science funding for the agency.
Sure, Republicans were able to increase defense spending by $15 billion, but Donald Trump had requested $30 billion. Republicans were also able to squeeze in $1.5 billion in funding for border security, yet none of that funding is usable for building a border fence or adding additional Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
In fact, Democrats claim that they were able to force Republicans to remove 160 riders, or policy measures, that Democrats considered "poison pills." Republicans, in their all too familiar fashion, caved on pretty much everything over fear of a government shutdown. No wonder Democrats crowed that they'll be able to block Trump's legislative priorities in the future.
Nevertheless, on Monday, Trump declared, "We're very happy with it," adding that he would sign the bill if it remains "as we discussed." What happened to Trump the Best Negotiator™ that we heard about during his campaign? Is this spending agreement really the best possible deal? A $1.1 trillion omnibus bill that maintains the status quo is certainly not what we would call sound fiscal policy, nor is it draining the swamp. Maybe Trump really did get tired of all the winning.
So what happened? liar-nObamaCare repeal failed. What does this spending bill do about liar-nObamaCare? The White House agreed last week to continue paying out subsidies, which will go to insurance companies with the intent of reducing out of pocket expenses for low-income earners under the grossly misnamed "Affordable" Care Act.
Herein is one of the problems endemic with establishment Republicans in Congress. They had an opportunity to do something with liar-nObamaCare but didn't. Could it be that there are plenty of so-called moderate Republicans in Congress who actually like liar-nObamaCare and don't intend to do much about it? Based on their actions, it's a strong possibility.
The liar-nObamaCare-repeal wreckage caused an unnecessary pile-up of legislation — including priorities like the budget and tax reform that were dependent on health care reform — and Republicans feel they must give Democrats everything they want in order to avoid further embarrassment.
Which brings us to another problem. Trump has promised to "drain the swamp" and he's certainly undoing a lot of liar-nObama's executive overreach, but he isn't ideologically committed to cutting the size and scope of the federal government. He just doesn't ever seem to care about actual policy. He also promises to spend a whole lot of money and to never touch the real debt drivers — entitlements. And as for draining the swamp, surely he knew that entrenched Democrats and Republicans alike would fight back. There are too many career politicians and lobbyists from both parties who will never willingly relinquish their power and influence.
So what next? Trump and Republicans in Congress need to establish a pattern of small victories — small victories toward repealing liar-nObamaCare, small victories on budget and tax reform, small victories on immigration policy. Major battles and major policy changes aren't as likely unless some small battles and small policy changes happen first. Trump always liked promising that things would happen "so fast." But in politics, changes in policy and major reform rarely happen fast.
There is, of course, still time for the negotiator in chief and Congress to accomplish things like liar-nObamaCare repeal and tax reform. Then they can come back to the budget in September fresh off real legislative victories. But let's be honest: Their track record is not encouraging. ~The Patriot Post
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