Kavanaugh coverage
Last night, President Donald Trump announced his pick to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. He chose Brett Kavanaugh.
Jim Geraghty at National Review says, "just about everybody in the conservative legal and policy community was doing cartwheels over the selection."
His colleague, David French, says President Trump nominated the wrong judge, although Kavanaugh is a fine pick.
Erick Erickson at The Resurgent says Kavanaugh has an impressive list of former clerks who are all supporting him.
Leftists are losing their minds. (Which they were going to do regardless of the pick.)
FOX host Shannon Bream had to abandon her post outside the Supreme Court - where she was set to do a live report last night. She was reportedly called a "blonde bimbo" by the leftists. Note the utterly ironic hypocrisy of the leftists to attack a woman based on her appearance.
Also, Bream is an attorney. She is really smart and a wonderful person with whom I had the privilege to work when she was at WBTV in Charlotte.
Example a billion on why people distrust the media
Charles C.W. Cooke outlines one of the most egregious examples of how members of the media create false narratives and spread "fake news."
The latest example comes from NBC's Leigh Ann Caldwell, who tweeted out a massive story, if true.
"Kennedy and Trump/WH had been in negotiations for months over Kennedy’s replacement. Once Kennedy received assurances that it would be Kavanaugh, his former law clerk, Kennedy felt comfortable retiring, according to a source who was told of the discussions."
"Furthermore, the five names Trump added to his list of Federalist Approved judges last November was to get Kavanaugh on that list. The other four names were considered cover, per source. In other words: the decision has been baked for a while"
Like I said... a massive story, if true.
Her tweet got re-tweeted or liked more than 1,500 times.
But then she said, "To be clear: This is from one source and dont have any info on whether potus talked to kennedy about a possible replacement."
This one was re-tweeted or liked about 300 times.
So, one anonymous person tells you something and this is enough confirmation for you to spread that rumor as fact to your 14,700 followers.
From Cooke:
At best, this is extraordinarily irresponsible. At worse, it is malicious. Since Trump won the election, our national conversation has been marked by this approach: First, a “journalist” will present an exciting story as fact; then, to rile up the reader, they will inject some high-octane editorializing — perhaps an “in other words . . .” or a “this is not normal” or an “in 2018!”; and, finally, they will present the real story — or, in this case, admit that they are relying on “one source” and don’t actually “have any info” on whether it’s true or not. And then they will sit back and watch the initial claim go viral, and, if they are called on it they will refer their critics to the caveat they added afterwards.
The point here is not that Caldwell is necessarily wrong. I am skeptical myself, and Leonard Leo has categorically refuted the charge, but it’s certainly possible that we’ll see more of this story. The point is that this isn’t journalism. Because she did no research, Leigh Ann Caldwell has allowed herself to be used as a laundry service for political rumor-mongering. Whether deliberately or not, she’s become part of a partisan fight. Irrespective of whether she wanted to, she has made herself a mouthpiece, not an arbiter. “I heard a rumor” is not good enough. It’s not professional. Do better — or quit complaining about your cavilers.
Indeed.
Later, Caldwell tweeted a link to a POLITICO piece that she suggests confirms her earlier rumor-mongering.
UPDATE: Caldwell deleted her tweet - after it went viral and set off a round of conspiracy theories:
"I’ve deleted this tweet because it incorrectly implies a transactional nature in Kennedy’s replacement. I am told by a source who was not directly part of the talks that Kennedy provided Pres. Trump/ WH a list of acceptable replacements.
Kavanaugh was the only one who was thought conservative enough to consider, I’m told. They added Kavanaugh – and 4 other names - to the public Federalist list that Trump would choose from in November. We are continuing to report this story."
So, her correction is based on information from another single anonymous source.
She's not helping.
We'll have a chance to make some changes to the NC Constitution
Six constitutional amendments will be up for voter approval on the November ballot.
Democrats say the referendum is meant to increase Republican turnout (it is).
Republicans say the measures codify improvements to state governance (they do).
The Carolina Journal has an overview of the six measures:
• House Bill 551: Strengthening Victims’ Rights
Otherwise known as “Marsy’s Law,” H.B. 551 would offer the victims of violent crimes better help, more access to court proceedings, and the ability to hire their own attorney.
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• H.B. 913: Bipartisan Ethics and Elections Enforcement
[T]his amendment would wrest appointments from the governor and put the legislature in charge; four members would be chosen by party holding the majority in the General Assembly, four by the minority party.
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• H.B. 1092: Const. Amendment – Require Photo ID to Vote
Voters would have to present photo identification to vote in person if this bill is approved in November.
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• Senate Bill 75: Const. Amd. – Max. Income Tax Rate of 7 percent
This amendment would freeze the income tax rate just above the current 5.49 percent level and well below the existing cap of 10 percent.
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• S.B. 677: Protect Right to Hunt and Fish
This bill would enshrine the right to hunt and fish in the N.C. Constitution, potentially opening existing Sunday hunting restrictions to challenges in court.
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• S.B. 814: Judicial Vacancy Sunshine Amendment
The amendment would siphon power away from the governor by giving legislators a role in filling judicial vacancies.
NC Dems tout fundraising numbers
The North Carolina Democratic Party says the amount of money their candidates have raised is indicative of the "Blue Wave" coming in November to wash away Republican majorities in the General Assembly.
Thai soccer team saved
An amazing story of bravery, tragedy, and courage in Thailand, as Navy SEALS completed the rescue of that boys soccer team from a flood cave system today.
All 12 boys and their soccer coach trapped for more than two weeks deep inside a flood Thai cave have been rescued, a Thai navy SEAL unit said on Tuesday, a successful end to a perilous mission that has gripped the world.
“We are not sure if this is a miracle, a science, or what. All the thirteen Wild Boars are now out of the cave,” the SEAL unit said on its Facebook page, adding all were safe.
The “Wild Boars” soccer team, aged between 11 and 16, and their 25-year-old coach became trapped on June 23 while exploring the cave complex in the northern province of Chiang Rai after soccer practice and a rainy season downpour flooded the tunnels.
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Celebrations will be tinged with sadness over the loss of a former Thai navy diver who died on Friday while on a re-supply mission inside the cave.
His name was Samarn Kunan.
But, wait! There's more!
Home schooling is up 6% in North Carolina.
America is in the midst of a "boy crisis." VIDEO