Two Deaths; Did Only One matter?

Do you remember Freddie Gray? He was a walking example of the problems plaguing America's inner cities.

News of his death in police custody resulted in days of riots in Baltimore and tens of millions of dollars in damage. The Black Lives Matter movement erupted in outrage and held demonstrations all over the country. Obama and the media pontificated for days.

Here's name I suspect you may not know: Miosotis Familia. In contrast to Freddie Gray, the mother of three was an exemplary citizen who put her life on the line every day. She was assassinated last week in her patrol car simply because she wore the uniform of a New York City police officer.

Bill de Blasio, New York City's left-wing mayor, cared so little that he flew to Hamburg, Germany, the day after Familia's murder to encourage the rioters who injured hundreds of German police officers.

Ed Mullins, president of the NYPD's sergeants union, blasted de Blasio, saying, "New York City is right now mourning the loss of a police officer . . . and we have our mayor who has just gone to Germany to join protesters. Is this the type of city we want to live in?"

De Blasio's actions aside, where are the black community leaders speaking out for Familia? Did Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton organize protests for Familia? If they did, I certainly did not hear about it on the evening news.

Where are the demonstrations in the streets demanding an end to the crime that has made our inner cities virtual war zones? Where was Black Lives Matter?

Gray and Familia were both black. It is beyond disgusting that these left-wing groups, when faced with a dead drug pusher or a dead police officer, only get angry when the thug dies.

The message sent to minority children is that druggies get more respect than police officers. And that message is being received loud and clear. In a healthy society it should be the exact opposite.

Trump vs. Putin

President Trump sat down with Pat Robertson for an interview on CBN that aired today. They discussed several issues, including the media's current obsession with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

President Trump put it plainly when he said, "Well he wants what's good for Russia, and I want what's good for the United States. . . Sometimes you're not going to get along on things and sometimes you will."

President Trump also mocked the notion that Putin somehow preferred him over Hillary Clinton. Here's what he said:
 

"I'm a big military person. . . if Hillary had won, our military would be decimated. Our energy would be much more expensive. That's what Putin doesn't like about me. And that's why I say, why would he want me? Because from day one I wanted a strong military, he doesn't want to see that. . .

"We're going to be exporting energy -- he doesn't want that. He would like Hillary where she wants to have windmills. He would much rather have that because energy prices would go up and Russia, as you know, relies very much on energy.

"So there are many things that I do that are the exact opposite of what he would want. So what I keep hearing that he would have rather had Trump, I think 'Probably not.'"

The president is making a point I have repeatedly emphasized and, frankly, it is the point every conservative should be making in every interview when Russian collusion comes up.

Hillary Clinton would have continued Obama's policies. She served with the president who wanted to apologize for America again and again. Trump's slogan was "Make America Great Again."

Hillary Clinton and the left reject American exceptionalism and want to "fundamentally transform" America. Trump's theme was restoring American confidence.

As Trump pointed out in the interview, he wants to unleash America's domestic energy production, which drives down prices and guts Russia's budget. The left wants to shackle America's domestic energy industry.

Under Obama and Hillary, we did virtually nothing to help Ukraine. We withdrew from the Middle East and invited Russia into Syria. We cut a nuclear deal with Iran, Russia's ally, while we isolated Israel.

It just doesn't pass the straight face test that Clinton's left-wing policies would have been tougher on Russia.

What is obvious, however, is that the left's non-stop resistance and the media's obsession with Russia are further dividing the country and damaging President Trump's ability to govern. Once again, the left's actions are benefitting Russia, just as they always have. And THAT must be making Vladimir Putin very happy.

McConnell Tries Again

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell today unveiled an updated Obamacare repeal bill. The new bill attempts to balance competing concerns of coverage for pre-existing conditions and skyrocketing premiums.

To appease moderates, McConnell is offering more money for drug addiction and assistance for individuals with pre-existing conditions.

To appeal to conservatives, he is adopting an idea suggested by Senators Cruz and Lee that would allow states to once again offer cheaper insurance plans with fewer benefits as long as there is at least one Obamacare-compliant plan offered in that state.

Meanwhile, Senator Lindsey Graham is offering yet another option should McConnell's Plan B fail. Graham's proposal essentially keeps all of Obamacare's taxes but block grants the money back to the states to let them create their own policies. If nothing else, Graham's proposal in theory cuts out the Washington bureaucracy.

That's better than nothing, I suppose. But the GOP's commitment to lower taxes, smaller government and free markets is taking a beating in this debate.

Left-wing Insanity
 

• According to this new study the best way to "go green" and save the planet is to stop having children. To some environmental extremists Earth must be saved . . . from humans!
   
• Yesterday, Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) introduced H. Res. 438 -- an article of impeachment against President Trump for obstruction of justice. Sherman's resolution has only one co-sponsor, Rep. Al Green (D-TX).