China, China, China
Donald Trump charged in Thursday night’s address that “over a period of years, starting during the 2020 election cycle, Beijing carried out what is believed to be the largest compromise of election data in history, resulting in China's illicit acquisition of 220 million U.S. voter files.” More than China’s alleged interference, the alleged withholding of such information by American intelligence disturbs. One expects the former but not the latter. And this aspect of the speech seems the easiest to prove or disprove. The president claims intelligence officials deliberately kept this information from him. He said, “Raw intelligence obtained by the FBI in 2020, yet buried by rogue bureaucrats, stated that China’s activities even included an attempt to manufacture illegal ballots for Joe Biden.”
Media Blackout
Considering the enormous interest paid to the Russia Collusion Hoax, the fact that CBS jumped in late and then cut away from the Trump speech, and NBC, CNN, and ABC did not air it live, says much.
Price Drop
The consumer price index gauged the largest monthly decrease in six years. The .4 percent price contraction for June owed mostly to the drop in fuel prices. The annual rate of 3.5 percent remains above the Federal Reserve’s two-percent target.
A Democrat Shift
Republican Thomas Massie’s amendment to stop a $3.3 billion aid package to Israel received 103 votes from Democrats but zero from his fellow Republicans. Those in support of the measure included the former speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and current whip, Kathleen Clark. The minority leader, Hakeem Jeffries, voted with the minority within his party by voting no. One wonders if the amendment eliminated all foreign aid how many Republicans would support it as a limited government measure and whether Democrats who generally like the idea of providing funds to foreigners would swallow the cuts they dislike just to stick it to Israel. There seems a massive shift on Israel, particularly within the Democratic Party. The venom probably dissipates to a great degree once Benjamin Netanyahu leaves office.
Fashion Police
Canadian Kaitlyn E. Tracey, charged with endangering the welfare of a child, simple assault, harassment, and obstruction for hitting a Jersey Shore teen whom she spotted wearing patriotic attire on the Fourth of July, really looks the part. Reports indicated that at least one of the teen girls wore Donald Trump-themed attire but this video shows a teen merely wearing patriotic colors. As for Ms. Tracey’s fashion choices? The bangs, the dyed hair, and the piercings all scream, “This person attacks people for wearing MAGA hats.” In Spain, particularly in big cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, women almost advertise their politics with a certain look. The bangs, yes, always, but often times a complete lack of makeup, maybe aviator-style eyeglasses (not sunglasses), Doc Martin boots, and clothes that look like they came off the rack at Forever 1917 indicate that politics often bleeds into seemingly apolitical areas such as style. The same people who want their fashion to scream “socialism” also want to scream at you for wearing garments that do not meet the approval of the commissar in their head.
Letter: Reading Is Fundamental
Daniel,
A few years ago at a company dinner, my boss was talking about the importance of reading. He asked the other nine at the table if they had a college degree, all said yes, then pointed out that I did not (Thanks, boss!). He then asked about reading after graduation. One had read a book in the ten years since graduation, none read newspapers. He asked me how many books I had read that year: “20” so far. He then said he was asked three historical questions about U.S. presidents. I was the only one who could answer any of them. His point was that college is important but continuing your education even more so.
Since I despise television, books are my entertainment and escape. I’m definitely not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree, but I was very blessed to have Sister Agatha teach me reading—although I still cringe when I hear rosary beads clatter.
Enjoy Don Quixote!
Ray Sheehan
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Daniel J. Flynn
Daniel J. Flynn, a senior editor of The American Spectator, serves as a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution for the 2024-2025 academic year. His books include Cult City: Harvey Milk, Jim Jones, and 10 Days That Shook San Francisco, Blue Collar Intellectuals: When the Enlightened and the Everyman Elevated America, A Conservative History of the American Left, and Intellectual Morons: How Ideology Makes Smart People Fall for Stupid Ideas. In 2025, he releases his magnum opus, The Man Who Invented Conservatism: The Unlikely Life of Frank S. Meyer.