By Olivia Pierson
First published on Insight@theBFD 6/02/2020

President Trump delivered the best reality TV show on Earth in his State of the Union Speech last night. Touting his incredible achievements thus far, not the least of them being the booming American economy and jobs, jobs, jobs across the board – as he promised his country:

“The days of our country being used, taken advantage of, and even scorned by other nations are long behind us. Gone, too, are the broken promises, jobless recoveries, tired platitudes and constant excuses for the depletion of American wealth, power and prestige.
In just three short years, we have shattered the mentality of American decline, and we have rejected the downsizing of America’s destiny. We have totally rejected the downsizing.”

In the lead-up to this occasion, certain politicians from the Squad of Bunny Boilers who had chosen to gift the House with their absence, only proved to the world how ‘done with democracy’ they really are. We’ve seen this before in SOTU 2018, to say nothing of the rather large cadre of democratic lawmakers who refused to attend the president’s inauguration ceremony in January of 2017.
 
In light of the aggressive, two-year Robert Mueller “Russia investigation” along with the recent spectacular fail of the impeachment attempt on the president, read it and weep with mirth.

President Trump indulged in his usual, unmatched knack of making the issues unforgettably real by having in the audience people who have been most affected by the evils he is up against, such as real-world socialism: Juan Guaidó, Venezuela’s legitimate president (the people’s choice) who has been ousted by authoritarian dictator, Nicholas Maduro, was celebrated in the House.  Guaidó has been visiting European and Canadian leaders in an attempt to garner support to unseat the current, communist government of Venezuela. Trump’s administration morally supports Guaidó, and having him at the SOTU address was a remarkable, public display of that open support. Even the feckless socialist-in-everything-but-name, Nancy Pelosi, managed a clap.

To emphasise his administration’s commitment to medical research and lower prescription prices – and to make the point that the last administration sought to wipe out America’s health insurance industry, President Trump had First Lady Melania wrap the Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honour, around Rush Limbaugh’s neck. Limbaugh, the longest standing conservative voice on talk-back radio was diagnosed this week with advanced lung cancer.  Nancy Pelosi did not stand to clap.

Because deranged nutters, like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, one of the Squad of Bunny Boilers, has made so much noise in her nasal squeaking voice about having the whole department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) completely abolished, and continues the push to have the unjust insanity of “sanctuary cities” spread right through the USA, President Trump commiserated over the senseless death of Rocky Jones. Jones, an American citizen, died at the hands of yet another illegal immigrant felon and President Trump invited his grieving brother, Jody, to stand and be recognised by the House: 

“Here is just one tragic example. In December 2018, California police detained an illegal alien with five prior arrests, including convictions for robbery and assault. But as required by California’s sanctuary law, local authorities released him.  Days later, the criminal alien went on a gruesome spree of deadly violence.  He viciously shot one man going about his daily work.  He approached a woman sitting in her car and shot her in the arm and in the chest. He walked into a convenience store and wildly fired his weapon.  He hijacked a truck and smashed into vehicles, critically injuring innocent victims.  One of the victims is a terrible, terrible situation. Died, 51-year-old American named Rocky Jones.  Rocky was at a gas station when this vile criminal fired eight bullets at him from close range, murdering him in cold blood.

Rocky left behind a devoted family including his brothers, who loved him more than anything else in the world.  One of his grieving brothers is here with us tonight.  Jody, would you please stand? Jody, thank you.
 
Jody, our hearts weep for your loss and we will not rest until you have justice.  Senator Thom Tillis has introduced legislation to allow Americans like Jody to sue sanctuary cities and states when a loved one is hurt or killed as a result of these deadly practices. I ask Congress to pass the Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act immediately.  The United States of America should be a sanctuary for law-abiding Americans, not criminal aliens.”

Nancy Pelosi pretended to be combing through the printed version of the speech and did not clap.

Continuing to highlight his administration’s achievements of the past year, President Trump made mention of the night that U.S Special Forces killed ISIS leader, al-Baghdadi. The parents of murdered aid-worker, Kayla Mueller, cried in the audience as her father held up a large photograph of her youthful face. President Trump said:

“We are joined this evening by Carl and Marsha Mueller.  After graduating from college, their beautiful daughter Kayla became a humanitarian aid worker.  She once wrote, “Some people find God in church, some people find God in nature, some people find God in love.  I find God in suffering.  I’ve known for some time what my life’s work is.  Using my hands as tools to relieve suffering.” In 2013, while caring for suffering civilians in Syria, Kayla was kidnapped, tortured and enslaved by ISIS, and kept as a prisoner of al-Baghdadi himself. After more than 500 horrifying days of captivity, al-Baghdadi murdered young, beautiful Kayla.  She was just 26 years old.

On the night that U.S. Special Forces operations ended al-Baghdadi’s miserable life, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley received a call in the situation room.  He was told that the brave men of the elite special forces team that so perfectly carried out the operation had given their mission a name: Task Force 814.  It was a reference to a special day, August 14, Kayla’s birthday.  Carl and Marsha, America’s warriors never forgot Kayla, and neither will we.  Thank you.”

Nancy Pelosi made it onto her tottering feet to give a little clap.

We’ve all seen politicians speak in the House about ideas and policies, but President Trump has an extraordinary ability to connect those ideas and policies with the powerful human drama that is the everyday result of them.  

In a beautiful example of this, he singled out one of America’s many stoic wives and mothers – Amy Williams, a mother who works full-time and volunteers to help out other military wives, all while raising her two small children as their father serves in Afghanistan on his fourth deployment:

“Amy’s kids haven’t seen their father’s face in many months.  Amy, your family’s sacrifice makes it possible for all of our families to live in safety and in peace, and we want to thank you. Thank you, Amy. But Amy, there is one more thing. Tonight we have a very special surprise. I am thrilled to inform you that your husband is back from deployment.  He is here with us tonight, and we couldn’t keep him waiting any longer.”

To a heartfelt applause by the House, Sergeant Townsend Williams trotted down the stairs to embrace his family – the ubiquitous tears and spontaneous chants of “USA! USA!” were undeniably moving. Most of both sides of the House applauded – even Nancy Pelosi as she buffered the emotion off by pretending to comb through the copy of the speech (again). 

Continuing his address in this spirit of unbridled hero worship, President Trump proudly celebrated America as a “land of heroes,” reminding the audience with soaring words about the people who have made this country’s legacy – Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Amelia Earhart, Harriet Tubman, the Wright brothers, Neil Armstrong “and so many more.” 

“This is our glorious and magnificent inheritance. We are Americans. We are pioneers. We are the pathfinders. We settled the New World. We built the modern world. And we changed history forever by embracing the eternal truth that everyone is made equal by the hand of almighty God.

America is the place where anything can happen. America is the place where anyone can rise. And here on this land, on this soil, on this continent, the most incredible dreams come true.  This nation is our canvas, and this country is our masterpiece. We look at tomorrow and see unlimited frontiers, just waiting to be explored. Our brightest discoveries are not yet known.  Our most thrilling stories are not yet told. Our grandest journeys are not yet made.

The American age, the American epic, the American adventure has only just begun. Our spirit is still young. The sun is still rising. God’s grace is still shining. And my fellow Americans, the best is yet to come.  

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless America.  Thank you very much.”

As the House rose to its feet to applaud these magnificent words, including Nancy Pelosi, she then chose this highly visible moment, this note of providential celebration in honour of America’s abiding and inspirational greatness, to make a show of tearing up the speech for the entire country to witness.
 
For whom did Pelosi do this recklessly contemptuous act? AOC in absentia – the future, female, wannabe leader of the Democratic party who is famously on record for hating America (calling it “garbage”) even more than she does?
 
All the wonderful, written words about these people the president had just mentioned and honoured, including some whom Pelosi had deigned to applaud herself, were consciously tossed onto the desk, torn and discarded by her own two hands in front of the cameras.

For writers like me who have been making the case that the Left hates America and despises its great legacy, this was a moment of absolute vindication that we have charlatans like Pelosi squarely pegged accurately. “America?!” The Dems have been shrieking, “Just rip it up!  It’s worthless!”

Political drama doesn’t get much better than this.

For the clarity of the yawning divide now openly and undeniably evidenced, thank you President Trump! There are those who love America and those who utterly despise everything it stands for. Pelosi just showed the whole world where she and her party stand.

President Trump just made history again, for the good. Pelosi just made it too, by aiding the spectacular suicide of the Democratic party.


If you enjoyed this article, please buy my book "Western Values Defended: A Primer"
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By Olivia Pierson
First published on Insight@theBFD 30/01/2020

President Trump’s ambitious plan to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has resulted in the laying out a detailed road map for a prosperous Palestinian society.  It relies on the vision of a two-state solution, something which Netanyahu had lost faith in.

The Peace to Prosperity 181-page document is endorsed by both Bibi Netanyahu and his political rival Benny Gantz, regardless of which one wins the upcoming legislative elections in March. 

Unlike the plan laid out during the famous Oslo Accords in 1993, this peace plan directly addresses important topics such as borders, security, refugees and Jerusalem. The plan is concrete, practical, respectful of long-standing differences and requires strong concessions from both sides. 

The Oslo Accords, however, left numerous key issues unresolved pending the completion of permanent status negotiations, including, among other items, borders, security, refugees and Jerusalem. Those agreements did not create an effective path for neutralizing the kinds of crises that emerged during the implementation of Oslo, including waves of terror and violence. Many intelligent and dedicated people have devoted lifetimes in search of the “ultimate deal,” but what is required, a comprehensive agreement has been elusive, and waves of terror and violence have set back the process significantly. Only a comprehensive agreement, coupled with a strong economic plan for the Palestinians and others, has the capacity to bring lasting peace to the parties.
[‘Peace to Prosperity,’ Introduction, page 3]

Highly aware that many people in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank largely benefit from the status quo, therefore will remain opposed to the deal, the United States seeks to facilitate a solution and has collected ideas from around the world, compiled them and proposed recommendations they believe are realistic to affect a resolution to the long-standing conflict. Although other ‘well-meaning’ countries and organisations have made some input, the U.S is resigned to the reality that only the Israelis and Palestinians themselves can forge a lasting peace together by working out the final, specific details.
 
What are the key concessions in this proposed plan for peace?

• – Gaza must be fully demilitarised and remain so
• – Palestinian terrorism must be abandoned and a new government installed (not Hamas)
• – Israel will grant land swaps comparable with the pre-1967 borders of West Bank and Gaza
• – A four-year Israeli settlement freeze on construction
• – A road to link Gaza and the West Bank
• – Borders for a Palestinian State
• – Jerusalem to remain undivided as it is
• – All holy sites to remain under Israeli stewardship 
• – A Palestinian capital in east Jerusalem
• – A four-year time frame to accept these borders
• – All Israeli captives and the remains of Israeli soldiers must be returned to Israel.

On an economic level, the proposal paints a strong and optimistic “vision” for the future in the “Trump Economic Plan” for Palestine, which is apportioned into three major initiatives. It doesn’t come much better than having a businessman as competent as the U.S president to help construct your economy from the bottom up – especially considering the economic boom America is currently experiencing.
 
The first initiative will unleash the economic potential of the Palestinian people. By developing property and contract rights, the rule of law, anti-corruption measures, capital markets, a pro-growth tax structure, and a low-tariff scheme with reduced trade barriers, this initiative envisions policy reforms coupled with strategic infrastructure investments that will improve the business environment and stimulate private-sector growth. Hospitals, schools, homes, and businesses will secure reliable access to affordable electricity, clean water, and digital services. Billions of dollars of new investment will flow into various sectors of the Palestinian economy. Businesses will have increased access to capital, and the markets of the West Bank and Gaza will be connected with key trading partners, including Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Lebanon. The resulting economic growth has the potential to end the current unemployment crisis and transform the West Bank and Gaza into a center of opportunity.

The second initiative will empower the Palestinian people to realize their ambitions. Through new data-driven, outcomes-based education options at home, expanded online education platforms, increased vocational and technical training, and the prospect of international exchanges, this initiative will enhance and expand a variety of programs that directly improve the well-being of the Palestinian people. It will strengthen the Palestinian educational system and ensure that students can fulfill their academic goals and be prepared for the workforce.

The third initiative will enhance Palestinian governance, improving the public sector’s ability to serve its citizens and enable private-sector growth. This initiative will support the public sector in undertaking the improvements and reforms necessary to achieve long-term economic success. A commitment to upholding property rights, improving the legal and regulatory framework for businesses, adopting a growth-oriented, enforceable tax structure, and developing robust capital markets will increase exports and foreign direct investment. A fair and independent judicial branch will ensure this pro-growth environment is protected and that civil society flourishes. New systems and policies will help bolster government transparency and accountability. International partners will work to eliminate the Palestinian public sector’s donor dependency and put the Palestinians on a trajectory to achieve long-term fiscal sustainability. Institutions will be modernized and made more efficient to facilitate the most effective delivery of essential services for the citizens. With the support of the Palestinian leadership, this initiative can usher in a new era of prosperity and opportunity for the Palestinian people and institutionalize the policies required for successful economic transformation. 
[‘Peace to Prosperity’, Section 6, The Trump Economic Plan, pages 19-20]

This is what the Palestinians could and should have been doing since the 1970s.

There are still those who claim that a two-state solution can never work for Israel and a return to pre-1967 borders is a dangerous status quo for the Jewish state to aspire to.
 
I have written before about the Palestinians in very unflattering tones befitting their leaders’ constant rejections of any peace deal in the past which would have seen them as a nation create, instead of destroy.
 
Here were Yasser Arafat’s words to Oriana Fallaci in 1972 when she asked him about a peace deal during an interview: 

“We won’t accept it. Never! We will continue to make war on Israel by ourselves until we get Palestine back.  The end of Israel is the goal of our struggle and it allows for neither compromise nor mediation.” 

And that’s the same mindset that Trump, Netanyahu and Gantz are still up against.  


If you enjoyed this article, please buy my book "Western Values Defended: A Primer"
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