Impeachment, Budget, Mideast: Don't Miss These!

“The impeachment trial of Donald J. Trump is coming down to one big question: Will Democrats, by crying wolf, drown out the more legitimate Republican cry of foul? ‘Foul’ has served as the GOP’s most powerful and honest argument from the first days of these impeachment maneuverings,” Kimberly Strassel writes in The Wall Street Journal.

“Democrats broke every standard of due process, transparency and fairness in their House investigation, making a mockery of their constitutional duty.” 
  • “They hid the identity of the original accuser, denying Republicans and the country the ability to judge his motives.”
     
  • “They held secret depositions, barring more than three-quarters of House members, as well as the press and the American public.”
     
  • “They called 18 witnesses, but blocked the president from calling any in his defense.”
     
  • “The White House legal team was excluded from the proceedings—prohibited from cross-examining witnesses, denied the ability to introduce any evidence that spoke to the central question of the president’s focus on Ukrainian corruption.”
The kicker: In the end, “Democrats approved two articles of impeachment that failed to identify a crime.”

Click here to read more.
“President Donald Trump will propose a $42 million budget increase in February to expand support for victims of human trafficking and to boost investigations and prosecutions.” The funding is part of a push by Ivanka Trump to bring more attention to the illegal trade, Michael Wilner reports for McClatchy DC
“After joining the administration, one of the first assignments I was given by President Trump was to develop a plan to resolve the decades-old Israel-Palestinian conflict. I am pleased to say that, after three years of work, we have made a breakthrough,” Senior Advisor to the President Jared Kushner writes for CNN
“Democrats have accused President Donald Trump of using the government to go after his political opponents, yet they are doing the very same thing right now on the floor of the U.S. Senate. They have wrongly weaponized the U.S. Constitution in order to go after their political opponent, President Trump. Does their hypocrisy have no shame?” Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) write for Fox News.  

He's Honored For Leadership on Vital Issue . . .

New Jersey State Senator Joe Pennacchio was honored as a 2020 Advocacy Champion by the New Jersey Coalition Against Human Trafficking (NJCAHT).

Formed in 2011, the NJCAHT is a non-profit comprised of 180 unique groups, including faith-based organizations, government agencies, academics, and law enforcement, who stand united against human trafficking.

Sen. Joe Pennacchio was honored as an Advocacy Champion by the NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking. (SenateNJ.com)
“Human trafficking is modern day slavery, and it’s happening today, right here in New Jersey,” said Pennacchio (R-26). “By staying alert and informed of red flags, we can help those who are trapped and prevent innocent people from falling victim to this heinous crime. Working together on a bipartisan basis, the New Jersey Legislature can help end this exploitation and provide survivors the support they need.”

In the prior legislative session, Pennacchio co-sponsored three legislative initiatives to combat human trafficking. His bill to require the NJ Department of Education to create guidelines for schools to raise students awareness of child trafficking and how to prevent child trafficking was signed into law by the Governor.
  • A-1428 (Now Law): This bill requires the Department of Education, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Children and Families, to develop and distribute to school districts guidelines concerning child trafficking.
  • S-540: Known as the “Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act,” this anti-exploitation bill would make it a crime to manufacture or sell a product that makes content accessible on the Internet unless the product contains digital blocking capabilities that renders obscene materials inaccessible.
  • S-3678: This bill would create a process for a human trafficking victim that would expunge all arrests and charges for crimes committed while that person was a victim of human trafficking.

Thursday, January 30, 2020

Could This Be The Dawn Of A Whole New Era?



This is not the best video of New Jersey State Senator Mike Testa's comments at the Trump rally in Wildwood Tuesday night but it does at least give you some idea of the guy's command of the spotlight and his ability to hold a crowd's attention even in the midst of all the hoopla of a Trump rally.
Senator Testa is a rising star in the New Jersey Republican Party (he's a rising star in New Jersey, period) but not just because he and his running mates have flipped a big, important state legislative district from blue to red. It's Testa's apparent smarts, his good instincts, his attentiveness and his mere presence that seem to be causing all the excitement.
He looks and acts like someone who brings Big Expectations with him.
He's a young, fresh face who telegraphs determination, conviction, even daring.
This is just the sort of tonic the New Jersey GOP could use right now. It's no accident that Testa was chosen to chair the Trump campaign in the state (along with the astute Senator Joe Pennacchio) or that he was picked to speak at the rally.
Let's put it this way: Testa is his own brand and he transmits his own style everywhere he goes. We can already see it happening. People naturally reach out to him and he responds warmly, spontaneously. In Italian, we say a person like this has brio. The word defines a special sort of vivacity, a liveliness, a unique energy.
Many people believe that what we're witnessing now with Testa and his followers could be the dawn of a new day for New Jersey, beginning in the south and sweeping through the state.
Or, as they might say in Testa's hometown of Vineland: Il buon giorno si vede dal mattino!





Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Hey, Everybody - Is That REALLY Brad Pitt?





Look at these photos of Brad Pitt getting his name tag pinned on at the recent luncheon for Oscar nominees sponsored by the Academy for Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
And then, there's Brad walking around with his name tag like some kind of everyday, ordinary conventioneer. "Hi, my name is Brad -- what's yours?"
Ya just gotta admire Brad, yes?  He's not just the definition of a star (something all-too-rare in Hollywood these days) but  a damned good sport as well.
And ya gotta love his career's recent resurgence and the great work he's done in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood.
Small wonder that he's a favorite to win this year's Oscar -- and, overdue and well-deserved on all counts don't ya  think?

WOW! Bolton Says Calls In Question 'Warm, Cordial'

Actually, This Simply Strengthens Our Resolve!



Still Wondering Who Was Responsible For THIS



For those of you who may have wondered why the Dan Cirucci Blog was not at the Trump Wildwood rally live, we are compelled to report that sadly and inexplicably, we were DENIED a media pass.
Yes, we were DENIED media entry at the 11th hour -- effectively locked out and left with nowhere to turn.
Imagine our nationally-recognized conservative blog (with more than three million page views) put in this position.
Let's be clear: The Dan Cirucci Blog pioneered GOP/conservative advocacy on social media.
In fact, we were here long before others, championing the candidacies of countless GOP aspirants for more than 12 years and through three hard-fought presidential campaigns. 
We've been tireless and relentless and have never missed a single day of blogging, with more than 21,000 posts published.
For the record, we were one of the first to support candidate Trump soon after he tossed his hat into the ring and were regularly granted access to Trump campaign events including his landmark address on national secuirty at Philadelphia's Union League in 2016. And yes, we were one of the conservative voices that convinced others to come aboard the Trump Train. 
So, how is it that we were left out?
We don't know. We can't get an answer. Our repeated inquiries to the campaign have failed to generate a  response. For now, we'll try to be  generous and simply blame this on inattentive staffers.
But, think about this: We were left out while other anti-Trump media reps were welcomed. 
OK, there was a high demand for entree to the venue. We get it. But we  were one of the first to submit a request and we take up very little room. What's more, shouldn't advocacy and loyalty count for something? And why leave us guessing to the end and then turn us away after it was too late for us to pursue other feasible means of gaining entry?
Well, you can be sure of one thing  -- this will not deter us!
We will continue to fight the good fight for the GOP/conservative cause (and for President Trump) even as we fight for well-earned recognition.
The Dan Cirucci Blog has been lauded by Rush Limbaugh.
We've been recognized by CPAC.
Our opinion pieces have appeared at Real Clear Politics, Lucianne.com, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News and the Courier Post, among others.
We've guested with radio talkers Dom Giordano, Chris Stigall and regularly with Christine Flowers.
Governor Chris Christie has singled us out as his favorite blog and called us "one of New Jersey's great political observers." And we've never, ever been turned away from a Christie event. 😉
Our TV Show, The Advocates, has welcomed GOP congressional, senatorial and gubernatorial candidates.
We've been quoted by the New York Times and the Associated Press.
And what other outlet brings a lifetime of seasoned commentary to the game the way we do?
Botton line: We've earned our stripes!
So, we're serving notice right now. You can love us or hate us but you ignore us at your own peril!

Tuesday, January 28, 2020

An Historic Day - In Many, Many Ways . . .

President Trump’s legal team wrapped up its case against House Democrats’ dangerous and weak Articles of Impeachment today, telling senators they should leave the right of choosing a President to the American people.

“What they are asking you to do is to throw out a successful president on the eve of an election with no basis and in violation of the Constitution,” White House Counsel Pat Cipollone said. “It would . . . weaken, weaken forever all of our democratic institutions.”

 WATCHDemocrats in their own words, circa 1998

The first partisan impeachment in U.S. history came with a lot of bluster and distractions from Democrats and the media. Here are the 10 things that really matter: 
  • Democrats aren’t just trying to remove President Trump from office—they want to remove him from the ballot. Their Articles of Impeachment would bar him from holding “any Office of honor, trust, or profit under the United States.”
     
  • Investigating corruption in Ukraine, including potential conflicts of interest involving Hunter Biden and Burisma, is not “baseless,” as Democrats claim. Even the Obama State Department had concerns. So did ABC News and others.
     
  • House Democrats’ sham investigation was unauthorized and unconstitutional. A President defending his due-process rights is called separation of powers, not “Obstruction of Congress.”
  • For Democrats, impeachment was always a goal in search of an excuse. Once the Russia collusion hoax failed, they found another excuse within months.
  • Speaker Nancy Pelosi called impeachment a matter of “urgent” national security. Then she followed the fastest impeachment in history with the longest delay.
  • Under House Democrats’ new bar for impeachment, at least 20 former Presidentswould’ve been removed from office, including George Washington.
  • Rep. Adam Schiff wants the Senate to do the House’s job for it and investigate. The House didn’t even bother to subpoena witnesses such as former National Security Adviser John Bolton that they now claim are crucial to hear.
  • Even Democrats’ own called witnesses testified that President Trump’s policy of lethal defense aid toward Ukraine is stronger than under President Obama.
  • The do-nothing Democrats keep putting politics first and the American people second. But President Trump is working hard and keeping his promises.
  • You don’t need to listen to secondhand sources: You can read the transcript!
“All you need in this case is the Constitution and your common sense,” Cipollone says. 

Photo of the Day 



Official White House photo by Shealah Craighead


President Trump joins Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to unveil the Trump Administration's Middle East peace plan | January 28, 2020

Monday, January 27, 2020

Well, This Is VERY Timely And Insightful . . .

A VERY Special Message From Kate Gibbs . . .

From Kate Gibbs, candidate for Congress, NJ District 3:

"Anyone who thinks they can push me around doesn’t know anything about #SouthJersey women. I was raised by a single mom who taught me how to stand up for myself and never back down from a challenge. To our party leaders who like to talk about empowering and supporting young Republican women to run and serve, well, here I am. The ball is in your court.

"I’ve worked at the grassroots level for years to elect Republicans in South Jersey, was the youngest elected Freeholder Director in the state, cut taxes every year I was in office, and am proud to be a leader for the state building trades. I’m not stepping aside for anybody. Especially not a seat shopper who apparently believes he's entitled to party support — somewhere, anywhere. My motivation for running isn't to wear a pin and get a title; I am running to serve the people of Burlington and Ocean Counties and I intend to win."  #NJ3 #TeamKate

Never Forget; Remember Forever; Never Again!



This is Holocaust Remembrance Day in honor of the Six Million.
On this day 75 years ago, Auschwitz was liberated by the allied forces.

Sunday, January 26, 2020

US, Ukraine, Russia, Germany Top Blog Visits

Pageviews by Countries - Week of 1/19

351,983
EntryPageviews
United States
1983
Ukraine
943
Russia
328
Unknown Region
146
Germany
82
Canada
77
Poland
71
France
50
United Kingdom
41
Netherlands
35