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Everything said about President Trumps Muslim ban is a lie including that its a Muslim ban.

The New York Times wore out its thesaurus denouncing the order: cruelty injury suffering bigoted, cowardly, self-defeating breathtaking inflammatory callousness and indifference and thats from a single editorial!

Amid the hysteria over this prudent pause in refugee admissions from seven countries whose principal export is dynamite vests, it has been indignantly claimed that its illegal for our immigration policies to discriminate on the basis of religion.

This is often said by journalists who are only in America because of immigration policies that discriminated on the basis of religion.

For much of the last half-century, Soviet Jews were given nearly automatic entry to the U.S. as refugees. Entering as a refugee confers all sorts of benefits unavailable to other immigrants, including loads of welfare programs, health insurance, job placement services, English language classes and the opportunity to apply for U.S. citizenship after only five years.

Most important, though, Soviet Jews were not required to satisfy the United Nations definition of a refugee, to wit: someone fleeing persecution based on race, religion or national origin. They just had to prove they were Jewish.

This may have been good policy, but lets not pretend the Jewish exception was not based on religion.

If a temporary pause on refugee admissions from seven majority-Muslim countries constitutes targeting Muslims, then our immigration policy targeted Christians for discrimination for about 30 years.

Never heard a peep from the ACLU about religious discrimination back then!

According to the considered opinion of the Cato Institutes David J. Bier, writing in The New York Times, Trumps executive order is illegal because the 1965 immigration act banned all discrimination against immigrants on the basis of national origin.

In 1966, one year after the 1965 immigration act, immigrants from Cuba suddenly got special immigration privileges. In 1986, immigrants from Ireland did. People from Vietnam and Indochina got special immigration rights for 20 years after the end of the Vietnam War.

The 1965 law, quite obviously, did not prohibit discrimination based on national origin.(I was wondering why the Times would sully its pages with the legal opinion of a Grove City College B.A., like Bier! Any expert in a storm, I guess.)

In fact, ethnic discrimination is practically the hallmark of Americas immigration policy in addition to our perverse obsession with admitting the entire Third World.

Commenting on these ethnic boondoggles back in 1996, Sen. Orrin Hatch said: We have made a mockery of refugee law, because of politics and pressure. We let in one ethnic group out of compassion, and then they form an ethnic power bloc to demand that all their fellow countrymen be let in, too.

As the former Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, described diversity in Der Spiegel: In multiracial societies, you dont vote in accordance with your economic interests and social interests, you vote in accordance with race and religion.

Thats our immigration policy plus a healthy dose of Emma Lazarus insane idea that all countries of the world should send their losers to us. (Thanks, Emma!)

Americans are weary of taking in these pricey Third World immigrants, who show their gratitude by periodically erupting in maniacal violence in, for example, San Bernardino, Orlando, New York City, Fort Hood, Boston, Chattanooga, Bowling Green and St. Cloud.

The Muslim immigrants currently being showcased by the left are not likely to change any minds. The Times could produce only 11 cases of temporarily blocked immigrants that the newspaper would even dare mention. (Imagine what the others are like!)

For purposes of argument, I will accept the Times glowing descriptions of these Muslim immigrants as brilliant scientists on the verge of curing cancer. (Two of the Times 11 cases actually involved cancer researchers.)

n Point one: If the Times thinks that brilliance is a desirable characteristic in an immigrant, why cant we demand that of all our immigrants?

To the contrary! Our immigration policy is more likely to turn away the brilliant scientist in order to make room for an Afghani goat herder, whose kid runs a coffee stand until deciding to bomb the New York City subway one day.(That was Najibullah Zazi, my featured Immigrant of the Week, on May 1, 2012.)

n Point two: I happened to notice that even the stellar Muslim immigrants dug up by the Times seem to bring a lot of elderly and sickly relatives with them. Guess who gets to support them?

House Speaker Paul Ryans driving obsession (besides being the Koch brothers lickspittle)is entitlement reform, i.e., cutting benefits or raising the retirement age for Social Security and Medicare.

I have another idea. How about we stop bringing in immigrants who immediately access government programs, who bring in elderly parents who immediately access government programs, or who run vast criminal enterprises, stealing millions of dollars from government programs?

n Point three: Contrary to emotional blather about the horrors refugees are fleeing, a lot are just coming to visit their kids or to get free health care. One of the Times baby seals an Iraqi with diabetes and a respiratory ailment was returning from performing his responsibilities as an elected official in Kirkuk.

Thats not exactly fleeing the Holocaust.

While its fantastic news that most Muslim refugees arent terrorists, the downside is: Theyre not refugees, theyre not brilliant, they dont have a constitutional right to come here and theyre very, very expensive. Until politicians can give us more government services for less money, they need to stop bringing in the poor of the world on our dime.

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ANN COULTER: Give me your tired arguments - St. Augustine Record

European Union President Donald Tusk's diplomatic bombshell listed the Trump administration as a threat alongside China, Russia, terrorism and radical Islam, adding that "worrying declarations by the new American administration all make our future highly unpredictable."

"The change in Washington puts the European Union in a difficult situation; with the new administration seeming to put into question the last 70 years of American foreign policy," Tusk said in a letter to EU members.

The astonishing break from diplomatic practice stems from reasons that range from the personal to the broadly geopolitical.

Tusk's stark description about a close ally of seven decades reflects deep unease about President Donald Trump's take on European institutions. He's called NATO "obsolete," dismissed the 28-member EU as a "vehicle for Germany" and publicly said he's had "a very bad experience" with the EU as a businessman.

There is concern that Trump's comments will not only undermine the EU, but benefit Russia, which would prefer a weakened NATO and a strained Europe-US alliance.

And then there is deep wariness about Trump's chief strategist Stephen Bannon -- not just because of his anti-EU views and influence on the President but because his website Breitbart News is looking to expand into Europe. Diplomats said there's concern the site's cocktail of fake news and conspiracies could impact upcoming European elections.

"Tusk's letter speaks to one challenge Europeans see -- Trump's skepticism," said Fran Burwell, a distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council. "But there's another challenge in Bannon," who is close to populist European politicians such as France's Marion le Pen and her aunt Marine, leader of the National Front.

While some experts champion a move away from the EU and multilateral organizations, many diplomats and analysts said the new US administration seems to be trying to rewrite the terms of the US-EU alliance in ways that are potentially destabilizing.

Tusk's "dramatic language is something you wouldn't expect. It's extremely worrying, but I can see why. Trump's policies to the EU are completely unprecedented," said Stefan Lehne, a former EU diplomat from Austria now with Carnegie Europe. "Every Brit and European was socialized to expect the US to lead on every international crisis. Now you have a US president who wouldn't mind at all if the EU fell apart."

Lehne notes that Tusk's statement comes as the EU faces Russian assertiveness, a refugee crisis, rising populist movements in Europe, and critical elections in France, the Netherlands and possibly Italy.

"There's a lot at stake and all these negative dynamics amount to a crisis. Tusk seems to feel if all this comes together, if the EU doesn't come together, it will come apart. It is really a difficult moment."

Burwell describes it as "really earth shattering for many. It's a fundamental challenge."

Nile Gardiner of the Heritage Foundation agreed it's a "sea change," but sees it as a positive.

"The old arguments in favor of European integration no longer apply," he said. "The winds of change are sweeping through Europe with a drive toward sovereignty, self-determination, decentralization of power. Donald Tusk is in a state of denial as to the trajectory in which Europe is moving. President Trump has a better understanding."

Trump shows little love for the EU, saying at a Friday press conference with British Prime Minister Theresa May that he had a "very bad experience" in which "getting the approvals from Europe was very, very tough." Trump seemed to be referring to an EU ruling against a wall he wanted to build at an Irish golf course he owns because it would endanger protected snails.

The State Department referred requests for comment about Tusk's letter to the White House, which did not respond. The EU mission to the US said Tusk's letter speaks for itself.

In that letter inviting member states to a meeting on Friday, Tusk said, "We cannot surrender to those who want to weaken or invalidate the Transatlantic bond, without which global order and peace cannot survive. We should remind our American friends of their own motto: United we stand, divided we fall."

Derek Chollet, a senior adviser for security and defense at the German Marshall Fund, said a divided Europe and a weaker US-Europe relationship could make it harder for the US to find partners to work with -- particularly on global security issues -- there could be economic fallout that hurts US businesses, and it could leave Russia "empowered and getting everything it wants -- a US divided from Europe and an EU that is weakened and perhaps breaking apart -- without having to do anything. "

"To the extent that Trump seeks to undermine or weaken the EU, that benefits Russia," said Chollet. "This is a softball pitch over the plate to (Russian President) Vladimir Putin."

Gardiner, of the Heritage Foundation, said Russia would prefer to deal with a weak EU than individual countries. "Sovereign nations can do more than the lowest common denominator," Gardiner said.

Burwell added that one of May's messages for Trump was a request not to weaken the EU. "They are cooperating very strongly with Europe, the EU, in terms of sharing intelligence -- when she was Home Secretary she was central to that," said Burwell, "so the message was 'we're leaving but we still want them strong.' "

While the administration hasn't yet articulated a policy that would actively undermine the EU, Chollet said, "the fact that Trump has embraced people like Nigel Farage," the leader of the Brexit movement "who seeks to undermine the EU, and that advisers like Steve Bannon are on the rise, it's leaving Europeans asking questions whether the US is a reliable ally."

Several diplomats said anxiety is running high in Europe, with leaders quietly advising people to wait, avoid commenting on every Trump tweet, and see what the US actually does.

Lehne, the former EU diplomat, said that there might be a shift in tone coming. He pointed out that it's still so early in the Trump administration that the President doesn't yet have in place a full Cabinet that might reflect broader and less ideological views.

Leone said he was "quite sure" that former ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson, the nominee for secretary of state, "has a different view of international cooperation than Mr. Trump himself. Trump will have to work with his Cabinet, Lehne said, "and he'll have to listen to them to some extent. What we've seen in this week is probably misleading because it expresses the views of a very small circle around him and not reflective of the larger group."

One reality check, analysts and diplomats said, might be the EU's strength as a trade bloc. It represents a market that is currently larger than the US and without the UK, will only be slightly smaller. Lehne said the economic underpinning of the EU makes it more resilient than some people realize, as transnational supply lines and free movement act as a powerful unifier.

And it may bring the US business community into the conversation on behalf of the EU, Burwell said.

"If you talk to US companies, the idea that the EU might break apart and you may have to deal with 28 different countries -- there's no way," she said. "If you don't think the EU is important, just ask these tech companies that look at Europe as a super regulator on issues they care about like privacy."

If Trump tries to make bilateral trade deals with member states, he'll run into a legal roadblock, said one diplomat, because trade negotiations have to be done through the EU capital in Brussels.

Going forward, Lehne said he thinks Trump may simply try to avoid dealing much with EU leaders like Tusk. "He's clearly going to talk to the capitals of the bigger states and if he runs into difficulties will try to play one off the other," Lehne said.

See the rest here:
European Union president trashes Trump as 'threat ...

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Link:
The European Union tries to prevent a wave of migrants from Libya - The Economist

Mr Wilders would be likely to take the country out of the bloc, Marine Le Pen the Front National leader would be likely to follow suit, leaving Germany faced with the prospect of funding the cash hole.

The PVV leader has been placed first in the polls with 31 per cent of the vote, a month before the Dutch elections.

If Mr Wilders does pull off a shock win, it could pave the way for the far right leader, Marine Le Pen to come to victory in France in May.

SHUTTERSTOCK*GETTY

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I think that the EU could survive just about with Britain leaving, but a Dutch departure would be a killer blow as they were part of the original six

Director General at Institute of Economic Affairs, Mark Littlewood

This would leave Angela Merkels country as the only substantial economy left standing in the crumbling bloc, leaving the Chancellor to fund the giant 35billion-a-year cash hole of three countries with stable economies leaving the European Union.

Annually, France pays the EU 16.4 billion, The Netherlands 5 billion and the UK 16 billion

Economists also believe that if France and the Netherlands were to leave the bloc, then the other countries would be left questioning themselves why they are still members and bring the whole EU tumbling down.

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Director General at Institute of Economic Affairs, Mark Littlewood, said: The pinch on Germany would get greater.

I think that the EU could survive just about with Britain leaving, but a Dutch departure would be a killer blow as they were part of the original six.

It would lose its credibility and begin to unravel and would send greater shock waves politically.

He added: Theoretically the Germans could afford it.

It would depend on the patience of the German electorate, there is political evidence that the patience is wearing thin."

Chancellor Merkel's popularity has plummeted as the support for the anti EU party, Alternative for Germany, is riding high in the polls.

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France and the Netherlands were two of the six founding members of the EU, along with Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and Italy.

The economist said that if a country like the Netherlands left, it would have more chance of creating a domino effect on other countries than Brexit would have, as it has been part of the project since the beginning.

He said: You could say that the UK was not committed to the project.

But, with Netherlands and France, it will start to put into question whether the EU will have to completely alter in its present state.

In January, at a meeting of far-right leaders in Koblenz, Germany, Mr Wilders said: Yesterday a new America, today Koblenz and tomorrow a new Europe.

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Mr Wilders promises include imposing border controls, stopping Islamic Sharia law and sending home migrants who reject Dutch values or commit crimes.

Neil MacKinnon, from Economists for Brexit, said: Germany would struggle, the question is whether the taxpayer would take on an open ended cheque.

Germany does not want to bail the rest of the EU out. There are economic problems in the EU, debt in Italy, whether they are willing to pay is a massive issue.

The EUs shelf life is diminishing by the day.

When you have just a few countries footing the bill, there would be voter resistance, there would be a push back against it.

Mr Mackinnon thinks that this black hole in EU funding is a big issue in Brussels, especially for Germany in their election year.

He said that once the Netherlands and France leave, the big question for the remaining countries will be, why should we stay in the EU now?

He added: If Germany had to pay an open-ended cheque to the EU, there could be a voter revolt, it could be a case of cant pay, wont pay.

Mr Mackinnon believes that the EU was an economic project doomed to failure and voters are pushing back in support of countries leaving.

Read the original:
Geert Wilders victory in Dutch elections could be end for European ... - Express.co.uk

Gary Cohn, director of President Donalds Trump National Economic Council, has made a rather interesting statement. Weve been told we need deregulation to grow jobs in this country. We are not anti-regulation. We want smart regulation that allows our financial services to be the envy of the world, he said.

In simple words, Cohns statement means, In the US, regulation on banks will be reduced. At the same, in the EU regulation on banks will be increased and that will be important for investors.

Its remarkable that when we look at statistics by the Federal Reserve of St. Louis inCommercial and Industrial Loans, All Commercial Banks,we see that at the moment total loans stand at $2.099 trillion and the ascending curve of the total amount is close to similar as the one we have seen in the run-up to the crisis from April 2004 to November 2008. The data are, in my opinion, food for thought.

Unsurprisingly, markets reacted positively on Friday with the S&P 500 Financials Index advancing 2 percent. Goldman Sachs rose 4.6 percent and Morgan Stanley reacted similarly with a plus of 5.5 percent, which was the biggest gain since the Trump election.

Besides that, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said European leaders may commit to a union of "different speeds" when they make a major declaration on its future at the next summit in Rome at the end of March, of course without Great Britain. That declaration of Rome should mark the 60th anniversary of the EU and in which they will have to set out the EUs post-Brexit roadmap.

If you ask me, yes this is important for long-term investors notwithstanding it got very little attention in the media.

Merkel said: We certainly learned from the history of the last years, that there will be as well a European Union with different speeds (!), that not all will participate every time in all steps of integration (!). I think this may be in the Rome declaration as well.

Merkel said the idea was to set out a plan for the next ten years of the EU, which has been buffeted by the Eurozone crisis, Brexit, migration, the Ukraine conflict and now faces a new challenge in the form of US President Donald Trump.

By the way, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, a group of the EU's founding members, also issued a statement on Friday backing a two-speed EU.

On March 25, we can expect a EU Declaration of Rome. Interestingly, the meeting in Rome will come just after the Dutch will have had their general elections on March 15.

Now, suppose the EU heads of state follow, which is to be expected, Mrs. Merkel idea that we could get a EU that should work at different speeds (!) because there is no other choice, then the legitimate question that arises is how could economies of the same union can perform well, not forgetting they all had their own currencies not so long ago, with a single currency whereby the euro has the same value for everybody?

We dont know if ECB PresidentMario Draghi hintedat something like Changes are in the air, but anyway in a prepared speech he gave last Thursday, which was before Mrs. Merkel comments, he stated: The euro area relied heavily on the notion that the integration process would itself create the incentives for sound policies. Faced with stronger competition through the single market and an inability to devalue, governments would be forced to address long-term structural problems and ensure fiscal sustainability. That this did not happen was in part because the single market process stalled

Finally, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble said in the German daily Tagesspiegel: The euro exchange rate is, strictly speaking, too low for the Germaneconomys competitive position.When Draghi embarked on the expansive monetary policy, I told him he would drive up Germanys export surplus...I promised then not to publicly criticize this policy course. But then I dont want to be criticized for the consequences ofthis policy.

Schaubles comments came after last week Peter Navarro, US President Donald Trumps top trade adviser, had toldthe Financial Timesthat Germany was exploiting the US and its EU partners by using a grossly undervalued euro to create a vast trade surplus.

Yes, it looks like there is some change in the air.

Etienne "Hans" Parisisis a bank economist who has advised global billionaires and governments on the financial markets and international investments.

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European Union at 'Different Speeds' May Thwart Long-Term Investors - Newsmax