{"id":69332,"date":"2019-04-18T21:32:19","date_gmt":"2019-04-19T01:32:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/?p=69332"},"modified":"2019-04-18T21:32:36","modified_gmt":"2019-04-19T01:32:36","slug":"the-daily-gouge-archive-wednesday-april-17th-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/?p=69332","title":{"rendered":"The Daily Gouge Archive, Wednesday, April 17th, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>It&#8217;s Wednesday, April 17th, 2019&#8230;but before we begin, though it fortunately appears damage to Notre Dame was not as extensive as initially feared&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/cross.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69217\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/cross.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"288\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/cross.png 400w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/cross-300x216.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8230;and efforts to restore one of the world&#8217;s most recognized landmarks are already underway, we remain deeply saddened by the devastation, accidental or otherwise, inflicted on this beautiful, iconic structure.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/notre-dame.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69233\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/notre-dame.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"259\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/notre-dame.png 400w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/notre-dame-300x194.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Still, we don&#8217;t know which was worse: the calamity itself&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/im-67059.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69154\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/im-67059.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"267\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/im-67059.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/im-67059-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/D4N5YJMXsAMP6ui.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69177\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/D4N5YJMXsAMP6ui.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/D4N5YJMXsAMP6ui.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/D4N5YJMXsAMP6ui-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/IM.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69156\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/IM.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"206\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/IM.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/IM-300x155.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/D4OACypX4AEdc61.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69178\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/D4OACypX4AEdc61.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/D4OACypX4AEdc61.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/D4OACypX4AEdc61-300x213.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8230;or The Donald&#8217;s tweet in response to the tragedy:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/1555353505_946_Trump-tweets-about-massive-fire-when-Notre-Dame-burns.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69216\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/1555353505_946_Trump-tweets-about-massive-fire-when-Notre-Dame-burns.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/1555353505_946_Trump-tweets-about-massive-fire-when-Notre-Dame-burns.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/1555353505_946_Trump-tweets-about-massive-fire-when-Notre-Dame-burns-300x129.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/42K3GPUYY7E?start=15\" width=\"420\" height=\"235\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><span data-mce-type=\"bookmark\" style=\"display: inline-block; width: 0px; overflow: hidden; line-height: 0;\" class=\"mce_SELRES_start\">\ufeff<\/span><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><strong>Seriously, when a simple, &#8220;America grieves with France in the tragic loss of this irreplaceable piece of history&#8221; <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>would\u00a0<\/em><em>have sufficed<\/em><\/span>, Trump felt obliged to not only offer Paris first-responders advice on <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>combatting<\/em><\/span> the blaze, but <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">urge them to haste<\/span><\/em>.\u00a0 This from a man whose only experience with fire has likely been lighting a cigar; he <em>literally<\/em>\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>cannot help himself<\/em><\/span>!!!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>In a related item&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/sports\/trump-to-give-tiger-woods-presidential-medal-of-freedom-after-masters-2019-win\" class=\"broken_link\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #008000; text-decoration: underline;\">Trump tweets he&#8217;ll give Tiger Woods Presidential Medal of Freedom after Masters 2019 win<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/download-13.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69155\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/download-13.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"216\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/download-13.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/download-13-300x162.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Holy &#8220;Birds of a Philandering Feather Flocking Together&#8221;, Batman!\u00a0 Hey, Tiger&#8217;s The Donald&#8217;s kind of guy.\u00a0 As Daniel Francis Feeney so insightfully noted, this is just another sign of where we&#8217;re at as a country; we&#8217;re not serious.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Now, here&#8217;s <em>The Gouge<\/em>!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>First up, courtesy of <em>NRO<\/em>, Dennis Prager casts the aforementioned conflagration in a different light:<\/strong><\/p>\n<header class=\"article-header article-header--full\" data-component=\"articleHeader\">\n<div class=\"article-header__inner\">\n<h1 class=\"article-header__title\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/2019\/04\/notre-dame-cathedral-fire-omen-europe\/?utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=NR%20Daily%20Monday%20through%20Friday%202019-04-16&amp;utm_term=NRDaily-Smart\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #ff9900; text-decoration: underline;\">The Omen of Notre Dame<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h1>\n<h3 class=\"article-header__title\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><a style=\"color: #333399;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/2019\/04\/notre-dame-cathedral-fire-omen-europe\/?utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=NR%20Daily%20Monday%20through%20Friday%202019-04-16&amp;utm_term=NRDaily-Smart\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Europe is burning, just as Notre Dame was<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/europe-in-flames.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69222\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/europe-in-flames.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"248\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/europe-in-flames.png 400w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/europe-in-flames-300x186.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span class=\"drop\">&#8220;T<\/span>he symbolism of the burning of Notre-Dame Cathedral, the most renowned building in Western civilization, the iconic symbol of Western Christendom, is hard to miss.<span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><strong> It is as if God Himself wanted to warn us in the most unmistakable way that Western Christianity is burning \u2014 and with it, Western civilization.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><strong>Every major Western (and one major non-Western) social and intellectual force has conspired to rid Europe of Christianity and the civilization it produced.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><strong>Within the Western world, the French Enlightenment \u2014 the intellectual basis of the French Revolution and the modern West \u2014 sought to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>replace Christianity<\/em><\/span>, and religion in general, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>with secularism rooted in reason<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #333399;\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>No God, Bible, or Ten Commandments<\/em><\/span> are necessary for morality or meaning: <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Reason<\/em><\/span> (and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>science<\/em><\/span>) will <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>replace<\/em><\/span> them.<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">The two final deathblows to Christianity in Europe were the world wars. World War I ended most Westerners\u2019 belief in the nation-state and the West. <span style=\"color: #333399;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ff9900;\">Christianity, already weakened by the Enlightenment, was <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>further<\/em><\/span> weakened by World War I.<\/span> German Christians were killing millions of French and English Christians, and French and English Christians were killing millions of German Christians.<\/strong><\/span> So the argument and sentiment against Christianity went.<span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"> <strong>Then World War II saw even more death on the Christian continent <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>as well as the failure of Catholic and Protestant churches in Nazi Germany to offer even minimal noncompliance with the Nazis\u2019 Jew-hatred<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #333399;\">&#8230;<strong>Even <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">without<\/span> tens of millions of Muslims, post-Christian Europe <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>has not produced a pretty picture<\/em><\/span>. <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\">This was <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>predicted in 1834<\/em><\/span>, a hundred years <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>before<\/em><\/span> Hitler\u2019s rise, by the great German poet Heinrich Heine, a secular Jew<\/span><\/strong><\/span> (who later converted to Protestantism, \u201cthe ticket of admission into European culture\u201d)<span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><strong>:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><p><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><em><strong>Christianity \u2014 and that is its greatest merit \u2014 has <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">somewhat mitigated<\/span> that <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">brutal German love of war<\/span>, but it could not <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">destroy<\/span> it.<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><strong>Should that subduing talisman, the cross, be shattered, the frenzied madness of the ancient warriors, that insane Berserk rage of which Nordic bards have spoken and sung so often, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">will once more burst into flame<\/span>.<\/strong><\/span> <strong>This talisman (the cross) is fragile, and the day will come when it will collapse miserably.<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Then<\/span>&#8230;a play will be performed in Germany <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">that will make the French Revolution look like an innocent idyll<\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><strong>European Christians persecuted European Jews, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>often<\/em><\/span> brutally. <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">But it took a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>post-Christian ideology<\/em><\/span>, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>secular Nazism<\/em><\/span>, to produce <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Auschwitz<\/span><\/em> \u2014 just as it took <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>post-Christian<\/em><em> Communism<\/em><\/span> to produce <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>the Gulag, the Chinese Cultural Revolution, and the Ukrainian and Cambodian genocides<\/em><\/span>.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ff9900;\">Moreover, Nazism and Communism aside, the Left\u2019s belief that secular reason can replace God and the Bible turns out to be <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>completely wrong<\/em><\/span>.<\/span> The <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>alleged<\/em><\/span> citadels of secular reason \u2014 the universities \u2014 <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>are the most irrational and morally confused institutions in the West<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">I don\u2019t know if a worker accident or a radical Muslim set fire to Notre Dame Cathedral (as they have to scores of other churches around Europe). <span style=\"color: #333399;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ff9900;\">In terms of what the fire represented, it doesn\u2019t much matter.<\/span> What <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>matters<\/em><\/span> is the omen: <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Europe is burning<\/em><\/span>, just as Notre Dame was.<\/strong><\/span>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Since we&#8217;re on the subject of infernos, as the great Victor Davis Hanson also records at <em>NRO<\/em>, while the EU may be afire, America isn&#8217;t far from bursting in flames:<\/strong><\/p>\n<header class=\"article-header article-header--full\" data-component=\"articleHeader\">\n<div class=\"article-header__inner\">\n<h1 class=\"article-header__title\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><a style=\"color: #333399;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/2019\/04\/progressive-revolution-ends-in-socialism\/?utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=NR%20Daily%20Monday%20through%20Friday%202019-04-16&amp;utm_term=NRDaily-Smart\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">The Progressive Revolution: From Democratic to Liberal to Progressive to Socialist<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n<h3 class=\"article-header__title\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span class=\"article-header__subtitle\" style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><a style=\"color: #ff6600;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nationalreview.com\/2019\/04\/progressive-revolution-ends-in-socialism\/?utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=NR%20Daily%20Monday%20through%20Friday%202019-04-16&amp;utm_term=NRDaily-Smart\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Obama kick-started a cycle that moves ever farther left \u2014 even he now seems pass\u00e9<\/span><\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/July-18-Edelman-Cartoon.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69223\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/July-18-Edelman-Cartoon.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"257\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/July-18-Edelman-Cartoon.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/July-18-Edelman-Cartoon-300x193.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;&#8230;<span style=\"color: #333399;\"><strong>Socialists and hard progressives believe that they <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>already have won about three-fifths of America<\/em><\/span>, defined <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>not<\/em><\/span> by population, polls, or political office, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>but by cultural clout<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong> <\/span>They assume that such control will inevitably end in final victory in the Congress and presidency, the same way that that there\u2019s no longer a Republican party to speak of in California and not a single statewide officeholder who is not a Democrat. Seven of 53 House seats are Republican in the California of Ronald Reagan and Pete Wilson.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Entertainment and Hollywood are mostly all left-wing and missionary in their progressive zeal.<\/span> The network news, PBS, NPR, CNN, and MSNBC outnumber talk radio and Fox News.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Most of the major newspapers are progressive.<\/span> Silicon Valley is harder left still and more audacious in baking ideology into its products from Twitter and Facebook, which censor conservatives, to Google, with its progressive bias in formatting and searches.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">The biggest foundations that most fund activists and academics are mostly left-wing.<\/span> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>No one<\/em><\/span> believes that the campuses are balanced or even disinterested. <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Most academics believe that they can be legitimately biased leftward to balance the supposed prejudices of the family, community, and church \u2014 noisome cargo that too many of their na\u00efve students bring with them on arrival, which is why they need \u201ccleansing\u201d and \u201cawakening.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><strong>Sports events and reporting are liberal and increasingly avenues to peddle political messages. <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Corporate America tries to emulate popular culture and thus must adopt left-wing tropes, so it\u2019s trigger-happy in its readiness to shoot down conservatives who are deemed hostile to our shared fated progressive future.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><strong>What we are seeing in the Democratic party\u2019s movement to the hard left <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>is not the beginning<\/em><\/span> but <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>the end of a long march<\/em><\/span>. <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Socialists and progressives believe that control of the Congress, the presidency, and courts is the final missing tessera from their already expansive socialist mosaic.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><strong>They believe that the future is <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>theirs<\/em><\/span>. <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">They no longer <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>need to apologize<\/em><\/span> for pushing government-sanctioned redistribution.<\/span> And with <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>an administrative state that nearly pulled off a coup<\/em><\/span> in the past two years, with <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>21 trillion dollars in national debt<\/em><\/span> and the <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">courts as de facto progressive legislators<\/span><\/em>, and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>with an open 2,000-mile border<\/em><\/span>, they <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>may<\/em><\/span> well be <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>right<\/em><\/span>.<\/strong><\/span>&#8220;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Speaking of those determined to destroy the greatest nation ever to exist, courtesy of <em>Frontpage Mag<\/em> via Jeff Foutch, <\/strong><strong>David Horowitz reveals the reality behind&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"panel-pane pane-page-title\">\n<div class=\"pane-content\">\n<h1 id=\"page-title\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.frontpagemag.com\/fpm\/273468\/vigilante-south-bend-david-horowitz\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600; text-decoration: underline;\">The Vigilante from South Bend<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n<h3 style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontpagemag.com\/fpm\/273468\/vigilante-south-bend-david-horowitz\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;\">Liar, character assassin, bigot \u2013 Pete Buttigieg is a natural leader for the Democrats<\/span><\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-size: 16px; color: #0000ff;\">.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/2yrp7k.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69224\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/2yrp7k.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"216\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/2yrp7k.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/2yrp7k-300x162.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">Pete Buttigieg is the latest star to\u00a0emerge from Democrats\u2019 2020 pack, which is no surprise <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>since he exhibits all the tropes we have come to associate with this party in the era of its Trump derangement<\/em><\/span>.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">On the evidence just of his attacks on Vice President Mike Pence, Buttigieg is a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>shameless liar<\/em><\/span>, a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>calculating character assassin<\/em><\/span> and <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>an anti-religious\/anti-free speech bigot<\/em><\/span>, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>motivated by a virulent hatred of his political opponents<\/em><\/span>, especially those who have been good to him like Pence.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Buttigieg\u2019s chosen target is one of the most decent human beings in politics, who was supportive of Buttegieg both before he revealed he was gay and after. <strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">I<span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">ndeed, when Buttigieg made his public announcement, Pence, then governor of Indiana went out of his way to praise his achievements as mayor \u2013 a bit of political hyperbole since Buttigieg\u2019s city, South Bend,<\/span><\/span> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.frontpagemag.com\/fpm\/273361\/mayor-buttigieg-runs-president-while-his-city-daniel-greenfield\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>is a violence-ridden mess<\/em><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0Yet, even after Buttigieg\u2019s outrageous attacks, Pence has not had an unkind word to say about him.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8230;<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Like his Democrat comrades \u2013 Booker, Harris, Warren &#8211; <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Buttigieg dons the shield of martyrdom, portraying himself as a persecuted minority whose suffering absolves him of responsibility for his aggressions and bad behavior<\/em><\/span>. <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">In fact, in the short time since Buttigieg announced he was gay, <em>far from <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">being persecuted<\/span> as the member of a \u201cmarginalized\u201d group, his political fortunes have taken the form of a minor miracle<\/em> \u2013 <em>an obscure mayor from a violence-ridden city of under 100,000 catapulted into the national limelight as a leading contender for the Democratic presidential nomination<\/em>.<\/span> Far from <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>hurting him<\/em><\/span>, <em>it is the fact that he <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">is<\/span> gay that has <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">powered<\/span> this rise, and he <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">knows<\/span> it<\/em>. <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">I can promise you that I am more persecuted every day by slanders and lies leading to lost opportunities <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>for being a conservative<\/em><\/span> than Pete Buttigieg will probably <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>ever be<\/em><em> for being gay<\/em><\/span>.<\/span> And unlike him I cannot capitalize on my marginalization by leftwing universities, publishing houses and media organizations for the crime of disagreeing with their political prejudices<\/strong><\/span>&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>As has been observed before, most recently by Tomi Lahren, the election of\u00a0Donald Trump\u00a0didn\u2019t <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>create<\/em><\/span>\u00a0The Left\u2019s <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>unbridled hatred and intolerance<\/em><\/span>, it just <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>exposed<\/em><\/span> it.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>If you&#8217;ll forgive the pun,\u00a0 here&#8217;s the &#8220;bottom&#8221; line: Pete Buttedge&#8230;Buttegg&#8230;Pete the Butt Pirate is no different from the rest of the lawless, surly, Socialist crew of which he&#8217;s a part.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>And in the George Santayana Memorial\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>Those Who Cannot Remember the Past Are Condemned to Repeat<\/em> <em>It<\/em><\/span> segment, writing at <em>AEI<\/em>,\u00a0<\/strong><strong>Nicholas Eberstadt pens an introduction for Richard Lawless&#8217; recounting of the&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<h1 class=\"entry-title\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a style=\"color: #0000ff;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.aei.org\/publication\/shootdown-over-the-sea-of-japan\/?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTkRNeE1HWTJNVEl3WldFMiIsInQiOiIwdXZhOE9VbFwvZDB4ZnUwVmtydG1lT0Y3Q2lIdzJMT0JYVCtVQ040Vk52TnhcL3ZSYXJZUXJCT3VkQ3lhTFJ3djZSbUZmTGdETmRFYzlqbXpjOWdNSUxIOXFRSHRzM0lZUzh6M2taTlRUNFI2eGYzM1VFSkVFYmdlbDNYNE9tY2IzIn0%3D\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Shootdown over the Sea of Japan<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n<h3 class=\"entry-subtitle\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.aei.org\/publication\/shootdown-over-the-sea-of-japan\/?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTkRNeE1HWTJNVEl3WldFMiIsInQiOiIwdXZhOE9VbFwvZDB4ZnUwVmtydG1lT0Y3Q2lIdzJMT0JYVCtVQ040Vk52TnhcL3ZSYXJZUXJCT3VkQ3lhTFJ3djZSbUZmTGdETmRFYzlqbXpjOWdNSUxIOXFRSHRzM0lZUzh6M2taTlRUNFI2eGYzM1VFSkVFYmdlbDNYNE9tY2IzIn0%3D\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">Remembering 31 Americans and lessons learned or not<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Super-Constellation.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69186\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Super-Constellation.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"425\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Super-Constellation.png 425w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Super-Constellation-300x119.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 425px) 100vw, 425px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>&#8220;I\u00a0have convinced my friend and colleague Richard Lawless to contribute this essay to AEIdeas to commemorate the 50th anniversary this week of the North Korean shootdown of an unarmed US recon aircraft, an attack that killed 31 US crewmen.\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Nixon and Kissinger <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">chose to do nothing<\/span> \u2014 <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">a fateful inaction that in my honest opinion helped to set on course the events we now have to contend with in the never ending North Korea crisis<\/span>.<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>Mr. Lawless is one of the greats \u2014 a longtime USG Korea hand. One of the few cool American heads at the 6 Party talks back in the day. He will not tell you this, but he was inter alia the officer assigned to shut down the South Korean nuclear weapons program in the 1970s \u2014 and he did.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>This past week South Korea\u2019s first F-35 fighters arrived in that nation to bolster its defense posture, perhaps coincident with the arrival in Washington of South Korea\u2019s President Moon Jae-in for meetings with President Trump.<\/strong> <\/span>\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Reacting quickly to the arrival of the new fighter aircraft, if not the Moon visit to meet with President Trump, North Korea delivered a stream of threats against all its perceived enemies. <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Branding the arrival of the two jets a \u201chostile act that escalates military tension on the peninsula,\u201d Pyongyang warned that \u201cSouth Korea should ponder the catastrophic results of this stealth fighter introduction.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Recent history has cautioned us to take North Korean threats <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>seriously<\/em><\/span> as such saber rattling <em><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">is often a prelude to armed provocations that risk escalation to war<\/span><\/em>.<\/strong><\/span> In the wake of the failed Hanoi summit meeting, the US-led international coalition is strengthening the economic sanctions program directed at North Korea. Also, this past week South Korean President Moon Jae-in departed Washington DC a disappointed man when President Trump declined Moon\u2019s proposal that South Korea begin a reengagement process that would include the US backing off the current sanctions regime. <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>In this situation, we should be prepared for the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>real possibility<\/em><\/span> that a frustrated Kim Jung-un <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>will<\/em><\/span> lash out with a deadly military provocation.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">Fifty years ago this week, in the early morning hours of April 15, 1969, thirty-one US Navy and Marine airmen boarded their unarmed EC-121 electronic surveillance aircraft, climbed into the clear skies over Atsugi, Japan and flew west over the Sea of Japan. They were on a routine reconnaissance mission over international waters, a flight that had been performed many times before, over the same track.\u00a0 <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>Six hours into their flight they and their aircraft, call sign \u201cDeep Sea 129,\u201d were blown out of the sky by a pair of North Korean MIG fighters which had been dispatched to destroy this aircraft.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>Not coincidentally<\/em><\/span>, it was the 57th\u00a0birthday of North Korean dictator-for-life Kim Il-sung.<\/span> \u00a0His regime had decided it was a great day to mount <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>yet another<\/em><\/span> armed and deadly attack against the United States.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">This deadly provocation, coming fast on the heels of the North Korean attack and capture of the USS <em>Pueblo<\/em> and its crew a year before, brought North Korea again to attention of the president of the United States as American crisis planners struggled to cope.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">In the Pentagon, a decision-making process was undertaken that considered a range of retaliatory options, including both conventional and nuclear strikes on North Korea.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">In the end, President Richard Nixon and his National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>elected to do nothing<\/em><\/span>.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u00a0The North Koreans <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>once again<\/em> <\/span>concluded\u00a0<span style=\"color: #008000;\">(<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>correctly<\/em><\/span><em>!!!<\/em>)<\/span> that <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>t<\/em><em>hey could literally get away with murder and would not be held to account<\/em><\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0 <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">The EC-121 incident itself is often overlooked in the greater scheme of the multi-administration attempts at \u201cnuclear engagement\u201d with Pyongyang.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><em>But the <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">same regime<\/span> that dispatched the MIG interceptors that April day fifty years ago <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">remains in place today<\/span> as a negotiating partner, only <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">now<\/span> it is a de facto <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">nuclear weapons state<\/span><\/em>.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">The EC-121 shootdown is therefore <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>instructive and relevant<\/em><\/span>, <em>if not to the memory of thirty-one dead US servicemen, <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">then certainly to our understanding of the mentality that frames the way North Korea makes its decisions today<\/span><\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/span>&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><strong>As if the creation of the EPA and the SCOTUS nominations of Harry Blackmun and Lewis Powell weren&#8217;t enough (Watergate needs no mention), this is yet <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>another<\/em><\/span> reason we despise even the memory of Richard Nixon.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Which brings us to\u00a0<em>The Lighter Side<\/em>:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/sk041519dAPR20190414054525.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69193\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/sk041519dAPR20190414054525.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"362\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/sk041519dAPR20190414054525.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/sk041519dAPR20190414054525-300x235.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/bg041519dAPR20190414034508.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69189\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/bg041519dAPR20190414034508.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"304\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/bg041519dAPR20190414034508.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/bg041519dAPR20190414034508-300x197.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/afb041619dAPR20190416074509.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69235\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/afb041619dAPR20190416074509.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"330\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/afb041619dAPR20190416074509.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/afb041619dAPR20190416074509-300x214.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/mle190413c20190413122709.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69190\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/mle190413c20190413122709.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"323\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/mle190413c20190413122709.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/mle190413c20190413122709-300x210.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/payn_c16478620190412120100.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69191\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/payn_c16478620190412120100.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"303\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/payn_c16478620190412120100.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/payn_c16478620190412120100-300x197.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/sk041419dAPC20190414054552.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69192\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/sk041419dAPC20190414054552.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"363\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/sk041419dAPC20190414054552.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/sk041419dAPC20190414054552-300x236.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/aria_c16482520190415120100.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69236\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/aria_c16482520190415120100.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"286\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/aria_c16482520190415120100.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/aria_c16482520190415120100-300x186.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.08-AM.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69158\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.08-AM.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.08-AM.jpeg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.08-AM-300x202.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-16-19-at-8.09-AM.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69194\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-16-19-at-8.09-AM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-16-19-at-8.09-AM.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-16-19-at-8.09-AM-300x202.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Then there&#8217;s this string of memes from Mark Foster&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.42-AM.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69159\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.42-AM.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"602\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.42-AM.jpeg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.42-AM-230x300.jpeg 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.43-AM.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69160\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.43-AM.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"258\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.43-AM.jpeg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.43-AM-300x168.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.44-AM.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69161\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.44-AM.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.44-AM.jpeg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.44-AM-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.44-AM-300x300.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.45-AM-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69162\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.45-AM-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"404\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.45-AM-1.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.45-AM-1-300x262.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.45-AM.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69163\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.45-AM.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"347\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.45-AM.jpeg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.45-AM-300x225.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/trump-pin.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69172\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/trump-pin.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/trump-pin.png 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/trump-pin-296x300.png 296w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/image013.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69165\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/image013.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/image013.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/image013-300x294.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/trump-hat.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69174\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/trump-hat.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"353\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/trump-hat.png 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/trump-hat-300x229.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/image018.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69167\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/image018.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"289\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/image018.png 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/image018-300x188.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.47-AM.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69168\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.47-AM.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"591\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.47-AM.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.47-AM-235x300.jpg 235w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/image019.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69169\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/image019.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"81\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/image019.png 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/image019-300x53.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/image001.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69170\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/image001.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"637\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/image001.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/image001-226x300.jpg 226w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.47-AM.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69171\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.47-AM.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"352\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.47-AM.jpeg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Image-4-15-19-at-8.47-AM-300x229.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8230;along with this one from Speed Mach:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Speed-Mach.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69206\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Speed-Mach.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"462\" height=\"457\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Speed-Mach.jpg 462w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Speed-Mach-300x297.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 462px) 100vw, 462px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>And in <span style=\"color: #800000;\"><em>The Crime Blotter<\/em><\/span>, this item leaves us wondering if law enforcement authorities in Atlanta are serious about catching criminals:<\/strong><\/p>\n<h1 class=\"headline\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/suspect-caught-on-camera-stealing-thousands-from-gambling-machine-atlanta-cops-say\" class=\"broken_link\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><span style=\"color: #800000; text-decoration: underline;\">Suspect caught on camera stealing thousands from gambling machine<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/h1>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/download-14.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69184\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/download-14.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/download-14.jpeg 400w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/download-14-300x169.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable\" style=\"padding-left: 30px;\">&#8220;Authorities in Atlanta are searching for a gambler they say stole $7,900 in cash earlier this month from a gambling machine at a Shell gas station&#8230;The suspect could be seen reaching into what looks like a variation of a slot machine&#8230;<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #800000;\"><strong>The suspect was described by police as skinny with a low haircut.\u00a0<span style=\"color: #800000;\"><span style=\"color: #008080;\">He was wearing a gray dress shirt and\u00a0gray pants.<\/span>\u00a0Authorities are asking the public to identify the suspect and said to call 404-577-8477 with any details.<\/span><\/strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">&#8220;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Again, do Atlanta police <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>really<\/em><\/span> want\u00a0to <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>solve<\/em><\/span> this crime?\u00a0 Or does the omission of the perp&#8217;s race in his description simply reflect the assumption, at least in Atlanta, a criminal suspect&#8217;s skin color is <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>understood<\/em><\/span>?!?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Finally,\u00a0<\/strong><strong>TLJ checked in from the Palazzo Vecchio to remind us, even in Florence, Wednesday is still&#8230;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Hump-Day.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-69125\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Hump-Day.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Hump-Day.png 400w, https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Hump-Day-300x283.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8230;Hump Day!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Magoo<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It&#8217;s Wednesday, April 17th, 2019&#8230;but before we begin, though it fortunately appears damage to Notre Dame was not as extensive as initially feared&#8230; &#8230;and efforts to restore one of the world&#8217;s most recognized landmarks are already underway, we remain deeply saddened by the devastation, accidental or otherwise, inflicted on this beautiful, iconic structure. Still, we [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1988,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-69332","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69332","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1988"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=69332"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69332\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":69333,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69332\/revisions\/69333"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=69332"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=69332"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thedailygouge.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=69332"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}