Public Safety Should Be the Focus, Not Politics

On Thursday morning, NRA CEO, Wayne LaPierre, spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. 

LaPierre brought up how this is just another way that liberals are using politics to exploit tragedy. He said, “As usual, the opportunists waited not one second to exploit tragedy for political gain. Chris Murphy, Nancy Pelosi, and more, cheered on by the national media, eager to blame the NRA and call for more government control.” 

LaPierre condemned those "eager to smear" the NRA. "For them, it’s not a safety issue. It’s a political issue." 

LaPierre went on to say that the NRA's critics are interested only in eliminating liberty for Americans. "They hate the NRA. They hate the Second Amendment. They hate individual freedom," he said. They want to get rid of guns, he added, "so they can eradicate all individual freedoms." 

He also reiterated the NRA’s efforts to protect schools by offering free professional help in keeping schools safe. “Any American school that needs immediate professional consultation and help with organizing and to finding these solutions should call the National Rifle Association School Shield program,” LaPierre said. 

LaPierre ended his speech with the often-repeated line, “To stop a bad guy with a gun. It takes a good guy with a gun,” he received thunderous applause and a standing ovation. 

Other CPAC speakers include: President Trump, Vice President Pence, Secretary Betsy DeVos, Dana Loesch, Eric Bolling, Secretary Rick Perry, Sean Hannity, Jeanine Pirro, Sen. Ted Cruz, Laura Ingraham and many others. President Trump will speak around 10:05am on Friday.

CNN Town Hall Last Night

On Wednesday, February 21, CNN held a town hall titled: “Stand Up: The Students of Stoneman Douglas Demand Action” the focus was the mass shooting that occurred last week in Florida. 

The mediator was CNN’s Jake Tapper and the attendees were, Sen. Marco Rubio (R), Sen. Bill Nelson (D), Congressman Ted Deutch (D), Dana Loesch (NRA Representative), and Scott Israel (Broward County Sheriff). They took turns answering questions from students, faculty and parents from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. In total, there were 7,000 people in attendance. 

The introductory began by mentioning that both Donald Trump and Governor Rick Scott denied invitation to participate. At the end of the event, a poem written by a victim of the mass shooting was read to the crowd. Before concluding the night, students preformed a song that they had written specific for the evening. 

Students, parents, educators, politicians, and the NRA engaged in a heated discussion on gun violence. That discussion has been focused on whether laws should be changed to preventing mass shootings. 

A father of one of the victim’s called Marco Rubio and Donald Trump’s comments from the past few days “pathetically weak.” 

Marco Rubio received most of the heat during the event. Rubio expressed that he does not support the proposal of teachers carrying concealed weapons in schools. One student asked Marco Rubio if he would promise not to, “accept campaign contributions from the National Rifle Association.” Rubio didn’t give a direct answer, which resulted in “boos” from the audience. 

In the second hour of the event, students attacked NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch. Students made comments saying things like “how does she [Loesch] look herself in the mirror…” and “We will protect your kids in a way that you won’t” 

Broward County Sheriff also joined in on the attack saying, “you’re not standing up for them until you say, ‘I want less weapons.”

Defiant ESPN star Jemele Hill on claim Trump is a white supremacist: 'I still stand by what I said'

Sports journalist Jemele Hill, sat in on ‘The View’ on Wednesday, February 21. Before her appearance on ‘The View’ Jemele Hill had tweeted about President Trump, which got her national attention. 

The tweet read as follows: “Donald Trump is a white supremacist who has largely surrounded himself w/ other white supremacists.” 

Co-host Meghan McCain asked Jemele Hill if she stood by her infamous tweets about President Donald Trump. 

McCain said, “I’ve tweeted things in the heat of the moment when I’ve been emotional. It’s something I’ve had to learn the hard way not to do as I’ve grown in my career. Do you still stand by what you said and do you think President Trump’s supporters are white supremacists?”

Jemele Hill responded to McCain by saying: “I still stand by what I said, I don’t’ think that his supporters are white supremacists. What I would say though, is that they have the privilege, the benefits of privilege, to be able to distance and disassociate themselves from certain issues. Me, as a woman of color, I fell vulnerable to certain behaviors, certain policies, certain that he’s said and done.” 

Hill made it clear that she still believes that President Donald Trump is a ‘White Supremacist’ 

President Donald Trump, responded by asking ESPN to fire Jemele Hill. 

Originally, after Jemele Hill sent her tweet, ESPN did not suspend her. She was then suspended for two weeks because of a tweet where she suggested that the way to support NFL protestors was to boycott advertisers. Hill has since left her hosting position on Sports Center for a job at another ESPN property, The Undefeated.

Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll: Trump's Approval Rating Soars to 45 Percent

Here are some of the main highlights from the poll:

• President Donald Trump's approval rating is up to 45 percent.
  • 83 percent of Republicans polled said they approved of the job President Trump is doing.
  • 40 percent of Independents polled said they approved of the job President Trump is doing.
  • 17 percent among Democrats polled said they approved of the job President Trump is doing.
  • In December 2017, the Harvard CAPS- Harris poll had Trump’s favorable rating at 41 percent.

One possible factor in the job approval uptick is the president’s State of the Union address in January. It was well-received, with 52 percent of voters saying they approved. Other reasons for the increase in Trump’s approval rating are due to voters being bullish on the economy and increasing approval of the GOP’s tax overhaul, which was reflected in paychecks for many Americans this month.

Gallup Poll: Americans' Satisfaction with US World Position at 13-Year High

The most recent Gallup poll found that:

• 29 percent believe that Trump is respected by world leaders
• This number is the same as last year at the same time.
• 55 percent believe that the world views the U.S. favorably.
• 45 percent now satisfied with U.S.’s position in the world.
• This is a 13-year high and a 13-percentage-point increase from one year ago, just after President Donald Trump took office.
• Only six times have a majority of Americans said they were satisfied with the U.S.’s position in the world. These years were in 2000, 2001, 2002 and three times in 2003 -- once before and twice shortly after the invasion of Iraq.

Olympic Update:

Medal Count: Top Ten

• #1 Norway: 35 total medals
  • 13 gold; 12 silver; 10 bronze medals
• #2 Germany: 25 total medals
  • 13 gold; 7 silver; 5 bronze medals
• #3 Canada: 24 total medals
  • 9 gold; 7 silver; 8 bronze medals
• #4 United States: 21 total medals
  • 8 gold; 7 silver; 6 bronze medals
• #5 Netherlands: 17 total medals
  • 7 gold; 6 silver; 4 bronze medals
• #6 France: 15 total medals
  • 5 gold; 4 silver; 6 bronze medals
• #7 Austria: 13 medals
  • 5 gold; 2 silver; 6 bronze
• #8 Olympic Athletes from Russia: 12 total medals
  • 0 gold; 4 silver; 8 bronze medals
• #9 South Korea: 11 total medals
  • 4 golds; 4 silver; 3 bronze medals
• #10 Switzerland: 11 total medals
  • 3 gold; 6 silver; 2 bronze medals

U.S.A Women’s Hockey Team Defeats Canada

The U.S. women’s hockey team won a thriller Thursday morning when they defeated Canada. The U.S. goalie, Maddie Rooney, made an incredible save in a shootout that went into extra shots. Team U.S.A. won 3-2 at the conclusion of shootouts. 

The victory avenges the Americans’ brutal loss to the Canadians in the Olympic gold medal game four years ago in Sochi. The players were quoted as saying this was the biggest game of their lives.

During the medal ceremony, many Canadian team members were seen crying on the ice, as well as one athlete who took off her silver medal.

MAIL TIME!

• I'm a licensed concealed carry gun owner. I had a conversation with my 15-year-old grandson about the shooting in Florida and what his thoughts were. I've put my grandson through gun safety classes and have taken him shooting several times during visits. His concerns were that if congress changes the laws to 21 years of age to purchase a gun then when does a person become an adult. If you can enlist in the military at 18, vote at 18 but can't drink or own a gun until you're 21 and have to be on your parents’ insurance until 26 when do you become an adult?

• I'm not sure who's exploiting who, the kids are getting their point across and that's what matters most. Maybe not a concise message at this time but shake the tree, you never know what will fall out. 

• Great podcast, Bill. It is a sad situation with some of the younger kids. I do believe some of them are being manipulated by the leftist news because they hate Trump so much. I never once heard anyone say it was Obama's fault when these mass shootings occurred, but they lay the blame on Trump.

WORD OF THE DAY: JAPERY