BloggeRhythms

Fox News’ Ed Henry and William La Jeunesse contributed to a report, saying: “The Obama administration already is facing a backlash from the Democratic presidential candidates over reported plans to launch deportation raids as early as next month.” 

The Washington Post first reported that the Department of Homeland Security is preparing to launch raids against hundreds of families who entered the U.S. illegally since last year and have been ordered to leave by an immigration judge. 

Bernie Sanders said: “I am very disturbed by reports that the government may commence raids to deport families who have fled here to escape violence in Central America. We need to take steps to protect children and families seeking refuge here, not cast them out." 

Bill Clinton’s wife campaign spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa added that Bill’s wife “has real concerns about these reports, especially as families are coming together during this holiday season. She believes it is critical that everyone has a full and fair hearing, and that our country provides refuge to those that need it. And we should be guided by a spirit of humanity and generosity as we approach these issues." 

Just days earlier, the administration disclosed a dramatic four-year decline in deportations. They dropped from more than 409,000 in 2012 to just 235,000 in fiscal 2015. The numbers represent the fewest deportations since 2006. 

Critics pointed to President Obama’s executive actions and other policies to explain the drop. Claude Arnold, former Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in charge of Southern California, referring to those policies, said, "It's a way of doing a pseudo-amnesty without legislatively doing an amnesty.” 

And that’s really the point. Because, regardless of the commiseration and compassion anyone may feel for those coming her illegally, the nation either has laws or does not. Thus, if you want to aid illegals, change the law, don’t break or evade it. 

Furthermore, disobeying this particular legislation establishes another horrendous premise. Whereas it opens the door to ignoring any other kind of law politicians feel help their cause. And it’s a certainty that the Founding Fathers didn’t intend for Constitutional clauses to become election gimmicks.  

On another issue, according to Mario Trujillo @thehill.com: “The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) released a handful of sensitive documents Thursday morning dealing with terrorism suspect Anwar al-Awlaki and the terrorist attacks in Benghazi, Libya.”

While containing little new information, the process itself is quite revealing about how the current administration continually works. 

16 pages of heavily blacked-out emails about the events surrounding the 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi were released. Several of them discussing the drafting of an assessment of the threat level ahead of the attack, which was being prepared for Congress in the months after four Americans were killed in the attack. 

Obviously concerned that there might be damaging information disclosed, the “document dump,” part of a “proactive disclosure” under the Freedom of Information Act, took place on Christmas Eve. Which, as Ms Trujillo points out in her article; “The government and public relations firms have been known to release unflattering information around major holidays or weekends to blunt the news effect.” 

So, even on Christmas, for this administration, it’s nefarious business as usual.  

Which brings us to today’s update on Bill Clinton's wife 

Amie Parnes and Jonathan Swan @thehill.com report: “Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign is building the most expansive fundraising network in recent memory, taking its prospecting far beyond the usual Democratic strongholds on the East and West coasts. 

“Those familiar with Clinton's fundraising operation say she's tapping smaller cities to avoid running dry in California and New York, which have only so many Hollywood producers and trial lawyers.  

“Clinton’s campaign has already held fundraisers in more states than the entire 2012 general election campaigns of President Obama and Mitt Romney, who fundraised in 36 and 37 states, respectively.”

Since the “Clinton’s” and “money” are practically synonymous, it’s certainly no surprise that fundraising’s a major goal of the  presidential campaign. It would also be interesting to find out how much of what’s raised is truly spent vs. what gets kept, regardless of what’s reported. Much like the way that the “Foundation” works, accounting-wise. 

Nonetheless, as a practical matter, its doubtful that money will be a key to the coming election at all. Whereas, almost nobody alive on the planet hasn’t already learned, pro or con, all they’ll ever want to know about all three family members. And there’s no ad or event imaginable that will likely change that belief or perception.

Which means that perhaps the funds will be used for something else. Such as legal fees for defending against charges arising from using an illegal email server while Secretary of State. 

And then, speaking to supporters recently, Bill’s wife described her husband as a “secret weapon.”

Interviewed by the Des Moines Register, she also said, “Mr. Trump has “demonstrated a penchant for sexism.” That drew a response from Mr. Trump on Twitter: “Hillary, when you complain about ‘a penchant for sexism,’ who are you referring to. I have great respect for women.’ ” In capital letters he then wrote, “BE CAREFUL!” 

Asked what Mr. Trump meant, his campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, said: “Mr. Trump speaks for Mr. Trump and his tweets speak for themselves. And he’s very clear about what those tweets say.” 

Which could lead to a battle never seen in a presidential campaign before. Two candidates totally unqualified for the position they’re seeking. One spending inherited wealth the other extorting contributors for favors, future and past. Neither having a viable platform, and therefore using personal attacks as their major weapons. Confirming the adage: “Only in America.”  

Bringing up the ongoing question: Joe Biden, Mayor Bloomberg, Jerry Brown, and Starbuck’s chairman and CEO, Howard Schultz, are you guys reading this?   

That’s it for today folks. 

Adios