If anyone thought things would change in New York with Andrew Cuomo gone, you were sadly mistaken.  Gov. Hochul apparently has the same disdain for the First Amendment that made Andrew Cuomo so arrogant and self-righteous.  NY Governor Calls on Facebook to Crack Down on Pro-Lifers.  Governor Hochul: New Yorkers do not have the patience for another elected official who believes they are morally superior to those they serve.

FEC defends Twitter over Hunter Biden censorship in a decision based on lies.

The Myth That Hurricanes Are Getting Worse (Because of Climate Change).

Biden’s clashes with own experts over COVID booster shots undermine promise to ‘follow the science’

House Progressives Unveil Massive Multi-Trillion-Dollar Tax Hike—Here’s How It’ll Impact You.

Don’t Lose the Forest Through the Trees: Tax Hikes Will Harm the Economy and American Workers

Rich Lowry opines in the NY Post:  Dems’ bid to tax $2.2T from rich and big biz will be middle class warfare.

Charles C. W. Cooke writes:  Dear Democrats: Kill the Spending Bill.

Larry Kudlow asks the question:  Could Common Sense Yet Prevail Over Biden’s Plan for Taxing and Spending?

Blinken hearing: Democrats rush to defend Biden’s deadly Afghanistan withdrawal.

Republicans Grill Blinken on Afghanistan, Democrats Blame Trump.

Blinken left tongue-tied over Hunter Biden question during House hearing.

Blinken slammed for testifying virtually: ‘Couldn’t be bothered to come down here’.

Blinken faces Congress on Afghanistan withdrawal amid GOP criticism.

Blinken Admits: ‘Several Thousand’ Americans Stranded Behind Enemy.

Rep. Lee Zeldin Has a Suggestion for Blinken on How He Can Show Leadership.

Top Democrat Blasts Defense Secretary After Failing to Show Up for Testimony.

Senate Democrats unveil new voting rights bill.

Giving the Taliban International Legitimacy Would Be a Disastrous Mistake

Nearly 8 Million Illegal Immigrants to Get Amnesty Under Biden’s Budget Resolution Says House GOP.

Dinesh D’Souza opines on 4 Glaring Inconsistencies in progressive and liberal condemnation of the Texas (pro-baby) law.

Wokeness: An Evil of Our Age.

I’m not a big fan of Bill Maher, but lately he is saying somethings I agree with:  Bill Maher Hits NFL Over Black National Anthem Performance: ‘We Should Have One National Anthem’.

Enjoy this incredible half-time tribute by the Michigan Marching Wolverines performed on Sept 11. 2021.

Today’s Daily Update attempts to catch up on the last few weeks with the following articles you may have missed.  Since there are so many articles (some will make you remember 9/11’s terror and some will hopefully make you realize how great our America is) I’ve kept commentary to a minimum.  For those who did not know the late Paul Harvey (perhaps the original Rush Limbaugh), there is an awesome link at the end.

What Made Them Do Their Duty? At the Twin Towers, cops and firemen showed they really were New York’s Finest, New York’s Bravest.

Protecting New York/Born in the ashes of 9/11, the NYPD’s counterterrorism program remains the envy of the world.

Year 20

9/11 memorials are a reminder of how far the country has fallen: Devine.

Gov. Kathy Hochul takes a sharp turn left.

ICYMI:   Rep./Cons Gubernatorial hopeful writes in the NY Post:  10 steps Gov. Kathy Hochul should take to get New York moving in the right direction.

Deroy Murdock: Nice guy Joe Biden has morphed into a mean man who is calculating, callous and cruel.

Republicans in Congress, Statehouses decry Biden vaccine mandate.

Biden’s employer vaccine mandate will make our hiring crisis even worse.

From ‘trust the science’ to ‘trust the tyrants’.

It’s now obvious that Biden doesn’t even want to stop the ever-growing border surge.

‘Build back’ blunder: The U.S. economy is worsening under Biden’s watch.

From the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) House Democrats Consider 26.5% Corporate Tax Rate  Related article from The Hill:  House Democrats eye 26.5 percent corporate tax rate.

Biden’s Ammunition Ban Is Part Of The Left’s Plot To Disarm Americans.

CDC needs to leave guns alone, stick to diseases.

Unpacking the first eight months of the country’s most self-destructive presidency.

How Kabul became an evacuation bottleneck and a prime terror target: The Last 96.

Team Biden’s lies pile up as Taliban hold abandoned Americans hostage.

Afghan Fallout: Biden Ruins America’s Most Important Relationship — India.

What Should the World Expect of Gifting Afghanistan to Fundamentalists?

This is President Biden’s bid to destroy our military by removing patriots and replacing with those who are “woke.”  Absolutely shameful action by the Commander-in-chief and those who will do their best to make it happen have a special place in Dante’s Inferno!!!!  Biden White House moves to oust Trump appointees from advisory boards.

Biden Is Stuck in a Bind of His Own Making.

Democrats make case to Senate parliamentarian for 8 million green cards.

Covering up Fauci’s role in COVID leak: Devine.

Fauci-Funded Wuhan Lab Viruses 10,000 Times Stronger Than Usual, Documents Show.

Biden Letting China Get Away with Crime of the Century.

Is the U.S. Intelligence Community Putting the World at Risk?

Leftists Put Trigger Warnings on Founding Documents.

Larry Kudlow opines on the Sum of All Fears and The Democrats’ Leviathan Is on the Loose.

Conservatives Can and Must Save America From Biden.

Conservative principles demand we restrain government.

Democratic leaders betting Manchin will back down in spending fight.  I must ask, is the reason why they are betting on Sen. Manchin’s backing down because President Joe Biden appointed Gayle Conelly Manchin the federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission which pays $160,000 a year?  This is the latest regarding Sen. Joe Manchin:  Manchin says he can’t support Biden’s $3.5 trillion spending plan.  Good for him, one should respect a man who will not allow himself to be bullied by his fellow democrats; send him a message to stand strong, after all, it is your money they are talking about!  Hey Sen. Sanders:  It is your obsession with government spending that is not acceptable.     Last time I checked, you and I live in America, not your favorite communist Cuba!

Antifa Teacher’s Indoctrination Attempts Should Outrage—and Mobilize—Public School Parents.

Islam and Its White Slaves.

Texas Gets Election Reform Right, ‘Mainstream’ Media Gets It Wrong.

18 States Passed Election Reforms This Year. Here’s What They Did.

Texas Heartbeat Law Is Now in Effect. Here’s What You Need to Know.

Dems’ #TexasTaliban slander of pro-lifers is downright obscene.

Victor Davis Hanson: Our new woke Pentagon is hell-bent on losing America’s trust – and wars.

Does America Still Work?

Michelle Malkin opines about Ivermectin: Horse Hockey Versus Truth.

Delta is Dying/New CDC findings show that we’re closer than ever to the end of the pandemic.

How Society’s Search for Identity Spurred Sexual Revolution, Gender Ideology.

From National Review:  What Would Frank Say?

Justice Breyer issues warning on remaking Supreme Court: ‘What goes around comes around’

The Convocation Address You Will Never Hear Delivered.

Remembering Paul Harvey’s Optimism, Wisdom, and Common Sense.  Be sure to click on to his masterpiece “If I were the devil.”

Tomorrow marks the 20^th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks that forever changed our world.

It was like any other normal September day in New York City. Nice weather and clear skies as residents from the Tri-State poured into lower Manhattan for work. Just as I assume was happening with residents from the D.C. metro area on their way to the Pentagon to start their workday. What would happen next was unimaginable, unthinkable, and unforgiveable.

I remember September 10, 2001 like it was yesterday. I had finished lunch with a friend in City Hall Park, I recall the Twin Towers shining in the cloudless sky, a site I had seen thousands of times. A mere 20 hours later I found myself, along with many others, on Veterans Memorial Pier in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn looking directly onto the burning towers.

I remember hearing the blaring sound of FDNY, NYPD, and EMT sirens. I remember being both saddened and angered by what was transpiring in the city I have called home my entire life.

2,977 innocent fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends and co-workers were taken from us that day. It was the darkest day our nation had ever seen, a day I knew would change America forever.

Though we suffered tremendous losses that day, New Yorker’s proved they were what we always knew they were—resilient, caring and capable of more than we could ever imagine. The stories of heroism that day never ceases to amaze me, and I was never prouder to be a New Yorker than I was in the days following the attacks.

To all 9/11 was 20 years ago, but to many 9/11 was yesterday, tomorrow, Sunday, Monday and every day after.

We vowed to “Never Forget,” but it saddens me to say we have. We now villainize the very men and women of the NYPD who selflessly ran into the burning towers to save lives, we carelessly stroll by the very firehouses that once housed the men and women who remained in WTC 1, knowing WTC 2 had collapsed, but refused to evacuate because they still had a mission inside.

Not a day has gone by that I haven’t, if even only for a second, thought about September 11. Not a day will go by where I won’t think about September 11.

I, like all of you reading this, will never forget what I felt in my heart that fateful day. I will never forget the sacrifice our heroes made, I will never forget that when staring in the face of danger, no one responds like a New Yorker.

I do not take the phrase “Never Forget” lightly, I do not take all those we lost for granted, and I hold on dearly to what I felt in the days following—proud to be a New Yorker, proud to be an American.

Rent Moratorium Renewed

The New York State Democratic majority in the Assembly and Senate convened a special session this week to renew the rent moratorium that will certainly cost some landlords their property, decrease affordable housing, and sets the stage for rents to become astronomical at the end of the moratorium.

This needs not be the case and is evident by this morning’s jobs report, there are millions and millions of jobs to be had around the country, many of them right here in New York State.

The moratorium extension is an attempt to cover up the state’s failure to disburse rental assistance funds. Nationally, $1.7 billion was made available by the Federal Government and nearly 90% has yet to be distributed. In July New York’s own $2.7 billion funds, consisting of both Federal and State money, had barely been touched. This is yet another massive failure by the State of New York to do its job.

The results of their incompetence could spell more disaster for New York and will certainly lead to skyrocketing rental prices all over the state.

No Vaccination Mandates

Currently, there are several lawsuits making their way through the judicial system to stop government efforts to make the COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for teachers and health care workers.

“My body my choice” is a war cry amongst the liberal left, unless they’re the ones telling you what to do. Hypocrisy and the ultimate lack of self-awareness.

There are also a number of lawsuits pending that would block NYC’s requiring of indoor venues, such as restaurants, to show proof of vaccination before dining within their establishment.

The Conservative Party supports these efforts. In no way shape or form will we ever side with those weaponizing the government to infringe on your civil liberties.

While I am fully vaccinated and think getting one is a good idea, it is becoming all too easy for our freedoms to be trampled upon on this issue and so many others.

Texas Signs new Abortion Law

I was pleased with Texas’s implementation of a ban on abortion after 6 weeks. I was also gratified that the United States Supreme Court sided with Texas with a 5 to 4 vote in refusal to block the law.

This is an indicator that Roe v. Wade could be reversed, sending the issue on abortion back to the states. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi pledged to return to Washington to codify Roe v. Wade, furthering how important it is to take back the House of Representatives in 2022.

Sadly, with one of the most left-wing governments in the nation, this will do little for us in New York, but I take solace in knowing that as we move forward this national tragedy will receive a solid push back with many states reportedly looking at the new law in Texas as the potential for their own.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/washington-secrets/regrets-youve-had-a-few-20-want-biden-vote-back

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/03/jobs-report-august-2021.html

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pelosi-pledges-roe-v-wade-vote-after-supreme-court-allows-texas-abortion-law-to-go-into-effect

https://www.newsmax.com/us/harris/2021/09/02/id/1034844/

New Lt. Governor Wants to Defund the Police

Governor Hochul has selected her Lt. Governor, and it’s much of the same. Not surprising from the woman who turned a blind eye towards Andrew Cuomo’s misdeeds for years.

“I support the movement to defund the police” current State Senator and incoming Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin said in January of this year. 2021 has seen a 7.1% increase in shooting incidents while murders are on pace to surpass the 2020 total.

Senator Benjamin has been on the wrong side of every issue plaguing our city from criminal bail reform, to defunding the police. He has taken every far left political position possible and his selection as Lt. Governor is indicative of the type of Governing we can expect from Governor Hochul.

Speaking of Governor Hochul, her admission that 12,000 more New Yorkers have perished from Covid-19 than previously reported — bringing the current grim tally to more than 55,000 — begs the question: Why is she only telling us now?

Governor Hochul served as New York’s Lt. Governor from 2015 until yesterday, and, as the state’s second in command, she clearly had to know — or should have known — the true Covid death toll in the state. So why did she stay silent as Governor Cuomo hid these numbers? Did her pledge to be transparent begin only yesterday?

Read my full statement on Senator Benjamin here.

GOP Votes no on 3.5 Trillion Spending Plan

 Our eight Conservative Party endorsed members of the U.S. House of Representatives voted no on Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi’s latest tax payer funded wish list.

The New York eight joined 204 of their GOP colleagues, falling just short of killing the bill as no Democrats joined with Republicans. More evidence to support how crucial the 2022 election cycle is for Republicans.

The bill includes $100 billion for amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants, doubles the size of the IRS, taking more of your money to pay for their operations, and increases the national debt to $45 trillion by the year 2031.

Party leaders say they hope to finish work on a spending bill by Oct. 1, leaving just weeks to address serious concerns among moderates over the cost of Biden’s spending plans.

Disaster in Afghanistan

 On behalf of the Conservative Party, I extend our deepest condolences to the families of the 13 service members lost in yesterday’s suicide bombing attacks. We remain eternally grateful for our men and women of the United States Armed Forces.

The truth of the matter is this, this entire calamity in Afghanistan was completely avoidable. Joe Biden’s plan and execution was inept, hastily done, and ignored the advice of many military leaders and experts.

Under Biden, America feels less and less like a superpower every day. Under Biden we are openly mocked and laughed at on the world stage, this after only 7 months of his administration.

We have gone from eradicating ISIS and putting fear in terrorists everywhere, to taking orders from the Taliban on what they will and will not allow Americans to do.

In the face of immense pressure, our President hides within the confines of the White House while the American people receive more updates from foreign government than their own Commander-In-Chief.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio said it best, “This morning the President of the United States should inform the Taliban that we will be in Afghanistan until everyone we & our allies plan to evacuate is accounted for & out of the country. If they cooperate it should be swift & orderly.

If they get in the way they will be killed.”

Pentagon Bracing for More Attacks After Troops Killed at Kabul Airport

Former President Donald Trump blasts US leadership: ‘We’re being led by people that have no idea what they’re doing’

‘KILL LIST’: US officials gave the Taliban names of American citizens, green card holders and Afghan allies

Republican Jackie Walorski Calls for ‘Immediate Resignation’ of Biden’s National Security Team

 

So typical of Andrew Cuomo:  Disgraced Gov. Andrew Cuomo decries ‘unfair’ treatment as he bids farewell.  Bye Andy, you won’t be missed.

All eyes are on Afghanistan but the border crisis hasn’t gone away.

From the Gatestone Institute:  Night Falls on Afghanistan: Again.

Massive veterans group uses intel, satellite images to direct Afghan interpreters around Taliban checkpoints.

Iran Mullahs Closer Than Ever to Obtaining Nuclear Weapons.

Gordon Chang: China-Taliban connection – we must hold Beijing accountable for Afghan militants’ crimes.

As a person who loves and respects America, it saddens me to link to this article.  I did not vote for Joe Biden, we disagree on most policy issues almost all the time, yet, seeing this headline, grieves me. Today’s world that has seen far too much terrorism and the debacle happening in Afghanistan now, tells our enemies that we are weak.   Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal shows a disengaged, befuddled president.  We did not become the beacon of freedom because we had a president so disengaged from his own appointees that he overrides their advice.  Americans must come together and save our nation from the possibility of another catastrophic September 11^th attack on our land or any other place.  Graham Allen lays it out well in his accurate and excellent August 21 Op-Ed in the NY Post:  Our polarized country needs to rebuild the unity we felt on Sept. 12, 2001 for if we don’t, America will collapse from within.

The First Step in Saving Our Military.

Guy Benson writes in Townhall.com:  The ‘Science’ Behind School Masking Suffers Another Blow.

Well, this is unsettling:  Nearly 15 Million Mail-in-Ballots Unaccounted for in 2020 Election, Report Says.

It’s still true: the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

While all the news these days are discouraging and gloomy, remember this:  Freedom Always Wins.

Biden Administration Withdrawal Failure

The withdrawal became a retreat, the retreat became a rout, the rout became a defeat. The Biden Administration either had no plan, or a horribly bad plan, to withdraw our troops, allies and citizens from Afghanistan.

Joe Biden has now, more than ever, proven he is a first-class foreign relations disaster as President. As the Taliban overthrew a government and gained control of Afghanistan, Joe Biden was no where to be found. He spent the first 72 hours in hiding as mid-level press flacks addressed the nation on the biggest international news story in a decade.

When Biden did speak, he said he had “no regrets” on any of the decisions he made. Chilling words from a President of the United States which still has thousands of its citizens trapped in Afghanistan and a State Department informing them they cannot ensure safe passage to Karzai International airport.

Senior military and State Department officials have claimed they advised President Biden that imminent danger for American citizens and the Afghanistan people was ahead, but he ignored the intel. He ignored his Joint Chiefs, his Generals and his top Middle East experts.

It should not be forgotten that while American lives are at stake, Joe Biden blamed Donald Trump who is now a private citizen living in Florida.

Joe Biden owns this disaster. No one else.

Inflation

A little inflation is healthy. It greases the economic engine and leads to growth. Enter Joe Biden and the inflation we have been experiencing at an unhealthy level and getting worse by the day.

According to AAA the national gas price sits at an average of $3.17. Here in New York, the average gallon of gas is $3.22 and in California it sits at a shocking $4.40.

The cost of living doesn’t end there. We have seen it at the supermarket and soon we will see it at our banks in the form of mortgages and other types of loans.

As inflation far exceeds wage gains, economists warn we are sitting on an inflation time bomb.

U.S. wages grew at a 4% year-over-year pace in July, but trailed the 5.4% annual increase in inflation suggesting that while nominal wages are rising, real wages are falling. This does nothing but leave working families in the dust.

“Call it the ‘Biden pay cut,’” said Alfredo Ortiz, CEO of the Job Creators Network, a conservative U.S. advocacy group. “Rapid inflation and declining real wages are the direct result of the Biden administration’s historic spending that is overheating the economy and creating disincentives to work.”

Assembly Does About Face

As a result of an outcry from the GOP members of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, Assembly Democrats will not get away with sweeping their investigation of Andrew Cuomo under the rug.

It is believed that Governor Cuomo wanted protection from impeachment if he agreed to resign.  The Democrats were happy to oblige but quitting his day job as Governor doesn’t erase his criminal and civil liabilities.

The investigation will now be completed, and a report issued. This will go a long way to ensuring that Andrew Cuomo is held accountable for his actions. No one is above the law.

Resigning simply took him off the taxpayer payroll. Justice will only come about through a full airing of the many wrongs he and his senior staff made over the years.

It is shameful that the Democratic Assembly attempted to do him one last favor.

Twitter Is Allowing the Taliban to Use Their Platform – But Not Trump

“Squad” Reps Collected Thousands in Rent While Advocating Cancelling Rent

Kamala Harris: Voter Approval of VP Declines

WATCH: Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin says US doesn’t ‘have the capability’ to get all Americans out of Afghanistan

Heastie’s Role in Nursing Home Scandal Hangs Over His Decision to End Cuomo Impeachment Proceedings.

Kathy Hochul should probe Cuomo’s COVID nursing home scandal, report says (This is the report described in the NY Post article ‘Like fire through dry grass’.)

There was a time when Harvard was the platinum standard of Ivy League colleges, now one must question why anyone would want to go to Harvard!  And question why alumni continue to support a college that is out of sync with the majority of society.

China is already taking advantage of Biden’s bungling of Afghanistan.

A Chinese Warning for U.S. Tech.

Two Intelligence Failures by America’s Leaders.

So, we’re just trusting the Taliban not to kill Americans now?

Congress poised to grill Biden officials on messy Afghanistan exit.

Biden panned for ‘shameful’ comments on Afghan withdrawal during ABC interview: ‘It’s really bad.’

Damning pic of a weak leader: Devine.

Stunning, shameful admission.  Secretary of Defense: ‘I Don’t Have the Capability’ to Escort Stranded Americans to Kabul Airport.  Only topped by this disgraceful admission by the Biden Administration.  If Joe Biden had been president during World War II, America and her allies would not have had the fortitude to defeat her enemies.  Pray that America can withstand the onslaught of our enemies for the next 1251 days.   Walt Kelly (“Pogo’s” creator) paraphrased Oliver Hazard Perry’s words to General William Henry Harrison: “We have met the enemy, and they are ours” with “We have met the enemy and it is us.” Unfortunately, these words are an accurate assessment of today’s turmoil caused by our own Commander-in-Chief.

Biden WH memo before Taliban takeover sought to end protections for Americans trapped abroad.

Billions in US weaponry seized by Taliban.

Biden Reveals How Many American Citizens Might Still Be in Afghanistan.

Biden’s Afghanistan Disaster Has Left the West Defenseless against Islamist Terrorists.

Biden’s Appalling Mistake is a Watershed for the West.

Afghanistan withdrawal: Biden continues bunker strategy after widely panned ABC interview.  “The president took all public remarks, press briefings and press conferences off his schedule as he and his administration deal with the blowback from their botched troop withdrawal that saw Kabul fall into the hands of the Taliban.”

Biden has set the inflation time bomb.

Larry Kudlow writes about The Secret of Statecraft That the Gipper Understood and Biden Fails to Grasp.

Despite all the rhetoric from the left, Poll finds growing support for voter ID requirements.

We have recommended Stephen Moore’s Committee to Unleash Prosperity in the past, but in case you did not sign up for their emails, August 18th was another excellent piece.  Click here for the newsletter for useful tidbits from the political and financial world.  (Number 3 focuses on one of the sad legacies for New York.)

“God Bless America” performed by the West Point Band.  Thank you to all have served, who are serving and who will serve, we are forever indebted to all of you.