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Three Things You Need to Know - November 8, 2017

November 08, 2017
Staff

WRITER

GOP Armageddon.

Armageddon came to the GOP in Virginia last night. Republicans got straight crushed as Ralph Northam defeated Ed Gillespie for Governor, and - probably more significantly - Democrats picked up TEN seats in the state legislature.

If you’ve been watching this on the news the past few weeks, you’d think that whichever party performed better in this election was going to win every election until the end of time. Democrats have lost every special election up until this point. They’ve done that despite pouring in record amounts of cash. Why was there so much hype on THIS election?

Gillespie lost, but that was just about as predictable as making the bold claim that the sun will probably rise in the East the morning after. With the exception of 2013, the sitting president’s party has lost EVERY Virginia gubernatorial election since Jimmy Carter! On top of that, Trump lost Virginia to Hillary and the state went to Obama twice. The narrative this morning is that this was the beginning of the end times for the GOP, but this would have been a MUCH bigger deal had the Democrats performed poorly. Republicans were SUPPOSED to do badly here.

There’s a much bigger story here. Virginia is a prime example of the increasing shift of people and states moving to the far fringes of the left and right. Red states are getting redder, and blue states are getting bluer. The moderates and middle ground are slowly disappearing. Virginia has been turning blue for a while, but the most eye-popping thing you see on the map is that urban areas have turned so blue and rural areas have turned so red, it almost drains the red and blue cones from your eyes. Where did the moderates go? This is a trend that will continue to pick up steam as people continue to shift further to the left and right. Consider Virginia, a state that just elected a governor endorsed by Planned Parenthood, elected their first openly transgender to the legislature and elected a self-proclaimed socialist.

The midterms are still a year away, and anything is possible. The GOP needs to either up their game or somehow try and get Hillary on every single ballot next year. Either way, whether you live in Blue country or Red country, get ready to move further in that direction.

Texas Shooter Update.

How is it possible to pass five background checks, even after you’ve been in prison for assault?

Disturbing details continue to emerge about the man who murdered 26 people at Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church last Sunday.

The latest is that while he was in the Air Force in 2012, he made death threats against his superior officers and tried to sneak guns onto Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. He was sent to a mental health facility, but he later escaped. Police caught him at a bus terminal in El Paso. Police said at the time that he “suffered from mental disorders” and “was a danger to himself and others.”

This apparently happened at the same time he was facing charges for kicking, choking, and hitting his wife, pulling her hair, and pointing loaded guns at her in 2011 and 2012. He also hit his infant stepson on the head, fracturing the child’s skull.

I don’t think I understand military justice – he was only sentenced to one year in a military prison for punching a baby? According to his court-martial documents, the assault was “with a force likely to produce death or grievous bodily harm.” Isn’t that attempted murder?

The Air Force admitted on Monday that his conviction was not entered into the National Criminal Information Center database. Someone was not doing their job.

In the two years following his military prison term, he was also investigated twice for sexual assault and rape, though no charges were filed.

Despite all of that, he still passed at least five background checks after his assault conviction: one to work at a grocery store, then two more in 2016 and 2017 to purchase guns at Academy Sports, and two more within the last four months to get security guard jobs at a water park and an RV resort.

Who is doing these useless background checks? This isn’t like applying for a library card. He was getting full-time jobs and buying firearms. What is going on?

When we have background check laws in place that completely fail, it only emboldens the left to pass more laws.

America better get its act together with the laws we already have or we’re going to lose even more of our freedoms.

One Year of Trump.

Happy one year anniversary.

Today, President Trump is celebrating 365 days in office.

Has it been the “incredibly tremendous year” he promised?

Probably not, but there is no denying that some really good things have happened over the past year.

Trump made great appointments, like Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, Education secretary Betsy DeVos, and EPA administrator Scott Pruitt.

But the most impressive accomplishment of the last year is the complete transformation of the economic landscape.

Under Trump, we have seen a healthy and robust economy come flourishing back from the grave.

All three quarters of Trump in office have resulted in 3 percent of more of GDP growth--an unmatched achievement by any other president in our history.

Those numbers are fantastic compared to eight years of Obama’s miserable 1.6 percent average.

Unemployment under Trump plummeted to 4.1 percent as of October’s jobs report, released on Friday. That is a 16-year low.

Consumer confidence is skyrocketing, hitting 125.9 in October — the highest level since December 2000.

And finally the Dow Jones is up 29 percent since Trump was elected.

Whether you like Trump or not, you have to agree that these are great accomplishments for our economy.

We still have a long, long, way to go, but some really good things happened for America this year.

I highly doubt our economy would have turned around with Hillary Clinton at the helm. That reminds me…on this one year anniversary of Trump taking office, I’d like to recognize another milestone: It’s been one year since Hillary lost for the last time.

MORE 3 THINGS

This article provided courtesy of TheBlaze.

Civics isn’t optional—America's survival depends on it

JEFF KOWALSKY / Contributor | Getty Images

Every vote, jury duty, and act of engagement is civics in action, not theory. The republic survives only when citizens embrace responsibility.

I slept through high school civics class. I memorized the three branches of government, promptly forgot them, and never thought of that word again. Civics seemed abstract, disconnected from real life. And yet, it is critical to maintaining our republic.

Civics is not a class. It is a responsibility. A set of habits, disciplines, and values that make a country possible. Without it, no country survives.

We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Civics happens every time you speak freely, worship openly, question your government, serve on a jury, or cast a ballot. It’s not a theory or just another entry in a textbook. It’s action — the acts we perform every day to be a positive force in society.

Many of us recoil at “civic responsibility.” “I pay my taxes. I follow the law. I do my civic duty.” That’s not civics. That’s a scam, in my opinion.

Taking up the torch

The founders knew a republic could never run on autopilot. And yet, that’s exactly what we do now. We assume it will work, then complain when it doesn’t. Meanwhile, the people steering the country are driving it straight into a mountain — and they know it.

Our founders gave us tools: separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism, elections. But they also warned us: It won’t work unless we are educated, engaged, and moral.

Are we educated, engaged, and moral? Most Americans cannot even define a republic, never mind “keep one,” as Benjamin Franklin urged us to do after the Constitutional Convention.

We fought and died for the republic. Gaining it was the easy part. Keeping it is hard. And keeping it is done through civics.

Start small and local

In our homes, civics means teaching our children the Constitution, our history, and that liberty is not license — it is the space to do what is right. In our communities, civics means volunteering, showing up, knowing your sheriff, attending school board meetings, and understanding the laws you live under. When necessary, it means challenging them.

How involved are you in your local community? Most people would admit: not really.

Civics is learned in practice. And it starts small. Be honest in your business dealings. Speak respectfully in disagreement. Vote in every election, not just the presidential ones. Model citizenship for your children. Liberty is passed down by teaching and example.

Samuel Corum / Stringer | Getty Images

We assume America will survive automatically, but every generation must learn to carry the weight of freedom.

Start with yourself. Study the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and state laws. Study, act, serve, question, and teach. Only then can we hope to save the republic. The next election will not fix us. The nation will rise or fall based on how each of us lives civics every day.

Civics isn’t a class. It’s the way we protect freedom, empower our communities, and pass down liberty to the next generation.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The critical difference: Rights from the Creator, not the state

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.