The pendulum swings—it's our turn now

The Democrats were anticipating what can happen to their "great society" with the retirement of just one Supreme Courts justice, Anthony Kennedy (pictured), while Trump is president. It just happened.

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By Carolyn Yeager

EARLY IN MY LIFE, I experienced the cultural takeover of the U.S. by the Left with the Warren Supreme Court and all that it entailed. Now I have lived to see the pendulum begin to swing back in the opposite direction … as it always does.

My good friend Ray Goodwin likes to bring up that pendulum imagery, saying “Never fear, it will come back our way eventually. It has to.

There is no better sign that the political/cultural pendulum is moving back toward the conservative right than the opportunity US President Donald Trump has just gotten to appoint another Supreme Court Justice this year. We all know he will appoint a still young, constitutionalist-oriented jurist who will keep the Court conservative for many years to come. And he may have yet another opportunity to appoint a third SCOTUS justice during an eight-year term. After all, how long can the 85-year-old Ruth Bader Ginsburg continue to sit upright on her bench?

The makeup of the Supreme Court has been key to the disastrous cultural shift that has taken place in the US for the past 60 years. Of course, the liberals and communists thought the changes they were making would be permanent, and are now in shock as President Donald Trump, after his upset victory in 2016, has not only already undone most of Barack Obama's legislative agenda, but is now being afforded the opportunity to undo much of the judicial “progress” that was made in those 60 years. And he is up to the job!

Trump is proving his promise as the “Magical Man” from his campaign days. He never stops surprising us. And I believe it is with his term in office that the pendulum has begun it's swing back to the right and will continue in that direction for a long time to come. We will be in the driver's seat for a change, but need to beware that the obstacles and pitfalls strewn in the road ahead will be vicious and deadly, so we can't go to sleep at the wheel.

More evidence of the permanent change of direction

Another example of Trump's winning is this story that just broke today. CNN reports that a State Department deputy assistant secretary for refugees and migration did some extreme editing of United Nations documents under consideration that “condemn racism as a threat to democracy.”

Andrew Veprek (can't find a picture), a foreign service officer who was promoted by the White House to the senior position he currently holds, “disputed the idea that leaders have a "duty" to condemn hate speech and incitement, and repeatedly rejected use of the words nationalism, populism, and xenophobia.” Veprek commented about the UN documents:

"The drafters say 'populism and nationalism' as if these are dirty words. There are millions of Americans who likely would describe themselves as adhering to these concepts. (Maybe even the President.). So are we looking to here condemn our fellow-citizens, those who pay our salaries?"

Veprek also pushed to soften language about fighting racism and about racism in politics in his proposed amendments to a UN Human Rights Council resolution titled "The Incompatibility between Democracy and Racism" that is adopted without a vote, with much of the same language, every few years. Veprek wrote, “Our duty to condemn [hate speech] goes too far. Our public figures can't be obliged to police every intolerant thought … at the risk of being condemned for intolerance themselves.” He also wrote that he has concerns over the use of the word “xenophobia” because of “the malleability of the term now and in the future. What real or perceived offense is next to be considered 'xenophobic?'. How does that square with our historic respect for the right of free expression? The drafters need to focus on behavior and actions - which states can control - rather than attitudes and states of mind."

Shortly after the edits were suggested, the US announced it was leaving the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

CNN also reports that Veprek appears to have struck out an entire section that links fighting racism with building a diverse democracy, crossing out the language, "acknowledging the linkage and complementarity of the combat against racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia with the long-term construction of a democratic, non-discriminatory and multicultural society, based on the recognition, respect and promotion of cultural, ethnic and religious diversity."

Instead, Veprek questions multiculturalism in his comments, writing: "What's the evidence for such 'complementarity?' Some commentators assert that a unifying culture is the best way to promote social trust and combat racism." He crossed out concern over "the rise of extremist political parties, movements and groups that seek to normalize racism," as well as "xenophobia" and incitement of hatred and violence, saying the phrase “normalize racism” is vague and has no legal definition.”

CNN says that Veprek started out as a consular officer in 2002 and worked for the House Foreign Affairs Committee before becoming an immigration adviser at the White House Domestic Policy Council, where he was close to senior policy advisor Stephen Miller.

Another incident that speaks of this trend is the comment by President Trump's new ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, that he “wants to empower conservatives in Europe.” He explained that comment by saying, “we are experiencing an awakening from the silent majority — those who reject the elites & their bubble. Led by Trump.” In further explanation, he said: “I think there is a groundswell of conservative policies that are taking hold because of the failed policies of the left,.” And, “I think Sebastian Kurz is a rock star. I’m a big fan,” referring to the leader of Austria’s conservatives who has formed a government with the far right.