Ray Hanania
We’re being distracted from the real scandal
By Ray Hanania
The warnings that Russia will attack Ukraine have been much like forecasts of the TV meteorologists. They can predict snow, but how intense or light they often get wrong. Schools close. Some parents stay home from work, but the snowfall is light.
We live in Chicagoland, folks. It snows! It always has. We’ve seen some real storms but what we have been seeing lately seems pretty much mild and manageable.
Every day, we’re told, a Russian attack is imminent “in the next day or so.”
Everyone is focused on the apparent plans that Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin has to revive the old Soviet Communist empire when he is not killing rivals with radiation poisoning in cities around the world.
But this crisis isn’t just about Putin. It is about President Joe Biden, who benefits from the crisis to offset his past problems.
As we enter the midterm elections this year — what we are not talking about when we talk about Ukraine — is Biden’s failed policy on Afghanistan, where tyranny and religious fanaticism that empowered terrorists has returned.
What we are not talking about is the failed efforts to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action agreement with the terrorist regime in Iran. Iran has been dragging its feet in the Vienna negotiations since they began nine months ago and advancing its uranium enrichment to the point where even Secretary of State Anthony Blinken has warned it will reach the point where an agreement becomes irrelevant.
Domestically, Biden has been unable to gather the votes needed to pass the Build Back Better plan, which he claims will help America’s economic recovery. He can’t get the whole package through because he can’t keep his party together.
But then there is the Ukrainian “crisis.” Every day that Americans fear the breakout of war, we are not talking about Biden’s failure in Afghanistan, the expansion of terrorist Iran or the erosion of his political base as we enter the midterm elections.
The midterm elections, as you know, are important because in nearly every presidential term, with only a few exceptions, the political party that holds the White House, this year the Democrats, lose control of the House and Senate to the opposition, in this case, the Republicans.
If you think negotiations with Iran have been bad, wait until the Republicans take over the House and the Senate. America will be in worsened polarization.
You can’t blame the Republicans alone for the polarization. You have to blame the Democrats, too. It seems no one cares about the country more than they care about their politics.
Democrats keep exaggerating the Jan. 6 violence as an “insurrection” (meaning an orchestrated, organized violent assault); when in fact it was an act of unprecedented violence from some of the thousands of demonstrators who gathered to protest the presidential election results.
The media was so biased against claims of vote fraud — something inherent in American election systems across this country — that it fueled the belief that somehow the election was stolen.
Meanwhile, the Democrats did nothing about the months-long violence that was fueled by George Floyd’s murder when thousands and thousands of protesters destroyed, burned down and vandalized businesses, and killed police and civilians.
They were just expressing their rage, or letting off “justified” steam.
The media has exaggerated the cries of the left while marginalizing and demonizing the cries of the right.
There is a middle ground, but the mainstream news media is not there as they should be.
Among the questions not being asked are those involving Biden’s controversy-plagued son, Hunter, who has engaged in millions of dollars in consulting contracts in Ukraine.
Miranda Devine, whose father, Frank Devine, was a friend of mine when he ran the Chicago Sun-Times under right-wing media mogul Rupert Murdoch, wrote an eye-opening book you should read called “Laptop from Hell.”
The book is about what Hunter had left on a laptop that a computer store owner said he brought in weeks before his father announced his candidacy for the presidency. But Hunter, who had a drug problem, according to the book, never picked up the laptop. The computer store owner, who held conservative political views, owned it and made it available to Biden’s critics.
Few media would explore those facts because they didn’t want to hurt Biden’s chances of defeating the blowhard and petty former President Donald Trump.
How does this all tie into Ukraine? Like most conspiracy concerns, we won’t know for many decades. By then, who knows what will happen in Ukraine?
Check out Ray Hanania’s columns and political podcasts at hanania.com.
Local News
Swanson scores, assists in Red Stars’ win over Reign
Spread the loveThe Red Stars improved to 3-1-1 by beating the Seattle Reign, 2-1, on the road on April 21. Mallory Swanson had an assist on an Ali Schlegel goal in the fourth minute and added a goal of her own in the 31st minute. Swanson missed last season after sustaining a knee injury on…
Red Stars’ Tatumn Milazzo has top Save of the Week
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Tatumn Milazzo called her achievement “funny.” The Chicago Red Stars defender and Orland Park native was awarded the NWSL’s Save of the Week after chasing down a ball in a loss to Angel City on April 13. The Save of the Week usually goes to a goalie. Milazzo laughed…
Men’s College Volleyball | Saint Xavier captures fifth straight conference tourney title
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The SXU men’s volleyball team won its fifth straight Chicagoland Christian Athletic Conference tournament championship after a 25-16, 25-17, 25-22 sweep of Calumet College of St. Joseph on April 20 at the Shannon Center. Jan Lopuch had 10 kills and nine digs for the Cougars. With the win, the…
College Baseball | Saint Xavier upsets Eastern Illinois
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Saint Xavier baseball team picked up a win that its players are going to remember for a long time. The Cougars stunned Eastern Illinois, 4-2, on April 17 in Charleston. It was the Cougars’ first win over the Panthers, a Division I program, since 2005. Lyons grad Troy…
St. Laurence hoops teams top honor roll
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Area basketball teams proved to be strong on the court and in the classroom this season, and St. Laurence was the leader of the pack. The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association compiled a list of the top academic teams, and the area did well. In Division 3 girls, St. Laurence…
Chicago Bears recognize St. Rita senior with All-Star award
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Chances are good that few outside of St. Rita football circles know who David Lyle is. With good reason. Lyle missed his senior season for the Mustangs last fall after sustaining a serious knee injury. He even postponed having knee surgery so that he could take care of his…
Pols want 63rd St. armory for new police HQ
Spread the love. Porfirio, Guerrero-Cuellar push plan in Springfield . By Tim Hadac Any plans the Chicago Department of Aviation may have had for the vacant Army National Guard Midway Armory, 5400 W. 63rd St., may be grounded, at least for now. Several elected officials are eyeing the parcel as the headquarters of a new…
Her back against the wall, Stacy needs help
Spread the love. By Tim Hadac Editor Clear-Ridge Reporter & NewsHound (708)-496-0265 . Clearing and Garfield Ridge have earned a reputation as a place where people look out for each other—and that sometimes means caring for each other in times of need. Today, I want to talk about one such person, who sure could use…
Neighbors
Oak Lawn trustee says village needs state grocery tax
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle An Oak Lawn trustee said that Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposal to eliminate the state’s grocery tax will be costly for the village. Trustee William “Bud” Stalker (5th), accompanied by Mayor Terry Vorderer, recently returned from a fact-finding trip to Springfield where they learned more about the governor’s proposal to eliminate…
Palos Heights recognizes volunteers
Spread the loveBy Nuha Abdessalam Palos Heights handed out awards last week recognizing the services provided by volunteers through the years. The proclamations, which were read aloud during the city council meeting April 16, were a testament to the city’s volunteers and were handed out as part of Volunteer Recognition Week. Volunteers were cited for…
Boys Volleyball | Richards weathering struggles after run of success
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent After a tough weekend at the Smack Attack tournament, Richards got back into the win column with a two-set victory over Eisenhower in a South Suburban Red match. The Bulldogs made quick work of the Cardinals, winning 25-16, 25-15 on April 23 in Oak Lawn to snap a five-match…
SD218 puts on annual Arts Extravaganza
Spread the loveBy Kelly White The arts have become a major portion of the curriculum Community High School District 218. Showcasing those many talents, the Friends of CHSD 218’s Education Foundation proudly hosted its 15th annual Arts Extravaganza on April 5 at Eisenhower High School in Blue Island. “The Arts Extravaganza is a great event…
Gaming licenses to be tougher to get in Orland Park
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva It’s going to take longer to receive gaming licenses in Orland Park. The village board passed an ordinance April 15 that would allow table service businesses open at least 36 consecutive months to apply rather than the previous 18 months, and extended the probationary period to 18 months instead of…
Palos Park passes $16 million budget
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva The Palos Park Village Council approved the 2024-25 budget, which totals a little more than $16.3 million at the April 22 village council meeting. According to village documents, it represented an increase of a shade over $603,000 from last year. The village is expecting $13.4 million in revenue and $1.86…
Fire damages Al Bahaar Restaurant in Orland Park
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Orland Fire Protection District firefighters responded to a fire Monday evening at the Al Bahaar Restaurant, 39 Orland Square Dr. At first, restaurant owners suspected the fire alarm was triggered by a malfunction, but as firefighters inspected the restaurant to reset the fire alarm, they detected a burning smell. “What…
Year of growth | Evergreen Park enjoying inaugural boys volleyball season
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent After almost 70 years of existence as a high school, Evergreen Park finally has a boys volleyball team. The Mustangs are playing their inaugural season with a junior varsity squad, with some matches being played at the varsity level. Head coach Brian Zofkie is leading this group with assistant…
‘Brazen and cowardly’: Police, community outraged by officer’s slaying
Spread the love. By Tim Hadac Police and others across the Southwest Side reacted with outrage this week over the slaying of a Chicago Police officer in the early morning hours on Sunday. Officer Luis M. Huesca was shot to death on the street in the 3100 block of West 56th Street at 2:53 a.m.…