[ May 4, 2024 ]
In an interview with Geller Report, Clare Lopez — CIA operations officer for 20 years and founder of Lopez Liberty, LLC — discusses the dangers of letting the Democrats run wild with power-grabs in response to Coronavirus.
“So, I am not concerned about Trump. But the inclination of a people in crisis can tend towards granting the central government powers that it would not otherwise,” stated Lopez, in response to multiplying conservative fears that emergency powers might be abused by the Democrats.
“I do think there are concerns. The concerns are very valid,” Lopez stated on a phone call with Geller Report, Saturday, Mar. 28, 2020.
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With regard to conservative fears that the Democrats might leverage Coronavirus to justify using FEMA’s “continuity of government” powers, Lopez does not completely discount.
In her column for Newsmax.com last week, Lopez highlighted lessons from the Obama years vis-a-vis “wasting” a crisis. “‘You never want to let a serious crisis go to waste,’ was the war cry of Rahm Emanuel, another socialist progressive … which is about the collapse of society and seizure of power,” Lopez argues. [Emphasis added]
But while the potential for abuse by leftists does exist, Lopez dismisses as paranoid various hypothetical scenarios involving mass citizen arrests or de facto “indefinite detention” using quarantine provisions.
“That’s not going to happen. We need to calm people down, here. What looks like will happen is that certain hot-spots, New York City, New Orleans, Chicago, maybe Detroit, might be under emergency quarantine orders,” states Lopez.
“Those [quarantine orders] typically would be issued by the state, the governor, and the governor would have the authority to call up the national guard to prevent looting and preserve public order.”
“But nobody’s going to round anybody up and throw them into detention centers,” Lopez contends, suggesting fears of the kind described are unfounded.
“Let’s knock that idea out completely, from the start. People are stuck at home, they’re spending way too much time on social media and they’re going bonkers.”
Her denunciation of right-wing paranoia notwithstanding, Lopez is definitely not suggesting we dismiss the reality of opportunistic power-grabs by Democrats under the guise of fighting Coronavirus.
In her column for Newsmax.com, Lopez writes:
“We need our government’s help in many ways right now, but government is not the solution. It’s there to help, not to take advantage of this crisis to grow the federal, state, or local bureaucracy even larger. …
“We must not surrender our own individual liberty so much that Bolshevik Bernie loses the race for president, but that we lose the Republic.”
Lopez even gives examples of COVID19-related abuses of power that should be unanimously condemned:
“ … —When we see the Democratic/Marxist Mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, sign an order banning the sale and/or transportation of firearms in New Orleans, we must know this is an unconstitutional act.
“—When the Mayor of Champaign, Illinois Mayor Deborah Frank Feinen signs an Executive Order banning all public assembly as well as the sale or purchase of any guns or ammunition, and claiming the right to seize private property, we must know this is a direct violation of the U.S. Constitution.
“—When New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declares the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic is reason for the federal government to nationalize “crucial factories and industries,” we must know we are looking down the barrel of fascism. …”
Lopez further suggests that it’s up to conservatives to shut down the “feedback loop of fear.” Stop giving Democrat-run corporate media like MSNBC openly promoting “forced quarantines” power over the narrative and our lives, Lopez argues.
“Turn it off,” Lopez says. “Turn off those channels, like MSNBC. This is not where Trump is going, this is not where the task force is going. They’re just not. So play Scrabble, get out a board game. Turn off those negative feedback loops,” she counsels.
Lopez argues that American citizens generally and policymakers, should be way more focused on instituting “sunset dates” for the emergency powers used during the Coronavirus crisis.
“The important thing is that, whatever these extraordinary powers are ceded by the citizenry … needs to have a very clear sunset date on it.”
“Sunset dates like this will answer the question, ‘When exactly is the emergency over?’ And at that point, those powers ceded, need to be returned to the people,” she argues forcefully.
With regard to Pres. Trump’s disturbing warning at last week’s press conference that extending economic inactivity and lock-downs much longer will result in “death,” Lopez sides with the president.
Trump originally told reporters:
“We cannot let the cure be worse than the problem itself. …
“We can’t do that. There’s a tremendous cost to our country. You have 160 million jobs in this country now, the most ever by far.
“The number of jobs, almost 160 million. So, we can’t turn that off and think it’s going to be wonderful.”
Trump continued:
“There will be tremendous repercussions, there will be tremendous death from that, death. You’re talking about death, probably more death from that than anything that we’re talking about with respect to the virus.” [Emphasis added]
“They should be able to get back to work,” Lopez contends, mirroring the president’s sentiments. “I agree more with the president, that within a certain period of time, probably over the next couple of weeks, that there’s a lot of the country that is really going to be perfectly safe and important to open back up for business.”
Lopez clarifies that re-opening businesses is definitely not safe in all areas of the United States.
“Certain critical hot-spots, maybe even certain states, will need to remain quarantined, stay-at-home orders will need to be enforced for those areas.”
“But what Trump is saying, is that selectively, in a lot of the rest of the country … why should they remain shut down?” Lopez asks rhetorically.
“States that are critical to maintaining the economy and ensuring the economy overall in critical sectors like energy, production and manufacturing that they don’t collapse beyond the potential of bringing them back — they should be able to get back to work,” Lopez remarks forcefully.
Other notable conservative pundits are in agreement with Lopez’s outlook on the dangers of government expansion amidst Coronavirus response, like Andrew McCarthy’s insightful post at National Review.
McCarthy’s article challenges the fallacious assumption that more economic activity is somehow synonymous with more infection / death to Coronavirus.
“It is not sustainable for government to combat the disease by ordering communal and commercial activity to cease, then trying to compensate increasingly destitute citizens by borrowing and printing money to throw at them,” McCarthy declares.
MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD: A DIFFERENT KIND OF “VIRUS.”
Geller Report’s longstanding information war against jihadism is without equal in public discourse today.
We asked Lopez the following two questions:
- What, if anything, changed in terms of Islamic influence over White House policy under Pres. Trump?
- Were officers of the Muslim Brotherhood removed from their positions of influence in U.S. government and normalcy restored?
While her overall view of Pres. Trump is definitely one of praise and affirmation, Lopez did raise serious concerns about structurally pervasive issues of Muslim Brotherhood and Islamist influence over U.S. foreign policy.
“The Trump admin has a complete blind spot as it regards the Muslim Brotherhood in the United States,” Lopez states. “It’s a mixed bag. Domestically, Trump has nobody who can advise him on the Islamic threats to the country — that’s a gaping whole,” she continues.
“Training has not resumed, what we call the ‘Great Purge’ of a lot of that training, the instructors, the experts, their course material, has not been reversed.”
“You’ve got Vice Pres. Pence bringing the top Muslim Brotherhood official in America to the White House, Oussama Jammal, Secretary General of the USCMO – US Council of Muslim Organizations,” she says, adding, “Pence is a good, good man, and I’m sure he has no idea what he just did, or who Jamal is.”
“The influence is so powerful, so endemic, that there’s no good advice, no accurate information getting to the president, the vice president, or the National Security Council,” Lopez alarmingly concludes.
Despite the fact Barack Obama is no longer president, Lopez says that things are about the same, or worse, citing active “recruitment” efforts by the Muslim Brotherhood.
“The Muslim Brotherhood has made inroads, but they also recruits, literally recruits within the US Government, in particular, the State Dept., e.g. Sam Brownback, who is a fully recruited asset of the Muslim Brotherhood,” states Lopez.
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33 Comments
4 years ago
worldwide response is very much in line with common purpose
4 years ago
Reply to
Halal Bacon
Globalists are pushing their agenda by whatever means they can. They NEVER let up.
4 years ago
Reply to
felix1999
And that’s the thing. They see this as the ultimate means to crush and throw into the dustbin of history, the wave of populism that saw Trump elected President and Brexit to take hold. Given that the globalists are chummy with Communist China and its “leader” Xi Jinping, one wonders if this unleashing of the Coronavirus is a globalist revenge.
4 years ago
For those who have not been paying attention, we have already surrendered our liberty.
4 years ago
Reply to
felix1999
When you are locked in your home as we are you have surrendered it all.
4 years ago
Reply to
old white guy
I don’t view a prudent move of being quarantined as “surrendering it all.” It is the sensible thing to do with a highly infectious disease. Would you rather people spread it?
Living in NJ we are allowed out for essential activities. It’s not a permament requirement. We are right behind NY in cases. Other things like freedom of speech bother me more than this. Flimsey excuses for gun grabs bother me more.
4 years ago
Reply to
felix1999
We are not allowed out period. That is not freedom. Being “allowed” is also not freedom.
4 years ago
Reply to
old white guy
What state do you live in?
I don’t know of any state requiring a person not being allowed out. Across the board it is encouraged to not go out and only for essential needs or if you have a job that is essential. It’s only for a short duration to combat a highly infectious virus that does kill people. I don’t have a problem with this.
I have a problem with people partying, dispersing and spreading the virus such as what was happening with these selfish imbeciles going to Florida to party on beaches.
We happen to be in a high risk category. Even if we were not, I’d still not want others to have his virus. We don’t need a Wuhan China situation here. Trump is being reasonable and doing the right thing.
4 years ago
Reply to
felix1999
How is this “quarantine” considered “sensible”?
The mortality rate is far lower than that for the flu.
The infection rate is far lower than that for the flu.
Far fewer have died due to Corona than due to the flu.
Truth be known, the number “infected” is far, far, higher than reported – we will not know how many are “infected” until everyone is “tested” …. about 80% of those infected will have mild to non-existent symptoms (that from the “government”)
4 years ago
Reply to
old white guy
Actually, GOOD and LAW-ABIDING citizens should be policing their neighborhoods and the rest of us should be out and about. While I think it is a very good thing to be WISE and cautious, sheltering indoors, OUT OF FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN for 3 months IS GIVING UP YOUR LIBERTY.
4 years ago
Who could disagree with that?
I also think STATES should be held accountable for their extreme unpreparedness. Maybe a standard check list requiring a bare minimum of supplies be available and a general plan of action with flexibility that be put into action would curtail extreme federal government bailouts.
NY is bankrupt. NY squandered and wasted money. Now we all get to bail them our with OUR tax dollars. Where is the incentive to be responsible? It’s unfair to us when other states required less federal help. It is NOT the role of the federal government to do it all and pay for it all. I also don’t want a centralized government via the federal government through money etc.. because of state irresponsibility. States need to be accountable!
4 years ago
MORE GOOD NEWS!!!
FDA Gives Emergency Authorization of Hydroxychloroquine Use
BY JOEL B. POLLAK 29 Mar 2020
…
The use of the drug — often paired with azithromycin — has not yet been proven in clinical trials to be effective against the disease. However, given reported success in a growing number of small, non-randomized studies; as well as testimonials from doctors and patients about the use of the “off-label” drug regimen, doctors are said to be prescribing the treatment to patients who are severely ill. Anecdotally, many doctors are taking it prophylactically.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a statement on Sunday:
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to BARDA to allow hydroxychloroquine sulfate and chloroquine phosphate products donated to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) to be distributed and prescribed by doctors to hospitalized teen and adult patients with COVID-19, as appropriate, when a clinical trial is not available or feasible.
…
Earlier, the French government had approved similar drugs to treat the virus.
…
President Donald Trump has suggested that hydroxychloroquine could be effective, and has encouraged further study. His interest in the drug has prompted pushback from the media.
…
https://www.breitbart.com/health/2020/03/29/fda-gives-emergency-authorization-of-hydroxychloroquine-use/
4 years ago
Reply to
felix1999
And Michigan’s Governor Ratched couldn’t care less. She wants more people lingering to the point of death from this.
4 years ago
Hopefully, Ms Lopez is volunteering for the job, as one thing the President has gone without all too often is good advice, coupled with how to use it best.
!Constitutional~Carry!
4 years ago
YIYOYA: Bravo ! I sleep well tonight ! Buone Notte !
Eddie
4 years ago
“But nobody’s going to round anybody up and throw them into detention centers,”
Hmm, one wonders where that might have been said, and believed, in recent history (not to mention human history in general)? Oh yeah, Nazi Germany. Never underestimate human depravity and lust for power…
4 years ago
Reply to
Leonard Payne
Who’d a thunk it? Oh well at least the list of modern day tyrants is clearer…
4 years ago
ALL YOU CONSERVATIVES BETTER FIND OUT WHAT YOUR STATE IS DOING WITH THE ELECTIONS!
HERE IS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN SUMMIT COUNTY, OHIO AND THE B.O.E.., SOON TO BE IN YOUR AREA!
—————————————————————————————————————
“Ohio 2020 Primary Election is Now by Mail-In Ballot ONLY”
“Ohio lawmakers recently passed legislation to extend Ohio’s 2020 Primary Election through April 28, 2020 ”
https://www.buckeyefirearms.org/ohio-2020-primary-election-now-mail-ballot-only
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2020/03/26/heres-how-you-can-vote-ohios-new-primary-election/2917549001/
Are Ohioans willing to give up their liberty to vote in the June 2nd Primary?
IS THE FOLLOWING B.O.E. ORDER UNCONSTITUTIONAL?
Right now, Summit County, Ohio is forcing all its citizens to sign up or call the Board of Elections to request an ELECTION BALLOT so each of us can fill it out and return it to the B.O.E.. THEN, they will send us a BALLOT. We will fill it out, then return it to the B.O.E and ALL THIS MUST BE DONE BY THE END OF APRIL IN ORDER TO BE ALLOWED TO VOTE ON JUNE 2ND. WHICH DOES NOT LEAVE A LOT OF TIME!
I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW WRONG THAT IS AND HOW THAT IS AGAINST MY CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO HAVE A CHOICE IN HOW I VOTE, IN PERSON OR BY ABSENTEE BALLOT.
DOES ANYONE ELSE SEE HOW WRONG THIS IS OR IS EVERYONE SO AFRAID THAT THEY WILL BE WILLING TO GIVE UP THAT LIBERTY FOR SAFETY?
Does anyone see that by doing what they are asking will be susceptible to FRAUD?
Can we get a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT or an INJUNCTION against this horrendous idea of voting by mail. IF anyone at the USPS sees these envelopes for voting or IF THE B.O.E. makes you checkmark on the envelope what political party you are voting in, they can be discarded by evil people. ALL SORTS OF THINGS CAN HAPPEN if we do NOT vote in person!
4 years ago
Now you see what I mean when I say that they can have my guns when they pry them from my cold dead fingers.
I would rather die standing than to live on my knees.
4 years ago
Why doesn;t Trump remove those “governors”, “Mayors”, etc., that have willfully breached their sworn oaths, breached the Constitution, and who have committed Treason against the Republic … yes, Treason … they have “made war” against the Constitution by attempting to OVERTHROW said Constitution.
4 years ago
Uh, suicide IS “illegal” … unlawfully so …. the “government” does not “own” your life, YOU do. If you want to destroy it, it is your ‘right’ and you only need justify yourself to the one who created you – Almighty God.
4 years ago
Surrendering islam & maoism Will Cure Coronavirus. & everything else.
4 years ago
4 years ago
Reply to
arthur facteau
Would be interesting to see that, and just tried to find something, and went through several pages on a quick search, and all I got was Corona, Corona, Corona, but most of that was saying that Corona was not all it was cracked up to be. I believe we will get that eventually.
4 years ago
Pandemic my ass, more like Dempanic…
4 years ago
The looming million dollar question is why is TRUMP in bed a/ MOSLEMS?
4 years ago
Clare Lopez is awesome!
4 years ago
Rats have always been alll about ginning up peoples emotions –
4 years ago
Remember with the DemonRats it is always about control. They have “groomed” their city citizens to respond to their flapping their traps. Sheep the guvs types will take care of us. In the mean time some woman in a NYC hospital beats the brains out of an elderly woman shes dies they give her a disorderly citation and send her on her way. WTF?
