Speaker springs the secret about Biden

Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.), Speaker of the House of Representatives, two days ago sprung what is actually an open secret. He specifically said President Joe Biden is not in charge of his own administration. The particular issue in view is illegal immigration, and the border dispute with Texas. That dispute has stirred significant secession sentiment, as Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) has taken border security into his own hands. More to the point, Speaker Johnson notes that Joe Biden continually says he lacks the authority to secure the border as he ought to secure it. Not only does the Speaker dispute that statement, but he now says Biden is no longer in effective command. Conservatives predicted that a President Biden would be mentally disabled for Presidential command. What they did not predict is that another ranking officer of the government would say that out loud.

What the Speaker said

Speaker Johnson made his remarks in an interview with Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business last Friday (February 2). According to The Western Journal, he told Bartiromo that Joe Biden does not appear to be in charge.

The speaker bases his conclusion on Biden’s consistent refusal to take appropriate action on the southern border. In fact, Biden, as recently as January 30, specifically said he lacked the authority to do more than he has. The White House site itself contains remarks he made before stepping aboard his “Marine One” VH-3D helicopter:

Q: Mr. President, on the border. Have you done everything you can do with executive authority? Or is there more you could do absent (inaudible)?

THE PRESIDENT: I’ve done all I can do. Just give me the power. I’ve asked from the very day I got into office. Give me the Border Patrol. Give me the people — give me the people, the judges. Give me the people who can stop this and make it work right.

Notice that the President isn’t talking about interdiction, but about processing. He wants more immigration judges to hear the cases of all who present themselves at the border.

Bill Maher criticized both sides on the border issue on a panel discussion on Fox. On one hand, he accused Republicans of not wanting a border deal because they’d rather campaign on the issue. (Maher failed to consider whether “as good a deal as you’re gonna get” is good enough.) But he also conceded a point Gov. Chris Sununu (R-N.H.) made, that Biden did have authority he won’t use.

I was gonna say part two of the acting is Joe Biden saying “You know what? If you just give me a new law.” A new law?! The president can fix this and he already has an existing law. This is all so silly! “I need a piece of paper from Congress to deal with the border.” No you already have that.

Which is the precise point Speaker Johnson made to Maria Bartiromo. He said he’s “been trying for weeks” to convince Biden to:

1. Reinstate the Remain in Mexico policy, and
2. Resume building the border wall.

What Biden has done and is doing

Biden not only rescinded the Remain in Mexico policy, but also – on his first day in office – issued an Executive Order commanding wall-building contractors to down tools, go home, and leave everything as it was. Worse, he is selling off unused border wall segments so that no one can use them.

Now he says he lacks the authority to rescind those two decisions. Johnson disputes that.

I’ve read to him the law myself — to the president. Read him the provisions of the law and said, “Mr. President, please take action.”

So why won’t he? Because, said the speaker, his staff won’t allow it.

Separately, Elon Musk – who seems to be bingeing on Matrix-style “red pills” – gave his brutal assessment of Biden immigration policy.

Here, separately, is the link to H.R. 1177 in the 117^th Congress.

A clearly angry Musk has been making further points lately:

This was Musk’s most significant post to date:

Less significantly, but still important, Musk questions the census rule that one must count all “persons.” The Census does not limit itself to citizens of the United States, nor even to lawful residents! And as a former Census crew member, your editor can attest that the Census counts convicts in their prisons.

Musk also recalled this summary of a floor speech by Johnson, listing 64 ways President Biden has undermined border security.

What’s happening in the meantime?

In the meantime, different parties are taking different kinds of action – or refusing to. Under Gov. Abbott’s authority and orders, the Texas Army National Guard has turned Shelby Park into a major border strong point and staging area. At The Gateway Pundit, Christina Laila reports that the Guard is building the border wall, using authentic-looking border wall segments.

David Greyson reports that the TNG is using small boats to patrol the Rio Grande directly.

Two commentators credited Gov. Abbott directly with taking effective border-security measures.

The National Border Patrol Council agrees.

Greyson also submitted another report. Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-Texas) introduced a bill in Congress to authorize the National Guard to use force, if necessary, to stop armed illegal crossers.

At the same time, most of the House Democratic Conference has voted against bills to deport illegals caught:

• Driving under the influence of alcohol and/or other intoxicants, and:
• Defrauding the Social Security System.

According to these posts, the measures passed.

Is the Speaker correct?

The Speaker is definitely and incontrovertibly correct about one thing. This administration has done nothing to improve border security and in fact seems to be deliberately undermining it. Republicans in the House are passing good, proper bills – while the Senate just passed a totally inadequate measure. Laura Loomer has the details:

The only ones doing anything about the border, are Texans, in Congress, in their legislature, and in the National Guard.

As to whether Biden is in charge or not: the Speaker hasn’t spoken to this, but Biden seems to take vindictive pleasure in the effects of his policies. (Only recently has Biden even admitted that the border situation qualifies as a crisis.) Elon Musk is correct: an open-border policy makes self-consistent – and Machiavellian – electoral sense for Democrats, and for the globalistic elites. On the other hand, Biden has shown clear disorientation to time and even to place. So if he’s not simply ignoring every overture the Speaker makes, he cannot – or may not – even acknowledge them.

So if Biden isn’t in charge, who is? Someone – maybe Ambassador Susan Rice – could be in charge of “handling” Biden. She puts papers in front of him, puts a pen into his hand, says, “Sign,” and he signs. He likely needs no persuasion to sign any of these things. And who’s in charge of Susan Rice? None other than Barack H. Obama. This is the “fundamental transformation of America” he has always sought.

What next?

The Senate border bill is not likely to meet Speaker Johnson’s standards, so he is unlikely to take it up. Immigration is already a campaign issue and will so remain. Indeed the Texas authorities have already become folk heroes, as members of the Texas Ranger Division once were.

Anyone concerned about illegal immigration must also take heed of the secret cabal that now even the Speaker recognizes as the ones actually in charge in this White House. They must also take heed of the kinds of people coming across. Contrary to Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s apparent belief, most of these are males of military age. In military terms, they are irregulars, and as such present a clear and present danger.

The Speaker knows that he has one other measure moving through the committee process: the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Articles of Impeachment go to the House Rules Committee tomorrow. Those Articles are necessary, even if only to embarrass the Senate in an election year.

But the situation is more serious than that. The American people either made a mistake, or let someone steal an election from them and just shrugged that off. American voters cannot “shrug this off” again. They must vote Biden and Harris out, and recognize that they and that secret cabal won’t go quietly. Turnout – and volunteering to be precinct challengers and Officers of Election – are essential.