What a dramatic weekend for Pastor Andrew Brunson! 

On Friday, Brunson was standing in a Turkish courtroom convicted on terrorism charges. Twenty-four hours later, he was celebrating his freedom in the Oval Office with President Trump and congressional leaders. 

Many kudos to Commissioner Kristina Arriaga of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Arriaga has been a leading advocate for Pastor Brunson.  She testified before House and Senate committees on his behalf and made several trips to Turkey to attend his court hearings.

Perhaps the most breathtaking moment at the White House Saturday was when Pastor Brunson asked if he could pray for President Trump. The president said, “Thank you. Well, I need it probably more than anybody in this room.”

So Pastor Brunson got up from his chair, placed his hand on the president’s shoulder, and took a knee in the Oval Office while he delivered an incredible prayer for Donald Trump. Here’s what he said:

“Lord God, I ask that you pour out your Holy Spirit on President Trump, that you give him supernatural wisdom to accomplish all of the plans you have for this country and for him.

"I ask that you give him wisdom in how to lead this country into righteousness. I ask that you give him perseverance and endurance and courage, to stand for truth.

"I ask that you protect him from slander, from enemies, from those who would undermine. I ask that you make him a great blessing to this country.

"Fill him with your wisdom, and strength, and perseverance. And we bless him. May he be a great blessing to our country. In Jesus’ name, we bless you. Amen.”

What a contrast to another interaction in the Oval Office between President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky.

Trump vs. Stahl

President Trump sat down recently for an interview with Leslie Stahl that aired on “60 Minutes” Sunday night. The show was one long reminder of why half the country voted for Donald Trump. 

Stahl repeatedly interrupted the president, yet time and again he responded without any wavering or weakness. At one point, Trump shot back, saying, “I’m president and you’re not.”

Stahl demanded that Trump pledge he would not fire Special Counsel Robert Mueller. The president responded, “Why should I pledge to you? … I don’t have to pledge to you.”

The entertainment magazine Variety declared that “60 Minutes” was “outmatched” by Trump, adding, “He won every segment of the interview.” If you missed the interview, you can read the transcript here. I cannot imagine any other Republican being that strong. 

I am still trying to process Mitt Romney’s cave to Candy Crowley!

“Gosnell” Makes Top 10

The movie “Gosnell” debuted Friday and finished in the top 10 from the weekend results. That is an amazing accomplishment given that it had a limited opening in fewer than 680 theaters, compared to 4,250 for the weekend’s number one film. 

Moreover, there were virtually no reviews of the movie. Only one review by the Los Angeles Times could be found. Hollywood has blacklisted the film because it exposes the ugly reality of abortion on demand. Facebook and NPR also banned advertising for “Gosnell.”

I strongly encourage you to check it out.

The Violent Left

The Republican Party headquarters in Manhattan was attacked last week by antifa. The group smashed windows, vandalized the office, and left a threatening warning. Just consider these excerpts:

“Tonight, we put the Republican Party on notice, in defiance to the policy of mass misery they have championed.

"The U.S. government has established concentration camps around the country for Latino people, shamelessly murdering black people, and continues its war machine that has slaughtered Muslim people with impunity for decades…

"Our attack is merely a beginning. We are not passive, we are not civil, and we will not apologize… The US fascist political system is one of the most savage institutions in history and we will combat it relentlessly until all are free of American barbarism.”

I wish these radicals would quit trying to “fundamentally transform” America. If they hate it so much, they should just leave! I suspect we would do quite well crowdfunding one-way tickets to Venezuela, North Korea, Cuba, or whatever “workers paradise” these leftists chose to go to.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, violence erupted once again in Portland when antifa thugs showed up to protest the Patriot Prayer march for law and order. 

The Patriot Prayer group called for the march in response to left-wing groups taking over the streets of Portland recently. Progressive demonstrators literally stopped cars and redirected traffic, while yelling vulgar insults at drivers. 

It’s worth remembering that the Obama administration declared antifa to be a “domestic terrorist group.” The message left at the Manhattan GOP office confirms it. The group is seeking the violent overthrow of the government. That is spelled out very clearly.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions needs to devote more resources to crushing this violent anti-American organization. People who engage in assaults and threaten the democratic process should be in jail. 

My friends, the Left’s propensity to commit violence must be a major issue in the election. The Left must be punished at the ballot box for flirting with fascism. But it is getting all kinds of support from left-wing politicians.

Quotes by multiple Democrat candidates reveal just how radical their party has become.

• Hillary Clinton and Eric Holder are denouncing civility and stoking violence.

• Andrew Cuomo referred to ICE agents as “a bunch of thugs.”

• Stacey Abrams, who is running for governor of Georgia, said that November’s “blue wave is "comprised of those who are documented and undocumented.” Really? Is Abrams seeking the votes of illegal aliens?

• In Arizona, Democrat Senate candidate Krysten Sinema once said that she was “fine” with Americans going to fight for the Taliban.

• The communications director for a Democrat group backing Phil Bredesen in the Tennessee Senate race once said that “white male gun nuts” were the most dangerous terrorist group in America.

• Speaking at a fundraiser Sunday for the New Hampshire Democrat Party, actor Alec Baldwin thought it would be really funny to jazz up the crowd by saying, “It is time to overthrow the government of Donald Trump.”

If Republicans were making statements like these, the media narrative would be all about right-wing bigotry and extremism. Instead, we’re getting story after story about the Left’s “sky-high enthusiasm.”