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MARCH 4,  2022

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT: 

YOU CAN'T MAKE IT UP – OVERNIGHT:  Another advance in social justice.  From Legal Insurrection:  The federal government has allocated $2.14 million dollars to “root” out oppression in plant sciences.  The National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Biological Sciences recently awarded $2.14 million to the American Society of Plant Biologists for the development of a multi-organization research coordination network called ROOT and SHOOT.  ROOT stands for Rooting Out Oppression Together. And SHOOT? SHaring Our Outcomes Transparently.
“The demographic distribution of scientists, especially those in positions of authority, does not reflect that of the US population,” the award’s abstract states.  “Some of the causes of this disparity are known, such as a lack of role models and the tendency for people to look within their own circles when they recruit, appoint, and promote. This award will provide resources, trainings, opportunities, and structures that will allow participating plant science and affiliated organizations to change that construct.”  The award follows the release of a 2021 Dear Colleague Letter from National Science Foundation’s Directorate for Biological Sciences encouraging “professional societies to submit proposals to develop collaborative networks for facilitating cultural changes in the biological sciences to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion.”  In the letter, NSF BIO stated that it “recognizes culture change in the biological sciences as an urgent priority and is committed to supporting efforts that use evidence-based practices to remove barriers for individuals historically excluded from science.”  Not a word about excellence or professionalism.  It's all about race, gender, and ethnicity.  This is how great civilizations die.

March 4, 2022       Permalink

THE WAR – OVERNIGHT:  The Ukraine war is less than two weeks old, and, for a media-run generation, that seems like a long time.  You mean, it ain't over yet?  Did someone win?  What's on the next channel?

Two weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, we were just starting to salvage what was left.

But even after two weeks, several things are clear:  One, the Western nations were far too late in supplying the Ukrainians, and that may doom the mission.

Two, we are losing.  Despite all the proper hype about the brave Ukrainian people, the Red Army is, bit by bit, overwhelming them.  It's the same old story.  Please remember the Americans at Bataan, in the Philippines, at the start of World War II.  They were brave too.  And they, too, were let down.  ("We're the battling bastards of Bataan.  No mama, no papa, and no Uncle Sam.") Douglas MacArthur, who commanded those troops, once said that all military disaster start with two words: "too late."  In Ukraine, we are again too late.

So what will happen when it's over, and the Russian flag flies over Ukraine?  Some showmen are saying we will never deal with Putin again, and will continue to stand, or sit, with the Ukrainian people.  Don't count on it. While the Ukrainian remnant is shoveling rubble from destroyed cities, the "realists" among us will be saying that we should just call Ukraine a bad experience, and "move on."  That's what usually takes place. Idealism comes with a price, and it's a price few these days are willing to pay.  Moscow shredded the Hungarian uprising of 1956.  We moved on.  Moscow put down the Czech revolution of 1968.  We moved on again. 

Only when Ronald Reagan ordered a massive defense buildup in 1981 did things start to change.  Reagan's policy:  "We win, they lose."  The sophisticates and tofu chefs of the time were horrified by such language.  But he applied it, and the old Soviet Union started to crumble without firing a shot.

Joe Biden ain't no Ronald Reagan.  And Kamala Harris...well, let's just skip that. 

We face an uncertain future made more uncertain by weakness in Washington.  Will the next Ronald Reagan please stand up.

March 4, 2022       Permalink 

MARCH 3,  2022

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT: 

RIGHT DOWN THERE WITH THE OLYMPICS – OVERNIGHT:  President Biden's State of the Union message was a ratings bust.  From Daily Mail:  President Joe Biden had the lowest viewership for his State of the Union than any of his four predecessors' first addresses with less than 40 million tuning in, according to Nielsen ratings.  In a tracking of the 16 networks that aired live coverage of the address on Tuesday evening, 38,197,000 individuals were watching from 27,408,000 different households in the U.S.  The figures from Biden's speech come amid an ongoing war in Ukraine and increasingly dire approval rating numbers for the president and Democratic lawmakers going into the 2022 midterm elections.  Donald Trump's first State of the Union address in 2018 had 45.5 million viewers from 32.1 million households.  Barack Obama's first State of the Union garnered 48 million viewers, George W. Bush's 51.7 million and Bill Clinton 45.8 million.  Bush garnered a big boost for his first official address because it came just four months after the Twin Towers fell in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.   And the speech didn't do Biden much good.  There was nothing to suggest change from his current, failing policies.  The midterm elections are eight months away.

March 3, 2022       Permalink 

THE ENERGY CRISIS COMES TO HAUNT THE DEMOCRATS – OVERNIGHT:  This issue alone could sink the Democratic Party.  They approach it with a total lack of imagination.  From PJ Media.

While supporters on social media desperately try to paper over Joe Biden’s disastrous energy policies, which are causing near $7.00-per-gallon gas prices, Democrats in his administration are doing the opposite. And for once, they’re telling the truth.

High prices are by design, and they don’t care if it hurts your family, your job, your food supply, or your ability to move freely about the country as long as their windmills and Chinese-made solar panels operate your cars and planes.

Don’t ask questions.

The timing is spectacularly bad. Democrat authoritarians have begun removing mandates and lockdowns because the political science has changed and Leftist politicians are being hurt in public opinion polls. But these autocrats have re-imposed another kind of lockdown. They’re making gas so expensive you won’t be able to go anywhere.

Doubt me?

The Republican Party’s RNC Research highlighted three key Democrats spouting off on energy policy and they said the quiet part out loud, as the saying goes. Before the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Remember when Joe Biden’s Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm laughed when asked what she would do about gas prices hovering at $2.89?

She isn’t hiding behind the “energy is a global market” argument any longer. She knows the U.S. could increase production tomorrow to bring down prices but doesn’t want to, nor is she suggesting it. In November, Granholm was asked in another television appearance about the rising gas prices. While she said they’re looking “at every tool” to help bring them down, she didn’t mean it. And we know this because she admitted they’re high on purpose as “we’re working through an energy transition … The reality is, we have to take some time to get off of oil and gas, we recognize this. This is a transition.”

Consider this “taking some time off” to “transition” to nowhere.

COMMENT:  More hypocrisy from one of the most hypocritical administrations ever.  They hate us, they hate our cars, even the American-made ones.  They're not high on any American dream. 

March 3, 2022       Permalink