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SUBSCRIPTION DRIVE – TWO MORE DAYS

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America is in the midst of a critical election year, possibly the most critical in the nation's recent history.  Urgent Agenda will be there seven days a week, not only keeping you up to date, but selecting the articles and quotes that get to the heart of what you want to read, and must read. 

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MAY 20, 2022

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT:

NOT A BAD IDEA – FROM FOX:   Two Virginia brothers have started an initiative to place fathers in local high schools to support faculty and staff, as well as deter violence among students.  Jimmy and Josh Carter of Chesterfield County, Virginia, who have seven children between them, said they were inspired by the "Dads on Duty" initiative in Louisiana, where a group of fathers took matters into their own hands last fall after repeated violence broke out at Southwood High School in Shreveport, leading to the arrest of 23 students over just a three-day period.  When a teenager was arrested in March after allegedly dragging a female classmate into the bathroom at Thomas Dale High School in Chesterfield and raping her in February, the Carter brothers cemented their resolve to get involved.  They reached out to the Louisiana group for pointers while figuring out how to set up their own version of "Dads on Duty," and were encouraged to learn of the initiative's results there. When 40 fathers showed up at the school and took shifts to maintain a peaceful environment, the violent brawls stopped and students went to class.  "The violent crime percentages dropped tremendously, just by having those male mentors and that presence at the school," Josh said.  I doubt if the teachers unions or the education bureaucracy will accept this idea, in part because it actually works.  We must not have that in the equitable world of the future.  But the parents and students might like it.  Let them use their numerical clout to get it done.

May 20, 2022       Permalink

IT ISN'T ONLY UKRAINE – OVERNIGHT:  The president is in Asia.  So is China.  While we're understandably focused on the land war in Europe – the invasion of Ukraine by Russia – our competition with China is heating up.  The Chinese are giving Mr. Biden a hot welcome.  From Daily Mail: 

Are you watching, Joe? China buzzes Taiwan jets and holds military exercises in the South China Sea on the first day of Biden's six-day Asia trip amid pressure to confront Beijing.

As President Biden visited South Korea and Japan to bolster Asian alliances against China, the nation conducted military exercises in the disputed South China Sea to flex its muscle over Taiwan. 

China's Maritime Safety Administration said the drills began Thursday and will continue until Monday. Biden arrived in Seoul for his five-day Asia trip on Friday and will later travel to Japan. 

China said that other aircraft and vessels will be barred from entering the area but did not provide details. China claims almost all of the South China Sea, although Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan also make similar claims.

The Philippine coast guard said Friday it had established outposts on three islands in the contested waters, a move that will likely be frowned upon by Beijing.

Since the beginning of the month, China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, has been conducting a mission in the Sea of Japan. The Defense Ministry described it as 'routine training' aimed at boosting performance that is 'in line with relevant international law and international practice, and not targeting any party.'

China also flew a pair of long-range nuclear-capable H-6 bombers through the area on Wednesday, Chinese media reports said.

Meanwhile Friday, the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan and its strike group left their home port at Yokosuka, Japan, for a 'routine at-sea period,' the 7th Fleet said.

COMMENT:  China, according to knowledgeable observers, is watching our actions in Ukraine closely.  If our effort to help Ukraine falls short, Beijing will be encouraged to try to take Taiwan, which it regards as its territory.  If we are successful in Ukraine, and demonstrate our eternal loyalty to a friend, China might well be deterred. 

The nightmare is that we could be involved in two wars at the same time – one in Ukraine, and the other in defense of Taiwan.  I doubt if we are ready for that.  We might be looking at a return of the draft, the call-up of reserves, and accelerated war production.   And this all might occur under a President Harris.

Have a nice day.

May 20, 2022       Permalink

MAY 19,  2022

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE - OVERNIGHT: 

HISPANIC SUPPORT FOR BIDEN PLUNGES – FROM FOX:   President Biden's approval rating among Hispanic Americans has plummeted to 26%, according to a Wednesday poll from Quinnipiac University.  Biden is less popular among Hispanics than any other demographic, including age and gender, the poll found. The same Quinnipiac poll conducted last year put Hispanic support for Biden at 55%.  Biden has been consistently hitting new lows in the polls for nearly a year.  Young Americans and White men also have low approvals for Biden, at 27% and 29% respectively.  The president's highest approval ratings are among Americans older than 65 and black Americans, at 45% and 63% respectively. Black Americans are the only demographic in which Biden has a positive approval rating, according to the poll.  Biden has faced heavy criticism for his handling of the ongoing crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.  The poll comes days before the Biden administration plans to end Title 42, a Trump-era COVID-19 rule allowing border officials to speedily deport most migrants.  Yes, the Dems appear suicidal.  They cannot exist without the Hispanic vote, and yet they do little to keep it.  If the numbers involving Hispanic voters hold through November, the Dems can easily become a part of once-remembered history.

May 19, 2022      Permalink

TURNOUT RESULTS – OVERNIGHT, FROM DAILYWIRE:   And they look good for the GOP. 

Republicans are already seeing a huge advantage in turnout during the 2022 primaries, according to one pollster.

In Tuesday’s primary elections in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Kentucky, Idaho, and Oregon, Republicans made up 54.9% of the total votes cast, according to John Couvillon, founder of the polling firm JMC Analytics. When factoring in the other five states that have already held primaries — Texas, Indiana, Ohio, Nebraska, and West Virginia, Republicans account for fully 60% of votes cast in the primaries so far.

“In every state where I’ve been measuring turnout changes relative to previous midterms, I’m seeing a clear advantage on the Republican side,” Couvillon told the New York Post Wednesday. Couvillon added that the data was “not super representative,” since it was only from 10 states with early primaries, and there are still 174 days before the general elections. Still, the data from these primaries suggest that “states that are swinging and are Republican are going to move far to the right,” he said.

Couvillon also shared his data on Twitter Wednesday. According to the data, overall turnout in the 10 states that have already had primaries was up 21% from 2018, which he noted was a high turnout year in itself. But a partisan breakdown showed a massive advantage for Republicans — so far, Democratic turnout has totaled just under five million votes, while Republicans have cast nearly 7.5 million. In addition, Democratic turnout increased by just 3% over 2018, while Republican turnout increased by 38%.

COMMENT:  We caution again that the only poll that counts is the one on election day, and election day 2022 is more than five months away.  Almost anything can happen that has the potential to tighten the race. 

The Dems are in a mean mood, and a fighting mood, and they are dominated by leftists who recognize few barriers.  After all, the Dems are so frightened of their own left wing that most of them refused to condemn the rioting of the last two years.

However, the current news should certainly give Republicans a few smiles.  If our side can keep up the momentum, and run a tough campaign, there should be millions of smiling Republican faces on election day.  But it will take relentless work.

May 19, 2022       Permalink