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MAY 21, 2022

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT:

YOU GOTTA BE KIDDIN' ME – FROM THE NEW YORK POST:  New York Mayor Eric Adams may be eyeing a White House run if President Biden doesn’t seek a second term, confidantes and City Hall insiders told The Post.  “Eric has told me repeatedly that he thinks that he has a platform to run for national office, for president in 2024. He has said that repeatedly. He thinks New York is a national platform. He thinks the national party has gotten too far to the left and he thinks he has a platform to win,” a person close to the mayor said.  A Brooklyn Democratic elected official who was also frequently in talks with the mayor said Adams was “considering a White House run in 2024 if Biden doesn’t seek re-election,” adding that Adams’s advisor Ingrid Lewis-Martin was “running point” on the issue.  There is growing chatter that the gaffe-prone president — now 79 years old — may call it quits after one term, though he has privately insisted he will seek re-election.  Are we serious here?  Adams just became mayor in January.  He doesn't have a single accomplishment on his record...and he's already running for the top job?  Some grown-up should sit down and talk to the chap, informing him there's a real world outside New York City politics, and he ain't a part of it.  Break the crime wave in New York, Eric.  Then we'll talk.

May 21, 2022       Permalink

CRUSADE FOR TRUTH – OVERNIGHT:  Slowly, but carefully, the truth about "Russian collusion" by President Trump is coming out.  The mainstream media outlets are trying to avoid the story, but I can't see these ridiculous efforts going on much longer.  From Fox: 

EXCLUSIVE: Former President Donald Trump reacted to the bombshell testimony out of the trial of Michael Sussmann that Hillary Clinton herself approved the dissemination to the media of false information alleging a covert communications channel between the Trump Organization and a Russian bank.

Trump told Fox News Digital that the entire Russia investigation is "one of the greatest political scandals in history," and that he will "never" get his "reputation fully back."

Former Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook on Friday testified as part of the first criminal trial out of Special Counsel John Durham’s years-long investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe, saying Clinton approved and "agreed" to share the discredited data with the media.

Former FBI General Counsel James Baker testified Thursday that the bureau investigated the data alleging a Trump connection to the Kremlin-linked bank, and found that "there was nothing there." 

"This is one of the greatest political scandals in history," Trump told Fox News Saturday morning. "For three years, I had to fight her off, and fight those crooked people off, and you’ll never get your reputation fully back."

"Where do I get my reputation back?" Trump said again.

"I had to fight them off," Trump said. "And if we had real leadership, instead of people like Mitch McConnell, they would do something about it. And guys like Bill Barr. They would have done something about it."

Trump said that the law enforcement and intelligence community resources devoted to investigating him and members of his 2016 campaign distracted officials from what "could have been a real danger with Russia."

COMMENT:  The question, "Where do I get my reputation back?" actually originated with Ray Donovan, who was secretary of labor in the Reagan administration.  He was forced from office by charges that later turned out to be false.  In response to his exoneration he famously asked, ""Which office do I go to to get my reputation back?"  Fear of destruction of one's reputation has probably kept many good people from entering politics.  Humiliation is a powerful political weapon.

Mr. Trump is correct in his outrage.  He should be equally outraged by the behavior of the press, many of whose members set out to destroy him, regardless of the lack of evidence.

The Sussmann trial has already revealed much that was rotten in the Clinton operation.  But don't necessary expect a conviction.  Sussmann is being tried before a Washington jury.  Incredibly, the judge has already allowed on the jury contributors to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.  No, I'm not kidding you.  And the jury is drawn from the most Democratic constituency, Washington, D.C., in the country.   

May 21, 2022       Permalink

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