SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 5:06 P.M. ET: 

SOCIALISM DOWN – From the American Interest:  "New York City lefty Mayor Bill de Blasio was elected in a landslide with more than 73 percent of the vote last November. Yet after only two months on the job, his approval rating has been cut nearly in half, with only 39 percent of city voters expressing approval of the job he has done so far. As the WSJ notes, this is considerably lower than his predecessor’s approval ratings at this time in his tenure, although he is still personally relatively popular."  Crazy Bill started attacking the immensely popular charter schools, suggesting they were playthings of the rich.  In fact, they are loved in minority communities.  Not a wise move, Bill, but Fidel would approve.

EMBARRASSING – From AFP:  "US Secretary of State John Kerry has called on American ambassadors around the world to make the fight against climate change a top priority ahead of new UN talks next year.  In his first department-wide policy guidance statement since taking office a year ago, he told his 70,000 staff: 'The environment has been one of the central causes of my life.'"  I'm so moved.  The world is in flames and John wants a monument built to his life.  Apparently, John hasn't noticed that dissent over "global warming" is growing.  But his friend, Al Gore, is getting richer.

BRILLIANCE – Reader Bill Sorby sends us a story noting one effect of New York State's trendy "get tough on guns" laws.  Remington, one of the nation's legendary gun makers, has announced that it is moving a New York plant to Alabama, with a loss to New York of 2,000 jobs.  Remington's initial investment in Alabama is $87-million.  New York is the largest outmigration state in the Union.  In other words, more people leave New York than any other.  Absurd taxes, ridiculous living costs, are driving people away.  This state cannot afford factory closings.  But the trendies are in charge, and they will not care.

March 8, 2014