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FEBRUARY 6,  2014

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:31 P.M. ET: 

THE POST OFFICE? – From Fox:  "The perpetually-struggling U.S. Postal Service has bankers in a tizzy after floating a plan to branch into what it called 'non-bank financial services' that somehow sound a lot like what lenders do.  In a white paper distributed late last month, the Postal Service's inspector general discussed getting into an array of financial services as a means of keeping the money-losing mail operation afloat. Payday loans, check cashing and digital currency exchanges were among the possibilities outlined in the Jan. 27 report."  Watch.  They'll tell us "the check is in the mail," and everyone will break out laughing.

SOCHI UPDATE – From ABC News:  "The Transportation Security Administration is temporarily banning travelers from bringing any amount of liquid, gel or aerosol in their carry-on luggage aboard flights between the U.S. and Russia, following a warning from the Department of Homeland Security that terrorists could target the Olympic Games with explosive components hidden in toothpaste tubes."  CNN did an excellent story tonight, complete with demo, showing what a toothpaste bomb could do.  It could easily blow a hole in the side of an airliner in flight.

HYPOCRITE – From the Daily Caller:  "In a speech during Thursday morning’s National Prayer Breakfast, President Barack Obama acknowledged, 'It’s also clear that around the world, freedom of religion is under threat.'  'No society can truly succeed unless it guarantees the rights of all its people, including religious minorities,' he added later.  The Obama administration has been harshly criticized by the Catholic church and civil liberties organizations concerned that Obamacare mandates that organizations provide their employees free access to contraceptives through their health care plans, even if their religious faith calls contraception a sin."  At last report, the Obamans were still going after the Little Sisters of the Poor, who wanted to opt out of parts of Obamacare that offend their religious principles.  And, oh, by the way, notice the deep concern at the White House over the persecution of Christians around the world.  I wonder what Obama actually means by religious freedom.

CHANGING HOLLYWOOD? – Not really, but there's been some interesting display of spine recently.  First, Scarlett Johansson told boycotters of Israel to drop dead when they tried to stop her from doing a commercial for Sodastream, which has factories on the occupied West Bank.  Then Jerry Seinfeld stiffarmed the ethnicity police who anguish over the lack of "diversity" in...comedy. From Newsmax:  "'[Do] people think it’s the census or something?' Seinfeld quipped, drawing laughter from the audience. 'We represent the actual pie chart of America? Who cares? I have no interest in gender or race or anything like that.'"  Ah, how refreshing. 

February 6, 2014       Permalink

I WONDER WHY – AT 10:36 A.M. ET:  An important Democratic group has decided to sit out the 2014 midterm campaign.  Hmm.  From Buzzfeed:   

The Democratic Party’s biggest super PAC, recently retooled as an early pro-Hillary Clinton effort, will sit out the midterm elections this year.

A spokesman with the group, Priorities USA Action, confirmed to BuzzFeed on Wednesday night that it would not be involved in House or Senate campaigns.

“House Majority PAC and Majority PAC are doing everything right and making a real difference. We fully support their efforts,” said the spokesman, Peter Kauffmann, referring to the main groups supporting Democratic congressional candidates.

Priorities USA, which operates under loose campaign finance rules that allow it to raise and spend unlimited sums, put $65 million behind Barack Obama in 2012.

Sources close to the group say its leaders considered helping Democrats in House and Senate races approaching this fall. The PAC’s principal financial backer, Hollywood magnate Jeffrey Katzenberg, has shown an interest in one midterm candidate in particular: Alison Lundergan Grimes, the Democrat gunning to unseat Sen. Mitch McConnell. Katzenberg, one of Obama’s biggest bundlers, raised more than $1 million for Grimes on her first trip to California last year.

COMMENT:  I just wonder if there's something more here.  The bandwagon effect is strong in American politics, and I'd love to know why this influential group is staying off the bandwagon.  Maybe they feel it's not going anywhere, that the House is out of reach for Dems and that the Senate has a good chance of being lost.  Most encouraging theory I've heard in a long time.   But just a theory for now.

February 6, 2014       Permalink

SYRIA ON OUR DOORSTEP – AT 9:48 A.M. ET:  During one of the Indochina crises of the early 1960s, President Kennedy said, "Laos is a long way from home, but the world is small."  Well, Syria is a long way from home, but the world is just as small.  Maybe smaller, given the speed of modern missiles.  And the horror of Syria may turn out to be a threat to the United States.  From the Los

WASHINGTON -- At least 50 Americans have joined the mix of extremist groups that are fighting to overthrow Syrian President Bashar Assad, and some could try to mount terrorist attacks at home, U.S. intelligence officials said Tuesday.

Intelligence officials say the Syrian civil war has become one of the biggest magnets for Islamic extremists around the globe since CIA-backed militants fought to oust Soviet troops from Afghanistan in the 1980s, a war that ultimately gave rise to Al Qaeda.

James Clapper, the U.S. director of national intelligence, told the House Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that “7,500 or so” foreign fighters are in Syria from 50 countries. Clapper had cited an estimate of 7,000 at a Senate hearing last week.

A U.S. intelligence official told The Times that the total includes at least 50 Americans, a more concrete estimate than authorities have given previously. He declined to be identified because he was not authorized to discuss the figure publicly.

A report in January by the Israel-based Meir Amit Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center estimated that as many as 1,800 people from European countries have also fought in Syria.

CIA Director John Brennan said Tuesday that Al Qaeda is training foreign fighters at camps in Syria and neighboring Iraq.

“We are concerned about the use of Syrian territory by the Al Qaeda organization to recruit individuals … to use Syria as a launching pad” for attacks on the West, Brennan said.

Clapper said he was particularly concerned about a small cadre of Al Qaeda operatives who have fought in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and who aspire to attack the United States.

“Not only are fighters being drawn to Syria, but so are technologies and techniques that pose particular problems to our defenses,” Clapper said.

James B. Comey, the FBI director, has said that counter-terrorism officials are trying to track U.S. veterans of the Syrian war who have returned home.

COMMENT:  We know that some Muslim Somalis from the Minnesota area have "gone missing" and are assumed to be in Africa fighting for Allah, or one of his nephews.  They pick up skills that can be deadly here.  Added to them are now the brothers going to Syria.  They may come back and become part of organized cells.  Or they can become lone wolves.  Think Boston Marathon.

February 6, 2014       Permalink

WAPO ON THE BALL – AT 9:16 A.M. ET:   We've said many times here that the Washington Post has the best liberal editorial page in the country, vastly superior to the adolescent offerings of The New York Times.  WaPo proved it once again with their latest wisdom on Keystone.  Worth reading: 

ENVIRONMENTALISTS HAVE drawn a line in the sand on the Keystone XL pipeline. It’s the wrong line in the wrong sand, far away from any realistic assessment of the merits — as yet another government analysis has confirmed. It’s past time for President Obama to set aside politics and resolve this bizarre distraction of an issue.

The State Department’s latest study — the product of more than five years of investigation — largely confirms the conclusions of previous assessments and those of many independent energy experts: Allowing the firm Trans­Canada to build Keystone XL, which would run across the Canadian border to Steele City, Neb., is unlikely to have significant effects on climate-change-causing greenhouse gas emissions. That’s because its construction, or its rejection, would not significantly affect the extraction of tar sands bitumen, an oil-like substance, in Alberta. Even if the president rejects Keystone XL and no other pipelines out of Alberta are built, the crude could still travel by rail and barge — with marginally higher greenhouse emissions and a higher likelihood of accident. One hundred eighty thousand barrels of Canadian crude already moves on train cars every day.

And...

Fighting for good climate policy may be more difficult than waging a symbolic war against a lone pipeline. But the battle for policies that might actually work is the one to which environmentalists must devote their time, enthusiasm and money.

COMMENT:  I don't agree with the entire editorial, but the sections on Keystone are compelling.  They show that there are still liberals with common sense, although they are rare enough to require zoos and preserves for conservation of the species.

February 6, 2014       Permalink

SOCHI MINUS ONE – AT 8:58 A.M. ET:  The fun and games, and, we hope, nothing else, begin tomorrow.  But there are, as you know, concerns.  We made a brief report on this last night.  Here is an extended version.  From Fox: 

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security warned Wednesday that terrorists may try to smuggle explosives on Russia-bound planes using toothpaste tubes.

The threat was passed on to airlines that have direct flights to Russia, including some that originate in the United States, according to a law enforcement official speaking Wednesday on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss details of the warning, which came hours before competition began at the Winter Olympics in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi, Russia.

The official said the airlines were warned that explosive devices could be assembled in flight or upon arrival at the Olympics.

The department said in a statement that the U.S. "isn't aware of a specific threat to the homeland at this time." It said the department "regularly shares information with domestic and international partners, including those associated with international events such as the Sochi Olympics."

Delta Airlines is the only U.S. carrier with a direct flight from the United States to Moscow. Russian airlines Aeroflot and Transaero both operate several nonstop flights from the U.S.

United Airlines, the official airline of the U.S. Olympic team, does not have scheduled service to Russia but is operating some charter flights to Sochi.

Earlier Wednesday, Russia investigators said security forces killed a militant who may have helped train the two suicide bombers who struck the southern city of Volgograd.

The bombings of a train station and an electric trolleybus in late December killed 34 people and heightened security fears of the Olympics.

Competition began 32 hours before Friday's opening ceremony due to the addition of 12 new medal events for men and women. Men's slopestyle snowboarding was the first event to get underway, and was scheduled to be followed by women's slopestyle, women's moguls, and team figure skating.

COMMENT:  We should not ignore security right here in the U.S. during the Olympics.  MacArthur used to say, "Hit 'em where they ain't."  We'll be focusing on Olympic security.  We must not give the other side an opportunity here at home.

February 6,  2014     Permalink

FEBRUARY 5,  2014

(A technical problem delayed posting of "Short Takes" tonight.  Sorry.)

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:48 P.M. ET: 

NEW SOCHI WARNING – American security officials are warning airline passengers about potential "toothpaste" bombs – tubes of toothpaste in which the paste has been replaced by explosives.  Toothpaste may have to be confiscated.  The warning was directed especially at people going to the Olympics, which start in less than 48 hours.

GOOD IDEA, I THINK – From Fox:  "All police chases eventually come to an end, but we may soon see the end of all police chases.  A secret plan requiring that every car entering Europe be fitted with a system that would allow them to be tracked and disabled remotely by law enforcement has been revealed, The Daily Telegraph reports.  Documents obtained and leaked by civil rights group Statewatch outline a program being developed by the European Network of Law Enforcement Technologies that would 'work on a technological solution that can be a "build in a standard"' for all automobiles."  Sounds good, as long as the system could be made absolutely secure from hackers.  Imagine if some sinister tech group stopped all traffic, including emergency vehicles, in a country.

TYPICAL – From Fox:  "Russia is already not playing fair before the Winter Olympics have even started by seeking an advantage in denying Team USA its Chobani yogurt.  Sen. Charles Schumer of New York -- where the yogurt is made -- is calling on the Russian government to allow Chobani Greek yogurt to be delivered to Sochi for U.S. Olympic athletes and NBC Studios employees.  Schumer said Tuesday that a shipment of Chobani yogurt is being held up at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey because of 'unattainable' Russian customs certifications. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has requested that Russia approve a USDA safety certificate for the yogurt, but Schumer said Russia still won't allow the shipment."

MAJOR POLITICAL NEWS – It is reliably reported that legendary political activist Sandra Fluke, whose major concern is providing free birth control for college girls, has withdrawn as a candidate for Congress in California.  From Mediaite:  "Just hours after filing paperwork with the intention of seeking the California Democratic Party’s endorsement to replace retiring 20-term Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), Democratic activist Sandra Fluke announced on Tuesday that she was passing on that opportunity and aiming instead to be elected to the state Senate.  'I am extremely moved by the outpouring of local and national support I have received since I announced that I was considering running for office,' Fluke said in a statement released late Tuesday night. 'While I strongly considered offering my candidacy for Congress, I feel there is a better way for me to advance the causes that are important to our community.'"  Translated into English:  The local Democratic bosses told Sandy to wait her turn or hit the road.

February 5, 2014       Permalink

DISASTER – AT 10:18 A.M. ET:   Obamacare is a slow-motion train wreck, and a gift to the Republicans, if they know how to accept a gift.  The latest news about the president's "signature" achievement is stunning.  From CNBC: 

A historically high number of people will be locked out of the workforce by 2021, according to a report by the Congressional Budget Office released Tuesday.

President Barack Obama's signature health-care law will contribute to this phenomenon, the CBO said, citing new estimates that the Affordable Care Act will cause a larger-than-expected reduction in working hours—eliminating the equivalent of about 2.3 million workers in 2021.

In 2011, the CBO estimated the law would cause a reduction of about 800,000 full-time equivalent workers.

"CBO estimates that the ACA will reduce the total number of hours worked, on net, by about 1.5 to 2 percent during the period from 2017 to 2024, almost entirely because workers will choose to supply less labor—given the new taxes and other incentives they will face and the financial benefits some will receive," said the report.

"The reduction in CBO's projections of hours worked represents a decline in the number of full-time-equivalent workers of about 2.0 million in 2017, rising to about 2.5 million in 2024," it added.

COMMENT:  Ah, progress.  Just like the old country.  Right, Comrade?  Can we start dreaming of 20% unemployment and bread lines?  And vodka for all?

Republicans are developing alternatives to Obamacare, but their announcements never get much publicity.   Again, the press has its finger on the scale.  The GOP must be ready with a major "replace Obamacare" campaign for this fall.  And their plan has to be a good, popular one, easily understandable.

February 5, 2014       Permalink

CHRISTIE PUNCHED – AT 9:33 A.M. ET:  There's no question about it – Chris Christie has taken a substantial hit in the polls ever since "Bridgegate" descended on him.  The mainstream media is delighted.  Who is this guy to challenge Queen Hillary? 

Nothing said against Christie has been proved, and he continues to deny any involvement in corruption.  But the constant pounding by The New York Times and others has hurt.  His defense has been entirely verbal and personal.  He's not been able to present any real evidence exonerating him, not so far at least.

And this is the worst kind of problem for a politician contemplating a run for higher office – a constant drip, drip, drip, in a state famous for underhanded political dealing.  The investigations into his office's behavior can be constructed to go on and on.  Many of the investigative agencies, like the U.S. Attorney's office, are in Democratic hands.  The numbers are telling.  From CNN: 

In late November and early December, in the wake of Chris Christie's landslide re-election victory, the Republican governor from New Jersey was riding high in the polls.

Christie topped the other potential GOP 2016 White House hopefuls in surveys of Republicans' choice for their next presidential nominee, and he was knotted up with Hillary Clinton in hypothetical general election showdowns.

Now, after month of intense media scrutiny over a couple of controversies in his state, Christie's numbers have faded, according to a new CNN/ORC International survey.

In a possible 2016 matchup with Clinton, the poll indicates Christie trails the former secretary of state by 16 percentage points, with Clinton at 55% and the Governor at 39% among registered voters nationwide. That's a dramatic switch from December, when Christie held a 48%-46% edge over Clinton.

"Christie has also lost ground among independents, who were the key to his strong showing late last year," says CNN Polling Director Keating Holland. "Christie got 59% support among Independents in December. Now that has dropped to 39%."

COMMENT:  This may well be fatal to any presidential dreams Christie has, but please remember that Clinton herself took a drop in the polls after she left the secretary of state's office, and there's no question but that Benghazi played a role.  In that case it is she who suffers from the drip, drip, drip.

We can count our blessings.  If Christie has to be cut from the scrimmage, I'd rather have it now than later, when the damage would be greater.

And miracle comebacks do happen in politics.  Nixon came back from a crisis over a slush fund in 1952, with his famous "Checkers" speech.  Clinton came back from charges of infidelity (they were true) in 1992.  And Churchill had been written off in British politics before his rebirth as a leader in 1940.  So predictions must be tinged with caution.

February 5, 2014      Permalink

WHAT DID YOU THINK WOULD HAPPEN, JOHN? – AT 8:58 A.M. ET:  French-speaking Secretary of State John Kerry is apparently starting to realize that critics of his nuclear deal with Iran may well have been right – that once the European businessmen start lining up in Tehran, it will be virtually impossible credibly to threaten the Iranians with a renewal of sanctions should further talks collapse.  Glad you noticed, John.  From Reuters: 

DUBAI - US Secretary of State John Kerry has told his French counterpart a trip to Iran by French business executives was "not helpful" and gave the wrong impression that Tehran was open for business as usual, a US official said.

Under an interim deal reached between Iran and six world powers last November, Tehran agreed to limit parts of its nuclear program in exchange for the easing of some international sanctions.

The relaxation in penalties has triggered a race among Western firms to explore lucrative business opportunities. On Monday Iran welcomed more than 100 executives from France's biggest firms - Paris's most senior trade delegation in years.

"Secretary Kerry has talked directly to Foreign Minister (Laurent) Fabius about the trade delegation ... about how this is not helpful in this regard to ensure that in fact it is not business as usual," Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman told a hearing of US lawmakers in Washington on Tuesday.

"Tehran is not open for business because our sanctions relief is quite temporary, quite limited and quite targeted," she added.

COMMENT:  I'm afraid the barn door is open, Wendy.  The French will be followed by the Germans, and then by others.  The profits will speak more loudly than concerns about an Iranian nuclear bomb.  It would have been nice if someone in the State Department understood how the real world works.  The Iranians understand just that, which is why their diplomatic corps is renowned.

February 5, 2014        Permalink

SOCHI MINUS TWO – AT 8:44 A.M. ET:  With two days to go before the opening of the Sochi Olympics, there is an atmosphere if extreme vigilance surrounding the games.  From AP via Fox:

WASHINGTON – A top U.S. counterterrorist official says there are "a number of specific threats" aimed at the Winter Olympics that start this week in Sochi, Russia — with the greatest danger coming from the Caucasus Emirate, which has threatened to attack the games.

Matthew Olsen, director of the National Counterterrorism Center, told Congress on Tuesday that the U.S. and Russia are tracking threats of "varying degrees" of credibility. He said potential attacks seem more likely outside the venues for the games, and instead in the area or region around Sochi.

He described intelligence sharing with Russia as "good."

FBI Director James Comey said U.S. cooperation with the Russian Security Service has improved.

Russia has mounted a massive security operation for the Olympics, deploying more than 50,000 police and soldiers amid threats from Muslim insurgents.

Top U.S. security officials told President Barack Obama that all appropriate steps are being taken to keep Americans safe.

COMMENT:  We hope that all the security will deter the crazies.  Some well-sourced stories report that there's particular concern about air and rail links to the games.

February 5,  2014     Permalink