Please note that you can leave a comment on any of our posts at our Facebook page.  Subscribers can also comment at length at our Angel's Corner Forum.

JANUARY 31,  2014

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 8:48 P.M. ET:

AUTHORIZED? – A startling statement from a State Department spokeswoman.  From the Jerusalem Post: 
"WASHINGTON- State Department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said on Friday that a resolution to the longstanding nuclear crisis with Iran, should current diplomatic efforts fail, 'is likely to involve military action.' 'I’m not predicting that we would take military action right away,' Harf said. 'It’s more of a broad statement that, look, if we can’t get this done diplomatically in six months or a year or at any time, we will– we are committed to resolving it. And that involves less durable and, quite frankly, riskier actions.'"  I wonder if she was authorized to go that far.  Her ultimate boss, Field Marshal General Obama, chokes on the term "military action," and didn't use it in his State of the Union message when noting what might happen if negotiations with Iran fail.

GOLDEN STATE? – From the L.A. Times:  "Nearly half of California households are in chronic financial stress and have little to no savings for emergencies, according to a report Thursday.  The study by the Corporation for Enterprise Development paints a generally dreary picture of the financial situation of low- and middle-income people -- and even many above-average wage earners -- throughout the state.  Based on various measures of overall financial well-being, California ranks 34th among the 50 states, according to the study. Unemployment, credit-card debt and personal bankruptcies all are far above the national average, the study found."  These problems built up over decades.  They are duplicated in many other states.  Should we hit another serious recession, this country could go into economic convulsions.

MAJOR BREAKTHROUGH – From CNN:  "Washington (CNN) -- A long-awaited State Department environmental report on the proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline indicates what the oil industry and its backers have been saying -- it won't have a big impact on carbon emissions that cause climate change.  The report released Friday appears to give the Obama administration the cover it needs to approve the politically charged project, but not until May at the earliest, after a 90-day review and comment period."  It should have been approved long ago.  The delay is a concession to the environuts who prop up the Obama administration.  But it has been terribly insulting to Canada, not that Obama cares about America's allies.

THE SILLY SIDE OF MIKE – Mike Bloomberg was a competent, sane mayor of New York City.  But Mike has always had a silly side, and it's coming out again.  From the New York Post:  "UNITED NATIONS — Former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg was appointed Friday to be the U.N. special envoy for cities and climate change, a position that will give the billionaire businessman and philanthropist an international stage to press for action to combat global warming.  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon chose Bloomberg, who made combating climate change a major focus of his 12 years as mayor and was very outspoken on how cities should be run to cope with ever increasing populations without harming the environment."  Mike, the UN is a joke.  Just retire.  Or help shovel snow.  Don't get started with that crowd.

January 31, 2014       Permalink

QUOTE OF THE DAY – AT 9:58 A.M. ET:  Peggy Noonan has written a particularly fine piece for The Wall Street Journal about the increasing despair that Americans feel about Washington:

The State of the Union was a spectacle of delusion and self-congratulation in which a Congress nobody likes rose to cheer a president nobody really likes. It marked the continued degeneration of a great and useful tradition. Viewership was down, to the lowest level since 2000. This year's innovation was the Parade of Hacks. It used to be the networks only showed the president walking down the aisle after his presence was dramatically announced. Now every cabinet-level officeholder marches in, shaking hands and high-fiving with breathless congressmen. And why not? No matter how bland and banal they may look, they do have the power to destroy your life—to declare the house you just built as in violation of EPA wetland regulations, to pull your kid's school placement, to define your medical coverage out of existence. So by all means attention must be paid and faces seen.

Noonan goes on to cite this administration's overreach, and attitude.  She lists the abuses, the strutting, the lies.

This is the great political failure of progressivism: They always go too far. They always try to rub your face in it.

And she concludes:

All these things—the pushing around of nuns, the limiting of freedoms that were helping kids get a start in life, the targeting of conservative groups—all these things have the effect of breaking bonds of trust between government and the people. They make citizens see Washington as an alien and hostile power.

Washington sees the disaffection. They read the polls, they know.

They call it rage. But it feels more like grief. Like the loss of something you never thought you'd lose, your sense of your country and your place in it, your rights in it.

COMMENT:  Read the whole thing.  It makes so much sense.  I find that I sometimes say to myself, "I thought I was an American."  Are we still Americans?  I'm not sure any longer.

January 31, 2014       Permalink

FAT CHANCE WE'LL LIFT A FINGER – AT 9:31 A.M. ET:  Russia has apparently violated an important arms-control treaty.  Ho hum.  Can that possibly be as important as Obama's "reset" with Russia?  Of course not.  From The Hill:

Republicans said Thursday the Obama administration should take action over an apparent Russian violation of the treaty banning testing of medium-range missiles.

Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee issued a statement slamming the administration for ignoring the Russian treaty violation and not acting.

“If the Administration wishfully waves away blatant infractions on current agreements, how are we supposed to trust future pacts?” Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) and three GOP subcommittee chairs asked in a statement.

“Since 2012, Congress has pushed the Administration to take Russian cheating on nuclear treaties seriously,” the committee members said. “We have been ignored, as has Russia’s material breach of the central arms control treaty of the nuclear era. Treaties are meaningless unless both sides sign in good faith.”

The New York Times reported Thursday the United States informed its NATO allies this month that Russia had tested a new ground-launched cruise missile, in violation of the 1987 treaty signed by President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

Obama administration officials have pressed the Russians on the tests, according to the report. But the Russians said they investigated and considered the case closed, and the U.S. was not ready to formally declare the missile tests had violated the treaty.

COMMENT:  Hardly a day goes by without another expression of American weakness.  But, of course, Obama doesn't see it that way.  He is a leftist, nurtured by the left from the day he was born.  He sees our weakness as a gain for the world.  The sad fact is, there are too many people of influence in the United States who agree with him.

January 31, 2014       Permalink

MADNESS HAS ITS CONSEQUENCES – AT 8:06 A.M. ET:   The American people are delivering their verdicts on news organizations.  Oh joy.  From Powerline:

MSNBC has once again apologized abjectly and, this time, fired an employee for a bigoted tweet that the network’s president described as “offensive and wrong.” I wrote about the episode last night.

MSNBC’s string of debacles has taken a toll. Public Policy Polling finds that MSNBC is now America’s least trusted news source, tied with its parent NBC and–wait for it!–Comedy Central. PPP asked respondents which network they trust the most. The results:

Fox News: 35%
PBS: 14%
ABC News: 11%
CNN: 9%
CBS News: 6%
NBC News: 3%
Comedy Central: 3%
MSNBC: 3%

That’s a runaway for Fox, actually.

COMMENT:  The topping on this cake is that PPP is a liberal polling organization.  The findings must pain them.

I am simply amazed at how little attention some news outlets pay to their own credibility.  Is it arrogance?  Ignorance?  Or don't they realize how much credibility they've lost?  I think the last possibility is particularly important.  Many modern, "educated" journalists live in a very narrow universe in which their views are mainstream, and those to the right are considered "fringe" or even fascistic.  This is a function of their education and culture.  It is also a function of where major news organizations have their headquarters. 

We learned this week that Obama has an 81% approval rating in the District of Columbia.  It's a bubble, and many "journalists" live there.  Happily.

January 31, 2014       Permalink

I'M GLAD WE'VE NOTICED – AT 8:55 A.M. ET:  The agreement with Syria calling for it to give up its chemical weapons has started to collapse (shock!), and even our State Department is forced to notice.  From the Jerusalem Post: 

WASHINGTON – The US strongly condemned Syria for its failure to prepare and package the bulk of its chemical weapons arsenal for removal from the country, six days before a UN deadline requires its government to have shipped its entire stockpile to the port at Latakia.

In September, Syria agreed to forfeit its massive chemical weapons stockpile to be destroyed at sea under strict time constraints, under threat of military force from Washington.

But with a major deadline approaching, only 4 percent of those weapons have been delivered to Latakia, and only two cargo shipments have left the port, each carrying away roughly 15 tons of material. According to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, tasked with facilitating the removal of Syria’s arms, the Syrian regime has stockpiled at least 1,300 tons of chemicals.

“We all know that the Syrian regime has the capability to move these weapons, since they have been moved multiple times in the conflict,” State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said on Thursday, adding that the US was “deeply concerned” about the delay. “This isn’t rocket science here. They’re dragging their feet.”

Psaki said US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry never removed the prospect of military action from the table after threatening Syria’s Bashar Assad with assault in August. But they are focused on enforcing the deal that resulted from that standoff, she said.

COMMENT:  This is what happens when you flash weakness.  In fact, the United States has effectively removed the prospect of military action.  It is in Obama's body language, the way he approaches every issue.  Appeasement, and more appeasement, and the weakening of American defense.

If you were the Syrian regime, would you be especially afraid of Barack Hussein Obama Jr.  I really don't think so, especially as you see your strongest ally, Iran, strengthened by the same Obama. 

This is what losing looks like.

January 31,  2014     Permalink

JANUARY 30,  2014

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 10:28 P.M. ET:

WELCOME TO NEW YORK, COMRADES – Leftist Mayor Bill de Blasio and his dancin' revolutionaries are already doing what leftists do best – moving toward mediocrity.  From the Washington Times:  "A popular gifted-student program at a New York City elementary school is getting the ax after school officials decided it lacked diversity.  PS 139 Principal Mary McDonald told parents in a letter Jan. 24 that Students of Academic Rigor, or SOAR, would no longer accept applications for incoming kindergartners, the New York Daily News reported.  'Our Kindergarten classes will be heterogeneously grouped to reflect the diversity of our student body and the community we live in,' Miss McDonald said in the letter posted on Flickr.com."  Instead of motivating minority students to meat SOAR's standards, the school will eliminate the standards.  What a gift to students.  Welcome to the People's Republic.

MSNBC BOWS – From Fox:  "MSNBC President Phil Griffin, faced with an uproar online, apologized to the Republican national chairman on Thursday for an 'outrageous and unacceptable' tweet by the network that accused conservatives of hostility toward biracial families.  Griffin, who acted hours after party chairman Reince Priebus vowed to keep Republicans off the cable channel, also said he has fired the staffer involved.  'We immediately acknowledged that it was offensive and wrong, apologized, and deleted it,' Griffin said in a statement. 'I personally apologize to Mr. Priebus and to everyone offended.'"  Seems that MSNBC has had to issue many, many apologies recently.  Maybe getting it right in the first place would ease the need.

LOUISIANA, U.S. SENATE – Republicans would love to knock off Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana this year.  They have a shot.  From Rasmussen:  "Incumbent Democrat Mary Landrieu runs slightly behind Republican challenger Bill Cassidy in Rasmussen Reports’ first look at the 2014 U.S. Senate race in Louisiana.  A new statewide telephone survey of Likely Louisiana Voters finds Cassidy, a U.S. congressman, with 44% support to Landrieu’s 40%. Five percent (5%) like some other candidate in the race, while 11% are undecided."  Not in the bag yet.  Landrieu comes from a prominent political family, and has managed to pull out some tight victories.  Republicans can win this, with skilful campaigning and no gaffes.

WEREN'T THEY THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES? – From NRO:  "As the deadline for 2014 enrollment nears, Obamacare is growing increasingly unpopular, especially among the uninsured. A new Kaiser Family Foundation survey finds that about twice as many uninsured people have an unfavorable view of the health-care law than have a favorable one.  Among the uninsured, 47 percent view Obamacare in a negative light versus the 24 percent who view it favorably. That’s a change from 43 percent who viewed it unfavorably last month, and 36 percent who viewed it favorably. Overall, half of Americans view Obamacare unfavorably, while just over one-third have a positive take on the law.  More of the uninsured also said Obamacare made them worse off (39 percent) than improved their situation (26 percent), according to the poll."  What an embarrassment.

January 30, 2014       Permalink

SOCHI UPDATE – AT 10:36 A.M. ET:  The U.S. is worried about attacks on soft targets on the outskirts of the Sochi Olympics, which begin in eight days.  From USA Today:

WASHINGTON — A top U.S. counterterrorism official told a Senate panel Wednesday that he's concerned that terrorists may try to strike soft targets on the outskirts of the Sochi Winter Olympics.

National Counterterrorism Center Director Matthew Olsen told the Senate Intelligence Committee that he was confident that Russian officials preparing for the 2014 Olympics are "very focused" and are "devoting substantial resources" to keeping the Games safe.

"The biggest issue from my perspective is not the Games themselves, the venues themselves," Olsen said. "There is extensive security at those locations — the sites of the events. The greater threat is to softer targets in the greater Sochi area, in the outskirts beyond Sochi, where there is a substantial potential for a terrorist attack.

And...

FBI Director James Comey, who testified at the same hearing, said cooperation between the FBI and Russian officials on security issues surrounding the Olympics, which run Feb. 7-23, has been "steadily improving" as the Games approach.

That's not what we hear from other sources.

"We have a good level of cooperation there," Comey said. "It can always improve. We are looking for ways to improve it as are they."

Meanwhile, in Russia, the Games organizing committee chief, Dmitry Chernyshenko, said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations, the Associated Press reports.

COMMENT:  We hope all goes well.  But I've never seen such apprehension over the Olympic Games.  Sochi was a terrible choice.

January 30, 2014       Permalink

IRAN FOR GROWN-UPS – AT 9:38 A.M. ET:   A new report presented to Congress presents a stark, disturbing picture of where Iran actually is with its advanced defense technology.  Tehran out-negotiated us with the interim nuclear deal, and is backing its negotiating skills with real firepower.  It is clearly seeking to become the dominant nation in the region, as we sleep.  From The Politico:

Iran’s ability to make missiles loaded with nuclear warheads now rests primarily on the “political will” of its leaders, rather than any technical constraints, according to an annual U.S. intelligence assessment presented on Capitol Hill Wednesday.

“Tehran has made technical progress in a number of areas — including uranium enrichment, nuclear reactors, and ballistic missiles — from which it could draw if it decided to build missile-deliverable nuclear weapons,” Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said in written testimony submitted as he appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee. “These technical advancements strengthen our assessment that Iran has the scientific, technical, and industrial capacity to eventually produce nuclear weapons. This makes the central issue its political will to do so.”

On that point, the U.S. Worldwide Threat Assessment suggests a lack of consensus at high levels of the Iranian government and notes that the interim agreement Iran reached to halt and roll back aspects of the program appears to be the product of uncertainty about whether the effort is worth the severe economic price the country has paid in economic sanctions, set to be eased somewhat under the six-month deal.

“Iran’s overarching strategic goals of enhancing its security, prestige, and regional influence have led it to pursue capabilities to meet its civilian goals and give it the ability to build missile-deliverable nuclear weapons, if it chooses to do so,” the assessment says. “We judge that Iran is trying to balance conflicting objectives. It wants to improve its nuclear and missile capabilities while avoiding severe repercussions — such as a military strike or regime-threatening sanctions. We do not know if Iran will eventually decide to build nuclear weapons.”

COMMENT:  The fact that they can is the key.  It doesn't take long to bring a nuclear weapon online if the skill exists.  Our first test of a nuclear device occurred in the New Mexico desert on July 16, 1945.  The first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6th, barely three weeks later. 

Having the technology itself gives Iran substantial prestige and deterrent power.  If our agreements allow the Iranians to have and develop this technology, while easing sanctions, Tehran can have its cake and eat it, too. 

And please note that we do not know everything that goes on in Iran.  There may well be secret bases and underground manufacturing.

January 30, 2014       Permalink

HILLARY ROMPS – 9:05 A.M. ET:  If the Dem nomination for president were awarded today, Hillary Clinton could have it on a silver platter, according to a new poll.  From WaPo: 

Hillary Rodham Clinton holds a commanding 6 to 1 lead over other Democrats heading into the 2016 presidential campaign, while the Republican field is deeply divided with no clear front-runner, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Clinton trounces her potential primary rivals with 73 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, reinforcing a narrative of inevitability around her nomination if she runs. Vice President Biden is second with 12 percent, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) is third with 8 percent.

Although Clinton’s favorability rating has fallen since she stepped down as secretary of state a year ago, she has broad Democratic support across ideological, gender, ethnic and class lines. Her lead is the largest recorded in an early primary matchup in at least 30 years of Post-ABC polling.

The race for the Republican nomination, in contrast, is wide open, with six prospective candidates registering 10 percent to 20 percent support. No candidate has broad backing from both tea party activists and mainline Republicans, signaling potential fissures when the GOP picks a standard-bearer in 2016.

COMMENT:  Obviously, it's very early.  Hillary might not run.  She might fall ill.  Something may come out about her that's devastating.  But, as of now, she's got the nod. 

We legitimately fear that a divided Republican Party, further hurt by the media thumb on the scale, will send Hillary to the White House, where she will do her usual mediocre job, to rapturous press reviews.  (She works hard, but I can't recall a single major success she's had in any job, including senator from New York and secretary of state.)  There are capable Republican governors out there, and some fine members of Congress, but no electoral stars. 

January 30, 2014       Permalink

A WARNING FOR US – AT 8:41 A.M ET:  There will be an election in Georgia in November to replace retiring Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss.  This should be an easy hold for Republicans, but that's not the way it's turning out.  A popular Democratic candidate is making strides while Republicans are fighting among themselves.  This could be a disaster in a year when the GOP hopes to take the Senate.  From The Hill:

Georgia Senate candidate Michelle Nunn (D) has leads over four of her Republican rivals, according to a new poll conducted for the liberal group Americans United for Change.

Nunn is the daughter of former moderate Democratic Senator Sam Nunn.

Nunn leads Reps. Paul Broun (R-Ga.), Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) and Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.) and former Georgia Secretary of State Karen Handel (R) by margins of one to four points.

The poll, conducted by Public Policy Polling, might skew a bit Democratic — there are equal numbers of self-identifying Democrats and Republicans in its survey in the Republican-leaning state. More Republican voters are undecided in the poll, as well.

But its results are the latest sign that Nunn has a real chance of winning the race to replace retiring Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.).

The poll was conducted for the group to show raising the minimum wage is a strong issue for Democrats, even in red states. It found 54 percent of voters supported raising the minimum wage to $10 an hour, while 37 percent opposed it.

COMMENT:  What Republicans need in Georgia, a state that has been moving slowly toward the Democratic column because of immigration, is a superb candidate.  It's the same old story.  The GOP may lose an easily winnable seat because candidate development has never been a Republican priority.

January 30,  2014     Permalink