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MARCH 25,  2014

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 9:41 P.M. ET:

SUPPORT FOR VOTER I.D. – From Rasmussen:  "A federal judge last week upheld the right of states to require proof of citizenship before allowing someone to register to vote. Voters continue to overwhelmingly support such a requirement.  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 78% of Likely U.S. Voters believe everyone should be required to prove his or her citizenship before being allowed to register to vote. That’s up from 71% a year ago. Just 19% oppose that requirement."  Common sense.

WILL BROOKLYNITES STILL CHEER? – From AFP:  "Moscow (AFP) - Russian billionaire businessman Mikhail Prokhorov, owner of the Brooklyn Nets basketball franchise, said Monday he was transferring its ownership to Russia.   As one of the richest Russians with assets abroad, Prokhorov could be vulnerable if the Western powers escalate economic sanctions against Russia over its takeover of Crimea.  'I am doing all that I can to own the basketball club through a Russian company,' Prokhorov told journalists, quoted by the Interfax news agency."  Sign of things to come?  Can we keep the Yankees?  Buffalo Bills?

EDUCATION REVOLT – From Fox:  "INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana has become the first of 45 states to opt out of the national education standard known as Common Core, and critics of the controversial K-12 program say the move could 'open the floodgates' for others to follow.  Growing criticism over costs imposed by the program, as well as fears that by setting a national education standard the program has already begun dictating curriculum, has made Common Core an increasingly polarizing issue. Although the program has both Republican and Democrat supporters, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence predicted his state will be the first of many to rethink participation.  "I believe when we reach the end of this process there are going to be many other states around the country that will take a hard look at the way Indiana has taken a step back, designed our own standards and done it in a way where we drew on educators, we drew on citizens, we drew on parents and developed standards that meet the needs of our people," Pence said.  Good statement.  Be very concerned about national "standards," especially in subjects like history.

THEORY ON AIRLINER DISAPPEARANCE – From Reuters:  "The pilots of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 may have deliberately crashed the jetliner into the Indian Ocean as part of a suicide mission, sources close to the investigation told the British newspaper Telegraph on Tuesday.  There is a growing belief within the team investigating the mysterious disappearance of the Boeing 777 that the plane was flown in a 'rational' manner and that it was not a technical or structural malfunction of the aircraft that led it to fall out of the sky, according to the Telegraph.  Analysts are basing the 'suicide mission theory' on the routing, signaling, and communications data transmitted from the aircraft. 'This has been a deliberate act by someone on board who had to have had the detailed knowledge to do what was done,' the Telegraph quoted a source close to the investigation as saying."

March 25, 2014       Permalink

OUR FOREIGN POLICY MESS – AT 10:21 A.M. ET:  We are leaving Afghanistan this year.  And the Afghans are taking note.  From Fox: 

Afghan President Hamid Karzai, already at odds with the U.S. over a vital security pact, snubbed western leaders once again by joining the likes of Syria and Venezuela in backing Russia's annexation of Crimea.

Karzai's office released a statement over the weekend saying Afghanistan "respects the free will of the people of Crimea to decide about their own future."

The statement said "we respect the decision the people of Crimea took through a recent referendum that considers Crimea as part of the Russian Federation."

Karzai weighed in on the Ukraine crisis shortly before President Obama flew overseas for meetings with European partners. The Obama administration and European allies have described the Crimea referendum, and Russia's decision to annex the peninsula, as "illegitimate."

Karzai, never much of an ally, knows which way the wind is blowing.

The Afghanistan statement, though, was yet another indication of how far the Karzai administration has drifted away from the U.S. as the Afghanistan war -- or the United States' involvement in it -- draws to a close, despite Washington's past support for his presidency. Karzai, in backing Moscow, was also aligning with actors who, under the Soviet Union, prosecuted a prior decade-long war in his country. The U.S. backed Afghan groups fighting against the Soviet-led forces in that war.

Karzai may now be seeking to court Russia, for its aid and general support, as American forces withdraw from the country.

Karzai, though, so far has refused to sign a security agreement that would provide for a residual force of U.S. troops to stay behind after the final withdrawal.

COMMENT:  Obama cannot point to a single foreign policy success, in mainstream American terms.  But in his terms, he is fabulously successful.

March 25, 2014       Permalink

WEIRD, MAN – AT 9:03 A.M. ET:  When the term "brightest senator" is used in Washington, the name Barbara Boxer does not come immediately to mind.  She loves Obamacare.  From CNS:

(CNSNews.com) - "Never in my lifetime have I seen a law that is helping so many people be so vilified," Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) told a conference call on Friday.

She talked about the millions of people in her state who are benefiting from the law that Republicans have tried to repeal 54 times.

"This is a huge success, this law. I'm saying that. We had a terrible rollout, it slowed us up, but it's all falling into place now and the Republican answer is very, very simple -- let's repeal it and take away all these benefits from people. And that's just gonna wind up to be very bad for them at the end of the day."

Joining Boxer on the conference call, Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) noted that the Republicans' "original mantra" was "repeal and replace."

"Well, they voted to repeal it 54 times. They've never voted to replace it with the exception of one slap-dash plan offered by three Republican senators a few weeks ago. In the four years since the bill was signed, there has been absolutely no effort to articulate what they would do differently.

"And so the Republican's plan is simply to take away all of these benefits that have now transformed the lives of millions of Americans," Murphy said.

COMMENT:  I think Barbara got to keep her own psychiatrist.

March 25, 2014       Permalink

RUSSIA IN THE AMERICAS – AT 8:48 A.M. ET:  It appears Russian ambition doesn't stop in Eurasia.  From The Hill:

Away from the conflict in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is quietly seeking a foothold in Latin America, military officials warn.

To the alarm of lawmakers and Pentagon officials, Putin has begun sending navy ships and long-range bombers to the region for the first time in years.

Russia’s defense minister says the country is planning bases in Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, and just last week, Putin’s national security team met to discuss increasing military ties in the region.

“They’re on the march,” Gen. James Kelly, commander of U.S. Southern Command said at a Senate hearing earlier this month. “They’re working the scenes where we can’t work. And they’re doing a pretty good job.”

Kelly said there has been a “noticeable uptick in Russian power projection and security force personnel” in Latin America.

“It has been over three decades since we last saw this type of high-profile Russian military presence,” Kelly said at the March 13 hearing.

The U.S. military says it has been forced to cut back on its engagement with military and government officials in Latin America due to budget cuts. Kelly said the U.S. military had to cancel more than 200 effective engagement activities and multi-lateral exercises in Latin America last year.

With the American presence waning, officials say rivals such as Russia, China and Iran are quickly filling the void.

Iran has opened up 11 additional embassies and 33 cultural centers in Latin America while supporting the "operational presence" of militant group Lebanese Hezbollah in the region.

“On the military side, I believe they're establishing, if you will, lily pads for future use if they needed to use them,” Kelly said.

China is making a play for Latin America a well, and is now the fastest growing investor in the region, according to experts. Although their activity is mostly economic, they are also increasing military activity through educational exchanges.

The Chinese Navy conducted a goodwill visit in Brazil, Chile and Argentina last year and conducted its first-ever naval exercise with the Argentine Navy.

COMMENT:  Remember that we have two and a half more years of Hussein Obama before there is any chance for improvement.  And if another Democrat gets sent to the White House, who knows if he (or she) will actually improve things...although I think Hillary might actually strengthen American defense to make herself appear tough. 

We are in the soup.  Sometimes I wish we had a parliamentary system, wherein a president could be removed more easily than through impeachment.

March 25, 2014        Permalink

INCREDIBLE – AT 8:35 A.M. ET:  As the world gets more and more dangerous, Field Marshal Obama is determined to make America weaker and weaker.  From the Washington Free Beacon: 

President Barack Obama is seeking to abolish two highly successful missile programs that experts say have helped the U.S. Navy maintain military superiority for the past several decades.

The Tomahawk missile program—known as “the world’s most advanced cruise missile”—is set to be cut by $128 million under Obama’s fiscal year 2015 budget proposal and completely eliminated by fiscal year 2016, according to budget documents released by the Navy.

In addition to the monetary cuts to the program, the number of actual Tomahawk missiles acquired by the United States would drop significantly—from 196 last year to just 100 in 2015. The number will then drop to zero in 2016.

The Navy will also be forced to cancel its acquisition of the well-regarded and highly effective Hellfire missiles in 2015, according to Obama’s proposal.

The proposed elimination of these missile programs came as a shock to lawmakers and military experts, who warned ending cutting these missiles would significantly erode America’s ability to deter enemy forces.

“The administration’s proposed budget dramatically under-resources our investments in munitions and leaves the Defense Department with dangerous gaps in key areas, like Tomahawk and Hellfire missiles,” said Rep. Randy Forbes (R., Va.), a member of House Armed Services Committee.

“Increasing our investment in munitions and retaining our technological edge in research and development should be a key component of any serious defense strategy,” he said.

COMMENT:  There are times when you have to think that weakening America is one of Obama's real goals, as part of the left-wing agenda of his party.  Weakness invites conflict.  The price will be paid long after Obama leaves office and becomes secretary-general of the UN.

March 25,  2014     Permalink

MARCH 24,  2014

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:23 P.M. ET: 

CONFUSION – The prime minister of Malaysia announced this morning, with the ring of definitiveness, that the missing airliner went down in the southern Indian Ocean and that all passengers and crew were dead.  But the British satellite company that actually did the math later said that the airliner is "most probably" down in the southern Indian Ocean.  Once again we wonder about Malaysian announcements.  It was also revealed that the estranged wife of the pilot, who still lived with him, has not been interviewed about him since the disappearance "for cultural reasons."  Ah, the contributions of multiculturalists.

RESPONSE TO PUTIN – The Western allies announce with vigor that Russia has been suspended from meetings of the G8, an economic consortium.  That's like being suspended from the high school student government.  Also, to really get tough, the Western allies told us they will not attend a G8 meeting that was scheduled for Sochi, Russia.  So there!  Guess they'll have to get their caviar somewhere else.  No further sanctions were announced. 

PUSHING HER OFF THE CLIFF – During the last presidential campaign, the Dems ran an ad suggesting that Mitt Romney wanted to push little old ladies off a cliff.  Now the Dems are targeting their own little old lady – none other than Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Ginsburg.  It seems many Dem commentators are hinting broadly that she should resign from the Court before the November election, so that a Democratic Senate can confirm her presumably younger successor, to be selected by President Obama.  So far, the justice hasn't responded to the hints, which have been printed in a number of columns.  I'm guessing she's fuming.

THE AIRLINER – The U.S. is expanding its efforts to help find the missing Malaysian airliner.  From the Washington Times:  "The Pentagon is shuttling specialized military equipment overseas to aid efforts to locate the black box recorder which could provide critical clues to what happened the night that Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 went missing.  U.S. Pacific Command Commander NavyAdm. Samuel J. Locklear has issued an order to ship the equipment to the western Australia town of Perth in case a debris site for the Malaysian plane is located within the next few weeks. Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby told reporters Monday that a 'Towed Pinger Locator 25' as well as a Bluefin-21 autonomous underwater vehicle were placed on a chartered jet and flown out of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York."  They only have a few weeks before the batteries on the plane's pingers go dead.

March 24, 2014       Permalink

WITH CERTAINTY, MAYBE – AT 10:22 A.M. ET:  The prime minister of Malaysia has just spoken about the missing airliner.  From The New York Times:

(CNN) -- Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 went down over the southern Indian Ocean, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said Monday, citing a new analysis of satellite data by a British satellite company and accident investigators.

The announcement appeared to rule out the possibility that anyone could have survived whatever happened to the aircraft, which vanished more than two weeks ago with 239 people aboard.

As Razak spoke, airline representatives met with family members in Beijing. "They have told us all lives are lost," one relative of a missing passenger told CNN.

The developments happened the same day as Australian officials announced they had spotted two objects in the southern Indian Ocean that could be related to the flight, which has been missing since March 8 with 239 people aboard.

COMMENT:  Might well be right, but we won't know until pieces of wreckage are actually found, picked up, analyzed, and identified.  What they're looking for are floating sections of the aircraft that contain serial numbers or other definitive items, like passports of passengers known to be on the plane.

If a positive I.D. can be made, then the question becomes:  How did the plane wind up in this part of the world?

We'll stay up to date on this, but wild speculation doesn't help.

March 24, 2014       Permalink

THE BETTING ODDS – AT 9:46 A.M. ET:  Nate Silver, formerly of The New York Times, is one of the best political handicappers writing today.  He is highly regarded for his application of research and statistics to his political prognostications, and he has some guardedly good news for us.  From The Hill:   

Statistician Nate Silver on Sunday said Republicans are now slight favorites to win at least six seats and take control of the Senate.

Silver wrote in a blog post that Republicans “have great opportunities in a number of states." At this point, he is rating West Virginia, South Dakota, Montana and Arkansas as “clearly” as leaning toward the Republicans.

In an interview that aired on ABC’s “This Week,” Silver said the GOP has a 60 percent chance of winning control of the Senate, and a 30 percent chance to win it big. The Democrats, by contrast, have only a 40 percent of holding on to their majority, he said.

Arkansas is one state where Republicans have been "pretty consistently ahead in the polls,” he said. “We give them a 70 percent chance of winning in Arkansas. Louisiana is about 55 percent. North Carolina is a purple state so that’s about as 50-50 as it gets.”

Rep. Tom Cotton (R) is challenging incumbent Democratic Sen. Mark Pryor in Arkansas. Rep. Bill Cassidy (R), among others, is running against incumbent Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu in Louisiana. A slew of GOP candidates are running to unseat incumbent Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan in North Carolina.

The GOP has a 45 percent chance to win in Alaska and Michigan, 35 percent chance in Colorado and 30 percent chance in Iowa, Silver said on “This Week.”

Silver predicts Republicans will pick up six Senate seats, but could win as many as 11.

COMMENT:  The worst thing is for the GOP to be overconfident, as the late President Dewey might have told us.  Silver's projections are "as of today."  Conditions may change, and the GOP has often worked hard to lose elections.  Our side must always fight as if it's 20 points behind.  It's the only way to fight an election.

And let's not forget that the Democrats always fight hard.

I'm glad to see optimism, and I'm encouraged by Silver's numbers.  But the only numbers that count are the ones on election day. 

March 24, 2014       Permalink

OBJECTS!   OBJECTS, I SAY! – AT 9:25 A.M. ET:   We have actual reports of more "objects" sighted in the south Indian Ocean by searchers looking for the Malaysian airliner.  Meanwhile, we will have a statement, an actual statement.  From Fox:

(CNN) -- Malaysia's Prime Minister will make a live statement on missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 at 10 p.m. (10 a.m. ET), he said Monday on Twitter.

Prime Minister Najib Razak did not give any details of the statement.

Also, two relatives of passengers aboard the missing airliner tell CNN they have been asked to attend a meeting at a Beijing hotel where Malaysian authorities have been briefing families.

The developments happened the same day as Australian officials announced they had spotted two objects in the southern Indian Ocean that could be related to the flight, which has been missing since March 8 with 239 people aboard.

One object is "a grey or green circular object," and the other is "an orange rectangular object," the Australian Maritime Safety Authority said.

COMMENT:  Of course we hope that the Malaysian prime minister actually has something to say, because, as we've reported, the press coverage has become absurd.  It's reaching the point where anyone who's ever flown in or near a Boeing 777 is considered an "expert."  We'll monitor the "statement."

March 24, 2014       Permalink

SHUT UP – AT 9:04 A.M. ET:  Sometimes even the president of the United States should shut up.  In the case of the current president, that should be most of the time.  Our redeemer opened his mouth on Ukraine again, and a foot flew in.  From Fox:

President Obama has told a Dutch newspaper that the United States does not see the ongoing crisis in Crimea and Ukraine as a "zero-sum game" between Washington and Moscow as pro-Russian forces reportedly overran a third Ukrainian military base in the Black Sea peninsula Monday.

In the interview, published in Monday's edition of de Volkskrant, Obama said, "The United States does not view Europe as a battleground between East and West, nor do we see the situation in Ukraine as a zero-sum game. That’s the kind of thinking that should have ended with the Cold War."

The president went on to say, "The Ukrainian people do not have to choose between East and West. On the contrary, it’s important that Ukraine have good relations with the United States, Russia, and Europe. As I’ve said, the future of Ukraine ought to be decided by the people of Ukraine."

COMMENT:  Take that, Putin!  Spoken like a true professor of political science who never reads a newspaper.  It takes two to end a cold war.  Putin's Russia isn't interested in ending their cold war with us.

And of course Europe is a battleground between East and West.  Obama may see that as old-fashioned thinking.  But, guess what?  The Russians are old-fashioned thinkers, and their old-fashioned thinking just produced a major victory in Crimea.

Remember that World War I was called "the war to end all wars."  It didn't.  Neither did World War II.

March 24,  2014     Permalink