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MAY 14,  2015

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:54 P.M. ET: 

MSNBC DYING – I don't know how long NBC can keep MSNBC on the air.  The ratings are fading into dime-store territory.  From Mediaite:  "Not only did The Ed Show hit a new low of 30K viewers in the 25-54 demo on Wednesday, but MSNBC had its lowest total day ratings in close to 10 years with 49K average viewers in the demo over the course of the day. The last time MSNBC saw demo ratings this low was on July 20, 2005 when it had 45K in total day.  In primetime, MSNBC also came in third place with just 76K in the demo compared to 337K for Fox News and 196K for CNN."  There are local stations that do much better.  I think it's their relentless left-wingism that's killing them.  Grim and not entertaining.

DO WE NEED THIS?  – From Times of Israel:  "Natalie Portman will portray Jackie Kennedy in a new film depicting the first four days of her life following the assassination of her husband, 35th US president John F. Kennedy.  'Jackie' is expected to go into production at the end of the year, and will reunite the Israeli-American actress with Darren Aronovsky, who directed her in the 2010 ballet thriller 'Black Swan,' for which she received an Academy Award, Variety reported Thursday.  Aronovsky is slated to produce the upcoming film."  I'm so excited.  Portman is also scheduled to play Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in a film.  Has she become the designated portrayer?   Look, she's talented, beautiful and smart – a Harvard graduate – but her recent, militant left-wing statements are a turnoff.  If she can keep her mouth shut, all the better.  Just do the job.  As far as the choice of material, there was much to admire about Jacqueline Kennedy and the way she carried herself during a time of grief, but I think the actual newsfilms will always say more than a movie.  I can't imagine a movie about the militant Ruth being all that interesting. 

FRIGHTENING – From the Washington Examiner:  "The Associated Press and three of the nation's biggest newspapers are under pressure to stop referring to climate change 'skeptics' in stories, and instead bluntly label those who question the science of global warming as 'deniers.'  In a report and petition, two groups on Wednesday charged that the media is giving 'deniers' cover for what they call wrongheadedness.  The liberal media watchdog Media Matters and Forecast the Facts reviewed stories in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Washington Post and said that the term 'skeptics' was used 19 times to describe what they call deniers."  The left's war on free expression continues.  I would hope that scientists would be the first to denounce this attempt to force intellectual conformity.  But I'm afraid too many scientists are themselves fearful that their careers would suffer if they don't go along.  This is the path to totalitarianism.

MAJOR EDUCATIONAL NEWS BULLETIN – From the Washington Times:  "A report by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on microaggressions includes 'walking into or sitting in' a room full of white people as a problematic environment for minorities.  'Students of color reported feeling uncomfortable and unwelcomed just walking into or sitting in the classroom, especially if they were the only person of color, or one of a few,' said the report, titled 'Racial Microaggressions @ University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign,' National Review reported Wednesday."  It is simply remarkable to see the damage done to minority kids by turning them into whining children.  Instead of preparing them for life, we're preparing them for a sandbox.

May 14, 2015       Permalink

IS HILLARY LOSING? – AT 10:18 A.M. ET:  We caution that this is a Republican poll, but it still brings smiles.   From The Hill:

Hillary Clinton trails a generic Republican presidential candidate by double-digits among voters in six key battleground states, according to a new poll from the GOP firm Vox Populi.

The survey, conducted on behalf of the conservative super-PAC American Crossroads, found an unnamed GOP candidate taking 51 percent support among voters in Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio, and Virginia.

Clinton takes only 41 percent support among voters in those states, according to the poll.
The survey found Clinton’s favorability rating deep underwater, with 40 percent having a positive view of the former secretary of State against 53 percent who said they view her negatively.

In addition, 52 percent of voters in the battleground states said they don’t trust Clinton, and the same percentage said they don’t share her values.

Fifty-eight percent said they agree with the notion that Clinton will “say or do anything” to get elected president, while only 35 percent said they disagree.

"This poll shows that the Clinton campaign’s 'Hide Hillary' strategy isn’t working and may in fact be backfiring,” American Crossroads president and CEO Steven Law said in a statement.

COMMENT:  I won't accept those numbers until I see them duplicated by someone else.  But I am getting the feeling, although it's very early, that the 2016 presidential election is the Republican candidate's to lose.  If the party nominates the right person, it can put that person in the White House, which would mean that the GOP would have the presidency, the House, the Senate, most governorships, and most state legislatures.  The Democrats would have discount trips to meet Raul Castro.

May 14, 2015       Permalink

GREAT MOMENTS IN DIPLOMACY – AT 9:49 A.M. ET:  If you wonder why America is being laughed at all over the world, just read this, from The Wall Street Journal.  Hat tip to reader Jacqueline Reckseit. 

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned Monday that the Kremlin continues to provide heavy arms and training to its proxy militias in eastern Ukraine—a “blatant violation,” he says, of the Minsk deal Russia signed in February to end the fighting. NATO says Russia is also building forces on both sides of its international border with Ukraine. Civilians in the port of Mariupol, a few miles from the front lines, are bracing for an attack and posting signs to the nearest bomb shelter.

So what better time for John Kerry to attempt to reconcile with Vladimir Putin? The Secretary of State arrived Tuesday in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, where he met first with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and then was granted an audience with the Russian President.

“The Kremlin had let Washington squirm about whether Mr. Kerry would be well-received, only confirming that Mr. Putin would meet with him about an hour before his arrival,” the Journal reported Tuesday, adding that “Mr. Putin was likely pleased by Mr. Kerry’s effort at obeisance” after the secretary paid homage to Russian sacrifices in World War II.

No doubt. Following eight hours of discussions, Mr. Kerry suggested that “U.S. and EU sanctions can begin to be rolled back” if Russia abides by the Minsk deal. That deal is known as “Minsk II” because the Kremlin had already violated September’s “Minsk I” accord, which was supposed to freeze the conflict in eastern Ukraine, bringing peace in return for securing Russia’s extensive territorial gains. So Mr. Putin may now be rewarded with the lifting of economic sanctions simply by promising to abide by another deal he violated from the moment it was signed.

Mr. Kerry appears to have given up even asking that Russia exit from eastern Ukraine, much less reverse last year’s illegal seizure and annexation of Crimea. Barely a year ago President Obama invoked the ghosts of World Wars I and II to warn in Brussels that “casual indifference” to Russia’s takeover of Crimea “would ignore the lessons that are written in the cemeteries of this continent.”

COMMENT:  President Cave-In and Secretary Kiss-up are on the job, protecting our security.  Read the rest of the article.  Things get worse.

May 14, 2015       Permalink

GEORGE MESSES UP – AT 9:32 A.M. ET:  Another network journalist has messed up, and should be severely sanctioned, but probably won't be.  From The Politico: 

ABC News chief anchor George Stephanopoulos has given $50,000 to the Clinton Foundation in recent years, charitable contributions that he did not publicly disclose while reporting on the Clintons or their non-profit organization, the On Media blog has learned.

In both 2013 and 2014, Stephanopoulos made a $25,000 donation to the 501 nonprofit founded by former president Bill Clinton, the Foundation's records show. Stephanopoulos never disclosed this information to viewers, even when interviewing author Peter Schweizer last month about his book "Clinton Cash," which alleges that donations to the Foundation may have influenced some of Hillary Clinton's actions as Secretary of State.

In a statement to the On Media blog on Thursday, Stephanopoulos apologized and said that he should have disclosed the donations to ABC News and its viewers.

"I made charitable donations to the Foundation in support of the work they’re doing on global AIDS prevention and deforestation, causes I care about deeply," he said. "I thought that my contributions were a matter of public record. However, in hindsight, I should have taken the extra step of personally disclosing my donations to my employer and to the viewers on air during the recent news stories about the Foundation. I apologize."

Stephanopoulos is the chief anchor and chief political correspondent for ABC News, as well as the co-anchor of ABC's "Good Morning America" and host of "This Week," its Sunday morning public affairs program. Prior to joining ABC News, he served as communications director and senior advisor for policy and strategy to President Clinton. He also served as communications director on Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign.

COMMENT:   You'd think the guy would have had more common sense.  He should at least face some network discipline, and even be barred from certain stories.  While his crime is not on the Brian Williams – I was there when they signed the Declaration of Independence – level, it brings his competence and credibility into question.  A high-school journalist would know that.

May 14, 2015       Permalink

A BIT OF BOTHER ON THE IRAN NUCLEAR FRONT – AT 9:14 A.M. ET:  The Russians have just undercut one of President Obama's main arguments for an Iran nuclear treaty.  We await creative words from the White House.  From Bloomberg: 

The Obama administration is trying to sell a nuclear deal with Iran to skeptical Arabs, Israelis and U.S. lawmakers by saying that United Nations sanctions will be restored automatically if the Iranians are caught cheating.

Not so, say the Russians, who have one of five vetoes in the 15-member UN Security Council.

“There can be no automaticity, none whatsoever” in reimposing UN sanctions if Iran violates the terms of an agreement to curb its nuclear program, Russia’s UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told Bloomberg News on Wednesday. He didn’t elaborate.

While the Obama administration maintains that Russia agreed “in principle” to the need for a sanctions “snapback” mechanism if Iran fails to comply with the agreement now being negotiated in final form, the Russian government has offered no corroboration.

Instead, President Vladimir Putin on April 13 lifted a ban on exporting missile defense systems to Tehran, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said lifting all the sanctions against Iran is good business for Russia.

COMMENT:  Well, there it is.  Russia, using its veto at the UN, can block the reimposition of sanctions, and now pretty much says it will.

Where does that leave Obama?  In the wilderness, I'm afraid.  His own party is turning against him on some issues, and major Democrats are no longer afraid to criticize him.  He has entered lame duckness.  But even a lame duck can bite and do damage.

The Iran nuclear deal is scheduled to be wrapped up by June 30th.  If Obama were sharp, which he's not, he would either stall the talks or temporarily withdraw, making clear to Iran that there will be a steep cost to get an agreement.  That isn't Obama's way.  He's a cave-in kind of guy.

May 14,  2015     Permalink 

MAY 13,  2015

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:51 P.M. ET: 

CHECK ONE FOR MARCO – From The Politico:  "Sen. Marco Rubio now has another billionaire in his corner: Oracle founder Larry Ellison.  Ellison will host a fundraiser for the Florida Republican’s White House bid at his mansion in Woodside, Calif., on June 9, according to an invitation obtained by POLITICO.
A VIP reception and photo opportunity with Rubio will cost attendees $2,700 per person. The fundraiser will also include a host committee dinner for couples who have raised $27,000."  Rubio is clearly making some noise.  A speech he just gave before the Council on Foreign Relations got very high marks.

I'M SHOCKED – From Daily Caller:  "Political leaders and activists in Baltimore are using the city’s recent riots as an opportunity to demand more state funding for the city’s school system and after-school programs.  At two different events on Monday, activists and politicians directly cited the riots as showcasing the need to funnel more money towards educational efforts in Baltimore, The Baltimore Sun reports. Activists want Hogan to direct about $68 million in funds he hoped to allocate for other state needs back to education. About $11 million of that money would go to Baltimore.  At least one lawmaker suggested Baltimore deserved more money because, following the riots, it would be better spent."  Yeah, right.  If this money is authorized, watch it go right down the drain.  It won't be sent directly to people.  It will go to "leaders" to administer "programs."  After every riot there's a demand for what, in effect, is protection money.

RUSSIANS DON'T HEART AMERICA – A new poll shows that Russians see us, laughingly, as a threat.  The Putin propaganda machine is doing its job.  From CBS:  "According to the Russian polling group Levada Center, 59 percent of Russians see the United States as a threat, reports Global Post. That number was 47 percent in 2007.  Of those who said the U.S. is a threat, 31 percent are worried about the possibility of an American invasion and occupation of Russia.  'Lately we can see that all the measures are directed at the consolidation of [Russians’] national identity. And depicting the United States as the enemy has become one of the structural elements for social consolidation,' Karina Pipiya, sociologist at the Levada Center, was quoted by Izvestia newspaper as saying, according to the Moscow Times."  Just like the good old days. 

May 13, 2015       Permalink

HOW THE WORM TURNS – AT 11:31 A.M. ET:  Did you ever think you'd see the day when supreme leftist Barack Obama was attacked for being sexist?  That day has come.  From The Hill:

National Organization for Women (NOW) president Terry O'Neill on Wednesday called President Obama's critique of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sexist.

O'Neill told The Hill she took issue with Obama calling Warren by her first name during an interview with Yahoo News published Saturday.

"Yes, I think it is sexist," O'Neill said. "I think the president was trying to build up his own trustworthiness on this issue by convincing us that Senator Warren's concerns are not to be taken seriously. But he did it in a sexist way."

Obama told Yahoo that Warren was opposing his trade agenda to further her own political brand.

“The truth of the matter is that Elizabeth is, you know, a politician like everybody else. And you know, she’s got a voice that she wants to get out there. And I understand that,” Obama told Yahoo.

O'Neill said Obama's "clear subtext is that the little lady just doesn't know what she's talking about."

"I think it was disrespectful," O'Neill said.

COMMENT:  Remarkable.  Quite remarkable.  Look Barack, if you've lost NOW...

May 13,  2015     Permalink

DOES SHE EVER LEARN? – AT 9:50 A.M. ET:   Or maybe it's Bill who, as usual, can't control himself.  The Clintons, through their foundation, are continuing to take foreign money.  From the Washington Examiner: 

A number of foreign donors pledged new support for Clinton Foundation efforts during a conference in Marrakech last week, raising questions about the strength of Hillary Clinton's campaign promise to cut off foreign donations to her family philanthropy while she runs for president.

The Kingdom of Morocco was among the foreign entities that committed to new projects at the Clinton Global Initiative event, which drew dozens of big-ticket donors to the country for a three-day meeting headlined by Bill Clinton. Hillary was slated to attend the Marrakech conference before her name was quietly removed from the schedule earlier this year amid criticism of the foundation's foreign activities.

The Clinton Global Initiative is an arm of the Clinton Foundation that acts a broker between donors and entities that are interested in completing charitable projects. Under the memorandum of understanding that guided the foundation's activities while Hillary Clinton was in office, the Clinton Global Initiative was not allowed to hold major events overseas.

In all, 34 U.S.-based and foreign entities offered their support to Clinton Global Initiative projects at the Marrakech summit.

COMMENT:  I have no doubt that these "foreign entities" will be well rewarded for their contributions.

It is simply incredible that the Clintons don't understand the importance of appearances.  Or maybe they just don't care, and feel they can get away with it, with the help of a sympathetic press.

May 13, 2015       Permalink

ALOHA, WE THINK – AT 9:12 A.M. ET:   The annals of Obamacare are being written.   The one in Hawaii may, if things continue, be distributed in a plain wrapper.  Things aren't good.  The question is whether this disaster is being repeated widely.  From Americans for Tax Reform: 

Despite over $205 million in federal taxpayer funding, Hawaii’s Obamacare exchange website will soon shut down. Since its implementation, the exchange has somehow failed to become financially viable because of lower than expected Obamacare enrollment figures. With the state legislature rejecting a $28 million bailout, the website will now be unable to operate past this year.

According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser the Hawaii Health Connector will stop taking new enrollees on Friday and plans to begin migrating to the federally run Healthcare.gov. Outreach services will end by May 31, all technology will be transferred to the state by September 30, and its workforce will be eliminated by February 28.

While the exchange has struggled since its creation, it is not for lack of funding. Since 2011 Hawaii has received a total of $205,342,270 in federal grant money from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In total, HHS provided nearly $4.5 billion to Hawaii and other state exchanges, with little federal oversight and virtually no strings attached.

Despite this generous funding, the exchange has underperformed from day one. In its first year, Hawaii enrolled only 8,592 individuals – meaning it spent almost $23,899 on its website for each individual enrolled. Currently over 37,000 individuals are enrolled in Hawaii’s exchange - well below the estimated 70,000 enrollees that is required to make the website financially viable. Unfortunately, taxpayers will have to hand out an additional $30 million so that Hawaii can migrate to the federal system.

This is not the first time that a state exchange has failed, and taken millions of dollars in federal funds down with it. Earlier this year, Oregon’s state exchange was officially abolished at an estimated cost of $41 million.

COMMENT:  You'd think the mainstream media would consider Obamacare, our first experiment with nationalized health service for everyone, a major, continuing story.  But we actually read little about it.  Support for the program among voters has increased.  But that may be due to the politicized manner in which Obamacare is being introduced – increased services up front, costs and taxes later on.  The classic credit-card mentality. 

I get the feeling that the first recognizable crisis in Obamacare will be funding, and not far behind will be the quality of care, especially for the elderly.  Will there be "death panels," as Sarah Palin predicted?  Oh, sure, but they won't be called that.  They'll be called "intelligent choice" programs.  Except that the choices will be made by the government, and granny might not be happy.

May 13, 2015       Permalink

WHOOPS – AT 8:46 A.M. ET:  Did someone say something about an economic recovery?  I thought I heard someone mention it.  Better tell it to the American people.  From Fox Business:   

U.S. retail sales were unchanged in April as households cut back on purchases of automobiles and other big-ticket items, suggesting the economy was struggling to make a strong rebound after barely growing in the first quarter.

The Commerce Department said on Wednesday retail sales for March were revised up to show a 1.1 percent increase instead of the previously reported 0.9 percent rise.

Economists polled by Reuters had forecast retail sales rising 0.2 percent last month.

Retail sales excluding automobiles, gasoline, building materials and food services were also unchanged after an upwardly revised 0.5 percent increase in March.

The so-called core retail sales correspond most closely with the consumer spending component of gross domestic product.

Economists had forecast core retail sales rising 0.5 percent in April after a previously reported 0.4 percent increase in March.

Retail sales have trended weaker despite households getting a massive windfall from lower gasoline prices. Consumers appear to have saved much of the money from the cheaper gasoline.

COMMENT:  Any Democratic candidate for president would want to take a strong economy into the 2016 election, and it just isn't happening.  The economy, as noted in the Fox Business article, is still struggling. 

It is still too early to assess the economic damage that might have been done by the Baltimore riots or the storms in the Midwest.  Hillary, though, cannot be smiling.

May 13,  2015     Permalink