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DECEMBER 14,  2017

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:56 P.M. ET:

AND THE BEAT GOES ON – FROM FOREIGNPOLICY.COM:  A top congressional ethics official who oversees investigations into misconduct by lawmakers is accused in a federal lawsuit of verbally abusing and physically assaulting women and using his federal position to influence local law enforcement, according to a complaint filed in a federal court in Pennsylvania last month.  The ongoing lawsuit against Omar Ashmawy, staff director and chief counsel of the Office of Congressional Ethics, stems from his involvement in a late-night brawl in 2015 in Milford, Pennsylvania, and includes a range of allegations relating to his behavior that evening and in the following two-and-half years.  Ashmawy’s office conducts the preliminary investigations into allegations of misconduct in the House of Representatives, deciding which cases to pursue or refer to the Committee on Ethics. He is named in congressional documents as the official who presented one of the investigations into John Conyers, the Democratic lawmaker from Michigan accused of sexual harassment, to the ethics committee for further action.  Who will be charged tomorrow?  Who can we trust?

IT PROBABLY WON'T HELP – FROM THE HILL:  In what has become a tradition at the New York Times, Arthur O. Sulzberger Jr., 66, has stepped down as publisher of The New York Times and has passed the baton to his son, Arthur G. Sulzberger, 37, the paper announced Thursday afternoon.   The paper of record has been in the Sulzberger family since 1896. Arthur O. Sulzberger took over from his father, Arthur "Punch" Sulzberger 25 years ago.   A.G. Sulzberger graduates from his deputy publisher position, which he was promoted to in 2016 as the family prepared to hands the reigns over to the Brown University alum.  The Times, although its financial position has improved recently, has deep problems.  Its journalistic quality has deteriorated as it's become more and more a left-wing mouthpiece.  Its editorials are mediocre and unpersuasive, and the "newspaper of record" no longer prints the kind of original documents and transcripts that the record requires.  I've heard nothing about the new boss.  I guess he's next in line in the royal household.

DEEP THOUGHT ON CAMPUS – FROM CAMPUS REFORM:  A dorm display at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst is using Care Bears to help students who feel “grumpy or stressed.”  “Feeling grumpy or stressed? Let the Care Bears help!” the display states above a large, hand-drawn rainbow adorned with bits of advice for students.  "It’s important to take care of ourselves! Self-care is an active choice and you should treat it as such,” one section proclaims, while another suggests that students “surround yourselves with supportive people” and “reminders of what you love.”  The display also suggests goofing around with friends, making time for fun, eating healthy, and getting enough sleep.   This advice costs $42,000 a year.  My mother gave it to me free, although I had to call home every Saturday.

December 14, 2017       Permalink

COMING HOME TO ROOST – QUOTE OF THE DAY – AT 1:16 P.M. ET:   Some independent-minded Harvard professors speak common sense.  That is big news.  From College Fix: 

Harvard President Drew Faust can’t really be surprised that congressional Republicans are pushing a tax on massive university endowments, the reclassification of “tuition waivers” for grad students as taxable income and eliminating the interest deduction on student loans.

Elite universities such as Harvard basically tell conservatives they are “ignorant, unworthy or corrupt” while demanding a “continuance of largesse” from taxpayers in the form of research funding and student loan subsidies, two Harvard Law professors write in The Washington Post.

It’s not just that Harvard faculty overwhelmingly give to Democratic candidates and Harvard Law is farther left than the average law school faculty, who are themselves “more progressive than the legal profession,” write Jack Goldsmith and Adrian Vermeule:

[T]he distinctive progressive ideology of elite universities is relentlessly critical of, to the point of being intolerant of, traditions and moral values widely seen as legitimate in the outside world. …

Harvard is actually somewhat better on these issues than many universities — it hasn’t had anti-conservative mobs, and it has been relatively respectful of conservative speakers. But even at Harvard, the pervasive progressive orthodoxy chills conservatives’ speech in the classroom and hallways.

COMMENT:  Very well said.  It's high time we visited the whole issue of federal aid to higher education.  Why should we be writing checks to vastly wealthy institutions that should be forced to pay their own way?  And why should we be financing the tearing down of American institutions?

Federal aid should be linked to a college's endowment.  And Congress has a perfect right to refuse aid that is not in the national interest. 

It's time for the national discussion.

December 14, 2017       Permalink

SMILEY FIGHTS BACK – AT 11:46 A.M. ET:   I'm not a fan of Tavis Smiley, who was suspended yesterday by PBS after sexual harassment charges.  He's kind of a mainstream African-American standard-issue liberal.  But I'm glad he's fighting back.  In a just society, and I think most women agree, you don't just destroy a man over charges unless and until he has his day in court, or unless there is a thorough, transparent probe.    From The Wrap: 

Tavis Smiley has responded to the sexual misconduct allegations that prompted PBS to “indefinitely” suspend broadcasting his show on Wednesday, saying he was “shocked” to find out, and that Variety, which first reported the story, knew before he did.

“I have the utmost respect for women and celebrate the courage of those who have come forth to tell their truth.  To be clear, I have never groped, coerced, or exposed myself inappropriately to any workplace colleague in my entire broadcast career, covering 6 networks over 30 years,” he said in a statement on Wednesday. “Never. Ever. Never.”

He said that PBS began its investigation without informing him, and only realized what was happening after “former staffers started contacting me to share the uncomfortable experience of receiving a phone call from a stranger asking whether I had ever done anything to make them uncomfortable, and if they could provide other names of persons to call.”

He said eventually PBS interviewed him, but did not take into account his “personal documentation,” “and refused to provide me any semblance of due process to defend myself against allegations from unknown sources. Their mind was made up.”

Smiley maintains that he did have a “consensual relationship with a colleague years ago,” but what was described in the Variety article was not true.

And...

Smiley concluded his statement by saying “This has gone too far.  And, I, for one, intend to fight back.”

“It’s time for a real conversation in America, so men and women know how to engage in the workplace. I look forward to actively participating in that conversation,” he said.

COMMENT:  For all I know, Smiley is as guilty as can be.  But I don't know that.  I haven't seen proof.  But I have seen him publicly humiliated based on anonymous sources.  Even if he is cleared, his name will forever be associated with the charges.

It's like the Duke University lacrosse case, where three lacrosse players were charged with rape.  They were all cleared, but, for the rest of their lives, if someone Googles their names, that case will come up first.

Sexual harassment is real.  Sexual assault is very real, and much more important.  But a decent society demands proof, and is careful with reputations. 

Clearly, the ultimate target of the current craze is President Trump.  There is something sordid about the whole affair.

December 14,  2017     Permalink

ECONOMIC SMILES – AT 9:51 A.M. ET:  Its time to call it the Trump economy.  Things aren't perfect, but they're much more perfect than during the Obama era.  From Reuters: 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales increased more than expected in November as the holiday shopping season got off to a brisk start, pointing to sustained strength in the economy that could pave the way for further Federal Reserve interest rate hikes next year.

The economic outlook was also bolstered by other data on Thursday that showed the number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits dropping to near a 44-1/2-year low last week.

The Fed offered a rosy assessment of the economy in its latest policy statement on Wednesday, describing activity as "rising at a solid rate." The U.S. central bank raised borrowing costs for a third time this year and forecast three rate increases for 2018.

The Commerce Department said retail sales rose 0.8 percent last month, with households buying a range of goods even as they cut back on purchases of motor vehicles. Data for October was revised to show sales gaining 0.5 percent instead of the previously reported 0.2 percent increase.

Retail sales accelerated 5.8 percent on an annual basis. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast retail sales increasing only 0.3 percent in November.

COMMENT:   And the coming tax cuts, assuming they pass Congress in the next four or five days, will add to the party.

Obviously, there can be reversals.  And if the Democrats take control of Congress next year, with their socialist leanings, the party can end early.

December 14,  2017     Permalink

DECEMBER 13,  2017

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET:

TODAY'S ACCUSED – FROM THE NEW YORK POST:   PBS has suspended late-night talk show “Tavis Smiley” amid misconduct allegations against its host and namesake.  “Effective today, PBS has indefinitely suspended distribution of ‘Tavis Smiley,’ produced by TS Media, an independent production company,” the public broadcaster said. “PBS engaged an outside law firm to conduct an investigation immediately after learning of troubling allegations regarding Mr. Smiley. This investigation included interviews with witnesses as well as with Mr. Smiley. The inquiry uncovered multiple, credible allegations of conduct that is inconsistent with the values and standards of PBS, and the totality of this information led to today’s decision.”  Sources close to the production told Variety that PBS hired attorney Sarah Taylor Wirtz of the firm MSK to oversee an investigation into Smiley’s behavior after receiving allegations of misconduct by Smiley, who hosts and produces the talk show. Wirtz declined Variety‘s request for comment. According to sources, MSK took reports from 10 witnesses, a mix of men and women of different races and employment levels in Smiley’s organization, most of them former staffers.  I love all these pompous statements about the "values of standards" of the company doing the firing, as if no one at that company had any idea of what was going on, probably for years.  Tune in tomorrow for tomorrow's accused person.  Who will it be?  And how many lawyers will profit?  Will women be helped?  Don't make me laugh.

MILESTONE – FROM THE LOCAL:  Norway on Wednesday completed its transition to digital radio, becoming the first country in the world to shut down national broadcasts of its FM radio network despite some grumblings.  As scheduled, the country's most northern regions and the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic switched to Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) in the late morning, said Digitalradio Norge (DRN) which groups Norway's public and commercial radio.  The transition, which began on January 11th, allows for better sound quality, a greater number of channels and more functions, all at a cost eight times lower than FM radio, according to authorities.   I'd be curious to know how this change will affect content.  It is often technological revolution, or evolution, that has an effect on what is seen and heard.  Consider the introduction of motion-picture sound, or cable television. I recall when hi-fi tuners used FM because it was the clearest form of radio.  It may soon be a backwater.

TAX CUT SCHEDULE – FROM AP:   The IRS says taxpayers could begin seeing less money withheld from their paychecks "as early as February" if Congress passes a Republican tax overhaul plan this month.
The agency says in a statement released Wednesday night that it "is continuing to closely monitor the pending legislation in Congress," and "taking the initial steps to prepare guidance on withholding for 2018."
The IRS says it expects to issue new withholding guidance in January reflecting the new legislation.
The bill would provide generous tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest Americans. Middle- and low-income families would get smaller tax cuts, though President Donald Trump and GOP leaders have billed the package as a huge benefit for the middle class.  Right now the tax bill polls poorly, probably because people don't have detailed information.  Once the cuts take effect, I'd imagine the polling numbers will change.

December 13,  2017     Permalink

AGREEMENT REACHED ON TAX BILL – AT 2:41 P.M. ET:   We hope this isn't an exaggeration.  From the Washington Examiner: 

Senate and House negotiators reached a deal Wednesday to compromise on the differences between their tax bills, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch said.

The Utah senator announced that a deal had been struck hours before the conference committee tasked with hammering out the joint bill was set to meet for its first and only public meeting.

Details of the deal were not immediately available. Negotiators had to work out differences between the Senate- and House-passed bills on tax provisions for non-corporate businesses, international taxation, repealing Obamacare's individual mandate and much more.

Conference committee Chairman Rep. Kevin Brady of Texas said Wednesday morning that his goal was to produce a conference report by the end of the week, so that both chambers could vote on final passage next week.

"I would hope that we’re debating that bill by Monday and voting on it early next week," said Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Miss.

What is next for the GOP is to turn the agreement in principle into a detailed proposal and obtain a score of its budgetary effects.

Leadership also needs to begin counting votes in the Senate, where Republicans have just a two-vote majority.

Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker, the lone Republican to vote against the tax bill in the Senate, told reporters that nothing had been added to the bill in conference to address his objection to the measure, which is that it could add too much to the federal debt.

COMMENT:  Not out of the woods yet, but a major step forward.  Maybe Republicans in Congress can govern after all. 

December 13, 2017       Permalink  

FRANKEN REPLACEMENT NAMED – AT 11:21 A.M. ET:   The governor of Minnesota has named a replacement for Senator Al Franken, who has announced that he's resigning in light of accusations of sexual misconduct.  From The Hill: 

Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton (D) on Wednesday named Lt. Gov. Tina Smith (D) to fill Sen. Al Franken’s (D-Minn.) soon-to-be vacated Senate seat.

Smith said she intends to run in November 2018 to complete the remaining two years of Franken’s term. 

“It is up to Minnesotans to decide who they want to complete Senator Franken’s term. I will run in that election, and I will do my best to earn Minnesotans support. And I believe the way to do that is to be the best senator I can be,” Smith said.

Franken announced his resignation last week in the wake of accusations that he groped and kissed women without their consent. He did not, however, set a date for his departure from the Senate, saying only that he would leave “in the coming weeks.” 

Smith on Wednesday said she’s spoken with Franken and his staff, and expects he will officially step down some time in early January.

She said Franken “has been a champion” for Minnesota, adding that “he will continue to work” for the state and country. 

In his speech, Franken noted the "irony" that he is resigning while President Trump, who has been accused of sexual misconduct, remains in office.

When asked for her opinion about the recent calls from some Democratic senators for Trump to resign in the face of sexual misconduct allegations, Smith dodged the question, saying she’s “not going to get into… what’s going on in Washington right now.” 

COMMENT:  One liberal Democrat replacing another.  I do hope the Republican Party of Minnesota will take a few moments out of its valuable time to find a reputable person to run against Smith next year, so we don't have a repeat of Alabama.  Is that too much to ask?

December 13, 2017       Permalink 

THE INVESTIGATIONS, AND THE SCANDALS – AT 10:50 A.M. ET:  Now that the Alabama election is out of the way, we can return to the major developments in the Washington "investigations" now underway.  The result is disturbing.  From IBD:

Election Meddling: With every new revelation, the "dossier" on President Trump, which got the entire Trump-Russia-collusion story going, looks more and more scandalous. Not because of what it reveals about Trump, but what it is revealing about behind-the-scenes efforts to ruin his presidency.

The latest twist involves a senior Justice Department official who was just demoted for his connection to it.

When the existence of the now-discredited dossier first came to light, it was described simply as information compiled by a former British intelligence operative with a high degree of credibility in the spy community.

The fact that a two-page summary had been presented to Trump and President Obama in early January lent it still more credibility. As one news outlet put it, the dossier was "credible enough to warrant inclusion of their claims in the highly classified report on Russian interference in the presidential campaign."

From that point on, it was treated as an authoritative report pointing to Trump's collusion with Russians to meddle in the U.S. election.

It was only much later — and long after its phony claims had been seared into the public's consciousness — that the truth about this dossier started to emerge.

And everything that we've learned since has seriously undermined its credibility, while raising troubling questions about how the FBI and the Justice Department under Obama used it.

The most explosive revelation was that the dossier was bought and paid for by the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee, a fact that the Clinton campaign took pains to hide, that Clinton officials lied about, and that Fusion GPS refused to reveal on its own. It wasn't an intelligence report at all. It was a political hit job paid for by Trump's opponent.

COMMENT:  Read the whole thing.  There is a major scandal brewing in Washington, and it isn't about President Trump.  It is about attempts to destroy him, even before he took office, with the collusion of federal officials. 

This, not Donald Trump, is a major threat to our democracy.  It will take time to investigate.  If the GOP loses control of both houses of Congress, those investigations may never take place.

That is the fix we are in.  But you'll never hear it on CNN.

December 13,  2017     Permalink