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DECEMBER 25,  2017

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

BAN IT!  BAN IT! – FROM BREITBART:    Even holiday classics like "It’s a Wonderful Life" have come under vicious scrutiny in our politically correct, brave new world, with CNN openly questioning whether the beloved film is secretly sexist and should, therefore, be “retired” from American culture.  CNN writer Carol Costello says she has “cooled to classics like ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’” lamenting that in a post-Harvey Weinstein world, she can never again watch that movie “in the same way [she] did when [she] was a kid” because she keeps wondering if it is “inherently sexist.”  “And that’s a good thing,” she adds.  Seen through the revisionist prism of radical feminism, the classic Frank Capra film starring James Stewart and Donna Reed becomes part of a patriarchal plot to keep women subjected to men.  I always knew it.  How could they keep showing that example of toxic masculinity?  I don't feel safe.

THE NANNY STATE – FROM DAILYWIRE:   He warned Britain and the United States about the rise of Adolf Hitler.  He fought the Nazi war machine alone until Russia and the United States joined him.  And he is a public health menace.  Winston Churchill, it seems, is rarely pictured without a cigar in tow.  And the new Churchill biographical film, "Darkest Hour," wants you to know that “there are serious health risks associated with smoking and with secondhand smoke.”  That line is included in the film’s credits, which also say that “the depictions of tobacco smoking contained in this film are based solely on artistic consideration and are not intended to promote tobacco consumption.”  I'm so glad the filmmakers are conscious of our health, and are pure of heart.  Had that line not been in the credits, I would surely be smoking cigars by now.

December 25,  2017     Permalink

MERRY CHRISTMAS – AT 8:41 A.M. ET:  A great way for the president and first lady to spend the holiday.  From Conservative Treehouse: 

Today, President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump participate in taking phone calls from children, from the library of Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, as part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) 62nd Santa Tracker tradition on Christmas Eve, keeping watch on Santa’s travels around the world.

COMMENT:  Let's see.  Donald Trump.  Melania Trump.  Christmas.  NORAD.  The left must collectively be having a nervous breakdown.

Check out the great photos.

December 25, 2017       Permalink

A HEROINE FOR CHRISTMAS – AT 8:08 A.M. ET:  It's inspiring to get up on Christmas morning and find a great gift via our UN ambassador, Nikki Haley.  From the New York Post: 

UN Ambassador Nikki Haley announced Sunday that the United States negotiated a $285 million cut in the United Nations’ “bloated” budget for next year.

“The inefficiency and overspending of the United Nations are well known,” Haley said in a statement from the US Mission. “We will no longer let the generosity of the American people be taken advantage of or remain unchecked.”

Haley added that the “historic reduction” in spending is a step in the right direction and that the US would make many other moves toward a more efficient and accountable UN.

“In addition to these significant cost savings, we reduced the UN’s bloated management and support functions, bolstered support for key US priorities throughout the world and instilled more discipline and accountability throughout the UN system,” the statement said.

The new deal for the 2018-2019 fiscal year is $285 million less than the world body’s staggering $5.4 billion budget for fiscal year 2016-2017.

The ambassador went on to say that she hopes to help make even more reductions in the UN’s budget in the years to come.

Haley’s announcement came just days after she slammed the UN for “singling out” the United States and voting on a resolution to oppose President Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

The former South Carolina governor went on the warpath last week over the UN’s resolution — and said the US would be “taking names,” as a result.

“The United States will remember this day in which it was singled out in this assembly for the very act of exercising our right as a sovereign nation,” Haley told member nations ahead of their vote.

COMMENT:  She's our true "woman of the year." 

December 25,  2017     Permalink

DECEMBER 24,  2017

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

THIS JUST IN! – FROM DAILY CALLER:    A Canadian government website claims Santa Claus signed an international agreement to relocate his workshop to the South Pole to escape the effects of man-made global warming in the Arctic.  The website for Policy Horizons Canada, a government website, notes that due to “rapidly melting Arctic ice and growing human operations in the North, Santa Claus has signed an agreement with the International community to relocate his village next year to operate in an exclusive zone in the South Pole.”  So glad to know this.  I'll change my address book.

DRIVING THEM CRAZY – FROM DAILY CALLER:  A victorious Trump landed in Florida for Christmas vacation, fresh off signing the newly minted GOP tax bill into law, and he made a fan’s day while walking along the tarmac.  As Trump descended the staircase of Air Force One he fist pumped. The waiting crowd him cheered as Trump walked over to see them. After some handshakes and signing some autographs, Trump picked out a specific sign. He plucked it from the crowd and signed it. The sign read “Keep Tweeting.”   Give the guy his due.  As we've said here, he's a fighter.  And he doesn't run his office by poll numbers.

HOW DARE THESE ORDINARY PEASANTS HAVE OPINIONS! – FROM LONDON'S EXPRESS: The Standard Eurobarometer survey revealed half of Europeans also do not think that their voices count in the EU.  Immigration was the top concern, followed by the threat of terrorism. And most are against the key policy of future enlargement of the EU to include other countries.  The European Commission survey, carried out in November, showed that one in five people (21 per cent) had a negative image of the EU, 37 per cent were neutral and 40 per cent were positive.  Some 50 per cent disagreed that their “voice counts in the EU”, six per cent above those that did.  Not exactly a rousing vote of confidence.  But their sophisticated masters at the EU won't care.  They know best, just as they did in 1939.

December 24, 2017        Permalink

WHOOPS! – AT 3:18 P.M. ET:  Y'know, I guess President Trump isn't really Putin's puppet.  Maybe some journalists will have to revise their "narrative."  From, of all places, CNN:

Washington (CNN) In the space of a week, the Trump administration has named Russia a "rival power," sanctioned a close Putin ally, and decided to give Ukraine anti-tank weapons to help in its fight against Moscow-backed militias.

It's a series of steps that has been paired with tougher rhetoric from the State Department about Moscow's destabilizing activities in eastern Ukraine, and serious charges from the Pentagon that Russia is intentionally violating de-confliction agreements in Syria.

The slew of actions highlights a decided turn away from the warmer, more cooperative relationship with Russia that President Donald Trump called for during his campaign and early in his presidency.

As Trump nears the one-year mark in office, a number of factors have intruded on those plans. He has been hemmed in by the domestic political constraint of an ongoing investigation into Russia's interference with the 2016 election, as well as a widespread distrust of Russia and its continuing cyber activities that persists among the intelligence community, diplomats, the Pentagon and lawmakers.

Those close to Trump who advocated for more cooperation with Moscow have been shown the White House door. And national security positions across the administration are now staffed with people, including at the Cabinet level, who have expressed more cautious and traditional views of Russia.

COMMENT:  Okay.  Trump tried a better relationship, as did Hillary Clinton when she was secretary of state.  It didn't work either time.  Now Trump is adjusting his policy.  The Obama administration never adjusted, which is why the Russians are in Crimea, with little resistance from the West.  The Democrats now feign deep concern about Russia, but laughed at that concern when Field Marshal Obama was in office.

December 24, 2017       Permalink

TRUMP'S YEAR – AT 1:40 P.M. ET:   Allies of the president are now fighting to control the narrative regarding Mr. Trump's first year in office.  From the Washington Examiner: 

With the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act this week, the Trump administration has scored 81 major achievements in its first year, making good on campaign promises to provide significant tax cuts, boost U.S. energy production, and restore respect to the United States, according to the White House.

And along the way, President Trump even outdid his own expectations and slashed at least 11 major legacy items of former President Obama, including cracking down on the open border, slowing recognition of Communist Cuba and effectively killing Obamacare by ending the mandate that everyone have health insurance or face a tax.

According to the White House, the 81 accomplishments are in 12 major categories and include well over 100 other minor achievements.

The unofficial list helps to counter the impression in the mainstream media and among congressional Democrats that outside the approval of Supreme Court Neil Gorsuch and passage of the tax reform bill little was done.

Administration’s typically tout their achievements broadly at the end of each year, but Trump plans to list jobs added, regulations killed, foreign policy victories won and moves to help veterans and even drug addicts.

And in a sign of support for conservatives, the White House also is highlighting achievements for the pro-life community.

COMMENT:  I'm glad they're doing it.  Say what you wish about Trump, but he's a fighter.  And I get the sense, just watching him, that he's finally easing into the job, and the style of the job.  The Dems have nothing to offer but contempt, hatred, and impeachment.  I hope the public notices.

December 24, 2017       Permalink

A CHRISTMAS EVE STORY – AT 11:57 A.M. ET:  Many people justly complain about the exploitation of Christmas for non-religious purposes, diminishing the true meaning of the holiday.

The worst exploitation I've seen does not come from commercial sources, but from governments that send out Christmas greetings while terrifying their own Christian populations.  From the Algemeiner:

Iran’s foreign minister encountered an angry response on Sunday when he took to Twitter on Christmas Eve to wish a “happy and peaceful Christmas to all.”

Citing a verse from the Quran, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif – a key architect, with former US Secretary of State John Kerry, of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal – declared: “May Christ’s universal message of peace be embraced in the coming year.”

Dozens of responses to Zarif’s message emphasized Iran’s long record of persecuting Christians.

Many of them highlighted the arrest of four Iranian converts to Christianity in the city of Karaj on December 12.

According to Article 18, an organization that advocates on behalf of persecuted Christians in Iran, “Milad Goudarzi, Amin Khaki, Alireza Nour-Mohammadi and Shehabuddin Shahi were all arrested by security forces on Tuesday, December 12, in Karaj.” Six houses used by the converts as a church were also reported to have been raided by the Iranian regime’s security forces.

Iranian Christian news outlet Mohabat News reported in addition that security forces raided two shops belonging to two of the detainees.

The shops were sealed off for “overcharging”, “profiteering” and “breaking guild regulations.” A Bible and a laptop computer were also confiscated.

IRNA, the Iranian regime’s official mouthpiece reported that “elements of a devious Christian cult who were promoting it and attempting to disrupt the market and economic order have been arrested.”

Iranian official figures show that more than 100,000 Christians live in Iran, although some Christian organizations believe the number could be 270,000 or even more. While traditional ethnic churches, such as the Armenian church, are generally tolerated, evangelical Christians and converts are brutally treated by the authorities. Under Iranian law, converting from Islam to another faith is a crime that can carry the death penalty.

COMMENT:  And Merry Christmas to you, Mr. Foreign Minister.  But from now on please restrict your greetings to your pal, John Kerry.

December 24,  2017     Permalink