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JANUARY 29,  2017

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

BE CAREFUL WITH THIS – FROM FOX:   Two gunmen stormed an Islamic center in Quebec City and opened fire killing at least five people Sunday, the president of the facility said...Two suspects in the shooting were arrested, Quebec City police spokesman Constable Pierre Poirier said...According to the Le Soleil newspaper, one of the arrested suspects was 27 years old and had a “Quebecois name.” The paper also reported that one of the suspects was armed with an AK-47...One witness, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Radio Canada, a Canadian Broadcasting Company French-speaking outlet, that the two gunmen were masked.  “It seemed to me that they had a Quebecois accent. They started to fire, and as they shot they yelled, 'Allahu akbar!'   Already the usual suspects are screaming "Islamophobia," but it appears from first reports that the gunmen may well have been Muslims.  The police have not yet released descriptions of the suspects.  When police delay that kind of information, it often means that the story doesn't fit the politically correct narrative.  Beware the cover-up.

MAJOR LANGUAGE WARNING – FROM BRITAIN'S TELEGRAPH:   The British Medical Association has said pregnant women should not be called "expectant mothers" as it could offend transgender people.  Instead, they should call them "pregnant people" so as not to upset intersex and transgender men, the union has said.  The advice comes in an internal document to staff outlining a raft of common phrases that should be avoided for fear of causing offence.  A large majority of people that have been pregnant or have given birth identify as women. We can include intersex men and transmen who may get pregnant by saying 'pregnant people' instead of 'expectant mothers'.  Sorry, I refuse.

ROYAL DRAMA – FROM THE DAILY MAIL:   Donald Trump’s forthcoming State visit to Britain was hit by a diplomatic row last night after it emerged he wants to avoid Prince Charles because of their dispute over global warming.  The President is understood to have made it clear he does not want talks with the Prince at Clarence House, a regular feature of such visits. Trump is said to fear a meeting will encourage environmentalists to stage protests against him.  Reports of Trump’s threatened boycott of the Prince come a week after the publication of a new book by the heir to the throne warning of the threat posed by climate change.  I think Trump should see the prince, and just talk about "Downton Abbey."  Maybe the president can bring DVD's.  And invite Lady Mary.  And Trump could offer a bust of himself to be placed in Buckingham Palace.  If the prince brings up global warming, Trump could just start a chorus of "Baby, it's Cold Outside," and leave.

January 29, 2017       Permalink

FROM THE ANNALS OF EDUCATION – AT 12:57 P.M. ET:   Want your school to shine when the inspectors come through?  This is the way it's done.   From the New York Post: 

This principal gets a “D” for deception.

During the last two visits by the district superintendent for a “quality review,” Rachelle Legions, the leader of PS 106 in Far Rockaway, Queens, rounded up six to eight of the most disruptive students and hid them in a trailer in the schoolyard, insiders told The Post.

Children in several grades who frequently scream, fight and throw things were allegedly stashed out of sight and earshot while District 27 Superintendent Mary Barton toured classrooms to evaluate the troubled school — now on a state watch list because of rock-bottom test scores.

Kids seen as troublemakers — including some with special needs — were removed from classrooms before Barton visited last May 11 and Nov. 30 to prevent an embarrassing ruckus, insiders said.

“You could walk by any time of day and there will be two kids beating each up,” a staffer said.

The ploy worked. “When the superintendent came through, it was calm and quiet,” a witness said.

Instead, The outcasts were allegedly kept occupied on laptops and even ate lunch in the mobile unit, normally used for offices.

But staffers are irate at the ruse, saying parents were apparently kept in the dark and would be shocked to learn their kids were isolated.

“I would be absolutely disgusted that you’re treating my child like a dirty little secret,” one fumed.

COMMENT:  Read the whole piece.  I'm sure the leftists would argue that the answer is more money and more "multicultural" hiring. 

The New York City school system appeared to be improving under Mayors Giuliani and Bloomberg.  But the current, left-wing administration seems determined to do as much damage as possible.

January 29, 2017       Permalink

YOU GOTTA SEE THIS – AT 12:22 P.M. ET:  We're talkin' here about a major correspondent for The New York Times, one of the most important posts in journalism.  From Paul Mirengoff at Powerline:   

John likes to say that mainstream media reporters know less than most of us do. Maggie Haberman, a political correspondent for The New York Times and a political analyst for CNN, provided evidence for this contention today. Haberman tweeted:

Other than San Bernardino shootings, has there been a terrorist attack involving a non-US-born attacker since 9/11?

Any reasonably well-informed person could have answered that one in the affirmative. Guy Benson responded:

Boston bombers, Times Square bomber, underwear bomber, Ohio State attacker, Chattanooga shooter, & numerous plotters.

Sam Stein of the Huffington Post did what he could to salvage an anti-Trump talking point:

Fwiw, the perpetrators of these were from

Chechnya
Pakistan
Kuwait
Somolia [sic]
Nigeria

only Somolia [sic] is on Trump’s list of 7

It’s also true, as was noted on Twitter, that some of the attackers, though born outside the U.S., were naturalized citizens when they committed terrorism here.

But these facts don’t salvage Haberman’s standing. She should have known the answer to her question and, absent knowledge, should have done the two minutes of research needed to answer it.

Via Doug P. at Twitchy.

COMMENT:  It is hard to make that stuff up.  Haberman, a capable reporter in most respects, is living in the typical "big journalism" bubble, a bubble that extends from Washington through New York and up to Boston, and then repeats itself on the West Coast, starting with Hollywood.

January 29, 2017       Permalink

PHONIES – AT 11:17 A.M. ET:  The hypocrisy flows.  "Progressive" groups and "journalists," thoroughly indifferent to the slaughter of 450,000 Syrians in their own country, now express deep anguish over the fact that some potential refugees seeking to enter America may be delayed by newer and better vetting procedures.

Why, there has even been some confusion over implementing President Trump's new immigration order.  This never would have happened under Barack (come to save us) Obama, who was kind, warm, and understanding.

One "journalist," in obvious agony, wondered out loud whether the president knows the delays may cost lives.  Unasked was whether the former system, with poor vetting, cost, or will cost, the lives of Americans killed by terrorists who slip through among the deserving newcomers.

We're told that the president is violating "American values."  Nothing is said about whether the refugees have any plans to adopt those values once here.  Why, we must respect their cultures, which may (or may not) include religious hatred of the worst order.

We have had to listen to the outgoing (thank the Lord) president of France, lecturing President Trump on the value of more liberal immigration policies.  Certainly worked for France, didn't it?  The country is a mess, its citizens subjected to one terror attack after another.  Whole "immigrant" areas outside Paris are virtually closed off because entering them is so dangerous.  They're lecturing us?

And yet, we must admit that Trump did it badly.  Impetuously.  There was no preparation for the order, no explanatory speech to the nation, no study of the impact of each step, no input from the very people who will carry out the directive.  There has been an international uproar, led by the hard left.  Some of it could have been prevented by better management.  It is, sadly, the same old story with the president.  He can be brilliant for a few days – vastly better than the failure Barack Obama – then step all over his success with a ridiculous comment or an unwise action.

We hope the new administration will smooth itself out because Trump has the potential to be a giant president...if he can overcome the lesser angels of his nature.  He has some good people around him, but a press corps that dreams of his impeachment.  He's got to be at his best every day, or the jackals will get him.  The jackals are already at his neck.

January 29,  2017     Permalink

JANUARY 28,  2017

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

CHEERING TRUMP – FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER:  President Trump's decision to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and stop the free flow of refugees until they can be vetted better is reviving the morale of customs and border agents, according to the union representing both.  "Morale amongst our agents and officers has increased exponentially," said a joint statement from the National Border Patrol Council and National ICE Council.  "The men and women of ICE and Border Patrol will work tirelessly to keep criminals, terrorists, and public safety threats out of this country, which remains the number one target in the world – and President Trump's actions now empower us to fulfill this life saving mission, and it will indeed save thousands of lives and billions of dollars," it added.  The statement on behalf of the agents for the immigration, customs and border protection was a powerful endorsement of Trump's action as he his under fire from critics of his actions.  Why listen to border agents?  How much could they possibly know about borders, as compared to, say, the editorial board of The New York Times?

OH, NOW WE KNOW – FROM THE WASHINGTON TIMES:    A candidate for the Democratic National Committee blames Hillary Clinton’s loss in the 2016 election on her decision to tap Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia as her running mate.  Vincent Tolliver joined the 10 other candidates running to be the next DNC chair at a “Future Forum” in Houston Saturday and said the party would be singing a different tune if Mrs. Clinton chose someone other than Mr. Kaine, who was seen as too moderate by some Democrats.  “We lost simply … because Hillary did not pick the right running partner,” Mr. Tolliver said in response to a question.  Mr. Tolliver said Mrs. Clinton should have tapped someone like Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont or Sen. Corey Booker of New Jersey.  Mr. Kaine served as chairman of the DNC from 2009 to 2011.  Too what?  Too moderate?  The Dems have been losing at every level in recent years by lurching too far to the left.  Judging by the comments of those running for party chair, they've learned nothing.   The leading candidates want even further movement to the left.  Pretty soon they'll be just a coastal party.  A new party may be needed.

YUMMY?  OR JUST MORE EXPENSIVE? – FROM THE BALTIMORE SUN:  A tag that says simply "Best" hangs next to a price tag for Dr. McDougall's oatmeal on a shelf at Giant Food. A tag below Diamond sliced almonds reads "Good," while another below a can of Amy's Organic Soups says "Great."  The designations are part of a ratings system the Landover-based grocer is testing in nine of its stores that measures the sustainability of food, both fresh and processed.  Giant's pilot program, developed by Brooklyn, N.Y.-based HowGood, comes as more and more consumers want to know how their food is grown and made, and retailers are looking for ways to give them information in a digestible way. One grocery analyst dubbed 2017 the year of sustainability for groceries as consumers begin to embrace the idea much as many started seeking organic products in recent years.   Okay, but I want to know whether this really enhances the quality of food, or is just the latest gimmick, with accompanying price tag.  Gimme details, and proved science.

January 28, 2017       Permalink

OVERDUE – AT 11:51 A.M.  ET:  One thing about President Trump – he's actually doing what he said he'd do.   From the Washington Examiner: 

President Trump is seeking to slash the number of workers at the Environmental Protection Agency by at least half, leaving it significantly gutted as the administration mulls further cuts, the former head of Trump's EPA transition team said Friday.

"Let's aim for half and see how it works out, and then maybe we'll want to go further," Myron Ebell said now that he has returned to his position as director of the Center for Energy and Environment at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Ebell left the Trump transition team a week ago.

Ebell told the Associated Press that Trump is likely to seek significant reductions in the agency's 15,000-person work force. Slashing half of the work force would leave 7,500 at the agency, which would dramatically reduce its capacity to move out regulations quickly.

COMMENT:  The EPA has grown in size over the years, and its regulations are famously burdensome, without necessarily improving the environment. 

We should protect the environment, and this nation's record is actually good, but there is a balance between environmental protection and economic vitality.  I think Trump is striving to achieve that balance, and he might just do it.

Under Obama, the enviro-nuts seemed to have outsized influence.

January 28, 2017       Permalink

I'M ENROLLING RIGHT AWAY – AT 11:24 A.M. ET:  I wanted to rush this to you so you can enroll while there's still room.  From Fox:   

Ohio State University will be offering a new course in the spring semester that will focus on how to “identify microaggressions” and “systems of power and privilege,” The College Fix reported.

The syllabus says the class will offer insight into developing “an understanding of major social justice concepts.”

The course literature includes a reading list with works such as, “Waking up White: What it means to accept your legacy, for better and worse,” and “Readings for diversity and social justice.”

According the syllabus, the class will “grasp their role within greater society and how they can work to create social justice.”

“Students will learn to value their own self-identity and the identities of others different from them,” the syllabus also added.

The “Crossing identity boundaries: A journey towards intercultural leadership” course meets a mandatory diversity and General Education requirement for the University.

The goal of the course is to offer an “intellectual and experiential engagement” on issues within “different social and cultural groups.”

COMMENT:  I look forward to the class where the instructor says, "Look, you snowflakes, if you want to go somewhere and get some real social justice, take physics, chemistry, engineering and math, not 'oppression studies.'" 

What do you mean, they canceled that class and jailed the instructor?

January 28, 2017       Permalink

AH, BUT WE ALREADY KNEW – AT 11:08 A.M. ET:  There are two ways to lie in this world, by commission and omission.  I've found that the mainstream press often leaves out critical information that interferes with its world view.  From the Washington Times:

NBC’s Chuck Todd confessed that he and others in the mainstream news media played down just how despised Hillary Clinton was in the heartland due to the fear of appearing “sexist.”

What’s more, he admitted, the mainstream media failed to “tell the stories of all Americans.”

“Where I think political correctness got in the way of what we all knew as reporters and didn’t fully deliver was how hated the Clintons were in the heartland,” the “Meet the Press” host admitted Thursday to former Bush White House press secretary Ari Fleischer in a interview for the “1947” podcast.

“And I think it was a fear of, ‘Oh, is it going to look like it’s sexist, anti-woman if we say that?’” he added, pointing out that on the hustings he saw numerous “Hillary for Prison” signs adorning the front yards of rural America.

“I think we underplayed it a little bit out of political correctness fears,” Mr. Todd said. “No member of the press corps wants to look like they’re singling out a group and making a group feel bad, right, whatever that [group] is.

COMMENT:  Yeah, Chuck, you're right, and thanks for admitting the bad press performance.  So much for reporting the news without fear or favor.  The career must come first.  Don't offend that editor who grew up in the 1960s and who still weeps for Eugene McCarthy.

What needs to be discussed is how the mainstream media is losing its credibility.  Credibility once lost is extremely difficult to get back.  There will always be lingering suspicions.

January 28,  2017     Permalink