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I appeared on Silvio Canto Jr's talk show from Dallas yesterday.  It's here.

JANUARY 30,  2017

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

TRUMP FIRES ACTING AG; WORLD ENDS – FROM THE HILL:   President Trump fired acting Attorney General Sally Yates on Monday just hours after she defied him by refusing to have the Justice Department defend his controversial executive order blocking people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.  The White House acted swiftly, issuing a statement declaring that Yates, who was appointed by former President Obama, had “betrayed” the U.S. government.  Trump selected Dana Boente, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to replace Yates until his attorney general nominee, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), is confirmed by the Senate. That vote could occur this week.  The immediate practical effect is that Sally Yates has now secured her future in Democratic Party politics and can charge more as a lawyer.

TRUMP WINNING ON IMMIGRATION MOVE – FROM THE HILL:   More than half of likely voters polled by the right-leaning firm Rasmussen Reports support President Trump banning refugees from seven Muslim-majority nations entering the U.S., according to a new poll.  Trump signed a controversial executive order on Friday imposing a 90-day freeze on all entries from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. It also suspended general refugee admissions into the U.S. for 120 days and imposes an indefinite suspension of admission of Syrian refugees.  Fifty-seven percent said they favor a temporary halt on refugees from the seven listed countries in the new poll issued Monday. Thirty-three percent opposed such actions, while another 10 percent remain undecided.  Monday’s results also showed that more half of the respondents support a short-term pause on issuing visas to residents of the seven countries.  I love the way they say "right-leaning."  Rasmussen had one of the most accurate records in predicting the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.

BYE-BYE – FROM PAGE SIX:   “Before I thank you for joining me, I would like to share a big life-change with you,” Carol Costello said today at the close of her CNN morning show, becoming the latest CNN host to announce her move to HLN.  “This is hard. Friday will be my last day at CNN. I’m not leaving the family though; I will be heading to Los Angeles to anchor a new show on HLN,” Costello said. “This is a personal decision and was extraordinarily difficult; it was like cutting off my left arm.”  “I have lived apart from my husband for many years, but he was close by because he also lived on the East Coast. Last year my husband snagged a fantastic job in Los Angeles at LMU. And I kind of miss him.”  We wish her well, but I must say she was the single most biased host at CNN.  It was liberalism all the way, with conservative guests constantly confronted by her looks of frustration and disapproval.  I hope CNN confronts the problem, but I doubt it will.

January 30, 2017       Permalink

A NEW CHALLENGE – 11:25 A.M. ET:  And it comes direct from Iran, without love.   From Fox: 

Iran conducted a ballistic missile test in yet another apparent violation of a United Nations resolution, U.S. officials told Fox News on Monday.

The launch occurred at a well-known test site outside Semnan, about 140 miles east of Tehran, on Sunday.

The Khorramshahr medium-range ballistic missile flew 600 miles before exploding, in a failed test of a reentry vehicle, officials said. Iran defense minister Brigadier Gen. Hossein Dehqan said in September that Iran would start production of the missile.

U.N. resolution 2231 -- put in place days after the Iran nuclear deal was signed -- calls on the Islamic Republic not to conduct such tests. However, this is at least Iran's second such test since July. The resolution bars Iran from conducting ballistic missile tests for eight years and went into effect July 20, 2015.

COMMENT:  This is a direct challenge to Donald Trump.  He promised during the campaign to hold Iran strictly accountable for its actions.  Now he has a chance to demonstrate what he means.  He cannot fail to act in the face of Iran's flagrant violation of Resolution 2231.

January 30, 2017       Permalink

TRUMP TO NAME SUPREME COURT PICK TOMORROW NIGHT – AT 10:19 A.M. ET:  He'd previously said he'd announce the choice on Thursday.  Moving the announcement up to tomorrow night – prime TV time – seems a good idea. 

The question is whether the big-three broadcast networks will carry the announcement.  They are not required to cover presidential speeches, and in recent years have been reluctant to break into lucrative programming to broadcast news events, given the availability of cable news outlets.   In addition, the media and President Trump don't exactly love each other. 

Who will Trump pick?  Only he has the name, of course, and, knowing Trump, it could be a name out of the blue.   

Confirmation will be rough.  The Dems will probably oppose any candidate Trump names, no matter how qualified.  We will be told that this nominee will end women's rights, children's rights, civil rights, LGBTQ rights, and even the right to buy ice cream.  None of it will be true, of course.

Senate rules require 60 votes to break a filibuster, which will be a certainty.  The Dems will try to filibuster the nomination to death.  Republicans have 52 seats, meaning they will need eight defections from the Democrats to allow a confirmation vote to be taken.  They may not get those defections.  In that case the GOP can use what is called the "nuclear option," changing the Senate rules to allow a filibuster to be broken by a simple majority. 

Stand by.  The fun is just starting.

January 30, 2017       Permalink

CURIOSER AND CURIOSER – AT 9:09 A.M. ET:  As you know, there was a mass shooting attack at a Canadian mosque last night.  From CNN:

Quebec City (CNN) Six people are dead after a shooting at a mosque in Quebec City, according to Quebec Provincial Police. Eight people were injured. The attack, which took place at the city's Quebec Islamic Cultural Center, is being investigated as an act of terrorism by police.

In what was described as a coordinated attack, witnesses say at least two gunmen wearing black fired indiscriminately into the dozens of worshipers -- including families -- in the mosque.

Thirty-nine people who were at the mosque during shooting were unharmed, Christine Coulombe, spokeswoman of National Police of Quebec, said. Of the eight injured, six are described as being in critical condition.

Two people have been arrested, a police said at a news conference. One was captured near the mosque and the other was apprehended on a highway nearby.

COMMENT:  And that's the point.  We alluded to it last night.  Two suspects are in custody, but police will tell us nothing about them.  And the press...well, it's having the proverbial field day, pointing out that the attack occurred only days after President Trump issued his immigration order.

Why are the police withholding information on the alleged attackers?  Is it because their identity doesn't meet the political requirements of Canada's left-wing government?  This is getting very curious. 

BULLETIN:  Fox is just now reporting the following:

One of two gunmen who shouted 'Allahu akbar!' as they opened fire at a mosque in Quebec City was of Moroccan origin, a witness and local media reported Monday, revealing the first details about the attackers in the massacre that killed six people.

The terror suspects were identified as Mohamed Khadir and Alexandre Bissonnette, the Canadian TV network TVA Nouvelles reported. They were arrested soon after the shooting at the Quebec Islamic Cultural Centre Sunday night and were expected to appear in court later Monday, police told reporters.

One of the gunmen actually turned himself in, calling 911 less than 20 minutes later and giving officers his location so they could arrest him, police said.

COMMENT:  Now we seem to be getting somewhere.  It appears that at least one of the alleged gunmen is Muslim.  We await further information. 

January 30,  2017     Permalink

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