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

JULY 23,  2018

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

SLOW DEATH OF A NEWSPAPER – FROM THE HUFF POST:  The New York Daily News, a storied big-city tabloid known for its ruthless and splashy front pages, laid off half its newsroom staff on Monday, marking the latest round of cuts at the beleaguered Tronc company’s media holdings.  “We are fundamentally restructuring the Daily News,” an email from Tronc to the staff reads. “We are reducing today the size of the editorial team by approximately 50 percent and re-focusing much of our talent on breaking news — especially in areas of crime, civil justice and public responsibility.” The paper had about 85 newsroom employees prior to the cuts, according to the New York Post.  The Daily News used to be considered one of the best written newspapers in the country, although the self-anointed intellectuals considered it the newspaper of the deplorables.  Its photography was superb.  It felt the heartbeat of a city that no longer has a heartbeat.  Recently it's been a Trump-hating, ranting mess.  At this point it would be better if the paper simply died a gentle death.

ARE WE SERIOUS HERE? – FROM PJ MEDIA:   Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) has launched a campaign to replace more moderate Rep. Joe Crowley (D-N.Y.) as leader of the House Democratic Caucus.  Crowley was defeated in his primary by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.  Lee, an antiwar member of the House Progressive Caucus whose Bay Area district includes Berkeley,was the only member of Congress to vote against retaliatory action after al-Qaeda struck the United States on 9/11. “As we act, let us not become the evil that we deplore," she said at the time.  Lee was rated the most liberal member of the House in GovTrack's 2017 ideology rankings. Crowley fell in the middle of the House Dems' ranking.  In a letter to colleagues today, Lee stressed that "the strength of our caucus lies in our diversity of experiences and ideas."  She is poison, a hard Marxist who wanted to be our first ambassador to Castro's Cuba.  Just how left do the Dems think they can go before they turn off most of their own party?  The press will, of course, cover for Lee, but that will simply expose further the corruption of the press.

THE CULPRITS EXPOSED! – FROM THE NEW YORK POST:   Two Chinese flight attendants-turned-turtle smugglers were ordered booted from the US on Monday, according to a report.  The Chinese Eastern Airlines workers had been secretly stashing dozens of legally protected spotted and box turtles in pillow cases and carry-on luggage to smuggle them from Los Angeles to China, where they would cash in on them on the black market, authorities said.  The turtles’ colorful shells are believed to bring good luck in China, and their meat supposedly increases sexual prowess when eaten.  Rogue flight attendants, Huaqian Qu, 41, and Renfeng Gao, 31, were suspected of having carried out their scheme for a while, prosecutors said.    Be gone with them!  Turtle smuggling was destroying who we are.  Now, our great national nightmare is over. 

July 23, 2018       Permalink

A STUNNING POLL RESULT – AT 1:29 P.M. ET:  The Dems dream of taking back Congress in November and leading us toward a Leninist lite revolution, in the Obama tradition.  The voters aren't necessarily buying.  From the Washington Free Beacon: 

A majority of respondents in a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll of registered voters said Democratic congressional candidates are out of step with most Americans.

Asked whether Democratic candidates' approaches to the issues "are generally in the mainstream of most Americans' thinking, or are generally out of step with most Americans' thinking," 56 percent said they are "out of step" and just one-third said they are "in the mainstream." These figures are a marked swing from July 2016, when only 42 percent of respondents said Democratic congressional candidates were out of step and 48 percent said they were in the mainstream.

In the July 2016 poll, Republican candidates were seen as much less mainstream than Democrats, with 31 percent of respondents saying the Republicans were in the mainstream and 59 percent saying they were out of step. A slightly higher percentage of respondents in July 2018 see Republicans as mainstream (33 percent) and a slightly smaller percentage of them see Republicans as out of step (57 percent.)

That makes the current numbers nearly identical for both parties' candidates.

COMMENT:  The poll may seem a bit confusing at first, but the bottom line is that both parties are unpopular, with no edge for the Democrats.  In order to take back Congress, the Dems would need a substantial lead in public approval, and that lead just isn't there.

The RealClearPolitics average of polls shows the Dems leading in the generic battle for Congress by six points, as of this morning, which is not much of a lead.  They'll need more favorability than that to take back either House, and the Republicans haven't even begun their major campaign.  Trump will be on the campaign trail, where his mission will be to energize the party base and get it to the polls.

July 23,  2018    Permalink

IRAN, SUDDENLY – AT 12:45 P.M. ET:  Last week it was Russia, now the spotlight suddenly switches to Iran as a result of some belligerent statements made by its supreme or almost-supreme leader.  From NBC News: 

President Donald Trump escalated a war of words with Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani with a menacing tweet late Sunday.

In the nearly all-caps tweet, Trump directly warned the Iranian president to “NEVER, EVER THREATEN THE UNITED STATES AGAIN,” adding that any new ones would bring "CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE.”

Trump’s tweet came hours after Rouhani’s own warning over the weekend, reported by Iranian state news agency IRNA, that Trump was playing “with the lion's tail.”

"America should know that peace with Iran is the mother of all peace, and war with Iran is the mother of all wars," Rouhani said.

Trump called the comments “DEMENTED WORDS OF VIOLENCE & DEATH. BE CAUTIOUS!"

Should we take all this stuff seriously?  Some will say it was Trump being Trump in response to some internal propaganda from the Iranians.  But, in fact, Secretary of State Pompeo was also speaking toughly about Tehran, suggesting that his comments were coordinated with the White House.  From CNN:

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivered a scathing speech on Iran's leadership Sunday, accusing Tehran's ruling ayatollahs of spreading violence across the Middle East and lining their own pockets with ill-gotten gains at the expense of ordinary Iranians.

"The ideologues who forcibly came to power in 1979 and remain in power today are driven by a desire to conform all of Iranian society to the tenants of the Islamic Revolution. The regime is also committed to spreading the Revolution to other countries, by force if necessary," said Pompeo during a highly anticipated address at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

Southern California is home to a significant portion of the Iranian diaspora living in the United States. Many of them fled Iran after the revolution that brought Iran's ayatollahs to power.

"To the regime, prosperity, security, and freedom for the Iranian people are acceptable casualties in the march to fulfill the Revolution," said Pompeo.

The secretary of state and former CIA director accused several members of Iran's leadership, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, of participating in widespread corruption.

COMMENT:  Iran, aided by European leftist and business interests, has been all over the Mideast, continues to threaten Israel's existence, and refuses to make additions to its nuclear agreement with the West that would give us greater safeguards against an Iranian atomic bomb. 

Expect to see new sanctions, and possible friction with our European "allies" over those sanctions.  Clearly, Trump is trying to get the Iranians to come to their senses, but the hardliners are in charge, and we can easily see the start of military buildups.  No one wants it to go that far, but Trump's cause is just, as it is in his dealings with North Korea.  We cannot settle for what Obama accepted – meaningless "agreements" and pledges that are quickly violatesk. that place our people at risk.

July 23,  2018     Permalink

JULY 22,  2018

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

HELP WANTED – FROM CAMPUS REFORM:  The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student newspaper is looking to hire a reporter whose sole responsibility will be to cover stories related to “diversity, inclusion, and social justice.”  Earlier this month, The Racquet posted a solicitation seeking to fill two positions for the 2018-2019 school year: a “General Assignment Reporter” and a “Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Reporter.”  Both reporters will be expected to complete weekly story assignments, and are expected to conduct background research, identify and contact sources, and provide at least one photo.  According to the paper’s website, reporters earn $24 per week, plus an additional $12 per article, and may also request internship credit for the experience. I'm sure some of you may know a "diversity, inclusion, and social justice" reporter who wants a better job.  Just think of any adolescent on your block who was never seen shoveling the snow or cutting the grass, and who sued his parents for reducing his allowance. 

TELLING IT LIKE IT IS – FROM THE HILL:  Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday said Iran's leaders resemble "the mafia more than a government."  "The level of corruption and wealth among regime leaders shows that Iran is run by something that resembles the mafia more than a government,” Pompeo said during a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.  During his remarks and the Q&A afterwards, Pompeo lambasted the Iranian regime and emphasized U.S. support for Iranian citizens, particularly those opposed to the government.  Pompeo offered support for the anti-government protestors that have been rallying across the country in recent months.   "The specific grievances differ," Pompeo said. "But all those voicing dissatisfaction share one thing: they have been ill-treated by a Revolutionary regime. Iranians want to be governed with dignity, accountability and consent."  Compare this please to Barack Obama's refusal to align himself with the Iranian resistance.  Of course, the press covered for him.  You don't challenge a demigod.

GOOD STUFF – FROM THE HILL:  President Trump will host an event showcasing U.S. products from all 50 states at the White House on Monday. The White House hosted a similar "Made in America" exhibition last year, but this year's event comes amid escalating trade battles with the European Union (EU), Mexico, Canada and China.   Trump will make remarks at the event, which will feature manufacturers and their products from across the country. Vice President Pence, several Cabinet secretaries and other administration officials will attend the event throughout the day, White House deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters confirmed to The Hill.  Great idea.  This is a remarkably innovative society, but we often forget it.  And many young people, according to polls, aren't impressed by innovation and invention, reflecting their drab, socialism-is-wonderful, educations.  We should celebrate innovation, and get back into space. 

July 22,  2018     Permalink

SCALISE THE VICTOR? – AT 2:30 P.M. ET:  We may well be looking at the next speaker of the House.  From the great Salena Zito, at the New York Post: 

A year ago, the Louisiana congressman was near second base at an early-morning baseball practice when the sound of shots pierced the quiet of suburban DC. A bullet zigzagged through his left hip, slicing muscle tissue, crushing his femur and mangling his organs.

Now, he is recognized by passersby as the man whose survival is nothing short of a miracle.

And...

Now the House majority whip is looking toward a bright future. He is considered the person most likely to replace Paul Ryan as the next speaker of the House if Republicans keep their seats in November.

Scalise, 52, and his wife and two children live not far from the very working-class neighborhood in Louisiana where he grew up. He caught the politics bug at college and without any experience he ran and won his first race for Louisiana state representative aged just 29. That race forged his reputation as a rebellious and likeable populist conservative, a not-yet identified faction of the Republican Party.

Later, in 2016, he was one of the early and few members of Congress to back presidential candidate Donald Trump.

“The appeal of Scalise is that he is an everyman. He is you, he is me. He is the guy who no one really notices until he shows up and wins when no one expects it,” said Charlie Gerow, a media specialist who’s at the Duquesne Club for a meeting between Scalise and local entrepreneurs.

Gerow said Scalise first proved his political skills when he came from behind and won the chairmanship of the conservative Republican Leadership Conference in 2012 and “then surprised the outside world when he became the majority whip in the same year.”

Both jobs, said Gerow, are like herding cats, “because every member comes from very distinct districts, and they have their very distinct needs that fit their district.”

COMMENT:  Read the whole thing.  Any piece by Salena Zito is worth reading because she truly gets to know her subject.  We hope to see Speaker Scalise, but first the GOP must hold the House, and that is a tough order.

July 22, 2018       Permalink 

SANE DEMS TAKE A STAND – AT 1:16 P.M. ET:  I don't know if they'll be able to hold off the surging socialists and their baby sitters, but they're determined to try.  From the Miami Herald: 

Leading moderate Democrats forcefully argued this week that their party can still nominate a presidential candidate who praises capitalism, downplays income inequality, and embraces only modest changes to the social safety net.

In other words, everything the empowered liberal base has spent a year and a half mobilizing against.

Democrats gathered here in Ohio’s capital city on Thursday and Friday in what was an opening salvo of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, part of a conference organized by the center-left think tank Third Way.

The longtime Washington-based group was unveiling the findings of a year-long assessment launched after the 2016 election, hoping to convince potential presidential contenders that they don’t have to adopt the hard-left agenda and style of a Bernie Sanders progressive.

Included in its report were policy recommendations — such as adopting a robust apprenticeship program and expanded unemployment insurance to help workers find new jobs — and encouragement to bypass talk of income inequality for an emphasis on creating opportunity.

Third Way officials even attempted to remove the “moderate” moniker from the event, encouraging those in attendance to call themselves “opportunity Democrats.” (The event itself was labeled “Opportunity 2020.”)

“Once again, the time has come to mend, but not end, capitalism for a new era,” said Jonathan Cowan, Third Way’s president, in a sweeping speech outlining his group’s study.

And...

Lanae Erickson Hatalsky, vice president for social policy and politics at Third Way, said a poll conducted by the group found voters — including many Democrats — responded more positively to a message that emphasized creating economic opportunity over income inequality. The opportunity message, she said, “trounced the other Democratic approaches on the table with the voters we need to win in a general election.”

COMMENT:   Well, we'll see.  The problem the moderates have is that they're up against immature fanatics who will literally fight to the death, and who have no connection to actual lives.  It's hard to defeat a well-financed fantasy machine, especially when it has the support of so many in the media.

The moderates have the better arguments and the greatest number of potential voters.  What they need now is an army of activists.

July 22, 2018       Permalink