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JUNE 12,  2016

NO "SHORT TAKES" TONIGHT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TOO BUSY MONITORING THE HORRIBLE TERRORIST ATTACK IN ORLANDO.  A FEW OBSERVATIONS FROM THIS DAY:

This was not a "tragedy."  It was an attack, a mass murder.  A terrorist assault.  Let's call it what it was.

The word making the rounds is "unimaginable."  This had to be "unimaginable."  Really?  After 9/11?  After the attacks in Paris?  What's unimaginable about it?  It's completely imaginable, and terror experts had been predicting it for years.

Praise to much of the news media for an honest reporting job.  Most reporters did not run from the term "Islamic extremism."  Making we're making some progress.

Praise also to law enforcement for injecting Islamic extremism into the vocabulary of this event in the first hours.  My hunch is that they did this to get the truth out early, before the politically correct crowd moved in to make it into a generic "incident."

No praise to the president of the United States, who embarrassed us once again by refusing to cite the source of the terror launched against us.  In addition, he lectured us on the need for more gun control, even though the tools for preventing the murderer from getting guns were all in place, but not used.  This guy had been investigated again and again by the FBI, with serious concerns raised about his violent statements and his contact with jihadists.  Still, he wasn't on the federal gun-ban list.  What does it take?

No real praise for the mediocre presidential candidates.  Bernie Sanders, who's still in the race, led off by a rang about gun control.  No mention of Islamic terrorism.  Hillary Clinton issued a statement that sounded as if it had been written by ten lawyers.  She mentioned terrorism, mentioned gun control, would've mentioned better diaper service if it had polled well.  Donald Trump, who needs a brief course in professionalism, tweeted pretty reasonable things, but what the public wants to see and hear is the candidate speaking like a president, or at least issuing a single coherent statement. 

The fear of another attack, especially during this month of Ramadan, is palpable.  Be prepared.

June 12,  2016     Permalink 

BAD MOVE – AT 1:21 P.M. ET:  The Tony Awards are scheduled for CBS tonight.  They honor excellence in the Broadway theater, a community with a large number of gay members.  The question is how to give out awards as we contemplate Orlando, which was an attack on a gay club.  Apparently a decision has been made.  From Variety:

The devastating news of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history has left Tony Awards producers and CBS and scrambling to figure out the right way to address the tragedy on the three-hour live ceremony that is just hours away.

Police in Orlando, Fla., report that at least 50 people were killed inside a gay nightclub early Sunday morning by a lone gunman. Some 53 others were wounded before the shooter was killed as police entered the nightclub after a three-hour standoff.

Tony Awards producers said the show would go on as scheduled and be dedicated to the victims of the Orlando massacre. Details of the shootings were just surfacing as the Tony team gathered early Sunday at Manhattan’s Beacon Theater for the show’s dress rehearsal. The ceremony will be hosted by James Corden, frontman of CBS’ “Late Late Show.”

“Our hearts are heavy for the unimaginable tragedy that happened last night in Orlando,” Tony producers said in a statement. “The Tony Awards dedicate tonight’s ceremony to them.”

COMMENT:  Very bad move.  The Tonys should be postponed, first out of respect for the tragedy, and, second, because of the real possibility that participants, at a time of grief, will make some tasteless comments.  It always happens.

It's an awards show.  It can wait. 

June 12, 2016       Permalink

WHAT TO WATCH FOR – AT 11:26 A.M. ET:   There will be plenty going on today in response to the horror in Orlando.  Watch for these things:

1.  The reaction of the White House.  Will the president mention radical Islam?  Highly unlikely.  I suspect he will focus on the gay identity of the victims, and probably mention something about the use of guns in the crime.  But it would be refreshing if he would finally, and maturely, deal with the probability that the perpetrator was a radicalized Muslim.

2.  The statements by presidential contenders.  Hillary Clinton was secretary of state, and did precious little to confront Islamic terror.  Of course, she was restricted by Obama.  Will she be forthright about today's attack, or hide behind political correctness?  As for Donald Trump, we'll be looking for some attempt to sound presidential.  Or will he trip all over himself just to sound "tough"?  Toughness, as an old saying goes, is not a policy.  This could be a major moment for Trump to prove himself as a thoughtful, careful man.  I fear he'll blow it.  Also, remember that Bernie Sanders is still in the race.  Will his response reflect the horror of the act?  Or will he go left-wing crazy and blame the United States? 

3.  Law enforcement.  The FBI will probably be the lead investigatory agency.  It will carry out this investigation at the same time it is probing Hillary Clinton.  Will the two probes influence each other?  Will the severity of this attack give added emphasis to Clinton's negligence in protecting the national secrets of the United States?

4.  Further attacks.  It is the month of Ramadan.  This is the second major terrorist attack during Ramadan, the first being in Israel earlier this week, leaving five dead.  ISIS put out a video just before Ramadan began predicting terror during the period.  We must, realistically, expect more attacks, and some may come in the United States.

June 12, 2016       Permalink

AS WE SLEPT – AT 10:58 A.M. ET:  From The New York Times:

ORLANDO, Fla. — A gunman killed 50 people and wounded 53 in a crowded gay nightclub in Orlando early Sunday, officials said, in the worst mass shooting slaughter in American history, and law enforcement officials said it was an act of terrorism.

The gunman was Omar Mateen, an American citizen living in Port St. Lucie, Fla., federal law enforcement officials said.

The killer stormed the Pulse nightclub armed with an assault rifle and a handgun — investigators were still looking into the possibility that he had explosives, as well — at about 2 a.m., when more than 300 people were inside dancing and drinking, said John Mina, the Orlando police chief.

The gunman exchanged fire with an off-duty police officer working security at the club, then mowed down dozens of patrons, sending hundreds of others, some of them bleeding, fleeing down the darkened streets of the surrounding neighborhood.

The gunman holed up inside with dozens of people effectively held hostage, some of them hiding in a restroom frantically calling for help, until after 5 a.m., when the police, using an armored vehicle and stun grenades, assaulted and killed him. The raid saved about 30 people, Chief Mina said.

COMMENT:  We know these additional facts:  The terrorist was a Muslim.  He was an American citizen born to Afghan parents.  He worked as a security guard.  He had reportedly expressed interest in radical Islam.   The attack occurred during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when Muslim extremist leaders urge followers to carry out terror attacks. The attacker was described by police as very well prepared and armed. 

What we don't know:  We don't know whether the alleged shooter was part of a group, or acted alone.  We don't know if he specifically targeted gay people, or simply picked a nightclub at random.  We don't know if he was on any watch list.

This will be a massive investigation.  It was the biggest terror attack on our soil since 9-11. 

June 12,  2016     Permalink    

JUNE 11,  2016

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:58 P.M. ET: 

WELL, IT'S DIFFERENT – FROM THE NEW YORK TIMES:   RICHMOND, Va. — Donald J. Trump has some ideas for how to jazz up the Republican National Convention, and he previewed one at a rally here on Friday evening: a “winner’s evening” of sports celebrities and champions addressing the convention rather than politicians.  “We’re going to do it a little different, if it’s O.K.,” he told the crowd. “I’m thinking about getting some of the great sports people who like me a lot.”  Well, yeah, it's different.  But he's trying to show that he can be president, and I wonder whether presenting the best third baseman or the best shot putter really does the job.

WE ARE OBSOLETE – FROM DIGITAL TRENDS:   If you have yet to see a robot patrolling a parking lot or moving along the sidewalk, don’t feel left out. Security, surveillance, hospitality, and delivery robots aren’t a common sight, but it won’t be long before they are. Robots are already on the job providing extra service and security in a growing variety and number of locations, according to the MIT Technology Review.
Silicon Valley startup Knightscope, Inc. has two mobile surveillance and security robots, called the K3 and K5. The company refers to them as Autonomous Data Machines, or ADMs, because as the robots make their rounds, they can either follow prescribed paths or just wander within a determined area. While on the move, the robots continuously collect and transmit more than 90 terabytes of data per year.  Next, a robot president of the United States, which would be a major improvement over the choices we're given this year.  I want a commander-in-chief with flashing lights.

NO SHOCK HERE – FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER:   According to Chad Aldeman of Bellwether Education Partners, 10 states spend more on government employee pensions than on all public colleges and universities combined: California, Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Oregon and Pennsylvania.  According to the Cook Political Report, eight of those 10 states lean Democratic.  "Like the insatiable Pac-Man, pensions are eating further and further into state and local education budgets, eating up dollars that could be spent on lots of other things," Aldeman says. "That's true for all public services, but higher education is uniquely harmed by rising pension costs." He says these 10 states are "near the bottom of the list in terms of responsibly funding their pension plans."  The civil service used to place where people accepted lower economic rewards in exchange for stability and the chance to help society.  Now, for many, it's a business.  And public-service unions exist to serve their members, not the public interest. 

June 11,  2016     Permalink

GREAT MOMENTS IN EDUCATION – AT 12:50 P.M. ET:  The Grievance Gravy Train rolls on.  I can't wait for my package.  From the College Fix: 

Incoming students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will have the, er, “pleasure” of attending the “Our Wisconsin” program which is “aimed at increasing knowledge about cultural differences and promoting community.”

The Daily Cardinal reports that freshmen (oops, pardon the lack of gender neutrality) in selected residence halls will be required to complete the program this coming fall, and if this “pilot” is deemed successful all new students will fulfill the mandate in 2017.

From the university website:

“’College is often the first time where people are exposed to people who are different from themselves — those could be religious differences, racial, socio-economic status, or sexual orientation,’ says Joshua Moon Johnson, who is leading the program’s development as interim special assistant to the Vice Provost for Student Life. Most of the problems seen on college campuses stem from ignorance, not malice, he says.”

Coincidentally, Johnson is the head of the university’s (Orwellian titled) Hate and Bias Incident Team. He says that “many of the incidents reported to the team involve disrespectful speech that was intended to be funny or inquisitive.”

These come about from students’ ignorance “of the historical context surrounding race, difference and violence,” he adds.

COMMENT:   At least there's an understanding that "ignorance," not malice, causes the perceived problems.  But I wonder who'll be included in this program, and who will be left out.   Need I ask?  Yeah, I can just see a class about abuse suffered on college campuses by conservatives or pro-life Christian women.  Wake me when it happens. 

June 11, 2016       Permalink

CROOKED HILLARY – AT 11:58 A.M. ET:  Yeah, Trump gets that one right.  That's for sure.  The Clintons are a corrupt political corporation, making money by selling influence.  A truly outstanding Republican opponent could probably have defeated Hillary Clinton easily.  But she may become president, and what will we get?  Read on.  From Powerline: 

REPORT: CLINTON DONOR BOUGHT SPOT ON NATIONAL SECURITY BOARD

ABC News reports, based on State Department emails, that “a major Clinton Foundation donor was placed on a sensitive government intelligence advisory board even though he had no obvious experience in the field.” The decision “baffled” the department’s professional staff.

The emails further reveal that, after inquiries from ABC News, Clinton’s staff sought to “protect the name” of the Secretary, “stall” the ABC News reporter, and ultimately accept the resignation of the donor just two days later.

The Clinton Foundation donor in question is Rajiv Fernando. The agency is the International Security Advisory Board (ISAB). Fernando, a Chicago securities trader who specialized in electronic investing, possessed no known background related to the matters the ISAB deals with, such as nuclear disarmament and other arms control issues.

Fernando himself would not answer questions from ABC News in 2011 about what qualified him for a seat on the board or led to his appointment.

When ABC News finally caught up with Fernando at the 2012 Democratic convention, he became upset and said he was “not at liberty” to speak about it. Security threatened to have the ABC News reporter arrested.

It isn’t difficult, though, to see what “qualified” Fernando for his national security gig:

Fernando’s history of campaign giving dated back at least to 2003 and was prolific. He was an early supporter of Hillary Clinton’s 2008 bid for president, giving maximum contributions to her campaign, and to HillPAC, in 2007 and 2008.

He also served as a fundraising bundler for Clinton, gathering more than $100,000 from others for her White House bid. After Barack Obama bested Clinton for the 2008 nomination, Fernando became a major fundraiser for the Obama campaign.

Prior to his State Department appointment, Fernando had given between $100,000 and $250,000 to the William J. Clinton Foundation, and another $30,000 to a political advocacy group, WomenCount, that indirectly helped Hillary Clinton retire her lingering 2008 campaign debts by renting her campaign email list.

COMMENT:  Ah, good government.  Who needs it when Hillary can have so much fun?  And her campaign for "women's rights"?  Bill and Hill, through the Clinton Foundation, have accepted millions from some of the worst woman-abusing regimes in the world.  Hey, why care when the cash is there? 

June 11, 2016       Permalink

THE WARNINGS – AT 11:38 A.M. ET:  The Rio Olympics begin in early August.  There are repeated warnings about health conditions in Rio, with serious medical authorities cautioning pregnant women, or those close to pregnant women, not to go because of the Zika virus, which can cause birth defects.  And then there's this, from Reuters: 

RIO DE JANEIRO Scientists have found dangerous drug-resistant "super bacteria" off beaches in Rio de Janeiro that will host Olympic swimming events and in a lagoon where rowing and canoe athletes will compete when the Games start on Aug. 5.

The findings from two unpublished academic studies seen by Reuters concern Rio's most popular spots for tourists and greatly increase the areas known to be infected by the microbes normally found only in hospitals.

They also heighten concerns that Rio's sewage-infested waterways are unsafe.

A study published in late 2014 had shown the presence of the super bacteria - classified by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as an urgent public health threat - off one of the beaches in Guanabara Bay, where sailing and wind-surfing events will be held during the Games.

The first of the two new studies, reviewed in September by scientists at the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy in San Diego, showed the presence of the microbes at five of Rio's showcase beaches, including the ocean-front Copacabana, where open-water and triathlon swimming will take place.

The other four were Ipanema, Leblon, Botafogo and Flamengo.

The super bacteria can cause hard-to-treat urinary, gastrointestinal, pulmonary and bloodstream infections, along with meningitis. The CDC says studies show that these bacteria contribute to death in up to half of patients infected.

COMMENT:  Hey, what's to worry about?  There's money to be made on the Olympics.  The highest standards of safety should be maintained for athletes and visitors, but I get the sense that the glory of the first Latin American Olympics, and the aforementioned cash, are considered far more important by the decision makers.

We hope, of course, that the warnings are wrong.  If they are not, we are in for a heartbreaking disaster.  The better part of wisdom might be to cancel the Olympics, or move events to other countries.  It ain't gonna happen.

June 11,  2016     Permalink