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MARCH 13,  2016

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

RUMBLINGS AT BREITBART – From Buzzfeed:  Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields and editor-at-large Ben Shapiro are resigning from the company over the site’s handling of Donald Trump’s campaign manager’s alleged assault on Fields, BuzzFeed News has learned.  Fields and Shapiro informed Breitbart News chairman Steve Bannon of their decision Sunday night.  “Today I informed the management at Breitbart News of my immediate resignation,” Fields said in a statement sent to BuzzFeed News. “I do not believe Breitbart News has adequately stood by me during the events of the past week and because of that I believe it is now best for us to part ways.”  In his own statement, Shapiro said the episode was emblematic of how he believes the site’s management had sold out the legacy of its founder and namesake, the late Andrew Breitbart.  There have been reports of substantial tension at Breitbart, a site that has often provided valuable information for conservatives.  I hate to see this happen.  Michelle Fields claims she was manhandled by a Trump official.  The Trump organization denies it.  An outside arbitrator should be brought in.

STRANGE AND CHILLING – From the Oregonian:   BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbia's authorities are investigating reports that a cargo package bound for Portland contained two missiles with explosive warheads on a passenger flight from Lebanon.  N1 television said the package with two guided armor-piercing missiles was discovered Saturday by a sniffer dog after an Air Serbia flight from Beirut landed at a Belgrade airport.  Serbian media say documents listed the final destination for the AGM-114 Hellfire missiles as Portland. The American-made projectiles can be fired from air, sea or ground platforms against multiple targets.  The Serbian state news agency Tanjug reported that the missiles had been packed in wooden coffins and unloaded at the Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, where they were inspected by bomb-sniffing dogs.  The FBI says it's looking into the story.  I certainly hope so.  This is very serious stuff. 

PAINFUL – From The Hill:   Hillary Clinton is taking a new tack to boost her image in the Democratic presidential campaign.  Clinton acknowledged during Wednesday’s Democratic debate that she was “not a natural politician” and expanded on the theme in an interview with the SiriusXM radio show “The Mayor” the following day.  “This is harder for me,” she said. “I admire the skills my husband and President Obama have. They’re charismatic and they’re compelling and they’re great orators. I do get up every day and say, ‘What can I do to try make someone’s life better?’”   Few objective observers view such comments as spontaneous moments of candor. Rather, they see them as part of a strategy to warm up perceptions of the Democratic front-runner, who is seen suffering an enthusiasm deficit by comparison with her rival Bernie Sanders.  Each week I await the "new" Hillary.  It's almost exciting, like opening an old package of baseball cards, throwing away the bubble gum that came with them, and wondering which guys you got this time. 

March 13, 2016       Permalink

GREAT MOMENTS IN NATIONAL SURVIVAL – AT 11:43 A.M. ET:   You just can't make this up.  Read it straight on.  From Powerline: 

Unbelievable, but true: President Obama’s CIA Director, John Brennan, doesn’t think the agency should engage in spying. He finds espionage unsavory, apparently. John Sipher, a former member of the CIA’s Senior Intelligence Service and a recipient of the agency’s Distinguished Career Intelligence Medal, explains:

In what was otherwise a thoughtful interview with National Public Radio last week, CIA Director John Brennan expressed his personal view that the CIA should be not be viewed as a spy agency. In the 24 February interview he said, “I don’t support government spying…. We don’t steal secrets… We uncover, we discover, we reveal, we obtain, we elicit, we solicit. All of that.” What? We don’t steal secrets? Is he joking? Brennan has reportedly also made clear to the officers under his charge that he eschews the term espionage, and does not view the CIA as an espionage service. …

While his comments might not resonate outside of the Intelligence Community, make no mistake, it is a long-term danger to our security when the head of the nation’s espionage organization says that he doesn’t support spying. It sends a chill through those who work in the shadows to keep us safe and makes them wonder if their boss has their back. It also confirms the fears of many CIA employees and alumni that Brennan’s recent efforts to restructure and change CIA culture were a furtive means of weakening the clandestine service.

COMMENT:  Geez.  I mean, what do you say?  I was in the CIA many years ago, and, I guarantee you, we knew we were in the espionage business. 

I can only the imagine the harm Brennan is doing.  But he's doing it at the behest of Barack Hussein Obama, Jr., who seems to work overtime to weaken the national defense of the United States.

March 13, 2016       Permalink

OH, THIS IS RIDICULOUS – AT 11:21 A.M. ET:   Hillary Clinton, who appropriately attended Nancy Reagan's funeral, praised Mrs. Reagan for having a national discussion about AIDS.

Well, you'd think she was praising the Devil himself.  The anger of the political left came down on Clinton, demanding she apologize for getting it "wrong."  You see, the approved narrative is that the Reagan administration was indifferent to AIDS.  You must not stray from that narrative, even though it is entirely inaccurate.  It tries to suggest that the Reagans, who were the first presidential family to have a gay couple stay overnight at the White House, were anti-gay.  In fact, both Reagans, in Hollywood, had worked with gay people every day. 

Little was known about AIDS during a good part of the Reagan administration.  However, as researchers began to understand the disease, Reagan financed more research fully.  The administration was all in.  But the party line doesn't permit that truth.  From The Hill: 

Hillary Clinton penned an article in Medium Saturday, expanding on her previous apology for praising Nancy and Ronald Reagans' response to HIV and AIDS.

“Yesterday, at Nancy Reagan’s funeral, I said something inaccurate when speaking about the Reagans’ record on HIV and AIDS," she wrote. "I made a mistake, plain and simple."

On MSNBC Friday, Clinton applauded Reagan for her contributions to the fight against AIDS.

"It may be hard for your viewers to remember how difficult it was to talk about HIV [and] AIDS back in the 1980s,” Clinton said. "Because of both President and Mrs. Reagan, in particular Mrs. Reagan, we started a national conversation where before nobody would talk about it."

Clinton immediately received pushback on the comment; the Reagans have been harshly criticized for initially ignoring the AIDS epidemic.

“To be clear, the Reagans did not start a national conversation about HIV and AIDS," Clinton wrote. "That distinction belongs to generations of brave lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, along with straight allies, who started not just a conversation but a movement that continues to this day.”

Clinton went on to call for a continuation of research and legislation to help people with HIV and AIDS.

COMMENT:  This is why Hillary ranks low in ratings for integrity.  The truth, which she actually told on Friday, ranks far behind political gain. 

I understand the politics, but the apology was a lie.

March 13, 2016        Permalink

CLOSE IN OHIO – AT 10:46 A.M. ET:  A new NBC/Marist poll shows Ohio Governor John Kasich leading Donald Trump in Tuesday's Ohio primary, but Trump romping in Florida and leading in Illinois.  Hillary is ahead in all three states, with Illinois close.  From NBC News: 

Donald Trump leads the Republican presidential field in the March 15 primary states of Florida and Illinois, while John Kasich holds the edge in his home state of Ohio, according to three new NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist polls.

On the Democratic side, meanwhile, Hillary Clinton leads Bernie Sanders in all three states, although she's just narrowly ahead in Illinois.

In Florida, Trump holds a 2-to-1 advantage among likely GOP voters over Marco Rubio, the state's U.S. senator, 43 percent to 22 percent. They're followed by Ted Cruz at 21 percent and John Kasich at 9 percent.

In Illinois, Trump gets the support of 34 percent of likely GOP primary voters, Cruz gets 25 percent, Kasich gets 21 percent and Rubio gets 16 percent.

But in Ohio, Kasich, the state's incumbent governor, holds a six-point lead over Trump, 39 percent to 33 percent - followed by Cruz at 19 percent and Rubio at 6 percent.

In the Democratic race, Clinton is ahead of Sanders among likely primary voters by 27 points in Florida, 61 percent to 34 percent; by 20 points in Ohio, 58 percent to 38 percent; but by just six points in Illinois, 51 percent to 45 percent.

COMMENT:  Let's say these numbers hold.  Trump can claim major victories in Florida and Illinois, but a loss in Ohio will prevent him from claiming total victory.  He will still be well ahead for the nomination, and will have knocked Rubio out of the race in Florida.  But he'll still have to fight Cruz.  The numbers even give Cruz a fighting chance in Illinois, if – a big if – Trump has been hurt by the disrupted rally on Friday night.  Also, notice that Trump never reaches 50%, and is only in the 30s in Illinois and Ohio. 

On the Dem side, it would take major miracles for Sanders to catch Hillary in either Florida or Ohio, but he might upset Hillary in her home state of Illinois.  The result?  He gets some bragging rights, but little more.  Hillary would continue her delegate count to the nomination, with the FBI her real opponent.  She gets over 50% in all three states.

March 13,  2016     Permalink

MARCH 12,  2016

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:52 P.M. ET: 

CRUZ TAKES WYOMING – From the New York Post:  CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Taking time to campaign off the beaten path helped Ted Cruz dominate Republican county conventions in Wyoming, where he won nine of 12 national delegates at stake Saturday.  Good for Ted.  But the major contests are Tuesday, and may determine the rest of this race.  Ohio and Florida vote.  There is no way to determine what impact the drama surrounding the Trump rallies this weekend will have on the vote.  Some Trump people are suggesting that Trump will gain public sympathy and thus support.  Other analysts are saying that many voters may be repelled by the atmosphere at Trump events.

GOOD MOVE, OR NOT? – Both Marco Rubio and John Kasich are now suggesting that they may not back Donald Trump if he becomes the GOP candidate because of the atmosphere of tension, anger and occasional small-scale violence that has marked his campaign.  And Cruz has come down hard on Trump as well.  As we've noted, Trump can be seriously faulted for lapses in taste and language, and voters have a responsibility to weigh these matters when they decide.  However, I wish more emphasis would be placed on the real culprits – the violent leftists, anarchists, and "revolutionaries" who come to Trump rallies and provoke most of the trouble.  The coverage I've seen since yesterday, especially on CNN, has been militantly anti-Trump.  He's doing all this!  Not much probing into the motives and ideologies of the clowns who suddenly show up.  We've learned in earlier election cycles that, as the season moves along, the mainstream journalists fall into familiar patterns, and most go left.

RUBIO TAKES D.C. – Marco Rubio has won the District of Columbia caucuses, which voted today.  Trump came in third in D.C., as he did in Wyoming.  If truth be told, however, he didn't put much emphasis on either location.   Trump had no bragging rights at all today.  And this, from The Politico:   Hillary Clinton has won the Northern Mariana Islands Democratic caucus, winning 54 percent of the vote to Bernie Sanders 34 percent.  Clinton's win is worth 4 pledged delegates, according to the Associated Press vote data. Sanders collected 2 pledged delegates.  Actually, it was the Marines who won the Northern Marianas, but, in the name of cultural harmony, we'll let it pass.

March 12, 2016       Permalink

GETTING UGLY – AT 12:45 P.M. ET:  The Secret Service had to intervene to protect Donald Trump at a rally today.  From the New York Post: 

Four secret service agents surrounded Donald Trump as a demonstrator rushed his podium near the end of his campaign rally in Vandalia, Ohio Saturday morning.

Secret Service agents surround Donald Trump during a disturbance at a rally in Dayton, Ohio.Photo: Reuters

The unidentified individual moved towards Trump from behind shortly before noon while Trump was ridiculing another protester.

“Get him out of here folks! Why is he angry? I’m just saying we’re going to make good trade deals,” Trump asked as security led a young man in a gray hoodie away through the crowd.

“Go back home to mommy. This guy looks like he’s 15 years old. Take him back home and lock him in his bedroom.”

Seconds later, as someone approached the stage, a startled Trump made a quick half-turn as if trying to glimpse the disturbance behind him.

The stage itself shook.

Surrounded by the agents, Trump held out his arms and gave a thumbs-up signal.

COMMENT:  It was bound to happen.  The mainstream media is pushing the line that this is all Trump's fault, that he's "inflammatory."  Yes, he can be over the top, but maybe the mainstreamers should examine some of Trump's opponents, and the groups they represent.

As readers know, I am not a Trump supporter.  However, he has a right to be heard, and his fans have a right to hear him.  His opponents have a right to denounce him, in a civilized manner.  The "narrative" now developing that Trump is "encouraging" violence is somewhat similar to the traditional leftist argument that terrorists are merely innocent people who are "provoked" by (check one or more) Amerika, Israel, the West, capitalism, Fox News, high-sugar diets, or professional football.

March 12, 2016       Permalink 

UNBELIEVABLE – AT 11:58 A.M. ET:  Increasingly the message from the left is that Barack Obama is not left enough.  Now the left is even attacking a possible Obama Supreme Court pick.  From The Hill: 

Sri Srinivasan is on President Obama’s short list for the Supreme Court, but his representation of corporate clients is causing heartburn for the left.

Srinivasan is an attractive candidate for Obama, who wants to make Republicans look as bad as possible if they follow through on their vow to blockade any nominee to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia.

Confirmed to the D.C. Circuit in 2013 by a vote of 97-0, Srinivasan is a friend of Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and would seem to be a difficult nominee for Republicans to object to given their past, unanimous support.

He’d also be the first Indian-American and Hindu to serve on the Supreme Court.

The problem?

As an attorney for O’Melveny & Myers, he defended ExxonMobil and mining giant Rio Tinto for allegations of serious human rights abuses in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

“It’s hard to find a worse client than defending Exxon Mobil against allegations of torture and war crimes,” Jamie Henn, communications director for 350.org, a group that advocates for a safe climate and a just, prosperous and equitable world.

He accused Srinivasan of helping corporations “dismantle human rights law,” and called his record “deeply disturbing.”

“Unless he can clarify that he no longer stands behind these arguments, he should be disqualified,” he said.

COMMENT:  I am not an expert on Supreme Court candidates, but, from everything I read, Srinivasan is considered an outstanding and fair-minded judge.  He would probably be Obama's best pick.  And, yes, it would be hard for Republicans to turn him down.

The left, which also is behind the Bernie Sanders movement, is growing increasingly militant, especially within the Democratic Party.  We can't expect a conservative Supreme Court choice from Obama, but we have a right to expect a nominee who reflects the fact that the Senate, which must confirm the president's pick, is in Republican hands and insists on its role to advise and consent. 

There is some reporting that says that the president will announce his choice within weeks.  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has pledged that the Senate will not consider any nominee until the next president is chosen.  We'll see if that pledge is kept.

March 12, 2016       Permalink

GREAT MOMENTS IN EDUCATION – AT 11:08 A.M. ET:  You can measure the deterioration of American education day by day.  From the College Fix: 

A St. Paul, Minnesota high school teacher has been placed on “paid administrative leave” after the local Black Lives Matter organization threatened a “shutdown action” over a Facebook comment he had made.

Theo Olson of Como Park High School had complained about the lack of support teachers were getting in matters of student discipline.

On local BLM organizer Rashad Turner’s Facebook page, Olson “expressed frustration over the district not providing enough support to deal with ‘kids who won’t quit gaming, setting up fights, selling drugs, whoring trains or cyber bullying.’ The term ‘whore train’ is a reference to ‘inappropriate sexual activity.’”

Although Olson never mentioned race in his comments, Turner subsequently referred to him as a “white supremacist teacher.”

Turner and other members of BLM met with the district superintendent, Valeria Silva, this past Monday. Olson’s leave began on Wednesday.

And...

If Olson is a white supremacist, he has a funny way of showing it. For, in addition to his comments about discipline, Olson had written on Turner’s Facebook page that he follows BLM on social media, “and that he had marched with Turner at a protest on University Avenue.”

COMMENT:  Read the whole piece.  It's absolutely fascinating.  It isn't only white teachers who are threatened.  It's also black teachers who dare bring up the issue of student discipline.

The truth will not matter in the outcome of this case.  Political correctness, and the spinelessness of educators, will determine things.

March 12,  2016     Permalink