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MARCH 23,  2018

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

A MAN OF THE PEOPLE – FROM DAILY MAIL:   Barack Obama is set to rake in $1.3-million for a whistle-stop speaking tour of Australia and New Zealand.  The former US president has already raked in thousands for an appearance at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney.   After a one-day stopover in Australia, Obama boarded a plane to New Zealand where he spent three days on engagements, meeting dignitaries and playing golf.    Next on his one-week tour is Japan and Singapore, and he is expected to earn seven figures for his work.  According to the Daily Telegraph, the 44th President of the US signed up to the prestigious Harry Walker Agency, which quotes speaking fees of $520,000 and $650,000 for speaking appearances.  The paper estimates the cash he will make in New Zealand and Australia alone will be around $1.3million.   Obama stayed at Sydney's Intercontinental Hotel where a one-night stay can cost up to $2,449.   A true champion of the common man, as long as he doesn't have to talk to one.

HEY BERNIE, DID YOU KNOW THIS? – FROM FOX:  Vermont is famously liberal, home to fiery politicians like Howard Dean and Democratic socialists like Bernie Sanders.  But it now has another distinction that’s making liberals in the Green Mountain State cringe: it is now the only state in the country that never has sent a woman to Congress.  This became official Wednesday, when Governor Phil Bryant of Mississippi appointed Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith to the seat left vacant by retiring GOP member Thad Cochran. Hyde-Smith is the first woman sent by Mississippi to Congress.  Up in Vermont, the state’s first female governor, Madeleine Kunin, called it “a little embarrassing to be beaten out by Mississippi.”  We should sneak up to the Vermont border and put up a sign announcing the distinction.

THE DISASTER HASN'T HAPPENED – FROM THE NEW YORK POST:  Tourists are flocking to New York City in record numbers — which is great for the local economy, but a bit of an embarrassment to the city officials who predicted that the mere fact that Donald Trump is president would keep foreigners away.  NYC & Co., the city tourism-marketing agency, warned early last year that travelers, especially international ones, would view America negatively thanks to Trump’s rhetoric and “isolationism.”  It even said the Big Apple would see a drop of 300,000 (later tweaked to 100,000) global tourists.  Oops: The tide kept right on coming in. The city scored 13.1 million international visitors in 2017, up 400,000 from the 2016 total. Add that to nearly 50 million domestic guests, and the city broke its tourism record for the eighth straight year.  Covering itself as well as it could, NYC & Co. said it was excited that the city overcame the “hurdles” of the new era, crediting its “New York City — Welcoming the World” campaign as having surmounted the supposed Trump effect.  New York is great, as long as you don't have to deal with the liberals.  You know the New York liberals – they dress in the best outfits, have domestic "help," and wear sad faces because their lives are so bad.

March 23, 2018       Permalink

CNN GETS HEAT – AT 10:16 A.M. ET:  Have you noticed that CNN has a virtual monopoly on TV monitors at airports?  Many have, and there is growing resentment.  Maybe change is coming.  This story is reported by Fox, so I'm assuming a certain bias, but it's worth reading:   

CNN’s ubiquitous presence in airports -- where it broadcasts from thousands of screens to a captive audience of millions -- is facing new scrutiny after the cable network's hard left turn.

The CNN Airport network dates back to when CNN was known for straightforward news programming -- and has been a fixture at airports since before competitors MSNBC and Fox News even existed. But critics are now asking if busy travelers should be subjected to CNN’s increasingly ideological programming -- at gates, bars, food courts and baggage claims -- which can include on-screen chyrons or subtitles that gleefully mock President Trump. Many travelers have even taken to Twitter and started online petitions to urge airports to change the channel.

Media Research Center Vice President Dan Gainor told Fox News that CNN has become more partisan than MSNBC since Trump moved into the White House and travelers should have the option of not watching the network.

“How are airports justifying the idea of bombarding captive viewers with content many of them oppose? Sadly, almost any outlet is fairer now than CNN,” Gainor said.

But CNN isn’t actually forced on travelers because airports want to disseminate liberal doctrine. It’s forced on travelers because of money.

CNN pays airports in exchange for leaving the network on, while many travel hubs even have agreements in which CNN pays for the televisions and infrastructure. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that airports also receive “up to six minutes each hour to promote the airport or local attractions” as part of the deal.

COMMENT:  People are entitled to a choice.  We must reject CNN's Big Brother presence.  Okay travelers, sign the petitions.

March 23, 2018       Permalink

BULLETIN:  It's being reported that the terrorist gunman in the French hostage situation has been shot dead.

TRUMP TRUMPS – AT 9:56 A.M. ET:   Congress has just passed a huge omnibus spending bill...and now the president, who was presumably on board, is threatening to veto it.  It will be a long weekend in Washington.  From CNBC: 

President Donald Trump threatened on Friday to veto the $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill already passed by Congress, only hours before government funding would lapse.

The about-face comes a day after White House officials issued public assurances the president would sign the legislation, despite his misgivings about it. The government will shut down at 12:01 a.m. Saturday if Trump does not sign a funding bill into law.

In a tweet, Trump said he is "considering a VETO" because the proposal does not extend protections for hundreds of thousands of young undocumented immigrants or fully fund his proposed border wall.

You gotta hand it to Trump.  He's taking up the Dems' cause and making fools of them for abandoning the DACA recipients.  Is there something going on here?  It's possible Mr. Trump is making a play for Hispanic votes.  There have been some reports of growing support for him in the Hispanic community.

The president's tweet throws more chaos into the process to keep the government running, even after it looked Friday morning like Trump's signature would only be a formality. Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney answered "yes" on Thursday when asked if Trump would sign the bill.

"Why? Because it funds his priorities," he told reporters.

Many lawmakers have already left Washington, and some are attending the funeral of longtime Rep. Louise Slaughter, who died last week. The Senate had adjourned and was not expected to take up legislative work again until April 9.

COMMENT:  It will be a fascinating day, and weekend.  Will the president get some further, last-minute concessions, or will the government actually shut down, at least for a few days?

Or, will the president ultimately sign the legislation, but demand that Congress return for a supplemental bill?

Stay tuned.  This is brought to you by Procter & Gamble.

March 23,  2018     Permalink

HORROR IN FRANCE – AT 9:17 A.M. ET:  There is an apparent terror incident underway in France.  The story is developing.  From Fox: 

The gunman who reportedly swore allegiance to ISIS and barricaded himself inside a supermarket in southern France, killing at least two people, reportedly demanded the release of Salah Abdeslam, one of the men behind the deadly 2015 Paris terror attacks. 

Local media reports at least 12 others are injured in the incident that French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said "seems to be a terrorist act." 

"This is a serious situation," he said.

The situation began to unfold around 11 a.m. local time on Friday when the gunman opened fired at a group of CRS police officers who were jogging near the city of Carcassonne. One of the officers was shot in the shoulder but the injury is non-life-threatening.

The gunman then took shelter inside the supermarket in Trebes and reportedly yelled “Allahu Akbar!” which roughly translates to “God is Great!” in Arabic.

The suspect also reportedly said "he is ready to die for Syria" and demanded Abdeslam be released from custody. Abdeslam is the lone surviving member of an ISIS terror cell behind the deadly 2015 attacks in Paris that killed 130 people at a theatre, the national stadium and cafes.

COMMENT:  Were sure this is a cultural misunderstanding, probably brought about by anger over BUSH (!!!), CHENEY (!!!!!) and of course TRUMP (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).  Nothing to see, nothing to see.

But expect more.

We'll follow it.

March 23,  2018     Permalink

MARCH 22,  2018

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

SHE'S STILL HERE – FROM PAGE SIX:  Just as Democratic donors thought they’d finally put away wallets for Hillary Clinton, she’s coming back to NYC for a fund-raiser for her nonprofit — while also creating a party stink by throwing the bash at the exact same time as an event for DNC chairman Tom Perez.  Clinton will be in town on April 30 for her “Onward Together” organization, to support young political leaders.  With great fanfare, Clinton announced in an email to her 2016 supporters that she is launching the Onward Together Leadership Council and that they could become charter members — in return for coughing up at least $10,000.   The Dems must figure out a way to exile her to a Pacific island, but one that allows fundraisers to save local plant life.

SAVE THE DATE – FROM COLLEGE FIX:   A lecture scheduled for next month at Columbia College in Chicago will examine the topic of “whiteness in decline” and look at how whites’ current social position has led to a “resurgence of white supremacy.”  The lecture, titled “Whiteness in Decline: The Emotional Politics of White Nationalist Resurgence,” will take place April 12 and include a presentation from professor Paula Ioanide of Ithaca College in New York.  Ioanide’s remarks will touch on the “imagined and real losses in entitlements white Americans have come to expect and the ways these connect to the resurgence of white nationalism,” according to an online description of the event.  “Ioanide argues that the reactionary emotional politics of white nationalism indicate both the precarious structure of white domination and the effectiveness of racial justice movements,” a flyer for the event states.  Ioanide, a professor of comparative race and ethnicity studies, did not respond to The College Fix’s request for comment regarding her upcoming talk.  I will rush to Chicago to take notes.

A BOLTON OF LIGHTNING – John Bolton will replace H.R. McMaster as national security adviser, President Trump announced.  Bolton is considered a hardliner, and thus his appointment was met with 1) shock and 2) dismay, by the liberal Washington establishment.  Medical assistance was needed.  Smelling salts were administered, along with Zoloft.  I've heard John Bolton speak.  He's actually a very reasonable, thoughtful man, but one who seriously believes in the rigorous defense of the United States.  He and Bernie Sanders are not best friends.   I think he'll do an outstanding job as adviser, but expect terrible abuse from the political left and the diplomatic crowd.  The Europeans are probably digging bomb shelters.

March 22, 2018       Permalink 

DEMOCRATIC TOLERANCE – AT 1:40 P.M. ET:   Well, there isn't much of it.  But there is a new, intriguing kind of Democratic Party tolerance – tolerance of the bashing of one Nancy Pelosi.  Even Nancy is going along.  She just celebrated the victory of someone who said he wanted her replaced.  Amazing.  From the Los Angeles Times: 

The morning after Democrat Conor Lamb's electoral upset in a Pennsylvania House district that backed Donald Trump by 20 points, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi shrugged off questions about whether she was worried that the candidate had campaigned on a pledge to replace her.

"We won," said the ever-confident Pelosi. "I just wanted him to win."

Pelosi has been the reluctant star of GOP attack ads for years, typically cast as a stereotypical San Francisco liberal who wants to raise taxes and collect all the guns.

And in an election year where there is a chance she could once again lead the Democratic caucus to the majority and become House speaker, expect Republicans to flood the airwaves with ads connecting candidates to the long-serving leader.

But as Lamb's campaign showed, the Democratic Party appears to have an unconventional new strategy for dealing with anti-Pelosi campaign ads in 2018: Disavow her.

Rather than defend Pelosi or try to change the subject, Democratic candidates are being given leeway — at least unofficially — to buck her if that's what's needed to win a seat in a conservative-leaning district — or even in a moderate one, since voters seem to be asking for broad change.

It's a bold strategy that may short-circuit GOP efforts to use her as their boogeyman. But it could also leave Pelosi — who increasingly has had to fight back efforts to push her aside as leader — without the votes she'll need to get the gavel again.

In the final weeks of the Pennsylvania race, Lamb announced he wouldn't support Pelosi. "I think we need new leadership on both sides," Lamb told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

COMMENT:  The problem of course is that if Pelosi is pushed aside, the Dems will probably choose someone even more to the left.  Where will that leave these so-called "moderates"?  If experience is any guide, they'd be ordered to go along, or forced to the margins of the party.

March 22, 2018       Permalink

TRUMP AND RUSSIA – AT 12:31 P.M. ET:   It is time for the administration to clarify its views on Russia.  The president has been far rougher on Moscow than his predecessor, who never met a dictator he didn't like. 

At the same time, Mr. Trump has issued a statement saying we need Russian assistance to get things done in Korea and elsewhere.  Problem is, where is that assistance?

The more thoughtful Europeans, all three of them, are sounding the alarm about Moscow's intentions, and we should listen closely.  From the New York Post: 

British Prime Minister Theresa May will call for European allies to “stand shoulder to shoulder” against the Russian threat that will continue for “years to come.”

“As a European democracy the United Kingdom will stand shoulder to shoulder with the EU and with NATO to face these shared threats together,” May will tell European Union members in an address later Thursday in Brussels, adding that “united we will succeed.”

Moscow’s military-grade nerve gas attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia earlier this month in Salisbury was “an indiscriminate and reckless act against the United Kingdom” amounting to “attempted murder using an illegal chemical weapon that we know Russia possesses , ” she will say, according to released portions of her prepared speech.

Russia’s use of the Soviet-era Novichok nerve agent was a “clear violation” of international law and constitutes a threat against all European nations that requires a unified response , she will say .

“The Russian threat does not respect borders, and as such we are all at risk,” May will say.

COMMENT:  Trump is pursuing a tough, but cautious policy toward Moscow.  It may succeed, but, if it doesn't, the president must reverse course or suffer the same humiliation as his predecessor. 

Russia is not our friend.  Prime Minister May understands that. 

March 22, 2018       Permalink

AUSTIN AFTERMATH – AT 11:38 A.M. ET:  We're now getting insight into the police work behind the termination of the Austin bomber.  Hats are off to the fine detection, and use of technology.  From Fox: 

The 23-year-old man linked to the deadly bombings that rocked Austin, Texas, and surrounding areas over the past month had a "target list" of future locations he wanted to strike, the chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security said Thursday.

Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said that authorities have discovered that Mark Anthony Conditt, 23, had a "target list of future targets" including residences and addresses discovered by authorities.

"I think he had pulled these addresses, these were his future targets. It was a target list." he said on "America's Newsroom."

McCaul added that based on the data authorities were able to retrieve from Conditt, they were able to go the homes and "clear them" from any suspicious packages.

"We were also able to use technology to find a digital footprint of where his cellphone had been, so that the key evidence was getting his cellphone number so that when he turned his cellphone on immediately the SWAT teams descended on him at about 3 o’clock in the morning so we got close to him before he blew himself up," he said.

McCaul told Fox News that authorities are now looking at those addresses that Conditt pulled to try to find a link between them.

"That is what we are looking at right now. What is the common denominator between all these victims, or is it just completely random?" he said.

McCaul said law enforcement conducted a search of the home in Pflugerville, located northeast of Austin on Wednesday and have "a lot of computer data, hard drives."

"Those things will be very telling along with social media about what was motivating him to do this, and also was there any connectivity between all these victims or was it just a completely random event," he told Fox News.

COMMENT:  It was video surveillance at a FedEx location that proved decisive.  I know that there are some, and they are sincere, who worry about the privacy aspects of tools like video surveillance.  I don't share those worries.  Traditionally, there's been no right of privacy in public places.  We've always been patrolled by officers in police cars or foot patrolmen.  They have authority to peek into places if there's probable cause for concern.

The new technology has extended the capacity of the authorities to do better searches.  Often, these require warrants.  Sometimes they do not.  I do share concerns about invasion of privacy on personal computers and computer accounts.  From what I've observed, police surveillance techniques are working well.

March 22,  2018     Permalink