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MARCH 24,  2018

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

SNOWFLAKES GALORE – FROM THE COLLEGE FIX:  Harvard is already penalizing students who belong to gender-affinity groups and a Christian student club that adheres to biblical sexuality.  Next on its list of enemies: instructors who make students “uncomfortable” or say “offensive” things in class.  The Harvard Crimson reports administrators are updating the Q guide, through which students evaluate their courses, to go beyond self-reported metrics such as class difficulty, work required and “lecturing acumen.”  They promised at a town hall meeting for undergraduates Thursday night to add the “uncomfortable” question and something similar to an “offensive” question that’s already available through Harvard’s School of Public Health.  Turn in your professor!  Become a certified fascist!

LONG OVERDUE – FROM THE NEW YORK POST:  The Trump administration plans this summer to scrap a controversial Obama-era discipline rule forced on schools to close racial gaps in suspensions and arrests but that critics say pressures educators to turn a blind eye to escalating bad behavior.  The federal directive, issued jointly in 2014 by the US departments of Education and Justice, warned public school districts receiving federal funding — including New York City — that they could face investigation and funding cuts if they fail to reduce statistical “disparities” in discipline by race. On average, the administration noted, black students are suspended at three times the rate of their white peers.  The directive also discourages student arrests and holds districts liable for the actions of “school resource officers … or other law enforcement personnel.”  Let's not solve the crime problem in minority communities.  Let's just assume there isn't one.

NEW DIET FAD – FROM THE INDEPENDENT:  Scientists have been left baffled by a wild elephant caught on camera blowing out plumes of smoke while consuming smouldering lumps of charcoal.
Researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) filmed the female elephant exhibiting the unusual behaviour at Nagahrole National Park in India.  In the video, the mammal can been seen picking up lumps of charcoal with its trunk, placing the coal in its mouth, and exhaling a large cloud of smoke.   Watch.  This will be the preferred diet in Beverly Hills by next week.  There'll be discussions about the wisdom of elephants.

March 24, 2018       Permalink

AND IN THE REAL WORLD – AT 2:04 P.M. ET:  We make it a practice to remind readers that, while we're doing the federal budget, others are planning to do us in.  The Chinese, for example, are relentless in developing a powerful new navy, designed to challenge American supremacy in the Pacific, and cut us off from our Asian allies.  From asia.nikkei.com: 

BEIJING -- China will build its first nuclear aircraft carrier, a major step in its push to become a strong naval power, the state-owned China Shipbuilding Industry Corp. noted in a statement posted online.

CSIC has developed vessels including nuclear submarines in the past. The aircraft carrier was revealed in a strategy document dated Tuesday, alongside plans to build more nuclear subs and unmanned underwater vehicles.

No timeline was given for building the vessel. But the document states that the Chinese navy needs upgraded equipment in response to growing maritime security threats. CSIC will supply weaponry to meet the navy's goal of expanding its far-offshore capabilities by 2025, the document says, suggesting the carrier is to be deployed by that year.

The Chinese Communist Party-run Global Times reported on the CSIC document Wednesday, calling it "the first time a state-owned Chinese defense company has openly identified nuclear-powered aircraft carriers on its agenda."

China launched its first domestically built aircraft carrier in 2017, after deploying the Liaoning, a retrofitted carrier from the former Soviet Union, in 2012. A second homegrown carrier is said to be under construction in Shanghai.

Some have suggested a nuclear propulsion system could be installed on a third Chinese-made carrier expected to be built in the northeastern city of Dalian. Nuclear carriers can sail for longer than their conventional cousins, giving them a tactical advantage. Hong Kong media have also reported that China plans to introduce a fourth homegrown carrier by 2030, which may also be nuclear-powered.

COMMENT:  This country began employing aircraft carriers almost a century ago, but the Chinese are moving very quickly.  Their new carriers will probably be home to drones as well as piloted aircraft.

Some will debate whether big aircraft carriers will be useful in an era where a hypersonic missile might cut through defenses and cripple even a carrier-sized ship.  But in conventional confrontations, and to demonstrate the ability to project power, there's nothing quite like a carrier.  I'd imagine the Chinese have prestige as well as power in mind.

March 24, 2018       Permalink

THE MESSAGE IS SENT – FROM 1:08 P.M. ET:   The message being sent to Hillary Clinton is getting louder and clearer.  The question is whether the queen is listening, or even cares.  From Fox: 

Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat and loyal Hillary Clinton supporter, said Sunday that the party’s 2016 presidential nominee’s recent comments regarding American voters, President Trump and her failed White House bid were “wrong” and “not helpful.”

“It’s not helpful at all,” Durbin, the Senate majority whip, told “Fox News Sunday.” “My friend Hillary Clinton is wrong. … But we’re moving on to the next chapter of American history. It will be a different cast of characters completely.”

During a recent trip to India, Clinton said Americans didn’t “deserve” Trump, suggested Americans who voted for her came from more economically prosperous parts of the country, some who voted for Trump held racist or misogynist views and that female voters caved to pressure from men to vote for Trump.

Clinton, who also lost a 2008 White House bid, said on the trip that Trump has “quite an affinity for dictators" and that he "really likes their authoritarian posturing and behavior."

The former secretary of state, senator and first lady has frequently tried to explain her 2016 upset loss while the Democratic Party has tried to look ahead to the 2018 and 2020 elections. Clinton even published a book last year titled, “What Happened.”

Durbin endorsed Clinton’s 2016 run, and attended campaign and fundraising events.

“Thirty percent of the people who voted for Donald Trump had voted for President Obama. Why? The same people who looked for change with President Obama thought there wasn’t enough as far as their personal lives were concerned and they supported Donald Trump,” Durbin also said Sunday.

“That is a reality that Democrats acknowledge.”

COMMENT:    It's a reality some Democrats acknowledge.  But the bottom line is that the Democratic Party, as a party, turned its back on many of its own voters, starting in the sixties.  Cardinal Dolan of New York just said that the party turned its backs on Catholics.  It turned its back on labor, on people who actually got things made during their working days.  It turned its back on the military it had once created.  It turned its back on the idea that America is a force for good. 

And the party of Roosevelt, Truman, and Kennedy gave us Carter, Clinton, and Obama. 

March 24, 2018        Permalink

TRUMP CONFRONTS THE RUSSKIES – AT 12:33 P.M. ET:  The president is apparently about to take serious action against Moscow.  We hope he doesn't change his mind.  From Bloomberg: 

President Donald Trump is preparing to expel dozens of Russian diplomats from the U.S. in response to the nerve-agent poisoning of a former Russian spy in the U.K., two people familiar with the matter said Saturday.

Trump agreed with the recommendation of advisers and the expulsions are likely to be announced on Monday, the people said, though they cautioned that Trump’s decision may not be final. Trump is prepared to act but wants to be sure European allies will take similar steps against Russia before doing so, aides said.

The advisers reached recommendations for a U.S. response to the U.K. attack at a National Security Council meeting on Wednesday and honed the proposals on Friday. Trump discussed the issue Friday with U.S. Ambassador to Russia Jon Huntsman, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, Defense Secretary James Mattis, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, outgoing National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and others, two people said.

COMMENT:   Trump is right in insisting that European allies join us.  Britain, of course, is fully on board.  The others, especially Germany, may be a question mark.  We'll wait until Monday to see, but if Germany and others don't join us, then Trump must read the riot act to them.

This is a politically sensitive issue because, if Trump declines to take action against Moscow, for whatever reason, the cry of "soft on Putin" will undoubtedly be heard...from the very people who truly were soft on Putin when Obama was in office.

March 24,  2018     Permalink

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