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

MAY 17,  2016

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

STILL ONE MORE CAUSE – FROM FOX:   A self-proclaimed "fat activist" gave college kids in Minnesota yet another issue to angrily protest: Thin privilege.  To mark “International No Diet Day,” the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health invited Virgie Tovar, a Cal-Berkeley lecturer and “fat activist,” to instruct America’s future nutritionists, dietitians and social workers on the finer points of “fat oppression.”  I'm so glad I've been sensitized.  Pass the hot fudge.

GREAT MOMENTS IN ROMANCE – FROM THE NEW YORK POST:   A Saudi Arabian bride spent her wedding night texting her pals instead of consummating her marriage — so her husband filed for a divorce just hours after they were hitched.  The couple was sitting in a hotel room following their ceremony in Jeddah when the bride got busy with her phone, responding to congratulatory messages from her friends rather than paying attention to her new mate, Saudi media reported.  “The groom tried to get closer with her and more intimate, but he was shocked when she ignored him, not responding to his words or action,” a relative told Al Watan, a daily newspaper in Saudi. “When he asked her if her friends were more important than he was, the bride answered that they were.”  Her response infuriated her husband, who walked out on his wife and said he was ending their short union.  An honest, independent woman.  Put her into the refugee stream and send her here.

CLINTON SQUEAKS BY IN KENTUCKY – FROM BBC:  US Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has declared victory in the Kentucky primary as she moves nearer the presidential nomination.  With most of the votes counted in the state and less than 0.5% ahead, Mrs Clinton was declared the unofficial winner by one state official.  In the night's other primary contest Senator Bernie Sanders won in Oregon.  Front-runner Mrs Clinton is almost certain to secure the nomination in July, with a significant delegate lead.  But she's obviously a weak candidate, having trouble in her own party. 

May 17, 2016       Permalink

THE SECRETARY REGRETS – AT 10:14 A.M. ET:  The French government, misguided in my view, is trying to arrange a peace conference for the Mideast to advance Arab-Israeli peace.  One key question is whether the United States will attend.  Our policy has always been that the parties must negotiate peace themselves.  Now Washington is, properly, stalling, which has forced the French to postpone.  It would be best if the idea died a slow death.  Only the Israelis and Palestinians can settle this bitter dispute.  From the Jerusalem Post: 

France on Tuesday agreed to delay the May 30th launch of its new Israeli-Palestinian peace initiative until some time this summer to allow for the US to attend.

It had intended to hold a ministerial meeting at the end of the month with representatives from some 20 countries — not including the Israelis and Palestinians — to lay the groundwork for a larger international peace conference in the fall.

The Palestinians have welcomed the initiative and the Israelis have opposed it. But the US, which has led all past Israeli-Palestinian peace processes has yet to formally state a position on the matter.

It had initially informed France that it could not attend for scheduling reasons.

During a brief visit to Israel on Sunday French Foreign Minister Jean Marc Ayrault said that his government would be happy to reschedule the event to accommodate US Secretary of State John Kerry.

COMMENT:  There is justifiable fear among Israelis that the Obama administration will stab Israel in the back in Obama's final months in office, payback for Israel's opposition to the Iran nuclear deal.  It's the kind of thing Obama would do, but we can hope that reason will prevail. 

It would be best if Kerry just doesn't attend the French conference, if in fact it's ever held.  We will elect a new president in less than six months.  That president will determine our policy in the Mideast, for better or worse.

May 17, 2016       Permalink

GOOD FOR THE PROFESSORS! – AT 9:51 A.M. ET:   One of the most dangerous offices in government is the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Education.  It is that office that hands down the edicts that schools must follow to get federal aid – edicts about gender discrimination, sex offenses, and just about every other form of behavior.  Now some major law professors are in open rebellion at the extremism shown by that benignly named office.  From the College Fix: 

Some of the most prominent law professors around the country have signed an open letter calling on lawmakers to reject and replace the Department of Education’s “overly broad” definition of sexual harassment.

“In defense of the principle of fundamental fairness,” the professors also laid out a legal process for reviewing the sexual-misconduct regulations issued by the department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) that violate “constitutional law, judicial precedent and Administrative Procedure Act requirements.”

The letter, distributed by the due-process group Stop Abusive and Violent Environments, is signed by professors including Harvard’s Alan Dershowitz, Elizabeth Bartholet, Charles Donahue and Richard Parker; Richard Epstein of NYU and the University of Chicago; Donald Downs of the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Stephanos Bibas of the University of Pennsylvania; and Stanford’s Michael McConnell:

Some of us have witnessed the injustices resulting from institutions that downplay or ignore sexual harassment on their campuses, and we commend OCR for taking a proactive approach to this problem. In pursuing its objectives, however, OCR has unlawfully expanded the nature and scope of institutions’ responsibility to address sexual harassment, thereby compelling institutions to choose between fundamental fairness for students and their continued acceptance of federal funding.

With their repeated use of language such as “must,” “require” and “obligation,” OCR documents frequently make demands of colleges that not only have no “regulatory or statutory basis” but have “effectively nullified” core constitutional precedents, the professors write, littering the letter with footnotes.

COMMENT:  Read the whole story.  It's well worth it.  This office has become a monster, wreaking havoc in our colleges and universities, and even in public schools.  It is run by leftist radicals, made stronger by the influence of the Obama administration.  Its budget is about to be dramatically increased, despite major warnings from serious, authoritative people that it has overstepped its authority and has become a virtual dictator.

Let's see if conservatives have the spine to fight the menace.  I'm not all that optimistic.

May 17, 2016       Permalink

WOW – AT 9:16 A.M. ET:  How often does this happen?  From Fox:

The Nevada State Democratic Party warned the Democratic National Committee Monday that supporters of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders have displayed a "penchant for ... actual violence' and could disrupt this summer's Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

The allegation is the latest fallout from a divisive Nevada Democratic convention that had to be shut down Saturday night because security at the Paris Las Vegas hotel could no longer ensure order. The gathering closed with some Sanders supporters throwing chairs; later, some made death threats against state party chairwoman Roberta Lange.

Sanders' backers had been protesting convention rules that ultimately led to Hillary Clinton winning more pledged delegates. Clinton won the state's caucuses in February, 53-47, but Sanders backers hoped to pick up extra delegates by packing county and state party gatherings.

Sanders had released a statement Friday night asking supporters to work "together respectfully and constructively" at the convention. But the state party alleged in its letter to the co-chairs of the DNC Rules and By-laws committee, "The explosive situation arose in large part because a portion of the community of Sanders delegates arrived at the Nevada Democratic State Convention believing itself to be a vanguard intent upon sparking a street-fight rather than attending an orderly political party process."

COMMENT:  I love it, I love it.  Everyone is predicting chaos at the Republican National Convention, with the usual suspects rioting outside.  But maybe we'll get a real show from the Democrats when they meet in the heat of Philadelphia.  With Hillary as their nominee, they could use some pizzaz.

May 17,  2016     Permalink

MAY 16,  2016

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:40 P.M. ET: 

ZIPPED UP – FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER:  The White House told the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Monday that Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes won't be testifying on Tuesday about his controversial comments on the Iran deal.  In a letter to Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, Neil Eggleston, counsel to President Obama, said it would raise "constitutional concerns" if Rhodes were to testify. He also said Congress has been consulted enough.  Yeah, Congress was certainly consulted on the Iran deal.  The U.S. Senate wasn't even allowed to vote on it.  Great consultation.

MISUNDERSTANDING? – FROM FOX:   An item in the Milwaukee Public Schools' proposed budget listing $471,073 for Black Lives Matter has critics fuming, but district officials said Monday it is all a misunderstanding.  Although the budget draft lists the controversial activist group, whose members have called for attacks on police officers, as the recipient of the funds, school officials said much of the money would go to hiring and training three social studies teachers.  “No funding is going to any Black Lives Matter organization,” Tony Tagliavia, a spokesman for Milwaukee Public Schools told FoxNews.com in a statement. "The specific expenditures, which are also outlined in the budget proposal, are for three social studies teachers and staff development for other employees.”  So why is it listed as Black Lives Matter?  Who makes an error like that?

IT BEGINS –  FROM THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS:   A Dallas woman was questioned about her gender by a man who followed her into a bathroom because he said she was “dressed like a man.”  Jessica Rush told KXAS-TV she filmed the last seconds of the encounter on her cell phone Thursday afternoon at the Baylor Medical Center in Frisco, Tex.  “My first thought was ‘I’m about to be attacked’ just because I am 5 [foot]3, female,” Rush said. “I understand one thing if you are like a cop of the Dallas Police Department, but just some random guy coming in I think is absolutely absurd and inappropriate.”  Rush, who is not transgender, was receiving treatment for an injured arm at the hospital Thursday as so-called “bathroom bills” prompt debates about the use of public restrooms by transgender people.  Incidents like this are going to multiply because of all the publicity given to the issue. 

May 16, 2016       Permalink

AN IMPORTANT REVISION – AT 11:18 A.M. ET:   Anyone with common sense knows that crime is increasing in America, and that police reluctance to enter controversial situations (the "Ferguson effect") is part of the problem.   Obama, that great expert on law enforcement, doesn't agree, but now a scholar who originally denied the Ferguson effect is changing sides.  From Hot Air: 

University of Missouri-St. Louis criminologist Richard Rosenfeld published a paper last June which argued that the “Ferguson Effect” was not real. Rosenfeld’s take on the matter was picked up by media outlets around the country.

All of these stories from 2015 rely on Rosenfeld’s analysis at least in part. But Rosenfeld has recently announced that he has changed his mind. The Guardian reports:

Looking at data from 56 large cities across the country, Rosenfeld found a 17% increase in homicide in 2015. Much of that increase came from only 10 cities, which saw an average 33% increase in homicide.

“These aren’t flukes or blips, this is a real increase,” he said. “It was worrisome. We need to figure out why it happened.”

All 10 cities that saw sudden increases in homicide had large African American populations, he said. While it’s not clear what drove the increases, he said, he believes there is some connection between high-profile protests over police killings of unarmed black men, a further breakdown in black citizens’ trust of the police, and an increase in community violence.

“The only explanation that gets the timing right is a version of the Ferguson effect,” Rosenfeld said. Now, he said, that’s his “leading hypothesis”.

Rosenfeld’s statement is very similar to what FBI Director Comey said last October, “It’s the one explanation that, to my mind, explains the calendar and the map and makes the most sense.” The new analysis has not been made public yet but should be out next month. Will the media be as eager to embrace Rosenfeld’s new hypothesis?

COMMENT:  I doubt if the media will go along with the latest research because it violates the party line of the political left, as parroted by the White House. 

But at least some people are showing some spine, and pointing out the facts – that when you constantly condemn the police, even good officers will pull back, rather than getting involved in a situation that can result in their being charged with some offense.

May 16, 2016       Permalink

THE TRUMP MYSTIQUE – QUOTE OF THE DAY – AT 9:58 A.M. ET:  You can dislike him, as I do, and yet follow his every move, fascinated by a man who is a presumptive presidential nominee, and yet a man who has broken every rule.  Will Rahn, at  CBS News,  has an excellent analysis of the appeal of Donald Trump, one of the best I've read:     

There are plenty of factors that went into Trump becoming the presumptive GOP nominee, and the incessant media coverage of his every utterance and movement probably contributed to his sky-high negatives. But it's unserious, not to mention smug, to assume that Trump has been playing all of his Republican supporters for dupes. You don't need to worship Trump to vote for him. You don't even have to like him, or think he's always honest, because these are not the factors at the heart of Trump's appeal.

Consider this from Michael Cooper, a writer, attorney, and liberal Democrat who lives in rural North Carolina. "My Republican friends are for Trump. My state representative is for Trump," he wrote in U.S. News in March. "People who haven't voted in years are for Trump. He'll win the primary here on March 15 and he will carry this county in the general.

His supporters realize he's a joke. They do not care. They know he's authoritarian, nationalist, almost un-American, and they love him anyway, because he disrupts a broken political process and beats establishment candidates who've long ignored their interests."

This, I think, nicely sums up the core of Trump's support. Yes, there is a cult of personality around the candidate, and some of his backers do seem to think of him as a man who can do no wrong. But the breadth of Trump's support alone indicates that we're dealing with more than just full-fledged #TrumpTrain devotees. We're also dealing with the people Cooper writes about, the ones who aren't so enthralled with the man himself but recognize him as a change agent.

And the truth is that a President Trump would, of course, be a change agent. A Hillary win would likely take us to something like the pre-Trump status quo ante, which is one reason why so many D.C. and Wall Street Republicans will wind up supporting her -- they'll still know how to play the game in a second Clinton presidency.

COMMENT:  Well stated.  Very often people who are angry will overlook defects in the candidates they support because they have an overriding objective – changing the system, even smashing it to the ground.  I'm not saying this is healthy, but I think it explains why a clearly flawed man like Trump is getting so much traction.

May 16, 2016       Permalink

TRUMP FIGHTS BACK – AT 9:46 A.M. ET:  I'm not a Trump fan, in part because he's often so coarse, but I rather liked his reply to an attack by the diplomatically challenged new mayor of London, who is a Muslim.  From Britain's Mirror:

Donald Trump today launched an astonishing fresh attack on "nasty" Sadiq Khan and admitted he may not have a "good relationship" with David Cameron after he vowed to ban Muslims from the US.

The billionaire Republican hit back after London's first Muslim mayor warned his "ignorant" views on religion will make the world less safe if he becomes President.

David Cameron also said Mr Trump's plan for a temporary border ban was "stupid, divisive and wrong".

Yet in an interview with Piers Morgan, Mr Trump said he was offended by Mr Khan's "ignorant" remarks and even challenged him to an IQ test.

"He doesn't know me, hasn't met me, doesn't know what I'm on about," he told ITV's Good Morning Britain host.

"I think they're very rude statements and frankly tell him I will remember those statements. They're very nasty statements.

"I think it's ignorant for him to say that."

He added: "We have a tremendous problem with radical Islamic terror. Look at it worldwide. The world is blowing up and it's not people from Sweden that's doing the damage, OK?"

COMMENT:  Right on, Donald.  Sometimes it takes a blunt guy to tell the truth.

May 16,  2016     Permalink