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MAY 3,  2017

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:57 P.M. ET:

INCREDIBLE – FROM BREITBART:   A stunning new poll shows that Hispanic support for President Donald Trump has grown to 45 percent since his election.  “The biggest surprise in this new poll is Trump’s approval among Hispanic voters, which is at 45 percent approval/51 percent disapproval,”  Zogby said. “In February the numbers were less among Hispanics at 39 percent approval/53 percent disapproval.”  In November, Trump won roughly 29 percent of the Latino vote.  It is not clear why Trump’s support has risen among Latinos. But a series of polls stretching back to 2014 show that many Hispanics strongly support more border security to protect their communities from crime and low-wage labor.  If accurate, this is big trouble for the Democrats.

ANOTHER GREAT MOMENT IN EDUCATION – FROM COLLEGE FIX:  A student at the University of California, Berkeley, has written an op-ed claiming that free speech is merely “a tactic used by the state,” and that Berkeley should prioritize the “safety of the marginalized” over American constitutional freedoms.  At the Daily Californian, UC Berkeley transfer student Juniperangelica Xiomara Cordova-Goff writes: “Free speech is not dead. It was never alive.” Cordova-Goff, a self-described “brown trans femme,” claims that the American ideal of “shar[ing] perspectives and differing opinions,” and UC Berkeley’s tradition of “discuss[ing] and organiz[ing] with opposite sides of the political spectrum” has “done nothing more than maintain the white supremacist, capitalistic and patriarchal nature that allowed colonizers to protect their power centuries ago and that has allowed their descendants to elect an openly racist, queerphobic, Islamophobic/xenophobic and anti-poverty adminstration [sic].”  I'm convinced.  Aren't you?

I'M SO RELIEVED – FROM THE NEW YORK POST:  This is the moment the fabled Loch Ness Monster was “officially” spotted for the first time this year – bringing more than eight months of uncertainty to an end.  Nessie’s official recorder admitted he had been “worried” after a dry spell of sightings meant not one person had claimed to see the beast since August last year.  Enthusiasts were so concerned about Nessie that Gary Campbell, the official recorder, revealed he had fielded calls from as far afield as Moscow and California.  But tourist Hayley Johnson saw a strange and dark shape at dusk in the loch’s Urquhart Bay yesterday – said to be a favorite haunt of Nessie.  The 28-year-old, a care assistant from Manchester, England said: “I couldn’t believe my eyes.”  I couldn't imagine a world without Nessie.  What else is there to talk about?

May 3, 2017      Permalink

NOT A SHINING HOUR – AT 9:32 A.M. ET:   No party for decades has had the chance the Republican Party has now.  Its Democratic opposition is at its weakest point in almost a hundred years.  Republicans control the White House, the the US Senate, the House, most state legislatures, and most governorships. 

And yet, it has yet to show this year that it is a governing party, at least in Washington.  It is attempting to make good on its promise to repeal and replace Obamacare, but failed in its first effort.  Now it is trying again, and failure may once again be the result.   Grade of D.  From The Hill:

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) said early Wednesday that he thinks the GOP healthcare proposal is still a few votes short of the number needed to pass.

During an interview on CNN's "New Day," King, who is undecided on the healthcare measure, was asked if he thinks there will be a vote on healthcare this week.

In response, King said he thinks that's a "complete toss of the coin."

"I think they're holding four to six votes short of what they need to go on the floor," he said.

"And I don't know how soft some of those votes that are sitting on the balance are, but that's my prediction. It's just going to be a toss of the coin on whether they will or whether they won't."

King said during the interview he moved his whip announcement last week to "undecided."

"It's a result of these negotiations that have to do with the essential health benefits that throws us back into the lap of the 50 states for them to fight over what they want to do," he said.

COMMENT:   It is absurd that the GOP, which has had six or more years to come up with a replacement for Obamacare, hasn't done so in a way that can guarantee passage in the House.  And then there's the Senate, where Republicans only have a slim majority.

If the Obamacare replacement fails this week, the Republicans should immediately go on to tax reform, which would have to include a meaningful tax cut.  If they can't get that done, they'll be in serious trouble in the 2018 midterms.

May 3, 2017       Permalink

AS FRANCE GOES – AT 9:17 A.M. ET:  The French presidential runoff election is this Sunday.  It is important, as France is a key nation in Europe and one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.   If France should choose an anti-European leader and pull out of the EU, as Britain is doing, the EU would collapse.  I'm not saying that would be a bad thing.  From AFP:

Paris (AFP) - French presidential candidates Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen face off in a final televised debate on Wednesday which is expected to be bitter, personal and potentially decisive ahead of the run-off vote this weekend.

The stakes are high ahead of the contest between the pro-European Macron, a 39-year-old former investment banker, and far-right leader Le Pen, the 48-year-old scion of the National Front party.

Their starkly different views on Europe, immigration, the economy and French identity will be explored for the first time face-to-face, after a week marked by bruising clashes between them.

Polls show Macron holding a hefty but narrowing lead in the polls of 59 percent versus 41 percent, but previous debates during the rollercoaster French campaign have quickly shifted public opinion.

"Our goal is to avoid being dragged into mud-slinging," an aide to Macron told AFP on condition of anonymity ahead of the two hours and 20 minutes of exchanges between the candidates.

Whatever the outcome, the event marks a new step into the mainstream for Le Pen, whose party was once considered by France's political establishment to be an extremist fringe of racists to be boycotted.

When her father Jean-Marie made it into the final round of the presidential election in 2002, his conservative opponent Jacques Chirac refused to debate him out of fear of "normalising hate and intolerance".

Fifteen years later, Le Pen scored 21.3 percent in the first round of the French election on April 23 after successfully softening the FN's image -- but without fully removing doubt about the party's core beliefs.

COMMENT:   I'd imagine Macron will win.  I have no idea what that ultimately means.  France has become a major terror target, despite a tilt toward appeasement of Islamic radicalism.  Its economy could be much better.  Its people exhibit the same anger toward their plight that American workers showed during the last election.

May 3, 2017        Permalink

BE PREPARED – AT 8:01 A.M. ET:  The United States is seriously preparing for military action against North Korea, should it be necessary.  There is never any harm in full preparations and intensive training.  Indeed, these can, under rational circumstances, be part of an effective deterrent.  From the great Bill Gertz at the Washington Free Beacon: 

U.S. special operations forces are set to conduct operations against North Korean nuclear, missile, and other weapons of mass destruction sites in any future conflict, the commander of Special Operations Command told Congress Tuesday.

Army Gen. Raymond A. Thomas stated in testimony to a House subcommittee that Army, Navy, and Air Force commandos are based both permanently and in rotations on the Korean peninsula in case conflict breaks out.

The special operations training and preparation is a warfighting priority, Thomas said in prepared testimony. There are currently around 8,000 special operations troops deployed in more than 80 countries.

"We are actively pursuing a training path to ensure readiness for the entire range of contingency operations in which [special operations forces], to include our exquisite [countering weapons of mass destruction] capabilities, may play a critical role," he told the subcommittee on emerging threats.

"We are looking comprehensively at our force structure and capabilities on the peninsula and across the region to maximize our support to U.S. [Pacific Command] and [U.S. Forces Korea]. This is my warfighting priority for planning and support."

Disclosure of the commander's comments comes as tensions remain high on the peninsula. President Trump has vowed to deal harshly with North Korea should another underground nuclear test be carried out. Test preparations have been identified in recent weeks, U.S. officials have said.

Trump said on Sunday that China appears to be pressuring North Korea but that he would be upset if North Korea carries out another nuclear test.

COMMENT:  I'd imagine another test is coming, unless North Korea completely changes, under Chinese pressure, its method of operation. 

Don't be shocked, by the way, if you start seeing more pieces in the mainstream media questioning why our confrontation with North Korea is even justified.  The political left is getting organized on this issue.  The notion will be to portray President Trump as an uninformed warmonger.  We've been here before.  The usual suspects will come out of the woodwork.

May 3,  2017     Permalink

MAY 2,  2017

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:56 P.M. ET:   

KINDNESS TO SNOWFLAKES – FROM THE COLLEGE FIX:  Harvard Library is getting rid of a 50-cent daily charge for “regular loan items” that are overdue.  One of the justifications is that the change will be more “user-friendly.” What does that mean?  Steven Beardsley, associate director for access services administrative operations and special projects, told The Harvard Crimson:  "We have witnessed firsthand the stress that overdue fines can cause for students. Eliminating standard overdue fines and standardizing loan periods across Harvard’s libraries should help students focus on their scholarship, rather than worrying about renewing library books every 28 days in order to avoid fines."  That’s right. Harvard students are so fragile they can’t be bothered with either returning books on time or paying for the privilege of not returning them.  We must understand their trauma, their pain.  Just the term "fine" can terrorize a whole population. 

BETSY TRIUMPHS – FROM THE HILL:  Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos will give the commencement speech at Bethune-Cookman University, the historically black establishment said. 
DeVos will speak at the school’s commencement ceremony on May 10 on its campus in Daytona Beach, Fla.  “Much like Dr. Bethune, Founder of Bethune-Cookman University, Secretary DeVos deems the importance of opportunity and hope for students to receive an exceptional education experience,” the university said in a press release.   “Her mission to empower parents and students resonates with the history and legacy of Dr. Bethune.”  Good for Betsy and good for Bethune-Cookman, which is taking a risk by inviting a Trump Cabinet officer. 

I LOVE IT – FROM FOX:  Senior White House counselor Kellyanne Conway reacted to comments made Tuesday by Hillary Clinton that blamed FBI Director James Comey and Russian interference for aiding Republican rival Donald Trump’s ascension to the presidency.  Conway said in a Tweet to Clinton that "You Ignored WI, Called us deplorable/irredeemable, Had oodles of $$ & no message, Lost to a better candidate," signing it "From: Woman in the White House."  Speaking truth to almost power.

May 2, 2017        Permalink

THE REAL WORLD – AT 11:33 A.M. ET:   The State Department issues a warning to Americans.  From Reuters: 

The U.S. State Department issued a travel alert for Europe on Monday, saying U.S. citizens should be aware of a continued threat of terrorist attacks throughout the continent.

In the alert, the State Department cited recent incidents in France, Russia, Sweden and the United Kingdom and said Islamic State and al Qaeda "have the ability to plan and execute terrorist attacks in Europe."

The State Department's previous travel alert for Europe, issued ahead of the winter holiday season, expired in February. A State Department official said Monday's alert was not prompted by a specific threat, but rather recognition of the continuing risk of attacks especially ahead of the summer holidays. The alert expires on Sept. 1.

Malls, government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, airports and other locations are all possible targets for attacks, the State Department's alert said.

COMMENT:  We now seem to have individual attacks every week.  The pace of terror is quickening, and we have to expect a large attack, one possibly using explosives, sometime soon.  Up to now, we've been remarkably lucky.

May 2, 2017        Permalink 

ANOTHER NORTH KOREAN THREAT – AT 9:56 A.M. ET:  North Korea continues its rapid development programs.  They've had a number of failures in missile tests, but we must assume they'll correct their mistakes and have deadly, operational ICBM's in the near future.  They appear to be working on sub-launched missiles as well.  From the Daily Mail: 

Satellite images have revealed how North Korea is preparing to trial its arsenal of submarine rockets amid fears of an impending nuclear test.

Pictures of the Nampo Naval shipyard on the country's west coast show dictator Kim Jong-un has 'imported' a new barge so his navy can carry out underwater test missile launches.

The 68ft barge is identical to another seen at the Sinpo South shipyard on the east coast which has been involved in up to six test launches since 2014.

And...

This morning Kim Jong-un accused the US of pushing the Korean Peninsula to the brink of nuclear war after a pair of American bombers carried out training drills in the region.

The supersonic B-1B Lancers were deployed in a joint training exercise with the Japanese air forces.

North Korea said the bombers conducted 'a nuclear bomb dropping drill against major objects' in its territory at a time when US President Donald Trump and 'other U.S. warmongers are crying out for making a preemptive nuclear strike'.

'The reckless military provocation is pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula closer to the brink of nuclear war,' the North's official KCNA news agency said this morning.

The flight of the two bombers on Monday came as Trump said he was open to meeting North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un in the appropriate circumstances, even though Pyongyang suggested it would continue with its nuclear tests.

COMMENT:  President Trump is committed to shutting down the North Korean nuclear and missile programs.  So far, North Korea has given no hint that it is willing to shut them down. 

The president is offering diplomacy.  However, there is a high danger here of some kind of military clash, which might involve the shooting down of a North Korean test missile.  Right now, North Korea is the most dangerous place in the world.

May 2, 2017        Permalink

STRUGLING DEMS – AT 9:28 A.M. ET:  There is much talk about the president's first 100 days, and much glee in the press over declaring those 100 a failure.   But what about the Dems?  Conservative columnist Marc A. Thiessen argues that they're the ones in more serious trouble.  From The Washington Post: 

The ones who need to expand their base are Democrats — the party that lost — and they utterly failed to so. According to the Post-ABC News poll, only 2 percent of Americans who voted for Trump regret their votes, while fully 96 percent say it was the right thing to do. In other words, after 100 days, Democrats made no inroads with these Obama-Trump voters. Quite the opposite, today just 28 percent of Americans say that the Democratic Party is in touch with the concerns of most Americans today — 10 points behind Trump.

Perhaps one reason is that Democrats have made clear their deep-seated contempt for the values of working-class, socially conservative Democrats who left their party in droves last year. On April 21, newly elected Democratic National Committee chairman Thomas Perez announced that pro-life candidates are no longer welcome in the Democratic Party: “Every Democrat, like every American, should support a woman’s right to make her own choices about her body and her health. That is not negotiable.” Hear that, Middle America? Get with the baby-killing program.

Democrats are completely focused on placating their frothing, left-wing, anti-Trump base — and the American heartland thinks these people are insane. They see women marching in anti-Trump rallies wearing “pussy” hats (and placing them on the heads of young children). They see left-wing mobs attacking Charles Murray at Middlebury College and trying to stop Ann Coulter from speaking at the University of California at Berkeley. They see “Bill Nye the Liberal Guy” — honorary co-chair of the March for Science — raising a question about whether people should be punished for having “extra kids.” (Which of their kids, they wonder, is the “extra” one?) They see a horrible feedback loop of left-wing intolerance for their beliefs and way of life.

And they see Democrats in Washington pandering to these people.

COMMENT:  A very good picture of today's Democratic Party – neurotic, radical, and out of control.   And without Barack Obama, who at least could attract votes.

But Democratic madness might actually succeed unless the Republicans can get their act together and start passing important, people-pleasing legislation.  No sign of that yet.

May 2,  2017     Permalink