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MAY 26,  2018

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:51 P.M. ET: 

SWEDEN LURCHES RIGHT – FROM DAILYWIRE:   Sweden's far-right Sweden Democrats party is poised for major gains in the country's September elections, a new poll shows, as voters seek to send a message that they want stricter controls on immigration and a tougher approach to crime.  Politico Europe reports that the Sweden Democrats party scored just four points behind the ruling Social Democrats Party, and just two points behind the Swedish moderate party.  The Social Democrats have ruled Sweden for years, turning the country into a leftist paradise — Sweden is, of course, routinely referenced as a model for the United States, largely for its progressive policies — but the Swedes say they've tired of the government's lax approach to immigration and crime, and want a ruling party that will tackle those issues head on.  Looks like another leftist failure coming up.  Of course, the liberal press will blame it all on racism and Donald Trump, but the voters know better.

CITIZENS VOTE WITH THEIR DOLLARS – FROM DAILYWIRE:  The Florida-based grocery store chain Publix is facing severe backlash after they caved to far-left activist David Hogg and his intimidation tactics on Friday as many customers are now saying they will no longer shop at the store.  Hogg and other far-left activists laid on the floor of the grocery store for 720 seconds – which Hogg falsely claimed is a second for each mass shooting that has happened in the U.S. since the Pulse nightclub massacre – and screamed for a boycott of the store.  The boycott came after it was revealed that the grocery store had donated money to a politician in the past who had described himself as a major advocate for the NRA and the Second Amendment.  Following Publix's decision to cave to the far-left activists, many people announced that they were no longer going to be shopping at the store.  It is sad that Publix caved immediately to a misguided intimidation tactic.  It should be punished financially.   In caving, the store in effect gave up its First Amendment rights to a mob.  Not a great contribution to democracy.

NAVY TRAGEDY – FROM ABC NEWS:   The former commanding officer of the destroyer USS John S. McCain pleaded guilty Friday to a charge of dereliction of duty for his role in last year's deadly collision that killed 10 sailors.  Commander Alfredo J. Sanchez was sentenced to a letter of reprimand and a $6,000 fine; as part of his plea deal agreement he will be required to retire from the Navy.  On August 21, 2017 10 sailors were killed when the destroyer collided with an oil tanker as it entered the busy waterway into the port of Singapore. The collision occurred two months after seven sailors were killed when the destroyer USS Fitzgerald collided with a container ship off the coast of Japan.  Both collisions resulted in the removal of senior leaders in the Navy's Seventh Fleet and to criminal proceedings against the senior leaders and some of the crew members of both ships.  He's a decorated officer with a fine record, but his plea demonstrates how much we demand of those in command positions.  He clearly made some serious mistakes, and our thoughts must, as we observe Memorial Day, go to the families of the men lost. 

May 26, 2018       Permalink

REPUBLICAN SUNSHINE? – Pollster Frank Luntz is smiling at Republican prospects for November.  That wasn't the case a few months ago.  From the Washington Times:

Pollster Frank Luntz says the Republican Party’s tracking numbers for midterm elections are looking good, thanks to independent voters who recoil at the thought of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi becoming speaker.

The creator of “Instant Response” polling told Fox News’s Laura Ingraham Thursday evening that a bit of political finesse by the GOP over the next few months is poised to pay off in November. If Republicans can vote on a speaker prior to midterm elections, Mr. Luntz said, then swing voters are likely to side with them in the voting booth.

“Well, I’ve been tracking this on a weekly basis going back now for a year and a half and these are the best numbers that the GOP has had in the last year,” he said, Mediaite reported. “One of the reasons is that women, working women, women with children, have begun to leave the Democratic Party. It’s not that they are pro-Republican, but what they see among the Democrats is the same kind of negativity that turned them off in previous elections.”

Mr. Luntz told Ms. Ingraham a few decisions could narrow an intensity gap that currently exists between Republicans and Democrats.

“Quite frankly, if Republicans could find some way to engineer a vote over who would be speaker of the House in January 2019, if they could engineer that vote, I would be prepared to say right now that the Republicans would keep the majority because there are so many people out there — swing voters who do not want Pelosi as speaker, that one action would make a difference,” he said.
Mr. Luntz added that the California Democrat is “the least popular credible figure” among her peers.

COMMENT:  There is a new optimism among Republicans.  Of course, the election is still five months away, many lifetimes in politics, and the anti-Trump press will do whatever it can to ruin GOP prospects.  If Republicans run hard, and follow Luntz's advice, I think they've got a good chance to hold Congress and maybe even increase their lead in the Senate.

May 26,  2018     Permalink

TOGETHER AGAIN – AT 1:26 P.M. ET:  It's the newest brother act on the world stage, soon to appear at a rock venue near you.  Kim Jong Un, aka Rocket Man, leader of North Korea.  Moon Jae-in, lovable, peacenik president of South Korea.  They just met again today, brought together by President Trump's toughness in pulling out of the upcoming summit with Kim...at least until conditions are made right.

Gotta hand it to Trump.  He does something, and gets results.  Obama did something, and got ignored.  From CNN: 

Seoul, South Korea (CNN) The leaders of North and South Korea held a surprise meeting Saturday, their second in a month, two days after President Donald Trump abruptly canceled a summit meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in met for two hours at the Demilitarized Zone, the South Korean presidency said in a statement.

The two "exchanged their opinions" on among other things successfully carrying out a future US-North Korea summit, according to the statement. On Thursday, Trump called off a June 12 summit with Kim in Singapore but then told reporters Friday he's still open to a conference.

COMMENT:  My own sense is that the summit will take place, but that President Trump will have the meeting essentially on his terms.  He's an excellent negotiator, and negotiates only from strength. 

The Dems are picking at Trump for pulling out of the summit, but they look like small timers, little participants in a student government.  Not exactly the party of Roosevelt, Truman, and Kennedy.

May 26, 2018        Permalink

THE DAY – AT 12:44 P.M. ET:  As we start the Memorial Day weekend, I have a request.  A number of people have said to me, in stores and elsewhere, "Have a happy Memorial Day weekend," or have asked, "How are you celebrating Memorial Day?"  These people are friendly and mean well.

However – and this is something we should teach our kids – we don't "celebrate" Memorial Day, we observe it or commemorate it.  And the word "happy" should never be associated with it. 

Memorial Day is a solemn holiday, recalling America's war dead.  Yes, like all other American holidays, it has become a commercial venture – lowest prices of the year, you know – and the honored dead are either briefly recalled, or not recalled at all.  As a child, I remember full Memorial Day ceremonies at a monument featuring the names of the fallen.  Many of the names were new.  I don't know how many of those ceremonies are still held.

There are a number of claimed origins for Memorial Day.  In general, the remembrance was started either during or just after the Civil War.  Originally it was called Decoration Day because the graves of soldiers were "decorated," usually marked with a small flag.  The term "Decoration Day" was strong in my youth, and citizens would often wear little poppies in their lapels to mark the occasion.   "Decoration Day" has faded, and now "Memorial Day" is almost universal. 

So let us remember the meaning.  There's no sin in having recreational events, but the meaning should always be present.  If that meaning is to endure, it will have to be carried by the average American, for our elites have essentially abandoned us. 

May 26,  2018     Permalink

MAY 25,  2018

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

THE NEW SHOW BUSINESS – FROM NOTTINGHAMPOST.COM:  Have you ever watched a film and wished the direction in which it is going would change?  Well, a new brain-controlled movie has now been launched, which picks up reactions from the viewer via an electroencephalogram (EEG) headset and switches the storyline depending on their response.  The film, called 'The Moment', has been developed by the University of Nottingham's computer science PhD researcher and creative director Richard Ramchurn.  It is being officially launched at Sheffield Doc/Fest on June 7.   Now we need a device that will change Hillary Clinton's speeches if we just tell our brains that we're bored.

IVANKA ON THE TRAIL – FROM THE HILL:  Ivanka Trump is set to headline two fundraisers for House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in California next month, according to a Friday report in Politico Playbook.  President Trump's daughter and senior adviser will appear alongside McCarthy at events in Fresno and Los Angeles on June 18. The proceeds will go to Protect the House, McCarthy's joint-fundraising committee with Vice President Pence.  “At the request of House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Ivanka Trump will be headlining a June 18 Protect the House fundraiser with the Leader in California," a statement from Ivanka Trump's office reads, according to Playbook.  Don't underestimate her.  This may be practice for future campaigns...with her as the candidate.

MAJOR DIETARY NEWS – FROM AFP:  Paris (AFP) - Still looking for the secret to effortless weight loss? It may be as simple as chewing gum while walking, Japanese researchers suggested on Saturday.
In experiments, they said, the heart rate of 46 people, aged 21 to 69, increased when they were given gum to chew while walking at a natural pace.  And while masticating caused a measurable physical difference in participants of both genders and across all age groups, it was most pronounced in men over 40, the team reported at the European Congress on Obesity in Vienna.  "Combining exercise and gum chewing may be an effective way to manage weight," the researchers said -- particularly in countries such as Japan where walking is the "most widely performed movement".  Previous research had found that gum chewing boosts heart rate and energy expenditure in people at rest.   So walking and chewing gum at the same time is actually beneficial?  But what happens to people who can't do it?  Liberals.

May 25,  2018     Permalink 

AND WHAT IS THIS? – AT 12:50 P.M. ET:  Something similar to this happened at Brown University a few weeks ago.  Is something happening?  Something good?  Something that gives us a belief in the future of higher education?  I certainly hope so.  From College Fix: 

Student leaders of the Harvard Crimson campus newspaper have come to an important conclusion:

“It is impossible to make every member of the Harvard community feel completely welcome all of the time.”

They point that groundbreaking realization out in a new staff editorial that calls out the Ivy League institution for its lack of political diversity, dearth of conservative scholars, and few challenges to students’ worldviews.

They argue those are problems campus leaders must address.

The student editors cite their recent poll which found only 1.5 percent of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences identify as conservative or very conservative, compared to 83.2 percent who identify as liberal or very liberal, then essentially call on campus leaders to hire more right-of-center professors.

“These statistics do not reflect America: 35 percent of Americans identify as conservative, 23 times the fraction of the faculty survey’s respondents, and 26 percent identify as liberal. This stark divide has harmful effects on the University’s ability to train our nation’s leaders, and it risks alienating current and potential conservative students,” the Crimson argues. “It has also likely contributed to the declining trust of Americans in higher education, which has deleterious effects.”

COMMENT:  Hooray for the Crimson.  I hope its editors survive the night.  There was a similar call at Brown, another Ivy League school, and we have to ask if this is a coincidence, or the start of a trend.  I hope it's the latter.  It will be bitterly resisted by the intolerant left, but they can be overcome, as their attention span is from six to nine seconds.

We have heard reports that the new young generation, the one behind the disgraced millennials, is less ideological and more open to new ideas.  It is apparently also more pro-life.

Maybe the real revolution is just beginning.

May 25, 2018     Permalink

TRUMP THE NEGOTIATOR – AT 11:46 A.M. ET:  The Trump/Rocket Man summit is not dead.  Trump the negotiator is at work, and I'll bet very few of the "analysts" at CNN and elsewhere have any idea what he's doing.  From Fox: 

President Trump kept the diplomacy door open with North Korea on Friday, welcoming the regime's latest “productive” statement and saying the two sides are still talking following the administration’s decision to cancel a planned summit with Kim Jong Un. 

Trump nixed the summit, which was slated for June 12 in Singapore, following threats from North Korea. But hours after the U.S. pulled out of the meeting, North Korea issued a statement suggesting the regime was open to talks.

“Very good news to receive the warm and productive statement from North Korea. We will soon see where it will lead, hopefully to long and enduring prosperity and peace. Only time (and talent) will tell!” Trump tweeted on Friday morning. 

He also told reporters that “we’re talking to them now,” adding, “It could even be the 12th.”

“They very much want to do it, we want to do it, we’ll see what happens,” Trump said. “Everybody plays games.”

A top North Korean official had issued a statement Thursday evening expressing the regime’s “willingness” to sit down for a summit with the U.S.

COMMENT:  Secretary of Defense Mattis made a similar comment this morning.  The game is still on, and Trump's pullout yesterday has apparently put enough of a scare into the Norks that they're starting to sound reasonable again.

Trust but verify.

May 25,  2018     Permalink