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NOVEMBER 11,  2017

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:52 P.M. ET:

A LITTLE LIGHTNESS – FROM THE DAILY MAIL:   President Donald Trump on Saturday said he was offended by North Korean ruler Kim Jong-un after official state media in Pyongyang referred to him as a 'lunatic old man.'  'Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me "old," when I would NEVER call him "short and fat?"' Trump tweeted on Saturday.  'Oh well, I try so hard to be his friend - and maybe someday that will happen!'  In a related tweet on Saturday, Trump praised China's president, Xi Jinping, for 'upping sanctions against North Korea.'  '[Xi] said he wants them to denuclearize,' Trump tweeted. 'Progress is being made.'  Well, the president does have a sense of humor.  He seems to be doing well on this trip, as he did on a trip to the Mideast early in his term.  You would never know it from the mainstream media.

AH, THE ROMANCE IS OVER – FROM AFP:   Sign of the times in Rome: the city's cash-strapped administration is eyeing up the coins tossed by tourists into the celebrated Trevi Fountain.  Previously swept up and handed over to Catholic charity Caritas, the coins, which can add up to as much as a million euros a year, will now be claimed by Mayor Virginia Raggi for projects to be decided by a city hall working group, according to reports in the local media on Friday.  Legend has it that anyone who lobs a piece of change into the nearly 300-year-old fountain while facing away from the Baroque masterpiece is guaranteed to return to the Eternal City.  The tradition is as strong as ever following the landmark's restoration two years ago and thousands flock there almost every day to see where Anita Ekberg took her famous dip in Federico Fellini's 1960 film, "La Dolce Vita".   This may give our tax writers some ideas.  Don't we have some fountains?

I'M SO RELIEVED –  FROM MEDIAITE:   Check your Cisgender Privilege and watch the closing doors, the New York subway and bus systems are now adopting gender neutral language in all their announcements to passengers, according to sources within the Metropolitan Transit Authority.  A bulletin sent to all transit workers orders transit staff to cease and desist any use of the offensive term “ladies and gentlemen” and begin utilizing non-gendered terms, including “passengers,” “riders” or “everyone.”  Recorded subway announcements that currently use the horribly offensive “ladies and gentlemen” will now be overridden by a live announcement from the train conductor utilizing the politically correct terms until new recordings can be installed. Of course, for most subway riders not listening so keenly so they can find any possible opportunity to be offended, the announcements will still sound the same… that is, completely and totally unintelligible.   I'm sure this will solve all of New York's problems.  I'm glad they found the cause.

November 11, 2017       Permalink

HOW OUT OF TOUCH CAN HOLLYWOOD GET? – AT 11:56 A.M. ET:   We've seen that question answered repeatedly by the kind of movies Hollywood makes.  And they never learn, do they?  From the Washington Times: 

Former Texas State Senator Wendy Davis will soon be portrayed on the big screen by actress Sandra Bullock.

The woman who won a Best Actress Oscar for “The Blind Side” in 2010 now plans to highlight the 2013 anti-abortion bill filibuster that made Ms. Davis — and her pink running shoes — a household name.

Not in any household I know.

Ms. Bullock will star in “Let Her Speak,” a retelling of the lawmaker’s 11 hours spent trying to stall legislative restrictions on abortions.

Eleven hours?  I have to take eleven hours of this?

Variety announced the project on Thursday, which will be produced by Todd Black and Jason Blumenthal through Escape.

Ms. Davis used her newfound notoriety after the filibuster to challenge Republican Greg Abbott in the 2014 Texas governor’s race.

COMMENT:  And got beaten to a pulp.   Does anyone even remember who Wendy Davis is?  No matter where you stand on the abortion issue, do you think America is waiting desperately for a movie about Wendy Davis?

One thing about the golden age of Hollywood – they knew their audience.  They knew their country.  Today, I'm not sure they even like their country.

November 11, 2017       Permalink

THE JUDGE DEFIANT – AT 11:35 A.M. ET:  Judge Roy Moore, the Republican candidate for the Senate in Alabama, is utterly defiant in the face of allegations that he molested young girls many years ago.  From CNN:

Washington (CNN)  Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore reiterated his denials Saturday against what he said were allegations of sexual misconduct, adding that "revelations" regarding the charges will surface over the coming days.

Moore, who was speaking at a Veterans Day event at the Mid-Alabama Republican Club in Birmingham, called the allegations surfaced in a Washington Post report "yet another attack on my character and reputation in a desperate attempt to stop my political campaign for the United States Senate."

"My opponent is 11 points behind ... This article is a prime example of fake news. An attempt to divert attention from the true issues that effect the country like health care, military readiness, tax reform or national debt," Moore said.

He added that the alleged incidents happened nearly 40 years ago and called them "very hurtful to me personally -- I have the highest regard for the protection of young children," before adding that he has never provided alcohol to a minor and has "not been guilty of sexual misconduct with anyone."

Moore added that there were ongoing "investigations" looking into the motivations behind the Post article, and promised "revelations" about the story to come in the next few days, though he did not provide further specifics.

COMMENT:  As readers know, I'm not a fan of the judge.  Neither are most national Republicans.  But he's entitled to be heard.  And so we will hear him out.  And we will hear his accusers.

The story is not over. 

November 11, 2017        Permalink

ANY NETWORK INTERESTED? – AT 11:16 A.M. ET:   This is a growing tragedy, but I don't see any of the chic, fashionable network news departments showing much interest.  From the Baltimore Sun: 

Calling violence in Baltimore “out of control,” Mayor Catherine Pugh ordered 30 agency heads to meet every morning at police headquarters, and to make crime reduction the top mission not only of police, but also of health workers, housing officials and public works crews.

The mayor ordered the directors of more than half of the city’s 55 departments to report to meetings daily at 8 a.m., when they will plan with Police Commissioner Kevin Davis where weeds should be cut, lead paint covered and drug houses boarded up and job applications can be handed out, among other tasks.

Pugh appeared at City Hall Thursday flanked by agency heads.

“Violence in the city is out of control,” she said. “I want every neighborhood to know I am extremely concerned and focused on reducing violence.”

Killings in the city have surged past 300 this year for a third year in a row. Violent crime is up 13 percent over last year, and reports of groups of youths attacking people apparently at random have dominated recent local news cycles.

Pugh said she was calling on businesses and philanthropies to help fund a $10 million expansion of the anti-violence Safe Streets program. And she extended night and weekend hours at six recreation centers to try to keep young people out of harm’s way.

“We must do everything we can,” Pugh said. “We’ve already hit 303 murders, which is totally unacceptable. … We know we can do better.”

COMMENT:  Will someone wake up CNN?  Remember when Baltimore was the center of press attention, when the issue was whether six cops were responsible for the death of a black guy riding in a police van?  Well, that's over, folks.  The cops were acquitted by a black judge, so who needs stories from Baltimore?  Right?  Black kids being murdered in the streets?  Not a story. 

What a disgrace. 

November 11,  2017     Permalink 

NOVEMBER 10,  2017

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

COMMIES DOWN – FROM RASMUSSEN – This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, the communist uprising that led to the creation of the Soviet Union. Nearly three decades after the end of the Soviet threat, Americans still aren't fans of communism and overwhelmingly prefer the existing political system in this country.  Just nine percent (9%) of American Adults have even a somewhat favorable opinion of communism, including three percent (3%) who view it Very Favorably. A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 83% regard communism unfavorably, with 65% who have a Very Unfavorable opinion of the discredited political and economic system.   Take that, Marxist professors.  You didn't destroy our children, after all.

WHAT SECURITY? – FROM CBS NEWS:  An undercover operation has revealed that Transportation Security Administration screenings at airports fail for the most part.  Homeland Security investigators found that, more than 70 percent of the time, undercover officers were able to get through TSA checkpoints with mock knives, guns and explosives, the House Homeland Security Committee was told Wednesday. Just two years ago, testing found a 95 percent failure rate, reports CBS News correspondent Kris Van Cleave.  The hearing was supposed to be closed but was opened to the press after members of Congress decided the findings were too urgent to be kept under wraps.  "We found that briefing disturbing," said Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.  After all these years, and all that money spent.  A 70% failure rate.  Our enemies know about this.

WHAT A JOKE – FROM FOX:  The sexual abuse problem in Hollywood has gotten so bad that the local DA’s office has decided to form a special task force, whose sole purpose is to probe allegations of assault and harassment.  Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey announced the team’s creation on Thursday as police continue to investigate claims made against some of the movie industry’s biggest names — including producer Harvey Weinstein, director James Toback and actor Ed Westwick.  The investigation will last 50 to 100 years, and conclude that no one saw anything.

November 10, 2017       Permalink

WE MUST UNDERSTAND THEIR OPPRESSION – AT 12:49 P.M. ET:   Parts of American society are breaking down.  The sense of responsibility is disappearing.  The process has been ongoing since the late 1960s.  Here is an example.  From the Washington Free Beacon: 

University of Oregon (UO) student protesters who were offered a choice between pardon and punishment for violating the student code by shouting down the university president last month responded Monday by demanding the administration "cease the punitive measures."

In the open letter, UO President Michael Schill and the trustees were accused of having "potentially endangered" the student protesters, who brand themselves the "UO Student Collective," by discussing the incident in the national media.

The dozens of students who rushed the stage where Schill was to give his State of the University address on Oct. 6 and chanted for some 15 minutes about student rights were termed a "minor protest" in the letter, which is signed by Chris Sinclair, president of the university senate; Imani Dorsey, the state affairs commissioner of the student government; Jessica Neafie, president of the Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation; and Michael Dreiling, president of United Academics, a collective bargaining group representing UO teaching and research faculty.

The letter said, "it is time [for the administration] to de-escalate" after exposing students to "national mockery."

The letter's specific complaints against the administration include "intimidation"; "investigatory errors"; "derailing due process"; "lack of just representation and counsel"; "anticipation of conflict, not engagement" prior to the event; "factual ambiguities" in how UO has discussed the incident; and "lack of oversight" by the Student Conduct and Community Standards Committee in bringing the misconduct charges.

COMMENT:  The suggestion that students might have done something wrong by preventing the school's president from speaking isn't even considered.  There are no rights and wrong in many college "communities" today.  There are only alternative "narratives."

I wonder what employer would want to hire any of these "protesters."

November 10,  2017     Permalink 

TENSIONS RISING – AT 10:08 A.M. ET:  We try to remind readers that there's a rest of the world.  You'd never know it judging by the limited news coverage we're getting from the anti-Trump all the time media.  Many important stories are going uncovered.  From AP:

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran manufactured the ballistic missile fired by Yemen’s Shiite rebels toward the Saudi capital and remnants of it bore “Iranian markings,” the top US Air Force official in the Mideast said Friday, backing the kingdom’s earlier allegations.

The comments by Lt. Gen. Jeffrey L. Harrigian, who oversees the Air Force’s Central Command in Qatar, further internationalizes the yearslong conflict in Yemen — the Arab world’s poorest country.

Saudi Arabia long has accused Iran of supplying weapons to the Shiite rebels known as Houthis and their allies, though Tehran has just as long denied supplying them.

“There have been Iranian markings on those missiles,” Harrigian told journalists at a news conference in Dubai ahead of the Dubai Air Show. “To me, that connects the dots to Iran.”
There was no immediate reaction from Tehran.

COMMENT:  Tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran are rising dramatically.  There may be conflict between the two.  The United States would certainly be drawn in.  So would Israel, which might face massive missile attacks from Iranian missiles stationed with Hezbollah in Lebanon. 

We're following this closely.  Fortunately, President Trump understands the threat of Iran.  His predecessor may have understood it, but never cared.

November 10, 2017       Permalink

MOORE ACCUSED – AT 9:20 A.M. ET:  Alabama Republican Roy Moore, running to fill, permanently, the US Senate seat vacated by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, has now been charged in a Washington Post piece with multiple incidents of sexual harassment.  From WND:

Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore charged Thursday the Washington Post launched a “completely false” and “desperate” political attack on him with its report featuring a woman’s allegation he engaged in sex acts with her when she was a 14-year-old, nearly four decades ago.

Moore is the Republican nominee in a special election Dec. 12 for the Alabama U.S. Senate seat vacated by Jeff Sessions, who left to become U.S. attorney general.

The Post, which endorsed Moore’s Democratic opponent, cited statements from four women, including one who claimed she went on several dates with Moore when she was 18, another who dated him when she was 17, and a third who said he asked her to go on dates when she was 16, but her mother wouldn’t allow it.

The timeframe would have been when Moore was in his early 30s.

Breitbart News, which previously reported the Post was preparing the story published Thursday, said the only serious claim is from a woman who said he kissed her on a first date and on a second removed her clothes when she was 14.

COMMENT:  I hate stories like this.  I really do.  The Washington Post piece is well researched and reaches appropriate journalistic standards.  But the fact is that these charges, made a month before a special election, relate to events that may or may not have happened almost 40 years ago.

They could certainly be true.  Moore might be guilty.  However, he is intensely disliked by the Republican establishment, has faced ethics issues during his time on the Alabama bench, and is regarded by many as a religious fanatic with little regard for church/state precedents in this country.  No doubt many Republicans would like to see him out of the race, and they've got an excuse.

Moore defeated the establishment candidate for the Senate post, Senator Luther Strange, in a hotly contested primary.  Strange, who was temporarily appointed to the seat after Sessions resigned, was endorsed by President Trump and virtually the entire Republican establishment. 

What should be done?  The charges, coming this late in a transparent attempt to destroy Moore, lower the level of American politics.  And yet, it is hard to see how Moore can continue.  From the president on down, high-level Republicans are demanding that he get off the ticket if he is guilty.  That means, in plain terms, "Get off the ticket."  There is no time to prove guilt or innocence.  In politics, Moore is presumed guilty.

I am not a Moore fan.  But I despise things happening this way.  You may be sure that many of Moore's detractors are the same people who denounce "McCarthyism."  But this is McCarthyism. 

November 10,  2017     Permalink