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NOVEMBER 15,  2017

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

WHO?  WHO IS THIS? – FROM DAILY CALLER:  A Democrat running for Congress was arrested on a stalking charge last week, but the media has refused to give the story any coverage.  David Alcon, who is running for an open congressional seat in New Mexico, was arrested this past Friday on a felony stalking charge after a woman accused him of sending her frightening and lewd text messages and showing up at her home. Alcon was previously convicted of stalking his ex-girlfriend in 2007 and was described as “infatuated” and “clearly obsessed” by the judge in the case.  The story has been met with silence from a number of media outlets despite their breathless coverage of the sexual assault scandal surrounding Alabama U.S. Senate candidate Roy Moore.  The silence will continue.  The media likes what it's doing.

HYPOCRITES – FROM DAILY CALLER:  More than 100,000 convicted felons or other “prohibited persons” tried to buy guns each year during President Barack Obama’s administration by lying on their applications, but the Justice Department only considered prosecuting about 30 to 40 people each year, according to a Daily Caller News Foundation investigation.  The Obama administration may have publicly aligned itself with anti-gun activists, but it consistently turned a blind eye to prosecute known criminals who tried to buy guns.  A June 2016 Justice Department Inspector General’s report revealed that between 2008 and 2015 the U.S. Attorneys office considered prosecuting “less than 32 people per year” for lying on form 4473, the federal application to buy guns.  I'm sure the Obama Justice Department thought criminals were oppressed enough.

BLOW TO TAX REFORM – FROM CNN:   Sen. Ron Johnson announced he is opposed to the tax bill Wednesday, making him the first member of the GOP to formally come out against the party's plan, though the Wisconsin Republican said he was hopeful about being able to support a final version once changes are made.  Johnson issued a statement saying the current proposal in both chambers is imbalanced in favor of large corporations but he left open the door to supporting the bills if they are altered.  "Unfortunately, neither the House nor Senate bill provide fair treatment, so I do not support either in their current versions," he said. "I do, however, look forward to working with my colleagues to address the disparity so I can support the final version."  The GOP, with only 52 seats in the Senate, can't afford to lose more than two votes, as the Democrats are likely to vote unanimously against any tax legislation.  The bargaining between House and Senate versions will be intense, and passage is not guaranteed.

November 15, 2017       Permalink

AND IN THE REAL WORLD – AT 1:58 P.M. ET:  Alaska is being urged to prepare for a nuclear attack.  From London's Mirror:   

Alaska is being urged to prepare for a North Korean nuclear attack - amid fears that a warhead 'could reach residents in 20 minutes'.

The country will NOT attempt evacuations if North Korea fires a nuclear missile, emergency planners have warned.

Jeremy Zidek, from the state’s disaster planning team, urged locals to shelter in place should an attack happen - rather than risk being caught in the open for the blast.

He also urged families to have an emergency stash of food and water, flashlights and radios - as well as medical supplies including the anti-radiation pill Prussian Blue.

And while he insisted that Alaska was an unlikely target for a nuclear strike, Mr Zidek admitted that the state’s defensive facilities could be picked for attack.

Alaska is home to Fort Greely, where the US has interceptor rockets designed to destroy incoming intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).

The state also has missile defences at the Pacific Spaceport Complex as well as radar warning systems at Clear Air Force Station.

“We have the missile defence system here,” Mr Zidek said. “We have missiles and radars in a number of different locations.”

“Perhaps there would be some type of attack on those military facilities to try to hinder our ability to react to any missile launches.”

Mr Zidek also warned that Alaska no longer retains bomb shelters and that there would be no new measures to deal specifically with the nuclear threat.

He said: “There could be evacuation notices put in place but are we going to be able to get that amount of lead time to instruct people to actually evacuate an area?"

COMMENT:  Just a friendly reminder that the world extends beyond CNN's editorials and ABC's "Dancing With the Stars."   Our readers know that, of course, but many people giving us the news have forgotten.

November 15, 2017       Permalink

THIS IS WHAT TOAST LOOKS LIKE – AT 1:09 P.M. ET:  As each day goes by, Alabama Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore moves closer to oblivion, whether he realizes it or not.  From The Politico:   

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans say that Alabama Senate GOP candidate Roy Moore is virtually certain to face a formal ethics complaint — which would lead to expulsion proceedings — should he be elected next month.

It’s an outcome that senior Republicans say privately is all but unavoidable after the embattled Senate hopeful was accused of sexual misconduct, including with a 14-year-old girl. The former Alabama Supreme Court justice is refusing to leave the race.

McConnell initially outlined his thinking at his weekly leadership meeting earlier this week. The Kentucky Republican said if Moore is elected, he expects a senator to file an ethics complaint against Moore, according to multiple sources. That process would eventually lead to a vote on expelling him.

One option that McConnell floated during the meeting was for a Democrat, such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, to initiate the process by filing the complaint, according to the sources. Democrats are not entertaining that option before the Dec. 12 special election because the party’s candidate, Doug Jones, could win.

On Tuesday, McConnell didn’t mince words about what Moore would be up against if he makes it to the Senate.

“If he were to be sworn in, he would immediately be in a process before the Senate Ethics Committee,” McConnell said at a Wall Street Journal event. “He would be sworn in and be asked to testify under oath and it would be a rather unusual beginning, probably an unprecedented beginning.”

COMMENT:  Privately, the Dems probably want Moore to remain in the Senate, if elected.  He's a great fundraising tool for the Democratic Party, and a serious nuisance to Republicans. 

As we've said here before, it's sleazy to present a man with charges based on alleged events from four decades ago, but Moore's answers to the charges have been inadequate, his party has turned against him, and he's in trouble even if he wins. 

He'd probably be wise to drop out and conduct his battle for exoneration in other venues, like the court system.  He is not winning this fight in the court of public opinion. 

This whole thing is a mess, and an embarrassment to our legal and electoral system. 

Of course, if Moore turns out to be innocent, he will be owed an enormous apology and another chance at public office.

November 15, 2017       Permalink

GOOD MOVE – AT 11:38 A.M. ET:  Republican Senator Charles Grassley of Iowa is experienced, and is also chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  His experience shows.  He's made a move that can have profound importance as President Trump reshapes the American judiciary.  From Breitbart: 

WASHINGTON, DC – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) announced Monday that he will not allow any senator to abuse the “blue slip courtesy” to block a judicial nomination. This paves the way for all of President Donald Trump’s nominees to get through Grassley’s committee for a confirmation vote by the full Senate, giving the president a major victory for the 2018 midterms.

Grassley’s office laid the foundation for Monday’s long-awaited and eagerly anticipated speech by distributing a policy memorandum on November 2 explaining the historical role of the blue slip, including that it is a courtesy that each Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) chairman extends to his fellow senators as he sees fit, not any sort of Senate rule that is binding on chairmen.

“Blue slips have been around since 1917,” Grassley began. “I intend to honor the blue slip courtesy, but there have always been exceptions.”

Consistent with his policy memo, he explained that blue slips are “premised on the idea that home-state senators are in a good position to provide insights into a nominee from their state.”

“It’s meant to encourage consultation between the White House and home-state senators about judicial nominations,” Grassley added, and that each SJC “chairman has the authority to decide how to apply the courtesy” to facilitate such consultation.

But only two chairmen during the past century “required both senators to return positive blue slips before scheduling a hearing.” All the rest have not.

COMMENT:  Eureka!  Read the whole piece, which is thoughtful and explanatory.  It is good news for those who want the Democrat-inspired logjam on judicial appointments to be broken up.

Trump's greatest legacy may come in his appointment of conservative judges.

November 15,  2017     Permalink

NOVEMBER 14,  2017

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

PRETTY DISGRACEFUL – FROM NTK:   Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) informed NBC’s Chuck Todd on Tuesday that $15 million in taxpayer money had been paid out over the years to settle sexual harassment suits filed against members of Congress.  Earlier in the day, Speier testified in front of the House Administration Committee that two members of Congress, a Republican and a Democrat, have engaged in sexual harassment in the past.  Todd asked Speier about her allegations of sexual harassment and what she believes her responsibility is in going public with that information.  “Well, it is my responsibility to address the seriousness of this issue. These survivors are subject to a non-disclosure agreement. I’m not going to violate their non-disclosure agreement,” Speier responded.  I'm really not surprised.  Womanizing is a Washington tradition, and most people get away with it.

GREAT USE OF RESOURCES – NOT – FROM FOX:  The cyclist who famously flipped off President Donald Trump's motorcade has been showered with cash after her action got her fired from her job.  Juli Briskman was riding her bike on the same Virginia road as the president's motorcade last month when she decided to show the commander-in-chief what she thinks about him.  Briskman said she made eye contact with Secret Service as she raised her middle finger.  Briskman's government contractor employer, Akima LLC, said a viral photo of her gesture violated their social media policy, and they terminated her.  In the days since, a GoFundMe page has raised more than $80,000 of its $100,000 goal for the unemployed 50-year-old marketing executive.  Maybe she should use the money to go to growing-up school.

MADNESS – FROM FOX:   At least five foreign nationals with suspected ties to terror resettled in the U.S. through the same visa lottery program that allowed NYC terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov into the country, the Trump administration said Tuesday.  Saipov, the ISIS sympathizer who allegedly committed the Halloween terror attack in Lower Manhattan that left eight dead and 11 more injured, entered the U.S. from Uzbekistan in 2010 through the visa lottery program.  The visa "lottery," also known as the Diversity Visa Waiver Program, grants up to 50,000 immigrant visas annually, “drawn from random selection among all entries to individuals who are from countries with low rates of immigration” to the U.S., according to U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services.  Hey, put Americans at risk.  You gotta do something for diversity.

November 14, 2017       Permalink

ALL HILLARY ALL THE TIME – AT 3:08 P.M. ET:   Her name keeps coming up.  It's so unfair.  Why can't we just give her the White House for 30 days, just so she feels good about herself?  From PJ Media: 

European Islamist scion Tariq Ramadan was banned from the U.S. by the Bush administration in February 2004 for his financial support of a charity that funded terrorist groups. In January 2010, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton overturned that ban. Clinton personally approved a visa for the controversial grandson of the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Now, Tariq Ramadan is facing multiple accusations of rape and sexual assault of minors.

Hillary Clinton's visa for Tariq Ramadan was seen as part of the new Obama administration policy of embracing more hardcore Islamists.

COMMENT:  Lots of explaining to do here.  The Obama administration turned a blind eye to the sins of many, especially those in the Islamic world.

So Hillary overturned the ban on this chap herself, and now he's facing serious sex charges.  Didn't anyone from our security services check him out?  He's a very prominent figure. 

Please note that there is no comment from Hillary Clinton, noted fighter for women's rights.  Choke.

November 14, 2017       Permalink

QUOTE OF THE DAY – AT 11:18 A.M. ET:  The president is coming home from Asia.  The anti-Trump knives are out.  More sober voices know what has happened.  From DC Whispers:

And despite the media’s fake obsession with Russia these days, it is China that poses the single greatest challenge to U.S. superiority throughout the world. It has been China that has expanded the scope of its economy and influence by leaps and bounds nearly unchecked by any rival, America or other, for some fifty years. Then came Donald Trump, a political outsider but a worldly man familiar with the workings of Chinese government and business. Mr. Trump strode up to China’s President Xi, firmly grasped his hand, looked him in the eyes, and delivered an unapologetic “America First” message that sent ripples of stunned admiration through the entire delegation.

It was glorious. The Establishment Media will never report that fact. It will never participate in the truth of how strong and proud is Mr. Trump’s representation of this nation as he stands literally and figuratively towering over other world leaders.

COMMENT:  Very well said.  With less than a year in office, President Trump, despite his failings, has transformed American foreign policy from an excuse to an assertion.

He is proudly pro-American, and he is truly working to Make America Great Again.  Foreign leaders may not like him, but they must respect his firmness and his dedication to his country.

Read the whole piece.

November 14, 2017       Permalink

ANOTHER GREAT VICTORY FOR SOCIALISM – AT 9:14 A.M. ET:  Venezuela is nosediving.  Hollywood leftists are rushing into therapy to deal with it.  From Bloomberg:

Venezuela’s grand gathering with creditors Monday lasted all of 30 minutes and didn’t produce anything of substance. To make matters worse, S&P Global Ratings declared the country in default while Fitch Ratings cited missed payments by the state oil company.

The actions from the ratings companies came after an odd spectacle in Caracas, where bond investors who made the trek found a red-carpet welcome, an honor guard salute and gift bags stuffed with state-produced chocolate and coffee. Fewer than 100 creditors showed up at the downtown Caracas office building, and at least one hightailed it out after realizing that two government officials sanctioned by the U.S. were in attendance, fearful of violating rules governing interactions with them.

He didn’t miss much. Very little was announced and nothing was resolved, according to attendees who said they left just as confused about the government’s intentions as they were going in. Vice President Tareck El Aissami was the only official to speak, and devoted most of his prepared remarks to railing against Donald Trump and global financiers who he said have conspired to keep the country from making debt payments on time. He pledged the nation would continue to honor its obligations and work with bondholders to find new ways to get them their money, but offered no concrete proposals for restructuring.

COMMENT:   Ah yes, it's Trump's fault.  We await confirmation of that from financial authority Maxine (Auntie Maxine) Waters.

Venezuela is down the drain. 

November 14,  2017     Permalink