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NOVEMBER 17,  2017

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

STUPIDITY – FROM FOX:  In a textbook example of why Facebook users should pause for a moment of reflection before they post, a Democratic candidate for Ohio governor sought Friday to get ahead of any potential sex scandals by announcing the details of his relationships with 50 women. The sexcapade diary was in response to the Al Franken scandal, and included a hayloft romp with a "gorgeous blonde" and a fling with a "redhead from Cleveland."  “Now that the dogs of war are calling for the head of Senator Al Franken I believe it is time to speak up on behalf of all heterosexual males,” Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O’Neill posted on Facebook. “As a candidate for Governor let me save my opponents some research time.”  O’Neill went on to say: “In the last fifty years I was sexually intimate with approximately 50 very attractive females. It ranged from a gorgeous blonde who was my first true love and we made passionate love in the hayloft of her parent’s barn and ended with a drop dead gorgeous redhead from Cleveland.”...The post was met with a cascade of stunned criticism, with users offering commentary ranging from "Mother of God" to "What did I just read" to "Dear god please tell me your facebook account was hacked."  Bad enough he's running for governor.  This man is on the Ohio Supreme Court.  Will the Dems do a thing about him?

WHY, THEY ALL DO IT, DON'T THEY? – FROM HUFFINGTON POST:   Lilian Adams and Zoey Jordan Salsbury were teenagers when they started working on opposite sides of the 2016 Democratic presidential primary. Adams, then 19, joined Hillary Clinton’s campaign and Salsbury, then 18, joined Sen. Bernie Sanders’ campaign. They were ready to make the world a better place by helping to elect their candidate.  But each woman says she was sexually harassed by a fellow campaign worker — and that both campaigns were ill-equipped to address the allegations. Their stories show how political campaigns can prey on the same young people who power them with their work and energy.  Even as Adams and Salsbury came forward to tell their stories, each requested that her alleged harasser not be named, citing safety and professional concerns.  So Hillary and Bernie have some explaining to do.  But wait a second.  Shouldn't we have some understanding here about what sexual harassment really is?  We're in a kind of Salem Witch Trials Moment, and it's time for some cool heads to prevail.  Don't depend on the mainstream media to be responsible, but each of us can take care not to accept wild or unsubstantiated charges.

HOLIDAY MANNERS – FROM REUTERS:   NEW YORK (Reuters) - Americans will sit down next week for what has become a holiday tradition in the United States: tiptoeing through a turkey dinner without mentioning the president.  Nearly one-third of all adults will actively avoid political conversations when they see friends and family over the Thanksgiving and December holidays, according to a Reuters/Ipsos opinion poll released on Friday. About half said they do not expect to discuss politics at all.  The Nov. 8-13 poll found that a majority of Americans consider politics to be among their "least favorite" topics to discuss in mixed company over the holidays.  That's wise.  Just avoid it.  No reason to get into a family feud and waste a good turkey.  Besides, we all realize we know more than our relatives anyway.  I will restrict my comments to pithy observations about Christopher Columbus.  Oh wait.  I'll pick someone else. 

November 17,  2017     Permalink

WHERE THE MONEY IS – FROM 12:32 P.M. ET:   The leftish Dems and their allies are meeting in California.  In keeping with the traditions of the moneybags left, all is hush-hush.  From the Washington Free Beacon: 

CARLSBAD, Calif.—A secretive three-day conference where big money liberal donors are plotting the next steps of the "resistance" will be headlined by Friday speeches by billionaire George Soros and Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, according to internal documents obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.

The Democracy Alliance, a donor club of deep-pocketed liberal donors that each pledge to direct hundreds of thousands of dollars in funding to approved left-wing groups, descended on California's posh La Costa Resort on Wednesday morning for its fall donor summit. The group continued its tradition of secrecy, promising all members and guests of the summit their participation would "remain confidential."

What a salute to democracy that is.

The first page of the conference agenda, which was obtained by the Washington Free Beacon and can be viewed in its entirety below, lays out "participation guidelines," explaining that the Democracy Alliance is a "safe place" for donors and activists to meet. Guests are instructed not to share members' names with the press and not to post to any social media sites, to contact Democracy Alliance if "the media or a blogger" contacts them, and to "refrain from leaving sensitive materials out where others may find them."

COMMENT:  Borderline hilarious.  Sounds more like an intelligence organization than a political group.  A secret society.  People who can buy silence.

Of course, with George Soros and Nancy Pelosi there, we can't expect much in the way of enlightenment.

November 17, 2017       Permalink

FRANKEN IN DEEP TROUBLE – AT 11:15 A.M. ET:   Apparently, even Democrats are smart enough to realize that they'll have to sacrifice Al Franken to have any credibility on the sexual harassment issue.  They may even have to take a swipe at Bill Clinton.  From Fox: 

Democrats lashed out at Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., Thursday after Los Angeles TV and radio host Leeann Tweeden accused him of kissing and groping her during a USO tour in 2006, with at least two female lawmakers pledging to return campaign funds raised for them by Franken's political action committee.

Leaders of both parties in the Senate called for an ethics investigation of Franken, a request echoed by the senator himself, Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

"The allegations brought forth are extremely disturbing," Perez said in a statement. "Sexual misconduct, harassment, and assault are never acceptable, no matter one’s party or politics. The Senate should immediately begin an ethics investigation into Senator Franken's conduct."

Pelosi said any "credible allegation" should be subject to an ethics probe, telling Fox News "We are at a watershed moment and now is the time for Congress to overhaul how it deals with the issue of sexual harassment."

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., went a step further, tweeting that she had donated $30,000 in campaign contributions from Franken's Midwest Values PAC to food banks in her home state.

COMMENT:  The best show in town.  All the hypocrites in action.  Of course, they didn't know.  They'd never heard of this...this...sexual harassment. 

Washington is even worse than Hollywood.  The lying is more professional.

And what about the journalists who cover Washington?  Did they not know anything?  I'd love to hear some answers on that.

One of the things I fear is that the "solutions" to this wave of harassment charges will be worse than the offenses.  Already the Massachusetts legislature is set to pass legislation that is utterly reckless in the way it deals with charges of sexual harassment.  It tilts so much in favor of someone, male or female, making a charge, that the accused has his or her life destroyed before even responding.  Governor Jerry Brown of California, a solid liberal, vetoed similar legislation just weeks ago because he felt it was legally unsound.  Other governors may not be as courageous.

Beware the cure.

November 17,  2017     Permalink 

A DEMOCRATIC WAVE? – AT 10:24 A.M. ET:  The predictions are starting, and some of them picture a grim 2018 for Republicans.  Unless the GOP wakes up, I'm inclined to think that the prognosticators are right.  From The Hill:

Cook Political Report, a top nonpartisan election handicapper, is predicting a wave of Democratic victories in the 2018 midterm elections.

In a new analysis, Cook editor Amy Walter says she feels a similarity to a wave of Democratic Congressional victories in 2006, in which the party took control of the House, the Senate and a majority of governorships during former President George W. Bush's second term.

“[B]ack in 2006 ... I argued that unlike the last wave election of 1994, the party holding the White House was much better prepared. Republicans in 2006 had significant financial advantages,” Walter writes. “They had structural advantages. And, Democrats couldn’t sneak up on Republicans as Republicans had to Democrats in 1994. Obviously, my theory was wrong.”

Walter argues that the “political mood” surrounding the 2018 race could shift elections in favor of Democrats.

“Do not ignore what’s right in front of us,” Walter writes. “A wave is building. If I were a Republican running for Congress, I’d be taking that more seriously than ever.”

COMMENT:  A lot of logic there.  And history.  The first midterm in a new president's administration usually brings defeat for the party who holds the White House.  Even in 1942, less than a year after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the commander-in-chief's party lost 45 seats in the House, and 8 in the Senate.

If the Democrats win the House, there will be a major push to impeach President Trump.  It may succeed, unless wiser heads prevail.  But how many wise heads are there in the Democratic Party?

Republicans must present a compelling case to continue holding power in Congress.  That case has not yet been made.

November 17, 2017       Permalink

NOVEMBER 16,  2017

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

MAJOR STEP – FROM INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES:   Saudi Arabia's King Salman is reportedly set to announce he will step down as monarch and name his son as successor.  If confirmed, it would cement the power of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, 32, who has ordered the arrests of more than three dozen princes and ministers in a corruption crackdown.  A source told the Daily Mail that King Salman would remain "custodian of the holy shrines" in Mecca and Medina and that the incoming ruler will focus on the kingdom's policy towards Iran.  "Unless something dramatic happens, King Salman will announce the appointment of MBS as King of Saudi Arabia next week, " the high level source told the paper.  "MBS is convinced that he has to hit Iran and Hezbollah. Contrary to the advice of the royal family elders, that's MBS's next target. Hence why the ruler of Kuwait privately calls him "The raging Bull".  "MBS's plan is to start the fire in Lebanon, but he's hoping to count on Israeli military backing. He has already promised Israel billions of dollars in direct financial aid if they agree," the source said.  Ties are expected to get closer between the Saudis and the Jewish state with Israeli lieutenant-general Gadi Eisenkot telling the publication Elaph on Thursday (16 November) that it was prepared to share intelligence to tackle Iran. The countries do not have diplomatic relations.  Obviously, if all goes as predicted, a major change in the Mideast, with Saudi Arabia moving out of isolation and toward the West. 

NPR LOSES ITS HALO – FROM NPR ITSELF:  As NPR's Board of Directors meet in Washington, D.C., this week, the network finds itself confronted by a series of dispiriting developments: a CEO on medical leave; a chief news executive forced out over sexual harassment allegations; the sudden resignation of a board chairman; fresh complaints over inappropriate behavior by colleagues; and a network roiled by tensions over the treatment of its female workers.  On Wednesday, NPR Board Chairman Roger LaMay announced that he was stepping down at the end of his second one-year term. LaMay, who remains on the board, said he needed to devote more time to running the popular Philadelphia public radio music station WXPN, where he is general manager.  However, according to a knowledgeable source, LaMay is the subject of a complaint filed with NPR alleging past inappropriate behavior. Few additional details are currently known.  Sexual harassment is the story of the month.  So many women have come forward.  I have no doubt that most are telling the truth, and that they were horribly treated.  At the same time, each case, each charge, must be examined separately and impartially.  I worry about innocent men, or women, being entrapped in hysteria.

I THOUGHT THIS WAS A PARADISE – FROM BLOOMBERG:   The number of Swedes who were victims of crimes such as fraud and sexual offenses jumped to the highest level on record last year.  A survey by the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention showed that 15.6 percent of people suffered one or more offences against the person (defined in the survey as assault, threats, sexual offences, robbery, fraud or harassment) last year. That’s up from 13.3 percent in 2015 and the highest number recorded since the annual Swedish Crime Survey started in 2006.  The number of offences against individuals “was at a relatively stable level 2005 to 2014, at 11.3 percent to 13.1 percent, but the last two years show an increase,” the council said in the report published this week. The crimes “that have had the clearest development in the past few years are harassment, fraud and sexual offences,” the agency said.  Of the six types of offences against the person, five of six rose to their highest level on record last year. The number of assault cases reached its second-highest level.  Ah, the fruits of socialism.  Equality of misery.

November 16, 2017       Permalink

REMEMBER BALTIMORE? – AT 1:28 P.M. ET:  It was in the news for a bit last year, when liberals showed some brief interest in the death of an African-American man in police custody.  But then, ho hum, so many other things to be concerned about.

Oh, they put six cops on trial for the above-mentioned death, and all were acquitted by an African-American judge.  Remember how people said that many cops were becoming reluctant to get involved with crime because they always got charged with something, whether true or not?

Yeah, well, stuff happens.  From CBS Baltimore: 

BALTIMORE (WJZ)– Last week the Baltimore police commissioner was fired up at a press conference, Wednesday, the mayor responded to those who are lashing out at her. They say she doesn’t take the violence seriously.

Mayor Catherine Pugh says every time there’s a shooting or murder, her phone rings, and it couldn’t be more disturbing.

Pugh says they’re moving the hiring process along as fast as they can with officers but the City might not feel the impact until next year.

The department said once officers make it through the academy, they are immediately deployed to foot patrol in various communities, including the Inner Harbor.

“Anyone who thinks that I don’t take this seriously or it’s not something alarming to me, this is the most important thing we can do in this city and that’s to reduce the violence,” Pugh said.

Pugh fired back at critics Wednesday who question her leadership as Baltimore is closing in on one of it’s deadliest times ever, hitting 300 plus murders for the third year in a row.

“I am deeply disturbed about the violence and this is the number one priority of the City,” she said.
Vicious, random attacks like Sebastain Dvorak, who was killed in Canton after a night out with friends, to Kia Martin’s daughter, who was beat down at the Inner Harbor.

COMMENT:  The city is desperately short of police officers.  Surprise?  Who wants to be a cop in Baltimore?  Do something right and the anti-cop crusaders come after you. 

Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit.  Three great cities in the grip of crime.  No one seems to care.

New York?  Rudy Giuliani broke the back of crime in New York City, lowering the murder rate by 80 percent.  He was called a racist and a fascist.

November 16, 2017       Permalink

ORDER RESCINDED – AT 11:51 A.M. ET:  When this policy was announced, there was an instant uproar.  Sanity has prevailed.  Order rescinded.  From Fox: 

The Army's top officer said Wednesday that the service had "rescinded" a controversial memo permitting people with a history of severe mental illness to seek waivers allowing them to join up.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told reporters the memo was "unauthorized" and its author did not have the authority to change the Army's recruitment policy.

"It was rescinded last night," Milley said of the memo, which was dated Sept. 7 of this year and initially reported by USA Today on Sunday.

"There wasn’t a change in policy," Milley added. "There cannot be a change in policy by someone who doesn’t have the authority to change policy. I know it sounds circular."

According to the memo, potential recruits with a history of self-mutilation, bipolar disorder, and drug and alcohol abuse would be eligible to obtain waivers to join the Army.

"For all waivers," the memo specified, "the burden of proof is on the applicant to provide a clear and meritorious case for why a waiver should be considered."

COMMENT:  I'd love to know who got this now-rescinded memo started in the first place.  I'm willing to bet it was a holdover from the Obama administration.  It has the ring of the craziness and incompetence of the last eight years.

Back to high standards.  But I wish Congress would look into how this happened.

November 16, 2017       Permalink

OH, OH, OH...NOT AL, NOT AL!  AT 11:32 A.M. ET:  Is it true?  Can it be?  Al Franken?  Comedian, actor, US senator, liberal Democrat.  He, too...ACCUSED!  From KABC: 

On the day of the show Franken and I were alone backstage going over our lines one last time. He said to me, “We need to rehearse the kiss.” I laughed and ignored him. Then he said it again. I said something like, ‘Relax Al, this isn’t SNL…we don’t need to rehearse the kiss.’

He continued to insist, and I was beginning to get uncomfortable.

He repeated that actors really need to rehearse everything and that we must practice the kiss. I said ‘OK’ so he would stop badgering me. We did the line leading up to the kiss and then he came at me, put his hand on the back of my head, mashed his lips against mine and aggressively stuck his tongue in my mouth.

I immediately pushed him away with both of my hands against his chest and told him if he ever did that to me again I wouldn’t be so nice about it the next time.

I walked away. All I could think about was getting to a bathroom as fast as possible to rinse the taste of him out of my mouth.

I felt disgusted and violated.

Not long after, I performed the skit as written, carefully turning my head so he couldn’t kiss me on the lips.

COMMENT:  This may be the end of American history as we know it.  I mean, what does the United States Senate do?  A senator stands accused.  Dirty doings!  Dirty doings!

Does Franken reply?  Does he tell a joke?  "A funny thing happened to me backstage..."

This will be fascinating.  Mitch McConnell, not of Franken's party, is already saying that Roy Moore of Alabama will not be seated in the Senate, if elected, because of the accusations of women.

So what do they do with Al?

Stand by.   This is better than a TV soap opera.  It is a TV soap opera.

November 16,  2017     Permalink