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I appeared on Silvio Canto Jr's talk show from Dallas last night.  It's here.

SEPTEMBER 3,  2018

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

BUZZ COMES THROUGH – FROM DAILY MAIL:  Buzz Aldrin appeared to criticise Neil Armstrong biopic First Man for leaving out the planting of the American flag on the moon.  The 88-year-old, who was the second man to set foot on the moon after his late crew-mate, tweeted a picture of the flag planted after their landing in 1969.   He captioned the photo: 'Proud to be an American.' Aldrin also re-tweeted a photo of him saluting next to the same picture.  First Man – from the Oscar-winning director of La La Land Damian Chazelle – opened the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday to criticism that it deliberately downplayed American patriotism.  Starring Ryan Gosling as Armstrong, the film begins in 1961 as the US trails the Soviet Union in the space race and takes viewers up to the Moon landing in 1969.   But it came under fire for not including the moment the astronauts planted the American flag, with Gosling defending the decision by saying the achievement 'transcended countries and borders.'  The critics are correct.  It was an American moment.  It was our mission, our astronauts took the risks, and no one else participated.  Americans deserve to see their flag planted in the new movie.  Otherwise, no ticket purchase and no popcorn.

THE HYPOCRISY FLOWS – FROM THE WASHINGTON TIMES:   Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum on Sunday thanked billionaires George Soros and Tom Steyer for helping him score his upset win in last week’s Florida Democratic gubernatorial primary.  “I’ll tell you, I’m obviously deeply appreciative of Mr. Soros, as well as Mr. Steyer, both men whom I’ve known for some time,” Mr. Gillum said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”  The Democratic megadonors and their associated groups directed millions to the campaign of Mr. Gillum, who edged out former Rep. Gwen Graham in the crowded Democratic primary. He faces Republican Rep. Ron DeSantis in the November election.  At the same time, Mr. Gillum insisted that his gubernatorial campaign was driven by small donations from “everyday folks.”  I wonder if the candidate knows the name of just one of those everyday folks. 

CUBA INTRIGUE – FROM FOX:  A team of scientists has singled out what it claims left U.S. diplomats in Cuba sickened by mysterious ailments and symptoms in recent months, according to a new report.  Douglas H. Smith, director of the Center for Brain Injury and Repair at the University of Pennsylvania, told The New York Times that microwaves, which can trick the brain into perceiving what seem to be ordinary sounds — known as the Frey effect, named after American scientist Allan H. Frey — most likely caused the trauma.  The Times reported that scientists have known for decades that the brain can perceive some microwaves as sound.  “Everybody was relatively skeptical at first, and everyone now agrees there’s something there,” Smith told the Times.  The State Department told Fox News that the investigation into the embassy attacks is still ongoing.  I'll never look at my microwave oven in the same way again.

September 3, 2018       Permalink

PARADISE LOST – AT 1:27 P.M. ET:  Medical care will be a big issue in the midterm campaigns.  And so, a word of warning to the new socialists of the Democratic Party, who will be pitching Sweden as an example of the little paradise they want for all of us.  Not so, not so.  This is a great article.  From AFP: 

Asia Nader didn't know whether to worry more about being diagnosed with a hole in her heart at the age of 21, or having to wait a year for Swedish doctors to fix it.

"I completely fell apart when I found out," she told AFP, remembering the long agonising months until she finally had her operation in June this year, one month before her 23rd birthday.

Sweden has the fifth-highest life expectancy in Europe and cancer survival rates are among the continent's highest, according to 2017 OECD figures.

But Swedes are frustrated over their universal healthcare, one of the main pillars of their cherished welfare state, with long waiting queues due to a shortage of nurses and available doctors in some areas.

"Swedes have little confidence that politicians will solve this," said Lisa Pelling, chief analyst at progressive think tank Arena Ide.

"There is a risk their faith in the welfare state will be eroded," she told AFP.

Swedes, who on average pay more than half of their income in tax, see access to healthcare as the most important issue in the September 9 general election, polls suggest.

Prime Minister Stefan Lofven's Social Democrats, the largest party, are on course for a record low score, after losing voters disgruntled over rising immigration putting a strain on the welfare system to the far-right Sweden Democrats.

Swedish law stipulates patients should wait no more than 90 days to undergo surgery or see a specialist. Yet every third patient waits longer, according to government figures.

Patients must also see a general practitioner within seven days, the second-longest deadline in Europe after Portugal (15 days).

Yet waiting times vary dramatically across Sweden's 21 counties responsible for financing hospitals.

COMMENT:  That's paradise?  I'll take the American health-care system anytime.   Its greatest strength is speed.  When you have a life-threatening illness, that's key.  Read the whole piece.

September 3, 2018       Permalink

**ONE-LINER:  John McCain's body was brought from Arizona to Washington on Air Force 2, the vice president's plane.  That requires presidential approval, but I have seen no thank-you from anyone for that presidential gesture.

PRESIDENT HOLDS – AT 12:45 P.M. ET:  The first poll to greet the new political season set to start tomorrow shows President Trump holding his approval.  Not great, but not bad either.  From Rasmussen: 

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Monday shows that 47% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of President Trump’s job performance. Fifty-one percent (51%) disapprove. 

The latest figures include 35% who Strongly Approve of the president is performing and 42% who Strongly Disapprove. This gives him a Presidential Approval Index rating of -7.

And take this, CNN:

On Labor Day in 2010, President Obama’s second year in office, 45% approved, 54% disapproved of the job he was doing. His Approval Index rating was -20.

COMMENT:  What?  You mean that President Trump is actually more popular at this point in his term than was the sainted Barack (come to save us) Obama?  Looks that way, at least in the Rasmussen poll. 

Don't tell Anderson Cooper.

September 3,  2018     Permalink

SEPTEMBER 2,  2018

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:54 P.M. ET:

WHO US? – FROM BLAST:   CBS News is demanding to be let out of the lawsuit filed by three women who accused Charlie Rose of sexual harassment because the network says they are not responsible for any of the legendary news anchor’s alleged misdeeds.  Charlie Rose was sued in May by three former female staffers, all in their mid-20s. The women claimed that Rose “subjected Plaintiffs to repeated, ongoing and unlawful physical and verbal sexual harassment.” The suit listed CBS News as a defendant along with Rose.  In a new filing obtained by The Blast, CBS News filed a motion to dismiss all claims against them in the case, saying they did nothing wrong.  The network explains that following the Washington Post article that reported Rose engaged in misconduct, and his admission that he engaged in “inappropriate behavior,” CBS News terminated his employment as an anchor and correspondent for the network.  CBS News explains that one of the women suing never even worked at CBS and another was not an employee at the time Rose engaged in the alleged harassment.  Now the blood really begins to spill.  But I think we know far too little about these cases to pass judgment.  And I want to know just who's getting the cash.

WHATEVER BECAME OF LONDON? – FROM THE EXPRESS:  There have so far been over 100 suspected murders in the capital since the start of the year and London’s murder rate overtook New York for the first time.  Conservative Party councillor Shaun Bailey, who is one of three short-listed candidates hoping to secure the Conservative nomination in the 2020 London Mayoral election, expressed his shock at the harrowing statistics and said Londoners “need a leader”.  He told Express.co.uk: “The challenge for the Mayor is he promised when he ran to be a mayor that would focus on violent crime. It took 18 months to get a strategy.”  London Metropolitan Police statistics show that since Mr Khan took office in May 2016, criminal offences between July of that year to July 2018 have seen a 9.2 percent increase.  Mr Bailey insisted the London Mayor’s violent crime strategy is only short-term and “slightly shallow”. He added: “With this spike in crime it looks like the mayor was caught on the back foot.”  At one time London was considered one of the safest cities in the world.  Then it went multicultural and "welcoming."  It might consider going back to being British.  Sherlock Holmes would be pleased.

ANOTHER FRIEND OF LABOR, NOT – FROM DAILY CALLER:   Hillary Clinton is hiring a batch of unpaid interns for the fall to work in her New York City office, according to documents obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation.  Applications are currently being accepted on a rolling basis and will “run from September to mid-December.” The internship requires “a minimum of three days per week,” and undergrads “of all majors are encouraged to apply.”  While the amount of hours per day aren’t specified, the “internship is unpaid.”  “Interns will provide support to our staff, assisting our work on a wide range of projects. Work will include but will not be limited to: compiling press clips, monitoring social media, conducting research, drafting correspondence, and assisting with office management,” the job posting states.  Clinton’s office is looking for applicants who have “a high level of professionalism and discretion,” “strong research and writing skills,” “the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team,” “strong interpersonal communication skills,” “a diligent work ethic and a sense of conscientiousness,” as well as “enthusiasm, dedication, and a positive attitude.”  Uh, I have questions:  What does Hillary Clinton do?  Who would want to do it with her?  And...will she take a deplorable?

September 2, 2018      Permalink

HE'S BACK...OR IS HE? – Barack Obama, now a multi-, multi-millionaire, will soon be back on the campaign trail.  Of course, the masses will greet him with screams of love, approval, and thanks for all he did for them.   Uh, maybe not.  From The Hill: 

Former President Obama is set to dive into the midterm elections next week with a speech in Illinois where he is expected to urge Democrats across the country to vote — addressing a problem that plagued the party in 2016.

Obama has kept a low political profile since leaving office, but sources familiar with his plans say he will soon hit the campaign trail to help Democrats in their quest to take back the House, protect vulnerable Senate incumbents and win state legislative races.

The former president will kick off his push by delivering a speech at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on Friday. In the weeks ahead, Obama will also campaign in California, Illinois, Ohio and Pennsylvania, a person familiar with his schedule said.

Not all Democrats want Obama’s help.

Democratic candidates running in states that President Trump won by double digits in 2016 would prefer that the former president stay far away.

Some Democrats in pro-Trump states, such as Sens. Bob Casey Jr. (Pa.), Debbie Stabenow (Mich.) and Sherrod Brown (Ohio), say they hope Obama will campaign for them. 

Others, such as Sens. Jon Tester (Mont.) and Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.), want to keep the race locked on the battle between themselves and their state rivals, fearing a high-profile surrogate like Obama could distract from the strategy.

“We’re not going to use any surrogates. Surrogates are fine but we don’t need them. The race is myself and Matt Rosendale and that’s the way we want to keep it,” Tester told The Hill, referring to his GOP challenger. 

Asked if she thought Obama might show up in North Dakota, Heitkamp said: “Nope, no.” 

“He threatened to campaign against me once so I don’t think he’s coming out there,” she said.

COMMENT:   Maybe Barack can book an hour to talk about his contributions to the American worker.  Question is, what would he do for the other 59 minutes?

The campaign begins officially on Tuesday.  The election is two months away.  This is going to get very, very tough.

September 2, 2018     Permalink

TODAY – AT 11:51 A.M. ET:  Today marks the 73rd anniversary of the formal end of World War II.  On this day in 1945, Japan signed the instruments of surrender aboard the battleship USS Missouri, anchored in Tokyo Bay. 

On the weekend when Senator John McCain is buried, let us remember that his grandfather, Vice Admiral John Sidney McCain, was aboard the Missouri that day, observing the ceremony.  He died of a heart attack three days later, and was posthumously promoted to admiral.

In each generation we go through the ritual of disparaging the young, and wondering whether today's youth would meet the challenge that culminated in that surrender.  It is sometimes discouraging to see the antics on college campuses and the apparent contempt for patriotism among the new, "educated" generation. 

We should have more confidence.  Despite the destructiveness of the sixties generation, despite the attempts by the hard left to disparage this country, we still have a cadre of young people willing and able to serve.  And behind them are other young people who, if called upon, will acquit themselves well.  Our volunteer forces today probably comprise the best military force we have ever fielded.  And most of America is more like Kansas or South Carolina than Manhattan or Beverly Hills. 

It is up to us to provide the leadership that will guard our freedoms and our independence, and finally reform a failing educational system that could indeed bring our country to its knees.  Ronald Reagan warned that we're always one generation away from losing our freedoms.  That is the challenge we should think about on this 73rd anniversary of one of America's greatest triumphs.

September 2,  2018     Permalink