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SEPTEMBER 18,  2021

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT: 

ANOTHER GOOD SIGN – FROM BREITBART:   The Draft Kendall Qualls for Governor Committee has created a petition that seeks to encourage the leader of black conservative movement TakeCharge Minnesota to run for the Republican gubernatorial nomination.  The committee states on its website:  "As the Republican party searches for its gubernatorial candidate, Kendall Qualls is exactly the type of candidate we need – A different type of candidate who can inspire Minnesotans. Simply put, Kendall is uniquely positioned to be able to run and win. His background and exceptional skills would allow him to connect with voters across the state – From Warroad to Winona, across the Iron Range to our agricultural communities and even in the heart of the Twin Cities where he outperformed the rest of the Republican ticket in his run in 2020, Kendall would be an outstanding candidate we would be fortunate to have represent our party."  Qualls founded and leads an anti-woke black movement centered on faith, family, education, and the Constitution to counter the current culture of Critical Race Theory, Black Lives Matter, and fatherless black families.  The WOKE movement thought it had the field to itself.  Increasingly, we see resistance.  These are the real revolutionaries, not the party liners of woke-ism.  We'll cheer them on.

THIS JUST DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT – FROM THE HILL:   New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) has been holding private talks with advisers and supporters about the possibility of a gubernatorial run, CNBC reported.  James, who led the investigation into sexual harassment claims against former Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), has been looking into whether she would have the backing of previous donors and supporters if she were to enter the 2022 New York governor's race, according to CNBC.  Luis Miranda Jr., a political consultant and father of Lin Manuel-Miranda, has been one of the people working to gauge interest in a potential James run, CNBC reported. Miranda previously served as a lead consultant for James when she successfully ran for New York City public advocate.  The appearances are awful.  She led the probe into one governor, and, having brought him down, now may try to get his job.  Kathleen Hochul, who succeeded Andrew Cuomo, is a Democrat.  So is Letitia James, so James would have to primary an incumbent governor of her own party.  On what basis?  The whole thing is rotten.

September 18, 2021       Permalink

WE HAVE SURVIVED! – OVERNIGHT:  And what a miracle.  Why, today was supposed to be the end of the United States, with ramifications extending to Mars.  This was the day when hordes of right-wing fanatics and fascist sympathizers were to descend on Washington to celebrate the events of January 6th.   As we've pointed out, what was expected was a disaster of Biblical proportions.   Uh, maybe you haven't heard too much about it on the news today.  And there are reasons.  From NBC News:

WASHINGTON — A small, peaceful crowd gathered Saturday in Washington to protest what the organizers say is the unfair treatment of people charged in the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol.
The rally ended less than 90 minutes after it began around noon in Union Square, a small park just west, and in clear view, of the Capitol.

Metropolitan Police Chief Robert Contee said that the crowd was “about what we expected” and that the stepped-up police presence may have kept numbers lower. “I’m hopeful that had some impact on it,” he said in an interview before the rally.

In the afternoon, the U.S. Capitol Police estimated that, excluding law enforcement, 400 to 450 people were inside the protest area.

Oh, the masses.  Oh, the masses.

Matt Braynard, executive director of Look Ahead America and the organizer of the event, wrote on Twitter that he expected "a 100 percent peaceful event in support of the nonviolent offenders...who have been charged.”

Speaking to the crowd Saturday, Braynard said, "This isn't about President Trump or Biden or your political party. It's about human rights and civil rights."

More than 600 people have been arrested in the eight-plus months since the Jan. 6 attack, more than 50 of whom have pleaded guilty to a variety of federal crimes. Six have been found guilty in court, according to the Justice Department.

They'll have to open up a whole new Alcatraz.

Lori Smith, 58, a paralegal from the Atlanta area, was among the group attending the rally. She said she opposed the storming of the Capitol but believes some of the people charged are political prisoners and that the officer who shot Ashli Babbitt should be tried like Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis officer who was convicted of murdering George Floyd in police custody.

The officer who shot Babbitt has been cleared of wrongdoing by the Justice Department and Capitol Police.

COMMENT:  Whew!  That was close.  I hate to see CNN and The New York Times disappointed, but there was no attempt to overthrow the government, although the actions of one cocker spaniel at the scene were deemed suspicious by highly trained insurrection experts.  We will be reporting on that, and the investigation by the Canine Terror Squad.

September 18, 2021       Permalink

SEPTEMBER 17,  2021

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – OVERNIGHT:

ACTION TODAY – FROM TRENDING POLITICS:    Former President Donald Trump warned supporters to avoid going to the “Justice for J6″ rally to be held Saturday in Washington, D.C., claiming that it is essentially a no-win situation for them and Republicans in general.  “On Saturday, that’s a setup,” Trump said, referring to the rally in an interview with The Federalist.  “If people don’t show up they’ll say, ‘Oh, it’s a lack of spirit.’ And if people do show up they’ll be harassed,” the 45th president added.  Capitol Police ordered fencing put back up around the grounds ahead of Saturday’s rally in order to provide additional security, though “intelligence suggests there will not be widespread or significant violence,” CBS News reported.  “I wouldn’t say really informed people are worried” about the threat level from the online chatter, a federal law enforcement source familiar with the rally planning told the network. “But they are taking no chances.”  In his wide-ranging interview with The Federalist, Trump also teed off on Presidents Joe Biden and George W. Bush, while reserving criticism as well for Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley.
“Afghanistan is one of the worst things I think I’ve ever seen for our country,” Trump said. “To lose the young people [killed in the bomb blast] is so horrible. It’s a horrible situation.  What Biden is doing is grossly incompetent,” he added. “It’s a disgrace.”  We'll see what happens with the demonstrations in Washington.  Remember, if one person carries a MAGA sign, CNN will declare it an insurrection, and very possibly the greatest threat since the Civil War, maybe the greatest threat in human history. 

September 17, 2021       Permalink

A  BIT OF LIGHT – OVERNIGHT:  Readers know that we've been trying, recently, to find bits of light amidst the darkness of our national condition.  The fact is, they're being found everywhere.  Maybe the sleeping giant, the United States, is awakening.  It won't happen all at once, but people I respect have given me some anecdotes, and one says that the young college generation isn't quite as lost as we've been led to believe.  In fact, many students are flocking to practical, necessary fields of study.  Consider this, from College Fix: 

A majority of recent college graduates may be unemployed, but those who are employed are making record starting salaries. A recent report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers showed that 2020 graduates are making 2.5 percent higher salaries than the class of 2019.

This appears to be a trend as the class of 2019 also had a greater starting salary than the class of 2018. What is driving the increase?

Inflation is one factor. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, from 2019 to 2020 there was a 1.4 percent increase in regular prices with food prices increasing 3.9 percent.

Another factor is that many of those who secured a job were STEM majors, as graduates who majored in STEM are being hired and making higher salaries. According to a report by the Center on Education and the Workforce by Georgetown University, “Two of the top highest paying majors, STEM and business are also the most popular majors, accounting for 46 percent of college graduates.”

According to a survey by Monster, a company devoted to helping employer and employee “find the right fit,” only half of 2020 college graduates are being hired. When you put the two studies together, it is possible to deduce that the half of graduates that are being readily hired are STEM majors.

This is consistent with the findings from the report by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. According to the report, STEM majors account for the majority of graduates with high starting salaries.

Why is this the case? STEM — which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics — is a credential that has been in demand for years. With a huge demand and not enough supply, it makes logical sense for these majors to be making a greater starting salary.

A study by the Worchester Polytechnic Institute’s Business School agrees. Each day, new innovative technology is being developed. This causes an increase in job growth as well as new science fields.
Majoring in STEM gives one the background knowledge and experience to keep up with the changing technological field. Thus, majoring in STEM not only provides a greater starting salary but also lasting job security.

Two engineering sophomores at Franciscan University, Cavan Maloney and Quinn Wieber, shared why they chose STEM in an interview with The College Fix. Their first reason was their love of mathematics and science. Wieber also said it was good to know that there are, “a lot of opportunities to move around within the engineering world,” as well as, “a pretty well guaranteed job.”

Not only are engineers in demand but also medical professionals. Due to COVID, burnout among medical professionals has increased.

COMMENT:  The fascinating fact here is that more and more students appear to be going into fields that the nation truly needs.  There is no great national demand for woke anthropologists.  The young people who lead in science and technology will themselves become, we hope, the new role models.  Build a building, don't burn it down. 

We are also seeing solid signs that some minorities are starting to realize that crackpot studies might not be the way to success.  They'll have to swim upstream for a time to overcome the current dumbing-down trends in our educational system, but the rewards will be great.

September 17,  2021     Permalink