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JANUARY 30,  2015

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

A GOOD LEARNING EXPERIENCE – From The New York Times:  "Scientists will have to wait a while longer to find out what kicked off the Big Bang.  Last spring, a team of astronomers who go by the name of Bicep announced that they had detected ripples in space-time, or gravitational waves, reverberating from the first trillionth of a trillionth of a trillionth of a second of time — long-sought evidence that the expansion of the universe had started out with a giant whoosh called inflation.  The discovery was heralded as potentially the greatest of the new century, but after months of spirited debate, the group conceded that the result could have been caused by interstellar dust, a notion buttressed by subsequent measurements by the European Space Agency’s Planck satellite that the part of the sky Bicep examined was in fact dusty.  Now a new analysis, undertaken jointly by the Bicep group and the Planck group, has confirmed that the Bicep signal was mostly, if not all, stardust, and that there is no convincing evidence of the gravitational waves. No evidence of inflation."   A good lesson in humility for those who feel we've had the last word on global warming.  Science is never settled.

WELL, IT'S A THEORY – From Breitbart:  "Right wing hero Boris Johnson has launched a blistering attack on Jihadi killers, calling them 'losers' who have been 'rejected by women.'  The London mayor, who is the candidate for the West London constituency of Ruislip, cited an MI5 report into Muslim extremism in an interview with The Sun.  'If you look at all the psychological profiling about bombers, they typically will look at porn. They are literally w***ers. Severe onanists' the blond politician said.  'They are tortured. They will be very badly adjusted in their relations with women, and that is a symptom of their feeling of being failures and that the world is against them.  'They are rejected by women, they are not making it with girls, and so they turn to other forms of spiritual comfort – which of course is no comfort.'"  I cannot comment on the accuracy of that.  In this country men who are rejected by women are called liberals.

COLORADO RETHINKS IT – From AP:  "Welfare money or food stamps for marijuana? It's an urban legend that won't go away in Colorado, and state lawmakers this year are poised to pass a law clarifying that public benefit cards can't be used at dispensary ATMs.  A bill facing its first hearing next week in the state Senate would add marijuana businesses and strip clubs to the list of Colorado businesses where electronic benefits cards — called EBTs — can't be used to withdraw cash. Liquor stores, casinos and gun shops already have such limitations.  Republican Sen. Vicki Marble said marijuana dispensaries need to be added to avoid possible federal intervention if there's evidence of public benefits being spent on pot.  'We stand to lose a lot if we don't show we are trying' to prevent tax money for pot, Marble said.  'The growers here put in a lot of time and effort. A raid would be absolutely devastating to our state.'"  Legalizing marijuana has proved to be a lot more complicated than the lawmakers in Colorado thought.

January 30, 2015       Permalink

BULLETIN – ROMNEY OUT – AT 11:28 A.M. ET:  Mitt Romney has just told his supporters that he will not be a candidate for president for 2016.  From Fox:   

Mitt Romney announced Friday he will not run for president in 2016, after briefly flirting with a third White House run -- a decision that only slightly narrows the crowded field of potential Republican candidates.

"After putting considerable thought into making another run for president, I've decided it's best to give other leaders in the party the opportunity to become our next nominee," Romney told donors on a conference call Friday morning.

The announcement comes after the 2012 GOP nominee, who repeatedly denied interest in another campaign, surprised donors earlier this month by telling them he was considering it.

Since then, the former Massachusetts governor spent three weeks calling donors and strategists and giving a handful of addresses, including to a Republican National Committee summit. But while some from his former campaign team were willing to wait for his decision, others were already gravitating toward the budding campaign of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

The two heavyweights were seen as competing for many of the same donors and supporters and strategists. And some doubted whether Romney, who lost to President Obama in 2012 after a campaign in which Democrats cast him as out-of-touch, would be able to connect on a third run -- even as early polls showed him leading the GOP field.

Romney, in a written statement which he also read from on his conference call, said he believes he could win the nomination, and that he would have enough funding and support.

COMMENT:  Conventional wisdom holds that the chief beneficiary from Romney's announcement is indeed Jeb Bush. 

But hold on.  I'm getting the feeling that Republicans want to look over the whole field.  There is support building for Scott Walker, for example.  And Marco Rubio, who, it was felt, would not run if Bush ran – Bush was his mentor in Florida – is showing signs of independence. 

What I'd like to see is some great Republican women up there.  The party has a cadre of young, female leaders who are already making names for themselves.  Some, like Nikki Haley and Susana Martinez, are governors.  Kelly Ayotte is an outstanding senator and an authority on national security.  If Bush is the nominee, he would have to look to the group of Republican women leaders for a possible running mate. 

Two exciting years in politics coming up.

January 30, 2015       Permalink

TALIBAN TRUTH – AT 10:21 A.M. ET:  The first reports we heard of the Taliban in Afghanistan dealt with its unspeakable abuse of women, and its murder of anyone who did not go along with its bizarre interpretation of Islam. 

But now the Obama administration, in another of its dishonest narratives, is trying to tell us that the Taliban is simply an insurgency, as opposed to Al Qaeda, which is a terror group.  Even the normally complacent White House press corps has become frustrated by the word games.  From Fox: 

Just days after an Obama administration official went to great pains to explain that the Taliban is not considered a terrorist group, the Afghan-based organization on Friday took credit for an attack that killed three American contractors and said it was carried out by a fighter who had infiltrated Afghanistan's security forces.

The attack came Thursday evening at a military base at Kabul's international airport, and also left one Afghan dead. The Taliban's claim of responsibility came in a message on Friday from spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, who identified the attacker as a man named "Hessanullha," from Laghman province, just east of Kabul. Hessanullha "penetrated into the security forces and was waiting for such a target for a long time," Mujahid said.

"Yesterday in the evening he managed to get to a crowd of invading and infidel American military forces where he turned his gun towards them and opened fire," he added. "During the gun battle, Ehsanullah was also killed by the enemy."

Mujahid said that the militant had infiltrated the ranks of Afghanistan's forces to stage the attack and wore an Afghan police uniform. An Afghan official with the country's Defense Ministry said the attacker was in an Afghan army uniform. According to The Washington Post, Mujahid added in a tweet that the terrorist had "opened fire on invaders" before he was "martyred by return fire." It was not immediately clear if the Afghan confirmed dead was the gunman.

The attack came after a White House spokesman described the Taliban as an "armed insurgency," not a terrorist group. However, Press Secretary Josh Earnest later acknowledged that the Treasury Department had put the Taliban on a terror list as far back as 2002.

Earnest also acknowledged that the Taliban "carry out tactics that are akin to terrorism, they do pursue terror attacks in an effort to try to advance their agenda." The Obama administration has repeatedly said the U.S. government does not negotiate with terrorists, despite trading five Taliban fighters held at Guantanamo for Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl.

COMMENT:  The behavior of the Obamans make me once again suggest the need for a Constitutional amendment that would permit the removal of a president for incompetence.  Right now a president can be removed only for high crimes and misdemeanors, or for medical reasons. 

The administration has become a dishonest disgrace.  In other democracies, a vote of no-confidence by the parliament would send a prime minister packing.   We prize stability, so removal should, under terms of my proposed amendment, only come if high standards are met.

January 30, 2015       Permalink

ISIS ATTACKS – AT 9:32 A.M. ET:  ISIS has launched a major attack in Iraq.  We've been told  previously that anti-ISIS forces have been advancing in Iraq.  Once again, the enemy surprises us, and even Barack Obama might have to show some interest.  From CNN:   

Amman, Jordan (CNN)ISIS militants have launched an attack on the oil-producing northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk.

There had been recent speculation that ISIS might attack Kirkuk to force Kurdish troops to divert their efforts away from Mosul, ISIS's stronghold in Iraq, about 100 miles to the northwest.

Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga fighters have moved in around the outskirts of Mosul recently, backed by airstrikes by the U.S.-led international coalition against ISIS, forcing the Sunni extremist group onto the defensive.

ISIS has been facing off with the Peshmerga -- armed fighters who protect Iraqi Kurdistan -- to the west of Kirkuk for months.

The extremist group has previously held areas on the outskirts of Kirkuk but not the central city.

On Friday, however, ISIS militants took over Maktab Khalid, an area about 12 miles southwest of the city, after heavy clashes with Iraqi Kurdish Peshmerga troops.

Among those killed was Brig. Gen. Shirko Fateh, the highest-ranking operational commander of the Peshmerga brigade located in Kirkuk.

Peshmerga fighters continued to battle, attempting to retake the area.

COMMENT:  We are being warned by real experts that ISIS is strong and resourceful, and should not be dismissed because it suffers temporary setbacks.  It still controls large areas of Iraq and Syria, and is seeking to expand throughout the Mideast, just as the United States is seeking to reduce our presence in the region.

January 30, 2015       Permalink

OH DEAR, OH DEAR, THIS WASN'T THE SCRIPT – AT 9:04 A.M. ET:  The American economy ended 2014 on a very down note.  Will someone please tell the president.  Well, maybe it's better not to tell him.  Children must have their fantasies.  From CNN:

The U.S. economy gained steam last year, but it closed out the year with a big disappointment, raising more questions about 2015.

America's economy grew only 2.6% in the final three months of the year, much lower than the estimate of 3.3%.

Overall for 2014, U.S. gross domestic product, the broadest measure of economic activity rose 2.4%. That's the highest mark in four years, according to the Commerce Department, but economist and policymakers want to see growth this year of a lot closer to 3%.

There are many signs the economic recovery is stronger. The U.S. had its best year of job growth since 1999 last year. The Federal Reserve ended its stimulus program in October, which is like taking off the training wheels. Consumer confidence levels hit their highest mark in 2014 since the recession began.

The disappointing growth at the end of the year comes on the heels of the economy's incredible 5% growth in the third quarter, which was the best since 2003.

COMMENT:  We knew that the administration's propaganda was too good to be true, and it was.  We applaud any progress, especially when that progress lifts up the average American.  But reports of progress must be guarded.  We're still in the woods.  Many new jobs are at a low level.  Wages are frozen.  Mr. Obama doesn't seem to notice.

January 30,  2015     Permalink

JANUARY 29,  2015

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:36 P.M. ET: 

FASHION NOTE – From Frontpagemag.com:  "...today is NP3 Hijab Day at NP3 High School. NP3 stands for Natomas Pacific Pathways Prep; the school is in the Natomas Unified School District in Sacramento. This all started with a student at NP3 High who is an intern for the Hamas-linked terror organization, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). This student gave a presentation about Islamophobia and Islam at what was a mandatory staff meeting that also included an official CAIR representative.  The school then decided to sponsor an official 'Hijab Day' in cooperation with Hamas-linked CAIR. The flier also shows that another Muslim Brotherhood-linked organization, the Muslim Students Association, is also involved. Every female member of the faculty and staff, and students as well, has been encouraged to wear a hijab today. NP3’s principal, Tom Rutten, has been strongly encouraging everyone to participate and wear one."   Another breathtaking example of the intellectual brilliance of educators.

DOING THE RIGHT THING – From The Daily Signal:  "The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has acknowledged its role in Operation Choke Point and is taking dramatic steps to reverse its policies in targeting legal and legitimate industries that are disfavored by the Obama administration.  'We’re very pleased they’ve acknowledged their wrongdoing and they’ve accepted our suggestions to put in place measures to stop this activity,' Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., told The Daily Signal in a phone call this morning.  Luetkemeyer, a member of the House Financial Services Committee and leader in the fight to end Operation Choke Point, met with FDIC Chairman Martin Gruenbery and Vice Chairman Thomas Hoenig earlier today as a follow-up to concerns voiced last November."  There's been all kinds of harassment of legitimate businesses.  Some licensed firearms dealers with good records have found it impossible to borrow money or expand their businesses, for example.  The federal government shouldn't be picking and choosing businesses to hassle simply because the Obamans don't like them.

MAJOR LEGAL NEWS – From The Hill:  "Secretary of State John Kerry was ticketed Thursday for not shoveling the snow outside his Boston home.  About six inches of snow accumulated on the sidewalk outside Kerry's primary residence in Louisburg Square on Wednesday. A city report posted Thursday said a ticket had been issued for the unshoveled powder after a citizen filed a complaint...A State Department spokesperson told The Boston Herald that Kerry 'will gladly pay the ticket.'"   Didn't anyone in his family, or the vast State Department staff, think of hiring a kid to shovel the show?   I think a life sentence is appropriate, but the fine is only $50.

DOWN TO THREE – From AP:  "SEATTLE (AP) — Lt. Col. Edward Saylor, one of four surviving Doolittle Raiders who attacked Japan during a daring 1942 mission credited with lifting American morale during World War II, has died. He was 94.  Rod Saylor said his father died of natural causes on Wednesday in Sumner, Washington.  He was a young flight engineer-gunner and among the 80 airmen who volunteered to fly the risky mission that sent B-25 bombers from a carrier at sea to attack Tokyo on April 28, 1942."  Obama would have rejected the raid, claiming it might offend Japanese sensibilities.

January 29, 2015       Permalink

THE LEVEL OF MSNBC – AT 10:38 A.M. ET:  You have to wonder where MSNBC gets some of its "commentators."  You also have to wonder how it stays on the air.  From the Washington Free Beacon: 

NBC foreign affairs reporter Ayman Mohyeldin made the suggestion Thursday on Morning Joe that Chris Kyle, late subject of the hit movie “American Sniper” and credited as the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history, had “racist tendencies” toward Iraqis and Muslims and “went on killing sprees in Iraq on assignment.”

“American Sniper” has given a lot of Americans an inside look at what actually happened over in Iraq during the war. It has also raised a national discussion on post-traumatic stress disorder, addressing the personal issues veterans face when they come home.

Mohyeldin’s commentary left host Joe Scarborough dumbfounded.

“Killing sprees?” Scarborough asked incredulously. “Chris Kyle was going on killing sprees?”

“When he was involved in his — on assignments in terms of what he was doing, a lot of the description that has come out from his book and some of the terminology that he has used, people have described as racist in his personal attitudes about what he was doing overseas when he was on assignment,” Mohyeldin sputtered.

Scarborough later joked that Mohyeldin was next going to kick around Santa Claus.

COMMENT:  MSNBC shows the connection between Islamic extremism and the looney left.  They love each other because they both hate America. 

January 29, 2015       Permalink

AMERICANS LUKEWARM ON OBAMA TERROR STRATEGY – AT 9:35 A.M. ET:  Fox News has done a detailed poll on American views on terror and Barack Obama's presumed strategy for countering it.  Obama doesn't come out well.  From Fox: 

There’s widespread belief among American voters that an attack on U.S. soil by Islamic terrorists will happen in the near future. And at the same time, nearly half say President Obama underemphasizes the threat from Islamic terrorists.

The details:

An overwhelming 84-percent majority thinks it is at least somewhat likely Islamic terrorists will try to launch an attack on U.S. soil soon. That includes half -- 50 percent -- who say “very” likely.

Voters ages 45 and over are far more inclined (59 percent) than younger voters (39 percent) to think an attack is “very” likely to happen.

In addition, 56 percent think the United States is at war with radical Islam. Over a third says we aren’t (37 percent). A substantial majority of Republicans says the U.S. is at war with radical Islam (68-29 percent). Democrats tend not to believe that: 43 percent say yes, the country is at war with radical Islam, while 47 percent say it isn’t.

How does Obama treat the threat? Nearly half -- 47 percent -- say he underemphasizes the threat. That’s about eight times as many as say he overemphasizes it (six percent). Another 43 percent say his approach is “about right.”

Meanwhile, just 15 percent of voters think the country is safer since Obama became president. More than twice that number -- 34 percent -- feels we’re less safe. Half think it hasn’t changed under Obama (50 percent).

Voters who say the U.S. is at war with radical Islam are 15 points more likely to say the country is less safe than those who say we’re not at war with radical Islam.

Obama continues to move forward with plans to close the Guantanamo Bay detention center, but a 58-percent majority says that’s the wrong thing to do. About a third agrees with his decision to do so (32 percent). Most Republicans (81 percent) and over half of independents (55 percent) say it’s wrong to close Gitmo. Among Democrats, 49 percent say it’s the right thing to do, while 38 percent disagree.

COMMENT:  Actually, I think Obama comes out better than expected in the poll.  I would have thought that more than 47% would think the president underestimates the threat.  But, still, 47% is a large number.

There seems to be minimal confidence in this president.  One wonders if Hillary will separate herself from Obama's foreign policy, a foreign policy she carried out.  She will have to do quite a dance.

January 29, 2015       Permalink

HILLARY DELAYS? – AT 8:54 A.M. ET:   There are reports that Hillary Clinton is delaying her presidential campaign.  From The Politico: 

Hillary Clinton, expecting no major challenge for the Democratic nomination, is strongly considering delaying the formal launch of her presidential campaign until July, three months later than originally planned, top Democrats tell POLITICO.

The delay from the original April target will give her more time to develop her message, policy and organization, without the chaos and spotlight of a public campaign.

A Democrat familiar with Clinton’s thinking said: “She doesn’t feel under any pressure, and they see no primary challenge on the horizon. If you have the luxury of time, you take it.”

Advisers said the biggest reason for the delay is simple: She feels no rush.

“She doesn’t want to feel pressured by the press to do something before she’s ready,” one adviser said. “She’s better off as a non-candidate. Why not wait?”

A huge advantage to waiting is that Clinton postpones the time when she goes before the public as a politician rather than as a former secretary of state. Polling by both Democrats and Republicans shows that one of her biggest vulnerabilities is looking political.

COMMENT:  I think she's probably right that there will be no major challenge.  Elizabeth Warren understands that if she challenges Hillary and loses, Hillary will turn her into a pariah.  There are no other major figures in the Democratic Party who can currently challenge Hillary, in part because there are no other major figures in the Democratic Party, period.  The party is extraordinarily weak in leadership.

As for the delay, the reasoning seems shaky.  Hillary is already seen as a politician, and one who accepts $200,000 to make a speech.  No one even thinks of her as a secretary of state any longer. 

The contrast between the GOP, which will have an open competition for the nomination, and the Democrats, who will have a coronation, will be stark.  Republicans should play it up.

January 29, 2015       Permalink

LOVE THE GUY – AT 8:36 A.M. ET:  Scott Walker is heading for a presidential run.  This is what he said on "Hannity" this week, via RealClearPolitics: 

On Tuesday's broadcast of FOX News' Hannity Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wis.) said he will make his decision to run for president "by midsummer."

"I think any realistic candidate has to be in by this summer," Walker said. My budget will come out next Tuesday, for the fifth and sixth year in a row I'll lower property taxes. I want a few months to get that job done. But I'll be in New Hampshire and South Carolina and back in Iowa, and we're going to be talking about these issues for the next several months. We're excited where we can take this country."

"And if you were going to give me odds of you running, what are the odds?" Hannity asked.

"I don't think it's ever been good to bet against me," Walker said. Certainly in the last three elections for governor in the past four years, I wouldn't be betting against me in a race like this either."

COMMENT:  I love his spirit.   The man fights.  He's not in it to "participate."  He's been a great governor, the man who saved Wisconsin.  I'd put him right at the top of presidential candidates.

January 29,  2015     Permalink