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MAY 7,  2015

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 5:17 P.M. ET: 

HELL FOR HILL – She's behind in New Hampshire.  From The Hill:  "Hillary Clinton trails three of her Republican challengers — former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Sen. Rand Paul (Ky.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) — in a new WMUR Granite State Poll from the University of New Hampshire.  Bush staged an 18-point turnaround since February. He now leads Clinton by a margin of 47 percent to 41 percent, after Clinton led in February by a margin of 51 percent to 39 percent.   Paul also turned around his fortunes from February, when he trailed by 10 percentage points, and now leads Clinton 47 percent to 43 percent.  Rubio leads Clinton by 5 percentage points, 47 percent to 42 percent, while Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker ties her with 44 percent each."   It's still early, but already there are signs that Clinton is in trouble.  Maybe Americans are finally taking character seriously.

WHAT A SURPRISE – From The New York Times:  "The Justice Department will investigate whether the Baltimore Police Department engaged in a pattern of unconstitutional policing, law enforcement officials said on Thursday, a day after the mayor asked for an inquiry.  The request by Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake came days after the state’s attorney for Baltimore filed criminal charges against six officers involved in the arrest of Freddie Gray, who died April 19 after being injured while in police custody, setting off large demonstrations, arson and looting."  Obviously, this was a setup.  You may be sure that the Justice Department either asked to be asked, or the mayor got assurances before making her public request that the reply would be affirmative.  Baltimore seems to have classic Democratic hack leadership, with nary a Republican in sight.   Dems have been in power for decades, and only now are they expressing concern about "unconstitutional" policing.  Not terribly impressive.

LATEST BRITISH RESULTS – Confirming our earlier bulletin, actual vote counts are showing a major Conservative tide.  Labour did far worse than expected.  Its leader, Ed Miliband, will now be sent to the great backbench in the sky.  Similarly, the Liberal party, which is actually part of the current governing coalition, was all but wiped out, going from 57 seats to an estimated 10.  Its leader, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, may barely hang on to his seat in Commons.  Prime Minister Cameron will still need votes from other parties to have the parliamentary majority needed to form a government, but it's expected he will get them easily.  We hope this is an omen for this side of the Atlantic come 2016.

BULLETIN:  Exit polls show conservatives ahead in Britain.  From Sky News:  "An exit poll carried out for the major broadcasters forecasts the Tories will be the largest party after the General Election.  The poll put the Conservatives on 316 seats, Labour on 239, the Scottish National Party on 58, the Liberal Democrats on 10 and UKIP on two.  The Greens are predicted to win two seats, Plaid Cymru four and others 19, according to the survey.  There are 533 parliamentary constituencies in England, 59 in Scotland, 40 in Wales and 18 in Northern Ireland.  The parties are therefore trying to get 326 seats to command a majority."

UPDATE:  Other exit polls are now showing similar results.

May 7, 2015       Permalink

IT BEGINS TO UNRAVEL – AT 11:14 A.M. ET:   There was something seriously wrong with that grandstanding press conference held last week by the Baltimore state's attorney who announced serious charges against the police officers involved in the Freddie Gray case.  Her comments seemed more political than legal, and one wondered how she could have so quickly reached the conclusions she claimed to have reached.  Major legal scholars, like Alan Dershowitz, raised grave questions about her behavior and words.   Now, only days later, it appears that her case is starting to wobble.  From CNN:

Baltimore (CNN)  The Baltimore police investigation into the death of Freddie Gray doesn't support some of the charges, including the most serious, filed by the Baltimore City State's Attorney, potentially allowing lawyers representing the police officers the opportunity to undercut the prosecution, according to officials briefed on the separate probes conducted by the State's Attorney and police.

Already, defense attorneys are filing motions seeking to exploit differences between the separate state attorney and police investigations.

Lawyers for two officers have challenged a key finding of State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby's case: that a knife found on Freddie Gray was legal in Maryland and therefore the officers didn't have a right to arrest Gray. The police investigation found that the knife is illegal under Baltimore city code.

Officials familiar with the probes also say the homicide investigation run by police investigators at most contemplated a manslaughter charge, not second degree murder as Mosby charged one of the officers, Caesar Goodson. To win conviction for murder, prosecutors must prove intent to kill. Manslaughter relates to unintentional killings.

COMMENT:  This case is only beginning.   Responsible people will seek only the truth.  Irresponsible people will seek victory for their side, regardless of the truth.

May 7, 2015       Permalink

CHICKENS COMING HOME TO ROOST – AT 10:20 A.M. ET:  What is sad is that there are serious, important issues involving policing and police/community relations.  Every good police commissioner knows that.  Those issues are being drowned or distorted by false claims, rhetoric, and political correctness, and chickens are coming home to roost.  From London's Daily Mail: 

A key witness to the police shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, has been arrested on charges of drug possession and resisting arrest.

Dorian Johnson, best known for falsely claiming that Brown, 18, called out ‘hands up, don't shoot' before Officer Darren Wilson opened fire on him in August 2014, was taken into custody Wednesday afternoon.

Johnson was arrested on Acme Avenue in St Louis at around 3.20pm along with his two brothers.

Police sources told St Louis Post Dispatch Johnson tried to get rid of narcotics and 'interfere' with officers as they were trying to arrest one of his brothers on a drug charge.

His other sibling was arrested on a warrant related to an armed robbery.

Johnson himself was taken into custody for resisting arrest, even though police sources said the young man 'was not combative and did not physically confront officers,' according to Fox 2 Now.

He is also accused of discarding narcotics. Police said Johnson was in possession of a drug-laced cough medicine, which he hurled to the ground.

Dorian Johnson is expected to be formally charged as early as Thursday.

COMMENT:  He is, of course, innocent until and unless proved guilty in a court of law.  But the rush to judgment in Ferguson, especially by CNN and other outlets, produced horrible reactions in the streets.   So, too, in Baltimore, where six cops face serious charges based on a quick "investigation" that seems designed more to satisfy the mob than to satisfy justice.

May 7, 2015       Permalink

THE FRAUD – AT 9:16 A.M. ET:   Is there any limit to Hillary Clinton's deception and dishonesty?  If sos, I'd like to know where it is.  From Fox: 

Hillary Clinton, just three weeks after blasting "unaccountable money" and calling for a campaign finance overhaul, reportedly met with potential donors to a super PAC backing her White House campaign Wednesday -- the first such face-to-face meetings held by a Democratic presidential candidate.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Clinton met with a small group of potential donors to Priorities USA Action Wednesday in San Francisco. Campaign officials told the paper that she will take part in more such meetings, including one planned to take place in Los Angeles on Thursday.

News of Clinton’s meetings with would-be donors was first reported by The New York Times.

They come after Clinton last month made campaign finance reform a centerpiece of her newly launched campaign. She called for getting "unaccountable money out of [politics] once and for all -- even if it takes a constitutional amendment." The remark was widely seen as a reference to the 2010 Supreme Court cases that opened the door for super PACs.

Jeff Bechdel, spokesman for the conservative America Rising PAC, said in a statement about the former secretary of state's super PAC meetings that "Clinton's hypocrisy knows no bounds."

COMMENT:  Even if "unaccountable money" is taken out of politics, the Clintons will figure out a way to put it back in.  It is incredible that Hillary Clinton, with her ethical challenges, is still the leading candidate for president.  Have we come down that far?

In 1952 Richard Nixon went on television, in his famous "Checkers" speech, to explain a small slush fund that he'd been given by donors.  The fund, a tip by today's standards, almost cost him the vice-presidential slot on Dwight Eisenhower's presidential ticket.  Nixon survived.

The Clintons have made tens of millions of dollars from their publicly paid careers.  The Democrats don't care.

May 7, 2015       Permalink

BRITAIN VOTES – AT 8:56 A.M. ET:  Britain votes today in a national election that can have a profound effect on British foreign policy.  From Fox: 

Polls opened across the United Kingdom Thursday as British voters were due to make their choice in a parliamentary election that is likely to be the closest in decades -- and is unlikely to produce a clear winner.

Prime Minister David Cameron's Conservatives and Ed Miliband's Labour Party are running neck and neck, with most opinion polls showing the parties tied or separated by one or two percentage points. That means neither party is likely to win a majority of Parliament's 650 seats.

That in turn could set up days or even weeks of backroom dealing before a coalition government is crafted. The incumbent Cameron has experience of that. When the dust settled from the last election in 2010, the Conservatives sat 20 seats short of an outright majority. However, within five days, Cameron had brokered a deal with the centrist Liberal Democrats, led by current Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Much has changed in five years. Both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats are projected to lose seats, though just how many is unclear. The past year-and-a-half has also seen the rise of the anti-immigration, anti-European Union United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP), which currently sits third in opinion polls, though Britain's electoral system means it can win at most a handful of seats. However, those seats will likely come by stealing Conservative voters.

Miliband's Labourites have not had it all their own way, either. Last fall's Scottish independence referendum, which ended in defeat for the separatists, has nonetheless resulted in increased power for the Scottish National Party (SNP), led by Nicola Sturgeon. Some pre-election polls have projected a near-total wipeout for Labour in its traditional stronghold north of the border, with the Daily Record newspaper projecting that the SNP could end up with 52 seats in Parliament. That's an increase of 46 seats over 2010, 34 of which would be taken from Labour Members of Parliament.

If the SNP end up as the third or fourth-largest party in Parliament after this election, that would put pressure on Miliband to agree to a coalition government with Sturgeon in order to become Prime Minister. Miliband has said that such a deal is off the table, but Conservatives have warned that a Labour premiership would inevitably resulted in the Scottish nationalists having undue influence over British politics.

COMMENT:   We await results.  I have a vision of Obama praying for a Labor victory.

May 7,  2015     Permalink

MAY 6,  2015

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

WEIRD, MAN – From Fox:  "An aide to California Attorney General Kamala Harris has been arrested along with two others for allegedly operating an illegitimate 'police department' that traces its origins to the Knights Templar.  The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced that the three suspects were taken into custody last week on suspicion of impersonating police officers through their roles in the so-called Masonic Fraternal Police Department.  Among them is Brandon Kiel, 36, who has worked as deputy director of community affairs at the California Department of Justice -- which is led by Harris, also a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate. Kiel was arrested on suspicion of misusing his government ID."  Kamala Harris is considered the leading candidate to succeed the retiring Barbara Boxer.  I have no idea if this will hurt her.  It's California, after all. 

HILLARY LEADS IN THE RICH VOTE – From CNBC:  "Hillary Clinton is the favorite U.S. presidential candidate among millionaire voters and would win a head-to-head contest with former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, according to the third CNBC Millionaire Survey conducted in March that was released today.  The survey, which polls 750 Americans with a net worth of $1 million or more, found that 53 percent of millionaires would vote for the Democratic ex-Secretary of State, compared with 47 percent for the GOP presidential hopeful, in a hypothetical general-election match-up. Clinton had the support of 91 percent of Democratic millionaires, 13 percent of Republican millionaires and 57 percent of Independent millionaires."  And she wants to be known as the candidate of the little people, the voiceless, the powerless.  You can start laughing.

DEAD HEAT IN THE MOTHER COUNTRY – From AFP:  "LONDON — The final polls released on the eve of Britain’s general election on Thursday showed main rivals Labour and the Conservatives locked in a dead heat.  Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservative party and the Labour party led by Ed Miliband have been neck-and-neck for much of the campaign.  The last survey data released before a ban on the publishing of opinion polls comes into force indicated that a flurry of last-minute campaigning to win over undecided voters had failed to sway the race one way or another.  Polls by YouGov, ICM and Survation all showed the two parties tied — on 34 percent, 35 percent and 31.4 percent respectively.  Three more surveys by TNS, Opinium and Comres all showed the Conservatives one point ahead — on 33 percent to Labour’s 32 percent; 35 percent to 34 percent; and 35 to 34 percent respectively."  We root for the conservatives.  A Labour victory will only encourage Obama.

May 6, 2015       Permalink

AN INTELLIGENCE MISS – AT 3:52 A.M. ET:  The attack in Texas was not predicted by our intelligence agencies.  We can never be sure that these agencies will get it right, which is why we must be prepared for attacks that succeed.  From PJ Media: 

As online chatter about a Muhammad cartoon contest began to escalate last week, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a Joint Intelligence Bulletin last Thursday. The bulletin acknowledged the potential threat, but downplayed the possibility of any violence targeting the event.

The bulletin concluded that while the event could inspire violence abroad by contributing to terrorist messaging, it was “unlikely” that such violence would happen in the United States.

A copy of the FBI/DHS bulletin is provided exclusively by PJ Media below.

On Sunday night, two men – Elton Simpson and Nadir Soofi, roommates from Phoenix — did in fact show up at the event location in Garland, Texas, armed with semi-automatic weapons and body armor. Both were quickly killed in an exchange of gunfire before there was any direct threat to anyone inside the facility. One police officer was shot in the ankle — he was treated at the hospital and later released.

According to sources involved in the investigation into the terror attack and law enforcement preparations leading up to last Sunday’s event, there was virtually no online chatter about the cartoon contest until early last week.

The chatter began when news broke that two Muslim congressmen, Keith Ellison and Andre Carson, had appealed to Secretary of State John Kerry to deny entry into the U.S. for Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders.

Wilders was scheduled to be the featured speaker at Sunday’s cartoon contest.

One law enforcement source who was monitoring potential threats to the event told PJ Media the following:

[Ellison and Carson] clearly set things off. Nothing was being said until that news story came out, and then the usual suspects began to talk about it. By the time the weekend rolled around, there were clear and identifiable incitements calling for an attack on the event.

COMMENT:  Intelligence consists of gathering information and predicting the future.  If intelligence agencies were infallible, we'd depend upon them for virtually every insight we need.  They're not infallible.  They've been spectacularly wrong a number of times.  That is why it is foolish to accept assurances that Iran won't be able to cheat on any nuclear agreement because our intelligence agencies will be watching them. 

They'll be watching, but how much will they actually see?

May 6, 2015       Permalink

TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY – AT 3:14 A.M. ET:  ISIS is threatening America.  Some will laugh at their threats, just as some, before 1941, thought those funny little Japanese with thick glasses could never find Pearl Harbor.  From Gateway Pundit: 

ISIS released a new online threat today on JustPasteIt.

The terrorist group says they will murder Pamela Geller and kill anyone who shields her.

The terrorists also say they have 71 fighters in 15 different states and they 23 have signed up already for missions like the failed Sunday attack in Garland, Texas.

Via Sooper Mexican:

Bismillah Ar Rahman Ar Raheem

“The New Era”

To our brothers and sisters fighting for the Sake of Allah, we make dua for you and ask Allah to guide your bullets, terrify your enemies, and establish you in the Land. As our noble brother in the Phillipines said in his bayah, “This is the Golden Era, everyone who believes… is running for Shaheed”.

The attack by the Islamic State in America is only the beginning of our efforts to establish a wiliyah in the heart of our enemy. Our aim was the khanzeer Pamela Geller and to show her that we don’t care what land she hides in or what sky shields her; we will send all our Lions to achieve her slaughter. This will heal the hearts of our brothers and disperse the ones behind her. To those who protect her: this will be your only warning of housing this woman and her circus show. Everyone who houses her events, gives her a platform to spill her filth are legitimate targets. We have been watching closely who was present at this event and the shooter of our brothers. We knew that the target was protected. Our intention was to show how easy we give our lives for the Sake of Allah.

We have 71 trained soldiers in 15 different states ready at our word to attack any target we desire. Out of the 71 trained soldiers 23 have signed up for missions like Sunday, We are increasing in number bithnillah. Of the 15 states, 5 we will name… Virginia, Maryland, Illinois, California, and Michigan. The disbelievers who shot our brothers think that you killed someone untrained, nay, they gave you their bodies in plain view because we were watching.

The next six months will be interesting, To our Amir Al Mu’mineen make dua for us and continue your reign, May Allah enoble your face.

May Allah send His peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhummad and all those who follow until the last Day.
–
Abu Ibrahim Al Ameriki

COMMENT:  I think that says it.  Remember that it took only 19 men to pull off 9-11. 

May 6, 2015        Permalink

HILLARY GOES NUTS – AT 3:03 A.M. ET:  Hillary Clinton has gone nuts on the immigration issue.  Maybe it would be better just to say that she's gone left.  Very left.  Like, left enough to make her more Hispanic than Marco Rubio, which may be the objective here.  From London's Daily Mail: 

Hillary Rodham Clinton threw down the immigration gauntlet on Tuesday and pledged that she would extend President Barack Obama's executive orders past their current boundaries if she were to succeed him in the White House.

'I will fight for comprehensive immigration reform and a path to citizenship,' she told a Las Vegas roundtable of illegal immigrant high school students, including one who said he was transgender and another who identified herself as a lesbian.

In addition to the 'DREAMers' Obama has protected from deportation – those brought to the U.S. as minors – Clinton said she wants the program extended to grant a legal amnesty to the parents as well.

'I want to do everything we can to defend the president's executive orders,' she said, adding separately that 'as president I would do everything possible under the law to go even further.'

'We should put into place a simple, straightforward and accessible way for parents of DREAMers ... to make their case,' Clinton added, 'and to be eligible for the same deferred action as their children.'

'But that's just the beginning.'

Clinton said no one on the Republican side of the 2016 presidential contest had a plan to put illegal immigrants on a path to citizenship.

'When they talk about "legal status"' instead of 'citizenship,' she insisted, 'that is code for second-class status.'

COMMENT:  Clinton is being challenged within her party only from the left, and so leftward she goes.  Her position is becoming extreme.  She may have a hard time walking back some of her statements once she gets the nomination, but a friendly press will give her considerable help.  Look what that did for Obama.

May 6,  2015        Permalink

YIPPEE FOR CARLY! – AT 2:56 A.M. ET:  I like Carly Fiorina.  She's probably the gutsiest of all the GOP candidates for president.  And I love it when she talks back bluntly to the bullies in the journalism business, people like Katie Couric.  From NewsBusters:

Newly minted Republican presidential candidate Carly Fiorina went toe-to-toe with liberal journalist Katie Couric on Monday, sparring for 45 minutes on abortion, Hillary Clinton and qualifications for President. Yahoo correspondent Couric complained about Fiorina's criticism of Clinton: "You've had some unkind words for Hillary Clinton. You said that she was not trustworthy and she hasn't accomplished very much. I think people might think, 'Well, she was the senator from New York and she was the Secretary of State.'"

Couric chided, "How can you really make those claims?" This came after Couric had her own "unkind words" for Fiorina, reminding, "During your tenure at HP, the stock fell by more than 50 percent, which is a bigger drop than companies like IBM and Dell. And you were fired after five and a half years as CEO."

Fiorina put the two questions together and zinged:

FIORINA: Well, you see, Katie, in the world I come from, a title is just a title. I mean, you went through a whole bunch of things about me as CEO. You weren't impressed with my title. Why are we so impressed with political titles? Senator is a title. Secretary of State is a title. It's a completely legitimate question to say, "What has anyone accomplished with their title?" And the truth is, there are many in the political class who haven't accomplished a whole lot, despite their titles.

Couric quoted comedienne Cecily Strong as saying, "Carly Fiorina is considering running for President." Seems like a lot of work just to be a Fox News pundit." The Republican retorted, "Oh, Katie. Would you ask a male candidate that question?"

COMMENT:  Carly will probably not be at the top of the ticket.  She may make it as the V.P. candidate.  But whether she scores or not, she's showing Republican candidates that they don't have to take it from liberal bullies in the press.

I thought it was remarkable that Couric would bring up Carly's being fired.  Didn't Couric get pink slipped by CBS?  Doesn't she think people remember? 

Keep it up, Carly.  You may be the best man we've got.

May 6, 2015     Permalink