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OCTOBER 4,  2015

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

THE SOFT SIDE OF HILLARY – From the New York Post:  She’s on a mission to be a softer, warmer, funnier candidate — but according to a new book, the real Hillary Clinton is so volatile and prone to violent outbursts that she terrorizes staff, Secret Service agents and even her own husband.  In “The Clintons’ War On Women” (Skyhorse), out Oct. 13, political strategist Roger Stone details Hillary’s abusive behavior — dating back to the Clintons’ days in Arkansas, where Bill served as governor.  “Hillary Clinton has a long history of being domestically violent with Bill,” Stone writes. “Hillary has beaten Bill, hit him with hard objects, scratched and clawed him, and made him bleed.”  Stone, a controversial figure who recently decamped from Donald Trump’s campaign, also delves into the more fantastical rumors that have dogged the Clintons for years.  Accounts of marital discord, however, have been well-reported for decades. Even Bill Clinton’s former press officer Dee Dee Myers later admitted that she covered for the first lady.  I can't confirm specific stories, but everything I read about Hillary makes me believe that she doesn't have the character to be president.  I'm tired of hearing about how "smart" she is.  Smart people are a dime a dozen.  People with the capacity to be president are priceless.

SOLVING A DANISH PROBLEM – From WaPo:  Denmark has a problem: At some (still quite distant) point in the future, its population will disappear because people aren't having enough babies.  Now, the Danish travel company Spies says it might have found a solution. Its campaign "Do it for Mom" encourages wannabe grandmothers and grandfathers to "sponsor" trips abroad for their adult children. Studies have shown that Danes have much more sex when they are on vacation.  "Send your child on an active holiday and get a grandchild within nine months," the company says on its Web site.  "The Danish welfare system is under pressure. There are still not enough babies being born, despite a little progress. And this concerns us all," a video for the campaign states. Denmark has one of the world's most generous welfare systems, and it will need more young workers to help pay for it.  And here we thought that nuclear proliferation was the greatest threat to humankind.  I like the Danes.  They should all go on vacation.

ALERT – PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Temple University alerted students and faculty on Sunday of a threat of violence made against “a University near Philadelphia.” According to the University, other colleges and universities in the area are aware of the threat and were alerted of it by the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives).  According to the alert, the posting states the action could take place at 2:00 p.m. eastern time on Monday, October 5.  Temple sent out the following tweet on Saturday:  According to law enforcement, they are not aware of a specific threat, but Temple University Police are monitoring the situation along with local and federal officials. Temple announced that their police will have increased visibility on the campus on Monday.  The university will operate under a normal schedule on Monday.  We hope this is some tasteless prank, but every precaution must be taken.  Politicians can talk about gun control all they want, but government's first priority is protecting citizens currently at risk.  Every school or college should have armed personnel trained to handle a terror event or an active shooter.  We protect jewelry stores better than we protect schools.

October 4,  2015

RUSSIA IN SYRIA – AT 12:41 P.M. ET:  Maybe Obama doesn't take this seriously, but grown-ups do.  From Bloomberg: 

Russia intensified its bombardment of militant targets in Syria with warplanes flying more than 20 missions, as U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron joined calls for Moscow to change course in an intervention he described as a “grave mistake.”

The Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday that 10 Islamic State positions in Syria had been attacked in the past 24 hours, including militant training camps in Raqqa and Idlib provinces. Russian strikes have broken “the management and logistics of the terrorist organization” and caused “significant damage to the infrastructure used for preparation of terrorist attacks,” the ministry said on its website. Laser-guided and concrete-piercing ordnance had been used, it said.

The Russian military’s direct entry into Syria’s civil war last week in support of its ally, President Bashar al-Assad, has stirred anger in the U.S., Europe and Middle East, where leaders accuse Moscow of targeting western-backed rebel forces opposed to Assad as well as the jihadists of Islamic State.

President Barack Obama said Saturday that Russia will get “stuck in a quagmire” if it persists in using military force to prop up Assad’s government. The U.S. is intent on destroying Islamic State, and Obama said the country’s larger civil war requires a political resolution that would remove Assad, “a brutal, ruthless dictator.” In a joint declaration on Friday, the U.S., France, Saudi Arabia and four other nations had condemned Russia for the strikes.

Military officials from Russia and the U.S. began discussing operations inside Syria last week in an attempt to avoid an inadvertent confrontation in the country’s skies. A U.S.-led coalition of 65 countries has conducted more than 7,000 airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Iraq and Syria in the last year, according to the Defense Department.

Cameron, speaking as his Conservative Party began its annual conference, urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to “change direction” and back U.K. and U.S. efforts by focusing attacks on Islamic State. Russia says its air campaign is aimed only at helping Assad’s forces fight terrorists and that Russian planes have already hit more than 50 Islamic State positions.

COMMENT:  Nice sentiments, but a weak American president is encouraging Russian mischief in the Mideast and elsewhere.  What, precisely, will our allies do if Russia ignores our warnings?  That is the question.  Warnings must have power behind them.  Our warnings have Barack Obama behind them.  It's like being hit with a marshmallow.

October 4, 2015       Permalink

MR. SPEAKER? – AT 11:37 A.M. ET:  There's a new candidate for speaker of the House, and, although he's a bit of a long shot, a lot of folks like him.  From the Washington Examiner: 

Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, confirmed Sunday that he will challenge House Majority leader Kevin McCarthy for speaker of the House.

"The American people want a fresh face and a fresh new person," said McCarthy Sunday. "I am announcing my intention to run for speaker of the House of Representatives. We were entrusted by the American people with the largest majority the Republicans have ever had since Babe Ruth was swinging a baseball bat."

"But they didn't send us here to perpetuate the status quo," he said. "They want us to tackle the tough issues ... they want us to fight. They want us to take that fight to the Senate, they want us to take that fight to the president and they want us to take that fight to the American people."

Chaffetz made the announcement on Fox News Sunday and will join McCarthy and Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Fla., in the race. The Republicans are scheduled to hold leadership elections Oct. 8.

Chaffetz said that heir apparent McCarthy does not have the votes from the conservative members in the House. He said he had been recruited to run, but would support whomever was the eventual nominee.

COMMENT:  Chaffetz's entry into the race is a direct result of a whopper of a mistake that McCarthy made last week.  McCarthy said that the work of the House committee investigating Benhazi has resulted in a drop in Hillary Clinton's poll numbers – suggesting that politics was the driving force behind the probe.  This infuriated fellow Republicans, and handed Democrats an issue.  McCarthy tried to clarify his remarks but the damage was done.

I can't calculate Chaffetz's chances, but I think he has the potential to make a good run, and possibly upset frontrunner McCarthy, whose political judgment is now being questioned.

October 4, 2015       Permalink

LATEST POLLS – AT 10:51 A.M. ET:  The polls are tightening.  We might look back upon this period as a political fantasy.  From The Hill:

Polls released Sunday morning show real estate mogul Donald Trump holding his leads in the early voting states of Iowa and New Hampshire, although those leads are smaller than one month ago.

Trump leads former Hewlett Packard CEO Carly Fiorina among potential New Hampshire GOP primary voters by just 5 points, 21 to 16 percent, according to NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist pollsters.

Trump and Fiorina are trailed by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush with 11 percent and Sen. Marco Rubio (Fla.) and retired pediatric neurosurgeon Ben Carson with 10 percent apiece.

In September, Trump led Ohio Gov. John Kasich, his closest competitor at the time in New Hampshire, by 16 points, 28 to 12 percent.

In Iowa, Trump now leads Carson by 5 points, 24 to 19 percent. Fiorina follows with 8 percent, Bush with 7 percent and Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas), Rubio and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal with 6 percent each.

One month ago, Trump led Carson by 7 points in the Hawkeye State, 29 to 22 percent.

Among Democrats, Hillary Clinton maintains her lead among potential Iowa Democratic caucus-goers and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-V.) is still the leader among potential New Hampshire Democratic primary voters.

Clinton leads Sanders by 11 points, 47 to 36 percent in Iowa. Former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has 4 percent. Clinton’s lead in the Hawkeye State is only 5 points when Vice President Joe Biden is added to the field, however.

Sanders leads Clinton by 9 points, 48 percent to 39 percent, in New Hampshire in results that are virtually unchanged from a month ago. Biden gets 18 percent when added to the equation, while support for Sanders falls to 42 percent and Clinton gets 28 percent.

COMMENT:  In other words, a muddle.  It's reasonably clear that Trump is slipping a bit, or may have peaked.  Clinton is definitely slipping.

The primaries are still four months away, and that's five lifetimes in politics.  There may even be some new candidates – likely Joe Biden, possibly Mitt Romney.  The Great Mentioner has even included Al (Baby it's warm outside) Gore and John (I was for it before I was against it) Kerry.  So stand by.

October 4,  2015     Permalink

OCTOBER 3,  2015

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

HILLARY WARNED? – This, from the New York Post, is unconfirmed.  The writer, Ed Klein, has a mixed record.  But it's worth noting:  One of the Clintons’ oldest and most trusted legal advisers has urged Hillary to hire a criminal defense attorney to represent her in case she’s indicted for mishandling classified documents on her private e-mail server and for lying under oath.  The adviser, who has been a Clinton confidant for more than 30 years, laid out his concerns about Hillary’s legal exposure in a wide-ranging interview.  “This e-mail thing is spiraling out of control,” he said. “To paraphrase John Dean of Watergate fame, it’s a cancer on her candidacy.  “Frankly,” he continued, “I am used to my advice on legal matters being taken very seriously and acted upon by the Clintons. I’ve told them repeatedly that this FBI e-mail investigation could go in a very dangerous direction very quickly.  Hillary is in serious trouble anyway.  Her numbers are tanking.  Stories about her offensive personal behavior are spreading.  She might be afraid to hire a criminal lawyer because of the message it might send, but the legal advice seems sound.  I don't think the feds would want to ship her to prison, but there could be a substantial fine and the end of her political ambitions. 

MAJOR HOME ECONOMICS NEWS – This may change the world:   TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (CBS Tampa) – Doing the dishes may lead to stress relief if performed in a certain state of mind, according to a new study.  Florida State University researchers found that individuals who wash the dishes mindfully by taking in the soap’s scent and sensing the water temperatures experienced increased feelings of inspiration and decreased nervousness, as reported by Newser.  But researchers say it’s all about the way you approach the process of cleaning your dishes. If you aren’t mindful enough, it’s possible you won’t experience any added benefits.  “It appears that an everyday activity approached with intentionality and awareness may enhance the state of mindfulness,” study authors said.  I demand to know whether this applies to traditional dishwashing, or putting dishes into a dishwasher.  I refuse to give up my machine.

AUSSIES TAKING TERROR SERIOUSLY – From AFP:  An Australian mosque reportedly visited by a 15-year-old boy before he shot dead a civilian police employee in an “act of terrorism” has been raided, police said Sunday, as authorities boosted efforts to tackle youth radicalization.  New South Wales state police said the mosque in Parramatta in western Sydney — close to the scene of the double shooting on Friday afternoon — was raided with the consent of religious leaders.  “NSW Police yesterday executed a warrant at a mosque in Parramatta,” police said in a statement Sunday.  “The warrant was undertaken by arrangement with leadership at the mosque who provided full assistance to police at all times.”  If a mosque were raided here, Obama would demand an investigation and warn us of our militarism.

October 3, 2015      Permalink

HILLARY!  HER LOVELINESS – AT 11:32 A.M. ET:  It's hard to avoid the conclusion that Hillary is Nixon.  Very bright, very knowledgeable, but with a character that even a mother would reject.  The question is whether the American people would put someone like this in the White House.   From the New York Post:   

“‘Good morning, ma’am,” a member of the uniformed Secret Service once greeted Hillary Clinton.
“F— off,” she replied.

That exchange is one among many that active and retired Secret Service agents shared with Ronald Kessler, author of “First Family Detail,” a compelling look at the intrepid personnel who shield America’s presidents and their families — and those whom they guard.

Kessler writes flatteringly and critically about people in both parties. Regarding the Clintons, Kessler presents Chelsea as a model protectee who respected and appreciated her agents. He describes Bill as a difficult chief executive, but an easygoing ex-president. And Kessler exposes Hillary as an epically abusive Arctic monster.

“When in public, Hillary smiles and acts graciously,” Kessler explains. “As soon as the cameras are gone, her angry personality, nastiness, and imperiousness become evident.”

He adds: “Hillary Clinton can make Richard Nixon look like Mahatma Gandhi.”

COMMENT:  Read the whole piece.  It's choice.  I wouldn't want her hand on the nuclear trigger.  We might as well know now.  Ron Kessler is quoted:  "“No one would hire such a person to work at a McDonald’s, and yet she is being considered for president of the United States.”

October 3, 2015       Permalink

KNIFE IN THE BACK – AT 10:58 A.M. ET:  Obama can barely hide his contempt for the Clintons.  It's been widely reported that Valerie Jarrett, his chief henchwoman, has been leaking disparaging information for months.  And, yes, a few days ago Jarrett publicly said that Hillary, like all Cabinet officials, was told to conduct her public business on government-approved e-mail systems.

Now Mr. Hope and Change weighs in.  He trash talked, at yesterday's press conference, anyone who dared disagree with his brilliant strategic vision concerning Syria.  And then he knifed Hillary.  From Breitbart: 

President Obama found himself in a bit of a conundrum after he denounced critics of his Syria policy as being full of “mumbo jumbo” and “half-baked ideas.”

In response, CBS reporter Major Garrett questioned Obama whether Hillary Clinton’s proposal to enforce a no-fly zone in Syria was a half-baked idea.

“Hillary Clinton is not half-baked in terms of her approach to these problems,” Obama said carefully, reminding reporters she served in his administration as Secretary of State.

But Obama pointed out that Clinton’s rhetoric on Syria is merely campaign rhetoric.

“I also think that there’s a difference between running for president and being president,” he said carefully, pointing out that he was having specific discussions with his military advisors about the right way forward in Syria.

“If and when she’s president, then she’ll make those judgments and she’s been there enough that she knows that, you know, these are tough calls,” he said.

Clinton broke with the White House on Syria, calling for a “no-fly zone” in Syria to protect Syrian citizens in an interview with a Boston TV station on Thursday.

“I personally would be advocating now for a no-fly zone and humanitarian corridors to try to stop the carnage on the ground and from the air,” she said.

COMMENT:  No matter what superficial compliment Obama was giving Hillary, he was knifing her in the back.  He could have said that he would take her suggestion seriously, even speak with her about it.  Instead, he dismissed her simply as a candidate, and suggested she was just trying to win an election.  He diminished her. 

Now of course, if Biden runs, Obama won't do that.  He'll talk about Joe being "at my side."  A vice president, not merely a former officeholder now running for a new job.  Obama is great at the insult.  It's one of his few real talents.

October 3, 2015       Permalink

NEVER HAPPENS THERE, ONLY HAPPENS HERE ACCORDING TO FIELD MARSHAL OBAMA – AT 10:43 A.M. ET:  The field marshal has been ranting about the evils of the United States, which are infinite in his mind.  We are alone among the civilized nations to have this gun problem.

Uh, just a sec.  There was an incident in Australia, which confiscates guns, just a few days ago.  The Australian prime minister, unlike our field marshal, gets it right.  From AFP:

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said Saturday that a Sydney attack in which a 15-year-old gunman shot dead a civilian police employee appeared to have been an act of terrorism.

Police said the teen, who they did not name, was shot dead in an exchange of fire with officers after he killed finance worker Curtis Cheng at close range outside the New South Wales force’s headquarters in western Sydney on Friday.

Reports said that the youth, who police said was of Iraqi-Kurdish background and had been born in Iran, had been shouting religious slogans before shooting Cheng in the back of the head.

“I saw him pacing up and down at police headquarters with a gun above his head, he was yelling something and dressed in a black robe,” one witness told Sydney’s Daily Telegraph.

Turnbull called on Australians to go about their lives as usual as they begin a long weekend in which two major sporting finals will be held in Sydney and Melbourne.

“This appears to have been an act of politically motivated violence so at this stage it appears to have been an act of terrorism. It is a shocking crime,” the prime minister said in Melbourne.

“It was a cold-blooded murder, targeting the New South Wales Police Service. It was doubly shocking because it was perpetrated by a 15-year-old boy.

“And it underlines the importance of families, communities, leaders being very aware of whether young people are becoming radicalized,” he said.

COMMENT:  When it happens here, under Obama, it's "workplace violence," the official designation of the Fort Hood massacre.  And we are sternly lectured not to indict an entire religion, as if we have to be told.

October 3,  2015     Permalink