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OCTOBER 23,  2015

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

THE NEW STANDARD? – There's a genuine sense of shock across the internet at the statement by the Justice Department that Lois Lerner of the IRS, who zeroed in on conservative groups for harassment, will not face criminal charges.  What kind of a message does this send?  Does it tell us that Hillary Clinton might also get a clean bill of health, no matter what the FBI investigation of her finds?  Americans assume there is one standard of justice, and they are learning that maybe that naive view isn't accurate.

FOX ROMPS ON HEARING COVERAGE – From Adweek:   Fox News Channel drew the most viewers yesterday during day-long, live coverage of democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton appearing before the House Select Committee on Benghazi. CNN was second among the A25-54 demo, while MSNBC was second in viewers.  All three networks added viewers for total day programming: MSNBC saw the most growth, up +146 percent in viewers and up +105 percent in the demo compared to the Sept. 2015 average. FNC was up +72 percent in viewers and up +67 percent in the demo; CNN was up +35 percent in viewers and up +3 percent in the demo.  Fox's dominance continues to be remarkable.  I suspect it's because conservative viewers believe that only Fox will show respect for their point of view. 

JEB IN TROUBLE – From The Hill:   Jeb Bush will travel to Texas to face an increasingly anxious group of his biggest donors this weekend, just days after laying off staff and making budgets cuts to his struggling presidential campaign.  The Bush donor retreat beginning Sunday in Houston is expected to feature both his brother and his father, former Presidents George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush. The retreat, which will involve contributors to both the Bush campaign and a pro-Bush super-PAC, has long been planned.  But these major donors are now reconvening at perhaps the lowest point of the Republican's presidential campaign. The former Florida governor is struggling to find new sources of money and to convince fundraisers to reinvest in a campaign that is faltering and a candidate stuck in single digits in national polling.  This can't go on much longer.  Jeb Bush was a fine governor of Florida, but he cannot seem to make any headway in this year's anti-establishment atmosphere.  Two other fine governors – Rick Perry and Scott Walker – have already dropped out.  If Jeb also has to withdraw, it will send a terrible message to Republican officeholders who are also distinguishing themselves.  There are already rumblings, from serious sources, about a third party should Donald Trump actually win the Republican nomination. 

October 23,  2015     Permalink

OH, THAT HEARING YESTERDAY – AT 9:53 A.M. ET:  Look, you've all heard the story.   Hillary Clinton testified yesterday.  She did well by keeping her cool.  The room was packed with her supporters, who applauded on cue.  The Dems on the panel were utterly political in defending her.  The Republicans had some excellent questions.  But the setup made Clinton look like a victim, sitting there against that whole committee.  And nothing much changed.

In a committee hearing, by definition, the person testifying can easily win sympathy.  Eisenhower understood that when he privately orchestrated the Army-McCarthy hearings in 1954 to expose McCarthy as a bully.  Ollie North made the most of his "witness" status during Iran-Contra, facing down his Congressional inquisitors.

Please note the rantings of the mainstream media following Clinton's testimony.  Rave reviews all.  Once again we see the sheer power of the liberal press to shape the story.   To the press, Clinton is the new Obama, and all "journalists" will be expected to play their part in putting her in the White House.  Byron York sets the scene.  From the Washington Examiner: 

There's a reason Benghazi Committee chairman Rep. Trey Gowdy offered Hillary Clinton the chance to testify in a private, closed hearing. And there's a reason Clinton wanted to appear in an open setting, with the whole world watching.

The Benghazi Committee has made incremental advances in the public's knowledge of the circumstances of the death of four Americans in Libya on September 11, 2012. But incremental advances — nuggets of information — don't make for dramatic hearings.

In addition, public hearings can become sidetracked, for everyone to see. If one side decides to pitch a fit and bickering ensues, that is what millions of viewers experience. If the questions go off on a tangent, viewers see that, too. In any event, the purpose of the hearing goes by the wayside.

And that is what took place more than once Thursday in Clinton's much-watched Benghazi testimony. Republicans presented some new information. One leading Democrat had a tantrum and started a fight with Gowdy. And some Republicans got tangled up in side issues that didn't tell the public much about the core issues at stake in Benghazi. The result was a marathon hearing that didn't accomplish much.

At this point, there is really only one angle on Benghazi: Americans were in danger in a very dangerous country, security was deteriorating, and the State Department and Secretary of State did little, and in some cases nothing, to protect them.

From K.T. McFarland, at Fox:

She brushed off blame by saying security decisions were handled at lower levels of the State Department professional staff, not by the secretary.

She didn't receive Ambassador Stevens' requests for more security -- implying that if only she had things might have turned out differently.

It was a masterful performance. She showed enormous discipline and nearly super-human stamina.

She let nothing slip. But in the end she let everything slip. She got a perfect score, but failed the test.

She didn't mean to, but she showed us a glimpse into her soul.

It was chilling.

We now know that when Secretary Clinton met the plane carrying the bodies of the four Americans who died at Benghazi she lied about what happened.

COMMENT:  Trouble is, very few people in the public can understand the events the way K.T. understands them.  Hillary looked poised.  Who me?  I was just the secretary of state.  Wasn't my job.

The Democrats were more disciplined.  The media helped them out.  And they had a witness, Hillary Clinton, for whom lying is standard procedure.  As Ira Gershwin wrote, "Who could ask for anything more?"

But there is still the FBI investigation.  The story is not over.

October 23, 2015        Permalink

OBAMA DEFENDS "BLACK LIVES MATTER" – AT 9:25 A.M. ET:  His tin ear on full display, President Obama lectured us once again on race.  From AP:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Defending the Black Lives Matter movement, President Barack Obama said Thursday the protests are giving voice to a problem happening only in African-American communities, adding, "We, as a society, particularly given our history, have to take this seriously."

How arrogant.  There are issues in other communities involving interaction with the police that are just as serious.

Obama said the movement, which sprung up after the deaths of unarmed black men in Florida, Missouri and elsewhere, quickly came to be viewed as being opposed to police and suggesting that other people's lives don't matter. Opponents have countered that "all lives matter."

The term "unarmed" has to be examined.  A huge, 200-plus-pound guy like Michael Brown, who tried to grab a policeman's gun in Ferguson, Missouri, can kill with his fists, or render an officer unconscious. 

At the conclusion of a White House forum on criminal justice, Obama said he wanted to make a final point about the nexus of race and the criminal justice system before launching into his defense of the movement.

"I think everybody understands all lives matter," Obama said. "I think the reason that the organizers used the phrase 'Black Lives Matter' was not because they were suggesting nobody else's lives matter. Rather, what they were suggesting was there is a specific problem that's happening in the African-American community that's not happening in other communities.

"And that is a legitimate issue that we've got to address."

The fact is that, if you eliminated all cases of police officers fatally shooting blacks, it would not make a dent in the murder rate in black communities.  It is black-on-black crime that is an epidemic.  There are certainly some bad cops.  No one denies that.   It's why large departments have internal affairs divisions.  But these killings of young African Americans by cops are actually quite rare.  Each one deserves a full investigation.  But after the "hands up, don't shoot" farce in Ferguson, a Justice Department probe cleared the officer.  Facts matter, as well as black lives, as well as all lives.

Police relations with minority communities and the deaths of unarmed black men have been topics of great interest since the shootings of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in 2012 in Florida and 18-year-old Michael Brown in 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Those deaths, and others of black women, have inspired protests around the country under the "Black Lives Matter" moniker.

COMMENT:  Is Obama serious about black lives?  If he is, why does he allow Al Sharpton, a low-class racial agitator, to sit at the same table as the president of the United States? 

A few nights ago a black police officer was murdered in New York City.  He leaves a family.  Mr. Obama did not mention him.

October 23, 2015        Permalink

WORLD-SHAKING NEWS – AT 9:14 A.M. ET:  Lincoln Chafee has withdrawn from the Democratic presidential race.  Notice the difference?  From the Washington Examiner:

Lincoln Chafee withdrew from the 2016 Democratic primary on Friday morning after months of polling below 1 percent among Democratic voters.

The Rhode Island senator and governor announced his withdrawal in a lengthy speech at the 22nd Annual National Issues Conference of the Women's Leadership Forum, in which he talked about Greek plays, Vietnam and his vision for world peace. As he walked into the room the announcer mispronounced his name and he only received some mild sympathetic applause.

COMMENT:  This leaves only Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley in the race.  But Hillary pretty much has an easy run now, unless something happens with the FBI investigation into her tenure at the State Department.  That could blow the race up, paving the way for a "draft" of Joe Biden.  Some observers think that's the real plan of the Obama White House.  But as Hillary rises in the polls from lack of serious opposition, that plan may fade away too.

Jim Webb pulled out of the Dem race about a week ago. 

October 23,  2015     Permalink

OCTOBER 22,  2015

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 9:25 P.M. ET: 

HOW EMBARRASSING – From Fox:   A new poll shows The National Rifle Association is more popular than the Democratic party's two most prominent members, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.  According to the Gallup Poll, 58 percent of Americans surveyed said they have a favorable view of the gun rights group, while 35 percent said they have an unfavorable view...Compare this to recent approval ratings for the president and former secretary of state, who is running for the Democratic nomination for president, and recently announced that she would support tougher gun laws once in office.  According to a Gallup Poll between Oct.19-21, just under 50 percent approve of Obama’s job performance, while 45 percent disapprove. Meanwhile, in a NBC/Wall Street Journal survey of Americans taken Oct. 15-18, 39 percent of those surveyed had a favorable view of Clinton, compared to 48 percent with an unfavorable view.  I'm not a member of the NRA, but I think the public gets it right.

WHAT A FARCE – From Fox:   North Korea reportedly rejected the idea of resuming talks to abandon its nuclear program on Saturday, but said it would welcome negotiations for a peace treaty with Washington.  North Korea’s foreign ministry made the statement one day after President Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-hye said they were ready to open talks with Pyongyang on sanctions if they were serious about dissolving its nuclear program, according to Reuters.  “If the United States insists on taking a different path, the Korean peninsula will only see our unlimited nuclear deterrent being strengthened further,” the North said in a statement.  What sweet words of peace from North Korea.  "Our way or the highway" is the message.  North Korea, having violated the agreements it made with us on its nuclear program, now wants a peace treaty as a reward.  I wouldn't be shocked if the law firm of Obama and Kerry go along.

RYAN IS FORMALLY IN – From NBC News:   Rep. Paul Ryan informed House Republicans late Thursday that he would run for speaker after initially saying he does not want the job.  "I never thought I'd be speaker. But I pledged to you that if I could be a unifying figure, then I would serve—I would go all in," Ryan, R-Wisc., said in a letter to his Republican colleagues. "After talking with so many of you, and hearing your words of encouragement, I believe we are ready to move forward as a one, united team. And I am ready and eager to be our speaker."  Ryan's announcement comes one day after the House Freedom Caucus, an influential faction of conservative congressmen, said they would support Ryan.  The 2012 Republican vice presidential nominee is expected to easily get the support necessary to succeed outgoing House Speaker John Boehner.  Going smoothly for a change.

CAMPUS ETIQUETTE ALERT – From campusreform.org:   The phrase “politically correct” is now a microaggression according to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  The university’s “Just Words” campaign is the work of UWM’s “Inclusive Excellence Center” and aims to “raise awareness of microaggressions and their impact”—microaggressions like “politically correct” or “PC.”  Merriam-Webster defines “politically correct” as “conforming to a belief that language and practices which could offend political sensibilities (as in matters of sex or race) should be eliminated.” The university, however, claims that calling something “politically correct” “has become a way to deflect, [and say] that people are being too ‘sensitive’ and police language.” “Politically correct,” moreover, is just one of a whole host of words and phrases the university has denounced as microaggressions.   This is what our colleges have come to.  Students are treated like children who must not be "offended" by anything around them.

October 22, 2015        Permalink

RYAN ROLLS ON – AT 2:18 P.M.  ET:  Paul Ryan is wrapping up his selection as the next speaker of the House.   Maybe a future presidential candidate as well.  From Fox: 

The three House Republican groups that Rep. Paul Ryan said must support him in order for him to seek the speakership have done so – giving the Wisconsin congressman a seemingly open path to run for the job in elections next week.

The latest to support him are the Republican Study Committee and the so-called Tuesday Group. The former represents mainstream House conservatives and claims over 170 members. It said Thursday Ryan is "the right person to lead the House going forward."

The Tuesday Group, which also backed Ryan, represents GOP moderates.

Their support comes after the House Freedom Caucus, which earlier had endorsed another candidate, put out a statement Wednesday saying that the overwhelming majority of its members now support Ryan – though it wasn’t technically an endorsement. Their initial resistance to a Ryan speakership had been his biggest hurdle to running.

Ryan, in initially opening the door to a run, said that he must have broad support from these groups – and if he didn’t, he would stay on as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and not seek the job being left by retiring John Boehner.

The groups’ support will almost certainly pressure Ryan into the race, and could mean he has more than enough votes to win.

Ryan said in a statement Wednesday night the move by the Freedom Caucus "is a positive step toward a unified Republican team.”

COMMENT:  Unless something goes seriously wrong, and in Republican politics it can, Ryan is in, and should be elected speaker next week.  If he succeeds in bringing at least reasonable unity to House Republicans, he will emerge as a hero.

October 22, 2015       Permalink

YIKES – BEN ROARS IN IOWA – AT 10:15 A.M. ET:  Dr. Ben Carson has pulled ahead of Donald Trump in Iowa in the latest poll.  From Quinnipiac.edu:

With a big boost from women, Dr. Ben Carson leads Donald Trump 28 - 20 percent among Iowa likely Republican Caucus participants, with 13 percent for Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida and 10 percent for Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.

This compares to the results of a September 11 survey by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University showing Trump at 27 percent with Carson at 21 percent.

Today, Sen. Rand Paul is at 6 percent, with Carly Fiorina and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush at 5 percent each. No other candidate tops 3 percent, with 3 percent undecided.

Carson tops Trump 33 - 13 percent among women. Men are divided as 25 percent back Carson and 24 percent go with Trump.

Trump tops the "no way" list as 30 percent of Iowa likely Republican Caucus participants say they "would definitely not support" him for the GOP nomination. Bush is next on this "no way" list with 21 percent.

For 28 percent of Republican Caucus-goers a candidate who shares their values is most important, while 23 percent most want a candidate who is honest and trustworthy.

Carson shares their values, 84 percent of Republicans say, and 89 percent say he is honest and trustworthy, topping the GOP field for both qualities.

"It's Ben Carson's turn in the spotlight," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll.

COMMENT:  This is a political phenomenon.  It is true that winning the Iowa caucuses is no guarantee of getting the nomination.  But we've seen a steady rise in Ben Carson's numbers around the country.  This is not a local thing.  The race is just getting interesting.

October 22, 2015       Permalink

DUMB AND DUMBER – AT 9:31 A.M. ET:   Every now and then, John Kerry proves to us why he needs an intellectual minder to travel with him and review all his statements before he makes them.  This time the proper Bostonian has really gone over the top.  From IBD:   

Secretary of State John Kerry says that global warming skeptics should be disqualified from "high public office." By all means, Secretary Kerry, let's allow you to unilaterally set the eligibility requirements for elected officials. We'll just turn it all over to you and your astute judgment.

Here's the gaseous statement that elicited our playground response, made Wednesday by Kerry from his Climate and Clean Energy Investment Forum, as recorded by Talk Radio News Service:

"But when I hear a United States senator say, 'I'm not a scientist so I can't make a judgment,' or a candidate for president for that matter, I'm absolutely astounded. I mean, it's incomprehensible that a grownup who has been to high school and college in the United States of America disqualifies themselves because they're not a scientist when they've learned that the Earth rotates on its axis, but they're not a scientist; where they've learned that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, and it does so 24 hours a day; and you can run the list of things that we know science tells us happens, and we accept it every single day.

"And to suggest that when more than 6,000-plus peer-reviewed studies of the world's best scientists all lay out that this is happening and mankind is contributing to it, it seems to me that they disqualify themselves fundamentally from high public office with those kinds of statements."

COMMENT:  Uh, right, John.   I wonder how Kerry determined that these were 6,000 of the world's "best scientists."  Who's a "best scientist"?  In fact, some of the world's leading scientists, including the renowned Freeman Dyson at Princeton, have raised serious doubts about the theories behind "climate change." 

The history of science is filled with mistakes.  It is filled with propositions that have been accepted for generations before being proved wrong.  When I was a student at the University of Chicago I was required to take a course that explored wrong theories.  The purpose, the instructor told me, was to show students "how science proceeds." 

There was actually a serious proposal put forth recently by some scientists suggesting that those who deny climate change be prosecuted under the RICO statutes.  Yeah, let's go back to the middle ages.  Maybe we should put dissenters in dungeons, too. 

How many times in your life have you seen revisions in the preferred treatment of some diseases?  Science proceeds all the time, and sometimes the old, accepted ideas are left by the wayside.

October 22, 2015       Permalink

SHOWDOWN – AT 8:51 A.M. ET:  Hillary Clinton will testify before the House Benghazi committee today.  I have major concerns.

Based on the evidence released so far, Hillary should, logically, have a disastrous day.  And, yes, her day of disaster may still come when the FBI completes its probe of her handling of classified information while secretary of state.  But,in the real world, today's public, televised testimony is important.  Hillary has been preparing for it, and, when she prepares, she can present herself superbly.   Her lack of character is held in check.  She knows how to use television.

I fear that Republicans, to show that they are fair, will give her every advantage.  Apparently, they caved already on the way the questioning will be handled.  In truth, this should have been a classified session, with one or two expert Republican prosecutors doing the questioning.  Instead, it will be a show, with each member of the committee getting a chance to windbag it.  Structures like this always favor the witness.  Congressmen doing the questioning usually use their time to show off to their constituents. 

Trey Gowdy, the committee chairman, is superb, and an expert prosecutor.  But I wonder how he will do against a woman who is profoundly dishonest and fully confident in her ability to deceive people, and even to gain sympathy when she turns on whatever little charm she has.  And how will he do when much of the media will be searching for any "unfairness" in his questions?  And how will he do, considering that the Democrats on the panel have been carefully supplied with talking points by party operatives?

I hope I'm wrong, but I fear today's much-anticipated session will end in a draw, at best.  And that will be seen as a victory for Hillary Clinton.  I hope I'm wrong.

October 22,  2015     Permalink