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DECEMBER 1,  2018

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

AND AGAIN – FROM COLLEGE FIX:   Three thousand protesters, one campus street and student paper website painted black, and one “emotionally charged” meeting later, officials at Drake University have concluded that four of five racist notes discovered in residence halls were hoaxes perpetrated by the same student.  A freshman has admitted to writing one note and receiving “at least” one other, but Drake officials said she faces criminal charges for four of them.  Drake spokesman Jarad Bernstein noted the student also faces discipline via the Drake Code of Student Conduct “up to and including expulsion,” according to the Des Moines Register.  The fifth incident involves freshman Keith Walker who has refused to cooperate with law enforcement and has denied interview requests. He did take to social media, however, to say he left school on November 9 for “mental health reasons” but would return. He also wrote that if he was white, he’d have been accommodated with a room at “the Holiday Inn” near the university.  There are, of course, real incidents of bigotry, but the number of proved hoaxes is disturbingly high.

EVEN SANTA ISN'T SAFE FROM PC – FROM FOX:   A substitute teacher filling in in a New Jersey classroom reportedly informed a group of first graders on Thursday that what they thought they knew about  Santa Claus wasn’t true, and St. Nick wasn't real.  The holiday disclosure occurred at Cedar Hill School, Montville schools spokeswoman Susan Marinello told Patch, and reportedly prompted the school’s principal to notify parents via a letter about what had happened.  “I am sending this letter so that you are aware of the situation, and if the conversation comes up at home over the next few days you can take appropriate steps to maintain the childhood innocence of the holiday season,” Principal Michael Raj wrote to parents, according to Patch.  He reportedly told them that upon learning what transpired, he quickly addressed the matter with the unidentified substitute “regarding her poor judgment in making this proclamation.”  In the letter, Raj, himself a parent, recognized the “sensitive nature” of the topic, The Associated Press reported.  Montville Schools Superintendent Rene Rovtar was “disheartened” by what took place in the classroom, according to a statement obtained by Patch.  “The childhood wonder associated with all holidays and traditions is something I personally hold near and dear in my own heart,” Rovtar said.  Delighted to see, for a change, school officials acting with sensitivity and respect for families.

WEDDING NEWS – FROM FOX:   One happy couple tied the knot in a ceremony that reflected both their passions and love story, saying “I do” in a Harry Potter themed wedding at a California Costco, the site of their first date.  On Nov. 29, Margot Schein and Julian Parris said “I do” at a Costco in the Mission Valley neighborhood of San Diego, Fox 47 reports. The lovebirds got hitched on the date of their three-year anniversary, after first connecting on dating app OkCupid, as per Today.  “We have so much in common, but Costco is the first thing,” the bride told the outlet.   At least they're frugal, and that's a good thing.

December 1, 2018       Permalink

PARIS IS BURNING – AT 5:37 P.M. ET:  This has not gotten anywhere near enough attention.  France is deteriorating.  The current government seems to have support only among the wealthy, educated elite.  (Sound familiar?)  From AP: 

PARIS (AP) — The most violent urban riots in a decade engulfed the French capital on Saturday, as “yellow jacket” protesters torched cars, smashed windows, looted stores, and tagged the Arc de Triomphe in Paris with multi-colored graffiti.

Protesters angry about rising taxes and the high cost of living clashed with riot police, who closed off some of the city’s most popular tourist areas and fired tear gas and water cannons in running street battles with activists dressed in the fluorescent yellow vests of a new protest movement.
It was the third straight weekend of clashes in Paris and the worst urban violence since at least 2005. Hours later, cars still smoldered and law enforcement and protesters continued to face off elsewhere in the capital.

The scene contrasted sharply with protests elsewhere in France, where demonstrations and road blockades Saturday were largely peaceful.

Paris police said at least 92 people, including 20 police officers, were injured in the violent protests in the French capital and 224 others were arrested. Thousands of police were deployed to try to contain the mayhem.

A piece for Gatestone Institute describes what France is facing, under the pompous, thoroughly self-satisfied government of President Macron, who never misses a chance to lecture President Trump:

When Macron was elected in May 2017, he promised to liberate the economy; however no significant measures, were taken. In spite of some cosmetic reforms– such as limits on allowances for unfair dismissal or the slightly increased possibility that small businesses could negotiate short work contracts -- the French labor code, still one of the most rigid in the developed world, expertly blocks job creation. The tax burden (more than 45% of GDP) is the highest in the developed world. Even if some taxes were abolished since Macron became President, many new taxes were created. Public expenditure still accounts for about 57% of GDP (16% above the OECD countries average) and shows no signs of waning.

Macron also promised, when he was elected, to restore security. Lack of security, however, has been exploding; the number of violent assaults and rapes has been steadily on the rise. No-go zones are as widespread as a year ago and fiercely out of control. The influx of unvetted illegal immigrants into the country has sadly turned entire neighborhoods into slums.

And...

The small minority of French people who still support Macron are not affected by these measures. Surveys show that they belong to the wealthy layers of society, that they live in affluent neighborhoods, and almost never use personal vehicles. The situation is painfully different for most other individuals, especially the forgotten middle class.

COMMENT:  And in Germany, the government is a mess, having gambled on immigration policies so reckless that even Hillary Clinton denounced them.

Read the whole Gatestone piece.  It's worth it.  The question that must be asked is whether Western Europe will become a true basket case, and a burden to the United States.  There is even a possibility that Jeremy Corbyn, a true socialist, anti-American nut will become prime minister of Great Britain.  Aside from his casual indulgence in anti-Semitism, Corbyn despises Western values. 

We may be seeing the start of "Europe the irrelevant."  Or, there could be a populist backlash that leads to a new fascism.  In Europe, the worst is always possible. 

December 1, 2018       Permalink

GET HER MEDICATED – AT 1:20 P.M. ET:  Some people in politics wear out their welcome before they're even welcomed.  Consider this prize example from the annals of bad taste.  From Fox: 

Democratic Socialist darling Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Friday said fellow progressives’ and her election victory – in an overwhelmingly Democratic district – was akin to the 1969 moon landing and the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

“We've done what we thought was impossible,” she told a crowd during an event hosted by an environmental group, the Sunshine Movement, that aims to combat climate change.

“We went to the moon. We electrified the nation. We established civil rights. We enfranchised the country. We dig deep, and we did it. We did it when no one else thought that we could. That's what we did when so many of us won an election this year,” Ocasio-Cortez added...

...But Ocasio-Cortez’s claim that their election victory is on par with the historical moments in American history appears to be exaggerated.

She became a household name after defeating a 10-term Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley in the party’s primary, sending shockwaves across the Democratic Party’s establishment.

Yet she easily cruised to victory because her district doesn’t have a Republican presence and no viable opponent was put forward to oppose her candidacy.

Even in her primary election against Crowley, less than 16,000 people voted for the Democratic Socialist, out of total 27,744 ballots, despite the district having hundreds of thousands of registered Democrats.

COMMENT:   I'm glad Fox set the record straight on that.  Little Evita's victory was minor and easy.  She is an immature clown, a public embarrassment, but all too typical of a political party that is increasingly petty and childlike.  Roosevelt, Truman, and Kennedy would never recognize their party today. 

The sad fact is, though, that elements of the media will elevate this brat to iconic status, and that is a danger to us all.

December 1, 2018       Permalink

THIS WEEK IN WASHINGTON – AT 12:53 P.M. ET:  The funeral for President George H.W. Bush will be held this week in the nation's capital.  It is now confirmed that President and Mrs. Trump will attend.  Clearly, the media focus will be on the interaction between Trump and the Bushes.  The Bushes have no love for the president.  Maybe there will be a reconciliation, maybe not.  From USA TODAY:

WASHINGTON – President Trump and first lady Melania will attend the funeral of former president George H.W. Bush at the National Cathedral, the White House said Saturday, and Wednesday will be declared a national day of mourning.  

Trump was set to speak with George W. Bush Saturday morning to offer his condolences, the White House said.

Details and timing of the funeral service at the cathedral in the nation's capital were still being determined.

“The president and first lady were notified late last night of President George H.W. Bush’s passing. President Trump is scheduled to speak with President George W. Bush this morning and offer his condolences on behalf of himself, the first lady and the entire country," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement.

"A state funeral is being arranged with all of the accompanying support and honors. The president will designate Wednesday, Dec. 5 as a National Day Of Mourning. He and the first lady will attend the funeral at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.”

The state funeral for the 41st president will be the first presidential funeral since Gerald Ford died in 2006.

Bush died Friday night in Houston at the age of 94, family spokesman Jim McGrath said in a statement. His death sparked tributes from around the world and across the political aisle following the announcement.

Bush's death comes months after the passing of his wife of 73 years, Barbara. The former first lady died in April. Her memorial service in Houston drew hundreds of people from past presidents and pizzeria owners, to heads of state and historians. Noticeably absent was Donald Trump, who declined an invitation "out of respect" for the Bushes. 

COMMENT:  I assume the other living former presidents will attend – Carter, Clinton, Obama, and, of course, George W. Bush. 

I hope that the event is not politicized by a speaker appearing to lecture Mr. Trump.  If all goes smoothly, it can be an important moment of national continuity.

December 1,  2018     Permalink

 NOVEMBER 30,  2018

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

BUSH 41 IS GONE – George H.W. Bush, 41st president of the United States, has died.   As Tom Brokaw points out, he was the last president of "the greatest generation."  He served as a carrier pilot in World War II.  Funeral details have not been announced, but we're assuming there will be the traditional state funeral in Washington.  President Trump issued a very gracious tribute, striking in light of the real coldness between the president and the Bush family.  The president declined an invitation to Barbara Bush's funeral, and one cannot predict whether he will attend President Bush's. 

CHURCHILL – Today, November 30th, is Winston Churchill's birthday.  He was born in 1874.  He led Britain in the war in which George H.W. Bush fought.  It was Churchill's inspiring leadership in 1940, in Britain's darkest hour, that was instrumental in keeping British morale strong and winning the air Battle of Britain.  Had Britain been defeated, our task after we entered the war in late 1941, would have been infinitely more difficult.  Today it is fashionable to denigrate Churchill as a colonialist and racist.  He was a colonialist, but he was no racist.  The big talkers on college campuses who dismiss him would not have the freedoms they possess had it not been for the leadership of Winston Churchill.

A SIGN OF OUR PATHETIC TIMES – FROM FOX:  A radio station in Ohio has pulled "Baby It's Cold Outside" from its lineup after a listener expressed concern over the holiday song's lyrics.
According to Fox 8, WDOK Christmas 102.1 removed the tune after one listener called the radio station and suggested it's not appropriate to play the 1940's classic in 2018.  “It wasn't really our decision," WDOK host Desiray told the outlet. "It's the decision of our listeners."  "People might say, ‘Oh, enough with that #MeToo,’ but if you really put that aside and listen to the lyrics, it's not something I would want my daughter to be in that kind of a situation,” she continued, explaining that the “the tune might be catchy, but let's maybe not promote that sort of an idea."  According to Fox 8, the Cleveland radio station said they conducted a poll on its website with the majority of voters in favor of removing the song. However, the results were not visible online, Fox 8 reported.  A separate poll on the radio station's Facebook page did show results and they were quite different: 92 percent out of more than 600 voters were in favor of playing the song while 8 percent thought it was inappropriate.  In a free society, we play it and let the listeners decide.    But this is, increasingly, not a free society.

November 30, 2018       Permalink

THE "MIGRANTS" – AT 1:48 P.M. ET:   We are not cold or unsympathetic.  Who isn't affected by the sight of little children at the American southern border?   But who also isn't outraged at the morals of those who send kids up to a border, where clashes with the police are occurring?  We want to help, but we also want the laws of the United States to be followed.  From Townhall: 

New numbers from the Department of Homeland Security show that just 9 percent of asylum claims made by individuals from Central America turn out to be legitimate.

"The low statutory requirements and legal loopholes in our laws encourage aliens to claim credible fear at our Southern border knowing they will be promptly released into the interior with work permits pending the determination of their full claim. In recent years, data shows that more than 65 percent of asylum seekers at our border are from Central America – of those 89 percent pass their initial credible-fear interview," DHS spokesperson Katie Waldman released Thursday afternoon.

"Yet, the harsh reality is that 31 percent of aliens who pass that initial interview do not even show up for their hearing, while a staggering 40 percent of aliens who pass their initial interview do not even file an application."

"Ultimately, only 9 percent of Northern Triangle petitioners are found eligible for asylum by a judge – leaving 91 percent ineligible for asylum," she continued. "The fact that only 9 percent of those who initially claim asylum are found eligible, indicates that we are expending most of our limited resources – detention space, court space and the time of our asylum officers and immigration judges – denying frivolous or illegitimate claims of asylum from the 9 out of 10 who are found ineligible."

Current U.S. immigration law requires illegal aliens traveling from Central America as a family unit, specifically with children, to be released into the interior of the United States after 20 days of federal detention.

"Where are those 91 percent today? While some are properly removed from the U.S. by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), many of those who are released on a promise to appear in court disappear into the country’s interior to live and work illegally. In FY17, only 1 percent of the 226,119 removals conducted by ICE were on Alternatives to Detention," Waldman said.  

COMMENT:  We should point out that anyone can apply for legal entry into the United States, but we cannot accept people trying to rush the border.  Nor can we allow Americans to manipulate the system to allow large numbers of potential Democratic Party voters into the country.

And, of course, please note that there is very little coverage of the countries from which these migrants come.  I guess the press doesn't want to offend the multicultural crowd.  After all, all cultures have their own validity.

November 30, 2018        Permalink    

WE'RE WAKING UP – AT 12:30 P.M. ET:  Weren't you baffled by the strange vote counting in the People's Republic of California?  On election night, it appeared that a number of Republican congressional seats were safe.  And then, in the weeks after the election, "late counting" reversed every one of them.  Now the Republicans are getting woke, and realizing something may be very wrong in those vote counts.   From Fox: 

House Speaker Paul Ryan questioned the legitimacy of California’s ballot-counting process Thursday, adding to claims from many Republicans that the state’s election procedures are flawed.

“It defies logic to me,” Ryan told the Washington Post. “We had a lot of wins that night, and three weeks later we lost basically every contested California race. This election system they have, I can’t begin to understand what ballot harvesting is.”

"Ballot harvesting" is when a third party collects completed ballots from voters and hands them over to election officials. The practice was legal for the first time in California this year.

Ryan has not accused California of any wrongdoing.

Californa took longer than other states to finish counting ballots cast Nov. 6, prompting criticism from many Republicans. By Election Night millions of ballots that were mailed in still needed to be hand-counted.

Alex Padilla, the state's top election official, fired back at Ryan on Twitter, saying the state makes sure "every ballot is properly counted and accounted for. That’s not 'bizarre,' that’s DEMOCRACY.”

“It shouldn’t ‘defy logic’ that elections officials are meticulous in counting every eligible ballot,” Padilla continued, the Mercury News of San Jose reported. “California works to ensure every ballot is counted properly and every ballot is accounted for. In the most populous state in the nation — and the state with the largest number of registered voters — this takes time.”

Democrats flipped six House seats across the state on Election Night. Most of California’s outstanding ballots were those received by mail or received after Election Day. Others were provisional ballots, which are submitted when voters show up to the wrong polling location, or when their name isn’t on the rolls.

The state also allows same-day voter registration, adding to the number of ballots that needed to be verified and counted.

“The way the absentee ballot program used to work and works now, it just seems pretty loosey-goosey,” Ryan said. “Point being, when you have candidates that win the absentee ballot vote, win the day of the vote and then lose three weeks later because of provisionals, that’s really bizarre. And so I just think that’s a very, very strange outcome.

“When you win the absentee ballots and you win the in-person vote, where I come from, you win the election,” Ryan added.

COMMENT:   An inquiry is called for.  There should have been journalistic questions by now, but don't hold your breath.  The press in California is even more leftist than moral.  Dems win?  No questions.

When you see so many counts all go in the same direction, you have reason to wonder.

American Thinker covers the same subject here.

November 30,  2018     Permalink