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JANUARY 12,  2018

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

TRUMP DECIDES ON IRAN – FROM THE JERUSALEM POST:  President Donald Trump waived nuclear-related sanctions on Iran on Friday, keeping the US in an international deal governing its nuclear program for the time being.  But in doing so, a senior administration official said that Trump would not sign any more such waivers going forward— starting a 120-day clock for negotiations over what the White House describes as a supplemental accord with Europe that will impose new terms on Iran over its future nuclear work.  The move creates a deadline on talks over a nuclear deal the European Union says is working, and that it will not touch. Should Trump fail to issue future waivers, European entities and businesses will bear the brunt of secondary sanctions, creating a potential crisis in US-EU relations, in addition to whatever actions Tehran might take in response.  The president decided wisely.  The EU is demonstrating once again that it is not our friend, only our ally when convenient for them.  Their main interest in Iran is money.  The president may have to confront the West Europeans at some point, and note that we have interests, we have a nation, we have a civilization, and we have a religious ethic.  That may have to be translated into Europeanese.

SHRINKS WARNED – FROM THE WASHINGTON FREE BEACON:   The American Psychiatric Association is pleading with its members and all psychiatrists to stop analyzing President Donald Trump, saying it is "unacceptable and unethical" to engage in "armchair psychiatry."  The APA, which is the largest psychiatric association in the world, released a statement this week decrying members of the profession who are violating the "Goldwater Rule"—commenting on a public figure's mental state from afar.  "We at the APA call for an end to psychiatrists providing professional opinions in the media about public figures whom they have not examined, whether it be on cable news appearances, books, or in social media," the organization said. "Armchair psychiatry or the use of psychiatry as a political tool is the misuse of psychiatry and is unacceptable and unethical."  The organization said it is impossible to diagnose someone from their tweets, adding that it "undermines the credibility and integrity of the profession."  "A proper psychiatric evaluation requires more than a review of television appearances, tweets, and public comments," the APA said. "Psychiatrists are medical doctors; evaluating mental illness is no less thorough than diagnosing diabetes or heart disease."  They are correct, and the media should do its part by discouraging the quack medicine of psychiatrists who violate the Goldwater rule. 

WELCOME TO THE HOOD – FROM THE WASHINGTON FREE BEACON:  A Democratic candidate running for Illinois attorney general was robbed at gunpoint on Thursday afternoon while taking promotional photos for his campaign, according to his campaign manager and authorities.  Aaron Goldstein, 42, and several members of his campaign team were taking publicity shots in the middle of the afternoon when three men in their early 20s approached them, according to the Chicago Tribune:  "One of the men flashed a handgun and demanded the camera equipment and other personal belongings from the team, according to police.  The gunman and two other men robbed Goldstein and four others of camera equipment and their cellphones before they ran away, the law enforcement source said. As of Thursday evening, no one was in custody, police said."  Since he's a Democrat, I hope the candidate remembered to blame the gun manufacturers.

January 12, 2018       Permalink

MILESTONE – AT 11:53 A.M. ET:   Technological progress brings with it nostalgia.  From Fox: 

When you look up at a plane flying overhead in America, there's one thing you'll know for sure: It's not a Boeing 747.

After nearly 50 years, the venerable aircraft is being retired in the United States for good.
The commercial airliner, which was once hailed as the “Queen of the Skies,” has been embraced by every major U.S. carrier since the first model rolled off the line in 1968. At one point in 1990, there were 130 of the jets in operation throughout the country, but many airlines gradually retired their fleet with cheaper, more efficient models including Airbuses or newer Boeings in more recent years, Flight Global reports.

And on Wednesday, Delta Air Lines is flying the last of the country’s 747s from its hub in Atlanta to Pinal Airpark — an “airport graveyard” — in Manara, Ariz.

COMMENT:  I recall my first flight in a 747, back around 1970.  I was amazed by the sheer width of the aircraft.  I always loved it.  If the plane wasn't full, you could often stretch out over the middle four seats.  At least that's the way I remember it. 

One 747 flight we took went sour.  We were almost halfway out over the Atlantic on a flight to Rome, when the plane lost an engine.  Under flight rules in place at the time, because the flight hadn't reached the halfway point, we had to fly all the way back to Kennedy Airport in New York...with a one-year-old baby.  But at least we flew in style, and PanAm provided a bassinet for the baby.

January 12, 2018       Permalink

TAX BILL ALREADY WORKING – AT 10:18 A.M. ET:   Democrats are already, and desperately, trying to play down the impact of the new tax-reform legislation.  But the truth cannot be denied, especially as it is attached to paychecks.  From Conservative Treehouse: 

The recently passed Tax Bill continues to enhance the MAGAnomic policy of the Trump administration, leading to more great economic and jobs news amid the headlines.

Do the math.  The three single-day announcements below will add more than 6,500 new jobs, average around $50,000 per job, and contribute tens-of-billions to a revitalized new America-First economy.  This is MAGAnomics in action.  This is a direct result of economic policies initiated by President Trump.  This is part of the reason why the U.S. GDP will easily exceed 4% growth in the next three years of Trump’s first term.

Economic Nationalism – America’s largest private employer, Walmart, has announced their plan to increase their minimum wage to $11/hr and give out bonuses between $200 to $1,000 to each of their more than one million employees:

CNBC – […] “We are early in the stages of assessing the opportunities tax reform creates for us to invest in our customers and associates and to further strengthen our business, all of which should benefit our shareholders,” he added. “However, some guiding themes are clear and consistent with how we’ve been investing — lower prices for customers, better wages and training for associates and investments in the future of our company, including in technology.”

Walmart said the changes will benefit the retailer’s more than 1 million hourly employees across the country and will go into effect as soon as February. 

Additionally, as a direct result of the new tax landscape in combination with the one-time write-offs for investment, Chrysler has announced they are moving the majority of their Heavy Truck manufacturing from Mexico to Michigan.

COMMENT:  Read the rest.  It's good news.  What Trump has done is not only make it possible for corporations to do better for their employees, he has put pressure on them to do so.  He has also changed the national economic psychology from mixed to decidedly positive.

Now, if the president can avoid bad moments, in which he steps all over his accomplishments with foolish tweets or comments, he will be riding high.

January 12, 2018       Permalink

RISING AGAIN – AT 9:44 A.M. ET:  Despite controversy surrounding him, President Trump continues to rise in the Rasmussen poll:

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Friday shows that 46% of Likely U.S. Voters approve of President Trump’s job performance. Fifty-three percent (53%) disapprove.

The latest figures include 30% who Strongly Approve of the way Trump is performing and 43% who Strongly Disapprove. This gives him a Presidential Approval Index rating of -13.

COMMENT:  We fully recognize that other polls have the president lower, in some cases dramatically lower.  But Rasmussen is the only daily tracking poll left, and has a history of accuracy in polling Trump, who traditionally underpolls.

I'd imagine that we will get a pretty accurate overall picture of the president's standing later in the year when the effects of tax reform take hold, and the campaign for the midterms reveals what the Democratic Party actually stands for. 

Thus far the biggest political news coming out of the Democratic camp is the deep yearning for Oprah Winfrey for president.  Translated:  They really haven't got anybody. 

January 12,  2018     Permalink

JANUARY 11,  2018

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

WOW – FROM DAILY STAR:   Just a day after claims Google Earth has snapped the USAF’s 4,600mph hypersonic warplane, NASA has gone one better.  The Parker Solar Probe’s extraordinary speed is almost too big to comprehend.  London to New York City in 28 seconds or London to Sydney in just one minute 18 seconds.  Looking further afield, it would take only 30 minutes to reach the moon (considerably quicker than the 61 hours and 56 minutes Neil Armstrong’s Apollo 11 took).  And it would get to the Sun – some 90million miles away – in a little over nine days.  That is the purpose of the remarkable machine.  Yeah, and two hours to get your luggage.

HOLLYWOOD HYPOCRISY – FROM FRONTPAGEMAG.COM:   The theme of this year's Golden Globes awards show was "Time's Up," the movement to salute the women who have come forward to tell their stories of sexual abuse, assault or harassment in the workplace.  Actress Reese Witherspoon said, "I want to thank everyone who broke their silence this year and spoke up about abuse and harassment. You are so brave. ... So people out there who are feeling silenced by harassment, discrimination, abuse: Time is up. We see you, we hear you, and we will tell your stories."  But for years women have publicly told their stories of sexual abuse and rape by Bill Clinton. One alleged rape survivor, Juanita Broaddrick, claims that Hillary Clinton attempted to verbally threaten her into silence about two weeks after Broaddrick's alleged rape by Bill Clinton. The Hollywood community raised millions of dollars for the Clintons, despite Broaddrick's accusation and the accusations of sexual harassment and battery by Paula Jones and Kathleen Willey. It's hard to get much more public than telling your story on "60 Minutes" and "Dateline NBC," as did Willey and Broaddrick, respectively.  Yet this did not disturb the Hollywood community.   Hollywood rides on money and hypocrisy.  If someone in Hollywood tells you, "I say this very sincerely..," run in the opposite direction.

NANCY MESSES IT UP – FROM THE NEW YORK POST:   House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi joked on Thursday that “five white guys” were leading talks on immigration reform – in a quip that went over like a lead balloon with her own top deputy.  “The five white guys I called them you know,” Pelosi (D-Calif.) said her in weekly press briefing, drawing uncomfortable, forced laughs from the gallery.  Pelosi then tried to tie the zing to popular East Coast burger chain Five Guys: “Are they going to open a hamburger stand next or what?”  One of those white guys in the immigration talks is Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), who didn’t find any humor in Pelosi’s cracks. Hoyer said he’s dedicated to protecting “Dreamers,” young people brought to America by their undocumented-immigrant parents.  “The comment is offensive. I am committed to ensuring DREAMers are protected and I will welcome anyone to the table who wants to get this done,” Hoyer said in a statement to Politico.   It may be too much to ask, but I'm hoping this is the first blow from a Democratic leader against political correctness and identity politics. 

January 11,  2018     Permalink

OH, I CAN'T WAIT; I COUNT THE HOURS – AT 9:31 A.M. ET:   Democrats, their creativity flowing, are planning big stuff for President Trump's State of the Union.  I'm sure it will be brilliant.  From The Hill: 

Democrats are already plotting ways to protest during President Trump’s State of the Union later this month. 

At least one lawmaker plans to boycott the speech entirely, with more Democrats possibly opting to skip the event as well. Female Democrats including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) plan to wear black to show solidarity with victims of sexual misconduct, just as Hollywood stars did at an awards show over the weekend.

Members of the Democratic Women’s Working Group had been discussing ideas for a coordinated effort around the State of the Union after wearing white — the color of suffragettes — to Trump’s first joint address to Congress last year. They settled on wearing black after watching the Golden Globes on Sunday.

Female Democrats are hoping that their display of black will help bring the “Me Too” conversation about rooting out sexual misconduct and women’s issues to Trump’s State of the Union on Jan. 30.

Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), the chairwoman of the Democratic Women’s Working Group, said she also expects to give her guest ticket in the House chamber gallery to a person involved in the “Me Too” movement, but hasn’t decided whom to invite yet.

“What we want is to really continue the conversation about sexual harassment in the workplace, about disparity of salaries where people work in the same job, and also getting paid for the value of your work,” Frankel said.

She joked that lawmakers’ attire won’t be quite the same as at the Golden Globes: “I don’t expect to see diamonds or a lot of flesh.”

COMMENT:   I'm overwhelming by the artistic genius of the organizers.   Why, how 1966!  Break out the hula hoops.

I'm all for women's rights.  My two daughters appreciate that.  But these women are stuck in the past, nostalgic for the old marches and denunciations of Miss America.

And how many of these Democratic congresswomen knew about the rampant sexual harassment in Congressional offices, and how public money was used to hush up the accusers?  Hmm.  Why do I hear, "No comment"?

January 11, 2018       Permalink

WELCOME TO THE BIG LEAGUES, OPRAH – AT 8:48 A.M. ET:   We are informed that Oprah Winfrey wants to run for president.  Okay, so do a lot of sixth graders. 

Maybe Oprah believes her run will be one long love fest.  Maybe she can make "love" her campaign theme.   That's what those afternoon talk-show audiences wanted, right?

Can you take a punch, Oprah?  About five thousand punches?  Because that's what you're going to get.  Not much love on the stump in Nebraska.  From Fox: 

Internationally renowned musician Seal trashed Oprah Winfrey on social media just days after her widely praised speech at the Golden Globe Awards on sexual misconduct in Hollywood, calling her a “part of the problem for decades.”

In a fiery Instagram post Wednesday, Seal republished a pair of photos of Winfrey with disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein, including one in which she appears to be kissing the producer’s cheek. Overlayed on the photos, in all-caps, is the text: “When you have been part of the problem for decades, but suddenly they all think you are the solution.”

Seal added a sarcastic comment to the right of the photographs that suggested Winfrey knew Weinstein was mistreating women.

“Oh I forgot, that's right.....you'd heard the rumours but you had no idea he was actually serially assaulting young stary-eyed actresses who in turn had no idea what they were getting into. My bad,” Seal wrote.

He added the hashtag “#SanctimoniousHollywood” to the post.

COMMENT:  This is just the start, and that's from a black guy.  If Oprah runs, watch the opposition researchers go over every show she's ever starred on, every movie she's ever made, every word she's ever spoken.  By the time she reaches the end of her first week of campaigning, she'll be portrayed as the nation's leading snake-oil salesman, and a self-gratifying billionaire.  Watch her numbers plummet.  It usually happens that way.

Maybe you'd prefer an easier life, Oprah.

January 11, 2018     Permalink

MESSAGE SENT – AT 6:38 A.M. ET:  President Trump increasingly demonstrates an ability to use power effectively.  He has already forced North Korea to have talks with South Korea by applying steady, clear pressure.  From Fox: 

The U.S. Air Force announced it has deployed three nuclear-capable B-2 stealth bombers and 200 air personnel to Guam -- sending a strong signal to North Korea just a few days after its talks with South Korea. 

The B-2s join a number of B-1 conventional bombers already deployed on the Pacific island. 

It is unclear how long the B-2s will stay at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. 

The Air Force last sent a lone B-2 bomber to Guam in October, but only for a few hours as part of a long-range training mission from its home base in Missouri.  

The last time the U.S. sent three of the stealth bombers to Guam was in 2016.

That was during the last year of the Obama administration.  Trouble is, Obama allowed the Norks to walk all over him, with no serious consequences for their actions.

At his news conference with the Norwegian prime minister yesterday, the president reported that our military strength is building again, month by month.  He made a special point of saying how powerful we are.  To some, that is warmongering.  To wiser heads, that is the building of peace through strength., the very strategy that allowed Ronald Reagan to conclude the Cold War on our terms.

January 11,  2018    Permalink