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I appeared on Silvio Canto Jr's talk show from Dallas yesterday.  It's here.

APRIL 21,  2014

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 10:56 P.M. ET: 

DIRTY MONEY – From Fox:  "Talk about dirty money:  Scientists are discovering a surprising number of microbes living on cash.  In the first comprehensive study of the DNA on dollar bills, researchers at New York University's Dirty Money Project found that currency is a medium of exchange for hundreds of different kinds of bacteria as bank notes pass from hand to hand.  By analyzing genetic material on $1 bills, the NYU researchers identified 3,000 types of bacteria in all—many times more than in previous studies that examined samples under a microscope. Even so, they could identify only about 20 percent of the non-human DNA they found because so many microorganisms haven't yet been cataloged in genetic data bank."  Watch.  The Obamans will claim that higher taxes and energy bills are a public service, as they keep contaminated money out of children's hands.  Some will believe. 

GOOD POLLING NEWS – From Fox:  "Most voters say ObamaCare will play an important role in their vote in this year’s elections, and over half are more inclined to back the candidate who opposes the health care law.  That’s according to a Fox News poll released Monday.  The new poll asks voters what they would do if the only difference between two congressional candidates is that one promises to fight for the health care law and the other promises to fight against it.  By a 53-39 percent margin, more voters say they would back the anti-ObamaCare candidate.  Independents, always a key voting bloc, would back that candidate by a 25 percentage-point margin (54-29 percent, with another 14 percent saying it depends)."  I hope these numbers hold in November.   Democrats will make this a brutal fall, and make Republicans bleed for every victory. 

WARNING FROM THEIR SIDE – From NRO:  "Massachusetts representative Stephen Lynch isn’t just worried about the negative impact Obamacare will have on his party’s performance this fall — he also thinks its worst effects on our health-care system are still to come. Lynch, who voted against the Affordable Care Act in 2010, warned that the situation is 'going to hit the fan' when the law’s delayed provisions go into effect down the road.  'There are parts of Obamacare, or the Affordable Care Act, that were postponed because they are unpalatable,' he told the Boston Herald. The 'Cadillac tax' that goes into effect in a few years and taxes employer health plans over a certain value, he said, will be 'the first time in this country’s history that we have actually taxed health care.'"  There are some brave Democrats who are willing to tell the truth.  I wonder how long Lynch will last before his own party brings him down.

THIS JUST IN – Michele Obama has found the secret of life.  From AP:  "WASHINGTON (AP) — Michelle Obama said 'splurging is the key to life' if you regularly eat right and stay active. Her biggest guilty pleasure: French fries.  'How would you appreciate vegetables if you never had chocolate?' she asked. 'You couldn't live without a little chocolate, a little French fries.'"  I feel liberated.

April 21, 2014       Permalink

I'M SHOCKED, SHOCKED – AT 9:16 A.M. ET:  I'm speechless.  I just don't know how "progressives" will get through the day after this, from The New York Times:   

KIEV, Ukraine — For two weeks, the mysteriously well-armed, professional gunmen known as “green men” have seized Ukrainian government sites in town after town, igniting a brush fire of separatist unrest across eastern Ukraine. Strenuous denials from the Kremlin have closely followed each accusation by Ukrainian officials that the world was witnessing a stealthy invasion by Russian forces.

Now, photographs and descriptions from eastern Ukraine endorsed by the Obama administration on Sunday suggest that many of the green men are indeed Russian military and intelligence forces — equipped in the same fashion as Russian special operations troops involved in annexing the Crimea region in February. Some of the men photographed in Ukraine have been identified in other photos clearly taken among Russian troops in other settings.

And Ukraine’s state security service has identified one Russian reported to be active among the green men as Igor Ivanovich Strelkov, a Russian military intelligence operative in his mid- to late 50s. He is said to have a long résumé of undercover service with the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian general staff, most recently in Crimea in February and March and now in and around the eastern Ukrainian city of Slovyansk.

COMMENT:  Kinda reminds me of the time when American airmen during the Korean War reported hearing, on their radios, Russian spoken by enemy pilots.  The Russians have a way of showing up at the game.  They're in Ukraine, and I'm afraid that, given the weakness of the West, they're in Ukraine to stay.

April 21, 2014       Permalink 

SOME DEMS ABANDONING OBAMA – AT 8:57 A.M. ET:  Obama's reckless decision to again delay approval of the Keystone Pipeline has a number of Dems up in arms.  They're usually moderate Democrats from states where the energy industry is key to employment.  They represent a growing willingness by Dems to distance themselves from Obama on both Keystone and foreign policy, especially policy toward Iran and Russia.  From the Washington Times: 

The Obama administration’s latest Keystone pipeline delay had barely been announced late last week when red-state Democrats began to howl, calling the move everything from ridiculous to irresponsible and vowing to explore ways to force President Obama’s hand.

The outcry from within the president’s own party underscored the tricky politics for those Democrats, many of whom are facing tough re-election bids, and decisions such as Keystone make it difficult to be tied to Mr. Obama right now.

It also set up a major test: Can those Democrats find a way to pass legislation overruling the administration’s decision, would their leaders allow such a bill to pass, and would Mr. Obama sign it or veto it?

“This decision is irresponsible, unnecessary and unacceptable,” said Sen. Mary L. Landrieu, Louisiana Democrat. “I plan to use my power as chair of the Senate Energy Committee to take decisive action to get this pipeline permit approved.”

On Friday, as Washington was shutting down for the Easter weekend and with Congress in the middle of a two-week vacation, the State Department announced it was putting the Keystone XL pipeline application on hold indefinitely.

An afternoon call alerting congressional staffers to the decision did not go well, according to one aide who said even Democrats appeared caught off guard by the administration’s decision, and were frustrated with how the State Department was handling it.

COMMENT:  They can scream about State all they want.  This is an Obama decision.  He's yielding to powerful, extremely wealthy elements in the Democratic Party which have become environmental fanatics.  I wonder if it's really the environment they're concerned about, or investments in alternative energy.  Hmm.

April 21, 2014       Permalink

THE DEMS PLOT – AT 8:34 A.M. ET:  The Democratic Party is the underdog in this year's midterm election.   And what are they doing?  Are they going Republican, and accepting defeat like gracious ladies and gentlemen?  Are you kidding?  They're getting ready to fight like mad, and with a new, well-developed strategy.  From Dan Balz at WaPo:   

Democrats have a problem and everyone knows it. President Obama calls it a “congenital disease.” If they can’t control it, Obama could spend the final years of his presidency battling not only a Republican House but also a Republican Senate.

Democrats don’t vote in midterm elections. That’s an exaggeration, of course, but the core of the Democratic coalition is made up of many people who turn out to vote only in presidential elections. The Republican coalition — older and whiter — suffers less from midterm falloff.

So much has been made of the building blocks the president assembled to win his two elections — the outpouring of voters younger than 30; the long lines at precincts in African American communities; the support he engendered among the rising Hispanic population; the growing support for him and Democrats generally among unmarried women.

But a Republican victory in a special congressional election in a winnable district in Florida last month has put many Democrats, including the president, on edge. “Our voters . . . get excited about general elections,” Obama said at a recent fundraiser in Houston. “They don’t get as excited about midterm elections.”

And, the strategy:

Democrats are banking on the belief that they can better identify potential supporters, motivate them and get them to the polls — in essence, reshape the midterm electorate to make it look more like the electorate in a presidential year. To try to do so, they will for the first time fully employ the sophisticated tools and techniques used in Obama’s presidential campaigns to aid Senate and some House candidates.

COMMENT:  That is a damned good strategy.  Use your strength.  Do the things that work.  Understand that elections are won, not in pre-election polls, but on election day, and only the people who go to the polls are counted.

The key is turnout, a weak point in Republican history.  A stronger-than-usual Dem turnout can turn this election on its head, and deny Republicans the Senate once again.  What are you doin' about this, fellas?

April 21, 2014       Permalink

BOSTON RUN – AT 8:21 A.M. ET:  The Boston Marathon will be run today.  It's the first Boston Marathon to be run after last year's terror attack.  Security is far greater this time.  From Fox: 

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick said Sunday that Boston may be the safest place in America Monday as the city holds its annual marathon for the first time since two bombs exploded near the finish line, killing three people and injured 264.

"There'll be considerably more police presence," Patrick said on CBS' "Face the Nation". "But we also don't want to have it, you know, kind of a race through a militarized zone. So it's about striking a balance, and I think we have struck that balance."

Deval Patrick is silly.  Either you have adequate security or you don't.  There is no correct "balance" to be struck.  Patrick sounds like his chum Barack Obama. 

Approximately 36,000 runners have registered for the 118th running of the race, the oldest annual marathon in the world. That's approximately 9,000 more than last year's field, with many many of them coming to show support for the event and the city that was shocked by the attack on its signature sporting event. Race organizers expanded the field to make room for approximately 5,000 runners who were on the course when the explosions shook Boylston Street in the heart of Boston's Back Bay on the afternoon of last April 15.

More than 3,500 police officers - double the usual number - will be out along the 26.2-mile course, including undercover officers with special training. At least 100 strategically positioned video cameras will monitor the crowds.

COMMENT:  Of course we hope that there are no incidents. We noted last night that former New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly cautioned about the possibility of an incident in Boston outside the Marathon route. 

We'll wait, with concern.

April 21,  2014     Permalink

APRIL 20,  2014

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:44 P.M. ET: 

KELLY WARNS – From The Politico:  "Former New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly says he’s concerned about a 'copycat' incident at Monday's Boston Marathon but believes authorities there have done all they can to secure the race and the region.  Appearing Sunday on ABC's 'This Week,' Kelly said he worries about 'some sort of copycat event, something that looks similar to what we saw last year' along the marathon route.  And, he said, there's also the potential for an attack elsewhere in the Boston area. 'Again, you cannot totally rule out an event happening away from the marathon,' he said. 'You need resources to respond to locations away from the marathon if something untoward happens,' and local authorities are prepared for that."  We'll hope for the best tomorrow.  We hope the Boston authorities are prepared, and that there was no political correctness in their preparations.

THE FRENCH ARE NOT TOAST – The French, who have a colonial history in Syria, have often been much more on top of the situation there than has our CIA.  From AFP:  "France has 'information' but no firm proof that Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime is still using chemical weapons, President Francois Hollande said Sunday. 'We have a few elements of information but I do not have the proof,' Hollande said in a radio interview after he was asked about reports that Assad was currently using chemical weapons.
'What I do know is what we have seen from this regime is the horrific methods it is capable of using and the rejection of any political transition,' he told the Europe 1 radio station."  I suspect the French know more, but don't want to be "definite" because that may dictate action.  We were assured by the UN this week that Syria is on schedule to "export" its chemical weapons, but that assumes that the UN actually knows how much inventory Syria actually has. 

GOP IN OREGON? – Obamacare in Oregon is a wreck, and Republicans feel they may actually have a shot at taking a Senate seat from that very Democratic and very trendy state.  From Fox:  "Democratic-leaning Oregon seems like an unexpected place for Republicans to advance their efforts to win control of the Senate this year. But with a strong candidate in a state with arguably the worst ObamaCare rollout in the country, Washington Republicans think they have a winning strategy.  A Republican hasn't been elected to a statewide Oregon office in more than a decade. But Washington Republicans think they have the right candidate in Monica Wehby, a children's brain surgeon who's raised more than $1 million and who, like Republicans, has made her opposition to ObamaCare the centerpiece of the 2014 campaign.  The roughly $160 million Oregon-run ObamaCare website failed to properly enroll anybody nearly five months after its Oct. 1, 2013, start, despite officials having worked since 2002 on creating an exchange."

April 20, 2014       Permalink

EXPLAINING THE NEW COLD WAR – QUOTE OF THE DAY – AT 11:24 A.M. ET:   Russia is an adversary again.  But wait.  Didn't the Cold War end?  Didn't we win?  Janet Daley, one of the best commentators around, examines that issue for London's Telegraph.  Here is her take:

The mistake, of course, was to think that the Cold War was about what it suited all the parties to present it as being: an ideological argument, a battle of ideas, a contest between philosophies of how men should live. As it turns out, it was actually about what unfashionable historians believed all wars were fought for: territory and power.

Vladimir Putin, the former KGB officer, does not present his case for annexing Crimea and destabilising the government in Kiev as a crusade on behalf of the proletariat, or a struggle against the evil forces of international capital. There is no theory of the betterment of the human condition involved here, or any prescription for a superior form of society which would bring justice to the world. It is just a land grab justified on the basis of racial identity.

The US Secretary of State John Kerry has described this Russian aggression as a “19th-century war”, a throwback to undisguised imperialism. Maybe the conceit of our time was that the 20th century had got beyond this: that its disputes were based on profound and sincere disagreements about value systems.

COMMENT:  Very well said.  Obama and Kerry can think of themselves as "progressive" and "21st century," but the world will not cooperate.  We are once again being sold a military drawdown on the grounds that we no longer need large standing forces.  Right.  Where have you heard that before?  And how did it turn out?

April 20, 2014       Permalink

RUBIO RISING – AT 10:33 A.M. ET:  After being down for a time in the great mentioning game for 2016, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida appears to be rising again.   He's an attractive guy, and he's making moves suggesting that he's serious about the presidency.  From The Hill:

Sen. Marco Rubio hauled in a load of cash from Washington business interests during the first three months of the year, building out a donor network that could propel a White House run in 2016.

The Florida Republican’s Rubio Victory America and Reclaim America raised a combined $1.1 million in 2014’s first quarter, including donations from heavyweight lobbying firms like Capitol Counsel and BGR Government Affairs.

Other potential 2016 candidates tallied larger fundraising totals during that same time span. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), for instance, raised $1.6 million during 2014’s first quarter.

But Rubio’s extensive fundraising support from Washington’s business class could give him a leg up in the shadow money primary that has long been central to the presidential process.

“Over the time he's been in town, he's established a network of folks in the downtown community who would consider themselves Team Rubio,” said one longtime GOP fundraiser.

Rubio’s donor rolls read like a who’s who of the business community. In the first three months of the year, the PACs of corporate heavyweights such as Microsoft, American Airlines and Verizon have chipped in a donation.

Donations also came from a political action committee linked to the Koch Brothers and the chief executive of the Palm Restaurant Group.

Despite the show of support from the business community, Rubio is in the middle of the pack when it comes to possible 2016 contenders.

Paul and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), who have both indicated White House ambitions, are more popular than Rubio among the conservative grassroots.

COMMENT:  Getting the nomination will be tough for Rubio, who is pro-immigration reform and tends to be seen as an establishment figure.  But of all the potential candidates, he is one of the most attractive on the stump.  He brings in voters.  Even the Republican Party will eventually realize that voters have something to do with elections. 

As readers know, I'm not impressed with Rand Paul, largely because of his archaic foreign-policy views.  Among the hard conservatives, Ted Cruz is vastly more attractive. 

A key for Rubio is whether his fellow Floridian, Jeb Bush, gets into the race.  Some commentators say that Rubio, out of loyalty to his senior, would then be forced out, at least for 2016.  I have no idea.

April 20, 2014       Permalink

UKRAINE – THE OUTRAGE GAME – AT 10:16 A.M. ET:  The outrage game is one of the oldest in diplomacy.  An "incident" occurs, and one side expresses "outrage" at it, negating any agreements that have been made, and short-circuiting any attempts at resolution.  The side expressing "outrage" then appeals to its own people for support.  You know the line:  "Your brothers and sisters are suffering."

Hitler was a smash at this.  Now the Russians are playing the same game.  From The Hill:

Russia's ambassador to the U.S. on Sunday decried the overnight attack on a pro-Russian checkpoint in Ukraine that has broken a fragile Easter truce.

“We are outraged by the attack on the checkpoint,” Ambassador Sergei Kislyak said on Fox News Sunday.

At least two people were killed near Slaviansk in Eastern Ukraine, Reuters reported.

Kislyak said the attack suggests Ukraine is not doing enough to implement a deal signed in Geneva aimed at ending tensions with Russia.

“Unless they do so in a faithful way, there will be no solution to this crisis,” he said, adding that only when Ukraine disarms anti-Russia militiamen will pro-Russian groups stand down.

COMMENT:  Real nice.  Turns out the pro-Russian groups in Ukraine don't even recognize the agreement signed in Geneva.  And they're taking their cue from Moscow.  Those groups have stormed and taken over military bases and police stations.

The Russians outplay us at every turn.  And they're better at the outrage game.  Ukraine is a tinderbox.  Putin may show some flexibility for a while, but he'll get what he wants.

April 20,  2014     Permalink