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JANUARY 11,  2014

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 10:58 P.M. ET: 

THIS ALWAYS HAPPENS – From ABC:  "A charity formed after the shooting massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School has been unable to account for more than $70,000 it raised through marathon running, one of its co-founders said Friday.  Ryan Graney, of Nashville, Tenn., said only $30,000 of the $103,000 taken in by the 26.4.26 Foundation was used for the organization's purpose. That money was presented last January by co-founder Robbie Bruce to the nonprofit NYA, a youth sports center in Newtown, where the December 2012 shooting occurred.  Graney said Bruce was in charge of the organization's finances but has cut off contact with her.  Bruce didn't return repeated telephone messages from The Associated Press, including one left with his sister."  After every tragedy a "charity" is formed.  Some are legit.  Others are just money-makers for the "charity's" officers.  This looks particularly bad.

PLUS FOR THE CLINTONS – Terence R. McAuliffe, former Democratic national chairman and a close ally of the Clintons, was sworn in as Virginia's new governor today.  It is a major setback for Republicans.  Virginia is a purple state, and went for Obama twice.  McAuliffe, as governor, will be in a position to help Hillary Clinton carry the state in 2016, should she be the Dem candidate.  The gubernatorial election could have been won – McAuliffe had heavy political baggage and a so-so reputation – but Republicans put on their C-game.

CHRIS – A number of media outlets are quoting conservatives, almost always anonymously, who can't hide their pleasure at the problems facing Chris Christie.  Many conservatives don't consider Christie a true conservative, and are uncomfortable with his gruff, working-class image.  If Christie is done in before the 2016 presidential race, it may not only be Democrats holding the symbolic daggers.  Thus far, nothing has come out that contradicts Christie's claim that he wasn't aware of the now-famous lane closings on the George Washington Bridge that were ordered by his staff as political retaliation.  But if any memo or e-mail even suggests Christie's involvement, or if one of the staff members he fired decides to turn vindictive, this scandal could be highly damaging. 

January 11, 2013       Permalink

OUTRAGE – AT 11:14 A.M. ET:  Attorney General Eric Holder is a racialist, an embarrassment to an office that should serve all Americans equally.  Holder makes it plain he has no such intention.

One of the first acts of Holder's Justice Department, when Holder took over in 2009, was to drop charges against Black Panthers who'd engaged in open, blatant voter intimidation in Philadelphia in 2008.  It was an open-and-shut case, but was abandoned.  Another act was to appoint radical leftist Tom Perez as head of the civil rights division. 

This last week the Justice Department warned American schools about disciplinary systems that have a disproportionate impact on minorities.  In other words, a kind of quota must be established, no matter who is creating the havoc.  From Fox: 

Education experts blasted a recent Department of Justice directive, which they say seems to advocate a racial quota system for punishing school kids for such transgressions as being late or chewing gum in class.

The memo, jointly released by the departments of Justice and Education on Wednesday, urges public schools to ditch so-called "zero tolerance" policies the feds claim disproportionately affect minority students. The letter, which was sent to all public schools, said even well-intentioned policies are discriminatory if they end up being applied in greater proportion to minority children.

“Schools ... violate Federal law when they evenhandedly implement facially neutral policies and practices that, although not adopted with the intent to discriminate, nonetheless have an unjustified effect of discriminating against students on the basis of race," read the letter. "Examples of policies that can raise disparate impact concerns include policies that impose mandatory suspension, expulsion, or citation (e.g., ticketing or other fines or summonses) upon any student who commits a specified offense — such as being tardy to class, being in possession of a cellular phone, being found insubordinate, acting out, or not wearing the proper school uniform.”

Experts interviewed by FoxNews.com said punishments should be meted out to school kids who break the rules - without regard to their race. And some say that if minority children are more likely to violate school rules, then going easy on them for disrupting class will only hurt their better-behaved classmates - who are also likely to be minorities.

COMMENT:  This is outrageous.  Don't correct the student.  Adjust the numbers.  It's affirmative action taken to an absurd level.  Back to the 1960s, which is the dream of the radical left.

January 11, 2013       Permalink

SCANDAL – AT 10:58 A.M. ET:  Let's see if the major media shows the same interest in this as it has in Chris Christie's Bridgegate.  Don't hold your breath.  From Fox:

Democratic Colorado Sen. Mark Udall is under fire following reports that his staff pressured the Colorado Division of Insurance to walk back its claims that 250,000 people in the state had their health insurance canceled due to ObamaCare.

"It's downright shameful that Sen. Udall would attempt to intimidate state employees to give him political cover," Colorado GOP Chairman Ryan Call told FOX31 in Denver.

The allegations surfaced Thursday after the news site Complete Colorado published emails between Udall's office and the Colorado insurance agency last November. At the time, controversy was heating up over the hundreds of thousands of insurance cancellation notices going out -- the cancellations undercut President Obama's campaign-trail assertions that those who like their health plans can keep them.

Gee, doesn't this sound like New Jersey?  Staff pressure.  Published e-mails.  Anyone interested?

Udall's staff challenged the Colorado agency for saying there had been 249,000 cancellations.

"Sen. Udall says our numbers were wrong. They are not wrong," one insurance department official wrote, according to a Nov. 14 email. "Cancellation notices affected 249,199 people. They want to trash our numbers. I'm holding strong while we get more details. Many have already done early renewals. Regardless, they received cancellation notices."

The dispute apparently was over the fact that many of those receiving cancellation notices were also being offered renewals.

"We reached out to the Dept. of Insurance because 250,000 cancellations was radically different than the number we were hearing from the insurance industry," Udall spokesman Mike Saccone told FOX31 Denver. "In fact, 96 percent of Coloradans who received 'cancellation letters' were offered an opportunity to renew their current coverage. To the average Coloradan, that is not a cancellation."

Udall's office wanted that clarification to be made.

But the tone of the emails drew accusations of intimidation.

One email showed the same insurance agency official telling colleagues she got a "very hostile phone call" from Udall's deputy chief of staff.

Another email showed a Udall staffer telling the division "we need to move on this ASAP -- or we'll be forced to challenge the 249K number ourselves."

Brook Hougesen, a spokeswoman with the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said in a statement that Udall "authorized his staff to pressure and intimidate state officials to manipulate health care cancellation statistics resulting from ObamaCare."

COMMENT:  Udall is up for re-election this year, and is vulnerable.  Republicans should demand exactly what Democrats are demanding in New Jersey – a full investigation.  The generally liberal Colorado press will protect Udall, but dissatisfaction with Obamacare may prove a powerful incentive to get the facts out.

It's up to Colorado Republicans to put up a great candidate to defeat Udall.  Sadly, the same goofball who lost the last Senate race in the state is running again, and stands a good chance of getting another shot.  Crazy. 

January 11, 2013       Permalink

A VICTORY – AT 10:32 A.M. ET:  The leftists never give up in Wisconsin.  Having failed to recall superb Governor Scott Walker, who really saved the state with his reforms, they went after his allies in legal fishing expeditions.  But a judge has put a stop to the outrage.  From The Wall Street Journal:

Chalk up a big victory for the First Amendment. On Friday a Wisconsin judge struck a major blow for free political speech when he quashed subpoenas to conservative groups and ordered the return of property to the targets of a so-called John Doe campaign-finance probe.

John Doe probes operate much like grand juries, allowing prosecutors to issue subpoenas and conduct searches while gag orders require the targets to keep quiet. We wrote about the kitchen-sink subpoenas and morning raids by special prosecutor Francis Schmitz that targeted dozens of conservative groups that participated in the battle to recall Republican Governor Scott Walker ("Wisconsin Political Speech Raid," Nov. 16, 2013).

Now we learn that Judge Gregory A. Peterson ruled on Friday that at least some of those subpoenas were improper. They "do not show probable cause that the moving parties committed any violations of the campaign finance laws," he wrote. His opinion remains under seal but we obtained a copy.

The quashed subpoenas were sent to Friends of Scott Walker, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce Inc., the Wisconsin Club for Growth, and Citizens for a Strong America, as well as their officers and directors. Judge Peterson's order doesn't apply to other subpoena targets, but they can presumably get the same result if they file a motion with the judge and have a similar factual basis.

The order is all the more remarkable because it bluntly rejects the prosecutor's theory of illegal coordination between the groups and the Walker campaign.

COMMENT:  One of the major gimmicks of the left is to use the legal system when they cannot get what they want in democratic elections.  Just go to court and hope you get a kindly judge.

The victory in Wisconsin will, I hope, put an end to the witch hunt that has been going on.  When the right goes on those fishing expeditions it's called McCarthyism by the press.  When the left does it it's called a march for equality.  Go figure.

January 11,  2013     Permalink

JANUARY 10,  2014

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 10:41 P.M. ET:

MAJOR NEWS STORY – The media protects us from evil again.  From politicker.com:  "Stick a fork in him.  Mayor Bill de Blasio visited a Staten Island pizzeria today to meet with local residents. There, he ate pizza using a fork and a knife, drawing widespread mockery on Twitter.  In the past, other prominent political figures, including Donald Trump and Sarah Palin, have been skewered for the utensil faux pas. 'No!' The Daily Show‘s Jon Stewart yelled during a profanity-filled tirade after Mr. Trump dared the transgression. 'Why don’t you just take that fork and stick it in New York’s eye?'"  In New York we're only concerned about important things.

OLYMPICS ALERT – From USA Today:  "The State Department issued a travelers' alert Friday for the Sochi Olympics, offering standard security tips while traveling and cautioning about medical facilities and Russia-related terrorism concerns in Georgia.  Americans attending the Games 'should remain alert regarding their personal security at all times' and 'remain vigilant and exercise good judgment and discretion when using any form of public transportation,' the advisory urged."  There is very serious concern about potential terror attacks during the Sochi Olympics.  There is also concern about inadequate medical facilities, especially in case of such attacks.  The reference to "public transportation" undoubtedly relates to the history of terror groups putting bombs on buses and trains.

DIETARY NEWS – From AP:  "ALTOONA, Pa. (AP) – Police have charged a man with stealing 12 bottles of hand sanitizer from a central Pennsylvania hospital, so he could mix it with orange juice and drink it for the alcohol it contained.  The Altoona Mirror reports 51-year-old Lee Ammerman has been mailed a summons requiring him to surrender Feb. 5 on charges of theft and receiving stolen property."  Watch.  He'll get on TV and write a cookbook, with an endorsement by Michelle Obama.

UNFORTUNATE MILESTONE – From the Guardian:  "China became the world's largest trading nation in 2013, overtaking the US in what Beijing described as 'a landmark milestone' for the country.  China's annual trade in goods passed the $4tn (£2.4tn) mark for the first time last year according to official data, after exports from the world's second largest economy rose 7.9% to $2.21tn and imports rose 7.3% to $1.95tn.  As a result total trade rose 7.6% over the year to $4.16tn. The US is yet to publish its 2013 trade figures, but with trade totalling $3.5tn in the first 11 months of the year, it is unlikely to beat China.  The shift in the trading pecking order reflected China's rising global dominance, despite a slowdown in economic growth last year."  Another victory for the Obama economy.  But remember, it's Bush's fault. 

January 10, 2014       Permalink

ANOTHER FAMOUS VICTORY – AT 10:01 A.M. ET:  In an administration riddled with failure, Obamacare is but the proverbial tip of the iceberg.  Our foreign policy is in retreat and Obama's claim that he stopped Al Qaeda is coming under ridicule.  Other than that, everything is fine.  From CNN: 

(CNN) -- From around Aleppo in western Syria to small areas of Falluja in central Iraq, al Qaeda now controls territory that stretches more than 400 miles across the heart of the Middle East, according to English and Arab language news accounts as well as accounts on jihadist websites.

Indeed, al Qaeda appears to control more territory in the Arab world than it has done at any time in its history.

The focus of al Qaeda's leaders has always been regime change in the Arab world in order to install Taliban-style regimes. Al Qaeda's leader Ayman al-Zawahiri acknowledged as much in his 2001 autobiography, "Knights Under the Banner of the Prophet," when he explained that the most important strategic goal of al Qaeda was to seize control of a state, or part of a state, somewhere in the Muslim world, explaining that, "without achieving this goal our actions will mean nothing."

Now al-Zawahiri is closer to his goal than he has ever been. On Friday al-Qaeda's affiliate in Iraq seized control of parts of the city of Falluja and parts of the city of Ramadi, both of which are located in Iraq's restive Anbar Province.

COMMENT:  Sadly, the American people simply don't seem to care.  Obama has lulled them to sleep with popular troop withdrawals, cynically arranged.  We are going to wake up one morning and realize we're losing the war on terror because Al Qaeda is gaining.  It may be too late for effective action.

And the media seems perfectly content.  It is our children who will pay the price.

January 10, 2014       Permalink

ECONOMIC HORROR – AT 9:19 A.M. ET:  A new jobs report is out, and it's awful.  This is no ornament to the Dems' 2014 campaign.  From Breitbart:

U.S. employers added a scant 74,000 jobs in December, the fewest in three years. The disappointing gain ends 2013 on a weak note and could raise questions about the economy's recent strength.

The Labor Department says the unemployment rate fell from 7 percent in November to 6.7 percent, the lowest level since October 2008. But the drop occurred mostly because more Americans stopped looking for jobs. The government counts people as unemployed only if they are actively searching for work.

Stock futures fell after the report was released.

The slowdown in hiring could cause the Federal Reserve to rethink its plans to slow its stimulus efforts. The Fed decided last month to cut back on its monthly bond purchases by $10 billion. It could delay further reductions until it sees evidence that December's weak numbers were temporary.

COMMENT:  If there's any recovery at all in the economy, it's a jobless one.  We need to create 150,000 new jobs each month just to keep up with population growth.  So last month we actually lost ground dramatically.

The Dems have been counting on a recovering economy to distract attention from the catastrophe of Obamacare.  That strategy will fail unless job numbers improve, and people actually feel improvement in their own lives.

Now Republicans must come up with a job-oriented economic agenda.   And it must put that agenda in the hands of capable, winning candidates in the 2014 midterms.  No party has ever been given a greater opportunity.

January 10, 2014       Permalink

THE CONTRAST II – AT 9:04 A.M. ET:  It's great when a writer does the legwork to prove a thesis, and does it fairly.  We now can present proof that press bias has reared its ugly (or pretty, depending on what side you're on) head in the Christie base, bigtime.  From Paul Bedard at the Washington Examiner:   

The Big Three networks, in a frenzy over New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's traffic headache dubbed “Bridgegate,” have devoted a whopping 34 minutes and 28 seconds of coverage to the affair in just the last 24 hours.

By comparison, that's 17 times the two minutes, eight seconds devoted to President Obama's IRS scandal in the last six months, according to an analysis by the Media Research Center.

“While routinely burying new stories on the IRS scandal, the media practically fell over themselves to start taking shots at the potential 2016 Republican presidential nominee,” said the conservative media watchdog.

Since Wednesday night, NBC News included six reports over 14 minutes and 14 seconds. CBS devoted five reports over 12 minutes and 27 seconds. ABC managed 4 stories over seven minutes and 47 seconds, said MRC.

As a comparison over the last six months, NBC featured five seconds on updating the IRS story. CBS responded with a minute and 41 seconds. ABC produced a meager 22 seconds.

COMMENT:  Are you hearing that, Republicans?  There is an academic-media complex in this country that is frightening in its power and its recklessness.  Ronald Reagan knew how to deal with the press, by talking over the heads of reporters and directly to the American people.  We need to learn again.

January 10,  2014     Permalink

THE CONTRAST – AT 8:41 A.M. ET:  Much buzz continuing about Chris Christie's two-hour press conference yesterday, explaining Bridgegate, the scandal involving the closing of lanes on the George Washington Bridge to cause a traffic jam in a New Jersey town whose mayor refused to endorse Christie'e re-election bid.

Most observers feel Christie gave a stellar performance and, if it's shown he told the truth, he may have even enhanced his reputation for directness.

The Wall Street Journal contrasts Christie's style with that of one Barack Hussein Obama Jr, who never seems to have heard of anything that happens on his watch. 

Which brings us to the Obama Administration, which quickly leaked to the media that the U.S. Attorney is investigating the lane closures as a criminal matter. Well, that sure was fast, and nice of Eric Holder's Justice Department to show its typical discretion when investigating political opponents.

This is the same Administration that won't tell Congress what resources it is devoting to the IRS probe, and appears to be slow-rolling it. It has also doubled down by expanding the political vetting of 501(c)(4) groups seeking tax-exempt status. Lois Lerner, who ran the IRS tax-exempt shop and took the Fifth before Congress, was allowed to "retire," presumably with a pension. Acting IRS commissioner Steven Miller resigned under pressure but no other heads have rolled. Yet compared to using the IRS against political opponents during an election campaign, closing traffic lanes for four days is jaywalking.

And...

Republicans operate under a double media standard that holds them to a much lower scandal threshold. In that sense the pathetic New Jersey traffic-lane scandal may be, as Mr. Obama likes to say, a teachable moment.

COMMENT:  It is just that, a teachable moment.  Once again Republicans are reminded that they will not be treated fairly by the press, no matter how many congenial relationships they have with reporters.  John McCain admitted that he was blindsided by the hostility of the press during his 2008 run for president.  Reporters had been so nice to him.  But in the face of the campaign of Barack Obama (come to save us), the press turned.  Obama was their 1960s dream, not to be disrupted by a senator they'd liked.

The liberal press has a set of priorities, and reporting the news in a balanced manner isn't one of them.

January 10,  2014     Permalink