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JUNE 27,  2015

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:56 P.M. ET: 

HILLARY NO GREAT DRAW – From Daily Caller:   Virginia Democrats were offered free tickets Friday to the annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner in Virginia, Hillary Clinton’s first campaign stop in the critical swing state.  In an email leaked to Business Insider, supporters of Clinton’s campaign in Virginia were given a chance to forego the $30 price for tickets to the event, as long as they provide the code included in the email. The event was intended to support democratic fundraising for the state, but Clinton’s appearance and speech are geared toward garnering support among East Coast Democrats.  An operative for a 2016 Republican candidate took a shot at the Democratic frontrunner, referencing the irony surrounding her previous PR disaster of her speech prices.  “How bad is it out there for Hillary?  She’s gone from paid speeches to paying people to hear her speeches.”  The only good week for Hillary are those when she's out of the news.

MORE HILLARY, NOT GOOD – From Powerline:  Rich Lowry says that a “plugged-in lefty” tells him he believes that Bernie Sanders will defeat Hillary Clinton in both Iowa and New Hampshire. This scenario may sound far-fetched, but polling data suggests it could come to pass.  A new WMUR/CNN Granite State Poll, conducted by the University of New Hampshire Survey Center from June 18 to 24, puts Sanders within 8 points of Clinton, 43-35 (with a margin of error of 5.2 percent). In Iowa, reportedly, a Suffolk University poll and a Morning Consult survey put Sanders within 10 points and 12 points, respectively, of Clinton.  Bloomberg’s polling is considerably more favorable to Clinton. However, it shows that her margins are shrinking.  I believe that all it will take to start a real backlash against Hillary in the Democratic Party is one more scandal.  Hillary's operating margin is very slim at this point.  Even her supporters don't seem to have much passion.

THE NERVE – From Reuters:  China accused the United States on Friday of being “haunted by spreading guns” and racial discrimination, in its annual tit-for-tat rebuttal to US criticism of China’s human rights record.  In a lengthy report carried by the official Xinhua news agency, China’s State Council Information Office said the United States “violated human rights in other countries in a more brazen manner, and was given more ‘red cards’ in the international human rights field”.  “The US was haunted by spreading guns and frequent occurrence of violent crimes, which threatened citizens’ civil rights,” the report said.  The China section of the annual US State Department report on human rights conditions globally, released on Thursday, said that “repression and coercion were routine” against activists, ethnic minorities and law firms that took on sensitive cases.  I'm sure the Chinese statement will be studied with approval in elite academic circles in the United States.

June 27, 2015       Permalink

IRAN TALKS DOWN TO WIRE – AT 12:16 P.M. ET:   From The Hill:

Secretary of State John Kerry said “very tough issues” remain as international negotiators hold what could be their final round of talks to get a deal over Iran’s nuclear program.

Speaking to reporters in Vienna on Saturday, Kerry said both sides are “hopeful” to reach an agreement.

“We have a lot of hard work to do. We have some very tough issues, and I think we all look forward to getting down to the final effort here to see whether or not a deal is possible,” Kerry said.

“I think that everybody would like to see an agreement, but we have to work through some difficult issues,” he added.

Kerry’s Iranian counterpart, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, struck a similar note.

“I agree maybe not on the issues, but on the fact that we need to work really hard in order to be able to make progress and move forward,” he said.

“We’re determined to do everything we can in order to be able to make this important milestone, but that depends on a lot of things and we’re going to work on them,” according to Zarif.

Iran and Western powers have given themselves until Tuesday to strike a bargain that would curb Tehran’s nuclear effort in exchange for sanctions relief.

COMMENT:  We have the worst negotiators.  We really do.  They're appeasers, working under an appeasement president.  We should pull out of the talks.  The Iranians need this agreement to get rid of sanctions.  If we pull out, the heat is on them to make some concessions and return to the bargaining table.  But Obama doesn't think that way. 

We'll see if anything is decided by Tuesday.  If not, they'll go into overtime.  No agreement at this stage could be a good one for us.  The Iranians are making clear they will not agree to our basic demands. 

June 27, 2015       Permalink

GOP PLEDGES RELIGIOUS FREEDOM PUSH – AT 11:53 A.M. ET:  An intelligent, thoughtful approach might well produce good results.  From The Hill:

Senate Republicans are pledging to protect religious freedom after a Supreme Court ruling Friday legalized same-sex marriage across the country.

In a 5-4 decision, the court said there is a right to same-sex marriage in all 50 states, handing a historic win for gay rights.

Sen. John McCain said in the wake of the ruling that he is "committed to upholding the religious freedom protections afforded to all of us under our Constitution."

The Arizona Republican, who is up for reelection next year and could face a primary challenge, added that "while I have deep respect for Americans on all sides of the issue, I disagree with today's decision."

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) criticized the Supreme Court for "imposing the views of five elected judges on a country that is still in the midst of making up its mind about marriage."

Lee, who is also up for reelection, said he would work on getting his legislation passed, the First Amendment Defense Act, which he says would "prevent the federal government from discriminating against anyone who believes that marriage is a union between one man and one woman."

Meanwhile, Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) said that he will "continue to work to protect the First Amendment rights of those who, based on their religious convictions, oppose same-sex marriage."

COMMENT:  These are important measures.  If carefully drawn, they might pass Constitutional muster, even with this Supreme Court.   The Court has ruled gay marriage a right in all 50 states.  But that does not mean that vendors, such as photographers, should be forced to participate in a religious ritual of which they disapprove.  They should not. 

June 27, 2015       Permalink

TERROR LATEST – AT 11:05 A.M. ET:  We are only now starting to realize the extent of yesterday's terror attacks, especially in Tunisia.  We are being told by Obama Central that there is not yet proof that they were coordinated, but that is deceptive.  ISIS put out calls for individual attacks around this time to commemorate a Muslim holiday.  From, surprisingly, Britain's left-wing Guardian:

Here are the latest updates on what we know on all three attacks.

We’ll be shutting down the live blog for now, but keep checking back for more coverage on The Guardian.

More than 60 people have been killed across three continents, during three separate attacks in Tunisia, France and Kuwait. These attacks are not believed to be coordinated

At least 38 people have been killed in a terrorist attack on a beachside hotel in Sousse, Tunisia and 36 wounded (eight in critical condition).The British Foreign Minister confirmed 5 Britons were among the dead, as was one Irish woman

Guests at the Imperial Marhaba hotel, barricaded themselves in hotel rooms throughout the day. British holidaymakers are being flown back to the UK on Friday night to Gatwick, Doncaster and Manchester airports.

Tunisia’s president said the attack was “worse than terrible” and has called for a unified international response to terrorist threats

The Tunisian interior ministry said a gunman was killed in an exchange of fire with security forces.There were conflicting reports over whether there was another gunman, and, if so, whether he was still at large.

In France, police have arrested four people – including the main suspect Yassin Salhi – after a decapitated body was found following an attack on a factory in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, south of Lyon. The suspect had reportedly tried to blow up the factory belonging to a US gas company

The three attacks come just days after after an Islamic State (Isis) spokesman urged jihadists to make the holy month of Ramadan “a time of calamity for the infidels … Shias and apostate Muslims”.

COMMENT:  In the U.S., the FBI is arresting more ISIS suspects than ever before.  There is a real fear that ISIS will soon strike here.  I'd imagine that fear is justified.

June 27,  2015     Permalink

JUNE 26,  2015

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:54 P.M. ET: 

WALKER CALLS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT – From The Politico: Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, seizing the moment after the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling legalizing same-sex marriage, called Friday for a Constitutional amendment that would allow the states to decide whether gay marriage should be legal.  Walker’s call came shortly after the high court ruled 5-4 that same-sex couples could marry across the country, overturning a number of state same-sex marriage bans.  The ruling was “a grave mistake,” the Republican governor said, touting his support for amending his state’s constitution “to protect the institution of marriage from exactly this type of judicial activism.”  There isn't much current support for an Amendment.  The Dems, who have been captured by every special interest on Earth, would never go along.  I like Lindsey Graham's approach, which is to pass legislation strengthening religious freedom.

AMERICANS FEARFUL OF ECONOMY – From the Washington Examiner:   The ever-expanding Republican presidential field, which threatens to splinter over social issues as dark horses grab hot-button topics for attention, is being urged to stick to the economy where the real pot of voter gold sits.  "Concern over the economy is the highest I've ever seen," top GOP pollster Ed Goeas told the moderate Republican Ripon Society. He said 72 percent are worried about an economic downturn.  "Republicans need to get into the game on better turf and that means talking in specifics about how we will bring the economy back and help create the jobs that go with real recovery," added pollster David Winston.  I think that's good advice.  Most Republicans have admirable views on social issues, but the media distorts them to make the GOP look like a party of bigots, which it is not.  The economy and Obama's failed foreign policy should be the centerpieces of next year's campaign.

THIS IS NOT THE SOVIET UNION, AT LEAST NOT YET – From Daily Caller:  Americans trust their doctors, so the White House wants these medical professionals to be a mouthpiece for President Obama’s global warming agenda.  “We also need doctors, nurses and citizens, like all of you” President Obama said in a taped speech presented to medical professionals gathered at the White House, “to get to work to raise awareness and organize folks for real change.”  I wasn't aware that doctors and nurses are messengers of the government.  I hope the medical profession ignores Obama's invitation to be part of the socialist revolution.  I hope doctors and nurses practice the best medicine they can.

June 26,  2015     Permalink

SUPREMES GO LAVENDER – AT 11:14 A.M. ET:  The U.S. Supreme Court decided 5-4 today that gay marriage must be legal in all 50 states.  From The New York Times: 

WASHINGTON — In a long-sought victory for the gay rights movement, the Supreme Court ruled on Friday that the Constitution guarantees a right to same-sex marriage.

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote the majority opinion in the 5 to 4 decision. He was joined by the court’s four more liberal justices.

The decision, the culmination of decades of litigation and activism, came against the backdrop of fast-moving changes in public opinion, with polls indicating that most Americans now approve of same-sex marriage.

Justice Kennedy said gay and lesbian couples had a fundamental right to marry.

“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family,” he wrote. “In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were.”

COMMENT:  The issue here is not whether you or I favor gay marriage.  We have two gay marriages in our extended family.  Having worked in Hollywood, I've worked with many gay people over the years.

Ronald Reagan, a former actor, was the first president to have a gay couple stay at the White House.

The issue, though, is whether a court, even the Supreme Court, should make judgments on a cultural and religious institution that goes back thousands of years.  Once again the high Court is acting like a legislature, as it did in Roe v. Wade. 

A court decision has legal power, but no moral power.  A legislative decision has moral power in that it represents, at least in theory, the will of the people.

The law is now settled.  But it was settled by the wrong branch of government.

June 26, 2015       Permalink

U.S. MOVES DOMESTICALLY AGAINST ISIS – AT 9:52 A.M. ET:  It won't be nearly enough, but at least some government agencies are taking action.  From Bloomberg:   

The FBI has been rounding up more potential "lone wolf" terrorists, Congressional leaders and the Justice Department say, in response to the perception of a mounting threat of domestic attacks inspired by the Islamic State.

Since the thwarted attack on a "Draw Muhammad" conference in Garland, Texas, on May 3, the Justice Department has announced the arrests of 10 individuals it says were inspired by and supporting the Islamic State. The lawmakers say there have been more arrests that have not yet been announced.

They say the FBI has shifted its approach toward arrests rather than keeping suspects under surveillance, and is also targeting individuals thought to be planning attacks in the U.S., unlike the bureau's past focus on volunteers preparing to join ISIS's fight abroad.

"Lately, we have seen an uptick in the number of arrests of ISIL followers who were planning violent acts in our homeland," said John Carlin, the assistant attorney general for national security. "ISIL, differing from some other foreign terrorist organizations, has demonstrated that they see value in mobilizing sympathizers anywhere in the world."

The spate of arrests comes in response to what Congressional leaders and the Justice Department say is a mounting threat that radicalized Americans will attempt low-tech, lone wolf attacks in the near future. Lawmakers see the changes as necessary because the Islamic State uses social media so effectively to radicalize Americans and because the group is getting better at using encryption to shield its communications with new recruits.

COMMENT:  I'm afraid it will take another large attack here to wake up the nation, and put the Democratic Party's left on the defensive once again, which is where it belongs. 

June 26, 2015       Permalink

BLUNTNESS ON TERROR – AT 9:30 A.M. ET:  Iran is the key, but don't expect that to interfere with the nuclear talks.  From Fox: 

The nation’s top intelligence official labeled Iran the leading state sponsor of terrorism and called the regime -- and its proxy Hezbollah -- the single most important factors keeping Syrian dictator Bashar Assad in power, according to a letter obtained by Fox News.

The warning comes as Obama administration officials enter the final phase of nuclear negotiation with Tehran. But despite the diplomatic track, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper assailed the country’s role in destabilizing the region in the letter to Republican senators.

"Iran remains the foremost state sponsor of terrorism and is increasing its ability to influence regional crises and conduct terrorism," Clapper wrote in the June 3 letter. "This has been the consistent view of the IC [intelligence community] for more than three decades."

On its role propping up Assad, accused of using chemical weapons on his own people, Clapper stated that, "Iran and Hizballah's efforts in Syria have been instrumental in preventing the collapse of the Assad regime, which they view as critical to maintaining their 'axis of resistance' against Israel and the West."

Clapper was blunt in the letter to senators, after some lawmakers earlier questioned why Iran and Hezbollah were not listed in the “terrorism subsection” of the 2015 Worldwide Threat Assessment; both had been listed in previous years’ assessments.

COMMENT:  It's hard to believe this will get better.  It would require a change in party in the White House, and that may not happen.  Even if it does, a new Republican president might be prevented by economics, military weakness, and media opposition from doing what is necessary to wage a true war on terror.

June 26, 2015       Permalink

TERROR DAY – AT 9:07 A.M. ET:  Three major terror attacks today, just days before we are scheduled to conclude a nuclear agreement with the world's leading sponsor of terror, Iran.  From Fox: 

France was on high alert Friday after a man at a U.S.-based chemical company was decapitated by terrorists who left his severed head scrawled with Arabic phrases and dangling from a fence amid two ISIS flags, authorities said.

The attack occurred at approximately 9:50 a.m. local time in Saint-Quentin-Fallavier, northwest of the Alpine city of Grenoble, according to Le Dauphine newspaper. The newspaper reported that two men dressed as deliverymen arrived at the plant, and that one walked into the main office, declared he was a member of ISIS and beheaded someone there. The terrorists reportedly left the severed head hanging from a fence, and set off several gas canisters at the plant.

And, from CNN:

Terrorists killed at least 27 people in an attack Friday on a beachfront Tunisian hotel, Tunisian officials said, according to the state-run TAP news agency.

Tunisia's interior minister reported 27 dead -- at least some of whom were guests at the Hotel Riu Imperial Marhaba in Sousse, TAP reported.

Still, those figures are preliminary. In fact, an operation was still underway Friday afternoon after Tunisian security forces exchanged gunfire with the attackers.

And, from BBC: 

At least four people have been killed in a suicide bomb attack on a Shia mosque in the Kuwaiti capital.

Many people were injured, and unconfirmed reports put the death toll much higher.

The blast hit during Friday prayers at the Imam Sadiq Mosque in al-Sawaber, a busy area to the east of Kuwait City.

An Islamic State- (IS) affiliated group said it was behind the attack. IS has carried out similar recent attacks in neighbouring Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

COMMENT:  Of course, the war on terror is over.  Field Marshal Obama has said so.

June 26,  2015     Permalink