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OCTOBER 24,  2015

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

AT LEAST SHE'S GRACIOUS – From Fox:   One of the New York judges who helped send a suspected cop killer to rehab instead of jail five months ago said Friday that the deadly shooting "breaks her heart" and that she is "truly sorry."  Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Patricia Nuñez told The New York Post that she will address the issue further at a Nov. 12 court date for the suspect, Tyrone Howard. The paper reported that Howard was freed despite a history of three felony sale convictions and the urging of prosecutors in the drug case.  Officer Randolph Holder's killing Tuesday has raised questions about the risks and potential shortcomings of drug courts, or drug diversion programs, which have been embraced nationwide as a way to ease jail overcrowding and reduce crime by attacking it at one of its sources: drug abuse.  At least the judge is being gracious about it, and understands that a justice system must correct its flaws.  Barack Obama, who openly embraces the "black lives matter" movement, has not even mentioned Officer Holder, who is black. 

GREAT MOMENTS IN MEDICINE – From Breitbart:   A new study shows that more than two-thirds — some 69 percent – of patients using anti-depressants do not actually meet the criteria for depressive disorder.  The study, which appears in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, finds that many individuals who are prescribed and take antidepressant medications may not actually have a depressive disorder, and that such drugs are often used by patients who do not meet the diagnostic criteria of depression.  According to the research, among the users of antidepressant medications, 69 percent never met the diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD), and 38 percent also never met those for obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social phobia, or generalized anxiety disorder – for which the antidepressant medications are sometimes prescribed.  Other factors, however, unrelated to depression, were found to be associated with the use of antidepressants.  “Caucasian ethnicity, recent or current physical problems (eg, loss of bladder control, hypertension, and back pain), and recent mental health facility visits were associated with antidepressant use in addition to mental disorders,” say the researchers.  I'd also add, from my scientific research, realization that Barack Obama is president and that Hillary Clinton might be.

WEIRD, REALLY WEIRD – From The Hill:  Democratic primary front-runner Hillary Clinton says the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) scandal is not as “widespread” a problem as coverage of the incident would indicate.  She said the problem is real, but cautioned that “it’s not been as widespread as it has been made out to be” on MSNBC’s “Rachel Maddow Show” on Friday.  The former first lady blamed Republicans for using the issue as part of an “ideological agenda” and said they want the VA to “fail.”  “Now nobody would believe that from the coverage you see, and the constant berating of the VA that comes from the Republicans, in – in part in pursuit of this ideological agenda that they have,” Clinton said.  Man, that is weird.  Everyone knows the VA is in serious trouble, and has let veterans down.  And there's Hillary, acting as if it's all part of the great right-wing conspiracy.  She's out of date and out of her mind.  Even Joe Biden warned last week about regarding political opponents as enemies, which gets you into Nixon territory.  I guess Hillary never got the memo...or the e-mail.

October 24, 2015       Permalink

IS THIS GOOD? – AT 11:53 A.M. ET:  The administration has just announced a new policy designed to reduce emphasis on testing in schools.  I think we have to look at this with two eyes.  A de-emphasis on testing may have merit, but it can easily turn into a "no standards" policy designed to "help" kids who just aren't doing the work.  From The New York Times: 

Faced with mounting and bipartisan opposition to increased and often high-stakes testing in the nation’s public schools, the Obama administration declared Saturday that the push had gone too far, acknowledged its own role in the proliferation of tests, and urged schools to step back and make exams less onerous and more purposeful.

Specifically, the administration called for a cap on assessment so that no child would spend more than 2 percent of classroom instruction time taking tests. It called on Congress to “reduce over-testing” as it reauthorizes the federal legislation governing the nation’s public elementary and secondary schools.

“I still have no question that we need to check at least once a year to make sure our kids are on track or identify areas where they need support,” said Arne Duncan, the secretary of education, who has said he will leave office in December. “But I can’t tell you how many conversations I’m in with educators who are understandably stressed and concerned about an overemphasis on testing in some places and how much time testing and test prep are taking from instruction.

COMMENT:  Okay, but I want details.  I agree that there is too much testing, that some tests are poorly constructed, and that political elements on the left have used the testing system to inject their ideas into children's heads.  At the same time, I want some measure of actual progress, or lack of it. 

We also need less Washington to go along with less testing. 

October 24, 2015       Permalink

A TOUGHER AMERICA? – AT 11:31 A.M. ET:   Field Marshal of the United States, including Massachusetts, Barack Obama will leave office in 15 months.  That's the good news.  The bad news is that he will leave a foreign policy in shambles.  Americans are expressing their concerns, and the polling seems to be having an effect on the presidential campaign trail.  From The Wall Street Journal: 

Americans don’t think Russia and Syria are a threat to the U.S. now, but believe they will be in the future, according to the latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.

The poll found 56% of those surveyed said Syria likely will be a threat to the U.S. “soon.” Another 23% said Syria is an immediate threat. Only 16% said Syria poses no threat.

With Russia, 60% said is poses a “long-term military threat” and 14% said it is an “immediate” military threat. Just 23% said Russia is not a military threat.

The poll results help explain the hawkish foreign policy positions being articulated on the 2016 presidential campaign trail. Republicans, with the exception of the struggling Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.), have pledged a tougher stance against both Russia and the Islamic State, which is operating in Syria and Iraq. Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton last month said President Barack Obama’s policy to train Syrian rebels failed.

The poll found most Americans agree with Mrs. Clinton about the president’s Syrian stance. Only 34% said they approve of Mr. Obama’s handling of the Syrian conflict, compared to 54% who disagree. Among Democrats, 59% approve of Mr. Obama on Syria, while 28% disapprove. Republicans disapprove by an 81% to 10% clip.

Agreement on the long-term Russian and Syrian threats cut across party lines. For both Democrats and Republicans, 60% said Russia poses a long-term threat. Democrats were more likely to say Russia doesn’t pose a threat and Republicans more likely to say it poses an immediate threat.

COMMENT:  The real distinction may not be between Democrats and Republicans, but between mainstream Democrats and the leftist faction that has increasingly taken over the Democratic Party in the age of Obama.  Any potential Democratic presidential nominee has to take that faction into account, then pivot toward the center when the nomination is achieved.  I expect some of that from Hillary, who is known to be somewhat to the right of Obama on foreign policy.

October 24, 2015        Permalink

FBI CHIEF ON RISE IN CRIME – AT 10:46 A.M. ET:  Statements by FBI Director James Comey are taking on increasing significance.  The FBI is, after all, investigating Hillary Clinton, and people understandably want to know whether the director is a straight shooter, or someone who will bend to political winds. 

From everything I've seem, Comey is a straight shooter.  But that's no guarantee that the results of the FBI probe into Hillary will end appropriately.  The FBI cannot indict.  It can only provide information to the Justice Department.  In the case of a figure like Hillary Clinton, it's probably that Attorney General Loretta Lynch will make the decision on whether to seek indictments, if the FBI finds criminal wrongdoing.

But the stance of the FBI director is critical.  Will he stand for justice in the event of a cover-up, or will he just go along to keep his job?  I sense that Comey, in what could be the most important case of his career, will not go along.  I could be wrong.  

Comey is now speaking out about the rise in violent crime, and he isn't politically correct.  From the Daily Caller:

FBI director James Comey lent credence to a controversial theory Friday when he said during a speech in Chicago that violent crime has spiked in many big U.S. cities this year because police officers are worried that performing their policing duties puts them at risk of being accused of a crime themselves.

“I don’t know whether that explains it entirely, but I do have a strong sense that some part of the explanation is a chill wind that has blown through American law enforcement over the last year,” Comey said at a forum held at the University of Chicago Law School, according to news reports.

Violent crime — including homicides — have increased dramatically in many large cities, Comey said, pointing to Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Washington and Baltimore by name.

The cause of the spike is the center of intense debate. Some have dubbed the phenomenon the “Ferguson effect” — a reference to the fatal police-involved shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo. on Aug. 9, 2014. The shooting sparked mass protests and violence in the St. Louis suburb.

Comey nails it:

He cited cheaper heroin, guns falling into criminals’ hands and street gangs’ turf battles as plausible theories but circled back to the explanation he hears from police officers. They tell him of the “taunting” they receive from youth when answering police calls, he said.

“They told me, ‘We feel like we’re under siege and we don’t feel much like getting out of our cars,'” Comey said, according to the Associated Press.

COMMENT:  Of course this is a major factor in the dramatic rise in crime.  And the taunting of police begins with snide comments from our left-wing president, Barack Obama, who started his administration by taunting the Cambridge, Massachusetts, police department over an incident involving an academic friend of his.

I'm glad Comey said what he said.  It gives me confidence that he is no prisoner of political correctness.  Are you watching, Hillary?

October 24,  2015     Permalink

OCTOBER 23,  2015

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

THE NEW STANDARD? – There's a genuine sense of shock across the internet at the statement by the Justice Department that Lois Lerner of the IRS, who zeroed in on conservative groups for harassment, will not face criminal charges.  What kind of a message does this send?  Does it tell us that Hillary Clinton might also get a clean bill of health, no matter what the FBI investigation of her finds?  Americans assume there is one standard of justice, and they are learning that maybe that naive view isn't accurate.

FOX ROMPS ON HEARING COVERAGE – From Adweek:   Fox News Channel drew the most viewers yesterday during day-long, live coverage of democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton appearing before the House Select Committee on Benghazi. CNN was second among the A25-54 demo, while MSNBC was second in viewers.  All three networks added viewers for total day programming: MSNBC saw the most growth, up +146 percent in viewers and up +105 percent in the demo compared to the Sept. 2015 average. FNC was up +72 percent in viewers and up +67 percent in the demo; CNN was up +35 percent in viewers and up +3 percent in the demo.  Fox's dominance continues to be remarkable.  I suspect it's because conservative viewers believe that only Fox will show respect for their point of view. 

JEB IN TROUBLE – From The Hill:   Jeb Bush will travel to Texas to face an increasingly anxious group of his biggest donors this weekend, just days after laying off staff and making budgets cuts to his struggling presidential campaign.  The Bush donor retreat beginning Sunday in Houston is expected to feature both his brother and his father, former Presidents George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush. The retreat, which will involve contributors to both the Bush campaign and a pro-Bush super-PAC, has long been planned.  But these major donors are now reconvening at perhaps the lowest point of the Republican's presidential campaign. The former Florida governor is struggling to find new sources of money and to convince fundraisers to reinvest in a campaign that is faltering and a candidate stuck in single digits in national polling.  This can't go on much longer.  Jeb Bush was a fine governor of Florida, but he cannot seem to make any headway in this year's anti-establishment atmosphere.  Two other fine governors – Rick Perry and Scott Walker – have already dropped out.  If Jeb also has to withdraw, it will send a terrible message to Republican officeholders who are also distinguishing themselves.  There are already rumblings, from serious sources, about a third party should Donald Trump actually win the Republican nomination. 

October 23,  2015     Permalink

OH, THAT HEARING YESTERDAY – AT 9:53 A.M. ET:  Look, you've all heard the story.   Hillary Clinton testified yesterday.  She did well by keeping her cool.  The room was packed with her supporters, who applauded on cue.  The Dems on the panel were utterly political in defending her.  The Republicans had some excellent questions.  But the setup made Clinton look like a victim, sitting there against that whole committee.  And nothing much changed.

In a committee hearing, by definition, the person testifying can easily win sympathy.  Eisenhower understood that when he privately orchestrated the Army-McCarthy hearings in 1954 to expose McCarthy as a bully.  Ollie North made the most of his "witness" status during Iran-Contra, facing down his Congressional inquisitors.

Please note the rantings of the mainstream media following Clinton's testimony.  Rave reviews all.  Once again we see the sheer power of the liberal press to shape the story.   To the press, Clinton is the new Obama, and all "journalists" will be expected to play their part in putting her in the White House.  Byron York sets the scene.  From the Washington Examiner: 

There's a reason Benghazi Committee chairman Rep. Trey Gowdy offered Hillary Clinton the chance to testify in a private, closed hearing. And there's a reason Clinton wanted to appear in an open setting, with the whole world watching.

The Benghazi Committee has made incremental advances in the public's knowledge of the circumstances of the death of four Americans in Libya on September 11, 2012. But incremental advances — nuggets of information — don't make for dramatic hearings.

In addition, public hearings can become sidetracked, for everyone to see. If one side decides to pitch a fit and bickering ensues, that is what millions of viewers experience. If the questions go off on a tangent, viewers see that, too. In any event, the purpose of the hearing goes by the wayside.

And that is what took place more than once Thursday in Clinton's much-watched Benghazi testimony. Republicans presented some new information. One leading Democrat had a tantrum and started a fight with Gowdy. And some Republicans got tangled up in side issues that didn't tell the public much about the core issues at stake in Benghazi. The result was a marathon hearing that didn't accomplish much.

At this point, there is really only one angle on Benghazi: Americans were in danger in a very dangerous country, security was deteriorating, and the State Department and Secretary of State did little, and in some cases nothing, to protect them.

From K.T. McFarland, at Fox:

She brushed off blame by saying security decisions were handled at lower levels of the State Department professional staff, not by the secretary.

She didn't receive Ambassador Stevens' requests for more security -- implying that if only she had things might have turned out differently.

It was a masterful performance. She showed enormous discipline and nearly super-human stamina.

She let nothing slip. But in the end she let everything slip. She got a perfect score, but failed the test.

She didn't mean to, but she showed us a glimpse into her soul.

It was chilling.

We now know that when Secretary Clinton met the plane carrying the bodies of the four Americans who died at Benghazi she lied about what happened.

COMMENT:  Trouble is, very few people in the public can understand the events the way K.T. understands them.  Hillary looked poised.  Who me?  I was just the secretary of state.  Wasn't my job.

The Democrats were more disciplined.  The media helped them out.  And they had a witness, Hillary Clinton, for whom lying is standard procedure.  As Ira Gershwin wrote, "Who could ask for anything more?"

But there is still the FBI investigation.  The story is not over.

October 23, 2015        Permalink

OBAMA DEFENDS "BLACK LIVES MATTER" – AT 9:25 A.M. ET:  His tin ear on full display, President Obama lectured us once again on race.  From AP:

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Defending the Black Lives Matter movement, President Barack Obama said Thursday the protests are giving voice to a problem happening only in African-American communities, adding, "We, as a society, particularly given our history, have to take this seriously."

How arrogant.  There are issues in other communities involving interaction with the police that are just as serious.

Obama said the movement, which sprung up after the deaths of unarmed black men in Florida, Missouri and elsewhere, quickly came to be viewed as being opposed to police and suggesting that other people's lives don't matter. Opponents have countered that "all lives matter."

The term "unarmed" has to be examined.  A huge, 200-plus-pound guy like Michael Brown, who tried to grab a policeman's gun in Ferguson, Missouri, can kill with his fists, or render an officer unconscious. 

At the conclusion of a White House forum on criminal justice, Obama said he wanted to make a final point about the nexus of race and the criminal justice system before launching into his defense of the movement.

"I think everybody understands all lives matter," Obama said. "I think the reason that the organizers used the phrase 'Black Lives Matter' was not because they were suggesting nobody else's lives matter. Rather, what they were suggesting was there is a specific problem that's happening in the African-American community that's not happening in other communities.

"And that is a legitimate issue that we've got to address."

The fact is that, if you eliminated all cases of police officers fatally shooting blacks, it would not make a dent in the murder rate in black communities.  It is black-on-black crime that is an epidemic.  There are certainly some bad cops.  No one denies that.   It's why large departments have internal affairs divisions.  But these killings of young African Americans by cops are actually quite rare.  Each one deserves a full investigation.  But after the "hands up, don't shoot" farce in Ferguson, a Justice Department probe cleared the officer.  Facts matter, as well as black lives, as well as all lives.

Police relations with minority communities and the deaths of unarmed black men have been topics of great interest since the shootings of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in 2012 in Florida and 18-year-old Michael Brown in 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. Those deaths, and others of black women, have inspired protests around the country under the "Black Lives Matter" moniker.

COMMENT:  Is Obama serious about black lives?  If he is, why does he allow Al Sharpton, a low-class racial agitator, to sit at the same table as the president of the United States? 

A few nights ago a black police officer was murdered in New York City.  He leaves a family.  Mr. Obama did not mention him.

October 23, 2015        Permalink

WORLD-SHAKING NEWS – AT 9:14 A.M. ET:  Lincoln Chafee has withdrawn from the Democratic presidential race.  Notice the difference?  From the Washington Examiner:

Lincoln Chafee withdrew from the 2016 Democratic primary on Friday morning after months of polling below 1 percent among Democratic voters.

The Rhode Island senator and governor announced his withdrawal in a lengthy speech at the 22nd Annual National Issues Conference of the Women's Leadership Forum, in which he talked about Greek plays, Vietnam and his vision for world peace. As he walked into the room the announcer mispronounced his name and he only received some mild sympathetic applause.

COMMENT:  This leaves only Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley in the race.  But Hillary pretty much has an easy run now, unless something happens with the FBI investigation into her tenure at the State Department.  That could blow the race up, paving the way for a "draft" of Joe Biden.  Some observers think that's the real plan of the Obama White House.  But as Hillary rises in the polls from lack of serious opposition, that plan may fade away too.

Jim Webb pulled out of the Dem race about a week ago. 

October 23,  2015     Permalink