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SEPTEMBER 8,  2014

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:05 P.M. ET: 

PROGRESS - From the Washington Examiner:  "Sen. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., was tied with Republican challenger Thom Tillis at 44 percent, according to a GOP poll shared with the Washington Examiner.  The survey of 600 likely voters, conducted Sept. 2-4 for the Tillis campaign, showed a race in which both candidates have vulnerable pressure points but are in contention as this seesaw midterm battle enters the home stretch.  President Obama’s approval in the Tarheel State was an anemic 41 percent, with 56 percent disapproving."  Republicans thought this would be an easy pickup, but that has not turned out to be the case.  But a tie, if the poll is accurate, shows progress for the Republican candidate.  The trend seems to be with him.

A MAJOR CULTURAL ADVANCE – From Fox:  "Fans attending men’s college soccer games in New England are expected not to boo if they don’t like something on the field, according to a recent letter sent out by the New England Small College Athletic Conference.  'As a supporter, we ask you not engage in any unsportsmanlike actions, which include booing, taunting, profanity, rude language or gestures, or any other action that could be potentially construed as negative or confrontational,' the NESCAC letter read.  NESCAC called for a similar policy in 2011, asking that game officials 'firmly address issues of unsporting behavior and negative action.'  The letter, signed by 11 Conference coaches, continues, 'We would hope that all spectators refrain from antagonistic interaction between opposing fans, including verbal disputes, or holding/posting signs or other forms of written material that could be interpreted as offensive in nature.'"  What's left?  What do you say?  "Gosh darn, I wish our fellows had been sharper today, but we do tip our hats to the opposing squad, and its multicultural aspects."  Sis boom bah.

GLOBAL WARMING COOLS OFF – From the Daily Caller:  "The numbers are in and the verdict is that there has been no global warming for 17 years and 11 months, according to satellite data.  Satellite data prepared by Lord Christopher Monckton shows there has been no warming trend from October of 1996 to August of 2014 — 215 months. To put this in perspective, kids graduating from high school this year have not lived through any global warming in their lifetimes.  According to Monckton — the third Viscount Monckton of Brenchley and a former policy adviser to U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher — the rate of warming has been half of what climate scientists initially predicted in the early 1990s."  And yet the BBC and Los Angeles Times have a policy of refusing to report opinions of climate-change dissenters.  After all, the science is settled and Al Gore is not to be challenged.

BUT IT'S FOR THE CHIL'N – From eagnews.org:  "The federal snack rules take effect this year for school districts across the country that participate in the federal free and reduced lunch program. They restrict snack foods sold at schools to those with at least 50 percent whole grain, with low sugar, fat and sodium content. Each snack must also come in under 200 calories, according to the news site. That means a lot of popular snacks are now off the table, including donuts, brownies, potato chips, full flavor pop, candy bars, and most other foods teenagers prefer. Even salt shakers and packets are now illegal."  I'll sleep better knowing that the salt-shaker menace is being tackled by the brave warriors of Obamaland.  It's about time.

September 8, 2014     Permalink

THE RUSSKIES ARE COMING – AT 9:58 A.M. ET:  We've been following the Russian defense buildup under Vladimir Putin, and the arrogance that goes with it.  From ace defense reporter Bill Gertz at the Washington Free Beacon: 

Two Russian strategic bombers conducted practice cruise missile attacks on the United States during a training mission last week that defense officials say appeared timed to the NATO summit in Wales.

The Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers were tracked flying a route across the northern Atlantic near Iceland, Greenland, and Canada’s northeast.

Analysis of the flight indicated the aircraft were conducting practice runs to a pre-determined “launch box”—an optimum point for firing nuclear-armed cruise missiles at U.S. targets, said defense officials familiar with intelligence reports.

Disclosure of the nuclear bombing practice comes as a Russian general last week called for Moscow to change its doctrine to include preemptive nuclear strikes on the United States and NATO.

Gen. Yuri Yakubov, a senior Defense Ministry official, was quoted by the state-run Interfax news agency as saying that Russia’s 2010 military doctrine should be revised to identify the United States and the NATO alliance as enemies, and clearly outline the conditions for a preemptive nuclear strike against them.

Yakubov said among other needed doctrinal changes, “it is necessary to hash out the conditions under which Russia could carry out a preemptive strike with the Russian Strategic Rocket Forces”—Moscow’s nuclear forces.

COMMENT:  That may just be scare rhetoric, but it might not be.   Russia is becoming a serious threat again, and Obama responds by cutting our defenses.  Our enemies must be laughing all the way to their nuclear submarines.

Obama will speak this week on the threat of the Islamic State.  He might throw in Russia just to show he can walk and chew gum at the same time. 

September 8, 2014       Permalink

THEY ARE HERE – AT 9:14 A.M. ET:  The Boston Marathon bombing is still producing aftereffects, and important revelations.  From the New York Post: 

When it was revealed that the Boston Marathon bombers attended a Cambridge, Mass., mosque, its leaders were quick to disavow their actions.

Elder brother Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s ideology was not their own, the leaders of the Islamic Society mosque claimed. In fact, he was admonished for an extremist outburst he made during one sermon.

So, one crackpot in a congregation. Who can blame the mosque?

But what about eight — including a prominent member of ISIS?

As it turns out, worshippers at the Islamic Society have included:

Abdurahman Alamoudi, the mosque’s founder and first president who in 2004 was sentenced to 23 years in prison for plotting terrorism. In 2005, the Treasury Department issued a statement saying Alamoudi raised money for al Qaeda in the US.

Aafia Siddiqui, an MIT scientist-turned-al Qaeda agent, who in 2010 was sentenced to 86 years in prison for planning a New York chemical attack. Known as “Lady al Qaeda,” she is related to 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed. ISIS has tried to trade her release for journalist hostages.

Tarek Mehanna, who in 2012 got 17 years in prison for conspiring to use automatic weapons to murder shoppers in a suburban Boston mall.

Yusuf al-Qaradawi, a mosque trustee and Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood leader banned from the US after issuing a fatwa that called for the killing of US soldiers.

Jamal Badawi, another former trustee who in 2007 was named an unindicted co-conspirator in a plan to funnel more than $12 million to Palestinian suicide bombers.

Now it can be revealed that another regular worshipper at the Islamic Society mosque was Ahmad Abousamra, who is now the top propagandist for ISIS.

COMMENT:  What a coincidence!  Gee, I guess these things happen.  But I'm sure the mosque is really a center of peace and justice.  Next time I'm in Boston I will visit just to show support for its peaceful endeavors. 

September 8, 2014     Permalink

POLITICAL TRENDS – AT 8:52 A.M. ET:  Election day will be Tuesday, November 4th.  Two months from today, we'll be examining the results.  We're now into the major combat season and watching every trend.  From The Politico: 

Republicans now lead key Senate races in Arkansas and Kentucky, while Democratic Sen. Mark Udall has a six-point advantage over his GOP opponent in Colorado, according to three new NBC News/Marist polls of likely voters released Sunday morning on Chuck Todd’s inaugural episode of “Meet the Press.”

In Arkansas, the poll shows GOP Rep. Tom Cotton leading Sen. Mark Pryor, 45 percent to 40 percent. Cotton has led in most public polls in recent months — he was up by two points in a CNN/ORC International poll released last week — though Democrats note that Pryor is within the margin of error in many of those surveys.

Caution:  Pryor is a political pro from an illustrious Arkansas political family.  He knows how to maneuver and will counterattack.  But I'm glad to report that Tom Cotton has gained continuously.  I'd love to have this pickup.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has his largest lead in Kentucky over Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes in some time: 8 points, 47 percent to 39 percent. Most other polls have showed a slightly closer race, though McConnell has maintained a stubborn lead since his late May primary victory.

McConnell is not Mr. Popularity in Kentucky, but there's something obnoxious about Lundergan Grimes.  She's tried to distance herself from Obama, but it's now being reported that here father had discussions with the White House before his daughter decided to make the race.  Some distance.

In Colorado, Udall leads GOP Rep. Cory Gardner, 48 percent to 42 percent, the NBC/Marist poll shows. That’s a wider margin than other public surveys, but Colorado has been a difficult state to poll in recent election cycles.

We'll watch Colorado, which has been frustrating for our side in recent elections.  There are really two Colorados – eastern liberal in Denver and the Boulder area, and more conservative in other areas.  We can hope on this one, but Gardner should be doing better at this point.

President Barack Obama is a drag on Democrats in all three states. Among broader samples of registered voters, Obama’s approval rating doesn’t break 40 percent in each of the three states. He’s at a toxic 31 percent in the red states, Arkansas and Kentucky, and he’s at just 39 percent in Colorado, which he won in both 2008 and 2012.

COMMENT:  True, but politics is local.  And Obama's plunge can take us only so far.  We'll be watching Senate races closely.  Republicans are within shooting distance of Senate control.

September 8, 2014      Permalink

IN THREE DAYS – AT 8:41 A.M. ET:  September 11th occurs on Thursday.  Two years ago, on that day, terrorists marked the anniversary of the 2001 attacks by raiding the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, killing the American ambassador and four other Americans.

There is severe worry this year because of the rise of the Islamic State.  Will the IS give us another anniversary present?  Will al Qaeda, to show that it is still the kingpin, attack us once more? 

Both groups may, of course, choose to bypass September 11th, knowing that our security guard will be up.  Or, they may choose to go all out, to remind us of what we are up against?

From what I can see, security services are especially worried about an attack on American installations abroad, which are easier for terrorist groups to reach.  But no one is ruling out an attack here at home, or on an airliner.  The Islamic State's recent takeover of major arms supplies in Iraq only increases the apprehension of those who are tasked to protect us.

We'll know the story by Thursday, midnight.  If you see something, say something.

September 8, 2014     Permalink

SEPTEMBER 7,  2014

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:43 P.M. ET: 

JOLT – From AP:  "TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's economy contracted at a larger than earlier estimated annual rate of 7.1 percent in April-June, as companies and households slashed spending following a tax hike.  The revised data released Monday show business investment fell more than twice as much as estimated before, or 5.1 percent, while private residential spending sank 10.4 percent, in annual terms. The earlier estimate showed the economy contracting 6.8 percent."  Weren't these the people who were supposed eat us alive about 30 years ago?  And they shouldn't have attacked Pearl Harbor either.

LIBERAL GOVERNMENT SHINES AGAIN – From the Detroit Free Press:  "Detroit is so broke that firefighters get emergency alerts through pop cans, coins, door hinges, pipes and doorbells.  And they make these gizmos themselves — one involving a pop can that gets tipped over by an incoming fax. The clink of the can means there’s an emergency. Then there’s the chain-reaction gadget: a fax hits a door hinge, which then tugs on a wire, which then sets off a doorbell.  'It sounds unbelievable, but it’s truly what the guys have been doing and dealing with for a long, long time,' said Detroit Deputy Fire Commissioner John Berlin, adding that technological upgrades are long overdue. 'We’re in desperate need. We’re probably 30 years behind.'"  The fact is, the people of Detroit would probably again elect the same people who got them into this.

THE DREAM FACTORY DREAMS ON – From Bloomberg:  "Walt Disney Co. (DIS)’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” again led the box office as movie ticket sales tumbled to the lowest level in 13 years during a traditionally slow weekend.  The superhero film from Disney’s Marvel division collected $10.2 million in U.S. and Canadian theaters, racking up its fourth win, the most of any film this year, Rentrak Corp. (RENT) said today in an e-mailed statement. “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” from Viacom Inc. (VIAB)’s Paramount Pictures, placed second with $6.5 million in its fifth week.  Ticket sales for all movies were $65 million, the weakest total since the weekend that started Sept. 21, 2001, Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst at Rentrak, said by telephone today. Sales followed the typical slowdown that occurs after the U.S. Labor Day holiday, he said. Also, there were no new breakout releases."  Of course, the quality of the movies has nothing to do with this decline.  We all know it's caused by global warming.

September 7,  2014     Permalink

INCOMPETENT – AT 9:58 A.M. ET:  Capable presidents maintain good and close relations with Congress, even sometimes with their opponents.  From Fox: 

President Obama will meet Tuesday with Capitol Hill leaders to discuss pressing foreign-policy issues including how to combat Islamic State terrorists, as Congress comes back from summer break and the president returns from a NATO summit.

The Oval office meeting is scheduled to include Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada; Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio; and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

They are expected to discuss a range of world issues including whether to launch more air strikes on Islamic State and Russia’s foray into eastern Ukraine.

The meeting between Obama and Hill leaders will also be their first since mid-June, when they met to discuss the terror group’s deadly march into northern Iraq, as reported first by The Washington Post.

COMMENT:  Their first meeting since mid-June.  That's three months, with crisis after crisis building up.  And Obama wonders why he's considered incompetent and aloof.

Jimmy Carter, you've met your match.

September 7, 2014       Permalink

COMING SOON TO A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU – AT 8:46 A.M. ET:  A portrait of multiculturalism gone mad.  From Breitbart London: 

Residents of the German city of Wuppertal have expressed concern after a group of young radical Islamists started taking to the streets late at night, trying to deter revellers from drinking and gambling.

The self-styled "Sharia Police" have been patrolling an area around the city's main train station, declaring the popular nightlife area to be a "Sharia Controlled Zone". Deutshe Welle reports that witnesses have seen them handing out leaflets urging people not to drink alcohol, attend concerts, gamble, watch pornography or visit prostitutes.

The men are believed to be from the Salafi sect of Islam, which is closely related to the puritanical Wahhabi belief practised in Saudi Arabia. They walk around dressed in orange high-visibility vests with the words "Sharia Police" written on the back in English.

The city's real police said they stopped 11 men aged between 19 and 33 on Wednesday night, and may bring charges of illegal assembly against them. However, after numerous residents complained to them, they have now also set up a hotline allowing people to report their concerns about the group.

Local police chief Birgitta Rademacher said that provocation and intimidation "won't be tolerated", adding that only officers appointed by the state had the right to act as police in Germany.

The city's mayor, Peter Jung, supported the police's stance: "These people's intention is to provoke and intimidate and force their ideology [upon others]," he said.

"This is an open and tolerant city, which is proud of the fact that people of different religions and convictions live together in peace."

COMMENT:  If truth be told, it's a slow creep forward for radicalism.  The city officials may speak bravely, but in too many cities, especially in England, there have been concessions to radical Islam.  In this country, under Obama, radical Islamists have been invited to the White House.  The mainstream press is often silent about the influence of radical Islam in schools, universities and even government agencies.  We simply don't get the fact that radical Islam is a political movement, not just a violent offshoot of a religion.  There are some indications that the sheer brutality of the Islamic State is waking some people up.  We hope they awaken in time.

September 7, 2014       Permalink

POSSIBLE? – AT 8:23 A.M. ET:  An Arab news source that we don't know, is reporting the following, claiming it was also reported by AFP, the leading French news agency.  The White House and Pentagon are not confirming.  We present it only as something that is running right now, and getting attention:

Iraqi forces reported that the head of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) 'Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi' was killed in U.S airstrikes.

"Despite that Iraqi and U.S sources confirmed the killing of Abu Bajr al-Baghdadi, but the White House did not confirmed it yet", AFP reported.

Three senior members of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) - including an aide to its leader - were killed in a U.S. airstrike in Iraq, a senior Iraqi security official told NBC News Thursday. The strike on the ISIS stronghold of Mosul killed Abu Hajar Al-Sufi, an aide to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, as well as an explosives operative and the military leader of nearby Tel Afar, the source said on condition of anonymity. Al Arabiya cited the Iraqi Defense Ministry saying Baghdadi's aide had been killed.

Pentagon Spokesman Col. Steve Warren could not confirm the deaths and said ISIS leaders had not been targeted. But he added that if ISIS leaders were embedded "inside troop formations they are likely to be killed." The U.S. has been carrying out airstrikes across the country's north after the brutal terror group gained ground in a murderous sweep in June.

COMMENT:  We'll just have to wait and see.  Sometimes these stories are correct, and sometimes they're started by political opponents of the allegedly departed loved one, just to make trouble.

Even if al-Baghdadi has gone to get his 72 virgins, it might make little difference.  The Islamic State is based on an idea, a frightening idea.  It will, unfortunately, live on.

September 7, 2014     Permalink