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OCTOBER 14-15,  2023

LATE SUNDAY NIGHT:  We are still waiting for the Israeli Gaza offensive to begin.  News organizations are assuring us that it will happen, but they were saying that four days ago.  It is possible that some talks may be going on that we don't know about.

There's a story spreading that President Biden will fly to Israel early in the week.  No confirmation by the White House.  I suspect the story is true, but that Biden only wants to come if he can make some dramatic announcement.

I'm glad to see growing coverage of the appalling pro-Hamas demonstrations on American college campuses.  Maybe now the nation's journalists will understand how hopelessly and brainlessly left wing many of our most famous colleges have become.  I believe a deep cut in federal aid to the richest schools will jolt them out of their collective comas. 

I'm surprised that, to the best of my knowledge, no one, during the current Mideast crisis, has mentioned that Israel is a nuclear power.   Should the war expand and Israel get badly squeezed, the tactical nuclear option would suddenly be realistic.  And make no mistake about it – if Israel felt its existence threatened, it would use every weapon in its arsenal.  And I'm sure its enemies understand.  And so do its friends. 

WASHINGTON – We are still without a speaker of the House, and Republicans look ridiculous.  Can't anybody play this game? 

Word has it that Republicans are looking for a Tuesday floor vote for speaker, with Jim Jordan the leading GOP candidate.  But he apparently doesn't have anywhere near the needed votes to win.  There is no "Mr. Republican" in the House.

There is talk that Democrats will push their own House leader, Hakeem Jeffries, for the job, despite the GOP majority.  The theory is that some shared leadership deal can be made that will attract enough disillusioned Republicans to put Jeffries in the speaker's chair.

I once again nominate Lassie, a female of color, who could do the job.  As usual, my wisdom is ignored. 

October 15, 2023       Permalink

GAZA LATEST, AS OF EARLY SUNDAY MORNING, ET:  The New York Times is running with a report that Israel's incursion into Gaza has been delayed for a few days because of bad weather.

I wouldn't be surprised if there were a brief delay, but the reason given sounds a bit ridiculous.  The IDF, after all, has heard of rain and clouds.  A more logical reason for delay would be to give residents of north Gaza further time to escape to the south.  We're monitoring all this.

REPUBLICAN VICTORY:  Even amidst the war news, American political actions move forward.  We do not cancel elections.  Now we have an important off-year gubernatorial election won decisively by a Republican.  From Breitbart: 

Republican Jeff Landry won a landslide election on Saturday to flip the Louisiana governor’s mansion red in one of three main gubernatorial elections this year, shocking political observers with a victory that saves him the trouble of having to face a Democrat in a November runoff.

Landry defeated Democrat Shawn Wilson and the rest of the field in Louisiana’s gubernatorial election, winning about 52 percent of the vote. In Louisiana, governor elections are first open to a full field of all candidates from either party in what is known as a jungle primary—and then the two top vote-getters generally advance to a runoff a month later. But if a candidate gets more than 50 percent of the vote, as Landry did here, they can win outright on jungle primary day.

Many were expecting Landry, the clear and convincing frontrunner who has been the Attorney General of Louisiana for many years after a stint in Congress, to easily advance to the runoff and face Wilson in November. But his overwhelmingly strong performance on Saturday put him above majority support as the Associated Press called the race with him easily north of the 50 percent mark, meaning Landry will be the next governor of Louisiana.

COMMENT:  We hope this represents the pattern for things to come.  In November both Kentucky and Mississippi elect governors.  Kentucky is tough for Republicans because of a popular Democratic governor.  Mississippi should be easier.

Also watch Virginia.  Republicans, who already control the lower house of the legislature, will be trying to flip the upper house, the state Senate.  The legislative race could have national implications because Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin is considered by many to be a potential 2024 presidential candidate.  If his party does well this November, it clearly helps him.

October 15, 2023       Permalink

OCTOBER 12-13,  2023

LITTLE BY LITTLE:  Please remember that the Israel/Hamas war is only a week old.   We like quick results in this country, but let's not be more unrealistic than we have to.  Israel was able to announce a major blow to the enemy earlier tonight.  From the New York Post: 

Murad Abu Murad, a top Hamas official who helped orchestrate last week’s murderous attack in Israel, was killed during an overnight airstrike, according to the Israeli Air Force.
Murad is the head of Hamas’s Air Force, the Jerusalem Post reported, citing Hebrew media.

Israel also recovered the bodies of several missing citizens during a raid on Gaza, the IDF confirmed.

The remains were transported back to Israel.

On Friday, Israel dropped thousands of fliers in Gaza imploring citizens to “leave immediately” while Hamas urged residents to disregard the orders.

Israel directed the massive evacuation of up to 1.1 million Palestinians from the northern Gaza Strip within the next 24 hours ahead of a possible ground invasion targeting Hamas terrorists. Meanwhile, Hamas dismissed the warning and told citizens to “remain steadfast in your homes,” and to “stand firm in the face of this disgusting psychological war.”

The death toll now stands at 1,300 in Israel, including 27 Americans, and another 1,900 in Gaza.

COMMENT:   One of Israel's major goals is to take out the top management of Hamas.  This follows, logically, Israel's elimination over the years of some of Iran's senior nuclear scientists.  It's a dirty business, but it has to be done.  Cut off the head of the snake.  Expect more stories like this.

There are no indications yet that the Israeli forces have located the estimated 100 to 150 hostages taken by Hamas in the first stages of its terror attack last week.

October 13, 2023       Permalink 

WE'RE DEALING WITH TWO MAJOR STORIES, STILL DEVELOPING – THE GROWING WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE TERROR GROUP HAMAS, AND THE GOVERNMENTAL CRISIS IN OUR OWN HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, WHERE THE REPUBLICAN MAJORITY CANNOT GET ITS ACT TOGETHER AND SELECT A NEW SPEAKER:

We seem to be at a key moment in the Israel-Hamas war.  Israel has given a 24-hour deadline for about a million Gazans to be moved south, for their own safety.  The UN replied that the move was impossible in such a short time.  Israel severely criticized the UN for its sluggishness and indifference.  The UN clearly takes the Arab side. 

The Israeli demand, according to many experts, is a sign that the ground war in Gaza is about to begin, with Israel inserting large numbers of troops and special units to obliterate Hamas and its infrastructure.  And these experts warn that this kind of urban-fighting campaign can get very nasty and bloody.   This war is just beginning.

In the United States, government chaos is the isssue.  One day after winning the House Republican caucus nomination to be speaker, Majority Leader Steve Scalise withdrew from the contest.  He simply did not have the number of votes necessary on the floor to guarantee his election.  From Fox: 

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., has dropped out of the race for House speaker. 

He announced the decision following a closed-door meeting with fellow House Republicans Thursday evening.

In a press conference following his decision to step aside, Scalise called for the Republican Party to come together for the country over its members' own political agendas.

"If you look over the last few weeks, if you look at where our conference is, there's still work to be done. Our conference still has to come together and is not there. There are still some people that have their own agendas. And I was very clear we have to have everybody put their agendas on the side and focus on what this country needs. This country is counting on us to come back together," he said.

"This House of Representatives needs a speaker, and we need to open up the House again. But clearly, not everybody is there. And they're still schisms that have to get resolved. I never came here for a title I've had some great titles. I'm the Majority Leader of the House, and I love the job I have," he added

Scalise went on to say that he would push for a new speaker to be elected quickly, but stopped short of making any endorsement.

COMMENT:  The Republican Party has worked hard over the years to lose elections.  They've kind of perfected the art form.  And they're headed for another loss unless they can discipline their House delegation and start working for the American people.  This situation is beyond embarrassing.

Maybe they can break the mold and just nominate Lassie to be speaker.  She's perfect for today's society.  She's female.  A female of color.  She's single and has rejected the traditional nuclear family.   Okay, it's obvious that she's a Democrat, but the Republicans are desperate.

October 13, 2023       Permalink