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SEPTEMBER 13,  2018

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:16 P.M. ET: 

CUOMO ROMPS – FROM THE NEW YORK POST:  Gov. Andrew Cuomo fought off a challenge from the left to capture the Democratic nomination as New Yorkers rejected progressive challenger Cynthia Nixon in the state’s Democratic primary.  With roughly 25 percent of the vote counted, Cuomo had a lead of 66 percent to 34 percent over Nixon...A minute after voting ended at 9 p.m., Nixon released a statement essentially conceding and declaring that since polls showed Cuomo up by as much as 41 points, a narrower margin of victory could be seen as “a major embarrassment and significant under-performance for the two-term incumbent.”  I'm no fan of Andy Cuomo, but his margin of victory was no embarrassment.  It was spectacular, considering that New York is one of the most "progressive" states in the country.  Some "progressives" did win other primary battles, but the big prize, the governorship, went solidly to the more moderate establishment.

REALLY? – FROM THE NEW YORK POST:  Billionaire ex-mayor of New York Mike Bloomberg plans to run for president in 2020 as a Democrat, The Times of London reported Thursday.  Bloomberg, who considered independent runs for the White House in 2008, 2012, and 2016, will challenge President Trump, the paper reported, citing sources.  “Mike Bloomberg told me he is going to run in 2020,” a source told the paper.  “He has the money to see it through while other candidates knock themselves out.”  In June, Bloomberg, 76, reportedly said at a fundraiser that he’s “revving up” for 2020.  One person close to Trump said the three-term Gotham mayor would make a formidable opponent.   Oh, I don't know.  Bloomberg has put on this face before, only to decide not to run.  Look, he was a decent mayor and is a fine man.  But he has the excitement factor of a doorknob, and will be 78 in 2020.  If the Dems wanted an old white guy they'd go with Joe Biden.  If Bloomberg did run, he should do so as an independent, in effect starting his own party.  That would make more sense than trying to fight the identity-politics regimen of the Democratic Party. 

PASSING – FROM FOX:  Three-time Tony Award nominee Marin Mazzie, known for powerhouse performances on Broadway in "Ragtime," ''Passion" and "Kiss Me, Kate," has died. She was 57.
Mazzie, who battled ovarian cancer starting in 2015, died Thursday morning at her Manhattan home surrounded by close friends and family, said her husband, actor Jason Danieley.  Mazzie's broad career went from screwball comedy — in "Kiss Me, Kate" and "Spamalot" — to riveting, dysfunctional moms in "Next to Normal" and "Carrie." She earned other Broadway roles in "Man of La Mancha," ''Bullets Over Broadway," ''Enron" and "Into the Woods."  She is survived by her husband and fellow actor Jason Danieley.   I didn't want this to go unnoticed.  There was a time when theater stars were national stars – think Mary Martin or Ethel Merman – but no more.  Yet fine actors and actresses provide thrilling live performances every day and night.  Marin Mazzie was one of the best.  I wish her name had been better known across the country.  Her death at an early age leaves us poorer.

September 13, 2018       Permalink

HOW LOW CAN THEY GET? – AT 4:47 P.M. ET:   Are you believing this?  The Dems in the Senate are apparently planning a Clarence Thomas remake to try to bring down Judge Kavanaugh.  Movie rights are available.  Talk shows have been alerted.  From Dailywire: 

According to a report released Thursday, California Senator Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, possesses a document regarding Judge Brett Kavanaugh that she refuses to share with other Democrats on the committee.

The Intercept reports that other Democrats have requested access to the document, which originated from someone in California, and reportedly delineates an incident between Kavanaugh and a woman in high school. The information regarding the incident was allegedly forwarded to someone affiliated with Stanford University, who wrote the letter and then forwarded it to Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), who sent it to Feinstein.

After news leaked about the document’s existence, Democrats asked Feinstein for access to the document, but they were rebuffed, according to sources for The Intercept.

The Intercept writes, “The woman who is the subject of the letter is now being represented by Debra Katz, a whistleblower attorney who works with #MeToo survivors.  Joseph Abboud, an attorney at Katz’s firm, said that the firm was declining to comment. Emma Crisci, a spokesperson for Eshoo, declined to comment on the letter her office sent to Feinstein, saying that the office has a confidentiality policy when it comes to constituent casework. A spokesperson for Feinstein did not respond to requests for comment.”

COMMENT:  I am not related to Debra Katz, thank goodness.  The whole thing is sleazy, an almost an exact repeat of what was done to Justice Thomas, except that the charges leveled against Thomas by Anita Hill dealt with alleged behavior by an adult.  This Kavanaugh story goes back to high school. 

I'm sure Democrats will also want to look into rumors about Judge Kavanaugh and his behavior toward girls in kindergarten.  I understand there are tapes.  Tapes, mind you, and not family tapes.

Judge Kavanaugh attended high school between 31 and 35 years ago. 

September 13, 2018       Permalink

THE UNREPORTED STORY – AT 1:06 P.M. ET:  South Africa is one of the most unreported stories of our time.  The reason, of course, is that the leftist press cannot face the facts.  Too embarrassing.  Nothing to see, nothing to see.

But this is a real tragedy, which gives the lie to the idea that one apartheid ended, all would be okay.  From the AP: 

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa’s already high murder rate has increased by about 7 percent, prompting the police minister to compare the situation to a “war zone.”

Police on Tuesday released crime statistics showing 20,336 people were murdered in South Africa between April 2017 and March, compared to 19,016 in the previous year.

The police minister, Bheki Cele, says the high murder rate “borders close to the war zone — while there is peace and there is no war.”

Many murders were linked to gang violence in Western Cape province, whose capital is Cape Town.

A parliamentary committee says police efforts to deal with the problem have been ineffective and that commanders should strengthen the law enforcement presence in crime hotspots.

South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world.

COMMENTS:  I don't recall any interest shown by "Black Lives Matter" or other racketeering organizations.  If you hear something, send me an email.

And, of course, we look in vain for all the marchers who marched against apartheid.  I wonder how many know the name of even one murder victim.  I guess those victims just aren't trendy.  No cocktail-party talk.

Oh, by the way, South Africa also has one of the worst records in the world in dealing with sexual violence against women.  But there is only silence.

I guess it's just much easier to take a knee.

September 13, 2018       Permalink

AND THE BOOM GOES ON – AT 11:42 A.M. ET:  It cannot be denied.  Economically, these are the best of times, even if the mainstream media regrets it.  From the Washington Examiner: 

That recession driven grimness hanging over the workplace has lifted and now workers of all shades are feeling good about their future.

A new survey provided to Secrets said that 72 percent of blue collar workers and 76 percent of white collar workers are optimistic about their future.

What’s more, half feel that it would be easy to find another job if they needed or wanted to.

But in its survey of 1,001 employed workers, Porch, a free online network that links homeowners and repair, renovation and cleaning professionals, found that there is concern about robots and automation.

For example, 29 percent of blue collar workers are worried that their jobs will soon be automated. But for white collar workers it was just 24 percent.

The survey also found that most blue collar and white collar workers are happy, feel respected, and like each other.

COMMENTS:  The robot issue is an important one, but robots might well lead to shorter work weeks, which many workers would find very desirable, assuming their income keeps up.  If the economy is strong, it might well keep up.

I hope people vote their pocketbooks in November.  If they do, our side should come out pretty well.  If they don't, we might be in trouble.

September 13,  2018     Permalink

SEPTEMBER 12,  2018

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 9:30 P.M. ET:

THE LEFT-WING MADNESS CONTINUES – FROM REASON:   In recent weeks, prominent Democrats have cheered the banning of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones from social platforms and have floated proposals for regulating the dissemination of foreign ads and "fake news." At the same time, they have gleefully spread conspiracy theories and falsehoods about Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. The latest lunacy comes courtesy of none other than Hillary Clinton, who today tweeted out talking points popularized last week by Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.)—talking points that mainstream and nonpartisan factcheckers have labeled false.  Harris had shared a video clip in which Kavanaugh appears to refer to birth control pills as "abortion-inducing drugs." The video was edited to elide the part that makes it clear that Kavanaugh was not expressing his own views but was describing the position taken by the plaintiffs in a case he had ruled on. Harris—and now Clinton—used this as supposed evidence that Kavanaugh is a zealot who wants to ban birth control.  Kamala Harris should be censured by the Senate for her behavior, but it will never happen.  As for Hillary, her motto should be, "Have lie, will travel."

MISS AMERICA NOT MISSED – FROM FOX:   The Miss America ceremony subtracted the swimsuit competition for the first time in its 98-year history, and subtracted one million television viewers, too.  The Nielsen company said 4.34 million people watched the annual ceremony on ABC Sunday, down 19 percent from the 5.35 million viewers last year. Declining viewership has been a consistent trend for the pageant over the past few years.  With Miss America now under the leadership of former Fox News personality Gretchen Carlson, the swimsuits were left behind. Instead, they were replaced by onstage interviews where contestants talked about President Trump, the NFL player protests and other topics.  Yet the decision has been the subject of criticism. Minutes before the nationally televised broadcast began, a comedian warming up the crowd mentioned there would be no swimsuit competition, drawing loud boos from the audience.  I don't particularly care, but if the audience wants a beauty contest, which is what Miss America traditionally was (despite denials), let them have a beauty contest.  I personally have little interest in Miss Nevada's view of the Iran nuclear deal.

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE – FROM CLIMATE DEPOT:   The United States likely surpassed Russia and Saudi Arabia to become the world’s largest crude oil producer earlier this year, based on preliminary estimates in EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook.  In February, U.S. crude oil production exceeded that of Saudi Arabia for the first time in more than two decades. In June and August, the United States surpassed Russia in crude oil production for the first time since February 1999.  Although EIA does not publish crude oil production forecasts for Russia and Saudi Arabia in STEO, EIA expects that U.S. crude oil production will continue to exceed Russian and Saudi Arabian crude oil production for the remaining months of 2018 and through 2019.   Despite the push for other energy sources, the world still runs on petroleum, and our dominance of that realm is very much a good thing.  We can no longer be blackmailed with threats to cut off oil supplies.

September 12,  2018     Permalink

SOMETIMES THE EDUCATIONAL MARKET WORKS – AT 2:58 P.M. ET:   Evergreen State, a public college in the state of Washington, is synonymous with hard-left crackpot education.  And the people of the state are paying for it.  But sometimes the truth comes out and the crackpots begin to lose.  From Fox: 

Evergreen State College enrollment plummeted after fallout from the controversial “Day of Absence” in May 2017 when all white people were asked to leave the campus.

The publicly funded college – committed to social justice – became the poster child of a campus overrun by hyper-political correctness when students shut down the campus and shouted down then-evolutionary biology professor Bret Weinstein for merely questioning the event kicking white people off campus.

Weinstein, who describes himself as “deeply progressive,” ultimately lost his job and was labeled a “racist” and “white supremacist.”

Although just estimates, a representative from Evergreen said they expect around 350 freshman this fall, with a total of 3,000-3,100 total enrollment, both of which “do represent significant decreases as compared to before the 2017 unrest.”

“It’s a catastrophic drop, but I’m hoping we’ll recover,” Evergreen Professor Mike Paros told Fox News.

“Advocacy and activism rather than the pursuit of truth and knowledge is being promoted as a way of recruiting desperately needed new students,” Paros wrote. “Bringing in new faculty or guest speakers with conservative or centrist political perspectives is considered risky and out of the question at the moment. Fear and self-censorship is pervasive among Evergreen faculty, especially under the existing budget crisis.”

Paros is the only remaining Evergreen educator on Heterodox Academy, an advocacy group of professors to counteract narrowing of viewpoints on college campuses, and the practicing veterinarian who teaches biological and environmental sciences is offering a new class this fall to help change that.

The class is called “Liberal Education in the College Bubble: Crossing the Political and Cultural Divide.” He is using the college as a case study to show students how higher education deals with “issues of political diversity, free speech, freedom of thought, and censorship.”

COMMENT:  Maybe they should hire Hillary Clinton as president.  They could start a School for Advanced Excuse Studies.  A sure winner. 

September 12,  2018     Permalink

ANOTHER DISGRACE – AT 1:55 P.M. ET:   Former Secretary of State John Kerry, a man whose ego vastly exceeds his intellect, has been doing some freelancing.  It has been reported before, but this is the first time he's confirmed the details.  From the Washington Free Beacon: 

Former Secretary of State John Kerry disclosed that he has been conducting rogue diplomacy with top Iranian officials to salvage the landmark nuclear deal and push the Islamic Republic to negotiate its contested missile program, according to recent remarks.

Kerry, in an interview with radio host Hugh Hewitt to promote his new book, said that he has met with Iranian Former Minister Javad Zarif—the former secretary's onetime negotiating partner—three or four times in recent months behind the Trump administration's back.

"I think I've seen him three or four times," Kerry said, adding that he has been conducting sensitive diplomacy without the current administration's authorization. Kerry said he has criticized the current administration in these discussions, chiding it for not pursuing negotiations from Iran, despite the country's fevered rhetoric about the U.S. president.

Kerry's comments are in line with previous reporting on his behind-the-scenes attempts to save the nuclear deal and ensure that Iran continues receiving billions in cash windfalls. These payments were brought to a halt by the Trump administration when it abandoned the nuclear agreement and reimposed harsh sanctions on Iran that have nearly toppled its economy and sparked a popular revolution.

COMMENT:  It is grossly inappropriate for a former secretary of state to pursue private diplomacy.  I don't know if it's a violation of the Logan Act, which is supposed to prevent such things, but it complicates the strategy of the current secretary, Mike Pompeo.

And the nerve of Grand Admiral Kerry to criticize the current administration to a foreign enemy.  Who does he think he is?  Well, we know that.  All he has to add is the halo around his head.

This is the Washington establishment at its worst.  Even Richard Nixon stressed, when he was elected president in 1968, that we have one president at a time, cautioning his staff not to become over-eager before inauguration. 

Kerry's behavior not only gives aid and comfort to an enemy, it encourages our so-called "allies" in the European Union, who care only about their business deals with Iran, and are trying to short-circuit President Trump's clear-headed attempts to change Iranian policy on missiles and nuclear weapons.

September 12, 2018       Permalink

UNBELIEVABLE – AT 12:30 P.M. ET:  We've seen bad journalism, and we've seen really bad journalism.  But the Washington Post this morning outdid itself in sheer absurdity, shallowness, and ridiculousness.  From Fox:   

The editorial board of the Washington Post has declared that President Trump is “complicit” for Hurricane Florence because of his views on climate change.

The massive storm has not made landfall yet, but the Post published a column on Wednesday headlined, “Another hurricane is about to batter our coast. Trump is complicit.”

The piece also notes that Trump has given “good advice” when issuing hurricane warnings via his Twitter feed before it launched an attack on the president.

“When it comes to extreme weather, Mr. Trump is complicit. He plays down humans’ role in increasing the risks, and he continues to dismantle efforts to address those risks. It is hard to attribute any single weather event to climate change. But there is no reasonable doubt that humans are priming the Earth’s systems to produce disasters,” the editorial board wrote.

Billionaire Jeff Bezos’s paper then quotes a climate researcher who said that previous hurricanes would not have produced so much rain without “human-induced climate change” and Florence is another indication of global warming.

“With depressingly ironic timing, the Trump administration announced Tuesday a plan to roll back federal rules on methane, a potent greenhouse gas that is the main component in natural gas. Drillers and transporters of the fuel were supposed to be more careful about letting it waft into the atmosphere, which is nothing more than rank resource waste that also harms the environment,” the Post’s editorial board wrote. “The Trump administration has now attacked all three pillars of President Barack Obama’s climate-change plan.”

The piece concluded: “The president has cemented the GOP’s legacy as one of reaction and reality denial. Sadly, few in his party appear to care.”

Conservative strategist Chris Barron told Fox News that the mainstream media ‘finds new ways to embarrass themselves and further erode Americans confidence in them” on a daily basis.

“This column is so absurd it should be coming from The Onion, not the Washington Post. To the extent that climate change is happening, it is a global phenomenon that has been occurring for decades and decades,” Barron said. “The media won’t give Trump credit for the economy but they will blame him for a hurricane. You can’t make this stuff up.”

COMMENT:  I do not expect anything great from liberal journalism.  But we have a right to expect a level of maturity above that of the fifth grade.  We didn't get it from the Post this morning.

September 12,  2018     Permalink