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DECEMBER 8,  2017

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

NFL TICKETS – LESS THAN THE MOVIES – FROM CBS SPORTS:   As of Thursday afternoon, there are actual NFL tickets that are selling on the secondary market for under five dollars. Of course, like all good deals, these tickets do come with a catch: You need to live near Buffalo, have a high tolerance for cold weather and be willing to sit through three hours of a Colts-Bills game.   If you can handle those three things, then these are the perfect tickets for you. The cheapest tickets for Sunday's game in Buffalo are currently being sold by VividSeats.com, where multiple four dollar tickets are currently on sale.  A beer at the game would literally cost more than twice the price of your ticket.  Do you think the NFL might be in trouble?

I WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS – PLEASE DON'T GET ME ARRESTED – FROM CAMPUS REFORM:   As another Christmas quickly approaches, colleges across the country are issuing their annual guidelines on how to make the season as inclusive as possible.  At the University of California, Irvine, for instance, individual departments are encouraged to “focus on celebrating a special occasion, instead of a specific holiday,” suggesting that they have a “year-end celebration” or celebrate “seasonal themes such as fall, winter, or spring.”  "The holiday season should be considered an opportunity to demonstrate cultural sensitivity and inclusivity."  The California university also requests that academic departments “ensure that office celebrations are not indirectly celebrating religious holidays,” suggesting that they display “diverse symbols representing a variety of faith traditions along with secular ones.”  This is completely ridiculous.  What about sensitivity toward religious people?  Has anyone ever been psychologically destroyed by the presence of a Christmas tree?  Well, maybe people who work for MSNBC. 

COUNT ME OUT – FROM DAILY MAIL:   As robots become an ever increasing part of our daily lives, humans could soon find love with the machines, according to a new report.  The report suggests that over a quarter of 18-34 year-olds will feel it's normal to form friendships and even romantic relationships with robots in the future instead of humans.  And it seems that men are more likely to embrace the bots, with the report indicating that males are three times more likely to form a relationship with a robot than women.  What kind of men are we producing?  Is this all about saving money on dinner?

December 8, 2017       Permalink

AN OPEN SEAT IN MINNESOTA – AT 11:53 A.M. ET:   Al Franken's impending resignation from the Senate provides political opportunity for Republicans.  Can Minnesota be flipped?  From AP: 

His rapid fall leaves Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton to appoint a replacement to serve until at least 2018, when the state would hold an election to finish Franken's six-year term ending in 2020. Dayton said Thursday he expected to do so "in the next couple of days."

Franken's exit gives Republicans an opening to expand their reach in an already favorable Senate map — two dozen Democratic senators are up for re-election next year, including 10 in states that President Donald Trump carried in 2016. That difficult math raises the question of whether Dayton will appoint a temporary placeholder or try to give a Democrat a running start for the 2018 campaign.

His lieutenant governor, Tina Smith, has been most frequently mentioned for the temporary appointment. Smith is a trusted former chief of staff for Dayton and also ran former Vice President Walter Mondale's brief Senate campaign in 2002 after Sen. Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash. But Smith previously announced she wouldn't run for governor next year, suggesting she would be no more than a caretaker.

While Dayton weighed his choice, eyes were already turning to the 2018 race, especially among Republicans.

Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty — the last Republican to win a statewide election in Minnesota, in 2006 — was seen as a potential heavyweight contender in the GOP. Another possibility, former Sen. Norm Coleman, quickly ruled himself out.

COMMENT:  Minnesota is a close state.  Hillary Clinton barely carried it last year.  However, Al Franken won quite comfortably in his 2014 bid for re-election.

It will be a tough fight for the GOP to retake Franken's seat, but it can be done.

December 8, 2017       Permalink

THE DEMOCRATIC STRATEGY – AT 10:05 A.M. ET:  John Fund, one of the best political reporters in America, analyzes the Democratic eagerness to decapitate some of its own, like John Conyers and Al Franken, the better to destroy President Trump.  I'm glad these people weren't running World War II.  Or even a ping-pong match.  From Fox: 

Franken himself signaled what the Democratic playbook will be in 2018. He said it was ironic that he is leaving office when President Trump, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by several women, sits in the Oval Office. Franken also said his departure was ironic because Republican Roy Moore, who has been accused of sexual misconduct with teenage girls in Alabama nearly 40 years ago, may win a special election to the Senate from that state Tuesday.

“Democrats see the Russia probe petering out, the economy growing and ISIS in retreat,” former Reagan political director and Fox News contributor Ed Rollins told me this week. “They have to change the argument to Republicans are complicit in the abuse of women.”

Political observers say the speed with which Democrats forced Franken and Michigan Democratic Rep. John Conyers, the longest-serving member of Congress, to resign over sexual misconduct allegations is breathtaking.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., was sending birthday greetings and displaying pictures of herself with President Bill Clinton just last year. Then last month, she suddenly announced that Clinton should have resigned the presidency back in 1998 for his misbehavior with women.

“She abandoned the sinking Clinton ship with such alacrity, the rats were left gaping in astonishment,” a GOP senator drolly observed this week of his New York colleague.

Some savvy Democrats agree that the party’s shift from backing the right of Franken and Conyers to due process to calling for their heads may look too opportunistic to have long-lasting political benefits.

Democratic strategist Christy Setzer told The Hill newspaper: “There’s no good way to message ‘Our side’s sexual harassment isn’t as bad as your side’s.”

COMMENT:  Dems hope to challenge Trump's right to stay in office, based on charges that women have made against him, and the fact that other officeholders have stepped down.  I don't think it will work.  It's too obvious, and, unless the Dems are prepared truly to make Bill Clinton walk the plank, too hypocritical.  Trump will rise or fall based on his presidential record.

December 8, 2017       Permalink

GOOD JOBS REPORT – AT 9:46 A.M. ET:   Things are looking up.  From CNBC:  

The U.S. economy created 228,000 jobs in November while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1 percent, according to a Labor Department report Friday. 

Economists surveyed by Reuters had expected nonfarm payrolls to grow by 200,000. 

A more encompassing measure of joblessness that includes discouraged workers and those holding part-time positions for economic reasons moved up one-tenth to 8 percent. The ranks of those not in the labor force edged higher by 35,000 to 95.4 million.

Wall Street also was watching wage data closely. Average hourly earnings were estimated to rise 0.3 percent for the month or 2.7 percent for the year, and the final results disappointed in that regard.

Earnings rose 0.2 percent for the month and 2.5 percent for the year.

"The November employment data is largely as expected. For an expansion that began in mid-2009, no negative surprises are welcome," said Mark Hamrick, senior economic analyst at Bankrate.com. "The lingering impacts of recent hurricanes and flooding have reverted back to relative calm in the statistics, meaning that this is a 'cleaner' number."

COMMENT:  We've got to get wages higher so the American worker can participate fully in the growing economy.  But, overall, we're doing well, and manufacturing jobs – real jobs – are increasing.

But waiting in the wings, ready to run again for president in 2020, is Bernie Sanders, socialist.  Maybe he'll forget there's an election.

December 8,  2017     Permalink

DECEMBER 7,  2017

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

HOORAY FOR... – FROM AP:  The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Science announced Wednesday that it has adopted its first code of conduct for its 8,427 members.  Film academy chief executive Dawn Hudson introduced the new rules to members in an email. In October, the academy broke with tradition and made Harvey Weinstein just the second person ever expelled from the Oscars’ governing body.  The new code of conduct stipulates that the academy is no place for “people who abuse their status, power or influence in a manner that violates standards of decency.”  The academy’s board may now suspend or expel those who violate the code of conduct or who “compromise the integrity” of the academy.  The standards of conduct were drafted by a task force launched by the academy in October. It was formed after Weinstein was accused by dozens of women of sexual harassment and abuse.  I'll believe it when they give out an Oscar for best behavior by a known predator. 

I CAN'T WAIT TO GET ONE – FROM FOX:   Those looking to celebrate "Resist-mas" now have the perfect accessory: a Hillary Clinton tree topper.  The newly-released 3D-sculpted ornament features the former first lady "in her iconic power suit with angelic wings." The tree topper sells for $107 for a standard-size tree and more than $900 for a tree taller than 10 feet.  U.K.-based Women to Look Up To is selling the item, along with similar ones to honor Beyonce and Serena Williams.  Will anyone actually buy this?  Why?

SO SAD – FROM POLITICO:   Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) announced Thursday that he would resign from office as of Jan. 31, 2018, after discussing surrogacy issues with female staffers.  “I have recently learned that the Ethics Committee is reviewing an inquiry regarding my discussion of surrogacy with two previous female subordinates, making each feel uncomfortable,” he said in a statement. “I deeply regret that my discussion of this option and process in the workplace caused distress."  Franks’s announcement shocked Capitol Hill. He has been a vocal social conservative since being elected to Congress in 2002, and has authored numerous anti-abortion bills. He is married, with twin children.  I don't know the details.  I wish there'd been a full inquiry.  That's the right and fair way to do it, as I've said here many times.

December 7, 2017       Permalink

SHOCKED?  WHY? – AT 1:29 P.M. ET:  Bob Hope used to tell jokes about Bing Crosby going to Washington to visit his money.  So true, so true.  More so today.  From CNS: 

(CNSNews.com) - The five richest counties in the United States when measured by median household income are all suburbs of Washington, D.C., according to the American Community Survey data released today by the Census Bureau.

According to the American Community Survey's new five-year estimates (2012-2016), the five richest counties in the country are: Loudoun County, Va., where the median household income was $125,672; Falls Church City, Va., where it was $115,244; Fairfax County, Va., where it was $114,329; Howard County, Md., where it was $113,800; and Arlington County, Va., where it was $108,706.

An additional four Washington-area counties made it into the Top 20: No. 9 Fairfax City, Va. ($104,065); No. 14 Montgomery County, Md. ($100,352); No. 17 Prince William County, Va. ($98,546); and No, 20 Stafford County, Va. ($97,606).

That gave the Washington, D.C. area a total of 9 out of the 20 richest counties in the United States.

Five of the Top 20 richest counties were in northern New Jersey or New York: No. 6 Hunterdon County, N.J. ($108,177); No. 10 Morris County, N.J. ($102,798); No. 11 Somerset County, N.J. ($102,405); No. 12 Nassau County, N.Y. ($102,044); and No. 19 Putnam County, N.Y. ($97,606).
Another three of the Top 20 richest counties were in California in the San Francisco Bay Area: No. 13 Santa Clara County ($101,173); No. 15 Marin County ($100,310); and No. 17 San Mateo County ($98,546).

COMMENT:  Lots of money where government is.  The federal government actually pays quite well.  Many of the jobs pay more than their civilian counterparts.  And, of course, the Washington area is filled with lobbyists, contractors and consultants. 

Government is big business.  Much too big.  And you're paying the bills.

December 7, 2017       Permalink

FRANKEN TO RESIGN – AT 11:46 A.M. ET:   Democratic Senator Al Franken of Minnesota has just announced that he will resign from the Senate, following a number of accusations against him for sexual misconduct.  From Fox: 

Calling it “the worst day of his political life,” Sen. Al Franken said Thursday he will resign from the U.S. Senate following a wave of sexual misconduct allegations against him. 

Minnesota Public Radio reported late Wednesday he would resign, though Franken’s office pushed back saying it wasn’t a done deal yet. 

It will be up to Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton to appoint a successor.  

Multiple sources reported that the likely candidate could be Democratic Lt. Gov. Tina Smith, a close ally of Franken. Any successor, if he steps down, would serve until a special election is held in 2018 to determine who would fill the final two years of Franken’s term.

On Wednesday, Franken faced a tidal wave of resignation calls by members of his own party. 
By mid-afternoon, 23 of them wanted him gone. 

Enough is enough,” New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said. 

Gillibrand’s sentiment was echoed by Sens. Kamila Harris of California, Marie Hirono of Hawaii, Claire McCaskill of Missouri, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Maria Cantwell of Washington, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota. 

“Sexual harassment and misconduct should not be allowed by anyone and should not occur anywhere. I believe the best thing for Senator Franken to do is step down,” Harris, D-Calif., said. 

Hassan, D-N.H., tweeted, “It is clear that Al Franken has engaged in a pattern of egregious and unacceptable behavior toward women. He should resign."

COMMENT:  Franken is no one's favorite senator, and I have no doubt that he's done some tasteless, vulgar things.  But I'm becoming increasingly uneasy with the mob mentality that is being developed here.  Where evidence and testimony should be required, only the charge seems satisfactory to some zealots.  (And I believe the charges.)  The Senate has procedures to deal with serious charges against members, but the mob won its battle before those procedures were employed.

When Franken was first elected, there were plenty of public comments about his vulgarity.  Strange, but the people who are after him today had no problem with those charges.  They just wanted a Democrat in the Senate.

Make no doubt.  Franken is just a scalp that was needed.  The real target here is President Trump.  Now that Democratic Congressman John Conyers of Michigan has been forced out, and Franken is already on the going-home train, Democratic eyes will turn toward the White House.  There have been women who have charged the president with sexual harassment in the past.  They will be brought forward, and the Trump-hating press will start beating the drums for resignation or impeachment.

But Trump will fight back, effectively.

December 7, 2017       Permalink

THIS DAY – AT 11:19 A.M. ET:  I wonder how many young people in America know what the term "Pearl Harbor Day means.  I'm not optimistic about the answer.  When I was younger, everyone knew that December 7th was Pearl Harbor Day, the day that changed everything, the day that plunged America into World War II, the day that would lead to our being the greatest superpower in history.

There are not too many left who remember.  And too many young people are being taught by a corrupt educational system that the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was simply retaliation for our mistreatment of Japan.  After all, those people had "grievances."

The generation that emerged from Pearl Harbor won the largest war in history, forged a generous peace, helped rebuild our enemies and turn them into allies, and, at home, passed all the major civil rights laws that righted historic wrongs. 

And yet, in the late 1960s, young people were taught by the political left, "Don't trust anyone over 30."  Don't trust the generation that saved the world and then rebuilt it.  Trust college students, whose great contributions to civilization were tie-dyed jeans and "happenings" in Central Park. 

That same mentality has come back to haunt us today. 

The Pearl Harbor generation will soon be gone.  Too many Americans won't know to miss them because they've never been taught to revere them. 

There is still some time to correct our loss of memory.  If it is not corrected, we are done.

December 7, 2017     Permalink