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FEBRUARY 16,  2016

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 7:54 P.M. ET: 

THE MAIN BOUT – From The Politico:   Mysterious outside groups are asking state parties for personal data on potential delegates, Republican campaigns are drawing up plans to send loyal representatives to obscure local conventions, and party officials are dusting off rule books to brush up on a process that hasn’t mattered for decades.  As Donald Trump and Ted Cruz divide up the first primaries and center-right Republicans tear one another apart in a race to be the mainstream alternative, Republicans are waging a shadow primary for control of delegates in anticipation of what one senior party official called “the white whale of politics”: a contested national convention.  The endgame for the most sophisticated campaigns is an inconclusive first ballot leading to a free-for-all power struggle on the floor in Cleveland.  Personally, I can't wait.  It would be a great exercise in a political party acting like a political party.  Bargaining.  Debating.  Looking the candidates over, in the flesh.  And it's unlikely a party convention would nominate a jerk.  Those delegates have to face their families.

GOP SUPREME COURT STAND SOFTENING – From the Washington Times:   Cracks were emerging Tuesday in congressional Republicans’ position of blocking automatically any candidate nominated by President Obama to fill the Supreme Court seat of the late Antonin Scalia.  Sen. Thom Tillis, North Carolina Republican, voiced caution Tuesday about the GOP blocking any Obama nominee without a hearing.  “I think we fall into the trap if [we] just simply say, sight unseen, we fall into the trap of being obstructionists,” Mr. Tillis said on the Tyler Cralle radio show.  But Mr. Tillis added of the president, “If he puts forth someone that we think is in the mold of President Obama’s vision for America, then we’ll use every device available to block that nomination.”  This is a good strategic move.  It reminds me of the movie mogul Jack Warner's line:  "I don't want to see that S.O.B. in my office again...unless I need him."  By leaving the door a crack open, but insisting on a consensus candidate, and vowing to defeat anyone who isn't a consensus candidate, the Republicans can come out of this well.  Most important, the nation might actually wind up with a fine justice.  Remember, the Senate's Constitutional role is to advise and consent, not just consent.  If the president were smart – and there are questions – he'd openly seek the Senate's advice on nominees.

COBURN SLAMS DONALD – From the Washington Examiner:  Former Sen. Tom Coburn is angry about being quoted in the latest Donald Trump attack on Ted Cruz.  Coburn called the quote an "absolute fabrication."  As part of his never-ending criticism of Cruz, Trump's Twitter feed retweeted and pushed a quote ostensibly from Coburn criticizing Cruz as "one of the most dishonest people" in Washington. Coburn never said this.  During a phone interview with the Washington Examiner, the former Oklahoma senator fired back at Trump.  "It's an absolute fabrication. I've never said that, period," Coburn told the Examiner. "It's unfortunate he would use my name to say something dishonest. It's a total fabrication."  Coburn is a fine man, and was a respected senator.  I'd take anything he said to the bank.

February 16, 2016       Permalink

OUR NEXT PRESIDENT? – AT 10:27 A.M. ET:  Things are getting desperate for Hillary.   From Fox: 

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton turned to animal impersonations Monday as the former secretary of state ramped up her effort to secure victory over surging Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in this Saturday's Nevada caucuses.

Speaking before a crowd in Reno, Clinton described how she would like to fact-check various Republican claims. He began her story with a recollection of a political ad that aired on the radio in Arkansas. The ad featured a dog that the announcer claimed would bark any time a candidate said an untrue statement.

"We need to get that dog and follow him around and every time they say these things, like, 'oh the Great Recession was caused by too much regulation," Clinton said before yelping, "Arf! Arf! Arf! Arf!" to general applause.

Clinton and her opponent, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, have criss-crossed the Silver State in recent days. On Sunday, they wound up at opposite ends of a pew in the same Las Vegas church.

Sanders' ground game is catching up to the Clinton machine as well. The so-called Democratic socialist's campaign has over 100 staffers on the ground and has more than doubled its paid staff here since last month, along with spending double on his television spots compared to Clinton - $2.93 million to Clinton’s $1.46 million.

COMMENT:  Let's see.  We get a choice between hard-cursing, out-of-control, vulgar Donald Trump and animal-impersonating, security-risking, and, in private, hard-cursing Hillary Clinton.  What do we do? 

Independent candidate, wherever you are, you're on.

February 16, 2016       Permalink

QUOTE OF THE DAY – ON DEMAGOGUES – AT 9:08 A.M. ET:  What is an election about?  From the great Thomas Sowell, one of the wisest writers working today, noting the anger of American voters in 2016:

Their anger may be justified, but anger is not a sufficient reason for choosing a candidate in a desperate time for the future of this nation. And there is such a thing as a point of no return.

Voters need to consider what elections are for. Elections are not held to allow voters to vent their emotions. They are held to choose who shall hold in their hands the fate of hundreds of millions of Americans today and of generations yet unborn.

Too many nations, in desperate times, especially after the established authorities have discredited themselves and forfeited the trust of the people, have turned to some new and charismatic leader, who ended up turning a dire situation into an utter catastrophe.

The history of the 20th century provides all too many examples, whether on a small scale that led to the massacre in Jonestown in 1978 or the earlier succession of totalitarian movements that took power in Russia in 1917, Italy in 1922 and Germany a decade later.

Eric Hoffer's shrewd insight into the success of charismatic leaders was that the "quality of ideas seems to play a minor role," What matters, he pointed out, "is the arrogant gesture, the complete disregard of the opinion of others, the singlehanded defiance of the world."

Is that the emotional release that Republican voters will be seeking when they begin voting in the primaries? If so, Donald Trump will be their man. But if the sobering realities of life and the need for mature and wise leadership in dangerous times is uppermost in their minds, they will have to look elsewhere.

COMMENT:  As usual, Dr. Sowell gets it right.  I do hope readers will consider his words.  Donald Trump has many talents, and he might even do some good things as president.  But I believe his temperament, his shallowness, his viciousness, disqualify him.  We are electing a president, not choosing a wrestling champion.

I have written before that this is becoming a very adolescent nation.  It can be attributed to many things – the decline in moral standards, the pampering of our children, the hollowing of our educational system.  I think we see the adolescence in Trump's behavior and, on the other side, in the antics of both the corrupt Hillary Clinton and the promise-them-anything Bernie Sanders.  They seem to be saying, "Just trust me.  You're a kid.  What do you know?"

We need a year of wisdom.  We aren't getting it.

February 16, 2016       Permalink

TRUMP THREATENS AGAIN – AT 8:54 A.M. ET:  At what point will voters realize that this man is just a bully?  I don't know, but I find him increasingly depressing.  From The State:

HANAHAN, S.C.   Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump did not close the door Monday on a possible third-party run, accusing the Republican National Committee of breaking its pledge to stay neutral in the race.

“The RNC is in default,” Trump said during a news conference here. “When somebody is in default, that means the other side can do what they have to do.”

The New York billionaire also criticized Republican Gov. Nikki Nikki Haley, saying she had failed to protect South Carolina from Syrian refugees who could pose a danger to the state and the possibility of Guantanamo prisoners being transferred to the Navy brig outside Charleston.

“A governor has a lot of power people don’t realize,” Trump said, three miles from the brig. “A governor has a choice.”

Haley has sent letters to federal officials voicing her objection to allowing refugees in the state without vetting and protesting any plans to move the Guantanamo prisoners to South Carolina. No decision has been made about moving those prisoners.

“Donald Trump would be wise to know the facts before he discusses serious issues affecting South Carolinians — on both topics, the governor has taken on President Obama directly,” Haley deputy chief of staff Rob Godfrey said.

Haley, one of the state’s most popular Republicans, has criticized Trump on several occasions for his combative campaign tactics, including in her State of the Union response last month, when she asked voters to avoid the “angriest voices.”

COMMENT:  And yet, nothing Trump does seems to dent his lead in the polls.  He seems headed for another victory in South Carolina this Saturday, although polls show him remaining in the thirties, not exactly a stellar performance for a man who expects the nomination.

February 16,  2016     Permalink

FEBRUARY 15,  2016

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

SOUTH CAROLINA POLL – GOP – From The State:  Donald Trump still is leading the S.C. Republican presidential race after the weekend’s explosive GOP debate in Greenville.  But the race for second place in Saturday’s primary appears to be narrowing.  Behind Trump, who has 35 percent support in a new poll, U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas are tied for second place — at 18 percent each, according to a Public Policy Polling survey released exclusively Monday to The State.  Ohio Gov. John Kasich is in fourth at 10 percent support, followed by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, tied with 7 percent support each.  If those numbers hold it isn't great news for Trump.  He can't get out of the mid-thirties, and is a frontrunner in name only  The numbers mean that 65% of those polled are not for him, not good news for the "frontrunner." 

SOUTH CAROLINA POLL – DEMS – From The State:   In the Democratic race, frontrunner Hillary Clinton still holds a double-digit lead — 55-34 — over U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, according to a separate poll of 525 likely Democratic primary voters.  Sanders and Clinton are tied among white S.C. voters, the poll said. But Clinton has a strong lead among African-American voters, expected to make up more than half of Democratic primary voters. Among those voters, 63 percent said they back Clinton compared to 23 percent for Sanders.  Fourteen percent of black Democratic voters said they were undecided.  If the numbers hold, Clinton will have a respectable victory.  But will they hold?  Sanders has made substantial progress against Hillary in every state in which the two have campaigned.  The Dem Nevada caucuses are this weekend.  South Carolina votes a week later.  If Bernie upsets Hillary in Nevada, he could get a bounce in South Carolina. 

MADDENING – From Gallup:  PRINCETON, N.J. -- Americans are evenly split when asked if the U.S. is No. 1 in the world militarily, with 49% saying "yes" and 49% saying "no." The current percentage who view the U.S. as No. 1 is, by a small margin, the lowest Gallup has recorded in its 23-year trend. It also marks a significant downturn from last February, when 59% said the U.S. was the world's top military power.  Ah, the effects of one president.  I'm sure he'll be pleased with the poll.  Why be number one in military power?  It's so...so...unprogressive.

February 15, 2016       Permalink

OBAMA BLASTED FOR SILENCE WHEN COPS ARE KILLED – AT 10:56 A.M. ET:  The Democratic Party is increasingly an anti-police party.  It is, under Obama, drifting further and further to the political left.  We are seeing the same pattern we saw in the 1960s, relentless criticism of the police, with no serious criticism of criminals.  Police are noticing.  From the Washington Examiner: 

President Obama's silence on a wave of recent killings of police officers is being ripped by law enforcement, with one Maryland sheriff taking to Facebook to mock that he will "save you a spot next to me!" at this week's funerals for two deputies.

"Mr. President, your silence about these events SPEAKS VOLUMES!!!!  PS: I'll be standing outside in the cold next week with my deputies for the funerals of the Harford Co deputies; I'll save you a spot next to me!" Facebooked Carroll County Sheriff Jim DeWees.

His post, blasted throughout law enforcement social media and highlighted by the National Sheriffs' Association, has become part of the rallying cry among cops that the president is ignoring attacks on them, and even fostering anti-police feelings.

The Fraternal Order of Police even called on Obama to expand hate-crime laws to those targeting police. In a letter also posted on Facebook, FOP President Chuck Canterbury wrote, "Mr. President, that is eight officers–six in less than a week–who have been gunned down by assailants striking from ambush or career criminals with active warrants who decided they would not be taken into custody, no matter the cost. Enough is enough! This must end."

DeWees made public the belief among many in law enforcement that the president is only concerned about violence when somebody is shot by a police officer.

His Facebook posting came after two nearby Harford County deputies were gunned down.

"I understand that you are a busy man and are being pulled in multiple directions every day of the week," wrote DeWees. "But, when my president doesn't take the time to openly recognize the sacrifices that brave men & women of law enforcement make each day to keep domestic peace, I'm disappointed! I suspect that if these same deputies walked in to a restaurant, and without provocation shot and killed an innocent man, you and your staff would quickly whisk their family away to Washington for a future speech to make an example of police officers nationwide," he added.

In interviews with Secrets, other national sheriffs expressed similar concerns. "We are the Vietnam Veterans of this generation," said Oakland County, Michigan Sheriff Michael Bouchard.

"What is everybody else's responsibility?" when it comes to reacting to police, he said. "This administration has done nothing to say, 'What's your duty as a citizen when the officer says stop.'"

COMMENT:  Very well said.  No one is suggesting that every police officer is perfect, but the good far outnumber the bad, and some good officers were gunned down recently.  The White House remained silent.

Obama is a petty little man who probably won't respond to the pleas on behalf of police.  He's the same petty little man who refused to attend Margaret Thatcher's funeral, or even send a high-ranking representative.

Consider what Reagan would have said in response to the murder of police officers.

February 15, 2016       Permalink

McCAIN ROASTS OBAMA ON FOREIGN POLICY – AT 10:35 A.M. ET:   I realize that John McCain is not universally popular in the Republican Party, and he faces a serious primary challenge in his re-election bid.  But on foreign- and defense policy he's been the party's leading, and eloquent, spokesman – a man who knows the lessons of the 20th century.  From the Washington Examiner: 

Speaking at a conference in Germany Sunday, Sen. John McCain issued a sharp critique of the Obama administration's diplomacy in what amounted to an unusual attack while overseas of President Obama's leadership.

McCain addressed the Munich Security Conference a day after Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev described "a new Cold War" between Russia and the West.

McCain, a Arizona Republican who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, blasted Russia for deceptive policies in Syria, Ukraine and elsewhere.

He also faulted the actions of the Iranian regime in the wake of the nuclear deal western states cut with the former rogue state.

McCain steered clear in the speech of overt attacks on Obama, who defeated him in the 2008 election. But the senator left clear his implicit critique of the president's foreign policy as naive and weak.

McCain faulted the planned ceasefire that Secretary of State John Kerry has helped negotiate in Syria. McCain said Russian President Vladimir Putin is exploiting the talks.

"Mr. Putin is not interested in being our partner," McCain said.

"I want to be wrong, but I fear I am not," he said.

COMMENT:   McCain is right, of course.  And Marco Rubio is right in saying that Obama knows exactly what he's doing.  Obama is a leftist, not a liberal.  He believes America is the problem, whereas we, on our side, believe America is the solution. 

We are losing everywhere.  The president does not seem to mind.

February 15, 2016       Permalink

BIG TROUBLE – 9:55 A.M. ET:  This is the kind of news that keeps security people up at night, unless they work for Barack Obama.  From the New York Post:

Islamic State militants attacked Kurdish forces in Iraq with mustard gas last year, the first known use of chemical weapons in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein, a diplomat said, based on tests by the global chemical weapons watchdog.

A source at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) confirmed that laboratory tests had come back positive for the sulfur mustard, after around 35 Kurdish troops were sickened on the battlefield last August.

The OPCW will not identify who used the chemical agent. But the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity because the findings have not yet been released, said the result confirmed that chemical weapons had been used by Islamic State fighters.

The samples were taken after the soldiers became ill during fighting against Islamic State militants southwest of Erbil, capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region.

And...

Experts believe that the sulfur mustard either originated from an undeclared Syrian chemical stockpile, or that militants have gained the basic know how to develop and conduct a crude chemical attack with rockets or mortars.

Iraq’s chemical arsenal was mainly destroyed in the Saddam era, although U.S. troops encountered some old Saddam-era chemical munitions during the 2003-2011 U.S. occupation.

COMMENT:  Oh, those old WMD stories.  Nothing to see, nothing to see.  In fact, there's plenty to see.  And plenty to fear.  Chemical weapons are moved very easily.  A chemical compound can be moved in a small can or jar. 

We have accepted the "narrative" that there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq.  I'm not so sure that narrative was accurate.  There may have been some.  Or some may have been taken to Syria before the American invasion of Iraq in 2003.  Indeed, there were well-sourced reports of long convoys going into Syria just before the war. 

Whatever the truth, our worst enemies probably have them.  Obama will ignore the stories, and the well-trained Obama press will suppress them.  It's disgraceful.

February 15,  2016     Permalink