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FEBRUARY 28,  2017

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

REACTION TO THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH:  The most commonly made remark, at least that I've heard, is that Donald Trump became president tonight.  His speech was the best of his career, and would have been excellent coming from any president.  It was well-written, obviously polished several times.  The language was spare and clean.  There was no confusion, no vague phrases, no bluster, no insults.  It was a flawed man drowning the flaws and bringing out his best.

The delivery was also superb.  I had the feeling that Trump had a coach, and that's all to the better.  I also had the feeling he had rehearsed and rehearsed, which is exactly what any pro would do.  Ronald Reagan could be seen rehearsing a major speech in the Oval Office.  A speech is a performance, and the performer prepares.  Even Trump's physical gestures seemed prepared – things like turning graciously to the gallery to introduce a guest.  Gone was the awkwardness, the too-long tie, the casualness of the candidate. 

This was a great speech because it was meant to be, and because Trump realized his new administration was on the line.  No new president has been as ridiculed and as savaged as this one.  He had to prove the assassins wrong, and he did.  Michael Goodwin wrote, in the New York Post:

"Sometimes a speech is just a speech. And sometimes it heralds the prospect of a great national revival.

"Donald Trump gave the best speech of his short political life last night, and it had nothing to do with grand oratory. He was thoroughly presidential, speaking plainly and yet masterfully in projecting an optimistic vision of the America he aims to build.

It is a vision so optimistic and encompassing that even steaming Democrats had to join boisterous Republicans in the applause at times."

I wish the Democrats had joined in more often.  Most of them sat there glumly, perhaps realizing that Trump was becoming a formidable president. 

Now it will be up to the president to build on his night of triumph, and up to the Republicans in Congress to help him build.

February 28, 2017       Permalink

TOO KIND, MR. BUSH – AT 12:22 P.M. ET:   Former President George W. Bush has been making the rounds of interview shows, demonstrating his considerable decency.  However, his vigorous defense of the media on the Today Show left me disappointed.  Investors Business Daily notes how savagely the mainstreamers treated Bush, and accuses the former president, correctly, of being too soft on them.

Media Bias: President George W. Bush has issued a full-throated defense of the media's role in modern society. He's being way too generous.

"I consider the media to be indispensable to democracy. … Power can be very addictive," Bush said in remarks on NBC's "Today."

"We need an independent media to hold people like me to account," he said.

Yes, we agree wholeheartedly. But he seemed to imply today's media were fulfilling that role. They aren't. And there's no better example than Bush's own two terms in office.

While we deeply admire the former president for not holding a grudge, the media spent much of Bush's eight years in office actively lying about what he was doing and what he was trying to do.

It's one thing to disagree with Bush on Iraq; even some conservative media outlets loudly criticized Bush's strategy, down to the very presence of U.S. troops in Iraq.

But the media consistently mischaracterized Bush's actions, and served as a willing mouthpiece for the "Bush lied, people died" mantra of the left that served to undermine the effort to end the Iraq War.

Likewise, the media outright lied about what happened during Hurricane Katrina, painting a picture of an out-of-touch, racist chief executive who didn't really care about the deaths of African Americans from the ravaging floodwaters.

They virtually ignored the massive rescue and aid effort that followed, while making up stories of savagery on the ground and rape and murder in the temporary storm shelter set up in Houston's Astrodome. Anything to make Bush look bad.

Then in 2008, during the election campaign, came the "Bush did it" finger pointing about the financial crisis.

The Bush administration was on record as early as 2001 warning about the excesses of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but Democrats in Congress would have none of it, lambasting Bush and other Republicans as heartless tools of Wall Street.

COMMENT:  And there's more.  It's fine to reflect on the need for a free press, but wrong to remain silent in the face of press failure and distortion.  Those who revere a free press should be the first to be outraged by the state of the media today.

February 28, 2017       Permalink

THE TRUMP EFFECT – AT 10:31 A.M. ET:  People may not always love Donald Trump.   A Ronald Reagan he is not.  But he seems to be having a positive effect on how Americans view the future of their country.  From Business Insider:

The Conference Board's consumer confidence index surged to 114.8 in February from January's print of 111.8, making for the best reading since July 2001.

The internals of the report looked good as the Present Situation Index jumped 3.4 points to 133.4 and the Expectations Index climbed 3.1 points to 102.4.

February's reading topped the 15-year high of 113.7 set back in December after Donald Trump's election victory.

“Consumers rated current business and labor market conditions more favorably this month than in January," Lynn Franco, Director of Economic Indicators at The Conference Board, said in the report. "Expectations improved regarding the short-term outlook for business, and to a lesser degree jobs and income prospects. Overall, consumers expect the economy to continue expanding in the months ahead.”

COMMENT:  The key question is whether the American people are learning to filter out the media coverage of Trump and concentrate on what he's actually doing, and plans to do.

Tonight's speech is critical in that regard.  I think we're all curious as to what the president will say, and how the public will react in polls.  The New York Times is already rejecting what it believes will be the content of the speech, which is not surprising. 

Give Trump credit where it's due.  He has inspired at least a large chunk of the nation to be optimistic for the first time in a long time.  Maybe the press isn't as powerful as it thinks.

February 28, 2017       Permalink

VOTERS REJECT DEM OBSTRUCTION – AT 9:53 A.M. ET:  The Democratic strategy is clearly to obstruct, obstruct, obstruct.  The Dem base is demanding absolute opposition to all things Trump.  It's so brilliant and creative.

But the people of the nation are rejecting that madness.  From Rasmussen: 

Most voters agree that it’s bad for America and bad for the Democratic Party if Democrats continue to flat out oppose everything President Trump does. Even Democrats are conflicted about their party’s scorched earth policy.

The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that only 29% of all Likely U.S. Voters think it’s better for the country if Democrats oppose the president in every way possible. Sixty-three percent (63%) say it’s better for the country if Democrats try to work with the president instead.

The findings are identical when voters are asked about the impact of the Democrats’ reported strategy on the fortunes of their own party. Just 29% say it’s better for the Democratic Party if Democrats oppose the president in every way possible. Sixty-three percent (63%) disagree and think it’s better for the party if Democrats try to work with Trump.

Forty-four percent (44%) of Democrats feel it’s better for both the country and their party if they oppose the new president as much as possible. But 46% say it’s better for America if Democrats try to work with Trump, and 45% say it’s better for their party, too.

COMMENT:  Problem is, the troops of the Democratic base are crude and threatening.  They want blood.  They are left, not center left.  They would rather lose elections and maintain their ideological purity.  And Democratic leaders are afraid of them.  So they have an outsized influence.

I don't see much chance for cooperation, although, if he is shrewd, Trump will offer a cooperative spirit in his speech to Congress tonight.  Good politics and good government.

February 28,  2017     Permalink

FEBRUARY 27,  2017

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

ANOTHER GREAT MOMENT IN EDUCATION – FROM BREITBART:  Mirrors in Bucknell’s Swartz Hall were covered on Sunday evening in an effort to promote “body positivity” and “self-love.” The construction paper was draped over the mirrors to bring attention to Eating Disorder Awareness Day, which took place on Monday.  The coverage of the restroom mirrors was done in part to draw attention to “Self-Love Week,” an initiative program taking place this week at Bucknell. One of the events being advertised on the mirror of the men’s restroom is entitled “Words Your Body Needs to Hear,” and will be taking place in the Swartz Hall lobby on Tuesday.  Anybody for math? physics? chemistry?  No, I guess not.

OSCARS DOWN THE DRAIN – FROM DEADLINE.COM:  ...the near final numbers for last night’s 89th Academy Awards are now in, and they are down from last year. Sunday night’s show drew 32.9 million viewers with a 9.1 rating among adults 18-49.  Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel for the first time, the 2017 Oscars are down 4% in viewership and 13% among adults 18-49 from what the 88th Academy Awards ended up snagging in its final numbers last year. Like the metered market numbers of early today, that equals a nine-year viewership low for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences' annual ceremony. In fact, the 2017 Oscars were the third-least-watched of the 21st century.   America is sending a message to Hollywood, but Hollywood isn't getting it.  With more losses like this, the Oscars might soon be relegated to the
Good Food and Hair Color channel.

I'M SHOCKED, SHOCKED – FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER:   A majority of online and social media defenders of Obamacare are professionals who are "paid to post," according to a digital expert.  "Sixty percent of all the posts were made from 100 profiles, posting between the hours of 9 and 5 Pacific Time," said Michael Brown. "They were paid to post."  His shocking analysis was revealed on this weekend's Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson, broadcast on Sinclair stations and streamed live Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Her upcoming show focuses on information wars and Brown was describing what happened when he had a problem with Obamacare and complained online.  Brown said that social media is used to manipulate opinion, proven in the last presidential election.  I wonder if this story will be picked up by the mainstream media.  Don't hold your breath.

February 27, 2017       Permalink

PREVIEW – AT 11:58 A.M. ET:   President Trump will deliver an address to Congress tomorrow night.  It won't exactly be a State of the Union message – new presidents generally don't do that – but a general speech on the plans for his administration.

I expect that it will be very good, and very reasonable.  Trump can make that happen when he wants to.  Part of his strategy will probably be to throw the Democrats off balance.  From The Hill:

President Trump said Monday that his first budget proposal would feature major boosts to military spending and local law enforcement funding offset by “greater savings and efficiencies” in the federal government.

Trump promised a budget of “great rationality" that included funding increases that fulfill several of his key campaign promises while reducing overall federal spending.

“We’re going to do more with less and make the government lean and accountable to the people,” said Trump at a White House meeting of the country’s governors. “The government must learn to tighten its belt, something that families across the country have had to learn to do.”

Trump’s remarks come one day before he’ll speak to a joint session of Congress on his policy agenda. The president said the budget would be “a very big part” of Tuesday night’s speech, with the administration expected to release an outline of his proposal on March 13.

"It’s going to have to do with military, safety, economic development and things such as that," Trump said of his budget proposal. "Great detail tomorrow.”

Trump said his budget will include “a historic increase in defense spending to rebuild the depleted military.”

COMMENT:  The military desperately needs rebuilding, and that in turn means more manufacturing jobs in the United States.  For Trump, it's a twofer. 

There may well be disruptions during the speech.  Each member of Congress gets one ticket for a guest in the gallery, and it's well known that some leftist members give tickets to groups like Code Pink.  I wouldn't be shocked if the Code Pinkers show up and start shouting.

February 27, 2017       Permalink

MIRACLE AT YOUR LOCAL CARDIOLOGIST – AT 8:52 A.M. ET:  Have you noticed the massive, almost breathtaking rise in the "popularity" of Obamacare?  Why, it's all the rage.  The media tells us it's so.

Uh, not so fast.  Seems the numbers really don't add up, as the American Spectator notes: 

Who says the age of miracles is over? Having endured years of public scorn, Obamacare is reputedly enjoying a sudden and timely increase in popularity. USA Today breathlessly reports a new survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF): “More people view the health law favorably than at any point in nearly seven years.” The story implies that the threat of repeal has succeeded where years of taxpayer-funded promotional campaigns failed — moving the needle on Obamacare’s favorability ratings. The KFF poll found that the percentage of adults with a positive view of the law has risen to an underwhelming 48 percent.

If that percentage seems lackluster, it is also inconsistent with the survey’s other findings. When asked if our medical delivery system is on the right track, for example, “Six in ten (62 percent) Americans say that when it comes to health care, things in this country have pretty seriously gotten off on the wrong track.” Oddly enough, none of the “news” outlets touting the poll mention this highly inconvenient datum — despite an impossible-to-miss KFF graph pointing it out. The USA Today story neglects to mention it, ABC ignores it, U.S. News & World Report fails to note it, and Time refuses to violate the media code of Omertà.

Nor do any of these paragons of journalistic integrity mention KFF’s finding that the percentage of Americans who favor repeal of Obamacare is statistically identical to the percentage who do not want Congress to deep-six it: “[T]he public remains divided on what they would like lawmakers to do when it comes to the 2010 health care law with 47 percent wanting lawmakers to vote to repeal the law compared to 48 percent who say they should not vote to repeal it.” All of the outlets named above — and countless others — cherry-picked a single positive finding and ignored anything that failed to fit the “increase in popularity” line.

COMMENT:  The heroes of the media do it again!  Getting it wrong has become almost an honor.  Maybe there should be a Pulitzer Prize for "distorted reporting that advances progressive causes."  There'd be no shortage of nominees.  A great moment in journalism.

February 27, 2017       Permalink

WARNING FROM BRITAIN – AT 8:18 A.M. ET:  It may be that the biggest story in America right now is the mixup at the Oscars, a tragedy of mammoth proportions that will undoubtedly be written about by historians a thousand years from now.  I can see the volumes produced in our universities – "The La La Land Mixup, its Historic Implications." 

But there are also people called grown-ups out there who have real history, and tragedy, in mind.  There is a new warning from Britain.  From the Telegraph: 

British citizens are facing a level of threat from terrorists not seen since the IRA bombings of the Seventies, the country’s new terrorism watchdog has warned.

In his first major interview since taking the role, Max Hill said Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil) was planning “indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians” on a scale similar to those perpetrated by the IRA 40 years ago.

He told The Telegraph that Islamists were targeting UK cities and said there was an “enormous ongoing risk which none of us can ignore”.

The warning comes just days after Mr Hill, one of Britain’s leading terrorism prosecutors, was unveiled as the new independent reviewer of terrorism legislation.

It follows a 30-year legal career during which he helped convict the 21/7 bomb plotters, break up terror cells and imprison Damilola Taylor’s killers.

Revealing his views about the terrorism threat in Britain, Mr Hill also:

Expressed “enormous concern” at the imminent return of hundreds of British jihadists who have been fighting for Isil in Syria;

Warned that British teenagers as young as 14 are being radicalised by extremist videos and hate speech online...

COMMENT:  If they can strike over there, they can strike over here.  President Trump is trying to develop an anti-terrorism and immigration policy that will safeguard this country, and is being ridiculed for it.  And if the horrible moment occurs, the very people doing the ridiculing will claim it's America's fault.

And the press will blame Trump.

February 27,  2017     Permalink