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MAY 14,  2017

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:32 P.M. ET: 

THEY'RE TAKING ALL THE FUN OUT OF IT – FROM RENEW ECONOMY:  By 2030, you probably won’t own a car, but you may get a free trip with your morning coffee. Transport-As-A-Service will use only electric vehicles and will upend two trillion-dollar industries. It’s the death spiral for cars.  A major new report predicts that by 2030, the overwhelming majority of consumers will no longer own a car – instead they will use on-demand electric autonomous vehicles.  By 2030, within 10 years of regulatory approval of autonomous electric vehicles (A-EVs), the report says, 95 per cent of all US passenger miles traveled will be served by on-demand, autonomous, electric vehicles that will be owned by fleets rather than individuals.  Why am I skeptical of this?  We love our cars.  We love owning them.  When has an American kid ever had a dream about riding in a fleet car?  If this be treason...

MORE "PROGRESS" – FROM BLOOMBERG:  In the most cashless society on the planet, even God now accepts digital payments.  A growing number of Swedish parishes have started taking donations via mobile apps. Uppsala’s 13th-century cathedral also accepts credit cards.  The churches’ drive to keep up with the times is the latest sign of Sweden’s rapid shift to a world without notes and coins. Most of the country’s bank branches have stopped handling cash; some shops and museums now only accept plastic; and even Stockholm’s homeless have started accepting cards as payment for their magazine. Go to a flea market, and the seller is more likely to ask to be paid via Sweden’s popular Swish app than with cash.  I will never agree to buying a Milky Way candy bar or a hot-fudge sundae with a credit card.  You mean, no more allowances from mom and dad?  We'd better start defining progress.

FBI TENSION – FROM THE NEW YORK POST:  Former top FBI official James Kallstrom said on Sunday that it’s “disgraceful” that Andrew McCabe is the acting director of the agency despite his wife’s cozy relationship to Hillary Clinton operatives.  “It’s actually disgraceful,” Kallstrom, the former assistant director of the FBI, told John Catsimatidis on his “Cats Roundtable” radio program. “Here’s a guy who’s still in the chain of command.”  McCabe, who took over as acting FBI director when President Trump fired James Comey last week, is married to Jill McCabe who took $467,500 from Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s political action committee during her run for state senate.  She also received $207,788 from the Virginia Democratic Party, which is heavily influenced by Clinton loyalist McAuliffe.  The funds began flowing to Jill McCabe two months after the FBI launched its investigation into Clinton’s use of a private email server in July 2015.  Just a coincidence, I'm sure.  Nothing to see, nothing to see.

May 14,  2017     Permalink

YOU MEAN PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINTS?  – AT 7:42 A.M. ET:   Yeah, apparently there's some serious distress about college among those who've sampled.  How could they not see perfection?  From insidehighered.com: 

Americans see the value in getting a college degree, but they’re not particularly happy with our nation’s higher education system.

Those are among the results from a new survey conducted by New America, a think tank based in Washington. The report, which New America plans to update annually, is based on a survey of 1,600 American adults. The group probed people’s perceptions of higher education and economic mobility, with the results broken out by age, gender, region and socioeconomic status.

Fully three-quarters of respondents said it’s easier to be successful with a degree than without one, in a finding that generally transcended the race of respondents. Yet 51 percent believe that plenty of well-paying jobs do not require going to college, despite solid evidence to the contrary.

Of concern for colleges and universities, just one in four of the survey’s respondents feel higher education is functioning fine the way it is. The results also include sector-specific findings, with a range of results across the sectors on some questions.

A contributor to the widespread belief that higher education too often does not deliver on its promise, the survey found, is that 58 percent of respondents believe colleges put their own long-term interests first instead of those of their students.

Millennials in particular felt this way, despite being on track to be the most educated generation yet and the most experienced with the system. Among this group, 64 percent said colleges put their own interests first and only 13 percent say higher education is fine as it is, compared to 42 percent and 39 percent, respectively, for the Silent Generation (age 72 and up).

So despite 79 percent of respondents saying most people benefit from enrolling in college they also realize there are few alternatives, said Amy Laitinen, New America’s director for higher education and a former official in the Obama administration.

COMMENT:  There are still some fine colleges out there.  But many are glorified high schools and some are simply indoctrination centers. The real job of true education has fallen by the wayside.

May 14, 2017       Permalink

OH PLEASE – AT 7:31 A.M. ET:   Nothing impresses me less than a journalist in love with himself.  Jeff Zucker runs CNN, and is running it into the ground.  But he feels uplifted whenever he sees the fruits of his labor.  From Deadline Hollywood: 

This is an extraordinary time in journalism,” said CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker this morning referencing the Donald Trump era. “Many organizations in the United States have never done better work. This is really the renaissance of journalism in America because of the nature of what’s going on,” he told a packed audience at Keshet Media Group’s INTV conference in Jerusalem.

Maybe he thinks so.  The best work?  Or the worst and most corrupting?

Zucker also allowed that the Trump era has been financially prosperous. But he wouldn’t necessarily “send a thank you note” to POTUS. Still, “the reality is doing good journalism is also good for the bottom line.”

I wish he'd learn that lesson.

With regard to Trump having called the media the enemy of the people, Zucker said it was “an incredibly dangerous statement.” The key, however, “is to not be intimidated by it and not back off in any way.” Still, Zucker said he has been shocked “to watch many members of the political set in Washington not stand up to that statement. Many are just afraid in general and afraid of him. Many have abdicated their responsibilities in not standing up for the free media.” Zucker cited two exceptions, Lindsey Graham and John McCain, but still called it “a stunning and complete abdication of responsibility.”

COMMENT:  So it's our job now to defend the press, which apparently is incapable of defending itself.  What a compliment to the press.

Zucker is a perfect example of the D.C. echo chamber.  I'm sure he'd be happy to say that he "speaks truth to power," but I wouldn't trust most modern journalists to find the truth, or care much about it.

May 14, 2017       Permalink

IRAN MARCHES ON – AND WE'RE CONSUMED BY COMEY – AT 7:20 A.M. ET:  We'd better get off the dime and stop drowning in trivia.  From the Washington Free Beacon:

Iran continues to make critical technological strides in its efforts to perfect an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of delivering nuclear weapons over great distances, efforts that violate international prohibitions, according to the director of national intelligence, who informed Congress this week that the Islamic Republic "would choose ballistic missiles as its preferred method of delivering nuclear weapons."

The disclosure comes just days after Iranian leaders announced the upcoming launch of two new domestically produced satellites. Iran has long used its space program as cover for illicit missile work, as the know-how needed to launch such equipment can be applied to long-range ballistic missile technology.

Daniel Coats, America's top spymaster, informed Congress this week in an intelligence briefing that Iran's ballistic missile work continues unimpeded and could be used by the Islamic Republic to launch a nuclear weapon, according to unclassified testimony.

COMMENT:   Iran will get that weapon thanks to Obama's generosity in the Iran nuclear deal.  An appropriate statue should be built in Tehran.

May 14,  2017     Permalink 

MAY 13,  2017

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 10:31 P.M. ET: 

THE WARNING – FROM REUTERS:   The Trump administration is likely to expand a ban on laptops on commercial aircraft to include some European countries, but is reviewing how to ensure lithium batteries stored in luggage holds do not explode in midair, officials briefed on the matter said on Wednesday.  Any expansion of the ban could impact U.S. carriers such as United Airlines, Delta Air Lines Inc and American Airlines Group. Six U.S. and European officials said they expect the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to make an announcement but declined to say when.  Clearly, there is some piece of credible intelligence behind this.  DHS Secretary Kelly said recently that this is what keeps him up at night.

FIGHTING BACK – FROM COLLEGE FIX:  Two bills working their way through the Michigan state Senate would bring serious repercussions to any state college students who infringe upon the free speech rights of others on campus.  MLive reports that the bills, which would apply to the fifteen universities and twenty-eight community colleges in Michigan, require the state’s institutions of higher learning to issue either a one-year suspension or an expulsion for students found twice to have violated or infringed upon another’s free speech rights.  The Michigan Association of State Universities opposes the bills, calling them “unnecessary and duplicative” and an infringement upon the rights of colleges to govern their own campuses.  I love the reaction of the "Association."  Who needs more free speech protection?  There are new campus horror stories every day but, hey, we educators can take care of that.  I hope the bills go through.

THE RUMOR MILL – FROM THE HILL:   President Trump has reportedly considered replacing White House press secretary Sean Spicer, and has raised a Fox News host as a possible spokesperson.  Six West Wing officials told The New York Times that the president is considering the most far-reaching shake-up of his first term after being dissatisfied with several top aides, especially Spicer.  Trump has discussed Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle as a possible press secretary, according to the Times, which noted that the president has also spent several hours with Spicer this week praising his TV "ratings" during briefings.  Well, if he does replace Spicer, which may or may not be wise, Guilfoyle would be superb.  But Sarah Huckabee Sanders, currently subbing for Spicer while he's on Naval Reserve duty, would also be superb.

May 13,  2017     Permalink

THE FAMILY BUSINESS – AT 1:56 P.M. ET:  Unfortunately, Osama bin Laden had children.  And the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.   From CBS News:

Personal letters seized in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden reveal the al Qaeda leader's son to be a young man who adores his father and wants to carry on his murderous ideology. That son today is poised to lead a stronger, larger al Qaeda and is bent on avenging his dad's death, says an ex-FBI agent familiar with those documents. Holly Williams interviews Ali Soufan, the former FBI agent who was the bureau's lead investigator of al Qaeda after the 9/11 attacks, on the next edition of 60 Minutes Sunday, May 14 at 7 p.m. ET/PT.  

Soufan describes a letter from the son, Hamza, that was collected in the raid and now declassified. 

"He tells him that…he remembers 'every look…every smile you gave me, every word you told me.'" Hamza would be about 28 now and wrote the letter when he was 22 and had not seen his father in several years.  Hamza also wrote this: "I consider myself to be forged in steel. The path of jihad for the sake of God is what we live."  

Hamza's potential as a leader was recognized years ago when he was still a boy, says Soufan.  The child was used in propaganda videos, sometimes holding a gun.  "He was a poster kid for the al Qaeda…and for members of al Qaeda, who were indoctrinated with these propaganda videos, he means a lot to them," Soufan tells Williams.

The U.S. has named Hamza a "specially designated global terrorist" -- the same classification his father once held. He even sounds like his father, says Soufan.  "His recent message that came out, he delivered the speech as if it's his father…using sentences, terminology that was used by Osama bin Laden."

COMMENT:  But Washington is busy trying to reverse the results of the last election.  And when the next terrorist hit occurs, that same Washington will blame it on TRUMP (!!) and CHENEY (!!!!) and
Bill O'Reilly (!!!!!).

We are asleep.  Democracies usually are.

May 13, 2017       Permalink

AND A SPEECH THAT WILL NEVER BE GIVEN – AND IT IS SO SAD – AT 1:20 P.M. ET:  Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas, a powerful member of the Senate, was invited to deliver the commencement address at a traditionally black college in his state.  That invitation has now been cancelled because of "protests."  From Fox: 

Texas Southern University, a historically black university, announced Friday that Sen. John Cornyn’s Saturday commencement speech was canceled after opposition from students at the school.

The cancellation of Cornyn’s address came just days after Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was booed and heckled as she delivered a commencement speech at a different historically black university, Bethune-Cookman University in Florida.

Cornyn’s spokesman said, “Sen. Cornyn was honored to be invited to address TSU’s graduates, but he respects the administration’s decision and looks forward to continuing to engage with the university in the future.”

Students at Texas Southern University in Houston had circulated a petition demanding the Texas senator be withdrawn as a commencement speaker, citing various stances he has taken. These included his confirmation votes in favor of DeVos and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, his opposition to funding for so-called sanctuary cities that protect immigrants and his support for photo IDs for voting. The petition also cited Cornyn’s low rating by the NAACP.

COMMENT:  There's dumb, and there's really dumb.  This is really dumb.  Engaging with a powerful figure, attempting to influence him or her, is what smart people do. 

Cornyn, by the way, is under consideration to be FBI director.  Wouldn't you want to have influence with a man like that?

This is the latest in a series of acts suppressing free speech at our colleges and universities.  Where, precisely, are the "liberal" journalists of The New York Times or the Washington Post or CNN when this kind of behavior erupts?  Missing in action...because secretly they agree with the thuggery.

May 13,  2017     Permalink

GOOD WORDS – AT 12:31 P.M. ET:  President Trump has many shortcomings, but many skills as well.  One of the greatest of his skills is the ability to understand the American creed.  The president has just given a commencement address at Liberty University.  From The Hill:

Speaking to a friendly crowd at the country's largest Christian university on Saturday, President Trump told the graduating class that "in America, we don’t worship government, we worship God.”

“America has always been the land of dreams because America is a nation of true believers,” Trump told those gathered at Liberty University.

“When the pilgrims landed at Plymouth, they prayed. When the founders wrote the Declaration of Independence, they invoked our creator four times. Because in America, we don’t worship government, we worship God.”

"It is why our currency proudly declares, 'In God We Trust,'" Trump continued. "And it is why we proudly proclaim that we are one nation, under God, every time we say the Pledge of Allegiance."

COMMENT:  Whether one is religious or not, it is important to note that freedom of religion is the first American freedom, the driving force behind the dangerous voyages our ancestors took to these shores. 

Freedom of religion has been disparaged in recent years by self-proclaimed "intellectuals," but it is the heart of the nation's commitment to freedom of conscience.

May 13,  2017     Permalink