A daily routine built on good habits and disciplines
separates the most successful among us from everyone else.
The routine is exceptionally powerful.
Darren Hardy
Political Potpourri
- Susan Rice as National Security Adviser: Thumbs DOWN. I don't have Rice derangement syndrome, but there is no legitimate excuse for deliberately misleading the American people on Benghazi. I don't care if she was reading talking points written by other people; she was giving a talking point inconsistent with the facts; I knew absolutely this was a terrorist action from facts in the public domain before Rice went on Sunday talk soup. This is an excerpt from my 9/12 post: "Late yesterday US Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens and a few others were killed in an attack on the US consulate compound in Benghazi. There is little doubt that 9/11 is symbolic to radical Muslims for reasons other than Terry Jones' provocative behavior (e.g., Gitmo prisoners, revenge for UBL's death, drone attacks, etc.) And there's no doubt that America's intervention in Libya no doubt created some enemies as well ..The consulate attack was unexpected [i.e., vs. the planned Egyptian Youtube video protest] and clearly premeditated to murder Americans." I had not even reviewed the string of attacks in Benghazi, including attempts on the life of the British Ambassador to Libya in Benghazi or repeatedly denied requests for additional security, both of which should have been known by Rice with any due diligence on her part. Reliance on politicized talking points, other than manipulation to eliminate references to terrorists (any excuse saying that the CIA, on its own removed references to terrorists, is disingenuous crap), is not acceptable when news reports are available; furthermore, she undermined Libyan President Mohammed Magarief, whom had publicly called it terrorism. I still believe Rice should have been terminated for cause. This appointment seems to be Obama's consolation prize for Rice's not getting nominated for Secretary of State, something ideological feminists deeply resented. Obama doesn't need to have Rice confirmed in her new role, but I think the selection once again shows poor judgment, and he's needlessly aggravating his already damaged relationship with the Republicans.
- Michael Steele's Comeback in Maryland? Thumbs UP. Steele ran a credible 2006 Senate campaign, earning a very respectable 44% of the vote (including mine), in fact earlier polls had the race closer and he did this in a disastrous Bush midterm election. This could be a landmark election between 2 major nominees of color (the Democrat, Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown). Steele knows that he has an uphill battle in a blue state, obviously he can run against the O'Malley tax-and-spend record, poor business climate (tax and regulation), Prisongate and even some libertarian ideas, like decriminalization of medical marijuana. If I'm still in Maryland next year (I wouldn't bet on it), I would likely support Steele
- Chuck Schumer and Sunday Talk Soup Thumbs DOWN Let's start with the Obama hat trick of scandals: this piece of work dismisses them as "so-called" scandals. Then Schumer starts giving the GOP political advice:
SEN. SCHUMER: But at the same time, [Speaker Boehner] knows that the Republican Party will be consigned to a minority party for a generation if they’re anti-immigration.
GREGORY: Do you have a warning for Republicans who want to. make the IRS and personal issues affecting the President the main theme of 2014?
SEN. SCHUMER: My warning to the Republicans is look at 1998. All they did is spend their time on the impeachment of Bill Clinton. And for the first time the incumbent president didn’t lose seats in the House.
I don't think so. I'm very touched that Schumer wants to "help" the GOP in next year's election, but let me point out that the GOP held control of the Congress in 1998. Republicans have done well in multiple states with significant Latino populations (one or more statewide elections in AZ, NV, TX, NM, and FL). Reagan signed immigration reform in 1986, and Bush and McCain supported immigration. The reason why it failed in 2007 is because of labor unions whom don't like temporary worker programs, and Dems (including Obama) kicked out compromises to the GOP on this issue. The Dems have their own issues with the unions on immigration. I think in a low-growth economy as we've had since 2000 there's always going to be resistance by struggling low-income workers to even more immigrant competitors. Also, I don't think Latinos are single-issue voters. I think ObamaCare, which continues to be highly unpopular, will also be a factor, including for everything from rising premiums to delayed exchange rollouts. I think Schumer is right that the economy will be an issue--but so will be a runaway national debt; economic drag from Democratic tax hikes, and tax, spending, and regulation reform.
- Miscellaneous Items. RCP has Obama approval at 47.4%. Softening employment and manufacturing numbers and perhaps the start of a stock market correction suggests that Obama may struggle or muddle through the summer. Markey (D-MA) has opened a little gap over Gomez to succeed Kerry. McAuliffe (D-VA) and Cuccinelli are battling to succeed Gov. McDonnell, with the former slightly leading in more recent polls. Christie seems ready to cruise for reelection, although he's taking hits over announcing an early special election to succeed the late Sen. Lautenberg
On the Politics of Envy
Japanese Internment Camps in Hawaii
I knew about internship camps on the West Coast, but it surprises me to hear how Japanese Hawaiians had been under surveillance prior to Pearl Harbor, and the government literally within hours after the attack started taking action against them. I would caution viewing it strictly in terms of racial identity (e.g., other Asian Americans were not under scrutiny): the salient issue is lack of constitutional protections on an individual basis. I think, though, the profile issue had more to do with Axis national identity and it was a purely political, morally outrageous effort by FDR to show he was taking some action (recall those immortal words of Barack Obama: "We can't afford to do nothing...") to "protect" citizens in the homeland (all without a modicum of proof of any anti-American activities by those nefarious immigrants, many of whom whom disagreed with policies and/or leadership in their ancestral homeland).
Within days of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the DOJ took into custody several thousand Axis nationals (during World War II, the Axis Nations consisted chiefly of Germany, Japan, and Italy). Although not legally administered in each case, and often spurred by prejudices, the action was intended to assure the American public that its government was taking firm steps to look after the internal safety of the nation. Early in 1942, the DOJ established a bi-level organization, which handled the individual cases of aliens enemies: The Alien Enemy Control Unit in Washington, D.C. and through Alien Enemy Hearing Boards with branches located in each of the federal judicial districts of the United States (in Texas boards were held in Houston, Dallas, El Paso, and San Antonio). Each Alien Enemy Hearing Board consisted of three civilian members from the local community, one of whom was an attorney. Representatives of the U.S. Attorney for that district, the INS, and the FBI attended each hearing as well. Alien Enemies taken into custody were brought before an Alien Enemy Hearing Board and were either released, paroled, or interned for the duration of the war. Within a few months, the United States looked toward the possibility of exchanging these Alien Enemies with Japan, Germany, and Italy.
Jim Harper / Cato Institute, "Your DNA and Privacy after Maryland v. King": Thumbs UP!
I'm still opposed to this unconscionable decision as I indicated in an earlier post this week. Harper hits the nail on the head here: the collection of DNA is not routinely needed for most arrests (and there are ways, under court scrutiny, to obtain it as circumstances require; the most obvious example I can think of is a rape allegation for which DNA evidence is available). There is only one reason: to search for a criminal database for possible matches--but even if there is a match, it's not relevant to the suspect's guilt in the current case. I do understand, once there is a conviction, especially involving sexual assault or violence, given the fact of recidivism among a nontrivial proportion of felons, it is reasonable to check for a pattern of criminal behavior, particularly in the discretionary sentencing of a felon whom may have assumed different aliases in the past; clearly a first offender might be judged differently than an unrepentant serial offender. But maintaining a database of someone whom may have been falsely or unfairly charged of a crime and has not been convicted serves no such purpose because it is immaterial to considerations of recidivism.
Political Cartoon
 |
| Courtesy of Robert Ariail and Townhall |
Simon & Garfunkel, "I Am A Rock". To be honest, this is my favorite of Paul Simon's early material. I consider myself an amateur poet/songwriter (I published a few pieces in high school and college, although I haven't written or published anything recently (I've worked on some short stories as time permits)). I love Escher-like reflections; In fact, I think Simon's closing verses are redundant; a true rock/island doesn't need to defend himself; if the right girl comes along whom will accept him as he is, he would welcome it: as Jim Croce observed, "If you're going my way, I'll go with you." I assure you: I am very direct: and when I say I don't like Paul Krugman, I mean I don't like him at all--his obnoxious tone and condescending attitude, his eye rolls, his dangerous opinions, etc.; there is no man crush--it's more like he makes my skin crawl; I can't even remember the last stupid Krugman opinion piece I've read. Getting back to Simon, there are other things you could do with those metaphors, like in his classic "Bridge Over Troubled Water": e.g., as the tide rolls in and out, the rock stands resilient; an archipelago, etc.
