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AUGUST 13,  2011

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:19 P.M. ET:

BACHMANN WINS – Michele Bachmann has won the Iowa straw poll.  Ridiculous Ron Paul came in second, proving only his ability to bring out his claque on command.  Now that the poll is over, it will be quickly forgotten.  It is only a straw poll, not a true, secret-ballot primary election.  Sarah Palin is tooling around Iowa, getting plenty of publicity, and Rick Perry, who announced for president today, visits Iowa tomorrow.

PERRY IS IN – Rick Perry announced for president in South Carolina today, making a perfectly respectable statement before an enthusiastic audience.  If he had any dream, however, of stealing thunder from the Iowa straw poll, that dream was frustrated, however,  The poll got plenty of publicity.  What will now get plenty of publicity is Perry's record as governor of Texas – he is the nation's longest serving governor – which will come under intense scrutiny from a mainstream media determined to derail him.  There will be another candidates' debate next month, in which Perry will have to take part.  We should know by then whether he's gaining serious traction, or will be a flameout.

BRATTON RESISTED – We reported that the British government is asking advice from Bill Bratton, who's headed police departments in Boston, New York, and Los Angeles, and is given heavy credit for breaking the back of crime in New York City.  But now there is resistance in Britain even to listening to what Bratton has to say.  The prissies complain that in America, the police use force, contrary to British doctrine, and that Britain must not change.  Some of the strongest objections to Bratton are coming from police figures themselves, apparently resentful of the American outsider, and thoroughly indoctrinated in the politically correct doctrines of the British left.

THE INEVITABLE LEFT – Germany is commemorating the sad 50th anniversary of the Berlin Wall.  The mayor of Berlin denounced a new trend on the German left – actually defending the wall and trying to explain that the Russians had good reason to build it.  I am always stunned by the almost religious nature of the European left, which never bends in its devotion to old Moscow.  Ron Paul will probably rush over to praise Russia for building the wall in response to American imperialism.

August 13, 2011       Permalink

JUICY SNIPPET OF THE DAY – AT 10:35 A.M. ET:

From the Columbia (University) Spectator:   According to the New York Times and BBC News, Columbia General Studies student Adriana Ferreyr, 28, has sued her ex-boyfriend, billionaire George Soros, alleging that he neglected to give her a $1.9 million dollar apartment that he had promised her.  In the lawsuit, Ferreyr claimed that Soros, following his reneged promise, “proceeded to engage in a deliberate and malicious campaign of extreme and outrageous harassment and intimidation against Ferreyr, which has directly resulted in her suffering and continuing to suffer severe emotional distress and damages.”

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

IT'S COME TO THIS IN BRITAIN – AT 10:18 A.M. ET:   Great Britain, stunned this week by riots in a number of its cities, and by an erratic and sometimes ineffective police response, is turning to the United States for help.  From Fox:

Former New York Police Commissioner William Bratton will advise the British government on gangs in the wake of rioting in London, Prime Minister David Cameron's office said Friday.

Downing Street said in a statement that Cameron had spoken with Bratton earlier in the day and thanked him for agreeing to make himself available for a series of meetings in the U.K. this fall to share his expertise tackling gang violence.

Bratton "will be providing this advice in a personal capacity and on an unpaid basis," it added.

Bratton told The Associated Press on Friday evening, however, that he's giving a free consultation that he hopes will turn into a paid contract.

Cameron told British lawmakers earlier this week that he would welcome Bratton's input following a flurry of criticism over police response to rioting in London.

Bratton -- who gained fame by fighting crime with innovation and bravado as he headed police departments in New York, Boston and Los Angeles -- confirmed to the AP in a phone interview that Cameron had called him Friday seeking his expertise.

COMMENT:  My old pal, Fabian of Scotland Yard, one of the world's great detectives, must be turning over in his grave.  And Sherlock Holmes, nemesis of the Yard?  A big smile and a puff on the pipe.

The fact is, Scotland Yard is just a police department, and one that has come under the thumb of political correctness.  The Brits need help, and Bratton is the one to supply it.  In the face of loud skepticism, Bratton's innovations in New York, joined with the leadership of Mayor Rudy Giuliani, reduced the city's murder rate by 80%, a spectacular accomplishment.  The left, of course, disparaged everything that was done, and cried "fascism," as the left does six times a day, but New York emerged a stronger, freer city.

Maybe someday there'll be a TV series, "Bratton of the Yard." 

August 13, 2011       Permalink

MONSTERS UNITE – AT 9:59 A.M. ET:  It's important that, as we deal with our economic woes and fight our election, that we not take our eye off the foreign policy ball, as we did in the 1930s.  There is an extremely important story out today:

Syria, one of the most important Arab countries, continues to murder its own people in the streets.  And now Iran, which knows a thing or two about murdering its citizens, is coming to Syria's aid.

Iran is to subsidize a new multi-million dollar military base on the Syrian coastal city of Latakia, British newspaper The Daily Telegraph reported Friday.

Western intelligence reports indicate that the move will make it easier to ship weapons and other military hardware between the two countries, the Telegraph said.

According to the Telegraph report, the military base, to be situated in the coastal city of Latakia, will allow Iran to establish a permanent base for sending arms directly to Syria.

COMMENT:  There is a growing feeling in analyst circles that the continued bloodshed in Syria can flash into a regional conflagration involving Iran and Saudi Arabia, with the threat of a Syrian-Israeli clash increasing.

At the same time, supreme GOP goofball Ron Paul, whose claque may actually allow him to win or finish strongly in today's Iowa straw poll, said Thursday night that Iran is no concern to us.  He also said that we are responsible for the mullahs' hostility, and that he can understand why Iran would want a nuclear weapon.  The Weekly Standard commented that Paul would make a good foreign policy adviser to Dennis Kucinich. 

August 13, 2011       Permalink

WHERE OBAMA STANDS – AT 9:49 A.M. ET:  This will be an intensively political day, with the Iowa straw poll, Rick Perry announcing he's in, and Sarah Palin back on the maybe-campaign trail.  So how is Barack Obama doing amidst all this?  Not well, as Scott Rasmussen reports:

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday shows that 21% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty-three percent (43%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -22.

And...

Overall, 44% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the president's performance. That’s the lowest total approval for the president in five months. Fifty-four percent (54%) at least somewhat disapprove.

We note that 44% is actually generous.  Gallup had the president at 40% this week. 

What's striking is that the major polls now have Obama tracking in the low 40s, rather than the high 40s.  Should he start dipping into the 30s, it will be seen as a major political event.  However, Obama's ratings have tended to improve in the early fall, so let's not count chickens.  In addition, as we've pointed out regularly, the Republican Party isn't all that popular, and no GOP nominee, thus far, stands out as an obvious choice to defeat Obama. 

The 2012 presidential election is 15 months away.

August 13, 2011     Permalink

AUGUST 12,  2011

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:23 P.M. ET: 

ECONOMIC INDICATOR – I've heard anecdotes about this, but now we know from an Associated Press study that Americans are canceling cable and TV satellite service in record numbers.  The reason appears to be high unemployment and a declining housing market that has many young people living with their parents, eliminating the need for their own TV service.  People are also watching free TV by computer, and there are constant complaints about the absurdly high cost of some cable and satellite service.  During the Great Depression, the entertainment industry did reasonably well, but radio was free, paid for by sponsors.  TV services, with many more offerings, takes a financial bite.

DEADLY TERROR THREAT – American officials are increasingly concerned that Al Qaeda is trying to produce ricin, a deadly poison, for attacks against the United States.  Al Qaeda operatives in Yemen have been seeking to buy castor beans, from which ricin is made.  Sources stress that the Yemen affiliates have shown an imaginative capacity to deploy weapons, such as a bomb sewn into the underwear of Nigerian man taking an airline flight, or explosives packed into printer cartridges.  The threat from Yemen is considered more pressing than that from Al Qaeda in Pakistan or Afghanistan, since the latter branch has been cut up badly by American attacks.

SHE HAS RETURNED – Sarah Palin returned to Iowa today and immediately made a big splash at the state fair.  She also hurled a dig at Governor Rick Perry of Texas, expected to enter the race tomorrow, contrasting her experience in a "strong governor" state to Perry's, who's presided over a "weak governor" state.  Palin also shrewdly played down her affiliation with Fox News, giving interviews to other networks instead.  She said she would decide on whether to run for president soon.  She may not have widespread support, but she certainly knows how to make a grand entrance and direct all the spotlights toward her.

SYRIA BOILS – At least 14 more protesters were killed by the government in Syria today, as crowds defiantly chanted for the death of President Assad.  At the same time, the United States has stepped up its rhetoric, now calling for Assad to go.  This rhetoric is having absolutely no impact.  Washington also called, many months ago, for Gadaffi of Libya to go.  At last report, Gadaffi was still in Tripoli, not going anywhere.  Who's afraid of the Obama administration and its "rhetoric"?

August 12, 2011       Permalink

OH PLEASE – AT 10:10 A.M. ET:   The Obama campaign is hitting the goodness and virtue button.  I remain to be convinced.  From The Hill:

Any member of President Obama's reelection campaign who works to slime former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) as a general election candidate risks being fired, senior campaign adviser David Axelrod said Friday.

Amid reports that the president's campaign was preparing a plan to "kill Romney" as a general election candidate, Axelrod stressed that they had no such plan in waiting.

Of course not.  These guys come from Chicago politics, where all opponents are referred to as "sir" or "madam."

"That doesn't reflect our thinking," Axelrod said Friday. "We have real, legitimate differences with Mitt Romney."

Politico reported, citing unnamed Democratic sources, that the president's reelection would focus on how Romney is "weird," focusing on his personal eccentricities and his record in the private sector rather than on the president's record. Axelrod called the sources in that story "garbage."

Asked if he would fire any staff member who engaged in such a campaign, Axelrod said: "I would. If someone used words like 'weird,' I would certainly do that."

Whoops.  He just used it.  Oh, come on.  This is one of the oldest gimmicks in the business.  If you want to hammer home the idea that someone is weird or strange, just say, "I'm shocked that anyone would refer to Senator Klaghorn as weird or strange.  Anyone on my staff who calls Senator Klaghorn weird or strange will be disciplined.  We don't have to call Senator Klaghorn weird or strange because there are so many other issues."  You've made your point.

Of course the Obama campaign is planning a slime campaign against any GOP nominee.  What is Obama going to run on, his record?  That's a two-minute campaign.

August 12, 2011       Permalink

SNIPPET OF THE DAY – AT 9:38 A.M. ET:

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Bert and Ernie may be best friends, but that doesn't mean the "Sesame Street" pals are gay. And whatever the puppets may or may not be, one thing is certain, they won't be getting married, producers of the long-running kids TV show made clear on Thursday.  The educational workshop behind the 40 year-old TV series dismissed the idea of a made-for-TV, same-sex puppet wedding in response to an online campaign and petition to have the two "Sesame Street" characters get married as a way to beat homophobia and encourage tolerance of gay people.

I'm so relieved.  You know how much time it takes to pick out a good gift?  There are so few useful things available for puppets.

HELLO FEDEX – AT 9:25 A.M. ET:   Will the Post Office go the way of the pony express?  The prospects are grim, and not likely to get better in this economy.  From the Washington Post: 

SEATTLE — The financially strapped U.S. Postal Service is proposing to cut its workforce by 20 percent and to withdraw from the federal health and retirement plans because it believes it could provide benefits at a lower cost.

I think they call that competition.  Glad the Postal Service discovered it.

The layoffs would be achieved in part by breaking labor agreements, a proposal that drew swift fire from postal unions. The plan would require congressional approval but, if successful, could be precedent-setting, with possible ripple effects throughout government. It would also deliver a major blow to the nation’s labor movement.

In a notice informing employees of its proposals — with the headline “Financial crisis calls for significant actions” — the Postal Service said, “We will be insolvent next month due to significant declines in mail volume and retiree health benefit pre-funding costs imposed by Congress.”

During the past four years, the service lost $20 billion, including $8.5 billion in fiscal 2010. Over that period, mail volume dropped by 20 percent.

COMMENT:  I suspect e-mail has a lot to do with dropping volume.  The Postal Service must make changes, and they will be painful.  Say goodbye to Saturday delivery.

Look, we aren't anti-union here.  I'm a union member myself.  Unions have done good things, and some not-so-good things.  There are fine unions, and shady ones.  But it's clear the Postal Service must make changes in work force rules to reflect the reality of market conditions.  There will be those who say that they can just keep raising rates.  But you can raise your rates to the point where you price yourself out of the market.  E-mails, after all, are seen as essentially free, or remarkably inexpensive as part of internet packages. 

We hope that labor changes produce as little pain as possible.  We also hope the Service comes up with new and innovative products that attract customers.  I'd hate to see the Post Office go, or be reduced to three-day-a-week delivery, which has been mentioned.  Watch for major changes.

August 12, 2011       Permalink

ET TU, NEW YORK? – AT 9:02 A.M. ET:  President Obama was here last night to pick up some heavy change from some of New York's movers and shakers.   But he now has a problem here, and it may take more than money to cure.  From the New York Post:

WASHINGTON -- President Obama might need to start taking a few more campaign trips to New York -- and not just to raise cash.

A stunning new survey gives the president a negative approval rating in the Empire State for the first time, with just 45 percent approval and 49 percent disapproval among voters, according to the latest Quinnipiac University poll.

That's a sharp turnaround from June, when Obama's New York popularity was a healthy 57-38.

In the 2008 presidential election, Obama carried New York with 63 percent of the vote.

The poll of 1,640 registered voters was conducted from Aug. 3-8, just after Congress approved the hard-fought debt legislation and before this week's market mayhem on Wall Street.

COMMENT:  We don't want to base assumptions on any one poll, and Quinnipiac has an erratic history.  But if the poll is anywhere near accurate, Obama could have big trouble in traditionally safe blue states.  There have been signs recently that he's dropping in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 

We'll wait for polls in the next month for verification. 

August 12, 2011       Permalink

DEBATE AFTERMATH – AT 8:34 A.M. ET:  An old theme is being played by some observers after last night's Republican debate in Iowa.

It goes like this:  Everyone did pretty well, and Romney survived.  But no one stood out as the candidate either.  In other words, none of the candidates is exciting the party, motivating the base to get out and work.  There is still a searching for the next Reagan.

That, in large measure, is why the arrival into the race of Rick Perry tomorrow is attracting so much attention, and creating so much anticipation.  Is he our version of the one?  Can he take on Obama?  Or will he be brought down quickly by the media and the opposition research?

Already Perry is diverting attention from tomorrow's Iowa straw poll, something which is not winning him many friends in Iowa.  He's a man of sharp elbows.  He's also a man who wins elections.  We'll be watching carefully to see how he introduces himself tomorrow, in his announcement speech in South Carolina, and in his follow-up speech in New Hampshire.

What Perry must do is show that he is a complete human being – a man who created jobs in Texas, yet a man who shows the compassion that his religious beliefs require.   We loved Reagan in part because we felt he knew us.  We felt he loved the American nation and its people.  Many who disagreed with Reagan still voted for him because they had a kind of gut confidence in him.  Some had been Democrats all their lives and became the Reagan Democrats.  Perry must now convince a nation, not just the base of his party, that he has that Reaganesque quality if he is to stand out from the crowd and become the candidate.  I'm not sure he has the stuff.  I want to be convinced, and I'll be watching tomorrow for the first indication.

August 12, 2011     Permalink