Please note that you can leave a comment on any of our posts at our Facebook page.  Subscribers can also comment at length at our Angel's Corner Forum

NOVEMBER 20,  2011

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 4:37 P.M. ET: 

VICTORY IN SPAIN – Follow-up to our earlier post about today's election in Spain:  The opposition conservatives have won a crushing victory, ousting the cool-to-America regime run by socialists.  The People's Party won an absolute majority of 187 seats in the nation's 350-member parliament, with 78% of the vote counted.  No coalition government necessary.  This is very good news for the United States, as it brings to power a pro-American government that is committed to fiscal sanity.  We don't know if this has happened in time to prevent Spain from going into default and requiring a bailout, but the world's markets will be pleased.

MORE RIOTING IN EGYPT – Violence consumed Cairo for a second day, only two weeks before elections are scheduled, as police clashed with demonstrators.  It is another sign that the Arab spring has turned into the Muslim Winter.  The number of deaths is reported as between three and ten.  As in most of these revolts, it is not exactly clear who the majority of the demonstrators are, but the Muslim Brotherhood has made its move in recent days, asserting itself as the most organized group in Egypt.   At the same time, all factions, including the caretaker government, say that they're determined that the voting go ahead as planned.  We have no idea how this will end, but the Arab countries don't take easily to Western-style democracy.

POOR DECISION – Oh, this is one of those minor heartbreakers.  Yale quarterback Patrick Witt chose to play Harvard yesterday instead of attending his final interview for a Rhodes Scholarship.  He wasn't exactly rewarded for his school loyalty.  He threw three interceptions and his team lost 45-7.  He reportedly withdrew his application for a Rhodes to play the game, and I do hope some pity is taken on this young man.  Maybe the Rhodes boys can reopen his application, citing extraordinary circumstances.  If Barack Obama can be given the Nobel Peace Prize for doing nothing, surely this kid can be given some consideration for gutsiness, if not wisdom.

November 20, 2011        Permalink 

HEY, THE QUEEN'S CONSORT SPOKE THE TRUTH – AT 11:29 A.M. ET:   Who woulda thunk it?  The Duke of Edinburgh, sometimes known as the Queen's consort, otherwise known as Prince Philip, also otherwise known as the guy who walks behind the queen with his hands clasped behind his back, has rendered an opinion.  Oh, would other public figures be so brave.  From London's Telegraph:

In a withering assault on the onshore wind turbine industry, the Duke said the farms were “a disgrace”.

He also criticised the industry’s reliance on subsidies from electricity customers, claimed wind farms would “never work” and accused people who support them of believing in a “fairy tale”.

The Duke’s comments will be seized upon by the burgeoning lobby who say wind farms are ruining the countryside and forcing up energy bills.

Criticism of their effect on the environment has mounted, with The Sunday Telegraph disclosing today that turbines are being switched off during strong winds following complaints about their noise.

The Duke’s views are politically charged, as they put him at odds with the Government’s policy significantly to increase the amount of electricity generated by wind turbines.

COMMENT:  Will the duke be executed for this?  I hope not.  It's so messy.  The wind turbines are being used to reduce Britain's dependence on carbon fuels, but both in Britain and in the U.S. there are substantial doubts being raised about their effectiveness.  They're also eyesores and produce major noise pollution.

I'm glad the duke spoke out.  Maybe he will stimulate some serious discussion, and some serious journalism, about all the green schemes we're being sold.  I also hope some enterprising journalist will begin to explore where the money is being made in the whole "climate change" industry.  We've already encountered the Solyndra scandal here, where a well-connected Obama funraiser was able to get a vast government loan for a failing solar-panel company.

I hope someone is interested.

November 20, 2011        Permalink

SPAIN VOTES – AT 11:02 A.M. ET:  One of the great setbacks of the Bush years was the election of an adolescent socialist government in 2004 to replace a splendid pro-American government.  It deprived President Bush of one of his staunchest allies, Spanish Prime Minister José María Aznar, who stood solidly with Bush after 9-11.  Spain votes again today, and the dark era may just be coming to an end.  From Bloomberg:

Spaniards may be set to hand opposition leader Mariano Rajoy the biggest majority in almost three decades as the risk of Spain becoming the next nation overwhelmed by Europe’s debt crisis bolsters support for his People’s Party.

Voting started at 9 a.m. in mainland Spain as polls showed Rajoy may win as many as 198 of the 350 seats in Parliament, the largest majority any Spanish government has secured since 1982. The campaign, focused on the stagnating economy and 23 percent jobless rate, ended on Nov. 18 with borrowing costs near records. That prompted Rajoy, 56, to say he hopes Spain won’t need a bailout before the new government takes over in December.

Voters already bearing the deepest budget cuts in Spain’s three-decade democratic history may be prepared to accept further austerity in exchange for Rajoy’s pledge to create jobs. The ruling Socialists are set to become the fifth government ejected because of the sovereign debt crisis, after Italy and Greece appointed technocratic governments and Ireland and Portugal fired their leaders after they sought bailouts.

“Rajoy will likely implement quick policy changes in an effort to impress markets and his European partners,” said Antonio Barroso, an analyst at Eurasia and a former government pollster in Spain. “A strong PP victory, coupled with the swift policy changes, could send a positive signal to markets.”

COMMENT:  We will welcome the new government, if elected.  One of Rajoy's main criticisms of the current Spanish regime is its cold relationship with the United States.  New economic policies in Spain, plus a more pro-American stance, will return Spain to the fold of strong American allies.

November 20, 2011        Permalink

WHERE OBAMA STANDS – AT 10:22 A.M. ET:  With all the attention on the Republican race, we have tended to ignore the fact that President Obama's approval ratings have strengthened.  In part, this may be due to the dissension in the Republican Party, or dissatisfaction, understandable, with the GOP field.  From Rasmussen:

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday shows that 23% of the nation's voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Thirty-eight percent (38%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -15.

And...

Overall, 47% of voters say they at least somewhat approve of the president's job performance. Fifty-one percent (51%) at least somewhat disapprove.

That is not bad for the president.  And it shows what a hard fight this is going to be.  We hope that once the Republicans unify behind a candidate, if they do, that fact will change the numbers, assuming there is no third-party candidate to destroy the Republican nominee.  However, Ron Paul is now refusing to rule out a third-party bid, which would almost certainly lead to Obama's reelection by taking some of the Republican and independent vote.  He wouldn't get many Democratic votes. 

Of course, we vote in presidential elections by state, and two key states confirm the toughness of the race.  Again, from Rasmussen:

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney posts a slight lead over President Obama in the first Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the presidential race in the key swing state of Florida.

Romney earns support from 46% of Likely Voters in the Sunshine State to Obama's 42%. Nine percent (9%) prefer some other candidate, while four percent (4%) are undecided.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is nearly tied with the president, with Obama posting a narrow 45% to 43% lead in this matchup. Eight percent (8%) like another candidate, and four percent (4%) are undecided.

And Michigan, from the Detroit Free Press:

In a head-to-head matchup statewide, Romney tops Obama 46%-41% in the poll.

In Macomb, where Obama received 53% of the vote in 2008, the president trails Romney, 68%-20%. Even controlling for a high margin of error because of a small sample size in the county, Obama trails Romney in Macomb by at least 20 percentage points.

But...

The news is better for the president should Republicans nominate another contender: In Michigan, he leads former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, 45%-40%, and former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain, 50%-36%.

COMMENT:  Romney's father was governor of Michigan so the Romney brand is well known there.  But if Romney can take Florida and Michigan, and a few other swing states like Virginia, he can mount a powerful challenge to Obama.  He polls better than any other Republican candidate because he attracts independents.  But neither his nomination nor his election are in the bag.

November 20, 2011        Permalink

NOVEMBER 19,  2011

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 9:54 P.M. ET: 

SONY BLINKS – Sony Pictures has now put off release of its Obama gets bin Laden film until after the election.  The new release date is December 19, 2012.  Previously, it had been set for release in the weeks before the vote.  Clearly, SONY got the message that a pre-election release would be seen as a blatant attempt to get Obama reelected, and that a goodly number of Americans, and powerful Republicans, would be mightily displeased.  This should put the controversy to rest, although I wouldn't be surprised if he get a lot of Hollywood hype about the film right before election day, focusing on Obama's "gutsiness."

EGYPT ERUPTS – There was major violence in Cairo today as Egyptian police clashed with protesters.  At least one death was reported, and an estimated 600 were wounded.  The violence comes nine days before the anticipated parliamentary elections.  So much for the Arab spring.  The protesters were complaining that the military was still holding too much power.  That may be true, but the military is the most stable element in Egyptian society, and tends to be moderate, and more-or-less pro-Western.  We don't know about the others.  Egypt's transition to democracy is turning out to be rough, with the Muslim Brotherhood waiting in the wings for its chance.

MITT DOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD – Wisely, Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, isn't taking neighboring New Hampshire for granted.  Most polls show Romney well ahead, although a less reliable one shows him about even with Newt Gingrich.  But Romney's campaign is stepping up its efforts in New Hampshire, recognizing that the voters there have a very independent streak.  Romney hopes to leverage a big victory in New Hampshire on January 10th into a sense that he is the inevitable nominee.  It is true that the Iowa caucuses are a week earlier, but Iowa is seen as a bit "kooky," and the winner in the GOP caucuses there has often not gone on to win the nomination. 

November 19, 2011       Permalink   

U.S. MOVES ON IRAN – WE THINK – AT 9:36 A.M. ET:  We have no immediate confirmation on this, but it sounds logical.  On the other hand, the story can be a trial balloon:

(Reuters) - The United States plans to sanction Iran's petrochemical industry, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, seeking to raise pressure on Tehran after fresh allegations it may be pursuing nuclear weapons.

The sources said Washington wanted to send a strong signal after the U.N. nuclear watchdog issued a November 8 report saying Iran appeared to have worked on designing an atomic bomb and may still be secretly carrying out related research.

The sources, who said the sanctions could be unveiled as early as Monday, said that Washington wanted to find a way to bar foreign companies from aiding Iran's petrochemical industry with the threat of depriving them access to the U.S. market.

While European nations typically resent "extra-territorial" U.S. sanctions on their companies, the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said in this case the Europeans would likely follow suit, though not immediately.

U.S. firms are barred from most trade with Iran. The U.S. push is therefore aimed at foreign firms by in effect making them choose between working with Iran's petrochemical industry or doing business in the vast U.S. market.

COMMENT:  I hope it happens, but it won't be enough.  Thus far all the sanctions we've piled on Iran, as well as cyberattacks, have not stopped their nuclear program.  And every time some American official disparages the idea of a strike against nuclear targets, it encourages the Iranians to push on.  I'm afraid we'll see an Iranian bomb, with all the risk that brings with it, unless we toughen up considerably.

November 19, 2011       Permalink

CAIN GAME LAME?  – AT 9:05 A.M. ET:  Political obituaries for Herman Cain are being written all over the internet.  They may be justified.

Look, Cain is a charming guy, but his campaign is a mess, he's made repeated mistakes, and he's starting to fade in the polls just at the time when he should be surging.

Cain never did satisfactorily handle the charges of sexual harassment against him.  And now that Cain is in decline, you'll notice that Gloria Allred has disappeared.  Then Cain blundered in an answer on Libya.  Then he cancelled a one-hour interview with the Manchester (New Hampshire) Union-Leader, the key newspaper in a key primary state.  And now we hear he's getting Secret Service protection, and no one can figure out why.  Alana Goodman writes in Commentary:

Clearly, Cain’s mangled comments on Libya weren’t a one-time thing. He’s made plenty of embarrassing remarks on foreign policy since the beginning of his campaign. But the media lockdown is basically an acknowledgment from his campaign that he’s not ready for prime time – something that’s been obvious to most political watchers for quite awhile.

Standing up the Union Leader isn’t just bad optics, it’s also going to set him back with conservative voters in New Hampshire. But Cain’s decision to request a Secret Service detail – he’s the first GOP presidential candidate to do so this cycle – is even more puzzling:

COMMENT:  It's always dangerous to write someone's political obituary.  Richard Nixon was declared cemetery-ready after his disastrous run for governor of California in 1962, two years after losing the presidency to John F. Kennedy.  He came back.

But we're talking about Herman Cain, who has no real standing in politics, and who really isn't very impressive once you get beyond "9-9-9."   He is probably toast on this cycle, just weeks after he was at the top.  It shows that a week is a lifetime in politics.

Also looking toasty is Rick Perry, the Rodney Dangerfield of the presidential campaign, a man who gets no respect.  But Perry is a sitting governor and a fighter, and is well financed.  If Romney should really run off the road, you never know how Perry might maneuver. 

The anti-Romney darling this week is Newt Gingrich, rising in the polls, with one poll actually showing him almost even with Romney in New Hampshire.  As Gingrich ascends, the liberal hit pieces are being published, one by one, and the question is whether he can reply to them fast enough.

There's only one person helped by the weakness on the Republican side, and it's Barack Obama.  I truly fear he may be reelected, sentencing this country to four more years of what we have now. 

Do you think if someone came along who looked like Reagan, we could slip him by?  Just dreaming.

November 19, 2011        Permalink

WHAT'S THIS? – AT 8:54 A.M. ET:  We wonder how long the Brits are going to put up with this.  From London's Express:

EUROCRATS ignited outrage last night by ordering Britain to open its doors to a fresh wave of mass immigration from around the world.

In a highly provocative diktat from Brussels the European Commission urged the EU’s 27 member nations to admit millions more newcomers from beyond Europe’s borders and adopt welcoming “migrant-centred” policies.

“To ensure prosperity, Europe must become a more attractive destination in the global competition for talent,” said a document from the EU’s ruling body.

It also made clear that new measures to “facilitate and organise legal immigration” to EU nations from eastern Europe, Asia and a string of North African countries were already on the way.

The astonishing open-door border policy, outlined in a “renewed EU migration strategy” published by the Commission, triggered a furious backlash in Britain yesterday.

Euro-MP Gerard Batten, the UK Independence Party’s immigration spokesman, said: “This is the EU calling for yet more migration.

Many of those migrants will gravitate to the UK.

“These migrants will either take jobs, thus making our unemployment situation worse, or end up on benefits costing the state even more money.”

Tory MP Philip Hollobone said: “Most British people will be absolutely horrified by this latest proposal from the European Commission.

“It flies in the face of their fundamental concern that, as a country, we are already full up and there is no space for any more migrants.

“This is a threat to open the floodgates.”

COMMENT:  This is a classic example of what happens when a democracy surrenders its independence, in favor of pseudo world government schemes.  Britain used to be a proud nation, and some of it still is.  But there really are two Britains – the Britain of Winston Churchill and the Britain of the socialist, anti-American left.  Which Britain will prevail?  And will it be too late?

November 19, 2011     Permalink