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

APRIL 7,  2012

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – 11:15 P.M. ET: 

EASTER FEARS – As Christians prepare to celebrate Easter, one group of Christians looks to the holiday with apprehension.  In the countries of the wrongly named "Arab spring," Christians are fearful, CNN reports, that anti-Christian groups could seek them out for attacks.  There have been attacks on Christians and Coptic Christian churches in Egypt, and now Syrian Christians fear the same could happen to them.  Item:  The U.S. released $1.5-billion in foreign aid to Egypt just a few days ago.

DERBYSHIRE FIRED – John Derbyshire, the long-time writer for National Review, was fired from the magazine for writing a racially charged piece for a right-wing website.  The dismissal, which was justified, reflects the values set by William F. Buckley Jr., the conservative icon who set a very high standard during his lifetime for fighting bigotry on the right.  We wish we'd see the same vigilance on the left, but that is a wish unlikely to be fulfilled.

ROMNEY WAY AHEAD – Like him or not, Mitt Romney has passed the halfway mark in his race for the GOP presidential nomination.  Romney now has 573 delegates out of the 1,144 needed to win.  Rick Santorum has 202, Gingrich registers 132 and Ron Paul has collected 26.  This count is from the Republican National Committee.  The AP actually has Romney stronger, with 660 delegates, but some of those may be contested. 

April 7, 2012       Permalink 

NBC FIRES "ZIMMERMAN TAPE" PRODUCER – AT 10:23 A.M. ET:  I don't like to see anyone lose his job.  There's a family involved, and you don't know whether the dismissal was justified, or part of an effort to cover for someone else.  However, NBC has fired the producer responsible for airing a viciously edited tape of a 911 conversation with George Zimmerman, the shooter in the Trayvon Martin case.

The editing made it appear that Zimmerman was a racist.  The true version revealed that he was just answering a dispatcher's questions.  From Fox:

NBC News has fired a producer who worked on a 'Today' show segment that featured a heavily edited 911 recording in which George Zimmerman appears to racially profile Trayvon Martin before the teen's shooting, according to The New York Times.

The name of the Miami-based producer who was fired was not released, according to the Times report, which does not refer to any disciplinary action that may have been taken against other NBC staffers.

NBC News has been slammed for the report since last week, and had promised an investigation into what has been described as a grossly misleading editing of the tape.

COMMENT:  I'm guessing that NBC concluded that the distortion was wilful.  NBC may also have concluded that its credibility was on the line.  That credibility hasn't been too healthy in recent years, what with the wild-eyed behavior of its subsidiary, MSNBC, which is home to some of the most reckless commentators on the air. 

I recall the days when NBC News was a great news organization.  I was myself an intern on the Huntley-Brinkly Report, if only for a brief period.  NBC News has slipped and become less professional.  Has the bulb gone on over someone's head?

April 7, 2012       Permalink

TROUBLE IN ACADEME – AT 10:02 A.M. ET:  We've cautioned here many times that our side does not pay enough attention to what our own children are being taught.   We do not have your father's educational system.  We have an educational system that is largely a legacy of the hopeless sixties generation.  The result?  We have a young population that has been carefully taught to reject the fundamental values of this country and civilization.

From the Washington Times:

The Pew Research Center released a study in December showing that more Americans age 18 to 29 have a favorable view of socialism over capitalism. In fact, this demographic has a net positive view of socialism (49 percent positive to 43 percent negative) and net negative view of capitalism (46 percent positive and 47 percent negative). When Pew released an earlier version of the same study two years ago, this demographic’s views on socialism were exactly the opposite (43 percent positive and 49 percent negative).

Clearly, more than one’s college education goes into one’s opinions on economic systems. But just as clearly, few would deny that a college graduate’s opinions are shaped during his or her four years at college - that’s why they’re called the formative years. So when we engage in a spirited debate about the liberal dominance of college, let’s also remember that there are real-world consequences to this imbalance within academia.

For the 18-to-29-year-olds who have a favorable opinion of socialism, what else does that tell us about them? Can one view socialism favorably and still believe in America’s democratic free-market system? Would these young adults be able to articulate why the social democratic states of Europe and around the world failed to keep pace with the United States in the latter half of the 20th century?

This is the dilemma that confronts a nation whose youths don’t understand or appreciate what underlies our prosperity. The recent Occupy Wall Street protests presented the perfect irony of this generation and its confusion. While decrying the evils of capitalism, the protesters organized their marches via social networks and mobile devices that were the products of capitalism. No government agency or grant created Twitter or the iPhone.

COMMENT:  Well said.  Capitalism isn't by any means a perfect system, but it's a lot more perfect than socialism, which inevitably leads to decay and dullness.  Leftist commentators like CNN's hopeless Fareed Zakaria are mightily impressed that a socialist country like Sweden has a cabinet minister for "innovation."  That's nice.  But where's the innovation?  Most socialists rarely ask for results.

Our young people didn't get their economic ideas from home.  They got them from school.  And these schools are being subsidized by taxpayer dollars.  Maybe a dose of capitalism would help them.

April 7, 2012        Permalink

CHARMED, WE'RE SURE – AT 9:41 A.M. ET:  During the Cold War the old Soviet Union would go on a periodic "charm offensive," sending smiling diplomats, journalists, and the Bolshoi Ballet to these shores to try to convince us that the reds were just sweet old misunderstood Russkies.  There were plenty of leftists and peaceniks who would fall for it.

Others, having learned well the value of a smile, are now trying the same technique.

This past week, members of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood visited Washington and assured the U.S. that they were, well, just fellas.  They pledged not to upset the Egypt-Israel peace treaty and assured us that they wanted a warm, even cozy relationship with the Great Satan.  Immediately, Obama released some foreign-aid money to Egypt that he'd been holding back.  The charm offensive was launched only a week after the Brotherhood betrayed an earlier pledge not to run a candidate in Egypt's presidential election, and decided to do so.  So much for their word.

Now it's Iran's turn.  Iran is now launching its own version of the charm offensive, although with fewer smiles.  It takes time to learn the techniques.  Consider:

TEHRAN, Iran – A prominent Iranian lawmaker says Iran has the knowledge and scientific capability to produce nuclear weapons but will never do so.

Gholamreza Mesbahi Moghadam says Iran can easily produce the highly enriched uranium that is used to build atomic bombs but it is not Tehran's policy to go that route.

Moghadam made the comment in an interview with the parliament's news website, icana.ir, late Friday. His views do not represent the Iranian government's policy. It is the first time that a prominent Iranian politician has publicly stated that Iran has the technological capability to produce a nuclear weapon.

The U.S. and its allies accuse Iran of seeking to develop nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran denies.

COMMENT:  Even thought the story says that the gent's statement doesn't represent government policy, the Iranian regime often uses "lawmakers" to launch trial balloons.

We reported here on a David Ignatius (Washington Post) column claiming that Obama, working through his pal Erdogan, the Islamist president of Turkey, has offered to leave the Iranian nuclear program alone as long as Tehran can prove it isn't working toward nuclear weapons.  It makes me uneasy.  How would we actually know?  A deal would allow our sometimes laughable "intelligence" community to interpret Iran's actions, and the state of its science.  Why do I think that "interpretation" would fit White House needs? 

Beware the charm.  The best charm offensives I've ever seen were in Hollywood.  After you got the charm you got the knife.  

April 7, 2012       Permalink

APRIL 6,  2012

SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:04 P.M. ET: 

OFFER TO IRAN? – David Ignatius, in the Washington Post, reports that President Obama has made an offer to Iran.  Iran can have a peaceful nuclear program, the offer goes, if it can prove it doesn't intend to make nuclear weapons.  The offer was, according to Ignatius, passed through Turkey's rabidly Islamist president, Recip Erdogan, who has said that he doesn't doubt that Iran is telling the truth about its nuclear program.  Obama's stand appears to echo Washington's oft-stated policy on Iran's nuclear program.  However, it leaves the door open for Obama to make judgments on Iran's intent, should it accept the offer.  How would we know if they're lying?  We probably wouldn't know, and that's why this offer is so risky.

HIGH VOLTAGE, LOW SAVINGS – Calculations just published by The New York Times show that it would take a Chevy Volt owner about 27 years to break even on the car, as compared with the cost of a comparative gasoline-powered vehicle.  You would do better with the Nissan leaf, where the break-even point occurs in about nine years.   Toyota's Prius, by comparison, pays off in less than two years, although few are in love with its styling.  Do you wonder why the Volt is such a flop?  Did GM really think customers were that stupid?   

SAMSUNG'S ROAD TO THE TOP – I remember, and it wasn't too many years ago, when Samsung was a discount-store item, the bottom of the barrel in electronics.  Today, it is one of the most prestigious and successful companies in its field.  It had a quarterly operating profit of $5.1-billion, with a B.  Its flat-screen television sets are at the top.  It's now going head-to-head against Apple with Samsung smartphones.  And why?  Innovation, and a constant quest for quality.  Amazing how that always works, isn't it?  It took American car companies about 30 years to figure out that's why customers bought Hondas.   (Disclaimer:  This is just a news report on a successful company.  I have no connection whatever with Samsung, a South Korean firm.)

COMING SOON TO A TAX AUTHORITY NEAR YOU – The Germany government will soon propose a tax on the young to pay for the increasing cost of taking care of those in retirement.  Sound familiar?  As more aging Germans retire, there are fewer and fewer young workers to replace them as taxpayers.  Germany is particularly concerned about the period after 2030, only 18 years away, when the sixties generation retires.  We are facing the same crisis here, but not many Americans want to listen.

April 6, 2012       Permalink

SYRIAN AGONY CONTINUES – AT 9:52 A.M. ET:  Syria has been out of the headlines, in part because of a vague "deal" reached between the Syrian regime and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to end the horrible violence against Syrian protesters. 

Like everything else Annan has ever announced, you have to take any "deal" with many grains of salt.  The man's track record should have sent him back to a diplomatic farm team years ago. 

(Reuters) - Syrian troops and tanks battled rebels on Friday, opposition activists said, only four days before the deadline for a troop pullback agreed to by President Bashar al-Assad as part of peace envoy Kofi Annan's plan to end a year of bloodshed.

The violence was unrelenting despite assurances from Syria that troops had begun withdrawing under the plan.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday said the conflict was worsening and attacks on civilian areas persisting.

In a letter to the United Nations released on Friday Syria said rebel forces, whom it refers to as terrorists, had stepped up their attacks on state security forces since Damascus agreed to Annan's peace plan nearly two weeks ago.

"In recent days terrorist acts committed by armed groups in Syria have escalated, especially since reaching an understanding on Kofi Annan's plan," the letter said.

The United States and other Western governments who doubt Assad's commitment to withdrawal say they are concerned that his forces are using the pre-ceasefire period to intensify attacks.

COMMENT:  We've noted here intelligence reports that Iran and Hezbollah have stepped up their aid to Assad.

It is not likely that the Annan plan will succeed because, at Syria's insistence, it contains no mechanism for Assad to be replaced.  Some 9,000 Syrians have died in the revolt.  It's unlikely, after that, that the opposition will simply lay down its arms and allow Assad to remain in power. 

This is a continuing tragedy, but it can affect us.  Syria is Iran's closest ally in the Arab world.  If the Assad regime can be brought down, it will be a severe blow to Iranian aspirations.  But if Assad survives, with Tehran's help, Iranian prestige will only grow.  In the Middle East, as the saying goes, it is the strong horse that people follow.

April 6, 2012       Permalink

PORTMAN FOR V.P.? – AT 9:22 A.M. ET:  In all vice-presidential sweepstakes there is a flavor of the week, or even the day.  Yesterday there was much talk about Nikki Haley, the very ambitious Republican governor of South Carolina, who would add gender, race and the South to a Romney ticket.

Today there is much talk, and I believe it is serious, about Senator Rob Portman of Ohio, who has been campaigning for Romney.  This is a man who could slip into the presidency if the need arose.  From The Atlantic:

Mitt Romney will be the Republican nominee, Wisconsin sealed the deal, and he will pick Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio as his running mate.

Write it down. And harangue me mercilessly this summer if I am wrong.

Column writing, I have learned, is part provocation and part explanation.

There is nothing provocative about declaring that Portman will be Romney's running mate, except that it hasn't happened and I don't know it an as absolute fact.

But everything tells me it will be so.

I'm not suggesting Portman, nor am I advocating for him. I don't know if he will be a good pick or a bad pick. What Romney and Portman make of the ticket is between them and the voters.

The writer, Major Garrett, formerly of Fox News, gives his reasons why Portman will be on the ballot, starting with the fact that Portman and Romney have real rapport, and that Portman wants the job.  In addition:

Portman is vetted, more so than any other potential pick. He's been confirmed not once but twice to cabinet posts -- U.S. trade representative in 2005 and Office of Management and Budget director in 2006. The files are ready and, by Washington standards, spotless. Romney knows his pick must get off to a good start and any "surprises" after the rollout will deprive his campaign of precious time, energy, and momentum...

...Portman is ready for the job and, more importantly, primed for the obligations that will fall upon Romney if he's elected. In the transition, Romney will need skilled and quicksilver advice and guidance on the magilla lame-duck session that's coming....

...Portman is to Romney what Al Gore was to Bill Clinton. He amplifies the central message and the skills set the "alternative" ticket brings. The choice is about President Obama and another term. It's a firing choice more than a hiring choice. In this context, the alternative needs to be acceptable, not exciting.

Garrett understands that there are downsides:

Portman's a bore, and their ticket would be boredom squared, or squares squared; he offers nothing to women voters or Latino voters; he carries the taint of Bush-Cheney policies; and he's not conservative enough for the Tea Party. To one degree or another, these are all valid complaints.

COMMENTS:  This is a serious article by a serious reporter, and I recommend it.  Portman is solid.  Dull, but solid.  I'm not sure, though, that Romney will be able to overcome the feeling that he needs some excitement on the ticket.

I'm reminded of the old Hollywood line about why the team of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers worked so well.  A Hollywood observer said, "She gives him sex, and he gives her class."  Romney has class, and he needs, in a political sense, some sex. 

And yet, as Garrett points out, Romney, not the prince of excitement, is handily winning the Republican nomination.  He may go with what he may perceive as the winning image – one of competence, not pizzaz.  Hey, you never know.  Romney/Portman may yawn toward an electoral victory in November. 

April 6, 2012       Permalink

HERE IT COMES – AT 9:06 A.M. ET:  Driven by the amen corner in the American media, the "narrative" for recent months has been that the economy is improving, that prosperity is just around the corner, and that everyone would soon own their dream, a Chevy Volt.

But some economists have been warning that important economic indicators are not showing recovery, but further retrenchment.  This morning's labor report supports that view.  It is a severe jolt.  From Bloomberg:

Employers in the U.S. added fewer jobs than forecast in March, underscoring Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke’s concern that recent gains may not be sustained without a pickup in growth.

The 120,000 increase in payrolls, the fewest in five months, followed a revised 240,000 gain in February that was bigger than first estimated, Labor Department figures showed today in Washington. The March increase was less than the most pessimistic forecast in a Bloomberg News survey in which the median estimate called for a 205,000 rise. Unemployment fell to 8.2 percent, the lowest since January 2009, from 8.3 percent.

Faster employment growth that leads to bigger wage gains is necessary to propel consumer spending that accounts for about 70 percent of the economy. Today’s data also showed Americans worked fewer hours and earned less on average per week, helping explain why Fed policy makers say interest rates may need to stay low at least through late 2014.

COMMENT:  Most Americans now realize that the unemployment rate is a function of many factors, and may not always give the best picture of what is happening.  But job growth is a good indicator of what's happening, and this month's figure is crushing. 

It will take a few more months to determine a trend.  But if this month's results are repeated several times, we may be seeing the start of a double-dip recession.  No one can be pleased with today's report.

April 6, 2012       Permalink

COMMON SENSE – AT 8:35 A.M. ET:  We reported yesterday on the school in Massachusetts that wanted to remove the word "God" from Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA," for a concert.  The removal produced a local uproar.

We're glad to report that common sense has prevailed. 

God may once again bless the USA at Stall Brook Elementary.

The Bellingham, Mass., school, under fire for changing the lyrics of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA” to “We Love the USA” for an upcoming fourth-grade concert, reversed course Thursday after drawing a backlash from parents and hints of legal threats from Mr. Greenwood, who penned the 1984 tune.

District Superintendent Edward L. Fleury acknowledged in a statement that “political correctness” was the motivation behind a proposed change, but the school ultimately decided against booting “God” from the song.

“Students will be allowed to sing or not sing ‘God Bless the USA.’ … No other words will be substituted,” he said. “We believe the use of the word ‘God’ is acceptable in patriotic songs. The district has no intent to censor any patriotic songs. We are certainly sorry if this approach was perhaps considered as disrespectful. That was never the intent.”

The incident, while seemingly minor, touched a nerve in the debate over the place of religion and references to God in public schools.

Advocates for the separation of church and state blasted Stall Brook Elementary for using the song at all. Others, including many parents who flooded Facebook and other social media with criticism of the school, saw the move as another act of censorship designed to wipe away all traces of God from the public arena.

Mr. Greenwood even weighed in, telling Fox News on Thursday that he wouldn’t allow the school to use his song if they planned to remove “God” from the lyrics.

COMMENT:  The First Amendment prohibits the favoring of one religion over another by public authorities.  It does not require a total banning of religious mention.  Each case must be decided on its merits.  The school authorities finally decided this case wisely.  I don't think the Constitution will collapse.

April 6,  2012     Permalink