House Leadership (Minority Party) Vote Today

For John, BLUF:  I think Rep Nancy Pelosi is good for Republicans.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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House Dems brace for Wednesday’s secret ballot

The article is by Reporter Mike Lillis and it was in The Hill. This is about if US House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Democrat from California's Bay Area) will remain leader of her caucus or will be replaced.

Here is the lede plus three:

House Democrats return to Washington on Tuesday grappling over the best course for the party’s future.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), facing a challenge from Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), is seen as the heavy favorite in elections on Wednesday to keep her top leadership spot, where she’s been perched for the past 14 years.

Democrats will decide on their new leader in a secret ballot vote that highlights the caucus’s restlessness and resurrects internal tensions that have simmered since Democrats lost control of the lower chamber in 2010.

While House Democrats gained at least six seats this cycle — several contests remain too close to call — that figure was a far cry from the 25 pickups Pelosi had predicted. Seeking more accountability for the dismal results, dozens of restive lawmakers successfully delayed the party’s leadership elections to this week to allow more time for reckoning. But in the eyes of Ryan and his supporters, nothing short of a change at the top will get the party back on a winning track.

There are a number of voices call for change.  Of course their is our own Massachusetts Delegation member Rep Seth Moulton who put forward the idea of delaying the election to today, and is now backing Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan for the job of Minority Leader, as is Mass Rep Stephen Lynch.

And, in an interesting OpEd in Black Voice News there is a call for including more Blacks and especially Black Women in Democratic Party leadership positions.  The argument makes sense.

Personally, I would like to see things stay just the way they are.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Misunderstanding Violence

For John, BLUF:  Hoplophobia.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Five Libs Who Pushed Gun-Control Narrative on Twitter After Ohio State Stabbing Attack

What can I say?  These five, including California Lt Gov Gavin Newsom and 2016 Democratic Party VP candidate Tim Kaine, got tricked into thinking that this was a shooting incident.  The assaulting individual, Mr Abdul Artan, used his car and then an edged weapon.  A licensed user of guns did shoot Mr Artan, and kill him.  But, he was a policeman.  What the event wasn't about was a "senseless act of gun violence at Ohio State", as Mr Kaine would have it.

If you are one of those who think "guns" cause violence, as opposed to people causing violence and using the tools available, you are going to draw some wrong conclusions.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

San Francisco Blues

For John, BLUF:  We are lucky to live in Lowell.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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My experience of San Francisco, post-election

This is a post at Ricochet, by "Retail Lawyer".  He describes a world with somber and distressed people.

In the Comments "Right Angles" wrote:

I loved reading this!  These people kill me with their “escape plans” and fear of “repression.”  Like you, I don’t dare reveal what I really think to anyone involved in my career, and my fear of canceled contracts is very very real.  They think they know about “repression”?  Hah.  Cry me a river.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Election Questioning

For John, BLUF:  This is just more Democratic Party manipulation to discredit Mr Trump.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Stein sues after Wisconsin refuses to order hand recounts

That would be the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal and Reporters Jason Stein and Patrick Marley.

Can anyone explain to me what is going on with the recount?

I got it that the Democrats thought Mr Trump saying he wouldn't accept the results of the election until he looked it over was going to bring discredit to our election system.  So, Mr Trump won and was happy.

Per the article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal, Green Party Candidate Dr Jill Stein said"

We must recount the votes so we can build trust in our election system.

OK, so if Mr Trump asks questions it brings discredit to our election system, but if Dr Jill Stein does it it is to build trust in our election system.  I guess Mrs Clinton piling on in support of Dr Stein is just to provide more trust in our system.

Dr Stein has been challenging election counts in three states, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan.  She got shot down in Pennsylvania, for filing too late.  In Wisconsin it isn't going the way she wanted, so she is suing in Dane County.♠

Meanwhile, Reporter Dan Riehl, writing in Brietbart, gives us an ear full from Pollster Pat Caddell:

"What Donald Trump must understand,” said Caddell, “is that this war didn’t end on Election Day.  This war will be fought every day."

What he has done is now positioned himself to take power away from a group of people in the political elite of both parties and in the unelected media.  They will fight back every inch of the way,” he added.

As for the recount process itself, Caddell said, “this thing smells to high heaven.  This is a process that’s going nowhere.  There’s not enough votes.”

I think I am with Democratic Party Position One.  This unwillingness to accept the results is bringing discredit upon our process.

As for those who claim they now live in fear, I recommend they go to their local gun store and stock up.  Remember the text message that went out at Ohio University—"Run, Hide, Fight".  If you are concerned about your freedom, be prepared.

As Ms Liz Sheld says (After Trump Victory, Minorities Flock to Gun Stores):

The Second Amendment is for everyone.♥

Hat tip to The Drudge Report and the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  Yes, perhaps the most "Progressive" County in the State.
♥  "Everyone" is a collective term for all of us, regardless of race, color, creed, socio-economic status, gender or education level.  Did I miss anything?

Democrats Don't Accept Legitimacy of Election

For John, BLUF:  But, you KNEW the Democrats would do this, given how strongly they believed in the illegitimacy of Mr Trump.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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SEEN ON FACEBOOK

I seem to recall that a lot of Clinton supporters a month ago were worrying that the loser in the election would contest the results and undermine confidence in the US election system.  I have to admit… they were right.

Remember that it is 2016 and all things are possible.  I would not be shocked at the Parousian come about Christmas.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Canada Bids Farewell to Castro

For John, BLUF:  In the mean time there has been rejoicing in the streets of Miami.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Fidel Castro dies. Justin Trudeau issues statement. Much hilarity ensues. #TrudeauEulogies

It is Canada's National Post, which is no friend of the current Government in Ottawa, and the Prime Minister, Mr Justin Trudeau.♠

At any rate, the death of Mr Fidel Castro elicited a response from Time Minister Justin Trudeau:

“It is with deep sorrow that I learned today of the death of Cuba’s longest serving President.

“Fidel Castro was a larger than life leader who served his people for almost half a century. A legendary revolutionary and orator, Mr. Castro made significant improvements to the education and healthcare of his island nation.

“While a controversial figure, both Mr. Castro’s supporters and detractors recognized his tremendous dedication and love for the Cuban people who had a deep and lasting affection for “el Comandante”.

“I know my father was very proud to call him a friend and I had the opportunity to meet Fidel when my father passed away. It was also a real honour to meet his three sons and his brother President Raúl Castro during my recent visit to Cuba.

“On behalf of all Canadians, Sophie and I offer our deepest condolences to the family, friends and many, many supporters of Mr. Castro. We join the people of Cuba today in mourning the loss of this remarkable leader.”

This, in turn, elicited some mock (and mocking) tweets from various Canadians, including:

'Though not universally liked by his compatriots, Mr. Ceausescu was a leader in urban design and affordable housing'

“While a controversial figure, even detractors recognize Pol Pot encouraged renewed contact between city and countryside.”

“Today we say goodbye to Mr. Mussolini, the former Italian prime minister best known for his competent train-management.”

There are more at #trudeaueulogies.

It is 2016 and absurdity cannot stay ahead of reality.

Of course the death of any human, especially one who dies unshriven, is a sad moment.  The idea of Mr Fidel Castro as a great statesman and humanitarian is taking things to an absurd extreme.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  Son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

Evolution?

For John, BLUF:  Admitting one is wrong is hard.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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A Lesson in Cognitive Dissonance

Scott Adams (Dilbert) says"

Imagine you are one of the anti-Trump folks who believe we just elected a racist, sexist, homophobic, anti-semitic, science-denying dictator. Let’s say that’s the movie playing in your mind. That’s some scary stuff.

Now imagine watching the news as Trump reveals in slow-motion that he’s flexible and pragmatic on just about everything.  Thomas Friedman at the New York Times just reported that Trump is – as of yesterday anyway – open-minded about climate-change science, and Trump is no longer in favor of waterboarding terror suspects.

You also watched Trump move to the middle on his immigration policies.  And you watched as Trump said he plans to keep the good parts of Obamacare instead of jettisoning it whole.

And you saw Trump say he wasn’t interested in prosecuting Clinton.  Her supporters were worried that Trump was going to go full-dictator and jail his adversaries.  That won’t happen, apparently.

And Trump also told the New York Times that they don’t need to worry about changes in libel laws.  That means it will not become easier for people such as Trump to sue them out of business. That was one of the possibilities that scared people.

The areas in which Trump hasn’t budged in his opinion seem to be where states’ rights are involved.  Trump would leave it to the courts and to the states to decide on abortion, legal marijuana, and gay marriage.  You might not like the fact that Trump wants the federal government to stay out of those decisions, but it isn’t very dictator-like to leave big decisions to the states.

Cognitive dissonance.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Self-Examination

For John, BLUF:  So many mistakes, so little time.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Democrats’ biggest mistakes

The person listing the top three mistakes is Mr Harold Pollack, on 25 Nov 2016.  His venue is the on-line presence, The Reality-Based Community.♠

Here are the three:

1. Overconfidence and complacency across the political spectrum.
2. Overconfidence and complacency across the political spectrum.
3. Signaling to older rural white voters that we didn’t want them, and indeed would leave them behind.

I agree with all three.

Detailed explanations are provided at the top link. Hat tip to Memeorandum.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  Their motto:  "Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not his own facts."

Ukraine's Suffering

For John, BLUF:  Hiding from historic truth is not helpful.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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TODAY IS HOLODOMOR REMEMBRANCE DAY

So says Writer Sarah Hoyt.

The Holodomor is not a widely recognized genocide, because to remember it would be to acknowledge:

1. Joseph Stalin was a horrible dictator who consigned millions to their death so he could conduct economic experiments, which failed, and
2. To accept that Reporter Walter Duranty, and his newspaper, The New York Times, a Pulitzer notwithstanding, lied about what was going on in the Soviet Union in the 1930s.

It is probably fitting that we hear of the death of Communist Dictator Fidel Castro on this day.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Be Careful What You Say, in Europe

For John, BLUF:  Why we should insist on our Free Speech rights.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Wilders unapologetic as Dutch hate speech trial ends

That would be Dutch Member of Parliament Geert Wilders, who is on trial for "hate speech".

This would not be his first trial.

Remember it is Europe, where there is no First Amendment.  No Lee Bollinger writing books about the importance of Free Speech.

The source is Yahoo News, channeling Agence France-Presse.

Here is the lede plus three:

The Hague (AFP) - Populist Dutch MP Geert Wilders remained unapologetic as his hate speech trial drew to a close on Wednesday, saying "millions of Dutch citizens will be convicted with me" if he is found guilty.

Wilders, 53, who had previously shunned hearings held at a high-security courthouse near Amsterdam's Schiphol airport, addressed a three-judge bench at the end of the three-week trial which will formally be closed on Friday.

"I am not a racist and my voters are neither.  They are people who want their country back and who are sick and tired of not being listened to," said Wilders, dressed in a dark blue suit and with his trademark peroxide hairdo.

"If you convict me, you will convict half of The Netherlands," said Wilders, who added:  "Many Dutch will then lose the last bit of trust in the rule of law."

We should be seeing a verdict from the three judge court on Monday, 9 December.

As a citizen of these United States you should worry about this "hate speech" attitude coming across the Atlantic or flowing down from Canada.  Not that I approve of your "hate speech".  I don't.  You should have better manners.  But, the government should not be hauling you off to the hoosegow for saying out loud what you think.

Now, if you plot the violent overthrow of our Government you do need to be prosecuted.

Hat tip to Ann Althouse.

Regards  —  Cliff

A National Holiday

For John, BLUF:  And it is nice to have today off.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Happy Thanksgiving

Regards  —  Cliff

Job Creation So Far This Year

For John, BLUF:  The Regulation State is hurting us.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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From the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

1st Quarter Employment Increase

78 percent of 1st quarter 2016 employment increase occurred at firms with fewer than 50 employees

During the first three months of 2016, firms in the private sector with fewer than 50 employees had a net employment gain of 175,000. This increase represented 78 percent of the total net employment increase of 224,000 jobs over the quarter.

Note that in the chart below we have job losses in Red and job gains in Blue and the Green dot shows how much job creation was compared to job loss.

The Green dots favors the smaller firms.

Larger firms tended to be net losers of jobs.  That is not a good trend.

Looking at the success of small firms, we can extrapolate into the next Administration that if Federal Regulations and Rules are reduced it might result in even more job creation.  While larger firms can afford the lawyers and accountants to deal with vast numbers of regulations, the small business owner can not.  A reduction in regulations will h3elp the small business owner on a comparative basis.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Prospective SecDef Rattles Cages

For John, BLUF:  It is a joke.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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WARNING  WARNING  WARNING

It is The Duffle Blog

Secret Service wary of Mattis having plan to kill everyone he meets at Trump Tower

This comes from a quote attributed to then Major General James Mattis, when he was commanding Marines in Iraq, as quoted in Fiasco:  The American Military Adventure in Iraq, written by Tom Ricks.

Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Counter-Protesters To Be Expunged

For John, BLUF:  And, the Counter-Protester Protesters may have violated the law.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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New Hampshire has morphed into something different from what it was, from its "Live Free or Die" motto, from its rugged individualism.

UNH PROFESSORS CALL FOR EXPULSION OF PRO-TRUMP COUNTER-PROTESTERS

This story is from a Staff Writer at the web site of Milo Yiannopoulos.

I think we can sum it up with the phrase "First Amendment rights for me, but not for thee."♠

See also this Blog Post.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  It feels awkward to say this, but this is proto-fascist.

Fly the Flag

For John, BLUF:  Worthless Administrators.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Mass. college removes American flag after flag burning, race concerns

This article is by Correspondent Martha Schick of The Boston Globe.  And the dateline was 21 November.

The headline doesn't identify the college, but in the story we find it is the innovative and experimental Hampshire College, located in Amherst, Massachusetts.♠

Here is the lede plus several:

Hampshire College has taken down the American flag after it was burned two days following the presidential election, with the leader of the Amherst campus calling it “a disruptive symbol.”

Jonathan Lash, president of the private liberal arts college, said administrators initially replaced the flag with the intention of recognizing “the strong feelings of those who see the flag as a statement of the best of the country.”

But on Friday, Lash sent a campuswide e-mail saying the flagpole would remain bare until next semester at the earliest.

By removing the flag, the college will seek to “focus our efforts on addressing racist, misogynistic, Islamophobic, anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic, and anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and behaviors,” Lash wrote. Many alleged hate crimes have been reported in Massachusetts and elsewhere since Donald Trump’s election.

Here is my bottom line.  I don't care about that 49er Quarterback who won't stand for the National Anthem and I don't care about kids who burn the American Flag.  However, I am very disappointed in any governmental or educational organization, or other organization, that would not fly the American Flag from its flagpole.  Rather than being an exercise of a First Amendment right,♥ it is a direct insult to the rest of the citizenry.

Shame, I say.  Shame.  Shame on Hampshire College.

See also this Blog Post. Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  Shouldn't the Town of Amherst change its name, in shame, over its association with Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst?
♥  I guess they could appeal to Citizens United.

Politico Editor Advocates Violence

For John, BLUF:  If it wasn't for low standards the national level Democrats wouldn't have any standards at all.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Politico Editor RESIGNS After Publishing Home Addresses Of Alt-Right Icon Richard Spencer, Advocating For ‘Baseball Bats’

These headlines are getting too long. The headline was brought to you by The Daily Caller (News Foundation), from National Security/Foreign Policy Reporter Jonah Bennett. Basically, Politico Editor Michael Hirsh was out Tweeting and crossed the line, crossed a line that even Politico recognized.

“These posts were clearly outside the bounds of acceptable discourse, and POLITICO editors regard them as a serious lapse of newsroom standards,” Politico Editor-In-Chief John Harris and Editor Carrie Budoff Brown told TheDCNF.  “They crossed a line in ways that the publication will not defend, and editors are taking steps to ensure that such a lapse does not occur again.”

So, while Mr Trump was condemned for saying he might not accept the outcome of the votes, the Democrats are speaking and acting on the idea that they will not accept the outcome of the vote.♠

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  When I was young I was told that actions speak louder than words.

The Democrats Are Not Going Quietly

For John, BLUF:  Deep down this isn't about Senator Sessions being a racist.  It is about him, as the Attorney General, enforcing immigration laws.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Attorney General Jeff Sessions is Democrats' nightmare

From The Washington Examiner and the pen of Mr Byron York, we have an article on the prospective nominee for US Attorney General, Senator Jeff Sessions.

Here is the lede:

President-elect Trump's transition team knew that nominating Jeff Sessions for Attorney General would set off controversy.  Democrats and their allies in the press have at key times in the past called Sessions a racist — they're now using the Alabama senator's full name, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III, to heighten the Old South effect — and now, as they oppose Trump at nearly every turn, they've turned to race again.

We are likely to be see a renewal of the Senate Practice of Borking.

On the flip side, as Mr York points out, Senator Harry Reid, as Senate Majority Leader, employed the Nuclear Option to ensure approval of a large number of President Obama's nominees by a simple majority vote, thus bypassing the filibuster.♠

Hat tip to my buddy Jeff.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  This is also known as "The Constitutional Option".

Byron York: By BYRON YORK (@BYRONYORK) • 11/20/16 7:15 AM Washington Examiner

The Press Could Fail in its Protection Mission

For John, BLUF:  The press is crying wolf.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Keep crying wolf about Trump, and no one will listen when there’s a real crisis

From Sunday's edition of The New York Post and the pen of Columnist Kyle Smith.

Here is the lede plus two:

It’s contrary to the laws of nature for a tabloid writer to tell the gentry media not to go berserk.  It’s like a cat telling his owner to stop coughing up hairballs or Iron Man asking Captain America to be less arrogant.  Here at The Post, our mission statement does not include understatement.  We provide journalistic Red Bull, not Sominex.

Nevertheless, a word of neighborly advice to our more genteel media friends, the ones who sit at the high table in their pristine white dinner jackets and ball gowns.  You’ve been barfing all over yourselves for a week-and-a-half, and it’s revolting to watch.

For your own sake, and that of the republic for which you allegedly work, wipe off your chins and regain your composure.  I didn’t vote for him either, but Trump won.  Pull yourselves together and deal with it, if you ever want to be taken seriously again.

And the key is "…if you ever want to be taken seriously again."

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Science and Bias

For John, BLUF:  The problem is bias from political stance.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Real War on Science

From City Journal and John Tierney.  The sub-headline is "The Left has done far more than the Right to set back progress."

My liberal friends sometimes ask me why I don’t devote more of my science journalism to the sins of the Right.  It’s fine to expose pseudoscience on the left, they say, but why aren’t you an equal-opportunity debunker? Why not write about conservatives’ threat to science?

My friends don’t like my answer:  because there isn’t much to write about. Conservatives just don’t have that much impact on science.  I know that sounds strange to Democrats who decry Republican creationists and call themselves the “party of science.”  But I’ve done my homework.  I’ve read the Left’s indictments, including Chris Mooney’s bestseller, The Republican War on Science.  I finished it with the same question about this war that I had at the outset:  Where are the casualties?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Faux News

For John, BLUF:  One has to sample widely.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Is All News Fake News?

PJ Media and Writer Roger Simon.

Read at your own risk.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

The IRS Condemned by Federal Judge

For John, BLUF:  This should not be a shock to you or others.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The IRS, Day 1291: Federal Judge—‘Strong Showing’ That IRS Discriminated Against Tea Party Groups

It is the Tax Prof Blog and the Tax Prof, Professor Paul L. Caron of Pepperdine University School of Law.

The subject says it all.  If it doesn't ring a bell you need to do some deep diving.  Day 1291 suggests that this corruption at the Internal Revenue Service has been out in public for over three and a half years.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Borking Sessions

For John, BLUF:  It looks like it is going to be an ugly few months ahead of us.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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In Alabama, Jeff Sessions Desegregated Schools and Got the Death Penalty for KKK Murderer

It is The Weekly Standard and the Reporter is Mr Mark Hemingway.

Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama was being considered for a Cabinet post by the Trump Transition Team.  This ended up with a press release saying he would be nominated for Attorney General.  This has resulted in opponents raising the issue of racism on the part of Senator Sessions.  The article explores that issue.

The best line in this article is the last sentence in this paragraph:

However, it's worth noting that Senator Ted Kennedy, on the Senate judiciary committee at the time, seemed heavily invested in tanking Sessions nomination.  The next year, Kennedy's crusade was to sink Robert Bork's nomination to the Supreme Court, which has generally been regarded as a shameful smear campaign ever since.  The episode upended the comity that had previously existed between the Senate and the White House on Supreme Court nominations—Antonin Scalia was approved to the court 98-0 the year before, the same year that Sessions was filleted by Kennedy and Democrats on the judiciary committee.  Perhaps Sessions was a trial run for "Borking."

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Redemption For All

For John, BLUF:  That is why they call it "the good news".  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Christ the King Sunday

The readings for this week, the last week in the Roman Catholic Liturgical Year.  Next Sunday is the First Sunday in Advent.  And after four weeks of Advent we have Christmas.  A fuller title for this Sunday is "The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe".

The second reading this Sunday is from St Paul's Letter to the Colossians (Col), 1:12-20.

Brothers and sisters:
Let us give thanks to the Father,
who has made you fit to share
in the inheritance of the holy ones in light.
He delivered us from the power of darkness
and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God,
the firstborn of all creation.
For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers;
all things were created through him and for him.
He is before all things,
and in him all things hold together.
He is the head of the body, the church.
He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,
that in all things he himself might be preeminent.
For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell,
and through him to reconcile all things for him,
making peace by the blood of his cross
through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven.

At the end of the first part it says, talking about Jesus, "in whom we have redemption".♠  That would be "the forgiveness of sins."  This is a wonderful thing, a promise of everlasting life.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  This is as opposed to someone who recently suggested that an eighth of us are irredeemable.  That is false.  We all of us have redemption available to us through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Honey Badger

For John, BLUF:  Some times you have to stand up to bullies.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Age of the Honey Badger Dawns

This is Brietbart talking about the media attacks (and the attacks of Democratic Party apparatchiks) on "Stephen K. Bannon — and, by extension, Donald Trump, and 61 million deplorables."

Here is the closer:

The GOP elephant — loud and mighty, but frightened by mice — has begun to learn from the honey badger.

The honey badger, you see, does not care. The honey badger will fight through venom, prey on predators.

Welcome to the age of the honey badger.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

ESPN Following the NFL In the Ratings Race

For John, BLUF:  There is a problem when one's politics becomes a moral imperative at the work place.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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ESPN Admits They Mistreat Conservatives, And It's Killing Their Ratings

This is from The Daily Wire and Reporter Ben Shapiro.

What more is there to say?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Mr Trump and the LGBT Community

For John, BLUF:  It is profitless to make enemies when you don't have to.♠  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Memo to the LGBT community: Donald Trump is not your enemy

From The Hill and written by Mr Joseph R. Murray II, administrator for LGBTrump,

Here is the lede plus one:

Donald Trump had no sooner delivered his victory speech and my Facebook page — LGBTrump (the largest gays for Trump Facebook page) — was inundated with messages from LGBT Americans fearful that the president-elect would take away their rights.

Why were so many messages pouring in?  The LGBT Left was off the rails telling the LGBT community that its rights — especially marriage — were on the chopping block under President-elect Trump.

The author then proceeds to show that Mr Trump has shown himself to be supportive of Gay Rights, and has done so for some time.

If the Pro-Clinton/Anti-Trump folks want to discuss the election we need to not wander too far afield from the facts.  On the other hand, if they just want to rant, I hope they are not offended if those of us who voted for Mr Trump ignore them.  And if they are offended I hope they eventually get over it.  Otherwise they will lead miserable lives from now until judgment day.

To paraphrase John Wayne as Sargeant Stryker in "The Sands of Iwo Jima".

Life is tough. It is tougher if you lack a sense of proportion

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  There is the Law of Conservation of Enemies.  "Never have at any one time more enemies than you need."

"The Borking of Bannon"

For John, BLUF:  The question was if Mr Trump could accept the election outcome.  It should have been could the Left accept the election outcome.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Borking of Bannon — or Why Trump’s Breitbart Pick Bests the New York Times’ Arthur Sulzberger

A little context.

• The Allgemeiner—"The fastest growing Jewish newspaper in America".
• Arthur Ochs Sulzberger (Pinch)—Publisher of The New York Times
• Steve Bannon—The Executive Chairman of Breitbart News.
• Breitbart News—An on-line publishing organization that has been dubbed, McCarthy style, an "Alt Right" news source.
• Borking—"o defame or vilify (a person) systematically, esp. in the mass media, usually with the aim of preventing his or her appointment to public office; to obstruct or thwart (a person) in this way".  (Oxford English Dictionary)
• Robert Bork—Whose nomination to the US Supreme Court was rejected, adding the term Borking to the lexicon.
• Alt-Right—An amorphous group of people who reject the Progressive agenda.
• Mccrthyism—the idea that people are smeared by alleging treason on their part.

Here is the lede for the news story:

The New York Times finds President-elect Donald Trump’s appointment of Stephen Bannon as counselor to the president to be so alarming that it devoted both its lead front page news article yesterday, a second front-page news article, and its lead editorial to the development, airing the worry that, as one of the news articles put it, Mr. Bannon “will bring anti-Semitic, nationalist and racist views to the West Wing.”

Not likely.

It is sad what a great newspaper has come to.

Read the article.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Climate Change in the Dock

For John, BLUF:  It sort of reminds me of the movie Miracle on 34th Street.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

A group of children are being allowed to sue the U.S. government.  Can you guess why?

I would think that the headline leaves something to be desired.  How about "Obama Sued Over Climate Change"?

Here is the lead for the article by Mr Jazz Saw, at Hot Air:`

This was a story which first popped up a week ago, but I’d originally assumed it was an article from The Onion.  Hey, who knew? Turns out it’s real.  CNN covered it last Friday and it deals with a group of mostly children (plaintiffs ranging in age from 9-20) who are suing the United States government because… (drum roll) climate change is threatening their future.  The interesting aspect of their coverage was that they assumed that this was going to be a problem for Donald Trump.

That is to say, President Obama is being sued.  Apparently not the Presidency but the person of President Barack Obama.  I guess the theory is that President Obama has been an implicit Climate Change Denier.

Here is Mr Saw's cynical view, in the last paragraph:

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that this case will never go anywhere.  But someone saw fit to allow it to move forward and the anti-energy media will have a field day with it during the slow, post-election news cycle.

By the way, here is Judge Ann Aiken's ruling, all 54 pages of it.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Know English When On The Phone

For John, BLUF:  Or, we could change the dictionaries.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

The electric company was late sending out the bills and my wife called them.  Unfortunately, my name is on the account and I have to confirm that I agreed to her talking for us.

The woman from the electric company asked me to "verify my name". So, I waited for her to tell me my name, so I could "verify" it.  You know, as in this definition:

make sure or demonstrate that (something) is true, accurate, or justified: his conclusions have been verified by later experiments | [with clause] : “Can you verify that the guns are licensed?”

Why can't these folks just ask me to give my name and address.  I would be reasonably happy to do so in order to get some service.

I ended up getting unceremoniously dumped onto the Spanish translation line.

However, I am happy to put up with this kind of problem as long as the electric company has built in a lot of redundancy, so I keep getting my electricity notwithstanding problems of earthquakes, weather and sabotage.

Regards  —  Cliff

Will 2017 Be Like 2016?

For John, BLUF:  Mr Trump may represent an international phenomenon.  Look at the Philippines, South Korea, Hong Kong, Brexit and now France.  Maybe it is caused by Global Warming.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

The Incredible Disconnect of French Presidential Candidates

The author is Mr Bill Wirtz, writing for the Foundation for Economic Education.  Mr Wirtz is studying law at the University of Lorraine in Nancy.

If you want to see where Nancy is, this map shows you.  Back in the day (late 1960s), when I was in the Air Force and stationed at Bitburg Air Base, in Germany, we would use Nancy as a turn point as we flew to (and back from) Wheelus Air Base, outside of Tripoli, Libya.  For position reporting purposes, to the French Air Traffic Control people, we would pronounce it as Non See.

 

 

But, to the article, here is the lede:

In France, it's countdown to the 23rd of April 2017, election day in the République.  The French Republican party♠ is currently running its primary campaign,  in which two candidates have shown that the disconnect many voters perceive in the political class is incognizably true.

And here is one of the candidates showing how out of touch he is (hint, the cost of a pain au chocolat is normally between one and one and a half Euros):

When Republican presidential candidate Jean-François Copé was asked on the radio station Europe 1 how much a pain au chocolat costs, his estimate lay between 10 and 15 euro cents.  What would supposedly spark rapid laughter turned out to become a major talking point in the entire country.  By French standards, this oops-situation overshadowed Gary Johnson's Aleppo-moment by a long shot.  But Copé did not only have to deal with malice – indeed, his gross underestimate of the price of a simple piece of pastry showed his disconnect with ordinary people.

And on to the other candidate for the French Republican Party:

You cannot intend to be a man of the people yet support every indication that you're nothing but an overpaid bureaucrat who has to do neither his own driving, cleaning, laundry, or grocery shopping, and that for the last 30 years.  Copé's rival Alain Juppé, current front-runner in the Republican primary and current favorite to win the general election, beautifully illustrated this last weekend.

In an interview on the French TV channel France 3, Juppé illustrated his thoughts on some candidates' basic income proposal of some candidates by saying,

“Would a basic income really apply to everyone? Would everyone get it, from Miss Bettencourt [richest women in the world] to the cashier at Prisunic [supermarket chain]?”

Nothing potentially controversial there, until you notice that the last branch of the supermarket chain Prisunic closed down in 2002.

Of course there is always National Front candidate Marine Le Pen.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  The author calls it the French Republican Party, but it is known in France as the Union for a Popular Movement.

A Take on the Election

For John, BLUF:  This year, 2016, is not yet over, but I am hoping things are going to finally calm down.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

What Now?

Commentary by Thomas Sowell,♠ today, the 15th.

This is a review of both the election and the path forward.

Here is a key point in the essay:

Donald Trump's unexpected victory should send a lot of people back to the drawing board to rethink their assumptions about many things.  That includes not only the political left but also the Republican establishment.  But don't count on it.

The Republican establishment has been called many things, but introspective is not one of them.  One thing they might reconsider is their assumption that they alone know just what kind of presidential candidate is needed to win elections.

But the two most surprisingly successful Republican candidates of the past half century -- Ronald Reagan and now Donald Trump -- bore no resemblance to the candidates who epitomized the Republican establishment's model, such as Bob Dole, John McCain and Mitt Romney.

I think he is correct on that point.  I can see the establishment Republicans says, basically, "Thanks Donald, but we have it from here.  Watch while we show you how it is done."  That would be a mistake.  Not just a mistake, but a gross error.

Here is the other thing from Dr Sowell:

Among others who could also use some rethinking is Donald Trump himself. When he acted like a petulant adolescent, he may have gotten the adulation of his core constituents.  But it was only toward the end, when he began to act like a responsible adult seeking the highest office in the land, that he began to overtake Hillary Clinton.

Donald Trump is a wild card. We don't know whether he was play-acting when he carried on like a juvenile lout or when he played the role of a mature adult.  But he and the country could both benefit from some serious introspection on his part.

And a heartfelt thanks to Ms Kellyanne Conway for her help in bringing Mr Trump across the finish line ahead of Mrs Clinton.

Hat tip to the Rasmussen Reports.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305. His website is www.tsowell.com.

Discrimination in the Academy

For John, BLUF:  I don't see it so much, but then I an in Continuing Ed at UMass Lowell.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

A Confession of Liberal Intolerance

It is the opinion page of The New York Times, so perhaps the letter from Pinch is having an impact.  The Columnist is Mr Nicholas Kristof.

Here is the lede plus three:

WE progressives believe in diversity, and we want women, blacks, Latinos, gays and Muslims at the table — er, so long as they aren’t conservatives.

Universities are the bedrock of progressive values, but the one kind of diversity that universities disregard is ideological and religious.  We’re fine with people who don’t look like us, as long as they think like us.

O.K., that’s a little harsh. But consider George Yancey, a sociologist who is black and evangelical.

“Outside of academia I faced more problems as a black,” he told me.  “But inside academia I face more problems as a Christian, and it is not even close.”

That seems pretty strong. But, here is a broader look at the problem:

Four studies found that the proportion of professors in the humanities who are Republicans ranges between 6 and 11 percent, and in the social sciences between 7 and 9 percent.

Conservatives can be spotted in the sciences and in economics, but they are virtually an endangered species in fields like anthropology, sociology, history and literature.  One study found that only 2 percent of English professors are Republicans (although a large share are independents).

In contrast, some 18 percent of social scientists say they are Marxist.  So it’s easier to find a Marxist in some disciplines than a Republican.

This election is just making it worse, where those students (and faculty?) who were for Mrs Clinton are being given counseling.  What is that saying about those who voted for Mr Trump?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Cut the Gossip

For John, BLUF:  Everyone needs to do their part.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

I have been hitting the First Readings recently, but this week it was the Second Reading that caught my attention.  It is from St Paul's Second Letter to the Thessalonians, 3:7-12.

Brothers and sisters:
You know how one must imitate us.
For we did not act in a disorderly way among you,
nor did we eat food received free from anyone.
On the contrary, in toil and drudgery, night and day
we worked, so as not to burden any of you.
Not that we do not have the right.
Rather, we wanted to present ourselves as a model for you,
so that you might imitate us.
In fact, when we were with you,
we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work,
neither should that one eat.
We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a disorderly way,
by not keeping busy but minding the business of others.
Such people we instruct and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly
and to eat their own food.

Well, this seems pretty hard.  If you don't work, you shouldn't eat at the expense of others.  But there is another side to this.  That is that those who are laying about should not be gossiping and butting into the business of others.  In my travels I seen this second action cause trouble for people and communities.  I think this is not so much about not working, as it is about being a louse.

While we are encouraged to show charity we are also expected to pull our own weight.

This is a reading worth pondering.

Regards  —  Cliff

Diversity in Texas

For John, BLUF:  Not everyone is in lock step with their party.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Texas County Elects Black Woman Sheriff and Votes for Trump

From ABC News, via The Associated Press and Reporter Juan A Lozano.

I think the headline says it all.  The Voters in Jefferson County, near the Texas-Lousiana border, found reasons to go for a Democrat for Sheriff and a Republican for President.  Good on 'em.

And part of Mr Trump's voters were those terrible racist Caucasians who helped elect Mr Obama, twice.♠

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  To hear Mr Van Jones, of CNN, tell it.

Trump Looking For People

For John, BLUF:  I am guessing PTT is Presidential Transition Team.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Apply to Joint the Administration HERE

You fill in the blocks and they respond almost immediately.

Thank you for your interest in serving America.  Your commitment, dedication and service has been realized in this historic moment.  The challenges ahead for us cannot be solved by any individual, but rather by a team of great Americans.  Through integrity, perseverance and hard work, we will make America Great Again.  Thank you for your willingness to join me in this effort.

If you have any questions, please contact apply@ptt.gov with your reference number P-xxxxxxx.  Your application will remain under consideration for the duration of the Trump Administration.  All submitted applications will be reviewed as we seek the best qualified candidates to assume this hard work of making America Great Again.

Sincerely,
Donald J. Trump, President-Elect

By the way, for your phone number, just put in the ten digits.  Don't us parentheses or dashes.

As an aside, I am assuming they are dumping the resumes into a big database, so they can do the needed tear and compare.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Left Demonstrates

For John, BLUF:  True about demonstrating (rioting) against Mr Trump being elected.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Tweetmeister David Burge shared this in two tweets:

I’m telling lefties this as a favor:  many people voted Trump reluctantly and with a tinge of regret.  What you’re doing right now simply confirms they made the right choice.

It was shared by Law Professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds, here.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Trump Follows Obama Path to Victory

For John, BLUF:  Ah, what strange things we learn when we follow the numbers.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

This is from Law Professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds:

T’S JUST BECAUSE THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE SUDDENLY TURNED RACIST:  Trump’s Key To Victory:  Counties Obama Carried.  “Of the nearly 700 counties that twice sent Obama to the White House, a stunning one-third flipped to support Trump.  Trump also won 194 of the 207 counties that voted for Obama either in 2008 or 2012. . . .  The Obama-Trump counties were critical in delivering electoral victories for Trump.  Many of them fall in states that supported Obama in 2012, but Trump in 2016.”

The original post, with comments, can be found here.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Exercising Your Privilege

For John, BLUF:  So, on some of this we disagree.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

China Consumer Inflation Picks Up, Driven by Higher Food Prices

And here is the sub-headline:

Factory-gate prices also rose last month fueled by higher commodity prices, especially steel and coal

This article is from The Wall Street Journal and the author is Reporter Mark Magnier.  It is from 8 November, which is fitting.

Fitting because Question 3 here in Massachusetts got an Up Vote and thus we can expect food prices to go up around here.♠ And we can expect those on the border to consider shopping in New Hampshire.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  As I have said elsewhere, this is just the exercise of White Privilege.  I used to think of this as a bogus Democratic Party phrase for heaping shame on Republicans for being alive.  However, with the votes on Massachusetts Questions 2, 3 and 4, I think it is a case of Massachusetts Democrats exercising their "White Privilege" without realizing the impact of their vote on minorities in our Commonwealth.  It isn't a case of blatant discrimination.  It is a case of ignorance leading to disregard.

China Elites vs Democracy

For John, BLUF:  The elites need to be careful.  When they ignore the vast majority they get into trouble.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Why China Doesn't Understand Hong Kong

This is from Bloomberg and the author is Columnist Adam Minter.

Here is the lede:

Nobody would ever mistake the Chinese Communist Party for a fleet-footed, democratic organization responsive to public opinion.  But over the decades it's shown a capacity to recognize when political winds are shifting and has been willing to accept outside advice and solutions.  That's changing under President Xi Jinping.  China's leadership has grown increasingly isolated and distant from citizens, calling into question whether it can truly identify with the needs of a young and dynamic population.

So, is there anything that looks familiar here?  If you picked a national elite that neither knows nor trusts the People you are on the nose.  Exactly.

And our elites doesn't trust the People either.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Old Pen and Phone Meme

For John, BLUF:  The whole meme is a signal that we shouldn't expect the Democrats to understand the implications of their errors.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

"Trump didn't build that."

Where Law Professor Ann Althouse blogs about her son John Althouse Cohen and his comment on Facebook.

"Democrats have been arguing for years that President Obama should have the power to get a lot done on his own, without going through Congress: executive orders, going to war, etc.  If President Trump exercises similarly broad powers, remember:  Trump didn't build that!"

Quips my son John.

I didn't see any attribution to Senator Elizabeth Warren, although sometimes the expression is attributed to President Obama, wrongly.

The deeper point is that, like Senator Harry Reid♠ and his "nuclear option", the Democrats have been breaking trail on this kind of imperial government and should not (but will) whinge when Mr Trump does similar things.  Frankly, I am hoping and praying that Mr Trump will be a bit more humble.

Hat tip to Ann Althouse.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  You remember Senator Reid.  He was the one who went to the well of the Senate, where he was protected from libel laws, and lied about Governor Mitt Romney's taxes.  He is the one who, when Mrs Clinton and President Obama were being gracious to Mr Trump concerning his victory on Tuesday, had a meltdown about Mr Trump.  It is a good thing he is returning to Search Light, Nevada and private life.  A divider, not a uniter.

The NYT Buries the Lede, Again

For John, BLUF:  Kudos to you for noting the inability of the Media to provide news after the election was called for Mr Trump.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

"DEMOCRATS, STUDENTS AND FOREIGN ALLIES FACE THE REALITY OF A TRUMP PRESIDENCY"

That is the headline from The New York Times that was discussed on the Morning Joe program and which was brought to us by Hot Air and Ed Morrissey.

This is such as self-referential headline that one can not take it seriously.

That leads to the question of if we are ever going to take seriously The Old Gray Lady, or the media in general.  Their inarticulateness upon the calling of the election for Mr Trump is an indication that the mainstream media is of little value to the average voter, especially the average Trump Voter.

Actually, disgusting.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Kudos to Kellyanne

For John, BLUF:  Progress for all comes best when it comes without fanfare.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

How Come Nobody on the Left is Praising this Woman?

At this link is a photo of Kellyanne Conway with the tag line "She just became the first woman to ever successfully run a presidential campaign."

Here is Professor Glenn Reynold's comment:

I do think that Kellyanne Conway accomplished perhaps the biggest turnaround in campaign-management history, and I don’t think Trump could have won without her.  But, you know, you’re not a real First Woman if you’re not also a Democrat, because sexism.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

New Problems in the Middle East

For John, BLUF:  Another crisis only hours away.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Warning Update:  Economic and Political Instability in Egypt

From the Institute for the Study of War and author Wesam Hassanein.  Trouble is brewing in Egypt.

Here is the lede:

Key Takeaway:  The Muslim Brotherhood called for mass protests on Friday, November 11 in response to harsh economic reforms by the Egyptian government.  Egypt is at risk of major economic and political instability following President Sisi's decision to implement severe economic policies in pursuit of a loan from the IMF, which he hopes will stabilize Egypt's turbulent economy.  Egypt's dire economic situation is compounded by geopolitical tension.  Most notably, Saudi Arabia's decision to halt oil shipments put the Egyptian government in a very precarious financial and political position.  Islamist and militant groups will likely take advantage of this instability, and use it as an opportunity to gain power in Egypt.

This is a sticky situation.  We, as Americans, should be concerned.

• We should be concerned because Egypt's Suez Canal is an important link in international trade and thus in keeping people employed and economies humming.
• If Egypt goes sideways the new government might elect to not work with our ally, Israel, but to threaten it, which means a major diplomatic, and perhaps military, problem for the US.
• An economic or governmental meltdown in Egypt will only add to the refugee crisis in Europe, and thus in the United States.

Regards  —  Cliff

The "Catholic Vote"

For John, BLUF:  As I said on today's shows, the election was about the Middle Class.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

What was the breakdown of the Catholic vote Tuesday?

From The Boston Pilot and Mr Matt Hadro, we have a quick look at how those who identify as Romans Catholics voted in the Presidential Election.

Catholics voted once again for the winning presidential candidate in Tuesday’s election, as they have done in recent elections.

“Catholics continue to be the only major religious voting block that can shift from one election to the next,” Dr. Mark Gray of the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University stated on Wednesday.

“This is what makes the Catholic vote such an important swing vote. Presidential candidates who win the Catholic vote almost always win the presidency,” he added.

Then the article looks at a deeper analysis of polling and how the vote swung, and also about correlation and Mass attendance.

So, without comment.  Over to you.

Regards  —  Cliff

Alternative Scenarios

For John, BLUF:  You reap what you sow.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

And Sanders would now be the next president-elect, if the Democrats had conducted their primary the same way that the Republicans did — in a democratic manner!  How ironic!

I am not sure I believe Senator Sanders would have won, but this quote from a friend of mine has a point to it.

Regards  —  Cliff

Misunderstanding the Electorate, Again

For John, BLUF:  It isn't about race or racism.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Tim Carney tweets:

Low-income rural white voters in PA. voted for Obama in 2008 and then Trump in 2016, and your explanation is white supremacy?
Interesting.

Aside from the use of the short hand "white" for Caucasian,♠ it pretty well captures the situation.

It is about folks who are or hope to be in the Middle Class and want their children and grandchildren to be in the Middle Class.

Those who say the Republican win is about race, or ethnicity, are demagogues.  They are not people who want to bring us together.  They are dividers and not uniters.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  It is, after all, a Tweet and characters are at a premium.

NYT Krugman on the Election Outcome

For John, BLUF:  The Media still doesn't understand.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Paul Krugman: Our Unknown Country

From The New York Times, a collection of OpEd Writers on the Presidential Election, after it was predicted that Mr Trump was the winner.

Dr Paul Krugman was shocked by the whole thing.  It was with dismay that this modern day Pauline Kael♠ looked at the election.

From the article:

What we do know is that people like me, and probably like most readers of The New York Times, truly didn’t understand the country we live in.♥

And then there is this:

There turn out to be a huge number of people — white people, living mainly in rural areas — who don’t share at all our idea of what America is about.

Actually, the "huge number of people" are in the states that tend to vote Democrat in Presidential Elections.  That is about 66% of the voting population.

As for sharing an idea of what America is about, those folks being put down by Professor Krugman are for the Declaration of Independence, and its ideals, and for the US Constitution.  Professor Krugman isn't?

And one final point is that this is just another ignorant Democrat thinking it is all about race (and ethnicity) and ignoring the fact that this election was decided by people who are on the bottom side of the Middle Class, who wish to remain in the Middle Class and wish to pass on to their children that Middle Class lifestyle.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  Notice that their initials are the same.
♥  Pauline Kael is the Movie Critic for The New Yorker, who famously said that she didn't know anyone who voted for Richard Nixon.
♦ 

New House Leadership Emerging Soon

For John, BLUF:  I am mentally marking this as questionable.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

I get a periodic update from the Friends Committee on National Legislation, and in particular the Nuclear Calendar.

In particular, they noted that on 15 November Republican House Members will vote on the Republican nominee for the Speaker of the House.

This seems strange, in that the new members of the House will not yet have been seated and there will still be some lame ducks♠ hanging on.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  Not to be confused with the Ruptured Duck.

NATO on Alert

For John, BLUF:  It is not a safe world out there and things have been happening while we have a been having an election.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Nato puts 300,000 ground troops on 'high alert' as tensions with Russia mount

The report is from The Independent (UK), by Reporter Gabriel Samuels, and it came out Monday.  Here is the sub-headline:

'We have seen a more assertive Russia implementing a substantial military build-up over many years,' Nato secretary-general says

Up to 300,000 Nato troops have been put on alert amid rising tensions between Russia and the Baltic states.

Jens Stoltenberg, the secretary-general of Nato, said the alliance hoped to speed up the response time of thousands of its troops to allow it to react to a combat situation more effectively.

In October, it was reported Nato was preparing to station 4,000 troops on the Russian border with the Baltic states in its biggest military build-up since the Cold War.  The troops will be summoned from nations across the alliance, including the UK.

“We have seen Russia being much more active in many different ways,” Mr Stoltenberg told The Times.

Ask yourself "What would Hillary do?"  Then go vote.

Regards  —  Cliff

Voting is a Duty

For John, BLUF:  However, if you asked me, I would say go "R" all the way.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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VOTE   VOTE   VOTE

More important than who you vote for is that you vote.

Here are the locations for Wards and Precincts in Lowell, Massachusetts.

If you are not sure of your Ward and Precinct, check here.

If you need a ride, let me know (crkrieger at me.com), or call.

One final point.

If you don't vote then I don't wish to hear your whinging about who gets elected and how they act.

Regards  —  Cliff

Post Poll Party, Wednesday

For John, BLUF:  A chance to take pictures.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Post Election Reception

The Mass Republican Assembly (thus MARA) is holding a Post Election Reception on Wednesday, 9 November, from 7 PM to 9 PM.

Besides the chance to congratulate the winners, there are four interesting speakers:

• MA State Committeeman Steve Aylward.  Steve will be running for State Committee Chairman.  Important.
• Ted Busiek, candidate for Acton State Senate.  (I am told he is former Air Force.  I wonder if he is related to Charlie Busiek, the Dancing Bear?)
• Kamara Kay, candidate for 18th Middlesex (Lowell) State Representative (Our Very Own)
• MA State Committeeman Dennis Galvin.  Our State Committeeman (plus we have Sheila Harrington, our Committeewoman)

It will be this Wednesday, 9 November.  A Post-Election party at the North Chelmsford Community Center from 7-9pm.

Your help in spreading the word to the MA Republican conservative activists and supporters would be appreciated.

The cost is only $2.50 pp.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Seven Brothers

For John, BLUF:  Not just a fairy tale, but a true story from the Jewish fight for freedom.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

The 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sometimes our faith demands we be strong in the face of problems.  It is unlikely we will ever face the problems faced by the seven brothers in this story out of Second Maccabbes.

It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested
and tortured with whips and scourges by the king,
to force them to eat pork in violation of God's law.
One of the brothers, speaking for the others, said:
“What do you expect to achieve by questioning us?
We are ready to die rather than transgress the laws of our ancestors.”

At the point of death he said:
“You accursed fiend, you are depriving us of this present life,
but the King of the world will raise us up to live again forever.
It is for his laws that we are dying.”

After him the third suffered their cruel sport.
He put out his tongue at once when told to do so,
and bravely held out his hands, as he spoke these noble words:
“It was from Heaven that I received these;
for the sake of his laws I disdain them;
from him I hope to receive them again.”
Even the king and his attendants marveled at the young man's courage,
because he regarded his sufferings as nothing.

After he had died,
they tortured and maltreated the fourth brother in the same way.
When he was near death, he said,
“It is my choice to die at the hands of men
with the hope God gives of being raised up by him;
but for you, there will be no resurrection to life.”

This is also one of the earliest statements of faith in the resurrection of the dead to be found in the Bible.

Regards  —  Cliff

Mass Question 2—Charter Schools

For John, BLUF:  Be sure to vote tomorrow.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

I am voting YES on Question 2.

Here is the summary from the Secretary of State's Office (more detail here or below the signature):

A YES VOTE would allow for up to 12 approvals each year of either new charter schools or expanded enrollments in existing charter schools, but not to exceed 1% of the statewide public school enrollment.

A NO VOTE would make no change in current laws relative to charter schools.

I was on the License Commission with Brian Akashian and am on the Lowell Homelessness Continuum of Care with Brian's Father, Bruce.  Last week I met Sister/Daughter Kerry Akashian, who has a Ph.D. focused on Program Evaluation, an area of interest to me.

I asked her for her views on this issue.  She is voting YES.

I am not anti-union.  I am pro-systems and programs that work to close the achievement gap.  Massachusetts public charter schools are among the best in the nation.  They have a proven track record of improving outcomes for all children, especially students of color and low-income students.  If any city can bring to the table municipal and charter school leaders in a collaborate effort to increase beneficial outcomes for students, it is the City of Lowell.

Charter schools in Massachusetts work BETTER for students with severe disabilities and students with low English language proficiency.  Across MA charters also serve far more ELL and SPED students than the statewide average.

Charters in MA are highly accountable and subject to rigorous review.  If they fail to meet goals, they are closed.

In fairness, Dr Akashian works for the Great Schools Massachusetts coalition, a bipartisan coalition of parents, educators, and community activists from across the Commonwealth, working for YES on 2.  Their stated goal is to give ALL families across the state quality educational options, regardless of income, demographics or location..

And, I like Dr Akashian's summation of the issue.

Regards  —  Cliff

The description from the Secretary of State (Mr Galvin):

This proposed law would allow the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to approve up to 12 new charter schools or enrollment expansions in existing charter schools each year. Approvals under this law could expand statewide charter school enrollment by up to 1% of the total statewide public school enrollment each year. New charters and enrollment expansions approved under this law would be exempt from existing limits on the number of charter schools, the number of students enrolled in them, and the amount of local school districts' spending allocated to them.

If the Board received more than 12 applications in a single year from qualified applicants, then the proposed law would require it to give priority to proposed charter schools or enrollment expansions in districts where student performance on statewide assessments is in the bottom 25% of all districts in the previous two years and where demonstrated parent demand for additional public school options is greatest.

New charter schools and enrollment expansions approved under this proposed law would be subject to the same approval standards as other charter schools, and to recruitment, retention, and multilingual outreach requirements that currently apply to some charter schools. Schools authorized under this law would be subject to annual performance reviews according to standards established by the Board.

The proposed law would take effect on January 1, 2017.

In England, Rear Guard Action

For John, BLUF:  There are those who just don't trust you to know what you really want.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Article 50:  down with this legal coup against the masses

Writing for the British online version of Spiked, Editor Brendan O’Neill tells us that the Swells are disrespecting the plebs (plebeians).  Here is the sub=headline:

The use of the law to stymie Brexit is a naked, elitist assault on democracy.

Here is the lede:

Today’s High Court ruling that Article 50 should not be triggered by the government but rather must be mulled over and decided on by MPs is being presented as a mere technical decision.  It’s just about ins and outs.  It’s about practicalities, not politics.  It’s about the ‘procedure and policy’ of how we leave the EU, says one of the filthy-rich claimants who took this Brexitphobic court action.  They really must believe their own propaganda about us Brexit-backing plebs being ‘low information’ (Forbes) and ‘ignoramuses’ (Richard Dawkins) if they think we’re going to buy this. We aren’t.  This court action, and the glee it’s being greeted with by media and political haters of Brexit, is 100 per cent political, to its core.  It’s motivated far less by a love for legally clean procedure than by a naked disdain for ordinary people and our democratic authority.  It’s not a blow for box-ticking; it’s a blow against what we the people said in the ballot box on 23 June.

Exactly.  It is the bien-pensant against the plebs.  In the Colonies it is the Clintonites against the Trumpsters.

Article 50 is about leaving the European Union.♠  The "escape clause".

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  From The Wall Street Journal we have a story on Article 50 of the European Union Charter.

The Last Person . . .

For John, BLUF:  I guess I am just as happy it went away.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Guy Fawkes Day

Or Guy Fawkes Night, as it is in England, where the celebration included bonfires and effigies of those seen as enemies of the People.

The key lesson is that Guy Fawkes is the last person to enter Parliament with honest intentions.

The celebration used to have a strong anti-Catholic flavor in the UK, and New England.  The Puritans in England, and New England, used it as a event to preach against the Catholic Church.  In the United States, after the Revolution, it diminished in importance and by the mid-1800s in England it had lost much of its violence and it then evolved into a twentieth social event, with bonfires and fireworks.

Regards  —  Cliff

Getting the Election Results Early

For John, BLUF:  I admit that I would have dummied this up early, with the real numbers to be added on Tuesday evening.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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NBC local news accidentally posts US election results a week early, shows a Clinton “win”

From Nation of Change

The premature results appeared on NBC affiliate WRCB in Chattanooga, Tennessee, but were stored on the servers of a widely used news content management platform.

Here is the lede is this 4 November story filed by a Whitney Webb:

A NBC affiliate in Chattanooga, Tennessee inadvertently published what appears to be election night results.  The results are published in the typical format used by mainstream news networks and display Presidential and Congressional results, the popular vote count, electoral votes, and percentage of precincts reporting in.  The page was taken down soon after, but is available via the internet archive.  The results of the Presidential contest name Hillary Clinton the winner with 41.7 million votes or 42% of the total.  Trump, on the other hand, received 40.1 million votes or 40%. The results also gave Gary Johnson 8% while Jill Stein received 5%.

The results would have the Green Party picking up Federal funding in 2020.

Here is the insight on the Server in question.

These media companies use the platform, also known as Frankly, to power their news content.

Ah, those nasty Servers.

All that said, if these numbers match those on Tuesday evening, then we should be very chary of the results.

Regards  —  Cliff

Mrs Clinton and Those Pesky EMails

For John, BLUF:  It is all there for the Voters to see (Mark 8:18).  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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WikiLeaks’ 10 Most Damning Clinton Emails that Prove Mainstream Media is Scripted & Controlled

Here is the sub-headline from Nation of Change.

The reality revealed in these emails is one of media collusion with powerful interests, which only serve to keep the American people in the dark about what is actually transpiring.

The reporter is Mr Jay Syrmopoulos, who is a writer for The Free Thought Project.

But, friends backing Mrs Clinton continue to tell me that Mrs Clinton won the nomination fair and square.  As a hint here, I would not describe Nation of Change as part of the Alt Right or part of Mrs Clinton's basket of deplorables.  They are definitely left of New Democrats.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Progs Hate Men and Caucasians

For John, BLUF:  Just remember there is a bell curve of people and some are way out on the extremes.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Lena Dunham Posts Video Celebrating the ‘Extinction of White Men’ on Twitter

Yes, it is Breitbart.  On the other hand, it is Ms Lena Dunham.  The Reporter is Mr Charlie Nash, who I assume is another one of those deplorable Male Caucasians.

Well, there is no explanation, so no attempt will be made to offer one.

But, you can view the 29 Second video at the link above.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff