The Laws We Live Under

For John, BLUF:  Our Legislatures, who we have elected, are passing too many laws.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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New laws are putting California further at odds with Trump

From the Associated Press, by Mr Don Thompson, 29 December 2018.

I don't much care that California is at odds with President Trump, and with most of the Nation.  That is part of the attraction of California; a place where you can reinvent yourself, the way you wish to.  From Death Valley Scotty to William Randolph Hearst to Kamala Devi Harris, wildly different people have found success in California.

However, this item bothers me:

Counting his two terms from 1975 to 1983, the state’s longest-serving governor vetoed 1,829 bills and saw 17,851 become law.

Assuming everything north of ten thousand signed bills were about appropriations, or about 500 a year (490), that still leaves a lot of new laws for individual citizens to absorb and obey.  What are the odds the individual citizens of California are learning about over 600 new (or revised) laws each year.  If ignorance of the law is no excuse, what excuse does the average citizen have?

Thank God for Trade Associations and Trade Unions and the like.  Such organizations hire people to keep an eye out for new laws, or potential new laws coming down the track.  That provides at least some warning for the average citizen.

Is it possible that there are too many laws on the books and State Legislatures across the nation should devote time to eliminating and consolidating laws?  The short answer is "yes".

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Further Dividing A Divided Electorate

For John, BLUF:  The Brit Left is like the US Left, playing on Peoples' differences, rather on what unites them.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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NO STRAIGHT WHITE MEN ALLOWED AT LABOUR EQUALITIES CONFERENCE

This is from Guido Fawke's Blog, Order Order, 11 February 2018 (I am just catching up).

Here is a key section:

UPDATE: Tory MP Andrew Bridgen comments: Ic

“Labour are a divisive Party who want to divide people into victim groups.&in so; They have not learnt from the Equalities Commission ruling last month regarding their discriminatory attempt to sell tickets for their East Midlands Conference at different prices based on ethnicity.  Now they are banning white male heterosexuals from attending their Equalities Conference.  They seem to believe that white, male heterosexuals have nothing to contribute to the subject of Equality.  It seems that in La La Labour land everyone is equal but some are more equal than others.”

Maybe it is something in the brands of whine Progressives drink.  There doesn't seem to be a dime's worth of difference between the US Democratic Party and the UK Labour Party regarding this divide and conquer strategy.

Regards  —  Cliff

Lindsey Graham 2.0

For John, BLUF:  Senator Lindsey Graham risks not being invited back.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Senator Graham calls out News Reader Dana Bash

Tweet from Reporter Ryan Saavedra, 30 December 2018:

CNN's Dana Bash on Obama pulling out of Iraq:  "But he did it because there was a status of forces agreement with Iraq, right?"

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): "No, that's a bunch of bullshit. Pardon my French.  That's a complete lie."

The Senator is correct.  There was no second or updated SOFA (Status of [US] Forces Agreement), thus ….

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

The House Freshman Class

For John, BLUF:  Ms Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez thinks she knows more than she actually does, which should be scary.  But, she wants to do good, which could be even more scary.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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It’s Not That Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Knows Nothing . . .

From American Greatness, by Mr Chris Buskirk, 28 December 2018.

Here is an excerpt from toward the end:

I will respectfully disagree with many on the Right who say that Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a Millennial know-nothing. That’s not true. It’s just that nearly everything she thinks she knows is wrong.

But she is not alone.  …

But, what does that say about those who voted for her?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Presidential Visit

For John, BLUF:  My very limited experience is thatVIP visits are a pain for the local senior staff and a delight for most of the rest of the base.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Air Force shoots down CNN claim troops violated regs by having Trump sign MAGA hats

Here is the sub-headline:

“There is no rule against Airmen bringing personal items to be signed by the president.”

From Legal Insurrection, by Ms Mary Chastain, 28 December 2018.

That quote is from Headquarters, USAFE, The Air Force Major Command (MajCom) in Europe.

I wonder what would be acceptable for young Army and Air Force personnel to present for an autograph from the President?

In the words of the Blogger, Mr Ed Driscoll:  "AMERICA’S HALL MONITOR REBUKED".

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Learning to Move On

For John, BLUF:  This is like a dagger thrust to Hillary Clinton.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Retired 4-star Gen. Stanley McChrystal says handing his resignation letter to President Obama taught him a profound lesson about failure

From Business Insider,by Mr Richard Feloni, 26 December 2018.

Here are the three main points of the article:

• Stanley McChrystal is a retired four-star general in the US Army who led America's Joint Special Operations Command and NATO forces in the War in Afghanistan.
• McChrystal handed in his resignation to President Barack Obama after a critical Rolling Stone article portrayed McChrystal's aides as being disrespectful to Vice President Biden and other officials.
• McChrystal said that the experience taught him that when confronting failure, you cannot relitigate it for the rest of your life — or it'll prevent you from ever moving forward.

Good advice.

And kudos to the Obama Administration for their handling of the situation, including letting General McChrystal retire with all four stars.

Regards  —  Cliff

Police Protection For All

For John, BLUF:  There is a danger that excess bureaucratization of policing results in less police protection for certain communities.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Why routine federal oversight of local police should be curtailed

From The San Diego Union Tribune, by Professor Gail Heriot, 19 December 2018.

Here is the lede plus one:

Adding extra layers of bureaucracy to a government agency rarely improves its performance.  Yet that was the approach most often taken by the Obama administration in dealing with local police.  When police departments were accused — fairly or unfairly — of misconduct, the Department of Justice quickly geared up to intervene and assert control.  An accusation that was racial in nature — even if it involved only one police officer and even if it could be disproven — was especially likely to trigger a federal response.

DOJ investigations would ordinarily result in a lawsuit.  But the court would never be called upon to decide definitively whether misconduct had in fact occurred.  Instead, DOJ would attempt to foist a “consent decree” on the police department.  The court would be called upon simply to rubber-stamp it.  Once approved, an agreement would be difficult to rescind or modify.

Here is the Bottom Line:

But spare a thought for the problem that has dogged African-American and low-income communities for more than a century:  Because these communities have higher than average crime rates and hence higher victimization rates, they stand to suffer the most when police departments are hamstrung by over-bureaucratization and discouraged from taking initiative.  To protect those communities, the federalization of law enforcement through extensive and expensive consent decrees should be a last resort, not a first resort.

People do well, prosper, when corruption, violence, and theft and other criminality is minimized.  We want all communities in this nation to prosper. That means we need to provide good police protection to all.  Police abuse must be rooted out.  However, that is done by leadership and training, not by multiple levels of approvals in a large bureaucracy.  A large bureaucracy gets in the way of good policing.  Layers of approval works against good policing.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Alternate Conspiacy Theory

For John, BLUF:  Some of us out there are dubious about Mrs Clinton and dubious of the Deep State, and thus are Trump supporters—you know, Les Deplorables.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Are the Investigations the Cover-Up?

From The American Thinker, by Mr Bryce Buchanan, 26 December 2018.

Here is the Key sentence:

Peter Strzok, Andrew McCabe and others discussed the need for an “insurance policy” in case Trump won.

From this is derived the theory that all investigations are designed to shield Mrs Clinton and frame Mr Trump.

As for myself, I am going to believe Mr Mueller will uphold Truth, Justice and the American Way, right up to the point facts prove Howie Carr was right all along.  I am an optimist.

Regards  —  Cliff

Who Are The Protesters

For John, BLUF:  This is about the protests over the last four weeks in Paris, France, but it is also about other voters.  Those other voters would include Les Deplorables And the Brexiters. Nothing to see here; just move along.

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From Twitter:

Glenn Greenwald    @ggreenwald

The inability of rich neoliberal centrist elites in western capitals to understand - or even hide their scorn for - the anger & grievances of rural and working-class people over their economic suffering is one of the 2 or 3 most important causes of contemporary political changes:
Quote Tweet

Neera Tanden    @neeratanden

I don’t understand why any progressive is cheering French protesters who are amassing against a carbon tax.

7:54 AM · Dec 9, 2018 · Twitter Web Client

The climate change folks seem to not understand there are other equities out there.

Hat tip to InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

A Better Education

For John, BLUF:  Radical improvement may require radical change.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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How New Orleans Is Helping Its Students Succeed

Here is the sub-headline:

The New Orleans turnaround shows the power of giving more freedom to teachers and principals — and then holding them accountable for their performance.

From The Old Gray Lady, by Opinion Columnist David Leonhardt, 15 July 2018.

For those who noted the dateline, I am cleaning up older stories I valued. Here are two key paragraphs:

After Katrina’s devastation, New Orleans embarked on the most ambitious education overhaul in modern America.  The state of Louisiana took over the system in 2005, abolished the old bureaucracy and closed nearly every school.  Rather than running schools itself, the state became an overseer, hiring independent operators of public schools — that is, charter schools — and tracking their performance.

This month, the New Orleans overhaul entered a new stage.  On July 1, the state returned control of all schools to the city.  The charter schools remain.  But a locally elected school board, accountable to the city’s residents, is now in charge.  It’s a time when people in New Orleans are reflecting on what the overhaul has, and has not, accomplished.

Based on the article I wonder if the question is, are our Lowell Public Schools at the point where the criteria for our next School Superintendent should include the willingness to decentralize our system to an almost charter school like character?

Regards  —  Cliff

The Feast Stephen

For John, BLUF:  To the Steves I know.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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B O X I N G    D A Y

Regards  —  Cliff

The Flynn Case Confuses Me

For John, BLUF:  If the press tries to sweep this Flynn imbroglio under the rug it will just make them look bad.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Neverending, Mysterious Saga of Michael Flynn

From American Greatness, by Professor Victor Davis Hanson, 23 December 2018.

Here is the lede plus four:

Certainly, no one should defend a top-ranking federal employee’s lying to federal investigators or to his superiors in the Trump Administration, if that is what former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn did, as evidenced by his own confession.

Note if Flynn lied to President Trump or Vice President Mike Pence about details of his private conversations, then that is unethical and understandably should be grounds for dismissal. The distinction, however, is whether Flynn deserved to be fired or to be in jail.

What put Flynn in legal jeopardy were the general’s statements to FBI investigators that purportedly were false, and allegedly given deliberately to mislead two federal investigators.

I express doubt here only because of media reports and leaks that Special Counsel Robert Mueller later either pressured Flynn for a confession, by strategies of financial exhaustion or leveraged him by threats to indict his son, or both.

Without that pressure, one wonders how Flynn might have explained his earlier alleged inconsistencies in recounting a private off the record conversation with a foreign diplomatic official to two FBI officials. That is, had he had adequate legal resources or not faced prosecutorial threats to indict his son, would he have later claimed that months earlier that he had been dishonest to Peter Strzok and his fellow FBI investigator?

I think Judge Emmet Sullivan smells a rat.

The Special Counsel investigation by Mr Robert Mueller has uncovered veniality in several places, but seems not to have uncovered a smoking gun with regard to Russian collusion.  Is it out there?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

For John, BLUF:  Nothing to see here; except the Baby Jesus.

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M E R R Y 

C H R I S T M A S 

Regards  —  Cliff

The Job Isn't Yet Complete

For John, BLUF:  Cleaning up old items, but this is one of those things that should cause an ordinary citizen to pause.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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‘WHERE is Flynn’s original 302?!’ Kimberley Strassel RIPS Comey’s testimony and the Deep State apart even MORE and WOW

From Twitchy, by Sam J., 16 December 2018.

Here is the lede plus one:

Kimberley Strassel once again has wrapped up what is happening with the Flynn case in a few simple tweets so the rest of us can follow along.  No shame in it, so much of what we’re hearing about with these multiple investigations reads a lot like stereo instructions written backward in Japanese.

Kimberley Strassel
@KimStrassel
Fascinating that the 302 referenced in the Flynn filing is actually an August interview of Peter Strzok--recounting the Flynn meeting.  Though this raises the question... where is the original Flynn 302? Did special counsel file it to judge?
12:58 PM - 14 Dec 2018

I think it is questions like this which make Federal Judge Emmet Sullivan nervous about the Lieutenant General Michael Flynn case.

The job isn't over until the paperwork is complete.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Mr Comey Making Pronouncements

For John, BLUF:  Does anyone in Government understand truth?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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James Comey Lies About Shutdown Payroll, Gets Smacked Around On Twitter

From The Lid, by Mr Jeff Dunetz, 24 December 2018.

Here is the lede:

These days it seems that leftists don’t give a damn about the truth regarding anything.  A great example is Former FBI Director James Comey, who has shown he is expertly skilled at being deceitful.  James Comey took to Twitter with a completely false claim about payroll during the temporary government shutdown.  The brutal fact-check Comey received on Twitter after posting his lie that FBI agents would spend Christmas without a paycheck, was very well deserved:

I am not sure this is fair to poor Mr Comey.  I think he just got confused.  Mixed up the dates.  Misremembered.

But, it does raise questions about his memory with regard to other things, such as:

• How the FISA Court system is supposed to work
• The Steele Dossier
• Leaking material to the Press
• Russian collusion
• And that famous question, "What is truth"

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Preventing Forest Fires

For John, BLUF:  I think even California Governor Jerry Brown has figured out that better forest management would have limited the damage from this year's forest fires.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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TRUMP TAKES STEPS TO PREVENT CATASTROPHIC FOREST FIRES, INCLUDING MORE LOGGING

Here is the sub-headline:

• President Trump issued an executive order allowing agencies to do more to prevent massive wildfires.
• The order came one day after Trump signed GOP-backed wildfire legislation.
• Wildfires have burned more than 8.5 million acres this year.

From The Daily Caller, by Energy Editor Michael Bastasch, 24 December 2018.

Here is the lede plus five:

President Donald Trump moved forward with policies aimed at preventing catastrophic wildfires while the media breathlessly covered the government funding battle.

Trump issued an executive order Friday to allow for active management of forest and rangelands, including thinning and removing debris from millions of acres of federal lands.

The order also calls on federal officials to streamline regulations and permitting processes to allow the harvest of at least 3.8 billion board feet from U.S. Forest Service lands and 600 million board feet from Bureau of Land Management lands.

That represents a massive increase in timber sales from federal lands.  For example, loggers harvested 2.9 billion board feet from Forest Service lands in 2017, according to federal figures.  But even Trump’s increased allowance for loggers is still about one-quarter of what was harvested in 1973.

Do you think the forest fires this year have been because of global warming?

I don't think so either.nbsp; On the other hand, advocating for reasonable, and light handed, forest management might help.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

What Is Going On In Paris?

For John, BLUF:  It is more than Paris, and it is more fundamental that just Donald J Trump.  I think Columnist Fareed Zakaria best captures what is going on.  The elites need to be paying attention or they will be replaced.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The new dividing line in Western politics

From The Wash Post, by Columnist Fareed Zakaria, 13 December 2018.

Here is the lede plus three:

For Stephen K. Bannon, the way to create an enduring populist majority is to combine forces on the left and right.  That’s why he was in Italy this year, where parties representing those two sides joined together in a governing alliance.  That’s why Bannon hopes to lure some of Sen. Bernie Sanders’s (I-Vt.) supporters away from the Democratic Party.  But the next place we might be watching the rise of a new left-right populism is France.

Thus far, the “yellow vest” protests in France have lacked a party, structure and leadership.  But lists of demands have been circulating.  At their heart is an unworkable fantasy, such as a constitutional cap on taxes at 25 percent, coupled with a massive increase in social spending.  What is striking about these manifestos is that they combine traditional wish lists from the left and right.  No wonder, then, that nearly 90 percent of people who back the major far-left and far-right parties view the movement favorably, compared with only 23 percent of people in President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party.

The “yellow vest” uprising has also spread to Belgium, where the fragile governing coalition has collapsed, largely over the issue of immigration.  But there again, the protests have the feel of generalized discontent coming from left and right.  Just as in France, the United States and Britain, the movement appears to be a rural backlash against urban elites.

The fissure between relatively better-educated urbanites and less-educated rural populations appears to have become the new dividing line in Western politics.  “Outsiders” feel ignored or looked down upon and feel deep resentment toward metropolitan elites.  It’s part class, part culture, but there is a large element of economics to it as well.

Yes, this is about ten days old, but this best captures, in my mind, what is going on.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Bad Reporters

For John, BLUF:  We are counting on the Press to help us keep a good eye on Government.  So, who watches the watchers?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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NY Times Reminded of the Nazis as 'Far Right' Pounces on German Fake News Reporter

From News Busters, by Clay Waters, 21 December 2018.

Here is the lede:

New York Times Berlin bureau chief Katrin Bennhold managed to make a shocking case of German media malpractice all about Trump, and fretted about how the “far right” in Europe would pounce on the controversy to tar the media, in “German Reporter Made Up Stories and Now Critics Are ‘Popping the Corks’".

Herr Claas Relotius, is [was] a star writer at Germany's Der Spiegel news magazine.

Blogger Ed Driscoll opines

Nazis are only “the far right” if you share the same ideology as Joseph Stalin…

. Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Merry Christmas

For John, BLUF:  I think it is OK to say Merry Christmas.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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"It’s lonely to be reminded a thousand times every winter that the dominant American cultural event occurs without me."

Professor Althouse writes:

That's Julia Ioffe, providing seasonal fodder for The Washington Post, in "Please don’t wish me ‘Merry Christmas’/It’s impolite and alienating to assume I follow your religion."

Professor Althouse then provides one of the comments at The WaPo on the article.  A great comment.

Hat tip to the Althouse blog.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Syria Troop Question

For John, BLUF:  Does opposition to President Trump now define how the Left approaches foreign policy?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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On 21 December 2018, the Althouse Blog has this post:  Glenn Greenwald calls Rachel Maddow on her hypocrisy.

Glenn Greenwald
Follow @ggreenwald

Glenn Greenwald Retweeted Michael Tracey
The most bizarre aspect of Rachel @Maddow's deep anger over troop withdrawal from Syria is that she wrote an entire book in 2012 denouncing illegal US Endless War without congressional approval - exactly what Syria is.  I interviewed her about it here: https://www.salon.com/2012/04/04/interview_with_rachel_maddow/ …Glenn Greenwald added,

Michael Tracey
@mtracey

MSNBC coverage of the Syria/Afghanistan withdrawals is just sickening. It's legitimately difficult to watch.  I am angry that liberals are being taught by former Bush lackeys (Nicole Wallace, Bill Kristol) that removing troops from pointless wars must be some corrupt Russian plot.
5:02 AM - 21 Dec 2018

Yes, I am very concerned about the Kurds in Syria, but this is a much more complex issue than just the Syrian Kurds.  For one thing the Kurds sit on junction of several nations.  There are Kurds in Syria, Turkey, Iraq and Iran.  There is the question of what happens if Turkey, claiming Turkish Security issues, goes after the Syrian Kurds?  Will the United States expand by a factor of ten or twenty our forces in Syria to protect the Kurds?  What happens to our US forces on Turkey's Incirlik Air Base?  Do we pull out our troops and equipment and tell our NATO Ally Turkey to go pound sand? 

Then there is the question of the impact of US presence on Sunni led nations trying to work with Syrian President Assad to reduce tensions and rebuilt the nation (parts of which look like 1945 Berlin), thus allowing people to return home and rebuild their lives.

I think President Trump is right to try and wind down US involvement in this particular imbroglio.  Is it the intention of Ms Maddow that the US be involved in asserting the rights of all minorities, everywhere?  What about when they are in conflict?

Hat tip to the Althouse Blog.

Regards  —  Cliff

Them vs Us

For John, BLUF:  From one perspective there does seem to be a split between the urban elites and the more rural folk, not just in the US, but in European nations as well (and maybe in China).  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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The Globalist Mindset:  They Hate You

From American Greatness, by Professor Victor Davis Hanson, 16 December 2018.

Globalist as in intellectuals, the intelligentsia, our betters, those who live on the coasts, in large cities.

This is about the issues that stir the rest of us.

A good rundown.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Sharing Dangerous Jobs

For John, BLUF:  Balancing equities between (among?) the sexes is important, but needs to be done with a certain humility on all parts.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Men die on the job more often than women, but no one cares

From The Washington Examiner, by Ms Nicole Russell, 11 December 2018.

Here is the lede plus one:

Monday was Human Rights Day.  While the definition of that seems to be ever-broadening, from contraception to healthcare, recent statistics cycling through the news again seem to provide a salient point about gender differences, the so-called “wage gap” and even human rights.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that, in 2015, men dominated the 20 most dangerous occupations in the United States.  Logging is the most dangerous job in the U.S., followed by fishing.  Mining is the 20th most dangerous profession.  More men than women occupied these jobs by anywhere from 85.4 to 99.9 percent.

I am not sure how we balance out the numbers in such career fields.  I am not sure we even want to.  I don't see how that makes us a better society.  And the numbers don't balance in the pain, cost and danger of childbirth, which, up to this point, is an exclusive female activity.

Yes, equal pay for equal work, but let us be fair in how we define the parts.  Should women be incorporated within the Dick Act?  Shouls women have to register for the draft?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

France, In Trouble

For John, BLUF:  While the number of protestors is down this week,President Macron is not yet out of the woods.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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A Tweet Regarding France

A Tweet from Richard Fernandez.

wretchardthecat
@wretchardthecat @wretchardthecat
If France can't buy off the revolting Deplorables that means the global system is close to short on money.  Like a Hollywood star in a drug haze and spending habit it finally finds itself overdrawn.
12:52 PM - 11 Dec 2018

For those who think that President Donald Trump is a unique phenomenon, there might be value in casting a glance toward Europe.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Not Ready For Prime Time

For John, BLUF:  Some of this, half a century ago, used to be taught in high school.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Please note:  this is not the fault of millennials.

A Tweet.

David Burge @iowahawkblog 22h22 hours ago
David Burge Retweeted KDKA
Please note:  this is not the fault of millennials.David Burge added,

KDKA @KDKA
Millennials lacking life skills - like cooking, budgeting, or time management - are now signing up for classes designed to teach them those basics.  These are crash courses in Adulting.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

School [and Other] Safety

For John, BLUF:  This is an interesting turn of events.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Florida school massacre panel recommends arming teachers with concealed weapons

Here is the sub-headline:

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission voted 13-1 to recommend the Legislature allow the arming of teachers, saying it’s not enough to have one or two police officers or armed guards on campus.

Usually, when the threat is presenting itself the First Responders are just minutes away.  That is when it is up to the Zero Responder—people like you.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Bill of Rights Birthday

For John, BLUF:  Those Rights, officially and Constitutionally recognized, are fundamental to who we are as Americans.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Bill of Rights is finally ratified

In 1791

Noted by Law Professor Gail Heriot.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Sloppy Paperwork?

For John, BLUF:  I am glad that Federal Judge Sullivan is on the case.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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TEXTS FOUND (& LOST) IN A BOTTLE

From PowerLine, by Mr Scott Johnson, 14 December 2018.

Here is the lede plus one:

The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General conducted an investigation of the gap in text messages during the period December 15, 2016, through May 17, 2017, from the cell phones assigned to famous FBI lovers Peter Strzok and Lisa Page.  The Office of Inspector General Cyber Investigations Office was asked to attempt recovery of these missing text messages for the period in issue.  The Inspector General has just issued a report summarizing his investigation and stating his conclusion.

Even though it is short, the report is so dry as to be sleep inducing.  I take it that the OIG finds no wrongdoing.  To adapt a formulation from Cool Hand Luke, what we have here is failure to preserve communication.  Perhaps relevant policies need to be adjusted. Nearly 20,000 text messages have been recovered, but none from the tenure of Strzok and Page with the Special Counsel.

Here is the take of Pajama Media, 13 December 2018, by Ms Debra Heine, "OIG: Mueller's Office Scrubbed Strzok-Page Text Messages Before IG Could Review Them".

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) was unable to recover text messages from the iPhones of FBI lovebirds Peter Strzok and Lisa Page from their time on the special counsel team because the records officer scrubbed them, a new report from the DOJ watchdog reveals.

Regarding Strzok's iPhone, investigators were told that it "had been reset to factory settings and was reconfigured for the new user to whom the device was issued."

The special counsel’s records officer said that she had "determined it did not contain records that needed to be retained.”  She wrote in her records log, "No substantive texts, notes or reminders,” the report states.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Nuking the Gun Owners

For John, BLUF:  The way I see it, no matter the degree of "gun control" there will always be another incident, and people calling for more "gun control".  There will never be enough gun control for those who seek gun control.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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How Much Blood Would Leftists Be Willing To Shed To Disarm Patriotic Americans?

From Town Hall, by Mr Kurt Schlichter, 6 December 2018.

Here is the key question:

My question for Congressjerk Eric Swalwell is pretty simple: “How many Americans would you murder to achieve your goal of disarming us?”

This came from California Democratic Congressman Swalwell texting that the Federal Government has nuclear weapons with which to respond to any resisting armed citizenry.

Of course Snopes says it was a joke, and thus not real.  Still, not something to joke about.

By the way, Author Kurt Schlichter has a new book out on a Blue/Red Civil War in the United States, Wildfire

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

More on Michael Flynn

For John, BLUF:  I say change the rules.  If you expect me to be honest with you, I expect you to be honest with me.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Pope Hat on Michael Flynn Conviction

And here is a tweet by a CNN Commentator:

Here is Ms Mary Katharine.

Put me in the group that thinks the Michael Flynn debacle was not one of DOJ's, and the FBI's, finer moments.

Regards  —  Cliff

Camille Paglia Explains Things

For John, BLUF:  Nice review of what is happening now.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Camille Paglia: ‘Hillary wants Trump to win again’

Here is the sub-headline:

The author and academic discusses 2020, Trump and Jordan Peterson

From The Spectator (US Edition), an interview of Ms Camille Paglia, 4 December 2018.

Here is the lede:

Camille Paglia is one of the most interesting and explosive thinkers of our time.  She transgresses academic boundariesand blows up media forms.  She’s brilliant on politics, art, literature, philosophy, and the culture wars.  She’s also very keen on the email Q and A format for interviews. So, after reading her new collection of essays, Provocations, Spectator USA sent her some questions.

Professor Paglia reviewed the field of her Party's 2020 hopefuls, dismissing most of them.

If the economy continues strong, Trump will be reelected.

The Democrats (my party) have been in chaos since the 2016 election and have no coherent message except Trump hatred.

Senators Kamala Harris and Screechy Elizabeth Warren, as well as Kirsten Gillibrand and Cory Booker (all the gravitas of a cork).  She has no faith in Governor Andrew Cuomo (a yapping puppy).  Both Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden are dismissed (way too old and creaky).  She has been looking at Congresswoman Cheri Bustos of Illinois and Governor Steve Bullock of Montana.

As for Hillary, she’s pretty much damaged goods, but her perpetual, sniping, pity-me tour shows no signs of abating. She still has a rabidly loyal following, but it’s hard to imagine her winning the nomination again, with her iron grip on the Democratic National Committee now gone. Still, it’s in her best interest to keep the speculation fires burning. Given how thoroughly she has already sabotaged the rising candidates by hogging the media spotlight, I suspect she wants Trump to win again. I don’t see our stumbling, hacking, shop-worn Evita yielding the spotlight willingly to any younger gal.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Mr Cohen and "Hush Money"

For John, BLUF:  Prosecutors making up the law as they go along.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Michael Cohen Pled Guilty to Something That Is Not a Crime

From National Review, by Bradley A. Smith, a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission, 12 December 2018.

Here is the key passage:

In A Man for All Seasons, Sir Thomas More’s future son-in-law, Roper, states that he would “cut down every law in England” if it would enable him to catch the devil.

Here is where "Anglo-Saxon Privilege" comes into play.  As Sir Thomas says, "Yes, I’d give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake!"

We would do well to show a little humility.  It will be interesting to see if Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller is the same politically oriented, sanctimonious prig the Mr James Comey comes across as.

EXIT QUESTION:  Will the very radioactive Russiagate turn out to have a half life of about a year and to decay into some isotope of campaign finance?  Supplemental Question:  Will this then blow back on the Democrats, to their disadvantage?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

New Skins Quarterback?

For John, BLUF:  If he is a winning Quarterback it was a great decision.  This is America!  Let the past be forgotten and judgment be based on current performance and future potential.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Here is a Tweet from this morning:

Emily Zanotti
@emzanotti
He’ll play for the...Redskins? 😬

Based upon this earlier Tweet:

Allahpundit
@allahpundit
Colin Kaepernick reportedly ‘ready and willing’ to play for the Redskins

Based on this Wash Post headline, "Colin Kaepernick reportedly ‘ready and willing’ to play for the Redskins."

Ironic.

I actually wonder if Mr Kaepernick made what he thought was an honest move and then found he couldn't back down.  For sure, he wouldn't be the first such person.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

How Many?

For John, BLUF:  I expect that if the US Congress passed a gun confiscation law the majority would comply.  However, it is likely many would resist, covertly or overtly.  Recently Congressman Eric Swalwell raised this issue in a novel way, noting that the Federal Government has the edge, due to its monopoly on nuclear weapons.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

What's your comfort number, Lefties?

Here is a comment from a Canadian Blog, which references an article by Mr Kurt Schlichter, from Town Hall, posted on 6 December 2018.

Here is an Excerpt from the Blog Post:

But, as I mentioned yesterday and today, people like Swalwell and Occasionally-Cortex have no interest in facts and practicality.  When faced with opposition, they will double down every time.  Because they are playing to a crowd.  And that crowd is angry, they want red meat and lots of it! They don't care what's real, or what's true. They just want a target.

So there's really only one question worth asking DemocRats in the USA and Liberals here: how many people are you willing to throw out of work to get your socialist plan enacted?  How many will you imprison to enforce your regulation?  How many senior citizens are you willing to freeze to death for your ecological fuel tax? How many resisters will you kill? Hmm?

One?
Ten?
Ten thousand?

The Communist's answer was 100 million in the 20th Century.  The entire nation of Canada, four times over, died for the myth of the Worker's Paradise.  The Chinese Communists are still at it.

I know it sounds far fetched.  However, think of the million plus Ukrainians who died during the 1930s Holodomor.  That deadly experience was so far fetched that The Old Gray Lady, through its Pulitzer winning Reporter, Walter Duranty, denied that it happened.

To put this in American terms, how many Waco Seiges are we willing to abide?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

A Stormy Trump

For John, BLUF:  I wonder if those calling for the Impeachment of President Trump, or at least his post-presidency indictment, have thought about how that will slowly spin out of control, if not immediately, at least after the American People grow tired of Beto O'Rourke and all he will bring to the White House, and vote the Republicans back in.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Schiff:  Trump may face ‘real prospect of jail time’

This headline is from The Hill, from an article by Reporter Michael Burke, 9 December 2018.

Then this Tweet emerged:

Joel B. Pollak
@joelpollak
Missing in today’s news:  any acknowledgement that @HillaryClinton & the @DNC broke campaign finance law by failing to report they paid Fusion GPS via an intermediary for oppo research that triggered an FBI investigation. You don’t see @RepAdamSchiff calling for their prosecution!
11:49 AM · Dec 9, 2018 from Santa Monica, CA · Twitter for iPhone

Actually, this whole thing is interesting (e.g., the knife cuts both ways).  The question becomes would I be willing to see former President Trump indicted on organizing hush money for Stormy Daneils if it meant that I could see Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz indicted for funding the Steele Dossier, and then not reporting it, in violation of campaign finance laws?  Would the indictment of DWS then draw in former Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton?  Would it reach forward to capture current Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez?

It is possible that a round of indictments might, at least temporarily, change the culture in DC.\?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Feast of the Immaculate Conception

For John, BLUF:  The people of Minnesota must be pretty tolerant.  In Paris the Professor might well have been knifed, by an irate student.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Prof:  Virgin Mary didn’t give consent

Here is the sub-headline:

Eric Sprankle, a Minnesota State University associate professor, says “there is no definition of consent” that constitutes God impregnating the Virgin Mary.

From Campus Reform, by Intern Kenneth Nelson, 6 December 2018.

Here is the lede plus five:

A Minnesota professor suggested in a series of tweets that the Virgin Mary did not consent to the conception of Jesus Christ and suggested that God may have acted in a “predatory" manner.

Minnesota State University, Mankato psychology professor and sex therapist Dr. Eric Sprankle critiqued the story of the Virgin Mary in a tweet Monday, suggesting that the Virgin Mary did not consent to being impregnated by God.

“The virgin birth story is about an all-knowing, all-powerful deity impregnating a human teen.  There is no definition of consent that would include that scenario.

“The virgin birth story is about an all-knowing, all-powerful deity impregnating a human teen.  There is no definition of consent that would include that scenario.  Happy Holidays,” Sprankle said.

Another Twitter user called the professor’s claim into question, noting that the Bible states that the Virgin Mary did, indeed, agree to God’s plan for her.

“The biblical god regularly punished disobedience,” Sprankle rebutted.  “The power difference (deity vs mortal) and the potential for violence for saying ‘no’ negates her ‘yes.’  To put someone in this position is an unethical abuse of power at best and grossly predatory at worst.”

And maybe this is why Professor Eric Sprankle is an atheist and destined for eternal damnation.  He can't come up with a way for God to become Man and thus sacrifice himself for the redemption of mankind.

On the other hand, in this uneven power relationship the Good Professor has managed to deny the very existence of God, which seems a lot more defiant than just saying, rather than "let it be done to me as you say," "you don't exist and I am not going to play your silly games."  I think that his (the Professor's) assertion is pretty well self-cancelled.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Never Learning From History

For John, BLUF:  Remember when Euthanasia was good, before it was bad, before, in modified form, it was good again?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

A Dark Past

Here is the sub-headline:

Contraception, abortion, and the eugenics movement.

From The National Review, by Mr Jonah Goldberg, 24 June 2008 (ten years ago and still relevant).

Writer Jonah Goldberg thinks Ms Margaret Sanger was a pretty evil person.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Protecting the Status Quo

For John, BLUF:  I hope the reporters from CNN, and their editors, do not see this described activity as virtue.  It is not.  Rather, it is long term bureaucrats resisting the will of the People.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

The frantic scramble before Mueller got the job

From CNN, by CNN Reporters Pamela Brown and Jeremy Herb, 7 December 2018.

Here is the lede plus two:

In the hectic eight days after President Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and top FBI officials viewed Trump as a leader who needed to be reined in, according to two sources describing the sentiment at the time.

They discussed a range of options, including the idea of Rosenstein wearing a wire while speaking with Trump, which Rosenstein later denied.  Ultimately, then-acting FBI Director Andrew McCabe took the extraordinary step of opening an obstruction of justice investigation even before special counsel Robert Mueller was appointed, the sources said.  The obstruction probe was an idea the FBI had previously considered, but it didn't start until after Comey was fired.  The justification went beyond Trump's firing of Comey, according to the sources, and also included the President's conversation with Comey in the Oval Office asking him to drop the investigation into his former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

The new details about the genesis of the obstruction case into Trump that became a key element of the Mueller probe shed light on the chaotic week following Comey's firing and the scramble to decide how best to respond.  They also help to explain the origins of the Mueller investigation that has stretched across 19 months, consumed Trump's presidency and is building toward a dramatic day of courtroom filings on Friday.

In a way this reads like a rogue operation at the Department of Justice.  The only thing missing is the origin of the FISA Warrants.

In my mind it is not a lock for Mr Mueller to come back and find President Trump guilty of all sorts of things.  It is still an open question as to if he will recommend a second Special Counsel, one charged with looking into DOJ, and in particular, the FBI.

One thing I find particularly interesting is the use of the phrase "a leader who needed to be reined in."  I can see "finding criminal activity" but "reining in" seems to not be the business of DOJ or the FBI.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Meanwhile, South of the Border

For John, BLUF:  I think this might be good news.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

On Point: Mexico's New President Confronts Violence and Impunity

From The Strategy Page, by Austin Bay, 5 December 2018.

This is about the newly inaugurated Mexican President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), sworn in on 1 December.

His big challenge will be dealing with corruption.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Political Unhappiness in France

For John, BLUF:  Government elites not paying attention to the Masses is a several hundred year problem in France.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

In praise of the Gilets jaunes

From The Spectator, By Mr Brendan O'Neill, 3 December 2018.

Trumpism isn't just an American phenom.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

remembering President G H W Bush

For John, BLUF:  I believe Mr Douthat is on to something.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Why We Miss the WASPs

Here is the sub-headline:

Their more meritocratic, diverse and secular successors rule us neither as wisely nor as well.

From The Old Gray Lady, by Opinion Columnist Ross Douthat, 5 December 2018.

A nice look back by Mr Douthat.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Grifters From All Directions

For John, BLUF:  I am not as pessimistic as is Mr Dreher, including about President Trump, but he has his finger on a long term problem in the Western political scene.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

What Happens When Trump Falls?

Here is the sub-headline:

From The American Conservative, by Mr Rod Dreher, 2 December 2018.

Here is the lede plus five:

Ross Douthat has a good column today, about how Trump’s grift has been paradoxically cleansing.  He argues that Trump’s claim that he would go to Washington and “drain the swamp,” while only ever plausible to those eager to be a mark, is now impossible for anyone to take seriously:

But the more common reason a certain kind of Trump supporter accepted his anti-corruption pitch was less conspiratorial and more cynical.  He’s bad but they’re all like that, the whole elite class is rotten, so why not send a grifter to catch a bunch of grifters?

That hasn’t worked out; it turns out that when you send a businessman-grifter into the world of political grifters he hires some of the worst of them to help him with the fleecing.

True. We are very close to the point, if not past it, where any good that Trump’s election might have done in terms of breaking up a corrupt aristocracy, in spite of Trump’s own corruption, is now exceeded by that corruption.  David Brooks articulated on NPR on Friday something that has been on my mind lately, but I hadn’t put into words.

And the final question I have is, what are our standards? Behind the legal standards, what’s our political standards.  President Nixon could be really removed from office for obstruction from justice — of justice.  Are we at a state in this country where we no longer really mind?  And that actually could be the case. I’m just reminded The New York Times had a story of tax fraud in the Trump family, and that story went away in about 35 seconds.  And so we’ve become — may have become inured to corruption.

Yes, I think we are.  Do you really believe that Michael Cohen, not Donald Trump, is lying about the Trump organization’s business dealings with Russia? Seriously?  I said here after the shocking final Kavanaugh hearing that seeing the behavior of the Democrats and the liberal industrial complex in their attempt to destroy Kavanaugh by any means necessary shocked me into the realization that as much as I can’t stand Trump, I would probably have to vote for him only out of self-protection.

Note the last sentence of the above quote.

The Author, Mr Dreher, does a discussion of the situation in France, where the mobs in the streets of Paris have forced the Government to back down from a proposed gasoline tax increase.  Then he ends up as follows:

What I’m getting at is asking what comes politically when most Americans lose faith in the ability of our elites to make things better?  I fear that on the Right, we’re going to have to deal with the myth that Trump would have succeeded had the swamp not stabbed him in the back.

This is a tricky question, because it asks if the People are so upset that they are prepared to take to the streets, as the "Yellow Vests" did in Paris the last three weekends.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Legal Change in Status of the Opioid Fentanyl

For John, BLUF:  Recognition by the manufacturer of fentanyl that it is (or should be) a controlled substance is a step in the right direction.  However, social conditions must also improve for this epidemic to subside.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Xi Tells Trump China Will Schedule Fentanyl

Here is the sub-headline:

China, world's fentanyl source, to finally control drug

From The Washington Free Beacon, by Reporter Charles Fain Lehman, 3 December 2018.

Here is the lede plus two:

China will finally add fentanyl and its analogs to its list of controlled substances, following a Saturday meeting between Chinese president Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump.

"President Xi, in a wonderful humanitarian gesture, has agreed to designate Fentanyl as a Controlled Substance, meaning that people selling Fentanyl to the United States will be subject to China's maximum penalty under the law," White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced in a Saturday night statement.

The agreement came as the two leaders joined other representatives of the G20 nations in Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the organization's annual summit.  The two had aimed to broker a deal end their respective countries' escalating trade war.  The scheduling of fentanyl was part of a package deal, offered by Xi to stop Trump from raising tariffs on some $200 billion worth of Chinese goods.

The questioni is, can the US Government, working with the new Mexican Administration, parley this into a way of controlling the widespread, and illegal, distribution of fentanyl, which is killing a lot of Americans.

The current path of the drug is from China to Mexico and then up into the United States.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Ripe for Fraud

For John, BLUF:  California's last election seemed like that in some Iron Curtain nation.  Which isn't a favorable comparison.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

WHAT IS ‘BALLOT HARVESTING,’ AND HOW DID CALIFORNIA DEMS USE IT TO NUKE THE GOP?

From The Daily Caller, by Reporter Scott Morefield, 1 December 2018.

Here is the lede plus one:

As the polls closed on election day last month, six California Republican House candidates, including Representatives Dana Rohrabacher, Steve Knight, and Mimi Walters, were ahead in their respective races.  However, as the absentee and provisional ballots rolled in over the intervening weeks, all six lost to their Democratic opponents.

The case of Korean-American GOP candidate Young Kim was one of the most prominent examples.  On election night, Kim held an 8,000 vote lead over her Democratic opponent Gil Cisneros, and even attended freshman orientation in Washington, D.C. before watching her lead, and her victory, slowly evaporate over the subsequent weeks.

Here is the source of the issue:

Passed as a barely noticed change in the state’s vote by mail procedures in 2016 and signed by then-Governor Jerry Brown, California’s AB 1921 allows voters to give any third party — not just a relative or someone living in the same household, as was previously the law — to collect and turn in anyone else’s completed ballot.

As someone said, AB 1921 solves a problem a simple postage stamp would solve.  I say this as someone who voted by mail in dozens of Orange County, California, elections.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Paris is Burning

For John, BLUF:  The transition to the new economy, involving less carbon emissions, is going to involve some balancing.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

'This is the start of a revolution':  Paris rioters steal police assault rifle, torch dozens of cars and vow to 'stay in the streets until Christmas' as fuel protests continue into the night and spread across France - and even to Holland

Here is the sub-headline:

• 'Yellow Vest' supporters staged fresh protests on the Champs-Elysees which leads to the Arc de Triomphe
• They vowed to continue rioting until Christmas after riot police used tear gas and water cannon to fight back
• Dozens of cars were torched, the Arc de Triomphe was graffitied and shops and houses were ransacked
• French President Emmanuel Macron promised that protesters would be 'held responsible for their acts'
• It comes a week after rioters brought chaos to Paris in a movement against fuel prices and high living costs

From The Daily Mail, by Reporters Peter Allen and Tim Stickings, 1 December 2018.  There are lots of photos at the article.

Here is the lede plus five:

The centre of Paris was on lockdown tonight after masked protesters stole an assault rifle from police, clashed with riot squads and set fire to cars and Christmas trees on the Champs-Elysees in furious demonstrations against the French government.

Protesters said today's actions were 'the start of a revolution' that would eclipse the mass strikes and occupation of universities and factories in1968 when the country was on the cusp of civil war.

Fires and clouds of tear gas covered the French capital from early morning until late in the evening, in some of the worst violence ever seen in the French capital as more than 5,000 demonstrators brought chaos to Paris for the second week running.

As so-called Yellow Vest fuel price demonstrators marched along the opulent Avenue Foch near the Arc de Triomphe, home to embassies and luxury residences, they were joined by criminal groups included looters.

French President Emmanuel Macron has promised the protesters will be 'held responsible for their acts'.

Macron said today's demonstrations which have left dozens injured and hundreds arrested 'have nothing to do with the peaceful expression of a legitimate anger.'  He said 'no cause justifies attacks on police or pillaging stores and burning buildings'.

Second weekend in a row.  Fortunately, the French has Emmanuel Macron as President and not someone like The Donald.  I imagine it will all clear itself up in just no time.

Last weekend it spread to Belgium and this weekend it has spread to the Netherlands.

One observer, living in Belgium, noted that these demonstrations represent the divide, in Europe, between the Urban and the Rural.  I wonder if we are seeing somewhat the same divide in the United States.

For additional insights, see the blog ¡No-Pasaran!, "BLOGGER IN PARIS IN THE MIDST OF TEAR GAS CANISTERS RAINING DOWN ON THE CROWDS (video)", by Erik.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Is the End of Russiagate Near?

For John, BLUF:  There are all sorts of signs the Mueller Investigation is starting to wind down.  However, come January the Democratic Party Controlled House of Representatives will be raring to go.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

Where Does the Trump-Russia Investigation Go from Here?

From The New Yorker, by Mr John Cassidy, 30 November 2018.

Here is the lede plus five:

By referring to Donald Trump as “Individual 1” in a criminal filing, and confirming that the President was involved in efforts to pursue a big Moscow real-estate deal deep into the 2016 campaign, the special counsel, Robert Mueller, appears to have set the Trump-Russia endgame in motion.  In thinking about how it will play out, there are at least four things to bear in mind, all of which the past few days have highlighted:  Mueller knows more than anybody else; he remains unlikely to bring criminal charges against Trump himself; the Republican leadership on Capitol Hill consists of invertebrates; and Trump is utterly shameless.

The comment about Special Counsel Robert Mueller knowing more than anyone else could apply to the narrow Russiagate hunt, as defined by the press.  Does it apply to the larger question of how we got here?  Where are we on the "Golden Showers" accusations?  The utter carelessness of the "home brew" server, who paid for the information used to secure FISA Warrents?

Yes, until President Trump leaves the Oval Office, the only recourse is Impeachment and Conviction, or the ballot box in 2020.  We do all know that, right?  Unless Mr Mueller is going to really slow roll the investigation he will not preside over indictments of former President Donald Trump.

I get the "invertebrates" reference, but it isn't like this is a unique moment in political history.

I also get that President Trump is shameless.  Unlike, say, President Clinton?  Please

One of the things I don't quite understand is what people (journalists and Democrats) thought Mr Trump was going to do for a job the day after he lost the election in November 2016—as we were assured he would?  What was he to do with his empire while running for an office he was going to lose?  He was going to lose, right?

I predict a partial report from Mr Mueller.  I will be disappointed, but not surprised.

Hat tip to The New Yorker.

Regards  —  Cliff

Our Various Ancestors

For John, BLUF:  Why doesn't this come up on 23 and Me or Ancestory dot Com?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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NO ONE CAN RESIST US SWEET, SEXY HOMO SAPIENS

Here is the referenced headline, with link:

Neanderthals and Humans Were Hooking Up Way More Than Anyone Thought.

Posted by Law Professor Glenn Reynolds, the article is from Live Science, written by Contributor Charles Q. Choi, 29 November 2018.

Here is the lede plus:

Way more sex happened between Neanderthals and the ancestors of modern humans across Europe and Asia than scientists originally thought, a new study finds.

Scientists initially thought that interbreeding among the two groups was more isolated to a particular place and time — specifically, when they encountered each other in western Eurasia shortly after modern humans left Africa. This idea stemmed from the fact that the genomes of modern humans from outside Africa are only about 2 percent Neanderthal, on average.

Subsequent research, however, has found that Neanderthal ancestry is 12 to 20 percent higher in modern East Asians compared to modern Europeans. . . .

This scenario of multiple episodes of interbreeding between modern humans and Neanderthals fits in with the emerging view that various human lineages had complex and frequent interactions. For example, recent work found the mysterious human lineage known as the Denisovans apparently contributed to the modern human gene pool at least twice, leaving behind two distinct genetic component — one mostly in Papuan and Australian aboriginal populations, the other primarily in East Asian populations.

We probably aren't really who we think we are.  The question is, were we fun loving or just aggressive, or taken advantage of?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Is It Righteous Investigation or Intimidation?

For John, BLUF:  Is it that they (the FBI Abents) are ignorant of the law or is it that they don't know what is going on in their own agency, or were they hung out to dry?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

IS IT SOMETHING HE SAID?

Here is the chain.  From Ms Sarah Hoyt (and her shocked face), at InstaPundit, to Powerline and Writer Scott Johnson, to The Daily Caller and Reporter Richard Pollock, back on 29 November 2018.

Here is the lede:

The Daily Caller’s Richard Pollock has an exclusive report on an FBI raid.  When I say FBI raid, I mean FBI raid.  It involved some 16 agents making a house call on whistleblower Dennis Nathan Cain.  The problem here seems to be that Cain is blowing the whistle on federal law enforcement (or the nonfeasance thereof) in matters pertaining to the Clinton crime family.  As if that weren’t enough, Robert Mueller’s past service as FBI Director is implicated as well.

I try to have faith in DOJ and it's constituent parts, but this kind of Tom-foolery puts me to the test.  The DOJ people I have met, past and present, all seem straight forward, honest and patriotic.  Who are these other folks?

And sixteen (16) Agents?  As a taxpayer I am wondering if anyone is featherbedding here?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Mass Migration Sanctioned?

For John, BLUF:  If you can't control your borders you can't retain your nation.  Just ask Native Americans.  What they did to those before them the Europeans did to them.  Just think about Space Invaders coming here to colonize this planet.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

PC GONE MAD: Criticising migration could become CRIMINAL offence under new plan

Here is the sub-headline:

A LEADING MEP has warned EU citizens they could be “jailed” for criticising migration policies if a new United Nations agreement is acted upon.

MEP is Member of the European Parliament.

From Express (UK), by Reporter Thomas Hunt, 1 December 2018.

Here is the lede plus five:

The United Nations Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration seeks to make immigration a universal human right.  MEP Marcel de Graaff said:  “I would like to say some words on the global compact on migration.  On the 10th and 11th of December there will be an international congress in Marrakesh Morocco.  The participating countries are set to sign this agreement and although this joint agreement is not binding it is still meant to be the legal framework on which the participating countries commit themselves to build new legislation.

“One basic element of this new agreement is the extension of the definition of hate speech.

“The agreement wants to criminalise migration speech.  Criticism of migration will become a criminal offence.

“Media outlets that give room to criticism of migration can be shut down.

“The compact for migration is legalisation of mass migration.

“It is declaring migration as a human right so it will, in effect, become impossible to criticise Mrs Merkel’s welcome migrants politics without being at risk of being jailed for hate speech.”

The United States has withdrawn from the United Nations efforts, thus safeguarding the right of Native Americans (First Nation in Canada) to criticize Europeans and Asians) for mass migration to their territories.

On the other hand, this is about Europe, where free speech is nearing extinction.

Hat tip to the Drudge Report.

Regards  —  Cliff

Single Payer Health Care

For John, BLUF:  While single payer health care may sound good, an examination under the hood may reveal problems.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

---

"It crept up so slowly that I didn't know anything was wrong - I just thought I was putting on timber."

Here is the sub-headline:

"I've been with my partner Jamie Gibbins for 10 years and we did wonder a few times if I was pregnant - but we did home tests and they always ruled it out....  Looking at me, anyone would have thought I was nine months gone."

Said [the woman], quoted in "Woman's ovarian cyst 'weight of seven newborn babies'" (BBC).

From the Althouse blog.

Here is the lede plus one:

"I was lying there with Jamie beside me as the radiologist moved the [sonogram] probe over my tummy.  I saw her eyes widen in horror, but the screen was just blank. The look on her face said it all - something was wrong, and when she said she had to get a consultant I started to panic.  Jamie did his best to reassure me but I felt paralysed with fear...  [The consultant] told me I wasn't fat all - I was actually quite thin."...

The cyst was finally removed in March last year, and was revealed to be 26kg the weight of a seven or eight-year-old child - or seven average-sized newborn babies.

And this is how Professor Althouse wraps it up:

This happened not in what we traditionally call the "third world," but in Swansea, Wales.  The BBC, which I've tended to think of as a high-quality news operation, presents this — with photographs — as just a weird human interest story.  There isn't a word about how access to health care in the UK can be this bad.

This is a buyer beware warning.  While the National Health Service (NHS) is the publicly funded national healthcare system for England, it is pretty much the same across the UK.  It is the largest single-payer healthcare system in the world.  "In the world," and it doesn't seem to work all that well.

Here is additional discussion of cost and quality of the English NHS.

Hat tip to Ann Althouse.

Regards  —  Cliff

The Words We Pick

For John, BLUF:  This is disturbing. . I wonder if Caucasian progressives dumb themselves down when the speak to Republicans.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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"White liberals dumb themselves down when they speak to black people, a new study contends."

From Althouse, by Law Prof Ann Althouse, 30 December 2018, from a Wash Post article.

There is a lot of explaining in the blog post and article, but I will cut to the chase:  Republicans tend to treat everyone as equals, until they prove otherwise.  Democrats, not so much.

Hat tip to Ann Althouse.

Regards  —  Cliff

Really?

For John, BLUF:  I suspect that if the Special Counsel delivers a lot of narrow legal technicalities against President Trump it won't go well with the American People, perhaps even those who are anti-Trump.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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CNN's Jeffrey Toobin says that for the first time, he thinks 'Trump might not finish his term in office'

From The Week, no named reporter, 29 November 2018.

Here is the lede:

"You know, today's the first day I actually thought Donald Trump might not finish his term in office," CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin told Anderson Cooper Thursday night, after a week of revelations about the Trump campaign and Russia.  "Really?" Cooper asked.  "I mean, I think this thing is enormous," Toobin said.  He laid out a series of "preposterous" positions now being staked by President Trump, including that lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen negotiated Trump Organization deals in Russia for six months without telling Trump, that Trump and Roger Stone never discussed WikiLeaks, and that Don Jr. never talked to his father about the Trump Tower meeting with Kremlin-linked Russians offering dirt on Hillary Clinton.

The President needs 34 Senators to stand by him to avoid conviction in the event of Impeachment.  Not a very big number.

One of the early questions is if the Democrats have learned from the Clinton Impeachment that an impeachment can be politically costly.

Hat tip to the Drudge report.

Regards  —  Cliff

Crime or Slime?

For John, BLUF:  FBI Director Comey gave Mrs Clinton a pass on her "home brew" EMail server.  Is WikiLeaks the Karma response?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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"The problem is Mueller is straying away from his mandate to find crime and he is now looking for political sin."

From Althouse, by Law Professor Ann Althouse, 30 December 2018.

Here is the lede plus one:

"Building buildings in Moscow, using stolen material from Assange.  These are not crimes.  He has no authority to be a roving commissioner to find political sins.  So far, I don’t see any evidence of crimes except for ones that he helped to facilitate by getting people to lie in front of his own investigators."

Said Alan Dershowitz to Sean Hannity, quoted (with video) at Mediaite.

Professor Dershowitz makes sense.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Did 0s Hollywood Get Trump

For John, BLUF:  In my view, when President Trump leaves office he should pull a five star badge out of his pocket and throw in onto the driveway, and then ride off.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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How Did Shane End Up?

Here is the sub-headline:

The gunslinging outsider saved the vulnerable farmers, but they didn’t love him for it.

From National Review, by Professor Victory David Hanson, 27 November 2018.

Shane, the movie, starring Alan Ladd as Shane.

Is President Trump Shane?

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Learning the Wrong Lessons

For John, BLUF:  A little distrust is a good thing.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Have We Really Forgotten?

From Victory Girls, by Ms Amanda Green, 26 November 2018.

Here is the lede plus two:

Not long ago, I came across an op-ed piece by Michael Gerson.  The name sounded familiar, and not necessarily in a good way, but I couldn’t place it.  But the title of the piece caught my eye:  Has the West already forgotten the lessons of World War II? After all, I’d been asking variations of that question for some time.  Except my question wasn’t always limited to the lessons of World War II.  So, hoping for a well-researched and even-handed article, I started reading.  How quickly expectations turned to disappointment and frustration. Gerson, like so many others, wants to do all he can to make President Trump the Hitler of our day.

Many Americans seem to have forgotten that a foreign policy of America First allowed international malignancies to grow that made war inevitable and resulted in the deaths of tens of millions.”

There are several things Gerson fails to note with regard to America First.  The phrase was first used by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 when he was running for re-election. Wilson, a DEMOCRAT, pledged to keep the United States neutral during World War I.  Hmmm, funny that Gerson didn’t mention that little detail.

Ah, President Woodrow Wilson.  In the 1940s and 50s he was taught in school as a hero.  Now he is a bit of an embarrassment.  And a pre-runner of President Trump.

There are diplomatic and foreign policy lessons to be learned from WWII, the runup to it and the ensuing post war arrangements.  However, many of those being served up by Progressives, even Progressive Scholars, are wrong.  We have to be our own researchers.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff

Schiff Unleased

For John, BLUF:  If Elected Speaker, San Francisco area Democrat US Rep Nancy Pelosi is going to have her hands full next year, preventing the Democrats in the House of Representatives from beclowning themselves.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Schiff says Trump’s written responses to Mueller are not adequate

From The Hill, by Reporter John Bowden, 28 November 2018.

Here is the lede plus three:

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on Wednesday called on President Trump to sit down for an in-person interview with special counsel Robert Mueller and his team, saying that the president's written statements to the special counsel's office were insufficient.

Schiff, who sits on the House Intelligence Committee, said Mueller needed the opportunity to ask follow-up questions based on the president's responses.

“There really needs to be a live interview with the president because you need to be able to ask follow-up questions in real time," Schiff told CNN on Wednesday.

Schiff also said the committee, under new Democratic leadership next year, would pursue phone records related to the setup of June 2016 Trump Tower meeting between Trump campaign associates and a Russian lawyer who had promised dirt on then-Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

Is this the Democratic US Rep, Adam Schiff talking, or is he a mouthpiece for the Special Counsel, using "leaked" information?  This is a point in the investigation when it is most important for the Special Counsel to keep his skirts clean.

My sense is that Mr Schiff is hyper-active, but not analytical.  Perhaps appropriate, given he is from North LA and Rep Maxine Waters is from South LA..

Hat tip to the Drudge Report.

Regards  —  Cliff

Asset Forfeiture Challenged

For John, BLUF:  I guess one could argue it is a particularly effective police tactic, but if it is, why haven't we won the drug war with it?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Neil Gorsuch and Sonia Sotomayor Just Came Out Swinging Against Policing for Profit

From Slate, by Mr Mark Joseph Stern, 28 November 2018.

Here is the lede plus one:

Tyson Timbs just wants his car back.  In 2015, Timbs was charged with selling heroin to undercover officers in Indiana to fund his opioid addiction.  After he pleaded guilty, a private law firm filed a lawsuit on behalf of the state to confiscate his Land Rover SUV, valued at $42,000.  That’s more than four times the maximum $10,000 fine for Timbs’ crimes.  But because he briefly carried drugs in the vehicle, the firm claimed that it could seize and sell it, turning over some of the profit to Indiana and pocketing the rest.

Welcome to the topsy-turvy world of civil asset forfeiture, also known as legalized theft.  Every year, the federal and state governments obtain billions of dollars thanks to the work of prosecutors who expropriate property with some tenuous connection to a crime.  Most states use the money to fund law enforcement, called policing for profit.  Indiana also lets private attorneys file forfeiture claims against defendants, earning contingency fees and a share of the profit.  That’s what happened to Timbs—so he sued, insisting that extreme forfeiture violates the Constitution.  On Wednesday, the Supreme Court signaled that it agreed, with an unusual coalition of justices assailing the practice.  A decision for Timbs could curb law enforcement abuses across the country, limiting one of the most scandalous components of our criminal justice system.

The whole article, snarky though it was, was a fun read.  And, it looks like asset forfeiture will be reined in a bit.  The other fun thing was seeing supposedly ideologically different people, like Justices Neil Gorsuch and Sonia Sotomayor, working the same side of the street.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff