BURLINGTON, Vt. — Vermonters who plan to see Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speak here on Thursday should prepare for "airport-like" security and sizable crowds after the campaign issued tickets for more than 10 times the number of available seats, the Flynn Center's executive director says.
Donald Trump called the Howie Carr Show to brag about the number of tickets his campaign had distributed and how many people would be turned away. Trump says they could easily fill a 20,000 seat venue in Bernie Sanders's home state of Vermont. The Donald further bragged that people are standing in line for over six hours to see him speak. This was in reply to the Karl Rove observations that people might tell pollsters they like Trump but that doesn't mean they will actually get off the couch to vote for him.
As I understand it, the Trump Campaign distributed 14,000 tickets for a 1400 seat venue and then it is first in line gets in (after they pledge loyalty to Donald at the door.) I tend to believe that if someone will stand in line outside for hours in January they might also show up to vote at a later time. We will see.
The fact that Donald is spreading the field in New Hampshire by speaking in neighboring states shows that he is thinking well beyond the Granite State.
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
It's Crying Time At The White House
Even if I shared Barack Obama's values I would distance myself from the mountebank just to let the world know that I was not duped by his cheesy theatrics. Obama's ongoing cheeseatrics are not just hokey, they are insulting to the observer.
I guess there won't be a 14th fainting woman. Even the idiots finally saw through that ruse.
If Obama's tears are genuine--and if you believe they are I have a street light inspector course I would like to sell you--it is even more disturbing. He is crying about background checks and his frustration with Congress but he cannot be bothered to observe a moment of silence for the Paris victims or even victims of jihad in his own country (San Bernardino, Kathryn Steinle, the Fort Hood victims, Colleen Hufford...) to say nothing about James Foley or Christopher Stevens or anonymous Libyan Christians slaughtered on the beach. Hell, he couldn't even be bothered when the consulate in Benghazi was under attack.
Dismally, this might play well with the Hecaresaboutpeoplelikeme crowd. A trail of tears might be in our future.
HORSESHIT
I guess there won't be a 14th fainting woman. Even the idiots finally saw through that ruse.
If Obama's tears are genuine--and if you believe they are I have a street light inspector course I would like to sell you--it is even more disturbing. He is crying about background checks and his frustration with Congress but he cannot be bothered to observe a moment of silence for the Paris victims or even victims of jihad in his own country (San Bernardino, Kathryn Steinle, the Fort Hood victims, Colleen Hufford...) to say nothing about James Foley or Christopher Stevens or anonymous Libyan Christians slaughtered on the beach. Hell, he couldn't even be bothered when the consulate in Benghazi was under attack.
Dismally, this might play well with the Hecaresaboutpeoplelikeme crowd. A trail of tears might be in our future.
HORSESHIT
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Two Songs About The Demise Of The British Empire
Coldplay has never said what "Viva La Vida" is "about" but if they wanted to do a song about the collapse of The British Empire they could not been more on target. Perhaps that is a testimony to the universality of art. The descriptors just fit the context perfectly. The observer sees something familiar regardless of the creator's intent.
What I find disturbing is the matter of fact attitude concerning the decline of something marvelous. This is familiar Leftist "everyone thinks they are exceptional/all cultures are created equal/who are we to celebrate our greatness?" territory. The fall is just one more occasion for theatrics. Indifference dressed up with violins.
One line always bothers me. Around 2:33 "For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name." This reminds one of the absurdly inarticulate Occupy Wall Street crowd. They cannot explain their condemnation of Wall Street or America or capitalism or the very premise of free will, but they are certain of the irredeemable evil that resides at the core of these things. Coldplay, being eggheads by comparison, can add British colonialism to the list of the damned.
COLDPLAY: VIVA LA VIDA
Supertramp's "Fool's Overture" has so much more feeling than "Viva La Vida." Progressive rockers are sometimes accused of producing work more clever than heartfelt. Then when they express genuine feeling they are dismissed as prissy or wimpish by their heavy-heavy counterparts. "Fool's Overture" is both cerebral and visceral.
There is real sadness in the singer's voice. He is mourning "how great the fall can be." The Winston Churchill samples leave no doubt as to the song's lyrical theme. This is a sad song. It is also a masterpiece.
SUPERTRAMP: FOOL'S OVERTURE (VIDEO OPTIONAL. AUDIO MANDATORY)
I hope to never hear songs about the passing of America. If such songs are written I hope they will be more Supertramp than Coldplay. Unfortunately, I think there are plenty of Americans who cannot wait to dance on her grave. Viva La Vida.
What I find disturbing is the matter of fact attitude concerning the decline of something marvelous. This is familiar Leftist "everyone thinks they are exceptional/all cultures are created equal/who are we to celebrate our greatness?" territory. The fall is just one more occasion for theatrics. Indifference dressed up with violins.
One line always bothers me. Around 2:33 "For some reason I can't explain
I know Saint Peter won't call my name." This reminds one of the absurdly inarticulate Occupy Wall Street crowd. They cannot explain their condemnation of Wall Street or America or capitalism or the very premise of free will, but they are certain of the irredeemable evil that resides at the core of these things. Coldplay, being eggheads by comparison, can add British colonialism to the list of the damned.
COLDPLAY: VIVA LA VIDA
Supertramp's "Fool's Overture" has so much more feeling than "Viva La Vida." Progressive rockers are sometimes accused of producing work more clever than heartfelt. Then when they express genuine feeling they are dismissed as prissy or wimpish by their heavy-heavy counterparts. "Fool's Overture" is both cerebral and visceral.
There is real sadness in the singer's voice. He is mourning "how great the fall can be." The Winston Churchill samples leave no doubt as to the song's lyrical theme. This is a sad song. It is also a masterpiece.
SUPERTRAMP: FOOL'S OVERTURE (VIDEO OPTIONAL. AUDIO MANDATORY)
I hope to never hear songs about the passing of America. If such songs are written I hope they will be more Supertramp than Coldplay. Unfortunately, I think there are plenty of Americans who cannot wait to dance on her grave. Viva La Vida.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
My Reservation About Ted Cruz
I believe that Ted Cruz is constitutionally eligible to be president. He was born in Canada to a father who was Canadian but his mother was and is American. I also believe that Barack Obama is ineligible even though he was born in Hawaii because he was adopted by a foreign national as a child.
I believe that John Roberts has been corrupted and cannot be trusted to deliver an honest decision. The Dems are comfortable losing hundreds of seats because they control the bureaucracies and courts and they run these institutions without regard to things like legality, constitutional safeguards, equal treatment under the law or even a sense of fair play. For the Dems, the courts are but one more deck of cards to stack.
Should Cruz get the nomination expect multiple challenges to his eligibility. With that stated, I think Cruz is the best hope for the resistance. He wins more or less by default. I had better hopes for Perry and Walker but their flaws showed sooner rather than later. Trump is a populist and he appeals to my populist streak but I would be more comfortable with someone who shares my basic principles.
I like Rand Paul on paper but I wish he was more hawkish. Stylistically I do not like the way he sucks up to the media. Whereas Trump puts the media whores in their place, Paul goes on CNN to bash the Donald. Do not even try to curry favor with those snakes, Dr. Paul.
The final straw with Paul came in the last debate when he made good points about the dangers of installing a no-fly zone in Syria and then delivered a cheap shot to Chris Christie about Bridgegate. once more, Paul decided to parrot the MSNBC party line to bash a Republican. Maybe 2024 but not this year.
Carly and Carson have faded. Neither candidate was prepared for the big time. Kasich and Christie are RINO's several times over. Oh, I forgot to mention Bush. Oh well. He will soon be an afterthought.
That leaves Rubio from the big stage. This guy has gone from Tea Party to Establishment faster than Scott Walker. Trey Gowdy's endorsement just won't seal the deal for me. Maybe 2024.
Cruz seems like the strongest viable choice for constitutionalists. Brace yourself for the eligibility challenge.
I believe that John Roberts has been corrupted and cannot be trusted to deliver an honest decision. The Dems are comfortable losing hundreds of seats because they control the bureaucracies and courts and they run these institutions without regard to things like legality, constitutional safeguards, equal treatment under the law or even a sense of fair play. For the Dems, the courts are but one more deck of cards to stack.
Should Cruz get the nomination expect multiple challenges to his eligibility. With that stated, I think Cruz is the best hope for the resistance. He wins more or less by default. I had better hopes for Perry and Walker but their flaws showed sooner rather than later. Trump is a populist and he appeals to my populist streak but I would be more comfortable with someone who shares my basic principles.
I like Rand Paul on paper but I wish he was more hawkish. Stylistically I do not like the way he sucks up to the media. Whereas Trump puts the media whores in their place, Paul goes on CNN to bash the Donald. Do not even try to curry favor with those snakes, Dr. Paul.
The final straw with Paul came in the last debate when he made good points about the dangers of installing a no-fly zone in Syria and then delivered a cheap shot to Chris Christie about Bridgegate. once more, Paul decided to parrot the MSNBC party line to bash a Republican. Maybe 2024 but not this year.
Carly and Carson have faded. Neither candidate was prepared for the big time. Kasich and Christie are RINO's several times over. Oh, I forgot to mention Bush. Oh well. He will soon be an afterthought.
That leaves Rubio from the big stage. This guy has gone from Tea Party to Establishment faster than Scott Walker. Trey Gowdy's endorsement just won't seal the deal for me. Maybe 2024.
Cruz seems like the strongest viable choice for constitutionalists. Brace yourself for the eligibility challenge.
David Spade Barely Criticizes Obama And The Empire Strikes Back
Here are eight years of Obama distilled in two short videos.
David Spade stated the obvious. Obama is first and last a celebrity in constant need of praise and adoration. ff anything, Spade greatly understated the thirst for attention that consumes the overgrown child in the White House. Nonetheless, TMZ performed due diligence to extract a clarification or retraction or apology from Spade.
SPADE GENTLY MOCKS HIS SOCIAL SUPERIOR AND HE IS TRACKED DOWN TO ATONE FOR HIS SINS
One can say that TMZ is not real news media, they are entertainment media. In the Obama Era we have witnessed a harmonious convergence within the fourth estate. The once distinct strata "bleed into one."
TRASHING THE REPROBATE
David Spade stated the obvious. Obama is first and last a celebrity in constant need of praise and adoration. ff anything, Spade greatly understated the thirst for attention that consumes the overgrown child in the White House. Nonetheless, TMZ performed due diligence to extract a clarification or retraction or apology from Spade.
SPADE GENTLY MOCKS HIS SOCIAL SUPERIOR AND HE IS TRACKED DOWN TO ATONE FOR HIS SINS
One can say that TMZ is not real news media, they are entertainment media. In the Obama Era we have witnessed a harmonious convergence within the fourth estate. The once distinct strata "bleed into one."
TRASHING THE REPROBATE
Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Not Exactly A Book Review... "Undemocratic: How Unelected, Unaccountable Bureaucrats Are Stealing Your Liberty and Freedom" by Jay Sekulow
This might be the most important book of its era. In all the lib vs. con, left vs. right, D vs. R chatter, it is easy to miss the big picture. Prior to the rise of the Tea Party movement, the primacy of bureaucracy was rarely, if ever, challenged.
For years I thought of my high school education as a waste of time. As time passed, I realize I learned a few things that have stayed with me. We were required to take a Government class and this course was usually taught by a coach who viewed teaching as a sideline. My instructor seemed like a bit of a dolt. Yet, I will say that he was insightful if not colorful.
My high school teacher hammered home the three branches of government in mind-numbing detail. He also talked about "the fourth branch of government." He was matter of fact about it. It wasn't a warning and there wasn't any disapproval. "Some people say that federal bureaucracy has become the fourth branch of government." My high school teacher was ahead of his time in his observations.
The Reagan/Bush administrations never challenged the bureaucratic leviathan. They embraced and fed and nurtured the monster. It was hoped by many of us that the stuff of legend 1994 elections would usher in a new challenge to the Beltway cartel. No such luck. The reason the Republicans were so aggressive in publicizing Bill Clinton's sex life was because they were unwilling to engage him in matters of policy. Lacking the fortitude to wage a battle of substance, they turned instead to the politics of personal destruction.
Then we had another Bush era and even more bureaucracy. The absurd idea that replacing lesbians with nominal Christians atop agency pyramids would somehow bring forth a golden dawn was ultimately discredited. The GOP saw the alphabet soup of agencies as a plum orchard for people descended from Republican generals and siblings of press secretaries.
The Tea Party movement brought forth a rethinking of just about everything including the role and reach of bureaucratic agencies. At long last a bipartisan political class was identified and discussed. What took us so long?
"Undemocratic: How Unelected, Unaccountable Bureaucrats Are Stealing Your Liberty and Freedom" is a long overdue analysis of the elephant in every room. Sekulow delivers a concise overture of the multiphasic, polytiered problematic problem.
Frustratingly, we have to be reminded that our forefathers did not make provisions for FEC, NLRB, EPA, FTC, HHS, ad infinitum to write and impose and enforce law. We might not care about such philosophical fine points if bureaucracy did not fail so consistently. Witness the Veterans Administration.
Sekulow details the hows and whys of the ongoing VA fiasco. Veterans die awaiting treatment because it is easier to doctor paperwork than to doctor patients. It is the nature of bureaucracy. Boxcars don't fly and switching Shinsekis won't change that one iota. Despite its legacy of failure, the VA's problems were swept even farther under the rug by the Obama Administration because they used the agency's blue chip reputation as a model for Obamacare.
So we have a new branch of government that is illegitimate and wastes our money? Is that the worst of it? No. Not by a long shot. Federal workers are unionized. They are hyper-partisan. They have been weaponized.
Sekulow details the near impossibility of firing a federal bureaucrat. Having worked for the IRS in the late 70's and early 80's Sekulow insists there was no visible partisanship in his day. That has changed. Not only do we employ an army of Lois Lerner's, the unions and their members donate overwhelmingly to the Democratic Party. Even the Department of Defense employees donate to Democrats by about a two to one margin.
Some of us are given to rebuking other political camps for underestimating the evil and the threat posed by jihadists. That's easy to understand but some of our political allies underestimate the evil that rests in many a bureaucratic heart. For instance, Sekulow reveals a group that has been targeted by the IRS for enhanced scrutiny? Who might that be? Dark PAC's? Providers of material support for ISIS? Illegal aliens?
No, the group in question is adoptive parents. Why adoptive parents? According to Sekulow it's because the IRS has figured out that Evangelical Christians are more likely to adopt children than non-Evangelicals. That is just plain wrong on so many levels for so many reasons. Mike Huckabee called the jailing of Wendy Davis the criminalization of Christianity. Had the governor read Sekulow's book he would have learned that the war on Christians is old news.
I consider myself fairly well-informed and the revelations about "sue and settle" made my jaw drop. If the Obama Justice Department deliberately loses to sympathetic plaintiffs who happen to be political donors, does that not constitute graft? It is corruption if not criminal corruption.
Sekulow has keenly identified the greatest threat to our republic. I could not give a higher recommendation for "Undemocratic..." Read it!
For years I thought of my high school education as a waste of time. As time passed, I realize I learned a few things that have stayed with me. We were required to take a Government class and this course was usually taught by a coach who viewed teaching as a sideline. My instructor seemed like a bit of a dolt. Yet, I will say that he was insightful if not colorful.
My high school teacher hammered home the three branches of government in mind-numbing detail. He also talked about "the fourth branch of government." He was matter of fact about it. It wasn't a warning and there wasn't any disapproval. "Some people say that federal bureaucracy has become the fourth branch of government." My high school teacher was ahead of his time in his observations.
The Reagan/Bush administrations never challenged the bureaucratic leviathan. They embraced and fed and nurtured the monster. It was hoped by many of us that the stuff of legend 1994 elections would usher in a new challenge to the Beltway cartel. No such luck. The reason the Republicans were so aggressive in publicizing Bill Clinton's sex life was because they were unwilling to engage him in matters of policy. Lacking the fortitude to wage a battle of substance, they turned instead to the politics of personal destruction.
Then we had another Bush era and even more bureaucracy. The absurd idea that replacing lesbians with nominal Christians atop agency pyramids would somehow bring forth a golden dawn was ultimately discredited. The GOP saw the alphabet soup of agencies as a plum orchard for people descended from Republican generals and siblings of press secretaries.
The Tea Party movement brought forth a rethinking of just about everything including the role and reach of bureaucratic agencies. At long last a bipartisan political class was identified and discussed. What took us so long?
"Undemocratic: How Unelected, Unaccountable Bureaucrats Are Stealing Your Liberty and Freedom" is a long overdue analysis of the elephant in every room. Sekulow delivers a concise overture of the multiphasic, polytiered problematic problem.
Frustratingly, we have to be reminded that our forefathers did not make provisions for FEC, NLRB, EPA, FTC, HHS, ad infinitum to write and impose and enforce law. We might not care about such philosophical fine points if bureaucracy did not fail so consistently. Witness the Veterans Administration.
Sekulow details the hows and whys of the ongoing VA fiasco. Veterans die awaiting treatment because it is easier to doctor paperwork than to doctor patients. It is the nature of bureaucracy. Boxcars don't fly and switching Shinsekis won't change that one iota. Despite its legacy of failure, the VA's problems were swept even farther under the rug by the Obama Administration because they used the agency's blue chip reputation as a model for Obamacare.
So we have a new branch of government that is illegitimate and wastes our money? Is that the worst of it? No. Not by a long shot. Federal workers are unionized. They are hyper-partisan. They have been weaponized.
Sekulow details the near impossibility of firing a federal bureaucrat. Having worked for the IRS in the late 70's and early 80's Sekulow insists there was no visible partisanship in his day. That has changed. Not only do we employ an army of Lois Lerner's, the unions and their members donate overwhelmingly to the Democratic Party. Even the Department of Defense employees donate to Democrats by about a two to one margin.
Some of us are given to rebuking other political camps for underestimating the evil and the threat posed by jihadists. That's easy to understand but some of our political allies underestimate the evil that rests in many a bureaucratic heart. For instance, Sekulow reveals a group that has been targeted by the IRS for enhanced scrutiny? Who might that be? Dark PAC's? Providers of material support for ISIS? Illegal aliens?
No, the group in question is adoptive parents. Why adoptive parents? According to Sekulow it's because the IRS has figured out that Evangelical Christians are more likely to adopt children than non-Evangelicals. That is just plain wrong on so many levels for so many reasons. Mike Huckabee called the jailing of Wendy Davis the criminalization of Christianity. Had the governor read Sekulow's book he would have learned that the war on Christians is old news.
I consider myself fairly well-informed and the revelations about "sue and settle" made my jaw drop. If the Obama Justice Department deliberately loses to sympathetic plaintiffs who happen to be political donors, does that not constitute graft? It is corruption if not criminal corruption.
Sekulow has keenly identified the greatest threat to our republic. I could not give a higher recommendation for "Undemocratic..." Read it!
Thursday, December 17, 2015
A Tribute To Mike Barnicle: I Recycle Another Column
OK, I am flattering myself in my self-comparisons to Mike Barnicle. Mike Barnicle is the former "Boston Globe" columnist who was caught 1 Plagiarizing, 2 Fabricating and 3 Recycling his previous columns.
Plagiarizing and fabricating are certainly greater sins than recycling but it does say something about how few people actually read Barnicle's column if none of the millions of Globe readers even noticed his serial recycling.
Barnicle is in many ways emblematic of the privileged, anointed, socially-aware, socially-conscious, and most importantly, the socially-connected Left. Despite his repeated exposure as a fraud and a bore, Barnicle has always failed his way to bigger and better things. Last I heard his name he was drawing a check from MSNBC. Oh to be Mike Barnicle!
I hereby recycle a post from September 19 of this year:
Governor Bush, you called Donald Trump a weasel but Senator Paul has called him a snake...Not an exact quote from Jake Tapper but you get the gist of it. A three hour food fight without much sustenance. More heat than light as they like to say.
Without trying very hard I came up with 50 questions that could have been asked. I could easily come up with 50 more but I have a birthday party to attend. This is a good start.
1. Do you prefer a strong or weak dollar?
2. Do you support repealing Obamacare?
3. Do you support repealing Dodd-Frank?
4. Do you consider voter fraud a significant problem? If yes, what would your administration do to correct the problem?
5. Would your administration proceed with criminal investigations involving bureaucratic and/or DOJ abuses of power?
6. Would you allow American citizens to own/possess/use toilet tanks that provide sufficient water to flush in an effective manner?
7. Do you prefer freedom of choice in light bulbs?
8. Do you support the prosecution of body part brokers who procure their commodity in an illegal manner?
9. Would you allow American citizens to play poker on their computers?
10. Do you support prosecuting state and municipal officials who provide non-emergency aid to illegal immigrants?
11. Do you believe that religiously-influenced terrorism is a global concern?
12. Do you think the US should stay in NATO? If yes, should the US demand that other members provide a bigger share of resources?
13. Is ISIS a threat to American security?
14. If elected, do you agree to refer to ISIS as ISIL and instruct subordinates to do the same?
15. Is Al Shabaab a threat to American security?
16. Is Boka Haram a threat to American security?
17. Is the Castro cartel a threat to American security?
18. Is FARC a threat to American Security?
19. Are Mexican drug cartels a threat to American security?
20. Are refugees a threat to American security?
21. Would you keep President Obama's non-treaty that is commonly referred to as The Iran Deal intact?
22. Does global warming exist?
23. Are all natural disasters anthropogenic?
24. In general, do you support the use of hydraulic fracturing to procure energy?
25. In general, do you support the use of coal?
26. Do you support the export of American fuel?
27. Do you support the construction of the Keystone pipeline?
28. Do you support the construction of other pipelines?
29. In general, are business-government partnerships a good idea?
30. Do you support collecting metadata on all US citizens?
31. Do you prefer raising the age of Social Security eligibility?
32. Do you prefer raising the age of Medicare eligibility?
33. Is Social Security a legally-sanctioned pyramid scheme?
34. Is the number of Americans receiving disability payments too high, not enough or just right?
35. Does the 10th Amendment apply to marijuana laws? (Thank you Governor Christie for weighing in on this issue ahead of the pack.)
36. Is the Fort Hood massacre an example of workplace violence?
37. Is Russia an enemy, an ally or something else?
38. Should Israel go retro on their borders as our president has suggested?
39. Should Japan play a bigger role in funding their national defense?
40. Should South Korea play a bigger role in funding their national defense?
41. Is North Korea a threat to US security?
42. Should the US fund higher education? Should there be any stipulations on federal funding?
43. Do you believe the GOP loses every single time they "reach across the aisle?'
44. Do you believe the GOP Congress has betrayed the people who elected them?
45. Do you believe the GOP Congress holds the base of their party in contempt?
46. Do you favor auditing the Federal Reserve?
47. Are there any federal agencies or programs you would eliminate?
48. Does federal spending per se hinder our prosperity?
49. Given that Afghanistan produces most of the world's opium and the Afghani people are not getting rich and the US has a strong presence in Afghanistan and...Oh, excuse me. Nothing to see here folks! Move along!
49a. (To compensate for that ridiculous effort at an inquiry above) Do you believe the Internet should be treated as a public utility?
50. Is the National Debt significant or has its importance been overblown by political opportunists?
Three months later, most of these questions remain unasked and unanswered.
11. Do you believe that religiously-influenced terrorism is a global concern?
This has been addressed now that dozens of innocent people were slaughtered in Paris and 14 more in California. Kind of hard to ignore this one.
13. Is ISIS a threat to American security?
Same as #11.
20. Are refugees a threat to American security?
I have give Trump credit for LEADING on this issue.
22. Does global warming exist?
23. Are all natural disasters anthropogenic?
These issues have been addressed if only indirectly. The GOP candidates have rightly criticized the commander-in-chief for emphasizing climate flimflam as he ignores global terrorism.
30. Do you support collecting metadata on all US citizens?
Thankfully, we do have some clarity on this particular matter.
31. Do you prefer raising the age of Social Security eligibility?
Hat tip to Governor Christie for addressing what used to be a third rail issue.
37. Is Russia an enemy, an ally or something else?
This too has had some light shed on it. Rubio and Christie take a belligerent stance against the bear. I don't know why but they have.
In fairness, some of the questions previously posed don't need much elaboration. We know North Korea is a threat and that Fort Hood was an act of terrorism. Even the president has finally used the T-word. If you want to put FARC or Boka Haram on the back burner, that is understandable. Questions 1 through 10 should have been asked by someone in the well-paid journalistic world a long time ago.
Isn't it amazing how little we have been informed about what we really want to know?
Plagiarizing and fabricating are certainly greater sins than recycling but it does say something about how few people actually read Barnicle's column if none of the millions of Globe readers even noticed his serial recycling.
Barnicle is in many ways emblematic of the privileged, anointed, socially-aware, socially-conscious, and most importantly, the socially-connected Left. Despite his repeated exposure as a fraud and a bore, Barnicle has always failed his way to bigger and better things. Last I heard his name he was drawing a check from MSNBC. Oh to be Mike Barnicle!
I hereby recycle a post from September 19 of this year:
Governor Bush, you called Donald Trump a weasel but Senator Paul has called him a snake...Not an exact quote from Jake Tapper but you get the gist of it. A three hour food fight without much sustenance. More heat than light as they like to say.
Without trying very hard I came up with 50 questions that could have been asked. I could easily come up with 50 more but I have a birthday party to attend. This is a good start.
1. Do you prefer a strong or weak dollar?
2. Do you support repealing Obamacare?
3. Do you support repealing Dodd-Frank?
4. Do you consider voter fraud a significant problem? If yes, what would your administration do to correct the problem?
5. Would your administration proceed with criminal investigations involving bureaucratic and/or DOJ abuses of power?
6. Would you allow American citizens to own/possess/use toilet tanks that provide sufficient water to flush in an effective manner?
7. Do you prefer freedom of choice in light bulbs?
8. Do you support the prosecution of body part brokers who procure their commodity in an illegal manner?
9. Would you allow American citizens to play poker on their computers?
10. Do you support prosecuting state and municipal officials who provide non-emergency aid to illegal immigrants?
11. Do you believe that religiously-influenced terrorism is a global concern?
12. Do you think the US should stay in NATO? If yes, should the US demand that other members provide a bigger share of resources?
13. Is ISIS a threat to American security?
14. If elected, do you agree to refer to ISIS as ISIL and instruct subordinates to do the same?
15. Is Al Shabaab a threat to American security?
16. Is Boka Haram a threat to American security?
17. Is the Castro cartel a threat to American security?
18. Is FARC a threat to American Security?
19. Are Mexican drug cartels a threat to American security?
20. Are refugees a threat to American security?
21. Would you keep President Obama's non-treaty that is commonly referred to as The Iran Deal intact?
22. Does global warming exist?
23. Are all natural disasters anthropogenic?
24. In general, do you support the use of hydraulic fracturing to procure energy?
25. In general, do you support the use of coal?
26. Do you support the export of American fuel?
27. Do you support the construction of the Keystone pipeline?
28. Do you support the construction of other pipelines?
29. In general, are business-government partnerships a good idea?
30. Do you support collecting metadata on all US citizens?
31. Do you prefer raising the age of Social Security eligibility?
32. Do you prefer raising the age of Medicare eligibility?
33. Is Social Security a legally-sanctioned pyramid scheme?
34. Is the number of Americans receiving disability payments too high, not enough or just right?
35. Does the 10th Amendment apply to marijuana laws? (Thank you Governor Christie for weighing in on this issue ahead of the pack.)
36. Is the Fort Hood massacre an example of workplace violence?
37. Is Russia an enemy, an ally or something else?
38. Should Israel go retro on their borders as our president has suggested?
39. Should Japan play a bigger role in funding their national defense?
40. Should South Korea play a bigger role in funding their national defense?
41. Is North Korea a threat to US security?
42. Should the US fund higher education? Should there be any stipulations on federal funding?
43. Do you believe the GOP loses every single time they "reach across the aisle?'
44. Do you believe the GOP Congress has betrayed the people who elected them?
45. Do you believe the GOP Congress holds the base of their party in contempt?
46. Do you favor auditing the Federal Reserve?
47. Are there any federal agencies or programs you would eliminate?
48. Does federal spending per se hinder our prosperity?
49. Given that Afghanistan produces most of the world's opium and the Afghani people are not getting rich and the US has a strong presence in Afghanistan and...Oh, excuse me. Nothing to see here folks! Move along!
49a. (To compensate for that ridiculous effort at an inquiry above) Do you believe the Internet should be treated as a public utility?
50. Is the National Debt significant or has its importance been overblown by political opportunists?
Three months later, most of these questions remain unasked and unanswered.
11. Do you believe that religiously-influenced terrorism is a global concern?
This has been addressed now that dozens of innocent people were slaughtered in Paris and 14 more in California. Kind of hard to ignore this one.
13. Is ISIS a threat to American security?
Same as #11.
20. Are refugees a threat to American security?
I have give Trump credit for LEADING on this issue.
22. Does global warming exist?
23. Are all natural disasters anthropogenic?
These issues have been addressed if only indirectly. The GOP candidates have rightly criticized the commander-in-chief for emphasizing climate flimflam as he ignores global terrorism.
30. Do you support collecting metadata on all US citizens?
Thankfully, we do have some clarity on this particular matter.
31. Do you prefer raising the age of Social Security eligibility?
Hat tip to Governor Christie for addressing what used to be a third rail issue.
37. Is Russia an enemy, an ally or something else?
This too has had some light shed on it. Rubio and Christie take a belligerent stance against the bear. I don't know why but they have.
In fairness, some of the questions previously posed don't need much elaboration. We know North Korea is a threat and that Fort Hood was an act of terrorism. Even the president has finally used the T-word. If you want to put FARC or Boka Haram on the back burner, that is understandable. Questions 1 through 10 should have been asked by someone in the well-paid journalistic world a long time ago.
Isn't it amazing how little we have been informed about what we really want to know?
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