2016 Elections

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It’s time to clean the stable and prepare for the November stakes

Columnist Peggy Noonan’s description of the Republican presidential contenders “running around like rabid squirrels throwing nuts at each other in the dark,” was cleverly stated in her recent Wall Street Journal piece.

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It’s time to clean the stable and prepare for the November stakes. (horses.about.com)

Here we are with a fine stable of candidates, each with his or her own strengths and weaknesses, and they choose to attack each other like school children.

Not satisfied with the way he turned the media on the qualification of Sen. Ted Cruz to serve because of his Canadian birth, Donald Trump twisted the knife by calling the Cruz comment on New Yorker values as “insulting.” Time will tell if this seriously hurt the Cruz campaign, but the media is making the most of it. Continue reading →

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Obama continues war on coal industry

RAMFNLclr-070213-burn-IBD-C_jpg (Ramirex IBD

(Cartoon courtesy of Michael Ramirez, IBD)

In recent posts I have written about President Obama’s seven-year hatred of the coal industry despite the fact that coal has supplied us with the cheapest energy and still produces about a third of America’s energy.

Further evidence of his 2008 threat to bankrupt coal companies was revealed this week when Arch Coal filed for Chapter 11 protection, following the earlier filings of Patriot Coal, Walter Energy and Alpha Natural Resources. The actions of Obama and his compliant EPA have killed some 40,000 lower and middle class jobs during his tenure. Continue reading →

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Trump and Clinton ‘favorable’ ratings dismal

Like me, you’re probably getting a bit tired of the political polls. They really don’t mean much this early in the game, but when my curiosity peaks I check out Real Clear Politics, where they average the major polls.

thumbs-up-thumbs-down-icons-psd-56170 (365psd.com)

(Graphic courtesy 365psd.com)

The polls that fascinate me are the ones citing favorable and unfavorable ratings. By now, most of you know that 67.2 percent of those polled by Gallup believe President Obama has the nation going in the wrong direction and just 23.2 (who are they?) believe he’s doing just fine.  The president’s disapproval rating is at 51.8 percent, and his favorable is at 43.9 percent. Continue reading →

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Noonan’s way with words again on point

“… this is a man who knows how to break through the clutter – but crudely, seemingly off the top of his head, and using his mouth as a blunt instrument.” – Peggy Noonan

So wrote Peggy Noonan in her Saturday Wall Street Journal column, “A Rash Leader in a Grave Time,” in which she calls for a leader with a plan to avoid a Paris style attack on our soil.

Peggy-Noonan(lonelyconservative.com)

WSJ columnist Peggy Noonan devoted her Dec. 12, column to the undisciplined Donald Trump. (lonelyconservative.com)

In her unique way with words, Noonan wrote of Donald Trump’s plan to keep all Muslims out of this country, even those citizens returning from foreign vacations. “He doesn’t think it through, doesn’t anticipate legitimate pushback, doesn’t try to persuade, only declares.” Continue reading →

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More Benghazi revelations in Clinton e-mails

The terrorist shooting in San Bernardino gave the media another opportunity to provide cover for Hillary Clinton and the latest bombshells on Benghazi.

However, thanks to FOX and a couple of conservative papers, the word is on the street and will certainly find its way to the Select Committee on Benghazi and future debates.

Not only did we learn that there were forces preparing to move to Benghazi just hours after the attack began, Clinton apparently missed a meeting on sensitive intelligence items, including the Presidential Daily Brief (PDB), because she slept late on the Saturday following the Benghazi attack. Continue reading →

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Recalling two different classes

“Among the supposedly elite and powerful individuals I have met, you could crudely classify two classes; those who know who they are, and those who say, ‘don’t you know who I am?’” – Rupert Murdoch

When I read this nugget in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed by Rupert Murdoch, Chairman of News Corp, I immediately thought of two people, whose lives couldn’t be more different – Donald Trump and former President George W. Bush. Continue reading →

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Julian Castro at center of investigation at HUD

“The OIG has determined that the contents of this report would not be appropriate for public disclosure and has therefore limited its distribution to selected officials.” – Office of the Inspector General, HUD

A report that the IG of the Department of Housing and Urban Development found discrepancies during a financial statements audit wasn’t too surprising as HUD has been found not in compliance before.  The recent findings, however, were particularly interesting because of its head, Julian Castro.

la-na-clinton-latinos-20151015-001(latimes.com)

Julian Castro’s problems at HUD could blunt his chances to be named Hillary Clinton’s running mate, but they would make a good pair. (latimes.com)

During my residence in the San Antonio area, the San Antonio Express-News continuously promoted Mayor Castro as one of the nation’s up and coming Latinos; a rising star.  Much was made of his roots with a grandmother who came from Mexico.  Hardly a day went by that his picture wasn’t featured.  He was said to be on the short list to be Hillary Clinton’s running mate. Continue reading →

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Thank you, Donald; now it’s time for us to get serious

Okay, okay, enough of the “yeah’s” over Donald Trump’s outrageous pronouncements.  He’s going to build a wall and Mexico’s going to pay for it. He’s going to deport 12 million illegals.  He’s going to bring back all of those jobs from off shore.  We’re going to have victories again.  He’s going to make America great again.

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Angry voters liked what Donald Trump was saying, but it’s time now to get serious with a candidate who will tell us “how” he’s going to turn our nation around. (businessinsider.com)

We’re angry with the direction of the nation, and he’s been saying things we, for the most part, agree with; things our establishment candidates don’t say, and we liked it.  There’s one glaring omission.  The “how’s.”

We’ve enjoyed his defiance of political correctness and his attacks on the media, but he has gone too far with his crude attacks on fellow candidates. Trump’s bluster is wearing thin now, and we have to get serious about a Republican candidate who can beat Hillary Clinton. Continue reading →

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Help Wanted: A commander in chief for the U.S.

“No commander in chief of the U. S. armed forces can be wholly irrelevant, but to the extent one can be, Mr. Obama is.” – Peggy Noonan, Nov. 21, 2015

Under the headline, “Uncertain Leadership in Perilous Times,” Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan again demonstrates her unique ability to put her succinct thinking in print.  Briefly reviewing the terrorist attacks in Madrid, London and most recently in Paris, she reflects on the question, what to do?

Peggy-Noonan(lonelyconservative.com)

Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan writes of President Obama’s irrelevance as commander in chief. (lonelyconservative.com)

“On this issue the American president is, amazingly, barely relevant.  The leaders and people of Europe and America will not be looking to him for wisdom, will, insight or resolve,” she writes, “He has misjudged ISIS from the beginning – they were not, actually, the junior varsity – to the end.”

As I have previously written for this blog, we have a petulant, arrogant individual in the White House, who chooses to criticize the press for pressing him on his ISIS non-strategy, while ridiculing GOP candidates on their refugee stance.  He says his military and civilian leaders support his position on “containing” ISIS.  I don’t believe it. Continue reading →

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Liberal columnist calls Arizona governor ‘foolish and un-American;’ chides him on Syrian refugee issue

“Was even a minute of thought put into this?  A small amount of how the refugee process works and what it means? And whom it helps?” wrote Arizona Republic columnist E. J. Montini, adding that “Having a discussion about refugees and what we are going to do going forward would be useful.”

image (ctvnews.ca)

A boat load of Syrian refugees, mostly young men, arrives in Greece. Realistically, vetting these individuals is impossible. (ctvnnews.ca)

While he loves to criticize Gov. Doug Ducey, Montini should have directed his questions to President Obama and Barbara Strack, chief of the Refugee Affairs Division at Homeland Security, when it was simply announced that we would be welcoming some 10,000 Syrian refugees.  Were the governors briefed on the process? Continue reading →