The Patriot Post Digest 6-4-2015

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The Patriot Post Digest 6-4-2015
From The Federalist Patriot
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Daily Digest

Jun. 4, 2015

THE FOUNDATION

“But the mild voice of reason, pleading the cause of an enlarged and permanent interest, is but too often drowned, before public bodies as well as individuals, by the clamors of an impatient avidity for immediate and immoderate gain.” —James Madison, Federalist No. 42, 1788

TOP RIGHT HOOKS

Rick Perry Asks for a Second Look1

Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced2 his second presidential bid today. Perry’s claim to fame3 is simple: jobs. Between 2007 and 2013, Texas created 1.5 million jobs while the rest of the nation lost 400,000. (What was that about Barack Obama’s recovery?) In 2014, Texas created a record 457,900 jobs. During his entire tenure, the Lone Star State was responsible for more than a third of America’s jobs. Even so — and with a current downturn in the oil industry slowing Texas' growth — Perry has made a concerted effort to expand his appeal beyond the economy. His generally successful 14-year tenure as governor of a large state should push him toward the top of the field, but he’ll have to overcome two things: A phony indictment4 that amounts to charges of governing while Republican, and first impressions from the 2012 campaign. The latter could be harder, as his infamous “oops” moment in one of the last cycle’s debates may have defined him too well. Naturally, he’s trying to redeem himself from a bumbling 2012 run, which he blames on ill preparation and the aftereffects of major back surgery. One person who thinks he can do it is Matt Rhoades, Mitt Romney’s campaign manager. “Gov. Perry has worked hard and done the right things to reposition himself for a run in 2016,” Rhoades said. “I believe his candidacy will have a major impact on the primary and voters will give him a second chance.” America is all about second chances, right?

Texas Campus Carry Ain’t Radical5

In yet another advancement for the Second Amendment, the Texas legislature passed a bill May 30 allowing concealed handgun carry on the state’s college and university campuses. The bill has compromises, though, as it allows state schools to create supposed gun-free zones, and it gives private schools the option of forbidding guns on their campuses — like most other private businesses have the right to do. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said he would sign the bill, making Texas one of 10 states6 that allow firearms on college campuses. But by the way some people are talking, you’d think the Lone Star State proposed some radical idea. Baylor University professor Lynn W. Tatum said7, “The perception in academia will be that Texas is a free-fire zone with yokels in the classrooms packing heat.” The underlying assumption is that college students are not mature enough to strap on a gun every morning. It’s part of the condescending attitude that although they are legal adults, old enough to vote and be drafted into the military (where they carry guns, by the way), college students are still not recognized as fully adult. Besides, with all the focus on campus rape, Texas did well to remember that an armed society is a polite society.

The Farce Is Strong With This One8

It’s not just Bruce Jenner9 the culture wants to validate. The Guardian reports10 on a girl who wanted to dress up as Darth Vader for her eighth birthday, but “she was devastated to see that the outfit was listed as a ‘boys’ costume.‘” Instead of leaving it alone, the mom and daughter wrote Disney to complain. A week later, they got a reply: “The description for this costume has now been amended as we understand that all our little Jedis enjoy Star Wars.” In fact, all the costumes on the site — from Disney Princess dresses to Iron Man suits — had been modified to read “for kids” instead of boys or girls. The Guardian’s Laura Bates opines, “We can take hope from this and the string of other incidents where companies have listened to young people’s concerns about gender stereotyping.” Yeah, that’s called biology. We all know that sometimes children like to dress up as whatever their favorite character may be, regardless of gender, but that’s all in good fun. This nonsense only solidifies possible gender confusion. And the episode calls to mind one of Darth Vader’s more famous lines: “I am your father.” We suppose Luke only reacted so negatively to the gender stereotyping.
Don’t Miss Alexander’s Column

Read Baltimore: A Democrat Model of 'American Exceptionalism’11, on a look at the decay and corruption of American urban centers under Democrat “leadership.”

If you’d like to receive Alexander’s Column by email, update your subscription here12.

FEATURED RIGHT ANALYSIS
Obama’s Perplexing Iran Dealings13

By Allyne Caan

Less than one month before the deadline to reach a final nuclear deal with Iran, things are going swimmingly. Or not.

Despite Barack Obama’s announcement that Iran’s nuclear program has been “frozen” during the past 18 months of negotiations, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in its latest report that Iran’s stockpile of nuclear fuel has actually grown by about 20% during that time. And according to the Center for Security Policy’s Fred Fleitz14, were Iran to enrich this uranium to weapons grade, it would be enough to make at least nine nuclear weapons. How comforting.

The New York Times reported15 that two potential reasons for the growth are “technical” difficulties preventing Iran from converting some of the uranium into fuel rods for reactors and attempts to gain an “edge” in the event negotiations fail. According to Fleitz, though, it’s what the Times didn’t report that is more troublesome: namely, “serious concerns … that Tehran may be trying to get the international community to allow it to have more centrifuges in a final nuclear agreement by manipulating the output of centrifuges it is currently operating to make them appear less efficient.”

Responding to the Times article, State Department spokesperson Marie Harf said the administration was “quite frankly perplexed.” Yes, you read that right. Perplexed. For an administration that has a habit of learning about everything from the “same news reports” that inform the rest of America, this is hardly surprising. Still, “perplexed” is not the adjective most Americans want to hear from the commander in chief’s subordinates when it comes to Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons. But according to Harf, it’s “absurd” to think the State Department didn’t know about the increase in Iran’s nuclear stockpiles because those numbers go up and down, and, as long as they end up at the right spot, we’re ok. So although reports of the increase are true, they’re “totally inaccurate” Tsk. Tsk. Whatever were we thinking?

Not to worry, though. There is a plan. Six world powers — the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China — have supposedly figured out a way to re-impose sanctions on Iran if the state sponsor of terrorism violates the terms of any agreement, which would be shocking, really, given that Iran never breaks its promises16. As Reuters reports17, any suspected breaches of the agreement would be considered by these super six, as well as — wait for it — Iran, and the group would come up with a non-binding opinion. Binding or not, does anyone really believe Russia and China would call out their pal Iran on violations? It’s the proverbial fox guarding the henhouse.