|
nChrist
|
 |
« on: August 27, 2015, 05:49:24 PM » |
|
________________________________________
The Patriot Post Digest 8-26-2015
From The Federalist Patriot
Free Email Subscription
________________________________________
Daily Digest
Aug. 26, 2015
THE FOUNDATION
“Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time; for that’s the stuff life is made of.” —Benjamin Franklin, Poor Richard’s Almanac, 1746
TOP RIGHT HOOKS
Trump, Ramos Play Reality TV Parts Well1
Univision anchor Jorge Ramos was headed for conflict. A few days ago, in response to the recent Black Lives Matter protesters interrupting the speeches of Democrat candidates, Donald Trump said, “I would never give up my microphone.” He kept his word. When Trump called on another journalist at an Aug. 25 press conference, Ramos was on his feet2, interrupting with a question of his own. Trump was not about to give up his mic. “Excuse me, sit down, you were not called,” Trump told Ramos. “Go back to Univision.” When Ramos persisted, Trump motioned to security, which escorted the reporter out. Later, Ramos was allowed back3 to ask Trump a question, which resulted in a debate that Trump ended by mentioning he was suing Univision for $500 million. Ramos carries a huge amount of clout, as he’s been called the Walter Cronkite of Spanish-speaking media, but he’s also a self-admitted activist journalist who has spoken critically about Trump and his immigration policies. Ramos stepped on Trump’s toes, breaking from the dance reporters and sources usually play. The bottom line is both men are type-A “conflict junkies4,” and they each played the part their audiences wanted them to play.
Either Lois Lerner’s Dog Can Email, or She’s More Corrupt5
What is it with government officials and email? Lois Lerner, the now-retired IRS official who spearheaded the political targeting of conservative organizations before the 2012 election, was among the first whose email was sought in the wave of corruption among Obama administration officials. This week, the IRS finally disclosed that Lerner was using a private email address to conduct government business. According to IRS attorney Geoffrey Klimas, “In the process of preparing this status report and for the August 24, 2015, release of Lerner communications, the undersigned attorneys learned that, in addition to emails to or from an email account denominated ‘Lois G. Lerner’ or ‘Lois Home,’ some emails responsive to Judicial Watch’s request may have been sent to or received from a personal email account denominated ‘Toby Miles.’” The name “Toby Miles” appears to be a combination of her husband’s surname and the name of her dog. And she joins at least former EPA Chief Lisa Jackson in having a private email under an alias6 derived from a dog. When Lerner’s emails went “missing,” we joked7 that her dog ate her homework. We were wrong. Her dog was doing her homework.
In Washington, DC, Welfare Is Already on Par With Europe8
Normally when it comes to welfare in America the $1 trillion question is when exactly we will devolve into European-level dependency. When it comes to our nation’s capital, however, it seems we’re already there — and then some. In fact, if you live in DC, Denmark is the only country that offers greater benefits on the taxpayer dole, according to a new Cato Institute study. Michael D. Tanner and Charles Hughes write9, “In D.C., a mother with two children under the age of five who participates in six major welfare programs — Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps), housing assistance, home energy assistance, Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and free commodities — would receive a benefits package worth $34,963 per year. Using a similar measure, Cato found that benefits in Europe ranged from $38,588 per year in Denmark to just $1,112 in Romania. In fact, the District’s welfare system can be more generous than every country included except Denmark. The benefits package is higher than in well known welfare states as France ($17,324), Germany ($23,257) and even Sweden ($22,111).” Keep in mind the study excludes Medicaid expenses that would add another $8,140. Tanner and Hughes are also careful to note, “People in these programs are not lazy, but they are also not stupid. Like everyone else, they respond to incentives. If welfare pays better than work, people on welfare will be less likely to work.” Perhaps a good place to begin reform is on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers' paychecks should be rescinded until they actually get any work done.
FEATURED RIGHT ANALYSIS
How Two Candidates Are Handling the Trump Effect10
By Lewis Morris
No one ever assumed the Republican presidential nomination was going to be smooth sailing, with 17 announced candidates ranging from all walks of public and private life vying for the prize. But the candidacy, and we use that term loosely, of Donald Trump11 has changed the landscape in a way few could have imagined.
Trump’s presence thus far has muted the inevitability of establishment star Jeb Bush — a good thing, in our estimation, despite the insistence of some Trump supporters that our criticism of The Donald automatically means we favor the heir to the Bush Dynasty. Unfortunately, it has also flummoxed liberal dragon slayer Scott Walker, and all but neutralized Bobby Jindal and Rick Perry. Interestingly, however, it’s raised the stock of Ted Cruz, the first person to enter the race12 and — other than Trump — the one most considered to be a thorn in the side of the Republican Party, the Democrats, the Senate, and, well, anyone with a side to stick a thorn in.
That said, just what Trump has done to make all this happen is not the point here. The man has had more than his fair share of ink spilled in the campaign thus far. Our focus is how two candidates in particular, Cruz and Perry, came to find their fortunes reversed, one for the better, and one decidedly not.
Some are now considering Cruz to be a realistic frontrunner for the Republican nomination. This is a pretty good place to be for a man who, when he announced his candidacy in March, was tagged as the Tea Party candidate (a label of shame according to the Leftmedia) who has caused nothing but heartache for his fellow Senate Republicans.
The Leftmedia caricature is unfair and shallow. Sure, Cruz’s tactics have gotten him in trouble over the ObamaCare fight13 and budget issues. But Senate Republicans need a swift kick in the pants. Furthermore, intellectually, Cruz is no slouch. Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz once called14 Cruz “off-the-charts brilliant” for the time he spent at Harvard Law. Coming from a liberal like Dershowitz, that’s no small compliment.
Cruz’s short time in the Senate is another key criticism among opponents, despite the fact that he has held a number of public offices and rose to national prominence in the 2012 Senate race when he throttled both his establishment primary opponent and the Democrat general election challenger.
For all of the criticism of Barack Obama’s inexperience, it wasn’t his two years in the Senate before launching his presidential bid that was the problem; it was his ideology. Cruz is on the right path on that count.
Cruz’s stock has risen in recent weeks in large part because he is now well positioned to embrace Trump’s supporters when The Donald’s candidacy implodes. In a race15 that went from “Bush vs. Not-Bush” to “Trump vs. Not-Trump,” Cruz may be the strongest Not-Trump around. There are many conservative voters supporting Trump who may switch support to Cruz if the reality TV star were out of the picture. Which is why Cruz is playing it smart by not openly criticizing Trump like his fellow candidates. Besides, he doesn’t have to prove his anti-establishment bona fides.
It can be said that Cruz has grown in popularity by virtue of circumstance, even though it is to his credit that he has recognized that and played it well.
Rick Perry, on the other hand, is fading despite running a solid campaign on a good record.
Perry’s troubles began when he was relegated to the happy hour debate16, a sad place to be for a candidate who was tracking in the top tier before the Comb-Over King came to town. Then Perry had to stop paying staffers because his campaign ran out of money. Poll numbers drive fundraising, and fundraising drives poll numbers. Neither was going anywhere but down. |
