Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Is It Ok to be Scared Now?

Donald Trump said at a rally in South Carolina that we need a moratorium on Muslim immigration until we get a handle on things. As to be expected he's getting a lot of criticism from the drive-by media. What's surprising however is how vociferous REPUBLICAN criticism has been. Everybody wants to tell us "who we are as Americans" and what "values we hold dear". Well guess what? Dying is not a "value" and stupidity is not a virtue. Furthermore as a born and bred American I'll decide what my values are thank you very much. If you choose to live dangerously and grab a beer at your local biker bar or take a midnight stroll in the Hood or allow people to come here who have a LONG history of violence with no way to vet them, then off you go. But I'll be damned if I'll sit idly by as coddled, insulated elitists gamble with my life. By the way, if Republicans want to raise hell why won't they ask Obama where are all the Christian refugees? Slip their minds?
Common sense works every time! Try it, you'll like it!


Muslim Acts of Terrorism JUST THIS YEAR!
    1. Afghanistan January 5, 2015 – A car packed with explosives drove up to the headquarters of EUPOL Afghanistan, a European police-training organization, in Kabul and detonated. Taliban claimed responsibility. 1 killed 16 wounded.[89]
    2. Iraq January 6, 2015 – Two suicide bombers attacked a mosque in the town of Al-Jubba while Iraqi soldiers were resting, killing 10 soldiers plus the two attackers. Clashes following the bombings left 13 security personnel dead and 21 wounded.[90]
    3. France January 7–9, 2015 – A series of five attacks in and around Paris kill 17 people, plus three attackers, and leave 22 other people injured.
    4. Nigeria January 8, 2015 – 2015 Baga massacre. Boko Haram attacks town of Baga in northern Nigeria killing at least 200 people. Another 2000 are unaccounted for.[91]
    5. France January 9, 2015 - The Porte de Vincennes hostage crisis kills 4 and injures 9 people.
    6. Lebanon January 10, 2015 – In the 2015 Jabal Mohsen suicide attacks 9 people died and 30+ were wounded.
    7. Egypt January 29, 2015 – January 2015 Sinai attacks. 44 killed, several wounded.
    8. Pakistan January 30, 2015 – Suicide bomber killed at least 55, injuring at least 59 in a Shiite mosque in southern Pakistan.[92]
    9. Pakistan February 13, 2015 – Heavily armed militants killed at least 19 people and wounded more than 40 after they stormed into a Shiite mosque during Friday Prayer in a suburb of Peshawar.[93]
    10. Denmark February 14–15, 2015 – 2015 Copenhagen shootings. A gunman opened fire at the Krudttoenden café and later at the Great Synagogue in Copenhagen, killing two civilians and injuring five others.[94]
    11. Nigeria March 7, 2015 – Five suicide bomb blasts leave 58 dead and 143 wounded in the 2015 Maiduguri suicide bombing.
    12. Pakistan March 15, 2015 – Suicide bombers kill at least 15 people in attacks on two churches in Lahore.[95]
    13. Tunisia March 18, 2015 – Bardo National Museum attack. Militants linked to Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) attack the Bardo National Museum with guns, killing 21 people and injuring around 50.[96]
    14. Yemen March 20, 2015 – 2015 Sana'a mosque bombings. 135 killed in bombings on several mosques by ISIL.[97]
    15. Libya March 25, 2015 – ISIL affiliates, The Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries in Libya carried out suicide bombings in the city of Benghazi. Twelve were killed and 25 wounded. Five additional dead during attacks with a local militia.[98]
    16. Somalia March 27, 2015 – Makka al-Mukarama hotel attack. 20+ dead 28 wounded.
    17. Kenya April 2, 2015 – 148 people—most of them Christian students—killed in Al-Shabaab's Garissa University College attack.[99]
    18. Saudi Arabia April 8, 2015 – In the city of Riyadh two policemen are shot dead. ISIL is blamed to be behind the attack.[100][101]
    19. Somalia April 14, 2015 – Militants of Al-Shabaab attack a government building in Mogadishu in the 2015 Ministry of Higher Education attack. 17 dead 15 wounded.
    20. Iraq April 17, 2015 – A series of bombings by the ISIL occurred through Baghdad. 40+ killed 59+ injured.[102]
    21. Iraq April 17, 2015 – A car bomb exploded at the entrance of the US consulate in Erbil, Iraq. ISIL took credit for the attack. 3 killed 5 wounded.[103]
    22. Afghanistan April 18, 2015 – A suicide bomb detonated in front of a bank in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. ISIL claims responsibility. 33 killed 100+ injured.[104]
    23. France April 19, 2015 – A 32-year Frenchwoman is murdered by a gunman whose plot to attack a church is foiled shortly after.[105]
    24. Somalia April 20, 2015 – A minivan of UN workers was bombed by Al-Shabaab in the Puntland region of Somalia. 9 dead 4 injured.[106]
    25. Bosnia and Herzegovina April 27, 2015 – At the Zvornik police station terrorist attack in the city of Zvornik, Republika Srpska, in Bosnia and Herzegovina, an armed member of a wahhabist movement opened fire on the police. In the shooting, a police officer was killed, two others were injured, and the attacker was killed by police.[107]
    26. Iraq May 3, 2015 – Two car bombs were detonated ten minutes apart in Baghdad, Iraq. Nineteen were killed and an unknown number wounded. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attacks.[108]
    27. United States May 3, 2015 – Two gunmen attacked the Curtis Culwell Center during a 'Draw Muhammad' cartoon art exhibit in Garland, Texas . 2 dead (perpetrators) 1 injured.[109][110][111][112][113]
    28. Afghanistan May 3, 2015 – Taliban militants overran checkpoints in Warduj, killing 17 policemen.[114]
    29. Afghanistan May 4, 2015 – A government bus was attacked by a suicide bomber in Kabul, killing one person and injuring 15 others.[115]
    30. Iraq May 10, 2015 – Two car bombs were detonated ten minutes apart in Baghdad, Iraq and surrounding towns of Taji and Tarmiyah. ISIS claims responsibility. 14 were killed and wounding 30.[116]
    31. Afghanistan May 10, 2015 – A bus carrying Afghan government employees was attacked in Kabul by a suicide bomber, killing 3 people and injuring 10. Taliban claimed responsibility.[117]
    32. Pakistan May 13, 2015 – A bus carrying Shia Muslims was attacked by six armed gunman who rode up in motorcycles. Several Islamist groups claim responsibility. 45 dead 13 injured.[118]
    33. Afghanistan May 14, 2015 – A hotel that was hosting a cultural event was attacked by Taliban fighters in Kabul leaving 14 dead including an American, an Italian, and 4 Indians.[119]
    34. Afghanistan May 17, 2015 – A Taliban suicide attack near the entrance of Hamid Karzai International Airport targeting a European police training vehicle. 3 dead 18 injured.[120]
    35. Afghanistan May 19, 2015 – A suicide car bombing detonated in the parking lot of a Justice Ministry building in the diplomatic section of Kabul, killing 4 people wounding 42.[121]
    36. Libya May 21, 2015 – A suicide bomber detonated his explosives at a military checkpoint outside of Misrata killing himself and two guards.[122]
    37. Saudi Arabia May 22, 2015 – A suicide bomber attacked a Shia mosque during prayer in the al-Qadeeh village. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack. 21 dead +90 injured.[123]
    38. Afghanistan May 25, 2015 – Taliban militants killed 19 policemen and six soldiers during a siege at a police compound in Nawzad District of Afghanistan.[124]
    39. Kenya May 26, 2015 – Al-Shabaab militants attacked two police patrols which turned into a gun battle north of Garissa, 5 police officers were injured but they were able to kill both of the attackers.[125]
    40. Iraq May 28, 2015 – Two car bombs were set off minutes apart targeting the Cristal Grand Ishtar Hotel and the Babylon. 10 killed and 30 wounded.[126]
    41. Saudi Arabia May 29, 2015 – A suicide bomber attacked a Shia mosque in Dammam detonating the bomb in the parking lot. 4 killed, unknown injured.[127]
    42. Iraq June 1, 2015 – Three suicide bombers in humvees attacked an Iraqi police station in the Tharthar region in Northern Anbar Province. 41 dead, 63 wounded.[128]
    43. Turkey June 5, 2015 – 2015 Diyarbakır rally bombings – Twin bombing of a Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) rally. 4 dead, over 100 injured.[129][130]
    44. Iraq June 13, 2015 – Four suicide SUV car bombs went off in an Iraqi police station in the Hajjaj near Tikrit and Baiji. 11 dead, 27 injured.[131]
    45. France June 26, 2015 – Saint-Quentin-Fallavier attack – Beheading in a factory near Lyon, head marked with Arabic writing and Islamist flags. Gas canisters planted provoked a fire. 1 dead, 11 injured.[132]
    46. Kuwait June 26, 2015 – 2015 Kuwait mosque bombing – 27 people killed in explosion at Shia Imam Sadiq mosque in Kuwait City, medical sources tell Al Jazeera. Claimed by ISIS
    47. Tunisia June 26, 2015 – 2015 Sousse attack – Attack in Tunisia against two tourist hotels, over 28 people died.
    48. Somalia June 26, 2015 – Battle of Leego (2015) Attack on AMISOM base in Somalia with a car bomb, assault rifles and RPGs, causing over 30 military deaths.
    49. Nigeria June 26-30, 2015 - Boko Haram kills at least 200 people as they gun down and bomb villages, mosques, and other public space.[133]
    50. Israel June 29, 2015 – 2015 Shuvat Rachel shooting shooting attack on civilian car, 1 death.
    51. Nigeria July 5, 2015 - Two bombs explode at an elite restaurant and mosque, killing at least 15 people in Jos.[134]
    52. Nigeria July 7, 2015 - A bomb explodes in a government office in Zaria, killing 20 people.[135]
    53. Cameroon July 13, 2015 - 2 suicide bombers explode in a bar in the town of Fotokol and kill 13 people, including a soldier from Chad who was killed in the second explosion.[136]
    54. Nigeria July 17, 2015 - Two Nigerian towns are attacked by two suicide bombers, killing 62 people.[137]
    55. Turkey July 20, 2015 – 2015 Suruç bombing Suicide bombing killed 33 people and injured 104 in Kurdish majority city of Suruç. ISIL claims responsibility.[138]
    56. Nigeria July 22, 2015 - A series of explosions at two bus stations in Gombe kill about 40 people.[139]
    57. Cameroon July 26, 2015 - A suicide bomber kills at least 14 people at a popular nightclub in Maruoa, just three days after 2 suicide bombers killed 20 people in the same town.[140]
    58. Nigeria August 11, 2015 - 47 people are killed as explosions erupt at a crowded market in the town of Sabon Gari.[141]
    59. Iraq August 13, 2015 – 2015 Baghdad market truck bombing A truck bomb in a Baghdad market killed more than 70 and injures 200.[142]
    60. France August 21, 2015 – 2015 Thalys train attack Shooting and stabbing in train traveling from Amsterdam to Paris injures 5. The incident is believed by French police to be an Islamist terrorist attack.[143]
    61. Nigeria August 28-30, 2015 - Boko Haram members massacre 79 people in 3 different Nigerian villages. 68 alone were killed in the village of Baanu.[144]
    62. Nigeria September 10, 2015 - Explosion at a refugee camp for people fleeing Boko Haram kills at least 2.[145]
    63. Iraq September 17, 2015 – Two suicide bombings in Baghdad killed 10 and injured 55. ISIL claims responsibility.[146]
    64. Germany September 17, 2015 – An Islamist of Iraqi descent attacked and injured a police officer with a knife in Berlin. 1 injured, 1 dead (perpetrator).[147]
    65. Nigeria September 21, 2015 - At least 54 people were killed by multiple explosions in Nigeria.[148]
    66. Yemen September 24, 2015 – A bomb attack on a Shia mosque in Sana'a killed 25 and injured dozens more during prayers for the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. Claimed by ISIL.[149]
    67. BangladeshItaly September 29, 2015 – Three men on a motorbike shot and killed an Italian aid worker. The attack has been claimed by ISIL.[150]
    68. Nigeria October 1, 2015 – Multiple suicide bombings by Boko Haram in North-East Nigeria killed 14 people (including the bombers) and injured 39.[151]
    69. Israel October 1, 2015 – Gunmen opened fire on a car near Nablus on the northern West Bank, killing a man and woman. 4 of their 6 children were also in the car and witnessed the attack, but were uninjured. The attackers have been praised by Hamas.[152][153]
    70. Australia October 2, 2015 – 2015 Parramatta shooting. A NSW Police Force civilian employee was shot dead outside NSW Police Force headquarters on Charles Street, Parramatta, Sydney by a 15-year old lone gunman. The gunman then engaged with NSW Police Special Constables in a shootout before being killed, 2 dead.[154]
    71. BangladeshJapan October 3, 2015 – A Japanese man was shot and killed in a similar fashion to an Italian aid worker killed 4 days earlier. The attack has been claimed by ISIS.[155]
    72. Iraq October 3, 2015 – In Baghdad, two suicide bombings in Shiite majority neighbourhoods kill at least 18 people and injure 61. Attack claimed by ISIS.[156]
    73. Afghanistan October 5, 2015 – Two suicide bombings in Kabul targeted an Afghan intelligence centre. 3 people were injured in the attack, claimed by the Taliban.[157][158]
    74. Somalia October 7, 2015 – Militants of Al-Shabaab ambushed and killed the nephew of Somalia's president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. 2 dead.[159]
    75. Turkey October 10, 2015 - In the 2015 Ankara bombings 102 people were killed and over 400 others injured. According to two high ranked sources in the Turkish security forces ISIS is most likely responsible.[160][161]
    76. Chad October 10, 2015 – Multiple suicide bombings in Chad killed 33 people and injured 51. The attack is believed to be the work of Boko Haram.[162]
    77. AfghanistanUnited Kingdom October 11, 2015 – A bomb attack in Kabul, targeting a British military convoy injured 7 Afghan civilians. The attack has been claimed by the Taliban.[163]
    78. Nigeria October 22, 2015 – 20 people were killed in the northeast state of Borno, Nigeria in a Boko Haram attack.[164]
    79. Nigeria October 23, 2015 – Two separate mosques were attacked by suicide bombers, killing 42 in Nigeria.[165]
    80. Niger October 28, 2015 - Boko Haram militants attack a village in Niger, gunning down 13 people and allegedly burning down houses and cars during the rampage.[166]
    81. EgyptRussia October 31, 2015 – Bomb on board a Russian jet brings it down in Sinai, bound for St Petersburg, killing 224 people.[167]
    82. Lebanon November 12, 2015 – Twin suicide bombings kill 42 people in the capital city of Beirut.[168]
    83. France November 13, 2015 – A series of terrorist attacks in Paris kill 137, and wound 368. They involved a series of coordinated attacks which consisted of mass shootings and suicide bombings. This incident was the most fatal event on French soil since World War II.[169]
    84. Iraq November 13, 2015 - A Suicide bomber kills at least 21 at a Shia funeral.[170]
    85. PhilippinesMalaysia November 17, 2015 – A Malaysian national is beheaded by Abu Sayyaf in the southern Philippines.[171]
    86. Nigeria November 17, 2015 – A suicide attack at a market in Yola killed more than 30 people and hospitalised more than 80. The attack is thought to be the work of Boko Haram.[172]
    87. France November 18, 2015 – A Jewish history teacher was stabbed in the arm and leg by three Islamists in Marseille.[173]
    88. Bosnia and Herzegovina November 18, 2015 – A lone wolf Islamist killed two soldiers and injured civilians in Sarajevo. 3 dead 5 wounded.[174]
    89. Nigeria November 18, 2015 – Two explosions rock a phone market in Kano killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 100. Boko Haram is suspected to be behind it.[175]
    90. Mali November 20, 2015 – Bamako hotel attack. Gunmen yelling "Allahu Akbar" storm a hotel in Bamako, Mali. At least 19 killed, and more than 160 were taken hostage.
    91. Iraq November 20, 2015 – A Suicide bomber detonates inside a Shiite mosque killing 10 people, other bombings in the area killed another 5 people.[176]
    92. Cameroon November 21, 2015 – Suicide bombers affiliated with Boko Haram kill at least 10 in northern Cameroon.[177]
    93. Nigeria November 22, 2015 – 8 people among women and children demise when a female suicide bomber is reduced to pulp.[178]
    94. Tunisia November 24, 2015 – At least 12 people were killed in a bus bombing in Tunis, the capital of Tunisia. ISIS claimed responsibility for this attack that targeted a bus transporting members of the Presidential Guard. [179]
    95. Egypt November 24, 2015 – In the November 2015 Sinai attack which occurred a day after the second round of parliamentary elections closed, militants attack a hotel housing election judges in the provincial capital of al-Arish in Egypt's North Sinai. 7 dead, 10+ wounded[180]
    96. Niger November 25, 2015 – Boko Haram invades a village and shoots indiscriminately residents and also fire rockets, killing 18.[181]
    97. Nigeria November 27, 2015 – 21 killed in Boko Haram suicide attack on a Shia procession in Nigeria[182]
    98. Egypt November 28, 2015 – Islamist gunmen killed four security personnel in an attack at a police checkpoint in Saqqara. 4 dead[183]
    99. Mali November 28, 2015 – Millitants fired rockets on a MINUSMA peacekeeping forces base in northern Mali. Ansar Dine claimed responsibility. 3 dead, 20 wounded.[184]
    100. United States December 2, 2015 – In the 2015 San Bernardino shooting, two people, one of whom posted on Facebook an "oath of allegiance" to the leader of ISIL, shot and killed 14 people and injured 21 others in a killing spree that the FBI was investigating as "act of terrorism".[185][186]
    101. Chad December 5, 2015 – Four female suicide bombers from the militant Islamist group Boko Haram attacked the Chadian island of Koulfoua on Lake Chad, killing at least 15 people and injuring 130.[187]
    102. Yemen December 6, 2015 – The governor of the southern port city of Aden in Yemen, Jaafar Mohammed Saad, was killed in a car bomb attack. The assassination was claimed by ISIS.[188]

Posted by "The Hammer" at 12/08/2015 1 comments

Sunday, December 6, 2015

The Hammer's College Football Roundup: Week 14 (PETA Edition)

Rameses being humiliated
Well, of the two games I saw yesterday Carolina/Clemson was by far the most entertaining. But first I want to mention something that has stuck in my craw for many years, so bear with me a moment. To the left is a Big Horn sheep (ovis canadensis) that UNC, in an absolute unconscionable act of narcissism and self-indulgence as well as institutional malfeasance, parades around football games for the amusement of drunks and idiots. As you can can probably guess, Big Horn sheep do not come with baby blue horns. Is this not animal abuse? There outta be a law!

Ok back to the game. What's up with Clemson? In big games they seem to tighten up when they get ahead. Against Notre Dame they had the Irish down 21-3 and gave up 19 fourth quarter points. Last night they were slowly but steadily degrading Carolina's defense and then started getting procedure calls left right and center. Then the punter goes rogue and tries to run for a first down, eh... without management's authorization. Dabo lost his mind (of course) and the punter got the hair dryer treatment, repeatedly, for the next several plays. It was ugly. But hey, these are college kids, they might do anything at anytime. But there it is, Carolina had a great year, Defensive Coordinator Gene Chizik will be hired by some school never to look back at Chapel Hill again and the Heels will go 6-7 next year (I hope). Regardless I can stop talking about the cheating bastards, they're done.

TigerHawk, I'm so sorry. I feel like an Iowan sometimes having roomed with three Iowa boys in the service of my country (Pomeroy (pop 626), Sioux City and Spencer). I like Iowa folk, down to earth, genuine, friendly bunch. Plus I was sorta pulling for the Hawkeyes although didn't want to get emotionally invested. I just had a feeling that Michigan State's experience in the big games, of which they've had a few this year, would win out. Unfortunately I was right. The Hawkeyes are CERTAINLY good enough to be Big Ten Champs, that is crystal clear. But knowing HOW to win the big games is so important. Tell me, would Ohio State have won last year NOT having gone through the crucible of monster games the Buckeyes play year in and year out? Those uniforms mean something, tradition is power! Sorry Iowa, maybe next year.

Alabama...there is NO substitute. Florida played as well as they can play and they are a well coached, talented football team, but 'Bama is that much better! Alabama's defensive front seven are THE BEST! Their offense can be at times spotty but they've got good receivers and MY Heisman pick Derrick Henry. I would LOVE to see an Oklahoma/Alabama matchup.

So, it'll be Clemson, Oklahoma, Alabama and Michigan State. If it goes as expected Clemson will get Michigan State and I'll get my Alabama/OK. I haven't a clue what the lines would be but I'd give 'Bama a 6 point edge and Clemson maybe 3, I say MAYBE.

Well that's it, another season gone by. I'll likely comment on the bowls so stay tuned.

Posted by "The Hammer" at 12/06/2015 4 comments

Friday, December 4, 2015

Lunch with Marco Rubio

Tom selfee, with me to his right and John with the beard
As many of you know, I use this blog as a component of my Presidential fundraising activities. Last time round, we hit $25K for Mitt, and I'm hoping to do a good bit better this time with a VICTORIOUS Marco Rubio. I made a mistake yesterday that we had passed the $11k mark--we are actually past the $12K mark, a point not hit until 29 July 2012 last time!  I am very grateful to those who have contributed and look forward to a whole lot more where this came from.

One of the ways I hope to raise more money this time is to be a little more sophisticated about my networking--and to that end, I worked with a good friend of mine at a DC law firm to be part of the sponsors of a luncheon held yesterday, midday.  Of the approximately 100 people who joined in the crowd, six were recruited by me.

And so, I arrived at the site of the luncheon at 1130, thirty minutes before start, and in the lobby were two of my recruitees, brother Tom and Navy buddy John.  We all signed in and were told to head up to the 11th floor, which we did-even though I was unaware that there was any activity for which we had signed up being held on the 11th floor.

As you might expect--talking about the Navy
We were ushered into a small room with seating for about 25 and a two seats in the front, one of which was occupied by a moderator of some sort. Wow, I thought. I'm getting a hell of a lot more for my money than I thought I would. And then they brought Senator Rubio in. Damn, the dude looks young. I didn't look that young when I was that young. He greeted all of us with a very sunny disposition, and sat down and began talking---about agriculture. That's right.  We had been ushered into the 1130 agriculture event, rather than the 1200 defense event, and this one was full of farmers and lobbyists who had clearly paid more than we had. I looked at Tom and John and said, "oh well, as long as we are here."

And we listened to Rubio talk about agricultural issues just as intelligently as he has discussed everything else on the campaign. He gets a lot of crap from some for his support of sugar subsidies, but he explained it yesterday his way--the free market does a lot of things well, but not everything. If the world sugar market were free, he'd support getting rid of the subsidies (you can use this logic for a lot of farm subsidies, as a matter of fact), because then our farmers could compete on an even playing field. But since they can't without price support, farmers would sell, the land would be developed AND NEVER AGAIN BE PART OF OUR FOOD SUPPLY.  He had clearly had to make this argument before, because it was polished, quick, unemotional, and straightforward. When this little affair to which we had not been invited ended, we slipped out quickly before the selfie taking began with the Ag folks and went back down to the first floor to hang with the defense types.

Tom and his buddy
This affair was a little less cozy, again, with about 100 people (all of the Ag folks joined) in a room about the size of  large classroom. There were several standup tables about which one could throw down the light lunch that was provided, and in the front of the room was a podium. Behind the podium was one of those large projection walls made up of a lot of flatscreen TV's, and it was playing a slow jam of Rubio greatest hits photos.  Rubio showed up and began to work the room--we (me and a few of my homeys) were in a solid spot to intercept/be intercepted, and we each had a brief moment to chat with Rubio.

He then proceed to the podium and riffed for about fifteen minutes--but not before a kind of funny, pretty human moment. When he got to  the podium, he begged our indulgence for a second, and then took out his cell phone. I began to think some kind of crappy setup piece going to happen, and then he began to evidently type a text message or email. Very quickly, but when he put it down, you could see he was a little embarrassed. He explained to us that his kids school lunch program has a feature where there is an automated account that occasionally needs filling. Well, evidently, one of his kids' lunch accounts ran out as he was coming in to talk with us, and he needed to authorize an account filling so his kid could get lunch. It was a really human moment with a Dad--before a surreal moment when we stood 8 feet from a guy who may someday be President.

It was a great event--and there was a lot of enthusiasm in the room.  Lot of time left, and a lot of campaigning to do.
Posted by The Conservative Wahoo at 12/04/2015 3 comments

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Conservative Wahoo Rubio for President Fund Cracks $11K!

Folks, the I am very pleased to say that my CW Rubio for President Fund is up above $11,000.  I am so very grateful to those who have donated to the campaign through this fund. To give you an idea of how well we are doing, the Romney Fund did not hit this number until MID JULY 2012!

Let's keep a good thing going, folks!  Double click the form photo off to the right and it will take you directly to the site where you can make your donation.
Posted by The Conservative Wahoo at 12/02/2015 2 comments

Sunday, November 29, 2015

Propaganda by polling

The propaganda is rife on the eve of the Paris climate conference. Pew Research, which is usually reasonably credible, is advertising its survey that purports to reveal "broad support for limiting emissions" around the globe. Dig through to the question asked, though, and it becomes hard to imagine any other answer:

Countries from around the world will meet in December in Paris to deal with global climate change. They will discuss an agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions, such as from burning coal or [gas/petrol]. Do you support or oppose (survey country) limiting its greenhouse gas emissions as part of such an agreement?
Yeah, well, unless you're a libertarian -- and very few people around the world are -- it is hard to argue with "limiting greenhouse gas emissions." One is forced to wonder, however, whether the results would be decisively different if one appended to the question some notion of cost, to wit: "even if it substantially increased the prices you will pay for gasoline, heating your home, and electricity?" That is such an obvious qualification that it is hard to imagine an intellectually honest poll on the subject that does not reflect the price of greenhouse gas regulation.

Posted by TigerHawk at 11/29/2015 0 comments

The Hammer's College Football Review: Week 13

Well let's get this out of the way. My WolfPack let this one get away early. We always were slow starters in big games and man did we start slow yesterday. The Heels sliced and diced us for 35 FIRST QUARTER points before we settled down and started playing a little defense. It was as ugly as it gets but the bottom line is we aren't as good. That's it, no excuses. But now comes the aftermath.

How does a team with essentially the same personnel as last year go from one of the worst defenses in the country to one of the best? How does that happen? Here's how. We've known Carolina has had the horses for a couple of years now but just couldn't get it together. So they brought in defensive specialist and national championship winning coach Gene Chiznik (14-0 Auburn 2010) to take over the defense to the tune of 700k per year (plus a little "off the books" scratch from the Rams Club I'd wager). He has performed magnificently. This illustrates Carolina's mentality to a tee, when adversity strikes double down and pony up, money can't buy you love but it can sure can buy your way out of trouble sometimes.

I look at it a bit differently. I think they've bought their way INTO trouble and maybe only just now have they realized it. Here's the deal. Carolina is a basketball school, an ACCEPTED, cream of the crop, they don't get no bigger basketball school. A basketball school with VERY FEW peers! Dirty? Hell yes! But certainly no dirtier than Kentucky. However they are, without doubt, carved in stone, never to change for all time, a SECOND TIER football school. They are NOT Alabama, Ohio State or USC... and never will be. Clemson, a football school from way back is barely in this club of which we all know who the members are and who the members ain't. That's just the way it is. This fact puts Carolina is in a very precarious situation, very precarious indeed!

How so Hammer? I'm glad you asked. This Tar Heel team is the best of my lifetime and I've been hanging around a while. Whichever team wins the ACC Championship game, and it could very well be Carolina, has a guaranteed spot in the four team playoff and a shot at the NCAA Championship! Clemson by virtue of their #1 ranking and undefeated season, UNC by virtue of their knocking off #1 and their one loss season. If the North Carolina Tar Heels win and is one of those playoff teams, if Carolina and not Clemson takes a spot from the traditional powers, and remember they'll be half a dozen very pissed off teams who think THEY deserve inclusion, then my friends the Heels with all their high powered New York lawyers  and all their money will be drowned by the tsunami of investigations that will descend on the lovely Chapel Hill campus. You cannot pull the illegal shit Carolina has pulled, up to and including running a bogus department with bogus classes for 18 LONG YEARS, and then turn around and take (for instance) Oklahoma's place in the playoff and not expect retribution! The traditional powers in college football would put so much pressure on the NCAA, Carolina would think the Russians have invaded. There would be no more foot-dragging, no more delays, no more breaks. Sanctions would be devastating and swift. People would go to prison. Forget football, a Tar Heel victory over Clemson next Saturday would spell the end of Carolina basketball for potentially twenty years! If a pissing contest ensues between football and basketball football will win by a mile every time because THAT'S WHERE THE MONEY IS! North Carolina has put themselves in the unique position of winning it all in a sport they don't care that much about at the cost of losing it all in a sport they think they own. Saturday's game is the biggest game in the history of UNC athletics. Therefore I say....GO HEELS!

Ok, that's done. Now let's talk a little football playoff. TigerHawk's Hawkeyes are getting notice. The sports establishment is asking just what we've all been asking, is Iowa for real? My view is a good passing team will beat Iowa. If they've got a weakness it's in the secondary. They don't make a lot of mistakes and they're solid, but a top team running, let's say the Wildcat would overwhelm them I'm thinking. But last I looked Michigan State didn't run that offense. Even still, sorry TigerHawk, I just don't see these guys going much further. However you may have noticed my predictions yesterday so what do I know?
Alabama has to be in unless they stumble against Florida and that ain't gonna happen. Well done Florida, great season and the program is definitely back, but it's over, see you next year.
Ohio State is maybe done but how could you leave this team out? They can beat anybody, in fact absolutely would beat just about anybody. But the numbers just ain't there.
They want a west coast team in but who? Stanford had a nice win against Notre Dame (removing them from any consideration) but no way they're good enough. There are no other west coast teams.

Right now I'd say Clemson and Alabama are locks unless they really screw up. Whoever comes out of the Big Ten Championship game is a lock as well. I'd guess Michigan State but hey, it could be Iowa. The last spot has to go to Oklahoma. Now, who SHOULD get in? Ohio state without doubt. Stumbled against Michigan State but so what? Clemson would be my next pick then Alabama and then the Big Ten champ. Oklahoma would be out. Is that going to happen? Hell to the friggin' NO!

Well that's it, it's after 11, time for a drink. By the way, how ya liking them Panthers?


Posted by "The Hammer" at 11/29/2015 0 comments

Saturday, November 28, 2015

The Hammer's Rivalry Week Predictions 2015

CW is fond of his end of year predictions (me not so much). To me predicting what will happen in the geopolitical world is about as useful as predicting the weather three months out, but college football is a bit different. How so I haven't a clue. Anyway here are today's game predictions according to the Sage of Tickbite.

Clemson vs South Carolina: This game will break one of two ways. The Cocks will play them very tough and maybe even pull out a win or Clemson will run through 'em like Sherman burning Columbia. Get out the fire hoses. 42-7

North Carolina at NC State: After last year's embarrassment at home (35-7) the Hells are looking a little payback, and they got the team to do it. State has been hurt this year by injuries (Matt Dayes) and ejections (as in get off campus and stay off campus) Shadrach Thornton. Carolina's defense has shown more improvement than CW's waistline this year and their offense is efficient and potent (much like my wedding tackle). With much sadness I predict a Tar Heel victory 35-28

VPI at Virginia: You know you're an old bastard when you still call Va. Tech VPI (guilty as charged). This will be a tough day in for Wahooligans everywhere I'm afraid. Beamer's last game against a Virginia team that's just finishing up #1 their fourth straight losing season #2 Mike London's coaching career...well things ain't looking good in Charlottesville. Tech 24-17

Florida State at Florida: Flawda State is a young team and Jimbo Fisher ain't done a bad job this year even though two losses are unusual for the 'Noles. Down in Gainesville first year Florida head coach Jim McElwain (home to the hottest coeds in the country...by a mile) has gotten the Gators back in their comfort zone having lost only once this year. But Florida had to suspend their outstanding QB Will Grier for getting high and trying to bang every last coed on campus (a noble pursuit but inconsistent with team rules), but then again FSU is highly suspect on the road. I don't know...call this one a toss up.  FSU is a 2.5 point favorite, to which I say bull-fuqing-shit! 0-0

Oklahoma at Ok State: Oklahoma
Notre Dame at Stanford: Notre Dame
Ole Miss at Miss State: Ole Miss
UCLA at USC: who gives a shit?
Wisconsin at Mini-soda: Mini-soda
Alabama at Auburn: take a wild guess
Georgia at Ga. Tech: Ga. Tech
Ohio State at Michigan: Big Blue
Indiana at Purdue: I'd rather watch midget wrestling
Iowa at Nebraska: I predict Iowa 28-20

Well that's it, now go clean the garage like the old lady said!
















Posted by "The Hammer" at 11/28/2015 2 comments

Friday, November 27, 2015

Expungification Watch: What about Times Square?

Steven Hayward over at PowerLine mocks the editors of The New York Times -- no sophistry required to do that -- over their support for the proposition that Princeton University should expunge Woodrow Wilson from his place of honor on its campus. Hayward points out that the Times had endorsed Wilson, an "unrepentant racist," in 1912 and 1916, long after Wilson's attitudes had manifested in policies that were plainly evident even to those editors.

Curiously, today's editors made no mention of the manifest racism of their predecessors, or even the paper's own error in that endorsement. All the news that's fit to print, indeed.

Regardless, we are aghast that the iconic center of Bill de Blasio's Manhattan still goes by the name of "Times Square," named as it is for an institution that went out of its way, with malice aforethought, to endorse the unrepentant racist Woodrow Wilson. We await on pins and needles the editorial from the not-all-that repentant NYT, 2015 edition, to demand that Times Square revert to its historical name, Longacre Square, in the spirit of the, er, times.

Posted by TigerHawk at 11/27/2015 1 comments

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Boot-licking reporters and journalistic "ethics" in Clinton-world

Gawker has a great story, scraped from emails produced in a FOIA lawsuit, that exposes Mike Allen, Politico's Chief White House correspondent, as a world-class devotee of boot sole. In order to get an interview with Chelsea Clinton, Allen promised her handler (Deputy Secretary of State Philippe Reines, who apparently had the job of publicist or gatekeeper for the Secretary's adult daughter, a fact that itself would be considered very out-of-bounds if it happened in any non-governmental corporation) that the interview would be, essentially, no-risk publicity for Chelsea. Allen positively grovels:

This would be a way to send a message during inaugural week: No one besides me would ask her a question, and you and I would agree on them precisely in advance. This would be a relaxed conversation, and our innovative format (like a speedy Playbook Breakfast) always gets heavy social-media pickup. The interview would be “no-surprises”: I would work with you on topics, and would start with anything she wants to cover or make news on. Quicker than a network hit, and reaching an audience you care about with no risk.
Mmmm! Boot be tasty!

Sorry to share something so degrading this early in the morning, and on the verge of a nice holiday at that. But if your "progressive" niece chokes out her Obamacare talking points per HuffPo, you can roll this baby out in retaliation.

Regardless, I have a modest proposal that would put an end to this sort of thing, or at least shine a light on it.

Journalism, which claims the status of a "profession" without any of the regulation that goes along with one, could very easily establish a norm -- call it an ethical rule -- that would separate genuinely independent work from the pseudo-PAC propaganda pushed by most journalists: Before every interview or feature, append a simple statement that describes the extent to which the subject had any control or influence over the questions before they were asked, or any ability to review the story before it was published. An example: "In order to secure this interview with Chelsea Clinton, Politico promised that Clinton's representative would agree on the precise questions in advance, that there would be no surprises, that Politico and Clinton's representative would collaborate on the topics addressed in those questions, and that Clinton would have an opportunity to speak on any subject important to her at the beginning of the interview."

Then we can all decide whether the interview is worth reading or not.

It is hard to imagine a more obvious reform. Since it has not been adopted, we can assume the press is in league with its subjects more often than not, and reporters should be considered flacks for their subjects unless they establish otherwise.

CWCID: Glenn Reynolds.

Posted by TigerHawk at 11/25/2015 0 comments

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Deliver Us From the Clueless

Friday night I was minding my own business, relaxing, watching a little idiot-tube after a hard day in the salt mines and what do I come across but a Republican "communications consultant". Oh Joy! As you might imagine I was all ears. After all, over the past several years have we not gotten our asses kicked mightily by the news media, social media, popular culture...you name it? Obviously we are not communicating our message well, otherwise campaigns like "Pajama Boy" would have never made it past the brainstorming stage. The Democrats have a very effective propaganda machine and I want our side to study their methods and at the very least neutralize their message but preferably go on the attack and put them on the defensive for a change. So, how do we do this Mr. Big-Time Consultant?

Wow, talk about let down! To me this was very disheartening to think somebody like this has influence over our messaging. I came away thinking this guy is part of the problem, in fact this guy (and others like him) may BE the problem. Anyway the pearls of wisdom this gentleman espoused were things like "We study the language of leadership, what Americans are looking for now is a leader". Sounds great, tell me more. "They're looking for someone who is responsible with their rhetoric, positive about solutions, this whole notion of getting into a fight about whether we call it Radical Islamic terrorism or whether we point fingers at others...we've tested it" So we shouldn't call it Islamic terrorism because you're worried about the language, you're worried about being PC? We shouldn't put the words Islam together with terrorism? "Everyone knows who we're talking about at this point. The time we spend talking about the language, we politicize the situation and take the focus away from agreeing on the solution. We have much less of a gap on policy solutions than we do on this rhetorical debate of what to call it." This has all been "focus group tested" we are assured.

I'll just bet it has. I'd also bet the focus group were self described "moderates" of the type the GOP is forever obsessing about. The country clubbers listen to a guy like this, they tone down their language to the most white bread, least offensive possible and then proceed to get their 40% (if they're lucky) of the conflict averse, muddy middle all the while alienating five million base conservatives who would have otherwise turned out and voted Republican. Brilliant strategy. I just wish our consultants would change sides. Maybe then we wouldn't have to deal with things like this.

President Obama compared congressional Republicans who reject his nuclear deal to Iranian hardliners who chant “death to America” during a speech selling the agreement with Tehran at American University Wednesday.

 In Congress, Republicans have a bill that would let hospitals allow a woman to die rather than perform an abortion necessary to save her life. 

Harry Reid sees a common thread in GOP White House field: ‘They’re all losers’

Pelosi: The GOP is 'a political party at war with its own government'

One would think this kind of rhetoric would scare the hell out of our mild-mannered GOP Super-Genius consultant class and their testosterone free focus groups. But apparently it's only a problem when conservatives use blunt language.

Buy a clue Republicans, taking (and actually paying for) advise from clueless losers will get you nowhere. Ask Mitt Romney.
Posted by "The Hammer" at 11/22/2015 0 comments

The Hammer's College Football Review: Week 12 (to hell with it, I'm getting drunk edition)

The wheels on the bus go round and round and it just ran over THE Ohio State Buckeyes. Man what a defense those Spartans have! Michigan State shut down OSU's running game like they were the '78 Steelers, most especially in the second half. The Buckeyes with this big late season loss at home, well that pretty much does it for the playoff. You know I'm not at all surprised. A team that has three quarterbacks has no quarterbacks and an implosion is potentially just a game away. I know these guys are defending champions but they haven't really been pushed to the limit this year, Michigan State has. Up against a top defense something cracked in the foundation. That was the difference in the game. Now it's on to the undefeated Iowa Hawkeyes for Big Green.

Speaking of Iowa, the Hawkeyes are a well coached, fundamentally sound football team with some good wins against quality competition. But they haven't played the likes of an Alabama or Clemson. Yes indeed Pitt is respectable, Wisconsin and Northwestern are GOOD football teams. But Iowa hasn't even played the best in their conference so who knows? Next week they play a struggling but again respectable Nebraska in Lincoln. I expect them to win. But in the Big Ten Championship game I wouldn't wager a penny on them. Sorry TigerHawk, we know they're good, the question is are they THAT good? We shall see.

I can sure tell you who ain't good however, and that is the South Carolina Gamecocks. Ordinarily they wouldn't deserve a mention with the disaster that has beset Columbia this year, but news is defined by extremes sometimes. The University of South Carolina Gamecocks' loss to the Citadel yesterday must be unendurable to the Gamecock faithful. I'll let The State newspaper describe what happened.
"The Citadel handed South Carolina its first loss to a Football Championship Subdivision team in 25 years, 23-22 in front of 77,241 fans at Williams Brice Stadium, but it wasn’t an upset. It was the first loss by any SEC team to an FCS school since Florida lost to Georgia Southern in 2013, but it wasn’t an upset. It was The Citadel’s first win over a Football Bowl Subdivision team in its last 29 tries, but it wasn’t an upset."

I don't know about you, but sounds like to me somebody in Columbia is disgusted, upset and just tired of be tired of this crappy football team. How in the hell did a Steve Spurrier recruited and coached team fall so far so fast? Sheet fur I should have been able to coach this team to a win over the Citadel, from 40 rows up half drunk. Looks like interim head coach Shawn Neverheardofyou will be job hunting real soon.

And then there's Clemson. I actually think next weeks game in Williams Brice is up for grabs. The Cocks have hit rock bottom and they've got nothing to lose. They hate Clemson's ass like the Israelis and Pallies and would like nothing better than to ruin Clemson's run. In fact with a win over Clemson they would consider the season a success. Now if Clemson were 5-6 it wouldn't matter, but knocking Clemson off the top rung, man that would be SWEET. Clemson better be ready.

That's about it. Oklahoma State lost but no real surprise. I am surprised they stayed undefeated this long. Next week they have Oklahoma in Norman so we'll see. This is just another rival showdown on rivalry week. LOTS of big games and lots more shakeups to come. I do want to thank CW who pussied out on a proposed wager thereby saving me $75.00. Duke was a 2.5 point underdog against the Wahoos in Charlottesville and my wager was I'll take Duke even for a Cohiba sampler. No dice said CW. Just saved myself a weeks pay.

Not to be blasphemous or anything but if you have a God please pray to him/her for the Wolfpack to smite the unjust, criminal, cheating lowlife North Carolina Tar Heels next Saturday. This matchup transcends sport. This is good versus evil. This is Elliott Ness and Al Capone, Allies Axis, the West vs Islamic Jihad kinda stuff and we'll need all the help we can get. Thank you and God Bless.





Posted by "The Hammer" at 11/22/2015 3 comments

Friday, November 20, 2015

Big Fat Friday Free For All

What's wrong, chum? Your college basketball team drop its SECOND GAME OF THE SEASON? Or its first?  Your health care provider jumping out of Obamacare?

Share your pain, friends. Share it.

159 today. Gotta drop five.


Posted by The Conservative Wahoo at 11/20/2015 1 comments

Hey I've Got This...Hey, No You Don't!

When I was a kid we used to play pickup basketball at Fairfield gym in my hometown. On Saturdays in the winter we would literary play from around nine in the morning until around maybe ten at night (or whenever we were thrown out). We had a fairly eclectic group of players, young 16-17 year olds like me (some younger if they were good) and a few twenty somethings already married with jobs. The rules were you get a team together and call a game (we're next!) and you hold the court until you loose. The game was to 21 with each basket counting as one and you had to win by two. Games in the forties were not all that uncommon.
Well one Saturday I arrived late and there must have been fifty guys there so I had to take what I could get in terms of teammates. So I teamed up with some other stragglers (a group of county guys who had arrived together) and we anxiously waited a good two hours for our turn. The etiquette is when you get on the court you choose a man to cover defensively (it's all man to man defense). Well I chose Mark (no last name please) who was a lightening quick, highly skilled little guard (Wake Forest 76-80). I didn't know if I could cover Mark as I had been struggling with a twisted ankle for about a week, but I didn't think any of the guys I was playing with could. Remember, we had sat around for at least two hours just to get our asses on the court and if we lost I'd be waiting around another two hours unless I could catch on with another group! Damn-it I wanted to win and I also wanted to hang Mark's ass out to dry. But some 18 year old county high school senior insisted on taking him. It didn't go well.
Our opposition had only two players worth a damn, but that's all they needed. With Mark playmaking and 6-4 ex-All-Conference forward "Tuna" (can't even remember his real name) working the inside, well they were slicing us up. Mark was absolutely running wild and something had to be done. I tried sloughing off my guy and helping out but Mark was too quick and if I committed completely he'd find MY guy and MY guy would score and YOURS TRULY would look like an idiot. Well, when the score was like 12-3 I suggested in my famously diplomatic way that we should switch defensive assignments and I'll take Mark. Well, even the suggestion of such a thing by a younger guy to an older guy is a very serious breech of protocol requiring an immediate response. I was berated in the harshest possible terms and reminded of my age and inferior status (basketball skills not withstanding). As you might imagine we lost badly and the consensus among my teammates (the clique of county boys) it was my fault. Lesson learned.

This is EXACTLY the way I feel when I'm told the "outsiders" are losers by the establishment. Oh a Trump or Carson or Cruz may win the primaries they say, but in the general we need a professional who can appeal to the general electorate. Well that's fine, but let's look at the professionals and see what we've got.
Jeb: I actually like Jeb Bush. I think he would be a good administrator, have the proper respect for the office and his competence is unquestionable. The problem is Jeb is a garrison general. Jeb is George McClellan when a US Grant is what's required. In 1996 or 2000 Jeb would be perfect, not now. The times require an Alpha Male on steroids and that's not Jeb.
John Kasich: Kasich is a little too eager to cross the aisle. Unlike Scott Walker Kasich made deals with the unions in Ohio, he didn't take them down. When I hear him say "Come on, we can't deport 11 million" I'm thinking come on, it was 11 million in the 90's, the actual number of illegals is 30-50 million, no one knows for sure. THAT'S the problem. Gov Kasich either knows this FACT and is blowing smoke up our ass or is ill-informed. Either way he deserves ejection from the game.
Marco: Look I like Marco. He's a smart, talented individual and I look forward to voting for him...but not right now. I could say he's inexperienced and leave it at that, but that's not all. This may sound a little crazy but I want Marco to lose some more. An undefeated team that crushes their opposition over and over is always suspect. Losing is a valuable life experience and one that Marco needs.

The biggest issue, and I've said this repeatedly (ask CW) is immigration. It's not the only issue and it won't necessarily get you elected, but being on the wrong side is a death sentence. The nominee of this party must be a STRONG proponent of the enforcement of our immigration laws ALREADY ON THE BOOKS. The American people are scared. They see a President and a Democratic Party that is out of touch and GLEEFULLY unresponsive to their concerns. From tech workers who have lost their jobs to H-1B imports to union members at odds with watermelon environmentalists (green on the outside, red on the inside) to coal miners to academics (yes academics who feel besieged) to the unemployed to the underemployed from sea to shining sea, they are all unhappy. The people see a President who is offended and indignant at the very reasonable concerns for national security in regards to "Syrian" refugees. His pigheaded intransigence is on full display and he is not helping himself, Hillary Clinton or the Democratic Party.

This election is ours to lose. However, if by some miracle Marco or Jeb or Kasich is the nominee then I am there with my support, as I have always been. But if said nominee goes on to LOSE to Hillary talking their "crossing the aisle, let's all get along, pathway to citizenship" bullshit when it's our belief this is THE PERFECT YEAR for an outsider, then my friend we will be parting company. We, meaning the conservative base of the Republican Party have done our part. We have been team players. Take a hard look at your candidate. If you are not 100% sure he can cover Mark then do us all a favor and get the hell out of the way.



   
Posted by "The Hammer" at 11/20/2015 1 comments

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

The GOP's "Get Serious" Moment

As a late-20's conservative from the Midwest, I didn't realize I could care more about politics until I had a son. With "his" first presidential race coming up, there is a new desperation to do everything I can to ensure the country he grows up inspires in him the same awe it did for me as a child.

This is why we conservatives need to get serious. The Paris attacks were an act of war by an organization grown in the vacuum provided by successful enacting of bad leftist diplomatic theory. From Libya, to Ukraine, to Iraq, Russia, China, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba - a systemic inability to demonstrate credibility has left the global order itself in question.

It is a failed policy of those informed by "fact checking" done by interns with campaign crib sheets or new-media journalists don't have an attention span longer than 5 years. It is a Vox foreign policy, and one we cannot afford for another 8 years. The GOP must nominate someone who is a capable and believable Head of State, who is a competent Commander and Chief. As conservatives who believe in small government, we inherently believe these duties to be the primary ones of the president.

Unfortunately, Trump is already seeing a bump. Ann Coulter claimed that the Paris Attacks were the night Donald Trump was elected. If she is right, if Trump is our nominee - conservatives will lose this election because the American people trust us on foreign policy and security, but watched us nominate a clown instead.

As a movement, we cannot take ourselves seriously if we then choose a candidate whose incompetence is a parallel to the superficiality of MSNBC, Salon, and Gawker. In a time when military and diplomatic decision making are increasingly important, the GOP front runner is a man who doesn't know the difference between a fighter and a bomber, can't name the legs of the nuclear triad are, and thinks he was in the military because of his boarding school. No surprise from a man who admits to getting his military advice from "watching shows." To those who mistakenly think he can negotiate his way out of putting our military at risk, he can't even identify who he has to negotiate with. Trump is the "Vox" candidate - a mile wide, but a neck-snapping inch deep if he's ever required to get any real work done for the nation. When this amateurism is given any more authority than blog post privileges, it gets people killed.

If conservatives plan to go on the offensive against the degradation and destruction of a global order built over decades, they cannot be afraid to go on the political offensive against Donald Trump. The GOP's silken-glove approach to the famously explosive tantrum thrower has allowed him to thrive in a permissive space. Trump voters are mad at a party that will not fight - and the Republican candidates allow Trump to thrive by permitting him to win fights he has conjured out of whole cloth.

Republicans can and must force Trump to fight in their territory - a national security landscape where he will stumble and fall. Republicans must unrelentingly reveal to Trump supporters, and to those sitting on the fence, the terrifying incompetence behind his empty rhetoric.  Rand Paul showed how effective competent aggression can be against Trump when Trump wrongly announced that China was a signatory of the TPP. The GOP showed how not to combat Trump by ceding to his demands on debate time. Trump is supported because he can put on a guise of strength - his supporters will abandon him if the emperor is drawn too far out into the light in his "new clothes,"

Of course, this battle should be waged by only some of the Republican candidates. The longer Trump stays in front with only a 30% plurality of the vote, the longer he can maintain a façade of legitimacy. Roughly 70% of the Republican vote is currently split among 10 different candidates. If these candidates walked the talk, they would demonstrate the selflessness of Governor Romney, who preemptively ceded the field to newer leadership. Governor Jindal, wisely, chose to cede the field as Perry and Walker did before him. All worthy candidates who realized it was not their time. Meanwhile, Governor Bush is running a dead campaign, and attacking candidates with a chance of victory. Ted Cruz is courting Donald Trump, which is unbecoming of someone who values principled leadership. Governor Kasich, by all accounts a winning governor of a bellwether state, still plods along despite a less-enamored nation. Governor Christie is ruining renewed interest by decrying orphans (only Trump can get away with that stuff).  Governor Huckabee is still campaigning for another TV show. These are all becoming or are no-chance campaigns. 7 years ago we laughed about "hope" not being a policy. We should apply the same standard to ourselves. Getting serious is to knowing when to be a member of the supporting cast and play for the team win.

If the GOP loses the election, which we will with Trump as nominee or after a political horse trade that will drive his former supporters from the voting booth, we cede another 8 years to decline. Secretary Clinton will face the same China, Russia, and Iran that bested her, and a terrorist organization she ignored. Whether the GOP wins will determine whether we, as a nation, have given up.

We have been playing a game, which is Trump's natural habitat as a casino magnate. However, this is real life - it is time to get serious.
Posted by El Conservador at 11/18/2015 6 comments

Monday, November 16, 2015

Dispatch from the Road

I awoke fully rested at 0345, which is fine when one goes to sleep before 60 minutes is over. Yes, I am in San Diego again, with my internal clock remaining on Easton time. I flew here yesterday, taking the opportunity before I left to post a Facebook shot of my standard travel rig (blazer, white t, track pants, trainers) which elicited far more discussion than it merited--but that's Facebook. I wish I had taken as much time thinking about my preparation, as I traveled without neck ties and without the power cord to my laptop.

The neckties were easily (and cheaply) remedied with a trip to some discount clothing mill called "Ross", a place I had never before been and wish never to return to. On a Sunday afternoon, the place was crawling with bargain hungry customers, clothes were strewn about, there seemed no order whatsoever to the place. I almost gave up looking when I happened upon a tie rack that had a few decent choices on it. Even better though, were the prices--$7.99 and $9.99 respectively.  They'll do just fine.

The power cord is a bit more of an issue. The previous one suffered a massive casualty last week in which the the cord essentially wore away at the AC adapter, but in my mind, this was not an issue as I believed that I had another. This belief was false however, and so Amazon is spiriting a few of these bad boys to me while I am here. I will use the battery until it dies, and then rely solely upon my phone for computing power from here.

It rained here yesterday. Rain is a noteworthy occurrence in Southern California. I happened to be at a local grocery chain buying pre-cooked hard boiled eggs (keeps the breakfast costs down--my clients appreciate my thriftiness) and the place was jammed. The conversation in line revealed clear consensus that it was due to the rain--as if people here did what we in the East do when it is going to snow. Odd.  But then again, this is California.

I will be here through Wednesday evening, and then redeye back to Easton. I have been assigned full Turkey duty this year, which means selecting and cooking, and so I will likely begin that process on Thursday and Friday. We normally field a crowd of a dozen on Thanksgiving, and so something in the neighborhood of 22-24 lbs ought to do. This will be my ninth Thanksgiving with the Kitten et Kittens, and it is my firm belief that they are nearing a consensus view that I should be invited back next year.


Posted by The Conservative Wahoo at 11/16/2015 0 comments

Sunday, November 15, 2015

The Hammer's Journal de Football Collégial: Week 11

To begin with let us all pray for our French brothers in arms who have experienced unimaginable tragedy this weekend. My hope is God gives them the strength to do what must be done. Enough said.

This time in the season is a very dangerous time indeed for teams in the hunt. You've played a good few games. Other coaches have the film, they know what you like to do and how you like to do it. Your guys are a little banged up at this stage. They're a little tired. They find it hard to get up for a team they know is inferior. If you make it through next week, two weeks from now is rivalry week. This week and next week is where upsets can and will happen. So, you've got to keep your kids focused on some 5-5 team and to not think about the 4-6 RIVAL (if you're lucky they're 4-6, they could be 9-1) you've got after that which will give you every last thing they've got so as to screw up your championship run...well, needless to say it's a tall order. I can tell you this though, there will be surprises the next two weeks. Somebody will go down HARD! If, let's say South Carolina takes down Clemson (I am in NO WAY predicting this) would anybody be shocked? Hell no! So there you go.

Alright, who got a scare yesterday and who screwed the pooch? Well number one on the scare list has to be Oklahoma State followed close behind by Iowa. Mini-soda played Iowa tough, probably their best game since the opening loss to TCU. However no shame there, Iowa is damn good football team. They've got a well balanced, potent offense and defensively they've solid. I'm starting to like this team. However Oklahoma State should have lost yesterday. They dicked around most of the game as is per usual. Look, these dudes can ring that cash register and against a vastly inferior team like Iowa State they should have hung 70 points on the Cyclones. But they like to sleepwalk through most of the game and then do the old John Elway thing in the 4th quarter. Ok fine. But they got a one loss Baylor and the Oklahoma Sooners coming up. Let's see how that strategy works for the Cowboys. Look for them to get mauled!

Speaking of losing... Baylor. Oklahoma shut down their running game and rattled the Bears freshman QB who replaced starter Seth Russell after he got his neck broke (or some shit) a couple of weeks ago. The Sooners are one of those teams that lost early (Texas) but just doesn't have the mojo to make it into the playoff even if they do win out against Ok. State and TCU. Oh well, somebody get Chuck Fairbanks on the phone. Is he still alive?

Well let's talk about the best of the rest. Who are the best teams right now that haven't a hope in hell of making the playoff?
1. Arkansas. I know, they got a shitty record, but these guys are bangers. They couldn't win a championship if you held a gun to their heads but they can beat anybody on any given Saturday. Ask LSU.
2. Florida. The Gators are a year away but even still, when they get into the SEC Championship game against the Tide, Saban better have his boys ready. Florida has something to prove.
3. Michigan State. They fuqued up, that's all I gotta say.
4. North Carolina. It disgusts me to say this but Carolina can play with anybody. They're the second best team in the ACC and without doubt if they hadn't lost to South Carolina first game they'd be ranked 5 or 6. This is one of the best offensives they've ever had and certainly the best since Dick Crum's 1980 team (Amos Lawrence, homeboy Ron Wooten, Lawrence Taylor) that went 11-1. I wasn't around for "Choo Choo" Justice so my frame of reference is limited but currently they're in the midst of their longest winning streak since 1914. One can only hope everybody on campus gets indicted for corruption but that appears unlikely. UNC has spent 11.5 million dollars in legal and other fees (PR firms etc.) with people like the New York City law firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft (founded 1792) to make this NOT happen. By the way, these guys are GOOD! They got me out of a indecent exposure charge a few years ago (hey, I had to piss ok!?) for which I am forever grateful. Of course I am permanently banned from all Applebees but that's ok.

Well that's all I got. The next two weeks should be a lot of fun.
Viva la France!


Posted by "The Hammer" at 11/15/2015 0 comments
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