THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS:
The Russians could never solve it in the 1980’s. They finally left tails between their legs, beaten back as a super power. George Bush went all in after 2001. All in, meant not just getting the Al Qaeda terrorists, but changing the government. He found out the Afghans couldn’t govern themselves. Obama wanted a way out but could never figure it out. He made it worse. Trump started out that he wanted out, then got “behind the desk” in the oval office and saw it differently.
The problem remains that the country doesn’t appear governable. The Taliban, who allowed Al Qaeda in, never stopped fighting and have made progress. When we chase them they run across the border to Pakistan and safe haven. That is the key to Trump’s speech. Pakistan has been the unspoken problem as they have tried to thread the needle between supporting us and the islamic terrorists. (Remember that’s where we found Bin Laden). They live in that territory and want to survive. If Trump can turn them, then this policy has a better shot. If not, there is little chance.
The other change that can make a difference is to let the Generals loose. In the previous administration they were controlled and restrained. If you’re in a war, let the Generals run it. Trump is unleashing them. If your sending our troops, then play to win, or don’t send them.
So the Afghan war goes on. With this move Trump now owns it. As he said, governing is different than running. Stay tuned.
Short Takes On News You May Not Have Heard:
A poll of Kentucky voters found that just 18 percent approved Senator Mitch McConnell’s performance, compared to 74 percent who disapproved. Seven percent of people said they were not sure. If you’re that unpopular in your own state with the people who elected you. how bad is it in the nation as a whole?
Rand Paul, the other Republican Senator in Kentucky has a higher approval rating of 39 percent, although he still holds a high disapproval rating of 47 percent.
Voters in Kentucky in the same poll have a far higher opinion of President Trump’s performance in office. They gave him a 60 percent approval rating. (In the presidential election, Trump won the state by 63 to 33 over Hillary).
Speaking of Senators, trial for Senator Menendez of NJ is about to begin. This could have major implications if he is convicted and removed from office by years end. The reason? He is a Democrat and Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, would appoint his replacement since he is in office until January 1. Think about that. By how many votes did Obamacare fail to be changed? One.
Think about this, too. Obama, Pelosi and Reid pushed Obamacare through before Scott Brown took his seat after winning Ted Kennedy’s open seat. Brown was a Republican and replacing an appointed Democrat who provided the final vote needed. Wouldn’t that be a reversal of historic proportions?
The statue attack continues. You hear daily about some municipality or state removing a statue. The MSM is covering, as noted yesterday, the removal of confederate statues. They are still not covering others like the hammer attack in Baltimore yesterday. The Washington Times reports “A monument to Christopher Columbus that was over 200 years old was smashed with a sledgehammer Monday morning to combat a ‘culture of white supremacy’.”
There are controversial battles ahead on statues and named tributes to Washington, Jefferson and many others. The left has raised the issue of Mount Rushmore and it’s legitimacy.
By the way, did you see the Red Sox owners want to change the street name outside the stadium from Yawkey Way (name of long time owner) because he was racist? Red Sox were the last team to intergeate and the new owners want to change the street name to something like Big Papi Way, after the recently retired David Ortiz.
Still no MSM coverage of the Debbie Wasserman-Schultz hiring and payment to those four IT execs, but there are indictments now. At some point they will have to cover this.
From The Nation Magazine: “The Democratic National Committee was not hacked by Russia — nor by anyone else — but instead was “ an inside job by someone with access to the DNC’s system”. They were referencing conclusions “by a group of former NSA computer experts”. Hard to believe the Democrats would have made such an issue if this is true, but who knows. Maybe Mueller will.
Remember when Lois Lerner and the IRS destroyed their computers and then testified there was no bias against the Tea Party groups? Most of us had an instinct that this didn’t feel right. Well a federal judge has now ruled. A federal judge has ordered the IRS to name the specific employees the agency blames for targeting tea party groups for intrusive scrutiny, and said the government must prove it has ceased the targeting.
He also said the IRS must explain the reasons for the delays to 38 groups that are part of a lawsuit in the District of Columbia, who are still looking for a full accounting of their treatment. Hmm, no coverage of this either, right?
Did you see where James Murdoch (Rupert’s son and now running Fox) criticized President Trump’s response to the Virginia situation? The Murdoch kids are not as conservative as their Dad and you wonder if they are influencing things at Fox, which as the ratings report below shows, may be impacting the station.
Below the ratings we printed an email on the death of common sense in America today that we thought you might like to see. Thank you to our loyal supporter who forwarded it.
The Ratings:
Total Viewers (Live +SD) FRIDAY. MSNBC WINS THE NIGHT AGAIN.
- Total day: FNC: 1.493 | CNN: 1.054 | MSNBC: 1.402 | HLN: 195
- Primetime: FNC: 1.932 | CNN: 1.292 | MSNBC: 2.239 | HLN: 174
| 4p: | 5p: | 6p: | 7p: | 8p: | 9p: | 10p: | 11p: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FNC | Cavuto: 1.246 |
Baier: 1.592 |
Baier: 2.004 |
MacCallum: 1.671 |
Carlson: 2.207 |
Five: 1.852 |
Hannity: 1.736 |
Carlson: 1.150 |
| CNN | Tapper: 1.257 |
Blitzer: 1.317 |
Blitzer: 1.256 |
Burnett: 1.347 |
Cooper: 1.442 |
Cooper: 1.337 |
Lemon: 1.094 |
Lemon: 891 |
| MSNBC | Wallace: 1.357 |
MTPDaily: 1.514 |
Melber: 1.532 |
Matthews: 1.666 |
Hayes: 1.831 |
Maddow: 2.843 |
O’Donnell: 2.034 |
Williams: 1.800 |
| HLN | Files: 96 |
Files: 118 |
Files: 114 |
Hunt: 130 |
Spcl: 201 |
Hunt: 155 |
Hunt: 164 |
Files: 294
|
THE SAD PASSING OF COMMON SENSE IN AMERICA:
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.
He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn’t always fair, and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned, but overbearing, regulations were set in place.
Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, teenagers suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they had themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer paracetamol, sun lotion or plaster to a pupil, but could not inform the parents when a pupil became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home, but the burglar could sue you for assault because you protected yourself and your own.
Common Sense finally gave up the will to live after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.
Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust, his wife, Discretion, his daughter, Responsibility and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I’m A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized that he was gone.
Author Unknown