At Issue this week... Republicans by Charles Krauthammer November 11, 2015

2016 Election Lambro (8) Skip the investigations, win the election Abortion Thomas (21) Anti-Semitism t a certain point, you have to real- committee, armed with truly damning evi- This evidence was presented at the hear- Will (28) ize you can’t hit a fastball. House dence against Hillary Clinton, handed her ing, but why not at the very beginning with Birth Rate Republicans don’t quite get that instead a major victory. every camera and microphone running, Schlafly (30) Book Review theyA are hopeless at oversight hearings. Scattered amid those 11 hours of hear- guaranteeing front-page coverage? To be Thomas (22) They keep losing — and now the chairman ings (which in and of themselves lent Clin- followed by clip after clip of Clinton, Susan Budget Deal of the House Oversight Committee has just ton an air of heroism and victimhood) was Rice and the president himself blaming the Farah (20) Harsanyi (10) introduced articles of impeachment against a powerful indictment of the administration attack on a film and a protest, a fraud that Towery (10) IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. for what happened both before the Beng- went on for two weeks. That would have Bush, Jeb I’m sympathetic to the GOP motive, hazi attack (600 requests for more protec- changed the entire proceedings. Erickson (5) given how the Obama IRS has consistently tion, all denied) and after, namely, the con- True, the media played their part in China Buchanan (31) obstructed and misled Congress in the tax- cocted fable of a demonstration-gone-bad overlooking and ignoring this prima facie Clinton, Hillary exemption scandal. But impeachment is no caused by an offensive video. evidence of mendacity and political expe- Elder (5) ordinary move. No agency chief or Cabi- diency. But why make it so easy for them? Morris (12) Napolitano (3) net officer has been impeached since 1876. Why bury the lede? Instead of highlighting CNBC Debate And even proponents admit that there is no Charles this stunning new evidence, the committee Charen (17) chance of Koskinen being removed from Krauthammer offered endless questions about the emails Limbaugh (16) office because the Senate will never con- of Sidney Blumenthal, someone the public Massie (13) (c) 2015, Washington Post Writers Group Saunders (17) vict. has never heard of. Dear Mark In each of these cases, Republicans had Levy (19) INSTEAD, SAYS Chairman Jason YET THE outcome of the hearing is the the facts and the argument. And yet in ev- Debates Chaffetz, the purpose is public education, current conventional wisdom that the com- ery one, they failed. What makes them think Chavez (9) Democrats “to demonstrate to the American people” mittee presented nothing new and never that they will fare any better in the next it- Greenberg (15) that the IRS “will be held accountable” for laid a glove on her. eration, the impeachment of a minor official Economy violating the public trust. How could the Republicans have blown in an expiring administration? Lambro (14) McCaughey (21) I’m all for demonstrating malfeasance. it so badly? They had in their hands very Chaffetz says that the purpose is to rein in Education But the GOP House has given a five-year new information: a just-obtained email the IRS. I’m all for that. You know how you Saunders (20) display of its inability to successfully dem- from Clinton to daughter Chelsea the night do it? Win the presidency. Appoint honest Sowell (29) onstrate anything. From Benghazi all the of the incident saying that it was an attack new IRS leadership. And get your own Jus- Electorate Barone (11) way back to Operation Fast and Furious, its by an al Qaeda-like group and, even more tice Department to do a real investigation. Williams (9) hearings’ impact on public perception has damning, a conversation the very next day Fantasy Sports been either zero or negative. in which Clinton told the Egyptian prime IT’S A HARDER road to accountability. Will (25) Take the IRS case. The House Oversight minister, “We know that the attack in Libya But it gets you to where you want to go. Gender Prager (27) Committee, led at the time by Darrell Issa, had nothing to do with the film. It was a Government Giveaways blew it, allowing the IRS’ Lois Lerner to planned attack — not a protest.” October 30, 2015 Barone (13) deliver a statement proclaiming innocence Kasich, John Saunders (6) and then claiming Fifth Amendment protec- Liberals tion from having to answer any questions. Limbaugh (4) Committee member Trey Gowdy nearly Media Bias flew out of his seat to point out that she had Bozell (18, 30) Hollis (6) just forfeited her immunity. Malkin (22) Too late. She got away with it. That fail- Murchison (26) ure is what brings us to impeachment today. Shapiro (18) Tyrrell (2) But impeachment was never intended to be Obamacare a mulligan. Lowry (12) Or consider the recent Planned Parent- Political Correctness hood hearings where the Republicans had a Malkin (25) Republicans very strong hand — videotaped discussions Krauthammer (1) of the buying and selling of body parts of Sanders, Bernie dismembered aborted fetuses, a shocking Lowry (15) exposition of what actually lies behind such Statue of Liberty Cushman (29) antiseptic terms as “choice” and “women’s Syria health.” Buchanan (26) Yet the head of Planned Parenthood, so Jeffrey (24) Trivia Bits initially defensive that in July she apolo- Paquet (14) gized for the callous tone of those involved, Trump, Donald ran rings around the committee. Coulter (7) Yet as a PR disaster for the GOP, nothing Turkey Bay (23) compares to Benghazi, in which the select 2 Conservative Chronicle MEDIA BIAS: October 30, 2015 The Gowdy committee as seen from the left and right e are told that our political Clinton’s bid for the White House and emailing her daughter on the night of the mittee for coming up with “nothing new” system here in Washing- Democrats who sought to make her look attack (at 11:12 p.m. to be precise) that despite the fact that there were also other ton is “broken.” The left presidential.” The Wall Street Journal Ambassador Christopher Stevens and an facts that if not new have hardly been dis- andW the right do not get along, and usu- editorialized from the right, “The House aide had just been murdered “by an al cussed, for instance, hundreds of emails ally it is because the right is obdurately Benghazi hearing Thursday with Hill- Qaeda-like group.” The committee also demonstrating that Clinton ignored Am- partisan. Actually, it is not the political ary Clinton featured plenty of brawl- released a State Department summary bassador Stevens’ repeated (and repeat- system that is broken. It is much wider ing, but don’t believe those who say of a talk Clinton had with the Egyptian edly urgent) calls for beefed-up security. than the political system. It is the politi- we learned nothing.” The Times learned prime minister the following The Washington Post, the major media, cal culture, that is to say: the politicians, nothing. The Jour- day wherein she said, and other voices on the left repeated their the operatives, the financial supporters nal learned quite “We know that the mantra, “nothing new.” and the voters (left and right). It is also a lot. I agree with R. Emmett attack in Libya had To the left it was all “old news.” To the the commentators, the reporters, the edi- the Journal. So Tyrrell nothing to do with right, to the Journal, to the Washington tors; in a word the media (left and right). my question is, (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate the film [the afore- Times, and to other voices on the right The left-wing press sees things one way why was what the mentioned anti- there was plenty of new and alarming and reports on it. The right-wing press Journal revealed in its editorial not even Muslim video]. It was a planned attack news released by the committee Thurs- sees things differently and reports on it. worthy of mention, much less derision, — not a protest.” And Clinton went on to day. Neither side agrees on almost anything. by the Times editorial? Did the Times ed- say, “we believe the group that claimed This news story cycle has been seen itorialist take a bathroom break? Could responsibility for this was affiliated with before. Possibly, it was on display for the WE JUST lived through a vivid ex- not the Times have provided a backup? al Qaeda.” The committee also released first time during the Whitewater scandal. ample of this kind of bifurcation last In the Journal’s editorial it revealed other evidence that shows Clinton lying. Then as Independent Counsel Kenneth week when Hillary Rodham Clinton that the committee “turned up new in- Starr went about his business gathering appeared before Congressman Trey formation that relates directly to the THE TIMES never mentioned these evidence the left-wing media — of a sud- Gowdy’s House select committee in- former Secretary of State’s political exchanges that Congressman Gowdy den — began to find “nothing new” in vestigating Benghazi. The left saw noth- character and judgment.” Remember released to the public and that the Jour- his investigations. It was all “old news,” ing new or noteworthy revealed by the that on the evening of the attack a state- nal thought so significant. “This matters and it was costing the Republic millions. committee. The right saw much that was ment was released by the secretary of [Clinton’s call to the Egyptian prime Once his impeachment ended, Bill Clin- new and noteworthy. Each side was per- state at 10:32 p.m. blaming the attack minister],” the Journal goes on to edi- ton and his apologists began menda- plexed by the other side’s partisanship. on an anti-Muslim YouTube video. Yet torialize, “because it precedes what be- ciously charging Starr with spending $70 As the New York Times editorialized the Journal noted on Friday that Con- came the Administration’s original story million to come up with nothing. Actu- from the left, “Unsurprisingly, the hear- gressman Gowdy’s committee “released that the Benghazi attack had been moti- ally, as I pointed out earlier this month, ing yielded no new information about hitherto undisclosed documents show- vated by an anti-Muslim Internet video.” Starr obtained at least 15 convictions. the attacks. It quickly and predictably ing that Clinton believed from the start The Times’ editorial and its columnists devolved into a partisan battle between that the attack was perpetrated by terror- never mention the new revelations about HOWEVER, LET us return to my Republicans intent on hurting Mrs. ists.” One document shows Mrs. Clinton Benghazi. They inveigh against the com- original point. The political culture is “broken,” as they say, and the media are part of the breakdown. When a House se- lect committee comes up with new and damaging information on a presidential candidate, the media have a duty to re- port it, not ignore it.

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[email protected] Visit our web site at: Contact us at 800-888-3039 or email: [email protected] www.conservativechronicle.com November 11, 2015 3 HILLARY CLINTON: October 29, 2015 The midwife to chaos and her perjury he New York Times’ Maureen sus for war because Libya presented no Dowd captured the moment threat whatsoever to the U.S. He did not last weekend when she referred obtain a congressional declaration of war to formerT Secretary of State Hillary Clin- as the Constitution requires because he ton as “the midwife to chaos” in Libya. couldn’t get one. And he did Dowd appar- not seek United Na- ently came to that tions permission, conclusion after Andrew which is required watching Clinton Napolitano to attack a fellow bobbing and weav- U.N. member. (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate ing and admitting He did obtain and denying as she a U.N. embargo Once this plot was hatched, Clinton federal law calls “bad acts.” Perjury is was confronted with the partial record of the shipment of weapons into Libya, and her fellow conspirators realized that lying under oath. Misleading Congress of her failures and obfuscations as sec- and he secured a NATO-enforced no-fly some of these rebel groups were manned is criminal and consists of testimony that retary of state, particularly with respect zone over portions of Libya. In order by al Qaeda operatives; and selling or employs deceptive language so as to cre- to Libya. to enforce the no-fly zone, NATO sent providing arms to them is a felony — ate an untruthful impression. Bad acts jet fighters over the skies of Libya. The hence the reason for months’ worth of constitute repeated behavior demonstrat- THE PUBLIC record is fairly well- jets were guided and directed by Ameri- missing and destroyed Clinton emails. ing moral turpitude — usually a pattern known. In March 2011, President Barack can intelligence agents on the ground How could someone running for presi- of deception. Obama declared war on Libya. He did to bomb Libyan planes on the ground, dent possibly justify providing material The FBI agents surely heard Clinton this at the urging of Clinton, who want- which had been paid for by American assistance to terrorist organizations in the mislead Congress when she answered a ed to overthrow Libyan strongman Col. taxpayers. present international climate? hard question about arms going to reb- Moammar Gadhafi so she could boast To pursue her goal of a “democratic” els by saying “I think the answer is no” of having brought “democracy” to the government there, Clinton, along with FLASH-FORWARD TO Clinton’s and again when she answered a ques- region. Obama and a dozen or so members of public testimony before the House Beng- tion about arming private militias by She and Obama conspired to do this Congress from both houses and both po- hazi Committee last week. Clinton had saying it may have been considered but even though former President George W. litical parties, decided she should break three audiences to address. Her immedi- wasn’t “seriously” considered. And they Bush and former British Prime Minister the law by permitting U.S. arms deal- ate audience was the committee, whose heard her directly commit perjury when Tony Blair had publicly praised Gad- ers to violate the U.N. arms embargo members generally did not know how to she was asked whether she knew about hafi as an ally in the war against terror- and arm Libyan rebels whom she hoped ask questions of a witness trying to hide our country’s supplying arms to Libyan ist groups and even though the U.S. was would one day run the new government. the truth. Her second audience was the rebels directly or indirectly and she an- giving the Gadhafi government more So she exercised her authority as secre- American people, who will recall little swered, “No.” than $100 million a year in foreign aid. tary of state to authorize the shipment of more than 15-second sound bites and How could she answer “no?” She not Obama did his best to avoid consti- American-made arms to Qatar, a coun- general impressions of her testimony. only knew about the sending of arms to tutional norms. He deployed American try beholden to the Muslim Brotherhood Her third (unseen) audience consisted of rebels but also personally authored and intelligence agents on the ground, not and friendly to the Libyan rebels and a the FBI agents and federal prosecutors authorized it. How could she answer troops, so he could plausibly deny he country the U.S. had no business arming who are investigating her. “no?” The FBI and CIA advised her — had put “boots” on the ground. He did — unless the purpose of doing so was for That audience was looking for per- in documents that are now public — that not seek an American national consen- the arms to be transferred to the rebels. jury, misleading statements and what U.S. arms were making their way to known al Qaeda operatives. How could she answer “no?” This reached a crisis point when some of those operatives used their American-made weapons to murder U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. Then the cover-up began. At the same time Clinton was telling her daughter and the Egyptian prime minister within hours of Stevens’ death that al Qaeda killed him and after the CIA told her the plot to kill Stevens had been hatched 12 days earlier, she told the public that Ste- vens was killed by spontaneous demon- strators angered about a cheap anti-Islam video, the producer of which she vowed to “get.” She later angrily dismissed questions over this cover-up by arguing, “What difference, at this point, does it make?”

THE DIFFERENCE it makes goes to the heart of the American electoral process. Every four years, we entrust awesome power to a person who swears to protect the Constitution. How could we give that power to a consistent pub- lic liar who, for personal political gain, midwifed terror and chaos in a country that was our ally and whose words and behavior have continually demonstrated that she is utterly unworthy of belief? 4 Conservative Chronicle LIBERALS: November 3, 2015 The delusional conceit of Harwoodian liberal journos o CNBC’s John Harwood is not reckless stimulus and other spending, his only unashamed of his disgrace- unconscionable waste on uber-fantastical fully biased moderating of the green projects, his intransigence on en- GOPS debate, he’s doubling down — en- titlement re- form and his demonstrable trenched as a five-year-old boy guard- lies on Obamacare? ing his Halloween You want to candy. David cite your vaunted After the de- economists, Mr. bate he tweeted, Limbaugh Harwood? How “GOP debate in (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate many of them ac- 2015 enriched my curately predicted understanding of challenges @Speaker- the budgetary effects and premium in- Boehner has faced and @RepPaulRyan creases of Obamacare? How many of will face.” I assume he was not speaking their predecessors believed that John F. complimentarily of these “challenges.” Kennedy’s or Ronald Reagan’s tax cuts would increase revenues while keeping IN AN INTERVIEW, Harwood in- inflation in check? And while we’re on sisted he was justified in asking Donald the subject of your allegiance to real- Trump if his campaign was a comic- ity and your commitment to debunking book version of a presidential campaign. fantasies, Mr. Harwood, why don’t you “There is no one on that stage,” said Har- explain to us why you haven’t assailed wood, “who actually believes you can President Obama and Hillary Clinton for tuous of it as to dismiss it as insane. They istic, Luddite, Draconian measures they send those 11 million people out of the their manufactured lie that the Benghazi believe that anyone who rejects the apoc- and their fellow traveling globalists ad- country. There is no economist who be- attacks were prompted by a video? For alyptic theology of the man-made-global- vocate, it won’t make an appreciable dif- lieves that you can cut taxes 10 trillion calling the terrorist attack at Fort Hood warming cult is a science-denying knuck- ference in reducing the global tempera- dollars without increasing the deficit. It “workplace violence?” For playing se- le-dragger. It couldn’t possibly be that the ture in a century’s time? Their hubris is is simply a set of discussions that is not mantic games with “boots on the ground” “science” they cite is bought and paid for, as stunning as their avoidance of reality. connected to the real world we live in.” in Syria? Who is it that has trouble with tainted by peer pressure, based on ques- Have pseudoscience-deifying leftists Silly me, I thought Harwood was talk- reality? tionable models and often steeped in cor- ever apologized for the flagrant failures ing about Trump’s legendary bombast, Here’s a dose of reality: Obama has ruption. Leftists are the ones bastardizing of their doomsday predictions of the last not his policy proposals. Is it the modera- doubled the national debt during his ten- and politicizing science to advance their half-century? Have they apologized for tor’s place to show contempt for a candi- ure and he would have spent substan- agenda. the embarrassing predictions of Paul Eh- date’s policies and depict them as fantas- tially more but for tea party pressure on rlich in his The Population Bomb? Or for tical? Besides, when did debt reduction the GOP to rein him in. If we don’t re- WHY ELSE would they have predict- Ted Danson, who predicted more than become the liberals’ concern, much less structure our major entitlements they will ed doom in the ‘60s from global cooling, 25 years ago we had 10 years to save the their priority, and even less their acid test — not might — go belly up, which will switched to global warming to conceal oceans? for assessing the merits of an economic have devastating consequences on real the egg on their faces, and then recently Don’t be ridiculous; being a liberal policy? people’s lives. have descended into the shameless am- means never having to say you’re sorry. You really want to talk about the defi- Cloistered beltway liberals obviously biguity of “climate change?” Have these These men are more likely to be sainted cit? How about Harwoodian liberals’ have no idea what Americans outside fearmongers ever answered the charge by the Global Warming Church than ridi- surreal defense of President Obama’s their bubble think — or are so contemp- that even if we implement all the social- culed by their enablers. Many mainstream liberal reporters are so ensconced in their echo chamber that they are convinced their subjective po- litical views are self-evidently and objec- tively true and everyone else is extreme, delusional, reality-challenged, science- illiterate or just plain evil. That’s how they delude themselves into believing they’re journalists and not glorified par- tisan cheerleaders. Even with their limited contact with the outside world, how can they be so devoid of self-awareness and blind to the legitimacy of contrary opinions?

I FULLY acknowledge my own con- servative bias and make no apology for it — but admitting it doesn’t relieve me of my duty to state the facts correctly. To me, there are conservatives and liberals and all kinds of shades in between. To them (not every liberal, but the smug journo types), there is the reality-based culture, and there’s the rest of the world — you know, conservative talk radio; Fox News; the Republican Party; the tea party; patri- ots; most of the South; and people who believe in American exceptionalism, the United States Constitution, limited gov- ernment, traditional morality and God. November 11, 2015 5 HILLARY CLINTON: October 29, 2015 Hillary won. United States of America lost he narrative following Hill- that the Benghazi attack was a sponta- Now, it is not a crime to lie to the na- investigation succeeded in lowering ary’s testimony at Congress’ neous reaction to a video made by an tion. Her husband serves as an example Hillary Clinton’s popularity ratings — recent Benghazi hearing is Egyptian living in America. of that proposition. Nor is it a crime to as if that were the committee’s goal all clear:T Hillary won. She (for the most We learned that although she was ignore security concerns in Libya in along. Then New York Republican Rep. part) calmly answered all the questions. in constant communication with her order to preserve, 50-plus days before Richard Hanna, not even a member of She nodded approvingly when the friend and non-State Department em- the 2012 presidential vote, President the Benghazi committee, said, too, that Democrats on the committee accused ployee, Sidney Blumenthal, none of the Obama’s re-election talking points: this was all about nailing Hillary. Republicans of engaging in a partisan more than 600 requests from officials “GM is alive,” “Osama bin Laden is Lost in all this is the question of witch-hunt. at Benghazi requesting more security dead,” and al Qaeda is “on whether Hillary broke the law. We’ve come a long way since bipar- ever, according to the run.” Jeffrey Sterling, a former CIA op- tisan investigations like the Watergate her, reached her Nor is it a crime erative, was convicted of violating the committee that investigated a Republi- desk. Larry to allow UN am- Espionage Act for allegedly giving clas- can president, when then-Sen. Howard She gave a Elder bassador Susan sified information to a reporter. General Baker — the lead committee Republi- heartfelt and in- Rice, five days David Petraeus pled guilty to a viola- can — asked, “What did (Nixon) know dignant story (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate after the attack, to tion of the Espionage Act for unlawfully and when did he know it?” about how she has go on the big five showing classified information to his lost more sleep than all the committee Sunday news networks — ABC, CBS, biographer/mistress. IN HILLARY Clinton’s Benghazi members “put together” over the death NBC, Fox News and CNN — and push About the Sterling case, the New testimony we learned that she imme- of her “good friend” Chris Stevens, the the attack-at-Benghazi-was-due-to-a- York Times wrote earlier this year: “Mr. diately called the attack what it was same “good friend” she referred to as video lie. Sterling is the latest in a string of for- — a planned attack on the Benghazi “Chris Smith” shortly after the attack. mer officials and contractors the Obama compound. We learned that she told She was so concerned about Mr. Ste- AS FAR AS the investigation is con- Administration has charged with dis- her family this right away, as well as a vens that, unlike Mr. Blumenthal, he cerned, Hillary defenders could say it cussing national security matters with Libyan official and the Egyptian prime never had her private email address and was over before it began. House Ma- reporters. Under all previous presidents minister. she had no communication with him at jority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Ca- combined, three people had faced such She told America, however, as well all for the entire time he served as am- lif., handed the they’re-out-to-get-her prosecutions. Under President Obama, as family members of the four killed, bassador to Libya. crowd a lifeline when he said that the there have been eight cases, and journal- ists have complained that the crackdown has discouraged officials from discuss- JEB BUSH: October 30, 2015 ing even unclassified security matters.” But remember, we’re talking about the Clintons. During the Monica Lewinsky affair, Jeb Bush needs to reconsider while President Bill Clinton was be- he attack came with the reluc- When Rubio responded, he did so in Clinton — while on the stage with new, ing investigated for matters relating to tance of a good man knowing the most devastating way. First, he not- young faces of a Republican Party that Whitewater, White House/FBI “File- he must do something he does ed that Jeb Bush backed John McCain has moved beyond the Bush legacy. gate” and White House travel office’s notT want to do. At the CNBC debate in in 2008 and never complained about Jeb Bush should have run in 2012, “Travelgate,” Clinton defenders said, Boulder, CO, the pretentious modera- McCain missing votes in the Senate to but he would have even then been an- “Everybody lies about sex” and “no- tors asked Marco Rubio about missing campaign. Then Rubio pointed out that chored by his last name. It is relatively body goes to jail for lying about sex.” votes in the Senate. For perspective, Bush did not seem to want to make the unfair that Bush is anchored by his last But during that very time, a woman Rubio has missed far less votes than attack, but someone made Bush do it. name, but it is true. It is also true that he named Barbara Battalino was in federal Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, or John Both what Rubio said and how he said it was once very successful politician, but prison for doing just that. A psychiatrist Kerry when they ran for President from left Jeb Bush looking pitiful and feeble. that was a decade ago. Bush stands on at a Veterans Affairs hospital, Battalino the Senate. The former Jeb Bush protege, at that a Presidential debate stage and we can had an affair with a patient. She lost her Sensing he must have a moment of moment, became Bush’s master. almost hear him wondering what hap- job and medical license. The patient combat, Jeb Bush reluctantly weighed pened and how everything passed him later sued for medical malpractice, and in on the issue, claiming that the Senate by. told of the affair. Battalino denied it un- was like the French work week, and that Erick If Jeb Bush is not willing to fire a lot der oath. Charged with perjury in a fed- surely Marco Rubio could show up for of people and retool his campaign, he eral court, she agreed to a plea bargain work three days a week. Erickson needs to settle on being a former Presi- deal, accepting a $3,500 fine and six (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate dential candidate. Those of us who like months of home detention on one count JEB BUSH is a really nice guy. He him, whether or not he is our choice for of obstruction of justice — which she really does care about the future of the AT THE NEXT memorable moment President, hate to see a good man de- served during the very time Clinton de- country. He clearly did not want to go for Bush, the moderator from CNBC scending to farce and a kind man de- fenders insisted people who lied about on the attack. Bush’s donors are worried asked him about fantasy football. Bush scending to has-been status. sex did no such thing. he does not have what it takes to stay went for the “make me relatable” card Now whether Hillary Clinton gets on the campaign trail. Bush needed to and dove right into delivering a humor- AS A FINAL point, the CNBC de- prosecuted for violating the Espionage show them he had the fire in the belly. ous answer. Then the moderator moved bate moderators were truly awful. Act is about as likely as a sighting of the His half-hearted attack on Rubio was on to Chris Christie, who launched into CNBC could have saved a lot of money Loch Ness monster in Times Square. his version of his father saying “mes- an attack at the question; Christie gave by letting actual monkeys fling poo at Much — if not most — of America sage: I care” on the campaign trail. the answer Bush should have given, and the candidates instead of having human doesn’t seem to care. The problem was not Jeb Bush’s at- thereby totally overshadowed Jeb Bush. beings do it. The most memorable mo- tack. The problem was not even Bush’s The time has come for Jeb Bush to ments of the night were Ted Cruz, Mar- AFTER ALL, if ex-IRS official Lois reluctance in delivering the line of at- reconsider his future. He clearly does co Rubio, Chris Christie, and Donald Lerner will not be prosecuted despite tack. The problem was that Jeb Bush’s not enjoy being on the campaign trail. Trump beating up the moderators. Ev- taking the fifth during congressional campaign and related super PAC had He is not a man for this season. He has eryone had an opportunity to do it, but hearings, and if Al Sharpton can visit both been telegraphing for days on end not held elected office since January of Jeb Bush instead delivered a half-heart- the White House over 50 time despite that this attack was coming. Marco Ru- 2007 and it is showing. Worse, he is hav- ed attack on Rubio instead of piling on owing nearly $5 million in back taxes bio had about a week to prepare for the ing to make the case that a third Bush is the liberals on stage. It was pitiful and and fines, why shouldn’t Hillary get a attack. That was amateurish. the best person to pit against the second he needs to rethink his future. pass? 6 Conservative Chronicle MEDIA BIAS: October 29, 2015 The real scandal — lack of scrutiny by the press illary Clinton’s performance coming to light. (Consider Watergate been to deny, deflect, delay and, by the tion clinic in Philadelphia, which the art before Congress last week — the peak of righteous political in- time the truth eventually comes to light, media was happy to ignore as a mere did not impress anyone who dignation in the Democrat universe: a to wave the story off as “old news.” The “local crime story” until Democrat Fox wasH not already inclined to slavishly break-in? A few minutes of erased tape? press — who controls the news — sees News analyst Kirsten Powers shamed adore her. While not quite as combat- Pikers!) to it that it becomes “old news.” them in a now-famous USA Today edi- ive as her infamous “What difference, A Republican would be eviscerated. Nor is this a unique favor that the torial. The state of Pennsylvania hadn’t at this point, does it make?” testimony It would be on the front page of the media performs for the Clintons. They inspected abortion clinics since 1993? just a few months after the September New York Times, the opening story of will quite happily step into this role for The allegedly “pro-woman” progressive 11, 2012, attack on the U.S. diplomatic the evening TV news, the subject of in- any favored Democrat (or Democrat press didn’t care. installation in Benghazi, Clinton’s most numerable blogs, supporter), blocking With a handful of notable exceptions, recent appearance was every bit as bra- social media com- the dissemination the national media and its trusty report- zen, obfuscating and deceitful. mentary and edi- Laura of damaging infor- ers serve as the de facto “progpaganda” torials, with 24/7 Hollis mation that might arm of the Democrat Party. This is al- CLINTON TOOK turns looking coverage and a negatively im- ready appalling. But it is made worse by bored, annoyed and amused as the mem- steady drumbeat (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate pact an upcoming the fact that Democrat politicians and bers of the House Select Committee on calling for that per- election or reduce operatives know it. They know that they Benghazi (with the notable exception of son’s head on a platter. Their presiden- public support for a favorite policy or can count on the press to cover for them. Rep. Elijah Cummings) attempted to get tial aspirations would be O.V.E.R. program. to the truth about what actually happened But not Hillary Clinton. President Obama lied — dozens of THIS IS deeply damaging to the the night four Americans, including Am- times — about Americans’ ability to body politic. A government that knows bassador Chris Stevens, were murdered HILLARY CLINTON lied about keep their insurance and their doctors? it can operate without the legitimate — by Islamic terrorists, and whether any- Benghazi? The press doesn’t care. The press doesn’t care. and truly nonpartisan — scrutiny of a one had ever been held accountable. (In While under congressional subpoena, Planned Parenthood is in the grisly free press will quickly devolve into cor- case you didn’t watch, no — not really.) she destroyed the emails on which those business of selling aborted baby parts? ruption and oppression. And the press, The hearing revealed what many had lies were evident? The press doesn’t Their physicians laugh and joke about which the public should see as its ad- suspected all along: that the Obama care. The administration had a man ar- it? The press doesn’t care. vocates, its champions and bulwarks administration knew immediately that rested to further their false narrative? Abortion, like Democrat candidates’ against that corruption, soon becomes the attack was not a spontaneous dem- The press doesn’t care. presidential aspirations, is sacrosanct. mistrusted and despised. onstration in response to the laughably We should not be surprised at any of Before the current Planned Parenthood Congratulations, members of the me- bad video, “The Innocence of Muslims.” this. It’s the 1990s all over again. The scandal, there was the story of the hor- dia. This is where you have brought us. And yet for days and weeks thereafter, Clintons’ modus operandi has always rific butchery at Kermit Gosnell’s abor- And that is the real scandal. the Obama administration had trotted out the lie that “it was a video.” They JOHN KASICH: November 3, 2015 lied to the American public. They lied to the international community. They lied to the families of those who were killed. They even had the filmmaker arrested. The press, of course, gave Obama the Debates have not been kind to Kasich benefit of the doubt. It was only weeks hio Gov. John Kasich is the boasted he was “the chief architect of ernor, Ted Strickland, in a tight race. before the 2012 elections, after all. Republican in the 2016 presi- balancing the federal budget.” Politi- The vote was 49 percent to 47 percent. But now, with Hillary Clinton’s dential field whom Demo- Fact ruled he was not the only party In 2014, Kasich won re-election with 64 “wiped” emails retrieved, we know cratsO I know like the most. He evokes responsible, but indeed was “one of the percent of the vote. the truth. Within hours after the attack, his Christian faith to explain his support chief architects of the balanced federal Some conservatives won’t forgive Clinton had told her daughter Chelsea for government spending. At the CNBC budget.” In 1996, when Kasich was Kasich for expanding Ohio Medicaid that the attack was “planned” by “an al- debate, he declared, “I care about poor chairman of the House Budget Commit- rolls under the Affordable Care Act. Qaida-like group.” Even more explicitly, people’’ — in a way that made you won- tee, Congress passed and President Bill (For the first three years, Obamacare Clinton told the Egyptian prime minister der if he thought he was the only R who Clinton signed a budget that reduced funds new enrollees at full freight, then the next day, “We know that the attack in could make that claim. Kasich even domestic appropriations by the federal contribution decreases to Libya had nothing to do with the film. It liked the CNBC debate. Leon Wolf, a nine percent and 90 percent.) Kasich told Fox News he was a planned attack, not a protest.” blogger for the conservative web site expanded the rolls because it’s his job That no security was available for the RedState, seized on Kasich’s remarks Debra J. to “bring Ohio money back to Ohio.” U.S. consulate in Benghazi — notwith- to declare him “far and away the candi- His constituents pay federal taxes, so standing Ambassador Stevens’ multiple date in this field who is just utterly clue- Saunders it makes no sense to send them to pay requests for it — is incomprehensible. less about the Republican electorate as (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate for health care in other states. That’s a That Hillary Clinton now claims that a whole.” strong answer. Stevens was joking about security is cut discretionary spending by $53 bil- even more absurd. But in many ways, DEBATES HAVE not been good for lion over two years. A year later came SOMETIMES, HOWEVER, Ka- the aftermath of last week’s testimony Kasich. The more GOP voters hear him, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. sich strays from pragmatic to sanctimo- has the most far-reaching implications. the thinner are the ranks of those who nious. He famously told one conserva- It was proven that the administration support him. Kasich’s high mark in the WHEN KASICH became Ohio tive critic, “When you die and get to had lied, for the most craven, politically RealClearPolitics average of national governor in 2011, the state faced an $8 the meeting with St. Peter, he’s prob- expedient reasons. What response by the polls was about five percent. He’s now billion projected shortfall. That deficit is ably not going to ask you much about U.S. media? in ninth place at 2.2 percent. The Kasich gone and has been replaced by a $2 bil- what you did about keeping government Crickets. campaign has staked his candidacy on lion rainy day fund. small. But he is going to ask you what It takes zero imagination to conceive scoring big in New Hampshire, where As a GOP presidential nominee, he you did for the poor.” There have been of what the press would do if a Republi- the RealClearPolitics average puts him will need to win the Buckeye State. respectable arguments on both sides of can presidential candidate were exposed in fifth place with 8.3 percent of the While Ohio voters preferred Barack the Medicaid expansion issue. So my as having lied to the American public vote. Obama to John McCain in 2008 and to advice: When you’re running in the Re- about an event in which four Americans Kasich should be doing better, be- Mitt Romney in 2012, Kasich has done publican primary, it’s best not to talk died abroad, and then destroyed tens of cause he has impeccable conservative well in his battleground state. In 2010, like Nancy Pelosi. thousands of emails to avoid those lies credentials. At the CNBC debate, he he beat the Democratic incumbent gov- November 11, 2015 7 DONALD TRUMP: October 28, 2015 The meek shall inherit the earth but shouldn’t be president t took a billionaire living the and kill “every living thing.” As I recall, basically the same disease as liberals A country in which partial birth abor- glamorous New York City life to the Crusaders were a little rough around who go around being offended all the tions are freely available, but children exhibit real Christian courage by the edges. time. It’s all posturing. Trump’s a Chris- can’t hold hands and pray in school, is goingI against every elite group in the When Trump attacks, he targets the tian. This is a Christian country. How not a country where Christians are win- nation, every media outlet, every well- rich and powerful. When the elites at- about helping keep it that way? ning. heeled donor, to defend America from tack, they target the average American Although Trump has been winning What difference does it make where destruction by immigration. and everything he cares about. the largest percentage of evangeli- a candidate stands on abortion or gay Baptist leader Russell Moore, des- When Trump boasts — about his cal voters, evangelical “insiders” like marriage, when a few more years of our perate for liberal approval, claims that wealth, his family, his intelligence — Moore hate him. A poll of “in- current immigration flow will mean no Christian conservatives “must repudiate it’s funny, not siders” hand-picked Republican can ever be elected presi- everything they believe” in order to sup- mean-spirited. No by anti-Trump War- dent again and nine Ruth Bader Gins- port Donald Trump, who “incites divi- one feels inferior. Ann ren Cole Smith burgs will sit on the Supreme Court? sion, with slurs against Hispanic immi- In fact, legions of Coulter found only 1.1 Unless Americans stop being outvot- grants and with protectionist jargon that political commen- (c) 2015, Ann Coulter percent of evan- ed by foreigners, Christians — as well preys on turning economic insecurity tators who’ve nev- gelical leaders as libertarians, neoconservatives, fiscal into ugly ‘us versus them’ identity poli- er accomplished anything in their entire supporting Trump, with 37.4 percent conservatives and moderate Democrats tics.” (Please like me, New York Times!) lives feel immensely superior to Trump. supporting Marco Rubio — as their bet- — have no hope of winning anything, No doubt, wisdom shall die with ters had hoped. anywhere, anytime. The last Christian MOORE IS especially offended them. (Job 12:1 — one of many exam- Smith sent the results of his survey country on Earth will be no more. by Trump’s “boisterous confidence” ples of sarcasm in the Bible, a rhetorical to media outlets under the headline: Evangelicals don’t need candidates to and “waving arms” — as he put it in device bossy Christians tell us is un- “Evangelicals do NOT support Trump.” have religious ecstasies on stage. They the Times, journal of respectable lib- Christian.) need a man with the courage to stand up eral opinion. (Do Baptist preachers ever By contrast, Trump’s personal style THE PROBLEM is, they do. Evi- to the infectious madness pushing Third wave their arms? Somebody Google is denounced by the Piety Police with dently, the flock is not as dumb or “eas- World immigration on our country. that.) smug certitude, to showcase their supe- ily led” — in the words of the Washing- Marco Rubio devoted his entire Sen- How would Gen. Douglas Ma- rior moral understanding. ton Post — as evangelical leaders think. ate career to pushing amnesty — but he cArthur fare with today’s evangelical I’m almost sure the Bible says noth- While the Russell Moores and War- made a point of letting the press know leaders? Ronald Reagan was a visibly ing about arm-waving, but it says quite ren Cole Smiths urgently warn conser- that he went to church on Wednesday devout Christian, but Richard Nixon a bit about the sort of pride that allows vative Christians that Trump is a model- this week, the day of the debate. wasn’t. Joe McCarthy wasn’t. MacAr- a person to presume to speak for God marrying libertine, actual evangelicals Meanwhile, Trump’s pitch to the reli- thur wasn’t. on acceptable speaking styles. God does understand that this is entirely beside gious right is: Yeah, I don’t go to church Sometimes the country needs a man. not mandate personality types and, if He the point. that much. (At least we know he’s not The idea that Christians are supposed did, I doubt it would be “lisping syco- This is not an election about who can lying!) But he promises to build a wall, to be milquetoasts is liberal propaganda. phant.” check off the most boxes on an evan- deport illegals and end anchor babies. Ask the money-changers how meek Je- It’s not Trump who’s displaying the gelical lifestyle list. This is an election Evangelicals know Trump will not sus was. (Not the Clintons; I mean the sin of pride here. about saving the concept of America, go on a witch hunt against some county other money-changers.) God command- Christians obsessed with ostentatious the last hope for Christianity on the clerk over gay marriage or sue a high Debates have not been kind to Kasich ed the Israelites to go to certain cities shows of religiosity in public life have planet. school football coach for allowing his players to pray. It’s the left that has the maniacal bloodlust of totalitarians. Only Trump will oppose them — and with gusto! What other candidate would toss out un-PC phrases like “illegal immigrant” and “anchor babies” without breaking into a sweat? No other candidate of either party agrees with Trump on im- migration — and if they say they do, they’re lying. Even after Trump rocketed to the lead with his immigration policies, the media still refuse to discuss the issue. The demand for ever-more poverty- stricken immigrants from primitive cul- tures has gone beyond cheap labor and has become a mass hysteria. Half the evangelical “leadership” in America can’t comprehend anyone who is not consumed with worldly ap- proval. Russell Moore is afraid to dis- agree with the New York Times from his religious community in Tennessee. Donald Trump actually is an elite, but he doesn’t care what his friends on Fifth Avenue think of him.

SOME CHRISTIANS want proof that a candidate has memorized Bible verses. I want a candidate who lives by this verse: “So do not be afraid of them.” 8 Conservative Chronicle 2016 ELECTION: October 329, 2015 Presidential candidates present dismal lineup on both sides ew leadership was put in major obstacle to give Ryan maneuver- charge of the House of Rep- ing room to reunite his party and set forth resentatives this week as Con- the Republicans’ election-year agenda. gressN was “wiping the slate clean” to pre- Things were nowhere near as clear- vent another government shutdown, but cut and settled in the GOP’s little else has changed for the better. bitter battle for the 2016 At a time when presidential nomina- the Republican Donald tion — as was evi- Congress could dent in Wednesday agree on little else Lambro night’s two-hour — including who (c) 2015, United Media Services slugfest in Boul- should lead the der, Colorado. “HOW ABOUT talking about the fund. All that’s in that trust fund is a pile House — and Hillary Clinton’s presi- The debate was billed by its host, the substantive issues?” Cruz asked. of IOUs.” dential bid was rising out of the ashes of CNBC business network, as a discus- It’s not at all surprising that most of Former Arkansas governor Mike multiple scandals, the GOP pulled into a sion of the major economic issues facing the questions were of that nature. In Huckabee said: “This is a matter not of safe harbor to prepare for the 2016 elec- the weakening U.S. economy. But there nearly seven years of Obama’s dismal math; this is a matter of morality. If this tions. seemed to be relatively little overall fo- economic record, CNBC’s news staff has country does not keep its promise to se- cus on economic matters, which virtually gone out of its way to avoid a critical ex- niors, then what promise can this country REP. PAUL RYAN of Wisconsin, every survey finds are far and away the amination of the Democrats’ low-growth hope to be trusted to keep?” one of the GOP’s fastest-rising stars, was voters’ chief concerns. economy. Christie underscored what most elected Thursday to be the new House And the candidates angrily vented When former Florida governor Bush Americans must already know, that So- speaker at a time of widespread turmoil their frustration over that, blaming the was asked by one of the moderators cial Security would become “insolvent” in his party and across Capitol Hill. incendiary questions by CNBC’s panel about fantasy sports games and regulated unless major structural reforms are made. “Tomorrow, we are turning the page,” of reporters, who were far more interest- gambling, New Jersey Gov. Chris Chris- “It’s not there anymore. The govern- Ryan said. “We are not going to have a ed in starting a brawl than a detailed dis- tie had also heard enough. “Wait a sec- ment stole it and spent it,” the governor House that looks like it’s looked the last cussion about President Obama’s weak ond,” Christie said. “We have $19 trillion said. few years. ... Our party lost its vision and economy. in debt, we have people out of work, we It’s hard to say what older Americans we are going to replace it with a vision.” At one point, an irritated Sen. Ted have ISIS and al Qaeda attacking us, and thought of all this as they watched at When the GOP’s fortunes looked Cruz of Texas drew a burst of applause we’re talking about fantasy football?” home. bleak and a band of hard-core conser- from the audience when he complained As occurs every four years in these Yes, Social Security taxes that are vatives threatened another government that he had heard enough of the gotcha campaign debates, the subject of Social deducted each week from workers’ pay- shutdown over raising the debt limit, questions. Security comes up, and it did in this one checks go into the general fund to pay the outgoing Speaker John Boehner cut a “This is not a cage match,” Cruz said. at some length — pointing to the pro- government’s bills, including its benefit deal with Senate leaders that ended the “You look at the questions: ‘Donald gram’s well-known fiscal troubles. checks. dispute for the rest of this year and next Trump, are you a comic-book villain?’ “Let me be honest with the people No one offered a solution, though one — shoving the issue into 2017. ‘Ben Carson, can you do math?’ ‘John who are watching at home,” former sur- was proposed by a bipartisan commis- The budget deal called for an $80 bil- Kasich, will you insult two people over geon Ben Carson said at one point. “The sion appointed by President George W. lion increase in the next two years, to here?’ ‘Marco Rubio, why don’t you re- government has lied to you, and they Bush during his administration. be equally divided between defense and sign?’ ‘Jeb Bush, why have your num- have stolen from you. They told you that The co-chairman was the late Demo- discretionary spending. It cleared away a bers fallen?’ your Social Security money is in a trust cratic Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York, who came up with a reform that would allow people over their work- ing lives to put a small part of their Social Security taxes into an investment plan of blue-chip stocks or safe high-yield U.S. Treasury bonds that they would own and could leave to their heirs. The government offers this invest- ment plan to all of its employees, includ- ing the president, and it’s as safe as the Rock of Gibraltar. Right now, no one can say that about Social Security. There’ll be many more debates to come in this election, but no real leader has emerged to fix the deep problems that confront our country. Right now, it’s a disappointing lineup that includes an insult-prone TV celebri- ty, a brain surgeon who wants to replace the income tax with tithing, three untest- ed, first-term freshmen senators, a former CEO who was fired, and four former or present governors.

AND AMONG the Democrats, there’s a former first lady with no accom- plishments to speak of, and a socialist who thinks all we need to do to get our country back on course is to get rid of all the billionaires and millionaires. Good grief. November 11, 2015 9 ELECTORATE: November 4, 2015 Destroying your vote: Distorted representation oter ID laws have been chal- pletely unappreciated. We can examine lenged because liberal Demo- this attack by looking at the laws govern- crats deem them racist. I guess ing census taking. As required by law, the that’sV because they see blacks as being U.S. Census Bureau is supposed to count incapable of acquiring some kind of all persons in the U.S. Those to be count- government-issued identification. Inter- ed in- clude citizens, legal esting enough is immigrants and non- the fact that I’ve citizen long-term never heard of a Walter visitors. The law challenge to other Williams also requires that ID requirements (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate illegal immigrants as racist, such as be a part of the de- citizen-voter has an equal voice. Through member of the Federal Election Commis- those: to board a plane, open a charge cennial census. The estimated number of the decennial census-based process of ap- sion, has written an article, “How Non- account, have lab work done or cash a illegal immigrants ranges widely from 12 portionment, states with large numbers of citizens Can Swing Elections: Without welfare check. Since liberal Democrats million to 30 million. Official estimates illegal immigrants, such as California and Even Voting Illegally.” He points to the only challenge legal procedures to pro- put the actual number closer to 12 mil- Texas, unconstitutionally gain additional fact that 12 million illegal aliens, plus mote ballot-box integrity, the conclusion lion. members in the U.S. House of Represen- other aliens who are here legally but are one reaches is that they are for vote fraud Both citizens and non-citizens are in- tatives thereby robbing the citizen-voters not citizens and have no right to vote, prevalent in many Democrat-controlled cluded in the census and thus affect ap- in other states of their rightful representa- distort representation in the House. Spak- cities. portionment counts. Counting illegals tion. ovsky cites studies by Leonard Steinhorn in the census undermines one of the of American University, scholars at Texas THERE IS another area where the fundamental principles of representa- HANS VON SPAKOVSKY, a Heri- A&M University and the Center for Im- attack on ballot-box integrity goes com- tive democracy — namely, that every tage Foundation scholar and former migration Studies. Steinhorn’s study lists 10 states that are each short one congres- DEBATES: October 30, 2015 sional seat that they would have had if ap- portionment were based on U.S. citizen population: Ind., Iowa, La., Mich., Mo., Mont., N.C., Ohio, Okla. and Pa. On the other hand, states with large Enough already with debates numbers of illegal aliens and other non- here was a time when presi- The next debate will take place in party. Trump’s bombast would become citizens have congressional seats they dential debates were just that, Milwaukee on Nov. 10. It will air on a sideshow. Carson would show just would not have had. They are: Calif. (five debates on policy among can- Fox Business Channel and will be co- how out of his depth he is in the world seats), Fla. (one seat), N.Y. (one seat), didates.T Not so Wednesday’s slugfest in sponsored by the Wall Street Journal. of policy and governance. Rubio would Texas (two seats) and Washington state Boulder, Colorado. Some of the blame Ostensibly, the debate will focus on eco- continue to show his command of issues (one seat). Moreover, the inflated popula- goes to CNBC for picking ill-prepared nomic issues (which the CNBC one was but have to face tough questions (if mod- tion count resulting from the inclusion of “moderators,” who showed more pique supposed to do, as well, but didn’t), with erators are capable of asking them) on illegal immigrants and other non-citizens than knowledge of the issues in posing Fox hosts Neil Cavuto and Maria Bar- his economic policies. And Cruz could increases the number of votes some states questions. But the biggest problem is that tiromo along with WSJ Editor-in-Chief demonstrate whether he is more than a get in the Electoral College system, af- there are simply too many candidates on- Gerard Baker. The rules will allow any skillful debater and actually capable of fecting the actual process of electing the stage to allow for an actual debate. candidate who polls above 2.5 percent to attracting voters. president of the United States. participate; that is a low bar that serves All of this would require that can- There is a strong argument for count- INSTEAD OF voters being able to no one’s interest but the fringe can- di- didates now in the race put the party’s ing non-citizens, whether they are here le- assess candidates’ positions and discern dates’. chances of winning the White House in gally or illegally. An accurate population differences on policy, the format turns 2016 above their own personal ambi- count is important for a number of public into a personality contest, which may Linda tions. It’s a tall order. But there was a policy reasons as well as national security explain why Donald Trump and Ben time, long past, when politicians were in — we should know who is in our country. Carson are still leading in the polls. And Chavez it for the sake of something bigger than But as professor Mark Rozell, acting dean the CNBC moderators fell right into the (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate themselves. Looking at this year’s slate of the School of Policy, Government, and trap early on. Carl Quintanilla’s open- of GOP hopefuls, it seems that some are International Affairs at George Mason ing question was, “What is your big- IF THE BAR were raised to five per- in it to boost speaking fees and book University, and Paul Goldman, a weekly gest weakness?” It was a ridiculous way cent, we’d have a real chance of seeing deals or simply to aggrandize their al- columnist for the Washington Post, say in to start the debate — and the questions an actual debate, though it might mean ready outsize egos. Others, such as Bush, their Politico article, there is no “persua- didn’t get that much better as the evening Chris Christie, John Kasich, Rand Paul Kasich and Christie, know they’d make sive reason to allow the presence of ille- progressed. and Mike Huckabee would be absent un- a good chief executive; they’ve proved gal immigrants, unlawfully in the coun- The presidential debates were a di- less their numbers were to improve over that as governors. But at some point, try, or noncitizens generally, to play such saster for Republicans in 2012, allowing the next week. Even Jeb Bush and Carly each of them must realize that in order to a crucial role in picking a president.” such candidates as Herman Cain to cap- Fiorina might fall off, which would be get to the White House, you have to win ture the spotlight based on personality a disaster for Bush. But it might force over voters, and they aren’t doing a good HANS VON SPAKOVSKY con- alone. This cycle, a large part of the Re- him to make a decision about whether to job of that right now. cludes his article saying, “It is a felony publican base is split between those who continue his race, which has sucked up under federal law for a noncitizen to vote favor the bombastic extrovert Trump and a lot of money that might be better re- MAYBE THE best solution would be in our elections because voting is a right those who favor the soft-spoken introvert directed to a candidate who can inspire to put the debates on hiatus until after the given only to American citizens. It is a Carson. If substance and actual positions voters; yes, I’m thinking Marco Rubio. first primaries. At least that way, the can- precious right that must be earned by be- on issues were the criteria, neither man As for Fiorina, she’d still be in the mix didates could spend their time focusing coming a citizen. Giving aliens, particu- would survive (and ultimately, I’m bet- for a place on the ticket if she were to on actual elections. Eight more debates larly those whose first act was to break ting that neither will). In the meantime, fall back down to the secondary debate, — two of them in 2015 — are too many. our laws to illegally enter the country, undecided voters aren’t getting a chance as would Christie and Kasich. By increasing the number of debates and political power in Congress and allowing to examine where the candidates stand If the debate narrowed to Trump, Car- vastly expanding the numbers of partici- them to help choose our president strike on issues, which is supposed to be the son, Rubio and Cruz, voters would have pants, we’ve diminished the value of de- at the very heart of our republic and what purpose of debates in the first place. a chance to see who best represents the bates to those who matter: the voters. it means to be an American.” 10 Conservative Chronicle BUDGET DEAL: October 30, 2015 Paul Ryan starts off on wrong foot with budget deal rassroots conservatives have isn’t just useless; it’s counterproduc- they think it means) and don’t mind the United States and, now, support- many unrealistic expecta- tive. Why, then, did we go through all if a party uses it to obtain spending ing perhaps the worst fiscal policy de- tions and political objec- this angst for the past five years? cuts. In a new Associated Press-GfK feat since Obamacare. What magical tives.G And then sometimes they have a poll, 56 percent of those questioned ideas will Ryan wring from the GOP good point. IT’S TRUE that both sides are would trade a government shutdown conference that were unavailable to The new budget deal arranged by guilty of “holding the country hos- for more spending cuts. Nearly Boehner? And how many voters out- John Boehner and Democrats — ap- tage” in the face 80 percent of Re- side the Beltway care about process proving $50 billion of additional of pretend “fis- publicans claim that more than results? Democrats under spending in 2016 and $30 billion in cal calamities” David they would be open Obama, for the most part, have been 2017 — will be split between domestic and government to closing down willing to use these deadlines to get discretionary programs and defense. shutdowns. But Harsanyi agencies to pro- what they can. Republicans have not. Cuts will supposedly take effect in Democrats un- (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate cure those budget And if Ryan, a fiscal conservative by 2025, by which time this deal is likely derstand that they cuts; even 44 per- any standard, does nothing about the to be buried under a dozen budget de- will take none of the blame from the cent of Democrats agree. deal, the perception grassroots GOP bates and a trillion dollars of bad mem- media when the sides fail to reach an types have about the old leadership ories for fiscal conservatives. agreement. So Republicans fear this SO THE CENTRAL question is: may well be transferred to the new. If kind of coverage far more than they How is ceding this fight to Obama that happens, this deal not only will WE’RE TOLD the reason for GOP fear their own base, despite years of supposed to make life easier for Ryan? have sold out fiscal conservatives but capitulation is that Boehner, acting polling that shows most voters like This is a guy who will begin his term also may achieve the opposite of what selflessly, is about to “clean out the the debt ceiling in theory (whatever reopening the Export-Import Bank of Boehner intended. barn” for a Paul Ryan speakership. Im- plicit in this argument is the idea that October 29, 2015 this kind of budget agreement would BUDGET DEAL: normally be a no-brainer but the cra- zies must be appeased. Passing it now and avoiding the heat will allow Ryan to move forward with his own agenda. Conservatives can’t get a break If only it were that simple. watched Neil Cavuto on Fox anyone would feel compelled to trust our armed forces, it doesn’t solve the For one thing, the GOP will have to News recently as he was discuss- them on any other issues? bigger problem: Another rigged, last- live with the precedent set by the terri- ing efforts to raise the debt ceiling Oh, yes, we know the threats. If minute debt-ceiling/budget deal is ble deal in future negotiations. Barack again.I He asked the very simple ques- there’s no debt-ceiling hike we would hurtling its way toward being signed, Obama, as the New York Times points tion: “Why?” That’s a concise and spot allegedly face financial catastrophe sealed and delivered. out, is now going to be able to “break on way to put it! from downgrades in U.S. credit -- So where does this leave the Repub- free of the spending shackles” of the Once again we are presented with a which is not a guaranteed reality this lican presidential candidates who have imaginary reign of austerity that was last-minute “must-have,” back-room- time around. But playing harder ball to to convince conservatives that they brought on by the Budget Control Act negotiated, rushed deal on raising our reduce spending in a real way would won’t just talk the talk, but will actu- of 2011. So are all Democrats. debt capacity and, in the process, ripping likely provide more stability to the ally walk the walk? For another thing, conservatives apart previous agreed-upon restraints on government’s credit rating in the long The answer to that appears to be at will almost surely see this as a betray- federal spending. All of this is being run. Just like in Greece and, the mercy of many elite media organi- al. The administration came up with accomplished with a Republican-con- closer to home, Puerto Rico, zations intent on rigged “debates” de- the idea of sequestration, and it turned trolled House and Senate that are collec- signed to make every GOP candidate out to be the only tangible victory Re- tively scared of their own shadow. The Matt look like a fool. To that end, CNBC publicans could claim on spending. compromise basically eliminates man- staged the mother-of-all rigged events You may remember the 2010 Pledge datory spending caps with some crazy Towery this week. One of the first questions to America, in which congressional concept that we enforce caps years later (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate was not about the debt ceiling or tax Republicans promised to roll back and recoup the extra taxpayer-generated reform. Instead, it was about whether a government spending to pre-stimulus/ dollars we spend many years later. there ultimately comes a day when the candidate would admit to the idea that bailout levels, cutting at least $100 bil- printing presses can’t print enough he is basically a comic-book figure. So lion in the first year after taking power. AS TOWNHALL’S Guy Benson cash, the debts grow too high, and ob- we knew where this thing was headed. They failed to achieve that improbable puts it, “This is what Republican sur- ligations can’t be met. What makes the The GOP candidates were assaulted goal. And almost every year since, render looks like.” federal government any more immune with arrogant “gotcha” questions from government spending has gone up, This is particularly true consider- to being “too big to fail?” the moderators. The candidates han- though the GOP keeps adding seats by ing that conservative policy experts, dled the situation well, but once again promising to achieve the opposite. in Benson’s assessment, point out that YES, THE short-term fix might be the well had been poisoned by not-so- Expecting the GOP to return Wash- while Republican leaders publicly de- sweet. In my new book, Newsvesting, subtle messages delivered under the ington to 2008 spending levels — now, cry robbing from Social Security’s al- there’s an entire chapter on defense- guise of questions. with a Democratic president in power, leged retirement “trust fund,” this bill related stocks, suggesting that a world Is it any wonder that, by the time or probably ever — is unrealistic. Ex- does just that by shifting funds to other suffering from a lack of U.S. leader- an ultimate GOP candidate reaches a pecting Republicans at the very least areas. ship would continue to be engulfed November showdown with the cho- not to piddle away the only leverage So while half the participants in a in its own arms race and limits. That, sen Democrat, the conservative base they have to keep the status quo is recent AP-GfK poll said they wanted along with the likely loosening of re- can’t get excited enough to turn out in surely reasonable. spending cuts to accompany any rais- cent limits on U.S. military, would droves? If the GOP is unable to extract con- ing of the debt ceiling, and well over 70 lead to huge gains for defense con- cessions that mitigate future spending percent of Republicans took the same tractors and their investors in the long BETWEEN RIGGED deals under and debt, then the debt ceiling has no position, the fear of political and finan- run. And that is exactly what is taking a GOP-controlled Congress and Presi- real political purpose for Republicans. cial consequences was just too much place now. The debt ceiling deal does dent Obama, and rigged debates like In fact, if Republicans can’t even hold for a mixed-up Republican House lead- at least allow for an increase in U.S. the one CNBC served up, the demoral- the line on what they’ve gained — and ership and eternally weak Senate GOP military spending, and defense stocks ized conservative who is implored to at this point, Boehner is actually giv- leadership. are on the rise. vote may end up asking, “Why?” ing back items Republicans won in In light of this, why would House While that’s great for defense com- previous years — then the debt limit and Senate Republicans believe that panies, those who invest in them and November 11, 2015 11 ELECTORATE: November 3, 2015 When an irresistible force meets an immoveable object hat happens when an irre- approval plunged to 30-percent levels, sistible force meets an im- when Democrats won 53 and 54 percent moveable object?That’s one and Republicans 45 and 43 percent. Dem- questionW raised by the 2016 presidential ocrats hoped that would turn out to be a campaign. new normal, but in 2010, 2012 and 2014 The immoveable object is the close the House popular vote swung back and bitter partisan division that has pre- to the 1994-2004 range. vailed in general Some pollsters elections for the Michael report an increasing last two decades. percentage of vot- The irresistible Barone ers identifying as force is the cor- (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate Independents. But rosive discontent fewer and fewer of American voters, their sense that the Americans vote that way. Straight-ticket nation is headed off on the wrong track voting, rare from the 1960s through the and that experienced leaders are more the 1980s, has become more common today. problem than the solution. In 2012 only 26 of the 435 House dis- tricts voted for a presidential candidate THE PARTISAN divide may re- of one party and a House member of the main, in the end, stalwart. In that case, other — the lowest number since 1920. it becomes easy to forecast the shape of Presidential voting has become more candidates matching national percentages pened, sooner or later, in American poli- the presidential race but hard to predict predictable as well. Only three of the 50 more closely than any other state. tics, and it has often been sparked by the the winner. In this century’s presidential states (Iowa, N.M., N.H.) voted for dif- rise of a disruptive candidate, running as elections Republicans and Democrats ferent parties’ candidates in the 2000 and HENCE THE now-familiar division an independent or as nominee of a major have won between 46 and 53 percent of 2004 elections. Only two states (Ind., between Republican “red states” (23 of party. Think Ross Perot, Ronald Reagan, the vote — in historic perspective, a nar- N.C.) voted for different parties’ candi- them, with 191 electoral votes), Demo- George Wallace, Franklin Roosevelt, Conservatives can’t get a break row range. No nominee has come close dates in 2008 and 2012. You have to go cratic “blue states” (16 states plus D.C., William Jennings Bryan, Abraham Lin- to winning the 57 to 61 percent landslides back to the 1880s to find such partisan with 212 electoral votes) and “purple coln. A disruptive candidate raises new registered by Democrats and Republicans continuity. states” (11 states, all furiously contested issues, breaks across old party lines and in 1936, 1956, 1964, 1972 and 1984. There was a bigger swing in presi- in 2012, with 135 electoral votes). In brings new voters into the electorate. The same phenomenon has been ap- dential voting between 2004 and 2008. this century only one red state has voted Is something like that happening parent in congressional elections, which But even then only nine of the 50 states Democratic (Indiana in 2008) and no blue now? One data that suggests as much have been a good proxy for support of the switched parties, and six of those had state has voted Republican; few have ever is the stunningly high viewership of the president and his party since the middle been carried narrowly, with 50 to 52 per- been close. two Republican presidential debates — 1990s. In nine of 11 elections starting in cent of the vote, by George W. Bush. Of So it’s reasonable to conclude that if 24 million in August and 23 million in 1994, Republicans have won between 48 the other three, Indiana switched back the immoveable object of stark partisan September. That’s nearly three times the and 52 percent of the popular vote for the to solidly Republican in 2012, North division remains immoveable, the con- largest previous audience of eight mil- House and Democrats between 44 and 49 Carolina moved narrowly from Barack tours of the 2016 presidential vote will lion. percent — again, a historically narrow Obama to Mitt Romney and Virginia has, look much like those in recent elections. Perhaps much of this increase can be range. The two exceptions were in 2006 perhaps implausibly, become the national But what if the irresistible force scram- chalked up to the celebrity of Donald and 2008, when George W. Bush’s job bellwether, with its percentages for the bles the political map? It has always hap- Trump, but not all. Much may be due to the seemingly irresistible force of public discontentment. And that could impact the seemingly immoveable object of steady partisan attachments. For those patterns can be disrupted by a factor poll- sters have trouble projecting: turnout. The biggest surge of turnout in this century occurred not during the Obama years, but during the Bush presidency. In 2004 presidential turnout increased by 17 million. George W. Bush received 11.5 million more votes than he had four years before, and John Kerry received eight million more than Al Gore had four years before.

THE SHARP increase in debate audiences this year gives Republicans some hope that their party can expand the electorate. The much smaller, but still significant, increase in Democratic view- ership gives their party some basis for hoping they may expand the electorate as they did in 2008, when Barack Obama received 10.5 million more votes than John Kerry. But the force of discontent seems more likely to work against the party now holding the White House than the party better positioned to cast itself as a force for change. 12 Conservative Chronicle HILLARY CLINTON: October 28, 2015 Hillary lied about DOMA on Maddow show n the Rachel Maddow Show, that had not recognized same sex civil Hillary Clinton said that it unions or marriage to avoid having to was the threat of a consti- do so under the “full faith and cred- tutionalO amendment banning gay mar- it” clause of the U.S. Constitution. riage that led Bill Clinton to sign the DOMA was also amended, Defense of Mar- just before its pas- riage Act. sage, to allow the This statement Dick federal government is totally untrue. Morris to deny marital I was there and benefits to same (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate there was never sex couples even any discussion if they lived in of a constitutional amendment on the states that recognized their civil union. subject. PRESIDENT CLINTON signed THE PRESIDENT discussed DOMA on Sept. 21, 1996, just as the DOMA with his staff and advisors at a fall campaign was heating up. To say meeting in June 1996. I had conducted that it was to prevent a constitutional a survey that showed that likely voters amendment on the subject is a blatant opposed legalizing gay marriage and revision of history. even opposed legalizing civil unions. Asked if one state should be required to recognize a gay marriage or civil union recognized by another state they OBAMACARE: November 2, 2015 were even more overwhelmingly op- posed. The Clinton campaign and adminis- tration had been searching for an issue to throw a bone to social conservatives Obamacare is still failing to soften their opposition to the presi- or the press, the debate about about actual enrollees who have tend- uninsured making more than 250 per- dent’s re-election. His decision to sign Obamacare is over. There ed to request the biggest increases — a cent of the federal poverty level have DOMA was part of that effort. There may be a few proverbial Japa- sign that they don’t like what they’re enrolled. was never any indication of a potential neseF soldiers wandering on isolated is- seeing in their data. For them, it’s just not a good deal. constitutional amendment on the hori- lands yammering on about the failure Relatedly, the economics are shaky. A study of the Obamacare exchanges zon. of Obamacare, but word will eventu- According to a McKinsey & Co. by researchers at the Wharton School At the June meeting, one of the ally filter down to them, too. analysis, last year health insurers lost concluded that “even under the most president’s staff said that he might This assumption is so deeply em- $2.5 billion in the individual market optimistic assumptions, close to half need some time to “prepare” some bedded that it is impervious to new ev- that Obamacare remade. Obamacare of the formerly uninsured (especially other staff members who might be idence that Obamacare is an unwieldy co-ops that were supposed to enhance those with higher incomes) experience opposed on the president’s action in contraption that is sputtering badly. choice and lower costs have been fail- both higher financial burden and lower signing DOMA. President Clinton got Yes, Obamacare has covered more ing, and almost all of them are losing estimated welfare.” red in the face and, gesticulating force- people and has especially benefited money, a victim of the absurd rules Even the success that Obamacare fully, said, “I’ve created more than 10 those with pre-existing conditions (to (no industry executives on has had enrolling people should come million new jobs and maybe they need be credible, Republican replacement with an asterisk. The Department to go out and take some of them.” plans have to do these things, as well), of Health and Human Services an- but the program is so poorly designed Rich nounced earlier this year that nearly IN MY BIWEEKLY meetings with that, surely, even a new Democratic Lowry 11 million people have signed up for Hillary Clinton, the subject of DOMA president will want to revisit it to try public health insurance — Medicaid never came up. I was never aware of to make it more workable. (c) 2015, King Features Syndicate or the children’s health program, CHIP any concerns she may have had with — since 2013. If Medicaid is better the bill and doubt that she expressed ENROLLMENT IS falling short. their boards, no raising capital in pub- than nothing (although this is harder to any. She understood the importance of The Obama administration projects lic markets, etc.) imposed on them by prove than you might think), it is sub- moving to the center for the election that it will have roughly 10 million the law. standard coverage that locks the poor period and DOMA was a key part of people on the state and federal ex- into second-class care with limited ac- that strategy. I would have heard of changes by the end of next year, a THE PROBLEM with Obamacare cess to doctors. any opposition on her part both from staggering climbdown from prior ex- in a nutshell is that on one hand, by If the goal was to expand this deep- the president and from her. For exam- pectations. The Congressional Budget imposing motley regulations and man- ly flawed program, it could have been ple, during this same period, she op- Office had predicted that there would dates, it increases the price of health achieved without the expense, disrup- posed his signing the welfare reform be roughly 20 million enrollees. If the insurance, and on the other hand, by tion and economic irrationality of the plan and she and I had several meet- administration is to be believed, en- providing subsidies, it tries to hide the rest of Obamacare. ings during which I succeeded in per- rollment will only increase about an- cost — but not enough. As Robert Laszewski points out, suading her that it was politically nec- other million next year from its current According to an analysis of the on the individual market, Obamacare essary that he sign it. She never told nine million and only sign up about a health consultancy Avalere, the poor is essentially a monopoly. It gives me or anyone I know of any opposition quarter of the eligible uninsured. or near-poor have been signing up, but money to people to buy its product to DOMA. Premiums are rising. Not every- enrollment steeply drops off further up and through the individual mandate DOMA was passed in response to where, but steeply in some states. Indi- the income scale as the subsidies fall punishes those who don’t. And yet it plans to allow same sex civil unions ana is down 12 percent, but Minnesota away. It found that three-fourths of un- is still having trouble making the sale. in various states. In July 2000, Ver- is up 50 percent. Health-care expert insured people earning less than 150 mont became the first state to legalize Robert Laszewski points out that it is percent of the federal poverty level got THE SOLDIERS who haven’t giv- gay civil unions. The concept behind the insurers with the most enrollment coverage through Medicaid or the ex- en up yet are right — this isn’t over. DOMA was to prevent other states, and therefore the best information changes, while a small fraction of the November 11, 2015 13 GOVERNMENT GIVEAWAYS: October 30, 2015 Free stuff can turn out to be a bad buy ree college! That’s what the Homeowners over the years tend to ac- loans and the GI Bill of Rights, togeth- ford higher ed. But they haven’t guar- Democratic candidates were cumulate wealth and to build communi- er with unexpected postwar prosperity, anteed that recipients graduate or that offering in their presidential ties more than renters. changed that. By 1960 more than 60 graduates find satisfactorily remunera- debate.F And it’s likely that, if the subject From these observations policymak- percent of Americans were homeown- tive work. The availability of govern- had come up, they would have offered ers have drawn the following conclu- ers. By the 1970s most high school ment subsidy has prompted colleges something like free home mortgages as sion. If we just get more people — es- graduates were going on to some and universities to raise tuitions far well, to judge from Hillary Clinton’s pecially minorities — into college, they form of higher education. more rapidly than inflation, with much statement that she had urged Wall Street will make more If old public poli- of the proceeds going into administra- to stop mortgage foreclosures. Sounds a money. If we just Michael cies could increase tive bloat. That has left many borrowers lot like free houses! get more people college attendance with enormous debts that they cannot Free stuff sounds good to many peo- — especially mi- Barone and homeowner- shed in bankruptcy. ple, and it’s not just Democrats who norities — to be- (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate ship, shouldn’t Government policies, aided and promise it. Republican candidates have come homebuy- new public poli- abetted by Fannie Mae and Freddie been talking about reducing college ers, they will accumulate more wealth. cies be able to increase them still more? Mac, promoted low- or no-down-pay- costs, too, and George W. Bush was as And what easier way to do that than to ment mortgages for buyers, especially passionate a supporter as Bill Clinton of make these things free, or close to that? OVER THE LAST quarter-century Hispanics and blacks, previously con- encouraging home ownership for blacks This argument has special appeal we have had such policies, with some sidered not credit-worthy. Policymak- and Hispanics. to those oldsters born in the 1940s — unhappy results. By 2007, 69 percent of ers, lenders and buyers all assumed Bernie Sanders, Bill and Hillary Clin- American adults were homeowners. In that housing prices would always rise SUCH POLICIES are not necessar- ton, George W. Bush, Donald Trump. 2009, 70 percent of young Americans so that homeowners could always refi- ily examples of political demagoguery, Back then most Americans did not own went on to some form of higher edu- nance any money problems away. though some are. They are based on homes, and only a small minority grad- cation. But those numbers have slipped Oops. Housing prices fell sharply observations of undisputed facts. Col- uated from college. down since. starting in 2006, and financial firms lege graduates over the years tend to These politicians saw how public Government grants and subsidized ended up with mortgage-backed secu- make more money than non-graduates. policies such as the FHA and VA home loans have enabled many people to af- rities that regulators classified as safe but for which they suddenly could find no buyers — and the economy crashed. CNBC DEBATE: October 30, 2015 Mortgage foreclosures soared, and by Obamacare is still failing my estimate about one-third of those foreclosed on were Hispanics in Ca- lif., Nev., Ariz. and Fla., whose recent Moderators more like ABC’s The View low- or no-down-payment mortgages find myself remembering Ameri- my.” Instead the CNBC moderators “kick-the-dog letter” to NBC News left them deep underwater when prices can journalist and political ana- asked questions about fantasy football, chief Andy Lack. plummeted. lyst Gwendolyn Ifill, who among personal finances, with Harwood ask- The letter read in part: “I write to in- In response, many politicians, main- otherI plaudits cohosted the News Hour ing Donald Trump if he “is running a form you that…we are suspending the ly Democrats, are calling for iatrogen- with Jim Lehrer and was managing edi- comic book version of a campaign.” partnership with NBC News for the Re- ic policies: more of the medicine that tor of Washington Week. She also host- They might as well have asked the can- publican primary debate at the Univer- caused the malady. Free college (actu- ed the Vice Presidential debates in 2004 didates where they shopped or what sity of Houston on February 26, 2016. ally, just free tuition) falls in this cat- and 2008. they usually ate for breakfast. The CNBC network ... and its handling egory, giving colleges and universities Politically, there are few areas, if Suffice it to say that both in tone of the debate was conducted in bad a more direct pipeline to government any, that Gwen and I would agree; but and substance the debate was without faith. ... CNBC’s moderators engaged in funds but not guaranteeing better re- that point notwithstanding, Gwen was a question the most transpicuous and of- a series of ‘gotcha’ questions, petty and sults for students. Junior college is al- model of how moderators should com- fensive display of poor behavior I have mean-spirited in tone, and designed to ready largely free, but most enrollees port themselves. ever witnessed in a debate embarrass our candidates.” Personally, don’t graduate. I find it interesting that Priebus didn’t And the Obama administration is THAT CAN hardly be said pursuant find the questions proffered by Megyn seeking to reinstate Clinton and Bush to the debate moderators we have wit- Mychal Kelly and Chris Wallace in equally poor administration policies providing low- nessed in the Presidential debates thus Massie taste but at that time it was “only a full and no-down-payment mortgages to far. Moderators today behave more like frontal assault” intended to drive Don- blacks and Hispanics who do not meet they have emerged from drunken fete (c) 2015, Mychal Massie ald Trump and Ted Cruz from of the traditional credit standards. What could hosted by the third Julio-Claudian Dy- race. But I digress. go wrong? nasty ruler Caligula and then took their forum of any kind. It was as if they The presidential debates are not to Recent experience should tell us that seats as moderators. studied the horrible behavior of Megyn be conducted as an enhanced episode of college and homeownership are not for And none more exampled said scur- Kelly, Chris Wallace and Bret Baier, ABC’s The View, with Megyn Kelly and everyone. Many people lack the cogni- vish behavior than Carl Quintanilla, who moderated the FoxNews Presiden- John Harwood cast in the role of Whoo- tive skills for higher education but have John Harwood, and Becky Quick who tial debate held earlier this year, and pi Goldberg and Joy Beyhar. other abilities that can make them pro- moderated the CNBC Republican Pres- determined that they could behave even The debates are important to the ductive and successful adults. Many idential debate, Wednesday October 28. more boorishly. evaluation process of the presidential people, like those who move frequent- Joining them in the shameful debauch- candidates, even if for many of the can- ly, are better off renting than paying the ery and also from CNBC were Rick WHILE REPUBLICAN National didates they amount to nothing more transaction costs of buying a home. Santelli, Sharon Epperson, and Jim Committee Chairman Reince Priebus than an opportunity to obfuscate and Cramer. was mute with respect to the grotesque give canned responses. (cynicism in- MAYBE POLICYMAKERS got Together they turned the Coors Event lack of professionalism and poor be- tended) causation backwards. Increased col- Center at the University of Colorado havior of the FoxNews moderators dur- lege and homeownership, they thought, Boulder into the de facto equivalent of ing the first debate, this time he was THE MODERATORS are sup- would upgrade people, and for a long a Roman palace of depravity. forced to step up. posed to be journalists and political while it did. But we seem to have The event was to focus upon “key Faced with what was termed a “re- analysts worthy of public trust. They’re reached the point of diminishing re- issues that matter to all voters — job volt” by the Republican presidential not to treat the presidential debates as a turns, when making things free will growth, taxes, technology retirement candidates, Priebus sent what “Dead- Saturday Night Live skit nor as an open hurt the intended beneficiaries more and the health of our national econo- line Hollywood” accurately called a audition for same. than help. 14 Conservative Chronicle ECONOMY: November 3, 2015 Next GOP debate needs laser focus on the economy fter the combative, vacuous for two-thirds of our economy. It barely questions CNBC reporters budged by 0.1 percent, the weakest rise asked in the last Republi- since spending dropped in January. canA presidential debate, Donald Trump Flat income growth has long been wants to set the terms of the next tele- the hallmark of the Obama economy. It vised event for himself. crept up by 0.1 percent in September — The billionaire real estate mogul the smallest in four months. wants to negotiate the rules for future These and oth- debates directly er economic data with the network Donald should have domi- television ex- nated last week’s ecutives. He an- Lambro Republican de- nounced his plan (c) 2015, United Media Services bate. More to the in the midst of an point, CNBC’s effort by the other GOP candidates and moderators should have pounded them their party to set forth a list of demands home, one by one, in a series of ques- on how the debates should be run. tions that focused on Obama’s failure to strengthen the American economy. TRUMP’S UNILATERAL move But anyone who regularly watches appeared to be an attempt to take con- CNBC — and I do — knows that in its trol of the debates to suit his campaign treatment of the economy, the network style, after last week’s televised fistfight anchors rarely discuss its troubles in the largely avoided the economic issues the context of the president’s policies. 10.8 percent, but subsequently the econ- has averaged 2.1 percent, whereas dur- business news network promised to dis- The administration’s policies are on omy added more than 17.2 million jobs ing the comparable period for Reagan, cuss at length. one planet and the economy is on an- and employment rose 19.4 percent.” GDP advanced at a 4.6 percent annual With the economy in a sharp slow- other, and neither have anything to do The reason Reagan “created so many pace,” Morici says. down this year, it was a missed opportu- with one another. more jobs — in a much smaller econo- The Republican Party’s candidates nity for the GOP to remind voters how But the networks can’t ignore the my — is quite simple,” Morici says. “It should be pounding these comparisons badly President Obama has handled the truth forever, and the presidential candi- wasn’t just lower taxes ... but rather a in its future debates and focusing on nation’s economic problems. Among a dates don’t have to respond to the stupid reliance on private decisions to guide the failed Obama economy like a laser lengthening list of economic troubles questions they got last week. recovery. He cleared a path for busi- beam. that the administration reported last The next candidate debate will fol- ness, large and small, to invest as they week: low this Friday’s jobs report and will be deemed fit and raise wages as they de- THERE’S A REASON why jobs Economic growth, as measured by a test of whether the Republican can- cided they could afford, and encouraged and the economy are at the top of Amer- the gross domestic product, slowed didates can refocus the issues on what the unemployed to get out and look for ica’s foremost concerns. And the GOP down to a mediocre 1.5 percent in the matters — like getting a job and earning work.” should not let the liberal news networks third quarter, as businesses cut produc- a living. The result: “Through the first 25 quar- get away with its cover-up. tion to prevent a buildup in inventories. According to economic forecasters, ters of Obama’s recovery, GDP growth It was the biggest reduction in three the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics “will years. issue another mediocre jobs report,” TRIVIA BITS: November 2 2015 The Market Watch website said “the says Peter Morici, business economist third-quarter drop-off almost assures at the University of Maryland. the U.S. will fail to break three per- Private forecasters “estimate 190,000 cent annual growth in 2015 for the 10th jobs were created in October — well be- straight year.” low the 260,000 averaged in (October) Trivia Bits The economy’s quarterly growth 2014,” Morici says. 1. What Oglala Sioux chief shares rates under President Obama’s poli- “The White House will tout the econ- his name with a Parisian cabaret and cies have been minuscule compared to omy as doing quite well — proclaiming with Neil Young’s backup band? Paul the economic recovery under President 61 consecutive months of jobs creation A) Black Hawk Paquet Reagan in the 1980s. His economy came — and liberal commentators like New B) Crazy Horse (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate roaring out of a two-year recession in York Times columnist and CNBC ana- C) Sitting Bull 1983, posting GDP growth rates of 3.2 lyst John Harwood may offer this as D) Dances With Wolves A) The Last Emperor percent, 5.6 percent and 7.7 percent be- more proof that the economy does better 2. What movie prop, the stuff that B) Lord of the Rings: The Return of tween the second and fourth quarters. with a Democrat in the White House,” dreams are made of, was stolen from the King In 1984, his tax cut-fueled recovery Morici writes in his weekly analysis. John’s Grill in San Francisco? C) The Matrix posted quarterly GDP growth rates of A) The chariot from Spartacus D) Titanic 8.5 percent, 7.9 percent, 6.9 percent and BUT WHEN Morici compares B) The ruby shoes from The Wizard 5. What is Quincy Jones’ unusual 5.8 percent. Obama’s record with Reagan’s, it isn’t of Oz middle name? There were other signs of a weak- a close match. Both faced deep reces- C) The titular Maltese Falcon A) America ening economy in the past week that sions when they took office, but they D) The sled from Citizen Kane B) Delight received little attention in the national dealt with them very differently and got 3. Somewhat redundantly, what did C) Lion news media and were entirely unnoticed very different results. Corey Hart enjoy wearing at night? D) Riddle by the broadcast news networks. “Unemployment peaked at 10 per- A) Baseball cap 6. What country was awarded the New home sales, a critical compo- cent in (Obama’s) first term, but since B) Sneakers 1984 Winter Olympics, even though it nent in the economy’s strength, slumped (then) the economy has reclaimed and C) Sunglasses had never won a Winter Olympic med- in September to a 10-month low, falling added 12.6 million jobs and employ- D) Tuxedo jacket al? 11.5 percent. They were revised lower ment rose 9.8 percent,” he says. 4. Of the movies that won in every A) Great Britain by the Commerce Department in the However, the “Gipper faced tough Oscar category in which they were B) Japan two previous months. times, too — double-digit unemploy- nominated, what movie won the most C) South Korea The other economic shocker was ment and interest rates and a bruising Oscars (despite getting no Oscars for D) Yugoslavia consumer spending, which accounts recession. Unemployment peaked at acting)? (continued on page 19) November 11, 2015 15 DEMOCRATS: November 2, 2015 Word games: Repeating empty phrases ernie Sanders has been the in this country. Even if a classic social- actual policies seem as respectable as Clinton bores everybody else as she congressman from little Ver- ist in the European mold would have any other bourgeois Democrat’s. The goes through her all-too-familiar rou- mont (a state so small it has little but contempt for the mores of the Bronx used to have one on any street tine. It’s as if she were programmed to onlyB one) since 1990 and one of its middle class — the bourgeoisie. They corner. sound moderate whatever position she senators since 2006. And as columnist were the respectable burghers of the But the debate’s moderator, Ander- takes. It gets bo-ring. George Will notes, in all that time he’s Old World, the townsfolk with all their son Cooper, insisted on playing word In the end, as her voice begins to been indistinguishable from his Demo- pretensions and aspirations and social games. He asked Hillary sound more and more like a screech, cratic colleagues. For he “caucuses with mobility rather Clinton: “Just for folks may just want to turn her off for a the Democrats. He gets his committee than the age-old the record, are while. Although the rumor that she’s an assignments from the Democrats, and stability of the no- Paul you a progres- automated robot seems to have no ba- he’s seeking the (presidential) nomi- bles or peasants. A Greenberg sive, or are you a sis in fact. Her most popular response nation, of guess what, the Democratic traditional social- (c) 2015, Tribune Media Services moderate?” How during the entire course of the debate Party.” What a surprise. ist would instead about moderately was also her shortest, consisting of just Yet he proudly describes himself as identify with the “working class,” the progressive? “I’m a progressive,” re- one word. Asked if she would like to a socialist — and an independent, too. proletariat, the peasantry. sponded Miss Hillary, “who likes to get respond to some comment from the col- (He’s got a lot or irons in the ideologi- All the presidential contenders in the things done.” As opposed to a moderate orless Lincoln Chafee, she answered: cal fire.) But if a politician acts like a recent Democratic debate seemed in who doesn’t? “No.” And brought the house down. Democrat, talks like a Democrat and favor of free enterprise, small business Out of sheer relief, no doubt. votes like a Democrat, then he might as and more opportunity for all. The only THE REST OF her answer was Her presidential campaign — and well be one. No matter what he chooses marked difference between them and equally smooth, and equally meaning- her administration if she wins it — to call himself, which is his prerogative Sen. Sanders seemed to be that he was less, but the audience seemed to appre- promises to be one long exercise in en- in a free country. more animated, as befits someone with ciate her Clintonesque way with words, nui. Which is another reason that labels more of a background — and talent — more slick than meaningful. Which is like socialist matter less in this coming SEN. SANDERS sounds much con- as an agitator. If he has the fervor and why, though she may please her par- presidential election than which can- cerned about the shrinking middle class style of a socialist orator, Sen. Sanders’ tisan audience, Mrs./Sen./Secretary didate can offer something different, thoughtful, substantial — not just the usual polspeak. Hillary Clinton can’t October 29, 2015 BERNIE SANDERS: — or at least she hasn’t — shown she can. Hillary is still Hillary, more’s the pity. When these presidential candidates Bernie’s conspiracy theory mention the plight of the middle class Bernie Sanders is the most prominent They had to enhance the return to ed- generation businesses. In 2011, roughly in this country, they all seem to be re- conspiracy theorist in America. ucation. They had to forge a revolution 70 percent did. Fifth- and sixth-gener- ferring only to an income bracket, not He runs around the country saying in computing and invent the Internet to ation businesses, inherited and passed a state of mind with its own distinctive that the economy is “rigged” by what he enhance the scale in which talent could along, had disappeared from the list. cultural and religious beliefs and val- calls “the billionaire class.” operate. They had to open up the global Even more mystifying, the share of the ues. Beliefs and values that don’t seem Sanders doesn’t mean this metaphori- economy. If you thought these were in- Forbes 400 who grew up wealthy has to have changed all that much since the cally. He’s dead serious. As he put it in exorable elements of the modern world, declined through the decades. Puritans brought them to these shores his speech at Liberty University a cou- you underestimated the power of the Who can understand why the wealthy in the 17th century — from the work ple of months ago, our economy is “de- billionaire class. conspired to increase the share of feder- ethic to a sophisticated theology that signed by the wealthiest people in this They had created the predicate for al income taxes paid by the top 20 per- has proven a remarkably durable part of country to benefit the wealthiest people higher pay — and not just for CEOs, cent of the income distribution from 65 the American ethos. And the very basis in this country at the expense of every- financiers and lawyers, but for other percent in 1979 to 93 percent in 2010? of American middle-class life, with its body else.” talented individuals, including profes- Or the share of the top one percent from emphasis on saving, self-reliance, de- Designed. Per Sanders, the wealthy sional athletes. 17 percent to 37 percent? Doesn’t this layed gratification, church attendance, have built and maintained a self-serving undermine the entire effort? Accord- the work ethic ... and all the other traits system of income inequality at the cost ing to the Congressional Budget Office, of a middle-class mentality. of the 99 percent — “heads they win, once taxes and transfers are taken into What is perceived as the decline of tails you lose.” Rich account, the proportion of income going the middle class in this country may Lowry to the top one percent in 2009 wasn’t have a lot more to do with the decline THE SANDERS view has all the much different than in the mid-1980s. of family, church and community in (c) 2015, King Features Syndicate hallmarks of a good conspiracy theory. It It’s not enough for billionaires to American life than “income inequal- finds a common thread in disparate phe- BUT THE WORK of the billionaire protect their interests unless dispos- ity,” the rights of the LGBT “commu- nomena and attributes them to the work- class wasn’t done. It had to cover its sessed people beneath them are denied nity,” Climate Change and the other ings of a shadowy, nefarious force. It is tracks. It ensured that the United King- the means of ascent. Clearly, the coun- shibboleths of current identity politics. simplistic, paranoid and seductive. And dom and Canada experienced basically try must have a rotten, utterly unac- That decline began sometime in the last it is, outside the hothouse confines of its the same trend of gains by the top one countable public school system — and century in step with the rise of out-of- own assumptions, wholly implausible. percent. It saw to it that the proportion so it does. wedlock births. Just as Daniel Patrick Consider what vast, complex forces of children born in the top 20 percent Yes, the billionaire class has a lot to Moynihan foresaw it would when he the wealthy would have had to ma- of the income distribution in the U.S. answer for. was still an aide in the Nixon admin- nipulate to “rig” the economy, as Sand- who stay at the top or drop lower in the istration. But when he dared to say so, ers alleges. (In what follows, I draw on distribution is roughly the same as in EVEN IF you have a dim view of he was shunned by respectable liberal the proceedings of a conference on in- the U.K. and Scandinavian countries. the wealthy, you have to admit that the opinion. come inequality held by the free-market Clever. story is more complicated than the lu- Hoover Institution.) For whatever reason, the billionaire rid Sanders version. But sometimes it’s YET CANDIDATES like Bernie Since the top one percent mostly make class constantly eases people in and ill-advised to try to engage with an in- Sanders and Hillary Clinton seem to their money not by sitting on inheritances out of the Forbes 400 list of wealthiest flamed, hands-waving believer in a wild think they’ve said something when but by earning salaries, they must have people in the U.S. and favors entrepre- conspiracy theory. It’s best just to nod they repeat empty phrases. What’s shaped broader economic conditions for neurial newcomers. In 1982, only 40 and back away: Yes, Bernie, it is all needed in this coming campaign is not their benefit. percent of the Forbes 400 owned first- rigged. Whatever you say ... more labels but more thought. 16 November 11, 2015 Thank you, CNBC, for a wonderful evening dedicate the lead of this column ing you with a modicum of respect. to thanking CNBC for display- We understand that our constituents ing its rank liberal bias in last — pseudo-journalists, after all, have night’sI GOP presidential debate for all constituents, too — hate every last one the world to see. of you, with the possible exception of In relative terms, “all the world” John Kasich, who gets a pass because is not that far off if you consider last he has admirably announced his con- night’s audience size compared with tempt for you, as well.” the network’s usually paltry ratings. These arrogant clowns had obvi- The more people who saw this charade ously done extensive, though often from the network’s alleged moderators embarrassingly flawed, opposition re- the better for America. search on the candidates they wanted to single out for special abuse. There MY FIRST reaction as this specta- is no telling what kind of basement in- cle unfolded was muted outrage, shak- terns came up with these bizarre, ing my head that this atrophied arm of arcane and failed gotchas, the mainstream such as the effort liberal media David to taint Ben Car- would show its son through some colors so overtly, Limbaugh tangential as- without any pre- (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate sociation with a tense of objectiv- supposedly dis- ity, much less any concern about the credited company for which he gave substantive issues it deliberately ig- several speeches. nored. My first reaction of mild angst was I was surprised not by CNBC’s soon replaced by growing feelings of well-known bias but that its modera- gratitude as I watched the Republican competitors, showed that though he’s servative wing of our party is quixotic, tors brazenly abandoned any effort candidates, individually and together, smooth enough to sometimes sound chasing after windmills in trying to even to appear as journalists, if only begin to hit back — hard — at the scripted, he’s not. Rather, he is truly a stop Barack Obama’s madness when it for purposes of plausible deniability moderators for their misconduct and gifted thinker and communicator. obviously doesn’t have the votes. of their bias. Their questions, to a man journalistic adolescence. I tweeted at Cruz said: “The questions that have What the establishment has never (and an annoying woman), were silly, the time, “To some extent this is like been asked so far in this debate illus- understood is that these budget battles inappropriate, small and largely irrel- watching a Charles Bronson movie trate why the American people don’t and other fights are not a zero-sum evant to the existential threats facing — poorly produced, but great revenge trust the media. This is not a cage game. We don’t have to win every bat- America today. gratification.” match. And you look at the questions: tle to ultimately win the war. Demo- Every one of them might as well Early on, Sen. Ted Cruz let them ‘Donald Trump, are you a comic book crats realize that, as they have scrapped have said in advance, “We are here to have it with both barrels, showing just villain?’ ‘Ben Carson, can you do relentlessly for policies that never taunt you and turn you on one another why he is known as a champion debat- math?’ ‘John Kasich, will you insult seemed possible a few short years ago with the pettiest and most ridiculous er and also why he should be regarded two people over here?’ ‘Marco Rubio, but were willed into existence. questions, knowing that despite our more favorably by skeptics. why don’t you resign?’ ‘Jeb Bush, why The candidates showed the power constantly harping on tolerance and Cruz’s on-the-fly but minutely have your numbers fallen?’ How about of behaving like conservatives — like bipartisanship, we have no interest in specific smack-down of the modera- talking about the substantive issues adults who are no longer going to tol- getting along with you, let alone treat- tors, along with a noble defense of his people care about?” erate the trivialization of the nation’s enormous problems and will unite OTHER CANDIDATES — in- against liberal cheap shot artists inter- cluding Marco Rubio, Donald Trump ested in driving the nation into further and Mike Huckabee — similarly destruction. turned the tables back on their interro- Can you imagine the statement that gators in a glorious display of cama- could be made if the GOP establish- raderie among rivals and a textbook ment would quit throwing in the towel example of the power of recapturing before our battles with Obama begin the offense from preening, pretentious, and the rest of the feckless Republican progressive prigs. majorities would unify to stop Obama? So let’s thank CNBC for unwitting- Even if they fell short legislatively, ly setting the stage for Republicans to they would energize their base and show what they’re made of, the seri- the entire electorate, who would see ousness of their ideas, and their sober that we are not in fact saddled with a commitment to focusing on America’s corrupt one-party system of Beltway perilous problems instead of playing fat cats who have no interest in taking games. America back. Voters would see we are Indeed, the main reason I’m pleased dedicated to restoring sanity, prosper- is not that the liberal media again ex- ity, our defenses and our sovereignty. posed themselves. It is that Republican heavyweights showed what they can I AM ALLOWED to dream that do when they work together against our side will recapture its vision — liberals who are destroying the coun- and its fire — am I not? try. For a larger lesson could be learned October 30, 2015 from this if we’d just open our eyes to it and apply it. The establishment con- tingent always complains that the con- This Week’s Conservative Focus 17 CNBC Debate CNBC does the impossible, unites crowded GOP field en. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, had a candidate’s core contradictions. Many here illegally. Indeed, Harwood did not lot of very questionable things ... I think a standout moment early in of the CNBC gotcha questions, however, even refer to their immigration status. He his quote was that ‘If you pay zero dol- Wednesday night’s Republican were picked-over bones. Is Trump for simply noted Trump wanted to “send 11 lars in taxes, you should get zero votes. If debateS when he went after, not other Re- real? What about his corporate bankrupt- million people out of the country.” This you pay a million dollars, you should get publicans, but the CNBC moderators, cies? A good interviewer addresses old was a Republican primary a million votes.’ Is this the type of person none of whom appeared to have “any questions with an debate, and maybe you want defending you?” intention of voting in a Republican pri- angle that invites Debra J. the folks at CNBC If the above questions are fair game mary.” CNBC’s Jim Cramer and Rick a unique response. haven’t noticed, because there is guilt by association, I Santelli later asked questions a conserva- Instead, Harwood Saunders but Republican have a request for the MSNBC modera- tive would ask, but the event began with asked one of those (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate voters care about tors of the next Democratic debate on questions from moderators John Har- multiple-part ques- distinctions as to Nov. 6: Please ask Hillary Rodham Clin- wood, Becky Quick and Carl Quintanilla tions — you want to deport people, make whether someone is in the country le- ton what she thinks about her new best that reinforced Republicans’ belief that Mexico pay for a wall, cut taxes without gally or not. friend on Twitter Kim Kardashian baring the network is in the Democrats’ pocket. increasing the federal deficit, increase her behind all over the Internet. The biggest loser of the night: CNBC’s prosperity — that are easy to evade. PANELISTS ASKED the kind of In that vein, Quintanilla asked retired credibility. There was a clear bias in the language guilt-by-association questions they rare- neurosurgeon Ben Carson how he could used by the CNBC Three. When Quick ly, if ever, ask Democrats. Quick asked serve on the board of Costco, when “a HARWOOD LAUNCHED the de- asked a question about the gender wage former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fio- marketing study called the warehouse bate with a gotcha question for billion- gap, she called it “our cause.” When Har- rina about former HP board member Tom retailer the No. 1 gay-friendly brand in aire Donald Trump. Personally, I like wood asked Trump about deporting 11 Perkins — who backed the HP board’s America, partly because of its domestic gotcha questions — as long as they are million undocumented immigrants, Har- firing of Fiorina, but now supports her partner benefits.” Carson countered that good gotcha questions that home in on wood did not refer to the fact that they are candidacy. Perkins, quoth Quick, “said a it is wrong to assume that someone who opposes same-sex marriage is a homo- phobe. By the way, there will be no 2016 Democratic primary debate on Fox News. CNBC had signaled the third Republi- Hurray for CNBC can primary debate would be about “job eb Bush’s campaign may be mor- hateful about Jeb Bush or the Bush fam- Christie to quip: “That’s rude even by growth, taxes, technology, retirement tally wounded. Limping in the ily. If they have a sense of entitlement, New Jersey standards.” By providing so and the health of our national econo- polls despite his massive war well, there are far worse things — like, few rules and leaving so much to “mod- my.” I expected questions on the sharing chest,J he stooped (almost literally if you oh, the flagrant corruption we find in the erator discretion,” CNBC invited the dis- economy. Uber did come up once, when check the body language) to attacking likely Democratic nominee. organized melee that sometimes broke CNBC’s Sharon Epperson asked Fio- Marco Rubio in an attempt to revive his Many on the right are completely con- out. This is an object lesson in letting lib- rina if she thought Washington should fortunes. vinced that, cycle after cycle, the “Repub- erals run things. mandate employer-sponsored retirement Rubio’s response, suggesting that lican establishment” foists “moderate” Second, by proffering “gotcha” ques- plans for small businesses — even Uber Bush had been “told” to attack him, nominees on an unwilling conservative tions, failing to provide sources (“Where drivers: “Should the federal government seemed like a bull’s-eye. Jeb Bush is an electorate. This is myth. Henry Olsen, my did I read that?” asked Becky Quick at play a larger role in helping to set up honorable man, a man raised to behave colleague at the Ethics and Public Policy one point) and arguing with the candi- retirement plans for these workers?” It like a gentleman; but he was feeling des- Center, tracks election results with me- dates, the immoderate moderators re- would appear Epperson never heard of perate at Wednesday’s debate, and tried ticulous attention and observes that the vealed their bias. individual retirement accounts. to play against type. It failed utterly. Ru- reason moderates (Olsen actually calls Third, by posing questions about such Quick fell down in the preparation bio was ready, and parried Bush’s thrust them the “somewhat conservatives”) get trivia as missed votes, who said what department. Thus Trump was able to by highlighting — for Bush and the audi- nominated is this: They get more votes. about whom (and please repeat it here deny that he ever called Florida Sen. ence — how very unbecoming the attack Though I wish the party were more con- so we can have a food fight and higher Marco Rubio the “personal senator” of was. He made Bush look small, and you servative, and God knows I wish the ratings) and fantasy football betting, the Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg could almost tell that Bush himself felt country were more conserva- questioners demonstrated that they are because of his support for H-1B visas. diminished for doing it. This was not the tive, the voters are in charge. not up to the task of discussing the great Quick apologized when Trump denied “joyful” race he had envisioned. challenges that face our nation. the statement — even though it came Mona The candidates, however, are. They from his own website. If Quick had been IS IT REALLY so shocking that Re- sailed over the heads of the petty and nig- prepared, she would have had a marvel- publican primary voters have turned their Charen gling questions and managed to debate ous opportunity to question Trump on faces away from Jeb Bush? Though he (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate several serious points. 1) How to reform how familiar he is — or is not — with was an outstanding governor of Florida, entitlements? 2) Is a flat tax feasible? 3) his position papers. There was no such his election would represent something IN ADDITION to Marco Rubio, How can we generate economic growth? follow-up. unprecedented in American politics — a Chris Christie and Ted Cruz also had very 4) What is the proper role of the federal third president from one family. It be- good nights at the third debate. Carly Fio- government? HAVING SPENT time in press- speaks a wholesome anti-dynastic spirit rina was strong and sensible, too. rooms at national conventions and po- in the electorate to say, “No. Two is the I think all of the Republican debates WELL, NOT ALL of the candidates. litical debates, I know how my profes- limit.” Those were certainly my senti- should be hosted by CNBC from now The one candidate on the stage Wednes- sion unapologetically lists to the left. ments. Nor did his donor base guarantee on. The network demonstrated a number day night who had almost nothing of sub- Everyone in the business knows this is anything. Who was the best-financed Re- of traits people loathe about the press — stance to say was the frontrunner. History a liberal bastion. But when Rubio asserts publican candidate in 1980? Not Reagan. and the candidates, most of them anyway, suggests that the voters will not choose the media are the Democrats’ “ultimate Not even George H.W. Bush. It was John came out smelling like roses. him when the time comes. But here’s a superPAC” and Cruz sends out fundrais- Connolly. He got exactly one delegate. In the first place, by declining to use question for the conspiracy theorists: ing appeals as he declares “war on the On the other hand, since we’re pre- a stopwatch and a buzzer, CNBC (like If the Republican “establishment” al- liberal media,” then my colleagues point dicting his political demise, it’s worth CNN before it) guaranteed that the ways picks moderates, wouldn’t that be at CNBC as a standout malefactor. If saying for the record that the anti-Bush moderators would have to stomp on the Trump? only ... vitriol among some on the right has been candidates’ sentences in a bullying fash- needlessly hysterical. There is nothing ion. This provided an opening for Chris October 30, 2015 November 1, 2015 18 Conservative Chronicle MEDIA BIAS: November 4, 2015 Long-overdue vigilance on moderators he competing Republicans’ So, when it’s liberal journalists an- presidential campaigns had a tagonizing GOP candidates, the candi- meeting on Nov. 1 to discuss dates are supposed to stop their whin- theirT concerns with how the Republican ing. But when Barack Obama National Commit- gets a tough ques- tee had planned tion about his past, debates with the Brent it’s “dirty” and media. That’s a Bozell “despicable.” healthy develop- No matter, re- ment, considering (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate ally. America sees the CNBC debate, through the non- in which liberal journalists asked one sense. CNBC thoroughly humiliated too many deliberately snide and hostile itself, and anyone in the press rising “gotcha” questions attacking the GOP to the defense of the indefensible risks candidates, and the candidates exploded the same embarrassment. Oh, and how in anger. tone deaf they are! Predictably, there are liberal journalists out there arguing that A DEBATE among the Republican Republicans were just pretending to be presidential candidates is supposed to upset by the nasty questions. Disgraced benefit Republican primary voters. The ex-CBS News anchor Dan Rather, on moderators would, ideally, ask ques- CNN on Sunday: “I think most people tions that reflect the values and ques- understand it’s part of the political game, tions of GOP voters, not the hive men- particularly with those on the right side “question” that “You made us hypo- HE NEEDN’T worry. There won’t tality of liberal partisans. of the political spectrum, they’re going crites in the eyes of the world!” be a day, not a single day, from here till To this end, Ted Cruz this weekend to attack the press because a large part MSNBC’s Mike Barnicle bizarrely next November, where the “objective” suggested banning anyone from moder- of their constituency likes it.” claimed more objective media would “news” media won’t go out of their way ating a GOP primary debate if they have hurt the GOP: “If the Republicans got to savage Republicans. The GOP will never voted in a GOP primary. Liberal DAN RATHER knows something their wish of impartial moderators, im- have plenty to discuss. If the CNBC journalists developed the vapors — about trying to destroy Republicans partial reporters asking questions, the debate is a measure, they will be very probably because they don’t know any with snide and hostile “gotcha” ques- Republicans would lose one of their outspoken indeed. colleagues who ever voted Republican. tions. Recall him asking George H.W. biggest issues, which is running against The RNC’s action to drop NBC and Bush on national TV the Iran-Contra the media.” Telemundo and whole Comcast brand from debates is long, long overdue. It’s at least a signal that the GOP will no MEDIA BIAS: November 4, 2015 longer just lay back and accept this dou- ble standard. Already, you’re hearing media griping about the Republicans being against a free press if they try to Republicans vs. the media exclude hostile networks. The horror! or years, I have been begging Stephanopoulos a political hack, there’s Hillary Clinton’s Super PAC. Governor But Democrats refused to debate on Republicans to stand up to the a camera-loving John McCain willing Chris Christie, R., N.J., bashed modera- the Fox News Channel for their last mainstream media. The left to grant Stephanopoulos the premise of tor John Harwood for being rude, even two competitive campaigns (2008 and hasF dominated the media for as long as neutrality for a bit of airtime. For ev- by New Jersey standards. 2016), and nobody in the liberal media I’ve been alive. Yet Republicans have ery Republican willing to ask CNBC And then the candidates came to- found a threat to a free press. consistently granted leftists in media the moderators about their history of leftist gether and said they would no longer You have to go back to April 2008 patina of legitimacy: they’ve appeared questioning, there’s a John Kasich will- abide by rules set by a ratings-seeking, to find a debate where Democrats were on their programs, answered their ques- ing to praise the moderators as leftist media, and the ratings-seeking, faced with hostile questions, when ABC tions without quibble, and allowed the open-minded and fair. donation-machine Republican National hosts George Stephanopoulos and Char- audience to believe that the questions Committee. Instead, they would ap- lie Gibson dared to ask Barack Obama themselves spring from a place of ob- Ben prove moderators in advance, and de- one question about his ties to ex-terrorist jectivity rather than a desire to harm mand that those asking the questions be Bill Ayers. (This was the year when the Republicans. Shapiro held up to a standard of decency. media’s debate questions to Democrats (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate The media, naturally, went nearly in- were so notoriously soft, even Saturday THE POLITICAL damage has been sane over this slight. Like pearl-clutch- Night Live produced a parody, with a sa- near incalculable. In 2012, Clinton and ALL THIS CAME to an end last ing CNBC moderator Carl Quintanilla, tirical Jorge Ramos asking Obama if he George Stephanopoulos singlehandedly week. CNBC, in its gauche attempt to who peckishly refused to let Cruz an- could fluff his pillow.) redirected the presidential election nar- grab ratings, set up a rogue’s gallery of swer his question on Obamacare after Apparently, that pillow-fluffing rou- rative by asking Republican frontrunner leftists, all of whom proceeded to berate, Cruz slapped the media, the members of tine was no joke. That’s what was ex- Mitt Romney about banning contracep- bash and browbeat the various candi- the media insisted that the real offend- pected, and any journalist who veered tives — a policy that no Republican dates into looking foolish. That contin- ers were the intransigent Republicans. from the script had hell to pay. After had advocated at any point during the ued until Senator Ted Cruz, R., Texas, Then the Democratic National Com- the Stephanopoulos-Gibson debate, campaign. A few months later, CNN’s put a stop to it: “This is not a cage match mittee announced that MSNBC host their colleagues howled with outrage. in-house Barack Obama serviceperson ... how about talking about the substan- Rachel Maddow would be moderating a The Washington Post’s TV critic back Candy Crowley won the second presi- tive issues people care about?” Cruz live presidential forum, humiliating that then (Tom Shales) called it a “shoddy, dential debate by wrongly telling Rom- pointed out, correctly, that none of the argument. despicable performance” that marked a ney that Obama had labeled Benghazi a questioners would be voting in a Repub- “step downward for network news.” On terrorist attack. lican primary — the implication being THE REPUBLICAN willingness MSNBC, then-anchor Keith Olbermann So why haven’t Republicans fought that the moderators have priorities other to partake in its own political demise growled: “The campaign may have back? Because Republicans have had than asking honest questions. That start- has undermined conservatism for years. seemed dirty. It had nothing on one of a collective action problem. For each ed the pile-on. Senator Marco Rubio, Now the mask is off. Thanks to CNBC the moderators of the debate tonight.” Republican willing to label George R., Fla., jumped in and called the media for that. November 11, 2015 19 DEAR MARK: October 30, 2015 GOP debate round three at CNBC nother Republican debate has fact that these two popular candidates are disrupt his ascent to the top of the polls. come and gone. Granted not Hispanic and belong to the GOP. One thing is for sure, Dr. Carson might CONTACT INFORMATION many people normally watch Chris Christie — This is the Chris talk softly but he carries a sharp scalpel CNBCA but 14 million did manage to tune Christie that we all know and love. An- and millions of rank and file Republicans Individual Contact Information in for the networks attempt at reality TV. other great debate performance by the love him. That leaves about 306 million who need New Jersey Governor but others per- Mike Huckabee ­— Another meat and Greenberg - [email protected] my expert analysis and insight. formed equally as well so I don’t believe potatoes performance with some clever Krauthammer - [email protected] First of all, the television executives his poll numbers will jump significantly. lines but not enough to change the politi- at CNBC are disappointed that by the Carly Fiorina — Another solid perfor- cal stripes of this field. Levy - [email protected] end of the debate the only real fireworks mance that should keep her on the prime John Kasich — Gosh, aw shucks, Lowry - [email protected] were successfully aimed at their own time stage next round. The GOP field is maybe in a different election year he Malkin - [email protected] moderators instead of the participants. full of outstanding candidates and I don’t could win. He has a great track record Massie - [email protected] CNBC personalities Becky Quick, Carl think she did enough to grab the yellow both in DC and Ohio but his low key Napolitano - [email protected] Quintanilla, and John Harwood must jersey. Fiorina’s right, I would love to style is just not resonating with primary Saunders - [email protected] have thought Halloween had come early watch her debate Mrs. Bill Clin- voters. Can you say Secretary of Com- Schlafly - [email protected] because they all appeared to be liberals ton. merce? Thomas - [email protected] Rand Paul — Obviously a brilliant dressed up as impartial debate modera- Will - [email protected] tors. Fortunately the GOP candidates Mark man and a deep thinker but his ideas tend were able to successfully remove the to be a little too Libertarian for both the trick or treaters’ masks and expose them Levy right and the left. However it would be Contact through Creators Syndicate as the liberal mainstream media hacks (c) 2015, Mark Levy fascinating to have a scotch with him. that they are. JEB BUSH — His debate perfor- Michael Barone, Austin Bay, Brent DONALD TRUMP — The billion- mance was lackluster at best. There’s no Bozell, Pat Buchanan, Mona Charen, OVERALL THE debate consisting aire appears to have mellowed a bit and denying that he has the resume necessary Linda Chavez, Jackie Gingrich of the top tier Republican candidates seems to be slightly more tactful with his to be president. He was an outstanding Cushman, Larry Elder, Erick Erickson, once again proved to be substantive with rhetoric. Looks like he’s getting the hang governor in Florida and has a solid pedi- Joseph Farah, David Harsanyi, Laura just the right amount of drama while of campaigning and even better at han- gree from a politically popular family. Hollis, Terry Jeffrey, Larry Kudlow, showcasing the strength of the entire dling appearances. Trump also appears He just seems like he’s out of element David Limbaugh, Dick Morris, Wil- GOP field. As opposed to the love fest to understand the big picture a little bet- while trying to separate himself from disguised as a debate the Democrats held ter and didn’t try to destroy his GOP op- the GOP field. His attacks on Rubio in- liam Murchison, Paul Paquet, Dennis a few weeks ago. Here is my thumbnail ponents which could damage the brand cluding his “French work week” remark Prager, Ben Shapiro, Thomas Sowell, analysis from top to bottom. in the general election whether he wins came off as contrived and forced. Much Matt Towery Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio — Their or loses the nomination. I don’t believe like his father, directly attacking his op- performances were 1A and 1B in my Trump won the debate but to the dismay ponents is not Jeb’s style and in so doing Contact - [email protected] book. Both were articulate, succinct, of the establishment Republicans I also Bush looks uncomfortable on the debate Contact through Universal Press and confident in their remarks. Neither don’t think he did anything to lose his stage. Cruz nor Rubio fell into any of the traps frontrunner status. One doesn’t become a You’re all welcome. Ann Coulter CNBC placed. In fact both were able to multibillionaire by being stupid. Contact by mail : Republicans vs. the media turn the tables on the network modera- Ben Carson — Similar to Donald E-mail your questions to mar- c/o Universal Press Syndicate tors to the delight of conservatives every- Trump, Dr. Carson did not win the de- [email protected]. Follow Mark on Twit- 1130 Walnut Street where. It’s too bad Democrats hate the bate but he also didn’t do anything to ter @MarkPLevy Kansas City, MO 64106

Answers from page 14 TRIVIA ANSWERS Trivia BITS

ANSWERS 1) Crazy Horse can be a Native- American, a cabaret or a band. 2) Happily, there were other Mal- tese Falcons used in the movie. 3) Corey Hart wears his sunglass- es at night, so he can, so he can ... 4) The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King ran the table on Oscar night. Big time. 5) That’s Quincy Delight Jones. 6) Sarajevo hosted the Winter Olympics in Yugoslavia.

Need to make a correction on your mailing label? Contact us at 800-888-3039 or [email protected] 20 Conservative Chronicle EDUCATION: October 22, 2015 At San Francisco schools, the kids are all right s there such a thing as being too white student can’t be representative of a politically correct in San Francis- Latino student.” He added, “I’m not sure co? Yes — but a public official has that the students see it that way.” Many to overreachI drastically to hit that mark. young teens have moved beyond racial Everett Middle School principal Lena designations. Van Haren did just that when she chose to withhold the results of her school’s Oct. 9 IF A STUDENT body that is 56 per- student council election because students cent Latino and nine percent African- had elected too many white kids. “It’s not Ameri- can votes the top four OK for a school slots to whites, that is really, really Asians and mixed- diverse to have the Debra J. race students, who student represen- Saunders is Van Haren (who tatives majority also is white) to white,” Van Haren (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate say it is wrong? told the San Fran- I’d call her attitude cisco Chronicle’s Jill Tucker as her deci- — mmm — paternalistic. The principal sion made national news. On Monday, told KTVU-TV she wants her students to Van Haren finally released the names of be “agents of change.” Guess what. They the winners. are. One last point. San Francisco is a to public schools. Everett succeeded in leadership team wanted to respond “in a VAN HAREN insists that she never city where dogs outnumber children. attracting such families, and their reward way that makes everyone feel valued.” intended to interfere with the results; City Hall has been desperate to think up is to be disrespected. Bunk. Van Haren’s actions devalued she just wanted to wait to release them schemes to keep families with children in the success of top student council vote- until the school had developed a plan to the city — and to persuade middle-class IN A LETTER to the “Everett family getters and the choices made by students increase the student council’s diversity. and affluent parents to send their children community,” Van Haren said the school who supported them. One possible remedy would be to add seats so that African-American and La- BUDGET DEAL: ONovember 4, 2015 tino children are better-represented. And: “I think it still can be a teachable mo- ment.” Problem: I don’t think Van Haren understands that she’s the one who has a whole lot to learn. Speaker Boehner’s revenge Before Van Haren released the results, aybe the ugliest part of Meanwhile, it means if Hillary Clinton Endless borrowing ensures one — at student Sebastian Kaplan told KRON- House Speaker John is elected in 2016, America would have some time in the future. TV school administrators say they “want Boehner’s parting shot at no chance of avoiding a fiscal catastrophe To avoid default on loan obligations everyone’s voice to be heard” but then, limitedM government, responsible govern- and likely default on its loan obligations. all government would need to do is pay when they don’t like the results, don’t re- ment and common-sense government is Of course, you won’t read any of this the interest on the debt. That interest just spect students’ choices. It didn’t seem to what he engineered earlier this week — a in the establishment “watchdog” press, keeps getting bigger as government bor- matter, noted Kaplan, who later learned two-year budget agreement with Barack which sees nothing wrong with never- rows more — day after day, week after he won the coveted slot of seventh-grade Obama that gives him all the money he ending borrowing and spending as long week, month after month and year after representative, that “the whole school needs to complete his eight-year war as it leads to a leviathan-like, bloated year. voted for those people.” against all of the above. government responsible for anything and If the debt limit were frozen, it doesn’t Parent Todd David believes that Van It will make it nearly impossible for everything Washington wants to dabble risk default; only failure to pay the inter- Haren is “a good person” — with the best even an incoming Republican president in. est on loan obligations risks default. You of intentions — who “screwed this up in 2017 to use the debt limit to extract It’s a recipe for disaster. might expect the largest news agency in royally.” No lie. She didn’t like the elec- spending cuts through a threat to freeze the world to be more precise. It’s not a tion results, so she did not release them. funding. Joseph mistake that AP is not. It’s deliberate. “How can you say that, in the name of so- Instead of government watchdogs, the cial justice, we’re going to withhold elec- THE DEBT limit will be reached less Farah corporate press have become part of a tion results?” David asked. Van Haren than two months after a new president en- (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate government-media complex — both en- claimed that she withheld the results so ters office. tities working toward, whether they real- that the school could have a conversation. Recently, Dr. Ben Carson pledged to WILL WE BE any better with John ize it or not, unlimited government. How can students have an informed dis- hold the debt limit over the heads of Con- Boehner gone and Paul Ryan taking What they say they most fear, namely cussion when they don’t know who won? gress to bring financial sanity back to the over? I doubt it. Paul Ryan is a cleaned default, is actually what they ensure by The progressive David told me that he U.S. government. But that idea just got up, better-looking, more personable ver- continued borrowing. It’s unsustainable could be open to the school’s creating ex- more difficult thanks to Boehner’s last sion of John Boehner. He’s the proverbial to just keep borrowing endlessly. Why tra seats to make the student council more hurrah as an appeaser of unlimited gov- pig with a coat of lipstick. Coupled with this is not more of an issue in the presi- inclusive. I worry that if Everett were to ernment, unaccountable even to limited a press that sees any aspect of life not be- dential campaigns is hard to understand. add seats to include African-Americans tax revenues. ing directed by government as a problem, and Latinos, that would send a message Boehner pulled this trick once before, we’re headed off a cliff. SOONER OR later, someone has that underrepresented minority students ironically, with the help of incoming What am I talking about? to stop lying to the American people. cannot succeed without special breaks. speaker Paul Ryan two years ago — so Here’s a quote from a “news story” Someone has to stop the deception. The more you think about it the more the don’t expect any substantive changes in from the Associated Press earlier this Someone has to explain that government idea seems downright demeaning. approach by Republicans in Congress be- week: “Congress must raise the federal cannot do everything — its resources There’s another not-so-subtle message fore 2017. borrowing limit by Nov. 3 or risk a first- are actually finite. There’s no free lunch. in this story: Black kids are supposed to In other words, Boehner just kicked ever default, while money to pay for gov- And borrowing doesn’t create a free vote for black kids. Likewise Latinos. the can down the road until 2017 or 2018 ernment operations runs out Dec. 11 un- lunch — for government or politicians If they don’t vote for their own kind, it before there’s any hope of getting Wash- less Congress acts.” who want to promise the sun, the moon doesn’t matter whom they support. As ington’s borrowing-and-spending urge Freezing the debt limit does not risk a and the stars to voters. David noted, Van Haren suggests that “a addressed in any meaningful way. default. November 11, 2015 21 ECONOMY: November 4, 2015 Hillary Clinton: American dream denier n the campaign trail, Hillary Clinton are pushing. Clinton begins with her own Ron Haskins of Brookings Institu- family’s past — her factory- tion testified to Congress in October that workingO grandfather and her father’s rise children of poor parents are still just as to become a small business owner. In likely to es- cape poverty now as at New Hampshire last week, she vowed any time in the last 70 years. to rebuild the “lad- Intergenerational ders of opportu- Betsy mobility has been nity” which she steady for decades. claims have disap- McCaughey Children born to peared. It’s rousing (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate parents in the bot- political rhetoric. tom fifth in income stable over the second half of the 20th look an opportunity to tell voters about Problem is, though, it’s not true. Contrary have a 57 percent chance of breaking century in the United States.” their own dramatic rises. to conventional wisdom, economic mo- into the middle class, and four percent Sen. Marco Rubio R-Fla., always says, bility is still every bit as stable now as it even make it into the top fifth in income. OF COURSE, the direction isn’t al- “My parents came to America from Cuba was in 1950. That’s what the data shows Higher would be even better, but there’s ways up. Some 60 percent of children in 1956 and earned their way to the mid- — even left-leaning think tanks like no dramatic decline here. born to parents in the top fifth in earnings dle class working humble jobs — my fa- Brookings Institution and the Stanford Ron Chetty and co-authors from the never make it to those heights as adults. ther as a bartender in hotels and my mom Institute on Poverty and Inequality agree. Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequal- That’s how a free economy works. as a maid, cashier and retail clerk.” ity also challenge “the growing public These are not political talking points, Ohio Gov. John Kasich tells us his fa- BUT THE ABILITY of children to- perception” that children face worse odds but research from liberal think tanks. The ther was a mailman, and Carly Fiorina day to leapfrog out of poverty to do bet- now. Chetty looked at children born in line-up of GOP presidential contenders emphasizes in every speech her “story ter than their parents is threatened by the the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s and is living proof that mobility still exists in from secretary to CEO.” very proposals that President Obama and concluded that mobility has “remained America. These candidates never over- Dr. Ben Carson grew up poor in De- troit, raised by a single mother who hadn’t ABORTION: October 29, 2015 gone beyond third grade. Carson’s view on mobility is that it’s a matter of individ- uals striving, not government redistribut- ing. Carson told the crowd at last week’s CNBC debate that government should California: A state of death get “out of our lives, and let people rise hortly after signing a bill al- ‘crisis pregnancy’ centers to deter women Counseling and Education (PACE), and fall based on how good they are.” Speaker Boehner’s revenge lowing assisted suicide in Cali- from considering abortion.” a program that helps women come to That is not what you’re hearing from fornia, Democratic Governor The real deceivers are the ones who terms with their decision to end a preg- the Democratic Party. Since 2008 Presi- JerryS Brown signed another measure that promote abortion as a woman’s “right.” nancy, where they can experience heal- dent Obama has consistently claimed forces pregnancy crisis centers to “offer Carol Everett, a former abortion pro- ing and forgiveness without judgment. that the “ladders of opportunity” in this information about affordable contracep- vider, had an abortion herself, then wrote Often these women have told me that country are falling down. Sadly, his de- tion, abortion and prenatal care.” a book revealing how women are pres- if the abortion provider had given them structive policies threaten to make that lie The information is to be displayed sured into having abortions and denied information about abortion alternatives a reality. in the form of a sign tacked to the crisis information that might lead them to re- they would have made a different choice. For decades, mobility numbers have center’s door and must include a phone consider. The title tells the story: Blood Many were not allowed to see the sono- held steady, despite the loss of manufac- number to the nearest county services of- Money: Getting Rich Off a Woman’s gram. According to PolitiFact, “Research turing jobs, because women and minori- fice where family free or low-cost family Right to Choose. indicates that some women seeking an ties have made gains in the workplace. planning services can be obtained. At Priestsforlife.org, she writes about abortion change their mind after having But under President Obama those gains abortion clinics: “They don’t an ultrasound.” are stalling. African-American unem- DECEPTIVELY LABELED the Carol Everett says abortion providers ployment is almost twice as high as the Reproductive FACT Act, the measure deceive women by telling them their “fe- national average. Nationwide, only half requires women seeking help with an un- Cal tus” is not human, or merely tissue, and of African-American male high school planned pregnancy to be informed of al- Thomas that their lives will be better after they get students graduate on time. Tax hikes on ternatives, including abortions, which the rid of the “burden.” Anything, she says, investors and big government programs pregnancy crisis centers do not perform. (c) 2015, Tribune Media Services to get their money. When these women such as Obamacare slow growth and de- Republican Assemblyman Brian Jones suffer depression or turn to drinking and press hiring. tells me the law is a “one-way street.” He sell keeping the baby. They don’t sell giv- other self-destructive behavior, the abor- Already, Obamanomics has pushed says the law does not require signs ad- ing the baby up for adoption. They don’t tionist doesn’t help them. Pregnancy cri- labor force participation — the share of vising the availability of alternatives to sell delivering that baby in any form. sis centers do. Americans who actually have a job — to abortion in facilities that perform the pro- They only sell abortions.” the lowest since the presidency of Jimmy cedure. Jones, who voted against the bill, WITH THE number of U.S. unborn Carter. You can’t get ahead if you don’t says he showed some of his Democratic FOR MORE than three decades I baby deaths approaching 60 million since have a job. colleagues the videos from the Planned have spoken at fundraising events for the Supreme Court made abortions legal Two percent economic growth — the Parenthood “sting” that revealed em- these pregnancy crisis centers. I have met in 1973, and with assisted suicide and new norm under President Obama — ployees discussing the sale of fetal body the dedicated and compassionate women probably other threats to human life on cannot sustain the level of economic mo- parts from aborted babies. Jones says his who run them and many of the clients the horizon as the population ages and bility we call the American dream. Now colleagues claimed not to have seen the who have received free counseling and “replacements” are killed in the womb, Hillary Clinton is offering Obamanomics videos and were “shocked.” Not shocked services that include baby clothes, help the notion slowly takes hold that the on steroids — including nearly doubling enough, though, to vote against the bill. in finding a job and spiritual counseling unwanted and inconvenient stand in the the top tax rate on some investment in- Jones blames the Democratic leadership about different lifestyle choices. Not once way of one’s personal peace and afflu- come, continuing job-killing, Obamacare for pressuring its members to vote for the has any of these women told me they re- ence. What inhumanity is next in this and standing by the teachers unions that measure. gret their decision to give birth. “brave new world” environment? tolerate failing schools. A Los Angeles Times editorial said the I have also met many women who Who, or what, will stop the carnage? law will “counteract the troubling and have had abortions and who have gone IT’S THESE policies that threaten to deceptive practices employed by some through a program called Post-Abortion kick the ladder out from under our kids. 22 Conservative Chronicle MEDIA BIAS: November 4, 2015 You’re doing it wrong, The View t looks like those elitist harri- gressive noble principle that catty left- wreck “water cooler” debate segments, you to our table. We helped raise your dans on ABC’s The View learned wing comics stick by their woman-on- they must resort to grade-school taunts profile so you would be included in the nothing from the national back- woman vitriol. instead of even the semblance of a sub- sea of men. (...) We were respectful and lashI over their mockery of nurse Kelley Heckuva job, feminism! stantive discussion. gave you your due.” Johnson less than eight weeks ago. Take note: Fiorina is not my favorite And when they’re called out for In full blame-the-victim mode, Gold- Guess they’ve already forgotten how GOP candidate by a mile. Though I’ve their unsightly displays of public igno- berg smirked and sassed: “She wants at- major advertisers Johnson & Johnson, praised her strong critiques of the me- rance or shallowness, all they have left tention and now she’ll get some.” Party City, McCormick spices, Snuggle, dia’s whitewashing of Planned Parent- to defend themselves is “Don’t As if Fiorina engineered the bile and Eggland’s Best all pulled spots from hood baby-parts you know who we about her face that spewed from Collins’ the show after co-host and lead Mean peddling, I was are? You owe us!” and Behar’s demented pieholes in the Girl Michelle Collins led a cacklefest (and remain) criti- Michelle arrogance. first place! ridiculing Johnson, Miss Colorado 2015, cal of her gender- Malkin Goldberg an- In the TV business, stars are ranked for a heartfelt monologue about her work card-peddling nounced on Mon- by a “Q factor.” It’s a measure of their during the Miss America pageant. California Senate (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate day that Fiorina likeability and “relatability” to the view- campaign in 2010, will be on the ing public. Part of this coveted rating IN A CRAVEN attempt at damage her bizarre corporate courtship of race- show this Friday after challenging The stems from a public figure’s projection control, the daytime divas inflicted yet hustler Jesse Jackson while she served View gang to hurl their invective at her of authenticity. As The View grew in more damage by blaming nurses and as Hewlett-Packard CEO, her support directly to her face. Instead of remorse, popularity, the hosts’ heads (and salaries) their supporters who protested the plain for the Wall Street bailout and federal Goldberg bragged that she and her co- swelled. Their hearts hardened. Their insults for “misconstruing” their snotty Obama stimulus, and her advocacy of hosts deserved credit for Fiorina’s cam- smugness and self-importance metas- remarks. Co-host Joy Behar blithely con- the California DREAM act providing paign success because they “raised her tasized. They’ve lost touch with reality fessed she “didn’t know what the he-- I in-state tuition discounts to illegal im- profile” when she appeared on the show and humanity outside their TV bubble. was talking about” when she poked fun migrant students. in June. of Johnson for wearing her stethoscope. With a “nyah, nyah, nyah” tone that THE NAKED truth: In a desperate Liberal female TV stardom has its BUT BECAUSE The View hosts nei- belongs on Nickelodeon, Goldberg bid to boost their un-Botox-able rat- privileges. ther know nor care anything more than a wagged her finger at the camera: “I do ings by tearing other women down, the Rather than be humbled and chas- centimeter deep about the actual policy want to point out, Carly, that the last shrews of The View have lost their Qs. tened, however, the know-nothing loud- issues they discuss during their train- time you were here (...) we welcomed And their souls. mouths have dug themselves another big, fat hole. BOOK REVIEW: November 3, 2015 Last week on the iconic show created by a pioneering female journalist with an all female-cast to provide revolution- ary TV programming for a female audi- ence that had been marginalized by the Bob Beckel should be dead male-dominated entertainment world, n Washington, most stories that many more. We are supposed to think temptations, not to glorify them, but to the shrews of The View chose to wield make the newspapers and eve- uniformly within our group. give the reader a sense of the magni- their influential platform to... ning newscasts are about scan- When people wish to label me, I tude of the grace of God, Who rescued ... publicly make fun of the only fe- dalsI and political infighting. Rarely is ask them to define the label. Usually him in his darkest hour. It is a thrilling male GOP presidential candidate’s face. there one about redemption. they struggle to do so and I then ask, story that will give you an entirely dif- Why? In his new book, I Should Be Dead: “Why would you want to use a word ferent sense of the man, beyond the sil- Aren’t there enough misogynistic My Life Surviving Politics, TV and you can’t define?” By labeling people, liness of the political world and media men in the world to do that dirty job, la- Addiction, Bob Beckel, the longtime it gives us an excuse not to take time to in which we both work and live. dies? Democratic Party political operative, know them. Not only will you come away from Must every nasty thought in your nar- tells a deeply personal story about his story knowing and appreciating row-minded noggins be broadcast over searching for life’s meaning through BOB BECKEL has been branded Bob in ways you never thought pos- the airwaves? political power, drugs, physical abuse with many labels. Most have sible, but this book may also open you Apparently so. Nurse-bashing Mi- as a child, womanizing, hardball poli- nothing to do with the char- up to the possibility of seeing others chelle Collins took out her ugly stick tics and finally a change of heart and in a new light — people of a different again to trash 61-year-old Carly Fio- direction. Cal party or persuasion from yours — as rina’s visage. “She looked demented! having value beyond the label you at- Her mouth did not downturn one time,” I AM ASKED about my friendship Thomas tach to them. the smug Collins exclaimed as her own with Bob more than I am asked about (c) 2015, Tribune Media Services When we do our “Common Ground” petty, potty mouth twisted into an unmis- myself. People are curious how two presentation on the lecture circuit, I tell takable snarl. men who come from different back- acter of the man. I have known Bob the audience that Bob is not on “the Self-admitted moron Behar, who has grounds and hold different political for 20 years. I have traveled with him, other side.” His Dad and mine were in frequently bragged about her own Botox views on most, but not all, issues could shared meals with him and listened World War II. They weren’t fighting to shots, chimed in: “I wish it was a Hal- be close friends without compromising to him share deeply personal things, support or oppose Franklin Roosevelt. loween mask. I’d love that.” their beliefs. Partially it has to do with which only happens when one is a They fought to maintain freedom and What would Barbara Walters have refusing to be defined by labels. trusted friend. The real Bob is the one the American ideal. If we must put said? What does labeling people tell us who rescues drunks and gets them into someone on the other side, make it rad- Undaunted, the beastly Collins con- about them? It is a shorthand way of treatment programs; who talks about ical Islamists, who wish to destroy us. tinued to pile on as the collective titter- defining someone that may have little and loves his children, who cares deep- ing swelled: “Smiling Fiorina? Can you or nothing to do with the true nature of ly for the poor and underprivileged, PEOPLE CONSTANTLY ask me imagine? It’d give me nightmares.” the individual. In fact, the very notion and who is able to see flaws in his own why I love Bob so much. You’ll see When co-host Paula Faris meekly of “individual” has been subsumed party, as well as in the other party. some of the reasons in this revealing suggested that “demented is a strong into group thinking. Everyone is now In other words, he is an honest “lib- and brutally honest book. Maybe you word,” head bully Whoopi Goldberg in- part of a group: Republican-Democrat, eral,” in the classical sense of that word won’t come to love him as much as I sisted that “as a comic we have to stand liberal-conservative, secular-religious, and not the way it is used today. do, but you might end up respecting up for the words we use.” rich-middle class-poor, African-Amer- In his remarkable book, Bob reveals him. Respect is a label we should all be Because, you see, it’s a matter of pro- ican, Hispanic, Native American and some of his failings, challenges and pleased to wear. November 11, 2015 23 TURKEY: November 4, 2015 Wavering democracy in Turkey: Erdogan’s role urkey’s democracy is the leg- key’s deteriorating security situation. acy of Kemal Ataturk, found- Domestic security certainly dimin- er of the Turkish Republic, ished; why it did stirs angry accusa- andT the only man to successfully mod- tions. Erdogan’s political opponents ernize a nation of Muslim culture. That maintain that he used the violence to democracy is Turkey’s greatest domes- so- lidify political support. tic asset and most His more vicious crit- valuable foreign ics accuse him of policy tool. Austin intentionally permit- Unfortunately, Bay ting violence. For Nov. 1’s snap example, they (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate national election argue his govern- results put Turk- ment could have ish democracy, cultural vitality and prevented the Oct. 10 terror bombing Ataturk’s legacy at risk. of a peace march in Ankara, now at- tributed to ISIL. Over 100 people were THE THREAT to Turkish demo- murdered in that attack. cratic institutions is a man notoriously Is it an over the top conspiracy jealous of Ataturk, current president theory-type accusation? Possibly. Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The snap elec- Erdogan himself, however, believes tion gave Erdogan and his Justice and over the top conspiracy theories, and Development Party, AKP, overwhelm- he uses conspiratorial doubt and fear ing control of parliament (316 of 550 as political tools. His record for jail- seats). The AKP had controlled par- ing journalists and intimidating politi- liament since 2002, but in the June 7 cal opponents associated with his al- election it lost its one-party majority. leged conspiracies is fact, not theory. kara’s war with the radical Kurdistan argue that his not-so-hidden goal is in- Political haggling among opposition The election didn’t assuage his fears Workers Party, PKK, are also facts. stalling himself as president for life. parties, including Ataturk’s Republi- — it ignited another surge of arrests. Even if Erdogan didn’t spur it, re- Since 1923, secular Turks, many of can Peoples Party, the CHP, failed to On Nov. 3, police arrested scores of newed war with the PKK has benefited whom are practicing Muslims, have produce a coalition government; a new people associated with Erdogan critic him politically. feared that if Islamists ever gained election was necessary. and Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. power, they would never release it. In However, in the intervening month’s At one time Gulen supported Erdogan THE ELECTION did not give Er- the 1990s Erdogan said, “Democracy domestic terrorist incidents, the fitful and the moderate Islamist AKP. How- dogan everything he desired. He need- is merely a train that we ride until we war with the Islamic State in the Le- ever, Gulen broke with Erdogan over ed 330 seats to call for a constitutional reach our destination.” Erdogan has Bob Beckel should be dead vant and Syria’s violent chaos domi- credible charges of corruption within convention. Erdogan intends to rewrite since claimed he was delivering a rab- nated Turkish politics. Erdogan’s governing circle. the constitution and reconstruct the ble rousing speech and his views have Erdogan portrayed himself as the The demise of the AKP’s Kurdish Turkish system. His public goal is a tempered. He and his AKP Islamists only leader capable of addressing Tur- peace initiative and the revival of An- strong man presidency. His opponents are committed to a secular state. Rigging the constitution and impos- ing a strong man system would be a political, social and historical disaster for Turkey. It would be a political di- saster for NATO. It would be a major setback to Muslim modernizers around the world. Modernity has many traits, but cre- ativity, adaptability and free commu- nication are among them. Secular po- litical pluralism does a far better job than tyrannical, ethnic or sectarian- controlled political structures. Ataturk thought so. In 1924 he ended the Ca- liphate, which is why al Qaeda hates him far more than it hates George W. Bush. Ataturk thought truly modern states treat women as citizens with equal, secure political rights. As presi- dent, Ataturk emancipated Turkish women. Ataturk bequeathed Turkey what his greatest biographer, Andrew Mango, called “the structure of a democracy, not of a dictatorship.” The productive value of Ataturk’s secular democratic legacy is self-evident.

OVER TIME Turks developed a vibrant democracy. Now they are ruled by a man who apparently resents it. 24 Conservative Chronicle SYRIA: October 30, 2015 Another ground war in the Middle East? here is a country in the Mid- clusive government” in Damascus: dle East ruled by a secular au- “In Syria, as I said yesterday, de- thoritarian regime — a state feating ISIL requires — I believe — a sponsorT of terror — that has reigned new leader and an inclusive govern- for 44 years under the leadership of a ment that unites the Syrian people father and then his son who belong to a in the fight against terrorist minority Shiite-derived religious sect. groups,” Obama For four years, said. “This is go- this regime has Terry ing to be a complex been the target of process. And as I’ve a brutal civil war. Jeffrey said before, we are In that civil war, (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate prepared to work the regime’s two with all countries, leading antagonists are the al-Nusra including Russia and Iran, to find a po- Front, which is the local al Qaeda af- litical mechanism in which it is pos- filiate, and the Islamic State, which sible to begin a transition process.” has supplanted al Qeida as the most The Sunni Islamist radicals in the aggressive Sunni Islamist terror group. region have another vision, which as this column has noted before, was SHOULD THE United States take expressly stated by al Qaeda leader a side in the Syrian civil war? Ayman al-Zawahiri in a 2012 video. President Barack Obama has effec- “Oh, Arab lions, Oh, Kurdish lions, Then there is Sen. Lindsey Gra- al armies and American troops,” said tively taken both — while rejecting Oh, Circassian heroes, Oh, brave Turk- ham’s, R.-S.C., solution: A U.S. Graham. “We’d be about 10 percent of both. men, unite under the flag of ‘There is ground war in Syria. that force. I’d go in on the ground and He has called for the removal of no god but Allah,’ with which Salah “Fifty people is not going to turn destroy the guys. What Obama’s doing Syrian President Bashar Assad and he ad-Din led you to the victory, conquer- the tide of battle. You need a ground is not going to work.” has now sent about 50 U.S. Special ing and liberation of Bayt al-Maqdis force,” Graham said Monday on CNN. What would Sen. Graham do after Operations troops into Syria to help [the area around the Temple Mount “The air campaign is not working.” his Syrian ground war? non-Assad forces in their fight against in Jerusalem],” Zawahiri said. “You Would he lead whomever made up the Islamic State. will not be victorious unless you are “HERE’S WHAT I would do,” the other 90 percent of the army that What happens in Syria — and the under this flag. And remember that Graham said. “I’d have a no-fly zone defeated the Islamic State in setting up region around it — if Assad is removed Salah Ad-Din’s liberation of al-Quds in Syria to better train people, to stop the “inclusive government” in Syria from power? [Jerusalem] began with Nur Ad-Din’s the flow of refugees. I would enlist re- that Obama, by contrast, hopes the On Sept. 29, President Obama sug- liberation of Damascus and Salah Ad- gional armies who have the same goal Russians and Iranians will help us ne- gested at the United Nations that he Din’s liberation of Cairo.” as we do, to destroy ISIL, and I would gotiate into power? was ready to work with Russia and Zawahiri was referring to 1187 A.D. be part of that ground force.” Graham and his allies ought to study Iran — both of which are allied with — the year Salah ad-Din marched into “There’d be three groups of ground the history of the Iraq War. In 2003, Assad — to replace Assad with “an in- Jerusalem. forces, people inside of Syria, region- when the Bush administration made its argument for invading Iraq, it not- ed that Abu Musab al-Zarqawi was in Iraq. Zarqawi was the founder of the terror group that now calls itself the Is- lamic State. The U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq managed to remove Saddam Hus- sein from power. But it did not eradi- cate Zarqawi’s terrorist group. Nor did it establish an “inclusive government” in Iraq that was capable of containing that terrorist group. If it had, the Islamic State would not be occupying parts of Iraq and Syria today. Nor would it be likely to have affiliates in Egypt, Libya and Algeria, as the Defense Intelligence Agency noted in its most recent Worldwide Threat Assessment. What the United States needs is not another ground war in the Middle East, but a policy of containment that prevents the Islamic State and its ideo- logical allies from going to Damascus — or anywhere beyond it.

THAT STARTS with continuing to support Arab governments — includ- ing authoritarian regimes and monar- chies — that do not threaten us or our allies and that resist Islamist radicals both inside and outside their borders. November 11, 2015 25 FANTASY SPORTS: October 29, 2015 The political reality of fantasy sports mericans have been betting In 2006, a year after an estimated 15 ally has a pecuniary motive. America’s — by studying athletes’ performances on sports since the first time million Americans wagered $6 billion principal promoters of gambling are more assiduously than those they are a Puritan pilgrim boasted online, Congress, evidently convinced the 48 states with some form of legal- playing against. thatA his horse was the fastest in Mas- that Prohibition was a resounding suc- ized betting, including 44 that have One supposed problem (accord- sachusetts Bay Colony and another cess at ridding the nation of Demon gambling-addiction problems: They ing to people who see problems when said, “Wanna bet?” But fish gotta swim, Rum, launched Prohibition 2.0. Con- are addicted to revenues from their lot- transactions between consenting adults birds gotta fly and government gotta fret gress enacted a prohibition of Internet teries and resent fantasy sports games result in unequal outcomes) is this: In about gambling on fantasy sports. Tor- gambling, making it illegal for banks poaching “their” gamblers. fantasy sports, as in real sports and the rential television advertising by DraftK- or credit-card companies to process rest of life, some people excel, usually ings and FanDuel is creating millions of payments to online gambling opera- PLAYERS IN fantasy sports assem- because they work harder than others. customers for these sports fantasy busi- tions. Mother-hen government said ble make-believe teams from actual Justin Van Zuiden, writing in Sports nesses, thereby creating government such gambling was already illegal un- athletes — most commonly, Illustrated, says that “so far this year anxiety lest Americans make unregu- der the Wire Act, NFL athletes — and I’ve made more money — the low six lated choices inimical to their material passed in 1961, the teams succeed figures as of last weekend — from fan- and moral well-being. before there was George or fail based on the tasy sports than from my CPA job.” He an Internet. But Will players’ achieve- is good with numbers. Life is unfair. IN TODAY’S decidedly un-puritani- this law, which ments on a given DraftKings’ advertisements promise (c) 2015, Washington Post Writers Group cal America, betting on sports is illegal, has predictably day. This is obvi- “a new fantasy millionaire every week” except where it isn’t (Nev., Ore., Mont., failed to stop Inter- ously gambling: and the company says it will disburse Del.). Besides, much more money is net gambling, exempted fantasy sports, Players risk money wagering on vari- $1 billion in winnings this year. Fan- wagered illegally on sports than in legal which were not then considered a seri- ables — individual athletes’ perfor- Duel says its patrons win $75 million a casinos. Someday the number of Ameri- ous commercial opportunity. mances — beyond the players’ control. week and might receive $2 billion this cans who bet on the Super Bowl will be When government action restricts It is, however, gambling leavened by year. The stakes increase with the entry approximately equal to the number of Americans’ choices, ostensibly for skill: Players can improve their odds fee, which can be as low as free and Americans. their own good, the paternalism usu- by acquiring advantageous information more than $5,000. Major League Base- ball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, NBC POLITICAL CORRECTNESS: October 30, 2015 Sports, Fox Networks Group and other entities see not only investment oppor- tunities but ways to deepen fans’ inter- ests in professional sports. Needed: A trip to Hard Work U Not for the first time, the law is a MSNBC’s Melissa Harris-Perry is because of the imaginary plight of un- economically disadvantaged students; lagging indicator of where society is the cable TV pioneer who broke the named “moms who don’t have health 90 percent of enrollees must demon- going without asking the government’s tastelessness barrier for feminists by care who are working,” but whom un- strate financial need. All students are by-your-leave. What technology — the wearing tampons as earrings on air in named mean white Republican males required to work 15 hours a week for Internet — makes possible (a multitude 2013. This week, she made ignomini- call “failures.” a campus group or institution, ranging of fantasy games and instantaneous ous history again — as the race-baiting Because of racism and sexism and from admissions and agriculture, to the payouts), enough determined people fool in an ivory tower bubble who be- patriarchal hegemony. Or something. feed mill and fruitcake and jelly kitch- will do until the laws proscribing it be- lieves the words “hard worker” are a Harris-Perry should get off her big- en, to the health clinic, hotel, weav- come too embarrassing to enforce. slur against black slaves and moms who oted high horse and get educated about ing department, power plant and water The fantasy sports industry already don’t have health care. how real people in the real world value, treatment plant. has a trade association. The industry Caution: You may need a double dose encourage, and live the principles of The work helps offset the entire cost will need it. When politicians say the of Excedrin to protect yourself from her hard work. It has nothing to do with of tuition and graduates leave virtually industry is unregulated, they mean it is brain-splitting nonsense. color lines and everything to do with debt-free. President Jerry Davis, himself not supervised by them. It is, however, character. a remarkable American success story sternly regulated by market forces, as EARLIER THIS week, Harris- who rose from poverty in Appalachia, the fierce DraftKings/FanDuel compe- Perry chastised a Latino Republican proudly notes that the college “carries tition indicates. Another indication is guest on her show to be “super careful” Michelle no institutional debt” and codifies debt the speed with which both reacted to a when using the phrase “hard worker” avoidance into the character education recent mini-not-really scandal: When to describe white Republican Rep. Malkin of the student body. a DraftKings employee won $350,000 Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., the newly elected (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate “White privilege?” That’s a cyni- playing on FanDuel, both businesses House GOP Speaker. Why? “Because I cal construct of liberal egghead elites instantly moved to prevent the equiva- actually keep an image of folks working THIS TRUTH was driven home who depend on false narratives to stoke lent of “insider trading” — players uti- in cotton fields on my office wall,” she for me during a recent trip to College grievances and cable TV controversy. lizing special access to pertinent infor- bragged, “because it is a reminder about of the Ozarks, proudly known as Hard While I was at College of the Ozarks, mation. what hard work looks like.” Work U. The school, based near Bran- I saw American kids doing the jobs Say what? son, Missouri, is located in one of the that open-borders zealots and left-wing ACCORDING TO ESPN The Mag- Harris-Perry, an upper-crust Wake most historically impoverished regions ideologues claim they never do: mow- azine, “The FBI estimates that $2.6 bil- Forest University professor whose par- of the country. According to the col- ing lawns, making beds, sweeping lion was wagered illegally in 2013 on ents were both college officials, babbled lege, founder and Presbyterian mission- floors and washing dishes. I heard many March Madness [the NCAA basketball on in the parlance of tortured political ary James Forsyth found inspiration in stories of students who were the first in tournament] alone; pro gamblers would correctness that a white male Republi- a young boy named Benjy Cummings. their families to attend college and who bet it’s 10 times that.” The law will can can only be a “hard worker” in the Forsyth met the fourth-grader while he embraced hard work as a matter of duty, accommodate all sorts of sports gam- “context of relative privilege.” hunted squirrels for food. Benjy told the faith and patriotism. bling not when government becomes a Only in academia is the color-coding missionary that he was forced to drop friend of liberty by allowing victimless of one’s work ethic seen as the apex of out of school because his family could UNLIKE MS. Harris Hyphen Perry, pleasures, but when government rec- progressive enlightenment. not afford to send him to Springfield to it never once occurred to me to rank the ognizes in fantasy sports something it But wait. One’s diligence is gender- get an education. industriousness of the hard-working loves more than liberty: something to weighted, too! Harris-Perry bloviated The private, Christian, four-year Col- young people around me by their race. regulate and tax. that “hard worker” is doubly offensive lege of the Ozarks was established for Sweat, after all, is colorblind. 26 Conservative Chronicle SYRIA: November 3, 2015 War in Syria? Where is Speaker Ryan? “The United States is being sucked capitulations of 2015 rank as milestones Why should this concern us? When Saddam fell, we got civil war, into a new Middle East war,” says the in the long decline into irrelevance of Not only do we not regard the YPG ISIS in Anbar, and a fractured and failed New York Times. And the Times has it the U.S. Congress. Yet in the Constitu- as terrorists, they are the fighting allies state with hundreds dying every week. exactly right. tion, Congress is still the first branch of we assisted in the recapture of Kobani. And, as of today, no one knows with Despite repeated pledges not to put the U.S. government. And the U.S. hopes Syria’s Kurds will certitude who rises if Assad falls. “boots on the ground” in Syria, Presi- Has anyone thought through to where serve as the spear point of the campaign The leading candidates are Jabhat dent Obama is inserting 50 U.S. special this U.S. intervention can lead? to retake Raqqa, the ISIS capital in Syr- al-Nusra, the front for an al Qaeda that ops troops into that country, with more This weekend, the Justice and Devel- ia, which is only a few dozen brought down the twin towers, and the to follow. opment Party, or miles south of YPG butchers of ISIS, who captured another U.S. A-10 “warthog” attack planes AKP, of President lines. town on the Damascus road this week- have been moved into Incirlik Air Base Recep Tayyip Er- Pat Should the YPG end. in Turkey, close to Syria. dogan regained help to defeat ISIS Monday, the Wall Street Journal full control of the Buchanan and become the wrote that Erdogan’s regrettable victory HILLARY CLINTON, who has parliament in a (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate dominant power is “a reminder of what happens when called for arming Syrian rebels to bring “khaki election” in northern Syria, America’s refusal to act to stop chaos down Bashar Assad, is urging Obama to it called after renewing its war on the the more dangerous they will appear to in places like Syria frightens allies into establish a no-fly zone inside Syria. Kurdish PKK in southeastern Turkey Erdogan, and the more problems that making unpalatable choices.” Citing Clinton and Gen. David Pe- and northern Iraq. will create between the Turkish presi- traeus, John McCain is calling for a no- dent and his NATO ally, the United NOW THERE’S an argument for fly zone and a safe zone in Syria, to be ERDOGAN REGARDS the PKK States. America’s plunging into Syria: Send policed by U.S. air power. as a terror group. As do we. But Er- Not only does a Congressional de- our troops to fight and die in multisided “How many men, women and chil- dogan also considers Syria’s Kurdish bate on an authorization to use military civil war that has cost 250,000 lives, so dren,” McCain asks, “are we willing fighters, the YPG, to be terrorists. And force appear constitutionally mandated Turks will feel reassured enough they to watch being slaughtered by the Rus- Ankara has warned that if the YPG oc- before we intervene in Syria, but the won’t vote for “strongmen” like Erdo- sians and Bashar al-Assad?” cupies more territory along the Syrian- debate itself on an AUMF might induce gan. Yet, if we put U.S. forces onto sov- Turkish border, west of the Euphrates, a measure of caution before we plunge America needs an America First ereign Syrian territory, against the will Turkey will attack. into yet another Middle East quagmire. movement. and resistance of that government, that is an act of war. November 3, 2015 Would we tolerate Mexican troops in MEDIA BIAS: Texas to protect their citizens inside our country? Would we, in the Cold War, have tolerated Russians in Cuba telling us they were establishing a no-fly zone Conservatives vs. the ‘liberal media’ for all U.S. warplanes over the Florida “The questions that have been asked the issue once more to notice. He got Liberalism is the fallback philosophy Strait and Florida Keys? so far in this debate illustrate why the a big hand for doing so. There will be in fields that involve the exchange and Obama has begun an escalation into American people don’t trust the media. more sounds of support, I imagine, as propagation of ideas. You might sup- Syria’s civil war, and not only against ... And nobody watching at home (be- Republican strategists and campaigners pose — some liberals do suppose — ISIS and the al-Nusra Front, but against lieves) that any of the moderators (have) map the gap that supposedly separates that this means conservatives are dumb. Syria’s armed forces. any intention of voting in a Republican ordinary Americans from those who I can’t convince anyone this isn’t so Mission creep has begun. The trip- primary.” — Sen. Ted Cruz, at the Oct. misrepresent the country’s problems. with a single sentence. But truly, it isn’t wire is being put down. Yet, who autho- 28 GOP presidential debate. The media will rejoin: 1) No, not lib- so. Just take a look at the conservative rized Obama to take us into this war? With the carbonated “pop” produced eral; we’re mainstream; 2) Yes, we tilt intellectual bench over the past half- The Russians and Iranians are in Syria by Ted Cruz’s reaction to the debate leftward, but we work hard to be fair century and more: Bill Buckley, T. S. at the invitation of the government. But panel’s questions, off came the lid from and inclusive; or 3) Are you against the Eliot, Milton Friedman, Irving Kristol, Obama has no authorization from Con- a familiar debate topic — the liberal First Amendment or some- Antonin Scalia, the Wall Street Journal gress to put combat troops into Syria. media. thing? editorial board, plus occasional drop-ins Neither the al-Nusra Front nor ISIS such as H. L. Mencken and F. A. Hayek. has an air force. Against whom, then, is ARE THE MEDIA liberal? As the William I do not think the likes of Ken Galbraith, this Clinton-McCain no fly-zone direct- late Conway Twitty would surely re- Maureen Dowd, Paul Krugman, Nor- ed, if not Syrian and Russian warplanes ply, “Is a bluebird blue?” Bless us one Murchison man Mailer, Gore Vidal or John Har- and helicopters? and all, the members of the news media (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate wood outshine this galaxy. But there’s Is America really prepared to order lean proudly left in their politics and no accounting for taste. the shooting down of Russian warplanes attitudes. Cruz hit the nail on the head: Or for the sheer, undiluted joy of and the killing of Russian pilots operat- Nary a one of his inquisitors at the de- THE DEBATE has waxed and disruption. The media are into kicking ing inside Syria with the approval of the bate is likely to vote in a Republican waned over the half-century of my par- over tables and staining neckties with Syrian government? primary. Each, we might reasonably ticipation in the affairs of newspapers, ketchup: in the interest, supposedly, of In deepening America’s involvement suppose, has mentally pledged fealty to magazines and university journalism keeping our rulers honest. A fond con- and risking a clash with Syrian, Rus- Hillary Clinton. departments. I deplore on principle the ceit of liberals is that rich white men run sian and Iranian forces, Obama is con- Now and again, commentators and idea of putting a thumb on the scale America. So, kick ‘em around; expose temptuously ignoring a Congress that scholars try to nail down the specifics of when covering news events. But such their lies. has never authorized the use of military this. The standard textbook on the topic high-mindedness clearly failed to stop force against the Damascus regime. was The Media Elite by S. Robert Lich- the New York Times’ John Harwood and SO WE BEAT ON, boats against the Congress’ meek acquiescence in be- ter, Stanley Rothman and Linda Lichter. CNBC’s Carl Quintanilla from sitting liberal current, headed for November ing stripped of its war powers is aston- The authors, in interviews conducted coldly in judgment rather than sincerely 2016. I would bet we’re going to hear a ishing. Weren’t these the Republicans with media muck-a-mucks, documented questioning. It wasn’t the Spanish In- lot from conservatives about “the liberal who were going to Washington to “stand a distinct preference for Democrats and quisition; neither was it Exhibit A in the media” between now and then. It gives up to Obama?” for liberal policies. Most interviewees, case for a free, unfettered press. a lifetime member of the media no joy Coming after Congress voted for for instance, supported abortion rights. The media are liberal. I think there to predict that much of what we hear “fast track,” i.e., to surrender its consti- Few ever darkened a church door. is not the least likelihood of this state will be grimly, unpleasantly true. tutional right to amend trade treaties, the And now comes Ted Cruz to propel of affairs changing in our lifetimes. November 11, 2015 27 GENDER: November 3, 2015 Feminization of America is bad for the world ast week, the New York Times that boys and girls want the same types published an article, “Sweep- of toys, they lose nothing for asserting ing Away Gender-Specific something so patently false. In busi- ToysL and Labels,” that contained three ness there is a very big price paid for sentences that explain one of the most believ- ing what is untrue. important phe- Among academics, nomena in Ameri- there is no price can life. Dennis — certainly not In discussing Prager their reputations, the increasing because other aca- move to do away (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate demics want to with gender-spe- believe the same cific toys — something the New York nonsense. Times approves of — the article quoted The Mattel research reveals that male Tania Missad, the “director of global nature wants good guys to kill bad guys consumer insights” at one of the world’s (of course, in bad societies the defini- largest toy manufacturers, Mattel: tion of “good guy” and “villain” may well be inverted, but that is a values is- “MATTEL’S RESEARCH showed sue, not a male-nature issue); and that some differences in what girls and boys female nature wants the good guy and wanted in their action figures, Ms. bad guy to “be friends in the end.” Missad said. ‘For boys it’s very much This difference may be the most im- about telling a story of the good guy portant of all the sex differences. In- killing the villain.’ ... [Girls] would tell deed, it can actually shape the future of us: ‘Why does the good girl have to kill America and of the world. the villain? Can’t they be friends in the Of course, there are women who WHEN WOMEN get married, they ashamed of their masculine natures and end?’” want evil destroyed — the late Marga- are often influenced by their husbands to reject traditional masculine virtues. Very little academic research on sex ret Thatcher, for example. And there are with regard to political and moral is- As a result of the above two trends, differences is likely to be as accurate as men who oppose confronting evil — the sues, just as married men are influenced the amount spent on national defense research conducted by businesses and men who lead the modern Democratic by their wives on a whole host of micro will continue to decline (while the advertising agencies. The reason is sim- Party, for example. (One such man is the issues. As a result, married women are amount spent on welfare will continue ple: Businesses and advertising agen- president of the United States, whose more likely than single women to prefer to increase), and America will confront cies have no social or political agenda; has a feminized view of those who do to fight villains than to befriend them. the world’s evils less and less. Conservatives vs. the ‘liberal media’ their agenda is profit. Their assessments evil — talk to them, but don’t confront Unfortunately, more and more Amer- The consequences will be disastrous must be accurate or they lose money; them, label them or fight them.) ican women are single. for millions of people around the globe. and those providing wrong assessments But these exceptions happen in large Meanwhile American boys are in- When America retreats from killing bad are fired. Academics, on the other hand, numbers under two circumstances: creasingly raised by single women and guys, bad guys kill more innocent peo- have nothing on the line. When they when women get married and when taught almost only by female teachers. ple. We are witnessing this right now as publish studies that purport to show men are feminized. In addition, they are often taught to be a consequence of America abandoning Iraq and retreating from the world gen- erally. Islamic State took over more and more territory as America abandoned those territories. Ironically, therefore, as American foreign policy becomes feminized, more Middle East females are raped. Whenever I see the liberal bumper sticker, “War Is not the Answer,” on a car, I look to see who is driving. In years of looking, I have seen one male driver. Both women and men have flawed natures. They share human nature, which is deeply flawed, and the sexes have their own particular natures, which are also flawed. That is one reason men need women and women need men. Men need women to soften their intrinsic ag- gressive nature and to help them control their predatory sexuality; and women need men to, among other things, better understand that evil people and regimes must be fought, not nurtured. Mattel’s research has told a truth to which America, and the world, need to pay attention.

THE LEFT has done many destruc- tive things to America. It is quite pos- sible that none will prove to be more destructive than its attempt to obliterate gender-distinctions. 28 Conservative Chronicle ANTI-SEMITISM: November 1, 2015 Does Iran’s anti-Semitism run too deep for deterrence? ale historian Timothy Snyder the Mufti, approximately 700,000 Soviet is indebted to Israeli Prime Jews had been shot. Snyder, not Netan- Minister Benjamin Netan- yahu, should be heeded concerning the yahu,Y who recently made Snyder’s new Holocaust’s genesis. book even more newsworthy than his Attempts to explain Hitler’s obses- extraordinary scholarship deserves to be. sion with Jews began with the idea that And Netanyahu is indebted to Snyder, he was unfathomable, a luna- whose theory of tic “Teppichfresser” Hitler’s anti-Sem- (carpet chewer). The itism is germane George comforting theory to two questions: Will was that no theory Is the Iranian re- can explain Hitler gime’s anti-Sem- (c) 2015, Washington Post Writers Group because he was in- itism rooted, as explicable, a mon- Hitler’s was, in a theory of history that ster, a phenomenon without precedent or demands genocide? If so, when Iran be- portent. comes a nuclear power, can it be deterred In 1996, however, Daniel Goldha- from its announced determination to de- gen’s book Hitler’s Willing Execution- stroy Israel? ers: Ordinary Germans and the Holo- caust argued that the explanation for the NETANYAHU RECENTLY as- genocide was acculturation — centuries serted, again, that a Palestinian cleric of German conditioning by the single was important in Hitler’s decision to idea of “eliminationist anti-Semitism.” murder European Jews. Netanyahu said This cognitive determinism reduced Hit- stood as a mandate to extirpate “false “In Hitler’s world,” Snyder writes, that on Nov. 28, 1941, when Hitler sup- ler to a mere catalyst who unleashed a consciousness” — to legitimize, even “the law of the jungle was the only law.” posedly preferred to expel Europe’s Jews sick society’s cultural latency. mandate, mass murder. In Black Earth: The immutable structure of life casts the rather than exterminate them, Haj Amin This drew a rejoinder from Christo- The Holocaust as History and Warning, various human races as separate species. al-Husseini, Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, pher Browning, author of Ordinary Men published in September, Snyder argues Only races are real and they are locked met with Hitler and urged him to “burn (1992), a study of middle-aged German that the Holocaust’s origins have been in mutual and unassuageable enmity, in them.” conscripts who became consenting par- hidden in plain sight, in ideas Hitler ar- Hitler’s mindset, because life is constant Certainly the Mufti favored genocide; ticipants in mass-murder police bat- ticulated in Mein Kampf and speeches. struggle over scarcities — of land, food he certainly was not important in initi- talions in Poland. Browning noted that and other necessities. ating it. Mass murder — the Holocaust protracted socialization — centuries of SNYDER PRESENTS a Hitler more One group, however, poisoned the — accompanied the German army, espe- conditioning — could not explain the troubling than a madman, a Hitler imple- planet with another idea. To Hitler, says cially after the September 1939 outbreak Khmer Rouge’s murder of millions of menting the logic of a coherent world- Snyder, “It was the Jew who told humans of war, and especially after the June 1941 Cambodians, or the Chinese’ slaughter view. His life was a single-minded re- that they were above other animals, and invasion of the Soviet Union. Granted, it of millions of Chinese during Mao’s Cul- sponse to an idea so radical that it rejected had the capacity to decide their future for was not until the January 1942 Wannsee tural Revolution. not only the entire tradition of political themselves.” To Hitler, “Ethics as such Conference that the “final solution” be- What happened in those places proved philosophy but the possibility of philoso- was the error; the only morality was fi- came explicit. But by the time Hitler met the power of an idea — Marxism under- phy, which Hitler supplanted by zoology. delity to race.” Hitler, who did not be- come a German citizen until 11 months before becoming Germany’s chancellor, was not a nationalist but a racialist who said “the highest goal of human beings” is not “the preservation of any given state or government, but the preservation of their kind.” And “all world-historical events are nothing more than the expres- sion of the self-preservation drive of the races.” Now, assume, reasonably, that Iran’s pursuit of a potentially genocidal weapon will not be seriously impeded by parch- ment barriers such as the recent nuclear agreement. And assume, prudently, that the Iranian regime means what it says about Jews and their “Zionist entity.” Then apply Snyder’s warning: Ideas have consequences. The idea of anti- Semitism is uniquely durable and re- markably multiform. It can express a mentality that is disconnected, as in Hit- ler’s case, from calculations of national interest.

HENCE AN anti-Semitic regime can be impervious to the logic of deterrence. Much, including Israel’s calculation of what military measures are necessary for its safety, depends on the nature of Iran’s anti-Semitism. November 11, 2015 29 EDUCATION: November 3, 2015 Ignoring the obvious in American education recent, widely publicized in- The message of these critics is that ghettos across the country, there are also rules of the education establishment. cident in which a policeman it is “unfair” to compare regular public cases where charter schools in the very Maybe such rules should be changed was called to a school class- schools’ results with those of charter same ghettos turn out students whose for all. roomA to deal with a disruptive student schools serving the same neighborhoods test scores are not only far higher than If the critics are right, and getting has provoked all sorts of comments on — and often in the same buildings. This those in other ghetto schools, but some- rid of the influence of uncooperative whether the policeman used “excessive criticism ignores the fact that schools do times are comparable to or disruptive students contributes to force.” not exist to provide the test scores in better educational results, then the an- What has received far less attention, jobs for teachers or schools in upscale swer is not to prevent charter schools though it is a far larger question, with “fairness” to insti- Thomas suburban commu- from expelling such students, but to more sweeping implications, is the role tutions, but to pro- Sowell nities, where chil- allow other public schools to remove of disruptive students in schools. vide education for (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate dren come from such students, when other students can students. intact families benefit from getting a better education CRITICS OF charter schools have “Fairness” is for human beings, not with highly educated parents. without them around. often pointed to those schools’ ability for institutions. Institutions that are not This is especially important in low- to expel uncooperative and disruptive serving the needs of people should either CHARTER SCHOOLS with such income minority schools, where educa- students, far more readily than regular be changed or phased out and replaced, achievements should be celebrated tion is for many their only chance for a public schools can, as a reason for some when they persistently fail. and imitated, not attacked by critics better life. charter schools’ far better educational Despite the painfully bad educational because of their “unfair” exemptions Back in the supposedly bad old outcomes, as shown on many tests. outcomes in many public schools in from some of the counterproductive days, before so many people became so politically correct, there were schools and other institutions that were basical- STATUE OF LIBERTY: October 29, 2015 ly dumping grounds for students who endangered the education — and often even the safety — of other children. Yet a front-page story in the New Lady Liberty’s story York Times last week dealt with how n October 28, 1886, the on March 16, 1885. “We must raise the The poem, whose last lines are most Success Academy, a high-performing Statue of Liberty was dedi- money! The World is the people’s pa- frequently quoted in conjunction with charter school network in New York cated by President Grover per, and now it appeals to the people what is now called the “Statue of Lib- City’s low-income and minority neigh- Cleveland,O who proclaimed at that to come forward and raise the money. erty” was written by Emma Lazarus in borhoods, has been accused of “weed- time, “We will not forget that Liberty The $250,000 that the making of the 1883 for an exhibition and fundraising ing out weak or difficult students.” has made her home here, nor shall her Statue cost was paid in by the masses event for the monument. It was not en- The Times’ own story opens with an chosen altar be neglected. ... A stream of the French people — by the work- graved and installed inside the pedes- account of a child who was “not fol- of light shall pierce the darkness of ing men, the tradesmen, the shop girls, tal until 1903. Titled “The New Colos- lowing directions,” who “threw tan- ignorance and man’s oppression until the artisans — by all, irrespective of sus,” it reads: trums,” was screaming, threw pencils Liberty enlightens the world.” class or condition. Let us respond in “Not like the brazen giant of Greek and refused to go to another classroom The ego and talent of a man many like manner. Let us not wait for the fame, for a timeout. Yet the headline declared might not recognize, Frederic Auguste millionaires to give us this money. It With conquering limbs astride from that charter schools “Single Out Diffi- Bartholdi, was the driving force behind is not a gift from the millionaires of land to land; cult Students.” the Statue of Liberty ending up in the France to the millionaires of America, Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates “Singled out” usually means treat- New York Harbor. Elizabeth Mitchell, but a gift of the whole people of France shall stand ing someone differently from the way author of Lady with a Past, wrote that to the whole people of America.” A mighty woman with a torch, others are treated for doing the same Bartholdi once said, “The Americans whose flame things. Are convicted criminals “sin- believe that it is Liberty that illumines Is the imprisoned lightning, and her gled out” when they are sent to jail? the world, but, in reality, it is my ge- name The principal of a Success Academy nius.” Jackie Mother of Exiles. From her beacon- school in Harlem was accused of tell- Gingrich hand ing teachers “not to automatically send BARTHOLDI FIRST shopped Cushman Glows world-wide welcome; her annual re-enrollment forms home to the idea of a large female statue to (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate mild eyes command certain students, because the school did the Egyptians, as a giant overshadow- The air-bridged harbor that twin cit- not want those students to come back.” ing the Suez Canal. When traction for The people responded — raising ies frame. A mother in Brooklyn complained the project did not occur, he moved more than $100,000 (about $2.5 mil- ‘Keep, ancient lands, your storied about her son’s being suspended repeat- the potential project destination to the lion today) in the next few months. pomp!’ cries she edly, and her being called repeatedly to United States. Mitchell wrote, “Many donors wrote With silent lips. ‘Give me your come to school to pick him up early. His friend, Edouard Rene de Labou- heartfelt letters (to Pulitzer’s paper, tired, your poor, She admitted that he was “hitting, kick- laye, would champion the project, pro- the World) describing why they of- Your huddled masses yearning to ing, biting and spitting at other children posed in 1865 as a celebration of the fered their pennies, and he published breathe free, and adults.” victory of the Union and to reinforce those letters, too. He ran contests, The wretched refuse of your teem- After he was transferred to another Laboulaye’s belief in French democ- commissioned cartoons, and published ing shore. public school, “he was very happy and racy. The government of neither coun- a daily tab of the income.” Donors’ Send these, the homeless, tempest- had not been suspended once.” How try was involved in the fundraising names were published in the paper as tost to me, happy others were to have him in their — but rather the people of France and the money poured in, leading to in- I lift my lamp beside the golden midst was not reported. the people of the United States raised creased donations as well as increased door!’” the required funds. Ten years later, circulation for the paper. IT WOULD be wonderful if we Laboulaye announced the Franco- THE STATUE of Liberty is a true could develop ways to educate all stu- American Union to fundraise for the IN THE END, the appeal worked American story, one that was adapted dents, despite whatever kinds of atti- statue, named “Liberty Enlightening and the statue was completed, a sym- from another country, focused on lib- tudes and behavior they had. But how the World.” bol of Liberty for the world. erty, championed by the people, driven many generations of other youngsters Fundraising began to subside in the The statue’s transition into a light by the press, and transformed into a are we prepared to sacrifice to this hope next decade, and newspaper publisher and beacon for immigrants did not story with a different meaning than the that has never yet been fulfilled? Joseph Pulitzer wrote a plea for funds happen until almost two decades later. one that it started out with. 30 Conservative Chronicle BIRTH RATE: November 3, 2015 China needs more children — and so do we t made front-page headlines Americans got married in their early without bankrupting the nation. The time work, may help to close the pay around the world when China’s twenties and the average family had Chinese Communists, facing a similar gap between men and women, but it will Communist Party announced the three to four children. Now the average problem of reduced economic growth in mean fewer children. endI of its notorious one-child policy. Im- age of first marriage has risen to almost an aging population, have decided that A feminist reporter for Bloomberg posed by Chinese dictator Deng Xiaop- 30, and the average family has only two what really needs to grow is the size of Business set out to find where women’s ing in the late 1970s, the one-child limit children. their families. participation in the labor force is lowest has been ruthlessly enforced with forced A population that merely replaces it- Jeb Bush has promised to double and the male-female pay gap is the larg- abortion, infanticide, sterilization, and self (two parents having two children) America’s growth rate to four percent, est. She found that place in Utah, and heavy fines on families that dared to doesn’t generate enough savings to sup- partly by giving a special tax break to specifically in the medium-sized cities have a second child. port those two parents into a ripe old age. induce married women to of Provo and Ogden, which are about an As a result of that vast experiment A single working enter (or remain hour’s drive from Salt Lake City. in social engineering, China created an person doesn’t Phyllis in) the paid labor The reporter was shocked to find unnatural society with 150 million only pay enough into force. That’s the that in Utah, only 52.8 percent of moth- children without siblings, cousins, un- Social Security Schlafly wrong policy if you ers with young children are in the labor cles or aunts. Due to sex selection, some and Medicare to (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate realize, as China’s force, compared to 95.5 percent of fa- 50 million more males than females support his own leaders do, that thers — “the biggest gap in the nation.” were born — meaning there are 50 mil- retirement; the system has always de- more young people are needed to sus- A University of Utah demographer said, lion men who can never marry or start pended on having several younger tain the economy of the future. “By every major metric, we’re about their own families. working adults making contributions to Most women who marry and have a two generations behind the nation.” support each retired person. family leave the labor force during some DON’T ASSUME that China is be- part of their lives, and we should be glad FAMILY-FRIENDLY Utah, with coming a free society, or that its Com- LISTENING TO Republican presi- they do, even if their lifetime earnings the nation’s highest birth rate, also munist rulers concede they were violat- dential candidates, we hear a lot of talk suffer as a result. A policy that expects boasts the highest economic growth ing fundamental human rights. A new about “economic growth” as the way women to remain in the full-time labor rate. The best way to improve the econ- two-child policy will continue to be to save Social Security and Medicare force, pursuing a lifelong career of full- omy is to strengthen the family. enforced by the same apparatus requir- ing every family to apply for and receive October 30, 2015 permission to have a child, with severe MEDIA BIAS: penalties for noncompliance. The policy was changed because Chi- na is running out of people to maintain its economic growth. After 35 years of About that campaign to censor Trump a very low birth rate, China has created eeks after NBC granted staffers to lobby internally against it. ed by presidential candidates, and for a demographic time bomb in which the Hillary Clinton the favor “It’s hard to imagine [executive what? To ensure that all 17 Republican aging population in need of care is grow- of appearing on Saturday producer Lorne] Michaels forcing star contenders get to host Saturday Night ing much faster than the population of NightW Live, playing a bartender to the Kate McKinnon, who is gay, to perform Live? Wheeler is merely pushing NBC young working people who can support actress who impersonates her on the alongside a guest host with a history of to back out on Trump. Over the years, them. comedy show, the same leftist activists making bigoted statements about gay the biggest effect of “equal time” agi- Believe it or not, the working-age who adored that routine are trying to people,” Deggans editorialized. “Or tation has been to convince stations to population of China, the world’s most prevent Donald Trump from hosting the pushing black cast members like Kenan avoid any headaches by leaving out all populous nation, has already been fall- show on Nov. 7. Thompson to yuk it up alongside a ce- the candidates. ing for several years. In the foreseeable A group called “The National His- lebrity guest who had expressed bigotry These “equal time” rules do not ap- future, a fourth to a third of China’s huge panic Leadership Agenda” has written a about African-Americans.” ply to news programming, which is population will be over 60 years old and letter to NBC objecting to the booking. where the vast majority of candidate in need of support by younger people, MoveOn.org has organized a “Dump air time is logged. So you can demand but there will only be two workers for Donald Trump” petition drive with hun- Brent equal comedy time, but not equal sub- each retiree. dreds of thousands of leftist signatures. Bozell stantive time. Does any of this sound familiar? It’s Another petition on Change.org also Don’t you just love liberalism? (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate the same story in our own country, as drew a leftist throng through social me- Lawrence Lessig, a radical Harvard Social Security and Medicare groan be- dia, aided by the hashtag RacismIsnt- EVEN OBAMA’S Federal Commu- law professor running a quixotic presi- neath the weight of too many retirees Funny. nications Commission has gotten into dential campaign to draw attention to supported by too few working adults. the act, implying that Trump’s hosting the notion that Big Money is ruining The percentage of Americans who work THE HYPOCRISY Caucus in could violate their “equal time” rules politics, has already filed requests with a peaked 15 years ago and has declined al- Congress has joined the fray. Rep. for candidates. “The rules are pretty pile of NBC affiliates demanding he re- most every month since then. Luis Gutierrez took to the House floor clear. Rules are rules,” FCC Chairman ceive 3 minutes and 12 seconds of local As Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., a power- to compare Trump to all kinds of rac- Tom Wheeler told reporters on Oct. 22. air time to match the length of Hillary’s ful member of the House Budget Com- ists and “homophobes,” saying those “I hope that we have developed a repu- Clinton’s skit on SNL. Lessig wants that mittee, explained on C-SPAN last week: people should always be censored or tation as folks who enforce the rules.” time for a socialist lecture, not to play “The baby boom generation didn’t have canceled. “You don’t deserve, right, Donald Trump is such a threat he a bartender like Clinton did. MoveOn. nearly as many kids as their parents did, to get aired on a program. And people merits federal intervention. Where is org, Rep. Gutierrez, et al -- where are and they are living a lot longer. And so have lost their programs. TV networks the laugh track, if not a bucket of rotten you now? they are drawing more money out than and the American public has [sic] said, tomatoes? This is the same Obama FCC they (or their children) paid in.” ‘You know what? You’re too extreme that runs for the tall grass rather than IT’S NOT LIKELY that NBC will Or, as Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., said for us.’” enforce existing federal law forbidding dump Trump, but the effort displays all in the CNBC presidential debate, “After NPR television critic Eric Deggans profanity on broadcast TV. This is an the usual liberal “free speech for me, the war we had all of these kids, the baby openly agreed with Gutierrez on nation- FCC that regularly ignores the petitions but not for thee” hypocrisy. NBC knows boomers. Now we’re having smaller al radio and objected that a “bigot” like of millions of parents — but suddenly is it would be buried by public outrage families. We used to have 16 workers for Trump would be welcomed by NBC af- wracked with worry because a couple of were it to cancel Trump. But make no one retiree; now you have three.” ter the network dumped his Miss USA leftist groups snap their fingers. mistake: They’d cancel him in a New During the post-World War II baby pageant. He lamented the invitation as FCC watchers easily admit that York minute if they felt they could get boom, when I had my six children, most a failure of NBC to hire enough Latino equal-time rulings are rarely request- away with it. November 11, 2015 31 CHINA: October 30, 2015 South China Sea: Should we fight for the Spratlys? railed by two Chinese warships, And not only is the South China Sea the guided-missile destroyer one of the world’s crucial waterways, the USS Lassen sailed inside the fish within can feed nations and the floor 12-nautical-mileT limit of Subi Reef, a below contains vast deposits of oil and man-made island China claims as her na- gas. tional territory. Who owns the Beijing pro- Pat islands in the South tested. Says Chi- China Sea owns the na: Subi Reef and Buchanan sea. the Spratly Island (c) 2015, Creators Syndicate Moreover, our chain, in a South world has changed China Sea that carries half of the world’s since Eisenhower threatened to use nu- seaborne trade, are as much ours as the clear weapons to defend Taiwan and the Aleutians are yours. offshore islands of Quemoy and Matsu Beijing’s claim to the Spratlys is being — and since Bill Clinton sent two U.S. contested by Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, carrier battle groups through the Taiwan the Philippines and Taiwan. While Hanoi Strait. and Manila have occupied islets and built Now we send a lone destroyer inside structures to back their claims, the Chi- the 12-mile limit of a reef that, until re- nese have been more aggressive. cently, was under water at high tide. What China is doing is easily under- THEY HAVE occupied rocks and standable. She is emulating the United reefs with troops, dredged and expanded States as we emerged to become an im- those darned islands were within 2,000 First, why is this our quarrel? We have them into artificial islands, fortified them, perial power. miles.” no claim to any of the Spratly or Paracel put up radars and are building air strips After we drove Spain out of Cuba in In 1944, General MacArthur, whose Islands in the South China Sea. Yet, each and harbors. 1898, we annexed Puerto Rico and the father had crushed the Filipino resistance, of the claimants — Beijing, Taipei, Ma- What the Chinese are about is easy to Hawaiian Islands, where America set- retook the islands from the Japanese who nila, Hanoi — seems to have maps going understand. tlers had deposed the queen, took Wake had occupied them after Pearl Harbor. back decades and even centuries to sup- Having feasted and grown fat on trade and Guam, and annexed the Philippines. At the end of the Cold War, however, port those claims. surpluses with the United States, the The subjugation of Filipino resistance re- Manila ordered the United States to get Besides freedom of the seas, what is Chinese are translating their economic quired a three-year war and thousands of out of Clark Air Force Base and Subic our vital interest here? About that campaign to censor Trump strength into military power and a new dead Marines. Bay naval base. We did as told. Now our If these islands are Chinese territory, strategic assertiveness. Filipino friends want us back to confront Beijing has the same right to build air and They want to dominate East Asia and AND THE REACTION of Presi- China for them, as do the Vietnamese naval bases on them as we do in the Aleu- all the seas around it. dent McKinley when he heard our Asian Communists in Hanoi. tians, Hawaii, Wake and Guam. What do We have been told our warships are squadron had seized the islands: Before we get ourselves into the mid- we hope to accomplish by sailing U.S. unwelcome in the Yellow Sea and the “When we received the cable from dle of their dispute, before we find our- warships into what China claims to be her Taiwan Strait. Beijing also claims the Admiral Dewey telling of the taking of selves in an air war or naval clash with territorial waters? Senkakus that Japan occupies, which are the Philippines I looked up their location China, we ought to ask ourselves a few While the ships of the U.S. Seventh covered by our mutual security treaty. on the globe. I could not have told where questions. Fleet are superior to those of the Chinese navy, China has more submarines, de- stroyers, frigates and missile boats, plus a vast inventory of ground-based missiles that can target warships at great distances. In an increasingly nationalist China, Xi Jinping could not survive a climbdown of China’s claims, or dismantlement of what Beijing has built in the South China Sea. President Xi no more appears to be a man to back down than does President Putin. Continued U.S. overflights or naval intrusion into the territorial waters of Chinese-claimed islands are certain to re- sult in a violent clash, as happened near Hainan Island in 2001. Where would we go from there? China today is in trouble. She is feared and distrusted by her neighbors; her economy has lost its dynamism; and the Communist Party is riven by purges and rampant corruption. If we believe this will be the Second American Century, that time is on our side, that Chinese communism is a dead faith, we ought to avoid a clash and show our opposition to Beijing’s excesses, if need be, by imposing tariffs on all goods made in China.

CHINA’S OLIGARCHS will under- stand that message. RUSH! •NEWSPAPER• •DATED MATERIAL•

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